Hong Kong: HK's digital economy set to advance The digital economy has transformed the world in unprecedented ways, reforming traditional business models and creating new industries. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of a robust digital economy like never before. From e-commerce and online education, to remote work and smart city innovations, the adoption of digital technologies is now part of the new normal today around the world everywhere. The digital economy offers a way forward for businesses and individuals alike, providing opportunities for growth and resilience in the face of uncertainties. That is why we have rebranded this summit from its previous name of Internet Economy Summit to the Digital Economy Summit this year. This years summit is the first in-person mega event in the field of innovation and technology organised by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government, since our emergence from the COVID-19 epidemic. Yes, Hong Kong has resumed normalcy in full and is back on the centre stage. This two-day summit serves as the perfect occasion for senior executives, entrepreneurs, innovators, academics and policy makers worldwide to reconnect again, in Hong Kong, in Asias world city. At the first session of the 14th National Peoples Congress held in Beijing last month, President Xi Jinping said that our country would fully implement a development strategy driven by innovation and constantly increase our scientific and technological capabilities. Under the unique principle of one country, two systems, Hong Kong enjoys the unparalleled advantage of having the strong support of national strategies, while being connected with the rest of the world. The countrys key strategies of the National 14th Five-Year Plan and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development support Hong Kongs development into an international I&T centre. We are now poised to start a new chapter of digital economy development through our persistent pursuit of I&T advancement. As Hong Kong emerges from stability to prosperity, the Hong Kong SAR Government is committed to promoting I&T development in order to foster a more vibrant and diversified economy. To echo the theme of todays summit, we must embrace the sweeping changes brought about by the digital revolution, in order to emerge stronger than ever in a smarter future. To lead Hong Kong in moving full steam towards becoming an international innovation and technology (I&T) centre, we published the Hong Kong I&T Development Blueprint last December. It sets out four broad development directions, formulates eight major strategies and devises specific development targets at different stages. Here, I would like to take the opportunity to highlight some of the major strategies. First, to enhance Hong Kongs competitiveness and speed up industry development, we established the Office for Attracting Strategic Enterprises last December. The office is dedicated to attracting enterprises of strategic importance and investments. Next is the $30 billion Co-Investment Fund, designed to encourage enterprises with strategic development value to set up or expand their businesses in Hong Kong. In addition, we will launch the $10 billion Research, Academic & Industry Sectors One-plus Scheme. This RAISe + scheme is going to further promote the transformation and commercialisation of Hong Kong's outstanding research and development outcome. We will also forge ahead with the construction of the Hong Kong-Shenzhen I&T Park. With a gross floor area of 1.2 million sq m, the Park is set to become Hong Kongs largest-ever I&T platform. Together with neighbouring land and its counterpart the Shenzhen I&T Zone, the area will form the 540-hectare Shenzhen-Hong Kong I&T Co-operation Zone. It will power the rise of the Greater Bay Area as one of the worlds I&T hubs and provide bountiful opportunities for innovators and dreamers from all over the world. As announced in this years Budget of the Hong Kong SAR Government, we will commit over $700 million to expedite the development of digital economy and over $9 billion to roll out an array of I&T initiatives and measures. We have also issued a policy statement last year to set out Hong Kongs commitment towards the development of virtual assets. This forms our larger plans in capitalising on the development of the third generation Internet, or Web3.0, in which we see huge potential for future growth. All these clearly demonstrate that the Hong Kong SAR Government will continue to proactively steer our future high-quality economic development in the era of digital economy. Ladies and gentlemen, as the only city in the world where the global advantages and the China advantage converge, Hong Kong will continue to be the ideal base for Mainland enterprises to develop their global reach and a launch pad for foreign companies to gain access to the Mainland Chinese market. It is our top priority to ensure that the business and investment prospects in Hong Kong will continue to flourish in the years to come. Chief Executive John Lee gave these remarks at the Digital Economy Summit 2023 on April 13. This story has been published on: 2023-04-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Ministry of Commerce (MOC) on Wednesday announced that it has launched a trade barrier investigation into trade restrictive measures that China's Taiwan has placed on products from the Chinese mainland. On March 17 this year, the MOC received an application to conduct the trade barrier investigation, submitted jointly by the China Chamber of Commerce of the I/E of Foodstuffs, Native Produce and Animal By-Products; the China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals & Chemicals Importers & Exporters; and the China Chamber of Commerce for the Import and Export of Textiles. Based on relevant laws and regulations, the MOC reviewed the validity of the applicants, the application form and the evidence materials, and decided to launch the trade barrier investigation on April 12. The investigation involves 2,455 product items, as well as relevant measures formulated and implemented by the Taiwan region to ban products from the mainland, according to the MOC. The investigation will end on Oct. 12 this year, and may be extended to Jan. 12 next year if exceptional circumstances arise. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. The Colorado Springs Planning Commission on Wednesday approved a series of requests that pave the way for nearly 500 additional homes to be built in an existing undeveloped subdivision near Peterson Space Force Base on the city's east side. Commissioners voted 6-2 to approve five proposals from property owner Pikes Peak Investments LLC that will add a 21.86-acre parcel to the existing approximately 240 acres of the undeveloped Reagan Ranch subdivision within Banning Lewis Ranch, as well as new land designations that authorize developers to build more single-family, multi-family and business space in the subdivision. Commissioners Jack Briggs and Scott Hente were the two no votes on each request. Commissioner Nadine Hensler was absent. The subdivision, located south of Colorado 94 at Marksheffel Road, is currently split down its center with commercial and office space planned on the western side and residential space planned on the eastern side, planning documents show. The City Council approved plans to build more than 1,600 homes in the subdivision in March 2021. If the council approves the developer's additional requests the subdivision could potentially have more than 2,100 homes and more than 90 acres of commercial space when it is built out, planning documents show. That includes 1,328 single-family homes and 784 multi-family homes. The new proposals will come before the City Council for consideration at a future date. Adding nearly 22 acres of land to the southern portion of the site and rezoning an existing approximately 38-acre parcel at the northeast corner to allow for single-family and now multi-family homes shows the developer is taking steps to respond to the housing crisis in Colorado Springs, Pikes Peak Investments LLC's Danny Mientka said. "I feel like this is going to deal with high housing costs, bringing more density," he told commissioners. Both Schriever and Peterson Space Force bases, as well as the Colorado Springs Airport, are close by, Mientka said. Additional housing in Reagan Ranch would further support those three large employment centers, he said. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. No residents spoke in favor of or in opposition to the project on Wednesday. In the newly-added 21.86-acre parcel at the southern end of the subdivision, commissioners approved the request to zone about 4.5 acres as commercial and office space, and the remaining approximately 17.3 acres as single-family residential space that will allow a housing density of between 3.5 to 11.99 units per acre. Building heights would be capped at 45 feet. The existing approximately 38-acre northeastern parcel that currently allows for only single-family residential buildings would also be split, city planners said. Single-family homes would be permitted on 21.97 acres at a density of between 3.5 to 11.99 units per acre. Multi-family homes with a density of between 12 to 24.99 units per acre would now be allowed on the remaining 16.09 acres. Building heights in this area would also be capped at 45 feet, city planner Chris Sullivan said. Because of its proximity to the Colorado Springs Airport, the subdivision is located in an airport overlay as well as an aircraft accident potential zone and runway protection zone, which show where an aircraft accident, if it were to occur, is likely. But the layout keeps residential homes out of the accident potential zones defined by the Department of Defense and the Federal Aviation Administration, Sullivan said. Commissioners Hente and Briggs said they could not support the developer's requests to add more density to the subdivision because of the potential for an aircraft accident. "I feel like we're just riding up right on the line ... about where we can go when there could potentially be more buffer," Briggs said of the accident potential zone. Commissioner James McMurray said because the zones are defined by the military and the Federal Aviation Administration they can be trusted. "Accident zones as defined by the military and FAA, those are the buffer zones. I understand there's a little bit of question of, 'Is it on the line?' The line is the line for a reason, because that's what the agencies involved have determined work, from a standpoint of significant risk. ... The city is in line with that, and the developer is in line with the city," McMurray said. Colorado Springs Police are investigating events leading up to a crash involving vehicle and a building Thursday morning, according to CSPD spokesperson Robert Tornabene. According to Tornabene, a maroon Toyota crashed into the building located on the 1200 block of Lake Plaza Drive at around 10 a.m. Thursday. The area is near Lake Avenue and Venetucci Boulevard. Based on images released by Gazette news partner, KKTV, it appears the driver crashed into the building of Colorado Health and Wellness. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Tornabene said although an ambulance is actively on the scene along with other first responders, no one was injured in the incident. No roads were closed to deal with the crash, as of 11:20 a.m. according to police. Officials said the cause of the crash is unknown at this time, and the driver could be cited with careless driving. Colorado Health and Wellness confirmed the crash, and said they're finishing current appointments, and plan to be closed for the remainder of the day following. Christian satirical website the Babylon Bee joined a coalition of groups suing California to block a law they argue would subject their content to censorship. In a Wednesday Substack post, CEO Seth Dillon said he filed the lawsuit saying the "unconstitutional" law largely violates the company's First Amendment rights. TRUMP BASHES DESANTIS OVER PAYMENTS TO 'NON-ENTITY' BABYLON BEE SITE "It's a good thing when people are allowed to speak freely," Dillion wrote. "It's a bad thing when Big Tech and the government work together to decide what we're allowed to say." Known as AB 587, the 2022 law requires social media companies to periodically report certain content to the government, including user comments that amount to "hate speech" and "disinformation." It also allows the state attorney general to fine companies for late or misrepresentative reports, though the first of such filings are not due until January 2024. "Anything 'shared' on a platform is subject to AB 587," according to Dillon's 31-page complaint filed in federal district court. It furthers that the Golden State has long had an "outsized impact on public policy" and that the law forces out-of-state private sector companies to comply with its measures. When Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed it into law last September, he accused social media companies of contributing to the spread of "hate and disinformation" in a press statement. "Californians deserve to know how these platforms are impacting our public discourse, and this action brings much-needed transparency and accountability to the policies that shape the social media content we consume every day," Newsom added. AB 587 passed with support from groups like the Anti-Defamation League. Its drafters planned the bill to serve as a transparency measure to "pull back the curtain and require tech companies to provide meaningful transparency into how they are shaping our public discourse," according to Assembly member Jesse Gabriel (D). CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The plaintiffs ultimately contend that the law "targets constitutionally protected speech," according to their complaint. Other litigants challenging the law include Minds, a small social media website promoting free speech, and podcaster Tim Pool. The Washington Examiner contacted Dillon for response. Original Location: Babylon Bee complaint alleges California law gives power to censor its content Washington Examiner Videos House Oversight and Accountability Committee Chairman Rep. James Comer (R-KY) announced a hearing focusing on the Biden administration's handling of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The hearing, titled "The Biden Administration's Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan, Part I: Review by the Inspectors General," is scheduled to be held on April 19. The committee's website said that the hearing will examine the factors that led to the Afghan government's quick collapse and the administration's handling of the evacuation. The announcement came soon after an internal review by the White House tried to lay blame for the withdrawal on the Trump administration, drawing criticism from Republicans. ESPER ACCUSES BIDEN OF 'TRYING TO REWRITE' HISTORY ON AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL A statement from Comer appeared to criticize the decision to withdraw from the country in general, mentioning the backsliding of women's rights as a result of it. "President Biden and his Administration's decisions during the Afghanistan withdrawal led to the deaths of 13 servicemembers, left Americans completely stranded, allowed U.S. military equipment to fall into Taliban hands, jeopardized progress made by Afghan women, and destabilized the entire region," Comer said. "This Administration not only continues to provide excuses for the self-inflicted humanitarian and national security catastrophe, but senior officials are actively obstructing meaningful congressional oversight. The House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing with SIGAR as well as Inspectors General for the Department of Defense, Department of State, and U.S. Agency for International Development to examine their work on the factors that led to the collapse of Afghanistan. I look forward to their testimony as we work to hold this Administration accountable and get Americans' answers," he concluded. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Republicans have revisited criticism of Biden's Afghanistan withdrawal in light of the White House's recent report, which they accuse of trying to memory-hole the evacuation. Some Biden officials have also appeared to downplay the negative aspects of the actual withdrawal. "For all this talk of chaos, I didn't see it from my perch," National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters last Thursday. "I just don't buy the whole argument of chaos." Original Location: Comer announces hearing on the 'Biden Administration's Disastrous Withdrawal from Afghanistan' Washington Examiner Videos By Bart Biesemans, Layli Foroudi and Ingrid Melander PARIS (Reuters) -Union activists barged into the Paris headquarters of luxury goods company LVMH on Thursday, saying the French government should shelve plans to make people work longer for their pension and tax the rich more instead. In a 12th day of nationwide protests since mid-January, striking workers also disrupted garbage collections in Paris and blocked river traffic on part of the Rhine in eastern France. "You're looking for money to finance pensions? Take it from the pockets of billionaires," said Sud Rail union leader Fabien Villedieu, as the LVMH headquarters filled with red smoke from flares. The protesters then left peacefully. Trade unions urged a show of force on the streets a day before the Constitutional Council's ruling on the legality of the bill that will raise the state pension age by two years to 64. Across France, 380,000 demonstrators took part in Thursday's protest, according to figures from the government. That number included 42,000 at the Paris demonstration. Those figures were down from April 6, when 570,000 demonstrated across France, with 57,000 at last week's Paris protest. There were some clashes during Thursday's rallies, including skirmishes in central Paris, with black-clad protesters throwing projectiles at police who responded with teargas, but this was nowhere near the level of violence seen at some protests last month. Ten members of the police force were injured on Thursday, said the police department. If the Council gives its approval, possibly with some caveats, the government will be entitled to promulgate the law, and will hope this will eventually put an end to protests, which have coalesced widespread anger against President Emmanuel Macron. But protesters said they would keep up the fight if the Council gave a green light. "We don't want to work until 64," 50-year-old teacher Kathy Brochard said at the Paris rally. 'WE WON'T GIVE UP' Protesters want the bill withdrawn - or put to a referendum. "We still hope that, at some point, someone in high places will decide to abandon this law, sit around a table and look at pension funding differently," 52-year-old postal service worker Francis Bourget said at the Paris rally. The industrial action has lost some steam and the protests have rallied smaller crowds in recent weeks compared with turnouts of more than a million seen earlier in the movement. But unions remained defiant. "This is certainly not the last day of the strike," Sophie Binet, the new leader of the hard-left CGT union, said at the blockade of an incinerator outside Paris. Macron and his government argue the new law is needed to ensure that France's generous pension system does not go bust. Unions say this can be done by other means. Macron has said he will organise a meeting with unions after the Council's decision to work on other proposals - an initiative union leaders say will be short-lived if he is not ready to discuss withdrawing the pension legislation. "After three months of mobilisation, I would lie if I told you that there is no fatigue. We are tired, but a mobilisation is like a marathon," Sud Rail's Villedieu said. "We won't give up." Political observers say the widespread discontent over the government's reform could have longer-term repercussions, including a possible boost for the far right. "I'm not that optimistic about the Constitutional Council's decision," far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who opposes the pension legislation, told BFM TV. "But what do you want me to do? Burn cars? We'll just tell the French: Vote for the National Rally." On the Rhine river, cargo traffic was disrupted after workers cut power at a waterway lock near the border with Germany and Switzerland, a union official told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Yann Tessier, Blandine Henault, Forrest Crellin, Tassilo Hummel, Richard Lough, Mimosa Spencer, Bertrand Boucey, Marc Leras, Clotaire Achi, Yonathan van der Voort, Sudip Kar-Gupta; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Christina Fincher and Mark Potter) SEOUL/TOKYO (Reuters) -North Korea fired a new model of long-range ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea said, triggering a scare in northern Japan where residents were told to take cover, though there turned out to be no danger. A South Korean military official said the missile appeared to have been a new weapon displayed at recent North Korean military parades, and possibly used solid fuel. North Korea has criticised recent U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises as escalating tensions and has stepped weapons tests in recent months. It has been working to build more solid-fuel missiles which can be launched with almost no warning or preparation time. The missile flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), South Korea's military said, calling it a "grave provocation". The official said the missile's maximum altitude was lower than 6,000 km, the apogee of some of last year's record-breaking tests. "So far we assess that they fired a new type of ballistic missile with an intermediate or intercontinental range," the official said. "We're still analysing details like the trajectory, altitude and range, with the possibility that it carried a solid-fuel propellant." The South Korean military said it was on high alert and coordinating closely with its main ally, the United States, which "strongly condemned" what the White House said was a long-range ballistic missile test. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres also strongly condemned the test and called on North Korea to return to denuclearisation talks, his spokesman Stephane Dujarric said. While condemning the latest in a string of North Korean missile tests, Washington renewed its offer to resume talks. "The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilising actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. The launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening war deterrence in a "more practical and offensive" manner to counter what North Korea called moves of aggression by the United States. Following the launch, the Japanese and U.S. air forces conducted drills over the Sea of Japan "as the security environment surrounding Japan is becoming more and more severe," Japan's defence ministry said. While North Korea has tested short-range solid-fuel missiles, it has not tested a long-range missile of that type, said Bruce Bennett, a senior defence analyst at the U.S.-based RAND Corporation. Kim Dong-yup, a former South Korean navy officer now at Kyungnam University, said the new system might have been an intercontinental ballistic missile that was unveiled at a February military parade, and powered by a solid-fuel engine tested in December. James Acton, co-director of the Nuclear Policy Program at Washington's Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said he believed the United States would be able to determine between a solid- or liquid-fueled launch via early warning satellites capable of detecting differences in the infrared spectrums produced by different missile types. "North Korea's ongoing development of long-range solid-fueled missiles, which can be launched quicker, is significant by further complicating the challenges facing the U.S. in attacking North Korea's nuclear forces preemptively," he said. The missile was fired at 7:23 a.m. (2223 GMT on Wednesday) from near Pyongyang, the South's military said. Japan's coast guard said it had landed by 8:19 a.m. BRIEF PANIC The nuclear envoys of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan condemned the launch, saying Pyongyang had constantly threatened regional peace with "unprecedented levels of provocations and menacing words", South Korea's foreign ministry said. Japan's defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada, said the missile appeared to have been fired eastward at a high angle and did not fall in Japanese territory, but he could not confirm whether it had flown over Japan's exclusive economic zone. Japan's coast guard said it had fallen in the sea east of North Korea. Japanese authorities canceled an alert for the northern island of Hokkaido when they determined the missile would not fall nearby. Schools in Hokkaido delayed opening and some train services were suspended. A Hokkaido student told Japanese broadcaster NHK the alert caused momentary alarm at a train station. "For a second in the train there was panic, but a station worker said to calm down, and people did," the student said. (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim, Ju-min Park, Soo-hyang Choi and Hyonhee Shin in Seoul, Chang-Ran Kim in Tokyo, David Brunnstrom in Washington and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Gerry Doyle; Editing by Neil Fullick, William Mallard, Mark Potter and Sandra Maler) Sen. Mitt Romney (R-UT) took his first step toward launching a reelection campaign by submitting a declaration of candidacy to the Federal Election Commission, but the Utah senator stopped short of confirming whether he would run for another term. Romney submitted a "statement of candidacy" on Tuesday, allowing the senator to begin fundraising and spending campaign funds. Although the move does not definitively indicate whether Romney plans to run, it's the clearest sign yet of his future plans. ROMNEY CONVINCED' HE COULD WIN REELECTION TO SENATE IF HE RUNS IN 2024 Up until this point, Romney has remained tight-lipped about his reelection plans. However, the senator maintained that he is "confident" he would win should he choose to run again, surprising some critics who viewed his rebellion against former President Donald Trump as an indication he would be a one-term senator. "I'll make that assessment over the coming months, and sometime in the spring or summer, I'll make that decision," Romney told reporters in February. "I'm confident that I would win if I decide to run. I'll have the resources, and I believe the people of Utah would be with me." Members of Romney's staff downplayed the FEC filing, emphasizing the senator has not made a decision. "No new decision or announcement to share, and as the Senator has said, he will make a final decision in the coming months," Romney's chief of staff Liz Johnson told the Washington Examiner. "In the meantime, we're ensuring he's well prepared to run if he chooses." Romney was a prominent national figure before being elected to the Senate from Utah. He served as the governor of Massachusetts and was the 2012 Republican nominee for president, losing to former President Barack Obama. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Romney has been notable throughout his first Senate term for his willingness to break with other Republicans on key issues. The junior Utah senator especially took on that reputation after voting to convict former President Donald Trump in his first impeachment trial in 2019, making him the first senator to vote to remove a president of the same party. Romney's chances are unclear in the reliably red state of Utah, which voted for Trump in both 2016 and 2020 by wide margins, though conservative anti-Trump sentiment is more pronounced there than in other red states. Meanwhile, Utah voters remain split on whether Romney should seek reelection, according to a recent survey from the Hinckley Institute of Politics and the Deseret News. Original Location: Romney files candidacy for 2024 but stops short of announcing reelection Washington Examiner Videos Castle Connolly, the organization known for publishing its "Top Doctor" list, now publishes a "Top Black Doctor" list so patients can racialize their search for specialists in their area. The separate publication comes as part of Castle Connolly's diversity, equity, and inclusion initiative. To compile the list, the company asked its doctors to "share information about their race/ethnicity, gender and sexual identity." WHY A BLACK DEI DIRECTOR WASN'T WOKE ENOUGH FOR HER CAMPUS In an email obtained by the medical advocacy group Do No Harm, Castle Connolly said, "Studies show patient outcomes and satisfaction in minority populations are higher when patients are able to choose a doctor with a shared background and experience." Separately, Castle Connolly Managing Director Steve Leibforth said in a press release in February, "At Castle Connolly, we are committed to advancing DEI and to promoting and embracing our diversity. "We are proud to recognize these leading top black doctors and encourage all consumers to do their research to ensure that they are receiving optimal care," it continued. The premise for the segregated list is a phenomenon known as "racial concordance," wherein, theoretically, patients trust doctors of their own race more than doctors of a different one. This perception of trust does not affect healthcare outcomes and appears to exist among black patients at a rate about twice that of white patients, according to one study commissioned by Castle Connolly. "While it may be claimed that racial concordance between doctors and patients improves health outcomes, in reality, there are no data to support that," Do No Harm's chairman, Dr. Stanley Goldfarb, told the Washington Examiner. "There have been some short-term studies that suggest that patients may be more comfortable with individuals of the same race, but the largest study of this, including several thousand patients, failed to reveal any benefit whatsoever." According to Dr. Jacqueline Jones, who is an associate professor of clinical otolaryngology at Weill Cornell Medical Center, Castle Connolly Advisory Board member, and executive sponsor of the company's DEI project, the connection to a doctor "can be established on so many different levels whether it's by walking into a room and seeing someone who looks like you, or speaks the same language as you do, or having a doctor who understands where you came from and the cultural significance of your illness." For Goldfarb, however, the messaging on race-determinant medical care sows mistrust among patients and is driving patients of all races to seek out doctors who share their ethnic background. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "Do we really want patients seeking individuals of a particular race to be their physicians? Do we really want patients seeking individuals of a particular race to be their physicians? Do we want white patients refusing to see black doctors and vice versa as part of the American healthcare scene?" he asked. "I don't think so." The organization also began publishing other similar lists, such as "Exceptional Women in Medicine" and "Top LGBTQ+ Doctors." Original Location: 'Top Doctor' search engine encourages doctor selection by race Washington Examiner Videos Former President Donald Trump has arrived in New York for his deposition before state Attorney General Letitia James, the Florida resident and native New Yorker announced on his Truth Social platform early Thursday morning. The deposition is part of a $250 million civil fraud lawsuit filed by James. The suit accuses Trump, his three eldest children, and his company of artificially inflating his net worth by billions of dollars and inflating his company's real-estate portfolio. Trump's first deposition in the case was in August. TRUMP FILES $500 MILLION LAWSUIT AGAINST MICHAEL COHEN FOR 'BREACHES OF CONTRACT' Trump, unsurprisingly, was not thrilled about having to make the trip. "Just arrived in Manhattan for a deposition in front of New York State's RACIST, TRUMP HATING Attorney General, Letitia 'Peekaboo' James, in another unjust & ridiculous persecution of The 45th President of the United States," Trump wrote on Truth Social. "I built a GREAT & prosperous company, employed thousands of people, built magnificent structures all over the World, but particularly in New York, & now have to prove it to this LOWLIFE who campaigned on a 'I will get Trump' platform, even before knowing anything about me!" The former president went on to write that the "persecution" will give him the opportunity to "show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I built" with "some of the greatest real estate assets anywhere in the world." In addition to James, he took aim at the "scum" in the White House and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, and he complained that the case was being held in front of a "Trump Hating Judge." Trump most recently visited New York City when he was indicted earlier this month by a Manhattan grand jury on 34 counts of falsifying business records related to alleged hush money payments made to porn star Stormy Daniels, Playboy model Karen McDougal, and a former Trump Tower doorman. The former president pleaded not guilty to all the charges. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Trump has attempted to delay the trial for the lawsuit, but the judge overseeing the case maintained that the trial will occur in October. Original Location: Trump arrives in New York for state attorney general's deposition Washington Examiner Videos By Steve Holland DUBLIN (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said on Thursday that investigators were closing in on the source of the leak of highly classified U.S. intelligence documents, in what is believed to be the most serious security breach in a decade. The Department of Justice opened a formal criminal probe last week after the matter was referred by the Pentagon, which is assessing the damage done by the release. Some of the most sensitive leaked details are purportedly related to Ukraine's military capabilities and shortcomings, and information about U.S. allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey. Reuters has reviewed more than 50 of the documents, labelled "Secret" and "Top Secret" but has not independently verified their authenticity. The number of documents leaked is likely to be over 100. A number of countries have questioned the veracity of some of the documents, including Britain, which said there was "a serious level of inaccuracy" in the information. Biden, on a three-day tour of Ireland, said he was not overly concerned about the leak. "There's a full blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, and they're getting close but I don't have an answer," Biden told reporters. "I'm not concerned about the leak, I'm concerned that it happened but there is nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of." The FBI Washington field office is leading the investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person who leaked the documents is a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing fellow members of an online chat group. SOURCE OF LEAK The Post based its report, which did not name the person, on interviews with two members of the Discord chat group. Discord said in a statement on Wednesday that it was cooperating with law enforcement. Reuters was unable to verify details of the report. Its broad outlines - that the documents were first shared on a Discord server for gun and ammo enthusiasts who often swapped offensive jokes - were initially reported by Bellingcat last week. Reuters was unable to locate members of the now-defunct server, but a military weapons-focused YouTuber who goes by the name "Oxide" said he believed some members of the group may be people he expelled from his Discord server. A Redditor who claimed to be in touch with a member of the server told Reuters that there had been a scramble to delete evidence when news of the leak came out. Reuters could not immediately corroborate either person's account, although both were consistent with other reporting published elsewhere. Some national security experts and U.S. officials say they suspect that the leaker could be American, given the breadth of topics covered by the documents. Since the leak first came to light in March, investigators have been pursuing theories ranging from someone simply sharing the documents to show off the work they were doing to a mole inside the U.S. intelligence community or military. The leaks have already drawn responses from some foreign governments. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office labelled as "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever" a document asserting that the Mossad intelligence agency encouraged recent protests against him. A South Korean presidential official said on Sunday the country was aware of reports about the leaked documents and planned to discuss "issues raised" with Washington. One document, according to the BBC, discussed how U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is too willing to accommodate Russian interests A U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric criticized the leaks themselves. "(Guterres is) not surprised by the fact that people are spying on him and listening in to his private conversations," Dujarric said in a statement. "What is surprising, is the malfeasance or incompetence that allows that such private conversations to be distorted and become public." (Reporting by Steve Holland. Additional reporting by Raphael Satter, Michelle Nichols, and Sarah N.Lynch.Writing by Idrees Ali; Editing by Kate Holton and Alistair Bell) The FBI has arrested 21-year-old Jack Texeira, an Air National Guardsman officials suspect is involved in the leak of hundreds of classified documents from the Pentagon. Attorney General Merrick Garland identified Teixeira on Thursday and confirmed the FBI arrested him in Massachusetts for his connection to "alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information." "FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon, without incident," Garland said. "He will have an initial appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts." WATCH LIVE: PENTAGON HOLDS PRESS BRIEFING AFTER REPORTS NAME JACK TEIXEIRA AS DOCUMENTS LEAKER The Pentagon declined to comment on the leaker's identity at Thursday's press briefing. "We are aware of the press reports regarding a potential suspect in the Department of Justice's ongoing investigation into unauthorized disclosures of documents appearing to emanate from throughout the intelligence community," said Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, Pentagon spokesman. "Because this is an ongoing criminal investigation, I will have to refer you to the DOJ for any questions." Police block a road in North Dighton, Mass., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The FBI wants to question a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war, two people familiar with the investigation said Thursday. (AP Photo/Michelle R. Smith) Michelle R. Smith/AP The documents were reportedly leaked sometime in February in an invite-only chat on Discord, a chat server, according to a Washington Post report. However, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he was made aware of the leaked documents on April 6 and has convened military officials for daily updates since April 7. A number of the Pentagon documents suggested U.S. intelligence penetrated the highest levels of the Russian military, including information from the Russian Defense Ministry outlining attacks against two separate Ukrainian troop positions. Vehicles move through a police blockade on a road in North Dighton, Mass., Thursday, April 13, 2023. The FBI wants to question a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war, two people familiar with the investigation said. (AP Photo/Michelle R. Smith) Michelle R. Smith/AP A Washington Post report indicated that the person who leaked the documents, known as "OG," allegedly worked on a military base and brought home top secret documents. The group the leaker shared the documents with was reportedly about 25 members, invite-only, and made up of both U.S. citizens and foreigners, created during the coronavirus pandemic. President Joe Biden told reporters Thursday morning that the administration was getting close to uncovering who had leaked the documents. Multiple outlets have since named Teixeira as the owner of the Discord group and potentially the leaker, but it is unclear if he is the sole person responsible for the leak. Pentagon spokesman U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder arrives to speak at a media briefing at the Pentagon, Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Alex Brandon/AP The Justice Department opened a criminal investigation into the incident last week, while the Pentagon continues to assess the damage that will come from the leaked documents. "We continue to work around the clock along with the interagency and the intelligence community to better understand the scope, scale, and impact of these leaks," Ryder added. "And just as we're limited in what we can say about the DOJ's ongoing investigation, we'll be also very limited in what we can say about any of the documents themselves." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER "And while we certainly understand the media's interest in asking questions about the content of these documents, I will highlight that as a matter of long-standing policy, just because classified information may be posted online or elsewhere does not mean it has been declassified by a classification authority," Ryder continued. The Washington Examiner reached out to the Justice Department for confirmation of the identity of the leaker. The DOJ declined to comment. Original Location: FBI arrest Jack Teixeira, Air National Guardsman linked to Pentagon classified documents leak Washington Examiner Videos The White House denounced Florida's six-week abortion ban in a sharply worded statement, calling it "extreme and dangerous." Florida's state legislature passed the ban Thursday afternoon, with Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) expected to sign it. That drew a sharp rebuke from the Biden administration. CONGRESS RAISES CONCERN ABOUT BIDEN ADMINISTRATION'S PASSPORT PROCESSING BACKLOG "Today, Florida's Republican supermajority-controlled legislature sent an extreme and dangerous new abortion ban to Governor DeSantis's desk for signature," press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "The ban flies in the face of fundamental freedoms and is out of step with the views of the vast majority of the people of Florida and of all the United States." The state already has a 15-week ban that DeSantis signed into law last year, with the six-week ban set to replace it should DeSantis sign it into law. The bill has presidential implications, as DeSantis is considered a top contender for the 2024 GOP nomination. "This ban would prevent four million Florida women of reproductive age from accessing abortion care after six weeks before many women even know they're pregnant," Jean-Pierre said. "This ban would also impact the nearly 15 million women of reproductive age who live in abortion-banning states throughout the South, many of whom have previously relied on travel to Florida as an option to access care." The new bill contains exceptions to save the woman's life and would allow for pregnancies involving rape or incest until 15 weeks. The ban is one of many in conservative-led states that have followed in the wake of last year's Supreme Court decision that overturned Roe v. Wade. But Democrats have also campaigned fiercely over abortion access. "At every opportunity following the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, from the Kansas ballot initiative in August to five abortion ballot initiatives in November to last week's elections in Wisconsin, the message has been clear: Americans demand the freedom to make their own decisions about their own bodies without government interference," Jean-Pierre said. Florida House Democrats filed more than 50 amendments to the bill, but House Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican, said none will be added to the bill to push it forward to DeSantis's desk. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The White House's statement accuses Republicans of "dismantling our fundamental freedoms." "President Biden and his administration stand with women and physicians and we will continue to fight to protect access to abortion and defend reproductive rights," Jean-Pierre said. Original Location: White House denounces Florida abortion ban as 'extreme and dangerous' Washington Examiner Videos By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday called for continued significant aid to Ukraine as it battles against Russia's invasion, and lauded Ukrainian authorities for their focus on good governance and anti-corruption. Yellen, who paid a surprise visit to Kyiv in February, spoke at the start of a ministerial meeting on Ukraine during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund, where Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal also spoke. "Supporting Ukraine is a collective effort. We welcome the efforts by our allies and partners to provide significant, predictable, and timely assistance, and urge all of us to continue doing so," Yellen said. A senior Treasury official on Monday said the United States has provided close to $50 billion in assistance to Ukraine over the past year, including over $23 billion in budget support to keep government services running. Yellen said Zelenskiy's government had "provided a steady hand for Ukraine amid Russias horrific war," with economic activity recovering and critical services being provided. "Your commitment to making sure that international assistance is being used responsibly is essential," she said. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, who also visited Ukraine, said Ukraine had done a remarkable job in restoring energy facilities destroyed by Russia, while keeping the country running and helping businesses keep operating. "The country is performing remarkably well under the most devastating of circumstances," she said. "And that is why it has the confidence of its people and it has the confidence of the international community." Shmyhal and Zelenskiy thanked donor countries for their support and initial investments in reconstruction projects. "This assistance is unprecedented and we greatly appreciate it. But Ukraine's losses and expenses are unprecedented too," Shmyhal told the meeting, citing a recent report estimating 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. Shmyhal said Ukraine needed to attract $14 billion in donor aid by the end of 2023. Yellen said the United States had plans to provide additional aid through September all as grants and to support Ukraine's energy security and early recovery efforts, but gave no details. World Bank President David Malpass, who chaired the meeting, on Tuesday underscored the need for Western European countries to join global institutions in rebuilding Ukraine given the "daunting" size of the needs involved. Yellen said a recent $15.6 billion lending program agreed by the IMF would anchor international support "in a sound macroeconomic framework and catalyze further reforms essential to Ukraines recovery." (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Andrea Ricci) The problems with the Manhattan case against Donald Trump pre-date the grand jurys indictment. They are unfixable. District Attorney Alvin Bragg created them and continues to perpetuate them. Aside from substantive issues related to Braggs origami-ing the law to make a felony or the statute of limitations, Braggs personal conduct in this case forever taints the prosecution. Bragg campaigned for DA on the Ill get Trump platform. When a podcaster asked, people are wondering whoever has this job, are they going to convict Donald Trump? Bragg could have responded that it would be inappropriate and un-American to pledge the use of prosecution power against a specific individual or organization as a matter of political pandering. Instead, he embraced it by saying, that is the number one issue, and, I am the candidate in the race who has the experience with Donald Trump, further boasting that he had sued Trump more than 100 times. Bragg is not the first. Regrettably, we have seen a surge in politically minded prosecution candidates even in Colorado promising voters vengeance masquerading as justice as part of their campaigns. Any candidate for DA or attorney general who pledges to use their future power against a targeted individual or specific entity is morally and ethically compromised to the point that they should never be empowered with prosecution power. Bragg also co-hosted a publicized fundraiser with a U.S. House lawyer who worked to impeach Trump. The message and image Bragg cultivated throughout his campaign was clear: I will get Trump. From that moment on, his judgment was suspect and any prosecution decision he made even one warranted by the evidence would be viewed as political. Bragg continued his assault on the perception of apolitical prosecution through his ethically questionable tactical post-indictment decisions. New York Rules of Professional Conduct 3.6(a) proscribes attorneys from making extrajudicial statements that they know will be disseminated by the media and have a substantial likelihood or materially prejudicing a future trial. Here, Bragg beats the extrajudicial outside of court prohibition by filing a discretionary document titled Statement of Facts. Prior to Braggs predecessor, Cy Vance, the practice was unheard of. It is a tactical move by Bragg to expose the public including potential jurors to facts and a narrative of culpability that Bragg could not himself have said outside the courtroom. Further, Braggs longest news release is also the only one he has issued that contains links to the indictment, as well as the DA-drafted and self-proclaimed Statement of Facts not Allegations or any other synonym indicative of a commitment to due process and the presumption of innocence facts. There is no admonition to the public (potential jurors) that the information is merely allegation. That is unfair and underhanded. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Nearly eight pages of the 12-page statement contain a narrative of alleged events that occurred years before the charges appearing in the indictment, including false allegations of a 2015 payoff to a Trump Tower doorman by somebody other than Trump and not at Trumps direction in 2015. The event does not appear in the indictment, because it is well past the statute of limitations. That means the 2015 event would constitute other act evidence necessitating a judge to rule on its admissibility before a jury could hear it. Thanks to Braggs efforts, they now have. In his news conference after court last week, Bragg gave another narrative that restated what had been disclosed to the public (future jurors) through their Statement of Facts. It was unnecessary and given its timing ethically questionable. Bragg was entitled to discuss procedure, but not to do a here is my version of the case press conference with the public through a compliant media. Not one time did he say that Trump was presumed innocent. Not once. That is amateurish and unfair. Such conduct is about promoting Bragg and his prosecution of Trump, not about due process or protecting the image of our criminal justice system as one that seeks justice regardless of politics, power or position. Interestingly, in this biggest criminal prosecution in America, a case with ramifications beyond any in recent memory, DA Bragg will apparently watch his employees prosecute Trump from the back bench. Having exercised his discretion in a historically unprecedented way with a massive, unpredictable impact on the potential course of our federal government and thus, the United States Bragg should feel morally and professionally compelled to lead the prosecution. Braggs absence from the prosecutors table in court on what he has described as the most important, most high-profile case wreaks of political cowardice. In Colorado, elected district attorneys take a different approach. DA Dan Rubinstein is prosecuting the cases against former Mesa County Clerk and Recorder Tina Peters. Weld DA Michael Rourke prosecuted Chris Watts for the heinous murder of his wife and young daughters. Arapahoe DA John Kellner led the team to convict triple hammer-murderer Alex Ewing from a 1984 cold case. At this moment, DA Michael Allen is in trial prosecuting Latecia Strauch for the alleged, brutal murder of her 11-year-old son in Colorado Springs and is leading the prosecution of the alleged Club Q mass murderer. Real prosecutors handle the most important cases in their jurisdictions. I am confident the same Colorado standard will be applied by our attorney general in the prosecution of those charged in the death of Elijah McClain. Bragg appears to be poised to fulfill his campaign promise to get Trump. Along the way, he will further damage the integrity and perception of our once vaunted criminal justice system. George Brauchler is the former district attorney for the 18th Judicial District. He also is an Owens Early Criminal Justice Fellow at the Common Sense Institute and president of the Advance Colorado Academy, which identifies, trains and connects conservative leaders in Colorado. So, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis wants to steamroll local zoning and land-use rules in favor of his vision for planning and development across the entire state? Not so fast, say Colorados cities. Their opposition first popped up when their chief lobbyist at the Capitol, Kevin Bommer of the Colorado Municipal League, labeled Polis plan a breathtaking power grab. That was upon its unveiling a few weeks ago as Senate Bill 23-213. It was just the start of the pushback. As reported by Colorado Politics, the CEO of Colorados No. 2 city, Colorado Springs Mayor John Suthers, turned up at the bills debut in a Senate committee last week and poured cold water on it. Suthers a former district attorney, Colorado attorney general and U.S. attorney stared down lawmakers and warned them that if they pass the measure in its current form, Colorado Springs and other cities would tie it up in years of contentious litigation. Then, as Colorado Politics reported this week, mayors in 39 cities and towns in the Denver metro area signed onto a letter in opposition. The missive from the Metro Mayors Caucus expressed skepticism the Polis plan would achieve its avowed goal creating more affordable housing and cited serious concerns about the top-down process of its implementation. That put the mayors officially in alignment with Bommers Colorado Municipal League, which represents 270 cities and towns in Colorado, as well as with the influential lobby Colorado Counties, which represents almost all of the states 64 counties. The coup de grace came Thursday. The three-term mayor of Colorados largest city, Denvers Michael Hancock, along with Denver City Council President Jamie Torres, weighed in against the plan. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. A joint statement issued by Hancock and Torres read, in part: As we know from our own experience, policy implementation works best when applied across cities and regions while also taking into account community nuances. A one-size-fits-all approach that strips away local control in managing these critical land-use decisions is not the best approach. We have serious concerns about the attempt to preempt local land-use control, the statement continued. SB23-213 is a laudable, but fundamentally flawed, top-down approach, and Denver is opposed to the bill as currently drafted. Fundamentally flawed. Ouch. The bill would impose new local zoning standards that would be dictated, more or less, from the Capitol. Those rules would call for more multifamily housing in single-family neighborhoods; clustering growth closer to transit and work the kinds of planning trends that might be warranted in some places but not in others. And, right now, it is up to local government and local citizens to decide just as it always has been and should be. The Polis plan ultimately would trample local control by rank-and-file residents in one Colorado community after another. Colorados municipalities, as the level of government closest to the people, have a historic right and duty to zone their neighborhoods and plan local development in ways that meet the needs and reflect the priorities of their local voters, taxpayers and property owners. The plans premise that forced rezoning across Colorado will add an appreciable amount of affordable housing seems like a pipe dream. At least, there are too many other factors driving Colorados high housing costs in the near term. The Polis plan seems to have hit a wall of opposition. Its time to back off and head in another direction. The Gazette Editorial Board In 2014, Kenneth Dean Lee was convicted and sentenced to 23 years to life for posing as an immigration doctor and sexually assaulting multiple children. George Brauchler, the district attorney in charge of prosecuting Lee in 2014, told CBS that he had never come across another person who was more conniving, more deliberate, more planned out in the way he did it. The investigation revealed that Lee committed his heinous acts as far back as 1996. With that sentence, you would expect to see Lee still behind bars. He is in jail. But only because in 2021, he was arrested again. Same scheme to gain access to another victim, this time a 7-year-old in Aurora. In 2015, Eric Garcia was convicted and sentenced to 47 years for a plethora of crimes such as meth, robbery, stealing cars, and burglary. Again, youd probably expect to see him still behind bars for his 2015 convictions. He is in jail. But only because he was arrested again this year on charges of robbing five convenience stores with a gun. The stories of Lee and Garcia arent unique. In Colorado, individuals convicted of a Class 2 Felony, including second-degree murder, sexual assault, human trafficking, and kidnapping, only serve an average of 43.6% of their full sentence. Between earned time, good time, and a soft-on-crime state parole board, violent criminals are getting out far too early and far too many of them are reoffending. Colorado is suffering from a drastic increase in crime, both to persons and property. The average monthly crime rate per 100,000 residents has increased from 442 in 2008 to 530 today; our murder rate is still 30% higher than it was pre-pandemic, and according to the Common Sense Institute, our larger cities remain in the top 10 in the nation for violent crime, rape, robbery, burglary, larceny/theft, motor vehicle theft, property crime and arson. Early last year, Gov. Jared Polis pledged to make Colorado one of the 10 safest states in the country, and that should start with ensuring that we keep violent criminals off our streets and that they serve a larger portion of their sentence. Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Advance Colorado is working on a ballot initiative for the 2024 ballot that will require violent criminals convicted of second-degree murder, sexual assault, human trafficking, and kidnapping to serve at least 85% of their sentence. While our state should absolutely work to rehabilitate certain offenders especially for those dealing with addiction issues we need to strike a proper balance. Were not seeking to round up and lock up thousands of individuals. In fact, only about 449 individuals would be covered by this initiative last year. Victims, their families, and the public deserve to know how long a criminal will be put behind bars. Imagine having to explain to the parents of that 7-year-old in Aurora why, despite a 23-year-to-life sentence in 2014, the perpetrator was able to victimize their child just seven years later. Colorado has one of the worst recidivism rates in the nation, and until our state gets serious about keeping violent offenders behind bars, we probably wont see a significant change in that anytime soon. If legislators wont step up and fix this problem, well use the citizens initiative process to let voters weigh in directly. Michael Fields is the president of Advance Colorado Institute. This is a step too far If you read Sundays Gazette and the article on page two regarding Senate Bill 23-213, you will be amazed at the proposed bill going before the Legislature. If you didnt read the article, then I would suggest you look at Sundays paper and read it. So much for living or wanting to live in a single-family residential area. SB 23-213 will allow all forms of multifamily housing to be built in your single-family zoned neighborhood anywhere in any neighborhood. The house next door to yours could be changed into apartments, with apartments being created inside the home next door and/or in a large, detached structure in the backyard. An HOA doesnt disqualify your neighborhood from this proposed zoning. Supporters of the bill argue that Denver and Colorado Springs need to be more densely populated and that apartments are less expensive than single-family homes and thus it will produce more affordable housing. They also think it will get more people using mass transit. I think this is a step too far from our Legislature, and I hope that many of you will contact your state senator and representative and let them know that you oppose this legislation. I think this is unfair to people who have worked hard to buy a single family home and it will become a thorn in lovely neighborhoods. I also think it would make our streets more crowded in a single-family neighborhood. You can search the internet for find my legislator Colorado for their names and email addresses. In closing, once again, I hope that many of you will contact your legislators and voice your opinion against SB 23-213, which I think is a disaster for Colorado Springs and the state of Colorado. Kathy Fuhs Colorado Springs Understanding pronoun usage Thank you for publishing D-11 Divided Over Pronouns and What Are Pronouns? by Nick Sullivan on Monday, Colorado Springs Gazette. And on Tuesday: Legislation and school rules threaten transgender peoples rights by Michelangelo Krewson. These articles helped me to understand a little more about the pronoun issue. Here are three things that came to my mind. I hope to encourage peace. 1. Taking offense seems to be a key element in no matter what side of the coin you are regarding pronoun uses. Sometimes when I just ask a question to try to understand something, I offend the person I am talking to. That is not my intent. I want to learn. 2. Along with taking offense is that people are not communicating. The new use of pronouns is essentially a foreign language. It is not part of most peoples English language vocabulary yet. If I meet someone from another country, say France, I wont be able to understand them. I might even offend them by trying to communicate by pronouncing something incorrectly as I try to speak their language. 3. Another thought is teachers must get paid more. They must be up on all the latest things, be prepared to be teachers, counselors and peacekeepers. 4. Last thought, said with love and peace and experience. Suicide is a huge deep issue. It is not just one thing like using pronouns correctly. I appreciate understanding this more. Let us seek peace, and forgive when offended. Carrie Hetzel Colorado Springs We need better solutions Sign up for free: Gazette Opinion Receive updates from our editorial staff, guest columnists, and letters from Gazette readers. Sent to your inbox 12:00 PM. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Another mass shooting, this time in Louisville. I understand the desire to implement gun control policies to attack the rise in these shootings incidents. Sadly, limiting access to firearms is impossible. With an estimated 393 million firearms privately owned in the United States, controlling access is as likely as limiting access to the 275 million automobiles in our country. We need a different solution. If we cant limit access, we first need to put true deterrents in place for the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime and the possession of a firearm by a felon. Yes, laws are in place regarding these crimes, which include significant mandatory sentences, but all too often these types of crimes are used by prosecutors to obtain plea agreements to lesser charges. That needs to change. Secondly, we need to better work with mental health experts. Too frequently the shooters have serious mental health issues, and law enforcement is unaware of the dangers these individuals present. If notified, federal laws are in place to prevent these individuals from legally purchasing a firearms. Good Samaritan laws are in place to protect the mental health experts providing this information. We need our mental health experts to report such concerns. We also have a responsibility to notify law enforcement of concerns we have about the violent tendencies of individuals experiencing mental health issues. For exactly this reason, an individual in our own town was recently stopped from conducting mass shootings at three schools. Dan Bradley Monument Thinking outside the box I loved Steve Rauchs letter to the editor Demands for school safety in Sundays Gazette. My daughter is afraid for her safety to renew her contract at a local elementary school. Since it seems to be too much to expect Congress to act, I have an idea. How about everyone who values the lives of children more than their assault weapons agree to turn those weapons in to their nearest police station in return for a tax deduction? The weapons could be collected and shipped to Ukraine. The tax deduction could be paid for out of the money we are sending to Ukraine to help them in their war against Russia. People could get to know their neighbors and others in their communities instead of fearing them. What do you think? Who else is willing to think outside the box with me? Jane Broeckelman Colorado Springs Kool-Aid has gotten stronger Headlines say it might be a felony to falsely report a mass shooting. Yet if a person is killed by using fentanyl, the killer just says sorry, and no charges are filed. The Kool-Aid has gotten a lot stronger at the capitol. I recommend the politicians go out and apologize to the trees for using up their oxygen. Roger Weed Colorado Springs Colorado has among the worst recidivism rates in the country, with more than 50% of people released from prison ending up back behind bars within three years. Now, the state is taking a new approach to address the issue by incentivizing prisoners to pursue higher education. House Bill 1037 reduces prison sentences for non-violent offenders who complete higher education while incarcerated. The new law deducts six months for earning a certificate, one year for an associate or bachelors degree, 18 months for a master's degree and two years for a doctorate degree. Gov. Jared Polis signed the bill into law on Wednesday. It is scheduled to take effect in August. "We laid out the goal of making Colorado one of the 10 safest states over the next five years," Polis said. "This bill alone won't do that. But it is a very positive step in that direction by providing additional incentive so, before people are released, they get the credentials, the skills and the degree that will allow them to succeed." Prisoners who pursue higher education while incarcerated have been found to be less likely to return to crime after theyre released. Recidivism rates drop to 13.7% for prisoners who earned associates degrees, 5.6% for those who earned bachelors degrees and 0% for those who earned masters degrees, according to a 2006 national analysis by Emory University. Over 48% of U.S. adults age 25 and older have a postsecondary education, but less than 13% of inmates have attained the same level of education, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Wednesday's signing came after the Senate passed the bill in a 28-6 vote last month and the House approved the bill, 61-1, in February. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Though the bill has bipartisan sponsorship and support, only Republicans opposed it. Sen. Kevin Van Winkle, R-Highlands Ranch, said he doesn't oppose incentivizing higher education in prisons, but he is concerned that offenders in Colorado already don't serve enough of their original sentences. "Inmates should certainly pursue every opportunity to better themselves. The bigger issue I have is with the need for sentencing reform in our state," Van Winkle said of his "no" vote on the bill last month. "Colorado inmates serve on average less than half of their sentences." In the Colorado Department of Corrections, the average sentence for a class 2 felony is 377 months, while the average time served is 164.5 months, according to a 2021 report from the department. The average time served was 50% or less of the average sentence for class 3, 4, 5 and 6 felonies, as well as level 1, 2, 3 and 4 drug felonies. However, proponents argue this is a small compromise to make to stop the cycle of repeat criminal offenders. The bill's lead sponsor, Rep. Matthew Martinez, D-Monte Vista, used to be the director of the Adams State University Prison Education Program before being elected. He said his work inspired him to bring forward the bill, seeing first-stand the difference education can make for prisoners. "It makes Colorado a safer state," Martinez said. "When you get them connected to education, they get back in society, they become productive, they get their families back together. Overall, that makes Colorado a better state." Under the new law, prisoners released prior to completing their degree can also choose to finish to earn time off of their parole. All of the money saved by shortening sentences of qualifying inmates will go to the Department of Higher Education to continue facilitating higher education programs in prisons. Colorado businesses have been required to provide equal pay to employees performing the same work since 2021. But many women say they still face pay discrimination in the workplace. Lawmakers are trying to address these gaps with Senate Bill 105. If enacted, the bill would implement measures to enforce the state's existing Equal Pay for Equal Work Act and make other updates to the law. The Senate approved SB 105 on Thursday, advancing it to the House for consideration. "Women across the board earn way less for the exact same work. We can do better," said bill sponsor Sen. Jessie Danielson, D-Wheat Ridge. "I hope that (pay inequality) is a thing of the past by the time my daughter enters the workforce. ... That she can be proud that we, the state of Colorado, took steps to address that discrimination." Colorado passed the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act in 2019, taking effect on Jan. 1, 2021. The 2019 law was sponsored by Danielson and Sen. Janet Buckner, D-Aurora, who are also both sponsoring the new SB 105. The Equal Pay for Equal Work Act included several mandates intended to even the playing field for workers, such as requiring employers to notify employees of promotion opportunities, including pay or a pay range in job postings and allowing employees to sue employers for gender-based pay discrepancies. In 2021, women working full-time in Colorado were paid 83% of what men earned, according to the Womens Foundation of Colorado. Thats higher than 78% in 2020 before the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act took effect, but still falls short of the states all-time high of 86% in 2019, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The difference is exacerbated for women of color. SB 105 would require the Department of Labor and Employment to investigate pay inequities and enforce equal pay mandates. The bill would also extend the maximum back pay period for pay inequalities to six years and allow employers to not notify employees about career development changes that are not technically promotions or jobs that other candidates could be considered for. Senators voted, 24-11, to pass the bill on Thursday. All Democrats supported the bill and all but one Republican opposed it. Sen. Perry Will, R-New Castle, joined Democrats in voting "yes" on the bill. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Many critics raised concerns about negative effects the original Equal Pay for Equal Work Act had on businesses and workers, specifically pointing to the requirement that employers include pay or pay ranges in job postings. In 2021, the Wall Street Journal reported that national companies excluded Coloradans from applying for remote work positions because of this requirement. "A bill that is supposed to be helping close the gender gap in worker pay could be making it harder for Colorado women to find a job," said Sen. Barbara Kirkmeyer, R-Brighton, who voted against the bill. "Most remote workers are women, so why wouldn't we want to try to fix this?" Kirkmeyer attempted to amend the bill to exempt out-of-state companies that employ Coloradans remotely from adhering to the requirement to post pay ranges. That proposed change was rejected by lawmakers, as were four other Republican-sponsored amendments. Sen. Bob Gardner, R-Colorado Springs, criticized the bill for allowing the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment to investigate and mediate equal pay complaints, arguing that it violates an accused employer's right to a jury trial. He unsuccessfully pushed an amendment to require complaints be referred to a judge if the department's investigation finds probable cause of an equal pay violation. Lawmakers approved two Democrat-backed amendments to the bill to clean up language and to exempt the notification requirement for emergency hirings and hirings for temporary positions lasting six months or less. Democrats also defended the bill against Republican criticism, saying it is needed as some businesses arent obeying the requirements under the Equal Pay for Equal Work Act. "The facts remain that women are not paid equally," said Sen. Lisa Cutter, D-Jefferson County, who supported the bill. "Sometimes, doing the right thing is hard, and that's okay, because at the end of the day, it's still the right thing to do. Either you believe in equal pay some of the time, or you believe in equal pay all of the time." SB 105 will next be sent to the House for consideration in the coming weeks. House lawmakers approved a proposal to require mediation between landlords and tenants before landlords can file for eviction, if the tenant receives certain financial assistance. Under House Bill 1120, mediation would involve a landlord and tenant meeting together with a neutral third party to discuss a voluntary settlement in lieu of an eviction. If an eviction is ordered, the bill would also give tenants 30 days to leave the property, instead of the current 10 days. The bill cleared the House Thursday, advancing to the Senate for consideration. "This is a very, very important bill to ensure the most vulnerable members of our communities are protected," said bill sponsor Rep. Junie Joseph, D-Boulder. "There is a wide disparity in access to legal representation between landlords and people experiencing eviction in Colorado. This creates an imbalance in power during eviction proceedings." A review of Denver eviction cases from 2014 to 2016 found that, while landlords had legal representation in every case reviewed, tenants were only represented by an attorney in 1% to 3% of the cases. Nationally, landlords have legal representation in around 82% of eviction cases, compared to 3% for tenants, according to the National Coalition for a Civil Right to Counsel. Around 38,560 evictions occur in Colorado each year, according to state estimates. Under the bill, approximately 2,912 of the people facing eviction annually would be eligible for these new protections. The eviction protections would apply to tenants who receive Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Insurance or cash assistance through TANF. The bill would not apply to tenants of landlords who have fewer than five single-family homes or fewer than five total units. House lawmakers voted, 44-20, in support of the bill Thursday. All Republicans voted "no" and all but one Democrat voted "yes," with Rep. Shannon Bird of Westminster joining Republicans in opposition to the bill. Critics of the bill have argued that it would make the eviction process too long and dis-incentivize landlords and developers from investing in Colorados rental industry. However, Thursday's debate centered on a failed amendment that would have reported the outcomes of eviction mediations to the state. "It helps us to know if this policy is working," said Rep. Stephanie Luck, R-Penrose, who proposed the amendment. "If it is working, there are ways by which this information can be leveraged to encourage other landlords not operating in this space to pursue these kinds of mediations. If it's not working, there's an opportunity to tweak or to amend it." Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Luck's amendment would have required mediators to report the duration of a mediation, whether it was successful, whether the parties participated and the total cost. Joseph opposed the amendment, saying she doesn't know what the fiscal impact would be. While lawmakers rejected that change to the bill, they approved two other Republican-sponsored amendments, which stated that a landlord is only required to pay for their portion of the mediation and clarified that the purpose of the bill is to avoid eviction proceedings. Proponents of the bill said mediation in eviction conflicts can often lead to the landlord agreeing to let the tenant stay, with solutions including setting up a payment plan, exchanging services, or forgiving late fees. If they still want the tenant to leave, it can result in the landlord and tenant agreeing on a voluntary move-out date without filing for eviction and hurting the tenants rental record. Under the bill, the mediation would need to be scheduled within two weeks of the eviction notice, when possible. Tenants would have to be informed of their right to mediation by the landlord in the eviction notice and tenants would not be responsible for the costs of mediation. The 20-day extension for qualifying tenants to leave the property could be voided, but only in cases of substantial lease violations. Bill sponsor Rep. David Ortiz, D-Centennial, said extending the time before tenants are forced out of their rental home is essential, arguing that the current 10-day time limit does not give them enough time to find new housing. This is especially true for tenants with disabilities, he said. People with disabilities are twice as likely as their able-bodied counterparts to be impoverished, Ortiz said. Its essential that we protect our most vulnerable communities that might not have the financial or legal resources to fight against the eviction process, especially in the middle of our housing crisis. Only 5% of newly constructed multifamily housing units are required to be accessible to people with disabilities, based on federal standards. A 2011 study found that less than 5% of housing in the U.S. is accessible for people with moderate mobility difficulties and less than 1% is accessible for wheelchair users. The bills protections would apply to recipients of Social Security Disability Insurance. The bill will next be sent to the Senate for a vote in the coming weeks. Ghost guns could become illegal in Colorado under legislation that was expected to be introduced on Wednesday in the General Assembly. The use of ghost guns nonserialized firearms that can be assembled from kits or printed by a 3D printer has exploded in the last several years. The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms reported in 2022 that 20,000 suspected ghost guns were recovered by law enforcement in criminal investigation in 2021. In Colorado, two recent mass shootings were tied to individuals who used ghost guns. A 17-year-old at East High School last month reportedly used a ghost gun to shoot two school administrators, and later took his own life with the weapon. The shooter at Club Q last November, where five people died, also reportedly used a ghost gun. The bill proposed by Sens. Chris Hansen, D-Denver, and Rhonda Fields, D-Aurora, would ban ghost guns in Colorado, and for those who already possess ghost guns, the bill provides a compliance period through the end of 2023 to get the firearm serialized, which Hansen said could be done by licensed firearm dealers. That would also likely require the owner to go through a background check and any other normal processes tied to purchase and possession of firearms, he said in a Wednesday morning news conference. While the bill would ban the manufacture and possession of ghost guns, it does not ban the purchase of kits or any other components used in 3D printing to assemble a ghost gun, Hansen acknowledged. The Biden administration is attempting to handle the issue of kits through a 2022 executive order and Department of Justice rule that went into effect last August. The rule bans the manufacturing of most ghost guns, including un-serialized kits available online or at a store without a background check. The DOJ rule said the kits qualify as firearms under federal law, and that manufacturers must become licensed and include serial numbers on the kits frame or receiver. Commercial sellers also must become federally licensed and run background checks prior to a kit sale. FedEx announced shortly before the rule went into effect that they would no longer ship un-serialized frames or receivers (a firearms housing) or other items that could be assembled into a frame or receiver, citing the rule. The federal rule does not address 3D printers, which has led to concerns the new rules could drive the manufacturing of more ghost guns. Delaware lawmakers passed a law in 2021 to criminalize the sale, transport or possession of an unfinished firearm frame or receiver without a serial number. The law made it a crime to manufacture or distribute a firearm made with a 3D printer, or to distribute instructions on how to manufacture firearm components with a 3D printer, according to the Associated Press. A portion of that law, not including the part that deals with 3D printers, is under a preliminary injunction from a federal court. Hansen claimed the bills support outside the state Capitol is bipartisan, and cited Republican mayors Mike Coffman of Aurora and John Suthers of Colorado Springs, Democratic Denver Mayor Michael Hancock, as well as Republican and Democratic district attorneys, including Republican John Kellner of the 18th Judicial District. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Coffman, Hancock and Suthers penned a letter published in the Colorado Springs Gazette in January, calling for state laws to deter the use of these untraceable weapons, in part because people who possess those weapons are able to circumvent background checks, or could obtain them even when under a restraining order or red flag protection order. Gov. Jared Polis, during his January state of the state address, called for a ban on ghost guns, citing support for the concept from Suthers, Coffman and Hancock. Coffman told Colorado Politics that he, Suthers and Hancock came to an agreement, prior to the start of the legislative session, on a list of proposals that we felt would help reduce the crime rate in our cities and in our state and deterring the use of ghost guns was one those proposals that we put forward. He did not respond when asked if he had seen a draft of the bill or whether he supports the measure. Through a spokesman, Kellner said he supports the bill, and told Colorado Politics he has a great deal of concern around personally manufactured firearms, often referred to as ghost guns. These weapons have no serial number and no way to trace their origin, Kellner said. I am alarmed to see an increase of juveniles and felons easily gaining access to ghost guns and skirting background check requirements. He added: My ideas are a standalone charge (we already have a charge for possessing a defaced firearm), a sentence enhancer when these guns are used in the commission of other crimes, expanding our ability to investigate online retailers, and clarifying Colorado Revised Statute to require complete firearms kits to include serialized pieces and a background check. The bill, which has not yet been introduced, becomes the latest in a series of major gun bills in the 2023 session. Four measures are now headed to Gov. Jared Polis for signing, including a bill to expand the list of people who can seek extreme risk protection orders; a ban on the sale of firearms to those under the age of 21; a bill requiring a three-day waiting period tied to purchase of a firearm; and, a bill allowing victims of gun violence to sue gun manufacturers and dealers in civil court for damages tied to gun violence. The last of those four won final approval from the House Tuesday. It was heavily amended by a conference committee to strike in its entirety the bills establishment of a statewide standard of responsible conduct and instead require manufacturers and dealers to adhere to existing Colorado law on unfair and deceptive trade practices outlined in the Colorado Consumer Protection Act. Three other bills tied to firearms appear to have stalled. A fifth, a ban on so-called assault weapons, sponsored by Fields and Rep. Elisabeth Epps, D-Denver and which is not favored by the governor, was introduced five weeks ago but has yet to see its first House committee hearing. A sixth, a bill allowing counties to prohibit discharge of firearms in neighborhoods of 35 dwellings or more per square mile, has stalled in the state Senate. A bill to add aggravated motor vehicle theft to the list of crimes that would bar someone from possessing a firearm passed the Senate on a 29-5 vote on March 15 but has not yet had its first committee hearing in the House, although its House sponsor, Rep. Shannon Bird, D-Westminster, has been busy with the state budget for the past several weeks. The Colorado Supreme Court has issued its final guidance to trial judges around the state, describing when they may livestream proceedings in criminal cases and, in the process, taking a subtle jab at lawmakers' efforts to ensure public access more broadly. The policy, known as a chief justice directive, recognizes certain types of hearings for which judges should allow livestreaming, but also places a default prohibition against livestreaming on others including jury trials unless judges evaluate specific criteria. "Weve heard loud and clear that throughout the pandemic, the public has come to appreciate and expect the ability to remotely observe proceedings in criminal cases, said Chief Justice Brian D. Boatright in a statement. However, those who advocated for the Supreme Court to allow greater access were dissatisfied with the directive as issued. "Were disappointed that the final CJD did not adopt a presumption in favor of livestreaming of criminal court proceedings," said Steve Zansberg, who submitted comments to the Supreme Court on behalf of multiple press organizations. Currently, there is a bill pending before the Colorado House of Representatives that would largely require judges to livestream any criminal proceeding that is open to the public, as long as the courtroom has streaming capability. The chief justice directive appeared to criticize that effort to impose a more sweeping mandate legislatively. "There is no other mechanism to tailor the needs of everyone impacted by livestreaming court proceedings than to allow judicial discretion in determining when to expand or limit live streaming on a case-by-case basis," warned Boatright in the April 12 policy. Earlier this year, the Supreme Court took the unusual step of publicizing a draft of the chief justice directive and inviting comments. More than 100 groups and individuals, many within the judicial branch, wrote to the court to support the policy or suggest modifications. Boatright, in an email to judicial employees, indicated the goal of the policy was to set "baseline expectations" given the rise in online proceedings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The final directive differs from the draft in several key ways: The policy adds criminal cases involving juveniles to the list of proceedings that, by default, are not to be livestreamed Judges may consider requests from victims, parties to a case or "interested third parties" when deciding whether to restrict or expand livestreaming Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. In deciding whether to stream a proceeding, judges must consider the level of public interest in a case, victims' rights under the law, the protections of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and other case-specific factors If technological problems prevent a judge from allowing virtual streaming, he or she should note the reason on the record for denying access "We appreciate that the directive elevates the level of transparency the general public can expect from the legal system while attending to the potential harm and risks for crime victims," said Emily Tofte Nestaval, executive director of the Rocky Mountain Victim Law Center, who asked the Supreme Court to consider victim safety and privacy in its final guidance. Chris Henderson, who leads the Office of the Child's Representative, said he applauds the addition of juvenile cases to the list of proceedings presumed not to be eligible for livestreaming. However, he is wary of the new requirement that trial judges consider the public's interest in a case when making decisions about streaming. "OCR has concerns that this factor will outweigh others when courts are making difficult decisions about the live streaming of juvenile delinquency or direct file cases cases which often involve the discussion of highly sensitive information about the personal circumstances of children charged with crimes," Henderson explained. Others involved with the justice system endorsed the notion of livestreaming in general. Denver District Attorney Beth McCann told the Supreme Court she hired a prosecutor who applied for a job after watching a trial virtually. Sumi Lee, the head of Judicial Diversity Outreach, noted the performance commissions that advise voters on whether to retain judges are better able to observe the judges in their jurisdiction through virtual access. Denver's chief district court judge, Christopher J. Baumann, wrote to the Supreme Court in favor of loosening the restrictions on livestreaming trials. A version of his suggestion made it into the final policy. The directive is "a thoughtful balance between making the work of our criminal courts more accessible to the public and interested parties, and recognizing that the integrity and fairness of these proceedings must be preserved," Baumann said on Thursday. The Supreme Court is also evaluating another chief justice directive that would better define when judges should allow the parties in civil and criminal cases to appear virtually. A leading Colorado water attorney says draft guidelines released this week by the Biden administration proposing alternative plans to deal with the historic drought in the Colorado River basin should compel the states that rely on the river to come to agreement. "We really are running out of time on this," James Eklund, an attorney at Sherman & Howard and the author of Colorado's first water plan, said in a wide-ranging interview with Colorado Politics and The Denver Gazette. "We have the tools to control our own destiny and make this pain and this disruption we can mitigate those. But we do have to act. If we dont, that's where we're going to get in trouble." Eklund said the draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement released Tuesday by the Department of Interior's Bureau of Reclamation removes any doubt that the federal government is prepared to step in if the river's Upper and Lower Basin states can't figure out how to share what are likely to be drastic reductions in available water in the coming years. "I'm a Teddy Roosevelt fan," Eklund said. "Teddy Roosevelt said talk softly and carry a big stick. And for the past year, the feds have been talking loudly and carrying no stick. So, this draft EIS really, finally shows us the stick. Whether or not they have to use it is now really up to the states and their water users." The river flows through Upper and Lower basins, with the former including Wyoming, Colorado, Utah and New Mexico, and the latter made up of Nevada, Arizona and California. The seven states have missed multiple deadlines to formulate a plan they can all agree on for reducing water usage most recently earlier this year when six of the states reached an accord but California offered a competing proposal leading the Bureau to come up with its own set of alternatives. 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 documents says. The massive proposal released this week lays out three options to address potential shortages in order to protect the operation of Glen Canyon and Hoover dams, which provide electrical power for millions of households, in addition to regulating the flow of water to downstream communities. The first option, to maintain the status quo, won't work, the document concludes, leaving two "action alternatives" one that would distribute cuts among Lower Basin states based on historic water rights priorities, which would favor senior rights-holder California and disadvantage Arizona, and another that would spread the reductions equally across the Lower Basin states. 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, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton said in a statement accompanying the draft's release. The draft proposal is open for public comment for 45 days, and a final version is expected this summer, the Interior Department said. Colorado's two U.S. senators hailed the plan as an important step toward grappling with the drought and its ramifications. Both also cautioned against taking comfort from this year's heavy snows. This year's good snowpack can't be an excuse to kick the can down the road," said U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet in a statement. "This SEIS is a constructive step toward sustaining the Colorado River system for the long term, and I continue to urge all seven Basin states to come to an agreement. We have no time to lose. Sign up for free: News Alerts Stay in the know on the stories that affect you the most. Sign Up For Free View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. His fellow Democrat, U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, made a similar point. Todays announcement marks an important step in planning for a drier West," Hickenlooper said Tuesday in a statement. "As the Colorado River Basin faces the stresses of climate-driven drought, states and stakeholders must work towards a collaborative, seven-state solution for managing water scarcity that honors our communities, the sovereignty of Tribes, and the concerns of agricultural producers. No matter how promising this year's snowpack is, we must prepare for less water in the river on which we rely. U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, the Silt Republican whose congressional district contains the Colorado River from just downstream from its headwaters to the Utah border, told Colorado Politics in an email that she will continue fighting for Coloradans. The Colorado River is called the Colorado River for a reason," Boebert said. "I will keep working to put the people of Colorado and our interests first as we work to find solutions to western drought. Six states representing millions of people came together to produce a solution, but California failed to show up to the table and negotiate in good faith. Now, millions of people are being held hostage by Californias willful incompetence." Boebert noted that she recently invited Andy Mueller, general manager of the Colorado River Conservation District, to testify before a key House subcommittee, where he called for more active forest management and water storage to meet some of the challenges. "These two approaches have to be a part of the solution," Boebert said. Eklund warned against concluding that the draft proposal only puts the screws on the Lower Basin states, while leaving Colorado and its fellow Upper Basin states unscathed. Both of the Bureau's "action" plans involve "a great deal of pain and disruption to the Lower Basin that will inevitably ripple upstream to Colorado and the Upper Basin," he said, noting that Coloradans rely on food grown year-round in California and Arizona. "We're talking about cutting water use by about the same amount of water the entire state of Colorado uses in an average year," he added. Notably, Eklund said, with this draft proposal the federal government has demonstrated that it's willing to step in and "upend or essentially modify the priority system that we have kind of grown up with and we've evolved under" potentially throwing the existing rules up for grabs. "If the federal government is willing to do this to the largest state, population-wise, in our nation, they've demonstrated they're perfectly willing to take whatever action they feel is needed in a state like ours," Eklund said. He said he hopes the tensions highlighted by the federal proposal will spur the river's stakeholders to come up with their own solutions. "I think it's very important for us to realize the moment that we're in, and this is a big deal, and it's an opportunity for leadership," Eklund said. "And that leadership has been absent. To date, we have not, as seven Basin states, gotten together. Hopefully, showing the stick and and really backing up the threats that have been made, or the potential of backing up those threats, will make the interests the water users, the states themselves come back in a more concerted effort to find agreement and fill that vacuum, that void of leadership that has been created over the last several years." It matters whether the states decide how they'll reduce water use within their borders, he said, rather than waiting for the federal government to impose restrictions. As an example, he pointed to programs that pay farmers to conserve water. "And that can be compensated and temporary, and it can be voluntary," Eklund said. "If we don't do that, the problem we run into is it will be done not by us, it will be done to us. And it will be unpaid and it will be permanent. And that is a future that we don't want to see, whether you're in Denver or on the Western Slope of Colorado, or really anywhere in this Basin. You want to control your own destiny, if at all possible." Added Eklund: "We have a moment to do that. We got to get about the work. It's going to be hard, and you're going to have to sit down with people you might not like, but we've got to do that in order to essentially control our own destiny." DES MOINES Iowa parties would be barred from holding remote caucuses and people would need to register in advance to participate in a caucus under a bill House Republicans advanced on Wednesday. The bill, proposed by Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, would effectively scrap the Iowa Democratic Partys plan to conduct the 2024 presidential precinct caucuses mostly by mail, a plan devised over the last year as the party sought to maintain its first-in-the-nation status in the national Democrats presidential nominating contest. The Democratic National Committee ultimately stripped Iowa of its status anyway, reshuffling the calendar and elevating South Carolina to the coveted spot. But Democrats maintained their plan to allow participation by mail-in preference cards. Derek Muller, an elections law expert and professor at the University of Iowa College of Law, said the bill may be unconstitutional. U.S. Supreme Court precedent holds that states cannot regulate a partys internal processes without the partys approval, he said. There are Supreme Court cases talking about how the state cant interfere with the internal workings of the party, he said. And if this is a deal brokered between the Iowa Democratic Party and Democratic National Committee about how theyre going to choose their presidential delegates, I don't know that the Legislature can prevent them from doing that. Kaufmann said that interpretation is "dead wrong." Republicans on a five-member House subcommittee that advanced the bill said the intent was to protect the integrity of the caucuses as a party event and retain their first-in-the-nation status. They argued a mail-in system would constitute a primary, prompting New Hampshire to jump ahead of Iowa in the presidential calendar knocking off the Republican caucuses status as first-in-the-nation in the process. New Hampshire state law dictates it will hold a primary election earlier than any other state and allows the secretary of state to reschedule the state primary if another state is deemed to have an earlier primary. Everybody Ive talked to, everyone that Ive had conversations with on both sides of the aisle, nationally and locally, say that when you do mail-in, its a primary, he said. New Hampshire is obligated by law to jump us if we do this. New Hampshire officials have said they will still hold their primary before any other state, despite the DNCs calendar placing South Carolina as the first state where Democrats would cast their votes for president. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement she will do everything I can to protect the status of the caucuses. The Iowa Democrat Party is unwilling to accept that their changes, an all-mail-in system of ballots, are by definition a primary and not a caucus, she said. Because of this, our coveted status as first in the nation is in jeopardy. Kaufmann is the son of Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann and a senior adviser for former President Donald Trumps 2024 campaign. He said he and others on the bill had had a conversation with people involved, but had not had a direct conversation with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. Kaufmann said the bill has no relation to his employment by the Trump campaign. This bill is made for every presidential candidate in each party to ensure that the status of the caucuses remain, he said. The 70-day registration period is meant to prevent parties from sending large numbers of people into the opposite groups caucus, Kaufmann said. He said anyone can still register with whichever party they want to participate in that partys caucus. National Republicans left their presidential nominating calendar the same for 2024, leaving Iowa in the first spot. The state party will conduct in-person caucuses in 2024 and express their presidential preference via a straw poll. In a Twitter post on Wednesday, New Hampshire GOP Chair Chris Ager shared an email from the state's Republican Secretary of State David Scanlan, who said a mail-in format for the caucuses would be considered a primary. "Any change of caucus format in Iowa that moves in the direction of a primary election, including the use of mail-in or absentee ballots, will trigger New Hampshire's law protecting our first presidential primary position," he said. Democrats argued the bill would shut people out of the caucus process and that New Hampshire may not move ahead of Iowa. The parties have a right to decide who gets to show up, I think we also have the right to decide how we run them, said Rep. Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty. I dont think that allowing some remote access to our caucuses is creating a primary. What its doing is opening up access. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said on Tuesday the bill came as a surprise without input from Democrats. Iowa Democrats will do whats best for Iowa and that means moving forward with an inclusive caucus process, she said. The Iowa GOP gave its support to the bill in a press release Wednesday. Jeff Kaufmann, the partys chair, said the state Democrats plan would ignite unnecessary one-upsmanship with New Hampshire and its first-in-the-nation primary. The bill would also allow the Iowa Secretary of State to leave the Electronic Registration Information Center, a national bipartisan voter roll maintenance organization, and work with other groups or lists to maintain its voter rolls. Iowa was one of several Republican states to announce its exit from the group this spring. The bill is scheduled for a full committee vote on Thursday, making it eligible for a floor vote. It would then need to pass in the Senate before being eligible for Gov. Kim Reynolds signature. In a written statement, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Grimes said no decision has been made about the bills future in the Senate. Photos from caucus night Drake Universitys fieldhouse Drake University caucus Caucus hurdles Juan Parsons for Bernie Get ready One for Biden Just one for Biden Context at caucus Three for yang Re-aligned for Warren Warren group setting up strong Voters arrive at Waterfront caucus site Caucus night at the Waterfront Convention Center LouAnn Mohr for Biden Cindi Davis Campaign signs Precinct captain Jeff Schuhrke Bosnian Islamic community center caucus site Early Warren supporters Sherry Carter: 86 45 2020 Signs in Bettendorf McKeegan Snyder caucuses for the first time Signs John Degreve for Pete Buttigieg Line forms in Bettendorf Line forms in Des Moines Temp precinct chair at Monroe Elementary Karen Bartel Hallway fills with Bettendorf Democrats Manageable caucus lines in Davenport Robin Griebel Students at the Waterfront Convention Center Visiting volunteer All smiles Jerry and Cheryl Linn Mosque hosts caucus for the first time Mosque hosts caucus for the first time B 12 Amir for Biden Audrey Malik Little Johnnie for Bernie Pam Kaufman Ermina for Bernie Kiesha McNeal Sulejman for Biden Des Moines mosque packed for caucus Iowa is patient Martin OBoyle International interest in Iowa caucuses Cindy Winkler Eldridge caucus Gerald Krueger Speaker for Biden caucus goers Mayor Mike Matson at Davenport North Speaker for Pete Buttigieg at District 31 Headcount difficulties in Precinct 42 Elizabeth Warren speaks at Monroe Elementary Eldridge Precinct Two Captains Not everyone is caucusing at caucus site Maria Briebriesco with the megaphone Biden leader counts supporters Students watch caucus action First-alignment math at Monroe Elementary Dream big Presidential preference cards are handed out Precinct chairs meet at Davenport North Representatives work to sway caucus goers Patrick Peacock Elizabeth Warren's campaign bus Cardboard Elizabeth Warren Make America Think Harder High-tech ops Second alignment results Second alignment begins at Davenport North Lydia King Precinct B51 Final numbers at District 31, Davenport Standing on chairs Second alignment results are in at North High School, Davenport Supporter sway Results trickling in Waterfront Convention Center clears out Long day at the Waterfront Convention Center After party ready Podium is ready for Elizabeth Warren Crowd lining up for Warren Biden supporters at Precinct B32 Jeanita McNulty Kevin Smith and Rebecca Meeke Trump 'earned my vote' Ryan Eckstein After the first round Lesa Hadley waves Caucus for Pete sign Liz Quinn Posted from my mobile device Got it. Thanks for clarifying. Its good to put into perspective. The funny side is coming from extreme poverty, when I was choosing, it did not matter if it was 40k 100k or $4 million, it was all pretty much unattainable even if I only had to pay the cost of living so at that point its like whatever that made my choice is a lot easier to an extentAnd if you want to look at the total cost, you can always also figure the opportunity cost. The nut case its not 100 K versus 140 K, its more like 200 K versus 240 K and thats 15-20% difference.Another way to look at it is imagine you would not have gotten any scholarship money. Would you have still gone at the full price? If you only got into Stern and you had to pay the full price and nowhere else?Finally, money is a personal thing and some people are very frugal and just dont feel comfortable spending more. And thats OK. You want to do what youre comfortable with. Some people dont want a high stress piping job because they dont want to stress. Thats totally fair.I would say that the difference between Kellogg and Stern will be less than you think because of cost of living in New York. Also, Keep in mind that all business calls are extremely optimistic with student budgets. The living expenses they publish are not very realistic. Maybe if you live in the cardboard box under the bridge you can meet the budget but the bottom line is that you will end up needing more money than what they say. Thats just how it is. There are trips, there are parties, there are networking events, and all of them adapt very quickly. There are also sponsored students who get paid a salary while they go to school and all of their expenses are paid and theyre just having fun. Its going to be tricky. Basically all the normal people are very broke and poor during business school it doesnt matter if you borrow 100 grand or 140 grand but keep this in mind, you will need more money than you think.I feel that you can easily justify spending an extra $20,000 on Kellogg per year. A school that is ranked within the top five almost every year, and well see how it is in US news rankings next week, assuming there are even rankings but in terms of caliber of students and you being pushed harder by them and product management classes, recruiting, elite name which is important if you dont have strong brands on your resume as well as higher selectivity and prestige and the fact that youre not a number to school in the city (reference to Columbia in New York). I would say Kellogg would be a worthwhile investment. The only aspect that doesnt reconcile is being in New York. I think you totally can recruit in New York and you can go there. Everyone and their grandma recruits they are so I dont see why not but I doubt The alumni strengths there will be the same as Stern and esp NYU.PS. My minivan was way over $40k. _________________ With no revised budget on the table yet, Senate Democrats on Wednesday postponed a potential showdown with Gov. Glenn Youngkin on tax cuts and spending priorities, but they reminded the governor that the legislature does not back down on policy decisions it already has made. The General Assembly gave Youngkin most of what he wanted during its annual veto session on Wednesday, sustaining three gubernatorial vetoes and approving changes he made to legislation to tighten regulation of the commercial hemp industry largely aimed at products containing delta-8 as well as nearly 70 other bills that it had adopted during the legislative session that ended on Feb. 25. It also agreed with four amendments he had proposed to a stopgap budget bill the legislature adopted on the last day of the session, as the House and Senate continue to negotiate over a $1 billion difference in changes to the two-year state budget. But the Senate rejected amendments he proposed to at least 10 bills as an inappropriate exercise of executive power on issues the legislature already had decided. He is trying to go around the process and be an extra legislator, said Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, who led the push to reject Youngkins proposed amendments to three bills. For example, Senate Democrats blocked a substitute bill Youngkin had proposed to prohibit picketing at the residence of U.S. Supreme Court justices, other judges and court participants, just as the assembly did earlier this year and during deliberations on the budget last year. The governor tried to attach the substitute to a bill that Deeds had introduced and the legislature had approved to prevent the publication of personal information about judges and other court officials on state websites. Senate Republicans argued that the governors proposal was consistent with the underlying bills intent to prevent intimidation of judges and other court officials, but Democrats said the constitutional right to free speech is paramount. We have to remain faithful to the First Amendment, said Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Petersburg. The Senate also rejected Youngkins attempts to reverse decisions the assembly made earlier this year. Those decisions included a reduction of the minimum amount of acre ownership required to participate in the state site readiness program for economic development (two companion bills), requiring disclosure of State Parole Board decisions to make prisoners eligible for parole (two bills), allowing Dominion Energy to recover costs for its offshore wind farm, the location of a facility for growing medical marijuana in western Virginia, the allocation of money to the repair of highway bridges and the development of policy on the resilience of coastal areas to sea level rise. One of the most sensitive debates involved access by children to pornographic sites on the internet. The assembly had adopted legislation proposed by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, to prevent children from being exposed to online porn, but Youngkin proposed to go further by restricting commercial access to online data for anyone up to 18 years old without parental consent. Senate Democrats argued that the governors amendments went too far, potentially raising conflicts over interstate commerce and consumer data privacy on issues that are not resolved nationally. We have to get this right and we have to do this the right way, said Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax. And thats through the legislature, and thats next year. Senate Democrats also objected to Youngkins proposal of substitutes to more than two dozen bills that would change the policy decisions that assembly already had made. Hes a bit of a rookie and hes not willing to take no for an answer, said Sen. Adam Ebbin D-Alexandria, who noted that the Senate General Laws Committee, which he chairs, had twice voted down the amendments that Youngkin proposed to Stanleys bill. Youngkin was generally upbeat about the outcome, which he said once again showed us that together we can find commonsense solutions on behalf of the 8.7 million Virginians who hired us. I was humbled to see legislators from both sides of the aisle come together around our proposals to lower the cost of living with more transparency around electric utility legislation, strengthen the enforcement on our new ban on the purchase of agricultural land by foreign adversaries, and improve our enforcement of intoxicating hemp product regulations, he said in a statement. But Youngkin said he was shocked by the Virginia Democrats decision to put politics before the safety of Virginians, especially our youth, online, at home, and at work. We will continue to fight for legislation that protects our children from the dangers of Big Tech, defends our Supreme Court Justices and their families from intimidation tactics, and shields Virginia residents and businesses from soaring offshore wind costs. Hemp Youngkins amendments to bills that more tightly regulate Virginias hemp industry passed both chambers Wednesday following robust debate. The amendments to the House bill sponsored by Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, passed on a vote of 52-42. The amendments to the Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, passed 33-7. Youngkins amendments allow businesses packaging products that include hemp to exceed a previously proposed 2-miligram THC cap if a product meets a 25-to-1 ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) to THC. THC is a chemical found in both hemp and marijuana that can create the feeling of a high. While most hemp companies have operated within federal guidelines for hemp products (a 0.3% cap on THC in products), some companies have sold products containing a chemical called delta-8, which is not federally regulated. The compound creates a similar high to chemicals found in marijuana and is available in some hemp products. Youngkin also struck language that required a bittering agent in topical products like hemp skincare. Businesses selling products meant to be consumed or inhaled will need to pay an annual $1,000 fee and could face a fine of $10,000 per day if caught selling illegal or mislabeled products. Kilgore said his bill accomplished the key goal of regulating THC in hemp products. He said the governors amendments spared a kind of CBD product the General Assembly authorized in 2015 when it learned it was the only medication that helped a family manage its childs epileptic fits. Dels. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William and Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, argued that passing the amendments would only encourage an illegal market for delta 8 and THC products. Adams said the governors amendments would create what she called an illicit THC market, with language that allows products with cannabidiol that is no less than 25 times greater than the amount of total tetrahydrocannabinol per package. Adams said that ratio would allow a product that could be intoxicating, and that the governors amendment was meant to ensure that an out-of-state firms product remained available, although it could be made by other firms. This is about money, not people, she said. But Del. Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland, said no other firm had stepped up to market a product that would meet the same need as the product the General Assembly authorized in 2015. The Hanger and Kilgore bills were inspired, in part, by an uptick in calls to poison control centers after some hemp products intoxicated children. Attorney General Jason Miyares also vowed to crack down on products that are packaged to resemble popular candy brands. While some in the hemp industry supported ideas like packaging requirements and child-proofing, they worried that further restricting THC limits would make many products that are currently sold illegal and put companies out of business. This bill still takes a lot of full-spectrum non-intoxicating products off of store shelves, Virginia Hemp Coalition president Jason Amatucci said in an interview with The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Its far too punitive with retail retailers. Rights restoration Before the session on Wednesday, state Sen. Lionel Spruill, D-Chesapeake, met with Youngkin to stress his concerns with the governors new approach to restoring the rights of people convicted of felonies We agreed to meet again next week, Spruill said. While Govs. Bob McDonnell, Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam took steps to restore rights automatically roughly 300,000 former inmates thus regained their right to vote Youngkin has adopted a case-by-case approach, and last year restored rights to just 4,300. Virginia and Kentucky are the only states that bar people convicted of felonies from voting; most restore rights automatically once individuals complete their sentences or probation. Youngkin spokesperson Macaculay Porter said the meeting had a constructive tone. The governor deeply respects Sen. Spruill and has a good working relationship with him, Porter said. During todays meeting, Gov. Youngkin and Secretary (of the Commonwealth Kay Coles) James were receptive to his ideas, she said. Theyve agreed to have a follow-up meeting and continue to work on this topic. Abigail Zwerner honored Also Wednesday, lawmakers formally commended Abigail Zwerner, the teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student Jan. 6 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City County, welcomed Zwerner and members of her family to the chambers floor for the formal presentation of a Senate resolution that commended her for her heroic actions in protecting the pupils in her classroom. Norment told lawmakers that, as Zwerner reached for the gun, the child fired and the bullet passed through Zwerners hand and her chest and lodged in her shoulder. Zwerner ushered her students to another room and was the last person to leave the classroom where the shooting took place heroic actions the legislatures resolution highlighted. The Richneck Elementary shooting came months after high-profile shootings at the University of Virginia and a Chesapeake Walmart. I am prayerful that those of you who are privileged to return in 2024 have a laser like focus on school safety, Norment said as he introduced Zwerner. Zwerner has filed a $40 million suit against Newport News school officials. A Newport News grand jury has charged the 6-year-old boys mother with a child neglect felony and a misdemeanor related to recklessly storing a loaded firearm endangering a child. Welcomes and goodbyes The Senate welcomed a new member, Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, who was sworn into office on Tuesday, two weeks after winning a special election for the 9th Senate District seat vacated by former Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, elected to Congress in late February to succeed the late Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th. Bagby, who previously served six years in the House of Delegates, acknowledged after his inaugural Senate session that the pace is slower, but he expressed pride in serving a Senate district that previously had been represented by Gov. Doug Wilder and Sen. Benjamin Lambert, both Richmond Democrats, as well as McEachin and McClellan. The veto session also was a time for goodbyes to senators and delegates who will not seek re-election this year although they are likely to meet again in special session on the budget before leaving office. Del. Mike Mullin, D-Newport News, thanked the House for rallying around his family after the death of his infant son Peter, and said it was the honor of his life to have served. He shared stories about how his corner of the House pioneered the white flags House members wave these days when a colleagues speech has lasted too long. He also recalled how two successive speakers of the House chastised him as acting beneath the dignity of the House for his habit of saying Play Ball at the start of each days business. So I say, one last time: Play Ball. Michael Martz (804) 649-6591 @mmartzrtd on Twitter Dave Ress (804) 649-6948 @DaveRess1 on Twitter Charlotte Rene Woods (804) 649-6254 @charlottewords on Twitter MADISON The Genealogical Society of Rockingham & Stokes Counties will hold a quarterly meeting on April 16 at 2:30 p.m. in the McMichael Meeting Room of the Madison-Mayodan Public Library, located at 611 Burton Street in Madison. Shirley Brim-Jones will be guest speaker and focus her talk on the librarys archives within the Linda C. Vernon Genealogy Room. The GSRS Board will meet at 1:30 p.m. prior to the regular meeting. Refreshments will be provided. The public is welcome. Annual Spring Swap Meet April 22 The Genealogical Society of Rockingham & Stokes Counties will hold its annual Spring Swap Meet on April 22 at the Francisco Community Building/Volunteer Fire Department located on NC 89 in the Francisco community in Stokes County. The building will be open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and the event is free to the public. Participants are urged to bring family history information and family photos to share. For a nominal fee, a printer will be available for duplicating interesting genealogy information you find. Refreshments will be available, but participants are welcome to bring a favorite snack or dish to add. EDEN In celebration of the North Carolina Year of the Trail, Eden and Rockingham County will hold Trails Day Weekend April 21-23. The Year of the Trail: NC Trails Day weekend shines a light on all the wonderful natural/outdoor assets that Rockingham County has to offer, said Lindsay Pegg, tourism director for the county. A kick-off event will be held from 5-8 p.m. Friday, April 21 at Reynolds Brewery in Eden and will include music, food, axe throwing, swag, and a twilight hike on the greenway. Food available includes wood-fired oven pizza and appetizers, such as smoked chicken wings, pretzel bites with in-house made beer cheese and nachos. Beers brewed in-house, as well as an assortment of wines and non-alcoholic drinks will also be offered. Saturday will be filled with guided hikes, paddles and bike trail events across the county, as well as Sip, Shop & Celebrate from 5 to 8 p.m. along Washington and Monroe Streets in Uptown Eden. Sunday includes self-guided hikes around Eden and Rockingham County, with a trail card and weekend itinerary available at exploreedennc.com and visitrockinghamcountync.com. We got involved because we love the town and area, and we want to do whatever we can to help make it better, said Adam Horne, general manager of Reynolds Brewery. Horne said he is a big supporter of the countys trails system. I use the trails and rivers frequently, and it is hard to beat being with friends and floating down the river, he said. Designated by the NC General Assembly and signed into law by Governor Cooper, the 2023 North Carolina Year of the Trail is a yearlong campaign to showcase, promote, and celebrate the diversity of trails across the state for all the benefits trails provide area communities. Known for its abundance of ground and water trails, Rockingham County has planned several events throughout the year to celebrate the Year of the Trail. Rockingham County is excited to be part of the largest statewide celebration of trails and outdoor recreation in North Carolina history, and the Board of Commissioners signed a proclamation during the December 5th meeting, Pegg said. Our plan in Rockingham County is for organizations and municipalities to highlight local trails and pathways year-round in an effort to showcase and celebrate outdoor recreational spaces. Pegg believes there are opportunities for everyone to participate in events and activities, including Trails Day weekend. One of the goals of Year of the Trail is to inspire and encourage people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to try trails, she said. If you hike a lot but are unfamiliar with paddling and/or mountain biking, this is the weekend to try it. Registration for guided trips is required on Eventbrite Eventbrite.com//cc/yott-nc-trail-days-weekend-festival-in-eden-1878809. Trails are for everyone; outdoors are for all, so whether you paddle, bike, walk, or ride, trails connect people to places, to nature, and to one another and their community, Pegg said. And we want to encourage everyone to discover their trail in Rockingham County. In addition to Trails Days weekend, there will be monthly events and programs, including the Dan River Boat Race May 20 in Madison, Teacher on Trails every Wednesday in May and Bouncing through the Trails June 3 in Reidsville. Whether on your own, with a friend, with family, or with your community, we hope that both residents and visitors participate in one of our monthly events to help spread the word about Year of the Trail, Pegg said. And make sure to share their adventures by tagging us (Visit Rockingham County NC) and using #yearofthetrail. With more than 25 miles of hiking/walking trails, more than 4,500 acres and 88 miles of water adventure, and miles of mountain biking, Rockingham County is unique. To learn more about all the offerings and/or download a trail tracker, residents and visitors are encouraged to go to visitrockinghamcountync.com/things-to-do/year-of-the-trail/#/. We have people in the county who are checking off every trail, Pegg said. They have reached out to us and have provided details and feedback on their adventures. For more information about all the countys river access points, go to visitrockinghamcountync.com/things-to-do/rivers-and-lakes/#/. There are also lots of new outdoor opportunities and additions in the county, including a new park, Hogans Creek Park in Stokesdale, offering hiking and mountain biking, opening in late spring/early summer, as well as the new Clearwater Park in Eden. The Town of Madison is adding a loop trail at the Lindsey Bridge/Madison River Park access and has started working on another park and trail system at the 704 river access. In addition, the Chinqua-Penn Walking Trail, the trail at Rockingham Community College, and the Freedom Park Nature Trail are either in the process of making upgrades and/or recently completed trail improvements. Rockingham County has a lot to offer, and we want Year of the Trail to be a success this year so that we continue to see a boost in our outdoor recreation tourism, the creation of new trails, and the promotion of safe and responsible use of trails, Pegg said. Most importantly through this campaign, our hope is that we are able to educate our communities about our wonderful outdoor treasures. PANEL DISCUSSION WHAT: A panel discussion with environmental leaders and activists, reflecting on North Carolinas role in the origins of the environmental justice movement by way of the 1982 PCB protests in Warren County and efforts to address these ongoing issues nationwide. A 15-minute press Q&A will follow the panel discussion. WHEN: Thursday, April 20, 2023 - 79 p.m. WHERE: North Carolina Museum of History located at 5 E. Edenton Street, Raleigh DETAILS: Hidden by the obscurity of night, trucks belonging to the Ward Transformer Company deliberately released toxic chemicals called PCBs along 250 miles of North Carolina roadways. Once uncovered, the waste had to be collected and contained. A landfill was to be placed in Warren County. For generations, the right of all people to have access to clean air and clean water has been a component of the struggle for civil rights all over the world. It was a small community in rural North Carolina that set the tone, raised the alarm and provided the example to ignite what is now called the environmental justice movement. There have been many personal critiques of state Rep. Tricia Cothams character. They are well deserved, and I hope youll read them. But rather than her self-pitying political opportunism, I want to focus on the consequences that the newly minted Republicans treachery will augur for millions of people in our state. They are, to put it candidly, wide-ranging and devastatingly regressive. Tricia Cotham has made a decision out of personal expediency or social pique that will contravene the interests of millions of human beings. I said I didnt want to belabor Cothams duplicity, but on the issue of abortion her hypocrisy is an unavoidable subject. As a Democrat, Cotham made abortion rights a central feature of her brand. But her new partys emphasis is entirely the opposite, and because of her reversal new restrictions on abortion are now guaranteed. House Speaker Tim Moore has expressed support for a ban on abortion as early as six weeks into pregnancy. As most people know though the white men who compose the vast majority of Cothams new colleagues do not most women do not even know that they are pregnant at the six-week threshold. Thus, Tricia Cotham has imposed forced birth on hundreds of thousands of North Carolina women. Cotham always portrayed herself as a cheery and boosterish advocate for public education, but public schools, for so long a refuge for marginalized students, may now become trans peoples undoing. Key forces in the Republican Party are very eager to pass a so-called Parents Bill of Rights which would force teachers to out trans children to their parents. This is the South, where conservative evangelicalism runs deep. Its no secret that many conservative evangelicals are deeply intolerant of trans people, and cruel, abusive treatment of trans children is likely inevitable should the Republican Party use this new supermajority to pass their bill. The curriculum of public schools is likely to be warped. Wedded to the simple verities of generations past, Republicans want ugly historical facts to be suppressed. This white fragility makes up the core of the anti-critical race theory bill. In pointed contravention of historical fact, children would learn that our history is spotless and heroic, and that slavery was a regrettable outlier. The current repercussions of enslavement would be a verboten subject. As a result, whites would grow up oblivious, and Blacks would yearn for historical vindication that will not be forthcoming. Its been a decade since Republicans tore North Carolina apart in the 2013 legislative session. That year stood out for its extremism even by the standards of an ever-long counterrevolution. But thanks to Tricia Cothams decision to flout everything she ever told people she believed in, Republicans have the capacity to demolish what little is left of the state we knew. If youre a woman forced to give birth, or a trans person afraid to tell a teacher who you are, Tricia Cotham Tricia Cotham Tricia Cotham caused your plight. Maybe it is because I am preparing to launch one of my children off to college, but I have been thinking a lot about inflection points in life. The Republican Party is also at one of those points. The party, like my daughter, needs to decide what it wants to be and whether it wants to win. But unlike my daughter, I am afraid there will be no turning back for the GOP once it chooses its fate. This critical juncture provides an opportunity for Republican primary voters. While voters may love Donald Trump and feel he is being politically persecuted, they should consider three GOP election-cycle losses, potential exhaustion from the electorate if Trumps legal woes continue, and former Vice President Mike Pence. While Pence has yet to enter the race, he has been in Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina offering a vision for the country and the party based on values and policies, all the while strategically not attacking the former president or demeaning his supporters. Republican primary voters need to consider what the party stands for and whether it is a winning message as they shoulder the responsibility of choosing the standard bearer of the party. Here are just a few examples of the Pence-Trump divide. Speaking in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, at an event I attended, Pence touted the policies enacted during the Trump administration, but it was the rhetoric around principles that was particularly contrasting to his former boss. Pence opened his remarks with an anecdote about his fathers service in the Army during the Korean War. He received the Bronze Star. Pences son is a Marine officer. Pences son-in-law serves in the Navy. Trump, by contrast, has shared little admiration for the military. Trump has referred to fallen soldiers as losers and suckers. Trump openly mocked the late Sen. John McCain of Arizona and his service in Vietnam, including as a prisoner of war. Pence left no doubt where he stands on the importance of standing up to Russia. The war in Ukraine is not our war but freedom is our fight. He called America the arsenal of democracy. He told Fox News Tucker Carlson There is no room for Putin apologists in the Republican Party. This is not Americas war, but if Putin is not stopped and the sovereign nation of Ukraine is not restored quickly, he will continue to move toward our NATO allies, and America would then be called upon to send our own. Trump has favored a U.S. withdrawal from NATO and recently said that the greatest threat to Western civilization today is not Russia. Its probably, more than anything else, ourselves and some of the horrible USA-hating people representing us. Pence is convinced better days are ahead and that America needs to have a government as good as its people. Pence described himself as a Christian, a conservative and a Republican in that order. In an interview, I asked Pence where being an American fit on that list. I feel very proud to be an American. I described myself by my values as a Christian, a conservative, and a Republican in that order. But underpinning all of it, I am a proud American. I promise you that. Anti-Trumpers and Never Trumpers might not think Pence passes the purity test. They might be justifiably angry that he has not responded to subpoenas or testified. While it may be a low bar, they should find comfort in the fact that Pence stood up to Trump when it truly mattered. I had made a promise to the American people to support and defend the Constitution, and I was determined to keep it, he wrote in his book of the Jan. 6, 2021, confrontation with Trump. The values and policies that past Republican presidents have espoused, and that Pence is emulating, have been winners throughout the partys modern history. President Ronald Reagan had a 63% approval rating when he left office. George W. Bush, who believed in compassionate conservatism, was the last Republican president to win the popular vote. Conversely, election denialism and political instability are a real loser with the American electorate. I still believe that Trump will be the 2024 Republican nominee. I am also under no illusion that the GOP base is even interested in establishment approaches, but they should give them and Pence a second look. The road ahead for the GOP isnt about making big decisions. The future is in the small choices, like a primary vote, that may have big consequences and may reveal themselves to be of crucial importance later. I hope Republican primary voters do the same as I tell my teenage daughter: Make good choices. "This has been going on for centuries," says Dr. Kathryn Edwards, author of an American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report "Countering Vaccine Hesitancy." She points out that there was a cartoon published back in 1802 that depicts people growing cow-like parts. This was because Edward Jenner pioneered the smallpox vaccine first using material from cowpox. The first smallpox vaccine "was met with enthusiasm but also dread," wrote medical historian Elena Conis in a 2015 article. "While many patients and physicians were eager to fend off one of that era's most feared diseases, many others balked at the prospect of contaminating their healthy bodies with disease matter from an animal." And when European countries began making smallpox vaccines mandatory in the early 1800s, "societies of anti-vaccinationists formed to protest what they saw as unequal treatment and undue infringement of individual liberty." Advertisement But they didn't get much traction. There was also little protest against the polio vaccine, released in 1954 to "wild enthusiasm" in America, according to Conis. "Parents so dreaded polio that they were quick to seek the vaccine for their children, and coercive policies never became necessary," she wrote. " " A nurse prepares children for a polio vaccine shot as part of a city-wide testing of the vaccine on elementary school students in 1954. Bettmann/Getty Images But as the decades went on, American parents were not so excited about vaccinations for measles, mumps and other diseases, she noted. "Families long accustomed to living with measles, for example, shrugged off the new vaccine against the disease." Health officials often had to make vaccinations mandatory for school registration to get compliance. In 1982, a TV documentary called "DPT: Vaccine Roulette" aired, featuring profiles of children whose mothers believed they were harmed by the vaccine for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, one of the first media coverages critical of vaccines. Then, the 1998 Lancet article linking the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and autism sparked the "anti-vaxxer" movement. Fast forward to 2021 and the new vaccination against COVID-19. A whopping one-third of American adults are skeptical of getting it, according to the Associated Press, a pretty big problem for those trying to slow or stop the pandemic. To integrate medical science with technology for providing a better and more equipped healthcare service, Bhubaneswar-based AIIMS and IIT have signed an MoU to promote academic and research collaboration in various areas of health and technology.Both institutes have agreed to extend collaboration in advancing research for public health applications like early diagnosis of disease and outbreaks, artificial intelligence and data analytics, biomedical engineering and technology, disease prediction modeling, digital health, and development of tools, equipment and strategies for diagnostic and therapeutic use.AIIMS Bhubaneswar executive director Ashutosh Biswas and IIT Bhubaneswar director Shreepad Karmalkar have signed the agreement here at AIIMS. This endeavor will aid in finding solutions to the current challenges in public health and patient treatment in the region. Application of cutting-edge technology into healthcare will have immense translational value in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases, said Biswas.The collaboration will focus on the application of artificial intelligence with relation to various health disorders, material development, app development, wearable sensor development, image-based diagnostics, AI & amp; data sciences enabled smart health monitoring systems, and early warning systems among others, Biswas said.AIIMS executive director Biswas has extended gratitude to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan for the support to make this MoU a successful one.IIT Bhubaneswar director Shreepad Karmalkar said that several faculties of both institutions have been looking at possible mutual partnerships for some time.The societal effect of these two institutions in Odisha and throughout the nation will increase as a result of this MoU, which will combine all of these efforts and give them a powerful boost."We thank Education Minister Pradhan ji for encouraging the creation of this MoU. We shall now endeavor to ensure that this MoU produces concrete results," stated the IIT Bhubaneswar director.The institutes will also focus on dedicated laboratory development. An advanced research center called the Center for Biomedical Engineering and Technology which will largely include biomedical signal processing, advanced characterization, detector fabrication for imaging, additive manufacturing for designed materials, bio tracker and biosensor development for mental health care, is also planned under this collaboration.In addition, both institutes have agreed to facilitate faculty and student exchange programs and reorientation/training courses that will bring academic excellence in their respective fields.The institutes also agreed to develop and offer joint academic programs involving technology and healthcare as well as an academic credit-sharing mechanism, sources said.Both institutes will focus on dedicated facility development and explore the use of advanced medical equipment for artificial intelligence-enabled patient care services. This will provide joint academic programs that include short summer courses for MBBS and B. Tech students, and research dissertation and thesis work for doctoral (PHD/M. Tech) students. Two Helena-area landmarks are among the 29 historical preservation projects statewide to share $222,460 in grants from The Foundation for Montana History. The 1872 Unionville Schoolhouse will receive $5,000 for structural stabilization repair, and the Little Red School House will get $6,500 for foundation repair. Representatives of both structures praised the infusion of funds, saying the money would be put to good use to help save the two historic buildings. Getting that grant is almost life-changing for the school, said David Wolstein, curator for the Little Red School House at 1635 Sierra Road E. in Helena. The funds will be used to help replace the foundation under the kitchen annex, according to the grant. This work will ensure the schoolhouse remains a community gathering point for years. We have been putting this project off, and it has come to fruition, Wolstein said, adding work will begin next week. Power Townsend is donating an excavator, and Arco builders will do the work. Wolstein said a nonprofit, the Little Red Schoolhouse Inc., started in about 1980 to save the building. Heck, its 40 years later; we are still going strong, he said, adding there is always a project to help the old school. The next thing will be the roof, he said. Pam Attardo, heritage preservation officer for the city/county heritage tourism council, said they were thrilled to get the money from the foundation and noted the Unionville Schoolhouse got a $4,000 grant in 2014. She said they were able to return the building to its original color. Attardo said the funds will be used to help reinforce the building. She said industrial windows were installed in the 1950s, causing the wall to bow outward, prompting the structure to be in danger of collapsing. She also noted the rafters are undersized. She said the Unionville community has made a $42,000 in-kind match, which includes time, goods, services and equipment. The building means a lot to them, she said, adding it is used as a community center. Attardo, who said she plans to apply for American Rescue Plan Act funds from the county, said the project will repair the northwest wall of the school, including three large steel-paned windows covering 75% of the wall. The application to the Foundation for Montana History notes the bowing has worsened in the past two years, and the wall is now separating from the floor due to the weight of the large windows, which were installed without a header. The bowing has worsened in the past two years and the wall is now separating from the floor, it states. "Volunteers recently discovered that the rafters and rafter ties are not properly supported, which could result in the roof's collapse, especially with the bowed wall, the application states. The roof rafters are undersized, pieced together (and) were likely reused from a log-walled structure. The school served families who worked in the Whitlatch-Union Mining and Milling Co. The mine was founded in 1864 by James Whitlatch, five months after the Four Georgians Last Chance Gulch gold discovery. The school welcomed children for decades until it closed in 1955. It was subsequently used for community purposes, including elections and volunteer fire department meetings. Since the 2015 roof and painting project, residents continue to treasure the historic building. The Helena-based Foundation for Montana History, a nonprofit organization, grants up to $10,000 per project. The grants for the statewide projects this year mark the largest amount awarded in one year since the program began in 2012, officials said. It brings the foundations total funding for community-based history projects to over $1.5 million to date. Growing our grant program is at the core of our mission, President/CEO Charlene Porsild said Monday in an email. The milestones reached (this year) make us more determined than ever to continue mobilizing the generosity of donors on behalf of community-based history across the state. Wolstein praised the support the foundation provides groups. We cant say enough about that organization and what they do to maintain history, he said. Other projects of note include: A new roof for the historic Libby Hotel, Libby, $10,000: This is the first step in a project to eventually restore and reopen the hotel to the public. The Story of Us: Women Who Shaped Montana History Documentary, Bozeman, $10,000: A grant from the foundation will help The Extreme History Project produce two new episodes as part of the popular documentary series The Story of Us, which highlights the stories of women in Montanas history. $10,000: Fort Benton Community Improvement Association Keelboat Mandan Repair. This grant will ensure the completion of the repair work on the historic Keelboat Mandan. $5,000: Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation Interpretive Signage, Great Falls. This will help create interpretive signs at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. $20,000: Montana Heritage Commission Saving Stonewall Hall, Virginia City. This grant will help stabilize and rehabilitate this building that served as Montanas original territorial capitol building from 1865-1875. Montana Technological University The Geological Story of the Corps of Discovery in Montana. An $8,500 grant will fund pre-production of Montana Technological Universitys film project that will look at geological discoveries made on Lewis and Clarks Expedition. The Montana Dinosaur Center Fossil Collection Support Jackets, Bynum: A $9,400 grant will help hire interns and purchase materials to build custom support jackets to safely store dinosaur fossils long term. Town of Cascade National Register Application for Hillside Cemetery. A $2,000 grant will enable Cascade to prepare a nomination for the Hillside Cemetery to be listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Virginia City Preservation Alliance Robbers Roost Structural Stabilization and Archeological Investigation, Virginia City: A $7,650 grant will build on a 2021 grant to do a site assessment of historic Robbers Roost cabin in Virginia City. This will help the Virginia City Preservation Alliance stabilize the buildings foundation and balcony. Yellowstone Bighorn Research Association Restoration and Preservation of the 1936 Darton Cabin, Red Lodge, $9,500. Railroad Passenger Car Restoration, Harlowton, $10,000: This will help the Harlowton City County Preservation Committee restore the roof of a historic Milwaukee Railroad passenger car. Helena College had a large turnout for an open house for its new cosmetology program, officials said Wednesday, showing there is already interest in a program months away from starting. The colleges cosmetology program will be the first public program in the state and the first to offer an associate degree. Classes will begin in January. The program can be completed in four semesters and/or 15 months, college officials say. About 65 people attended an open house Tuesday at the college, either in person or online, college officials said. Robyn Kiesling, who oversees the cosmetology program, said the new offering is generating interest not only from potential students in Helena, but all over the state. She said salon operators and cosmetologists are also showing interest, as there is a shortage of trained workers in Montana. Its being received well by the students, said Keisling, who is the executive director of general education and transfer at the college. She said they are also considering dual-enrollment courses for high school students. The program will prepare students for cosmetology licensure exams with the Montana State Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists. Students will complete their practical hours for the program in the Helena College School of Cosmetology salon, a full-service salon. The curriculum will prepare students for employment in all areas of cosmetology, including hair cutting, coloring and styling; makeup application; nails; and esthetics. Students can earn an associate of applied science cosmetology degree. Sandra Bauman, Helena Colleges dean and chief executive officer, said in early 2022 that the college would launch a cosmetology program that will train 45 students per year and be available to the public. She said the college selected cosmetology because there are no public training offerings in Helena and the college can provide such training at a lower cost for people looking to enter the field. Construction started in March at the colleges Donaldson Campus in a space that was previously the fire bay for the Fire and Emergency Services program. It's slated to open in the spring of 2024. Cost for the new space is about $2 million, with $1.5 million of that for construction, a college spokeswoman said. Although Bauman did not attend Tuesdays open house, she said she was happy to hear reports it was well attended. We are very optimistic about the program, she said, adding she has received good feedback from the community. Bauman said a strong advisory board has been set up. Kiesling said contractors are on track to complete construction by Oct. 15. She said she has not heard any opposition from any private cosmetology schools in the state. They are located in different cities, she said adding that Helena is not competing against another school. She did note it's been about 15 years since someone taught cosmetology in Helena. Were offering an opportunity in another community that did not have one, Kiesling said. For more on the cosmetology program, go to bit.ly/3KBrvfs. Two of Montanas top officials on Wednesday made another pitch for legislators to fully fund their requests for additional law enforcement resources in the coming biennium. Government agencies and offices have been jockeying for new resources, with an eye on the states estimated $2.4 billion surplus, as legislators shape Montanas budget for the next two years. Lawmakers in the House opted to fund 17 of the Department of Justices request for 38 new employees, calling the funding they did approve historic despite falling short of the executive branchs request. Funding for these positions isn't one-time-only spending as surplus money is typically spent, but built into the ongoing state budget. Gov. Greg Gianforte, who several times this session has published rosters of legislators who voted against his fiscal agenda, and Attorney General Austin Knudsen, who heads up the DOJ, made a joint pitch for the Senate to fund the executives full request. Both are Republicans, and the GOP holds a supermajority in the legislature. Unfortunately, the budget bill that was sent to the Senate does not fulfill our full request for public safety, the governor told reporters at a Montana Highway Patrol facility on Wednesday. Lets be clear, combating violent crime and building safer, stronger communities will take investments. Our budget makes those necessary investments. I urge the Senate to restore the new Highway Patrol troopers, prosecutors and criminal investigators that we proposed and Montana needs. Knudsen said he has been in contact with legislative leadership as the state budget, contained in House Bill 2, continues through the process. Now in the Senate Finance and Claims Committee, the bill will still see opportunities to add those positions again once it reaches the Senate floor and returns to the House. After that step, lawmakers may also assemble a conference committee for the final touches. The attorney general stressed the need for additional major crime investigators. These state positions often handle cases when local officers shoot someone, to prevent the conflict of interest of a local agency investigating. That team does such fantastic work but, look, they are stretched to the absolute breaking point. They are running from crime scene to crime scene, from officer-involved shooting to officer-involved shooting, from Glasgow to St. Regis, Knudsen said. Thats a lot of real estate for 10 agents to cover. The request delivered to lawmakers at the beginning of the session included seven attorneys, seven maintenance workers, five MHP troopers, 15 criminal investigators, three trainers, one informational technology system analyst and a part-time grant coordinator. Before this week, legislators had agreed to fund four attorneys, seven maintenance workers, six criminal investigators and the part-time grant coordinator. On Tuesday, the Senate finance committee agreed to fund three more major crime investigators, bringing the new historic total to 20. The state public defenders office has likewise been shorted by lawmakers, initially asking for 20 new employees and granted eight by legislative finance committees. That agency was hauled into court and held in contempt for its delays in assigning counsel to indigent clients last year. Neither official made a pitch Wednesday for restoring the employees sought by OPD. Sen. John Esp, R-Big Timber, chairs the Senate Finance and Claims Committee. He said Wednesday his committee followed the lead of the public safety budget committee, the first to review the funding request by the executive branch. He pointed to other positions the committee has funded, like a sexual assault examination nurse training coordinator. The need was apparent in a January hearing; no one east of Billings is trained to handle sexual assault evidence kits, so victims are often forced to drive long distances to complete the examination. We funded what we thought were critical needs, Esp said. The Senate Finance and Claims Committee is on track to advance House Bill 2, which carries the state budget, by Thursday. Esp said Wednesday the bill is tentatively planned for a Senate floor debate late next week. Youve got youve got fiscally conservative legislators, I understand that. I used to be one, you know, Ive been in that position, Knudsen said Wednesday. But look, weve got an unprecedented budget surplus this year, and theres a lot of hands out. Theres a lot of great ideas and how we can spend that money. I think the governor and I are on the same sheet of music. We think it should be spent a law enforcement. As it currently reads, Montanas Constitution states the opportunity to harvest wild fish and wild game animals is a heritage that shall be forever preserved. The key word here is opportunity. Keenly aware it is not a right, out-of-state animal rights activists are fighting to keep it this way, knowing full well that chipping away at opportunities is much easier than taking rights away. This is not a new tactic. Montanas weak protection for sportsmen and women provides fertile ground for anti-hunting, trapping and fishing activists to attack our heritage of harvesting wild fish and game. Weve faced this before, and it will only gain traction as the demographics of Montanas population changes. In 1990, the CEO of the Humane Society of the U.S. described the groups tactics: We are going to use the ballot box and the democratic process to stop all hunting in the United States. We will take it species by species until all hunting is stopped in California. Then we will take it state by state. Decades later, we continue to witness their attempts to turn this outlandish goal into a reality. At 11.5%, Montanas population growth has outpaced nearly every state except Florida, with most of the growth in the areas of Bozeman, Missoula and Billings. When Oregon, Washington, California and Colorado experienced similar growth, they faced a rise in attacks on the history and heritage of trapping, hunting and fishing. As predicted, these efforts came in the form of ballot initiatives fueled largely by outside money which resonated with the new urban voters. The playbook is now well known. It starts with the loss of mountain lion hunting, spring black bear hunting and trapping. And it continues to successfully remove other opportunities, one by one. Last week in the House, Montana legislators passed HB 372, a bill that would trigger a ballot initiative where the voters of Montana would have the opportunity to amend the Constitution to include this right. It follows the recommendations of the Congressional Sportsmens Foundation. And, importantly, does not create or imply any right of public trespass on private property or diminish in any way vested private property rights. It does not diminish water or landowner rights, the role of the Fish, Wildlife and Parks Commission, or entangle the enforcement of game laws. If passed, Montana would join 22 other states that already have strong language in their Constitutions, and the heritage of harvesting wild fish and game will be protected for future generations. Unfortunately, as Montanas legislative session begins to wind down, politics are at play. This should be a no-brainer vote for anyone who represents Montana constituents and wants to preserve our heritage, but politics have gotten in the way. Now is the time to secure this right, to give Montana voters the opportunity to make the choice at the ballot box next fall. We recognize that any amendment to our Constitution should require deliberate consideration. And we know the loss of our outdoor heritage is an eminent and irreversible threat that warrants this action before it is too late. Now is the time to ask your legislator to support your right to hunt, fish and trap in Montana. As a third-generation rancher from Big Sandy, I am absolutely aware of the importance of water, water rights and the protection of Montanas primacy over the water resources of this state. That is why I have traveled to Helena to testify in both the Senate and the House in support of SB 72 pending in the Montana Legislature. SB 72 will protect and assure that Montanas own courts will continue to have the exclusive jurisdiction over the distribution of water and water rights both before and after the adjudication of existing water rights is completed by the Montana Water Court. As far as State rights legislation goes SB 72 is absolutely critical! Unfortunately, SB 72 is encountering opposition by members of the House Judiciary Committee based on issues raised by big money political donors, and for reasons unrelated to the substance of the bill. All Montana water right holders, and all who care about the state maintaining primacy over the water resources of this state, should contact their representatives immediately and urge a do pass on SB 72. SB 72 will assure the administration and distribution of water under the final decrees of the Montana Division Courts will be enforced, administered and distributed by a Montana state court and not by the federal government. Under a federal law known as the McCarran Amendment, Montana has the opportunity to not only adjudicate ALL rights to water arising in Montana, but also the opportunity to administer and distribute ALL of Montanas water to those who have valid water rights. This includes the jurisdiction and authority over the distribution of water rights held by the United States government. Water and water rights are the most precious of all resources in Montana. Water and water rights are the one resource the state can protect and control, even over the reach of the federal government, through our water division courts. The passage of SB 72 will stiff-arm the federal governments attempt to take over our water! If you dont think the U.S. government has its eyes on the water of the western states, including Montana, look no further than recent actions of the Biden administration concerning the continuing struggle over the designation of Waters of the United States (WOTUS) under the federal Clean Water Act. Despite opposition from several western legislatures, and despite opposition from Congress, the United States is insisting on defining waters of the U.S. in a manner which threatens all water rights and all property rights in the western U.S. The controversy over WOTUS, and the importance of keeping the U.S. government out of the lives of just about all resource activity providers in the western U.S., pales in comparison to the United States having jurisdiction over water rights and water distribution in Montana. In order to protect Montanas ability to continue to have primacy over the water resources of this state, and more importantly primacy over the distribution of the water rights adjudicated by the Montana state Water Court, passage of SB 72 is absolutely essential. Members of the House Judiciary Committee and members of the Montana House need to set political games aside and protect Montanas primacy over water rights and water resources of Montana by passing SB 72. DECATUR Joshua O. Tyson appeared in court Wednesday and told a judge he was willing to waive a preliminary hearing to test the evidence that accuses him of inflicting fatal head injuries on his 7-month-old son. Tyson then informed Macon County Circuit Court Judge Lindsey Shelton that he was pleading not guilty to the single charge accusing him of committing aggravated battery by striking the baby. After reminding the 19-year-old defendant of his rights, Shelton assigned the case to the trial list of Judge James Coryell and scheduled a pretrial hearing for May 25. States Attorney Scott Rueter will lead the prosecution and Chief Public Defender Michelle Sanders will represent Tyson. The decision to charge Tyson comes after a long investigation by Decatur police. Officers were called to a house in the 1000 block of West Cerro Gordo Street on February 3 of 2022 in response to reports of an injured child. Lt. Scott Rosenbery said police found the baby suffering from head trauma and he later died from his injuries at HSHS St. Johns Hospital in Springfield two days later on February 5. Following an extensive effort, the Decatur Police Department presented the investigation to the Macon County State Attorneys Office, Rosenberg had said in a statement. After reviewing the investigation, the state attorneys office issued an arrest warrant for the childs father. Tyson was arrested March 28. He remains held in the Macon County Jail with bail set at $250,000, requiring him to post a bond of $25,000 to be freed. Court records show he was on probation at the time of the latest offense. He had been sentenced to 24 months probation after appearing in court January 12 and pleading guilty to a charge of committing aggravated battery to a pregnant or handicapped victim. He was also ordered to stay away from the victim and complete anger management classes. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods DECATUR A convicted sex offender accused of using Decatur as the location to lure what he thought was a 15-year-old girl into having sex has waived a preliminary hearing to test the evidence against him. Eric L. Crawford Sr., 43, told Macon County Circuit Judge Lindsey Shelton he was willing to forgo the hearing when he appeared in court Wednesday. Represented by Chief Public Defender Michelle Sanders, the defendant then pleaded not guilty to two charges of indecent solicitation. He also denied a charge of grooming, the offense of attempting to lure, solicit or entice a child into committing a sex act. He further denies additional charges of violating the rules of the sex offender registry and distributing sexually explicit material to a minor. A sworn affidavit said the Decatur Police Street Crimes Unit had been tipped off by the Des Moines County Sheriffs Office in Iowa that Crawford was expecting to meet the child in Decatur on March 21. Police said Crawford told the teenager he wanted to perform various sex acts and had promised not to get the 15-year-old female pregnant, according to the affidavit, signed by Decatur Detective Todd Koester. During the conversation, Crawford indicated that he could not leave the Decatur area due to outstanding court issues in Iowa and would prefer her to come to Decatur, said Koester. On March 21 the purported 15-year-old female told Crawford that she was able to get a ride from Burlington, Iowa, to Decatur. Crawford believed he had been communicating with the girl via Facebook Messenger since the beginning of March when, in fact, he was talking to detectives from the Des Moines County Sheriffs Office. Koester said Crawford had sent sexually explicit photos and promised to supply the teen with methamphetamine. The detective said the defendant had arranged to meet the girl at an address on East Wood Street and was arrested when he showed up. Crawford, who has previously lived out of state, is quoted as telling police he had been staying in Decatur for about seven days before his arrest. He is also quoted as saying he admitted to chatting with what he thought was the girl via his cellphone and it was possible they would have sex during their Decatur encounter. A check of the Illinois State Police sex offender database lists Crawford as a sexual predator convicted previously of the aggravated criminal sexual abuse of an 11-year-old victim. Crawford remained held in the Macon County Jail Thursday with bail set at $75,000, requiring him to post a bond of $7,500 to be freed. 2023 mugshots from the Herald & Review Lourash Hirstein Phillip Gehrken Joseph A. Williams Jetrevius O. Jarrett Edwards King-Woods New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Potential for severe thunderstorms. High 74F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening. Cloudy skies after midnight. Potential for severe thunderstorms. Low around 65F. Winds SE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%. BRISTOL, Va. The city of Bristol, Virginias police and fire departments and the Bristol Life Saving Crew will conduct an active shooter exercise at one of the city's schools. This unannounced drill will be conducted on a day that school is not in session but the date and time are not being announced beforehand, according to a written statement. Citizens are asked to remember that this is only a drill. It is possible people may hear blank gunshots and see persons being removed on stretchers, but this is only a drill. The city is conducting this preventative training to be better prepared should a tragedy occur in our area. During this exercise, law enforcement and emergency services agencies will cause congestion in some areas of the city responding to the scene. The public is asked to avoid any area if they see heavy emergency management personnel and do not impede the flow of traffic. BRISTOL, Va. The Bristol Virginia Police Department is asking for the public's assistance in helping locate a missing man. Isaac Wells, 35, was last seen at his Bristol Virginia home on April 2, according to a statement. He is 5 feet, 9 inches tall, 170 pounds with blue/gray eyes and light brown hair. Wells may be traveling in a blue 2006 Subaru four door hatchback with Virginia license plate UEJ-7320. If anyone has any information please contact the Bristol Virginia Police Department at 276-645-7400. Hickorys first permanent food truck park is set to open today. Side Street Stop Food Truck Park is located on 10th Avenue Drive, beside the Quail Ridge Apartments and less than a mile from Hickory High School and Lenoir-Rhyne University. The park consists of a parking lot for the trucks and a gravel area with tables for those who choose to eat at the park. The idea for the food truck park came about when Noelle Walker, who owns The Natural Olive in downtown Hickory and also the land where the park is located, asked around about potential uses for the property. We just wanted to give something back to Hickory, Walker said. We had this empty lot. We had a lot of friends, people within the community give us ideas of how to use this lot, and the food trucks seemed to be the one that kept coming around. Walker credited Joyce Boston, owner of the food truck JBs Rolling Bistro, with helping spread the word about the park to other food truck owners. Boston said she was attracted to the idea because it was new to the area. I felt like its going to be something great, so I wanted to be a part of it, Boston said. The parks regular hours will be 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and she said the plan is to be open all week as long as food trucks are available. In the initial phase of the park, Walker said they would be looking at hosting various special events such as wine nights, game days and family nights, which may change the operating hours for the park. There are a few spaces for customers to park at the park itself, and Walker said some of the neighboring office buildings have agreed to offer parking for the food truck park after business hours. Walker said she is also talking with Hickory High about the possibility of allowing parking there after school. In addition to Bostons food truck, the three other food trucks in the park are Craft Taco, Munchies Paradise and Lost Highway Pizza. Other trucks may come in at various times, but Boston said the goal is to have at least two trucks there during their business hours to provide some consistency. The owners of the four flagship food trucks said they plan to spend a lot of time there and they see it as a positive for their business. Craft Taco owner Heidi Alderete said she initially had reservations about the idea of staying parked in one spot but ultimately came around to the idea. The more I thought about it and the community that we have and the support of the community, I thought that it would be a good idea, Alderete said. Pedetch Lee, co-owner of Munchies Paradise, said there were some advantages to having a consistent space for the truck. I believe its cool to travel with the food truck, but sometimes customers want to be able to come find you and know that you can always be there for them rather than having to chase you all around town, Lee said. Kaleb Reid of Lost Highway Pizza said having an environment with a lot of different options could be helpful for families or groups of people. Its convenience for the customer and good publicity for us, Reid said. Wood also says that Muir had the foresight to realize that he couldn't push for continued conservation advocacy alone, and that collective action would be necessary for an enduring impact on environmental protection. "That is why he agreed, in 1892, to attend the Sierra Club's organizational meeting, and agreed to become the first president of the Sierra Club, an office he held until his death in 1914," Wood says. "He was glad to be part of such an organization because, in his words, 'We will be able to do something for wildness and make the mountains glad.'" Described on its website as "the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States," the Sierra Club continues to "amplify the power of our 3.8 million members and supporters to defend everyone's right to a healthy world." The organization's national community of volunteers, advocates, and grassroots activists have secured the protection for 439 parks and monuments, won the passage of the Clean Air and Endangered Species Acts, and put over 281 coal plants on the path to replacement with clean energy, among other accomplishments. Advertisement " " John Muir walks through Muir Woods, which was declared a national monument on Jan. 9, 1908, by President Theodore Roosevelt. GOGA Park Archives/Flickr (CC BY-ND 2.0) According to Wood, Muir spent many long years advocating for the return of Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove from California state management to be incorporated in the Yosemite National Park. "In fact, this was really the first campaign for the early Sierra Club," he says. "To this end, in 1898 the Sierra Club set up a public 'reading room' within the Valley, staffed by Muir's young colleague, William E. Colby, to help people enjoy Yosemite and to learn more about the region. In 1904, the Club built a stone visitor center in the valley, now named the Yosemite Conservation Heritage Center." Despite those efforts, it wasn't until 1906 after a 17-year campaign spearheaded by Muir and the Sierra Club that President Roosevelt signed federal legislation to return Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Grove to become part of the Yosemite National Park. "As the Sierra Club's first president, his leadership inspired many efforts that came even after his death, such as the establishment of the National Park Service in 1916, and the Wilderness Preservation System in 1964," Wood says. "His writings inspired generations of conservationists like National Park Service's first director Stephen Mather, author of the Wilderness Act, Howard Zahniser, famed photographer Ansel Adams, conservationist David Brower, and many more. This included a generation of grassroots activists throughout the 20th century who were inspired by Muir's legacy to establish a series of additional National Parks and Monuments, and many new units in the National Wilderness Preservation System." While Muir's last battle to prevent the damming of the Hetch Hetchy Valley within Yosemite National Park failed, Wood says his fight made a lasting impact on societal attitudes toward conservation efforts. "That lost battle ultimately resulted in a widespread conviction that our national parks should be held inviolate. Many proposals to dam our national parks since that time have been stopped because of the efforts of citizens inspired by John Muir, and today there are legitimate proposals to restore Hetch Hetchy, while still preserving San Francisco's water supply from the Tuolumne River. Today, there is a growing movement to remove dams which destroy native fisheries like salmon and steelhead and natural ecosystems, such as the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams in the Olympic Peninsula in Washington State." IN 1914, a year after losing the battle to protect the Hetch Hetchy, Muir died in Los Angeles following a short illness. "Perhaps his greatest legacy is not even wilderness preservation or national parks as such, but his teaching us the essential characteristic of the science of ecology, the interrelatedness of all living things," Wood says. "He summed it up nicely in his often quoted verse: 'When we try to pick out anything by itself, we find it hitched to everything else in the Universe.'" Now That's Interesting In recent years, Muir's reputation has been tarnished as derogatory remarks he made about Native Americans have received renewed scrutiny. "Most media articles, when discussing Muir's views about Native Americans, ignore Muir's admiration for Alaska Natives and his charity work for southern California Indians," Wood says. He wrote about the topic in an essay for the John Muir Global Network, noting: "When one actually reads the bulk of Muir's writings rather than cherry-picking a few quotes, Muir's writings reflect a concern about how the Native tribes in California had been defiled and degraded by white culture, beginning with the Spanish and Mexicans, long before white American settlers came." Marx's 1847 economics work, "Capital. A Critique of Political Economy," a takedown of capitalism that decried the exploitation of the working class, crystallized a debate one that continues today between the West's ruling social and economic theory, capitalism, and Marx's idea of communism. To many, it's a fight that pits rich versus poor; bourgeoisie versus proletariat; ruling class versus workers. It is even more than that to those who debate it: It's right versus wrong, an argument about the best path to a perfect society. But that, of course, is criminally simplistic and doesn't get Marx's thinking right. Advertisement "Above all else, the association that people have with Marx, that he's some utopian, pie of sky, dreaming up a perfect world that is free of all the nastiness we live in now ... really, that couldn't be further from the truth," Dallman says. "As I said, Marx had a kind of engineering mindset. He was, probably of all the major figures in the history of political thought, the most practical, the most realistic. He was the most concerned with what is really possible in the real world." What Marx defined as communism boiled down, a society that produces goods only for human need, not for profit, and in which there is no master-slave/royalty-peasants/owner-worker relationship (and therefore no need to overthrow anybody) certainly clashes with the materialism of capitalism. But it's a long way from what many see as communism, too. After the Russian Revolution of 1917, and later under Joseph Stalin's reign, some of Marx's ideas (along with those of Vladimir Lenin) were used to build a new empire. Millions were killed along the way. Similarly, millions died in China under the rule of Mao Zedong's communist party. "It's hard to even talk about what Marx thought of communism without dragging in all the weight from Soviet Russia and communist China," Dallman says. "And, obviously, a lot of people hold Marx responsible for that." " " Karl Marx and his daughter Jenny, a left-wing journalist and her fathers secretary, in 1869. Public Domain Clearly, authoritarian rules like Stalin's and Mao's were not what Marx had in mind. It's important to note, too, that Marx did not hate capitalism. Far from it. He actually saw some virtue in the system. He saw it as a necessary precursor to communism. He envisioned some of the technological challenges automation unseating workers, for example that are true today. "Marx was very impressed with the progressive character of capitalism. By forcing people from all different walks of life into the same workplaces, capitalism breaks down the old divides between communities," Dallman says. "And so things like race and gender and religion divide people less, the more people are forced to see each other as equals in the workplace." Marx recognized and marveled at the economical and technological growth that capitalism spurs, and saw it as an improvement from previous societies. Later in life, Dallman says, Marx suggested a growth in capitalism might be a way to move toward communism, instead of all-out revolution. But he still saw communism with no master-slave dynamic as the end goal. In that way, and in others, Marx's idea of communism was far from the atrocities committed in the name of communism elsewhere. And his ideas are still, perhaps strangely to many, a beacon in a search for a better way of life. In that, a practical man and deep thinker of the 19th century still has relevance in today's world. "Marx was so committed to giving a rational criticism of everything. Not just the enemy, but to himself and everything," Dallman says. "He was willing to criticize the old modes of life and show how capitalism improved on them, but he was also willing to criticize capitalism and show how we could foresee improvement coming in the future. That is still a hopeful vision." Now That's Interesting Marx's tomb in London, topped by a huge bearded bust, is inscribed with the words, "Workers of All Lands Unite." Those are the last words in "The Communist Manifesto." Kind of. The real words read "Proletarier aller Lander, vereinigt euch!" or "Proletarians of all countries, unite!" In the English translation, the last lines go like this: "The proletarians have nothing to lose but their chains. They have a world to win. Working Men of All Countries, Unite!" Imprisoned Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is suffering from severe stomach problems in prison, and members of his team fear he may have been poisoned again, reports CNN. Navalny has lost eight kilograms in the last 15 days in his isolated prison cell said his spokesperson, Kira Jarmis, in a Twitter post on Tuesday. According to the lawyer, an ambulance was called to Alexei Navalny on the night from Friday to Saturday because he had severe stomach pains. No one is treating him or even telling him the diagnosis, Jarmis wrote. We do not rule out the possibility that he was poisoned with something during the entire time in prison, so that his health slowly but steadily deteriorated he added. They are asking for an investigation Navalnys lawyer, Vagyim Kobzev, said his team would request toxicology and radiology tests. This may sound like stupidity and paranoia to others, but not to Navalny after the Novichoks, Kobzev tweeted on Tuesday. Novichok is the nerve agent the German government says was used to poison Navalny in 2020, and which it and Western officials blame on the Kremlin. After recovering, he returned to Russia just a few months later, where he was soon detained. Navalny faces additional challenges in prison, including threats from fellow inmates, according to Jarmis and Kobzev, who have gone public to help fight for his release. Does Putin have a motive? Navalny is the best-known opposition politician in Russia. Even behind bars, he constantly attacks Russian President Vladimir Putin on his Instagram and Twitter accounts, while handing his team notes to post online. Christo Grozev is an investigative journalist who works for CNN Navalny was working on his documentary, said that he believed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had a motive to poison Navalny. We know that Navalny was poisoned with Novichi by none other than the Russian state. We know that Putin went back to Russia against his will Grozev told CNNs Erica Hill on Tuesday. Now from prison, Navalny essentially continues to ridicule Putin in the war effort as he is a very vocal opponent of the war. So of course the motivation is there, he added. Brian Hood says the AI got facts very wrong. Photo: ABC News An Australian local council mayor may become the first person in the world to sue AI platform ChatGPT for defamation over false claims he was imprisoned over a bribery scandal. The mayor of Hepburn Shire in Victoria, Brian Hood, discovered late last year that artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT was incorrectly claiming that he had pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a foreign official and had served time in prison over this. Hood had instead blown the whistle on a bribery case more than a decade ago involving a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia. On 21 March, Hood sent a letter of concern to ChatGPT owner OpenAI demanding the errors be fixed within 28 days or legal action would be launched. The US-based company has not responded to these demands yet. I couldnt believe it at first, but I went and made some enquiries myself and got this very incorrect information coming back, Hood told ABC News. It told me that Id been charged with very serious criminal offences, that Id been convicted of them and that Id spent 30 months in jail. Its one thing to get something a little bit wrong, its entirely something else to be accusing someone of being a criminal and having served jail time when the truth is the exact opposite. I think this is a pretty stark wake-up call. The system is portrayed as being credible and informative and authoritative, and its obviously not. Hood was company secretary of Notes Printing Australia, a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank, in 2005 when he told journalists and officials about bribery at the organisation linked to Securency, which was part-owned by the Reserve Bank. The company was eventually raided by the police in 2010, resulting in arrests and prison sentences for some involved. Hood is represented by Gordon Legal, which has said he could claim more than $200,000 in damages. It would potentially be a landmark moment in the sense that its applying this defamation law to a new area of artificial intelligence and publication in the IT space, Gordon Legals James Naughton told Reuters. Hes an elected official, his reputation is central to his role. Naughton said that ChatGPT gives users a false sense of accuracy because it does not include footnotes. Its very difficult for somebody to look behind [ChatGPTs response] to say, how does the algorithm come up with that answer? Its very opaque. A message at the bottom of the ChatGPT page reads, ChatGPT may produce inaccurate information about people, places or facts. OpenAIs terms of use also include warnings about potentially inaccurate information. Given the probabilistic nature of machine learning, use of our Services may in some situations result in incorrect Output that does not accurately reflect real people, places or facts, the terms of use say. You should evaluate the accuracy of any Output as appropriate for your use case, including by using human review of the Output. Italy has already temporarily banned ChatGPT over data privacy and inaccuracy concerns. The service has been limited from processing the data of Italian users while the Italian Data Protection Authority conducts an investigation. The information made available by ChatGPT does not always match factual circumstances, the Italian Data Protection Authority said. There appears to be no legal basis underpinning the massive collection and processing of personal data in order to train the algorithms on which the platform relies. ChatGPT also experienced its first data breach last month, when a bug in an open source library allowed some users to see the titles and potentially the first messages in the conversations from other users chat histories. Global cloud communications provider Vonage, which helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation, has been positioned as a Leader by Opus Research in the companys Conversational Cloud report. In this inaugural Conversational Cloud Intelliview report, Opus Research a diversified advisory and analysis firm providing critical insight on software and services that support multimodal customer care identifies and evaluates platforms offered by select Conversational Cloud players and solutions providers. The guide is meant to serve as a valuable resource for decision-makers evaluating options for adding conversational AI to their cloud-based IT infrastructure to meet clearly defined and measurable business outcomes. As the migration of IT and contact center resources to cloud-based resources accelerates, a new consumption model is taking shape for employing Conversational AI to improve customer experience, employee productivity, operational efficiencies and business profitability, said Dan Miller, Lead Analyst and Founder, Opus Research. Vonage is well placed as a leader in this shifting landscape thanks to the comprehensive, flexible Vonage Communications Platform (VCP). From low code/no code tools to virtual assistants and connected call flows powered by APIs, Vonage offers businesses the ability to enhance both customer and employee engagement through Conversational AI across contact centers and unified communications solutions. Opus Research uses the Conversational Cloud concept to capture the consumption model enterprises pursue to leverage the power of cloud resources to improve customer experience and employee productivity. Opus research showed that enterprises take a holistic approach to AI-informed IT investment, employing real-time analytics and understanding to derive conversational intelligence or insights that inform self-service resources, contact center infrastructure, and enterprise knowledge bases with rich data, metadata and insights. Opus estimates that businesses around the world spent roughly $65 billion on cloud-based services that leverage Conversational AI in 2022. Opus Research says it places Vonage in the Leaders category for the completeness of the companys Conversational Cloud services, functions and features, as well as the flexibility, support and reliability offered to customers. The report also notes the variety of conversational AI solutions and features offered across the full Vonage Communications Platform (VCP) from Vonage Contact Center (VCC) and Conversation Analyzer to virtual assistants powered by Communications APIs and AI Studio. The demand for enhanced engagement with customers and employees continues to grow, and businesses will need to integrate conversational AI capabilities into a number of workflows, applications, and channels, said Savinay Berry, EVP, Product & Engineering for Vonage. We are excited to be recognized as a Conversational Cloud Leader by Opus Research for providing customers with comprehensive intelligent cloud capabilities that are helping them to advance the connections, conversations and engagement they have with their own customers to drive exceptional experiences and greater brand loyalty. Download the Opus Research report. A new survey has found that senior business and IT professionals in Australia are more likely than their international peers to think data bias will become a bigger concern as the use of AI and machine learning increases. The survey of more than 640 respondents (200 of them in the APAC region including Australia) found 78 percent believe data bias will become a bigger concern as AI and ML use increases, compared with 86 percent of those in Australia. And 84 percent of Australian respondents think they need to do more to address data biases in their organisations, the highest proportion among the countries surveyed. These differences were not reflected in concerns about current data bias: 65 percent of all respondents believe it exists in their organisations, compared with 66 percent among Australians. Types of bias affecting the use of AI/ML systems include biassed datasets; model, algorithm or training bias; and unconscious people bias. The main perceived barriers to addressing data biases in Australian organisations were: Lack of awareness and understanding of potential biases (62 percent) Lack of understanding of how to best identify data bias (50 percent) Lack of understanding of how to best avoid or address data bias (48 percent) Lack of ownership/responsibility (42 percent) Lack of tools for identifying and mitigating data bias (34 percent) Progress APJ vice president John Yang said "AI bias is a growing concern for Australian organisations. But while both business and IT decision makers are aware of the challenges it raises, there seems to be a lot of confusion and lack of understanding around the ways to address it." That said, Australian organisations are working to address bias in various ways, including ensuring completeness of datasets (72 percent), educating and training programmers and users about data bias (50 percent), evaluating their vendors and suppliers for any data bias that could impact the organisation (48 percent), and spending more time on AI model training (44 percent). Issues holding back these efforts include a lack of technology (70 percent), skills and training (56 percent), policy framework and governance (44 percent), and strategy and vision (42 percent). And there is a widespread belief that data bias should be tackled centrally (78 percent), and more respondents think it should be the responsibility of the CIO or CTO (38 percent) rather than the chief data officer (16 percent). As for the risks posed by data bias, respondents were mostly concerned about: Poor customer experience (88%) Negative impacts on employee diversity and inclusion (86 percent) Unfair stereotyping (82 percent) Legal exposure (82 percent) "Addressing AI bias requires education around why and how bias is created and spread. Then you need the right tools and technologies to address it, combined with the right human skills. That includes having access to qualified data and AI scientists, as well as putting in place organisation-wide processes that include developers, the ones often at the foundation of building the organisation's software, apps and digital products," said Yang. He added "86% of Australian business and tech decision makers we surveyed said that organisations have a social responsibility to understand and address data bias. This awareness is very positive, but now there needs to be more action if we want to avoid wider social impacts from enterprises not adequately addressing data bias issues". Progress executive vice president and general manager of application and data platform John Ainsworth said "Every day, bias can negatively impact business operations and decision making from governance and lost customer trust to financial implications and potential legal and ethical exposure," said . "We put our customers at the centre of everything we do and as we explore all that AI/ML can do, we want to ensure our customers are armed with the right information to make the best decisions to drive their business forward." The survey was conducted for Progress by UK-based Insight Avenue, which interviewed business and IT professionals located across the Americas, Europe and Asia from organisations with over 500 employees. An Australian local council mayor may be at the forefront of a landmark legal battle against AI platform ChatGPT, as he considers suing the service for defamation. Brian Hood, the mayor of Hepburn Shire in Victoria, discovered that ChatGPT was falsely claiming that he had been imprisoned for a bribery scandal. Despite blowing the whistle on a bribery case involving a subsidiary of the Reserve Bank of Australia over a decade ago, ChatGPT was incorrectly reporting that Hood had pleaded guilty to conspiring to bribe a foreign official and served jail time for it. Hood's legal representative, Gordon Legal, has stated the mayor could claim more than $200,000 in damages and that it could be a landmark moment in applying defamation law to artificial intelligence and publication in the IT space. Hes an elected official, his reputation is central to his role, said Gordon Legal lawyer James Naughton. ChatGPT has been criticised for providing a "false sense of accuracy" and for being opaque in its workings. The service's terms of use include warnings about potentially inaccurate information, and it has already been temporarily banned in Italy due to data privacy and inaccuracy concerns. While evaluating the accuracy of any information produced by machine learning is important, the situation highlights the need for more transparency and accountability in AI algorithms. iTWire notes that any attempts to ask the service "who is Brian Hood" are now met with an error, consistently, as do other attempts to coax information about Brian Hood out of the platform. Performance marketing company NP Digital has launched its Southeast Asia regional office in Singapore, with the appointment of Manuel Denoual as Managing Director. NP Digital says Denoual will lead the expansion in Southeast Asia as the growing digital economy continues to expand at a double-digit rate. NP Digital was founded in 2017 by Neil Patel, a New York Times Best Selling Author and one of the world's most influential marketers, according to The Wall Street Journal and Forbes. NP Digital is the agency that brings his passion, innovation, and insights to life for brands across the globe. NP Digital says that with over 15 years of experience in digital marketing, Manuel Denoual is a seasoned professional with valuable business acumen and extensive expertise in performance marketing - and has previously held positions at GroupM, OMG, and Dentsu, and most recently served as a Senior Client Partner at Twitter. Denoual will report to Dan Kalinski, Managing Director, APAC. As digital transformation in Southeast Asia continues to boom, I am delighted to welcome Manuel to the NP Digital family. With his deep understanding of the industry and his proven track record of success, Manuel is well-positioned to help APAC clients achieve their marketing goals and drive business growth, said Dan Kalinski. According to NP Digital its services are in high demand across the APAC region, with the internet economy foreca ted value of $1 trillion by 2030[1], driven by a fast-growing base of digital consumers. To meet this demand, NP Digital says it recognises the importance of offering full-funnel expertise, from Search Engine Optimization (SEO), data, analytics, consumer insight, programmatic advertising services that can connect brands in APAC with their customers. I am excited to be leading the Singapore team. As we see increased demand for our services, our regional hub in Singapore will deliver to customers across all digital touch-points with targeted, highly relevant and personalized experiences, said Manuel Denoual, Managing Director, Singapore. Denoual says NP Digital's outstanding growth and unwavering commitment to delivering high-quality solutions worldwide remains a key focus - and their latest expansion in APAC is a clear indication of their recognition that clients need help in defining customer audiences and understanding the journey in this digital economy. Our clients are challenger brands, ranging from medium-sized businesses to enterprise clients who increasingly come to us to benefit from our custom, high-touch services and ROI first approach. The significant growth within the enterprise segment has become a key area of focus for our business as we continue to disrupt the market with our tech and content proposition, Denoual concluded. The agencys success is attributed to its unique ability to drive growth for clients in the TikTok era, where consumers are always connected, and where any point of brand interaction can lead to a purchase. NP Digital's competitive edge is its innovative "growth marketing" approach, which replaces analogue, mass marketing and campaigns. They leverage their proprietary technology stack, which includes SEO, CRO, and Content, to deliver exceptional results to over three million active marketers worldwide. With over 500+ clients globally, NP Digital has serviced customers including large brands such as CNN, Adobe and Hewlett Packard, to SaaS companies and E-com start-ups. NP Digital says the Singapore office will be its first office in Southeast Asia and it has plans to further expand in the near future. For more information visit https://npdigital.com/. CHARLESTON The Coles County SWCD is sponsoring a photo contest open to all residents of Coles County who exhibit a creative spirit and who make less than 50% of their income via photography. Local entries must be received by May 5 to be considered for this years contest. Photographs can be entered in the following categories: conservation practices, close-up conservation, conservation in action and conservation across America. One winner will be selected for each category and age division; youth, 18 or younger and adults, 19 and older as of Dec. 1 of the current year. Local winners will advance to the statewide Association of Illinois Soil & Water Conservation District Auxiliary Photo Contest. State winners will advance to the National Association of Conservation Districts photo contest. Complete rules and entry forms are available on the Coles County SWCD website, colescountyswcd.org/events/annual-photo-contes, or picked up at the office, 6021 Development Dr. #2, Charleston. Wildlife officials have an important message entering spring: Dont drink and fly. Experts warned that some birds may be a little tipsy this season, according to a post from the Georgia Department of Natural Resources Wildlife Resources Division on April 12. Some bird species, notably cedar waxwings and American robins often eat fruit that has started to rot and ferment, officials said. When fruits ferment, they produce alcohol, the post said. Waxwings and robins have ranges that extend across the United States, and as they start to increase their fruit consumption this spring, they may get a buzz. The consumption of these fermented fruits can cause the birds to lose much of their coordination and capacity to fly, officials said. Wildlife officials warned that this may cause birds to crash into windows or other objects more frequently. The birds can even die from alcohol poisoning if they eat too much of the fermented fruit, officials said. Most birds likely just get a bit tipsy, and very few people would be able to pick them out as intoxicated, Meghan Larivee, laboratory coordinator for Environment Yukon, told National Geographic. However, every now and then, some birds just overdo it. Other than fermented fruit, officials said birds can also be found flying under the influence when they eat Nandina berries, or sacred bamboo. The plant, often used in landscaping, pulls cyanide out of the soil and harbors it in its berries, according to wildlife officials. There can be lethal doses of cyanide in the red fruit. To help prevent birds from drunken crashes, make windows more visible by adding a net, tape, shutters, paint or decals to windows, the Humane Society of the United States said. Learn from our feathered friends and consume fruits responsibly, officials said. Most commonly seen birds in North Carolina Most commonly seen birds in North Carolina #50. White-crowned Sparrow #49. Rock Pigeon #48. Wild Turkey #47. Brown Creeper #46. Cooper's Hawk #45. Red-tailed Hawk #44. Red-breasted Nuthatch #43. Golden-crowned Kinglet #42. Pine Siskin #41. Common Grackle #39. Baltimore Oriole #38. Cedar Waxwing #37. Red-shouldered Hawk #36. Red-winged Blackbird #35. Eastern Phoebe #34. House Sparrow #33. Hairy Woodpecker #32. Brown-headed Cowbird #31. Northern Flicker #30. Carolina/Black-capped Chickadee #29. European Starling #28. Hermit Thrush #27. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker #26. Purple Finch #25. Brown Thrasher #24. American Crow #23. Ruby-crowned Kinglet #22. Eastern Towhee #21. Chipping Sparrow #20. Song Sparrow #19. Brown-headed Nuthatch #18. American Robin #17. Northern Mockingbird #16. Pine Warbler #15. Yellow-rumped Warbler #14. Blue Jay #13. American Goldfinch #12. White-breasted Nuthatch #11. White-throated Sparrow #10. Eastern Bluebird #9. Dark-eyed Junco #8. Red-bellied Woodpecker #7. Mourning Dove #6. Carolina Chickadee #5. Downy Woodpecker #4. House Finch #3. Carolina Wren #2. Northern Cardinal #1. Tufted Titmouse Authorities will not pursue federal charges against any suspects connected to the October 2022 death of Shanquella Robinson, the U.S. Department of Justice said Wednesday. U.S. attorneys in the Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina and the FBI met with Robinson family members and their representatives on Wednesday to discuss the federal investigation into the young womans death. An autopsy was conducted on Robinsons body by the Mecklenburg County Medical Examiners Office, the Justice Department said. Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinsons family (Wednesday) that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution, the Justice Department said. Robinson, 25, died in late October 2022 while she was at a resort in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. Six people who accompanied Robinson to Mexico returned to the United States the next day, according to a letter that attorneys for the Robinson family released in March. Three of those people returned Robinsons luggage to her mother in Charlotte and said that her daughter died from alcohol poisoning. However, an autopsy revealed something else that Robinson died of a severe spinal cord or neck injury. Less than a month after the tragedy, one of her traveling companions shared a video around the campus of Winston-Salem State University that showed a nude Robinson being beaten in the resort villa by a woman. A witness identified that woman as Dejahanae Jackson, 27, whose last known address was in Jamestown. Jackson could not be reached by the Winston-Salem Journal for comment. Mexican authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding Robinsons death and an arrest warrant has been issued for Jackson. Meanwhile, the FBI has conducted a detailed and thorough investigation of the evidence available in this case, the Justice Department said. As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed. Federal officials, including members of both U.S. Attorneys Offices and the FBI, expressed their condolences Wednesday to Robinsons family. Those officials generally dont issue public statements concerning the status of an investigation. However, given the circumstances of Ms. Robinsons death and the public concern surrounding this investigation, the Justice Department said, it is important to reassure the public that experienced federal agents and seasoned prosecutors extensively reviewed the available evidence and have concluded that federal charges cannot be pursued. In a statement, high-profile civil rights attorney Ben Crump, who represents Robinsons family, said the stance of the Justice Department was discouraging. We hope, he said, there is still a chance at justice in Mexico. The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina is suing the state attorney general in federal court, challenging multiple provisions of a House bill that expanded potential criminal penalties for individuals participating in public protests. The group filed the lawsuit Tuesday with Attorney General Josh Stein listed as the primary plaintiff, along with district attorneys in the 10th, 16th and 24th prosecutorial districts. Legislative analysts said the lawsuit in the Middle District of North Carolina likely reflects a change in strategy shifting from state to federal court by groups opposed to the states Republican socioeconomic legislation. The ACLU of North Carolina said it plans to ask the court to halt the enforcement of these plainly unconstitutional portions of HB 40. The Republican-controlled legislature passed House Bill 40 along party lines 75-43 in the House on Feb. 8 and 27-16 in the Senate on March 9. Although Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper opposed the bill, he let it become law without his signature on March 21. Cooper vetoed similar legislation during the 2021 session, only for six House Democrats to vote for HB 40 in February, including Rep. Cecil Brockman of Guilford County. Cooper said when announcing his plans to not sign HB 40 that changes were made to modify this legislations effect after his earlier veto. Property damage and violence are already illegal, and my continuing concerns about the erosion of the First Amendment and the disparate impacts on communities of color will prevent me from signing this legislation, he said. HB 40, which goes into effect in December, increases existing punishments potentially by a couple of years or longer for crimes of willfully participating in a riot or inciting one to cover more severe circumstances. Examples include if a rioter brandishes a weapon or causes serious bodily injury, while new criminal penalties have been established for a rioter who causes a death or someone who incites rioting that contributes to a death. The bill will let property owners with damaged businesses seek compensation from a riot perpetrator equal to three times the monetary damage. The ACLU said in a statement that it believes the expanded criminal penalties contained in HB 40 are not justified. It is a flagrant attempt to vilify and criminalize a social justice movement, said Sam Davis, an attorney with the group. This bill forces North Carolinians to risk the immediate and long-term loss of their freedom when exercising their right to protest. House Speaker Tim Moore took a rare primary sponsor role with HB 40, as he did with the vetoed legislation in 2021. In both instances, Moore cited as his motivation the rioting and looting in downtown Raleigh that occurred in June 2020 as evidence that current laws arent enough of a deterrence to protect the public and property. The violence occurred amid otherwise peaceful protests following the murder of North Carolina native George Floyd by police in Minneapolis. The ACLU of North Carolinas decision to go straight to federal court is a direct reflection of the state Supreme Court switching from Democrat to Republican control after the 2022 general election, said Mitch Kokai, a senior policy analyst with conservative think tank John Locke Foundation. A common tactic from North Carolinas political left over the past dozen years has been to file lawsuits against legislation approved by the Republican-led General Assembly, Kokai said. Now that Republicans hold a majority on the N.C. Supreme Court, it will be much less likely to see this type of complaint in the state court system. Activists are much more likely to follow the ACLUs lead and go to federal court. Two years and two months after it was originally scheduled to play Lincoln, Madagascar, the musical, will be on stage at the Lied Center Saturday. Originally slated to be part of the Lieds 2020-2021 season, the Madagascar tour was postponed due to the pandemic and rescheduled for 2023. The musical adaptation of the hit animated film features Alex the Lion, Marty the Zebra, Melman the Giraffe, Gloria the hip hip Hippo and the plotting penguins as they escape from their home in New Yorks Central Park Zoo and find themselves on an unexpected journey to Madagascar and contains all the songs from the movie, including the ubiquitous Move It, Move It. Tickets for Madagascar are $12.50 to $90. Tickets for the Feb. 25, 2021 performance will be issued for the 3 p.m. performance. Tickets for the Feb. 26, 2021 performance will be issued for the 7 p.m. performance. Musicians with their own museums Musicians with their own museums ABBA The Allman Brothers Band Louis Armstrong The Beatles Johnny Cash Patsy Cline Commodores Woody Guthrie Jimi Hendrix Buddy Holly Mississippi John Hurt Scott Joplin B.B. King Loretta Lynn Bob Marley Willie Nelson Roy Orbison Dolly Parton Elvis Presley Ramones Little Richard Selena Tina Turner Hank Williams Howlin' Wolf A Colorado woman faces tax evasion charges for allegedly failing to report more than $4 million in state subsidies to her Lincoln business, Love Community. The Lancaster County Attorney's Office charged 42-year-old Devon Gibbs, of Evergreen, Colorado, with four counts of income tax evasion and a single count of filing a fraudulent income tax return. A warrant went out for her arrest Wednesday. In the affidavit for Gibbs' arrest, Marc Ford, an investigator with the Nebraska Department of Revenue, said Gibbs and Love Community received nearly $6.4 million in state subsidies from the Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services for providing care for people with developmental disabilities and mental health needs from 2016 to 2022. Ford said Gibbs filed individual tax returns for 2016 and 2017, but failed to file them in 2019, 2020 and 2021 and in 2018 underreported the business' gross income by more than $1.3 million. He said that over the three-year period, Gibbs received $4,043,716 in state subsidies for the care her business was providing without reporting any of it on an income tax return. Ford said that when his investigation began in January 2022, Gibbs was running her business from a rental home in Evergreen, where she had moved in 2018. He said bank records showed she was taking a salary by cash, checks and transfers into her personal account, as well as using Love Community's account to pay for her personal living expenses, which included rent for the family's home, out-of-state vacations and ski school for her children. Ford said his investigation determined that Gibbs owes the state of Nebraska $1,115,080. Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 Incoming Nebraska Commissioner of Education Brian Maher would make $300,000 a year under a proposed three-year contract. The draft agreement, which would go into effect July 1, is set to go before the Nebraska State Board of Education at its Friday meeting in Lincoln. The board tabbed Maher for Nebraska's top education post in a 5-3 vote March 31, a day after it interviewed three finalists for the position. Maher is the executive director of the South Dakota Board of Regents, which oversees the state's six public universities. In February, he announced he would step down from that role in June. Maher currently makes $349,037 a year, according to South Dakota public records. While he would take a pay cut under the proposed contract, Maher would make more than his predecessor, Matt Blomstedt, who made $242,019 as commissioner before he stepped down in January. Maher and the board have already entered into a 10-day transition agreement that allows him to do some work before his official start date. A native of Hooper, Maher has strong ties to Nebraska. He was a superintendent in Kearney and Centennial and held administrative roles in other Nebraska districts, including Waverly, Elkhorn and Johnson-Brock. In 2015, he was named the state's superintendent of the year. He holds a doctorate in educational administration from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and a master's from the University of Nebraska at Omaha. Maher was also superintendent of schools in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, before being hired to lead South Dakota's public university system in 2020. His selection to be Nebraska's next education commissioner wasn't unanimous, however, with some board members questioning the integrity of the interview process. Maher beat out two other candidates for the position who also had Nebraska ties: Douglas County West Superintendent Melissa Poloncic and Summer Stephens, a superintendent in Nevada. Best public elementary schools in Nebraska Best public elementary schools in Nebraska More rain is in the forecast after substantial downpours inundated Fort Lauderdale and parts of South Florida in a 1-in-1,000 year rainfall event, leading to a flash flood emergency in Broward County that closed schools, forced drivers to abandon their cars and shut down the airport through Thursday morning. While the rain Thursday won't reach nearly the amounts that fell on Wednesday, it will be problematic and create additional flooding, the National Weather Service said. Gusty winds, small hail and even isolated tornadoes are possible. Broward County is under a flood warning through 8 a.m. ET, the weather service in Miami said. Between 14 and 20 inches of rain have drenched the greater Fort Lauderdale metro area since Wednesday afternoon, according to a Thursday morning update from the National Weather Service office in Miami. The deluge is the "most severe flooding that I've ever seen," one mayor said. "This amount of rain in a 24-hour period is incredibly rare for South Florida," said meteorologist Ana Torres-Vazquez from the weather service's Miami forecast office. Rainfall of 20 to 25 inches is similar to what the area can receive with a high-end hurricane over more than a day, Torres-Vazquez explained. She described the rainfall as a "1-in-1,000 year event, or greater," meaning it's an event so intense, the chance of it happening in any given year is just 0.1%. "Even though the heavy rain has concluded, numerous roads remain closed," the weather service said, adding that flooding is expected to persist. Earlier, Fort Lauderdale was "experiencing severe flooding in multiple areas of the city," Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue said on social media, warning to stay off the roads as vehicles may become stuck or submerged. A flash flood emergency -- the highest level of flood warning -- that was in effect for portions of South Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, expired early Thursday. "This is a PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS SITUATION," the NWS warned. "Move to higher ground now! This is an extremely dangerous and life-threatening situation. Do not attempt to travel unless you are fleeing an area subject to flooding or under an evacuation order." City crews in Hollywood, Florida, "are doing everything they can" to deploy pumps wherever possible and keep drains clear, Mayor Josh Levy told CNN. "We've recorded over 12 inches of rain since midnight, and that's on top of consecutive days of seemingly nonstop rain," Levy said. "The ground was already saturated so there is extensive flooding all over our city and throughout South Florida. Many roadways are impassable. Lots of vehicles got stuck and left abandoned in the middle of our roadways. "I've lived here my whole life. This is the most severe flooding that I've ever seen," he said. More rain and storms expected Thursday South Florida could get inundated with more even rain as showers and strong storms are in the forecast Thursday. "After a historic day of rainfall across portions of South Florida that many of us will not soon forget, another potential wet day is ahead for today," the weather service in Miami said. There is a slight risk, Level 2 of 5, for severe storms Thursday in parts of Florida, including Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Jacksonville, according to the Storm Prediction Center. Floods inundate key parts of Broward County Fort Lauderdale officials have activated its emergency operations center and will be issuing a proclamation of a local state of emergency, saying in a statement early Thursday morning that airboats and high-clearance buggies have been secured from the county sheriff's office and the Florida Wildlife Commission. "Staff is assessing park facilities to convert them to staging/reunification centers for individuals impacted by the flash floods. We expect to open these as soon as possible," the city said. There is "no power at City Hall. We have reports of water flooding the first floor of the Transportation and Mobility (TAM) building." The city's system is designed to take on at least 3 inches of rain in a 24-hour period but they've "had neighborhoods receive more than 12" of rain. Service crews will be out to respond to flooding reports and concerns." CNN has reached out to city and county officials for additional information. Officials have asked residents to avoid driving or traveling in Fort Lauderdale amid the storms. "Police and Fire Rescue continue to answer calls for service," the city of Fort Lauderdale said in a news release on Wednesday evening. "Public Works staff are clearing drains and operating pumps to mitigate the water as quickly as possible. Efforts have been made to relieve traffic congestion through prioritized signaling to assist individuals leaving the City. We are requesting drivers to stay off the roads and avoid the City of Fort Lauderdale until the water has subsided." The flooding impacted rush hour traffic Wednesday and led to the closure of a tunnel, the city said. "The Henry E. Kinney Tunnel is closed. Please avoid the area. The weather conditions combined with rush hour traffic are compounding issues in the downtown area," the city said. The Broward Sheriff's Office said in a statement Wednesday it is "being inundated with non-emergency 911 calls regarding the inclement weather" and asks residents to use 911 only for "true emergencies," also telling residents to avoid driving and to call a tow truck company if a vehicle is stranded and not in an emergency. Some local services are shuttering Thursday. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport is closed due to ongoing flooding in the vicinity and will reopen at noon, according to an update from the airport. The airport's departure level reopened to allow people to exit the area, the airport said early Thursday morning. The Brightline train service has been temporarily suspended between Miami and Fort Lauderdale, the service said on social media. Additionally, Broward County Public Schools announced the district will close Thursday. The-CNN-Wire & 2023 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved. LOUISVILLE, Ky. Frantic calls from witnesses reporting a mass shooting at a Louisville bank were released Wednesday by police including from a woman who was on a virtual meeting and saw the shooter, as well as one from the man's mother, who told a 911 operator that her son "currently has a gun and is heading toward" the bank. "I need your help. He's never hurt anyone, he's a good kid," said the woman, who identified herself as the gunman's mother. It turned out that, at the time of her call, the gunman was already at the bank. The emergency dispatcher informed the woman that other calls were coming in about the shooting. None of the callers is identified by name and other information is edited out of the calls, but the first call that came in was from a woman who was on a video call inside the downtown branch of Old National Bank. She screams and cries throughout the four-minute call and says there is an active shooter. Bank employee Connor Sturgeon, 25, used an AR-15 assault-style rifle to kill five co-workers while livestreaming before police fatally shot him. Eight others were injured, including a police officer who was shot in the head and remains hospitalized in critical condition. Hundreds of people gathered Wednesday evening at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville to remember the victims and allow the public to offer prayers for the injured. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg was among the speakers. The mood was somber, but there were cheers for the officers who responded to the shooting. The five victims were Joshua Barrick, 40, a senior vice president; Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer; Tommy Elliott, 63, also a senior vice president; Juliana Farmer, 45, a loan analyst; and Jim Tutt Jr., 64, a commercial real estate market executive. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has said Elliott was one of his closest friends. "I'll admit that while I am not angry, I am empty. And I'm sad," Beshear said at the vigil, his voice breaking. "And I just keep thinking that maybe we'll wake up. What I know is, I just wish I'd taken an extra moment, made an extra call, tell him how much I care about him. And I know we are all feeling the same. But I also know they hear us now. And that they feel our love." Sturgeon's parents said in a statement that their son had mental health challenges that were being addressed, but "there were never any warning signs or indications he was capable of this shocking act." They said they are mourning for the victims and the loss of their son, and working with police to understand what happened. The US surpasses 160 mass shootings in 2023. Here's every event mapped The US surpasses 100 mass shootings in 2023here's every event mapped 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 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 Mass shootings take place in nearly every type of public and private space Four Nebraskans have been indicted for their alleged roles in a conspiracy to get cell phones and drugs into the United States Penitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas, using drones. Dale Gaver III, 35; Dale Gaver II, 54; Rex Hill Jr., 32; and Joshua Hamilton, 37; were arrested and made their first court appearances in U.S. District Court of Nebraska in Omaha this week. They since have been released and are awaiting trial in Kansas City, Kansas. In 2019, Gaver III was sentenced to five years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and marijuana in the Omaha area after a search of his home turned up cocaine, marijuana and more than $44,000 cash. He ended up serving his sentence at USP Leavenworth. In a redacted indictment filed in U.S. District Court in Kansas, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michelle McFarlane said that between Aug. 18, 2020, and May 10, 2021, Gaver III and another inmate coordinated the introduction of contraband into the prison with the help of his father, Hill, Hamilton and others. McFarlane said Gaver II helped to acquire a drone that was used to introduce contraband into the prison, and Hamilton and Hill helped acquire and package the contraband, which included cell phones, marijuana, tobacco and K2. "One of the ways in which these co-conspirators introduced contraband into USP Leavenworth was by flying a drone over the yard and dropping packages containing the contraband items into the yard for inmates to retrieve," she wrote. McFarlane said specifically that Hill flew a drone over the Leavenworth prison to drop packages containing contraband into the yard, and Gaver III and another inmate coordinated the distribution of the items inside the prison and coordinated payments from inmates. She said a Splash Drone 3 Plus was delivered from California to Gaver II's home in Omaha on Aug. 18, 2020, and on Jan. 12, 2021, Hill bought prepaid cellphones and other items from a Walmart in Omaha. Two days later, a package with several items of contraband including nine cellphones, eight SIM cards, tobacco and K2 was dropped into the prison yard at Leavenworth using a drone, according to the indictment. McFarlane also described texts between Gaver III and Hill and Hamilton about drugs and the drone. All four are accused of conspiracy to provide and possess contraband in prison. Gaver III faces additional counts for possession of prison contraband and an attempt to possess it. And Hill faces an additional count for an attempt. Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 Nebraska took its turn at the forefront of the nationwide abortion debate on Wednesday and senators advanced a bill that would ban abortions if cardiac activity is detected in an embryo. The bill (LB626) from Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, which would prohibit doctors from performing abortions after about six weeks gestation, secured 33 votes to invoke cloture and shut down a filibuster. How they voted Senators voted 33-16 on Wednesday to stop debate on a bill (LB626) to prohibit doctors from performing an abortion if cardiac activity is detected in an embryo during an ultrasound. Those votes were also repeated to advance the bill to second round. Voting yes (33) Aguilar, Albrecht, Arch, Armendariz, Ballard, Bosn, Bostelman, Brandt, Brewer, Briese, Clements, DeKay, Dorn, Dover, Erdman, Halloran, Hansen, Hardin, Holdcroft, Hughes, Ibach, Jacobson, Kauth, Linehan, Lippincott, Lowe, McDonnell, Moser, Murman, Riepe, Sanders, Slama, von Gillern Voting no (16) Blood, Bostar, Cavanaugh, J., Cavanaugh, M., Conrad, Day, DeBoer, Dungan, Fredrickson, Hunt, McKinney, Raybould, Vargas, Walz, Wayne, Wishart Thirty-three senators all Republicans in the officially nonpartisan Legislature, as well as Omaha Sen. Mike McDonnell, a registered Democrat voted to end debate and advance the bill. The back-and-forth inside and outside of the legislative chamber illustrated the polarization that has gripped Nebraska and U.S. at large on the issue of abortion in the 10 months since the U.S. Supreme Court reversed the Roe v. Wade decision. The conservative majority on the court sent the decision about whether or not to restrict abortion back to the hands of state lawmakers last June. Several states have already done so, either through so-called trigger bills that went into effect when the Roe decision was overturned a bill from Albrecht last year that would have done the same fell just short of breaking a filibuster or in legislative sessions earlier this year. On Wednesday, all eyes were on Nebraska. Senators were met at the doors of the Capitol before Day 60 gaveled into session by advocates on either side of the debate, while supporters and opponents also organized rallies and filled the balconies to watch senators deliberations. At one point, supporters of the bill, including Catholics from around the state and others dressed in red, sat in the south balcony of the legislative chamber, while opponents led by Nebraskans for Abortion Access filled the north balcony clad in green. Over the noon hour, both camps huddled in competing rallies to bolster their support and pledge to keep fighting for their side. In the Rotunda, Omaha Sens. Megan Hunt and Machaela Cavanaugh and several religious leaders told roughly 150 opponents of LB626 that people of faith did not speak with one voice when it came to their views on abortion. Debra McKnight, the founding pastor of Urban Abbey in Omaha, said LB626 was more about controlling womens bodies than it was about protecting children, as supporters of the bill had claimed. This ban is not an act of faith I can get behind, McKnight told the crowd. Rabbi Deana Berezin of Temple Israel in Omaha said the Jewish faith considers a fetus as linked to but not superseding the life of the mother. Abortion is not only permitted, but required when a pregnant persons life is in danger under Judaism, she said. Berezin pointed out that the vote from senators was coming during the Jewish holiday of Passover that celebrates the Israelites uprising and escape from slavery in Egypt an entire people rising up in one voice saying let my people go so they could worship God. I stand here today as did my ancestors before me to demand religious liberty in the face of those who stand to hold it captive, Berezin said. On the sunny and windy north steps of the Capitol, flanked by Gov. Jim Pillen and two dozen other senators, Albrecht greeted about 200 supporters who showed up to support LB626. Children roamed through the crowd and one small boy wandered up to the line of speakers several times during the event, which featured signs proclaiming Protect Their Beating Hearts and A Heartbeat is a Universal Sign of Life. Tom Venzor, executive director for the Nebraska Catholic Conference, said Albrechts bill could save thousands of babies each year from elective abortions, while Dr. Elena Kraus of Lincoln, a specialist in maternal fetal medicine, said it would empower doctors to use their reasonable medical judgment when a womans life could be at risk. Pillen said Wednesday was one of the most important days in the last 50 years, since the Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion was handed down by the nations highest court. This is the most important time for all of us to get this across the finish line, Pillen said. The physical separation between both rallies was reflected among legislators on either side of the debate that ended after 7 p.m. Wednesday, with senators staking out their position, but no one signaling they could be persuaded by either side. Albrecht described her bill as the most doctor and woman friendly abortion ban in the country, saying it did not authorize criminal prosecution of doctors who perform an abortion after cardiac activity is detected, nor did it create a civil action for physicians to be sued. But opponents to the bill, including Lincoln Sen. George Dungan and Omaha Sen. John Cavanaugh, said the bill did not repeal any existing criminal sanctions in state law. If proponents of the bill wanted to make it clear LB626 would not criminalize abortions, language would have been added doing so, Dungan said. We already have the crime on the statutes, Dungan said. We are creating a framework that a lack of adherence to would result in penalties. John Cavanaugh said a prosecutor seeking to boost their political career could use the language in LB626 to go after doctors who perform abortions. Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, who was sworn in on Tuesday to replace former Sen. Suzanne Geist, said prosecutors would not read language into statute that isnt plainly there, however. And Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar said opponents' claims that women or doctors could be prosecuted if LB626 becomes law was not only wrong, but was doing more harm than the bill itself by spreading fear. But opponents of the bill called LB626 problematic and said ambiguous language within it could be used to go after doctors and women. "This is not a clear legal document," said Omaha Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh, who pointed out the bill did not repeal existing penalties for abortion already codified within Nebraska state statute. "It is problematic to its core." Cavanaugh said doctors who testified in opposition to the bill in February told a committee that the bill would hurt their patients by preventing health care professionals from providing care to pregnant women until it was clear they would not face legal consequences if the pregnancy ended. "This is not a partisan issue, this is a health care issue we have no business in," Cavanaugh said. Sen. Jen Day of Gretna passed around Tic Tacs to other senators and pointed out that at six weeks' gestation, embryos were roughly half the size of the small breath mints. She said at that gestational age, embryos do not have any definable characteristics, but rather looked like a tadpole. That drew criticism from several senators, including Sen. Brad von Gillern of Elkhorn, who said he believed that "standing for life can never be wrong." "To compare my children, your children, our children, to a piece of candy?" von Gillern said. "I'm more than disappointed." Several senators, including von Gillern and Rob Clements of Elmwood, told personal stories about adopting children or unplanned pregnancies of family members where the child was later adopted, adding those experiences had solidified their beliefs that abortion was wrong. Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte told lawmakers about the birth of his son at 24 weeks gestation. His son died five weeks later. Nobody is going to convince me my son did not deserve to live, Jacobson said. He was a real child. We need to protect human life. This is not health care when the perfect result is you take a life. Lincoln Sen. Anna Wishart said LB626 held a cynical view of women and warned the Legislature that last years trigger bill contained several provisions that would have prevented women from seeking care for ectopic pregnancies or in vitro fertilization. Wishart, and later Omaha Sen. Tony Vargas, also said the Legislature could be doing more to make choosing to go forward with pregnancies easier by expanding social programs. Why dont we do that? Wishart said. Why do we automatically go to removing somebodys choice and exposing them, potentially, to criminal penalties? Ultimately, however, no one was persuaded and Albrecht received the 33 votes necessary to break a filibuster. After the vote, opponents of the bill remained in the Rotunda chanting bans off our bodies and my body, my choice, forcing the Nebraska State Patrol and the sergeants-at-arms to shut the outer door to the legislative chamber. Andi Curry Grubb, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraskas director of public affairs, said she and other opponents were not surprised by the outcome. Its what we expected, Grubb said, adding senators who supported the bill did not consider the effects similar bills have had in other states, and continually discounted the voice of experts and medical professionals and the majority of Nebraskans. Grubb said opponents would continue to work to try and communicate the impacts of the bill to senators before LB626 comes back for second-round consideration. These people came here today because they care deeply about this issue, she said, referring to opponents. Theyre not going to give up and neither are we. The ACLU of Nebraska, in a statement, said it planned to continue mobilizing Nebraskans to change the vote ahead of the next round. State senators who support this near-total ban are disregarding what most Nebraskans want, ignoring clear warnings from medical professionals, and preparing to rob Nebraskans of their freedom to control their own bodies, lives and futures, said Scout Richters, senior legal and policy counsel. The Nebraska Family Alliance, on the other hand, hailed the vote as a major pro-life victory. Its past time for our laws to see unborn children for who they are girls and boys who should be celebrated, valued, and protected, said policy director Nate Grasz. We will continue working with pro-life senators and Governor Pillen to ensure the bill crosses the finish line. Albrecht, who received hugs from more than a dozen of her colleagues after the vote was passed, said debate over the bill is not over til its over. A proposed amendment from Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston who didnt speak during Wednesdays debate, but voted for cloture and to advance the bill extends the time a woman could seek an abortion to 12 weeks. His amendment could come up during the next round. But Albrecht said she thinks most senators will reject it like they did last summer when the 12-week proposal was floated as the subject of potential special session. She said she remains focused on pushing LB626 forward. Im feeling good that we should be able to get this done this year, she said. Nebraskans have waited 50 years; 50 years theyve been praying for this. Photos: Abortion debate at Nebraska Legislature After wildfires started in six counties across the state on Tuesday, Gov. Jim Pillen declared disasters in three counties, the Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said in a news release. Cherry, Garfield and Jefferson county agencies were still fighting fires Wednesday, while fires in Lincoln, Wheeler and Rock counties had been extinguished or were being cleaned up. The McCann fire in Cherry County was 0% contained on Wednesday afternoon, having burned 7,040 acres. Local fire departments from Kilgore, Cody, Valentine and the Rosebud Sioux Tribal Nation in South Dakota were among the responders, and firefighters from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife and U.S. Forest Service also were responding, NEMA said in the release. Firefighters were able to stop the fire from spreading into Kilgore, where residents evacuated but were able to return to their homes Tuesday night. Local communities in Cherry County have used bulldozers to make fire breaks to help the containment efforts, NEMA liaison Chris Schroeder said. While four homes were threatened (Tuesday), firefighters were able to stop the fires progress without any structures lost. In Jefferson County, the Rock Creek fire has burned 2,600 acres. As of Wednesday afternoon, Fairbury Rural Fire Department reported the blaze was 30% contained. A Nebraska National Guard crew was among the firefighters working the fire, and a National Guard helicopter also was assisting. The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission temporarily closed the Rock Creek Station State Historical Park and the adjacent state recreation area because of the fire. The commission said in a news release that 80% of the Rock Glen Wildlife Management Area, just south of the state historical park, was burned in the fire. No buildings were damaged at the historical park, although officials said flames came within feet of structures, which had been doused in fire-resistant foam as a preventative measure. The Lowry fire in Garfield County has burned 6,000 acres 15 miles north of Burwell. Two injuries were reported, and five structures were destroyed one home and four storage buildings. Local pilots dropped water on the fire, and mop-up operations have begun, according to the release. High temperatures, strong winds and low humidity have resulted in red flag warnings in several areas of the state, and critical fire weather is expected to continue. The public is encouraged to remain prepared for wildfire conditions across the state by visiting the NEMA website. 12 of the deadliest disasters in Nebraska history The Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888, 235 deaths Easter tornado of 1913, 103 deaths Republican River Flood of 1935, 94 deaths Braniff Airways crash in 1966, 42 deaths Floods of 1950, 25 deaths Blizzard of 1949, 20+ deaths 1976 Fremont hotel explosion, 20 deaths 1913 Yutan tornado, 20 deaths Dewey hotel fire of 1913, 20 deaths 1947 Republican River flood, 13 deaths 1913 Berlin tornado, 12 deaths Millard hotel fire of 1933, 7 deaths 1930s Dust Bowl, deaths estimated in the thousands Video: Schoolhouse Blizzard of 1888 Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen declared a state of emergency Thursday afternoon as wildfires burned across the state, including in Lincoln. Fire crews battled a rapidly spreading grassfire at the intersection of U.S. 34 and West Fletcher Avenue in Lincoln late Thursday afternoon, while another fire was burning out of control near Omaha. Lincoln Fire and Rescue, with assistance from crews from Raymond and the U.S. Air Force, helped to quickly knock down the Lincoln fire late Thursday afternoon. The blaze started just outside the fence enclosing the Sandhills Global Headquarters. Lincoln Police was on scene to direct traffic because heavy smoke caused visibility issues for motorists. Both it and the Omaha fire were being driven by hot, dry conditions and high winds. Lincoln reached 89 degrees Thursday afternoon for the second day in a row, tying a record for the date. Winds gusted as high as 46 miles per hour. Crews made significant progress against three other wildfires burning across the state on Thursday. The Nebraska Emergency Management Agency said in a news release Thursday that the Lowry fire in Garfield County is now 100% contained, with crews performing mop-up duty. The fire, which burned more than 6,000 acres, threatened several buildings and caused two injuries. Firefighters also now have a handle on two other fires, NEMA said. The McCann Fire in Cherry County, which has burned more than 7,000 acres, was 60% contained as of Thursday morning. The operational focus of incident command in Cherry County remains on the string of canyons along the Niobrara River, NEMA said in the release. The grassland where fire originally began remains under control and firefighters are patrolling for hot spots. State liaison Chris Schroeder said Nebraska National Guard helicopters continued to drop water on the fire Thursday and have now dropped 19,000 gallons. Pillen authorized the state to bring into service its single-engine air tanker in April rather than the usual start date of July. The plane arrived in Valentine on Wednesday, and once it is cleared to fly, it may be called to assist in dropping retardant on the fire. This is the second year in a row the plane has been put into service in April because of wildfires, NEMA said The agency said the Rock Creek Fire in Jefferson County is now 65% contained. Most of the fire, which has burned 2,600 acres and damaged one home, continues in the western section. All other sections are in mop-up status, NEMA said. Eighty firefighters from several departments remained on scene Thursday, and a Nebraska National Guard UH-60 helicopter will continue bucket drops over the western sections. On Wednesday, the Blackhawk dropped 12,600 gallons of water. A dozer and crews are digging lines around the perimeter of the western section. The fire is staying in the footprint and overall we are in pretty good shape, said Wildland Incident Response Assistance Team member James Sloup of the State Fire Marshal Agency. Most of the state was still in a red flag warning Thursday -- indicating extreme fire danger -- because of the hot, dry and windy conditions. Those conditions helped fan a massive brush fire along the Missouri River north of Omaha Thursday afternoon, affecting the city's N.P. Dodge Park as well as nearby farmland. Smoke from the blaze could be seen from downtown Omaha, and radar images showed smoke plumes extending north of Missouri Valley, Iowa. My farms on fire, said Clare Duda, a former member of the Douglas County Board and a longtime member of the Ponca Hills Volunteer Fire Department. Weve got at least, at least 100 acres has burned, probably more, he said. In addition to the state of emergency, Pillen also issued an executive order that bans open burning statewide until Sunday. Some relief is forecast Friday with a chance of storms, but those storms also bring the risk of lightning, which NEMA said could start new fires, which could spread rapidly due to continued high winds. Most expensive climate disasters in recent decades Most expensive climate disasters in recent decades #50. Midwest, Plains, and Southeast drought (2006) #49. Southeast drought (1983) #48. Hurricane Opal #47. Hurricane Fran #46. Western/Southern Plains drought and heatwave (2022) #45. Western drought and heatwave (2021) #44. US drought (2008) #43. South Plains severe weather #42. Hurricane Georges #41. Western wildfires #40. East Coast blizzard and severe weather #39. Hurricane Floyd #38. Hurricane Jeanne #37. Midwest/Southeast tornadoes #36. Hurricane Matthew #35. Louisiana flooding #34. Missouri River and North Central flooding #33. Central severe weather - Derecho #32. Western/Plains drought and heat wave (2013) #31. Southeast/Ohio Valley/Midwest tornadoes #30. Midwest flooding (2008) #29. Tropical Storm Allison #28. US drought (2002) #27. Hurricane Frances #26. Southern Plains/Southwest drought and heat wave #25. Hurricane Irene #24. Western wildfires - California, Oregon, Washington firestorms (2020) #23. Hurricane Hugo #22. Western wildfires, California firestorm (2017) #21. Hurricane Charley #20. Northwest, Central, Eastern winter storm and cold wave #19. Hurricane Laura #18. Hurricane Rita #17. Western wildfires, California firestorm (2018) #16. Hurricane Florence #15. Hurricane Wilma #14. Hurricane Michael #13. Hurricane Ivan #12. Central/Eastern drought and heat wave (1980) #11. US drought and heat wave (2012) #10. Hurricane Ike #9. Midwest flooding (1993) #8. US drought and heat wave (1988) #7. Hurricane Andrew #6. Hurricane Irma #5. Hurricane Ida #4. Hurricane Sandy #3. Hurricane Maria #2. Hurricane Harvey #1. Hurricane Katrina 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, Texas. 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 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. 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. In 1982, doctors at the University of Nebraska Medical Center saved my pregnant wife Lynn's life. Abortion was safe and legal in Nebraska. My wife was dying from a nonviable pregnancy and needed an abortion to save her life. It shouldnt have been a question. But it wasn't that easy. It took three days, numerous doctors' opinions and me, a lawyer, fighting layers of hospital bureaucracy to allow doctors to provide her the critical health care she needed to live all because of a policy banning abortions based on the hospital's religious beliefs. And it went further than that. Hospital staff, including nurses and doctors, refused to listen to Lynn. They would only respond when they heard me repeat what she said verbatim. They ridiculed her and pushed to have her removed from their care. She went against Gods will, and therefore wasnt worth caring for in the eyes of staff. Our story happened more than four decades ago. Although some hospitals have changed their policies in the past 40 years to make them more clear cut, the current near total abortion ban being considered by Nebraska lawmakers would take Nebraska right back to our experience or worse. Every doctors license would be on the line, tearing them between their ethical obligations to provide lifesaving care and losing their license or facing other disciplinary actions. And hospital administrators across the state would have to grapple with denying critical care to dying women, all to fulfill a narrow ideological agenda that a majority of Nebraskans dont support. My wife would have died under this proposed ban. Exceptions for the life of the mother in reality are not clear cut, especially when your spouse is dying. Lynn decided to terminate her second pregnancy after an ultrasound revealed the fetus would not develop into a baby because it had no lungs. Additionally, this rare genetic condition was causing Lynn to have high blood pressure and would eventually swiftly shut down her major organs. At a time when emotions were running high, I risked losing my wife and young son's mother. Abortion was well within the law and multiple doctors said an abortion was needed immediately. Lynn made the decision to end her pregnancy and save her life. The hospital administration, however, stood firm in its opposition and wanted to transport Lynn to another hospital, even though this was the only place for miles that specialized in high-risk pregnancies and could provide the specialized care Lynn needed. Doctors said transporting her wasnt an option. She wouldn't survive. We argued and fought the administration. Still the administrators resisted. For three days, they fought to protect their religious beliefs and hospital policy, while I fought to save my wife's life. I demanded, and we received, an expedited appeal. The appeal process itself took two days and multiple meetings. The obstetricians could not argue the case openly due to the hospital's policy as to do so would cost them their jobs. It wasn't until I asked the administrator sitting in judgment of our request what he would do if his wife needed to end a pregnancy to save her life, he relented. Lynn survived to continue parenting our first child and returned to the same high-risk obstetrician and nurse for her third pregnancy. Had I not been Lynn's ardent advocate, she would not have been able to break through layers of bureaucracy to save her own life. Today, I continue to wonder what a woman alone at the hospital would do without a strong legal advocate. Women making their own decisions have been discounted and disregarded for a long time. When their partners are with them, supporting their decisions, the system listens from nurse, to administrator, to politician and everyone in between. Male voices carry unwarranted additional weight in the current local culture. Protect her. Insist they respect and listen to her. The lives of our wives, mothers, sisters and daughters are at stake not only for this generation but generations to come. Abortion health care is personal and necessary. It shouldn't require a man or a lawyer to successfully effectuate a woman's decision to have an abortion. But if it is only a man's voice the legislators will hear, now is the time for men to speak up and say "no" to this proposed near-total abortion ban. BURLINGTON Cities hoping to exceed state liquor license limits would be able to purchase extra licenses from neighbors within the same county, under a proposal from Burlington officials who want to bring more liquor-related business into their community. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos, R-Rochester, is working with Burlington officials on the effort that, if approved by the Legislature, could result in changes impacting liquor license limits statewide. But when the proposal will be ready for state lawmakers to review and the details of what exactly it will contain are uncertain. Right now, state law limits liquor licenses based on a communitys population: one license for every 500 people who live there. The most coveted is the Class B license, which allows for on-site consumption of all beverages beer, wine and hard liquor. Burlington has 26 such licenses, all of which are currently taken. Until the citys population increases another 500 to about 12,000 people no other tavern, restaurant or other business can be permitted to serve a full menu of alcoholic beverages. State law also allows a municipality to purchase unused licenses from its neighbors, but only those that are directly adjacent. In the case of Burlington, that means Rochester, Spring Prairie, Lyons and the Town of Burlington. The price tag in such license deals starts at $10,000, and there is no limit to how much a municipality can charge a cost traditionally passed along to the license applicant waiting in the wings. With a new tavern ready to open near Browns Lake, Burlington city officials have grown frustrated in their efforts to purchase another license. Right now, none of their immediate neighbors are selling. Burlington Mayor Jeannie Hefty reached out to Vos with the idea of loosening up the rules to allow license deals between any two municipalities in the same county, regardless of whether they are adjacent. Hefty said her goal is to stockpile Class B licenses so that Burlington can accommodate future business growth, particularly among new restaurants aiming to make alcoholic beverages part of their strategy. The mayor hopes her idea of changing state law finds support among other cities, towns and villages. I dont want any other municipality to go through what the City of Burlington was faced with, she said. The Burlington City Council in January was forced to choose between two applicants for the citys final Class B license turning away the would-be operators of Nolis Taps & Spirits, a new drinking establishment proposed at 2657 Browns Lake Drive. In an effort to drum up support for easier liquor license bartering between neighbors, Hefty has reached out to municipal leaders elsewhere in Racine County, Kenosha County and Walworth County. In her pitch to other communities, Hefty writes that the states current limitation stunts economic growth. Help to make a difference to expand future growth and economic development in our counties and municipalities, she wrote. No other municipalities have yet taken action on the mayors suggestion. The villages of Waterford and Rochester are among those currently considering Burlingtons idea. Voss spokeswoman Angela Joyce said the Racine County legislative leader recognizes that Burlington and other communities are eager for relief from state restrictions on the number of liquor licenses they can issue for taverns and restaurants. Joyce, however, called the relaxed rules on inter-city license deals just one option in what could become a package of proposals. The speaker recognizes the challenge communities like Burlington are facing, and were making progress on a package to address it, Joyce said. The speaker is optimistic we will come to a solution, but it is too early in the process to go into details. Joyce declined to elaborate, and Vos could not be reached for comment. The Wisconsin Tavern League, which wields much influence over state policy on alcohol sales, is undecided about the idea of making it easier to move liquor licenses between neighboring cities and villages, although the powerful business lobbying group regards Burlingtons idea as a compromise worth considering. The 5,000-member association has opposed previous changes aimed at increasing the number of liquor licenses, because the league interpreted those ideas as inviting too much competition for license-holders already doing business. Scott Stenger, government affairs director for the league, said Wisconsin has more liquor licenses per capita than any other state in the country. However, the Burlington initiative would not mean more licenses, but rather just making it easier to move licenses around from one city to another, Stenger said. Then the question becomes whether any one community might be flooded with liquor licenses in a way that is unfair to existing businesses, Stenger said. Were going to see if theres a way to make this work, he said. We want to make sure that theres a system in place that is fair and equitable. The Racine County Sheriff Offices K-9 officer Murphy died on March 31 after suffering an unexpected medical emergency while at home. Murphy was joined by his partner, Deputy David Fisher, and family at the time of his death. He was put down humanely with euthanasia, according to a release from the Racine County Sheriffs Office. Born in Hungary in 2012, the Belgian Malinois was paired with Deputy Fisher in 2013, and they underwent training at the Southern Police Canine facility in North Carolina. After graduating from a six-week training course, the pair began their work protecting the community on overnight shifts. According to the Racine County Sheriffs Office, Murphy was a dual-purpose dog certified in narcotic detection, evidence and article search, building search, tracking, handler protection and criminal apprehension. Officials said during Murphys career, he and Fisher had more than 2,500 training hours with nearly 600 career deployments. Fisher and Murphy also assisted the Racine Sheriffs Metro Drug Unit in serving search warrants. The sheriffs office said they were a productive partnership that aided in recovering weapons, seizing a wide range of narcotics and arresting dangerous criminals. They also helped build community relations and did drug checks at schools and detention facilities. Fisher had planned to retire with Murphy at the end of the year. Fisher looked forward to spending time with Murphy at his cabin up north. While I am saddened over the loss of K-9 Murphy, I hope Deputy Fisher takes comfort in the tremendous service he and K-9 Murphy provided to the community, Sheriff Christopher Schmaling said in a statement. Their teamwork, training, and dedication took guns, drugs, and thugs off the streets there is no way to measure the number of lives they saved. K-9 Murphy lived a very full life. Thank you for your service, and you will be missed. In addition to Murphys death, the Sheriffs Office retired K-9 Friday last month and K-9 Nitro in October of 2022. The Sheriffs K-9 program is solely funded through community contributions. RACINE Visitors at the Racine Zoo can now see the resident arctic foxes at home in their new enclosure. The new space for Echo, a 6-year-old male fox, and Luna, a 6-year-old female fox, is located at the southeast corner of the zoo, next to the bear exhibit. Zoo officials announced in a news release that the new arctic fox exhibit, finished by zoo staff last week, includes a variety of special features for the animals, in addition to a great view of Lake Michigan. This enclosure includes a heated shelter, which will allow Echo and Luna to stay in their new habitat even in colder temperatures. There is also more space in this new exhibit which the Zoo says will allow staff to be able better support the animals in exhibiting their natural behaviors, such as caching food and hiding it for later. The arctic foxes will catch more food than they can immediately consume, store it for later and then utilize their sense of smell to find it. Zoo staff said they have already noticed an increase in this behavior. Additionally, the enclosure features a multi-tiered platform system for the animals to play on and a sheltered ledge for them to rest. Visitors can see Echo and Luna at play in the enclosure from two different angles: from the ground level on the east side of the zoo and from above at the Bear Burrow building. Racine Zoo acknowledged Ross Cecil for support that helped make the new enclosure possible. Echo and Luna arrived at the Racine Zoo as kits in the summer of 2016 from the Great Bend Zoo in Kansas. Major highways were closed and residents were evacuated after wildfires broke out in Juneau and Monroe counties as the state Department of Natural Resources responded to a total of 21 fires Wednesday. The fires destroyed several buildings but no injuries had been reported. By Thursday morning, nearly 80 wildfires had broken out this week as state officials warned of critical fire dangers for much of Wisconsin. A red flag warning was in effect again for the southern two-thirds of Wisconsin through 8 p.m. Thursday, the National Weather Service and DNR said. The warning covered 38 counties. The Jack Pine Fire near Necedah in Juneau County burned an estimated 100 acres and was contained by early Thursday. The DNR and Fort McCoy on Thursday were still managing the roughly 2,980-acre Arcadia Fire that closed highways in Monroe County. By Thursday night, the fire was 46% contained. Temperatures above 80 degrees, high wind gusts, sun and no chance for rain left much of the state at a high danger for fires. High fire risk is expected to continue Friday, with similar weather forecast, before showers and thunderstorms are expected to roll in Saturday and Saturday night, and temperatures plunge to a high below 50 on Sunday. Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency Wednesday in response to the elevated wildfire conditions. Although northern Wisconsin still has considerable snow cover, the danger is extreme across much of the state today, Evers said in a statement. This executive order will give the Department of Natural Resources the ability to have all available resources ready to be quickly dispatched at critical moments to keep fires small and minimize damage. The DNR has requested wildfire suppression support from the Wisconsin National Guard, and the executive order helps in rapidly mobilizing the National Guards Blackhawk helicopters. The executive order also directs all state agencies to assist in wildfire prevention, response and recovery efforts. During the red-flag warning, burning with all DNR-issued burning permits was prohibited and people were asked to avoid all outdoor burning. Campfires, ashes from fireplaces, outdoor grills, smoking, chainsaws, off-road vehicles or other small engines have the potential to throw a spark and ignite a fire that can spread quickly. The latest fire danger, wildfire reports and burning restrictions are on the DNR website at dnr.wisconsin.gov. Northern Wisconsin is not under high fire risk because of snow cover, and some roads in Bayfield and Sawyer counties were closed Wednesday due to flooding as the heavy snowpack melted in the spring heat wave, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation reported. The Juneau County fire began in Necedah, about 90 miles north of Madison, about 4 p.m. Wednesday. Five buildings were destroyed, according to the American Red Cross. Nobody was injured. An evacuation center was opened at the Veterans Hall in Necedah for people with homes near the fire. The Portage Fire Department sent an engine with a strike team to Necedah to assist. The fire jumped the road toward a handful of houses. One house was a complete loss, while firefighters were able to save the others, said Portage Fire Chief Troy Haase, Theyre getting run ragged, he said of the firefighters on Wednesday. Kathy Engleman, the Salvation Army incident commander for Juneau County, said an elderly group home had already been evacuated when her crew arrived. A group of 31 people, along with pets owned by many of them, was transferred to the pet-friendly Super 8 Motel in Mauston, where they stayed until noon Thursday. The group home residents were transferred to another facility in the county. The Salvation Army helped some elderly residents before the Red Cross team arrived, provided childrens clothing and helped a resident retrieve medicine from a Mauston pharmacy. Residents were going to be allowed back in their homes Thursday night, though firefighters were concerned about the wind reactivating the fire. The cause of the wildfire is under investigation. On Wednesday, the DNR said Blackhawk helicopters were making drops to minimize the fires intensity, and firefighters used engines and dozers to build containment lines. The Red Cross said it also assisted 13 people in Milwaukee after high winds caused a house fire to spread to other houses, with four residences destroyed, some with multiple units. In Monroe County near the Jackson County line, the wildfire began at the north end of Fort McCoy, damaged three structures and destroyed a shed. The fire is burning in oak and jack pine and fire crews were making progress against it using engines and dozers to build containment lines. Smoke from the Arcadia Fire closed Interstate 94 until 11 p.m. Wednesday. Highway 12 also was closed in that area due to smoke. The Salvation Army Wausau Disaster Canteen provided assistance for residents of areas impacted by the fire. Colleen Hilber manages the Wausau group and led the effort in the large blaze. She said the team was helping nearly 200 residents in the area with lunch, dinner, and breakfast Friday, was handling potential shelter overnight. Reporters Jeff Richgels, Steve Rundio, John Gittings and Anna Hansen contributed to this report. Photos: The 1871 Peshtigo Fire Peshtigo Fire Peshtigo marker, 1951 Peshtigo Fire 092321_peshtigo_12-09292021085314 Peshtigo Fire 092321_peshtigo_04-09232021153246 Peshtigo Fire Peshtigo Fire 092321_peshtigo_11-09232021153246 Peshtigo Fire 092321_peshtigo_05-09232021153246 092321_peshtigo_02-09232021153246 Peshtigo Fire 092321_peshtigo_10-09232021153246 Peshtigo Fire Peshtigo Fire Historical marker Museum Peshtigo Fire (MIS Photography) By Jacob Sullum. Apr 11, 2023 A federal judge in Texas recently agreed with a federal judge in Oklahoma that the national ban on gun possession by cannabis consumers violates the Second Amendment. Kathleen Cardone, a judge on the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, also concluded that the federal ban on transferring firearms to an "unlawful user" of a "controlled substance," first imposed by the Gun Control Act of 1968, is unconstitutional. The case involves Paola Connelly, who was charged with illegal possession of firearms under 18 USC 922(g)(3) after El Paso police found marijuana and guns in her home while responding to a domestic disturbance in December 2021. Connelly, who said she used marijuana "to sleep at night and to help her with anxiety," also was charged with violating 18 USC 922(d)(3) by transferring guns to her husband, a cocaine and psilocybin user. Both gun offenses are punishable by up to 15 years in prison. As a preliminary matter, Cardone held that Connelly's Second Amendment claims were not precluded by prior decisions in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit, which includes Texas, upheld Section 922(g)(3). Those decisions, she noted, preceded the Supreme Court's June 2022 ruling in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen, which said gun control laws must be "consistent with the Nation's historical tradition of firearm regulation." Last February in United States v. Rahimi, the 5th Circuit concluded that Bruen required it to reconsider decisions upholding the federal ban on gun possession by people subject to domestic violence restraining orders. By the same logic, Cardone says in an order published last week, the 5th Circuit's precedents regarding Section 922(g)(3) are no longer binding. As it has in previous cases involving the same law, the Biden administration argued that the gun ban for marijuana users meets the Bruen test because it is "relevantly similar" to colonial and state laws forbidding people to publicly use or carry guns while intoxicated. Like U.S. District Judge Patrick Wyrick, who deemed that ban unconstitutional in an Oklahoma case last February, Cardone was unpersuaded by that analogy. ..... 1. Yes. Police officers should be the only ones armed in the council chambers. Period. 2. Yes. Such a ban is allowed by state law, and the city council should consider it . 3. No. The possibility of violence is always present, but disarming everyone isnt the answer. 4. No. Its unwise to change the city ordinance based on one unfortunate incident. 5. Unsure. Some steps must be taken, but its hard to say if a gun ban is necessary. Vote View Results KEARNEY The University of Nebraska at Kearney is taking a team-based approach to mental health care. Staff from UNK Student Health and Counseling are partnering with a University of Nebraska Medical Center faculty member to introduce an integrated care program that improves access to these services on campus. Supported by a three-year, $492,000 grant awarded by the Behavioral Health Education Center of Nebraska, these professionals will implement a collaborative care model that provides efficient and effective treatment for depression, anxiety, trauma and other mental health conditions commonly encountered in a primary care environment. The collaborative care approach is gaining traction in primary care settings throughout the United States, but very few people are doing this at the university level, said Wendy Schardt, director of UNK Student Health and Counseling. We have the opportunity to be a trailblazer by using this model in a student health clinic. Developed at the University of Washington, collaborative care addresses both mental and physical health by utilizing a systematic approach with a team of providers to address mental health conditions for a population of patients. Integrating and leveraging psychiatric services in the primary care setting leads to improved access to care and ensures people in need dont fall through the cracks. Were going to meet people where they access care instead of expecting them to go to a separate location for mental health services, said Maggie Emerson, an advanced practice psychiatric nurse practitioner and assistant professor at the UNMC College of Nursing in Omaha. Students who visit the UNK campus health clinic already complete a survey thats used to screen for anxiety, depression and other mental health conditions. Based on those results, they may be referred to a mental health counselor. This counselor will meet one-on-one with the student either in person or via telehealth while also serving as a member of the collaborative care team, which includes Emerson, Schardt and Anne Lano, a family nurse practitioner and nursing director for UNK Student Health. These professionals will work together to develop a measurement-guided care plan that meets the patients specific needs and goals. In my mind, this is how medicine should be practiced, Emerson said. We should all be communicating, and we should all have the patients goals as the motivating factor for how we address and manage treatment. The collaborative care team tracks each patients progress, allowing them to focus more attention on someone whos struggling, and shares relapse-prevention strategies toward the end of the treatment program. This model is designed to be short-term, with students completing six to 10 sessions, but patients could be referred to longer-term counseling services when necessary. We are strategically placing mental health supports throughout campus life, and this is one more tool to broaden access for students, said Schardt, a licensed mental health practitioner. We want to offer a variety of different entry points to get them the assistance they need. The integrated care program should be available to students this fall. Emerson and Schardt also plan to use the UNK clinic as a training site for current and future health care professionals interested in implementing a collaborative care model. The grant money comes from more than $25 million in American Rescue Plan Act funding allocated to BHECN last year by the Nebraska Legislature to address the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the shortage of behavioral health professionals in the state. This clinic can serve as a hub for people to see how integrated care works and further incentivize them to pursue providing this type of care, Emerson said. You need a developed workforce that really understands how to deliver integrated services, and thats something we can provide to meet the needs of Nebraska residents. I think this is a great starting point, Schardt added. By proving this works at the university level, we could ultimately improve access to mental health care across the state. Nebraska can be a place where were known for this pipeline of trained professionals. KEARNEY Michelle Dutcher, a fifth-grade teacher at Buffalo Hills Elementary, has been selected as the Kearney Public Schools candidate for the ASCEND Academy, a principal/administrator training program. The ASCEND Academy is run in partnership with the Tri-City Schools, which includes Grand Island, Hastings and Kearney Public Schools. The Academy is intended to support teachers who aspire to be future principals by providing them with experiences in different schools and settings. Each candidate spends the semester in an internship where they are able to build their capacity and experiences. "Michelle Dutcher is a valued member of the KPS community and has proven to be both a successful classroom teacher, as well as a leader in her building, said KPS Human Resources Director Melissa Herrmann. We are excited to have her represent KPS in the ASCEND program and have high hopes for her in the future. This will be a tremendous opportunity for her to grow and develop her leadership skills, as well as learn from our neighboring districts." According to Superintendent Jason Mundorf, this is the third year of the ASCEND program. The ASCEND program is a collaborative effort between Kearney Public Schools, Grand Island Public Schools and Hastings Public Schools whereby each district selects an aspiring leader who has identified a skillset needed for becoming a school administrator. Each candidate gets the opportunity to serve as an administrative support for a school district principal for nine weeks in one of the partner school districts as well as a nine-week administrative experience in their own district. This semester-long experience equips the prospective leader with hands-on, real-world experiences they will use as future administrators, said Mundorf. It is very difficult to replicate the day-to-day experiences you have as an administrator, and for these young leaders to have that chance in this internship is something that is unique across our state. The partnership with Grand Island and Hastings has been a terrific experience for all of our districts, and we are identifying and hiring these candidates for open instructional and building leadership positions in our districts. I really appreciate the partnership we have with these districts and their leadership teams, and I commend our collective school boards for their vision and commitment to school leadership development. We are building the future of school leadership in Central Nebraska, and its awesome to be a part of that effort! KEARNEY The University of Nebraska at Kearney Police Department is investigating an alleged assault by a professor. The alleged incident involved multiple UNK students and a female faculty member, said Todd Gottula, UNK senior director of communications and marketing. The incident occurred on March 31 in a classroom in Bruner Hall here on campus. We got a couple anonymous complaints to UNK police, and they investigated the incident, but no charges have been filed, Gottula told The Hub. The Antelope, UNK's student newspaper, reported a student told police she was struck in the head by the professor, which exacerbated preexisting head trauma. Gottula explained the professor is a visiting faculty member, and the university placed her on administrative leave and removed her from the classroom. She is no longer teaching in the classroom and is not allowed on campus, Gottula said. There is no threat to the safety to the students or our employees. The class the professor was instructing continues after being reassigned to another faculty member. UNK Police continue to investigate the case. Episode 85: Last week, ProPublica reported that Justice Clarence Thomas has for more than two decades accepted luxury trips from Republican mega donor Harlan Crow. The day after the report, Thomas described Crow and his wife, Kathy, as "among our dearest friends," and said in a statement that he was advised by colleagues that "this sort of personal hospitality from close personal friends, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." Hosts Richard Kyte and Scott Rada discuss how this news further erodes the trust many Americans have with the highest levels of government and what steps can be taken to help solve this crisis of confidence. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. Links to stories discussed during the podcast: Clarence Thomas billionaire buddy has a vast collection of Hitler paintings, Nazi memorabilia, by Daniel Kreps, Rolling Stone No. 300! Arenado joins milestone homer club, by John Denton, MLB About the hosts: Scott Rada is social media manager with Lee Enterprises, and Richard Kyte is the director of the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership at Viterbo University in La Crosse, Wis. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, and Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau hold a news conference in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in this photo taken on Sept. 23, 2022. Yonhap Canada and South Korea plan to launch talks on an information security agreement to facilitate intelligence-sharing and promote security ties, a Canadian government source said on Thursday. Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly will make the announcement during an official trip to Seoul this week, said the source, who requested anonymity on the grounds they were not authorized to speak publicly about the plan. The proposed agreement would allow for intelligence-sharing and greater levels of defense cooperation and enable Canadian firms to bet on some procurement contracts. "In light of the present challenges to global security and to the rules-based international order, this cooperation is all the more important," said the source. Canada made a similar announcement about an information-sharing deal with Japan last October. Joly will travel to Tokyo after South Korea. Last November, the Canadian government launched an Indo-Pacific strategy, outlining spending of C$2.3 billion ($1.7 billion) to boost military and cyber security in the region. Ottawa said earlier this month it would deploy a military aircraft to Japan to support implementation of United Nations Security Council sanctions against North Korea. (Reuters) Demonstrators march Thursday, April 13, in Rennes, western France. French unions are staging a new round of nationwide protests, on the eve of an expected ruling by a top constitutional body that they hope will derail President Emmanuel Macron's unpopular pension reform plan. AP-Yonhap By Donald Kirk The United States has strengthened its defenses in East Asia by gaining year-round, permanent access to nine bases in the Philippines. These aren't American bases, but U.S. troops can move in and out of them as needed for exercises or, for that matter, in a real war. This month, the bases are supporting more than 17,000 American and Philippine troops in the biggest war games in the Philippines in years. The Philippines' President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has reversed the policies of his predecessor, Rodrigo Duterte, who undermined the Philippine-American alliance by courting China. Duterte saw a warm relationship with China's President Xi Jinping as needed to head off conflict in the South China Sea, which Beijing claims as Chinese territory. Bongbong, whose father, Ferdinand Marcos, ruled as a dictator for 18 years before his overthrow in the People Power Revolution in 1986, has decided the country's future lies in renewing close ties with Washington. The Americans had to evacuate their huge air and naval bases more than 30 years ago after the Philippine Senate refused to renew the lease. The Yanks will not be returning in the same huge numbers as in the old days, but Bongbong has decided they're needed while the Chinese harass Philippine boats, chasing them out of customary fishing grounds and threatening to take over small Philippine islets. The shift in Philippine policy parallels that in South Korea, where President Yoon Suk Yeol has endorsed joint South Korea-U.S. exercises on the ground, in the air and at sea for the first time since Donald Trump foolishly canceled them after his summit with North Korea's Kim Jong-un in Singapore in 2018. Yoon's predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who met Kim on the line at Panmunjeom before the Singapore summit and saw him again in Pyongyang, discouraged joint exercises for the rest of his presidency. Until this year Americans and South Koreans had to content themselves with elaborate war games on computers not quite the same as live troops simulating real-world action. The decisions of President Marcos and President Yoon to bolster defenses from Northeast to Southeast Asia carry inherent risks. In the Philippines, the idea of American and Philippine troops strengthening mutual defenses presents a challenge to Chinese forces who've been expanding air and naval bases in the Spratly Islands for years. The Chinese protest whenever American naval vessels cruise by to show the flag and defy the Chinese claim to control over one of the world's crucial international waterways. The standoff on the South China Sea bears a parallel to what's happening around the Korean Peninsula, where Kim Jong-un has been ordering tests of sophisticated missiles. It's unlikely the Americans and North Koreans will begin firing at one another any more than the Chinese and the Americans are about to go to war. The risks, however, are rising while the Chinese keep the North on life support and discourage Kim from behaving as he might like. Intrinsic in the rising confrontation are the dangers in the waters surrounding Taiwan, the breakaway Chinese province off the China coast between South Korea and the Philippines. Almost routinely, Chinese planes are flying into Taiwan's air defense identification zone while Chinese warships approach the island's territorial waters. It's a game of intimidation to keep Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen from anything to do with the Americans, on whom she's counting for arms and much else. Meetings between Tsai and two speakers of the U.S. House of Representatives, first the Democratic Party's Nancy Pelosi, who stopped off in August, and then the Republican Kevin McCarthy, whom Tsai has just seen in California, have outraged Beijing. To the Chinese, the revival of tight relations between the U.S. and the Philippines is equally worrisome. Three of the nine Philippine bases to which the Americans have access are within easy range of Taiwan, President Biden has promised the U.S. would live up to its "commitment" to defend Taiwan despite America's One China policy. In the event of a war in Taiwan, South Korea would be reluctant to join the fray. The Koreans don't want to upset China in a conflict for the island. South Korea, like most other countries, including its American ally, recognizes Taiwan only as a province of China, by far the South's biggest trading partner. The proximity of those Philippine bases to Taiwan is just as important as their relationship with the South China Sea. American warships periodically enter the Taiwan Straits. It's as though the battle lines are being drawn for a showdown though a real war remains a distant cloud on the horizon. Donald Kirk ( www.donaldkirk.com ) covers war and peace in the region from Seoul and Washington. The Vernon County Resilience Initiative is hosting a production of Driftless Dreams: A Play for Voices at 7 p.m. on April 22 at Viroquas Landmark Theater in the 500 Block of East Court Street. Driftless Dreams, written by Decorah resident Robert Wolf, is a choral drama on the Driftless region, contrasting the self-sufficiency of earlier times with todays dependence on the global economy and State and Federal money. The play concludes with a call for a return to self-reliance. The play will be presented by The Bridge, a Decorah theater company, a project of Free River Press. Toby Grotz, one of the Vernon Council Resilience Initiative organizers said, After the play we will have a discussion of what we could do now to further enhance our resilience in the future. With the coming changes (which we all feel), there is much to do. Driftless Dreams, like the Dylan Thomas Under Milkwood, is a prose-poetic play for voices. Its author, Robert Wolf, moved to the Driftless region in 1991, and from that time became involved in rural economic development. His purpose in writing Driftless Dreams was to help develop a regional consciousness, which he hoped would facilitate economic development across local and county lines. Wolf evokes the Driftless region in a tapestry woven of choruses, conversations and monologues. Wolf says, This mixture of forms allowed me the flexibility I needed to give voice to shared feelings and divergent perspectives within the Driftless region. Wisconsin writer Joseph OBrien wrote that Robert Wolf has undertaken a work of choral polyphony . . . . Indeed, from the moment thought speaks in this work, the polyphony, the many voices of the Driftless region come alive with a resonance which echoes from valley to ridge top. Driftless Dreams contains three sections one on farming, another on small towns, and a third on the Mississippi each of which has stories and conversations inspired by area residents. Tickets are $10 for adults and is free to persons under 18. Driftless Dreams runs approximately one hour. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Obituaries Newsletter Sign up to get the most recent local obituaries delivered to your inbox. Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy LA CROSSEDonald A. Bahr, 75, of La Crosse, died Sunday April 9, 2023 at Mayo Health System in La Crosse. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 6:00 p.m., Friday, April 14, 2023 at the Roncolli Newman Catholic Parish, 1732 State Street in La Crosse. A visitation will be held at the church on Friday from 3:00 to 6:00 p.m. Burial with military honors will be in the St. Joseph Ridge Catholic Cemetery. US, Vietnam celebrate improvements to trade and investment climate The US Agency for International Development (USAID) and the General Department of Vietnam Customs (GDVC) on Wednesday celebrated their joint success creating a more attractive trade and investment environment in Vietnam. Addressing the event, USAID/Vietnam Mission Director Aler Grubbs said that USAID is a long-time partner of Vietnam in improving the countrys trade and the investment environment. The extraordinary results of USAIDs Trade Facilitation Program are a prime example of what our strong partnership can achieve," she said. "We look forward to continuing our joint efforts to unlock greater economic growth. Speaking at the event, GDVC Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Tho said that the USAID Trade Facilitation Programs support could not have been better timed, particularly in relation to Vietnams implementation of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement. The Program has supported Vietnam to carry out effective regulatory and administrative reforms through a range of activities, including technical assistance for the application of risk management in customs, capacity building, and the development of effective public-private partnerships, he said. GDVC Deputy Director General Nguyen Van Tho speaks at the event. Photo by Haiquanonline. Through its USD21.7 million Trade Facilitation Program, which began in 2018, USAID has partnered with GDVC to improve the countrys business climate. USAID and GDVC increased the business communitys voice in the policy-making process, simplified customs procedures, and created action plans to ease port congestion, such as at Cat Lai, the countrys busiest container port, which had been operating at its full capacity prior to COVID-19. USAID and GDVC worked together to streamline specialized inspectionsa procedure that ensures import-export goods meet required safety and quality standards. Previously, specialized inspections in Vietnam involved multiple ministries, resulting in lengthy border clearance times. According to the GDVC, between 2019 and 2020, the activity has been instrumental in cutting in half the average border clearance time for imports (from 104 hours to 55 hours); reducing by 2.5 times the average border clearance time for exports (from 96 hours to 38 hours); and reducing the costs to traders of completing cross-border procedures by 45% for imports (from USD569 to USD313) and by 20% for exports (from USD420 to USD338). Dry, windy weather has aided the fast growth of wildfires that have consumed nearly 3,000 wooded and grassy acres in Monroe and Juneau counties. Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources crews responded Wednesday to a 2,800-acre wildfire in Jackson County, which was reported to be 48% contained as of Thursday morning. The fire began as crews were extinguishing a smaller blaze in Juneau County. The Monroe County fire caused a shutdown of Interstate 94 between Tomah and Black River Falls. The interstate has been reopened, but the Wisconsin State Patrol said it will be closed again if visibility and fire conditions warrant. Officials say the fire began at the north end of Fort McCoy. Some voluntary evacuations have occurred, but no injuries have been reported. Damage so far has been limited to three structures and one shed. Six heavy units and four engines, along with fire departments from Fort McCoy, Bangor, Oakdale, West Salem and Warrens, Monroe County Sheriffs Office, Wisconsin State Patrol and local emergency management are also on scene. A command post has been established at the Black River Falls DNR center. Firefighters Wednesday contained a 100-acre fire in Juneau County. The fire broke out north of Highway 21 and west of Highway 80. Several structures were reported lost. The DNR said the fires burned oak and jack pine. The cause of both fires remains under investigation. The DNR responded to 21 wildfires statewide Wednesday and nearly 80 over the past seven days. Red flag warnings continue for most of Wisconsin. The warnings include a suspension of outdoor burning activities. Warm temperatures, low relative humidity and very windy conditions are expected to keep the fire danger elevated until Saturday. How wildfires have worsened in recent years How wildfires have worsened in recent years The number of wildfires is decreasing, but more acres are burning Wildfire seasons are getting longer Wildfire suppression costs have risen by billions of dollars Lightning fires are causing more damage in the West Californias wildfires continue to set records WASHINGTON A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced. Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. Garland identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, and said he would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information. FBI agents converged Thursday at Teixeira's Massachusetts home and heavily armed tactical agents took Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, into custody outside the property, "without incident," Garland said. He will be charged with unauthorized removal of classified national defense information, Garland said, and will have an initial court appearance in federal court in Massachusetts. It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned. Law enforcement officials roped off the street near the home. The New York Times, which first identified Teixeira on Thursday, said that a man who had been standing outside the Teixeira home earlier said that "he needs to get an attorney if things are flowing the way they are going right now. The Feds will be around soon, I'm sure." The emergence of Teixeira as the apparent primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, one that continues to unfold with almost daily revelations of highly classified documents, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. The Biden administration has scrambled for days to contain the fallout from the leaked information, which has publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine's air defense capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on an array of intelligence matters. The National Guard did not confirm his identity but said in a statement that, "We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents." Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, referred all questions about the case to the Justice Department. But he said: "We have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement. This is a criminal act, a willful violation of those." The Biden administration has been working to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. A top Pentagon spokesman told reporters earlier this week that the disclosures present a "very serious risk to national security," and the Justice Department opened an investigation to identify the person responsible. "We're getting close," President Joe Biden told reporters in Ireland on Thursday. He said that though he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been disclosed, "there's nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of great consequence." The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday. It's possible the leak may have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place "where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community." In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the poster's own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of folded papers. Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed, which may provide critical clues as to who is responsible. Typically in classified briefings, as with the slides that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That is done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected afterward. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. It's those digital clues like the record of printouts that may help investigators hone in on who took the documents. In most of the photographs of documents posted online the pictures are of paper copies that look like they had been folded into quarters almost as if they'd been stuffed into someone's pocket. In the days since the leaks came to light, the Pentagon has deferred questions on the investigation to the Justice Department, stating that it's a criminal matter. Even if the person who leaked the files is an active duty member of the U.S. military, the Justice Department would likely still have the lead in the prosecution until it was ready to turn the matter over to the Defense Department, a defense official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. This has been the case in previous criminal cases, such as when two Marines based at Camp Pendleton in California were arrested on drug trafficking charges in 2020, the official said. If the person responsible turns out to be a civilian, the Justice Department will be responsible, the official said. States with the most active-duty military members Intro #51. West Virginia #50. Vermont #49. Maine #48. Iowa #47. Minnesota #46. Wisconsin #45. Oregon #44. Michigan #43. Indiana #42. New Hampshire #41. Massachusetts #40. Pennsylvania #39. Tennessee #38. Wyoming #37. Rhode Island #36. Montana #35. South Dakota #34. Idaho #33. Delaware #32. Arkansas #31. Utah #30. Nebraska #29. Connecticut #28. New Jersey #27. Ohio #26. North Dakota #25. Alabama #24. District of Columbia #23. Mississippi #22. Nevada #21. New Mexico #20. Louisiana #19. Missouri #18. Alaska #17. Arizona #16. New York #15. Oklahoma #14. Illinois #13. Kansas #12. Maryland #11. Kentucky #10. South Carolina #9. Colorado #8. Hawaii #7. Washington #6. Florida #5. Georgia #4. North Carolina #3. Texas #2. Virginia #1. California UW-Madison didnt promptly report a 2019 lab incident involving a potentially dangerous bird flu virus to some authorities, raising questions about whether the public can trust oversight of such controversial research, an investigative reporter alleged Tuesday in a USA TODAY opinion piece promoting her new book. But in a statement Wednesday, the university said it did disclose the incident as required and the journalist broadly and harmfully asserts wrongdoing ... that is not rooted in the facts. The reporter uses the 2019 incident and one from 2013 to mischaracterize and distort the universitys handling of research involving pathogens, its efforts to mitigate risk and its compliance with research oversight requirements, the statement said. The outcome is a story that irresponsibly sensationalizes a topic of immense public concern in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, the UW-Madison statement said. Both incidents, which the university acknowledges occurred, involve research led by Yoshihiro Kawaoka, a prominent flu scientist. His studies to make flu viruses more infectious in ferrets have been criticized by some scientists and halted by federal authorities over concerns a lab leak could cause a flu pandemic in people. The work, which Kawaoka and campus officials said is designed to help prevent a flu pandemic, was allowed to resume in early 2019 and has been conducted at University Research Park on Madisons West Side. In the Dec. 9, 2019, incident, a research trainees hood-like respirator became disconnected from its safe air supply. That left the devices hose loose in air potentially contaminated with an H5N1 flu virus altered to become transmissible among ferrets, wrote Alison Young, a journalism professor at the University of Missouri and former investigative reporter at USA TODAY. UW-Madison didnt report the incident to the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease until three days later and took two months to file a report with the National Institutes of Healths Office of Science Policy, which should have been told immediately, Young wrote, quoting federal officials. The university also didnt tell local or state health officials, she wrote. Youngs opinion piece is adapted from her book, Pandoras Gamble: Lab Leaks, Pandemics, and a World at Risk, to be released April 25. The situation raises uncomfortable questions about the tremendous trust the world places in these kinds of labs, Young wrote. "My reporting on UWs H5N1 lab accidents and government oversight failures is thoroughly documented and accurately presented," she told the Wisconsin State Journal. UW-Madison officials told Young that the lab did immediately report the incident to regulators at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In its statement Wednesday, the university said the trainees hose was disconnected for a matter of seconds and was immediately reconnected. At the time, the infectious agent was stored away, infected animals were in HEPA-filtered containment cages, the biosafety cabinet where the sample collection took place had been disinfected and Tyvek sleeves and outer gloves had been disinfected and changed, the statement said. The detachment was also so brief that the researcher would have continued to breathe the filtered air still present in their (respirator), the university said. Report requested Campus officials determined the incident was not an exposure or potential exposure under NIH criteria, so the incident wasnt immediately reported to the NIH Office of Science Policy, the university said. After the lab and campus biosafety officials had a series of meetings with the NIH safety office, the university was asked to file the Feb. 10, 2020, report. In response to the report, the university said it received an email from the safety office saying, the actions taken in response to this incident appear appropriate. In 2013, a member of Kawaokas research team accidentally pierced their finger with a needle that had an engineered H5N1 virus on it, Young wrote. The researcher was sent home to quarantine and family members were told to stay in a hotel, Young wrote. NIH officials said a researchers home was not an appropriate site for quarantine because flu viruses can spread through the air, Young wrote. After the university agreed to NIHs demands, the agency allowed Kawaoka to continue his research, she said. The university on Wednesday said that because the needle stick was a low-risk exposure, the quarantine at home was approved by the NIH. But the NIH noted a discrepancy in the labs plans for quarantine in the event of a high-risk exposure. As a result, the university corrected its plans, the UW-Madison statement said. The research involved in the 2019 incident is no longer being conducted because the grant ended, and the people involved in the 2019 and 2013 incidents were not infected, said Andrea Ladd, UW-Madisons director of biological safety. Recent history Kawaoka and Dutch scientist Ron Fouchier caused an international stir in 2011 when they said they had separately altered the H5N1 virus so it could spread in ferrets. In 2012, they agreed to a yearlong moratorium. A few months after Kawaoka was allowed to resume the work in 2014, the Obama administration called for another stoppage of such research nationally. The announcement followed incidents involving anthrax, flu and smallpox at federal facilities. In 2017, the government issued a framework through which grant reviewers are expected to consider the benefits and risks of the research, known as gain-of-function studies. In January 2019, UW-Madison was told it could resume the work. A $600,000 grant for the research came from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease. Kawaoka has said his research helps to identify problematic viruses and develop drugs and vaccines against them. The work we do provides scientific data so there can be an informed risk assessment of viruses circulating in nature, he told the State Journal in 2014. The more we learn, the better prepared we will be for the next pandemic. Editor's note: This story has been changed to add more detail. MANCHESTER, N.J. (AP) A fire that tore through 6 square miles (15 square kilometers) of New Jerseys Pine Barrens this week has now been fully contained, authorities said Thursday. The blaze in Manchester, near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, forced the evacuation of around 170 homes late Tuesday, with police and fire officials going door-to-door to ask people to take temporary shelter at a nearby high school. Firefighters were confronted by 200-foot (60-meter) flames as they battled the blaze, which rained down embers. Helicopters filled large containers with water from a nearby lake Wednesday and dropped it on the flames. No one was injured and no homes were damaged. The cause remains under investigation. Forest fires are a common occurrence in the Pine Barrens, a 1.1 million-acre state and federally protected reserve about halfway between Philadelphia to the west and the Atlantic coast to the east. Dry, windy conditions similar to those in New Jersey have sparked fires in other states this week. A wildfire that has burned 100 acres in south-central Wisconsin and forced evacuations has been contained, state officials said Thursday. The fire began Wednesday in the town of Necedah in Juneau County, about 90 miles (145 kilometers) northwest of Madison, and forced about a dozen people to evacuate, according to the state Department of Natural Resources. Emergency workers also evacuated several structures in the fires path. DNR officials said no one was injured but residents remained evacuated as of Thursday morning and there was no timeframe for their return. Meanwhile, another Wisconsin fire along the edge of Fort McCoy that broke out Wednesday has forced about 15 people in Jackson County to evacuate and another 40 to 50 people in Monroe County to evacuate. Another 13 people were evacuated from an assisted living facility. That fire has consumed about 2,800 acres and was about 50% contained as of Thursday morning. DAKAR, Senegal Ghana on Thursday became the first country to approve a new malaria vaccine for young children, one that officials hope will offer better protection against the disease that kills hundreds of thousands every year. Final results from late-stage trials have not yet been published, and the World Health Organization is still reviewing the new vaccine. Late-stage testing is underway in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania, with results expected later this year. Preliminary results from early testing of the new vaccine, developed at the University of Oxford, suggested it is far more effective than the only malaria vaccine the WHO authorized for use. Results from an earlier trial released last year showed that in children vaccinated in Burkina Faso, the vaccine was up to 80% effective depending how much of an immune-boosting ingredient was included in the shots. The WHO already rolled out a pilot program of the world's first authorized malaria vaccine in three African countries: Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. But that vaccine, sold by GlaxoSmithKline as Mosquirix, is about 30% effective. That vaccine was delivered to over 1.4 million kids in the three pilot countries and is saving lives, according to Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman. Jasarevic said WHO's advisory panel on malaria vaccines is reviewing available information on the new vaccine but is waiting for more date about its safety and efficacy from ongoing trials. Initial results appear promising, he wrote in an email. We would welcome a second malaria vaccine that is safe and efficacious and approved by WHO to complement the roll-out of the first malaria vaccine, he said. It's not clear how soon the new vaccine will be available. Ghana's Food and Drug Authority approved its use for children ages 5 months to 36 months, the group at highest risk of death from malaria, its developers said in a statement. Ghana is currently using the WHO-approved vaccine. Once the new Oxford vaccine is in use, Ghanaian health officials will weigh the "pros and cons before making a final decision" on which one is more effective, said Kwame Amponsa-Achiano the head of Ghana's immunization program. The new vaccine can be manufactured at large scale and modest cost, its developers say. The Serum Institute of India says it could produce up to 100 million doses depending on demand, which will in turn depend on approval from the WHO. Health officials quickly welcomed Ghana's approval. "We should learn from the COVID-19 vaccines that were approved within one year," said Halidou Tinto, director of research in parasitology at the Institute for Health Sciences Research in Nanoro and head of the vaccine trial in Burkina Faso. "(The) more we wait (the) more we'll have thousands of children dying from malaria," he said. How the flu shot is determined each year Flu shot 101 Why you need a flu shot What goes into developing the flu vaccine? How the virus strains in the flu shot are selected Myths about the flu shot As soon as stories appeared about new software that could answer complicated questions and even write complete essays, most of the teaching world understandably went into academic overdrive. Called ChatGBT, would this artificial intelligence upgrade be the next educational shortcut and undermine the learning experience? For those who improperly use it, well, yes, it could. But as an educator and former Virginia legislator, I am more than a little disappointed with Gov. Glenn Youngkin's recent comments that this new form of artificial intelligence should be banned in our schools. Of course, the irony is that AI is used all the time in ways we've come to expect, but seem to conveniently overlook. Use the search engine on Gov. Youngkin's website, and you're using AI. Query a school website about scheduling, and you're using AI. So while I applaud the governor's focus on education and the importance of critical thinking skills, his support of a blanket ban of AI language models in schools is misguided and counterproductive. Unfortunately, it's happening not just in Virginia but throughout the country. Instead of limiting educational opportunities, schools should be encouraged to embrace innovative technology and responsibly and ethically integrate it into their curriculums. First, it's essential to recognize the potential benefits of AI models in education. ChatGPT and now GPT4, for example, can be used to enhance language learning, improve writing skills and provide valuable feedback to students. It's true that AI can provide suggestions or generate text, but it's ultimately up to the student to use the information in a meaningful way. In fact, the ability to critically evaluate information is a crucial skill that students can develop through the use of AI language models. After all, intelligence artificial or otherwise doesn't equal infallibility. Furthermore, a blanket ban on AI language models may also be detrimental to students with learning differences or disabilities. Given that these students will probably need more and certainly not less support, they may benefit from the assistance provided by AI language models to level the playing field and achieve academic success. And for the visually impaired, the newest model of AI GPT4 has the potential to open a treasure trove of information and knowledge that would not be available except in forms that could be read. Quote Before pocket calculators became the norm, more than a few teachers insisted that slide rules were essential to learning. Today, they have become educational artifacts. AI language models in education at any level should not be unregulated. But a blanket ban while it may be politically appealing is not the solution. With the rapid development of AI and its increasing integration into our daily lives, it's essential that students are prepared to navigate and work with this technology. Schools should embrace the potential of AI technology to improve education. Educators also should be encouraged to use AI in innovative ways, such as creating personalized learning experiences, quickly offering feedback to students and even detecting potential learning disabilities early on. Rather than banning AI, schools should harness its potential to provide students with a more comprehensive and effective education. This is not the first time innovative technology has been introduced into the classroom. Before pocket calculators became the norm, more than a few teachers insisted that slide rules were essential to learning. Today, they have become educational artifacts. For years, there were debates about whether word processors or computers should be allowed in schools. Today, a classroom without a computer is an anomaly. Again and again, history has shown that introducing these tools improved efficiency and led to new and innovative teaching methods. Likewise, AI language models like ChatGPT can help students to better understand complex concepts, learn new languages and even assist with tasks such as essay writing. Schools should embrace the potential these tools offer and develop guidelines to ensure their responsible use in education. Register for more free articles. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! Already a Subscriber? Already a Subscriber? Sign in Terms of Service Privacy Policy Winona Area Public Schools Superintendent Annette Freiheit announced Thursday she would retire at the end of this academic school year after heading the district for the past four years. After 34 years in education, it is time for me to pass on the torch to others, Freiheit said in a statement Thursday. I am so grateful for the opportunity to serve as the leader of Winona Area Public Schools, and for the support I received from our staff, our families, our school board and our community. The announcement came two days after Winona voters rejected a pair of school referendums in a special election April 11. Combined, the referendums would have levied an additional $94.2 million for classroom and building improvements, and upgraded extracurricular spaces at the high school. Both referendums failed by a margin of 66% opposed to 34% in favor. Freiheit became superintendent in July 2019, leading the district through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, including the transition to and from virtual learning and a shrinking pool of substitute teachers. As superintendent, Freiheit collaborated with community members and the school board to build Winona Area Public Schools strategic plan that covers the district until the end of the 2026-27 school year. The plan aims to create systemic change to better support individual students needs and create a safe and inclusive school environment. A lifelong Minnesotan, Freiheit completed two bachelors and a masters at Winona State University and a doctorate at Hamline University. Throughout her career, Freiheit served as a teacher, administrator and principal in several districts across southeast Minnesota. The academic school year ends in June. The search for a new superintendent will begin at the April 20 school board meeting, where the board is expected to accept Freiheits resignation. We want to thank Dr. Freiheit for her service to Winona Area Public Schools, school board chair Nancy Denzer said in the district statement. We appreciate her compassion and empathy during a difficult time, and we wish her well in retirement. U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar visited Winona on Wednesday amid the citys high water preparations and toured the infrastructure used to prevent flooding. After visiting Stillwater earlier in the day, Klobuchar said while the chance of major flooding in Winona is drastically less at 46% compared to Stillwaters 89%, it is still nothing to mess around with. Klobuchar had a meeting with Winona Mayor Scott Sherman, city manager Chad Ubl, director of public works Brian DeFrang, and fire chief Curt Bittle at Winona Water Works. After the meeting, Klobuchar viewed the citys flood protection systems. The Mississippi River was at 9 feet Wednesday in Winona and the National Weather Service projects it will rise to more than 16 feet by April 20, which would be just below major flood stage of 18 feet. At 16 feet, East Riverfront Street at Levee Park in front of the citys flood wall would begin to flood and operations at Lock and Dam 5A would be suspended. With large snowmelt and warm temperatures further up the river, the risk of flooding rises. One positive apart from the citys preparedness, Klobuchar said, is the warm, sunny weather currently. A few days of heavy rain combined with the high water levels would greatly impact the flood outlook. They have a plan in place and thats what I think is really important. Minnesotans are good at being prepared, Klobuchar said. Ive been really impressed by all the preparations that have happened in Winona. Mayor Scott Sherman said Klobuchars visit helped refocus the citys goal of keeping the community safe in addition to bringing perspective to what other cities are doing up and down the river to prepare for flooding. If you werent born in 1965 and didnt experience that flood, its kind of out of mind every spring when the water levels rise. The reason for that is because we really rely on and trust our local staff, Sherman said. We do have trust in those staff members to really do a phenomenal job, not only in terms of preparation for an event like this but also in terms of communicating to the public what the potential hazards might be. The city of Winona has sandbags stored at the airport that will be used to close the road on the river at Levee Park and at the Winona Harbor as water rises. Director of Public Works Brian DeFrang said flood projections are a moving target that change frequently. Originally the water was projected to be at 10 feet Monday; that projection has been bumped to Thursday. You shouldnt have to worry about it barring something extreme, DeFrang said. We did it in 19, we did it in 15. Its not something you want to do but were prepared for it. When the water gets to 16 feet, the Army Corps of Engineers has protocol laid out for the city. This involves walking along the water 24/7 with two-person crews and safety gear and routinely checking pump stations. In 1965, the river crested a record of 20.77 feet. DeFrang said the city protects for three feet more than that record-setting flood. When bad events do happen, the main way that we can stop them from happening is not just to hope for better weather, which we continue to do, but its also being prepared, Klobuchar said. Our message today is that Winona is up for this. Juul Labs, the e-cigarette maker, is paying $462 million to six US states and DC in the largest multi-state settlement yet for the troubled company that has been accused of contributing to the rise of vaping among youth. The settlement, which was co-led by New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, will force retailers to secure Juul products behind counters and verify the age of purchasers, and Juul must cease using people under 35 years old in its marketing materials that directly or indirectly target young people. Wednesday's announcement "places the most stringent restrictions on Juul's marketing, sales, and distribution practices in order to protect and prevent minors from underage smoking," according to a release from the New York's AG office. "Juul lit a nationwide public health crisis by putting addictive products in the hands of minors and convincing them that it's harmless. Today they are paying the price for the harm they caused," James said in the statement. New York is receiving nearly $113 million and will use the money to fund programs that deter underage smoking. The lawsuit accuses Juul of directly promoting its products to high school students, including in one instance where a Juul representative "falsely told high school freshmen that its products were safer than cigarettes." It also said the company's ad campaign reached teens across the U.S., who then told their friends about Juul in "rapid numbers." Juul said that this settlement means the company is "nearing total resolution" of its "historical legal challenges and securing certainty for our future," which now total more than $1 billion. "Now we are positioned to dedicate even greater focus on our path forward to maximize the value and impact of our product technology and scientific foundation," a Juul spokesperson told CNN. E-cigarette usage among New York City high school students soared from 8% in 2014, a year prior to Juul's launch, to to 23.5% in 2018, and caused to 2,500 hospitalizations for vaping-related illnesses, according to the release. About 2.55 million middle and high school students in the U.S. used e-cigarettes in 2022, according to researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Food and Drug Administration. Based on responses to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes within the previous 30 days. Of those, 42.3% reported using them frequently, and 27.6% of them reported daily use. Other states are also receiving substantial amounts of money from this settlement, which will be paid out over an 8-year period. California is getting $175.8 million, Illinois is getting $67.6 million, Massachusetts is getting $41.7 million, Colorado is getting $31.7 million, New Mexico is getting $17 million and District of Columbia is getting $15 million. Other lawsuits This lawsuit is the second this week that Juul has settled. West Virginia said on Monday that Juul is paying $7.9 million for similar accusations of marketing toward youth. Last December, Juul Labs announced it settled more than 5,000 cases brought by approximately 10,000 plaintiffs in the U.S., resolving a substantial amount of legal issues for the company. The company said the cases were variously personal injury, consumer class action, or from government entity and Native American tribe groups, but did not disclose the settlement amount. That followed a September announcement that Juul would pay $438.5 million to 34 states and territories after a two-year investigation into its marketing and sales practices like in West Virginia, Juul was charged with deliberately marketing its products to young people. At one point, Juul was selling some of the most popular vapes in the U.S., especially the flavored products which the company stopped selling in 2019. Last summer, the FDA ordered Juul products to be removed from the U.S. market. A court temporarily blocked the FDA ban, so products are still for sale in the country. ___ 6 stats that show which teens receive mental health servicesand why 6 stats that show which teens receive mental health servicesand why 2.4 million teens received specialty mental health services for feelings of depression Teens from low-income households were least likely to receive mental health support Teens in metro and nonmetro areas received mental health support at similar rates Girls were almost twice as likely to receive mental health care as boys Only 6% of Asian American teens received specialized mental health services Of the 82% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year, more than half were unable to get it The fascinating and important work of wildlife rehabilitation will be the featured topic of the Fontana Public Librarys next adult community education program. The free adult community education program, Fellow Mortals and Wildlife Rehabilitation, will be held on Tuesday, April 25, 1 p.m., in the upstairs meeting room at Fontana Village Hall, 175 Valley View Dr. (State Hwy. 67), Fontana. Aimee Sosenko, an advanced wildlife rehabilitator and wildlife educator with Town of Geneva-based wildlife rehabilitation hospital Fellow Mortals, Inc., will speak about wildlife rehabilitation and be joined by one or two furry or feathered Fellow Mortals Education Ambassadors, the roster of which includes an owl and turkey vulture among other animals. I dont know if many people know about Fellow Mortals and the great work they do, said Fontana Public Library Adult Program Coordinator Sally Lee. Hopefully this program will raise some awareness about how to handle injured wild animals and the services that Fellow Mortals has to offer. Originally from Binghamton N.Y., Sosenko graduated cum laude from New Yorks Cazenovia College in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science degree in environmental studies and a specialization in environmental ecology. Interning during college in 2021 at The Binghamton Zoo at Ross Park in Binghamton, Fellow Mortals was the first and only internship Sosenko applied for after graduation. Sosenkos initial 7-month internship has turned into an 11-year career with Fellow Mortals, where she serves as the primary wildlife educator and works closely with Fellow Mortals wildlife Education Ambassadors. Its been kind of a crazy ride, Sosenko said. I never thought Id end up here because Im from New York. Receiving her Basic Wildlife Rehabilitation License in 2016, Sosenko also trains and supervises the wildlife rehabilitation hospitals interns. Its baby season right now, we have our first bunnies and squirrels, so Ill be generally talking about what rehabilitation is, the types of animals we help out at Fellow Mortals, and ways people can protect if they find any injured or orphaned bunnies or squirrels, Sosenko said of her informational presentation about protecting animals and the awesome world of nature. Wildlife rehabilitation takes a lot of time and theres a lot of limited resources right now, so the best that we can do is try to keep the babies out in the wild, if possible. I want to give out that information, and also make sure people realize that in some situations the animals actually dont need help and theres ways to safely keep them out in the wild, and then instances where some animal might need help. Learn more Co-founded by Steven J. Blane and Yvonne Wallace Blane in 1985, Fellow Mortals is located at W4632 Palmer Rd. in the Town of Geneva and currently ranks as one of the largest wildlife hospitals in the state and nation. For more information, visit fellowmortals.org. The Fontana Public Library is located at 166 2nd Ave. in Fontana. For more information on library services or programs, visit fontana.lib.wi.us or call 262-275-5107. Shore path: Fontana to George Williams College Fontana IMG_5032.JPG IMG_5033.JPG IMG_5034.JPG IMG_5035.JPG IMG_5036.JPG IMG_5038.JPG IMG_5040.JPG IMG_5042.JPG IMG_5050.JPG IMG_5051.JPG IMG_5055.JPG IMG_5057.JPG IMG_5059.JPG IMG_5061.JPG IMG_5065.JPG IMG_5070.JPG IMG_5071.JPG IMG_5073.JPG IMG_5075.JPG IMG_5077.JPG IMG_5080.JPG IMG_5082.JPG IMG_5084.JPG IMG_5085.JPG IMG_5086.JPG IMG_5087.JPG IMG_5090.JPG IMG_5091.JPG IMG_5092.JPG IMG_5094.JPG IMG_5095.JPG IMG_5097.JPG IMG_5099.JPG IMG_5101.JPG Fontana to George Williams College IMG_5108.JPG IMG_5109.JPG IMG_5110.JPG IMG_5111.JPG IMG_5114.JPG IMG_5118.JPG A late summer bloom IMG_5120.JPG IMG_5121.JPG IMG_5122.JPG IMG_5123.JPG IMG_5125.JPG IMG_5126.JPG Pentagon Leaks Show Washington Dissidents Want Offramp from Ukraine Disaster April 12, 2023, 2022 (EIRNS)That was the headline of an article in Sputnik International about the recent dramatic leaks of secret Pentagon documents, which featured extensive comments by former diplomat and adviser to the Republican Senate leadership James Jatras, and former CIA analyst Ray McGovern. Jatras told Sputnik that the leak indicates that there are some dissident voices within the U.S. government who are not comfortable with the direction of policy.... (They) would like to slow it down or maybe even change its course ... (but are still) a distinct minority within the establishment, he stressed. Jatras emphasized that the leak came from the DOD, and not State. There are people within the military who realize that were moving toward a potential disaster in Ukraine. Those are more realistic people. Theyre familiar with the hard facts of military power, while the State Department and the White House believe their own propaganda. Jatras explained that there is a long U.S. tradition of using leaks to change policy, but in the past 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. It may take a really disastrous development on the ground in Ukraine to change the current policy, Jatras argued. Ray McGovern also focused on what the leaks mean regarding policy fights occurring in the U.S. This is somebody who has access to highly sensitive information, probably at the Joint Chiefs of Staff level, McGovern stated, 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 that the leak showed 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. Theres a hopeful sign here that these leaks will shut the Americans into thinking, whoa, wait a second, weve been lied to about this war. Ukraine is not winning, McGovern said. Maybe its time to sit down, do something sensible and negotiate. McGovern was also interviewed by The Point on CGTN last night, where he said that the contents of the leak were a hodge podge of good and bad intelligence, but the real story emerges if you ask cui bono? Why did the New York Times and the Washington Post decide to play the story up prominently, when they have no problem covering things up when they dont want people to know about them? He said this indicated to him that there is a battle royal underway in policymaking circles.les. A dog is back with his Alaskan islander family after going missing for over one month. Nanuq was found over 200 kilometers away across sea ice. Mandy Iwworigan lives on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait in the western part of Alaska. The Bering Strait is the icy waterway that separates the United States and Russia. Nanuq disappeared in March when Iwworigan and her family went to visit friends on another part of St. Lawrence Island. She believes Nanuq and another dog ran out onto the ice looking for food. The other dog, Starlight, stayed away for a number of weeks but came home. Nanuq did not come back. About one month later, Iwworigan said people in the town of Wales began posting photos of a dog they had found. Her father showed her the photos and said they looked like Nanuq. Iworrigan looked at the photos and yelled: Thats our dog, what is he doing in Wales? If you look at a map, you can see that the town of Wales and St. Lawrence Island are separated by a lot of water. But in the winter, most of it is frozen. This might have permitted Nanuq to cover 241 kilometers either floating or running on the ice. The trip is being described as epic. But no one will ever know everything about Nanuqs story or how he survived for so long. I have no idea how he ended up in Wales, the owner said. Maybe the ice shifted while he was hunting. Iworrigan said the dog probably ate the remains of other animals such as a seal or caught and ate a seal. Hes smart, she said. Nanuq came home to his family on an airplane last week and Iworrigans daughter, Brooklyn, yelled with happiness when she saw him. The dog had been bitten by another animal but was otherwise in good shape after his long time away from home. Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for VOA Learning English based on a report by the Associated Press. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story epic adj. something that is very long or difficult; something telling about a hero or a very exciting trip or adventure shift v. to change direction yell v. to shout; to make a loud noise with your voice _____________________________________________________________________ We want to hear from you. How do you think the dog survived on his own for so long? We have a new comment system. Here is how it works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. A federal appeals court ruled late Wednesday that the abortion drug mifepristone may still be used in the United States for now with some restrictions. Abortion is a process that ends a womans pregnancy. One restriction requires visiting a doctor in-person to receive the drug. Another restriction limits the drugs use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, down from the current 10 weeks. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the drug Mifepristone 23 years ago. In 2016, the agency expanded the use to 10 weeks and permitted sending it to women by mail. Medical experts say millions of women have used the drug to end their pregnancies in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. The appeals court decision narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas. That ruling suspended the FDAs approval of the drug. Preventing the drug from being sent by mail means there is a limit on the most used method of abortion in the U.S. Alliance Defending Freedom, the group that brought the Texas legal case against the drug, called the federal appeals court decision a victory. The group was also involved in the U.S. Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade to end the constitutional right to abortion last year. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement that the Biden 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. Competing decisions The latest abortion dispute started last Friday with conflicting court decisions in the states of Texas and Oregon. In Texas, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ordered a hold on FDA approval of mifepristone last Friday. The order came after anti-abortion groups claimed that the FDA used an improper process when it approved mifepristone in 2000. They said the agency did not fully consider the drug's safety when used by girls under the age of 18 to end a pregnancy. Kacsmaryk agreed with the anti-abortion groups. He wrote that the FDA ignored safety concerns when it approved mifepristone. His order also agreed with anti-abortion groups who said that a 19th-century law could be used to block sending abortion drugs through the mail. The Comstock Act was passed in 1873. It banned mailing birth control methods and things that could be used in an abortion. Since then, courts have narrowed the law. Some legal experts say the law has not been enforced since the 1930s. But anti-abortion groups turned to the law after the Supreme Court overturned the Roe v. Wade decision. In Oregon, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice issued a different ruling. He ordered federal officials not to make any changes that would restrict the use of mifepristone. The ruling came from a legal action brought by a group of 17 Democratic Party-led states seeking to expand availability of abortion drugs. States led by Democratic Party governors are buying up drugs used in abortions to guarantee their availability. On Monday, the Justice Department appealed Kacsmaryks ruling. Also, more than 300 drug company officials signed an open letter calling for the Texas ruling to be struck down. They said the ruling limits the FDAs power and ignores years of scientific evidence of the drugs safety. Whats next? Alliance Defending Freedom said in a call with the media early Thursday that it did not plan to ask the Supreme Court to become involved at this point. It remains unclear if the Supreme Court will take the case. But the appeal of Kacsmaryks earlier ruling will continue in the appeals court whether or not all or part of it remains in effect. Im Mario Ritter, Jr. Hai Do wrote this report for VOA Learning English from Associated Press and Reuters sources. _________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story prevail v. to defeat an opponent improper adj. not correct relief n. (legal) assistance asked of a court of law access n. the ability to get something; the availability of something ___________________________________________________________________ We want to hear from you. Here is how our comment system works: Write your comment in the box. Under the box, you can see four images for social media accounts. They are for Disqus, Facebook, Twitter and Google. Click on one image and a box appears. Enter the login for your social media account. Or you may create one on the Disqus system. It is the blue circle with D on it. It is free. Each time you return to comment on the Learning English site, you can use your account and see your comments and replies to them. Our comment policy is here. Lincoln Public Schools officials are defending the use of classroom signs supporting LGBTQ students despite criticism about their use and amid a legislative push by state senators to ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth. LPS recently approved the use of the signs, which display a rainbow pride flag above the words "all means all" and next to a brief statement in support of LGBTQ students. The small, card-sized signs, which are essentially designed to be displayed in windows of classroom doors, are available at all school buildings by request. "LPS believes that 'all means all' encompasses our students who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ+)," the statement on the card reads. "We stand in solidarity with LGBTQ+ students, staff and community members. The individual displaying this card is committed to advancing safety, equity and dignity for all." The district's Equity Committee approved the signage in the fall at the request of social workers in the district who wanted to display them. Staff who want one of the signs, which were handed out in the past two weeks, can now pick them up from social workers in their building. The Equity Committee is a group of top district administrators "that comes together only to look at signage proposed by staff members that are intended to send supportive messages to students," Director of Communications Mindy Burbach said. The committee may include the associate superintendent of general administration and governmental affairs, director of student services and other top district leaders, Burbach said. The committee reviews signage if it concerns a "societal issue related to students about which it is important for LPS to affirm its support of students in general or for a particular group of students." Decisions follow district rules regarding the distribution of printed materials on school property, which prohibits obscene or other inappropriate materials. "All of our staff members are committed to serving each and every student thats why they are at Lincoln Public Schools," the district said in a statement. "These signs allow staff members to remind all students that they are a safe and trusted adult they can come to if they are experiencing issues at school. This is just one more way to communicate and reinforce that commitment." At Tuesday night's Lincoln Board of Education meeting, however, critics said the signs amount to pushing gender ideology and sexual content onto children. Luke Meduna, who has three elementary-age children in LPS, was one of about 20 people who spoke against the signs Tuesday. The card, which he said is in his fourth grader's classroom, sexualizes children, Meduna argued. "These are sensitive issues that parents should be directly involved in discussing with their children at appropriate times, and not the responsibility of a passive poster on a classroom wall," he said. Alaina Brouillette and Emmy Pollen, two Republicans running for school board in the May general election, likened the cards to the district distributing political materials in schools, which is prohibited. "The pride flag is a political statement," Brouillette said. "It would be no different than if you were to hand out cards with a Democrat donkey." Superintendent Paul Gausman said the signs are optional and do not mean the district offers less support to other students group. The signs are meant to show support to a marginalized group of students, said Gausman, pointing to the high rates of suicide for LGBTQ youths. "Someone's LGBTQ status is not political. This is a human rights issue. We are not asking our staff or our students to change their personal beliefs," Gausman told the board Tuesday. "We respect the right of each person to hold their own beliefs. We also expect our staff and students to respect those who hold beliefs different from their own, which often happens in the diversity of a public school setting." Gina Frank, an LPS parent, said the signs do not push a certain lifestyle on children but rather are affirming for LGBTQ students. "People's identity is not up for debate," Frank said. "Public schools are for all kids, and LGBTQAI kids are under attack right now and their families are under attack right now." The district's approval of the signs comes as a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors in Nebraska makes its way through the Legislature. LB574, introduced by Omaha Sen. Kathleen Kauth, would prohibit doctors from performing gender-altering surgery to anyone under the age of 19 or providing puberty blockers or hormone therapy. Any staff member at LPS can suggest the use of a sign to their supervisor, who may forward it to the Equity Committee for consideration, Burbach said. The Equity Committee considers a number of factors before approving a sign, including whether it aligns with district goals and is respectful of all student groups. Board regulations prohibit the distribution of materials that contain inappropriate content or that "amount to proselytizing, electioneering or lobbying." The associate superintendent for general administration and governmental relations ultimately reviews the signage and may forward it to the superintendent and his top executives for final approval. Other signage and messaging unrelated to a social issue goes through other departments, Burbach said. Health information, for example, goes through the district's Health Services Department. Top Journal Star photos for April 2023 Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe TikTok is not be the first app to be scrutinized over the potential exposure of U.S. user data, but it is the first widely used app that the U.S. government has proposed banning over privacy and security concerns. So far, the discussion has focused on whether TikTok should be banned. There has been little discussion of whether TikTok could be banned, and there has been almost no discussion of the effects on cybersecurity that a TikTok ban could cause, including encouraging users to sidestep built-in security mechanisms to bypass a ban and access the app. As a cybersecurity researcher, I see potential risks if the U.S. attempts to ban TikTok. The type of risk depends on the type of ban. Blocking TikTok in the network Blocking access to TikTok by filtering traffic destined for addresses believed to be owned by TikTok is possible but would be difficult to accomplish. Server addresses can be changed and a TikTok ban could devolve into a game of cat and mouse. Additionally, this sort of block could be bypassed using virtual private networks (VPNs), which encrypt data flowing between servers and devices. VPNs can be used to shield traffic between servers in other countries and devices in the U.S. VPNs were once widely recommended for people using public Wi-Fi, and people are already using VPNs to access blocked streaming services. While security experts no longer recommend VPNs for public Wi-Fi, many people have used them and so are familiar with a tool that would help them bypass a TikTok ban. DNS sinkholes are another technique that could be used in TikTok bans. DNS, the Domain Name System, is a network protocol that behaves like the internets phone book. Computers need to know the IP address of a server in order to communicate with it. DNS allows a computer to look up that address using a name convenient for humans to remember, such as google.com. DNS sinkholes stop that lookup. DNS sinkholes dont directly block access to a server. Rather, they stop other computers from being able to look up the servers address. Its fair to think of a DNS sinkhole as removing someones name from a phone book. DNS sinkholes are often used to stop malware and advertisements. They could be used in a TikTok ban. However, DNS sinkholes only work if lookups are confined to DNS servers that are configured to be sinkholes. A ban using DNS sinkholes would likely cover most DNS servers that peoples computers use by default. However, you can relatively easily change DNS settings on your computer to circumvent a ban based on DNS sinkholes. There are many public DNS servers that people could use instead of their current DNS servers, which are commonly maintained by internet service providers. Blocking TikTok with DNS sinkholes would require significant international cooperation to make it difficult for people to find DNS servers that could access TikTok. People circumventing a ban by looking for an alternate DNS server would be at risk. Unless a DNS server uses an uncommon extension named DNSSEC, you cant verify the integrity of a DNS response. A malicious DNS server could reply to a lookup with an IP address of a server thats under criminal control. This opens the door for a number of different kinds of attacks that could put your data at risk. Banning TikTok from your phone Another way TikTok could be banned is by blocking the TikTok mobile app. This would not affect U.S. users ability to access the TikTok website, but it could change how and how often people access TikTok. Blocking the app could address the concern that TikTok could be used without the users knowledge to access other systems on a network that a mobile device is connected to. This has been the motivation for some local TikTok bans. Removing TikTok from app stores is unlikely to succeed by itself. Both Android and iOS devices have the ability to install apps from alternative sources, a technique known as sideloading. While this added step may discourage some people, sideloading tutorials are widely available online, and there is already popular software that must be sideloaded to be used on a phone. Mobile devices assume that mobile apps are coming from a trusted source. Both Google and Apple audit mobile apps prior to the app being available for download. While these reviews arent perfect, they help ensure apps dont contain vulnerabilities or malware. When app stores arent involved, security responsibilities change. Sideloading makes users responsible for verifying an apps legitimacy, and criminals could trick users into installing malicious apps from third-party sources. But what about the millions of people who already have TikTok installed on their phones? Enforcing a TikTok app ban would likely require that it be removed from mobile devices. Apple has long had the ability to remove software from iPhones, and Google could remove apps using Google Play Protect. These tools are important security controls that, at least on Android devices, can remove malware even if it was sideloaded. Enforcing a ban using security controls could motivate users to disable these controls, which would weaken the security of their devices. Users might even be motivated to jailbreak their iOS devices or root their Android devices to prevent Apple or Google from removing the TikTok app, which would further weaken security. Jailbreaking an iOS device allows users to bypass security restrictions in the operating system. Rooting an Android device means gaining the highest level security access, which allows users to make changes to the operating system. Jailbreaking and rooting are prohibited by Apple and Google. Both actions void the users warranty and undermine the security controls that limit criminals access to mobile devices. Security tradeoffs I find it unlikely that a TikTok ban would be technologically enforceable. Even China struggles with content filtering. These difficulties may be why proposed legislation includes significant punishments for bypassing the ban. Even if the punishments are not aimed at the average TikTok user, this proposed legislation aimed at improving cybersecurity could motivate users to engage in riskier digital behavior. Robert Olson Rochester Institute of Technology, MDT/The Conversation Recent Chinese air and sea drills simulating an encirclement of Taiwan were intended as a serious warning to pro-independence politicians on the self-governing island and their foreign supporters, a Chinese spokesperson said yesterday. The three days of large-scale air and sea exercises named Joint Sword that ended Monday were a response to Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wens meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week during a transit visit to the U.S. China had warned of serious consequences if that meeting went ahead. The Peoples Liberation Army recently organized and conducted a series of countermeasures in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, which is a serious warning against the collusion and provocation of Taiwan independence separatist forces and external forces, Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office, said at a biweekly news conference. It is a necessary action to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity, she said. China claims Taiwan as its own territory to be brought under its control by force if necessary and regularly sends ships and warplanes into airspace and waters near the island. Such missions have grown more frequent in recent years, accompanied by increasingly bellicose language from the administration of Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. Any conflict between the sides could draw in the U.S., Taiwans closest ally, which is required by law to consider all threats to the island as matters of grave concern. China has kept up military pressure against Taiwan despite the formal conclusion of the drills. Yesterday, Taiwans Ministry of National Defense said it tracked 35 flights by Peoples Liberation Army warplanes within the last 24 hours, and eight navy vessels in the waters surrounding the island. The vast majority of Taiwanese favor maintaining their current de-facto independent status, while Tsai has said there is no need for a formal declaration since the island democracy is already an independent nation. Despite that, China, which does not recognize Taiwans government institutions and has cut off contact with Tsais administration, routinely accuses her of plotting formal independence with outside backing generally seen as referring to the U.S. External forces are intensifying their endeavor of containing China with Taiwan as a tool, Zhu said. Zhu also repeated Chinas assertion that its military threats are targeted at Taiwans independence separatist activities and interference from external forces, and by no means at our compatriots in Taiwan. Taiwanese compatriots should clearly recognize the serious harm that the provocation of Taiwan independence forces poses to cross-strait relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, recognize the interests, distinguish right from wrong, and stand on the correct side of history, Zhu said. The Chinese military issued a threat as it concluded the exercises, saying its troops can fight at any time to resolutely smash any form of Taiwan independence and foreign interference attempts. 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 that landed in Japans exclusive economic zone in a significant escalation. The most recent exercises focused more on air strength, with Taiwan reporting more than 200 flights by Chinese warplanes. On Monday alone, Taiwans Defense Ministry tracked 91 flights by Chinese warplanes. They also featured the use of Chinas first indigenously built aircraft carrier, Shandong, which launched dozens of J-15 Flying Shark fighter missions during the exercises, according to Japanese officials. That came as the USS Nimitz Carrier group is operating in the South China Sea south of Taiwan and as American and Filipino forces hold their largest combat exercises in decades in Philippine waters across the disputed South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait.MDT/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 hearing yesterday [Macau time]. 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 the 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 Murdochs 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. Yesterdays 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, 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. RANDALL CHASE, WILMINGTON (Del), MDT/AP The government may consider changing laws on social welfare eligibility to persuade more people to work and live in Hengqin, the Public Administration and Civil Services Bureau (SAFP) has disclosed. Joana Maria Noronha, director of the SAFP, was replying to lawmaker Leong Sun Ioks inquiry dated March 3. Leong asked the government about recruiting Macau residents to work in civil services in the Guangdong-Macao In-depth Cooperation Zone in Hengqin. The Macau government has long strived to attract more people to relocate from Macau to Hengqin to construct the Zone, merge into the Greater Bay Area (GBA) and adequately diversify Macaus economy. On Leongs questions, Noronha noted that the government is aware of certain legal stipulations regarding social security policies that require Macau residents to stay for at least 183 days in Macau per year to be benefitted by these policies. She said the government will actively listen to suggestions and opinions from society, examine and analyze the stipulations, as well as study the necessity and feasibility of related law amendments. Her conclusion is that these steps will be conducted to create advantageous conditions for Macau residents to conveniently study, work, start businesses and live in the Zone. Further discussing recruitment-related mechanisms, Noronha underlined that on March 3, the Zones Executive Committee issued a memo that listed the positions available, remuneration and prerequisites, as well as application procedures and vetting mechanisms. In addition, the Macau government is entitled to assign local civil servants to work in the Executive Committee, to which it has recently made several appointments. According to both Noronha and the governments recent appointments, appointee civil servants will enjoy remuneration on par with their Macau counterparts, but follow schedules and holidays with the mainland. In the recent appointments, civil servants were also offered relocation allowances. AL The head of Beijings top office overseeing Hong Kong and Macau affairs, Xia Baolong, starts a six-day visit today, the first visit of the official since the office was upgraded to be placed directly under the Communist Party. According to The Standard, he is expected to visit financial institutions and learn more about the citys plans in developing innovation and technology. According to a government statement, Xia will attend the opening ceremony of the National Security Education Day at the grand hall of the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre. He will also attend seminars on national security challenges, financial and cyber security and the rule of law. Related The hotel industry in Macau is still losing business opportunities and letting guests get away due to the lack of capacity for handling all the requests for room bookings, industry experts have claimed. Although Macau hotels have done relatively well during the recent holidays of Ching Ming and Easter, professionals from the sector claim that most large-scale hotels are still limiting their guest capacity to 60% or 70% of actual capacity due to the lack of staff capable to attend to guests needs. A hotel with 200 rooms does not have as many problems as one with 3,000 rooms, the president of the Macau Hotel Association, Luis Heredia, said in a report from Portuguese newspaper Jornal Tribuna de Macau, adding that hotels in Cotai should have only made 60% to 70% of their rooms available for bookings over the recent holidays period. For Heredia, hotel occupancy, in general, should have reached some 80 to 85% over the holidays although it is difficult to tell exactly due to the previously mentioned fact. According to news agency Bloomberg, several sources including Billy Song, president of the Macau Responsible Gambling Association, have also been quoted as saying that gaming operators have been forced to pull thousands of rooms from booking systems and cut back on guest services such as housekeeping, due to the labor shortage. In the same report, it was also said that some five-star hotels in resorts made only less than half of the rooms available for booking. Heredia also noted that many hotel units take advantage of the peak season when the room rates hike to put most if not all their workforce into operation, which causes some disruption to the daily operations. On the same topic, the vice president of the Macau Hotel Association, Rutger Verschuren was also quoted in a different report supporting a general occupancy of between 60% to 80% over the holidays, noting that those with casinos were practically operating at full capacity. Verschuren also noted that the manpower shortage has been forcing many hotels to call their workers in for overtime. In operational departments, such as cleaning or food and beverage services most hotels have their employees working overtime, he noted. Labor shortage explained Two factors are affecting the operations capacity of hotels: the lengthy processes for hiring new non-resident workers (TNR) on one hand, and the fact that many of the workers who have been performing non-stop activities over the past three years are now also taking time off to reunite with their families outside Macau. The process of recruiting labor takes time. You have to look for people, select them, people have to be available, and all that takes time. This cannot be done within a month not even two because its a lot of people involved. About 30,000 to 40,000 people are lacking just in the sectors of food and beverage and room attendance, Heredia explained noting that the Labour Affairs Bureau (DSAL) is somewhat helping to accelerate the process but the fact that it involves many people at once is stalling it. In addition, there is another process going related to some local workers as well as TNRs, who are unsatisfied with their positions and are taking this opportunity to attempt to move to another post or company offering better conditions. Heredia noted that the decision of hotels to cut the number of rooms available is not taken lightly and is mostly related to the need to maintain the quality of service. He remarked that there is currently enough interest in Macau from a travelers point-of-view, but that Macau needs to find ways to deal with this demand. We need to find a solution, step-by-step to take advantage of the fact of people wanting to travel to Macau, he concluded, forecasting that potentially by the summer time the situation might be a little more stable, but probably not much more. Also addressing the same topic, the president of the Macao Chamber of Commerce, Frederico Ma, called on DSAL to be more flexible on the handling of quotas for the hiring of TNRs so that local businesses could take advantage of the rising opportunities coming from the recovery of the tourism sector. The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) will support the restoration works of three sites considered of cultural value, including one of the buildings which is part of the official residence of the Consul-General of Portugal to Macau and Hong Kong. The restoration plans were approved yesterday during a plenary meeting of the Cultural Heritage Committee presided over by the Secretary for Social Affairs and Culture, Elsie Ao Ieong. The IC plans to spend some 1.65 million patacas, with the larger slice used to repair a building which is part of the Portuguese consuls official residence. According to the report, the repair cost is estimated at about 1.2 million patacas. According to information provided after the meeting by the president of IC, Deland Leong, there are several issues involving the Portuguese consuls official residence, located in the former Bela Vista Hotel building, as the ancillary buildings present numerous instances of damage. These include facade damage, roof leaks and cracked plaster, as well as in the linking of the building with the old city walls, where several stones have collapsed. The IC will also repair two other sites, including the wall of the former Iec Long firecracker factory in Taipa and the ancient gateway house located at the Calcada do Amparo, in the surroundings of the Ruins of Saint Pauls. According to details provided by the director of the Department of Cultural Heritage of IC, parasitic plants have damaged the ancient gateway which has caused the wooden frame to fall, while the roof tiles are also leaking. The IC plans to spend some 350,000 patacas on repairs of this last site and another 100,000 patacas will be spent on repairs of the wall of the Iec Long site in Taipa. Taiwans pro-independence ruling Democratic Progressive Party nominated its number two Lai Ching-te as its candidate in the 2024 election, two days after China concluded large-scale wargames around the self-governed island. At a nominating event yesterday, Lai said he would continue to assert Taiwans right to international recognition while boosting its high-tech economy and promoting an efficient government. We must definitely continue to improve Taiwans investment environment, Lai, also known as William Lai, told reporters. His most challenging task, however, will be dealing with threats from China, which considers Taiwan its own territory to be annexed by force if necessary. A war over Taiwan would be a global disaster, Lai said. As long as China maintains its military threats against Taiwan, we must continue to strengthen our national defense. Originally trained as a physician with a masters in public health from Harvard, Lai, 63, was a legislator, mayor of the southern city of Tainan and Taiwans premier before challenging Tsai Ing-wen for the partys nomination in 2019. After Tsai won the primary, Lai accepted her offer to be her running mate and the pair easily defeated the main opposition Nationalist Party in 2020. Tsai is constitutionally barred from seeking a third term. It remains unclear who Lai will face in Januarys election, with the Nationalists, also known as the KMT, yet to name a candidate. Among those most favored are businessperson Terry Gou who founded electronics manufacturer Foxconn, and New Taipei City Mayor Hou Yu-ih who was formerly a top police official. The Nationalists ruled Taiwan under martial law for decades after Chiang Kai-shek moved his government to the island as Mao Zedongs Communist Party seized power in mainland China in 1949 amid a bloody civil war. Democratic reforms were introduced gradually after Chiangs 1975 death and direct presidential elections were held for the first time in 1996. The DPP and Nationalists have alternated in power, although Tsais initial 2016 election also marked the first time the DPP assumed a legislative majority. Under nationalist leader Xi Jinping, China has vastly strengthened its armed forces and routinely sends warships and planes into the air and waters near Taiwan. That threat was on display most recently as Chinas Peoples Liberation Army staged large-scale wargames over three days from Saturday, simulating an encirclement of the island in a response to a meeting April 5 in California between Tsai and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. MDT/AP 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 Putin's 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. What's 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 weren't 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 aren't aberrations. Similar crimes were committed in Putin's other adventures, in Chechnya, Georgia and Syria. But the most conspicuous fact that's 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 it's 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 1.5million were killed, the rest deported to the Ottoman Empire. That institutional memory lived on, like a ghost in the Russian killing machine. The Bolsheviks may have dispatched the czars, but they only amplified the czarist approach to war. Stalin's genocides and forced deportations look more like a continuation than a break with the czarist past. And today's 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 Stalinwas 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 Army's 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, Hungary's social-welfare minister requested of his superiors "to qualify all babies as abandoned whose date of births is from 9 to 18months 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 2million. 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, who's 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. Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch: @JonahDispatch. Her iPhone rang, and Terry Diego made a face The call was coming from an unknown number, and Terry doesn't answer calls from unknown numbers. Her husband, Emilio, does, though, so she passed her device to him. This was not even two years ago. It had, to that point, been just another ordinary day of enjoying retirement for the Diegos, who live in the Sun City Carolina Lakes community in Indian Land, South Carolina. But Terry was about to get the biggest surprise she'd had in her seven decades on earth. "I picked up the phone," Emilio recalls, "and I heard a lady speak in Spanish. She appeared to be a bit distraught. She was very anxious. She was asking for Teresa" Terry's given name "saying, 'I'm her friend Lilly.' I said, 'Wait a minute.' I went to my wife and gave her the phone, and I said, 'This is Lilly calling you.' She looked at me like, 'What the hell are you talking about? You're pulling my leg.'" The only Lilly she knew was a Lilly she hadn't heard from in about 30 years. Whom she hadn't seen in the flesh since the summer of 1962, when Terry's mother and father left their home country of Cuba with barely more than the clothes on their backs to start a new life in the United States. Since they were 11 years old. When Terry came onto the phone, Lilly was so overcome with emotion that she could barely speak. Terry, meanwhile, couldn't contain herself; she kept asking Lilly where she'd been all these years, what had happened to her, how she'd managed to finally track her down. "I was in disbelief," Terry recalls. "I never thought I would hear from her again. It was a lot of years that had passed. I figured she had moved out of the country, or she was living someplace else in Cuba. ... I thought maybe she was dead." The women both laugh. They're sitting at a table in the Diegos' breakfast area in mid-January, six days into a monthlong visit that started with an emotional reunion after 60 years apart at Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Charlotte, North Carolina, upon Lilly's arrival from her new home in Phoenix. It's been almost one month since Lilly came to the U.S. legally, after a years long eff ort to leave the long-suffering Caribbean nation. And if not for her childhood friend Terry, Lilly might still be stuck there. 'We cried a lot when we said goodbye' Lilly and Terry met when they were 5-year-old kindergartners, in 1956, at a time when Havana was a gleaming, lively jewel of a metropolis. Their comfortably middle-class families lived just a block and a half away, and once they became friends, Lilly could often be found at Terry's, or vice versa, playing with dolls, playing house and just generally spending as much time together as they could. But following the Cuban Revolution and Fidel Castro's rise to power in 1959, the country became a one-party Communist state. As the sweet existence their families had enjoyed slowly began to sour, Terry's parents hatched a plan to seek asylum in the U.S., where their son (15 years Terry's elder) was already living with his wife and child. Once everything lined up for them to leave, Terry's mother threw a party for her daughter right before they left one that Lilly, naturally, would attend. During the gathering, Terry cut off a small lock of her hair and gave it to Lilly; Lilly gifted Terry a tiny coin purse adorned with the words "Habana" and "Cuba" that she'd bought at Woolworth's, into which she'd placed a small handful of Cuban coins. When she handed it to her, Lilly told Terry: "Never forget your country." "We cried a lot when we said goodbye," Lilly says, her voice shaking, as she recalls the moment in striking detail. Still, even at just 11 years old, Terry says she felt that two things were certain: 1) That they would never see each other again, unless Lilly left Cuba, and 2) That they would always keep in touch. Her family left Havana on July 2, 1962. On their way out of the country, Cuban authorities confiscated a bracelet of her mother's and a pair of earrings Terry had worn for the trip. She and her parents arrived in Miami with a bag carrying just three changes of clothing for each of them. The next month, they migrated to New York City, where her father would go on to spend his working life as a cutter and a tailor at a men's store. Phone calls were cost prohibitive, but Terry and Lilly maintained a steadfast connection by mail. Throughout their preteen and teenage years, they wrote letters to each other pretty much every week, about boys, about school, about The Beatles and other music they loved. They exchanged photographs of each other. Terry would send American magazines, U.S. currency, Chiclets gum and Gillette razors for Lilly to use on her legs and for her dad to use on his face. Their pen palling continued into their 20s, as they found husbands and got married, and into their 30s, as they both went through pregnancies and had children. It maybe wasn't quite as frequent and it certainly was slow, with the delivery process often taking a month and sometimes even two but they kept at it. Just like Terry had always fi gured they would. Until one day in the early '90s, when it suddenly just stopped. Their respective disappearances? A mystery. From Terry's perspective, the letters she was sending to Lilly started going into a black hole. She was still mailing the correspondence to the same address Lilly had lived at since she was a baby. But the replies abruptly stopped. After numerous attempts over the course of a reasonably long period of time, she gave up. From Lilly's perspective, the letters she was sending to Terry started coming back to her, every time. And they came with some words on the envelope that she hadn't written: "Unknown address." Eventually, she gave up, too. It was a mystery that was not solvable at the time, since Google and Facebook were still years away. So they just moved on with their lives. Lilly was divorced by that time, still living in her childhood home, working for an artisan selling handicrafts to tourists. She had dreams of leaving Cuba for the U.S. but felt obligated to stay because her mother's health was declining. Terry was a training administrator at a lighting company on Long Island, married to a man who worked for an insurance company on Wall Street someone she'd known since she was 11 and brand-new to New York City. Probably the closest they came to reconnecting was in 2011, when Lilly unearthed an old letter in which Terry had included a phone number for their home on Long Island. Lilly called it, but the person who answered told her she had the wrong number. Terry and Emilio, in fact, had made a big change, moving from New York to Charlotte when Emilio's company offered him a job transfer. In the coming years, meanwhile, Lilly's life would change dramatically, too. Her mother died in 2014, cracking open the door for Lilly to start thinking about how she might finally be able to flee to the U.S. to join her son, who'd been there since 2000. It opened even wider in 2017, after she married a longtime friend who was able to make it out of the country that year. Then, in 2018, Cuban citizens finally started to gain consistent, open access to the internet for the first time in the country's history. In early 2021, a friend told Lilly that she had found a Facebook profile belonging to a woman she was sure was Terry. Lilly didn't know how to handle the news. She says she waited more than two weeks to do anything about it because she was afraid of how Terry might react. When she finally did, all of her questions including the big one: "How in the world did we lose track of each other in the early 1990s?" would be solved. 'Like a magic story' Calls between the U.S. and Cuba cost a small fortune, so they kept the first conversation to just half an hour, pledging to switch to free options like WhatsApp going forward. But it was enough time for some a-ha moments. For one, Lilly was able to deduce that her stepmother was in fact a wicked one. Lilly was still living at the same address she did when they were childhood friends, just like she had been in the '90s. In other words, Terry's letters were making it to the house back then, Lilly says, it's just that her stepmother who Lilly says was never nice to her was getting rid of them without saying anything to Lilly. As a result, Lilly never saw the letters Terry had written that explained she and Emilio had moved to a new address. That's why Lilly's letters to Terry had started coming back with "unknown address" stamps on them. Practically overnight, they were close friends again. They've been in contact almost every day since, at least via text. "It was like a magic story for me," Lilly continues, referring to the chain of events that led them to be sitting here at this table together, her now 71 and Terry having turned 72 on Jan. 29. "Something unbelievable. After so many years. But ... I always thought I was going to fi nd her. I don't know if in this world or up there, but I was going to fi nd her. "Thank God it was down here." The spice blends from this Near East Side company can include multiple different ingredients sourced from countries from around the world. Take Antica, for example. Its made with cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger and cloves, and is designed to reflect the flavor profile of a northern Italian ragu, a Toulouse sausage, an American pumpkin pie or Parisian pate. The Oaxaca is a blend of chili peppers, onions, raw cocoa, Mexican oregano and tomato, and is inspired from the southern Mexico citys central market. Its best used on braised chicken, rice, portobello mushrooms or enchiladas, tacos, chili and quesadillas. And for those with a more blaze orange pallet, theres Deer Camp, a sea salt fused with ginger, licorice root and Szechuan peppercorns. And yes, its designed to season venison but also roast duck, salmon and trout. But with The Deliciouser offering up more than 30 products blended by hand in small batches, their uses can, at times, be somewhat intimidating. Thats why the founders of the 3-year-old company have opened a tasting room and kitchen studio at 913 E. Main St. This is where food and The Delicisiouser blends meet and customers can watch and ask questions as chef Patrick OHalloran shares his more than three-decade passion for cooking. We want to teach people and educate them, thats a huge part of our business model, said OHalloran, the former co-owner and chef at Lombardinos. We decided that instead of having things like oregano, fennel seeds and cinnamon, we would come up with blends so we could take our experience, bottle it and help you be a better cook in your own home. OHalloran, who also owned two Tipsy Cow locations, is joined in the Deliciouser venture by his wife, Shelly Oyamada, and his ex-wife, Marcia Castro, who remains co-owner of the Old Fashioned Tavern & Restaurant, which she helped found in 2005 along with OHalloran and Tami Lax. The Deliciouser spice blends are being mixed in a basement work space at Bunkys Catering on Atwood Avenue. But come May 1 production will move to a 1,500-square-foot space across the hall from The Deliciouser kitchen and tasting room in the Main Street Industries building at the corner of East Main and South Brearly streets. The facility is home to other food and drink companies like Origin Breads, Old Sugar Distillery, Giant Jones Brewing and Quince & Apple. The Deliciouser not only becomes another addition to the incubator but the new space will provide more production area and an office for the companys 10 employees, which include Anne Oyamada, Shellys daughter in-law. Ramping up The expansion, which moves the office out of the kitchen studio, comes at the same time the company is ramping up its food events, which include cooking classes, Thursday night tastings focused around drinks, and grazing dinners with themes like Cinco de Mayo and Wisconsins supper club scene. Well be able to do more hands-on cooking classes and just spread out a little bit more, said Castro. When we do grazing events and tasting events, these tables can be full, so its nice to spread out a little bit. The kitchen studio, which is also being used for private events, can hold 49 people. Some sit at the chefs bar overlooking the gas range while others are seated at tables with a view via a flat-screen television that provides three different angels of the cooking area. The setup is also designed to provide content to The Deliciouser YouTube channel, Instagram and Facebook pages. The room includes a walk-up bar and shelving that rims the room and holds jars of spices and complementary products from other companies. The Deliciouser products can also be purchased at area retailers like Brennans, Metcalfe Market, Orange Tree Imports, Jenifer Street Market, Wisconsin Cutlery in Shorewood Hills, the Regal Find in Middleton and Frabonis in Monona. About 60% of The Deliciouser sales are from brick-and-mortar retail while about 40% come from the companys website and corporate gift accounts. Immersive experience Stepping into the kitchen studio space provides a sensory experience where spice blends can be smelled and tasted amid an atmosphere that reflects the worldly nature of the products. Theres a large map of the world, vintage suitcases with stickers and bottles of imported olive oil and cans of Italian tomatoes that further immerse visitors into the experience. The goal is to source raw spices ethically, paying fair trade prices. Adding to that vibe is OHallorans love of travel, which influences his cooking. He and Shelly Oyamada recently spent time in Lisbon, Portugal, which in the late 1400s was considered the spice capital of the world. The main square of Lisbon, the cathedrals, so many of the places there were built on the taxes from the spice trade. They were a huge player and there was a real race to get around the Horn of Africa and get to India and get to the Indonesian islands, said OHalloran, who stayed in a hotel dubbed the Spice Merchants Palace. And as we grow, we want to go to Indonesia, go to India and go right to the source and try to source as closely as possible. Started in catering OHalloran, 55, grew up on Milwaukees south side and met Castro when they both worked at an upscale catering company. They ultimately married and in 1998 moved to Madison, where they started their own catering company before diving into the restaurant industry. They were married for 13 years, but after divorcing remained close and now work side-by-side each day with Shelly Oyamada, who has been married to OHalloran for the past five years. Its a non-issue, Castro said of the arrangement. This should be normal. People need to let go. Some things just dont always work out the way you think they will. Theyve been divorced for many, many years and obviously they had a great history in business together and did great with that, Oyamada said. Theyre both great parents. So when COVID-19 brought people back to their kitchens and closed restaurants, the trio began cooking together in their homes. That quickly led to creating spice blends out of OHalloran and Oymadas house, which they have since sold to help finance The Deliciouser. We thought we would start this in a spare room in our house and it just quickly grew, OHalloran said. This is a different ball game, but its a way to connect with people. Spices come in jars that are short enough to fit into a standard kitchen drawer. Each jar also comes with a label color-coded to each blend and which is affixed to both the tops and sides of each 1.5-ounce container that has a mouth wide enough to insert a tablespoon. Besides blends of spices, the offerings also include peppercorns, chili flakes and assortments of salt. On a visit last week to the studio kitchen, OHalloran was busy creating dishes like soft scrambled eggs with sea salt over steamed asparagus and another with spring vegetables with slices of pork tenderloin seasoned with the companys Siena Seasoned Salt, a blend of sea salt, smoked paprika and wild fennel pollen. The whole idea that kind of sets us apart from another spice shop is that we want to teach people how to use the spices, said Shelly Oyamada. We want them to make Deliciouser food at home. The West Side Texas Roadhouse is expected to open June 12, franchisee Sammy Nixon said Wednesday. The restaurant isnt finished yet, but theyre closing in on it, said Nixon, who, with his wife, Julie Nixon, owns Texas Roadhouse franchises in Janesville, Sheboygan and Appleton. He said they began hiring Monday and are searching for 125 employees. Theyve offered jobs to 15 people so far, he said. The first Madison Texas Roadhouse opened just east of East Towne Mall in October 2006. Nixon helped open that restaurant, which is owned by the Louisville, Kentucky-based corporation. The West Side restaurant will sit in front of the Walmart off Watts Road. It has been in the works since before the pandemic and was put on hold because of it, Nixon said. Madison, and Wisconsin as a whole, is just a great market for Texas Roadhouse, Nixon said. Its definitely a two-store, or a two-location, market, an east and west kind of deal. The first Texas Roadhouse opened in 1993 and has grown to about 602 locations in 49 states and 22 countries, according to a company fact sheet. Texas Roadhouse is known for its reasonably priced steaks, cut in-house, its ribs, and also for the freshly baked, puffy rolls with honey cinnamon butter that the host or hostess leaves on the table while seating customers. Customers can face a considerable wait for a table at the East Side restaurant, but Nixon said it has call-ahead seating which allows customers to put their name on the waitlist before entering the building. 36 Madison-area restaurant, bar, bakery, coffee shop openings in 2022 Taqueria Los Atlantes Golden Nest Pancakes & Cafe Hot Lunch Zippy Lube Coffee, Donuts, and Fried Chicken Tacos El Capi Good Co. at Pioneer Pointe The Bubbling Teapot Sabores Fusion Grill Nori Sushi & Grill North Shore Pizza and Subs Sookie's Veggie Burgers Turn Key La Pollera Colombiana Restaurant Eno Vino Waunakee BigSur Cantina Amara SASS Sauce + Shells The Borough Beer Company & Kitchen Taza Swagat Sun Prairie Little John's Lunchbox AzTec Taqueria Mishqui Peruvian Cuisine Dirty Dog Taphouse Ollie's Forward Craft & Coffee Jacknife The Ready Set FreshFin Poke Hilldale Mom's Bar Prost! Tucuma Northstreet La Taguara Far Breton Bakery Dagu Rice Noodle Ty Todd, bar manager at Eno Vino Waunakee, which opened in October, said business has been slow, and he hopes it picks up in the summer when the restaurants patio is open. We are really trying to just give the best service possible, he said. We want to bring back that old-school Eno Vino West Side feel. Todd said in the early days of Eno Vino the original Junction Road restaurant on Madisons Far West Side opened in 2004 about 90% of its customers were regulars. They came there for the standards and the food, and the service. Were trying to rebuild that image. Eno Vinos flagship restaurant opened in spring 2017 on the top two floors of the 10-story AC Hotel by Marriott, one block off Capitol Square. The menus at the three Eno Vinos arent identical, but have a lot in common. Many of the dishes at the Waunakee restaurant are a few dollars cheaper than at the other locations. We were pleased to be served three slices of warm bread with a slightly sweet red wine reduction butter at the start of the meal. My 17-year-old daughter said she couldnt remember the last time a restaurant provided bread, and I couldnt either. So many places list it on the menu and charge for it now. Another highlight was the soup of the day ($12), a cream of sweet potato with chive oil and sauteed veggies. It was hard to make out what vegetables were in it since they were pureed and the sweet potato flavor dominated. As a bonus, it came with a crustless grilled cheese sandwich, crisp and buttery and beautifully presented in quarters. The house meatballs ($18) were also attractively presented, in a bowl topped with San Marzano tomato sauce, shavings of Parmigiano Reggiano, and microgreens. The small meatballs had a great flavor and were served with take-it-or-leave-it strips of garlic ciabatta. After all, wed been spoiled by the unexpected bread course and surprise grilled cheese. The chicken thigh kebabs ($19) were the only detraction from an otherwise great meal, although the crispy smashed potatoes that came with them were fantastic, as was the avocado puree on the plate. There was just something off, you might say gamey, about the chicken. Both the meatballs and chicken were under to share, the largest section of the menu, and our waiter asked if we wanted them served together with the soup or separately. We should have opted to have them all at once because there was an unusually long lag time before the chicken arrived. Otherwise, service was excellent. Our waiter was personable and patient when we took a long time to order. The host who seated us was also friendly and welcoming. I found out later he was Todd. He brought an iPad with us to the table, which had more detailed wine and cocktail menus on it, then never came back for it. We didnt see a need for the iPad. The paper menus had enough detail for our purposes. For dessert, we went with something called Wisconsin winter ($10), which was like a modern-day bananas foster with homemade dulce de leche ice cream on top of caramelized bananas. It also had chocolate crumbles and little sticks that were apparently made from donuts and looked like those unappealing crunchy chow mein noodles. Snow on top was in the form of coconut meringue, or so said the menu. It was more creative than delicious. I felt the same way about my drink, I spritz you not ($11), with blueberry vodka, lillet blanc (an infused wine), limoncello, aperol, lavender syrup and soda. It was mild, not strong, a decent spring or summer cocktail, but not something Id be eager to get again. The atmosphere at the Waunakee Eno Vino is a key part of the experience: contemporary with clean lines. The signature blue water glasses have been carried over from the other locations and the gray leather chairs are extremely comfortable. The servers uniforms, gray button downs and black pants, went nicely with the restaurants color scheme and decor. Nirvana and the Red Hot Chili Peppers played over the sound system, which I found unusual in what could be considered a fine-dining restaurant. It was nice that the restaurant was open on a Monday night when so many places arent. Our waiter welcomed us to Eno Vino, pronouncing it EE-no when its actually EHN-oh veen-oh. Todd, who between the West Side and Downtown, has worked at Eno Vino for about 10 years, said it has been hard to find employees for the Waunakee restaurant, and a lot of them are in high school or college. We are trying to train them as best we can, he said. Todd said even though Eno Vino has been around a long time, many people still say EE-no. As long as you know us by name, he said, thats really what we want. Diner's scorecard Restaurant: Eno Vino Waunakee Location: 2800 Sarah Lane, Waunakee Phone: 608-581-9141 Website: enovinowaunakee.com Hours: Sunday though Thursday 4 p.m. until midnight; Friday and Saturday 4 p.m. until 1 a.m. Late night menu: Sunday though Thursday from 9 until 10, Friday and Saturday from 10 until 11. Prices: Shareables $13 to $37, soup $12, salads $12 and $15, flatbreads $28 to $31, cheese boards $16 to $34, bruschetta $22 Noise level: Medium because of music played over sound system Credit cards: Accepted Accessibility: Yes Outdoor dining: Patio furniture on the way Delivery: Through Grubhub Online ordering: Through Grubhub Drinks: Full bar Gluten-free: Some items are "gluten sensitive" Vegetarian offerings: A handful, can leave meat out of others Kids menu: No Reservations: Yes Parking: Good-size parking lot, street parking Service: Good Bottom line: You don't have to drive to Waunakee to go to an Eno Vino, but why not? PENTAGON It's been less than a week since news of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war surfaced, sending the Pentagon into full-speed damage control to assure allies and assess the scope of the leak. The information on scores of slides has publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine's air defense capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on an array of intelligence matters, raising questions about whether the leak will erode allies' trust in sharing information with the U.S. or impact Ukraine's plans to intensify the fight against Russia this spring. Overall, the leaked documents present a "very serious risk to national security," a top Pentagon spokesman said. Here is a look at what the documents are, what is known about how they surfaced, and their potential impact. What are they? The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated by U.S. officials range from briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons. There's no clear answer on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed about 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds. Where did they come from? No one knows for sure, not even the Pentagon chief. "They were somewhere in the web, and where exactly, and who had access at that point,we don't know. We simply don't know," Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference Tuesday. "We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it." It's possible the leak may have started on a site called Discord. Discord is a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place"where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group or a worldwide art community." In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics,members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the poster's own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago,uploading images of folded papers. The person who said he was a member of the forum told The Associated Press that another person, identified online only as "Lucca," shared the documents in a different Discord chat. From there, they appear to have been spread until they were picked up by the media. Many details of the story can't be immediately verified. And top U.S. officials acknowledge publicly that they're still trying to find answers. What was revealed? The leaks have highlighted how closely the U.S. monitors how its allies and friends interact with Russia and China. Officials in several countries have denied or rejected allegations from the leaked records. The AP has reported on U.S. intelligence picking up claims from Russian operatives that they were building a closer relationship with the United Arab Emirates, the oil-rich Middle Eastern nation that hosts important American military installations. The UAE rejected the allegations, calling them"categorically false." The Washington Post reported Monday that Egypt's president ordered subordinates to secretly prepare to ship up to 40,000 rockets to Russia as it wages war in Ukraine. A spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry said Egypt was maintaining "noninvolvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides." Other leaks have concerned allegations that South Korean leaders were hesitant to ship artillery shells to Ukraine and that Israel's Mossad spy service opposed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed overhaul of the judiciary. Funded at $90 billion annually, the U.S. intelligence agencies have sweeping powers to tap electronic communications, run spies and monitor with satellites. The results of those powers are rarely seen in public, even in limited form. U.S. response The Pentagon has begun an internal review to assess the leak's impact on national security. The review is being led by Milancy D. Harris, the deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence and security, a defense official said in a statement to AP. The team includes representatives from the offices of legislative affairs, public affairs, policy, legal counsel and the joint staff, the official said. The Pentagon was also quickly taking steps to reduce the number of people who have access to briefings, a second defense official said. Both officials spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. Pentagon officials are also closely monitoring where the leaked slides are "being posted and amplified," said Chris Meagher, assistant to the secretary of defense for public affairs. Separately, the Justice Department has opened a criminal investigation into how the slides were obtained and leaked. CIA Director William Burns on Tuesday called the leak "deeply unfortunate." "It's something that the U.S. government takes extremely seriously," he said in remarks at Rice University. "The Pentagon and the Department of Justice have now launched a quite intense investigation to get to the bottom of this." What's the impact? Senior military leaders have been contacting allies to address the fallout. That includes calls "at a high level to reassure them of our commitment to safeguarding intelligence and fidelity to our security partnerships. Those conversations began over the weekend and are ongoing," Meagher said. U.S. officials are likely to face more questions when they travel to Germany next week for the next contact group meeting,where representatives of more than 50 nations gather to coordinate weapons and aid support for Ukraine. But the document leak is not expected to affect that meeting or allies' willingness to continue to provide military assistance to Ukraine, a senior defense official told The Associated Press, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. "I think a lot of the allies will probably be more curious about why it happened," said Chris Skaluba, director of the Atlantic Council's transatlantic security initiative. Given the high-level security clearance needed to access the information in the first place, the leak raises questions as to who "would have that much of an agenda to put it out there," and whether the intent was to undermine support for Ukraine, Skaluba said. Austin on Tuesday contacted his South Korean counterpart, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, to discuss the leaked documents, several of which were particularly sensitive to Seoul because they described U.S. surveillance of its ally and detailed South Korean reservations about providing munitions directly to Ukraine. The two defense chiefs agreed that a "considerable number" of the leaked documents were fabricated, Kim Tae-hyo, a deputy national security director, told reporters. He said the alliance between the two countries wouldn't be affected by the leak and South Korea would seek to further strengthen cooperation with the United States. And both Austin and Secretary of State Antony Blinken reached out to their counterparts in Ukraine. Austin suggested Tuesday the leaks would not have much of an impact on Ukraine's plans for a spring offensive. Ukraine's strategy will "not be driven by a specific plan. They have a great plan to start but only President Zelenskyy and his leadership really know the full details of that plan," Austin said. For other sensitive issues highlighted in the leaked slides, such as Ukraine's shortage of air defense munitions, the shortage itself has been known and is one of the reasons U.S. military leaders are pressing allies to supply whatever systems they can, such as the Iris-T systems pledged from Germany and the U.S.-manufactured Hawk air defense systems provided by Spain. "Publicizing an apparent shortage of anti-aircraft missiles may give comfort to Russia. But if it energizes Ukraine's partners to accelerate delivery of missiles and other air defense capabilities, Kyiv will be grateful. The bigger 'known unknown' is the extent to which these leaks influence U.S. political support for Ukraine," said Ben Barry, senior fellow for land warfare at the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. "They were somewhere in the web, and where exactly, and who had access at that point,we don't know. We simply don't know. We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it." Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin An Iowa-Grant School District student was arrested Monday for making threatening comments, the Iowa County Sheriff's Office said Thursday. Iowa-Grant School District officials were made aware of threatening comments made by a district student on Monday and after a preliminary investigation by Iowa County deputies, the student was arrested for terroristic threats, Sheriff Michael Peterson said in a statement. Detectives continued the investigation and located corroborating evidence of the threatening remarks and additional details. The boy, who was not identified, and his family have been cooperative during the investigation, providing statements, consent to search residential areas, and consent to search electronic devices, Peterson said. Nothing indicates an imminent threat to the school or plans to execute an attack, Peterson said. The investigation is continuing, and no additional information will be released, Peterson said. A Madison man who was 16 years old in 2020 when he fired a rapid spray of 38 bullets from a modified gun on a busy Sun Prairie street, hitting buildings and vehicles but somehow missing any people, was sentenced Thursday to six years in prison. Dane County Circuit Judge Josann Reynolds rejected a lengthier sentence proposed by prosecutors, finding the argument on behalf of 18-year-old Yeshua K.J. Schworck by his attorney, Murali Jasti, far more persuasive. I can tell you this is not what I expected to do today, Reynolds told Schworck. You should be grateful to your attorney. After a trial in February, Schworck was convicted of attempted first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree reckless endangerment and possession of a firearm by a person previously found delinquent for a shooting on West Main Street in Sun Prairie on Dec. 9, 2020. Schworck used a semi-automatic handgun modified to fire automatically and equipped with an extended magazine to fire 38 rounds in two seconds at a vehicle occupied by a man who had a conflict with the driver of the car in which Schworck was a passenger. Trentin G. Holsten, 20, who was driving the car Schworck was in, testified for the prosecution at Schworcks trial and the day after Schworck was convicted, he received probation for his role in the shooting incident. Reynolds sentenced Schworck to five years in prison, followed by 12 years of extended supervision for the attempted homicide conviction, with an additional one year in prison and one year of supervision for the gun possession conviction. She gave him a concurrent sentence for reckless endangerment. Schworcks time in prison will be shortened by about two years and four months he has spent in custody since his arrest. Arguing for an equitable sentence for Schworck, Jasti said Holsten had manipulated Schworck to get him to go to trial so that Holsten could then testify and get the deal that kept him from going to prison for his role in the shooting. Previously, Jasti said, Holsten had told Schworck that if Schworck went to trial, he would refuse to testify against Schworck. It was a setup, Jasti said, so he could get the benefit of the testimony that he had told Yeshua time and time again that he wouldnt do. Jasti also faulted the driver of the other vehicle, the one that Schworck fired at, for precipitating the event with aggressive acts moments earlier that inflamed the conflict. Deputy District Attorney William Brown argued the shooting deserved a longer sentence so that Schworck would be away from the public, like the people he endangered on the street in Sun Prairie, and his escalating behavior would be stopped until he is old enough to grow out of impulsiveness. I struggle to think of someone who has behaved as recklessly as this, Brown said. While nobody was hurt, Brown said, Schworck caused fear and trauma among those who were on the street that day and narrowly missed being struck by bullets. He said the public would continue to be endangered as long as Schworck is on the street. Schworck said he has since learned what effect his actions had on others. At first I didnt understand how serious this case really was because nobody got physically injured, Schworck said. I didnt understand what PTSD was, and trauma. Id just like to say that I apologize to all the victims in this case and the community for what happened at the BP gas station in Sun Prairie on Dec. 9, 2020, he said. I learned that forgiveness is earned and not easily given so these next years I spend in prison, Ill seek the remaining treatment I need to become a better human being. A federal appeals court late Wednesday kept an abortion pill available, clarifying the U.S. abortion landscape but not settling it. The court 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. What's 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 Administration's initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 should remain in effect, overriding a district court ruling from less than a week before. Without Wednesday's 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 2016 regulatory decision to relax 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 can't be dispensed by mail to a person who doesn't visit a doctor's office first. The courts: What's next? Either side could appeal Wednesday's ruling to the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, what it means isn't 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. The 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. It's 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. The courts nationwide: What's next? 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, which has seven Republican appointees. A decision is expected this summer. Also on Tuesday, a Montana judge denied Planned Parenthood of Montana's 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. Lawmakers nationwide: What's next? Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill on Wednesday that would ban abortion once cardiac activity can be detected, around six weeks and often before women realize they're pregnant. 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 currently in effect there. The state Senate has approved a ban after six weeks' gestation. The measure could win House approval and be sent to DeSantis as soon as this week. 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. Lawmakers: What's 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. 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. Read more: ___ A look at 50 years of Supreme Court abortion decisions 1973 1976 1986 1989 1992 2000 2007 2016 2020 2021 2022 INTELLIGENCE LEAK WASHINGTON Ukraine's leaders say they don't see a major U.S. intelligence leak as gravely damaging future offensives. A key reason: They have long held back on sharing their most sensitive operational information, doubting Washington's ability to keep their secrets safe. Ukrainian and U.S. officials said this week that only Ukrainians know some battle plans and other operational information, not the Americans, their most important ally. That means the leak of secret military documents, including some assessing Ukraine's battlefield strengths and weaknesses against Russia, may not have been enough so far to change the course of the war. "If military operations are planned, then only a very narrow circle of people know about the planning of the special operation," Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Wednesday on Ukrainian television. "The risk of leaks is very minimal" for the most important war matters. Still, the U.S. sees the leaks as grave. The documents include previously unreported sensitive disclosures about Ukraine, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and others. Senior Biden administration officials are working to stop the flow of classified information onto social media and websites and head off any lasting damage to relationships with allies and strategic partners. More damaging material could still surface. Leaked documents continue to appear online, and future revelations may be more detrimental to Ukraine than the ones that have been publicized so far. Online Russian-language discussions groups showed Russian military bloggers arguing over whether the leaks themselves are U.S. disinformation, intended to mislead Russia by creating an impression that Ukraine's military is vulnerable. Secrecy in one vital area, Ukraine's plans for any upcoming offenses to repel Russian forces, remains unbreached, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters in Washington. Meanwhile, Ukraine launched an investigation Wednesday into a gruesome video that purportedly shows the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier, in the latest accusation of atrocities said to have been committed by Russia since it invaded in February 2022. The video spread quickly online and drew outrage from officials in Kyiv, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as international organizations. The Kremlin called the footage "horrible" but said it needed to be verified. The Associated Press was not able to independently verify the authenticity of the video or the circumstances of where and when it was shot. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has thrown several charges against former President Donald Trump hoping that one of them will stick. A felony case against a former president -- who would like nothing more than to undermine our entire legal system -- should be rock solid. Bragg's case seems as flimsy as limp spaghetti. In a historic and high-spending race for control of the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Janet Protasiewicz crushed former Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Dan Kelly. Protasiewicz garnered more than a million votes compared to Kellys 818,000 a margin of 55.5% to 44.5%. The vote gave liberal justices a slim 4-3 majority on the states high court as it faces a lineup of cases that include abortion rights, redistricting and state election rules in the months ahead. It marks the first time the court will have a liberal bent in 15 years and Democrats were celebrating the opportunity last Tuesday night. Protasiewicz made abortion rights the centerpiece of her campaign, implying to voters that she will overturn Wisconsins near-total ban on abortion after the states 1849 ban kicked in when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade. Kelly was backed by pro-life groups. If ideologies of the two candidates were striking, so was the spending in this race. News reports said spending on the race topped $45 million, three times the previous record for spending on a state judicial race. But if Democrats were giddy over the Supreme Court swing, they might want to temper that with a look at the 8th Senate District where Rep. Dan Knodl, R-Germantown, narrowly defeated Democrat Jodi Habush Sinykin. Knodls win gives Republicans a supermajority in the state Senate 22 seats in the 33-member body. And that gives Republican senators the ability to impeach and remove civil officers without input from Democrats, if the state Assembly also votes to do so. Knodl, who supported false claims that Donald Trump won the 2020 election and signed a letter asking Vice President Mike Pence to not certify Wisconsins vote, said during his campaign he would certainly consider impeaching Protasiewicz and other judges for being weak on crime. Presumably that would apply only to her job as a Milwaukee County judge and not to her new post on the Supreme Court which she will assume this summer. Thats the real political landscape that Wisconsin faces in the months ahead bitter, rancorous, brass-knuckle battles between the states two parties no matter the results of last weeks election. For evidence, we have only to point to Kellys concession speech Tuesday night in which he said, I wish that in circumstances like this I would be able to concede to a worthy opponent, but I do not have a worthy opponent to which I can concede. My opponent is a serial liar. Shes disregarded judicial ethics; shes demeaned the judiciary with her behavior. This is the future that we have to look forward to in Wisconsin. I wish Wisconsin the best of luck, because I think its going to need it. Last Tuesdays election may have reshaped the makeup of the state Supreme Court, but it also kicked up some dust and triggered a whole new round of political battles. Buckle up, Wisconsin. WASHINGTON The White House proposed a new federal rule Wednesday to limit how law enforcement and state officials collect medical records if they investigate women who flee their states to seek abortions. It would prohibit health care organizations from sharing personal medical records with authorities for investigations related to reproductive care in states where a woman legally obtained an abortion. Vice President Kamala Harris told reporters that it's one of several new actions the administration is taking to push back against a wave of abortion restrictions that have been introduced since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion last year. The administration is also launching a hotline for people to ask questions about prenatal, infant and reproductive care. BRIEFLY FEINSTEIN:U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked Wednesday to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee, after two House Democrats called on her to resign amid increasing anxiety that her lengthy absence damaged Democratic efforts to confirm President Joe Biden's nominees for federal courts. TWITTER: National Public Radio stopped posting to Twitter after the platform stamped NPR's account with labels that "undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent," the news organization said Wednesday. The Public Broadcasting Service's main account also stopped tweeting Wednesday because of the "government-funded media" label. KOREAN TENSIONS: North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to take shelter as a precaution. WATER: A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a federal rule in 24 states, most led by Republicans, intended to protect U.S. wetlands and waterways. The regulations, finalized in 2022, repealed a rule implemented during President Donald Trump's administration that was thrown out by federal courts. DEFAMATION SUIT: The judge presiding over Dominion Voting Systems' defamation case against Fox News admonished Fox's attorneys Wednesday for potentially withholding evidence and said he is inclined to order an independent review by a special master that could lead to sanctions. DRUG: The U.S. on Wednesday deemed veterinary tranquilizer xylazine an "emerging threat" when mixed with the powerful opioid fentanyl, clearing the way for more efforts to stop the spread of the drug. It was detected in more than 3,000 U.S. drug deaths in 2021. TWIN FALLS Jonathan Cox was preparing to BASE jump from the I.B. Perrine Bridge on Jan. 24, when he saw a woman leap without a parachute. Cox quickly ran to the spot the woman had jumped from, and after telling a witness to call 911, he parachuted from the bridge, safely reaching the landing zone. Cox then retrieved an aluminum rowboat from where it was staged near the landing zone and rowed into the river, retrieving the body and transporting it back to shore. For his efforts to assist with the recovery of the body, Twin Falls Sheriff Tom Carter awarded Cox a civilian certificate of appreciation on Thursday. Obviously, its a tragedy, Carter said before presenting Cox with the recognition during a Twin Falls County Commission meeting. However, doing what he did, he prevented that body from sinking. Carter said using divers to search for a body in the river could take several days or even weeks, potentially prolonging the agony of the family. What Mr. Cox did by getting ahold of her, getting her to the shoreline means a lot to me, to search and rescue, anybody with a heart that wouldnt want your loved one on the bottom of the river, Carter said. Commissioner Jack Johnson told Cox that risks are involved every time search and rescue or a dive team is deployed for an underwater search, and that his actions helped reduce such risk. Our deputies put their lives at risk every day down there doing stuff, and you did too by doing what you did, so thank you, Johnson said. Deputies also recognized for separate life-saving action Also awarded recognitions were five deputies in the county jail who responded to a suicide attempt and saved the life of an inmate. Deputies Sadie Germaine, Tyrell Hudson, Jessica Guevara, Hunter Allred and Kaleb Price were awarded recognition and a challenge coin from Carter for their actions. One of the things you dont have to worry about with jail staff, not only this team, but all teams, they are well-trained and they respond appropriately, Carter said. In an incident on June, 25, 2022, an inmate attempted suicide inside his cell while out of view of anyone by cutting the right side of his neck with the razor blade. Deputies immediately responded, Carter said. They administered first aid, maintained pressure on the wound, and kept the inmate talking to maintain consciousness while waiting for an ambulance. Upon being transported to the hospital, the inmate received more than 30 stitches to his neck. This man is alive today due to the deputies quick response and efficient actions, Carter said. Johnson also praised the actions of the deputies. You guys are the heroes of our community any way you look at it, and what you do is extremely important, Johnson told the deputies. Saving lives is the top of the cake and to get to recognize you for that is even better. Commissioner Brent Reinke thanked the deputies while also acknowledging a recent staffing shortage. You have gone through some pretty difficult months really short-staffed. And its really been on our minds and doing what we can do to assist, Reinke told the deputies at the ceremony. Thank you for hanging in there. TWIN FALLS After three years, employees and patients have a new look at St. Lukes medical centers in southern Idaho. Instead of masks, there are smiles. Citing low risk of COVID-19 transmission, St. Lukes on Wednesday updated its universal mask mandate. It was April 3, 2020 when the policy was put in place as the nation braced for the uncertainty of a virus the medical community knew little about. But on Wednesday, when walking down hospital hallways, Its like getting to know people all over again, said Kelly Franson, public relations manager. There is excitement in the air, said Dr. Joshua Kern, chief medical officer for St. Lukes Magic Valley, Jerome, and Wood River, with some employees even posting photos of themselves on social media using the #nomasks hashtag. I think there was a love/hate relationship with masks, Kern said. The intent has always been to protect patients, and protect employees, he said, and there were employees who were ready for the hospital to lift the requirement and others fine with keeping it. Some may even still wear masks at work. Although the majority of hospitals across the nation still have mask mandates, Kern said, the trend of removing them has been rolling across the country for the last month. Intermountain Health, which operates a hospital in Burley, reversed mask protocols for its facilities across the Intermountain West on March 15. Masks, which became a symbol of the pandemic, are the latest to go, and St. Lukes has revised other policies, including the number of visitors allowed in rooms, as the pandemic progressed. COVID transmission in Magic Valley appears to be at a low point since the emergence of the pandemic, Kern said, although there was one patient treated Sunday. Immunity, gained by either through vaccination or by getting the virus, is high in Magic Valley, Kern said. The South Central Public Health District no longer provides a monthly COVID risk assessment. Masks will still be required at St. Lukes in settings where masks were worn pre-pandemic, such as in operating rooms, but in addition, the requirement will still be required in long-term care settings based on regulatory requirements. The neonatal intensive care unit at the Twin Falls hospital will also still require masks. Medical staff will put on masks upon a patients request, Kern said, and St. Lukes, in its updated policy, encourages people to use masks based on their personal risk and comfort level. Masks will be made available for patients, visitors, staff and providers in all locations across the health system. Prince Harry will attend the coronation of King Charles next month, but his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will remain in the United States with the couple's children, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday following months of speculation. "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet," the palace said in a statement. There had been widespread speculation over whether the Sussexes would travel to the United Kingdom for the historic occasion. In March, the duke's spokesperson told CNN that the couple had received an invitation to the coronation but had not yet confirmed their attendance. In his memoir, "Spare," which hit bookshelves in January, Prince Harry launched a series of incendiary accusations against members of his family, revealed a number of private confrontations between him and other senior royals and detailed his split from the family. Details of the sibling rivalry between Harry and his brother Prince William were also shared. The duke's autobiography set a record when the English language version sold more than 1.4 million copies on its first day of publication. In a January interview with Britain's ITV to publicize his book, Harry said the door with his family was "always open." "The ball is in their court. There's a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they're willing to sit down and talk about it," Harry said. King Charles and Queen Camilla will be crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. The coronation will see three days of celebrations across the country in which the public will be invited to participate. Read more about the coronation here: Photos: Prince Harry and Meghan through the years Last month, 68 Republican legislators told 1,939,033 Idahoans what they cant read in libraries. Thats how many of them voted for House Bill 314, which empowers Attorney General Raul Labrador to prosecute and punish every public and private school library for anything on the shelf that he decides is harmful to minors. And dont think he wont do it. Labrador has already issued over 50 subpoenas to investigate childcare organizations that accepted federal funding. This bill puts libraries in the crosshairs of another one of his political fishing expeditions. Make no mistake about it. This issue is not about pornography in libraries. It is about using legal intimidation to advance divisive culture wars for political gain and control, especially within the majority party. Even though Gov. Brad Little vetoed the bill, it will be back next year. Two years ago, porn in libraries wasnt even a problem. Library boards staffed by good, honest citizens were doing their job as they always did and continue to do. No one was afraid to let their kids go to the library. Suddenly obscene material in libraries is now a crisis of monumental proportions. The real obscenity isnt porn, its propaganda. STAPILUS: The library attack STAPILUS: Some of my earliest memories are of hours I spent in our citys public library, the sense of wonder, of the whole world opening up in this place. For example, if one person says the sun revolves around the earth, they are a kook. If 10,000 people say it a million times, people may think its true. After all, Look where the sun is in the morning and then at dusk. Who are you going to believe, some elitist astronomy expert or your own eyes?! In the case of porn in libraries: Who are you going to believe, the woke liberal media or these pictures my friend said he found in a library book? Of the thousands of people sending emails to legislators, almost none of them personally found real porn in a library. They are genuinely outraged by what they are hearing, but most are repeating what others are saying. I know some people have found content in a library book that they sincerely find offensive. However, theres a big difference between pornography found in an adult bookstore and a library book about same-sex marriage (which is legal) or gender dysphoria (which is real). When it all gets labeled simply as porn, the facts get blurred and the outrage grows way out of proportion. Laws should be based on fact not hearsay, rumor, conjecture, anecdote or innuendo. I support the conservative principle that government is best when its closest to the people. Thats why we have elected local library boards, or boards appointed by elected officials. The Legislature needs to let them do their job. Library boards should be allowed to determine the facts via a local process that solicits documented complaints. Anyone who claims to have found inappropriate material in the childrens section of a library should submit a formal, signed complaint that specifies the date, time and location of what they personally observed. Citizens should go on the record, not on social media, to register their grievances. Library boards should welcome this input and be expected to respond to a documented complaint. Constituents should let their legislators know if a school library has refused to act upon their written complaint so it can be addressed further (and provide a copy of the documentation they submitted). But that doesnt mean every complaint is agreed to and acted upon. Any decision will ultimately result in someone being dissatisfied. No one individual should expect to have the power to force all of their personal moral standards on every other citizen within their community. And neither should the Idaho Legislature. The Management Association of the Philippines said it will actively seek for the governments declaration of child stunting as a priority national agenda and will demand for concrete actions that will trickle right to grassroots level. It said budget support should be allocated to the initiative and resources to reorient feeding programs with greater emphasis on maternal nutrition, babies and toddlers and form competition policy in agriculture and food value chains. As a business group, we can have greater impact acting collectively in the fight against malnutrition and child stunting, said MAP president and BDB Law Founding partner Benedicta Du-Baladad in a news conference with MAP partners and members of the media. We at MAP hope to expand our role beyond fund generation and philanthropy to a shared responsibility in addressing malnutrition in the country, participating in the programming and governance of nutrition strategies and interventions. It will be a shift from a transactional to a transformational partnership with the government, Du-Baladad said. MAP recommends an active pursuit of tripartite partnerships among the business sector, government and community for a whole-of-society approach in fighting malnutrition and child stunting and its adverse effects. ADVERTISEMENT We will do our share and engage the private firms, organizations, and individuals to heed this call, starting with our own MAP members and expanding the circle to other groups so that together we can all work in building a more progressive future for the country, Du-Baladad said. MAP governor-in-charge for resilience and recovery Cielito Habito illustrated the magnitude of the problem and offered solutions that could be done to move forward. Child stunting is a major threat to the nations future, Habito said. MAPs ecosystem is diverse and can potentially muster the collective strength of the private sector to mobilize and help the government achieve the countrys nutrition objectives. As we are among the leading employers in the country, MAP can strategically influence its network of employees in the delivery of support services like nutrition literacy, he said. According to the World Bank, the Philippines has one of the worst cases of child stunting in the world, ranking 5th with the highest stunting prevalence among countries in the East Asia and Pacific Region, and is among the 10 worst countries in the world. The World Health Organization described stunting as a growth and development impairment of children resulting from poor nutrition, repeated infection and inadequate psychosocial stimulation. When this happens specifically during the first 1,000 days from birth, it can lead to adverse consequences that will limit a childs ability to reach his full mental, physical and economic potential. We should be worried. If the problem is not addressed in an urgent and decisive manner, we will be placing our countrys future in the hands of stunted children becoming adults whose capacity to be productive, competitive and creative are limited, thus affecting national development and progress, Du-Baladad said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. WASHINGTONA closely-watched civil trial that pits vote machine maker Dominion against Fox News and tests the extent of free speech rights for media in Americaeven when broadcasting alleged election falsehoodsis due to start Thursday with jury selection. The proceedings could be one of the most consequential defamation cases ever heard in the United States and threaten financial and reputational damage for Rupert Murdochs conservative TV network. The stakes are pretty high for Fox News, Nicole Hemmer, a historian specializing in media at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, told AFP. Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox News in a Delaware court in March 2021 for $1.6 billion. It alleges that the 24-hour news behemoth promoted Donald Trumps false claims that its machines were used to rig the 2020 presidential election that he lost to Joe Biden. ADVERTISEMENT The company argues that Fox News aired the falsehoods while knowing they were untrue. Dominion says that the network began endorsing Trumps conspiracy narrative because the channel was losing its audience after it became the first television outlet to call Arizona for Biden, projecting the Democrat would win the presidency. Fox News denies committing defamation. It claims it was only reporting on Trumps allegations, not supporting them, and is protected by free speech rights enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. A judge last month denied a bid by the right-leaning network to have the suit dismissed and ordered the case to go to trial. If found responsible for defamation, the network will potentially face a judgment in the neighborhood of $1 billion not enough to bankrupt the network, but enough to have real ramifications for its future planning and overall financial health, said Hemmer. But that is a big if, as it is difficult for plaintiffs to win defamation suits in the United States due to the First Amendment. Actual malice Dominion will have to prove that Fox News acted with actual malice, a tough burden to meet. That bar has been a bedrock of US media law since the 1964 New York Times Co. v. Sullivan case that saw the Supreme Court rule in the newspapers favor. Dominions lawsuit has already proved embarrassing to Fox, however. The 92-year-old Murdoch admitted in a deposition in the case that some on-air hosts had endorsed the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. He denied though that the network in its entirety had pushed the baseless claim, according to court documents filed by Dominion in February. A separate filing showed that Murdoch had described comments by former Trump advisors Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell pushing Trumps claims as really crazy stuff. And damaging. Dominions lawyers have also released a trove of internal Fox News communications that show what commentators really felt about Trump, who counted on Fox for steady support. I hate him passionately, star anchor Tucker Carlson said of the ex-president, despite being supportive on air. Fox News has accused Dominion of cherry-picking and taking quotes out of context. The network has overcome several crises in recent years and was the most watched cable news channel for a seventh year in a row last year, well ahead of competitors like MSNBC and CNN. Jury selection is expected to finish this week, with the trial proper expected to start Monday. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Negros Oriental 3rd District Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has committed to virtually attend a Senate investigation into the killing of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo, Sen. Ronald Bato Dela Rosa said Thursday. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Dela Rosa, will investigate the killing of the governor starting Monday, April 17. He has made his commitment through his secretary, communicating with my committee secretariat, that hes going to attend virtually during the hearing. He has confirmed, Dela Rosa told ANCs Headstart. Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla will also attend the Senate probe. He is expected to share with senators the status of his agencys investigation into Degamos killing. Mayor Janice Degamo, the wife of the slain governor, will also be asked to attend the Senate inquiry. ADVERTISEMENT Asked why Teves is cooperating with the Senate instead of heeding the call of House Speaker Martin Romualdez to come home, Dela Rosa said he doesnt know the congressmans motivation. But if we will say we can cite him with contempt if he wont attend, I cannot do that because being a member of the lower house, we exercise interparliamentary courtesy, explained Dela Rosa. Perhaps, he will use this as an avenue for his side to he heard by the public. And that is a good sign if he wants to attend our probe, he added. The Department of Justice previously said that Teves was considered one of the masterminds in the assassination of Degamo and eight others. The lawmaker said he and his clan had nothing to do with the crime. Teves has yet to return to the country, more than a month since his travel clearance expired. He was slapped with a 60-day suspension over his continued absence in Congress after being implicated in Degamos murder. In the interview, Dela Rosa said the Senate investigation aimed to identify possible policy gaps. Its very important for my committee to get his side, the senator said. Everything he (Rep. Teves) wants to say I am there to control the proceedings of the hearing. Dela Rosa added, But the main purpose of this hearing is for us to identify policy gaps wherein these gaps might be cured through legislations. In another interview, Dela Rosa assured Teves that he will enjoy a parliamentary courtesy from the senators, but such treatment will have its limitations. We expect him to behave properly, he shouldnt be unruly, Dela Rosa said. According to Dela Rosa, the hearing is very important to hear both sides of the issue. Otherwise, the hearing will be one-sided if we dont hear from Cong. Teves, he said. The former police chief says senators are expecting Teves to clear his name. He will said what he wants to say, and I am just there to moderate and control everything, he said while assuring that the committee would not be used for whatever purpose. He said former Gov. Henry Teves was also invited, but declined for unknown reasons. Others invited to the hearing are the DOJ, DILG, PNP, NBI and the family of Degamo. Resource persons on the previous killings in the province will also be asked to attend the hearing. Earlier, Dela Rosa said the Senate probe on the murder of Degamo will complement the efforts of the DOJ which is deep in its criminal prosecution. He is confident that additional evidence will be unearthed in the Senate inquiry. However, the chairperson of the Senate public and illegal drugs committee said they will focus more on policy issues that may be fixed through legislations. Other relevant and material resource persons in the Degamo case and other Negros killings and other cases mentioned in the resolution will be asked to appear before the committee. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. China frowns on S. China Sea accusations as Balikatan uses Javelins LIVE FIRE. A US Marine (left, main photo) fires a Javelin anti-tank weapon system during the live exercise as part of the US-Philippines Balikatan joint military exercise at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, while a Filipino (center) and US Army soldier (right) wait for their turn. Inset shows a US soldier in sniper camouflage taking position at a static display of equipment. AFP The Philippines and the United States must focus on four separate areas to modernize their military alliance, starting with a common understanding of their policies and priorities, Defense Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday. This developed as US and Philippine troops held anti-tank missile exercises on Thursday, as the allies stepped up their largest war games, which have already drawn Chinas ire. Galvez said the focus would pave the way for defense guidelines that govern how equipment and military capabilities are upgraded to respond to threats, he said after meeting with his American counterpart in Washington DC. He said the second area must enhance the countries cyber defenses to protect critical infrastructure and sensitive information. The third area, Galvez said, required increased intelligence sharing and cooperation to address challenges facing both countries. ADVERTISEMENT Fourth, we must improve interoperability between our forces to better coordinate and conduct joint activities, he said. Galvez said the defense alliance is critical to assuring the safety and security of the Filipinos. The increased military cooperation between the two countries comes as China pushes its territorial claims in the disputed South China Sea with an aggressive military buildup. Meanwhile, Beijing on Thursday denounced as false the accusations made by the Philippines and the United States, that it is conducting illegal activities in the South China Sea, particularly its reclamation activities and militarization of the disputed waters. Wang Wenbin, the spokesman of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said there was nothing wrong with Chinas activities, and reiterated Beijings claim to own most of the South China Sea, despite a 2016 ruling by the Permanent Court of Arbitration that junked such claims. Beijing, Wang said, has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea islands and its adjacent waters. Under a plume of black smoke, three cars parked on scrubland were crushed by missiles fired from about 600 meters (0.37 miles) away by three soldiers at a military base in the north of the Philippines. The annual Balikatan maneuvers follow 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. As youre recently witnessing, there are some irresponsible behaviors that are ongoing and we should call those irresponsible behaviors out, US Army Pacific Commander General Charles Flynn told reporters at the site, without elaborating further. Flynn added that the war games were an important show of collective commitment to maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific. Philippine Army chief Lieutenant-General Romeo Brawner praised the effectivity of Javelins against Russian tanks and armor in the Ukraine war, adding Manila plans to acquire the weapon in the future. We want to also bring that capability to the Philippine Army in order for us to be able to bolster our defensive posture and be able to defend our territory, Brawner added. The two allies also plan to hold new exercises in the South China Sea later in the year that will include other countries, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin announced in Washington on Tuesday, after a meeting with the Philippine defense and foreign secretaries and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. The exercise aims to boost Manilas military capability while serving as a US show of support for its Asian ally amid Chinas growing assertiveness. Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises, which for the first time will include the sinking by live fire of a decommissioned Philippine navy warship in the South China Sea, waters that Beijing claims almost entirely. It follows a deal announced last week for US forces to use an increased number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan. Wang said the recent 15-page joint statement of the Philippines and the US misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China. He was referring to the statement released by the two countries following the high-level talks between Filipino and American officials in Washington, D.C., which covered several areas of the Philippine-US partnership. We strongly oppose this, Wang said, in a press conference on Thursday night. In the statement, the defense and foreign secretaries of both countries underlined their strong objections to [Chinas] unlawful maritime claims, the militarization of reclaimed features, and threatening and provocative activities in the South China Sea. The officials also urged Beijing to comply with the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), the 2016 Arbitral Ruling, and the Code of Conduct for the South China Sea. Wang, on the other hand, said the 2016 arbitral award violated UNCLOS and said the ruling was illegal, null and void. China had refused to participate in the arbitration proceedings initiated by the Philippines. The award affirmed the Philippines claims over what it declared as part of its expanded economic zone in the West Philippine Sea, a part of the bigger South China Sea that China completely claims. Senator Risa Hontiveros, meanwhile, said Chinas bullying of not only Taiwan but the Philippines, and its daily disregard for Philippine sovereignty were alarming. She also branded as worrisome the escalating tensions in Taiwan, while saying the Philippines should not be drawn into a possible war. We have to uphold the Constitutional mandate of peace as the instrument of national policy or the abandonment of war as an instrument of national policy, she said. We need the international community to help de-escalate and cool the tensions between the US and China, especially around Taiwan, he added. She underscored the need to establish a strong coalition with the Philippines neighboring countries to bring down the tension in the region. The opposition senator also cited the need to review the countrys national policy toward China. Her incessant incursions in the West Philippine Sea have threatened the livelihood and safety of Filipinos, Hontiveros said. We should have policies that reflect our resistance against her belligerent actions. Should China intensify actions in Taiwan, we should also look into how to safeguard not only the Filipinos living in Taiwan but also those who are in the northern parts of the Philippines, she said. Senator Robin Padilla, on the other hand, said he is heartened by the resumption of talks this May between the Philippines and China for joint oil and gas exploration in the West Philippine Sea. The Armed Forces of the Philippines on Thursday reported a significant increase in its Western Commands maritime and aerial patrols in the West Philippine Sea (WPS) in the first quarter of this year. The AFP Wescom reports a substantial increase in its operational tempo in the WPS for the first quarter of CY2023. This means that more government ships are staying out at sea for longer periods of time and government aircraft flights over WPS have become more frequent, Wescom chief Vice Adm. Alberto Carlos, said. The boost in Wescoms patrol efforts came in wake of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.s announcement that not a square inch of Philippine territory will be lost under his watch. Together with our partner agencies the Philippine Coast Guard, the Philippine National Police Maritime Group and the Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, the Philippine Navy established a strong maritime presence in the area with the sustained deployments of their respective ships in WPS, especially at the vicinity of Pagasa Island, Carlos said. These efforts are meant to counter the increased presence of suspected foreign militia vessels in the area, the Wescom chief said. Wescom also increased the frequency of maritime air patrols to closely monitor the activities of foreign vessels in the WPS and the developments on foreign occupied features in the area. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said on Thursday that Southeast Asian countries must adjust and find ways to address human capital flight particularly in the healthcare sector for the benefit of the region. The issue on brain drain in the regions health sector, particularly the emigration of nurses and doctors, was discussed during the Presidents meeting with Temasek Foundation executives at Malacanang. We are very proud of [our nurses and doctors] and the role they play during the height of the pandemic. But as I said, we are a victim of our own success, the President Marcos told the Temasek officials led by chairperson Jennie Chua Kheng Yeng. But you know, we have to adjust and find other ways. We have to give them at least equal opportunities at home. It is very clear that most Filipino overseas workers are willing to take less in terms of pay so long as they can stay here, the Chief Executive said. Mr. Marcos also said that if Singapore can find a solution to the brain drain problem, it would immensely help the Southeast Asian regions healthcare sector. ADVERTISEMENT Yeng said the Singapore nursing association has agreed to register nurses in the city state to arrest human capital flight in the sector after the country lost 400 nurses to New Zealand, which offered permanent residency as an added attraction. Under New Zealands permanent residency program, the nurses can bring their families with them, allow their children to go to local schools, and apply for housing. The Temasek Foundation International chair said Singapore does not want to give Filipino nurses citizenship unlike what is being offered by the United States, Canada, and New Zealand so they can go back and forth during their working years. Yeng also commended the Philippines for producing good nurses and doctors, adding that Singapores emergency room doctors were mostly Filipinos, and praised their training based on life experience. Temasek Foundation, a Singapore-based non-profit philanthropic organization, is a subsidiary of Singapores state sovereign fund Temasek Holdings. The foundation funds and supports programs aimed at building community capabilities in Asia and beyond through philanthropic endowments. The foundation forged agreements with the Philippines to enhance competencies across industries, through the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) (Digitalization and Industry 4.0) Program, Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) with Design Thinking Program, and Health Care Management Program. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. SEOULNorth Korea likely fired a new type of ballistic missile Thursday that may have used advanced solid fuel, Seouls military said, representing a potential technical breakthrough for Pyongyangs banned weapons programs. North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. All of Pyongyangs known intercontinental ballistic missiles are liquid-fuelled, and solid-fuel ICBMs that can be launched from land or submarines have long been on top of leader Kim Jong Uns wish list. Such missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch, and thus harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively. At a military parade in Pyongyang in February, North Korea showed off a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuelled ICBM. ADVERTISEMENT Seouls military on Thursday said it had detected one medium range or longer ballistic missile launched on a lofted trajectoryup not outfrom the Pyongyang area at 0723 (1023 GMT), which flew 1,000 km (621 miles). Japan, which briefly issued a seek shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region, said the missile had not fallen within the countrys territory and posed no threat to residents. Climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven are due to meet this weekend in Sapporo, Hokkaidos regional capital, a month before the group holds its summit in Hiroshima. The United States said it strongly condemns North Korea for the test of what it described as a long-range ballistic missile. The launch is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea, which has already fired several of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles this year. It has also tested what its state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones known as Haeil, the Korean word for tsunami which it says are capable of unleashing a radioactive tsunami. On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 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, Pyongyangs Korean Central News Agency said. Kim ordered that the countrys deterrence capabilities be strengthened with increasing speed and in a more practical and offensive manner. Real war Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang last year declaring itself an irreversible nuclear power, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. 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. North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, and on Tuesday described them as frantic drills simulating an all-out war against Pyongyang. The latest test was likely a bid by the North to put pressure on the South and the United States over their joint military exercises, Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University, told AFP. South Korea on Tuesday also accused North Korea of being irresponsible after Pyongyang cut hotline contact with Seoul last week. North Korea has not answered the twice-daily calls made through a military hotline and an inter-Korean liaison channel since Friday, according to Seouls unification ministry. The links were cut a day after Seoul accused Pyongyang of continued unauthorised use of a joint industrial complex in the North Korean city of Kaesong. Pyongyangs provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defense exercises because Kim Jong Un hasnt finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. RIYADHSaudi Arabia hosted landmark delegations from Iran and Syria on Wednesday as Gulf countries prepare for re-establishing diplomatic ties after years of bitter divisions. Only hours after Iranian state media said a delegation had touched down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia announced the arrival of Syrias foreign minister in Jeddah the first such trip since the countrys civil war broke out in 2011. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad met with his Saudi counterpart and discussed the necessary steps to achieve a complete political settlement to the Syrian crisis, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. The aim is to achieve a national reconciliation and bring back Syria to its Arab fold and resume its natural role in the Arab world, the statement said. The two diplomats also confirmed that steps would be take to resume consular services, and also announced plans to resume flights between their countries. ADVERTISEMENT With Irans president also expected in Saudi soon, and the Saudis negotiating with Yemens Huthi rebels this week in an attempt to end fighting there, optimism has blossomed for the turbulent Gulf region during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Iranians and Syrians are in Saudi Arabia on the same day. Thats totally crazy and was inconceivable a few months ago, a Riyadh-based Arab diplomat told AFP. On Friday, representatives of nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah to discuss letting Syrian President Bashar al-Assads long-isolated country attend an Arab League summit next month. Before then, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad will meet his Saudi counterpart to discuss efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria, the Saudi foreign ministry said. Diplomatic flurry Earlier, Tehran announced the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Riyadh to pave the way for reopening diplomatic missions, seven years after an acrimonious break in ties. The visit comes after a Saudi delegation made a similar trip to Irans capital, and follows a historic meeting in China between the two governments foreign ministers who vowed to bring stability to the troubled region. The Iranian delegation will take the necessary steps to reopen the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate general in Jeddah as well as the activities of Irans permanent representative in the (Jeddah-based) Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement. Irans President Ebrahim Raisi has been invited to Saudi Arabia, according to Tehran. It would be the first trip by an Iranian president to Saudi Arabia since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a regional meeting in Mecca in 2012. The flurry of diplomatic activity follows last months landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement that Iran and Saudi Arabia, who have backed opposing sides in conflicts around the Middle East, would work towards resuming ties. Riyadh broke off relations in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr one in a series of flashpoints between the long-time foes. Since the March 10 announcement, the two countries foreign ministers have met in China and a Saudi technical delegation met Irans chief of protocol in Tehran last week, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The Saudi delegation, which arrived in Tehran on Saturday, is due to fly on to Irans second city Mashhad on Thursday, Kanani said. Yemen truce talks As the contacts grow, Saudi Arabia is also negotiating with Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels, eight years after launching a military intervention aimed at dislodging them from power in its impoverished neighbour. Saudi ambassador Mohammed Al-Jaber travelled to Sanaa, Yemens rebel-held capital, this week hoping to stabilise a lapsed truce and work towards a comprehensive political solution between the Huthis and the ousted government. Saudi Arabia gathered a multinational coalition to fight the Huthis in 2015, after the rebels took control of Sanaa and large swathes of the country, forcing the government to flee. Yemen has become a major battleground and the two countries also vie for influence in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Analysts say Saudi Arabia, the worlds biggest oil exporter, now wants to exit the eight-year war to focus on domestic projects aimed at diversifying its energy-dependent economy. Washington has cautiously welcomed the rapprochement between the Saudis and US adversary Iran despite the role of China, which it sees as its biggest global challenger. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Video draws outrage KYIVUkraines President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday denounced Russian beasts after a video appeared to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner, prompting international outrage. The emergence of the disturbing footage, which AFP was unable to independently verify, sparked fury in Ukraine, with Kyiv saying Russia is worse than ISISan acronym for the Islamic State jihadist group. The European Union pledged to hold war criminals to account, while a UN mission in Ukraine said it was appalled. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine also pointed to another video spreading online, saying it shows mutilated bodies of apparent Ukrainian POWs. It was not clear when or where the video was filmed. Ukrainian authorities said they were trying to identify the beheading victim. ADVERTISEMENT Moscow and Kyiv have repeatedly accused each other of killing prisoners of war since Russian President Vladimir Putin sent troops to invade Ukraine more than a year ago. A number of videos alleging to show POW killings have made the rounds on the internet over the past year. Following the emergence of a new video, Zelensky said in an address posted to social media that the world must see what he called an execution of a Ukrainian captive. There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill, the grim-faced Ukrainian leader said. We wont forget anything, nor will we forgive murderers. Act now! The video, which lasts one minute 40 seconds, shows a masked man in camouflage decapitating another man in uniform. After the screams stop, other voices are heard encouraging the attacker in Russian. After the man is decapitated, a voice is heard saying that the head should be sent to the commander. The victims vest bearing the Ukrainian trident and a skull can also be seen in the footage. Zelensky urged world leaders to act and help Ukraine defeat Russia as Kyiv forces prepare a counter-offensive after a months-long stalemate on the battlefield. We need to act now! the Ukrainian president said. He echoed that message in virtual remarks Wednesday to an International Monetary Fund (IMF) roundtable in Washington, where the global lender is holding its spring meetings. By rebuilding what has been ruined, we defeat the goal of terror, we return the normal life, he said in English, reiterating a call for Russian assets to be put towards Ukraines reconstruction. The roundtable was held after the World Bank earlier in the day announced a $200 million grant to aid Ukraine in rebuilding its energy infrastructure, which has been badly damaged by Russian attacks. Ukraines SBU security service said Wednesday it had opened a probe into the video, while the UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was appalled. One of the videos shows a brutal execution of a man who appears to be a Ukrainian prisoner of war, while the other one shows mutilated bodies of apparent Ukrainian POWs. Inhumane aggression The EU said that, if confirmed, the footage was yet another brutal reminder about the inhumane nature of the Russian aggression. The EU reiterates its firm commitment to holding to account all perpetrators and accomplices of war crimes committed in connection with Russias war, EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said. Brussels did not have information on the veracity of the video, she added. European Council president Charles Michel tweeted that he was mortified by atrocious video while France condemned a barbaric act and an unbearable attack on human dignity. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: First of all, the authenticity of this horrible footage needs to be verified. We live in a world of fakes. Top Ukrainian officials renewed calls to remove Russia from the UN Security Council where it is a permanent member. Its absurd that Russia, which is worse than ISIS, is presiding over the UNSC, wrote Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Russia holds the rotating Security Council presidency for the month of April. Mykhailo Podolyak, a political adviser to Zelensky, warned against any attempts to find a compromise with the terrorists. Russia had to be isolated from the rest of the world, he said. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Heres what happened locally on April 13 over the past century, as reported in this newspaper, which went from being called the Henry Bulletin to the Daily Bulletin to the Martinsville Bulletin: 1923, these ads: During Clean Up Week do not neglect your car. Let us drain your crank case and put in fresh oil. Try our new Autoline F oil absolutely stops chattering of your bands. Full line of car varnish and polish. Car washing a specialty. Acme Motor Company, Inc. Fordson, Lincoln, Ford./Wear Our Overalls while cleaning painting and fixing up. Then come to us for your New Spring and Summer Wear. The latest styles and materials in Mens Womens and Childrens Clothings, Furnishings and Footware. Globmans Dept. Store, The Big Double Front Store. Martinsville Virginia 1948: Spero Koumpas, Martinsville restaurant proprietor, has been informed by friends in Danville that his sister, Mrs. Mary Hosadas, was recently kidnapped by Communists in Greece and that she is believed to have been killed. Others captured by the Communists when Mrs. Hosadas was abducted were found dead, it was said by Greek residents of Danville. 1973: The Henry County School Board Thursday night adopted a $10.2 million budget proposal for fiscal year 1974 that will provide for a kindergarten program for approximately 750 students, a reduced student-teacher ratio in the schools and a 5.5 percent pay raise for all school personnel. The figure is almost $2 million higher than the current $8.3 million dollar budget 1998: A Bassett firefighter was recovering at home this morning after a tree fell on him during a forest fire Monday near Kings Grant Retirement Community, his wife said. Denise Cooley said her husband, Lee, 39, was sleeping this morning after being released last night from Memorial Hospital. She and Bassett Fire Department Chief Joey Hundley said Lee Cooley suffered a cracked shoulder blade when the tree fell on him. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses the Liberty University convocation on Friday, joining a long line of GOP presidential hopefuls - past and present - who have courted evangelical voters at the Christian school founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Liberty has the largest enrollment of any Virginia college, with 130,000 students, about 115,000 of them fully online. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, announced his presidential bid at Liberty in March 2015. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is often touted as a potential GOP candidate for national office but notes that he's focused on Virginia, not Iowa, spoke about his faith at Liberty's convocation in May 2022. As a candidate for governor he stopped by an "election integrity" rally at Liberty in August 2021. Here is a look at some current presidential hopefuls who have spoken at Liberty in recent years. In September former Vice President Mike Pence, another likely GOP presidential candidate, made his third visit to Liberty, telling students that You must be the freedom generation. Pence previously spoke at a Liberty convocation in October 2006 and was vice president when he addressed Liberty's commencement in May 2019. Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed Liberty's commencement in May 2020. Pompeo, a former Kansas congressman, has said he is considering a run for the GOP nomination. Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador under President Donald Trump, addressed a Liberty convocation in November 2019. Haley urged students to make the most of today and face challenges head on. When you push forward and you push through the fear, you find out youre so much stronger on the other side, she said. Haley announced her presidential campaign in February. While Liberty is best known politically for appearances by GOP hopefuls, former President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, addressed graduates in 2018. We have the perfect example to follow if were in doubt; we just have to remember the perfect life of Jesus Christ, Carter told the Class of 2018. The Associated Press reported that Carter began his address by ribbing President Donald Trump, noting the crowd was even bigger than in 2017, when Trump addressed Libertys commencement. I dont know if President Trump would admit that," a reference to the controversy over the size of the crowd at Trump's inauguration in January 2017. (Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who supports same-sex marriage and abortion rights, spoke at Liberty in 2015 during his presidential bid.) Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who announced this week that he has formed a presidential exploratory committee, took part in a September 2017 program at Liberty on Constitution Week. Former President Donald Trump, who announced his current presidential bid in November, made his third visit to Liberty in May 2017, delivering his first commencement address as president. (President George H.W. Bush had addressed Liberty graduates in 1990.) Trump told students to enjoy being an outsider and not to worry about criticism. Following your convictions means you must be willing to face criticism from those who lack the same courage to do what is right, and they know what is right, but they dont have the courage or the guts or the stamina to take it and to do it, Trump said. In January 2016, two weeks ahead of the Iowa caucuses, Trump had given a wide-ranging hourlong speech at Liberty, in which he pledged to help protect Christianity and said he did not have time for political correctness. Trump cited a Bible passage from Corinthians that says: Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. No highway noise here! The beauty of nature abounds as you travel to this lovely one acre lot above the the quiet, Cattail Creek community. Take in the long-range winter views (year-round views possible with selective trimming) while listening to the sounds of the natural waterfall at the property's edge. Enjoy the quiet life in the mountains, yet live only 20 minutes to downtown BurnsvilleLandUndisturbed and wooded, one acre lot in quiet mountainside community. Small waterfall above the property boundary adds to the serene mountain getaway feel. Region & ClimateBurnsville, NC is a gem of a mountain town in western North Carolina featuring fresh air, outdoor activities, and a quaint downtown experience. Burnsville is also home to Mt. Mitchell-the highest peak east of the Mississippi River. Fishing opportunities abound amongst the South Toe, North Toe, and Cane rivers that run through Yancey county. LocationThis peaceful one acre lot is located 20 minutes from downtown Burnsville, one hour to Asheville, and 50 minutes to ski resorts. View More ATTENTION: Please email your church news to mcdowellchurchnews@gmail.com or call 828-527-3175 and leave a message. The deadline is noon on Wednesdays. Please note the change in deadline and phone number. Concord United Methodist Church will be having an all-you-can-eat breakfast on Saturday, April 15 from 7:30-10 a.m. This will include pancakes! The cost is $7 for adults and $5 for children under 12. The church is located on U.S. 221N past Baxter Healthcare. Take-out will be available. First United Methodist Church, across from Marion Elementary School, has Sunday school at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 11 a.m. On Sunday, April 16, worship service will be held in the Fellowship Hall at 11 a.m. instead of the sanctuary to celebrate "Salty Servant Sunday," where we join in service to persons outside our congregation. The church will put together 100 hygiene kits for the United Methodist Committee on Relief to distribute to victims of the recent earthquake in Syria and Turkey. Join us as we affirm Jesus' words that "we are the salt of the earth". First Baptist Church of Old Fort, located at 203 East Main St. in Old Fort, will have a special church homecoming program on Sunday, April 16 at 11 a.m. The church will celebrate 141 years. The guest speaker will be Rev. Milton Hollifield Jr. A covered dish will follow the service. Hicks Chapel Baptist Church is having a spring Revival with Dr. Mike Bagwell starting Sunday, April 23 at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m., and Monday, April 24 through Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. The public is invited to attend. Redeemed Freewill Baptist Church, of 5079 U.S. 221 S. hosts a youth program called, "The Sprouts, from 7-8 p.m. every Wednesday until further notice. A meal and a Bible lesson will be provided. Parents are encouraged to bring their children to learn about the love of Jesus. St. Matthews Lutheran Church, of 241 W. Court Street, Marion, invites the community to watch the global film phenomenon THE CHOSEN. Experience the Bible as vividly real each Wednesday at 7 p.m. until further notice. There will be refreshments and door prizes. Chapel Hill Baptist Church, of U.S. 221 South, Marion, will have an all-you-can-eat breakfast on the second Saturday of each month from 7:30-10 a.m. for a donation. His Place Worship Center, 1423 U.S. 70 West in Marion will host combined in-person and online meetings at 10 a.m. on the second Saturday of each month. Additional information about the Hickory Lighthouse, including links to the Zoom and Facebook Live meetings, are available at Hickory Aglows website and Facebook page: www.aglownet.org/hickorync and https://www.facebook.com/hickory.aglow. Interested persons may sign up on the website to receive a monthly email newsletter. Readers may receive related Facebook notifications by liking the Facebook page. The Sharing Food Pantry Ministry of Cross United Methodist Church needs donations of coats, sweaters, and blankets for families in the community who may be in need. Donations can be dropped off at 85 W. Cross St. just past Blue Ridge Terrace Apartments in Marion. For more information call 828-460-9257 or 828-559-4047 and leave a message. East Marion Baptist Church, of 660 Baldwin Ave., Marion, will host, "The Landing," a 12-step program for teens, every Wednesday from 6-7:30 p.m. For more information, email thelanding@embc.church. North Cove Church of God will have a breakfast sale on every third Saturday of the month. Living Waters Tabernacle of Old Fort is offering a worship service twice a month for college-aged adults called "Encounter." The service will be the first and third Thursday of each month from 6:30-7:30 p.m. At each meeting, a new topic will be discussed with a guest speaker; live music will be played; and refreshments will be served. For more information, check out Living Waters Tabernacle of Old Fort on Facebook or email jakanjamison96@gmail.com. The church is at 344 Moffitt Hill Church Road in Old Fort. Cross Mill United Methodist Church has a sharing food pantry for the community. The tiny food pantry is outside the church fellowship building, and is accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The nonperishable food items are available for anyone in need. If you would like to donate items to this ministry, you may drop them off at the pantry box or call 460-9257 or 442-8098. Greenlee Baptist Church, 5967 U.S. 70 W. in Old Fort, offers Kids on a Mission each Sunday from 6-8 p.m. Newborns to seniors in high school are invited to join. The church also has a deaf ministry available. Interpreters will be provided for the worship services every Sunday at 10:55 a.m. For information, call the church office at 668-6075 between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Cross Ties Cowboy Church meets every first Thursday at 2365 Bethlehem Road in Old Fort at 7 p.m. in the barn. For more information, call 828-925-2095. Landmark Independent Baptist Church will host a meeting on alcohol and addiction awareness by Gene Sigmon the third Friday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The church is at 225 Huskins Branch Road in Marion. For more information, contact Gene at soundmind16@yahoo.com. Apostolic Restoration Ministries is a new church to the area. If anyone is interested in attending, call Tim Eller at 828-443-2050. Peppers Creek Baptist Church will have a singing on the fourth Saturday of each month at 7 p.m. from January through October. McDowell Childrens Ministry, a ministry for children of the community interested in participating in a life-changing program, meets twice monthly. For more information, call Daniel at 659-0095 during the day or at 738-0733 in the evenings. Cross Mill Pentecostal Holiness Church has a soaking prayer and intercession meeting every Friday at 8 p.m. For information, call the Rev. Doug Beane-Hall at 442-6216. Vision Baptist Church, at 1841 Fairview Road, Marion, is offering Extreme Teens (Club 411) on Wednesdays at 7 p.m. and Sundays at 10 a.m. Victorious Couples meet on Sundays at 10 a.m. Additional childrens and adult programs are also available. King Mohammed VI, Commander of the Faithful, accompanied by Crown Prince Moulay El Hassan, Prince Moulay Rachid and Prince Moulay Ismail, chaired, on Wednesday at the Royal Palace in Casablanca, the 4th religious lecture of the holy month of Ramadan. This lecture was delivered by the Dean of Jordans Sharia School, Abderrahmane Ibrahim Zaid Al Kilani, on the topic the finalities of the Holy Quran and the construction of common and unifying human values. At the beginning of the talk, the speaker pointed out that one of the great purposes of the Holy Quran is to bring the peoples of the earth closer together and to strengthen cooperation among them, regardless of their races, colors or religions, and to build human convergence points that constitute bridges in cooperation among humankind. He explained that the thirteenth verse of Surah al-Hujurat, the subject of this talk, is a kind of constitutional rule for achieving brotherhood among people, in that it shows the way to the achievement of brotherhood and mutual knowledge, considering that ignorance is the source of denial, contempt and suspicion and that the concept of mutual knowledge refers to the recognition of the existence of the other. This example sums up the effort of all mankind in the current era to establish a number of systems related to human rights. The dean of the Sharia faculty at the University of Jordan considered that the content of the verse can only be invoked through its implementation on the ground, as it is one of the prescriptions that Muslims have towards themselves and other peoples. The speaker dwelt at this point on the Quranic civilizational vision which is based on understanding and cooperation between human societies for the welfare of all, through the rejection of any form of racial discrimination, pointing out that this vision invites people to transcend rivalries and confrontations, and encourages them to come closer and respect the similarities between nations at the level of thought and creativity. Professor Al-Kilani insisted that the world today urgently needs to activate this Quranic discourse as an entry point for the mutual knowledge of peoples, nations and civilizations, and for the dissemination of the values of forgiveness and tolerance instead of belligerent behaviors, especially in the context of the hateful discourses that fuel many human groupings. He mentioned the contribution of the scholars of the Ummah in this field, especially their contribution to the five goals agreed upon by all human societies, which are: religion, soul, offspring, spirit and money. These great Quranic goals, he said, are capable of integrating the countless contemporary methods of building convergent goals, such as cooperation in the fight against poverty, hunger and unemployment, the fight against diseases and the preservation of the environment. In addition to the cooperation in these vital areas strongly encouraged by the Holy Quran, the other area to which the Holy Quran has given the greatest care is that of shared human values. The dean of the Sharia faculty at the University of Jordan noted that despite the fundamental differences between the ethical theory of the Holy Quran and the ethical theory of the materialistic philosophies and positivist doctrines, there is a wide space of sharing and human rapprochement at the level of many values and virtues, knowing that the natural instinct with which God created man is an essential source of developing moral values. The triumph of moral values constitutes a victory for Islam and would result in the realization of the purposes enshrined in the Holy Quran and the objectives that the message of Islam and the revealed books carry. At the end of the lecture, King Mohammed VI was greeted by Malian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohamed Kone; Malian Minister of Religious Affairs, Professors Qotb Sanou; Secretary General of the Academy of Islamic Fiqh of Guinea; former professor of law at the University of Richmond in the United States Aziza Yahya Mohamed Taoufiq al-Hibri; member of the Supreme Council of Sharia in Lebanon Mazhar Mohammed al-Hamoui; as well as by heads of the section of the Mohammed VI Foundation of African Ulema in Burkina Faso, Gabon, Togo, Guinea Bissau, Djibouti, and Nigeria. The Sovereign was also greeted by Sheikh Muhammad Al-Hafiz Al-Nahaoui, head of the Islamic cultural gathering in Mauritania and West Africa. About 36,000 hectares of various crops were lost in 2022 in Mozambique due to rains and floods, the Mozambican President announced on Wednesday during the launch of the 2023 agricultural marketing campaign. In the past period, in 2022, excessive rains, increased flows of major rivers and the passage of storms and cyclones Ana and Gombe affected 81 districts nationwide, said Filipe Nyusi. The Mozambican head of state launched the 2023 agricultural marketing campaign in the district of Chiuta, Tete province, in central Mozambique. According to Nyusi, the 2021/2022 rainy season affected about 184,000 hectares of crops and conditioned the situation of about 117,000 producers. According to the Mozambican President, the province of Nampula, in the north of the country, was the largest contributor to the 2022 agricultural marketing, with over five million tons, followed by the province of Zambezia, in the center, with over three million tons. In the 2021/2022 rainy season, between October and April, at least 134 people died and more than 760,000 were affected by natural disasters in Mozambique, according to data from the National Institute for Disaster Risk Management and Reduction (INGD). Between October and April, Mozambique is cyclically hit by floods, a phenomenon justified by its geographical location, subject to the passage of storms and, at the same time, downstream of most hydrographic basins of southern Africa. The Mozambican government has withdrawn the requirement for a vaccination certificate and a negative Covid-19 test from foreigners wishing to enter the country, as part of easing the restrictions imposed by the pandemic and boosting tourism. The spokesman for the Council of Ministers of Mozambique, Filimao Suaze, quoted on Wednesday by daily newspaper Noticias, said that the rapid test for Covid-19 at the entrance into the country will also no longer be required for travellers who do not present the vaccination certificate. The isolation imposed on people who test positive for Covid-19 will also be lifted, Suaze added. People who enter the country with symptoms of Covid-19 are also no longer required to be tested. The easing of restrictions imposed by the pandemic is an international trend and aims to boost tourism, said the spokesman for the Mozambican Council of Ministers. The International Finance Corporation has agreed to provide Moroccos state-owned OCP phosphate Group a 100 million green loan for building four solar plants to reduce the companys carbon footprint and help green its fertilizer production. The agreement was announced Wednesday during the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington D.C. The solar plants will be built in the mining towns of Benguerir and Khouribga, home to Moroccos largest phosphate reserves. The plants will have a combined capacity of 202-Megawatt peak (MWp) and will supply clean energy directly to OCPs operations. The project is part of OCPs $13 billion Green Investment Program, which aims to increase its green fertilizer production and transition its operations to green energy by 2030 and allow OCP to replace its electricity consumption with green energy, avoiding about 285,000 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) annually. The solar power plants will provide a cost-effective source of energy, contributing to OCP Groups overall competitiveness by increasing production of low-carbon fertilizers. Investing in reliable and competitive renewable energy is a key pillar of OCPs investment plan towards our ambitious targets for sustainable green fertilizers, said OCP Group Chairman Mostafa Terrab. For his part, IFC Managing Director Makhtar Diop said: We are proud to support OCPs efforts to reduce emissions and green fertilizer production in Africa. 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 Choosing a checkout line in a supermarket might seem like a no-brainer, but it can actually involve a complex series of cerebral computations. Maybe you count the number of shoppers in each line and pick the shortest, or estimate the number of items on each conveyor belt. Perhaps you quickly weigh up both shoppers and items and maybe even the apparent speed of the cashier... In fact, there are a multiplicity of strategies for solving this problem. So how does the brain know how to make decisions in situations like this where there are multiple possible strategies to choose from? A study published today (April 13) in the journal Nature Neuroscience provides a surprising answer to this question by showing that rather than committing to a single strategy, the brain can compute multiple alternative decision strategies simultaneously. The study, led by Fanny Cazettes and senior authors Zachary Mainen and Alfonso Renart, at the Champalimaud Foundation in Lisbon, Portugal, performed a specially designed experiment that used a kind of "virtual reality" setup for mice, in which the animals were tasked with searching for water in a virtual world. Specifically, the authors' designed a "virtual mouse world" containing the kind of foraging problem that animal brains have evolved to be good at, allowing them to study the complex decision strategies used by mice. Any given location in the virtual world could provide water unreliably and, at some point, would "dry up" and cease giving water altogether. The mice had to decide when to leave a given location and move to another in search of more water. To solve the task optimally, the best strategy would be for the mice to learn to count the number of consecutive missed attempts to get water at a given site, and to switch locations when the number of consecutive misses was sufficiently large. But there were multiple alternative strategies for processing the series of successful and unsuccessful tries, including, for instance, calculating the difference between the number of successful and unsuccessful attempts. Each strategy combines misses and successful tries across time in a particular way, and thus has a signature time coursewhich is called the "decision variable"that can be matched against the time course of brain activity patterns. The researchers recorded activity from large ensembles of individual brain cells in a part of the brain known as the premotor cortex while the mice performed the task. They then looked for combinations of the temporal profiles of activity of recorded premotor neurons which resembled the decision variables associated with the different strategies. To the authors' surprise, data showed that, while each mouse focused on their own strategy, their brains did not. Fanny Cazettes explains, "We found that, while activity in the premotor cortex reflected the computation that the mouse was actually using, it also reflected alternative decision variables useful for the same task, and even decision variables useful for other tasks." Zach Mainen, one of the study's senior authors, adds that, "Contrary to our experience in checkout lines, we found that the brain can actually perform several different counting strategies at the same time, which is reminiscent of the concept of superposition in quantum mechanics." Although there is still much to be explored in this area, this study provides an important foundation for future research, "Our findings suggest the need for new ways of thinking about the core processes involved in decision-making and action selection. One of our next steps will be to investigate how the brain selects between different decision variables and how these decisions are translated into action," says Fanny Cazettes. What could be the usefulness of representing both used and unused strategies simultaneously? "This arrangement might facilitate cognitive flexibility and learning, because changing strategies only requires attending to the right precomputed decision variable, rather than having to construct it from scratch," argues Alfonso Renart, the other senior author. "These findings have important implications for our understanding of how the brain processes and selects decision variables in complex environments. There could be implications for the development of more flexible and adaptable machine learning systems, which might be particularly useful in situations where there is a high degree of uncertainty or complexity," concludes Zach Mainen. More information: Fanny Cazettes, A reservoir of foraging decision variables in the mouse brain, Nature Neuroscience (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01305-8. www.nature.com/articles/s41593-023-01305-8 Journal information: Nature Neuroscience Provided by Champalimaud Centre for the Unknown 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 Researchers have created the largest atlas of post-zygotic genome mutations in healthy human tissue ever assembleda scientific advancement that could unlock new avenues for diagnosing and treating genetic disease. It is the largest ever in terms of the combined number of tissues and number of donors sampled. The study, led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, published in the journal Science. The development points the way toward understanding the genetic underpinnings of disease associated with cancer as well as innumerable conditions caused by cellular malfunction, including aging. The atlas could be useful in diagnosing medical conditions, and potentially useful in reversing genetic mutations that cause disease. "If you're talking about genetic changes being the basis of disease, there are a wide variety of technologies now that allow us to make changes to the genome," said senior author Don Conrad, Ph.D., associate professor in the OHSU School of Medicine who directs the Division of Genetics at the Oregon National Primate Research Center. "It may be possible to change those mutations we've acquired due to bad luck or bad habits, and change them back to what they were before." Window into cell mutations Researchers generated the atlas using 54 tissue and cell types compiled after death from 948 individuals who donated their bodies for the National Institute of Health's Genotype-Tissue Expression Program. Every person begins as a single cell at the moment of conception, carrying a DNA blueprint within the nucleus of that first fertilized cell. Using those original DNA instructions, the cell divides and replicates into vast groups of cells that form distinct tissues carrying out unique functions in the body. At any one time, the average person is comprised of about 30 trillion cells; in the course of a lifetime, that same person produces quadrillions of cells. Over time, an individual cell is damaged again and again. In some cases, they repair themselves thousands of times a day. "Every once in a while, the cell makes a mistake during DNA repair, or misses oneand that's a change that gets propagated on," Conrad said. "Our work gives us a window to the extent that those changes occur in different organs and tissues, and during different periods of our lives." This situation, known as somatic mosaicism, is a result of cells mutating from the original DNA blueprint. Building the atlas Until now, genetic research investigating mutations that occur post-zygotically, or after fertilization, has generally been conducted in biopsies of cancerous tissue such as skin melanomas and lung tumors, or in easily accessible tissues such as blood. The new atlas opens a field of inquiry into mutations that occur over the course of a lifetime. "Going from a single cell to a child is a remarkable process," said lead author Nicole Rockweiler, Ph.D., previously part of Conrad's lab at OHSU and Washington University in St. Louis, and now a postdoctoral associate at the Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University. "When you add on layers of mutations happening at such an important part of our lives, it's amazing that we can come out pretty well at the end of our gestation." To generate the new atlas, researchers developed a computational method using bulk RNA sequencing to characterize the mutations in a massive catalog of tissue samples throughout the body. They were able to trace the point at which mutations occurred by mapping them to a "developmental tree," indexing them across tissues and among many people. They found many mutations arose systematically and somewhat predictably as people age, although roughly 10% of mutations appeared to be the result of something intrinsic to an individual, be it genes or environment. They found most detectable mutations occurred later in life, although many occurred before birth. "We learned that some tissues, like the esophagus and liver, acquire a lot of mutations whereas other tissues like the brain, acquire fewer mutations," Rockweiler writes in a post on the Conrad Lab website describing the research. "This made sense to us because the esophagus and liver are exposed to many environmental toxins; here the cells must transmit the message in a noisy environment. A low number of mutations in the brain also makes sense because the brain is primarily composed of cells that don't replicate." More information: Nicole B. Rockweiler et al, The origins and functional effects of postzygotic mutations throughout the human lifespan, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.abn7113. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.abn7113 Journal information: Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Researchers at the University of Northern Colorado teamed up with folks at Mile High Labs in Colorado to interrogate the THC potency claims of cannabis retailers. In the study "Uncomfortably high: Testing reveals inflated THC potency on retail Cannabis labels" published in PLOS ONE, researchers found that labeling did not match the verification tests. All cannabis test samples were purchased from licensed Colorado dispensaries. Testing was performed by Mile High Labs, which, as the name implies, is located near Denver, Colorado, a city nicknamed Mile High City because it sits one mile above sea level and also because the lab refines cannabis products. Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography, Mile High Lab techs tested 23 samples (12 grams per sample) representing 12 strains purchased from 10 Colorado dispensaries. Strains were chosen to represent a diversity of reported THC % by dry weight from 12.8% to 33.0%. Label information was recorded as it was printed on the packaging. Some labels reported a range of THC, and some reported a single number though it was unclear to researchers if the single values reported were an average of multiple tests or the result of a single test. The average observed THC potency was 23.1% lower than the lowest label reported values and 35.6% lower than the highest label reported values. Overall, ~70% of the samples were more than 15% lower than the THC potency numbers reported on the label, with three samples having only half of the reported maximum THC potency. 13 of 23 tested samples had observed values that were more than 30% lower than the lowest reported value. Mean THC % by dry weight for observed (light blue) and reported values (dark blue). Credit: PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282396 While the research was not set up to explain the THC potency discrepancies, only to detect them, they did rule out a few possibilities. The sample testing used by the dispensaries could be different. The testing instrumentation used by Mile High Labs is the most common method used in Colorado, with all ten current testing labs advertising High-Performance Liquid Chromatography as the method used. So all of the samples, if tested by a different methodology, would need to be sent out of the area, a practice that could be seen as "lab shopping" to obtain higher THC potency results. Researchers considered the possibility of THC degradation. According to previous research, when stored at room temperature, THC potency decreases by ~17% after one year and up to~ 41% after four years. When THC degrades this way, it is converted to cannabinol (CBN) which was not observed in sizeable enough quantities in the study, indicating the lower potency values were not due to age or poor storage conditions. The authors also mention the possibility of an economic incentive related to THC labeling, as consumers are willing to pay a premium for higher-potency cannabis. This suggests a motive at least for intentionally inflated THC potency by only sending the highest potency samples for testing, lab shopping for more favorable analysis, or directly presenting erroneous data. The researchers conclude that it is urgent steps are taken to increase the accuracy of cannabis labeling as a lack of accurate potency reporting could have impacts on medical patients controlling dosage. Additionally, recreational consumers should be getting what they pay for. As the legal cannabis market continues to grow, it is essential that the industry moves toward selling products with more accurate labeling or risk losing trust in the industry as a whole. More information: Anna L. Schwabe et al, Uncomfortably high: Testing reveals inflated THC potency on retail Cannabis labels, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0282396 Journal information: PLoS ONE 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Knowing whether a tumor might grow or spread to other parts of a patient's body could be key to survivaland now scientists are one step closer to unlocking the ability to predict just that. In a series of seven papers published today (Wednesday, April 12) in Nature and Nature Medicine, researchers based at the Francis Crick Institute and University College London (UCL) describe how changes to cancer cells' DNA are enabling them to anticipate how those cells will behave in the future. This includes where and when cancer will spread to other parts of the body in a process known as metastasis, which is responsible for most cancer deaths worldwide. The findings could one day allow doctors to use a blood test to predict how a patient's cancer may grow and spread, enabling them to track it and rapidly adapt treatment in real-time. It also offers a possible route through which clinicians could analyze the disease's risk of returning following surgery. While the research was carried out on patients with lung cancer, the scientists say their findings could also be applied to other cancer types, such as skin cancer or kidney cancer. These studies are the culmination of 9 years of research from Cancer Research UK's 14 million TRACERx studythe first long-term study of how lung cancer evolves. TRACERx is a nation-wide research effort, involving more than 800 patients in clinical trials and a community of 250 investigators who based at 13 hospital sites across the U.K. Lead researcher based at the Francis Crick Institute in London, UCL and Cancer Research UK's Chief Clinician, Professor Charles Swanton, said, "TRACERx recognizes that cancer is not static and the way we treat patients shouldn't be either. "What makes the TRACERx project particularly powerful is that it treats tumors as ever-changing 'ecosystems' made up of diverse cancer cell populations. "By looking at the tumor in its entirety, we can observe how these cell populations interact and even compete with one another, which is helping us to glean valuable insights into the likelihood that a tumor will return and when this might happen. We can also observe how the tumor is likely to evolve over time, spread and respond to treatment, offering hope to millions of patients in the future." In these seven studies, researchers at the Crick and UCL followed 421 of the 842 TRACERx participants from when they were diagnosed to monitor how their tumors changed over time. The patients had non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), the most common type of lung cancer. Among the major findings in the seven papers, the researchers found that: Tumors can be made up of many different populations of cancer cells which carry sets of genes that are constantly changing. The more diverse these tumors are, the more likely the patient's cancer will return within one year of treatment. Some patterns of DNA changes when observed in a patient's tumor indicate what their cancer might do next. These patterns could indicate to doctors which parts of a tumor might grow and spread to other parts of the body in the future. Blood tests could be used to monitor these changes to tumor DNA in real time, helping doctors pick up on early signs that cancer is returning or not responding to treatment. Constant changes to cells allow tumors to thrive Tumors are made up of different "populations" of cancer cells which all carry different genetic mutations. The more diverse these mutations are, the more that tumors can evolve and gain resistance to treatments. The researchers found that specific patterns of genetic mutations in cell populations enable the cancer to return in a patient quickerwithin one year of surgery. Credit: Phospho Biomedical Animation These patterns of mutations also indicate whether a tumor is more likely to spread to other areas of the body beyond the lungs and chest. Armed with this information, doctors could one day predict if someone with early-stage cancer, who should be treated successfully with surgery, may end up seeing their cancer return. In another discovery, researchers found that the genetic diversity of cell populations within a tumor not only stems from genetic changes, but also from the way that genes are expressed. Changes in gene expression can affect important aspects of cancer biology, including whether a tumor will return after surgery. In this instance, the researchers suggest that doctors treating lung cancer patients could intervene early by identifying those whose cancer is most at risk of returning after surgery and following up with further treatment, to help prevent the cancer from coming back. Identifying what leads cancer to spread The researchers also looked more closely at how lung cancer spread in the TRACERx participants. They identified which cells in a tumor were most likely to be responsible for a cancer spreading (metastasis) in the future because these cells were more likely to harbor certain changes in their genes. These indicate that a cell has a higher chance of leaving the tumor and moving to other parts of the body, where it then grows into a new tumor. Metastasis is responsible for the majority of cancer deaths, so understanding which parts of the tumor are responsible for triggering this process could allow researchers to target treatments specifically to prevent cancer from spreading. Transforming how we track people's cancers The TRACERx scientists also investigated whether they could track changes in the tumor and features of its genetic diversity without the need for surgery or biopsies, a type of invasive medical procedure that involves taking a small sample of tissue and examining it in a lab. By analyzing DNA released into the bloodstream from tumor cells, known as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA), they found that the presence of ctDNA in the blood before or after surgery suggested that the patient's cancer was highly likely to return in the future. The presence of tumor DNA in the blood isn't the only indicator that cancer might spread or come back. Researchers found that microscopic patterns created by the arrangement of tumor cells are linked with the risk of cancer returning. Executive director of research at Cancer Research UK, Dr. Iain Foulkes, said, "A blood test that reads ctDNA could let doctors track someone's cancer in real time, allowing them to personalize treatments to that patient. "Currently, the best option we have to monitor a patient's tumor is to extract tissue either through a biopsy or during surgery. Both are invasive and time-consuming options which give us a limited snapshot of how that tumor is behaving at a given point in time. "Analysis of ctDNA would give us a fuller picture of how the tumor is changing over the course of the patient's disease using minimally invasive blood tests. It would allow doctors to treat people more proactively, taking swift action to change a treatment plan that's not working." TRACERx has already entered its next phase, known as TRACERx EVO, which will receive just under 15 million in additional funding over the next seven years to further our understanding of tumor evolution and use that knowledge to change how patients with cancer are treated. 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: Initiation and progression of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) forms from the exocrine tissue of the pancreas. Acinar and ductal cells have both shown the potential to serve as cells of origin for PDAC upon acquisition of oncogenic mutations and/or loss of tumor-suppressor function. Activating mutations in the oncogene KRAS are found in the two most commonly observed PDAC precursor lesions: pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanINs) and cystic lesions termed intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs). In addition to KRAS mutations, activating mutations in the gene encoding for the G-protein alpha subunit Gs (GNAS) and loss of function of the tumor-suppressor gene RING-type E3 ubiquitin ligase (RNF43) are associated with IPMNs. As these precursor lesions progress from low grade to high grade lesions, loss of the tumor-suppressor CDKN2A or components of the SWI/SNF chromatin-remodeling complexes are observed. Further deletion or inactivating mutations of tumor-suppressor genes SMAD4 or TP53 accompany the advancement of precursor lesions to PDAC. PDAC has also been classified into several RNA-based transcriptomic subtypes. Classic and basal-like have emerged as two consensus groups, with a third hybrid capturing those with overlapping features. Credit: Cell (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.014 Scientists from the University of California, Irvine, the University of Michigan and the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center have made a significant contribution to the field of pancreatic cancer research. Their new study presents several crucial themes in the biology of pancreatic cancer that can serve as hallmarks for pancreatic cancer therapy. These themes include genomic alterations, metabolism, the tumor microenvironment, immunotherapy and innovative clinical trial design. The study appears in the journal Cell. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, which represents the vast majority of pancreatic cancers, is one of the most challenging and fatal forms of cancer. Despite the substantial progress made in understanding the biology of PDAC over the past few decades, clinical care for most patients has not seen a major breakthrough. However, the authors believe that combined progress in these areas they have defined as hallmarks will prove transformative to the treatment of this disease. According to Christopher Halbrook, assistant professor of molecular biology & biochemistry at UCI and lead author, "Initial efforts to target PDAC vastly oversimplified the complexity of the disease. It has taken several decades of hard work during which we have been aided by technological breakthroughs in techniques to understand intricacies of pancreatic tumors to finally provide us with a roadmap for the development of better treatments for our patients." The authors emphasize the importance of approaching the disease from multiple angles, encompassing as many of the hallmarks as possible for the highest chance of success. Their review summarizes the consensus models that have emerged underpinning the genetic development and path-wise progression of pancreatic tumorigenesis. It further highlights several exciting examples of ongoing research, including the development of investigational compounds and clinically deployed approaches to target the genetic and immunological features of PDAC, cancer metabolism and chemoresistance. The authors also discuss how advances in single-cell analysis and high-dimensional spatial profiling techniques have revealed the diversity of cell populations dynamically interacting within pancreatic tumors and discuss how to begin disrupting these networks to improve response to treatment. These approaches will pair with exciting avenues of new therapeutic development, such as cancer vaccines and antibody-drug conjugates, which hold enormous potential for the future of pancreatic cancer therapy. The authors also express their optimism about the future of pancreatic cancer research and treatment. "The previous 10 years has already seen the 5-year survival rate of PDAC double after remaining stagnant for decades prior. We are confident that the collective efforts of the scientific community will continue this trend to transform PDAC from a recalcitrant disease to a manageable disease," said Halbrook. The authors hope that their findings will inspire further research and ultimately lead to improved treatments and outcomes for pancreatic cancer patients. The work involved collaboration with Costas Lyssiotis and Marina Pasca di Magliano from the University of Michigan, and Anirban Maitra from the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. More information: Christopher J. Halbrook et al, Pancreatic cancer: Advances and challenges, Cell (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.02.014 Journal information: Cell 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: Cynthia Goldsmith, CDC The current outbreak of a highly contagious strain of H5N1 avian influenza has been called the worst in history. By January 2023, poultry farmers in the U.S. had slaughtered almost 60 million birds infected or at risk of being infected with H5N1, with a similar number being culled in Europe while in Japan, farmers set out to kill more than 10 million chickens. It is not just poultry and wild birds that are being infected. In Peru, nearly 3,500 sea lions died from the virus. Cases have also been reported in otters, wild dogs and foxes. But this strain of H5N1 is not new. It was first identified in 1996 in farmed geese in Southern China and Hong Kong, where the following year, it jumped from birds to humans, infecting eighteen people, killing six. Since then, variants of the virus have infected more than 800 people around the world, with 240 from Southeast Asia and China, the most recent cases hailing from Anhui Province in China and Cambodia, where an 11-year-old girl died from the virus. So why are public health officials on high alert this time? Influenza expert Professor Gavin Smith, director of the Emerging Infectious Diseases Program at Duke-NUS shares his insights. H5N1 has been circulating for more than 20 years and there have been relatively few cases in humans. Why are public health officials keeping a close eye on this virus? Smith: H5N1 has a very high fatality rate in humans, so it has consistently been considered a top pandemic threat. Since 1996, H5N1 has been commonly found in poultry across Asia. Because of live-bird marketswhere people can buy a chicken or duck and have it freshly slaughteredthere is a huge exposure of people, both shoppers and workers, to the virus. This has resulted in sporadic infections, and some limited human to human transmission in the past. So there is concern that given enough chances the virus could adapt to efficient spread in humans. The World Health Organization has said the risk to humans of this virus is low, but they are now reassessing. What's changed? Smith: In the last few years, H5 viruses (not just H5N1 but other N subtypes) had become more widely spread in wild birds and poultry across the world. The virus was initially restricted to Asia, then found its way to Europe and Africa before finally crossing to North America, first in 2014, which quickly died out by 2015, and then again in 2022. Subsequently H5N1 viruses have been detected in South America. This wider geographic spread has increased the exposure of humans and other mammal species, such as seals, to H5N1 infection. This naturally increases the chances that the virus could adapt to mammals and potentially humans. While there is no evidence for this at the moment, it is important that the situation is closely monitored. What do we know about the recent cases in Cambodia? Is there any evidence that the virus is passing between people? Smith: There were only two confirmed cases in Cambodia, the daughter and father. There is no evidence that there was transmission between the pair, it could also have been from two independent infections from poultry. Are you concerned that the virus may be evolving to spread more easily among humans? Smith: At this stage, no. There is no evidence for adaptation to efficient human transmission. But repeated infection of mammal species, including humans, always increases that risk. Some experts say that the strains that have been spreading since 2020 may be causing less lethal illnesses in people. Is that true, and if so, what would that mean in terms of assessing the pandemic risk of this virus? Smith: This is very hard to assess, and I am personally not convinced either way. We are not even sure of the extent of human infection in many countries because surveillance is either not done or is insufficient. Regardless, even if the virus was less deadly than in the past, it would still cause a pandemic similar in severity to SARS-CoV-2. The WHO has called for wider production of H5N1 flu vaccines. What other steps should countries be taking to prevent a possible outbreak? Smith: We need to develop smarter ways of controlling the virus in animals, primarily through vaccination. Vaccination in poultry won't prevent infection by H5N1 but it does reduce the overall amount of virus in the poultry population, which leads to less spillover into humans. This approach has been successfully used in many countries to prevent human infection. Because people mainly get infected from poultry, we should concentrate on reducing the amount of virus in live-bird markets and farms. For instances when a spillover event spirals into a sustained outbreak, what can we do to have vaccines ready fast enough to avoid costly lockdowns?, Smith: The development and testing of universal influenza A vaccinesthat would protect against most known influenza subtypes (the H and N combinations)has been ongoing for many years. Since the COVID-19 pandemic and the success of mRNA vaccines, work has also started on mRNA vaccines that would protect against both influenza A and B. If these efforts are successful, we would be in a position to rapidly roll out vaccination in the event of an influenza pandemic. The FDA has just approved the first OTC home-based flu test, could that offer us an edge in surveillance of suspected human cases? Smith: Because this test kit does not distinguish between types of influenza A viruses, it would not be of much use. Obviously, in a world still coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, people are going to be very anxious about what might be next. Overall, how worried do you think people should be about this virus? Smith: We have been studying these viruses for more than 25 years, and we have vaccines for birds available and human vaccines have been tested. There is also a good track record of influenza vaccines being used in people and we also have influenza specific anti-viral medicines. So overall, we are in a better position than when SARS-CoV-2 emerged. COVID-19 has also left us better prepared. We are more vigilant and already taking steps to prepare for a possible pandemic. 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 A malaria vaccine developed by Britain's Oxford University is to be used in Ghana, the first time it has received regulatory clearance anywhere in the world. "The vaccine has been approved for use in children aged 5-36 months, the age group at highest risk of death from malaria," the university said in a statement. "It is hoped that this first crucial step will enable the vaccine to help Ghanaian and African children to effectively combat malaria," it added. Professor Adrian Hill, chief investigator of the R21/Matrix-M vaccine program and director of the university's Jenner Institute, said it marked the "culmination of 30 years of malaria vaccine research at Oxford with the design and provision of a high efficacy vaccine that can be supplied at adequate scale to the countries who need it most". Last September, Oxford announced that a booster dose of the new malaria vaccine maintained a high level of protection against the disease, expressing hopes that the inexpensive injection could be produced on a large scale in a matter of years. The international research team suggested the vaccine could represent a turning point in the fight against the mosquito-borne parasitic disease, which killed 627,000 peoplemostly African childrenin 2020 alone. Last year, a different vaccine produced by British pharmaceutical giant GSK became the first to be recommended for widespread use against malaria by the World Health Organization, and has now been administered to more than a million children in Africa. But research has found that the effectiveness of GSK's vaccine is around 60 percent, and significantly wanes over time even with a booster dose. Oxford's R21/Matrix-M vaccine meanwhile was found to be 77 percent effective at preventing malaria in research published last yearthe first time the WHO's roadmap goal of 75 percent had been met. 2023 AFP This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain Did the recent mpox (formerly known as monkeypox) outbreak end because of "network immunity"? That's the theory being put forward by Belgian researchers at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Copenhagen, Denmark (April 15-18). 2022 saw a global outbreak of mpox, a viral infection that had not previously been documented as having sustained person-to-person transmission outside of Africa. There were more than 85,000 cases worldwide, with men who have sex with men at highest risk. Cases rose rapidly from May 2022, before starting to decline a few months later. The reasons the outbreak waned are unclear. Researcher Dr. Christophe Van Dijck, of the Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium, says, "The rapid rise in cases in May 2022 was likely caused by efficient viral transmission during sexual contact between individuals with high partner turnover in a dense and geographically extended sexual network. "Insufficient knowledge of the disease as well as asymptomatic and pre-symptomatic transmission may have enhanced disease spreading. " The subsequent decline in the epidemic after July 2022 remains insufficiently explained. Possible explanations include improved awareness and behavioral change in the population at risk and acquisition of vaccination- or infection-induced immunity. "However, in most countries including Belgium, the decline in mpox cases had already started before a substantial proportion of the population at risk had been vaccinated." Thus, Dr. Van Dijck and colleagues hypothesized that the epidemic waned due to a change in the behavior of the population at risk. To find out more, they used two sets of data collected at the Institute of Tropical Medicine in 2022. All participants provided informed consent. The first set of data was from a questionnaire filled in at diagnosis by individuals with mpox. Among the 155 individuals with mpox, 95.5% were gay and bisexual men who have sex with men (GBMSM) and the median number of sexual partners in the previous three weeks was two. Individuals diagnosed with mpox at the beginning of the epidemic reported more partners than those later in the epidemic (decline of 0.86 partners per week). The second set of data was from a questionnaire filled in by men who were attending a clinic at the Institute for pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP, a drug that reduces the risk of getting HIV). For the purposes of the analysis the PrEP users were divided into two groups, core PrEP-users (those with a history of syphilis infection) and non-core PrEP-users (no history of syphilis). A history of syphilis was used as a proxy for more risky sexual behavior in the past: a person who had syphilis is probably more centrally located in the sexual network than someone who never had syphilis. Among 1,322 PrEP-users, 99.6% were GBMSM, of whom 55.9% visited the clinic repeatedly in 2022. At first visit, the median number of sexual partners in the previous three months was five. Core-group PrEP-users reported consistently more partners than non-core-group PrEP-users. The number of partners in both the core and non-core-groups increased throughout 2022. Dr. Van Dijck says, "The decline in number of partners reported by individuals diagnosed with mpox towards the end of the epidemic suggests a change in behavior of the population at risk. However, this was not corroborated by data from the PrEP population, where the overall number of sexual partners increased over time. "Therefore, we propose an alternative hypothesis: core members of the sexual network were infected with mpox first, peripheral members later. Infection-induced immunity of the individuals at the core of the sexual network generated 'network immunity' which halted the epidemic. "We are currently working on serological and modeling studies to establish whether this hypothesis is true. "In the meantime, we need to be aware that future mpox outbreaks may occur if the 'network immunity' is disturbed, for example by waning immunity of infected or vaccinated persons or when previously uninfected, peripheral members of the sexual network become more sexually active." Provided by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Responsible for over 5 million infections and 100,000 deaths every year, influenza remains one of the most challenging public health issues for populations globally, particularly First Nations communities. New research from the Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity (Doherty Institute) has found that First Nations populations around the world are significantly more likely to be hospitalized and die from influenza compared to non-Indigenous populations. Researchers from the Doherty Institute analyzed 36 studies that examined influenza hospitalizations and deaths for First Nations and non-First Nations populations globally, finding that hospitalization and mortality rates were consistently higher in First Nations communities than corresponding benchmark populations. In Canada, New Zealand and Australia, First Nations people were over five times more likely to be hospitalized with the flu than the benchmark population. The study's authors note that data on the rates of severe flu in First Nations populations from low and middle income countries was scarce. Senior author of the study and Epidemiologist at the Doherty Institute, Royal Melbourne Hospital's Dr. Katherine Gibney said that more needs to be done to determine the disease burden among First Nations populations in Australia and around the world. "It is critical that governments ensure that people who have the flu have equitable access to health care and that vaccination rates are as high as possible," Dr. Gibney said. "When we are planning for seasonal flu, but especially pandemic flu, we need to have specific and targeted plans for First Nations people that are generated by First Nations people. "'Australia did a fantastic job during COVID of having First Nations-led plans that worked well. And if that can be applied to the flu, it would be incredibly valuable." Dr. Gibney added that surveillance of respiratory virus information is vital for management of the disease. "When we get information about flu hospitalizations and deaths, we need to capture that individual's First Nations status to determine whether the gap we have described is closing over time, and to continue to advocate for resources to reduce the disease burden in First Nations populations." Co-author of the study, Monash University's Dr. Juliana Betts said the study also shows the need for systemic and political reform. "Our research emphasizes the widespread and ongoing impacts of colonization on the health outcomes of First Nations communities," Dr. Betts said. "Solutions to these health gaps largely sit outside of the health sector, in policies that address the many social determinants of health including poverty, housing, education and racism." More information: Juliana M. Betts et al, Influenza-associated hospitalisation and mortality rates among global Indigenous populations; a systematic review and meta-analysis, PLOS Global Public Health (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001294 Provided by The Peter Doherty Institute for Infection and Immunity 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: Comparison of different types of confidence bands in the colon cancer dataset. Solid black line is the estimate, and the colored lines represent the different confidence band methods. Credit: British Journal of Cancer (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01920-5 Predictions are becoming more and more a part of our lives, and they are becoming increasingly useful in medical science as the science evolves. Increased understanding of disease and its treatments allows us to use predictions based on predictive biomarker signatures to optimize treatment outcomes for increasingly specific subject groups. Developing prediction-driven decision rules in the form of pooled testing methods for HIV treatment failure, identifying randomized controlled trial (RCT) designs capable of rigorously evaluating these prediction-driven decision rules, and studying survival analysis methods capable of analyzing the data from such RCTs, whether proportional hazards holds or not, are the subjects of a new dissertation by Adam Brand, Ph.D. student at the Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics. His studies include five projects (three published works and two manuscripts) that at first glance may seem disjointed, but they followed the natural thought process of always asking the question "What next?" In the first project, Adam developed novel prediction-based decisions rules for treatment management of HIV patients. In the second project he identified the proper RCT design to test the effectiveness of their prediction-driven decision rules. In projects 3-5 he studied ways of analyzing the survival data that would be the outcome of their prediction-driven RCT. Adam developed new implementations for R of RMST-based statistical inference methods and compared those methods to the benchmark methods of testing for differences in survival between two groups in realistic group sequential RCT settings. What are the most important conclusions in your thesis? "Throughout my work, we discovered what we viewed as holes or inaccuracies in the current research, and we thought it important to fill those holes and correct those inaccuracies. I feel that we have developed promising prediction-driven decision rules for HIV treatment management, and that we have developed a deep understanding on how to rigorously test those rules, hoping we contributed to statistical knowledge and understanding along the way." What do you think should be done moving forward? "I would like to see a confirmatory randomized trial conducted in the resource-limited regions for which these pooled testing methods are intended. If two such trials show increased efficiency of these pooled testing methods without harming the safety of the patients, the methods should be implemented, hopefully allowing more HIV infected patients to receive effective, regular testing for HIV treatment." More information: Adam Brand et al, Predictiondriven pooled testing methods: Application to HIV treatment monitoring in Rakai, Uganda, Statistics in Medicine (2021). DOI: 10.1002/sim.9022 Adam Brand et al, Confirmatory prediction-driven RCTs in comparative effectiveness settings for cancer treatment, British Journal of Cancer (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41416-023-02144-x Michael C. Sachs et al, Confidence bands in survival analysis, British Journal of Cancer (2022). DOI: 10.1038/s41416-022-01920-5 Brand A, Sachs MC, Gabriel EE. Estimating differences in restricted mean survival time in R with two new implementations. [Manuscript] Brand A, Sachs MC, Gabriel EE. Evaluating restricted mean survival time methods in group sequential RCTs. [Manuscript] Journal information: British Journal of Cancer This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain A landmark study finds no difference in psychological well-being or quality of family relationships between children born by assisted reproduction (egg or sperm donation or surrogacy) and those born naturally at age 20. However, new findings suggest that telling children about their biological origins earlybefore they start schoolcan be advantageous for family relationships and healthy adjustment. The study, by University of Cambridge researchers, is the first to examine the long-term effects of different types of third-party assisted reproduction on parenting and child adjustment, as well as the first to investigate prospectively the effect of the age at which children were told that they were conceived by egg donation, sperm donation or surrogacy. The results, published today in Developmental Psychology, suggest that the absence of a biological connection between children and parents in assisted-reproduction families does not interfere with the development of positive relationships between them or psychological adjustment in adulthood. These findings are consistent with previous assessments at ages one, two, three, seven, ten and 14. The findings overturn previous widely held assumptions that children born by third-party assisted reproduction are at a disadvantage when it comes to well-being and family relationships because they lack a biological connection to their parents. "Despite people's concerns, families with children born through third-party assisted reproductionwhether that be an egg donor, sperm donor or a surrogateare doing well right up to adulthood," said Susan Golombok, Professor Emerita of Family Research and former Director of the Centre for Family Research, University of Cambridge, who led the study. However, they found that mothers who began to tell their children about their biological origins in their preschool years had more positive relationships with them, as assessed by interviews at age 20, and the mothers showed lower levels of anxiety and depression. Most of the parents who had disclosed did so by age four, and found that the children took the news well. This suggests that being open with children about their origins when they are young is advantageous. In addition, in the final stage of this 20-year study, mothers who had disclosed their child's origins by the time the children were age 7 obtained slightly more positive scores on questionnaire measures of quality of family relationships, parental acceptance (mother's feelings towards young adult), and family communication. For example, only 7% of mothers who had disclosed by age 7 reported problems in family relationships, compared with 22% of those who disclosed after age 7. The young adults who had been told about their origins before age 7 obtained slightly more positive scores on questionnaire measures of parental acceptance (young adult's perception of mother's feelings towards them), communication (the extent to which they felt listened to, knew what was happening in their family and received honest answers to questions), and psychological well-being. They were also less likely to report problems on the family relationships questionnaire. Whereas 50% of young adults told after age 7 reported such problems, this was true of only 12.5% of those told before age 7. "There does seem to be a positive effect of being open with children when they're youngbefore they go to schoolabout their conception. It's something that's been shown by studies of adoptive families too," said Golombok. Researchers from the University of Cambridge followed 65 UK families with children born by assisted reproduction22 by surrogacy, 17 by egg donation and 26 by sperm donationfrom infancy through to early adulthood (20 years old). They compared these families with 52 UK unassisted conception families over the same period. "The assisted reproduction families were functioning well, but where we did see differences, these were slightly more positive for families who had disclosed," said Golombok. Reflecting on their feelings about their biological origins, the young adults were generally unconcerned. As one young adult born through surrogacy put it, "It doesn't faze me really, people are born in all different ways and if I was born a little bit differentlythat's OK, I understand." Another young adult born through sperm donation said, "My dad's my dad, my mum's my mum, I've never really thought about how anything's different so, it's hard to put, I don't really care." Some young adults actively embraced the method of their conception as it made them feel special, "I think it was amazing, I think the whole thing is absolutely incredible. ErmI don't have anything negative to say about it at all." Researchers found that egg donation mothers reported less positive family relationships than sperm donation mothers. They suggest that this could be due to some mothers' insecurities about the absence of a genetic connection to their child. This was not reflected in the young adults' perceptions of the quality of family relationships. The team also found that young adults conceived by sperm donation reported poorer family communication than those conceived by egg donation. This could be explained by the greater secrecy around sperm donation than egg donation, sometimes driven by greater reluctance of fathers than mothers to disclose to their child that they are not their genetic parent, and a greater reluctance to talk about it once they have disclosed. In fact, researchers found that only 42% of sperm donor parents disclosed by age 20, compared to 88% of egg donation parents and 100% of surrogate parents. "Today there are so many more families created by assisted reproduction that it just seems quite ordinary," said Golombok. "But twenty years ago, when we started this study, attitudes were very different. It was thought that having a genetic link was very important and without one, relationships wouldn't work well. "What this research means is that having children in different or new ways doesn't actually interfere with how families function. Really wanting children seems to trump everythingthat's what really matters." More information: A longitudinal study of families formed through third-party assisted reproduction: Mother-child relationships and child adjustment from infancy to adulthood., Developmental Psychology (2023). DOI: 10.1037/dev0001526 V Jadva et al, 'I know it's not normal but it's normal to me, and that's all that matters': experiences of young adults conceived through egg donation, sperm donation, and surrogacy, Human Reproduction (2023). DOI: 10.1093/humrep/dead048 Journal information: Developmental Psychology , Human Reproduction 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: Developed at the University of Sao Paulo, the device permits corrections to the dosage of the analgesic to improve its efficacy. Credit: Paulo Augusto Raymundo Pereira Consumption of medical drugs such as painkillers, antibiotics, antidepressants and antivirals is rising at breakneck speed. Sales of such drugs are set to reach USD 1.8 trillion worldwide by 2026. The trend reflects the aging of the global population and more frequent outbreaks of epidemic diseases. However, because these drugs are often prescribed in standardized dosages regardless of the patient's metabolism, clinical conditions and nutritional health, they may fail to have the desired effects, and scientists and physicians are increasingly turning to personalized prescriptions. With this strategy in mind, researchers affiliated with the University of Sao Paulo's Sao Carlos Institute of Physics (IFSC-USP) and Sao Carlos Institute of Chemistry (IQSC-USP) in Brazil have developed a simple, cheap and flexible sensor that rapidly analyzes saliva to detect paracetamol, a widely used analgesic, and monitors its action in real time to permit dosage correction. An article reporting the research is published in the journal Small. After administration of a single dose in an oral pill, electrodes on the surface of the device can detect the drug quickly and non-invasively in a small sample of human saliva, thanks to oxidation of the active ingredient by the sensors to produce an electric current. "The protocol is promising for observation and correction of fluctuations in absorption of paracetamol and response to the drug," said Paulo Augusto Raymundo Pereira, last author of the article and a researcher at IFSC-USP. "An imprecise dosage can have harmful effects not only on the treatment but also on the patient's organism." Paracetamol (also known as acetaminophen) is the main non-opioid analgesic recommended for mild pain by the World Health Organization (WHO), but its excessive consumption is associated with liver and kidney problems caused by the accumulation of toxic metabolites, as well as gastrointestinal bleeding and anemia. According to the American Liver Foundation (ALF), paracetamol is the leading cause of liver failure in the United States, accounting for over 50% of all cases. Overdoses of the drug cause 458 deaths per year in the United States, according to studies of archives and databases; 100 are unintentional. The real number of health problems and hospitalizations is likely to be far higher. Specialists warn that a physician should always be consulted before taking any over-the-counter drug, above all if the patient has a history of liver or kidney disease, and the recommended dosage should always be followed. "In addition, our methodology would also help reduce water contamination. Pills are often quite wrongly thrown away in the garbage, and some of the paracetamol ingested is not metabolized but excreted in urine. Wastewater treatment plants aren't 100% efficient in removing pharmaceuticals," said Nathalia Oezau Gomes, a chemist and co-author of the article. Low cost The device was fabricated with a similar methodology to the silkscreen technique used to print T-shirts. A portion of conductive carbon paste was placed on a screen with the sensor diagram, under which lay a sheet of store-bought clear polyester transparency film. The paste was then dispersed with a squeegee. The device is portable and uses low-cost sensors, each priced at less than USD 0.02 (two cents), far cheaper than comparable instruments used for this type of analysis, which are often bulky and require trained operators. The choice of saliva for detection purposes also has advantages, such as ease of collection and the fact that saliva secretion reflects the level of free analytes (or sample components). Furthermore, like other non-invasive body fluids, such as sweat and tears, saliva is increasingly used in therapeutic drug monitoring thanks to the relatively low cost of collection, storage, shipping and processing in a central laboratory. "The results of our study demonstrate the significant potential of a simple strategy," Pereira said. "Low-cost electrochemical devices are increasingly seen as an attractive alternative for therapeutic drug monitoring thanks to their analytical characteristics, such as rapid response, potential miniaturization, portability, simplicity, ease of use, versatility, relatively low instrumentation cost, and the possibility of in situ real-time analysis." A prototype has been developed, with wiring, cables and connectors, and is ready for technology transfer to a future partner company interested in mass-producing and marketing the device. Next steps will include trials involving a larger number of volunteers and comparison of the data obtained with a gold-standard technique. More information: Nathalia O. Gomes et al, OnSite Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Paracetamol Analgesic in NonInvasively Collected Saliva for Personalized Medicine, Small (2023). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202206753 Nathalia O. Gomes et al, OnSite Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Paracetamol Analgesic in NonInvasively Collected Saliva for Personalized Medicine (Small 12/2023), Small (2023). DOI: 10.1002/smll.202370077 Journal information: Small 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: University of Glasgow Stress data collected by wearable tech and shared between close friends could help enable new forms of mutual care for mental health, research suggests. Computing scientists from Scotland and China are behind the finding, which is set to be presented at the ACM Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems in Germany later this month. The team set out to explore whether sharing automatically-tracked information about stress among a small group of trusted people could help them to understand each other's changing moods and offer appropriate support. Previous studies on sharing details about fertility and blood glucose have shown positive results for this social approach, known as "caring-through-data." To explore this approach for stress data, the team developed a smartphone app called IntimaSea which captures heart rate variability data from users' smart watches and displays it in a graphical interface showing waves lapping on an island shore. Users can control whether to share their stress data with a simple click. Each user picks a different marine animal as their user avatar. When users' stress increasesmeasured by a fall in their heart rate variabilitytheir avatar sinks further below the waves, allowing other users to see that they might need some support. In response, users can offer help in the form of supportive text messages, emojis, photos, drawings, links to external content or calling up directly. They can assess the impact of their support by tracking the depth of other users' avatars on their mobile device's screen. The researchers conducted two trials of IntimaSeaan initial two-week feasibility trial among the researchers themselves followed by a four-week test with volunteers recruited from the public. A total of 19 people split across nine groups of two to three people each participated in the trials. The groups included romantic partners, close friends, and cousins. The data collected by the researchers, combined with interviews with participants after the study concluded, suggested that the app had a positive impact on users' awareness of stressnot just the stress levels of other users but their also own. The app's simple graphical display helped users get a better sense of the group's stress levels, and to make timely interventions to help when they saw dips in mood. They were more likely to make immediate contact when they could see that dips were occurring in real-time. Overall, users felt that IntimaSea offered them valuable new insights into the well-being of others, and a sense of collective responsibility to maintain the group's collective mental health. Dr. Xianghua (Sharon) Ding, of the University of Glasgow's School of Computing Science, led the research of IntimaSea. Dr. Ding said, "Not everyone finds it easy to talk about their stress levels and their mental health, even with the people who are closest to them. "IntimaSea was designed to take away some of that challenge by letting small groups keep tabs on each other and reach out with small displays of support. The study suggests that was a successit helped remove some of the challenge of expressing feelings for those users who sometimes struggled to do so, and offered new opportunities for people to communicate, either on the app or by starting conversations in real life. "Now that we've demonstrated the potential of shared stress tracking for mental health support, we're keen to build on these early findings. As a standalone app, IntimaSea requires users to actively decide to install it on their devices before they can engage with it. "If its functionality could be built into the operating system of the device, or integrated into an already widely-used app like WeChat or WhatsApp, it would be much more likely to reach the kind of critical mass of users who would benefit from using it. We hope that in future studies we can expand the scope of this initial study and further demonstrate the potential of this kind of caring-through-data approach to mental health." More information: IntimaSea: Exploring Shared Stress Display in Close Relationships, Proceedings of the 2023 CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. eprints.gla.ac.uk/291878/ This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The RAVEN (Rapidly Adaptive Viral rEspoNse) antigen-presenting cell targeting (APCt)-CoV2-T vaccine induces specific T-cell responses in C57BL/6J and K18-hACE2/BL6 mice. (A) Schematic overview of the in silico RAVEN predicted T-cell hotspots encoded in the APCt-CoV2-T-cell vaccine. A T-cell hotspot represents a region with several predicted major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I (H2-Kb, H2-Db) and MHC class II (H2-Iab) binders. (B) IFN- enzyme-linked immunosorbent spot (ELISpot) of splenocytes from APCt-CoV2-T-vaccinated C57BL/6J mice (n = 4) shows a response to 15 of the 17 peptide hotspots included. (C) IFN- ELISpot using peptide pools for stimulation of splenocytes from C57BL/6J (n = 3) and K18-hACE2/BL6 (n = 4) mice show a comparable response to the APCt-CoV2-T vaccine. No response was noted for APCt-mock-vaccinated animals (data not shown). Credit: Frontiers in Immunology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1166546 The current COVID-19 vaccines are designed to trigger an antibody response to the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein, which is vulnerable to mutations that could make the vaccine less effective over time. Focusing on the T-cell instead, Penn State researchers have partnered with Evaxion Biotech on a study that is the first to demonstrate the effectiveness of an artificial intelligence-generated vaccine in a live viral challenge model. Such a vaccine may provide long-lasting immunity against future emerging variants and could be used as a model for other seasonal viral diseases like the flu. In their study, the researchers challenged mice with a lethal dose of SARS-CoV-2 and found that 87.5% of the mice that were vaccinated with the T-cell-based vaccine survived, while only one of the control-group mice survived. Additionally, all the vaccinated mice that survived cleared the infection within 14 days post-challenge. The results were published on April 11 in Frontiers in Immunology. "To our knowledge, this study is the first to show in vivo [in a living organism] protection against severe COVID-19 by an AI-designed T-cell vaccine," said Girish Kirimanjeswara, associate professor of veterinary and biomedical sciences, Penn State. "Our vaccine was extremely effective at preventing severe COVID-19 in mice, and it can be easily scaled up to start testing it in humans, as well. This research also paves the way for the potential rapid design of novel T-cell vaccines against emerging and seasonal viral diseases, like influenza." Why do we need a T-cell-based COVID-19 vaccine when the mRNA vaccines that are already in use are so effective? According to Kirimanjeswara, the spike protein of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is under heavy selection pressure, which can result in mutations that drive the emergence of new variants. "This means that vaccine manufacturers will have to keep creating new vaccines that target new variants, and people have to keep getting these new vaccines," he said. Instead of targeting the constantly mutating spike protein, the team at Evaxion Biotech designed a vaccine that included 17 epitopes from various proteins of SARS-CoV-2 that are recognized by the immune system. These epitopes elicit an immune response from a broad selection of T cells, ensuring a sustained coverage of future variants. "The virus would have to undergo too many mutations to be able to escape this T-cell-mediated immunity, so that is one advantage," said Kirimanjeswara. "The second advantage is that T-cell-mediated immunity is usually long-lasting, so you don't need repeated booster doses." Researchers used an artificial intelligence platform to create a T-cell-based COVID-19 vaccine that may last longer than the current vaccines. Credit: Girish Kirimanjeswara, Penn State If T cells are so great at remembering foreign agents, why were the first-generation COVID-19 vaccines designed to elicit responses from antibodies? "It's harder and takes longer to produce a T-cell-based vaccine than an antibody-based one," said Kirimanjeswara. "Given the urgency with which we needed a vaccine to address the COVID-19 pandemic, it makes sense that vaccine manufacturers created an antibody-based vaccine. Now that the urgency has passed, a second-generation T-cell-based vaccine could be more effective and last longer." According to co-author Anders Bundgaard Srensen, project director, Evaxion Biotech, other biotechnology companies are developing T-cell-based vaccines, but this team's vaccine uses multiple types of artificial intelligence in a platform called RAVEN (Rapidly Adaptive Viral rEspoNse) to predict ideal targets for vaccines. "RAVEN is really adaptable," Srensen said. "We don't have to wait for a new strain of a virus to arrive to develop a vaccine. Instead, we can predict what will be needed in advance. That's not something that others are doing right now." Srensen noted, "It's much easier to get broad coverage with a T-cell vaccine, as we can include multiple epitopes targeting different proteins." He added that in addition to producing better COVID-19 vaccines, the RAVEN platform could be used to develop better influenza vaccines. "Oftentimes, the influenza vaccines that are designed work only 30-40% of the time, so a lot of people end up getting sick," he said. "As the world becomes increasingly integrated, that problem will become larger and larger. Our platform uses AI to better predict what will be needed." Srensen noted that Evaxion benefited from partnering with Kirimanjeswara and his Penn State colleagues because of their deep expertise in animal models of infectious disease and because the university houses a BSL-3 laboratory in which they could safely study the SARS-CoV-2 virus. He said, "Our results are a testament to the power of industry-university partnerships." More information: Gry Persson et al, DNA immunization with in silico predicted T-cell epitopes protects against lethal SARS-CoV-2 infection in K18-hACE2 mice, Frontiers in Immunology (2023). DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2023.1166546 Journal information: Frontiers in Immunology This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Two-thirds of staff and residents in long-term care facilities for older people across England were infected with COVID-19 during the first two years of the pandemic, according to new findings from the Vivaldi study being presented at this year's European Congress of Clinical Microbiology & Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) in Copenhagen, Denmark (15-18 April). The unique study by Dr. Maria Krutikov from UCL's Institute of Health Informatics, London, UK and colleagues used serological surveys, testing blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibodies against the nucleocapsid proteinwhich are only produced in response to infection and not vaccinationto estimate what percentage of residents and staff had a prior COVID-19 infection between March 2020 and March 2022. Residents in long term care facilities experienced a disproportionately high burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection and death over the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in many countries across Europe, North America, and Asia. In England, despite representing less than 1% of the total population, care home residents accounted for approximately a third of all COVID-19-related deaths over the first two waves. However, the true level of infection is unknown because diagnostic testing using PCR was limited. Therefore, most infections that occurred in the first few months of the pandemic were not confirmed and have not been recorded. To learn more, UCL researchers analyzed data from the VIVALDI study that has been monitoring infection and immunity to SARS-CoV-2 in long term care facilities for older people in England since March 2020. Regular blood samples from consenting staff and residents were tested for antibodies against COVID-19. Antibody results were linked to data from the national PCR or lateral flow test (LFT) routine screening program in long-term care homes which tested all staff weekly, and residents monthly, and more frequently if there was an outbreak or development of symptoms, up to March 2022. Between March 22, 2020, and March 22, 2022, 3,385 staff (average age 47 years) and 1,794 residents (average age 87 years) in 220 facilities who underwent at least one antibody test were included in the analysis. As participants were in the care homes for differing periods of time, this affected their risk of acquiring SARS-CoV-2, so the analysis accounted for time at risk. Because the entry and exit dates for participants were unknown, the time in the facility (the time at risk) was based on test dates. During the two years, 2,780 individuals had at least one positive antibody or PCR/LFD test, 998 (35%) residents and 1,782 (64%) staff, suggesting they had been previously infected. The average time at risk was 547 days in the whole group, and was lower in residents (439 days) than in staff (610 days). The infection incidence rate was significantly higher among residents (0.13 cases /100 person-days than staff [0.11 cases /100 person-days]) Over two years in the long-term care facility, the cumulative incidence of infection among all participants was 65% (accounting for varying time at risk). "The comparable incidence of infection between the general population (70% by March 2022) and our care home population of first wave survivors supports reports of high infection incidence in long-term care facilities," says lead author Dr. Krutikov. "The incidence is likely to have been higher overall, given the large number of residents who died from COVID-19 before sampling commenced." She continues, "As prior infection and vaccination protects against severe infections, the predominance of previously-exposed residents may explain the recent decline in SARS-CoV-2 deaths in long-term care facilities. "This study provided a unique opportunity to look at the true rate of infection in long-term care facilities during the pandemic. Ongoing surveillance of infection and immunity in these settings is important for informing policy decisions around screening and revaccination as we learn to live with the pandemic." Despite the important findings, the study had several limitations, including that it was an observational study and under-ascertainment of infections was likely because individuals who died in the first wave before recruitment for blood sampling could not be included. Provided by European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases 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: Knockdown of KCC2 in the VPM of the thalamus weakens anesthesia. a, Diagram of experimental protocols and transfection of AAV2/9hSyn mCherrymiRNAi (KCC2) into the VPM for b. b, Representative images showing AAV2/9hSynmCherrymiRNAi (KCC2)-transfected VPM neurons and comparison of KCC2 expression between groups of infected and uninfected sites (n = 3 mice in each group). Unpaired Student's t-test (two tailed) was used. Credit: Hu et al. (Nature Neuroscience, 2023). Before undergoing surgeries and other invasive medical procedures, patients typically undergo anesthesia. Anesthesia consists in giving patients a class of drugs (i.e., anesthetics) that cause them to lose feeling in specific areas of the body (i.e., local anesthesia) or fully lose awareness during a procedure (i.e., general anesthesia). These anesthetics can be administered to patients via injection, inhalation, skin-numbing lotions, and other means. In the past, doctors and medical researchers viewed general anesthesia as a passive process that could not be influenced or interrupted once anesthetic drugs were administered. More recently, however, studies showed that it is in fact an active brain process that can be experimentally controlled and acted on. A research team at the Southern University of Science and Technology in China recently carried out a study investigating the processes underpinning brain states while under general anesthesia and those associated with the subsequent re-emergence of awareness. Their findings, published in Nature Neuroscience, highlight possible strategies that could help anesthesiologists to extend and deepen or shorten periods of anesthesia. "We show in mice that, when the brain is forced into a minimum responsive state by diverse anesthetics, a rapid downregulation of K+/Cl cotransporter 2 (KCC2) in the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPM) serves as a common mechanism by which the brain regains consciousness," Jiang-Jian Hu, Yuexin Liu and their colleagues wrote in their paper. To examine the neural processes linked to the re-emergence of consciousness after anesthesia, the researchers carried out a series of experiments on adult mice. They gave the mice one of three different anesthetic drugs (i.e., ketamine, propofol and pentobarbital) and then looked at the molecular mechanisms that emerged while they were re-gaining awareness. To assess the mice's levels of consciousness, Hu, Liu and his colleagues measured the so-called loss of righting reflex (LORR), a point in which animals no longer act on their instinct to avoid laying with their stomach facing up. In addition, they observed the animals' behavioral responses to external stimuli. The team's experiments yielded interesting results, identifying a new neuronal and molecular mechanism through which the brain re-gains consciousness after general anesthesia. They also showed that the ventral posteromedial nucleus (VPN), part of the thalamus, is a key brain region associated with re-emergence of consciousness. "Ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation is responsible for KCC2 downregulation, which is driven by ubiquitin ligase Fbxl4," Hu, Liu and their colleagues explained in their paper. "Phosphorylation of KCC2 at Thr1007 promotes interaction between KCC2 and Fbxl4. KCC2 downregulation leads to -aminobutyric acid type A receptor-mediated disinhibition, enabling accelerated recovery of VPM neuron excitability and emergence of consciousness from anesthetic inhibition. This pathway to recovery is an active process and occurs independent of anesthetic choice." Overall, the recent work by this team of researchers shows that the degradation of KCC2 transporter neurons located in the VPM, through the means of ubiquitin, a compound in living cells that contributes to the degradation of superfluous or faulty proteins in the brain, is a key step in the mice's emergence of consciousness after general anesthesia. This key finding could potentially inform the development of strategies to wake patients who are in a vegetative state or minimally conscious state, which is a long-standing medical challenge. More information: Jiang-Jian Hu et al, Emergence of consciousness from anesthesia through ubiquitin degradation of KCC2 in the ventral posteromedial nucleus of the thalamus, Nature Neuroscience (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41593-023-01290-y Journal information: Nature Neuroscience 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: An artistic rendering depicts the Epstein-Barr virus, which has infected more than 90% of the world's population. Credit: Mobitec The Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) is easily spread through bodily fluids, primarily saliva, such as kissing, shared drinks or using the same eating utensils. Not surprisingly then, EBV is also among the most ubiquitous of viruses: More than 90% of the world's population has been infected, usually during childhood. EBV causes infectious mononucleosis and similar ailments, though often there are no symptoms. Most infections are mild and pass, but the virus persists in the body, becoming latent or inactive, sometimes reactivating. Long-term latent infections are associated with several chronic inflammatory conditions and multiple cancers. In a new paper, published April 12, 2023 in the journal Nature, researchers at University of California San Diego, UC San Diego Moores Cancer Center and Ludwig Cancer Research at UC San Diego, describe for the first time how the virus exploits genomic weaknesses to cause cancer while reducing the body's ability to suppress it. These findings show "how a virus can induce cleavage of human chromosome 11, initiating a cascade of genomic instability that can potentially activate a leukemia-causing oncogene and inactivate a major tumor suppressor," said senior study author Don Cleveland, Ph.D., Distinguished Professor of Medicine, Neurosciences and Cellular and Molecular Medicine at UC San Diego School of Medicine. "It's the first demonstration of how cleavage of a 'fragile DNA' site can be selectively induced." Throughout every person's genome or full set of genes are fragile sites, specific chromosomal regions more likely to produce mutations, breaks or gaps when replicating. Some are rare, some are common; all are associated with disorders and disease, sometimes heritable conditions, sometimes not, such as many cancers. In the new study, Cleveland and colleagues focus on EBNA1, a viral protein that persists in cells infected with EBV. EBNA1 was previously known to bind at a specific genomic sequence in the EBV genome at the origin of replication. The researchers found that EBNA1 also binds a cluster of EBV-like sequences at a fragile site on human chromosome 11 where increasing abundance of the protein triggers chromosomal breakage. Other prior research has shown that EBNA1 inhibits p53, a gene that plays a key role in controlling cell division and cell death. It also suppresses tumor formation when normal. Mutations of p53, on the other hand, are linked to cancer cell growth. When the scientists examined whole-genome sequencing data for 2,439 cancers across 38 tumor types from the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes project, they found that cancer tumors with detectable EBV revealed higher levels of chromosome 11 abnormalities, including 100% of the head and neck cancer cases. "For a ubiquitous virus that is harmless for the majority of the human population, identifying at-risk individuals susceptible to the development of latent infection-associated diseases is still an ongoing effort," said the study's first author Julia Li, Ph.D., a postdoctoral fellow in Cleveland's lab. "This discovery suggests that susceptibility to EBNA1-induced fragmentation of chromosome 11 depends on the control of EBNA1 levels produced in latent infection, as well as the genetic variability in the number of EBV-like sequences present on chromosome 11 in each individual. Going forward, this knowledge paves the way for screening risk factors for the development of EBV-associated diseases. Moreover, blocking EBNA1 from binding at this cluster of sequences on chromosome 11 can be exploited to prevent the development of EBV-associated diseases." More information: Julia Su Zhou Li et al, Chromosomal fragile site breakage by EBV-encoded EBNA1 at clustered repeats, Nature (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-05923-x Journal information: Nature 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: Effect of prosocial behaviors combined on physical pain averaged across 10 years of follow-up. This figure shows the unstandardized coefficients of combination of donating and volunteering from linear mixed models. Credit: Journal of Psychosomatic Research (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111325 A new, first-of-its-kind study suggests that volunteering with any organization, or donating money to charity, reduces the effects of physical pain on the ability of people to work, with volunteering having a larger effect than donating to charity. The study from City, University of London and Harvard University also suggests that the more money donated to charity, the more physical pain was eased. It did not find a similar dose-dependent effect for the number of hours volunteered with an organization. However, the study did suggest that the magnitude of pain easing from volunteering was more than ten times the effect that each additional year of age of a participant had on increasing pain interference in their work. While both volunteering and donating to charity was associated with a larger reduction in pain interference than volunteering alone, the difference in the results was not statistically significant. The authors argue that the positive emotions that have previously been linked with engaging in prosocial behavior can help explain the current findings. In particular, volunteering has been found to be strongly associated with social connection which is a key predictor of well-being, including in relation to physical pain. While prosocial behaviors, such as volunteering or donating to charity, have long been linked to benefits to one's mental and physical health, until now, no study had investigated whether such behaviors were directly linked to reductions in physical pain. In the study, the researchers performed analyses of responses to the United Kingdom Household Longitudinal Survey (UKHLS) between the years 2011 and 2020. The UKHLS is ongoing and is administered to participants annually, face-to-face. It was designed to be representative of the UK population as respondents represent all regions of the UK, ages, as well as educational and socioeconomic sectors. In the main analysis, the responses of approximately 35,000 participants were used, responding to questions of whether they volunteered or not, donated to charity or not, and which were compared to their responses to whether physical pain interfered with their normal work (be it outside the home or housework) provided on a five-point scale of 0 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). The average (mean) age of participants ranged from 49 to 48 years old across donating/volunteering groups, to 42 to 46 years old in the non donating/volunteering groups, with about 45 percent of the respondents being men. Further analyses found that, overall, respondents who did versus did not donate money to charity reported a slower rise in pain over time, although this effect was not found for those who volunteered. While the authors cannot fully rule out concerns about reverse causality playing a part in the findings, whereby people experiencing more pain may not engage in prosocial behaviors, they argue that the longitudinal study design, and other factors help counteract these concerns. Physical pain is one of the main reasons people visit the accident and emergency room in the UK. Approximately nine million people in the UK live with chronic pain and musculoskeletal pain alone accounts for 30 percent of the country's medical consultations. Physical pain is known to adversely affect a person's quality of life, including their mental health, productivity at work, and their experience of their family and workplace. Understanding factors that help to reduce pain is necessary for the design of the public health policies needed to address the issue. Lead author of the study, Dr. Lucia Macchia, Lecturer in Psychology at City, University of London, said, "This research contributes to the new and fast-growing literature that studies pain from a socioeconomic, psychosocial, and behavioral perspective. The work provides useful information for the design and evaluation of public health policies by uncovering how engaging in prosocial behavior, which can create powerful positive emotions and reduce negative mood like stress, can positively affect one's pain." The study is published in the Journal of Psychosomatic Research. More information: Lucia Macchia et al, Prosocial behaviour helps to ease physical pain: Longitudinal evidence from Britain, Journal of Psychosomatic Research (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jpsychores.2023.111325 Journal information: Journal of Psychosomatic Research This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When women are facing challenging, stressful situations, leisure and recreation are powerful ways to boost spirits and defuse their stress, according to a recent study published in Leisure Studies. A University of Alberta-led research team conducted in-depth interviews with a dozen women in Whitehorse experiencing mental health issues to learn how leisure and recreation could support their mental health during COVID-19. "This research really showcased the power of leisure and recreation, specifically, in assisting with stress coping," says Lauren Ray, first author of the study and research assistant in the Faculty of Kinesiology, Sport, and Recreation, who works as a recreation therapist in Whitehorse. The 12 women interviewed for the study, which Ray conducted as part of her master's degree under the supervision of Tara-Leigh McHugh, were diverse in terms of their age, demographics, income and education, and had all accessed a mental health service. The participants were involved throughout the process, including analyzing the interview responses and identifying key themes. Though the participants were responding to a specific stressorCOVID-19within a northern context, the study identified five steps that can be applied to any stressful situation, says Ray, who offers tips women can use to harness the power of leisure to improve their mental health. Make time to focus on yourself Everyone faced stress during COVID-19, but many of the study participants said the stress experienced by women was exacerbated by the "caregiving burden," especially for mothers. Engaging in leisure and recreation provided an opportunity to create space in their lives to focus inward, in whatever way best suited them. "The beautiful thing about leisure and recreation is it's the one point in the day that you get to choose whether or not you want to engage in something, and what exactly that looks like for you," says Ray. "Everything else is non-negotiableyou have to eat, you have to go to work, you have to go to the bathroombut you get to choose what you want to do in your leisure time." For some, this may involve a very social activity, like a busy fitness class with friends, while others might prefer meditation or a leisurely solo walk. In carving out time for yourself, you're exercising your self-determination. "That self-determination pillar is so important in maintaining a sense of agency in life. Of course that's going to impact your mental health." Find your community Connecting with others is another important component of mental health. For some women, it can serve as a motivator to make time for leisure and recreation pursuits by making them accountable to someone else. Everyone has a different ideal of what this looks like. For some, it may be a regular fitness class or activity where they can connect in large groups. For others, it's as simple as having one true friend by their side as an "activity partner." The latter is the type of connection and support network that resonated most strongly with study participants, Ray says. Having someone by their side made it far less intimidating to try out a new activityand made it far more likely that they'd keep it on their calendar rather than letting other responsibilities crowd it out. Being a social creature doesn't mean being an extrovert with thousands of friends, Ray says. "Having some sort of meaningful connectionto the self, your community, to culture, to language, to musicthose are the things that contribute to our identity and make us want to get up in the morning." Actively chase feel-good emotions The study participants all felt that engaging in leisure and recreation activities helped combat feelings of depression and anxiety, with many stating it made them feel relaxed, present, and offered them a sense of peace and joy. Many also said it provided a great way to process emotions, allowing them to work through and shake off the stressors of the day. However, Ray notes that you need to be purposeful about seeking out activities that help spark these feel-good emotions. This could involve anything from simply blocking out daily time on your calendar for a walk or signing up for a weekly class. "It takes effort to cultivate a genuine experience that is intrinsically motivated and aligned with your values, that creates pure joy, or a sense of accomplishment, a sense of power, whatever it is," says Ray. Find ways around your barriers There are many thingsfrom money to weatherthat create barriers for women seeking leisure and recreation opportunities, Ray says. For example, countless areas in Canada deal with long stretches of darkness and cold weather during winter, which makes outdoor activities challenging. There might be a feeling that you need specific gear or equipment, or a particular level of skill, to participate. "All of these gatekeepers can make activities seem really intense"and that can discourage many from participating, says Ray. Free drop-in classes available at community recreation centers can be a good way to try out an activity you're interested in. If you prefer to take your leisure outdoors, a walking or running group can help motivate you to head out, rain, snow or shineand some of the group's veterans may even have tips for battling the elements. Seek opportunities tailored to women For women in particular, safety was often a big concern in accessing leisure and recreation opportunities. For example, one participant mentioned that she didn't feel comfortable accessing her town's only recreation center because she encountered a former abuser there. Others may be fearful of walking on outdoor trails alone because of wildlife. Many participants said opportunities tailored specifically for women helped alleviate some of those safety considerations. Walking with a friend may feel less scary than venturing out alone. Or, if you have worries about a particular recreation venue, finding groups or classes that meet in locations like parks may be an appealing alternative. "Safety means different things to different people, whether it's psychological safety, physical safety," says Ray. "Having leisure and rec opportunities that are safe for women is a huge variable to be considered." More information: Lauren A. Ray et al, "We could just be what we wanted to be": The role of leisure and recreation in supporting women's mental health during COVID-19, Leisure Studies (2022). DOI: 10.1080/02614367.2022.2157465 Over at the University of Montana campus, a diverse collection of prints by artists from Montana and farther outside the U.S. has been growing, year by year. Founded in 1998, the Matrix Press in the School of Visual and Media Arts invites guest artists many times a year to come to town for a five-day, all-day printmaking session with help from the instructors and students. The press is showing nine artists from the past five years of residencies at the Zootown Arts Community Center this month. Theres a strong sense of color thats around the room, but the techniques are as different as the artists. The approaches of all the artists are really different, said James Bailey, a UM art professor and founder of the press. One artist might be very spontaneous, throwing out ideas to use clip art and pop images. Another might be more methodical. Thats part of the point: Students get to see and learn different ideas from professional artists, working on the fly. Each process has certain strengths, certain weaknesses, so how can you learn what are the strengths of that particular process and utilize those to then move your ideas forward in a different way than what you maybe normally are doing? Bailey said. *** Marwin Begaye, a Dine artist who teaches at the University of Oklahomas School of Visual Arts, has won awards for his large-scale woodblock prints, often featuring birds whose feathers are delineated as clearly as the intricate patterns behind them. Here, he experimented with color, combining his detailed bird images with vibrant blues, yellows and magentas. The bottom line is, if the artist is happy, I'm happy, he said. Working in a team this way has a certain amount of push and pull. You don't want to push your aesthetics to the point where it's not really the artists work anymore. Corky Clairmont, who started the art program at Salish Kootenai College and is nationally recognized for his printmaking, thought up a project thats interactive on multiple ends. Some of the artists came here through a partnership with the Missoula Art Museum, which, initially with grants from the Warhol Foundation, paid to bring Indigenous artists to town. Neal Ambrose-Smith, department chair of studio arts at the Institute of American Indian Arts, visited in November 2021. His mother is Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, who grew up on the Flathead Reservation and is recognized for her contemporary painting and prints. He brought clip-art books stocked with dated 50s and 60s pop imagery that he freely combines with cultural figures like the Coyote. Some artists make around 100 prints total, others like Ambrose-Smith produced 200. *** Bailey started Matrix in '98 as a way to bring artists to UM for collaborations like these. Its collection includes pieces by each artist theyve brought out. Jason Clark, a former student, returned to Missoula after some years away to work at the art school and work as Matrixs tech. The first thing is education, to get professional training for the students on the team, but also for the classes to be able to talk to an artist, see how they work through a process, he said. During the residencies, Bailey and Clark and students work with the artist for roughly a solid week, Monday to Friday. After theyre done, the portfolio is split between Matrix, the artists and the students. (MAM also receives some.) One such student is Crystal McCallie. She earned a BFA in printmaking at UM, then immediately began a masters. A nontraditional student, she started out in illustration, a medium thats connected to printmaking, then ceramics. For her, working in multiples is appealing because theyre affordable and accessible. Theyre easy to sell at markets and online. In the ZACC show, shes participated in six out of the nine residencies, meaning she has a great print collection. Printmaking is a whole process, too, and shes a process-oriented creator. Its a community-type art, where people share techniques. Working on the residencies has instilled a huge amount of confidence for her working with Bailey, Clark and the visiting artist. Between three extremely skilled and experienced printmakers having all of this knowledge, then putting it into practice over a week, we have access to so much printmaking knowledge that we wouldnt have as students, and on a massive scale, she said. Clairmonts visit sticks out in her memory because of his conceptual bent about the nature of place, and how one particular part of a landscape isnt more important than another. He took a map of the city core and drew a grid, then marked some 20 places at random. They spent a full day visiting each one. Sometimes it was an alley behind an apartment building, she said. Other times, it might be down by the river, at the Missoula County Courthouse, or near the PaddleHeads ballpark. They found objects that were noteworthy: At the courthouse, it might be the historic metalwork on the staircase. They drew them on transparencies and took photos. We came back with all of this data and shot it onto a screen, and then Corky was able to screen-print these objects of these locations on these prints, she said. They include QR codes, which take you to Matrixs website. Not all of the artists who they invite work in printmaking as a primary medium. Kaila Farrell-Smith, a Klamath Modoc artist from Oregon, focuses on painting and they worked with her to adopt her painting into forms of printmaking. They wove in photographs shed taken of ancient petroglyphs in Park Lake, Washington. Tim Musso, an extremely detail-oriented relief printer, brought carved woodblocks and transparencies and wanted to figure out ways to incorporate color. *** Artists who will collaborate with Matrix include Stella Nall, a UM art graduate whose work has been shown at the Missoula Art Museum; Max Mahn, a UM BFA and printmaker whose work is seen on concert posters around the country and Dogfish Head specialty beers; and Lisa Jarrett, a UM MFA graduate who now teaches at Portland State University. Her work includes social practice projects. Since residencies are a chance to experiment with new techniques, it can take years for the work to reach audiences. A few examples are John Hitchcock, a Madison mixed-media printmaker whos continued in the vein he began with that residency. Prints that Sara Siestreem, a Portland-based artist, made with Matrix were used as a cover for the book, Knowing Native Arts, by Nancy Marie Mithlo. (Another print is on view in the MAM lobby.) Sometimes the Matrix collection gets dispersed: Duane Slicks prints were sold to the Des Moines Art Center, since thats where the artist is from the sales go back to fund the press and the next round. The Host Julie Rovner KFF Health News Julie Rovner is chief Washington correspondent and host of KFF Health News weekly health policy news podcast, What the Health? A noted expert on health policy issues, Julie is the author of the critically praised reference book Health Care Politics and Policy A to Z, now in its third edition. The abortion pill mifepristone is now ground zero in the abortion debate. Late Wednesday night, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals said the drug should remain on the market but under restrictions on distribution that were in effect before 2016, which ban prescribing by mail or by telemedicine. The restrictions would make it even more difficult for patients in states where abortion is illegal or widely unavailable. The decision comes in response to a ruling last week out of Texas, where a federal judge, as was widely expected, found that the FDA should not have approved the drug more than 22 years ago and ordered it, effectively, unapproved. Complicating matters further still, in a separate case filed by 18 attorneys general in states where abortion is largely legal, last week a federal district judge in Washington state ordered the FDA not to reinstate any of the old restrictions. This weeks panelists are Julie Rovner of KFF Health News, Victoria Knight of Axios, Shefali Luthra of The 19th, and Sarah Karlin-Smith of the Pink Sheet. Panelists Sarah Karlin-Smith Pink Sheet Victoria Knight Axios Shefali Luthra The 19th Among the takeaways from this weeks episode: A late-night decision by the appeals court preserves access to mifepristone while the legal battle continues. But it also resurrects outdated limitations on the drug, meaning mifepristone can be used only up to seven weeks into a pregnancy, among other restrictions. While it is expected that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately decide the drugs fate, some providers and state officials are rushing to stockpile it. Cutting off access to the abortion pill puts extra pressure on clinics in states where abortion remains legal, which are also serving women from so-called prohibition states and could see an influx of patients as mifepristone becomes difficult or impossible to get. Republicans largely have remained quiet about the ruling overturning mifepristones FDA approval. While many in the party support banning the drug, they likely recognize the political risks of broadcasting that stance. Meanwhile, the Biden administration moved to strengthen privacy protections for patients and providers related to abortion, offering some reassurance to those who fear they could be prosecuted under their home state laws for seeking abortions elsewhere. As Southern states have whittled away at abortion access, Florida, with its 15-week abortion ban, had emerged as a hub for patients across the region. This week the state moved to restrict the procedure to six weeks, a change that could send many patients scrambling north to states like Virginia and New York for care. And in Idaho, a new law makes abortion trafficking or transporting a minor to have an abortion without parental consent a crime. Congress is exploring new drug pricing measures, particularly aimed at increasing transparency around pharmacy benefit managers and capping insulin costs. Lawmakers are also watching the approach of the debt ceiling threshold; in the mix of budgetary pressure valves are Medicaid and, potentially, work requirements to receive Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits. Congress continues to show little appetite for addressing a different, intensifying public health crisis: gun violence. A new poll from KFF shows startlingly high numbers of Americans especially people of color have directly experienced gun violence and live with that threat every day. Plus, for extra credit, the panelists suggest health policy stories they read this week they think you should read, too: Julie Rovner: The Washington Posts To Comply With a New Sesame Allergy Law, Some Businesses Add Sesame, by Karen Weese. Shefali Luthra: KFF Health News For Uninsured People With Cancer, Securing Care Can Be Like Spinning a Roulette Wheel, by Charlotte Huff. Victoria Knight: The Washington Posts Research With Exotic Viruses Risks a Deadly Outbreak, Scientists Warn, by David Willman and Joby Warrick. Sarah Karlin-Smith: NBC News Conspiracy Theorists Made Tiffany Dover Into an Anti-Vaccine Icon. Shes Finally Ready to Talk About It, by Brandy Zadrozny. Credits Francis Ying Audio producer Emmarie Huetteman Editor To hear all our podcasts, click here. And subscribe to KFF Health News What the Health? on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Pocket Casts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). Outlaws and horses Theres a great western tale about the Circle C Ranch thats been passed down in Montana folklore. Walt Coburn, whose father purchased the ranch in the 1800s, wrote about an encounter with a famed outlaw. Here is the tale as printed on the Montana Cowboy Hall of Fame website. It was July 3, 1901, and all that teenage Walt wanted to do was to go to Malta, Montana, and prepare for the Fourth of July rodeo. Instead his brother, Bob, gave him the ridiculous job that day of taking some horses up to the top of a butte and sitting there all day, then bringing them back in the evening if nothing happened. Well something happened all right. In the middle of the afternoon Walt saw riders hurrying to him from way out on the prairie. When those riders got to Walt, they changed to the fresh horses and left Walt with the old horses before hurrying away. Walt recognized Kid Curry as one of the riders and knew they must have done something for which they needed fresh mounts immediately. Walt took the tired mounts back to the home ranch. Bob got the cook to make Walt a steak and instructed Walt to stay with him in the ranch house. Not long after a sheriff and posse from Glasgow knocked on the door stating they were chasing Kid Curry and his gang who had just robbed the Great Northern Mail train at Wagner. The sheriff asked for fresh mounts and dinner. Bob Coburn said there would be no fresh horses, but his ranch cook would cook the men dinner for a dollar a man. Outrageous, but the sheriff said yes, so Bob sent Walt out to the cook house to wake up the cook and help in preparing the dinners. While preparing the dinners the cook said to Walt that he, too, thought the world of Kid Curry and that maybe they should slow that posse down. So they put something in the food that gave the posse diarrhea about five miles down the trail at Bear Gulch. Needless to say the posse never did catch Kid Curry and his gang. The city of Whitefish announced Tuesday morning that BNSF Railway is investigating an oil sheen appearing on the Whitefish River near the BNSF Landing. As of about 10:20 a.m., the city reported that BNSF is in the process of mobilizing equipment to do some investigation. The state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is also aware of the observed sheen and the BNSF emergency response, and has been in communication with BNSF. BNSF will provide a report to Montana DEQ about their response and preliminary investigation into the cause of the sheen, according to a DEQ spokesperson. DEQ may also require additional investigation prior to approving a cleanup plan to address the source of the contamination. As a result of the investigation, the city of Whitefish announced closures to the bike and pedestrian path between Miles Avenue and Edgewood Place along the river and at the Roundhouse Landing River Access until further notice. The city is waiting for more information, Whitefish City Manager Dana Smith said Tuesday morning. In a written statement issued shortly before 3 p.m. Tuesday, Lena Kent, the BNSF General Director of Public Affairs, said that on April 10 BNSF discovered a small seep and sheen on the Whitefish River near the Whitefish rail yard and immediately reported it to the EPA and the Montana Department of Environmental Quality. Continuing, Kent wrote that BNSF was currently investigating the source of the sheen and a containment boom had been placed over the river as a precaution. A section of the BNSF rail yard in Whitefish is already designated as a high-priority state Superfund site due to a legacy of soil and groundwater contamination. The 78-acre site has been a locomotive fueling and repair facility since 1903, and releases associated with fueling repair, railroad operations and wastewater transportation to the lagoons have been identified as the causes of soil and groundwater contamination by petroleum products, polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and heavy metals. In 2007, a petroleum sheen was detected along the Whitefish River, and an investigation by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led to BNSF being ordered to clean the river along the rail yard. From 2009 through 2013, cleanup crews dredged a 1.5-mile section of river, removing about 26,000 cubic yards of contaminated sediment as part of the environmental remediation. In the summer of 2019, another petroleum sheen was reported along the Whitefish River, near the BNSF rail yard and locomotive maintenance facility, and BNSF ultimately coordinated with the Montana DEQ and the EPA in cleanup efforts, which included soil excavation near Railway Street and Miles Avenue. 47yo man in Hanoi handed six-year imprisonment for anti-State propaganda The People's Court of Hanoi sentenced 47-year-old Nguyen Lan Thang to 6 years in prison for the crime of "Making, storing, disseminating or propagandising information, documents, materials aimed at opposing the Socialist Republic of Vietnam" under the Penal Code. Nguyen Lan Thang at the time of the arrest. Photo from the police Flathead Rivers Alliance (FRA) announces 2023 River Ambassador and River Recreation/Citizen Scientist volunteer program trainings ahead of float season to enhance river safety, stewardship and citizen science, on the Three Forks of the Flathead River. FRA is ramping up for the 2023 river season and recruiting 20-30 volunteer team members. In anticipation of another record river user year for the Three Forks of the Flathead River, FRA is expanding its River Ambassador and River Recreation Monitoring/Citizen Scientist volunteer programs. River Ambassador training will be offered April 18 6-8 p.m. and River Recreation/Citizen Scientist training April 27, 6-8 p.m. at Glacier Outdoor Center, in West Glacier. Trainings are conducted in partnership with FRA, Glacier National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, and Flathead National Forest. These partners are invested in river users having an enjoyable and safe experience, while ensuring the river systems outstanding remarkable values are protected. Usage and visitation have increased over the last decade for the Three Forks of the Flathead where much of the 219-mile federally designated Wild & Scenic river corridor borders Glacier National Park and Flathead National Forest. FRAs River Ambassador program heads into its third year of educating recreationists at popular river access sites on the three forks with maps and information about rules, ethics and etiquette. Volunteers additionally boost efforts to eliminate preventable river fatalities through roving and permanent life jacket loaner stations on the Middle and North Forks. For those who enjoy floating the river and have a desire to be an active stakeholder while doing so, the River Recreation/Citizen Scientist program trains volunteers to use a data collection app to collect river user, wildlife and invasive species data as they float the river. Anyone interested in joining Flathead Rivers Alliances team and improving stewardship and safety on the Three Forks of the Flathead River contact Sheena Pate at info@flatheadrivers.org or visit flatheadrivers.org to learn more about volunteer opportunities and upcoming events. When budget cuts led Western Montana Mental Health Center to start curtailing its services five years ago, rural communities primarily felt the effect. But as the decline of one of the states largest mental health providers has continued, its left a vacuum in behavioral health care. It started in places like Livingston, a town of 8,300 where, in 2018, Western closed an outpatient treatment clinic and told more than 100 patients to travel 30 miles over a mountain pass to Bozeman for stabilizing mental health care. This spring, Western closed that clinic too, a crisis center in one of Montanas fastest-growing cities. The private nonprofits initial closures were attributed to state Medicaid cuts made in 2017. Since then, Westerns financial troubles have spiraled. It cut jobs or retrenched services every year since 2019. In February, Western closed three mental health crisis centers, leaving just two others to serve the rural 147,000-square-mile state. Westerns money problems have built slowly and are due largely to low reimbursement rates from Medicaid, staffing strains, and rising costs. Former Western board members and employees say poor management has also played a role. The company has said it is losing money by subsidizing crisis services for the state. Weve become the face of the failure of the system because were the only organization providing these services, said Levi Anderson, Westerns CEO. The decline illustrates a national problem: a U.S. health care system that doesnt adequately pay for mental health care. Clinics nationwide have shuttered programs they cant afford and left beds empty that they cant staff. Those are the kinds of stories that I hear every week from every part of the country, said Chuck Ingoglia, CEO of the National Council for Mental Wellbeing. More people are experiencing depression and anxiety and are in need of care, and we have this corresponding reduction in capacity. Its a perfect storm. Cracks in Montanas system have shown up elsewhere. Community clinics cant compete for staff. Private practice therapists have months-long waitlists. The Montana State Hospital a public psychiatric hospital and the fallback when local services arent enough lost federal funding after staffing shortages and mismanagement led to patient deaths and assaults. Policymakers have promised to boost funding for behavioral health care statewide through bills and budget measures. Health professionals, while hopeful, are skeptical that an influx of cash is enough to create lasting changes. Community crisis centers are a safety net when someones mental health spirals, leading to suicidal thoughts or disconnection from reality. They provide services to stabilize patients and prevent recurring crises. Western opened such centers in Butte, Bozeman, Helena, Kalispell, Polson, Missoula, and Hamilton starting in 2010. Of all of the crisis houses in the state, every one of them was started and operated by Western, said Tom Peluso, a longtime mental health advocate and former board director for Western. Nobody else was willing to make the investment. Still, almost every community in Montana lacked crisis stabilization services, according to a state-funded report released last year. Emergency rooms and the state hospital became ill-equipped alternatives. Most of Westerns patients rely on Medicaid, a federal-state health coverage program for people with low incomes or disabilities. Health professionals have long said Medicaids state-set payments dont cover the cost of care, which a state-commissioned study confirmed. Anderson said crisis services never made money. Until recently, Western could rely on other programs to make up the difference, such as case management, which links patients to ongoing care. In 2017, the state roughly halved Medicaids reimbursement for case management. By 2019, Western spent $3.4 million more than it earned. Then came the covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted school-based mental health services, another Western revenue source, as learning went remote. Simultaneously, competition for health workers spiked, meaning Western had to increase pay or ratchet back services with fewer employees. In 2020, the company whittled its school-based programs, laid off dozens of mental health workers, and closed at least two sites. In 2021, it emptied a group home in Hamilton and listed two large affordable housing units for sale. Last year, Western closed a crisis facility in Kalispell and struggled to staff its remaining crisis centers. As services faltered, so did peoples trust in Western. That included Peluso, who left the companys board last year after roughly two decades. In his resignation letter, Peluso wrote that selling assets is not a business plan. Kathy Dunks, a Western employee for 29 years in Butte, felt a shift around 2018, when Anderson and other new leaders arrived soon after the companys longtime CEO retired. It was the first time it felt like, If you dont like it, leave, Dunks said. She was laid off in 2019, when Western replaced regional leaders with managers to oversee company-wide programs. Dunks turned down a new role with Western, saying she no longer trusted the company. Anderson said the goal was to standardize treatment among sites and save money. Around the same time, some of the companys highest-paid employees got raises, which Anderson said likely happened to retain top-trained staffers at the time. Anderson said that the company is balancing services clients need with remaining viable and that it tries to incorporate employees feedback. He said management restructuring led to some turnover, but the pandemic and low funding exacerbated long-standing pressures. At its peak, 17 counties paid Western to provide local services. As the company struggled, the participating counties dropped off to just one as of this year. In 2020, Anaconda-Deer Lodge County ended its contract with Western, which helped it provide crisis response and psychiatric evaluations. We started running into problems with them saying, Well we dont have anybody who can come out now, well send out somebody in the morning, said County Attorney Ben Krakowka. That doesnt work when somebodys in crisis now. In late 2019, Lewis and Clark County announced it would end its contract with Western to provide services in its detention center. County officials said theyd hire their own staff for better access to data and more control. The county also announced it would seek applicants for its crisis response team, a service Western provided. Western cut ties with the county altogether, including closing the areas sole crisis facility. Anderson said the company had been clear: Western needed to provide a continuum of care to do its job well. While Lewis and Clark County has filled some gaps since, its crisis house remains closed. The one company that applied for the job determined reimbursement rates would cover only half the costs. Some jurisdictions, like Gallatin County, which ended its contract with Western in 2022, plan to open crisis facilities with different providers at the helm. Anderson said new vendors alone cant fix Montanas problems. Our current state is not a result of Western not knowing how we could provide good care, Anderson said. The current state is a result of the state not funding good care. Lawmakers are considering a bill that would spend $300 million over several years toward fixing the states behavioral health care system. Theyre also considering a constitutional amendment to establish a mental health trust fund. That would be in addition to a fund Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte created to fill gaps in mental health care, though some details remain undecided and competition for those dollars will be high. State representatives also proposed to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates but havent agreed by how much. Mental health workers have said adjusted Medicaid rates are only a stopgap, and crisis services cant rely on those payments alone. Montana state officials are exploring a statewide program to fund specially designated clinics that offer local mental health and substance abuse services paying for the value of the care instead of each service independently. Weve got to change the system, said Mary Windecker, executive director of Behavioral Health Alliance of Montana. The Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services received a federal grant to begin making plans to adopt that system. But if that change comes, its years out. Meanwhile, mental health clinics are struggling to keep existing programs from further unraveling. As for Western, Anderson said the center is still committed to serving clients. Western is using former crisis beds to expand group home programs and began accepting new residents in March. For now, the company doesnt plan to return to its former level of crisis services. The need is there, he said. We just cant continue to subsidize the program. Westerns two remaining crisis centers are in Missoula and Ravalli counties just 47 miles from each other in the vast state. Citing the coming end of the federal public health emergency, the state health department said Wednesday it will stop updating the online COVID-19 case tracking and vaccine dashboard. The updates will end May 5, and the website will come down July 14, according to a release from the Department of Public Health and Human Services. The dashboards have been an extremely useful tool throughout the pandemic to help inform the public about COVID-19 case trends and vaccination rates in Montana, department spokesperson Jon Ebelt said in an email. However, with the end of the federal public health emergency, DPHHS is transitioning to COVID-19 monitoring similar to our approach to other reportable conditions. Ebelt added state-specific information would remain available on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Views on the dashboard have dramatically declined over time, according to department data. There were more than 16.6 million views on the main dashboard from when the pandemic started to the end of 2020. That number dropped to 6.2 million in 2021, then about 720,200 in 2022 and about 88,600 this year. Montana will also end its monthly epidemiology profiles and vaccination reports, according to the press release. The state health department said it would keep working with local and tribal health agencies to conduct routine surveillance for COVID-19 cases and outbreaks. Ebelt wrote that over the last three years, the dashboard was updated through a collaboration between the state health department and professionals with the Montana State Library. The website became a resource from the earliest days in the pandemic for those tracking Montana caseloads and deaths from COVID-19. The page went through several iterations, with the addition of tracking vaccination update when shots became available to reducing frequency in reporting as the pandemic became a part of life in the state. ... As the pandemic has progressed, reporting requirements and the emergence of home tests have changed the way COVID-19 cases are reported to public health. This was an important factor that was considered in the decision to discontinue weekly updates to the COVID-19 dashboard in Montana as the federal Public Health Emergency ends, Ebelt said. As of April 7, the latest update, the state reported 332,413 cumulative cases of COVID-19. There were 701 active cases and 506 newly reported cases in the past week. There have been 3,700 deaths and 13,341 hospitalizations. BILLINGS 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 America 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 ORourke. 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 U.S. 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. National Community Development Week, April 10-14, celebrates the impact and accomplishments of the U.S. Housing and Urban Developments (HUD) Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and HOME Investment Partnerships programs across the country. These federal grant programs help build stronger and more resilient communities. CDBG funds support housing rehabilitation, emergency rental assistance, affordable housing development, public infrastructure projects, small business assistance and a wide array of public service programming. HOME program funds support affordable rental housing development, direct rental assistance, housing rehabilitation and home buying assistance. Both programs target assistance to low-income households and are available to Montana communities on a competitive grant-submission basis through the Montana Department of Commerce. In recognition of this important funding, we would like to highlight a few of the beneficial CDBG-funded projects in Missoula. This past year, county staff worked with the Poverello Center to secure a $600,000 CDBG grant to help create 20 non-shared units of housing for members of the Housing Montana Heroes program. Missoula County strongly supports efforts to house our veterans and was excited to assist with this program. To support the Missoula Food Banks distribution outside the city and help households that have experienced economic hardship and food insecurity since the pandemic, county staff secured over $250,000 in CDBG funds to provide continued support to residents in Lolo, Bonner and Futura Mobile Home Park. This program has helped provide fresh and nonperishable food to more than 100 families, starting in January 2022 and continuing through June 2024. The communities of Lolo and Bonner receive groceries twice a month, and a mobile meal bus delivers groceries to the Futura community during school out days and weekly during summer break. Missoula County continues to partner with the District XI Human Resource Council to assist low- and moderate-income households outside of city limits with housing rehabilitation projects. By tackling health, safety and accessibility issues in homes, we can preserve the existing housing stock for residents, support our local construction sector and give a little boost to our local economy. The County secured $450,000 in CDBG funding, among other sources of federal funds, to support wastewater system improvements at the Buena Vista Community, a manufactured home community west of the Missoula Airport. Buena Vista became a resident-owned community in 2013, allowing self-determination that has kept housing affordable in their community. Infrastructure improvements in manufactured home communities is one example of a long-term investment in affordable housing. In the next year, we will continue to support projects that benefit our community and our residents so Missoula County continues to be the best place to live, work and play. Heavy workload + immovable deadlines = sloppy work. That equation proved true earlier this month as the Legislature's deadline for getting constitutional referenda and revenue bills from one chamber to the other came and passed. Committees and chambers took on impossible agendas, and both process and product got sloppy. Examples? Way back last fall, a legislator out harvesting was approached by a 10-year-old who wanted to become a lawyer without going to law school. But what the hay. It took the legislator until March 29 to get his bill into the hopper. HB 965 proposed amending the Constitution to have legislators, not Montanas Supreme Court, set the requirements for entering and staying in the legal profession. With less than a days notice, HB 965 was crammed into House Judiciarys already ambitious agenda. The hearing was arranged so quickly the 10-year-old couldnt make it. Neither could any other supporter. Three opponents, all lobbyists, somehow found out and testified. If the amendment passed, they pointed out, Montana would be the only state that doesnt require lawyers to have a law degree, get vetted for character and fitness, or be subject to discipline by their peers. Worse, the bill offered no alternatives for these important public assurances. Despite the scant input, the committee took action during the same meeting. With no substantive discussion and one committee member clearly more focused on his cell phone, House Judiciary passed HB 965. It then became the 54th of 56 bills the House debated on April 3. Like every other bill that day, it didnt get the attention it deserved. But cool heads prevailed. It only got 45 votes not enough to advance to the Senate. The same cant be said of SB 557, a bill instituting pay-to-play as well as other obstacles to the Montana Environmental Policy Act (MEPA) process. Once again, it was heard in committee with less than 24 hours public notice and no publicly available text. Even so, one opponent Anne Hedges of the Montana Environmental Information Center managed to arrive and, in the short time allowed, provided a compelling critique. Some of the purported improvements are already part of the law, she pointed out. But the pay-to-play proposition and the nonsensical new requirements? Theyre designed to chill the peoples right to know what their government is doing, she warned. The sponsor, clearly reciting an industry script, insisted all manner of good projects were being held up by frivolous lawsuits, but the only one he named displayed not just his lack of homework, but his lack of logic. In 2015, a Canadian company proposed mining for gold just outside Yellowstone Park. Some 400 businesses from Butte to Billings and from Livingston to Gardiner worked alongside Park County Environmental Council to prevent mining in that treasured space. Hardly some tree-huggers trivial complaint. In spite of the sponsors inability to cite anything but myth or even to explain provisions of his own bill, the committee passed SB 557 the next day. On April 3, the Senate did the same. Bills killed in properly noticed meetings, then resurrected for reconsideration in emergency meetings with no notice, bills introduced with minimal notice, heard with minimal comment, and acted upon before constituents could weigh in welcome to Deadline Delirium, folks. With 326 more bills than last session to dispose of in the same number of days, something had to give. And what always, always gives is the publics right to participate. In the week before April 4, bills were heard in the early morning after being posted too late for the public to sign up to testify. Committees were hearing 7-9 bills per session, and citizens with real knowledge and real concerns were timed-out, interrupted and scolded by committee chairs more focused on keeping the trains running on time than getting the cargo to the depot undamaged. Sloppy processes lead to sloppy products. Thats bad enough. But the pre-deadline chaos, which will intensify in the coming days, provides a great cover for sneaking in stuff with nefarious intent and impact. The 44th and final bill the senate debated on April 4 was just such stuff. Of SB 566, more soon. " " Sometimes, a trust can offer better protection for your assets than a will. DNY59/Getty Images While trust funds, or trusts, may seem the province of the wealthy, there are actually many benefits to creating them, even if you're not a multimillionaire. Trusts can help you manage your property and assets, make sure they are distributed after your death according to your wishes, and save your family money, time and paperwork. Simply put, a trust is legal document established by an individual or corporation known as a grantor. The trust holds property or assets for a specific person or group, called the beneficiary. Control of the trust is maintained by a trustee in some cases the grantor is the trustee, and in others the grantor names a trusted family member, friend or professional [source: MetLife]. Advertisement So how does a will differ from a trust? In a few ways. A will becomes active only after the person dies. It spells out the deceased person's wishes, such as who should be the guardian of their children or who should get their assets. A will always has to go through probate court and therefore is public knowledge. By contrast, a trust becomes active the day it is created and the assets might be distributed before the grantor has died [source: Jarrell]. There are many reasons to set up a trust, but not everyone should establish one for some, a standard will is a better choice. Although do-it-yourself kits are available, the applicable laws are complicated, and anyone considering a trust should consult a lawyer. But before calling your attorney, read on to learn a bit more about the advantages of a trust. Aaron Paston, a volunteer from Woodinville, Wa. working alongside Samaritan's Purse, clears insulation from a destroyed home in Rolling Fork, Miss., Friday, April 7, 2023. The American Lung Association is warning residents in the Rolling Fork area of possible health effects from hazardous debris left in the wake of March 24 storms and tornadoes that claimed 21 lives and destroyed or damaged many houses and structures in the region. "This is especially important to know for the more than 396,000 Mississippi residents that already live with chronic lung diseases like asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer," the American Lung Association states in a press release. Mold can grow anywhere there is water or dampness, the press release states. Cleaning up affected homes and household items is vital to protecting respiratory health. The lung association stresses the importance of beginning the cleanup effort as soon as it is safe to return, as chemicals, sewage, oil, gas and other dangerous substances found in impacted areas can pose health risks to area residents. Dr. Jose Arias Jr., national spokesperson for the American Lung Association, partner at the Allergy Asthma Specialists and associate professor for the University of Central Florida College of Medicine, said when a major storm, hurricane or tornado happens, bacteria from the trees and the ground are carried into the air. "Residents with allergies and asthma are going to feel the difference after a storm has thrown around possible harmful debris," Arias said. "The changes in the environment could trigger either allergies or asthma episodes. Residents should avoid items and areas of their homes with severe water damage or possible asbestos." Arias said residents should wear N-95 masks when entering possible affected areas to prevent sickness. "The ideal situation would be hiring a company that removes mold and asbestos with sensors," Arias said. "Symptoms to be aware of or coughing, wheezing or feeling short of breath and chest tightness or pain." Below are tips provided by the American Lung Association on how residents in Rolling Fork can stay safe. Story continues How can residents in Rolling Fork protect themselves from hazardous debris? Protect yourself before returning to your building. During the cleanup, you risk inhaling dust, contaminants and microorganisms, which are unhealthy for anyone to breathe, but especially risky for children, older adults and people with lung diseases. Wear protective clothing, including gloves, rubber boots N95 mask, to protect yourself from breathing these particles. Note: N95 covers must be fitted and are suited only for adults. Ordinary dust masks cannot provide adequate protection. Turn off the electricity and gas at the central location during cleanup. In addition, do not use portable gasoline or diesel-powered generators, power washers, grills, camp stoves or other gasoline, propane or charcoal-burning equipment and other devices inside or close to open windows. Those produce carbon monoxide that can kill occupants if it builds up indoors. How to clean unsanitary surfaces with bacteria? Use soap and water for cleaning, mainly to scrub mold off hard surfaces. When in doubt, toss it out! Remove everything soaked by water, including clothing, papers, furnishings, carpet, ceiling tiles and wallboard. Anything that cannot be cleaned and dried and anything porous (like drywall or carpet) saturated from rain for 24 to 48 hours (about two days) must be discarded. Simply drying out water will not remove the bacteria or toxins that can make people sick. Damp buildings and furnishings promote the growth of bacteria, dust mites, cockroaches and mold, which can aggravate asthma and allergies and may cause you to wheeze, cough and experience other respiratory symptoms. Consider hiring professional cleaners. If water saturation or flooding occurs, individuals with lung disease should seek help cleaning their homes and workplaces. And suppose more than 10 square feet of your home is flooded or water has been building for more than one or two days. In that case, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recommends hiring professional cleaners. Water brings in nasty residue that may contaminate porous building materials. Mold flourishes in this environment. Attempting to clean without professional help may increase the risk of developing respiratory problems from these exposures. Is it harmful to burn waste? Do not burn debris or waste which harms the air. Please take it to a designated disposal area. If you are worried about your family's lung health and have questions, call 1-800-LUNGUSA to talk to an American Lung Association respiratory therapist. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: The American Lung Association warns Rolling Fork of harmful debris GREENSBORO Attorneys for the family of a 17-year-old shot to death by a Greensboro police officer in August say they are convinced it was unjustified after reviewing more evidence in the case. Civil rights attorneys Harry Daniels and John Burris said during a news conference Wednesday in downtown Greensboro that they went to the State Bureau of Investigation earlier in the day to review video and statements from the night Nasanto Crenshaw died. What we saw today was an absolute unlawful killing, Daniels said about what he saw in body-camera and dash-camera recordings, which are expected to become public. The citizens of Guilford County, Greensboro, will see exactly what were talking about. On March 30, Guilford County District Attorney Avery Crump said she will not pursue criminal charges against the officer. After careful review, although tragic, the use of deadly force by Cpl. (M.L.) Sletten under these circumstances was justified, according to a statement from Crumps office. Daniels and Burris strongly disagree and believe the case should have gone before a grand jury to consider whether or not to pursue an indictment. Daniels office has also contacted the U.S. Justice Department, he said, to request their involvement in the case. Were not here to argue this case in the court of public opinion, Daniels said. As representatives of this family, were not going to allow a narrative to be put out there thats simply not true. Greensboro police officials announced April 6 that Superior Court in Guilford County granted the departments request for the release of body-camera and dash-camera recordings capturing the Aug. 21 officer-involved shooting. The recordings are not public record in North Carolina. The video will speak for itself, Daniels said Wednesday. The police department will release the recordings to the public no later than April 25 with the conditions set by the court, including the redaction of any image or voice of a minor. Because Crenshaw was under the age of 18, he would be considered a minor. Daniels said a front seat passenger, a minor, could be heard in the unredacted version of the video they viewed saying please dont shoot me after Crenshaw had been shot. The passenger was not wounded. Daniels contends the officer shot while he was in a position of safety and should not have fired shots into a moving vehicle. As hes turning away, hes getting shot, Burris said about Crenshaw. According to the department, Sletten was placed on administrative duty on Aug. 21 the night of the incident. As is standard protocol, the officer remains on administrative duty while an internal administrative investigation determines whether or not departmental policy was followed. As of Wednesday, that internal investigation is still ongoing, according to police department spokeswoman Josie Cambareri. Crumps office said Sletten told investigators that he fired his weapon when it appeared the driver was driving straight at him and that he felt he had no other choice. According to police, Crenshaws vehicle was stopped for a traffic violation shortly after 9 p.m. on Aug. 21 in the 4900 block of West Market Street. Moments later, it was determined the vehicle was stolen, the department said in a news release. As the officer approached the stopped vehicle, the vehicle fled from the traffic stop. The officer attempted to stop the car again and multiple occupants fled from it. While the officer was attempting to detain the vehicle and remaining occupants, the suspect vehicle struck the police car. The vehicle then accelerated, and the officer discharged their weapon. Crenshaw was pronounced dead at the scene. Daniels and Chimeaka White, who are representing Crenshaws mother, Wakita Doriety, filed a wrongful death lawsuit in early March that contends Sletten used excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment. When the lawsuit was first filed, the officer was only named John Doe because his name had not been made public; Daniels said Wednesday that the lawsuit will be amended to include Slettens name. The police department has declined comment on the litigation. Burris, a California-based civil rights attorney specializing in police misconduct, said the families he has worked with most often want an officer to be terminated and prosecuted in hopes that a tragedy wont happen again. A young man is dead who should not be dead, Burris said. WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden announced Thursday that hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children will be able to apply for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges. The action will allow participants in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, to access government-funded health insurance programs. Theyre American in every way except for on paper, Biden said in a video released on his Twitter page. We need to give Dreamers the opportunities and support they deserve. The action is likely to generate significant pushback from conservative leaders of states that have been reluctant to expand Medicaid and critical of the Biden administration's response to migrants who enter the U.S. illegally. While the federal government provides funding and guidelines for Medicaid, the program is administered by the states. Then-President Barack Obama launched the 2012 DACA initiative to shield from deportation immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents as children and to allow them to work legally in the country. However, the immigrants, known as Dreamers, were still ineligible for government-subsidized health insurance programs because they did not meet the definition for having lawful presence in the U.S. Biden's Department of Health and Human Services will aim to change that by the end of the month. The White House action comes as the DACA program is in legal peril and the number of people eligible is shrinking. An estimated 580,000 people were still enrolled in DACA at the end of last year, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. That number is down from previous years. Court orders currently prevent the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from processing new applications. The DACA program has been mired in legal challenges for years, while Congress has been unable to reach consensus on broader immigration reforms. DACA recipients can work legally and must pay taxes, but they dont have full legal status and are denied many benefits, including access to federally funded health insurance, available to U.S. citizens and foreigners living in the U.S. Paloma Bouhid, 26, a DACA recipient originally from Brazil and small business owner in Orlando, Florida, where she grew up, said the announcement was a huge sigh of relief. Bouhid said she began her business in 2021 after losing her job with the Walt Disney company in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but being self-employed meant she had to pay $500 a month for private insurance following a health scare last year. This past year I have really been scrambling to just get all of my doctors appointments in, Bouhid said. Any doctors visits due, everything that I possibly can, because prior to todays announcement, I really couldnt afford to keep it any more than the year I have had it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people signed up for Medicaid, the program that provides health care coverage for the poorest Americans. And the government increased federal subsidies to drive down the cost of insurance plans on the Affordable Care Acts marketplace. As of last year, just 8% of Americans were without health insurance, according to Health and Human Services. But immigrants living in the U.S. without documentation are far more likely than others to not have health insurance. More than a third of DACA recipients are estimated to be without health care coverage, HHS said. About half of the roughly 20 million immigrants who are living in the U.S. without documentation are uninsured, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Providing more people with insurance could have a positive impact on the entire health care system because it would give more people access to routine checkups and avoid emergency visits, said Jamila Michener, associate professor of government and policy at Cornell University. Having sizeable groups of people who live, work, go to school and make their home in the U.S. but cannot access vital health benefits is bad for everyone," Michener said in an email. It makes preventive care less accessible thus driving up the cost of emergency care. Jose Munoz, national communications manager for immigration advocacy organization United We Dream, said the announcement was a major victory. He said that until today, hundreds of thousands of people who benefit from DACA have been obligated to pay higher quantities for private insurance if their employers did not offer insurance or they were self-employed, or go uninsured. When you are thinking about going to the doctor for an annual checkup or like when youre sick, those are a part of life and it is such a human need, Munoz said. Unfortunately for far too many people, especially for undocumented people, getting affordable health insurance is often inaccessible. Jose Magana-Salgado, founder of the Masa consulting group and a DACA recipient, said that growing up he witnessed his cousin, who was undocumented, be put in hospice and pass away after being diagnosed with cancer because she did not have insurance to help her pay for treatment. Magana-Salgado has spent years advocating for health insurance for his fellow recipients and all immigrants. I went for several years without health insurance wondering if a medical bill was going to send me to bankruptcy or, even worse, lead to passing away early, Magana-Salgado said. While theres bipartisan support to enact some sort of protections for the immigrants, negotiations have often broken down over in debates about border security and whether an expansion of protections might induce others to try to enter the U.S. without permission. Biden, a Democrat, has repeatedly called on Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Other classes of immigrants including asylum seekers and people with temporary protected status are already eligible to purchase insurance through the marketplaces of the ACA, Obamas 2010 health care law, often called Obamacare. The new drug looked so promising except for that one warning sign. At the American College of Rheumatologys annual meeting in 2008, Duke Universitys Dr. John Sundy proudly announced that pegloticase, a drug hed helped develop, was astoundingly effective at treating severe gout, which affects perhaps 50,000 Americans. In about half of those who had taken it, the drug melted away the crystalline uric acid deposits that encrusted their joints to cause years of pain, immobility, or disfigurement. But Sundy also disclosed an unsettling detail: In one clinical trial, patients who got the drug were more likely to develop heart problems than those who didnt. The day after Sundys talk, the stock price of Savient Pharmaceuticals, which developed the drug with Duke scientists, plunged 75%. That danger signal would disappear in later studies, and the FDA approved pegloticase, under the trade name Krystexxa, two years later. But the small biotech company never recovered. In 2013, Savient was sold at auction to Crealta, a private equity venture created for the purpose, for $120 million. Two years later, a young company now called Horizon Therapeutics bought Crealta and its drug portfolio for $510 million. Even at that price, it proved a good deal. Krystexxa brought in $716 million in 2022 and was expected to earn $1 billion annually in coming years. Although Horizon says it now has 20 drugs under development, in its 15 years of existence it has yet to license a product it invented. Yet the company has managed to assemble a war chest of lucrative drugs, in the process writing a playbook for how to build a modern pharmaceutical colossus. As the White House and both parties in Congress grapple with reining in prescription drug prices, Horizons approach reveals just how difficult this may be. Horizons strategy has paid off handsomely. Krystexxa was just one of the many shiny objects that attracted Amgen, a pharmaceutical giant. Amgen announced in December that it intends to buy Horizon for $27.8 billion, in the biggest pharmaceutical industry deal announced in 2022. Horizons CEO, Tim Walbert, who will reportedly get around $135 million when the deal closes, has mastered a particular kind of industry expertise: taking drugs invented and tested by other people, wrapping them expertly in hard-nosed marketing and warm-hued patient relations, raising their prices, and enjoying astounding revenues. Hes done this with unusual finesse courting patients with concierge-like attention and engaging specialist clinicians with lunches, conferences, and research projects, all while touting his own experience as a patient with a rare inflammatory disease. Walberts company has been particularly adept at ensuring that insurers, rather than patients, bear the costly burdens of his drugs. A federal prosecutor in 2015 began examining allegations that Horizons patient assistance program had worked with specialty pharmacies to evade insurers efforts to shun Horizons expensive drugs. A separate probe opened in 2019 over alleged kickbacks to pharmacy benefit managers, companies that negotiate to get Horizons drugs covered by insurers. Those investigations appear to be no longer active, Horizon spokesperson Catherine Riedel said. The company this year disclosed a third probe, concerning methods the company allegedly used to get prior authorization of its drugs. Justice officials did not respond to requests for comment on the investigations. An Injection of Marketing To help sell its drugs, Horizon blankets specialist physicians with marketing and peer-to-peer appeals. Its payments to physicians for things like consulting, speeches, and meals totaled $8.7 million in 2021, compared with the $10 million it paid them for research, federal records show. By contrast, Seagen, a biotech company of roughly the same size, paid doctors a total of $116 million, with nearly $112 million of that pegged for research. Riedel said Horizons marketing and educational approaches were necessarily unique because of the challenges of treating rare and neglected diseases. Walbert launched Horizon in 2008 in the Chicago area by combining and refashioning generic drugs into single pills. Duexis, Horizons first drug, is a mixture of generic Motrin and Pepcid. Its Vimovo combines generic Aleve and Nexium. In a 2017 article, a ProPublica reporter described being prescribed Vimovo for a shoulder injury. It cost him nothing, but his insurer was billed $3,252 for pills that together cost about $40 for a months supply in generic form. Horizon sold more than $57 million worth of Vimovo that year. In 2014 and 2015, respectively, Horizon picked up two relatively new drugs that had no generic versions: the immunosuppressant Actimmune and Ravicti, which treats a rare genetic disorder. Soon Horizon was charging more than $50,000 a month for each, placing Actimmmune fourth and Ravicti second on GoodRxs 2020 list of the most expensive U.S. drugs. Horizons net sales soared from $20 million in 2012 to $981 million in 2016; Walberts pay package followed suit, topping an astronomical $93.4 million in 2015 in salary and stock. Stock analysts questioned the long-term soundness of a strategy of simply selling old drugs for mind-boggling prices, but Walbert was using the cash to refashion the company as a rare-diseases franchise. His approach would make Walbert a darling of pharmaceutical investors and his board, which lavished him with over $20 million in compensation each of the past three years. While most biotechs and startups borrow heavily from venture capital to do science and have no idea how to develop and market a drug, Walbert got cash coming in quickly. He did it backwards, said Annabel Samimy, an analyst at Stifel Financial Corp. Horizon built commercial platforms before they got into drug development. Generating robust sales of what sounded like not very interesting drugs allowed Walbert to start a company on not very much, said Oppenheimer analyst Leland Gershell. All the while, Horizon funded and cultivated the patient advocacy groups that can help lobby for a drug to be approved by the FDA and placed on insurers formularies, the lists of drugs health plans cover for patients. Capitalizing on His Own Illness? As Walbert and his spokespeople often point out, Walbert and his youngest son suffer from a rare disease, and Walbert also has an autoimmune disease. Walbert wont name the diseases, but has said hes taken the anti-inflammatory injectable Humira since 2003 the year he led that drugs commercial launch as a vice president at Abbott Laboratories. Humira has become the bestselling drug in history, with about $200 billion in all-time global sales. In 2014, Walbert moved Horizons headquarters to Ireland, which nearly halved its tax rate. A year later it gained control of Krystexxa, and in 2017 it bought, for $145 million, a failing company that produced Tepezza, a drug for thyroid eye disease, which causes unsightly eye bulging and pain. Tepezza quickly became a blockbuster, with $3.6 billion in total sales in 2021 and 2022. The company conducted additional clinical research on both Tepezza and Krystexxa, but it also spent heavily promoting these and other drugs to specialists who could prescribe them. All the while it steadily raised prices. Savient put Krystexxa on the market in 2011 at $2,300 per injection. Horizon charges roughly 10 times as much. Six months of Tepezza treatment can run more than $400,000. Horizons publicity emphasized the companys sensitivity to patients, and its constant contact with disease advocates. Our scientists are attuned to the unmet needs of patients, their diagnostic and therapeutic journey, Bill Rees, Horizons vice president for translational sciences, told KFF Health News. Its the marrying of the basic clinical science with a focus on the needs of the patient that differentiates us. To make sure patients keep using its drugs, clinicians say, Horizon staffers negotiate with insurance carriers, and the company offers drug discounts to lower-income patients while swaddling them with attention from its medical staff. Horizon has a nurse talk to each and every patient before every appointment, said Dr. Brigid Freyne, who treats around half a dozen patients each year with Krystexxa at her Murrieta, California, rheumatology clinic. The patients who come in here are highly motivated to get their IV. They get the message that its very important and they are fortunate to get the medicine. None of the manufacturers of her other infusion drugs shower patients with this kind of attention, she said. While at Abbott, Walbert pioneered direct-to-consumer advertising for specialty drugs like Humira, a trend that aggravated insurers, who anticipated, correctly, that they would soon be shelling out billions for expensive drugs. Horizons marketing plan for Krystexxa includes direct-to-consumer ads aimed at driving patients to specialists. The drug is designed for recalcitrant gout patients, who often have large lumps on their fingers, feet, and kidneys. Many, though not all, are heavy drinkers of beer or soda sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, which can increase the buildup of uric acid, the cause of gout, said Dr. Robert McLean of Yale University. While Krystexxa can help patients with advanced gout, the American College of Rheumatology views it as a drug of last resort, with plenty of cheaper, early intervention alternatives available. I prescribe it maybe once a year, McLean said. From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, it warrants questioning. Horizon recently started a publicity campaign addressed to all gout sufferers, urging them to see a rheumatologist or a nephrologist the specialists it has targeted with Krystexxa educational materials before the disease does too much harm. Horizon would like you to say, Everyone with serious gout should be started on Krystexxa, said Dr. James ODell, a rheumatologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The Horizon pitchmen he deals with are nice guys, but we dont believe thats the best way. The company defends its marketing practices. We learn what matters most to patient communities and act. This approach has been validated by independent third-party research, said Riedel. The Federal Trade Commission said in January it was seeking more information on the Amgen-Horizon merger. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), citing high prices for Horizon and Amgen drugs, urged the agency to nix the deal. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF. USE OUR CONTENT This story can be republished for free (details). Authorities say a tech consultant has been arrested and charged with murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee in San Francisco. Police Chief Bill Scott said that 38-year-old Nima Momeni was booked Thursday morning on suspicion of murder. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Momeni is expected to be arraigned Friday. Police found Lee with stab wounds in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco at 2:30 a.m. April 4. On his LinkedIn profile, Momeni describes himself as an IT Consultant/Entrepreneur as well as the owner of a company called Expand IT. Scott says the men knew each other but declined to describe how. Hordes of revelers tote colorful water guns as Thailand kicks off its exuberant three-day Songkran festival at full blast for the first time since 2019, hoping for a significant boost in tourism after the industry was devastated by coronavirus travel restrictions. The New Year celebrations signature water fighting is a major draw for tourists. But it had been banned or discouraged since 2020 to curb the spread of COVID-19. The Tourism Authority of Thailand projects this years Songkran festival will help generate more than $530 million in revenue and bring more than 300,000 international travelers. Still, local entrepreneurs remain concerned about the pace of recovery. WAPELLO The Louisa County Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Advisory Council could face a shortage of time to finalize a tax referendum question at the same time the countys three ambulance services are facing a growing financial crunch. The council met Monday for its second meeting since being established by the supervisors earlier this year. County Supervisor Shawn Maine, who was elected council chair at the beginning of the meeting, reviewed ambulance budget numbers with other council members to establish the current financial health of the countys three ambulance services. According to Maines review, all three services the Morning Sun Ambulance Service (MSAS), Wapello Community Ambulance Service (WCAS) and the Louisa County (Columbus Junction) Ambulance Service (LCAS) are projected to lose money be the end of Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The numbers had been submitted by the services, with MSAS projecting an $8,738 deficit by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2023; while the WCAS was forecasting a $9,598 shortfall. The LCAS was showing the most red ink, with an estimated negative balance of around $110,000. The budget predictions in FY 24 showed some improvement, with the WCAS forecasting an $18,337 positive balance on June 30, 2024, while the LCAS estimated its ending year balance would be $67,942 in the red. The MSAS figures predicted a continued slide, with a $10,833 deficit. Ambulance subsidies provided by the county were included in the Fiscal Years 23 and 24 figures, but in Fiscal Year 25, Maine indicated if the proposed EMS tax is approved by voters, the subsidies could end. However, without the subsidies, the services end-of-year balances would significantly jump. The MSAS figures showed a $54,297 deficit, LCAS had an estimated $118,226 shortfall and the WCAS projected $154,015 in the red. Based on those possible deficits and the FY 24 valuation of the county, council members estimated the EMS tax would need to be around 54 cents per $1,000 taxable valuation to meet all the shortfalls and a 25% cushion to handle unexpected costs and contingencies. Under Iowa law, a 75-cent per $1,000 tax levy can be approved by voters, but the council can set the vote for any amount under the level. Regardless of the actual referendum amount, council members said they would need to mount a serious education program to gain the required 60% voter approval needed to get any tax measure passed. The council members agreed a key point in any education effort would be to point out the impact to the community if the ambulance services were forced to stop operating because of the financial shortages. Maine emphasized the operations were in jeopardy because the projected shortages were not sustainable and identified the consequences if those operations stopped. (What happens) if an ambulance (is needed) and nothing comes? he asked. When one council member suggested an injured or ill person would need to be transported by private vehicle, LCAS Executive Director Jim Ingham pointed out how those efforts could be life threatening themselves. Ingham said over his 15-year EMS career he had been involved in two calls where there had been accidents involving private vehicles being used for EMS transports. Both resulted in fatalities. The council will meet again at 6 p.m. April 24 at the Morning Sun Community Center. In the meantime, Maine said he would contact county officials to obtain the latest valuation numbers and tax levy calculation. Council members indicated they are looking to place the tax question on the ballot in November. Members of American Federation of Government Employees Local 2119 gathered in Bechtel Park to picket the "forced" union contract on the Rock Island Arsenal, Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Davenport. According to a AFGE union representative, more than 400 workers were being forced to accept a contract they have not agreed upon at the Rock Island Arsenal Joint Manufacturing Technology Center in Rock Island, Ill. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. Dozens of scientists from universities and environmental groups are pushing for the removal of the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming she lacks the educational background required to run the agency despite securing Senate confirmation last year. The concerns about the credentials of service Director Martha Williams were outlined in a letter from 100 scientists recently sent to President Joe Biden and U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Williams is an attorney who majored in philosophy, and her critics claim she does not have the science-based education that federal law says is required for the position. Government attorneys have rejected allegations she's not credentialed, but they have not disputed her lack of a science degree. There was no discussion of Williams educational qualifications during her Senate confirmation hearing. She was confirmed on a voice vote in February 2022 with bipartisan support. She worked as an attorney at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for more than two decades, then led the state agency for three years before being named principal deputy director at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following Bidens election. During the Obama administration, she was a deputy solicitor at the Interior Department for two years. The call for her resignation or dismissal comes as Biden faces growing pressure from some wildlife advocates who contend the administration has not done enough to protect endangered plants and animals from extinction. Many of the scientists named in the letter also have been involved in efforts to retain federal protections for threatened grizzly bears in Western states and gray wolves across most of the nation. Williams came to the Biden administration from Montana, where hunting wolves is legal. She said during her confirmation hearing that the grizzly bear population around Yellowstone National Park has recovered, putting her at odds with wildlife advocates. The battle over her qualifications has simmered since she was announced as Bidens pick in late 2021. The Interior Departments solicitor and inspector general dismissed complaints over the matter, but still pending in federal court is a lawsuit that focuses on the educational requirements outlined by Congress when it overhauled the wildlife agency in 1974. Federal law says only someone with scientific education and experience can be appointed director of the service. Williams has a bachelor's in philosophy from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Montana, according to congressional records and the Department of Interior. The Fish and Wildlife Service did not respond to multiple emails about her qualifications. Interior spokesperson Melissa Schwartz declined to comment on the letter, and the White House did not respond. Attorneys for the Biden administration said in court filings that the law requires Williams education to be considered cumulatively with her experience. She clearly has the requisite background, they wrote. A spokesperson for Montana Sen. Steve Daines said the Republican lawmaker stood by his vote for Williams. Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, said that since her confirmation, Williams has brought collaborative, science-based solutions to the tough problems facing our wildlife and public lands. Other than resigning or being fired by the president, impeachment is the only mechanism for removing Senate-confirmed civil officers such as Williams, according to Katherine Scott, associate historian in the U.S. Senate Historical Office. The scientists calling for her ouster say they're concerned the administration is setting a precedent by sidestepping the scientific education requirement. They claim Williams is serving in contradiction to the administrations own policies and ethics rules. They pointed to an assessment done by Biden's Scientific Integrity Task Force that suggests executive branch positions should be filled by candidates with appropriate credentials and that violations of scientific integrity policies should be taken as seriously as violations of ethics rules. The scientists include Dave Parsons, who led government efforts to reintroduce the endangered Mexican gray wolf in the Southwest; two board members and a scientist with Silver Spring, Maryland-based Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; well-known biology professors Paul and Anne Ehrlich at Stanford University; and wolf experts William Ripple and Robert Beschta from Oregon State University. With the exception of Williams, every director since the agency was overhauled in the 1970s had a scientific education, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. I see this appointment as a tipping point, where politics will forever override statutory credentials, said Parsons, who authored the letter. 25 endangered animals that live only in America 25 endangered animals that only live in America Salt marsh harvest mouse Utah prairie dog Red wolf Kauai cave wolf spider Laysan duck Yosemite toad Gunnison sage-grouse Devils Hole pupfish Fanshell Giant kangaroo rat Delta green ground beetle Jollyville Plateau salamander California condor American burying beetle Squirrel Chimney Cave shrimp Crested honeycreeper (Akohekohe) Red Hills salamander Louisiana pine snake Woundfin Alabama red-bellied turtle Bruneau Hot springsnail Mountain yellow-legged frog Flattened musk turtle Coachella Valley fringe-toed lizard Northern Idaho ground squirrel INDIANAPOLIS A grand jury indicted two Indianapolis police officers for the death of a Black man who died last year after being taken into police custody at his parents' home, prosecutors said Thursday. The indictment of officers Adam Ahmad and Steven Sanchez comes nearly a year after Herman Whitfield III's death. His family sued the city of Indianapolis and six police officers in June over the 39-year-old pianist's death. Sanchez was indicted on two counts of involuntary manslaughter, while Ahmad was indicted on one count, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears said in a news release. Both were also indicted on charges of reckless homicide, battery resulting in serious bodily injury and battery resulting in moderate injury all felony charges and on a misdemeanor battery charge. Online court records did not list an attorney for either Ahmad or Sanchez. Five officers with the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and a recruit trainee were called to the home of Whitfield's parents April 25 while he was in the throes of a mental health episode, The Indianapolis Star reported. During that interaction, police used a stun gun on Whitfield and handcuffed him naked and facedown on the ground, according to the newspaper. He died shortly after arriving at a hospital. An autopsy determined that he died from heart failure while under law enforcement restraint and ruled the death a homicide, the newspaper reported. The lawsuit filed by Whitfield's family claims responding officers used a stun gun on him and then "crushed the breath out of an unarmed, non-violent" man. It also alleges that the officers ignored Whitfield's cries of "I can't breathe." The officers told investigators that they tried negotiating with Whitfield and using de-escalation tactics for more than 10 minutes before Whitfield moved quickly toward an officer, police said. "The officer activated the Taser twice and the man continued to resist," police claimed in a news release at the time. Officers handcuffed Whitfield, but medics received no response from him, and they began CPR, police said. Its neighbors say North Korea has conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month as it extends a provocative run of weapons tests. Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to evacuate in a sign of its vigilance over North Koreas evolving missile threats. The missile was launched at a high angle, which North Korea usually does to avoid its neighbors, and it landed in the waters between the peninsula and Japan. A South Korean defense official said the military believes the test was of a new type of missile, possibly using solid fuel. It would be the first, if so. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to obtain several new weapons to cope with what he calls U.S. military threats. Iowa lawmakers are closing the gap on dueling proposals to lower Iowans property tax bills after a House committee advanced a property tax reduction bill on Thursday. A residential or agricultural property tax bill could not increase by more than 3% over the preceding year in most cases under the bill, while a commercial or industrial property tax bill could not increase by more than 8%. Improvements or new constructions on a property would lead to a higher tax bill. The bill, House File 1, passed the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously with support from both Republicans and Democrats. The bill would not affect property assessments, but instead require local officials to lower a persons property tax bill if the total tax bill based on the assessment rises above 3% higher than the previous year. Property owners across the state saw sharp increases in their property tax assessment letters this year, owing to a hot real estate market and rising property values. This is centered around your increase for your actual bill, which is designed to give the taxpayers not only predictability, but also stop the bleeding for continually increasing property tax bills, said committee chair Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton. The bill would also lower by a dollar a property tax that funds public schools from 5.40 to 4.40 per thousand dollars for most schools and direct the state to make up the $204 million difference. The amendment gets rid of a requirement in the original bill that a school or local government put down 10% of the cost of an improvement project before holding an election to borrow money. Instead, it would require that a vote on a school or local government taking on debt is held during a general election in November on even-numbered years. Local governments would also have to provide property taxpayers with an itemized list of what goes into their property tax bill. Rep. Dave Jacoby D-Coralville, the ranking member on the committee, said he was pleased to see some items Democrats support being in the bill. He said it would lower property taxes for middle-class taxpayers, something Democrats have said was a priority. Everyone's seeing huge valuations jump, he said. We do not want to see any artificial means of suppressing values of Iowans' homes, but we do believe that there has to be some limits on the increases for people's property taxes. But, Jacoby said his one complaint with the bill is the local bonding rule. He said the decision is better left up to local governments, and the bill would affect plans some governments already have in progress to hold elections on taking on debt. The Cedar Rapids school district is planning to hold a bond vote later this year to borrow $312 million to build a new middle school and other projects. If the bill went into effect, the vote could not be held until November 2024. The bill still has key differences from legislation proposed in the Senate to lower property tax bills, but leaders of both chambers tax committees said they were getting closer to an agreement. Conceptually, were getting closer and closer to being on the same page, its just a matter of working out the mechanisms, Kaufmann said. The Senate bill, Senate File 356, is intended to lower tax bills by restricting how much a local government can tax depending on how much total taxable value in the city or county increases. Sen. Dan Dawson, R-Council Bluffs, the Senate Ways and Means Committee chair, said whatever bill lawmakers land on will need to result in lower tax bills for property owners who saw their assessments spike this year. We have to make sure that when we walk out of here, that we have built mechanisms in our systems that can protect the property taxpayer for what they received in their assessment letters, Dawson said. DES MOINES Iowans could have a gun in their car if the gun is out of sight and the car is locked on school and college grounds in limited situations under a bill House lawmakers passed on Wednesday. Among other provisions, the bill would allow a person to carry a handgun in a car if they are dropping off or picking up a student, staff member or other person involved with a public or nonpublic school. The person would need a permit to carry, the handgun would have to remain inside the vehicle, and the vehicle would be required to be locked while unattended. The bill, House File 654, passed the House 62-37. Republicans Chad Ingels of Randalia and Gary Mohr of Bettendorf joined all Democrats in opposition. A companion bill in the Senate advanced out of a committee in March, but has not been considered by the chamber. Rep. Steven Holt, a Republican from Denison and the bills floor manager, said the bill would protect second-amendment rights and allow more freedom for responsible gun owners. Democrats criticized Republicans for passing a bill that allows guns directly outside schools just weeks after a shooting at a private school in Nashville, Tennessee took the lives of three 9-year-old students and three staff members. Democrats said the bill would make schools less safe and result in more guns around children. They also said lawmakers were missing an opportunity to pass gun control measures, like requiring background checks for private sales. Today my thoughts are with the kids across the state and across this country who have literally begged us begged us to do something about gun violence, said Democratic Rep. Heather Matson of Ankeny. Theyve begged us to listen and theyve begged us for the right to be safe at schools. One person was killed and two injured in a drive-by shooting outside East High School in Des Moines last year, and two people were killed at a shooting at Starts Right Here, an education program in Des Moines, earlier this year. The bill would allow schools to authorize a person to carry a firearm in a vehicle transporting students. The bill would also allow guns and other weapons like knives and tasers to be kept in cars at Iowas public universities and community colleges, provided the car is locked and the weapon is not visible. Holt said the bill will protect the rights of law-abiding gun owners while maintaining strict restrictions around the weapons in or near schools. He rebuffed Democrats claims that allowing guns in more areas would increase violence. He said perpetrators of mass shootings at schools are generally not parents or spouses who are picking up or dropping off people at the school. I do feel more comfortable when law-abiding citizens are allowed to carry a firearm, he said. I feel very, very vulnerable in a gun-free zone because I know that mentally ill individuals who have decided to commit violence against other human beings dont care what the law is. Debate on the bill at times got charged and emotional when lawmakers spoke about friends or constituents that were involved in gun violence incidents. After the bill's passage, Democratic lawmakers read a list of every school shooting since the 1999 Columbine High School shooting. The bill would lift restrictions on guns in other areas, including: Guns could be brought, out of sight in a locked vehicle, onto any publicly accessible parking lot operated by the state, counties or cities including at jails and prisons. Drivers would be allowed to have a loaded gun in their cars on a public highway. Iowans would be allowed to carry a loaded gun on a snowmobile or ATV, but it would still be a crime to shoot a gun from the vehicles in most cases. Iowa voters approved a constitutional amendment in the November 2022 election that enshrines the right to bear arms in Iowas constitution and subjects any restrictions on that right to the highest legal review standard. Gun safety training Lawmakers added a provision on the floor, with some bipartisan support, that would require schools to offer gun safety classes in grades seven through 12. Schools would be encouraged to implement gun safety instruction in kindergarten through grade six. The programming would be developed by the Department of Education and based on training programs from the National Rifle Association. Rep. Ako Abdul-Samad, a Democrat from Des Moines, said the training would help students learn what to do if they see a gun at school or outside the home. At some point we have to take a stand and say, Hey, how do we educate our children? he said. LOS ANGELES (AP) U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has faced calls to resign from fellow Democrats, asked Wednesday to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers from illness that has kept her away from Washington for weeks. Feinstein, the oldest member of Congress at 89, said in a statement that her recovery from a case of shingles she disclosed in early March had been delayed because of complications. She provided no date for her return and said she had requested that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to serve in her committee seat until she was able to return. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel," Feinstein said. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. Feinstein's lengthy absence has caused increasing anxiety within her party because it has threatened Democratic efforts to confirm President Joe Bidens nominees for federal courts in a narrowly divided chamber. Her decision to seek a committee stand-in during her recovery came shortly after two House Democrats called on her to resign after her extended absence from Washington. Feinstein has faced questions in recent years about her cognitive health and memory, though she has defended her effectiveness representing a state that is home to nearly 40 million people. California Rep. Ro Khanna, one of two Democratic House members who called Wednesday for Feinstein to resign, said in a statement: This is a moment of crisis for women's rights and voting rights. It's unacceptable to have Sen. Feinstein miss vote after vote to confirm judges who will uphold reproductive rights. Khanna, a California progressive, wrote on Twitter that Feinstein should step aside. She announced in February that she would not seek reelection in 2024, opening up her seat for the first time in over 30 years. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty, wrote Khanna, who has endorsed the Senate campaign of Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not long afterward, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota tweeted that he agreed with Khanna. Feinstein, he wrote, is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But 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. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday from Ireland, where President Joe Biden was visiting, that Biden and first lady Jill Biden wish Senator Feinstein the very best and a speedy recovery. She said Biden is deeply appreciative of her support for his judicial nominees and "respects and appreciates her commitment to public service. Already, Democratic Reps. Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have launched Senate campaigns to succeed Feinstein. If Feinstein decides to step down during her term, it would be up to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy, potentially reordering the highly competitive race. Newsom said in 2021 that he would nominate a Black woman to fill the seat if Feinstein were to step aside. Lee is Black, and becoming the incumbent could be a decisive advantage in the contest, but its not known if Newsom would consider Lee, given her candidacy. Porter and Schiff are white. Newsom declined through a spokesperson to comment on Khanna's statement. The governor is not calling on her to resign, the spokesman, Anthony York, said in an email. Before the calls for her resignation, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, acknowledged in remarks to CNN that Feinsteins absence has slowed down their push to confirm nominees in the closely divided panel. I cant consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee, Durbin said. Feinstein has had a groundbreaking political career and shattered gender barriers from San Franciscos City Hall to the corridors of Capitol Hill. She was the first woman to serve as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970s and the first female mayor of San Francisco. She ascended to that post after the November 1978 assassinations of then-Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk by a former supervisor, Dan White. Feinstein found Milks body. Former President Donald Trump has visited the offices of New Yorks attorney general for his second deposition in a legal battle over his companys business practices, answering questions for around seven hours instead of invoking his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination. The Republican met Thursday with lawyers for Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump last year. Her lawsuit claims Trump misled banks and others about the value of his assets. He denies that. Trump met previously with James lawyers but refused to answer questions, invoking the Fifth Amendment. His attorney, Alina Habba, says this time Trump was eager to testify. Police in Nairobi have launched a manhunt for two men who raided a private hospital in the Ruai area and robbed patients. Eyewitnesses said the gang of two forced their way into the Ruai Family Hospital on Monday, April 10, at around 4 am. Guards at the facility said the robbers arrived on a motorcycle and were armed with pistols. One of the gunmen fired one round on the floor as they demanded cash, and mobile phones. The other gunman is said to have collected four mobile phones from the patients, an unknown amount of money, and other valuables. The men then ran out of the facility, jumped onto a waiting motorcycle, and sped off. No one was injured during the robbery as detectives visited the scene and recovered a 9mm spent cartridge. Police suspect the gang was on a robbing spree before it raid the hospital. Detectives visited the facility on Tuesday and Wednesday to review CCTV footage as investigations continue. Confirming the incident, Nairobi police boss Adamson Bungei said they are working with their Kiambu counterparts to track the robbers. Popular city lawyer Danstan Omari has not taken kindly to Kimani Ichungwah insinuating that he is well known in Nairobis infamous red-light district, Koinange Street. The drama started early this month when Danstan Omari appeared on live TV to discuss the governments alleged plan to take former President Uhuru Kenyatta to court. While rubbishing the alleged plot, Omari fired shots at President Ruto, his Cabinet, and Kimani Ichungwah terming them as local leaders. Kenya Kwanza want to drag Uhuru to courtUhuru and Raila are two serious international figures, they control 80% of networks globally Ruto is a local president and the likes of Ichungwah are only known up to Kikuyu constituency, Omari said on NTV. The media house shared a video of Omaris remarks on Twitter, prompting Kimani Ichungwah to respond. The National Assembly Majority Leader tweeted: Phew! At least am known in Kikuyu by my people unlike the fake media based liar only known along Koinange street! It is this tweet that has prompted Danstan Omari to serve Ichungwah with a demand letter to retract the tweet. Through his lawyer Brian Mabeya, Omari also wants the Kikuyu MP to apologize within seven days. Mabeya said the tweet was meant to portray his client as a person of loose morals who entertains the company of prostitutes. Our client is an advocate of several years standing and has been a lecturer of law, he is also a father and a married man, the letter reads. Your tweet was therefore calculated to injure the image and character of our client in the eyes of the public. As of Wednesday, April 12, Kimani Ichungwah had not apologized nor retracted his tweet. Phew! At least am known in Kikuyu by my people unlike the fake media based liar only known along Koinange street! https://t.co/SfhIJ2LHbY Kimani Ichungwah (@KIMANIICHUNGWAH) February 1, 2023 Winnie Odinga spoke about settling down, revealing why she is not in any rush to get married and have children. The East African Legislative Assembly member said in a recent interview that her family has been asking her to start a family. The last-born daughter of opposition leader Raila Odinga said her mother in particular has been asking her to get married over the last couple of years. My mother started (the marriage talk) a couple of years ago but I told her to cool down on that talk, Winne said. The 33-year-old says she is still young and enjoying her life and in no hurry to start a family. Winnie noted that with modern technology and science, she could even get a child at 80 years. I am young. Im having fun. Im in my 30s living lifeThere is a lot of science these days I can have a child when I am 80, she said. The BrickHouse Counsel CEO disclosed that she is currently single for the first time in nine years. She lamented that she is yet to find a confident Kenyan man. I have not found the right personwhen I meet them, they start by being confident, kidogo kidogo politics, kidogo kidogo baba (Raila) calls me and they get shocked. I am yet to find that confident Kenyan man, Winnie said. She added: I am still looking, you never know, but especially a Kenyan man. I dont mind other cultures, but just somebody who understands me. Also Read What Winnie Odinga Looks For in a Man SANTA BARBARA Ah, Pinot Noir, the fickle grape that makes many people swoon. For more than 20 years, World of Pinot Noir has brought together winemakers and wine enthusiasts who share a common love, Pinot Noir. For three days, Pinot Noir lovers attend seminars, lunches, dinners and grand tastings, all of which feature Pinot Noirs from around the world. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help. Subscribe today! Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Napa Valley Register. While Pinot Noir is the common element, as I sat down for a seminar with wines from Brewer Clifton, located in the Santa Ynez Valley in California, and Giant Steps, located in the Yarra Valley in Australia, I was curious what connected these two wineries from two different regions from across the world. I was not the only one. Winemaker Greg Brewer, who led the seminar, immediately explained: On paper, these two wineries show tremendous differences. But there is a link. While these two wineries are a hemisphere apart, as well as a season apart, he said, there is a kinship between these two wineries. They are two wineries that reflect a true sense of place and are love letters to their respective regions. Giant Steps, Yarra Valley, Australia Pinot Noir is not what most people think of when they think of Australian wine. But beyond the Barossa Valley, Tasmania and the Yarra Valley have climates suited for growing Pinot Noir. The Yarra Valley, located an hour north of Melbourne, is one of Australia's coolest wine regions. It has a continental climate with rolling hillsides that offer varying altitudes, resulting in different microclimates. With regards to soils, the Yarra Valley has grey-brown sandy loam on the northern side and younger, red volcanic soil on the southern side. Giant Steps was founded in 1997 by Phil Sexton, a jazz fan who named the winery after John Coltranes album "Giant Steps." Working in a gravity flow winery, Giant Steps takes a minimal intervention approach to winemaking. The focus is on producing six single-vineyard wines with delicate restraint and focused energy that reflect the cool climate of the Yarra Valley. Giant Steps 2020 Primavera Vineyard Pinot Noir The Primavera Vineyard is a high elevation vineyard with red clay loam soils that was planted in 2001. The grapes are fermented whole cluster resulting in an earthy wine with a perfume of floral potpourri. Giant Steps 2020 Applejack Vineyard Pinot Noir Planted in the upper Yarra Valley in 1997, the Applejack Vineyard with its volcanic soils, sits at a high elevation that results in an extended growing season. Richer than the Primavera, this wine has aromas of cranberry and earth with a crunchy, juicy acidity. Giant Steps 2020 Sexton Vineyard Sourced from a vineyard in the lower Yarra Valley that was planted by Phil Sexton in 1990s, the soils are shallow gravelly loams above a tough, rocky clay base. This wine has the most intensity of color as well as deeper fruit and spice notes and bold acidity. Giant Steps 2021 - A blend of the six single vineyards, this lively wine is very vibrant and fresh with primary red fruit aromas and a crunchy stemminess. Brewer-Clifton, Sta. Rita Hills, California Only 16 miles from the Pacific Ocean, the Sta. Rita Hills AVA sits on the western side of the Santa Ynez Valley. The hills run east to west, allowing the cool ocean breezes and fog from the Pacific Ocean to enter the valley. The soils in the Sta. Rita Hills consist of sandy loams, silt loams and clay loams, as well as marine deposits. Brewer-Clifton was created by Greg Brewer and Steve Clifton in 1996. The focus of Brewer-Clifton wines is to reflect the geographic, geologic and climatic uniqueness of the Sta. Rita Hills. The approach is to take a low-intervention approach, use neutral barrels, whole cluster fermentation and stem inclusion to wines express the vineyards. Brewer-Clifton 2020 3D Pinot Noir - Planted in 2007 on the eastern side of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation, 3D is a 13-acre vineyard with sandy soils. It is just a touch warmer at this vineyard, which is only three miles from the Machado vineyard. The clones are Swan and Pommard, and the wine is 100% whole cluster which lifts up the fruit component. Aromas of cherry and earth and notes of stemminess, this wine has a lot of meatiness and a lovely texture. Brewer-Clifton 2020 Machado Pinot Noir Planted in 2008 to Clone 37 (Merry Edwards) and Clone 459 from Jura, the vineyard has richer soils that result in a wine with more depth, lots of spice notes, and a mouthwatering finish. Brewer-Clifton 2020 Hapgood Pinot Noir Located 15 miles from the ocean, this is a super cold vineyard with very sandy soils. The resulting wine has aromas of cherry saltwater taffy and a green spice on the finish. Brewer-Clifton 2021 Sta Rita Hills Pinot Noir - A blend of four vineyards, this wine is 90% whole cluster aged in 1520-year-old barrels. The wine has notes of ripe red berries, spice, and minerality. Tasting these wines, the single vineyard wines expressed the vineyards they came from, and the blends offer a portrait of the region. Giant Steps wines are vibrant and electric. Next to them, the Brewer Clifton wines seemed bigger in style. However, they are also expressive with lifted freshness. These wines are pure expressions of their regions. The variety (Pinot Noir) is the same, but they come from different landscapes and are made following different protocols. But they both have an intentionality of transparence and reflect a true sense of place. Giant Steps and Brewer Clifton are love letters to their respective regions. This is what connects these two wineries. Close Singer harvesting olives in Sonoma. "The Syrah and Viognier Singer crafts display a precision, angularity and expression that is wonderfully different when compared to similar wines from the region," Tim Carl writes. When you get to live and work in such a beautiful place as this it fuels an animated sense of wonder and curiosity, and thats something I love to celebrate and to share, says Stephen Singer, shown here in his Sonoma County vineyards. Stephen Singer and his vineyard manager and winemaker, Greg Adams, harvest the final pick of 2022 Syrah grapes at Singers Baker Lane vineyard in Sonoma County. When you get to live and work in such a beautiful place as this it fuels an animated sense of wonder and curiosity, and thats something I love to celebrate and to share. Singer's Sonoma studio. Singer during harvest in Sonoma. Stephen Singer's wines. Stephen Singer bucks the wine trends Singer harvesting olives in Sonoma. "The Syrah and Viognier Singer crafts display a precision, angularity and expression that is wonderfully different when compared to similar wines from the region," Tim Carl writes. When you get to live and work in such a beautiful place as this it fuels an animated sense of wonder and curiosity, and thats something I love to celebrate and to share, says Stephen Singer, shown here in his Sonoma County vineyards. Stephen Singer and his vineyard manager and winemaker, Greg Adams, harvest the final pick of 2022 Syrah grapes at Singers Baker Lane vineyard in Sonoma County. When you get to live and work in such a beautiful place as this it fuels an animated sense of wonder and curiosity, and thats something I love to celebrate and to share. Singer's Sonoma studio. Singer during harvest in Sonoma. Stephen Singer's wines. Relocation of 28 patients from Artsakh canceled because of Azerbaijans deployment of checkpoint General Singh Rana: India and Iran are working to expand military cooperation NATO Secretary General calls on Georgia to redouble reform efforts Entry of humanitarian goods from Armenia to Artsakh has been somewhat restored Rasmussen: There must be political and economic consequences for Azerbaijan State minister: Humanitarian goods, fuel imports to Karabakh completely disrupted Foreign Minister of Iceland: Free movement through the Lachin corridor must be restored Biden and Harris have started raising campaign donations Thomas de Waal: There will be new conflict between Karabakh and Azerbaijan digiPOS digital terminal from Ardshinbank: cash register in your smartphone Marukyan: US, France, Russia, EU ready to guarantee implementation of peace treaty to be signed with Azerbaijan? Israel ambassador expresses solidarity with Armenian people Aliyev promises Europe more Azerbaijani natural gas Azerbaijanis put You are entering the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan road sign near Hakari bridge Armenia economic activity index up 12.2% in first quarter Bob Menendez: It's time to halt security assistance to Baku Explanation made regarding Armenia v. Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan v. Armenia court cases Armenia opposition MP: Russia is taking steps on the spot, Azerbaijan internal troops are also there Pelosi: Last year our delegation had solemn honor to visit Armenian Genocide Memorial Armenia flag hoisted over Italys Reggio Calabria city hall Biden to run in 2024 US presidential race Karabakh MP: Negotiations to reopen Hakari bridge are in progress with Azerbaijan CoE Commissioner for Human Rights says she tried to visit Karabakh but could not Schiff: International observers should have been sent to Karabakh, Lachin corridor years ago US Congress members re-introduce Armenian Genocide Education Act to House of Representatives Adam Schiff: There should be sanctions on Azerbaijan Armenias Pashinyan to Israels Netanyahu: Our relations have positive prerequisites for moving to new qualitative level Chaarat Gold company discontinues talks for Lydian Armenia purchase American Armenians march, with huge Karabakh flag, to Turkey embassy in Washington Adam Schiff: I've never been more concerned, frankly, that there may be another major outbreak of war Germany Bundestag human rights committee head: New Azerbaijani checkpoint contradicts international law Loucas Fourlas visits border regions of Armenias Syunik province Adam Schiff submits to US Congress draft resolution recognizing Karabakh independence France FM to visit Armenia and Azerbaijan, to discuss situation in Lachin corridor Newspaper: Pashinyan-Putin telephone conversation result being awaited Karabakh ombudsman: Azerbaijan takes blatantly brazen step that directly contradicts tripartite statement Kamala Harris on Armenian Genocide: Let us never forget, let us rededicate ourselves to speaking out against hate Bruno Retailleau: Azerbaijani checkpoint installation on Hakari bridge could be beginning of new large-scale operation Canada FM issues message on Armenian Genocide 108th anniversary The struggle for international recognition of this horrific crime continues. President of Cyprus U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE: The United States is deeply concerned about Azerbaijan's actions Valerie Boyer: Turkey has started a new war of aggression in Armenia and Artsakh The Second President of Armenia visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex with his wife and son Azerbaijan's decision to set up checkpoints in the Lachin corridor contradicts EUs call to reduce tensions Russian Defense Ministry noted Azerbaijan's unilateral and uncoordinated actions Foreign Minister of Artsakh Meets with Head of the Republicans Group of the French Senate France commemorates 108th Anniversary of 1915 Armenian Genocide: Macron Commemoration ceremony was held in Amsterdam near the monument dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide PACE Rapporteur wants to visit Lachin corridor Trudeau on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day: Canada will continue to promote peace and justice Greece PM on Armenian Genocide: We are against any act that incites discrimination, violence against humanity European People's Party on Armenian Genocide: We urge Turkey to acknowledge reality of past Italy MP: International organizations access to Karabakh for humanitarian aid should be facilitated PACE pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims with minute of silence (VIDEO) Representation at ECtHR: Armenia will apply to International Court of Justice regarding Lachin checkpoint matter Yeghishe Kirakosyan: Armenia will apply to International Court of Justice regarding Lachin checkpoint issue Levon Aronian: Message of remembering and demanding must be directed towards ourselves Biden: We renew our pledge to never forget Armenian Genocide Armenian Genocide commemoration event held in Istanbul Russia ambassador, embassy military attache lay flowers at Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan (PHOTOS) Peskov on setting up Azerbaijani checkpoint at Lachin corridor: Situation not easy, requires extra effort Greece president: We honor Armenian Genocide victims memory Russia calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to immediately return to existing agreements Armenian Genocide victims honored at PACE chamber courtyard (PHOTOS) Bruno Retailleau on Armenian Genocide victims: They are our victims also Artsakh MFA: Armenian people are again facing threat of new Genocide France senator: We should help Armenia arm itself Karabakh president: Today more than ever we need to turn words into action Greece FM: Preserving Armenian Genocide victims memory is minimum duty of all humanity Sotk gold mine of Armenia inactive for 10th day due to periodic Azerbaijani shooting Colorado declares April 24, 2023 as Armenian Genocide remembrance day Ambassador: France stands with Armenia to commemorate victims of 1915 Genocide (PHOTOS) Karekin II: Azerbaijan's goal is to de-Armenianize, take over Karabakh US Congressman Adam Schiff to introduce bill recognizing Karabakh independence, sovereignty Karabakh MFA: Any proposal to discuss Azerbaijans illegal demands is tantamount to condoning its genocidal policy Karabakh president pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims Catholicos visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Armenia ex-President Sarkissian: We must be able to move forward without retreating from our identity, history Armenia army General Staff chief: We are doing positional improvement work at Tegh village Nathalie Loiseau: No one should approach risk of new violence against Armenians lightly 108 years after Genocide The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) of Azerbaijan has issued a statement, simultaneously accusing the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs and trying to spread disinformation about another act of Azerbaijani military aggression against Armenia. The statement of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs on April 12, supporting Armenia in connection with the provocation of the Armenian side on April 11 against our positions located in the direction of Lachin region, does not reflect reality. France, which did not judge Armenia's aggression and occupation policy while acting as a mediator in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict for nearly 25 years, did not try to resolve the conflict, and carried out a smear campaign against our country after Azerbaijan ended the occupation and resolved the conflict on its own, has once again demonstrated an unfair position with this statement. The statement on importance of unilateral respect to the territorial integrity of Armenia by France, which hasnt called on Armenia to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, and hasnt demanded Armenia to withdraw the Armenian armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan in accordance with the Trilateral statement and the outcome of the Prague meeting attended by the French President, is an example of bias of France against our country. We call on the French side to refrain from such statements that incite Armenia to further provocations and support revanchist forces, noted the statement of the Azerbaijan MFA. At around 4pm on Tuesday, a group of Azerbaijani soldiers approachedunder the pretext of adjusting the deployment sitesthe Armenian servicemen carrying out engineering work in the vicinity of Tegh village of Armenias Syunik Province, provoked them, opened gun fire, then firedwith weapons of various calibersat these Armenian soldiers. And as a result of the ensuing exchange of fire, the Armenian side has four casualties and six wounded. There are casualties and wounded on the Azerbaijani side, too. Anahit Manasyan, who on Wednesday was elected as the new Human Rights Defender (Ombudsperson) of Armenia by the ruling majority faction in parliament, made a post on Facebook, indicating what her primary objective will be in that capacity. Manasyan wrote as follows: Dear compatriots, In this period full of challenges for our motherland, I have taken on the mission of Human Rights Defender with serious responsibility. I will strive to use all my knowledge and experience for the improvement of the mechanisms for protection of human rights in the Republic of Armenia. When I was thinking about taking on this responsibility, I began to analyze the values I hold. They have accompanied me since my childhood, thanks to the upbringing I received. I have never betrayed those principles, namely: kindness, compassion for people and their fates, humanity, dignity, justice, honesty and infinite faith in knowledge. It is important to note that the position of Human Rights Defender is not a political one. The process of the latter's election and tenure cannot be like that either. Hence, all my activities will be structured with that idea in mind. I will strive to make the Human Rights Defender Institution a platform on the way to achieve public tolerance and solidarity, keeping it free from all possible political speculations. My primary goal is to create an environment of respect for human dignity and rights in an atmosphere of public tolerance, bearing in mind the importance of the principle of separation and balance of powers. I do not consider making critical statements to be the only tool I will use in my position as the Human Rights Defender. I will give special importance to the mechanisms of mediation between the public and state bodies (officials), as well as to the formation of a proper atmosphere for the protection of human rights through education. I am sure that at this difficult stage, the priority goal for all of us should be to honestly look at our problems and find solutions for them with joint efforts, in an atmosphere of mutual respect and cooperation. I believe that violence does not lead to any end result. At the same time, I am convinced that it is possible to win only by maintaining dignity. And in this context, I emphasize that each of us individually, as well as we as a collective society, should do everything to preserve our dignity. I will try to show the rest of my vision and values with my work. Thank you! At Thursday's Cabinet session, the Armenian government made a decision to create the post of trade attache of Armenia in Germany. In the explanation of the respective decision, it is noted that in Germany is the second top donor country, after the US, providing financial and technical support to Armenia. Also, the German GIZ and KfW offices are planned to be opened in Armenia. The implementation of large investment projects in Armenia in several domains is being discussed with the German side. According to the Statistics Committee of Armenia, the latter's trade with Germany in 2022 amounted to US$530.42 million, which is an increase by 83% compared to 2021. A 35%-40% increase in trade between Armenia and Germany is expected every year. The office of the trade attache of Armenia in Germany is planned to be located in the German capital, Berlin. The situation since March 30 at the Tegh village section of Armenia needs a detailed examination, including evaluating our actions in terms of actions to protect that part of the state border from the beginning. This was stated by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan at Thursdays Cabinet session of the Armenian government. "At the same time, I must record that Azerbaijan's actions at that section are provocative and contradict the statements adopted at the meetings held on October 6, 2022 in Prague and on October 31, 2022 in Sochi. "In terms of the political assessment of the border situation, I believe that the message disseminated by the EU the previous day, where the border line of 1991 is emphasized, is important. Its about the administrative border that existed between the Armenian SSR and the Azerbaijan SSR, which was transformed into a state border on December 21, 1991 by the Almaty Declaration. That border line must be respected, the EU statement notes. "It emphasizes the withdrawal of the armed forces of both sides from that border line to a safe distance as a reliable guarantee of the stability of the situation. Armenia is ready to go to such a measure along the entire border line of Armenia-Azerbaijan in 1991. We express our readiness in this regard since 2021, and such an action stems from the logic of the Prague quadrilateral and the Sochi trilateral agreements," said the Armenian PM. He added, however, that such a solution is hindered by Azerbaijan's destructive approach. "Azerbaijan systematically demonstrates its practice of not fulfilling the agreements reached on international platforms. This is the case with the issue of the release of [Armenian] captives, this is the case with the maintenance of the ceasefire regime and the non-use of force and the threat of force, on which the written agreement was reached on October 31, 2022 in Sochi, this is the case in the matter of the Lachin corridors illegal blockade, which Azerbaijan continues despite also the February 22 decision of the highest international court instance, the International Court of Justice. But in case of not fulfilling the court's decision, there are internationally defined mechanisms, and our efforts should be focused on the implementation of those mechanisms," the Armenian premier stressed. According to Armenian News-NEWS.ams information, local residents have found the Azerbaijani who had crossed the border of Armenia three days ago. We learned that the Azerbaijani was found in an area three kilometers from Achanan village of Syunik Province. According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Armenia, on Monday between 1am and 2am, a serviceman of the armed forces of Azerbaijan was found and detained in the territory of Armenia. There was another soldier with him, and the search for him continued for three days. Azerbaijani media, citing the MOD of that country, had reported the disappearance of two Azerbaijani servicemen. It was said that they had gotten lost in the direction of Nakhichevan due to bad weather and low visibility. These Azerbaijanis were in Bnunis village of Syunik Province, and they had knocked on the door of a local residents house. The first detained Azerbaijani was found in Ashotavan village. Local residents told that these Azerbaijanis had knocked on the door of a local residents house for a long time, the landlady had opened the door, seen masked soldiers, closed the door, and called the police. The Azerbaijani, who was caught by the locals, was in civilian clothes. Bununis and Ashotavan villages are quite far, about 20km away, from the Azerbaijani positions,. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan had stated in parliament Wednesday that according to the information they have, the second Azerbaijani soldier had said in the border village not long after crossing the border that he had regretted it and wanted to return. One of the two Azerbaijanis who had crossed the border of Armenia three days ago was found by three youth from Achanan village of Syunik Province. Armenian News-NEWS.am contacted one of these youth, Gor Ohanjanyan, who told us the details of this incident. "My friend and I had left the village, were going to the cityKapan. On the way we saw him in a Turkish [i.e., Azerbaijani] military uniform. We stopped, asked questions, and understood that he is a Turk [i.e., Azerbaijani]. Then my other friend Ashot came, we all stood up. We caught [him], then the police came and asked us what we were doing here, why we caught [him], etc.," said Gor, in particular. Also, he described the condition in which this Azerbaijani was found. "He was wet, in a dirty condition. There were bullets, masks with him, he had mixed ammunition. There was a phone as well in his hand; it was the phone of the person who was found murdered in the [Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum] Combine [guard post]," said Gor. According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Armenia, on Monday between 1am and 2am, a serviceman of the armed forces of Azerbaijan was found and detained in the territory of Armenia. There was another soldier with him, and the search for him continued for three days. Azerbaijani media, citing the MOD of that country, had reported the disappearance of two Azerbaijani servicemen. It was said that they had gotten lost in the direction of Nakhichevan due to bad weather and low visibility. These Azerbaijanis were in Bnunis village of Syunik Province, and they had knocked on the door of a local residents house. The first detained Azerbaijani was found in Ashotavan village. Local residents told that these Azerbaijanis had knocked on the door of a local residents house for a long time, the landlady had opened the door, seen masked soldiers, closed the door, and called the police. The Azerbaijani, who was caught by the locals, was in civilian clothes. Bununis and Ashotavan villages are quite far, about 20km away, from the Azerbaijani positions,. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan had stated in parliament Wednesday that according to the information they have, the second Azerbaijani soldier had said in the border village not long after crossing the border that he had regretted it and wanted to return. New details have become known about the Azerbaijani who was found a few hours ago by the youth of Achanan village of Syunik Province, and who had crossed the border of Armenia with his friend and was being sought for three days. It was found out that after killing the security guard of the maintenance station of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine pipeline, this Azerbaijani had livestreamed on the smartphone of this security guard, and the respective video has already been disseminated. At around 6:30pm on Wednesday, the police received a call from the Kapan city medical center, informing that an ambulance team was dispatched to the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine pipeline maintenance guard post in the Shgharshik-Banavan enlarged community, where they found a man's dead body. And today, information was disseminated that the aforesaid murder was committed by the second Azerbaijani who infiltrated the settlements of the Sisian city of Armenia. "They came through Nakhichevan, reached the mountain on the right side above Vahanavank, and the murder took place in Shgharshik settlement," said a source of 168.am. According to this source, after committing the murder, this Azerbaijani took the smartphone of the murdered custodian of the Zangezur Copper-Molybdenum Combine, went livestream on that phone, threatened the Armenians, and left with no trouble. There are reports that he passed through Kovsakan to the Armenian territories occupied by Azerbaijan. "I announce to the whole world. I swear in the name of the only God, in the name of the God who created us. We have come, arrived [in] Armenia. We shed the blood of Armenians. We have beheaded 400-500 Armenians. Even now we are still alive, we are not dead. God willing, we will not die. And even if we die, forgive our sins. We are not traitors to the motherland, we are the guardians of the dignity of the motherland," this Azerbaijani said in the livestream video. It was this Azerbaijani who was caught near Kapan city a little while ago. And Gor Abrahamyan, spokesperson of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, had written as follows on Facebook today: "At the moment, we have not received any information through investigation that the crime was committed by Azerbaijanis. If, beyond speculation, some people may have known, certain information about the perpetrators of the crime in general, then they can and are obligated to report [it] to the body conducting the proceedings." According to the statement of the Ministry of Defense (MOD) of Armenia, on Monday between 1am and 2am, a serviceman of the armed forces of Azerbaijan was found and detained in the territory of Armenia. There was another soldier with him, and the search for him continued for three days. Azerbaijani media, citing the MOD of that country, had reported the disappearance of two Azerbaijani servicemen. It was said that they had gotten lost in the direction of Nakhichevan due to bad weather and low visibility. These Azerbaijanis were in Bnunis village of Syunik Province, and they had knocked on the door of a local residents house. The first detained Azerbaijani was found in Ashotavan village. Local residents told that these Azerbaijanis had knocked on the door of a local residents house for a long time, the landlady had opened the door, seen masked soldiers, closed the door, and called the police. The Azerbaijani, who was caught by the locals, was in civilian clothes. Bununis and Ashotavan villages are quite far, about 20km away, from the Azerbaijani positions,. Armenian Prime Minister Pashinyan had stated in parliament Wednesday that according to the information they have, the second Azerbaijani soldier had said in the border village not long after crossing the border that he had regretted it and wanted to return. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan categorically opposes Azerbaijans claims that the OSCE Minsk Group has terminated its activities. He announced this during Thursdays joint news conference with visiting OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani. Mirzoyan stated that Osmani's visit takes place in difficult times for Armenia, when the country is facing threats and challenges that are directly related to the functions of the OSCE. Therefore, this visit is a good opportunity to discuss the problems in the region, the role and participation of the OSCE, and the matters of further cooperation with this organization. The FM noted that Armenia always provides its partners in this organization with reliable information about the situation in the region and on the border, and today the latest developments were discussed, he presented information on the occupation of the sovereign territories of Armenia by Azerbaijan since May 2021, as well as the consequences of the Azerbaijani provocation on Tuesdayon the eve of the visit by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office. The Armenian FM emphasized that Azerbaijan's military aggression is a gross violation of a number of principles of the OSCE and the Helsinki Final Act. In this context, he noted the importance of the OSCE mission after the September 2022 aggression of Azerbaijan. At the same time, Mirzoyan stressed that the respective report should be accessible to the entire international community as a source of objective information about Azerbaijan's aggression. The priorities of North Macedonia during its OSCE chairmanship were discussed, too. In the context of recent world events, the OSCE is facing serious challenges, Armenian FM noted. He emphasized that the ongoing blockade of the Lachin corridor and Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) by Azerbaijan continues for the fourth month, and Baku ignores the legally binding decision of the International Criminal Court. With the blockade of the corridor, terrorism, and several other actions aimed at forcing Armenians to leave their homes, Azerbaijan is trying to implement its policy of Armenian ethnic cleansing, Mirzoyan stated. In this regard, he stressed the importance of the unhindered arrival of the representatives of international organizations to Artsakh, and the importance of sending an international fact-finding mission regarding Artsakh and the Lachin corridor. This can be of great importance in refuting Azerbaijan's false theses, preventing aggression, stopping people's suffering, and establishing peace in the region, the Armenian FM noted. Also, Mirzoyan drew the attention of his interlocutor to other violations by Azerbaijan of the trilateral statement of November 9, 2020. However, he added, Armenia is faithful to its respective commitments and conscientiously continues the negotiations, including on a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. The Armenian FM emphasized again that in order to achieve peace, international guarantees of the rights of the people of Artsakh are needed, and the OSCE should increase its role in preventing the use of force. Answering the question that the president of Azerbaijan has "disbanded" the OSCE Minsk Group, Mirzoyan noted that no one can single-handedly cancel a decision adopted by the OSCE member countries on the establishment of the Minsk Group. "The format of the Minsk Group exists. It is another matter that the activities of the co-chairmanship have been frozen due to objective and subjective reasons," Mirzoyan noted. Also, the Armenian FM expressed confidence that the format of the Minsk Group and the Minsk Conference has things to do in the issues of the rights and security of the people of Artsakh, as well as other organizations; for example, the Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office or the fact-finding mission. "The rumors are slightly exaggerated," Mirzoyan summed up. Replacing the Armenian army on the border with Azerbaijan with border guard troops should be part of the final settlement. Armenian Minister of Foreign Affairs Ararat Mirzoyan stated this during Thursdays joint news conference with visiting OSCE Chairperson-in-Office and Foreign Minister of North Macedonia, Bujar Osmani. Mirzoyan noted this when asked whether Azerbaijan was changing its army with border guards, and what was connected with the recent infiltration of the Azerbaijani military into Armenia territory. The Armenian FM noted that in all countries the functions of border protection are assigned to border guards, and there are many differences between the training and even the equipment of the army and the border guard troops. According to Mirzoyan, handing over border protection to border guards will considerably reduce the probability of new conflicts, including infiltration. "This is not a new idea. We have proposed before, and now the withdrawal of [army] troops [from the border] is being discussed. I will disclose the secret. This is part of the draft peace treaty [with Azerbaijan]at least from our side. We attach importance to the introduction of that mechanism. There is such a mechanism in some parts of the border. Experience shows that the probability of clashes in those sectors is lower," said Mirzoyan. At the same time, however, the Armenian FM recorded the continuation of aggressive rhetoric and policy by Azerbaijan. Relocation of 28 patients from Artsakh canceled because of Azerbaijans deployment of checkpoint General Singh Rana: India and Iran are working to expand military cooperation NATO Secretary General calls on Georgia to redouble reform efforts Entry of humanitarian goods from Armenia to Artsakh has been somewhat restored Rasmussen: There must be political and economic consequences for Azerbaijan State minister: Humanitarian goods, fuel imports to Karabakh completely disrupted Foreign Minister of Iceland: Free movement through the Lachin corridor must be restored Biden and Harris have started raising campaign donations Thomas de Waal: There will be new conflict between Karabakh and Azerbaijan digiPOS digital terminal from Ardshinbank: cash register in your smartphone Marukyan: US, France, Russia, EU ready to guarantee implementation of peace treaty to be signed with Azerbaijan? Israel ambassador expresses solidarity with Armenian people Aliyev promises Europe more Azerbaijani natural gas Azerbaijanis put You are entering the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan road sign near Hakari bridge Armenia economic activity index up 12.2% in first quarter Bob Menendez: It's time to halt security assistance to Baku Explanation made regarding Armenia v. Azerbaijan, Azerbaijan v. Armenia court cases Armenia opposition MP: Russia is taking steps on the spot, Azerbaijan internal troops are also there Pelosi: Last year our delegation had solemn honor to visit Armenian Genocide Memorial Armenia flag hoisted over Italys Reggio Calabria city hall Biden to run in 2024 US presidential race Karabakh MP: Negotiations to reopen Hakari bridge are in progress with Azerbaijan CoE Commissioner for Human Rights says she tried to visit Karabakh but could not Schiff: International observers should have been sent to Karabakh, Lachin corridor years ago US Congress members re-introduce Armenian Genocide Education Act to House of Representatives Adam Schiff: There should be sanctions on Azerbaijan Armenias Pashinyan to Israels Netanyahu: Our relations have positive prerequisites for moving to new qualitative level Chaarat Gold company discontinues talks for Lydian Armenia purchase American Armenians march, with huge Karabakh flag, to Turkey embassy in Washington Adam Schiff: I've never been more concerned, frankly, that there may be another major outbreak of war Germany Bundestag human rights committee head: New Azerbaijani checkpoint contradicts international law Loucas Fourlas visits border regions of Armenias Syunik province Adam Schiff submits to US Congress draft resolution recognizing Karabakh independence France FM to visit Armenia and Azerbaijan, to discuss situation in Lachin corridor Newspaper: Pashinyan-Putin telephone conversation result being awaited Karabakh ombudsman: Azerbaijan takes blatantly brazen step that directly contradicts tripartite statement Kamala Harris on Armenian Genocide: Let us never forget, let us rededicate ourselves to speaking out against hate Bruno Retailleau: Azerbaijani checkpoint installation on Hakari bridge could be beginning of new large-scale operation Canada FM issues message on Armenian Genocide 108th anniversary The struggle for international recognition of this horrific crime continues. President of Cyprus U.S. Ambassador to the OSCE: The United States is deeply concerned about Azerbaijan's actions Valerie Boyer: Turkey has started a new war of aggression in Armenia and Artsakh The Second President of Armenia visited Tsitsernakaberd Memorial Complex with his wife and son Azerbaijan's decision to set up checkpoints in the Lachin corridor contradicts EUs call to reduce tensions Russian Defense Ministry noted Azerbaijan's unilateral and uncoordinated actions Foreign Minister of Artsakh Meets with Head of the Republicans Group of the French Senate France commemorates 108th Anniversary of 1915 Armenian Genocide: Macron Commemoration ceremony was held in Amsterdam near the monument dedicated to the victims of the Armenian Genocide PACE Rapporteur wants to visit Lachin corridor Trudeau on Armenian Genocide Memorial Day: Canada will continue to promote peace and justice Greece PM on Armenian Genocide: We are against any act that incites discrimination, violence against humanity European People's Party on Armenian Genocide: We urge Turkey to acknowledge reality of past Italy MP: International organizations access to Karabakh for humanitarian aid should be facilitated PACE pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims with minute of silence (VIDEO) Representation at ECtHR: Armenia will apply to International Court of Justice regarding Lachin checkpoint matter Yeghishe Kirakosyan: Armenia will apply to International Court of Justice regarding Lachin checkpoint issue Levon Aronian: Message of remembering and demanding must be directed towards ourselves Biden: We renew our pledge to never forget Armenian Genocide Armenian Genocide commemoration event held in Istanbul Russia ambassador, embassy military attache lay flowers at Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan (PHOTOS) Peskov on setting up Azerbaijani checkpoint at Lachin corridor: Situation not easy, requires extra effort Greece president: We honor Armenian Genocide victims memory Russia calls on Armenia, Azerbaijan to immediately return to existing agreements Armenian Genocide victims honored at PACE chamber courtyard (PHOTOS) Bruno Retailleau on Armenian Genocide victims: They are our victims also Artsakh MFA: Armenian people are again facing threat of new Genocide France senator: We should help Armenia arm itself Karabakh president: Today more than ever we need to turn words into action Greece FM: Preserving Armenian Genocide victims memory is minimum duty of all humanity Sotk gold mine of Armenia inactive for 10th day due to periodic Azerbaijani shooting Colorado declares April 24, 2023 as Armenian Genocide remembrance day Ambassador: France stands with Armenia to commemorate victims of 1915 Genocide (PHOTOS) Karekin II: Azerbaijan's goal is to de-Armenianize, take over Karabakh US Congressman Adam Schiff to introduce bill recognizing Karabakh independence, sovereignty Karabakh MFA: Any proposal to discuss Azerbaijans illegal demands is tantamount to condoning its genocidal policy Karabakh president pays tribute to Armenian Genocide victims Catholicos visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan Armenia ex-President Sarkissian: We must be able to move forward without retreating from our identity, history Armenia army General Staff chief: We are doing positional improvement work at Tegh village Nathalie Loiseau: No one should approach risk of new violence against Armenians lightly 108 years after Genocide Armenia MFA: Armenians in Karabakh are facing danger of genocide, ethnic cleansing even today Netherlands ambassador expresses support to Armenians in the words of great poet Hovhannes Tumanyan (VIDEO) Georgia Armenians hold torchlight procession in Tbilisi PM Pashinyan, other state officials visit Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan (PHOTOS) Kristina Kvien: No US sanctions against Azerbaijan at the moment MFA: France condemns setting up of Azerbaijani checkpoint at Lachin corridor, demands to reopen corridor Karekin II: Fight for just cause of Armenians, contribute to prevention of genocidal acts and crimes Armenia ex-President Serzh Sargsyan: Bloody scimitar which has now become Bayraktar hangs over our people again Armenia PM: This is best moment to think about past, present, future Armenian Genocide Memorial entrance closed 108 years later: It is Armenian Genocide victims commemoration day State minister: People of Karabakh have right to demand from players to make clear assessments, take steps US 'deeply concerned' by Azerbaijan's checkpoint in Lachin corridor Edmon Marukyan: Peaceful Armenians of Artsakh taken hostage by Azerbaijan Kanaani: Iran's military program is solely defensive Ministry of Defense of Armenia: The Ministry of Defence of Azerbaijan has spread disinformation Erdogan: Putin to take part in fuel delivering ceremony to Akkuyu Security Council of the Republic of Artsakh makes a statement Kosovo Serbs boycott local elections An Armenian serviceman was lethally wounded in a position in Sotk However, currently lodged in the Taloja Jail in Raigad, Kapoor will continue to be behind bars as he faces several other cases in the court. In the present case, the Enforcement Directorate had arrested Kapoor in 2020 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), alleging that Kapoor, his family members and others got huge bribes for sanctioning massive loans when he was at the helm. Of the loans of Rs 30,000 crore approved by Yes Bank, advances of Rs 20,000 crore turned into NPAs. After his arrest, Kapoor had applied for an interim bail on purported medical grounds but it was rejected. Earlier, Kapoor was granted bail in other ED cases linked with money laundering, pending in Mumbai and Delhi. --IANS qn/vd ( 173 Words) 2023-04-12-23:10:02 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday attended the Development Committee Meeting during the World Bank-IMF's Spring Meeting, in Washington DC. Nirmala Sitharaman stated that "despite this year's projected growth rate of over 6 per cent for the Indian economy, we remain concerned about the global economic outlook and geopolitical environment", according to a tweet posted by the ministry of finance on Thursday. During the meeting, the finance minister mentioned that the "Evolution of the World Bank Group - A Report to Governors" provides a historic opportunity to think collectively on the evolution of the World Bank Group. According to the finance ministry's tweets, Nirmala Sitharaman posited that World Bank should continue to work for its vision of 'A World Free of Poverty' and seeks to achieve its mission of 'ending extreme poverty' and 'promoting shared prosperity' in a manner that is inclusive, resilient and sustainable. The ministry also tweeted, "During her intervention, Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman suggested that the global public goods #GPG should also be brought into the focus as the third goal." During the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable meeting alongside managing director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva yesterday, Nirmala Sitharaman underlined that in order to address the mounting debt crisis around the world, it is necessary to supplement current global initiatives, especially those of the G20. During the discussion, Sitharaman also emphasised the need for debt transparency, information exchange, and clarity regarding the treatment of different debt situations on par, predictability of the process, and timeliness of the process. (ANI) Sitharaman said this on the first day of the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting held in Washington DC, which she co-chaired with Reserve Bank of India's Governor Shaktikanta Das. Sitharaman further noted that the crisis adversely affects the most indebted countries as they also house the poorest people, according to tweets posted by the ministry of finance. Day 1 of the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the Indian presidency witnessed Session 1 on Global Economy and International Financial Architecture held under the ambit of Spring Meetings 2023 of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). The FMCBG meeting also discussed key challenges to the Global Economic Outlook and explored possible areas of policy coordination on pressing global issues, besides exchanging views on accelerating progress on deliverables envisioned during G20India Presidency. Sitharaman discussed the progress on the agenda of strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs) including hearing from MDBs on the implementation of recommendations of Capital Adequacy Framework Review Panel and sought G20 members views on the way forward of expert group on strengthening MDBs set up by G20 India Presidency, according to the finance ministry. Speaking about Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable during the meeting, FM Sitharaman also emphasised India's commitment as part of G20 India's Presidency to all global efforts to address the growing debt vulnerabilities and welcomed the partnerships from International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) to advance this agenda. (ANI) Photo: The Canadian Press Minister of Health Jean-Yves Duclos waits to appear before the Standing Committee on Health, Thursday, March 23, 2023 in Ottawa. Canada's federal health minister says he's working with provinces to prevent the mass exportation of essential medications after thousands of doses of the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic were shipped to the United States. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Canada's federal health minister says he's working with provinces to prevent the mass exportation of essential medications after thousands of doses of the diabetes and weight-loss drug Ozempic were shipped from British Columbia to the United States. Jean-Yves Duclos says the level of "abuse" was "outrageous" after a Texas-based doctor with a licence to practise in Nova Scotia wrote 17,000 prescriptions for the drug that were filled by two pharmacies in B.C. then mailed to American residents. The College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia says it suspended the doctor's licence on an interim basis after learning of the prescriptions. Duclos says legal ways to prevent medications being exported in mass quantities in future will be explored through the Food and Drugs Act. B.C. Health Minister Adrian Dix, who took part in a news briefing with Duclos in Vancouver on Wednesday, says the province worked with Nova Scotia to take action within a few days after flagging the flow of thousands of doses of Ozempic to the U.S. over a three-month period. Dix says assistant deputy health ministers from both the federal and provincial governments have met to discuss preserving Ozempic supplies for Canadians and will be looking for permanent solutions. Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that India's overall exports scaled new heights to USD 770 billion in 2022-23, registering 14 per cent growth compared to the previous year's figures. He said, "It is an all-time high record, growing from USD 500 billion in 2020-21 to USD 676 billion in 2021-22". Goyal was addressing the India-Italy Business summit in Washington on Thursday. "And now the country registers a further growth of nearly USD 100 billion to cross USD 770 billion in such challenging times, when the world is seeing softening of international trade, slowing of international trade, and when there are recessionary conditions in the developed world..." he said. The minister said there were concerns about the export performance in the year gone by. "There were concerns because of the conflict in Ukraine," Goyal said, adding, "They were concerns that piled up inventories in the developed world may not help us achieve such a stupendous performance." The minister then praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who in August 2020, had given a clarion call to Indian business persons, to the country's missions across the world. He said the One District One Product initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi helped the government to identify specific jewels in each district in India and the district, while being developed as an export hub, truly transformed the landscape of India's export performance. "It is indeed a matter of satisfaction that we have grown both in goods and services. Our goods export, which was USD 294 billion in the year 2020-21 grew to USD 422 billion in the year 2021-22," the commerce minister said, adding "And has further grown to USD 447 billion in the year just gone by. Our services exports, which were USD 206 billion in the year 2021, grew to USD 254 billion in the year 2021-22." He said services exports have achieved new heights by crossing USD 323 billion and added that this was truly a sign of India's expanding its international footprints. The minister said, "India is looking forward to engaging even more deeply with countries around the world." "And, with the developing countries contributing to the world's progress and prosperity as we grow jobs in India, grow economic opportunities in India, ensure inclusive and sustainable growth for every Indian in the country," he added. (ANI) New Delhi [India], April 13 (ANI/BusinessWire India): Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films, in collaboration with Friday Storytellers, released its latest short film titled Ouch 2 today. Written and directed by Vaibhav Mutha, and produced by Shital Bhatia, the 15-minute film exposes a deceitful two-timer, Sudeep (played by Sharman Joshi), in a hilarious coincidence. Starring Nidhi Bisht who plays his wife Deepu and Shefali Jariwala as the girlfriend Tanya, the film is a wonderfully funny take on how a typical extra-marital affair ends. Set in late-night Mumbai, Ouch 2 is a cautionary tale about two timing. It begins with a flirtatious Sudeep and his girlfriend Tanya on their way back from work. After dropping her home, Sudeep cheekily calls Tanya but is annoyed when his wife (whose name he's saved as 'Mummy Ji') calls in between and complains about him being late again. While the call with Tanya is still on hold and he's throwing a tantrum on the call with his wife Deepu, he gets pulled over by a cop for talking on the phone while driving. Before he realizes, the two calls get merged and Sudeep's extra-marital adventures come to a screeching halt. Talking about the short film, actor Sharman Joshi said, "I think it is amazing how Ouch 2 reveals an extra-marital plot in a comical way in mere 15 minutes. Vaibhav Mutha has done a great job. Each of the Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films is unique in its own way and I'm elated that Ouch 2 gets to join the fold." Actor Nidhi Bisht added, "I have always fancied the way short films are; a well-rounded story told in a span of 15-20mins. I loved the script and **Royal Stag Large short films- is a master of such quirky stories. I hope the audiences enjoy watching it as much as we did while making it!" Actor Shefali Jariwala shared, "It's been a pleasure to be a part of Ouch 2 for Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films. It's a hilarious take on an extra-marital affair. The cast and crew have done a great job making it. I can't wait to see how people find it." Writer and director Vaibhav Mutha said, "The pretext of Ouch 2 was set by Neeraj Pandey's Ouch which was released by Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films in 2016. Stories on extra marital affairs and office romances are common, but I truly enjoy the challenge of reintroducing these plots with unconventional twists. It has been exciting to work on Ouch 2 with a talented ensemble of cast, Shital Bhatia and the amazing Friday Storytellers team. We wanted to keep it simple, funny and short of course. I hope the viewers enjoy it watching as much as we loved creating it." Ouch 2 will premier exclusively on Royal Stag Barrel Select's Large Short Films YouTube Channel, a platform to watch the most original and inspiring short films featuring some of the finest actors and directors in India. WATCH 'Ouch 2' HERE: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=gtLFrxFYkDk Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films: Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films has become 'the' destination for Indian short films where viewers can experience the taste of great films. The platform has collaborated with successful storytellers from Bollywood who truly stand for originality and creativity. Large Short Films has evolved to create an ecosystem for aspiring and established directors alike to to bring world class storytelling to curious and deciphering audiences. Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films has released some of the most prodigious and award-winning short films with renowned artists and directors from the industry which truly reflects originality, imagination and perfection. Ahalya, Chutney, Devi and Anukul are just some of the phenomenal films that have been released on this platform. Royal Stag Barrel Select Large Short Films as a platform for original short films has been the pioneer in popularizing this genre of filmmaking. Follow us on: Website: https://www.largeshortfilms.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LargeShortFilms Twitter: https://twitter.com/LargeShortFilms YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sgi8Vy2Y_Dw This story is provided by BusinessWire India. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/BusinessWire India) New Delhi [India], April 13 (ANI/ATK): The latest survey conducted by Independent Reserve reveals that Singaporeans are increasingly interested in cryptocurrencies, with 43 per cent of the respondents owning some form of a digital asset. This percentage has risen slightly from last year's survey, which reported a 40 per cent ownership rate. The study, which collected responses from 1,500 participants, highlights that investors in Singapore are interested in cryptocurrencies for various reasons, with diversification being the primary motivation. The majority of respondents (77 per cent) also reported investing in multiple cryptocurrency assets, indicating a diverse portfolio. The survey also suggests that Singaporeans are becoming more aware of digital assets, with 91 per cent of respondents indicating that they know about cryptocurrencies. Of those who were aware, over half (54 per cent) entered the market to diversify their portfolios. Additionally, a significant number of investors were influenced by their friends and family members to invest in cryptocurrencies, which may indicate that cryptocurrency adoption is spreading among the general population. The survey also indicates that long-term investors are more satisfied with their cryptocurrency holdings, with 72 per cent stating that they would recommend digital assets to others. However, short-term investors did not fare as well, with 40 per cent reporting losses on their portfolios. This finding suggests that cryptocurrency investments may be more suitable for long-term investment strategies. Unlike other Southeast Asian countries like Japan and Thailand, Singapore has implemented stricter measures to regulate the cryptocurrency market. Over the last decade, the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) has been warning residents and businesses about the high-risk nature of cryptocurrency investments. In 2017, MAS reinforced the need for Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs) to comply with securities laws if the underlying token was structured as a security, and the regulator issued another warning at the end of the year after Bitcoin's price had surged. Recently, MAS further tightened restrictions on cryptocurrency marketing, prohibiting advertising in public areas. Despite these regulatory measures, the survey suggests that Singaporeans' interest in digital assets is increasing. This trend could indicate that Singapore's cryptocurrency market is becoming more mature and that investors are becoming more knowledgeable about the risks and opportunities of investing in cryptocurrencies. Big Eyes Coin Releases Its Long-Awaited Nft Collection, Sparking Enthusiasm Among Cryptocurrency Investors Big Eyes Coin (BIG), one of the most eagerly awaited crypto presales of the year, has recently unveiled its premium NFT collection. This collection of cat-themed NFTs is now available for purchase on Opensea.io, where community members can explore and pick their favorite NFTs to add to their collection. The presale of Big Eyes Coin has been immensely popular, with an impressive $33 million raised to date. Investors who acquire the coin have the potential to enjoy a significant upside, given that the coin is yet to be made public and its price point is appealing to those looking for substantial returns. By releasing the NFT collection, Big Eyes Coin is positioning itself as a significant player in the crypto sphere, providing investors with the opportunity to own a unique piece of blockchain-based artwork. Find out more about Big Eyes Coin (BIG): Presale: https://buy.bigeyes.space/ Website: https://bigeyes.space/ Telegram: https://t.me/BIGEYESOFFICIAL This story has been provided by ATK. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/ATK) According to the Hollywood Reporter, Mia has been cast in Marvel studio's 'Blade'. Blade stars Mahershala Ali as the titular half-human, half-vampire who spends his time hunting vampires to avenge his late mother. 'Lovecraft Country' fame director Yann Demange will direct the project. Micheal Starrbury has penned the script. As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, comic book writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan introduced the world to Blade in 1973's The Tomb of Dracula No. 10 and Wesley Snipes played Blade in a trilogy of films New Line released in the 2000s. The new 'Blade' was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. It is expected to shoot in Atlanta. Goth is about to commence shooting MaXXXine, which is A24 and filmmaker Ti West's third film in the X series, and then will move on to Blade in June. She recently stole scenes in Brandon Cronenberg's horror feature Infinity Pool. (ANI) Actor Anupam Kher's way of celebrating Satish Kaushik's birth anniversary has filled everyone with tears. The third friend of trio actor Anil Kapoor cried his heart out on his way to the stage when asked to share memories of his bond with the late actor. Anil Kapoor who also worked on numerous movies with Satish was asked multiple times to come on stage by the host and share his memories but was unable to find strength and hold his tears. The 'Mr. India' actor also shared a video message with nostalgic photographs with the actor and explained their journey of friendship through references from the movies they did together. The idea of celebrating the birth anniversary of the 'Deewana Mastana' actor under the lap of music and wistful stories has turned out to be so pure but still heavy on the heart. The event which was attended by numerous celebrities and friends of the actor started with the orchestral music of some songs including the 'Tere Naam' title track. The celebration consists of a musical night with stories to celebrate the extraordinary life lived by Satish Kaushik. Kher mentioned his first impression of a fellow friend and later met him in Mumbai. The 'Kashmir Files' actor also explained the type of bond he had with the actor and how well they both spent 48 years together. The host for the night welcomed the presence of celebrities like Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Rani Mukherjee and Johnny Lever. (ANI) India has almost 75 per cent of the world's tiger population, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) said on Wednesday. According to the latest tiger census data released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the tiger population in India has increased significantly compared to the previous census figures of 1,411 in 2006, reaching 3,167 in 2022. "India has 75 per cent of the world's tiger population," SP Yadav, the Member Secretary of NTCA, told ANI. "From 1972 to 2002, there was no proper tiger tracking system and it was based on footprints or pugmarks, so that was not perfect. Sometimes there was an underestimation and sometimes there was an overestimation in the tiger census," Yadav mentioned. "First time in the year 2006, a scientific methodology in which camera trapping was used for tiger estimation and it was calculated on a scientific basis with its scientific method. Tiger estimation was started in a modern way by taking photographs through camera traps. In 2006, when the first proper tiger census was done, then the number of tigers in the country was 1411. In 2022 the total number of tigers is 3,167 which indicates healthy growth of the tiger population. It is a matter of great pride that India has the largest tiger population globally," Yadav elaborated. "If we talk about the tiger population in the world, it is around 4000-4500 while alone in India tiger population is 3,167. Almost 75 per cent of the global tiger population," Yadav stated. Notably, the latest census report said that tiger populations have also declined in Jharkhand, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, even though tigers have been spotted for the first time in Himachal Pradesh and in new areas in Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. "If you look at the tiger population dynamics, it is always changing. Where there is a good habitat, where it is good grass, land, and water facilities, the tiger makes its habitat automatically. Due to left-wing extremism, there is no proper management in Chhattisgarh, Odisha or Jharkhand because of which there is also a shortage of tigers," Yadav elaborated. "Naturally, monitoring is not done properly in areas where the employees of the Wildlife Department are not able to reach. There is a risk of security also," he added. "Tiger has been successfully re-introduced in Sariska in 2005 and Panna in 2008, so wherever the number of this tiger is high, we will translocate the tiger to the place where its density is less," stated Yadav. Highlighting India's efforts in this domain, Yadav said, "Cambodia wants the Tiger to be reintroduced and India has successfully reintroduced tigers in Sariska, and Panna. So they want cooperation from India and the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Cambodian Government has been signed. We are ready to provide technical support and all kinds of support to Cambodia to rebuild the tiger population there." "India is closely working with the government of Cambodia for translocating a few tigers where tigers have become extinct. The countries signed a memorandum of understanding in November 2022 for the reintroduction of tigers," Yadav added. (ANI) Meanwhile, the active cases in the national capital stood at 3347. "A total of 677 patients have successfully recovered from Covid. A total of 4827 tests were conducted out of which 1751 were rapid antigen tests," the health bulletin mentioned. "The case fatality stands at 1.32 per cent and the positivity rate stands at 23.8 per cent," it mentioned. Earlier on Tuesday Delhi reported 980 cases. Earlier India recorded 7,830 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, marking a sharp jump from yesterday when 5675 cases were reported, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry. The overall active caseload in the country currently stands at 40,215 with a daily positivity rate of 3.65 per cent and a weekly positivity rate of 3.83 per cent. The overall active caseload in the country currently stands at 40,215 with a daily positivity rate of 3.65 per cent and a weekly positivity rate of 3.83 per cent. Indian Medical Association (IMA) on Monday advised citizens not to panic amid rising Covid cases, saying that they should maintain proper hygiene. "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," the statement said. 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 an increased risk of severe illness and death from Covid-19. We need to protect them," read the statement. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flagged off Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express on Wednesday, said that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot attended the programme despite a political crisis in the state. Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday flagged off Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, the world's first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory via video conferencing on Wednesday. At the flagging-off event which he joined via video conferencing, Prime Minister said," I thank Gehlotji that despite facing the political crisis he took out time to attend this railway programme. Gehlot ji you have two laddus in your hand. The Railway Minister and Railway Board chairman are from Rajasthan. Thank you for your faith in me that I will be able to complete the work that has not been done since independence." Notably, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday demanded an investigation from Rajasthan government in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. Pilot made these remarks as he ended his day-long fast on Tuesday calling for action by the incumbent Ashok Gehlot government against alleged corruption during the previous BJP rule under former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. PM Modi further said that post-Independence, political interests always dominated the modernization of Railways. "Unfortunately, selfish and mean politics had always overshadowed the modernisation of the Railways. The large-scale corruption did neither let the development happen in Railways nor did it let even the Railways' selection process be transparent," he said. Only after 2014, PM Modi said that the revolutionary transformation started taking place "Who would become the railway minister was decided by looking at the political interest. It was the political interest that such trains were announced which never actually ran. The situation was such that after snatching the land of the poor, they were given a job in the railways. Railway safety...cleanliness everything was ignored. Changes in all these arrangements started coming after the year 2014," stated the Prime Minister. Prime Minister's remarks came against the backdrop of central agencies probing the land-for-jobs case involving Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members. He said Vande Bharat Express enriches the spirit of 'India First, Always First'. The prime minister said the Vande Bharat train has today become synonymous with development, modernity, self-reliance and stability. "Today's journey of Vande Bharat will lead us to the journey of developed India tomorrow," he said. Ever since Vande Bharat started, he said, about 60 lakh people have travelled in these trains. The biggest feature of high-speed Vande Bharat is that it saves people time. From fast speed to beautiful design, Vande Bharat train is endowed with many features, he said. Prime Minister said the central government is also working on about 1,400 km of roads in the border areas of Rajasthan. Along with road, the central government is also giving top priority to rail connectivity in Rajasthan. Prime Minister said Vande Bharat Express will immensely benefit the tourism industry of Rajasthan. "I am fortunate to have flagged off the 6th Vande Bharat Express in the last two months," he said. Travelling to Jaipur-Delhi, the PM said will now be easier with the Vande Bharat Express. This train will also help a lot to the tourism industry of Rajasthan. The inaugural train will run between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations. The regular service of this Vande Bharat Express will start from Thursday, April 13 and will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt., with stops at Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgaon.Notably, Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express is Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express train. Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high speed and self-propelled train set. The train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable and more convenient travel experience. (ANI) Claiming that the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) is receiving huge response in Maharashtra, party president and Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao said on Wednesday that the country is waiting for the right leader and the right party. KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, said the kind of response BRS is getting in Maharashtra is beyond his own expectations. KCR was addressing a 'Dawat-e-Iftar' hosted by the state government at the L.B. Stadium here. Stating that the country is passing through a difficult phase, the BRS chief said that it is a temporary phase and ultimately truth and justice will prevail. He said the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) was turned into BRS to make an effort to save the country. "The country belongs to all, and we have to save it at any cost. We will fight till the last drop of our blood but will not compromise," KCR told the large gathering. Calling for safeguarding the composite culture of the country, the BRS leader said, "Nobody can change our traditions and history. Those who try will go but the country will remain." KCR, however, stressed the need to act wisely without getting swayed by emotions. "When I was fighting for Telangana, I knew that 'Allah ke ghar der hai, andher nahi'," he said. Referring to the progress made by Telangana across sectors during the last nine years, KCR said the state has no competition. He also said the Central government itself has revealed in the Parliament that Telangana has the highest per capita income in the country. "Our per capita income is higher than that of bigger states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka," he said. KCR added that per capita power consumption in the state has doubled in nine years while farmers' suicides have come to an end, and those who had migrated are now coming back to the state. He pointed out that while paddy cultivation in the country is happening on 94 lakh acres, Telangana alone accounts for 56.40 lakh acres. "There is no drinking water and power problem in the state. We are moving ahead, but the country is lagging behind. If the Centre had performed at par with Telangana, our GDP would have been higher by Rs 3-4 lakh crore," he said. KCR also said his government spent Rs 12,000 crore on minority welfare in nine years, while during the preceeding 10 years of Congress rule, only Rs 1,180 crore was spent. Ministers, Muslim leaders from BRS, AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi, religious scholars and others attended the Iftar party. --IANS ms/arm ( 441 Words) 2023-04-12-20:36:03 (IANS) The Delhi Police's Special Cell has arrested the man, who allegedly facilitated exit of most wanted gangster Deepak Boxer from the country by providing him a fake passport, a police official said on Wednesday. The accused has been identified as Mehfooz Khan alias Bhura Dalal, 47, a resident of Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad. Special Commissioner of Police, Special Cell, H.G.S. Dhaliwal said that on Tuesday specific inputs were received that Bhura would come at Sector 15, Rohini to meet his associate to deliver fake passports and other forged documents. "Acting on the inputs, a trap was laid and Bhura was apprehended. On being searched, he was found in possession of six passports, two photocopies of passports, and two Aadhaar cards," said the Special CP. On interrogation, Bhura revealed that he had gone underground after reading the news about the arrest of Deepak Boxer, whose forged IDs and fake passport were got prepared by him. "During further investigation and based on the disclosure of Bhura, seven passports, five Aadhaar Cards, seven PAN Cards and six Voter Cards were also recovered from Moradabad at his instance," Dhaliwal said. "The accused further disclosed that he used to book slots for passp ort procedure for his clients through Passport Sewa Kendra, Bareilly, UP and seven other Passport Sewa Kendra Camps located in other parts of the state," he added. "Deepak Boxer's passport was prepared by him on the name of Ravi Antil. On December 14, Boxer had even met him outside Passport Sewa Camp, Rampur UP, where the procedure of passport preparation was completed. On December 19, the accused managed to receive the fake passport in the name of Ravi Antil from the postman of local area and gave it to the associate of Deepak Boxer in Bareilly and further took Rs 8,000 from him. "Further investigation is underway to unearth the entire racket and to identify other persons, who have procured fake passports through the accused Bhura," the Special CP said. He also revealed that Bhura had even enrolled in an LLB course at one point to gain insight into the legal complexities and loopholes of his illegal business. However, he discontinued his studies after two years. In April's first week, the Delhi Police, with the assistance of the FBI, had apprehended Deepak Boxer in Mexico. As per police, notorious gangster Deepak Pahal alias Boxer, a resident of Haryana's Sonipat, was wanted in 10 criminal cases including murder, attempted murder, and under the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), among others. Apart from this, Boxer was also handling the Jitender Gogi gang after his death. Gogi was killed by his rivals in an encounter that occurred in the Rohini court. He was also in touch with the members of Lawrence Bishnoi gang. --IANS ssh/vd ( 479 Words) 2023-04-12-21:40:02 (IANS) Photo: BC United Opposition Leader Kevin Falcon lowered the curtain on the British Columbia Liberal Party Wednesday, ushering in BC United, a new name and branding for the political party once led by premiers Gordon Campbell and Christy Clark. Falcon, who championed the name change during his leadership campaign, said it was a bold bridge-building move and voters would have 18 months to become familiar with the new name before the 2024 fixed election date "This is very exciting for me," Falcon said in an interview before the official announcement to party members gathered at a Surrey, B.C., hotel ballroom on Wednesday. "It is not often a major established party that had a name for 30 years has come forward and said we're going to do a complete shift and a total new direction," he said. "I'm excited about that. I like it." The new party logo is designed to represent a stylized bridge with the words BC United, he said. The logo replaces the party's former primary colours of red, blue and yellow with pink and teal tones that still reflect the party's legacy but with shifting emphasis, Falcon said. "The colours to me are so great because they are just so not political colours," he said. "It represents the new, vibrant fresh approach. That was really important for me when I thought about the party when I was running to be leader." The party announced in November that 80 per cent of Liberal members voted to proceed with the name change to BC United. Falcon said reconsidering the party's name was a priority during his leadership campaign where he promised full-scale renewal. Debate about changing the party's name has been around for decades as some members worried about a perceived but inaccurate connection to the federal Liberal party. "Ninety-six per cent of British Columbians don't belong to any political party and too often we talk about voters as if they are members of parties," Falcon said. "Most people aren't Liberal, aren't Conservative or aren't NDP. They are just people. They're looking for leadership that is going to get results." The name change to BC United and the new look reflects the political, geographical, social and cultural diversity throughout the province and within the party, he said. "To me, and to us, it represents the building of all the traditional differences people think about in a broad, diverse culture," said Falcon. "You've got religious differences, ethnic differences, socio-economic differences, but this is sort of how we can unite and those differences become a strength, just like a bridge." He said he's certain B.C. voters have enough time to get used to the BC United name ahead of the scheduled fall 2024 provincial election. BC United is confident NDP Premier David Eby will stick to his previous promises that he will not call an early election, said Falcon, adding the party will be prepared if that changes. 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 Delhi High Court on Wednesday issued notice to the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in former Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) communications in-charge Vijay Nair's bail plea in connection with the money laundering case related to the Delhi excise policy scam. Nair was only the media and communications in-charge of the AAP and had no role in the drafting, framing, or implementing of the excise policy in any manner, his counsel argued saying thatA he was being "victimised" for his political background. After Nair's counsel's submissions, Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma issued notice to the ED and listed the matter for the next hearing on May 19. A Delhi court had, on February 16, denied bail to Nair and four others. Observing that "allegations are quite serious", special judge M.K. Nagpal of the Rouse Avenue Court had, apart from Nair, denied bail to Sameer Mahendru, Abhishek Boinpally, Sarath Chandra Reddy, and Benoy Babu. He held that there is enough incriminating evidence to show the entire "modus operandi" adopted by the accused persons for the commission of offences under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). On the allegations and role of Nair, the court had said, "Though he was only the media and communication in charge of AAP, it has been revealed during the investigation of this case that he was actually representing the AAP and GNCTD in different meetings that took place with the stakeholders in liquor business at different places. His participation in the meetings in this capacity is to be viewed in light of the facts that he was residing in the official accommodation allotted to a senior Minister of the AAP and once he is even alleged to have represented himself as an OSD in the Excise Department of GNCTD and further that none from the Government or AAP officially participated in these meetings." --IANS spr/vd ( 326 Words) 2023-04-12-21:50:02 (IANS) The Prime Minister is scheduled to visit Assam on April 14 to inaugurate a number of projects. Additionally, the Prime Minister will also attend a Bihu event that will be marked by a traditional dance by 11,000 artistes at the Sarusajai Stadium in Guwahati. Sarma tweeted, "Bohag Bihu heralds the arrival of spring and marks our New Year. It is the most significant Assamese celebration. This year Aadarniya PM Shri Narendra Modi ji will celebrate Bihu in Assam making this ancient festival even more special." "Hon PM occupies a special place in the hearts of Assamese people. He has taken our heritage to an unprecedented global level," he added. During his visit, the Prime Minister will launch developmental projects worth Rs 14,300 crore. He will also inaugurate five railway projects and the first AIIMS in the Northeast at Changsari near Guwahati built at a cost of Rs 1,123 crore with 750 beds and 100 MBBS seats. Modi will also inaugurate three new medical colleges built at a cost of Rs 1,700 crore with 1,500 beds. The Prime Minister will lay the foundation for the Assam Advanced Healthcare Innovation Institute, a unique collaboration between IIT Guwahati and Assam government. --IANS tdr/arm ( 244 Words) 2023-04-12-22:48:04 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Wednesday queried the Bihar government whether there is a study or any empirical data to show reduction in liquor consumption in the state after enactment of the prohibition law, while pointing out that a lion's share of bail applications from Bihar are due to it, and this is burdening the judicial system. A bench of Justices K.M. Joseph, Krishna Murari, and B.V. Nagarathna asked the state government counsel: "Do you know how many bail applications are coming from Bihar to this court? A lion's share of these bail applications is of the state's prohibition act." "Is there any study or any empirical data to show that due to the prohibition act, the graph of liquor consumption in the state is coming down?" it also asked. The top court clarified that it is not questioning the state's intent for the enactment of the law but sharing the fact about the number of bail applications coming to the court, which is putting a burden on the judicial system. It observed that when laws are enacted without any study, then this happens. The Bihar government counsel submitted that an amendment was made in the prohibition law under which the first-time offenders can be released with a fine. The counsel added that it has reduced the burden on the judicial system. The bench was hearing an anticipatory bail plea by Anil Kumar, a resident of Bihar. In 2015, Kumar was allegedly caught with more than 25 litres of foreign liquor in his car. The bench granted anticipatory bail to Kumar, which was opposed by state government counsel. During the hearing, the bench queried the state counsel: "Do you think 25 litres of liquor is a huge quantity? Why don't you take a tour of Punjab then?" Kumar's counsel said his client was falsely implicated in the case as the car was only registered in his name, however he was not in the car when the recovery was made. Kumar had moved the apex court against the Patna High Court, which declined to entertain his anticipatory bail application. --IANS ss/vd ( 368 Words) 2023-04-12-22:50:04 (IANS) Haryana Government on Wednesday approved the proposal for Rail Connectivity between IGI Airport Delhi and Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar, state government officials informed on Wednesday. "Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has approved the proposal of Rail Connectivity between IGI Airport Delhi and Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar via Bijwasan-Gurugram-Garhi Harsaru- Sultanpur-Farukhnagar-Jhajjar for freight as well as passengers. Accordingly, the feasibility report has been presented in the meeting of Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HRIDC) presided over by the Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal who is also the Chairman of HRIDC," the official statement said. Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal stated that the proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Railways. "Project will be sent to the Ministry of Railways for sanction. The rail link between Garhi Harsaru-Farukhnagar - Jhajjar will be developed while in the second phase, the connectivity to Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar will be taken up. He said that the rail connectivity links will boost regional development, improve transportation efficiency, and promote sustainable mobility for both freight and passengers," it mentioned. "While reviewing various other railway projects, the Chief Secretary appreciated the progress near Manesar and directed the officers to set the timeline and fix physical milestones for the year 2023-24," it added. Managing Director, HRIDC, Rajesh Agarwal apprised in the meeting that the proposed project route is Garhi Harsaru - Farukhnagar (11 km) existing single line, Farukhnagar - Jhajjar (24 km) missing link double line to be developed for the double line at the total cost of Rs 1225 crore. "Jhajjar - Rohtak (37 km) in an existing single line, Rohtak-Dobh Bahali-Hansi (68 km) which is under progress by northern railways. Hansi-Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar (25 Km) will be developed in the second phase," it said. A loan of Rs. 1040 crore from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been sanctioned for the rail infrastructure projects in the state, for this the agreement will be signed soon. "MD Rajesh Agarwal mentioned that Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) was given an amount of Rs. 874 Crore under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for capital Investment for 2022-23 by the Union Finance Ministry. The Government of India has extended the scheme for which the proposal for 2023-24 will be sent for assistance soon," it said. Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary (Civil Aviation) Ankur Gupta, and other senior officers were present in the meeting. (ANI) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) are probing the alleged question paper leak in August last year in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu said on Wednesday while addressing an interactive session with the representatives of all Community Based Organisations (CBOs). For the first time in Arunachal Pradesh, the state government on Wednesday held an extensive interactive session with the representatives of CBOs of the state active under the umbrella of Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Federation (AITF). Responding to the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) paper leakage fiasco that took centre stage during the discussions, Khandu shared that as per public demand and on the state government's request, the CBI and ED have taken over the case and are investigating the matter independently. The Chief Minister said that cases of corruption are not new, as they have been witnessed since many years. These are in the limelight today because the state government is dealing with each case with iron hands, Khandu said. The Chief Minister said that the CBI and ED coming to the state to investigate the case is a big blow to all corrupt persons roaming freely in the state. "Corruption, drugs, law and order are not new issues. These have been prevailing since the last many years, but no government ever took strong action to curb them. Just because we are dealing with these ills with iron hands, it seems like these are issues of our time," he said. Khandu also said that the cases of corruption and crime have actually come down due to the instant and strong actions initiated by the state government. "However, the government can't do anything alone. The CBOs and the government need to work as a team to thwart these ills," he said. The body of APPSC Under Secretary Tumi Gangkak, who served the Commission as the Assistant Controller of Examinations and was suspended from service after the alleged leak of question paper, was recently found hanging from a tree near the Itanagar Zoo road tri-junction. So far, 41 government employees, including 20 regular employees, 20 under probation and one contractual staff, have been arrested in connection with the paper leak case. All the 20 regular employees have been suspended and a department inquiry has been initiated against them. --IANS sc/arm ( 397 Words) 2023-04-12-23:26:01 (IANS) Uttarakhand Director General of Police Ashok Kumar on Wednesday said that over 800 persons accused of rigging the examinations by cheating have been arrested in the last one year. The DGP said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, continuous action is going on against those who rigged the examinations by cheating. He informed that strict lobbying is being done by the prosecution against the culprits in the court. "Action has been taken against more than 900 land mafia in view of crime and law and order," he said. The official said that action has been taken against more than 200 accused in the name of providing jobs, sending them abroad and chit funds etc. "199 drug mafia have been sent to jail under the Mission Nasha Mukt Devbhoomi 2025," he said. Further detailing the police action, the DGP said that under the Gangster Act, action has been taken against 445 criminals and property worth Rs 175 crore has been attached. He informed that 538 rewarded and wanted criminals have been sent to jail under the special campaign launched against crime and criminals. Under the Goonda Act, 138 accused have been shifted to the Badar district. Earlier this month, Uttarakhand Public Service Commission decided to debar 44 candidates for cheating in Patwari/Lekhpal examination from the upcoming examinations of the commission for five years. It is worth mentioning that while taking strict action against 61 candidates who cheated in the JE examination earlier, the commission has banned them from participating in all the examinations of the commission for the next five years. Thus a total of 105 cheating candidates will not be able to appear in any examination of the Commission for the next five years, according to the official statement. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in February said all upcoming exams will be conducted under an anti-copying ordinance of the state. This came after protests broke out over the alleged leak of question papers for government exams. (ANI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 75 lakhs of Indian and foreign currency as well as some documents pertaining to nearly 200 bank accounts and 50 shell entities from the premises of jailed gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his associates. The seizure followed a massive raid conducted by the ED sleuths at 15 locations in Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj on Wednesday. The documents pertaining to nearly 200 bank accounts and 50 shell entities, which were seized during these raids, the ED said were used for laundering of ill-gotten money generated out of extortion, land grabbing and other criminal activities. "Documents of over 100 properties in the name of Atiq Ahmad's close associates and firms have also been found. These properties are suspected to be Atiq's benami properties," said the federal agency. "Cash transactions worth more than 50 crores have also been unearthed in the searches. Documents of properties (forcibly) purchased from farmers apparently through criminal intimidation have also been found." The agency on Wednesday searched the premises of Atiq and his relative Khalid Zafar, his advocate-cum-accomplice Saulat Hanif Khan, his associates Asad, Vadood Ahmad, Kali, Mohsin, chartered accountant Sabeeh Ahmad, chartered accountant Asif Jafri, Seetaram Shukla (accountant), real estate developers Sanjeev Aggarwal and Deepak Bhargav. The ED raids were part of its ongoing money laundering investigation against Atiq and those linked to him. The raids were conducted at a time when Ahmad is being brought to Prayagraj from the Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat for his production in a local court in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The case in which Ahmad is facing trial is linked to the murder of Pal and his two police security guards who were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. Uttar Pradesh Police had registered a First Information Report (FIR) on February 25 against Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others following a complaint lodged by Pal's wife. In 2021, the ED had attached immovable and movable assets, consisting of land and money in several bank accounts worth Rs 8.14 crore, belonging to mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his wife in connection with the money laundering case. Land property situated at mauza Katka, Paragana Jhunsi, Tehsil Phulpur, in name of Shaista Parveen, wife of Ahmad was attached. This was acquired by Ahmad for only Rs 4.5 crore which is far below the government's value of Rs 6.86 crore. In addition, the ED had also attached a bank account balance of Rs 1.28 crore lying in 10 bank accounts of Ahmad and one account of Shaista Parveen. The ED initiated an investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) after taking cognizance of several FIRs lodged against Ahmad in different police stations, related to murder, extortion, cheating, forgery, land grabbing and crimes of similar nature. After its investigation under PMLA, the ED said that Ahmad through criminal activities used to earn black money in cash and the same was deposited in several bank accounts of the gangster, his kin and close associates. It has been noticed by the ED that these funds are being credited to their accounts from various firms and companies of his aides, the ED had said earlier, adding "These funds have been further utilized for buying land in the name of his wife at the consideration price far below the government's value". The ED has said that it had gathered data from the IT department and other agencies related to the companies being run by Ahmad's aides. (ANI) Lieutenant Governor V K Saxena, has applauded Delhi Police for ensuring law and order this year during the recently concluded Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, despite an increase in the number of processions and public participation in festivities. The L-G had constantly been monitoring the ground situation in the run-up to the festivals, according to a statement by Raj Niwas on Wednesday. Top brass of Delhi Police was present on the ground and seamless and proactive communication and engagement of the police with communities was ensured. All developments were reported on an hourly basis to the LG Secretariat, it said. Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti were celebrated with fervour across the country, on March 30 and April 6, respectively, and witnessed some unfortunate incidents in other states. In 2022, these festivals were celebrated on April 10, and April 16, 2022, respectively, when Delhi witnessed untoward incidents, according to the statement. The number of processions of Ram Navami in Delhi increased from 22 in the year 2022 to 52 in the year 2023 and the number of participants increased from 6,100 to 27,500, the statement said. Similarly, the total number of processions on Hanuman Jayanti in Delhi increased from 17 in the year 2022 to 51 in the year 2023 and the number of participants increased from 5,550 to 35,700, it said. There has been a considerable increase in the number of processions and participants in the year 2023 as compared to the year 2022. The increase in the number of participants was noticed particularly in the districts of North West, North East and South East which are communally sensitive and have been affected by communal violence. The Lt. Governor has expressed the hope that the existing communal harmony in the city will always remain intact and Delhi will evolve as a role model of amity for the entire country. (ANI) Punjab Police arrested 4 drug smugglers and recovered 35 packets of heroin, weighing 36.9 kilograms, from their possession in Lalo Wali village area near Fazilka, officials said on Wednesday. The accused have been identified as Manpreet Singh, Jaspal Singh alias Gopi, Sukhdev Singh and Dyalvinder Singh, all residents of District Tarn Taran. Police also seized two cars which were used to smuggle the drug consignment from Rajasthan, said Police. "Following reliable inputs about the influx of large quantities of heroin from Rajasthan to Punjab, Police teams from Fazilka district carried out the operation at the Fazilka-Ferozepur road near the canal bridge in the area of village Lalo Wali, where these four persons waiting for someone sitting in their cars. After seeing the police party, the accused persons tried to flee from the spot, but, Police teams managed to catch them," Director General of Police (DGP) Punjab Gaurav Yadav said. "During checking, Police teams have recovered 23 packets of heroin, weighing 24.295 Kg, kept concealed inside cardboard enclosure of car windows," DGP said while adding that another chunk of 12 packets of heroin, weighing 12.620 Kilogram, was recovered from pinpointed location disclosed by the arrested drug smugglers. "As per preliminary investigations, the accused persons were coming from Rajasthan after retrieving the heroin consignment dropped from across the border using a drone", Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Ferozepur Range Ranjit Singh Dhillon said. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avneet Kaur Sidhu said that further investigations are needed to find out more people involved in this module and the Punjab-based receiver of the consignment. More arrests are expected in the coming days, she said. An FIR has been registered under sections 21(C), 23, and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS) at Police Station Sadar Fazilka. Police were further looking into the case. (ANI) Amid speculations of Ajit Pawar joining the Bharatiya Janata Party, Maharashtra BJP president Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Thursday said that he is not aware of any such move while adding that the Nationalist Congress Party leader has not had discussions with him on the matter. "I don't have any information about him joining the BJP or having any talks with anyone in the party. He has not held any discussions with me," Bawankule said while speaking to ANI. Speculations were rife about Ajit Pawar joining the BJP after his seemingly pro-BJP remarks lately in which he hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership and also said that he has full faith in the Electronic Voting Machines. The remark marked a departure from the Opposition's line, casting aspersions on the efficacy of the EVMs. Backing the EVM, Maharashtra's Leader of Opposition in the Assembly said if the devices were faulty, there would not be any Opposition-ruled states. He cited the governments of West Bengal and Telangana and other states as examples to support his argument. "Personally, I have full faith in EVMs. If the EVMs were faulty, then we would not have any Opposition-led governments like in Chattisgarh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Punjab, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It is not possible to manipulate EVMs as there are lots of checks and balances involved to ensure their efficacy," Ajit Pawar told mediapersons. "If somehow, it is proven that EVMs were manipulated, there will be big chaos in the country. I don't think anyone would dare to do such a thing (challenge the efficacy of EVMs). Sometimes, some people cast aspersions on EVMs after losing elections. One has to respect the mandate of the people," he added. Meanwhile, amid frenzied speculations of Ajit Pawar stepping away from the Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Opposition alliance in Maharashtra comprising Shiv Sena (UBT), NCP and the Congress, a war of words has broken out between the senior NCP leader and Congress state chief Nana Patole. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, Pawar said, "Many a time, Nana Patole says things that lead to differences in the Maha Vikas Aghadi. If he has any objection, then instead of going to the media, he should raise it with Jayant Patil or Uddhav Thackeray." (ANI) Photo: The Canadian Press Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino speaks with reporters at a hotel Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023, in Mexico City, Mexico. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says Chinese community members in Vancouver have told him of "intimidation, harassment and abuse" linked to foreign governments or their proxies, confirming the need for a foreign agent registry. Mendicino says he met Wednesday with a cross-section of the local community including people with Chinese heritage or cultural links. The minister did not disclose exactly who was invited to the meeting, only that it included community advocates, business leaders and representatives. Mendicino says some told him they feared retribution if they spoke out about foreign interference, which he says "reinforces the need" for a registry of agents. The federal government announced in March that it wants to hear from Canadians on creating a foreign influence transparency registry to help prevent meddling in Canada's affairs. The issue has been under debate amid media reports citing unnamed security sources and classified documents that warned China had tried to interfere in the last two federal elections, as well as the municipal election in Vancouver. The Supreme Court on Thursday adjourned for two weeks as the Maharashtra government sought time to respond on the transfer of probe to CBI into the Palghar lynching case wherein two Sadhus were lynched to death. A bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala adjourned the matter at the request of the counsel appearing for the Maharashtra government. The counsel told the bench that the government has consented to the CBI probe into the incident but further instructions from the government are awaited hence matter be adjourned for two weeks. Earlier, the apex court asked the Maharashtra government to file an affidavit before it stating that it is referring to the investigation. It told the Maharashtra government that when the State has no objection to transferring the Palgarh lynching case to the CBI, it can refer the case to the agency itself. Maharashtra government had told the apex court that it has consented to the investigation by the CBI into the case. A batch of pleas was filed in the top court seeking a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) or CBI into the Palghar lynching case wherein two Sadhus were lynched to death. The pleas are seeking a CBI or a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe in the incident that took place in the Palghar district. Maharashtra government had earlier informed Supreme Court that all guilty police officials had been punished or suspended from services The pleas have also sought a probe by the CBI and the registration of an FIR against police officials for their alleged failure to prevent the mob from gathering in violation of the lockdown norms. On the night of April 16, the two sadhus and their driver were travelling from Kandivali in Mumbai to attend a funeral in Gujarat's Surat amid the nationwide lockdown when their vehicle was stopped and they were attacked and killed by a mob in Gadchinchile village in the presence of police officers. (ANI) Andhra Pradesh Minister for Energy Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy on Wednesday inaugurated the electrical safety workshop in Tirupati city, and said that the power sector is very important for economic development. The top officials of the electricity department were also present on the occasion. Minister Peddhireddy Ramchandra Reddy stated that the electricity department plays a major role in the state. "It has been proved once again in the recently concluded Global Investors Summit that the power sector is very important for economic development," he said. "Everyone has to work hard to overcome many kinds of problems. Electrical safety is very important, even the slightest sloppiness can be extremely dangerous. There is a situation where the forest animals are also pulling the electric wires. Special attention should be paid to these," he said. The minister said that out of the 340 investment proposals worth 13 Lakh Crore Investments received during the recently concluded Global Investors Summit, 9 Lakh Crore has come to the Power Sector alone. The Andhra Pradesh government held a Global Investors Summit-2023 in Visakhapatnam on March 3 and 4 to attract industrial investments into the state. "Even though Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief Chandrababu Naidu campaigned heavily, not a single industry was set up anywhere in connection with the summit he organized," he said. "Big industrialists participated in the summit organized by the chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. We have already formed safety committees as per the instructions of the CM," he added. He said that if a committee is also formed at the sub-station level, let's move forward with their coordination There have been a series of electrical accidents in Anantapur. "We immediately alerted the authorities and took action. We have already appointed 15 thousand energy assistants at once," he said. He said that their services should also be utilized and a strong communication system should be prepared. "Steps should be taken to assist the investors who come forward and make the process easier for them. There is no compromise on safety measures," he added. (ANI) In a first-ever in the history of Arunachal Pradesh, the state government on Wednesday had an extensive interactive session with representatives of all community-based organizations (CBOs) of the state acting under the umbrella of Arunachal Indigenous Tribes Federation (AITF). The day-long session, chaired by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, discussed various issues confronting the state to chalk out a way forward to build the Arunachal Pradesh of everyone's dreams. Responding to the Arunachal Pradesh Public Service Commission (APPSC) paper leakage fiasco that took centerstage during the discussion, Khandu shared that as per public demand and on the state government's request the country's top probe agencies - Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) - have taken over the case and investigating the case independently. Khandu said that in fact cases of corruption are not new but have been in practice for many years. "These are today in the limelight because his government has been dealing each case with iron hands," he asserted. "There are many elders and seniors sitting here today. Can anyone say that corruption started only in 2016 (the year of the paper leakage scam)?" he asked. Khandu termed the coming of CBI and ED to investigate the state one big blow to all corrupt enjoying and roaming freely in the state. "Corruption, drugs, law and order are not new issues. These have been prevailing since last many years but no government ever took strong action to curb these. Just because we are dealing these ills with iron hands, it feels like these are issues of our time," Pema Khandu said. The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister counterclaimed that cases of corruption and crime have actually come down under his government due to instant and strong actions initiated. "However, the government can't do anything alone. We - the CBOs and the government - need to work as a team Arunachal to thwart these ills," he said. Khandu asserted that the CBOs have a huge responsibility to enthuse a sense of discipline among its community members, the lack of which, he claimed, is the mother of all issues. Meanwhile, Khandu proposed that the interactive event should be made an annual event, wherein the state government could discuss issues confronting society with specific facts and figures with members of the CBOs. In the end, a resolution was signed between the state government represented by the Chief Secretary and leaders of the CBOs. During the session, Ankur Garg, Commissioner Coordination made a presentation on 'Building Arunachal Pradesh of our dreams' while socio-economic issues on health were presented by Vivek HP, Special Secretary Health, war on drugs by Kanki Darang, Commissioner Narcotics, education sector by Amjad Tak, Commissioner Education, Law and Order by Jalas Pertin, Joint Secretary Home and the APPSC issue by Ajay Chagti, Secretary Administrative Reforms. Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein, Home Minister Bamang Felix, Chief Secretary Dharmendra, AITF President Bengia Tolum, and representatives of all community-based organizations. (ANI) Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Thursday took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Rashtriya Rozgar Mela in which appointment letters were distributed to 71,000 new recruits, and said that he is distributing "recruitment letters" in the name of employment. Stating that there are 3,01,750 vacancies in Railways, out of which 50,000 letters were given for the Ministry of Railways, Kharge called it "Too Little, Too Late". "Modi ji, is again distributing "recruitment letters" in the name of employment. In the event, 50,000 letters are from the Ministry of Railways only. There are 3,01,750 vacancies in Railways. 30 lakh posts are vacant in government ministries. "Too Little, Too Late" -- This stunt done in the tenth year of the Modi government fits perfectly," the Congress president tweeted in Hindi. Earlier today, the Prime Minister virtually distributed appointment letters to 71,000 new recruits in the Rashtriya Rozgar Mela and said that Startups have created more than 40 lakh direct and indirect jobs in the country. The Prime Minister said that the Rashtriya Rozgar Mela shows the government's commitment towards uplifting youth spirit and giving them employment opportunities. "Startups have created more than 40 lakh direct and indirect jobs; this shows India's resilient startup culture. Today India is the fastest-growing economy in the world. The policy and strategy being followed by today's New India have opened up new possibilities and opportunities in the country," PM Modi said on the occasion. Stating that over 70,000 youth have got government jobs in various departments of the central government on the day of Baisakhi today, the Prime Minister said that the process of giving govt jobs in NDA and BJP-ruled states is going on at a fast pace. "Appointment letters have been handed over to more than 22 thousand teachers in Madhya Pradesh yesterday," he said. Mentioning the growing Defence sector in the country, PM Modi said that India has exported Defence equipment worth Rs 15,000 crore. "An approach was dominant in the country for decades that the Defence equipment can only be imported. We did not believe in our own country's manufacturers. Our government changed this approach. Our armed forces have prepared a list of 300 such equipment and weapons which will be made in India only. Today, India is exporting Defence equipment worth Rs 15,000 crore," he said. Detailing the self-reliance in various sectors of the country including drones, the Prime Minister said that youth are engaging in new-age technologies. "New India's youth are increasingly involved in drone manufacturing and becoming drone pilots. For decades our children used to play with toys imported from abroad. We started promoting the indigenous toy industry, and this created new employment opportunities for our Yuva Shakti. The capital investment in infrastructure projects propels employment generation & creates diverse opportunities for Yuva Shakti," he said. Rozgar Mela is a step towards the fulfilment of the commitment of the Prime Minister to accord the highest priority to employment generation. (ANI) The meeting started at 3 pm at the North Block office of the Ministry of Home Affairs. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir Dilbagh Singh and other senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Armed Police Forces attended the meeting. Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, R&AW chief Samant Kumar Goel, National Investigation Agency DG Dinkar Gupta and Central Reserve Police Force Director General SL Thaosen also attended the meeting. Similar meetings have been chaired by the Home Minister from time to time to review the status of J-K where several civilians and security force personnel are being targeted by militants over the years and several personnel have lost lives in such attacks. Senior officials of the Government of India, including the officers from J-K also attend the meetings. The Home Minister in his three-day visit to J-K in October last year had also reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory. Shah also held a review meeting in New Delhi on December 28, 2022, over the security situation and development aspects of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. (ANI) The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday termed the encounter of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and another accused Ghulam, wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, as a "huge success". A top police official said that both the wanted persons in the Umesh Pal murder case has been eliminated and they were possessing foreign-made sophisticated weapons. UP STF, Additional director general, Amitabh Yash told ANI that the STF team was fully prepared. "The STF team was successful in tracking them down after a lot of hard work. We had the information that they had sophisticated weapons. The STF team was fully prepared. Asad and Ghulam, the main shooters in the Umesh Pal murder, were tracked down and killed in an encounter today," he said. "This was an important and challenging case. The killing of these two criminals (Asad & Ghulam) is a huge success," he said. The STF ADG said that it was not easy to catch a person who had killed a man (Umesh Pal) who was a witness against them and had protection from the police. The official said that the police are leaving no stone unturned to nab all criminals. "They possessed foreign-made weapons which are rare. We are making efforts to arrest all the criminals who have come to light. STF has put in full might," he said. Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and aide was killed in an encounter by a team of 12 members of UP STF in Jhansi today. One British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol were recovered from them. The bodies of criminals Asad and Ghulam were brought to Jhansi Medical College for examination. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting on 'law and order' after the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's son, Asad, in an encounter. CM Yogi also lauded the Special Task Force (STF) team which was involved in the shootout. According to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister's Office, Yogi was apprised about the encounter by the Principal Secretary (Home). A report was also placed before the Chief Minister on this entire matter. "After the encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide, CM Yogi Adityanath took a meeting on law and order. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team," UP CMO said in a statement. "Sanjay Prasad, Principal Secretary Home informed the CM about the encounter. A report was placed in front of the CM on this whole matter," the statement said. (ANI) Prayagraj Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf to four-day police custody in the Umesh Pal murder case. The police custody of the duo started from 5 pm on 13 April till 5 pm on 17 April. Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were brought to the CJM Court in Prayagraj on Thursday morning. The Uttra Pradesh Police chargesheet filed before the court mentioned a recorded statement of Atiq Ahmed. "...I have no dearth of weapons because I have direct connections with Pakistan's ISI and terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Weapons from Pakistan are dropped on the Punjab border with the help of drones and local connection collects them. Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir get weapons from this consignment. If you take me with you, I can help you recover that money and arms and ammunition used in the incident," the chargesheet said citing Atiq. Meanwhile, Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide Ghulam, both of whom were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter by Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi on Thursday. Each of them carried a reward of Rs 5 lakhs. The police said that foreign-made weapons were recovered. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday chaired a high-level meeting on 'law and order' after the killing of Asad and Ghulam in an encounter. CM Yogi also lauded the 12-member STF team which was involved in the shootout. On March 28, Atiq Ahmed was convicted by an MP-MLA court and sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment in the abduction case of now-deceased Umesh Pal. 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. Delhi Police's Special Cell arrested three people from the national capital for 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. During the course of the investigation, Khalid and Jeeshan disclosed that they had also provided shelter to Asad and Ghulam, who are wanted accused in the infamous Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal, a key witness to the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party 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) The incident occurred at a temporary open field in Udupi, where CM Bommai's helicopter landed. The Chief Minister left for the Kollur Mookambika temple when the incident took place. As per the police, the smoke candle reportedly fell on the ground due to the pressure from the rotors, after which the fire spread on the grass around 300 metres from where the helicopter landed. The police officials told reporters that the fire was minor in nature and was quickly brought under control. "The situation was quickly brought under control by the fire brigade. The fire was minor. It was immediately doused off. It was quite far from the chopper. There was no technical snag in the chopper," the police said. (ANI) Abdul Nazir Maudany, an accused in the 2008 Bengaluru serial bomb blasts case, on Thursday urged the Supreme Court to ease his bail conditions allowing him to stay in his hometown in Kerala to take care of his ailing father. The top court has asked the Karnataka government to file a reply on the plea. A bench of justices Ajay Rastogi and Bela M Trivedi listed the matter for further hearing on April 17. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Abdul Nazir Maudany urged the top court to relax the bail condition and allow him to go to visit his father, a retired headmaster, in Kerala, who is sick. Advocate Sibal also apprised that Maudany was out on bail for eight years and has not done anything during the period when he is out on bail. However, Karnataka government counsel opposed the Maudany plea seeking relaxation and said that according to the public prosecutor handling the blast case, the proceedings in the matter will take another two months to conclude. Sibal urged the court that allow Maudany to stay in his hometown for a month under surveillance. Karnataka government counsel said that Maudany founded an organisation in Kerala which is banned. The court thereafter asked the state government to file a reply. The court said that it was very conscious while granting Maudany's bail and hence the conditions were imposed. The court said that it will take up the matter on Monday. In 2008, eight serial bomb blasts took place in Bengaluru, leading to the death of one person and causing injuries to many others. (ANI) Delhi's Rohini Court on Thursday, took cognizance of the charge sheet of Delhi police filed in the Kanjhawala hit and drag case, and listed the matter for scrutiny of documents on April 18. Delhi police on March 1, had filed the 800-page charge sheet in the matter, wherein, it had invoked the murder section against four accused in the case. There are a total of seven accused in the case, out of which two are on bail in the matter. The matter pertains to the incident from Kanjhwala where a girl was allegedly hit and dragged for 13 kilometres for nearly two hours. Metropolitan magistrate Sanya Dalal took cognizance of the charge sheet and supplied copy to the accused persons. The court has listed the matter for scrutiny of documents on April 18. The court is likely to commit the case to the court of Sessions on the next date. Delhi police have cited 117 witnesses in the charge sheet. Earlier on March 1, Special public prosecutor (SPP) Atul Shrivastava for Delhi Police requested the court not to supply sensitive photographs of the victim to the accused persons in view of the modesty of the deceased. Advocate Himanshu Yadav and J P Singh appeared for the accused persons. Delhi Police have invoked sections of murder, destruction of evidence, conspiracy and other sections against four accused namely Manoj, Mithun, Krishan and Amit. The other three accused Deepak, Ashutosh and Ankush have been implicated under sections related to the destruction of evidence, criminal conspiracy and other offences. The charges sheet stated that on March 1, 2023, an FIR was registered at PS Sultan Puri, Delhi in which the victim Ms Anjali was dragged for many kilometres after getting entangled under the vehicle. It is submitted that during the course of the investigation, seven accused persons Manoj Mittal, Amit Khanna, Krishan alias Kalu, Mithun alias Arjun alias KD, Deepak Khanna, Ankush Khanna, Ashutosh Bhardwaj were arrested. On completion of the investigation, the Delhi Police prepared a charge sheet of about 800 Pages with around 120 witnesses cited in the present case, police said. The accused persons Deepak Khanna, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Manoj and Mithun are in judicial custody and Ashutosh and Ankush Khanna are on court bail. (ANI) I am somewhat confused as to why certain individuals object so strongly to the first-past-the-post election system in Canada and their assumption is the country (cant be) governed by a party that has a minority. This is just not true. Majority governments lead to abuse of power, as it was with the (Conservative government of former prime minister Stephen) Harper that had to prorogue parliament twice to maintain power. In order to govern, a first-past-the-post (minority government) must agree to mutual co-operation with at least one other party in order to obtain the support of a majority of MPs to govern. Would you rather have a majority government operating unchecked, or a government that realizes there must be give-and-take in order to stay in power? I have always preferred minority governments, not only because the cons outweigh the pros in representational governance, but because the governing party is always acutely aware of their need for the support of another party that gives them the right to govern. There is really no such thing as a minority government. It that just could not exist. A minority party can only govern if it has the support of at least one more party that together represent the majority (in parliament). I understand the angst of those who voted Conservative given that the other parties support the Liberals, but that is democracy in action. The other parties combined represent far more Canadians than does the Conservative Party. Again, that is true democracy. Majority governments, if unchecked, can be a dangerous thing. Patrick MacDonald According to sources, such Special Operations Exercises are a mix of conventional/unconventional military actions that are undertaken by specially designated, selected, trained and equipped units. C17 Globemasters, Chinooks and Mi 17s undertook multi-mode insertion into designated greenfield landing zones with surgical precision. As per sources, Paratroopers from the Shatrujeet Brigade conducted Special Heliborne Operations with the aim of validating their ability to rapidly deploy into hostile environments using Chinooks and Mi17 helicopters to augment the capability of the regular ground forces. The exercise carried out in designated areas of Eastern theatre as per a tactical setting, showcased the operational preparedness and synergy of strategic forces and troops of Eastern Command to undertake integrated multi-domain operations in High Altitude and Mountainous Terrain, informed sources. The exercise also demonstrated the speed, agility and lethality of the specialised troops showcasing their ability to rapidly deploy into a hostile environment, secure landing zones and engage the enemy with precision and speed as per the tactical setting. Overall the troops displayed exceptional professionalism, competence and synergy while operating in the treacherous mountainous terrain, as per sources. (ANI) Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi on Thursday said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to uphold people's trust in their 15-year-long tenure in Chhattisgarh as people were made 'nirbhar', not 'aatmanirbhar', adding that Bhupesh Baghel government has restored their pride. The Congress General Secretary made the remarks at 'The Bharosa Sammelan' of the Congress party in Jagdalpur in Bastar, Chhattisgarh. "There was a time when people were scared in visiting Bastar, but today this place has become a brand. The place is recognized not just across the country but also globally. With the help of state government packaging, handicraft and millets are yielding better returns," Priyanka Gandhi said. "The place has developed into a brand in handicraft, tourism, and film shooting. It is happening because the government is working on the bharsoa (expectations) of the people," she added. Priyanka Gandhi accused BJP of "shattering" the confidence of the people and keeping them "dependent" on the government. "It's not as if people didn't trust BJP, they did for 15 years But they (BJP) did not uphold people's trust. There was fear, hunger and massive corruption here. People's lands were seized, and they were handcuffed. There was scam after scam. They (BJP) made you 'nirbhar' (dependant), but not atmanirbhar (self-dependant). People were not provided schemes that would have made you self-reliant," Priyanka said in a veiled attack at BJP government's flagship mission of making India a self-reliant country. The Congress leader further said that under the Bhupesh Baghel-led Congress government in the state, the city of Bastar has developed into a 'brand' and restored "people's pride". "Under BJP's rule, people were overlooked. Cows used to roam on roads, women with self-help groups were under heavy debt, the health system was pathetic, 3000 schools were closed and 4.5 lakh children were malnourished. But, in these five years, Congress has restored your pride. lands were returned to the people, under the 'Gothan' model, the cows have been provided shelter, and the Bastar has been developed into a brand. In the tribal festivals also, the government will sanction money so that the people can celebrate their festivals proudly," she said. Priyanka Gandhi further added, "It is very easy for those in power to do corruption, as you saw under the 15-year BJP's rule in the state. But today, unemployment is the lowest in Chhattisgarh, and the highest forest rights have been provided here. MSP is being provided on more than 60 items. The health model of the state is being praised globally. The wages of Anganwadi workers have risen to 10,000, 1.65 lakh women have been cured from anaemia, and Bhai-Dada clinics have also started". She also said raised the slogan of 'Chhattisgarhiya sabse badhiya', saying that it represents the culture of the state's people. "A place is marked by three main points. Firstly, the culture of the place should be respected. Secondly, the people should be respected, and those in power should respect the voices of the people. Such as the slogan 'Chhattisgarhiya sabse badhiya' (People of Chhattisgarh are the best) has all these points," she added. (ANI) Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed the bail plea of M Sivasankar, former Principal Secretary to the Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in the LIFE Mission Scam Case. Single Bench of Justice A Badharudeen dismissed the bail plea. Sivasankar called his arrest a "political stunt" in the bail plea and said that there is no direct allegation against the petitioner. In the bail plea before the High Court, Sivasankar said, "The arrest is a political stunt. There is no direct allegation against the petitioner. The entire case is a political hit job by the Enforcement Directorate using the professional privity the petitioner had with the Chief Minister of Kerala." "The predicate offence registered by the CBI over corruption allegations does not even name the petitioner as an accused. Neither the petitioner nor the State Government had played any role in the selection of Unitac Builders and Developers run by Santhosh Eapen for the execution of the LIFE Mission work", Sivasankar further said in his bail plea. Sivasankar was arrested by officials of the Enforcement Directorate on February 14. The case pertains to the state government's LIFE Mission project, which intended to provide homes to the poor who lost their houses in the floods of 2018. The housing project was proposed at Vaddakanchery in the Thrissur district. The project intended to build houses for 140 families in Vadakkanchery by spending Rs 14.50 crore out of Rs 18.50 crore granted by the Red Crescent via the UAE consulate. (ANI) YSRCP leader Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) lashed out at TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu for ignoring his promises of developing Machilipatnam on all fronts during his regime and making baseless allegations about the State Government while it is taking steps to lay foundation stone for Machilipatnam Port in May, besides taking up other development activities. Addressing the media at Party Central Office here on Thursday, YSRCP leader Venkataramaiah listed out the slew of promises made by the TDP Chief during the 2014 elections for the development of Machilipatnam including the construction of Machilipatnam Port, the establishment of IT companies, prawns Industry and agriculture allied industries, housing for poor, construction of new railway line between Machilipatnam and Repalle. ''None of the promises made by the opposition leader for the development of Machilipatnam was fulfilled and on what credibility Naidu visited Machilipatnam without keeping up his promises'', Venkataramaiah questioned and dared him for an open debate to discuss the welfare and development done for Machilipatnam during YSRCP ruling Government and previous TDP regime. Highlighting the welfare done by YSRCP for Machilipatnam, Venkataramaiah said, "The state government is going to construct the Machilipatnam Port within the lands owned by the government without giving any scope for land acquisition from the farmers." "Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to lay the foundation stone for the works during mid of May which will come into operation in the next two years with four berths capacity. Apart from that the state government has also given house sites for over 25,000 people in and around Machilipatnam and power subsidies and drinking water facilities for gold-covering industry workers", he said. Reacting to the remarks made by Telangana IT Minister KT Rama Rao on the Centre for backing its proposal to privatize the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant with the involvement of his government, the former minister said, "It was Chief Minister who had initially written to the Centre to allocate captive mines to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and opposed the strategic disinvestment of the steel plant, besides suggesting several alternatives to bail out it from losses." (ANI) Four students from the Ramanathapuram district, of Chatrakudi Government Higher Secondary School, Chakrakottai Government Higher Secondary School and Paramakudi S. R. Government Higher Secondary School were selected and sent to Sriharikota Space Research Center for training. The students were selected on the basis of their interest in science and a science competition that was conducted at the district level. After the students were selected, they were sent to Sriharikota Space Research Center and underwent six-day training. The students were further sent to the Indian Institute of Technology and Scientific Research Institute in Chennai to meet the scientists and learn about scientific ideas. Ramanathapuram District Collector Johnny Tom Varkis felicitated and presented the rainbow science release on behalf of the Student Science Council. He also asked the parents of the students to continue to support their success and asked the students to continue to focus on research. (ANI) As the Waris Punjab De' chief Amritpal Singh continued to be on run amid a crackdown, the Punjab Police on Thursday, said that it is ready to deal with any situation, and has adequately deployed forces in the state. Talking to the reporters, here in Amritsar, Punjab DGP Gaurav Yadav said, "We are ready to deal with any situation. We will not let anyone disturb peace and harmony in the State. Some on orders from Pakistan's ISI trying to disturb the atmosphere in the State, but the people of Punjab want peace". He also said that deployment of forces is a routine thing for the police keeping in view the people's convenience. "It (police deployment) is a very routine thing for us. During Darbar Sahib at Amritsar, we deploy heavy forces. 5000 personnel are deployed in Anandpur Sahib during Hola Mohalla," he added. However, the DGP refused to comment on the speculations regarding fugitive Amritpal surrendering on Friday. Meanwhile, on Monday, Amritpal's close aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested in Amritsar's Kathu Nangal and was taken to Assam's Dibrugarh jail. Papalpreet was seen with the fugitive Khalistan leader in several photographs that surfaced after the duo escaped the dragnet of 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) The direction by a bench, headed by the Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, came on a plea seeking to fill the vacancies for National Commission for Scheduled Caste. The Centre apprised the court that Chairperson, Vice-chairperson, and two members are in place but one vacancy exists. The court was hearing a petition filed by the Ambedkar Association For Development (AAD) in 2017 whereby the association sought direction from the Respondent to appoint members of the National Commission for Schedule Castes. Advocate Manoj Gorkela appeared for the petitioner in the matter. NCSC is a statutory authority and consists of a chairperson, a vice chairperson and three other members. Its headquarter is situated in New Delhi and has 12 state branches. "The National Commission for Schedule Caste is a statutory authority and is formed to safeguard the interest of schedule castes and hence commission has played a tremendous role in adjudicating the matter related to schedule castes," the plea said. The petitioner has apprised the court that the then Chairperson of the Commission Dr P L Punia has demitted on October 21, 2016, the Vice Chairperson Mr Raj Kumar Verka got demitted on November 4, 2016, and one member out of three members of the Commission Raju Parmar has got demitted on November 7, 2016. The association has sought to extend the tenure of then-existing members or to fill the vacant position of chairperson, vice chairperson and member of the National Commission for Schedule Caste within the minimum stipulated time frame. (ANI) Hours after son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed was killed in an encounter with UP Police Special Task Force, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav termed it "fake encounter" and alleged that the BJP government in the state was seeking to divert attention from real issues. "By doing fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. The BJP does not believe in the court at all. Today's and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared. The right and wrong is not decided by those in power. BJP is against the brotherhood," Yadav, a former chief minister, said in a tweet. Earlier today, Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide Ghulam, who were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj, were killed in an encounter in Jhansi. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath also chaired a high-level meeting on law and order situation after the incident. CM Yogi also lauded the Special Task Force (STF) team. Later, State Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya hailed the STF for the encounter and termed the action, "message to criminals". "I congratulate UP STF for this action. Police fired in retaliation after they (Asad and his aide Ghulam) fired upon them," Maurya told ANI. "It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi government in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals," he said. Asad and Ghulam carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. The police said that foreign-made weapons were recovered. The encounter took place on the day Atiq Ahmed was produced in court in the same murder case and sent to four-day police custody. (ANI) According to police, the cadres quit the naxal movement after getting impressed by the surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy of the Chhattisgarh government and the district police campaign 'Puna Narkom' (a term coined by local Gondi dialect which means New Dawn). The surrendered Naxalites were identified as Muchaki Dewa (militia commander), Muchaki Joga (militia deputy commander), Muchaki Hunga (militia member) and Somaru (member), said a police officer, adding that Dewa was carrying a bounty of Rs 1 lakh on his head. The officer said that the surrendered Naxals were active in the Sukma-Dantewada border area. The officer informed that the intelligence cell of Central Reserve Police Force's (CRPF) 226th battalion played a significant role in the surrender of Naxals. Necessary assistance will be provided to them as per the surrender and rehabilitation policy of the Chhattisgarh government, said the officer. (ANI) Former Maharashtra minister Aaditya Thackeray on Thursday, reiterated his claim that Chief Minister Eknath Shinde "cried" fearing jail sentence if he did not ally with the Bharatiya Janata Party. He further said that what the Shive Sena leader did with the Uddhav Thackeray faction, can also do with the BJP. Talking to the mediapersons in Mumbai, Aaditya said, "I have not said this the first time. On May 20, Uddhav Thackeray called the gang leader (Eknath Shinde) and asked him, why he wants to do this. He started crying and said that there is a lot of pressure and he doesn't want to go to jail. But, he also said that he will not leave them. But, still, he betrayed us. "That's what I want to say that what they did with us, he can also do with BJP. Because, one who betrays once, can do that multiple times also," he added. On being asked about Eknath Shinde's allegation that it was Uddhav Thackeray who "cried" in fear of losing CM post, Aaditya said, "What can I say about a person who is teaching me my grandfather's Hindutva, without even meeting him once". Responding to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to the state ahead of the BMC elections, he said that it doesn't bother him, as he and his party are busy with their work. Earlier on April 11, Aaditya had claimed, "Eknath Shinde cried after coming to Matoshree and said - If he does not go with BJP, he will be put in jail". It is pertinent to mention that Eknath Shinde led a 'rebellion' with over 40 MLAs in June last year which ultimately toppled the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maha Vikas Aghadi government in Maharashtra. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut further certified Aaditya Thackeray's claims, saying that it is correct" and that Shinde had told him the same thing. "This is 100 per cent correct! Eknath Shinde had also said this after coming to me. I tried to make him (Shinde) understand. But the fear of jail was clearly visible in his mind and heart. Aaditya is right," Raut tweeted. Speaking to the reporters, the Uddhav Thackeray faction leader said that Eknath Shinde had told him that he did not want to go to jail and asked him to break the alliance with the Congress and NCP. "What Aaditya Thackeray is saying is completely true, the present Chief Minister (Eknath Shinde) also said the same after coming to my house that I do not want to go to jail, you break this alliance. ...There is a pressure system going on all over the country but we need not fear. He (CM Eknath Shinde) said no, I am afraid that I will be put in jail, he was afraid of going to jail," Raut claimed. (ANI) YBO - The northern mountainous province of Yen Bai has introduced its unique characteristics with culture, tourism and products to local people and visitors at the Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Festival 2023 and Northwestern Culture and Tourism Week 2023 in the Mekong Delta city of Can Tho. Thai ethnic girls charm spectators with their traditional dances. Delegates and festival-goers join in Xoe dances. Specialties of Thai ethnic people such as xoi ngu sac (five-coloured sticky rice), thit say (dried meat), mang rung (bamboo shoot) are introduced at the festival. An open space to help southern people and visitors learn more about brocade weaving craft in Yen Bai. Visitors learn about tourism attractions and festivals in Yen Bai through a photo exhibition. Yen Bais artisans enliven the streets with colourful and intriguing performances, creating a joyful atmosphere in the area. Photo: VPD Traffic Section/Twitter A Tesla is towed by the Vancouver police. A police action targeting ride-hailing operators in Vancouver earlier this week resulted in several tickets, thousands of dollars in fines, and one towed Tesla. The Vancouver Police Department's Commercial Vehicle Unit, along with the provincial Passenger Transportation Enforcement Officers, was out on April 12 for a targeted operation looking for illegal ride-hailing service drivers. During the operation, they stopped three drivers and handed out 11 tickets which totalled more than $6,600 in fines, according to a tweet from the unit. One car, a Tesla, was towed from the scene. Since ride-hailing services like Uber, Lyft, and Kabu were allowed in B.C., police have begun to regulate those operating using the apps. Previously, the VPD has noted some drivers who use the app aren't properly licensed to provide the service. "Many of these illegal operators are using various apps, but without the appropriate licensing and qualifications, anyone offering rides for remuneration is breaking the law," said VPD spokesperson Sgt. Steve Addison. Today our Commercial Vehicle Unit had another successful joint operation with Passenger Transportation Enforcement Officers targeting illegal ride hail operators. Three vehicles stopped, 11 tickets (over $6600 in fines) and one tow. pic.twitter.com/hBx9TANPUp VPD Traffic Section (@VPDTrafficUnit) April 13, 2023 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) SC Morcha President Lal Singh Arya on Thursday exuded confidence that the Schedule Caste community is on the party's side and will usher the ruling party in Karnataka to win for the second consecutive term. "In Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh elections, the BJP won by a big margin, because the party is working for respect and development for the SC community," he said, adding that in Karnataka too the double engine government will follow the same path for the community. He said that the party gives reservation on constitutional grounds and not on basis of religion. "Recently, the BJP government increased the reservation of Scheduled Caste by 2 per cent and of Scheduled Tribes (STs) by 4 per cent. Even the Dalits, who were deprived of benefits earlier, they have also been classified not on the basis of religion, but on the basis of the Constitution," the BJP SC Morcha chief told ANI. He said that the erstwhile Congress government gave reservation on the basis of religion. "Congress had given 4 per cent reservation on the basis of religion in Karnataka. But BJP did the work of giving reservation to other poor and backward people on constitutional basis and not on religious grounds," the BJP leader said. He also hit out at the State Congress chief DK Shivakumar for opposing the scrapping of 4 per cent Muslims reservation and said that the party he belongs to is anti-reservation, anti-constitutional and anti-Ambedkar. "BJP's ideology is that the poor should get equal rights, so we feel that we have done the work of providing benefits to the poor which they were not getting. SC Morcha has done 10,000 conferences with Scheduled Castes in 41 districts. If people were against Bharatiya Janata Party, no one would have showed up at the conference," he said. "A large number of people are coming with Bharatiya Janata Party, the main reason behind that is Modi Ji's welfare schemes, and BJP's devotion to the Constitution and unwavering faith in the Constitution is the reason that large number of people will come with the BJP," he added. The leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party has declared about 222 seats, we have fielded candidates on such large seats, every time there is some or the other change, but Congress is scared. Where it wins comfortably, it means there is a fear in the Congress that the Bharatiya Janata Party is coming again, so it is not able to release the list, he said. The Karnataka assembly elections will be held in a single phase on May 10, with the counting of votes scheduled on May 13. (ANI) The Delhi High Court on Thursday issued a notice to the University of Delhi after the national secretary of the Congress students' wing filed a plea, challenging his debarment for one year by the varsity. The National Students' Union of India (NSUI) leader Lokesh Chugh has been debarred by the university over the screening of the banned BBC documentary on campus in January this year. Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav issued a notice to the University of Delhi. The high court directed the counsel for the university to file a reply and listed the matter on April 18. "It has been submitted that on January 27, 2023, there was a protest organized by a few students at the Faculty of Arts (Main Campus), University of Delhi. During this protest, an allegedly banned BBC Documentary namely "India: the Modi Question" was screened for public viewing," the plea said. "At the relevant time, the Petitioner was not present at the protest site, neither hadfacilitated or participated in the screening in any manner, the plea said. Chugh, a PhD scholar stated in the plea that he was giving a live interview at the time when the Documentary was being screened. Thereafter, police detained a few students for screening the documentary and charged them with disturbing the peace in the area. The plea stated that Chugh was neither detained nor charged with any form of incitement or violence or disturbance of the peace by the police. It is submitted that he was issued a Show cause notice by the Proctor to show cause why action should not be taken against him for his alleged involvement in law and order disturbance during the screening of the documentary. He filed a reply on the notice on February 20, the plea stated. It is also stated that he submitted his PhD thesis on March 3, 2023. Thereafter, On March 10, the Registrar issued a Memorandum imposing a penalty of debarment from taking any University, College, or Departmental Examinations for one year, the plea said. It is also submitted that neither the Disciplinary Authority/Committee nor the said Memorandum has given any finding as to what indiscipline is attributed to the Petitioner. It is also said the order of debarment is against the natural principle of justice as the Petitioner was not given to explain his conduct. Holding him guilty of indiscipline is based on biased premises as other student participants have been asked to file a written apology, the plea stated further. (ANI) Amid the Covid-19 surge in the country, residents of West Bengal's Siliguri appealed to the state government to implement Covid protocol. "It's a matter of concern that the number of covid cases is increasing day by day. although very few positive cases are in West Bengal. The state government has not issued any notification over the Covid protocols. We appeal to the government to issue the notification to avoid any pandemic situation", Biswajit Das, a local resident of Siliguri said. Das further added that most of the people are not wearing masks in Siliguri, which is also a popular tourist transit hub. "There is a high chance that the case progress to any place. We did not have many cases in our state. We do not need to panic but need to stay aware of the symptoms of Covid. Vaccination helped us to grow our confidence. We've to appeal to the government along with the private bodies to resume the vaccination process", said Dr Sankha Sen, secretary, of the Association of Physicians North Bengal and joint secretary of IMA Siliguri. Dr PD Bhutia, MD, Internal Medicine and Member, ACP(USA) said, "The new variant of omicron has been named XBB 1.5 XQ1. Omicron will be there and Covid will be there. But they will keep changing the strains. So we should be careful and follow the Covid guidelines like wearing masks, maintaining a physical distance." "Nobody wants to remember the Covid days, so we all should be prepared for the challenges", Dr Bhutia added. Meanwhile, India reported 10,158 new cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, according to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. (ANI) "14th April 2023 (Friday) be declared as a holiday on account of the birth anniversary of Dr B R Ambedkar in all the Judgeships of the state of UP under Section 25 of Negotiable Instrument Act, 1881," a statement said. Born on April 14, 1891, Dr B R Ambedkar was fondly referred to as "Baba Saheb". He was the main architect of the Constitution. Besides, he was also an eminent jurist, political activist, anthropologist, author, orator, historian, writer, economist and scholar. Ambedkar, throughout his life, fought to eradicate social evils like untouchability and stood up for the rights of the socially backward classes. He died on December 6, 1956. In 1990, Ambedkar was conferred with the Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian award. (ANI) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will conduct marches across the state of Tamil Nadu at 45 places on April 16, said a party statement on Thursday. The statement issued by the RSS stated, "The DGP of Tamil Nadu granted permission to RSS to conduct route march in 45 places all over Tamil Nadu and requested the district cadres to approach the concerned District Commissioners of Police and Superintendent of Police and work out the route and other formalities for conducting march on 16th April 2023." "RSS has been conducting route marches ever since its formation in 1925 every year during Vijayadasami throughout the country. It is an annual event conducted in every part of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari", R Vanniyarajan, RSS President, Tamilnadu said in the statement. The statement added, "We expect the General public and other brethren to join us for the public meeting and view the march in large numbers. We thank Supreme Court, High Court and Police for granting permission to conduct the march." On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected the Stalin-led-Tamil Nadu's appeal against the Madras high court order allowing 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 had observed that the main objection raised by the State before the High Court was that after the imposition of a banning 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 of 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. (ANI) Students of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras on Wednesday night held a protest on the campus seeking justice for Sachin Kumar Jain, a PhD student, who died allegedly by suicide on March 31. They also demanded action against Sachins' guide, Ashish Kumar Sen, holding him responsible for his death. "Action should be taken against his guide," they demanded. A PhD student of the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, died by suicide in his room in Tamil Nadu's Velachery on March 31, police said earlier. This is the third incident of suicide reported from IIT Madras this year and the 11th case since 2018. Nilesh, IIT Madras Student said, "Sachin committed suicide due to the pressure exerted by his guide. An inquiry committee headed by a judge, human rights organization and some external committee should be set up to investigate the suicide of such students since we feel the IIT administration is trying to hide many things". Earlier on March 31, PhD Student of Madras IIT Sachin Kumar Jain (32), a native of West Bengal died by allegedly committing suicide in his Velachery room. According to Vellachery police officials, "On March 31, Sachin posted a WhatsApp status 'I am Sorry Not good Enough'. Seeing the status his friends reached his home and found Sachin Kumar Jain hanging. An ambulance was called and he was pronounced dead on examination". Velachery Police registered a case on this and more investigation is going on. Earlier, IIT issued a statement expressing deep anguish over the incident, "We are deeply anguished to convey the untimely passing away of a PhD Research scholar from the Mechanical Engineering Department on the afternoon of 31st March 2023 at his residence at Velachery, Chennai. A student with an exemplary academic and research record is a big loss to the research community. The Institute expresses its heartfelt condolences and shares the grief of the friends and family of the deceased student. The Institute requests everyone respect the privacy of the student's family at this difficult juncture. May the departed soul rest in peace". Earlier on March 14, a third-year BTech student died by suicide (hanging) at the Madras IIT Campus. The deceased was identified as Vaipu Pushpak Sree Sai (20), a native of Andhra Pradesh. While on February 14, a research scholar from Maharashtra hanged himself in a room inside the IIT campus. (ANI) This is the first time the Rozgar Mela was being conducted in the Palakkad Division of Southern Railway. "In a major recruitment drive to provide jobs in the government sector, the Central Government handed over more than 71,000 appointment letters for various posts in 45 departments, at 45 locations across the country to successful candidates. Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) was the coordinating agency in organising the Rozgar Mela," the government informed in a press release. A total of 242 candidates received the appointment letters at the Rozgar Mela held at Railway Kalyana Mandapam, Hemambika Nagar Railway Colony in Palakkad, Kerala. Out of the 242 candidates, 234 candidates were presented with appointment letters. Apart from 206 candidates from Palakkad Railway Division, 15 candidates from Salem Railway Division, five candidates from the Postal Department, five from Gramin Bank, two candidates of Higher education (IIT, Palakkad), and one from Bank of Baroda also received the appointment letters. The Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment of India, A Narayanaswamy was the Chief Guest for the function. Other than him, the Chairperson of Palakkad Municipality, Priya Ajayan, and Smitham Albin, a member of Akathethara Grama Panchayat were also present on the occasion. Divisional Railway Manager, Yashpal Singh Tomar, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, CT Sakkeer Hussain, Additional Divisional Railway Manager, S Jayakrishnan, Senior Divisional Personnel Officer, Sidharth K Varma, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Arun Thomas Kalathikal and other branch officers were also present during the function. (ANI) Surat Sessions Court on April 3 granted bail to the Congress leader, who had filed an appeal following his conviction in the criminal defamation case. Rahul Gandhi lost membership in the Lower House of Parliament after the Surat court convicted and sentenced him in a 2019 criminal defamation case. The case pertained to a remark he made using the surname 'Modi' while addressing a campaign event ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. At a rally in Karnataka's Kolar in April 2019, Rahul, in a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said, "How come all the thieves have Modi as the common surname?". Following his conviction, Rahul was disqualified as an MP on March 24, as per a Supreme Court ruling in 2013. Under the ruling, any MP or MLA is automatically disqualified if convicted and sentenced to two years or more. (ANI) The constable identified as Kothandam said his 10-year-old daughter who has been suffering from nephrological issues since age 3 has been taking medicines prescribed by government doctors for the past 5 years. "Due to the severe side effects of medicine, she had fallen sick again in 2021," he alleged. He alleged that due to the wrong diagnosis made by the doctor and the wrong treatment, the patient's legs turned black and resulting in severe blood clotting. He also says that they have given dialysis to the child patient without his permission which led to her getting fits. "Later she was admitted to the Intensity Care unit for further treatment," he said. He alleged that the child has lost 12 kgs of weight, her legs have turned black, her hands and legs have been paralysed and she has slipped into a coma. He demanded immediate action to be taken against the doctors responsible for her daughter's sickness. After the protest, Kothandam was taken to a nearby police station by police personnel who were posted outside the Secretariat for security. (ANI) In view of a prevailing heatwave in the state, the Odisha Government has directed the transport department to reschedule timings of public transport services to avoid their plying during 'peak hours' of the heat wave. State Revenue and Disaster Management Minister Pramila Malik hold a review meeting with the Special Relief Commissioner, Principal Secretaries of various Departments, and Regional Director of the Indian Meteorological Department on the heat wave situation. Malik has also directed concerned authorities to take necessary steps to ensure uninterrupted power supply in both rural and urban areas. For the past few days, the temperature is rising in the state and MeT Department has also issued a heatwave warning throughout the state. Keeping in view the intense Heat-wave condition across the State, the State Government has decided to close all Schools (both Government and Private) and Anganwadi centres till 16th April 2023. "Morning office from 7 AM to 1 PM started from April 10. Working hours for labourers have been rescheduled. No working hours during the peak period from 11 AM to 3 PM," said State Revenue and Disaster Management in a press statement. "Besides, special arrangement has been made and separate wards and beds have been earmarked for the treatment of heat stroke patients in hospitals. Sufficient life-saving medicines, saline, and ORS packets in dispensaries, PHCs, CHCs and Subdivision/ District Headquarters Hospitals have been stocked to meet the requirement," added the press statement. Further, the statement also wrote, "Jal Chhatras have been opened in strategic locations like marketplaces, bus stands and crowded places in rural and urban areas. Besides, arrangements for the supply of drinking water through tanker has been made in water scarcity areas." "Panchayati Raj and Drinking Water Department have been directed to immediately start preventive maintenance of tube wells and piped water supply systems if not already taken up," added the statement. (ANI) Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Thursday took a jibe at the meeting of the opposition parties held in the national capital. "The person (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) who has taken a resolution in his life to make India a prime leader on the world stage, 130 crore people of the country have joined him and this is the reason that there is a disturbance in the opposition. They are organising meetings late at night, not in broad daylight," Scindia said. He added that PM Modi is hosting the tricolour on the world stage. The belief of every citizen of India is with PM Modi. Notably, several leaders of the opposition parties, including Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav participated in the meeting held in Delhi as part of efforts to form a united opposition ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Besides, Scindia also retaliated on former Chief Minister and Rajya Sabha MP Digvijaya Singh's remark about getting the suit ready for the post of Madhya Pradesh CM. The Union Minister said, "Perhaps the one who has hope of becoming the Chief Minister, perhaps is giving this statement. I have said earlier also that my belief is only to serve the country and to serve Madhya Pradesh. I will do whatever the party asks me to do. The party's intention is my intention. My family works on the basis of service. My grandmother, my father and I never worked for any chair or post." Notably, while addressing the media persons in Sagar district on Wednesday (April 12), Singh took the names of seven BJP leaders, including CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan and said that they have stitched suits to become CM, but they will not get a chance. Because Kamal Nath will take the oath as chief minister of Madhya Pradesh. Reacting to the employment fair being held in the state capital Bhopal, Scindia said, "It is true that never in our history such events were held in which appointment letters were given with such respect. PM Modi has taken a resolution nine years ago that the country has to grow on the basis of youth power. India is uniting under the leadership of PM Modi and moving forward." On the other hand, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state president V D Sharma thanked Prime Minister Modi and said that a resolution to provide direct employment to 10 lakh people in the employment fair is being fulfilled. Reacting to Singh's remark about getting suit ready, Sharma said, "I want to tell Digvijay Singh that this is BJP where booth workers can become the state president. Farmer's son can become the Chief Minister. You (Singh) should worry about yourself, there is no one else inside the Congress except one family. You and Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Kamal Nath are worried about their sons. You both want to make your respective son the chief minister." The people of the state have already shown the mirror to you, worry about yourself, he added. (ANI) A Delhi court has granted bail to an advocate who was accused of raping a woman advocate after noting that there was no scientific evidence, and the police did not seek custodial remand. The court granted relief to the accused Jitender Kumar Gupta a.k.a. Sumit, against whom a female advocate lodged an FIR of rape at Bara Hindu Rao Police Station. Deepak Shama, the counsel appearing for the accused, contended that the accused was falsely implicated in the present case. "Applicant-accused and the prosecutrix both are practicing Advocates. The prosecutrix and the accused-applicant have been known to each other since 2019 and were in relation till October 2022. Prosecutrix is well known to the family of the accused," Sharma argued. He further argued that the prosecutrix has made false complaint with the police regarding the accused that he was her husband and was missing. Sharma said that she only wanted to pressurise him to marry her despite the fact that he had got married with someone else. "My client had filed a representation before DCP, Civil Lines, Delhi and thereafter, the prosecutrix lodged the FIR. There is no complaint against my client from 2019 to March, 2023. There is no scientific evidence in respect of termination of her pregnancy," he said. The court also noted that the police did not seek the custodial remand of the accused. "The accused deserves benefit of Section 438 CrPC. Accordingly, the application is allowed and it is ordered that in the event of arrest of the accused Jitender Kumar Gupta a.k.a. Sumit, he shall be released on bail on furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 25,000 with one surety in the like amount. Accused shall join the investigation as and when required by the police and he shall not directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case," the court noted while granting relief. --IANS atk/pgh ( 341 Words) 2023-04-13-21:18:02 (IANS) The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would be an absurd extension of the principle of dereliction of duty if a Superintendent of Police or Commandant of a paramilitary force, is held responsible for a crime on his watch in the absence of overwhelming material establishing his guilt. A bench of Justices Krishna Murari and Ahsanuddin Amanullah gave relief to B.S. Hari, now 82 years old, by directing payment of full retiral benefits from his superannuation till date within a period of 12 weeks. The bench said: "This court would hasten to add that it should not be construed that the appellant, being the Commandant, had no responsibility/duty to prevent such incident, but to stretch it to the extent to label him an active partner and/or facilitator of such crime is wholly unjustified, having regard to the present factual matrix." It further added that it would not be out of place to draw an analogy from a situation where a crime occurs under the jurisdiction of the Superintendent of Police and in the criminal proceedings emanating therefrom, some police personnel are held guilty. Thereafter, a criminal case as also departmental proceedings, based on such acts of commissions or omissions, is opened against the said Superintendent of Police, on the premise that such incident transpired under his overall watch and control, it added. "This would be an extreme and absurd extension of the principle of dereliction of duty and/or active connivance, in the absence of overwhelming material establishing guilt, or at the very least, negating the probability of his innocence," said the bench. The apex court set aside conviction and sentence of 10 years imposed on the BSF Commandant, a presidential medal awardee. It was alleged that in April 1995, the local police conducted a search and a few jerry cans of acetic anhydride, a controlled substance under Section 9A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, were stated to be located in Pakistani territory and in the fields owned by Indian civilians adjoining the border. On April 7, 1995, the appellant was directed to hand over charge and move to the STC, where he was placed under arrest. However, search of the appellant's house did not lead to any recovery of any incriminating material. An inspector who was in actual and physical command and control of the area in the vicinity of which the alleged jerry cans were recovered, is said to have made a statement that he was involved in the incident at the behest of the appellant. Justice Amanullah, who wrote the judgment on behalf of the bench, said: "We are quite conscious that in the armed forces of the Union, including the paramilitary forces, utmost discipline, unity of command et al are the sine qua non. That said, the doctrine of proportionality still holds the field." The bench further added that in the absence of direct and cogent evidence against the appellant, even if the General Security Force Court (GSFC) was convinced of the appellant's guilt, the punishment handed out was too harsh, paying heed that the appellant would, even then, be a first-time delinquent, and not a habitual offender. "Arguendo, that there be some semblance of truth in the allegations, the punishment meted out, in our considered view, was disproportionate," said the bench. The bench pointed out that except Subedar Didar Singh's statement, there was no material against the appellant. "Without other material(s) incriminating the appellant or pointing to his guilt, the statement of a single person alone ought not to have, in this instance, resulted in his conviction," it added. "Another factor which has nudged this court to introspect vis-a-vis proportionality herein, is that the appellant has served the country for over 31 years without blame or blemish, and has received various awards, inter alia, including medal from Hon'ble President of India. The appellant's track record is otherwise unquestionable." The bench further added that notably, it was solely on the strength of the statement of Subedar Didar Singh - who is said to have confessed to his involvement in the incident but goes on to add that it was at the behest of and upon the direction of the appellant, he was subjected to punishment. --IANS ss/vd ( 721 Words) 2023-04-13-22:18:02 (IANS) Bangladesh Nationalist Party's secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir has stirred a controversy with his 'Pakistan period was better than present time,' which has sparked widespread criticism especially on social media according to BangladeshLive News. Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Janata League President "Bangabir'' Abdul Kader Siddique termed Alamgir's remark as seditious, reported BangladeshLive News which stated that with his statement, the BNP proved that they wanted to launch a political imbued with Pakistani ideology Citing that there were only 22 multimillionaires back then compared to 192,000 right now, senior BNP secretary general Alamgir had said that the gulf between the rich and the poor had increased and the low-income people were suffering immensely, He further stated that Bangladeshis were better off under Pakistan's military regime, both financially and in terms of quality of life. This remark sparked widespread criticism. Reacting to the remark, Siddique said that he has shed blood for the liberation of this land and that if Fakhrul Islam feels this way, he has no right to live in Bangladesh, according to BangladeshLive News. He condemned the BNP for enjoying the freedoms of a liberal society in Bangladesh and yet singing praises for Pakistan. He said that the political and economic turmoil of Pakistan was visible to the entire world, and yet BNP is biased towards Pakistan. In his usual imposing manner, he declared that as long as he is alive such "seditious" will never succeed in turning Bangladesh into Pakistan. Siddique is one of the few remaining politicians who actively fought for the independence of Bangladesh during the Liberation War of 1971. Meanwhile, Awami League General Secretary Obaidul Quader has expressed shock at the statements made by Alamgir. Quader said that no person or organisation that believes in independence, sovereignty, democracy, progress and patriotism, can make comments against the spirit of the Liberation War. Recently, Kader Siddique met Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at her official residence, reported BangladeshLive News. At a meeting of the Jatiya Party in the capital, Kader Siddique, who is also the president of the Krishak Sramik Janata League, said: "I am like a brother of Awami League President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and I can sacrifice my life for my sister Hasina." Also present were Obaidul Quader, the general secretary of the Awami League, and other important figures from the Awami League-led 14-party alliance. In the past, he has demanded state recognition for people who forged a "resistance movement" after the assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. After the assassination of Bangabondu, a number of groups of freedom fighters and army personnel waged a movement protesting it. Of those, the toughest resistance was led by Kader, as per the report in BangladeshLive News. (ANI) Sweden has closed its Embassy in Islamabad for an indefinite period of time due to the "current situation" of Pakistan, according to the official release from the embassy. In the statement, the embassy said, "The Migration Section is not, at the moment, able to handle requests of any kind. Also, we cannot send any documents to our consulates, Gerry's, Sweden or your home address. We understand that this will cause inconvenience however, the safety of our applicants and staff members is of the highest priority." The embassy further stated, "We cannot answer any questions regarding re-opening at the moment. If you have questions regarding your case please contact the Migration Agency. Thank you for your patience." Reacting to the move taken by Sweden's Embassy, Pakistan 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." According to ARY News, overseas Pakistanis are unable to call their families in Sweden as the embassy in Islamabad has been closed. The diplomatic sources said normally the issuance of a Swedish visa takes 4 to 6 months. Citing diplomatic sources, a Pakistan-based news channel reported that the Swedish Embassy has also been contacted about the issue by the concerned Foreign Office officials. Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Asad Majeed Khan has been apprised of the situation by the overseas Pakistanis and students. Meanwhile, the sources within the embassy of Sweden said they cannot say anything about the reopening of the embassy at present, reported ARY News. (ANI) Japan has issued a warning that a North Korean missile may have landed in Hokkaido Prefecture or neighbouring waterways. Taking to Twitter, the Japan PMO wrote, "Dedicate maximum effort to gather & analyze information, & provide the public speedy & adequate information. Ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels, & other assets." As the missile is seen as to have possibly landed in Japan's waters, the Prime Minister's Office has urged to take all possible measures for precaution, including readiness for contingencies as well. North Korea on Thursday fired an unspecified ballistic missile towards the East Sea of Japan on Thursday, Yonhap News Agency said citing the South Korean military. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they discovered the launch. However, they did not go into further detail about it as the investigation is underway. Furthermore, Pyongyang fired an unidentified missile into the East Sea amid escalating tensions with Seoul and Washington, according to the Japanese authorities, who also said that the missile could be headed in Japan's direction. According to NHK World, Japan has issued a warning that a North Korean missile may have landed nearby or in Hokkaido Prefecture. (ANI) Japan has said that there is no longer a possibility of a missile fired by Pyongyang falling in or near Hokkaido, NHK World reported on Thursday. The clarification from the Japanese side has come after it issued an alert soon after North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile on Thursday towards the East Sea. The government warned that one of the multiple missiles fired by North Korea on Thursday could land in the waters off of Hokkaido by sending out an alarm at 7:55 a.m. and a notification at 7:56 a.m. through its emergency information network systems, reported NHK World. Following the missile launch by Pyongyang, the Japan PMO wrote, "Dedicate maximum effort to gather & analyze information, & provide the public speedy & adequate information. Ensure the safety of aircraft, vessels, & other assets." The Prime Minister's Office urged to take all possible measures for precaution, including readiness for contingencies as well. Following its ongoing unwillingness to respond to what were formerly daily cross-border communications, North Korea on Thursday fired an unspecified ballistic missile towards the East Sea of Japan on Thursday, Yonhap News Agency said citing the South Korean military. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they discovered the launch. However, they did not go into further detail about it as the investigation is said to be underway. Tensions increased on Tuesday as state media in the North claimed that leader Kim Jong-un had called for strengthening his nation's military deterrence in a more "practical and offensive" way. According to NHK World, Japan advised residents of the Hokkaido prefecture and the nearby areas to seek safety immediately. (ANI) Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra arrived in Mauritius for a three-day visit from April 12-14, the High Commission of India in Mauritius informed in a tweet. The High Commission of India in Mauritius noted that Vinay Kwatra's visit will be an opportunity to review the ties between the two nations. Taking to its official Twitter handle, the High Commission of India in Mauritius stated, "Arrival of Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra in Mauritius for a 3-day visit from 12-14 April 2023. Opportunity to review the entire gamut of India-Mauritius bilateral relations." India has "close, longstanding relations" with Mauritius, owing to historic, demographic and cultural reasons, according to the High Commission of India in Mauritius' media brief on ties between the two nations. A key reason for the "special ties" between the two nations is that Indian-origin people comprise nearly 70 per cent of Mauritius's population of 1.2 million (28 per cent Creole, 3 per cent Sino-Mauritian, 1 per cent Franco-Mauritian). Earlier in March, Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth visited the First Training Squadron Ships and appreciated the assistance provided by ships and aircraft of India's Navy while also lauding the interoperability between the Indian Navy and Mauritian National Coast Guard. The Mauritius PM made the remarks at the First Training Squadron Ships at Quay A, Harbour Area in Port-Louis. Taking to Twitter, the Indian Navy Spokesperson said, "Hon'ble PM of Mauritius @KumarJugnauth during the reception, the onboard First Training Squadron lauded the interoperability of the National Coast Guard, Mauritius & IndianNavy during Joint Ops for the removal of pollutants from grounded vessel off St Brandon Mauritius." Indian Navy spokesperson in another tweet said, "Based on the request from GoM, the 1TS Ships on a long-range training deployment off Mauritius carried out joint salvage ops with MCGS Barracuda, which incl over 30 helo sorties & recovery of more than 300 kgs of pollutants." Speaking on the occasion, Jugnauth highlighted that the participation of the Indian Navy in activities marking the Independence Day celebrations is a testimony of the privileged relationship between Mauritius and India, strongly bound by ties that go deep in history. He extended his gratitude to the Government of India and the Indian Navy for this collaboration, according to an official release by the Mauritian government. (ANI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday made a short transit visit to the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa and held talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Affairs Minister of Ehiopia, Demeke Mekonnen Hassen. Jaishankar took to Twitter to post about the "good meeting" and welcomed Hassen's perspective on developments in the region. During the meeting, the two leaders shared views on "strong multilateral cooperation" between India and Ethiopia, including in the African Union and the United Nations. The external affairs minister tweeted, "Welcomed his perspective on developments in the region. Also shared views on our strong multilateral cooperation, including in the AU and United Nations." Jaishankar, who concluded his visit to Uganda, is now travelling to Mozambique. Jaishankar will visit Mozambique from April 13-15 and according to the Ministry of External Affairs this will be the first-ever visit by an External Affairs Minister of India to the Republic of Mozambique In Mozambique, the EAM will meet with the country's top leadership and co-chair the fifth Session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo. Jaishankar is expected to meet several other ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique. He will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Mozambique. EAM Jaishankar recently concluded his Uganda visit. In a podcast of his recently concluded Uganda visit, Jaishankar said that India and Uganda have very converging perspectives which are based on the solidarity of the south-south cooperation between the two nations. Jaishankar said that out of many conversations during his visit to Uganda, future cooperation between India-Africa, and especially India-Uganda was an important subject. Terming the African nation of Uganda "noteworthy", the External Affairs Minister in his podcast said that he has seen new intensity in interactions between New Delhi and Kampala and that even as India look towards the development side, it has a clear purpose with regard to expanding its economic interactions with the African country. "When I came here to Kampala two days ago, I had the privilege of meeting President Museveni almost immediately. I had interaction with the minister of foreign affairs, and defence, the minister of trade, the minister of water resources and many of their colleagues," Jaishankar said in the podcast that was posted on the external affairs ministry's Twitter handle. Marking a milestone in Indian-Uganda bilateral cooperation, Jaishankar inaugurated the first foreign campus of India's National Forensic Sciences University in Jinja, Uganda on Wednesday. (ANI) Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who on Wednesday arrived in Samarkand, took to Twitter to state that Lavrov and Foreign Minister of China Qin Gang held talks on April 13 in Samarkand. Lavrov, Qin Gang along with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar participated in a meeting in Samarkand within the framework of a ministerial conference of Afghanistan's neighbouring nations, TASS reported. Top diplomats of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also attended the meeting. Ahead of the meeting, TASS reported that the leaders will discuss further steps on facilitating Afghanistan's political settlement. They will also talk about the stabilization of the humanitarian and socio-economic situation in Afghanistan and development of regional economic integration and the implementation of transport and energy projects with Kabul's participation. As per TASS, during his visit, Lavrov will also participate in a meeting of top CIS diplomats and a ministerial meeting in a Russia-Central Asia format. Lavrov had previously met Qin Gang met on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (G20FMM) in New Delhi this March. During the meeting, Qin Gang said that the ties between China and Russia continue to develop "steadily and healthily." He also recalled former Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Russia in February 2023. "Thanks to the strategic guiding role of our leaders, our relations continue to develop steadily and healthily, setting a positive example of bilateral relations between major powers," TASS quoted Qin Gang as saying. "Recently Comrade Wang Yi successfully visited Russia, where he exchanged views with you personally and the rest of his Russian colleagues, and [they] reached broad agreements. We took the opportunity to talk with you on all issues of mutual interest," he added. (ANI) United Nations General Assembly President Csaba Korosi thanked Permanent Representatives of India, Belgium and South Africa to the UN for the initiative, which was announced during the second scientific briefing of the General Assembly. Csaba Korosi called the initiative -- the creation of the group of friends on 'Science for Action' -- an "important step" towards multilateral cooperation and the exchange of information and data. He also called on UN member states to join the informal forum. In a statement, UNGA President said, "I congratulate today's creation of Group of Friends on Science for Action. I thank Ambassador Philippe Kridelka, the Permanent Representative of Belgium; Ambassador Ruchira Kamboj, the Permanent Representative of India; and Ambassador Mathu Joyini, the Permanent Representative of South Africa, for this initiative, which was announced during the second scientific briefing of the General Assembly." Taking to his official Twitter handle, Korosi stated, "I congratulate today's creation of the Group of Friends on Science for Action. I thank the Permanent Representatives of for this initiative. This is an important step forward towards multilateral cooperation and exchange of information and data." Csaba Korosi said that he is "deeply honoured" that member states see the value of science in decision-making and have taken an important step towards multilateral cooperation and exchange of information. He further said, "Let me stress that this platform, this Group of Friends, is by Member States for Member States. It is a platform to help Member States during future negotiations and way beyond. I look forward to working with the Group of Friends during the coming months." Permanent Mission of India to the United Nations in a tweet stated, "Launched! Today, PRs of India, Belgium & South Africa launched the Group of Friends of Science for Action. The needs real, tangible & sustainable solutions to multiple crises. This Group is a critical step towards achieving #SDGs, through evidence-based decision-making." In a statement at the UNGA, Ruchira Kamboj, Permanent Representative of India to the United Nations, said, "It is indeed with great pleasure that we, the representatives of India, Belgium, and South Africa, announce the launch of the Group of Friends of Science for Action." She further said, "We are especially delighted that the President of the General Assembly could be present with us for this, particularly at the end of an important day of briefings by scientists and academics." Kamboj stated that the Group of Friends of Science for Action is aimed to promote the application of science-based actionable knowledge to the policies and programmes of member states towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals. "The idea is also to further evidence-based decision-making across the full spectrum of activities in the UN, including through linkages with global networks of scientists and experts on a regular basis. The hope is that the unprecedent expansion of information and data in the recent times, coupled with application scientific knowledge will guide us to fast track our collective goals, including achieving SDGs," she added. (ANI) Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan married Bushra Bibi during her Iddat period, a cleric who solemnised their wedding told a court in Islamabad, reported Dawn. Mufti Mohammad Saeed made the testimony before Senior Civil Judge Nasrum Minallah on Wednesday during the hearing of a petition seeking legal action against the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman for marrying his current wife Bushra Bibi while she was reportedly on Iddat, as per the Dawn report. As per the news report, Iddat is a 130-day waiting period after the dissolution of a woman's marriage through divorce, death, or any other form of separation from her husband, during which the woman remains unmarried. Former Pakistan PM Imran Khan married Bushra Bibi in Feb 2018. Khan's friend Zulfi Bukhari and former party leader Aon Chaudhry had said that Mufti Saeed solemnised the marriage in Lahore. They both also stood witness to the marriage. In the statement before the court, Mufti Mohammad Saeed said he had close ties with Imran Khan and was part of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)'s core committee, according to Dawn report. The cleric said that Khan on January 1, 2018, asked him to solemnise his marriage with Bushra Bibi in Lahore. Imran Khan took Mufti Mohammad Saeed to a house in the Defence Society where he met the relatives of PTI chairman and Bushra Bibi. Mufti Mohammad Saeed said, "I obtained, from both sides, sundry details before performing the Nikah. I also asked her about her first marriage and divorce," as per the Dawn report. The cleric further said that a woman who accompanied Bushra Bibi introduced herself as her sister and told him that all requirements for the marriage under Shariah were complete. The cleric solemnised the marriage of Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi in January. However, Mufti Saeed recalled that Imran Khan contacted him in February 2018 with a request to perform the Nikkah again as the first one was against the principles of Shariah, as per the news report. In his testimony, Mufti Mohammad Saeed said, "I was told that the Nikah was solemnised during Bushra Bibi's Iddat as she had been divorced in Nov 2017", as per the Dawn report. He further said, "But there was a 'prediction' that the PTI chairman will become prime minister if he marries Bushra on Jan 1, 2018." The cleric claimed that Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi deliberately entered into an "illegal and un-Islamic" union due to 'a mere prediction' as the PTI chairman was convinced that he would become Pakistan's PM if he got married on New Year's Day in 2018. (ANI) Rejecting Pakistan's criticism, India on Thursday said G20 meetings are being organized in the entire country and hence it is "natural" to hold meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh as "these are inalienable parts of India." Pakistan recently slammed India's decision to host a G20 meeting in Srinagar and parts of Kashmir as an "irresponsible move". "G20 meetings are being organized in entire India, in all cities and parts of India. It is therefore natural to hold the meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh because these are inalienable parts of India," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) Official Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during the MEA Weekly Media Briefing on Thursday. "That is what I would like to say. The meetings are being held in all parts of India, that is our natural response," the MEA official spokesperson said. Indian announced Srinagar as the venue for the G20 Tourism Working Group meeting scheduled to take place from May 22 to 24. Bagchi on Thursday while answering a question about whether China, and Pakistan will be attending the SCO Defence Ministers' meet, the Foreign Minister's meet in India, said: "We send invitations to everyone. We are expecting everyone to attend. We'll let you know about the participation." The media recently reproted that the government of Jammu and Kashmir is making all the necessary arrangements for the upcoming G20 summit, which will take place in May this year. In such a situation, the meeting is considered to be very important from the point of view of tourism and the tourism department is taking various measures in this regard. Along with the publicity campaign, various tourist places are being made attractive. According to the J-K Director of Tourism Fazl Al-Huseeb, efforts are being made to promote Kashmir better with such measures, as this meeting is very important for promoting the tourism sector. He said, "The facilities are being further improved at the important tourist places here and much work has been taken up to make them more attractive. Under this link, 75 new places in Jammu and Kashmir to develop the tourism sector. are being brought on the tourist map and all possible basic facilities are being provided for the tourists to access these new places." Among the 15 institutions in the country chosen to host Youth-20 and Civil -20 events which are being organised in connection with India's G-20 Presidency, the University of Kashmir (KU) is one of them. It's for the first time in the past 70 years that J-K would be hosting an international event like G-20. (ANI) Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that the issues related to George Soros and United Nations Democracy Fund (UNDEF) are different and should not be mixed up. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said this while reacting to a query regarding a report of the UNDEF funding Soros' organisations. Soros' organisations and UNDEF are separate issues. There have been attempts to mix all these which have misled the situation, Bagchi said in a media briefing. "As a responsible member of the UN, India participates in and promotes various UN activities. This includes contributing to a number of voluntary funds and programmes of the UN and the UNDEF is one of them," Bagchi stated. He further explained, "This fund (UNDEF) receives funding from nearly 45 member states including India. UNDEF allocates the funds received to numerous projects across the world, the projects executed by various organisations." "This process is guided by the UN Norms and procedures. These funds are allocated for various projects across the world and various organisations implement this. That's our contribution and participation in the UNDEF advisory board," he added. He further stated, quoting EAM Jaishankar, "People's word in a democracy must be respected, not undermined. This important principle should not be obfuscated." On the question of Soros's organisation (related to Open Society Foundations) sending money to India, Bagchi said that they (Soros' organisations) are not allowed to send money here. "As far as any regulatory action against any organisation sending money to India is concerned, where necessary, relevant agencies take suitable action as per the law," he said. (ANI) A British newspaper citing senior government sources, reported that MI5 has provided evidence showing nationals of hostile countries, including China, have entered the UK after obtaining citizenship in countries whose citizens are allowed to enter the UK without visas. MI5 reportedly fears that agents working for the Chinese government could be among those people. The issue has driven the UK Home Office to prepare new visa restrictions against several countries through which "Chinese spies" are entering the territory of the UK. The UK Foreign Office has however allegedly blocked the measure, resulting in some government ministers nicknaming UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly as "Mr Softy," the report said. MI5 has reportedly suggested that agents of Russia's special services could resort to the same measures to enter the territory of the UK. Meanwhile, it was reported that Chinese police have been using spies to ensure that Uyghur Muslims do not fast during the holy month of Ramzan. The spies, which Chinese officials call "ears", are drawn from ordinary citizens, police and members of neighbourhood committees, Radio Free Asia reported citing a police officer from an area near Turpan, or Tulufan in Chinese, in eastern Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. Speaking to Radio Free Asia, the police officer said, "We have many secret agents." China started banning Muslims in Xinjiang from fasting during Ramzan in 2017 when authorities started arbitrarily detaining Uyghurs in "re-education" camps amid efforts to diminish Uyghur culture, language and religion, as per the news report. (ANI) It is not an issue of "satisfaction, we want to see action on the ground," said Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on the vandalism and attacks on the Indian High Commission in the United Kingdom. Bagchi said this while addressing the weekly media briefing of the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday. "Are we satisfied with actions against the vandalism and attacks on the High Commission? As I mentioned, the issue is not of satisfaction. We wanted to see action on the ground," he said. He also said, "We have been urging host countries, including the UK, to take action against those who vandalised the flag as well as the High Commission, identify them and take action against the perpetrators. We are certainly pressing them to continue to take measures to ensure security of premises, security-safety of our personnel who are there in London." "This is the ongoing conversation we are having with the UK authorities," the MEA spokesperson added. Regarding the violence at the Indian High Commission in London, UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly has 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. 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." Notably, the Indian community in March, earlier this year, held a large gathering in front of the Indian High Commission against the "disrespectful act" of Khalistan supporters towards the Indian flag and demanded that the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the British government act against the perpetrators at the earliest. The desecration of the Indian Flag led to an unprecedented outpouring of support from the diverse Indian community in Britain. Expats from all across the UK travelled to London to express their solidarity with the Indian Flag. The gathering resoundingly debunked the idea of Khalistan, saying there are no takers for it. (ANI) Ukrainian authorities have denounced Russian forces following the appearance of a video on social media of a Ukrainian prisoner being beheaded with a knife, reported Al Jazeera. Al Jazeera was unable to independently confirm the authenticity of the video, which soon gained viral traction. In the now-viral video, a soldier in uniform can be seen beheading a man sporting the yellow armband worn by Ukrainian soldiers. A voice can be heard at the beginning of the video, which is severely blurred and suggests that the victim may have still been alive when the attack started. The video was labelled "awful" by the Kremlin, which also demanded that its authenticity be investigated. Russia has previously refuted claims that its soldiers committed atrocities throughout the conflict. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, "There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill." He added, "We are not going to forget anything. Neither are we going to forgive the murderers. There will be legal responsibility for everything. The defeat of terror is necessary." The video was termed "horrific" by Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. Referring to the United Nations Security Council, where Russia took up the rotating presidency this month, Dmytro Kuleba tweeted, "It's absurd that Russia, which is worse than ISIS, is presiding over the UNSC." He added, "Russian terrorists must be kicked out of Ukraine and the UN and be held accountable for their crimes." When ISIS (ISIL) held large portions of Iraq and Syria from 2014 to 2017, they were infamous for releasing footage of the beheadings of captives, as per Al Jazeera. The SBU, Ukraine's domestic security organisation, announced that it had started an inquiry into the alleged war crime. The SBU agency wrote on Telegram, "Yesterday, a video appeared on the Internet showing how the Russian occupiers are showing their beastly nature - cruelly torturing a Ukrainian prisoner and cutting off his head." Al Jazeera reported that the European Union also pledged to hold war criminals to account. EU spokesperson Nabila Massrali said, "We don't have more information on the veracity of the video. Having said that, if confirmed, this is yet another brutal reminder about the inhumane nature of the Russian aggression." She said, "The EU reiterates its firm commitment to holding to account all perpetrators and accomplices of war crimes committed in connection with Russia's war." The video surfaced on pro-Russian social media accounts a few days after a separate video went viral showing the bodies of two decapitated Ukrainian soldiers next to a wrecked military vehicle. Members of the Wagner Group, a Russian mercenary organisation, are thought to have recorded it. The hands of the dead Ukrainian troops appear to have been severed, Al Jazeera reported. (ANI) Regarding Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova urging India to involve Ukrainian representatives in the G20 meetings, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday said that "list of participants has been already declared." "We have answered the question in the past. I have nothing to add to that for the moment in terms of participation." "Our Foreign Secretary had mentioned the list of participants has been already declared. I don't have any updates on that", Bagchi said during the weekly briefing here. Dzhaparova during her visit here on Tuesday while speaking at a think tank, the Indian Council of World Affairs asked India to consider Ukrainian representatives in the G20 meetings and added that her President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy will be happy to address the G-20 summit in New Delhi which will be held in September this year. "Our expectations are quite clear. We believe that discussion about the economy and future economy, the economic situation in the world is not possible without the discussion about the repercussions of the war of Russia against Ukraine", said the minister. "Because it has an impact on the economic growth and the economies of G20. So, our message to India is to consider the participation of Ukraine officials at the events of G20, be it side events or the Summit, the one on the parliament level, or the September summit that will take place in New Delhi. I believe that my President will also be happy to speak up on behalf of the Ukrainian people", she added. While responding to any leader visiting from India to Kyiv and to Dzhaparova's comment on India's actions demonstrating an unbalanced position, MEA spokesperson Bagchi said, "If there is a visit to Ukraine from any here leader, we will certainly announce that". "Our position on the conflict in Ukraine has been articulated many times. I don't know the word 'unbalanced'. It is not something that we have worked with. We certainly have worked towards peace and I think that dialogue and diplomacy are what we have been stressing. So, if there is any visit, we will certainly share that. But I dont want to respond to a specific word without knowing the full context", he added in response to the Minister's comment on India's actions demonstrating unbalanced position remarks that she made during her interaction. During her conversation, Dzhaparova also said that "Today India plays a very important role in the world. The presidency of G20 brings additional responsibility. India may take this leadership by involving Ukraine in its agenda and helping Ukraine to bring its story. People-to-people contact is the best way to communicate". India assumed the G20 Presidency on the 1st of December 2022 from Indonesia and will convene the G20 Leaders' Summit for the first time in the country in 2023. Zelenskyy addressed the G20 summit at Bali through video conference. On a first visit by a Ukrainian minister to India since the start of the Ukraine war in February last year, Dzhaparova also pointed to the exchange of high-level visits between India and Russia and suggested similar visits to Ukraine should be undertaken, especially by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. "As National Security Advisor Doval has visited Moscow three times, maybe he would like to come to Ukraine to demonstrate a balanced position as India holds the G-20 Presidency," she suggested. During her visit, Dzhaporava also held talks with Minister of State for External Affairs Meenakashi Lekhi. In a tweet, Lekhi said the two exchanged views on bilateral and global issues of mutual interest. "Ukraine was assured of enhanced humanitarian assistance," she said, while Dzhaparova described the meeting as "fruitful". The Ukrainian minister also said that it's time to restart the relationship and that both countries have a better and deeper relationship. (ANI) External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Thursday met the President of the Assembly of the Republic of Mozambique Esperanca Bias. "Began engagements in Maputo by meeting with President of Assembly of the Republic, Esperanca Bias. Conveyed the greetings of Lok Sabha Speaker @ombirlakota," Jaishankar tweeted on Thursday. The EAM during a press conference in Maputo on Thursday recalled the Speaker of Assembly of Mozambique, Esperanca Bias' visit to India last year. He said the two "reviewed their political cooperation and economic cooperation. She urged me towards a greater expansion of our bilateral partnership. That is what I will be doing over the next two days." Jaishankar said that it is important for India, and Mozambique to have "regular parliamentary exchanges and it is appropriate that I begin my visit by coming to the National Assembly." "It's a very good start to the visit and I am sure that over the next few days, there will be many more important conversations," he said. On being asked if BRICS is looking at trading in own currencies, the EAM said: "Trade settlement is something which different countries are discussing. It is not something we are discussing within the BRICS. Individual countries have different positions on this matter." Jaishankar on Thursday arrived in Maputo, Mozambique. He was welcomed with an energetic Mozambican welcome. Mozambique is a country in southeastern Africa. "Arrived in Maputo to an energetic Mozambican welcome. Thank Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel Jose Goncalves for the warm reception," Jaishankar tweeted on Thursday. "Look forward to productive discussions," he further wrote. EAM Jaishankar is on a visit to Mozambique from April 13-15 to further strengthen India's "strong bilateral relations" with the African nation. In Mozambique, the EAM will meet with the country's top leadership and co-chair the fifth Session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Veronica Macamo. Jaishankar is expected to meet several other ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique. He will also interact with the Indian diaspora in Mozambique. (ANI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak in which they reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030 and agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. The two leaders expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors. PM Modi raised the issue of the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements by the UK Government. PM Rishi Sunak conveyed that the UK considers the attack on Indian High Commission totally unacceptable and assured of the security of the Indian Mission and its personnel. PM Modi also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK. He sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system, a PMO release said. PM Modi invited PM Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. The UK Prime Minister appreciated the progress made under India's Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UK's full support to India's initiatives and their success. PM conveyed greetings to PM Sunak and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi. The two leaders agreed to remain in contact. "Pleased to speak with UK PM Rishi Sunak. Extended Baisakhi greetings to him, and new year greetings to the vibrant Indian community in the UK. We reviewed progress on a number of issues to further strengthen India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including FTA," PM Modi said in a tweet. "We also agreed on the need to take strong action against anti-India elements and to ensure the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK. We also discussed the issue of economic offenders," he added. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had spoken on Free Trade Agreements during her visit to Washington and said that FTAs are being signed in a much "faster" way nowadays. She said that India-UK Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations are "going on as we speak." Speaking with ANI, British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott had said that negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between India and the United Kingdom are continuing and both countries are "determined" to work together. (ANI) The resentment and frustration against the Pakistan government have today escalated to an uncontrollable uprising and law-and-order situation as thousands of people are on the streets in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) Gilgit-Baltistan region, a report in Islamkhabar.com reported. People in Skardu, Gilgit, Hunza and Ghizer protested against heavy taxation laws, load shedding flour crisis, and misuse of Khalsa Sarkar laws for land grabbing. and the list goes on. This trajectory is the beginning of the disintegration of Gilgit-Baltistan region (GB) from Pakistan, and only the nation is to blame. "Pakistan's complacent attitude toward ideas of progression, be it economic, civil, systemic, or structural reforms, shows the establishment's little interest in the commoners. It's also evident in their business-as-usual style of dealing with their economic failure, their bare minimum concern to get their citizens to shallower waters, the author stated. Instead,Pakistan is focused on exploiting their people and getting what they want through inhuman ways. Yet again the issues of human rights violations have surfaced in the Gilgit Baltistan (GB) region. Pakistan's history of atrocities in GB is unforgivable,Islamkhabar.com reported. The popular demand for an autonomous state or merging with India is brewing in the region. And to blame are the seven decades of deceit, barbarities, and recent controversial citizenship laws of the government which have forced the GB citizens into poverty. Journalists who have tried to report have faced serious ramifications from the state authorities All communications to the outside world that show the true picture of GB's ordeals are banned, and going against this can mean anything ranging from physical assault, abductions of family members, and even murder,Its obsession with bringing up its geostrategic location and nuclear arsenal in every conversation for the last two decades has made the nation delusional. Hasnain Ramal, a political and social activist from GB who used to unite people to fight for their political, social and human rights was arrested multiple times and subjected to brutal police torture without any formal criminal charges framed against him. This is just one example. The political activists are framed with false charges. Baba Jan, a prominent leader of the Labour Party in Gilgit Baltistan, who has been actively campaigning for the rights of locals, was arrested under the Pakistan Anti-Terrorism Act. He was imprisoned for more than 9 years and released after much noise by the civil society. This is a prominent example of misuse of the law. Sedation charges were slapped against 19 nationalist political workers of GB just because they spoke at a seminar on the topic "Gilgit-Baltistan in the light of Kashmir Dispute, conducted by All Parties National Alliance in collaboration with Karakorum National Movement (KNM) at Gilgit Pakistan uses the geostrategic location of GB for China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), which connects the Chinese market to access the deep Gwadar port. Without GB, Pakistan will lose contact with China and become irrelevant in the region. Therefore to control its position on the map and economic interests, Pakistan suppresses its media to hide the true face of Pakistan from the international community. Since the military has the majority of the powers in the country, and the region of GB is of paramount interest for national security and the country's economy, the military establishment is deeply involved in its matters. They operate as autonomous bodies and no one can question them. GB has two courts without any constitutional status. The federal government can revoke the courts at any point in time. The clause for the appointment of judges of the court system provides, "A person shall not be appointed as the Chief Judge of the Supreme Appellate Court of Gilgit Baltistan unless he has attained the age of sixty-six and is a retired judge of the Supreme Court of Pakistan or a retired Chief Justice of a High Court under the constitution." Since the Supreme Court and High Courts in Pakistan do not have any representation from GB, it is impossible for the locals to serve as a judge in the region. So again, here they will be ruled by biased outsiders. This is the reason the government and the Army loot the region, with the courts by their side, while the locals silently watch. (ANI) Government-supported unrestrained anti-West protests in Pakistan in the name of Islam are hurting its students and businessmen in Europe. Frequent street protests have taken place in the recent past against perceived Islamophobia which is vehemently debated and resolutions have been passed. In one such protest against France, the government was asked to expel the French ambassador and cut off trade ties. France and Sweden are among those European nations which are in the crosshairs of Pakistani Islamists over the Charlie Hebdo cartoons. Sweden has closed its embassy in Islamabad, which means delays in visas, Dr. Arif Mahmood Kasana. But Europe is one of the favourite destinations for Pakistanis seeking prospects of better education and employment. Many European counties have 20,000 plus Pakistan-origin settlers. Besides, there are an unspecified number of students who avail of scholarships and other facilities for higher education. Some government scholarships for Pakistani students include the Visby program scholarship, Swedish Institute study scholarships, and others. Sweden universities offer other scholarships and they include the University of Boras Tuition Fee Waivers, Halmstad University Scholarships, and others. The Western governments take note of the tacit support the authorities in Pakistan lend to such protests in order to address the local sentiments promoted by the Islamist groups and parties, partly for political gain and the rest, to divert public attention from serious domestic issues. This is having negative effects. Since February this year, the Swedish Embassy in Islamabad has stopped working and no visa application has been received. The reason for the closure of the embassy is the massive protests and reactions in Pakistan after the burning of the Quran in Sweden. Following the strong reaction at home to these protests, the Swedish government has decided to close the embassy for the safety of its diplomatic staff and visitors. There is no word yet on when the embassy will reopen, according to Arif Mahmood Kasana. Writing in Daily Ausaf, he says that some Swedish universities have informed students that the embassy "will be closed for the entire year in 2023. This information has created a wave of concern among the students. Besides, the business community and those who want to visit Sweden to meet their loved ones are also worried." Kasana says that some students contacted Swedish embassies in Iran and Dubai with their Swedish visa applications as they have been admitted to Swedish universities and have paid the fees. On this, the Swedish embassies in both countries have refused to accept applications and in response said that only residents of the respective countries can apply. Swedish universities have also asked Pakistani students not to deposit fees yet until the Swedish embassy opens in Islamabad. Kasana says "This situation is very troubling for Pakistani students and if the Swedish Embassy is not opened soon, their admissions will be wasted." There is a further rub. The incident of the Quran burning in Sweden happened in front of the Turkish embassy in Stockholm, in response to which there were demonstrations in Turkey and there was also a protest in front of the Swedish embassy, but the Swedish embassy in Turkey was closed for a few days. It opened soon. Similarly, Swedish embassies are open in other countries where protests took place, only the Swedish embassy is closed in Pakistan. "This is Pakistan's failed foreign policy, Pakistan's trade relations with Sweden are also affected by the closure of the embassy. For thousands of Pakistanis who live in Sweden, the situation is also disturbing and they cannot invite their loved ones to Sweden," he says. Kasana suggests via media, "The demonstrations must be held in Pakistan but do not use such demands and language in them that later Pakistanis will have to bear the consequences." (ANI) The Chinese sources were pushing on the resurfacing of the video of Dalai Lama kissing a boy, who is a real victim here, said Penpa Tsering, Sikyong of the Tibetan Government-in-exile here on Thursday. Penpa Tsering made the above remarks while issuing clarification on the viral video of the Dalai Lama, purportedly showing him kissing a little boy. He said, "Through our prima facie evidence, we found that it's all Chinese sources who were pushing on the resurface of this video." When asked to comment on the viral video of the Dalai Lama, showing him kissing a little boy and asking him to suck his tongue, Penpa Tsering said, "For God's sake His Holiness is 87 years old. He's going to be 88. And he lived a monk's life under oath of celibacy over the last 87 years." "Forget about the sensorial pleasures. He does not derive any pleasures from sensory. You always talk about deeper understanding, to redeem oneself from Samsara. So he is beyond the sensorial pleasures," he added. Blaming China for the video going viral, Penpa Tsering said, "Unfortunately, Chinese agents were involved. If you look at the extent and the scale of its operation and how all the mainstream news media took it up, one can definitely imagine who is behind this." "So now the question is who's the real victim here? The boy was very happy after the meeting, after the event. The mother was very happy then, who else has a problem? His Holiness, the Dalai Lama is being made a victim who spent all his life teaching and practising compassion. That is why I encourage people to look at the whole video, see for yourself how every single thing happened, and then you can decide for yourself whether that was lust or love of an 87-year-old man," the Tibetan politician added. Sikyong also said that he hopes that the mainstream media understood that they became tools of the Chinese government once they started broadcasting this. He also said, "I'm happy that they (mainstream media) did not repeat the programmes because they understood what was behind that. But unfortunately, the Chinese government will still keep pushing it, I think till the next week, because there are some upcoming events. So they will keep pushing that." An official statement was released by the office of the Dalai Lama on Monday, stating that the Tibetan spiritual leader "wishes to apologize to the boy and his family, as well as his many friends across the world, for the hurt his words may have caused". The Tibetan spiritual leader's remarks came on the heels of the video going viral on social media. (ANI) Roughly 1,000 pounds of illegally caught shark was seized by the U.S. Coast Guard in Southern Texas on Sunday, authorities said. A South Padre Island Coast Guard crew spotted four Mexican fishermen alongside the coastline in a lancha, a slender speed boat often used to fish illegally during the day, the Coast Guard said in a news release on its website. U.S. Coast Guard crews often seize illegal captures of red snapper, sharks and other types of fish. At night, the lanchas can be used to traffic drugs between Matamoros, Mexico, and Texas, according to research conducted by the Southeast Fisheries Science Center and the Coast Guard. Our vigilant and dedicated crew at @USCG Station #SouthPadreIsland interdicted another lancha and seized approximately 1,000 lbs of #shark off the #Texas coast. More here: https://t.co/kZNPtbJ7Rh pic.twitter.com/whUGNK1oC8 USCG Heartland (@USCGHeartland) April 10, 2023 Video taken by the U.S. Coast Guard aircrew showed the four fishermen wearing fluorescent green waders pulling sharks from the side of their boat. When authorities pulled over the men, in addition to the sharks, they found fishing gear, radios, GPS devices and high flyer fishing poles on board, authorities said. The sharks were seized and the fisherman was transferred to border enforcement agents for processing, the Coast Guard said. Story continues Sergeant James Dunks, a game warden with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, told NPR in 2011 that people from Playa Bagdad, a small fishing village south of the border, come across searching for fish. "They have just pretty much claimed that they have fished all their fish out of their end of the water, so that's why they've been coming across," Dunks told NPR. A 2021 study showed humans are to blame for the 70% decline in shark and ray populations around the world. If overfishing isn't stopped the species could soon be wiped out completely. Texas has long been a hot spot for shark fishing and trade. In 2015, Texas banned the trade of shark fins after the state emerged as a "trading hub" when the practice was banned elsewhere, said nonprofit Oceana in a press release. Anglers can fish for sharks in Texas waters and can catch one shark daily, according to Texas Parks and Wildlife. Anglers are prohibited from catching 22 specific shark species but can catch 16 other species, said the Texas Farm Bureau. These restrictions are "for consistent enforcement within state waters," said Dakus Geeslin, TPWD deputy director of Coastal Fisheries in the news release. Ireland residents react to visit from President Biden Residents evacuate after fire at Indiana recycling plant filled with plastics Inflation cools to lowest level in nearly two years Oil and gas regions in New Mexico led the state's efforts in targeting a $1.25 billion federal grant for hydrogen power via a joint project with three other western states. The Western Interstate Hydrogen Hub saw the State of New Mexico partner with Colorado, Utah and Wyoming to target funds made available by the U.S. Department of Energy as it intended to devise multiple hubs of hydrogen development across the U.S. The hub proposal included projects both in the northwest San Juan Basin and southeast Permian Basin the states two main fossil fuel regions. Its part of the DOEs broader agenda of creating new sources of energy less pollutive than traditional fossil fuels, as the federal administration works to address climate change in the U.S. More: Solar energy tax credits reach $12M cap in New Mexico as industry set for growth The proposed hub spans about 408,000 square miles in the four states, which already produce about a sixth of the nations energy, according to an announcement by the New Mexico Environment Department (NMED). The energy-producing states signed an agreement in February 2022 to create the hub and coordinate a regional plan to target the federal funds and hired engineering firm Atkins as the lead contractor. A proposal for the hub was submitted to the DOEs Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations ahead of the April 7 deadline, which saw the hub selecting eight companies to partner in the project including universities, national laboratories and private companies. More: Scientists searching the deserts of New Mexico for minerals critical to energy, technology NMED said the hub developers planned to exceed a 50 percent matching requirement for the federal grant. What are the hydrogen projects in New Mexico, other states in the hub? Seven projects were included in the proposal spanning the four states. In New Mexico, this included Avangrid which has and planned to leverage its experience in renewable energy projects and planned to produce hydrogen in the Navajo Nation in San Juan County and in Torrance County. Story continues More: Renewable energy now required on New Mexico state land after Lujan Grisham signs bill Libertad Power would also produce New Mexico hydrogen for heavy haul transportation and power generation and storage in Lea County in the southeast and San Juan County in the northwest. Navajo Agricultural Product Industries, a 275,000 acre commercial farm owned by the Navajo Nation in San Juan County would also be included as it aims to become energy self-sufficient in growing produce for tribal members, while Tallgrass Energy would also produce hydrogen power in New Mexico, Colorado and Wyoming. The plan also included projects from Xcel Energy Colorado to generate hydrogen via wind and solar power in that states eastern plains, along with Dominion Energy Utahs high-pressure natural gas system and AVF Energy to produce hydrogen from biomass as part of wildfire mitigation in Utah. More: Oilfield lawmakers claim success in killing bills aimed at energy pollution in New Mexico New Mexico leaders ague hydrogen to curb pollution amid criticism Hydrogen energy proved controversial in New Mexico as environmental groups opposed a series of bills that ultimately failed in the 2022 Legislative Session backed by state officials to incentivize the industry in the state. Concerns grew around the method of developing the energy source, which can use extracted natural gas, and environmentalists argued the legislation lacked assurances that it would require the process be what its considered green hydrogen that uses only renewable energy. New Mexicos signing of the interstate deal was also met with opposition as groups argued the bills failure proved a negative referendum on the concept in their state. More: Solar energy proposals concentrated in southern New Mexico. Program starts this spring But New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham maintained that hydrogen would bring economic diversity to her oil- and gas-dependent state but maintain New Mexicos position as a lead state in energy production and in addressing pollution. New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham speaks with attendees at Living Desert Zoo and Gardens, June 1, 2022 in Carlsbad. Through bipartisan collaboration with states and project partners, we are advancing a vital economic development initiative that will power the nation and create thousands of jobs all while reducing emissions, Lujan Grisham said in a Monday statement as the grant application was announced. I look forward to the Department of Energy approving our plans for the premier hydrogen hub in the nation. More: New Mexico Senate considering bill to enshrine renewable energy development in state law San Juan County Commission Chair Steve Lanier said the economic boon brought to his community from the hub could offset jobs and tax revenue lost in the recent closure of the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station. Overall, the hub and its projects were expected to bring 26,000 jobs to the four states, including 7,000 construction jobs, read the NMEDs report. Were very excited to see three hydrogen projects interested in locating in San Juan County, New Mexico, Lanier said. The opportunity to land high-wage jobs and replace some of the property tax base lost with the closure of the coal-fired San Juan Generating Station is exactly the kind of energy transformation and economic development we need. Anja Richmond, program director of the hub said the collaborative nature of the project meant multiple communities in the American West would benefit from the federal funds while also advancing national goals of less-carbon-intensive energy. We have conducted social characterization assessments for each impacted community and are confident that hydrogen will benefit these communities and their workforces for many years to come, Richmond said. Adrian Hedden can be reached at 575-628-5516, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Carlsbad Current-Argus: $1.25B grant targeted by New Mexico-led hydrogen power project For Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the honeymoon may be over. The California Republican endured a torturous road to the Speakership in January but recovered quickly with a legislative agenda thats highlighted GOP priorities, planted a marker on China policy, thrown Democrats on defense and even steamrolled President Biden into signing a contentious measure overturning Washington, D.C.s, criminal sentencing law. Yet as McCarthy reaches the 100-day mark of the new Congress, hes facing down the toughest tests of his roller-coaster tenure, as Republicans brace for soul-defining battles with Biden and Democrats over raising the debt ceiling and funding the government two crucial debates where failure brings the potential to crash an already fragile economy. Republicans are generally united behind McCarthys attempts to force Biden to negotiate spending cuts as a condition for raising the debt ceiling a stipulation the president has so far refused. But their position has been blunted by internal disputes over policy priorities, behind-the-scenes tensions between McCarthy and other top Republicans and the GOPs simple failure to coalesce around a long-term budget blueprint to counter Bidens proposal heading into the talks. Additionally, McCarthys Speaker-election concession to allow any one member to launch a vote to recall his gavel hangs over his leadership. Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Rep. Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is seen as the House votes to adjourn following the fourteenth ballot for Speaker on Friday, January 6, 2023. (Greg Nash) The combination confronts McCarthy with the greatest challenge since he took the gavel, testing his ability to unite a restive conference in a debate where the very notion of success is ill-defined and a misfire could prompt economic turmoil, efforts to boot him from the Speakership, or both. There are [Republican] members who whether explicitly or implicitly make it clear that they are not going to go along with an agenda that they dont like. So this is a really, really difficult spot, Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-Ill.), a senior member of the Budget Committee, said of McCarthys position. Story continues Well see if he can make it through. The coming fiscal debates over must-pass legislation will differ from those that defined the first three months of the year, when McCarthys new GOP majority focused largely on messaging bills designed to enliven the party base and, at times, highlight Democratic divisions on hot-button issues like crime and immigration. The high-water mark of that strategy was the proposal to repeal the D.C. crime bill, which Biden signed into law after initially signaling his opposition a reversal that infuriated Democrats who voted no and felt left out to dry. Related content from The Hill McCarthy also found some early victories on foreign policy, winning high marks for launching a bipartisan select committee to confront Chinas global influence and staging a well-received meeting with Taiwans president last week in California that even got praise from former Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). Yet GOP leaders have also struggled out of the gate with several of their highest-priority agenda items, including a border bill leaders hoped to bring to the floor in the opening weeks of the session but is now expected to start moving as part of a larger package this month. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is seen before President Biden delivers his State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, February 7, 2023. (Annabelle Gordon) New majorities theres always a bit of a learning curve, Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.), chairman of the powerful Rules Committee, acknowledged. Anytime you have a five-seat majority, its going to be difficult to govern, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) said. Those struggles have underscored the difficulties now facing McCarthy as he seeks budget agreements that can win over not only the diverse voices in his GOP conference, but Biden and the Democrats, as well. House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) insisted that House GOP leadership is unified, but embraced the wrangling that comes with operating a slim majority under new rules that unlike those under Democratic control have empowered rank-and-file lawmakers with more opportunities to craft legislation. Tension, as a group? Thats a good thing. I hope were challenging each other. I hope were pushing each other, Emmer said. As a Republican team, does that mean that we all agree on everything? No. Nor should we, he added. People should be challenging one another, and people should be pushing one another. Every once in a while, it should actually feel uncomfortable. While Republicans are generally happy to open the floor to countless amendments and empower rank-and-file lawmakers to craft legislation, they also acknowledge a major drawback: It makes it tougher for GOP leaders to win bipartisan support, which is required to enact bills into law, and can even harm a bills chances within the conference. A high-priority parental bill of rights, for example, eked its way to passage after five Republicans defected, including the bills co-sponsor who said some of the amendments were unacceptable. This is an open process; people get more of a say, said Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.). But I also think the downside is some of these votes become more partisan through the amendments. Republicans of all stripes appear to be on board with McCarthys effort to bring Biden to the negotiating table on the debt ceiling, even as individual members continue to disagree over how to approach to certain programs, like Social Security and Medicare, and the Budget Committee has delayed the release of its promised 10-year blueprint. President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) President Biden and Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) leave the Friends of Ireland Luncheon at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on Friday, March 17, 2023. (Greg Nash) To help project a united front, Rep. Garret Graves (R-La.), who played a central part in negotiations to secure the gavel for McCarthy, has taken a key role in getting the various factions of the conference behind McCarthys negotiating tactics. And Republicans across the conference insist that the increase in cross-ideological conversations that accompanied the tense Speakers race have only helped them tackle other issues since then. Admittedly, after that first week, you could have all been forgiven for assuming that we were to aim and cant shoot straight. But the reality is, weve done more talking than weve ever done before, Rep. Dusty Johnson (R-S.D.), chair of the Main Street Caucus, said. Those talks are certain to intensify when Congress returns to Washington next week following its long spring recess and faces a shrinking window to raise the cap on the governments borrowing authority. Treasury Department officials have said the agency could hit that cap as early as June, requiring congressional action before then to prevent a default. But as Congress left Washington for the two-week break, the sides were nowhere near a deal. And McCarthy has said the next move from Republicans could be to introduce a debt ceiling proposal unilaterally, without negotiating with Biden. If the president refuses to negotiate with the Speaker well be forced to pass something out in the House, which, thats fine, Emmer said. If they want us to lead, House Republicans are set to do that. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) speaks during a press conference on the House passing the Parents Bill of Rights on Friday, March 24, 2023. (Annabelle Gordon) Republicans are seeking to decouple their nascent budget blueprint from the debt ceiling debate an effort to nullify Bidens demands to see the GOPs specific 10-year plan before meeting with McCarthy. But corralling Republicans behind any fiscal plan with black-and-white specifics could be tricky, particularly as party leaders seek enormous spending cuts while simultaneously taking some of the biggest-ticket items including Social Security, Medicare, the Pentagon and tax hikes off the table. Its a self-constructed problem, Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.), another senior member of the Budget Committee, said. Theyre unwilling to identify areas of the budget that they will cut, no areas of revenue that they will raise, and the extreme elements want to do things that even Republicans dont agree with. Outside of the policy obstacles, there are also political headwinds complicating McCarthys task ahead. One indication of internal leadership challenges is that Graves, rather than House Budget Chair Jodey Arrington (R-Texas), is taking a leading role in debt ceiling strategy. Tension between Arrington and McCarthy broke into public view after Arrington told Bloomberg News that the House GOP was finalizing a deal sheet on a debt ceiling deal. But when asked about the proposals, McCarthy was terse. I dont know what hes talking about, McCarthy said. Shortly afterwards, The New York Times reported that McCarthy has told colleagues he has little confidence in Arrington, who the Times reported had approached colleagues to see if they would back House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) for Speaker as McCarthy faced continuous failed votes. Still, McCarthy is downplaying any internal strife within the conference. A statement from the Speaker said he flatly rejects that there are any fissures, and that Arringtons budgetary work will only make our conference stronger. This is part of a series from The Hill on the House GOPs first 100 days in power. Check out more coverage on TheHill.com. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. (YouTube / HBO / Netflix) Its just a show, is the common response from someone seeing a person crying at the death of a fictional person on screen. But TV acolytes will know that it can be hard to rein in the emotions when your favourite character for the past seven years has just been killed off. In the battle of TV versus cinema, the former has always packed more of a punch when it comes to impactful deaths probably because weve come to know the character better over a longer period of time. And when someone who youve grown used to seeing day-in and day-out suddenly vanishes from your life forever, there are going to be some emotional ramifications. Sometimes, in the saddest of circumstances, the demise of a character even marks the demise of the show itself, with creators and writers failing to keep us interested beyond their death blow. There are many ingredients that go into making a TV death as traumatic as intended: the character's likability, the circumstances of death, the impact their absence will have on the remaining characters and shock value. Heres a selection of the 17 character deaths were still not over (Obviously, spoilers ahead you have been warned!) Logan Roy, Succession Every Succession fan knew that Brian Coxs sweary, Lear-like media mogul was beelining for a funeral in season four. Few, however, predicted that his death would arrive so soon, with Logan Roy croaking in the bathroom aboard his private jet as early as episode three not at its end, mind you, but at its beginning. Logan met his maker off-screen, however, and the audience only got a brief glimpse of the man himself as the flight crew carried out their obligatory 30 minutes of CPR. Its a stunning episode one of Successions best that sees Kendall, Shiv, and Roman grappling with the news at Connors wedding. All the money in the world cant buy a grief counseller equipped to deal with the maelstrom of emotion that Logans death is about to bring up. Story continues Marissa Cooper, The OC Fans of the series still tear up thinking about Ryan cradling Marissas lifeless body on the side of the road. Jeff Buckleys haunting cover of Hallelujah playing overhead certainly didnt help. The death of Mischa Bartons character at the end of season three also marked the end of The OC as we knew it anyway. The teen show ploughed on with one more season but without Marissa, it was a shadow of its former self. Ned Stark, Game of Thrones People across the world let out a collective gasp when Eddard Stark was beheaded at the behest of King Joffrey. The HBO drama shocked audiences when Sean Beans main character got the chop in the penultimate episode of the first season. Unaccustomed to seeing such ruthless writing, even after the axe had swung, audiences reeled trying to figure out whether this was all a dream or if some supernatural force would bring sweet Ned back to us. The TV event cemented Game of Thrones as a show that takes no prisoners even the ones we really, really like. Similar feelings were experienced when Catelyn Stark went out with a guttural scream in the notorious Red Wedding episode two seasons later. Shonda Rhimes broke the hearts of millions when she killed off McDreamy (ABC) Derek Shepherd, Greys Anatomy By Dereks death in season 11, fans of the medical drama had grown used to seeing our favourite characters brutally killed off. Lexie Gray, Mark Sloan, George OMalley and Denny Duquette had all met a harsh end at the hands of writer Shonda Rhimes but we thought surely McDreamy was safe. When Meredith Grey hears the police sirens and a knock at the door though, we all knew where it was heading. Fans got one final look at him when the late doctor appeared to Meredith in a dream sequence in season 17. Its not the same though, is it? Jen Lindley, Dawsons Creek Played by a superb Michelle Williams, Jens character never got the attention or the send-off that she deserved. The series finale of the hit teen soap flashed forward five years to reveal that party girl Jen had become a successful gallery manager and a mother, but also would soon die because of an undiagnosed heart condition. Pre-empting her own death, she records a heartbreaking video message for her daughter. Cue the tears were done. Fellow cast members were outraged to hear Poussey was being written off (Netflix) Poussey Washington, Orange is the New Black Both the shows fans and fellow cast members were outraged to see Poussey die in season four. From the outset, Samira Wileys character had established herself as one of the most entertaining and beloved inmates at Litchfield prison. Her death at the hands of a guard who wrongfully pinned her to the ground and left her unable to breathe recalled the real-life 2014 killing of Eric Garner. After the episode aired, Orange is the New Black set up The Poussey Washington Fund to raise money for non-profit advocacy groups with a focus on criminal justice reform. Adriana La Cerva, The Sopranos Over the course of HBOs mob drama, audiences had grown to love Adriana La Cerva, her great outfits and frank attitude. While her death was brutal to watch (who can forget her silently sobbing in the car with Silvio knowing whats to come?), the lead-up was equally excruciating. Seeing Adriana unravel as she unwillingly becomes an FBI informant and then make the mistake of admitting her disloyalty to Christopher who chooses his friends over her is almost as bad as watching her get shot. Drea de Matteo as Adriana and Steven Van Zandt as Silvio (HBO) Tara Maclay, Buffy the Vampire Slayer Taras death came as a massive blow to the Buffy fanbase. Played by Amber Benson, the character was introduced midway through the fourth season and quickly became a fan-favourite character before being written out at the end of season six by way of a stray bullet, kickstarting the Dark Willow storyline. Her relationship with Willow is often cited as the first recurring depiction of a lesbian couple on a prime time network, which made Taras sudden departure from our screens all the more heartbreaking. Ruth Evershed, Spooks Nicola Walker has had a rough time with seminal TV deaths, but the collecting outpouring of grief when one of her characters dies is a testament to the actors strengths. At the top of that list was her death as Ruth. Jaws dropped when her character became the last ever character to be killed in Spooks. After being stabbed by a shard of glass, Ruth is held in Harrys arms as they share one last emotional moment together. Viewers got one last glimpse of hope when Dimitri tried to revive her with an adrenaline shot but it was too late. The brutal end to Unforgottens season four wasnt Walkers first time at the rodeo (BBC/Kudos/Angus Muir) Matthew Crawley, Downton Abbey Matthews death was not the festive gift viewers expected when tuning into the Christmas Day special of Downton Abbey. Fans were devastated when the much-loved Matthew Crawley died after meeting his newborn son at the hospital. The cause of death a car crash felt like even more of a kick to the stomach considering Matthew had already survived World War I and the Spanish flu epidemic. Hadnt he suffered enough? Jane Margolis, Breaking Bad Breaking Bad had its fair share of emotional deaths (special shout out to Hank) but Janes hit especially hard. Krysten Ritters character a recovering heroin user and Jesses girlfriend eventually gives into her drug addiction and goes back to smoking crystal meth before she and Jesse begin to use heroin. In season two, Jane, lying in bed next to Jesse, chokes on her own vomit after overdosing on heroin. The real tearjerker, though, is that Walt stands by and lets her die. Bryan Cranston said the scene was the hardest for him to film. The actor recalled being a weeping mess after shooting it. Him and us both. Bryan Cranston said he was a weeping mess after shooting Janes death scene (Netflix) Tiffany Mitchell, EastEnders Before Martine McCutcheon stole hearts as Nadine in Love Actually, she had already won over the UK in her role as Tiffany Mitchell on Eastenders. The long-running soap shocked viewers on New Year 1998 when her character was mown down by Frank Butcher as she attempted to make a getaway from Walford with her daughter Courtney. Rita Morgan, Dexter Fans will remember the scene perfectly: Dexter comes home to find his wife Rita dead in the bathtub, murdered by Arthur (aka The Trinity Killer, played brilliantly by John Lithgow). While there were a few clues interspersed in the minutes leading up to the tragic reveal the baby crying, lingering shots Ritas death was one of the biggest shocks to rock Noughties TV. The show which is airing its reboot later year was never the same again. Dexter comes home to find his wife Rita dead in the bathtub (YouTube) Ben Sullivan, Scrubs Scrubs was known for its expert blend of laughs and emotional heft, an accomplishment thats nowhere more evident than in episode 14 of season three. My Screw Up featured Brendan Frasers final appearance as Jordans brother Ben Sullivan. The episode threw viewers for a loop when it turned out that the birthday party Dr Cox was planning for his son is, in fact, Bens funeral. Joshua Radins Winter, which plays while everyone gathers at the cemetery, will forever be associated with that shockingly sad moment. Sarah Lynn, BoJack Horseman Its not all the time that a cartoon can make you cry but BoJack Horseman is on par with the best dramas. Kristen Schaal played the former child actor and troubled pop star Sarah Lynn, whose death in season three from a heroin overdose had viewers sobbing. On the cusp of celebrating her ninth month of sobriety, she receives a call from BoJack asking her to party with him. She immediately says yes and their subsequent bender results in her death. The cover-up by BoJack only made it worse. The last episode saw its main characters finally going over the top (BBC) Everyone, Blackadder Although the comedy returned for a Millennium special, most fans consider the show to have ended with the aptly titled Goodbyeee. The sixth and final episode focuses on its main characters in the final hours before leaving their trenches and going over the top in slow motion. The instalment is darker than fans had come to expect of the historical comedy, with the main cast assumed to die in machine-gun fire. Juliet Burke, Lost Any other list ranking heartbreaking deaths would undoubtedly include Charlie's watery end in the season three finale. But Juliet's final moment deserves to be mentioned in the same breath. It's a tragic ending for a noble character who spends her time on the show putting other people's safety before her own. Arriving in the penultimate season finale, there's an air of inevitability to the moment, which is made all the more gut-wrenching due to the effect it has on reformed bad-boy Sawyer. For the death of a character introduced three seasons in to hit so hard is testament to Elizabeth Mitchell's razor sharp performance. Eighteen California condors of an Arizona-Utah flock are suspected to have died from the same disease, according to wildlife officials. Six condors of the Southwest California Condor Flock, which moves throughout northern Arizona and southern Utah, are confirmed to have died of highly pathogenic avian influenza, while an additional 12 are suspected to have died from the same disease, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said in an April 13 news release. Four more condors are receiving treatment, the agency said. At the end of 2022, the Southwest flock had 116 individuals, according to the National Park Service, meaning 15% of the flock is suspected to have died from the disease. The agency said it will disclose and report all deceased condors in the Southwest Flock found on or after March 30, 2023, prior to necropsy and preliminary testing. Previously, on April 7, wildlife officials said three condors found dead in Arizona were confirmed to have died from the disease, McClatchy News previously reported. The first condor was seen showing signs of illness on March 9 by The Peregrine Fund. The condor later died and tested positive for avian flu, which was confirmed by the U.S. Department of Agricultures National Veterinary Service Laboratory on March 30, McClatchy News reported. As of April 4, three birds were confirmed to have died from avian flu, the agency said. The Peregrine Fund also caught five other birds that appeared to be ill and sent them to a wildlife rescue in Phoenix, according to the agency. One died shortly after arriving, while the other four were placed in quarantine to be tested. There have been no reported cases of avian flu in the other condor populations in California or Baja California, Mexico, officials said. The number of avian flu cases in birds rises during spring migration, officials said. HPAI is highly contagious in wildlife and can spread quickly, according to the agency. While the risk of avian flu is low for humans, infections can happen, the agency said. Story continues What to know about California condors California condors are the largest land birds in North America, according to NPS. They were listed as endangered in 1967, NPS said. Despite their endangered status, the birds population decreased and dropped to a low of 22 individuals in the 1980s, at which point all were trapped and placed in captive breeding programs to prevent extinction, according to NPS. Since 1992, captive-bred condors have been released at five different sites in western North America, NPS said. Since their reintroduction, condor numbers in the wild have slowly increased thanks to wild nesting and the release of captive-bred condors. At the end of 2022, there were 561 condors globally, NPS said. Three California condors found dead in Arizona. Now officials know how they died This California condor is making history and giving hope in Utahs Zion National Park California condor killed by lead poisoning. What is being done to prevent other deaths? An 18-year-old was taken into custody after allegedly hiding a gun on a Pittsburgh schools property. On Tuesday, Pittsburgh police responded to a call about a gun being found at Urban Pathways 6-12 Charter School on Penn Avenue. The head of security at the school told officers he was watching surveillance video when he saw a male, later identified as Jiquon Clark, 18, in an alley outside the building walk up to a dumpster and slide a bag under it, according to court documents. The security guard said he watched the male then walk into Passport Academy, which is located on the same street. The security guard said he retrieved the bag and it had a gun in it. Officers also found stamp bags in the bag, according to the complaint. Clark was taken into custody at Passport Academy. He is charged with possessing a weapon on school property, carrying a firearm without a license and possession. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May 2. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Tractor-trailer hangs from overpass in Washington County Local school custodian accused of sexually assaulting child, arrested on campus Its over: Penguins playoff streak ends, Islanders clinch berth VIDEO: Pittsburgh synagogue shooting victims family spreading inclusivity, kindness during holiday dinner DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts A Yellowstone spinoff show expanding on the adventures of 1883 is casting again for filming in two small North Texas towns. 1883: The Bass Reeves Story tells the story of Bass Reeves, the first black deputy U.S. marshal west of the Mississippi River. The limited series will be directed by Taylor Sheridan and stars David Oyelowo as the titular real-life lawman. Talent company Legacy Casting is holding two open casting calls for Bass Reeves filming next week in Strawn, about 85 miles west of Fort Worth. The company is also casting for scenes filming in May in Stephenville, about 77 miles southwest of Fort Worth. The company is seeking identical twins to play conjoined twins at the April 24 filming in Strawn. This is a paid part, offering $200 per person and is open for any ethnicity and gender. Another broader casting opportunity is open for Black men and women to play extras in a church scene. Production is set in Strawn for April 25. These are also paid parts at $150 a person. Legacy Casting is also casting Asian men and women as background actors for filming in Stephenville. These are paid parts and filming takes place May 1-3. Prior to filming, all actors must attend a costume fitting and take a Covid-19 test. To apply for the Bass Reeves jobs, email the details below to Legacy Casting at extras@legacycasting.com: Current headshot Current size measurement Height, weight and age Oyelowo shared a behind-the-scenes photo of him shooting the 1883 spinoff this week in Texas. This isnt the first time Legacy Casting announced an open casting call for Bass Reeves. In early January, the company was looking for Union and Confederate soldiers for filming in Fort Worth, Glen Rose and Weatherford. Bass Reeves is the latest show from Sheridan in his expansive Yellowstone television universe. The flagship series is currently on its mid-season 5 break and is expected to return to the small screen this summer. The other two Yellowstone spinoffs 1883 and 1923 are available on Paramount+. An aerial view of the Pentagon. Bill Clark/CQ Roll Call via Getty Images US officials are investigating how secret Pentagon documents were leaked online. The search seems to be focusing on Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National guard. According to the New York Times, the 21-year-old led the online group where the intel was leaked. US officials and federal investigators have been scrambling to figure out how a trove of top secret documents wound up being shared in an online gaming forum before making their way around the internet, and the hunt for the source of the leak has drawn attention to an Air National Guardsman. The leak of highly sensitive Pentagon documents has been traced back to a private Discord server, and the leader of the group is a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard who worked in the 102nd Intelligence Wing, The New York Times reported on Thursday. A separate report from Reuters said that an Air National Guardsman suspected to be involved in the leak is expected to soon be arrested in Massachusetts. The man who oversaw the group, called "Thug Shaker Central," has been identified by the Times as Jack Teixeira, who The Washington Post said went by the name "jackthedripper" online. Multiple outlets have confirmed the report from the Times, and two US officials told the Times that investigators want to speak with Teixeira about the leaks. The outlet noted though that Teixeira has not yet been officially identified as a suspect. Shortly after The New York Times identified the leader of the online group where the documents were shared as the 21-year-old Teixeira, The Wall Street Journal reported that Teixeira was based at North Carolina's Fort Bragg when the leaks occurred. The Massachusetts National Guard and the Pentagon directed Insider to the Department of Justice, which did not immediately responded to Insider's request seeking comment on the reports. The Discord chat group where US intelligence appears to have been first leaked had roughly two dozen members who were passionate about military gear, weapons, and religion, Washington Post reported on Wednesday. The Post identified the leader of the online group as a man referred to as OG by members, someone who said he worked on a military base and could access sensitive information. Story continues The Post said the group's leader went dark after the documents leaked beyond the initial group chat. His last message instructed his online followers to "keep low and delete any information that could possibly relate to him." A group member told the outlet that when the group realized he was leaving, they "full-on sobbed and cried." While dozens of secret Pentagon documents have been circulating around social media in recent weeks, the Post said it reviewed hundreds of photographs of classified documents that were shared in the server, adding that many of these were not made public. Since they began making headlines last week, the leaked documents have triggered widespread alarms in Washington because they contain classified military and intelligence information about US allies, adversaries, and Russia's war in Ukraine. The Department of Justice opened a criminal investigation into the leak, which experts say is the most significant intelligence leaks in decades. Earlier on Thursday, President Joe Biden told reporters that there is a "full-blown investigation" into the source of the leaked documents. "And they're getting close," he said. Read the original article on Business Insider The leak of secret military documents last week sent shockwaves through the Pentagon, but Defense Department officials are less surprised by the revelation Thursday that the Justice Department has arrested a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman in connection with the case. Its not uncommon for relatively junior officials to have access to top-secret information, according to DoD officials and experts. In fact, more than 1 million U.S. government employees and contractors have that privilege, said Mark Zaid, a lawyer specializing in national security, citing an April 2020 report to Congress from the National Counterintelligence and Security Center. In the Pentagon for example, junior officers are frequently tasked with putting together briefing books for senior leaders, such as many of the Joint Staff products that were leaked, said one DoD official, who like others was granted anonymity to discuss a sensitive topic. And its often young National Guard and Reserve officers who are activated to stand watch in a crisis situation, said another DoD official. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, the responsibility and trust we put into those individuals to lead troops in combat, Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder told reporters Thursday while declining to comment on the DOJ investigation. You receive training and you will receive an understanding of the rules and requirements that come along with those responsibilities. The FBI on Thursday arrested Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, in connection with the major leak of dozens of pages of classified Pentagon documents, many of which were photos of slides developed by the Joint Staff to brief senior leaders about the situation in Ukraine. No specific charges were immediately announced, but Teixeira is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Friday. Story continues Live video from local television stations showed law enforcement leading the young male suspect from his home in North Dighton, Massachusetts, where both Teixeira and his mother live. The Pentagon released Teixeiras service record after the FBI arrest, saying he was with the 102nd Intelligence Support Squadron at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. He enlisted in 2019, and works on cyber transport systems as a network manager, according to National Guard Bureau spokesperson Nahaku McFadden. Since news of the leak emerged last week, Pentagon leaders have been tightening the distribution of classified information. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been convening daily meetings about the breachs effect on national security and on how to manage military secrets, Ryder said. DoD officials are reviewing a variety of factors related to safeguarding classified material, and are taking steps such as updating distribution lists and assessing how and where intelligence is shared, Ryder added. Its important to understand that we do have stringent guidelines in place, Ryder said. This was a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines. In a statement, Austin said he would not hesitate to take any additional measures necessary to safeguard our nations secrets. He added that he has directed the departments intelligence leaders to review intelligence access, accountability and control procedures within the Department to inform our efforts to prevent this kind of incident from happening again. Across the world, potentially hundreds or even thousands of people could have had access to the classified information in question, DoD officials said. The leak is prompting questions about whether too many people have exposure to the militarys most sensitive secrets. Especially post-Manning and post-Snowden, one of the lessons learned across the military is the greater the number of people that have access to information at any given time, the greater the likelihood of this thing spilling, said the first official, referring to former Army soldier Chelsea Manning convicted in 2013 of leaking classified documents to WikiLeaks, and to Edward Snowden, a former contractor who leaked classified information on the National Security Agency. In most cases, a variety of information is available to an individual with a security clearance over and above what they need to do their jobs. Like Snowden, the person who leaked the documents had access to a number of sensitive documents, but the person was required to self-police what they actually accessed, Zaid said. It is entirely possible he was tasked with creating briefing books or intel briefings for his command, he said. After the arrest, lawmakers were quick to condemn the leak and call for a revision of the rules. Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), chair of the Senate Armed Services Committee, called on the national security community to address systematic issues, including protocols for how intelligence is handled, the security clearance process, and how officials can prevent intelligence leaks like this from ever happening again. This was a major security breach that cannot be allowed to happen again. Leaking this trove of classified information endangered our military and intelligence professionals and undermined the security of our allies and partners, Reed said. Anyone with a security clearance who betrays their country by purposefully mishandling classified documents or disclosing classified materials must be held accountable, he added. In an interview, Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.) said the issue of how military members handle classified information is obviously something were gonna look at. But what I am more interested in is a sort of digital watermarking technology that could just make it very clear to anybody viewing intelligence that we know if you're looking at this, added Moulton, a former Marine. If every one of the documents [the leaker] saw was essentially marked with his name in a decipherable way, then that would just be a huge deterrent to sharing intelligence in the future. Moulton also noted the age of the suspect and broader issues of giving younger people access to such sensitive information. Not to take anything away from the severity of this incident and the criminality of this individual, but this is in some ways related to a broader issue that the U.S. military is facing with recruiting young Americans who through social media or whatever else feel incredibly entitled. I've seen this problem in other aspects of the military, he continued. This really is an issue that sort of seems to be a Gen Z issue where you get some of our youngest members of the military who feel particularly self important and entitled and therefore the rules don't apply to them. Lisa Kashinsky contributed to this report. A $217 million expansion of the Omni Fort Worth Hotel in downtown could begin next spring, a company executive said Thursday. Bob Rowling, the founder of Omni Hotels holding company TRT Holdings, spoke during Downtown Fort Worth Incs 41st annual meeting held at the hotel. He said the Omni Fort Worth Hotel has been a success story since the day it opened in 2009. Rowling said he hopes to begin the expansion in 12 to 14 months and finish construction in about two years. The project will add 400 new hotel rooms and a parking garage over an entire city block, currently the site of a Tarrant Community College administrative building. When the work is complete, including a refresh of the existing hotel, the Omni Fort Worth will have 1,008 rooms over two blocks across from the Fort Worth Convention Center along Houston Street. Hundreds of civic leaders gathered at the event Thursday to hear about growth opportunities for the city center. More than $2.3 billion of development is in the pipeline for downtown Fort Worth to keep up with growing demand from new residents and visitors. Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. President Andy Taft said Fort Worth has $2.3 billion in the development pipeline at the non-profits 41st annual meeting. Downtown Fort Worth Inc. President Andy Taft said Fort Worth grew by 66% over the past two decades, well above the nations overall 16% growth. Taft said development is fueld by the expansion of the Fort Worth Convention Center and Texas A&M-Fort Worth campus, along with the transformation of the former Pier 1 Imports headquarters into the new City Hall. With housing near the city center 90% full, more than 7,500 apartment units are coming to the greater downtown area, DFWI reported. Downtowns around the country, including Fort Worth, saw about 50 years of disinvestment, Taft said. Bringing these people back to downtown who live here, who care about the place, who have money in their wallets and who are taking care of their neighborhoods is a huge turnaround for the entire center city of Fort Worth. More than 1,500 new hotel rooms are on their way to the city center, including the Omnis expansion and the addition of a new Fort Worth Convention Center Hotel on Commerce Street, Le Meridien on Commerce Street and Avid Hotel on Samuels Avenue. The Sandman Signature Hotel recently opened on Houston Street. Story continues Bob Rowling, founder of the Omni Hotels holding company TRT Holdings, said he hopes to begin Omni Fort Worth Hotel expansion in 12 to 14 months on April 13, 2023. Rowling said he had been speaking with city leaders about potentially closing one block of West 14th Street adjacent to the Omni, so the upgraded hotel can be one continuous building. Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker said she thinks closing the street could be possible. In those situations, its prudent for city leaders to listen to the experts and professionals across the country what it looks like to have world-class hospitality centers like the Omni hotel expansion, so I would absolutely be supportive of that, Parker said. Parker said a theme of Thursdays event was transformation as both public and private leaders are bullish on growing the city. Central business districts are the economic engine of any thriving city, both in your hospitality industry, your notoriety of the community and you have to have a heartbeat. Downtown Fort Worth has always been that for us, but were just getting started. The four-day-long weather system over South Florida that culminated Wednesday with nearly 26 inches of rain flooding Fort Lauderdale and leading to the closing of schools and libraries on Thursday is not done with the region. On Thursday morning, with the sun shining over saturated grounds, the National Weather Service in Miami extended its flood watch to 8 p.m. for metro and coastal Miami-Dade and Broward counties from Homestead to Coral Springs. A school crossing guard helps people cross the street in the pouring rain at Dania Elementary School on Wednesday April 12, 2023. Broward public schools will be closed Thursday due to flooding. Flood watch remains April 13, 5AM: A Flood Watch remains in effect for metro and coastal Miami-Dade and Broward through 8PM tonight. With already saturated grounds and flooding due to recent rain, additional rainfall expected today may lead to localized flooding concerns. (2/2) pic.twitter.com/7nUh3jfWUJ NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) April 13, 2023 The reasoning for the flood watch? Conditions are ripe for more rain Thursday. Weve had a lot of recent rainfall. So, basically any storms that do move over the area today could pose a threat for flooding just because of all weve already seen, said Luke Culver, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami. Flood warning in Broward A flood warning remains in Broward County until noon given conditions are more imminent for flooding. Rainfall amounts between 16 and 20 inches have fallen since Wednesdays deluge began, with Fort Lauderdale notching 25.91 inches, the weather service said when it released preliminary rainfall totals Thursday morning. Flood warning locations. These Broward cities or destinations are under notice for possible flooding Thursday: Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Davie, Plantation, Sunrise, Lauderhill, Dania Beach, Chula Vista, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Ravenswood Estates, Melrose Park, Downtown Fort Lauderdale, Estates of Fort Lauderdale, Washington Park, Broadview Park, Franklin Park, Port Everglades, Oak Point, Chambers Estates and St. George. Story continues What Thursdays forecast says Good afternoon! Thunderstorms will develop this afternoon across SFL, bringing a risk of both severe weather and flooding. Please exercise caution, particularly in those areas saturated from prior rainfall and/or where residual flooding is ongoing!#Flwx pic.twitter.com/GLFSOEf1mh NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) April 13, 2023 After four days of near nonstop rain that began on Easter Sunday, the sun said hello in this Kendall-area community on Thursday morning, April 13, 2023. But the bright rays may dim later Thursday as more rain is in the forecast before a general clearing on Friday and Saturday. Thursdays forecast: Meteorologists call for good chances for another late morning or afternoon round showers and thunderstorms, Culver said. Some might be strong to possibly even severe, which would obviously lead to the potential for damaging winds, possibly small hail thats a little bit lower of a threat and an isolated tornado cannot be ruled out either, he said. He added that the weather service has a survey team out Thursday morning to determine if any tornadoes touched down Wednesday. There were warnings. Where are we most vulnerable? As for Thursday, the weather service and local meteorologists, like CBS News Miamis Lissette Gonzalez, place the risk for severe storms as slight to moderate. The weatehr center forecast calls for an afternoon 60% chance of heavy rain Thursday in the Miami area, falling to 30% in the evening. The Fort Lauderdale area shares the 60% daytime forecast, falling to 40% Friday. Heads up! There is a slight risk of strong to severe storms across parts of #SouthFlorida today including #Broward Some of these storms may produce damaging winds, frequent lightning, isolated tornadoes @CBSMiami pic.twitter.com/jBy15StetQ Lissette Gonzalez (@LissetteCBS4) April 13, 2023 But if the storms do materialize they more likely will be to the north in Broward and Palm Beach County. Rip current statement: A high risk for rip currents remains through Thursday night for beaches along coastal Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, the weather service noted. Longer range forecast National Weather Service in Miami forecast for Thursday, April 13, 2023, through Saturday. Friday will bring drier air to South Florida and temperatures around 83 as a high and 75 as a low. There will be chances for showers or thunderstorms in the afternoon but less than we have seen in days, Culver says. Saturday will be sunny, with temperatures running 77 to 83. Another front is expected to move through South Florida Sunday evening, raising rain and storm chances to 40%, and 50% on Monday. The Florida Keys will be mostly clear Thursday through the weekend with only a slight chance of rain Thursday and 30% Sunday night and Monday, according to the weather service in Key West. A 28-year-old man was killed after he was pushed onto train tracks and electrocuted, Maryland police said. The incident occurred at the Port Discovery subway station in Baltimore on April 12, according to a Baltimore Police Department news release. The man was standing on the station platform at about 5 p.m. when a man shoved him onto the tracks, where he was electrocuted, police said. First responders pronounced him dead at the scene. The unidentified male fled the scene to an unknown destination, police said. The deceased was identified as Christopher Foster, a spokesperson for the Baltimore Police Department told McClatchy News on April 13. At this time, there are no updates to this case, the spokesperson said. Protective barriers that restrict access to train tracks have been installed at stations in other cities, including London and Hong Kong, according to the New York Times. New York City is testing the barriers in a limited capacity following several deaths on subway tracks. Truck carrying $750,000 in dimes robbed in Walmart parking lot, Pennsylvania cops say Driver was huffing and blacked out before crashing into home, Massachusetts cops say Cops falsely accused woman of hit-and-run, AZ lawsuit says. Now city owes her $200,000 Fifth Circuit judges Kurt Engelhardt, Catharina Hayes, and Andrew Oldham Last we told you about the abortion pill case, an appeal was in the hands of the rightwing Fifth Circuit. That court was considering what to do about a rogue federal judge in Texas who wants to pull the drug mifepristone totally off the market. In a ruling posted after midnight on Thursday, a three-judge Fifth Circuit panel said the statute of limitations had run out for Matthew Kacsmaryk to fully revoke the FDAs approval from September 2000, so the drug can stay on the market. But while the case proceeds, the appeals court is going to overturn really crucial labeling updates from 2016, 2019, and 2021. Two of the judges were appointed by Donald Trump, and one by George W. Bush. Read more Its important to note that this isnt the final say in the matter; the Biden administration will very likely file an appeal to the Supreme Court (audience boos). Theres also a separate, conflicting mifepristone case ongoing out of Washington state. But for now, lets break down what the latest ruling means: The first change the Fifth Circuit wants to undo is a 2021 Biden administration policy permanently allowing mifepristone prescriptions to be mailedso, no more telemedicine for medication abortions, in-person appointments only. And back in 2019, the FDA approved a generic version of mifepristone, which lead to there being a grand total of two (2) distributors of the drug in the U.S. The appeals court want to roll that back to just one, which is bad for supply chain issues as well as pricing. Then we get to the court seeking to overturn hugely consequential labeling updates in 2016, based on loads of medical research. Before 2016, people who wanted medication abortions: could only get a prescription from an MD, not a nurse or physicians assistant could only take mifepristone up to 7 weeks of pregnancy, not 10 had to take a higher dose of mifepristone that led to more side effects had to swallow the mifepristone in front of said doctor, not at the time of their choosing had to go back a second time to take the misoprostol (usually dissolved in the cheeks) in front of said doctor in many cases, had to go back a THIRD time for a follow-up appointment to confirm the abortion was complete, which can actually be accomplished by waiting and taking a pregnancy test Story continues In light of the decision, important to note from the start the 2000 approval. Under the 5th Circuit's ruling tonight, these would be the applicable rules (REMS). [YES, there is the Washington case. That order would conflict with this in those states. We'll return to that.] pic.twitter.com/LQwKlrmObF Chris Subscribe to Law Dork! Geidner (@chrisgeidner) April 13, 2023 So, this Fifth Circuit said the drug can stay on the market, but it has to get prescribed the way it was in the year 2000. Its kind of like putting women and pregnant people in a metaphorical time machine and requiring them to have Y2K-era abortions. That is, if they can even make it to clinics to get those abortionswhich is pretty much the whole point. If this ruling were to take effect, many providers could prescribe mifepristone off-label through 10 weeks and at the lower dose because research shows both to be safe and effectivehealthcare providers go off-label all the time. But they couldnt get around the appeals courts rules on mailing or again requiring the prescription to come from a physician, not a nurse. These changes from May 2016 helped the abortion pill take off in popularity versus procedures. Reuters reported in October 2016 that in three states most impacted by that changeOhio, Texas and North Dakotademand for medication abortions tripled in the last several months. Medication abortions made up 54 percent of all abortions done in clinical settings in 2020, and it was likely higher in 2021 and 2022 because of telemedicine. But wait, theres more! The court claimed that the Comstock Act of 1873 bans the mailing of any item used for abortions, which could include things like the second drug used in medication abortion, misoprostol. Misoprostol can also be used on its own, and some providers have that as a back-up plan. As Greer Donley, associate professor at the University of Pittsburgh Law School, told Jezebel in December, Comstock is really terrifying, because any clinic that gets supplies shipped across state lines could be found in violation of the law. If anyone were to find that that law is still active, that ends abortion nationwideall abortion. The Fifth Cir leans ALL THE WAY INTO the Comstock Act. Here the panel suggests that shipping any item that can be used for abortion is a FEDERAL CRIME without any illegal intent. This could include misoprostol and methotrexate among other things. You ship it, you crimed pic.twitter.com/tSjpSFoNBC Liz Sepper (@lsepper) April 13, 2023 Kirsten Moore, director of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project (EMAA Project), said in a statement that this ruling rolls back years of medical progress and shows why courts have no business interfering in healthcare. The FDA followed decades of science and evidence when it expanded access to mifepristonea court with no medical experts that has a long history of extremist rulings on abortion has no place taking that away. So now wegulpwait to see what happens at the Supreme Court. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The medical debt load in the US currently totals around $195 billion, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. krisanapong detraphiphat/Getty Images Surprise medical bills are common in the US, especially for services like ambulances and childbirth. Free cancer screenings may also come with follow-up costs, and cancer is a top cause of debt. Patients should ask about charity care programs, settlement amounts, and itemized bills for relief. When Ronald Barajas developed a fever, shakiness, stomach pain, and a loss of appetite in 2021, he thought he had COVID-19. But his daughter urged him to go to the emergency room, where Barajas, a 65-year-old in Baytown, Texas, learned his appendix had ruptured, according to the charity organization Dollar For. The condition is considered a medical emergency, and Barajas needed his appendix removed to treat it. While Barajas's insurance covered most of the $85,000 bill, he was still responsible for $9,800 a startling amount for the recent retiree. "I ended up with around $6,000 in debt on a payment plan," he told Dollar For. "Certainly, that didn't help my situation." While Dollar For, which advocates for patients with untenable hospital bills, eventually helped resolve Barajas's debt, receiving surprising medical bills is common in the US. Despite a 2022 federal ban on certain surprise medical bills, like those for emergency services, 1 in 5 Americans reported receiving an unexpected medical bill in the last year, according to a 2022 survey from Morning Consult. Over one-fifth of them were charged more than $1,000. The lesson: "Consumer beware," Dr. Mark Fendrick, director of the University of Michigan's Center for Value-Based Insurance Design, told Insider. More specifically, beware of the following common surprise medical costs and learn how to avoid them. 1. Ambulance rides Even patients with insurance can be charged between $500 and $1,000 for an ambulance ride, according to a 2022 report from the Public Interest Research Group. "Ground ambulances are the highest out-of-network biller of all of our health care services," Patricia Kelmar, PIRG's senior director of health care campaigns, told CBS MoneyWatch. Story continues Billing differs widely by city and state, as ambulance services can be run by various institutions including hospitals, fire departments, and private equity firms, CBS reported. But patients can sometimes reduce or eliminate an ambulance bill by seeing if the company has a financial assistance program like American Medical Response's Compassionate Care Program, Jared Walker, Dollar For's founder, told Insider. "If you don't ask for it by name, they won't tell you about it," he said. 2. Childbirth Raising a child in the US is notoriously expensive, but delivering one can be surprisingly costly too especially if you're uninsured. Pregnancy, childbirth, and postpartum care cost nearly $19,000 on average without insurance, according to the Peterson-Kaiser Family Foundation Health System Tracker. For people with insurance, the typical out-of-pocket cost is still around $3,000, and can be more if the mom or baby need more intensive follow-up care, "which is just so, so sad," Fendrick said. Walker told Insider that about 15% of people who reach out to his organization are seeking financial relief from childbirth expenses. One key way Dollar For helps is by navigating hospitals' charity care policies, or the programs in all nonprofit and some for-profit hospitals that reduce medical bills for lower-income families. Anyone can see if they're eligible whether after childbirth or any other hospital visit by plugging their bill amount, income, and the hospital name into Dollar For's tool. "The number one resource is charity care," he said. "If you get a big hospital bill, you might not have to pay it." 3. Follow-up cancer screenings The Affordable Care Act makes certain cancer screenings, like breast and prostate, free. But in some cases, the follow-up tests for abnormal results is not, Fendrick said. "This infuriates me," he said. "They're telling people that your cancer screening is free, and then the people who are benefiting from that screening are the ones who have to pay." While Fendrick and colleagues are pushing for policies changes to address this, the best thing patients can do is to know what they're getting into upfront: Ask your insurance company or the hospital about whether just the screening is covered, or if follow-up procedures are covered, too. 4. Cancer treatment According to a KHN-NPR investigation, cancer is a top driver of medical debt for Americans, leading about a quarter of survivors and family members of cancer patients to declare bankruptcy or lose their home. "A medical crisis shouldn't mean a financial crisis," Walker said. "And a lot of times people are stressing about the bills when they should be stressing about their health." Here, too, patients can look into charity care programs or organizations like the Patient Advocate Foundation, which helps resolve insurance problems and provide financial support. There are also charities for specific types of cancer, like PinkAid for breast cancer financial support. How to tackle any surprise medical bill and win Even if families make too much money to qualify for charity care programs, Walker says there are a few go-to tactics that anyone can use, regardless of diagnosis or financial status, to tackle surprise medical bills and try to lower medical costs. First, call the hospital billing department and ask, "What is the settlement amount?" This means, "What sort of discount will you give me if I pay the bill right now?" "A lot of times we can get, at the very least, 30% off just by agreeing to pay an amount up front," Walker said. The hospital "wants to close that account just as much as you do." If you don't get a satisfying answer the first time, try again the next day. "Don't panic," he said. He also recommends always asking for an itemized bill. Because medical bill errors are common some sources estimate that between 30% and 80% of bills contain errors seeing the breakdown can help patients spot charges worth disputing. For example, a condition may have been coded as more severe than it was, or a treatment may have been included that was never delivered. Sites like Healthcare Bluebook can help patients compare their charges against other institutions, too. The effort often pays off: While a recent survey showed most people have never disputed a medical bill, 78% of those who have disputed a bill have successfully gotten it reduced. For some people, that can be the difference between good and bad credit, or continuing your education or not, Walker has found. "If you can take that burden away from people," he said, "imagine all the good that they're able to do because they don't have to deal with the medical bill that wasn't their fault." Read the original article on Insider The Department of Energy has awarded a Hanford site contract with an estimated value of up to $45 billion over a decade to a newly formed limited liability company. The winning bidder is Hanford Tank Waste Operations and Closure of Lynchburg, Va. The company is made up of BWXT Technical Services Group, Amentum Environment and Energy, and Fluor Federal Services. The new contract marks a transition to a new era at the Hanford nuclear reservation. The new firm will operate the Hanford vitrification plant, under construction since 2002 to turn radioactive waste into a solid glass form. It also will manage waste in underground tanks, which now is done under a separate DOE contract. DOE calls the tank waste the nations largest financial and environmental risk. Bechtel National will continue construction, startup and commissioning of the vit plant, formally named the Waste Treatment and Immobilization Plant. Contractor responsibilities The new contractor, already nicknamed H2C, will operate the plant as its commissioning is completed to prepare it to start treating the least radioactive waste in underground tanks. H2C also will be responsible for core functions of the plant, including project management, security, emergency services, and safety and quality. A contractor to operate the Hanford site vitrification plant, under construction since 2002, has been named by the Department of Energy. The 580-square-mile Hanford site in Eastern Washington adjacent to Richland was used from World War II through the Cold War to produce nearly two-thirds of the plutonium for the nations nuclear weapons program. The work left 56 million gallons of radioactive and hazardous chemical waste stored in underground tanks, many of them prone to leaking. The plant is planned to vitrify much of that waste to turn it into a stable glass form for permanent disposal. After technical issues needed to be resolved on parts of the plant treating high level radioactive waste, DOE switched to a plan to separate out some of the least radioactive waste, called low activity waste, and start treating as work continues to prepare to treat high level waste. Story continues DOE had planned to start operating the plant to vitrify low activity waste at the end of this year, but now says it may be the end of 2024 A deadline for treating low activity waste by the end of this year was set in a federal court consent decree, but then extended due to work delays during the COVID-19 pandemic. Environmental cleanup is underway at the 580-square-mile Hanford nuclear reservation. The underground radioactive waste storage tanks and the vitrification plant are in the center of the site. The new contractor will take over work at the tank farms from Washington River Protection Solutions, an Amentum led company, with a 120-day transition period starting immediately. Washington River Protection Solutions has held the expiring contract for tank farm work since 2008 and has been given several short-term contract extensions. Traditionally most employees of Hanford companies with expiring contracts are hired by the new contract with only leadership changing. The current tank farm contractor employs about 2,300 workers and relies on an additional 300 subcontractor workers. No workforce impacts are expected if stable funding for the Hanford site continues as expected, according to DOE. The agency described the benefits that workers would receive under the new contract as competitive and comparable to current benefits. Work at the tank farms includes emptying waste from 149 leak-prone single shell tanks into 27 newer double-shell tanks for storage until it can be treated for disposal and also eventually permanently closing the tanks. Work also includes separating out low activity waste from the waste mixture in the tanks to feed to the vitrification plants Low Activity Waste Facility to glassify it for disposal. Contractor history at Hanford The new contractor is teaming with four subcontractors on the work: DBD, DSS Sustainable Solutions USA, Intera, and Longenecker and Associates. A portion of the contracts work must be subcontracted to small businesses. The new contract requires a commitment to community activities in nearby cities and the counties surrounding the site. Parts of the site are in Benton, Franklin and Grant counties. Hanford site workers remove a pump from a double-shell underground radioactive waste tank that will be used to stage waste until it can be pretreated and sent to the vitrification plant to be glassified. The activities could include educational outreach programs, regional purchasing programs and other community support, according to DOE. H2C will be required to subcontract 18% of work under its contract to small businesses, but those do not have to be Eastern Washington businesses. Amentum already has a strong presence at Hanford as the owner of the current tank farm contractor with Atkins, leading the Central Plateau Cleanup Co. team and as the primary subcontractor at the vitrification plant construction and commissioning project. BWXT was awarded the environmental management contract for DOEs Savannah River, S.C., site in 2021. Fluor is best known at Hanford for being the sites main cleanup contractor from 1996 to 2008. It also is a partner with Amentum on the Central Plateau Cleanup Co. contract, which is responsible for most environmental cleanup at Hanford other than tank waste. In May 2020, DOE awarded a 10 year, $13 billion contract to manage Hanford tank waste to a team headed by BWXT and Fluor with primary subcontractors Intera and DBD. It did not include the vitrification plant work. But after appeals were filed to the Government Accountability Office over the choice of the new tank contracting team, DOE canceled the contract award. One appeal was filed by a company owned by Aecom, Fluor and Atkins and the other by a company owned by Jacobs Government Services Co. The GAO dismissed the appeals, but DOE voluntarily decided to address an issue raised in the appeal and canceled the contract. In February 2021, it announced that it would instead seek a contractor for both vitrification plant operations and the management of the tank farms. Then it estimated the value of the new contract at $26.5 million over a decade. The new contract uses DOEs end state contracting model, under which DOE awards a contract and then negotiates specific tasks to be completed. Under the contracting model, tasks may be paid for either through the traditional Hanford method of reimbursing costs and paying incentive fees to allow the contractor to profit or by offering a fixed price for completion of work, shifting financial risk to the contractor. The tasks will focus on providing the most reduction of risk and taxpayer costs and advancing environmental cleanup, DOE said in 2021. Read the full article on Motorious What kind of sick person would do this? Sometimes we cant believe just how much hate is still dished out at the 4th-Gen F-Bodies. With American muscle yet again dying thanks in large part to government regulation, one would think people would be cherishing every example under the sun. Instead, some guys decided to convert this 1997 Chevy Camaro into a front-wheel-drive four-banger atrocity. Watch the horrific moment a classic Corvette falls off a car transport here. Well, its actually not really a Camaro at all. They took the Camaro body panels and attached them to a Honda Civic frame, keeping the anemic four-cylinder engine to boot. Then they decided to run it with just the front wheels attached on a public road. Imagine if a cop had come by in that very moment. Depending on the city or county, the ticket alone couldve been insane. What people will do for social media likes these days is truly unbelievable. In another video, these guys decided to drive a pickup over the Camaro like it was in a Monster Truck rally. Immediately, we got vibes of back when American car dealerships would allow anyone who bought a vehicle to drive monster trucks or use tools to smash up Japanese vehicles for sport. Only we think this is far worse. Even if the F-Body was done for, someone couldve used the body panels to repair a V8 model thats running. Sure, you might think there are plenty out there now, but if people are inspired by this kind of tomfoolery on social media and they start doing similar things to get a few likes, pretty soon F-Body parts are going to be shockingly rare. We really hope that doesnt happen. For the record, were not big on trashing cars just for Instagram, YouTube, or any other social media platform. We know a lot of digital content creators do it and they can get a lot of clicks, but we think its not only stupid but also wasteful. Watch it if you want, just know this sort of thing spreads and could have serious consequences for the hobby long-term. Sign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. For her first sit-down interview in over a year, Ellen DeGeneres discussed her passion for home renovation, design, and real estate with The Riv magazine as their spring cover star. The magazine reported that DeGeneres has personally bought and sold over 50 homes and estates in the Southern California area. Her extensive real estate portfolio has kept the comedian plenty busy, even with her syndicated talk show having wrapped up last year after a 19-year run, which netted over 60 Daytime Emmys. DeGeneres revealed some background into her housing situation growing up, providing a possible origin story for her homemaking obsession: We were always moving. We never owned. I always thought we were looking for just the right house and hadnt found it yet, she explained to writer Les Firestein. I didnt realize we were poor and were never going to buy a place. I think my folks took us to open house caravans just for the veggie tray. In her post-talk show life, it seems shes certainly well positioned to dive further into homemaking programming, if she feels so inclined. The division of labor between herself and Portia de Rossi When asked about how much wife Portia de Rossi weighs in on her home design projects, DeGeneres shared that the actor isnt too concerned with her partners house flipping hustle. We dont delve into each others silos, she said of her wife, a passionate equestrian. In fact, I cant really get her to go into a furniture store with me. Unless theres a horse in there somewhere. Her off to the races approach DeGeneres takes extra measures to make sure her project timelines stay tidy. With all the resources at her fingertips to get the work done, she estimates she takes about one third of the time most people might once shes zeroed in on a new house. The comedians contractor shared that working on an Ellen house requires an all-hands-on-deck mentalitysometimes hundreds of hands on a single project. For speed of construction, theres a number of strategies we deploy. One is, of course, sheer human powerwhat other contractors refer to as bodies on sight, said Lance Lentz, who has worked with DeGeneres for 30 years. And, yes, Ive been known to deploy 700 men simultaneously on a single job. Her remodel of Ariana Grandes wedding venue After a DeGeneres-led reimagining of a historic Montecito mansion, Ariana Grande snapped up the Tudor-style estate for $6.75 million in June 2020. The pop star wed real estate agent Dalton Gomez in a May 2021 private ceremony at the residence. Its known as the Porter House and was originally constructed in Surrey, England, before being dismantled and relocated to California. The attachment she feels to her projects runs deep Kurt Rappaport, DeGeneress longtime real estate agent, recalled a time when the comedian was circling a certain project but had it scooped out from under her by a developer before shed had the chance to put in an offer. Distraught, she and Rappaport contacted the developer long before he had finished work on the house because she couldnt take the desecration. Rappaport went on to explain that she ended up buying the house to put an end to the overhaul: She took it over and said to the developer, You cant do a fricking thing to this house anymore. Put down your tools, Im paying you to stop today. Following through on her emotional and financial investment in the property, the comedian restored it immaculately. She never starts from absolute scratch DeGeneres prefers to work with the existing blueprint of a residence, infusing her own flair into the structure rather than beginning at square one. Because of her need for instant gratification and the adrenaline rush, she sticks to flipping and doesnt build new. That year and a half in planning would be lethal to me, she said. I cant sit still that long, no matter how nice the chair is. The Hollywood legend and home flipper always makes sure to preserve at least a single piece as a nod to the prior lives of her projectsan homage, she calls it. Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest A man waits outside a H&R Block tax preparation office on April 6, 2020, in the Brooklyn borough of New York. (Mark Lennihan/AP) NEW YORK The deadline to file your taxes is Tuesday, which is just around the corner. Filing U.S. tax returns especially for the first time can seem like a daunting task, but there are steps you can take to make it less stressful. Whether you do your taxes yourself, go to a tax clinic or hire a professional, navigating the tax system can be complicated and stressful. Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate for Credit Karma, recommends you go easy on yourself. Advertisement Take a breath. Take some time, set out an hour, or go through it over the weekend. Youll hopefully see that its a lot simpler than you think, Alev said. If you find the process too confusing, there are plenty of free resources to help you get through it. Advertisement If you are worried that you might not have enough time to file your taxes before the deadline, you can file for an extension, though its not ideal (more on that below.) Heres what you need to know: When is the deadline to file taxes? Taxpayers have until Tuesday to submit their returns from 2022. What do I need to file my tax return? While the required documents might depend on your individual case, here is a general list of what everyone needs: Social Security number W-2 forms, if you are employed 1099-G, if you are unemployed 1099 forms, if you are self-employed Advertisement Savings and investment records Any eligible deduction, such as educational expenses, medical bills, charitable donations, etc. Tax credits, such as child tax credit, retirement savings contributions credit, etc. To find a more detailed document list, visit the IRS website. Tom OSaben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals, recommends gathering all of your documents in one place before you start your tax return and also having your documents from last year if your financial situation has drastically changed. Theresa Grover, site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, also recommends taxpayers create an identity protection PIN number with the IRS to guard against identity theft. Once you create a number, the IRS will require it to file your tax return. Advertisement How do I file my taxes? You can either file your taxes online or on paper. However, there is a big time difference between the two options. Paper filing can take up to six months for the IRS to process, while electronic filing cuts it down to three weeks. What resources are out there? For those who make $73,000 or less per year, the IRS offers free guided tax preparation that does the math for you. If you have questions while working on your tax forms, the IRS also offers an interactive tax assistant tool that can provide answers based on your information. Beyond the popular companies such as TurboTax and H&R Block, taxpayers can also hire licensed professionals, such as certified public accountants. The IRS offers a directory of tax preparers across the United States. The IRS also funds two types of programs that offer free tax help: VITA and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program (TCE). People who earn $60,000 or less a year, have disabilities or are limited English speakers, qualify for the VITA program. Those who are 60 or older, qualify for the TCE program. The IRS has a site for locating organizations hosting VITA and TCE clinics. If you have a tax problem, there are clinics around the country that can help you resolve these issues. Generally, these tax clinics also offer services in other languages such as Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. How can I avoid mistakes in my tax return? Many people fear getting in trouble with the IRS if they make a mistake. Heres how to avoid some of the most common ones: Advertisement Double check your name on your Social Security card. When working with clients, OSaben always asks them to bring their Social Security card to double-check their number and their legal name, which can change when when people get married. You may have changed your name but you didnt change it with Social Security, OSaben said. If the Social Security number doesnt match to the first four letters of the last name, the return will be rejected and that will delay processing. Search for tax statements if you have opted out of paper mail. Many people like to opt out of snail mail, but paper mail can also include your tax documents. If you didnt get anything in the mail doesnt mean that there isnt an information document out there that you need to be aware of and report accordingly, OSaben said. Advertisement Make sure you report all of your income. If you had more than one job in 2022, you need the W-2 forms for each not just the one from the job you ended the year with, says Christina Wease, interim director of the tax clinic at Michigan State University. Additionally, if you have a business that uses PayPal or Venmo as a service, it must be reported in your tax return. For 2022, the use of those services needs to be reported if they amounted to 200 transactions in the calendar year and more than $20,000 in sales from goods or services. What if I make a mistake? Mistakes happen, and the IRS takes different approaches depending on each case. In general, if you make a mistake or youre missing something in your tax records, the IRS will audit you, Alev said. An audit means that the IRS will ask you for more documentation. Generally, they are very understanding and willing to work with folks. Youre not going to get arrested if you type in the wrong field, Alev said. What if I need an extension? If you run out of time to file your tax return, you can file for an extension. However, it is important to remember that the extension is only to file your taxes, not to pay them. If you owe taxes, you should pay an estimated amount before the deadline so you avoid paying penalties and interest. If you expect to receive a refund, you will still receive your money when you file your taxes. Advertisement The deadline to file for an extension is Tuesday, which will give you until Oct. 16 to file your taxes. You can file for an extension through your tax software or preparer of preference, the IRS Free File tool or via mail. What if I miss the tax deadline? If you missed the tax deadline and you didnt file for an extension, there are several penalties that you might receive. If you missed the deadline you might receive a failure-to-file penalty. This penalty will be 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month the tax return is late, according to the IRS. If you owe taxes and you didnt pay them prior to the tax deadline, you will receive a failure-to-pay penalty. Interest will also be charged on both taxes and penalties owed. If you are due for a refund, you will not receive a penalty and you will receive your tax return payment. If you had special circumstances that meant you were unable to file or pay your taxes on time, you might be able to remove or reduce your penalty. If the amount of taxes you owe becomes too large, you can apply for a payment plan. Payment plans will allow you to pay off over time. What if I havent filed for years? Wease explains that you can file taxes late and, if you were supposed to get a refund, you might still get it. If you havent filed for years and you owe money to the IRS, you may be hit with penalties but the agency will can work with you to manage payment plans. How can I avoid scams? Tax season is prime time for tax scams, according to the IRS. These scams can come via phone, text, email and social media. The IRS uses none of those means to contact taxpayers. Advertisement Sometimes scams are even operated by tax preparers so its important to ask lots of questions. If a tax preparer says you will get a refund that is larger than what youve received in previous years, for example, that may be a red flag, OSaben said. If you cant see what your tax preparer is working on, get a copy of the tax return and ask questions about each of the entries. How long should I keep copies of my tax returns? Its always good practice to keep a record of your tax returns, just in case the IRS audits you for an item you reported years ago. Both Wease and OSaben recommend keeping copies of your tax return documents for up to seven years. Have you ever encountered an unruly or poorly behaved passenger on an airplane, and asked yourself, who raised them? Yes, we have, too. Once upon a time, you not only had to dress a certain way to board a plane, you had to conduct yourself. These days, people forget what a privilege it is to fly. Thanks to social media, (or, no thanks depending on your perspective), you dont have to be on the plane to get a front row seat to the foolishness. Somebody will surely record, and post it online. This isnt an exhaustive list, but here are five of the worst flight etiquette cases weve seen. Taking Your Shoes And Socks Off Wanting to be as comfortable as possible at 30,000 feet makes sense. But lets face it no matter what you do, youre going to feel cramped. If you knew how filthy the floors and seats were even after a thorough cleaning, youd think twice about taking off your shoes. In fact, Travel + Leisure published a piece explaining why taking your shoes off on a plane could be bad for your health. You could pick up a nasty fungal infection, and goodness knows what else. One recent clip shows not one, but two women with their bare feet exposed. A flight attendant comes by and addresses them. Users on TikTok were unanimous in saying that the women were in the wrong. As one user put it, some people think good manners are a suggestion. It doesnt matter if you just got a pedicure, or if your feet dont smell. Youre not in your living room. Drinking Too Much By all means, have a glass of wine, or something stronger, to take the edge off the flight. But be aware of your limits. Travel Noire has reported several less than savory incidents involving alcohol on airplanes. But well focus on one for the moment. As explained by travel writer JT Genter, a drunk man on an American Airlines flight was rambling loudly to another person about his sex life. As the plane prepared to descend into LAX airspace, he vomited on at least two passengers. One of them got the bulk of the stomach contents, and had to sit around in his ruined clothing. Story continues American Airlines responded to Genter with the expected, generic answer on Twitter: we appreciate you letting us know about this. Weve shared your comments with our leadership team for review. Hitting A Crew Member If you disrespect any of the crew members, or dont do what they ask you to do, the consequences will likely be severe. On one American Airlines flight, a man who was denied access to the First Class lavatory, punched a flight attendant in the back of the head. The passenger was restrained by others, and arrested on arrival in Los Angeles. He was banned by the carrier for life, and faced 20 years in prison for assault. If you want to use the First Class lavatory, or any First Class facility, then pay for it. Simple. Urinating On A Passenger Why in the world would anyone do this? In November 2022, a man allegedly exposed himself, and urinated on an elderly woman on board an Air India flight. The man was intoxicated, and the two were sitting in Business Class. To add insult to injury, the crew did nothing meaningful to help the victim. As she explained in a letter of complaint: my clothes, shoes, and bag were completely soaked in urine. The stewardess followed me to the seat, verified that it smelled of urine, and sprayed disinfectant on my bag and shoes. The perpetrator was arrested and then fired from his corporate position. In 2020, a woman got the shock of her life when a pastor peed on her while she was sleeping. Alicia Beverly was on her way to Detroit from Las Vegas, and had settled in for a nap when she felt a warm stream of urine. She screamed, and the man was restrained by an off-duty police officer until the plane landed. The person responsible was a pastor from North Carolina. By way of explanation, his representatives said he was suffering from a reaction to a sleep aid he took. Grabbing A Fellow Passenger Because A Politician Authorized It Remember when Donald Trump (before he was president) bragged about grabbing a woman by a certain part of her anatomy? Well, he inspired one man to do something similar. In 2018, a man on board a Southwest flight, touched a woman sitting in front of him along her bra line. As the story goes, she thought it was an innocent mistake. When she tried to go back to sleep, the man touched her again along her ribs. This prompted her to ask the crew if she could change her seat. When the man was taken into custody, he seemed baffled that he was in trouble. He allegedly told police that it was quite fine touch a woman without her consent, because the president authorized it. A picture of the complete fossil skeleton of I. gunnelli. A picture of the complete fossil skeleton of I. gunnelli. Two stunningly preserved, 52 million-year-old bat skeletons unearthed in Wyoming are the oldest ever found and belong to a never-before-seen species, researchers have revealed. The rare fossils were discovered in the Green River Formation in the southwest of the state. The newfound species was slightly smaller than the closest known related bat species, Icaronycteris index, and could easily fit into a human hand with its wings folded against its body. "When I first saw the first skeleton, I immediately thought it was different," lead author Tim Rietbergen , a bat paleontologist and collection manager at the Naturalis Biodiversity Center in Leiden, The Netherlands, told Live Science in an email. "Because they are found lower in the stratigraphy [sediment layers] compared to other fossil bats, they represent the oldest skeletons." Bats first evolved during the Eocene epoch (56 million to 36 million years ago). Until now, the oldest bat skeletons on record were the more than 50 million-year-old fossil remains of I. index and another primitive species called Onychonycteris finneyi, which paleontologists both described from Green River Formation deposits. "The Green River Formation is one of the locations where we find the best preserved skeletons," Rietbergen said. The new finds, which are described in a study published Wednesday (April 12) in the journal PLOS One , have triggered a reshuffle in the classification of early bats to include the newfound species in the family tree. Related: Bats tell predators to 'buzz off' literally To determine the evolutionary history, or phylogeny of the bats, the researchers compared the new fossils with intact skeletons from six Eocene bat species, as well as with isolated teeth from two other extinct species and with skeletons of living bats. Their results indicated that the newly discovered bat skeletons belong to a never-before-seen species of Icaronycteris, which they named I. gunnelli after the late bat biologist Greg Gunnell . Story continues "After comparing the measurements with other bats, it clearly stood out as being a different species," Rietbergen said. "I got super excited, and was wondering, that perhaps the bat diversity from the early Eocene was much higher than we thought." The scientists also detected a sister relationship with the only other recorded species of Icaronycteris in North America, I. index, which means that they are each other's closest known relatives. Detailed scans of the fossils suggest that I. gunnelli weighed less than an ounce (22.5 to 28.9 grams), which is about the same body mass as I. index, even though the latter was probably slightly larger. The discrepancy between the reconstructed weight and wingspan could be due to the deformation of bones during fossilization, according to the study. RELATED STORIES In a 1st, scientists grow stem cells that could show how bats harbor lethal viruses without dying Scientists unlocked the secrets to bats' heavy metal growls False widow spider preys on baby bat in never-before-seen encounter "This newly described species is considered as one of the oldest known articulated bat skeletons, providing novel insight into the phylogeny of our earliest bat fossils," Emma Teeling , a professor of zoology at University College Dublin in Ireland who did not participate in the research, told Live Science in an email. "However, there are still phylogenetic questions that can only be resolved by recovering more well defined and complete bat fossils." Based on their analysis, the researchers think that Green River bats evolved independently from other Eocene bats. "There is still a lot that we don't know," Rietbergen said. "Once we have a good view on the bat diversity, we can study evolutionary adaptations and perhaps find hints that will bring us closer to the discovery of the ancestor of bats." A film premiere, a dramatic opera and stargazing are just a few events are sure to be anything but boring this weekend. As the celebrated artist Elizabeth Catlett gets her time on the big screen at FilmScene, Dreamwell Theatre will be premiering a thrilling play. Schedule some time for dinner at Pullman Bar & Diner for a two-night-only menu as well. Here are seven things to do this weekend in Johnson County, including two spots for happy hour and brunch. Experience a beloved opera from the University of Iowa Opera Theatre Friday and Saturday evening or Sunday afternoon: The famous, angsty story of lovers torn apart comes to the Coralville Center for the Performing Arts this weekend. Giuseppe Verdis La Traviata, presented by UI Opera Theatre, is set in 19th century Paris and follows a young man who falls in love with a high-society courtesan, much to his fathers disapproval. This opera, celebrated for its music and story, will be directed by Wayne Wyman. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for seniors and $10 for those 17 and younger. Performances for La Traviata take the stage Friday and Saturday at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. Coralville Center for the Performing Arts is located at 1301 Fifth St. Tickets can be purchased at the Hancher Box Offices website. Dig into a special dinner menu at Pullman Bar & Diner https://www.facebook.com/PullmanBarAndDiner/ Friday or Saturday evening: Pullman Bar & Diner offers a special menu from 5 p.m. to midnight for its Pullman Chef Reunion dinner, featuring chefs Benjamin Smart, Sepehr Sadrzadeh, Gabe Branch and Matthew Prince. On the menu include roasted marrow bones with a bacon jam, pork belly with the Mexican sauce mole negro, PEI mussels and more. Pullman Bar & Diner is located at 17 S. Dubuque St. Visit the restaurant's Facebook page for more information about Friday and Saturday's menu. Celebrate artist Elizabeth Catlett with a film premiere "Glory" a cast bronze with a black patina on a wooden base created by Elizabeth Catlett is displayed with artwork in the "Homecoming" exhibition, which comprises a series of installations, Tuesday, Aug. 23, 2022, at the Stanley Museum of Art on the University of Iowa campus in Iowa City, Iowa. Saturday and Sunday afternoon: Elizabeth Catlett, the renowned artist and activist who attended the University of Iowa for graduate school, is the subject of the film Standing Strong: Elizabeth Catlett that comes to FilmScene for two showings, both at 1 p.m. Directed by Kevin Kelley, this 60-minute film will be followed by a post-show discussion with guests including Lauren Lessing, UI Stanley Museum of Art director; Chris Kramer, Iowa Department of Cultural Affairs director; Melanie Herzog, author of Elizabeth Catlett: An American Artist in Mexico; and more. The film screenings coincide with Catletts birthday on April 15, 1905. Following the screening, UI Stanley Museum of Art will have a special selection of Catletts work on display in the museums visual classroom from 3 to 4:30 p.m. Visit FilmScenes website to purchase tickets. Story continues More: Here are 7 new pieces of art on display at the Stanley Museum of Art you should know about Catch a new play from Dreamwell Theatre Friday or Saturday evening: Dreamwell Theatre presents a twisted tale of deceit with Angel Street by Patrick Hamilton, also known as Gaslight. Hamiltons 1938 play went on to Broadway, and was adapted into the1944 film Gaslight that received multiple Academy Award nominations. Directed by Jen Brown, Angel Street is set in 19th century London where Mr. Manningham is slowing driving his wife insane. Angel Street will be performed at the ArtiFactory at 120 N. Dubuque St. at 7:30 p.m. both nights with two more shows the following weekend. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased on Dreamwell Theatres website. See the stars with the University of Iowa physics and astronomy department The Van Allen Observatory opens to the sky above Van Allen Hall. Friday evening: UI physics and astronomy department invite the community to the rooftop of Van Allen Hall, 30 N. Dubuque St. to see the evening sky up close. The Van Allen Observatory and small telescopes will be used for the night sky tour from 8 to 10 p.m. Visit Van Allen Observatories Facebook page for future stargazing events. Take your little ones to a kite festival Saturday afternoon: Visit Wetherby Park, 2400 Taylor Drive in Iowa City, for the Kites for Kids Festival from noon to 2 p.m. There will be kites, sidewalk chalk, bubbles and snacks available for this free event, hosted by multiple community organizations, including Johnson County Social Services, to provide information about child abuse prevention. Visit Kites for Kids Festival's Facebook page for more information. Hear folk artist Chicago Farmer at the James Theater Members of the Nolte Academy perform during their Senior Gala in 2022 at the James Theater in Iowa City. Friday evening: Cody Diekhoff, or Chicago Farmer, is bringing his folk sounds to the James Theater at 7 p.m. The Delavan, Illinois native has performed since the early 2000s, and his most recent album was 2020s Flyover Country. Visit the James Theaters website to purchase tickets, which are $22 in advance. The James Theater is located at 213 N. Gilbert St. More: Mission Creek Festival kicks off with Japanese Breakfast's Michelle Zauner Eat brunch or hang with friends at happy hour in Johnson County Head to Foundry Food + Tap for happy hour. Friday evening: Foundry Food + Tap at 3266 Crosspark Rd. Suite 101 in Coralville has happy hour from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. Buy one drink and get the other for just a buck. Sunday morning: Dine in the restaurant with the best view in downtown Iowa City, Vue Rooftop, at 328 S. Clinton St. Enjoy lemon vanilla pancakes, focaccia bread with Gruyere cheese, ham and over-easy eggs or a hot pork tenderloin sandwich. Brunch is served 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Paris Barraza covers entertainment, lifestyle and arts at the Iowa City Press-Citizen. Reach her at PBarraza@press-citizen.com or 319-519-9731. Follow her on Twitter @ParisBarraza. This article originally appeared on Iowa City Press-Citizen: Things to do this weekend in Iowa City include Elizabeth Catlett film Salt Lake City firefighters battle an apartment fire in the Avenues neighborhood on Tuesday, April 13, 2023. | Aubrey Shafer, KSL-TV Firefighters responded to an apartment building in Salt Lake City Tuesday after flames engulfed a unit on the top floor. Crews responded to the blaze near 67 N. A Street in the Avenues neighborhood at 1 p.m., where a video posted to social media shows several fire trucks battling the fire, as smoke billows out of the building.** The entire building of 119 units was evacuated, a news release from the American Red Cross of Utah said. The fire destroyed nine units in the building, displacing about 20 residents, the news release said. Volunteers for the Red Cross's Disaster Action Team assisted the displaced residents in finding lodging for Tuesday night. The Salt Lake City Fire Department said there were no injuries to occupants or firefighters. (Bloomberg) -- The future of the abortion pill a legal fight now likely to make its way to the US Supreme Court risks becoming the latest political hazard for Republicans who have already boxed themselves in on the issue. Most Read from Bloomberg Nearly a year after the Supreme Courts Roe v. Wade ruling was leaked and about 20 months before the 2024 presidential election, the party hasnt developed an effective message on reproductive rights while Democrats are using the issue as a way to unify their base. Should Americans, of whom 53% are in favor of abortion pills, now lose access to mifepristone, it would further ostracize young voters, independents and suburban women, who Republicans must win over. The conundrum was on fresh display Wednesday, when US Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina, who announced that he was exploring a 2024 presidential bid, repeatedly dodged questions in a CBS News interview as to whether he would support a federal ban on abortion as president. Democrats quickly pounced, circulating the clip on social media. Read more: What Is Mifepristone and Why Is It Being Banned in the US? Its up to politicians to put it front and center in terms of the stakes of the campaign, said Katie Paris, founder of Red Wine and Blue, a group that seeks to turn out the vote among suburban women. I think any candidate who chooses to do that in 2024 is going to have a pretty clear-cut case to make. For the first time in 15 years, Democrats won a majority on the Wisconsin state Supreme Court after Milwaukee judge Janet Protasiewicz spent millions on advertisements touting her support for abortion rights. The state court will likely decide the legality of a pre-Civil war abortion ban, so her victory only showcased how powerful reproductive rights remain for liberal voters. Story continues Democrats also made gains in the counties around Milwaukee, Waukesha, Ozaukee, and Washington. Wisconsin Secretary of State Sarah Godlewski, who held rallies for Protasiewicz, credited the gains to suburban women turning to Democrats because of abortion and what she called Dobbs Dads, who are conservative but dont want abortion restrictions to affect their daughters. Thats a reference to Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, the decision that overturned Roe. The Wisconsin election adds to the recent losses for Republicans namely a failed referendum to remove abortion rights protections in Kansas and a disappointing showing in the midterm elections last November. At the time, former President Donald Trump, who is seeking the Republican nomination in 2024, blamed the failures on the partys inability to talk about abortion effectively. Exit polls from the 2022 elections showed that the overturning of federal abortion rights heavily influenced voters, particularly women. Some 53% voted Democratic, helping President Joe Biden stem congressional losses and pick up a seat in the US Senate in what had seemed like a very favorable political environment for Republicans. Read more: The Fight Over the Abortion Pill Is Just Getting Started Even now, there is little consensus within the Republican Party about what should and should not be legal. Some anti-abortion groups want to see a national ban in place, while others would prefer to leave the legislating to individual states. Frank Cannon, the chief political strategist for the anti-abortion group Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America, said he did not think a candidate could win the Republican nomination without highlighting robust anti-abortion credentials even if other strategists say taking too strong of a position could be a hindrance in the general election. What hurts Republicans is in the inability to define a position, articulate and defend it and to answer the attacks of our opponents, Cannon said. Republicans will not be able to go into the Iowa or South Carolina primaries and fudge a position on abortion. SBA Pro-Life America is advocating for a national ban, though Cannon said the group is open to a 15-week limit and exceptions for rape, incest or the life of the mother being in danger. I am expecting former President Trump will follow through on what he made happen, Cannon added. It would be in his interest to articulate a position that motivates pro-lifers who are central constituencies in the GOP party. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is widely expected to announce a campaign for president in June, already signed a bill barring abortions after 15 weeks and is backing a proposal to roll that back to six weeks, with exceptions for rape or incest until 15 weeks with documentation such as a police report. On Wednesday night, a federal appeals court partly granted the Justice Departments request to put off US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling that suspended the governments decades-old approval of mifepristone. But a three-judge panel of the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals allowed restrictions that were lifted in 2016 to be reinstated, including barring the drug from being mailed and limiting use to seven weeks. The court agreed to expedite an appeal. Republicans were largely muted following the ruling last Friday. Former Vice President Mike Pence was the only potential presidential candidate to release a statement praising the decision. And Trump, who nominated Kacsmaryk and is notoriously boastful about delivering wins for his party, was conspicuously quiet. The Biden administration announced Thursday it will ask the Supreme Court to intervene and defend FDAs scientific judgment, likely signaling the Justice Department will request full restoration of the drug's availability. Republican candidates will ultimately have to bear the consequences of how a Republican-packed judicial bench approaches reproductive rights. And despite the conservative majority, the White House says its confident it can win if the high court takes up the abortion pill case. Biden has already been facing pressure to do more to protect abortion access. In two separate executive orders, he directed agencies to find ways to expand the availability of the abortion pills now at the center of the latest legal fight and strengthen privacy protections for patients. Much of the fight over abortion rights has landed at the state level. The administration is still seeking ways to counter advancing abortion restrictions, according to senior Biden officials. State legislators and attorney generals have been among those in close contact with the White House since last weeks ruling, the officials said. Its a divisive issue, Asa Hutchinson, a former Arkansas governor and GOP presidential candidate, told Bloomberg Television. Its a fight within the legislature and I think thats where we'll be in 2024. (Updates graph 12 to note SBA Pro-Life says it is open to a 15-week limit on abortions. Updates graphs 17 and 18 with news of Biden administrations announcement that it would ask the Supreme Court to intervene in the abortion pill case.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. WASHINGTON The Biden administration said Thursday it will ask the Supreme Court to intervene so that Americans can continue to have expanded access to the abortion pill mifepristone, including through mail orders and without having to visit a doctor. "The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Fifth Circuits decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA to deny in part our request for a stay pending appeal," Attorney General Merrick Garland said. "We will be seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court to defend the FDA's scientific judgment and protect Americans access to safe and effective reproductive care." The announcement came hours after a federal appeals court in Louisiana sided with the Biden administration on a key issue in an ongoing legal fight whether the 23-year-old Food and Drug Administration approval of the drug could continue but balked at later actions by the agency in 2016 and 2021 that expanded access to the drug. The appeal will mark the most significant abortion dispute to reach the Supreme Court since a 5-4 majority last year overturned Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion. That decision prompted several states to ban in-clinic abortions, which in turn has heighted attention on access to the drug. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients said the administration will continue to fight really hard for the independence of the FDA and to protect access to safe and effective reproductive care. Look at any major poll, Zients told USA TODAY in an exclusive interview. The vast majority of Americans do not want the government to interfere in reproductive and medical decisions. Zients declined to address any preparations the administration is making in case it loses the appeal. The merits of this case are so clear, and the need for women to control their own health care decisions is so clear, that I dont think that we need to speculate about a bad decision by the court, he said. Story continues Were preparing for the Supreme Court to do the right thing here. Meanwhile, major abortion rights groups planned a rally Friday afternoon outside the steps of the Supreme Court. Over 50 demonstrations in support of medication abortion access have also been planned for the weekend in dozens of states, including Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, D.C., Washington state and Wisconsin. Virtual rallies organized through the Women's March are also expected to gather people from across the country. How soon will the Supreme Court rule on mifepristone? Assuming the Biden administration sends up its appeal to the Supreme Court on Thursday, the justices won't have much time to address it. A temporary pause set by a lower court on changes to the drug's approval will expire Friday. The high court could, and often does, issue a short-term stay pausing any changes for a few days. The appeal will arrive on the Supreme Court's emergency docket, which some critics have dubbed the shadow docket. The court moves quickly with those cases, usually handing down an initial decision without oral arguments or extended briefing. 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. Biden is traveling the United Kingdom and Ireland in part to help celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. With Biden are his son Hunter Biden, left, and sister Valerie Biden(AP Photo/Patrick Semansky) ORG XMIT: MDPS308 What's at stake in the Supreme Court appeal over mifepristone? The big fight over mifepristone was initially about its approval: Did the Food and Drug Administration properly approve the drug during the Clinton administration? In a middle-of-the-night decision from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit put that issue to rest in the short term, asserting that the anti-abortion groups who were challenging the FDA had likely waited too long to file their lawsuit. That means the underlying approval of the drug should continue while the lawsuit plays out. Ruling: Appeals court revives FDA approval of abortion pill mifepristone, allows some restrictions to stand States: Some states stockpile abortion pills after Texas judge's ruling on mifepristone Strategy: Can Biden ignore the courts? Some float defiance on abortion pill ruling. Experts say it's an explosive idea. But the court also said that certain efforts to expand access to the drug approved by the FDA in 2016 and later could be put on hold until the outcome of the litigation is clear. Those approvals include allowing non-doctors to prescribe and administer and drug and allowing mifepristone to be sent through the mail. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Abortion: Biden will ask Supreme Court to intervene on mifepristone Doctors, clinics and telehealth providers across the country are scrambling to figure out how they will continue to provide the most common type of abortion after a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions on a key abortion medication. One telehealth provider would have to shut down for two weeks. Some abortion clinics in Ohio are considering ditching the drug altogether. Meanwhile, other doctors are looking for legal loopholes to dispense the drug, called mifepristone. People who live far from abortion clinics will be particularly hard hit, abortion rights advocates say. The restrictions could force people to travel hundreds of miles for care and stay for days, said Kirsten Moore, director of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project. This is going to have a severe, severe impact on access, she said, adding that it will be devastating for underserved rural populations. This is the second time in less than a week that the legal sands have shifted around medication abortions, which account for more than half of abortions in the U.S. The late Wednesday decision narrowed a Texas court judges effort to block the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone. It allows patients to keep using the drug, but only at a higher dosage and if patients are seven weeks or fewer pregnant. The decision also prohibits the medication from being sent by mail and requires people to have three in-person visits with their doctor to take the pills. The Department of Justice plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000, blocks the hormone progesterone and is also used to treat miscarriages. Millions of women around the world have used the drug, and medical groups say complications occur at a lower rate than with routine medical procedures such as wisdom teeth removal and colonoscopies. Abortion providers and patient advocates said the restrictions imposed by the court could affect thousands of people if they go into effect on Saturday. Story continues Since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year, telehealth abortions have more than doubled, according to a report released this week by the Society of Family Planning. Abortions by virtual clinic telehealth providers rose to 8,540 last December, or 11% of all abortions, compared with 3,610 in April 2022, the report said. Wisp, a company that provides telehealth medication abortions in nine states, plans to close down for two weeks if the ruling goes into effect on Saturday to switch to a one-drug regimen that uses misoprostol, a medication not challenged in the courts but considered slightly less effective. Monica Cepak, the companys chief marketing officer, said they are also looking at providing misoprostol to people who want to stock up on that drug. Telehealth remains a really important piece of the accessibility puzzle because as demand for in-person care will likely go up, the time to get an in-person appointment is often 20-30 days, and telehealth fills that really important gap for patients," she said. Telehealth abortion providers were already facing restrictions. According to a February report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, six of the states that have not banned abortion have at least one requirement for at least one trip to the clinic. But order-by-mail abortion provider Aid Access wont let a U.S. court order stop it from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol by telehealth, Dr. Rebecca Gomperts wrote in an email. Gomperts is based in Europe, and the companys website advertises that it can mail pills to all 50 states in the U.S. The company has a history of flouting U.S. laws and rules on the issue. In 2019, Aid Access defied an order from the FDA to stop distributing medications in the country. Some abortion clinics in Ohio may stop dispensing mifepristone entirely by Saturday, said Jessie Hill, an attorney who represents several independent clinics in the state. The states law requires doctors to follow federal label guidelines when prescribing mifepristone, which means clinics will have to follow the courts order. The order will make it incredibly inconvenient, to prescribe mifepristone, she said, because patients will have to make three in-person doctors visits and pay more for a higher dosage. The clinics are also considering a misoprostol-only medication abortion method. In Illinois, operations will continue much the same at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Fairview Heights, Dr. Colleen McNicholas told the Associated Press. The clinic, which expects to serve about 10,000 abortion patients this year, will continue to provide medication abortions through a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol. Thats in part because the state allows doctors to write prescriptions off-label, which gives providers the ability to prescribe a drug in a way that hasnt been approved by the federal government. McNicholas said the practice is common among physicians with drugs that have long proven to be safe for patients. It also gives abortion providers an added layer of protection that the clinic is located in one of the most abortion-friendly states in the country, she said. Providers in many states can still prescribe mifepristone off-label in places where its not prohibited by state law, which means they can offer the drug to patients later in pregnancy than seven weeks, said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia. But he doesnt see how they can legally get around the requirement for an in-person appointment. It will still be available up to and maybe even beyond ten weeks, depending on what your provider feels comfortable prescribing, he said. But whereas before you could have had the pills mailed to you at home ... now, you have to get them in person from a doctor. ___ 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. The standard protocol for an abortion via medication is a combination of two pills mifepristone to end the pregnancy and misoprostol to cause cramping and bleeding to empty the uterus. (Charlie Neibergall / Associated Press) At the heart of the latest battle over abortion access is a federal judges ruling that cites concern about the mental health of women who choose to end their pregnancies. In revoking regulatory approval of the widely used drug mifepristone, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk said the Food and Drug Administration failed to study the psychological effects of its use and ruled that it should be pulled from shelves while the drug agency conducts a comprehensive evaluation of the pills safety. Considering the intense psychological trauma and post-traumatic stress women often experience from chemical abortion, Kacsmaryk wrote, the FDAs omission is bound to cause lasting damage to women who take the pill. A federal appeals court weighed in Wednesday night, preserving access to mifepristone, but only for up to seven weeks of pregnancy and not through the mail. Ultimately, the case may be decided by the U.S. Supreme Court. On a subject as deeply personal as abortion, the balance of risks and benefits varies with every pregnant woman who considers one. But abortions aggregated mental health effects on women who have terminated their pregnancies have been studied extensively and the most rigorous research does not support Kacsmaryk's assertions. Differences in study design, the limits of available data and researchers political leanings have produced a range of findings that encourage cherry-picking. That, critics suggest, is what Kacsmaryk did in citing an odd assortment of studies to bolster his views. With so much excellent scholarship on abortion and mental health, its lost on me why that research wasnt used in the judges decision, said Julia R. Steinberg, a professor of family science at the University of Maryland who studies the interplay between reproductive and mental health. Indeed, several of the studies Kacsmaryk highlighted have been widely criticized for faulty methodology. Among them was a 2011 study of studies that said women who had an abortion had an 81% increased risk of mental health problems, with nearly 10% of them directly attributable to their procedures. After its publication in the British Journal of Psychiatry, no fewer than 11 published critiques cast doubt on those findings by pointing out a raft of "fatal flaws." They noted that half of the 22 papers included in the analysis were conducted by the author herself a serious conflict of interest while several relevant studies by other researchers were omitted from the analysis. Detractors also pointed out statistical errors that falsely implied a causal relationship between abortion and mental health woes. Story continues Also cited by Kacsmaryk was a 2002 study written by David C. Reardon, an associate scholar at the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an antiabortion organization. That study combed through Medicaid records of low-income women in California and found that over eight years, suicide rates among women who had an abortion in 1989 were 2.5 times higher than among women who delivered babies that year. Critics have faulted such medical record studies for drawing a direct line between abortion and suicide without considering other factors that could explain the relationship. Because Medicaid records are incomplete, studies that use them fail to account for the effects of poverty, domestic violence and preexisting mental health challenges, all of which can contribute to unwanted pregnancies and abortions. They're all risk factors for suicide as well. In addition, many such studies compare the mental health of women who seek abortions with women who complete wanted pregnancies two very different populations. In an interview, Reardon said 11 studies have found elevated short-term mortality rates among women who had abortions. Such evidence should be reviewed by the FDA, he said. I realize this is highly contested, Reardon said. But he defended his findings, saying he does not argue that abortion is the only cause of elevated death rates. These outcomes have multiple factors of causation, said Reardon, who also directs the antiabortion Elliot Institute. But abortion is a factor. In his 67-page ruling, Kacsmaryk drew from a published "case study" of women who anonymously shared their regrets on an internet site devoted to "healing from abortion." And he made repeated reference to a 2001 study that identifies ways to reduce patients discomfort in British abortion facilities. That report found that 56% of women undergoing an abortion believed they had seen the aborted fetus during the procedure, an occurrence which can be distressing, bring home the reality of the event, and may influence later emotional adaptation, according to its authors. This observation prompted Kacsmaryk to warn that women who have aborted a child especially through chemical abortion drugs that necessitate her seeing her aborted child once it passes often experience shame, regret, anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and suicidal thoughts because of the abortion. Much of the research cited by Kacsmaryk was published decades ago, apparently bolstering his case that the FDA could have considered it when evaluating mifepristone. But other studies available at the time could have prompted the FDA to conclude that a close examination of abortion's effect on women's psyches was unnecessary. A comprehensive review undertaken by the American Psychological Assn. in 1989, for instance, concluded that severe negative reactions after legal, nonrestrictive, first-trimester abortion are rare and can best be understood in the framework of coping with a normal life stress. Some women experience severe distress or mental illness after abortion, the APA team wrote, but it cautioned that a causal link was not clear. Ten years later, an APA task force expanded on that conclusion. The majority of adult women who terminate a pregnancy do not experience mental health problems, the members wrote. Citing a 2000 study of womens mental health after abortion, the task force said those who do experience depression, anxiety and regret tend to be women with a prior history of depression. Researchers at UC San Francisco launched an effort to generate more rigorous research on the mental and physical health of women after they received an abortion. Funded by grants from private philanthropies including the David and Lucile Packard Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, the Turnaway Study recruited about 1,000 women who had sought care at 30 abortion facilities in 21 states across the country between 2008 and 2010. The researchers made a point of comparing women in similar circumstances bearing an unwanted pregnancy but whose trajectories were different. Some got the abortion they wanted, others were turned away because their pregnancies were too far along to be terminated at the clinic. Some of these women went on to get an abortion elsewhere. Unless they miscarried, the rest carried their pregnancies to term. Whatever their circumstance, the women answered questions about their physical and mental health, childbearing experiences and intentions, history of traumatic life events and a host of other biographical details. Until 2016, those interviews were repeated every six months for five years. The resulting trove of data has generated 52 published studies that allowed direct comparisons between women who got abortions and those who gave birth. Collectively, those studies tell a story of abortion-receiving women initially shaken by their ordeal, but no more depressed or anxious five years later than those who completed an unwanted pregnancy. By the five-year mark, 95% of women who ended an unwanted pregnancy were very confident that they had made the right choice. And women who received abortions were no more likely to contemplate suicide than those who carried their pregnancies to term. Indeed, recent research from the Turnaway Study suggests it isnt so much whether a woman terminates an unwanted pregnancy or carries it to term that predicts whether shell suffer psychological distress in the next two years. A key predictor of whether an abortion-seeking woman develops depression or anxiety is whether she perceives stigma around abortion among her family and community. Weve long lived in an environment that shames women for wanting healthcare, and I worry that the current political environment is just increasing the shame people have for wanting an abortion, said study leader M. Antonia Biggs, a reproductive health researcher at UC San Francisco. Women who worry that others would think less of them may not dare to seek support, Biggs added. The isolation of concealing such a decision can last a very long time, and internalizing feelings of shame can have an impact on your mental health. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Drake Bell attends the 2017 MTV Video Music Awards at The Forum on August 27, 2017 in Inglewood, California Christopher Polk/Getty Images Drake Bell Former Nickelodeon star and musician Drake Bell has been found after he was reported missing in Florida. The Daytona Beach Police Department confirmed Thursday that the actor, 36, has been located and is safe after he was reported "missing and endangered" Wednesday. The Drake & Josh star's last known location was reported to be around the Mainland High School area just before 9 p.m. local time. Reps for the police department and Bell, whose legal name is Jared Drake Bell, did not immediately respond to EW's request for comment. Bell is best known for his role on the Nickelodeon sitcom Drake & Josh, centered on the misadventures of two teenage stepbrothers with contrasting personalities. He starred opposite Josh Peck in the series that also featured Miranda Cosgrove, Jerry Trainor, Nancy Sullivan, and Jonathan Goldstein. His other credits include The Amanda Show, All That, A Fairly Odd Movie: Grow Up, Timmy Turner!, and Superhero Movie. The star has been mired in controversy lately, having previously been sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty to charges of child endangerment and disseminating harmful material to a minor, who accused him of sending "blatantly sexual" communication to her when she was 15. "I responded to a fan whose age I didn't know. When I became aware of their age, all conversation and communication stopped," Bell said during the 2021 hearing. "This individual continued to come to shows and pay for meet-and-greets, and although I was unaware that this was the same person I was communicating with online, that's what I pled guilty to." Bell's ex-girlfriend Melissa Lingafelt (also known by her stage known Jimi Ono) also accused him of emotional and physical abuse in 2020, allegations that the actor has denied. Related content: Drake Bell Michael Tran/Getty Images Drake Bell UPDATE: Police announced that Drake Bell was found safe on Thursday. PREVIOUS: Drake & Josh star and musician Drake Bell has been reported missing in Florida, the Daytona Beach Police Department has confirmed. "Officers are looking for Jared Bell, DOB 06/27/1986. He should be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW, and his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School on 4/12/2023 just before 9 p.m.," reads a post on the DBPD's official social media page. "He is considered missing and endangered." A follow-up comment from the page which bears a verified blue checkmark said the message is "a legitimate post from the Daytona Beach Police Department" and urged anyone with information to contact Detective Jayson Wallace at 386-671-5207 or at wallacejayson@dbpd.us. EW has reached out to representatives for the DBPD as well as Bell's legal team for more information. The 36-year-old actor who starred with Josh Peck on Nickelodeon's Drake & Josh from 2004-2007 was previously sentenced to two years probation after pleading guilty in a case involving child endangerment and disseminating harmful material to minors. "I want to make clear that there were no sexual images, nothing physical between me and this individual. I was not charged with anything physical. I was not charged with disseminating of photographs or images or anything like that," Bell said in an Instagram post addressing the matter. "This is strictly over text messages. And when I was presented with a plea deal, because of the messages, I felt that it was the best way to get this over quickly, and for everyone involved to be able to move on, and for me to get back to doing what I love, and that's making music for you." During his sentencing hearing, Bell's victim released a statement, saying, "He was calculating. He preyed on me and sexually abused me." The victim alleged that he sent explicit photos to her when she was 15 years old. "He is a monster and a danger to children," she added. Story continues In 2020, an ex-girlfriend named Melissa Lingafelt (also known by her stage known, Jimi Ono) also accused Bell of abuse, which he denied. Related content: Kathleen Turner and Michael Douglas star in "Romancing the Stone" (1984), part of the Music Box Theatre's April 13-19 retrospective "Crackerjack Compass: The Works of Robert Zemeckis." (20th Century Fox Film Corp.) (Twentieth Century Fox) Robert Zemeckis? Thats easy. Hes a technological wizard, an unsettling populist, a shameless heartwarmer, a blackhearted satirist, an Oscar winner, a frequent financial and critical disappointment and, to many, an abiding inspiration. All facets and contradictions of this filmmaker, who gave us Back to the Future, Forrest Gump and Flight, who cowrote (with his early writing partner Bob Gale) one of Steven Spielbergs biggest flops 1941, will be reexamined in a near-complete retrospective of the Chicago natives filmmaking career. It begins on Thursday with Flight, a highlight of Zemeckis output this century. The series continues through April 19 at the Music Box Theatre. Advertisement Copresented by Chicagos Oscarbate film collective, the wide-ranging tribute is titled Crackerjack Compass: The Works of Robert Zemeckis. It grew out of Zemeck This, a five-episode Oscarbate podcast hosted by John Dickson and Will Morris. Theyre crazy about the filmmaker, who grew up in a working-class household in Roseland and attended Northern Illinois University. But not in the same way they were crazy about a lot of it when they were growing up. Advertisement Take Forrest Gump, which made hundreds of millions and won big Oscars. Sometime in the pandemic, Dickson was sick and just wanted to re-watch something with familiar beats. I put on Forrest Gump, but as I watching it, it felt like the first time. This time I saw a much more acidic, blackly ironic-comic movie than the one I experienced when I was younger. He texted Morris, marveling at how different it seemed now. Will texted me back, saying, Youre insane. Stop texting me. Ive gotta get some sleep. But eventually, Morris re-watched it and was, in his word, floored. That put the podcast tribute in motion, and a subsequent, successful pitch to the Music Box to put the directors work back on the screen. Nearly all of it, including the USC film school student films that got Spielbergs attention, all three Back to the Futures and the more recent and deeply divisive forays into the realms of digital and motion-capture technology, from The Polar Express (as lonely a movie as Cast Away, Dickson calls it) to Beowulf and Welcome to Marwen. Zemeckis parents werent sold on his plans to conquer Hollywood. There is a healthy cynicism that is bred into you, he told an interviewer years ago, when you grow up on the South Side of Chicago. I mean, you know, my father never, never paid for a traffic violation. It was always fixed. That was the way life was. That kind of Mayor Daley corruption (but) being grounded in the harsh realities of real life helped me a lot in Hollywood. Zemeckis worldview grabbed Dickson and Morris from the beginning and became their guiding light in pulling the retrospectives titles together. All the films, Dickson says, evince a pretty strange and complicated worldview, and that includes the movie that made him bankable: Romancing the Stone. Also: How weird is Back to the Future? Very. So dark, Morris says. Attempted rape. Perilous flirtation with incest, played for laughs. That opening scene, with Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover its seriously one of the most insane scripts in the history of cinema. But it had Swiss watch precision in its plotting, nutty as it was. And it was a massive hit. There are other Zemeckis films you may not know, or may have skipped when they first came out. These are the ones, from The Frighteners to Allied to Welcome to Marwen, that the two-man Oscarbate collective hopes audiences will find and appreciate, if only for their unconventionality within conventional genres. Thats why were doing this, Dickson says. Hes a filmmaker deeply deserving of reevaluation. Advertisement Crackerjack Compass: The Works of Robert Zemeckis runs April 13-19 at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport Ave. All-festival passes $100-$125; individual tickets $9-$12 at Musicboxtheatre.com Michael Phillips is a Tribune critic. mjphillips@chicagotribune.com Twitter @phillipstribune "The Ohio State University, commonly referred to as Ohio State or OSU, is a public research university located in Columbus, Ohio. It was originally founded in 1873 as a land-grant university and is currently the third largest university campus in the United StatesMore Columbus Images" Hal R. Arkes is an emeritus professor of Psychology at Ohio State University. I was a faculty member at two state-run universities in Ohio for nearly 40 years. I saw up-close the necessity for a bill that would encourage intellectual diversity. Senate Bill 83 would do just that. According to one very large survey across 32 universities and six typical departments, the ratio of liberal to conservative faculty members is approximately 10 to 1. This lopsided statistic would be of little concern except that many liberals confess to discriminating against conservatives. YWCA: Ohio's chilling new pro-ignorance bill a threat that will drive off students Opinion: Profs using 'shoddy, ideologically-motivated research' in attack on universities In 2012 Inbar and Lammers published a pair of studies that asked social and personality psychology faculty if they would discriminate against conservative faculty in hiring decisions, grant reviews, paper reviews, and symposium invitations. Despite a very strong prohibition against discrimination and bigotry in their field, these social and personality psychologists manifested significant discrimination in all four categories. Over one in three of these psychologists would discriminate against conservatives in hiring decisions. This is the number who were willing to confess that they would discriminate. The presumption is that many more are willing to discriminate but are unwilling to confess to this unfairness. Thus, the lopsided preponderance of progressive faculty diminishes the presence of conservative faculty at Ohio universities, thereby reducing intellectual diversity. Some opponents of Senate Bill 83 have stated that it impinges on academic freedom. I think that the current situation is a lot more damaging to academic freedom. A survey done by the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has shown that more than 80% of US college students self-censor their political views at least some of the time. Story continues Hal Arkes Thus, we can safely conclude that the current situation is poisonous to the free expression of ideas. Senate Bill 83 does not prohibit teaching factual history, such as Thomas Jeffersons ownership of slaves. The bill would prohibit a program requirement in the Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology that all participants in the program must acknowledge white privilege. Jerry Cirino: Ignore 'hysteria.' Freedoms attack on Ohio campuses. My bill will protect them| Professor: 'We cant take this lying down.' Draconian bill aimed at OSU, other colleges In my opinion political litmus tests such as the acknowledgment of white privilege should not be required in order to participate in any Ohio university official program. About a quarter of Ohios counties are officially in Appalachia. These counties are overwhelmingly white. For example, my wife grew up in Jackson County, which is 96% white. The median per capita income there is $25,843. I think that the white folks in Appalachia would be astonished to learn that they have enjoyed white privilege. If they refused to acknowledge their white privilege, they would be barred from the OSU program that required acknowledgement of white privilege. Is this fair? Senate Bill 83 would encourage other perspectives on the causes of poverty other than privilege and oppression. Biology Professor Steven Rissing in a Columbus Dispatch article pointed out . . . biological insights . . . helped them [students] understand issues of social concern. He feared that Senate Bill 83 would prohibit such a teaching strategy. I respectfully disagree. The bill prohibits inculcating any social, political or religious point of view. Many critics of the bill are attacking a straw man that does not exist. The bill does not prohibit discussion of social issues. It prohibits indoctrination. Steve Rissing: Higher ed bill might as well be called 'Make College Courses Boring Act.'| Biology Opinion: Learning about racism, white privilege can make us better Training in microaggression detection at universities teaches students to feel oppressed if someone asks an innocuous question such as where are you from? This is probably the most common question asked by freshmen on their first day on campus. I suggest that no freshman would think he or she was being treated aggressively when asked this question. Ohio State has multiple courses in microaggression detection. The goals of diversity, equity, and inclusion sound worthy, but the reality of DEI implementation is far more aggressive than the behaviors they are supposed to address. Barring people from asking where are you from? is much more aggressive and intrusive than the microaggressive content of such innocuous questions. Senate Bill 83 does more to promote the goals we all want than does the current situation on Ohios colleges and universities. Hal R. Arkes is an emeritus professor of Psychology at Ohio State University. He testified before the Workforce and Higher Education Committee of the Ohio Senate in favor of Senate Bill 83 on March 29. This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Bill would fight 'indoctrination' on Ohio college campuses| Opinion The Salt Lake City Council is scheduled to vote on a proposed ordinance that would change the process of approving a permanent homeless resource center in the city on April 18. | Ravell Call, Deseret News Salt Lake City's unsheltered population has weathered two winters over the 18 months since Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a temporary ban on new permanent homeless shelters in the city. The ban was issued in October 2021 shortly after she withdrew her support for a proposed homeless shelter in the Ballpark neighborhood. The temporary ban which excluded temporary winter overflow shelters was then approved by the Salt Lake City Council and was meant to last for six months but ultimately was extended. Salt Lake City's Planning Division was tasked by Mendenhall to find a "more balanced path forward." Members of the division were asked to include considerations for districts that already housed permanent resource centers, as well as community concerns. The plan was finally unveiled by the planning division in November in a public information session. The planning division proposed that the Salt Lake City Council adopt an overlay zoning district to regulate future homeless resource centers and homeless shelters. The overlay would be adopted into the zoning code with updates to the existing regulations that apply to homeless resource centers and homeless shelters. What's the difference from the current process? The shift from a conditional use application to an overlay zoning district essentially extends the process and transfers final approval from the planning commission to the City Council. The conditional use process allowed homeless resource centers in certain districts of the city, while the overlay applies to every district except for manufacturing districts. Both processes still require an application outlining the request, along with security and operation plans but the overlay adds additional requirements for approval. Some of those additional factors include: The ratio of homeless-related services proposed in Salt Lake City compared to other jurisdictions in Salt Lake and Davis counties. The anticipated impacts on city services, including fire, police and any other city department that would be involved in providing services to the facility. The anticipated impact on other government entities that may provide service to the facility, if the information is readily available from the government entities. The anticipated impact on the health and safety of public spaces within a quarter-mile of the proposed facility. Story continues The change would also allow modifications now allowed by code to fence heights, landscaping and building design standards. Planning commission recommendations The proposed ordinance has slowly moved through the city's gears, with amendments being made over the months. The planning commission upon feedback from stakeholders made two unanimous recommendations to the Salt Lake City Council during a work session on March 21. The city planners recommended that: The council should expedite review of a homeless resource center overlay petition and make a decision within 90 days of the planning commission's recommendation. Homeless resource centers with 40 beds or less be allowed in any zoning district that allows residential uses through a conditional use process. Both recommendations were met with pushback from the Salt Lake City Council. Members of the council reduced the second recommendation from 40 people to 10 people, a move that was met with an outcry by some community members in a public hearing. "It is very important that we have enough beds and shelter space for our unhoused siblings. The proposal does not even make a dent and continues to exacerbate the issue," said the Rev. Brigette Weier, who volunteered at "movie nights" held at the First United Methodist Church to offer the homeless a place to stay during the coldest nights of the winter. Former Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson also appeared in the public hearing to address the ordinance. Anderson has announced his plans to run in the 2024 election for Salt Lake City mayor and has been a steadfast critic of Mendenhall, who announced her reelection bid on Wednesday. "Our city is at its lowest moral point in terms of its treatment of people who are most in the fight. If I left my dog outdoors to freeze to death, I would rightly be prosecuted, yet our elected city officials have left human beings outdoors this brutal winter to freeze to death and suffer untold tragedies demonstrating an uncivilized cruelty," Anderson said. "For the sake of fundamental decency, stop prohibiting and unreasonably limiting shelters in our community and instead reverse course, provide shelter that is a solution that promotes the interests of residents, businesses and homeless people alike," he added. Ultimately, the recommendation to provide an exception for homeless resource centers with 40 beds or less was completely removed. Shot clocks and hot seats The proposed process and its extended timeline have been a point of concern for homeless resource providers. Those concerns are what prompted the recommendation by the planning commission to expedite the council review of a homeless resource center overlay petition. The 90-day deadline was met with resistance by the council. "I do think there's valid reasons for any organization or person or body to ask us to go faster than we're doing and that's something that I'm frustrated by a lot, but in this case I don't know that we want a shot clock over our heads," said Councilman Darin Mano. "I do feel like, as a council member representing a district with the homeless resource center, I would hate for that decision to be to not be given the amount of time because we're talking about permanent homeless resources." The proposal removes an administrative path to approval for homeless resource centers and instead puts the City council in the hot seat, and the council has seemingly begun to feel the heat given its hesitancy to submit to a deadline. "In the end, these are human beings that need shelter. So in some ways, I wish it wasn't on our backs, but it really is and I I don't see a better solution than what's been presented," Mano added. Sean McMillan of the Salt Lake Valley Coalition to End Homelessness furthered the planning commission's recommendation in a public hearing, encouraging that the entire process have a time limitation of six to nine months to mitigate the challenges of the applicant. The weight of the council's responsibility was also acknowledged by providers in the same hearing. "We want to reiterate our support of a collaborative and multicity solution to meet the needs. And then I also want to recognize the really significant change that this proposal outlines and what that means for you in your role as council members," said Michelle Flynn, executive director of the Road Home. "This really has the City Council in the driver's seat and we appreciate you taking that role." Next steps? The Salt Lake City Council will likely vote on the proposed ordinance in its next formal meeting on April 18. The council faces a deadline of May 3, at which point the proposal will expire and the conditional use process will be reinstated. A return to the previous method isn't opposed by everyone. "The council should let the (homeless resource center) overlay return to the processes established before Mayor Mendenhall made the deathly mistake of placing a moratorium on new or expanded resources for the city's most vulnerable humans. To place the burden of life-saving care of sacred lives in the hands of lengthy bureaucracy is a display of incompetency for the City Council members who have been elected as competent decision-makers," said Carl Moore of Unsheltered Utah. The recent hatching of an African penguin chick is being considered a triumph for the endangered species, an aquarium in Massachusetts said. The chick hatched March 23 at the New England Aquarium in Boston and has been growing quickly since then, satisfying staffers, according to an April 13 statement from the aquarium. This is a huge win for the species, Eric Fox, the aquariums assistant curator of penguins, told McClatchy News in a phone interview. Once the bird is fully fledged meaning its waterproof feathers have grown in it will be examined to determine its sex and join the rest of the colony, Fox said. The chick has not yet been given a name The chick is the fourth generation to be born at the aquarium. Its great-grandmother, a 41-year-old, hatched there in 1981, according to the aquarium. The chicks hatching is part of the African Penguin Species Survival Plan, a conservation effort coordinated by the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. The species, which is native to South Africa, has experienced significant population declines over the past 30 years, and only about 10,000 breeding pairs remain, according to the aquarium. The chick being weighed The primary factor affecting their decline is the migration and depletion of fish, Fox said. With climate change, ocean patterns are changing; ocean currents are changing, so fish populations are changing and moving, Fox said. And so the penguins are traveling further to get to the fish. And through over-fishing and unsustainable practices, the number of fish available is also declining. So theyre working harder to get less fish. While the species is considered endangered now, if current trends continue, it could be functionally extinct by 2035, Fox said. This chick is a huge ambassador for the species, Fox said. And were excited about all the attention were getting because a lot of people dont know that African penguins exist let alone that they might not for much longer. Tourist sees something crawling on leaf during night hike and discovers new species Firefighter training exercise turns into water rescue for a bald eagle, video shows 2,000-year-old altars found under water in Italy belong to ancient kingdom, experts say Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the arrest Thursday of Jack Teixeira, an Air National Guardsman in Massachusetts suspected of leaking classified documents about the war in Ukraine. What are the charges? Teixeira, 21, is charged with the alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, Garland said. He will have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. Teixeira to appear in court Friday: Teixeira is expected to make his first court appearance Friday in Boston, a Justice spokesperson said. Who is Jack Teixeira? Teixeira is an enlisted airman first class, a member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing based in Cape Cod. He is also the leader of an online chat group who has shared an interest in guns and racist memes. Who is Jack Teixeira? Airman arrested in Pentagon document leak worked in cyber systems Jack Douglas Teixeira, 21, who was arrested Thursday and charged in the Pentagon leak case, is an airman first class who joined the Air National Guard in September 2019, according to the Air Force. He works for the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Otis Air National Guard Base. His job title is cyber transport systems journeyman. He has been decorated with an Air Force Achievement Medal. "FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident," Garland said Thursday in a brief news conference announcing the arrest. Bart Jansen Who is Jack Teixeira?: What we know about the 21-year-old Air National Guardsman and suspected Pentagon leaker Pentagon document leak: Here are the biggest takeaways after U.S. military secrets leaked Leaked pentagon documents: What sensitive information was revealed? Police block a road in North Dighton, Massachusetts Thursday. A 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard was arrested in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war. The leaked documents appear to be highly sensitive reports tied to the war effort in Ukraine, including data on military activities like U.S. drone spy planes in the area and Ukrainian forces use of ammunition. They appear to show how the U.S. views Ukrainian forces training and state of readiness, plus the number of Ukrainian and Russian troops killed and equipment destroyed in the ongoing conflict, as well. Story continues More than 100 U.S. documents were leaked in all. The files also contained sensitive, classified information about the war in Ukraine, Russian military activity, China and the Middle East. 'Monsters': Video purported to show beheading of Ukraine soldier draws outrage: Updates Pentagon documents leak 'a deliberate criminal act' Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that a Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents. Teixeira oversaw a private Discord channel called Thug Shaker Central, according to multiple reports. The private chat group was comprised of about 20 to 30 people, mostly young men and teens, the reports say. Stringent guidelines are in place to protect classified information and are under review, Air Force Brig. Gen. PatRyder said. Everybody with a security clearance signs a non-disclosure agreement. The leak, Ryder said, was a deliberate criminal act. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is conducting daily meetings to review the scope and impact of the leaks and mitigation measures, Ryder said. Agents swarm a Dighton, Massachusetts, home on Thursday. Past classified documents leaks Chelsea Manning was also low-level military intelligence analyst and found responsible for a massive leak of secrets. Manning was eventually convicted and sentenced to 35 years for leaking more than 700,000 classified documents, including battlefield reports on Iraq and Afghanistan and State Department cables, while working as an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Manning said the leaks were intended to expose wrongdoing. Her sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama in early 2017, nearly seven years after being imprisoned. Pentagon leak: Pentagon warns that leak of secret documents on Ukraine war could lead to loss of lives This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Classified documents leak: Jack Teixeira arrested - updates Amazon Web Services CEO Andy Jassy. Mike Blake/Reuters Amazon announced on Thursday its generative AI toolkit called "Bedrock." Amazon Web Services customers can use Bedrock to build chatbots, generate text, and create images. The announcement comes after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said the company will "invest heavily" in AI. Amazon announced on Thursday it's releasing an AI platform for businesses called Amazon Bedrock, which will compete with enterprise offerings from OpenAI and others in the generative AI space. Bedrock is a suite of generative AI tools that can help Amazon Web Service customers businesses who run their operations on Amazon's data servers build chatbots, generate and summarize text, and make and classify images based on prompts. Bedrock users can perform specific tasks by selecting from a range of machine learning models it calls "foundation models," such as AI21's Jurassic-2, Anthropic's Claude, Stability AI's Stable Diffusion, and Amazon Titan. A content marketing manager, for example, can use Bedrock to create a targeted ad campaign for a new line of handbags by feeding it data so it can generate product social media posts, display ads, and web copy for each product, according to an AWS blog post. A screenshot from Amazon's announcement of Bedrock. Amazon The announcement comes after Amazon CEO Andy Jassy wrote in his annual shareholder letter that his company is betting big on generative AI. The e-commerce giant will be "investing heavily" in generative AI and large language models LLMs for short, Jassy said. He called them "transformative." "Let's just say that LLMs and Generative AI are going to be a big deal for customers, our shareholders, and Amazon," Jassy said in his letter. As generative AI tools have become more widely available to the public, people have flocked to consumer-facing tools like ChatGPT to start their own businesses. Some firms are even implementing ChatGPT into their operations to boost productivity. Amazon is the latest big tech giant to release generative AI tools alongside companies like Microsoft and Google, which launched their own versions of generative AI chatbots earlier this year. A preview of Amazon's generative AI toolkit is currently limited to select AWS customers. So far, Coda, an AI-document generation firm used by companies like Uber and the New York Times, is using Bedrock to scale its business operations, according to Amazon. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukraine intel leak Illustrated/Getty Images The intelligence community was rocked after hundreds of potentially classified war documents were leaked from the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), many appearing to contain information on American efforts to assist Ukraine in its war against Russia. The leaks, which reportedly stemmed from a closed chat room on the social media website Discord, allegedly contained classified information on a variety of American war subjects, CNN reports, including "topics ranging from the mercenary Wagner Group's operations in Africa and Israel's pathways to providing lethal aid to Ukraine, to intelligence about the United Arab Emirates' ties to Russia and South Korean concerns about providing ammunition to the U.S. for use in Ukraine." The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation to try and discover who leaked these documents. What is most concerning, Axios notes, is that many of these documents "began circulating on Russian Telegram channels," which could give Ukraine's invaders valuable insight into their war efforts. "The Department of Defense's highest priority is the defense of our nation and our national security. We have referred this matter to the Department of Justice, which has opened a criminal investigation," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said, per Axios. What are commentators saying? The biggest takeaway from the leaks is that Ukraine faces serious air defense challenges. One leaked map reportedly showed that "by May, most of Ukraine's critical national infrastructure outside Kyiv and two other areas in southwestern Ukraine will no longer have air-defense cover, with the number of unprotected critical sites jumping from six to more than 40," Simmone Shah reports for Time. The fact that Russia may now potentially be aware of this could be "a nightmare for the Five Eyes [the intelligence coalition of the U.S., U.K., Australia, New Zealand, and Canada]," Helene Cooper, Julian E. Barnes, Thomas Gibbons-Neff and Eric Schmitt write for The New York Times. U.S. officials additionally told the Times that "the scale of the leak...along with the sensitivity of the documents themselves, could be hugely damaging." Story continues In addition to shrinking air defenses, the leaked documents also provided "insight into Ukraine's military capabilities, including battalion sizes, training on advanced weaponry and deployment of heavy combat vehicles, such as Leopard II tanks," The Hill reports. Even if these leaks do not have a direct impact on the war, "It is signaling to Ukrainians, to Russians, to others, 'Here's what we're thinking,'" Kurt Volker, a fellow Center for European Policy Analysis, tells The Hill. Volker adds, "[The leaks] may give some clues as to the quality of our information, where we're getting it from which will cause the people we're collecting on to shut that down." What is next? Even if the culprit of the leaks is eventually brought to justice, there are still significant concerns that Russia could benefit from their actions, as the documents notably "reveal possible weak links in Ukraine's military campaign against Russian forces, warning that Kyiv could run out of crucial air defense missiles by May," NBC News reports. If this scenario rings true, it "could alter the outcome of the war in favor of Russia, military analysts say." As for Ukraine, it will look to push forward in a war that has now been going on for over a year, and one in which the country has kept the fight going against all odds. Ukraine "is betting that a spring counteroffensive can reverse these trends. The [Biden] administration backs that gamble, too," columnist David Ignatius writes for The Washington Post. Then there is the question of just how much of this leaked information is actually accurate, something that remains unclear. It may be possible that "these documents [were] disclosed by the Russians to expose Ukrainian weakness and shatter morale," Ignatius reports. As he then writes, though, "'In wartime, truth is so precious that she should always be attended by a bodyguard of lies,' British Prime Minister Winston Churchill famously said in 1943. But the Ukraine intelligence documents appear to be largely accurate, and they tell a chilling story." You may also like Federal appellate panel blocks part of expansive abortion pill ban, allows some restrictions to take effect Ariana Grande addresses concerns about her weight: 'You never know what someone is going through' Trump's tale about Manhattan court workers crying and apologizing at his arraignment isn't true, source says Perry died at a hospital in Los Angeles, four months after suffering a heart attack Crime author Anne Perry, who, as a teenager helped murder her friend's mother, has died aged 84. The writer served five years in prison from the age of 15 for bludgeoning Honorah Mary Parker to death. Perry died in a Los Angeles hospital, her agent confirmed. She had been declining for several months after suffering a heart attack in December. The author was the inspiration for Peter Jackson's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures, which starred Kate Winslet. At the time Perry bludgeoned her best friend's mother to death, she was known as Juliet Hulme, later adopting Anne Perry as a pen name for her writing career. The murder took place in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1954, and was plotted by Perry and her friend Pauline Parker, the victim's daughter. The details were later discovered in journals found by police. Honorah Mary Parker died after being hit with a brick about 20 times. When the case went to trial, a court heard the two girls had plotted the murder in an attempt to avoid being separated when 16-year-old Perry's parents were planning to send her abroad. The girls wanted Parker to join Perry as she went to live with relatives in South Africa, and thought Parker's mother would try to stand in the way of their plan. As both were aged under 18 at the time they killed Parker's mother, the girls were too young for the death penalty, and were sent to prison instead. Actress Kate Winslet (pictured last year) portrayed Perry in Peter Jackson's 1994 film Heavenly Creatures Perry was born in Blackheath, London, in October 1938, and moved first to the Bahamas at the age of eight before settling in New Zealand. She said on her website that she had been fostered as a child due to illness and missed a lot of school as a result. After she was released from prison, Perry left New Zealand to return to the UK, and worked briefly as a flight attendant. She later became a Mormon and settled in Portmahomack, a small Scottish village. Her first novel, The Cater Street Hangman, was published in 1979. She went on to write a string of novels across multiple series, which collectively sold 25 million copies around the world. Story continues 'Social injustice awareness' One series of books focused on a Victorian police-inspector-turned-detective Thomas Pitt. Another featured a private investigator called William Monk. The most recent novel in the Pitt series was published last month. New Zealand director Peter Jackson dramatised the murder by Perry and Parker in his 1994 Academy Award-nominated Heavenly Creatures. A statement from Ki Agency said: "Anne was a loyal and loving friend, and her writing was driven by her fierce commitment to raising awareness around social injustice. "Many readers have been moved by her empathy for people backed into impossible situations, or overwhelmed by the difficulties of life." Anne Perry, the prolific crime writer with a murderous past of her own, has died. (Liz Hafalia / Associated Press) Anne Perry, a prolific British crime writer with a murderous past that was brought to light in Peter Jacksons 1994 film Heavenly Creatures, has died. She was 84. Perry died in a Los Angeles hospital on Monday, her literary agent, Meg Davis, told the New York Times on Wednesday. Ms. Perrys health had declined since she had a heart attack in December, Davis said. Perrys 1979 debut novel, The Cater Street Hangman, and her 1993 historical mystery, A Sudden, Fearful Death, are among the author's numerous period thrillers. But for nearly two decades of her soaring literary career, no one knew that the crime writer Anne Perry was actually the teenage murderer Juliet Hulme. At 15, Perry served five years in prison for her part in bludgeoning to death Honorah Mary Parker, her best friend Pauline Parkers mother, in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1954. The two plotted her murder, using a brick stuffed inside a stocking, and wrote of the details and anticipation in journals found by the police. Hulme was born Oct. 28, 1938, in London to physicist Henry Rainsford Hulme and marriage counselor Hilda Marion Hulme. As a child, Hulme developed tuberculosis. She told the New Zealand Herald in 2006 that doctors used experimental drugs (now recognized as mood-altering) to treat her tuberculosis. "A long needle in your behind every third morning," she said. "They'd catch you when you were still asleep." She moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, as a teenager and attended Christchurch Girls High School, where she met Parker. The two bonded intensely and planned to move to the United States to become famous novelists. They became so enmeshed that Parkers mother attempted to put an end to their friendship, a move that enraged the angsty and dangerous teenagers. When Hulmes father and mother announced plans to divorce and relocate Hulme to South Africa to live with an aunt, Hulme wanted Parker to join her. Parkers mother refused. Story continues Police found enough evidence to arrest Parker on the night of her mothers death and Hulme the next day. The entry in Parkers diary on the day of the grisly murder was titled, The Day of the Happy Event. The case was sensationalized in their town due to the extraordinary circumstances and the two were found guilty and sent to separate prisons, never to speak again. Hulme spent the first three months of her incarceration in solitary confinement at Mt. Eden womens prison in Auckland. "It was cold, there were rats, canvas sheets and calico underwear," she told the Guardian in a 2003 interview. "I had to wash out my sanitary towels by hand and they put me on to physical labor until I passed out." Hulme was released when she was 21, changed her name to Anne and took on her new stepfather's surname. She said going to prison was the best thing that could have happened to her, allowing her to accept guilt and repent for her crime. Why cant I be judged for who I am now, not what I was then? Perry asked during her interview with the Guardian. I had to give up my past the hardest thing imaginable and begin life in my new identity as Anne Perry, knowing even a tiny slip could unravel everything. The murder carried out by the teens inspired Peter Jacksons 1994 film "Heavenly Creatures," in which Melanie Lynskey portrayed the sullen Parker and Kate Winslet the smug Hulme. In his review for The Times, Kenneth Turan wrote, "This ability to get inside hysteria and obsession, the skill to make us feel sensations as intensely as its protagonists, is what makes 'Creatures' memorable." Heavenly Creatures served as the catalyst for Perry being outed as Hulme. As the movie screened over the summer, New Zealand journalist Lin Ferguson of the Sunday News put the pieces together and revealed Perrys true identity, forcing her to publicly reckon with her past. Hulme slammed Fran Walsh and Jackson, who were nominated for an Oscar for their Heavenly Creatures screenplay, calling them idiotic movie-makers who made a film that painted a "grotesque and distorted portrait" of her. She later recanted her statement and said she was caught up in the heat of the moment. Perrys books grapple with murky morals, explore social and ethical issues and themes of sin and repentance. It is vital for me to go on exploring moral matters, she told the Guardian. Perry moved to San Francisco in 1967 and then to Los Angeles, where she worked as a nanny and began writing the crime novels that catapulted her career. During that time, she converted to Mormonism, appreciating the religion for offering forgiveness of past sins. Perry was a regular on the New York Times bestseller list, and her 100-plus mysteries and thrillers have garnered critical acclaim, selling more than 26 million copies worldwide. She won an Edgar Award in 2000 for her short story Heroes and the Times of London named her one of the 100 Masters of Crime. In 2013 and 2020, she was guest of honor at Bouchercon, the international convention of mystery writers and fans. Of course I would like to be known as a great writer. Wouldnt all writers? she said in a 2013 interview with Open Road Media. Id like to be known as a thinker, a teacher, a philosopher, all these kind of things, but if I could just be known for being kind, that will do it. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Aoki Lee Simmons defended her mother, the iconic 90s model Kimora Lee Simmons after she wasnt included in Vogues tribute cover to Chanels late designer Karl Lagerfeld. The U.S. edition of Vogue is honoring the German designer in its May 2023 cover. It features ten of the models that Lagerfeld loved most, which includes Anok Yai, Shalom Harlow, Kendall Jenner, Liu Wen, Adut Akech, Natalia Vodianova, Naomi Campbell, Amber Valletta, Gigi Hadid and Devon Aoki. The fashion publication unveiled the cover on Tuesday via Instagram. The new body comes as the theme for the 2023 Met Gala is the designer himself. It will mark the opening of the Met Museums exhibition Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty. Vogues May issue is a celebration of Karl Lagerfeld, the caption reads. The same day Vogue posted its cover, Aoki Lee Simmons took to Instagram to give her mother her flowers. Let us not forget the youngest Chanel bride, Karl muse and his face of the 21st century at age 13, she wrote under a series of photographs showing her mother with Lagerfeld. Straight from the suburbs of St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of a single mother and first gen immigrant, the maker of the wayyy, the 20-year-old added. Im always so proud of you mom! Karl transformed me. He made me who I am today, Kimora Lee Simmons told Teen Vogue after the designers passing in 2019. As a young teenager, he pulled me out of a small town in the Midwest and gave me wings to fly. Every other casting agent told me I was ugly and that I didnt have what it took to succeed in modeling. Kimora Lee Simmons says Lagerfeld was one of the first designers to put models of color on the runway. Karl saw things in a radically different way than other designers who werent willing to risk putting a multiethnic girl on the Parisian runway. That happened 30+ years ago, and the need for inclusivity in fashion is still a part of the conversation today! she said. He taught me everything about business, beauty and fashion how to take risks and how to command a brand. Karl made me a better model, designer, creative director and mother, and I am forever indebted to him, like so many. Were going to feel this tremendous loss forever. Mifepristone and misoprostol pills are provided at a clinic in Illinois in 2018. Chicago Tribune / TNS The abortion pill mifepristone can remain on the market, but with tight restrictions that would severely reduce access to it nationwide, a federal appeals court ruled Wednesday night. As part of the three-judge panels ruling, mifepristone could not be sent to patients by mail, and the latest it could be used to end a pregnancy was dropped from 70 days down to 49, or about seven weeks, before many people know theyre pregnant. The case is now likely to head to the Supreme Court. The Wednesday decision came less than a week after a conservative federal judge in Texas ruled to suspend the FDAs approval of the drug, saying regulators had failed to consider "the psychological effects of the drug or an evaluation of the long-term medical consequences of the drug. US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, based in Amarillo, Texas, made the ruling on Friday but put the suspension on hold for seven days in order to allow the Biden administration a chance to appeal. On the same day as Kacsmaryks original decision, US District Judge Thomas O. Rice, a federal judge in Washington state, issued a competing ruling to prohibit the FDA from pulling the drug off the market. That ruling, however, would only apply to the 18 plaintiff states in the case, which include Washington, Oregon, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, and Vermont. A judge ordering the removal of an FDA-approved drug especially one thats been in widespread use for over 20 years is an unprecedented decision, and it was not immediately clear what the two opposing rulings would mean for nationwide abortion access. Wednesdays ruling essentially walked back many changes the FDA had made since 2016 that made it easier for patients to access medical abortion, including allowing abortion medication to be prescribed by providers other than doctors, to be dispensed by mail, and to be used later in pregnancy. The appeals court judges wrote that it would be difficult to argue that these changes were so critical to the public given that the US was without them for sixteen years. Story continues The judges voted 21 to tighten these restrictions. The two who voted in favor, Judges Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, were appointed by President Donald Trump. The one against, Judge Catharina Haynes, a President George W. Bush appointee, supported temporarily blocking Kacsmaryks order until they could hear oral arguments. Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in June 2022, mifepristone one of two drugs used in medication abortions, often referred to more simply as the abortion pill has become more crucial than ever , particularly in states where abortion is now banned or seriously restricted. Of the hundreds of thousands of abortions administered every year across the US, more than half are done by medication, according to a 2022 survey from the Guttmacher Institute . Members of the advocacy group UltraViolet are seen at the American Pharmacists Association Annual Meeting in Phoenix on March 25, 2023. Chris Coduto / Getty Images for UltraViolet Medication abortion is usually carried out by ingesting two pills: mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone and stops a fetus from developing, and misoprostol, which induces the expulsion of pregnancy tissue from the uterus. The drug, which must be prescribed by a healthcare provider, was approved for use in the US in 2000. The Texas judges original ruling stemmed from a lawsuit brought by the anti-abortion group Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which aimed to force the FDA to withdraw its approval of the drug by emergency order. During a hearing for the case in March, Erik Baptist, the groups attorney, suggested mifepristone could be harmful or even deadly. In reality, scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that mifepristone is safe . As of 2018, FDA data shows, 24 people out of 3.7 million have died after taking mifepristone, though their deaths could not be conclusively tied to the drug. Department of Justice attorneys, who defended the FDA, said 99.9% of mifepristone users show no major side effects. Kacsmaryk, who was appointed as a judge in 2019 by then-president Trump, has a long history of staunchly conservative beliefs and rulings. Last year, he ruled that minors in Texas could not access birth control without a parents permission. He has also expressed significant and repeated opposition to the rights of LGBTQ Americans. In a 2015 journal article, he criticized federal protections for LGBTQ individuals, arguing that instituting these laws would give no quarter to Americans who continue to believe and seek to exercise their millennia-old religious belief that marriage and sexual relations are reserved to the union of one man and one woman. In a 2016 media article, he slammed a school district for allowing a trans student to use the bathroom matching their gender identity, and he also served as the defense attorney for the owners of an Oregon bakery who had refused to bake a wedding cake for a same-sex couple. The Supreme Court has not yet indicated whether it will step in to rule on the case, but the DOJ has already said it intends to ask the court to do so. The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Fifth Circuits decision to deny in part our request for a stay pending appeal, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said in a statement on Thursday. 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. More on this Rachael Finkel and other volunteers organize 70 string instruments, which include violins, a viola and a cello for the Violins of Hope project on March 31, 2023, in Northbrook. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Its a cardinal rule of history exhibits: Look, dont touch. Violins of Hope, a touring collection of instruments that passed through Jewish families during and after World War II, has a different philosophy. For the next five months, you wont just see these instruments around Chicagoland in libraries, in classrooms, in Jewish community centers and synagogues. Youll also hear them in the hands of local ensembles, from the Grant Park Festival Orchestra to musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. Advertisement All the instruments part of Violins of Hope are artifacts from the Holocaust in some form or fashion, whether stowed away in hiding, ferried with refugees to parts unknown or even taken into camps, where it was common for prisoners to be forced to entertain Nazi officers. A few, for decades, bore traces of ash in their interior. One was thrown out the window of an Auschwitz-bound transport. To many, these instruments would seem too holy to touch, much less play. Avshi Weinstein, a third-generation luthier whose family started and still maintains the Violins of Hope collection, disagrees. Advertisement Violins can be played. People play violins. And these instruments are made to be played, he says, calling from his home in Istanbul. His grandfather, Avshalom Weinstein, started the collection when musicians in the Palestine Symphony Orchestra (now the Israel Philharmonic) clamored to sell their German-made instruments after the war. The collection started off scrappy, with little documentation and provenance information, then blossomed into a full-fledged collection under the supervision of Avshi Weinstein and his father, Amnon. Since then, Violins of Hope has toured all over the world, from the American South to the lobby of the Berlin Philharmonic. But their stop in Chicago is by far the biggest to date. More than 70 of the Weinsteins 100-plus instruments will be featured in more than 100 different events. The instruments arrived here on March 31 at the Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook; their final engagement, at least right now, is at the Ravinia Festival on Sept. 9, when the Black Oak Ensemble will play music by Jewish composers who died during the Holocaust. Among those helping arrange the instruments was Mina Zikri, music director of the Northbrook Symphony Orchestra. An assistant to conductor Daniel Barenboim, he has long been associated with the former Chicago Symphony music directors West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which brings together musicians from the Middle East in hopes of cultivating cultural exchange between Palestinians and Israelis. When hed heard about Violins of Hopes visit to Chicago, Zikri, a violinist himself, leaped at the chance to feature the instruments in the orchestras season-closing concert on June 4. Not only will members of the ensemble play about a dozen instruments, but soloist Masha Lakisova will also select a violin from the collection on which to play Max Bruchs Violin Concerto in G minor. A provenance label inside of a vintage violin indicates this instrument was played in the Auschwitz Orchestra. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Yaacov Zimermans 1929 violin is included in the Violin of Hope project, March 31, 2023, in Northbrook. The violin is decorated with a large Star of David on the back and four smaller ones on the front. (Stacey Wescott / Chicago Tribune) Antonin Dvoraks Symphony No. 9 From the New World rounds out the program representing, in Zikris words, a striving for a new world where this hate is hopefully gone altogether. Im Coptic, which is a minority in Egypt. I grew up with a completely different narrative about Israel and Judaism and all of that. Its only when I worked with Barenboim and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra that I learned the narrative I grew up with was more political than anything else, Zikri says. This is an opportunity to be introduced to a humanistic message. The Violins of Hope collection overwhelmingly features violins, plus one cello and one viola. Some violins are playable, others with their tops loose or fingerboards askance can only be displayed. One, chillingly, is child-sized; little is known about that instrument, but Weinstein says its far from the only small violin in his familys collection. Advertisement Most of the instruments give little hint of their history, but a few wear it proudly. The back of a violin owned by a prisoner of war bears an ornate engraving of a fortress wall and battlements with the inscription Souvenir de captivite. Several klezmer violins are adorned with Stars of David. In most, if you peer through the instruments F-hole, you can glimpse a precis of the instruments history, provided by the Weinsteins and usually in English or Hebrew. And the collection is growing. In every city Violins of Hope visits, word about the instruments trickles out, and more inevitably turn up. Among the instruments unboxed and examined in Northbrook was a violin turned in by donors just a few days prior, strings askew and still in its original, time-gnawed leather case. Another is still played by the great-grandchild of a boy who narrowly escaped Europe the only instrument that wasnt sold to fund his escape via the Kindertransport. It was a ticket to survival and to creating a generational family. Now, the legacy of music is playing out in the family, says Addie Goodman, president and CEO of JCC Chicago. Nearly every one of these has a story like that behind them. You understand it better than those few pages of a textbook. For a complete listing of performances featuring instruments from the Violins of Hope collection, visit jccchicago.org/violins-of-hope. Select performances: Violins of Hope opening chamber performance and exhibit, 7:30 p.m. April 20 at North Shore Congregation Israel, 1185 Sheridan Road, Glencoe; tickets $75-$150. Musicians from the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, 2 p.m. May 7, Illinois Holocaust Museum, 9603 Woods Drive, Skokie; free. Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, 7:30 p.m. May 13, Ozinga Chapel at Trinity Christian College, 6601 W. College Drive, Palos Heights; tickets $10-$74. Elgin Symphony Orchestra, 7 p.m. May 20, Hemmens Cultural Center, 45 Symphony Way, Elgin; $20 to $65. Northbrook Symphony, 4 p.m. June 4, Sheely Center for the Performing Arts, 2300 Shermer Road, Northbrook; tickets $40-$55. Grant Park Music Festival, 6:30 p.m. July 21 and 7:30 p.m. July 22, Jay Pritzker Pavilion, 201 E. Randolph St.; free. Black Oak Ensemble at Ravinia Festival, 2 p.m. Sept. 9 at Bennett Gordon Hall, 200 Ravinia Park Road, Highland Park; tickets $15. Hannah Edgar is a freelance writer. The Rubin Institute for Music Criticism helps fund our classical music coverage. The Chicago Tribune maintains editorial control over assignments and content. An appeals court has ruled to uphold the 2021 convictions against two former Sebastian City Council members for violating Floridas Sunshine Law. A three-judge panel with the Fourth District Court of Appeal seated in West Palm Beach on Wednesday concluded that an Indian River County jury in May 2021 properly convicted Damien Gilliams, 62, of three Sunshine Law violations and found Pam Parris, 63, guilty of one Sunshine Law violation, court papers filed Wednesday show. In separate opinions, the appeals panel also threw out one perjury conviction against both Gilliams and Parris. Parris, though, remains convicted of one count of perjury. Former Sebastian City Council member Damien Gilliams appeared in Circuit Court on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, for a sentencing hearing before Circuit Court Judge Micheal Linn after being found guilty of violating the state Sunshine Law and perjury. Gilliams was sentenced to more than 300 days in jail and fined $2,500. The charges stem from a scheduled April 22, 2020, Sebastian City Council meeting that was canceled by the city manager. The same night, Gilliams, Parris and Vice Mayor Charles Mauti held their own clandestine meeting in City Hall. On his three Sunshine Law violations, the jury found Gilliams knew the City Council did not provide reasonable notice of the meeting and that he knowingly attended a meeting that was not open to the public at all times. His perjury conviction, which is now vacated, was for lying to investigators. Parris conviction for violating the open-meetings law was on the same grounds; her two perjury convictions also related to statements she made to investigators. Former Sebastian City Council members Damien Gilliams and Pamela Parris appeared in court on Tuesday, Sept. 14, 2021, for a sentencing hearing before Circuit Court Judge Michael Linn after being convicted of violating the state Sunshine Law and perjury. Gilliams was sentenced to more than 300 days in jail and fined $2,500 but is expected to serve a total of six months. Parris was sentenced to a total of 210 days in jail and fined $2,500, however she is expected to serve three months after Linn order their sentences to be served at the same time Assistant State Attorney Lev Evans, who prosecuted Gilliams and Parris, said he expected the appeals court to validate the Sunshine law convictions. These commissioners met in secret to plot to overthrow the mayor, then walked into a dark council chamber where they had essentially a secret meeting without the public's presence and all of it was videotaped, Evans said. That is a very strong violation of the Sunshine Law. Flesh-eating zombie drug: This 'flesh-eating zombie drug' is showing up on Treasure Coast Reducing pollution: Martin County water-quality project to lessen pollution entering St. Lucie River He acknowledged the perjury counts were not as strong. Story continues We still felt like they were viable, and we went forward with those and the appellate court disagreed as to one of the charges, Evans said. Warning flag The appellate opinions, issued by Chief Judge Mark W. Klingensmith and Judges Martha C. Warner and Cory J. Ciklin, came with a clarion call to the hundreds of Florida public officials who are subject to the Florida Sunshine Law. Ciklin, in a separate concurring opinion, said he had developed a concern that some government officials subject to the Sunshine Law may not appreciate the possible criminal penalties that lie in wait for those who carelessly fail to fully comprehend the Sunshine Law and abide by it. He noted that elected officials are provided a Government-In-The-Sunshine handbook issued by the Florida Attorney Generals Office. The scenario in this case, he wrote, is alarming. Three duly elected members of the Sebastian City Council who were not allowed to privately discuss foreseeable government issues, Ciklin noted, did so anyway to take official action at what in essence became a spontaneous, non-announced meeting of the three of them that lasted until the police showed up. That imprudent action was itself a flagrant violation of the Sunshine Law, Ciklin concluded. More appeals expected Lawyers for Gilliams and Parris said both are expected to remain free under the conditions of appeal bonds granted in September 2021 while further appeals are litigated. Parris lawyer, Phil Reizenstein, of Miami, said he expects to ask the district court for a rehearing or ask the entire 12-member panel to take up the case. This is very devastating to her she sought public service for all the right reasons and was admittedly naive about many things, he said. There's several legal maneuvers we have left. The first is to ask the entire fourth district to take a look at the case. For each of the three Sunshine law convictions, Circuit Judge Michael Linn sentenced Gilliams to 45 days in jail and issued a $500 fine. For the perjury conviction, now vacated, he was ordered to serve a 6-month jail term and pay a $1,000 fine. Linn also ordered all of Gilliams jail terms to be served at the same time, meaning a total of six months. For Parris two perjury convictions, Linn sentenced her to 90 days for each count, along with a $1,000 fine; she was ordered to serve 30 days in jail and pay $500 for the Sunshine law conviction. However, Parris was expected to serve a total of three months, unless overturned on a future appeal. Gilliams lawyer Jeffrey Garland on Thursday said the appeals ruling reduces his clients jail term from six months to 45 days, if he is ever ordered to jail. I'm pleased with the ruling to the extent that it resulted in the reversal of a charge of perjury, which we felt was never well founded in the first place, he said. He said he hopes the entire district court will review the case, especially regarding the Sunshine Law. The case, he said, highlights the fact that the Sunshine Law is fundamentally flawed. It's vague; its unconstitutional; and it has to be made up as you go, he said. Melissa E. Holsman is the legal affairs reporter for TCPalm and Treasure Coast Newspapers and is writer and co-host of Uncertain Terms, a true crime podcast. Reach her at melissa.holsman@tcpalm.com. If you are a subscriber, thank you. If not, become a subscriber to get the latest local news on the Treasure Coast. This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Damien Gilliams and Pam Parris to continue appeals, lawyers say Apple refuses to buy Russian tungsten, tantalum and gold Read also: Explosions destroy Russian cruise missile shipment in Crimea Kommersant notes the company made the switch at the request of the U.S. government. At the same time, Apple still receives tungsten shipments from the Moliren plant in Moscow Oblast. Citing a source close to the Solikamsk Magnesium Plant in Russias Perm Krai, the newspaper writes that the company has never interacted with Apple directly. "SMZ's main partner in tantalum, and we are talking about its oxide, that is, a substance in powder form, is the Ulba Metallurgical Plant in Kazakhstan," the source told Kommersant. The report says that shipments of tungsten concentrate to the United States from Russia in 2021 amounted to about $3 million, or 3.5% of the U.S. market. Read also: Kolomoyskiy's metal bars around Ukrnafta office building are cut down Experts say Apple could instead import rare earth metals from China. The latter, in turn, can use Russian concentrates for its own domestic metal production. Read also: Russians stealing metal, equipment from enterprises in Luhansk Oblast, says Hayday Russian companies used to supply the United States with about 200 tons of tungsten and less than 10 tons of gold per year. Now, these volumes can be compensated by Chinese and Indian producers. The main buyers of Russian metals are now Chinese companies, which later resell these raw materials to various factories. Read also: Singapore triples imports of Russian oil following EU restrictions Earlier, NV reported that Apple's computer shipments fell by 40% last quarter, in line with a sharp decline experienced by all major electronics manufacturers. 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 Multiple social media posts are sharing claims that former US president Barack Obama is relocating to Kenya, his fathers homeland. As evidence, the posts are sharing a news article purporting Obama has been deployed as an envoy to the East African country. But the claim is false; the article originates from a Kenyan news site that published it on April Fool's Day, and has since labelled it as a joke. On April 5, 2023, a tweet shared a snippet of an article from a website called Further Africa headlined Former US President Obama to relocate to Kenya in June. The tweet, which has been shared more than 800 times, questioned why the former leader was allegedly suddenly relocating to Kenya, describing the move as super sketch. Why is Obama REALLY relocating to Kenya in June this seems like one heck of a coincidence fleeing the US? the tweet reads. A screenshot of the false tweet taken on April 13, 2023 Similar claims were repeated in this Facebook post. On Instagram, this post alleged Obamas relocation was linked to a corruption case involving Malaysia's sovereign wealth fund, known as 1Malaysia Development Berhad, or 1MDB. The Instagram post came after US actor Leonardo DiCaprio took a stand in a Washington court to testify (archived here) in the political corruption trial featuring a 90s hip-hop star and a disgraced Malaysian financier. Pras Michel, a member of the US musical trio The Fugees, is facing charges over allegations of helping to secretly funnel money from Low Taek Jho -- the Malaysian businessman at the heart of the scandal -- to influence US politics. The Fugees' Michel, prosecutors allege, secretly funnelled money from the businessman to then-president Barack Obama's 2012 re-election campaign via shell companies, hiding the donations' origins. It is illegal for foreign nationals to donate to US political campaigns. Another Instagram post also claimed Obama was moving to Kenya and shared a video from Fox News in which commentators suggested that the media was focusing on former president Donald Trumps recent indictment as a distraction from the corruption case. Story continues There are no coincidences, right? reads a caption on the Instagram video. But the claim about Obamas relocation to Kenya is false. Originally an April Fools joke On April 1, 2023, Kenyan newspaper The Standard published an article (archived here) as part of an April Fools Day joke claiming the 44th US president was deployed as an envoy to his fathers homeland. In the write-up, the Standard cryptically gave readers a clue that the article was an April Fools Day joke by printing "April Fools Day backwards in one of the paragraphs. But it is increasingly appearing that Obama could settle in Nyeri with locals noticing a grand, highly secured, ultramodern block, cryptically labelled 'Yad Sloof Lirpa' whose use the county government could not disclose..., the paragraph reads. On April 2, 2023, the paper added a disclaimer at the end of the article specifying that it was an April Fools Day joke. A screenshot of the April Fools Day story on The Standards website, featuring the disclaimer at the bottom This is not the first time an April Fools Day joke has been used out of context to fuel misinformation online. AFP Fact Check has debunked several including here and here. Reeves Connelly (@reevcon), a 26-year-old architecture and design student based in New York City, has taken to TikTok to share his favorite detail about the forthcoming Barbie movie and it has everything to do with the evolution of Barbies dollhouses. This right here is my favorite detail about the Barbie movie. No, its not Ryan Gosling, Reeves begins. Its actually the fact that the architecture is modeled after Barbie dollhouses. Reeves launches into the history of Barbies house, starting with its first iteration, which was released in 1962. Given its inexpensive composition, this first Dreamhouse was available for purchase for $4.44. Her first house was actually made out of cardboard, so she was going through it, Reeves reveals. But the houses get better throughout the years, so lets talk about them from a design perspective. In 1965, Mattel debuted the Barbie and Skipper Deluxe Dreamhouse. Starting in the 60s, they had her living inside a briefcase, sharing a twin bed with her sister, Reeves explains, referencing the plastic, portable house. In 1977, Barbie leveled up and moved into a three-story townhouse with a working elevator! after Mattel finds out what a column is. Two years later, Barbie moves into an A-frame house complete with an open floor plan. In 1979, Barbie gets a modernist A-frame house and her very own version of a plastic Togo sofa, he says, referencing the creation of experimental Ligne Roset designer Michel Ducaroy. 1986 marked the year when Mattel ushered in Barbies now-iconic pink color scheme. In the 80s, we got some nice skylight action going on, and what probably marks the inception of the pink tax and Barbies signature color, he continues. 1990, on the other hand, was the year Mattel debuted Barbies Magical Mansion, one of its most elaborate Dreamhouse designs to date. In the 90s, Barbie ditches her modernist house and her kitchen, apparently, because who needs that when you live in an estate? Reeves quips. Story continues In the year 2000, Barbie goes Victorian with her opulent lilac digs. Cut to the early 2000s, and Barbie lives in a Victorian mansion, he explains. The kitchen is back, and now theres an elevator to remind us that well never be on her level. In 2008, Reeves notes that the recession hit, but Barbie remained unfazed inside her three-story Dreamhouse, which was exclusive to Toys R Us and featured a toilet that actually flushed. I mean, she got a spiral staircase to match the spiraling housing crisis, he says. The 2015 Dreamhouse was the first to feature a functioning garage door for Barbies car. The latest iteration of Barbies Dreamhouse, which debuted in 2021, is essentially a haven for content creators that features a pool, slide and wheelchair-accessible elevator. In 2021, Mattel drops a Dreamhouse for content creation, Reeves says. I was gonna make fun of this, but Im literally making a TikTok about Barbie houses. I had the 2000s house and i can confirm that it started my obsession with victorian architecture Reeves video, which has more than 4 million views and 572,700 likes in a week of posting, has resonated with fellow Barbie aficionados. Commenters are reminiscing about the Barbie dollhouses they played with growing up. I had a 1 story house in the late 90s so obv my Barbie was poor, one user wrote. I had the 2000s house and i can confirm that it started my obsession with victorian architecture, another replied. i HAD THE 2008 ONE it was iconic, someone revealed. Barbie became the elite, a TikToker joked. Greta Gerwigs Barbie, which hits theaters on July 21, 2023, sees Margot Robbie as the titular heroine who, after being banished from Barbieland, enters the real world in search of happiness. As Reeves notes, the film, with all of its pink and plastic delight, features an impressive architectural nod to previous Dreamhouses and we cant wait to see it on the big screen. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post Architecture student analyzes the history of Barbie dollhouses from a design perspective: Barbie became the elite appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: Woman saves child from being scammed at gas station: Stop sending your kids to the corner store if they dont know how to count This TikTok user recreates looks worn by iconic '00s characters, and she nails it every time: 'okay these slayed so much' These 9 lightweight lululemon shirts keep even the sweatiest men cool and dry in the warmer months Make taco night better this heated, spinning tray holds toppings, sauces and more A Republican election denier has been expelled from the GOP-controlled Arizona House of Representatives for inviting a conspiracy theorist to testify before lawmakers. State Rep Liz Harris, who was only elected in November, was kicked out for bringing disrepute and embarrassment to the House of Representatives. A bipartisan two-thirds majority of the House voted to remove her, with only 13 opposing her expulsion. She is only the fifth member of the Arizona House to be expelled. The desk used by Arizona Republican Rep. Liz Harris at the state Capitol in Phoenix stands empty moments after she was expelled from the Legislature on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP) Ms Harris, who represents the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, has pushed false claims about the 2020 and 2022 elections. Her expulsion came a day after the House Ethics Committee released a report which concluded that she knew or was at least aware that a woman she arranged to testify would falsely claim that Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs and other elected officials and judges took bribes from the Sinaloa drug cartel. Jacqueline Breger, an insurance agent from Gilbert, Arizona, testified that the officials had also laundered money, and claimed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints controls the government. Ms Breger presented no evidence for her false claims, which were widely condemned. This is not personal. This is about standing up for the right, no matter how difficult it is and how much it hurts, Rep David Livingston said before voting to expel his colleague. House Democratic leader Andres Cano, of Tucson, called it a sad and sombre day, but said that Ms Harris had caused real and lasting damage to the reputations of people who did not deserve it. Arizona law states that Ms Harris must be replaced by a Republican, with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors set to choose from a list of three candidates nominated by the GOP in her district. The military command is working on various options for the development of events at the front, so the final plan for the counteroffensive is not known to anyone, Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defence Council, has stated. Source: Oleksii Danilov on the Yedini Novyny (United News) 24-hour newscast, quoted by Ukrinform Quote: "We are aware of all the processes taking place at the front. Any speculation about the plans of the Ukrainian military, including with respect to the counteroffensive, is entirely unsubstantiated. All this will be decided at the last minute, when the final decision is made." Details: Danilov explained that the Ukrainian military has "not just one, or two, or three, or even four options for the development of events at the front," because it depends on many factors that are evaluated every day. Quote: "And everyone should understand that we dont only discuss the counteroffensive. We understand that it is necessary to liberate all our territories [and return] to 1991 borders. Until we do that, until our Armed Forces do that, we cannot talk about the end of the war." Earlier: Ukraines Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that a large-scale counteroffensive by Ukrainian forces against the Russian invaders could begin in the summer. Retired US Lieutenant General Ben Hodges believes that the leak of classified Pentagon documents will not impact Ukraines counteroffensive. Background: On 7 April, The New York Times, citing sources in the White House, reported a data leak as allegedly classified military documents detailing US and NATO plans to build up the Ukrainian army ahead of a planned counteroffensive appeared on Twitter and Telegram. More and more documents have been appearing in the media. Bellingcat investigators found that the classified data was posted on a Discord server called WowMao on 1 and 2 March, although the original source may be even earlier. Associated Press journalists talked to Discord users and found out that the secret documents were allegedly shared by a user with the nickname "Lucca", who may be a "child". There have been reports in the media claiming that Ukraine had apparently changed some of its military plans due to the leak of classified American documents and this has delayed its counteroffensive. On 13 April, the US Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of a man suspected of involvement in the leak of classified information from the Pentagon. According to media reports, Jack Texeira, a 21-year-old air national guardsman of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested in North Dighton, Massachusetts. He is thought to be the leading figure in a small online gaming group where the secret intelligence documents were leaked. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Khazar Elyassnia, left, visits the Hall of Justice in San Francisco before her brother's hearing Friday in the slaying of tech entrepreneur Bob Lee. (Olga R. Rodriguez / Associated Press) The fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee last week reignited a debate over crime in San Francisco, with some high-profile figures decrying the killing as yet another example of rampant, wanton violence. But in announcing murder charges Thursday, authorities said Lee was killed by someone who knew him, not a random street attacker. Nima Momeni, 38, a tech consultant and entrepreneur, was taken into custody without incident Thursday morning in Emeryville, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott announced at an afternoon news conference. Momeni was charged with murder and a special circumstance that he used a knife to kill Lee, San Francisco Dist. Atty. Brooke Jenkins said. Authorities said Thursday that the case is still under investigation and did not disclose a motive. The arrest marks a twist in the much-watched case, which some had used to push a narrative that San Francisco was overrun by random street crime. However, like most homicide victims in the United States, Lee knew his attacker, authorities said. "This is more about human nature and human behavior than it is about our city," Scott said. "You take this out of San Francisco they knew each other. It could've been in any other city. I don't think it would've changed the circumstances." After Lees death, tech executives and other high-profile figures, including Twitter Chief Executive Elon Musk, decried the violence in the city, where progressive Dist. Atty. Chesa Boudin was recalled by voters last year after being criticized as soft on crime and accused of neglecting to address public safety and homelessness. "I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musk's tweet that assumed incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lee's death serve to mislead the world in their perception of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime, as it spreads misinformation at a time when police are trying to solve a very difficult case," Jenkins said Thursday. Story continues Lee, 43, the chief product officer at cryptocurrency startup MobileCoin, was found bleeding near the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge around 2:35 a.m. April 4. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Momeni's arrest was first reported by the news outlet Mission Local, which said police had served a search warrant at an address in Emeryville that matches a business owned by Momeni, Expand IT. The building is a mix of residential and office space, according to Chris Donatiello, who lives there and said many in the building know Momeni. Around 5 a.m. Thursday, at least six police officers showed up at the building. "I saw the police outside all geared up. I didn't know what was going on," Donatiello said. Momeni had seemed friendly and welcoming, Donatiello said, adding that nothing appeared amiss when he saw Momeni after Lee's death. "I saw him last week. Just outside in the parking lot," Donatiello said. "I said, 'Hey, havent seen you in a while. How are you?' and he said, 'Better now that Im seeing you.'" Sam Singer, who works in an office next to Momeni's and serves on the building's board, said they met when Singer was moving into his space a month ago. He called Momeni a "kind, professional gentleman" but noted an odd incident the night before Lee's death, April 3, when a woman entered the building and screamed the name "Nima," according to Singer as well as posts in the building's private Facebook group. Singer said the episode was so unnerving to residents that a complaint was filed about it. Singer said that Momeni worked and lived in his unit, and had been there as far back as 2021. When Singer first moved into his own unit, Momeni left a note for him, welcoming him to the building. "He was very welcoming, kind and charming. You'd never have any idea that he would be accused of such a heinous crime." A neighbor, who declined to give her name, said police officers, including a SWAT team, arrived Thursday morning to arrest Momeni and told residents on his floor to stay inside. It makes me wonder how owners and landlords vet their renters, she said. Im not wild about knowing someone lived in our building who goes around with a knife. Momeni was charged in 2011 in Alameda County with driving with a suspended license and selling a switchblade knife. He pleaded no contest to the moving violation, the knife charge was dismissed, and he was sentenced to 10 days in county jail and three years of probation. He was also charged in 2004 with driving under the influence of alcohol, a misdemeanor. The charge was eventually dismissed. Lee's brother, Tim Lee, said after the arrest that the family was "thankful for the SFPD for bringing this person to justice so quickly." "Hopefully now our family can begin the healing process," he wrote on Facebook. "I also want to thank the thousands of friends, family, and community that have reached out with support over the last week." Bob Lee was chief technology officer at the payments platform Square, which has since been renamed Block, when he founded the company's mobile payment service Cash App in 2013. He lived in Mill Valley, Calif., after his mother died in 2019, then he moved to Miami in October, according to a Facebook post last week by his father, Rick Lee. Bobby worked harder than anyone and was the smartest person I have ever known, Rick Lee wrote. He will be missed by all those that knew him. At the time he was killed, Bob Lee was staying in San Francisco for a few days to spend time with friends after a MobileCoin leadership summit, said his friend Doug Dalton, who met Lee years ago when both were software engineers. "Some people have been trying to frame this as rampant crime," Dalton wrote in a text message to The Times, but "San Francisco is turning around." Rather than a random attacker on the street, the man accused of killing Lee was "in a friend group but not a friend," Dalton said. San Francisco Supervisor Aaron Peskin called Lees killing tragic but said the idea that it was reflective of a wave of violent crime was inaccurate. The reaction by the press and a lot of leaders in the tech community was premature and destructive, Peskin said in an interview. This was not a random killing. The suspect knew the victim. After the arrest, San Francisco Supervisor Dean Preston tweeted that people who tried to exploit this tragedy to stoke hatred of the poor should publicly apologize. That includes not just national and local politicians who made assumptions about the killing, he told The Times in an interview, but also people such as Musk who mischaracterized crime in San Francisco. Within hours of that murder you had people immediately blaming homeless people, talking about out-of-control street crime and drug use and calling for more police, even though they don't have a clue of what happened, Preston said. Where does this even come from? Why is one of the richest people in the world tweeting about a murder in San Francisco and tweeting to the district attorney? After Lee's death, Musk tweeted that violent crime in SF is horrific, and asked Jenkins whether the city was taking action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders. In response to inquiries from The Times about Musks comments, Twitter responded with an automated poop emoji. George Tita, a professor of criminology at UC Irvine, said comments such as Musks are damaging because they alter the publics perception of crime versus the real effect of it. You cant walk those statements back, Tita said. The damage is done. Such high-profile criticism, he said, also tends to get much more attention than analysis of city crime statistics, which show crime is not skyrocketing as critics have portrayed. Some people believe places like San Francisco and Los Angeles are a war zone, when its just not the case," Tita said. "Its very important to not be dismissive and say there isnt crime or we should ignore it. But you have to keep perspective on this. Venture capitalist Matt Ocko, a friend of Lees, tweeted shortly after his death that the criminal-loving city council and Boudin have Bobs literal blood on their hands, charging that city officials enabled a lawless SF for years. Ocko has repeatedly tweeted about crime in San Francisco. On Wednesday, he said residents were experiencing seething, grinding lawlessness and cast doubt on the city's official crime statistics. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Violent crime which according to the California Department of Justice includes homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault peaked in 2013 in San Francisco with 7,064 incidents. That number has fallen over the last decade, down to 4,796 incidents in 2020 before a slight uptick to 4,887 incidents in 2021. The state agency has yet to release crime statistics for 2022. From 2019 to 2021, San Francisco saw a 17% drop in violent crime. Los Angeles, San Diego, Orange, San Bernardino, Sacramento, Fresno and Kern counties all saw increases, according to the Department of Justice. San Francisco reported 56 homicides in 2022, fewer than cities of similar size such as Denver, with 88 homicides; Nashville, with 108 homicides; and Oklahoma City, with 71 homicides. Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto pointed out that the city's violent crime rate is lower than that of other major cities. Overall, if you look at the last five years and 10 years on a longer-term scale, crime is at a historic low, he said. San Francisco has public safety issues like every big city, and its unfairly portrayed as being in the midst of a crime wave that isnt born out of the data. Still, although violent crime has fallen, San Franciscans reported feeling less safe than they did a decade ago, according to the results of a city survey released Thursday. Residents rated the city's safety as a C+, down from a B in 2019, the last time the city conducted the survey. About 63% of respondents said they felt safe walking alone in their neighborhood during the day, and only 36% said they felt safe walking alone at night. In 2019, 85% said they felt safe during the day and 53% at night. In 2013, during San Francisco's peak in violent crime, 44% of respondents said they felt safe alone at night. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/Twitter Heavily armed police descended on a converted warehouse in the Bay Area before dawn on Thursday and arrested an IT entrepreneur in connection with the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee, who was attacked in the early hours of April 4. Lees ex-wife Krista Lee identified the suspect as Nima Momeni, calling him a soulless piece of shit in a text message to The Daily Beast. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott later confirmed Momeni, 38, was booked on a murder charge. We can confirm that Mr. Lee. and Mr. Momeni knew each other. However we will not be able to provide further details at this time regarding the evidence that confirms that information, Scott said. A neighbor at an address tied to Momeni in Emeryville, near Oakland, told The Daily Beast that Momeni was taken into custody early Thursday. The neighbor said he woke up to the sound of loud banging at around 5 a.m. and heard officers repeatedly declare, Open the door. Come out, come out with your hands up. I poked my head out there were bunch of armed guys, three or four armed guys at the end of the corridor. And then they [said], Get back into your room, he said. The neighbor also watched officers search a truck outside the building. The neighbor said he met Momeni after Momeni held the door open for him when he first moved to the building, adding that theyve been good friends ever since. He described Momeni, who was originally from Iran and ran his own IT business, as super sweet, though Momeni moonlighted as a DJ and pissed off all the neighbors playing loud music at all hours of the night and hosting parties. The neighbor said Momeni seemed really unsettled last week, and that he had recently been acting strangely. Just three or four days ago, Momeni allegedly approached the neighbor and asked him if he wanted to travel to Colombia. Two days ago, he randomly tried to gift the neighbor an amazing Eames chair. According to the neighbor, Momeni indicated that he was expecting a visit from the police, though he cast it as related to a conflict with some girl. Story continues The neighbor said he did not know Lee, and speculated that Momeni may have encountered him at a party. He added that he was not altogether surprised that Momeni has been accused of a grisly crime, since hes a tough guy, training all the time, super into weapons. Momeni had a few guns and knives lying around at his bachelor-pad apartment, the neighbor claimed. Alameda County court records obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle show Momeni was charged with selling a switchblade knife and driving with a suspended license in 2012. He pleaded no contest to the driving charge and the knife charge was dismissed. Momenis arrest was first reported by Mission Local, who said Momeni was the owner of a small Bay Area IT business and may have known Lee. The pair were in a car together on April 4 when a fight broke out, ending with Lees stabbing, the outlet said, adding that police recovered a knife after the slaying. Momeni lists himself on LinkedIn as the owner of Expand IT, Inc, a business he says supplies technological services and support. California business records show he founded a company called Expand It Services LLC in 2010 but that its business license was suspended in 2016. He incorporated Expand IT, Inc in 2021. Lee, 43, who was the chief product officer of cryptocurrency company MobileCoin at the time of his death, had recently moved to Miami but was back in the Bay Area for a brief visit when he was stabbed at about 2:35 a.m. in a downtown area studded with other tech offices and million-dollar condos. His death spurred an outpouring of grief from other tech founders and stoked debate about crime in the city. In a statement on Thursday, Lees family described him as a loving father, son and brother, and said his dream was to make technology free and available. Every day around the world, people interact with technology that Bob helped create, the statement read. Bob will live on through these interactions and his dreams of improving all of our lives. The family said they were very thankful to the SFPD for bringing his killer to Justice. They revealed their next steps will be to work with the District Attorneys office to ensure that this person is not allowed to hurt anyone else or walk free. Bob loved being in San Francisco, and San Francisco loved Bob. Walking down the street would sometimes be difficult because every young person with a dream would search him out, and he would make time for every one. Many pointed to Lee's death as proof that crime had grown out of controlbut authorities said that claim was not back up by the facts surrounding Lees death. This is more about human nature, human behavior, than it is about our city, Scott said. Most people who commit homicides know the people that they kill, the research shows that. I do understand how people see and view things [about San Francisco], I see it and read it, I live here but this has nothing to do with San Francisco, this has to do with human nature. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who replaced Chesa Boudin in a recall vote last year after vowing to be tougher on crime, took particular aim at Twitter boss Elon Musk for spreading misinformation about random crime in San Francisco after Lees death. As you already heard Mr. Lee was murdered by somebody that he knew, she said. While were not going to release any additional facts at this time, I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musks tweet that assumed incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lees death serve to mislead the world and their perceptions of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime as it spreads misinformation at a time when police are trying to solve a very difficult case. She urged people to stop contributing to the spread of such misinformation without having actual facts to underlie the statements that we make. Victims deserve that and the residents of San Francisco deserve that. Jake Shields, a former UFC fighter and friend of Lee, told The Daily Beast that he was thankful theres been an arrest made but was surprised Lee may have known his killer. Ive never even seen Bob in any kinds [of] disgruntlement... so shocking to me, he said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A stack of books on a table. Chnit Siri Kan Ti N Cheiynghim/EyeEm via Getty Images Hiram Sims' lifelong love of poetry is now benefiting his neighborhood in South Los Angeles. "Poetry's like a frequency that I can hear above all other frequencies," Sims told The Christian Science Monitor, adding that while some people "just walk right past it," once he hears the sound, "I pay attention." Sims has long been inspired by everything from the words of Edgar Allan Poe to the rhymes of The Notorious B.I.G., and is now a creative writing and composition professor with three books of poetry under his belt. He launched the Community Literature Initiative (CLI) to help local poets polish their manuscripts and connect with presses, and asked his students to read one book of poetry a week. Many couldn't afford to buy the books and found their local libraries didn't have robust poetry sections, so Sims bought 80 books, put them in a suitcase, and started dropping them off to students. One called the suitcase "the little Sims library of poetry," and Sims thought this was an "incredible concept." With the support of his friends and family, in 2020 Sims opened the Sims Library of Poetry, where everyone is welcome. It has comfortable spaces for reading, writing, studying, workshops, open mics, and performances, and is home to 9,000 poetry books, many of them donated. "We are in an area that's very much Black, very much brown, very much working class," poet bridgette bianca told the Monitor. "And that somebody built a library here is just fantastic." You may also like Federal appellate panel blocks part of expansive abortion pill ban, allows some restrictions to take effect Ariana Grande addresses concerns about her weight: 'You never know what someone is going through' Trump's tale about Manhattan court workers crying and apologizing at his arraignment isn't true, source says A two-story mural of Indianapolis poet Etheridge Knight that will grace the wall of the Chatterbox Jazz Club moved closer to reality Thursday when the Indy Arts Council revealed the name of the artist and a rendering of the portrait. Elio Mercado, of Sunrise, Florida, was chosen from a field of 137 artists applying out of 31 states to commemorate Knight's legacy. He will begin painting on the east exterior wall of Chatterbox, 435 Massachusetts Ave., in mid-June. More: 5 big public artworks that are changing the look of Indianapolis A news release noted Mercado's work "combines visual elements inspired by lines from Knights poetry. The murals color scheme takes a cue from the cover of Knights 'Belly Song and Other Poems,' a Pulitzer Prize-nominated work." Elio Mercado, a Florida artist, will paint a mural of Indianapolis poet Etheridge Knight. Indianapolis artist Kaila Austin will assist Mercado on the project. Knight, who became a poet while serving time for robbery in an Indiana State Prison in the 1960s, is the third luminary selected for the City of Indianapolis Bicentennial Legends Series, which has thus far commissioned murals of Marshall "Major" Taylor and Madam C.J. Walker. Knight, who died in 1991, frequented Chatterbox in the late 1980s and taught some of his Free People's Poetry Workshops there. A mural commemorating Indianapolis poet Etheridge Knight will be painted on the east side of Chatterbox Jazz Club. The project will be discussed further at a celebration of Knight's life held Wednesday at Indiana Humanities, 1500 N. Delaware St., from 5:30-7 p.m. The event is free, but anyone interested in attending must reserve a spot online. In addition to the mural, Indiana Humanities and Indy Arts Council also plan to commission a local poet to honor Knight's legacy. Looking for things to do? Our newsletter has the best concerts, art, shows and more and the stories behind them Rory Appleton is the pop culture reporter and columnist at IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and rappleton@indystar.com, or follow him on Twitter at @RoryDoesPhonics. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Etheridge Knight downtown Indy mural portrait revealed Christian, 16, center, attended a hearing with his mother, Ashlee Dennison, after being ticketed for possession of an electronic smoking device at school in Bradley. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune) A collaboration between the Chicago Tribune and ProPublica about police and schools punishing students with costly tickets has won the 2022 Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Journalism. The investigation by the Tribunes Jennifer Smith Richards and ProPublicas Jodi S. Cohen was the broadest look ever at student ticketing; the reporters documented how local police had ticketed Illinois students thousands of times over a three-year period. Advertisement Titled The Price Kids Pay, the series showed how the ticketing process defied the intention of a state law that prohibits schools from fining children as a form of discipline. Instead of levying fines, school officials referred misbehaving students to police, who wrote the tickets for violations of local laws. Often the infraction was as minor as littering or possessing a vaping device. [ Read the full investigation The Price Kids Pay: Ticketed at school ] The fines were difficult to fight and often burdened families with payments they could ill afford. Black students were more likely than their white peers to be ticketed. And the reporters discovered that dozens of school districts had referred students to police to be ticketed for truancy, a practice explicitly prohibited by state law. Advertisement The reporting was based on hundreds of public records requests, and the team traveled across the state to attend ticketing hearings and talk to families. Not only was the reporting dogged and thorough even in the face of great difficulty, it also tied together threads of widespread societal issues, Bingham Prize judge Benny Becker wrote. The story had a clear and powerful impact in changing policy and improving lives of those needlessly suffering, which allowed the story to point toward solutions rather than just piling onto the readers sense of despair. [ Read our latest investigation, Stalled Justice, on the dysfunctional Cook County criminal courts ] Among the many actions prompted by the investigation: The state superintendent immediately urged schools to cease working with police to ticket students, and many districts changed their policies. Not all school officials have stopped the practice, however, and this year legislators introduced a bill that would make it illegal. Another Bingham Prize judge, Julia Lurie, wrote: To me, this is accountability reporting at its finest: It shows the immense harm caused by a common, predatory, previously unexamined practice, and it provoked an immediate response. The team behind the project included Tribune photojournalist Armando Sanchez, ProPublica illustrator Laila Milevski and ProPublica news apps developer Ruth Talbot, who built a search tool so members of the public could explore ticketing practices at different school districts. It was edited by the Tribunes Kaarin Tisue and ProPublicas Steve Mills and George Papajohn. The Worth Bingham Prize, presented annually by the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University, honors investigative reporting of stories of national significance where the public interest is being ill-served. The Price Kids Pay previously received the 2022 IRE Award in the large print/online division from the nonprofit organization Investigative Reporters and Editors. JAKARTA (Reuters) - The chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) said on Thursday the bloc "strongly condemns" a military air strike this week on a village in Myanmar, which is reported to have killed up to 100 people including civilians. Tuesday's attack in the Sagaing area was the deadliest in a recent string of military air attacks, with children reported to be among the dead, and has drawn global condemnation. Myanmar has been in chaos since a military coup in early 2021 that upended a decade of tentative democratic reform, with a bloody crackdown on protests giving rise to an armed struggle against the junta. "All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians," chair Indonesia said in a statement. "This would be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustainable peaceful solution in Myanmar," it said. ASEAN agreed a peace plan with the junta in 2021 but members have been increasingly frustrated by the military's failure to halt offensives and open dialogue with the resistance movement backed by ethnic minority armies and a shadow National Unity Government (NUG), which the junta has declared a "terrorist" movement. A junta spokesperson said Tuesday's attack targeted a ceremony held by the NUG for their armed People's Defence Force, adding the attack aimed to restore peace and stability in the region. (Reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Ed Davies) Alaska Airlines canceled about two dozen flights in its namesake state Thursday because of an ash cloud from a volcano in Russia, the Seattle-based airline said in a statement. The ash cloud is from Shiveluch Volcano, the airline said. About 23 flights to, from and within Alaska were canceled as of early Thursday. We continue to monitor the ash cloud, and depending on its location, movement and timing, we might need to cancel additional flights, the statement said. It encouraged travelers to check the status of their flights online. Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka Peninsulas most active volcanoes, started erupting early Tuesday, spewing ash more than 300 miles (500 kilometers) northwest. Several Russian villages were covered in grey volcanic dust in the largest fallout in nearly 60 years. On Wednesday, the eruption sent an ash cloud more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) into the air. The volcano is located about 1,772 miles (2,772 kilometers) east of Anchorage. Volcanic ash is angular and sharp and has been used as an industrial abrasive. The powdered rock can cause a jet engine to shut down. [Source] Asians with darker skin tones are more likely to experience bias, even from their own families, according to a study from the King's College London. Dr. Aisha Phoenix of Kings College London and Dr. Nadia Craddock of the University of the West of England interviewed 33 people aged 19 to 60, including 11 Black Caribbean, six Black African, four South Asian, one Chinese and 11 of mixed race, from January to June 2019 as part of a U.K. Skin Shade study. The researchers initially aimed to study how people of color with darker skin and features face more discrimination than those who share features associated with white people. The study unexpectedly found that Asians and Black people with darker skin tones may be stigmatized by lighter-toned relatives. More from NextShark: Japanese World Cup team praised for tidying up locker room after victory over Germany Families play a central role in shaping ideas about skin shade, Phoenix said in a university release. Within families, children with light skin were often favored, while those with dark skin were stigmatized and subjected to insults and bullying. While colorism is a form of prejudice among an ethnic or racial group, researchers have not identified the discrimination within households until now. The internalized colorism within some families contributes to the prejudice. However, some families resist colorism and work to instill positive ideas about dark skin or all skin shades, Phoenix said. More from NextShark: A 260,000-square-foot Vietnamese indoor market modeled after a Ho Chi Minh City landmark planned for Bay Area The 33 participants reportedly included doctors, social workers, students, civil servants, an accountant and a train driver. A 31-year-old South Asian woman told Phoenix: I have a few friends who are dark-skinned and Asian and they attribute as one of the reasons theyre not married to their skin color because the traditional way of arranged marriages is your mum would get a call from the grooms mom and one of the first questions they ask is What is your daughters skin color? More from NextShark: Elderly Asian man allegedly punched in face and his dog almost lit on fire in SF attack Story continues Sometimes extended family would compare and ask questions like, How come your sister is so much lighter than you? And I remember somebody asked me, How come youre darker than your sister? Do you not scrub your skin properly in the shower?' a 31-year-old Pakistani woman recalled. According to Phoenix, some families reflected prejudices common in wider society so darker skin was imbued with negativity. Other participants also discussed members of their families or relatives favoring lighter skin tones, including a 43-year-old South Asian woman who said: More from NextShark: How NCAA Basketball Player Ben Li Silences Racist Trash-Talkers on the Court Being younger, one of the biggest issues I had was with my mom always going on about how its better to be fairer, youll only find a boy if youre fairer and youre only beautiful if youre fair. And I think that really got to me. How do you interpret that when youre a young child? We grew up in an environment where even we ourselves felt that it was nicer to be lighter. I can remember my grandmother making references to lighter people being more beautiful. Its what we are taught from when youre younger, a 45-year-old Black man explained. But for one 32-year-old Black woman, she said she had been taught since childhood to be proud and understanding why colorism and racism exists and being proud of the amazing things that our culture has done. [Source] The attorney of the Irvine dermatologist accused of poisoning her husband with drain cleaner claimed that she was trying to address an ant infestation in their home by pouring the liquid into a cup. Dr. Yue Emily Yu, 45, was arrested on Aug. 4, 2022, on suspicion of poisoning her radiologist husband, Dr. Jack Chen, by pouring Drano liquid cleaner into his lemonade tea over a period of three days in July 2022. When Chen grew suspicious of the strange taste in his tea, he set up hidden cameras in their kitchen in April of last year. By July, he was able to submit three videos captured by the camera that allegedly support his claim that his wife had been poisoning him. Yu was charged with three felony counts of poisoning and one count of domestic battery. More from NextShark: 'Maybe he realized how stupid it was halfway in': Hit-and-run driver in Japan paints his vehicle orange to avoid arrest On July 11, July 18, and July 25, 2022, video captured Yue Yu pouring a substance out of a bottle of liquid drain cleaner into her husband's tea that was left on the counter, the Orange County District Attorneys office said in a news release. Her lawyers, Scott Simmons and David Dworakowski, claimed that her husband set her up and that the footage is misrepresented. Dr. Chen basically set her up and put spy cameras or hidden cameras in the kitchen to catch her doing that. Then he claimed he was poisoned, Simmons told ABC 7. She does pour the Drano in the cup three times to kill the ants. Thats not disputed. She absolutely poured the Drano in the cup. More from NextShark: Woman unleashes racist tirade at Asian woman; throws rocks at Asian journalist after being confronted Dworakowski said the former couple used unconventional methods to control the pests, explaining that Yu poured Drano and sugar in the drink to attract the ants and hoped that the liquid would drown them. Obviously, the allegations are disputed. Dr. Yu has been a physician for many years, has never been in trouble before and is a loving mom. We believe there is a sinister motive on the part of her ex-husband to take advantage of her in their divorce case. While prosecutors are making it out like this video of Emily is a smoking gun, the reality is she was trying to attract the ants into the glass so they would drown. Story continues Dworakowski noted that it was odd how Chen surrendered the footage to his divorce attorney before going to the police. More from NextShark: NYC Mayor Announces Initiative, Partnership with Six Organizations to Tackle Hate Crimes Previously, Chens attorneys argued that she had been using the drain cleaner for kitchen plumbing issues. On Tuesday, the two appeared in court for their divorce hearing. In Chens divorce filings, he said he was diagnosed with two stomach ulcers, gastritis, and esophagitis in March and April. More from NextShark: Fashion Designer Eugenia Kim Accused of Mistreating Black, POC Employees Chen previously filed for an emergency restraining order, claiming that he and their two children are victims of physical and emotional abuse. While Judge Thomas Lo extended Chens restraining order against his wife, attorneys on both sides are still discussing Chens request for spousal and child support. In response to Yus lawyers, Chen's attorney, Steve Hittelman, said that his client did not have an ant problem in their household. This is the first time hes even heard of using Drano in a cup that somebody was drinking from to somehow keep ants away from someone, Hittelman told Insider. Hittelman believes that Yu did not want to kill her husband, but rather wanted to make him suffer. What she did was diabolical. She inserted herself into his morning routine so smoothly. We don't know how long it took him to realize he was being poisoned, Hittelman told ABC 7. Yu is scheduled to be arraigned on April 18. If she is convicted on all counts, Yu may face up to eight years in prison. In the fall of 2019, Rene Gomez and Cecilia Carmona launched La Michoacana Movil, an eye-catching pink food truck serving authentic fruit-based frozen treats inspired by Gomezs native home, Michoacan on the western coast of Mexico. These included paletas, nieves de leches and aguas frescas. About two years ago, they shut up shop and drove their food truck away from the corner of Chapman Highway and West Blount Avenue. Since then the couple, along with their son, also called Rene, have been hard at work opening their own ice cream shop. Cecilia Carmona said that they spent two years looking for a building. They rented and started remodeling a smaller shop farther south on Chapman Highway, but unbeknownst to them, the building was condemned, and their plans fell through. Finally, they found an alternative space at 2623 Chapman Highway and spent several months fixing everything from the walls to the ceilings of their current location, which was once a labor exchange office. Genesis Galvez enjoys her ice cream at La Michoacana Movil in South Knoxville on March 31. La Michoacana Movil officially opened on Oct. 14, 2022. Instead of being Tex Mex, we tried to add more authentic Mexican snacks so people can try them, said Rene Gomez, Carmona and Gomezs son. We added Esquite (street corn) crepes, and waffles. All of these are snacks you would get from street vendors in Mexico; there is nothing comparable around here. Instead of being Tex Mex, we tried to add more authentic Mexican snacks so people can try them, said Rene Gomez, Carmona and Gomezs son. We added Esquite (street corn) crepes, and waffles. All of these are snacks you would get from street vendors in Mexico; there is nothing comparable around here. New on the expanded menu are chicharron preparado, fried pork skins topped with cabbage, tomatoes, sour cream cotija cheese, avocados and hot sauce. Churritos are crispy corn snacks flavored with spicy chili lemon seasoning and hot sauce. Tortas are a meat sandwich similar to a burger served in a bun with toppings. Story continues The crepes are also served a little differently. We like to put Nutella, strawberries, sweetened condensed milk and a scoop of ice cream, said Gomez. The couple used to make their ice cream and popsicles at home, but the increased space means they can make them in store and offer more flavors. There are 24 flavors of ice cream in the dipping cabinet, but they rotate through 45 flavors on their menu, and there are 98 flavors of the popsicles. Authentic Mexican snacks hang with familiar brand names at La Michoacana Movil. According to Gomez, the most popular items on the menu are the banana splits, milkshakes and the gaspacho, a famous fruit cocktail from the state of Michoacan made with pineapple, mango, jicama and watermelon marinated in orange juice and topped with cottage cheese and tajine, a squeeze of lime and chamoy sauce. Chamoy is a Mexican condiment made from sweet, dried apricots, spicy chili de arbol, salty tajin seasoning, and sour hibiscus flowers. At the moment, La Michoacana Movil is open from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. seven days a week, and Gomez said over the summer they may stay open as late as 11 p.m. He added that the afternoons and particularly the weekends are their busiest times. We tried to offer a place with plenty of seats for people to sit and enjoy their food with family, said Gomez. Orders can be called in advance, and if they are having a party and give us up to two weeks notice they can choose ice cream, popsicles or snacks and we will prepare them. Due to the cold weather, the original La Michoacana Movil pink truck that started it all has been parked next to the ice cream shop. Probably over the summer we will start doing events and going to high schools again, said Gomez. This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: South Knoxville shop La Michoacana has Mexican snacks, frozen treats Federal authorities in North Carolina will not pursue federal charges in the death of Shanquella Robinson, a 25-year-old woman found dead in Mexico during a trip with friends in October. From Robinsons family to Black social media users, many have demanded answers and prosecution consistently in the months since the Charlotte woman was found dead at a villa in Cabo San Lucas on Oct. 29. But on Wednesday, officials with the U.S. attorneys office in the Western District of North Carolina announced that, after a lengthy investigation with the Middle District of North Carolina, they concluded that federal charges cannot be pursued. As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed, authorities said in a news release. Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinsons family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution. Shanquella Robinson. (via Facebook) Attorneys for Robinsons family, Ben Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson, said in a statement Wednesday that there were differences between the U.S. and Mexico autopsies in Robinsons death. These discrepancies can be credited to the delay in investigation by U.S. officials, who conducted a second autopsy once Shanquellas body was embalmed, the attorneys said. When an investigation is delayed, the hard evidence to support prosecution diminishes, but in this case, that is due to the U.S. not considering this case to be a high priority. The news comes weeks after Robinsons legal team urged the U.S. government in a letter to intervene in the case and expedite the prosecutorial process. Robinsons relatives have long suspected foul play in her death. Robinson was vacationing with six friends at the Mexican resort, arriving on Oct. 28. She was dead less than 24 hours later with friends claiming she had alcohol poisoning, the family said. Robinsons body had bruises and cuts, with knots present on her face. The necropsy report by the Baja California attorney generals medical examiner, made public by Ben Crump, one of the familys attorneys, labeled Robinsons death as violent. Story continues Posts about Robinsons death went viral on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. People have also shown their support beyond the social media outcry. A fundraiser for the family has brought in more than $363,000. Hundreds of family members, friends and supporters gathered for Robinsons funeral in November. Federal authorities said Wednesday that they usually dont issue public statements regarding the status of an investigation, but due to the public concern and the circumstances of Robinsons death, they wanted to reassure the public that they extensively reviewed the available evidence. The death of Ms. Robinson has been incredibly difficult for her family and the community, the news release said. As for the family, the attorneys said they havent lost hope in the case. While it is discouraging for the loved ones of Shanquella that their own Department of Justice will not be pursuing charges against Shanquellas aggressor, it is our stance that justice is still possible for her death, they said in the statement. Robinsons family did not respond to a request for comment. Salamondra Robinson said at a news conference last month that she was still struggling to cope with her daughters death. Its still like a nightmare, she said. I dont know how anyone could have done her like that. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com The likely development of El Nino should bring a "slightly below-average" Atlantic hurricane season, top forecasters announced Thursday at a hurricane conference in Texas. But the forecast also notes a high level of uncertainty. Meteorologists from Colorado State University predict a total of 13 tropical storms will form, of which six will become hurricanes. A tropical storm becomes a hurricane when its sustained winds reach 74 mph. A typical year averages about 14 tropical storms, with seven spinning into hurricanes, based on weather records that date from 1991 to 2020. This forecast covers storms that form in the Atlantic basin, which includes the Caribbean Sea and the Gulf of Mexico. What role does El Nino play? Strong westerly winds spurred on by El Nino a natural climate pattern marked by warmer-than-average Pacific Ocean water tend to prevent nascent Atlantic storms from developing. This occurs because those increased upper-level winds can tear apart hurricanes as they try to form. In its latest forecast released Thursday, the Climate Prediction Center issued an "El Nino watch," noting that El Nino could appear as soon as May, with a 62% chance it forms at some point between May and July of this year. How many major hurricanes? Phil Klotzbach, Colorado State meteorologist and lead author of the report, said that of the six predicted hurricanes, two should be major hurricanes category 3, 4 or 5 with sustained wind speeds of 111 mph or greater. Wild winds: What is the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind speed scale? Breaking down the hurricane category scale More uncertainty than normal Given the conflicting signals between a potentially robust El Nino and an unusually warm tropical and subtropical Atlantic, the Colorado State team stresses that there is more uncertainty than normal with this outlook. Our analog seasons exhibited a wide range of outcomes, from below-normal seasons to hyperactive seasons, said Klotzbach, a research scientist at CSU's Department of Atmospheric Science. This highlights the large uncertainty that exists with this outlook. Story continues Colorado State University meteorologist Michael Bell, a co-author of the forecast, cautioned coastal residents to take precautions whatever the forecast. It takes only one storm near you to make this an active season for you, Bell said. What is storm surge? Explaining a hurricane's deadliest and most destructive threat What about landfall hurricanes? The report also includes the probability of major hurricanes making landfall in the U.S.: 44% for the entire U.S. coastline (average from 1880 to 2020 is 43%) 22% for the East Coast, including the Florida peninsula (average from 1880 to 2020 is 21%) 28% for the Gulf Coast from the Florida Panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas (average from 1880 to 2020 is 27%) Destruction caused by Hurricane Ian along Matanzas Pass in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., in October 2022. Who looks at this forecast? The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30, though storms sometimes form outside those dates. Insurance companies, emergency managers and the media use the forecasts to prepare Americans for the year's hurricane threat. The team's annual predictions provide a best estimate of activity, not an exact measure, according to Colorado State. The university, under the direction of meteorologist William Gray, was the first group to predict seasonal hurricane activity in the mid-1980s. Gray died in 2016. What is a flash flood watch or warning? Here's what to know about this deadly weather hazard What do other forecasters say? Meteorologists at AccuWeather, in a forecast released last week, predicted that 11 to15 named tropical storms would develop in the Atlantic basin in 2023, of which four to eight would be hurricanes. Federal scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration will release their forecast in May. According to the National Hurricane Center, the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season will be Arlene, followed by: Bret Cindy Don Emily Franklin Gert Harold What about Pacific hurricanes? The eastern Pacific hurricane season starts May 15. Eastern Pacific hurricanes seldom have a major impact on the U.S. but can hit the west coast of Mexico. Neither Colorado State nor AccuWeather made a prediction about the eastern Pacific season, but El Ninos tend to increase activity in that basin. What happened last year? According to Colorado State University, the 2022 hurricane season will be most remembered for its two major hurricanes: Fiona and Ian. Fiona brought devastating flooding to Puerto Rico before causing significant storm surge, wind and rain damage in the Atlantic Provinces of Canada as a post-tropical cyclone. Ian made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in southwest Florida, causing more than 150 deaths and $113 billion in damage. Because of the destruction they caused, both names have been retired. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colorado State 2023 hurricane forecast: Quieter season possible On Thursday, 13 April 2023, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry condemned the execution of a Ukrainian prisoner of war by the Russians, a video of which has been going viral on social media for a few days. Source: Moldovas Foreign Ministry, reported by European Pravda Quote: "The recently posted video of the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war by the Russian military has shocked everyone. We strongly condemn this barbaric act, which is yet another serious violation of international humanitarian law." Details: The ministry has stressed the need to investigate all the atrocities committed by Russia against Ukraine and bring the criminals to justice. "We continue to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, supporting the initiative to establish a special tribunal for crimes of aggression against Ukraine," the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Moldova added. Background: Since Tuesday, a video of the Russian military supposedly beheading a Ukrainian prisoner of war has been circulated on Russian Telegram channels. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called on the Office of the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court to pay attention to the video, and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba compared Russia to ISIS and urged the UN to exclude Russia from the UN Security Council. The European Commission stressed that the video of the execution of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, if it is proved to be real, once again shows the Russian Federation's contempt for international law and that those involved in it should not go unpunished. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Former Attorney General Bill Barr will help lead a slew of legal challenges to Biden administration rules at the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce, the GOP-aligned business group announced Thursday. Barr will chair an advisory board at the AmFree Chambers newly launched Center for Legal Action, which aims to block federal regulations opposed by businesses. Hell help the group develop legal strategies and recruit legal talent to the board. Overreaching federal bureaucracies are drowning American businesses under an unprecedented wave of burdensome regulation that is smothering our nations economic growth, innovation and competitiveness, Barr said in a statement. The AmFree Chamber, launched last May by former Iowa Gov. Terry Branstad (R), is billed as a conservative alternative to existing business lobbying groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which fell out of favor with some House GOP leaders after working closely with them to pass tax cuts in 2017. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) said in a statement that the AmFree Chambers legal effort is welcome news for House Republicans. He pledged to work with the group in fighting Biden administration rules. The AmFree Chamber plans to challenge several Environmental Protection Agency rules governing air quality, greenhouse gas emissions and toxic substances, and a Securities and Exchange Commission rule mandating that companies disclose their climate-related risks, among other regulations. Companies and business groups often sue to take down federal regulations that would hurt their industry. Theyve found success in blocking numerous Biden administration rules, including a proposal to expand protections for U.S. water bodies. The U.S. Chamber released a report Tuesday showing that corporations are increasingly concerned about regulations and other policy changes as threats to their profit margins. Barr, who served as attorney general under President Trump and President George H. W. Bush, has emerged as a prominent conservative critic of Trump. He said this week that Trump is the GOP candidate most likely to lose to President Biden in the 2024 election. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The attack took place at the Bathinda Military Base in Punjab Police in India are searching for unidentified shooters after a firing at a military base in the border state of Punjab killed four soldiers. The soldiers were shot at the military station in Bathinda on Wednesday. Police say the incident, which took place in the base's barracks, was "not a terror attack". No arrests have been made yet, but the army said it had found an assault rifle believed to have been used in the firing. Ajay Gandhi, a senior police officer from Bathinda who is heading the investigation, told Reuters that a police complaint has been filed based on a statement of an army personnel, which refers to the involvement of "two unknown people" in the attack. A search operation was underway all of Wednesday as authorities sealed the military station, set up barricades and deployed drones to locate the attackers. Located about 280km (175 miles) from capital Delhi and 100km east of the border with Pakistan, the Bathinda Military Station is one of the largest army bases in India. The base serves as a vital operational and logistics base for Indian army units in Punjab and parts of the neighbouring Rajasthan state. What happened? The army said the attack occurred 4:35am (2305 GMT Tuesday) on Wednesday when the soldiers were sleeping in their rooms. The four soldiers succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the firing. A combing operation was underway all day on Wednesday as the army cantonment was sealed A police investigation was opened based on the statement given by Major Ashutosh Shukla, who said he had caught a glimpse of the shooters. In his statement, Major Shukla said he rushed to the spot after a soldier informed him that there had been a firing in the officers' mess. He said he saw two men "of medium height and good build" armed with a rifle and an axe fleeing from the site of the attack. The men wore kurta-pyjamas and had their faces covered with a cloth, he said in the complaint. At the barracks, Major Shukla said he saw the bodies of two soldiers in one room and two more bodies in the adjacent room. All four of them had bullet marks, he said. Story continues "We also found that a large number cartridges of the Insas rifle scattered in the rooms, which belongs to an open-ended Insas rifle," he said in the complaint, adding that one such rifle had been reported missing from their unit two days previously. On Wednesday evening, the army said it had recovered the missing rifle along with its magazine and that it would be subjected to a forensic analysis. "The number of rounds (unused) in the weapon will only be available after forensic analysis. The joint investigation with Punjab police is in progress," it said. What is the police saying? The Punjab Police said that the incident was not a terrorist attack but a fratricidal incident. On Wednesday, Punjab minister Anmol Gagan Maan told reporters that the firing was "a matter of an internal fight". Police said the bodies of the four soldiers were sent to the Bathinda civil hospital for an autopsy. Mr Gandhi from Bathinda police told Reuters that the search for the assailants was still underway. "The attackers had only one rifle. The weapon carried by the other attacker is still being investigated," he added. Meanwhile, the army on Thursday said that another soldier at the military station had died of a gunshot wound at around 4.30 pm on Wednesday. However, it said the incident was not related to the shooting and "purportedly seemed to be of attempted suicide". BBC News India is now on YouTube. Click here to subscribe and watch our documentaries, explainers and features. Read more India stories from the BBC: A federal appeals court ruled late Wednesday that the abortion pill mifepristone can remain on the market for now, but has limited its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy. The three-judge panels 2-1 decision also prohibited mailing the widely-used abortion medication. The fate of the abortion medication has been uncertain after a Texas judge on Friday ordered a hold on federal approval of mifepristone, which the Food and Drug Administration has permitted for use in the United States since 2000. The appeals court decision Wednesday will temporarily preserve partial-access to the medication as the case moves through the courts. Advertisement Local reproductive rights proponents stressed that medication abortions remain legal and available in Illinois as court challenges continue. One thing is clear abortion remains legal and available in Illinois, including for those using mifepristone, said Ameri Klafeta, director of the Womens and Reproductive Rights Project at the ACLU of Illinois, in a written statement. If someone has an appointment scheduled, they should keep that appointment. Advertisement Medication abortions, which account for more than half of all pregnancy terminations in the United States, typically consist of two drugs: First the patient takes a dose of mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone, to stop the pregnancy from growing. About 24 to 48 hours later, a second medication called misoprostol is taken to cause the uterus to cramp and bleed, expelling the pregnancy. The two-drug regimen has been approved for used in the United States through the 10th week of pregnancy; the appeals court decision curbs this to seven weeks gestation, significantly curtailing its use. With the future of the mifepristone in limbo, some Illinois clinics have been preparing for an alternative option to continue offering medication abortion, the most common method to terminate pregnancies nationwide. In the event mifepristone cant be used, Planned Parenthood of Illinois officials say their clinics will continue offering medication abortions with multiple doses of misoprostol a medication used to treat a number of health conditions that would still be available in lieu of the mifepristone-misoprostol combination. While a misoprostol-only regimen would still offer patients a nonsurgical abortion option, experts say that using misoprostol on its own is slightly less effective than the mifepristone-misoprostol combination. Advertisement It could also be more cumbersome, particularly for pregnant people traveling here from other states: Patients would need to take a dose of the medication every three hours or so, for three to four rounds of doses, depending on the gestation of the pregnancy, Planned Parenthood of Illinois officials said. We also acknowledge that it will cause hardships for our patients, said Planned Parenthood of Illinois President and CEO Jennifer Welch. It might mean that they have to stay longer or spend more time in Illinois. So it would be more difficult and more costly, so were trying to prepare for all of that. The fate of mifepristone has been unclear after battling court orders on its use came down last week. Although millions of patients have used mifepristone for nonsurgical abortions over the past two decades, Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Texas determined 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, according to the ruling. Seventeen states including Illinois and the District of Columbia had previously filed a lawsuit to protect access to mifepristone. On Friday, an Obama-appointed judge in Washington state handed down an order that barred U.S. officials from making any changes that would restrict the mifepristone, at least in those states that had sued. Advertisement The Biden administration has appealed the Texas ruling and the Justice Department has asked that it be kept on hold as the legal challenge moves through the courts. The case could go as far as the U.S. Supreme Court whose justices in June voted 5 to 4 to overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling guaranteeing the right to an abortion nationwide. Medication abortions comprise around half of all pregnancy terminations at Planned Parenthood of Illinois, which has 17 clinics statewide, most located in the Chicago area. The American Academy of Obstetricians and Gynecologists says that medication abortion, including the use of mifepristone, is safe and effective. Mifepristone and misoprostol abortion pills at Carafem clinic on Oct. 3, 2018, in Skokie. (Erin Hooley / Chicago Tribune) Mifepristone is safe, said Molly Meegan, chief legal officer and general counsel with the professional membership organization. It is one of the safest drugs on the market. It has been used for decades. In its clinical guidelines, the organization recommends a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol as the preferred therapy for medication abortion because they are significantly more effective than misoprostol-only regimens. If a combined mifepristonemisoprostol regimen is not available, a misoprostol-only regimen is the recommended alternative, the guidelines say. Advertisement Misoprostol alone has often been effectively used to induce abortions in other countries, particularly where mifepristone isnt legal or available, according to the Society of Family Planning. Its not as effective, but its still very effective, Meegan added. And its very safe. Welch called the Texas ruling a politically motivated attack, just another attempt to further restrict essential health care like abortion. After the fall of Roe in June, Illinois has seen a surge in abortion patients traveling from other states where the procedure has either been banned or highly restricted. Planned Parenthood of Illinois has predicted that the state could see 20,000 to 30,000 more abortion patients each year once federal abortion protections were dissolved. Advertisement Illinois is a haven for abortion care in the Midwest, Welch said. We have seen patients traveling to us from more than 30 different states. So more than half the states in the country have forced patients to travel here for their essential health care. As abortion providers nationwide have grappled with increasing restrictions on the procedure post-Roe, medication abortions have often been a cornerstone of their plans to improve access. Recent changes to FDA rules have allowed abortion pills to be distributed by mail in some states, including Illinois, eliminating the need for some patients to ever leave home to have an abortion. Long-standing regulations had previously required mifepristone be dispensed in-person at a hospital or health center. But in 2021, the FDA permanently rolled back that restriction; after the change, patients could have a telehealth visit with a health care provider and then receive the medications by mail. Protesters gather in support of women's right to access the abortion medication mifepristone, in Amarillo, Texas, Feb. 11, 2023. (Meridith Kohut/The New York Times) Now the future of pill-by-mail services are also in question. Advertisement The appeals court decision prohibits the mailing of mifepristone. In the Texas ruling, the judge seemed to agree with plaintiffs in the case which was filed by the conservative organization Alliance Defending Freedom on behalf of health care providers who argued the mailing of abortion pills violates the 1873 Comstock Act. That law forbids sending via mail 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. But the more than century-old law was rarely applied when abortion rights were affirmed under Roe. The Texas decision found that, Plaintiffs have a substantial likelihood of prevailing on their claim that Defendants decision to allow the dispensing of chemical abortion drugs through mail violates unambiguous federal criminal law. As the matter moves through the courts, some Democrat-led states have begun stockpiling abortion medications. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced Monday that California has secured an emergency stockpile of up to 2 million pills of misoprostol, a safe and effective medication abortion drug, in the wake of an extremist judge seeking to block mifepristone, a critical abortion pill. Advertisement Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healey posted on Twitter that the University of Massachusetts and health care providers there had begun stockpiling doses of mifepristone, at her request. Mifepristone is safe and effective. Its been the gold standard for over two decades, she tweeted. Were keeping it available in Massachusetts no matter what some extremist, Trump-appointed judge in Texas says. Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, gathers with supporters at Federal Plaza in Chicago on June 24, 2022. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune) Eric Scheidler, executive director of the Chicago-based Pro-Life Action League, called the FDAs approval of mifepristone rushed and dangerous. He added that medication abortion is a horrific experience for women. Advertisement Not only is a medication abortion excruciatingly painful, but the woman is often left having to dispose of her aborted child a tiny fetus or embryo in her toilet or sanitary pad, he said. However, many Illinois leaders have condemned the Texas ruling and vowed to fight it. Attorney General Kwame Raoul on Tuesday, along with a coalition of two dozen other attorneys general, had filed an amicus brief challenging that decision. I am proud to join this coalition and continue our fight to protect access to medication abortion and the right of women to make their own reproductive health decisions, Raoul said in a written statement. The unprecedented and legally unsound decision made by a single judge in Texas needs to be appealed to preserve continued access to safe, legal abortion in Illinois and across the nation. U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth praised the Biden administration for appealing the Texas decision. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA 20 years ago after a rigorous scientific and legal process, she said in a written statement, but access to this critical medication that millions of Americans rely on was stripped away with a stroke of a pen by a single person who was hand-picked by Republican extremists dead-set on a nationwide abortion ban. Advertisement The Associated Press contributed. This story has been updated to correct when the medication misoprostol is taken. eleventis@chicagotribune.com Bayern Munichs Sadio Mane (left) and Leroy Sane (right) (Sven Hoppe/dpa via AP) (AP) Bayern Munich have not included Sadio Mane for the Bundesliga match against Hoffenheim on Saturday and fined the Senegal forward for misconduct following the Champions League game at Manchester City amid reports of a fight with team-mate Leroy Sane. According to German media, Mane has been suspended after clashing with Sane in the wake of the quarter-final first-leg defeat on Tuesday night. The pair appeared to argue during the closing stages of their 3-0 loss, which leaves Thomas Tuchels men with a mountain to climb for the second leg in Germany next week. Sadio Mane will not be part of the matchday squad against TSG Hoffenheim this weekend. FC Bayern Munich (@FCBayernEN) April 13, 2023 Reports claim the situation between the pair escalated in the dressing room, leading to an altercation in which Sane sustained a cut lip. Upon the squads arrival back in Munich, it has been suggested Sane continued his journey on the team bus, while Mane who had come off the bench to replace Jamal Musiala in the 69th minute departed separately. A statement from Bayern Munich on Thursday afternoon read: Sadio Mane, 31, will not be included in the FC Bayern squad for this Saturdays home match against 1899 Hoffenheim. This is due to his misconduct after Bayerns Champions League match at Manchester City. Mane will also be given a fine. A California congressman has proposed the four-day workweek bill. It would reduce the standard workweek to four days instead of five. While this bill has the potential to impact workers everywhere, it could have particular benefits for black women in the workplace. Its no secret that black women have always struggled with finding the ideal work-life balance. Could this four-day workweek be the answer to improved mental health for Black women? Licensed marriage and family therapist Wendy Whitmore believes that black women are often running on an empty tank due to living in survival mode. I encourage Black women to prioritize their emotional well-being, Whitmore said. To prioritize and respect when their mind, body, soul, and spirit need to be at rest. Four-Day Workweek Bill Congressman Mark Takano introduced the workweek bill in the U.S. House of Representatives in March 2022. The bill proposes reducing the standard workweek from 40 to 32 hours. Moreover, the bill would require employers to pay overtime for any hours worked beyond 32 in a week. This allows employees to work four, eight-hour days instead of five. Historically, Black women have been overrepresented in low-paying, service-oriented jobs that require long hours and offer few benefits. These jobs are often physically and emotionally taxing, and many black women work multiple jobs to make ends meet. Additionally, Black women often face systemic barriers in the workplace that limit their advancement opportunities and pay. Benefits Of The Bill The implementation of a four-day work week could provide Black women with more time for rest and self-care. Allowing them to recharge and better manage their overall well-being. The bill could also create new opportunities for black women to pursue education and training that will improve their careers. The additional day off could also allow Black women the free time to tend to their health in all aspects. The four-day workweek bill will force black women to restructure their relationship with work and the way they spend their time, Wendy said. It will also give them the opportunity to participate in therapeutic wellness services and go to their yearly & quarterly exams! Story continues Overall, this bill has the potential to positively impact the lives of many black women. Aside from professional training, black women will be able to use this extra time to prioritize their health and well-being. 21Ninety sat down with Whitmore to further discuss the work-life balance, the potential benefits of the 4-day workweek bill, and how to recognize workplace burnout and anxiety. Wendy Whitmore Lets Talk To A Therapist 21Ninety: Please share with us a little about how you started your journey to become a therapist and your area of specialization. Wendy Whitmore: It was a very scary thing when I decided to become a Womanpreneur in 2013. I had so many reservations and doubts, yet I come from a family of Womanpreneurs and entrepreneurs. On April 30, 2013, Truth Healing & Evolution Counseling Services was born. I am blessed that my dad Aaron Hodges JR. paid my office rent for a year. I have been in business for myself for 10 years now! It is because of my village that I opened the WLW HEALING HOUSE. A full-scale wellness center where my private practice Truth Healing & Evolution Counseling Services provides traditional and unconventional therapeutic services. WLW HEALING HOUSE is a place of healing for the Spirit, Soul, Mind & Body. Human beings need a space where they can unapologetically focus on everything SelfCare. In this space, we offer services and experiences curated to focus on Spirit Care, Soul Care, Loving THE Mind & Body Care. And we are working to normalize the practice of RADICAL SelfCare. 21N: As a therapist, how much time do you spend working through work-related trauma or anxiety with your clients? WW: So many of my clients struggle with prioritizing their well-being while striving to be successful in their chosen professions. It is almost as if once you get to a certain tax bracket or are working toward a certain tax bracket. You feel the need to compromise your well-being. For example, when we face overwhelming challenges at work and believe we lack sufficient support to tackle them, we may experience feelings of rejection and abandonment. Another example is when we feel that the task is unrealistic, we find ourselves faced with the dilemma of sacrificing our well-being or looking like a failure. 21N: What can employees and professionals do to maintain a good work-life balance while working in a stressful environment? 1) Seek therapy and stay with it 2) Move your Body every day: walk your dog, dance, roller skate, jog, etc 3) Take mental health days when needed, use that PTO & Sick time 4) Unplug at the end of your work day and pick it up again during work hours 5) Delegate your responsibilities at work, utilize your team 6) Delegate your responsibilities at home, hire help as your budget allows for it 7) Take naps and REST without guilt 8) Always take your breaks and lunches when working 21N: Do you think a four-day workweek will benefit the mental health of employees and employers? Why or why not? WW: Absolutely! Fifteen years ago at the age of 28, I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. The quality of my life was diminishing fast. Being a wife, mother, and therapist, I spent most of my time serving others. In 2016 I decided to implement the four-day workweek and no longer see clients on Fridays. What a difference in my life this made. I saw a huge shift in how my health improved mentally, emotionally, and physically. My chronic illness became much more manageable. My marriage improved and my relationships with my heartbeats, parents, and friends did as well. What are some effects that working in a bad work environment can have on your mental health? WW: A bad work environment can lead to high levels of stress, fatigue, depression, anxiety, and feelings of burnout. You can also experience feeling unmotivated causing a decrease in your productivity. You may find that it is difficult to effectively communicate your feelings with co-workers and loved ones alike. A bad work environment can also affect your sleep, eating habits, and energy levels. It will begin to diminish your desire to do the things you once enjoyed. 21N: Do you think there is a deep-rooted issue that causes black women to struggle to find a balance between life and work? WW: Absolutely! As Black women, we operate in the survive-to-thrive mode. This is why we often find ourselves serving from a near-empty tank. Black women who came before us had to operate this way to create the tables at which we currently have a seat. We must honor those that came before us by leaning into the act of Self Preservation and Radical Rest. Audre Lorde said it best when she stated that caring for ourselves is not self-indulgence. Finding balance is a myth! You can only attempt to balance things for so long before you become discouraged. The juggling of balance is overwhelming. I encourage Black women to prioritize their emotional well-being. To prioritize and respect when their mind, body, soul, and spirit need to be at rest. 21N: What positive effects do you think the four-day workweek bill will have on black women in the workforce? WW: So many Black women still operate in the survive-to-thrive mode! The four-day workweek bill will force them to restructure their relationship with work and how they spend their time. It will also give them the opportunity to participate in therapeutic wellness services and go to their yearly & quarterly exams. No more waiting for a day off to take care of you. Black women will have the luxury of time and will no longer need to cram these services into their lunch breaks with the hope of completing them within a short period. This is something that many feel they do not have enough of. 21N:As a black business owner and CEO what are some of the things youve struggled with while developing and maintaining your practice? WW: In the past, I have struggled with prioritizing my emotional well-being and allowing my mind, body, and spirit to be at rest. One of the most difficult things to do is break the cycle of operating in survival mode. Ive also struggled with not feeling guilty and shaming myself when I do rest. Maintaining healthy positive thoughts and not allowing my mind to wander into survival thoughts have also been a factor. 21N: As a licensed therapist, what kind of resources and support do you think black women need from employers to thrive in their professional environment? WW: 1. Promote Mental Health Awareness in the Office 2. Offer Flexible Scheduling 3. Address Workplace Stressors 4. Evaluate Benefits Offerings To Ensure Mental Health Coverage is Included 5. Provide Monthly Mental Health Training for Managers, Supervisors and Employees 6. Understand how mental health impacts employees 7. Include and/or Establish an employee assistance program (EAP) 8. Use communication to reduce stigma and increase access to mental health resources 9. Promote well-being 21N: If the bill passes, how would you recommend professional Black women everywhere to use the additional time? WW: I would advise Black women to think about the things that make their heart smile and fills them with joy. After that carve-out time weekly to do those things. I would also encourage and advise Black women to curate their Simplistic SelfCare Plan. Developing this will allow them to continue to prioritize their emotional well-being, by reshaping how they spend their time. These are the four questions they need to ask themselves to curate their Simplistic SelfCare Plan How do I start my day slower? What is my MidDay Calm? What is my Evening Calm How do I end my day? This article has been edited and condensed for length and clarity. The post Benefits Of A Four-Day Workweek For Black Workers appeared first on 21Ninety. MiG-29 According to the newspaper, five Soviet-made aircraft from old GDR stocks, which Berlin once transferred to Warsaw, are in question. Read also: Bulgaria ready to send MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine but with some conditions "The German government does not see a fundamental problem with this delivery, as it will only replenish Ukraine's air fleet," SZ writes. Read also: Ukrainian Air Force gives two theories about why Russian MiG-31Ks left Belarus for Russia In total, Poland purchased 45 MiG fighters between 1989 and 2004: 23 aircraft from GDR stocks, 12 from the Soviet Union, and 10 from the Czech Republic. Currently, 28 MiGs remain in use. On March 23, Slovakia handed over four MiG-29 fighters to Ukraine, becoming the first NATO country to provide combat aircraft. Poland has already delivered eight, and is ready to provide six more. Polish President Andrzej Duda has not ruled out that in the future Warsaw could transfer its entire MiG-29 fleet to Ukraine, but that would require the consent of Polands allies. Read also: Ukrainian defenders strike Russian positions, destroy three aircraft bombs The Ukrainian Air Force believes that providing the country with modernized Soviet MiG-29 fighters will be a serious help, but is unlikely to have a transformative impact at the front, as these jets are not equipped with onboard radars and cannot launch modern missiles. The Air Force repeatedly said that Ukraine needs modern Western warplanes to counter the Russian invasion. 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 Click here to read the full article. Iambic attributes its parade of success to the universe. But good vibes alone didnt give the bespoke AI-driven, precision-fit sneaker company nearly $300,000 of government funding, industry veteran backers, or a place in this years Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs Accelerator cohort. Its CEO, the self-proclaimed unlikely fashion founder, Maeve Wang, did. It all began when Wang realized she had returned 300 pairs of shoes in three years. Painfully aware of the environmental logistics of this fact, she grimaced in retrospect. But the at-the-time Bain & Co. associate consultant had tried every footwear fit app and every plugin available to find shoes that fit with zero success. I even had my boyfriend drive me to upstate Connecticut and deep New Jersey to go to the most specialty shoe stores so I could check out the fanciest foot scanners and gait analysis systems, she said. And it yielded nothing. But as Wang left Bain for Delos, a company dedicated to harnessing evidence-based solutions to enhance health and well-being, she approached her footwear issues through the lens of data matching. There are literally billions of shoes in the world, she said. Its just a matter of being matched with the ones that fit me. Iambic cofounder and CEO, Maeve Wang. And so she went down the rabbit hole, eventually applying for a grant in 2020 from the National Science Foundation (NSF) in the digital health program to develop a smartphone-based foot scanner to accurately predict shoe styles and sizes based on 3D modeling and material science. A year into developmentand the Covid pandemicWang and her co-founder, Raza Hassan, collaborated with brands to not only test the app but gauge its accuracy. Something a lot of those brands had never experienced before with other fit technology companies, Wang said. But she was working with hundreds of thousands of government dollarsshe couldnt afford not to know if their creation was a success. Story continues It wasnt. We were like, holy cow, is it us? Or is it the shoe? she said. That was when they discovered between three- to 20-millimeter discrepancies between the product specifications, the design files provided and the actual physical product. It didnt matter what the foot measurements were because the product data was inaccurate, she said. While that might not sound that dramatic, considering a shoes half size is four millimeters, these were wrong by up to two full sizes. No one throughout the antiquated and fragmented supply chain took accountability,Wang said, and enacting change could take up to 10 years. It was really eye-opening, to say the least. Our team was like, do we tactically want to spend the next 10 years trying to work with all these different pieces around the globe that need to be stitched together? And were like, ah, maybe not, she said. Thats when we thought we had to start with the individual and do it ourselves. And we just got really, really lucky. Wangs referring to the third co-founder, Tyson Park, who passed away suddenly last year. Park put the team in contact with all the right people to launch what would become Iambic. This led to a relationship with M Coleman Horn, an industrial design legend in Wangs eyes, who told her that Iambic was the most ambitious project in the footwear industry hed ever heard of. If they could achieve even a fraction of their vision, it would be worthwhile. By 2022, the app was scrapped and the team was wholly focused on Iambic. Within that year, the company had a supply chain and factory in Portugal and over $1 million in funding from angel investors. But remember that federal grant money? Wang had to reapply for it. We had to go and resubmit a whole new protocol, a whole new feasibility plan and just wait and pray that they didnt take [the grant] back, she said. And we were just so lucky that our program manager used to work for a footwear supplier for Under Armour, and so he understood our problem more deeply. That project manager was Alastair Monk, and he awarded Iambic a Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase 1 project grant of $265,000 in September 2021. This grant backs the notion that Iambics analytics platform combines computer vision, material science, and computational biomechanics, merging the personal and product data needed for virtual fit simulation. Through Iambics API-as-a-Service, e-commerce retailers and brands can deliver smartphone-based virtual fit assessments and personalized fit analysis. Monk isnt the only believer, either. In March, Wang and her team at Iambic were selected to join this years cohort of the Harvard Alumni Entrepreneurs (HAE) Accelerator program, powered by Silicon Valley global venture capital firm Pegasus Tech Ventures. (Wang holds a Bachelors degree from Harvard University in government with a minor in economics.) The industry-agnostic program is a zero-equity accelerator and doesnt offer any investment or funding and accepted 11 early-stage startups from a field of 101 applicants. Last years cohort featured DeltaX, a digital freight platform that connects shippers with carriers and truckers, among others. Iambics got sole Every single detail, every stitch, every little ridge, lump, bumpthey all have a function assigned to it, Wang said, referencing the grid-like structure on the bottom sole of the sneaker. We made [the grid] to be more like a tire tread because its named after Tyson; he was a big car enthusiast. Iambics developed patent-pending AI, smartphone foot scanner, Sole Print design and streamlined manufacturing. When combined, this technology allows anyone to get sneakers fitted at scale. The Model T features a red dotted line above the soles outer tread, which is the crux of the shoe. With wear and tear, the red layer will reveal itself and, in doing so, reveal the wearers walking patternstheir gait, stride, balance. Once the shoe becomes so worn down its no longer desirable for us, customers can ship their sneakers back to have the data analyzed and applied to their next pair of custom kicks. If they cant mail the shoes back, they can take photos at different angles that Iambic will then apply image processing to in order to harvest the data. But itll take some heavy wear for that red layer to expose itself, Wang said, as she believes its one of the sturdiest sneakers around. All of that information is always lost once you are done with your shoes; the brands, the manufacturers, they never see it, Wang said. They never see the actual physical data that this collects on you or their product. And we were like, OK, this is an opportunity for us to do that. But all that information complements the data captured via foot scanning technology that goes into creating the shoes last, the starting point of every shoe design. But Iambic didnt initially want to create its own sole; there are so many soles on the market already, it just needed to find the right one to adapt to each last. That proved to be so difficult, however, that the team decided to make their own. Utilizing 30 adjustable points, Iambics algorithm can pull in or pull out those points based on the foot measurements to preserve certain design ratios but still achieve a sneaker that fits uniquely to the wearers foot. Whats fascinating is that back in the day [2021] when we talked about using AI to do that, because of the complexity of this, people were like, dont talk about AI, like, no one cares about AI when you talk about your sneaker, Wang said. Just talk about the feel and the comfort, and we were like, OK. Now, its like, Why dont you start every conversation with AI? Bespoke shoes with this level of customization typically cost between $3,000 and $10,000 and can take up to a year to make, Wang said. Its still a fully handmade process; even a few degrees off could result in a last that looks like a clown shoe, which is why the process is so expensive and drawn out. Iambic wants to address both of those problems to bring the beauty of bespoke to the masses. The companys white-glove service, dubbed the executive experience, debuts in New York City next month. The not-for-scale service is only available to the first 600 endorsers of the sneaker. Those early adopters will receive NASA-approved foot scanning technology to the tune of $1,100 for the pilot sneakers, which will take four to eight weeks to make. We see [the price] as one-tenth of the highest end that you can get for traditional bespoke, Wang said. Its like if we can double the benefits at one-tenth of the price, thats revolutionary. You cant get a shoe that actually, like, is effectively this big fuzzy wearable that self improves. Thats how we see it. Following the pilot launch, Iambic will be opening the waitlist and rolling out the for-scale version of the Model T, which utilizes the smartphone-based scanner alongside the 10 comfort questions and will take about six weeks to make. The ultimate goal is to release a third model by 2028 with an accessible price point of $200 and six weeks to make as well. Were just a bunch of nerds who wanted to get it right, Wang said. After a frosty encounter north of the border, US President Joe Biden is assured of a far warmer welcome by lawmakers in Ireland on Thursday during a visit to the country of his ancestors. Biden, who is only the second Catholic president in America's history, will address the Irish parliament, known as the Oireachtas, in Dublin, following in steps first walked by John Fitzgerald Kennedy. In June, 1963, he became the first sitting president to visit Ireland -- five months before his assassination. In his speech, Kennedy remarked that the parliament building -- Leinster House -- had once belonged to his ancestors the Fitzgeralds, the earls of Kildare. But, he joked, "I have not come here to claim it". Instead, he dwelt on "the many and the enduring links which have bound the Irish and the Americans since the earliest days", when both were engaged in struggle against the British. Unlike JFK, Biden cannot boast of noble ancestors in his lineage, but some of his forebears fled famine under British rule and congregated in hardscrabble Scranton, Pennsylvania. In his own address Thursday, Biden will echo his predecessor in underscoring "the deep and enduring historical, cultural, political and economic ties between our countries", according to senior White House adviser Amanda Sloat. - 'Coming home' - On Wednesday, he observed a disembarkation point for some of his 19th-century Irish forebears, following a speech in British-run Northern Ireland. Braving a typical Irish drizzle, the 80-year-old leader -- who declares Ireland to be "part of my soul" -- said it felt "wonderful" and like "I'm coming home" while visiting Carlingford Castle. His one-night stop in Belfast had been shadowed by recriminations of pro-UK unionists, who accused him of harbouring "anti-British" feelings a quarter-century after a US-brokered peace agreement. Biden told an audience at Belfast's Ulster University that he cared about peace for the whole of the divided island. Story continues He urged the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to end its boycott of Northern Ireland's Stormont legislature, predicting billions of dollars of new investment from "scores of major American corporations" if political stability returns. But the DUP's leader, Jeffrey Donaldson, promptly declared that the visit "doesn't change the political dynamic in Northern Ireland". Meanwhile the brevity of his stay there -- which included a brief "coffee meeting" with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak -- underwhelmed some British observers. "It was hard to see the point of his visit," the Daily Mail's political editor wrote in a commentary. - 'Emotional' - Before his speech in Dublin, Biden will meet Irish President Michael D. Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar -- whom he welcomed to the White House for St. Patrick's Day last month, when the White House fountain ran emerald green. After the remarks, Varadkar will host a banquet in Biden's honour at Dublin Castle, the ancient seat of English and British rule in Ireland. Before jetting home on Friday, Biden will head to Ballina in County Mayo, northwestern Ireland, another jumping-off point for ancestors who emigrated to Pennsylvania. Biden still counts relatives living in the area, including Joe Blewitt, a third cousin, who works as a plumber. "It's emotional, it's a very proud day for our family and for Ireland," Blewitt, 43, told AFP. "Ballina's very special to him." Biden's ancestry is never far from his lips, leading to accusations among Northern Irish unionists that his visit to the Emerald Isle is unabashed campaigning ahead of a re-election run. "The relative strength of Irish-Americans as a percentage of all Americans is dropping steadily, but Ireland retains an outsized influence on the US," said Coilin Parsons, director of global Irish studies at Washington's Georgetown University. "From music to literature and more, Irish culture has always found an eager public in the US, and not just among Irish-Americans," he told AFP. But the gaffe-prone president made a characteristic slip-up at a community gathering at a bar in Dundalk late Wednesday, as he lauded former Irish rugby player and distant cousin Rob Kearney. Biden praised Kearney for having "beat the hell out of the Black and Tans", confusing a ruthless British army auxiliary force which fought Irish independence rebels in the early 1920s with New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team. The White House corrected the record. "I think for everyone in Ireland who is a rugby fan, it was incredibly clear that the President was talking about the All Blacks," Sloat told reporters Thursday. "It was certainly clear to his cousin sitting next to him." jit-jj/phz/yad A 21-year-old national guardsman was due to appear in court on Friday, authorities said, after he was arrested on suspicion of leaking a trove of sensitive US government secrets. Jack Teixeira, an employee of the US Air Force National Guard, was to make an initial appearance in a Massachusetts federal court, a district court official told AFP. His dramatic arrest was broadcast live on US TV networks Thursday following a week-long investigation into one of the most damaging leaks of classified information since the 2013 dump of National Security Agency documents by Edward Snowden. US Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters Thursday that Teixeira had been arrested "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information." News footage of the operation in the southern Massachusetts town of North Dighton showed the suspect dressed in red shorts and a T-shirt with his hands behind his head, backing slowly toward rifle-armed, camouflage-clad law enforcement personnel who took him into custody. Police in the small town in the northeastern state sought to reassure the community about the heavy law enforcement presence, saying in a statement that there was "no threat to public safety." The US National Guard Bureau said Teixeira had enlisted in September 2019 and was an IT and communications specialist who reached the rank of airman first class -- the third-lowest for enlisted air force personnel. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin issued a statement praising the Justice Department and FBI "for their swift arrest in connection with this investigation." Austin added that he was ordering a "review of our intelligence access, accountability and control procedures within the (Defense) Department to inform our efforts to prevent this kind of incident from happening again." Teixeira's arrest came a day after The Washington Post reported that hundreds of pages of documents had been posted on the social media platform Discord by a man who worked on a US military base. Story continues - Top secret material - According to The New York Times, a "trail of digital evidence" pointed to Teixeira as the leader of the private group on Discord, called Thug Shaker Central, where the documents surfaced. The embarrassing security breach has revealed US unease over the viability of a coming counteroffensive by Kyiv's forces against Russian troops as well as concerns about Ukrainian air defenses, and pointed to US spying on allies including Israel and South Korea. President Joe Biden addressed the leak earlier on Thursday during his visit to Ireland, saying he was "concerned". US media reported that the Biden administration is seeking to beef up its monitoring of social media sites and chat rooms after intelligence agencies failed to spot the leaked documents online for weeks. The Pentagon has also "begun to limit who across the government receives its highly classified daily intelligence briefs," CNN reported on Thursday. The alleged leaker reportedly went by the nickname "OG" and regularly posted documents in the chat group in question for months. The group of around 24 people, including some from Russia and Ukraine, bonded over their "mutual love of guns, military gear and God," and formed an "invitation-only clubhouse in 2020 on Discord," reported the Post -- which like the New York Times cited unidentified members of Thug Shaker Central. OG told the group members that he spent "some of his day inside a secure facility that prohibited cellphones and other electronic devices," the Post report said. He first wrote down the contents of classified documents to share with the group, but later began taking photos, telling other members not to share them, the newspaper reported. OG had a "dark view of the government," and "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," the Post said, citing one of the group's members. A Discord spokesperson told AFP that user safety is a priority, and that content violating its policies can result in people being banned, servers being shut down, and police alerted. "In regards to the apparent breach of classified material, we are cooperating with law enforcement," the spokesperson said. "As this remains an active investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time." bur-wd-ec/tjj/dhw/aha The Biden administration announced Thursday that it will make an appeal to the Supreme Court challenging this weeks ruling that reinstituted limits on the access and delivery of abortion pills. The announcement comes after Wednesday nights ruling by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals that restored the 2016 limits on mifepristone, one of two drugs used in a chemical abortion. Among the changes the FDA made in 2016, it increased the gestational age for the drug from seven weeks to ten, allowed non-doctors to prescribe abortion pills, and reduced the number of required office visits necessary to obtain the pills from three to one. In 2019, the FDA approved a generic version of the abortion pill regimen, and in 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic, it allowed the pills to be dispensed through the mail. Those changes are now on hold, though the three-judge appeals panel preserved the FDAs initial approval of mifepristone. The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Fifth Circuits decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA to deny in part our request for a stay pending appeal, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a prepared statement. 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. Lawyers for Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative legal firm that represented the pro-life doctors and medical groups, called the appeals panels ruling a win for their cause. The Fifth Circuits decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, womens health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law, ADF lawyer Erin Hawley told reporters on Thursday morning. Hawley said they have no plans to appeal the ruling, which allows the FDAs 2000 approval of mifepristone to stand for now. On Friday, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, overturned the 2000 approval of the drug. But in its preliminary ruling, the appeals court determined that the statute of limitations to challenge the 2000 approval likely expired. Story continues ADF lawyers argue that changes the FDA has made in in 2016, 2019, and 2021, should allow them to reopen and challenge the initial approval of the drug in 2000. At this point we are happy to let the lower courts go back and look at our 2000 claim, Hawley said of their decision not to appeal. We think weve got really good arguments, as the Fifth Circuit acknowledged. But for the moment, this is a huge win for our plaintiff doctors and the patients they represent. She also rebuked lawmakers who have called on the FDA and federal authorities to simply ignore rulings limiting abortion pill access and delivery. Senator Ron Wyden (D., Ore.), and representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), and Nancy Mace, (R., S.C.), have each called for that. Thats a call to complete lawlessness, Hawley said. Weve heard that from a number of different political figures, and I think its a really dangerous precedent for one branch to suggest that another branch should fully disregard the decisions of the other branch, of the judiciary in this case. Hawley argued that the process to approve mifepristone was lawless from the start, and it that it was based on politics. Then-president Bill Clinton aggressively lobbied for the drugs approval. And now you have certain people weighing in to say we should just ignore the federal courts, making it clear that this was about politics rather than about womens safety, she said. Developed in France in the 1980s, the chemical-abortion process involves two pills: mifepristone, a progesterone blocker that kills the unborn baby by depriving it of nutrients, and misoprostol, which causes uterine contractions to empty the uterus. To approve mifepristone under what is called Subpart H regulations accelerated approval, which allows for post-approval safety measures the FDA concluded that pregnancy is a life-threatening illness. ADF argues that the FDA had no business approving the two-drug regime under Subpart H because pregnancy is not an illness but is a normal physiological state that many females experience one or more times during their childbearing years. The ADF lawsuit also claims the FDA failed to properly study the safety of the regimen, and for almost two decades it stonewalled the doctors who were attempting to challenge the approval of the regimen. Rather than increase scrutiny of the pills, the FDA has eliminated safeguards that did exist and has made the drug easier to obtain. More than half of all abortions in the U.S. are now done using chemical-abortion pills. More from National Review By Padraic Halpin and Steve Holland DUBLIN (Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden told the Irish parliament he was "home" in an emotional address on the second day of a nostalgic three-day tour celebrating his Irish heritage as he geared up for a planned 2024 re-election campaign. "I'm home... I only wish I could stay longer," he said to applause and cheers in a packed chamber. On one of the longest foreign trips of his presidency, Biden became the fourth U.S. president to address the parliament after John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. A state banquet was held for the president at Dublin Castle afterwards. "Well mom, you said it would happen," he said looking skyward at the start of his speech, having met some of his late mother's distant relatives on Wednesday. Biden began his trip on a more serious note in Northern Ireland, where on Wednesday he urged political leaders there to restore their power-sharing government with the promise of significant U.S. investment. But as soon as he crossed the border after that speech, he shifted gear to folksy anecdotes of his Irish relatives and photo ops with enthusiastic locals. His great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan left the Irish county of Louth for the United States in 1849. On Friday, Biden is to meet relatives from another side of his family in County Mayo on the opposite coast of Ireland. Providing plenty of images back home ahead of the 2024 election, Biden was pictured with a baby in the parliament, took selfies with reporters and got a sample of some Gaelic sports after a meeting Prime Minister Leo Varadkar. He acknowledged, however, that he was coming towards the end of his political career. "I'm at the end of my career. Not the beginning. The only thing I bring to this career - and you can see, how old I am - is a little bit of wisdom." Biden, 80, has said he will run again in 2024 but has made no formal campaign announcement. Story continues 'THE REAL DEAL' Biden quipped he did not want to go back to Washington while meeting fellow octogenarian, Irish President Michael D. Higgins. Higgins previously hosted then-Vice President Biden at his residence in Dublin's Phoenix Park in 2016, and again in 2017. Biden said he quoted the Irish proverb that "your feet will bring you where your heart is" when signing the visitors' book, and wrote that it was an honour to return to the home of his ancestors to celebrate all that binds Ireland and the U.S. Higgins, who shares Biden's passion for Irish poems and has written many himself, presented the president with a vinyl copy of Patrick Kavanagh's poetry, which includes some of the poet's work read by U2 singer Bono, actor Liam Neeson and Higgins. Known for frequently quoting Irish poet Seamus Heaney, Biden referenced the late Nobel Prize-winner again in parliament, this time with Heaney's wife, Marie, in attendance. Biden, accompanied for some of his Dublin engagement by his son Hunter, sister Valerie and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, further praised Irish-U.S. ties at the banquet at St Patrick's Hall in Dublin Castle, an honour previously given to Queen Elizabeth II and U.S. President Kennedy. On Friday he returns to County Mayo on the west coast of Ireland to meet relatives from another side of his family, that of great-great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt. He will also visit the Catholic shrine in Knock and make a public address in the town of Ballina to wrap up his tour. "He's a real Irish guy. He's not like some of the presidents that you hear of that have Irish connections. This guy really has them," said Ballina publican Michael Carr, 52, as the town prepared for Biden's visit. "He's the real deal." (Additional reporting by Aiden Nulty in Ballina; Writing by Conor Humphries; editing by Mark Heinrich, Diane Craft and Alistair Bell) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration's proposal on Wednesday to sharply cut tailpipe emissions and vehicle pollutants is on a fast track as the future of U.S. auto production could become a presidential campaign issue next year. The Environmental Protection Agency is moving with urgency to mandate a 56% cut in vehicle emissions by 2032, a requirement it forecasts will result in EVs accounting for two of every three new vehicles sold within a decade. Democrats say the proposal will save consumers money in refueling costs and spur U.S. manufacturing, while Republicans are castigating it, saying it will make cars too expensive and prevent Americans from buying gas-powered models. After Donald Trump won the presidency in November 2016, the EPA quickly finalized a determination that fuel efficiency rules instituted by then-President Barack Obama should be locked in through 2025. Under Trump, the EPA reversed that decision and rolled back the Obama standards, a move that would have increased U.S. oil consumption by about 500,000 barrels per day by the 2030s. President Joe Biden reinstated the Obama rules in 2022 mandating a 28.3% reduction in vehicle emissions by 2026 and in 2021 set a goal of EVs or plug-in hybrids accounting for 50% of new cars sold by 2030. Biden, a self-proclaimed "car guy," will accelerate the adoption of zero-emission vehicles, the White House said on Wednesday. The EPA rules are also crucial to meeting the administration climate goals. Graphic: EPA proposal expects to reduce CO2 by 1 billion tons https://www.reuters.com/graphics/AUTOS-USA/EMISSIONS/zjpqjandgvx/chart.png EPA must finalize its latest standards by early 2024 or a new president and Congress in 2025 could more easily reverse it. "EPAs proposed emissions plan is aggressive by any measure," said John Bozzella, CEO of auto industry trade group Alliance for Automotive Innovation. "It sets automotive electrification goals in the next few years that are very high." Story continues Biden has steadfastly refused to back setting a date to end the sale of internal combustion vehicles and has not endorsed California's plan to end gasoline-only vehicle sales by 2035. Biden has said he intends to be the Democratic candidate for president in 2024 but has not made a formal announcement. EPA Administrator Michael Regan declined to endorse banning gasoline vehicle sales. "We're not driving any particular technology out of business - so to speak," he said on Wednesday. EPA is also proposing to mandate a 60% cut in so-called criteria pollutants, such as nitrogen oxides, for cars and trucks by 2032. Some auto officials say privately that EPA's aggressive greenhouse gas standards, elimination of credits and cuts in criteria pollutants may make it unfeasible to sell many gasoline models by 2030. (Reporting by David Shepardson in Washington; Editing by Matthew Lewis) President Joe Biden arrives to address members of the Irish parliament at Leinster House in Dublin, Thursday, April 13, 2023. Bidens trip marks the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. | Kenny Holston, The New York Times via Associated Press President Joe Biden is spending four days across the pond, visiting Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom before heading to the Republic of Ireland in honor of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. On Thursday, Biden met with Ireland President Michael Higgins and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, the countrys vice president, addressed the Irish Parliament and attended a banquet dinner at Dublin Castle in Ireland, per the press briefing. He also briefly met with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Northern Ireland on Wednesday morning before giving an address at Ulster University. Mr. Prime Minister, its great to see you again. Im glad to be here and mark the 25th anniversary of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement, which has brought peace and prosperity to Northern Ireland. I look forward to working together to unlock Nothern Ireland's vast potential. pic.twitter.com/w2Q9sGseqR President Biden (@POTUS) April 12, 2023 During the address, he reflected back on his time as a senator in 1998, when the agreement was signed: Where barbed wire once sliced up the city, today we find cathedral a cathedral of learning built of glass and let the (light) shine, Biden said, adding, It just has a profound impact for someone who has come back to see it. According to the British Library, the Good Friday Agreement created a power-sharing system that took into account religious and political divides with the goal of ending decades of violence. This new government represented both unionists, who want Northern Ireland to continue being a part of U.K., and nationalists, who favored governing Ireland as a sovereign state. Supporting the people of Northern Ireland, protecting the peace, preserving the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is a priority for Democrats and Republicans alike in the United States, and that is unusual today because weve been very divided in our parties, Biden said. Story continues But this anniversary comes at a stressful time, as the power-sharing Stormont, Northern Irelands assembly, remains dormant after the Democratic Unionist Party, or the DUP, blocked its functioning to protest against the post-Brexit protocol for trade deals between the U.K. and the European Union, according to BBC News. Now, I know the U.K.s departure from the European Union created complex challenges here in Northern Ireland, Biden said. The Windsor Framework addresses the practical realities of Brexit and its an essential step to ensuring hard-earned peace and progress of the Good Friday Agreement is preserved and strengthened. The DUP opposes this proposed framework. The partys leader, Arlene Foster, said that there is no doubt Biden hates the U.K. while dismissing any pressure the U.S. president may put on the DUP since so many perceive him as simply pro-republican and pro-nationalist, according to The Guardian. The White House pushed back on the remarks. National Security Council's Europe Director Amanda Sloat said that Bidens track record showed that he is not anti-British, pointing to the allyship between the U.S. and the U.K. as well as Bidens early meeting with Sunak, during a press briefing. President Biden obviously is a very proud Irish American. He is proud of those Irish roots. But he is also a strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the U.K., she said. In fact, the Irish Family History Center labeled Biden as among the most Irish of all U.S. Presidents. On Friday, the president will travel to County Mayo, where he is expected to meet experts to learn about his lineage tracing back to the Blewitts, before concluding his trip with a speech in front of a cathedral in Ballina. The complex business of building a workable Dutch coalition The headline in the New York Times said it all: "Geert Wilders falls short as wary Dutch scatter their votes." GALLERY Geert Wilders on the 16th of May 2017. Amsterdam (dpa) - The populist leader is for the present out of contention for a role in any new Dutch coalition. It is clear from sentiment in The Hague and the Dutch press that Prime Minister Mark Rutte is the man of the hour and will play the dominant role in the process.But those scattered votes spell trouble for Rutte. "It will take some time, I believe," he told Dutch radio on Thursday before the final votes had been counted."It is likely to be a complex coalition formation. You will see parties sitting down with each other for a number of weeks."The next step is for an "informateur" to be appointed - a senior and respected elder statesman or stateswoman who will scout out the possibilities. Where the monarch used to have a role, parliament has taken over since 2012.The process is not clearly defined, but in general the leader of the largest party - Rutte in this case - is called on to be "formateur" and asked to seek out potential partners.If all goes well, this formateur is then the future prime minister.All does not always go well. The process of forming a workable government took 54 days in 2012 and 127 in 2010. More than six months - 208 days - were needed in 1977.The party leaders are reported to have scheduled a meeting Thursday with the chairperson of the lower house, Khadija Arib, to decide on how to proceed, but it is likely to be days before any progress is reported.Rutte, whose liberal pro-market VVD has 33 seats, needs at least three partners to secure the 76 seats needed for a bare majority.He has categorically ruled out Wilders. "No, never, no," he told the country in a pre-election televised debate.Candidates include the Christian Democrats (CDA) and the centrist D66, both with 19 seats. But that leaves him five seats short.His former partner, the Labour Party (PvdA) is on nine seats, but the severe setback it received in falling from 38 seats in 2012 means it is likely to retire to the opposition benches to regroup.Green Left and the Socialists (SP), both on 14 seats, seem unlikely partners, as do the leftist Christian Union and the strongly environmentalist Party for the Animals, each with precisely the five seats that Rutte needs. A former payroll manager for the Art Institute of Chicago pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday to misappropriating more than $2 million in museum funds. Michael Maurello, 56, of Beach Park, falsified payments to employees and funneled museum payroll into his personal bank accounts from 2007 to 2020, the written plea agreement states. Advertisement [ Former Art Institute employee charged in $2 million embezzlement scheme ] To hide the scheme, Maurello kept spreadsheets and notes to track the embezzled funds so later he could make reversals in the museum payroll system, he admitted. When the Art Institutes assistant controller asked him in January 2020 about one of the payments, Maurello falsely stated that the transaction had been a payroll system test, according to the plea agreement. Maurello then edited and altered a report from the system to hide information related to the embezzled funds, according to the agreement. Advertisement Following Maurellos indictment in January 2023, the Art Institute said in a written statement that the fraud was first revealed in 2019 after a review of financial control procedures found unusual account activity. The museum terminated Maurello for cause, and the matter was immediately referred to law enforcement, according to the statement. Since then, the Art Institute has implemented additional controls and procedures to help detect and prevent any future malfeasance, according to the statement, and losses are being recovered through insurance. This individual stole in excess of $2 million from the organization over the course of approximately a decade, the statement read. The cumulative loss was significant, but because of the length of time and manner in which it was taken, it did not impact decisions around staffing, payroll, scholarship funding, programming, or other financial aspects of the organization. Maurellos sentencing will be Sept. 14. He faces a maximum of 20 years in prison followed by up to three years on supervised release. He could also be sentenced to pay a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross gain or loss, whichever is greater, from the embezzlement. He must be sentenced to pay restitution to the museum of $2,308,772, according to the U.S. attorneys office. oalexander@chicagotribune.com DUBLIN (AP) President Joe Biden on Thursday said while he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been leaked, there's nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of great consequence. It was the first time Biden has commented publicly about the 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. The Justice Department has opened an investigation. Im concerned that it happened, but theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence," said Biden, who is in Dublin visiting with Irish leaders Thursday. Biden noted that a full-blown investigation was underway by the intelligence community and the Justice Department on who leaked the information. We're getting close," he said on answers. "But I don't have an answer. There are no clear answers on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed approximately 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds. Some of the document s may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign, U.S. officials said. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby on Monday urged caution, since we know at least in some cases that information was doctored. No one knows for sure where they came from, not even the Pentagon chief. They were somewhere in the web, and where exactly, and who had access at that point, we dont know. We simply dont know, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a news conference Tuesday. We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it. Its possible, though, that the leak may have started on a site called Discord. Discord is a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community. On Thursday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre urged social media companies to avoid facilitating the circulation of material detrimental to public safety and national security. We do believe that social media companies have a responsibility to their users and the country to manage the private sector infrastructure that they create and then operate," she said. By Steve Holland DUBLIN (Reuters) -President Joe Biden said on Thursday that investigators were closing in on the source of the leak of highly classified U.S. intelligence documents, in what is believed to be the most serious security breach in a decade. The Department of Justice opened a formal criminal probe last week after the matter was referred by the Pentagon, which is assessing the damage done by the release. Some of the most sensitive leaked details are purportedly related to Ukraine's military capabilities and shortcomings, and information about U.S. allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey. Reuters has reviewed more than 50 of the documents, labelled "Secret" and "Top Secret" but has not independently verified their authenticity. The number of documents leaked is likely to be over 100. A number of countries have questioned the veracity of some of the documents, including Britain, which said there was "a serious level of inaccuracy" in the information. Biden, on a three-day tour of Ireland, said he was not overly concerned about the leak. "There's a full blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, and they're getting close but I don't have an answer," Biden told reporters. "I'm not concerned about the leak, I'm concerned that it happened but there is nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of." The FBI Washington field office is leading the investigation, according to a person familiar with the matter. The person who leaked the documents is a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing fellow members of an online chat group. SOURCE OF LEAK The Post based its report, which did not name the person, on interviews with two members of the Discord chat group. Discord said in a statement on Wednesday that it was cooperating with law enforcement. Story continues Reuters was unable to verify details of the report. Its broad outlines - that the documents were first shared on a Discord server for gun and ammo enthusiasts who often swapped offensive jokes - were initially reported by Bellingcat last week. Reuters was unable to locate members of the now-defunct server, but a military weapons-focused YouTuber who goes by the name "Oxide" said he believed some members of the group may be people he expelled from his Discord server. A Redditor who claimed to be in touch with a member of the server told Reuters that there had been a scramble to delete evidence when news of the leak came out. Reuters could not immediately corroborate either person's account, although both were consistent with other reporting published elsewhere. Some national security experts and U.S. officials say they suspect that the leaker could be American, given the breadth of topics covered by the documents. Since the leak first came to light in March, investigators have been pursuing theories ranging from someone simply sharing the documents to show off the work they were doing to a mole inside the U.S. intelligence community or military. The leaks have already drawn responses from some foreign governments. On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's office labelled as "mendacious and without any foundation whatsoever" a document asserting that the Mossad intelligence agency encouraged recent protests against him. A South Korean presidential official said on Sunday the country was aware of reports about the leaked documents and planned to discuss "issues raised" with Washington. One document, according to the BBC, discussed how U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is too willing to accommodate Russian interests A U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric criticized the leaks themselves. "(Guterres is) not surprised by the fact that people are spying on him and listening in to his private conversations," Dujarric said in a statement. "What is surprising, is the malfeasance or incompetence that allows that such private conversations to be distorted and become public." (Reporting by Steve Holland. Additional reporting by Raphael Satter, Michelle Nichols, and Sarah N.Lynch.Writing by Idrees Ali; Editing by Kate Holton and Alistair Bell) DUBLIN (AP) Holding up his family history as an example, President Joe Biden on Thursday told lawmakers in a packed parliament building that the story of Irish immigrants setting sail for the U.S. is at the very heart of "what binds Ireland and America together. Like so many countries around the world, though perhaps more than most, the United States was shaped by Ireland, Biden said in address to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas in Leinster House. And the values we share remain to this day the core of the historic partnership between our people and our governments. Biden stressed the importance of economic ties, a Fearghail,united front on the war in Ukraine and a shared urgency to manage climate change. Biden addressed parliament as part of his four-day trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland, where he also met with political leaders and took a whirlwind tour of his ancestral homeland. Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, speaker of the Dail, parliaments lower chamber, told Biden that Ireland has benefitted immensely from American investment, and noted that it goes both ways Ireland is the ninth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the U.S. Long may this bilateral investment continue, O Fearghail said to cheers. He welcomed Biden home as he introduced him. Biden was the fourth U.S. president to address the Irish parliament, after John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. For Biden, Ireland has been the backdrop for discussion about his favorite themes, like dignity, possibilities," democracy and poetry. He addressed parliament on what would have been the 84th birthday of his favorite poet, Seamus Heaney. O Fearghail gave Biden a signed copy of Heaney's poems, and Heaney's widow was present for the speech, watching as Biden quoted The Cure at Troy." The president spoke with poetic flourishes about how the two nations could dream together over horizons we can't see." He talked about visiting County Louth this week, gazing out at the sea from the stone balcony of Carlingford Castle, which would have been the last Irish landmark that Owen Finnegan, Bidens maternal great-great-grandfather, saw before sailing for New York in 1849. Story continues These stories are at the very heart of what binds Ireland and America together, he said. They speak to a history, defined by our dreams. The 80-year-old Biden also reflected on his age, something he rarely does publicly. He said was at the end of my career, not the beginning." He told the Irish lawmakers you can see how old I am, saying he comes to the job more experienced than any other president in American history. It doesn't make me better or worse, but it gives me few excuses," he said. Biden is expected to run for reelection, and would be 82 were he to start a second term. Earlier Thursday, Biden met with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Irelands prime minister, praising the nation for its humanitarian work welcoming Ukrainian refugees. Ireland has hosted nearly 80,000 refugees from Ukraine following Russia's invasion, and it has been staunchly supportive of U.S.-led efforts on the war. Biden said he was impressed by Ireland's commitment. I think our values are the same, Biden told Varadkar. And I think our concerns are the same. So Im really looking forward to continuing to work with you. Biden also met with with Irish President Michael D. Higgins at his grand Dublin residence. The two octogenarian leaders clasped hands and laughed as they walked inside along a red carpet. Biden signed the guest book with a writerly missive for Irelands poet-president: As the Irish saying goes, your feet will bring you where your heart is. Its an honor to return. Biden helped shovel dirt around a freshly planted Irish oak, not far from one planted years earlier by then-President Barack Obama. He also rang the Peace Bell, unveiled in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Biden clanged the bell four times, including one for all my Irish ancestors, and a fourth one for peace. Then he thanked Higgins, who turns 82 next week. Im feeling great, and Im learning a lot, Biden said at Higgins' estate. I know it sounds silly, but theres many Irish-Americans, like my relatives, whove never come back here. Varadkar and Biden also exchanged toasts at a dinner banquet at Dublin Castle. Biden opened the trip earlier this week in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that ended years of sectarian violence. The U.S.-brokered deal brought peace to a region of the United Kingdom where the Troubles left some 3,600 people dead in bombings and other attacks. Addressing parliament Thursday, Biden said the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland to support Northern Ireland. His reminder of the importance of maintaining a quarter century of peace in Northern Ireland was likely to irk some British Conservatives and Northern Ireland unionists, who are suspicious of U.S. interference. Biden arrived in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, a day after he landed in Northern Ireland. Crowds lined five-deep and waited for eight hours to catch a glimpse of Biden in County Louth, where his mother's family is from. In the town of Carlingford, the Democratic president toured a castle, gazing out over the sea where his ancestors sailed toward America. From inside a packed old pub with a sticky wooden floor, Biden acknowledged that his ancestors emigrated to the United States to escape famine, but he added, When youre here, you wonder why anyone would ever want to leave. The president was elated by the dive into his Irish heritage, which he often cites as a driving force in his public and private life. According to the Irish Family History Centre, Biden is among the most Irish of all U.S. Presidents. Ten of his 16 great-great-grandparents were from the Emerald Isle. ___ Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report. President Biden highlighted the strength of the ties between Ireland and the U.S. in a speech before the Irish Parliament on Thursday after his meeting with Irish President Michael Higgins in Dublin. The trip has afforded Mr. Biden the opportunity to combine diplomacy with a little exploration of his Irish ancestry. "Today, you are amongst friends, because you are one of us," said Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, effectively the speaker of the lower chamber, addressing Mr. Biden before his speech. The president also spoke of the mutual and international benefit of the relationship between the two countries, "a partnership for the ages." "The journeys of our ancestors expanded our horizons, and literally excited our imaginations," Mr. Biden said. "They became the untiring backbone of America's progress as a nation, even as they endured discrimination and were denied opportunity." Mr. Biden said that perhaps more than most, "the United States was shaped by Ireland." The U.S. president spoke of how Benjamin Franklin once visited the Irish parliament and said Ireland was "disposed to be friends" of America. "We're nations that know what it means to persevere for freedom, to brave a civil war, to toil in the vineyards of democracy," Mr. Biden said. That fight for democracy continues, Mr. Biden said, in turning to the subject of Russia's war on Ukraine. "Today, Ireland and the United States are standing together to oppose Russia's brutal aggression and support the brave people of Ukraine," Mr. Biden said, prompting intense applause from the members of parliament. "President Kennedy said 60 years ago, and I quote, 'Ireland pursues an independent course in foreign policy. But it is not neutral between liberty and tyranny. And never will be.' Thank you for that. Over the past year, Ireland has proved him right." Story continues The president's visit to the Republic of Ireland followed his trip to Northern Ireland, which is part of the U.K., to mark 25 years since the signing of the Good Friday agreement, a breakthrough that put an end to decades of violence. On Thursday, Mr. Biden signed the guestbook inside the Irish president's residence, and turning to Higgins, he quoted his grandfather. "Your feet will bring you to where your heart is," said Mr. Biden, added that it was an "honor to return and to come home to the home of my ancestors." The Good Friday Agreement encouraged both sides in the conflict to lay down arms and set up a local government for Northern Ireland, sharing power between Republicans and unionists. But his visit comes as tensions are running high, with trade issues after Brexit creating political fissures that prompted British unionist politicians to withdraw from a 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. Biden travel documents found on street in Northern Ireland The president's trip to Ireland also comes amid international fallout over the apparent leak of classified Pentagon documents online. Federal law enforcement officials have identified the person suspected of leaking secret defense and intelligence documents that have circulated online for weeks, three U.S. officials tell CBS News. The officials confirmed the suspect is a man named Jack Teixeira. The New York Times, which first revealed his name Thursday, reported that he is a 21-year-old member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The president took his first questions on the subject Thursday before news of the suspect's identity broke, saying he's "concerned that it happened." "I'm not concerned about the leak because I'm concerned that it happened, but there's nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of great consequence," Mr. Biden said. The U.S. president has long touted his Irish heritage, and the White House has made a point of hosting elaborate celebrations on St. Patrick's Day. Mr. Biden hosted Irish Prime Minister Leo Eric Varadkar at the White House for St. Patrick's Day last month, complete with a performance by Niall Horan of One Direction. Mr. Biden is the eighth sitting U.S. president to visit Ireland. John F. Kennedy, the first Irish-Catholic president, was the first sitting U.S. president to visit. Mr. Biden's sister, Valerie his "best friend in the world," and his adult son, Hunter, are traveling with the president. On Friday, the president is set to travel to County Mayo, where his great-great-great grandfather was born in the 1840s. He plans to visit a sanctuary and genealogical center before delivering remarks at a cathedral, according to the White House. "Today, ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate the enduring partnership between our nations, our shared past, our present, let's set our eyes squarely on the future," Mr. Biden said as he closed out his remarks to the parliament Thursday. "Let's harness what's best in us our courage, our creativity, our loyalty, our tenacity, and our loyalty again. Let's once more, for our generation and the generation to come, strive to make hope and history rhyme. Because I've never been more optimistic about the future than I am today. And I'm at the end of my career, not the beginning." Haley Ott contributed to this report. Suspect arrested in classified Pentagon documents leak From 1988: Hal Prince and the Broadway opening of "Phantom of the Opera" Pentagon on document leak: "This was a deliberate criminal act" Good morning and welcome to Fox News morning newsletter, Fox News First. Subscribe now to get Fox News First in your email. And here's what you need to know to start your day ... FAILING NARRATIVE - Biden's claim to have no knowledge of Hunter's business dealings becoming harder to maintain. Continue reading BACK IN THE BIG APPLE - Trump arrives back in Manhattan for NY attorney general's deposition. Continue reading DOCUMENTS ON DISCORD - Classified intel leaker works on military base, posted docs on chat app: report. Continue reading 'MIND BLOWINGLY DANGEROUS'- AI-generated Joe Rogan podcast stuns social media with 'terrifying' accuracy. Continue reading APPEALS COURT REVERSAL - Judges preserve access to abortion pill mifepristone with some restrictions. Continue reading READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP WHAT THE HELL? - Trumps comment about Newsom raises eyebrows with conservatives. Continue reading A LOT OF MISINFORMATION - Firearms trainer blasts sweeping semiautomatic rifle ban in Washington. Continue reading BATTLE BREWING - Embattled Soros-backed prosecutor in St. Louis gets 2024 challenger. Continue reading DISDAIN FOR THE SICK - Walter Reed says Catholic pastoral care contract under review. Continue reading Click here for more cartoons WE'RE LOSING' - Trump issues dire warning about US's fate if war breaks out. Continue reading BEER BOYCOTT - Bud Light's celebration of trans activist has 'more legs than most': industry expert. Continue reading COMPLETE 180 - Twitter CEO Elon Musk disappoints supporters by limiting free speech on platform. Continue reading BIRTHING PERSON - Nonbinary Dr. Phil guest claims 'just because I gave birth doesn't make me a woman.' Continue reading JESSE WATTERS - Michelle Obama is having her Hillary moment. Continue reading TUCKER CARLSON - Everybody in the Democratic Party wants to be Martin Luther King at this point. Continue reading Story continues LAURA INGRAHAM - This massive intel breach tells the world that we can't keep our secrets secure. Continue reading SEAN HANNITY - A 'new axis of evil' is forming as Biden damages America's standing on the world stage. Continue reading OVERWHELMED - Community rallies around 93-year-old veteran after car is stolen by scammer. Continue reading TRADITIONAL VALUES - Muslims join parents' rights battle over schools with surprising results. Continue reading DEEPFAKES - Dawn of racy AI images has porn users questioning reality. Continue reading BACK THE BADGE - Angie Dickinson pioneer of TV police women in Hollywood. Continue reading STUNNING CREATURE - Man in Canada captures rare white moose on camera. See video WATCH: Riley Gaines was attacked by the radical rainbow mafia: Caitlyn Jenner. See video WATCH: U.S. and Taiwan's relationship has never been stronger: Enes Kanter Freedom. See video Whats it looking like in your neighborhood? Continue reading Facebook Instagram YouTube Twitter LinkedIn Fox News First Fox News Opinion Fox News Lifestyle Fox News Entertainment (FOX411) Fox News Fox Business Fox Weather Fox Sports Tubi Fox News Go Thank you for making us your first choice in the morning! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Friday. (Reuters) -The person who leaked U.S. classified documents prompting a national security investigation is a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base, the Washington Post reported on Wednesday, citing fellow members of an online chat group. The person shared classified information to a group on the instant messaging platform Discord of about two dozen men and young boys who shared a "mutual love of guns, military gear and God," the Post said. The Post based its report, which did not name the person, on interviews with two members of the Discord chat group. Reuters was unable to verify details of the report. Discord said in a statement earlier on Wednesday that it was cooperating with law enforcement. The Department of Defense and the Department of Justice did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The Department of Justice opened a formal criminal probe last week after the matter was referred by the Pentagon, which is assessing the damage done by what may be the most damaging release of classified U.S. information in years. The person went by the handle OG, slang for Original Gangster, or an old school traditionalist. The person was described by one of the Post's sources as being in his early to mid-20s, and was looked up to by members of the group. "He's fit. He's strong. He's armed. He's trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie," said one member of the chat group, who was under 18 and spoke on the condition of anonymity with the permission of his mother, the Post reported. In what appears to be the gravest leak of U.S. secrets in years, pictures of sensitive documents were posed on Discord and other platforms including the online messaging board 4Chan, the encrypted Telegram global messaging app, and Twitter. U.S. national security agencies and the Justice Department are investigating the release to assess the damage to national security and relations with allies and other countries, including Ukraine. (Reporting by Daniel Trotta and Idrees AliEditing by Don Durfee and Raju Gopalakrishnan) Washington state lawmakers are considering two bills that could significantly affect housing in the state, potentially expanding the construction of mother-in-law suites and duplexes in large cities. Both bills have already made it through the Senate with bipartisan support. Keller Williams Eastside Managing Broker Brenda Nunes believes if passed into law, these bills could assist the needs of Washingtons missing middle. Its the population that should be able to afford where they live, where they work, but because the prices of homes are so high its rare that you see somebody buying a house that doesnt have a technology background, said Nunes. Back in 2004, the city of Kirkland changed its single-family zoning law. Nunes says relaxing restrictions allowed for greater diversity and density. Theyre smaller houses that fit into neighborhoods that have been traditionally probably single-family, Nunes said. Across Lake Washington, real estate agent Carmen Barr sees a need for not just more options in Seattle, but more affordable options. Barr points out, newly developed townhomes closer to the city often start at $1.5 million dollars or higher, which is often unaffordable for young families. Seattle is a beautiful, artistic city with many artists working here, said Barr. My hope would be that they could enjoy home ownership in a city where they live and work. Both bills now need to secure support in the House before they arrive on Gov. Inslees desk. "Fyre Festival II is finally happening," McFarland tweeted this week, following his involvement in the original ill-fated festival Mark Lennihan/AP Photo Fyre Festival is gearing up for a take-two, Billy McFarland says. McFarland, the organizer of the first failed concert experience, announced on Twitter this week that a second iteration of the event is in the works. "Fyre Festival II is finally happening," the 31-year-old wrote Sunday. "Tell me why you should be invited." 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. Fyre Festival II is finally happening. Tell me why you should be invited. Billy McFarland (@pyrtbilly) April 10, 2023 Related:Fyre Festival Organizer Billy McFarland Gets Early Prison Release, Transferred to Community Confinement: Report Promising luxurious accommodations and extravagant meals, music fans infamously shelled out upwards of $1,595 for what they thought would be a weekend of fun in the sun in the Bahamas, with Fyre's organizers, which included co-founder Ja Rule, also promoting performances by Blink-182 and Migos, plus appearances by high-profile social media influencers, including Kendall Jenner. But once guests arrived at Great Exuma, festival attendees walked into chaos. "Deluxe housing" translated to flimsy tents, and cheese sandwiches served as gourmet fare. When many of the musical acts failed to show due to the conditions, travelers were stranded on the island. Netflix's FYRE: The Greatest Party That Never Happened and Hulu's Fyre Fraud further documented what attendees called hellish conditions. splash News Fyre Festival Related:Fyre Festival Founder Apologizes from Prison: 'I've Made Many Wrong and Immature Decisions' Story continues McFarland was released from prison last March after serving part of a six-year sentence on wire fraud charges in connection with his involvement in the ill-fated festival. After reporting to jail in October 2018, McFarland apologized for his actions, and opened up to PEOPLE a month later about his regrets and hopes for the future. "I am incredibly sorry for my collective actions and will right the wrongs I have delivered to my family, friends, partners, associates and, you, the general public," he said in an exclusive statement at the time. "I've always sought and dreamed to accomplish incredible things by pushing the envelope to deliver for a common good, but I made many wrong and immature decisions along the way and I caused agony. As a result, I've lived every day in prison with pain, and I will continue to do so until I am able to make up for some of this harm through work and actions that society finds respectable." RELATED VIDEO: Former Fyre Festival Social Promoter Reveals the Moment He Realized 'There's No Way' It's Happening In a separate tweet over the weekend, McFarland seemingly shared that the festival would happen in a similar setting as the first attempt. "Going to crush the island version first," McFarland wrote, before tagging Elon Musk and adding: "But @elonmusk Fyre 3 definitely needs to be in space." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. [Source] A Black student studying in China has gone viral on social media for his condemnation of a racist video on TikTok. The New York City-born student, Hasani Arnold, uploaded a video responding to the TikTok video of a woman mocking Asian manicurists at nail salons. When the Chinese people talking to their friends in their language while doing your nails, the woman captioned her TikTok video, which contains audio that appears to mock Chinese nail technicians having a conversation. She then says, B*tch, shut the f*ck up. You sound like a before Arnolds video interferes. More from NextShark: Netizens react to President Biden posing with a finger heart for Oval Office photo with BTS As someone who has studied Chinese for 12 years, I can tell you that this absolutely isnt Chinese, Arnold says in Mandarin. And I dont understand why you chose to upload this type of video. Before you uploaded this video, did you maybe stop to think that posting this video will make the divide between Asian Americans and Black Americans worse? You definitely didnt do any serious thought before posting this. You may think that making fun of Chinese this way is funny, but I can tell you that its not funny at all. So I really dont know why you would post something like this. Do you really think its funny? I dont. More from NextShark: Chinese woman learns street cleaner who she stopped for directions is her daughter lost 24 years ago Arnold, who is a Hunter College graduate and a Schwarzman Scholar, is currently studying at the Tsinghua University in Beijing. He uses his TikTok account to document his life experiences in China as an international student who can speak Chinese, which he self-studied for five years prior to entering college. The response video, which was uploaded by Arnold over the weekend, has garnered over 1 million views and more than 300,000 likes, with TikTok users praising him for speaking up for the Chinese community. Thank you for this because Im so tired, one user commented. Story continues More from NextShark: Korean words are being mistaken for racial slurs in latest trending K-pop song 95% of the time theyre literally just talking about whos getting the next client and what to do or about their life and kids, another user explained. Many viewers also praised Hasanis tonality and pronunciation while speaking in Chinese. As a native speaker, your Mandarin is so good! one user said. More from NextShark: Influencer harassed with disturbing, threatening messages because she resembles Blackpink's Rose Your accent is so Northern. Im impressed, another user wrote. Im inviting you over for my next family potluck, one user joked. Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Getty In 2003, when Shane Chartres-Abbott was facing charges for raping and assaulting a woman in Australia, the 28-year-old put forth a patently absurd defense: he was a centuries-old vampire who craved human blood. Some fans of pop psychology rushed to diagnose Chartres-Abbott. The mixing of blood and sexual urges, they argued, was totally in line with Renfields Syndrome, a mental illness that was not formally recognized within the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (the principle guidebook for classifying mental illnesses in the U.S.), but that had been documented in academic psychological journals. The disorder was named after R.M. Renfielda character in the 1897 Bram Stoker novel Dracula who slavishly served the titular monster, and the main character of the horror-comedy Renfield starring Nicholas Hoult, out this week. The only problem was, Renfields Syndrome wasnt real. Its documentation in scientific literature had originated as a jokeone that had grown far past anything its creator could ever imagine. Nicolas Cage Stayed in Character as Dracula Even Behind the Scenes on Renfield Set In the early 1990s, Richard Noll was a psychologist who had left his job at a state hospital in New Jersey to try his hand at horror and monster-themed novels. As he prepared to defend his doctoral thesis in clinical psychology at New Yorks New School for Social Research, he decided his next booka work of nonfictionwould combine his two areas of expertise in order to shore up his professional bona fides. He bundled together some of the medical research he had done for his novels to examine the psychopathology that really lay behind creepy, real-life phenomena. He gave it the title Vampires, Werewolves and Demons: Twentieth Century Reports in the Psychiatric Literature. At the time, the field of mental health care was still in the throes of a seismic shift. In 1980, the third edition of the DSM had radically changed how mental illnesses were classified and organized. Trained in Freudian psychoanalysis, Noll felt the DSM III was definitely an improvement over the old Freudian, psychoanalytic way of doing things. But he found himself critical of how the new manual reduced highly complex illnesses to bullet points and checklists. Story continues I had a realization that in the DSM, theres over 500 disorders, and theres only about 10 of them that have any real biological findings, Noll, now a professor of clinical psychology and the history of medicine at DeSales University, told The Daily Beast. You know, things like schizophrenia, bipolar I disorder, autism, panic disorder, OCD, we have absolutely definite biological findings associated with those. And then theres a few others, but hundreds of the other ones are basically just social constructions. Richard Noll. Courtesy DeSales University With those critiques swimming through his head as he typed away at his manuscript late one night, he was struck by a sudden urge: What if he could screw with the eggheads? Id been writing for hours, and I was a little loopy and I thought, you know, theres a certain way you can read these case histories and abstract from them and create a DSM disorder, he said. A longtime admirer of Stokers novel, Noll had particularly developed a fondness for the character Dr. Abraham Van Helsing, the multi-talented physician, scientist and philosopher who has become synonymous with vampire killing. To Noll, Van Helsings considerable intellectual giftshis ability to see what others did not seewas something to aspire to in his own professional life. (His own Transylvanian heritage on his fathers side might also have played a role in his relationship to the source material). Noll published the book in 1992. Tucked into the book were just a few paragraphs calling on the need to classify a brand-new diagnosis, based on case studies Noll had dug up from the archives in which patients would develop fixations with consuming live animals or blood (either their own or from another person), while also becoming sexually aroused. Noll suggested the condition be called Renfields Syndrome, named after Draculas tragic familiar in the novel. In the story, Renfield was cursed to live by consuming flies and spiders to absorb their energy, giving readers a more humanized, grounded version of the same compulsions that drove the titular vampire. Noll was looking to satirize the rush among psychiatrists at the time to invent new clinical classifications for strange behaviorsand inventing a new one inspired by vampirism felt both funny as well as identifiable. In a 2013 public presentation at Penn State, Noll called the giggly moment where he came up with Renfields Syndrome my Van Helsing moment. I began to think of all the new DSM-speak and biobabble we were all learning to use at that time, and I thought how much fun it would be to create a parody of a DSM-III mental disorder based on the case of Renfield, he told the audience. Little did I know, at that moment I had created a monster. In Nolls joke description, Renfields Syndrome was defined as involving a traumatic childhood incident involving blood. While clinical vampirism had already been coined as a term in psychiatric literature, Noll elevated the concept with Renfields Syndrome, explaining that the inciting incident would lead sufferers to associate blood with an excitement that would eventually evolve to include a sexual component. Naming the fictional syndrome after Dracula would have been the sexier option said Noll, but he felt Renfields humanity made him a better fit. (Noll is particularly a fan of Tom Waits shuffling, shambling portrayal of Renfield in the 1992 adaptation of Stokers novel, starring Keanu Reeves but does plan to check out Hoults take on the character once its released). While there have been recorded cases of patients claiming to crave blood, they often suffer from other, more common disorders like bulimia or schizophrenia. To Noll, the rare case of someone wanting to drink human blood isnt indicative of an actual syndrome, but of something much simpler. I'm sorry to say, and this isnt very clinical or very sophisticated or academic, but some people are just fucking nuts, he stated bluntly. Not everything can be categorized. While the book sold fairly well, Noll didnt think his late-night gag would ever bear anything notable. That is until 1994, when a producer from NBC called, saying the network was planning a Halloween segment on the illness and wanted him to appear as an expert. George Conway Breaks Down Trumps Deep Mental Disorder Noll declined, but the segment ran anyway. Soon, Renfields Syndrome would become something of a mainstay in bad television: both CSI and Criminal Minds have had episodes featuring characters who are said to suffer from the disorder. Exhausted TV writers are one thing to worry about, but Nolls monster didnt stop there. Fellow academicsyou know, the ones who spend years of their life engaging with scientific findings and peer-reviewed databegan to jump on the Renfields Syndrome bandwagon. For decades, Noll sat back in amusement as his fictional mental illness began racking up citations in peer-reviewed journals. A Google Scholar search turns up over a dozen results for Renfields Syndrome, including a 2010 paper in Annals of the American Psychotherapy Association purporting to include a case study; and the following year, an article in the Journal of the History of the Neurosciences which purports to lay out a proper working definition of the disorder. That an offhand joke was being cited in scholarly papers without a hint of irony surprised Noll. But bad information going viral was not new to psychiatry. This is a branch of medicine whose most famous practitioner, Sigmund Freud, recommended copious amounts of cocaine as a treatment. Virtual Reality Could Completely Transform Mental Healthif Were Ready In fact, this would not even be the first instance of Noll playing some role in the spread of pseudo-psychiatric information (although he would stay on the right side of things). At roughly the same time he was concocting Renfield's Syndrome, the U.S. was awash in a fearful mania around supposedly traumatized children who had suffered abuse at the hands of devil worshippers. Noll emerged as one of the leading voices urging restraint when it came to believing these outlandish stories, even as some people suffered life-altering consequences for crimes they didnt commit. If Satanic cabals sound familiar, a very similar belief system is at the core of many QAnon conspiracy theories, a development that worries Noll, particularly as many in the mental health profession continue to believe in recovered memories. Still, even as the joke has illustrated some of the major flaws in how concepts, no matter how faulty or even flat-out made-up, can find life in academic circles, Noll still sees the humor in his undying joke. When asked if his joke is still relevant in 2023, he points out that while he never published an official rebuttal of those who unironically invoke Renfields Syndrome, he has confessed in public speeches. It gives me endless pleasure to see Renfields Syndrome mentioned on the web, he said. I mean, I made it clear [in a] presentation, where I outed myself, back in 2013 at Penn State. I gave a little Halloween presentation there where I basically debunked myself, and the concept of Renfields Syndrome, so, yeah, it is. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Firefighters lift the casket into the top of a firetruck following the funeral of Chicago Fire Department Lt./EMT Jan Tchoryk, on April 13, 2023, at St. Joseph Ukrainian Church in Chicago. Tchoryk died April 5, 2023, as he led a ladder crew in a staircase trying to put out the wind-driven blaze at 1212 N. DuSable Lake Shore Drive. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Jan Tchoryk was remembered as a jokester who knew how to fully immerse himself in the world around him. He enjoyed cigars and Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky, loved going on cross-country motorcycle rides and proudly posted photos with his I Voted sticker every Election Day. These are the memories shared Thursday of the Chicago Fire Department lieutenant, who will also be remembered for his unwavering commitment to serve after he died of a heart attack last week while battling a fire in a lakefront high-rise in the Gold Coast neighborhood. The 55-year-old veteran firefighter was leading a ladder crew in a staircase trying to put out the wind-driven blaze on April 5 when he went down, Fire Commissioner Annette Nance-Holt said at a news conference. Advertisement Hundreds of people gathered outside St. Joseph Ukrainian Catholic Church in Chicago Thursday morning as Tchoryks remains were brought inside, the casket covered with an American flag. Firefighters and mourners stood at attention, paying their respects to the fallen first responder as another United States flag waved in the wind, suspended between the ladders of two fire trucks. Inside the church, celebrants surrounded the open casket and intoned both sorrowful and hopeful hymns to begin the service, during which family, friends and peers paid tribute to Tchoryk with emotional speeches. Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson also was in attendance. Advertisement His smile was infectious to all around him, said Laryssa Osyka, Tchoryks niece and goddaughter. Jan was many things. ... To many, he was also a comedian. And boy, was he a good one. From telling jokes to pulling pranks, this is the truth that remains: My uncle Johnny would have you in stitches and your abs hurting in short order. She said Tchoryk was specially proud of his three children: a Chicago police officer, a hairstylist and a college student. His second wife, Natalia, helped Tchoryk reconnect with his culture, faith and Ukrainian heritage and language, Osyka said. [ It just doesnt happen. But today, it did: Veteran fire lieutenant second to die in as many days following extra-alarm blaze at Gold Coast high-rise ] Just as he was proud of his Ukrainian heritage, however, Tchoryk was a proud American and Chicagoan, loved ones said. A Navy veteran, he served in Desert Storm during the Gulf War. After returning to Chicago, he worked for Clorox for a while before joining the academy and becoming a part of the Chicago Fire Department in 1997, where he served for the next 26 years. Edward Kelly, general president of the International Association of Firefighters, presented Tchoryks son, Chicago police Officer Dylan Tchoryk, with the Martin E. Pierce Medal of Valor, the unions highest memorial honor. When we take an oath as firefighters, we take an oath to put others first, Kelly said. That sacrifice is the cornerstone of what we do ... The same oath that Jan and Jermaine lived day in and day out distinguished them as men who lived for others. Tchoryk was the second firefighter to lose his life in the line of duty last week. Firefighter Jermaine Pelt, 49, died April 4 during a West Pullman blaze. Pelts funeral service is scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday at the House of Hope, 752 E. 114th St. Chicago Fire Department Chaplain Bill McFarlane said that while he didnt know Tchoryk personally, a deep dive into the firefighters Facebook page revealed some of his quirks and a bit of his personality. For instance, Tchoryk finished most of his posts with a short, optimistic message: Be positive or Its my pleasure. I learned he was a good son, husband, father, stepfather and brother of the Chicago Fire Department, McFarlane said. It was easy to see that his life was all about service. Advertisement McFarlane said that when he got to Tchoryks hospital room last week, he found another firefighter sitting on the floor, crushed and exhausted. When a fire chief told him he could take a break, the firefighter looked up and said: Im not going anywhere until Jans wife gets here. The funeral procession moves down Cumberland Avenue toward St. Joseph Ukrainian Church for Chicago firefighter Lt. Jan Tchoryk on April 13, 2023. (Antonio Perez / Chicago Tribune) Mourners attend the funeral service for Chicago Fire Department Lt. Jan Tchoryk at St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Catholic Church on the Northwest Side on April 13, 2023. (Anthony Vazquez/Sun-Times) To me, that exemplifies the spirit of the Chicago Fire Department, McFarlane said. Because as soon as something like this happens, the apparatus of love is put into action. Fellow fire officials and colleagues also paid tribute to Tchoryk with short but tearful speeches. Some of them knew him personally others didnt but they all agreed that he was a dedicated, hardworking man who brought laughter to those around him. They said his legacy wont be forgotten anytime soon. [ They are family: Chicago firefighters cope with unprecedented pair of deaths ] 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 > Every call for help that we respond to is potentially the worst day of someones life. Were there when you need us is not just our motto, it is our way of life, Nance-Holt said. Right now, the brave members of the Chicago Fire Department and the Tchoryk family need Chicago. We need Chicago because this is one of the worst weeks of our lives. Nance-Holt said Tchoryk heeded the call to serve until the very end, and she asked mourners to take a moment to celebrate and honor him with applause. At times like these, we often ponder about a persons legacy. Did he or she leave this place better than they found it? Well, for Jan, the answer is yes. Engine 4 Lt. Richard Florzcak said he couldnt have asked for a better partner than Tchoryk when he joined the firehouse a year ago. As Jan would appreciate all your tears, he said to the crowd, I know he loved your laughter more than anything. Advertisement May you rest in peace, my friend, Florzcak said. Tchoryks family then approached the casket for a final farewell. As the service concluded, fire officials rang a bell three times, then paused before ringing it three more times, then pausing again before ringing it five times. The 3-3-5 sequence signals firefighters have returned to the firehouse after a call. With the sounding of this bell, Florzcak said, Lt.-EMT Jan Tchoryk has returned home. adperez@chicagotribune.com San Francisco police have reportedly arrested a fellow tech executive in connection with the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee. Lee, 43, died in San Francisco General Hospital on Tuesday 4 April after being stabbed twice in the Rincon Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco. Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the suspect, but the Mission Local news site reports that the person worked in the tech industry and was known to Lee. Lee, the chief product officer at MobileCoin, had been visiting San Francisco from Miami when he was stabbed twice in the torso last week. His final tragic moments as he stumbled, mortally wounded, down Main St in San Franciscos downtown district in search of help were captured on surveillance footage. Breaking more to come Bossier City Police Department released information on a murder/suicide that occurred in the city limits on Monday, April 10. Early Monday morning Bossier City Police Department was dispatched to a home on McGregor Street on reports of a disturbance following shots fired. Upon arrival, officers located two adults who had been shot and were pronounced dead at the scene. Through preliminary investigation, police were able to identify the bodies as Broderick Giovannte Messer, 44, of Lewisville, Texas and Consuelo O'Neal, 49. Messer was found in the backyard of the home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head, and O'Neal was found inside the home with a gunshot wound to the head. Through the investigation, officers were able to identify that there was forced entry inside the home. It was also determined that the two had been in a relationship, which had recently ended. Bossier City Press said in a press release, "Messer killed ONeal then turned the gun on himself after exiting the residence." This is the first homicide in Bossier City for 2023. How a possible TikTok ban could affect some of your favorite North Louisiana creators Makenzie Boucher is a reporter with the Shreveport Times. Contact her at mboucher@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Bossier City releases information on the first murder of the year Former Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl was granted a victory in court last month, when a federal judge ruled partially in favor to throw out the verdict of his court martial. Senior Judge Reggie Walton, of the U.S. District Court in Washington, partially granted the federal governments motion to dismiss Bergdahls case. However, Walton rejected claims by Bergdahl that comments from former President Donald Trump and the late Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) unduly influence his military proceedings. On the campaign trail, then-candidate Trump described Bergdahl as a dirty rotten traitor, while McCain threatened congressional hearings if Bergdahl did not receive punishment, according to a report first published by Military.com. Attorneys for Bergdahl also argued that the presiding judge over the former soldiers case failed to disclose his employment plans following his retirement from the military court system. Jeffery Nance, then an Army colonel, did not reveal he had applied for a position as an immigration judge for the Justice Department, only stating he intended to retire. Lawyers with the Justice Departments Civil Division argued those details were too little too late, given that Bergdahls attorneys waited two years after Nance had been sworn in to cite his failure to disclose his plans. Bergdahl first made headlines when he deserted his post in Afghanistan in June 2009. He was captured by the Taliban and held for five years, setting off a massive manhunt involving hundreds of troops. Bergdahl has stated that he walked away from 1st Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment to bring problems in his unit to the attention of senior Army officials. In 2014, the U.S. government finalized a prisoner swap of five Taliban leaders in exchange for Bergdahl. He was sentenced in 2017 to a dishonorable discharge, reduction to the rank of private, and forfeiture of $10,000 in pay. Bergdahl filed a petition in civilian court in February 2021, following a vote months earlier by the Court of Appeals for the Armed Forces that upheld his conviction. Story continues Walton is expected to provide more clarification on the reasons behind his decision, the report said. In a statement, Walton noted that this may not be the final word when it comes to Bergdahls legal fate. This order is not a final [o]rder subject to appeal, he wrote. Dorrit Corwin and her late boyfriend. Dorrit Corwin My boyfriend at Brown University died by suicide last fall. In the weeks immediately after that, my friends and family rallied around me for support. As I finish my spring semester, I'm still grieving and struggling to find that support. Last September, I called a few therapists in Providence, Rhode Island. I wanted to equip myself with a tool kit to support my boyfriend, Jameson, through his ongoing battle with depression. I was a junior and he was a sophomore at Brown University. We had only been dating for a few months, but we'd been close friends for several years. I made an appointment with a therapist for mid-October. I told her I was eager to begin but in no real hurry, as Jameson seemed to be doing fine. A few weeks later, he took his own life. I was blindsided and utterly devastated. In the days after that, my support system was there to help me through. But this week marks the six-month anniversary of his passing, and I'm still weighed down with grief. As I struggle through my spring semester, the support from others has plateaued, so I often feel alone with my grief. Immediately after his death, I began my grief journey My mom accompanied me to my first therapy appointment; I was bleary-eyed, trembling, and in complete denial of my new reality. It was also the first time I'd left my house in days. My friends and family checked in on me constantly. I received hundreds of texts and calls. Two weeks later, I returned to my classes, determined to redevelop some semblance of my old routine and finish my classes. My professors were exceedingly accommodating. The first month or so was a blur; I remember very little, but I was touched by the plethora of ways people showed up for me from cooking me dinner and walking me to class to driving me out of Providence for a night and initiating difficult emotional conversations. Gradually, as the dust settled, the support began to plateau During my winter break from Brown, I started attending the weekly meetings of a virtual support group designed for people in their 20s who have lost someone to suicide. I finally encountered a space where I felt understood and heard. While most of my friends were able to reset a couple of weeks later at the beginning of this spring semester, I wasn't. Story continues I celebrated my 22nd birthday the first weekend back at school, and while I felt enveloped in love, I can count the people on one hand who acknowledged the elephant in the otherwise gleeful room: that the first birthday after losing someone absolutely sucks. He was the only person I wanted to be with or hear from on that day. For the first few weeks of this semester, none of my friends said anything. I reached out to my new professors to inform them of my ongoing grief, in lieu of the fact that I had not heard from a single administrator or dean since November. I know I appear "normal" and high functioning to those around me because I'm attending classes, engaging in my extracurriculars, and going out to parties. But the more I try to distract myself with a routine and some semblance of normalcy, the more I begin to feel invisible. Between therapy, the support group, and talking to my mom, I have resources. But many of my friends appear to have moved on with their lives in a way that I can't. I am forced to compartmentalize my life; my academics and social life have become separated from my grief. I realized that I need to verbalize the fact that I need help and support I don't blame anyone for not knowing how to navigate being there for me; suicide is a taboo topic that no one knows how to approach. I became aware I have to give my friends permission to talk about Jameson. Sharing memories of him is incredibly comforting and the only way to keep him alive. I tell them that we all need to process this together and not shove it to the back of our minds. I also have to tell people to ask me directly how I'm doing not through a mutual friend. Otherwise, I never know whether people are just avoiding the subject or if they've forgotten about it and moved on. I've cried at bars, at formals in plenty of strange places. While I'd generally prefer it be brought up in private, sometimes crying in public is incredibly liberating. I feel seen. Lastly, I tell my friends that just showing up for me is enough if they're not in a place to have an emotional conversation. I remind them that it's easy to isolate myself, so I appreciate it when they're proactive. My grief feels never-ending and nonlinear The so-called five stages exist, but there is no timeline to them; sometimes I experience all five within the span of a day. My No. 1 coping mechanism has always been writing. On the day that Jameson died, I began a fragmented pseudo-journal. It took me a lot longer to begin stringing any thoughts into coherent sentences. Now that I am able to, it feels like I've grown wings. I hope those wings continue to bring me closer to those who want to show support and closer to him. Read the original article on Insider NEW YORK Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Braggs new lawsuit against Rep. Jim Jordan is an aggressive counterpunch for a first-term elected prosecutor who is typically averse to politics. But its not the first time that Bragg, a Democrat, has fought House Republicans. Hes dusting off a legal strategy devised seven years ago by one of his top lieutenants when they both worked in the New York attorney generals office. That strategy defying federal subpoenas by invoking state sovereignty shows a prosecutor intent on defending the independence of local investigations from congressional oversight. And by suing Jordan and his House Judiciary Committee directly, Bragg has escalated his public confrontation with the House GOP over the investigation and indictment of former President Donald Trump. Braggs lawsuit, filed Tuesday in federal court in New York, asks a judge to block a subpoena seeking testimony from Mark Pomerantz, a former assistant DA who briefly worked under Bragg and has criticized aspects of his Trump investigation. The lawsuit echoes legal arguments advanced in 2016 and 2017 in another subpoena fight on a hot-button issue. At the time, New Yorks attorney general, Democrat Eric Schneiderman, was investigating whether Exxon Mobil misled investors about the risks of climate change. A GOP-controlled House panel accused Schneiderman of having a political agenda and served subpoenas seeking documents from the probe. Bragg was a senior official in Schneidermans office, as was Leslie Dubeck, who was then counsel to the attorney general and is now Braggs general counsel. Congressional interference with state and local prosecutors is unusual and raises delicate questions about the balance of power between Congress and the states. So Schneidermans office resisted. Dubeck was the architect of Schneidermans approach. She led the attorney generals refusal to comply, and she prepared to either sue the House committee or defend the attorney generals office if the committee took the matter to court. The panels investigation, shewrote at the time, oversteps the boundaries imposed by federalism and violates New Yorks sovereignty. Story continues The conflict ultimately fizzled when the subpoenas lapsed, but Bragg and Dubeck have now revived the strategy. They know the cards that the House Republicans have to play in this situation, Eric Soufer, who was a spokesman for Schneiderman during the Exxon case, said of Bragg and Dubeck. Braggs lawsuit replicates many of the arguments that Dubeck made in the Exxon matter. The lawsuit says the Pomerantz subpoena violates basic principles of federalism and common sense and accuses the House GOP of infringing on Braggs authority and New Yorks sovereign interests. Judge Mary Kay Vyskocil, a Trump appointee, declined on Tuesday to issue an immediate order blocking the subpoena, and she scheduled an initial hearing for next Wednesday. The House GOPs probe of Braggs investigation is led by Jordan (R-Ohio), Oversight Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and Administration Chair Bryan Steil (R-Wis.). The Pomerantz subpoena is the first one they have issued. Though Braggs colleagues have said the first-term Democrat doesnt have much of a taste for political warfare, his effort to combat the House inquiry received a warm reception from those interested in seeing the district attorney defend the institution. The office should not capitulate to people with special interests, said Joan Vollero, who handled communications and intergovernmental affairs for Braggs predecessor, Cyrus Vance Jr. I think, ironically, the House Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are playing the same game of politics that theyve accused the office of playing. Congressional Republicans have criticized Braggs investigation of the former president as evidence of his political bias, arguing that the district attorneys pursuit of Trump stands in contrast to his liberal-leaning criminal justice policies for minor offenses. In advance of Trumps indictment, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy warned that charges against the former president would be an outrageous abuse of power by a radical DA who lets violent criminals walk as he pursues political vengeance against President Trump. Another irony in the case is that Bragg is borrowing some of the same arguments that Trump himself often used to resist congressional subpoenas when he was president. Trump frequently argued that Democrats probes into his finances were meant to harass him for political gain rather than promote a legitimate legislative purpose. Bragg is now taking a similar position about the House GOP inquiry. His lawsuit repeatedly cites a Supreme Court decision in a Trump subpoena fight, Trump v. Mazars, which suggested that congressional subpoenas against another branch of government can violate the separation of powers if they have an improper purpose. From an optics perspective, Soufer said, it is wise of Bragg to counterpunch. If you let them politicize it the way they want to, he said, youre going to lose in the court of public opinion. Both sides are launching increasingly aggressive public appeals. On Monday, Jordans committee is planning to hold a field hearing in Manhattan on Braggs pro-crime, anti-victim policies. A spokeswoman for Bragg has called the event a political stunt and has highlighted crime statistics showing a decline in murders, shootings, burglaries and robberies. BEIJING (AP) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai on Thursday as he looks to boost ties and win political support for attempts to mediate the conflict in Ukraine. Lula arrived late Wednesday and is due to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday before concluding his visit on Saturday. The Brazilian government says the sides are expected to sign at least 20 bilateral agreements during Lulas trip, underscoring the improvement in relations with the South American giants biggest trade partner following a rocky patch under predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. In Shanghai, Lula will also attend the official swearing in of close adviser and former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank. The institution posits itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which are controlled mainly by the United States and its Western allies. It is focused on the so-called BRICS group of developing nations made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Established more than seven years ago, the bank has approved 99 loan projects totaling more than $34 billion, mainly for infrastructure projects, according to China's Foreign Ministry. Much of that credit has gone to Brazil for projects such as a metro system in the business capital of Sao Paulo. Lula was shown arriving at the bank's headquarters and embracing Rousseff, his former chief of staff who succeeded him as president representing the Workers Party. Both later became embroiled in legal controversies, but Lula bounced back to win a third term by a narrow margin. During his meeting with Xi, Lula is expected to discuss trade, investment, reindustrialization, energy transition, climate change and peace agreements, according to the Brazilian government. China is Brazils biggest export market, each year buying tens of billions of dollars worth of soybeans, beef, iron ore, poultry, pulp, sugar cane, cotton and crude oil. Brazil is the biggest recipient of Chinese investment in Latin America, according to Chinese state media, although Lula has spoken against outright Chinese ownership of Brazilian companies. Story continues One of the agreements Lula will sign in China will be for construction of the sixth satellite built under a binational program that will monitor biomes such as the Amazon rainforest. China also recently ended a ban on Brazilian beef imposed in February after the discovery of an atypical case of mad cow disease. Politically, the left-leaning Lula's visit is a sign of Brazil's reemergence in global relations since he replaced Bolsonaro in January. Bolsonaro is a noted admirer of right-wing nationalists and showed little interest in international affairs or travel abroad. The often-abrasive right-wing populist and members of his family at times caused friction with Chinese authorities on issues from the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic to controversial telecommunications company Huawei. Lula made trips to Argentina and Uruguay in January and to the U.S. in February, signaling the importance he gives to international affairs, experts said. He toured the world during his first presidency from 2003-2010, particularly in his second term, when he visited dozens of countries, and has visited China twice before. On Thursday, he also visited a Huawei research center in Shanghai where he was shown a presentation on 5G and solutions in telemedicine, education and connectivity A very strong investment in research and innovation, Lula tweeted in a show of a support for a company shunned by the U.S. and many European countries as a potential security risk. A key piece of Lulas outreach abroad is his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, mediate peace over Ukraine. However, his suggestion that Ukraine cede Crimea as a means to forge peace has angered Kyiv and its closest backers. China has also sought to play a role in ending the conflict, though in a manner highly supportive of Moscow. It has refused to condemn the invasion, criticized economic sanctions on Russia and accused the U.S. and NATO of provoking the conflict. Russia and China declared a no limits relationship in a 2022 joint statement and Xi reaffirmed the closeness of ties in March by meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. A Chinese peace proposal presented in February contains aspects in common with Lulas, such as ceasing hostilities and starting negotiations, but says nothing about the return of Ukrainian territory seized by Russia and its separatist allies. Fashion designer Mary Quant, the style queen of Britain's Swinging Sixties who popularised the miniskirt, died on Thursday aged 93, her family said, prompting a flood of tributes. Whether Quant actually invented the then scandalously short skirts has long been disputed, with French designer Andre Courreges insisting he was the first to raise hemlines high on the thigh. But there is no doubt that without Quant, the mini would not have become an icon of 1960s youth rebellion. The diminutive designer -- whose trademark bob was styled by Vidal Sassoon -- was also credited with creating hot pants, the skinny-rib sweater and waterproof mascara. Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, called her a "visionary" while Britain's V&A design museum paid tribute to her "trailblazing" legacy. "It's impossible to overstate Quant's contribution to fashion," the museum said on Twitter. "She was one of the original disruptors, whose trend-setting work changed the way we thought as well as how we dressed," added Professor Frances Corner of London's Goldsmiths college, where Quant studied. "This profound impact took us from the black and white world of the 1950s to the technicolour brilliance of the 1960s and beyond." - 'Shorter, Shorter' - Quant opened her first boutique, Bazaar, in 1955 with her future husband and business partner Alexander Plunket Greene, who died in 1990. Located in Chelsea, which would become the beating heart of Swinging London, the shop sold clothes and accessories and its basement restaurant became a meeting point for young people and artists. The whole Chelsea district was soon attracting celebrities such as the actors Brigitte Bardot and Audrey Hepburn and pop stars including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones. Quant raised hemlines well above the knee, creating short dresses and skirts with simple shapes and strong colours that she described as "arrogant, aggressive and sexy". Story continues "Good taste is death, vulgarity is life," she told The Guardian. Her models were showcased in provocative window displays overlooking the King's Road, which became a miniskirt catwalk and drew American photographers keen to capture Swinging London. "City gents in bowler hats beat on our shop window with their umbrellas shouting 'Immoral!' and 'Disgusting!' at the sight of our miniskirts over the tights, but customers poured in to buy," she recalled in her 1966 book "Quant by Quant". The designer was also widely quoted as saying that "it was the girls on the King's Road who invented the mini... I wore them very short and the customers would say, 'Shorter, shorter'". - 'Quite outrageous' - The era's most high-profile model Lesley Lawson, better known as Twiggy, made the miniskirt popular abroad, and with business booming, Quant opened a second shop in London in 1957. She explored geometric designs, polka dots and contrasting colours, and played with new fabrics, including PVC and stretch fabrics, to achieve a modern and playful look. She entered the American market in the early 1960s, collaborating with department store JC Penney. She also created the cheaper Ginger Group line and went into cosmetics, all her designs featuring a trademark daisy. Quant also scandalised British society with her frank views on sex, making headlines when she famously said she had shaved her pubic hair into the shape of a heart and dyed it green. Although her heyday was in the 1960s and 1970s, when she turned her sights on the Japanese market, Quant's legacy can still be seen on the high street, with its high fashion at low prices. She sold her make-up company to a Japanese group in 2000, staying on as consultant. Alongside making it in America, Quant considered being knighted in 2015 her greatest achievement, and called Queen Elizabeth II, who made her a dame, "the wisest woman I've ever met". Asked by The Guardian in 2016 what she would change if she could edit her past, Quant replied: "Not much, I've had a lovely time." bur/jmy/br/jwp/jj/har/phz/fb A local politician in the United Kingdom is being investigated following accusations that he made racially derogatory statements heard in a recently leaked audio recording. Public outrage prompted a probe by the Pembrokeshire County Council in Wales to investigate whether Pembrokeshire Council member Andrew Edwards said, All white men should have a Black slave. A 16-second audio clip published by this week by Nation Cymru allegedly captures him saying Black people are of lower class than white people. Pembrokeshire Council member Andrew Edwards The audio was sent to the monitoring officer at Pembrokeshire County Council, Rhian Young. Young believed it to be Edwards and as a result, recommended an investigation be started by his own party. Nothing wrong with the skin color at all. () I think all white men should have a Black man as a slave or Black woman as a slave, you know, a male voice said to be Edwards proclaims. Theres nothing wrong with skin color, its just that theyre lower class than us white people, the remarks continued. The Conservative Party councilor has been made aware of the audio and the Pembrokeshire County Council investigation and has taken steps to have an independent party look into the clip. I am aware of such serious allegations being made against me, the representative for the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward and school governor said in a statement adding that he has self-referred the allegation to the Public Services Ombudsman. It is now in the hands of legal experts and the ombudsman, Edwards said. It would be unfair on the process for me to comment. While the ombudsmans office has confirmed the self-referral was received, it did not say if it has launched a formal investigation. A spokesperson for the council said the conservative group is aware that the councilor has enlisted the support of the Public Services Ombudsman but said: It would be inappropriate to comment further. During the Tuesday, April 11, council meeting, the group leader, Di Clements, said Edwards excused himself from the party while the investigation was underway. He did not say if Edwards would return after the probe was complete. Story continues These are extremely serious allegations. It has been mutually agreed that Cllr Edwards will leave the group while the matter is under investigation, Di Clements stated. In addition to stepping away from his party, Edwards has deactivated his social media accounts and declined to speak to the media. Some of his peers, like the Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies in the Senedd the Welsh Parliament called the remarks disgraceful and abhorrent. He also sought to make clear the views on the audio are not shared by the Welsh Conservatives, the BBC reports. Many took issue with the audio. A spokesperson for the opposition party called the views expressed on the recording disgusting. The representative said, Racism has absolutely no place in our society, let alone in the views expressed by an elected member on Pembrokeshire County Council. Twitter user Elizabeth Rose wrote, Andrew Edwards is a racist who does not need to be in a position of power. Yet, hes STILL a Councilor, a magistrate, and a school governor! What message are you sending? We condone racism and SLAVERY in 2023? Sickening. Another Twitter user said he doesnt care what party Edwards is in, Actions like that make my blood boil. Mike McGrother tweeted, So if this IS genuinely the conservative councilor & magistrate Andrew Edwards and he doesnt deny the statement I expect every party member to condemn and disown him or you are guilty by association. Edwards has been representing the Haverfordwest Prendergast ward since May 2022 and serves also as a magistrate. He also is listed in Pembrokeshire County Councils Register of Members Interests as a Freemason. In his day-to-day job, Edwards serves as a hairdresser at Freestyle Barbers shop in Haverfordwest and owns a pub. He also serves as a governor at the Prendergast Primary School in Haverfordwest. Should the ombudsman take the case, the investigation is expected to last about six weeks. If it is confirmed that he is the voice on the audio, the Adjudication Panel will note that Edwards broke the Code of Conduct of his office and would be disqualified from holding the office. He would not only have to relinquish his seat but would not be allowed to hold office for another five years. It is unclear if any of his other positions would be impacted by the decision. Brooke Shields says she was a pawn as a young sexualized actor. (Chris Pizzello / Invision / Associated Press) When The Blue Lagoon director Randal Kleiser reached out to Brooke Shields after the release of her explosive new documentary, she sent his call to voicemail. In her new documentary, Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, the model and actor looks back at her childhood spent in the spotlight, exposing the harsh reality of a young Hollywood star whos sexualized and exploited. The doc examines the controversial films "Pretty Baby" and "The Blue Lagoon," which both feature an underage Shields in a sexual light. Shields revealed during an appearance on The Drew Barrymore Show on Tuesday that she got a call from Kleiser after Pretty Baby debuted on Hulu. I saw his name on my phone and I was like Oh, oh, what do I do? she said anxiously. I let it go to voicemail because I want to see what the tone is. According to Shields, Kleiser asked for a chat, but shes not interested in bringing it all up again. Its not about that, she continued. Its about these males needing me to be in a certain category to serve their story. And it never was about me. It was never protective of me. It was fun and loving at times, but I was just there. I was a pawn. Shields said being sexualized so early in life left her not knowing how to interpret her experiences. "I was made to feel culpable," she told Barrymore. "At the same time, you victim-shame yourself." Shields was only 14 when she arrived on Fiji's Turtle Island to shoot the 1980 movie The Blue Lagoon. She turned 15 over the course of the four months she spent filming the coming-of-age story that follows two cousins marooned on an island as children. As they grow and go through puberty, with no one to guide them as they evolve, they discover their sexuality and fall in love. Shields and her co-star Christopher Atkins, who was 18 at the time the film was shot, were both featured nearly nude throughout the film. During select scenes, Shields hair covered her breasts and Atkins was naked during a lovemaking scene. Story continues Atkins told "Studio 10" in a 2015 interview that Kleiser had put a poster of Shields over his bunk on the island so he would genuinely fall in love with his co-star. They wanted to make it a reality show, Shields says in the new documentary. They wanted to sell my actual sexual awakening. The documentary suggests that Randal used the publics fascination with Shields after she starred as an 11year-old prostitute in Pretty Baby to the films advantage. Hes quoted in the documentary describing the films premise to a newspaper: It's real, she's going from a child to a woman during the filming. The irony was I wasnt in touch with any of my own sexuality, Shields said. I was raised Catholic, with sex they sort of taught me wait till youre married, wait till youre married and it was put into my brain. I had a lot of shame around all of it. My dad always tried to pretend that I didnt do any of the things I had done. He just buried his head. I dont know if he ever saw one of my movies. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Broward County Public Schools will stay closed for a second day Friday because of the record rainfall that wreaked havoc in South Florida this week, particularly in Fort Lauderdale and Broward County, said School Board Chair Lori Alhadeff. Regretfully, we could not fully assess all campuses nor complete all the necessary repairs at those we were able to assess. Additionally, many of our staff were unable to access school campuses due to heavy flooding, Alhadeff announced during a 6 p.m. virtual press conference Thursday. For that reason, schools and district offices will remain closed on Friday, April 14, she said. The district also canceled all before- and after-school activities, field trips, events and evening classes. Schools will likely reopen Monday, April 17, after the two-day closure. READ MORE: Chest-high water, boat rescues after unprecedented rainfall in Fort Lauderdale area Broward County recorded what Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis called unprecedented rainfall, with more than 2 feet of rain drenching Fort Lauderdale Wednesday in what weather forecasters called historic rain levels. Many were stranded in their cars, got trapped in hip-deep water and evacuated their homes. Fort Lauderdale and Broward County both declared a state of emergency. Gov. Ron DeSantis also declared a state of emergency in Broward. A flood watch was in effect for coastal and metro Broward and Miami-Dade counties until 8 p.m. Thursday. A truck drives through the flooded tarmac at the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport on Thursday, April 13, 2023. Valerie Wanza, the districts acting chief of staff, said they estimate the damage to schools to tally around $2 million because of the flooding, mainly at building entrances. However, the financial toll could grow higher because the district still has to examine 30 schools more closely. School campuses in Fort Lauderdale, Hollywood, Dania, Hallandale and Oakland Park were hit the hardest. The district has 240 schools, centers and technical colleges, and 90 charter schools. READ MORE: 26 inches of rain? Why flood warnings are still posted in South Florida, and whats next Story continues On Wednesday, the school district waited until 11:30 p.m. to cancel classes for Thursday. In response to criticism of the last-minute decision, John Sullivan, a district spokesman, said school officials usually try to cancel class with more advance time so families and staff can plan accordingly, but that wasnt possible in this case. We do understand the timing was not ideal, Sullivan said. Unfortunately it was unforeseen that we were going to get that type of weather event. I dont think anyone anticipated the rainfall that we received throughout the county, particularly on the east coast. Meanwhile, Miami-Dade County Public Schools opened Thursday. One school, Aventura Waterways K-8 Center, experienced flooding following the heavy rain and one of two parking lots closed. Miami-Dade school officials said Thursday afternoon they dont expect any school closures on Friday. Miami Herald Staff Writer Sommer Brugal contributed to this report. A cluster of streets including Church Avenue in south Fresno will be closed for more than a year starting next week to allow for construction of a new overpass to carry traffic up and over future high-speed rail tracks. Church Avenue is slated to be closed between Golden State Boulevard and Orange Avenue, a stretch of about 3,700 feet. That section will be replaced by the new overpass that will span not only the future bullet-train line now under construction through Fresno and the central San Joaquin Valley, but also two existing nearby sets of freight rail tracks. The California High-Speed Rail Authority and its contractor, Tutor-Perini/ Zachry/ Parsons, estimate that the work will begin Monday and continue through September 2025. In addition to Church Avenue, related streets facing closure during the construction work include: G Street between California and Cherry avenues. The northbound off-ramp from Golden State Boulevard onto G Street. Florence Avenue east of Railroad Avenue. Railroad Avenue between Florence and Jensen avenues. Belgravia Avenue between G Street and East Avenue. East Avenue between Florence Avenue and Church Avenue. The rail agency is holding a community meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday (April 13) for nearby residents and businesses about the future overpass, street closures, traffic management and detours, and access to homes and businesses in the area. The meeting is at Sequoia Middle School, 4050 E. Hamilton Ave. The rail authority and contractor report that access will be maintained to all businesses and property owners. Detours are being provided with signs to direct traffic around the closed streets. Traffic heading west on Church Avenue will be detoured south on Orange Avenue to Jensen Avenue, west on Jensen to Golden State Boulevard, and then west on Church. Eastbound traffic on Church will be directed south on Golden State to Jensen, east on Jensen to Cedar Avenue, and north on Cedar to Church. The Church Avenue overpass is one of many new structures, including viaducts, overpasses and trenches, that are part of the first 32-mile construction contract awarded in 2013 for work from north of Madera to American Avenue south of Fresno. Two other construction stretches are also in progress: one for about 65 miles from American Avenue to the Tulare-Kern county line, and another for 22 miles from the Tulare-Kern line to northwest of Shafter. (Bloomberg) -- Dianne Feinstein has been an integral voice for California in the US Senate for 30 years. Most Read from Bloomberg Shes led the fight on gun control, exposed the CIAs use of torture in the wake of the 9/11 terror attacks and pushed for climate action for her home state, becoming the longest-serving woman in Senate history. Now some of her colleagues want her gone. The 89-year-old senator has been absent from Washington for about two months after being diagnosed with shingles taking out a key Democratic vote in a chamber where the party holds a narrow majority. Representative Ro Khanna, a fellow Californian, tweeted on Wednesday what many of his Democratic colleagues have long whispered. It is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties, Khanna wrote, calling on Feinstein to resign. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty. Democratic representative, Dean Phillips, of Minnesota, responded to Khannas tweet, saying it was a dereliction of duty for both Feinstein to stay on and for those who agree to stay quiet. Feinstein issued a statement Wednesday night saying it was taking longer than expected to recover because of ongoing complications and she plans to return to Washington as soon as possible. The statement said shes asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee until Im able to resume my committee work. Schumers office said he would ask the Senate next week to grant the request. Questions have swirled for the past couple of years about Feinsteins ability to perform her job, but her absence in recent months has put Democrats in a quandary because her vote is crucial for approving judicial and other nominees in the Senate. Story continues Read More: Biden Judicial Nominations Machine Slows Amid New Hiccups Feinsteins prolonged absence coincided with that of Pennsylvania Democrat John Fetterman, who announced in February he was seeking treatment for depression. With Democrats holding only a 51-49 Senate majority, Vice President Kamala Harris was twice called in for tie-breaking votes while both Feinstein and Fetterman were away. The highly unusual challenge from Khanna against a senior colleague from his own state and party comes amid the race to replace Feinstein, who has announced that she will retire when her term ends next year. Three members of the California delegation, Democrats Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee, have already announced they will run for the seat in 2024. Last month, Khanna, whose district is in Silicon Valley, ended speculation that he might run and backed Lee, the most liberal of challengers who represents Oakland and parts of Berkeley. If Feinstein vacates her seat before next years vote, Governor Gavin Newsom is required under California law to appoint a successor until an election can be held. Newsom has pledged to appoint a Black woman to the position if that happens. A spokesman for Newsom said the governor had no response to Khannas call for Feinstein to resign. --With assistance from Zach C. Cohen, John Harney, Laura Litvan and Kara Wetzel. (Updates with Schumer office statement, in eighth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. California mayors are urging Gov. Gavin Newsom and state lawmakers to provide $3 billion in annual funding to address homelessness, saying they will not be able to help the unhoused in their communities without a consistent stream of money. The League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties gathered several dozen city, county and state officials in Sacramento on Wednesday for a one-day conference on homelessness. Their principal goal was to lobby for an annual appropriation for local governments to help the unhoused. A survey by the League showed nearly 90% of its 479 member cities have fiscal concerns about continuing to provide homelessness services. About 80% have used general fund money since the 2018-2019 fiscal year to address the problem. San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart described her citys effort to conduct outreach to homeless residents with a mobile crisis unit, which employs an emergency medical technician and a social worker to connect unhoused people with services. Unfortunately, the majority of this is paid by our city, not from state funding, Stewart said at a press conference ahead of the gathering. And we need help. We believe every single person deserves housing. The cities alone are not going to be able to do this forever. We cant do it. But we are your partners in action. Look at everyone here. We are your partners, and we want to do this. Citrus Heights Mayor Porsche Middleton said unhoused residents need for services and housing is overwhelming our resources. We need ongoing, permanent funding to continue providing critical services and to shelter those who are unhoused residents in our communities, Middleton said. With an (impending) economic recession, we understand that it is now time for us to deal with this decades-long problem. San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart urges state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to allocate $3 billion in ongoing funding to address homelessness on April 12, 2023, ahead of a convening of California city and county leaders in Sacramento. Newsom balks at ongoing homeless funds But Newsom and legislators, facing a budget deficit of at least $22.5 billion, are reluctant to commit long-term funds to the issue. Instead, they have demanded accountability from cities they say have received billions and failed to produce a decline in the unhoused population. Story continues Californias homeless population increased by 10,000 from 2020 to 2022, totaling 171,521 people, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lets see results, Newsom said during his January budget presentation. Well fund success, not failure. I want to see results ... Lets see results. Ive been listening to that rhetoric my entire life: We cant do anything until we have more ongoing. I get it, I get it. In particular, Newsom has pushed for accountability from communities receiving Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funds through grants that have allocated more than $3 billion statewide since 2019. Newsoms 2023-2024 budget contains $1 billion for a fifth round of grants. Recent rounds of HHAP grants have required action plans showing how communities plan to use the money. Newsom in November froze $1 billion in HHAP funds, claiming communities plans lacked ambition. His administration is considering tying homeless funding to cities state-required plans for long-term housing production. I think the governor has been very clear that new multi-billion dollar ongoing funding proposals are not going to be able to be accommodated in this budget, said Jason Elliott, Newsoms deputy chief of staff, in March. Cities have at least one ally in Assemblywoman Luz Rivas, D-San Fernando Valley. Rivas authored a bill creating an accountability framework for HHAP fund recipients, but she also sent a letter to budget leaders requesting $2 billion in annual homeless funding. The state is currently allocating billions to programs that may not be effectively reducing our homelessness population and without an aggressive investment and restructuring of our state and local homelessness response efforts, we will likely continue to see our homeless rates increase, Rivas wrote. In spite of the budget crunch, League representatives said its up to Newsom and lawmakers to put homelessness at the top of their funding list. We should not be asking for something, said Ali Sajjad Taj, League president. This is something that we should get anyway. And our state is facing an ever-worsening crisis. It is (a) moral imperative that every level of government come together and prioritize this crisis. California Highway Patrol (CHP) arrested a financial employee for the state controller's office Wednesday on suspicion of grand theft. Miguel Espinosa, a 58-year-old employee for the State's Controller's Disbursement Bureau, was arrested by the CHP Office of Protective Intelligence, Sacramento County Jail records show. State Controller Malia Cohen said that as part of an ongoing investigation by her office, CHP served a warrant on Espinosa, and he was arrested on suspicion of grand theft as a result. CALIFORNIA REPUBLICAN MAYOR ACCUSES NEWSOM, AG OF SINGLING OUT HUNTINGTON BEACH AMID STATEWIDE HOMELESS CRISIS "I have ordered his immediate termination," Cohen, the chief fiscal officer of California, said in a statement Wednesday. "I want to thank CHP Commissioner Sean Duryee and the CHP Capitol Protection Section, Special Investigations Unit for responding swiftly to my request regarding this matter. Their prompt action resulted in the recovery of property that might otherwise have been lost. In light of the fact that this is an active investigation, I have no further comments at this time." The California state Capitol on Feb. 1, 2023, in Sacramento. State Controller Malia Cohen on Wednesday announced grand theft charges against a Disbursement Bureau employee. He was booked into the Sacramento County Main Jail on five felony counts of grand theft and five felony counts of buying or receiving stolen property. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Jail records say Espinosa is not eligible for bail and is scheduled to appear in Sacramento Superior Court Friday at 3 p.m. local time. More details about the case against Espinosa were not immediately available. The arrest comes on the heels of the recent collapse of the Silicon Valley Bank last month. WHAT GAVIN NEWSOM'S MAKE AMERICA CALIFORNIA TOUR CONVENIENTLY IGNORED Security guards and FDIC representatives open a Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) branch for customers in Santa Clara, California, on March 13, 2023. Cohen was sworn in by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom as the first Black woman and first African American to serve as Californias state controller in January. In remarks after taking her oath of office, Cohen vowed, "The work to create a more equitable California has already begun. I look forward to ensuring fiscal accountability, with an eye toward transparency and innovation," The Sacramento Observer previously reported. She previously served on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Story continues Just an hour's drive from the state's capital of Sacramento, San Francisco, and namely its crime problem, has also been thrust again into the national spotlight in the wake of the deadly stabbing of Cash App founder and tech executive Bob Lee. State Controller Malia Cohen speaks at the 2020 San Francisco Women's March. Don Carmignani, San Francisco's former fire commissioner, also was recently reportedly slashed and brutally beaten with a pipe by a group of homeless people outside his home in the city's Marina District, though he managed to survive the brutal attack. Carmignani's mother reportedly had previously called police on a group of homeless drug users outside her front door, but no officers arrived, so the woman shooed them away. Trans Women Beaten in Mens Jail Wins Settlement in California San Diego County has settled with a transgender woman who was beaten by a fellow inmate after being placed in a cell with three men at a mens prison in 2020. While admitting no guilt or liability in the case, San Diego County agreed to pay $275,000 to Kristina Frost for the incident that took place on November 20, 2020, at the Central Jail in downtown San Diego. In the 2021 lawsuit filed in federal court, Frost said she had been arrested for a book and release crime where suspects are immediately released on the condition they appear at a later time to be officially booked, fingerprinted, and photographed. Instead, Frost said she was housed with three male suspects in the mens facility in violation of county policy even though she presented as female at the time of her arrest and her driver's license listed her gender as female. RELATED: Trans Woman Sues San Diego Sheriff's Office After Alleged Beating Sadly and foreseeably one of the men in the cell viciously attacked Ms. Frost, the lawsuit stated. His closed-fist punches to Ms. Frosts face resulted in serious bodily injuries, including a broken jaw, so far requiring two surgeries to repair. The Sheriffs Department disputed Frosts version of events. The person who allegedly assaulted Miss Frost stated he was assaulted by Miss Frost first and stated he acted in self-defense, spokesperson Lt. Amber Baggs said at the time. Additionally, Miss Frost declined to press charges. Following the attack, Frost claimed she was denied medical treatment when deputies further detained her for 12 hours before taking her to a hospital. She also alleged she was repeatedly misgendered by deputies. San Diego County policy says inmates should be taken to a facility that coincides with the arrestees gender identity and lists the specific jails for trans and nonbinary people. Frost claimed in her lawsuit the attack would never have happened if the Sheriffs Department had done its job. Story continues This case was another tragic, yet preventable, example of such transphobic violence, Trenton Lamere, a lawyer for Frost, was quoted by the San Diego Tribune. Had Ms. Frost been promptly booked and released, for example, the incident would not have occurred. Following a review of a complaint from Frost, the Citizens Law Enforcement Review Board (CELB) recommended a more binding mandate on law enforcement regarding housing prisoners according to their identified gender rather than the gender assigned at birth. The Sheriffs Department rejected the recommendation, stating current policy is adequate and citing the difficulty in enforcing the new policy recommended by CELB. In a letter from January to CELB, Lt. Edward Greenawald of the Sheriffs Departments Division of Inspectional Services, wrote the new policy would do nothing to redirect other agency arrestees, who account for roughly 75 percent of all bookings, effectively failing to ensure officers take arrestees to a booking facility that aligns with their gender identity. While Frost is still dealing with her injuries, her lawyers said she remained hopeful her case can bring acceptance and greater awareness to the problem of violence against transgender. Ms. Frost, of course, remains mindful of her many transgender and gender nonconforming siblings who have experienced similar violence, and who have not received any kind of justice, Lamere said. Ms. Frost is hopeful, however, that a time will come when all people can live in harmony with one another regardless of their gender expression. California's superbloom phenomenon is so big and bright this year it can be seen from space. NASA's Landsat 9 satellite, which was launched in 2021 to capture images of Earth's land surface, sent back images of bright purple and green blooms in Carrizo Plain National Park. A superbloom occurs when desert areas in Southern California receive more rain or cooler weather through the fall and winter, allowing more flowers to thrive. The term "superbloom," however, is not a scientific one: It was created by the media to describe these colorful, robust blooms, said said Cameron Barrows, an associate research ecologist at UC Riverside's Center for Conservation Biology. Bright purple and green patches seen on Earth from space are Southern California's superbloom phenomenon. / Credit: NASA Some years, the blooms aren't that super. Excessive rain can also help bromes, a type of grass. grow fast, filling the area and covering the flowers, said Richard Minnich, a professor of earth sciences at UC Riverside. And it's not every year the area gets enough rain for the spectacle to happen. The 2023 NASA images, taken on April 6, are much more colorful than the April 2022 images, NASA says. Carrizo Plain National Park is located north of Santa Barbara. The 2019 bloom near the town of New Cuyama was also visible from space, according to NASA. Several areas in the state are experiencing superblooms this year, with Chino Hills State Park getting a carpet of orange poppies. Visitors often flock to the superblooms when they are vibrant, and officials have called excessive tourism a "nightmare" in the past. "The 2019 bloom became a national ... and international phenomenon," Lake Elsinore Mayor Natasha Johnson said during a news conference earlier this month. "Numerous problems occurred on our trails and roads. There were Disneyland-size crowds wanting to see the poppies." The vibrant green seen on this image taken by NASA's Landsat 9 satellite is part of Southern California's superbloom. / Credit: NASA Some visitors trampled the flowers and a California highway patrol officer even died as a result of problems with visitors during the 2019 superbloom, according to the Regional Conservation Authority of Western Riverside County. Trails, parking and access to Walker Canyon were closed as a result. Story continues The 2023 bloom was not expected to be as vibrant and vast as the one in 2019, but it was expected to be large, Johnson said. Visitors were urged to watch it from a safe distance on a livestream of the area, as they will not be allowed in Walker Canyon in Lake Elsinore. Suspect arrested in fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Historic rainfall sparks major flooding in Fort Lauderdale "CBS Evening News" headlines for Thursday, April 13, 2023 PoW Ukraines SBU security service has vowed to track down and punish the Russian soldiers seen in a horrifying video beheading a Ukrainian prisoner of war with a knife while he was still alive. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and his Ukrainian counterpart, Denys Shmyhal, have agreed to expand the existing CanadaUkraine Free Trade Agreement (CUFTA), further liberalizing the flow of goods, services, and investments between the two countries, Shmyhal said in a Telegram post on April 11. The Verkhovna Rada, Ukraines parliament, passed bill No. 9107-1 at first reading on April 11, which lays down the grounds to nationalize the Russian-owned Sense Bank formerly Alfa-Bank Ukraine, according to the parliaments website. Ukraine should make its own decision on how to liberate its territory under Russian military occupation, U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said at a briefing on April 11. Ukrainian clear neon manufacturer Cryoin Engineering, which has been accused of supplying gas to Russia's military industry, has launched a joint venture in South Korea. This may mean a transfer of ultra-pure neon production technology from Ukraine to South Korea. World leaders ought to work on establishing mechanisms to channel seized Russian assets into securing Ukraines post-war recovery, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his evening address on April 12. Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has personally approved the arrest of Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges, Bloomberg reported on April 12, citing sources familiar with the matter. Story continues Ukraine has delayed its long-expected spring counter-offensive for three reasons, namely weather conditions, slow equipment deliveries, and the leak of dozens of U.S. military and intelligence documents, U.S. newspaper The Washington Post reported on April 12. The United States will provide additional arms supplies to Ukraine, including Abrams tanks and Bradley infantry fighting vehicles, according to Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, news agency Ukrinform reported on April 12. Invading Russian forces are preparing a preliminary plan to evacuate Russian nuclear operator Rosatoms employees from Ukraines Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhya Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) in Enerhodar, Ukraines National Resistance Center reported on April 12. The days long read: Mother of two fallen heroes faces bureaucratic obstacles despite hersons sacrifices Halyna Holitsyna is the mother of two fallen heroes, Dmytro Holitsyn and Denys Dudinov. She lost her sons eight years apart: the elder Dmytro, call sign Lawyer, died in August 2014 from wounds sustained near Ilovaisk, while the younger Denis, call sign Phantom, died last March in the battle for Mariupol. Putin's real goal is to place some kind of nuclear weapon on the territory of Crimea, to issue an ultimatum to the West that there can be no attempt at de-occupation. Zolkina 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 record six women directors will compete for the Palme d'Or at Cannes in May, organisers announced Thursday, with the film festival promising a who's who of Hollywood A-listers and award-winning filmmakers. The world's top cinema shindig had already secured some glitzy Hollywood premieres, including the new Indiana Jones and Martin Scorsese movies, as well as Johnny Depp's comeback film. Among the 19 films competing for the top prize Palme d'Or from May 16 to 27 is Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City", which alone will bring a cavalcade of stars to the red carpet, including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson. The presence of six women directors, including Italy's Alice Rohrwacher and Austria's Jessica Hausner, beats last year's record of five. Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore are expected for "May December" from director Todd Haynes, who wowed Cannes with lesbian drama "Carol" in 2015 starring Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara, the latter winning the best actress award. A fiery start is guaranteed thanks to opening night film "Jeanne du Barry", which sees Depp play French king Louis XV in his first role since an explosive defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard involving bitter allegations of domestic abuse. Depp will be joined by his daughter, Lily Rose Depp, who stars in "The Idol", a TV series playing out of competition, produced by musician Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye. It has had a tumultuous production with reports of major rewrites and re-shoots. As if that was not enough to inflame social media, the star and director of "Jeanne du Barry", Maiwenn, had a criminal complaint lodged against her last week for allegedly assaulting a journalist by yanking his head back and spitting in his face in a Paris restaurant. Star of the moment, and so-called "Internet Daddy", Pedro Pascal is also expected alongside Ethan Hawke for a "queer Western" short film by Spain's Pedro Almodovar. Story continues - Palme laureates - The competition is packed with previous award-winners, including two-time Palme laureate Ken Loach, and other past winners such as Nanni Moretti, Wim Wenders and Hirokazu Kore-eda. Critics have been gushing, with The Hollywood Reporter calling it "an all-killer, no-filler program". Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon", starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, currently has an out-of-competition slot but may end up in the contest, festival director Thierry Fremaux said. Also playing out of competition is a documentary about wartime Amsterdam, "Occupied City", by celebrated British director Steve McQueen ("12 Years a Slave"), which Fremaux described as "a very radical film". Arthouse fans are particularly excited about the return of British director Jonathan Glazer ("Under the Skin") with a Holocaust-set romance, "The Zone of Interest", based on a novel by Martin Amis. Victory in Cannes can give a major boost to arthouse cinema, such as last year's winner "Triangle of Sadness", which went on to pick up several Oscar nominations. Its director, Sweden's Ruben Ostlund, heads this year's jury. Hollywood loves the French Riviera as a launchpad for its glossier fare, with "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Elvis" getting their world premieres at the festival last year. This year will see "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny", with Harrison Ford as guest of honour for his fifth and final appearance as the iconic adventuring archaeologist, alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas. er/ A Michigan pipelayer who modeled for covers of romance novels was sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison for assaulting police at the U.S. Capitol during a mobs attack. Logan Barnhart joined one of the most brutal clashes between rioters and police on Jan. 6, 2021. He grabbed an officer by his neck and torso and dragged him into the crowd of rioters on the Capitols Lower West Terrace. Minutes later, he returned to a police line and swung a flagpole at officers. Barnhart, 42, of Holt, Michigan, said he didn't recognize himself on a video, shown in court, that captured him assaulting the officer. The way I was acting seems so foreign to me, he told U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Contreras also sentenced Barnhart to three years of supervised release after his prison term and ordered him to pay a $3,688 fine and $2,000 in restitution. Contreras said anybody who directly and brazenly attacks police is inherently dangerous to the public. He ran to the fight, the judge said. Earlier on Thursday, a former Capitol police officer avoided a prison sentence for trying to help a Virginia fisherman avoid criminal charges for storming the building his law enforcement colleagues defended on Jan. 6. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Michael Angelo Riley to two years of probation and four months of home detention. Riley, a 25-year police veteran, was on duty when a mob attacked the Capitol, injuring more than 100 officers. Rileys voice cracked as he lamented how his awful judgment cost him his career, tarnished his reputation, ended friendships in the department and traumatized his family. The amount of regret and remorse I have over this situation is unimaginable, Riley told the judge. In Barnhart's case, federal prosecutors had recommended a prison term of five years and three months. Barnhart has been on home detention while awaiting his sentencing. The judge ordered him to remain on home detention until he reports to prison at a date to be determined. Story continues Barnhart has worked as a pipelayer and heavy machine operator for construction companies. NBC News reported that Barnhart has modeled for covers of romance novels, including Stepbrother UnSEALed: A Bad Boy Military Romance. Internet sleuths using facial recognition technology found photographs of Barnhart from his modeling career, NBC reported. Defense attorney Michelle Peterson said Barnhart drove alone to Washington, D.C., to attend the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6 because he wanted to support then-President Donald Trump and believed the baseless claims that Democrats stole the election from the Republican incumbent. Now two years away from the chaos of that day, he is deeply remorseful and cannot understand how he acted so foolishly, Peterson wrote. Barnhart was charged with several other riot defendants in the same indictment. Barnhart and co-defendants Jack Whitton and Jeffrey Sabol dragged a Metropolitan Police Department officer away from a police line, down stairs and into the crowd, where co-defendants Peter Stager and Mason Joel Courson beat the officer with a flagpole and a baton, according to prosecutors. Barnhart was arrested in August 2021 and pleaded guilty in September 2022 to assaulting the officer with a dangerous weapon. He threw that officer to the wolves, prosecutor Benet Kearney said. Barnhart wrote an apology letter addressed to the officer. He said he was ashamed of his behavior on Jan. 6. I hope one day we can all put aside our petty differences that seem to be tearing our beautiful country apart, Barnhart wrote. In the case against Riley, the former Capitol police officer, prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of two years and three months. The judge said Riley's actions were shocking conduct for any member of law enforcement. You knew exactly how bad January 6th was, she added. Jackson also ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine and perform 150 hours of community service. On Jan. 6, 2021, Riley investigated a report of an explosive device at Republican National Committee headquarters and helped an injured officer. The following day, he posted a Facebook message calling for federal charges against anybody who assaulted police, damaged property or breached the Capitol. If we don't send a message it will surely happen again, he wrote. Less than two hours later, Riley read a Facebook post by Jacob Hiles, a fisherman he knew from YouTube videos. Hiles wrote about his own participation in the riot and posted a video of rioters clashing with police. Riley, 51, of Maryland, privately messaged Hiles and identified himself as a Capitol police officer who agreed with his political stance. "Take down the part about being in the building they are currently investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to be charged. Just looking out! Riley wrote. They continued to exchange friendly messages until Hiles told Riley that the FBI was very curious that they had been communicating. "They took my phone and downloaded everything, Hiles wrote. Riley immediately deleted all of their private messages, according to prosecutors. Riley was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice. In October 2022, a jury convicted him of one count but deadlocked on the second. Riley described his actions as stupid and reckless but said he didnt think he was breaking the law. It certainly doesnt excuse my lapse in judgment, he said. Hiles pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Jackson sentenced him in December 2021 to two years of probation and ordered him to complete 60 hours of community service. 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. A Capitol Police officer who tried to help a Jan. 6 rioter avoid detection from law enforcement was sentenced Thursday to 120 days of home incarceration for obstructing justice. Michael Riley, a decorated 25-year veteran of the Capitol Police who was one of the first officers to respond to pipe bombs found at the RNC and DNC on Jan. 6, delivered a tearful apology in the courtroom, describing awful judgment in the days following the attack that led him to attempt to aid a member of the mob. U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson said she appreciated Rileys remorse but tore into the retired officer for what she said was a pattern of dishonesty about the brazenness of his conduct. She said he lied to colleagues about his contact with the Jan. 6 rioter a fisherman from Virginia named Jacob Hiles who pleaded guilty to misdemeanors in 2021 and misrepresented his actions both on the witness stand and even in the chronology he laid out during his sentencing hearing. Still, Jackson said Rileys lengthy career unblemished before Jan. 6 his lack of criminal history and the consequences he already suffered, from his forced retirement to the loss of his department-issued dog, justified the sentence of home confinement. Prosecutors had initially sought a sentence of 27 months in prison for Rileys conduct, saying his status as a police officer exacerbated the seriousness of his actions. Its the close of a complicated and wrenching chapter in the arc of Jan. 6 prosecutions. Riley was convicted last year of obstruction of justice for deleting his Facebook messages. The jury deadlocked on a second obstruction charge related to his contact with Hiles. Rileys arrest in October 2021 followed intense, but so far unsupported, concerns among members of Congress that some Capitol Police officers may have sympathized with and even assisted the Jan. 6 mob at the Capitol. Riley is the only officer who has faced charges stemming from his actions following the Jan. 6 attack. Theres no evidence he assisted the mob on Jan. 6 and in fact the evidence suggests he acted honorably in responding to the riot, Jackson emphasized. Story continues Jackson said it was not entirely clear why Riley chose to aid Hiles and not any other rioter but said he seemed enamored of Hiles, whom he didnt know personally before Jan. 6 but who shared a passion for fishing. Riley and Hiles were active in the same social media groups for fishing enthusiasts, and Riley noticed Jan. 7 that Hiles had posted about being inside the Capitol. He soon struck up a Facebook conversation with Hiles and urged him to delete parts of his posts that mentioned he went inside the building. Investigators, Riley noted, would be searching for and arresting anyone who went inside. Riley maintained contact with Hiles for nearly two weeks, even after he was arrested Jan. 19, 2021. After Hiles told Riley that the FBI seemed interested in their contact, Riley deleted his own communications with Hiles and sent Hiles a concocted excuse to cut off contact. Talk about a complete lie, Jackson said. The case drew sharply polarized reactions from Rileys family, friends and colleagues. He retired from the Capitol Police within months of the charges and indicated in court Thursday that many of his former colleagues had cut off contact with him. Aquilino Gonell, a Capitol Police officer who was assaulted by members of the mob Jan. 6 and has become an outspoken advocate for prosecuting members of the mob, called him a turncoat. But Jackson also acknowledged that Riley had a history of heroism on the Capitol Police force, on multiple occasions saving the lives of fellow officers or providing aid amid crisis. He saved the life of a fellow officer who was knocked unconscious during a 2011 blizzard and had stopped breezing. He was also one of the first to respond to a vehicle attack against officers in April 2021 three months after the Jan. 6 attack and provided aid to a downed officer, Billy Evans, who later died of his injuries. Complicating the matter further, Riley is suffering from an undisclosed autoimmune illness that requires complicated treatments, details of which were disclosed to Jackson under seal. She acknowledged the illness in her sentencing and emphasized that he was permitted to leave his home for medical reasons. A hit-and-run crash in Santa Ana sent a child flying through the air, California security video shows. The child was taken to a hospital with unspecified injuries after the collision at 1:36 p.m. March 29, the Santa Ana Police Department said in a news release. Video posted with the release to Instagram shows two boys walking down a residential street before trying to dash across. A black Cadillac DeVille hits one of the kids, flipping him through the air over the car, the video shows. The Cadillac slows down slightly then speeds away. The boys familiy told KABC the 11-year-old and a friend were walking home when they were startled by a barking dog and ran into the street. The crash took place on the 700 block of South Birch Street, police said. Police are seeking the Cadillac, an early 2000s model with tinted windows, chrome rims and chrome metal trim, and driver, the release said. They ask anyone with information to call 714-245-8228 or email sguzman@santa-ana.org. Santa Ana is a city of 310,000 people about 35 miles southeast of Los Angeles. Body found wrapped in tarp 25 years ago is now identified, California cops say 70-year-old on Easter walk and motorcyclist die in chaotic crash, California cops say Driver tries to swerve but kills 7-year-old girl crossing highway, California cops say Police have charged a Carrboro man with providing the drugs that killed another man last year on Lindsay Street. John Robert Small, 31, was charged Wednesday with three felonies: death by distribution, possession of a Schedule II controlled substance, and maintaining a vehicle for the sell or distribution of a controlled substance. He also was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, Carrboro police said in a news release Thursday. Small was taken to the Orange County jail, where he was being held on $210,000 secured bail, which requires the defendant to put up money or collateral to be released from custody. A police investigation into the death of 29-year-old Bradley Zimmerman, who was found dead in a home on Lindsay Street home on July 31, 2022, determined he died of cardiac arrest related to a drug overdose. Small is accused of selling the drugs that cause Zimmermans death. Zimmerman did not live at the home where he died, Carrboro Police Chief Chris Atack said Thursday in an email. He declined to say what other drugs Zimmerman may have taken prior to his death. The death by distribution charge has only been available to law enforcement since 2019, when N.C. Gov. Roy Cooper signed it into law to fight the skyrocketing rate of opioid-related deaths. Law enforcement officers have been carrying naloxone also marketed as Narcan in their toolkits for much longer. Carrboro police have used naloxone since 2014 to save 34 overdose victims, including on March 4, Atack said. He noted that naloxone is most effective when it is administered quickly, however, there are situations when more than one dose is needed, because of the potency of the drug causing the overdose or the amount that the victim has used. Local and state officials have made it easier for families, friends and other users to step in with help, including the passage of the states Good Samaritan Law, which protects people from prosecution if they call 911 to report a possible overdose. Story continues In March, the federal Food and Drug Administration also approved over-the-counter sales of Narcan to make it more readily available to the public. Last year, the Orange County Sheriffs Office became one of several counties to distribute free Narcan overdose reversal kits to the public. The kits can be obtained from a vending machine in the lobby of the Orange County Detention Center at 1200 U.S. 70 West in HIllsborough. Rising deaths, multiple solutions The state reported a 22% increase in opioid overdose deaths in 2021, compared with 2020. More than 77% of the 4,041 people killed had used fentanyl, sometimes in combination with other illegal drugs, the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services reported. Since 2019, the state has seen 72% more overdose deaths, including a spike of 40% during the 2020 pandemic. White people were still the largest group dying from opioid overdoses, it said, but the highest death rates based on population were reported among Black people, who saw a 139% death rate increase between 2019 and 2021, it said. American Indians experienced the highest death rate of all racial groups, with a 117% increase based on population over that same period, it said. In Orange County, more than 90% of the 29 deaths reported in 2021 were unintentional, Health Director Quintana Stewart has said. The state is attacking the problem from multiple angles, including the distribution of over 719,000 units of naloxone to agencies statewide to support their overdose response, the report said. Other efforts including allowing EMS agencies and mobile medication units to distribute FDA-approved medications, including methadone and buprenorphine, to people being treated for opioid use. Additional money to combat the problem is now being distributed from a national $26 billion opioid settlement with pharmaceutical companies. North Carolina will receive about $750 million from the settlement, money that is meant to help communities deal with the scourge of opioid addiction and overdoses . Orange County expects to receive about $6.8 million from the settlement. Bob Lee - Cash App A fellow tech entrepreneur has been arrested over the fatal stabbing in San Francisco of Bob Lee, the founder of Cash App, a mobile payment service company. Mr Lee, the Miami-based entrepreneur, was stabbed in the early morning of April 4. His killing had originally been blamed on the rise of violent crime in the city. Shocking security video showed the dying 43-year-old father-of-two being ignored by bystanders as he begged for help following the attack, in footage that shocked the nation. According to reports, Mr Lee dialled 911 himself and screamed: Help. Someone stabbed me. The suspect was named on Thursday by several local media outlets as Nima Momeni, who is listed on LinkedIn as being the founder of one-stop technology and security provider Expand IT. San Francisco prison records show that 38-year-old Emeryville resident Mr Momeni was booked on suspicion of murder at 9.19 am on Thursday morning. Mr Lees ex-wife Krista Lee confirmed news of the arrest shortly after. Mr Lee, who was also the chief product officer of cryptocurrency start-up MobileCoin, had moved to Miami from San Francisco late last year but was in town for the MobileCoin leadership summit. The two men had reportedly been travelling together in a car registered to the suspect when a confrontation ensued shortly before 2.30am. Mr Lee got out of the car in a downtown area of the Califiornian city and the suspect allegedly stabbed him multiple times with a four-inch knife that was recovered a few streets away. On Thursday morning, police supervisor Matt Dorsey wrote on Twitter: Im grateful to @SFPDs Homicide Detail and all the officers from @SFPDSouthern and elsewhere for their tireless work to bring Bob Lees killer to justice and for their arrest of a suspect this morning. (1/2) https://t.co/YXyH92Low9 Matt Dorsey (@mattdorsey) April 13, 2023 The brazenness of the killing was invoked as the latest example of escalating violent crime in the Democrat city and led to increased criticism of London Breed, the citys mayor. Story continues Ms Breed had warned residents over the weekend not to jump to conclusions about his death and said people will be surprised when the facts come out. Mr Lees death drew attention to San Franciscos rise in crime, which some critics have blamed on its soft-on-crime policies. Elon Musk, the chief executive of Twitter and Tesla, was among a host of tech leaders hitting out at the lawlessness in the wake of Lees slaying, writing on Twitter: Many people I know have been severely assaulted. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. Another tech CEO called the city lawless. Tributes left at the scene of the fatal stabbing - Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images A day after Mr Lees death, a former fire commissioner was attacked in the street outside his mothers house. The fire commissioner said the incident and the entrepreneurs death were proof of San Franciscos escalating crime problem. Mr Lee was a well-known tech executive who, in addition to founding Cash App, worked for a number of large tech companies, including Twitter founder Jack Dorseys payment platform Block. A friend of Mr Lees had said the tech mogul recently moved to Miami because he felt San Francisco was deteriorating. Mr Momenis company, Expand IT, is described online as a dedicated technology partner since 2005, supporting a variety of client vertical markets in Healthcare, Finance, High Tech/Startup, Technology, Manufacturing, and Service sectors. Mr Momeni attended the University of California, Berkeley, and is fluent in English and Farsi, one profile states. Alameda County court records show that in 2011, Mr Momeni was charged with allegedly selling a switchblade knife and driving with a suspended licence. He pleaded no contest. Seven people working with "the skill and speed of a NASCAR pit crew" have been federally charged in a multi-state theft ring after they stole nearly 500 catalytic converters from vehicles, prosecutors say. In an investigation dubbed "Operation Cut and Run," FBI Boston's Organized Crime Task Force and Massachusetts State Police made the arrests after an investigation where thieves targeted more than 470 vehicles from 2022 to 2023. "The crime, according to court documents, takes less than one minute, and effectively leaves these vehicles disabled," U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael Rollins said in a news conference in federal court, who added they worked like a "NASCAR pit crew." Sometimes the men would hit 10 vehicles in a single night, Rollins said, and on one night reportedly stole as many as 26 catalytic converters. Repairs to the damaged vehicles totaled about $2 million, the state's top prosecutor said. Rollins on Wednesday announced federal charges against Rafael "Robbin Hood" Davila, 35, and his brother Nicolas Davila, 25; Jose "Goldy" Torres, 37; Carlos Fonseca, 26; Zachary Marshall, 26; Santo Feliberty, 34; and Alexander Oyola, 37. Catalytic converter thefts are up: How to protect your catalytic converter from being stolen Unsuspecting drivers The suspects, all from western Massachusetts, are accused of conspiring with one another to steal, sell and transport hundreds of catalytic converters across state lines that once belonged to unsuspecting drivers in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, Joe Bonavolonta, the special agent in charge of the FBIs Boston field office, said in the news conference. Davila, the crew leader who prosecutors say planned and participated in all of the thefts on a full-time basis, provided transportation to each targeted vehicle, determined values for stolen converters, and purchased materials needed to cut the converters off cars. Story continues Rachael Rollins, during a forum at the Suffolk County House of Correction at South Bay, in Boston. Rollins was confirmed Dec. 8, 2021, by the Senate to be U.S. attorney for Massachusetts, becoming the first Black woman to serve in that position. Detectives found that the group sold the converters to buyers in New Jersey and Connecticut and laundered hundreds of thousands of dollars in proceeds, Rollins said. In addition to Wednesday's arrests, federal, state and local law enforcement searched nine locations in the Springfield, Massachusetts, area and seized 16 vehicles and five firearms from the seven people charged in the case, who were prohibited from owning firearms, Rollins said. Seventy local police departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut aided in the investigation, Rollins said. What are catalytic converters? What makes them valuable? Catalytic converters filter harmful pollutants from a car's exhaust system. They contain valuable metals that make them targets for theft. They are regularly targeted car parts, sometimes stolen right out of driveways. Located between the engine and the muffler, they contain high-value precious metals. The value of these metals per ounce has skyrocketed. Here are the values of each material, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau: Rhodium: $10,700 Palladium: $1,568 Platinum: $1,010 Catalytic converters can be removed with a battery-operated saw in minutes. They are then sold for a few hundred dollars to scrap recyclers. For ripped-off car owners, the pain has just begun. Replacing the catalytic converter can cost $1,500 to $5,000, according to the National Insurance Crime Bureau. And insurance may not cover it. What is a catalytic converter? Why thieves are stealing them and how to protect yours. ATMs, jewelry stores also hit According to a press release from Rollins' office, the crew also targeted ATMs and jewelry stores. Rafael Davila, Feliberty and Oyola also conspired to steal from ATMs of federally insured banks in Massachusetts on three separate occasions in December 2022, according to the release. The alleged conspiracy involved stolen trucks they would use to rip ATMs from the ground and gain access to the vault. That trio is also accused of burglaries of two New Hampshire jewelry stores on Jan. 12. Prosecutors said the combined value of stolen jewelry was found to be more than $137,000, and each store sustained about $10,000 in damage. 18,000 cows killed in explosion: Fire at Texas dairy farm may be largest cattle killing ever Contributing: Jessica Guynn, USA TODAY Natalie Neysa Alund covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on Twitter @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Catalytic converter theft ring arrested by FBI, charged in New England CANBERRA, Australia (AP) A tropical cyclone nearing Australia is forecast to be the most powerful storm in eight years to hit the country, bringing wind gusts of up to 315 kilometers (196 miles) per hour as it crosses the northwest coast, meteorologists said Thursday. Cyclones are common along the sparsely populated Pilbara coast of Western Australia state and fatalities are rare, but authorities fear that Cyclone Ilsas extraordinary wind speeds could take some in its path by surprise. Ilsa reached the highest Category 5 intensity Thursday over the Indian Ocean and is expected to maintain that destructive level as it crosses the Pilbara coast by early Friday, Australias Bureau of Meteorology said. Category 5 cyclones have mean wind speeds exceeding 200 kph (124 mph) with gusts exceeding 280 kph (174 mph). They typically cause widespread destruction, the bureau said. The last Category 5 storm to cross the Australian coast was Cyclone Marcia in 2015. Marcia caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in the east coast state of Queensland. In 2019, Category 5 Cyclone Veronica did not cross the Pilbara coast, but damaged infrastructure and disrupted the regions mining and offshore gas industries. Ilsa is expected to cross the coast somewhere in a 220-kilometer (137-mile) span between the iron ore export town of Port Hedland and Wallal Downs Station, a 200,000-hectare (500,000-acre) cattle ranch to the east. Those close to where Ilsa makes landfall will experience gusts of up to 315 kph (196 mph), the bureau said. The storm's expected landfall is near the remote Pardoo Roadhouse and Tavern where manager Will Batth planned to shelter. We havent had any as strong as this in many years. This is a big one, Batth said. "Theres no point in worrying. I cant stop it. On Thursday, police closed the highway along the Pilbara coast between Port Hedland and the tourist town of Broome, 610 kilometers (380 miles) to the northeast, to prevent motorists from risking the worsening conditions. Authorities expect the North West Coastal Highway will be impassable due to flooding before Ilsa passes. Story continues Port Hedland and Broome are the largest population centers in the Pilbara region with 16,000 and 15,000 people respectively. Bidyadanga, home to around 700 people midway between Wallal Downs Station and Broome, stocked enough food and fuel by Thursday to last a week in case the community is isolated by floodwater. Bidyadanga CEO Tania Baxter said maintaining the communitys electricity would be critical to how they weather the storm. Without power, we havent got water and possibly even communications, Baxter said. So if we can maintain power supply, then well be fine. Well manage everything else that comes with it and any damage that comes. Many in the cyclones path have evacuated in recent days. In Port Hedland, from which the worlds largest bulk export port sends Australian iron ore around the globe, evacuation centers have opened to people whose homes might not withstand the storm, Mayor Peter Carter said. Everyone is on edge, Carter said. They understand that cyclones are what they are. Theyre very, very unpredictable. Long-term Port Hedland resident Julie Arif, who has experienced several cyclones, said she was concerned for those in Ilsas path. Theyll be prepared and riding it out. But it is still terrifying, absolutely terrifying, Arif said. When youre inside in a house and theres just the roar of the wind outside and thumping and banging and crashing. And cyclones happen at nighttime. You dont know what it is and its frightening. The weather bureau warned of damaging winds, flooding rain and abnormally high tides along the Pilbara coast as Ilsa passes. Many people in the Pilbara region are involved in the mining and cattle industries or are tourists taking advantage of the school vacation period that began this week. ___ This story corrects that the most recent Category 5 cyclone to cross Australias coast was Marcia in 2015, not Yasia in 2011. FILE PHOTO - The attack Anthony Brown was accused of committing occurred in December 2021 in an elevator in the parking garage at the Washington Avenue-4th Street intersection in downtown Bremerton. Charges against a Bremerton man accused of a violent attack in which he allegedly beat and raped a woman in an elevator at a downtown Bremerton parking garage in 2021 have been dismissed, following a finding that the man was not competent to stand trial after a long period of treatment. In dismissing the case against Anthony J. Brown, 32, on Wednesday, Kitsap County Superior Court Judge Tina Robinson ordered that he be held at Western State Hospital in Lakewood, where he has been receiving treatment, for up to 72 hours so he could be evaluated for the purposes of a civil commitment. Decisions about pursuing a civil commitment would be made by the state Attorney General's Office. As the criminal case against Brown proceeded, a judge found in January last year that he was not competent a legal status that refers to a persons ability to understand the charges against them and assist their attorney in their own defense and Brown was ordered into a program for mental health treatment and competency restoration at a state facility. Brown began receiving treatment at Western State last year, according to court documents. Prosecutors said this week that Brown has reached the maximum period for which treatment can be ordered and said his most recent evaluation found him to still be not competent, leaving them no option but to dismiss the charges. Kitsap County Prosecuting Attorney Chad Enright said the Attorney Generals Office was notified about the matter and noted two types of commitments it could pursue, one for people who are gravely disabled and the other for sexually violent predators. Given the information that I have about his mental health condition and given the level of dangerousness that he presents to the community, I believe that he will be civilly committed, Enright said. I cant imagine circumstances in which he would not be civilly committed. The Attorney Generals Office did not respond to a request for comment on the matter. Story continues Read more: Woman attacked and raped in Bremerton parking garage elevator Competency In January 2022, Brown was ordered into competency restoration treatment for an initial period of 90 days. A second 90-day period was ordered in July last year, and a third and final 180-day restoration period was ordered in October last year. In an October 2022 competency assessment, a state psychologist recommended the third restoration period and diagnosed Brown with unspecific schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorder and said he appeared to lack the capacity to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and to lack the capacity to assist in his defense, due to a mental disease or defect." The psychologist also found that Brown was at an elevated risk for reoffending and dangerous behavior if released to the community. Following the third treatment period and another evaluation, Robinson found on Wednesday that Brown was still not competent and that "as a result of mental disease or defect, the defendant lacks the capacity to understand the nature of the proceedings against him and/or assist in his own defense." Related: Downtown Bremerton residents, workers frustrated as rape at garage has chilling effect In a hearing on the matter, she confirmed that Brown had reached the limit of competency restoration treatment that could be ordered under state law and signed the dismissal order. This is what is required under the law, she said. Browns public defender, Aaron Talney, said there was "no question" that Brown was not competent, even after a long period of treatment at Western State. He is incapable of reasoning, Talney said. He can repeat facts such as Im the defense attorney, that Im supposed to help him, but is incapable of reasoning about what that really means, what my job is actually to do, what he can do to assist me. The attack The attack Brown is accused of committing occurred in December 2021 in an elevator in the parking garage at the Washington Avenue-4th Street intersection in downtown Bremerton. The victim told police that Brown, who she did not know, followed her into an elevator and then struck her and sexually assaulted her repeatedly and told her that he planned to kill her, according to court documents. When the elevator reached the top floor, she reported that she attempted to crawl out, but Brown grabbed her and pulled her back in and continued to assault her. A woman at the parking garage summoned the elevator and when it arrived at the bottom floor, she found Brown attacking the other woman. The witness saw the other woman was crying and upset and halted the assault. When confronted, Brown stood up, said he had done nothing wrong and claimed that the victim came on to him, according to court documents. Brown left the scene, but an officer found him on another floor and arrested him. (The woman) said (the witness) saved her life and she honestly believed she was not going to be able to see her kids again due to Brown saying he was going to kill her, a Bremerton police officer wrote in a report. Prosecutors charged Brown with a count of first-degree rape with deliberate cruelty, a count of second-degree assault with sexual motivation, a count of first-degree kidnapping with sexual motivation and a count of harassment with a threat to kill with sexual motivation, all of which were dismissed Wednesday. The charges were dismissed without prejudice, which leaves open the possibility that prosecutors could refile the case at a later date. This article originally appeared on Kitsap Sun: Charges against man accused of violent attack in Bremerton dismissed A new biography about King Charles III, authored by royal biographer Robert Jobson, is set to be released on Thursday 13 April. The book, titled Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, charts the new monarchs trajectory from his birth to his ascension to the throne, which took place after the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year. According to his publisher, Jobson set out to reveal the real man behind the crown and examine Charless passions, purpose and motivations as the UK gears up for the coronation on 6 May. The author considers the life of the man and the monarch, reflecting on how his values and beliefs will shape him as he takes on this monumental role. It also contains new claims about members of the royal family and about Charless personal feelings on how certain events in his life have unfolded. These are the biggest claims Jobson has made in his forthcoming biography: Prince Harry shocked royals by insisting Meghan accompany him to Balmoral after the Queen died On 8 September, the day Queen Elizabeth died and Charles ascended the throne, the Duke of Sussex notably travelled to Balmoral separately from his brother, the Prince of Wales, and other members of the royal family. Prince Harry took a private jet to Scotland, whilse Prince William drove the Duke of York and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh from Aberdeen airport. In an interview ahead of the publication of his memoir Spare, Harry claimed he received a horrible reaction from the royal family when he was reunited with them after Elizabeths death. Jobson claimed that Harry chose to travel to Balmoral alone after a disagreement over his wife, Meghan Markles attendance. The author wrote that Harry insisted Meghan accompany him to Balmoral, but Charles told him she could not come. A royal insider was quoted as saying: It did not go down well with the family, they were all shocked by his behaviour. Britain Prince Harry Coronation Queen insisted on meeting Liz Truss days before she died against doctors advice Only two days before her passing, the late Queen invited the newly appointed prime minister Liz Truss to Balmoral to form a government. Story continues According to Jobson, the monarch did so against the advice of her doctors, who worried about the Queen due to her frailty. However, close sources were quoted as saying that nothing was going to stop her from carrying out the official meetings with Truss and then-outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson. The Queen is said to have insisted that it was her job to formally install Truss as prime minister in the traditional kissing hands ceremony. However, the meetings took an awful lot out of her. Installing Truss was one of her last acts as Queen. Britain Politics (PA) Queen Mother disapproved of Prince Philips alpha male parenting style Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was reportedly not a fan of the Duke of Edinburghs preferred parenting style, particularly when it came to Charles. Jobson described the late Prince Philip as having an alpha male parenting style that was authoritarian and strict towards Charles, who was known for having a sensitive nature. The Queen Mother is said to have frowned upon his brashness and the way he treated Charles. Philip would set very strict rules and expect Charles to meet incredibly high standards, Jobson wrote. It was a way to exert control over his behaviour or activities. There was little warmth towards his son and, growing up, Charles often felt lonely and isolated. Charles agonised over his mistake of not calling off wedding to Diana It was claimed in Jobsons book that the King agonised over the fact he did not call off his wedding to Diana, despite being reportedly unsure about whether they were compatible. The author wrote that Charles believes he let down not only the monarchy, but himself and Diana too, through his inability to call off the wedding. He claimed that the then-Prince of Wales aired his reluctance about the marriage to his close circle of friends and said: I desperately wanted to get out of the wedding in 1981, when during the engagement I discovered just how awful the prospects were, having had no chance whatsoever to get to know Diana beforehand. Diana was also said to be having second thoughts, as she reportedly told her sisters Lady Jane and Sarah that she believed Charles was still in love with Camilla Parker-Bowles, who was married to Andrew Parker-Bowles at the time. But Charles has long accepted that his reputation in relation to his doomed marriage to Diana would be forever distorted, Jobson wrote. (Getty Images) Charles stopped taking Harrys calls after Megxit Jobson also claimed that King Charles stopped taking Prince Harrys calls after he stepped back from his royal duties in 2020. Jobson wrote 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, he claimed. The author wrote 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 alleged 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 wrote. Jobson claimed 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. William known to speak forcefully to Charles The author alleged in his book that William had been known so speak forcefully to his father King Charles. One exchange between them was so heated that it left Charles shaken, he claimed. Jobson went on to claim that both of Charless sons tempers are reminiscent of their mother Dianas, which Charles had struggled to cope with during their marriage. Instead of a line being drawn under it, Charles relationship with his sons has apparently deteriorated further. Jobson added that both of Charless sons had challenged him on occasion. Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed is available to buy at Amazon, WHSmith and Hive. Chase Elliott won't stop snowboarding or any of the other off-track activities he enjoys, even after an accident in Colorado sidelined NASCAR's most popular driver with a broken leg. Elliott will return this weekend at Martinsville Speedway after missing six Cup races with a broken left tibia that he suffered in a March 3 snowboarding accident. I wasn't out doing anything that was wild or crazy," said Elliott, an experienced snowboarder. "I don't have a cool story to tell. It was just that perfect storm that could happen at any point in time." The 27-year-old underwent surgery the night of the accident and revealed Thursday that he has remaining screws in his leg near his left knee. His crash raised questions about team owner Rick Hendrick's recent willingness to allow his drivers to participate in extracurricular activities something NASCAR's winningest team owner had typically prohibited, although Hendrick's rules related primarily to racing outside of NASCAR. NASCAR has given Elliott, the 2020 Cup champion who has raced in the title-deciding finale the last three consecutive years, a waiver to qualify for the playoffs. But he'll most certainly need to win at least one race to overcome the deficit he's in because of the injury. Even so, he said he'll continue his off-track activities and counts snowboarding as part of his physical fitness regimen. I feel like you have to enjoy your life and go do things that are a nice ... escape from this every week, Elliott said. "There's a lot that goes into racing and I think you have to have that way to escape and give your mind a rest. The accident could have happened tripping down stairs, or on a jog. Snowboarding is something that I've been doing for a long time, I am comfortable doing it. It's one of those things that I've used as a training tool over the years no different than riding bikes. Elliott said he knew pretty quickly he was seriously injured and spoke with his team while in the emergency room. He told the team immediately to get a replacement driver. Story continues I knew my knee was messed up. I certainly knew it wasnt right and was going to probably take surgery, Elliott said. He said doctors have told him the integrity of the bone is fine and he's not in danger of further injury. Josh Berry, who drove five of the six races Elliott missed in the No. 9 Chevrolet, will be on standby at the Virginia short track for Elliott's comfort level in the car. Elliott is a one-time winner at Martinsville in 15 career starts. I wouldn't go this weekend if I didn't feel like I could do it, Elliott said. ____ AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports For three years after the pandemic began, people who have Medicaid health coverage were automatically reenrolled, and didn't have to verify annually that they qualified for this benefit. That continuous Medicaid coverage ended on March 31. In Texas, the end to continuous coverage means that the state has to reverify that 2.7 million women and children still qualify for Medicaid to keep them enrolled. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services predicts that as many as 15 million people nationwide could be disenrolled in Medicaid during this process, including 6.8 million who still qualify for Medicaid. David Evangelista sticks his tongue out for nurse practitioner Emily Schlechte during his appointment in 2008 at the Lone Star Circle of Care's Round Rock Health Clinic. The state of Texas has to verify that 2.7 million children and women still qualify for Medicaid after continuous enrollment ended in March. Why is the end of continuous Medicaid coverage important? Staff at local clinics worry that families might not be aware of the changes, said Lucy Sumner, vice president of revenue cycle at Austin Regional Clinic. These families are working to make ends meet, caring for children, lacking time to work through red tape on the phone or on the computer, or might have moved. Clinics worry that if families don't maintain their Medicaid status, they might put off preventative care, which many kids fell behind on during the pandemic. Families also might seek nonemergency care at the emergency room rather than go to a primary doctor because they can't afford health care. Who can get Medicaid? Medicaid qualifications are based on family size and monthly income. For example: A family of four making less than $3,083 a month qualifies for Medicaid for their children. Some parents in extreme poverty can get Medicaid if a family of four, with two parents, earns less than $285 monthly. Families with children with disabilities can qualify if they cannot afford health care premiums. Pregnant women with a family of four making less than $4,579 a month can receive Medicaid during pregnancy and up to two months after the baby's birth. There are bills in this Texas Legislature this session to extend it to a year. Learn more: Texans can be at risk for Medicare fraud. What you need to know to protect yourself. Story continues What do I need to do? Starting this month, you have to verify your income and make sure Medicaid has your current contact information to stay enrolled. Create or log into your account at YourTexasBenefits.com or the Your Texas Benefits app. In your account, ensure your information is correct, including address, phone number, email, family size, age of children and income. You can call 211 and press option 2 or go to your local Medicaid enrollment office. To find a Texas Health and Human Services office or a community partner, visit yourtexasbenefits.com/Screener/FindanOffice. Then watch your mail or email. Yellow envelopes with red lettering that say "Action Required" are being mailed to people with a renewal form. If you have a YourTexasBenefits.com account, that form will come electronically. Once you have the form, you need to return it by the due date, in some cases in 30 days. You need documentation to verify your income and identity. You can submit the application, renewal form and information by: Mailing to Texas Health & Human Services, P.O. Box 149024, Austin, TX 78714-9024 Faxing to 877-447-2839 Calling 211 and choosing option 2 after picking a language. Visiting a local office or a community partner. Families who have Medicaid should be on the look out for this envelope. They will need to reenroll in Medicaid by verifying their information or risk losing their health benefits. What happens if I don't turn in my renewal packet or request for information? Benefits will be terminated. You will receive a notice stating that you will no longer receive health care coverage. You will have 90 days to respond, and the state will process your information without requiring you to submit a new application. After 90 days, you have to fill out a new application. What is the timing of the reenrollment? Texas began sending out letters about reenrollment in January. The actual re-verification process continues throughout the year. The first renewal applications went out April 8. Batches of applications will be sent through September. The state is prioritizing reenrollment of people most likely to no longer qualify first. These are: People who have turned 19 during this three-year period. Previously pregnant women who had their babies and are past the postpartum period of coverage. People known to have had a change in family income. Then the state will start working through the remaining 2.7 million women and children who receive Medicaid. The re-verification process is not likely to affect Medicaid programs for seniors or people with disabilities. Access to care: Central Health's demographics report: a story of poverty and health access in Travis County What happens if my family no longer qualifies for Medicaid? If children qualify for the Children's Health Insurance Program, or CHIP, which allows for a higher family income, the state says it would enroll kids in CHIP. Families who still don't qualify will be given information about other resources, including the insurance marketplace on healthcare.gov. Families also can go for care to federally qualified health clinics such as CommUnityCare, People's Community Clinic and Lone Star Circle of Care, which offer sliding-scale fees based on income. If my child loses Medicaid, can we still get treatment? Losing your health insurance doesn't mean you do not have care, said Lone Star Circle of Cares Chief Operations Officer Lindsey Tippit. For emergencies, safety-net hospitals will treat patients regardless of their health insurance status. "If you go to our hospital, our ER, we're going to make sure we take care of you no matter what," said Geronimo Rodriguez, chief advocacy officer at Ascension Texas, which includes Dell Children's Medical Center and Dell Seton Medical Center, the safety-net hospitals for children and adults in Travis County. If a child who should qualify for Medicaid and doesn't have it arrives at the hospital, staff at Dell Children's will direct parents on how to enroll. Until they are enrolled, families might have to pay out-of-pocket for care, though Dell Children's and Ascension Texas have charity care funding. If families are de-enrolled in Medicaid, they can go to doctors' offices that are not federally qualified health clinics, but pay out of pocket for the visits until they can get reenrolled. ARC's Sumner expects this will have a "massive" impact on patients, and "there's going to be a lot of unanticipated bills." Does this affect other benefits such as SNAP, TANF and CHIP? No. Those federal programs are not affected by the end of continuous Medicaid coverage. How else is the state trying to reach people? Texas Health and Human Services has been using social media posts, handing out flyers in community settings and sending Medicaid participants emails and texts to alert them of the changes. It also has an FAQ online to help answer questions. What are clinics and hospitals doing to help people keep their benefits? Clinics and hospitals across Central Texas are working to identify and reenroll their Medicaid patients. At Dell Children's clinics and hospitals, staff have resource cards to help families. Austin Regional Clinic mailed 30,000 letters to patients on Medicaid about the reenrollment process. At Lone Star Circle of Care, where 45% of its 97,000 patients are on Medicaid, the patient services team is ready to help patients stay enrolled. "We're trying to make this as smooth as possible," Tippit said. "Families don't have to navigate this alone." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Here's what Texans need to do to avoid losing Medicaid coverage China will ban ships from entering an area north of Taiwan on Sunday due to "possible falling rocket wreckage", a provincial maritime authority said, days after Beijing conducted large-scale military drills around the self-ruled island. The area around 160 kilometres (100 miles) from the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, will be closed from 9:00 am (0100 GMT) to 3:00 pm (0700 GMT), the maritime safety administration of China's eastern Fujian province said Thursday. It added that vessels would be "forbidden to enter" for the duration of the shutdown. The announcement came after Taiwan's transport ministry said Wednesday that Beijing planned to impose a no-fly zone north of the island due to "space activities". The air restrictions would be in force from 9:30 am to 9:57 am (0130 to 0157 GMT) on Sunday, the ministry said, adding that the zone lies "on the convergence areas of many international routes". China had initially planned a three-day shutdown but had relented following objections from Taiwanese authorities, according to the ministry. Beijing's foreign ministry declined to confirm on Thursday whether the no-fly zone would be imposed, with spokesperson Wang Wenbin telling reporters at a regular briefing to refer to "the competent authorities". It is unclear what link, if any, exists between the restricted zone and Beijing's recent war games. Taiwanese authorities did not immediately respond to an AFP request for comment. - War games - Beijing on Monday announced the end of three days of military drills around Taiwan, the island democracy it views as part of its territory and has vowed to one day seize -- by force if necessary. The "Joint Sword" manoeuvres came in response to Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen's visit last week to the United States, where she met a bipartisan group of lawmakers including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) said it simulated targeted strikes on Taiwan and an encirclement that would have effectively "sealed off" the island. Story continues The operations "comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat ability of multiple military branches under actual combat conditions", the PLA's Eastern Command said. They were also expected to include live-fire drills in a closed-off area near the coast of Fujian -- about 80 kilometres south of the Taiwan-administered Matsu islands -- but it is not clear whether those drills actually took place. - 'Actual combat' - The United States -- Taiwan's main security ally -- repeatedly called for Beijing to show restraint in response to Tsai's visit. Washington later sent a guided-missile destroyer through contested parts of the South China Sea under what it called a "freedom of navigation operation". On Wednesday, Chinese state media said President Xi Jinping had called on the country's armed forces to "strengthen military training oriented towards actual combat" during a naval inspection trip the day before. Separately, Beijing warned that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions. mjw/je/aha A screen shows footage of Chang'e-5, China's lunar sample-return mission, during an event in Beijing. Reuters China could be ready to start building its lunar base within five years, scientists said. China has made major strides in space exploration, recently launching its own crewed space station. NASA's chief previously said China may try to claim resource-rich areas of the moon if it gets there first. China wants to begin building a base on the moon with the help of lunar soil within five years, Chinese media reported. The news comes just months after NASA administrator Bill Nelson warned that China may want to claim resource-rich areas of the moon for itself. At the first conference on the topic, more than 100 scientists from domestic universities gathered to discuss plans for the country's crewed moon base at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan on Saturday, according to reporting by the South China Morning Post (SCMP), an English-language newspaper based in Hong Kong. Ding Lieyun, an expert from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said in an interview with local newspaper Changjiang Daily that China could be ready to place the first brick on the moon within five years, per the SCMP. "We will be using real moon soil to make the first brick right there on the moon," he added, per SCMP. Lunar soil, called regolith, is thick and abundant on the moon. NASA Ding has been working on a robot named Chinese Super Mason that can turn lunar soil into brick. These could be used to make habitats on the moon using traditional Chinese building techniques, he said. NASA has its own plan to build a permanent base on the lunar south pole. The agency plans to mine resources like water ice on the moon in order to create fuel, water, and even oxygen on-site. But NASA doesn't have a clear timeline for building that base yet. It has set an ambitious goal of landing astronauts on the lunar surface in 2025, but construction could come years after that. For China, it looks like they plan to build first, and send humans later. Though the first brick may be coming to the moon within the decade, as a technology test on the Chang'e 8 mission, it could take a lot longer for humans to settle there, said Yu Dengyun, from the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, per SCMP Story continues "It might take us 20 to 30 years or longer to eventually settle down on the moon, but we must start working together now," Yu told the conference, per SCMP. China has made incredible progress in space Students watch a televised lecture by three astronauts on China's Tiangong space station. Xue Lei/Future Publishing via Getty Images China, the US, and their respective allies are vying to get to the moon first this decade. This is not only for the glory and scientific interest. Getting there first could poise either nation to claim territory or set precedent for other practices, like resource mining, for the new era of exploration on the moon and beyond to Mars. "It is a fact: we're in a space race," Nelson previously told Politico. "And it is true that we better watch out that they don't get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, 'Keep out, we're here, this is our territory.'" NASA has tried to get other space-faring nations on the same page through the Artemis Accords, a non-binding agreement to be peaceful, transparent, cooperative, and to use space resources sustainably as humans expand to the moon and beyond. An artist's concept shows an astronaut on Mars, as viewed through the window of a spacecraft. NASA/JPL-Caltech Twenty-two countries have signed the Artemis Accords, but Russia and China are not among them. In any case, NASA is legally prohibited from collaborating with China ever since Congress banned the agency from doing so in 2011. Nobody can truly own the moon, but international outer-space law is a wide-open field that will probably change drastically as the US, China, and others set up permanent bases on the moon. The moon is seen as a strategic objective for space exploration, as it could become a pit stop for rockets on their way to Mars. A portion of the far side of the moon looms large as NASA's Orion spaceship flies past. NASA In 2021, China officially announced its plans to build the International Lunar Research Station in cooperation with Russia. This aims to be fully autonomous at first, with robots carrying out tasks such as exploiting local resources. China's progress towards space has been "stunning" in recent years, Space Force Lieutenant General Nina Armagno said last November. This includes landing a rover on the far side of the moon for the first time, getting rovers, landers, and orbiters to Mars, and building its own space station in Earth's orbit. "I think it's entirely possible they could catch up and surpass us, absolutely," Armagno said, per Reuters. The Chang'e 5 probe successfully brought the moon's soil back to Earth in Siziwang Banner, Inner Mongolia, China. TPG/Getty Images China's government said last month it aims to bring its taikonauts to the moon by the end of the decade. The US is on its own path to bring back boots on the moon in the coming years. For example, NASA recently had success with its first mission to the moon Artemis I that brought its SLS mega-rocket around the moon and back. The agency wants to build its own station orbiting the moon, as well as an Artemis lunar base. Read the original article on Business Insider BEIJING (Reuters) - China's Foreign Ministry on Thursday sanctioned U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, for visiting Taiwan, saying he had sent a "serious wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces." China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory and strongly objects to all high-level engagements between foreign and Taiwanese officials, especially if they involve Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. McCaul visited Taipei last week and met Tsai, pledging to help provide training for Taiwan's armed forces and to speed up the delivery of weapons. China's Foreign Ministry said McCaul, a Republican, had frequently interfered in China's internal affairs with his words and actions and harmed China's interests. He recently led a delegation to Taiwan "seriously harming China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and sending a serious wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces," it added. According to China's anti-sanctions law, McCaul will not be allowed to enter the country, be banned from interacting with organizations and individuals in China and any assets of his in China will be frozen, the ministry said. McCaul commented that China's action is "a badge of honor," saying in a statement: "Ironically, this baseless action serves U.S. interests by bringing more attention to our international partners and revealing the CCPs (Chinese Communist Party's) blatant aggression." China says Taiwan is the single most important and sensitive issue in its relations with the United States. Taiwan's government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims. China has a track record of sanctioning foreign lawmakers and officials, often for criticizing China, speaking in support of Taiwa or visiting the island, as happened to a deputy Lithuanian minister following her visit to Taipei last year. Story continues In early 2021, China sanctioned some Trump administration officials including former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, minutes after Joe Biden was sworn in as the new president of the United States. China has also sanctioned several senior Taiwanese officials. (Reporting by Beijing newsroom, additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Writing by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Bernadette Baum and Chizu Nomiyama) Chinese military drills held around Taiwan should be viewed as a warning to the self-governing island, a government spokesperson said Wednesday. The Chinese military held three days of large-scale air and sea exercises it dubbed "Joint Sword" that ended Monday, and comes after U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy held a meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. China warned of serious consequences if the meeting took place. Zhu Fenglian, a spokesperson for the Cabinets Taiwan Affairs Office, made the remarks during a news conference Wednesday morning. CHINA CONDUCTS SECOND DAY OF MILITARY DRILLS AROUND TAIWAN, SIMULATES STRIKES ON THE ISLAND A Chinese warship sails during a military drill near the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands that are close to the Chinese coast, on April 8. "The Peoples Liberation Army recently organized and conducted a series of countermeasures in the Taiwan Strait and surrounding waters, which is a serious warning against the collusion and provocation of Taiwan independence separatist forces and external forces," Fenglian said. "It is a necessary action to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity." READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP As part of the military drills, the Chinese military sent 71 aircraft and nine navy vessels around Taiwan on Sunday. While China claims that the military drills are over, it's still sending aircraft and navy vessels around Taiwan. TAIWAN RESIDENTS AGREE US WILL NOT COME TO THEIR AID IF CHINA INVADES, ARE DIVIDED ON THREAT LEVEL A J-15 fighter is seen ready to take off from aircraft carrier Shandong on April 9 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. Taiwan's Ministry of National Defense said Wednesday it tracked 35 flights flown by the People's Liberation Army within the past 24 hours along with eight navy vessels in the area surrounding the island. Taiwan's Ministry of Transportation said it received a notice from China's Civil Aviation Administration, stating that it's setting up a control zone to "restrict flights" in some parts of northern Taiwan, April 16-18. "On their own, they set up a warning area to control flights within our country's jurisdiction's Taipei Aviation Information Region, using the excuse of aerospace activities," the statement from Taiwan's transportation ministry read. Taiwan strongly objected to the notice and got China to reduce the control zone to 27 minutes, down from three days, on April 16. The Associated Press and Fox News' Paul Best contributed to this report. The U.S. State Department on Thursday said its disappointed by Chinas decision to uphold the death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence for wrongfully detained U.S. citizen Mark Swidan. Today the Peoples Republic of Chinas Jiangmen Intermediate Court denied wrongfully detained U.S. national Mark Swidans appeal, and upheld his death penalty with a two-year suspended death sentence, State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel said in a statement. We are disappointed by this decision and will continue to press for his immediate release and return to the United States. Patel said U.S. officials have repeatedly expressed their concerns to top China officials about Swidans treatment and medical care, as well as his inability to send or receive mail in a timely manner. Swidan, from Houston, has been imprisoned in China on drug-related charges for more than 10 years, Reuters reports. He was sentenced to death in 2018, according to The Associated Press. The United Nations Human Rights Council determined in 2020 that Swidan was arbitrarily detained and urged China to make the appropriate remedy and release Swidan immediately. Mark Swidan is a Texan who has been held as a hostage in China for over a decade. He has been sentenced to death on false charges, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) said on Twitter earlier this year. China says they want to [be] respected on the world stage, but this is how Third World despots act. They must release Mark. President Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken are personally focused on releasing Swidan and other U.S. nationals wrongfully detained or held hostage across the world, Patel added in his Thursday statement. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Chris Evans doesn't hesitate to engage in battle with villainous goons as the Marvel superhero Captain America, but hosting "Saturday Night Live"? That's another story. "Ive avoided hosting SNL like the plague for years now just because Im so scared. Its terrifying to me," the 41-year-old actor told "ET Canada." To me, it would just be one of those things that every single night I would wake up in a cold sweat," he continued. "A cameo sounds great, thats perfect. In and out get your toes wet." Chris Evans attends the 91st Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on February 24, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Jeff Kravitz / FilmMagic) Hosting the legendary sketch show wouldn't be good for his mental health, Evans explained. I just know how I would feel it would just be an every-day anxiety, constant regret. 'Why did I do this? I could have been comfortable at my house, in my bed, not worrying about this,'" he said. The actor, who talked to "ET Canada" alongside his Ghosted co-star Ana de Armas, applauded de Armas for accepting an invitation to host SNL on April 15. Shes going to be amazing. But it would provide a lot of sleepless nights for me, he said. Though Evans has appeared in plenty of comedies, including Knives Out and Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, hes been told by people close to him that he's not exactly a laugh riot. Im not a funny person. Maybe I only feel that because I have very, very funny friends who once told me Im not a funny person, he said. Just last month, Variety reported that Evans will reunite with his "Scott Pilgrim vs. The World" co-stars for the upcoming Netflix anime series based on the Scott Pilgrim graphic novels. Evans, along with Michael Cera, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Brie Larson, Kieran Culkin and others, will all voice their respective characters in the upcoming series, which was first reported as being in development at Netflix in January 2022. This article was originally published on TODAY.com (Reuters) - Cigna Group's pharmacy benefit management (PBM) unit said on Thursday it will launch a new pricing plan that will include exact information on rebates, as pharmacy middlemen come under scrutiny by U.S. lawmakers for their opaque drug pricing practices. The new plans from Cigna come amid close examination from regulators including the U.S. Federal Trade Commission which is conducting a study to see if rebates sought by pharmacy middlemen reduced competition, ultimately leading to higher drug prices. The PBM unit, Express Scripts, will also introduce a new co-pay plan for consumers which will cap out-of-pocket costs between $5 and $45, depending on whether the drug is generic or branded. PBMs negotiate drug prices with manufacturers, health plans and pharmacies. Last month, Ohio filed a lawsuit alleging PBM units of Cigna Group, Humana Inc and others use their market power to push drug companies to increase prices, some of which goes to PBMs in the form of fees. Express Scripts said under the new pricing plan its clients will "receive 100% of drug rebates" that are paid to it by drug manufacturers. The pricing and co-pay plans will be launched this summer. Next year, Express Scripts will begin including information on drug prices and out-of-pocket costs as part of its prescriptions for consumers. Express Scripts, UnitedHealth Group Inc's Optum unit and CVS Health Corp's CVS Caremark are among the biggest PBMs in the United States. (Reporting by Bhanvi Satija in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) Detectives are looking for a suspect who robbed a Citrus Heights bank Tuesday afternoon and got away with an undisclosed amount of money. The robbery was reported about 1:50 p.m. Tuesday at the River City Bank in the 5600 block of Sunrise Boulevard, the Citrus Heights Police Department announced Wednesday in a news release. Officers arrived at the bank and did not find the suspect. Detectives arrived shortly after and are investigating the bank robbery alongside investigators from the FBI Sacramento field office. A bank teller told investigators that an unidentified man entered the bank and presented a note demanding money, police said. The teller complied, and the robber left the bank with an undisclosed amount of money. No injuries occurred. The Police Department did not indicate in the news release whether the robber brandished a weapon. Police described the suspect as a man in his early 30s about 6 feet in height. Investigators asked anyone with information about the suspects identity or the bank robbery to call the Citrus Heights police tip line at 916-727-5524 or Sacramento Valley Crime Stoppers at 916-443-4357. Associate US Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas poses for the official photo at the Supreme Court in Washington, DC on October 7, 2022. Photo by OLIVIER DOULIERY/AFP via Getty Images Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas sold property to GOP donor Harlan Crow, ProPublica reported. After the purchase, in 2014, Crow paid for $36,000 in improvements to the property. Neighbors said Thomas's 94-year-old mother still lives at the home in Savannah, Georgia. Under federal law, an employee of the government, including the Supreme Court, is supposed to report any real estate transaction worth more than a thousand dollars. But when Justice Clarence Thomas and his family sold his childhood home in 2014, the sale never appeared on a disclosure form, ProPublica reported on Thursday, nor did he reveal the identity of the buyer: Republican mega-donor Harlan Crow. Citing a state tax filing and a deed to the property a home and two nearby vacant lots in Savannah, Georgia ProPublica said the transaction netted $133,363 for Thomas, his mother, and his now-deceased brother. Neighbors who spoke to the outlet said the home, where Thomas spent part of his youth, is still occupied by the justice's 94-year-old mother. It is also in much better condition than before the sale, with Crow having invested $36,000 in improvements, ProPublica reported. In a statement, Crow told ProPublica that he intends to turn the property into a museum dedicated to Thomas. He did not say whether he's charging the justice's mother any rent. Liberal critics of the justice have pounced on the news, which comes after leading Democrats urged Chief Justice John Roberts to open an investigation following an earlier report about Thomas receiving free travel from Crown valued in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. "One thing is crystal clear: this is corruption at the highest levels, and it can't be accepted," Kyle Herrig, president of the watchdog group Accountable.US, said in a statement. "Justice Thomas must be held accountable." A spokesperson for the Supreme Court did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider Law enforcement officials arrested a 21-year-old on Thursday after tracing a trove of classified secrets that found their way to the public through the chat app Discord. The suspect, U.S. Air Force National Guard member Jack Teixeira, was identified by The New York Times prior to his arrest. Teixeira reportedly led a private Discord group where a small group of men posted memes and discussed shared interests, including gaming, racist jokes and guns. "Today the Justice Department arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information," Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed in a press conference on Thursday afternoon. Teixeira will have his first appearance in the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts. According to The Washington Post, the classified documents originated in a small Discord server known as "Thug Shaker Central," a meme reference. By February, a member of that Discord group started sharing the material in a broader Discord server called "wow_mao." A month later they showed up in a Minecraft channel with thousands of members. Thursday's arrest came relatively swiftly. But the cache of intelligence documents, which included many previously secret, sensitive details about the war in Ukraine, had been circulating online for months prior to the U.S. catching on. That fact has raised alarm within the federal government, which could expand the scope of social media services that it monitors in response. This story is developing... A joint investigation led deputies to arrest a man accused of rape nearly 900 miles away. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Around 2 a.m., on Feb.13, Clayton County deputies were called to an area in Morrow. Once investigators arrived in the area, authorities reportedly had enough evidence to take out warrants earlier this week for Mark Anthony Thomas. Clayton officials said Thomas committed the crimes of rape, aggravated sodomy, aggravated child molestation and aggravated sodomy. TRENDING STORIES: This week, Clayton deputies began searching for Thomas. Authorities say Thomas was in Newark, New Jersey, which is about 870 miles from Clayton County. The Newark Police Department surrounded the home Thomas was in and was later arrested. Thomas will be transported to the Clayton County Jail. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] IN OTHER NEWS: OPINION: 150 years ago today, a white supremacist act of domestic terrorism set the stage for Black voter suppression, the Jan. 6 insurrection and 150 years of gun hysteria. Editors note: The following article is an op-ed, and the views expressed are the authors own. Read more opinions on theGrio. Boys, this is a struggle for white supremacy. Ku Klux Klansman Dave Paul, April 13, 1873 Whenever the subject of, well, anything having to do with politics, history or race arises, someone whose knowledge of Americas past is limited to the whitewashed version of history they learned in 11th grade will invariably respond by pointing out that The Ku Klux Klan was Democrats. Other versions include: The Republicans freed the slaves. The Democrats were the real racists. The GOP is the party of Lincoln What about Although those claims are easily refuted, a historian once taught me a too long; didnt read version of the story of Americas political partisanship: The Colfax Massacre. When a group dedicated to making America great again rallied at the capital of Grant Parish, Louisiana, 150 Easters ago, they were not representing political parties. They knew they were part of an insurrection. They were keenly aware that they were soldiers in the war for white supremacy. What this motley crew of Klansmen, former confederates and gun-toting White Leaguers did not know is that they were setting the stage for Jim Crow, school shootings and 150 years of debate over gun control. They knew they were doing it for white people. Insurrection Sunday On Sunday, April 13, 1873, an armed brigade of Black men surrounding the Grant Parish Courthouse in Colfax, Louisiana, knew a fight was coming. Newly elected State Rep. William Ward had already tried every imaginable way to avoid conflict, to no avail. Ward, a Black Union veteran, knew that the white minority hated the fact that he had been sent to the parish to control the racial terrorism in the surrounding area, so he sent a letter alerting the governor to impending trouble. Unfortunately, Wards messenger was captured by Klansmen Paul Hooe, Jim Hadnot and Bill Cruikshank, who had already issued a call for the sheriff to disperse the Black men. There was just one problem: Story continues As far as Colfaxs Black citizens were concerned, there was no sheriff. In fact, there wasnt really a governor; there were two. In the 1872 election, Louisianas Liberal Republicans teamed up with Democrats to fight for white peoples voting rights (former confederates were forbidden from voting after the Civil War because of the whole treason thing.) The pro-white Fusionists claimed their candidate John McEnery won the 1872 election, while McEnerys opponent, William Pitt Kellogg, also declared victory. McEnery, a former confederate soldier, enlisted the help of his fellow race warriors to create an entirely separate state government and put confederates in charge of voting across the state. So, depending on where you lived in Louisiana, you got to pick your governor. Most of the majority white parishes respected the authority of pro-white McEnery. In New Orleans and a few majority-Black parishes, the only governor they acknowledged was Kellogg. Down in Grant Parish, the majority-Black electorate had outvoted whites 776-660, so they werent worried about those crazy election deniers. They had no idea McEnerys Stop the Steal boys had sent fake certifications to the state government saying the pro-white candidates won Grant Parish by a landslide. When they heard rumors that the sheriff and judge they defeated at the ballot box had been sworn in anyway, the Black citizens of Colfax knew they had to take action (or, as Im sure someone said, has a trick for they a**). On March 25, in the middle of the night, a makeshift Black militia of actual proud boys grabbed their guns and shovels, dug trenches around the courthouse and waited for the white people to show up. Remember, after the Civil War, Union troops occupied the Southern states to prevent white people from white people-ing. As the commanding officer of Company A, 6th Infantry Regiment of the Louisiana State Militia, Ward deputized a group of Black men to raid Cruishanks, Hadnots and Judge William Rutlands homes on April 5. Outraged that Black men were asserting their authority over their red-blooded whiteness, the trio of white men picked a random Black bystander, Jesse McKinney, and shot him in the head in front of his wife and children. McKinneys wife, Laurinda, loaded him into a wagon while the whites in the yard mocked them, hooting lecherously and calling them bad names, writes historian LeeAnna Keith. The next day, it got even worse: The Black women showed up. They had guns, too. Outnumbered, Cruikshank and his boys sent out the call to Klansmen, confederate soldiers, the White League and any white man who believed in the supremacy of their skin color. Their clarion call included the worst fear of all: Black men were going to have sex with white women. The Negroes at Colfax shouted daily across the river to our people that they intended killing every white man and boy, keeping only the young women to raise from them a new breed, wrote George Stafford in a letter to the Louisiana Democrat. We were all startled and terrified at the news by a Courier who had just gotten in from our Parish Site, recounted a citizen of a nearby parish. [T]he Negroes under the leadership of a few unprincipled white men had captured the Court House & driven all white inhabitants out of the Town, were raiding stealing & driving the cattle out of the surrounding country. The Negro men making their brags that they would clean out the white men & then take their women folks for wifes. Meanwhile, on April 11, Ward fell ill from tuberculosis and had to leave the courthouse. On April 13, Easter Sunday, Christopher Columbus Nash, the new sheriff, came to the courthouse with 300 riflemen riding on horseback, dragging an automatic cannon that shot four-pound iron slugs and all the whiteness that ever was. He demanded that the Black men turn in their weapons and leave the courthouse. Most of the men who showed up were former confederate soldiers. Now remember, the Black guardsmen had the approval of Ward, an elected state representative, a government-appointed official who was in charge of stopping insurrections. All the white men had were guns, a fake election and the imaginary authority provided by their whiteness. The Black men did not move. After giving the Black defenders 30 minutes to remove the women and children, the white men opened fire. The first cannon shot tore through the abdomen of Adam Kimball, who ran inside the courthouse before his intestines fell on the courthouse floor. The supremacists mowed down the defenders of democracy and burned down the courthouse. When the smoke cleared, between 50 and 280 Black men were dead, according to Keith. No one knows for sure how many. Some of the bodies were tossed into the Red River and buried in unmarked graves. Others were burned. Three white men had been killed. And Justice for None The Colfax Massacre is not important because it was the single bloodiest incident in the bloodiest period of American history. It created the America we know today. Unlike most of Americas racial massacres, 97 of the paramilitary forces were indicted by the Supreme Court under the recently passed Enforcement Acts. Also known as the Ku Klux Klan Acts, the laws prohibited groups of white supremacists from going in disguise upon the public highways, or upon the premises of another with the intent to violate the rights of other people. Three men were found guilty, but the judge unilaterally overturned the conviction and released the murderers on bail. When the Department of Justice appealed, the Supreme Court overturned the convictions in the landmark case United States v. Cruikshank. How? See, the men were indicted for denying the Black citizens their right to bear arms for a lawful purpose. The justices ruled that the Enforcement Acts actually robbed the Klansmen of their right to bear arms and peaceably assemble. Furthermore, they noted the 14th Amendment only granted Black people equal protection from the federal government. It did not protect formerly enslaved people from individual or even state-sponsored racism. Blacks gathering dead and wounded from the Colfax Massacre Lousinia. Published in Harpers Weekly. (Photo by MPI/Getty Images) Why was this important? Well, imagine if you had oppressed people for more than 250 years and were looking for a way to continue it. Imagine if the highest judicial authority in the land told you that taking away a groups constitutional rights was perfectly fine as long as it wasnt an act of Congress. Ladies and gentlemen, meet Jim Crow. This is the loophole that created segregation. This is why Southern states could write constitutions that disenfranchised Black voters. This is how unequal schools and voter suppression and Black codes and the era known as Jim Crow came to be. As the Smithsonian Magazine notes: This ruling essentially neutered the federal governments ability to prosecute hate crimes committed against African-Americans. Without the threat of being tried for treason in federal court, white supremacists now only had to look for legal loopholes and corrupt officials to continue targeting their victims, Gates reports. Meanwhile, principles of segregation were beginning to work their ways into law, with Plessy v. Ferguson officially codifying separate but equal just 20 years later. Smithsonian Magazine But there was one more thing. Remember that part about illegally taking away Black peoples guns? Well, the Supreme Court didnt really debate that part. In fact, the Supreme Court had never decided a case based on the Second Amendment. Before Cruishank, the general consensus was that the Second Amendment authorized militias to carry firearms. But the court essentially ruled that the right to keep and bear arms exists separately from the Constitution and is not solely based on the Second Amendment, which exists to prevent Congress from infringing the right. The justices believed that everyone had the right to own a gun, and Congress couldnt do anything about it. The Colfax Massacre wasnt the first racial massacre or its deadliest. But the events of April 13, 1873 begat the Cruikshank, which begat the end of the Enforcement Acts, which begat the Compromise of 1877, which begat the removal of federal troops from the South, which begat Jim Crow, which begat separate but equal, which begat redlining, which begat unequal schools, which begat mass shooting after school shooting after racist shooting after white supremacist insurrection. For 150 years, Americas inequality has rested upon this bloodstained pillar of injustice. And whenever anyone tries to do anything about it, the name of the man who helped spark a racist massacre is resurrected. Not even Ron DeSantis and all the critical race theory laws in the world will never erase the memories of the Black resistance that happened in Colfax. And if you ever wonder why we cant do anything about school shootings, remember Cruikshank He is risen. Michael Harriot is a writer, cultural critic and championship-level Spades player. His book, Black AF History: The Unwhitewashed Story of America, will be released in September. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. Please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post The Colfax Massacre: The mass shooting that made America appeared first on TheGrio. A Colorado high school remains closed after two faculty members died over the weekend including one from symptoms of bacterial meningitis. Eaglecrest High School in Aurora, Colorado, was closed Wednesday due to the death of teacher Maddie Schmidt. The Cherry Creek School District said the Arapahoe County Public Health Department informed them that Schmidt had symptoms consistent with meningitis. Principal Gwen Hansen-Vigil broke the news on Monday that Schmidt and Judith Geoffroy, another faculty member, died over the weekend. COLORADO SCHOOL DISTRICT CLOSES MORE THAN 40 SCHOOLS DUE TO 'UNPRECEDENTED SPREAD' OF CONTAGIOUS STOMACH BUG Both women worked at the integrated learning center at the school. Geoffroy's cause of death has not been confirmed. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP The school district reassured community members that they are working closely with public health officials to ensure the safety of students and teachers. "Arapahoe County Public Health will reach out directly to all staff members and families of students determined to be close contact," the district explained in a statement. "Those individuals will be offered preventative antibiotics." THE 9 DEADLIEST VIRUSES ON EARTH "As the Eaglecrest community continues to grieve together this week, we will have school and district mental health support staff available," the letter added. The school district told Fox News Digital that normal operations will resume Monday as public health officials continue investigating. Meningitis is an infection of the brain and spinal cord's protective membranes. Symptoms include stiff neck, severe headache, disorientation and high fever. Mild meningitis with hemorrhage due to Bacillus anthracis. Photomicrograph of mild meningitis along with hemorrhage, and the presence of Bacillus anthracis in a case of fatal human anthrax. Fox News Digital reached out to Arapahoe County Public Health for more information, but none was available. Former President Trump is sworn in for a deposition last year in New York. The prospect of testifying in his own defense presents a conundrum for him in several pending cases. (Associated Press) Donald Trump announced in an interview aired this week that he is prepared to run for president even if he is convicted of a crime. Hed better be, because his candidacy is doing nothing to decrease his enormous legal exposure. In the face of risks grave enough to alarm even the most reckless litigant, Trump has adopted an attitude of imperious derision. The goal, if you can ascribe a goal to anyone as reactive as the former president, seems to be to turn public and political opinion against his antagonists. But even if Trump retains his ability to rev up rallies and call on slavish allies in Congress, neither public opinion nor so-called legislative oversight can protect him from the legal perils arrayed against him. The defenses he is offering in public are unlikely to fly in the courts, which is where he will need them. Indeed, the rules and dictates of the courtroom may well prevent his ever making much of his case inside one. Start with Trumps transparently racist attacks on Manhattan Dist. Atty. Alvin Bragg and the accusation, echoed by Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan and company, that the ex-president was indicted for no crime but rather for political reasons. Since its manifest that the district attorneys office regularly brings similar charges against others, Trumps team cant begin to make the required showing for such arguments in court. Trumps purported factual defenses against Braggs case, being offered bombastically at campaign rallies, are that he never had sex with Stormy Daniels and that the payout to her was meant to spare his family from a revelation of her accusations not, as prosecutors are expected to argue, to illegally bolster his 2016 campaign. These arguments face even greater obstacles to ever being heard in court. Trials are carried out under rules of evidence designed to ensure that testimony is reliable and relevant the opposite of Trumps typical approach on the stump. How can he persuade a jury of reasonable doubt about the charges under those rules? The most obvious and perhaps the only way would be to take the stand to testify in his own defense. Story continues But the first axiom of any trial involving Trump is that he cannot testify. There isnt a respectable lawyer in the country who would put him on the stand. Under the rules of evidence, taking the stand would put Trumps credibility at issue, permitting the prosecution to confront him with lies he has told. The Washington Post has documented over 30,000 from his presidency alone, many of them flagrant and undeniable. The procedures for cross-examination would leave Trump no room to dodge questions or grandstand. A skilled lawyer would be able to bring him to heel and force him to answer yes or no in his case, to admit the truth or commit perjury. The result would be a humiliating new low for the defendant. Even before Braggs case proceeds, Trump faces the same conundrum in E. Jean Carrolls lawsuit, which is scheduled to go to trial next week (though Trump moved Tuesday to postpone it because of the publicity surrounding the Bragg indictment). To offer the defense that he never assaulted Carroll, whom he has said was not [his] type, he would have to take the stand. It will not happen. He cant afford to appear in a setting where he has to tell the truth. The rules also stand in the way of Trumps having other people testify that he told them, for example, that the Daniels payout was to protect Melanias feelings. Under the rules of evidence, such testimony would be inadmissible as hearsay, considered unreliable because the person who made the statement wouldnt be making himself available for cross-examination. (Trump could try a couple of strategies to get in hearsay statements, but they would be of little help because the rules would permit the prosecution to cast doubt on his credibility as if he had taken the stand.) The same rules, however, specifically permit such statements by prosecution witnesses. So while Trump cant offer evidence of a self-serving statement through a third party, Bragg can introduce evidence of virtually every statement the former president has made. For example, likely prosecution witness David Pecker, the former chief executive of the National Enquirers parent company, could testify that Trump told him he wanted to catch and kill potentially damaging stories for political reasons. Trumps lawyers could try to impeach Peckers credibility, but they couldnt, say, put Jim Jordan on the stand to testify that Trump told him he did it for Melania. Only Trump could testify to that. (See Axiom 1.) Trumps instinctive slash-and-burn approach has carried him through a lifetime of consequence-dodging. He has always been able to make his own rules, but he wont be able to do that in the consequential arena he is entering. The justice system operates by its own rules, and they are deeply unfavorable to him. Harry Litman is the host of the Talking Feds podcast. @harrylitman This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Voters always complain about politicians being beholden to special interests. If they want to change that, they can support public financing for campaigns, George Skelton writes. Above, a voting center in Orange County. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 12:28 p.m. April 13, 2023: An earlier version of this article stated that Gov. Jerry Brown wrote the current restriction on public financing into his 1974 political reform act. The restriction actually was later amended into the act by another sponsor. American politics will never be perfectly clean because politicians represent and reflect imperfect humans. Yet voters unreasonably expect the people they elect to be, on the whole, better than themselves. Its actually more of a hope even a demand than an expectation. Citizens have become accustomed to expect the worst because of scandal after scandal. In a recent poll by the Public Policy Institute of California, adults were asked whether they thought the state government was run by a few big interests looking out for themselves or was run for the benefit of all of the people. No surprise: 67% answered big interests. Only 31% replied the people. Although predictable, thats disappointing and sad. Most politicians Ive been around over the decades have been relatively ethical just as most voters who elect them are basically honest. Voters tend to elect people with similar values. But there are always some rotten apples. Thats nature. Its also human nature certainly in America to strive toward perfection even when we know that reaching that goal is impossible, at least for more than a short period. Therefore, legislation has been introduced in Sacramento that could reduce the influence of special interest money in politics. It would allow California governments the state, counties and all cities to enact some form of public financing of election campaigns. Look, running for office costs barrels of money, especially in California. The money must come from somewhere. And as Ive written many times, either the public buys the politicians or the special interests eagerly will and often do. In California, some cities are allowed to set up public financing systems but others, illogically, are not. Neither are counties or the state. Story continues Los Angeles city operates a public financing system. Public funds match private contributions. For every $1 up to a certain amount that a city resident donates to a council or citywide candidate, taxpayers kick in $6. But candidates receiving public funds must agree to campaign spending limits. L.A. spent roughly $12.8 million on matching funds for the 2022 elections. San Francisco has a similar system. But Oakland has a different partial public funding method: Each registered voter receives four $25 Democracy Dollars they can donate to qualified city candidates. Long Beach and Berkeley also have public funding systems. Those five entities are allowed to because theyre so-called charter cities. By an odd quirk, general law cities there are 357 of them are not permitted to enact public financing for campaigns. That happened because of a 1988 amendment to the 1974 Political Reform Act, a ballot measure sponsored by young Secretary of State Jerry Brown, who was running for governor on a post-Watergate platform of clean up Sacramento. Browns measure required more substantive public disclosure of campaign contributions and spending. He left out public financing because he was afraid opponents would attack the initiative as a scheme to spend tax dollars on politicians. We were worried Republicans would say no to public financing, use that against us in the campaign and it wouldnt pass, recalls Bob Stern, who helped Brown write the act and is a longtime political reformer. The measure passed overwhelmingly and later was amended by voters with the current public financing restriction. In 2016, the Legislature passed and then-Gov. Brown signed a bill to remove the ban. But the courts ruled the question must go to the voters because of the amended 1974 act. Thats what the current legislation would do send the question back to the voters in November 2024. Two identical bills SB 24 and AB 270 have been introduced by veteran state Sen. Tom Umberg (D-Santa Ana) and Assemblyman Alex Lee (D-San Jose). Umberg says hes not particularly sold on public financing but wants to allow local entities to experiment with it if they choose. Ive been trying to figure out a way to reduce the influence of money in politics, he says, and I havent figured it out. Id be interested in seeing what local communities would do. States are called laboratories of democracy. Cities and counties could be laboratories of addressing the influence of money in politics. Sen. Ben Allen (D-Santa Monica), who authored the 2016 bill, says: This is a let 1000 flowers bloom issue. The cost of campaigns is increasingly out of control. It puts so much power in the hands of the wealthy and special interests. I dont see [public financing] as a magic bullet. But it can make our campaigns cleaner. In last years elections, $311 million in private money was raised for legislative and other state races. Even if the public paid for it all, that would have accounted for only roughly one-tenth of 1% of the state budget. But no one is proposing that, although its undoubtedly a dream of Trent Lange, president of California Clean Money Campaign, a reform group. Public financing of campaigns is the best investment taxpayers can ever possibly make, Lange insists. Public financing is a great idea in the abstract, but I dont know what difference it makes given that independent expenditure committees are unlimited, says Loyola Law School professor Jessica Levinson, former president of the L.A. City Ethics Commission. Independent expenditure committees operate separately from candidates and have no spending limits. Theyre a relatively new political parasite that can overwhelm election races. Thats because of one of the silliest-ever decisions by the U.S. Supreme Court: a 1976 ruling that money is speech and thereby protected by the 1st Amendment in many political situations. And all the time Id thought that money was property. But Levinson points to one plus for public financing. You probably get good candidates who otherwise wouldnt be able to run, she says. It gives them an early step up. If any cities or counties want to try it, they at least should not be barred by the state. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Drag performer Poly Tics, right, attends a rally in Frankfort, Ky. (Bruce Schreiner / Associated Press) Trump in court. Newsom in Florida. Clarence Thomas on a yacht. And let's not forget the Bud Light brouhaha, an Idaho law meant to stop girls from leaving the state to obtain an abortion and Tennessee Republicans booting (then being forced to reinstate) two Democratic lawmakers for leading a gun safety protest in the state General Assembly. Then, not least, there's the Texas ruling trying to end access to an important drug for medical abortions. Lately it's been a fire hose of news: jaw-dropping, history-making Donald Trump becoming the first ex-president ever indicted and just plain weird. Should Californians care about any of it? Columnists Anita Chabria and Mark Z. Barabak discuss. Chabria: I admit, I don't know how much more crazy I can handle from the national news. But there are some threads that tie it all together, and tie it back to California in important ways. We are seeing messaging for the 2024 election taking shape on the right, but not as clearly for Democrats. When Gavin Newsom announced he was going to Florida for a not-running-for-president tour, I had visions of him doing tequila poppers with Judy Blume in Key West. But being the serious guy he is, he went to Sarasota and spent his time acting as a field researcher for the Democratic Party, testing out messaging on the national stage. Newsom can do whatever he wants politically, a freedom that many other ambitious Democrats, like Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg, lack. (Though he told MSNBC's Jen Psaki that he did check in with President Biden before his Southern states jaunt). Whether Newsom is really trying to position himself for an eventual White House run, California's governor and by extension California and its attitudes about diversity and inclusion are shaping up to be an important part of this next presidential contest. As much of the country swings hard right, with conservatives trying to fear-monger about what they see as a failed blue state, the reality is we are becoming proof that civil rights and diversity aren't the path to destruction Republicans claim. Story continues How do you make sense of this flood of events? Barabak: Is it possible to go into hibernation before all that snow melts in the Sierra? I mean, it's a funny thing: Joe Biden's 2020 campaign message, essentially, was that he would stop the crazy, put the country back on an even keel and rid us, once and for all, of the one-man national wrecking crew known as Donald Trump. We can see how that's worked out. As for our gallivanting governor, I think it's overly flattering to suggest Newsom is doing much meaningful spadework to boost Biden and the Democrats in 2024. I think the party would do just fine if, say, the governor instead chose to visit parts of red California that have long felt neglected and scoffed at by Sacramento, rather than swanning through Alabama and Arkansas. There will be no end of contrast between Biden and whomever Republicans end up nominating for the White House, and the choice will be plenty clear to voters in November 2024, even if Newsom is watching from the sidelines. Chabria: For me, it comes down to offense versus defense. Right now, the Republicans are on the offensive and setting the agenda of what we talk about. Biden has largely taken that elder statesman, above-the-fray attitude that, as you point out, he promised. Which is great. Except that we have a growing wave of fascists and Christian nationalists who aren't bothered by facts, and who are working far outside the bounds of traditional politics to strip rights away from women, minorities and other vulnerable communities. Like the latest Texas abortion ruling. I honestly do not care about Newsom's political future, but I do care about democracy. My father was a refugee, my mom was LGBTQ and I am a mixed-race woman with mixed-race daughters. So this is personal to me and I have genuine fears about the future. We can't wait another year before we collectively address this erosion of rights. Newsom is offering the closest thing Democrats have to an offense although Harris has stepped out more recently, with a trip to Africa that showed her in a far more personal light, and then a stop in Tennessee to support the two Black lawmakers ousted for seeking to introduce a little sanity into our guns laws. Do you think this is the start of a higher profile for her? Barabak: That seems to be the plan. Part of it is the rhythm of the political calendar. (Can calendars keep a beat?) As election year 2024 edges closer, we can expect both Biden and Harris to start traveling more around the country and, especially, hitting the battleground states that will decide the race. The role of vice president has traditionally been the more overtly political of the two, leaving the president to, as discussed, float a bit more above the fray. And remember, Harris was chosen as Biden's running mate in good part for political reasons, namely to boost his standing among Asian American, Black and female voters who will, again, be central to Democrats' success. Part of the veep's elevated profile also seems a bit of White House pushback following yet another batch of reports questioning Harris' capabilities and even asking whether she'll be dumped from the Democratic ticket, which is a complete and total nonstarter for, among other reason, her above-mentioned ties to key groups. Those who accompanied Harris through Africa, including our colleague, Courtney Subramanian, described a vice president who projected greater ease and confidence and seemed more open than Harris has been in her not wildly successful domestic travels. We'll see if that continues. Chabria: That covers California's two marquee politicians. What about the state itself? Newsom advertises California as a sanctuary for just about everyone a place where LGBTQ families are safe and welcomed, where we are stockpiling abortion medication and where we have common-sense gun laws. At the same time, San Francisco is the place conservatives love to hate. Except apparently Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who when he isn't yachting around the world with his Nazi-obsessed corporate benefactor hangs out nearby with his buddies at the secretive all-male Bohemian Grove, where rich dudes do whatever rich dudes do in private. That San Francisco-as-lefty-hellhole narrative was boosted by the recent fatal stabbing of tech entrepreneur Bob Lee and a much-hyped claim by former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines that she was assaulted at San Francisco State University after giving a speech against the participation of transgender women in women's sports. How do you think the rest of America is thinking about California? Or do they think about us as little as we think about them? Barabak: The glib answer is they hate us because they ain't us. A more serious response is there is a vast political and cultural divide between California and other Democratic-run states and the pugnacious conservatism ascendant in places like Florida and Texas, and the issues surrounding that conflict among them guns, LGBTQ rights, school curriculum will be at the center of the 2024 presidential race. No matter who wins the White House, that conflict isn't about to go away. It's both sad and quaint to recall how a little-known Illinois state senator by the name of Barack Obama shot to overnight fame on the strength of a speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention calling for an end to the divisions between red and blue America. Needless to say, that gulf has since widened to an extent that anyone giving that kind of speech would probably be laughed, or booed, off the convention stage. Chabria: You're right. And if that gulf continues to grow, we may be tasked not just with choosing who to vote for, but where we feel safe and welcomed living. For me, I'm sticking to the Golden State. But let's see where you belong with this quiz to help identify your political homeland: Snowboarding or waterboarding? Dylan Mulvaney or Mick Mulvaney? Bohemian Grove or "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Barabak: I'll take snowboarding and Queen, thanks very much. But I'll confess, while I'm familiar with Mick Mulvaney (the former South Carolina congressman and Trump chief of staff), I had to Google "Dylan Mulvaney" (the transgender social media star) to find out who she is. Sad, I know. Chabria: Dylan Mulvaney did a social media post with Bud Light, which caused a conservative meltdown that culminated with Kid Rock shooting beer cans. But I know you were on the slopes of Tahoe when that chaos ensued, so you're forgiven. And two out of three ain't bad we'll keep you here with the other coastal elites. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. This article was originally published in EducationNC. Enrollment trends for community colleges in North Carolina and nationally are headed in the right direction, but in most cases colleges have not caught up to pre-pandemic levels much less pre-Great Recession numbers. State funding is largely tied to enrollment, so it is a trend colleges cant afford not to watch. The budget full-time equivalent (FTE) how the NCCCS is funded for enrollment is up 1.7% this year, but also down from pre-pandemic levels. The number of students served across the N.C. Community College System (NCCCS), known as headcount, increased 3% this fall, but is down 10% from fall 2019. Both trends impact students and colleges alike. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Increasing enrollment is probably one of the top two issues that were hearing about from community college presidents, trustees, and administrators, Patrick Crane, vice president of strategic initiatives at the system office, told EdNC last spring. We know that there are already significant attainment gaps, educational attainment gaps, by race, ethnicity, and by county across the state. And so not addressing this just continues to widen those gaps as well. Many variables impact enrollment, including shifting labor trends, weather-related and population shifts, barriers to retaining students, and more. NCCCS leaders say solutions require being intentional, serving historically underserved populations, and thinking beyond a one-size-fits-all approach. Reversing the decade-long decline in community college enrollment is the highest priority for our system, Burr Sullivan, chair of the State Board of Community Colleges, said last year. This article takes a look at enrollments trends, the ways FTE is counted and why that matters, along with headcount data and why we need to be thinking more about the total number of students served and how that relates to investment in community colleges. Story continues History of enrollment trends While the pandemic exacerbated enrollment declines, it did not create them. Enrollment has been trending down since it peaked during the Great Recession in 2010-11. Many higher education institutions across the country have seen enrollment declines over the last decade, though the pandemic particularly impacted community college enrollment. Enrollment declines at our community colleges also largely map with population declines, according to Bill Schneider, NCCCS associate vice president of research and performance management. In December 2021, he told the State Board that 46 of the 58 colleges had FTE shifts that aligned with population shifts. Counties with declining populations generally experience enrollment and FTE declines, Schneider said, while counties with population growth tend to see enrollment growth. With this reality in mind, Schneider said its likely more rural colleges will continue to see declining enrollments compared to urban colleges which would, in turn, result in less funding. At the same time, many rural community colleges serve a critical role as one of the only postsecondary institutions in their communities. That role includes training the early child care workforce, training first responders, training the health care workforce, creating opportunities for students in high school through early college and Career and College Promise, providing customized training for industry, imagining the future of work, providing local leadership, and more. It is not clear what community colleges should stop doing in the face of enrollment funding declines. Enrollment determines funding, staffing, and more Enrollment in community colleges is one of the simplest ways the system and the state can assess its success in meeting its open-door mission to students across North Carolina. As EdNC has previously reported: Declining enrollment at our states community colleges is problematic for the state as a whole. Growing economies require an educated population, and a robust community college system expands the number of residents able to get an education. Understanding this is crucial in the management and evaluation of the community college system. Not only does enrollment signal the demand for education in our state, but it also has significant ramifications for how community colleges are funded, staffed, and measured for success. Enrollment at community college is broken into three main categories: curriculum, continuing education, and basic skills courses. Students do not take a uniform number of classes, and classes can be worth a variety of credits. So universities have developed a unit of measure called full-time equivalent, or FTE, that uses a set number of credits to define a full-time student rather than rely on a traditional headcount. This allows colleges to look at their student body in the aggregate for budget and planning purposes. In plain terms, it allows the college to count multiple part-time students as one full-time student based on the number of credits taken. The state then bases funding on the number of full-time equivalents. Currently, one FTE is equivalent to 512 hours of instruction. Many feel that funding based on FTEs, not actual students, misses many of the costs associated with part-time students, such as career counseling, tutoring, mental health, and other wrap around services. Colleges must provide the same support for students, whether they are taking one course or they are full-time students. What is happening nationally? Nationally, community college enrollment is starting to grow this spring (+2.1%), according to February 2023 data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. That growth is largely fueled by increased enrollment among dual enrollees (age 17 and under) and freshmen, the report says. The growth is taking place at community colleges in cities, suburbs, and rural regions, unlike trends across four-year institutions reflecting rural declines. This research is based on unweighted enrollment counts to emphasize year-over-year changes in enrollment patterns, rather than estimating total enrollment numbers. Trends in FTE in North Carolina It is important to note the difference between actual FTE, budget FTE, and instructional FTE. Actual FTE reflects instruction shared between colleges and also adjusts for errors in previous term reporting. To see actual FTE data, start here. Once actual is clicked at the bottom of that page, you can then click on the tabs throughout the dashboard to see the data. Budget FTE reflects the number of FTE for which colleges are funded through state funding formulas. To see budget FTE data, start here. Once budget is clicked at the bottom of that page, you can then click on the tabs throughout the dashboard to see the data. This year, the NCCCS estimated an overall 1.7% increase for fall 2023 in budget full-time equivalent (FTE) also included in Gov. Roy Coopers recommended budget and the proposed Republican House budget. Screenshot from the N.C. Community College Systems legislative agenda presentation to lawmakers on Feb. 28. (EducationNC) That 1.7% increase represents an additional 3,800 FTE, NCCCS Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Brandy Andrews told lawmakers last month. While the basic skills instruction shows the highest percent increase, I would like to call your attention to the workforce continuing education increase of almost 1,600 FTE, Andrews said. This shows our colleges are working hard delivering programs for students to meet workforce needs. Here is the dashboard for instructional FTE data. You can select to see system or college data, the reporting time frame (terms or years), and more. Thirty-eight N.C. community colleges saw growth in their instructional FTE from fall 2021 to fall 2022. In comparison, only 11 colleges have seen increases in instructional FTE since before the pandemic in fall 2019. NCCCS instructional FTE is down 7% overall since then. One of those schools James Sprunt Community College is a sizable outlier, with a 44% increase in FTE since fall 2019. President Jay Carraway said he believes one reason for the continued growth is how intentional the college has been about recruiting and marketing. Theres a lot that goes into recruiting and retaining students We are very intentional about what we do and how we do it, Carraway told EdNC. From the time you drive off the state road, and you come onto our campus, you begin to see that we pay attention to detail. At South Piedmont Community College, President Maria Pharr credits the schools success in enrolling more students to a new approach to education Learning Reimagined. The Learning Reimagined program aims to increase access, remove barriers, and provide flexibility to meet diverse student needs by expanding learning options like HyFlex, adopting an online textbook model, and creating several short-term credentials, among other things. After the pandemic and recent economic challenges, many people have been re-prioritizing their careers and goals, and many turned to higher education to make their new goals a reality, Pharr told EdNC. At South Piedmont Community College, weve been able to meet that changing demand through investments in technologies and the willingness to meet the contemporary needs of our students. A look at headcount data Headcount data is unduplicated within the time period, within individual colleges, and within the system. Here is the dashboard. Approximately 574,378 students were enrolled in the system over 2021-22, which you can find by selecting the 2021-22 reporting year option on the dashboard. To get more recent data, you need to compare enrollment year-over-year by term. Data from groups like the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center typically report on enrollment trends using headcount data. The number of students served across the NCCCS increased 3% from fall 2021 to fall 2022, according to NCCCS headcount data, with 377,462 students enrolled in at least one class last semester. Thats a 10% decrease from before the pandemic, in fall 2019, or 44,000 fewer students. Across the system, only five colleges have seen increases in headcount from fall 2019, pre-pandemic enrollment: Davidson-Davie (5%), South Piedmont (5%), Brunswick (4%), Montgomery (2%), Beaufort (0% but 19 students). Each of the other 53 community colleges have seen decreases in headcount since fall 2019, ranging from 1% all the way to 34%. Enrollment of adult learners on the rise The investments being made in adult learners help us see why headcount matters. The number of adult learners enrolled in N.C. community colleges increased by 10% since the system launched its two adult learner pilot programs, according to a press release. The enrollment of adult learners saw particularly strong growth in short-term workforce and continuing education courses, the release said. North Carolina has two adult learner pilot programs, N.C. Reconnect and REACH, to reach students 25 and older at 29 participating colleges. The initiatives focus particularly on older students who have received some college credits previously, but have not graduated. From 2020-2022, adult learner enrollment increased from 171,759 to 189,004. The largest enrollment growth took place in workforce and continuing education courses, increasing 19% in the same time period. Those short-term courses are designed to provide individuals the skills and credentials needed to gain fast employment in high-demand industries. Additionally, adult basic skills increased by 37%. Roughly half of North Carolina community college students are adult learners, and 58% were employed full time while taking college courses in fall 2022, the release said. However you count it, who is not enrolled? Nationwide, 400,000 fewer men attended college in spring 2021 than in spring 2020, an enrollment decline nearly double that of female students. At N.C. community colleges, Black men suffered the largest enrollment decline, with enrollment declining 21% from fall 2019 to fall 2020 for this group. There were still about 10,000 fewer Black men enrolled across the NCCCS last fall from before the pandemic. Community colleges enroll some of the most diverse student populations, including in North Carolina. That means at least part of the solution to enrollment declines must include colleges meeting diverse student needs. They are 16 years old and theyre 73 years old and theyre everything in between, Janet Spriggs, president of Forsyth Technical Community College, told EdNC last August regarding community college students. They are working parents, single mothers, and theyre facing all kinds of life circumstances that most people dont recognize. Many NCCCS leaders say their colleges are enrolling more part-time students, and that it often takes more resources to support part-time students. At the same time, colleges must enroll more part-time students to receive the same budgeted FTE as for full-time students. In recent years, North Carolina community colleges have increasingly added support to help all their students stay in college part- and full-time alike. Over 40% of fall 2020 community college first-year students did not return to college their second year, according to data from the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center (NSCRC). Retention and enrollment must go hand in hand, according to Wake Technical Community College President Scott Ralls. Wake Tech the systems largest campus has seen a 10% decrease in the number of students enrolled as of fall 2022 compared to before the pandemic. If youre interested, as we have been in the community colleges for years, in student success, student success comes through completion. And retention is about completion, Ralls previously told EdNC. So the enrollment battle much more of it is about how you retain students than it is about just recruiting new students. You cant get to your completion goals without retention, and you cant get to your enrollment goals without retention either. This article first appeared on EducationNC and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. Senator John Fetterman made a trip to Darlington Township on Wednesday to meet with local farmers who were affected by the train derailment in East Palestine. Farmers from Beaver and Lawrence Counties joined Fetterman for a roundtable. Fettermans team said the farmers told him they expressed their concerns about how the train derailment will impact their work in the future. They also talked about wider agricultural issues, including the new Farm Bill negotiations happening within the Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry. This was Fettermans first trip to the affected areas after checking himself into the hospital for clinical depression in February. Fetterman was released from the hospital in late March and is expected to return to the senate on April 17. It was an honor and a privilege to sit down with the hardworking farmers of Beaver and Lawrence Counties to hear their concerns following the train derailment in East Palestine, what they want to see from my office moving forward after the derailment, and to hear their wider agricultural concerns ahead of Farm Bill negotiations that are upcoming later this year, said Fetterman. Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW TRENDING NOW: Baldwin woman facing felony animal cruelty charges after dog allegedly dies from starvation Driver facing citation after tractor-trailer overturns, hangs from overpass in Washington County Local school custodian accused of sexually assaulting child, arrested on campus VIDEO: Gas prices on the rise in Pittsburgh region, across US DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts Daytona Beach Police Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell posted a message to fans on Thursday nightjust hours after he was declared missing and endangered by Daytona Beach Police, only to be located safe soon after. You leave your phone in the car and dont answer for the night and this? Bell posted, alongside a face with the tears of joy emoji. Police initially shared a post saying that Jared Drake Bell had vanished on Wednesday night at around 9 p.m. in Central Florida. He should be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW and his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School, the department said in the post. Three hours later, the department changed its tune, saying he had been located and is safe. At this time we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe, a police spokesperson told The Daily Beast. A spokesperson for the Orange County Sheriffs Office told The Daily Beast that deputies found Bell at around 11:30 a.m. unharmed and took him in for an involuntary examination to ensure he receives a mental health evaluation. It was not immediately clear where Bell was found. Bells brother, Robert, told The Daily Beast earlier on Thursday that his family was actively looking for him and were waiting to share any news until he is located. Bells manager and attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Were just waiting to figure out what is going on, Robert said shortly before Bell was found. The actors social media has been active over the last month, and his last tweet on April 3 promised an interview with a podcast he recently participated in. Since his lead role on Drake & Josh, Bell has battled several legal issues. He recently completed probation after pleading guilty in June 2021 to a felony child endangerment charge. The charges stemmed from a December 2017 incident between Bell and a 15-year-old girl. Authorities said that after Bell and the teenager met, they spoke on social media for months, and the content of those messages were at timessexual in nature. Story continues Bell was convicted of two DUIs in 2010 and 2016. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. A woman who was falsely accused of a hit-and-run in 2020 will receive $200,000 from the city she says is responsible for her wrongful arrest, according to an Arizona lawsuit. But her lawyer said the entire ordeal including her arrest and mugshot that was sent to the press has left her traumatized. The arrest occurred shortly after Yessenia Garcia left a Scottsdale bar with her then-boyfriend at 11:10 p.m. on May 24, 2020, according to the lawsuit, which was filed in federal court in Arizona on May 24, 2021. As they walked to a parking lot, they found Garcias cars windshield had been shattered. Garcias boyfriend approached two nearby officers to report the damage to the vehicle. But he didnt know the officers were investigating a hit-and-run that had occurred nearby about 20 minutes earlier, the lawsuit says. The officers began to accuse Garcia and her boyfriend of being involved in the hit-and-run despite the fact that the car had been parked outside the bar since 9 p.m. and they had only just walked out to find it damaged, the lawsuit says. Surveillance footage from the parking lot would later reveal that Garcias car was damaged by a man who jumped on the hood and stomped on her windshield at around 10 p.m., according to the lawsuit. But officers did not review this footage before arresting Garcia, nor did they speak to security guards at the bar where Garcia was with friends to verify she was there at the time of the crash, the lawsuit says. Throughout the investigation, actions taken by multiple officers revealed that they had little interest in securing any evidence that contradicted their premature conclusion that Garcia used her vehicle in the hit and run accident and that they fabricated evidence to incriminate her, the lawsuit says. The city of Scottsdale and the Scottsdale Police Department did not respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News. The $200,000 settlement was announced April 7, according to The Associated Press. Story continues Scottsdale Police Chief Jeff Walther said in 2022 that his department made some mistakes regarding the arrest of Garcia, according to ABC15. Six police officers and one police aide were disciplined after an internal investigation. The most serious of this discipline included one employee receiving a 40-hour suspension and another employee receiving a 20-hour suspension, both of which are unpaid, the department said, according to the outlet. Officers arrested Garcia just after midnight on May 25, 2020, and brought her to the police station, where her blood was drawn and she was stripped nude for evidence collection, the lawsuit says. She was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to stop at the scene of an accident causing injury or death and two counts of driving under the influence, the lawsuit says. Her unflattering mugshot was later released to the media, the lawsuit says. Days after her arrest, Garcia hired a lawyer who obtained a copy of the surveillance footage from the parking lot and sent it to police, ABC15 reported. Officers told him they would not pursue charges. Garcia is now left with lifelong trauma from the ordeal of being arrested and publicly accused in the media of a crime she didnt commit, her lawyer, Benjamin Taylor, told McClatchy News. She was the victim of vandalism to her car, and she ended up being victimized by the very same police department she was trying to seek help from, Taylor said. The experience has also diminished her faith in law enforcement, he said. This has been a long, emotional battle, and it will continue throughout her life because your trust in law enforcement goes down when you get victimized like this, he said. The main thing is, she didnt do anything wrong. Shes totally innocent. City didnt stop mans campaign of terror that ended in deadly shooting, CA suit says Trapped janitors calls for help unheard for days after being locked in cell, lawsuit says Probation officer made man sex slave and threatened jail if he refused, lawsuit says Returning to political office in January after six years away, North Carolina Rep. Tricia Cotham found many new faces and more scrutiny. When Democrats first appointed Cotham to office in 2007, the Mecklenburg County lawmaker received attention for being one of the youngest state House members and the youngest woman. More-experienced lawmakers mentored her. But the group she rejoined this year had seen turnover, and some of its leaders didnt serve with her previously. And instead of being chosen as a mentor, in recognition of her previous service, she says, she was given one. The caucus today is very different than what it was when I first came into the House and when she came into the House and sometimes those changes drive us to make different decisions, former Rep. Brian Turner of Buncombe County said. Fast-forward three months, and instead of mentoring the newest House Democrats, shes the newest House Republican. Whatever the personal and political motivations of Cothams party switch from Democrat to Republican, it shows another shift in the political party that continues to lose power in North Carolina. N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger, left, and House Speaker Tim Moore, center, look on as N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham speaks during a press conference at the N.C. GOP headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The press conference was to announce Rep. Cotham is switching parties to become a member of the House Republican caucus. Democrats losses, pressure from Cooper Within days of Cotham announcing she would change parties, Democrats used it to raise money. On Monday, the subject line of a fundraising email from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said: We need you to read this message ASAP. The email went on: The state of NC politics has been completely shaken up by a Democratic representatives decision to defect to the Republican Party. It recapped Cothams switch, stressed the importance of supporting Cooper, and asked for donations. Continued success at campaign fundraising wont be enough on its own to turn around the fortunes of a party that has won governors races in recent years but lost most federal races and now is losing ground at the state level, too. Republicans took over control of the state Supreme Court in last years elections, and with those elections combined with Cothams move, they have veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. Story continues That means Democrats, even while harshly criticizing Cotham for switching parties, still need her vote. So about the same time the fundraising email went out, in the first of a four-tweet thread on Monday afternoon, Cooper said: Much has been made about the @triciacotham switch from D to R in the legislature. If she keeps her word on the issues, her votes and the positions she takes in Republican Caucus can still stop bad legislation that hurts people she promised to help, regardless of her party. Cooper is more than halfway through his second term as governor, and cant run for a third term. At the start of this year, Republicans only needed one Democrats vote for a total legislative supermajority. That very small buffer of one seat, rather than a few, added scrutiny to Cotham. She said during the Republican press conference announcing her switch that the Democratic Party she had known to have a big tent had changed, and wanted lawmakers to do what they were told. She said it was clear that she was expected to vote in line with everything that Gov. Cooper wanted you to do ... All of this sense of control. I will not be controlled by anyone. Cotham said in her speech that Cooper even wanted to be involved in choosing where lawmakers sit on the House floor. Floor seating is determined by the controlling party, which is Republican. Last year, Cooper supported a primary challenge of sitting Democratic Sen. Kirk deViere, who lost his primary. Coopers involvement in the race led to Democrats spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep an already blue seat blue. DeViere, who had voted with Republicans on a few key issues ahead of being primaried by Cooper, faced a similar directive when he was in office to the one Cotham described. I was told by someone on Coopers political team to push the button I tell you to push. We made an investment on you, and we want a return, deViere told The N&O this week. I dont think its a healthy strategy. I think you build teams. I dont think you lead through threats, you lead through building teams, and mutual respect and loyalty, deViere said. He said he was asked to switch parties but did not, and after he lost his primary, he worked to elect other Democrats. Everybody makes their own individual decisions. I did not find a need to leave the party, even though what I had gone through with the leader of the party, deViere said. Cotham deceit? Cotham said she switched because Democrats targeted her for not always toeing the party line, saying there were attempts to control her as well as attacks against her on social media. This doesnt help women in politics, Cotham said during the Republican press conference, saying Democrats will slice and dice you in a second with malicious, vicious, untrue rumors and do not celebrate your success. It bothers me that theyre hypocritical, she said. North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton called Cothams switch a deceit of the highest order. But Cotham was already voting with Republicans on some issues and was expected to continue to do so as a Democrat. Not on every vote, though: She signed on as a co-sponsor with all the other House Democrats early this session to codify Roe v. Wade. Now, as a Republican, she could vote with the rest of her new caucus more often, though so far she has not publicly discussed any changes in policy positions. Turner, the Buncombe County Democrat who did not run for another term in 2022 and now works for North Carolina Audubon, said when they served together, Cotham was an effective legislator. House Democratic Leader Robert Reives of Chatham County pushed back on Cothams comments about being given a mentor even though she had a decades previous service in the House. He said that returning lawmakers are part of that sessions new freshman class, and that House Democrats knew of her service and held her in high esteem. A lot of people felt we were lucky to get her back, including me, Reives said. House Democrats were taken aback by her party switch, he said. Reives texted Cotham the day Axios Raleigh broke the news of her switch, after he received a press inquiry. The text was simple: how did she want him to handle press inquiries? Reives said she never responded. He said that outside groups put scrutiny on lawmakers and everything we do is watched. North Carolina House Democratic Leader Rep. Robert Reives is photographed in the House chambers on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Raleigh, N.C. Hot button issues like guns and abortion garner a lot of scrutiny, including nationally. Its hard on them, he said about lawmakers in competitive districts, acknowledging intensity is high. But he said: I dont believe in criticizing each other as caucus members. Youve got to understand that were all weve got, Reives said. If you dont want the attention and scrutiny, [the House Democratic Caucus] are not your problem. That attention is there, and theres nothing we can do about it, Reives said. Back home in Mecklenburg County, Democrats ask why For Democratic leadership in Mecklenburg County, the why of Cothams departure remains elusive. Jane Whitley, Mecklenburg County Democratic Party chair, said that when Cotham gave her speech announcing her departure, I had no idea what she was talking about. Nothing had been brought to my attention. She had not contacted me about any of these issues. To my knowledge, I dont know anyone else that knows anything about what she was talking about. For Whitley, Cothams decision to leave appeared to be based on personal issues rather than policy issues. Cotham had been out of office since 2016, so Cotham having a mentor, Whitley said, may have been just to try to bring her up to speed with any changes. If she was upset because she was assigned (a) mentor, and I dont know if that was true or not, but if that was a reason for her to leave, it does not sound like a very good reason, Whitley said. Asked whether the allegations of the party limiting dissent had a foundation, Whitley said the party has many people who disagree on different issues and that following Cothams missed vote on a repeal of the states pistol permit requirement, many angry constituents contacted the Mecklenburg office. Shortly after her missed vote, Cotham announced her departure from the Democrats. We did not as the party address the missed vote with her but we did direct people who had complaints about her missing the vote, we did refer them to her office to express those concerns, Whitley said. She campaigned as a Democrat. She ran as a Democrat. So the people in her district are the reason that shes there, Whitley said. Wake-up call for Democrats? Asked what Cothams switch meant for the future of the Democratic Party, Whitley said there was a lot of anger among the voters and what were seeing is, its kind of a groundswell. People want to know what they can do to keep this from happening again. Braxton Becoats, president of the African American Caucus of Mecklenburg County, said Cothams departure, rather than lead to further disarray, would have the opposite effect. I think her switch is going to galvanize and push more Democrats to get out and get active because we now know that the Republicans can pass anything, Becoats said. This is not going to further disjoint our political party, he said. I think its going to actually bring us together and motivate us to get out, get active and figure out what we need to do in order to elect Democrats. So that we do not continue to have people switching parties. Cothams departure will help mobilize the party, said Kevan Woodson, former president of Senior Democrats of Mecklenburg and a member of the states Democratic executive committee. We have not done the best job in terms of capturing the mindset of the voter, particularly the unaffiliated, and we need to do better to carry a message that everybody can get behind, he said. Yes, there are some issues there. Is that a reason for her to leave? No, he said, You dont like it, say something to somebody, dont just walk away, unless, again, a personal opinion, you feel you have nothing to offer. Responding to criticism of Democrats, Woodson said, Well, weve lost connection. So lets get out and re-establish connection. We dont have a platform to stand on. I disagree with that. But the fact is the platform needs to be constructed better and were going to be doing it, theres going to be a lot of changes that are coming forward. And its a wake-up call. Things have changed and you need (to) change with it. GOP House coalition Stephen Wiley, the N.C. House Republican Caucus director, said when he heard about Cothams upcoming switch, the weekend before it happened, he met with Cotham and gave her the 10,000-foot view of what the process would be, and what the fallout would be. Wiley said he told Cotham what he tells other Republicans who have a more traditional recruitment to the caucus: to be themselves. We will never ask them to be anything other than themselves, he said. Cotham brings the number of women in the House caucus to nine, out of 72. There is a desire in our caucus leadership to grow our coalition, Wiley said. You win elections by growing your coalition, and to have Tricia Cotham in our caucus is certainly a way to grow our coalition a professional woman with extensive background in education and policy in a suburban area, Wiley said. He said that unlike Republicans in other states like Tennessee and Michigan, North Carolina Republicans in the House are more interested in persuading voters and winning seats, not just turning out their base. Wiley said Cotham is an example of a vote persuaded. The General Assembly has been on recess this week. Committees are scheduled for Tuesday, include House Education, which is co-chaired by Cotham. Reives doesnt think anything in the House will be different when it reconvenes, he said. We only had a one vote margin as it was. Everything in that building is controlled by two people [House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger] and they have incredible amounts of carrots and sticks. Granger Smith arrives at the 54th annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 7, 2019, in Las Vegas. | Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press Its not every day that a country music star leaves music production to spend more time at their local church, but thats exactly what Granger Smith announced hes doing. Smith, born in Dallas, Texas, has been singing country music since he was 19 years old. Some of his most famous songs are Backroad Song, If the Boot Fits and Happens Like That. With a clear voice and a classic country style, Smiths music has themes of faith, family and the good, slow life running throughout it. On Tuesday, Smith announced his decision on social media. He started by reading a Bible verse from Mark 8, which he said changed his life: Jesus says if anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me. Smith said he and his family decided that, after a lengthy music career, it was time for him to enter ministry. Related He said he has no plans to start a church or a revival. He added that he feels he has more to learn before he could think about that step. 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, he said. Hopefully one day they can affirm me into the next steps of what that might look like, to glorify God best from my platform. Even though hes a country music star, Smith has talked openly about his faith for a long time. Sinner saved by Grace appears in his social media bios and its not uncommon for him to share Bible verses on social media. Since 2017, the star has also had a podcast, The Granger Smith Podcast. Broadly speaking, its something of a lifestyle podcast, but he frequently brings up his faith and family. For Smith, both faith and family are important. His wife, Amber Smith, is active on social media, with a following of 279,000 on Instagram. She also has a podcast called Arise with Amber, where she discusses her faith, marriage, healing and other related topics. Story continues On Instagram, Granger Smith said his whole family will spend more time giving to their local church and that he and Amber came to this decision together. While hes been preparing for his now final summer tour, Smith has been hitting the books. In his video posted on Instagram, he revealed hes been working toward earning a masters degree from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary a seminary which prepares Baptist church members to become pastors and active in ministry. Granger Smith arrives at the 53rd annual Academy of Country Music Awards at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sunday, April 15, 2018, in Las Vegas. | Jordan Strauss/Invision/Associated Press Behind the decision to pursue ministry was him feeling like he was exalting himself through music, per Good Morning America. He said, I cant go to seminary and pursue ministry and be poured in by my pastors and elders and then go out on weekends and try to be exalting myself. I think thats a contradiction and its nothing against anyone else that can do music and succeed in denying themselves, I just Im not very good at it. Smith also said in an interview with People hes releasing his memoir Like a River: Finding the Faith and Strength to Move Forward After Loss and Heartache on Aug. 1. River Smith was Granger Smiths 3-year-old son who died in a drowning accident. Rivers death was the darkest time of Smiths life. In a 2020 interview with People, he said he still struggles with guilt over his childs death which was ruled an accident. He said his only source of strength during this time was his faith. For me, thats pretty much all Ive had. My brain is not capable of calculating that magnitude of a loss, and then I have to realize that I dont have to. I can lean on a higher power for that and know that my little boy is in a better place. In his soon to be released memoir, Smith discusses the impact of Rivers death on him. After River died, Smith said he struggled to perform on stage and replayed the event over and over again in his mind. He said a spiritual experience changed him and was formative in his testimony, which is included in the memoir. Theres things in here that are extremely vulnerable. Its very personal. But the overwhelming feeling was that if my story could help others, then its worth it, then it matters, he said to People. His last tour is also named after his memoir a move he said that was purposeful. Smiths plan going forward is to finish the tour and then spend his days at his local church. When he was announcing his decision, he said, I just want to glorify God the best way that I can. A federal appeals court late Wednesday night ruled that the common abortion pill mifepristone can remain on the market, but rolled back a series of recent changes the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made to ease access. A panel of three judges on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals issued a pause on the initial ruling until the full case can be heard on the merits. In a decision handed down just before midnight, the court ruled too much time had passed for the anti-abortion groups and doctors who brought the lawsuit to challenge FDAs initial approval, which occurred in 2000. But the court said actions taken since 2016 are eligible to be challenged, including; approving mifepristone for use up to 10 weeks into a pregnancy, lifting an in-person dispensing requirement and allowing the drug to be sent through the mail, and the approval of a generic. The Department of Justice (DOJ) had asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to stay last weeks ruling from Texas District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk during the appeals process. DOJ is now likely to appeal to the Supreme Court, and the plaintiffs may too, in order to keep mifepristone off the market completely. We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters early Thursday during President Bidens visit to Dublin. Kacsmaryks ruling gave the administration a weeklong window before it went into effect. The administration asked the 5th Circuit to extend that pause, and to do so by Thursday at noon, to enable the government to seek relief in the Supreme Court if necessary. The anti-abortion group challenging the approval could also try to seek relief at the Supreme Court to keep mifepristone off the market during the appeal. In the decision announced last Friday, Kacsmaryk ruled the agencys approval process was improperly rushed and resulted in an unsafe drug regimen getting on the market. Story continues Kacsmaryk said that the FDA violated federal standards when it first approved mifepristone 23 years ago. In its briefing in support of the emergency stay, the Justice Department argued there was no basis in administrative law for the district courts unprecedented overriding of FDAs considered scientific judgment. The Justice Department said Kacsmaryks ruling ignored decades of established science. Mifepristone was first approved by the FDA in 2000 and has been proven safe and effective. Drug industry experts, current and former administration officials and abortion-rights advocates have been sounding the alarm that the ruling in favor of anti-abortion groups would have far-reaching consequences for FDAs authority. If the decision is upheld, it could open the door to any third party to challenge any medication or treatment that they disagree with, including vaccines for children, AIDS drugs, birth control or hormone therapy. The district court purported to be acting in a restrained manner; but there is nothing modest about upending the decades-long status quo by blocking access nationwide to a safe and effective drug, DOJ wrote. The district courts order would impair the interests of women across the country, supplant the judgments of every State, and arrogate to itself the power that Congress entrusted to FDA to evaluate drug safety. Meanwhile, a judge in Washington state has ordered the FDA to leave the current mifepristone regime in place for 17 states and D.C. that brought a case separate from the one that Kacsmaryk heard. The dueling decisions increase the likelihood the dispute ultimately reaches the Supreme Court one way or another, with far-reaching implications. Updated at 7:40 a.m. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former US President Donald Trump arrives on stage on March 13, 2023. KAMIL KRZACZYNSKI/AFP via Getty Images The DC Court of Appeals issued a ruling on E. Jean Carroll's defamation suit against Donald Trump. The court said it could not answer whether federal law protects Trump from being sued in the case. The case has now been sent back to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The question of whether Donald Trump can be sued for comments he made denying a rape allegation while president is still up in the air after a Thursday ruling from the DC Court of Appeals. Longtime "Elle" advice columnist E. Jean Caroll sued Trump for defamation in his third year in office, when he loudly denied her allegation that he raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman dressing room in the mid-1990s. Within hours of the rape claims surfacing, Trump issued a statement saying he had never met her before. "She is trying to sell a new bookthat should indicate her motivation," he wrote in the statement, which is included in the lawsuit. "It should be sold in the fiction section." On June 24, 2019, Trump continued to deny the accusation in an interview with The Hill. "I'll say it with great respect: Number one, she's not my type," he was quoted as saying. In response to his comments, Carroll filed the defamation lawsuit. Both Trump and the Department of Justice tried to get him removed from the case, arguing that a federal law called the Westfall Act shields him from being sued. The Westfall Act protects public employees from being sued for actions on the job, inserting their employer as the defendant instead. If Trump were to be removed from the lawsuit, the lawsuit would be dismissed since the federal government can't be sued for torts like defamation. In some ways, the decision was a draw. Trump's team wanted the court to rule trump was not acting in the scope of his employment, while Carroll's team wanted the court to say he was. And the court said neither, determining instead that there wasn't enough information in the record to answer the question at hand. Story continues However, the court generally agreed with Carroll on how the federal courts should analyze whether Trump was acting "within the scope of his employment" when he made the comments about her. The lawsuit has been in limbo while multiple courts have weighed in on whether the Westfall Act applies to this case or not. Initially, US District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan ruled in Carroll's favor, saying that Trump's statements to the press denying Carroll's allegation, a rape she says happened well before his presidency, were not a part of his duties as commander in chief and therefore the Westfall Act doesn't apply. Advice columnist E. Jean Carroll is pictured in New York in 2020. Seth Wenig/AP But when Trump appealed that decision to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals, that court struck down Kaplan's ruling. That court determined that Trump was a government employee but voiced confusion about whether his comments were made within the scope of his employment under District of Columbia law. The Second Circuit sent that question to the DC Court of Appeals, which returned its answer on Thursday. The case has now been sent back to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The court could issue a new ruling or send the case back to the lower court. Alina Habba, a lawyer for Trump, seemed to view the decision as a win. "Now that the D.C Court of Appeals has clarified the certified question before it, we are confident that the Second Circuit will rule in President Trump's favor and dismiss Ms. Carroll's case in its entirety," she said. An attorney for Carroll declined to comment. Thursday's ruling does not apply to Carroll's second lawsuit against Trump, which is scheduled to go to trial April 25 in Manhattan federal court. Carroll filed a second lawsuit against Trump last year, when New York passed a law temporarily allowing the filing of sexual assault claims in cases where the statute of limitations had expired. Carroll's second lawsuit also includes a defamation claim for comments Trump made after he left the White House. Read the original article on Business Insider Moynihan takes a selfie next to his car - Cavendish Press A court spectator who was seen laughing at a jury from the public gallery during a major fraud trial has been jailed for contempt. Construction worker Michael Moynihan, 31, pointed at the jurors and laughed with a friend at Chester Crown Court during a fraud trial involving a criminal gang that tried to steal 97 million through VAT repayment claims on false exports of textiles and mobile phones. The incident occurred on March 27, when Moynihan had visited court because a friend was due to testify in another trial. He went into the public gallery to wait while Judge Steven Everett was finishing his summing up of 14 weeks of evidence. Two of the jurors who saw Moynihan pointing at them were said to be obviously affected and were looking down at their feet as they filed in and out of the jury box. Moynihan was asked to leave the courtroom by staff but he initially refused to go, and then declined to give his name. When asked to leave immediately by the judge, he said: You ought to be patient. He was subsequently arrested. The 31-year-old was this week found guilty of contempt of court and jailed for 21 days. The court has to send out a message Judge Everett said that if the jury members had asked themselves why he had been pointing and laughing at them, it could have led to the fraud trial being abandoned. The trial itself was part of criminal proceedings that had lasted for 10 years at a cost to the taxpayer of hundreds of thousands of pounds. The judge told Moynihan: I found your behaviour threatening and arrogant. It was not just rude, it was way beyond that and what concerned me most was it was threatening to the jury. I see that they saw that. You pointed at the jury and laughed at them for reasons you may understand, but I had no idea why you behaved in that horrible way. Then having seen you put at risk this very lengthy and costly trial, when I asked you what it was about you refused to answer. He added: Had you just been rude to me I would not be sending you to prison but theres more to it. The court has to send out a message that if you behave like that you go to prison. Story continues He knows it was wrong Kay Driver, Moynihans lawyer, said her client had been on painkillers that made him too relaxed. She added: He knows it was wrong but says he saw someone in the jury he thought hed been to school with. He pointed them out to someone who was close to him. He then realised how that could be intimidating to a jury member and apologised, his lawyer said. The fraud trial involved sock manufacturer Arif Patel, 55, of Preston, and his criminal gang. Alongside the false exports, they imported and sold counterfeit clothes that would have been worth at least 50 million, had they been genuine. The proceeds were used to buy property across Preston and London through offshore bank accounts. Patel was found guilty of false accounting, conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, the onward sale of counterfeit clothing and money laundering. Mohamed Jaffar Ali, 58, of Dubai, was also found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the Revenue and money laundering. Phishing is when "criminals use tactics to trick you into giving your personal information or clicking on links," according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. (Credit: Getty Images/CAFC) If you have received a suspicious text that looks like it's from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA), its likely a dangerous scam. With Canadians in the thick of tax season, fraudsters are getting more and more sophisticated with their techniques. Canadians have reported that they received a text message asking them to click on a link to receive their Climate Action Incentive Payment. These dangerous text messages claim to be from the CRA, and even include a real phone number from the agency in an attempt to make the message seem more legitimate. The alert is a typical CRA phishing text message, said Jeff Horncastle, Acting Client and Communications Outreach Officer at the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC), to Yahoo Canada. But as mentioned, it does include the legitimate CRA phone number in order to make it appear legitimate. The CAFC put out a tweet warning the public against this on March 31, with a copy of the text message that is circulating. The organization is now asking the public to ignore and delete these dangerous messages, while they want everyone to know that the government of Canada will never send funds by email or text. #SCAM ALERT! We're getting reports of phishing text messages claiming to be from the CRA which include a real CRA phone number to make it look legitimate. If you get a text asking you to click on a link, it's a scam! For more: https://t.co/TZT4cE6Z38 #FPM2023 #BeScamSmart pic.twitter.com/nfp3ZswinY Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (@canantifraud) March 31, 2023 The tweet is sparking conversation among users, who are concerned about the messages. Story continues Some claim that they have received this exact message multiple times. Others claim that they receive similar messages all the time, yet choose to ignore them. Well, if the CRA is texting you, it's probably too good to be true! And if it sounds fishy, it's definitely phishy! Stay sharp out there, folks! 0x1ee7 (@0x1ee7) March 31, 2023 CRA open Monday to Friday 8 am to 8 pm. Another red flag nitun das (@Nitun89) March 31, 2023 i got this last week 5 phone calls claiming to be CRA. Scary. #beawareofscams Luis. (@lrpbyzard) April 1, 2023 I get these all the time. I don't even cluck on them anymore. I just delete the text. (@flutterpolitely) March 31, 2023 Why would anyone think the cra texts? Maybe they should be a victim Dust Bin Dude (@MichaelH3125) March 31, 2023 I've gotten this 3 times this week. pic.twitter.com/wUZO9XsSRf David Mazzu (@shpins) March 31, 2023 Phishing is when "criminals use tactics to trick you into giving your personal information or clicking on links," according to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre. It can come in the form of email and website name spoofing, by causing a sense of urgency, offering refunds or money, or even by simply sending "harmless" requests to click links, download attachments or fill out online forms. Along with impersonating government departments and agencies, like the CRA, scammers can pose as banks, online subscription services and other reputable businesses. Oftentimes they use current events as lures. Unfortunately, many could fall victim to these dangerous messages, so it is important to stay cautious when clicking on links and sharing personal information. There is no specific age category more prone to becoming a victim, Horncastle said. They want the public to protect themselves from phishing by making sure that if you receive an unsolicited email or text asking you to click a link or open an attachment simply dont do it. Ukraine's Minister of Defence Oleksii Reznikov has emphasised the need to liberate the Crimean peninsula to ensure complete safety and freedom for shipping in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Source: Oleksii Reznikov at the Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimean Platform in Bucharest on Thursday, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine Quote: "To ensure 100% safety and freedom of the shipping industry in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, Crimea must be liberated. And it will be liberated. Crimea will return to the Ukrainian family, as it was in 1991. Crimea is Ukrainian." Details: The Minister has assured that Ukraine will do everything necessary to liberate Crimea. He has also stressed the importance of freedom for shipping in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov, which leads to "food security" for the world and economic security for Ukraine. Among other things, Reznikov has reported on meetings with representatives of Romania's military-industrial complex, which "produces some interesting things that Ukraine needs". Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Editors note: The reporting in this story includes explicit details regarding sexual assaults. The story may be uncomfortable for some, especially for those who have dealt with or are survivors of sexual abuse. The Herald-Leader does not identify victims of sexual abuse in its reporting. If you are a victim of sexual abuse and want to know more about how to get help or how to report abuse go to the Rape, Abuse, Incest National Networks website at www.rainn.org, or call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800-656-HOPE. When a Tennessee woman was lured to a drug deal through Facebook Messenger, she had no idea shed become the victim of a violent kidnapping that saw her tortured in Kentucky for two days. The victim was abducted at gunpoint and transported to Corbin. Her kidnappers had a .38 revolver and a homemade pipe bomb to coax her compliance. She was bound, blindfolded, burned and repeatedly sexually assaulted over the course of 48 hours. The August 2018 kidnapping and assault was fueled by a perceived methamphetamine debt and underlying drug trafficking by 39-year-old Douglas Edmonson. Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives were called to the scene of the kidnapping, where they detonated several homemade explosives. The horrific 48-hour ordeal resulted in a 43-year prison sentence for Edmonson, who was convicted of kidnapping. Other defendants Erik Peace, Bryanna Soper and Dallas Anna Chain Perkins were also convicted of kidnapping. Federal prosecutors and investigators say the case in Corbin was indicative of a worsening problem: underneath the white wave top of drug trafficking that plagues Eastern Kentucky lies a dark undercurrent of violence. And women are bearing the brunt of it. Federal investigators and prosecutors say women in these cases are viewed as human collateral. An insurance policy. Traffickers think they can use female victims as leverage within a drug trafficking operation, most often to repay or secure debts. In the hollers of Kentucky, drug traffickers have their own laws and rules to abide by which keep victims from going to police for help, according to investigators and prosecutors. Story continues In the meth world theres almost a parallel culture where people in that world believe that theyre their own police, theyre their own law enforcement, theyre their own collection agents, U.S. District Judge Robert E. Wier wrote in court documents. ... They are operating outside of the boundaries that the rest of us take for granted. And I think that most of America would be kind of shocked what I hear in this courtroom month after month. The subculture of violence in drug trafficking Those who investigate drug and gun trafficking in Eastern Kentucky say once they pull the string and dig into a case, they commonly find links from trafficking to other crimes like kidnapping, assault and sexual assault against a vulnerable population. Special Agent Todd Tremaine with the ATF and Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed work together in Eastern Kentucky to investigate and prosecute these crimes. I started to notice this really disturbing subculture of violence in the drug trafficking organizations, Reed said. Specifically, violence against women, which maybe (the women) werent in the organization itself, but they were on the outskirts, but they were suffering heinous acts of physical and sexual assault in the midst of the drug trafficking organization and there were firearms involved. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jenna Reed February 16, 2023. The case that ended with Edmonsons conviction was only one example of the issue. In another case prosecuted by Reed and investigated by Tremaine, a man named Jake Messer kidnapped another man and his girlfriend in April 2018 because he believed the man had stolen $10,000 Messer had given him to buy marijuana. Messer and others threatened the man and his girlfriend for about 24 hours, court records say. During that time, Jake Messer and his father, George Oscar Messer, sexually assaulted the woman. Her wrists and ankles were bound, and George Messer was armed with a pistol at the time of the crime, according to court documents. Jake and George Messer both received life sentences for two counts of kidnapping in 2022. These cases have also ended in death: a pregnant Geri Johnson was murdered in March 2019 because she was indicted and willing to cooperate in an investigation against her boyfriend, Daniel Nantz, for his involvement in a methamphetamine-trafficking operation. When Johnson was transported to the hospital with a gunshot wound, doctors were not able to save her but were able to deliver the baby. The baby died days later. Nantz has pleaded guilty and faces life in prison. This is their circle ... Who are they going to go to? Reed said it is not uncommon during investigation interviews to learn that women loosely involved with drug organizations are expected to provide sex as payment, revenge or a debt for substances. It was frankly so common, that when we were doing interviews that women didnt even think it was worthwhile to bring up to us, Reed said. They didnt think we would have any interest in hearing it, they didnt think it had anything to do with our investigation into drug trafficking and firearm offenses they just thought it was commonplace. She said the sexual nature of the offenses makes women more likely targets. These are really vulnerable populations that are suffering from substance use, have no support system, maybe lack of education, lack of employment and this is their circle, Reed said. So who are they going to go to? The culture is that they dont go to law enforcement. And so, you have the perfect victim to use and abuse over and over and over again until that person thinks they are so worthless they are not going to mention it. Wier, who has been a federal judge since 2018, said economic vulnerability could also be a significant factor for women targeted in these crimes. Additionally, if the victims in these cases are assaulted in one-on-one situations, theres not going to be proof. Wier said anyone who tries to hold perpetrators accountable in these cases has to run a gauntlet of being labeled a rat, which leads to threats of violence. For a powerless victim who herself is engaged in criminality and has hurdles to going to the authorities, its a perfect victim, Wier said. Whats causing the increase in these cases? Tremaine has been with the ATF since July 2001. He didnt work a single kidnapping case until 2017. But from 2017 to 2019, he worked five methamphetamine cases that involved kidnapping just in Whitley and Laurel counties. All of them were violent, they involved meth, torture, teeth pulling, blow torches and some really heinous sexual assaults, Tremaine said. So I saw a clear uptick then. Probably some of it was we didnt notice, or we didnt know where to look because the women didnt come to us. They dont tell their stories. ATF Special Agent Todd Tremaine, February 16, 2023. Tremaine told the Herald-Leader it can take years in an investigation before he or Reed uncover the gruesome details and are able to approach a victim. We may do search warrants on social media or cell phones and see these messages that are happening between a member of a drug organization and in that we see that something happened here, he said. Why are they trying to get a victim back in their custody? Why was someone a savage with what they did to a victim? Then you start looking at that and you start pulling at that thread and you are like, Something really depraved happened. And it happened over and over in successive cases starting in 2017 and really heavily in 2018, 2019, 2020 and they just dont stop. Reed and Tremaine said Eastern Kentucky criminals have their own rules they abide by, and the first is not speaking to law enforcement. This creates an even more isolated and vulnerable victim, seemingly thinking they have no one to turn to without being labeled a rat or snitch, and facing death threats. They also fear being ostracized from family, friends, the community, or if substance-dependent their drug supplier. So now you are left on an island for doing that, Tremaine said. Not only could you be hurt, you have nobody in your world to help you. The only person you think you can turn to is the police, and you have spent years trying to stay away from the police. It is a very complicated area for someone who is in this situation. Tremaine said a rise in violence could also be attributed to higher-quality drugs being shipped in. Bottle dope methamphetamines that were once manufactured in a bathtub just grams at a time with a limited purity 20% are now being shipped in larger quantities with a higher concentration of around 95% purity, Tremaine said. It is not the resident in Clay County ... It is the cartels The organizations that are dealing the meth, it is not the resident in Clay County, Whitley or Laurel County who is getting his buddies to go to the pharmacy to get their Sudafed. It is the cartels, Tremaine said. These are bigger networks that are operating and if you dont pay the drug debt, the consequences are more severe now than they were when your neighbor down the street was cooking meth. Kevin McWilliams, a spokesperson for the Drug Enforcement Administrations office in Louisville, confirmed that most of the drugs that come into Kentucky come from Mexico. They go through distribution hubs like Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit and other surrounding metropolitan areas. In some cases, drugs are shipped in to individuals. Violence is part and parcel of the illicit drug trade. Youre dealing with criminal elements that often resort to violence when settling business disputes, McWilliams said. Reed said the intersection of methamphetamine trafficking and gun violence is extremely prevalent. It is a lawless subculture where drug dealers think that the laws dont apply to them, she said. They have written their own code of conduct. As a result, the prosecutor and special agent feel drug trafficking causes more violent crime in southeastern Kentucky than they can imagine. To think about the exchange of sex for drugs or the use of violence or sexual violence to collect perceived debts, it is happening on low level trafficking, it is happening at the middle man level, and it is happening at the source of supply level, Reed said. We even see people coming in from other jurisdictions, other states to deal in southeastern Kentucky and they are comfortable employing violence here. Our communities cant stand for what you are doing. Reed and Tremaine are hoping continued successful prosecutions of violent offenders will make more women aware they can get justice in these cases. Tremaine and Reed said they want to hear victims stories and see conviction of their abusers through to the end, without discrediting the victims. To hear them from the very beginning and I have seen reactions as the cases were adjudicated from the very beginning they were like numb to it, and to watch the outpouring of emotions these victims have when they saw justice, he said. That was astonishing. They also want to send a message to more drug traffickers using violence in their organizations in Eastern Kentucky. Its not smart to be doing that in Eastern Kentucky, Reed said. Because, we will find you and we dont care how long it takes, or how many resources we have to expend, or how many hours or weekends we have to spend away from our family. We will find you and we will prosecute you to the fullest extent of the law and seek a sentence that is comparable to the pain and harm you have inflicted on the community. Tremaine added that the communities cant stand for what drug traffickers are doing. You dont get to make up your certain set of rules for your dark underworld of drug trafficking in the hills of Eastern Kentucky, he said. You dont get to do that. Our laws are going to be enforced whether you think you are going to be held accountable or not. I want our victims to know if this is happening to them, know that there are people out there who will believe you, that will listen to you. They will investigate these cases because you have worth. Just because you have a history of substance use or a criminal past, it doesnt mean that this kind of stuff should be tolerated and so I hope that it inspires people on both ends. ATF, law enforcement work with new technology to trace guns across Appalachia A Boston man wanted in connection with a Malden stabbing murder was arrested in Atlanta, Georgia Thursday morning, the Middlesex District Attorneys office announced. Dion Smith, 33, had a murder warrant issued for him in March in connection with the grisly stabbing death of Ronald Gilbert in the latters apartment. The 79-year-old Malden man was found dead in his apartment on February 22 after officers responded to a report of an odor coming from inside the Kennedy Drive building. Gilbert was found with 30 apparent stab wounds to his body and the corpse was in a state of decomposition. Investigators later concluded that Gilbert was killed in late December 2022. In addition to the murder warrant, Smith was also wanted for larceny charges in connection with the theft of Gilberts vehicle. Officials have determined Smith was not a resident of the building and the two did not appear to know each other. A date has not been scheduled for Smiths return to Massachusetts, the DAs office says. 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 By Rupam Jain NEW DELHI (Reuters) - The head of Tibet's government-in-exile on Thursday defended the Dalai Lama over footage of him asking a boy to suck his tongue, saying the incident had demonstrated the country's spiritual leader's innocent and affectionate side. The Nobel peace laureate apologised after the footage from a public event, which also shows him apparently giving the boy a peck on the lips, went viral, leading to a wave of comments on social media that his behaviour amounted to abuse. Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong (political leader) of the exiled Central Tibetan Administration, said the Dalai Lama had been "unfairly labelled with all kinds of names that really hurt the sentiment of all his followers". The 87-year-old's "innocent grandfatherly affectionate demeanour" shown in the footage had been misinterpreted, Tsering told reporters in New Delhi, adding that a life of celibacy and spiritual practice had taken the Dalai Lama "beyond the sensorial pleasures". The video clip, filmed in February and circulated this month, has been viewed over one million times on Twitter. Tsering said investigations showed "pro-Chinese sources" were involved in making it go viral, adding that "the political angle of this incident cannot be ignored." Officials at the Chinese embassy in New Delhi were not immediately available for comment. The Dalai Lama fled to India in 1959 after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet. China's military marched in and took control in 1951. He has worked for decades to draw global support for linguistic and cultural autonomy in his remote, mountainous homeland situated between India and China. Beijing has accused him of fomenting separatism and it does not recognise Tibet's government-in-exile, which represents about 100,000 Tibetans living in around 30 countries. (Reporting by Rupam Jain, editing by John Stonestreet) The Dallas Police Department is asking the public to help locate a 70-year-old man who hasnt been seen since Monday, officials said. Eddie Daniel Jeffrey is a Black man, about 5-foot-3, weighing around 80 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen walking in the 4800 block of South Lancaster Road. Police said he may need assistance. @DallasPD is asking for help in locating Mr. Eddie Daniel Jeffrey. Mr. Jeffrey was last seen on 04/10/2023, walking in the 4800 blk of S. Lancaster Rd. Persons with info are asked to call 911 or (214) 671-4268. Pls reference case# 061915-2023. pic.twitter.com/vLONJC38W4 Dallas Police Dept (@DallasPD) April 13, 2023 Jeffrey was wearing two light blue jackets, a blue-and-white shirt and beige pants, according to police. Anyone with information as to his whereabouts is asked to contact the Dallas Police Department at 911 or 214-671-4268 and reference case number 061915-2023. Daniel Urresti ran for president twice and was narrowly defeated in his attempt to become mayor of Lima A Peruvian ex-interior minister was complicit in the 1988 killing of Hugo Bustios, a journalist who investigated human rights abuses, a court has found. The former minister, Daniel Urresti, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail. The court ruled that Urresti, who at the time was a military intelligence officer in the army, took part in the ambush and murder of Mr Bustios. Lawyers for the politician said they would appeal against the verdict. Hugo Bustios, a reporter for the weekly magazine Caretas, was killed at the height of the conflict between Peruvian security forces and rebels of the Maoist Shining Path group. The journalist reported on human rights abuses committed both by the rebels and the army in the Andean region of Ayacucho, one of the hardest hit by the armed conflict which left 69,000 people dead or disappeared. On the day of his killing, he was heading to investigate the killing of a villager and her son, reportedly by the Shining Path. He and a fellow journalist, Eduardo Rojas, were ambushed and shot at while they were making their way to the village by motorcycle. Mr Bustios fell to the ground, injured, while Mr Rojas, who had also been hit, managed to escape. Witnesses said men in plain clothes then placed explosives on Mr Bustios and detonated them, killing him instantly. The attack was initially blamed on the Shining Path, but eyewitnesses said it had been carried out by the army. After a drawn-out legal battle, the commander of the local army base, Victor La Vera Hernandez, was found guilty in 2007 of ordering the attack on the journalist. In a surprise move, when he was released from prison in 2011, La Vera implicated Daniel Urresti in the murder. In its ruling on Wednesday, the court said that a total of six members of the military had been involved in the journalist's killing and that Daniel Urresti was one of them. The 66-year-old is an influential figure in Peru. After he retired from the army, he got involved in politics, serving as minister for the interior from 2014 to 2015. Story continues While he dropped out of two presidential races before the final stages, he last year came within less than a percentage point of being elected mayor of Lima. But his political career has been overshadowed by allegations he took part in the brutal killing of Mr Bustios. In 2018, he was cleared of any involvement in the journalist's murder, but Peru's Supreme Court overturned the ruling and ordered a new trial, which on Wednesday led to his conviction for murder. The judges also ruleMr Bustios's murder had been premeditated. Mr Bustios's daughter, Sharmeli, welcomed the ruling. "Thirty-four years have passed since my father was murdered, but finally justice has been done - we finally got the justice that had so far been denied to us," she told Peruvian radio. The execution gurney is shown in this image from a video released by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. The Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Thursday ruled 5-0 against a death row inmate who claimed his dad confessed to murdering University of Oklahoma ballerina Juli Busken. Anthony Castillo Sanchez, 44, is set to be executed Sept. 21 by lethal injection at the Oklahoma State Penitentiary in McAlester. He challenged his conviction again Feb. 3. He claimed his father confessed to a girlfriend before committing suicide last year. "This new information does not impeach the consistent and compelling evidence of his guilt noted by every court that has reviewed this case," Judge David Lewis wrote in the 20-page opinion. More: Richard Glossip, six other Oklahoma death row inmates get new execution dates Busken was shot in the head at Lake Stanley Draper after being abducted from a Norman apartment complex early Dec. 20, 1996, and raped. She was 21. Anthony Sanchez was convicted of first-degree murder at a 2006 trial after being identified as a suspect by his DNA. The father, Glen Sanchez, committed suicide on his girlfriend's front porch on April 24, 2022, in Midwest City. He was 68. Charlotte Beattie said he confessed more than once, the first time in 2020. In the opinion Thursday, Judge Lewis wrote the girlfriend's description of the father "portrays a violent and profoundly disturbed man given to vague and menacing claims of involvement in the murder for which his son was convicted." At least sometimes, the father was clearly trying to scare the girlfriend, he wrote. "We are not confronted here with a solemn death bed confession stating verifiable facts that exonerate a person wrongly condemned," he wrote. "Indeed, considering the remaining evidence, even if Glen Sanchez had confessed his guilt on the witness stand under oath at Anthony Sanchez's murder trial, no reasonable fact finder would have acquitted Anthony Sanchez of killing Juli Busken." The key evidence against Anthony Sanchez came from DNA testing that concluded his sperm was on the victim's underwear and pink leotard. Story continues The victim was abducted after taking a friend to the airport. She had completed her courses at OU and had packed to return to her parents' home in Arkansas and enroll in graduate school. Anthony Sanchez had to give up a sample of his DNA when he went to prison in Oklahoma in 2002 for second-degree burglary. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation got a "hit" to the DNA evidence in the Busken case in 2004. The OSBI in February conducted new DNA testing after getting a sample of the father's blood from the medical examiner's office. The OSBI concluded the father's DNA did not match the evidence from the victim's pink leotard. Attorney General Gentner Drummond and his assistants said the further testing was done in an effort to fully and unequivocally debunk the new claim. "Petitioner is clearly not actually innocent," they told the court. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma death row inmate loses appeal in case of murdered OU ballerina After settling her years-long fight against Netflix, MoNique has sued another major media platform, this time over unpaid royalties from the hit television series on which she starred: The Parkers. The comedian, whose legal name is Monique Angela Hicks, is suing Paramount and CBS, according to multiple reports, claiming shes owed millions from the shows continued success. MoNique filed the suit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday, April 12, for breach of contract, saying that Paramount and CBS, according to the Associated Press, artificially depressed profits of the show and retained millions of dollars that would otherwise be contractually due to MoNiques production company, Hicks Media. MoNique (Photo: @therealmoworldwide/Instagram.) I just want the contractual compensation Ive earned, said the Academy Award winner in a statement shared by AP. The lawsuit states that CBS and Paramount have refused to compensate her fully and properly for the monies wrongfully withheld from it, thereby necessitating this action to vindicate her contractual rights. MoNique alleges both companies retained millions that would otherwise be contractually due to Hicks Media Inc., which is a production company owned by the actress and her husband, Sidney Hicks. The lawsuit filed by Hicks Media, also names Big Ticket Productions, the shows production banner, as a defendant. In addition, the suit reveals that the shows creator and writing staff were underpaid, which MoNique says she discovered when she filed her suit. Today we filed a lawsuit to make sure that we are fairly paid money that we are owed for The Parkers, MoNique wrote on Instagram after the filing. Actors rely on the good faith of Hollywood companies to honor their profit participation agreements,. she continued. The Parkers was a huge success and continues to be a source of revenue through syndication and streaming channels. She added, To further make my point, the Executive Producers of The Parkers took legal action for the same concerns that I have, and theyve already settled. Unfortunately, all too often, talent gets kept in the dark. Were looking forward to shedding some light on the subject! I LOVE US 4REAL!! Story continues The Parkers was a spinoff of Moesha starring Countess Vaughn as Kim Parker and MoNique as her mother, Nikki Parker. Between 1999 to 2004, it ran for five seasons, moving from UPN to The CW network. Reruns aired on several television networks, but the show has been available for streaming on Netflix since October 2020. MoNique has asked for the court to establish a constructive trust to hold the funds she believes shes owed. Meanwhile, fans agree she should be compensated for The Parkers, which has kept many entertained for over two decades. I watch the Parkers ALL THE TIME on Netflix and they definitely need to be compensating the cast for streaming. Get yo money Mo!!! You deserve it. Period. Bcuz I watch the Parkers literally EVERYDAY and I dont do it bcuz of the producers. Its the TALENT that makes each and every moment. My Aunty is Coming for ALL shes owed and I LOVE IT We all deserve our fair share for what we contributed! Nearly a year ago, Netflix reached a settlement with MoNique, who filed a discrimination lawsuit against the streaming service in 2019. The NAACP Image Award winner called folks to boycott Netflix in an Instagram video; she accused the company of gender bias and color bias. She claimed she received a lowball offer of $500,000 for a comedy special compared to some of her peers. MoNique mentioned comedians Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle and Amy Schumer, who reportedly were paid larger amounts. Its unclear exactly how much she was compensated, but months later the Precious star announced her special. MoNique: My Name Is MoNique is available now on Netflix. WASHINGTON Alarm bells are ringing among prominent Democrats about Sen. Dianne Feinstein's lengthy absence from the Senate and the roadblock it presents to confirming judges. The 89-year-old California Democrat hasn't cast a vote in the Senate since Feb. 16, announcing during her absence that she was hospitalized and recovering from shingles. The chamber returns to session next week after a two-week recess, but Feinstein has not provided a timetable for returning to Washington. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel, she said in a statement Wednesday evening. Earlier in the day, Feinstein spokesperson Adam Russell said they dont have an update at this time on when she will be back. It has sparked concern on both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue, with some Democrats worrying that it is hindering the party on a first-order priority for President Joe Biden, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Judiciary Committee Chair Dick Durbin: reshaping the judiciary and topping the 234 judges that Republicans confirmed under Donald Trump. Confirmations have been a top priority and shared success for Schumer and Durbin. But the lack of full Democratic attendance on Judiciary is becoming a bigger and more unsustainable problem for that work every day, a Democrat involved with confirming judges told NBC News, requesting anonymity to speak candidly. The Senate has seen numerous medical absences this year, but Feinstein presents a unique problem for Democrats. She holds a decisive vote on the Judiciary Committee, which has 11 Democrats and 10 Republicans. The panel needs a majority present and voting to send nominees to the floor a tie vote doesnt cut it. Durbin has been forced to repeatedly delay committee meetings to approve batches of nominees that lack Republican support. This is an untenable position. This is putting all Democrats at a significant disadvantage, and the leadership needs to do something to try and get around her, said Jim Manley, a former Senate Democratic leadership aide who is now a lobbyist. They figured out a way to get her to step down as [the top Democrat] on the Judiciary Committee. Now they have to work on getting her to step down from the committee as a whole, and/or to retire. Story continues 'She should resign' Feinstein has announced she won't seek re-election in 2024, but she holds the seat for another 20 months. Some progressives say she should step aside now amid health struggles and questions about whether she still has the mental stamina to be an effective senator. Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., called on her to resign in a tweet on Wednesday. Its time for @SenFeinstein to resign. 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. Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 12, 2023 Jon Lovett, a speechwriter for then-President Barack Obama turned co-host of Pod Save America, said on his podcast Tuesday: Dianne Feinstein should no longer be in the Senate. She should resign. And more people should be calling on her to resign. Lovett, a California resident and Feinstein constituent, praised the senator's incredibly storied and long and important career, but said she is now preventing us from being able to confirm judges. He added that what the people around Dianne Feinstein are doing being part of this farce of having a lack of a senator in such an important job is really wrong. Former Democratic Sen. Russ Feingold of Wisconsin, the president of the liberal-leaning American Constitution Society, said that absences are impairing not only the Senates ability to confirm judges, but the Senate Judiciary Committees ability to advance nominations. Though he didnt explicitly call on Feinstein to resign, Feingold said in a statement that if his former colleague expects to be unable to participate in Judiciary Committee activities much longer, she could significantly help the situation by enabling another senator to take her seat on the Committee. In her statement Wednesday, Feinstein said she had asked Schumer about a temporary replacement. I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so Ive asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until Im able to resume my committee work, she said. A spokesperson for Schumer said Wednesday night that the majority leader "will ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic Senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee. Changing a committee assignment could require an act of the full Senate, meaning either unanimous consent or 60 votes to overcome a filibuster. Feinstein's office declined to comment earlier Wednesday when asked about concerns that she is holding up potential new judges. 'Not that big an issue at the moment' Part of the reason for the urgency is that Democrats have few consequential agenda items that can pass in the divided Congress, with Republicans controlling the House and strangling Bidens legislative ambitions. But Democrats control 51 seats in the Senate and can confirm judges to serve for life with only their party's votes as long as almost everyone is present. They have been confirming judges at breakneck speed, reshaping the courts with a diverse slate of liberal judges in response to Trump and a Republican-led Senate confirming scores of young conservatives. Biden, who has secured 119 judicial confirmations so far, is currently outpacing Trump on judges. Other Democrats familiar with the confirmation process counter that Feinstein's absence doesn't have much of an immediate impact. They note that 18 federal judicial nominees have already passed through committee and are sitting on the executive calendar ready for full Senate votes, buying time before Democrats are stranded. And they add that other absences, like Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., who has been receiving treatment for clinical depression, would pose obstacles to confirming nominees on the floor even if Feinstein were present to move them through committee. Long story short its not that big an issue at the moment, said one former Senate Democratic aide. These things work themselves out, and its not like the Senate is lagging on confirmations. Beyond that, these Democrats note, its not so easy to replace a Senate committee member midsession it would require revising the organizing resolution that set up the panels at the beginning of the year. That means achieving unanimous consent in the full Senate or 60 votes on the floor, regardless of whether Feinstein voluntarily steps aside from the Judiciary Committee. Hard to imagine Republicans playing ball to make it easier for Dems to confirm judges, the former Senate Democratic aide said. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com As the federal government deals with the fallout from the leak of Pentagon intelligence, which led to the arrest of an Air National Guard member Thursday, Defense Department leadership sent a memo to the force Wednesday reminding troops of their responsibilities in handling classified information. The one-page memo, signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and obtained by Military Times, is addressed to senior Pentagon leadership, combatant command heads and defense agency and DoD field activity directors. Pentagon press officials confirmed the memos authenticity, and multiple servicemembers told Military Times they had received it in their inboxes this week. Do not access or download documents with classified markings from unclassified websites either from home or work, the memo states. As the data may be classified, it may be associated with hostile foreign elements, or it may contain malicious code or embedded capabilities that could introduce cyber threats into our information systems. If you have already accessed or downloaded such documents on an unclassified network or device, please consult with your supervisor and contact your organizations IT/cybersecurity service provider immediately for guidance, the memo continues. In a memo Wednesday, Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks reminded all troops that unauthorized disclosure of classified information, whether intentional or unintentional, is a reportable security incident. (Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Sanders/DoD)) The memo further directs troops to contact the Defense Department if the media or congressional members contact them. FBI arrests Air National Guardsman in probe of Pentagon intel leak Hicks memo notes the recent reporting on the unauthorized disclosure of purported Pentagon and intelligence community documents and reminds DoD personnel that unauthorized disclosure of classified information, whether intentional or unintentional, is a reportable security incident. The memo also urges personnel not to speculate about such unauthorized disclosures and reminds them not to discuss classified information with unauthorized people. Personnel with access to classified information are trusted stewards of that information and the responsibility to safeguard classified information is a lifetime requirement for each individual granted a security clearance, Hicks memo states. Story continues The FBI arrested Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, 21, without incident Thursday afternoon in connection with the intel leak, Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters. He described Teixeira as a Massachusetts Air National Guard employee. He will have an initial appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Garland added, though he did not give a date or time. The New York Times first reported on Thursday that Teixeira is assigned to the 102nd Intelligence Wing. Teixeira is a cyber transport systems journeyman, a sort of information technology specialist, at Otis Air National Guard Base, an installation located within Joint Base Cape Cod, according to service details released by the Air Force Thursday, He has served in the Air Guard since September 2019 and earned the Air Force Achievement Medal. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Teixeira was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, at the time of the leaks, which occurred earlier this year but were first acknowledged by the Pentagon on April 7. Military Times reporter Meghann Myers contributed to this report. New details in the extortion case against Johnston County school board member Ronald Johnson allege he met Congressional candidate DeVan Barbour in a pickup behind a Clayton gym and threatened to expose a recording of an incident involving Barbour and a teacher. In exchange for silence, Johnson wanted Barbour to compel the same woman involved in the incident to sign a statement saying she had lied about an affair she had with Johnson, according to court documents. Mr. Barbour told Mr. Johnson that this sounded a lot like blackmail and the two engaged in a heated conversation, wrote an investigator with the Johnston County district attorneys office. Mr. Barbour then asked Mr. Johnson, How do I know youre the only one with a copy? ... The conversation became heated, and Mr. Barbour chose to de-escalate it because he didnt trust his head space. DeVan Barbour IV. Johnson, a Republican on the school board and former Smithfield police detective, is under indictment for extortion, felony obstruction of justice and willfully failing to discharge his duties. The new details appear in the investigators application for a warrant to search Johnsons Clayton home, his Dodge Challenger and his personal possessions. Johnsons attorney, Walter Schmidlin, declined to comment on the case Wednesday. Johnson continues to serve on the board, participating in meetings as recently as Tuesday. Johnson censured twice Elected in 2016 while still a Smithfield police officer, Johnson was censured by the school board twice last year, drawing ire for secretly recording conversations during closed-session meetings and also for sending texts commenting on the physical appearance of female employees. In June of 2022, Johnson filed a protective order against Angela McLeod, a Johnston County teacher, seeking to stop unsolicited text messages and phone calls, court records said. When the investigator then interviewed the teacher, Angela Barbour, she said that McLeod is her maiden name. She described having a sexual relationship with Johnson almost two years ago, including trips to hotels in Charlotte and Virginia. Story continues Angela Barbour also told the investigator that Johnson had previously asked her to record other people for leverage or to give him an advantage in the future. She also told the investigator that in October of 2021, she communicated with DeVan Barbour via Snapchat and Facetime, describing him as partially clothed and intoxicated, according to the warrant application. The state Attorney Generals Office, which is prosecuting the case, said that DeVan Barbour and Angela Barbour are not related. Johnson, in turn, asked Angela Barbour to record DeVan Barbour or have sex with him, giving her a prepaid phone to use, court records said. In a message Thursday, Angela Barbour told The N&O, Unfortunately I cannot comment at this time. Thank you. Mind games During a September school board meeting, she accused Johnson, Donovan and new school board member Michelle Antoine of playing mind games. He fooled me, too, she said of Johnson in that meeting. DeVan Barbour unsuccessfully sought the Republican nomination in the 13th Congressional District last year, finishing second to Bo Hines. In his YouTube campaign advertisement, he described himself as seven-time dad of the year and pro-family. Reached Wednesday, he declined to comment. Johnston County school board member Ronald Johnson. The investigator described finding multiple non-work-related recordings on Johnsons Smithfield police computer, including those of past Johnston County school superintendents and board members. Another of those recordings contained Angela Barbour telling school board candidate Kevin Donovan that DeVan Barbour had been making advances, court records said. Donovan was elected to the Johnston school board in November. Angela Barbour then showed the investigator her own recording of another conversation with Donovan, who demanded that she present proof of her affair with Johnson. Ronald Johnson is supporting me, Donovan, then a candidate, said in the recording, according to court records. If this goes public, it will be all over Facebook. I wont be able to get on the board. I will look like (expletive). Speaking to the investigator, Donovan denied making the recording or sharing any information with Johnson. He did say he told DeVan Barbour that Angela Barbour was describing sex with him. He shared this information with Mr. Barbour because he was running for Congress, the investigator wrote. Donovan referred questions to his attorney, Steven Walker, who said through an assistant Thursday that he had not yet seen the search warrant documents. Johnsons strong rhetoric The investigator later contacted DeVan Barbour, who said hed been told about the recording by both Donovan and Johnson. He added that he knew Johnson from political events and considered using his name in mailings, but reconsidered due to Johnsons strong rhetoric including the acronym FAFO. FAFO is an expression sometimes associated with the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group. Johnston County school board member Ronald Johnson speaks out on Aug. 24, 2022 against the boards resolution to censure him and request that he resign from office. In May, shortly before the 2022 Republican primary, Johnson called DeVan Barbour asking to share information at an urgent meeting. They parked after midnight behind Clayton Fitness, where Johnson got into Barbours pickup holding several phones. Ronald Johnson didnt say a word, the investigator wrote. Instead of speaking, Mr. Johnson handed Mr. Barbour the ear buds and played a recording from the phone. The recording was Ronald Johnsons voice. Mr. Johnson described an incident between DeVan Barbour and Angela Barbour. The recording stated Mr. Johnson was in possession of a recording of this incident. To prevent the release of this recording, court records continued, DeVan Barbour was to contact Angela Barbour and have her write a statement saying she lied about having an affair with Ronald Johnson. A direct threat to his candidacy After he de-escalated, Devan Barbour told the investigator he considered the matter finished. But later in May, court records said, he received a text message from a number with an out-out-state area code saying the recording was about to be released. Mr. Barbour stated he considered Mr. Johnsons actions to constitute a direct threat to his candidacy for Congress because a recording like that in the middle of a federal campaign would be harmful, according to the search warrant application. Johnson also started a subscriber account with Pinger, a communications app, and demonstrated that he was intensely preoccupied with any disclosure of his past sexual relationship with Angela Barbour becoming public, the investigator wrote. Through Pinger, court records said, Johnson exchanged more than 30,000 messages with a different Johnston County teacher and friend of Angela Barbour, including nude photos of the other teacher. After DeVan Barbours loss in the primary, the investigator wrote, all communication with Johnson stopped. The investigator later went to Clayton Fitness, the site of Johnsons late-night meeting with DeVan Barbour, to ask about video surveillance recordings. He learned that Johnson had rented an office inside the gym for after-hours work. While the investigator left to get a search warrant, he asked Clayton police to stand watch, court records said. Johnson arrived at the gym less than an hour later and then left carrying a large white box, the investigator wrote. After searching the car, the investigator found the white box empty, along with five memory drives and three phones, one of which was concealed inside a Faraday bag designed to keep it from connecting with cellular towers. Read the warrant Read the document here. Personal information, such as phone numbers, email addresses and home addresses, have been redacted. Staff writer T. Keung Hui contributed to this report. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to temporarily replace her on the powerful Judiciary Committee on Wednesday as she recovers from shingles. Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis, the senator said in a statement. I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so Ive asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until Im able to resume my committee work. A spokesperson for Schumer said he would ask the chamber to do so next week. Democratic aides say the majority leader could make a unanimous consent request on the floor to allow for the temporary replacement. 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, the spokesperson said. Feinstein, 89, was hospitalized last month after she was diagnosed with shingles. She was released a week later, saying she expected to make a full recovery and return to the Senate as soon as possible. But that hasnt happened yet. Her absence has stalled the committees vote on President Joe Bidens top nominees, and some Democrats have expressed concern that Feinstein may never return to the Capitol. She has already missed 60 votes this year, and her absence has been notable as Democrats hold a slim majority in the chamber. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called on the veteran lawmaker to resign on Wednesday, commending her lifetime of public service but adding that it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Feinstein said she will leave Congress at the end of her current term in 2024. The senator said she still intends to return to Washington once her medical team clears her for travel. I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco, Feinstein added. Related... Two fellow Democrats said Dianne Feinstein was no longer fit to serve The oldest member of the US Senate has asked to temporarily step aside from a key committee after two colleagues urged her to resign. California's Dianne Feinstein, 89, said her return to Washington had been delayed by complications from shingles. She revealed last month she was in hospital with the condition. Her absence has complicated President Joe Biden's efforts to confirm federal judges in the Senate, which has only a slim Democratic majority. On Wednesday evening, Mrs Feinstein's office said she had asked the Senate to find a temporary replacement for her on the judiciary committee. The statement was issued after two fellow Democrats, Ro Khanna and Dean Phillips, said earlier in the day that Mrs Feinstein was no longer fit to serve. Mr Khanna, of California, wrote on Twitter that it was time for the longest-serving female senator to step down. "We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty," he said. "While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties." Mr Phillips tweeted that he agreed with Mr Khanna. "I believe it's now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet," the Minnesota congressman said. The statement from Mrs Feinstein's office said she had initially expected to return to Capitol Hill by the end of the March. But because of "continued complications" with shingles, she said she would work from home in San Francisco until her medical team advised it was safe to travel. Shingles is a virus that causes a painful rash, but is not typically life-threatening. On the judiciary committee, Democrats hold an 11-10 advantage. Mrs Feinstein announced in February that she would not be running for re-election in 2024. Multiple Democrats - Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff - have already jumped into the race to succeed her. Mrs Feinstein was the first female mayor of San Francisco and the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee. Thousands of feet above sea level in the southwestern region of China, sits the Tibetan Plateau also referred to as the roof of the world. Known for its inhospitable conditions, the plateau gets more snow and ice than anywhere else on Earth, aside from the North and South poles, according to a study published April 12 in Science Advances. Despite the weather and lack of arable land, people have thrived in the region for thousands of years. New research is giving experts insight into how prehistoric humans survived the plateau. Dental remains from 40 humans found across 15 locations in the plateau revealed that populations relied on dairy as early as 3,500 years ago to survive, according to the study. Evidence shows that men, women and children across all social classes had access to dairy products, indicating its importance to survival. The adoption of dairy pastoralism helped to revolutionize peoples ability to occupy much of the plateau, particularly the vast areas too extreme for crop cultivation, Nicole Boivin, senior author of the study, said in a news release from the Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology. The data also revealed geographic differences in the importance of dairy, experts said. Individuals who lived in the plateaus less arable northern and western highlands had more evidence of the protein, according to the study. Meanwhile, no traces were found in remains from the agriculturally friendly valleys. We were excited to observe an incredibly clear pattern, Li Tang, lead author of the study, said in the release. All our milk peptides came from ancient individuals in the western and northern steppes, where growing crops is extremely difficult. However, we did not detect any milk proteins from the southern-central and south-eastern valleys, where more farmable land is available. There were also patterns following altitude, the researchers said. Of the 40 individuals whose remains were examined, only those remains found at an altitude of around 12,000 feet above sea level or higher showed traces of milk consumption, reinforcing the idea of dairys importance in places where agriculture was not an option, according to the news release. Story continues Proteins from goat, sheep, and possibly cattle and yak products were identified, researchers said in the release. Western Tibetans seemed to have a preference for goat milk. The dental remains also indicated that this reliance on dairy began at least 2,000 years before what current historical records indicate, the study said. Early populations likely turned to the practice for survival as soon as pastoralism began to spread throughout the region. Ruminant animals could convert the energy locked in alpine pastures into nutritional milk and meat, and this fueled the expansion of human populations into some of the worlds most extreme environments, Tang said in the release. Prehistoric humans in China had a unique diet including 15-foot pythons, experts say Melting permafrost reveals bodies of ancient Mongolians and their diets, study says What did people eat 9,000 years ago? Hunting cave reveals glimpses of diets in Mexico When Richland High graduate Santino Fontana won a Tony Award in 2019 for his leading role in Tootsie, Tri-Citians were delighted. One of our own had made it big. The Broadway show required Fontana to pretend to be a woman for much of his time on stage complete with wig, high heels and form-fitting dresses. The costumes were part of the comedy. Fontanas amazing voice and acting chops wowed audiences night after night, and when he was named best lead actor in a musical, our community was proud of his success. Now, just four years later, the idea of men dressing up and performing as women is causing anger, fear, protests and even death threats. There are certainly differences between a hit show like Tootsie and drag events at local venues, but fundamentally both are meant to be entertaining. Those involved in drag say its an art form and its been around for centuries. In Shakespeares time women werent allowed to perform on stage so men routinely played female roles. But as anti-LGBTQ rhetoric continues to be unleashed nationwide, these entertainers and the venue owners hosting their shows are being targeted with intimidation and threats, even though drag queens are not transgender. Sadly, weve now witnessed unwarranted drag show panic in our own community. In Richland, the Emerald of Siam restaurant received a letter in the U.S. mail a day after hosting an all-ages drag brunch on Easter Sunday, and the threat is so frightening the police and FBI are now involved. The restaurant manager said he doesnt want to reveal what the letter says because he doesnt want to put people in danger. This is beyond alarming. The restaurant has hosted all-age drag shows monthly for six years without controversy, but recently workers were getting harassing phone calls and messages. This didnt happen out of nowhere. Nationwide, drag shows have become the latest target of intolerance thats splitting the country. It was only a matter of time before the Tri-Cities was caught up in this vile political storm. Story continues At the Emerald of Siam the intimidation became so concerning that manager Tim Thornton went to a city council meeting seeking support. Instead, he found out that Mayor Pro Tem Theresa Richardson, who opposed the drag show, encouraged people to send a polite note to the restaurant expressing their concerns. Unfortunately, and predictably, many people were anything but polite. Richardson told the Herald she never promoted hate speech or harassment, but still, its a shame the restaurant did not get the support it sought from the citys elected leaders. And Richardson, in turn, has gotten ugly comments, she says. In the early morning hours before the Sunday show, vandals can be seen on a security camera wearing masks and hoodies. They glued hateful posters to the windows of the restaurant that carried phrases like, Groomers are not welcome in Richland and Enough is Enough. The transgender experiment has failed. Owner Dara Quinn, whose mother started the restaurant 40 years ago, told the Herald it took six people three hours to clean up the mess. In the end, the attempt to intimidate failed. Protesters and supporters showed up the day of the event, demonstrated peacefully and the show went on. But that doesnt mean the danger is over especially now that the restaurant has received a serious threat in the mail. Far-right conservatives say drag shows groom kids for sexually deviant behavior. Some also incorrectly say that drag queens are pedophiles. The reality is drag queens are entertainers, and people accused of sexually abusing kids are usually family members, trusted friends or members of the community. And pedophiles act in secret, not on stage. Besides, kids arent going to attend drag shows unless their parents take them. Also, its a good bet that the people opposed to drag shows probably have never watched one. I think that they are misled and misinformed about what happens at these (shows), Quinn told the Herald. It is not a gay recruitment. It is not recruiting for anything, it is a family-friendly event for those who care to participate. If they dont like it, just dont come to it. Apparently, though, protesters dont want anyone to attend something they have a distorted view of. On a positive note, numerous people have rallied to support the Richland restaurant, as well as the Out and About gay club in Pasco, which also was targeted by protesters. Drag shows at both venues reportedly were well attended by hundreds, despite the uproar. Men have performed as women for years and no one cared until recently when drag shows became a political lightning rod. Tootsie isnt a drag show, but it does feature a man dressed as a woman and there was a time that didnt bother Tri-Citians at all. We cant help but wonder, in light of recent events, if thats still the case. Or are we really that far gone? It is perhaps no accident that a trove of sensitive US documents reportedly ended up in a chat room on Discord, one of a small group of platforms that are widely seen by experts as natural haunts for online renegades. While the authenticity of the material has yet to be confirmed by officials, The Washington Post reported the embarrassing leak of secrets about the war in Ukraine came from a Discord user nicknamed "OG", a gun enthusiast who works on a US military base. The New York Times said a "trail of digital evidence" led to a 21-year-old national guardsman named Jack Teixeira as the leader of the private chat group, called Thug Shaker Central. He has not been officially identified as a suspect. San Francisco-based Discord was created in 2015 primarily as a platform for gamers to chat, but it has also become an alternative for users disenchanted with major players Facebook, Instagram or Twitter. Discord allows communities to set up something called servers, which are virtual spaces where users can chat, share media, and connect with other users who share similar interests. Citing fellow members of the group, the Post reported that the chat room allegedly behind the leak was a destination for two dozen men and boys who shared a "mutual love of guns, military gear and God." "There are a million microcosms out there in social media land that are like that," said Syracuse University research professor Jason Davis. "Echo chambers, I call them, and Discord is pretty famous for them." - 'Dark pockets' - Similar loosely run forums exist at Reddit and Mastodon, most of which involve benign topics like hobbies or games, but always with a tinge of freedom from censors that some believe hold too much sway over Facebook, Instagram or Snapchat. "Dark pockets exist," Davis said. "Discord, the name tells you what you need to know." "It's a place for rebels and nerds (who) embrace that kind of anti-mainstream sentiment." Story continues Discord has already landed in hot water for playing a role in a 2017 right-wing rally in Charlottesville, Virginia which erupted in violence and left one person dead. The FBI found Discord chats where a white supremacist leader seemed to encourage violence at the event, and Discord said afterward that it banned servers promoting neo-Nazi ideology. Discord has also been accused of being used to share child pornography and by predators to communicate with minors. The attraction of Discord or Mastodon are that they are "distributed," meaning no central entity has complete control over them, said Cyber Threat Alliance chief executive Michael Daniel. There is no one in charge of checking user identity, making the forums ideal for those want to release information onto the internet anonymously, according to Daniel. A Discord spokesperson told AFP that user safety is a priority, and that content violating its policies can result in people being banned, servers being shut down, and police alerted. "In regards to the apparent breach of classified material, we are cooperating with law enforcement," a Discord spokesperson said. "As this remains an active investigation, we cannot provide further comment at this time." - Authentic appeal - It makes sense that hackers, cyber security professionals, and other technically-savvy people would feel at home in gamer forums, according to Davis. Military personnel fond of online shooter games are also likely to take part in chat forums, Davis reasoned. "If you look at most leaks, they really are actually personnel leaks and not cyber security leaks where somebody hacked into the system," Davis said, before the release of the report by the Washington Post. "So, could this be a 20-something year-old somehow in the military? Of course." Time will tell, he noted, since if Pentagon documents were hacked from the outside there will be "forensic footprints" that the US is doggedly tracking, Davis said. "It is highly unlikely this was the result of some teenager that just happened to figure out a way to get access to this information," CTA chief Daniel said of the leak. "That is just not how things happen." Davis said that the likes of Discord and Reddit would see continued success. "People seem to be always be seeking that organic authenticity of a group that really 'gets them'," Davis told AFP. gc/arp/st San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson on Tuesday addressed the Senate Public Safety Committee as he voiced his opposition to SB 94, which would allow relief to high-level inmates. San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson was in Sacramento Tuesday to oppose a proposed bill allowing relief for high-security facility inmates. Anderson testified in front of the Senate Public Safety Committee in opposition to Senate Bill 94, which would allow "death row and life without the possibility of parole" to circumvent decades of judicial oversight affirming their guilt and sentence. Disregarding decades of jurisprudence, the Senate Public Safety Committee voted to pass SB 94, with a vote this morning of 4-1 in favor of moving it forward, Anderson said. The active bill now continues through the committee process. SB 94 would allow the inmates sentenced before June 5, 1990, to petition a judge to reopen their cases for recall or resentencing and possible parole. Anderson believes passing the bill would mean death row inmates like Kevin Cooper would be eligible for relief despite receiving a murder conviction. Cooper was convicted in 1985 of murdering Doug and Peggy Ryen, their 10-year-old daughter, Jessica and 11-year-old Christopher Hughes. The Chino Hills couples 8-year-old son, Joshua, survived the attack. In 2021, Newsom ordered an independent investigation into the high-profile clemency petition of Cooper, who maintains he is innocent. The investigation came after the NAACP Legal Defense Fund urged Newsom to order an "innocence investigation" on behalf of Cooper. "Mr. Cooper is a Black man who has served over 35 years on death row, notwithstanding serious concerns about the integrity of the state's case and the risk that it was marred by racial discrimination," the group wrote. Coppers guilt has been declared by the investigation as "conclusive and exhaustive." Although Cooper fails to take accountability for his crimes, he is exactly who would benefit from this bill in the ability to petition for recall and resentencing, Anderson stated. It also means that inmate Bryan Mincy, who tortured and murdered the 5-year-old son of his then-girlfriend, would be eligible under SB 94. Story continues Mincy beat and tortured a child who suffered repetitive injuries and the shearing of tissues so severe his central nervous system collapsed, Anderson said. James's body had hundreds of injuries, virtually all of which could have been inflicted within 24 to 48 hours of his death. Mincy could petition for a second chance. A second chance his victim, 5-year-old James, never received. SB 94 undermines all three foundations of our criminal justice system, Anderson added. It does not promulgate justice; it dispenses with justice. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: DA Jason Anderson addresses Senate Public Safety Committee, opposes SB 94 When I was in the operating room observing as surgeons repaired the bleeding organs and frayed muscles of a gunshot victim, one horrifying image came to mind: shredded meat. This was during my trauma rotation years ago in my medical training, and by then, I had seen a few patients with gunshot wounds. But this particular young man lying on the operating table in front of me was shot with a semi-automatic rifle. The damage from any bullet to the human body is astounding, but this was particularly terrifying. These images have come to mind in recent days as we yet again have a slew of gun violence across our great nation. This week, a gunman killed five at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, using an AR-15-style rifle. In late March, three children and three adults at a school in Nashville, Tennessee, were slaughtered by a shooter who was carrying three guns, including two semi-automatic weapons. AR-15-style guns hang on a store wall in Burbank, Calif. Authorities say the shooter at Old National Bank in Louisville, Ky., legally purchased a similar rifle from a local gun dealer a week prior to the shooting. A month before that event, there were multiple mass shootings in Tennessee, Mississippi, Michigan; and a month before that there were more in California, Utah and throughout the United States. So far in 2023, the nonprofit research group The Gun Violence Archive estimates America has suffered nearly 150 mass shootings, described as four or more shot and/or killed in an incident. Thats an average of more than one per day. USA TODAY's mass shooting database: Revealing trends, details and anguish of every US event since 2006 I work at Walmart: Surviving gun violence shouldn't be part of my job Gun violence isn't unavoidable Gun violence is so widespread that a recent national poll found that almost 1 in 5 American adults have a family member who was killed by a gun, including death by suicide. Unfortunately, with the sheer number of gun-related tragedies, we are becoming numb. It seems endless, but we cannot fall into the trap of accepting mass shootings as unavoidable American occurrences. Something needs to be done; legislation finally needs to be passed to address gun violence. And as a culture, we need to acknowledge that this is a problem that needs to be fixed. Story continues Commonsense measures: How many more students and teachers must die before lawmakers act to stop gun violence? I'm a gun owner: I'm a sitting duck until commonsense gun laws are on the books We seem to be in a cycle where mass shootings happen, we are upset, but then nothing is done. Arguments are made that it is too soon after shooting, or that politicians are politicizing a tragedy, or that any gun legislation tramples Second Amendment rights. Time goes on, and the issue fades to the background. I saw this firsthand when gun violence hit a bit closer to home for me. My parents and family members were on vacation in Las Vegas when a shooter fired modified AR-15-style rifles into a music festival, killing 58. My family was just floors below him in the same hotel from which he was raining bullets. Barricaded in a room with other vacationers, all they could do was send terrified texts to me and pray. We all felt helpless. Guns are public health crisis: I survived a mass shooting and found Americans aren't all that divided on gun safety Want fewer shootings?: Pass tougher gun laws. Our research shows lax laws fuel violence. We aren't helpless as a nation But we as a nation are not helpless and can make a change. We need to put pressure on our elected leaders for more comprehensive gun control. We need to expand background checks and reinstate the federal assault rifle ban, which was shown effective in reducing mass shootings. We also need to be open to more studies on gun violence, research the government has traditionally been resistant toward putting money into. Opinion alerts: Get columns from your favorite columnists + expert analysis on top issues, delivered straight to your device through the USA TODAY app. Don't have the app? Download it for free from your app store. Today, while I no longer am in the operating room, I still see the effects of gun violence on my patients as a hospital medicine doctor. Many of those I have treated in the hospital have become paralyzed from a bullet to the spine. They come in repeatedly for infections or blood clots from immobility. Others have mental health difficulties or post-traumatic stress disorder from their experience with gun violence. Id like to be able to tell them that no one else will suffer the way they have, and that the mass shootings shown so frequently on the news these days will slow down and stop. I continue to hope this will be true, but we need our elected officials to act, and to act now before more lives are lost. Dr. Thomas Lew Dr. Thomas K. Lew is an assistant clinical professor of Medicine at the Stanford University School of Medicine and an attending physician of Hospital Medicine at Stanford Health Care Tri-Valley. All expressed opinions are his own. Follow him on Twitter @ThomasLewMD 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: I've seen what guns, AR-15s do to the body. We have to stop this A closely-watched civil trial that pits vote machine maker Dominion against Fox News and tests the extent of free speech rights for media in America -- even when broadcasting alleged election falsehoods -- is due to start Thursday with jury selection. The proceedings could be one of the most consequential defamation cases ever heard in the United States and threaten financial and reputational damage for Rupert Murdoch's conservative TV network. The stakes "are pretty high for Fox News," Nicole Hemmer, a historian specializing in media at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, told AFP. Dominion Voting Systems sued Fox News in a Delaware court in March 2021 for $1.6 billion. It alleges that the 24-hour news behemoth promoted Donald Trump's false claims that its machines were used to rig the 2020 presidential election that he lost to Joe Biden. The company argues that Fox News aired the falsehoods while knowing they were untrue. Dominion says that the network began endorsing Trump's conspiracy narrative because the channel was losing its audience after it became the first television outlet to call Arizona for Biden, projecting the Democrat would win the presidency. Fox News denies committing defamation. It claims it was only reporting on Trump's allegations, not supporting them, and is protected by free speech rights enshrined in the First Amendment of the US Constitution. A judge last month denied a bid by the right-leaning network to have the suit dismissed and ordered the case to go to trial. "If found responsible for defamation, the network will potentially face a judgment in the neighborhood of $1 billion -- not enough to bankrupt the network, but enough to have real ramifications for its future planning and overall financial health," said Hemmer. But that is a big if, as it is difficult for plaintiffs to win defamation suits in the United States due to the First Amendment. Story continues - 'Actual malice' - Dominion will have to prove that Fox News acted with actual malice, a tough burden to meet. That bar has been a bedrock of US media law since the 1964 New York Times Co. v. Sullivan case that saw the Supreme Court rule in the newspaper's favor. Dominion's lawsuit has already proved embarrassing to Fox, however. The 92-year-old Murdoch admitted in a deposition in the case that some on-air hosts had "endorsed" the false claim that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump. He denied though that the network in its entirety had pushed the baseless claim, according to court documents filed by Dominion in February. A separate filing showed that Murdoch had described comments by former Trump advisors Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell pushing Trump's claims as "really crazy stuff. And damaging." Dominion's lawyers have also released a trove of internal Fox News communications that show what commentators really felt about Trump, who counted on Fox for steady support. "I hate him passionately," star anchor Tucker Carlson said of the ex-president, despite being supportive on air. Fox News has accused Dominion of "cherry-picking and taking quotes out of context." The network has overcome several crises in recent years and was the most watched cable news channel for a seventh year in a row last year, well ahead of competitors like MSNBC and CNN. Jury selection is expected to finish this week, with the trial proper expected to start Monday. pdh-arb/mlm Former President Donald Trumps son on Thursday criticized Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for not canceling out-of-state travel while parts of southern Florida suffered from historic flooding that stranded motorists and caused massive traffic jams. Fort Lauderdale is under water and DeSantis is campaigning in Ohio right now instead of taking care of the people suffering in his state, Donald Trump Jr. tweeted. DeSantis and the former president are becoming increasingly bitter rivals ahead of the 2024 presidential race. Trump has already declared that hes running while DeSantis is expected to jump into the race in the next month or two. Fort Lauderdale and the surrounding area received more than two feet of rain, forcing the city's international airport to shut down and flooding homes and highways. DeSantis, who traveled to Ohio Thursday to attend a Butler County Republican Party event, declared a state of emergency for Broward County, including Fort Lauderdale later in the day. Reports indicate the rainfall and flooding may continue to disrupt critical infrastructure including county roads, airports, hospitals and schools. The governors office also authorized funds from the states emergency preparedness and response fund to pay for disaster relief. The Florida Division of Emergency Management deployed staff to assist in recovery efforts including collecting damage assessment data. The Florida Highway Patrol increased staffing to coordinate coverage in response to the flood. But Fort Lauderdales mayor, Dean Trantalis, a Democrat, said during a press conference Thursday that the governor hadnt called him about the flooding and the ongoing cleanup effort. Im not sure whats going on, but Im sure hes very interested in whats going on here, and were happy to work with his office, Trantalis said. Im not sure if the governor himself needs to be involved, but the state agencies have been very helpful in working with us to take on this challenge. Story continues In response, the governor's office said it is wrong for the media and political critics to rush to politicize every national disaster. "The governor left yesterday, and the unprecedented flooding intensified later in the night. He returns today," DeSantis' spokesperson Bryan Griffin said in a statement. "Nonetheless, at the direction of Governor DeSantis, the state emergency response apparatus is in full swing responding to the flooding and the needs of the localities as they are communicated to us. This now includes issuing a state of emergency in Broward County," he added. Meanwhile, Democratic state senator Shevrin Jones criticizes DeSantis in a statement issued Thursday. "It is disgraceful and telling about his priorities that Gov. DeSantis chose to campaign and continue his book tour in Ohio instead of govern in Florida. He has failed as a leader," the statement says. Gary Fineout contributed to this report. Donald Trump on Wednesday filed a $500 million lawsuit against his former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, a week after the former president was indicted over a hush money payment Cohen facilitated to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. Cohen testified before the Manhattan grand jury that indicted Trump on 34 criminal charges of falsifying business records and may be a key witness in the criminal trial. Trump, who pleaded not guilty, has denied involvement in the scheme. In the suit, Trump alleges Cohen violated attorney-client privilege by sharing confidential information and spread lies about him with malicious intent and to wholly self-serving ends. Plaintiff has suffered vast reputational harm as a direct result of Defendants breaches, the lawsuit filed by Trump attorney Alejandro Brito in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida states. The suit claims the most egregious breaches of fiduciary duty involve two books authored by Cohen, his podcast, and other public statements about Trump. Defendant derived a significant benefit, to Plaintiffs detriment and at Plaintiffs expense, as a direct result of his breach of fiduciary duty, including, without limitation, realization of substantial monetary gain in the form of compensation, advances, royalties, proceeds and/or profits received for his role in the writing, publication, promotion, and/or sale of the Books, the suit says. Trump is requesting over $500 million in actual, compensatory, incidental, and punitive damages from Cohen, and any profits he made through his books and podcast. Cohens lawyer, Lanny Davis, predicted Trumps lawsuit would fail. In a statement, the lawyer characterized the lawsuit as an effort by Trump to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him. Cohen, who arranged the payoff of Daniels and served prison time for campaign finance violations, has vowed to continue fighting for the truth. Story continues Despite Trumps attempts to intimidate and harass me, I will NEVER stop fighting and holding him accountable for his dirty deeds, Cohen wrote on Twitter Wednesday, linking to a GoFundMe page raising money for his legal defense. Despite Trumps attempts to intimidate and harass me, I will NEVER stop fighting and holding him accountable for his dirty deeds. https://t.co/6TCat2H4pmpic.twitter.com/UrTM00Ta4o Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) April 13, 2023 Manhattan prosecutors alleged Cohen handled three hush money payments for Trump involving Daniels, model Karen McDougal, and a former Trump Tower doorman who claimed Trump had had a child out of wedlock. Trump has a long history of attacking perceived enemies in court. Earlier this year, a Florida judge ordered Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba to pay just under $1 million for bringing a completely frivolous lawsuit against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other defendants. Mr Xi and Mr Macron attended a tea ceremony in Guangzhou Last Saturday, just hours after Xi Jinping sipped tea with Emmanuel Macron while calling for peace in Ukraine, fighter jets flew across the Taiwan Strait in a display of Chinese military might. Aimed at intimidating Taiwan, China's drills began the day after a state visit by the French president that marked a high point in Chinese diplomacy. The jarring juxtaposition was the latest example of the two faces China has presented to the world - a dovish international peacemaker, and an attack dog baring its teeth to defend what it sees as its territory. But can Beijing sustain this strategy? On the diplomatic front, China has wasted no time since emerging from Covid isolation. In the last few months President Xi Jinping has met Russia's Vladimir Putin; hosted several world leaders including Brazil's president who arrived this week; sent a top envoy to court Europe; and presented a 12-point solution to the Ukraine war. Beijing also brokered a detente between Saudi Arabia and Iran in what is one of China's biggest diplomatic coups; that it pulled this off in the Middle East, where US intervention has been mired in difficulties and failure, is especially significant. At the same time, Beijing has unveiled various proposals for global security and development - a clear sign it is wooing the "global south" as it did with the earlier Belt and Road initiative where it poured billions into other countries. It has even appeared to tone down its confrontational "Wolf Warrior" rhetoric by rotating out controversial diplomat Zhao Lijian, and promoting more even-tempered figures like Wang Yi and Qin Gang - though Mr Xi has continued to encourage his envoys to display a "fighting spirit". This diplomatic push positioning China as a key global powerbroker can trace its roots to the "rejuvenation of the Chinese nation", a long-held nationalist concept that sees the Middle Kingdom reclaiming its central position in the world. More recently articulated by Mr Xi as the "Chinese Dream" when he first took power, it reflects the current leadership's "confidence in their own path and approach in modernisation", said Zhang Xin, an associate professor in politics and international relations at East China Normal University. Story continues But it is not just about spreading the gospel of the Chinese way - much of it is also aimed at securing global economic ties. "Mr Xi knows that you can't rejuvenate a Chinese nation without a good economy," said Neil Thomas, a fellow in Chinese politics at the Asia Society Policy Institute. "China needs to keep growing while it acquires diplomatic influence. You can't do that if you alienate the West, you still need to maintain good economic relations. That requires diplomacy, and stepping back from more 'Wolf Warrior' aspects." But the main reason for the recent flurry of diplomacy is that Beijing feels increasingly besieged. Suspicion in the West has resulted in stronger defence alliances like Aukus and the Quad, and moves to restrict China's access to advanced technology. In March, Mr Xi accused "Western countries led by the US" of "containment, encirclement and suppression of China, which has brought unprecedented severe challenges to our country's development". It is a feeling that was heightened in the past year with the Ukraine war and the strengthened ties within Nato, noted Ian Chong, a non-resident fellow at Carnegie China. "Beijing has realised the US has a lot of powerful friends. The Chinese feel this containment more, so it gives them greater impetus to break out of it," he said. This is why a key plank in China's strategy is the "multi-polar world", one that has multiple centres of power. Beijing touts this as an alternative to what it calls "US hegemony", which it says has pushed countries to form power blocs and aggravates tensions. Mr Xi introduced the "Chinese Dream" early in his term This was evident during Mr Macron's visit, when Mr Xi encouraged Europe to think of itself as an "independent pole" while echoing Mr Macron's rhetoric about "strategic autonomy". While Beijing argues that a more balanced distribution of power would make the world safer, others see it as an attempt to lure countries away from America's orbit and shore up China's influence. China often highlights US foreign policy failures in Iraq and Afghanistan while projecting itself as a country without blood on its hands, implying it is a better candidate to lead the world. A common line in Chinese rhetoric is that Communist China has never invaded another country nor engaged in proxy wars. But it annexed Tibet and went to war with Vietnam. It has been accused of territorial grabs in recent border clashes with India and in maritime disputes with several countries in the South China Sea. It also views self-ruled Taiwan as a breakaway province, and has vowed to claim it by using force if necessary. So is the charm offensive working? In the "global south" and other countries not closely aligned to China or the US, it would likely be welcomed. China is pitching a non-coercive mediation strategy, which would have "wide appeal", said Dr Zhang. This idea of non-interference would particularly resonate in states with authoritarian governments. "Many countries are not focused on democracy and human rights and China would be their champion in global governance," said Dr Thomas. But "whether they agree enough to stick their neck out for China is unknown", pointed out Dr Chong. There are red lines they will not cross, as seen in the UN vote on the Ukraine war where most countries chose to condemn the invasion, while China abstained. Meanwhile, traditional US allies such as Europe continue to debate how to handle China's overtures. Some do not appear easily swayed, like European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen who took a sterner tone with Mr Xi when she accompanied Mr Macron to the Chinese capital. But others keen on preserving their countries' economic relationships with China have been more open. During his trip, Mr Macron was treated lavishly by the Chinese, who welcomed him with an elaborate military parade. In an unusual step, Mr Xi personally accompanied him to the southern city of Guangzhou where he signalled they were "bosom buddies". Mr Macron later told reporters it would not be in Europe's interest to engage on Taiwan and "get caught up in crises that are not ours". He has since defended his comments, saying that being a US ally does not mean becoming its "vassal". This is proof, to some, that Mr Xi's courtship has worked. Europe is becoming "the central battleground" of US-China relations and is a "swing state" where whoever it backs will come out on top, according to Dr Thomas. But for now Mr Macron is an outlier among Europe's leaders. His remarks sparked criticism and Germany has sent its foreign minister to Beijing to reinforce the EU's harder stance on Taiwan. While Europe is hedging its bets between the US and China, Dr Thomas said, "it knows the better bet is still with the US". Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US leader Kevin McCarthy infuriated China It is on the topic of Taiwan, however, where China's charm offensive starts to unravel. Beijing's latest military exercises - launched in response to Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen meeting top US official Kevin McCarthy last week - saw it deploy the usual array of tactics, sending warplanes and ships and simulating attacks on the island. Taipei says Beijing has stepped up incursions into its air defence zone in recent years, with Chinese military aircraft flying hundreds of sorties every month. Analysts say such moves undercut China's claims of being a peacemaker. While others see it as military aggression, Beijing has always insisted these are defensive moves and, therefore, a domestic issue. But a war over Taiwan would have global consequences, Dr Chong says. The island produces 60% of the world's semiconductors, and sits at the crossroads of some of the busiest shipping lanes and submarine telecommunications cables that connect Europe to Asia. China also cannot ignore the fact that if a conflict should break out it would be blamed, at least partially, for destabilising Asia. Most observers believe China does not intend to invade Taiwan any time soon. But the worry is that escalating military action could lead to a dangerous miscalculation and war with America, given Washington is committed to aid Taiwan's defence should the island come under attack. "Xi Jinping is trying to revive their [China's] diplomatic presence while projecting strength on the Taiwan issue. It's going to be increasingly difficult to walk the line between those objectives, as more countries become more concerned about China's ability to attack Taiwan," Dr Thomas. As Beijing mounts its campaign to win over the world, it will also find its actions under increasingly close scrutiny. Soon it may have to choose - to be the dove, or the dog. Additional reporting by Grace Tsoi. Dozens of dead cats and dogs were found Saturday in a pick-up truck parked at a strip mall in New Jersey, and dozens more were rescued from the vehicle, according to an animal refuge center. The Rampapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, located in Oakland, N.J., said more than 40 animals were found dead, and rescuers were able to save 38 dogs and eight cats from the vehicle in the parking lot in Hampton. The animals were found packed in filthy conditions. Rescuers made the horrific discovery on Saturday, April 8, but the animals were believed to have been there for at least two days. Loose dogs running around the parking lot and a foul order emanating from the vehicle had alerted authorities to the pickup truck soaked with urine and feces and packed with animals. Rescue official said many of the animals were soaked in urine and feces. The shelter said the dogs and cats inside the truck were "terrified, huddled in all corners." Rescuers spent the night pulling the petrified creatures one by one while having to withstand the odor. The approximately 40 dead animals, meanwhile, were individually wrapped. The vehicle was soaked in urine, feces, and animal remains. SOUTH CAROLINA WOMAN HAD 15 DEAD ANIMALS ON ABANDONED PROPERTY: COPS The owner of the vehicle had a house fire in Virginia, loaded the animals in the pickup truck, and drove to Pennsylvania, the shelter said. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP According to the shelter, the dogs are scruffy mixed breeds and appear to be related. They were covered in fleas, urine, and feces when rescued. Each was frightened, some snapping, and others were shaking in fear, the shelter said. Rescue officials worked through the night to pull out the animals one by one. Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge said it took in six dogs. The other animals were taken in by its partners at Second Chance Pet Adoption League, Hampton Animal Control, and the Hopatcong Animal Shelter. "While last night was a horrific discovery of animal cruelty, the joining together of different organizations to aid these helpless animals was uplifting amid dismay," Megan Brinster, executive director for Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge, said in a statement. Story continues All of the rescued animals were frightened and cowering in fear. "We are thankful to Hampton animal control for their immediate response and staying into the late hours of the night to ensure the animals all had safe placements. The identity of the driver has not been released. Fox News Digital has reached out to local police and the sheriffs department seeking more details. Drake Bell Drake Bell, who starred in the hit show Drake & Josh on Nickelodeon, has been found after being considered "missing and endangered" by US police. On social media local law enforcement confirmed it had been in contact with Mr Bell and that he was safe. Previously, Daytona Beach Police Department declared the actor missing in a Facebook post. Authorities added that his last known location was "potentially" in the area of a Florida high school on 12 April. In a comment on the initial post police went on to say: "For those asking, this is a legitimate post from the Daytona Beach Police Department." Bell, 36, appeared in 56 episodes of Drake & Josh between 2004 and 2007. In the Nickelodeon series, he and his co-star Josh Peck played two teenagers with opposite personalities who became step brothers. They also starred in two Drake & Josh films. Police had said the actor "should be travelling in a 2022 grey BMW" and that he was last seen on Wednesday evening at around 21:00 local time (01:00 BST). Bell, who started acting as a child star, and also appeared in The Amanda Show, went on to win nine Nickelodeon Kids' Choice awards. He also released two albums and his recent acting included voice work for children's animations. However, in recent years he has faced scrutiny after high profile criminal cases. In June 2021 he was charged with attempted child endangerment and disseminating matter harmful to children, and pleaded guilty. The following month he was sentenced to two years' probation and 200 hours of community service in California for charges relating to a girl who met him online and accused him of sexual contact after she attended his concert when she was 15. The Associated Press said that before sentencing, he said: "I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong. I'm sorry the victim was harmed. It was not my intention." In January it was reported that Bell and his wife Janet Von Schmeling had separated and were "heading for divorce" after four years of marriage. The couple's son, named Jeremy Drake Bell, was born in in June 2021. BBC News has contacted Bell's management for a statement. UPDATED, 10:46 AM: Police in Florida report that the department is in contact with actor Drake Bell, who is safe. At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe, the Daytona Beach Police Department posted on Facebook shortly before 1:30 p.m. ET. More from Deadline UPDATED, 8:23 AM: Bell, the former co-star of Nickelodeons Drake & Josh, was reported by police earlier today to be missing and endangered in Daytona Beach. According to Facebook message posted by the Daytona Beach Police Department, Bell, 36 referred to by his legal name Jared Bell was last seen traveling in a gray 2022 BMW in the area of Mainland High School on 4/12/2023 just before 9 p.m. Police are asking the public to provide any information on Bells whereabouts by contacting Daytona Beach Police. Missing and endangered typically describes a person believed to be in danger because of age, health, mental or physical disability, in combination with environmental or weather conditions, or is believed to be unable to return to safety without assistance. The Daytona Beach police have not explained how or why Bell was considered endangered. Bell, who co-starred with Josh Peck in the popular Nickelodeon series for four seasons from 2004-07, made headlines in 2021 when he was sentenced to two years probation and community service in after pleading guilty to charges stemming from his sexually explicit online conduct in 2017 with an underage fan. Bell later said he did not know the age of the fan at the time of their virtual communication and that all conversation and communication stopped when he became aware. Story continues I responded to a fan whose age I didnt know, he said on Instagram after his sentencing. When I became aware of their age, all conversation and communication stopped. He added that the fan continued to come to shows and pay for meet and greets and that he did not know that the person he met on those occasions was the same one he had ceased communicating with online. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell was briefly reported missing in Daytona Beach, Florida, according to police. Bell, whose birth name is Jared, was last seen just before 9 p.m. on April 12 in the area of Mainland High School, the Daytona Beach Police Department said in a Thursday morning Facebook post. The department said in an update at 1:26 p.m. on April 13 that law enforcement officials were "in contact" and "Mr. Bell is safe." ** UPDATE: 4/13/2023 1:26p.m. - At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is... Posted by Daytona Beach Police Department on Thursday, April 13, 2023 Police previously said Bell was likely driving a 2022 gray BMW and said he was "considered missing and endangered." The department did not provide details on where he was found or why he was considered missing. Representatives for Bell did not immediately respond to a request for comment from TODAY.com. Hours later, however, the actor addressed the reports on Twitter. "You leave your phone in the car and dont answer for the night and this?" he tweeted. You leave your phone in the car and dont answer for the night and this? DrakeBell.eth (@DrakeBell) April 13, 2023 Bell, 36, is known for his roles on Nickelodeon series like "Drake and Josh" and "The Amanda Show." The actor pleaded guilty in 2021 to a felony attempted child endangerment charge and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles, NBC News reported. He was sentenced to two years of probation in July 2021. Bell was accused of "grooming" a young girl since she was 12, including sending her graphic photos and engaging in sexual misconduct in two separate incidents, though Bell's lawyer Ian Friedman denied the allegations in a statement to NBC News. Story continues "The victims allegations that went beyond that which all parties agreed, not only lack supporting evidence but are contradicted by the facts learned through extensive investigation," Friedman said. "As the court made clear, this plea was never about sexual misconduct or sexual relations with any person, let alone a minor." Ian Friedman added Bell's guilty plea and sentence "reflect conduct for which Mr. Bell did accept responsibility." Bell explained his decision to accept the plea deal in his sentencing hearing in July. "Today I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong. Im sorry that the victim was harmed in any way that was obviously not my intention," Bell said. "I have taken this matter very, very seriously, and again I just want to apologize to her and anyone else who may have been affected by my actions." This article was originally published on TODAY.com Florida rapper Kodak Black is the headliner for this years Black spring break in Biloxi. The four-day event brings thousands of students from historical black colleges and universities across the US to the Mississippi Coast for music, food, fun dancing and the beach. Black spring break visitors will start arriving tomorrow and traffic is expected to be heavy along Highway 90 in Biloxi, especially near Edgewater Mall and the Coast Coliseum. Saturdays Kodak Black concert at the Coliseum starts at 8 p.m. and tickets start at $80 per person. Nardo Wick, Est Gee, Fynesse 2 Times and Gloss Up will also perform. Who is Kodak Black? Heres everything you need to know. Duke Energy Carolinas and the city of Charlotte are working together on a pilot program to install energy-efficiency retrofits in local low-income residential housing. The city will provide up to $1 million from the federal American Rescue Plan to do home repairs in the residences to resolve issues that would otherwise disqualify them from accessing the energy retrofits. Once the homes qualify, Duke will provide up to $4 million to upgrade the homes for higher efficiency, saving the residents money by reducing the electricity used by them. ALSO READ: Tuckaseegee Road closed after crash involving power lines on Thursday morning The N.C. Utilities Commission authorized Duke Carolinas to launch the pilot program in Mecklenburg, Guilford and Forsyth counties. 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, says Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. Read more here. (WATCH BELOW: NC sheriff says Duke Energy is slowing investigation into power grid attacks) Though it had a successful world premiere at Yale Repertory Theatre in the autumn of 2018, Charise Castro Smiths El huracan has always been a play about and meant for Miami. The moist heat. The yearly threat of hurricanes. The Cuban diaspora, with the ache of losing homeland and family. In a new country, multigenerational affection and tension under the same roof, in English and Spanish. Using a mixture of poetically evocative language, humor, vivid theatricality, magic, magical realism and echoes of William Shakespeares The Tempest, Miami native Castro Smith has constructed a deeply recognizable world in El huracan (The Hurricane). The plays Florida premiere previews Friday, April 14, opens Saturday, April 15 and runs through Sunday, May 14 at GableStage in Coral Gables. Getting El huracan produced in her hometown specifically by GableStage, one of Miami-Dade Countys most celebrated theater companies was always one of Castro Smiths goals. Although she left Miami to earn degrees at Brown University and Yale, and now lives in the Los Angeles area where she focuses on writing for television and film, Castro Smiths personal and family roots here run deep. She went to high school at New World School of the Arts (Oscar winner Tarell Alvin McCraney was a couple of years ahead of her) and was influenced by many productions staged by GableStage producing artistic director Joseph Adler, who passed away in 2020. I always intended to find a home for the play in Miami, says Castro Smith, co-author and co-director of the Oscar-winning animated Disney film Encanto. GableStage was the theater I aspired to when I was growing up. She has, in fact, acted in an ambitious GableStage co-production. In 2013-14, Castro Smith, who trained as an actor before shifting to playwriting, played Octavia and Iras in the McCraney-adapted production of Antony and Cleopatra. Directed by McCraney and set on the eve of the 1791 Haitian slave revolution in Saint-Domingue, the production was a joint effort of GableStage (which presented it at the larger Colony Theatre in Miami Beach), the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-Upon-Avon and New Yorks Public Theater. Story continues That Castro Smiths own play has finally landed at GableStage was the result of long-term regional theater connections. Bari Newport, in her second season as the theaters producing artistic director, was at Californias Pasadena Playhouse when Miami-born Damaso Rodriguez, who is directing El huracan for GableStage, was serving as associate artistic director there. The two stayed in touch as they became regional theater leaders, with Rodriguez co-founding Furious Theatre in Los Angeles and serving as artistic director of Artists Rep in Portland, Oregon, for nine seasons. Hes now an in-demand freelance director and vice president of the Arts Consulting Group. Damaso is the real deal . . .He has a love of new plays and a love of reading plays, and hes also a playwright . . . He would send me plays and playwrights he was discovering, Newport says. Charise made it clear to me that it was extremely important to her that this play be produced by GableStage. She was active in finding additional financial resources. One of those was a contribution from producer-activist-businessman Henry Munoz III (Funny or Die, Funny Girl on Broadway). The larger budget has allowed Newport to hire a magic consultant to teach the cast tricks specified in the script, funded two sets of costumes (one appropriate to 1992, another for 2017), and helped realize the plays many complex technical elements. All in all, Newport feels producing El huracan in GableStages relatively small space has been more like putting up a musical. Of Castro Smiths strengths as a playwright, she says, I love writers who understand the genre theyre writing for, who love theatricality and who lean into what theater does best which is express elements of the human experience through metaphor. Rodriguez had directed a production of Castro Smiths Feathers and Teeth, a wild, bloody and darkly comic contemporary horror play inspired in part by Hamlet, at Artists Rep in 2017. But it was El huracan, which he had read a year earlier, that continued to haunt him. I mentioned it to different artistic directors, but I suggested to Bari that it would really connect with Miami audiences, who would see themselves in it. I sent it to her, and she quickly said, Were doing it next season, Rodriguez recalls. He also loves Castro Smiths writing in the six-actor, nine-character piece that incorporates magical realism, poetic moments and memories some missing or mistaken, others joyful of a matriarch living with Alzheimers disease. Charise is an actor, too. She writes great characters, gives them depth and specificity, the director says. Her work is very ambitious and boldly theatrical, with a sense of fun. She wants theater to be exciting and surprising, with a lot of emotional depth. Castro Smith was inspired to write El huracan, she says, by a number of things: Her Cuban mothers interrupted childhood, the shocking devastation of Hurricane Andrew, her grandmothers Alzheimers diagnosis and a 2009 trip to Havana with her parents to bury her grandfathers ashes in the family plot. The comedy, tragedy and romance of The Tempest, which Castro Smith describes as Shakespeares farewell to being an artist, plus some character names and the banished nobleman Prosperos rough magic figure in too. My mom had a childhood in one place, and then it was fractured in the middle. I didnt visit Cuba until I was 24, when I discovered I had been missing a place Id never been, says the playwright, who was surprised to discover that her grandfathers home in Cuba was a smaller version of the one he subsequently built in Miami. My grandmother was diagnosed around the time I left for college. It took a toll on the family. It was overwhelming, sad, confusing, funny and incredibly tragic. Set in Miami, the first act of El huracan takes place before and during Hurricane Andrew in August 1992. Abuela Valeria (Barbara Bonilla), who was a dazzling young magician in Cuba before the revolution, is now in her 70s and in the advanced stages of Alzheimers. Her daughter Ximena (Adriana Sevan) is worn out from constant caregiving and clashes with her grad student daughter Miranda (Thais Menendez). Valerias husband Alonso (James Puig), her long-ago magicians assistant, has vanished, unable to bear watching his wifes suffering and deterioration. The familys hot neighbor Fernando (Gabriell Salgado) makes an appearance that will have lasting repercussions. Valerias younger sister Alicia and a neurologist (both played by Emma Garcia Seeger) also figure into a plot that intensifies as the massive hurricane approaches. Castro Smiths story then jumps ahead 25 years, with the two parts linked by some in-plain-sight theatrical magic: As assistants help transform them, the long-estranged Ximena and Miranda become the older version of themselves. Valeria and Alonso are present but as memories, no longer of this world. Miranda, absent since Hurricane Andrew, shows up with her now-grown daughter Val (Garcia Seeger), a young woman eager to understand the family she has never met. Theo (Salgado), the son of Ximenas cousin, has followed the path of so many others who left Cuba to forge a new life in Miami. The storm this time is within the family. Letting go of old wounds, reconciling and finding forgiveness figure powerfully into the second part of El huracan. The vivid beauty of Castro Smiths writing shimmers throughout the play, as in this speech by Alonso after Valerias Alzheimers diagnosis: I could never forget you. Not as long as I breathe. If I tried to forget, my bones would remember. If my bones forgot, your scent would live in the tiny channels of my skin. And if my skin forgot, scenes from our life would play out over and over again on the insides of my eyelids, unbidden until the projector in my mind sputtered out and was no more. Puig, a University of Miami graduate whose long career includes productions on and off Broadway, at major regional theaters nationwide and at numerous South Florida theaters (most recently at Miami New Drama and Zoetic Stage), is making his GableStage debut as Alonso. Alonso, Puig feels, is a loving husband and father who makes one critical mistake that ruins the rest of his life. And he sees El huracan as a love story that asks how to forgive the unforgivable. Some plays are entertaining. Some transform you, educate you, inspire you. I dont think you can walk into this one and then walk out the same. It provides a booster of compassion, he says, adding that having Castro Smith in the opening night audience will be like doing Shakespeare for Shakespeare. Salgado, a Miamian, New World School of the Arts grad, and the only other male actor in the cast, has had a succession of significant roles since beginning his professional career a year and a half ago. They include the title character in Zoetic Stages Frankenstein and Puigs son in the Zoetic world premiere of Hannah Benitezs Gringolandia, the Lector in the recent Nilo Cruz-directed Anna in the Tropics for Miami New Drama, the grieving grandson in Amy Herzogs 4000 Miles at Palm Beach Dramaworks, the aspiring Olympian in Red Speedo and a would-be matinee idol in the world premiere of Michael McKeevers The Code, both at The Foundry in Wilton Manors. El huracan marks his GableStage debut, and like Castro Smith, Rodriguez and his fellow actors who have large families in South Florida, hes hoping to fill a lot of seats during the plays run. My mom went to 13 performances of Frankenstein, he says, smiling. In rehearsal, he has shared stories about his grandmother, who has dementia, with his colleagues. She can still carry on a conversation, is still lucid, but Salgado says this is prime time for her and her memories. The actor is also clear about the roles he and Puig play in El huracan. This is not about the men. This is about the women. Its important to be the secondary amplification sometimes, he says. Sevan, who starred opposite her husband Jonathan Nichols in the 2004 Coconut Grove Playhouse production of Cruzs Pulitzer Prize-winning Anna in the Tropics, has dozens of credits at major New York and regional theaters as well as in film and television. Shes also a successful playwright who looks at El huracan through the lens of a performer and a writer. In the Yale world premiere, she won a Connecticut Critics Circle award for playing Valeria (opposite Nichols as Alonso); at GableStage, shell be Ximena. This play grabbed me from the first time I read it. I thought I have to do this play and wondered, Who is this extraordinary writer?, she says. This is about exile, leaving home, the diaspora, trauma. Some have to lock that away. Others have to bring it with them. Im so curious about the cost of exile. What you have to remember and what you have to forget to go forward. Castro Smith, Sevan says, writes with epic reverberations, going back to the Greeks and Shakespeare. Its theater as ritual and catharsis. Having played Valeria and now Ximena (I have walked in Mamis shoes, Sevan says), she believes that capturing stories and memories of a familys oldest members is vital. When an elder dies, a library burns, she says. With gentle urgency, you should get those stories that might have been lost. And when you leave the theater, dont check your missed messages. Make a phone call to your family. ArtburstMiami.com is a nonprofit source of theater, dance, visual arts, music and performing arts news. If you go WHAT: El Huracan by Charise Castro Smith WHERE: GableStage in the Biltmore Hotel, 1200 Anastasia Ave., Coral Gables WHEN: Preview 8 p.m. Friday, April 14, opening 8 p.m. Saturday, April 15; regular performances 2 and 7 p.m. Wednesday, 8 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, 2 p.m. Sunday (additional matinee Saturday, May 13), through Sunday, May 14 (streaming version available during regular performances beginning Friday, April 21 through Sunday, May 14) COST: $45-$75 (streaming ticket $27) INFORMATION: 305-445-1119 or gablestage.org Elon Musk will update a controversial tag that was attached to the BBCs Twitter account. Last week, the main BBC account was given a government-funded media tag by Twitter. It quickly led to objections from many including the BBC itself, who said the organisation is funded by the public rather than the government. Now Mr Musk says that tag will be updated, in line with objections, as part of a wide-ranging interview with the BBC. He said he has the utmost respect for the organisation, adding: We want (the tag) as truthful and accurate as possible were adjusting the label to (the BBC being) publicly funded well try to be accurate. He previously described the BBC as among the least biased news organisations. In a statement released in the wake of the government-funded media designation, the broadcaster said: The BBC is, and always has been, independent. We are funded by the British public through the licence fee. The label links to a page on Twitters help centre which says state-affiliated media are outlets where the government exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution. That label was applied to US broadcaster NPRs Twitter handle, but it has been changed to government-funded media the same as the BBC account. The BBC has always maintained its impartiality and operates through a Royal Charter agreed with government, which says it must be independent. Britons pay a 159 licence fee each year to fund the corporations output, which is set by government but paid by individual households. While the BBC account, which has 2.2 million followers, has been given the label, much larger accounts associated with the corporations breaking news and sport output are not being described in the same way. The account mainly tweets about BBC-produced TV programmes, radio shows, podcasts and other non-news material. Story continues Elsewhere in the wide-ranging interview, Mr Musk said Twitter is roughly breaking even, as most of the sites advertisers have returned. Following his 44 billion dollar (38 billion) takeover of the platform in October, many advertisers paused work with the site over concerns about Mr Musks approach to content and moderation. You can see (the increased advertising) for yourself on Twitter, Mr Musk said. I think almost all of them (who left) have either come back or said they were going to come back. Theres very few exceptions. Depending on how things go, if current trends continue, we could be cash flow positive this quarter if things keep going well. He also revealed legacy blue checkmarks will finally be removed by next week. Mr Musk said last month that legacy-verified Twitter users would see their blue ticks removed from the service on April 1, unless they paid a monthly fee of 8 US dollars (6.40) to its Twitter Blue subscription operation. As a result, thousands of the platforms high-profile users were braced to lose the ticks, which can help verify their identity and distinguish them from imposters. But the legacy blue ticks have remained in place past April 1. Additional reporting by agencies Elon Musk has been branded childish for his response to National Public Radio quitting Twitter after the platform falsely designated the outlet as state-affiliated media. NPR announced it would suspend use of 52 affiliate accounts on Wednesday as Twitter faces increased scrutiny from press freedom advocates and news organisations. NPRs organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent, according to a statement from Isabel Lara, NPRs chief communications officer. We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the publics understanding of our editorial independence, she added. Twitter defines 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. The platform later changed NPRs description to government-funded media. Shortly after the announcement, Mr Musk tweeted: Defund NPR. His reaction was quickly panned by critics who accused the Tesla CEO of acting like a child. Spanish-American chef and activist Jose Andres tweeted: .@elonmusk is like a little child with a new toy. Smart he is. And knows how to make money, he does. But he does a disservice to society and democracy. I wish he will grow up quicker. I can help. If you want to talk? Several other critics pointed to a Los Angeles Times article with the headline: Elon Musks growing empire is fueled by $4.9 billion in government subsidies. .@elonmusk is like a little child with a new toy. Smart he is. And knows how to make money, he does. But he does a disservice to society and democracy. I wish he will grow up quicker. I can help. If you want to talk? https://t.co/C4K4KlmV4l Jose Andres (@chefjoseandres) April 13, 2023 what up dawg can you just remind everyone how much government funding you and your companies have received? just curious lmk when you have a moment pic.twitter.com/iyqqATF9l1 Jules Suzdaltsev (@jules_su) April 12, 2023 NPRs move marked the first major news organisation to step away from the once-influential platform under Mr Musks ownership, a period fraught with mass layoffs, press antagonism, a spike in hate speech and disinformation, and other chaotic policy changes. Story continues The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) followed NPRs lead in announcing it is stepping back from Twitter later on Wednesday. Twitters simplistic label leaves the inaccurate impression that PBS is wholly funded by the federal government, PBS said. NPR says that less than 1 per cent of its annual operating budget comes from grants awarded through federal agencies and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a publicly funded nonprofit organisation with a board appointed by US presidents, and with a statutory obligation to a strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature. On 12 April, NPRs main account posted a thread sharing other ways to find subscribe to its content. We are turning away from Twitter but not from our audiences and communities. There are plenty of ways to stay connected and keep up with NPR's news, music, and cultural content. See full statement below: pic.twitter.com/VPDXy7lWw7 Isabel Lara (@isalara) April 12, 2023 NPRs president and CEO John Lansing said in a statement last week that the company was disturbed to see the state-affiliated label, a description that, per Twitters own guidelines, does not apply to NPR. NPR and our member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide, he said. 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. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also defended the independence of NPR journalists, telling reporters on 5 April that the outlets journalists work diligently to hold public officials accountable and inform the American people. The hard-hitting independent nature of their coverage speaks for itself, she said. Mr Lansing addressed the move in a letter to staff on 12 April. It would be a disservice to the serious work you all do here to continue to share it on a platform that is associating the federal charter for public media with an abandoning of editorial independence or standards, he said. The change to NPRs account comes after Twitter removed the verification badge for The New York Times following reports that the newspaper would not pay for Mr Musks newly rolled out verification scheme. Other major US outlets including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed News, HuffPost and Politico also reportedly do not intend to pay. Twitter announced it would begin removing blue checks from verified accounts that did not pay for Mr Musks Twitter Blue service on 1 April, but it appears that the plan has not been rolled out en masse; The New York Times appeared to be singled out by Mr Musk, who responded to another Twitter user asking about the newspapers badge status by saying well take it off. PBS, which also receives money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the BBC have also been designated as government-funded outlets. In an interview with the BBC, Mr Musk said Twitter would change its labels for the British broadcaster to publicly funded. Were trying to be accurate, he said. I actually do have a lot of respect for the BBC. When pressed whether the accurate publicly funded label would apply to NPR as well, Mr Musk said it would. Until last week, Twitters own policy specifically stated that NPR as well as the BBC are not defined as state-affiliated media. That language was removed. NPR receives public funding, but is not state-controlled, meaning Twitters listing could pose risks for journalists reporting from areas where suggestions of government affiliation have negative connotations, according to a statement from Committee to Protect Journalists director of programs Carlos Martinez de la Serna. Twitter also labelled US broadcaster Voice of America as government-funded media, through the outlet a part of the US Agency for Global Media is statutorily bound to independence from government officials. The label government funded is potentially misleading and could be construed as also government-controlled which VOA is most certainly not, spokesperson Bridget Serchak said in a statement to NPR. Megan Sheets contributed to this report While working in an Indiana hospitals emergency department, a registered nurse stole pain medication meant for patients and replaced the drugs with saline, authorities said. She tampered with anywhere from two to seven vials of medication including fentanyl and morphine during every one of her shifts, then used super glue to reseal the lids, according to an April 12 news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Indiana. Officials estimate the nurse gave 30 to 40 emergency room patients the saline solution while they were in pain, according to the womans plea agreement. The patients had been prescribed pain medications by a doctor in the emergency department. Now the 38-year-old Whitestown woman has been sentenced to three years in prison on one count of tampering with consumer products, records show. Her defense attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on April 13. Authorities said the nurse tampered with the vials from Oct. 1, 2018, to Feb. 18, 2020. Emergency room patients depend on healthcare providers to give them the medicines they need, U.S. Attorney Zachary A. Myers said in the release. This defendant abused her position of trust to steal powerful prescription pain medications and give patients saline instead. If you or a loved one shows signs of substance use disorder, you can seek help by calling the national hotline at 1-800-662-4357 or find treatment using SAMHSA's online locator. Patients in pain given diluted morphine as nurse took the rest for herself, feds say Paramedic on ambulance shift injects himself with fentanyl meant for patients, feds say Nurse fired after stealing fentanyl gets new nursing job, then steals more, feds say The Charlevoix Health Department of Northwest Michigan building stands Monday, March 14, 2022, located at 220 W. Garfield Ave. PETOSKEY Emmet County residents continued to voice their concerns, frustrations and opinions about a resolution that failed to pass at the April 4 Health Department of Northwest Michigan Board of Health meeting. The resolution, proposed by board member Rich Ginop, chairman of the Emmet County Board of Commissioners, sought to place limitations on emergency measures emanating from the health department regarding a pandemic. More: Michigan officials are seeing how far they can push local health departments More: Health board rejects resolution seeking to limit future pandemic responses At the April 4 meeting, the boards own advising attorney informed them that the resolution is not consistent with the public health code and would be invalidated if it was subjected to a legal challenge. The board of health which is comprised of eight members, two each from the health departments jurisdiction of Antrim, Charlevoix, Emmet and Otsego counties failed to pass the resolution in a tie vote. The meeting garnered a strong response from the public, with over 80 people in attendance. Numerous residents spoke during the public comment portion of the meeting, on both sides of the issue, and that public feedback continued into the Emmet County Board of Commissioners meeting on April 10. Six people spoke during the public comment sections about the resolution, with most expressing their frustration over the lack of respect for employees of the health department and wasting resources on a resolution that was not legally sound to begin with. I understand many people are weary and frustrated and angry about the past three years, said resident Tracy Skinner. Weve all been impacted, including the employees at your health department. The employees of the health department have families, we are members of your community. We have children in your schools, we pay taxes and we vote. We work extremely hard during challenging circumstances and are deserving of your respect and your support. Story continues Resident Kirstyn Horan said she was incredibly embarrassed that the failed resolution originated from an Emmet County commissioner. Not only was the resolution a farce but was a strong overreach by a body with no public health education nor background, she said. Resident Debbie Esposito said she was in attendance at the April 4 board of health meeting and was appalled that appropriate legal counsel was not sought beforehand. I was so frustrated. I wrote an email to every single one of you (commissioners) that night, she said. And I, in the future, would really appreciate if you listened and you heard the facts before you held a meeting and got everybody all riled up for nothing. Resident John Swartout spoke in support of Emmet Countys representation on the board of health, saying If the only role of the health board were to rubber stamp whatever the department wants to do, why would there even be such a board? The local health department is the last line of defense when the federal and state governments turn against the people, he claimed. And when that happens the board should hold the line against tyranny. Subscribe: Check out our latest offers and read the local news that matters to you In addition to members of the public, commissioner Matt Koontz read a letter providing background information on past legal issues the board of health has faced, the financial consequences of those actions, and his concerns with how the failed resolution was presented and discussed. I encourage you to take careful, thoughtful, and measured steps that serve to unite, rather than divide our communities, actions that demonstrate to staff that they are valued and respected, and that lead to efficient government and excellent services, Koontz read. This is no time to come out with guns blazing, shooting first and asking questions later. Resolutions that have no material effect are inefficient, wasteful, and divisive. Please refrain from introducing any more of them. The next Emmet County Board of Commissioners meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on April 20. Contact Jillian Fellows at jfellows@petoskeynews.com. This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: Emmet County residents continue to voice concerns over failed board of health resolution Foo Fighters at the Taylor Hawkins Tribute Show in London Foo Fighters have announced another six headline shows. The band have added Spokane, WA; Salt Lake City, UT; Lake Tahoe, NV; Virginia Beach, CA; Phoenix, AZ and El Paso, TX to a run of shows that begins in May and currently ends in October, a total of 25 shows on a schedule that criss-crosses The US and also visits Germany, Japan and Brazil. Full dates below (additions in bold). Support at the six new shows will come from The Breeders. Tickets are on pre-sale now, with a general sale beginning on Friday at 10am local time. Last week it was announced that Foo Fighters would headline the opening night of The Atlantis, a 450-capacity club in Washington, DC, on May 30. The venue is a near-replica of the original 9:30 Club, which operated in the city from 1980 to 1996, and holds a special place in Grohl's heart. "That was our church," he said in 2021. "Thats where we all played first. Thats where REM played first. Thats where the Chili Peppers played first. Thats where Nirvana played first." Tickets to the show were allocated via lottery. Foo Fighters are yet to confirm who'll fill the drum stool left vacant by the death of Taylor Hawkins in March last year. "Without Taylor, we never would have become the band that we were," they said in a statement in December. "And without Taylor, we know that were going to be a different band going forward." Foo Fighters 2023 Tour Dates May 24: Gilford Bank of New Hampshire Pavilion, NH May 26: Boston Calling Music Festival, MA May 28: Columbus Sonic Temple Arts & Music Festival, OH May 30: Washington The Atlantis, DC Jun 02: Nurburgring Rock Am Ring, Germany Jun 04: Nurburg Rock Im Park, Germany Jun 14: Rogers Walmart AMP, AR Jun 16: Pelham Oak Mountain Amphithea, AL Jun 18: Manchester Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, TN Jul 08: Quebec City Festival Dete De Quebec, QC Jul 12: Ottowa Bluesfest, ON, Canada Jul 15: Milwaukee Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival, WI Jul 29: Naeba Fuji Rock, Japan Aug 04: Spokane Arena, WA| Aug 08: Salt Lake City USANA Amphitheatre, UT Aug 10: Stateline Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena at Harveys, NV Aug 12: San Francisco Outside Lands Festival, CA Sep 03: Aspen Jazz Aspen Snowmnass, CO Sep 09: Sao Paulo The Town, Brazil Sep 17: Asbury Park Sea.Hear.Now, NJ Sep 19: Virginia Beach Veterans United Home Loans Amphitheater, CA Sep 21: Louisville Louder Than Life, KY Oct 01: Dana Point Ohana Festival, CA Oct 03: Phoenix Talking Stick Resort Amphitheater, AZ Oct 05: El Paso Don Haskins CenterV, TX Tickets are on sale now. Photo of Pascagoula, Mississippi oil refinery The EPA approved Chevrons plans for its petroleum refinery in Pascagoula, Mississippi to start producing plastic-based fuelsdespite significant estimated cancer risk to the surrounding community and workers. We need climate action. But just because something gets grouped under the umbrella of things that theoretically combat climate change doesnt mean its actually good for the planet or people. In an alarming example, production of certain alternative climate-friendly fuels could lead to dangerous, cancer-causing emissions. A Chevron scheme to make new plastic-based fuels, approved by the Environmental Protection Agency, could carry a 1-in-4 lifetime cancer risk for residents near the companys refinery in Pascagoula, Mississippi. A February joint report from ProPublica and the Guardian brought the problem to light. Now, a community group is fighting back against the plan, suing the EPA for approving it in the first place, as first reported by ProPublica and the Guardian in a follow-up report on Tuesday. Read more Cherokee Concerned Citizens, an organization that represents a ~130 home subdivision less than two miles away from Chevrons Pascagoula refinery, filed its suit to the Washington D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals on April 7. The petition demands that the court review and re-visit the EPAs rubber stamp of the Chevron proposal. Screenshot of Google Maps Cherokee Concerned Citizens represents residents of a neighborhood less than 2 miles away from Chevrons Pascagoula refinery. U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley also sent a letter to EPA administrator, Michael Regan, last week decrying his agencys decision and requesting more information by April 30. Citing the February ProPublica and Guardian report, Merkley wrote that he found the EPA/Chevron approval especially troubling, I am concerned...that the EPAs program...is resulting in significant increased toxic chemical exposure to frontline communities, he added. Story continues Cherokee Concerned Citizens represents a community already beset by the consequences of industrial pollution. An earlier 2021 ProPublica investigation deemed parts of Pascagoula, Mississippi a cancer hotspot because of the toxins released from Chevrons refinery and other nearby facilities including a Rolls Royce factory that manufactures equipment for the U.S. Navy and a chemical plant. One resident, and a co-founder of Cherokee Concerned Citizens, Barbara Weckesser, told ProPublica and The Guardian that five of her neighbors are currently in chemotherapy treatment. When she first read the news about Chevrons plan, Weckesser told the outlets she was shocked by the numbers. But in other ways, not so shocked. Here we go again, she thought. What did the EPA Approve and Why? Last year, the EPA greenlit Chevrons plan to emit some unnamed, truly gnarly, cancer-causing chemicals at a refinery in Pascagoula. The approval fell under an effort described as fast tracking the review of climate-friendly new chemicals. Chevron proposed turning plastics into novel fuels, and the EPA hopped on board, in accordance with a Biden Administration policy to prioritize developing replacements for standard fossil fuels. By opting to streamline the review of certain alternative fuels, the agency wrote it could help displace current, higher greenhouse gas emitting transportation fuels, in a January 2022 press release. But also, through that streamlining, the EPA appears to have pushed aside some major concerns. In the same document where the agency authorizes Chevron to produce the list of new compounds, the EPA also notes the manufacture, processing, distribution in commerce, use, or disposal of these New Chemical Substances may present an unreasonable risk of injury to health or the environment. Specifically, the agency determined that smokestack emissions from one chemical, dubbed P-21-0158, could carry a 1-in-4 lifetime cancer risk for people living nearby. In other words: One out of every four residents living near the Chevron refinery, exposed to P-21-0158's byproducts in the air would be expected to develop cancer. That 1-in-4 risk is about 250,000 times higher than the 1-in-1 million acceptable cancer risk threshold that the EPA generally applies when considering harm to the public. Another chemical listed in the approval document as P-21-0150 carries a lifetime cancer risk estimate of 1-in-8,333 for those exposed to fugitive air emissions also far above the EPAs acceptable risk threshold. The agency further notes certain chemicals included in Chevrons plans could potentially pose an increased cancer risk through groundwater or via fish ingestion. The EPA classified 11 of the total compounds discussed as a high environmental hazard. For individual workers exposed to these chemicals more directly during production, at least one compound carries an estimated cancer risk of 1-in-140greater than 70x the agencys acceptable occupational risk threshold of 1-in-10,000. For some reason though, despite its own internal risk cut-offs and federal regulation surrounding new chemical approvals, the EPA allowed Chevron to move forward without any further testing or a clear mitigation plan in place. Its hard to say, specifically, what these EPA-approved compounds are because in the single relevant agency document obtained by ProPublica and the Guardian, chemical names are blacked out. However, the substances in question are all plastic-based fuels, as outlined in another, related document. Though obtuse, their approval seems to stem from a recently renewed national program to promote biofuel development, through a loophole that allows for fuels derived from waste. Actual biofuels, derived from plants or organic matter, can be environmentally problematic and controversial in their own right. But plastics-based fuels are a whole separate beast. For one, theyre not actually climate-friendly considering plastic is still a petroleum product derived from fossil fuels. And two: Burning plastic and its derivatives still releases greenhouse gases. Nonetheless, the Biden Administrations push for more biofuels and re-upped Renewable Fuel Standard makes wide allowances for any fuel source that comes from trashapparently regardless of the possible fallout. What do Chevron and the EPA say? Gizmodo reached out to the EPA and Chevron for more information, but didnt receive responses by publication time. To ProPublica and The Guardian, Chevron spokesperson Ross Allen said, It is incorrect to say there is a 1-in-4 cancer risk from smokestack emissions, but offered little in the way of alternative interpretations back in February. An EPA spokesperson told the outlets in February that the 1-in-4 risk was a very conservative estimate with high uncertainty. More recently, Chevron has released an entire FAQ page dedicated to assuaging Pascagoula locals concerns. The site notes that the 1-in-4 cancer risk is based on EPAs initial risk screening, and claims that such an assessment doesnt doesnt reflect how it would actually be done. We will not do anything that is unsafe for our workers or our neighboring communities. We will ensure it can be done safely or not at all, Chevron says on that page. But those statement dont exactly square with the companys track record. Chevrons Pascagoula Refinery has failed to comply with EPA-imposed emissions limits and violated safety regulations in the past. In 2018, Chevron had to pay millions of dollars in penalties and spend about $150 million on fixes following a Department of Justice settlement related to alleged Clean Air Act violations in Mississippi. The recently approved chemicals arent covered by the Clean Air Act, which only applies to a short list of pollutants. But still, Cherokee Concerned Citizens has made it clear people living near the refinery dont want to breathe them in. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. U.S. urged to explain leaked military documents to int'l community Xinhua) 08:11, April 13, 2023 Photo taken on Feb 19, 2020 shows the Pentagon seen from an airplane over Washington DC, the United States. [Photo/Xinhua] BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- China urges the U.S. side to give an explanation to the international community for the leaked U.S. military documents, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said Wednesday. According to U.S. media reports, some suspected classified Pentagon documents have been circulating on social media recently. These leaked documents indicate that the U.S. government is deeply involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and has been spying on its allies. This is not the first time for scandals like this to be revealed. In response to a related query, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing that China noted that many media outlets have pointed out that these leaked U.S. military documents clearly show the deep involvement of the United States in the Ukraine crisis. "They also show once again that the United States has long used its tech edge to conduct indiscriminate secret theft, surveillance and eavesdropping on countries in the world, including its allies. The United States needs to give an explanation to the international community for this," Wang said. Wang noted that the top U.S. diplomat said at the so-called "Summit for Democracy" that the United States is working with partners to ensure that technology is developed and used in ways that reflect what they call "democratic values and interests." "Facts have proven once again that the so-called 'democratic values' claimed by the United States are nothing but a pretext and a tool for the United States to seek selfish gains," he said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A new twist has developed in a 2015 cold case that links an escort service to a pregnant mom found burned beyond recognition in a Florida cemetery, according to the Putnam County Sheriffs Office. The man suspected of killing 22-year-old Shaquierra Elaine Pinckney has been identified, and he was already behind bars. Lorzenzo Benjamin Hudson, 42, was set to be released in December, after serving five years for a slew of burglary and grand theft charges, the sheriffs office said in an April 11 news release. Not any more, though. Hudson was indicted April 10 on charges that include: capital felony murder, capital felony murder of an unborn child, second-degree felony abuse of a dead body and third-degree felony tampering with physical evidence, officials said. When she was discovered by mortuary workers preparing to dig a grave at Gethsemane Baptist Church cemetery, Pinckneys body was burned beyond recognition and detectives were unable to establish an identification, the sheriffs office said. During an autopsy, the medical examiner discovered Pinckney was about four months pregnant. Distinct tattoos eventually linked the body to a missing persons case in Daytona Beach, officials said. Pinckney, a mother of two young children, had gone missing after leaving her parents home on Aug. 30, 2015, investigators says. Her burned body was found four days later, on Sept. 3, officials said. Pinckney was known to access and place photos and advertisements on an escort section of a then-popular adult website, the sheriffs office said. It is believed Hudson also utilized the website to solicit sex and that is how the pair met. The Putnam County Sheriffs Office has not released specifics on how Hudson was tied to the body. He is also believed to be the person who abandoned Pinckneys car in St. Johns County, officials said. Hudson was a suspect pretty early on, but with developments in technology we were able to without a doubt link him, Public Information Officer Allison Waters-Merritt told McClatchy News. Story continues Unfortunately that is part of the case that will have to play out in court as its part of the state attorneys investigation and why they brought this case to a grand jury. At the end of the day, its not enough for us to just make an arrest, we want a conviction. Putnam County Sheriff H.D. Gator DeLoach called the case complicated, due to the multiple jurisdictions. We had a missing person in Daytona Beach, then we discovered Ms. Pinckneys remains in a remote cemetery here in Putnam, then her vehicle was found in St. Johns County, he said in the release. Despite attempts by the suspect to confuse detectives, we were determined to find justice for Ms. Pinckney, her unborn child and her family. The case went cold, but I am so proud of the work done by not only our detectives, but the state attorneys office in securing an indictment. We never gave up. Mystery surrounds brutal death of Florida assisted living center executive, cops say An unidentified body, a burned home and a missing car create mystery for Florida cops Man accused of killing friend on fishing trip is caught at church, Florida cops say The EU Council approved the allocation of 1 billion in order to compensate the money that the EU member states spend on the projectiles they supply Ukraine with. Source: European Pravda with reference to the press service of the EU council On Thursday, 13 April, the EU Council approved the allocation within the framework of the European Peace Fund (EPF) in order to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. This step will allow the EU to compensate spending on ammunition for the EU member states that have supplied Ukraine with projectiles from their own stockpiles, or as a result of changing the order schedule for their defence sectors within the period from 9 February to 31 May 2023. Todays decision corresponds to the first part of the treaty of the EU Council signed on 20 March 2023 about the three-vector approach, aimed at the acceleration of projectile supplies and joint procurement of artillery shells. "With todays decision we put into effect the first part of the historic agreement, reached by the EU leaders, concerning the support of immediate supply of 1 billion worth of artillery shells for the Armed Forces of Ukraine," announced Josep Borrell, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. "There is no better demonstration of the decisiveness of the EU and its pursuit to continue supporting Ukraines lawful right for self-defence against the brutal Russian aggression," he added. Combined with previous seven tranches in support of Ukraine, todays decision raises the total EU contribution in support of Ukraine within the framework of the EPF to the sum of 4.6 billion. Background: On 20 March, the EU Council agreed on the plan of supplying Ukraine with 1 million artillery shells within 12 months. The plan consists of three stages. During the first stage, the EU member states will supply Kyiv with projectiles from their stockpiles and will then receive compensation from the EPF 1 billion in total will be allocated for this matter. At the second stage, the same sum of money will be allocated to finance the contracts with artillery shells manufacturers so that the EU member states could expand their own capacities of their production. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The European Union has added Wagner private military company and the Russian media organisation FAN, linked to Kremlin oligarch Yevgeny Prigozhin, to the sanctions list. Source: Official Journal of the European Union As stated in the EUs decision, the Wagner Group spearheaded the attacks against the Ukrainian towns of Soledar and Bakhmut in January 2023 and is actively participating in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. Quote: "The Wagner Group is therefore responsible for supporting materially actions which undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine." RIA FAN is part of the Patriot Media Group, a Russian media organisation whose Board of Trustees is headed by Yevgeniy Prigozhin. As stated, RIA FAN is involved in pro-government propaganda and disinformation on Russias war of aggression against Ukraine. RIA FAN refers to the ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine as a mission to stop "Ukrainian Nazis" and promotes actions undertaken by the Wagner Group. "RIA FAN is therefore supporting materially actions and policies which undermine and threaten the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine," the EU states. Background: In October 2020, the European Union introduced sanctions against Yevgeny Prigozhin in connection with his financing of the activities of Wagner private military company in Libya. In April 2022, new sanctions against Prigozhin were introduced because of the aggressive war in Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! By Foo Yun Chee BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A proposed data transfer pact with the United States to replace two previous agreements struck down by Europe's top court does not contain sufficient safeguards to protect Europeans' data, a key committee of EU lawmakers said on Thursday. The comments from the European Parliament's civil liberties committee came two months after the European Union data protection watchdog EDPB expressed concerns about the draft data transfer deal. The worries contrasted with the European Commission, which in a draft decision in December said that U.S. safeguards against American intelligence activities were strong enough to address EU data privacy concerns. "We are not convinced that this new framework sufficiently protects personal data of our citizens, and therefore we doubt it will survive the test of the CJEU (EU Court of Justice)," committee member Juan Fernando Lopez Aguilar said in a statement. "The Commission must continue working to address the concerns raised by the European Data Protection Board and the Civil Liberties Committee even if that means reopening the negotiations with the US," he said. Lawmakers said the proposed pact still allowed for bulk collection of personal data in certain cases, did not make bulk data collection subject to independent prior authorisation, and did not contain clear rules on data retention. They said the decisions of a review board to which EU citizens could seek redress would be secret and thus would prevent Europeans from accessing them. The data transfer agreement affects thousands of companies that transfer Europeans' personal data across the Atlantic for commercial use such as financial services, human resources and e-commerce. Parliament will vote on the committee's resolution in the coming weeks. The assembly and EU countries will offer non-binding opinions after which the Commission will make its final decision on the data transfer pact. (Reporting by Foo Yun Chee; Editing by Mark Potter) Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said he was "deeply shocked" by the video, in which Russian soldiers decapitated a Ukrainian prisoner of war. Source: Borrell on Twitter Quote: "Deeply shocked by the brutal video of decapitation of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. It is a despicable breach of the Geneva Conventions. All perpetrators and accomplices of war crimes must be held to account. We will stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes!" Background: On 11 April, a video showing the brutal murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war appeared online. The video shows a Russian soldier using a knife to decapitate the Ukrainian serviceman, who was still alive at the time. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) has launched a pre-trial investigation into the brutal murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. Vasyl Maliuk, Head of the SSU, stressed that the security forces would find the monsters who did it. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on world leaders to respond to the video, in which Russian occupiers decapitate a Ukrainian prisoner of war. The Wagner Group private military company (PMC) was involved in the murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, whose head was cut off while he was still alive, said Vladimir Osechkin, founder of the Russian human rights organisation Gulagu.net. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Eva Mendes and Ryan Gosling at "The Place Beyond The Pines" premiere in Toronto Canada, on September 7, 2012. Sonia Recchia/Getty Images Eva Mendes said that she doesn't plan to join partner Ryan Gosling on the red carpet for "Barbie." She told a fan that as a couple they don't want to expose "our very private life that we value." Mendes and Gosling are known for being extremely private about their relationship and family. Eva Mendes said that she doesn't plan to join her longtime partner Ryan Gosling on red carpets during the upcoming "Barbie" press tour. Mendes and Gosling began dating in 2011, around the time they were filming the movie "The Place Beyond the Pines" together. However, since then, they've maintained an extremely private relationship and have rarely made public appearances together as a couple. While Mendes has referred to Gosling as her husband, neither party has confirmed they are married. Last week, Mendes shared a clip on Instagram from "The Place Beyond the Pines," and discussed her relationship with Gosling, prompting a fan to inquire whether she'd be on the promotional trail with him. "Magic is Real," she captioned the post, which showed her acting alongside Gosling. "We did not meet on set. The magic started way before but here's a little magic captured on camera. Gracias to the increible director Derek Cianfrance." When a fan commented on the post sharing their excitement about the couple appearing together on the red carpet for "Barbie," Mendes politely shut the idea down. "You're the best! What a cool comment, thank you," the "2 Fast 2 Furious" star replied. "But we don't do those things together. Like these photos I've been posting, Im only comfortable posting because it's already out there." Ryan Gosling as Ken and Margot Robbie as Barbie in "Barbie." Courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures Mendes added in another comment: "Oh wait -for those who may catch me in a 'lie' -we only were on the red carpet together once when promoting this film." After another fan asked why Mendes was not "comfortable" attending carpets with her partner, she replied: "ayy thank you! By 'not comfortable' , I mean exposing our very private life that we value. I'm still dying to do another movie with him though" Story continues The private actors have made two movies together, including Gosling's directorial debut, "Lost River," in which Mendes starred. After 2014, Mendes took a break from acting to raise their two daughters, who were born in 2014 and 2016. In 2020, Mendes said on Nova 96.9's "Fitzy & Wippa" that she would begin to balance acting with parenting now that her kids were "getting a bit older." "I don't want to do anything violent. I don't want to do something risque. I think the only thing that's left is Disney," she said. Mendes made a comeback a year later, voicing a character in an episode of "Bluey." Read the original article on Insider KYIV, Ukraine - Ihors comrades were eager to show us something special. A cone, the remnants of a Russian X-101 missile that didnt make it to its final destination. The 23-year-old clean-shaven specialist grinned slightly, on his shoulder a soviet era Man-portable air-defense system (MANPAD). Ihor is the 1st Presidential Brigade MANPAD specialist. After months of training, he was called in December for his first combat mission around Kyiv. When alerts sounded, indicating that a Russian missile or drone was inbound, his squad rushed into position. When he spotted the missile in flight, Ihor fired the first shot he would ever fire in combat. There was a loud sizzle of a round leaving the MANPAD, followed by cheers from his fellow guardians of the sky. "At first, I didn't understand anything, then I realized that this is my first rocket hit, and I was very happy." He told us through an interpreter. Ukrainian air defense members watch the skies to defend against Russian missile and drone attacks. INSIDE THE MASSIVE OPERATION TO TRAIN THOUSANDS OF UKRAINE TROOPS AHEAD OF SPRING COUNTEROFFENSIVE That X-101 is a personal trophy to him, but it also serves as a reminder to the squad of how important every little shot can be to preventing destruction of infrastructure, to protecting civilian lives. The Brigade has operated since 2014 when bitterness between Russian and Ukrainian loyalists boiled over to a civil conflict in the Donbas region. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Since the beginning of Russias full scale invasion, theyve operated around Kyiv, taking part in the defense of city in the early days of the battles of Irpin, Bucha and Moschun. Under the command of the National Guard of Ukraine, they are on shift at all times, ready to jump into action as soon as the air raid sirens sound. They use a mix of Soviet and Western-provided technology, including Javelins, Stingers and MLAWS. Mykhailo, is a gunner for the brigade. Originally from Luhansk, he has been a guardsman since 2014 and operates the ZU-23 barreled auto-cannon, a soviet era anti-air gun. The big gun is jury-rigged on the back of a flatbed truck. Mobility is an absolute necessity when they try to intercept the path of inbound warheads that can come from any direction. Story continues "Currently, this weapon is effective for shooting down shaheeds, kamikaze drones. UAV kamikaze Shaheeds." But there are limits, he told us. The old weapon will not be effective against helicopters or other Russian aircraft that dont fly close enough to be in range of the old Soviet gun. "These are outdated weapons, and we need something more modern and more technological" A member of the Ukrainian force dedicated to defending the country's skies from Russian attacks. WAIT IN LINE: RUSSIAN FOREIGN MINISTER LEFT WAITING FOR VISA TO ENTER US AHEAD OF UN MEETING To call the weapons "outdated" may only be scratching the surface. The ZU-23 he operates was made in the 1960s, and the MANPAD that Ihor uses is almost three times his age. Leaked documents earlier this week from the Pentagon indicated that in late February, the Ukrainian air defense systems were set to begin running out by Mid-May. Ukraine relies heavily on these Soviet-era guns in their arsenal, and without them Russia would have an advantage on Ukrainian frontline positions and civilian targets "The number of means that arrived from the West is not sufficient, and the number of rockets is certainly not sufficient. That is why we emphasize today that we need the missiles and air defense systems themselves, in order to replace the Soviet-made air defense systems," Said Col Yuriy Ignat, a spokesperson with the Ukraine Air Command "After all, [if] these systems are destroyed and fail, we do not have spare parts, because all this equipment is produced in Russia, just like missiles. Therefore, the only way out for us is the transition to NATO standards and weapons samples." The U.S. has, since the end of February, seemed to recognize this weakness. The Biden administration last week authorized $2.6 billion in military assistance, which included air-defense munitions and systems such as National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile Systems (NASAMS), three air surveillance radars and 30mm and 23mm anti-aircraft ammunition. Ukrainian troops have also completed training on the PATRIOT Missile Battery earlier this year. A member of Ukraine's 1st Presidential Brigade looking to the sky. But Ukraine has still not received any indication as to whether it will be provided with the prized goal of Western combat aircraft like the F-16, which would be a significant upgrade over their Mig-29 fighters. One Ukrainian combat pilot who spoke with Fox News with the call sign "Moon Fish" says the Mig-29s are just a stopgap. "We are running low on the spare parts, on the armament, on the missiles. And overall, yes, it is a great boost. It is a great possibility to fill the gaps filled with fuel, fill up, from the losses. Together with that, It does not provide us with any sort of new capabilities that we desire." Despite old equipment, the 1st Presidential Brigade does not lack a sense of purpose. They know when the attack is launched, the mobile air defense volunteers are all that stands between a deadly inbound warhead and the people of Ukraine. "It all depends on the gunner," says Mikhailo. Bohdan Glushko contributed to this report. Barro's Pizza opened a new location in Casa Grande on Tuesday. Barro's Pizza opens second location in Casa Grande The family-owned restaurant chain that has served its family's pizza recipe for over 42 years is opening a new location in Casa Grande its fourth restaurant in southern Arizona. Why expand in Casa Grande? The owner, Bruce Barro, highlighted Casa Grande's thriving community in a recent news release. "We opened our first restaurant there in 2012 and our customers have been so loyal and supportive, so it was certainly time to open a second location," he said. Where is the pizzeria located? The new location is at 839 N. Promenade Parkway in the building that used to house Mimi's Cafe. The 6,000 square-foot restaurant is the largest Barro's Pizza with the "comfortable and causal neighborhood feel" it is known for, the release stated. The ultimate Epicenter dining guide: A look at every restaurant at Agritopia in Gilbert When is the restaurant open? The restaurant is open Sunday through Thursday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 11 p.m. Lunch specials are available from 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily. What is on the menu? The new location will serve the same menu as other locations with not only pizza but also chicken wings, pasta, salads and subs, as well as beer and wine. Mike Barro carries on the family tradition at Barro's Pizza. He stops by the store in Glendale on Nov. 15, 2019. To be missed: Longtime Phoenix Chinese restaurant closes after more than 2 decades How did Barro's Pizza begin? The Barro family, originally from Italy, opened their first Barro family restaurant in Chicago in 1961, expanding to California in 1968. They opened their first Arizona location in Mesa in 1980, over the years expanding to 48 locations in Arizona and Texas, owned by the four Barro siblings. Where else can I find Barro's Pizza in Arizona? Southern Arizona has four Barros Pizza locations with two in Casa Grande, one in Marana and one in Tucson. The other Arizona locations are centered around Phoenix, including Apache Junction, Maricopa, Mesa, Sun-Tan Valley, Glendale, Goodyear, and more. Renowned: This pizza restaurant is putting Arizona on the map thanks to a world-class Italian dish This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Barro's Pizza opens new location in Casa Grande Drake Bell. Jeff Kravitz/2019 iHeartMedia via Getty Images Drake Bell, the former star of Nickelodeon's "Drake & Josh," was reported missing but later found. Florida's Daytona Beach Police Department told Insider that police were in contact with Bell. "Mr. Bell is safe," a spokeswoman for the police department told Insider in an update. Drake Bell, the former star of the Nickelodeon show "Drake & Josh," was reported missing and feared to be in danger, but was later found "safe," Florida police said on Thursday. The Daytona Beach Police Department had said in a Facebook post on Thursday morning that the 36-year-old whose legal name is Jared Drake Bell "is considered missing and endangered." Police said Bell "should be traveling in a 2022 grey BMW" and that his last known location was "potentially" around the area of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida, just before 9 p.m. on Wednesday. Daytona Beach Police Department spokeswoman Carrie McCallister told Insider on Thursday afternoon: "At this time we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe." A lawyer for Bell declined to comment when reached by Insider earlier Thursday. In 2021, the actor and musician pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. The charges stemmed from a 2017 incident relating to a 15-year-old girl who attended one of Bell's concerts in Cleveland, Ohio. Bell was ultimately sentenced to two years probation in the case. The actor rose to fame with his role in "Drake & Josh," opposite Josh Peck and Miranda Cosgrove. The sitcom aired on Nickelodeon from 2004 to 2007 and ran for four seasons. In addition to his work on "Drake & Josh," Bell also appeared on "The Amanda Show," and had numerous cameos in other Nickelodeon shows, including "iCarly." He later played Timmy Turner in three live-action "Fairly OddParents" movies. Read the original article on Insider By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday blocked, for now, lower court orders that would have imposed new restrictions on the abortion pill mifepristone while a lawsuit by anti-abortion groups and doctors seeking to ban it proceeds. But the legal fight over the drug is far from over. Here is what you need to know about the case as it further unfolds: WHAT IS MEDICATION ABORTION? Medication abortion is a two-drug regimen consisting of mifepristone followed by misoprostol used to terminate a pregnancy within the first 10 weeks. It accounts for more than half of U.S. abortions. Two companies sell mifepristone for medication abortion in the United States: Danco Laboratories, which sells the brand-name version Mifeprex, and GenBioPro Inc, which sells a generic version. WHAT IS THE LEGAL DISPUTE ABOUT? Anti-abortion medical associations led by the Texas-based Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine sued the U.S. Food and Drug Administration last year in federal court in Amarillo, Texas, claiming the agency approved mifepristone for abortion in 2000 using an unlawful process and did not adequately consider the drug's safety. They asked U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who is presiding over the lawsuit, to revoke the drug's approval, effectively pulling it off the market. The FDA, along with mainstream U.S. medical associations, strongly disputes the claims. Danco intervened in the case to defend its drug. HOW DID THE CASE GET TO THE SUPREME COURT? Kacsmaryk on April 7 issued a temporary order, known as a preliminary injunction, suspending the drug's approval while the lawsuit proceeds. The injunction was not a final ruling, but Kacsmaryk found that the anti-abortion plaintiffs were likely to win on the merits. The Biden administration and Danco appealed the injunction to the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, and asked for an emergency stay order blocking it from taking effect until the appeal is heard and decided. Story continues The 5th Circuit last week granted a limited stay, allowing the pill to stay on the market but with significant restrictions, including a requirement that it be dispensed by a doctor in person and a limit on its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, down from 10. The ruling also withdrew approval for the generic sold by GenBioPro. The Biden administration and Danco immediately asked the Supreme Court to overrule the 5th Circuit and impose an emergency stay. WHAT DID THE SUPREME COURT DO? The Supreme Court granted the request and put all of Kacsmaryk's injunction on hold until after the 5th Circuit decides the Biden administration's and Danco's appeal, and the Supreme Court itself considers any appeal from the 5th Circuit's decision. That means that both brand-name and generic mifepristone will remain available with no new restrictions until those appeals play out, which could take months or even longer. The Supreme Court did not rule on the merits of the case, meaning that mifepristone could still be restricted or banned at a later stage in the case. WHAT ABOUT THE RULING FROM WASHINGTON STATE? Minutes after Kacsmaryk's order on April 7, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice in Spokane, Washington, issued a preliminary injunction barring the FDA from placing any new restrictions on mifepristone. That ruling applies only in 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia, which had argued the government should loosen special safety restrictions around the pill. The injunction was not at issue before the Supreme Court, and remains in effect. It would be in direct conflict with any future ruling restricting mifepristone, which would likely need to be resolved in another round of appeal. ARE THERE ANY OTHER LAWSUITS OVER MIFEPRISTONE'S APPROVAL? Yes. GenBioPro on Wednesday sued the FDA in federal court in Baltimore, seeking an order barring the agency from pulling the drug off the market without going through a formal process that gives the company a chance to be heard. GenBioPro argues that the FDA cannot simply suspend approval without such a process, "regardless of external attempts to interfere." If successful, the lawsuit would set up another potential conflict with any future order restricting mifepristone. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit will hear arguments in the appeal on May 17 and decide whether to uphold some or all of Kacsmaryk's injunction, potentially banning or restricting mifepristone again. After that court rules, the losing side could petition for rehearing from all judges of the 5th Circuit, known as en banc rehearing, and also petition the Supreme Court a second time. WHEN WILL THE CASE BE FINALLY DECIDED? Once all appeals over the preliminary injunction are over, the case can proceed to trial on the merits before Kacsmaryk, giving both sides a chance to present evidence. That could include evidence about the process the FDA used leading to mifepristone's approval and about the drug's safety record. Kacsmaryk could then decide the case without trial, known as summary judgment, or hold a trial including witness testimony. A final judgment from Kacsmaryk could be months or even years away. Once it does come, the losing side will again have the chance to appeal to the 5th Circuit and, eventually, the Supreme Court. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot and Leslie Adler) An explosion occurred in the centre of the temporarily occupied city of Melitopol on the morning of 13 April. The occupiers later claimed that they had allegedly shot down a Ukrainian drone. Source: Ivan Fedorov, legitimate mayor of Melitopol, on Telegram; collaborator Volodymyr Rohov; occupying administration on Telegram Quote from Fedorov: "It's noisy in Melitopol! A loud explosion was heard in the city centre. We are waiting for details of who is smoking inappropriately [earlier Russian propaganda claimed that explosions in the occupied settlements or inside Russia were due to violation of the safety rules, in particular, due to cigarette butts being disposed of in an inappropriate place instead of admitting successful Ukrainian attacks, and since then it has become a meme ed.] or how the enemy air defence is malfunctioning." Details: Collaborator Rohov also reported a "loud, extensive explosion" in the city around 11:44, Kyiv time. Some time later, he claimed that the cause of the explosion was allegedly an air defence operation that had reportedly shot down a drone. At the same time, the Russian proxy "administration" of Melitopol reported that the "Kyiv regime" had allegedly attacked the city with several UAVs. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Reuters) - France's Constitutional Council is due to deliver its verdict on Friday on a deeply unpopular bill which will delay retirement by two years to 64, and on plans for a referendum to challenge it. Here is why this matters and what could happen: VERDICT ON THE PENSION BILL * The Council can strike down the bill altogether if it considers it breaches the Constitution. Opposition parties have asked it to do so, for choosing to tack the pension reform onto a social security budget bill, setting a tight deadline on debates and then bypassing a final vote in parliament. This would be a stinging defeat for President Emmanuel Macron and a surprise win for unions and protesters. Macron would have the option of starting from scratch with a new bill or moving on. However, constitutional experts - and government sources - say the Council is unlikely to block the overall reform, which it has rarely done in the past. * If the Council sees nothing wrong, the government could enact the legislation in the coming days, which officials hope would progressively put an end to protests. * Alternatively, and more likely constitutional experts and government sources say, is that the Council approves the raising of the legal retirement age, but strikes down some measures designed to boost employment for older workers on the grounds that they do not belong in a social security budget bill. REFERENDUM Even if the Constitutional Council gives its green light - with or without caveats - this may not be the end of the road. Opposition Parliament members want to organise a so-called citizens' referendum on capping the retirement age at 62. To do so, they would need to jump through hoops that have so far prevented one from being organised in France since the concept was introduced in 2015. The first step - having enough backing from members of Parliament - is already met. The second is getting the Council's green light. But then, the next condition is getting a tenth of registered voters to sign a petition calling for the plebiscite. Story continues That is a tall order, and must be achieved within nine months. Some unions have asked the government not to publish the law before that deadline has lapsed. If the threshold is met, the Senate and Assembly have six months to examine the proposal to cap the retirement age to 62. If Parliament does not respond, the president must submit it to referendum. (Reporting by Elizabeth Pineau in Paris and Ingrid Melander; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Aurora Ellis) AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The Dutch parliament building was evacuated for a short while on Thursday afternoon after a bomb alert that turned out to be false. Local police said an explosives team had investigated a package at the building in downtown The Hague and had subsequently allowed people to re-enter, about an hour after they had been ordered to leave. Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders said a fake bomb addressed to him had been the cause of the evacuation. "A package with a teddy bear and wires addressed to me was delivered to the mail room of parliament", Wilders said in a post on Twitter. "Luckily without explosives and not dangerous, but certainly no fun." Wilders, whose far-right Freedom Party has become the Netherlands' second-largest, has been living under tight security measures for years due to death threats. (Reporting by Bart Meijer Editing by Jon Boyle and Mark Potter) Crystal Cruises relaunches this summer and just announced a 2024 around-the-world cruise, which will sail for up to 141 nights. Nigel Deayton/Courtesy of Crystal Cruises The luxury cruise line Crystal, which relaunches this summer, just announced a new world cruise that will criss-cross the globe in 2024. The 141-night itinerary will depart Miami on January 18, 2024, sail through the Panama Canal, then cross the Pacific to French Polynesia, Australia, and New Zealand. It continues through the Indian Ocean before visiting ports in the Eastern Mediterranean. The trip proceeds to Italy then France and crosses the Atlantic to conclude in Miami. Guests also have the option of starting and ending the trip in San Diego. In all, the journey will visit 70 ports in 35 countries, with custom excursions along the way organized by Abercrombie & Kent, a spokesperson for Crystal tells Travel + Leisure exclusively. The partnership is no coincidence: Crystal has been owned by A&K Travel Group since 2022, when A&K revived the storied cruise brand by acquiring Crystal Serenity and Crystal Symphony, twin ships that were, for many years, favorites among T+L readers. Ian Schemper/Courtesy of Crystal Cruises Ian Schjemper/Courtesy of Crystal Cruises Guests on the nearly five-month journey will also enjoy gala dinners and special events, coordinated by Fernando Barroso de Oliveira, a legendary cruise director whos worked on luxury ships for decades and joins Crystal as the company's world cruise ambassador. We are still working out the final details, says Barroso de Oliveira, in an email to T+L. But its the shoreside events that have me most excited. Courtesy of Crystal Cruises The destinations will be another draw, he notes. The itinerary covers a very eclectic group of ports from Israel and Turkey to Greece, Italy, Spain, and France, Barroso de Oliveira says. There are very few harbor entrances that can match the Bosphorus Strait and Istanbul, a city where the old cliche east meets west was invented. The mosques and palaces right by the old port are stunning. The trip will also take guests to Egypt, for a swing through Luxors Valley of Kings, and stop in India, where there will be an opportunity to see the Taj Mahal in Agra. Story continues It will be the first world cruise with the new ownership, Barroso de Oliveira notes, but we will have most of the same crew that made Crystal an award-winning cruise line for many years. A great mixture of talents, and Im so looking forward to it. Amanda Julca/Courtesy of Crystal Cruises Courtesy of Crystal Cruises Guests on the sail will travel aboard the Crystal Serenity, one of two Crystal ships thats gotten an overhaul since going out of service during the pandemic. A rep for the line says Crystal has upgraded the Serenitys suites, improved the onboard spa, revamped the gym, and even added a pickleball court. Amanda Julca/Courtesy of Crystal Cruises The ship is also home to a previously announced Nobu restaurant, which will be one of only two at sea. The other, of course, is aboard the Crystal Symphony. Rates for the 2024 world cruise will start at $68,800 per person. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. The families of Lauren Smith-Fields and Brenda Lee Rawls are still reeling from the sudden deaths of their loved ones, who died on the same day in the same Connecticut neighborhood in Dec. 2021. Now, they want answers and to hold law enforcement accountable for how they handled the investigations. Smith-Fields family recalled detective Kevin Cronin, who works for the Bridgeport Police Department, being rude and dismissive in their conversation with him regarding her death. He was horrible. He told us to stop calling his phone, that the guy [Smith-Fields went on a date with] that night was a good guy, leave it alone, just to stop calling his phone, just talking disrespectful. It was crazy, Smith-Fields brother, Lakeem Jetter, told Inside Edition Digital. Blavity reported that 23-year-old Smith-Fields was found unconscious inside her apartment on December 12, 2021, and died days later. She reportedly went on a date with an unknown older white man she met on the dating app Bumble. When the two returned to the young womans apartment, he notified the police of Smith-Fields condition and was free to leave. However, the police never followed up with the man or viewed him as a suspect. Instead, they told the family he was a nice guy and found no foul play. From my review of the records, he called 911, Roderick Porter, the new Bridgeport Chief of Police, told Inside Edition Digital. Cronins records indicated the same, he said. That he arrived on the scene and he investigated, as theyre supposed to do when they respond to a scene like that. According to the autopsy report, Smith-Fields cause of death was ruled accidental. She had several drugs in her system, including fentanyl, per the outlet. On the same day as Smith-Fields death, Brenda Lee Rawls, 53, was found dead after visiting a neighbor she previously dated. At the time, her sister, Dorothy Rawls Washington, said Rawls had gone to the mans home on Dec. 11, Blavity reported. When her family hadnt heard from her in several days, they went to the mans house, only to discover Rawls had died two days before. Story continues This is 53yo Brenda Rawls she died on the same day as Lauren smith- fields in Bridgeport Connecticut her cause of death has not yet been determined but Brenda told her family she was going out with a man she met online. 2days went by that they didnt hear from her pic.twitter.com/js2LS0bOcb (@LADDY__BEE) January 31, 2022 The medical examiner ruled her cause of death was natural causes, specifically related to heart disease and diabetes, Inside Edition Digital reported. However, Rawls family was also unhappy with how Bridgeport Police investigated her death. The case was never about if she had illness or not, Washington told Inside Edition Digital. The case is specifically about the fact how they treated my sister like a Jane Doe in death, how they violated her civil rights, how they violated the familys civil rights without even notifying us. She continued, And we want to know what happened that night, who came to get her, what police officer was there. Was she taken by an ambulance or what? Why didnt they question the guy that was there? Why wasnt there tape around? You find somebody dead in your bed in the morning. Who did he call? What about the 911 tapes? Both families share a common goal in their loved ones cases: to hold law enforcement accountable in their investigations and demand justice for their deaths. Darnell Crosland, an attorney representing both families, told Insider Edition Digital that police officers have body cams, and they tap the body cams as they walk in. That has not been released. Crosland and the families said police never followed up with the two men who last saw Smith-Fields and Rawls alive. They didnt go to the gentlemans house that she was found at. They didnt try to trace anything to see if theres anything nefarious that happened. They just wrote it off like an accident, Washington said. The families received good news in the spring of 2022 when local lawmakers passed a bill requiring police to notify the victims family within 24 hours of their death, per Blavity. While the families continue fighting for their loved ones, they believe authorities would have handled their cases differently if they were white women. I would say sadly, in many respects, sometimes that is true. Sometimes its perception. Sometimes it is reality. But not just Black women, but Black people in general, Porter told Insider Edition Digital. But thats a sad commentary on where we are, but I can say thats something that I would not tolerate, something that I dont condone, something that we are really trying to make sure it doesnt occur again. The family of a man who died in the Sacramento County Main Jail has sued the county claiming insufficient medical care resulted in the death just three months after he arrived there. Timothy Noble, 34, died in July 2021, after deputies found him unconscious in bed in his cell in the downtown jail. Nobles mother Bonnie Hersey and wife Keyona Anderson Noble last week filed the lawsuit in Sacramento Superior Court, claiming wrongful death, civil rights violations, and medical malpractice. The lawsuit names the county, its Sheriffs office, its health department, and five county employees and contractors as defendants. The Sheriffs Office declined to comment because it does not comment on pending litigation, spokesman Sgt. Amar Gandhi said. Spokespeople for the county and its health department did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. When Noble was booked into the jail on July 21, 2021, county nurses noted Noble had recently been in a hospital emergency room from cellulitis, a serious skin infection, and that he had used heroin in the last 24 hours, the lawsuit alleged. He had a high blood pressure of 144/99. He was placed in regular housing, and the next day he received a detox evaluation, where he tested positive for opiates, the lawsuit alleges. They prescribed him medication for diarrhea, nausea and high blood pressure. A deputy found Noble unresponsive in his bunk bed at 4:54 a.m. on July 24, and performed CPR, the lawsuit states. He was declared dead at 5:25 a.m. at the jail, the death report states. The cause of death was dilated cardiomyopathy, with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease listed as a significant condition, according to the coroner report. The manner of death was determined to be natural. (The nurses) showed deliberate indifference, or at the very least gross negligence, to Nobles serious medical condition, the lawsuit states. (They) were all aware of his cellulitis and prior heroin use. Yet despite the outward manifestations of physical symptoms, employees ... failed to diagnose and treat, and further delayed treatment and failed to follow up with Noble based on his medical history. Noble was born and raised in Sacramento, his sister told The Sacramento Bee at the time. He worked at AutoZone and as a meat cutter at Sams Club, and loved his nephews, she said. Nanuq the Australian Shepherd returned home on Friday in Gambell/ Mandy Iworrigan A dog named Nanuq has become a local hero after traveling 150 miles on the frozen Bering Sea. The one-year-old Australian Shepard showed up in Wales, Alaska, after going missing for nearly a month. Mandy Iworrigan, Nanuq's owner, told Insider she knew deep down he was alive and surviving in the wilderness. A dog that went missing in Alaska last month arrived home safely after making a 150-mile trek on the frozen Bering Sea. Nanuq, a one-year-old Australian Shepherd, appeared in the town of Wales, Alaska, in early April, wearing a collar and tag. But residents of the small community in Wales were confused: no one could figure out who the dog's owner was. "Lol we don't know who's dog this is, we've never seen it here in Wales before," wrote a resident on a Facebook discussion group for locals, seen by Insider. They posted photos of Nanuq, who appeared healthy and friendly. About 166 miles away on St. Lawrence Island, Mandy Iworrigan received word that her daughter's missing dog had shown up on the end of the Bering Strait. "My dad texted me and he said, 'there's a dog that looks like Nanuq in Wales','" Iworrigan told Insider. "And I was like, "No freaking way, that's our dog!" Nanuq trekked some 150 miles from St Lawrence Island to Wales, Alaska. Screenshot/Google Maps It turned out that Nanuq, whose name means "polar bear" in Siberian Yupik, had gone missing together with Starlight, another of the family's dogs, Iworrigan said. Their dogs often go out on their own into the tundra, but typically return after a week or two, said Iworrigan. But when Nanuq and Starlight went missing for longer than usual, Iworrigan's family got concerned and searched around town for their pets. Then Starlight showed up in Savoonga, a town 37 miles from Gambell but still on St. Lawrence Island, around two and a half weeks after vanishing, Iworrigan said. Nanuq, however, apparently took an additional week to walk across Bering Sea ice and arrive in Wales. Story continues Iworrigan isn't sure how Nanuq survived the long winter trek to Wales, but surmised he might have caught animals in the area. "I was just amazed he made it all the way out there," she said. "He's a survivor." She used airline points to get the pup a spot on a regional charter plane last week, after the dog had stayed with some local friends in Wales for a few days. A video posted by Iworrigan on Friday showed her daughter reuniting with Nanuq after the plane landed. The family later posted photos of Nanuq in their home, declaring he was in good health. Iworrigan noticed several bite marks on Nanuq's leg, but said she wasn't sure if they were caused by a wolverine, seal, or small polar bear, she told Insider. "He had a bite mark on his leg, and it was really swollen right there," she said. On Wednesday, Iworrigan posted on Facebook that Nanuq was receiving the medication he needs. Nanuq's and Starlight's journeys have made them mini-celebrities in Alaska, where people on social media joked about the hardiness of Alaskan-raised dogs. When asked if she ever feared the worst about Nanuq and Starlight, Iworrigan said she always believed they'd come back. "I just knew, you know, in my heart that they were alive. Dogs are smart," she said. Read the original article on Insider The father of Madeline Kingsburys children said he "has nothing to do with Maddi's disappearance," in a lengthy written statement through his lawyer. This is the first time Adam Fravel has publicly said anything since Kingsbury went missing on March 31 after they dropped their children off at day care around 8 a.m. He was the last person to see Kingsbury alive, and he told Winona, Minnesota, police that he was with Kingsbury until about 10 a.m., left to run errands and "returned later that day, and Maddie was not home," the police chief said. "Over the course of the last 12 days my family and I have been subject to a myriad of accusations regarding the disappearance of the mother of my children," Fravel said through his lawyer. "I did not have anything to do with Maddis disappearance." MISSING MINNESOTA MOTHER MADELINE KINGSBURY'S FAMILY FEARED FOUL PLAY WHEN SHE DISAPPEARED AFTER DAY CARE DROP-OFF Minnesota mother Madeline Kingsbury, 26, was last seen dropping her children off at day care around 8 a.m. on March 31. COOPERATING WITH POLICE AND BEGGING FOR MADELINE'S SAFE RETURN READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Fravel said in his statement that he's been cooperating with the police investigation "at every turn," which "includes sitting down for multiple interviews with Winona County law enforcement." "I want the mother of my 5-year-old and 2-year-old to be found and brought home safely," said Fravel, whose social media includes several photos embracing his children. "I want that more than anything." SEARCH FOR MADELINE KINGSBURY DRAWS THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS: WE ARE NOT GIVING UP' Over the last 12 days since Kingsbury vanished, social media and the community have pointed the finger at Fravel and his family, even though police haven't publicly named a suspect or even acknowledged that there is a suspect. Law enforcement and Kingsbury's family have described Madeline's disappearance as "involuntary" and "suspicious" in multiple interviews with Fox News Digital and in press releases, but they haven't provided any other details. Story continues Providing details "would jeopardize our ability" to find the missing 26-year-old mother of two and "if warranted, hold accountable the person or persons responsible," Winona police said in its most recent statement on Wednesday. "We remain extremely concerned for her safety," said Winona police, noting that more than 100 law enforcement and public safety personnel searched "targeted areas" on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. FAMILY OF MISSING MINNESOTA WOMAN OFFERS $50K REWARD IN SUSPICIOUS DISAPPEARANCE "I want Maddi home and for her to be able to be with our two children," Fravel said in his statement. FRAVEL ON WHY HE DIDN'T ATTEND THE APRIL 5 POLICE PRESS CONFERENCE Adam Fravel, the father of missing Minnesota woman Madeline Kingsbury's children, said he's innocent in a statement 12 days after her disappearance. Speculation and suspicions around Fravel intensified after he was a no-show during Winona police's April 5 press conference and wasn't among the thousands of volunteers who searched for Kingsbury on Friday and Saturday. About a dozen family members and friends wearing their custom-made sweatshirts with her picture, description and tipline surrounded law enforcement as the police chief addressed the public and spoke to reporters. Fravel was absent. WATCH PRESS CONFERENCE "Law enforcement advised me on April 2nd [Sunday] that they would not recommend that I attend the press conferences or that I assist in the searches due to safety concerns," Fravel said in his statement. "However, my non-attendance and silence has been inferred by many as a sign of apathy, or worse. That could not be further from the truth." He ended his written statement with, "God Bless the Kingsbury family and please bring her home safely." LATEST UPDATE - WARRANTS BEING DRAFTED Megan Kingsbury, Madeline's sister, told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview at the time that she and her family had one goal: Bring Madeline home. That hasn't changed, and it's no different from law enforcement's goal. Minnesota mother Madeline Kingsbury, 26, was last seen dropping her children off at day care around 8 a.m. on March 31. On Wednesday, police said they drafted and served "numerous" search warrants based off information received via tips or through investigative discovery. Kingsbury's van, which she was seen driving the day she went missing, has been impounded and is being processed for evidence, according to police. NURSE REBECCA BLIEFNICK SHOT DEAD; COPS SEARCH ESTRANGED HUSBAND'S HOUSE "Throughout the investigation, we have worked closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to identify and process any available forensic evidence," Winona police said. "We are following up on leads and paths of inquiry trying to get answers." Police haven't responded to Fox News Digital's request for more information about the search warrants, and police declined to comment on Fox News Digital's questions during a brief phone call Tuesday. "We understand just how much the community wants answers, and we are asking everyone to be patient as the investigative process unfolds," Winona police said. "We remain confident we will find Maddie and bring her home to her family." SCHOOL SUICIDE: MOTHER OF 11-YEAR-OLD DISCOVERS OMINOUS CELLPHONE RECORDING FRAVEL AND KINGSBURY'S RELATIONSHIP Fravel and Kingsbury have two children ages 2 and 5 but it's unclear if they're still together. Fravel's lawyer told Fox News Digital in an email that they're boyfriend and girlfriend with two kids in common, but there are reports that they were planning to split up or were already in the process of separating. Minnesota mother Madeline Kingsbury, 26, was last seen dropping her children off at day care around 8 a.m. on March 31. Megan hasn't discussed her sister's current relationship status to protect the integrity of the case and the search. SEND TIPS - PRESERVE ALL VIDEO RECORDINGS FROM MARCH 31 AND APRIL 1 Police said tips from the public have been integral to the investigation. People can call 1-800-222-TIPS or go to crimestoppersmn.org/. Police have also asked everyone in the area to check their security cameras and walk their properties. Even if you don't see anything, police asked everyone to preserve all footage from March 31 and April 1. Alexei Moskalyov, 54, looks out through the window of his flat after he was placed under house arrest in Russia, on March 23, 2023. Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images A Russian man was charged for "discrediting" the army after his daughter drew anti-war art at school. Shortly before his sentencing last month, Alexei Moskalyov fled house arrest and disappeared. Moskalyov was arrested in neighboring Belarus, and will be extradited back to Russia, AP reported. A Russian man, who was arrested after his daughter drew anti-war pictures at school, was tracked down to Belarus after he turned on his cellphone and will be extradited back to Moscow, the Associated Press reported. "Alexei Moskalyov was extradited from Belarus to Russia," his lawyer in Belarus said, according to AP. Moskalyov, who is from the city of Yefremov in Russia's Tula region, was arrested in December after his 13-year-old daughter refused to participate in a patriotic class at her school and made art featuring the words "no to war" and "glory to Ukraine." The single father, 54, was vocal about his anti-war views on social media, calling the Russian regime "terrorists." Shortly after, he was convicted of "discrediting" the Russian military, handed a two-year prison term, and placed on house arrest. Meanwhile, his daughter was sent to an orphanage. But hours before a court was meant to hand down the two-year sentence, Moskalyov unexpectedly fled house arrest and went off the grid. A few days later, he was detained in Minsk, Belarus, most likely because he turned on his cellphone, giving away his location, his lawyer said at the time. The case drew international outrage and was criticized by Russian human rights groups. Moskalyov's daughter was never charged and has since been picked up from the orphanage by her mother, the Kremlin children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, said earlier this month. Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year, the Kremlin has been cracking down on anyone who criticizes the war. Under Russian law, using the words "war" and "invasion" can land someone in prison for up to 15 years or pay a fine of 30,000 to 50,000 rubles ($400 - $650). Read the original article on Business Insider Elected and community leaders called for tighter gun laws across Kentucky at a vigil in downtown Louisville, less than a mile from where a gunman killed five people on Monday. Dr. Muhammad Babar, a doctor at University of Louisville Health, said hes accustomed to consoling family members of patients who have died under his care. But I am having a tough time finding words to console the victims, the survivors and the loved ones of this senseless act of violence, Babar said to a crowd of a hundreds packed in the Muhammed Ali Center Plaza early Wednesday evening. Like you all, Im really fatigued and frustrated with this nonstop vicious cycle of deadly shootings in our nation, Babar shouted. Today, I just want to plead (with) you all and the elected leaders of our great nation, that it does not matter if you are Republican or Democrat . . . I know we all want our children to be safe in their schools. I know we all want our loved ones to return home in the evening for supper. So, when we share the same aspirations and hopes, then why can we not agree on finding solutions to curb this endless cycle of violence? Shouting into the microphone to the crowd, many of whom had risen to their feet to cheer and yell in support, Babar begged policy makers, please, just do something. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg, who called on state lawmakers earlier in the week to allow the states largest city more autonomy to regulate guns and curb its epidemic of gun violence, focused his message at the vigil on the victims of Mondays mass shooting. Its important that we take time to acknowledge those losses and what they mean for us as people and as a community. We have to do that so that later we can gather our energies and focus on preventing these tragedies, Greenberg said. There will be a time to act, to take steps in honor of those weve lost and to channel our grief and pain into meaningful action. That day is coming; today is to mourn. Story continues Gov. Andy Beshear, whose close friend, Thomas Elliott, was among those killed on Monday, said at the vigil, I believe in a loving God that one day will explain to me how this could happen. While I am not angry, I am empty, and I am sad, Beshear said. I just keep thinking that maybe Ill wake up. I just wish Id taken an extra moment to tell him how much I cared about him. I know we are all feeling the same. When you go home from here, Beshear urged, hug your families, call your friends, tell them how much you care about them. Because one thing I know we can do is live for the fallen. We can live better for them. But for many attendees, the vigils most provocative moments came from the speakers who called for lawmakers to act on gun safety. As we come together, as a city and as a country that has had enough of senseless gun violence, may we all commit ourselves . . . to take meaningful and necessary steps to ban assault weapons that were created only for battlefields, Rabbi Beth Jacowitz-Chottiner told the applauding crowd. Officers with the Louisville Metro Police Department participate in a moment of silence during a vigil for the victims of Mondays shooting at the Old National Bank in Louisville, Ky., Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP Photo/Timothy D. Easley) Why havent we done more? A 25-year-old employee of Old National Bank killed five colleagues Monday morning, shooting them dead with a recently purchased, legal AR-15, before a Louisville Metro Police officer killed the gunman on scene. Eight other people were injured, and two including a rookie police officer remain hospitalized. State Sen. Gerald Neal, a Louisville Democrat whose district includes the bank, told the crowd he shuts his eyes and asks himself, Why havent we done more? The truth is the events are foreseeable, he said. As painful and shocking as the news was Monday morning, tragically, it wasnt out of the ordinary, and the lesson I gleaned, the perspective I find, is that it is time for all of us to do more. Yes, we must pray. Yes, we must reflect. But yes, we must act. Jean Murphy-Jacob, a mental health therapist, clapped for Sen. Neal as he called on the state to act. Every time (gun violence) happens, I feel like it should be the last straw to make some common sense laws, she said before the vigil started. But it just doesnt seem to be, and I dont know what its going to take. Murphy-Jacob said she came to the vigil to show her physical support, not just for the community, but for coming up with some sort of solutions that are going to make sense. Sitting in front of Murphy-Jacob, Shannon Endres wiped her eyes. Its hard. Youre tired of nothing changing, she said after the vigil concluded and people began to scatter. Endres husband, Scott, was with her. They had been to events like this before, even heard some of the same speakers, including Rabbi Jacowitz-Chottiner and Dr. Babar. I appreciated this, and it needed to be done, he said. But to be truthful, I sat here and got more angry and more angry. Because Ive heard these speeches before. They always get the crowd going until the next time, when they have to come in and do it all over again. Shannon chimed in, What does it take for people to decide this isnt working? We need to work together Cathy Mekus, state chapter leader for Moms Demand Action, said ending gun violence has long been the organizations work. Mekus, along with a couple dozen Moms Demand Action volunteers, attended the vigil, clad in their matching bright red shirts. Mondays shooting made the mission that much urgent. My heart fell into the pit of my stomach, Mekus said of learning about the Monday shooting. I wanted to cry and weep and then I wanted to rage and yell at the same time because its happened again. And again. And again. Mekus said shes stood on the stairs of Old National Bank on Main Street the same stairs covered in shattered glass as seen in bodycam footage of the shooting many times as shes watched her husband and daughter cross the finish line of races theyve run. Really, whether its someone here, whether its children in Nashville, whether its someone Ive never met before its a scourge. Its a problem that we need to work together to address. At least one Kentucky lawmaker is ready to take immediate action on common-sense gun reforms. Speaking after the vigil, State Rep. Daniel Grossberg, D-Louisville, said he is calling on his legislative colleagues of both political parties to show their willingness to come together for a special legislative session. In Kentucky, only the governor can call a special session and it must focus on a specific subject. Both chambers of the General Assembly have Republican supermajorities and have, in recent years, been more inclined to loosen gun laws than restrict them. Among the reforms Grossberg would like to tackle: red flag laws, universal background checks, mandatory safety training, trigger locks and ending the auction of guns used in crimes. Grossberg pointed to the example set by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, who is asking lawmakers to pass a red flag law in the wake of the Covenant School shooting that killed six people, including three children. I know that its possible here in Kentucky, Grossberg said, and I welcome anyone and everyone to join in that call. Bravemansgame was much-fancied at Aintree after finishing as runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup (Getty Images) A much-fancied horse has been forced to withdraw from a prestigious race at the Grand National meeting after a last-minute court order blocked him from competing. Bravemansgame was due to run in the Aintree Bowl Chase on Thursday, and looked set to be favourite after finishing as runner-up in the Cheltenham Gold Cup last month until a court order from the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) changed things. The British Horseracing Authority (BHA) ordered that the Paul Nicholls-trained chaser should be removed from the Grade One race in light of new information from the FCA surrounding the eight-year-olds ownership change. Bravemansgame had been jointly owned by John Dance and Bryan Drew but earlier this week, he was switched into sole ownership of Drew after the financial regulator ordered the immediate closure of Vertem Asset Management - a business run by Dance. The BHA initially approved the change in ownership and cleared the gelding to race in the Aintree Bowl Chase but changed tack after further correspondence from the FCA. A BHA statement read: In light of new information, including a court order, provided to the BHA on Wednesday 12 April by the Financial Conduct Authority, Bravemansgame is no longer able to take part in the race and has been withdrawn. The BHA will continue to liaise with the FCA and other affected parties. Dance founded Vertem Asset Management, a prominent sponsor within racing, but that firm is one of three trading names of WealthTek LLP, which was last week ordered to cease trading by the Financial Conduct Authority due to serious regulatory and operational issues coming to light. Members of law enforcement assemble near the home of a Massachusetts Air National Guard member who is suspected of leaking highly classified military documents. Steven Senne / AP A 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard has been arrested on suspicion of leaking a trove of classified documents to his friends on Discord, some of which were later posted on other corners of the internet. Federal agents arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira at his home in North Dighton, Massachusetts, on Thursday, the FBI confirmed in a statement to BuzzFeed News. "The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence," the agency said. Attorney General Merrick Garland said at a brief news conference that Teixeira was arrested as part of "an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information." Ann Stefanek, an Air Force spokesperson, told BuzzFeed News that Teixeira is a cyber transport systems journeyman which means he was tasked with maintaining communication systems stationed at the Otis Air National Guard Base in Cape Cod. He entered the Air National Guard on Sept. 26, 2019, Stefanek said. Video captured by news outlets shows Teixeira in a green T-shirt and red shorts, surrounded by uniformed federal agents as he sits in the back of a law enforcement vehicle with his hands behind his back. BREAKING: New video shows federal agents arresting Jack Teixeira, in connection with leaking sensitive U.S. documents online, a law enforcement official tells @ABC News. https://t.co/UgDBGMvqHf 06:43 PM - 13 Apr 2023 Teixeira is allegedly behind a massive leak of classified national defense material that exposed US surveillance on foreign allies and top secret information on the UkraineRussia war. He allegedly shared those documents with people in a private Discord channel called "Thug Shaker Central" over several months, the Washington Post reported. According to the Post, who spoke to two members of the group, including a teenager under 18, Teixeira whom the teen called "OG" was the leader of the group and shared those documents with them to "keep us in the loop," the teen said. Story continues Members of that Discord group shared an interest in God, guns, and military gear, the Post reported. They bonded online during the pandemic, exchanging racist memes, watching movies together, and learning about secret documents on the Ukraine war and US foreign policy from Teixeira, according to the Post. The group comprised 20 to 30 people from the US and abroad, most of them young men and teenage boys, the New York Times reported. Teixeira's identity was first revealed by the Times, who went to his house in Massachusetts on Thursday and spoke to his mom. Some of these top secret documents were later shared on other online platforms beginning in early April, and the Times reported on them on April 8. The investigative journalism group Bellingcat then traced the source of the documents to the "Thug Shaker Central" Discord group. Teixeira will make an initial appearance at the US District Court in Massachusetts on Thursday. This developing story has been updated. The Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman on Thursday in connection with a massive leak of Pentagon intelligence, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira, 21, whom Garland described as an employee of the United States Air Force National Guard, was arrested without incident afternoon, Garland told reporters Thursday. He will have an initial appearance at the U.S. district court for the District of Massachusetts, Garland added, though he did not give a date or time. The New York Times first reported on Thursday that Teixeira is assigned to the 102nd Intelligence Wing. Teixeira is a cyber transport systems journeyman, a sort of information technology specialist, according to service details released by the Air Force on Thursday, based at Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. He has served in the Air National Guard since September 2019 and earned the Air Force Achievement Medal. The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Teixeira was stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, at the time of the leaks, which occurred earlier this year but were first acknowledged by the Pentagon on April 7. Prior to Garlands announcement, Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, declined to confirm Teixeiras identity, including whether he was in a federal status and thus within the Defense Departments chain of command at any point during this year. Asked how such a junior service member would have access to high-level documents, including intelligence on the war in Ukraine, Ryder said that even very young troops are given security clearances in some cases. US, Ukraine say many war secrets safe from intel leaks We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age, he said. So you receive training and you will receive an understanding of the rules and requirements that come along with those responsibilities. Story continues That training includes social media conduct and operational security policies, which Ryder said the leaker certainly knew when those documents were photographed and uploaded to a Discord server called Thug Shaker Central. This was a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines, he said. In the wake of the leaks discovery, the Pentagon has tamped down on access to such classified information. We continue to review a variety of factors as it relates to safeguarding classified materials, Ryder said. This includes examining and updating distribution lists, assessing how and where intelligence products are shared, and a variety of other steps. Defense Department leadership sent a memo to the force Wednesday reminding troops of their responsibilities in handling classified information. The one-page memo, signed by Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks and obtained by Military Times, is addressed to senior Pentagon leadership, combatant command heads and defense agency and DOD field activity directors. Pentagon press officials confirmed the memos authenticity, and multiple servicemembers told Military Times they had received it in their inboxes this week. The Senate Armed Services Committee chairman called for the leaker to be punished. Leaking this trove of classified information endangered our military and intelligence professionals and undermined the security of our allies and partners, Sen. Jack Reed, D-RI, said in a statement Thursday. Anyone with a security clearance who betrays their country by purposefully mishandling classified documents or disclosing classified materials must be held accountable. Teixeira was known as OG and the de facto leader of the Discord server, a group of about two dozen young men and teenage boys which was focused on a their mutual love of guns, military gear and God, a member of the channel told The Washington Post, where they swapped racist memes and watched movies. Members said he posted hundreds of messages on a regular basis, sometimes transcribing classified documents and posting them to the server, under the handle jackthedripper. 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, the Post reported. Discord told the outlet that they are cooperating with law enforcement. Geoff Ziezulewicz contributed to this report. the oath of office of Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration to Dr. Jane Henney Vice President Gore administers the oath of office of Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration to Dr. Jane Henney during a ceremony in the Old Executive Office Building in Washington Tuesday Dec. 15, 1998. Henney's husband Bob holds the Bible at center. Credit - Doug Mills/AP When former U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner Dr. Jane Henney approved the abortion pill mifepristone in 2000, she knew the decision was an important one for womens health. It would also become incredibly contentious. Henney, now 76, finds herself still defending that approval more than two decades later in 2023. She talked to TIME on Apr. 12 about the unprecedented legal decision to strip mifepristone of its FDA approval, and what it means for the future of the agency she once led. (This interview has been condensed and edited for clarity.) TIME: You were the first female commissioner of the FDA, from 1998 to 2001. And the first commissioner to have a drug approval suspended. A lot of firsts; Im not sure how that looks on a resume. How important was mifepristone to you when it came up for approval, given how it could impact womens reproductive health? I knew it was important. It came in as a first-in-class drug, so if approved would be the only anti-abortion drug on the market. Because it was the first drug of its kind to induce abortion, were there any special procedures the FDA followed during its review? I knew it was important that we do this review in a pristine and thorough way and in a way that we could all stand confidently behind. I told the reviewers as they were going about their work, You do this in a normal fashion, thoroughly and completely, and when you arrive at your conclusionwhether its an approval recommendation or a non-approval recommendation, or whether you need more information to make your recommendationyoull have my support. The review process followed to the letter the normal way we reviewed new drugs. Story continues Read More: What the New Abortion Pill Restrictions Meanand What Comes Next I still feel the decision around approval was correct. And I am proud of it in that way. We did not let the political climate or political issues around abortion influence what the agency did. What was the political climate like at the time the drug was up for approval, and how does it compare to the highly contentious nature of abortion discussions today? At that point, Roe v. Wade had been seen as lawful for nearly 30 years. It wasnt like there wasnt still tension around the issue of abortionbut we werent dealing with a climate where abortion was lawful in some [states] but not in others. In that sense, the situation has changed. Issues like abortion are so politically charged that a drug affecting termination of pregnancy will inevitably get caught up in that conflict. Was there pressure from parties with conflicting political interests who supported and opposed the drug? Some call it political pressure, other people call it political interest, and its probably more heightened with a drug like mifepristone. These decisions the FDA is making affect real people, which is why the agency takes its role so seriously, and why it brings the best minds to the table with all kinds of expertise, from clinical to scientific to manufacturing and quality concerns. Read More: What Happens Next in the Fight Over Abortion Pills But they dont use political measures in coming to their conclusions. They really have been entrusted, and expected, by statutory [power] to make such decisions. They hold that with great prideand I think they shouldthe fact that they have been and are the gold standard for this drug approval process. How concerning is the fact that a judge can overturn a drug approval by the FDA? Congress clearly signaled and has given FDA authority in this area because it has felt confident that the agency employs the kinds of scientific and disciplinary expertise to make many, many decisions around the approval of any drug in its review process. It both undermines the authority of the FDA if this decision stands, and makes it possible that this could happen to any other drug. Read More: How the Abortion Pill Ruling Could Limit the FDAs Authority But it also goes a bit to the heart of the authority given and expected of the FDA in terms of its final decision-making authority with respect to drugs. Is it open to question? Then we would have an environment in which anything could be questioned. That would be terrifically disruptive to the marketplace and to the kind of confidence people can have in the products they take. Does the judges ruling to suspend approval of mifepristone undermine the FDAs authority? That is, in my view, one of more dangerous elements of this whole discussion right now. It can call into question all of this approval process. The direct conversations now are about mifepristone, but the bigger conversation is really about the credibility and authorityand the expectation by the public, through their legislature, that FDA will do the job its required to do. If you were leading the FDA now, how would you respond to this ruling, and how would you try to affirm the agencys authority over drug approval? It is a very hard question. I think everybody I know who has sat in the commissioners role, be it during a Republican or Democratic administration, was there because they are trying to do the best job they can for public health. But they have to do that within the constraints of the law. Sometimes your personal feelings come into conflict with some of those things, but you must do what youre expected to do within the constraints of the law. How this is going play outI think we are all waiting to see. Its a very tough hot seat to be in right now. Pro-mifepristone truck Chris Coduto/Getty Images for UltraViolet A three-judge panel of the conservative U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled late Wednesday that the abortion medication mifepristone will remain on the market while the Justice Department appeals a decision by a federal judge in Texas that would have withdrawn FDA approval for the drug entirely. The FDA gave mifepristone the green light in 2000, and the appellate judges agreed that the six-year statute of limitations prevented overturning the original authorization. But in the 2-1 decision, the panel said the easing of restrictions the FDA and Biden administration have enacted since 2016 will remain blocked under U.S District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's sweeping ruling. That means mifepristone can only be prescribed by a doctor, must be used only up to seven weeks of pregnancy instead of 10, entails three in-person doctors' visits, and cannot be dispensed through the mail, among other limits. The two judges in the majority, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, were, like Kacsmaryk, nominated by former President Donald Trump. Judge Catharina Haynes, a George W. Bush appointee, would have put Kacsmaryk's entire ruling on hold. "Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years, and complications from mifepristone occur at a lower rate than problems in wisdom teeth removal, colonoscopies, and other routine procedures," The Associated Press reports, citing major medical organizations. The combination of mifepristone and misoprostol is the most common method of abortion in the U.S., and has become more widely used since the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade last summer. The Justice Department has asked a federal judge in Washington State to explain how his dueling ruling, barring the FDA from changing its rules on mifepristone in 17 states and Washington, D.C., fits in with Kacsmaryk's ruling. The Biden administration and the anti-abortion group that persuaded Kacsmaryk to overrule the FDA can both appeal to the Supreme Court, one to strike down the entire ruling and the other to uphold all of it. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said early Thursday that the Biden administration will "continue to fight in the courts. We believe that the law is on our side and we will prevail." Story continues You may also like Trump's tale about Manhattan court workers crying and apologizing at his arraignment isn't true, source says Federal appellate panel blocks part of expansive abortion pill ban, allows some restrictions to take effect What to expect during the potential 'super El Nino' A federal judge in East St. Louis on Wednesday heard arguments from gun owners who oppose a new state law banning the manufacture, purchase and sale of certain semiautomatic weapons. U.S. District Judge Stephen McGlynn listened to lawyers for the gun owners and the Illinois Attorney Generals Office, who argued the law is constitutional and does not violate the rights offered by the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. House Bill 5471, also known as the Protect Illinois Communities Act, was signed in law by Gov. J.B. Pritzker on Jan. 10. Pritzker and several other state and local officials have since been sued in federal and state courts by plaintiffs including residents, gun shop owners and organizations that oppose the law. Lawyers representing plaintiffs in four separate lawsuits filed in the U.S. Court for the Southern Disgrict of Illinois, appeared before McGlynn at the federal courthouse in East St. Louis Wednesday afternoon. McGlynn, who was nominated by former President Donald Trump, did not announce when he would make a ruling on an injunction suspending the enforcement of the law. Erin Murphy, an attorney with a law firm from Alexandria, Virginia and lead attorney for plaintiffs, told McGlynn the reasoning behind the U.S. Supreme Courts decision last year that overturned a gun regulation law in New York makes it clear that the Illinois law violates the U.S. Constitution. Murphy told McGlynn that the Illinois law takes away residents right of self-defense. They cant disarm law-abiding citizens, Murphy said. The types of guns banned by the state of Illinois are in common use and should not be banned based on prior court cases, she said. Christopher Wells, an attorney who leads the Public Interest Division of the Office of the Attorney General, told McGlynn that the Protect Illinois Communities Act was passed by lawmakers outraged by the killing of seven people by a lone gunman during a July 4 parade last year in Highland Park, which is near Chicago. Story continues This statute is constitutional and should be upheld, Wells said. Wells told McGlynn that when lawmakers across the country were concerned about machine guns being used by criminals in the 20th century, they passed laws banning machines guns and that gives Illinois lawmakers the right to ban the dozens of guns listed in House Bill 5471. The guns listed in the law include AK 47, AR-15 and the Bushmaster ACR. One of the federal lawsuits, which includes Dane Harrel as a plaintiff from St. Clair County, states the law inaccurately describes the firearms as assault weapons and instead called them popular semiautomatic firearms. The complaint alleges the term assault weapons was developed by anti-gun publicists. The plaintiffs are asking that the law be declared unconstitutional. They also ask that a temporary injunction be issued and for a permanent injunction to prevent state officials from enforcing the law. Multiple lawsuits have been filed in state court regarding House Bill 5471 and those cases are pending. These suits allege lawmakers violated the state constitution in the process of passing the bill in January. A man who trafficked in the Dallas area counterfeit Oxycodone tablets laced with fentanyl was sentenced on Wednesday to just more than 12 years in prison. Jesus Perez Fuentes, 27, in October pleaded guilty in U.S. District Court in Dallas to possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance. U.S. District Judge Ed Kinkeade sentenced Perez Fuentes to 145 months in prison and to a supervised released term of three years, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas. In March 2022, a confidential source who was himself or herself in criminal peril told law enforcement authorities that Perez Fuentes was distributing fentanyl-laced tablets A Drug Enforcement Administration surveillance team believed Perez Fuentes would have with him counterfeit pills on March 30, 2022, and watched as he drove a pickup truck. Perez Fuentes was stopped in the pickup, and law enforcement officers found in it a .45-caliber Glock loaded with 10 rounds, 2,072 fentanyl-laced pills and $13,821 cash bound with rubber bands. In a legal document known as a factual resume, Perez Fuentes admitted he used the weapon in furtherance of drug trafficking and that the cash was proceeds from drug trafficking. He agreed to forfeit both. A tiki bar in New Smyrna Beach was damaged by a fire Thursday morning. Firefighters said the Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar was fully involved in flames around 7 a.m. The Volusia County Professional Firefighters Association posted information about the fire as well as a photo of the damage to social media. The tiki bar is located on Flagler Avenue. Read: Deputies: Death investigation following deputy pursuit, crash causes 7-hour closure of SR-528 Mayor Fred Cleveland said the bar is a landmark in the community. Its a tough day for New Smyrna, he said. Investigators said people last left the bar at 2 a.m. before someone passing by noticed smoke and called 911 around 7 a.m. to report the fire. Something bizarre has happened here and fire investigators are going to get to the bottom of it, Cleveland said. Stay tuned to Channel 9 Eyewitness News for updates. Photos: Firefighters battle fire at New Smyrna Beach tiki bar Firefighters said the Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar was fully involved in flames around 7 a.m. Firefighters said the Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar was fully involved in flames around 7 a.m. Firefighters said the Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar was fully involved in flames around 7 a.m. Firefighters said the Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar was fully involved in flames around 7 a.m. Firefighters said the Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar was fully involved in flames around 7 a.m. Firefighters said the Ocean Breeze Tiki Bar was fully involved in flames around 7 a.m. 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. Crews rescued a baby owl that fell out of its nest Wednesday afternoon while battling a brush fire that had been burning since last night. Companies had fought the wildfire a day prior in the wooded area behind Danvers High School but after knocking most of the flames down, due to dangerous burning trees beginning to fall, the decision was made to return in the morning to put out any remaining hot spots, according to the Danvers Fire Department. While returning to extinguish the smoldering flames, firefighters noticed a Great Horned Owl lying motionless in the scorched area. Crews placed the owl in a box and removed it from the area. After giving it some water, firefighters say the baby bird became much more active. After giving the juvenile owl some water, it became much more active! Danvers Animal Control transported the owl to a local wildlife rehab center for examination, and they determined the owl likely fell from its nest during the fire. Despite being a bit lethargic from smoke inhalation, the owl appeared to be healthy, according to wildlife officials. The owl is being returned to the area where it was found in an effort to reunite it with its mother. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Two Monroe businesses are the first to get approval to become part of the city's downtown social district. The Monroe City Council last week approved social district applications for Amaya's Food & Beverage LLC and L'arret du Vin LCC, which operates both the River Raisin Banquet Center and the Michigan Wine and Beer Portal. Logo for the Downtown Monroe Social District The district, which was unanimously approved by the city last fall, is a legally designated section of Monroe's historic downtown area where people can purchase and consume alcoholic drinks outside in common areas. The city's district runs the length of North Monroe Street from Willow to First and extends east to west along Front and First from Harrison to Macomb. The district branches off in a few other directions to accommodate other businesses and also includes St. Mary's Park and Government Plaza during special events. A map of downtown Monroe showing the borders of the social district in blue is pictured. Areas shaded purple at St. Mary's Park and Government Plaza will only be part of the district during special events. "It's the citys job to create an environment thats welcoming to business and also creates a better quality of life for residents and visitors alike," said Mark Cochrane, Monroe's economic and community development director. "Creating a vibrant downtown is the goal and just getting more people out enjoying the downtown area." The city expects more businesses to put in applications in the coming weeks as the social district moves to a long-awaited opening, which Cochran expects around Memorial Day. Public House became the third business to apply for the social district this past week and is awaiting review. The council will vote on their application at their next meeting Monday, April 17. "Hopefully it will create a bigger draw for new establishments to open downtown," Cochran said. "It's really up to each business whether they want to participate or not. The applications we have so far are a great start and represent great businesses downtown that want to open up for more folks to come in and enjoy all of downtown instead of just sitting inside or sitting on the patio." Story continues Social districts have become a common sight across Michigan after new state law expanded the Michigan Liquor Control Code two years ago to help boost businesses during the COVID-19 pandemic. As of February, Monroe was one of 99 local governments to approve a social district. The village of Dundee approved a similar measure in January 2021. "I do a lot of travel and in other cities, it's very popular," said Tino Amaya, owner of Amaya's Fresh Mexican Grill. "A lot of other cities are using it as a way to recover from COVID." Amaya was directly involved in helping Monroe's social district become a reality in partnership with Cochran and Chris Bica, owner of the now-closed McGeadys Town Pub. "Almost two years ago this process started," Amaya said. "It was Chris that got it going, but he had to close his restaurant downtown coming out of COVID. ... Mark and I pulled it over the goal line." Amaya pointed to Ann Arbor, Adrian, Toledo, Ypsilanti and Holland as models for Monroe's social district. Particularly, Amaya said that he and other business owners are attracted to the idea of more festivals downtown that can take advantage of the district without having to cut through the red tape of a permit process. "We're super excited about it," said Drew Bentley, owner of the River Raisin Banquet Center and the Michigan Wine and Beer Portal. "Ive been all over Michigan, and places like Traverse City and St. Joseph have a social district where you can go in, get dinner, get a drink, and take that around with you while you shop and experience the downtown area. I think it will be great for Monroe." The Michigan Wine and Beer Portal will be a full-service bar and restaurant open to the public on the first floor beneath the River Raisin Banquet Center. Bentley said the business will have an outdoor patio with riverfront seating. Being part of the social district was the next logical step. Consumers will be allowed to have alcohol in the social district in approved cups no larger than 16 ounces. The cups will have the business logo where it was purchased along with a sticker from the city. Businesses will need to purchase the stickers from the city with revenue from the sale will go into a fund for downtown special events and public art, Cochran said. The borders of the social district will be marked by signs and lines painted along the streets. Cochran said the boundary markers will start to be installed by the end of the month. "Its not so much about my business. Its really about giving the community more options and doing something that will impact the community in a much larger way," Amaya said. "I cant feed 33,000 people a night, but if we can do something to give citizens a reason to stay here in town and spend their dollars here in town, everybody wins." This article originally appeared on The Monroe News: First businesses approved for Monroe social district Dry-spells known as flash droughts, with a surprisingly rapid onset and often devastating impact, are becoming more frequent as human activity warms the planet, according to a study published Thursday. Though droughts are generally thought of as long-term phenomena, some can occur quite suddenly, in a matter of weeks, when the conditions are right. Global warming is a recipe for increasing those special conditions around the world, creating in certain areas a decrease in precipitation and increased evaporation, which dries out the soil more quickly. For the study, published in the journal Science, researchers analyzed a combination of satellite data and ground moisture readings from a period of over 60 years (1951-2014). "Both flash and slow droughts are increasing" as global temperatures rise, lead author Xing Yuan told AFP. But flash droughts are increasing more quickly "especially over Europe, North and East Asia, Sahel and west coast of South America," he said. The researcher, based out of China's Nanjing University of Information Science and Technology (NUIST), warned that the rapid onset of flash droughts gives humans little time to adapt, such as by diverting water resources or preparing for wildfires. "The vegetation do not have enough time to adapt either," he added. Yuan's team used climate modeling to forecast how flash droughts will change under several possible greenhouse gas emission scenarios. Even if emissions are moderate, flash droughts will continue to become more frequent across practically all regions. Under higher emissions scenarios, the trend would be more drastic. Yuan also said the data showed a general increase in drought onset speeds, with his team finding a "robust transition at global scale" of slow to flash droughts. "We believe the reduction in emission can slow down this transition," he told AFP. The concept of flash drought emerged in the early 21st century, but has received more attention since the summer 2012 drought in the United States, which set in particularly quickly and caused more than $30 billion in economic losses. Story continues A commentary piece by two professors in the Netherlands, also published in Science, said the study's warning "should be taken seriously" as the threat "may be even greater than they suggest." David Walker of Wageningen University and Anne Van Loon of Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, both of whom were not involved in Yuan's work, underlined that most of the "hot spot regions" determined by the study were particularly low-income areas. "These regions generally have more vulnerable populations and lower financial resources for coping mechanisms," they said. The pair also added that current methods for detecting droughts, often month-by-month data analyses, must be updated to "operate on shorter time scales," due to the increase in flash droughts which "may build and trigger outcomes in just weeks." la/des/mlm Severe flash flooding soaked parts of the eastern coast of Florida on Wednesday, after a torrential downpour brought nearly a foot of rain in just a few hours. Roads were flooded, schools closed, and a major Fort Lauderdale airport was forced to suspend its service until Friday morning. A local state of emergency has been issued as flooding persisted in parts of the city. More rain is forecast for Thursday. The city announced its first storm update at 16:45 local time (21:45 BST) on Wednesday. Less than an hour later, it issued another message alerting residents that a major roadway had been closed and advised drivers to avoid the area. "Please stay off the roads, if possible. Turn around, don't drown," the statement said. Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport suspended services on Wednesday, as waves of water rushed over the tarmac. Flooded roads and runways stalled vehicles and trapped residents. "The roads, you can't get in or out, so there's an entire airport full of people who are just hostage here," Wendy Sachs, who was stranded at the airport for hours, told NBC. "I've never seen anything like this," said Ms Sachs, who grew up in nearby Miami. The airport announced it would remain closed until 05:00 on Friday, "due to the volume of flooding and debris". Emergency crews have responded to rescue calls, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. The Red Cross has set up a staging area in Ft Lauderdale to aid residents whose homes have been flooded, and provide them with blankets, coffee, and a reunification point for families separated by the storm, authorities said in a statement. City Hall in Ft Lauderdale was without power and so were more than 22,000 customers in Florida on Wednesday night, according to poweroutage.us. Between 14in and 20in (35cm and 50cm) of rain had fallen in the greater Ft Lauderdale area by Thursday morning. Ft Lauderdale announced that all city facilities will be closed on Thursday while it focuses on emergency operations and recovery. Story continues The city has activated its Emergency Operations Center and said it is sending in airboats. All Broward County Public Schools - one of the largest school districts in the nation - also remained closed on Thursday. Residents wading through flood waters are being told to brace for additional storms. "More rain and severe weather possible today as scattered showers and thunder-storms develop late this morning through the early evening across portions of the East Coast," the National Weather Service in Miami said in its forecast. 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. Story continues 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. Torrential rain has drenched much of greater Miami, leaving cars stranded and forcing the closure of schools and Fort Lauderdale's airport until at least Friday. The downpour on Wednesday dumped 635 millimeters (25 inches) of rain in 24 hours on Fort Lauderdale, a coastal city of 180,000 people, the National Weather Service said. That was almost twice the amount of water that set the previous record in 1979. Fort Lauderdale is about 30 miles (50 kilometers) north of Miami. The rain caused scores of traffic jams and flooded roads leading to Fort Lauderdale's busy international airport, leaving many people stranded and forcing cancellation of numerous flights until the airport was closed altogether. Authorities had hoped to reopen it Thursday but said a further delay until Friday was needed to remove all the water and debris from the runways. "This is pure stupidity," a tourist named Rob Gourley told the Sun Sentinel newspaper. He was angry because his flight to the Bahamas for him and his wife was scrapped because of the storm in Fort Lauderdale. "It's the first time out in five years because of COVID and everything. We're ready to just drive home and forget it," said Gourley, who lives in Sarasota, on Florida's Gulf coast. The city declared a state of emergency and asked people to be patient as it worked to reopen flooded roads. Forecasters warned of possible flooding in metropolitan Miami because more rain was forecast for Thursday and the ground is already soaked. gma/dw/des Gov. Ron DeSantis administration is asking a federal appeals court to shield a top health official from having to testify in a legal challenge to a rule prohibiting Medicaid coverage of gender-affirming care for transgender people. Lawyers for Florida Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Jason Weida went to the 11th U.S, Circuit Court of Appeals this week after U.S. District Judge Robert Hinkle rejected a request to prevent Weida from being deposed by plaintiffs attorneys. Seeking what is known as a writ of mandamus from the Atlanta-based appeals court, the states lawyers argued that Weida should not have to testify because he is a high-ranking official. >>> STREAM CHANNEL 9 EYEWITNESS NEWS LIVE <<< Secretary Weidas schedule is demanding. He oversees over 1,500 employees and the largest budget of any state agency. Hes particularly busy now that the Florida Legislature is in session and debating laws concerning agency priorities (including the agencys budget for the next fiscal year), the states lawyers wrote. Before his appointment as secretary this year, Weida was the agencys assistant deputy secretary for Medicaid policy and Medicaid quality at a time when it developed a rule that blocked payments to healthcare providers for treatments such as puberty blockers, hormone therapy and surgeries for transgender people. Read: Equality Florida issues travel advisory warning against visiting, moving to the state The states lawyers have cited what is known as the apex doctrine, which is designed to shield high-ranking officials from testifying if information can be obtained in other ways. But Hinkle on Friday ruled that Weida has relevant, indeed significant, information not available from other sources and ordered him to be deposed before April 21. A trial in the case is scheduled to begin on May 9. A group of plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in September challenging the rule. Read: Controversial bill that will ban children from drag shows and fine businesses passes House panel Story continues The plaintiffs attorneys have clashed with the agencys lawyers, who balked at releasing documents and other information. While some records have been protected from public scrutiny, others show that Weida was an architect of a key report and was instrumental in the creation of the rule. The plaintiffs lawyers have argued that Weida was the face of the antitransgender push, controlling the organizations messaging and personally chose experts who contributed to the report supporting the agencys decision to stop Medicaid payments for gender-affirming care. Read: Reedy Creek board poised to claim superior authority over land planning around Disney 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. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Gov. Ron DeSantis late Thursday night signed Floridas six-week abortion ban into law just hours after the GOP-led Legislature approved it. The legislation will upend Floridas status as an abortion haven in the south, cutting off access for thousands who would otherwise travel from neighboring states each year for the procedure. DeSantis announced the signing on Facebook and Twitter at around 11 p.m. A photo accompanying the Facebook and Twitter posts shows the Republican governor signing the legislation surrounded by more than two dozen people. "Signed the Heartbeat Protection Act, which expands pro-life protections and devotes resources to help young mothers and families," DeSantis wrote on social media. DeSantis is preparing for a likely presidential bid and has been steadfast in his support for limiting abortion. The Florida House approved the bill, S.B. 300, on a 70-40 vote on Thursday. The state Senate approved it last week. The six-week ban will help DeSantis show conservative voters in a primary contest that hes solidly anti-abortion, but it also carries big risks in a general election. Republicans overall underperformed during the 2022 midterm elections, in part because Democrats andswing voters turned out in response to the high courts abortion ruling. Florida now joins at least 12 other states including Georgia, Iowa, Kentucky and Louisiana that have approved bans on abortions after six weeks, a point at which many people dont yet know theyre pregnant. The Florida legislation provides exceptions for victims of rape, incest and human trafficking up to 15 weeks as long as they provide proof such as a police report. At least 13 other states have enacted near-total bans on the procedure. DeSantis signed the bill almost a week after a federal judge in Texas suspended the FDAs approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, signaling that the battle over reproductive healthcare will continue long after the Supreme Court's decision last year to overturn the constitutional right to abortion under Roe v. Wade. Late Wednesday, a federal appeals court ruled that the pill can remain on the market but restricted its availability. Story continues Even after DeSantis signs the bill, the new six-week ban will face an additional hurdle at the Florida Supreme Court. The states high court is currently weighing a challenge to last years 15-week ban, with plaintiffs arguing the law violates a decades-old state privacy clause that previous justices cited in upholding abortion protections. The state is enforcing the 15-week ban as the court considers the challenge. The six-week ban, once signed into law, will not go into effect until the court rules in the case because the legislation has a trigger provision that makes it dependent on the courts ruling. Much like the U.S. Supreme Court, Floridas high court is dominated by conservatives after DeSantis appointed four of the courts seven justices. Many court watchers expect the justices to uphold the 15-week ban. Here in the state of Florida we care deeply about life and we care about the most vulnerable in our society babies in the womb, said state Rep. Jennifer Canady, a Republican from Lakeland who co-sponsored the legislation in the House. Canady also highlighted some of the other provisions in the bill, including providing $5 million to the state Department of Health for programs that promote causes such as contraception, and $15 million for programs that support mothers who give birth. One of the most outspoken critics of the bill was state Rep. Anna Eskamani (D-Orlando), who told lawmakers that she grew up poor and first received contraception from Planned Parenthood when she was a teenager. She said the 6-week ban would unfairly punish poor women who cant afford to travel out of state to have an abortion after six weeks. Im a firm believer that bodily autonomy should not be dictated by how much money you have or where you live, Eskamani, who previously worked at Planned Parenthood, said. Those with means well figure out a way, but others wont be able to do that. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre in a statement called the ban extreme and dangerous and said the administration will continue to fight to protect access to abortion and defend reproductive rights. While House lawmakers were considering the bill, a group of abortion-rights protesters in the chamber shouted abortion is healthcare! before GOP Speaker Paul Renner cleared the room. Once outside the chamber, the demonstrators chanted Hands off our bodies. Last year, when lawmakers voted on the 15-week ban, Capitol Police arrested a Planned Parenthood organizer on a charge of disorderly conduct and issued warnings to 25 others who were protesting. This years crowd appeared smaller and there were no arrests. A handful of Florida Republicans who represent primarily Democratic areas voted against the ban but were outliers and like state Democrats, had no power to stop the GOP supermajority from approving the legislation. House Democratic Leader Fentrice Driskell of Tampa warned that Floridas maternal death rate would increase if the 6-week ban becomes law and added that Republicans pushed through legislation even though voters dont want it. Its an imposition of the will of the minority on the majority, Driskell said. Do we not listen to our constituents and the people of Florida for what theyre asking for? Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for Broward County in South Florida after the area saw more than 25 inches of rain in 24 hours. DeSantis declaration orders the Director of the Division of Emergency Management to execute the States Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan and other response, recovery, and mitigation plans necessary to cope with the emergency. I have declared a State of Emergency for Broward County in response to severe flooding. @FLSERT has resources on the ground and is providing aid. Residents in these areas should follow all orders from local officials and stay away from floodwaters. Ron DeSantis (@GovRonDeSantis) April 13, 2023 The City of Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. Crews had worked through the night to attend rescue calls, but there were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. DeSantis said Floridas Division of Emergency Management is on the ground and providing aid to the county. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] The Red Cross arrived at 5 a.m. Thursday and set up a staging area to help residents whose homes were flooded, providing them with blankets and coffee, officials said. Broward County schools canceled classes Thursday, including after-school and extracurricular activities. Click here to read DeSantis full executive order. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. Advocates for bodily autonomy march to the Florida Capitol on Feb. 16, 2022, in Tallahassee. Mark Wallheiser / Getty Images Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed into law a bill that would ban most abortions in the state after six weeks, before many people know theyre pregnant, further decimating abortion access in the South. The bill passed the Republican-controlled House of Representatives on Thursday afternoon in a 7040 vote. DeSantis signed it into law hours later, sharing a late-night tweet with a photo of him signing the bill. The ban does not immediately go into effect, however; medical providers and patients are still waiting for Floridas Supreme Court to rule on a legal challenge to the states existing 15-week ban. If the 15-week ban is upheld, as many predict is likely due to the conservative makeup of the court, the six-week ban is then expected to take effect. Though the proposed six-week ban has exceptions in cases of rape, incest, and human trafficking, those exceptions are only available up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. And in those cases, in order to be granted the exception, the person would have to provide documentation such as a restraining order, a police report, medical record or other court order or documentation proving that she is obtaining the termination of pregnancy because she is a victim of rape or incest. In addition, there is an exception if the life of the pregnant person is at risk, but the law would require two doctors to certify in writing that the abortion is necessary to save the pregnant person's life or to avert a serious risk of irreversible physical impairment. The bill would also prohibit telehealth for abortion care. Many people will not even know they are pregnant by six weeks, and for those who do, it is unlikely they will be able to schedule the legally required two in-person doctors appointments before six weeks of pregnancy, said Kara Gross, the legislative director and senior policy counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, in a statement . Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last June, 13 states have banned most abortions, and one state, Georgia, has a six-week abortion ban. As of April 2023, Florida is one of the last remaining states in the South that had not effectively banned abortion , according to the Guttmacher Institute. The states six-week ban will mean a swath of more than 780,000 square miles in the United States where people cannot access the procedure. Story continues It will turn Florida a state that already requires two in-person appointments for abortion care into one of the most restrictive states in the nation for abortion care, said Alexandra Mandado, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida. It will have devastating consequences for the southeast, Caribbean, Central and South America, and beyond. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks to anti-abortion advocates in Kissimmee, April 14, 2022. Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images) In recent weeks, court battles over mifepristone, one of the two drugs used in medication abortions, which is often referred to as the abortion pill, have taken center stage. On Wednesday, a federal appeals court ruled that the pill can remain on the market while legal cases continue, although with stringent new restrictions. After the Florida Senate approved the proposed six-week ban last week, Florida Senate Minority Leader Lauren Book protested with pro-abortion rights demonstrators outside the state Capitol in Tallahassee. At the protest, the Democratic lawmaker was arrested with nearly a dozen others and charged with trespassing after refusing to leave the demonstration, according to the Guardian . With the passage of this dangerous ban, Republicans have chosen to disregard the pleas of women and the doctors entrusted with their care including two mothers in my own district forced to the brink of death following miscarriages due to the states current restrictive laws, Book said in a statement to BuzzFeed News. Now, things will get much worse. Women have been stripped of their rights and access to life-saving health care. Women will undoubtedly die. This is not freedom. On top of the six-week abortion ban, the bill also allocates $25 million each year to anti-abortion pregnancy centers. Planned Parenthood has warned people seeking abortions that these centers are run by anti-abortion activists who have a shady, harmful agenda to scare, shame, or pressure you out of getting an abortion and to tell lies about abortion, birth control, and sexual health. Since they are not providing legitimate medical care, they are not bound by state and federal privacy laws, said Laura Goodhue, the executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates. Floridians who mistakenly went to these centers when they needed help have reported being lied to about their pregnancys development to prevent them from getting an abortion elsewhere; being given false information about the safety of abortion and birth control; and even having relatives, partners, or employers contacted to try to intimidate them out of getting an abortion. Before the House voted on Thursday afternoon, Democratic representatives filed more than 50 amendments , including additional proposed exceptions as well as a proposal by state Rep. Rita Harris, which would have required the Department of Health to conduct a yearly independent financial audit of the crisis pregnancy centers receiving the $25 million. None of the amendments in the House passed. Abortion advocates say that if the bill goes into effect, the ban would disproportionately impact people who live in rural communities, people with low incomes, people with disabilities, and people of color. This legislation will give the government even more power over the bodily autonomy of Floridians and everyone in the South who have long relied on the state as a safe haven for reproductive care, said Diamond Delancey, manager of the Black Organizing Program at Planned Parenthood of South, East, and North Florida, in a statement to BuzzFeed News. This bill would have a particularly devastating impact on Black and Brown communities, who already face barriers to accessing basic healthcare and are already nearly three times as likely to die during childbirth. Jamarah Amani, the executive director of the Southern Birth Justice Network, a maternal health nonprofit organization, said in a statement to BuzzFeed News that for this ban to be passed during Black Maternal Health Week sends the message that the state of Florida does not care about the health of mothers and birthing people, adding that the ban undermines the essential human rights and dignity of pregnant people and their families. As a Black woman who has survived a legacy of my ancestors being enslaved as property and forced to breed, Amani said, it is important to continue to say boldly that my body and my choices are mine not the governments. More on this Floridas Republican-dominated Legislature on Thursday passed a ban on most abortions after six weeks, sending the bill to Gov. Ron DeSantis. He has said he would sign the measure into law. Final passage came after a marathon floor hearing in the state House, which passed the proposal largely along party lines in a 70-40 vote after the state Senate passed the bill on April 3. Democrats in the chamber forcefully opposed the legislation but were vastly outnumbered by Republican supermajorities in both chambers. GOP House Speaker Paul Renner had to close the public viewing galleries after protesters threw what appeared to be paper on the House floor. It capped off what has been a hugely contentious process to pass the legislation, SB 300, which DeSantis has signaled support for, but it puts him in a tricky political position. He is considering a 2024 bid for president, but most public polling shows a six-week abortion ban is unpopular among both political parties. Yet at the same time, entering a Republican presidential primary on the heels of vetoing or opposing legislation that would expand abortion restrictions risks running against a key tenant of the GOP platform. The measure bans abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with new exceptions for rape and incest up until 15 weeks. The measure does not change the exceptions for the life and health of the mother up until 15 weeks that are in current law. The new exemptions were sought by Republican state Senate President Kathleen Passidomo and agreed to by other Republicans. The bill also includes $25 million to expand Florida Pregnancy Care Network Inc., a statewide network of nonprofits that offer pregnancy support services. The proposal has been the subject of protests and outbursts since it was filed on March 7, shortly before DeSantis gave his State of the State address on the opening day of the 2023 legislative session. As the Florida state Senate considered the proposal on the floor last week, Passidomo also had to clear the public gallery overlooking her chamber after a series of outbursts from opponents of the bill. Story continues That night, Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Nikki Fried and state Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book were among nearly a dozen people arrested while protesting the bill outside of Tallahassee City Hall, which neighbors the state Capitol. Leading up to the House vote, a group of protesters held a multiday protest of the bill in front of a courthouse across the street from the Capitol. A march to the Florida Capitol to protest a bill before the Florida legislature to limit abortions on Feb. 16, 2022 in Tallahassee, Florida. (Mark Wallheiser / Getty Images file) The more than seven-hour floor debate featured many of the arguments during the bills three previous committee stops. There is nothing I am saying that will change the hearts and minds of my friends on the other side of the aisle, said Republican state Rep. Chase Tramont. Thats not what this is about. This is about holding up the flagship commitment I made which is to give voice to the voiceless. Democrats said the proposal further infringes on a persons right to choose and will have negative impacts on their health care. The right to bodily autonomy is an innate right, said Democratic Rep. Robin Bartleman. My body is mine. We do not want unclear laws and muddy waters. Since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in June 2022 that there is no constitutional right to an abortion a legal challenge that stemmed from Mississippi passing a 15-week abortion ban women throughout the Southeast have been going to Florida to get abortions after surrounding states like Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee and Alabama banned the procedure. Women seeking abortions in Florida from out-of-state increased from 3,988 in 2020 to 6,708 in 2022, according to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration. Overall, the number of abortions in the state grew from 74,868 to 82,192 over that same time frame. Here in Florida we take care of patients within the state of Florida, and many people traveling not only from nearby states but those much farther away, said Shelly Tien, a doctor who works at Planned Parenthood Southeast. I have seen patients from places as far away as placed like Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Mississippi, she added. Those patients are living at or near poverty. She pushed back on any idea that Florida is an abortion haven just because the procedure is still allowed in the state, noting that there have been annual pieces of legislation eroding access. To me a haven is a place of protection and safety and justice, she said. Once signed into law, the six-week ban will be on hold pending a ruling from the Florida Supreme Court on the constitutionality of a 15-week abortion ban DeSantis signed into law after the states 2022 legislative session. It was challenged in court by Planned Parenthood, the American Civil Liberties Union and a group of abortion providers. They argued that privacy provisions in the state constitution protect the right to an abortion. The 15-week abortion ban is still awaiting a hearing in the Florida Supreme Court to determine whether it is a legally-based bill, said Democratic state Rep. Yvonne Hinson. I wonder how much Florida money is being spent on legal fees attempting to defend that bill. Florida was among a handful of Republican-led states in 2022 to pass a 15-week abortion ban in anticipation of a potential Supreme Court ruling. DeSantis signed the 15-week ban during a bill-signing ceremony near Orlando in April 2022, in an event that featured anti-abortion advocates and Republican lawmakers. In February, DeSantis said we will sign when asked at a news conference if he would approve the six-week abortion ban, but he has not been the face of the legislative effort. That has been led, in large part, by state Sen. Erin Grall, a Republican who was the lead sponsor of both the six- and 15-week bans last session. Recent polling shows the six-week abortion ban is not popular among Florida residents of either political party. A University of North Florida poll in March showed 75% of 1,452 respondents said they either somewhat or strongly opposed the six-week ban. That included 61% of Republicans. The same poll had DeSantis leading former President Donald Trump among registered Republicans in a hypothetical 2024 presidential matchup, 52%-27%, with no other candidate getting out of single digits. This story first appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com When you spend $3 million on a sculpture, you assume that itll remain in pretty good condition. That isnt always the case, though, as a recent incident demonstrates. Late last month, a woman in Palm Beach, Florida, crashed her Rolls-Royce into a Damien Hirst sculpture, Hypebeast reported on Tuesday. The 66-year-olds convertible collided with the artwork in a backyard before smashing through a seawall and ending up on the beach. The driver was taken to a medical center, and nobody else was injured in the accident. More from Robb Report The Hirst belongs to the hedge-fund manager and art collector Steven Tananbaum and his wife Lisa. Sphinx, as the piece is called, was part of the English artists 2017 series Treasures From the Wreck of the Unbelievable, in which he created several faux artifacts and a documentary telling the stories behind each piece. This particular sphinx-shaped sculpture is covered in coral and barnacles that fit right in with the Palm Beach aesthetic. The Tananbaums said Sphinx sustained significant damage. In a photo published by the Palm Beach Daily News, you can see that the blue-chip piece was knocked off its pedestal. The driver did not seem to be intoxicated, according to police, but she wasnt able to recall the hours leading up to the crash. As for the Rolls, its condition is unknown. In photos, you can see the front of the vehicle resting on the sand while the rear sits on the seawall. It doesnt seem too badly damaged, but its hard to tell from the images alone. The car appears to be either a Dawn or Phantom Drophead Coupeagain, its difficult to discern from the pics. Although both models are now discontinued, they are still likely to run you six figures on the second-hand market. Story continues This isnt the only high-profile car crash in recent months. In March, Pete Davidson took a Mercedes-Benz for a spinright into a fire hydrant and then a home. Thankfully, nobody was injured in that wreck, either. Mind you, ruining a Merc, Hirst, or Rolls is still pretty heartbreaking. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Former Boise City Council Member Lisa Sanchez filed a lawsuit against Boise on Tuesday, arguing that the circumstances of her removal from her council seat were unlawful and asking the court to undo the appointment of her replacement. The lawsuit also asks the court to stop the council from taking further actions without reseating her. Sanchez filed the lawsuit in Idahos Fourth Judicial District after Mayor Lauren McLean did not choose to appoint her to her former District 3 seat, instead choosing to appoint Latonia Haney Keith earlier this month. The city determined that Sanchez vacated her seat in January, when she mistakenly moved to a new residence that was a few blocks outside of District 3, which covers the North End and Northwest Boise. Sanchez was elected to represent District 3 in 2021, though redistricting completed last year has since changed the bounds and reconfigured the names of Boises districts. In a civil complaint, Sanchezs lawyer, Wendy Olson, disputed he citys contention that Sanchez lost her seat, and argued instead that city lawyers and council members removed her from her seat. A spokesperson for the mayors office, Maria Weeg, declined to comment on the pending litigation. Lawsuit details January meeting with council leadership On Jan. 10, then-Council Member Elaine Clegg abruptly announced at the start of a City Council meeting that Sanchez may have ceased to be a proper representative of her district. Sanchez did not attend that evenings meeting, but had been present at an afternoon meeting earlier that day. Four days later, Council President Holli Woodings told the Idaho Statesman that city lawyers who had also consulted with the Secretary of States Office had determined Sanchez had left, and therefore lost, her seat. As much as it hurts, Lisa is no longer a qualified elector in her district, which means that she has vacated her seat under Idaho state law, Woodings told the Statesman at the time. Story continues Sanchezs lawsuit details a meeting between city leadership that had happened earlier that day. The meeting was between Sanchez, her lawyer, a Boise city lawyer, and council leadership, which includes Woodings and Council Member Jimmy Hallyburton. I guess Id like to start by saying how much this situation sucks, the complaint quotes Woodings as saying. Woodings then told Sanchez how the city had determined she had lost her seat, before discussing how to move forward, according to the complaint. One option, the complaint says Woodings said, could be that Sanchez could be appointed to District 3, to serve out the rest of the term she had been elected for. Woodings said that option was offered by the mayors office, according to the complaint. Others in the room, and eventually Woodings, then backtracked, the complaint says. The complaint says Hallyburton said that appointing Sanchez was not 100% for sure, and was not an obligation, (but that) right now, it seems like thats an offer that they want to make and honor the will of the voters. The complaint also says that a Boise attorney said it was the will of the people to have Sanchez in the seat, and that unless (in) the next 30 days, theres something very unusual that happens, the City would like to see the will of the people respected. Woodings further stated, according to the complaint, that appointing Sanchez could be a good faith effort to help you get back into your position. Hallyburton also told Sanchez that her being appointed was a different option from Sanchez challenging the citys conclusion that Sanchez had vacated her seat in court, the complaint said. Woodings and Hallyburton did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In a previous email to the Statesman responding to a similar characterization of the Jan. 13 meeting enumerated in a letter from Olson, Hallyburton said that I dont believe this is how the conversation went and dont believe it was communicated that if she pursued her legal rights (by challenging the city in court), she would forfeit the option of having the mayor appoint her. What does Idaho law say about her removal? The lawsuit also alleges that Boise has not provided Sanchez with a legal opinion explaining its conclusion about her seat. There is no public record of who made the decision to remove Plaintiff Sanchez from the Boise City Council, when that decision was made, or why that decision was made, the complaint says. The Statesman has filed public records requests with the city asking for the communications city attorneys have sent to Sanchez. Those records requests have been mostly denied, with citations of personnel exemptions and exemptions for documents prepared in anticipation of litigation. At the Jan. 13 meeting, the Boise attorney present referred to a section of Idaho code describing how Idahoans qualify to vote based on their residency, according to the complaint. Elsewhere in Idaho law, it says that vacancies occur when incumbents cease to be residents of the district in which the duties of (their) office are to be exercised. In the lawsuit, Sanchez claims that this statute did not apply to cities, and that Idaho courts have, in the past, required a showing that elected officials intended to leave their districts before determining that they vacated them. In the November city elections, the city will be using a new map of geographic council districts. In the new map, the district covering the North End and Northwest Boise is called District 6 instead of District 3, and has somewhat different boundaries. The map with District 3 in the North End was used in the 2021 elections, when Sanchez was elected to her second term. With or without her seat, Sanchez has indicated she plans to run again in November. She would face Hallyburton in the race to represent north Boise, as he has announced a reelection campaign. Sanchez voted to approve both the 2021 map and the new map, which was adopted last year. Her lawsuit says she mistakenly thought the two districts for north Boise had the same boundaries. Why was Sanchez not appointed? It is unclear why McLean decided against appointing Sanchez to her district. In interviews with the Statesman this month, a majority of city council members indicated that they would likely not have voted to confirm her back onto the council. Council members variously cited honesty and integrity issues with Sanchez, false and misleading statements and sometimes lies, the legal threats Sanchez has made towards the city in the months since she lost her seat, the accusations she has lodged against city staff members blaming them for the confusion over her district boundaries, and the precedent that reappointing her could set. In the lawsuit, Olson accuses the council of retaliating against Sanchez for how she responded to losing her seat. The complaint cites a recent comment Clegg made to the Statesman: I think a different tone would have, frankly, meant a different outcome. In recent months, Sanchez was the subject of a campaign finance complaint, after she spent more than $14,000 in campaign funds in a non-election year. The Ada County Elections office later cleared her of any legal violations. Before losing her seat, Sanchez also clashed with other council members. In October, she accused other members of leaving her out of discussions and a study about affordable housing claims other council members denied. The organizer of the housing study, from the Urban Land Institute, later emailed Sanchez to say that all council members had initially been invited to the study, but that Sanchez had not responded. After losing her seat, she also accused Woodings of being involved in her housing decision. At the time, Woodings told the Statesman that she had been concerned about the ethical implications of how Sanchez had framed her search for new housing at a public meeting, when Sanchez had said that one of her constituents had offered her housing. Olson has said that Sanchez has always paid market rates for her housing while on the council. According to the lawsuit, an outside lawyer representing the city reached out to Sanchez also through her lawyer shortly before the deadline for applications to note that her application had not yet been received. Sanchez had, according to the complaint, submitted her materials shortly before then. Sanchez was selected as a finalist for the District 3 seat, and interviewed by McLean. The lawsuit also notes that an outside attorney representing the city told Sanchezs lawyer that the interview had gone well. The lawsuit also says Haney Keith, who now sits on the council after being appointed earlier this month, is not legitimately on the council. McLean appointed Haney Keith to serve out the remainder of the District 3 term. Another new council member, Colin Nash, was appointed this month to fill Elaine Cleggs seat. Clegg has left to council to lead Valley Regional Transit. PROVIDENCE What do Gina Raimondo, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge have in common? They all made Time Magazine's list of Most Influential People" in 2023, which in Raimondo's case begins with a retelling by U.S. Sen. Jack Reed, D-R.I., of the oft-told story of the first time he "met" the newborn "Gina Marie." "In 1971, my mother had me visit our neighbors to congratulate them on the arrival of their new baby, Gina Marie Raimondo. I had no idea this tiny bundle from a working-class family would become Rhode Islands first female governor and the U.S. Secretary of Commerce." Reed spokesman Chip Unruh told The Journal: "Time independently selected her as one of this years 100 most influential people. She was already on the list when they approached Senator Reed and asked him to pen a short essay. "He was honored to contribute an entry highlighting Secretary Raimondos exceptional leadership." WASHINGTON, DC - JANUARY 20: U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo speaks during the United States Conference of Mayors 91st Winter Meeting January 20, 2023 in Washington, DC. The United States Conference of Mayors is the official non-partisan organization of cities with populations of 30,000 or more. This afternoon President Joe Biden will welcome mayors to the White House. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) ORG XMIT: 775925682 ORIG FILE ID: 1246387966 Who else was on Time Magazine's most influential list? The "most influential" list includes "titans," "leaders" and "icons" in the worlds of politics, arts, innovation and beyond. Hillary Clinton wrote the essay for "renowned Ukrainian human-rights lawyer [who] at just 39 years old, Oleksandra Matviichuk has devoted her life to protecting democracy." Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said of Anthony Albanese: "From growing up in public housing to taking office last spring as Australias new Prime Minister, he is a symbol of hope and inspiration. " Former U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, a Republican, hailed the current majority leader, Republican Mitch McConnell, as a man who leads "with clarity, uncanny command of persuasion, and unwavering conviction, anchored in Republican principles." "In the past year, he led bipartisan efforts to find and secure funding for the war in Ukraine, and President Biden told him the massive bipartisan infrastructure law of 2021 wouldnt have happened without your hand. Mitch knows when and how to cut a deal," Frist said of McConnell. Story continues Jimmy Fallon nominated Drew Barrymore. Angela Bassett nominated Austin Butler. Nicole Kidman nominated Colin Farrell. Mia Farrow nominated Jennifer Coolidge. Edward Enninful, British Vogueeditor in chief, nominated King Charles III. Why was Gina Raimondo nominated? Reed nominated the fellow Rhode Islander once known as "Gina from Greenville." "Ginas brilliance, skill, and work ethic fueled her meteoric rise, while her family keeps her grounded. She has always been a fierce competitor, unafraid to tackle thorny issues and willing to sacrifice her own political fortunes for the greater good." "As Secretary," he wrote, "she is reviving U.S. manufacturing and rebuilding our technological infrastructure. "To return the U.S. to being the global leader in microchip production, she deftly shepherded the CHIPS and Science Act through Congress and is building the diverse coalitions needed to supercharge U.S. semiconductor production, fortify supply chains, and strengthen national security. As always, Secretary Raimondo will get the job done, credit others, and embrace the next challenge." More: Gina Raimondo's CHIPS were up in Washington this week. Here's what's behind the attention. The progressive-tinted industrial policy Raimondo has spearheaded for Biden through the CHIPS Act won her mentions on the front page of the New York Times, and in the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal, in a 2,000-word Bloomberg profile and on MSNBC's Morning Joe program. Biden is expected to run for reelection next year, which would rule out her own presidential run, but if he wins would open the possibility of a move within the Cabinet, such as the long-rumored replacement of Brown graduate Janet Yellen as treasury secretary. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Time Magazine's Most Influential People list includes former Gov. Gina Raimondo The former chairperson of Cal Polys ROTC program could face the maximum sentence of three or more years in prison after a judge denied his request for military diversion. Lt. Col. Jacob Sweatland, 40, is facing two misdemeanor charges related to allegedly secretly filming a teenager and woman in a Pismo Beach dressing room. Military diversion allows defendants to divert their sentences for one year in misdemeanor cases, during which the defendant must abide by all laws and community service requirements. Court documents show Sweatlands attorney filed a motion for military diversion on March 20. A motion opposing the diversion was filed by prosecutors on April 10, and San Luis Obispo Superior Court Judge Jesse Marino denied the diversion on April 12. The People contend that Defendants repugnant behavior shocks the conscience of civil society and poses a clear danger to innocent citizens, the opposition motion filed by District Attorney Dan Dow read. The calculated and covert method in which Defendant repeatedly targeted vulnerable young women demonstrates little potential for rehabilitation in the Military Diversion Program. Teen girl found camera in dressing room Sweatland was arrested Sept. 2 after a teenage girl found a spy camera in the PacSun dressing room. Pismo Beach Police Department Commander Chris Trimble told The Tribune Sept. 2 that an object resembling a key fob with a built-in camera was found by store staff, at which time the police were called and opened an investigation. On Sept. 4, Trimble said, the store contacted the police and reported a man later identified as Sweatland had returned to retrieve the fob. Sweatland ran from officers before being caught in the 200 block of Elaine Way in Pismo Beach, around a mile from the outlets. Sweatland was charged Oct. 28 with two misdemeanors: resisting a peace officer and invasion of privacy. He was released on bond and asked to have his case moved to diversion court, court documents showed. Story continues Its for a direct, causal connection between mental illness from military service and the alleged crime, and County Mental Health already said (Sweatland) would qualify for the program, Ilan Funke-Bilu, Sweatlands attorney, told The Tribune. Funke-Bilu said his client is a decorated veteran who has been deployed four times in Colombia, Syria, Afghanistan and Iraq and has a mental health diagnosis directly linked to his service for our country. Sweatland is not currently teaching on campus, Cal Poly spokesperson Matt Lazier told The Tribune at the time of Sweatlands arrest in an email. Cal Poly takes very seriously any conduct or behavior that could negatively impact our university community. We have worked closely with Pismo Beach police on their investigation into Sweatland and have determined that no criminal activity connected with this case is alleged to have happened on the universitys campus, he said. Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell was found safe Thursday hours after police in Florida said he had been reported missing and could be in danger. Bell, whose real first name is Jared, was last seen just before 9 p.m. Wednesday. Daytona Beach police said he could be traveling in a gray 2022 BMW and was believed to be in the area of Mainland High School. He is considered missing and endangered, authorities said Thursday morning on Facebook. Police updated the post just before 1:30 p.m. ET to say Bell was safe and in contact with authorities. ** UPDATE: 4/13/2023 1:26p.m. - At this time, we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is... Posted by Daytona Beach Police Department on Thursday, April 13, 2023 The department declined to release further details earlier in the day, citing an active investigation. Bell, 36, is best known for his role on the popular Nickelodeon show "Drake & Josh," which ran from 2004 to 2007. In 2021, an Ohio judge sentenced him to two years of probation on child endangerment charges after a female victim he met online accused him of having "groomed" her since she was 12, sent her graphic photos and engaged in sexual misconduct in two incidents. His lawyer denied the allegations at the time, but Bell pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Victoria Jackson shared homophobic comments during a city council meeting in Franklin, Tenn. (Evan Agostini / Invision / Associated Press) More than 30 years ago, Victoria Jackson performed a handstand on "Saturday Night Live" to praise the "freedom to express myself any way I like" in America. Now, she's among the Tennessee residents speaking out against the LGBTQ community and its efforts to celebrate Pride this year. Jackson, who was part of the "SNL" cast from 1986 to 1992, appeared at a city council meeting in Franklin, Tenn., where the Pride festival was on the docket Tuesday. She was among the scores of residents who appeared to make the case for, or against, Pride during the meeting. The "Strip Mall" comedian took the stand and condemned homosexuality, citing various excerpts from the Bible. Drawing from her understanding of scripture, Jackson also claimed that God "hates pride." For the LGBTQ+ community, Pride is an annual celebration of identity, a different kind of pride than that described in the Bible. After citing various scriptures, Jackson said she did not want "this generation to be brainwashed." Before she could finish plugging an anti-LGBTQ YouTube channel, council members thanked her for her remarks, slammed a gavel and a security guard bent the microphone away from her. Jackson's comments are the latest in her history of homophobic rants. In March, she joined Moms for Liberty a parental group that looks to ban books that feature what its members consider upsetting pornographic and LGBTQ depictions for an event discussing the Williamson County curriculum. Tennessee has become a hot spot for anti-LGBTQ legislation in recent months. In March, Republican Gov. Bill Lee signed into law SB003, which criminalizes public drag performances. Lee also signed SB001, which criminalizes gender-affirming care for trans youth. The actor's Tuesday comments were met with criticism on social media. Among the Twitter users who slammed Jackson was George Takei, who is gay. He called Jackson "deplorable as always." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Diana Dafter, 36, died from a single stab wound to the heart - Northamptonshire Police/SWNS A former soldier claimed he stabbed his wife 17 times in a fatal attack because she went on and on at him, a court has heard. Phillip Dafter, 32, is accused of murdering his wife, Diana, 36, at their flat in Northampton on October 7 last year. Northampton Crown Court heard that Mr Dafter flew into a rage after claiming he had been driven to it, after the couple rowed about getting an MOT for their car, as well as him messaging another woman and his previous infidelities, jurors were told. Mr Dafter then bought knives from a supermarket, stabbed himself in the stomach and boarded a train to London, telling a conductor that he was evil and a bad man. During the train journey, he also sent a group WhatsApp message, saying: Boys and D. Going to jail. I have killed Diana Dafter today. Mr Dafter was arrested at Londons Euston Station and taken to hospital for treatment for life-threatening injuries. He later told British Transport Police officers that he had killed his wife, before officers discovered her body at the property in Lawrence Court. Mr Dafter has admitted manslaughter, but denies murder. The court heard the couple were both born in Malawi. After finishing school in Africa, they both moved to the UK, where they met and got married. Marriage deteriorated Mr Dafter had spent some time in the British Army, becoming a bus driver and then a HGV driver after his discharge. The court heard that in the months prior to his wifes death, the couples marriage had deteriorated, as Mr Dafter became depressed and dissatisfied with family life. Gordon Aspden, prosecuting, told the court that the atmosphere of resentment worsened when Ms Dafter discovered her husband had been texting a younger woman in Malawi. She accused Mr Dafter of betraying her and brought up his previous infidelities. By September 2022, the couple were on the verge of divorce, jurors heard. CCTV footage was shown to the court of Ms Dafter leaving and returning to her flat on the morning of Friday, October 7, the last time she was seen alive. Story continues The court heard that Mr Dafter stabbed his wife repeatedly with a knife, so hard that the blade broke off from the handle. A post-mortem carried out two days later, at Leicester Royal Infirmary, found that Ms Dafter died from a single stab wound to the heart. Terrifying final ordeal She had a total of 17 stab wounds and cuts on her fingers, suggesting she tried to defend herself by pushing the blade away during the attack, it was said. At this point of the hearing, Mr Dafter began to weep in the dock, holding a tissue to his face as his shoulders began to shake. Mr Aspden said: This must have been a terrifying final ordeal for that woman. The court heard that at about 9.20am, Mr Dafter left the house and began walking to his car when he bumped into a neighbour, with whom he exchanged pleasantries. The neighbour described Mr Dafter to police as being his normal, happy, smiley self. CCTV footage shown to jurors showed Mr Dafter driving his Range Rover to a nearby ASDA store and purchasing a set of kitchen knives. The supermarket assistant who served Mr Dafter, giving evidence in court, described him as quite a nice chap and very pleasant. CCTV footage showed Mr Dafter returning to his flat, in which his wife still lay dead, where he drank whisky before stabbing himself several times. He then drove to Northampton Railway Station and bought a ticket to Euston, where he stayed on the train after other commuters left. A conductor came along to help Mr Dafter, who was unsteady on his feet, on to the platform and Mr Dafter told him he wanted to speak to the police. When the conductor asked him why, Mr Dafter replied: I am evil and a bad man, the court heard. A moment of madness The jury was told that after being arrested, Mr Dafter told a psychiatrist he knew what he had done, and that he had been driven to it by his wife going on and on at him. Mr Dafter described killing his wife as a moment of madness that I will have to live with for the rest of my life. He said that he argued with Ms Dafter that morning over their cars MOT, and he recalled his wife telling him that she would forgive him as he attacked her. Mr Dafter later gave two no comment interviews to police and he was charged with murder. The court heard that David Nathan, defending, will seek to argue loss of control and diminished responsibility. The trial continues. Former Wilmington mayoral candidate Devon Scott pleaded guilty to a charge of sexual battery in New Hanover County Superior Court on Thursday. A former Wilmington mayoral candidate and activist was placed on probation after pleading guilty to a 2015 sexual offense against his then-wife. Devon Scott pleaded guilty to one count of sexual battery in New Hanover County Superior Court on Thursday. He was ordered to stay away from the victim and to register as a sex offender. According to an account presented by the district attorney's office, Scott splashed cold water on her face when she was sleeping and sexually assaulted her. He told her not to call the police. In the 2019 mayoral election, Scott ran against current mayor Bill Saffo and lost the race by 600 votes. As an activist, he became involved with the Black Lives Matter movement and was the co-founder of the Wilmington Advocacy and Protest Organization, formed in 2020. Scott's former wife told the StarNews in July 2020 that she came forward with allegations of sexual assault after learning about his activism. In a July 2020 interview he admitted to the assault and rape. An arrest came after social media messages between them. Previous coverage: Devon Scott charged with sexual offense against wife His attorney said Scott is a humble person who has been an asset to the community for most of his life and took responsibility for his actions. The district attorney said the victim requested a lifetime of no contact with Scott. She didn't appear in court, but the district attorney said her wanting to move on with her life was the reason. Scott was placed on 18 months of supervised probation.The judge ordered Scott to have no contact with the victim at her home and other places such as work. He will also have register as a sex offender for 30 years and complete 48 days of community service. Scott was granted to have contact with his child under court ordered supervision. STAY CONNECTED: Keep up with the areas latest news by signing up for the StarNews newsletter and following us on Facebook and Instagram. Reporter Chase Jordan can be reached at cjjordan@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Former Wilmington mayoral candidate pleads guilty to sexual assault JamieLynn and AmieLynn Finley were released more than two weeks apart after a team of medical professionals in Texas performed an 11-hour operation to separate the sisters in January WFAA A pair of twin girls who were conjoined and shared a liver at birth are now resting together at home nearly three months after they underwent a successful separation surgery. JamieLynn and AmieLynn Finley, daughters to Amanda Arciniega and James Finley, were recently discharged from Cook Children's Medical Center, where they recovered from an intense operation in January, the hospital announced in a press release. The twins, who were born in October 2022, made history in January as the first conjoined twins to be separated at the hospital in Fort Worth, Texas. The sisters went home to live with their family more than weeks apart: JamieLynn was first on March 21, followed by Amie on April 7, according to Tuesday's release. Related:After Daughter's Death, Mom of Quads (Who Are Also Twins) Says 3 Surviving Babies 'Keep Me Strong' [Exclusive] Amie required additional care in the neonatal intensive care unit while she recovered from a separate chest surgery, per the release. "It's definitely a weight lifted," Arciniega said in a statement. "I'm excited and happy, it's a lot of emotions." Courtesy of Cook Childrens Medical Center January's separation operation took 11 hours to complete, according to a previous press release from Cook Children's Medical Center. The hospital said more than a dozen medical professionals including four pediatric surgeons, three anesthesiologists and two plastic surgeons, one for each girl assisted during the procedure. "Some moments are just so hard, you have to stay positive, you have to keep the right mindset," Finley said, according to NBC affiliate KXAS-TV. 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. JamieLynn, two older siblings and a cousin joined her parents on April 7 as they brought Amie home for the first time, according to the hospital. Story continues The twins now reportedly share a room at their home in Fort Worth. WFAA "This is kind of the beginning again," Finley said as he cradled JamieLynn in video footage released by the hospital. "Surgery was one beginning and now we're going home to another beginning." Related:Miss. Couple Shares First Photos of 2-Month-Old Quintuplets While Spending Easter Together in NICU However, the family still has "a long way to go," Arciniega said. Amie "the quiet twin compared to feisty JamieLynn," according to the hospital developed scoliosis due to a tendency to lean away from her twin sister when they were conjoined at the chest. Both girls require additional rehabilitation following the separation surgery "to help them reach their full potential," their medical team said. The EECU Community Foundation has started a special fund for the Finley twins. "Caring for the twins will be complex," the nonprofit says on the fund's website, "and your donations will support not only the twin's needs, but also the rest of the family." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. As the coronavirus spiked, a Fort Lauderdale man who claimed to have a marketing business with dozens of employees asked the federal government for hundreds of thousands of dollars in COVID-19 relief loans. In short order, Damian Davis received $586,545 in a series of bank-approved loans for that business and two others over the summer of 2020. But he didnt spend the money on employees and other overhead as required under the Paycheck Protection Program approved by Congress as part of the CARES Act to keep the economy afloat. Davis, 41, spent the emergency funds on himself, including buying a 2001 Blue BMW M3 for $31,000, according to his plea agreement on fraud charges in Fort Lauderdale federal court. By PPP loan fraud standards, that exotic car purchase paled next to the usual acquisitions of Lamborghinis, Bentleys and Teslas with ill-gotten pandemic loans. Still, the convicted marketer was sentenced this week to two years in prison, joining the ranks of hundreds of illicit business people, gang members and other offenders who have been swept up in the feds crackdown on PPP loan fraud in South Florida. According to court records, Davis operated three marketing firms that applied for pandemic loans meant for struggling businesses: Wolf of Flagler LLC, in Fort Lauderdale, $128,400; Crates Tavern LLC, Pompano Beach, $183,780; and Fifth Marketing Group LLC, Pompano Beach, $274,365. Earlier this year, Davis pleaded guilty to bank and wire fraud charges stemming from the third PPP loan application for Fifth Marketing. OPINION: Steal from the feds to buy a Lambo? Yup, South Florida is nations fraud capital In a factual statement filed in federal court, Davis admitted falsifying information about Fifth Marketings number of employees, payroll and other overhead costs such as rent on a PPP loan application in July 2020. He said the company had 26 employees and monthly revenue of $109,746 both lies, the statement said. Davis also used a tax preparer who wrote up falsified tax forms to submit with his PPP loan application, which was approved by an unnamed bank. The loan for Fifth Marketing would be guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, as long as the funds were used for legitimate business expenses. Story continues They werent, the feds say. After receiving the PPP loan proceeds, the defendant did not make any payroll payments, according to the factual statement signed by Davis, defense lawyer Carlos Gonzalez and prosecutor Bertila Fernandez. He misused the funds. On August 28, 2020, the defendant wired $31,000 to R.E.S. for the alleged purchase of equipment, the statement said. However, the defendant did not buy equipment; he purchased a 2001 Blue BMW M3. The BMW was titled in the defendants name. The Telegraph I for one have never doubted that the Duchess of Sussex has perfectly good reasons for not attending the Coronation. After all, she and her husband have two children. And every parent knows how hard it can be to find a reliable babysitter. This is why my wife and I always use my father-in-law. Unfortunately for the Duchess, her father-in-law is the King, and it seems that on this particular occasion he is unavailable. (Bloomberg) -- The French government is seeking a buyer for nuclear-submarine parts supplier Segault SAS to bring what it sees as a key technology into domestic hands, people familiar with the matter said. Most Read from Bloomberg Current owner Velan Inc., based in Quebec, is being bought by US company Flowserve Corp. in an all-cash transaction valued at about C$329 million ($244 million) that is expected to close by the end of the second quarter. Paris sees the takeover as an opportunity to carve out the France-based supplier of defense and civil nuclear technologies and bring it under French ownership, and is looking at whether the deal would qualify for a screening process put in place for sensitive businesses. Segault provides components for nuclear-propelled submarines built by state-owned shipbuilder Naval Group and also makes industrial valves that are used on Frances Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier. French legislation allows for screening of foreign direct investment in sectors deemed sensitive to national interests. Approval from the Economy Ministry is required when one or more non-EU investors acquire more than 10% of the voting rights in such businesses. The government can block such transactions or authorize them under certain conditions. The European Commission is working on a similar tool. The attempt to avoid a business based in France falling into US hands comes at a sensitive time for relations between the two countries after President Emmanuel Macron irked allies during a trip to China last week in which he said Europe should avoid being dragged into a potential conflict over Taiwan, the island democracy that Beijing claims as its own. Story continues Washington infuriated France two years ago when it signed a defense alliance with Australia and the UK, dubbed AUKUS, that led to Canberra scrapping a $58 billion contract for a fleet of 12 French-built, diesel-powered submarines. On Tuesday, former Socialist economy minister Arnaud Montebourg, who created a name for himself championing Made in France products, publicly called for Macron to step in to make sure Segault ends up in French hands. He offered to buy the business with the help of domestic investment firm Otium Capital. A spokesperson for the Finance Ministry declined to comment on Montebourgs offer. Segault and Otium didnt immediately return requests for comment. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Bart Biesemans, Layli Foroudi and Ingrid Melander PARIS (Reuters) -Union activists barged into the Paris headquarters of luxury goods company LVMH on Thursday, saying the French government should shelve plans to make people work longer for their pension and tax the rich more instead. In a 12th day of nationwide protests since mid-January, striking workers also disrupted garbage collections in Paris and blocked river traffic on part of the Rhine in eastern France. "You're looking for money to finance pensions? Take it from the pockets of billionaires," said Sud Rail union leader Fabien Villedieu, as the LVMH headquarters filled with red smoke from flares. The protesters then left peacefully. Trade unions urged a show of force on the streets a day before the Constitutional Council's ruling on the legality of the bill that will raise the state pension age by two years to 64. Across France, 380,000 demonstrators took part in Thursday's protest, according to figures from the government. That number included 42,000 at the Paris demonstration. Those figures were down from April 6, when 570,000 demonstrated across France, with 57,000 at last week's Paris protest. There were some clashes during Thursday's rallies, including skirmishes in central Paris, with black-clad protesters throwing projectiles at police who responded with teargas, but this was nowhere near the level of violence seen at some protests last month. Ten members of the police force were injured on Thursday, said the police department. If the Council gives its approval, possibly with some caveats, the government will be entitled to promulgate the law, and will hope this will eventually put an end to protests, which have coalesced widespread anger against President Emmanuel Macron. But protesters said they would keep up the fight if the Council gave a green light. "We don't want to work until 64," 50-year-old teacher Kathy Brochard said at the Paris rally. Story continues 'WE WON'T GIVE UP' Protesters want the bill withdrawn - or put to a referendum. "We still hope that, at some point, someone in high places will decide to abandon this law, sit around a table and look at pension funding differently," 52-year-old postal service worker Francis Bourget said at the Paris rally. The industrial action has lost some steam and the protests have rallied smaller crowds in recent weeks compared with turnouts of more than a million seen earlier in the movement. But unions remained defiant. "This is certainly not the last day of the strike," Sophie Binet, the new leader of the hard-left CGT union, said at the blockade of an incinerator outside Paris. Macron and his government argue the new law is needed to ensure that France's generous pension system does not go bust. Unions say this can be done by other means. Macron has said he will organise a meeting with unions after the Council's decision to work on other proposals - an initiative union leaders say will be short-lived if he is not ready to discuss withdrawing the pension legislation. "After three months of mobilisation, I would lie if I told you that there is no fatigue. We are tired, but a mobilisation is like a marathon," Sud Rail's Villedieu said. "We won't give up." Political observers say the widespread discontent over the government's reform could have longer-term repercussions, including a possible boost for the far right. "I'm not that optimistic about the Constitutional Council's decision," far-right leader Marine Le Pen, who opposes the pension legislation, told BFM TV. "But what do you want me to do? Burn cars? We'll just tell the French: Vote for the National Rally." On the Rhine river, cargo traffic was disrupted after workers cut power at a waterway lock near the border with Germany and Switzerland, a union official told Reuters. (Additional reporting by Dominique Vidalon, Yann Tessier, Blandine Henault, Forrest Crellin, Tassilo Hummel, Richard Lough, Mimosa Spencer, Bertrand Boucey, Marc Leras, Clotaire Achi, Yonathan van der Voort, Sudip Kar-Gupta; Writing by Ingrid Melander; Editing by Christina Fincher and Mark Potter) Picture of Christian Moussa Christian Ally Moussa did not tell anyone that he had decided to get in a small boat to make the 350km (220-mile) trip across a treacherous stretch of the Indian Ocean between Madagascar and the French island of Mayotte. He was desperate and he had made the risky crossing twice before. He needed to return to the place from where he was deported a few weeks earlier as he was supposed to appear at a hearing about his application for French citizenship. After years of saving to pay his legal fees, the 42-year-old hoped he would finally be able to claim the European passport that was his birth right. He had the right to a passport as his father was a French citizen from Mayotte, a French overseas territory, 8,000km (5,000 miles) away from Paris. In almost every respect it is supposed to be treated like any part of mainland France. But because Mr Moussa was born and raised in Madagascar, an island to the south of Mayotte, he had struggled to gain recognition as a French citizen. He had been living and working in Mayotte on and off since 2004 without the correct paperwork, while, like many others, supporting his wife and children in Madagascar. But a French passport would allow him to become a legal resident giving him greater opportunities. Famous for its stunning coral reefs and lagoon, Mayotte is home to an estimated 300,000 people. It is the poorest part of France yet wealthy compared to the neighbouring islands of Madagascar and Comoros, off the south-east coast of Africa. The beaches, the sea and the coral reef offer an idyllic view of Mayotte With only weeks to go until his citizenship hearing, Mr Moussa was unexpectedly arrested by French immigration police and deported to Madagascar. "[The police] barged in and wanted to take Christian away," his relative, who we are not naming for security reasons, says. "He asked me to go and get his shoes but by the time I came back with them, they had already taken him." Mr Moussa was tracked down to the only detention centre in the main city, Mamoudzou. Story continues "We spoke on the phone. He was crying a lot and said he didn't want to go back to Madagascar," the relative says. The family then contacted a lawyer who launched an emergency appeal to stop the deportation. Mr Moussa was set to appear in front of a judge at 11:00 the next day but by this time he was already on a flight to Madagascar, less than 48 hours after being detained. But it was the court hearing on his bid to become a French citizen that he did not want to miss. That was when he hatched the risky plan to return to Mayotte on a small fishing boat, known locally as a "kwassa kwassa". "I didn't know he wanted to make the trip back to Mayotte," the relative says. "He didn't say anything to me or his friends. He just asked for money as he said he was sick and needed medicine because they had no drinking water in the village." That was the last the relative ever heard from him. "When the authorities called to tell me he had been found dead, I told them: 'No it's not him. It can't be him'. They then sent photos and I recognised his face." 'An open-air graveyard' Mr Moussa died with at least 34 others - all discovered drowned off the coast of Madagascar on 12 March. What happened to Mr Moussa was not unusual. "The lagoon around the island is an open-air graveyard," says Daniel Gros, from the Human Rights League NGO in Mayotte. But, he adds, there is no official attempt to find out how many perish on the journey from either Madagascar or the Comoros. "When I [started working here] in 2012, the authorities used to say that about 10,000 people were estimated to have died there [since 2002]. And today, they give the same figure." Mayotte has been in the headlines for riots and unrest, with islanders experiencing rising poverty. They complain about an increase in immigration mainly from the Comoros, which has put pressure on public services. The French government says one in two people living on the island are "foreign" and has vowed to crack down on illegal immigration. It has stepped up its presence at sea as well as aerial surveillance and currently deports 24,000 people a year. As part of a plan to tackle the migration, the French government is planning a major demolition operation, known as Operation Wuambushu, to get rid of what it says are illegal dwellings or shanty towns. It has also boosted the police and paramilitary presence on the island to 1,300 officers. North of Mamoudzou, in a shanty town called Majikavo, officials are already marking some of the corrugated iron dwellings for destruction. The police believe most of the residents in this poor area are there illegally, but regardless of their status many are getting caught up in the operation. "We live under constant threat," says Fatima, who has lived there for 15 years. "They said: 'Whether you accept it or not, this place will be destroyed'." Some homes in Majikavo have been tagged, making residents fear that they will be demolished Fatima, not her real name, is originally from the Comoros but holds a residency permit which allows her to remain on the island, though not travel to mainland France. Under French law, the government has to offer "suitable alternative accommodation" to those whose homes are set to be destroyed. But up until now, no clear relocation plan has been released though some residents have been offered emergency accommodation for six months. French member of parliament for Mayotte, Estelle Youssouffa, who asked for the operation to take place, says it is urgent that the state regain control of these areas. She is one of two representatives that the island sends to Paris. "It is about destroying an illegal habitat that shelters a population that is mostly foreign or recently regularised," she tells the BBC. "These shanty towns are built on private or public land that has been stolen because it is illegally occupied. The shanty towns are dangerous areas for the safety and health of those who live there. They are also environmental hazards: destroying them is an emergency for the return of republican order and the security and health of all." She has also called on Paris to take a tougher stance with the Comoros islands and wants the national navy to set up a permanent base on the island, solely dedicated to fighting clandestine immigration. "There is no point in carrying out such large-scale slum-demolition operations if the borders are not closed." But the Comorian government, which claims the island of Mayotte as an integral part of the Comoros, has called out the danger of such an operation and asked the French authorities not to proceed with it. In a statement this week it said that "the electoral promises made in Mayotte of 'spectacular action' to destroy shanty towns and expel their inhabitants, judged to be in an irregular situation, must not lead to the destabilisation of an entire region". With Mayotte being majority Muslim, the operation is set to start straight after Ramadan at the end of next week. Human-rights activist Daniel Gros is highly critical of what he describes as the "heavy-handed actions" of the French state. "If you chase people away, you shouldn't be surprised that they come back. We deport hundreds of people a day yet we have boats arriving with a similar number of people at the same time." The tragedy for Mr Moussa was that he was entitled to be French all along, but his desperation to get the citizenship cost him his life. "His dad was French, his grand-parents were French. Why did he have to die in the sea?," his relative asks. The man in the Celtics hat leaned over the handlebars of his electric scooter, a cigarette dangling between his fingers. His hands were stained and weathered, aged beyond his 30 years. Embedded in the creases and folds were signs of a hard life the kind of grime soap doesnt get rid of. A cool wind scattered the embers of his cigarette across the dusty pavement. Dusk had fallen on the industrial downtown of Rochester with a frosty burst of air. On a side street, high above the roof of a rusting aluminum-sided building, the sky turned shades of slate and indigo. A vacant lot next door was flecked with weeds spurting through fissures in the asphalt: a touch of green on a late March evening, on the doorstep of spring. The overdose prevention van operated by the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition offers a syringe exchange, fentanyl test strips, safety kits, wound care, and other supplies. Moments prior, the man had arrived in the nondescript parking lot to empty a considerable amount of used needles into a five-gallon utility bucket. In return, he received a supply of brand new needles. Also available to him were fentanyl test strips, naloxone to reverse overdoses, and kits for safer injection, smoking, and snorting. The new syringes would hold him over until the following week, when he would return to the same Rochester parking lot just as he does every Monday. Many people do the same in Concord, Manchester, Dover, and Somersworth when the nonprofit New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition arrives in its new overdose prevention van, serving around 2,000 program participants statewide. Visitors to the van seek ways to stay infection-free and alive in a drug landscape where each injection could be fatal. And, in many ways, they seek a deeper empathy and understanding beyond the little that society affords them. There are 10 Syringe Service Program location in N.H. 6:15 p.m. Palana Belken opened the heavy sliding doors of the deep blue van. Jumping inside, she recalled a time when people sold used needles on Facebook Marketplace for $5. That was before 2017, when the state made it legal for syringe exchange and harm reduction programs to operate giving people options for safe syringe disposal, and in turn, the opportunity to access a clean supply. Story continues Belken is the coalitions director of operations. A former Rochester city councilor, shes also one-half of an instrumental alternative and psychedelic duo called Palana vs. The Man. She explained syringe exchanges are just a piece of harm reduction, the larger public health framework thats gaining attention nationally. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention names harm reduction as an evidence-based strategy for preventing opioid overdose, and its been designated as a priority area for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services prevention work. Belken said theres more interest in New Hampshire than ever before, though its been a long road to get there. Harm reduction philosophy is about dignity and humanity: accepting that people are going to use drugs regardless, and focusing on minimizing negative impacts to individuals and communities. Its not about funneling people to recovery or telling them to get clean. Its about providing safer tools, connection, and resources meeting them where theyre at and keeping them engaged. And oftentimes, its simply making sure they live to see the next day. Our bread and butter is getting Narcan to people who use it, Belken said. People have to stay alive in order to make it to recovery. Recovery isnt the end goal for everyone, either. Some will use drugs for their entire lives, and according to the harm reduction model, thats OK, too. It doesnt mean their life has any less value. In many ways, its radical love, a term NHHRC uses often on its website and in distributed materials. Radical love is just showing up for people as they are, Belken said. Treating people with compassion. I feel like with how stigmatized drug use is, that showing this particular group of people compassion is just inherently radical, unfortunately. I wish that wasnt the case. Going through drawers on the van filled with kits for safer injection, smoking, and snorting, Palana Belken explains the harm reduction philosophy: accepting people where theyre at and helping them minimize negative consequences. 6:30 p.m. Going through the vans tightly packed shelves and drawers, Belken pointed out water bottles, jackets, sleeping bags, HIV and COVID-19 test kits, condoms, Plan B, wound care supplies, and general hygiene products. She fanned out fentanyl testing strips in her hand, saying they carry thousands. Fentanyl has all but replaced heroin in New Hampshire and is increasingly creeping into cocaine, prescription pills, and other substances. Test, test, test is what they tell all of their program participants. NHHRC had been operating its mobile services out of the trunks of volunteers cars for several years. The new van, which hit the streets this winter, can reach more people and stock supplies to scale. It looks like an Amazon delivery van, and Belken laughed that it was challenging to purchase one because the e-commerce tycoon buys them all up. Depending on the city and expected demand for services, some nights see three staffers and volunteers on site, others see six or more. Belken said the van is opening up new opportunities, one being conversation. While driving around the state, she often catches people checking it out at stoplights and intersections. Sometimes, people walk up and ask questions about it. Nothing is being hidden from the public, and thats part of the goal. The vans exterior features colorful artwork depicting nasal naloxone, and in big letters across the back reads overdose reversal. A big piece of the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition is its syringe exchange. Program participants are able to safely dispose of their used needles in exchange for new, clean ones. The exchange prevents sharing of used needles, which can lead to hepatitis C and HIV, and encourages proper disposal. 6:40 p.m. Set up next to the van, two volunteers talked quietly amongst themselves as they oversaw the buckets where people dropped off used needles. They greeted anyone who approached with warmth. One woman pulled up in her car with a plastic Target bag filled with syringes, which she carefully placed in a bucket. She softly asked for hand warmers and Plan B before leaving. Thank you guys, appreciate you, she said. Another man parked his car discreetly off to the side and hurried away after dropping off a collection of syringes. Last year, NHHRC took in more than 500,000 syringes, representing an average return rate from their program participants of about 87 percent. 6:50 p.m. Rebecca Martin sat on the bumper of her car, flashing closed-lip smiles and initiating small talk. She started in this line of work as a peer recovery support specialist with the Concord Doorway, one hub of the states hub and spoke model for substance use treatment. Now shes a certified recovery support worker and serves as the coalitions care coordinator for Dover, Rochester, and Somersworth. Martin advises people based on what they ask for, she said. She doesnt wave around pamphlets for the nearest recovery program, though she certainly has them and is ready to deploy if needed. Rather, she tries to educate on utilizing fentanyl test strips every time someone uses, for example. If someone does want additional help, shell get them connected with the states Doorway system or the 211 hotline. Usually I get asked, Wheres a meeting? she said. Or for resources like tents, flashlights, batteries. Martin often sees emerging trends coming down the pipeline based on what clients share with her at weekly van visits. One thats being increasingly discussed is xylazine a powerful tranquilizer typically used by veterinarians, known on the street as tranq, thats made its way into New Hampshires drug supply. Xylazine is especially scary because its not reactive to naloxone. It can cause severe wounds, including necrosis, the rotting of human tissue, the Drug Enforcement Administration warns. The overdose prevention van operated by the New Hampshire Harm Reduction Coalition offers a syringe exchange, fentanyl test strips, safety kits, wound care, and other supplies. A wound care provider joins the van for most weekly visits a highly utilized service, Belken noted. Theyre seeing really terrible, bizarre wounds. And yet, in terms of how prevalent xylazine is becoming, New Hampshire is flying blind and at the mercy of data coming out of Massachusetts, because the Granite State doesnt have its own comprehensive drug testing system. Belken hopes theyll soon have access to xylazine testing strips, which just hit the market last month. So far, theyve been hard to find. 7:15 p.m. Martin sifted through a bag in the trunk of her car, taking out a dose of intramuscular naloxone. She doesnt often advertise that she carries it, but people are increasingly interested, she said. Naloxone, often used interchangeably with brand name Narcan, is frequently administered nasally, but the intramuscular kind is like an EpiPen. It can be injected straight through pants and into the muscle. Martin called it a heavy duty dose. NHHRC distributes huge amounts of nasal Narcan, and the data shows lives are being saved because of it. In 2022, program participants statewide reported reversing 1,459 drug overdoses. Belken said 2021 saw even more than that. This month, the Department of Health and Human Services announced a large-scale initiative to deploy more than 700 public NaloxBoxes overdose reversal kits across the state in all 10 counties. There are risks associated with injection drug use: HIV and hepatitis C, skin infections, and a more potent chance of overdose. The coalition assembles kits for safer injection, smoking, and snorting, trying to educate program participants on alternatives, or at the very least, safer and less harmful methods. Palana Belken holds fentanyl test strips (left) and a safer smoking kit (right). Belken cited real growth in moving away from injection. In fact, some people prefer pipes to syringes when they have access to them. The CDC says people who regularly utilize syringe exchange programs are nearly three times more likely to stop or reduce injection. When youre putting the drug directly into your vein, thats just mainlining it, Belken said. (With smoking and snorting), obviously it doesnt mean a free pass, that you can just smoke or snort as much as you want. But it does help negate the consequences associated with injecting. Belken said she looks to Massachusetts-based Smoke Works as her information source on pipe use as an alternative to injection. By reducing syringe use, Smoke Works says, disease and infection transmission is minimized. Pipes also allow people to achieve a phased high, as opposed to a hurried injection that hits all at once, and maybe too much. The coalitions safer injection kits have been very popular. Last year, NHHRC gave out close to 10,000 of them, all containing sterile syringes, clean cookers, sterile water, dental cottons to filter out impurities, tourniquets, alcohol pads, and fentanyl test strips. All of NHHRCs kits contain educational inserts with information on naloxone and the Never Use Alone hotline. As a nonprofit, NHHRC gets its funding from a combination of sources, including private donations, grants, and a contract with the state. In 2020, the coalition entered into a $770,000 contract with the Department of Health and Human Services to increase harm reduction offerings. The contract specifically noted all of the money was federal funding, and that stipulations were attached in terms of what it could be used for. 7:30 p.m. The evening grew darker as Belken and Martin traded laughs with Adriane Apicelli, who was on site conducting surveys for the University of New Hampshires Harm Reduction Education and Technical Assistance Project. A survey table set up with the van to gather program participant input is covered in stickers of various messaging. What would happen if policy makers got direct feedback from people who use drugs? What do you think people get wrong about drug use? Apicelli spoke with a perfect combination of humor, kindness, and discretion, showing extreme care for the stories being shared. People dont know what peoples lives have been like, why they do the drugs, said the man in the Celtics hat. He recounted trauma in his youth. He spoke openly about it, tracing his drug addiction back to the suffering that altered the course of his life forever. Behind him, engines hummed through a downtown thoroughfare, past a hair salon, seafood restaurant, and electrical supply store. I dont even know what the hell a sober life is, because I was so f young, he said. A talkative man in his late 50s, wearing a ball cap and glasses, had been hanging around the parking lot for at least 30 minutes making genial conversation. He debated with staffers and volunteers over which was better: Hannaford or Market Basket. When he saw an opening, he cut in: When is it my turn to take the survey? 7:45 p.m. A woman bundled in a soft pink hoodie and thick winter coat had arrived with the man in the Celtics hat; she, too, was riding an electric scooter. She said she was 35 years old, and had been accessing the syringe exchange services for the last three to four years. When she was in high school, she was interested in phlebotomy, she said collecting blood samples from patients and preparing them for testing. She shared that small detail from her life with pride. A lot of people have something theyre running from, she remarked casually, looking down the dim, empty street leading away from downtown. Shed just dropped off two containers overflowing with used needles in exchange for new ones. It literally just numbs the pain. She stuffed her backpack with the clean syringes and other supplies shed been given, offering affectionate thanks, goodbyes, and see you laters. She put on a headlamp and mounted her scooter, motoring away into another night, nearing blackness. NH Harm Reduction resources This story was originally published by New Hampshire Bulletin. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: NH overdose crisis van in Rochester: Saving lives Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto Szijjarto said that energy supply is a matter of exceptional importance for Hungary while meeting in the Hungarian capital Budapest with his Belarusian counterpart, Sergei Aleinik who has not been sanctioned by the European Union. Read also: Hungary's foreign minister outraged at Ukraines Kuleba being invited to NATO meeting So far, Belarus has been a reliable and amiable transit partner of Hungary, Szijjarto said, praising the authoritarian state and military ally of Russia. Belarus (has) guaranteed uninterrupted oil deliveries from the country to Hungary. And today the minister promised that we can count on safe and uninterrupted deliveries in the future. And I offered my gratitude for that. Szijjarto cited statements by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the next heating season would be even more difficult for Europe. Read also: Russia puts Hungary on unfriendly countries list, says envoy IAEA experts are saying more and more that next winter in Europe will entail even greater challenges than the period weve already gone through, he said. We must talk about the safety of Hungarys energy supply. From this point of view, Belarus is a very important country. At the same meeting, Aleinik called for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and the start of negotiations. 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 Friends and well-wishers are invited to offer their farewells to fallen U.S. Army Sgt. David Solinas Jr., who died two weeks ago when his helicopter crashed outside a military base in Kentucky. The bereaved are asked to gather for the sergeant's procession along Kinderkamack Road between Lake Avenue and Soldier Hill Road in Oradell on Sunday starting at 2:45 p.m., with the procession set to begin at 3 p.m., as the soldier returns home. Visitation will be open on April 21 from 2 to 9 p.m. at Our Lady of Mercy R.C. Church, 2 Freemont Ave., Park Ridge. In lieu of flowers, Solinas' family asks for donations to a GoFundMe account, which will "allow David to continue to give back to his community well beyond his final flight," according to an obituary published by William G. Basralian Funeral Service. No other fundraisers will be approved by the family, and flowers will not be accepted. Sgt. David Solinas Jr. was one of the nine soldiers killed in a helicopter crash in Kentucky. A burial Mass will take place April 22 at 11 a.m. at Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, 89 Ridge St., Newark. His burial will be at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia, at a later date. Solinas was born with an impulse to serve his country and his community, his family recently told The Record. "Whether it's Eagle Scouts or working with special needs children," said his father, David Sr., enumerating the organized efforts his son joined until he was old enough to enlist. "He wanted to be in the military for a long time." Solinas, 23, of Oradell, was the second of four boys born to David and Ellen Solinas. He was a hometown boy through and through, graduating from River Dell High School in 2018. The passion for military service started at a young age. His brothers Stephen, Brendan and Aidan recall him playing Army in the backyard with his friends and watching Navy SEAL videos as a little kid. Solinas was one of nine soldiers who died March 29, when two Black Hawk medical evacuation helicopters crashed during a drill outside Fort Campbell, a spokesperson for the 101st Airborne Division said. Story continues An aviation safety team from Fort Rucker in Alabama is investigating the crash, according to the 101st Airborne's statement. The helicopters were flying in a "multi-ship formation," with personnel using night vision goggles, Brig. Gen. John Lubas, the deputy commander of the 101st Airborne Division, told USA Today. There were five people in one helicopter, four in the other. "David will be missed by his beloved dog Scout, countless friends, family and all who had the great pleasure of knowing him," his obituary said. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: US Army helicopter crash victim to be honored in Oradell NJ A north Georgia man was arrested after police said he picked up someone elses child at a park last week. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] The Fort Oglethorpe Police Department said the suspect, identified as Gregory Heath Wallace, was lurking about Gilbert-Stephenson Park. Wallace eventually physically picked up a child before another parent intervened. TRENDING STORIES: Police obtained warrants for Wallaces arrest and he was taken to jail. He was charged with interference with custody and released on bond. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] Its unclear what the man was charged with. The child has not been identified. A Macon man could spend the next 10 years in prison after he walked into a Walmart store and waved a gun at customers inside. Selma Oliver-Smith, 45, of Macon, was found guilty Tuesday of illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon following a two-day trial. The incident happened in Aug. 2021. Bibb County deputies said they were called out the Walmart along Harrison Road in Macon for a call of a man aggressively waving a gun at people who approached him inside the store. Oliver-Smith was found inside his hotel room, where officers found two firearms hidden inside the toilet bowl tank. One of the firearms, a Jennings Firearms Bryco .380, looked identical to the one in the photo provided by WalMart, a news release from US Attorney for Georgias Middle District said. TRENDING STORIES: Oliver-Smith was known to officers and has a lengthy criminal history with convictions for burglary, theft by taking, and second-degree criminal damage. Because he is a convicted felon, it is illegal for Olive-Smith to have a gun. Not only is it illegal for a convicted felon to possess a firearm anytime and anywhere, Mr. Oliver-Smith chose to walk into a neighborhood store and wave a gun at customers. Thankfully, no shots were fired, and no one was hurt, U.S. Attorney Peter D. Leary said. Selma Oliver-Smiths arrest and conviction shows that the justice system will not tolerate dangerous career criminals using a firearm to menace innocent shoppers in a busy Walmart, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said. Oliver-Smith faces 10 years in prison, at least three years of supervised release, and a $250,000 fine. Sentencing is set for July 11. IN OTHER NEWS: Florida citrus growers are facing an uphill battle due to the combined effects of ongoing drought, a disease known as citrus greening and the damage wrought by Hurricane Ian last fall. But there are increasing signs of optimism among farmers in the industry. For Vernon Hollingsworth, a fifth-generation farmer and citrus grower, the situation has been nothing short of dire. Hollingsworth, who grew up in Florida, said his family's orange trees were recently ravaged by both disease and Ian. This has led to increased juice prices and left many farmers in disbelief. "I lost 95 to 97 percent of my crops," Hollingsworth told AFP. The citrus industry in Florida has suffered as a whole due to the lessened growth, with the last crop being one of the smallest since World War II. But despite these recent challenges, there is renewed hope in the fight against citrus greening -- also known as Huanglongbing (HLB). HLB is a bacterial disease spread by tiny insects that infect and kill fruit and trees. Florida, the world's second-largest orange juice producer after Brazil, has a new discovery that will help the state continue production despite the challenges: the HLB-tolerant Donaldson tree. "It's not immune, it does get the disease, but it seems to be able to keep growing," Ben Rosson, bureau chief of the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, told AccuWeather National Reporter Bill Wadell. The Florida Department of Agriculture has started growing clean trees to distribute to nurseries for propagation. One of the nurseries to receive the Donaldson trees belongs to Roy Petteway in Hardee County, Florida. Petteway's family farm, Petteway Citrus and Cattle, was one of many severely impacted by Ian in September. He told Wadell last October that the storm's powerful winds wiped out 40% of his family's crop. Petteway said the process of budding involves taking a bud from one tree and putting it into the bark of a new tree. The bud then grows into a branch on the new tree. Story continues "Those trees will then take about another year before we can get them out into a real-world growth setting. And then in three to five years, those trees will be getting fruit off," Petteway explained. In March, the Florida Department of Citrus said crop forecast numbers were trending in a "positive direction" but noted that Florida growers still have "many trials to overcome." "As growers continue to repair, replant, and deploy innovative mitigation efforts to combat greening and ensure the health of their operations and this industry, the Florida Department of Citrus is working alongside industry leaders and policymakers to help ensure Florida citrus growers have the assistance necessary to recover from the 2022 hurricane season and make progress toward a stronger future for the Florida citrus industry," said Shannon Shepp, the executive director of the Florida Department of Citrus. As farmers face increasing threats from disease, drought and tropical weather, the Donaldson tree is providing a much-needed positive development for the citrus industry. "We're wanting to plant as many acres as possible within a couple of years. It is a game changer as long as it continues to reform like it has," said Rosson. 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. Gavin Newsoms message was direct and unambiguous. Authoritarian leaders who are so hell bent on gaining power and keeping it by whatever means necessary that they are directly attacking our freedoms in state after state. Usually when American politicians reference authoritarian leaders, they mean Vladimir Putin of Russia, Xi Jinping of China or Kim Jong-un of North Korea. But in this case, Californias governor referred to his peers Republican governors of states like Florida and Texas who also happen to be fellow Americans. Newsom singled them out for sharp attack recently when he announced his Campaign for Democracy. Among the states he visited were Alabama, Arkansas and Mississippi in a quest to support liberal-minded groups and people who feel attacked by conservative politicians in those states, and to encourage them that they are not alone. His overarching message was spot on: Conservative states are pulling back on aspects of life Americans long assumed as givens, be it abortion access, educational opportunities or voting rights. To start the Campaign for Democracy, Newsom gave it $10 million from his gubernatorial campaign account. But in describing the wrongs he sees in these other states, Newsom engaged in militaristic language that was striking, as seen on a video he filmed to launch the campaign: They (red-state governors) fan the flames of culture wars ... we know we have a big battle coming ... Our country is facing an existential battle for who we are and who we are willing to become. Newsom goes on: What is happening in those red states? Thats not who we are. It is un-American. Its undemocratic. And all it takes to fight back is a willingness to stand toe to toe and say, enough. That is what the campaign for democracy is all about. Big battle ... fight back ... stand toe to toe. To Newsom, the new civil war has indeed begun, and just like Union soldiers fighting the Confederate side, this pitched battle will require close combat. Story continues Those Union and Confederate sides could not, or would not, solve their disputes through the machinery of the political system. War became the only option. Some historians believe America is potentially headed that way again; others think current circumstances are different and violence wont break out. One thing is clear: Strident language, by either side, is not going to lead to the nation forward. Challenge and compromise Credit Newsom for having the courage to challenge Republican leaders who have fomented much of the culture war America is waging right now. But in getting aggressive, is Newsom furthering the divide? Is it a good strategy to accuse Republican governors of being un-American? Is Newsom the only one who can determine what it means to be an American? When one reduces an opponent to something less than equal, that opponent has few options. They can ignore the slight, or they can fight. Predictably, the California GOP hit back at Newsoms rhetoric, with chairwoman Jessica Millan Patterson authoring a piece for Fox News that linked Newsoms labeling of Republican governors as authoritarians to his own COVID state of emergency that closed schools and, for a time, most public spaces. If Newsom really wants to warn against authoritarian leadership, theres no better place to start than with himself, she said. This is not a defense of Ron DeSantis of Florida and Greg Abbott of Texas. DeSantis crusade to attack wokeism in Floridas educational system is reducing it to a mockery. Abbotts harsh treatment of migrants fleeing economic hardship and criminal horrors in their home countries lacks compassion and is anything but welcoming. But it must be remembered that those governors represent voters who put them into office. Those voters are also Americans. In his inaugural address in 1861, new President Abraham Lincoln called upon the nations citizens to listen to their better angels. Today, Newsom is on the side of the angels, but his red-hot, red-state rhetoric is excessive and divisive. Another part of Lincolns address is instructive when the goal is unifying the nation: I am loath to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. The General Staff of Ukraine posted a photo from the training of the Ukrainian military in Poland on Leopard 2 tanks. Source: General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Quote: "Forsvaret joint group of instructors from the Armed Forces of the Kingdom of Norway are training servicemen of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to operate Leopard 2 tanks, build tank obstacles and how to break through them as part of the Norwegian mission to train the Ukrainian military in the Republic of Poland." Background: The Swedish government decided to send 10 Leopard 2 tanks to Ukraine in preparation for the upcoming counteroffensive. On 4 February, Antonio Costa, Prime Minister of Portugal, stated that his country would send Leopard 2 battle tanks to the Armed Forces of Ukraine; he also added that a logistical operation to recover some tanks was currently undergoing with Germany. On 27 March, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz confirmed that the Leopard 2 tanks promised by the government in Berlin have arrived in Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Southern Democrats are fuming over their partys decision to hold its 2024 national convention in Chicago instead of Atlanta, seeing the move as a slight against a city and state that helped deliver Democrats both the White House and their current Senate majority. In the lead-up to the decision, Atlantas boosters aggressively lobbied President Biden and his allies for hosting rights, playing up the city as the cradle of the civil rights movement and hammering the importance of Georgia and the South more broadly as a critical emerging battleground for Democrats. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) announced on Tuesday, however, that Chicago would host the 2024 gathering, elevating a liberal city near the center of the so-called blue wall states of the upper Midwest and siding with union leaders who had opposed Atlanta as the host site because of Georgias contentious history with organized labor. It feels a little bit like a slap in the face, one Georgia Democratic operative said. You know, theres a lot that goes into this hotels and transportation and all that. But theres the symbolism to consider too, and I think it would have been a strong statement to say, Hey, Georgia has delivered for us, and were not taking that for granted. The Democratic National Committees decision to give the convention to Chicago was a massive blow to Georgia Democrats, who thought Atlanta was the favorite to host the quadrennial gathering in the days leading up to the announcement. For months, Atlantas boosters worked to assure Biden and Democratic officials that the city was prepared for the event. They secured more than $20 million in financial commitments from donors and corporations and leaned heavily on an argument that it was Georgia that handed Democrats their current power in Washington. A January letter to Biden from more than 65 current and former Democratic federal, state and local officials in the South put that argument into stark relief, telling the president that everything we have accomplished as a party since January of 2021 can be traced back to Georgia, and specifically, to the metro Atlanta area which swung the state in our favor. Story continues 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 and it is the single greatest reason why Democrats have maintained a majority in the United States Senate, the letter said. Indeed, it was Sens. Jon Ossoffs (D-Ga.) and Raphael Warnocks (D-Ga.) back-to-back victories in Georgia just over two years ago that handed Democrats control of the Senate. Georgia also helped put Biden in the White House in 2020, marking the first time since 1992 that a Democratic presidential candidate carried the state. Weve won three Senate seats in two years. We are doing the work, and we need the Democratic Party to just get out of this mindset that the South is this kind of bastion of conservatism, when that is not at all the case, one Georgia Democrat said. Kendra Cotton, the CEO of the New Georgia Project Action Fund, said that she was disappointed by the decision to give the convention to Chicago, especially given the critical role Georgia played in Bidens 2020 presidential bid. In 2020 and again in 2022, Georgia proved our status as a key battleground state, and any candidate, campaign or political party should keep that in mind as we head into next year, Cotton said. One of the obstacles to Atlantas selection was a lobbying effort by the AFL-CIO to pass on the city, penning a letter to DNC leadership arguing that the city had too few union-backed hotels to support the convention with two upscale properties. This is nowhere near enough to meet delegates needs. Union delegates and guests who choose union hotels as a matter of conscience would need to compete over limited rooms. Not every state delegate and visitor who wanted to show labor solidarity would be able to do so, the letter reads, also calling the price point of the hotels a burden for some. We are proud to represent members in Georgia and recognize the great cultural and political value of Atlanta, as well as the civil rights legacy and ongoing work for racial justice being led by activists throughout the state. But the importance of having many union hotels for a Democratic convention is well known, and the city has done nothing during its long convention bid to address the problem. That struck a sour note with Georgians who say the union undercut a state where Democrats have made significant gains under largely Republican state-level leadership. That feels just really disingenuous because youre punishing people who work really hard for the Democratic Party because their state has really crushed the union movement, the Georgia Democrat said. And to say that because the city of Atlanta didnt do enough to magically create unions or union hotels overnight, that they should be disqualified, its just insulting. Its insulting to organizers across the South who live in states where Republicans want to destroy the union movement. How are we supposed to build a union movement in the South if union organizers veto national events where we can build that network? Its really a double standard. The AFL-CIO declined to comment. There were other factors that nudged Democratic leaders toward Chicago: the citys proximity to the blue wall, the United Center and its nearby hotels and restaurants, and Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzkers (D) promise to help pay for the convention costs, which could run as high as $90 million. Despite the disappointment out of Georgia, Democrats pledged to move forward, insisting that the Chicago convention wouldnt change the trajectory of their work in Georgia. Following Tuesdays announcement, Rep. Nikema Williams (D-Ga.), the chair of the state Democratic Party, said that she was disappointed by the decision but held that Georgia would remain the center of the political universe in 2024. Driven by the strength of our richly diverse coalition of voters, Georgia has become the countrys premier battleground state, delivering historic wins for Democrats and changing the trajectory of our entire nation, she said. Georgia represents the future of the Democratic Party and we will continue to invest in that future by working to elect Democrats up and down the ballot in 2024. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The German Ministry of Defence has allowed Poland to supply Ukraine with five MiG-29 fighter jets left over from the German Democratic Republic's army. Source: German Defence Ministry press service, reported by European Pravda Quote from Boris Pistorius, German Defence Minister: "I am pleased to inform you that we can promise our Polish partners that we will allow them to supply five MiG-29s from the former GDR stockpile to Ukraine. We received the application just today. I welcome the fact that we in the Federal Government have made this decision together." Details: In 2002, Germany sold Poland 23 MiG-29 fighters that the Bundeswehr (the Armed Forces of Germany - ed.) inherited from the army of the German Democratic Republic. Jacek Siewiera, a security advisor to Polish President Andrzej Duda, stated at the end of March that about 10 such fighters remain in service in the Polish Air Force. As a rule, contracts for the sale of military equipment from Germany stipulate that the German government must consent to the possible supply of its military equipment to a third party. Background: It was reported earlier that Poland had asked to be allowed to supply Ukraine with MiG-29 fighter jets. In response, the German government promised to make a decision this Thursday. Last week, Duda reported that Poland has supplied Ukraine with eight MiG-29 fighters. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Germany is revisiting a contentious decision to allow Chinese state-owned conglomerate Cosco Shipping Holdings Co. to buy a 24.9% stake in one of Hamburgs port terminals after a government agency reclassified the port terminal as critical infrastructure. Most Read from Bloomberg The move comes as Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock are working on a new China strategy in which Berlin is expected to adopt a more critical stance on China following Beijings increasingly militaristic threats against Taiwan. The investigation into Coscos planned investment in the Hamburg port terminal Tollerort is ongoing and Berlins final approval of the transaction is still pending, Economy Ministry spokeswoman Beate Baron told reporters at a regular government briefing in Berlin. Earlier on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the HHLA port operator confirmed media reports that the BSI government agency changed the status of the port terminal to critical infrastructure at the beginning of this year following new legislation passed by Scholzs ruling coalition in December. Since the circumstances have changed, we as the Economy Ministry are examining the consequences, Baron said. Asked if this means that the government could still block the Cosco plan, the ministry spokeswoman added that she could not speculate about the outcome of the review. She gave no hint if and when Berlin might approve the investment. China hoped Germany would provide a fair, just and nondiscriminatory environment for its firms, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said Thursday at a regular press briefing in Beijing. Story continues We hope the German side will refrain from politicizing commercial cooperation and making it something about ideology or security, and setting barriers to such cooperation, he said. Read more: Hamburg Port to Sell Stake to Chinas Cosco After Scholzs Push Baerbock is traveling to Beijing for political talks later this week in which she will address the security situation in the strait of Taiwan, human rights in China and Beijings role in the global fight against climate change, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Andrea Sasse told the same briefing. We are very concerned about the situation in the strait of Taiwan. We expect from all actors in the region to contribute to stability and peace, and this also applies to China. We have the impression that measures such as military threats run counter to this goal and rather increase the risk of unintended military clashes, Sasse added. Scholz has warned China ahead of a trip to Tokyo last month that Beijing may not change Taiwans status by force. China has pledged to bring Taiwan under its control someday, by force if necessary, while Taiwans ruling Democratic Progressive Party asserts Taiwan is an independent nation. Port Compromise The German government had initially agreed on a compromise which would have allowed the Chinese state-owned shipping conglomerate Cosco to buy a 24.9% stake in one of Hamburgs port terminals. The stake would be just shy of whats considered a blocking minority in Germany. This decision prevents a strategic investment in one of Hamburger Hafen und Logistik AGs terminals and reduces the acquisition to a purely financial investment, the economy ministry said in a statement back then. The coalition deal reached in October was seen as a face-saving solution for Scholz, who had initially supported the sale of a 35% stake to Cosco. But several ministers, including Economy Minister Robert Habeck and Finance Minister Christian Lindner had voiced their opposition to a bigger stake. A spokesperson for HHLA said under the planned investment, Cosco would not gain any access or decision-making rights when it comes to the operational management of the terminal, all customer relationships and also the IT systems. Read more: Germany Vows to Shield Infrastructure Against Russian Threats --With assistance from Philip Glamann. (Updates with comment from Chinas Foreign Ministry.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. As fans look forward to the highly anticipated (and inevitably emotional) final season of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," Amy Sherman-Palladino is reflecting on her "Gilmore Girls" days. The creator recently spoke to TODAY.com ahead of Season Five of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel," which premieres on April 14 on Prime Video. With the show's 7-year run coming to an end, Sherman-Palladino got candid about her "emotionally fragile" state and looked back on another one of her shows, "Gilmore Girls," which she says foreshadowed the future success of "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel." Taking place in the fictional Connecticut town of Stars Hallow, "Gilmore Girls" rolled out its first season in 2000. Fans quickly fell in love with the quirky mother-daughter duo that is Lorelai and Rory Gilmore (Lauren Graham and Alexis Bledel). They lived in a picturesque place where everyone knew everyone's business. At the table at Luke's Diner, fights were duked out, peace offerings were brokered and future love interests blossomed (IYKYK). Lauren Graham, Alexis Bledel Gilmore Girls: A Year In The Life Season 1 (2016) Netflix (Alamy Stock Photo) But behind the complicated plot was a lot of script with little time, limited resources and budget, and a set in Burbank, California, that needed to look as though it was straight out of a New England storybook. Gilmore Girls is where we cut our teeth and walk and talks out of necessity because we literally had so many pages to shoot and so little time to do it, Sherman-Palladino tells TODAY.com of the notoriously fast-talking show. But the creator had a secret weapon: Gilmore Girls star Lauren Graham, whom Sherman-Palladino describes as a mad scientist. We had the demon that is Lauren Graham, who can literally sit down in a makeup chair and learn 10 pages of dialogue in a hot second, shes kind of a mad scientist, she says. That started the sort of freedom of the movement and connecting the words with motion and one-liners." Amy Sherman-Palladino arrives for the 72nd Annual Directors Guild Of America Awards at The Ritz Carlton on January 25, 2020 in Los Angeles, California. (Rachel Luna / WireImage) "Gilmore Girls" became notorious for its quick-moving conversational style and quips (sound familiar, "Mrs. Maisel" fans?), and as the show continued to gain rhythm and flow, she and her team started feeling more ambitious" toward the TV series and beyond. Story continues "We were always saying, 'Wouldnt it be great to have the budget to do this for real and be able to paint out the Burbank mountains because we're in Connecticut? It was a lot of 'if only we' and 'someday we.' And 'Maisel' was that opportunity." Sherman-Palladino envisioned bringing a comedy to "a sort of MGM musical scale" that elevated the "beauty" and "scope" of her and her husband Daniel Palladino's storytelling (who served as writer and producer on "Gilmore Girls" and currently works on "The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"). A lighthearted, humorous storyline that resonated with an audience, just as "Gilmore Girls" did, but with the resources to "make it a bigger world." The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel was the dream born out of the fuel that Gilmore Girls provided. As Sherman-Palladino says, "It started in Burbank and it ended at 30 Rock," giving a nod to Rockefeller Center in New York City where Midge, Susie and the rest of the gang wrap up the series in a final effort to make their dreams come true. The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Season 5 (Philippe Antonello / Prime Video) Sherman-Palladino expresses how "nightmarish" it is to say "Thank you, and goodnight" to such a "special show." "It's a very special bunch of people and you get used to talking to them and seeing their faces, and without them you just feel sort of like the world is ending," the creator shares, saying that she's "very emotionally fragile." One moment she'll hold onto is the last day of filming, which the entire cast spent together. "We did, I will say, have a last day that was as good as a very emotional end could possibly get. We devised it so that everyone had to be in on the last day ... so that when I said, 'That's a wrap,' we were all together, and we could all sort of like, cry and and throw up and whatever else was necessary ... It was a very special last day." As far as what's next for her after tackling "Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"? "Now we're going to go back and reshoot every episode of "Gilmore," Palladino jokes. "Every single one of them to bring up the production ... that's the next seven years." But as a wise woman once said, tits up! Never say never. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Yurii Pyvovarov, Ukraines ambassador to Senegal, in front of a Ukrainian flag signed by soldiers from the frontline at the Ukrainian Embassy in Dakar, April 12, 2023. (Carmen Abd Ali/The New York Times) In South Africa, a social media influencer who added Vladimir to his Twitter name to convey his reverence for the Russian president transmits Russian-generated content over Twitter and Telegram to a growing audience that now numbers 148,000 followers. On Afrique Media, a television channel based in Cameroon that reaches millions of people in Africa and recently signed a partnership with RT, the state-funded Russian television network, pundits regularly praise Russias invasion of Ukraine, with one recently declaring, Glory to Putin. An animated video circulating online and a cause of alarm in one newly revealed U.S. intelligence document shows a brave Russian commando from the Wagner group, which is fighting for Russia in Ukraine, joining West African soldiers to defeat a horde of invading zombies from France. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times Over the past year, a flood of pro-Russian content has increasingly been surfacing on news outlets and social media platforms in Africa. The messages aim to drum up support for the invasion of Ukraine, and to frame Russias growing presence on the African continent as beneficial, while vilifying American and European especially French involvement in Africa. Among the U.S. intelligence documents found leaked last week is a report saying that Russias military intelligence agency in February planned a propaganda campaign using African media to realign public opinion in Africa with Russia, away from the West. A broad mix of media has been carrying this content, including influencers on social media and news websites and television networks that have signed partnerships with Kremlin-funded operations. Some of the outlets, according to experts, are affiliated with the Wagner group, the Kremlin-backed network that is operating in several African countries, seeding disinformation while sending thousands of mercenaries to prop up friendly governments and mine for gold and other natural resources. Story continues Russian fake news is produced on an industrial scale here, said Abdoulaye Guindo, the coordinator of Benbere, a fact-checking website based in Mali, where the Wagner group has a sizable presence. The prowess of pro-Russian accounts is undeniable. At the same time, the reach of Western news outlets has been dwindling on some parts of the continent. The BBC is cutting dozens of journalists in Africa and shutting down at least three channels broadcasting in local African languages, part of a broader retrenchment. Radio France Internationale and France 24, which are funded by the French government, have been suspended in Mali and Burkina Faso, where leaders aligned with Russia have expelled French reporters. Such bans and expulsions have created space for media favorable to a pro-Russian narrative, Reporters Without Borders said in a recent study. From the Central African Republic to Madagascar, Mali to South Africa, Russia aims to position itself as a bulwark against the West in Africa. That influence became even more apparent to Western governments when 26 of the continents 54 countries refused to join a U.N. vote condemning the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Interviews with more than two dozen government officials, analysts and journalists show how media and disinformation operations are promoting Russian interests in Africa. Were facing a juggernaut, said Gen. Pascal Ianni, a French military official in charge of countering Russias disinformation operations in West Africa. Help from China Shortly after the invasion of Ukraine, the European Union suspended the Kremlin-backed television network RT (short for Russia Today). Since then, RT has expanded its operations in Africa and has been developing an English language Africa hub in Johannesburg to cover the broadest possible range of stories that are of interest to local audiences and RTs international viewers alike, Anna Belkina, RTs deputy editor-in-chief, said in response to questions. Western countries, she said, have long sought to curtail our journalistic work and stifle the perspectives we bring to public attention. RTs French-speaking channel, RT France, had also sought to relocate from Europe to a Francophone country in West Africa, according to Sega Diarrah, a Malian journalist who said he had been commissioned by RT Frances president to work on the move. Those plans have not yet materialized, so Russia is also distributing its material through friendly African media outlets and influencers. RT and Sputnik, a Kremlin-funded news agency, have signed partnerships with at least a dozen African news outlets, said Maxime Audinet, who studies Russias media operations in Africa at IRSEM, a research institute affiliated with the French defense ministry. Afrique Media, which broadcasts from the Central African nation of Cameroon, announced a partnership with RT in December. The end of the Wests misleading propaganda, it said on a news banner. Sputnik has rebranded its French-speaking service, once primarily aimed at reaching an audience in France, into Sputnik Afrique. Now most of its traffic, albeit shrunken, comes from African countries. In Mali, a Bamako-based radio station broadcasts a Sputnik news podcast every evening. This is Moscows way to expand across Africa, Diarrah said, with mercenaries and media outlets. Social media influencers also play an important role. From his home just outside Johannesburg, Modibe Vladimir Modiba reposts video content from RT over Twitter and from his news blog on Telegram. In an interview, he maintained that he is paid by family and friends not by Russia. He said his attitudes reflected growing irritation among young Black South Africans toward the West and to mainstream South African media. Western countries, he said, always want to interfere with African issues, or youre here to steal our resources. There is also evidence of Chinese companies helping spread Russian content in Africa. StarTimes, a Beijing-based media and satellite television provider, has continued to make RT available to customers even as other companies dropped the channel following the war. As part of a content-sharing agreement, Xinhua, the Chinese state news agency, translated items from the Russian state news service, Interfax, which were then picked up by outlets in Congo and other countries. Some articles promoted the false allegation that the United States was storing chemical weapons inside Ukraine, according to Dani Madrid-Morales, a disinformation expert at the University of Sheffield. Russian heroes and French zombies From 2019 to 2022, Meta took down at least eight different networks of accounts that were targeting African audiences on Facebook and Instagram, the company says. Many were linked to Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Wagner group, according to Meta. Facebook pages in Mali also pushed pro-Wagner messages, just as Wagner mercenaries were arriving in the country last year. The media campaigns have since grown more sophisticated and visible, Ianni said. In an animated video that circulated on social media this year, a commando wearing a uniform emblazoned with the Russian flag and the insignia of the Wagner group jumps from a helicopter to come to the rescue of two besieged African soldiers, from Mali and Burkina Faso. Together, the African soldiers and their Russian ally defeat France, the former colonial power, depicted as a pack of menacing zombielike skeletons and a giant snake. At the end of the video, the three head to Ivory Coast traditionally an ally of the West. Happy to help, the Russian soldier tells his West African counterparts. African and Western intelligence and military officials said they were alarmed by both the message and the format: Animated videos can reach even audiences who cant read. According to a U.S. document found to be leaked this week, dated from February, the Ivorian presidents chief of staff summoned Russias ambassador to Ivory Coast and Burkina Faso to express displeasure with the video depicting Ivory Coast as the next target of the Wagner network. Russia and the West have long competed for influence in Africa, and the use of influence operations and mercenaries there is not a Russian invention. But with Russia shunned by much of the Western world over its invasion of Ukraine, it is now making a bid to pull more African countries into its orbit. And the Russian-generated media is having an impact, said Yurii Pyvovarov, Ukraines ambassador to Senegal and to four other West African countries. He said that a senior minister in Senegal asked him why Ukraine had attacked Russia a falsehood often promoted in Russian media. And Senegalese journalists asked him why Ukraine was harboring Nazis citing a propaganda article from Sputnik as proof. If African states are so attached to neutrality, which I fully respect, why are they so attached to Russian narratives? Pyvovarov said in an interview. Pro-Russian content on the war in Ukraine dominates the coverage of television networks like Afrique Media, potentially shaping the views of generations of viewers. Henri Doue Tai, 80, a retired oil company administrator, watches the channel from his living room in Abidjan, Ivory Coast's largest city. A framed photograph of Russian President Vladimir Putin sat nestled among family pictures. He was joined by his 41-year-old nephew, Serge Bah, who had studied oil engineering in Moscow. Bah said he preferred watching Afrique Media, Russia Today or a little-known Telegram channel that carries updates on the war in French. Unlike Western news outlets that show biased coverage of the war in Ukraine, these sources, Bah insisted, are independent. Its firsthand material, he said. c.2023 The New York Times Company Late last year, a former Afghan refugee who has been widely celebrated for his humanitarian work evacuating Afghans and Americans from Afghanistan after the United States' withdrawal, landed a coveted spot on the Forbes "30 Under 30" list -- branding him as one of the country's so-called "brightest young leaders." Safi Rauf, 28, and his nonprofit organization, Human First Coalition, emerged as one of the most notable humanitarian groups from the chaotic period that followed the United States' pullout from Afghanistan and the takeover by the Taliban in August, 2021. Months into his work, Rauf himself was captured by the Taliban while on the ground in the country and held captive for a harrowing 105 days, and his efforts eventually propelled him into the national spotlight, landing him television interviews, a TED Talk, and backing for his organization from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's foundation. "I am so incredibly humbled and grateful to be named one of the Forbes 30 under 30 Social Impact," Rauf wrote on social media in November in response to the news. "I share this recognition with my team in the U.S, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. This is to honor all that they have achieved." MORE: Biden admin acknowledges mistakes in Afghanistan exit but defends decision to leave But now, an ABC News investigation has learned of numerous allegations against Rauf and his organization -- none of which have previously been reported. A U.S. government-backed institution has sued Rauf and Human First Coalition, alleging the organization failed to evacuate its employees after it was paid over a half a million dollars for that rescue, and one former volunteer has said she raised questions about how funding to the organization was being spent. The group is also facing accusations that it mistreated some of the refugees it promised to help. "Safi left us behind," said one refugee, who asked ABC News not to use her name. "He left us in darkness." Story continues The refugee, who said that Human First Coalition had assured her of evacuation to a country away from the region after they evacuated her and others from Afghanistan, told ABC News she was instead left stranded for months in a Pakistani safe house where drinking water was cut off and there were no medical services. One attorney who formerly worked with the organization also told ABC News that in a separate instance, refugees were suddenly forced out of a Human First Coalition safe house in Kabul in the middle of the night with their belongings in trash bags. "There's a lot of damage that's been done, and nobody knows the truth," the former volunteer, Sarah Teske, told ABC News. PHOTO: Safi Rauf, speaks to broadcast journalists during an event promoting the Afghan Adjustment Act, Oct. 20, 2022, in Thornton, Colorado. (The Washington Post via Getty Images) In an interview with ABC News, Rauf, who is an unpaid volunteer for the organization, acknowledged that there were instances where the organization "may have fallen short," but he broadly defended his group's humanitarian work, saying he "continue[s] to put everything else aside to care for these people." "The intent was always to help people, and help we did," Rauf said. "In some instances we may have fallen short, but considering the circumstances, we did unprecedented work that no other organization in this line of evacuation work has done." "Because this work is so messy and complicated, there are a lot of problems that come with it," Rauf told ABC News. He said that the organization has now shifted its focus to women's education in Afghanistan, and "will continue to move forward with that mission." Recently, a growing number of former "30 Under 30" honorees have come under scrutiny after landing a spot on the coveted list. Elizabeth Holmes of Theranos, Sam Bankman-Fried of FTX, Adam Neumann of WeWork, and "Pharma Bro" Martin Shkreli all earned "30 Under 30" nods before their respective falls from grace. Earlier this month, federal prosecutors filed fraud charges against Frank CEO Charlie Javice, a 2019 "30 Under 30" recipient -- charges that Javice denies. Forbes did not respond to ABC News' request for comment. After first becoming aware of the allegations against Human First Coalition in February, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's foundation, Archewell, halted grants to the organization and contacted government agencies for guidance, an Archewell Foundation spokesperson told ABC News. The spokesperson told ABC News that the foundation had made a one-time grant to the Human First Coalition in December, 2021, and continues to monitor the situation. In response, Rauf said he was "exceptionally grateful to Archewell for their support" and "understand their need to do their due diligence when questions arise, of course." Rise to fame Rauf was born and raised by Afghan parents in a Pakistani refugee camp, and immigrated to the United States as a teenager. He attended high school in Omaha, Nebraska, according to multiple online profiles, before enlisting in the military, where he served as an interpreter in Afghanistan. Publicly, Rauf has said he was planning to attend medical school in 2021 when the U.S. announced plans to withdraw from Afghanistan and the Taliban seemed poised to return to power, uprooting his plans. "So when Kabul fell and then all of these refugees are scrambling and some are, you know, falling from planes and trying to stick on to those planes, trying to get out, I see myself all over again," Rauf explained earlier this year in an interview with former Daily Show host John Stewart on his podcast, "The Problem with Jon Stewart." "I was like, I am not going to watch this while I know I can help them," Rauf told Stewart. "I know I can do something there. So I got right on it and started evacuating people," "I mean honestly," Stewart told him earlier, "you're James Bond." Rauf and Human First Coalition had early success. At times, they worked with the U.S. State Department for evacuations, Rauf told ABC News. After the United States' widely-criticized withdrawal from the country, for example, the organization evacuated 117 U.S. citizens on a flight out of Kabul into Abu Dhabi, Rauf told Stewart on the podcast. In October, 2021, the organization made headlines after it said it successfully evacuated President Joe Biden's former interpreter and over 200 other "at-risk" individuals from the country. "Safi is my life hero," said Waheedullah Siddiqi, an Afghan who told ABC News that he and his family were evacuated by Human First Coalition as part of the flight to Abu Dhabi. "They were so cooperative and so supportive," said Saddiqi, who said he now resides in Connecticut after spending nearly a year waiting in Abu Dhabi. "I'm so happy. I don't know how to thank Safi and the entire team for giving us a safe place to live in America." Then, in December 2021, Rauf was captured by the Taliban, and held for over 100 days until the Biden administration negotiated his release in April 2022. "So at this point, President Biden knows me by my first name. So I am on the president's daily brief every day'" Rauf told Stewart of the harrowing ordeal. PHOTO: U.S. Air Force loadmasters and pilots load passengers aboard a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III in support of the Afghanistan evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2021. (Master Sgt. Donald R. Allen/U.S. Air Force) After the Biden administration secured Rauf's release, CNN's Jake Tapper landed the first exclusive interview with him. "I am so glad to see you, this has been such an ordeal," Tapper told him. "I've been following it, keeping in touch with everybody. How does it feel to be back home?" "It's an incredible feeling," Rauf replied on CNN. "It hasn't settled in yet." From there, Rauf shot to mini-stardom within the humanitarian world and beyond. "I became that advocate and that voice for others," Rauf said in his TED Talk, which has nearly two million views online. Critics allege 'horrible' treatment for refugees Though his profile skyrocketed upon his return from captivity, Rauf and Human First Coalition began to face scrutiny over allegations regarding some of the organization's work on the ground, some of which occurred while Rauf was still in captivity. ABC News spoke with numerous people who alleged that troubling treatment occurred in safe houses operated by Human First Coalition in Pakistan and Kabul -- including during the group's high-profile evacuation of the over 200 "at-risk" individuals in October 2021. Though the evacuation was widely praised at the time, a woman who said she was one of those 200 refugees told ABC News that her experience was no triumph -- and that she ultimately remained in Pakistan for months, even though she claims the group said they would help her make her way out of the region. The woman, who asked not to be identified because she is still in Pakistan, said she spent months living in horrible conditions at a Human First Coalition safe house before it was ultimately shuttered with just one week's notice. "They would say, 'Please wait, you all will be evacuated to the United States very soon, you must be patient,'" the woman told ABC News. "But then they said, 'You must go, we cannot do anything for you, it's not our business.'" At the time, a letter to Human First Coalition penned by 260 refugees alleged that drinking water in the safe house had been cut off, food had caused diseases, and no medical services had been provided outside of "guidance to hospitals," according to a copy of the May 2022 letter that the woman provided to ABC News. The refugees profusely thanked the organization for their efforts to date, but begged them to "put an end to our miserable situation" that found them essentially stranded in Pakistan. "Going back to Afghanistan is like suicide for us," said the letter. "On the other hand, if you were not sure about our evacuation to another country, you should not have brought us here at the beginning." MORE: Afghan interpreter who helped rescue Biden in 2008 evacuated from Afghanistan At the time of the evacuation, Human First Coalition had publicly thanked Secretary of State Antony Blinken for helping coordinate a "path" out of Pakistan for the group, according to a report at the time. But just days after the letter from the refugees, Human First Coalition gave refugees a seven-day warning that it would shutter the safe house because it "simply [did] not have the funding" to continue operations, according to a copy of the Human First Coalition letter that was provided to ABC News by the refugee. Human First Coalition also said that while they would continue to advocate with the U.S. State Department for their evacuation, they had "less positive news": They were "not able to provide any sort of timeline" for evacuation, or even "complete confidence" that the effort would succeed at all, according to the letter. In his interview with ABC News, Rauf acknowledged that he received complaints about the safe house once he was released from captivity, but said he "followed through completely" on all of them. "I know there were missteps taken by the ground team, but once those were brought to my attention they were corrected," Rauf told ABC News. Rauf also denied that there was a lack of medical care at the Pakistan safe house, and pointed to a receipt and photograph that appeared to show a hospital stay from the time. He claimed everyone who arrived at the safe house received a medical checkup, and that care was provided throughout their stay. Rauf said that while "people can get upset when they find out that they are not eligible for resettlement," he insisted he continued to work on evacuation for the refugees and shifted blame to U.S. government for the issue. "We were operating safe houses, and our No. 1 priority was people safety. We are a private organization, and although we work closely with the government, it's the government that makes the decision about who is eligible for resettlement and who is not," Rauf said. "That's not in our control." PHOTO: U.S. Marines with the 24th Marine Expeditionary Unit process evacuees as they go through the Evacuation Control Center during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 28. (Staff Sgt. Victor Mancilla/U.S. Marine Corps) John Moses, who said he is an independent case manager who has since taken over efforts to provide shelter, food, and a path out of Pakistan for the female refugee ABC News spoke with, said he felt outraged by the way Human First Coalition handled the highly sensitive situation. "This guy is famous, he's going on TV, and he's living the life," Moses told ABC News regarding Rauf. "All the while, my friend is in Pakistan with no electricity." "This work is supposed to be selfless," Moses said. "[Human First Coalition] had a moral obligation to take care of those people ... but they got there and took care of them for as long as they thought was necessary -- and then just bailed." ABC News heard of a similar experience from Jordan Jones, an American attorney who helps refugees navigate the legal aspects of resettlement but relies on groups like Human First Coalition to physically relocate her clients. In an interview with ABC News, Jones -- who said she formerly had a contract with the organization but no longer works with them -- said Human First Coalition in one instance left refugees stranded in Kabul. "I had two high-risk females, and [Human First Coalition] put them in a safe house in Kabul, which turned out [to be] horrible," Jones told ABC News in an interview. "[Human First Coalition] closed the safe house and threw everybody out on the street in the middle of the night with their stuff in trash bags." Responding to those allegations, Rauf told ABC News that the safe house was shuttered due to security concerns. "We closed all the safe houses because I was in Taliban captivity and my team was worried they would have taken that information regarding the safe houses from me," Rauf said. "At the time our No. 1 priority was people's safety, and we offered people to go to hotels. Some people took that offer and some people didn't." A $600,000 dispute Meanwhile, Rauf and Human First Coalition are entangled in litigation over one of the organization's evacuation efforts that took place right at the beginning of its founding -- efforts that some say never occurred. A few months before Rauf's release from Taliban detention, the United States Institute of Peace, a nonpartisan U.S. government-backed foundation working to prevent conflict around the world, accused Rauf and the organization in a court filing of failing to evacuate USIP's employees from Afghanistan into the Kabul airport, presumably as the government's airlift was ongoing, in exchange for over half a million dollars. In court records filed in the U.S. District Court for Nebraska in early 2022, USIP claimed that it wired $600,000 to Rauf's then-attorney in the early days of the Afghanistan crisis after Rauf "promised" to transport their personnel to the airport. But Rauf "failed" to do so, according to USIP's claim -- and did not return the money. "[Rauf] offered to return the $600,000 after he failed to transport USIP personnel to the airport or secure their admission to the airport," USIP claims in its filings, noting they had offered to compensate Rauf $30,000 for successfully evacuating members of the USIP-supported Generation Change Fellows Program. "To date, [Rauf] has not returned any of the contract payment." USIP has accused Rauf of breach of contract and fraudulent misrepresentations, and is seeking $600,000 in damages plus legal fees and costs. USIP's claim was filed as a crossclaim in a case brought by Human First Coalition's former attorney, in which he transferred what he said were the remaining funds from the $600,000 payment into the court's custody so a judge could determine ownership. "Safiullah Rauf, Human First Coalition, and Human First LLC had an expressed or implied agreement to commit fraud against USIP," the United States Institute of Peace claimed. PHOTO: Marines with Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force-Crisis Response-Central Command provide assistance during an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, in Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 21. (Sgt. Samuel Ruiz/U.S. Marine Corps) Rauf and Human First Coalition have denied wrongdoing alleged in the USIP lawsuit. Lawyers for Rauf and Human First Coalition wrote in court records that the organization has "succeeded, after great diligence and effort, in evacuating several USIP personnel from Afghanistan through routes other than the Kabul airport." Rauf's lawyer also claimed the funds were a donation to the organization -- which USIP disputed. "Rauf and Human First admit that Rauf has not paid any money to USIP, but explicitly deny any obligation to do so," the filing stated. A judge denied Rauf and Human First Coalition's motion to dismiss USIP's claims. The litigation remains ongoing. Rauf told ABC News he expected the case to be "officially resolved" soon, but said he was "not legally permitted to disclose the details." A spokesperson for USIP referred ABC News' request for comment to counsel. George Foote, an attorney representing USIP in the case, declined ABC News' request for comment due to the case being in active litigation. Jason Grams, USIP's counsel in Nebraska, also declined to comment. Former Human First Coalition attorney Jason Hubbard -- who filed the original action asking the judge to determine who the remaining money belongs to -- declined to comment when reached by ABC News. $2 million in donations and funding In total, Human First Coalition raised more than $2 million in donations and funding in 2021, according to the group's tax returns that were obtained by ABC News. That included the $600,000 payment from USIP and a $150,000 grant from Prince Harry and Meghan's Archewell foundation, according to the returns. On the returns, the organization listed $1.4 million in expenses, including over $1.3 million spent on "logistic support" services and approximately $5,000 spent on "humanitarian aid." But internally, there appeared to be at least some disputes about where funding was going. Sarah Teske, who served as Human First Coalition's strategic director in 2021, told ABC News she resigned from the group just a few months into her job, in part after she said she began to raise questions about finances. "Nobody could tell me where the money was going," Teske said. "And when people were not able to give me a clear line of sight of where funding was going, and how it was being managed, that is when I started getting very concerned." Tekse, a retired U.S. Marine, said that while the group initially did "great work" in the beginning and saved lives, issues with financing arose even before Rauf was captured by the Taliban in December, 2021 -- and then, she said, "everything else kind of went south from there." Speaking with ABC News, Rauf denied that Teske had raised questions about finances directly to him, and defended his work overall. PHOTO: U.S. Army soldiers assigned to the 10th Mountain Division stand security at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, Aug. 15. (Sgt. Isaiah Campbell/U.S. Marine Corps) "I continue to put everything else aside to care for these people," Rauf said. "I can do anything with my life, but I chose to do this because I care for these people." But in a searing condemnation of the organization's handling of its funds, an outside firm hired by Human First Coalition to review and analyze its transactions concluded that it had unearthed red flags within the organization that could be linked to wire fraud or money laundering, according to a source familiar with the report who broadly described its findings to ABC News. While Human First Coalition was formed with good intentions amidst the chaos of its early initiatives, there was poor accounting for donor funds, some of which may have ultimately been misused, according to a description of the findings given to ABC News -- and that some of the transactions between bank accounts and individuals associated with the organization were suspicious. The analysis was also unable to substantiate the amount of individuals Rauf and Human First Coalition have publicly claimed to have helped, due to insufficient record keeping, according to the description given to ABC News -- including a claim on Human First Coalition's website that it had evacuated over 7,000 Afghans. Rauf told ABC News the firm had been hired by the organization because they "want to know what the issues were and how to fix them," and that he sat for an interview with the firm as part of the process. He noted the difficulties of conducting humanitarian work in a space that is "not conventional." "After the audit, we pulled all the receipts," Rauf told ABC News. "We did the audit because we wanted to know what's wrong, what we can fix, and what needs to be corrected." Forbes '30 Under 30' honoree's charity accused of mistreating refugees, sued for fraud originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Leading House Republicans have sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin demanding more information about why Walter Reed National Military Medical Center sent cease and desist letters to Catholic priests about services provided over the Easter holiday. Last week, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center sent a cease and desist letter to Holy Name College Friary, a group of Catholic priests, ordering them to stop providing pastoral care at their facility, the letter first obtained by Fox News Digital noted. The same group of priests have served at Walter Reed for almost 20 years, and this order came days before Easter. Forcing priests to stop providing care during Holy Week is not only morally wrong, but also a violation of the First Amendment, the signatories added. Two dozen House Republicans affixed their names to the letter bound for Secretary Austin, including Representatives Byron Donalds (R., Fl.) Marjorie Taylor Greene (R. Ga.), Andy Biggs (R. Ariz.), Lauren Boebert, (R. Colo.), and Ralph Norman (R., S.C.). This attack on the Christian faith by the Biden administration during Holy Week is unconscionable, the legislators argued. However, the Department of Defense has remained adamant that there was nothing nefarious about the terminated contract or its timing during the Easter holiday. As with most contracts they have a beginning and an end. This contract originally ended on December 31st and was extended until March 31st. The contractor was aware of the contract end date, a spokesperson told Fox News Digital. A new contract was awarded to a different company effective April 1st. The inquiry comes on the heels of escalating tensions between the White House and Republicans into reports that the FBI employed undercover agents to spy on Catholic American communities with the intention of cultivating sources in order to combat alleged violent extremism. On Monday, House Judiciary chairman Jim Jordan (R., Ohio) issued a subpoena demanding FBI director Christopher Wray testify and provide more information to Congress about the federal agencys intelligence-gathering initiative targeting Catholic Americans. Story continues 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 the letter. We now know the FBI, relying on information derived from at least one undercover employee, sought to use local religious organizations as new avenues for tripwire and source development. Chilling. pic.twitter.com/X6Ksb9ryoM Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) April 10, 2023 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 said. Americans attend church to worship and congregate for their spiritual and personal betterment, the letter added. They must be free to exercise their fundamental First Amendment rights without worrying that the FBI may have planted so-called tripwire sources or other informants in their houses of worship. This was followed on Tuesday by a similarly worded not from Senator Josh Hawley (R., Mo.) to Merrick Garland accusing the attorney general of misleading lawmakers about the FBIs targeting of traditional Catholics as potential domestic extremists. 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. 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. Everyone involved with this chilling surveillance campaign must face accountability, Hawley continued before demanding clarification about how many undercover informants the FBI relied on 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 https://t.co/NZMkIXEN47 Josh Hawley (@HawleyMO) April 10, 2023 House Republicans have demanded that Defense Secretary Austin respond to their request by April 21. More from National Review A Missouri state senator apparently wants to block gender-affirming care for transgender youth but is OK with 12-year-olds getting married. Republican lawmaker Mike Moon is going viral for comments he made Tuesday while arguing for a bill he introduced to ban gender-affirming care for the states transgender teens. When pressed by state Rep. Peter Meredith (D) about a different bill Moon voted against in the past, which would make it illegal for adults to marry children, the GOP lawmaker doubled down on his support for underage marriage. Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12? I do. And guess what? Theyre still married, Moon responded, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Yes, we know. Pictures, or it didnt happen. Heres the clip from last night where Sen. Moon celebrates the longevity of marriages entered into by 12 year olds. #molegpic.twitter.com/5XxPNCmvij Aaron Crossley (@aaroncrossley) April 12, 2023 Moons approval of child marriages isnt new, according to the News-Leader. In 2018, he opposed a passed law that raised the states marriage age from 15 to 16 and required older teenagers to get parental permission. Moon used the same anecdote he cited on Tuesday but acknowledged that while the couple provided an extreme example, the married 12-year-old in his story was something to ponder, the paper said. Not surprisingly, many Twitter users were skeeved out by Moons cheerleading for child marriage. What in the world was that?! Sen. Mike Moon proud of the fact that he voted to protect the ability of 12 year olds to be married to adults. He spoke of someone he knew that married a 12yo and declared gleefully, theyre still married! #moleg Jennifer Harris Dault (she/her) (@jennintheattic) April 12, 2023 Missouri Republicans: Please replace Mike Moon. This is a disgusting embarrassment to our party. Child marriage is wrong. Period. Kids cant consent to adult situations. I cant believe I have to say this. Replace him. pic.twitter.com/MKfeCcYwPz Robby Starbuck (@robbystarbuck) April 12, 2023 Missouri State Senator (Republican) Mike Moon actually said this. He thinks a 12-year-old child should have the right to marry. What the f*ck is happening to this country?@realmikemoon@MissouriSenatepic.twitter.com/BzIgJWqAel Christian Greco (@ChristGrec) April 12, 2023 Moon hasnt responded to media inquiries, but did respond to the last tweet with what he thought was context. Story continues Something that is often missing is the back story. With regard to my answer, I did not discuss the details: a 12 year old impregnated a minor of similar age. With consent of the parents, they married and are still married today. Mike Moon (@realmikemoon) April 12, 2023 Related... With the 2023 Cheltenham Festival happening this week, many will be looking to the UKs most famous horse race, the Grand National. Last year saw the return of fans to Aintree for the first time since the COVID pandemic, with the races cancelled in 2020 and held behind closed doors in 2021. But the race came back with a bang as Rachel Blackmore became the first woman to win the National in 2021, while last year leading amateur jockey Sam Waley-Cohen won riding Noble Yeats, the first seven-year-old horse to win since 1940. In 2023, the event will take place in mid-April, with the showpiece race headlining three days of racing. Heres everything you need to know ahead of the 2023 Grand National Festival: When is it? The Grand National will take place at Aintree Racecourse, near Liverpool, starting at 5.15pm BST on Saturday 15 April. It is the penultimate race of the festival, with the last race starting at 6.20pm BST. The festival itself starts on Thursday 13 April at 1.45pm BST, while Ladies Day takes place on Friday and begins at 1.45pm BST. How can I watch? In the UK, viewers can watch all the action live on ITV. Registered users can also stream the Grand National via the ITV Hub. Who is competing in the Grand National? Although the field is yet to be finalised, the longlist has been published. The official 40-runner lineup will be finalised in the weeks leading up to the race. How long is the Grand National? Runners and riders complete two laps of the course and jump 30 fences, at a distance of four-and-a-quarter miles. 14 fences are jumped on both laps, but both the Water Jump and The Chair - the tallest fence at a height of five feet and two inches - are only jumped during the first lap. Who are the favourites? Corach Rambler 8/1 Noble Yeats 10/1 Gaillard du Mesnil 12/1 Any Second Now 16/1 Longhouse Poet 16/1 Full Grand National Day Schedule (all times BST): Editors note: This article has been updated with a response from the Riverview Gardens School District. An elementary school teacher who lives in Granite City and works in north St. Louis County faces child pornography charges, the Illinois State Attorney Generals Office announced Thursday. Ralph D. Hailey III, 46, was charged on Thursday with reproduction of child pornography and possession of child pornography, according to a news release from Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and Madison County court records. Hailey is a computer science teacher at Gibson Elementary School in the Riverview Gardens School District in north St. Louis County, according to the news release and the school district. The district on Friday released a statement that did not list Haileys name or employment status but said the district is cooperating with investigators. In light of the nature of the alleged crimes, we are fully cooperating with law enforcement authorities in their investigation. RGSD is also conducting an internal investigation in compliance with District policy, the statement said. All school district employees must pass a criminal background check as a condition of employment, the statement said. Due to the status of the ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time. Haileys bond was set at $300,000. The Madison County court records do not list an attorney for Hailey. Records were not available on whether Hailey was still being held Thursday. Hailey was arrested Wednesday after Raouls investigators, with the assistance of the Granite City Police Department and the U.S. Secret Service, conducted a search of Haileys residence in the 30 block of Steelcrest Drive in Granite City and discovered evidence of child pornography, the news release stated. If convicted, Hailey faces up to 30 years in prison on the felony reproduction of child pornography charge and up to seven years in prison on the felony possession of child pornography charge, according to the news release. Story continues His name was listed on the staff section of Gibson Elementary Schools website Thursday. Raouls office, with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice, runs the Illinois Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force that investigates child exploitation crimes and trains law enforcement agencies. Individuals who exploit innocent children through the dissemination of child pornography must be held accountable, Raoul said in the news release. The Granville Community Foundation (GCF) is pleased to welcome Julie Houpt and Bob Hays as new board members. Houpt replaces Jill Young, who left her board position to take on the role of Director of Operations for the foundation, and Hays replaces Rick Bauer, whose tenure expired in January 2023. Each board member will have the opportunity to serve a total of two three-year terms. Houpt brings an impressive repertoire of experience, including 19 years as the vice president of Institutional Advancement at Denison University, as well as her current role as president of the Kendal Charitable Funds, a 501(c)(3) that strives to transform the experience of aging on a national level. In her role as VP of Institutional Advancement at Denison, Houpt led a team of professionals that raised more than $500 million for the institution. In addition to several hands-on experiences with students and alumni, Houpt also served on the presidents leadership team and staffed the Universitys Board of Trustees. Granville Community Foundation Board Member Julie Houpt. "These experiences allowed me to become intimately involved in strategic planning and a wide variety of organizational issues that will enable me to be a valuable part of GCF," Houpt wrote in her application. Houpt, who has a B.A. from Denison University and a J.D. from the University of Southern California, is a 22-year resident of Granville. She and her husband, John Kralovec, raised two children in Granville and are avid travelers in their retirement. Hays relocated to Granville from Austin, Texas five years ago after a successful career in the oil and gas industry. As a petroleum engineer with a finance background, Hays focused on planning and logistics. "I enjoy putting the pieces together to make something happen as well as figuring out the financial side of my plan," Hays said. Granville Community Foundation Board Member Bob Hays. Now retired, Hays serves as an independent petroleum engineering consultant and holds several volunteer positions including the chair of the finance committee at St. Johns Episcopal Church and member of the Rotary Club of Granville. While in Texas, Mr. Hays served as senior warden at his church and chaired the Bishop Quinn Foundation for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, which managed a $35 million grant making portfolio. Hays, who holds a B.B.A. in finance and a B.S. in engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, said that he is the most excited to provide grant support for the wonderful organizations doing good work in our community. Story continues Granville citizens interested in serving on the board of Granville Community Foundation can find applications online at www.granvillecommunityfoundation.org/applications or may contact Jill Young, director of operations at granvillecommunityfoundation@gmail.com. Information submitted by Granville Community Foundation. This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Granville Community Foundation welcomes two new board members A fuel pump nozzle is seen at a gas station in Mundelein, Ill., Tuesday, Feb. 14, 2023. Criminal charges were filed Wednesday in connection with a diesel fuel theft investigation that began in 2021. | Nam Y. Huh, Associated Press Two men who police say stole about $10,000 worth of diesel fuel in 2021 are now facing criminal charges. Norberto de la Carded Rodriguez-Ibarra, 27, of West Valley, and Jose Guillermo Lache-Ortega, 33, of Magna, were charged Wednesday in 3rd District Court with theft of motor vehicle fuel, a second-degree felony; and criminal mischief, a class A misdemeanor. A third person, Alejandro Fonseca-Urquiaga, 24, is also listed in court documents as a co-defendant. The men are believed to have participated in a fuel theft ring in which thousands of gallons of diesel fuel were stolen from gas stations in at least four counties and then sold at well below market value to local trucking companies, according to police. In 2021, detectives were able to document at least $10,000 worth of fuel, or about 2,500 gallons, taken from gas stations in Salt Lake, Utah, Davis and Weber Counties. Police believe that gas was then sold to at least four small trucking companies. The investigation began when a diesel fuel theft was reported on Aug. 24, 2021, at Top Stop, 3890 S. 2300 East. "The suspects initiated the gas pump with a credit card, pumped some fuel, opened the pump, and slid a piece of paper into the pulsar to make the pump not read the pulses which makes it not register the amount," according to charging documents. Surveillance video from the gas station revealed the suspects used two trucks over the course of multiple days to steal the fuel, police said. After developing leads, detectives conducted surveillance operations and placed a GPS tracker on a truck in an effort to collect evidence against the alleged thieves, the charges state. Lache-Ortega was arrested in 2021. Detectives served a search warrant on his phone and used that information to identify additional suspects, the charges state. He was convicted in 2021 on one count of unlawful possession of a bank card, a third-degree felony, despite originally being charged with 17 counts. According to police, when Lache-Ortega was arrested he was in possession of 17 cloned credit cards, such as gift cards, hotel key cards, and other cards with magnetic strips that had real credit card information from victims loaded onto them. Gun violence: When will we do more than think and pray? April 11 To the Editor: It is 3:11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, and I cant sleep. I keep having the titles of articles on gun violence reverberate in my mind. There are so many, and they are all compelling. Some have refrains of common songs of our nation, such as Gun Violence, when will we ever learn? Others feature the locations of mass shootings, such as at a car wash in Pennsylvania in 2018, or a particular feature of the guns used like learning about bump stocks in the mass shooting on October 1, 2017, in Las Vegas when 58 were killed and almost 500 injured in the deadliest shooting in our country so far. Some titles could of course feature the type of gun: AR-15s, the gun of choice in mass shootings (which the gun rights folks say are not assault rifles, just sporting guns, or tactical rifles, whatever that means). So yesterday, it was a mass killing in Louisville, Kentucky, in a bank. The first thought of most; I hope it was not kids again, not nine-year-old children again like in Nashville just a week or so ago, or six- or seven-year-old children again like in Sandy Hook in December 2012 when twenty first graders were murdered, along with seven adults. No, it was only five adults killed this time, and eight reported injured including three officers, as if that is a consolation. Here are the simple facts of gun violence. The country known for gun violence everywhere around the world is the United States, not Great Britain, or Canada, or Australia, but the United States. We have more than twenty-five times the mass shootings and gun violence of those similar nations. Weve had 377 school shootings since Columbine in 1999 (Washington Post) and we still offer only thoughts and prayers. So far this year weve had 11,628 killed by guns, including 146 mass shootings. So far this year 71 children aged 0-11 were killed and 403 teens aged 12-17 were killed by guns (Gun Violence Archives). We still, as a country, offer only thoughts and prayers. Story continues The political party supporting gun violence is the Republican Party, the party with a scarlet R after their name. The votes that such legislators make repeatedly, in any state (including our New Hampshire Republican legislators and Governor, or in Tennessee, for example) or nationally in Washington DC, are always to keep things basically unchanged. They offer only thoughts and prayers, nothing more. In Tennessee they even expel legislators who are crying, pleading to do something to end this scourge of gun violence, along with thousands in the streets of Nashville crying, pleading for actions, not words. The political party with legislators who have a scarlet letter R after their name do everything in their power to keep things unchanged and to keep the epidemic of gun violence unchanged, with guns unfettered, gun violence undeterred. These are some of the headlines in my mind, some of the horrendous thoughts that are keeping me awake night after night, as gun violence surges through the schools, banks, factories, churches, streets of our nation. It is now 4:49 a.m. and I still cant sleep. When will we ever learn? Leonard Korn, MD Portsmouth 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) Bank of America applauds Portsmouth and Portsmouth400 for year-long celebration April 10 To the Editor: After five years of planning and effort by many dedicated people, Portsmouths 400th anniversary celebration is at long last underway. As President of Bank of America New Hampshire and presenting sponsor of the Portsmouth400 (PNH400), I want to applaud the Portsmouth community for coming together to celebrate this important historical milestone for our city and state. The motto of Portsmouth400 is History Lights Our Way. Throughout this year, visitors and residents will enjoy a robust calendar of special events and programs that explore Portsmouths history, and how this history has shaped Portsmouth into the social, cultural, and economic center that it is today. Through it all, Bank of America stands proudly alongside these efforts as the presenting sponsor. Weve committed $50,000 and many volunteer hours to support PNH400s signature events, from the opening ceremony on New Years Eve to the Grand Parade coming up in June to the Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show this fall. As a company, Bank of Americas own history in New Hampshire goes back over a century, and our commitment today is stronger than ever. We believe creating meaningful connections in the communities we serve is one of the most important investments we can make. In 2022 alone, Bank of America invested over $1 million in New Hampshire through philanthropic grants and sponsorships to organizations in Portsmouth and other communities we serve. This support is helping to drive economic mobility and social progress, with a particular focus on advancing racial and ethnic equality. Visit about.bankofamerica.com/en/local/new-hampshire to learn more. Please join us in celebrating all that makes the city of Portsmouth and the state of New Hampshire such a special place to live and work by participating in the PNH400 program of events. Find the full schedule at portsmouthnh400.org. Ken Sheldon President Bank of America - New Hampshire Reflections on the 60th anniversary of the sinking of the Thresher April 9 To the Editor: I was assigned to the troop transport ship, USS Paul Revere, when word came that fateful morning of April 10, 1963, that a nuclear submarine was lost at sea, 220 miles east of Cape Cod. For most of us, the news was heartbreaking and we were left with a profound sense of grief for the 129 men who went down with the ship. A shipmate later told me that his brother went down with the Thresher. In Kittery, a 129-foot flagpole was dedicated to mark the 50th anniversary of the sinking, according to the Portsmouth Herald. On this 60th anniversary of the Thresher, the memories of the submarines sinking have faded and there are few left who would recall the heartbreaking news that their sons were lost at sea. But the generations who were left behind can perhaps take comfort in knowing that their loved ones did not die in vain. Brian Stuckey Denver, Co. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Gun violence: When will we do more than think and pray? Letters Gwinnett County police are asking for the publics help to identify a person of interest in the murder of a man in his own home last month. Jonathan Royce Wiley, 21, was gunned down at a home on Oak Vista Court in Lawrenceville on March 25 just before 2 a.m. Wiley was shot multiple time and died at the scene. [DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks] Gwinnett County police released a series of surveillance photos Thursday that show a man they describe as being in his late teens or early 20s with short locs. TRENDING STORIES: The suspect is tied to another investigation about a stolen vehicle in Dekalb County. Two people were caught on surveillance video speeding away from the scene of the homicide in the vehicle stolen by the person of interest. [SIGN UP: WSB-TV Daily Headlines Newsletter] The vehicle has since been recovered. Anyone who has any information on the case is asked to contact GCPD detectives at 770-513-5300. To remain anonymous, tipsters should contact Crime Stoppers at 404-577-TIPS (8477) or visit www.stopcrimeATL.com. Crime Stoppers tipsters can receive a cash reward for information leading to an arrest and indictment in this case. A woman was blacked out from huffing paint when she veered off the road and slammed into a Methuen home, causing a porch collapse on Wednesday afternoon, law enforcement officials said. The woman, 31, of Kingston, New Hampshire, will be summoned to court to face a charge of operating under the influence at a later time, according to the Methuen Police Department. Her name wasnt made public. Officers responding to a report of a vehicle into a building at 91 Broadway Street around 1:30 p.m. found a Volvo station wagon lodged in the front of a home with a collapsed porch resting on top of the car. A photo from the scene showed splintered debris scattered all over the yard and a pair of destroyed bicycles wedged under the car. In a statement, police said, An on-scene investigation determined the driver was allegedly huffing and blacked out prior to the crash occurring. Police noted that the woman will also face charges of second-offense OUI drugs, marked lanes violation, and speeding. An investigation remains ongoing. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW Rage Against The Machine in May 1996, standing in front of an inverted American flag Launched in 1975, NBCs sketch comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live has a long history of embracing musicians, from those who behave themselves and get asked back Dave Grohl has been a guest a record 14 times to those who don't behave, and don't return. Most famously, in 1992 Sinead O'Connor was banned after tearing up a picture of the Pope on the show, in protest at the Vatican's reluctance to address the problem of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church. The following year, marijuana enthusiasts Cypress Hill were barred for lighting up onstage. And as long ago as 1981, LA punk icons The Germs were banned after a riotous set during which SNL producer Dick Ebersol was struck by a pumpkin. With Rage Against The Machine, things were a little different, They appeared on the show on April 13, 1996, and were banned after an incident no one watching at home ever saw. The booking came three days before the release the RATM's second album, Evil Empire. They were scheduled to play two songs: Bulls On Parade, which had been released as a single two months earlier, and the classic Bullet In The Head. Lined up to introduce the Marxist-friendly RATM was ultra-conservative billionaire host Steve Forbes, a move that the show's producers would come to regret. In the moments before the band were due to perform, the band's crew and producer Brendan O'Brien crept onto the stage and draped their amplifiers in a pair of upside-down American flags. "The inverted flags represented our contention that American democracy is inverted when what passes for democracy is an electoral choice between two representatives of the privileged class, guitarist Tom Morello later explained to Rock Out Against Censorship. "America's expression is inverted when you're free to say anything you want to say until it upsets a corporate sponsor. Finally, this was our way of expressing our opinion about the show's host, Steve Forbes." Story continues A Saturday Night Live staffer was able to remove the flags just as Forbes made his introduction, and the band tore into an incendiary version of Bulls On Parade, their searing critique of US military policy. As soon as RATM left the stage and entered the green room, the show's producer Marcie Klein Calvin Klein's daughter told the band they had to leave the building immediately, without playing Bullet In The Head. Infuriated, RATM bassist Tim Commerford ripped up one of the flags and stormed Forbes' dressing room, where he hurled the remnants at the billionaire's entourage. "SNL censored Rage, period," said Morello. They could not have sucked up to the billionaire more. The thing that's ironic is SNL is supposedly this cutting-edge show, but they proved they're bootlickers to their corporate masters when it comes down to it. "They're cowards. It should come to no surprise that GE, which owns NBC, would find Bullet particularly offensive. GE is a major manufacturer of US planes used to commit war crimes in the Gulf War, and bombs from those jets destroyed hydroelectric dams which killed thousands of civilians in Iraq." We'll leave the last word to drummer Brad Wilk, to sum up the largely baffling appeal of SNL which, somehow, is still on air all these years later. "It would have been another thing if that show had been really funny," says Wilk. "But I could eat a bowl of alphabet soup with orange juice and shit out better skits than I saw that night." April 13, 2023: People take part in mass water fights during the first day of Songkran, or Thai New Year, on Khao San Road in Bangkok. Neetyaa Bhattarai likes to joke with her peers at Ohio State University that she comes from the future. It's not like we're living in 2023 we are like, years ahead, Bhattarai, 20, a junior computer science major and president of the Nepali Students Association, told the Dispatch. On Friday, her group is celebrating 2080 the new year according to the Nepali Hindu calendar. Columbus Nepali community is one among several South and Southeast Asian groups in the area who mark the new year this week. Cultures from India to Sri Lanka, Thailand, Laos and Cambodia all start new calendars on or around April 14. In Laos and Thailand, the festival known as Songkran is celebrated from April 13-15, marked by pouring water on friends and family members as a symbol of cleansing and good luck for the year ahead. It is the year 2566 according to the Thai Buddhist calendar, based on when the Buddha is said to have died and entered parinirvana, the afterlife of the enlightened. In Columbus, the local Lao and Thai communities hold annual celebrations at the Wat Buddha Samakidham Temple on the East Side, as well as several other Buddhist congregations. Chathuri Perera, 30, an OSU graduate student in biochemistry who is originally from Sri Lanka, said the on-campus Sri Lankan Students Association is also planning an event this year. From left: Karma Tamang, Ankriti Subba, Aashis Neupane and Kopila Khanal dance during a Nepali Student Association event at OSU to celebrate the holiday of Dashain, in October 2022. The group is celebrating its New Years on Friday. Sri Lankan new year, known as Aluth Avurudda among the countrys majority Sinhalese population and Puthandu among Tamils, the largest minority group, is celebrated just as the rice harvest is completed, Perera said. The ancient significance (was) to celebrate the new crops and offer the fresh harvest to gods and to Lord Buddha. Nowadays, its more of a nationwide holiday, and if youre staying in the city, you go (to your hometown) and celebrate with your family and friends, she said. Perera said many Sri Lankans observe an inauspicious period for several hours preceding the new year by not eating, cooking or working. But once the new year begins, they start festivities by lighting fire crackers and cooking special foods, like rice cooked in milk. Story continues Its a time of relaxing and bonding, she said. Related: Hope and new beginnings: How 3 refugee-oriented Columbus churches celebrate Easter The Nepali Students Associations event at OSU on Friday will feature music, dance and comedy performances, as well as traditional dishes like sel roti (rice flour doughnuts) and kheer (rice pudding), according to Bhattarai. Senior psychology major Arati Chapagai, 21, the associations past president, said new year was a special time when she was growing up in a Bhutanese Nepali refugee camp in Nepal, before resettling in the U.S. when she was 8. Neekesh Kadariya plays guitar during a Nepali Student Association event at OSU to celebrate the holiday of Dashain, in October 2022. The group is celebrating its New Years on Friday. Organizing the event at OSU has been a way to teach the next generation from the community about their own culture, said Bhattarai. The younger kids don't know anything about theNepali calendar at all. I think the best part about (the Nepali Students Association) is being able to create a space at the Ohio State campus where people can come together, talk about their culture, their backgrounds, she said. You really get to learn a lot. Related: During Ramadan fasting, Columbus' Muslim chefs keep cooking Peter Gill covers immigration and new American communities for The Dispatch in partnership with Report for America. You can support work like his with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America here:bit.ly/3fNsGaZ. pgill@dispatch.com @pitaarji This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: "Happy 2080!: South and Southeast Asian New Years in Columbus [Source] HBO released the teaser trailer for its upcoming limited series "The Sympathizer," an adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyens Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, on Wednesday. The show is "an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire about the struggles of a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy during the final days of the Vietnam War and his resulting exile in the United States, according to its official logline. Vietnamese Australian actor Hoa Xuande (Cowboy Bebop) plays the main protagonist. Robert Downey Jr., who is an executive producer on the show, plays multiple roles, such as a CIA operative and a politician, with each role symbolizing different parts of the American establishment. Other cast members include Sandra Oh, Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong and Ky Duyen. More from NextShark: Simu Liu shows off his handles in video ahead of NBA All-Star Celebrity Game South Korean filmmaker Park Chan-wook, who directed 2022's "Decision to Leave," will direct "The Sympathizer," which he developed with Don McKellar. The series is a co-production between HBO, A24 and Rhombus Media in association with Moho Film and Cinetic Media. In addition to Downey Jr., the show's executive producers include Nguyen, Park, McKellar, Kim Ly and Jisun Beck. The show's writers include Tea Ho, Naomi Iizuka, Anchuli Felicia King, Maegan Houang and Mark Richard. "The Sympathizer" is set to debut in 2024 on HBO's newly rebranded streaming service, Max. Check out its teaser trailer below: More from NextShark: Naomi Osaka, H.E.R. and Silk Sonic Take Home Wins at 2021 BET Awards More from NextShark: Lumpia-armed hero teams up with high school student in crowdfunded movie Lumpia with a Vengeance Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! Pachinko star Soji Arai joins Tokyo Vice Season 2 For the first time since the pandemic, Lebanon City Mayor Sherry Capello held a Walk With The Mayor event, partnering with SARCC to educate members of the community on services around the city that work to support victims of sexual violence and child abuse and prevent more from happening. The walk was held on Monday and began in front of the SARCC building located at 615 Cumberland St. SARCC offers services like counseling, advocacy support groups and medical and legal support to sexual abuse survivors at no-cost for people of all age and genders. They also offer a bilingual staff as well as licensed therapists. Services are all confidential and available 24/7 through their hotline, which can be reached at (717) 272-5308. Members of the community met with Mayor Sherry Capello and President and CEO of SARCC Ali Perrotto to walk roughly one mile throughout the city, touring local organization that support survivors of sexual violence and child abuse, as well as prevent it. One of the things that we want our community to know is that while sexual assault is a really common experience, and very widespread," said Ali Perrotto, president and CEO of SARCC, "its also something you can heal from. April is sexual assault awareness and child abuse prevention month, and SARCC has been looking specifically at how to prevent and mitigate risk of these crimes throughout the county. No one that works with SARCC wants to keep having to do this work," Perrotto said, "were all working to end it and we know that violence is preventable if we have the right tools and learn the right skills. Part of prevention is having appropriate mental health support According to Perrotto, mental health and mental health services are one of the greatest risk factors for many forms of violence in Lebanon County. She said that data collected in the Pennsylvania Youth Risk Survey, which is given in every school district across the commonwealth, along with community health needs assessments collected from local hospital networks, shows that Lebanon is affected by mental health at higher rates compared to surrounding counties. Perotto also said that income, language barriers, housing stability, and employment are all contributing factors to the risk of sexual violence and child abuse. Story continues "As statistics show, one in five women and one in 67 will be raped at some point in their lives. And whereas child sexual prevention must be a priority to confront the reality that one in six boys and one in four girls will experience sexual assault before age 18," Capello said during a proclamation she gave at the end of the walk," And whereas one in five women and one in 16 men are sexually assaulted during their time in college. And whereas every community member can work to prevent sexual violence before it happens, by promoting safety, respect and equality." "Our words shape the world around us." Here are the rest of the stops on the roughly one mile walk with the mayor that provide support for survivors and offer services that prevent the risk of violence: PA Counseling services 618 Cumberland St., (717) 274-2741. Offers outpatient mental health and behavioral health services through counseling. PA Migrant Education Program 604 Cumberland St., (717) 675-7922. Offers programming and services specifically for young people of migrant families to build language skills and educational success. According to Perrotto, migrants and those with language barriers have very specific risk factors for sexual victimization both in the workplace and the community. Chestnut St. Community Center 611 Chestnut St., (717) 507-6108. Offers the fresh start housing program through Lebanon County Christian Ministries, a 30-day family housing option for those facing housing stability. The community center also does outreach and hold educational programs to reduce risk of violence throughout the community. Mentor A Mother 827 Chestnut St., (717) 685-9442. Provides free support and resources for young pregnant and parenting women. Agape Family Shelter 139 S 9th St., (717) 272-6573. Shelter for women and women with children for up to one year of time for no cost. WEPA Empowerment Center 9 S 9th St., (717) 954-7928. Provides workplace training and development to help move community members to living wage levels. T.W. Ponessa & Associates Counseling Services 15 S 9th St., (717) 273-5992. Offers mental health counseling services. Womans Shelter on Willow 740 Willow St., (717) 675-3825. Provides resources and shelter for women facing housing instability. Daniel Larlham Jr. is a reporter for the Lebanon Daily News. Reach him at DLarlham@LDNews.com or on Twitter @djlarlham This article originally appeared on Lebanon Daily News: Sexual assault and child abuse: resources for help in Lebanon Drew Angerer/Getty Images The Kraken has been released. On Wednesday night, MSNBC aired explosive audio recordings of former Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani and Trump campaign officials telling Fox News after the 2020 election that there was no evidence Dominion voting machines flipped votes for President Joe Biden. The existence of the tapes, recorded by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg, was first revealed in an amended legal complaint by Grossberg earlier this week. Grossberg is suing Fox News for harassment and discrimination, accusing the networks lawyers of coercing her to falsely testify in the Dominion defamation case. In her Tuesday filing, Grossberg claimed that Fox News failed to disclose evidence to Dominion of multiple recordings she made of Giuliani, former Trump lawyer Sidney Powell, and high-ranking Trump campaign officials admitting they had no proof to back their election fraud claims. She recorded the conversations in November and December 2020 during her time as the senior booking producer of Fox host Maria Bartiromo, who helped promote Team Trumps voting machine conspiracies. During a pre-trial hearing on Wednesday, the judge in the Dominion case reprimanded Fox News for withholding key evidence in discovery after Dominion lawyers aired some of the recordings in court. Besides sanctioning the network, the judge said he was likely to appoint a special master to investigate the matter and whether Fox made untrue or negligent claims about Rupert Murdochs role at the network. During Wednesday nights broadcast of MSNBCs Alex Wagner Tonight, host Alex Wagner revealed that her program had obtained copies of Grossbergs recordings from the ex-Fox producers legal team. In the first tape aired by Wagner, Giuliani was fairly upfront that he had no actual proof that there was anything wrong with Dominions voting machines or software. Preparing for an interview with Bartiromo just days after the presidential election, the ex-New York City mayor said off-air that he could tell the pro-Trump anchor exactly what the Trump team had in terms of evidence. Story continues Asked about the Dominion software, however, Giuliani stated that was a little harder before asserting that there were some races in Michigan being analyzed right now over claims they had double-counted votes. Now, whether that applies for the whole state or not, I cant tell you yet, he added. Bartiromo then wondered about a conspiracy theory that Nancy Pelosi had any ownership interest in the voting software firm, prompting Giuliani to reply: Ive read that. I cant prove that. In another conversation between a Fox News producer, Bartiromo and Trump campaign officials weeks later, an official asked to go off the record before admitting that there didnt appear to be anything awry with voting software in Georgia. I think they have looked at the machines. When the secretary of state did its audit, there was a lot, I think a fair bit of looking at the machines, the campaign official said. The audit came in pretty darn close to what the machine count was with the receipts. So, I dont know the outcome of those, but our understandingagain, this is from the secretary of states officewas that there werent any physical issues with machines on those inspections. Later in that same conversation, which took place on Dec. 5, 2020, the Trump adviser also raised the date of January 6 as the backstop for potentially overturning the election. This was also two weeks before former President Donald Trump first publicly urged his supporters to protest in Washington, saying it will be wild. We have seen so much reporting, whether it be December 8 or December 14, and weve seen virtually zero pickup of the January 6 date, the official said, adding that people with normal lives probably werent aware of the importance of that date in certifying presidential elections. Thats the whole reason why I wanted to chat with you two just to understand where the real backstops are here, he continued. And if both sets of electors are set up, that would be the moment when the vice presidentwhos the president of the Senatewould have to decide which slate of electors to go with. The back-and-forth between Bartiromo and the Trump adviser on the relevance of January 6 weeks ahead of the Capitol riots will probably not be admitted into the Dominion case. The judge ruled on Tuesday that lawyers for the voting software company may not mention the Jan. 6 attacks during the trial. In its $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit, Dominion accuses Fox News of knowingly peddling election fraud lies about the company in an effort to boost sagging ratings after MAGA viewers bolted following the networks early Arizona call for Biden, a charge the conservative cable giant vehemently denies. Additionally, Fox has pushed back on allegations that it withheld evidence from Dominion or mischaracterized Murdochs current relationship with the network. As counsel explained to the Court, FOX produced the supplemental information from Ms. Grossberg when we first learned it, a network spokesperson said, adding in a separate statement: Rupert Murdoch has been listed as executive chairman of FOX News in our SEC filings for several years and this filing was referenced by Dominions own attorney during his deposition. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Earlier this year, Hallie Hale, 13, suddenly became clumsy, dropping things and struggling to do activities with her left side. A fall in the bathroom caused her parents serious panic. She was sitting down on the toilet. I was trying to talk to her, and she finally said, I cant see you and I cant hear you, her dad, Dathan Hale, tells TODAY.com. The first thing that hit my mind its a stroke. When Hallie Hale suddenly fell and couldn't see or hear anything, her parents thought she was having a stroke. They soon learned she had a rare autoimmune condition. (Courtesy Hale family) When the ambulance arrived, Hallie experienced more stroke symptoms, including facial drooping on her left side, and they called for helicopter to take Hallie to the hospital. But she didnt have a stroke it was a rare autoimmune disorder that causes brain inflammation called anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Before improving, she experienced terrifying hallucinations. "We've never faced anything like this," Dathan Hale says. Dropping things, difficulty doing small tasks Hallie loved dancing. When she wasnt taking classes for three hours a week, she was at home practicing and doing barre videos. In January, her parents noticed she was struggling to hold things, fold towels or fix her makeup and hair. We were going to take her to the pediatrician because, honestly, we thought she had a pinched nerve, Sarah Beth Hale, Hallies mom, tells TODAY.com. Her left side was bothering her. On Jan. 23, 2023, the Hales found out just how badly their daughter needed medical attention, when Halle fell in her parents' bathroom. I heard a crash. I was sitting on the bed, and I asked if she was OK, Sarah Beth Hale recalls. She didnt respond. As I was headed toward the bathroom, she started screaming. Hallie was wedged between the wall and the toilet. Her parents got her to sit on the toilet as they prepared to take her to the emergency room. They decided to call an ambulance after Hallie said she couldnt see or hear them. She was sweating profusely, like her whole body was just drenched in sweat, Sarah Beth Hale says. She had a twitch in her left eye that the paramedics saw. They saw her hand had a tremor. Story continues Months after first becoming sick, Hallie Hale struggles with some lingering symptoms. She can't walk long distances and uses a wheelchair when needed. (Courtesy Hale family) On the way to the hospital, Hallie's face began drooping, and the paramedics thought it would be better to call a helicopter to transport her to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children. Doctors ordered a slew of tests, bloodwork, an MRI and a CT scan when she arrived. They didnt dismiss it. She was still having tremors on the left side, Sarah Beth Hale says. She was still struggling. The next day, the family met with Dr. Vikram Prakash, who ordered a brain activity scan. There was an abnormality, Sarah Beth Hale says. It showed that the right side of her brain was slower than her left side, which was causing all the things on the left side. Prakash ordered another MRI with contrast. But the MRI came back as normal. Doctors diagnosed her with hemiplegic migraines migraines associated with weakness on one side of the body and sent her home with follow-up appointments. Exhausted from their hospital stay, Sarah Beth Hale and Hallie took a nap. When Hallie awoke, she felt very confused. She started playing with her clothes. Shes very agitated. She didnt know what day it was, Sarah Beth Hale recalls. I freaked out because Ive never seen her like that. At first Sarah Beth and Dathan Hale noticed Hallie struggled with tasks, such as doing her hair or makeup. Her symptoms intensified and she was hospitalized several times as doctors rushed to figure out what was wrong. (Courtesy Hale family) They called 911, and paramedics evaluated her and consulted with doctors, and they advised the Hales to monitor Hallie. The next day, she started to see things that werent there. It started with her saying, Hey look, you have a big mouth. Your eyes are really big, Dathan Hale says. It was like she was seeing things bigger than they were. Then, Hallie saw a man that wasnt there. They called Prakash, and he wondered if she was having seizures and asked for the family to bring Hallie back to see him. But before that, Hallies hallucinations took a terrifying turn. She saw another man, and this man had a sword and she felt like he was stabbing her, Sarah Beth Hale says. They returned to the emergency room, and soon after she was admitted. Prakash stopped by and ordered another brain scan. He pulled Sarah Beth and Dathan Hale aside because he suspected what Hallie had, and he wanted to treat it aggressively and immediately. They did two different procedures. The first was to insert a catheter into her jugular vein, Sarah Beth Hale explains. The other thing they did was a lumbar puncture, where they took her spinal fluid and that was sent off to the Mayo Clinic. While undergoing treatment for anti-NMDA encephalitis, Hallie Hale experienced worsened symptoms before improving gradually. (Courtesy Hale family) Anti-NMDA encephalitis Anti-NMDA encephalitis is a rare autoimmune condition where the body makes antibodies that attack the NMDA receptor in the brain. This can lead to scary personality changes. NMDA receptor is an important part of the brain, which plays a big role in memory, emotions, Prakash, a pediatric neurologist at Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children, tells TODAY.com. Anti-NMDA encephalitis can lead to physical and mental symptoms, such as seizures or visual and auditory hallucinations, Prakash says. At various points, Hallie's parents thought she was experiencing seizures up to three times a day due to her tremors, but they weren't "traditional" seizures, Dathan Hale recalls. It was more relaxed, spaced out. She was able to talk to you. She would have some involuntary movements at times. About 60% of patients develop anti-NMDA because of a benign tumor growing in their bodies that the immune system tries to fight, according to Prakash. Hallie did not have a tumor, but she received the same treatment as those that do. Doctors removed the antibodies attacking her brain through a treatment called plasmapheresis and then did an infusion with new antibodies, called IVIG, to block the attacking antibodies. Doctors can follow this with another type of antibody treatment that stops the body from creating the antibodies that attack the patient. The disease takes about two years to fully treat, but it is possible to cure it in some cases, Prakash says. Hallie Hale often tap danced around the house because she enjoyed dance so much. (Courtesy Hale family) Doctors often struggle to diagnose patients with anti-NMDA encephalitis because its so rare, and the symptoms often align with other conditions, such as a seizure disorder or psychiatric condition. This is a very complex disorder, Prakash says. Its a constellation of signs and symptoms that lead us into the diagnosis. Life with NMDA-anti receptor encephalitis After starting the treatment to remove the antibodies attacking her brain, Hallies symptoms worsened. She would be in her own little world in her bed, seeing all kind of things and agitated. She would go through these cycles of her personality, Dathan Hale says. She might just laugh at things that werent funny, or she might be just angry at everything, or she might be scared about everything. She apologized for things that happened in the past, or shed flail her arms, sometimes just holding them out in the air. Sometimes she kicked and punched so much that she'd hurt herself. She liked to listen to music, and it would seem to calm her, Sarah Beth Hale recalls. She would hear things but not grasp that it was a conversation outside the door. She would think she was hearing things. After eight days of plasmapheresis, two IVIG infusions and a drug to suppress her immune system, the Hales hoped their daughter would be her normal self again. I thought at the end of treatment, wed have our daughter back. But we didnt, Sarah Beth Hale says. It was the second week of rehab, which was about a month after diagnosis, that we really started seeing glimpses of her coming back. Family and friends helped as much as they could. Still, the family grappled with the changes in her daughter. Our worst fear was that she wasnt coming back, Dathan Hale says. Unfortunately, the condition is so rare that nobody could really answer us when we said many times, Is this normal? Worrisome symptoms caused the Hale family to call an ambulance for Hallie Hale. (Courtesy Hale family) As speech, occupational and physical therapy continued, Hallie began improving. She still struggles at times. Its tough for her to choose among several things or pay attention when theres a lot of noise and background conversation. The family feels grateful that the doctors figured out what Hallie had. Most of the time, what Hallie (has), it is misdiagnosed (for) months, weeks, sometimes even years, Sarah Beth Hale says. Those kids have permanent damage because of that. Hallie will need the IVIG injections every month for the next two years and the drug that suppresses her immune system every six months. For two weeks, she slept with Sarah Beth Hale every night because she was so overwhelmed in her own home. She still struggles to use her left side, but she met with the owner of the dance studio about starting dance classes again. Were reteaching her how to do math. She can read, and she can write, Sarah Beth Hale says. Sometimes its like we have a preschooler trapped in a teenagers body, and sometimes we have our teenager back. While theyre glad Hallie has been steadily improving, theres still worry. Its safe to say theres a big fear that it will return, Dathan Hale says. Theres a little bit of a monster in the closet. This article was originally published on TODAY.com A Highland roofer has been winning fans with his artwork incorporated into the tops of buildings - including one inspired by Banksy. Gary McIntyre, from Dingwall, came up with the idea a few years ago, and word has been spreading about his designs. Girl with Balloon is one of the most famous works by secretive street artist Banksy, and has now inspired Mr McIntyre's work on an Inverness roof. He incorporates lead and copper into his ornamental roof slate work. A show panel at the self-employed roofer's house allows him to construct designs over several hours and then install them on location. He originally had a lead stag idea but it involved a listed building so did not happen, but someone else wanted the design instead. Mr McIntyre described what has since followed as a "snowball effect" as word-of-mouth spread. "You walk past so many plain roofs during the day and your eyes never come to them because they're not pretty to look at," he told BBC Scotland. "But if you start putting things like Banksy's Girl with Balloon, stags and fishermen and salmon and stuff like that, then it's definitely an eye-catcher. "As soon as you see that red balloon it automatically pulls your eye, you can't help but look at it." Of that particular design, he explained: "I was only supposed to go into the job and re-slate the back of his [the client's] roof. "But I approached the client and asked if he would be willing to let me put the girl with the red balloon into his roof for free. Banksy does not charge so I thought I cannot ask for anything. "He said that was his wife's favourite artist and painting." Mr McIntyre said first and foremost it was his job to keep water out of people's roofs. "There can't be mistakes made," he said. "All the regulations have been adhered to. Story continues "The interest I'm getting is unreal, I've not had any negative feedback, it's all been positive, which is good. I feel super proud. "I totally feel passionate about these works, and hope that I can start putting works of art into people's roofs throughout the UK if possible." He also insisted that he definitely is not the actual Banksy. "I wish I was," he laughed. "With the kind of revenue that he brings in from these paintings I would love to be, but no, sadly I'm not Banksy." A Hilton Head man was charged Wednesday after allegedly pulling over and detaining a driver while impersonating a police officer, according to the Beaufort Police Department. Louis Joseph Ramsey, 60, of Hilton Head, was charged Wednesday morning with kidnapping and impersonating a law enforcement officer, jail records show. Police believe Ramsey was driving near Beauforts Bay Street on Monday afternoon when he conducted a traffic stop on a green Kia Soul for speeding, according to the mans arrest warrants. Ramsey then allegedly detained the driver before calling into Beaufort County dispatch, stating he was a police officer and asking for backup. Learning of the dispatch call, Beaufort police arrived at the Bay Street scene and arrested Ramsey, who police say was armed. The driver of the Kia Soul was not injured and did not know Ramsey, according to Deputy Chief Stephenie Price, a spokesperson for the Beaufort Police Department. Price would not give details about what Ramsey did after allegedly detaining the driver. Under South Carolina law, kidnapping is defined as any forceful confinement or abduction of a person, even if the suspect does not take the kidnapped person to another location. No additional charges are expected, Price said. Ramseys kidnapping charge, considered a felony under South Carolina law, could earn him up to 30 years in prison if he is convicted. Impersonating a police officer, a Class C misdemeanor, could result in one year of prison and a fine of up to $500. Ramsey was released Wednesday morning from the Beaufort County Detention Center on a $10,000 bond, court records show. When we publish mugshots The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette publishes police booking photos, or mugshots, in the following instances: In situations where a public figure or someone in a position of public trust is arrested In cases where there is an immediate and widespread threat to public safety In cases where the arrested person is accused of a crime reporters have evidence to believe involved numerous, unknown victims Reporters will avoid using mugshots as lead images for online articles in order to limit their circulation on social media, except in cases where the public is served by the immediate identification of the accused. Reporters and editors may use discretion in situations that dont meet the criteria outlined in this policy but still present a compelling reason to publish a mugshot. Middle school students at Radloff Middle School in Gwinnett County, Georgia, are facing criminal charges after allegedly calling one of their Black classmates the N-word and whipping her with a belt. The teacher is under investigation for witnessing the alleged incident take place and not reporting it to the schools administration. Right: Sign in front of Louise Radloff Middle School; Left: Cameron Madison, father of Black middle school student, interviewing in front of the school. (Photo: WSB-TV Atlanta. YouTube screenshot) According to Gwinnett County Police, a Black middle school girl was sitting with another Hispanic student on March 30 in class and was approached by another Hispanic student that asked How much for your monkey? The Hispanic student sitting with the Black girl responded with a price, and the other Hispanic student said that he owned her, then began to whip her with a belt. Cameron Madison, the father of the Black student, offered the following statement to WSB-TV Atlanta: She was sitting with a Hispanic child, and the other Hispanic child approached them and said, How much for your monkey? And the child responded, $450. And so the main child said alright, looked at my daughter and said, Alright, I own you now N-word. Do my homework slave. My daughter refused and thats when the child asked the other child to remove his belt and he gave her some lashings. And thats when the teacher initially said, Alright you boys, leave her alone. The situation was so bad that Madison said his daughter texted her mother and said she didnt feel safe anymore. He mentioned that his daughter told him that the teacher witnessed the incident, failed to do anything and didnt report it. She was forced to sit in the classroom with the two boys after the alleged incident because the teacher failed to report it. Both parents went to the school the next day and confirmed it. Theres no safe place. There should be several options for kids in that type of situation where they can walk out immediately, go to someone immediately, have something done immediately, Madison said. The principal, Jennifer Callahan, reportedly said she had no idea the situation took place. Callahan suspended the children involved in the incident the next day, sent out a letter to every parent, and launched an investigation with the Gwinnett County Police Department for a racially motivated crime. Story continues The letter informed the parents of the situation and said that hitting students and/or directing racial slurs at people will not be tolerated at Radloff Middle. After one of the Hispanic students involved was suspended, the student took to Instagram and reposted the letter with the caption, Theyre acting liked I killed someone, I aint even hit that hard (laughing emojis). Screenshot of one of the Hispanic students Instagram post. (Photo: WSB-TV Atlanta Youtube channel) The school told WSB-TV that an investigation was launched by the school district on Monday, April 10 for the teachers involvement. I dont think time heals wounds when it comes to racism, said Madison. London A "huge policing operation" is being planned for the coronation of King Charles III, the U.K.'s minister for policing said Thursday. "We're going to make sure that everybody involved in the coronation, including the general public, are kept safe," Chris Philp told British radio station LBC. Philp was asked whether Prince Harry's attendance at the coronation would lead to an increase in security costs. He said each person's security would "get assessed on a case-by-case basis" and declined to comment on arrangements being made for Harry, specifically. "I'm not going to get into people's individual protection arrangements. By the way, we're providing protection for hundreds of foreign heads of state, overseas heads of state, who are attending as well," Philp said. "It's a huge policing operation, both in terms of the streets and obviously protection for individuals." The coronation of King Charles III is scheduled for May 6. On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace announced that Prince Harry would attend the event but "the Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet." Prince Harry has not been seen with his father or brother since the publication of his tell-all memoir, "Spare," which detailed longstanding tensions within the royal family. In a recent Netflix series, Harry and Meghan outlined concerns they had over the funding of their personal security when they were in the U.K. and abroad. Last year, the former U.K. head of counterrorism policing said Meghan received multiple "disgusting and very real" threats against her life when she was living in the U.K. After the couple stepped back from their royal duties in 2020, the U.K. government decided they should no longer receive police protection during visits, even if they paid for that protection themselves. Meghan and Harry use private security services in the U.S., but Harry's lawyers argue that this is not sufficient in the U.K., and last year he won the right to challenge the British government's decision in court. Story continues However, Sunday Times Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah told CBS News that full police protection will be provided to Harry for the coronation and would have been provided for Meghan and their children had they come. "I think Harry coming on his own was the hope from many inside the palace, because the focus will be much more on the King and the Queen on coronation day, as it should be, rather than what sideshow might be going on with Harry and Meghan in attendance," Nikkhah said. Exclusive discounts from CBS Mornings Deals Actor Steven Yeun talks starring with Ali Wong in new series "Beef," and "Thunderbolts" When filing taxes separately could help married couples The Cape May-Lewes Ferry is one of the small, but much-loved wonders within the Small Wonder, with a fanbase that has reached more than just regional residents. And Hulus latest series is here to prove it. "Tiny Beautiful Things" premiered April 7 on Hulu with an eight-episode drop and features a subtle Delaware Easter egg that might be lost on viewers unfamiliar with the First State. "Tiny Beautiful Things" premiered on Hulu on April 7 and is led by Kathryn Hahn. The show is based on the Dear Sugar advice column that appeared in Rumpus and was penned by Cheryl Strayed, author of Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail, which was adapted into a movie in 2014 led by Delaware visitor Reese Witherspoon (when married to New Castle native Ryan Phillippe). Letters sent into the advice column were later compiled into a book by Strayed called Tiny Beautiful Things: Advice on Love and Life from Dear Sugar, which serves as the source material for the show, though the series is not a biography of Strayed. Kathryn Hahn of Bad Moms, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days and Step Brothers, to name a few plays the main character Clare Pierce, a loose version of Strayed had she not become a writer or hiked the Pacific Crest Trail, said show writer and producer Liz Tigelaar in an L.A. Times interview last week. When does the Delaware reference show up? In episode two of the series, protagonist Pierce can be seen wearing belted jeans with a chambray shirt unbuttoned atop none other than a Cape May-Lewes Ferry shirt. Click across to the fourth photo to see the shirt for yourself! The show was filmed on set in Los Angeles under Reese Witherspoons media company, Hello Sunshine, and does not have filming ties to any local spots. But if Hahn can make a Cape May-Lewes Ferry shirt look chic, you know the Delaware and New Jersey attraction is worth all the hype. The Cape May-Lewes Ferry sits docked in Cape May, N.J., along the Cape May Canal as seen from the Miss Chris on Sunday, July 17, 2016. Ride the Cape May-Lewes Ferry: Have you ever been on the Cape May-Lewes Ferry? Here's everything you need to know Story continues While a trip to Delaware doesnt seem to be in the cards for Pierce, giving the series a watch might be worth it to see if there are any other regional surprises in store. The entire first season is streaming on Hulu. A still from "Tiny Beautiful Things" Episode 107. The show premiered on April 7 on Hulu. Got a tip or a story idea? Contact Krys'tal Griffin at kgriffin@delawareonline.com. This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: 'Tiny Beautiful Things' gives Delaware shout-out with wardrobe choice The Scottish Tories accused Humza Yousaf of a cynical cop-out - Robert Perry/PA Humza Yousaf has been accused of cynical secrecy after refusing to reveal the expected cost to the taxpayer of his court action over Nicola Sturgeons self-ID gender reforms. The First Minister admitted he had been given the worst case scenario costs to the public purse of the legal challenge alongside the Scottish governments legal advice. But he said he would not publish the figures until after the case had been completed a delay of more than a year if, as expected, there is an appeal to the UK Supreme Court. A Supreme Court case that dismissed Ms Sturgeons claim that she could hold a consultative independence referendum, cost the taxpayer more than 250,000. However, the gender case could be even more expensive as it will go through the Scottish courts first and would not be given the same priority treatment by the Supreme Court that the independence action received. The Tories accused the First Minister of a cynical cop-out, arguing that he was keeping the cost secret because the court action was opposed by most Scots. Mr Yousafs refusal to disclose the projected cost came as a former Supreme Court justice warned that his legal case for overturning the UK Governments veto of the gender reforms was weak. Lord Jonathan Sumption said it would be very difficult for the Scottish government to win a judicial review of the decision to block the Gender Recognition Reform (GRR) Bill. Stephen Tierney, professor of constitutional theory at Edinburgh University Law School, said the legal action could even backfire on Mr Yousaf if the court ruling provided a restrictive interpretation of devolved powers. Ash Regan, who stood unsuccessfully for the SNP leadership against Mr Yousaf, predicted that he would suffer a humiliating loss. Ms Regan, who resigned as a minister last year in opposition to the Bill, tweeted: The decision to challenge the Section 35 will result in a humiliating defeat. The GRR is deeply unpopular amongst Scottish voters and court action will cost a vast amount of taxpayers money. Story continues Rachael Hamilton, the Scottish Tories shadow equalities secretary, said: This is a cynical cop-out from Humza Yousaf. He knows most Scots oppose his manufactured legal confrontation with the UK Government over the reckless GRR Bill, so the last thing he wants to do is admit how much its costing them. Hes quite happy squandering public money in a desperate bid to divert attention from the feuds and scandals tearing the SNP apart, yet hes not prepared to say what that bill will be. The GRR Bill would allow Scots to change their legal gender by signing a statutory declaration, removing the need for a medical diagnosis of gender dysphoria. Alister Jack, the Scottish Secretary, blocked the Bill after it was passed by MSPs using an order tabled under Section 35 of the Scotland Act on the grounds that it undermined UK-wide protections for women. Mr Yousaf announced on Wednesday that he would press ahead with legal action to try and overturn the veto, arguing that this was now our only means of defending our Parliaments democracy from the Westminster veto. Speaking to journalists while visiting a nursery in Glasgow, he said he did not know the full costs that would be involved but admitted that worst case scenario figures had been provided. Challenged to make them public, he said: No, because I dont go into legal advice. That, of course is provided as part of [government] legal advice in terms of what the cost of a court case may well be. But of course, at the conclusion of that court case, we'll make those figures absolutely public and absolutely transparent. He dismissed claims that the legal challenge was destined for failure, adding: If the legal advice said that there is not a stateable case, the government wouldnt take it forward. Asked whether he would resign if the legal challenge was unsuccessful, he replied: No. Lord Sumption told BBC Radio Scotland: I think that the Scottish Governments legal position is arguable, but I think it is weak. He said Section 35 of the Scotland Act allows the UK Government to block a Holyrood Bill if it adversely affects UK-wide laws on issues reserved to Westminster, in this case equalities. Warning that the gender reforms could create serious problems, he said: The result will be that some UK citizens, if this Bill comes into force, will have a different legal gender in different parts of the UK depending on where they happen to be. After former President Trump learned he was being indicted late last month, he took to the Truth Social platform to ask a question he and other Republicans have posed many times: Wheres Hunter? Trump was referring to Hunter Biden, the presidents son, who has been under federal investigation in recent years for tax fraud and alleged unethical relationships with foreign governments. The former president and his allies have seized on Hunter Biden, seeking to make the case that the presidents son has eluded criminal charges. The question has become a kind of dog-whistle to Trumps base, even appearing on T-shirts and bumper stickers. He has totally disappeared! Trump wrote in a Twitter post in 2019. President Biden's sister Valerie Biden Owens, left, and son Hunter Biden look on as a child hands President Biden a toy Air Force One President Bidens sister Valerie Biden Owens, left, and son Hunter Biden look on as a child hands President Biden a toy Air Force One as he greets people at Dublin International Airport in Dublin, Ireland, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. During President Bidens campaign and the early months of his presidency, Hunter Biden did keep a relatively low profile. But lately that has changed, with the presidents son maintaining a steady presence at White House events. This week, for example, he joined family members including his young son, Beau, at the Easter Egg Roll, after spending the holiday weekend with the Biden family at Camp David. And as the president traveled to Ireland a day later, Hunter Biden was at his side along with his aunt, President Bidens sister Valerie Owens. Raskin reveals Oversight Republicans have sent six subpoenas in probe of Biden family finances Before leaving on the trip, Biden told reporters that both family members hadnt been there before. Hunter Bidens more-frequent presence comes as he has sought to go on the offensive after years of incoming fire from Republicans, marking a shift in strategy. In February, he requested a criminal probe into Trumps allies who he says stole information on his personal laptop to use against him. Story continues The House GOP majority entering its 100th day in power has vowed to put Hunter Biden at the center of its investigations. White House allies are confident those GOP investigations will backfire, pointing to polling that indicates the American public doesnt care about the younger Bidens business dealings. He clearly feels like he has been mistreated and is trying to control the narrative, said one Democratic strategist. Hunter Bidens presence in the presidential delegation to Ireland his first foreign trip during his fathers administration created headlines for the president, including on Fox News. Biden takes son Hunter and sister Valerie to Ireland as investigations heat up, a headline on Fox News read, referring to the House inquiries. Other conservative sites also jumped on the story. Lets just remind the Newsmax viewers: When Hunter flew with Vice President Biden on Air Force 2 to China, the week after he came home, he inked a deal for $1.3 billion with the national bank of communist China, a deal that JP Morgan, Goldman Sachs could never have gotten, Sebastian Gorka, who served as an adviser to Trump during his presidency, said on the Newsmax show Rob Schmitt Tonight on Tuesday evening. So, my question is, what deal is Hunter going to get from some Irish billionaire next week? House Oversight Democrats say Chairman Comer held back evidence, misled on witnesses A White House spokesperson said the presidents son would be covering personal expenses on the trip. Historically, family members of presidents and first ladies have frequently joined them during international travel, the spokesperson said. Current practices are consistent with those used by prior administration. Trump, for example, also took his two adult sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, to Ireland on a 2019 trip, when the two made headlines for going on a pub crawl the night before commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day. Hunter Biden has appeared at other White House events in recent months including the state dinner in December honoring French President Emmanuel Macron. But on the trip to Ireland this week, Bidens son was front-and-center at times alongside his father. After landing in rainy Dublin, Hunter Bidenwho was photographed carrying an umbrella for his father as the president talked to the Taoiseach and diplomatic officials also accompanied his father to a firehouse off the tarmac, where Biden delivered brief remarks and spoke to a crowd of 250 embassy officials and their children. When one of the children asked a question about the top step to success and Biden didnt understand the gist of it, Hunter Biden sought to clarify. Whats the key to success? the younger Biden told his dad. Later, while President Biden recounted a story about the late Sen. Jesse Helms (R) and mistakingly said he was from South Carolina, Hunter Biden interjected with North. The strategist said the trip gave us a glimpse into the presidents relationship with his son. We havent seen that on display much before during this presidency. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Smoke rises from a hotel building after an explosions and gunfire in Kabul in December 2022. (Associated Press) Last summer, nearly a year after the Taliban took over his country, Mr. A, an Afghan man in his 20s, crossed the southern border in California and told authorities he was seeking asylum. On Jan. 27, in a decision they would later reverse, U.S. authorities deported Mr. A back to the country he had fled. He hid in fear in Afghanistan, convinced the Taliban would find him, as his attorneys attempted to convince the government that his deportation was a mistake and he needed to be returned. On Feb. 21, the U.S. government paid to fly Mr. A back to Los Angeles. The extremely rare move, which amounts to an admission that Mr. As deportation was at least premature, did not end his ordeal: He has been in ICE custody ever since. The U.S. government has continued to pursue his deportation, though the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals recently put a temporary stay on his removal from the country. The deportation and hurried return of Mr. A indicates that ICE is sending people back to other countries, even dangerous ones such as Afghanistan, without complete information about their cases, his attorneys say. The case of Mr. A, whom The Times is identifying by the first initial of his first name because he fears that the Taliban will kill his family if they realize he sought asylum in the U.S., is an especially fraught example. He came to the U.S. after fleeing a country that the U.S. occupied for two decades and left dangerous and in disarray. It was one of the most egregious things Ive seen as an immigration lawyer, said Tania Linares Garcia, an attorney with the National Immigrant Justice Center who represents him. Especially after the U.S. government evacuated so many people. Why they would prioritize the removal for someone to Afghanistan is baffling to us. As of last year, ICE did not keep records on how many immigrants it deported by mistake while their cases were still being adjudicated, according to an internal Department of Homeland Security investigation obtained by The Times. ICE, therefore, had no way of knowing whether erroneous removals were rare, the report, which was conducted by the agencys civil rights watchdog, concluded. Story continues Sunil Varghese, policy director at the International Refugee Assistance Project (IRAP), said that while he could not comment on individual cases, U.S. deportations to Afghanistan deserve special scrutiny and extreme care. Afghanistan is a dangerous place for broad swaths of people, including those affiliated with the U.S. government, Varghese said. The very imprimatur of arrival in Afghanistan via a U.S. facilitated flight can be dangerous. Mr. A initially left Afghanistan in 2022. He reached the U.S. border in late June after traveling from South America, and crossed without authorization into California, where he was taken into custody and held by ICE for seven months. ICE detained him during the entirety of his initial asylum hearings, in which he was not represented by an attorney. In late November, an immigration judge ordered him deported. The NIJC helped him submit an appeal shortly before the deadline to file, the group told The Times. In immigration proceedings, deportations are generally paused while appeals are processed and heard. But on Jan. 27, Mr. A was deported from the detention center in which he was being held in Southern California. ICE wasnt aware of his appeal until after his deportation, an ICE spokesperson said. Why would I be deported to Afghanistan? That is not legal, he told The Times later through an interpreter. ICE deportations to Afghanistan are extremely rare. In the fiscal year of 2020, before the U.S. armed forces left the country, the agency had deported just 25 Afghans. That number dropped to 14 in the following year and 12 in the 2022 fiscal year, which ended in September. The agency has previously touted the criminal record of Afghans it has deported. As a federal law enforcement agency, ICE would not intentionally remove a noncitizen from the United States in violation of law or policy, an ICE spokesperson said in a statement to The Times. In the rare cases when ICE removes someone from the country in error, ICE works to remedy the situation. In this case, ICE facilitated the noncitizens return once the agency learned of the appeal. When Mr. A was in an airport waiting to go back to Afghanistan, he began destroying the documents he had for his asylum case, he said. I just couldnt imagine if they see me with these documents, what they would do with me they would have killed me. For my own safety, I destroyed those, he said. The Taliban questioned Mr. A upon his arrival, he said. They asked where he had gone. He did not mention his journey to the U.S. For nearly three weeks, he said, he hid in Afghanistan while his attorneys figured out how to get him back to the U.S. The lawyers contacted ICE officials and lawmakers and pressured the government to guarantee his return to the U.S. I was basically waiting for the Taliban to come after me. I couldnt sleep, he said of his time in Afghanistan. The agency has been forced to bring back people it has deported in the past. In 2019, ICE mistakenly removed an Iraqi man, Muneer Subaihani, after a federal court judge ordered the agency not to do so. The same federal court judge ordered ICE to buy Subaihani a plane ticket and allow his entry into the U.S. Last year, an El Salvadoran man sued ICE after he alleged he was unlawfully deported in 2019 and, upon his return to his home country, put in prison for nearly 300 days. In mid-February, the U.S. government agreed to allow Mr. A to come back to the U.S. ICE worked with the State Department and his attorneys to bring him back, an agency spokesperson said. As he sat on a plane headed for home, he was convinced the Taliban would come on the flight and take him away. OK, they are coming, he thought to himself. But, to his relief, Mr. A was able to escape Afghanistan and come back to the country where he had previously sought safety. He landed at Los Angeles International Airport on Feb. 21. He expected to have a chance to pursue his asylum appeal as a free man. In fact, the group representing him told the government it had a sponsor waiting for him in Chicago who will house him and pay for his life while he gets settled in the country. The group implored ICE to offer him a chance to avoid detention and live in Chicago before he returned to the U.S. They explained that not only did he not have a criminal record but also that the Biden administration had set up a process, Operation Allies Welcome, that helped facilitate the evacuation of Afghans for America. Such programs are intended to facilitate the entry into the United States so that persons in similar positions to [Mr. A] can present their claims for protection, they wrote to ICE. ICE officials did not accept the request. They took him to the Imperial Regional Detention Facility, which is where ICE holds immigrants. They put me in jail for no crimes I have not committed crimes anywhere in the world, he said. His case, advocates say, also highlights the problems within the immigration system when immigrants represent themselves in asylum hearings, as Mr. A did initially. Mr. A did not have an immigration attorney when he was ordered deported in immigration court. The government says that, in those hearings, he waived his right to appeal. His attorneys say he was unaware that he had done so, as evidenced by the fact that they later helped him file an appeal. Migrants who do not have attorneys are generally less likely to win in court. The NIJC had helped Mr. A file his appeal in December, but the group says the Board of Immigration Appeals misplaced the document after it was delivered. A Justice Department spokesperson said the government could not comment on that claim unless Mr A. formally waives his privacy rights. Mr. A's lawyers later resubmitted his appeal after noticing that the governmental website that shows cases status had not been updated. By Jan. 24, the NIJC lawyers said, they received a notice that the appeal had been filed and the website showed that his case was pending. The immigration appeals board, however, said in a March decision that Mr. A had waived his right to appeal after he was ordered deported in November. In a footnote, the appeals board said Mr. A did not file his appeal in a timely manner but said it would not further consider the issue. It is bad enough that asylum seekers have to face potentially life-or-death cases, isolated in detention, with no right to appointed counsel and limited procedural protections, Linares Garcia said. It is unconscionable to then curtail their ability to seek redress from errors in a system that is known to be overburdened, or to expect them to exercise their right to appeal while living in hiding after being wrongfully removed." Mr. As attorneys have now gone to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, where they have argued that he was unaware he had waived his right to appeal. The appeals court has placed a stay on his deportation while it considers the matter. The 9th Circuit could rule in Mr. As favor and send the case back to the immigration courts or deny his effort, leaving him again vulnerable to deportation. Mr. A could also separately try to reopen his asylum case. His attorneys have pleaded with the government in the weeks after his return to the U.S. They hope he will have a chance to pursue his case outside of detention. In a letter to DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, the lawyers say that Mr. A had told them that he feels helpless and does not understand why he is being treated in such a callous way. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Crickets. Thats the extent of what we have heard from the three senior members of Idahos congressional delegation immediately following the indictment of former President Donald Trump. While Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Mike Simpson were sending out press releases on other matters, other Republicans were expressing disgust over Trump being the first American president to face criminal charges. Chuck Malloy In Idaho, Attorney General Raul Labrador and State Republican Party Chair Dorothy Moon were quick to issue statements, blasting Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for going after Trump. Labrador said the actions serve to further erode the trust our citizens have in the nations justice system. Moon said Democrats are willing to throw the rule of law aside in order to further their quest for power. One member of Idahos delegation who has spoken up about the former presidents indictment is First District Congressman Russ Fulcher. As he sees it, the indictment makes Trump the clear frontrunner for the Republican presidential race next year if not seals the nomination. U.S. Rep. Russ Fulcher, R-Idaho, speaks at a Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce luncheon in 2022, at the Grove Hotel in downtown Boise. Ill say yes at least for now, Fulcher told me. Its an eternity between now and the primaries. But without question, at a time when the congressional dialogue is on issues such as energy, Ukraine and the budget, the dialogue has changed overnight with the Bragg stuff. Across the Republican Party, and with some Democrats, this is seen as a bridge too far. And thats not good news for anyone thinking about challenging Trump for the GOP nomination next year. I think wheres hes going with this is that he wants to protect you, the American people, from what has happened to him, Fulcher said. I think thats exactly what youre going to see. Trump may have other indictments from Georgia, the Jan. 6 investigation and the classified documents found at his Florida home but those could serve to strengthen his campaign while galvanizing supporters. This one is on the system, Fulcher says. Theres tax evasion, Ukraine, the Ukranian phone call, Russian collusion, business fraud, his kids business fraud, the Stormy Daniels thing, campaign finances, treason and by the way the guy has been out of office for a while. We all know that Donald Trump is not a choir boy, but at the same time, there isnt anyone else on the planet who is going to get that kind of attention. Story continues The latest chapter, Fulcher says, comes from a prosecutor who is struggling to keep violent crimes down in his home district. Its obvious that its political, Fulcher says. And what Trump is going through is an example of what happens by going crossways with the system, Fulcher says. Remember how they got Al Capone with a tax charge. If you have a corrupt enough system, and you are creative enough for long enough, youll find something. If everything is lined up, and the fix is in, dont be shocked if theres jail time (for Trump). The merits of the indictment are not the crucial issue, Fulcher says. The end game is to find a charge. The deep state and swamp is real. The objection to Trump is not his policies, or Stomy Daniels, for crying out loud. The blowback is that he threatens their existence. But not all is bleak at least for prospective Republican presidential candidates, Fulcher says. Theres Ron DeSantis, Mike Pompeo, Nikki Haley and Asa Hutchinson these are legit folks and worthy candidates. On the Democratic side, theres a president whos not all there thats not a criticism, but an observation and a governor who has destroyed the largest state in the country (California). They are in a jam. Fulcher said he has not given much thought to who he will support on the Republican side. But unless Trump ends up in prison, Fulcher sees the former president having a clear path to the GOP nomination. Chuck Malloy is a longtime Idaho journalist and columnist. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com MSNBCs Nicolle Wallace laughed in disbelief after showing viewers an excerpt from Donald Trumps recent interview with Fox News host Tucker Carlson in which the former president lauded authoritarian leaders as top of the line. You can tell a lot about a person by the company they keep, or in the case of the twice-impeached, disgraced, now-indicted ex-president, the people they praise loudly on Fox News, Wallace said Wednesday. She showed viewers a clip from Trumps Fox News interview, which aired Tuesday. Theyre all top of the line, Trump said of Chinese President Xi Jinping, North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Our guys not top of the line never was, he added, referring to President Joe Biden. Trump also called Xi a brilliant man and praised Kim and Putin as very smart. Hooting with laughter, Wallace said: I dont even know where to start. No one called you top of the line. Ever! "When Donald Trump says... Joe Biden doesn't know what he is doing, and the president of China really does, that has significant reverberations....and whether it's ignorance or intent, it leaves a very dangerous message on the world stage." @DavidJollyFL w/ @NicolleDWallacepic.twitter.com/F0CUS8IC1S Deadline White House (@DeadlineWH) April 12, 2023 The MSNBC host noted that she typically avoids amplifying Trump or Fox News, but said that this rhetoric provided important context on the recent Republican-led efforts to strip back abortion rights, implement voter suppression laws and silence dissent in the Tennessee state legislature. Its important to understand theyre not bodily functions. Theyre not burping out random policies. Theyre following their leader, whos following the worlds most heinous authoritarians, Wallace said. And we showed you that to show you just how dangerous his rhetoric is. Story continues Hes such an idiot, on top of all else, she later added. And he sounds like such a bleepin idiot. Related... Wedding season is officially in full swing. If an invitation just landed in your mailbox, then you're probably already planning what you're going to wear, checking the registry for just the right gift and getting ready to celebrate the happy couple. A lot goes into a wedding and considering you've been invited to participate in one of the most special days of the couple's life, your job as a wedding guest is an important one. "When it comes to weddings, there is so much time invested in it, money invested in it, emotional effort," Diane Gottsman, national etiquette expert and founder of The Protocol School of Texas, tells TODAY.com. "It's not just going out to a dinner party, it's a lifetime memory," she says. Because of that, "everybody should be on their best behavior." Starting from the moment you receive the invitation until bidding adieu at the end of the reception, the way you conduct yourself can leave a lasting impression. To ensure that everything goes as planned, we asked Gottsman to weigh in on the dos and don'ts of being a wedding guest. Don't wait until the last minute to RSVP "One of the most respectful things a guest can do is to RSVP promptly," Gottsman says. That means don't let the invite languish on your counter for weeks or months while you decide whether or not to go. "It appears, if you dont RSVP, that you are shopping your options," Gottsman says. "Youre waiting to see if theres a better deal thats going to come along." Instead, she says to check your calendar, make a decision and respond to the couple as soon as possible. Whatever you do, don't be the person who forgets to reply at all. "That just adds extra work and extra stress for the bride and groom because they want to make sure everybody is going to be comfortable and accounted for," Gottsman says. Regardless of your relationship with the couple, don't assume they know you're coming. "Don't assume anything. If a family is invited, don't just assume that the brother's coming or the siblings are coming unless you RSVP." Story continues Once you commit to attending the wedding, Gottsman says that unless there are extenuating circumstances, it's rarely acceptable to not show up, especially if it's because "a better offer came along." Wedding invitation on table setting. (Jamie Grill / Getty Images) Don't ask to bring plus-ones or extra guests "A guest should never ask to bring additional people. It puts the couple on the spot as they are 'counting heads' for rentals, catering and room space," Gottsman says. "The bride and groom may have gone through great lengths to plan whos sitting at each table and they want to make sure everyone is comfortable and fed amply." So, yep, that means dont ask to bring a plus-one (or anyone else for that matter) if it hasnt been clearly stated on the invitation. And, most certainly, don't show up with extra guests on the day of especially if they don't have any connection to the newlyweds. "The bride and groom should not meet perfect strangers at their wedding. There should be some kind of connection with that bride and groom," she adds. Don't dress inappropriately Planning to wear that pretty off-white dress you just bought? Save it for another occasion because the old adage about never wearing white to a wedding still holds true. "Give them that one day. Its not an outdated rule because thats the day that the bride wears white or cream. And allow that to happen for them," Gottsman says. Beyond wearing white, make sure your outfit is appropriate and aligns with the suggested dress code. "If you're wearing something that everybody's going to be staring at, make sure that you check your wardrobe before you leave," Gottsman says. It's also important to dress up and not arrive in jeans unless it's been stated that the occasion is casual. "If its a formal affair, that means a long gown. If its cocktail, that means you can you wear something thats fun and celebratory that it can be knee length or even above the knee appropriately," she explains. As for men, Gottsman says they should always dress up as opposed to dressing down, and wear a suit, jacket or tie. If don't own formalwear or something appropriate for the wedding, Gottsman suggests simply doing your best with what you've got. "I think everybody gets grace because some people have the budget and some don't, and its important to be understanding," Gottsman says. "Its a celebration of love and we want the people that we love to be around us whether or not they own a tie or they own a suit." Don't be late There are all kinds of reasons for showing up late to a wedding: the babysitter didn't show, bumper-to-bumper traffic, an unexpected work meeting and so on. That said, it's up to you to plan ahead in the event that there are any last-minute mishaps and snafus. "Traffic or trains are not an excuse because we have to factor that in," Gottsman says. Always factor in some buffer time to make up for anything that's out of your control. In the unfortunate case that you're running late, it's important not to disrupt the ceremony when you arrive. "Even though you want to sit up close to see everything, youre going to wait until the bride walks down the aisle. If shes standing there, youre going to wait out back," Gottsman explains. Just sneak in and take a seat in the back. "Youre not going to try and move way up high even if your entire family is up there," she says. Don't drink too much Enjoying a cocktail or two is standard fare at any wedding, but don't go overboard. "Youre there to enjoy the celebration and you dont want to be the one who ruins the wedding and thats what they remember over anything else," Gottsman says. Simply put, don't be that person. By all means, enjoy the open bar in moderation. "When we over imbibe, our inhibitions go out the window, and we tend to do things and say things that we wouldnt if we had our wits about us," she adds. Speaking of open bars, free cocktails aren't an excuse to go crazy. "We have to use our very best judgement," Gottsman says. "Just because it's an open bar doesn't mean it's an all-you-can-drink buffet." Group of guys friends with glasses of whiskey at a wedding. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Don't make their wedding day about you Since everyone's gathered together in celebration, it could be tempting to share in the day by proposing to your sweetheart. Just. Don't. In fact, don't make any big announcements at someone else's wedding. "Dont trump the bride and groom with your own proposals, your own news. And certainly don't give a toast and embarrass the bride and groom with details about other relationships," Gottsman says. To that end, leave all your baggage personal woes, family arguments and grudges at home. "Bottom line, anywhere we show up, we show up as who we are. And I think that especially at a wedding, where its so important for the bride and groom, we need to do our very best to be on our best behavior," Gottsman says. Don't post wedding photos before the couple It's common practice to see arms in the air and phones recording every moment of the bride walking down the aisle. The same holds true for the first dance, the cutting of the cake and all other picture-worthy wedding moments. While it's fine to snap pics or take videos at a wedding (in most cases), plastering them all over social media without the permission of the bride and groom isn't. "Sometimes the bride and groom encourage you to post pictures," Gottsman says. "They want you to use their hashtag, they want you to post moment by moment pictures as we go. But you have to know that in advance." If it isn't encouraged, she says it's best to allow the couple to post the first photos of their wedding. "You dont want to post any pictures until they do because you want to give them the opportunity. Its kind of like seeing the bride in the gown for the first time." Gottsman also cautions against taking selfies in case people in the background prefer not to have their picture posted on social media. "When in doubt, dont," she says. Don't go off script Every wedding is unique, which makes it extra important to respect the protocol of the one you're attending. Whatever asks have been made by the couple should be followed (within reason, of course). "When the bride and groom clearly requests no photos or videos, there is no wiggle room. You must abide by their wishes because it is the most polite and appropriate thing to do," Gottsman says. "Even though you think you might be able to grab a quick video quietly or discreetly, its not right. They made a simple request and we should abide by that request." Phones aside, all other wishes should be honored, including leaving small children at home, sitting at your assigned table or skipping the ceremony and showing up for just the reception. "We are supporting the bride and groom from the beginning 'til the end," Gottsman says. "And the ceremony for them is very important. So, it should be important to us." Don't ignore gift requests Does the invitation clearly request no gifts? If so, don't bring a gift. It's as simple as that. "We always abide by what the request is," Gottsman says, adding that you still need to respect what's been asked of you even if you don't feel comfortable. "If you show up with a gift and everyone else does not have a gift, or multiple people show with a gift, it makes the people who followed the request uncomfortable." If gifts are welcome, be mindful of what you bring to the wedding. "If you are going giving them something thats large, its always best to send it ahead of time. That way they dont have to cart it home," Gottsman says. "It's most convenient when you use the registry and just send it ahead." Worried about walking in empty-handed? Don't be, according to Gottsman. "Everybody understands this is 2023, and that we have all kinds of means of sending gifts through registries. Some people even Venmo your gift to another person and it depends on the person, but that would be perfectly fine." But the whole idea of giving a gift that's equivalent to the cost of your plate is a thing of the past. "That is outdated, antiquated and does not apply because how do we even know how much that plate costs? We dont know if theyre having barbecue or a six-course meal," she says. "Your gift should reflect the relationship you have with that other person." Wedding gifts (Getty Images) Don't hold a grudge if you're not invited It can be difficult to make sense of why you didn't score an invite, but Gottsman says it's never OK to confront the bride and groom over their decision. "Understand that there were probably limitations," she explains, adding that bringing it up puts pressure on the bride and groom to make an excuse for why you weren't included. "It puts everybody on the spot. It leaves a memory, it leaves a sour taste of the other persons mouth." Instead she recommends being supportive and understanding. "If youre not invited, I think you assume that there are reasons that you werent invited. And you can say, 'I cant wait to hear all about your wedding. Lets set up a time so I can see some of these pictures,'" Gottsman says. This article was originally published on TODAY.com (Bloomberg) -- A court finished hearing arguments in Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhis appeal to suspend his defamation conviction and will pass an order on April 20, his lawyer said. Most Read from Bloomberg Gandhi, a scion of Indias Nehru-Gandhi political dynasty, wanted to secure a stay of his conviction from the court to be reinstated as a member of parliament. His defamation conviction carries a two-year prison term and if not lifted could see him barred from next years national elections. Arguments in the case concluded on Thursday after a daylong hearing, said Kirit Panwala, a lawyer for the Congress party leader. A court in Surat in the western state of Gujarat had found Gandhi guilty in a criminal defamation case on March 23 for allegedly making derogatory remarks in 2019 about Prime Minister Narendra Modis surname. The court sentenced him to two years of prison. Gandhi was swiftly disqualified from parliament shortly after in line with Indian law that bars anyone sentenced to two or more years in prison from holding parliament membership. The conviction could also hurt the 52-year-old politician in the general elections, due by the summer of 2024 since the law also bars anyone serving a prison term of two or more years from contesting elections for six years after they serve their sentence. Gandhi had secured a slight breather earlier this month after the court suspended his jail term until his appeal was finally decided. While this protected Gandhi from being imprisoned, he requires a suspension or overturning of his conviction to be reinstated as a member of parliament. Gandhi has positioned himself as a challenger to Modi and his ruling Bhartiya Janata Party even though his Congress party has been routed in two consecutive national ballots. Story continues However, Gandhis conviction also angered several opposition parties, indicating that the Congress leader could use the setback to try and gain a political edge and forge alliances. The BJP has dismissed the allegations that Gandhis conviction was politically motivated, saying the law is equal for everyone. To revive his Congress party, Gandhi recently completed a 2,170-mile trek from Indias southernmost tip to the icy north of Kashmir. --With assistance from Abhijit Roy Chowdhury. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Aftab Ahmed NEW DELHI (Reuters) -India's financial crime-fighting agency has opened an investigation into alleged violations of foreign exchange rules by the BBC, a source told Reuters on Thursday, months after tax officials searched the broadcaster's Mumbai and Delhi offices. The tax raids in February had come close on the heels of the release of a BBC documentary about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership of the state of Gujarat during riots in 2002. At least 1,000 people were killed in the riots, most of them Muslims. The latest investigation is being conducted by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) under India's Foreign Exchange Management Act. The agency issued a notice to the BBC in March and questioned some employees earlier this month, said the source, who declined to be named citing the sensitivity of the matter. An ED spokesperson did not immediately respond to calls and a text message seeking comment. The BBC did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment. The Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, is a civil law and the ED conducts investigations into suspected contraventions of it to "adjudicate and impose penalties" on those found guilty, it says on its website. British Foreign Minister James Cleverly, during a visit to New Delhi in March, raised the BBC tax searches with his Indian counterpart. Relations between India and Britain, who are working to seal a delayed free-trade agreement, have also been strained by protests outside the Indian High Commission in London last month. India on Wednesday asked Britain for increased monitoring of UK-based supporters of a Sikh separatist movement following a "breach of security" at the High Commission. The British government said this week they were working to "review security and make changes to ensure the safety of its staff". (Reporting by Aftab Ahmed, writing by Sakshi Dayal Editing by Krishna N. Das) Steve Millard, president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber In recent weeks, the DeWine administration formally introduced its operating budget proposal for fiscal years 2024 and 2025, reflecting the policy priorities of Gov. Mike DeWine. The bill is currently working through the legislative process as House Bill 33, and once complete, will be responsible for funding a large majority of state agencies and programs and key priorities and initiatives. Included within DeWines budget recommendations is $150 million for the creation of new Innovation Hubs in small- and mid-sized cities like Akron. These dollars are designed to support new R&D, commercialization and workforce development activities that focus on fully unlocking the potential of unique high-growth opportunities within various key industries. For many years, leaders from within business, local government, higher education, nonprofit and other key stakeholder groups have recognized the unique opportunities that Ohios polymer industry holds for our region. In terms of industry density, Northeast Ohio has over 500 polymer manufacturing companies (i.e., rubber, plastic and chemical goods) and Greater Akron has one of the highest concentrations in the country for downstream polymer manufacturing (i.e., rubber and plastic goods) with annual payroll of well over $700 million. We have industry leaders like Goodyear, Bridgestone, Continental, Synthomer, Parker Hannifin and Avient, as well as globally recognized research and talent development capabilities at the University of Akron and Kent State University. Our region has leveraged these assets to create an industry-led collaborative that we call the Polymer Industry Cluster, including a large number of private-sector companies, higher education institutions and economic development partners. Our work together to establish a plan and a strategy to accelerate this industry puts Akron in a unique position to take advantage of this Innovation Hub initiative and we have been in an ongoing dialogue with key decision makers on the critical need for an investment of this type in our region. Story continues We applaud the DeWine administration for recognizing the need to further invest in Ohios innovation ecosystem(s) and weve held and continue to hold positive conversations with regional legislators on the significance of this opportunity for both our regional and state economies. If funded, an Innovation Hub in Akron focused on fully unlocking the potential of the unique high-growth opportunities within Ohios polymer industry will help to solidify our position as a global leader in this critically important sector. In doing so, we also position ourselves for additional investment from the federal government, which is interested in the applications of polymers in other critically important sectors such as sustainability, electric vehicles, semiconductors and health care. As the Ohio legislature fully considers the governors proposed budget, maintaining the Innovation Hub funding is our top priority. From an economic development perspective, there is no single line item that stands to have a bigger impact on the future of the Greater Akron regions economic vitality. Steve Millard is president and CEO of the Greater Akron Chamber. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron's polymer cluster would benefit from DeWine's budget proposal President Biden on Thursday said that investigators are getting close to identifying the source of a U.S. intelligence leak that revealed details about the war in Ukraine and U.S. spying efforts on some of its closest allies. Theres a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, and theyre getting close, Biden said while visiting Dublin. The Defense Department and the Justice Department have each opened an investigation into the leak, which the president said prevented him from sharing any updates on the matter. Despite his top aides this week expressing concerns about some of the contents of the leak as well as the freshness of some documents, some of which are dated from February, Biden said he was more concerned about how it occurred than what was revealed. Im not concerned about the leak, Biden said. Im concerned that it happened. But theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of thats of great consequence. Several leaked documents that appeared to have classified information about the Russian invasion into Ukraine and other national security topics were posted on social media websites but only discovered last week. The roughly 100 leaked records has created an embarrassing situation for the Biden administration and forced the U.S. to respond by attempting to smooth things over this week with its allies. One such bombshell revealed that Egypt was attempting to send some 40,000 rockets to Russia in secret. Other information included spy efforts by the U.S. on allies such as Israel and South Korea. Meanwhile, some officials have been fixated on figuring out the source of the leak and stressed the seriousness of the matter. The Washington Post reported the leaker worked on a military base. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Tuesday that the Pentagon will turn over every rock to find the source and that the Biden administration takes this very seriously. And, Secretary of State Antony Blinken reportedly reassured Ukraine of the ironclad support from the U.S. following the leak. Story continues The leaked documents also revealed that Ukraine air defense systems will soon run out, that the Pentagon casted doubt about an expected major counteroffensive from Ukraine this spring, and that South Korea was privately concerned about munitions sent to the U.S. going to Ukraine, among other revelations. White House national security spokesman John Kirby earlier this week cautioned about the validity of the documents and said that some of them have been doctored. At least one of the documents containing casualty estimates appears to have been altered, but its unclear how many were manipulated. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. In light of Sexual Assault Awareness Month in April, state officials want to remind Iowans who are survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, trafficking, stalking and assault they can remove their address from public records. The Safe at Home program allows victims to use substitute address, mail forwarding, confidential voter registration and absentee voting to keep their information confidential from abusers. The participants' first-class, legal, certified mail, prescriptions and government packages arrive at a substitute address and are then forwarded to the participants' confidential addresses. Proof of a restraining order or other court documents are not required to sign up. Iowa Secretary of State Paul Pate describes it more of an honor system. "We're not trying to put them through another loop," he said. When it began in 2016, Pate expected to see about 300 participants, based on what happened in surrounding states. It now has more than 1,200 survivors in 77 counties. In 2021, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed a law that expanded who could sign up for Safe at Home to include survivors of assault. The number of participants nearly doubled in the two years since. The program also is available in 41 other states. "I underscore that because it's not just an urban issue, this is an equal opportunity situation around our state and around our country for that matter," Pate said. According to Pate, 81% of women and 43% of men nationwide have reported experiencing some sort of sexual harassment or assault in their lifetime. In Iowa, there were 5,626 women and 754 men who reported sex abuse between October 2020 and September 2021, according to the Iowa Attorney General. Pate and Marion County sheriff Jason Sandholdt, president of the Iowa State Sheriffs and Deputies Association, said Wednesday they want to help victims become survivors and pointed to the resources available to them, including Safe at Home. They also encouraged victims to report incidences of assault and abuse. Story continues "There's not going to be judgment. We're going to be there," Sandholt said. "We have resources to help and want to help people work through those traumatic events." The Safe at Home application can be found online at safeathome.iowa.gov. Call 515-725-7233 or email safeathome@iowa.gov for more information. There also is a hotline available for people dealing with trauma. Iowa Victim Service Call Center is available 24 hours a day at 800-770-1650 or text IOWAHELP to 20121. The National Domestic Violence Hotline is 800-799-7233. Noelle Alviz-Gransee is a breaking news reporter at the Des Moines Register. Follow her on Twitter @NoelleHannika or email her at NAlvizGransee@registermedia.com. This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa assault victims encouraged to use address confidentiality program After being at daggers drawn for years, longtime Middle East rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia are engaged in whirlwind diplomacy as they prepare to normalise relations after a seven-year split. As Iran's President Ebrahim Raisi prepares to visit Saudi Arabia, AFP looks back at key moments in the relationship: - 1979: Iran revolution - When Iranian revolutionaries overthrow the US-backed shah in 1979 and form an Islamic republic, Sunni-led governments in the region accuse the Shiite state of seeking to "export" its revolution. In 1980, Saddam Hussein's secular but Sunni-dominated regime in Iraq attacks neighbouring Iran, triggering an eight-year war in which oil-rich Saudi, a key US ally, supports Baghdad. - 1987: ties cut - In July 1987, Saudi security forces in Mecca -- the holiest site in Islam -- crack down on an anti-US protest by Iranian pilgrims. More than 400 people are killed. Demonstrators ransack the Saudi embassy in Tehran and, in April 1988, Riyadh breaks off diplomatic relations for several years. - 2011-2015: proxy wars in Syria, Yemen - From 2011 on, Iran and Saudi back opposing sides in Syria's civil war. Tehran supports President Bashar al-Assad with military forces and funds, whereas Riyadh backs Sunni rebels but also joins a US-led coalition to fight Sunni extremists from the Islamic State group. Saudi Arabia and Iran also take opposing sides in the Yemen war. In 2015, a Saudi-led coalition launches a seven-year campaign of air strikes against the Iran-backed Huthi rebels who seized the capital Sanaa. - 2016: ties cut again - In January 2016, Saudi Arabia executes prominent Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr, a driving force behind anti-government protests, on "terrorism" charges. Protesters attack Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran, and Riyadh again severs ties. In November 2017, Saudi-backed Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri announces his resignation, citing Iran's "grip" on his country through the Shiite militant group Hezbollah. Story continues Saudi Arabia is widely suspected of forcing his resignation, which he later recants. - 2017: Qatar blockade - In June 2017, Saudi Arabia and its allies sever ties with the tiny gas-rich Gulf monarchy of Qatar and impose a blockade on it, accusing Doha of being too close to Iran and backing extremism. Under US pressure, Riyadh ends the embargo three years later. - 2023: restoring relations - In a surprise move, on March 10, 2023, Tehran and Riyadh announce Chinese-brokered plans to resume ties after seven years. Days later, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi receives an invitation from Saudi Arabia's King Salman to visit. On April 6, the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers hold talks in Beijing, where they pledge to work together to bring "security and stability" to the Middle East. On April 9, a Saudi delegation visits the Yemeni capital Sanaa to negotiate a new truce between the ousted government and Huthi rebels, raising hopes of a possible end to the war. - April 9-12: Syria push - On April 9 and 12, Saudi and Iranian delegations visit each others' capitals to discuss reopening their respective diplomatic missions. On April 12, Syria's foreign minister visits Saudi Arabia for the first high-level talks between Riyadh and the Iran-backed Syrian regime since the Syrian war started. The aim of the visit is to "achieve a complete political settlement" to the Syrian crisis and to "bring back Syria to its Arab fold," the Saudi foreign ministry says. bur/jmy/cb/pjm JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli authorities said Thursday that an internal investigation into the killing of a 26-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel earlier this month at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site found no wrongdoing by police. With several details of the incident in question, the case has sparked outrage from Arab lawmakers and rights groups. The Israeli state attorney's office closed the case on Thursday, saying that police acted lawfully in self-defense when they shot and killed Mohammed Alasibi, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from a Bedouin village in the country's south. He was fatally shot at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem on April 1. Police alleged that Alasibi pounced on an officer and tried to grab his gun, managing to fire two shots into the air before the officer regained control of his weapon and killed him. Palestinian witnesses offered a conflicting account, saying Alasibi argued with an officer over his alleged harassment of a female worshipper on her way to the mosque the third holiest shrine in Islam. The compound, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, is also the most sacred site in Judaism. After some quarreling, Palestinians said they heard a burst of gunfire over a dozen shots all apparently fired at Alasibi at close range. Alasibi's family denied he would ever try to attack a policeman, describing him as ambitious and level-headed. They said he had just returned from studying medicine in Romania and was working to get certified as a doctor in Israel. Israel's state attorney said it had clear, direct and solid proof that no offense was committed" by the police, without elaborating or offering evidence. Although Jerusalems Old City alleys bristle with security cameras, police maintained that there was no security footage of the alleged attack. An investigation revealed that the incident took place in a 'blind spot' (of the Old City) that is not covered by any security cameras," the statement said. There also was no body camera footage. Story continues Ahmad Tibi, a prominent Arab lawmaker in the Israeli parliament, decried the investigation as a whitewash and demanded an independent probe. This is a department that we do not trust. Its result was known well in advance, Tibi told The Associated Press. The police story is not only unconvincing, but their refusal to publish any video of the incident confirms our suspicions ... that Mohammed was killed in cold blood. Israeli authorities said their investigation involved speaking with the involved officers, consulting witnesses and performing forensic examinations. The Department of Investigations of Police Misconduct, which handles brutality complaints, has faced criticism in the past for failing to thoroughly investigate allegations. An Israeli state comptroller's report from 2017 said the department closed the majority of cases under consideration at a preliminary stage of investigation, in part over concerns that officers may hesitate to use force when necessary. In 2015, 66% of the cases brought to the department were closed without questioning the officers involved, the report said. Fewer than 200 cases were referred for disciplinary action out of the 6,320 cases opened that year. We are worried that closing files like this one will lead to more shooting, more killing and more loss of life, said Jerusalem-based human rights lawyer Khaled Zabarqa. The Al-Aqsa mosque compound has long been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Last week, an Israeli police raid on the mosque aimed at evicting Palestinian worshippers who had stockpiled firecrackers set off unrest in the contested capital of Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and beyond. Xi urges boost to armed forces' modernization 08:42, April 13, 2023 By MO JINGXI ( Chinadaily.com.cn Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech at the navy headquarters of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on April 11, 2023. Xi on Tuesday inspected the navy of the Southern Theater Command of the PLA. [Photo/Xinhua] President Xi Jinping called on Tuesday for the military to improve its capacity to respond to intricate situations, resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests, and safeguard stability in neighboring regions. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks as he inspected the navy of the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theater Command in Zhanjiang, Guangdong province. During the inspection, Xi stressed strengthening training and combat readiness and accelerating transformation to boost the armed forces' modernization on all fronts. The military must resolutely complete various tasks assigned by the Party and the people, he added. Xi said it is important that the military adheres to a political perspective when considering and dealing with military issues and remains both steadfast and flexible as it carries out its operations. He underlined further study of warfare and military operations and innovation of operational concepts and methods, saying that the military must devote greater energy to training under combat conditions. Training of forces in realistic exercises must be intensified with special attention paid to key areas, he added. Xi said efforts must be made to develop new combat capabilities and means, and to promote the application of new equipment and forces to form real combat capabilities. He also stressed strengthening Party leadership and Party building in the military and exercising full and rigorous self-governance for both the Party and the military. The military must cultivate a talent pool, make unremitting efforts to improve conduct, enforce discipline and combat corruption, he said. Military officials at all levels should also carry out investigations and research in order to help solve problems faced by officers and soldiers, Xi said. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets representatives of officers and soldiers at the navy headquarters of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on April 11, 2023. Xi on Tuesday inspected the navy of the Southern Theater Command of the PLA. [Photo/Xinhua] (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) ROME (Reuters) - An Italian court has referred to the EU Court of Justice a decision on whether to maintain the freeze on billionaire Alisher Usmanov's assets worth more than 80 million euros ($88.18 million), according to a ruling. As part of a Western drive against wealthy Russians after the Ukraine invasion, Italian police seized a villa on the island of Sardinia along with six firms holding properties and luxury cars of the Uzbekistan-born metals and telecoms tycoon. The main companies involved - Sardegna Servizi, Delemar, Punta Capaccia and Machina - appealed to the administrative court of Rome saying they were controlled by a trust in Bermuda, Pauillac Property Ltd, set up by Usmanov, but from which the businessman was excluded in February 2022. Therefore, they argued, Usmanov has not had control and management of the seized assets since then. In a ruling communicated to parties and seen by Reuters, the court in Rome said that it would send the documents to the Court of Justice in Luxembourg, asking if, under European rules, the freezing can be applied to a person who is no longer a beneficiary of the trust and has no power to use the confiscated assets. Pending the response from the European Union tribunal, the Italian judges have ordered the case suspended. Lawyers for the appealing companies did not comment on the ruling. Italy sequestered properties, villas and yachts worth more than 2 billion euros since last year from wealthy Russians, who regularly came to the country on holiday and had bought property in many prestigious locations. In July 2022, an Italian court had thrown out requests to unfreeze billionaire Alexey Mordashov's yacht Lady M which has a price tag of 65 million euros. Since then, other Russian oligarchs who had their assets seized in Italy have appealed to the administrative court in Rome, including billionaire businessman Andrey Igorevich Melnichenko, whose 143-metre (470-foot) superyacht Sailing Yacht A worth 530 million euros was seized last year. Story continues Those cases are still pending before the Italian court. ($1 = 0.9072 euros) (Reporting by Marco Carta, writing by Emilio Parodi, editing by Andrew Cawthorne) Investigators have taken an Air National Guardsman into custody in the case of leaked classified documents that shed light on the war in Ukraine and rattled the U.S. government. Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, is the leader of a small online gaming chat group where several classified documents have been leaked over the last few months. His identity was confirmed by Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday. Teixeira joined the Air National Guard in September 2019 and was most recently stationed at Otis Air National Guard Base as a "Cyber Transport Systems Journeyman." He held the highest-level security clearance granted by the government to review top secret information, according to an internal Department of Defense email reviewed by Fox News. US DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN SAYS LEAKED CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS WERE 'SOMEWHERE IN THE WEB' Cyber transport systems workers ensure that the underlying infrastructure of the Air Forces global communications network is operating properly. Employees are required to have a high school diploma or GED, knowledge of electronics, experience in the installation of network infrastructure, and 7.5 weeks of basic military training. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Applicants are also required to pass a Single Scope Background Investigation, which is a government-wide investigation of those who need to access top secret material. PENTAGON DOCUMENT LEAK HAS IMMEDIATE IMPACT ON NATIONAL SECURITY: SUCKS UP A LOT OF OXYGEN The private Discord group that Teixeira led, Thug Shaker Central, comprised 20 to 30 mostly young men and teenagers who shared memes and talked about love of guns and video games. A member of the group first posted hundreds of pages of intelligence briefings to the chat a few months ago, telling its members that it was important for them to stay up to date on world events. Some members of the Thug Shake Central group defended Teixeira, arguing that the young Guardsman only posted the materials to the group in an attempt to spark discussion and keep friends informed. Story continues "This guy was a Christian, anti-war, just wanted to inform some of his friends about whats going on," a 17-year-old member of the group told The New York Times. "We have some people in our group who are in Ukraine. We like fighting games, we like war games." SOUTH KOREA SAYS LEAKED PENTAGON DOCUMENT SUGGESTING US SPYING IS UNTRUE AND ALTERED: REPORTS Members of the group said the leaked documents didn't begin to receive attention until one member of the group posted some of them to a public online forum, where they were then picked up by Russian-language Telegram channels. The members who spoke to The New York Times described Teixeira as older than most of the other members of the group and was the group's "undisputed leader." One of the members said he has known Teixeira for three years and met him in person, while another told the outlet that Teixeira had access to classified documents due to his role in the Air National Guard. It is unclear how the young airman gained access to the documents and whether someone in his position and grade would have access to them. Federal agents showed up to the Teixeira property in armored vehicles Thursday. About half a dozen armed agents wearing tactical gear spilled out and cordoned off the area around the home, eventually taking him into custody. "Today, the FBI took 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira into custody without incident at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts, for his alleged involvement in leaking classified U.S. government and military documents," the FBI said in a statement. "The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence," the statement added. "Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads and today's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk." The leaked documents revealed sensitive information about the war in Ukraine, including warnings that China was considering giving Russia military aid and secret plans by South Korea to deliver more than 300,000 rounds of ammunition to Ukrainian forces. Friends of 21-year-old Jack Douglas Teixeira, the man accused of leaking classified US intelligence files, say he is not a whistleblower. So why would a relatively junior airman with no clear motivation allegedly share highly sensitive documents online? The files, which number in the dozens, included confidential information about the war in Ukraine and other national security issues. FBI investigators will no doubt be working to establish a potential motive. Mr Teixeira appeared in federal court for the first time on Friday, wearing a beige jumpsuit and handcuffs. Authorities have charged him with unauthorised removal and retention of classified documents and materials. If found guilty, Teixeira faces up to 15 years behind bars. He did not enter a plea. Mr Teixeira's family has a history of military service, and friends say he has long wanted to join the military, raising further questions about why the suspect would potentially endanger US national security by leaking the files. His stepfather retired after 34 years of military service, while his mother previously worked for non-profit organisations focused on veterans, according to LinkedIn and public records cited by US media outlets. His mother posted photos of the family every year for Veterans Day. His parents attended his hearing on Friday, but did not comment to the swarm of media that surrounded them as they left court. The family live in North Dighton, Massachusetts, and Mr Teixeira graduated from high school there in 2020. He was arrested outside the family's rural home by heavily armed FBI agents on Thursday. CNN spoke to former high school classmates of his. One expressed surprised at the leaking allegations, saying: "I could never have foreseen him doing that." Neighbours described Mr Teixeira as being "big into video games", but said he was a "good kid, not a troublemaker". One said "he had a good head on his shoulders [and] wanted to join the military". Guns, war and secret documents Mr Teixeira allegedly first leaked the files on the online chatroom platform Discord, which is popular among gamers. Story continues Known as "OG", he was seen as the leader of an invitation-only chatroom called Thug Shaker Central which he created during the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The Washington Post reported that the group - which had about two dozen members - swapped "memes, offensive jokes and idle chitchat". They reportedly watched films together, discussed their favourite guns, and messaged extensively about the war in Ukraine. The Associated Press reports that the members also prayed together. The leak suspect reportedly began sharing photographs of classified files in January One member of the chatroom described Mr Teixeira as a young, charismatic gun enthusiast. Others said he was older than most in the group and appeared keen to impress them. Before he shared the images of the intelligence in January, Mr Teixeira allegedly wrote up versions of the sensitive information and shared it to the chatroom. But he reportedly began sharing photos of the files after becoming frustrated with the lack of response. This began around January 2023. On one occasion, the Post said, he sent an irate message to the group complaining that they were more interested in YouTube videos. "He got upset, and he said on multiple occasions, if you guys aren't going to interact with them [the files], I'm going to stop sending them," the unidentified group member told the newspaper. At first, the leaks were kept inside the small chatroom, but in early March, members began posting them on other Discord servers, including ones dedicated to the game Minecraft and a Filipino YouTuber. Investigators say Mr Teixeira wanted to figure out whether or not the intelligence community knew the identity of the leaker yet, and in April he started using his government computer to search the word "leak". The Washington Post said they were shown videos from a member of the group of Mr Teixeira shouting racist and anti-semitic slurs before firing a rifle. According to the Post, he told the group he worked in a facility where phones were banned. He is said to have used various usernames online, such as TheExcaliburEffect, jackdjdtex and TexKilledYou. More Pentagon leaks coverage: One teenager in the group had a theory on why he shared the documents. "This guy was a Christian, anti-war, just wanted to inform some of his friends about what's going on," he told the New York Times. Mr Teixeira enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, a reserve of the US Air Force, in 2019. His job title is cyber transport systems journeyman, and he holds the junior rank of Airman 1st Class. He has top secret security clearance. In order to be given this clearance, Mr Teixeira signed a "lifetime binding non-disclosure agreement" acknowledging that the "unauthorized disclosure of protected information could result in criminal charges", according to court documents. The Air Force's official website says that personnel assigned to his role are responsible for operating the Air Force's global communications network. It also notes that the job requires a background check - specifically a single scope background investigation (SSBI) - which allows access to top secret information. The New York Times quoted Mr Teixeira's mother as saying he had been working overnight on the base in the lead-up to his arrest. On 6 April, the date that media reports on the leak started being published, Mr Teixeira allegedly used his government computer to search classified intelligence reporting for the word "leak". The suspect behind the shooting threat that caused lawmakers to evacuate from the California state Capitol was identified as a 30-year-old man named Jackson Pinney, who was arrested Thursday afternoon in Granite Bay. Pinney, of Hayward, was arrested just after 4 p.m. near the intersection of Douglas Boulevard. and Auburn-Folsom Road, according to the Roseville Police Department. He was expected to be booked into the Placer County Jail on an array of charges, including attempted homicide, assault with a firearm, shooting from a moving vehicle and at an inhabited dwelling and possession of a firearm by a felon. Prior to threatening the state Capitol, Pinney was identified as a suspect in a Wednesday night shooting spree in Citrus Heights and Roseville. At approximately 8:45 p.m. Wednesday, the Citrus Heights Police Department received a call about a shooting at a business near Auburn Boulevard and Twin Oaks Avenue. That initial call was followed by reports of a second shooting nearby from someone inside a truck. Citrus Heights Police found that the truck a 2002 gold Ford F-150 was registered to Pinney. His DMV photo also matched the description of the suspect, according to police. The vehicle has California license plate 6V04299. The California Highway Patrol identified another vehicle connected to Pinney, a 1996 white Acura Integra California license plate 6FWU532. Before officers located Pinney, he fled toward the city of Roseville where he allegedly continued firing rounds from his truck. Roseville Police received a call at Kaiser Permanente Medical Center on Douglas Boulevard regarding a suspect firing shots at a building as he was driving out of the parking lot. Throughout the shooting spree, no injuries or fatalities were reported, according to police. Pinney was arrested 4 miles from the Kaiser Hospital that he allegedly shot at the night prior. Pinney made credible threat on Capitol Roseville and Citrus Heights Police say Pinney was related to the credible threat that caused California Highway Patrol to briefly call for an evacuation of the State Capitol on Thursday morning. Story continues As of the late afternoon, the Capitol was closed to visitors and members of the legislature. It remains unclear when the building will be reopened. Roseville and Citrus Heights Police and the California Highway Patrol are working together to continue investigating the matter. Pinney has rap sheets in Alameda, Stanislaus counties According to online court records, Pinney has a criminal record dating back nearly a decade in the Bay Areas Alameda County. He has been charged with an array of misdemeanors and felonies from 2010 through May 2022, though its unclear what those specific charges were. In April 2021, he was arrested by the Ceres Police Department for causing a disturbance in two retail stores near Modesto. At the time, authorities said Pinney was living in Oakdale. Pinney, who reportedly appeared to be on drugs at the time, got into a verbal altercation with employees of a Big 5 Sporting Goods, as well as a Togos sandwich shop. He was arrested for shoplifting and resisting arrest. While being booked into the Stanislaus County Public Safety Center, deputies also discovered Pinney was in possession of suspected heroin. The Bees Sam Stanton contributed to this story. Jamie Foxx reportedly has been hospitalized following a medical complication, according to his family. His daughter, Corinne Foxx, issued a statement on Instagram that gave brief details on the actors condition and stated that he was already in recovery. We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery, she wrote Wednesday night. Jamie Foxx and Corinne Foxx arrive at the LA Premiere Of Entertainment Studios 47 Meters Down Uncaged at Regency Village Theatre on Aug. 13, 2019, in Westwood, California. (Photo by Gregg DeGuire/WireImage) She continued, We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time. Much love, The Foxx Family. Foxx was reportedly taken to the hospital in Atlanta on Tuesday morning after he suffered what TMZ described as a medical emergency. According to the outlet, his condition was so severe that family members came from out of town to visit him in the hospital. Hes communicating now, and thats good news, TMZ credited a source as saying. From Jamie Foxxs daughter, Corinne: We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical complication yesterday. Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery. pic.twitter.com/WHdySwYBRN philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) April 13, 2023 According to Gossip of the City Tea, he suffered a stroke and required surgery. Hes stable for now. Foxx has been in Atlanta filming for his movie Back In Action, with costars Glenn Close and Cameron Diaz. Reports came out earlier this week that the production was halted twice. The first reportedly happened after Foxx, an executive producer on the film, had a major meltdown on set, which led to the firing of four staffers, including an executive producer, two directors and his own driver. An insider claimed, Some people working on it are totally fed up with how this has played out, and Jamie has become pretty unpopular. Story continues The 55-year-old actor reportedly fired the executive producer, two directors and his own driver after an extortion attempt targeting celebrities working on the film was discovered. Foxx persuaded Diaz to come out of retirement for the film and promised that she would have fun. Following the on-set drama, rumors began circulating that Diaz, 50, would retire again. The two previously worked together on the Annie remake in 2014, and Any Given Sunday in 1999. Production for the film was halted a second time after an unexploded bomb from World War II reportedly was found on the set at East Londons Royal Docks. Two big stunts that were expected to be filmed there were instead filmed in front of a green screen at Longcross Studios in Longcross, Surrey, located west of central London. Back in Action is expected to be released in early 2024 on Netflix. Jamie Foxx is recovering from a medical complication. The Oscar-winning actor "experienced a medical complication yesterday," according to a post shared by his daughter, Corinne Foxx, on Instagram Wednesday. "Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery," she wrote. CAMERON DIAZ COMING OUT OF RETIREMENT TO STAR ALONGSIDE JAMIE FOXX IN NEW NETFLIX MOVIE Jamie Foxx's daughter revealed on her Instagram the actor experienced a medical complication on Tuesday but is already on his way to recovery. She continued, "We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time." It's currently unclear what kind of medical issue Foxx suffered. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP JAMIE FOXX TO STAR IN MIKE TYSON BIOPIC SERIES Fox News Digital has reached out to Jamie Foxx's representatives for comment. Jamie Foxx's oldest daughter, Corinne, shared the update about her father's health on Wednesday. Foxx also has daughter Anelise with ex Kristin Grannis. Foxx is currently working with Cameron Diaz on "Back in Action." Foxx shares Corinne, 29, with ex, Connie Kline. The "Ray" star also has daughter Anelise Bishop, 14, with ex Kristin Grannis. The Grammy award winner, whose full name is Eric Marlon Bishop, is currently working on "Back in Action" with Cameron Diaz. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER The movie, which has been filming in London and Atlanta since September, marks Diaz's return to the silver screen after her last starring role in 2014 where she worked alongside Jamie in "Annie." Jamie Foxx has nearly a dozen projects in the works. Foxx has a total of 11 projects in the works, according to IMDb. The long-awaited Mike Tyson biopic has been in the works for nearly a decade, and was initially revealed as a feature film before taking on a TV movie structure. Tyson will serve as an executive producer with Foxx, in addition to Antoine Fuqua and Martin Scorsese. Jamie will also work with Robert De Niro and Scott Eastwood in "Tin Soldier," an action-thriller about the government's suspicions over a "cult-like" program for combat veterans. A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, 11 April 2023 (AP) North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) of intermediate range or longer, prompting Japan to issue an immediate evacuation order for residents on Hokkaido island. The Norths latest launch is possibly a test for a new type of weapon system and could be a potential breakthrough. The new missile test could be a breakthrough for Pyongyangs ICBM arsenal that is banned by the UN. The missile test led to Japan issuing an immediate evacuation order for residents on Hokkaido island, which was later retracted after authorities ascertained it did not fall into their territory. The missile was fired from the vicinity of the capital Pyongyang at 7.23am local and it flew 1,000km before splashing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, South Koreas joint chiefs of staff (JCS) said. The apogee, or maximum altitude of the missile, has not been disclosed but it was initially reported that the missile was launched at a high angle. A South Korean defence official said under anonymity that it was possibly a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel. South Koreas military said it was not ruling out that it could be a solid-fuel missile, a new weapon system displayed at recent North Korean military parades. So far Pyongyang is known to have tested liquid-fuelled ICBMs. But a solid-propellant ICBM, which can be launched from land or submarines, has been one of the key high-tech weapons on leader Kim Jong-uns wishlist. Pyongyang has been working to build more solid-fuel missiles, which are easier to store and transport, and can be launched with almost no warning or preparation time. If confirmed by North Korea, it would be the first test by the country of a weapon system and the first test of an ICBM since last month. The country had tested a liquid-fuelled Hwasong-17 ICBM on 16 March under Mr Kims supervision. The missile test, of which details are still emerging, prompted the nuclear envoys of South Korea, US and Japan to hold a telephone conversation and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida to hold an emergency National Security Council meeting in Seoul. Story continues The top envoys observing the Norths nuclear programme development called for a decisive and united international response to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean activities, that allegedly fund its weapons programme, during the call. The missile appeared to have been fired eastward at a high angle and did not fall into Japanese territory, Japans defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said, adding that the ministry was analysing the launch for more details. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to media, after North Korea fired a ballistic missile, in Tokyo (via REUTERS) The Japanese government warned residents of the island of Hokkaido to take immediate cover, saying a missile was likely to fall near it around 8am Japan time (2300 GMT). It retracted the alert after the missile disappeared from Japans radar immediately after detection, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, said. He said the alert was not a mistake. The alert to take cover and evacuate caused a momentary alarm at a train station in Hokkaido, a student told Japanese broadcaster NHK. For a second in the train there was panic, but a station worker said to calm down, and people did, the unidentified man said. The missile launch comes days after Mr Kim said he would enhance his nuclear capability in practical and offensive ways. A TV shows J-Alert or National Early Warning System to the Japanese residents Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Yokohama, south of Tokyo. (AP) The US strongly condemned North Korea for its test of a long-range ballistic missile, the White House said in a statement, renewing its offer to open talks. The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. The incident also comes a day after Japan announced plans to develop and build an array of advanced long-range missiles to improve the countrys defences. The Japanese Defense Ministry said it had signed contracts with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to produce the weapons. The missile launch took place as South Korean officials said North Korea has not been responding to calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Additonal reporting by agencies As life essentials become more expensive and bills continue to pile up, most people are looking for new ways to budget their money. Now, an old-school method has resurfaced online thats pulling people out of debt. Prior to banks and ATMs, it was common for people to place their money into labeled envelopes to make payments, CNBC reports. Now, its become known as cash stuffing. Jasmine Taylor has played a role in people joining the trend and using the method. After the Texas native lost her full-time job, as well as accumulated nearly $70,000 in debt, she decided to make a game plan to pull herself out of the hole. The outlet details that she found out about cash stuffing on YouTube. In the first few months of testing it out, Taylor was able to save $1,000. I looked into the envelope, and it had been sitting there for awhile, and Im like, Oh my god, I havent needed this, she told the outlet. Its a really surreal feeling when youre a person who has mismanaged money all their life, when you finally get to the point where its like, OK, I can do this. Within a year of using the method, Taylor was able to clear her medical debt and credit card balance. Following her own success with the method, she decided to put more people on to it by creating TikToks, which have gone viral. So, what exactly is cash stuffing? Cash stuffing is a budgeting method where you withdraw cash either at the beginning of the month or when you receive a paycheck. Then, you place a planned amount of money into envelopes, with each having a labeled intended use for the cash (rent, groceries, utilities, etc.). The purpose is to keep people from overspending. While cash stuffing is used for expenses, its also used for sinking funds. So in case an emergency happens, youll already be prepared. Story continues For Taylor, she used the zero-based budget. That means you start your budget with whatever your paycheck number is, and you give every dollar a place to go, down to zero, she explained. In a short time span, Taylor went from not knowing how to save money to transforming the cash stuffing method into her business, Baddies and Budgets. In 2023, it is set to make $1 million, according to the outlet. Prior to starting your own cash stuffing journey, its advised to take a look at both your spending habits and financial goals. A helpful method to create a clear vision is by going through past bank statements. Jeremy Renner attended the premiere for his new series, Rennervations, on Tuesday (11 April), capping a remarkable recovery roughly four months after the Avengers star was nearly killed in a snowplough accident. Renner was surrounded by family and supporters at the premiere in Los Angeles, where he posed for photos and did interviews, at times making use of a cane and a knee scooter. Renner broke more than 30 bones after he was crushed by his seven-tonne snowplough on New Year's Day while trying to help free a relative's car at his Nevada home. The actor has said he also suffered a pierced lung in the accident. Rennervations, which premieres on Disney+ on Wednesday (12 April), follows Renner as he transforms large vehicles into community spaces for young people in India, Mexico, Chicago and Nevada. The purposes range from serving as a mobile music venue to a water filtration truck for a community in India. Renner said his aim was to give young people access to things they might not already have and present opportunities they might not know existed. After the premiere, ABCs Jimmy Kimmel hosted a panel with Renner and members of the cast. Jeremy Renner says it means the world to him to help kids dream big | #Rennervations pic.twitter.com/EXWB1sfXMI Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) April 12, 2023 After Renner received a standing ovation, Kimmel asked: Did something happen? He later asked Renner if he had any plans to repurpose the machine that ran him over in January. Its a necessity on the property, Renner responded. Mom wants to light it on fire and have a big ol party. The thing is amazing. I love this thing. I just have to learn how to drive it better. Earlier this week, Renner explained that hed been kicked out of the first ICU he was treated in, which was under construction. He also opened up about being visited by fellow Marvel star Paul Rudd at the hospital. Additional reporting by Associated Press Jerry Hall was watched by security as she packed her belongings after Rupert Murdochs brutal email telling her he wanted a divorce, a new report has claimed. The 92-year-old media tycoon reached a settlement with Jerry Hall, his fourth wife, last August after his abrupt decision to end the marriage. Hall, a 66-year-old model and mother to four children with Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger, reportedly told friends she was heartbroken and devastated by the split. In a new report on power struggles and family relationships in the Murdoch family, Vanity Fair revealed that after the pairs divorce, Hall reportedly told friends that security guards watched as her children helped her pack when moving everything out of their Bel Air estate. The report claimed that Hall had to show receipts to prove that items belonged to her. The Independent has contacted representatives of Murdoch and Hall for comment. Elsewhere in the report, the alleged message that Murdoch sent via email, informing Hall that he wanted a divorce, was disclosed. In June last year, Hall was waiting Mr Murdoch to arrive at their Oxfordshire estate when she checked her phone, the report stated. Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall at St Brides Church in London after their wedding ceremony in 2016 (PA) An email from Mr Murdoch, seen in the screenshot by the magazine, said: Jerry, sadly Ive decided to call an end to our marriage. We have certainly had some good times, but I have much to do My New York lawyer will be contacting yours immediately. Murdochs marriage to Hall was his shortest to date after Patricia Booker (1956-1967), Wendi Murdoch (1999-2013) and Anna Murdoch Mann (1967-1999), and was the first wife with whom he did not have a child. Hall reportedly told people that Rupert and I never fought, outside of small disagreements over political matters. Just months after the divorce with Hall was settled, Murdoch was seen on holiday in Barbados with Ann Lesley Smith, to whom he proposed on 17 March in New York City. It has since been reported that the engagement has been called off, two weeks after being announced. Smith, a former radio host who is 25 years Mr Murdochs junior, was previously married to country and western musician Chester Smith, who died in 2008 at the age of 78. The pair recorded an album together in 2005, titled Captured by Love. U.S. first lady Jill Biden praised Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska in the newly published feature in Time Magazine, calling her a warrior for the people of Ukraine. Zelenska was featured in the magazines annual listicle of the 100 most influential people in the world in a piece written by Biden. A writer who worked behind the scenes, she never asked for a spotlight, she wrote of Zelenska. A mother of two, she never asked to become the heart of a nation at war. Biden describes her first meeting with Zelenska, the wife of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in May 2022 for Mothers Day just a few months after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in February of that year. Instinctively, we embraced two mothers, two nations, coming together for peace, Biden wrote. In the strain of her smile, I could see the weight she carried: the sleep lost to the percussion of falling bombs, the tales of atrocities that she would never forget. In her eyes, however, was the fierce determination and dignity that has defined her people, she added. Biden commended Zelenska for staying in Ukraine during the war, writing that she could take her family and flee. Yet, she stays, Biden said. She stays because freedom and democracy deserve defenders. Biden ended the feature by calling Zelenska a protector. The pride of her nation. A beacon of hope for the people she loves. The two first ladies met again at the White House in July 2022 to discuss how the U.S. could provide aid for mental health issues faced by women and children living through Russias war in Ukraine, which they also talked about in their initial meeting. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Gaga performing at Biden's inauguration. Saul Loeb / AP Grammy winner. Oscar winner. And now presidential appointee. President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he was appointing Lady Gaga to serve as cochair for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities. The committee, which was founded in 1982 under former president Ronald Reagan, advises the president and other top officials on cultural policy. Per the White House, the committee is composed of members that include prominent artists, scholars, and philanthropists who have demonstrated a serious commitment to the arts and humanities. The committee had been dormant since all previous members resigned in 2017 in protest against former president Donald Trumps reaction to the white nationalist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia. Biden signed an executive order in September to relaunch the committee, which is part of the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Tasos Katopodis / Getty Images Gaga sang the national anthem at Bidens 2021 inauguration and previously worked with him when he was vice president to advocate against college campus sexual assault. Gaga wasnt the only big name appointed as a member to the commission by Biden George Clooney, Shonda Rhimes, Kerry Washington, Jennifer Garner, Troy Kotsur, and Jon Batiste were also picked. Gaga will serve as cochair with Bruce Cohen, an Oscar-winning producer behind films like American Beauty, Milk, and Silver Linings Playbook. As is tradition, first lady Jill Biden will serve as the honorary chair. Joe Biden declared he was home in a historic address to Irelands parliament on Thursday where he spoke of the strength of US ties to Dublin and called on Britain to work more closely with Ireland to protect precious peace. The US president was welcomed with sustained, rapturous applause as he entered the chamber in Dublin's Leinster House for what he called one of the great honours of my career. Asking to be forgiven for his attempt at speaking Irish, he said Ta me sa bhaile (I am home). Mr Biden became the fourth US president to address the Irish Parliament after John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995. In his 30-minute address Mr Biden praised the enduring strength of the Irish-US relationship as he promised "a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities". There were no major gaffes a relief for the White House, a day after he accidentally confused the New Zealand All Blacks rugby team with the hated Black and Tans British police force from the independence era. Former Irish president Mary McAleese and ex-taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny were among those present, as was former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. Emphasising his family ties to Ireland, Biden began by looking heavenward and saying: Well mom, you said it would happen. He spoke of the "precious" peace that must be "nurtured" in Northern Ireland as he suggested the UK should be working more closely with the Republic of Ireland to support the region. Biden becoms the fourth president to address the Houses of the Oireachtas at Leinster House, Dublin (via REUTERS) Reflecting on discussions with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, he spoke of "how Ireland and the United States can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland". Mr Biden said: "I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour. Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island." Representing Northern Ireland politicians were SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance chief Naomi Long and Sinn Fein's Northern Ireland leader Michelle O'Neill. Despite being invited, no unionist politicians attended. Story continues Biden and Irelands Taoiseach Leo Varadkar watch as girls play hurling during a youth Gaelic sports demonstration in Dublin on Thursday (AP) The speech contained numerous references to the president's family history and how his story is like that of so many other Irish Americans who left the island in search of a new life. He said talking about his Irish ancestry is not to wax poetic about bygone days, but because the story of my family's journey and those who left and those who stayed is emblematic of the stories of so many Irish and American families. These stories are the very heart of what binds Ireland and America together. They speak to a history defined by our dreams, they speak to a present written by our shared responsibilities, and they speak to a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. Other special guests included Marie Heaney, widow of one of Mr Biden's favourite poets Seamus Heaney. The poet, who died in 2013 and would have turned 84 on Thursday, was likely to be looking down on us with his glasses nestled between his fingers and a hint of a smile on his face, Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail said. The youngest person in attendance for the speech was baby Margot, daughter of Labour senator Rebecca Moynihan. Mr Biden jokingly apologised to the infant for putting her through a policy speech, saying it is "as bad as what my children have been put through". Joe Biden with Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina at Aras an Uachtarain in Dublin on Thursday (PA) The president said the US and Ireland shared the same values, including standing together to oppose Russia's brutal aggression" in Ukraine. President Kennedy said 60 years ago, 'Ireland pursues an independent course in foreign policy, but it is not neutral between liberty and tyranny and it never will be' - thank you for that. Over the past year Ireland has proved him right, and stood proudly with the United States and partners around the world for liberty against tyranny. Mr Biden has visited Co Louth and is scheduled to travel to Co Mayo on his brief visit. Press Association contributed to this report. President Biden was welcomed to Dublin Castle by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar US President Joe Biden has declared "I'm at home" as he made an historic address to the Irish Parliament. Mr Biden said he has returned to his ancestral home and his only wish was that he could stay longer. In his speech to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas (both houses of the Irish parliament), he spoke of his pride in his Irish roots and support for the peace process in Northern Ireland. He said the UK "should be working closer" with Ireland to support NI. President Biden's final engagement on Thursday was a banquet dinner held in his honour at Dublin Castle. The event, hosted by Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Leo Varadkar, involved a reception in the Portrait Gallery followed by a dinner in St Patrick's Hall. Welcoming Mr Biden at the banquet dinner, Mr Varadkar said that both the US and Ireland have "a similar past and philosophy", one where they "are joined by bonds of kinship as well as of friendship". "By looking always to the future, you have helped us to move beyond the past, and build something better," he said. Joe Biden arriving at Leinster House, the home of the Irish parliament President Biden received a standing ovation as he once again spoke about the special relationship between Ireland and the US. He recounted one of his grandfather's favourite sayings as he took centre stage at the banquet: "If you're lucky enough to be Irish, you're lucky enough," he said. The president told those gathered in Dublin Castle that he felt incredibly lucky to be so warmly welcomed by so many people on his visit to the island of Ireland. "No barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland and the United States of America," Mr Biden said, adding: "There is nothing the two nations cannot do when they do it together". During an earlier address in Leinster House, President Biden praised the "huge strides" that have been taken since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement in 1998, which largely ended decades of violent conflict in Northern Ireland. "People of Ireland, it's so good to be back in Ireland," he told the Oireachtas, making a remark in Irish which translated as: "I am home." Story continues Mr Biden went on to say that the United States was "shaped by Ireland". "As nations, we have known hardship and division, but we have also found solace and sympathy in one and other." 'Peace is precious' President Biden praised the Good Friday Agreement which, he said, had ensured that an "entire generation of young people's lives have been shaped by confidence that there are no checkpoints on their dreams". He said the agreement not only changed lives in Northern Ireland, but it also had a "significant positive impact across the Republic of Ireland as well". "Political violence must never again be allowed to take hold on this island," Mr Biden told those present, to rapturous applause. "Peace is precious. It still needs its champions. It still needs to be nurtured," he said. Former Irish president Mary McAleese, former taoiseach Bertie Ahern and Marie Heaney, the widow of the late poet Seamus Heaney were among those in attendance. Stormont leaders such as Sinn Fein's Michelle O'Neill, the SDLP's Colum Eastwood and Naomi Long from Alliance were also there. Joe Biden was the fourth US president to ever address the Irish parliament after John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. He began his working day with a visit to Aras an Uachtarain - the home of the Irish president in Phoenix Park. President Biden inspected a military guard of honour, and signed the visitors' book. He also planted an oak tree and rang the Bell of Peace. The bell was erected in 2008 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. After ringing the bell, President Biden gave it another ring, saying: "One more for peace". He said he was feeling "great" and that he had "learned a lot from the president". One of Michael D Higgins' Bernese Mountain dogs was present when Joe Biden visited President Higgins then gave President Biden a quick tour of the grounds around his official residence and introduced him to one of his dogs. The two men discussed the importance of the meeting 25 years on from the Good Friday Agreement, the strong connection between their two countries and their shared love of Irish poetry. President Biden then met Leo Varadkar at nearby Farmleigh House, shaking hands and exchanging a few words before posing for pictures. Mr Biden remarked that it was "a beautiful day", the weather a contrast to the conditions that greeted him as he arrived in Dublin on Wednesday. Mr Varadkar said it was "great" to have the US President back in Ireland and that the visit was going "very well". Mr Biden described the meeting as an opportunity to make "tremendous progress". He said he was not just commemorating the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - but also wanted to hail Ireland's "leadership" on world issues such as taking in Ukrainian refugees. 'America and Europe working together' The US President rang the Bell of Peace, erected in 2008 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement Earlier, Mr Biden said he had quoted an Irish proverb, in his message in the visitors' book - "your feet will bring you where your heart is", adding that it was "an honour to return". He made a reference to returning to the home of his ancestors, pledging to recommit to peace, equity and dignity. Mr Biden added: "I'm not going home. Isn't this an incredible place, all you American reporters, it's just like the White House, right?" A delegation attending the event included Tanaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Micheal Martin, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken and former Irish football star Paul McGrath. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met President Biden at Farmleigh House in the sunshine Biden's Irish family tree On Friday, the US President is expected to travel to County Mayo where he will again explore his Irish ancestry. His great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt left Ireland around the time of the famine. President Biden planted an oak tree in the grounds of Aras an Uachtarain - the home of the Irish president in Phoenix Park While in the county, the President, who is a Catholic, is also expected to visit shrine at Knock and to make an outdoor speech to people in Ballina before he ends his four-day visit to the island. A US genealogist who researched Mr Biden's lineage had estimated he is "roughly five-eighths" Irish. His great-great grandfather Owen Finnegan left there for America in the late 1840s. Year '98 branding footer 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. Johnny Depp has another defender in his first wife, Lori Allison. Allison, who was married to Depp from 1983 to 1985, appeared on the "Popcorned Planet" podcast and defended her ex and revealed her intense dislike for Amber Heard, Depp's wife from 2015 to 2017. "I had met her before. I mean, I had been to parties at his house, and she seemed really nice. And she was gorgeous, and whats not to love?" she said. "But as the time went by, and I would hear things about her, she who shall not be named he didnt seem too happy all the time. I didnt see him a lot, so I cant really say." After divorcing in 2017, Amber Heard and Johnny Depp accused each other of domestic abuse. JOHNNY DEPP VS. AMBER HEARD: A LOOK BACK AT THE BOMBSHELL TRIALS TOP FIVE MOMENTS The makeup artist went on to share her thoughts on watching last years defamation trial. Depp had sued Heard for defamation after she wrote an op-ed implying he was abusive during their brief marriage. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "I just the things that affected me more were the things he said in court. I probably broke down several times because I felt really bad for him," Allison said. "You know, hes very private, which is why I dont do interviews. He's very private. And I think for him to come out so wholeheartedly was what he really needed to do. And I thought it was either going to be an epic train wreck or it was going to go really well." The jury found in favor of Depp, awarding him $10.35 million at the time. Heard later settled the suit, agreeing to pay him $1 million. Fox News Digital has reached out to both Depp and Heards representatives for comment on Allisons interview. Allison also indicated she kept in touch with Isaac Baruch, a friend of Depps who testified on his behalf during the trial, saying, "I would call Isaac sometimes and go, 'What's happening? Is he OK?' A jury found in favor of Depp in his defamation suit for $10.35 million, and Heard later settled, agreeing to pay the actor $1 million. "And he said, Don't worry. We're going to win this, and I would literally hang up the phone and walk around crying because I was terrified for him. Story continues "I'm no angel, I've done my share of s---ty things to people, but what she did was absolutely horrific. And if there were things that I could do to her that were legal, I would do them. I would. "I think it would've killed him well, maybe not but it just broke my heart that somebody could do that to him." AMBER HEARD REVEALS POST-TRIAL PLANS AFTER JOHNNY DEPP DEFAMATION CASE, WHAT SHELL TELL HER DAUGHTER Allison, who was referred to on the podcast as Lori Depp, said she "was so relieved I think I cried" about the verdict in Depp's favor, and she still has kind words for her ex. "Hes really generous. He has the biggest heart of someone I've ever met. I love him to pieces, and I get all goofy eyed when I think about him and his future, our past," she said. Depp meets with his fans before picking up a guitar to play with Jeff Beck in 2022. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER "I want nothing but the best for him, and I hope he feels the same about me," she added, joking that people have told her shes the "best ex-wife" a person could ask for. "Can I say bad things about him? I can say bad things about everybody, but there's no reason to. He makes normal mistakes like other people do. "But, again, he's generous, kind and I cant wait to be in a room with him again because I love to give him hugs." Depp's ex-wife Allison said if there were things she could do to Amber Heard "that were legal, I would do them." Depp is living in the English countryside in Somerset, according to People. The outlet reported that he gave an interview to local magazine Somerset Life detailing his more private life. "In truth, I'm quite a shy person," Depp told the outlet. "That's one of the great things about Britain, and especially Somerset. I can just be me and that's nice." By Suleiman Al-Khalidi AMMAN (Reuters) - Jordan said ahead of a meeting on Friday to discuss Syria's readmission to the Arab League it was pushing a joint Arab peace plan that could end the devastating consequences of the over decade old Syrian conflict, according to a source close to the matter. The plan would be discussed at a meeting which Saudi Arabia will host in Jeddah attended by foreign ministers from Iraq, Jordan, Egypt and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) to discuss launching a leading Arab role after years of failed international efforts to solve the bloody conflict, he added. Syria was suspended from the Arab League in response to Syrian President Bashar al Assad's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests. The kingdom had proposed forming a joint Arab group that "would directly engage the Syrian government on a detailed plan to end the conflict", the official who requested anonymity told Reuters. "The detailed roadmap deals with all the key issues ..and solving the crisis so that Syria can restore its role in the region and rejoin the Arab league," he added. Jordan was among the first Arab state at odds with Assad over the handling of the bloody conflict and said after he regained control nearly two years ago that there was a need to break the stalemate in the conflict. The "step-for-step" approach on ending the crisis and eventually allowing Syria to rejoin the Arab League was the basis of the Jordanian-inspired roadmap, said the official adding his country hosts 1.3 million Syrians who took refuge and was still reeling from the crisis. The road map was crucial to "tackle the humanitarian, security and political consequences of the conflict, the senior official added. Hundreds of thousands of people died in the war, which drew in numerous foreign powers and splintered the country. Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi raised the peace plan with Assad when they met in Damascus in February in the first such visit by a senior Jordanian official since the Syrian conflict. Story continues Shunned by the West, Abu Dhabi and Oman also received Assad as normalisation gathered momentum elsewhere in the region following a devastating quake that hit Turkey and Syria. Saudi Arabia, which has long resisted normalization with Assad, said after a rapprochement with Iran, Syria's key regional ally, a new approach was needed with Damascus. Riyadh invited Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad for talks on Wednesday in a landmark visit and both countries agreed to reopen embassies soon. Jordan shared the plan with its ally Washington and major European countries, the official said, adding that a major issue to be tackled was the return of millions of refugees who fled Syria, many of whom fear reprisals if they go back. The official said winning the West's support was crucial to end the crisis and to lift U.S. and European sanctions on Syria to enable a massive reconstruction of the war torn country and address its dire humanitarian needs. The blueprint also envisages national reconciliation and that Damascus accounts for the fate of tens of thousands of missing during the conflict, many of whom are believed to have died in detention centres, according to Western rights groups. The presence of "sectarian militias", a reference to pro-Iranian Shi'ite militias led by Hezbollah, was a major concern for Jordan and Arab states, the official added.Syria would also need to take steps to stamp out a multi-billion dollar drug trafficking trade to Jordan and the Gulf from it's southern borders that both Amman and Riyadh say pro-Iranian militias are behind. Syria denies any involvement. "We want this crisis to end, restoring security and stability to Syria is essential for regional security," the senior official said. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi; Editing by Josie Kao) (Budge and Heimpt LLC) Twenty days after Josh McLemore first arrived at Jackson County Jail in Seymour, Indiana, his malnourished and dehydrated body gave his last breath. McLemore was originally taken to a hospital facility in the summer of 2021, where his family hoped he could receive treatment for a continuing episode of schizophrenia. But after an off-duty police detective witnessed him pulling a nurses hair during his crisis, McLemore landed in jail. He was never officially booked in. His photographs and fingerprints were never taken, and no intake medical or mental health screening was ever conducted. Instead, an evidently distraught and naked McLemore was placed in a small, at-all-times fluorescently lit and windowless cell, where he would spend the remainder of his confinement without being able to escape the acute psychotic episode he was experiencing. McLemore barely ate or drank anything and spent his waking hours staring into space, licking the walls, chewing styrofoam, speaking gibberish, smearing his faeces on the walls and rolling around in the trash. His cell became filthy with his urine and defecation, and the food that he didnt eat. Within three weeks, he lost 45 pounds. His body turned emaciated and his face sunken before the eyes of several staff at the jail that monitored his every movement. Paramedics were eventually called, but by then his condition was so dire that he had to be airlifted to a hospital in Cincinnati. On 10 August, McLemore died of multiple organ failure stemming from starvation as a result of his altered mental status and untreated schizophrenia. His family is now suing jail staff for their alleged negligence and failure to prevent McLemores death. As part of the lawsuit, theyve submitted more than 400 hours of video that they say show the inhumane conditions of McLemores confinement during his active psychosis. Heres everything we know about the case: Josh wasnt a criminal, he was mentally ill McLemore had a history of mental health illness and substance abuse. He was taken to a hospital in the summer of 2021 after his mother became concerned because he was not answering her calls. Story continues At his mothers request, McLemores landlord checked on his apartment and found him disoriented and lying on the floor. He was then transported to the Schneck Medical Center, where doctors recognised his symptoms were consistent with an acute mental health crisis and drug use. (Budge and Heipt LLC) Although McLemore was described as somewhat cooperative while being transported in the ambulance, EMTs noted that he did not respond well when touched. At the hospital, McLemore pulled a nurses hair after she touched him on the shoulder. A hospital security guard, who was also an off-duty Jackson County Sheriffs detective, first told Josh to get back into bed and not to touch the nurses. According to the lawsuit, McLemore complied but the guard then reached out to the Seymour Police Department. Four officers dispatched to the hospital arrested McLemore, placing him in handcuffs and leg shackles while he was only wearing his underwear. He was taken to the Jackson County Jail, which is 10 miles away from the hospital. Jail staff then skipped standard book-in procedures, the lawsuit alleges. Josh McLemore wasnt a criminal. He was mentally ill and in crisis. He was out of touch with reality and needed help. This is glaringly obvious to anyone who watches the videos of him in his isolation cell, Hank Balson, an attorney for McLemores family, told The Independent on Thursday. But instead of getting Josh the care he so desperately needed, the Jackson County Sheriff and his staff left Josh alone in his cell, naked, barely sleeping or eating, for almost three weeks as he wasted away in front of their eyes, Mr Balson added. This is not only unconstitutional, its immoral. McLemore was kept locked up in his cell for 24 hours a day except when jail staff strapped him in restraints so they could put him under the shower. Surveillance video shows McLemore naked in his cell (Jackson County Jail) McLemore was sleep deprived and had virtually no access to a restroom Because of his mental health state, McLemore smeared his faeces on the walls, spilt food on the floor and tore up the storyfoam boxes and paper bags that came with his meals. He defecated and urinated on the floor. His cell had a bathroom attached but it was kept locked nearly the entire time he was confined, according to the lawsuit. Jail staff were aware of this from personal observations and from being able to monitor all of Joshs activities through a continuous real-time video feed, the lawsuit states. ... But they did nothing to intervene or secure needed medical or mental health care until it was too late. Attorneys for McLemores family also said that an Indiana State Police detective who reviewed the jail surveillance video as part of an official investigation concluded that McLemore slept for approximately 15 hours in total during the roughly 20 days he spent at the Jackson County Jail, or less than an hour every day. Extreme sleep deprivation is dangerous. It can cause hallucinations, mood changes, distorted thinking, and delusions after just 24 hourseven in healthy people without a preexisting mental illness, the lawsuit argues. Filings also allege that McLemore weighed 198 pounds when he arrived at the jail but because of his psychosis, he ate and drank very little. He weighed just 153 pounds when he was transported to the hospital. (Budge and Heimpt LLC) Joshs death wasnt the result of a simple error in judgment. Every officer who worked in that jail over the three weeks Josh was there could plainly see that he was not in his right mind and was not able to care for himself. But not a single one knew what to do, Mr Balson said. The jail had no mental health staff, and the single LPN who worked there three or four days a week, whose job it was to make sure seriously ill people in the countys custody got the care they needed, barely interacted with Josh and ignored the obvious risks of his condition. The only times McLemore interacted with guards was when they forcibly put him into restraint devices so they could shower him and clean his cell. The last time that McLemore was showered, he was so weak that he couldnt keep his head and arms in place. Mr Balson argues that the lack of food and water, extreme sleep deprivation, lack of human contact, and lack of any care or treatment ultimately caused McLemores death. Another inmate died at the jail a month before McLemore Four days before McLemore was brought to the Jackson County Jail, TaNeasha Chappell also died after begging staff at the facility for medical care. Chappell, 23, was at the jail for alleged theft charges. She made several attempts to get help for more than 15 hours, and ultimately died as a result of probable toxicity with an unknown substance, according to The Courier-Journal. Chappells family is also suing the jail. According to the outlet, the jail has a history of allegations of medical negligence and overcrowding. Last year, prosecutors in Jackson County said that no charges would be filed against staff at the jail because none of their actions constituted a crime, but noted that McLemore died as a result of prolonged lack of attention by staff as a group, according to WHAS11. Months after McLemores passing, his mother also died unexpectedly (Budge and Heimpt) Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer, commander Chris Everhart, licensed practical nurse Milton Edward Rutan the only medical professional employed at the jail and Advanced Correctional Healthcare are named in the lawsuit. Months after McLemores passing, his mother also died unexpectedly. Now his family says they want to ensure no one has to endure the heartbreak of losing a loved one under the circumstances that McLemore experienced. Hopefully this lawsuit will force Jackson County and other counties to treat the people in their jails with humanity especially people suffering from mental illness, McLemores aunt Lita Ladner told the Guardian in a statement. We want to send a message that jails cannot treat people like this. We want to make sure other families dont have to go through the kind of pain our family has been forced to endure from this senseless neglect. McLemores family is suing for compensatory damages and legal fees, and punitive damages against the defendants named in the lawsuit. The Independent has reached out to the Jackson County Jail for comment. JP Morgan Chase executives knew of sex abuse and trafficking allegations against Jeffrey Epstein for at least seven years before cutting ties with him, a new court filing claims. The new complaint, part of a lawsuit brought last year by the US Virgin Islands (USVI) , further alleges that the financial giant obstructed federal law enforcement agencies from pursuing Epstein, who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial. The filing contains details from a deposition last month with JP Morgans head of asset and wealth management Mary Erdoes, who admitted under oath that she knew in 2006 that Epstein was accused of paying cash to have underage girls and young women brought to his home. A source familiar with the matter told The Independent that Ms Erdoes had read about the accusations in news reports. The new filing shows how JP Morgan executives wrestled internally with whether to continue to work with Epstein after accusations of abuse and trafficking young girls first emerged. It claims that JP Morgans Rapid Response Team raised red flags as early as 2006 that Epstein was making cash withdrawals of between $40,000 and $80,000 several times each month, totalling over $750,000 per year. The risk management team decided that Epsteins account should be classified as high risk and require special approval to make large cash withdrawals. Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell (Department of Justice) Epstein was convicted of procuring underage prostitutes in 2008 and sentenced to 18 months in prison. It took another two years for the bank to flag Epsteins status as a sex offender, and he remained as a JPMorgan client until 2013, the suit alleges. Ms Erdoes testified that the bank dropped Epstein as a client when it realised that the large withdrawals were for actual cash. The USVI and a group of Epstein victims brought separate lawsuits in a Manhattan court late last year accusing JP Morgan of facilitating his sex offences. Epsteins offending was so widely known within the bank, that executives joked about him attending an event with Miley Cyrus, the USVI suit claims. Story continues Elsewhere, a senior compliance manager referred to Epstein as a sugar daddy while discussing his sponsorship of credit cards and accounts for two 18-year-olds. Jeffrey Epstein, and right his private banker at JP Morgan Jes Staley. (Getty) The bank initially defended its former investment banking chief Jes Staley, who was also had a role as Epsteins private banker. Then in March, it sued Mr Staley claiming he had repeatedly abandoned the interests of JP Morgan Chase and served his own and Epsteins interests. JP Morgan has previously described the two lawsuits as misplaced and without merit in a statement. It did not provide a comment when contacted by The Independent. The USVI lawsuits scope has broadened significantly in recent weeks with subpoenas being issued to Google co-founder Sergey Brin, Hyatt Hotels executive chairman Thomas Pritzker and real estate mogul Mortimer Zuckerman. The suit states that Epsteins former confidante Ghislaine Maxwell was flagged by the bank in 2011 after trying to open an account for a personal recruitment consulting business. A medical examiner found Epstein died by suicide in August 2019 at the age of 66 while awaiting trial on federal sex trafficking charges. In November, Epsteins estate agreed to pay $105m to the US Virgin Islands government to settle a separate lawsuit that the late paedophile used his private island in the archipelago for sex-trafficking. Photo by Davidoff Studios/Getty Images As early as 2006, JPMorgan executives were aware of Jeffrey Epsteins payments to his young victims, and bank officials later joked that he was a sugar daddy to girls, according to a new complaint from the U.S. Virgin Islands government. On Wednesday, the attorney general for the U.S. Virgin Islands filed an amended and unredacted lawsuit against JPMorgan, highlighting internal memos about the late sex-traffickers pursuit of teens and one compliance officials declaration that Epstein should go. In 2011, one senior JPMorgan official argued there was lots of smoke and lots of questions when it came to the pervy financier, the complaint alleges. The amended complaint is the latest salvo in a legal battle between the bank and the Caribbean territory, as well as a victim of Epstein known as Jane Doe 1. Over the years, according to the suit, JPMorgan brass shared emails and memos about Epstein facing criminal investigations or civil lawsuits related to his underage sex ring. Disney Princesses and Hot Tubs: JPMorgan Executives Creepy Texts to Epstein Such memos, the filing adds, focused on news articles about a law enforcement investigation into whether a modeling agency run by a friend . . . fed his appetite for underage foreign girls and mentioned that Epstein was known to fly young women from Eastern Europe to Palm Beach where theyd massage him, among other services. These new accusations come on the heels of JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon giving an interview to CNN, in which he claimed the financial giant has some of the best lawyers in the world and compliance experts who previously worked for enforcement divisions of the Department of Justice and Securities and Exchange Commission. Dimonwho will soon be grilled under oath as part of the litigation with Doe and the U.S. Virgin Islandsclaimed JPMorgan officials review all of these things and make decisions at the time based on what they know, as best as they know. Story continues Jamie Dimon, who is set to be deposed over his bankss links to Jeffrey Epstein, to @PoppyHarlowCNN on if JPMorgan should have acted sooner: Hindsight is a fabulous gift. pic.twitter.com/nD8U5fG82y Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 7, 2023 When CNN anchor Poppy Harlow asked whether JPMorgan should have taken action in 2008 after Epstein pleaded guilty to soliciting a minor in Florida, Dimon responded, Hindsight is a fabulous gift. Yet, according to the amended complaint, JPMorgan knew about Epsteins proclivities for years and even referenced the young women and girls in his orbit. According to the lawsuit, one JPMorgan document alluded to the bank account of an assistant or young lady he brought over from Prague (or some place like that). The complaint alleges this young woman was Jane Doe 1, who sued JPMorgan in November, claiming the bank reaped millions off Epsteins trafficking scheme. The internal memo allegedly chronicled Does bank charges for lingerie and other sexually explicit material in New York, Palm Beach, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Another JPMorgan document describes media reports referring to the fact that Epstein purchased her at age 14, the complaint states. She remained a customer of JP Morgan, the lawsuit alleges, and Epstein paid her more than $600,000, from his accounts at JP Morgan, including more than $165,000 after Epsteins plea. The complaint also shares Epsteins other payouts to his alleged enablers. One recruiter who was granted immunity via Epsteins shady non-prosecution agreement in Florida allegedly received $728,000 from the financiers JPMorgan accounts and virtually all of it was provided after his 2008 conviction. Between 1999 and 2002, the filing adds, Epstein transferred more than $23 million to his ex-girlfriend and convicted accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell. The complaint says that JPMorgan noted in internal documents that Epstein was alleged to be involved in the human trafficking of young girls and law enforcement is also allegedly investigating his involvement in this activity. JPMorgan officials also allegedly noted that Epstein was an alleged personal associate of Jes Staley, who was then the head of JPMorgans private bank. (As part of her lawsuit, Jane Doe has accused Staley of sexual assault, an accusation he denies.) The amended complaint underscores numerous other instances in which JPMorgan raised questions about Epstein and whether he should remain a client. In 2008, Mary Erdoes, CEO of the banks Asset & Wealth Management division, received an email asking if Epstein was at an event with a girl referred to as Miley Cyrus, according to the lawsuit. In another 2010 email exchange, Erdoes and Staley allegedly discussed a federal investigation into Epstein for child sex-trafficking. Erdoes, in a recent deposition, admitted that JPMorgan was aware by 2006 that Epstein was accused of paying cash to have underage girls and young women brought to his home, the complaint says. But during her testimony, Erdoes said that JPMorgan only axed Epstein as a client in 2013 after she learned his withdrawals were actual cash. Its unclear why the bank waited seven years to dump Epstein. As early as 2006, the filing alleges, a JPMorgan Rapid Response Team determined that the shadowy money manager routinely made cash withdrawals of $40,000 to $80,000 several times a monthtransactions that totaled over $750,000 a year. And JPMorgan senior executivesincluding Staley, Erdoes, Steven Cutler, and Catherine Keatingmet in various groupings in July and October 2008, January 2011, August 2011, and July 2013 to discuss concerns about Epstein, the complaint states. The banks anti-money laundering division asked to exit this relationship with Epstein, the memo allegedly said, adding that it could have a potential serious impact. Jeffrey Epstein Accuser Names Powerful Men in Alleged Sex Ring Other internal emails questioned the identities of Epsteins clients and shared an article exploring whether the convicted sex offender was running a Ponzi scheme, the complaint says. At one point in 2011, JPMorgan officials discussed that Epstein sponsored private bank accounts and credit cards for a pair of 18-year-old women who appear to be part of his inner entourage, according to the lawsuit. One [woman] is mentioned in many of the recaps of the escapades as a willing participant and assistant when hosting visitors, a bank memo allegedly stated. She has received about 450,000 since opening from Epstein . . . . Both can be put in Palm Beach during 2004, by way of debit charges, which was when most allegations were from . . . . He did pay other girls, many models no huge amounts. Sugar Daddy! In a compliance memo, JPMorgan officials also pointed out a concerning article about a Department of Justice probe into whether Epstein brought underage girls to America via the modeling agency MC2, which was owned by French model scout Jean-Luc Brunel. (Brunel, a longtime friend of Epstein and his accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell, killed himself in a Paris jail last February while awaiting trial on rape charges.) The author of the memo claimed the modeling agency was legit and that it would be hard for us to tell if girls were exploited via their contract or arrangement, the complaint alleges, adding that Epstein secured a line of credit for MC2. JPMorgans internal documents made note of Epsteins charitable foundation, too, which the bank said donated funds to Palm Beach police and transferred funds to models, and culinary and massage schools and universities on behalf of models/aspiring actresses. His business accounts Fiduciary we saw no client activity. I know his biggest client, Wexner parted ways when he was convicted, one internal memo read. His [Due Diligence Reports] say he manages a few private clients money but never says who. I would like to know if in fact he is managing anyones money at this point or is it all his money. A JPMorgan memorandum detailed numerous articles about law enforcement investigations into Epsteins molestation of underage girls, as well as a dozen out of court settlements stemming from lawsuits filed by his victims, the complaint says. The amended complaint adds a claim against JPMorgan for allegedly obstructing the enforcement of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Last month, JPMorgan filed a third-party complaint against Staley, arguing he should be liable should Jane Doe and the U.S. Virgin Islands prevail on their claims. While lawyers for Staley and Doe contended that Staley should be tried separately from the litigation against JPMorgan, a federal judge denied the request. Though not always identified by name, Staley is a key figure in the allegations made in the plaintiff's and co-plaintiffs complaints, as well as the sole defendant named in the third-party complaint filed by defendant JPMorgan Chase Bank, U.S. District Judge Jed Rakoff wrote in his order on Monday. Rakoff said that Staley and the facts relating to him will therefore be a prominent focus of the trial of the underlying case between Doe, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and JPMorgan. Under these circumstances, Rakoff ruled, it would make no sense to sever the case against Staley. The judge also indicated that the trial slated for October 2023 would not be rescheduled. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Photo Illustration by Elizabeth Brockway/The Daily Beast/Getty, Diego Velazquez/ The Metropolitan Museum of Art The mysterious gaze behind an iconic 17th-century portrait of a fair-skinned Black man has consistently stumped art enthusiasts. Robed in a dark gown with a white collar, he sits regally but delivers a melancholic look toward the artist. His demeanor at first glance is admirable, though a deeper observation suggests his body language is slightly forced. It will never be clear what Juan de Pareja was thinking as he sat for Spanish painter Diego Velazquez, who was also his enslaver. Pareja worked under Velazquez during a period when many artists utilized those they enslaved for menial tasks, like mixing pigments and other jobs to assist the painters carry out the visions of their work. However, Pareja had an edge, essentially acting as Velazquez apprentice and gaining knowledge of a craft in which he became an established artist in his own right. The Met Museum Asks: How Can Black-Themed Art Be Freed from the White Gaze? A new exhibition at New York Citys Metropolitan Museum of Art, Juan de Pareja, Afro-Hispanic Painter (to July 16), features the notable portrait by Velazquez as a focal point. However, the viewer has to navigate the identity of a Black man in a Spain where the racial climate was at a beginning stage of being oppressive to anyone designated as other. During the boom of the New Negro Movement in 1920s Harlem, Afro-Latino scholar Arturo Schomburg set the wave for Black history in motion as he developed what would eventually become the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, part of the New York Public Library system. As a child of the Spanish colony Puerto Rico, Schomburg had a personal mission to dig into the story of Pareja, which helped reignite the painters artistry into the 20th century and beyond. The exhibition starts with Schomburgs exploration of Pareja. Documents and photographs from the historians voyage to Spain encompass an effort to reawaken the spirit of Pareja, to understand him from modern and antiquated perspectives as a Black man in predominantly white spaces. Schomburg nearly walked in Parejas footsteps, traveling within the painters old village as if they were kindred spirits, connected by Spain as their enslaver. Those travels indicated that Blackness in 17th-century Europe was not a totally foreign concept. Story continues Co-curators David Pullins and Vanessa Valdes found it pertinent to illustrate Parejas Spanish culture, as he simultaneously lived an alternate consciousness as a Black man. For many people, the story of that multiracial society and enslavement in the bounds of Europe, on the Spanish peninsula, was itself something to really lock into, Pullins told The Daily Beast, noting Parejas privilege due to his servitude under Velazquez. Whats interesting is hes moving around, literally is living with Velazquezand his access to power is amazingly high. And yet, he is enslaved by Velazquez, Pullins said. Velazquez is moving at the highest levels of society I would say [Pareja] must have seen himself as pretty elevated within society. 'The Calling of Saint Matthew' (1661). Juan de Pareja/, Photographic Archive Museo, Nacional del Prado Leaving the room of Schomburgs travels, the exhibit continues along a hallway with paintings decorating both sides, showcasing the social climate of Seville, Spain, during Parejas time. Despite it being a heterogeneous society, minority populations were still deemed as outsiders and expected to assimilate. This is evident in other paintings of the exhibit, like the Battle between Christians and Muslims at El Sotillo by Francisco de Zurbaran. Only Catholic soldiers were highlighted enough to be seen in battle, while a pale-skinned, blond-haired Mary and Jesus view the scene from above in the clouds. There's a very clear difference within Spanish society a very clear difference between Northern Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa, Valdes explained. And darkness of skin color indicates Sub-Saharan Africa, versus lightness of tones or gradations of tones. Catholicism was synonymous with Euro-Spanish purity. Muslim migrants from North Africa were expected to convert, but even those converts were not seen as equals. Eventually, a religious hierarchy transcended into a colorism spectrum that perpetuated a process of whitening. In the context of conversion and baptism, you get this whitening effectthe idea that when baptized, certain people miraculously turned white, Pullins said. Traveling through the hall of Spanish Catholic dominance, the exhibit winds into another room showcasing the work of Velazquez. Mainly portraits commissioned by political leaders of the time, the room circles with the bust of Pareja as the principal painting. In the same room, we find the hefty document that contains Parejas emancipation papers from Velazquez. Finally, we reach Parejas work: massive, illustrious paintings, rich in color and heavy in religious purification. The Calling of Saint Matthew is one of two paintings in the exhibit in which Pareja constructs a self-portrait. Surrounded by three apostles, Jesus Christ negotiates with a Jewish tax collector, decked out in furs and jewels. Servants and others congregate in the room, and a version of Pareja stands to the far left. Appearing lighter with slightly more European features than the Velazquez portrait, Pareja breaks the fourth wall as if hes signaling a secret to the viewer. If the viewer did not know his identity, they would perhaps think of him as any other white man in the group. A Black man of a darker complexion is also in the painting, but situated toward the back with a featureless face and flat shading in his tonea pattern Pareja shared with other artists at the time to keep the tones of darker figures more simple. [Pareja] was probably always known as the former slave of Velazquez. One interpretation of his paintings is, particularly his later ones, his grander ones, is a direct response, Valdes told The Daily Beast. The other self-portrait in The Baptism of Christ is more subtle. The complex painting shows multiple variations of John the Baptist washing away peoples sinsincluding Christs; God in the heavens oversees Johns acts, and angels have descended down to Earth to partake in the righteous festivities. In the bottom left corner, Pareja signs his name with the date on a rock, crushing a serpent meant to symbolize evil. Pullins and Valdes equate this act as Pareja noting his indulgence in Catholicism to prove that he has reached a level of social enlightenment and religious assimilation, despite his origins as an enslaved Black person. The Baptism of Christ , 1667 'The Baptism of Christ' (1667). Juan de Pareja/, Photographic Archive Museo Nacional del, Prado The crushing [of] the serpent says, I'm extremely Catholic, Pullins said, adding that it was Parejas attempt to position himself as very much part of the establishment. That kind of issue around transformation towards whiteness is perhaps part of it, Pullins explained. It's quite disturbing as an interpretation, but there's so much scripture around the whitening effects of baptism. It's quite upsetting. By the time the viewer reaches these two masterpieces, its obvious that Pareja has come to view himself differently from other Afro-Hispanics in 17th-century Spain. He has accepted Christianity and his role in society, which have propelled him to a higher social status. Regardless of Parejas 17th-century proximity to whiteness, Schomburg considered Pareja as an ancestor of all Black artists in the Americas (Juan de Pareja: Afro-Hispanic Painter in the Age of Velazquez, 2023). As viewers, we cannot critique his work with a revisionist view of our current perspectives on race. Instead, we have to understand Parejas survival stance for the time in which he lived. With that in mind, he still cleared a path for other African descendants of the slave trade. Schomburg hope[d] for Black audiences to recognize this man as a forefather and that all of us inherit his legacy of excellence, Valdes said. I think in that aspect, [Pareja] would be proud to be recognized as an artist of that scale. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Raymond Chan, left, and his attorney, Harland Braun, leave federal court in Los Angeles after a Jan. 20 hearing. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A federal judge declared a mistrial Thursday in the bribery prosecution of former Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Raymond Chan after doctors confirmed his attorney needs months to recover from a recent hospitalization. U.S. District Court Judge John F. Walter instructed Chan to find a new lawyer to replace Harland Braun, whose March 2 hospitalization brought the trial to a halt while prosecutors were still presenting their case to the jury. Braun, 80, one of the city's best-known criminal defense attorneys, spent more than two years preparing for Chan's highly complex trial. After reviewing medical information about Braun that was filed under seal, Walter said it was clear that he could not resume trial work until at least August or September. By then, Walter said, jurors would be unlikely to have clear recollections of all the testimony they had heard in February and March. Chan requested six weeks to find a new attorney, but Walter agreed to give him only 11 days. Chan is the last defendant to face trial in a corruption scandal that exposed pervasive graft in the city's byzantine process for approving real estate projects in downtown Los Angeles. Prosecutors say he was a central player in a sprawling extortion racket led by former L.A. City Councilmember Jose Huizar. Huizar has admitted taking more than $1.5 million in payoffs from developers. Political consultants, lobbyists and a top City Hall aide have pleaded guilty to felonies they committed as part of Huizar's payoff schemes. Some were expected to testify against Chan. The prosecution's evidence includes many surreptitiously taped recordings of conversations among the players. Another former council member, Mitchell Englander, pleaded guilty in a related case in 2020 and has already been released from prison. Prosecutors say Chan served as a go-between who facilitated payoffs to Huizar and also accepted tens of thousands of dollars in bribes himself. Assistant U.S. Atty. Mack Jenkins told Walter that prosecutors would lay out their full case including some freshly obtained evidence for Chan's new attorney, a step that could lead to a plea deal. But Braun had been adamant that Chan was innocent. He told the jury to expect the former deputy mayor to take the witness stand to defend himself. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez waits for a hearing on a petition seeking his removal from elected office, to begin on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the county courthouse in Corpus Christi, Texas. A judge this week denied a motion to dismiss a petition seeking the removal of Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez, meaning the politically charged removal proceedings will continue. The Tuesday ruling in favor of Nueces County Attorney Jenny Dorsey, who is prosecuting the case, comes as the two-term Democratic district attorney has characterized the case as politically motivated. Dorsey is a Republican. Gonzalez's attorney, Christopher Gale, asked Senior Judge David Peeples to dismiss the case in part on a technicality with the attached affidavits form, contending Dorsey's first amended petition was not sufficiently verified. Typically, the verification for a complaint or petition is attached near the end and contains a statement made under oath. This section usually states the plaintiff has reviewed the complaint and knows or believes all allegations the plaintiff has personal knowledge of to be true. Previous hearing: Judge to consider petition to remove Nueces DA; county attorney plans to prosecute Dorsey, in a second amended petition, made a correction to the signature block and "minor edits." In filing this second petition, she asked the judge to deny Gale's motion. "While the State disagrees with the incorrect characterizations contained in Defendants motion, the sole legal matter alleged by Defendant, lack of jurisdiction based on an alleged lack of clarity of the two previously attached affidavits, has been addressed," Dorsey's response reads. Peeples then denied Gale's motion to dismiss the case, meaning the case would continue toward a trial. Any Texas resident seeking the removal of an elected official can file such a petition, but state statute requires a state district judge to accept it and the county attorney to agree to try the case for the proceedings to move forward. The original petition, filed in January by a Nueces County conservative activist, contends Gonzalez should be removed from office on the grounds of incompetence, official misconduct and failure to give bond. Dorsey then amended this petition, removing some allegations of official misconduct. Story continues Legal fees After first seeking an opinion from the Texas attorney general on the matter, the Nueces County Commissioners Court on Wednesday voted to pay for Gonzalez's legal representation but put a limit on the expense. Gonzalez was asked to provide a list of attorneys he would prefer to represent him in the removal proceedings. The Commissioners Court would then select one of those attorneys. However, when Gonzalez said he wanted to continue with Gale, one commissioner pushed back on the idea. Precinct 4 Commissioner Brent Chesney, a Republican, said he would not vote for Gale because Gale has previously represented clients in litigation against the county. Chesney said he viewed this as a conflict barring Gale from representing Gonzalez at the county's expense. Nueces County District Attorney Mark Gonzalez is represented by attorney Christopher Gale at a hearing on a petition seeking his removal from elected office on Wednesday, March 8, 2023, at the county courthouse in Corpus Christi, Texas. Most recently, Gale for a time represented Dr. Adel Shaker, the county's former chief medical examiner implicated in a criminal probe of the office last year, on matters involving Shaker's employment and retirement. Gale has also represented clients alleging misconduct in Nueces County's correctional facilities, including two former inmates who accused a corrections officer of brutally assaulting them in 2019 and one man who alleged he was sexually assaulted in the jail in 2016. (The county settled the latter case for $250,000 in 2019.) Gale, during the meeting, denied there would be a conflict. Gonzalez said he would push for the county to hire Gale. This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Judge denies Nueces County DA's motion to dismiss removal petition TAVARES Circuit Judge G. Richard Singeltary has to be careful these days walking around his office. There are boxes everywhere, some filled, others waiting to be filled with bundles of papers and other things. If those boxes could only talk! Singeltary, 75, is hanging up his robe after five years as a Lake County judge and 33 as a circuit judge. The statute made it an easy decision, he laughed, referring to the mandatory retirement age. Certainly, other judges will come along, but the 5th Judicial Circuit is losing an institution and someone who knows where the bodies are buried literally. State news: As DeSantis barnstorms, bill concealing travel records nears passage in Florida Capitol Safe dining: One Lake restaurant temporarily closed, two others cited for 11 high-priority violations A prosecutor after law school After earning his law degree from Stetson in 1973, he became the only full-time assistant state attorney in Lake under Gordon Oldham, who was the top prosecutor for more than 30 years. He was good to work for, he said. Interesting, to say the least. Oldham kept a scrapbook of yellowed newspaper clippings with headlines like, TRUNK KILLERS HUNTED, MISSING GIRLS IN FOREST, and BEAUTIFUL DREAM ENDS IN NIGHTMARE TRAGEDY. Some cases were ahead of Singeltarys time, including when notorious Sheriff McCall was sheriff. Others, he modestly describes his role as carrying Mr. Oldhams briefcase. History is one of my interests, he said. His waiting room proves it. It is filled with historic photographs of when citrus was king, and everyone was working hard unless they hung a gone fishin sign on the door. From left: Mark Hill, William Law, "Buddy" Aulls, "Red" Boylston, G. Richard Singeltary. He made history himself, handling some of the toughest cases from the bench. Forget Hollywood stereotypes. He is a soft-spoken, gray-haired Southern gentleman, who makes sure everyone gets their say, and that he makes even-handed rulings based on the law. One of the things he enjoyed the most was going up and down the hall getting other judges take on things. Story continues He laughs when he thinks about Circuit Judge Ernest C. Buddy Aulls Jr., who ruled the roost when he kept track of the new county judges in 1985: Mark Hill, William Law, Richard Red Boylston and Singeltary. He treasures a photo where all five are sitting at a conference table wearing white shirts and ties, hands folded, the newbies looking like boys in class. Becoming a circuit judge Singeltary was appointed a circuit judge by Gov. Bob Martinez in 1990. Hill and Law would become circuit judges, too. Circuit Judge G. Richard Singeltary speaks during the trial of William Wild Bill Roberts at the Lake County Courthouse in Tavares on Wednesday, March 30, 2022. A young Assistant Public Defender T. Michael Johnson, who would himself go on to become a circuit judge, was nervous when he had to come to Lake from Sumter to argue a case. He noticed that Judge Aulls was taking notes. I must be doing OK, he thought. Later, the judge called him to the bench and showed him what he had been writing: a handwritten certificate for a haircut at a barber shop. Women had to wear dresses, men wore jackets and ties. Defendants were warned not to show up wearing shorts. Behind the scenes, he was friendly, funny and unpretentious. Some difficult cases One of the hardest cases Singeltary presided over was for Fred Anderson Jr., who robbed a bank in Mount Dora in 1999. Please dont shoot me! one of the tellers screamed. Which one of you guys want to die first? he replied. Heather Young, 39, died at the scene. Marishia Scott, was badly wounded. He needed money to pay probation expenses? Singeltary shook his head at the memory. A paramedic on a helicopter had to break out a scalpel to insert a chest tube for her. The key moment came in a hushed courtroom when the doors swung open and Scott, who was paralyzed, guided her motorized wheelchair silently toward the front of the courtroom to face the man who changed her life forever. Heartbreaking, Singeltary said. Sometimes the old cases become new to a judge. Such was the re-sentencing hearing for teen vampire cult leader Rod Ferrell, who murdered the parents of one of his members in Eustis. Circuit Judge Jerry Lockett handled the trial in 1998, so the duty to review the case after a Supreme Court ruling fell to Singletary in 2019. You read from the transcripts and it just keeps getting worse and worse, he said of the murders of Ruth Queen and Richard Wendorf. When you see it in person, its very real. Rod Ferrell in court in August 2003. Ferrell testified that he was a changed man. The pain will never go away, Jennifer Wendorf cried. She said she feared for her life and her children and begged Singeltary to maintain his life sentence without parole. The judge agreed. What's next for Judge Singeltary? Whats he going to do in retirement? Theres my church," he said of St. James Episcopal in Leesburg. "I may go on a mission trip. Ive made one excuse after another." He also wants to spend time with his grandchildren. He said he may also pick up where COVID dropped off. During the epidemic, there were 19 months without trials. I read 15 books. He said he can also look back with pride at the professionalism between the State Attorneys Office and Public Defender's Office. "Sheriff Peyton Grinnell runs a good office, and the municipalities have greatly improved with training, he said. Its about trust. Judge Singeltary's father was an attorney I grew up respecting lawyers, he said. His father, George, was an attorney who came to Leesburg in 1934. The tradition continues with the judges son, George, who cut his teeth with the Public Defenders Office. His last day and the deadline for all those boxes to be off the floor is April 25. He is being replaced by Circuit Judge Jason Nimeth, who does a Citrus-Sumter County split. Circuit Judge Kristie Healis in Marion County will take Nimeths rotation. This article originally appeared on Daily Commercial: After so many cases, Circuit Judge G. Richard Singeltary set to retire Rupert Murdoch's actual role at Fox News caused confusion in court A judge has sanctioned Fox News after claims it withheld evidence in a $1.6bn (1.3bn) defamation lawsuit. Dominion Voting Systems' lawsuit argues Fox News damaged its reputation by airing election conspiracy theories. Dominion said Fox News did not turn over certain recordings. Fox News says its lawyers produced the materials as soon as they learned of them. The judge also complained that Rupert Murdoch's leadership role at Fox had not been made clear to the court. The disputed recordings were taken by a producer, Abby Grossberg, who has sued Fox News in a separate lawsuit. In the audio, Fox host Maria Bartiromo speaks to two lawyers who represented Mr Trump during his attempts to overturn the 2020 election: Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani, NBC News reported. The recordings were made available only after the pre-trial period when both sides exchange information about the evidence that will be used. Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis grew frustrated with Fox after Dominion's lawyers played the recordings in court, according to NBC News. Fox News spokeswoman Irena Briganti told the BBC in an email: "As counsel explained to the court, Fox produced the supplemental information from Ms Grossberg when we first learned it." In light of the delayed evidence, Judge Davis said he would consider appointing an independent lawyer, known as a special master, to investigate Fox's legal team. Judge Davis also expressed frustration at the network's lawyers on Tuesday for not revealing the full extent of Fox Corp Chairman Rupert Murdoch's role at Fox News. Attorneys for Fox News had said Mr Murdoch holds no official role at the channel, and does not make day-to-day decisions. But Dominion's lawyers said Fox News only disclosed to them on Sunday that Mr Murdoch is an executive chairman of the network. Ms Briganti said there was no deception: "Rupert Murdoch has been listed as executive chairman of Fox News in our SEC filings for several years and this filing was referenced by Dominion's own attorney during his deposition." Story continues But during Tuesday's hearing Judge Davis admonished Fox's legal team. "My problem is that it has been represented to me more than once that he is not an officer," he said. Dominion's lawsuit argues that the conservative network sullied the electronic-voting company's reputation by airing falsehoods about the 2020 presidential vote being stolen from Donald Trump. Jury selection begins on Thursday. Jacqueline Dawn Jackie Montgomery, right, was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison on Wednesday in Crawford County Common Pleas Court. At left is her attorney, James Mayer III. Jacqueline Dawn Jackie Montgomery was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison Wednesday, concluding a trio of prosecutions resulting from what the judge called an "absolutely terrible event:" the death of Michael "Mikey" Benedict. On March 10, a Crawford County Common Pleas Court jury found Montgomery, 44, Crestline, guilty of violent felony murder in connection with the beating death of Benedict, 40, a Crawford County native. Benedict was found unconscious by Crestline police investigating a 911 report of a beating shortly after 2:20 a.m. Oct. 10, 2021. He died on Nov. 4, 2021. Jackie Montgomery was one of three people charged in connection with Benedict's death. Tim Montgomery, her husband, was found guilty on two murder charges in a trial that ended Feb. 9 and has been sentenced to life in prison, with the possibility of parole after 15 years. Cameron Davis, who testified against his co-defendants as part of a plea agreement, pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, felonious assault and obstruction of justice, and was sentenced to an indefinite term of 20 to 25 years in prison. During Montgomery's sentencing hearing Wednesday, Crawford County Common Pleas Court Judge Sean Leuthold expressed sympathy for Benedict's family. "Whenever you have a trial like this, I know the victims go through it and basically go through the nerves, the pressure of going through the trial; hoping that it goes in the way that the victims want it to go," Leuthold said. "And then at the end of the trial, no matter how it ends up, all that you're really left with is sadness." Three people "made a number of terrible choices on the night of this tragedy," and as a result, Benedict lost his life, the judge said. "It was just an absolutely terrible event, from beginning to end," he said. "And I wish that we didn't have to go through all this. Because it was avoidable, and that's all I'm going to say." Story continues Montgomery was found not guilty on two other, more serious, murder charges: aggravated murder and purposeful murder. All three charges are unclassified felonies. Ohio law dictates prison sentence Leuthold said Ohio Revised Code dictates the prison sentence in this case. "The court cannot deviate from what is listed in the statute," he said. "I can't make it more; I can't make it less. The defendant was found not guilty of aggravated murder, so that takes away anything more than indefinite prison term of 15 years of life. That's what the required statute says." Benedict's mother, Karen Murr of Bucyrus, spoke on the family's behalf, tearfully thanking the judge, the prosecutors and "everybody that's been so good with us." "I could stand up here and say a million words, but it's not going to bring my son back," Murr said, her voice shaking. "It's not going to bring him, you know, my grandchildren's dad back. I just hope everybody that," she said, then stopped abruptly. "I can't say anymore. I'm sorry." Montgomery's attorney, James Mayer III of Mansfield, said he had advised his client not to speak because of the planned appeal. "My client is 44 years old, a mother of two, also raising her young niece as her own," Mayer said. "No prior record of any kind. Has worked what amounts to her entire adult life. And here we are. We ask you to take that into consideration in respect to time she spent in jail when it comes to fines and costs in this matter." The judge then formally issued the sentence of 15 years to life in prison. "It means the defendant will be eligible for parole that doesn't mean she's going to get it after 15 years," Leuthold explained. Leuthold credited Montgomery with 530 days for time already served. He issued no fine and did not require the defendant to pay court costs. Leuthold assigned a court-appointed attorney to handle Montgomery's appeal in the case, noting that after 530 days in jail, "I would suspect that, basically, any money that she had was exhausted." Leuthold concluded the hearing by once again speaking to Benedict's family. "To the victim's family in this case, I wish you peace. I think that's about all you can hope for," he said. "This is never going to go away. Obviously it's a painful, terrible experience and I hope that now that it's over, at least you can get some love and peace of mind. Thank you. Good luck to you." ggoble@gannett.com 419-559-7263 This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Beating death: Jackie Montgomery gets to 15 years to life in prison The six-tonne spacecraft has a long journey ahead of it The European Space Agency (Esa) has postponed a planned launch of a satellite to the planet Jupiter. Weather conditions showed there was a risk of lightning to the mission that aims to establish if the planet's moons could sustain life. Esa says it will try to launch the rocket again on Friday. The eight-year journey from Earth to reach Jupiter's major moons is one of the organisation's most ambitious missions ever. There's good evidence that these the moons' icy worlds - Callisto, Europa and Ganymede - hold oceans of liquid water at depth. The project is known as the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, or Juice for short. Juice is not seeking to detect life - it will not be sending back pictures of alien fish. But it could help determine whether conditions in the moons' hidden oceans have at least a chance of supporting simple microbial organisms. This isn't a crazy idea, says Prof Carole Mundell, the director of science at Esa. "In every extreme environment on Earth, whether that's high acidity, high radioactivity, low temperature, high temperature - we find microbial life in some form," she told BBC News. "If you look at the (volcanic) vents at the bottom of Earth's oceans, these even look like alien worlds. There's no reason why that microbial life should not be able to exist elsewhere, if we have similar conditions. And it's those conditions that we want to study with Juice." Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei identified Jupiter's four major moons in 1610. Only Io (top) will not be visited during the mission The 1.6bn (1.4bn; $1.7bn) mission was supposed to launch on Thursday on an Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana, at 09:15 local time (13:15 BST). The Ariane doesn't have the energy to send Juice directly to Jupiter, certainly not within a useful timeframe. Instead, it will dispatch the spacecraft on a path around the inner Solar System. A series of fly-bys of Venus and Earth will then gravitationally sling the mission out to its intended destination. Story continues Arrival in the Jovian system is expected in July 2031. Ganymede fact card Juice will perform 35 close passes of the moons - getting to within 400km (250 miles) of their surfaces on occasion - before settling into orbit around Ganymede. The spacecraft carries a total of 10 instruments. There are various cameras, particle detectors, a radar to map sub-surface features; there's even a lidar, which is used to make 3D maps of surface terrain. But it is the UK-provided magnetometer that could provide some of the most influential data. The Imperial College London-built experiment will tell us about the properties of the moons' hidden oceans. And at Ganymede, in particular, the information should be quite detailed. "We'll know the depth of the ocean, its salt content, how deep the crust is above the ocean, and whether the ocean is in contact with the rocky mantle," explained Prof Michele Dougherty, Imperial's magnetometer principal investigator. "So, we'll get an understanding of the interior structure of the moon, and from observations from other instruments looking at the surface, we'll be able to resolve if there is organic material on that surface." Earth has taught us that life requires four essential inputs: liquid water, nutrients of some kind, an energy source, and time - an extended period of stability during which biology can get a foothold and establish itself. We've long considered Mars to be the most likely candidate to host extra-terrestrial life, if not today then sometime in its distant past. But for astrobiologists - scientists who study the possibility of life elsewhere in the Universe - the ice-covered moons of Jupiter and also Saturn are really starting to pique their interest. Tiny alien-looking worms can be found at deep-sea volcanic vents on Earth These worlds may be in the cold, outer reaches of the Solar System, far from the Sun, but they could just be able to satisfy the four inputs - even for a supply of energy. It's not light and warmth from a star, but the constant gravitational squeezing and pushing the giant planets exert on the moons. It's this flexure that provides the means to keep water in liquid form and could also drive the kind of volcanic vent systems on ocean floors that Prof Mundell mentions and which some scientists think could have been the origin of life on Earth. "If I were a betting man, I'd probably put my money on Europa having life that is alive, that exists today," says Prof Lewis Dartnell, an astrobiologist at the University of Westminster. "The chances of that are much higher than finding extant (living) life on Mars today." Artwork: The US space agency will launch the Clipper spacecraft next year The US will be launching its companion mission, known as Clipper, next year. It will focus on Europa, making 50 fly-bys, some as low at 25km. The close pass of a planetary destination is usually followed by a later spacecraft going into orbit and then a further mission attempting to land. This is how exploration has progressed at Mars, where we're about to make one additional step - that of trying to bring material back to Earth to study in the lab. Investigations at Jupiter's and Saturn's moons are not as advanced in the sequence, but it's possible to envisage ventures later this century that could land on these fascinating outer Solar System bodies and seek to drill through their icy crusts and sample the waters below. "If we find evidence for life on the moons of Saturn or Jupiter, then almost certainly it would be of independent origin," says Astronomer Royal, Prof Sir Martin Rees. "That then would carry a momentous message that life - if it had started twice, independently, in our Solar System - can't be a rare fluke, and almost certainly exists in a billion places in our galaxy, and it completely transforms the way we look at the sky." Dr Rob Laurenson is co-chair of the British Medical Associations junior doctors committee (Facebook) A junior doctors leader behind one of the longest NHS strikes ever seen has apologised for undermining the action by going on holiday while his colleagues are on the pick line. Dr Rob Laurenson, co-chair of the British Medical Association's junior doctors committee, took annual leave to attend a family friend's wedding this week, meaning he will be paid while striking doctors miss out. In a message shared with his colleagues posted online, he wrote: I can see that you feel undermined and I am really sorry my actions have contributed to that. Dr Laurenson has apologised for missing the strike action (PA) Around 47,000 junior doctors are staging a four-day walkout over pay, demanding a 35 per cent rise to restore a 26 per cent real terms cut to their pay since 2008. They argue the move will help the NHS recruit and retain junior doctors and ease pressure on the health service. Hospital bosses estimate 350,000 routine operations will be cancelled over the 96-hour strike, with fewer than half the number of consultants to cover junior doctor shifts as during the previous strike. Negotiations are on hold as doctors and the government wrangle over who is willing to come to the table. Doctors say they are willing to discuss via conciliation service Acas, but minister Chris Philp said they had not made formal contact. If the junior doctors committee is willing to suspend their strike action, and remove this 35% pay increase as a precondition for talks, then were very happy, he told Radio 4/s Today. The door is open to have those talks. The BMA said last week regarding their 35 per cent pay rise ask: We very much expect that an offer will be a starting point in the discussions, rather than the final deal we agree but until the ministers office makes that offer and agrees to meet with us, we cannot consider stopping the strike action and starting negotiations. Dr Laurenson came under fire on Wednesday when it was revealed that he was missing the walkout. Former Tory health minister Lord Bethell described him as a plonker, while Rishi Sunak said he was surprised to read that Dr Laurenson was on holiday. Story continues Tory MP Julian Knight told The Independent: The junior doctors strike is deeply irresponsible and their demands are totally unreasonable. Having orchestrated this disaster for patients and our NHS, for the union leader to then swan off in this manner is adding insult to injury. But colleagues rushed to Dr Laurensons defence, insisting he was fulfilling a long-standing commitment. Asking colleagues to "forgive" him on Thursday, Dr Laurenson, 28, said: The thing most important to me is the integrity of the unity of doctors and that is why Im at pains to be as transparent as possible and accountable as possible." Health service leaders have warned the strike will be the most disruptive yet and will have a significant impact on the NHSs ability to provide care. The NHS Confederation warned on the second day of the action that with junior doctors making up nearly two-fifths of an already understaffed workforce, NHS leaders are understandably worried about the further impact this walkout will have on their services. Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas Hospital in London (PA Wire) A majority of the publics support junior doctors' strike action, with 54 per cent in favour and just 26 opposed, according to polling by Ipsos. Rather than falling away, support for the stoppages has been growing since March. But health secretary Steve Barclay has dismissed junior doctors' demand to have their pay restored as "unrealistic" and says it amounts to a 35 per cent rise. The government has refused to negotiate with the BMA until the union drops the demand. (European Space Agency) The European Space Agency is headed to Jupiter and hoping to find aliens. The ESA is launching a new mission, from its spaceport in French Guiana, facing a second attempt to light the rocket carrying it after the first was cancelled because of lightning. The mission, named Juice or Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, will make observations both of the planet itself as well as its icy moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa. It will do so using an array of equipment that researchers hope could allow for an unprecedentedly good view of the worlds. That, in turn, could give insight into whether there is life elsewhere in our solar system. Those moons are thought to be one of the prime candidates for alien life and we might finally get a good enough look to know if they are inhabited. The mission will depart at 1.14pm UK time on Friday, and is available to watch online on ESAs YouTube channel. There will be full coverage on all the latest updates below. Key Points ESA successfully launches spacecraft to Jupiter Watch launch live with European Space Agency Everything you need to know about Juice launch to Jupiter Solar panels deployed 14:34 , Andrew Griffin Europe has a mission. We are on our way to Jupiter. Both solar arrays have been fully deployed and the spacecraft is now doing its job. The satellite is now fully ready to float through space for eight years, and then get on with examining Jupiter. Juice headed out on complicated journey 14:22 , Andrew Griffin Heres the full timeline of Juices journey, which shows just how complicated it is. It also shows how weird it is: even in six years, Juice will still be flying around Earth, despite being just a couple of years from its eventual destination. (ESA) Spacecraft hurrying through its schedule 14:15 , Andrew Griffin After causing some brief anxiety for its controllers, Juice is now tearing through its schedule. Its on track to deploy its solar array in the next 20 minutes or so. At that point, this part of the journey will be over, really. Juice will then be making its (sometimes complicated) journey through the solar system, on its way to Jupiter, over a period of eight years or so. Story continues Signal finally acquired 14:06 , Andrew Griffin After a tense ten minutes or so, Juice has finally got in contact with home: ESA has acquisition of signal and data is finally coming back from its journey to space. No signal acquired yet 13:58 , Andrew Griffin Its been a few minutes and Juice is still yet to communicate with its controllers. It would be expected by now, but not hearing is also normal. The spacecraft is tumbling around in space and may need to stabilise before it can communicate with the ground. Theres still half an hour before engineers would get nervous, ESA says. But it is definitely tense. Tense wait as controllers wait for signal 13:53 , Andrew Griffin Engineers are waiting for a signal from the spacecraft, which will confirm that Juice is able to talk to its controllers back at home. Its a tense moment as people watch the graph that will jump up when signal is acquired. First leg of Juices journey complete 13:46 , Andrew Griffin Just under half an hour after it set off, Juice has separated from all parts of the rocket and the first leg of the process is done. Its now firmly on its way. There is celebrating, smiles and joy at the ESA spaceport in French Guiana, where the large team is celebrating their success. The next step is to confirm acquisition of signal from the spacecraft, when engineers will ensure that the spacecraft is able to communicate with its controllers. ESA successfully launches Juice, its moon-scouring mission 13:32 , Andrew Griffin Heres the full story on the successful launch of Juice, which is now on its way to Jupiter and its moons. Spacecraft disappears from visibility 13:28 , Andrew Griffin The spacecraft is currently flying between two ground stations, meaning that its out of contact. Thats normal there are gaps in the stations that mean you cant always track it but it is no doubt quite stressful for the engineers who are watching it. Boosters separated and faring dropped 13:19 , Andrew Griffin The boosters that carried the rocket up into space have finished doing so, and have dropped off. And the faring that protected Juice itself on its way through the atmosphere is no longer needed, and has dropped off. The rocket and the spacecraft will continue to fly again for another 20 minutes, when they will detach. Rocket has launched 13:18 , Andrew Griffin The Ariane 5 rocket has taken off, and Juice is on its way to Jupiter. (ESA) Everything seems to be nominal, and the launch is all going to plan. One minute to go 13:14 , Andrew Griffin The rocket is about to set off. Synchronised sequence starts 13:08 , Andrew Griffin The rocket is now definitely going to launch: the synchronised sequence has started, which means that the rocket cant stop now. The Ariane 5 rocket is getting its final preparations and will set off in about six minutes. All is green' 13:06 , Andrew Griffin Weve now passed the moment when the mission got cancelled yesterday. And everything on the board that monitors any problems is green, meaning that there are no issues. ESA broadcast schedule gives deja vu 12:56 , Andrew Griffin (If you were watching live yesterday and are doing the same today, you might feel a little like youve seen it all before. And thats because you will have done: the videos and schedule that ESA is showing today appears to be the same it was before the launch yesterday...) ESA is go for launch 12:53 , Andrew Griffin The team has given its go ahead for launch, with all the teams indicating that they are ready. Theres just over 20 minutes to go. The go doesnt mean that the launch will necessarily go today; the same thing happened yesterday. But the weather got in the way, and it had to be cancelled. (That was about 10 minutes before the launch was scheduled, ie roughly the equivalent of 12 minutes from now.) ESAs live coverage begins as countdown continues 12:38 , Andrew Griffin The European Space Agency is hosting live coverage of the preparations for the launch, with about 40 minutes left to go. You can watch below. Eveyrthing you need to know about todays launch 11:15 , Andrew Griffin The mission stars today at 1.14pm UK time (hopefully). It will end in 2035, when the spacecraft is crashed into Ganymede and destroyed. You can read about those two things, and everything in between, in this explainer on all you need to know. Friday brings a second attempt 09:02 , Andrew Griffin Friday brings with it a second attempt at the launch, and engineers will be hoping that the weather is more co-operative. But they might not know until just before: Thursdays launch was called off with ten minutes to go. The launch will be at 1.14pm, UK time. Thats just a minute earlier than was scheduled for Thursday. Not what we hoped for, says ESA head Thursday 13 April 2023 13:44 , Andrew Griffin Josef Aschbacher, director general of the European Space Agency, tweeted: Not what we hoped for, but this is part of the game. Hopefully tomorrow we have clearer skies. Launch postponed for same time on Friday Thursday 13 April 2023 13:27 , Andrew Griffin Almost as quickly as the launch was postponed, it got a new date. Heres our story on both the cancellation and then second attempt. Read the full story here. JUICE launch cancelled for today Thursday 13 April 2023 13:08 , Andrew Griffin The JUICE launch will not go ahead today. The risk of lightning meant that engineers were afraid about the safety of the rocket. Instead, it will be pushed back until Friday. The launch is scheduled for one minute earlier than it was today: 9.14pm eastern time, or 1.14pm in the UK. The announcement came with 10 minutes to go. The circumstances of liftoff meant that ESA had no time for delay there was only a one minute window for the launch. 10 minute warning Thursday 13 April 2023 13:05 , Andrew Griffin Theres 10 minutes until JUICE is scheduled to start its long journey from French Guiana. Launch imminent but findings a long way off Thursday 13 April 2023 12:59 , Andrew Griffin JUICE is about to set off, in about 20 minutes. Youll be able to follow the launch live here and on YouTube. But it will be a long time before we actually get any information back. The spacecraft wont arrive at Jupiter until 2031, and we will start receiving information the following year. The mission is scheduled to last for four years. Mission is GO for launch Thursday 13 April 2023 12:53 , Andrew Griffin Engineers have checked in with all the teams responsible for the different parts of the launch, and they have all given the go ahead. Now the spacecraft is just waiting on its launchpad in French Guiana which is scheduled for just over 20 minutes from now Schedule for JUICE launch Thursday 13 April 2023 12:48 , Andrew Griffin Here, via the European Space Agency, is the schedule for todays launch. (This is in Central European Time, so subtract an hour if youre following from the UK.) 14:15 Juice launch on Ariane 514:42 Separation of Juice from Ariane 5 upper stage14:51 Earliest expected time to acquire Juices signal15:55 Solar array deployment expected to be completed Tim Peake says mission will help unlock the hidden mysteries of the universe' Thursday 13 April 2023 11:11 , Andrew Griffin Tim Peake, the British astronaut, says that he believes alien life is out there and that this will help find it. This is such an exciting mission, with the power to inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers. What could be more inspirational than the search for extra-terrestrial life? Personally, Im convinced that there is life out there, somewhere. We have already identified 50 billion stars likely to have planets with a habitable zone in this galaxy alone. If you consider that there could be as many as 200 trillion galaxies in the observable universe, the chance of Earth being the only planet supporting life is extremely slim in my view. The Juice launch is an important step in trying to unlock the hidden mysteries of the universe. Hello and welcome... Thursday 13 April 2023 10:54 , Andrew Griffin ... to the Independents live coverage of the launch of the European Space Agencys Juice mission. Jere Dowell sat as an alternate juror during the trial of US Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murdering a 28-year-old demonstrator during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Austin. After conservative outcry over the murder conviction, Texas Governor Greg Abbott promised he was working to pardon Perry's crime a move Ms Dowell says is indicative of "egregious overreach" by the governor's office. Ms Dowell said she was present for the deliberations in Perry's murder trial and said the prosecutors made a convincing argument for the man's guilt. On 8 April, less than 24 hours after the verdict was announced, Mr Abbott posted to Twitter that he was "working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry." Under Texas law, the Governor cannot pardon without a recommendation first coming from the state's Board of Pardons and Paroles. Perry is facing up to life in prison for killing Garrett Foster, 28, who was legally carrying an AK-47 while marching with demonstrators in Austin. I just think its a travesty, Ms Dowell told the Associated Press when asked about Mr Abbott's plan to pardon Perry. Her comments are the first time a juror has spoken publicly about Mr Abbott's intentions. I just thought it was an egregious overreach of power, Ms Dowell said. It's undermining due process. It's undermining democracy. I was upset, honestly. An alternate juror in the murder trial of Daniel Perry said Governor Greg Abbotts intrusion into the case amounted to egregious overreach (Austin American-Statesman) Ms Dowell said she worried that Mr Abbott's intrusion into the case could cause other jurors to second-guess their decisions during deliberations. She said the jury reached its conclusions based solely on the evidence presented during the trial. If your governor is coming out and saying you made the wrong decision, that may make you think twice about what you said or what you felt, she said. Mr Abbott had not spoken publicly about Perry's case before the verdict, and it is unclear how, in under 24 hours, he determined that the man warranted a pardon. Story continues Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, whose office prosecuted Perry's case, told CNN that it was clear Mr Abbott had not actually watched the trial. "I don't know what's in the governor's mind," he said. Perry's attorney, Clint Broden, has filed a motion seeking a new trial. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach announced late Wednesday he is joining Texas and Oklahoma suing the federal government over the decision to call the lesser prairie chicken an endangered species. The lawsuit, led by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, argues that the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service failed to consider existing voluntary conservation efforts in the states to protect the lesser prairie chicken and that the designation violates property rights. In a statement, Kobach argued that listing the prairie chicken as endangered would make it impossible to drill new oil wells in western Kansas and have devastating impacts on ranchers and wind farms as well. These DC bureaucrats have probably never even stepped foot in the state of Kansas, let alone seen a prairie chicken, Kobach said. Yet there they sit in their offices 1,000 miles away making decisions that will directly affect Kansans lives. In November, President Joe Bidens administration announced it was listing the bird as endangered in the southern portion of the birds habitat region, including parts of New Mexico and Texas. The administration said it was listing the bird as threatened, a step below endangered, in the northern habitat region, including Colorado, Kansas and parts of Texas. The status of the lesser prairie chicken has been a long fraught issue in Kansas. The day he was sworn in as state attorney general, Kobach promised one of his first lawsuits would be over the Biden administrations plans to name the bird endangered. In 2014, when the Obama administration listed the bird as a threatened species under the Endangered Species Act, Kobach championed a Kansas law authorizing the Kansas attorney general to take legal action if the federal government seeks to regulate the species within the state. Kansas City, Kansas police detectives are investigating the death of a man whose body was found floating in the Kansas River on Wednesday. Nancy Chartrand, a spokeswoman for KCKPD, said in a statement that officers were first dispatched to South 26th Street and Kansas Avenue around 4:30 p.m. The location of the body required assistance from the fire departments water rescue team, which launched from Kaw Point. Police described the man as an adult male. No further information regarding his identity was released. Detectives with the citys Major Case Unit were investigating how the man died and how he ended up in the Kaw. Kansas City, Kansas police were asking anyone who may have information to call the TIPS Hotline anonymously at 816-474-TIPS. Kansas judges and juries could soon be forced to decide whether human smuggling victims are in the United States illegally, which some attorneys warn would put the due process rights of vulnerable individuals at risk. The Republican-controlled Legislature last week sent a measure to Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly to create the state-level felony crime of human smuggling. Lawmakers aim to empower law enforcement to arrest and prosecute those transporting undocumented immigrants across Kansas. The problem, according to critics of the bill, is that to convict smugglers, Kansas courts will have to find that those who have been smuggled are in the country illegally a decision typically made by federal immigration courts. At a basic level, to prove that smugglers broke the law, prosecutors will also have to show that those who were smuggled did, too. Supporters of the bill say its filling a gap in Kansas law. While Kansas already has a human trafficking law, supporters say that law is intended to target individuals who traffic others against their will. A human smuggling law would allow prosecutors to bring cases against those who are moving individuals with their consent. But defense attorneys fear the bill could trample due process rights for individuals who have been allegedly smuggled. These individuals will effectively be found in Kansas courts to have broken the law even though they arent charged in state court and havent been allowed to offer a defense. If called to testify against their smugglers, their testimony could potentially be used against them in federal court; its unclear whether Kansas courts would inform them of their 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination. Theres really two questions being asked: Did the smuggler smuggle something? And is the smuggled person here in the United States illegally? said Emily Brandt, assistant appellate defender for the Kansas State Board of Indigents Defense Legislative Committee, which opposes the bill. Story continues Its almost like there are two people on trial, but only one person is technically being prosecuted. The Senate approved the measure, HB 2350, in a 36-2 vote. The House approved it 96-26, with some Democrats opposing it. Kellys office didnt respond to questions Wednesday. Franklin County Sheriff Jeff Richards, describing the need for a human smuggling law, told legislators earlier this year about a business in his eastern Kansas county where, he alleged, most of the workers entered the country illegally and are housed in flop houses in poor condition. He didnt identify the business. The workers are paid less than what a citizen would receive, he said, while they must work six or seven days a week. They must also pay more in rent. The workers I have interviewed do not consider themselves victims, as they understood the working arrangements prior to their arrival. I believe the business owner is taking great advantage of these people, and is using the loophole in the law to do so, Richards said in written testimony to the Legislature. But the large legislative majorities in support of the proposal belie the concerns raised about its potential consequences. The bill doesnt define what it means to be in the country illegally. It includes no instructions on how to determine whether someone is present illegally, such as consulting federal immigration court decisions or U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement. It defines human smuggling as intentionally transporting, harboring or concealing an individual into or within Kansas when the person knows or should have known the individual is in the country illegally, benefits financially or receives anything of value and knows or should know that the individual is likely to be exploited for the financial gain of another. Immigration is a federal issue. There is federal law on human smuggling, said state Sen. Ethan Corson, a Fairway Democrat who voted in favor of the bill despite these concerns. And so it is, to me, a question that I wish we would have examined more in the committee process of whether a state can really legislate in this issue because I worry that its preempted by federal law. State Rep. Stephen Owens, a Hesston Republican, said the bill shouldnt conflict with federal law because it punishes the smuggler, not the immigrant. Owens said he believed the measure would likely apply if law enforcement pulled over a box truck with people inside. Law enforcement, he said, can call U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement to determine whether or not the individuals being transported are in the country legally. Were not trying to address the folks that are here illegally, Owens said. In a perfect situation wed have a federal government that would clean up our immigration system and curb illegal immigration or just make immigration the norm. Our federal government is choosing not to act and so its imperative that we do our part. Kansas Attorney General Kris Kobach, a Republican with a long history of supporting hard-line immigration policy, had asked lawmakers to amend the bill to more closely reflect the wording of federal law. Kobachs amendment said that the federal government would determine whether someone was illegally present, and would have prohibited state and local law enforcement from making their own determination. Kobachs office didnt respond to questions Wednesday. The Senate adopted Kobachs amendment but the House balked amid fears that it would give the state attorney general and law enforcement wider latitude to prosecute undocumented immigrants and anyone who aids them because it contained a broader definition of human smuggling. Lawmakers are also weighing a measure to give Kobach the power to prosecute multi-county crimes, which could extend to the anti-smuggling proposal. During legislative negotiations, Owens suggested an Uber driver transporting an undocumented immigrant could have been ensnared by the human smuggling law under Kobachs proposed language. State Sen. Kellie Warren, a Leawood Republican, and other senators agreed to back down and the amendment was removed, citing the need for quick action on the topic. Its been going on far too long, Warren said, and with the situation at the southern border, it doesnt look like its going to get any better. Munching their way through hundreds of golden-brown morsels, a team of judges has searched relentlessly to find the ultimate "karaage" -- the fried chicken known as "Japan's comfort food". While a global buzz has grown around Korean fried chicken in recent years, in Japan, karaage reigns supreme. Pronounced "kara-agay", its name refers to a technique where pieces of chicken, other meat or vegetables are marinated and coated in flour and starch before being fried. The dish is a national obsession: winners of the Karaage Grand Prix, an annual competition to find Japan's choicest chunks, can see their sales as much as triple if their chicken wins an award. This year, judges were appointed to replace a public vote after allegations of fowl play by some of the competing pubs, restaurants and chicken shops. The judges met for several tasting sessions around the country -- each putting away around a kilogram of chicken a day. Lead judge Koichiro Yagi, who also serves as managing director of the Japan Karaage Association, told AFP he was looking for fried chicken that "tells a story". "There's an initial flavour, then a secondary flavour, then an aftertaste," he said, wearing a traditional Japanese coat bearing the slogan "karaage changes the world". "The initial flavour draws you in with the aroma and the taste, but the real pleasure of karaage is the journey it takes you on." The town of Nakatsu, on the southern island of Kyushu, has a reputation for producing Japan's best karaage, and its shops have won several prizes at the Karaage Grand Prix. But competition from the rest of the country is fierce, and some cooks go to great lengths to give themselves an edge. "There are lots of chicken shops in Nakatsu and we went there and tried each and every one," said Takehiro Matsumoto, whose Tokyo-based brand has won Karaage Grand Prix awards for the past three years running. Story continues "It wasn't just Nakatsu -- if there was a place that people said was good, we went there and studied them all to find the best." - 'Never get sick of it' - The contest, now in its 14th year, hands out prizes in categories such as soy sauce or salt-based flavours -- and splits the awards between east and west Japan. An overall winner is crowned in each category, with several lesser "gold" awards also handed out. Until this year, winners were determined by public vote, and tales abounded of shops creating email addresses en masse to rig the system. Kazuhiko Nakano, managing director of a pub chain that has won gold awards in different categories, said he was glad that this year's competition was decided by the judges' discerning palates. "In the past, people would vote without even tasting it," said Nakano, adding that his firm saw an 80 percent rise in karaage sales after winning their first award in 2020. "When you have judges, there is a standard of what is tasty." The judges were largely drawn from food industries associated with karaage, and sampled around 25 entries a day. Each entrant was given five minutes to present their product, while judges chewed on pineapple between bites of chicken to aid digestion. "I've been eating karaage almost every day for more than 10 years -- I've eaten at 3,300 different karaage places," said judge Iku Arino, who styles herself as a karaage influencer. "I never get sick of it." After much deliberation, the judges reconvened to announce the winners at a ceremony in Tokyo this week. Tatsuya Oyama, whose Tokyo shop "Karaage-ya Oshu Iwai" scooped the East Japan prize for best soy sauce flavour, said his award was "more meaningful" than his previous two, because it had been chosen by experts. Lead judge Yagi said the new system had been successful but stomach-busting, and vowed to reduce the load on the panel's plates at next year's edition. But while the champions can concentrate on turning their award-winning status into profit, Yagi said there was no such thing as the perfect karaage. "It changes depending on the situation in which you're eating it," he said. "It also depends on who you're eating it with and how you're eating it. Asking 'what is the perfect karaage?' is a difficult question." amk/kaf/dva A Western Kentucky man who threatened a shooting where his ex-wife worked and wrote her name on a bullet has been sentenced to a year and three months in federal prison. Dennis R. Rigdon, 54, of Morganfield was upset because he thought his ex-wife was dating someone else at the business, according to court records. In May 2022, Rigdon sent the woman a text message that said Mass shooting at Jim Davids or zebryy up to you . . . . Authorities believed zebryy was a reference to the city of Sebree. Police arrested Rigdon the same day after the woman reported the threat. A test at the jail showed he was drunk, according to court records. Police found two 30-06 rifle bullets at Rigdons house, one with the womans name on it, and handwritten notes about his anger toward his ex-wife. Police did not find a gun at Rigdons house, but as a convicted felon he was barred from having bullets. He pleaded guilty to sending the threat. Rigdon told the FBI that he is an alcoholic and that his drinking clouded his judgment and caused him to lose consciousness, his defense attorney said in a memo. Rigdon has been in jail since he was arrested in May 2022. Guidance is expected to be released by Monday on how Kentucky school districts should implement what has been called the most extreme and worst anti-LGBTQ piece of legislation in the country by some opponents. Its a lot to unpack, said Kentucky Department of Education Director of Government Relations Brian Perry this week. He told state Board of Education members that guidance was forthcoming about the school provisions of Senate Bill 150, which went into effect immediately after the bill became law due to an emergency clause included in the legislation. Local school districts are already reviewing all of the provisions and planning their policy changes, procedures and written notifications that will be required, said Kentucky School Boards Association Director of Advocacy Eric Kennedy. In addition to banning puberty-blockers, hormones and surgeries for kids under 18, SB 150 also bans lessons on gender identity and sexual orientation, prevents transgender students from using the bathroom that corresponds with their gender identity and stops school districts from requiring teachers use a students pronouns if they dont align with their sex assigned at birth. In Central Kentucky, education leaders and staff in Jessamine, Woodford and Madison counties say they are among those who have begun reviewing, updating and creating policies to comply with SB 150, but didnt provide specifics on what those policies contain. Senate Bill 150 has been one of the most controversial pieces of legislation in recent Kentucky history and was a key example of the culture wars that played out in the General Assembly this session. Hundreds of protesters went to the Capitol to denounce the Republican-dominated Kentucky General Assembly vote to override Democratic Gov. Andy Beshears veto of Senate Bill 150 in March. In the House, the Kentucky State Police forcibly removed several protesters in the gallery and arrested 19 on charges of third-degree criminal trespassing. Story continues Under the bill sponsored by Sen. Max Wise, R-Campbellsville, districts must have a policy to respect parental rights by ensuring that kids in grade five and below do not receive any instruction through curriculum or programs on human sexuality or sexually transmitted diseases. Any child enrolled in the district, regardless of grade level, cant receive any instruction or presentation that has a goal or purpose of students studying or exploring gender identity, gender expression or sexual orientation. Districts must notify parents of health services regarding human sexuality and of any well-being questionnaire offered to students. Jessamine County Superintendent Matt Moore said his district is still working out the details but does not anticipate many changes will be necessary. Our restroom practices were similar to the bill, Moore said. And we have always informed parents when students have made these types of requests. We will have to make adjustments to the new requirements for pronouns, Moore said, but he doesnt yet know what those are. Fayette County Public Schools said that, as is its usual practice after new legislation is passed, officials are awaiting specific guidance from the Kentucky Department of Education and the Kentucky School Boards Association. Once those recommendations are received, we will review our current policies and practices, and bring any necessary amendments to the Fayette County Board of Education for their review and action, district spokeswoman Lisa Deffendall said. Fayette school board chair Tyler Murphy has called the final passage of SB 150 incredibly disheartening and said the Fayette district team actively pushed against it. Our message to our students, staff and families tonight is clear: we stand with our trans neighbors. And we remain unwavering in our commitment to ensuring every child learns in a safe, supportive school community where they know they belong and are valued and loved, Murphy said in a social media post after the bill was passed. Kentucky Commissioner of Education Jason Glass strongly opposed the bill and said the Kentucky Department of Education will be holding a summit in support of LGBTQIA+ people and youth in the fall. Some lawmakers openly criticized earlier guidance the agency produced regarding use of students preferred names. The earlier guidance, which was a recommendation and not a requirement, said it is considered best practice to recognize and use a students preferred name and pronouns when these preferences are requested. If a student voluntarily discloses their sexual orientation or gender identity to an educator with the assumption that this information is to be kept private, it is best practice for the educator to maintain that confidence and keep the information confidential, the document recommends. Lawsuit will be filed Angela Cooper, a spokesperson for ACLU-Kentucky, told the Herald-Leader this week that her group plans to file a lawsuit against SB 150. We are also encouraging any families who run into issues at school or the doctors office to reach out to us so we can involve them in the lawsuit, Cooper said. Kennedy, of the Kentucky School Boards Association, said the first three sections of SB 150 are the provisions relating to public schools which carry an emergency clause that make them effective immediately. Some of the provisions require school boards to adopt policies with specific public comment required in open meetings. That will take time, Kennedy said. Some of those provisions will occur at the beginning of a school year which also means they wont be carried out until August. We can expect to see the policies begin to have readings and public comment over the course of May and June, ahead of the 2023-2024 school year, said Kennedy. Jim Flynn, executive director of the Kentucky Association of School Superintendents, said school districts have been successfully managing these issues for decades in a manner that respects the interests of everyone involved. The education requirements of SB 150 are consistent with the practices of most districts in these sensitive matters and we dont anticipate significant challenges in the vast majority of schools, Flynn said. I think schools will navigate the gender pronoun issue in a respectful manner under the guidelines required by law. King Charles III is reportedly very disappointed that his daughter-in-law the Duchess of Sussex nor his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will attend his and Queen Camillas coronation next month. Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday (12 April) that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation, but Meghan Markle will stay at home in California with their two children. It comes after much speculation over whether the couple would fly to the UK to attend the crowning of King Charles on 6 May, amid tensions between them and the rest of the royal family. It was also thought that Meghan is missing the ceremony in order to stay at home and celebrate Archies fourth birthday, which also falls on 6 May. The palaces statement said: Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. A source has told The Sun that the King is happy that Prince Harry will travel to the UK to be at the coronation. The source said: The King is happy that Harry, his son, who he calls his darling boy, will be at the Abbey. He wanted him there. It is sad, he is very disappointed that he wont see Meghan or his grandchildren but understands the situation. In early March, a representative for the Sussexes indicated that they had received official correspondence about the coronation via email, but did not disclose their decision until yesterday. (Getty Images) It was said that Harry had been seeking an apology from the King and the Prince of Wales before he made any commitment to the ceremony. Ahead of the publication of his memoir, Spare, Harry said in an interview that the door is always open for reconciliation. Meghans absence from the coronation has been branded a snub by some critics, but royal author Omid Scobie said that Archies fourth birthday was a factor in the couples decision. Story continues Scobie, who co-authored the biography Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan, tweeted in response to the palace statement: Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation at Westminster Abbey. It is not known if Harry will spend a night in the UK, but if he does, it is unclear where he will stay after the King requested he and Meghan vacate Frogmore Cottage. The couple are understood to be in the midst of packing up their belongings to be shipped to their home in Montecito, California. King Charles III has been named as one of TIME magazines 100 Most Influential People of 2023. The new monarch appeared on the list under the Icons category, alongside author Salman Rushdie, Chinese dissident Peng Lifa, actor Jennifer Coolidge, trans journalist Imara Jones, and others. The list pairs awardees with guest contributors who are specially selected to write about them, with British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful penning a tribute to King Charles. Enninful, who became the global ambassador of the Princes Trust in 2021, wrote about the impact that the charity had on the lives of his friends and family. Growing up on a council estate in West London, the world of royalty was one I didnt pay much mind to, he said. What would that have to do with young Black boys in Ladbroke Grove? Much more than I realised, it turned out. He credited the Princes Trust, which was founded by the King while he was the Prince of Wales, for putting people around him into steady employment and said its outreach programmes inspired many of us and instilled confidence. I didnt realise then just how close our now-King was to all of this, Enninful said. He didnt have to do any of it. He couldve let his privilege shield him from the realities of our hardship in a time when these were not a cause celebre. But he always met us with an open mind and a listening ear. Enninful, who is also European editorial director of Conde Nast, described the King as charming, funny, socially confident, with a kindness that always seeks to put others at ease. His love for the environment is well-documented, but his love for his subjects burns ever brighter, he penned. The monarchy is not perfect, but in Charles we have a King who understands both tradition and what it takes to evolve with the times. It is a delicate balance and a rare ability. Charles, the then-Prince of Wales, meets British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful during the Princes Trust Awards Trophy Ceremony in 2021 (Getty Images) Under Enninfuls editorial direction, British Vogue featured an interview and photo shoot with Charles to talk about his approach to sustainable fashion. Story continues But Charles is not the only royal to have made the TIME 100 list. In 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared on the list and posed together for a cover image. The list highlights individuals who are divided into six categories: Artists, Innovators, Titans, Leaders, Icons and Pioneers. Other notable figures and celebrities who have been named on this years list include supermodel Bella Hadid, actor and TV host Drew Barrymore, author Neil Gaiman, Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, US fashion designer Thom Browne, and Mexican activist Maria Herrera Magdaleno. Charles appearance on the list comes as he prepares for his and Queen Camillas coronation on Saturday 6 May. This week, it was confirmed that the Kings youngest son, the Duke of Sussex, will travel to the UK to attend the ceremony but his wife and two children will remain in California. Buckingham Palace confirmed Prince Harrys attendance on Wednesday (12 April) after months of speculation. Meanwhile, The Independent learned that the Duchess of York will not receive an invitation to the coronation, although her former husband the Duke of York and both her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are expected to attend. The third weekend in April is bringing a wide variety of events for everyone in the Shreveport-Bossier area. From painting parties to concerts to more crawfish boils, here's what's happening in Shreveport and Bossier City this weekend. Friday, April 14 Destination: ARTini Glass Painting Party at BAC - Grab some friends for a night of painting at the Bossier Arts Council. Every year the local artists and community members are invited to come paint martini glasses to be given away during ARTini. This is a free event and students are welcome to attend but must be at least 12 years old. Light refreshments will be available, and all painting materials will be provided. This event will take place from 6 - 9 p.m. at 630 Barksdale Blvd. in Bossier City. Latin Night at the Remington Hotel Ballroom and Rooftop - Learn how to salsa like the pros from 8 - 9 p.m. by Shreveport's Stephan Mackey and Sharon Frilot. Music will be provided by DJ Adrian with drink specials all night long. This is a free event that will be at 220 Travis St. in Shreveport. For King and Country band members Joel Smallbone and Luke Smallbone, a Christian pop duo, performs at Wisconsin State Fair Park, Saturday, September 12, 2020 before a crowd of 500 cars in a drive-in concert. For King + Country at the Brookshire Grocery Arena - The contemporary Christian band is bringing their "What Are We Waiting For" Tour Part II to Bossier City to promote the official album release concert experience. Limited tickets are still available to purchase at Ticketmaster. Saturday, April 15 Bestea's Re-Grand Opening - Local boba spot Bestea is having a re-grand opening party that will kick off with breakfast that includes Black Bayou Coffee Roasters making an appearance with coffee samples and live music. At lunch there will be a ribbon cutting, local vendors and live music and the day will end with more vendors, mellow music and tea. The first 100 customers will receive free Bestea for a year! The party will go on from 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. at 3950 Youree Dr. Ste. 160 in Shreveport. Bugs and Brews Festival at Louisiana Downs Casino & Racetrack - Come out to Bossier City's very first Crawfish Festival for a day of live music, a cornhole tournament and lots of local vendors to shop with. Not to mention all of the crawfish and beer you could want. Bring the whole family and friends to this event from 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. at 8000 E. Texas St. in Bossier City. Entry will cost $5 at the gate. Lights, Camera, Auction! At Artspace - This year's theme encourages attendees to dress up as their favorite movie characters or movie stars. There will be a cocktail hour, dinner, fellowship, dancing, a silent auction and more. Proceeds from this event will be used to make improvements to the Cathedral of St. John Berchmans Catholic School to benefit its students. Tickets can be purchased at the SJB Cathedral School website. Artspace is located at 708 Texas St. in downtown Shreveport. Story continues More: The Shreveport Farmers' Market sets summer return date with updates to the SNAP benefits Sunday, April 16 Slow Food Crawfish Boil - From 3 - 6 p.m. there will be crawfish chefs from all around adding their special touches to their crawfish boils for you to try. Great Raft Brewing is the official beer sponsor of the event and will have an assortment from their beer portfolio available. General admission tickets are $40 each and can be purchased at the Slow Food North LA website. The event will take place at 4024 Maryland Ave. in Shreveport. Meredith G. White is the arts and culture reporter for the Shreveport Times. You can find her on Facebook as Meredith G. White, on Instagram and Twitter as @meredithgwhite, and email her at mgwhite@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Shreveport Times: Check out what's happening this weekend in Shreveport and Bossier City Nationwide access to mifepristone, one of the two pills involved in a medication abortion, will be preserved for now after the Supreme Court blocked a federal judge's ruling in Texas while litigation continues. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled on April 7 that the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone would be put on pause following a seven-day window for the government to appeal. The Justice Department quickly appealed that decision, a process that ultimately put it in front of the Supreme Court. Last week, Justice Samuel Alito said no parts of Kacsmaryk's decision could go into effect until at least Wednesday to give the Supreme Court time to consider next steps. With Friday's decision, the justices granted emergency requests by the federal government and the pill's manufacturer, Danco Laboratories, to put Kacsmaryk's ruling on hold while the case goes back to a three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The panel will hear oral arguments May 17. Two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, noted their dissent, writing that they would have denied the stay. The support of five justices was needed for the court to grant the hold on Kacsmaryks ruling. Meanwhile, abortion clinics are readying contingency plans in case mifepristone's FDA approval is later suspended. Here is what is known and still unknown about the future of mifepristone access. Why does this case determine mifepristone access nationwide? When the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, it gave states the authority to decide whether to ban or protect abortion access. But this lawsuit, filed by a coalition of anti-abortion groups called the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, seeks to overturn the FDAs approval of mifepristone, which applies nationwide. The suit alleges that the agency did not adequately evaluate mifepristones safety before it greenlighted the drug in 2000, and it argues that the FDA should not have made the medication accessible via telehealth. Story continues Kacsmaryks April 7 ruling was a response to a request from the plaintiffs to pause access to mifepristone while the case proceeds. What just happened in the appeals process? The Justice Department first appealed Kacsmaryk's decision to the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit, which blocked part of Kacsmaryk's order but said other parts could take effect. A panel of judges determined the plaintiffs had waited too long to challenge the 2000 approval of mifepristone but could legally challenge changes the FDA made to the drug's approved use in 2016, 2019 and 2021. The first of those changes, in 2016, extended the window in which mifepristone could be used to terminate pregnancies from seven weeks' gestation to 10 weeks and reduced the number of in-person visits that patients were required to make from three to one. Then in 2019, the FDA approved a generic form of the drug. And in 2021, it removed a requirement that mifepristone be dispensed only in clinics, medical offices and hospitals, thereby allowing the drug to be administered via telehealth and sent by mail. If the remaining parts of Kacsmaryks decision were to go into effect, that would make access to mifepristone look much the way it did prior to 2016. But last week, the Justice Department appealed the 5th Circuit ruling to the Supreme Court and asked it to block Kacsmaryks order in full while the appeal is considered. The Supreme Court granted the request. What does all this mean for access to mifepristone? Mifepristone is still available in the 37 states that legally allow some form of medication abortion. The Supreme Court's decision upholds that status quo for now, at least until the 5th Circuit takes the case again in mid-May and the legal process continues. The three-judge panel that will hear the case is likely to be different than the one that decided to let parts of Kacsmaryk's decision stand last week. Alito said in a brief dissenting opinion Friday that a decision to suspend regulatory changes made since 2016 would not have prevented mifepristone from being available. "At present, the applicants are not entitled to a stay because they have not shown that they are likely to suffer irreparable harm in the interim," Alito wrote. "Contrary to the impression that may be held by many, that disposition would not express any view on the merits of the question whether the FDA acted lawfully in any of its actions regarding mifepristone," he added. The Supreme Court's next moves will determine the future of mifepristone access. If Kacsmaryk's pause on the FDA's changes since 2016 is allowed to take effect, patients would need to obtain mifepristone in person before seven weeks' gestation. Around 43% of medication abortions in 2020 happened at seven weeks' gestation or later, according to an NBC News analysis of data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A survey published last year found that about 1 in 5 pregnant people discover their pregnancy at or after seven weeks. But providers could still prescribe mifepristone off-label beyond seven weeks based on safety and efficacy data, according to Planned Parenthood. If mifepristone access is ultimately blocked, what options remain for people seeking to terminate pregnancies? The approved regimen for a medication abortion involves two drugs: mifepristone, which blocks the hormone progesterone, and misoprostol, which induces contractions. If mifepristone is no longer available at some point, most abortion clinics plan to use misoprostol alone to terminate pregnancies. Studies have shown that misoprostol's success rates can range from 84% to 96%, whereas the two-drug combo can be up to 99.6% effective. Both drugs are safe: Misoprostol had a 0.7% risk of major complications, one study found, whereas the two-pill regimen has a slightly lower risk. But taking just misoprostol may cause more intense side effects, such as nausea, diarrhea, chills, vomiting or cramping. Surgical abortions are still an option in states where abortion is legal. They are more invasive than pills and involve anesthesia or sedation, but they are slightly more effective and take less time. A medication abortion can take several days. Surgical abortions can also be more expensive. Though costs vary based on insurance, the average cost of a medication abortion at Planned Parenthood is around $580, compared with $600 to $2,000 for a surgical abortion depending on the stage of pregnancy. What options would the FDA have if its approval of mifepristone gets overturned in this case? If the FDA's approval of mifepristone is revoked down the line, access to the drug would not be immediately cut off nationwide, but anyone involved in manufacturing or distributing it could face legal risk. The FDA, though, has broad authority over enforcement, so it could choose not to take action against companies that sell or distribute the drug. Legal experts said it's possible the FDA would have to order Danco to stop manufacturing the drug, meaning supply could become limited. Massachusetts and Washington are stockpiling mifepristone in case supply becomes an issue. People march through downtown Amarillo, Texas to protest a lawsuit to ban the abortion drug mifepristone (Justin Rex / AP file) Danco could also apply again for FDA approval, but it's unclear what data would be required to support a new application, given the unprecedented nature of the lawsuit and Kacsmaryk's decision. Health policy experts aren't sure if Danco would need to apply for approval under a new indication, submit new trial data, or if the company could rely on data from the 20 years the drug has been on the market. Kirsten Moore, director of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project, said it could take several years for the FDA to approve mifepristone again, with at least 10 months for the review process alone. What's the deal with the conflicting order from a federal judge in Washington? Less than an hour after Kacsmaryks ruling on April 7, a federal judge in Washington state ordered the FDA to maintain the status-quo availability of mifepristone in 17 states and Washington, D.C., while a different lawsuit over abortion pills plays out. In that case, a group of attorneys general alleged that the FDA's current restrictions on distributing mifepristone unnecessarily hinder access. The judge reiterated last week that the FDA must comply with his order regardless of the decisions from Kacsmaryk or the 5th Circuit in the other case. Legal experts said the Washington-based judge's order helped expedite the case to the Supreme Court, given that the two federal judges' rulings directly conflict. What are the broader implications of this lawsuit beyond abortion pills? A victory for the plaintiffs could undermine the entire drug approval process in the U.S. and open the floodgates for legal challenges to vaccines or other essential medications disputed by certain groups, legal experts said. Reversing FDA approval, they added, could disincentivize pharmaceutical companies from investing in research and development for new treatments or therapies. "This is opening the door to basically anybody challenging any drug that they disapprove of on the theory that somebody might get hurt," said Wendy Parmet, director of the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University. Dozens of pharmaceutical stakeholders, including companies and executives, filed an amicus brief last week asserting that Kacsmaryk's decision would delay patient access to lifesaving medications and make it more difficult to bring new drugs to market. A group of more than 200 medical organizations and pharmaceutical companies also signed an open letter in which they criticize the judge for undermining the FDA's authority to approve and regulate safe, effective medicines. Why were the plaintiffs able to challenge the FDA in the first place? Kacsmaryk determined earlier this month that the FDA's regulatory changes since 2016 opened up mifepristone's entire approval to new challenges. The 5th Circuit, however, disagreed. Abortion rights activist protest in New York on April 8, 2023, after a federal judge in Texas issued a preliminary ruling invalidating the abortion pill mifepristone. (Michael Nigro / Sipa USA via AP) The anti-abortion doctors involved in the suit say that treating patients for the side effects of abortion pills has exposed them to allegations of malpractice and potential liability, placed stress on them in emergency situations, and taken up medical resources that could be used for other purposes. But lawyers for the FDA and Danco have argued that the plaintiffs did not sufficiently demonstrate that the FDA's approval of mifepristone harmed them. "No one denies that there are adverse consequences, adverse effects to any medication, including any over-the-counter painkiller or cold medication," Parmet said. "That those people might end up in these plaintiffs' offices and somehow it will affect these doctors' ability to practice and their relationship with their patients that's just absurd. What happens from here with the larger lawsuit? The current fight is over an early step in the legal process: the request for a preliminary injunction. Once this particular appeals process ends, Kacsmaryk could decide to hold a trial with witness testimony or to issue a summary judgment right away. If the Justice Department loses the case, it could appeal to the 5th Circuit, then the Supreme Court. Parmet said the battle over Kacsmaryk's injunction order is essentially a preview of the larger legal battle ahead, though new debates could arise as the lawsuit is adjudicated. CORRECTION (April 20, 2023, 9 p.m. ET): The caption on a photo of anti-abortion activists in a previous version of this article misstated when the photo was taken. It was April 8, not Saturday. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com High-profile tech entrepreneur Bob Lee was stabbed to death outside a luxury apartment building in San Francisco in the early hours of 4 April. The 43-year-old was found at 2.35am outside a luxury high rise apartment on the 300 block of Main St, near Rincon Hill and the Bay Bridge, with life-threatening stab wounds, the San Francisco Police Department said in a statement. The tech executive was treated at the scene by first responders before being rushed to hospital where he died from his injuries, police said. An arrest was reportedly made on 13 April, with the suspect reportedly a man who was known to Lee and who worked in the tech industry. Heres what we know so far about the murder. Random attack? The San Francisco Police Department said in a statement that Lee was found with two stab wounds to the chest in Downtown San Francisco between Soma and the Financial District, a block from Googles San Francisco headquarters. Cash App creator Bob Lee has reportedly been stabbed to death in San Francisco (MobileCoin) Friend and MMA fighter Jake Shields tweeted that Lee appeared to have been the victim of a random mugging in the good part of the city. The tweet caught the attention of Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who offered his condolences and called on San Francisco district attorney Brooke Jenkins to take tougher action against violent criminals. Many people I know have been severely assaulted, Mr Musk tweeted. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. Is the city taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders Brooke Jenkins? Elon Musk has been a frequent critic of efforts to reform criminal justice in San Francisco (Associated Press) Ms Jenkins later tweeted her sincerest condolences to Lees grief-stricken family and friends. We do not tolerate these horrific acts of violence in San Francisco, she added. Responding to Mr Musk, she said: No one who commits a violent crime, or whos a repeat offender are receiving overly lenient plea deals. San Francisco Police have not made any arrests, and havent provided any details of suspects. Story continues San Francisco police chief William Scott declined to say whether the stabbing was a random attack in his first public comments at a Police Commission meeting on Wednesday night, The San Francisco Standard reported. At the same meeting San Francisco Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto said it was premature and distasteful to try to fit this horrifying act of violence into a preconceived narrative and use it to advance a political agenda. Chief Scott later released a statement saying that the investigation was still in the early stages and extended his condolences to the family, friends and loved ones of Mr Lee. There is no place for violent crime against anyone in our city, Mr Scott said. I want to assure everyone that our investigators are working tirelessly to make an arrest and bring justice to Mr Lee and his loved ones, just as we try to do on every homicide that occurs in our city. Onlookers ignored Lees plea for help Surveillance footage appears to capture Lee approach a parked car clutching one side of his body and bleeding heavily from stab wounds. The 43-year-old father of two lifts his shirt to show the driver the extent of his injuries, but rather than help, the motorist speeds off. Those last tragic moments as he stumbled down Main St in San Franciscos downtown district at 2.30am on Tuesday in search of help were caught on CCTV and viewed by journalists from The San Francisco Standard. The footage did not capture the stabbing, but shows Lee walking along a deserted sidewalk on Main St with his mobile phone in one hand and holding his side with the other, The Standard reports. Bob Lee, who founded the Cash App, was stabbed to death in the early hours of Tuesday morning in San Francisco (Twitter / Bob Lee) The Cash App founder then crosses at the intersection with Harrison St toward where a white Toyota Camry with flashing lights is parked. The footage reportedly shows Lee lift up his shirt in a plea for help, and then fall to the ground as the driver pulls away. Lee then gets back to his feet and starts to retraces his steps along Main St in the direction of the Bay Bridge before collapsing again outside of the Portside apartment building at 403 Main St. Lee could be heard pleading for help on a 911 call made at 2.34am, according to The Standard. The news site reported that it witnessed staff members cleaning what appeared to be blood from the side of the building on Wednesday. Father says he lost his best friend In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Lees grieving father Rick Lee described the slain tech mogul as his best friend. Mr Lee Sr wrote that the pair had lived together in Mill Valley, California, since the death of his wife in 2019, before relocating to Miami in October last year. Bob would give you the shirt off his back. He would never look down on anyone and adhered to a strict no-judgment philosophy, his father wrote. Rick Lee wrote that life has been an adventure with two bachelors living together, and the pair had grown close in recent years: Bobby worked harder than anyone and was the smartest person I have ever known. He will be missed by all those that knew him. 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) Bob Lees brother Tim wrote in a separate post that he was saddened and disheartened over the senseless slaying. Lee reportedly separate from his wife Krista in 2019. They have two daughters Dagny and Scout. Crazy Bob Bob Lee was a much-loved member of the San Francisco tech community, where he was affectionately known as Crazy Bob. After working as an open source code developer in Missouri, where he attended St Louis University, Lee moved to San Francisco in his early 20s in 2004 to work as an engineer at Google, according to the San Francisco Standard. There he led a team that developed the first Android app. Lee was headhunted by Square, becoming its 13th employee, where he helped launch the Cash App and became the payment firms first chief technology officer in 2011, a Linkedin profile shows. Bob Lee, known to his friends as Crazy Bob, was knifed to death in central San Francisco early on Tuesday morning (Twitter / Bob Lee) After leaving Square in 2014, he invested in several tech startups including Clubhouse, Beeper and Faire, and the female-focused social media and networking company Present. He identified as a stay at home dad in an online blog post during this period. In 2021, Lee joined MobileCoin, a crypto payment firm, as its chief product officer. Stabbing shakes San Francisco tech community Lees former boss Jack Dorsey was one of a many well known San Francisco tech entrepreneurs to express their shock and grief at his death. Its real, Mr Dorsey wrote on his social network Nostr. Getting calls. Heartbreaking. Bob was instrumental to Square and Cash App. STL guy, he wrote, in an apparent reference to Lees hometown of St Louis. MobileCoin CEO Joshua Goldbard wrote that Lee was an incredible human being. Bob was so much more than a technologist. Bob was an artist. Everywhere he went Bob breathed love into this world. He had so much deep heartfelt love. Traveling with Bob was like seeing the world for the first time, Mr Goldbard wrote. As a lifelong Bay Area resident I have more questions than answers tonight. I dont know how to fix whats wrong, but I know something isnt working in our grey city, he added. Tributes poured in for the slain tech founder from his many friends in Silicon Valley and beyond. Jack Dorsey at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida (Marco Bello/AFP via Getty Images) He was a generous decent human being who didnt deserve to be killed, Bill Barhydt, CEO of Abra, posted on Twitter. So sad to hear of @crazybobs untimely passing, Figma CEO Dylan Field wrote on Twitter. I first met him in summer 2006 he didnt care that I was only 14 and we talked tech / geeked out about programming. We remained connected over the years and he was an early supporter of Figma. Its so hard to believe he is gone. Other Silicon Valley executives laid the blame for Lees death on Mayor London Breed and the citys Board of Supervisors. Congratulations, your policies have claimed another life, wrote Alan Alden, a Palo Alto financier who was friends with Lee. Venture capitalist Matt Ocko, another friend, wrote on Twitter that Chesa Boudin, & the criminal-loving city council that enabled him & a lawless SF for years, have Bobs literal blood on their hands. On the San Francisco Reddit forum, friends and acquaintances of Lee expressed frustration at all the needless violence. Something seriously needs to change in this city, one wrote. Crime in San Francisco San Francisco is often portrayed as a lawless city where drug use and homelessness have fueled a surge in violent crime and robberies. That narrative led in part to former District Attorney Chesa Boudin being ousted in a recall election in June last year, after he sought to eliminate cash bail and reduce the prison population. Ms Jenkins took over as District Attorney on a platform of balancing criminal justice reform while making stiffer penalties for violent offenders, and won re-election last November, Members of the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Teams Encampment Resolution Team speak to with homeless people in San Francisco in 2022 (file) (Associated Press.) Figures from the San Francisco Police Departments crime reports show the situation is more complicated than often portrayed. While some violent crime began increasing during the pandemic, rates were still much lower than in previous years. In 2022, homicide rates remained flat at 55, exactly the same number as the previous year. Homicides hit a 56-year low in the city in 2019, when 41 people were killed in the city. There have been 12 homicides in the city so far in 2023, preliminary data shows. Aggravated assault, robbery and rape increased in 2022, but was still much lower than in 2016, 2017 and 2018, according to San Francisco crime statistics. A suspect arrested more than a week after attack San Francisco police reportedly arrested a fellow tech executive in connection with the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee on 13 April. Lee, 43, died in San Francisco General Hospital on Tuesday 4 April after being stabbed in the Rincon Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco. Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the suspect, but the Mission Local news site reports that the person worked in the tech industry and was known to Lee. Bob Lees wife says that the suspect in her husbands killing is a man from Emeryville, California, reported KTVU. This is the first step toward justice, Ms Lee said from her home in Miami, where Bob Lee had moved from Mill Valley, California, last year. I am confident that we will win, Attorney General James previously told theGrio. No one is above the law. Former President Donald Trump returned to New York City for another legal battle before him. It comes just a week after he was arraigned on 34 felony charges by the Manhattan District Attorneys Office in a separate case. On Thursday, Trump faced a second deposition by New York Attorney General Letitia James in a civil fraud case brought against him and his business, The Trump Organization. The 2024 Republican presidential candidate is accused of inflating the value of his assets in an attempt to defraud bank lenders and insurers. Trumps civil lawsuit explained In September 2022, Attorney General James filed a lawsuit against The Trump Organization, Trump, and three of his adult children: Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump. James accused the Trump family business of falsely inflating his net worth by billions of dollars. According to a press release from the attorney generals office, the lawsuit alleges that Trump used the inflated value of his net worth to obtain more favorable terms with banks than would otherwise have been available to the company. James civil lawsuit accuses Trump and his business of violating state law, including falsification of business records and engaging in insurance fraud. New Yorks top prosecutor also suggested that Trump potentially violated federal criminal law, such as issuing false statements to financial institutions and bank fraud. James is seeking a court order for the permanent barring of the Trump family from doing business in New York and that Trump pays at least $250 million in damages, among other penalties. A trial for the case is scheduled for Oct. 2. Trump has consistently called the lawsuit a witch hunt and has personally attacked Attorney General James, including calling her racist. In his first deposition conducted by the Office of the New York Attorney General in August 2022, Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination and notably said same answer repeatedly when asked questions about his business activities. Story continues Former U.S. President Donald Trump leaves Trump Tower on April 13, 2023 in New York City. (Photo by John Lamparski/Getty Images) In this latest deposition, The New York Times reports it is likely Trump will choose to instead provide more concrete answers. In a statement, Trumps lawyer Alina Habba said, President Trump is not only willing but also eager to testify before the attorney general today. She continued: He remains resolute in his stance that he has nothing to conceal, and he looks forward to educating the attorney general about the immense success of his multibillion-dollar company. Who is Letitia James? Letitia James has served as New Yorks attorney general since 2019. She is the first African-American and first woman elected as the states top prosecutor. Since taking office, James has taken on the National Rifle Association (NRA) in an ongoing case, accusing the gun rights organization of corruption and financial misconduct. The attorney general also launched an investigation of then-Governor Andrew Cuomo and his administrations response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The probe accused the state Department of Health of neglecting nursing home residents and undercounting the number of deaths by up to 50%. Months later, Attorney General James released a report finding that Gov. Cuomo engaged in multiple acts of sexual harassment, later resulting in his resignation. James, 64, announced a run for governor for the Democratic primary election in 2021; however, she eventually pulled out of the race to potentially become the nations first Black female governor. Instead, she ran for reelection as attorney general. N.Y. Attorney General Letitia James speaks during a press conference at the office of the Attorney General on September 21, 2022 in New York, New York. NY AG James announced that her office is suing former President Donald J. Trump and his children Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump, and Eric Trump accusing the family of fraudulent statements of financial conditions to obtain millions in economic benefits.(Photo by Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images) During a previous interview with theGrio, James said she ended her campaign for governor so that she could finish the job as attorney general including her lawsuit against former President Trump. I followed my heart and I honored my commitment and the oath that I made that I swore to the people of the great state of New York that I would complete my work, the Brooklyn native told theGrio. The attorney general said of Trump and his accusations of being the target of a witch hunt: He will not evade us. He will not stop us from investigating to ensure that individuals no matter what title they hold are following the law. I am confident that we will win, she added. No one is above the law. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post What to know about NY Attorney General Letitia James deposition of Trump appeared first on TheGrio. Air National Guardsman Jack Teixeira was arrested Thursday over his alleged role in leaking secret files from the Pentagon that have embarrassed U.S. allies and cast doubt on Ukraines ability to succeed in its war with Russia. The arrest came hours after President Biden said on Thursday the U.S. is getting close in the investigation to finding the source of the largest government records leak in a decade. The New York Times reported earlier Thursday that Teixeira, 21, was the leader of the Discord server where the files were shared and is an Airman First Class with the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter A hundred or more of the documents are thought to exist, detailing everything from Russian and Ukrainian battlefield assessments to affairs across U.S.-allied nations. Heres everything we know about Teixeira and the investigation into him. What officials are saying Its unclear how Teixeira had access to highly classified information. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Teixeira was suspected of unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information. FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident. He will have an initial appearance at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. Pentagon press secretary Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder declined to comment on the Justice Departments investigation and on Teixeira at a Thursday briefing. But speaking more broadly, Ryder said the leak was a deliberate, criminal act and those with security clearances should know better. You receive training and you will receive an understanding of the rules and requirements that come along with those responsibilities, he said. Story continues Youre expected to abide by those rules, regulations and responsibility. Its called military discipline, he continued. And in certain cases, especially when it comes to sensitive information, it also is about the law. Group leader allegedly shared intel for years In 2020, a group of online friends connected by a shared enthusiasm for guns and military gear started a server on Discord, a chat forum site primarily used for gaming, The Washington Post reported. The leader of the Discord group, known as OG, worked at an unidentified military base and began sharing transcribed notes of classified intelligence with the server, called Thug Shaker Central, which hosted up to 30 members, per the Posts report. The Post report did not name Teixeira, but a later New York Times report identified him as the leader of the group. In a July 2022 Facebook post, the 101st National Guard congratulated Teixeira for his promotion to Airman 1st Class at Joint Base Cape Cod. OG claimed to spend part of his time in a secure government facility that prohibited cell phones and cameras. He was generally revered by the online server group and touted his access to classified secrets, according to The Post. But interest in the secrets waned over time in the server. Toward the end of last year, OG, who railed against U.S. corruption and shared right-wing ideology, shifted to taking pictures of the classified documents to maintain the groups attention on government secrets, per The Post. Documents first appear in March Pictures of the classified documents first appeared outside of Thug Shaker Central in early March, investigative group Bellingcat reported. A batch of 10 documents surfaced on a Discord server called Minecraft Earth Map after a user posted them. Bellingcat traced an earlier leak to a Discord server called WowMao, which appears to have been sourced from the Thug Shaker Central channel. The documents were never supposed to leak out of the original server, according to The Times and The Post, which spoke to members of the original Discord server. The New York Times set off firestorm Last week, The New York Times first reported that classified Pentagon documents were circulating online, quickly garnering the worlds attention. The documents were now being shared on Telegram and Twitter, breaking out of obscure chat forum sites and into the more public online world, where Russian sources also got their hands on them. The first batch documents revealed the Pentagons insider information on battlefield assessments in the war in Ukraine. One of the documents, which later proved to have been altered, picked up widespread attention after it showed lower Russian casualty rates and high Ukrainian deaths in the war. The Pentagon last Friday said it was reviewing the document leaks and on Sunday turned over a formal investigation to the Justice Department. Ongoing vulnerabilities Michael Butler, a professor of political science at Clark University who specializes in foreign policy and security studies, said the document leaks have underscored what may be a systemic weakness and vulnerability in the Pentagon. Information is highly decentralized [and] can be moved very easily and quickly at no cost, Butler said, and actors are able to exploit vulnerabilities in the system before the Department of Defense or intelligence agencies can close them again. The Pentagon has reportedly started to limit who has access to classified material and briefings since the leak occurred, and defense officials say they are reviewing policies around information sharing. Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle has been pushing the Pentagon for answers on how the leaks occurred, and how it plans to stop them moving forward. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) told CNN Wednesday he received few answers during a non-classified briefing on Wednesday, and worried about the impact the leaks would have on U.S. relationships abroad. For all the soothing tones that I heard from the secretary of state, if I were an ally right now, I would be wondering whether the United States can keep their secrets safe. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Akron is preparing for protests as a special grand jury considers whether the eight police officers involved in the killing of Jayland Walker last summer should be charged. "Let me say that every person in this country has a constitutional right to assemble and non-violently protest," Akron Police Chief Steve Mylett said in a video statement this week. Mylett said the city is establishing a dedicated demonstration zone on South High Street that will be blocked to vehicles as a safety measure. Akron Police Sgt. Michael Murphy Jr. has been designated as the police liaison for protest groups. The chief also referenced advice for protesters from the ACLU of Ohio on what protesters can and can't do, including what to do if theyre confronted by police officers during protests. Read below to see what the ACLU recommends. Far too often powerful forces attempt to suppress speech in times of political tension or when people are making demands for change. Yet, this is exactly when speech and assembly are most important," ACLU Of Ohio Policy Director Jocelyn Rosnick said in a statement. "Weve seen excessive use of force and the militarization of law enforcement, as well as increased surveillance technology used against protestors. Every single person has the right to free speech and assembly. We will closely be monitoring any protests and police response in light of the forthcoming Jayland Walker Grand Jury result. Jayland Walker: Complete coverage of the Jayland Walker police shooting in Akron, Ohio What are my rights as a protester? The ACLU of Ohio said that generally (and not specifically about Akron), challenges from law enforcement to the right to protest have come in many forms, including mass arrests, illegal use of force, curfews and corralling protesters into so-called free-speech zones, with new surveillance technologies increasingly being used to collect information on peoples activities by their association with or proximity to protests. Story continues Even without active obstruction of the right to protest, fear of police intimidation can chill public expression and result in self-censorship, the ACLU said. You have the First Amendment right to peacefully assemble to protest. You can protest in public spaces (public forums), such as streets, sidewalks and parks, as long as you arent blocking traffic. If anticipating a group large enough to block pedestrian or car traffic, contact your municipal government for more information. You can protest without a permit in response to recent events. Jayland Walker protest arrests: Three plead to lesser charges and one case is dismissed in only Akron felony protest cases Akron police officers keep a watchful eye on a group protesting the death of Jayland Walker outside the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center on Saturday, July 2, 2022. Some events may require permits, like a march that will block traffic or close streets, a rally that uses amplifiers or group demonstrations at certain parks or plazas. If marchers stay on sidewalks and obey traffic and pedestrian signals, their activity is constitutionally protected even without a permit. Marchers may be required to allow enough space on the sidewalk for normal pedestrian traffic and may not maliciously obstruct or detain passersby. You have the right to distribute literature, chant, hold signs and engage passersby in debate in public spaces without a permit. You can approach pedestrians on public sidewalks with leaflets, newspapers, petitions and solicitations for donations without a permit, as long as entrances to buildings arent blocked and passersby arent physically and maliciously detained. You can photograph, video or audio record the police in public spaces. What you say to police or do can be used against you, and it can give the police an excuse to arrest you. You are required to provide identifying information like your name, address or date of birth to a law enforcement officer upon request, but you don't need to show identification. You can be arrested for refusing to identify yourself to an officer. Jayland Walker protests: What body-worn police video shows from July 6 protests over Jayland Walker shooting Can the police search my phone? You dont have to consent to a search of yourself or your car. Cell phones are protected by the Fourth Amendment, and police can't look at phone data or make you unlock your phone without a search warrant. Police can't view or seize property, including photos, videos, or devices, without a warrant, unless they make an arrest. Police can search someones belongings, home or other location, but generally must obtain consent or a warrant from a judge. If a person is under arrest or there are dangerous circumstances, the police may pat down a person or look through their vehicle to search for a weapon. The ACLU said you should never consent to any search of yourself, your car, your cell phone or your house, as if you do consent, it can affect your rights later in court. If the police say they have a search warrant, ask to see it. Police may or can track protest planning on social media, including Facebook and Twitter, and track individuals using their cell phone location. No law prohibits police from lying, including posing as civilians in person or on social media. Protesters march along South High Street on Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Akron, Ohio, calling for justice for Jayland Walker after he was fatally shot by Akron police. [Phil Masturzo/ Beacon Journal] Grand jury on police shooting: What to know about the process What can't I do as a protester? The government can limit speech by imposing narrowly drawn time, place and manner restrictions. This is most commonly done by requiring permits for meetings, rallies and demonstrations; large groups using public parks; or limits on the loudness of sound amplifiers. Your speech can't be restricted based on content, but the First Amendment doesnt protect speech that incites violence, is obscene or is threatening. If you endanger others through the manner in which you protest, you can be arrested. A protest that blocks traffic generally requires a permit. You don't have the right to block a building entrance or physically harass people. Protesting on private property is not protected by the law. You can be arrested if trespassing. Private property owners can also set rules for speech on their property. Dont interfere with, touch or verbally antagonize the police. Avoid carrying any drugs or weapons. If you're arrested, you could face additional charges for their possession. According to the ACLU, the constitution protects actions that symbolically express a viewpoint, like wearing masks and costumes or holding a candlelight vigil. But symbolic acts and civil disobedience that involve illegal conduct may be outside the realm of constitutional protections and can sometimes lead to arrest and conviction. Civil disobedience (violating the law to make a political statement) is not protected speech. Generally, before making a mass arrest of demonstrators, police must issue a clear and easily heard order that tells everyone to leave the area and how to do so and give the demonstrators the chance to leave. At large demonstrations across the country, police have used less-lethal force against protestors, including sound amplifiers, Tasers, pepper spray, wooden or rubber bullets and physical violence. Protesters gather in front of the Stubbs Justice Center on Saturday, July 2, 2022, in Akron, Ohio, calling for justice for Jayland Walker after he was fatally shot by Akron police. Is Akron ready? With Jayland Walker grand jury decision coming, city prepares What should I do if Im arrested while protesting? To detain a person, the police must reasonably believe that person committed a crime. Ask if youre free to leave. If yes, calmly and silently walk away. If youre being arrested, dont run, argue, resist, obstruct or lie, even if you believe youre innocent, as it could result in more charges. Keep your hands where police can see them. State law prohibits going limp in police custody, and its classified as resisting arrest. The ACLU said you also shouldnt touch any police officer, complain on the scene, tell the police they are wrong, say that you're going to file a complaint or lawsuit or make any statements regarding the incident, as well as think carefully about your words, movement, body language and emotions. The whole process, from arrest to release on bail, should take about 24 to 36 hours. The police will ask you for basic biographical information and will take your fingerprints and photograph unless you've been charged with a very minor crime. You have the right to remain silent, but you must clearly tell the police officer that youre invoking it and then be silent. The ACLU said you should tell the police nothing except your name, address and date of birth, if requested, and dont give any explanations, excuses or stories. Ask for a lawyer immediately upon your arrest. If you cant pay for a lawyer, you have a right to a free one, and should ask the police how a lawyer can be contacted. The ACLU recommends that you dont say anything, sign anything or make any decisions without a lawyer. Within a reasonable time after your arrest or booking, you have the right to make a local phone call. The police can't listen to any calls made between you and a lawyer, but other phone calls could be recorded and what you say could potentially be used against you later in court. Protesters gather along Wilbeth Avenue on Friday, July 8, 2022, calling for change after the June 27 police shooting death of Jayland Walker in Akron. Akron protests: Downtown Akron braces for more possible protests as grand jury reviews Jayland Walker case If you feel your rights have been violated, write down everything you can remember, including officers badge and patrol car numbers, which agency the officers were from and any other details. Get contact information for witnesses. If youre injured, seek medical attention and take photographs of your injuries. File a written complaint with the agencys internal affairs division and civilian complaint board. How can I file a complaint? If you believe your rights have been violated, contact an attorney. Ohio residents who believe their rights have been violated can report their concerns to ACLU of Ohio Attn: Intake Department, 4506 Chester Ave., Cleveland, OH 44103 or visit acluohio.org/resources/need-legal-help. Background on Jayland Walker case Jayland Walker police shooting: What we still don't know in the Akron police killing of Jayland Walker Contact Beacon Journal reporter Emily Mills at emills@thebeaconjournal.com and on Twitter @EmilyMills818. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jayland Walker: What's legal and what's illegal during protests 02-kourtney-travis-til-death-RS-1800 - Credit: Courtesy of Hulu Kourtney Kardashian Barker has become accustomed to the majority of her life being captured by the cameras, but when she and Travis Barker originally began considering their 2022 nuptials, they had no plans to record any part of it. The couple embarked on three weddings: a drunken post-Grammys romp in Las Vegas as well as small, family-focused parties in Santa Barbara and Portofino, Italy. To their surprise, their friends and families captured a lot of it on their phones, creating intimate footage of the pairs love and joy that they decided to turn into the Hulu documentary Til Death Do Us Part: Kourtney and Travis. I feel like so many people probably dont watch a lot of their wedding footage afterward, Kardashian tells Rolling Stone over the phone. It was just so, so special to create this. And the music was actually a big part of that. More from Rolling Stone Accompanying the documentary, which is out now, Kardashian and Barker crafted a 13-song playlist full of music featured in the wedding special, or privately during the ceremonies. Each song was such a specific choice in the documentary, she says, and I think its cool that we get to talk about that. First Day of My Life, Bright Eyes I had never heard Bright Eyes until Travis played this for me, Kardashian admits. Its used in the documentary to soundtrack the pair getting reading for their wedding in Portofino. It so reminds me of him. Every time I watch [that scene] or hear the song, I get emotional. It was already a song that Barker loved, but that now has a new meaning because of its connection to his relationship with Kardashian. When you find your person, suddenly these songs have a deeper connection to you, the drummer, who also spoke to Rolling Stone over the phone, says. Story continues At Last, Etta James Barker says Kardashian didnt want a first dance, but he insisted they mark the occasion with one. They technically have a few they can count now: the Elvis impersonator in Vegas, as well as Andrea Bocellis set. But the Etta James classic soundtracked their first dance alone in Portofino. Cant Help Falling in Love, Elvis Presley All of the footage of the Vegas wedding was super raw, according to Kardashian, since it was taken by Barkers drum tech and manager on their iPhones. They ended up not being able to use the recording of their Elvis impersonator officiant singing Cant Help Falling in Love in the documentary. The Elvis estate wont clear the song, she says. I understand that. But the song also made a special appearance at the Portofino wedding when Andrea Bocelli sang it during his surprise set, bringing the moment full-circle. Our first wedding and our last wedding had that. Love in Portofino, Andrea Bocelli Like at her sister Kim Kardashians wedding to Kanye West, Bocelli gave a surprise performance at the Kardashina-Barker nuptials. It was just legendary, Barker says of the unexpected guest. That one felt really special to us, Kardashian adds. He performed with his son, which was really cool too. Wish You Were Here, Pink Floyd This is the song we fell in love to, Kardashian says before explaining the story: One night, after hours of drinking, Kardashian asked Barker what his five favorite albums were. It was a difficult prompt for Barker, especially under the circumstances. He settled on playing her one of his favorite songs, this Pink Floyd classic. It was three in the morning after making love, completely naked in bed, and it was one of those moments where youre like, staring at someone, and it dawns on you that youre falling in love with the person, the drummer describes. Ive listened to that song since I was really, really young, and I love that its something I fell in love with her to. All the Small Things, Blink-182 During the documentary, Barkers son Landon is seen introducing a special performance by Machine Gun Kelly before the DJ blasts Blink-182s All the Small Things. Barker has loved seeing music he had a hand in creating be used in moments like these, not just for his special day. With All the Small Things, my band at one point were like, We never want to play that song, and we never want to hear it ever again, he admits. And then it comes around, and youre like, This song is actually awesome. And youre proud of what you wrote. Soon, Kardashian, who has never been to a Blink-182 show before, will see Barkers band play live on tour. Theyre both excited for the experience which has been accidentally put off for ages. He used to invite me all the time when we were friends, Kardashian explains. His frequent touring kept them from having the space to pursue a romantic connection until the pandemic hit. The upcoming Blink-182 reunion tour with Tom DeLonge will be the first time the group has played since Barker and Kardashian began their relationship. Everlong (Acoustic Version), Foo Fighters Barker was close with Taylor Hawkins, and was intensely grieving following the drummers passing. During the couples shared gym time, they would blast music by the Foo Fighters to keep Hawkins near and help prepare for the tribute show in London. A week out from his appearance at the September 2022 memorial concert, Everlong came on and created a special moment of release and connection for the pair. I remember the song coming on, and I didnt really have the words, Barker recalls. We just stood there for the entire song, holding each other and not saying a word. It was just the deepest connection brought on by the most unfortunate circumstances. It struck a nerve and has been a part of us ever since. Just Like Heaven & A Letter to Elise, The Cure Other than being a longtime fan of the Cure, Barkers love for A Letter to Elise has grown stronger but not necessarily by choice. When he plugs his phone in to play music its one of the songs that automatically starts playing if he doesnt put something specific on right away. So the couple have heard the track a lot together and feel like its an apt description of their relationship and love story. Similarly, he describes Just Like Heaven as a very good soundtrack to everything that happened with her and I. Kardashian remembers listening to the song on their Valentines Day trip to Amangiri, Utah, in 2021. Fly Me to the Moon, Frank Sinatra One thing that may surprise fans of the couple is that they listen to the Siriusly Sinatra channel all the time together while riding in the car. They have a shared love for the American Songbook and jazz standards by the likes of Sinatra, Etta James, and Nat King Cole, all of whom appear on the playlist. Its our favorite music to listen to, Kardashian says. Tired of Being Alone, Al Green Barker thinks the lyrics of this Al Green song perfectly encapsulate the pairs slow-burn relationship. They had been friends for years before they got together, even when they were both single at times. Their respective friend groups kept pushing for them to consider each other. We both knew that the minute we get together, it was going to be powerful, and we might not be able to control it, he says. We got together in a time when we were sick of being alone. We were home for each other long before we had been together romantically. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. Hulu In the 1991 documentary Madonna: Truth or Dare, the legendary pop stars private moments and conversations were filmed in black and white, giving an intimate and personable feel to the once-prickly diva. Concert footage, howeverwhere Madonna was Madonnaappeared in the film in color, the spectacle of her fame (and all of its artifice) on full display. Would you believe me if I told you that Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barkers wedding special, Kourtney and Travis: Till Death Do Us Part, uses this exact same gimmick? Of course you would. This is, after all, the nuptials of the woman who has an offshoot of Gwyneth Paltrows Goop called Poosh. Originality isnt exactly the top priority here. However much you might detest or adore the KardashiansI, myself, am always treading water, somewhere in the middleyou cannot deny that they are givers. They ceaselessly churn out content, on a production model that most legitimate factories and steel mills couldnt compete with. Like the Real Housewives or a kitchen essential leafy green such as spinach, youll sometimes get a shockingly rotted batch. But most of the time, theyre pretty reliable. Sometimes they might even produce something worth paying attention to. Whether Kourtney and Travis: Till Death Do Us Part is that thing is up for argument. It certainly does make for an interesting character study of these two lovebirds. The entire affair is so schmaltzy, so dipped in a level of priceless gold that neither you nor I could ever imagine attaining, that its actually pretty compelling. Even if all of it is happening under the most inane circumstances imaginable, in the form of a wedding so lavish its straight out of the pages of Vogue, its still fun to be a little Stockholm Syndromed now and again. Hulu The 72-minute affair (I know, a big ask) begins with Kourt and Trav blitzed out of their gourds at a wedding chapel in Vegas. Its the first of three ceremonies documented in the special, and its certainly the most chaotic. If you suffered through the hijinks-lacking lows of the last season of The Kardashians as I did, youll remember that the couple had spoken about this super-secret, impromptu ceremony before. But hearing about it and seeing it are two very different things. Story continues Kourtney cant seem to believe that theyve arrived somewhere on the outskirts of the Vegas Strip to be married. Its so crazy. Thats why thousands of people do it every year! Kourts got a drink in hand on the way there, and shes feeling fine. But when they arrive, and an Elvis impersonator accidentally calls her Khloe, Kourtney falls to the ground in a state of pure hysteria. Maybe Kris Jenner gave Kourtney one of her edibles that night, who knows! As the special segues into their second wedding, I found myself wondering why this is all coming out now. The Vegas ceremony happened in April 2022, and their follow-up was a low-key Santa Barbara courthouse affair just a couple of weeks later. Even the extravagant third, and final, wedding is coming up on its one-year anniversary. These events even predate the timeline of Season 2 of The Kardashians end! Kim Kardashian Joins American Horror Story, Because Why Not? After mulling it over for a bit, I dont think theres a particularly legitimate reason that Till Death Do Us Part is arriving a year late. Its just another in a long line of Kardashian attempts to inundate the world with content, rendering us numb and helpless, too stunned to question the date of filming versus the time of release. All that said, I was a bit touched that Kourtney and Travis had a second wedding at all. The couple had to make their marriage valid in the eyes of the Californian government, as their upcoming Italian ceremony wouldnt be legal in America. And although it was done out of necessity, it served another purpose, too. Travis father, Randy, and Kourtneys grandmother, the icon and legend MJ, couldnt travel to Italy for health reasons. Both Randy and MJ were present in Santa Barbara, grounding the experience in a sweet way that the first and last weddings didnt have. Sure, its not a star-studded European affair, but I wouldve liked to spend more time there, without all the glamorous affectations. But were tuning in for loves window dressings, and thats why we simply must be thrust over to Italy. The couples Portofino wedding was more celebration than ceremony. At one point, Kourtney and Travis take a yacht and multiple dinghies over to a chapel where I was sure they would be wed, only for them to be photographed 1,000 more times by Ellen von Unwerth. We needed really specific documents [to be married in the chapel], or had to do a one-year Catholic course, Kourtney said. Surely, using the Catholicisms aesthetic for wedding album photos was exactly the kind of pomp and circumstance the church was trying to avoid by requiring they actually prove their dedication. Hulu As Kim, Khloe, Kris, Kendall, and Kylie all arrivealong with Barkers childrenmy eyes began to widen. Ill admit, there is some delightful, luxurious quality to this whole shebang. Against the backdrop of the Adriatic Sea, I was reminded of the lost art of showmanship and excess. This is the kind of thing you used to see in 20-page Vogue spreads, which has (rightfully) fallen out of favor, especially as we careen toward recession. Try as I might, its difficult not to fall in love with the glamorous sight of the Kardashians climbing palatial stairs, walking through hordes of paparazzi, and dressed in designer duds for homemade pasta dinners. Well, until the real purpose of this special was revealed. Kourtney and Travis: Till Death Do Us Part is a covert advertisement for Dolce & Gabbana, the disgraced design duo the Kardashians have been trying to lift back into public favor. The designers made all the garments for the Kardashiansincluding Kourtneys dressand the wedding was hosted on their enormous property. If the Kardashians were zeroed out and couldnt afford zilch, it still wouldnt be an excuse for them to do favors for these horrific men. But they have all the money in the world. They dont need Dolce & Gabbana. The designers entire presence casts a stain on the special. Is Love Is Blinds Most Confusing Couple Actually Getting Married? As soon as it became clear that this was a ruse for Dolce & Gabbana to move into wedding planning (or somethingthe machinations of everyone involved with this special are beyond me), I was mostly checked out. Well, for all but two pivotal moments. The first was Kourtney explaining how difficult it was to get everything to Dolce & Gabbanas private island. We had to have parts of the piano flown in by helicopter. Cut to three incredible shots of a helicopter flying through the sky with a literal grand piano hanging from a rope underneath it, looking like it was being medevaced for a classical music injury. The shot of it cutting through the clouds was so blisteringly hystericaland such a testament to what these turbulent rich people do rightthat I began to laugh so hard I cried. Tears fell down my face as I watched a fucking piano being airlifted to an island. Maybe the Kardashians havent lost their touch after all. Hulu The second moment that I briefly checked back in was just before the ceremony, when Travis calls his father to tell him that he loves him and that he wishes they could be together for the moment. That single, brief aside was enough to fleetingly tear down all of the artifices of these proceedings. It only lasts a second, but its the most potent second of pure love in a 72-minute special, supposedly dedicated to that same emotion. All the showy pretense in the world cant overshadow the love found in the details. Liked this review? Sign up to get our weekly See Skip newsletter every Tuesday and find out what new shows and movies are worth watching, and which arent. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. "I remember thinking I never want to get married because my dad isnt there," Kourtney reveals in 'Til Death Do Us Part, a Hulu special featuring her wedding to Travis Barker Hulu/YouTube Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Kourtney Kardahian got a special gift the night before she married Travis Barker in Portofino, Italy, last May. The PDA-loving couple, who celebrated their love with three different weddings, married for the third time in an intimate ceremony alongside family and friends in Italy, including Kris Jenner and all the Kardashian sisters. The luxury wedding spectacular and all the behind-the-scenes footage of the big event are captured in Hulu's new special about the couple's big day, 'Til Death Do Us Part. One of the special's most moving moments happens not on the day of the wedding, but the night before. At the rehearsal dinner the night before the big day, Jenner surprised her engaged daughter with an incredibly touching gift: her wedding ring from late husband Robert Kardashian. "When my dad died, I remember thinking I never want to get married because my dad isn't there to walk me down the aisle," Kourtney said in the special. "So that gift meant so much." Kourtney also remembered her dad right before walking the aisle, saying in the show how his memory calmed her. "My dad would've loved Travis and Travis reminds me so much of my dad in the weirdest ways " the reality TV star said. "I felt his presence and a sense of calm. It felt so good and calm like, I'm ready and it just felt perfect." Related:See Every Outfit from Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Wedding In the special, Barker recalls seeing Kourtney appear at the end of the aisle and feeling peace. "When she appeared, she looked beautiful and it was the love of my life," he said. "All this anticipation and planning and the day is finally there. It just felt right." Kourtney, 43, wore a custom white corseted mini dress with a long, dramatic veil and Barker, 47, donned a sleek black suit both by Dolce & Gabbana. Story continues Travis Barker/Instagram Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker The pair exchanged vows surrounded by red roses and loved ones, including their six total children: Kourtney's sons Mason, 12, and Reign, 7, and daughter Penelope, 9, and Travis' son Landon, 18, daughter Alabama, 16, and stepdaughter Atiana, 23. The special also shows the surprise Andrea Bocelli performance with his son Matteo gifted to the couple by Jenner. The musicians sang "I Found My Love in Portofino," "Can't Help Falling in Love" and their 2018 single "Fall on Me." Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The lavish celebrations spanned the course of several days, starting with a dinner party at Ristorante Puny on Friday evening. Saturday's festivities included a visit to the Abbey of San Fruttuoso for a special lunch. That evening, guests enjoyed dinner and dancing late into the night at Villa San Bartolomeo, part of the Dolce & Gabbana complex of properties, which are all called L'Ulivetta. On Sunday, the family enjoyed a relaxing morning and early afternoon Kim Kardashian even took daughter North and Kourtney's daughter Penelope out for gelato before getting glammed up for the big ceremony, which also took place on the L'Ulivetta grounds. A reception followed at Castello Brown. RELATED VIDEO: Sweet Details You May Have Missed from Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's Wedding Italy's wedding was the third time the couple tied the knot. The first time they sparked marriage rumors was on April 4 when they had a "practice wedding" at a Las Vegas wedding chapel. The spontaneous exchange of vows included an Elvis Presley impersonator as the officiant and took place in the middle of the night. On May 15, the pair were legally wed at a California courthouse. A source told PEOPLE the wedding took place in preparation for their Italy nuptials to make sure the wedding would be legal. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Gov. Kristi Noem will be in Indianapolis on Friday, attending the National Rifle Association convention and is scheduled to give remarks at the group's annual leadership forum. She gave a New Hampshire radio show Wednesday a preview of her remarks, saying she would speak about the history of the Second Amendment and why its important. Its not just about standing for freedom, its also about winning the hearts and minds of Americans, Noem said on Good Morning NH, adding the NRA needs to have a clear message about why its members continue to defend the Second Amendment. I dont know of any other grandma thats going to be standing there giving a speech to the NRA. I dont know of any other mom standing there talking about these things," Noem said. "Im a different kind of messenger for the NRA, but I am the NRA." Governor Kristi Noem gets fingerprinted while purchasing a suppressor at Silencer Central ahead of an upcoming hunting trip on Tuesday, August 16, 2022, in Sioux Falls. Noem will also receive the 2023 NRA Distinguished Hunters Leadership Award on Thursday evening ahead of the conventions start. She will be presented the award, because of her accomplishments in promoting hunters and hunting and the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. Noem is also expected to sign an executive order during her speech Friday, according to Ian Fury, the governor's spokesperson. The order will "further protect the Second Amendment rights of South Dakotans." Exact details are unclear at this time. More: In contrast to some elected leaders, poll shows SD voters support more gun restrictions The second term governor, an avid hunter, is a staunch supporter of the NRA. One of her first actions as governor in 2019 was signing a constitutional carry bill that allowed for concealed carry without a permit. The NRAs political donation wing, the NRA of America Political Victory Fund, has also donated to Noems political career, especially when she served in Congress. Between 2011 and 2016, the NRA Political Victory Fund donated at least $7,000 to her House campaigns, according to federal campaign finance reports. Story continues She's also had A-plus ratings and endorsements from the NRA ahead of elections. Its not the first time Noem has spoken at an NRA convention. In May 2022, days after a gunman in Uvalde, Texas, killed 21 children and adults at a local elementary school, Noem told the audience at the NRA convention in Houston the U.S. needed a stronger gun lobby. More: At NRA convention, Gov. Kristi Noem accuses Democrats of using tragedy to advance gun control agenda This years NRA convention comes on the heels of two mass shootings in recent weeks across the United States, including a shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee where three children and three adults were killed. At least 149 mass shootings have happened in the U.S. since January, according to the Gun Violence Archive, a non-profit group that tracks gun violence through police reports, news articles and other public sources. Other expected speakers at the NRA leadership forum include former President Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence, with video messages from Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. Trump and Haley are currently running for the GOP nomination for the 2024 presidential race. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: Kristi Noem says 'I am the NRA' ahead of NRA 2023 national convention (Bloomberg) -- Kuwait named the prime ministers fourth government in eight months, as the oil-rich OPEC member faces little let-up from political uncertainty and economic malaise. Most Read from Bloomberg Premier Sheikh Ahmad Nawaf Al-Sabah, the eldest son of Kuwaits ailing ruler, heads the new line-up that includes Manaf Al-Hajeri as the countrys fifth finance minister since 2020. A former head of the Kuwait Financial Centre, Al-Hajeri replaces Abdulwahab Al-Rasheed, who served for less than 18 months. Oil Minister Bader Al-Mulla retained his post in the new government, which includes two women and six new appointees. A Kuwaiti court in March annulled the results of last years parliamentary elections and reinstated the National Assembly from 2020 the latest drama in years of friction between lawmakers and cabinets installed by the ruling Al-Sabah family. The new government formation is worrisome when it comes to internal ruling family politics, said Kuwait University professor Bader Al-Saif. No reconciliation among the family means more trouble to come. The rapid turn-over has given successive ministers little opportunity to push through reform, with the cycle of disruption delaying economic diversification and deterring foreign investment. It has also fueled Kuwaiti sentiment that their country is lacking direction and failing to progress. Last months ruling has made the future even more unpredictable, plunging the political scene into further conflict. Kuwaits malaise needs more than a good person here and there, total revamp needed, Al-Saif said. That requires a system reset, transformative leadership, and bold change. Story continues The former government resigned in January, less than four months after being appointed, as it tried to out-maneuver lawmakers pushing bills that would have stretched state finances, including a proposal for the government to buy billions of dinars worth of citizens consumer loans. Crown Prince Sheikh Meshal Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah warned last year that if the country was dragged deeper into political impasse, Kuwaitis would face measures with serious consequences. The measures were never specified. (Updates with fresh analyst comment) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. By Luiza Ilie and Jason Hovet BUCHAREST -NATO should play a bigger role in security in the Black Sea, and integrate Ukraine's air and missile defences with those of alliance members, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Thursday. The Black Sea and its Ukrainian coast have been crucial theatres of war since Russia's invasion of Ukraine last year. "The Black Sea is instrumental for making the whole of Europe peaceful and future-oriented," Kuleba, speaking via video link, told a Black Sea security conference in Romanian capital Bucharest. "Sadly, it is also a showcase of how rapidly things can deteriorate if one neglects threats. It's time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, a sea of NATO." The remarks were brushed aside in Moscow, where Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a briefing: "The Black Sea can never be a NATO sea." He added: "This is a shared sea, it must be a sea of cooperation, interaction and security for all its littoral states. And this security is indivisible." Both Moscow and Kyiv rely on the sea for trade including supplying grain markets as two of the world's biggest food exporters. A Russian blockade threatened to cause a global food crisis last year until the United Nations and Turkey brokered an accord to keep ports open, with diplomacy ongoing to extend it. "We need to address the common Russia problem together," Kuleba said. "For instance, I support the expert idea to integrate the air and missile defence systems of Ukraine with the ones of the Black and Baltic Sea NATO allies." NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana did not directly comment on Kuleba's call, but said later that the alliance has continued to step up its presence in the Black Sea region. A joint task force with the European Union has been established to deal with critical infrastructure, he said. "I encourage the countries in the Black Sea region to adopt and be active in this new format because the Black Sea has infrastructure ... we need to protect," Geoana said. Story continues Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said a strong NATO foothold in the Black Sea going forward was a "must" and his country would continue working with NATO allies and develop a rotational presence in the Black Sea. BLACK SEA FLEET Russia's Black Sea fleet is based in Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula Moscow seized and annexed in 2014, and capturing Ukraine's ports has been a major objective of Russia. Since last year's invasion, Moscow has seized the entire coast of the Sea of Azov that opens into the Black Sea, but its advance along the Black Sea coast was halted about 130 km (80 miles) east of Ukraine's main port Odesa. Kyiv has no comparable navy, but the impact of Russia's superiority at sea has been blunted since Ukraine sank the flagship Russian cruiser Moskva a year ago and recaptured Snake Island, a rocky outcrop near sea lanes to Odesa. In the north of Europe, the security map around the Baltic Sea has been redrawn in the past year by Finland and Sweden's decision to apply to join NATO, leaving Russia soon to be the only coastal country outside the Western military alliance. Applications by Ukraine and Georgia to join NATO would have the same impact on the Black Sea, where Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey are already members. Kuleba said an upcoming NATO summit in Vilnius would be an opportunity to move forward on Ukraine's long-sought NATO membership, "to show that the door is not only open but that there is a clear plan on when and how Ukraine will enter it." Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said Kyiv needed guarantees that would make future Russian aggression impossible. "There is no alternative to Ukraine's accession to NATO," he said. (Reporting by Luiza Ilie and Jason Hovet; additional reporting by Reuters Moscow bureau; editing by Peter Graff, Mark Heinrich and Jonathan Oatis) For the record: 1:06 p.m. April 13, 2023: A previous version of this story reported there were 13 call centers in California. A Yolo County center stopped fielding 988 calls in February, lowering the number to 12. While campaigning for mayor in mid-August, Karen Bass spoke about a brand-new three-digit mental health crisis hotline 988 and its promise to save lives of people suffering from mental illness by avoiding deadly confrontations with police. As a member of Congress, she had examined more than 100 lethal police encounters throughout the country and found that at least 40% involved a mental health crisis, she said. The figure dwarfs the often-cited national statistic that a quarter of all people who die at the hands of law enforcement have serious psychiatric problems. In Los Angeles, police reported a similar figure in 2022: 39% of the people their officers shot were in the midst of a mental health crisis. Now, that would change, Bass said at the news conference highlighting the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. I'm so proud to know that L.A. is going to be on the forefront of having a solution, she declared. But the rollout of 988 and related psychiatric emergency services has so far failed to live up to that promise, a Times investigation has found. On July 15, 2022, one day before the 988 hotline went live, the L.A. County Department of Mental Health proclaimed the county was ready for a "seamless" rollout of the service that would include "trained psychiatric mobile crisis response teams who can be connected to through the 988 line when necessary. The county would hire privately contracted teams so crisis therapists could respond 24/7, up from 18 hours a day, the county statement said. More than eight months later, none of that has come to pass: Hotline workers cannot directly dispatch mental health teams, and callers often wait hours for an emergency response. Although the county mental health department has a fleet of mobile teams dedicated to responding to people in psychological distress, in more than 9 of 10 cases, those unarmed mental health workers take more than an hour to respond to callers in need of emergency services, a Times analysis of county data found. Story continues About half of the time, teams take more than four hours; sometimes callers wait days. Meanwhile, the phone and computer systems that city and county agencies use to help residents in crisis remain disconnected from 988. Crisis counselors who answer the 988 hotline via the nonprofit Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, based in West L.A. cannot dispatch emergency teams. Instead, they must transfer a person in crisis to a separate county hotline, which can opt to send mental health workers bouncing the caller around the system. Sam Blake starts to prepare dinner at his Sylmar board and care, which houses low-income individuals with serious mental illness who may become unstable and require intervention. Blake, who is in his mid-70s, has largely given up on calling mobile teams staffed with mental health workers to help because they take too long to show up. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Sam Blake, who runs a home for people with severe mental illness in Sylmar, has pretty much given up requesting a mobile crisis team when a client becomes unstable or aggressive, which can happen weekly for residents with hard-to-treat disorders. He said teams usually take four to six hours to show up. The last time, they didnt come at all. Theyre too slow, and they're not sufficient, Blake said of the teams. Our first choice now is either call the police or at least get the client to stop being destructive. A new way to show up: Sending therapists instead of cops A person who breaks their leg, faces a robber at gunpoint or flees a house in flames can count on paramedics, police or fire personnel to rush to their aid. There is no equivalent in much of the U.S. to assist an individual battling psychological demons. "That is what we are trying to change here in L.A. County," Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement. In Los Angeles, policymakers and law enforcement officials have long known that what's in place wasn't working. They began efforts to change the system years before the national 988 number came along. Both the LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department pair mental health clinicians with specially trained officers in an effort to deescalate crises without using force. The law enforcement agencies began rolling out those specialized teams in the early 1990s. The county mental health department also began building its civilian mobile response more than two decades ago. Calls to scale up these programs became more urgent in recent years, prompted by disturbingly frequent incidents of police killing people particularly Black men who were in the midst of mental health crises. Sharon Watkins, who fought for the passage of a state law that funds non-police local crisis responses, is keenly aware of that urgency. On the night of Feb. 11, 2015, Watkins got a call that Phillip Watkins was talking about killing himself. Her 23-year-old son appeared to be having a psychotic break. She drove furiously to get to the scene but was met with police tape. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said Phillip ran toward two San Jose police officers with a folding knife, "intent on dying that day." Seven bullets were found in his body. His mother said Phillip's 2 -year-old daughter was in earshot of the guns going off. Its hard to explain if you've never been through it, not to rush and how important it is to get it right, Watkins said of developing alternatives to police response. Because to me, even one death is one too many." A breakdown in the system: waiting hours for someone to come With the launch of the 988 hotline in mid-July, Los Angeles officials hoped to put in place a system to avoid such tragedies. County officials don't plan to completely remove police from responding to mental health crises. Instead, they aim to reduce and refine law enforcement's role so they respond only in the most dangerous or volatile situations. That goal has support from a wide range of groups involved in the system. In March, the largest Los Angeles Police Department employees union said it would seek to have officers stop responding to mental health calls in which there is no threat of violence or criminal activity. "I don't think there's ever going to be a situation where we can say law enforcement is not going to be" involved, said Jennifer Hallman, alternative crisis response manager for the mental health department. "But we want to make sure that we minimize that, right that it's not law enforcement just because they can get there faster or it's what people know to do." A shift to civilian response, however, requires having someone else who can rapidly show up when residents need in-person help, as well as agreement on how to gauge the severity of calls. Instead, the in-person piece of the puzzle the number of civilian response teams has remained stubbornly stagnant even as the volume of people calling the 988 hotline has grown and the focus of the call centers has broadened, bolstered by an infusion of what's risen to nearly $1 billion by the federal government. Services at the roughly 200 centers scattered across the country including 12 in California have expanded from primarily providing suicide prevention to soothing an array of mental health issues, including substance use problems and advice on how to help a loved one in crisis. Only a fraction of those calls require an emergency response.Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, which handles 988 calls from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Imperial and Inyo counties and is also the lead agency for the state, reported a 22% jump in calls, texts and chats in the first six months since the launch. The call center has also grown, bringing on an additional 106 volunteers and 77 staffers. In a step toward meeting the increased need, the mental health department modified two contracts last year one in August, one in December to expand its fleet of 33 civilian mobile crisis teams. But only two contracted teams are up and running bringing the total to 35. The hours of operation haven't budged, with teams available from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. The county would require 138 teams within the next few years to meet the needs of its 10 million people spread across 4,753 square miles, according to a report by an outside consultant assessing the system's needs. The county's current goal is to scale up to 60 teams by the end of the year. Three are expected to begin operating this month, said Lisa H. Wong, director for the L.A. County Department of Mental Health. "This capacity will allow us to provide 24/7 coverage as well as reduce response times so those experiencing a mental health crisis can receive timely care," Wong said in a statement. The inability to hit those goals so far is not due to a lack of money: The department is budgeted for about 50 teams for the current fiscal year, according to a January report. The county Board of Supervisors has invested $152 million in state and federal funding into beefing up its alternative crisis system, including expanding its mobile crisis teams and call center services, according to a recent motion. County officials say it's been difficult to hire for work that requires clinicians to leap into the field including during weekends and all hours of the night to treat some of the sickest residents. Since the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many therapists to transition to telehealth, clinicians can opt to work from home, making hiring for field jobs even harder. Since COVID, "it has become a challenge to hire staff because competition out there is pretty high, said Miriam Brown, deputy director for the emergency outreach and triage division at the mental health department. I myself, I'm a licensed clinical social worker, I get a lot of offers left and right. County leaders anticipated this problem ahead of the 988 launch, "so we sped up the hiring process and offered bonuses and loan forgiveness," said Hahn, who represents the county's Fourth District. "This hasnt been enough." Supervisors Hahn and Kathryn Barger authored a motion, approved earlier this month, calling for the creation of a pilot program to explore additional incentives. "We can only be successful in our efforts if we have enough teams to respond when and where they are needed," the supervisors said in their motion. "We must do everything we can to fill these positions." Why the police show up faster: a history of delays Response times for the county's psychiatric mobile crisis teams have worsened since the start of the pandemic, according to data analyzed by The Times. In 2019, about 10% of teams dispatched took more than eight hours to respond. That number ballooned to 34% in 2022. The pandemic decimated resources as people fell ill or burned out of the workforce, slowing down response, according to the county mental health department. In some cases, mobile crisis workers waited hours with patients until ambulances, facing similar shortages, arrived to transport patients to hospitals, department officials said. Even before the pandemic, however, wait times were staggering: In 2019, nearly 88% of dispatched teams took longer than the goal of one hour to respond, while 25% took longer than 4 hours. By contrast, the Sheriff's Department's 34 Mental Evaluation Teams took about 18 minutes on average in 2021 to arrive, according to Capt. John Gannon, who previously oversaw the units. Those who use, work in and oversee the crisis system have long been aware of how slow the civilian teams are. Yet as of October, officials with the mental health department said they were not routinely tracking or analyzing data. Department officials said they improved their dispatch processes in February and are working with labor unions on ways to speed up mobile crisis interventions. The inadequacy of the civilian response has created a vacuum filled by other emergency services typically law enforcement. Annadennise Briz, the lieutenant in charge of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department Mental Evaluation Team, listens to a radio call in South El Monte. Around 1993, LASD began to deploy the teams that include a deputy and a mental health clinician. The LAPD and Long Beach Police Department soon followed suit. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) When a family calls for help, it means they're afraid of a bad situation, said Lt. Annadennise Briz, a former county mental health clinician who leads the Sheriff's Department's Mental Evaluation Team. Families in crisis typically can't wait hours for a civilian team to arrive. "To keep the family from living in fear until [the civilian team] gets there, they will call us and we will go out," she said. A long endgame amid an urgent crisis Proponents of the 988 system stress that its in its infancy and will take time, effort and money for reality to match the long-term vision of transforming the nation's crisis response. Developing a policy and financing framework for the new system will be a lengthy process, in California and across the country, said Michelle Doty Cabrera, executive director of the County Behavioral Health Directors Assn. of California. There's the downstream ambitious goal or vision that some people have, that 988 will be that portal and that conduit to connect people to something much more, and then there's the sort of work that we need to do to build out toward something like that, Cabrera said. I would say that there are still a lot of gaps to establish 988 as that conduit or portal and that's OK. In the interim, however, people with serious mental illnesses continue to die in confrontations with police. Less than five months after the news conference at which Bass lauded 988, LAPD officers called to a Westlake apartment fatally shot Takar Smith, a father of six who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Officers huddled outside of the apartment didnt loop in LAPD's Mental Evaluation Unit when planning how to respond although his estranged wife, Shameka Smith, had mentioned several times on her call to police that he hadnt been taking medication to treat his psychotic disorder. I begged them not to shoot him, she said. This article was produced as part of the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism's 2022 Data Fellowship and engagement initiative. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Marking a third directorial outing for stage veteran Pu Cunxin, Beijing People's Art Theatre is preparing to premiere a youthful new version of Chekhov's classic play The Seagull. For Chinese audiences, The Seagull is arguably the best known of Russian writer Anton Chekhov's works. It was adapted by the Beijing People's Art Theatre in 1991 with a translation by Chinese scholar Tong Daoming. Gathering a venerable cast of veteran Chinese actors, including Pu Cunxin, Xu Fan and Yang Lixin, the play was directed by Oleg Efremov, the chief director of Moscow Art Theatre. It was so well received that it still inspires Pu. Now, Pu, these days plying his trade as a director, is working with the young actors and actresses of Beijing People's Art Theatre to deliver a new version of The Seagull. From May 1 to 26, the play will be staged at the Cao Yu Theater, a new venue for the company, and one that is named after its first president and well-known Chinese playwright. Originally premiered on Oct 17, 1896, at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in Russia, The Seagull dramatizes the romantic conflicts of four main characters: Arkadina, a fading middle-aged actress; her lover, Trigorin, who is a successful writer; her son, Konstantin, a young and ambitious playwright; and Nina, an aspiring young actress with whom Konstantin is in love. "I played the role of Konstantin in 1991 when I was in my 30s. Now, in July, I am about to turn 70, and I am finally able to direct the play and present my understanding of it," says Pu, standing in the rehearsal room of Beijing People's Art Theatre. "He (Pu) insisted on using young and new cast members, so actors like me had no opportunity to perform in this play," says veteran actor Feng Yuanzheng, who is the president of Beijing People's Art Theatre. "The Seagull is Pu's latest directorial work. He made his directorial debut in 2021 with The Thunderstorm, and followed that up with a production of Hamlet last year. For the latter, he also insisted on working with young and new performers, because he thinks it is necessary and important to train and prepare them for the future of the theater, which I very much agree with." Actress Li Xiaomeng plays the role of Nina and actor Li Yue plays the role of Konstantin. On April 6, they performed the play's first act, which is set in a rural estate surrounded by the tranquil countryside. With a dozen leather suitcases, actors and actresses stand in a line facing the audience before they start to dance. Then the story begins, outdoors, nearby a beautiful lake, where the young and lively Nina arrives, ready to perform in Konstantin's new play. She talks about the beautiful surroundings and says that she feels like a seagull. Li Xiaomeng rose to fame at 15 years old after appearing in director Huang Jianxin's movie, The Marriage Certificate, in 2000. "Nina is one of Chekhov's best-known characters. Director (Pu) helped us read and understand the story and the characters," says Li Xiaomeng. "We had lots of discussions about the play, which I enjoyed and which allowed me to learn the views of the other actors and actresses. Those discussions made me think." "They are versatile. One of them plays the piano onstage while singing an old Russian love ballad, which inspired me to use a live band onstage," says Pu, adding that the band features six musicians playing instruments such as the double bass, drums and the violin. "The Seagull is one of the most performed plays in the world, staged by both professional theaters and amateur drama groups. The character (Konstantin) is a young artist who is desperate to prove his talent to the world. He is passionate and struggles in the face of his unrequited love for Nina and his desperate need for his mother's approval," says Li Yue, who joined Beijing People's Art Theatre after graduating from Shanghai Theatre Academy in 2019. "I was told I would play the role about six months ago and I even learned to play the bayan (a Russian musical instrument also known as "button accordion"), which I had never touched before. It was quite a rewarding experience." Pu says that the idea to make this new version of The Seagull came to him over two years ago. Spending more time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic, he read The Seagull over and over again. He asked himself lots of questions, trying to find answers. "It was like a decoding process when I read The Seagull. With the benefit of my own experience, I had a different understanding of it compared to my younger days. Many people view The Seagull as a tragic play about unhappy people. I saw something different in it. For example, there is a humorous, albeit bitter, satire, poking fun at the human condition," says Pu. The Seagull is the second new theatrical production this year by the Beijing People's Art Theatre, which celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2022. In January, the theater staged its new version of Beneath the Red Banner, adapted from an unfinished novel by Lao She (1899-1966), who is among the best-known modern Chinese authors. Codirected by Feng and Yan Rui, established actors and actresses of the company, including Pu, Yang, Liang Danni and Yu Zhen, performed in the play. Justin Nelson, co-lead counsel for Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation lawsuits, with colleagues at a news conference following a settlement in their defamation lawsuit against Fox News at the Delaware Superior Court in Wilmington, Del., April 18, 2023. (Pete Marovich/The New York Times) Dominion Voting Systems defamation case against Fox News, which goes to trial in Delaware next week, is expected to stoke hot-button debates over journalistic ethics, the unchecked flow of misinformation, and the ability of Americans to sort out facts and falsehoods in a polarized age. For a particular subset of the legal and media communities, the trial is also shaping up as something else: the libel law equivalent of the Super Bowl. Ive been involved in hundreds of libel cases, and there has never been a case like this, said Martin Garbus, a veteran First Amendment lawyer. Its going to be a dramatic moment in American history. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times With jury selection set to begin Thursday in Delaware Superior Court in Wilmington, the case has so far been notable for its unprecedented window into the inner workings of Fox News. Emails and text messages introduced as evidence showed Fox host Tucker Carlson insulting former President Donald Trump to his colleagues, and Rupert Murdoch, whose family controls the Fox media empire, aggressively weighing in on editorial decisions, among other revelations. Now, after months of depositions and dueling motions, the lawyers will face off before a jury, and legal scholars and media lawyers say the arguments are likely to plumb some of the knottier questions of American libel law. Dominion, an elections technology firm, is seeking $1.6 billion in damages after Fox News aired false claims that the company had engaged in an elaborate conspiracy to steal the 2020 presidential election for Joe Biden. The claims, repeated on Fox programs hosted by anchors like Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs, were central to Trumps effort to convince Americans that he had not actually lost. Lawyers for Fox have argued that the network is protected as a newsgathering organization, and that claims of election fraud, voiced by lawyers for a sitting president, were the epitome of newsworthiness. Ultimately, this case is about the First Amendment protections of the medias absolute right to cover the news, the network has said. Story continues It is difficult to prove libel in the American legal system, thanks in large part to New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 Supreme Court decision that is considered as critical to the First Amendment as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is to civil rights. The Sullivan case set a high legal bar for public figures to prove that they had been defamed. A plaintiff has to prove not just that a news organization published false information, but that it did so with actual malice, either by knowing that the information was false or displaying a reckless disregard for the truth. The question of that motivation is central to the Dominion case. The trial judge, Eric M. Davis, has already concluded in pretrial motions that the statements aired by Fox about Dominion were false. He has left it to the jury to decide if Fox deliberately aired falsehoods even as it was aware the assertions were probably false. Documents show Fox executives and anchors panicking over a viewer revolt in the aftermath of the 2020 election, in part because the networks viewers believed that it had not sufficiently embraced Trumps claims of fraud. Dominion can wield that evidence to argue that Fox aired the conspiracy theories involving Dominion for its own financial gain, despite ample evidence that the claims were untrue. (Fox has responded that Dominion cherry-picked its evidence and that the network was merely reporting the news.) Garbus, the First Amendment lawyer, has spent decades defending the rights of media outlets in libel cases. Yet like some media advocates, he believes that Fox News should lose in part because a victory for Fox could embolden a growing effort to roll back broader protections for journalists. That effort, led mainly but not exclusively by conservatives, argues that the 1964 Sullivan decision granted too much leeway to news outlets, which should face harsher consequences for their coverage. Some of the leading proponents of this view, like Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida, are conservative heroes who are sympathetic to the right-wing views of Fox programming. But if Fox prevails in the Dominion case, despite the evidence against it, the result could fuel the argument that the bar for defamation has been set too high. Not all media lawyers agree with this reasoning. Some even think a loss for Fox could generate problems for other news organizations. Jane Kirtley, a former executive director of the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, who teaches media law at the University of Minnesota, said she detected from Fox critics an intense desire for someone to say definitively that Fox lied. But she added, I dont see a victory for Dominion as a victory for the news media, by any means. As an ethicist, I deplore a lot of what weve learned about Fox, and I would never hold it up as an example of good journalistic practices, Kirtley said. But Ive always believed that the law has to protect even those news organizations that do things the way I dont think they should do it. There has to be room for error. Kirtley said she was concerned that the Dominion case might lead to copycat lawsuits against other news organizations, and that the courts could start imposing their own standards for what constituted good journalistic practice. Dominions effort to unearth internal emails and text exchanges, she added, could be reproduced by other libel plaintiffs, leading to embarrassing revelations for news outlets that might otherwise be acting in good faith. Its an intense scrutiny into newsroom editorial processes, and Im not sure that members of the public will look at it very kindly, she said. Maybe the emails show theyre being jocular or making fun of things that other people take very seriously. Journalism, she said, is not a science, and she said she felt uncomfortable with courts determining what constituted ethical news gathering. Fox suffered some setbacks this week before the trial. On Tuesday, Davis barred the network from arguing that it aired the claims about Dominion on the basis that the allegations were newsworthy, a crucial line of defense. On Wednesday, he imposed a sanction on Fox News and scolded its legal team after questions arose about the networks timely disclosure of evidence. The judge said he would probably start an investigation into the matter. The trial may feature testimony from high-profile Fox figures, including Murdoch, Carlson, Bartiromo and Suzanne Scott, the CEO of Fox News Media. c.2023 The New York Times Company A new poll shows that an increasingly steady number of South Carolinians want to see medical marijuana legalized across the state. Those in favor of recreational use are on the rise, too. The latest Winthrop University Poll shows that 76% of South Carolinians support legalizing medical marijuana, while 56% back recreational use. Broken down by political party, 72% of Republicans and 80% of Democrats surveyed support medical marijuana legalization. On recreational marijuana use, 45% Republicans and 62% of Democrats said they were in favor. Weve asked this question on some previous polls, and what weve seen over the years is a steady increase in the acceptance of medical marijuana especially, said Scott Huffman, Winthrop Poll director and political scientist. And, frankly, theres been an increase in acceptance of the possibility of recreational marijuana, but that has just begun to tip over half the population, Huffman said, adding theres still a clear division on recreational marijuana between Democrats and Republicans, unlike that of medical cannabis. Medical marijuana is legal in 38 states, three territories and the District of Columbia, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. That legalization effort started in California in 1996. Since 2012, 21 states and Washington, D.C. also have legalized the use of marijuana for recreational purposes. In recent years, medicinal marijuana has received bipartisan support in South Carolina, although state Sen. Tom Davis, R-Beaufort, continues to push his so-called Compassionate Care Act a bill that would allow South Carolina doctors to prescribe patients medical marijuana to treat a range of health-related conditions. That effort was opposed by law enforcement officials, who said they feared that legalizing medical marijuana would lead to more marijuana being available in the state for nonmedical uses. Davis bill passed the Senate last year but died in the House on a procedural ruling, forcing the senator to file his bill again. However, this year, Davis has been unable to get his bill back out of the Senate, missing the Legislatures crossover deadline. Story continues Nevertheless, support for the measure among South Carolinians is holding steady. In a 2022 Winthrop Poll, 78% of the S.C. population said they were in favor of medical marijuana, while 15% opposed. That was way up from six years earlier in 2015, when 70% were in favor of medical marijuana and 22% opposed. As for recreational use, in 2022, 54% of Winthrop Poll respondents said they were in favor, with 37% opposed a reverse from 2016, when only 39% approved and 54% opposed. The polls first marijuana-related question dates back to 2013, asking South Carolinians whether they supported smoking marijuana without regard to medical or nonmedical use. Then, just under 20% said that smoking marijuana is acceptable with 40% disapproving. This years polling demographics mostly included Black and white men and women between the ages of 26-64. The poll was conducted March 25 through April 1, and surveyed 1,657 respondents. The poll had a 4.45% margin of error. Medical marijuana isnt something the majority of South Carolinians are clamoring for, but they have no opposition to it, Huffman said. Bravo In one of the worst PR moves in celebrity history, renowned adulterer Tom Sandoval sat down with Americas Got Talent host Howie Mandel (who apparently has a podcast) to share his side of the Scandoval this week. The hour-long interview was mostly infuriatingand not just because Mandel seemingly knew nothing about the scandal playing out on Vanderpump Rules. Sandoval made numerous excuses for his affair with his co-star Raquel Leviss, including accusing his ex-partner Ariana Madix of basically holding him hostage in their relationship. However, he did give Vanderpump Rules fans some important context for this weeks episode, in which hes strangely invested in Leviss and Tom Schwartzs budding romance. Since the Scandavol broke, viewers have been wondering about the exact timeline of the affair, given that it had started while the show was filming. According to Sandoval in his recent interview, he and Leviss shared a kiss after Tom Schwartzs guys night a few episodes ago. In Wednesday nights episode, Sandoval is weirdly giddy (and maybe uncomfortable) about Schwartz and Levisss controversial kissto the point where Madix tells him that hes being weird. Schwartz also becomes surprisingly disinterested in Leviss after their makeout, which might have to do with knowledge of Sandoval and Leviss affair around this time. In a Watch What Happens Live interview last week, the restaurant owner said he discovered Leviss and Sandovals one night stand at the end of August. Scheana Shays wedding, which is depicted in this episode, took place on Aug. 23. Tom Sandoval Crashes and Burns in Excuse-Filled Affair Explanation Suffice it to say, the most compelling part of this episode is the awkward dynamic between Scwhartz, Sandoval, and Leviss and not the Mexican wedding at handsorry, Scheana! After Leviss and Schwartz finish making out, Leviss meets Madix and Shay and delivers the news. Sandoval pops up and starts teasing Leviss like a 12-year-old boy. He even throws his and Schwartzs hotel-room key at her before Madix tells him to stop. Story continues In his recent podcast interview, Sandoval claimed that he wasnt bothered by Schwartz and Leviss showmance and was excited that he would get more time to hang out with his secret lover. Schwartz, on the other hand, seems extremely uncomfortable following his and Leviss makeout, greeting her with high-fives and looking nervous around her. Still, it wouldve been nice if hed had these hesitations before he embarrassed his ex-wife Katie Maloney in front of an entire wedding party. Maloney spends most of the episode rightfully upset with Schwartz. And Lala Kent, whos been ditching Shays pre-wedding events to avoid Leviss, is just as disturbed by the entire scenario. In fact, the mere discussion of Leviss behavior causes Kent to cry and dwell on her cheating ex Randall Emmett for maybe the 50th time this season. By the time Kent comes face-to-face with Leviss at the end of this episode, she has some fiery and even prophetic words for the 28-year-old. Tom Schwartz and Raquel Leviss Finally Lock Lips on Vanderpump Rules In this final scene, we also get a glimpse of what Leviss explanations about the affair might sound like at the upcoming reunion. Based on this discussion, theyre probably not good! When Kent confronts Leviss about hurting Maloney, she responds, I feel like theres a million other things I couldve done that wouldve been worse. Yikes! This isnt exactly how you express remorse. And according to Sandovals timeline, she is currently doing worse things than making out with Schwartz. Kent also tells Leviss that she thinks her self-worth comes from the approval of a man, which Leviss eventually alluded to in her apology for the affair. Kent also tells her that she has a mental breakdown coming. Based on Leviss casual conversation with TMZ, the reality star seems to be doing fineor at least better than one would expect. Still, things will most certainly escalate on next weeks episode, where she goes on a date with Garcelle Beauvais married son. Bring on the chaos! Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. The Department of Veterans Affairs has tools at its disposal to lay off substandard staff much faster, but leaders are shutting down the authorities instead of using them, according to Republican lawmakers and some outside advocates. Critics point to the ongoing three-year saga at the Loma Linda Healthcare System in California, where an internal investigation found a supervisor abused staff and showed up late for work, but still remains employed thanks to bureaucratic red tape and appeals. Congress had approved the speedier process as part of accountability measures designed to quickly remove poor-performing VA employees. But VA leaders say those new authorities have faced numerous challenges in the courts, limiting their scope and effectiveness, so the department is relying on old, time-consuming processes to address personnel disputes. At issue are firing authorities given to VA management under the 2017 VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act. The legislation was the culmination of years of debate on Capitol Hill regarding ways to speed up disciplinary actions against problematic workers in the department, which became a key talking point of President Donald Trumps 2016 campaign. VA, union leaders spar over impact of new accountability law But in March, the department announced plans to stop using the new authorities altogether, opting instead to revert to old rules. VA can still demote, suspend, and remove employees when the evidence supports that proposed action, Tracey Therit, chief of VAs Human Capital Office, told members of the House Veterans Affairs Committee during a hearing on workforce management on March 9. VA has demonstrated the ability to hold employees accountable without having to use [the 2017 authorities.] During a press conference two weeks later, VA Secretary Denis McDonough said the 2017 law wasnt really helping us manage our workforce as much as it was getting us in front of federal judges and other administrative bodies. He said he is confident that the departments workforce is being managed properly and held accountable. Story continues But critics who fought for the changes six years ago disagree. Rep. Mike Bost, R-Ill. and chairman of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, wrote to McDonough this week to ask for more details on the Loma Linda situation and to reinstate use of the 2017 authorities. Failing to quickly discipline employees is a disservice to both their peers and the veterans they serve, he wrote. Creating a better work environment and a better VA for veterans must begin with more accountability, not less. In the Loma Linda case, VAs internal investigation found cases of the supervisor treating staff as personal assistance, forcing them subordinates to buy lunches and handle transportation to and from work. It also accused the supervisor of contributing to a racially charged work environment at the medical center. But Bost said the supervisor remains employed to this day, despite the massive amount of time, money, and energy on investigations and disciplinary attempts by VA leaders. Darin Selnick, a senior advisor to Concerned Veterans for America and a former Trump administration staffer who helped author the 2017 law, said that VA officials have not followed through on multiple court challenges to the firing authorities and opted against using them in other cases, including the Loma Linda case. They could have come to Congress to fix the issues, or followed through with appeals, he said. They didnt seem to want to win. Selnick accused VA leaders of not acting in good faith to solve its accountability problems, and charged that the apathy towards the problem will eventually lead to recruiting and retention challenges. VA officials have countered that their hiring efforts and retention levels are up over recent years, and that they are making sure poor performing employees are not allowed to drag down office productivity. McDonough promised to coordinate those efforts with members of Congress in the months to come. The Tennessee Three (state Reps. Justin Jones, Gloria Johnson, and Justin Pearson) protesting for gun safety legislation. As of this week, the two Black Democratic state legislators expelled from Tennessees state House over their protests for gun safety legislation have been reinstated to their seats. But the saga around the circumstances of their expulsion continues: On Thursday afternoon, the Tennessee Holler released leaked audio of an internal conversation among Tennessee Republicans confronting one of their colleagues for voting to expel Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, but not Rep. Gloria Johnson, a white woman who joined Jones and Pearson in their protests. Some members of the GOP were not pleased about these optics. In the leaked audio, which seems to have been recorded shortly after the expulsion vote last week, Rep. Jody Barrett (R) explains why he voted to expel Jones and Pearson, but not Johnson. Im concerned Im going to vote yes on a resolution that I know is wrong, Barrett told his colleagues of his thinking at the time. We didnt establish that she did all that other stuff. Barrett has previously explained his vote by claiming he fully intended when I walked in the chamber to vote to expel all three, but upon reading the resolution, noted that the two gentlemen (Jones and Pearson) were going in and out of the room during the sessionand trying to incite the crowd, while he claimed Johnson didnt do this. Read more His Republican colleagues insisted that none of this mattered, and Barrett should have ignored his personal moral trepidationsa small price to pay for the good of the republic, as one Republican put it. As state Rep. Scott Cepicky (R) told Barrett, You gotta do whats right even if you think it might be wrong. New from @thetnholler - LEAKED caucus meeting audio of TN House Republicans arguing over their #TennesseeThree votes. Leadership thinks Barrett made them look racist by voting to keep Gloria, Cepicky says they're at "war" and "you gotta do what's right even when it's wrong", etc pic.twitter.com/C6jwW0Y8En Justin Kanew (@Kanew) April 13, 2023 In the leaked audio, Cepicky railed against Barrett for not simply filing an amendment or raising his concerns about expelling Johnson with party leadership, as this wouldve given us the opportunity to not throw the rest of us under the bus. Instead, by voting not to expel Johnson along with Jones and Pearson, the expulsions drew further national attention and accusations of racism for the double standard in how Black representatives appeared to be treated compared with Johnson. Ive been called a racist, a misogynist, a white supremacist more in the last two months than I have my entire life, Cepicky said, audibly angry. And by golly, Im biting my tongue. And Im telling you, all due respect, those days are wearing thin right now. Story continues He continued, If we dont stick together, if you dont believe were at war for our republic, with all love and respect to you, you need a different job. The left wants Tennessee so badThis is not a neighborhood social gathering. We are fighting for the republic of our country right now. Other Republicans in the audio echoed Cepicky, complaining and painting themselves as victims. I listened for the last three days to Democrats trash us as racist. Ive never had anybody call me a racist. And for the last three days, all Ive heard from them is how this is the most racist placeone of them even [said] white supremacist, state Rep. Jason Zachary told his colleagues in the audio. Earlier this month, Jones, Pearson, and Johnson joined student protesters who entered the Tennessee Capitol to demand gun safety legislation in the wake of yet another mass shooting. In response, Tennessees Republican House Speaker Cameron Sexton moved to have the House vote to expel the Democrats, with a motion charging them with knowingly and intentionally bring[ing] disorder and dishonor to the House of Representatives. What they did today was equivalent, at least equivalent, maybe worse depending on how you look at it, to doing an insurrection in the State Capitol, Sexton said on the House floor. Pearson and Jones were both expelled, but not Johnson. In a statement, Pearson emphasized the racial dynamic of what happened, saying that two young Black lawmakers getting expelled but not the one white woman...is a statement in and of itself. The Nashville Metropolitan Council voted unanimously (36-0) to send Jones back to the capitol on Monday, and on Wednesday, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted to reinstate Pearson to his seat. Still, there is something extremely unsettling about the ease with which a Republican-controlled legislature was able remove democratically elected lawmakers who were voted to represent their districts. Yet, predictably enough, those subverting democracy think the real problem is protesters calling them racist. More from Jezebel Sign up for Jezebel's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Pentagon estimated the losses of Russia and Ukraine in the war In the Russia/Ukraine Assessed Combat Sustainability and Attrition document, Russias losses are estimated at 35,000-43,000 killed and 154,180 wounded, with Ukraine having between 15,500-17,500 killed and 109,000-113,500 wounded. Russia has also lost more equipment, with U.S. estimates reportedly at 2,048 tanks and 3,900 armored personnel carriers. Ukraine is estimated to have lost 468 tanks and 1,020 armored personnel carriers. Read also: Russia sending elite units to Bakhmut due to heavy PMC Wagner losses Currently, Russia has 419 tanks and 2,928 armored personnel carriers, with Ukraine possessing 802 tanks and 3,498 armored personnel carriers, according to the document, which however notes that Russia still has the upper hand in aviation and air defense. At the same time, Ukrainian intelligence has said the numbers in the documents were forged and are a psyops (psychological operations ed.) operation by the Russian special services. Sources for the New York Times, the U.S. newspaper that reported the classified document leak on April 6, have also said that information in the document may have been falsified. Read also: Leaked Pentagon documents significantly inaccurate, UK warns Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov called the documents "a mixture of truth and lies. "Reuters said its journalists were unable to independently verify the documents or establish their veracity. Other classified documents that have been released contain operational reports, assessments of the Ukrainian Armed Forces capability, and U.S. and NATO plans to prepare Ukraines soldiers for a counter-offensive. Read also: Document leaks will not affect planned counteroffensive, Ukraine says Meanwhile, a second batch of U.S. secret documents has been published on social media, which allegedly describing U.S. national security principles related to Russias war on Ukraine, China, and the Middle East. Washington is investigating the leaks, seeking to determine the scale of the damage they have inflicted. The Pentagon believes that the publication of documents online is a serious threat to national security. 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 Classified US intelligence documents suggest the Russian FSB is at odds with the Ministry of Defence over silencing Russia's actual losses. Source: The New York Times Details: The news agency points out that secret intelligence documents published online point to a fierce struggle within the Russian government. It follows that the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) is accusing the military of concealing the scale of the losses suffered by Russia. It is concluded that the Russian Ministry of Defence does not want to report bad news to its senior command. The data in the documents were collected from intercepted communications within the Russian security services. Quote: "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." "The leaked entry about the casualty numbers provides little context for the intelligence officials finding, but it reports that the F.S.B. is questioning the Defense Ministrys own casualty count in discussions within the Russian government." Details: US intelligence documents state that the FSB "calculated the actual number of Russians wounded and killed in action was closer to 110,000". At the same time, the record does not specify the figures of losses that the Russian Ministry of Defence has been spreading in the government. Background: Earlier, The New York Times reported that the leaked documents contained information that the US Defense Intelligence Agency was considering scenarios for the development of the war in Ukraine in the event of so-called "wild card", i.e., unlikely, events. On 11 April, US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said that the United States would investigate the recent leak of classified documents until its source is found. The Washington Post has learned that a US military base employee may be behind a large-scale leak of classified US intelligence documents, allegedly leaking them online without any particular purpose and without fully realising the consequences. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard has been identified by investigators as the main suspect in the leak of classified military intelligence online, say reports. Authorities are focussing on 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, a member of the Guards intelligence wing, senior law enforcement sources told The New York Times and Washington Post. Hundreds of pages of classified military intelligence have been shared with an online gaming group before becoming public in a string of disclosures last week. No arrests or charges have been made in the case and investigators continue to collect evidence and are preparing for a prosecution, according to CNN. Senior law enforcement sources told The New York Times that they expected an arrest in the next couple of days. Earlier, Joe Biden told reporters in Dublin, Ireland, that the US government was closing in on the leaker. Theres a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, Mr Biden said. The intelligence community and the Justice Department. And theyre getting close. I dont have an answer for you. The Washington Post reported on Wednesday that the leaker had shared documents with a group of friends on the popular gaming platform Discord. A Facebook post last July from the 102nd Intelligence Wing, which is based at Otis Air National Guard Base on Cape Cod, congratulated someone by the name of Jack Teixeira for promotion to airman first class. Americas efforts to build and bolster a pro-Ukraine coalition have been bruised by a trove of at least 100 documents that have spilled out across the internet in recent days, revealing startling insights into U.S. spying on allies and frank assessments of the war in Ukraine. The incident has also shaken general trust in Washington over the safety of sharing intelligence with the U.S. government. We do believe that the U.S. intelligence is the most powerful around the world, and its also secured well enough, one Ukrainian diplomat told The Hill, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive subjects. So if you see this intelligence information published in The New York Times I never expected this level of security to be leaked. Among the purported materials released via social media platforms last week were briefing documents that had markings indicating production by the Joint Chiefs of Staffs intelligence arm in February and early March. Though some of the materials may have been altered, most appear authentic. The highly classified material, some labeled Top Secret, has given the world a view into how Washington spies on allies and adversaries, setting off fears that important foreign relationships could be compromised. Theres no doubt it impedes things precisely at a time when we want to be getting the strongest possible coalition against Russia and in favor of Ukraine, and similarly, with China, said Glenn Gerstell, the former general counsel of the National Security Agency and Central Security Service, now with the Center for Strategic and International Studies. We have all sorts of reasons for wanting like-minded countries to band together with us and follow what we are requesting and suggesting, and this incident certainly complicates that and presents challenges, he added. In the wake of the leak, the Biden administration has scrambled to do damage control with allies and partners. Story continues Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. officials were calling allies and partners at high levels over the past several days to reassure them about our own commitment to safeguarding intelligence and, of course, our commitment to our security partnerships. Standing next to Blinken was Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, who said that he would have to wait until the conclusion of the U.S. investigation into the leaks before offering comment if Manila was concerned about sharing intelligence with the U.S. But just let me say that we are confident of the strength of our relationship and our growing partnership, he added. Still, the leaks have caused embarrassing, and even dangerous, revelations over what the U.S. reportedly is tracking among allies. This includes reports that Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi was directing a secret program to ship tens of thousands of rockets to Russia, in what would mark a remarkable act of sabotage by a U.S.-friendly country and major recipient of American military aid. The Ukrainian diplomat told the Hill that Kyiv does not believe that the Egyptians have carried out a plan to transfer weapons to Russia, echoing remarks from American officials. The diplomat noted Cairo is looking to make itself a lucrative destination for Ukrainian grain exports that can be fettered out to the global south. Of course those actions will contradict the desire to establish this hub and work on the other commercial projects with Ukraine, the diplomat said. Another country impacted by the leaks is Serbia, one of the only European countries to refuse to sanction Russia for its attack on Ukraine. The leaked documents seem to show that although Belgrade has refused to provide training to Ukrainian troops, it has agreed to help arm the country or has already done so. Serbia, a historical ally of Russia, has denied the information. Gerstell said the flood of previously hidden information, even if tampered with, will likely cause temporary frictions that will occupy a lot of Americas diplomatic bandwidth. Its time consuming and diverting, he said, adding that some allies or partners may also react by not going ahead as robustly and fully as they might otherwise in terms of doing things that we wish them to do. He also predicted an inevitable pause in intelligence sharing among allies until the U.S. can confirm this particular leak is stopped and not ongoing. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said on Tuesday that U.S. agencies would turn over every rock to determine the source of the leaks. But even as the leak causes friction between allies and partners, experts dont see it as having long-term implications for western unity. The Ukrainian diplomat pointed out that as good as U.S. intelligence is, it cant predict the future, pointing to the successful defense of Kyiv against Russias February invasion despite Biden administration officials warning the capital would fall in three days. Some of the reported intelligence highlights Ukraines military shortfalls and casts doubt on its ability to decisively recapture territory from Russia in a counteroffensive that is expected to launch in the spring or summer. While Gerstell thinks short-term ramifications are inevitable, he doesnt see long-term strategic implications from the leak. Most countries recognize that spy agencies spy on each other, thats just what they do. Everyone knows it. No one likes to talk about it publicly [but] youre not supposed to get caught with your hand in the cookie jar. And Catherine Sendak, director of Transatlantic Defense and Security for the Center for European Policy Analysis, also doesnt think the leaks threaten western unity regarding Russias war in Ukraine. Whats important now for the U.S. is consistent, clear communication with allies and partners on the latest findings of the Pentagon and Justice Department investigations and mitigation efforts being put in place to prevent further leaks, she added. Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.) sounded a similar note after receiving an unclassified briefing from the Biden administration on the leaks. He said he learned little during the briefing about how the leaks occurred and how the U.S. can stop future occurrences. And this is pretty key for our allies, right? You know, we rely on our allies to share intelligence and they need to trust us right now, he said. For all the soothing tones that I heard from the secretary of state, if I were an ally right now, I would be wondering whether the United States can keep their secrets safe. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The California Capitol building faced a "credible" threat Thursday morning. (Myung J. Chun / Los Angeles Times) A man who allegedly made a "credible" threat to the California Capitol building Thursday, disrupting the legislative session, was arrested, law enforcement officials said. Thursday's threat was related to prior shooting incidents in the cities of Roseville and Citrus Heights, which did not result in injuries but led to a lockdown at a Kaiser Permanente Hospital in Roseville on Wednesday night after shots were fired at the building, according to the California Highway Patrol. The unidentified suspect was arrested just after 4 p.m. by Roseville police on suspicion of attempted homicide, assault with a firearm, shooting at an inhabited dwelling and shooting from a moving vehicle, the agency said. Police had been searching for the suspect in those cases Thursday afternoon, and that suspect also made threats related to the Capitol, according to a statement released by the California Highway Patrol's Capitol Protection Section, which provides security to state lawmakers. "The CHPs Capitol Protection Section is currently working closely with the Legislature, as well as our public safety partners, to ensure the safety of the public and the State Capitol," the statement said. A state Senate floor session was delayed and moved to another building on Thursday, and legislative staffers who had not yet reported to work were asked to remain home or work remotely. Those who were already in the Capitol were asked to "remain in place" until more information was provided, according to a memo sent to lawmakers and staff by Secretary of the Senate Erika Contreras. "The CHP and security partners are present in higher numbers in the Capitol area, and are alert of the situation," the memo stated. A similar warning was later sent to the Assembly by its Committee on Rules, asking lawmakers and staff to remain "situationally aware." The Capitol building was temporarily closed but will reopen Friday for guests, visitors and normal operations, according to a letter sent by legislative leadership to lawmakers and staff. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The scenery at the West Lake, in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, had remained unchanged for hundreds of years when the world ushered in an era of rapid change at the dawn of the 20th century. Chinese artists realized that they were being tasked with breathing new life into their style. They wouldn't be able to fulfill the cultural needs and demands of a modern world if they continued to cling to some of the rigid, backward disciplines in the creation of their work. Among those who bravely faced the challenge to reform Chinese painting were Huang Binhong (1865-1955) and Pan Tianshou (1897-1971). The two were both recognized as great inheritors of the essential cultural spirit of the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and, at the same time, incorporated modern ideas into ink-brush painting. This enabled a pushing forward of the frontier of the genre, amid the ever-changing art scene of the 20th century. This explains why two exhibitions, respectively showing how the two master artists gained nourishment from Song art, are being staged alongside Embrace the Landscape at the Art Museum of the China Academy of Art, all of which will run through Sunday. Both Huang and Pan had close links with Zhejiang. They were raised in the province, and, although moving constantly, they settled down in Hangzhou for the rest of their lives, teaching at the China Academy of Art. The two are often viewed as the modern-day equivalent of the Ma-Xia school, named after prominent Song artists Ma Yuan and Xia Gui, whose innovation also added new levels to Chinese painting. Both Huang and Pan emphasized the tracing of the past to attain individual achievements, but they each invented a different approach. "If someone learns from ancient artists, but overlooks learning the rules of nature, they will not be able to present the true magnificence of mountains and waters," Huang once said. He traveled extensively, thrusting himself into the embrace of landscapes and feeling the deep resonance of nature as it was expressed in Song paintings. Yu Xuhong, director of the Art Museum of the China Academy of Art, says the exhibition of Huang's work not only shows drawings that he made primarily between 1925 and 1948, in which he emulated works of important Song painters, but also displays landscape paintings based on his extensive journeys to present his own development. "He gave simple, clear lineaments to the mountains, streams and trees. Then he layered thick accumulations of darkness to complete a monumental landscape, delivering a feeling of 'a night walk in mountains', a phrase he used to describe the atmosphere of Song paintings," Yu says. Xu Hongliu, deputy head of Zhejiang Provincial Museum, says the dense strokes and distinctive darkness in Huang's work are like heavy rain, to remind the viewer of the dynamics of the lives in nature and the rhythm that runs through a Song landscape. Unlike Huang, who used a lot of ink shades to depict solids and the void, it was in painting big rocks where Pan found the answers to refreshing the look of Chinese painting for a new era. The exhibition of Pan's oeuvre shows his sketches of rocks, which he once used in his classes. The most iconic works of his often depict imposing cliffs, or sometimes simply one huge, square rock in the center of paintings, and he would add clusters of flowers and plants in the corner to soften the tone of the composition. Such signature treatment added new dimensions to both the landscape and flower-and-bird paintings, by blurring the boundary between the two genres of Chinese painting. Chen Yongyi, head of the Pan Tianshou Memorial Museum in Hangzhou, says that it is easy for one to feel the inner world of Pan as being strong as a rock. "His strokes to contour his subjects are mighty and unbounded a power that will remind one of a wild horse galloping." Yu says both Huang and Pan carried on the spirituality and naturalism of Song art and Chinese cultural tradition, and with an open heart and mind, they ushered Chinese painting to embrace modernism, initiating the future of the style, and they themselves became cultural peaks of their time. AR-15-style rifles are displayed for sale at a gun show in Costa Mesa in June 2021. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP via Getty Images) To the editor: I am a lifetime member of the National Rifle Assn. who owns several modern sporting rifles (sometimes called "assault weapons"). I would gladly give up those firearms if doing so would stop mass shootings. ("Even Republican voters want more gun laws. Why dont their representatives?" Opinion, April 11) But we all know mass shootings wouldn't stop, right? They would just continue with revolvers or pump-action shotguns. If the goal is to save some lives, then there are many things we could do to accomplish that. Certainly if we all drove just 40 mph on the freeway, that would save many lives. Speed governors could be installed on all cars why does anyone need to go 80 mph? We could install car ignition locks to prevent drunk driving. Certainly these changes would save far more lives than any assault weapons ban. But gun grabbers want other people to make sacrifices to make them feel safer. Last year, The Times reported that the Los Angeles Police Department had essentially banned pretext stops. Buried in the article was the fact that after that change, over five months there were 374 fewer firearm seizures than the same period a year prior. Will one of those guns be used in the next mass shooting? Chris Duke, Simi Valley .. To the editor: If the Supreme Court believes that decisions about a woman's right to decide whether or not to bear a child should be left for the individual states to decide, then why should we not repeal the 2nd Amendment and let each state decide if and how gun ownership should be regulated? Rita Zwern, Burbank .. To the editor: It is bewildering keeping track of the enormous number of gunshot deaths in the United States every year. No other country in the world comes close to our tolerance of such widespread death. This was inconceivable when the framers wrote the 2nd Amendment. Modern news coverage could help us better keep up with this daily carnage, similar to factories that have a "scoreboard" showing the number of days since the last accident in order to encourage safety. Story continues According to the Gun Violence Archive, so far in 2023 more than 11,500 people in the U.S. have died because of gun violence. It would be a great service for The Times to keep a daily scoreboard of gunshot deaths alongside the weather report. Mark Green, Pacific Palisades This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Urbana, opens a rally for then-President Donald Trump in 2018. Jim Jordan the intimidator Ohios embarrassment, Congressman and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jim Jordan, is on the attack against New Yorks Manhattan district attorney who recently brought 34 felony charges against former President Trump. And now there is a countersuit against Jordan for interference in the judicial process. More: Manhattan DA, Jim Jordan clash over murder rates in Ohio, N.Y. after Trump indictment Jordan, whose full-time job seems to be the poster boy of intimidation, retaliation, and obstruction, is in the only element he is capable of. How does such a clown get into office anyway? Look no further than a Republican constituency voting a straight ticket in our highly gerrymandered state. We can do better. Susan B. West, Athens Something fishy about LaRose's timeline Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose enters the chambers of the Ohio House of Representatives before Gov. Mike DeWine delivered his State of the State address at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus on Wednesday. I am still laughing about Frank LaRoses April 12 column Corrupt masterminds plot shows frailty of our states constitution." Timeline: February 2020, Larry Householder makes a plan to amend the constitution to give himself 16 more years of power. November 10, 2022 (almost three years later) Ohio Capital Journal reported that Ohio voters proposed a Constitutional amendment to protect womens rights to abortion care. November 17, 2022 (one week later) LaRose announced support for a plan to restrict Ohio voters ability to vote on constitutional amendment by requiring 60% to pass rather than 50% (while amendments proposed by the Ohio Congress would still only require a simple majority of 50% to pass). Now, LaRose wants us to believe his support of the 60% amendment is to protect Ohio voters from corrupt politicians and not to diminish the rights of Ohio voters. Thomas Suddes: Frank LaRose wants to rewrite history to hijack your century-old right Frank LaRose: Larry Householder's sinister plot shows 'vulnerability' of Ohio Constitution Speaking of corrupt masterminds, Ohio voters passed a constitutional amendment against gerrymandered congressional districts by 70%. Since then, LaRose (and others) repeatedly voted in favor of gerrymandered maps. Story continues Jeff Dixon, Grove City Cheers to equity and the women work for it Pay equity takes systems change and individual responsibility. Kudos to Columbus City Council and the Mayors Womens Commission for acting to eliminate pay disparities based on salary history. Jan 9, 2023; Columbus, OH, USA; City councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padilla gets emotional as she responds to public comments about the police handling of recent deaths, including those of Sinzae Reed and Donovan Lewis, during a Columbus City Council meeting at City Hall. Mandatory Credit: Adam Cairns-The Columbus Dispatch Councilmember Lourdes Barroso de Padillas legislation to prohibit employers from requesting salary history will interrupt patterns of disparity that can impact workers for a lifetime. More: Columbus City Council introduces legislation to create better pay equity among employers Columbus joins more than 20 cities and states that have taken similar measures. Congrats to Barroso de Padilla, and others for conducting a wage gap and pay equity workshop at Columbus State to prepare individuals for future workplace negotiations. It takes the public and private sectors, and all of us working together, to have the workforce we want and need. (March 14 "What are Columbus officials doing to close income gaps in the area?" and March 19 "Having a conversation with six women who achieve.") Lucy Gettman, Columbus Pinning it on Larry Householder Secretary of State Frank LaRoses April 12 column Corrupt masterminds plot shows frailty of our states constitution is another attempt to provide a rationale for changing the Ohio constitutional amendment process and it shows his true colors. Fear. He, and his fellow Republicans, fear the proposed amendments that may appear on the November ballot. Instead of giving Ohioans an opportunity to vote on these amendments whose supporters are following the rules in effect now, he wants to procedurally abort the proposals, no less than with a special election which will cost Ohio taxpayers $20 million. Our view: Deceitful bill proof some GOP lawmakers willing to steal rights from all Ohioans Thomas Suddes: Power hungry LaRose, Huffman think you are stupid or have amnesia He now is using former Ohio House of Representative Speaker Larry Householder as a poster boy for bad people who will use the current procedure for nefarious purposes. .Householder was considering changes in Ohios term limits for office. LaRose acts as if no idea is worthy of debate. Ideas can stand on their own irrespective of motive. How well have term limits worked in Ohio? Ohio Senator Jay Hottinger retired from elective service after 28 years by bouncing back and forth between the House and Senate. Others have earned life long careers by doing the same and expanding the merry-go-round using state and local positions. Term limits were never about getting rid of your own elected representative but about getting rid of someone elses. The traditional form of term limits has always existed in Ohio which is vote to remove someone in the next election. I have more faith in Ohioans in proposing and deciding the fate of constitutional amendments than the Secretary of State. If Ohioans cannot have their representatives listen to their concerns and opinions on the major critical issues, then they should respond with action that does get attention. They certainly should be able to debate the issue presented to them. Toba Feldman, Columbus Letters to the Editor Keep your Twin Peaks This is a stock photo of the flannel shirt-attired "Twin Peaks Girl" servers at the Twin Peaks restaurant chain. The Texas-based company plans to open its first Volusia-Flagler area location in mid- to late March 2023 at the new Cornerstone Exchange retail center in Daytona Beach's LPGA area. Call me old fashioned but I had hoped our culture had progressed beyond our obsession with the size of a women's chest. I guess I was wrong once I read the April 11 article "Twin Peaks opening new location in Columbus area." The article referenced the Twin Peaks girls as the restaurant's flannel-wearing waitresses often adorned in revealing outfits. I welcome all new restaurants in Columbus but another Hooters with a clever name will not be on my bill of fare. Michael Oser, Columbus Integrity is lost on Clarence Thomas Juxtaposition is truths ally. Putting two situations side by side provides insight. In Israel thousands demonstrate to protect the integrity of their courts valuing a court free of outside influence. In this country our courts integrity is eroding continually. Sept. 16, 2021; South Bend, IN, USA; Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas speaks on Thursday, Sept. 16, 2021, at the University of Notre Dames DeBartolo Performing Arts Center in South Bend. The associate justice gave the university's Tocqueville Lecture for an event presented by the Center for Citizenship & Constitutional Government. Mandatory Credit: Robert Franklin/South Bend Tribune via USA TODAY NETWORK (Via OlyDrop) More: In defending gifts from a GOP billionaire, Clarence Thomas raises more questions among his critics Regrettably, many ignore that tragedy. Republicans brag cynically about stacking the courts according to their political prejudice. For years a veteran Supreme Court Justice un-apologetically accepts multitudinous favors from a top political donor and his partys leaders turn a defiant blind eye. Integrity is lost bit by bit. Lets stop the erosion of judicial integrity before its too late! William A. McCartney, Delaware We should all be so woke "Woke" means "Aware." (April 9 column "Hysteria, hyperbolic reactions about college bill are wrong"). When did understanding the context of anything become feared or evil? I'm an old, tired, white woman who grew up on the west side of Columbus, with a BS and MBA from OSU. I believe in humanity, math, science, and the pursuit of knowledge in all forms. I adamantly oppose anyone in the political realm who wants to suppress this in any way. Jackie Rudolph, Upper Arlington Who is dumb? I have just finished State Sen. Jerry C. Cirino's April 9 defense of Senate Bill 83 "Hysteria, hyperbolic reactions about college bill are wrong." I cannot decide if he thinks the Dispatch readers are too dumb to understand what he has written or if he is dumb enough to not know what he writes. Ignore 'hysteria. ' Freedoms attack on Ohio campuses. My bill will protect them| Cirino I agree universities should encourage freedom of expression and diversity of thought. but how do universities encourage freedom of expression and diversity of thought if universities cannot require courses or training in diversity, equity or inclusion courses? How do you form an opinion about something you know nothing about? Ohio State Senator Jerry C. Cirino Also Cirino is another politician that is trying to set his own definition for the term "woke." It has nothing to do with trying to create intolerance of intellectual diversity. Wesley Coil, Gahanna This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Letters: Jim Jordan's full-time job is embarrassing Ohio and retaliation Lexingtons health department is looking for a new commissioner again. Dr. Sheila Owens-Collins, who started the job on Jan. 17, has been fired, according to a statement from the department. During a special meeting April 8, the Lexington-Fayette County Board of Health voted to remove Dr. Sheila Owens-Collins as Commissioner of Health, said Kevin Hall, a spokesman for the department. We cannot comment further on a personnel matter. The Board of Health continues to provide its full support to the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department staff as they continue fulfilling the agencys mission of helping Lexington be well. Owens-Collins, who was appointed by the board on Jan. 10, had previously served as medical director of Health Equity-Innovations, Strategies and Outcomes Research at Johns Hopkins HealthCare. Dr. Sheila Owens-Collins was named Lexington-Fayette County Public Health commissioner in January but the board has now removed her. Collins was not available for comment but Scott White, attorney for Collins, said the firing was a shock and he hopes to mediate a return to work. The action of the board was stunning to Dr. Collins. She had no forewarning and in fact had a very enjoyable and productive meeting with the mayor the day before, White said. She believes that she was doing her job, that shed only been on the job for about two months and looks forward to trying to resolve this issue so she can go back to serving the people of Fayette County as the health commissioner. Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton, through a spokeswoman, declined to comment. White said they plan to appeal the open-meetings notice and will request a hearing before the full board on the termination. This is the second health department commissioner to leave the position in less than a year. Before her appointment, the post had been vacant since Dr. Joel McCullough, who was hired in December 2021, resigned in July 2022. The previous commissioner, Dr. Kraig Humbaugh, delayed his planned retirement because of the COVID pandemic. The health department identified a candidate to replace Humbaugh, but they turned down the offer. Humbaugh decided to stay on as commissioner for an additional six months before McCullough was hired. Story continues Humbaugh, who was awarded the 2023 Dr. Rice C. Leach Public Health Hero Award on April 10 by the board, was a pediatrician who had been Lexingtons health commissioner from 2016 to 2021. Christine Said administers the COVID-19 vaccine to Robert Moyer, of Lexington, during a 2021 Lexington-Fayette County Health Department vaccination clinic at Consolidated Baptist Church. What does the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department do? The Lexington-Fayette County Health Department has played a key role in the citys efforts to provide information, testing and immunizations to residents during the height of the coronavirus pandemic. From July 2021 to July 2022, it administered more than 6,000 COVID vaccinations, according to its annual report. The health department also has a health clinic, oversees restaurant and other inspections, runs school nurse programs and operates a needle-exchange program, among other public health initiatives. It has a staff of around 170 employees and an operating budget of more than $30 million. It is separate from the Lexington-Fayette Urban County Government. Its board is appointed by the mayor. Local health departments across the country have struggled to attract and retain health department employees and directors since the COVID pandemic. A Lexington nurse who was charged with killing a patient has pleaded guilty to manslaughter after she was initially charged with murder. Eyvette Hunter, 52, pleaded guilty Wednesday after participating in court-ordered mediation. She was accused of killing 97-year-old patient James Morris, who police said died as a result of Hunters intentional medical maltreatment. Morris died May 5 after Hunters actions a few days prior. Hunter faces five years in prison for the amended charge of manslaughter, according to court documents. She was originally expected to stand trial June 12. Her sentencing is scheduled at 9 a.m. June 8 with Fayette Circuit Judge Thomas Travis. Hunters attorney, Daniel Whitley, said her case was troubling on multiple levels and said she was used as a scapegoat for negligence of the hospitals. What I have learned about the criminal justice system, prosecutors can make anyone a murderer, Whitley said. When you are facing 20 (years) to life in prison, you sometimes have no other choice but to resolve your case and take a lesser charge even though you are innocent. Prosecutors: Unprescribed sedative caused patients death Court documents allege Morris died because Hunter injected him with Ativan, a schedule four narcotic and sedative which he was not prescribed. Additionally, doctors had denied Hunters request to give Morris the drug before she did it, documents indicate. Despite the denial, she proceeded to administer something intravenously to Morris, according to a suspension order from the state Board of Nursing which was filed after the incident. Hunters nursing license was suspended when she was charged with murder. According to the Kentucky Board of Nursing, Hunters license is still not active. After Hunter administered the drug, Morris was later found with labored breathing and his oxygen saturation equipment turned off. It was determined that (Hunter) had disarmed/lowered the oxygen monitoring system several times so as to not set off an alarm at the bedside, the Board of Nursings order states. Story continues The Board of Nursing suspension order indicates Morris had aspirated on food or medicine given to him. As a result of the incident, he developed pneumonia, according to the Board of Nursing. Doctors informed detectives that prior to the incident, Morris had been doing well enough that he was going to be released to a rehab facility. Instead, Morris went to hospice care on May 3 and died two days later. The defendant administered an unprescribed drug to Mr. Morris, and her continuous course of conduct prevented him from getting life saving measures, prosecutors wrote in court documents previously. The defendant turned off alarms, altered alarm settings to prevent other nurses from seeing him struggle to breathe, ... and presumably fed him 30 minutes after administering the unprescribed drug and at the same time that her notes indicate he was snoring, prosecutors wrote. According to a spokesperson for Baptist Health, Hunter was terminated from the hospital and reported to the Kentucky Board of Nursing following the incident with Morris. However Hunter continued to work as a nurse at the University of Kentucky Hospital until official charges were filed against her. University of Kentucky officials alleged they did not know about the suspension of Hunters license and the reasoning behind it because she was a traveling nurse, placed at the hospital through Health Carousel Travel Network, an outside agency. When UK HealthCare learned of her suspension by the Kentucky Board of Nursing and the indictment, she was immediately released her from her duties, UK spokesperson Jay Blanton said. Health Carousel also said they took action after finding out about the incident. The incident took place at Baptist Health Lexington where Ms. Hunter took employment on her own and separate from Health Carousel, the company said in a statement. After we were informed of the incident and subsequent decision from the confidential board investigation, Ms. Hunter was immediately released from her duties with our company. Reporter Chris Leach contributed to this report. This story may be updated. Travelers considering a visit to Florida should proceed with caution, a pair of civil rights groups warned Wednesday, citing a slate of hateful laws that target vulnerable communities. Equality Florida, an LGBTQ advocacy group based in St. Petersburg, said Wednesday in a travel advisory that the state may not be a safe place to visit or take up residence in the wake of recently passed laws that target LGBTQ people, restrict access to reproductive health care and relax firearms restrictions. Taken in their totality, Floridas slate of laws and policies targeting basic freedoms and rights pose a serious risk to the health and safety of those traveling to the state, the groups advisory states. Equality Florida on Wednesday said issuing the advisory is an unprecedented step that followed a slew of safety inquiries from concerned individuals and families. As an organization that has spent decades working to improve Floridas reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place to live work and visit, it is with great sadness that we must respond to those asking if it is safe to travel to Florida or remain in the state as the laws strip away basic rights and freedoms, Nadine Smith, the groups executive director, said Wednesday in a statement. Also on Wednesday, the Florida Immigrant Coalition issued its own warning, writing that travel to all areas of Florida should be done with extreme caution as it can be unsafe for people of color, individuals who speak with an accent, and international travelers. every county in Florida poses a heightened risk of harassment, possible detainment, and potential family separation based on racial profiling, the group wrote Wednesday. Those who do decide to travel to Florida should make a clear safety plan, the group said. Jeremy Redfern, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantiss (R) deputy press secretary, brushed off Equality Floridas travel advisory as a political stunt. We arent going to waste our time worrying about political stunts, he told The Hill in an email. We will continue doing what is right for Floridians. Story continues The actions by the two groups follows the NAACP Florida State Conferences unanimous vote to ask the NAACP Board of Directors to issue a travel advisory for the state of Florida. A decision on whether to issue the advisory, which would urge the Black community to avoid visiting or moving to Florida, will be made by July. The group took that step after the Florida state education department in January rejected the College Boards Advanced Placement African American Studies course, citing a lack of educational value and criticizing a section of the course focused on the experience of Black queer Americans. DeSantis, who is widely expected to run for the Republican presidential nomination, last month called the resolution a joke. Well see how effective that is, he said. At least 10 bills explicitly targeting the rights of LGBTQ people have been introduced this year by lawmakers in Florida, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Last month, DeSantiss administration took steps to broaden a controversial state education law prohibiting classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity, known to its critics as the Dont Say Gay law. Florida under DeSantis has also barred health care providers from administering gender-affirming health care to minors and prevented transgender Floridians of all ages from using Medicaid to help pay for gender-affirming medical care. The governor has additionally been a vocal critic of diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and critical race theory, an academic framework evaluating U.S. history through the lens of racism that has become a political catch-all buzzword for any race-related teaching. Florida lawmakers this year have also advanced legislation that would ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy and allow people to carry concealed guns without a permit or proof of training, which Equality Florida in its advisory said have also made the state a more dangerous place to live or visit. We understand everyone must weigh the risks and decide what is best for their safety, but whether you stay away, leave or remain we ask that you join us in countering these relentless attacks, Smith, of Equality Florida, said Wednesday. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. COLUMBIA. Mo. (AP) Missouri's attorney general announced new restrictions Thursday on gender-affirming care for adults in addition to minors in a move that is believed to be a first nationally and has advocacy groups threatening to sue. Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced plans to restrict health care for transgender people weeks ago, when protesters rallied at the Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass a law banning puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for children. But the discussion was focused on minors, not adults. Missouri Attorney General spokeswoman Madeline Sieren clarified in a statement later in the day that adults also would be covered. We have serious concerns about how children are being treated throughout the state, but we believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care, Sieren said. The rule, which incudes a required 18 months of therapy before receiving gender-affirming health care, is set to take effect April 27 and expire next February. The ACLU and Lambda Legal said in a joint statement that they would take any necessary legal action and urged those affected to call. The Attorney Generals so-called emergency rule is based on distorted, misleading, and debunked claims and ignores the overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence supporting this care, the statement said. Robert Fischer, the spokesman for the LGBT rights groups PROMO, said he was not aware of similar restrictions elsewhere. Hes essentially attacking the entire trans community at this point, Fischer said of Bailey. Its no longer just about children. The National Center for Transgender Equality called the order deeply wrong in a tweet, adding that trans people of all ages across the state of Missouri deserve access to health care. The restrictions are in response to a former employee's allegations of mistreatment at a transgender youth clinic in St. Louis run by Washington University. Bailey is investigating the center. Story continues My office is stepping up to protect children throughout the state while we investigate the allegations and how they are harming children, Bailey said in a statement. University spokespeople didnt immediately respond to phone or email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. Moving forward, doctors who provide gender-affirming health care must first provide them a lengthy list of potential negative side effects and information warning against those treatments, according to a copy of the rule released Thursday. Health care providers will need to ensure any psychiatric symptoms from existing mental health comorbidities of the patient have been treated and resolved before providing gender-affirming treatments under the new rule. Physicians also must screen patients for social media addiction, autism and signs of social contagion with respect to the patients gender identity. The FDA approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills. The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth, but they have been used for many years for that purpose off label, a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat transgender patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental. Critics have raise concerns about children changing their minds. Yet the evidence suggests detransitioning is not as common as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend, though few studies exist and they have their weaknesses. Bailey's rule was released the same day Missouri's Republican-led House voted to ban access to transgender-related health care for minors. The House voted 103-52 along mostly party lines in favor of the ban, although the bills passage seems uncertain in the Senate. The House proposal is stricter than what was passed by the GOP-led Senate, where Democrats have more influence through the use of stall tactics. Senators compromised to exempt care for minors whose treatment is already underway. The Senate bill also would expire after four years. The House version includes no exceptions for current treatments and would remain in effect indefinitely. Republican Senate leaders said its unlikely that the House version will make it through the Senate. Weve already passed legislation on this issue out of the Senate, Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden said. We would expect the House to appreciate how hard and difficult it was and to take up our bill and pass it. Both the House and Senate proposals would ban inmates and prisoners from accessing gender-affirming surgeries and would end coverage of any gender-affirming treatments for Missouri patients on Medicaid, the federal health insurance program. The Human Rights Campaign have condemned the legislation in a statement, describing gender-affirming care as medically necessary. At least 13 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia. Bills are awaiingt action from governors in Kansas, Montana and North Dakota. Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and nearly two dozen states are considering bills this year to restrict or ban care. House debate on the bill became emotional as some Democrats argued the ban on health care will hurt transgender children. You are erasing my grandchild, said St. Louis Democratic Rep. Barbara Phifer, whose grandson is transgender. Republican sponsor Rep. Brad Hudson, of Cape Fair, criticized Democrats for threatening to end political partnerships and friendships with Republicans over the bill. Hudson said his bill seeks to protect kids and that it's unfair that Democrats are describing it as hateful towards transgender children. A yes vote is a vote to protect kids from sex-change drugs and surgeries, Hudson said. Associated Press writer David A. Lieb contributed to this report from Jefferson City, Missouri. REUTERS/Mike Segar Reid Hoffman, the billionaire behind LinkedIn whos now a megadonor to Democrats, has been quietly bankrolling E. Jean Carrolls rape case against former President Donald Trump, according to court records filed Thursday. The surprising last-minute disclosures came out in contentious correspondence between lawyers for the aggrieved journalist and the pissed off former president, who are battling over whether to delay the trial scheduled to start in two weeks. While its unclear if that payment arrangement has any material impact on the case itself, the fact that it remained secret until now will surely support Trumps unrelenting, conspiratorial complaints that ultra rich liberals have been pulling the strings on the efforts to take him down. Hoffman is a Silicon Valley entrepreneur who founded the professional social network LinkedIn. In recent years, Vox also identified him as a major Democratic donor who has made it his mission to loosen Trumps control over the Republican Party. According to Insider, Hoffmans distaste for Trumps authoritarian and anti-democratic tendencies has even strained his personal relationship with another Silicon Valley staple, Peter Thiel, who has conversely fashioned himself as a bankroller of right-wing causes. The Trump Teams Startling Questions for E. Jean Carroll Jurors Carroll, a longtime magazine columnist, claims Trump raped her in the dressing room of a luxury Manhattan department store in the 1990s. She wrote a tell-all memoir, Trump called her a liar from the White House, she sued him for defamation, and the case has been tied up in legal limbo for nearly four years. Now that New York passed a rape survivors law extending the statute of limitations on private civil lawsuits, Carroll sued againthis time seeking a trial that would potentially award her money, but more importantly brand the powerful real estate tycoon seeking a second presidential term as a rapist. Trump lawyers Alina Habba and Joe Tacopinawho have already tried to delay the trialare seizing on the strange nature of this 11th hour revelation to ask a federal judge to push back the trial or even open up another round of investigation before it starts. Story continues In a letter on Thursday morning, Trumps legal team documented how Carroll at her Oct. 14 deposition claimed that no one else was paying for her lawyersonly to have those same lawyers suddenly inform them this Monday that they indeed had a mystery backer. Trumps lawyers say Carrolls team wouldnt immediately disclose who this rich donor was until several phone calls later during the week, when they reluctantly revealed that it was Hoffman and a nonprofit called American Future Republic. The proposition that [Carroll] has suddenly recollected the source of her funding for this high-profile litigationwhich has spanned four years, spawned two separate actions, and been before numerous state, federal, and appellate courtsis not only preposterous, it is demonstrably false. Indeed, it simply defies logic to believe that [Carrolls] attorneysfour of whom were present at her depositionwere unaware that their own firm had secured additional funding from a nonprofit organization to bankroll their clients various lawsuits and ensure their bills were being paid, they wrote on Thursday. Habba and Tacopina wrote to the federal judge overseeing the case that Carroll apparently perjured herself during her deposition; her counsel sat by and allowed her to do so, knowing full well that her testimony was false; and then they conspired to conceal the truth for nearly six months, only to disclose it on the eve of trial. Meanwhile, Carrolls attorney immediately filed a letter of her own that downplays the significance of the news. Roberta Kaplan explained that Carroll did indeed initiate the lawsuit on her own, but that the legal team found someone to fund the lawsuit much later. That Carrolls counsel was able to obtain financial support almost a year after Carroll commenced litigation against Trump has absolutely no bearing on whether Trump sexually assaulted her in Bergdorf Goodman in the mid-1990s, Kaplan wrote. Funding obtained by counsel is not a proper topic for discovery, let alone a relevant issue at trial. U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan, who is not related to Carrolls lawyer, responded Thursday evening by giving the Trump team some of what it requestedbut not everything. He wrote that the payment issue has nothing directly to do with the ultimate merits of the case but that it might prove relevant to the question of [Carroll's] credibility at trial. He gave her team until Sunday to turn over financial documents, and said Trump's lawyers can subject her to yet another round of questions at a one-hour deposition by next Wednesday. But he sternly maintained that he plans to proceed with the trial on April 25. In her own letter, Carrolls attorney conceded that Trumps lawyers have repeatedly sought information about who was paying for the lawsuit. But Kaplan explained that she objected and then Trump did nothing. He did not press or pursue the issue, Carrolls lawyer said. She also called the payment arrangement plainly irrelevant. Trumps legal team is using this as an opportunity to bolster the notion that left-leaning elites keep engaging in underhanded political tactics, noting how Hoffman in 2018 apologized for funding a group that engaged in Russian-bot-like disinformation against the Republican frontrunner in an Alabama senate race. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Lori Vallow Daybells trial was cut short Wednesday, but a crowd returned to the Ada County Courthouse on Thursday morning to continue listening to testimony. The 18-person jury 12 jurors and six alternates has heard from five witnesses over the last three days, including nearly seven hours of testimony from Rexburg Police Det. Ray Hermosillo. He was the lead investigator on the months-long search for Vallow Daybells children, 7-year-old Joshua Jaxon JJ Vallow and 16-year-old Tylee Ryan, whose remains were located on Chad Daybells Idaho property. At the end of the trial, the 12 remaining jurors 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, the former wife of Vallow Daybells husband, Chad Daybell. Chad Daybell whose trial date has not been set is charged with the first-degree murder of Tammy Daybell, JJ and Tylee. He is also charged with conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in the childrens deaths. 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. Check this story for live updates on Vallow Daybells trial. Vallow Daybells former friend Melanie Gibb testified Thursday morning. In November 2019, when police began searching for JJ, Vallow Daybell told police that her son was watching the movie Frozen with her friend Gibb. But Gibb eventually told police that JJ was never with her. Check this story for live updates on Vallow Daybells trial. 3 p.m. Chad Daybell calls funeral home on same day Charles Vallow was killed On July 11, 2019, Chad Daybell called a funeral home in Chandler, Arizona, the same evening that Charles Vallow Vallow Daybells fourth husband was killed there, according to police. Story continues How are you related to the person that passed? the funeral home employee asked, in an audio recording played in court. Police said they obtained the recording from the funeral home. Im his nephew, Chad Daybell responded, and later said it was sad to see him go. During the phone call, Chad Daybell said that his uncle John Daball died, and he was looking to get an estimate of the cost to cremate his uncle and send him to New Orleans, Louisiana where Charles Vallow is from. At the end of the phone call, Chad Daybell said hed get back to them and was going to call a few other places for estimates. Just before court adjourned for the day, the prosecution played a roughly 15-minute audio recording recovered from Vallow Daybells iCloud account, which showed Chad Daybell blessing her brother. Chad Daybell gave Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox, a patriarchal blessing on Nov. 24, 2019. Only ordained church leaders, called patriarchs, can give such blessings. Throughout the blessing, Chad Daybell told Cox that he was a strong, powerful servant of the Lord. Chad Daybell said he was selected to help Coxs sister, and that Cox had a special bond with her. Chad Daybell then began to cry and told Cox that he saw him saving children from floodwaters. The Daybells believed that the world was going to end in July 2020. You will rise to an eternal glory, Chad Daybell said. Cox died less than three weeks later on Dec. 12, 2019. An autopsy found that Cox died from blood clots in the arteries of his lungs, East Idaho News reported. The trial is expected to begin again at 8:30 a.m. Friday. 2 p.m. Charles Vallow considered dark spirit, witness says Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox, told Arizona authorities that he shot and killed Charles Vallow in self-defense. Since then, the Maricopa County Prosecuting Attorneys Office has filed charges against Vallow Daybell and alleged that she and Cox who died in 2019 conspired to kill Charles Vallow. Chandler Police Det. Nathan Duncan, who has been with the department for nearly 23 years, told the courtroom during his testimony Thursday that Charles Vallow was lying on the ground when the second bullet was fired. He also said there wasnt a lot of blood, which isnt typical in a shooting investigation. It didnt appear Charles Vallow was given CPR, though thats what Cox told police. Duncan added that through the police investigation, authorities learned that there were accusations of infidelity, and that Charles Vallow might have been killed because Vallow Daybell thought he was a dark spirit. 11:30 p.m. Lets talk about zombies Lets talk about zombies, Vallow Daybells attorney John Thomas said toward the beginning of his cross-examination of Gibb. Gibb during her testimony said the Daybells began calling people who had dark spirits zombies, eventually believing that Tylee and JJ were zombies. Gibb said the last time she saw JJ was when Vallow Daybell began calling JJ a zombie. Gibb said Vallow Daybell told her that JJ was climbing on the fridge and cabinets and said things like, I love Stan. Gibb said Thursday that JJs behavior seemed normal for a 7-year-old boy who had been diagnosed with autism. Gibb said she remembered seeing Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox, take JJ upstairs to bed on Sept. 22, 2019 the last day investigators believe he was alive and then didnt remember seeing him after that. If they wanted people gone, those people become zombies? Blake asked. Yes, Gibb responded. The Daybells referred to Charles Vallow, Tylee, JJ and Tammy Daybell all as zombies or dark spirits, Gibb said. Chad Daybell told Vallow Daybell that Tylee became a zombie when she was 12 or 13 years old, Gibb said. As soon as (people) started questioning her or thought something suspicious was going on all of a sudden, that person became a zombie, Gibb said. Did you believe that she was teaching false things for her own personal gain? Blake asked. Yes, Gibb responded. Gibb also said during her testimony that the relationship between Tylee and her mother was tense and that Tylee was upset and frustrated with her mother most of the time. Thomas during cross-examination questioned Gibb about her own relationship with Tylee and asked whether it was true that they didnt get along. I was kind, Im always kind, Gibb shot back defensively, adding that Tylee didnt like her. Gibb later clarified that it was typical behavior for a teenager who she called ornery and disrespectful. Gibb added that Vallow Daybell was aware that Charles Vallow, the fourth husband of Vallow Daybell, changed the beneficiary of his $1 million life insurance policy to his sister instead of his wife before he was killed. Gibb tripped over her words a bit before saying she wasnt sure. After four hours of testimony, Gibb was dismissed. 11:20 a.m. Defense attorneys want to strike Gibbs testimony Three hours into Gibbs testimony, Vallow Daybells defense attorney John Thomas requested to strike Gibbs testimony. He accused prosecutors of withholding the witnesss oral statements from the defense team. The prosecution denied that account. All statements of a prosecution witness have to be turned over, Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake said. She argued that they are allowed to meet with their witnesses and said there was nothing new in Gibbs testimony. Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce denied the request. 10 a.m. Gibb questions Daybells during recorded call When Rexburg police knocked on Vallow Daybells apartment door in November 2019 and questioned her about JJs location, the 49-year-old mother told them JJ was with her friend, Melanie Gibb, at the movies. But he wasnt. Chad Daybell called Gibb and told her that the police department was going to call her. During Thursdays testimony, Gibb said shed previously been told by Vallow Daybell that JJ was with his grandmother, Kay Woodcock. Chad Daybell during the call explained to Gibb that JJ was not with his grandmother, she said. Kay and her husband, Larry Woodcock, were the ones who had asked the Rexburg Police Department to perform the welfare check. Gibb said she initially didnt pick up the call from law enforcement. I wasnt sure what in the world to do, Gibb said. Gibb during her testimony said she first lied to police and told them that JJ had been with her, but that shed given him back to Vallow Daybell. Gibb eventually told police shed never had JJ. The jury listened to a phone call that Gibb recorded between herself and the Daybells. In the tense, 20-minute call on Dec. 8, 2019, Gibb questioned the Daybells recent behavior and demanded why they asked her to lie to the police. I was wondering what happened, Gibb asked Vallow Daybell. I had to move him somewhere else because of her actions, Vallow Daybell responded, referring to Kay Woodcock. Is JJ safe? Gibb asked. He is safe and happy, Vallow Daybell responded. Throughout the conversation, they began to talk about scripture, and Gibb told the Daybells that she believes theyd been tricked by Satan, and cited the odd circumstances of both Tammy Daybell and Charles Vallows deaths. I believed that you have been very deceived by Satan, Gibb told the Daybells. I believed that he has tricked you. Vallow Daybell said Christ would be coming soon, and that she hadnt been deceived. Chad Daybell chimed in and said Tammy Daybell had been getting weaker and sicker, and that he begged her to go to the doctor. All these conspiracy theories just make me sick to my stomach, Chad Daybell told Gibb. Just before the phone call ended, Gibb told Vallow Daybell that she wasnt acting like someone who had seen Jesus Christ. Were both standing here with Jesus Christ, Vallow Daybell said just as the phone call cut off. 8:30 a.m. Gibb outlines Daybells religious beliefs In January 2019, Vallow Daybell told her then-friend Gibb that shed had a dream about her fourth husband. In the dream, Vallow Daybell said Charles Vallow and possibly JJ died in a car accident and he wouldnt be coming back. Gibb asked Vallow Daybell what happened following the dream. He didnt (die) because Satan interfered with the plan, Vallow Daybell responded. Charles Vallow was shot and killed seven months later by Vallow Daybells brother, Alex Cox. Throughout her testimony, Gibb, who is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, explained the religious beliefs of the Daybells. Gibb became friends with Vallow Daybell in October 2018 at a church event. Gibb said the Daybells met in 2018, and there was definitely an attraction between them. Gibb said the Daybells would later share with her that theyd been married in other lives and that they very much loved each other. Chad and Lori Vallow Daybell were still married to their previous spouses at the time. Gibb also said that the Daybells believed they were leaders of the 144,000 which is a reference to the people in the Book of Revelations who would be saved during the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Fremont County Prosecuting Attorney Lindsey Blake asked Gibb whether it would be a big deal if someone was the leader of the 144,000. Absolutely, Gibb responded. Gibb also said that Vallow Daybell began to believe that people could be either light or dark, and that Charles Vallow, Kay Woodcock, Tammy Daybell, Tylee, and eventually JJ would all be considered dark. Gibb said that typically Chad Daybell would have a revelation that someone was dark and then tell Vallow Daybell. The Daybells believed that their spouses would die, and Chad Daybell believed that hed known for years that Tammy Daybell was going to die young, Gibb said. Blake asked Gibb whether she knew why the Daybells didnt just get divorces. That was not the lords will for them to get a divorce, Gibb said. She added that Chad Daybell believed hed be penalized for getting a divorce and would lose his standing with God. As a serial life science entrepreneur and longtime South Florida resident, Dr. Spencer Malkin was running a series of health care ventures in the early 2000s. One of his most successful yet frustrating ventures was focused on the retail and compounding pharmacy space. While building a nationwide pharmacy footprint, he began directly observing the key challenges and nuances embedded in the specialty of dermatology. Doctors were facing a fundamental challenge in that they couldnt prescribe the most effective medicines at ideal dosages while ensuring these medicines were covered by insurance without significant prior authorizations or outright formulary rejections. In other words, there was a clear frustration on the part of both the doctor and the patient because what insurance companies were deeming medically necessary was essentially a moving target. Doctors were also limited to a one-size-fits-all dosage of active ingredients they could prescribe regardless of the severity of each individual patients conditions. In some cases, patients with sensitive skin needed different amounts of ingredients based on their reduced ability to tolerate the additives in normal medicines. Unfortunately, this could cause those individuals even more harm in the form of rashes, hives, full-on allergic responses, and an entire range of adverse reactions. The total of these challenges led Dr. Malkin to start SKNV in 2016. Fast forward to 2023, and SKNV is the market leader in customized medications dispensed directly from dermatology practices and has created the first pharmacy dedicated specifically to sensitive skin. SKNV provides the complete system for leading dermatologists to expertly prescribe customized medications across all major skin conditions, while also benefiting from best-in-class digital health for improved patient management and refill compliance. SKNV enables local practices to focus on optimized daily care, while providing easy-to-use 24/7 tools to improve drug adherence, ensure monthly refills are being followed with Rx ecommerce (including free shipping) and by offering more ways to keep patients engaged and loyal between visits with asynchronous telehealth. SKNV places the power of customized prescription care back in the hands of local providers. A key enabler of the SKNV creation and innovation was the Drug Quality and Security Act passed in late 2013, which constructed the concept of an FDA-Registered 503B Outsourcing Facility that could customize known-active ingredients into new formulations and distribute them via doctors, hospitals, and ultimately directly to consumers. This regulation paired with the FDAs expanded role in overseeing customized medications allowed Dr. Malkin to seek inspiration to build a whole new paradigm for prescription dermatology medicines across the 12 major disease states, among them being acne, rosacea, melasma, and psoriasis. He also sought the opportunity to modify and eliminate harmful inactive ingredients. Beyond these clinical revolutions, Dr. Malkin was insistent on devising a pricing structure that lessened the burden of cost while expanding the number of formulations available to doctors, meaning they could customize a treatment plan to each of their patients. With up to 70% of patients reporting sensitive skin, there has never been a better time for dermatologists to offer a highly customized and cleaner version of leading medicines, a possibility that SKNV has now created. Both dermatologists and patients can visit www.sknvmatch.com to see a full list of available medicines and for prescribing instructions. McClatchy newsroom and editorial staff were not involved in the creation of this content. Deputies in Thurston County are continuing to search for a Rochester-area man who seemingly disappeared without a trace more than a month ago. On Mar. 9, Stephen Shane Bartons wife reported that her husband was missing from their home and did not have his keys, wallet or vehicle, the sheriffs office said. Deputies said they searched the couples home, outbuildings and surrounding property but found no sign of Barton. To aid in the search, the Washington State Patrol flew an aircraft with an infrared camera over the property to look for heat signatures that could be associated with a person, but nothing was found. Since then, a dive team has searched ponds on the property, a team of 30 people and 5 search dogs scoured the surrounding area, and 6 cadaver dogs were used around Bartons property. There was no sign of Barton. On Apr. 10, Bartons wife voluntarily took a polygraph test. The results showed that she was not being deceptive, according to a news release from the Thurston County Sheriffs Office. Bartons wife has given detectives her husbands phone and other digital devices. She also allowed detectives to process her phone and an adult sons phone for any helpful information. Bartons neighbors have been contacted, and friends and family across Western Washington have been interviewed by TCSO detectives. Locations that were frequently visited by Barton have also been checked. Detectives said it is not known if Barton left home intentionally or if foul play was involved. Anyone who knows Bartons whereabouts or has information that could help detectives is asked to contact the sheriffs office at detectives@co.thurston.wa.us or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS(8477). You are here: Business Elon Musk, CEO of Tesla, unveils a suit of batteries for homes, businesses, and utilities at Tesla Design Studio in Hawthorne, California, the United States, April 30, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua] Twitter has laid off more than 6,000 employees, around 80 percent of its workforce since late last year, its CEO Elon Musk said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday evening. Twitter's workforce reduction is unmatched on a percentage basis, in comparison with other big tech companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta which have cut tens of thousands of employees worldwide. Twitter is facing a host of lawsuits and other legal actions on behalf of former employees over lay-off and benefits issues, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle. The company also said in a recent legal filing that "Twitter, Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists." According to the legal filing, X Corp. is a privately held corporation. Its parent corporation is X Holdings Corp. Lori Vallow Daybell, center, sits between her attorneys for a hearing at the Fremont County Courthouse in St. Anthony, Idaho, in this Aug. 16, 2022, file photo. | Tony Blakeslee, East Idaho News via Associated Press Melanie Gibb took the stand Thursday to describe her former best friend Lori Vallow Daybells descent into radical beliefs that she says led the mother charged with murder to claim her children were zombies and that Chad Daybells wife would die. Thursdays testimony came during the second week of whats expected to be an eight-week trial of Vallow Daybell, who has been charged with conspiracy, murder and grand theft in the deaths of her two children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and Chad Daybells wife, Tammy Daybell. Gibb, who became close with Vallow Daybell starting in 2018, detailed a tense relationship between Tylee and her mother, the alleged affair between Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell while both of their spouses were alive, and the fringe religious beliefs held by the couple that convinced them they were destined to be together. Gibb also told prosecutors about a Sept. 22, 2019, trip to Rexburg, Idaho, where she stayed with Vallow Daybell that coincides with the last known time JJ was seen alive. Gibb started her testimony describing Vallow Daybells relationship with 7-year-old, JJ, who had special needs, and how over time her relationship with Chad Daybell distracted her, to the point where she couldnt care for her son as much. Just right before he was killed, she just indicated he (JJ) was difficult to handle. And so, it was hard for her to do that and be with Chad, she said. Vallow Daybell appeared to be wearing red lipstick in court Thursday, shackled to the floor in large, black boots, loose pinstriped pants and a white shawl. Though Gibb avoided direct eye contact with her former friend, Vallow Daybell repeatedly scowled and shook her head at moments during the testimony, whispering animatedly to her attorney. Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell met in 2019 at a religious conference in Utah catered to members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but not affiliated with the church. Gibb says the two immediately hit it off. She seemed very interested in him, like someone who was very attracted. She seemed very flattered by him, she seemed very flirty, Gibb told Idaho prosecutor Lindsey A. Blake. ... He told her that they had been married in another time period. Story continues While both of Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybells spouses were still alive, the couple would often meet, staying at hotels, Gibb said. Vallow Daybell said they used their fringe beliefs to justify the affair. Because they had been married in multiple lives and because they had a mission together, it was OK, Gibb told the prosecutor. Vallow Daybells beliefs continued to evolve, Gibb said, and became hard to follow. But a consistent theme, Gibb said, was that people who challenged or questioned Vallow Daybell were deemed dark spirits. That includes Brandon Boudreaux, Vallow Daybells former nephew by marriage. He was supposedly part of Hitlers group during that regime. It just evolved, like that, Gibb told prosecutors. Gibb testified that Vallow Daybell told her that she and Daybell believed their spouses were going to die, and then they could be together. Still, Tammy Daybell was starting to get suspicious, Gibb said. Vallow Daybells husband, Charles Vallow, was shot to death by her now deceased brother, Alex Cox, who claimed the shooting was self defense. A grand jury in Arizonas Maricopa County has indicted Vallow Daybell of conspiracy to commit first-degree murder in his July 2019 death. Tammy Daybell, Chad Daybells wife, died in October 2019 after Chad Daybell told police she died in her sleep after she went to bed with a cough. Investigators later exhumed her body, and prosecutors in opening arguments Monday revealed she died of asphyxiation at the hands of another person. Just over two weeks later, Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell were married on a beach in Hawaii, exchanging rings they bought while Tammy was still alive. On Sept. 22 which is also the date a picture of JJ was taken, showing him on a couch wearing red pajamas Gibb was visiting Vallow Daybell in Rexburg. Gibb said Vallow Daybell told her JJ was possessed. She would tell me he would say things like I love Satan. She told me he would climb up on the refrigerator and go on top of the cabinets, Gibb said. She went on to testify she never personally saw any behavior like what Vallow described from the 7-year-old, and was skeptical of her claim. During the cross examination, Vallow Daybells attorney John Thomas questioned how Gibb knew the intimate details involving Vallow Daybells relationship with her children, and Chad Daybell. But the bulk of the questions revolved around the couples extreme beliefs specifically, Gibbs involvement. She admitted to wanting to believe what Vallow Daybell said at times. Shes very convincing, she said Still, Gibb tried repeatedly to distance herself during the cross examination, telling Thomas that she did not buy into the notion of zombies or a spectrum of lightness and darkness, at least to the extent that Vallow Daybell appeared to. It felt very unusual. But it felt very innocent to me, she said. Thursday ended on a peculiar note, with prosecutors playing a recording of Chad Daybell reciting what he called a blessing to Alex Cox. Lori Vallow Daybell is also present. The three of them can be heard crying throughout the recording. The recording is dated on Nov. 24 roughly two weeks later, Cox was found dead of what police say were natural causes. He was never charged in connection with the case. You have already assisted us in ways that can never be repaid. And you will continue to do so as you move forward in this life, Daybell tells Cox, before suggesting that Cox is nearing the end of his own life, telling him, you will know when its time to move to the other side. Questions around the death of Charles Vallow Cox has frequently been referenced in the trial and on Thursday, Gibb told prosecutors about a conversation she had with Cox, where she asked about JJs whereabouts. You dont want to know, Cox told her, according to Gibb. The second witness called by the prosecution was detective Nathan Duncan with the Chandler Police Department in Arizona. Duncan was the lead investigator in the shooting death of Charles Vallow, at the hands of Cox. Duncan detailed a few abnormalities with the shooting he told prosecutors that he has never seen a shooting with so little blood, and that it appeared that Cox had not performed CPR on Charles Vallow. And when officers removed the body, there was a bullet hole in the floor, meaning it was likely Charles would have been laying on the ground when that second shot was fired. Calls and text messages were reviewed, Duncan said, leading to further investigation. In the weeks to months following the death of Charles Vallow, there was some information that came forward that Charles was possibly killed because he was a dark spirit, a zombie, that there was some infidelity, some accusations of infidelity. So I was specifically looking for information related to that, Duncan said. Part of the investigation uncovered a phone call that Chad Daybell made to a mortuary, placed the evening following Vallows death. Daybell inquires about the price of cremation, and tells the mortuary employee that he lives in Iowa, and that his uncle recently died. Daybell, of course, lived in Idaho. An Idaho courtroom on Thursday heard a recorded December 2019 phone call between "cult mom" Lori Vallow and her longtime friend, Melanie Gibb, according to local reports. Vallow is accused of killing her two children, who disappeared in September 2019, and her husband Chad Daybell's first wife, Tammy Daybell, in October 2019. "Im not telling anybody where he is, so I can keep him as safe as possible," Vallow said during the call, referring to her 7-year-old son, J.J., according to FOX 10 reporter Justin Lum. She added that she believes his grandmother, Kay Woodcock, was conspiring against her. "He is safe and happy," Vallow says of J.J. LORI VALLOW TRIAL: IDAHO INVESTIGATOR DETAILS GRUESOME FINDINGS AT BURIAL SITE WHERE CHILDREN'S BODIES FOUND Lori Vallow is accused of killing her two children, J.J. Vallow and Tylee Ryan; her husband's ex-wife, Tammy Daybell; and her ex-husband, Charles Vallow. The call was played aloud while Gibb took the stand in Vallow's Ada County murder trial. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In the call, a concerned Gibb asks Vallow about J.J.'s whereabouts after Vallow told authorities the 7-year-old was with Gibb. Vallow said she did what she felt the Lord told her to do, Lum reported. LORI VALLOW TRIAL: WHAT TO KNOW ABOUT CULT MOM ACCUSED OF KILLING 2 KIDS, HUSBAND'S FIRST WIFE Vallow proceeded to "promise" Gibb she has "done nothing wrong in this case" and tells Gibb she loves her multiple times. "We are both standing there with Jesus Christ," Vallow tells Gibb before abruptly hanging up. Prosecutors argue Vallow was motivated by "money, power and sex" and her extreme religious beliefs shared with Daybell, to kill her two children. The "doomsday mom" married Daybell in Hawaii in November 2019, two months after her children went missing. Prosecutors also said she bought wedding rings prior to Tammy Daybell's October 2019 death. Vallow and Daybell believed people emit light or dark spirits and allegedly believed Vallow's 17-year-old daughter, Tylee, and Tammy Daybell had dark spirits. LORI VALLOW TRIAL: MONEY, POWER AND SEX LED SO-CALLED CULT MOM TO KILL HER CHILDREN, IDAHO PROSECUTORS SAY Story continues Gibb told the courtroom Thursday she recorded the phone call out of concern for J.J. and his safety, knowing that he was not with her or Kay Woodcock, according to Lum. Lori and Chad Daybell are accused of killing 17-year-old Tylee Ryan, right, and 7-year-old J.J. Vallow in 2019. Gibb also testified that Vallow said Jesus appeared to her in a temple, and she felt called to get the dark spirit out of Tammy Daybell. LORI VALLOW, CHAD DAYBELL 'DOOMSDAY' MURDERS: A TIMELINE OF EVENTS Authorities have said J.J. was found in a plastic bag on Daybell's property while Tylee's remains were found dismembered and burned. The couple shared the same apocalyptic religious beliefs and believed they had been married in a past life. They also believed people had either light or dark souls and that the darkest souls could be considered zombies. An Idaho judge has blocked Lori Vallow's request for a meeting with her husband, Chad Daybell. Around the summer and fall of 2019, Vallow referred to her own children as zombies, according to investigators. Authorities have not revealed how the two children died. For some, there's nothing like that new car smell. The smell of a new car could signal a significant life milestone or bring a sense of freshness, but a new study shows there could be another cost coming with the purchase of a new vehicle your health. Researchers at Harvard University and the Beijing Institute of Technology in China conducted a study on the chemicals that create the new car smell, finding that the smell could increase the risk of cancer, and it doesn't take much time to be in the vehicle for it to become a hazard. The study was published Wednesday in the journal Cell Reports Physical Science. Global disaster: Study warns critical ocean current is nearing 'collapse' Latest car recall roundup: Older Honda CR-Vs, Volkswagen SUVs among 790,000 recalled cars this week How did researchers study the new car smell? Researchers examined the air quality in new cars using sensors to detect various chemicals. The cars were sealed and parked outside for 12 consecutive days "under varying environmental conditions." What did researchers find? The results in the new cars showed formaldehyde, a chemical compound the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says could cause cancer, was detected at levels 34.9% higher than Chinese national safety standards. Acetaldehyde, a probable human carcinogen, was found to be at levels 60.5% higher than Chinese national safety standards. In total, the combination of volatile organic compounds was found to be in levels that would bedeemed "a high potential health risk," meaning the chemicals in the new car smell posed a "high health risk for drivers." "Detailed calculation indicates that the inhalation route plays a significant role in the risk of cancer for drivers and passengers exposed," the study said. Researchers also found the concentration of chemicals increased when the weather was warmer. This isn't the first time the new car smell was found to be harmful. A 2021 study conducted researchers at the University of California, Riverside found spending a higher amount of time in a new car could increase cancer risk, and people can be exposed to unsafe levels of chemicals in as little as 20 minutes. Story continues What is formaldehyde? What is acetaldehyde? Formaldehyde is "a colorless, flammable gas at room temperature and has a strong odor," according to the EPA. It can be found in various household products, as well as permanent press fabrics, paints and coatings, lacquers and finishes. Acetaldehyde is "an intermediate in the synthesis of other chemicals," the EPA says, and is used in the production of perfumes, polyester resin and basic dyes. What's next? Researchers said their findings "will be helpful for vehicle designers in selecting appropriate in-cabin materials with lower potential emissions to achieve effective source control and thus improve in-cabin air quality." They also say opening a car window could "rapidly reduce" the emission of the concentrations. Follow Jordan Mendoza on Twitter: @jordan_mendoza5. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New car smell, cancer risk link highlighted in new study Georgia Military College (GMC) Preparatory School has appointed a new principal. Lt. Col. Amy Lee, who has occupied various positions in the GMC community for the past 18 years, will assume her role effective immediately. GMC is an independent liberal arts college in Milledgeville that was established in 1879. GMC Prep School is an extension of the college that caters to students in grades K-12 from Baldwin and surrounding counties, and offers a college-prep academic program and Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (JROTC) for grades 9-12. I am honored to have been chosen to lead Georgia Military College Prep School as its new principal, said Lee in a press release. I am committed to building on the schools legacy of providing our students with the highest quality education and prepare them to become leaders in their communities and beyond. I am excited to continue working with our exceptional faculty and staff to provide our students with the tools they need to succeed. Lee completed her teaching internship and practicums at GMC Prep School before progressing to Georgia College & State University to earn her master of arts in teaching in 2005. After graduating, she returned to GMC Prep School to teach high school English. Lee received numerous honors during her time as a GMC Prep School instructor, including teacher of the year, STAR teacher, and character educator of the year. After 14 years of teaching, Lee was moved into the role of assistant principal and curriculum director in 2019. Two years later, in 2021, she became GMC Prep Schools associate principal, and in early 2023 she was named interim principal. We are thrilled to have LTC Lee as the principal of GMC Prep School, said Lt. Gen. William B. Caldwell, IV, president of Georgia Military College, in a press release. LTC Lees dedication to student success and her leadership experience makes her the ideal candidate to lead our Prep School. She has already proven herself to be a strong leader and we are confident that she will lead the school to even greater success in the years to come. Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived in Washington earlier this year in the glow of a glorious comeback. Freed from prison, elected to a new term as president of Brazil and triumphant over a Jan. 6-style insurrection, the left-wing populist seemed to embody the endurance of democracy in an era of extremism. But in private meetings with progressive lawmakers and labor leaders, Lula delivered a dire message, according to four people present for the discussions. Though poisonous demagogues had fallen in both Brazil and the United States, Lula warned that a global web of right-wing forces continued to threaten political freedom. Voters crushed by economic inequality and confused by a torrent of social-media disinformation remained vulnerable to figures like Donald Trump and Jair Bolsonaro, the brutish strongman whom Lula barely defeated last fall. In Washington, the 77-year-old Brazilian leader issued a call to battle: The left needed to build its own transnational network, Lula said, to fight for its political values and take on crises like economic deprivation and climate change. Far-right leaders like Trump and Bolsonaro in the Americas had sought each other out and found fellow travelers in European hardliners like Frances Marine Le Pen and Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. No comparable club has existed on the left. In Lulas view it was time for that to change. Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said Lula wanted to mobilize left-leaning forces against an international network of right-wing people and movements that is seeking to take over democratic countries. He really was appealing to us, asking the Progressive Caucus to build something that can counter that, Jayapal recalled. An initial step may come later this year, with a possible trip to Brazil by congressional progressives. Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a leading House liberal who also met with Lula, said the Brazilian president urged lawmakers three times to visit. Story continues Khanna said he had asked his staff to explore other international forums where U.S. progressives should make their presence felt. Lulas exhortation represents an overdue challenge for the U.S. left. For all the influence they have exercised on domestic policy, left-wing Democrats have not yet managed to articulate a distinctive transnational agenda. That has been a missed opportunity. It is not that progressives do not care about the rest of the world. They just tend to engage it as a scattered array of flashpoints and pet causes, without telling a more universal story about the struggles of the 21st Century. In Washington, many progressives have embraced President Joe Bidens chosen narrative about a grand contest between democracy and autocracy, while lamenting the gulf between Bidens rhetoric and his tolerance of strategically useful tyrannies like Saudi Arabia. Yet they have made only fitful attempts to lay out an overarching left-wing agenda that starts with change in the United States and extends across the larger world. Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont has made the most developed effort, calling in 2018 for an international progressive front against oligarchs, despots, and multinational corporations. But his chief role these days is chairing the Senates Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee a powerful post focused on the U.S. economy. Matt Duss, a former foreign policy adviser to Sanders, said there was a growing sensibility on the left about engaging more consistently with partners in other countries, not only in South America but in the Global South. The moment appears right, he argued, for progressives to make their case for a transnational politics anchored in traditionally left-wing economic ideas. But U.S. progressives do not currently have a rich network of relationships abroad to draw on. Its an area where the left in particular needs to do a much, much better job, Duss said. It is easy to overstate the global influence of the U.S. right. Trump-linked provocateurs like Steve Bannon can barge into other countries, declare the dawn of a new age of ultra-right nationalism and generate anxious coverage in the mainstream press. But it has been harder for these forces to win power and govern. Trumps endorsements in foreign elections have not amounted to much. Earlier this year, my colleague Zoya Sheftalovich reported that panic about Bannon-style meddling had receded in Europe: Vera Jourova, the vice president of the European Commission, recalled a sense of fear after 2016 that a character like Bannon might help ignite a continental movement. It didnt happen, Jourova said. Still, there has been political value for extreme conservatives in thinking of themselves in global terms. It has helped them identify trends and cultural attitudes that have driven elections across national boundaries anger about the Syrian refugee crisis, fear of China, resentment toward big tech and sharpen a common vocabulary for discussing them. On an intangible level, it has given a once-marginalized group of ideologues a certain esprit de corps that can translate into what Americans call swagger. Lula, who previously served as Brazils president from 2003 to 2010, may be uniquely positioned among foreign leaders to summon the U.S. left to the barricades. Even before his return to power, Lula occupied a special place in the imagination of U.S. progressives: a populist crusader in one of the worlds largest democracies, a defender of the Amazon, an outspoken American leftist through the era of George W. Bush. His imprisonment in 2018, the result of a questionable corruption prosecution, made him a political martyr. There is an aesthetic component to his appeal to progressives that helps obscure other inconvenient realities, like his equivocal view of Russians invasion of Ukraine. Consider the images from Lulas last candidacy, showing a roaring leftist fighter campaigning through destitute neighborhoods and greeting ecstatic crowds from an open-top car. These are scenes unknown to U.S. voters in our time. To many progressives, they look like the best version of politics. Lulas imprisonment strengthened his long-distance relationship with left-leaning lawmakers in Washington, who took up his cause. Sanders led the effort, repeatedly calling for Lulas release during his own presidential campaign. Upon his release, the Brazilian politician singled out Sanders for thanks. I hope American workers will make you US president, Lula wrote to Sanders on Twitter. He continued expressing gratitude in Washington this year, meeting with Sanders and thanking him and other progressives for their support. When Lula sat down with union leaders, he was effusive. He wanted to thank the labor movement for standing with him, said Randi Weingarten, the president of the American Federation of Teachers. With labor officials, too, Lula urged a transnational mobilization. He pressed them to lead a fight about working people and about lifting up their economic aspirations, their living wages, as well as protecting the Amazon, Weingarten said. In his meeting with congressional progressives, Khanna said Lula described a certain form of progressive politics focused on economic advancement for the working class and fighting climate change as the antidote to a mood of despair that feeds authoritarian politics. One of the interesting insights he had was that there was a movement, not just in Brazil but around the world, of anti-politics, Khanna said, and that people have so lost faith in organizing and political activity, they have bought into the narrative that everything is corrupt, everything is broken and politics doesnt matter. The solution, according to Lula, was a hopeful, aspirational politics that gives voters confidence that you can improve peoples economic conditions, Khanna said. In some respects that sounds like a figure from closer to home: Joe Biden. The U.S. president and Lula have some deep policy disagreements, most of all on Ukraine. For now, they have muted their differences to present a united front against homegrown forces of autocracy and insurrection. At the White House, each hailed the other as a champion of democracy. When I contacted Lulas spokesman, Jose Crispiniano, about his meetings in Washington, he shared a statement emphasizing Lulas admiration for Biden: He was impressed and satisfied with the commitment of President Biden with unions and workers. He declined to comment on Lulas remarks about building up the global left. Biden and Lula are similar in another important way. They are both longtime national leaders who led left-of-center coalitions to victory in part because they were resilient against right-wing attacks that might have felled any candidate less familiar to voters. Brazils finance minister, Fernando Haddad, who joined Lula in D.C., made that point to congressional progressives. He said no one other than Lula could have won, said Khanna. According to Haddad, only Lula was capable of overcoming the avalanche of bile and disinformation directed at his candidacy. There is no guarantee in either country that a leftist or center-left message can succeed with another messenger. That, too, is a warning and a challenge to progressives. CORRECTION: An earlier version of this story misstated Viktor Orban's title. He is prime minister of Hungary. French President Emmanuel Macron's recent trip to Beijing was billed as a chance to showcase European unity and persuade Chinese leader Xi Jinping to help rein in Russian aggression. But remarks that Macron made to journalists on his way home about the three-way relationship between China, Europe and the United States did more to rile his EU partners. In an interview with French daily Les Echos and news platform Politico, Macron warned against Europe being dragged into a conflict between Washington and Beijing. If the stand-off over Taiwan accelerates, he said, Europe might not have the time nor the resources to build the "strategic autonomy" to act without US leadership that France seeks. Then, European Union members would "become vassals, whereas we can be the third pole if we have a few years to build it." The Chinese government was delighted by its guest's remarks. Brussels diplomats less so. "The French president speaks always for the French Republic," a senior EU official told reporters. "If the German Chancellor says something does also everybody say this is the policy of the European Union?" Since the interview was published last weekend, French diplomats have scambled to insist that Europe becoming a "third pole" does not mean seeking equidistance between an American democratic ally and an autocratic Chinese rival. But Macron's warning against subordination to US interests, along with the perception -- rejected by Paris -- that he was suggesting that Europe should not stand up to China over Taiwan, annoyed many EU partners. - 'Begging dictators' - EU members from the east of the bloc have long been wary of Europe escaping Washington's embrace, seen as their key security guarantee against Russian aggression and as Ukraine's most important defence. Poland's Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki, on a visit to Washington, slammed fellow EU leaders like Macron, and before him Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, for seeking trade contracts in Beijing. Story continues "Short-sightedly they look to China to be able sell more EU products there at huge geopolitical costs," he said. "Hence, I don't understand the concept of European strategic autonomy if it means the fact of shooting ourselves in our own knee." Lithuania's foreign minister, Gabrielius Landsbergis was scathing about the argument that Europe can persuade Xi to intercede with Russia's President Vladimir Putin to de-escalate Moscow's war in Ukraine. "I propose we recognise the benefits and necessity of trans-Atlantic unity ... I don't suggest begging for dictators to help secure peace in Europe," he tweeted. The negative reaction in EU countries on Russia's borders was perhaps to be expected, and Macron has never been shy of making provocative statements to stir debate on the future of European strategy. But traditional French partners in western Europe were also sceptical of his diplomatic freelancing. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said: "We have never been in danger of becoming or being a vassal of the United States." "I found this comment unfortunate but I think the Elysee has corrected it somewhat," he told ZDF television. Shortly after his return to Europe from China, Macron set off on a state visit to the Netherlands while debate still raged over his comments. His host, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, was careful not to criticise his guest, but said "the US is indispensable and without that support it is inconceivable that Ukraine could have withstood the waves of violence of the past year." In Brussels there is regret that Macron's comments have overshadowed the efforts of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen to coordinate an EU stance on China. Before setting off to accompany Macron on his Beijing visit, von der Leyen made a well-received speech on the need for the EU to "de-risk" itself from dependence on China while not "de-coupling" from its huge market. But she was seen to have received a cold shoulder in China while Macron hogged the headlines. The president of the European Council, Charles Michel, took to the airwaves to defend -- and to try to explain -- Macron's stance and Europe's strategic ambitions. "On strategic autonomy, there's much more support than there was a few years ago," he told French television. - Allies' concerns - The bond between Washington and Brussels were threatened during former president Donald Trump's term, as the US leader cosied up to Putin and threatened to quit NATO. This focused European minds on the need to shore up their own defences, for a while, but when Russia invaded Ukraine Washington's military aid to Kyiv far surpassed the EU contribution. Even supporters of a stronger united European geopolitical role, like centre-right French MEP Arnaud Danjean, fault Macron for pushing on without taking into account allies' concerns. While the idea that Europe should be better able to stand on its own two feet is accepted, any suggestion that the allies should distance themselves from the US before building up their own forces is unrealistic. "We struggle to convince our partners essentially because we put the cart before the horse," he tweeted. "Without first focusing on developing the means of autonomy, making grand declarations by presenting it as a given can only irritate." dc/del/pvh The father of Madeline Kingsbury's children released his first public statement 12 days after her "suspicious" and "involuntary" disappearance that appears to be unraveling. Adam Fravel, the last person to see Kingsbury before she went missing March 31, said through his lawyer "he has nothing to do Maddi's disappearance," and he was told by police to stay away from press conferences and searches. Court documents obtained by Fox News Digital and a law enforcement statement paint a different picture of what's happening behind the scenes in Winona, Minnesota. "At one point, (Fravel) took the younger child into the residence and locked the door despite being told that the children were in the care and custody of Winona County," a petition filed April 4 by Winona County Health and Human Services just days after Kingsbury was last seen alleges. FATHER OF MISSING MINNESOTA WOMAN'S CHILDREN BREAKS SILENCE 12 DAYS AFTER SHE VANISHED Minnesota mom Madeline Kingsbury, 26, was last seen dropping her children off at day care around 8 a.m. March 31 "While (Fravel) was in the home with the younger child, a social worker could hear (Fravel) shouting expletives. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP In the April 4 encounter, Fravel was allegedly "non-cooperative" and wouldn't allow social workers access to the kids, according to the petition. That was the day Fravel allegedly had a tense, volatile standoff with social workers and police who attempted to take custody of the children, ages two and five, because he doesn't have custodial rights, according to the court filing. MISSING MINNESOTA MOTHER MADELINE KINGSBURY'S FAMILY FEARED FOUL PLAY WHEN SHE DISAPPEARED AFTER DAY CARE DROP-OFF Further muddying the waters is an emailed statement by the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), which is assisting the Winona Police in Kingsbury's search, that said it's "not aware of any law enforcement advising Mr. Fravel not to attend news conferences or search(es) for Madeline." Fravel's lawyer, Zach Bauer, who released his client's statement Wednesday, told Fox News Digital Thursday the case is being handled by the Winona Police Department. Story continues "Investigators within that agency told Adam that they did not believe he should attend the news conferences or searches for Madeline citing safety concerns," Bauer said. Adam Fravel, the father of missing Minnesota woman Madeline Kingsbury's children, said he's innocent in a statement 12 days after her "suspicious" and "involuntary" disappearance Winona Police have been tightlipped about the case because providing details "would jeopardize our ability" to find Kingsbury and "if warranted, hold accountable the person or persons responsible," the local police department said in its most recent statement Wednesday. Bauer said he doesn't represent Fravel in the child custody matter but said, "It's our general position to not comment on pending litigation." Fravel is fighting in the courts to gain custody of the children. Adam Fravel, the father of missing Minnesota woman Madeline Kingsbury's children, in a Facebook photo. Madeline's sister, Megan Kingsbury, told Fox News Digital in a previous interview she needs to protect the children, so she couldn't get into specifics. "They're in a safe place," she said. The April 4 court filings detail the alleged ongoing struggle by social workers and law enforcement to pry the children away from Fravel and his family following Kingsbury's disappearance. NURSE REBECCA BLIEFNICK SHOT DEAD; COPS SEARCH ESTRANGED HUSBAND'S HOUSE Social workers explained to Fravel and his family what was happening and "encouraged" them to be cooperative to help the children, the petition says. "These attempts were unsuccessful," according to the petition. "(Fravel) and his family made multiple calls to (Fravel's) attorney and at one point stated that the attorney advised them to take the children in the home so that they could not be removed. "Officials on scene informed the family that they cannot obstruct this process. At one point, (Fravel's) father mentioned that Winona County should prepare for a big lawsuit regarding this." WATCH MEGAN KINGSBURY'S INTERVIEW Minnesota mom Madeline Kingsbury, 26, was last seen around 8 a.m. March 31. SCHOOL SUICIDE: MOTHER OF 11-YEAR-OLD DISCOVERS OMINOUS CELLPHONE RECORDING Fravel then allegedly put the kids in a car, and the social workers tried to help secure the children's seat belts, but Fravel "was not willing to accept assistance," the petition alleges. Fravel allegedly placed the kids in the wrong car seats. "Additionally, (Fravel) was unwilling to gather belongings for the children, therefore the children left the home with only the clothes they were wearing," according to the petition. LATEST UPDATE: WARRANTS BEING DRAFTED The search 26-year-old Madeline enters its second week. Thousands of volunteers joined law enforcement and her family and friends over the weekend as they scoured 120,000 acres of land designated by police. Megan Kingsbury and her brother sit together after learning about Madeline's "suspicious disappearance" Megan Kingsbury, Madeline's sister, told Fox News Digital in an exclusive interview at the time that she and her family had one goal of bringing Madeline home. That hasn't changed, and it's no different from law enforcement's goal. MINNESOTA MAN'S ALLEGED MURDER-FOR-HIRE PLOT THWARTED FOR SECOND TIME Police said Wednesday they drafted and served "numerous" search warrants based on information received via tips or through investigative discovery. Kingsbury's van, which she was seen driving the day she went missing, has been impounded and is being processed for evidence, according to police. READ WINONA COUNTY HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES PETITION "Throughout the investigation, we have worked closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to identify and process any available forensic evidence," Winona Police said. "We are following up on leads and paths of inquiry trying to get answers." Police haven't responded to Fox News Digital's request for more information about the search warrants, and police declined to comment on Fox News Digital's questions during a brief phone call Tuesday. "We understand just how much the community wants answers, and we are asking everyone to be patient as the investigative process unfolds," Winona Police said. "We remain confident we will find Maddi and bring her home to her family." Madeline Kingsbury's family wearing custom-made sweatshirts during their search with her physical description and contact information for tips SEND TIPS AND PRESERVE ALL VIDEO RECORDINGS FROM MARCH 31 AND APRIL 1 Police said tips from the public have been integral to the investigation. People can call 1-800-222-TIPS or go to crimestoppersmn.org. Police have also asked everyone in the area to check their security cameras and walk their properties. Police asked residents to preserve all footage from March 31 and April 1. The father of Madeline Kingsburys children has spoken out almost two weeks after she went missing to say he did not have anything to do with her disappearance. In a statement through his lawyer, Adam Fravel said he wants her home to be able to be with our two children and clarified that his non-attendance and silence since Ms Kingsbury was first reported missing was not a sign of apathy. Ms Kingsbury vanished on the morning of 31 March after dropping her two children off at daycare around 8am with Mr Fravel. The 26-year-old returned to her home around 8.15am that day and sent a final, lighthearted text message to her sister. Mr Fravel told Winona Police that he borrowed Ms Kingsburys van around 10am and returned hours later to find her gone. Law enforcement said Ms Kingsburys cellphone, wallet, and ID were left inside the home indicating her disappearance was suspicious. Multiple massive searches have been carried out over the past week but no sign of the missing mother has been found. Key points Madeline Kingsbury vanished on 31 March after daycare dropoff Father of children says he borrowed her blue van Mom-of-twos final text revealed Search scaled back after over 2,000 join hunt for missing mom Sister of missing mother-of-two speaks out The search continues for Madeline Jane Kingsbury 11:00 , Ariana Baio Despite mass searches organised by law enforcement coming to an end, admins on the Finding Madeline Kingsbury Facebook page said community ones are still underway. Admins clarified that community members may still search for Ms Kingsbury, however, they cannot interfere with law enforcement searches. This does not mean searched conducted by the public are ending, the post said. If you are out searching and see [law enforcement] (they are hard to miss), STAY FAR AWAY AND CLEAR FROM THEIR WORK AREAS. Law enforcement say they are extremely concerned for Madeline Kingsburys safety 09:00 , Ariana Baio On 12 April, the Winona Police Department provided an update about the disappearance of Madeline Maddi Kingsbury, nearly two weeks after the 26-year-old went missing. Story continues Winona Police reiterated that evidence suggests Ms Kingsburys disappearance was involuntary and suspicious. We remain extremely concerned for her safety, they wrote. Madeline Kingsbury had plans to see her sister the day before she disappeared 07:00 , Ariana Baio Madeline Maddi Kingsbury made plans to see her sister, Megan Kingsbury, the day after she vanished without a trace, Megan revealed. Megan said that she and her 26-year-old sibling had arranged to meet on Saturday 1 April but were yet to flesh out the details of the plans. They were messaging on the morning of Friday 31 March, with Megan revealing she received the last text from her sister at around 8.15am. Neither she nor anyone else has seen or heard from Ms Kingsbury since then. WATCH: Law enforcement hold a press conference on Madeline Kingsbury 05:00 , ariana.baio Adam Fravel, the father of Madeline Kingsburys children, speaks out 03:00 , Ariana Baio On 12 April, the father of Madeline Kingsburys children, Adam Fravel, released a statement to clarify his involvement in the investigation. Over the course of the last 12 days my family and I have been subject to a myriad of accusations regarding the disappearance of the mother of my children, Maddi Kingsbury, Mr Fravel said in a statement released to The Independent. I did not have anything to do with Maddis disappearance Andrea Blanco and Ariana Baio report. Father of Madeline Kingsburys kids speaks out almost two weeks after she vanished Online rumours lead to speculation and misinformation 01:00 , Ariana Baio Throughout the Madeline Kingsbury investigation, online rumours have led to misinformation. The Kingsbury family and police requested the public refrain from spreading gossip about Ms Kingsbury and the investigation via social media. On the Finding Madeline Kingsbury Facebook page, the Kingsbury family asked people to display appropriate and empathetic behavior both on and offline by not spreading unconfirmed information about the investigation. If you are participating in a search party PLEASE keep any and all findings within your group and Law Enforcement, a post in the group read. One online rumour led some to believe the Winona Police Department was going to host a press conference on 11 April which led law enforcement to clear things up in a post. Internet sleuths have jumped to conclusions when assuming how Ms Kingsbury went missing and who may, or may not have, been involved in her disappearance. The speculation led the father of Ms Kingsburys children, Adam Fravel, to release a statement stating he did not have anything to do with Ms Kingsburys disappearance. Megan Kingsbury posts TikTok update Wednesday 12 April 2023 23:30 , Ariana Baio Madeline Kingsburys family says they will not give up hope Wednesday 12 April 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio Nothing in life prepares you for this. The disappearance of our daughter and sister has been a waking nightmare with no respite, the Kingsbury family wrote in a statement posted to Facebook. On 12 April, the Winona Police Department and Kingsbury family provided a statement and press release about the disappearance of Ms Kingsbury. The 26-year-old mother-of-two was last seen and heard from on 31 March. Police have conducted one large mass search and now smaller searches led by community members are underway. Were overwhelmed by the dedication and tangible expressions of love demonstrated by the huge circle of warriors she unknowingly gathered around her- her sorority sisters, coworkers at Mayo Clinic, and other places, fellow students from her days at Winona State, other moms and her many, many friends, acquaintances and people whose lives she touched. There have been so signs of Ms Kingsbury thus far but her family says they are not giving up hope. We will find Madeline. This is our mission and we will not falter. Winona Police Department provides update on Madeline Kingsbury investigation Wednesday 12 April 2023 20:34 , Ariana Baio On 12 April, the Winona Police Department provided an update about the disappearance of Madeline Maddi Kingsbury, nearly two weeks after the 26-year-old went missing. We are updating the public on what is being done to find her, the Winona Police Department wrote in a statement posted to Facebook. Law enforcement said despite the end of large, organised searches they are continuing to search targeted areas of Winona and Fillmore Counties based on tips and investigation discovery. They have also drafted and served multiple search warrants. Police are asking the public to share every tip they have about Ms Kingsbury. People can do so by calling 1-800-222-TIPS or go to crimestoppersmn.org. Law enforcement also provided an update on Ms Kingsburys dark blue Chrysler Town and Country van. It has been taken and processed for evidence, Winona Police said. Throughout the investigation, we have worked closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to identify and process any available forensics evidence. Winona Police reiterated that evidence suggests Ms Kingsburys disappearance was involuntary and suspicious. We remain extremely concerned for her safety, they wrote. Father of Madeline Kingsburys children releases statement Wednesday 12 April 2023 19:51 , ariana.baio Adam Fravel, the father of Madeline Maddi Kingsburys children, has released a statement via his lawyer about Ms Kingsburys disappearance. Over the course of the last 12 days my family and I have been subject to a myriad of accusations regarding the disappearance of the mother of my children, Maddi Kingsbury, Mr Fravels lawyer, Zachary Baue, told The Independent. During these last 12 days I have cooperated with law enforcement at every turn, including sitting down for multiple interviews with Winona County law enforcement. I did not have anything to do with Maddis disappearance. I want the mother of my 5-year-old and 2-year-old to be found and brought home safely. I want that more than anything. Law enforcement advised me on April 2nd that they would not recommend that I attend the press conferences or that I assist in the searches due to safety concerns. However, my non-attendance and silence has been inferred by many as a sign of apathy, or worse. That could not be further from the truth. Mr Fravel told law enforcement he was with Ms Kingsbury on the morning of 31 March when the two dropped their children off at daycare. After dropping the children off, he told law enforcement he borrowed her dark blue minivan but when he returned to Ms Kingsburys home later that day, she was not there. Mr Fravel has been at the center of online speculation about Ms Kingsburys disappearance. I want Maddi home and for her to be able to be with our two children. God Bless the Kingsbury family and please bring her home safely, Mr Fravels statement says. Madeline Jane Kingsburys sister speaks out Wednesday 12 April 2023 19:39 , Ariana Baio Madeline Maddi Jane Kingsburys sister, Megan Kingsbury has spoken her missing sister with Good Morning America on Tuesday Megan said she last spoke to Ms Kingsbury, 26, on the morning of 31 March, just hours before her disapperance. Megan said she was expecting Ms Kingsbury and her daughter, to visit her the following day. But after she tried to call Ms Kingsbury with no answer, she knew something was wrong. I tried to call and nobody picked up, Megan told the show. And thats kind of when alarm bells were going off. Andrea Blanco reports. Madeline Kingsburys sister speaks out as search for missing mother continues Madeline Jane Kingsburys family describes her Wednesday 12 April 2023 18:52 , Ariana Baio When 26-year-old Madeline Maddi Jane Kingsbury suddenly stopped communicating with her family on 31 April, they immediately knew something was wrong. Ms Kingburys sister, Megan Kingsbury told Fox News that their family is close and Ms Kingsbury speaks with them on a regular basis. Megan called Ms Kingsbury, a hardworking and dedicated mother. Shes my best friend. She was really funny as a little kid. She liked to pick out her own clothes and they never matched. And she loved wearing dark red lipstick that was always on her teeth, Megan described Ms Kingsbury to ABC6 News. On Good Morning America, Megan pleaded, Please help us find Madeline. Her children need their mother. We need our daughter, our sister, our aunt, and our best friend back. Ms Kingsburys mother, Krista Naber, told News Nation, Madeline was just a hard-at-work mom, she took care of her two babies, she had started graduate school in January. Things were finally looking up for her. It was her goal to just continue to improve her life and the life for her kiddos, Ms Naber added. #MadelineKingsbury disappeared on March 31, after dropping off her two kids at day care in Winona, Minnesota. @TVAshleigh talks to Kingsburys mom, Krista Naber, in her first primetime interview about the search for her 26-year-old daughter. pic.twitter.com/gfzOe7uQVV NewsNation (@NewsNation) April 11, 2023 ICYMI: Who is missing 26-year-old Madeline Kingsbury? Wednesday 12 April 2023 17:30 , Ariana Baio Madeline Maddi Jane Kingsbury went missing on the morning of 31 March. For nearly two weeks, law enforcement in Winona County and Fillmore County, members of the community, and Ms Kingsburys family have been tirelessly searching for the missing 26-year-old. Heres everything to know about the case: Rachel Sharp reports. What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance Megan Kingsbury says police are working around the clock" Wednesday 12 April 2023 16:11 , Ariana Baio In a video posted to her TikTok, Madeline Kingsburys sister, Megan Kingsbury, said police are tirelessly working around the clock to find her sister. In previous videos, Megan described feeling frustrated that there are no updates about her missing 26-year-old sister. But in her latest video, she clarified that the frustration was not with police, just with the lack of leads. We as a family are not frustrated with police at all, they are tirelessly working around the clock, Megan said. She added, We just want to find out where my sister is and the police do too. Ms Kingsbury has been missing for 12 days. She was last seen the morning of 31 March. Community searches still underway for Madeline Kingsbury Wednesday 12 April 2023 14:35 , Ariana Baio Despite mass searches organised by law enforcement coming to an end, admins on the Finding Madeline Kingsbury Facebook page said community ones are still underway. As a group of admins, weve been coordinating with community members of Mabel and the Mabel Legion for Fillmore County searches since Maddis disappearance. In response to speculation and inaccurate information from adjacent pages: CIVILIAN SEARCHES ARE CONTINUING, a post on the page read. Admins clarified that community members may still search for Ms Kingsbury, however, they cannot interfere with law enforcement searches. This does not mean searched conducted by the public are ending, the post said. If you are out searching and see [law enforcement] (they are hard to miss), STAY FAR AWAY AND CLEAR FROM THEIR WORK AREAS. Community members who would like to volunteer to help search for Ms Kingsbury can do so by signing up on SignUpGenius. $15k raised for family of Madeline Jane Kingsbury Wednesday 12 April 2023 14:00 , Ariana Baio A GoFundMe that was started to raise money for Madeline Maddi Kingsburys family to stay in hotels while they search for the missing 26-year-old mother-of-two has raised over $15,000. Over 300 people have donated money to the cause. The GoFundMe is asking for $20,000 to help support Ms Kingsburys family who has been tirelessly looking for her for 12 days. Ms Kingsbury went missing on 31 March after dropping her children off at daycare. Madeline Kingsbury (Winona Police) Missing mother-of-twos sister speaks about moment she knew something was wrong Wednesday 12 April 2023 13:00 , Rachel Sharp Madeline Kingsburys sister has spoken out about the moment she knew something was wrong. Megan Kingsbury told GMA that she had plans with her sister on 1 April and had contacted her to discuss the plans on 31 March. When she couldnt get in touch, she grew increasingly concerned. I tried to call, nobody picked up, and thats kind of when alarm bells were going off, she said, Its swirling around in your head, like, why havent I heard anything from her? Winona Police press conference fails to materialise Wednesday 12 April 2023 12:00 , Rachel Sharp Winona Police had been expected to hold a press conference on Tuesday but later confirmed that information was incorrect. We are aware it is being reported that we are having a press conference today in regards to the missing persons case of Madeline Kingsbury. That information is not correct, there will NOT be a press conference today. Thank you, the department posted on Facebook. No update has been given in several days now. Madeline Kinsgburys sister speaks out Wednesday 12 April 2023 11:08 , Rachel Sharp The sister of Madeline Kingsbury has spoken out as the search for the missing mother-of-two nears the end of its second week with no clues as to her whereabouts. Megan Kingsbury told ABCs Good Morning America on Tuesday that she is not giving up hope that her sibling will return home safe. We love her and Maddi, were going to find you, she said. Shes my best friend. She was really funny as a little kid. She liked to pick out her own clothes and they never matched. And she loved wearing dark red lipstick that was always on her teeth. We love to bake, we love Harry Potter, and she loves Lord of the Rings. And we try to take trips together, just the two of us for quality time. The timeline we know so far of Madeline Kingsburys disappearance Wednesday 12 April 2023 11:00 , Ariana Baio On 31, March, Madeline Maddi Jane Kingsbury suddenly disappeared after dropping her two young children off at daycare. Since then, several large, and small, scale searches have gone underway in the hopes of finding the missing 26-year-old. Her disappearance has been described as involuntary and suspicious by law enforcement officials and Ms Kingsburys family is pleading with the public for help finding their missing daughter, mother, sister, and niece. Heres what we know about the timeline of her disappearance. 8 am, 31 March- Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children dropped off their two children at daycare. 8.15 am, 31 March- Ms Kingsbury returned home in her dark blue Chrysler Town & Country van. 10 am, 31 March-The father of Ms Kingsburys children told police officers he left her residence in the dark blue van. The father of the children returned to Ms Kingsburys residence and told authorities she was no longer home. Ms Kingsburys cellphone, ID, wallet, and jacket she was wearing earlier that day were left inside. 1.30 pm, 31 March- The dark blue Chrysler Town & Country van was spotted traveling southbound on County Road 12 and Highway 43 in Winona County. Police did not say who was driving. 1 April- Winona Police Department released Ms Kingsburys photo saying they are seeking information in her disappearance. 7 April- The Winona County Sheriffs Office and Fillmore County Sheriffs Office conducted a mass search. 8 April- Law enforcement announced they will be ending the planned second mass search because there were enough volunteers to cover more ground. Recap: Who is Madeline Jane Kingsbury? Wednesday 12 April 2023 09:00 , Ariana Baio The search for 26-year-old Madeline Jane Kingsbury is underway after the mother-of-two mysteriously disappeared on 31 March. Ms Kingsbury was last seen dropping her two young children off at daycare with the father of her children. After returning home around 8.15 am on 31 March her whereabouts became unknown. Here is everything we know about Ms Kingsbury as Winona Police continue their search and investigation into her disappearance. Rachel Sharp reports. What we know about missing mother Madeline Kingsburys disappearance Madeline Kingsburys sister says she is frustrated with lack of updates Wednesday 12 April 2023 07:00 , Ariana Baio On TikTok, Megan Kingsbury, the sister of 26-year-old missing woman Madeline Kingsbury, said she is frustrated there is no update on the whereabouts of her sister. Madeline Kingsburys sister reveals their final text exchange Wednesday 12 April 2023 04:00 , Ariana Baio Madeline Maddi Kingsburys sister, Meghan Kingsbury revealed the final text messages between her and her sister before she went missing on 31 March. Megan said the last text message she received from Ms Kingsbury was at 8.15 am, the day 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 told Fox News. Megan said she and her family became worried about Ms Kingsbury after she stopped answering her phone. This is very unlike her, Megan said. 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. Law enforcement ask residents to check their cameras Wednesday 12 April 2023 02:00 , Ariana Baio Law enforcement officials are asking residents of Fillmore, Houston, and Winona counties to check their cameras, save videos, and walk their properties in the hunt for missing woman Madeliene Maddi Jane Kingsbury. Walk your property if you havent done so already, Tom Williams, the Winona Police Chief said in a press conference on Friday, 7 April. Look for signs of anything suspicious, a disturbance, or anything out of place, Mr Williams added. Fillmore County Sheriff John DeGeorge echoed Mr Williams plea asking people to check their cars, their properties, the trails, and more for any suspicious signs. Ms Kingsbury went missing on 31 March. Over 1,000 joined the search for Madeline Jane Kingsbury Wednesday 12 April 2023 00:00 , Ariana Baio In the 11 days since Madeline Maddi Jane Kingsbury went missing, thousands of people signed up to search for the 26-year-old mother-of-two. On Friday, 7 April, over 1,000 people signed up on SignUpGenius for four different time and location slots to look for Ms Kingsbury. Searches took place on Friday with another mass search slated for Saturday, 8 April, but law enforcement called off the mass search believing there were enough volunteers the day before to canvas the area. Ariana Baio reports. Over 1,000 people sign up to join search for missing mother Madeline Kingsbury Megan Kingsbury gives an update on the search for her sister Tuesday 11 April 2023 22:00 , Ariana Baio Megan Kingsbury, Madeline Jane Kingsburys sister, gave an update about her 26-year-old sisters disappearance via TikTok on Tuesday. We dont really have a lot of updates, which is frustrating, Ms Kingsbury said in her video. I know it is for everyone trying to help, its frustrating for us too. The police are frustrated. It just- it sucks, Ms Kingsbury added saying searches are still underway for her sister. Ms Kingsbury said police are still looking for her sister who was last seen on the morning of 31 March. People in the community are also looking for Madeline too. Police called off a mass search on Saturday saying they had enough volunteers to canvas the area on Friday. But smaller searches are still happening. Ms Kingsbury said she had spent the day doing media interviews to help spread the word about her sister. Ms Kingsbury ended her TikTok by thanking people for boosting her TikTok videos and spreading the word about Madeline. Police confirm no press conference for Tuesday Tuesday 11 April 2023 21:03 , Ariana Baio Misinformation online led some to believe the Winona Police Department would be hosting a press conference on Tuesday to update the public about Madeline Jane Kingsburys disappearance. On Facebook, the Winona Police confirmed there would be no press conference. We are aware it is being reported that we are having a press conference today in regards to the missing persons case of Madeline Kingsbury. That information is not correct, there will NOT be a press conference today. Thank you, they wrote. Timeline in Madeline Kingsburys disappearance Tuesday 11 April 2023 18:57 , ariana.baio On 31, March, Madeline Maddi Jane Kingsbury suddenly disappeared after dropping her two young children off at daycare. Since then, several large, and small, scale searches have gone underway in the hopes of finding the missing 26-year-old. Her disappearance has been described as involuntary and suspicious by law enforcement officials and Ms Kingsburys family is pleading with the public for help finding their missing daughter, mother, sister, and niece. Heres what we know about the timeline of her disappearnce. 8 am, 31 March- Ms Kingsbury and the father of her children dropped off their two children at daycare. 8.15 am, 31 March- Ms Kingsbury returned home in her dark blue Chrysler Town & Country van. 10 am, 31 March-The father of Ms Kingsburys children told police officers he left her residence in the dark blue van. The father of the children returned to Ms Kingsburys residence and told authorities she was no longer home. Ms Kingsburys cellphone, ID, wallet, and jacket she was wearing earlier that day were left inside. 1.30 pm, 31 March- The dark blue Chrysler Town & Country van was spotted traveling southbound on County Road 12 and Highway 43 in Winona County. Police did not say who was driving. 1 April- Winona Police Department released Ms Kingsburys photo saying they are seeking information in her disappearance. 7 April- The Winona County Sheriffs Office and Fillmore County Sheriffs Office conducted a mass search. 8 April- Law enforcement announced they will be ending the planned second mass search because there were enough volunteers to cover more ground. What Madeline Kingsbury told her family minutes before she vanished Tuesday 11 April 2023 17:32 , Ariana Baio Just moments before Madeline Maddi Kingsburys suspicious disappearance, she was texting with her sister, Megan Kingsbury. The two had a close relationship and Ms Kingsbury was often in communication with her family. Ms Kingsburys family knew something was wrong when she stopped answering their messages as it was out of character for her. Police in Winona and neighbouring Filmore County described Ms Kingsburys disappearance as involuntary and suspicious. Megan revealed what she and her now-missing sister were speaking about. Andrea Blanco reports. Sister of missing Winona mother Madeline Kingsbury reveals final text Madeline Kingsburys mother speaks about missing daughter Tuesday 11 April 2023 15:41 , Ariana Baio Krista Naber, Madeline Maddi Kingsburys mother spoke with News Nation about her missing 26-year-old daughter. Madeline was just a hard-at-work mom, Ms Naber said. She took care of her two babies, she had started graduate school in January. Things were really, finally, looking up for her #MadelineKingsbury disappeared on March 31, after dropping off her two kids at day care in Winona, Minnesota. @TVAshleigh talks to Kingsburys mom, Krista Naber, in her first primetime interview about the search for her 26-year-old daughter. pic.twitter.com/gfzOe7uQVV NewsNation (@NewsNation) April 11, 2023 Ms Kingsbury was last seen on 31 March after dropping her two young children off at daycare with the father of her children. Online, internet sleuths have speculated about the childrens fathers involvement or other people Ms Kingsbury may have been dating. Ms Naber addressed the speculation saying, Were hopeful that the evidence and things that theyre collecting are going to lead us in the right direction. As to whose responsible, the investigation is ongoing so I really cant speak to anything in that nature. What Madeline Jane Kingsburys family has said about her disappearance Tuesday 11 April 2023 14:08 , ariana.baio When 26-year-old Madeline Maddi Jane Kingsbury suddenly stopped communicating with her family on 31 April, they immediately knew something was wrong. Ms Kingburys sister, Megan Kingsbury told Fox News that their family is close and Ms Kingsbury speaks with them on a regular basis. Megan called Ms Kingsbury, a hardworking and dedicated mother. Shes my best friend. She was really funny as a little kid. She liked to pick out her own clothes and they never matched. And she loved wearing dark red lipstick that was always on her teeth, Megan described Ms Kingsbury to ABC6 News. On Good Morning America, Megan pleaded, Please help us find Madeline. Her children need their mother. We need our daughter, our sister, our aunt, and our best friend back. Ms Kingsburys mother, Krista Naber, told News Nation, Madeline was just a hard-at-work mom, she took care of her two babies, she had started graduate school in January. Things were finally looking up for her. It was her goal to just continue to improve her life and the life for her kiddos, Ms Naber added. Ms Naber acknowledged the Winona Police Department and the local communitys hard work in the search for her missing daughter. Family slams gossip about search discovery Tuesday 11 April 2023 13:00 , Graeme Massie Madeline Kingsburys family has begged the public not to gossip about anything found during the search for the missing mother-of-two. Around 2,000 people joined in the search for the 26-year-old this weekend following her sudden disappearance on 31 March. Its unclear if anything has been found but Ms Kingsburys family urged the public not to gossip about any discoveries. It has come to our attention there has been some gossip about what has or has not been found by search parties. If you are participating in a search party PLEASE keep any and all findings within your group and Law Enforcement. We are all hoping and praying for answers/clues/signs/etc., but we need to let the officials do their job, the family said in a Facebook group focused on the search for the missing mother. Also, please keep in the front of your mind that we are looking for a Daughter, Sister, Friend and Mother. Make sure you are displaying appropriate and empathetic behavior both on and offline. Thank you for your continued love and support. I think I speak for all of Maddis family and friends when I say that seeing all of the donations made and people out willing to search today was a humbling experience. We appreciate you. Madeline Kingsbury had plans to see sister day after she vanished Tuesday 11 April 2023 10:04 , Graeme Massie Madeline Kingsbury had made plans to see her sister the day after she vanished without a trace, it has been revealed. Megan Kingsbury said that she and her 26-year-old sibling had arranged to meet on Saturday 1 April but were yet to flesh out the details of the plans. They were messaging on the morning of Friday 31 March, with Megan revealing she received the last text from her sister at around 8.15am. Neither she nor anyone else has seen or heard from Ms Kingsbury since then. The voices in Stephen Deflauns head were ramping up in the month before he allegedly killed two people at a San Luis Obispo County beach in 2001, leaving him in a place of despair, the murder defendant testified in San Luis Obispo Superior Court on Wednesday. Prosecutors say Deflaun killed San Pedro man Stephen Wells, 37, and his 11-year-old nephew, Jerry Rios, Jr., at Morro Strand State Beach on July 8, 2001. A defense attorney told jurors that Deflaun was not at fault because the voices in his head told him that killing Wells and his nephew was the only way Deflaun would survive being assassinated. Deflaun was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in 2004 and was not expected to ever stand trial. He was deemed competent to stand trial in April 2022, however more than 20 years after he was first arrested. Deflaun faces two counts of murder with a firearm and one count of assaulting a peace officer with a firearm. In June, he pled not guilty and not guilty by reason of insanity to the charges. On Wednesday, Deflaun took the witness stand for a second day and spoke about the events leading up to the fatal July 2001 shootout. Stephen Deflaun gives testimony on the witness stand. Deflaun allegedly killed two people at Morro Strand State Park July 8, 2001, and was deemed competent enough to go to trial in 2022. Murder defendant bought gun because he had enemies everywhere A major factor during questioning on Wednesday was Deflauns mental state leading up to and during the shooting. Deflaun testified that he bought the revolver used in the alleged crime in 1989 while living in Denver because he was afraid he would be tortured and murdered by other people. I thought I might end up in a fight with someone, Deflaun said. When purchasing his gun, he also got a speed loader, in order to make it easier when he needed to reload, he said. I had enemies everywhere, Deflaun said. Deflaun used his gun almost every day when he first bought it and would practice with a pellet air pistol, he testified. He said he had no special training with the gun, and it was not registered with the police department. In the month before the July 2001 shooting, Deflaun kept the gun loaded and on the floor near his bed, he testified Wednesday. Story continues During that month, he said, the voices in his head were telling him he would be kidnapped and murdered. Defense attorneys Ray Allen, left, and Tim Osman, right, begin Stephen Deflauns defense April 11. Deflaun is accused of killing San Pedro resident Stephen Wells, 37, and his 11-year-old nephew, Jerry Rios Jr., during an altercation over a camping spot at Morro Strand State Beach on July 8, 2001. Stephen Deflaun says he moved around to avoid the program During cross examination Wednesday, Deputy District Attorney Eric Dobroth questioned Deflaun on his whereabouts in the months prior to the shooting. Deflaun said he had been living out of his van since 1986 and would travel to different locations for new places to live. This was in part because he was concerned about the program what he called the voices in his head. At one point, Deflaun began to board up his windows and put fencing around him so a boulder couldnt go through, he testified. Deflaun also put silver bubble insulation up to protect himself from the program, he said. In 2001, Deflaun traveled to a number of campsites along the California coast. When he found most of them had a full sign, including spots in Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz, it made him feel uneasy, Deflaun said on Wednesday. The defendant was planning on going to Sacramento at the time, he testified, but decided not to because he recalled there being a heat wave at the time. So he continued south, he said. Thats how Deflaun came to Morro Strand State Beach. 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. Defendant was in place of despair due to voices in head On July 8, 2001, Deflaun testified he left San Simeon and headed to Morro Strand State Beach. Deflaun said he arrived at Site 1 and had an altercation with a park ranger there. He thought the ranger had deliberately told him the wrong location where he could park his camper because they were plotting against him, Deflaun testified. Ive experienced discrimination many times because of the program, Deflaun said Wednesday. Deflaun testified that he eventually went to Site A, where his spot was, and then went to the grocery store to get water, beer and a newspaper. Back at the campsite, he said, he was hearing voices and in a place of despair. I felt the surf on the beach was against me, Deflaun said. He felt the wind along the roof and the traffic along the road were against him as well. It was the worst day of my life, he said. In the span of two hours, Deflaun drank a 12-pack of beer, something that was not unusual for him at the time, he said. Sometime after, Wells who was staying at the campground with his wife, Betsy Wells, her three children and their nephew in a recreational vehicle confronted Deflaun at his van when he yelled at the kids. Deflaun said he gave Wells the finger. Something I would never do, Deflaun said, noting he was very drunk. During his testimony, Deflaun added he did not recall yelling at Rio Jr. and his 11-year-old cousin Brian Wells. The heated conversation ended with Stephen Wells telling Deflaun he was going to report him to the park rangers, Deflaun said. Stephen Deflaun swears to tell the truth before his testimony on the witness stand. Deflaun allegedly killed two people at Morro Strand State Park July 8, 2001, and was deemed competent enough to go to trial in 2022. Murder defendant says voices told him to shoot at SLO County beach After the altercation with Wells, Deflaun testified, Everybody in the world saw him put his gun in his waistband, lock his van door and head toward the California State Parks ranger kiosk. At first he wanted Wells to kill him, he said. Deflaun testified he knew Wells was a federal agent asshole sent by the program to kill him. Deflaun said he approached the kiosk, turned the corner and was face to face with Wells, who moved. Deflaun said he interpreted this as Wells being a federal agent assassin, and got scared. The defendant then fired one round, he said. Deflaun said the second and third rounds he fired were in Wells direction and hit the mans bicep and kneecap. While shooting a fourth round, Deflaun said, he recalled seeing someone to his left. My heart was literally in my mouth, Deflaun said. The defendant said he made his way around the kiosk and heard the voices warn him about what would happen if he didnt shoot. They told him he would be put on an iron lawn and suffocate, Deflaun said. He said he let his arm hang by his side as he looked straight ahead and shot at both Rios Jr. and Wells again. I just pulled the gun and went bang, Deflaun said. He did not look for the final two shots because he was afraid of a ricochet, Deflaun said, adding that he doesnt like violence. Deflaun said he then saw Brian Wells run for cover toward the RV where he and his family were staying. Something in my mind told me weapon, Deflaun testified. According to Deflaun, he ran to the RV and asked if Betsy Wells if she had any weapons inside. Wells said, No, but dont hurt my children, Deflaun recalled. A State Parks ranger then showed up and pulled out a shotgun from his vehicle, Deflaun said. At the time, Deflaun was not clear who he was, he said. It could have been an assassin, it could have been a park ranger, Deflaun said. I wanted him to shoot me ... I wanted him to kill me. Deflaun said he then put his gun at waist level and pushed it forward to get the ranger to shoot him. During his testimony, Deflaun said he did not shoot at the ranger because the voices did not tell him to. The first time the ranger asked him to drop his weapon, Deflaun remembered saying, No f---ing way. The second time, he complied because it seemed like the right thing to do, he said. When he was arrested, Deflaun said he tried to deflect anger, fearing he would be killed after killing the others. Prosecuting attorneys Eric Dobroth and Ben Blumenthal look on as a witness gives testimony during the trial of Stephen Deflaun on April 11. Deflaun is accused of killing San Pedro resident Stephen Wells, 37, and his 11-year-old nephew, Jerry Rios Jr., during an altercation over a camping spot at Morro Strand State Beach on July 8, 2001. Defendant claims he didnt have a choice in shooting During Dobroths cross examination, Deflaun elaborated on the program, saying the voices happened 24/7 and projected his thoughts to other people. Deflaun said the voices spoke to him in code: When he heard federal agent, it meant the person was sent by the program, while if the voices said shotgun, it meant he would be kidnapped and murdered. The voices threatened to kidnap and torture him one month before the shooting, Deflaun testified. They were going to kill me, he said of the voices. It wouldnt leave me alone. Ultimately, killing Wells and Rios Jr. was the lesser of two evils, he said. I didnt have a choice, Deflaun said. The trial is expected to resume Thursday at 11 a.m. with more testimony from the defense. Community members helped deputies in the arrest of a 37-year-old man who allegedly pulled a knife and threatened to kill employees at a Palm Desert country club, authorities said on Thursday. Jeffrey Bryson Searcy of Palm Desert was arrested Wednesday morning on suspicion of making criminal threats, brandishing a weapon and resisting an officer, according to Sgt. Bryan Whitley and Lt. Chris Willison of the Riverside County Sheriffs Department. Whitley and Willison said that deputies responded around 12:30 p.m. Monday to the 41-500 block of Woodhaven Drive to a report of a man who pulled a knife and threatened to kill employees. That is the address of Woodhaven Country Club. An extensive search was conducted in the area but Searcy, the suspect, was not found that day, according to authorities. On Wednesday morning, deputies did a welfare check on him in the 77-600 block of South Woodhaven Drive, where Searcy allegedly said he was armed with a gun and would shoot anyone who tried to assist him. Deputies called additional resources and established a perimeter to ensure the safety of community members, Whitley and Willison said. Searcy was taken into custody after several hours of negotiations. Searcy was booked into the John J. Benoit Detention Center in Indio, where he remains held on $1 million bail, according to inmate records. No one was injured as a result of this incident and there is no further threat to the community, Whitley and Willison said in a statement. We would like to thank the affected residents of Palm Desert for their continued patience and their assistance during this high-risk incident. Authorities additionally encouraged residents to be vigilant and get to know their neighbors in case a similar incident occurs in their neighborhood, stating that building neighborly relationships keep everyone safe. Anyone with additional information on the criminal threats was asked to call Deputy Ford of the Palm Desert sheriffs station at 760-836-1600 or Valley Crime Stoppers anonymously at 760-341-7867(STOP). C This article originally appeared on Palm Springs Desert Sun: Man accused of threatening to kill employees at Palm Desert country club arrested China's energy and chemical giant Sinopec on Wednesday signed a partnership agreement with QatarEnergy, the state-owned petroleum company of Qatar, to participate in the North Field East (NFE) expansion project. The agreement was signed by Ma Yongsheng, chairman of Sinopec, and Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, the minister of State for Energy Affairs and CEO of QatarEnergy, in a ceremony held in the Qatari capital of Doha. The NFE project, with a total investment of 28.75 billion U.S. dollars, aims to raise Qatar's liquefied natural gas (LNG) export capacity from the current 77 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) to 110 MTPA, making it one of the largest LNG projects in the world, Sinopec said in a statement. The project is part of Qatar's strategy to expand its global LNG market share and meet the growing demand for clean energy. With the signing of the agreement, Sinopec becomes the first Asian shareholder in the NFE project, the Chinese company said. "The cooperation will help Sinopec optimize the energy consumption mix in China and secure long-term and reliable clean energy supply to the nation. The partnership represents another model of bilateral cooperation between China and Qatar," Sinopec said. A threat is spray painted on the building wall near Wisconsin Family Action's offices in Madison. MADISON A Madison man accused of throwing two Molotov cocktails into the headquarters of an anti-abortion organization last year has pleaded not guilty. Hridindu Roychowdhury, 29, was indicted by a grand jury in April after being arrested in March and charged with one count of attempting to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive. On Tuesday, he pleaded not guilty to the charge. Federal prosecutors accuse Roychowdhury of efforts to "terrorize" and "intimidate" by vandalizing and setting a fire in the Madison offices of Wisconsin Family Action last spring. The incident took place during the early morning hours of May 8, 2022, a week after a leaked draft of U.S. Supreme Court decision showing a majority of justices planned to vote to overturn the court's landmark 1973 ruling that legalized abortion. The decision was ultimately released a month later, effectively putting back into effect an 1849 law banning most abortions in Wisconsin. "If abortions aren't safe then you aren't either" was scrawled in black paint across the outside wall of Wisconsin Family Action's offices a threat that was found by police while responding to a call that morning reporting flames inside the building on the capital city's north side. No one was in the office at the time of the incident. An investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives determined the fire was incendiary and was started using a device that was "consistent with the appearance and components of a Molotov cocktail," according to the criminal complaint. "To be honest with you, I knew immediately what had happened," Wisconsin Family Action President Julaine Appling said in an interview in May 2022, referring to her initial conversation with police officers. "You know, you can disagree with me. And I don't mind being disagreed with. But to threaten the safety of my team because we have a different opinion on an issue an important issue, I'll grant you that. That doesn't give you credence to threaten my life, and then turn around and damage property," Appling said. Story continues Nearly a year after the incident took place, investigators were able to track down Roychowdhury through DNA evidence and matching his handwriting in a separate graffiti incident. After determining which vehicle belonged to Roychowdhury, investigators were able to match DNA evidence found at the firebombing scene to a half-eaten burrito he discarded in a Madison trash can. In March, Roychowdhury was arrested at an airport in Boston as he was attempting to board a plane with a one-way ticket to Guatemala, according to the U.S. attorneys office. According to court records, Roychowdhury is in federal custody. On Tuesday, he waived his right to appear in federal court for an arraignment. 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. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Not guilty plea in firebombing of Madison anti-abortion group's office [Source] A Chinese man, identified as Gu, has been sentenced to six months in prison after scaring over 1,100 of his neighbors chickens to death. Gu reportedly snuck into his neighbors chicken farm in Hengyang County, Hunan province, using a flashlight to make his way into the adjacent property. However, the sudden light frightened the chickens, causing them to panic into a corner and trample over one another. A dispute between Gu and his neighbor, identified as Zhong, began in April 2022 after Zhong cut down Gus trees without asking for permission. Soon after, Gu made his way into Zhongs property at night with the flashlight, causing the death of 500 chickens. More from NextShark: Chinese Scientist Who Created Gene-Edited Babies Gets 3 Years in Jail In light of this initial feud, the police arrested Gu and ordered him to provide monetary compensation of 3,000 yuan (approximately $437) to Zhong. However, this failed to deter Gu, who once again trespassed into Zhengs chicken farm, causing the death of another 640 chickens. The Hengyang court ruled against Gu for the deaths of approximately 1,100 chickens on Tuesday. Estimating Zhongs total loss as 13,840 yuan (approximately $2,015), the court said that Gus actions intentionally caused property loss." More from NextShark: Girl, 13, Rallies Hundreds Against Anti-Asian Hate Crimes in the Bay Area Gu was sentenced to six months in prison with one-year probation. Enjoy this content? Read more from NextShark! 2 Struggling Korean Restaurants Robbed of $6,300 in Cash in Los Angeles 'Dirty' skin: Utah school district ignored chronic racial harassment of Black and Asian students A 29-year-old man having a mental health crisis died after spending 20 days in a windowless, solitary confinement jail cell, a federal lawsuit says. Joshua McLemore lost nearly 45 pounds, barely eating or drinking, as a pretrial detainee after first arriving at Jackson County Jail in Indiana on July 20, 2021, according to a complaint filed April 12. During the booking process, officers never photographed him, took his fingerprints or evaluated his medical health despite knowing he came directly from a hospital, the complaint says. Instead, he was dropped off in a padded isolation cell where he deteriorated in a constant state of psychosis, according to the complaint. McLemore wasnt helped until it was too late and died on Aug. 10, 2021, from extreme malnutrition and dehydration, the complaint says. His death was preventable, according to the lawsuit filed by McLemores aunt Melita Ladner against Jackson County, Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer, the jails commander and a few staff members, and Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc. which provides health care services to people in the jail. He was out of touch with reality and needed help, Hank Balson, one of the attorneys representing the case from Budge and Heipt PLLC law firm, told McClatchy News in a statement. Instead of getting Josh the care he so desperately needed, the Jackson County Sheriff and his staff left Josh alone in his cell, naked, barely sleeping or eating, for almost three weeks as he wasted away in front of their eyes, Balson said. McClatchy News contacted Jackson County officials and the Jackson County Sheriffs Office on April 12 and didnt immediately receive a response. Jessica Young, the president of Advanced Correctional Healthcare, headquartered in Tennessee, told McClatchy News that we take criticisms of the care provided by our team seriously. She said the company isnt allowed to speak on patients information because of federal privacy and confidentiality laws. Story continues A nine-month investigation by the Jackson County Prosecutors Office determined McLemore most likely died due to a prolonged lack of attention by Jackson County Jail staff as a group, according to a report on the findings released June 29. However, Jackson County Prosecutor Jeffrey A. Chalfant wrote no one person committed a crime and decided criminal charges against jail employees werent warranted. McLemores detainment before his death McLemore was born in Gulfport, Mississippi, and raised in Long Beach by his mother, Rhonda McLemore, who died in December, more than a year after her sons death, according to the complaint. Joshua McLemore and his mother Rhonda McLemore. He liked to read, play chess and video games, and watch sports, the complaint says. In high school, McLemore began having issues with drug use and undiagnosed mental illness, and he was later diagnosed with schizophrenia, for which he repeatedly received in-patient psychiatric treatment, according to the complaint. Although there were times of stability in his life when he was able to work, the mental illness and drug problems returned, the complaint says. In November 2020, he moved to Seymour, Indiana, about 60 miles southeast of Indianapolis, and got a new job. McLemores mother doesnt hear from her son On July 20, 2021, McLemores mother became anxious because she hadnt heard from him, and his apartment manager went to check on him, according to the complaint. McLemore was found naked and incoherent on his bedroom floor, and an ambulance was called, the complaint says. At the hospital, he showed more signs of mental incoherence and disorientation, the complaint says. About a half-hour after arriving at Schneck Medical Center Emergency Department in Seymour, McLemore got out of his hospital bed and lay on the floor, according to the complaint. When a nurse walked in the room, tapped his shoulder and requested he get up, he pulled her hair, the complaint says. Ultimately, a hospital security guard called police, who arrested McLemore, according to the complaint. An emergency room doctor said McLemore was agitated and experiencing substance abuse and later acknowledged he showed signs of mental illness, the complaint says. He was taken to Jackson County Jail in his underwear and handcuffs, according to the complaint. McLemore enters the isolation cell McLemore was directly taken to Padded Cell 7, a small, empty cell with bright fluorescent lights a few feet away from the jails book-in station, the complaint says. Three officers stripped him of his underwear, tossed a green suicide smock on the floor after failing to force him in it and left him alone with a thin blanket on the ground nearby, according to the complaint. Where am I, McLemore asked while fidgeting, moving around the floor on his knees, and licking the cell walls and floor, according to the complaint and footage from a surveillance camera recording his activities overhead. The (surveillance) video spans more than 400 hours and shows starkly and unmistakably the inhumane nature of Joshs confinement, his active psychosis, and his deteriorating condition over the course of his confinement, the complaint says. Although he was placed on Medical Observation for the entire 20 days spent in the cell, he barely received any medical monitoring, according to the complaint. McLemore barely eats, drinks or sleeps and acts erratically Over 20 days, McLemore slept roughly 15 hours, according to an Indiana State Police detectives review of the jail surveillance footage, the complaint says. He also barely ate or drank, according to the complaint. During his entire time in jail, McLemore acted erratically, including getting up, staring blankly, fidgeting and contorting his body, and repeatedly trying to peer out of the covered window in his cell, according to the complaint. He barely had access to a sink or toilet because a second door containing a toilet, sink and shower was regularly locked, the complaint says. McLemore was unable to communicate his need to use the bathroom to the nearby jail guards because of his mental state, the complaint notes. Because of this, hed urinate and defecate on the cell floor, according to the complaint. At one point, guards strapped McLemore in a restraint device as another prisoner cleaned his cell, the complaint says. He was left in this device for more than four and a half hours, which went against jail policy and violated his constitutional rights, the complaint says. This photo shows McLemore restrained in jail. Over time, the lack of food and water, extreme sleep deprivation, lack of human contact, denial of time outside of his cell, and the other grossly inhumane conditions of his confinement combined with a lack of any care or treatment whatsoever took an inevitable and serious toll on Joshs physical health, the complaint says. He weighed 153 pounds on his last day in the jail, down from 197.8 when he entered, on Aug. 8, 2021, according to the complaint. Photos included in the complaint from July 20, 2021, and Aug. 8, 2021, show his emaciated appearance on his last day, starkly different from his first. McLemore is taken to a hospital Around 6 p.m. on McLemores final day, he was taken to Schneck Medical Center in an ambulance, the complaint says. He was so ill from his time at the county jail that he needed to be airlifted to Mercy Health West Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio, where he arrived at 12:15 a.m. on Aug. 9, 2021, according to the complaint. By the morning of Aug. 10, he was comatose and on life support, the complaint says. His mother arrived from Mississippi that afternoon and made the excruciating choice in consultation with doctors to take him off life support, according to the complaint. His cause of death was listed as multiple organ failure due to refusal to eat or drink and an altered mental status caused by untreated schizophrenia, according to an autopsy report by the Hamilton County Coroner in Ohio. Methamphetamine withdrawal was also listed in the report as a factor related to his death. Joshs death wasnt the result of a simple error in judgment, Balson said in his statement and added that the jail had no mental health staff. He said systemic problems are to blame, problems the County was aware of and failed to fix. Ladners lawsuit demands a trial by jury. She was appointed as the administrator of McLemores estate after his mothers death, Balson said. She seeks compensatory damages over her nephews pain and suffering and more. Man who couldnt afford bail dies after losing nearly 100 pounds in jail, lawsuit says Husband died after dispatchers said ambulance was coming. It never came, lawsuit says Dad of 2 dies in jail from neglect after wife begs staff to check on him, lawsuit says Man told officers he was having a stroke but he was put in jail and died, suit says Multiple outlets reported that a man was arrested in the investigation of Cash App creator Bob Lee's death, and he apparently knew Lee. Getty The San Francisco Police Department arrested a man in its investigation into Bob Lee's death, per ABC7 News and Mission Local. The man appears to have known the Cash App creator, both publications reported. Lee was fatally stabbed on April 4 in downtown San Francisco. The San Francisco Police Department has arrested a man in connection to its investigation into the fatal stabbing of Cash App creator Bob Lee, ABC's San Francisco affiliate KGO-TV and local publication Mission Local reported on Thursday. Lee appeared to have known the suspect, the news outlets reported. Mission Local, which first reported the arrest, said that a man was taken into police custody at an address in Emeryville, California that it connected to a tech executive. The SFPD has yet to announce any arrest, but said it plans to address updates in the case at a press conference at 3:30 p.m. Eastern Matt Dorsey, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors confirmed the report on Twitter. "I'm grateful to @SFPD's Homicide Detail and all the officers from @SFPDSouthern and elsewhere for their tireless work to bring Bob Lee's killer to justice and for their arrest of a suspect this morning," he tweeted on Thursday. Lee's former wife, Krista Lee, told KTVU Fox 2 that she believes the man who was arrested was an acquaintance of Lee's. Mission Local, which first reported the arrest, also reported that Lee was riding in a car with the suspect on the day of the attack and the two men allegedly had "some manner of confrontation." Lee, the chief product officer of MobileCoin and former CTO of Square, was fatally stabbed on April 4, NBC first reported. ABC's KGO-TV previously reported that surveillance footage from the moments after the incident showed Lee walking around the Rincon Hill neighborhood in downtown San Francisco and asking for help before the police arrived at the scene. The SFPD previously said it responded around 2:35 a.m. on Tuesday to the 911 call. Story continues Last week, San Francisco police chief Bill Scott said that he was "100% sure" the perpetrator would be found and said "there's evidence that we found that I can't talk about because we don't want to jeopardize this case." San Francisco mayor London Breed said last week that many people would be "surprised" about the facts of the case and said people have been "jumping to conclusions about what they think is happening." Read the original article on Business Insider A California man who made violent anti-LGBTQ-related threats against dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster Inc. over its updated gender definitions was sentenced Thursday to a year in prison. The sentence imposed on Jeremy Hanson, 35, by a federal court in Massachusetts also included 30 days of home confinement, three years of probation and mental health treatment. Hanson pleaded guilty last year to interstate transmission of threatening communications in connection with threats made to the Springfield, Massachusetts-based dictionary publisher and to the president of the University of North Texas. In court documents, prosecutors said the Rossmoor, California, man has a history of making threatening communications, nearly all of which were motivated by ... biases based upon race, gender, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation. Those other communications were directed at the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Land O Lakes Inc., Hasbro, a nonbinary rabbi and others, prosecutors said. In a remote hearing Thursday, prosecutor Steven Breslow asked for an 18-month prison sentence, in part to serve as a deterrent to others at a time when violent rhetoric is becoming more common. Hansons defense attorney, Marissa Elkins, asked that her client be sentenced to the time he has already served, citing his history of emotional and behavioral issues, including anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. More time behind bars could negatively affect his mental health, she said. Judge Mark Mastroianni in U.S District Court in Springfield acknowledged Hansons medical history and said he had no intent or capacity to carry out his threats, but called his actions disturbing and terrifying. He noted that Merriam-Webster management was fearful that Hanson would come to their office and cause harm, and said internal company communications referenced the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo offices in France, where terrorists killed 12 people who worked for the satirical weekly newspaper. Story continues Hanson sent Merriam-Webster threatening messages and comments between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8, 2021 using the websites contact us function, where he commented on word entries such as girl, woman, and female, prosecutors said. It is absolutely sickening that Merriam-Webster now tells blatant lies and promotes anti-science propaganda, Hanson wrote, according to prosecutors. There is no such thing as gender identity. The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot. Twice he threatened to shoot and bomb company headquarters, prompting Merriam-Webster to close offices in Springfield and New York City for several days, prosecutors said. Hanson also wrote an email to the president of the University of North Texas in 2022 that said You ought to be shot in the head and have your offices set on fire, for supporting transgender students, prosecutors said. Hanson, who appeared at the hearing remotely from a California jail, declined to address the court when given the opportunity. Related... Erik ten Hag was defending his attackers, sticking up for Anthony and Antony. As Manchester United face their immediate future without the injured Marcus Rashford, the attention has shifted to the rest of his first-choice forward line. Anthony Martials fitness is criticised, as is Antonys form. The Frenchman could mark his reunion with Sevilla by beginning a match for the first time in almost three months. He is ready to start a game, said Ten Hag, and as his first-choice striker has made it to the middle of April with his total of starts still in single figures, that felt newsworthy in itself. But Ten Hag finds it easy to praise Martials performances when he is actually available. He can point to Saturdays goal against Everton. He often does cite the victories over Liverpool and Manchester City, in two of the few games when he has been able to call upon the centre-forward. Martials average of a goal every 117 minutes this season is excellent: the problem is that there have been too few minutes. The injury-prone striker has not completed the full 90 in a Premier League game since January 2021 or for United since later that year. He did not start and finish a match on loan at Sevilla last season, either, though he did at least figure for the first 102 minutes of a Europa League quarter-final second leg before being removed in extra time. Ten Hag has been understandably cautious in the Frenchmans latest comeback. We dont have to force things but we are careful, of course, he said. The manager probably shares some of the fans frustrations about the forwards fragile frame. But if Martial was an issue he inherited, Antony or, as Ten Hag tends to call him, Antony dos Santos is one he created. Like Martial, he is not a 90-minute player, but not on grounds of fitness: Ten Hag has substituted him in 12 of the 16 league matches he has started. The Brazilian is shaping up as the most mercurial figure at Old Trafford, somehow combining the superb and the utterly unsurprising, the magnificent and the mediocre. He became the first player ever to score in his first three Premier League games for United but has found the net in none since. He has won Uniteds goal of the month four times already this season but only scored three other times. His winner against Barcelona was, the Carabao Cup final apart, perhaps the highlight of their season but he can feel underwhelming. He is the 86m winger without a top-flight assist. Nor is that the kind of freakish statistic produced when others miss chances: 15 United players have a higher expected assists total this season, including the famously uncreative Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Go on expected assists per 90 minutes and Antony is tied with Harry Maguire. Of course we expect from front-line players they are not only a threat but also they have effect in the final third and he has to work on that, said Ten Hag. He signed Antony from his former club Ajax and criticism of the winger can feel more personal; without Ten Hags endorsement, he would not have become the second most expensive player in Uniteds history. Antony has regularly found himself replaced in the second half (Getty) The Dutchman argued his protege is the man for the major occasion those goals of the respective months came against Arsenal and Liverpool, Barcelona and Real Betis but the counter-argument is that Antony is the man for too few other matches. He is a specialist in the spectacular and Ten Hag denied that Premier League defences have worked him out. You mention he is not scoring in the Premier League but he did score against Betis, a really important goal, and he did score against Barcelona, the winner, and you cant say they are not big games, he rationalised. He has scored also in cup games. If you can do it in such games you can also do it in Premier League games so I am not concerned about that but, like many more players, he has to step up as well. A concern is that Antony always steps inside, that cutting in to shoot makes him predictable and explains his lack of assists. Another is that even when he has the beating of a defender as he did with Newcastles Dan Burn and then Evertons Ben Godfrey, who he tormented that is not translated into creating chances. He is still a very young player, Ten Hag said of the 23-year-old. He can kill opponents. We have seen on Saturday when the manager of Everton brings on another player at half-time because he is killing the left full-back. Does that render Antony the ineffectual killer? Ten Hag argued not, seeing him as both a warrior and a talisman. My experience with him is he is a fighter and he likes challenges and with him in the team, teams are winning, he said. That is why he is in the Selecao and why he is selected often in the starting 11 of the Selecao. Yet the more topical issue is not why Brazil pick him but why he is in the United team, whether he deserves to be and if, minus the main man in the attack, Antony and Anthony can compensate. The Manhattan district attorney whose office is prosecuting former President Donald Trump again received a letter containing white powder, two senior law enforcement officials said Wednesday. The most recent envelope, which was addressed to prosecutor Alvin Bragg, included a letter that used an expletive to describe Bragg's weight and powder that authorities determined was nonhazardous, the sources said. A photo of Bragg and Trump was also in the envelope, the sources said. New York police were called to the office's mailroom in lower Manhattan as a precaution. Additional details about the apparent threat were not immediately available. The incident marked the second time Bragg has been sent white powder in recent weeks. In March, a letter containing a death threat and white powder was mailed to Braggs office. ALVIN: I AM GOING TO KILL YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!! the letter said. At the time, a senior law enforcement source said Bragg had been the subject of several hundred threats. A couple of dozen were considered to directly threaten serious harm, the source said. On April 4, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to his role in hush money payments made near the end of the 2016 presidential campaign. A statement of facts filed by Bragg's office accused Trump of "repeatedly and fraudulently" falsifying the records to conceal damaging information from voters. Trump has called the case "fake" and said the only crime he committed was "to fearlessly defend our nation from those who seek to destroy it." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A Timberview High School student was arrested Wednesday after bringing a loaded gun to the school, according to Mansfield Independent School District officials. No one was injured. The student, whose name will not be released, will face criminal charges and will be disciplined through the districts student code of conduct, district officials told Star-Telegram partner WFAA-TV. Timberview High School is in Arlington but is part of Mansfield ISD. A shooting happened at the high school in 2021, when a 15-year-old student and a teacher were shot. Two others were hurt in the incident. Both victims who were shot survived. A parent notification led to a search of the students backpack where the gun was found Wednesday, according to a letter that Timberviews principal sent to parents. School officials said they plan to have an increased police presence at Timberview High, including additional random metal-detector wand searches. Today, one of our students brought a loaded gun to school, Mansfield ISD said in a text message sent to parents. The student has been arrested, is in police custody and our students and staff are safe. We will have additional police presence on campus and counselors are available for anyone who needs to talk. Officials are still investigating the incident. A Marine veteran who volunteered to fight in support of Ukraine is dead, the State Department confirmed to Marine Corps Times. Retired Capt. Grady Kurpasi, 50, was last seen April 26, 2022, in southern Ukraine, The Washington Post reported in July 2022. Working as part of a team of international volunteers, Kurpasi and a British man, Andrew Hill, went to investigate the source of gunfire, the Post reported. They radioed to their team that they were under fire. Hill was captured by Russian-backed forces and reportedly charged with being a mercenary. Two other members of the unit were killed, according to the Post. Marine veteran killed while providing medical aid in Ukraine Loved ones had feared Kurpasi had been captured or killed, the Post reported. We can confirm the death of a U.S. citizen in Ukraine, a Statement Department spokesperson said via email Wednesday in response to a Marine Corps Times request for confirmation of Kurpasis death. We are in touch with the family and providing all possible consular assistance. Out of respect for the familys privacy during this difficult time, we have nothing further to add. A GoFundMe fundraiser organized by William Lee on behalf of Kurpasis wife, Heeson Kim, stated that the Marine veteran had been killed in action. GoFundMe spokesman Jalen Drummond confirmed that the fundraiser is verified and that the funds will go to Kim. Kurpasi, who grew up in New York City following his adoption from Korea, enlisted in the Marine Corps at the unusually late age of 29 following the 9/11 attacks, according to the GoFundMe. He became an infantry assaultman and ultimately became a scout sniper, the GoFundMe states. He deployed three times to Iraq, according to the Post and the GoFundMe. Kurpasi attended UCLA through a selective enlisted-to-officer commissioning program and then became an infantry officer, according to the GoFundMe. He retired in September 2021 as a captain. Kurpasis awards included the Good Conduct Medal three times, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal three times, the Purple Heart Medal, the National Defense Service Medal and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, among other awards, CNN reported. Story continues After retiring from the Marine Corps, Grady felt obligated to assist in Ukraine as they defended their country against the Russian invasion, the GoFundMe reads. 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 and was killed in action. He is survived by a wife and a 14-year-old daughter, according to the GoFundMe. He led his Marines by example and loved his family - speaking of them often, the GoFundMe reads. Marine Corps Times attempted to contact Lee, the organizer of the fundraiser, but did not receive a response. Military.com first reported news of the GoFundMe. The confirmation of Kurpasis death comes a little more than two months after the death of Marine veteran Pete Reed, 33, who was killed in Bakhmut, Ukraine. Reed had reportedly been administering medical aid to civilians. This weekend, Kansas City is going to be the site of a very expensive magic show one where it would be easier to pull a rabbit out of a hat than offering a sheen of respectability to U.S. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. The Republican superstar from Georgia is coming to town as the Jackson County Republican Partys keynote speaker at its Lincoln-Reagan Dinner in Blue Springs. In another sleight of hand, the GOP also wants to portray itself as the party of American values, while hosting a headliner who spouts the very talk that puts many Americans at risk. Obviously, the party can invite whomever it wants to lead its event. Its not like it was going to bring Al Gore or Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to town. And in 2023, it seems even less likely it would stick to its own and ask a Republican like Sen. Mitt Romney or Mike Pence. But since the invitation could go to any prominent Republican in the United States, selecting Greene pretty concretely tells us what doesnt matter to local Republicans: Facts. Common sense. Civil discourse. Democracy. Equality for all Americans. A firm grasp on reality. At one point in the not-so-distant past, Republicans acted as if they were fans of the proverbial big tent of inclusiveness where in theory they want more young people, minorities and moderates to build their base. But clearly, the Jackson County GOP thinks that putting its stamp of approval on a conspiracy theory-loving firebrand who hugs up on QAnon reflects who its voters are. That they believe her illogical, hurtful rhetoric is what they want their party to sound like. That they want a woman who claimed rich Jewish financiers arranged for space lasers to start California forest fires to be the face of their party. The paid VIP event (price tag: $60 to $5,000) is scheduled for Saturday at the Blue Springs Elk Lodge. Its understandable that the county GOP proudly thinks that Greene is a good get for them, since seats are sold out. Shes a ride-or-die for Donald J. Trump, and has carried his water for every outrageous, false claim about how he was cheated out of the 2020 presidential election. The party must consider that a plus. Story continues Republicans can believe what they want to believe. Their party holds a lot of positions that work for them, even if most Americans disagree, or dont find them to be pressing emergencies. But Greene rarely just leaves it at the usual GOP talking points. No, she has to go for the outrageous characterization repeatedly. Who knows whether she really swallows it herself? For example, Greene went off this week on a House bill that would strengthen protections for the tiny minority of transgender Americans, amid an onslaught of Republican-led legislation around the nation that targets that community as its current favorite chew toy. But Greene has to refer to the modest proposed update to the Civil Rights Act as apocalyptic and a weapon to destroy all of our rights. That kind of hyperbole from a member of Congress is dangerous. And by Greenes standards, that was almost mild. Greene said that 9/11 was a hoax. She calls for a national divorce to separate red states from blue states. She got elected openly supporting QAnon. She called Democrats pedophiles on 60 Minutes earlier this month. She excuses the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrectionists while equating Black Lives Matter protesters to the Ku Klux Klan. In mid-2020, Republican leaders around the country were openly critical of then-candidate Greene. Today, shes the partys leading lady. Marjorie Taylor Greene has zero ties to Missouri or Jackson County. But if her malicious, unhinged, fraudulent, bigoted rhetoric is worthy of a keynote speech to local Republicans, that makes it particularly noteworthy. Its a window into just what the present and future of Missouri GOP politics look like. A staff member (R) introduces a piece of Italian jewelry in the Italy pavilion at the third China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, capital city of south China's Hainan Province, April 11, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] Exhibitors from Italy, the guest of honor at the ongoing third China International Consumer Products Expo being held in Haikou, capital city of southern China's Hainan Province, are keen to expand their markets in China. Palatable Italian rice Acquerello, a high-end Italian rice producer among the more than 100 Italian brands showcasing their products at the event, is looking forward to gracing the tables of Chinese consumers and sharing the "rice culture" with them. In the eyes of the company's founder, Pietro Rondolino, China is the biggest potential overseas market and the biggest opportunity to promote its products. "China has a long history and a rich food culture, and we have a better chance of finding recipes to match our products there than anywhere else in the world." "We expect this expo to feature not only advanced technological products but also cultural and natural elements that can shine because today's world needs to understand China's historical culture and enhance the presence of natural elements," he said. Rondolino said that China's influence is pivotal for the global economy, and the world has witnessed the positive changes brought about by China. He believes his products can succeed in the Chinese market. Espresso gaining foothold Italian coffee giant Illycaffe has been doing business in China for many years. For Violante Avogadro, the company's chief communications officer, the consumer expo in Hainan is still "an excellent stage" that will help more Chinese consumers discover and appreciate the quality and potential of Italian coffee. Avogadro believes that for every Italian brand, the Chinese market is crucial, noting that they would love Chinese consumers to discover the full potential and quality of the brand. In an exclusive interview with Xinhua earlier this year, the company's CEO Christina Scocchia said that China's booming coffee market is the best choice for the business exploring overseas markets. Italian coffee has listed expanding its market share in China as one of its core goals, hoping to gain a firm foothold before the Chinese coffee market fully matures. High-end brands inrush Altagamma, an Italian foundation of luxury brands, attends the expo with 75 of its high-end brands, including Gucci, Maserati, Lamborghini and Ducati. "The status of guest of honor allows us to exhibit on an unprecedented scale," said Stefania Lazzaroni, general manager of Altagamma, in an exclusive interview with Xinhua. According to Lazzaroni, the Chinese market represents a unique opportunity, and the expo is an excellent opportunity for the foundation and its brands to strengthen ties with key Chinese investors and showcase their brand image and culture. "The scale and growth of China's high-end consumer market are difficult to achieve in other countries," Lazzaroni said, adding that a "group" participation in the expo is therefore a perfect choice for Italian high-end brands to strengthen their ties with the Chinese market. British fashion designer Mary Quant, holding an enlarged photo of a postage stamp featuring one of her outfits, poses with models in London in 2009. (David Parry / Associated Press) Mary Quant, the visionary fashion designer whose colorful, sexy miniskirts epitomized London in the 1960s and influenced youth culture around the world, has died at 93. Her family said Quant died peacefully at home in Surrey in southern England on Thursday. Quant helped popularize the miniskirt some credit her with inventing it and the innovative tights and accessories that were an integral part of the look. She also created dresses and other simple mix-and-match garments that had an element of whimsy. Some compared her impact on the fashion world with the Beatles impact on pop music. I think it was a happy confluence of events, which is really what fashion is so often all about, said Hamish Bowles, international editor at large for American Vogue magazine. She was the right person with the right sensibility in the right place at the right time. She appeared on the scene at the exact cusp of the 60s. Quant was also an astute businesswoman and one of the first to understand how branding herself as a creative force could help her sustain her business and branch out into new fields, such as cosmetics, he said. Alexandra Shulman, former editor in chief of British Vogue, wrote on Twitter: RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship a visionary who was much more than a great haircut. Mary Quant in 1970. (Associated Press) Quant was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the youthquake of the 1960s. She sensed that the days of exclusive salons were numbered, and thought that even the great Parisian designers would follow ready-to-wear trends. The look she created was sexy and fun, a sharp break with the predictable floral day dresses commonly worn in the conservative, austere years after World War II. Quant introduced miniskirts with hemlines up to 8 inches above the knee to the London scene in 1966 and they were an instant hit with young people, in part because they shocked and offended their elders. While some insist she first developed the style, many also credit French designer Andre Courreges, whose 1964 spring collection included minidresses that were popular in Paris but did not have widespread impact outside France. Others cite the short skirts worn by actress Anne Francis in the 1956 film Forbidden Planet as the first example of the miniskirt. Story continues Whether or not she was the first to design them, it was Quant who figured out how to market miniskirts to the masses. Quant, who named the skirt after her favorite make of car, the Mini which itself became a staple of the 60s in London, recalled how it offered a feeling of freedom and liberation." From her shop on Kings Road in London's trendy Chelsea neighborhood, she was part of a clothing revolution. It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted, she said. I wore them very short and the customers would say, Shorter, shorter. While Courreges came from an haute couture tradition and his expensive clothes were aimed at a limited audience, Quant used a variety of materials and colors to make miniskirts popular with young women on a limited budget. She blasted through barriers of snobbery and tradition, with her vision of fashion as a way of resisting stereotypes, with well-made clothes and cosmetics that were empowering and liberating, as well as affordable, said Jenny Lister, who curated a 2020 exhibition devoted to Quant at Londons Victoria & Albert Museum. Quant shot to the top of the fashion scene at the time when the Beatles and Rolling Stones dominated the music world, and she was forever linked to the heady freedoms of the 1960s. The clothes became wildly popular and were worn by models such as Twiggy and Pattie Boyd, who was then married to Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Asked by the Guardian newspaper in 1967 if her clothes could be considered vulgar because they were so revealing, Quant replied that she loved vulgarity and embraced it. Good taste is death, vulgarity is life, she said, adding that the provocative poses of her models reflected the new sexual openness of the times, which was fueled in by the development of the birth control pill. Born Feb. 11, 1930, the daughter of schoolteachers, Quant studied art education at Goldsmiths College in London before moving into fashion, working first as an apprentice to a hat maker before trying her own designs. With the help of her wealthy husband and business partner, Alexander Plunket Greene, and the accountant Archie McNair, she opened Bazaar in Chelsea in 1955, at first relying on innovative window displays to bring in younger customers. Snobbery has gone out of fashion, and in our shops you will find duchesses jostling with typists to buy the same dress, Quant once said. She called the store a sophisticated candy store for grown-ups. Bazaar became a focal point for the young and the beautiful and those who wanted to rub shoulders with them. Small restaurants, bistros, pubs and boutiques opened nearby, giving the neighborhood the feel of a perpetual party. The shop was such a success that she soon moved into other parts of London and began exporting her clothes to the United States, where the British invasion was in full swing. Quant was unusual in that she often modeled her own clothes, usually with her hair styled in a distinctive, angular bob by hairdresser Vidal Sassoon. She soon diversified her interests, developing a popular makeup line and also moving into kitchenware and household accessories. The makeup proved extremely profitable, particularly in Japan, where Quant retained a devoted following. Quant was also credited with introducing hot pants and micro-minis to the fashion scene in the late 1960s. She was made an officer of the Order of the British Empire for service to the fashion industry in 1966, wearing a miniskirt when she received the honor at Buckingham Palace. In 2014, she was made a dame the female equivalent of a knight for services to British fashion. At the start of this year, she was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor, a royal honor restricted to 65 people of distinction in the arts, science, medicine or government. Quant stepped down from the day-to-day management of her firm, Mary Quant Ltd., in 2000 after it was purchased by a Japanese company, but kept working as a consultant. The firm continued to use the daisy motif and logo that Quant pioneered in the 1960s, and it long maintained a shop in London, in addition to roughly 200 shops in Japan. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The fashion guru had an uncanny knack for both sartorial design and effective branding (Getty) It wasnt me or Courreges who invented the miniskirt it was the girls in the street who did it, said Mary Quant of the revolutionary hemline she is widely credited with creating. The miniskirt was launched on Kings Road and immortalised in the Swinging Sixties, with Quant putting its success down to genetics: The Chelsea girl had the best legs in the world. She had the courage to wear it. Despite it grabbing global press attention, not everyone was enamoured with the abbreviated skirt. Quant recalled how the stereotypical city gent, with his pinstriped suit and bowler hat, would beat Bazaars window with his brolly while shouting Immoral! and Disgusting!. Coco Chanel declared the miniskirt indecent. When Sophia Loren publicly claimed that the miniskirt destroyed the feminine mystique, Quant replied: Well, shes built the other way up. Quant was born in Blackheath in 1934 to Welsh schoolteachers. Her mother was born in Kidwelly, her father in Merthyr, and each graduated with a first class honours degree from Cardiff University. Evacuated to a village in Kent with her brother Tony during the war, Quant recalled her earliest fashion memory as being in bed with measles at six years old and cutting the bedspread with nail scissors in order to transform it into a dress. Her first successful encounter with needle and thread was an embroidered pillowcase she made for her mother at Christmas. When Quant was dispatched to a boarding school in Tunbridge Wells and presented with an exam question that asked her to choose between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers, Quant deemed it a no-brainer. I came down strongly on the side of the Cavaliers, as they were more chic, she said. On leaving school, she expressed her intention to pursue a career in clothes. Her parents were against the suggestion. Quant persuaded them to agree on the condition that she took an art teachers diploma. Quant applied to and was accepted at Goldsmiths. Quentin Crisp was a resident model; Quant described him as the most admired model and the most difficult to draw. It was here that she met her future husband, the debonair Alexander Plunket Greene, in 1953 at a ball. Instantly besotted, she described him as a 6ft 2in prototype for Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney rolled into one. Quant was wearing black mesh tights and strategically placed balloons at the time. Story continues Her suitor, who had a penchant for wearing his mothers gold silk pyjama top paired with prune hipster pants and chelsea boots, could often be spotted with a copy of Tom Browns Schooldays under his arm, or an enormous single lily in his hand. Plunket Greene invited Quant to Paris, claiming he was busking outside the George V Hotel. It was the beginning of a personal and professional partnership that would last until he died, at the age of 57, in 1990. Models wearing pieces from Quants 1967 Viva Viva collection (Getty) On graduating from Goldsmiths, Quant experienced a eureka moment when she apprenticed with a Mayfair milliner called Erik whose salon was situated next to Claridges. Earning 2 and 10 shillings per week, she started to think about fashion strategically on the level of cost per wear. It seemed so ridiculous making one hat for one woman to wear to Ascot that cost 30 quid, said Quant. It seemed obvious that clothes should be made by mass production. Despite his flamboyant persona, Plunket Greene was an astute entrepreneur with a sharp marketing mind, and according to Quant was the greatest salesman ever. They decided they wanted to work together rather than apart. It makes your rows much more interesting, Quant claimed. They arent just about the housekeeping or a wet towel. Money wasnt an issue. Having met Archie McNair, a former solicitor who had opened Chelseas first espresso coffee bar, called Fantasy, they considered the possibility of a partnership. Plunket Greene had inherited 5,000 at the age of 21, and together with McNair decided to set up a business that combined fashion and food Quants boutique, called Bazaar, would be on the ground floor, with a restaurant called Alexanders in the basement. Quant (front, centre) at her footwear show Quant Afoot (Getty) Although McNair had previously run a photography studio, the trio used a mix of gut instinct and unfettered enthusiasm to stay afloat. We didnt know about mark-ups, we didnt know about working capital, said Quant. Nobody told us we couldnt do it and we did it. They paid the princely sum of 8,000 for the freehold on Markham House, a three-storey property at 138a Kings Road. When Bazaar opened its doors in 1955, there was already a long queue waiting patiently outside. Alexanders had opened a few weeks before. Word had spread. About to be unleashed was the style which Quant had succinctly summarised: Very simple. Very bold. A daisy logo which Quant described as the luck of my life became her symbol. Unable to find the kind of clothes she wanted, Quant metamorphosed from buyer to designer. She attended pattern-cutting classes and bought a sewing machine. Purchasing lengths of mens suiting from Harrods, Quant turned them into tunic dresses to be worn with skinny sweaters underneath. Patti Boyd wearing a Quant ensemble at her wedding to George Harrison, 1966 (Getty) She would ask theatrical manufacturers to make tights in all colours. Quant persuaded knitwear producers to add another foot onto the sweater to turn it into a dress. That was how the sac was born, claimed Quant, and it appeared in Paris a year later. One of her most successful early inventions which sold in its thousands was a white plastic collar designed to put a new perspective on a favourite black dress. I had my clothes described as dishy, grotty, geary, kinky, mod, poove and all the rest of it, said Quant, people either loved or hated it. Celebrity customers including Brigitte Bardot, Leslie Caron and Audrey Hepburn frequented both the boutique and restaurant. John Lennon was photographed wearing a Mary Quant peaked cap. When Pattie Boyd married George Harrison at the Epsom register office in January 1963, she wore a Mary Quant ensemble of silk dress and red fox fur coat. Quant was given the Sunday Times Award for jolting England out of its conventional attitude towards clothes. (Getty) The Quant agenda was one of discovery and re-invention. In 1963, the designer deployed the glossy properties of PVC, having fabrics dyed in ginger, terracotta colour and Colemans mustard yellow and making them into the Wet Look Collection. She then launched the Ginger Group one of the earliest designer diffusion lines. Joining forced with Americas JC Penney, Quant became the first named British designer to be promoted throughout the States. At the age of 32, she was awarded an OBE and wrote her first autobiography Quant by Quant. Within seven years of opening, the business had made over a million pounds and the clothes were in 150 shops in the UK, 320 shops throughout the USA and on sale globally in France, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, South Africa, Australia and Canada. In 1963 Bazaar opened a second branch of the shop in Knightsbridge and, spotting a gap in the market, Quant launched her own line of cosmetics. She was already having her hair cut at acute angles by rising star Vidal Sassoon, telling him decades later: I made the clothes. You put the top on. Taking a typically fresh approach to cosmetics, she created paint boxes where make-up became an artists palette. Everything was there from head to toe except the face. The make-up was all wrong, she said. Outfits from a spring collection, pictured 1975 (Getty) She watched Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy at close quarters, noting that they used their face as a canvas and painted on top rather like an impressionist painter with pots of colour and theatrical powder. Her first make-up product consisted of cosmetic crayons in a tin. With an uncanny knack for brand-building, Plunket Green injected humour into the product titles: eyeshadow was entitled Jeepers Peepers, gel cosmetics named Jelly Babies, there was a foundation called Starkers and a bra christened Booby Traps. Two years after her son Orlando was born, in 1972, Quant visited Japan for the first time. The following year the London Museum mounted a major retrospective Mary Quants London. Fashion was entering a new decade, but Quant continued to be a covetable brand. Long before it became de rigeur for designers to venture into lifestyle products, Quant launched her Mary Quant at Home line. By 1985, she had 72 shops in Japan. Quant gets her iconic locks cut by hairdressing legend Vidal Sassoon (Getty) In 2009, Quants favourite dress called the Banana Split was featured on a set of Royal Mail stamps, along with classics of design such as Concorde, Spitfire, the Anglepoise lamp and the London Underground map. When she wrote her second autobiography in 2012, three years before she was made a Dame for services to the fashion industry, she looked back on her adventurous existence with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I mostly felt, my God, what a marvellous life you had, you are very fortunate. I think to myself, you lucky woman how did you have all this fun? Mary Quant, designer and entrepreneur, born 11 February 1930, died 13 April 2023. Federal investigators Wednesday announced the arrest of seven Massachusetts men who are responsible for stealing at least $2 million in catalytic converters from vehicles across New England in recent months. According to the Massachusetts State Police, the seven men were arrested Wednesday morning after many months of investigation. Police said the men stole 471 catalytic converter car parts worth at least $2 million in Massachusetts and New Hampshire between 2022 and 2023. U.S. District Attorney Rachael Rollins said in a press conference Wednesday afternoon that the men worked with the skill and speed of a "NASCAR pit crew" to strip cars of their catalytic converters under the cloak of darkness. Those arrested include Rafael "Robbin Hood" Davila, 35, of Feeding Hills, Mass., who authorities at the press conference identified as the leader of the operation; Zachary Marshall, 26, of Holyoke, Mass.; and Springfield, Mass. residents Jose "Goldy" Torres, who also goes by "Goldy Tech," 37; Nicolas Davila, 25; Jose "Charlito" Fonseca, 26; Santo Feliberty, 34; and Alexander "Dirty" Oyola, 37. According to police, the seven Massachusetts men worked in unison to perform rapid fired theft of the valuable catalytic converters, which contain platinum, palladium and rhodium. Police said that on numerous occasions, the defendants targeted more than 10 vehicles in a single night, with one night reporting thefts from 26 vehicles. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP THREE ARMORED TRUCKS ROBBED IN CHICAGO AREA, $400K STOLEN "The members of this criminal network arrested today, under the cloak of darkness, traveled throughout our state cutting valuable catalytic converters from vehicles owned by unsuspecting citizens and businesses. Their criminal acts violated the security and rights of vehicle owners, necessitated costly repairs, and interfered with commercial operations of business owners and the daily lives of numerous victims," Massachusetts State Police Interim Col. John Mawn Jr. said. "The actions of these defendants are an affront to law-abiding citizens everywhere." Investigators noted that they believe a significant number of additional thefts have not been identified or were not ever reported to law enforcement. The department stated that the FBI and nearly 80 police departments were involved in the investigation, dubbed "Operation Cut and Run." Story continues FATHER OF MISSING MINNESOTA WOMAN'S CHILDREN BREAKS SILENCE 12 DAYS AFTER VANISHING Those arrested were all Massachusetts residents, including Rafael "Robbin Hood" Davila, 35, of Feeding Hills, who authorities at the press conference identified as the leader of the operation; Zachary Marshall, 26, of Holyoke; and Springfield residents Jose "Goldy" Torres, who also goes by "Goldy Tech," 37; Nicolas Davila, 25; Jose "Charlito" Fonseca, 26; Santo Feliberty, 34; and Alexander "Dirty" Oyola, 37. A trunk filled with stolen catalytic converters in Massachusetts from the seven men who allegedly stole over 470 catalytic converters in New England in 2022 and 2023. Catalytic converters are a component of a vehicles exhaust device that reduce the toxic gas and pollutants from a vehicles internal combustion engine into safe emissions, and are required on all combustion engine automobiles in the U.S. PENNSYLVANIA MAN WHO KILLED, DISMEMBERED WIFE IN FAMILY HOME LEARNS HIS FATE Catalytic converters are valuable on the black market since they are made using rare metals, including palladium. According to the Massachusetts State Police, the converters are worth about $1,000 apiece on the black market. The thieves used power tools to remove the car parts within minutes. State police remove a stolen vehicle from a home in western Massachusetts on Wednesday. On Wednesday, authorities executed search warrants at locations in Agawam, Springfield, Palmer, and Holyoke. State police shared in a video that authorities collected stolen property from the thieves Wednesday evening. In the video, police can be seen towing away six cars, seven motorcycles, a boat, two jet skis and numerous stolen catalytic converters. In addition to the catalytic converter thefts, Rafael Davila, Santo Feliberty, and Oyola also conspired to steal from ATMs of federally insured banks in Massachusetts on three separate occasions in December 2022, according to investigators. This conspiracy is said to have involved the use of stolen trucks that they would use to rip the ATMs from the ground and gain access to the vault. Davila, Feliberty, and Oyola are also accused of committing burglaries at two New Hampshire jewelry stores in January 2023. The combined total value of the jewelry stolen during the burglaries was determined to be over $137,000, with each store facing about $10,000 in costs to repair the damage. Critics aligned with Donald Trump including the former presidents son attempted to make Ron DeSantis handling of floods in South Florida a political issue Thursday, attacking the Republican governor for traveling out of the state despite heavy rainfall. The criticisms came even as local officials in hard-hit areas, including some Democrats, praised the states response to the storms, which dumped as much as 26 inches of water in parts of Fort Lauderdale and led to dozens of rescues from cars and homes in Broward County. The former presidents son, Donald Trump Jr., tweeted Thursday that DeSantis should not have left Florida. Some Democrats joined in as well. Fort Lauderdale is under water and DeSantis is campaigning in Ohio right now instead of taking care of the people suffering in his state, he wrote. In a broader political context, his attacks against DeSantis arent unusual: Trump and his allies have regularly attacked the governor for months in anticipation that DeSantis will eventually decide to run against the former president in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Early hypothetical polls of the race show Trump and DeSantis are leading the field of potential candidates, often by a wide margin. The governor, in fact, was in Ohio on Thursday as part of a nationwide book tour that has seen him visit Georgia, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, among other places. He is scheduled to visit New Hampshire on Friday, a state that holds the GOP primarys second nominating contest. But the governor has also been in contact with local officials while in Ohio. A Broward County spokesperson, Greg Meyer, confirmed Thursday afternoon that DeSantis spoke with County Mayor Lamar Fisher and informed Fisher that he has signed an emergency declaration in response to the flooding. The governor also spoke with Mark Gale, CEO of Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, which was closed Thursday due to the torrential rains, according to DeSantis schedule. Story continues Meyer said the county has not yet submitted its damage estimates to the state. But the governors declaration seemingly came just hours after Broward County declared its own state of emergency Thursday. READ MORE: Chest-high water, boat rescues after unprecedented rainfall in Fort Lauderdale area A DeSantis spokesman dismissed the criticism. Its wrong for the media and political critics to rush to politicize every natural disaster, said Bryan Griffin, a spokesman for the governor. The governor left yesterday, and the unprecedented flooding intensified later in the night. He returns today. The state emergency response apparatus, Griffin added, is in full swing responding to the flooding. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis during a press conference at Christopher Columbus High School March 27 in Miami. The criticism from Trumps son doesnt appear to be part of a larger effort from the former presidents campaign. As of Thursday afternoon, Trump himself had not mentioned DeSantis response on his own social media outlets. At a press conference earlier Thursday morning, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis said he hadnt heard yet from DeSantis. But he declined to criticize the governor, saying state agencies have been providing assistance, including in the form of airboats from the Fish and Wildlife Commission. Im not sure if the governor himself needs to be involved, but the state agencies have been very helpful in working with us to take on this challenge, Trantalis said. A few hours later, Trantalis told the Miami Herald he was contacted by Jimmy Patronis, Floridas chief financial officer, who asked what the city needs. Trantalis, a Democrat in a non-partisan seat, said he also spoke with representatives for the White House and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, as well as U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg. City leaders in Broward County are now working to estimate monetary damages to submit to the state, Trantalis said, so local governments can later receive federal reimbursement for their recovery efforts. Broward County, Fort Lauderdale and the city of Hollywood have each issued their own emergency declarations. Hollywood Mayor Joshua Levy, also a Democrat, agreed state officials have responded appropriately so far. Im not putting this on the governor. Everyone has all hands on deck, he said. I dont think its time to point political fingers. Its time to respond to the disaster. U.S. Rep. Jared Moskowitz, a Democrat who represents parts of Broward County and was previously director of the Florida Division of Emergency Management under DeSantis, said the timing of DeSantis emergency declaration one day after the worst of the rainfall seemed to be standard protocol. He noted that this type of flash flooding, unlike a hurricane, is difficult to address with emergency measures ahead of time. And he said he wasnt concerned that DeSantis was out of town as search and rescue efforts continued. We got the disaster declaration today, Moskowitz said. Thats all that matters. Miami Herald reporters Grethel Aguila, Alex Harris and Omar Rodriguez Ortiz contributed to this report. Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) said the decision by the Chinese government to sanction him over his trip to Taiwan was a badge of honor after the Republican congressman met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen last week. Being sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party is a badge of honor, McCaul said in a statement. Nothing will deter the United States from supporting free, democratic nations including Taiwan. McCaul has been a vocal supporter of Taiwan, a self-governing democracy of 23 million people, which China claims as part of its territory. The U.S. dynamic with Taiwan, of which it is one of the chief military supporters, is one of the most divisive issues in American-Chinese relations. McCaul visited the country last week after Tsai also met with Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) in California earlier this month, a meeting that China condemned. The Chinese government targeted McCaul with sanctions on Wednesday, saying the congressman has frequently taken words and deeds to interfere in Chinas internal affairs. Republican Congressman Michael McCaul of Texas has frequently taken words and deeds to interfere in Chinas internal affairs and harm Chinas interests in recent years, and recently led a delegation to visit the Taiwan region of China, seriously violating the one-China principle and the three-way relationship between China and the United States, Chinas foreign ministry announced on Wednesday. The sanctions include freezing property in China, prohibiting individuals or organizations from doing business with McCaul and barring him from gaining a visa or entering the country. McCaul said the sanctions brought even more attention to the issue of Chinese relations with Taiwan. Ironically, this baseless action serves U.S. interests by bringing more attention to our international partners and revealing the CCPs blatant aggression, McCaul said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Meghan Markle will not be attending the coronation in May, although her husband Prince Harry will. Meghan Markle will not be attending the coronation in May, although her husband Prince Harry will. Meghan Markle turned down her invitation to King Charles coronation next month, and Twitter is absolutely here for her. Since leaving their lives as working royals behind in 2020, the Duchess of Sussex and her husband Prince Harry have been very open about their previous unhappiness behind palace walls. She and Harry have repeatedly alleged that the royal family did not protect them from negative publicity, which encouraged them both to officially step down from their royal duties. The Duchess of Sussex has also spoke about how her own mental health severely declined during this time. Meghan did make an unexpected appearance in the UK following the queens death in September, and the two were said to be close. But since then, relations between the remaining royals and the Sussexes have supposedly deteriorated even further. Their Netflix docu-series, Harry & Meghan, followed by the release of the Dukes explosive tell-all memoir Spare and his string of promotional interviews, seemed to exacerbate the divide between the breakaway royals and the working ones, even though Harry said he was keen to unite. On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace and the Sussexes organization Archewell released nearly identical statements confirming that Harry would be attending Charles coronation while Meghan, though invited, will not be going. This is not the first time the couple have agreed to this arrangement where Meghan stays back in their California home while Harry attends a pivotal royal event. When pregnant with their second child, Princess Lili, in April 2021, Meghan did not get medical clearance to travel to the U.K. for Prince Philips funeral. The pair may have chosen not to attend the Kings coronation together partly because it falls on the birthday of their son, and Charles grandson, Prince Archie, who will be 4 on May 6. While the exact reasons behind Meghans decision not to attend the occasion are still unclear, her supporters are speculating that she is simply putting her own mental health first and theyre so here for it. Story continues Meghan Markle. The Duchess Of Sussex. Queen Of Protecting Your Peace. pic.twitter.com/wLdV3nfBMR BLACKLIVESMATTER (@Jasamgurlie) April 12, 2023 Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex & Success, is teaching a masterclass on how to value not just your self worth, but your mental health. No one, not crown, king, or kin, deserves the sacrifice of your peace. pic.twitter.com/5XKlc3LPM0 Queens R. Made (@QueenRMade1) April 12, 2023 I'm so proud of Meghan Markle pic.twitter.com/ieTX5LVzQT Dee (@Dee09371086) April 12, 2023 Meghan Markle gives the 2 fingers to the Monarchy and the British press who have treated her with utter contempt. She is choosing her mental health above all. Hope the lot of them (William etc )are happy now that Harry has been forced to attend without his family. pic.twitter.com/aTYnniJgLC Narinder Kaur (@narindertweets) April 12, 2023 Meghan Markle married her soulmate, worked for his family and resigned. She doesn't have any duties for THEM anymore especially when THEY couldn't even protect and defend her and her children. THE END. pic.twitter.com/ThRKktFa03 Royal Expert (@spotthesussexes) April 13, 2023 Meghan Markle is done with them for real, she literally said FU and your Cononation, That's MY GIRL!!! pic.twitter.com/8XhdQs9vFv Selwa (@w_selwa) April 12, 2023 Meghan Markle A woman who knows her worth! Love this for you pic.twitter.com/LvUleSI5aT Ariel The Mermaid (@sa_squaddie) April 12, 2023 Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex has only been seen twice in 2023. Both times getting into a car minding her business. If you are tired of her, it means you spend most of your days reading British tabloids, because that is the only place you will find her daily. Alexis MNOSL (@ArchewellBaby) April 13, 2023 Watching sizzlers lose their mind about Meghan Markle not going to the coronation pic.twitter.com/CY0SUZOtEl Janey Godley (@JaneyGodley) April 12, 2023 Mequon-Thiensville School District's director of educational services is facing a felony charge related to the theft of more than $800 of merchandise from the Meijer store in Grafton. Kevin Deering is facing the retail theft charge in Ozaukee County Circuit Court. If convicted, he faces up to a fine of $10,000 and up to three-and-a-half years in prison. According to the criminal complaint: On April 8, an officer from the Grafton Police Department was dispatched to the Meijer store, 1600 N. Port Washington Road in the Village of Grafton for a report of retail theft. The store's loss prevention employee said he learned of a series of retail thefts committed by the same customer, identified as Deering. Deering's actions involved "skip scanning," where he would have several of the same item but would only scan and pay for one of them. He would also weigh produce and then add additional items after the initial weight was recorded. Deering would also leave items in his cart, like small appliances, and avoid scanning them altogether. Between February 14 and April 2, Deering was seen stealing items on 10 separate occasions. Among all of the known incidents, Meijer reports a total loss of $864.47. Officers spoke to Deering and he indicated he did not realize he was doing this and that he would pay for the items. He later stated that he understood if it was on video, and that he wanted to cooperate. When contacted by the Journal Sentinel, the Mequon-Thiensville School District provided the following statement: "On the evening of Sunday, April 9, Mequon-Thiensville School District (MTSD) administrators became aware of a situation involving an MTSD employee. The employee has been placed on administrative leave, effective Monday, April 10. As this is a confidential personnel matter and an ongoing legal investigation, we do not have any further comment at this time." Contact Alex Groth at agroth@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter at @grothalexandria. Story continues Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Mequon-Thiensville School District employee charged with retail theft Metallica return with their 11th studio album 72 Seasons (Tim Saccenti) Traumatic! Volcanic! Psychotic! Demonic! Hypnotic! So runs the rhyme scheme in the title track of Metallicas 11th studio album. Obviously, theyre not going for subtlety. Theyve annoyed fans before by attempting to tone it down on their past couple of releases so, as they edge into their sixties, the band return to the solidly compelling thrash metal with which they made their name. And honestly, when theyre on form, no band on the planet is better at writing and executing epic songs that head hugger-mugger for the horizon in a way that makes listeners feel as though theyre hugging the curves and swerving the spills of a Formula One racetrack. Songs dont follow formulae; they just accelerate hard through the straights and snake wildly through the corners as they come. James Hetfields screaming hyperbole locking directly into the pounding rubber of Lars Ulrichs relentless riff-making. In recent interviews, the band have spoken of embracing their age. Thundering their way through a week-long residency on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, they joked that the new generation of kids who discovered them after their 1986 song Master of Puppets featured in Netflixs hit series Stranger Things last year (it was streamed 17.5 million times and flew to the top of the iTunes rock chart) had no idea how decrepit they are. Like Stranger Things, the lyrics on 72 Seasons are a turbocharged fusion of moody nostalgia with present paranoia. There are no ballads. Its 77 minutes of grimily meshed gears. Hetfield recently divorced and out of rehab for the second time has explained that the title came out of a book I was reading about childhood, basically, and sorting out childhood as an adult. Those 72 seasons refer to the first 18 years of your life. How do you evolve and grow and mature and develop your own ideas and identity of self after those first 72 seasons? So, on single If Darkness had a Son, Hetfield calls on nascent goths to paint your eyes as black as sorrow/ hide yourself behind tomorrow. Riding the waves of power chords and squalling leads from the dark altar of his stage, he gloats that he has all the children subjugated while addressing his own addiction issues in the repeated assertion: I bathe in holy water/ Temptation leave me be. (Earlier this month, the BBC revealed that the bands holy water of choice is no longer vodka but Earl Grey tea, with a little hint of vanilla... yummy.) On the faster Lux Aeterna, Hetfield praises the communion of the live gig sonic salvation! and calls upon the faithful to cast out the demons that strangle your life!. Meanwhile, on headbanger Screaming Suicide, the frontman swaps out the fighting fantasy imagery for straighter therapy speak as he unpacks the consequences of internalised blame. The album concludes with the 11-minute, Black Sabbath-indebted monster track: Inamorata (the longest song Metallica have recorded to date). Melodies churn up murkily from the depths of Robert Trujillos bass. And theres a flicker of lyrical hope in the gloom. 72 Seasons may not see Metallica doing anything new but it does find their old machine firing on all cylinders. Old and new fans alike will be headbanging happily throughout. Credit - Ser BaffoMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures Its a big deal when any directors debut movie sells $100 million worth of tickets in its first week. Its an even bigger deal when that director is also the star. And its a triumvirate of big deals when that normal-sized star transformed plausibly into a heavyweight boxer to play the role. But thats the position in which Michael B. Jordan, 36, finds himself in the wake of Creed III, which is either the third installment of the Creed franchise or the ninth installment of the Rocky franchise, depending on your age. Despite the many hard yards that being a director-leading man-athlete entails, Jordan, one of TIMEs 100 most influential people of 2023, is raring to get back in the directing ring again. I got the bug. I love it. Im looking forward to the next time sitting behind the camera, says the star. He was sufficiently nervous about his first attempt that he called up such actor-directors as Bradley Cooper, Denzel Washington, and Jon Favreau to get tips on how to multitask, handle the unknown, and say action and cut when youre in the middle of a scene. Theres a reason Jordan took such control of the future of the Creed storyline. It was personal for him. I had something to say. I had a unique opportunity to play a character three times over the past nine years, and have a character that was going through similar things that I was personally, and finding ways to work through my own sh-t through a character, he says. As an actor, you try to find characters that you can pull yourself into, and you can relate to, and you can almost kind of use that as like a therapeutic opportunity. And Adonis Creed was that for me. In this iteration of the movie, Creed is in an arc of his of life where things are going extraordinarily well. At this point in his career, I kind of know what somebody like that will be going through, because Im kind of going through that same sh-t, says Jordan. It was something that I knew nobody else could tell but me. So it was a perfect fit. Story continues Like Creed, Jordan has fame, respect, and enough money to buy everything he needs and wants and to look after those around him. After his first real paydays, for The Wire and Hardball, his mom took him to a car lot near where he lived in New Jersey and he bought a BMW330 CI, stick shift. More recently, he bought his mom a house. Like Creed, people expect a lot of him. (He recently was invited to dinner with President Obama and executives from his film production company.) And like Creed, he regularly has to drive by large billboards of himself modeling fancy clothing, or at least, fancy underpants. Its kind of out of out of body experience, he says of seeing huge images of himself in Calvin Kleins. Its just like, wow, thats a lot. Thats a lot, being up there. Finally, just like Creed, Jordans on the receiving end of a lot of peoples opinions about his work. While he appreciates the critical and popular acclaim the film has garnered, he tries to keep his circle of influencers pretty tight. I dont think the human brain is really built for millions and millions of opinions, he says. Humanity in general, youre used to your tribe, you know, 20-30 people, that you care about: your family, your friends, and that extended group. But he acknowledges that social media is tough to ignore. You have to filter through and listen to people that you dont know and their opinion shouldnt really affect you like that, but it does. Read More: Michael B. Jordan Is Redefining What It Means to Be a Movie Star Jordan had already leaned into his own rising influence with his 2018 pledge to use inclusion riders, which are clauses in contracts that call for more diversity among the cast and crew, for any film his company produces. But hes looking for more permanent commitments. I think you have a lot of corporate America checking boxes to satisfy the people or outcry or a moment, he says. And sometimes that energy is lost, as people forget. You get back to business as usual. Having been a working actor since his teens, Jordan has had some time to metabolize what it means to be someone people look up to, even though he says influence is not something that he sought. Its something that, for me anyway, I had to learn how to accept, he says. And just as when he worked on Creed, hes not shying from the heavy lifting. I think Ive accepted my role as a leaderand all the weight that comes with that. Photograph by Paola Kudacki for TIME Buy a print of the Michael B. Jordan cover here. Michael Moynihan was jailed after he was spotted pointing and laughing at jurors. (Cavendish) A man who was spotted laughing at the jury during a complex 150m tax fraud trial has been jailed for contempt of court. Construction worker Michael Moynihan, 31, was seen pointing at the jurors and chuckling to a friend as Judge Steven Everett was finishing his summing up of 14 weeks of evidence at Chester Crown Court on 27 March. Two of jurors who saw Moynihan pointing at them were said to be obviously affected and were looking down at the feet as they later filed in and out of the jury box. Moynihan was asked to leave the courtroom by staff but he initially refused to go and then declined to give his name. Michael Moynihan answered back to a judge after he was told to leave the court. (Cavendish) When asked to leave immediately by the judge he answered back: You ought to be patient. He was subsequently arrested and it was discovered he had been at the court for a different trial over unrelated public order matters. Moynihan of Ellesmere Port, Cheshire who lost his left leg in accident in 2021, was jailed for 21 days after being found guilty of contempt of court. Everett said if the jury members had asked themselves why he had been pointing and laughing at them it could have led to the trial being abandoned. Michael Moynihan was in court for a different trial over unrelated public order matters. (Cavendish) He described Moynihans actions as threatening and arrogant. The trial itself was part of criminal proceedings that had been ongoing for 10 years that had cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds. The judge told Moynihan: Its important that everybody understands that the court is a place where people have to behave. "If people do not behave in a court, we are heading down the road to anarchy and that is a problem. I found your behaviour threatening and arrogant. It was not just rude, it was way beyond that and what concerned me most was it was threatening to the jury. I see that they saw that. Michael Moynihan was jailed for 21 days at Chester Crown Court. (Reuters) The judge told Moynihan he had an enormous chip on your shoulder had behaved in a horrible way to the jurors. Moynihan's counsel Kay Driver said her client had been on painkillers that made him too relaxed, adding that he believed the person on the jury was someone he had gone to school with and pointed him out to his friend. Driver said Moynihan apologises for his language and behaviour, adding: He realises now that could be very intimidating to a jury member. Despite fears the trial might have to be abandoned due to them feeling intimidated, the panel later convicted two men including the mastermind of a fake designer clothing scam who ran one of the UKs largest ever carousel tax frauds. Classified document leak shows U.S. double standards, says expert Xinhua) 08:52, April 13, 2023 A huge slogan board stands in front of the U.S. Capitol building during a protest against government surveillance in Washington D.C., capital of the United Sates, on Oct. 26, 2013. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) "Double standards are visible in many fields in American politics today," a professor at the University of Zagreb told Xinhua. ZAGREB, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The reported leaks of classified Pentagon documents show the United States' double standards as it is engaged in spying on countries, including its allies, while it accuses other countries of engaging in network surveillance, a Croatian expert said here on Wednesday. "In many respects, America has double standards, as it accuses others of what it is doing itself. Double standards are visible in many fields in American politics today," Hrvoje Klasic, a professor at the University of Zagreb, told Xinhua in an interview. The leaks of classified U.S. documents show that Washington is trying to gather information from everyone, including its allies, "because it clearly does not trust anyone completely," Klasic said, adding that it is the same case with Ukraine, as the documents revealed that the U.S. has been spying on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Demonstrators hold placards and banners to protest against government surveillance in Washington D.C., capital of the United Sates, on Oct. 26, 2013. (Xinhua/Fang Zhe) Eavesdropping on everyone, including its allies, is nothing new for the United States, and the leaks of classified military documents certainly "cast a new picture" on the background of the Ukraine crisis, Klasic noted. In May 2021, Denmark's national broadcaster DR News reported that the Danish Defense Intelligence Service had given the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) open internet access to spy on senior politicians of neighboring countries, including then German Chancellor Angela Merkel. That exposure somewhat cooled off the relations between the U.S. and Europe and showed that the transatlantic alliance faced countless challenges, Klasic said. Photo taken on Aug. 15, 2022 shows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters behind security fencing in Washington, D.C., the United States. TO GO WITH "World Insights: Rising concern about political violence in U.S. after Mar-a-Lago search" (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The reported leaks of highly classified documents that have been trending online recently shed light on the extensive spying activities conducted by Washington on its allies and foes alike, as the latest leaks of documents have raised concerns from U.S.-friendly nations involved, while other allies are also conducting damage assessments to determine if their own sources and methods have been compromised. Earlier this month, reports on batches of alleged U.S. intelligence documents that were uploaded on social media platforms such as Twitter and Telegram grabbed headlines. According to U.S. officials, several of the documents are authentic and are believed to have been generated between mid-February and early March. They contain extensive top-secret data related to U.S.-friendly nations, including Ukraine, South Korea and Israel. Photo taken on Dec. 8, 2022 shows the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C., the United States. The U.S. Congress approved a bill on same-sex marriage on Thursday and sent it to the White House. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A passenger adjusts the face mask of a child at Zhengzhou East Railway Station in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, Jan. 7, 2023. [Photo/Xinhua] China issued a new set of guidelines on Wednesday regarding the use of face masks by the general public to prevent COVID-19 infection, stating that it is now no longer mandatory to wear face masks when using public transport. The guidelines from the joint COVID-19 prevention and control mechanism of the State Council aim to clarify situations and circumstances where people should, can choose to, or may choose not to wear face masks. People are advised to put on face masks when using public transport and entering supermarkets, movie theaters, and other indoor places with large gatherings. Individuals have the discretion to choose whether or not to wear face masks in outdoor locations such as public squares and parks. Students are not required to wear face masks at school, according to the guidelines. However, in certain circumstances, the use of face masks is mandatory. These include when a person has tested positive for COVID-19 or is displaying relevant symptoms, during local outbreaks, and when visiting medical institutions and nursing homes. [Source] Academy Award winner Michelle Yeoh has fulfilled her promise to bring her Oscar trophy back home to her mother in Ipoh, Malaysia. Yeoh, 60, shared the heartwarming moment on Facebook and Instagram on Wednesday. The Everything Everywhere All at Once actor shared two pictures in her post, one of which shows her mother, Janet Yeoh, happily holding her trophy for best actress. Brought Mr.O home. Without my parents love and trust and support I wouldnt be here today love so much, Yeoh wrote in her posts. The other picture shows Yeoh with her trophy in front of her late father's grave. More from NextShark: Chloe Zhao Becomes the First Woman of Color to Be Nominated for Best Director Yeoh won the best actress award at the 95th Academy Awards on March 13, where Everything Everywhere All at Once won seven of its 11 Oscar nominations, including best picture. During her acceptance speech, Yeoh dedicated her award to her mother, who was watching the historic moment in Malaysia. More from NextShark: Manny Pacquiao breaks his silence on referees controversial cheating confession I have to dedicate this [award] to my mom, all the moms in the world because they are really the superheroes, and without them, none of us would be here tonight, she said. Im taking this home to her. Shes watching right now in Malaysia, KL, with my family and friends. I love you guys. Im bringing this home to you. The Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon actor was reportedly in Malaysia for Qing Ming 2023 and spent a few days in Ipoh with her mother and their family, a source told The Star. After she visited her family, Yeoh reportedly flew to Hong Kong. The "Crazy Rich Asians" star is expected to return to Malaysia on April 18, where she will appear at the Pride of Malaysia Michelle Yeoh Homecoming Public Fan Meet at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. Story continues More from NextShark: Texas man sentenced to 45 years for stabbing of Burmese family in 2020 Many Facebook users congratulated Yeoh, who made history as the first Asian-identifying actor to win an Oscar for best actress. This brought me goosebumps. Never forget your root. You are such a wonderful role model for ALL, one Facebook user wrote. Welcome home and congratulations. We are so proud of you, another user commented. You are the best and great inspiration to Malaysian and to everyone in the world Love you always. You're the best, even we knew it before and finally you got highly recognized and you deserve a best beautiful, another user wrote. Michelle Yeoh at the Governors Ball during the 95th Annual Academy Awards at Dolby Theatre. Emma McIntyre/Getty Images Michelle Yeoh took to Instagram to share a photo of her mother posing with her Oscar on Wednesday. Last month, the 60-year-old from Ipoh, Malaysia, became the first Asian woman to win the award for Best Actress. Yeoh dedicated the historic win to her mother in her speech: "I'm taking this home to her." Michelle Yeoh took to Instagram to share a photo of her mother posing with her Oscar on Wednesday a month after making history as the first Asian woman to win the award for Best Actress. Yeoh also shared a photo of her bringing the award to visit her late father's grave. In the background of the image, various offerings can be seen in front of her father's headstone. It's currently the Qingming Festival, or Tomb-Sweeping Festival, where families visit the tombs of their ancestors in order to pay their respects. It's observed across various Asian countries, including Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand. The 60-year-old from Ipoh, Malaysia, fulfilled a promise that she'd made during her acceptance speech at the Academy Awards ceremony last month. Yeoh won the award for her role as Evelyn Wang in "Everything Everywhere All At Once," a sci-fi movie that swept seven Oscars in total, including one for Best Picture. In her speech, Yeoh dedicated her historic win to her mother, who was watching the show with the rest of her family in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. "I have to dedicate this to my mom, all the moms in the world, because they are really the superheroes. And without them, none of us will be here tonight," Yeoh said. "She's 84, and I'm taking this home to her." Read the original article on Insider Michelle Yeoh took her Oscars trophy with her to her fathers grave in Malaysia. The visit was to mark Qing Ming, a major traditional festival observed by the Chinese community in several south Asian countries where people visit tombs of their ancestors and clean them and make food offerings. At the 2023 Oscars, 60-year-old Yeoh took home the award for Best Actress for her leading role in Everything Everywhere All at Once. In doing so, she beat Cate Blanchett (Tar), Michelle Williams (The Fabelmans), Ana de Armas (Blonde) and Andrea Riseborough (To Leslie), who were nominated in the category. For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight, this is the beacon of hope and possibilities, Yeoh said in her acceptance speech. This is proof to dream big and that dreams do come true. Ladies, dont tell anyone tell you, you are past your prime, she said. She also dedicated the award to her mother and all the mums in the world, calling them the real superheroes. On Wednesday (12 April), Yeoh posted a photograph of her holding her Oscars trophy in front of her fathers grave in Malaysia. Brought Mr O home, she captioned the photo. Without my parents love and trust and support I wouldnt be here today love so much. The actors father Yeoh Kian Teik died in 2014 at the age of 89. Soon after the Oscars ceremony in March, a video of her mother Janet breaking down in excitement after her daughter was declared the winner, went viral. In the clip, shes visibly emotional as a screaming crowd around her embrace her. Yeohs victory also marks the first triumph in over two decades for a Best Actress woman of colour, as well as the very first win for an Asian actor in the category itself. Just hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law bills expanding background checks for firearm purchases and safe storage requirements, the Michigan House approved a series of bills to enact a so-called "red flag" law that would empower courts in the state to temporarily take away guns from those deemed dangerous. The vote comes after Senate Democrats last month passed similar legislation. All Democratic-backed bills in the state House passed on party-line votes after lawmakers adopted amendments Thursday to address due process concerns raised by law enforcement and modify the process for applying and appealing extreme risk protection orders issued by courts under the proposed red flag law. The two chambers must agree on the final versions of the bills before they can go to Whitmer for her signature. "We are constantly reeling from one mass shooting to the next," said House Judiciary Committee chair Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, during a Tuesday hearing on the bills. Between shootings that leave multiple people dead and entire communities left to grieve, firearm suicides occur so frequently that they account for the majority of gun deaths, Breen said. State Rep. Julie Brixie, D-Okemos, whose district includes East Lansing, where a shooting two months at Michigan State University left three dead and five injured, said she has heard repeated calls since the rampage to pass gun safety measures, including a red flag law. "We'll never know whether extreme risk protection orders would have prevented the MSU shooter, but we do know he was deeply troubled and there were warning signs," she said. More: Whitmer expands background checks, enacts safe storage with gun safety bills More: Michigan lawmakers want undocumented immigrants to be able to get driver's license, ID Changes worked out during bill negotiations ultimately gained support from law enforcement before the votes Thursday. Dan Pfannes, deputy director for the Michigan Sheriffs' Association, thanked lawmakers for the opportunity to provide input on the legislation. The Michigan Fraternal Order of Police also expressed support for the bills, according to Breen. Story continues One major change to the legislation would require that an individual petitioning a court for an extreme risk protection order show the order is necessary because someone is at risk of injuring themselves or someone else with the firearm specifically in the near future. Another change would give those under an extreme risk protection order opportunities to ask the court to rescind the order twice during the year the order is in effect. Some former law enforcement officers serving in the House raised objections to the bills. State Rep. Mike Harris, R-Waterford, said requiring law enforcement to execute extreme risk protection orders and confiscate guns from those deemed dangerous could put officers at risk by creating potentially volatile situations. Other Republican lawmakers called for enforcing the laws already on the books instead of creating new ones to address gun violence, particularly stemming from mental health issues. "When we make guns the scapegoat for society's mental health crisis, it deflects our attention from real solution," said state Rep. Jaime Greene, R-Richmond. House Democrats passed five bills Thursday as part of the red flag law package. House Bill 4145 and Senate Bill 83 would enable courts to issue extreme risk protection orders. The House version of the bill would limit petitions for an extreme risk protection order against an adult to be filed in the county where either the person requesting the order or the respondent resides or has a business. Meanwhile, the Senate version of the bill would allow petitions to be filed in any county in the state. House Bill 4146 would ban those under such orders from purchasing firearms. House Bill 4147 would prohibit courts from charging fees for actions brought under the red flag law. Finally, House Bill 4148 would update the state's code of criminal procedure to include violations of the proposed red flag law, including false statements in a request for an extreme risk protection order. Whitmer on Thursday morning called for lawmakers to send the extreme risk protection order legislation her way. If she has the chance to sign it, it will mark the culmination of her call to enact a trio of gun safety measures. Some Democrats hope action to curb violence won't end with the three proposals taken up so far. 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: Michigan House Democrats pass red flag bills: What it means The number of migrant deaths in the Central Mediterranean in the first three months of 2023 reached their highest point in six years, according to a new report Wednesday from the United Nations International Organization for Migration (IOM). In the first quarter of the year, the IOM documented 441 deaths of migrants attempting to cross what the agency calls "the world's most dangerous maritime crossing." It's the highest fatality count for a three-month period since the first quarter of 2017, when 742 deaths were recorded, according to IOM numbers. Every year thousands of migrants, in sometimes rickety and overcrowded smuggler boats, attempt to reach Europe's southern shores from North Africa. A ship carrying some 700 migrants enters the Sicilian port of Catania on April 12, 2023. / Credit: Salvatore Cavalli / AP Last weekend, 3,000 migrants reached Italy, bringing the total number of migrant arrivals to Europe through the Central Mediterranean so far this year to 31,192, the IOM said. The report seeks to serve as a wake-up call that food insecurity, the COVID-19 pandemic and violent conflicts worldwide have dramatically increased the movement of both migrants and refugees around the world. "The persisting humanitarian crisis in the Central Mediterranean is intolerable," said IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino in a statement. "With more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this route since 2014, I fear that these deaths have been normalized." "States must respond," Vitorino said, adding that delays and gaps in search and rescue operations "are costing human lives." The IOM noted in its report that the number of recorded deaths was "likely an undercount of the true number of lives lost in the Central Mediterranean." "Saving lives at sea is a legal obligation for states," the IOM chief said, adding that action was needed to dismantle the criminal smuggling networks "responsible for profiting from the desperation of migrants and refugees by facilitating dangerous journeys." Story continues The delays in government-led rescues on this route were a factor in hundreds of deaths, the report noted. The report is part of the IOM's Missing Migrants Project, which documents the Central Mediterranean route taken by migrants from the North Africa and Turkish coasts, often departing Libya, Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria for Italy and Malta. Those nations serve as a transit point from all parts of the world, and have done so for many years. Last November, Italy announced that it would close its ports to migrant ships run by non-governmental organizations (NGOs). The report noted a February shipwreck off Italy's Calabrian coast in which at least 64 migrants died. It also mentioned a boat carrying about 400 migrants that went adrift this past weekend, between Italy and Malta, before it was reached by the Italian Coast Guard after two days in distress. In a video posted to social media Wednesday, a spokesperson for Sea-Watch International, an NGO, criticized Malta for not assisting the ship, saying that Malta did not send a rescue ship "because they want to avoid" migrants "reaching their country." "So far this year, Malta did not rescue any person in distress," the spokesperson alleged. Italy, for its part, on Tuesday declared a state of emergency over the migrant crisis, pressing the European Union for help. An attempted crackdown on smuggler ships has pushed migrants to take a longer and more dangerous Atlantic route to Europe from northwest Africa, resulting in what an Associated Press investigation dubbed "ghost boats" that have washed up with dead bodies, sometimes abandoned by their captains. "Every person searching for a better life deserves safety and dignity," U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, a former refugee chief, said in February when the death toll spiked. "We need safe, legal routes for migrants and refugees." Ireland residents react to visit from President Biden Residents evacuate after fire at Indiana recycling plant filled with plastics Inflation cools to lowest level in nearly two years A Ukrainian serviceman near a self-propelled howitzer 2C3 Akatsia near Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, April 12, 2023 The expert argued that a large-scale offensive was out of the question because Russia is currently unable to conduct major offensive operations. Read also: Russian great offensive a flop, Ukrainian intelligence reports failure He pointed out that Russia has a reserve of 40,000 soldiers for an operational offensive, but has been unable to even use them. "There may be various reasons for this," he said. I believe that the failure near Vuhledar and the failure near Avdiyivka is due to the Russian armys shell hunger. They changed their plans and did not use their second-stage reserve. Read also: Crippled logistics preclude Russia from launching offensive towards Zaporizhzhya Rustamzade added that in a war of attrition, "a priori there are no such tasks as advancing deep into the enemy's territory." "What they have captured suits them, and their goal is to exhaust the Ukrainian army and Ukrainian society, regardless of whether they are on the offensive or defensive," he said. He believes that Russia will lose the war of attrition. "In a war of attrition, when there are no particular offensive actions, the quality of the artillery duel, the quality of the firepower matters," Rustamzade explained. And I believe that Ukraine understands this, we see effective counter-battery combat by the Ukrainian army. The destruction of the enemy and its human resources will definitely affect the course of this conflict. The quantity of firepower will be important for the Russian side, as opposed to the quality for the Ukrainian side. Rustamzade noted that Ukraine's Western allies are increasing the supply of artillery weapons to Ukraine, while Russia's supply is significantly limited. "According to various estimates, the Russian military industry can produce from 1,500 to 4,000 shells daily," he said. They are limited by the capabilities of their chemical industry, the ability to create the necessary composite metals. Weapons production is a complex process, and if you lose at least one link, it automatically negates all efforts. In Russia, there is a huge shortage of specialized machines that produce gun barrels. Where can you find this additional machine? This is a big problem under sanctions. The Russians are not able to increase production as much as Ukraine's Western partners. Story continues Read also: Former Aidar commander gives four requirements for successful Ukrainian counter-offensive Rustamzade explains that the Russians are even pulling out the "guns of the Second World War," at the same time, emphasizing that there are few artillery shells left for such systems. "In a war of attrition, the Russian army will eventually lose because it cannot increase its firepower on the enemy, unlike Ukraine, he concluded. Russian, Ukrainian, and Western sources stated that the Russian winter offensive failed to achieve its goal of capturing all of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts by March 31, said the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War in its report for April 1. The Kremlin may resort to reshuffling the high military command following the failure of the winter offensive, UK intelligence has speculated. 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 Immoral! Disgusting! So said those who were scandalised when Mary Quants mini skirts made their way onto the streets of London and beyond. The British fashion designer, who has died aged 93, was widely credited with popularising the look and was one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the Sixties. Born in south-east London on 11 February 1930, Quant was the daughter of two Welsh school teachers. She gained a diploma in the 1950s in Art Education at Goldsmiths College, where she met her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, who later helped establish her brand. Quant was taken on as an apprentice to a milliner before making her own clothes and in 1955 opened Bazaar, a boutique on the Kings Road in Chelsea. Its impossible to overstate Quants contribution to fashion. She represented the joyful freedom of Sixties fashion, and provided a new role model for young women. Fashion today owes so much to her trailblazing vision, the Victoria & Albert Museum said in its tribute. In a piece discussing the emergence of the mini skirt, the V&A shows a version of a dress Quant designed for her Mary Quant Ginger Group label, which launched in 1963. It was owned by Sheffield-based Jenny Fenwick, who said: Mary Quant epitomised a style which was different from the norm and meant that teenage girls like me didnt have to look like their mothers. Mary Quant in November 1965 (Getty Images) Her designs sparked a mass market-boom in mini skirts, with hemlines starting just above the knee but steadily creeping upwards. In 1967, she told The Guardian that her shorter dresses and skirts, made in loud colurs, were arrogant, aggressive and sexy. Despite now being highly praised for liberating British women from restrictive and overly formal clothing, Quants designs were not accepted by everyone at the time. (Sharok Hatami/Shutterstock) Although they were all the rage in London, mini skirts were considered mad in other cities, even in Paris and New York. In 1966, Helen Lazareff, the former editor of Elle said that Parisians would not adopt the short hemlines because young French people were not so restrained that [they] had to break out of societal norms like the English. Story continues Meanwhile, in Russia, the mini skirt was derided as a floozy distraction from social revolution. A writer who went with the byline Miss A Belskaya wrote that the mini skirt was linked to the idea that young people should dance every night until they are dizzy, play at free love, smoke marijuana and accused it of being a capitalist attack on socialism. (PA) Closer to home, Quant recalled in her 1966 memoir Quant by Quant that men would protest against her clothing. City gents in bowler hats beat on our shop windows with their umbrellas shouting, Immoral! and Disgusting! at the sight of our mini skirts over tights, she wrote. But customers poured in to buy. It was clear that despite all the ruckus, Quants creations were going nowhere. When Twiggy, the model of the era, began adopting her designs, their popularity reached stratospheric heights. Twiggy became synonymous with Quants collections and the pair would go on to collaborate closely throughout the years. Twiggy, originally Lesley Hornby, poses in font of a stack of chairs. (Getty Images) Model Jackie Bowyer also wore Quants designs and became particularly famous for a black-and-white photograph, in which she is swinging from a street lamp pole and wearing a black oilskin coat with a matching hat and boots by the designer. The outfit was shown at the first Sunday Times International Fashion Awards ceremony in 1963. Model Jackie Bowyer swings on a lamppost wearing a black oilskin wet-weather outfit from Mary Quant, of matching coat and hat with shiny, high-heeled boots, London, 15th October 1963 (Getty Images) When asked which models and celebrities wore the mini skirt best, Quant told The Herald in 2018: Jean Shrimpton, of course, was unbeatable, and also Audrey Hepburn... But there were many others... Twiggy, Sandra Paul, Grace Coddington. Quant was also very outspoken about her attitude towards sex and sexuality. According to V&A fashion curator Jenny Lister, she would make provocative statements about sexuality and her private life as well, which perhaps went along with her clothes, which were seen as quite outrageous at the time, as per the Fashion Network. (Bettmann Archive) Her influence in fashion coincided with the emancipation of women in the Swinging Sixties, as the contraceptive pill became available just six years after Quant opened her legendary boutique on the Kings Road, Bazaar. In the 2021 documentary Quant about her life, directed by Sadie Frost, Quant summarises her lifes work succinctly: I think the point of fashion is not to get bored with looking at somebody, I think the point of clothes for women is that one, youre noticed; two, that you look sexy; and three, that you feel good. The city of Minneapolis has reached a nearly $9m settlement with two individuals who accused former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin of kneeling on their necks in 2017, three years before he killed George Floyd. The settlement, approved by the Minneapolis City Council on Thursday, concludes civil lawsuits brought against the city by John Pope Jr and Zoya Code. Mr Pope will receive $7.5m, while Ms Code will recieve $1.375m. Both Mr Pope and Ms Code are Black. Mr Popes lawsuit alleged that, in 2017, Chauvin was among the Minneapolis police officers who responded to his family home on a call that Mr Popes mother was being abused by her two teenage sons. Mr Pope, who was 14 at the time, was lying on a bedroom floor on his cell phone when Chauvin entered the room, according to the suit. After he explained what happened, Chauvin allegedly became aggressive striking him on the head with a flashlight and pinning him to the ground with his knee for at least 15 minutes. Ms Codes lawsuit tells a similar story. She claims Mr Chauvin slammed her head onto the ground and pinned his knee against her neck for nearly five minutes, despite her being in handcuffs and posing no threat to Chauvin or anyone else. He did this after Ms Code, who suffers from mental health challenges, allegedly attacked her mother with an extension cord. Chauvins policing sparked an international protest movement in the summer of 2020 after a bystander video showed him kneeling on Mr Floyds neck and back for more than nine minutes. Mr Floyds last words, I cant breathe, became a rallying cry for Black Lives Matter and the police abolition and reform movement. Chauvin was eventually convicted for murder in Floyds death in 2021, becoming the first white police officer convicted for killing a Black person in Minnesota history. He is currently serving a 21-year prison sentence at a facility in Arizona. The lawsuits settled Thursday drew a direct link from the treatment of Mr Pope and Ms Code to the killing of Mr Floyd, arguing that if the citys police department had intervened to get Mr Chauvin off the street or otherwise discipline him, the 2020 murder may never have happened. Story continues The lawsuit accused the Minneapolis Police Department of allowing Chauvin to field train and indoctrinate dozens of young MPD officers to his ways without fear of discipline or negative sanction and to continue his predatory ways for years, according to the Associated Press. Councilmember Elliott Payne, a progressive who represents an area in northeast Minneapolis, said Thursdays settlement was a stark reminder of the work the city of Minneapolis faces to better public safety. Its actually not a Derek Chauvin problem, Mr Payne said. Its an institution problem. Police in California found a missing 5-year-old girl who was reportedly taken from North Carolina and driven cross-country by her grandmother's ex-husband. Faith Leigh Harris, 5, was reportedly taken by her grandmother's ex-husband, 84-year-old Orion Douglas Memmott, police said. The alleged abduction occurred on 3 April, and the girl was considered missing until she was recovered Thursday morning. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office located in North Carolina asked the California Highway Patrol for assistance after learning that Mr Memmott likely fled to the west coast with the girl. The CHP issued an "endangered missing advisory" which targeted Butte, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties. On Thursday morning, the CHP announced that it had located Mr Memmott and Faith. A spokesperson for the CHP told The Independent that Faith was found safe in Butte County, and that Mr Memmott had been arrested. It is unclear when Faith will be returned to her family in North Carolina. Charges have not been announced at this time for Mr Memmott. Mr Memmott was previously charged and convicted for tax fraud in 2014. Orion Douglas Memmott, 84, and Faith Leigh Harris, 5, pictured on a California Highway Patrol endangered missing advisory after the girl was taken from her North Carolina home. She has since been located (California Highway Patrol) He was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for attempted tax evasion and subscribing to a false tax document, according to Yahoo News. Prosecutors argued that Mr Memmott, a tax attorney, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from investors and law firm clients for use in day trading, travel, and personal trainers, according to court documents. One client was left destitute and homeless after he stole money from her medical trust. For years, Mr Memmott acted as if his law license placed him beyond the reach of the law, U.S. Attorney Wagner said in 2014. Today, in sentencing Mr Memmott to prison, the Court made clear that attorneys who commit crimes should not expect special treatment. The fate of legal cannabis shops in the City of Mississauga hangs in the balance as city council members reconsider a long-standing ban aimed at marijuana shops within its borders. City councillors debated the issue on Wednesday, with nearly half of them voicing their opposition. A formal vote is set to take place next week. The motion to lift the ban on cannabis stores was put forth by Coun. Dipika Damerla. "What I have found is that there has been a proliferation of illegal cannabis stores in Mississauga, Damerla said in an interview. So now my choice is not between no stores and legal stores. The choice is illegal stores or legal stores. A variety of cannabis edibles are displayed at the Ontario Cannabis Store in Toronto on Friday, Jan. 3, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Tijana Martin Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said she's all for legalizing cannabis storefronts in her municipality. "By not opting in, we are only allowing the illegal market to continue to thrive. There is no way to control what products can be laced with and help prevent them from getting in the hands of our youth " she wrote in a tweet. #3 By not opting in, we are only allowing the illegal market to continue to thrive. There is no way to control what products can be laced with and help prevent them from getting in the hands of our youth. Bonnie Crombie (@BonnieCrombie) April 12, 2023 Mississauga remains Ontario's largest municipality without legal cannabis stores following provincial legislation that saw the legalization of cannabis during 2018. The ban has resulted in an increasing number of illegally-operated pot shops operating within city limits, causing a strain on law enforcement resources. Damerla pointed out that in her ward alone, police have made six attempts to shut down one illegally-run cannabis shop, however, operators show up the next day and resume business as usual. She writes in her motion that it was prudent to take a "wait and see approach with the legalization of cannabis shops in Mississauga back then. But now, four and a half years later, the implementation of legal pot shops would reduce the profitability of illegal storefronts. Story continues Residents also want their voices heard, as city polling suggested 68 per cent of Mississaugans were in favour of retail cannabis stores back in 2018. One social media user took to Twitter suggesting that this move would hurt cannabis storefronts in surrounding areas, outlining a bigger issue that Mississauga residents were having to leave their municipality to legally purchase cannabis products. Oh oh Brampton, Etobicoke stores and blackmarket bill are going to be hurting if this changes Chris McGale (@MARATHONFITSYS) April 12, 2023 Another Twitter user posted her support for a reversal of the ban, stating that it was "crazy that Mississauga still hasn't allowed dispensaries nearly 5 years after legalization." It's crazy that Mississauga still hasn't allowed dispensaries nearly 5 years after legalization. Go get em! Michaela (@mfcannabis) April 12, 2023 Another Twitter user shared confusion about how a store be considered illegal when the province deemed cannabis legal in 2018. It is a legal substancehow can they not allow legal substances to be sold? Sue Horncastle (@SueHorncastle) April 12, 2023 The ban on cannabis storefronts in Mississauga stems from Resolution 0218-2018, which was passed during December 12, 2018 by city council members, which explicitly prohibited retail cannabis stores in the City of Mississauga. Members of council are now seeking to overturn this resolution. Mississauga Mayor Crombie says the matter will be deliberated at the Council meeting next Wednesday, April 19, and welcomes public and stakeholders feedback. The Ontario cannabis market currently oversees 1714 shops across the province, employing approximately 48,000 Ontarians and contributes $13.3 billion to the province's GDP Zheng Jinyang, a survivor of the Nanjing Massacre, died on Tuesday evening at the age of 95. Her death reduced the total number of registered survivors to 42, according to the Memorial Hall of the Victims in the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders. The Nanjing Massacre took place when Japanese troops captured the then-Chinese capital on Dec. 13, 1937. Over six weeks, they killed approximately 300,000 Chinese civilians and unarmed soldiers in one of the most barbaric episodes of World War II. During the massacre, five of Zheng's relatives were brutally killed by the Japanese soldiers and her ancestral home was burned down by the invaders. The great pain of losing her loved ones lingered on throughout the rest of her life. "Decades have passed, but I have never forgotten," Zheng once said. In 2014, China's top legislature designated Dec. 13 as the national memorial day for the victims of the Nanjing Massacre. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey (R) on Thursday put into effect an emergency regulation claiming gender-affirming health care for transgender minors is already illegal under a state law prohibiting certain medical interventions in the absence of substantial guardrails. Bailey, who is facing reelection this year, said Thursday that because gender-affirming medical interventions are considered experimental, they are covered by an existing Missouri law governing unfair, deceptive, and unconscionable business practices, which includes the administration of health care services. Bailey first issued the emergency regulation in March. The rule includes some restrictions for transgender adults, in addition to youth. The emergency rule enacted Thursday states that it is an unfair, deceptive, fraudulent, or otherwise unlawful practice for any person or health organization in Missouri to recommend or administer gender-affirming health care to patients without certain protections in place, including informed consent disclosures and lengthy psychological or psychiatric assessments. This emergency rule is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and also to protect a compelling governmental interest as the attorney general is charged with protecting consumers, including minors, from harm and investigating fraud and abuse in the states health care payment system, the emergency regulation states. Under Baileys emergency regulation, which is effective April 27 and will expire next year, transgender people of all ages in Missouri will be unable to access gender-affirming health care without having exhibited three years of a medically documented, long-lasting, persistent and intense pattern of gender dysphoria. Health care providers must also ensure annually that a patients gender identity is not being influenced by social media or their peers. Those seeking access to gender-affirming health care must also be screened for autism, and any existing comorbidities like anxiety and depression must be treated and resolved before treatment is administered. Story continues Baileys promulgation of the emergency rule follows an announcement from his office in February that a multiagency investigation had been launched into a St. Louis pediatric transgender clinic following accusations of malpractice by a former employee. In a first-person account published by the Free Press in February, Jamie Reed, a former employee of the Washington University Pediatric Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital, claimed hospital staff frequently failed to properly inform transgender youths and their families of the potential side effects of gender-affirming health care and in some cases provided treatment without parental consent. Reed made similar claims in a sworn affidavit to Baileys office, triggering the investigation. Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), responding to Reeds claims, announced in February that his office had launched a separate investigation into the hospitals transgender center. Reeds account has been challenged by reporting from the St. Louis Dispatch. Nearly two dozen parents of children seen at the clinic told the outlet that Reeds allegations are just not true. Bailey in a statement on Thursday said his office has so far uncovered a clandestine network of clinics across Missouri who are harming children by ignoring the science. My office is stepping up to protect children throughout the state while we investigate the allegations and how they are harming children, he said. Gender-affirming health care for both transgender youths and adults is supported by most major medical organizations, including the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. After announcing his intent to file an emergency rule in late March, Missouri's Attorney General Andrew Bailey has released the official language of the rule, which prohibits "experimental interventions to treat gender dysphoria" unless providers comply with a list of requirements. If approved, the emergency rule would go into effect on April 27 and last until Feb. 6, 2024. This emergency ruling comes as the Missouri House voted to approve a bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors. While the attorney general's office has previously said this rule was limited to minors, the language of the rule appears to extend the prohibition to adults seeking gender-affirming care as well. "This emergency rule is necessary to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and also to protect a compelling governmental interest as the attorney general is charged with protecting consumers, including minors, from harm and investigating fraud and abuse in the states health care payment system," the rule says. More: Missouri AG issues regulations on gender-affirming care for minors as legislature debates ban On March 20, the attorney general's office had said "This emergency rule is focused on protecting children (minors)," in response to a News-Leader inquiry as to whether the emergency rule will impact adults seeking gender-affirming care. The attorney general's office called the emergency rule "an effort to protect children" that is based on "dozens of scientific studies and reports" in response to "a clandestine network of clinics across the state who are harming children by ignoring the science. Missouri's LGBTQ advocacy organization PROMO said it will continue to fight for trans people, and condemned Bailey's actions. His actions today fanned the flames of hate by including transgender adults' ability to access care in his culture war," PROMO said in a press release. Lets be clear gender-affirming care is based on decades of clinical experience and research and is not considered experimental. The Attorney Generals claims are maliciously cherry-picked and come from unverified sources that allow him to promulgate disgusting, obstructive, and misleading information into an emergency rule. It should be clear to anyone paying attention that the real threat to Missourians is the Attorney General himself." Story continues Lambda Legal and the American Civil Liberties Union of Missouri released a statement promising to take "any necessary legal action against Attorney General Andrew Baileys emergency regulation restricting access to gender-affirming care." What is included in the rule? The rule defines "gender transition intervention" as prescription or provision of any puberty-blocking drugs, cross-sex hormones or surgery for the purpose of transitioning gender, decreasing gender incongruence or treating gender dysphoria. In order for providers to offer gender-affirming care, they must: Assess at least annually whether the patient has gender dysphoria; Disclose a list of information potential negative side effects and information about gender dysphoria; Perform a full psychological/psychiatric assessment, including at least 15 hourly sessions over the span of at least 18 months, to identify whether the patient has any other mental health comorbidities; Treat and resolve existing mental health comorbidities; Track all adverse effects from any course of covered gender-affirming procedures for at least 15 years from the start of the intervention; Obtain and keep on file informed written consent; Ensure that the patient has a comprehensive screening to determine whether or not they have autism; Ensure at least annually that the patient's gender identity is not the result of a "social contagion;" Ensure at least annually that minor patients are screened for "social media addiction or compulsion;" Those already receiving care may not be affected by rule The rule appears to make an exception for those who are already receiving gender affirming care, as long as "the person or health organization promptly seeks to initiate" treatments and assessments outlined in the rule, including documentation of gender dysphoria for at least three years and a full psychological assessment consisting of no less than 15 sessions over no less than 18 months. Other exceptions to the prohibitions on gender-affirming care include those with sex development disorder or those seeking treatment for precocious puberty. 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 AG's emergency rule restricts care for trans kids, adults The Missouri House on Thursday approved a Republican-led bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors. The bill, filed by state Rep. Brad Hudson, a Cape Fair Republican, would ban all gender transition surgeries, hormone therapy and puberty blockers for anyone under the age of 18. Sex changes and little kids are two things that should never go together, Hudson said on the floor Thursday. I know that, you know that. The majority of the members of this body know that. And weve got constituents all across this great state that know that as well. Zora Williams, a 41-year-old transgender woman from St. Louis, said she was furious about the vote. Transgender people under the age of 18 are not going to be able to get the gender-affirming care that they need and that is not acceptable, she said in a phone call. Pretty much everyone in this community has lost someone they care about by suicide I think were going to see more of that. Thursdays vote sets up a potential fight between the House and Senate over legislation aimed at limiting transgender health care. Hudsons legislation, which passed 103-52, is more strict than the legislation passed by the Missouri Senate last month and does not include two key concessions added by Senate Democrats. The Senate version allows minors to continue hormone therapy or puberty blockers if they were already prescribed them and the restrictions on hormone therapy and puberty blockers expire in 2027. The Houses legislation will now head to the Missouri Senate. Its unclear whether the Senate will take up the bill after it passed its own version last month after hours of filibuster by Democrats. The House could ultimately take up the Senates version, which passed out of the House General Laws Committee later on Thursday. House Democrats on Thursday lambasted Republicans for bringing the bill to a vote Thursday, saying that they were focusing on culture war issues instead of policies that help Missourians. Story continues Youre letting the culture wars take over your souls, House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, a Springfield Democrat and potential candidate for governor, told Republicans Thursday. I am tired of standing at this microphone trying to shame you into paying attention to what actually matters. Missouri Republicans have argued that minors should not be able to undergo gender-affirming care until they turn 18. The bill is part of an onslaught of legislation nationally that targets procedures that assist minors in transitioning genders and ban transgender girls from womens sports. A yes vote is a vote to protect kids from sex change drugs and surgeries, Hudson said. A no vote is to not offer that protection. But LGBTQ rights advocates have said the legislation targets both transgender kids and doctors. They say the bills are part of a national attack on the LGBTQ community by Republicans. LGBTQ rights advocates were scheduled to hold a rally Thursday in response to similar legislation passed by the Kansas Legislature last week. Shortly after the Missouri House vote, Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, a Republican, filed a set of emergency rules aimed at restricting how doctors provide gender-affirming care to minors. The rules take effect on April 27 and expire on Feb. 6, 2024. They include strict psychological therapy requirements for doctors providing care as well as banning care until all of a patients other mental health issues have been treated and resolved. PROMO Missouri, an LGBTQ advocacy group, criticized Bailey in a statement Thursday, saying his rules would also affect transgender adults seeking gender-affirming care. His actions today fanned the flames of hate by including transgender adults ability to access care in his culture war, the statement said. We are living through an all out attack on transgender Missourians lives and very ability to exist. Madeline Sieren, Baileys spokesperson, did not push back when asked if the rules would affect adults seeking transgender health care. We have serious concerns about how children are being treated throughout the state, but we believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care, Sieren said in an email. Doctors and LGBTQ advocates previously told The Star that Baileys rules would be difficult to enforce but may create a chilling effect for both patients and doctors providing care. Wouldnt surprise me if this effectively halts any gender affirming care on minors in the state of Missouri, Brandon Barthel, a Kansas City-based endocrinologist who provides care for transgender adults told The Star when Baileys rules were first announced last month. Republican Missouri state Sen. Mike Moon speaks in his Capitol office on Feb. 1, 2022, in Jefferson City, Mo. David A. Lieb, File/Associated Press Missouri State Sen. Mike Moon defended child marriage on Tuesday, citing a couple he knows. Moon said the couple married at age 12 and that they were still together. He added they had gotten pregnant and that their parents consented to the marriage. Missouri State Sen. Mike Moon defended child marriage on Tuesday, touting the apparently successful marriage of people he knows who got married when they were 12. The Republican made the comments during a debate on a bill he introduced that would ban gender-affirming care for transgender youth in the state. Video of the exchange showed Democratic state Rep. Peter Meredith confronting Moon over past comments he made about parents' rights to make decisions concerning their own children. "You voted 'no' on making it illegal for kids to be married to adults at the age of 12 if their parents consented to it," Meredith told Moon. "You said actually that should be the law because it's the parents' right and the kid's right to decide what's best for them. To be raped by an adult." "Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12?" Moon asked in response. "I don't need to," Meredith said. "I do. And guess what? They're still married," Moon replied. Moon did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment but defended his statement on Twitter. He wrote that the "back story" was missing, explaining "a 12-year-old impregnated a minor of similar age." "With consent of the parents, they married and are still married today," he said, adding, "their marriage is thriving." The Springfield News-Leader reported that Moon has a documented history of supporting child marriage with parental consent. In 2018 the Missouri legislature passed a bill raising the state's minimum marriage age from 15 to 16, with teens under 18 requiring parental consent. Moon voted against the bill, claiming he knew a couple who had been married since they were 12, according to the outlet. Read the original article on Business Insider People hold a flag saying "Black Trans Lives Matter" outside City Hall during a march in commemoration of Juneteenth Friday, June 19, 2020, in St. Louis, Missouri. Jeff Roberson/AP Missouri's attorney general announced new requirements for adults seeking gender affirming care. Adults with depression are banned from seeking care until their mental health issues are resolved. Other requirements include three consecutive years of gender dysphoria and months of therapy. An emergency regulation announced by Missouri's attorney general on Thursday could severely limit access to gender-affirming care in the state, setting several new requirements for trans adults seeking treatment. Attorney General Andrew Bailey's sweeping regulation would prohibit medical providers from providing gender-affirming care unless a number of requirements are met. While some of the regulation's requirements are specified by age group, its most expansive provisions, including a potential three-year delay in care, would be in place regardless of the patient's age. Bailey's proposal would go into effect on April 27 and last until February 6, 2024. The ACLU of Missouri and Lambda Legal responded with a joint statement promising legal action against the attorney general and emergency regulation. "We will defend the rights of transgender people through any necessary legal action, just as we have done in other states engaging in this anti-science and discriminatory fearmongering." The statement added: "The Attorney General's so-called emergency rule is based on distorted, misleading, and debunked claims and ignores the overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence supporting this care as well as the medical experts and doctors who work with transgender people every day." The ACLU of Missouri had previously said that the attorney general, a Republican, overstepped his authority when it condemned Bailey's initial announcement of the policy in March. The state attorney general is basing his regulation on a law aimed at fraudulent business practices, The Missouri Independent reported. "During the first months since being appointed as Missouri's Attorney General, Andrew Bailey has politicized his office by inserting himself into highly coordinated administrative, legislative, and alt-right media-driven attacks on transgender youth," PROMO, an LGBTQ+ public policy and advocacy organization in the state, said in response to the regulation. "His actions today fanned the flames of hate by including transgender adults' ability to access care in his culture war." Story continues The proposal includes two potentially year-plus delays in care if a medical provider cannot document previous care. A provider would need to show that a patient has a "medically documented, long-lasting, persistent and intense pattern of gender dysphoria" for "at least the 3 most recent consecutive years" before seeking treatment and that they have received "a full psychological or psychiatric assessment" over at least 18 months consisting of at least 15 hours worth of therapy. Adults with depression or other mental health issues would not be able to receive gender-affirming care until those existing issues "have been treated and resolved," the regulation says. Patients would also need to be screened for autism. Before care could be administered, the regulation also requires that parents or guardians be provided a 23-bullet pointed list of reasons questioning gender-affirming care, citing international restrictions, studies, and journal articles. As The Missouri Independent pointed out, one of the studies cited was later revised after academics questioned its methodology. Republicans and conservatives have moved to restrict gender-affirming care and other trans rights in recent years. GOP governors in Indiana and Idaho just signed into law bans on minors receiving such care last week. Bailey's restrictions on adult care may signal a new wave of restrictions to come. Read the original article on Business Insider Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Thursday that he will return to the Senate next week after being absent due to a bad fall. I am looking forward to returning to the Senate on Monday. We've got important business to tackle and big fights to win for Kentuckians and the American people. Leader McConnell (@LeaderMcConnell) April 13, 2023 The Republican Senate leader, who said he will head back to work Monday, was hospitalized following a fall at a Washington hotel in early March. The 81-year-old suffered a concussion as well as a minor rib fracture, and he had to undergo physical therapy upon being released from the hospital. Earlier this year, the Kentuckian, who has been in office since 1985, became the Senates longest-serving party leader. The chamber has had multiple health-related absences in recent months. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) was out while receiving treatment for depression and is also expected to return to the Senate next week. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), meanwhile, is still recovering from a bout of shingles, forcing her to be away for nearly two months. Amid concerns over her absence, the 89-year-old California Democrat is facing calls for her resignation from some progressive lawmakers. Need help with substance use disorder or mental health issues? In the U.S., call 800-662-HELP (4357) for the SAMHSA National Helpline. Authorities arrested and charged an amateur mixed martial arts fighter for his alleged role in the recent death of an airman outside a Florida bar. Ross Allen Johnson, a 23-year-old MMA fighter, allegedly delivered a fatal punch to airman 1st Class Dayvon Larry, 31, during an altercation at a Florida bar late on April 9. Larry, 31, was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and pronounced dead the following day, Jennifer Jensen, a spokesperson from the base, confirmed to Military Times. He served with the 325th Security Forces Squadron. Johnson, the MMA fighter, is charged with manslaughter, according to a police report from the Panama City Beach Police Department, obtained by Law & Crime. The death of the airman reportedly occurred following a brawl between the MMA fighter and another group in the parking lot of the Coyote Ugly Saloon in Panama City Beach, Florida. The police report details how Johnson allegedly intervened in an altercation between his friend and an unknown man, and on his way toward the interaction, reportedly hit Larry behind his left ear with a closed fist, causing his death. After the incident, Johnson and his friend reportedly left the scene, leaving Larry unattended. Man, I hit that guy, Johnson allegedly told a friend, according to the police report. I laid him out, and I think I killed him. The police report mentioned that Johnson claimed he headed toward his friends fight in order to break it up, and that he was defending himself and his friend from Larry as he also ran toward the scene. The report also noted, however, that Johnson, reportedly a previous amateur MMA fighter with a 5-2 record and three years of advanced fighter training, changed details of his story multiple times. A preliminary cause of the airmans death was determined to be blunt force trauma to the head, the report added. During his time at Tyndall, A1C Larry made a lasting impact, the Florida base said in a statement posted on social media. He was truly an outstanding [a]irman. His passion for helping the local youth and his fellow [a]irmen will be sorely missed by all. Our deepest condolences to his family, friends and fellow [a]irmen. Four others were also said to be charged over the incident according to AL.com. By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU (Reuters) - Moldova needs 250 million euros ($275 million) to modernise its armed forces following Russia's invasion of neighbouring Ukraine last year, a senior defence official in the pro-Western country said on Wednesday. "The starting point for a change in public opinion towards the development of the defence sector was naturally the shock of February 2022," Valeriu Mija, Secretary of State for Defence Policy and National Army Reform in the defence ministry, told a forum on national security in the capital, Chisinau. "In other words, the period of romanticism with the dream of eternal peace has ended, and a different approach is needed," he told the gathering. "In our opinion, 250 million euros are needed for the modernisation of the armed forces." One of Europe's poorest countries, ex-Soviet Moldova is seeking European Union entry but is shut out from NATO membership by the principle of neutrality set out in its constitution. Moldovan President Maia Sandu has repeatedly denounced the war in Ukraine, which has sent parts of missiles fired in the conflict over the border to land in her country. The country has received generous Western funding since Sandu took office in 2020 with a mandate to fight corruption and move closer to Europe. Mija noted the country should receive 87 million euros from a European peace fund this year as well as a budget boost of 80 million euros. "There are other figures that cannot be disclosed publicly, including due to commercial secrets," Mija said. "For example, the purchase of air defence systems was not a priority until quite recently, but the events of last year forced us to reconsider our opinion, and this will require funds." A country of 2.5 million, Moldova remains beset by the presence of a pro-Russian separatist statelet, Transdniestria, 30 years after a brief war pitting it against newly independent Moldova's army. Some 1,500 Russian "peacekeepers" remain in Transdniestria and its leaders accuse Ukraine of trying to topple them. In turn, Moldova accuses Russia of trying to destabilise it. (Reporting by Alexander Tanas; Writing by Elaine Monaghan; Editing by Christopher Cushing) Moldova's pro-Kremlin politician Ilan Shor has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for fraud and money laundering, Jurnal reported on April 13. Shor is believed to have left Moldova in June 2019, Jurnal wrote. He is likely in Israel, where he is also a citizen. "Regardless of where he serves his sentence, whether in Israel or Moldova, his seized assets worth 5 billion lei ($1 billion) will now be confiscated in favor of the state. This is just for the case on which the decision was made today, and there are still others to come," Olesea Stamate, head of Moldova's Parliamentary Legal Committee said. Shor and his political party of the same name have been under U.S. sanctions since October 2022. According to the U.S. Treasury, Shor worked "with Russian individuals to create a political alliance to control Moldova's parliament, which would then support several pieces of legislation in the interests of the Russian Federation" ahead of the 2021 elections. Shor and his political faction are also believed to finance many of the anti-government protests against President Maia Sandu. Responding to the news, Sandu said, "We wanted this so that justice would prevail for the people. This is what the citizens wanted: for the thieves to return the money, and the law was put at the forefront. Only in this way can justice gain legitimacy, through just legal decisions to punish thieves." Russia's war in Ukraine has led to heightened security concerns in neighboring Moldova. Moldovan Prime Minister Dorin Rechan told TV8 in late February that authorities were aware of "several" ongoing Russian scenarios to destabilize the country, including a plan to take control of the Chisinau airport. Academy Award-winning actress-comedian Mo'Nique appears at the premiere of "Almost Christmas" in Los Angeles, Nov. 3, 2016. (Willy Sanjuan / Willy Sanjuan/invision/ap) Oscar-winning actress Mo'Nique has brought a new lawsuit against Hollywood studios, this time over "millions" in profits she says she's owed from a sitcom she starred in. The "Precious" star sued CBS and Paramount on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court for breach of contract, alleging that she and others did not get their fair share of profits from the successful TV comedy "The Parkers." Mo'Nique Hicks, through her Texas-based company Hicks Media, said the creators and writers of "The Parkers" audited the show's records and determined that the studios artificially depressed its profitability to retain millions of dollars that would otherwise have been owed to Hicks. A representative for Paramount Global, formed from the merger of CBS and Viacom in 2019, declined comment. "While the Series has proven to be a major financial success for its producers and distributors, the series talent have not been permitted to share in the fruits of that success," Mo'Nique's attorneys wrote in her complaint. Hicks has launched legal battles against media companies she believed treated her unfairly. In 2019, she sued Netflix for race and sex discrimination in its offer for a proposed comedy special, accusing it of lowballing her as part of a broader trend of underpaying Black women. MoNique and Netflix settled her lawsuit in June 2022. Terms of the settlement werent disclosed, but MoNiques lawyer Michael Parks told the Hollywood Reporter the issue was amicably resolved. Her hourlong stand-up special "My Name is Mo'Nique" premiered on Netflix this month. The lawsuit over "The Parkers" is another example of a common type of fight in Hollywood between creators and studios over compensation, where artists have accused companies of hiding profits through so-called Hollywood accounting. The show at the heart of her latest lawsuit, "The Parkers," was a spinoff from another series, "Moesha." "The Parkers" ran on UPN for five seasons, comprising 110 episodes. Reruns still air today and the show began streaming on Netflix in 2020. Story continues In her lawsuit, Hicks said she struck an agreement with the producers of the series between 1999 and 2000, entitling her company to 2.5% of the "adjusted gross receipts" from the series. Given that the show ran for more than the 100-episode threshold typically necessary for a series to be syndicated, Hicks expected a larger payout. She also alleged the show's writers were deprived of significant compensation. "Plaintiff reasonably expected to enjoy significant contingent compensation from the Series revenues," the complaint said. "That expectation has not proven to be the reality." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. You are here: China Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Wednesday that Chinese modernization is based on the country's realities and conditions, and has clear goals, plans and strategies. Xi made the remarks at a research and development center of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. during his inspection in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Chinese modernization is essentially different from Western modernization, he said, adding that China will not tread the path of Western modernization -- with features including polarization and plunder -- as such a path leads nowhere. The country will advance Chinese modernization with solid steps, Xi said. PBS and a handful of other news organizations have joined NPR in stepping away from Twitter, the social media platform once synonymous with breaking news. A PBS spokesperson confirmed to Axios that PBS had "no plans to resume tweeting" after Twitter gave it a murky "government-funded media" label over the weekend. A few other news entities appeared to have followed suit, including the prominent Boston NPR affiliate WBUR, Hawaii Public Radio and LA-based local news source LAist. As the fallout from Musk's outburst against the media continues, that list is likely to grow. NPR announced that it would leave the platform altogether last week after Twitter misleadingly attached a label reserved for state-run media entities to its account. Twitter has since adjusted NPR's label from "state-affiliated media" a designation for state propaganda accounts like the Kremlin-backed Russia Today to "government-funded media," a new label invented for the situation. "At this point I have lost my faith in the decision-making at Twitter," NPR CEO John Lansing said. "I would need some time to understand whether Twitter can be trusted again." On Twitter's own website just before NPR was given the label, the platform defined the "state-affiliated media" label as "outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content." The description previously explicitly mentioned NPR and the BBC as examples of accounts the label would not apply to: "State-financed media organizations with editorial independence, like the BBC in the UK or NPR in the US for example, are not defined as state-affiliated media for the purposes of this policy," the policy read. Story continues The new "government-funded media" label does little to hide the fact that Musk's latest intervention further undermined the platform's credibility by deliberately misleading users into believing that NPR's editorial agenda is set by the U.S. government. The new label's definition appears to intentionally muddy the waters, suggesting vaguely that these accounts have "varying" degrees of editorial independence: 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. We may use external sources similar to this one in order to determine when this label is applied. NPR derives a small portion of its funding from states and the federal government, but the organization is fully editorially independent and broadly one of the country's most reliable news sources. But Musk's meddling with the account was never meant to provide transparency about the company's finances. Like most decisions he's made since taking over at the company, Musk's decision to give NPR the label out of the blue wasn't a choice made on any set of coherent policy principles, but another gesture of solidarity with his feverish fan base and the ideological echo chambers they spend time in. Musk has repeatedly attacked news organizations over their trustworthiness, even as he spread misinformation himself. Days after purchasing Twitter, Musk himself spread a conspiracy theory that Nancy Pelosi's husband was attacked by a sex worker he knew, not a stranger who intruded into his home. "There is a tiny possibility there might be more to this story than meets the eye," Musk wrote in a reply to a tweet from Hillary Clinton on the topic, along with a link to a website notorious for spreading misinformation. In another instance, Musk instituted sweeping account bans on reporters who commented on his war against a bot tracking the whereabouts of his private jet. Musk has also called The New York Times and other prominent media outlets fake news. Twitter has always been an essential source of breaking news, mixing traditional reporting from legacy media organizations with eyewitness reports on developing events the globe over. The exodus of news accounts from the platform makes it clear that whatever will become of Twitter in this new chapter, the platform is moving further away from the core utility of delivering trusted news in real time. White Baltimore residents reportedly formed a coalition to build the massive red brick wall in the late 1930s in response to the increasing number of Black students attending the institution. Morgan State University is no longer home to a spite wall meant to deter Black students from entering a once predominantly white Baltimore neighborhood. According to NBC News, white residents of the city reportedly formed a coalition in the late 1930s to build the massive red brick wall which many people called a symbol of hate in response to the increasing number of students attending the historically Black institution. While the walls past became obscured over time, with only a few people aware of its original purpose, on Tuesday, an excavator removed the barricade as neighbors, school officials and university president David Wilson looked on. On Tuesday, Morgan State University demolished a spite wall meant to deter Black students from entering a once predominantly white Baltimore neighborhood in the 1940s. (Photo: Screenshot/YouTube.com/WBAL-TV 11 Baltimore) We had no choice but to tear it down, said Wilson, according to NBC. We couldnt have this symbol of hate staring down every single day. This was an easy decision for us. It was time for the demolition. Wilson recalled how area residents and neighborhood associations in the predominantly white city had already expressed their concerns when the school moved to its current location in 1917. The states decision in 1939 to turn what was then Morgan College from a private university into a public institution to aid Black people reportedly only amplified the racial tension. The transition came as Baltimore became one of the first cities to enact racial covenants in property deeds that restricted where Black people could reside. Members of the college trustee board called the wall designs discriminatory to Morgan College. Morris Macht, from one of Marylands biggest home construction firms, claimed racial discrimination was a not factor. The Baltimore Afro-American newspaper ran articles tracing the controversy from its outset, eventually reporting when a zoning board approved the wall, and when the work on it started in 1942. Story continues The barrier, on Mullen Road near the schools entrance and continuing past Northwood Shopping Center, remained as Morgan State students campaigned for civil rights in the 1960s, organizing one of the countrys first anti-segregation sit-ins at a nearby shopping center. Cheryl Stewart, a spokeswoman for Morgan State, said the walls demolition a component of the universitys extensive Morgan Momentum renovation and expansion plan comes at a great time as they continue to build and move forward. According to Wilson, the university wants to respect history despite the walls demolition. He said the school plans to leave a small portion of the barrier to be used as a marker where students can learn about that piece of Morgan State and city history. For the white community, this spite wall was to send a signal and to physically create a divider that would symbolize the segregation that they stood for, said Morgan State professor and architectural historian Dale Green, NBC reported. They were not supportive of the integration of African Americans into the greater society. The wall was to fortify the whites from the Blacks. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku and Android TV. Also, please download theGrio mobile apps today! The post Morgan State tears down symbol of hate, the spite wall appeared first on TheGrio. It's mud season in Vermont, and that means hikers need to exercise extra caution to avoid damaging Vermont's trails from now through the end of May, especially in the high country. "The spots that are the most sensitive are the high peaks along the Long Trail Camel's Hump, Stratton, Bromley anyplace you get to the spruce-fir forest, out of the deciduous forest to sub-alpine and even alpine country on the 4,000-footers," said Keegan Tierney, the Green Mountain Club's director of field programs. "The soil is thin and the vegetation is fragile." Tierney said hikers should hike through the mud if they encounter it, rather than trying to walk around it, which widens the trail and increases the threat of erosion. Better yet, he added, turn around if you encounter mud and head for drier trails. In some cases, what is supposed to be a two-foot-wide trail gets widened to as much as 40 feet by finicky hikers who want to avoid the mud by walking around it, according to Tierney. "A lot of our project work is restoring trails in those areas where the trail has widened out significantly," he said. A hiker navigates a muddy trail in Jericho on April 5, 2021. Many trails are closed during mud season, and hikers are encouraged to explore low-elevation paved and gravel paths because hiking through mud contributes to trail damage. Climate change makes it even muddier Many hiking trails are closed during mud season, through May 26, and the Green Mountain Club encourages hikers to stay off of all high-elevation trails. The club also advises that with climate change bringing more intense rain storms and frequent freeze/thaw cycles throughout the winter, "mud season" has become more of a year-round mindset. The club encourages hikers to follow these guidelines: During mud season (late March to Memorial Day) seek out durable surfaces and lower elevations. Respect trail closures, which are posted by Vermont Forests Parks and Recreation, and road closures, as these may impact access to trailheads. Check out Green Mountain Club's mud season hikes and Vermont Forests' mud season hikes. If you encounter mud on a hike, consider turning around. If you must continue, do so by hiking directly through the mud not around its edges to minimize your impact to the surrounding landscape. Vermont's high elevations (above 2,500 feet) are most susceptible to damage, because of limited soil depth and rare, endangered arctic alpine plant communities. Be prepared for a variety of conditions: warm, wet and muddy at trailheads and snow- or ice-covered at higher elevations. March's high snowfall totals means the mountains will be melting out well into spring. Check trail reports ahead of time and dress and pack for a variety of possible weather conditions. Story continues On that last point, Tierney said hikers should avoid being fooled by the weather. More: Why mud season is such a notorious, messy time in Vermont "In the Champlain Valley it can be 60 degrees and on top of Mt. Mansfield it could be 30 degrees, windy and a ton of snow," he said. "Don't leave the valley in shorts and T-shirts and expect to be comfortable on top of the mountain." An escape from social media Tierney is responsible for some 500 miles of trails in Vermont, making up the Long Trail, the Appalachian Trail and various side trails. He works closely with Vermont's Department of Forests, Parks and Recreation and the Green Mountain National Forest, which between them own and manage most of the land involved in the trail network. The Green Mountain Club was formed in 1910, and has about 10,000 members today. "The mission of the club when it was formed was the make the mountains of Vermont play a larger roles in the lives of people, getting folks out in the mountains to have some peace and respite from our modern times," Tierney said. "In the 1910s, when the club was formed, it was the dawn of the industrial era. Today, it's the internet, social media, etc." Mountain bike tracks are seen in mud along the trail network at Mobbs Farm in Jericho in April 2015. The area was technically closed to mountain biking during the early season, due to the potential for additional trail damage from bikes. Tierney works with a small year-round staff and a season staff of about 40, he said, to manage the trail system. He also relies on some 1,000 volunteers who do some trail maintenance on the "leading hikes." "My job is to coordinate activity and serve as a bridge to land managers as well," Tierney said. More: Looking for accessible trails in Vermont? Here are five you can't miss. The Green Mountain Club is heading into the second year of restoration on the Burrows Trail, which ascends Camel's Hump and sees anywhere between 40,000 and 60,000 hikers each year, according to Tierney. Crews have been building up brush piles along the trail, which serves the dual purpose of keeping hikers on the main trail and serving as seed beds for restoring native vegetation and soils. "Folks going up Burrows will definitely see our crews this summer," Tierney said. "We'll have four different trail crews over 20 weeks." Contact Dan DAmbrosio at 660-1841 or ddambrosio@freepressmedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DanDambrosioVT. This coverage is only possible with support from our readers. This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Green Mountain Club asks hikers to exercise caution during mud season A brown gavel is struck against a sound block in the foreground, with the out-of-focus blur of a suited man in the background. Prosecutors have dropped murder charges against a man involved in a road rage-related double shooting on New Year's Day in 2022. Scott Thomas Brown, 34, was charged with multiple felony counts, including murder, in connection with the shootings of his best friend, Jonathan Camren, 26, and Christopher Ward, 19, at the time. But the Oklahoma County District Attorney's Office dropped the murder charges against Brown after prosecutors determined he had acted in self-defense. About 12:15 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2022, police responded to the intersection of SW 27 and McKinley, where they found two men had been shot in what officers described as a "traffic-related confrontation." Camren was taken to a nearby hospital where he died of his injuries. Ward also was wounded in his upper left arm and chest, court records show, but he survived. Brown's attorney, Dan Pond, told The Oklahoman "there was never a question that Christopher Ward's gun killed Jonathan Camren," but prosecutors questioned whether or not Brown acted in defense of himself and Camren when firing his own gun at Ward. Related: Oklahoma City police investigating deadly shootings in first few days of new year "The order of shots was incredibly important in determining who shot first and in determining who was acting in self-defense," Pond said. "Scott Brown was charged under (Oklahoma's) 'felony murder doctrine,' which says that if he's committing a felony, and that felony is linked to the death of somebody else, then he can be liable for the homicide, even if he didn't do the actual killing act." Prosecutors initially believed Brown shot Ward first, and that Ward shot Camren in response. But new forensic and medical evidence presented to state attorneys "showed as definitively as possible," Pond said, that Ward shot first, and Brown shot second, wounding Ward. Court filings show Brown pleaded no contest Monday to the felony charge of pointing a firearm, which means Brown can no longer legally carry a gun. Pond also said Ward was initially arrested after his wounds were treated at a local hospital following the 2022 shooting, but he was later released. Ward was not officially charged in connection to Camren's death. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Prosecutors drop murder charges in case of first 2022 OKC homicide Charges were filed Wednesday against the man accused of shooting and killing another man near Nathan Hale High School in Seattle last Wednesday. Kajali Camara, 19, was charged with second-degree murder and second-degree assault for the April 5 shooting of 27-year-old Anthoni Orozco. According to probable cause documents, a teenage girl who dated Camara for about two weeks beginning in March told police that Camara had posted intimate videos of their relationship on a social media site. The girl could not contact Camara to take the videos down because he had blocked her on all social media accounts. Two other teen witnesses told police that they drove to Nathan Hale High School on the evening of April 5 with Orozco and the teenage girl, with the intention to meet Camara and confront him regarding the intimate videos. Orozco had been dating the teenage girls sister. The four of them got out of their car and walked a path to the high school. When Camara arrived, he thought he was only meeting with one of the other teen witnesses and not the teenage girl he had dated. According to documents, Camara became enraged when he saw her and said something to the effect of, Im not doing this today, before pulling out a gun. Seconds later, Orozco stepped between Camara and the teenage girl, held up both of his hands and told Camara something to the effect of, Lets talk, theres no need for guns. According to court documents, Camara shot Orozco in the abdomen seconds later and ran out of the parking lot. My son sees them fighting and goes to intervene and then he was shot, said said Amy Morris-Ehlo, Orozcos mom. He was, from what Ive heard, not confrontational at all, he was trying to dissolve the situation and did not want this young girl being hurt. Security video footage from Seattle Public Schools shows a man consistent with Camaras appearance running from the scene toward Northeast 107th Street. Orozco died from his injuries the next day. Story continues I knew when I got the call that my son wasnt going to live, it was just that, call it mothers intuition or what it might be and everybodys telling you to think positive but it was just something about the way it all happened, said Morris-Ehlo. I couldnt get there fast enough, I couldnt even really think straight as to what I was going to do. On Friday, April 7, Seattle Police Department SWAT officers saw Camara walk out of the Camp Second Chance homeless encampment community in south Seattle and took him into custody. A 9mm pistol was recovered from his sweatpants pocket. The gun had a clear extended magazine that matched a photograph provided to police by the teenage girl Camara had dated. A records check indicated the gun was stolen. Prosecutors requested Camaras bail be set at $2,000,000. He is scheduled to be arraigned on April 26. Orozcos family has set up a GoFundMe to help pay for funeral costs and to set up a trust for his daughter. Click here to donate. I want people to know that big heart should still be beating and it should still be helping people, said Morris-Ehlo. I dont want people to forget him. Police discovered a recording in which Aaisha Hasan asked her husband to leave, telling him: The next time, you will kill me. I dont want that - Peter Byrne/PA Wire A woman allegedly murdered by her violent husband secretly recorded his escalating abuse and predicted her own death, telling him: The next time, you will kill me, a court has heard. Aaisha Hasan used her mobile phone to document husband Asim Hasans violent behaviour towards her in the weeks before he allegedly stabbed her to death in a ferocious knife attack, the Old Bailey was told. In a secret folder on her phone, labelled hidden, the 34-year-old stored images of the injuries she had suffered, including black eyes and cuts. Police also discovered a recording in which Mrs Hasan could be heard asking her husband to leave, telling him: The next time, you will kill me. I dont want that. Mrs Hasan had shared concerns about her safety with friends. A neighbour even contacted police to alert them, but because she appeared to be fine and did not wish to make a complaint, the matter was not taken any further. On the morning of May 19 last year, Hasan, 33, dialled 999 and told the operator: I just stabbed my wife. Ferocious and quite savage attack Police and paramedics who arrived at the couples home in Canning Town, east London, found Mrs Hasan lying on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood. Joel Smith, prosecuting, told the jury she had suffered 36 wounds as the result of a ferocious and really quite savage attack. One stab wound was inflicted on Mrs Hasan with such force that it cut a wedge of bone from her skull, the court heard. After being arrested and interviewed by police, Hasan allegedly said: I am guilty and you can charge me. Scared of her husband The court heard that in the weeks leading up to Mrs Hasans death, the couple allegedly rowed over a range of issues, including money and accusations of infidelity. Mr Smith told the jury that Mrs Hasan had become sufficiently scared of her husband that she began recording him on her phone and shared her fears with friends on WhatsApp. On May 9, just 10 days before she died, she sent a message to friends saying her husband had accused her of being unfaithful and that she feared he would have killed me but for the presence of others in the house. Story continues Mrs Hasan also wrote: I dont want to call the police on him coz this can get him into serious trouble. I just want him out [of] the house now. I dont feel safe. Mr Smith said that rather than his wife being unfaithful, it was Mr Hasan who was seeking to have an extramarital affair, logging on to Muslim dating sites in the days before her death. Hasan admits killing his wife, but denies murder on the basis that he did not intend to cause serious harm, said the prosecutor. The trial continues. Christies auction house sale coordinator Gillian Hawley holds a rock and metal meteorite that was once part of an asteroid in New York on Monday, Feb. 8, 2021. The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum is offering a $25K price to whoever finds a piece of meteorite that landed in Maine. | Ted Shaffrey, Associated Press A treasure hunt in Maine comes with a $25,000 prize. The treasure in question? A piece of meteorite. The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, located in Bethel, Maine, is offering $25,000 to the first person who can find a piece of a meteorite that hit Maine Saturday. Where did the meteorite land? According to NASAs Astromaterials Research and Exploration Science (ARES) Lab, the meteorite fall occurred at 11:56 a.m. local time on April 8, striking the earth near Calais, Maine. The lab calculated the strewn field of the meteorite, estimating that it landed in a stretch of forest between the the U.S.-Canada border. The first person to present the museum with a meteorite piece weighing 1 kilogram (2.2 pounds) or more will receive $25,000. But Darryl Pitt, head of the meteorite division at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum, said they would be open to paying for a meteorite piece irrespective of its size, according to CNN. Finding a meteorite can be difficult, but Pitt is hoping the prize will incentivize more people to get out into the woods and search. With more people having an awareness, the more people will look and the greater the likelihood of a recovery, Pitt said, per The Associated Press. What does a meteorite look like? According to the United States Geological Survey, here are some questions you can ask to identify a meteorite: Is it dense? Is it magnetic? Does it an have an unusual shape? Does it have a fusion crust (a thin crust on their surface where it melted as it passed through the atmosphere)? If you said yes to these questions, you may have a meteorite on your hands. Keep in mind that a meteorite does not have: Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny might be suffering from slow poisoning causing health struggles, according to his spokesperson. Navalny spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said in a tweet on Tuesday that an ambulance was called for him on Friday night because of acute stomach pain. She said Navalny has lost 8 kilograms in the past 15 days while in his punishment cell, but no one has treated him or told him his diagnosis. We do not rule out that all this time in prison he could have been poisoned with something to make his health deteriorate slowly but steadily, Yarmysh said. She said Navalny has asked about what the issue is with his health and a prison doctor mockingly answers that it is just spring and everyone has exacerbations. Yarmysh said the issues Navalny is facing are not limited to just his health as he was sent to a punishment cell, solitary confinement, for the 13th time on Monday. She said an officer told him a provocation was being planned against him. Navalny is currently serving an 11-and-a-half-year prison sentence for convictions on charges of fraud and embezzlement and breaking parole conditions. Navalny traveled to Germany to seek medical treatment after he was poisoned in an attack he says came from the Russian government in 2020, which Russian authorities said violated his parole conditions. He was sentenced to 2.5 years in prison for the parole violation and nine years for fraud and contempt of court. Navalny has said the charges were trumped up to silence him politically. Navalny has been a vocal critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Kremlin told Reuters that it is not following Navalnys health, and the federal penitentiary service was responsible for overseeing it. Navalny has consistently alleged that he is being mistreated and denied medical care while in prison, which Russian officials have denied. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) A former Navy reservist who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison on firearms charges. The sentence U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff imposed for Hatchet Speed in federal court in Alexandria was just five months less than the term sought by federal prosecutors and much longer than the one-year term sought by Speed's lawyers. Speed, 41, of McLean, is a military veteran who held top-secret clearances while working for a defense contractor. The gun charges against him in Virginia are separate from charges brought in Washington, D.C., for obstructing an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. He will sentenced on those charges next month; sentencing guidelines in that case call for a term of nearly five to six years. Speed's lawyers asked the judge not to be prejudiced against him because of his inflammatory views. In conversations with an FBI undercover employee in 2022, Speed expressed admiration not only for Hitler but also for Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph and Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. In recorded conversations, Speed also made antisemitic comments and proposed targeting Jewish people with acts of violence. He also collected neo-Nazi memorabilia. But Nachmanoff said Speed's admiration for despicable historical figures and his views on advocating violence to achieve his objectives demonstrate the danger he poses to the public. The defendant's statements of admiration for Adolf Hitler, Eric Rudolph and Ted Kaczynski ... and his belief that such activities could be justified are all highly relevant, Nachmanoff said. Prosecutors said Speed, a member of the far-right Proud Boys group, believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. After Joe Biden took office, Speed began making preparations for what he believed was imminent civil war and started stockpiling weapons, including the three silencers that were the subject of his Virginia trial. Story continues In Thursday's closing statements, prosecutor Thomas Traxler said Speed studied the manifestos of Rudolph and Kaczynski to try to come up with a better game plan than they had. Speed had claimed he was innocent because the devices he purchased were actually solvent traps used to collect excess fluid when you clean a gun. The devices are indeed marketed as solvent traps, but their design is similar to that of a silencer. The only significant difference is that the solvent traps require drilling a hole in the end to turn them into functioning silencers. Speed bought the devices, which are made of titanium and sell for hundreds of dollars, after he tried to buy silencers and faced significant delays. Speed said he did not believe he was required to register the devices as silencers with the government unless he drilled holes in them something he never did. Prosecutors, though, said the law governing silencers covers devices intended for use as a silencer, regardless of whether they are functional or sold under another name. Speed's first trial in Virginia ended with a hung jury and a mistrial, as jurors apparently struggled with the legal definition of a silencer and whether Speed was required to register them. He was convicted at a retrial, after one of the initial jurors reached out to prosecutors and explained what caused the jury's confusion. Traxler said the legal loophole that Speed thought he uncovered was too cute by half and urged a stiff sentence to discourage others from doing likewise. Speed, who intends to appeal his conviction, did not speak at Thursday's hearing. I am a mom of three kids in public schools. For over a decade I was a volunteer in their elementary school. I started by shelving books in the media center, then ran the book fair for several years, and eventually became PTA president. My passion for helping the students and teachers at that one school turned into a passion for serving all schools in Wake County as the Wake County PTA president, and later into a passion for serving all North Carolina students as a member of the PTA state board. As a parent and someone who was in our schools every week for over 10 years, I always felt welcomed and appreciated there. The narrative Ive heard at the N.C. General Assembly that parents are somehow unwelcome or not involved in our educational system is not my experience. As a parent, I am deeply concerned with the policy contained within the N.C. House budget that fundamentally changes how our education system is run in North Carolina. I am frustrated that while this bill includes some salary increases for teachers, it once again fails our students by failing to uphold our constitutional obligations. Many of the policy changes in this budget feign to give voice to parents, but instead, we are playing politics with our childrens futures. At a time when teachers are already feeling pressure due to staff shortages and lack of resources, this budget continues to undermine the authority of the teaching profession and fails to support teachers. The education policy changes contained in this budget are a distraction from the very real issues facing our public schools and from the very real issues that families with school-aged children like mine need to be addressed, like teacher shortages, school funding, textbooks and classroom supply budgets, the need for more teacher assistants and support staff, the crumbling state of our school buildings, and the mental health of our students. Instead of distracting from these issues by creating politically appointed commissions and media advisory committees, we could address them. Story continues I spent years working to involve parents, guardians and grandparents in their students school. Our PTA mission was to elevate family and community engagement in public education, but the policies contained within this House budget are not the way to do that. Transformative family engagement occurs when families, schools and community leaders work together to create programs, practices and policies that empower parents and teachers. Families can make an impact on their school by getting involved with groups like the PTA or their school improvement plan committee. Ive never known a teacher who wouldnt welcome an extra set of hands in the classroom or stay after school for a conference to talk through concerns or questions about curriculum. Collaboration, not micromanagement, is the way to improve educational outcomes for kids. I want to elevate the voice of parents who are truly concerned about the state of public education and Im not talking about how we choose the standard course of study. Im not talking about how we select the materials that our children are using in their classrooms. Im not talking about the need to post lessons online. I trust teachers. I trust educators. And what I want from this budget is what most parents want the best, most robustly funded and supported public schools that we can provide our children. This budget does not address those concerns. Our state legislature has a duty to fully fund our public schools, but we have yet to fulfill that obligation. Instead, we are failing our families by politicizing our classrooms. North Carolina students and teachers deserve better. State Rep. Julie von Haefen is a Wake County Democrat who has represented North Carolinas 36th District since 2019. Blaze, a 4-year-old English Shepherd, is the best thing that ever happened to Meredith and David Miller. The young dog, described by the Millers as intelligent, loyal and sweet, has enjoyed for much of his life an active lifestyle of backpacking, hiking and trail running with the couple, who live near Baltimore, Maryland. But Blazes life and the Millers changed late last year, after he was diagnosed with B cell lymphoma in November. We were kind of just, like, in shock, and working with the oncologist to figure out what the best course of treatment was for him, Meredith Miller said of Blazes diagnosis in an interview with The News & Observer. Lymphoma, which affects white blood cells and is most often found in lymph nodes, is one of the most common types of cancer among dogs. Though chemotherapy treatment is available for B cell lymphoma, it is not considered a cure for high-grade, aggressive forms of the disease, and dogs have a median survival time after that treatment of about 12 months. But since 2016, and during a separate period from 2008 to 2011, Dr. Steven Suter, an associate professor of oncology at the N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine, has offered another treatment for the disease at the colleges Veterinary Hospital one that offers the possibility of a cure for sick dogs. The treatment, in which dogs receive a stem cell transplant either from their own body or a blood-related donor, is only regularly offered at two places in the United States: a private practice in Bellingham, Washington, and at N.C. State. Suter has treated dozens of dogs with the protocol, which he has also researched and published academic papers on. But in February, N.C. State abruptly paused the program. The Millers, who estimate they have spent about $40,000 to this point on costs related to Blazes diagnosis and treatment, told The N&O that they felt blindsided by the decision. Having that rug ripped out from under us this far along in the process was really devastating, and it just felt like we had exhausted all avenues, basically, and this was our last hope, our last resort, Meredith Miller said. Its not something we wanted to do, but we had to to save our dog, and now we couldnt even do that. Story continues Meredith Miller told The N&O that since N.C. State paused the program, Veterinary Hospital administrators have said they still plan provide treatment to Blaze, but the couple worries the university may go back on its word and they fear the treatment will no longer be an option for dogs who become sick in the future. N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine director of communications Mike Charbonneau told The News & Observer by email in February that the school did not have anyone who can do an interview on the pause in treatment, but provided this statement, which is also posted on the N.C. State Veterinary Hospital website: Very few veterinary facilities in the United States offer bone marrow transplants as a treatment for animals with cancer. At the NC State Veterinary Hospital, we are not accepting new bone marrow transplant patients at this time as we pause to proactively conduct an external review of the novel program. Bone marrow transplants can be difficult for already very sick animals, who then also have to spend a prolonged period of time away from their homes. Through this review, we want to carefully understand the risks versus rewards of this treatment. Providing animals with the best and most humane care possible will always be our priority. Blaze, a 4-year-old English Shepherd, was diagnosed with B cell lymphoma and was on the waitlist for a bone marrow transplant at N.C. State when the program was paused. History of bone marrow transplant program at NC State The first canine bone marrow transplant unit opened at N.C. State in 2008. Suter, who has worked at N.C. State for about 18 years, performed the procedure on more than 70 dogs in a roughly two-and-a-half-year span, according to information published online by N.C. State in 2016. The cure rate for dogs with B cell lymphoma treated with a transplant using stem cells from their own body known as an autologous transplant during that time was 35%, Suter said in the 2016 article from N.C. State. His work in that unit was also featured in The New York Times in 2012. The unit closed for just under five years before it reopened in 2016. At that time, Suter was able to offer allogeneic transplants, or transplants in which the sick dog receives stem cells from a blood-related donor dog. Research published by Suter last year shows that dogs with high-grade B cell lymphoma who received an allogeneic transplant had a cure rate of almost 90%. When contacted by The News & Observer for additional information about the recent pause, Suter who has previously spoken publicly about the procedure in other publications would only confirm basic facts about the treatment, which are also posted online by N.C. State. In either form of transplant autologous or allogeneic stem cells are taken from the donor source using an apheresis machine, which collects the healthy stem cells needed for the transplant and puts the other blood cells back into the body. Dogs are anesthetized during this process, which is considered painless and can take between four to five hours. After the healthy stem cells are collected, the dog receiving the transplant undergoes full-body radiation to kill the cancer cells remaining in their body. The harvested stem cells and bone marrow are transplanted into the dog using an IV. Dogs remain in the hospital for about two weeks following the procedure for monitoring and management of symptoms related to the treatment, which can include gastrointestinal illness. Treatment is option of hope for young dogs Lymphoma has generally been most common in middle- to older-aged dogs, roughly between the ages of 8 to 11 but it can also affect young dogs, like the Millers 4-year-old Blaze or others as young as 2 or 3. Chemotherapy which can offer dogs with high-grade B cell lymphoma a survival time of about 12 months after treatment, according to information posted on the N.C. State Veterinary Hospital website may be a valuable treatment for older dogs with lymphoma, who have lived a long life by the time they are diagnosed with the disease. But the story is different for younger dogs, including Blaze, for whom an additional year of life can still feel too short for their owners. The Millers have spent tens of thousands of dollars pursuing the bone marrow treatment for Blaze since learning it was an option. That includes the cost of getting a diagnosis for Blaze, putting him on chemotherapy until he can receive the transplant and finding a donor match among his littermates. They have raised more than $13,000 through a GoFundMe online fundraiser. The actual procedure will additionally cost the couple between $20,000 to $25,000 a hefty price tag, but one pet insurance can cover in some amount, and one that is comparable to the cost of one to two protocols of chemotherapy. And the Millers message is clear for people who may question their willingness to pay the high price. They dont understand. Hes not a bicycle. He is a part of our family, and we treat him that way, David Miller said. If your kid was sick, you would do everything you could to save your kid. And thats how we feel about Blaze. How the treatment is viewed by canine oncologists N.C. State is one of the only places in the world that offers canine bone marrow transplant treatments. Another, in Bellingham, Washington, is a private practice making N.C. States unit even more unique, as it is located in the universitys veterinary teaching hospital, with a goal of educating more veterinarians on the procedure. The bone marrow transplant program fulfills part of our mission to develop new treatments and techniques to fight the diseases we see every day, Suter told N.C. State in an article announcing the reopening of the transplant unit in 2016. The proximity of N.C. State to the Millers home in Maryland made the university a viable and manageable option for Blazes treatment, they said, citing concerns over the travel and transport a trek to Washington would require and the toll it would take on themselves and Blaze. But the program being paused raised new concerns for the Millers, stretching beyond Blazes treatment. A concern we have is the only place in the entire world that teaches them how to do this is N.C. State, David Miller said. And so if no one knows how to do this procedure in the future, then the programs closed until someone else at some other research university picks it up and starts over from scratch. Dr. Jeffrey Bryan, a veterinarian and professor of oncology at the University of Missouri, attempted to open a canine bone marrow transplant unit at Washington State University in 2008, but was ultimately unable to do so due to budget concerns, he told The N&O. Since that time, though, Bryan has followed Suters work at N.C. State. Bryan said Suter, who has published research and data on the procedure, has done a really fantastic job of advancing the science and making information available for the wider oncology community. Bryan said there may be some appetite or interest at other universities to offer the treatment, but practically speaking, the record speaks for itself that other universities have not jumped into this and have not elected to make this a priority or a clinical offering. So, perhaps that shows the reticence of oncologists in general to take this on, Bryan said. That could be due to concerns around the cost of the procedure which Bryan said lends itself to a select subset of clients, who can afford to do so, pursuing the treatment and the level of skilled, intensive staffing required to perform the procedure and care for the dogs after. Bryan said it was unfortunate the program at N.C. State had been put on pause, especially with dogs awaiting treatment. In an email to The N&O, Charbonneau with N.C. State said there is no formal waitlist for the procedure, but there was a small group of potential clients that had already started the bone marrow transplant process prior to the pause being announced. I do not understand the circumstances. I have no inside knowledge of why this has happened, Bryan said. But it has been a unique resource. I have referred patients to it over my career. And Im sad that its not available currently, and I hope it becomes available again. The N&O asked Charbonneau by email Tuesday if other treatment programs at the Veterinary Hospital had ever been paused in a similar manner to the canine bone marrow transplant unit. Charbonneau had not provided an answer as of Thursday morning. Blaze, now a 4-year-old English Shepherd, with his owners, Meredith and David Miller. Future of transplant program uncertain Since N.C. State announced the program would be paused in mid-February, thousands have signed an online petition urging the university to resume the program. When asked last month how long the program would be paused or if N.C. State anticipated resuming the program at any point, Charbonneau told The N&O by email that the review of the program is ongoing, and no additional decisions about the program have been made at this time. Leaders at the college and the N.C. State Veterinary Hospital are in the early stages of gathering information as part of the ongoing review of the novel BMT program, including speaking with employees and external specialists in the field, Charbonneau said. The results of our review will determine next steps. Regarding dogs who had begun the process to receive a transplant at the time the program was paused, Charbonneau said that the hospital would continue to work with them through this process. Charbonneau said hospital administrators reached out to these clients by phone in February. In emails provided to The N&O by Meredith Miller, sent in mid-March, N.C. State Veterinary Hospital administrator Roy Hudson told Miller that the hospital plans to see your dogs process through to the end. But Miller doesnt see that as a guarantee and worries the plan may fall through, she said. The Millers plan for Blaze to receive an allogeneic transplant, and have had several of his littermates tested to see if they are a match for donation. They originally planned for Blaze to be treated with the transplant this month, but the timing depends on when a match is found. Looking beyond their own dogs needs, the couple hopes the other dogs awaiting treatment are also able to be treated, and that the program can continue well into the future. We want these dogs to get treated that are on the waitlist, Meredith Miller said, and we want the program to be able to resume and at some point in the near future for other dogs to have this option. A massive explosion and fire erupted at a Texas dairy farm this week, killing thousands of cows. Castro County Sheriff's Office A massive fire and explosion erupted at a Texas dairy farm this week, according to authorities The fiery blast killed more than 18,000 cows at South Fork Dairy Farms in the Texas city of Dimmitt. It was the deadliest inferno disaster for cattle in the United States in the last decade. Nearly 20,000 cows were killed and one person was injured in a massive explosion and fire at a Texas dairy farm this week, making it the deadliest inferno disaster for cattle in the United States in the last decade. The fiery blast erupted at South Fork Dairy Farms in the Texas city of Dimmitt on Monday night, according to authorities. Photos released by the Castro County Sheriff's Office showed huge plumes of smoke billowing from the facility during the disaster. Only a small percentage of the cows at the farm survived the tragedy, according to local news outlet KFDA, which reported that more than 18,000 cattle perished. "There's some that survived, there's some that are probably injured to the point where they'll have to be destroyed," Castro County Sheriff Sal Rivera said of the animals, KFDA reported. The Animal Welfare Institute told Insider that the blaze was the deadliest barn fire for cattle in the country and the deadliest barn fire in Texas since the non-profit organization started tracking barn fires in 2013. Hundreds of thousands of farm animals are killed every year as a result of barn fires and since 2013 more than 6.4 million animals most of which were chickens have perished in barn blazes, according to the organization. The organization said that the "devastating numbers, which likely do not even represent the full scale of the problem, serve as an urgent reminder to the industry to prioritize fire safety and prevention on farms." "We hope the industry will remain focused on this issue and strongly encourage farms to adopt commonsense fire safety measures," said Allie Granger, policy associate for AWI's farm animal program. "It is hard to imagine anything worse than being burned alive." Story continues The cause of the Monday's inferno remains under investigation, but Rivera told the KIAH news outlet that the initial explosion could have been caused by a machinery malfunction. The explosion erupted, causing a fire which then spread to a building on the property used to hold the cattle, Rivera said, citing witnesses, according to the report. First responders at the scene discovered a worker trapped inside the facility and fire crews were able to rescue that person, who was ultimately hospitalized, the Castro County Sheriff's Office said. "The magnitude of the fire and the amount of people that were here, we were very fortunate that it was less than what we had," Rivera said, according to KVII. "We had just one injured it could have been a lot worse." Read the original article on Insider A Hudson County man faces kidnapping and assault charges related to a domestic violence incident in a dorm room on the Fairleigh Dickinson University campus in Florham Park on Sunday, the Morris County prosecutor announced. Jayshawn E. Moore, 21, of Jersey City, has been charged with kidnapping, four counts of aggravated sexual assault, aggravated assault, burglary, making terroristic threats and weapons counts, the Prosecutor's Office said. Authorities said Moore, who was a visitor to the FDU campus, forced a woman he knew into a dormitory room and, after threatening the woman with a knife, physically and sexually assaulted her over several hours. He was arrested in Elizabeth on Tuesday and has been at the Morris County Correctional Facility awaiting his detention hearing on April 17. More: Animals rescued from Sussex pickup truck faced 'unimaginable' conditions, shelters say We have all been working hard on perfecting our inter-agency methods and protocols, which, when coupled with our professional relationships among our law enforcement personnel, result in an effective force multiplier when we are confronted with crimes of violence," said Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll, noting the work of the Florham Park Police Department, the Morris County Sheriffs Office Crime Scene Investigation Unit, and the Morris County Prosecutors Office Sex Crimes/Child Endangerment Unit and Major Crimes Unit. The Prosecutor's Office asks anyone with information on this case to call 973-285-6200. This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Hudson man charged with attack on FDU-Florham Park campus PROVIDENCE In one weeks time, Steyci Perez, a sometimes-rebellious 15-year-old foster kid, went from a motel room in Warwick to her grave in the family plot in the Dominican Republic. On Wednesday, her mother, Maria Contreras, still sat among mourners in the Santo Domingo home where the family held the funeral. Speaking through an interpreter, she said the 34-year-old man now charged with giving fentanyl to her daughter and another teenager at the Warwick Motel 6 left Steyci to die afterward at a friends house in Providence. He saw the state she was in, her airways were closing, Contreras told The Journal. A grown man like him, he could have at least taken her to the hospital and left her on the sidewalk. Instead, he carried her body into a [friends] house, and he let her die. More: A 15-year-old in DCYF custody ran away from her foster home. She later died after allegedly being given drugs. The Motel 6 on Jefferson Boulevard in Warwick. What happened to Steyci Perez? Police in Warwick and Providence have yet to release incident reports of what transpired in the early hours of April 3. But Contreras and Steycis aunt, Ylda Marmol, shared with The Journal what investigators have told them. Officials with the Department of Children, Youth and Families placed Steyci in the Providence home of Contrerass stepmother about two months ago. Contreras has three other children, and Steyci, her eldest, sometimes exhibited difficult behavior issues, said Marmol. Steyci ran off for several days near the end of March. Police found her on Palm Sunday weekend, said Marmol. She was intoxicated, and they took her to Hasbro [Children's Hospital]. On Sunday, April 2, Marmol said, she went to the hospital and picked her up. The next day, Steyci slipped out of the house while everyone else was sleeping, Marmol said. Police have told the family that Steyci and a younger girl were taken to the Motel 6 in Warwick by a man who gave the girls pills allegedly laced with fentanyl. Story continues More: Providence man charged with providing fentanyl to juvenile girl Last week, Warwick police arrested Juan Pizarro, 34, of Providence, and charged him with two counts of delivering fentanyl to a juvenile. On Tuesday, Pizarro was additionally charged with distributing a controlled substance "resulting in the death of a minor." Marmol said the family does not know Pizarro or how the two girls knew him. He picked them up, we dont know where, said Marmol. After the girls took the pills, they both fell ill. The younger girl was able to vomit up the pill. But Steyci, who had been intoxicated the previous day and had not eaten, had nothing in her stomach and could not throw up the pill, Marmol said. The man they were with got them back into the car and headed in the direction of Steycis foster home. But then Steyci fell unconscious and plans changed. The younger girl called a teenage friend in Providence who agreed to allow them to stay at his apartment on Atwells Avenue, Marmol said. It was the early hours of April 3, Steyci appeared to have passed out and had to be carried inside. Hours passed and after people awoke, the teenager who lived in the apartment called 911. Steyci had died of an apparent overdose, relatives said. On Wednesday, the state Child Advocates office announced it would formally investigate the death of Steyci Perez. In Santo Domingo, her mother considered tombstone options. Contact Tom Mooney at: tmooney@providencejournal.com This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Mother of 15-year-old who died in DCYF custody speaks out, state investigating A fireball that caused loud sonic booms and even lit up the daytime sky on Saturday was the first radar-observed meteorite fall seen in Maine, NASA confirmed. Booming noises were heard near Calais, Maine, shortly after the fireball was seen moving through the sky. This apparent meteorite fall occurred at 11:56 a.m. local time, NASA said. NASAs radar was able to observe the event for nearly five minutes and calculated fallen meteorite masses from 1.59-322 grams, or less than a pound, although larger masses may have fallen. Because of this, the Maine Mineral & Gem Museum in Bethel is offering a $25,000 reward for the first meteorite they get weighing one kilogram or more, the Bangor Daily News reported. A map of the "strewn field" shows where the meteorites may have landed based on radar signatures after the first radar-observed meteor fall occurred in Maine on April 8, 2023. NASA's ARES lab confirmed radar signatures that support the meteor sightings across Washington County in Maine and New Brunswick, Canada. So far, no meteors or pieces have been reported found. With winds of up to 100 mph at the time of the event, smaller meteorites may have been carried into Canada, NASA said. The outlet said the most likely area for recovering any meteorites is a mile-wide field extending from just north of Waite, Maine, to the border town of Canoose in New Brunswick, Canada. Shawn Laatsch, the director of the Versant Power Astronomy Center at the University of Maine in Orono, told the Machias Valley News Observer that he speculates the fireball was maybe a larger kind of meteor called a bolide because those are often visible during the daytime. If its visible in the daytime, its usually a large meteor that hits that atmosphere and lights up," Laatsch told the Observer. "The different colors you see depend on what it was made up of." Some described the meteorites fall as a red flare or like a firework, according to the Machias paper. This meteorite fall is recorded in American Meteor Society eyewitness reports as number 2002 for the year 2023, according to NASA. Camille Fine is a trending visual producer on USA TODAY's NOW team. More coverage from USA TODAY This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Meteorite falls in Maine, NASA says; reward offered for large piece Ted Cruz. Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Ted Cruz said stationing armed police in schools, as banks do, would help stop school shootings. On March 30, Cruz suggested that children should be protected with guns, like bank deposits are. On April 10, a shooter in Kentucky opened fire at a bank, killing at least five people. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas recently proposed a solution to school shootings: stationing as many armed police officers in schools as there are in banks. Less than two weeks later, a shooter in Kentucky opened fire at a bank, killing at least five people and injuring eight others. "You know, when you go to the bank, and you deposit money in the bank, there are armed police officers at the bank. Why? Because we want to protect the money we save. Why on earth do we protect a stupid deposit more than our children?" Cruz said on March 30. "We have an opportunity right now to double the police officers on campus and keep kids safe," Cruz added. He reiterated the sentiment in a tweet on March 31. Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) March 31, 2023 Cruz's proposed bill on school safety, which he has been pushing for months, was blocked in the Senate on March 30. The senator's insistence that banks are a paragon of safety and security came days before a 25-year-old bank employee opened fire on his colleagues. Cruz has made widely panned suggestions on how to stop gun violence in the past. After the Uvalde, Texas, school shooting, where a shooter killed 21 people, Cruz floated a bizarre idea for preventing school shootings: having a "single point of entry" in schools. "Fire exits should only open out. At that single point of entry, we should have multiple armed police officers or, if need be, military veterans trained to provide security and keep our children safe," Cruz said in an interview with Fox News on May 27. Story continues Cruz was booed at a September festival in Austin after his comments on gun legislation. At the festival, Cruz suggested that violence "is actually the only thing" that helps stop violence a common right-wing talking point often trotted out by the National Rifle Association. Days after the Uvalde shooting, Cruz refused to cancel his appearance at the NRA's leadership conference in Houston. Justifying his decision, he told CBS News that the NRA "stands up for your rights, stands up for my rights, and stands up for the rights of every American." Texas has the highest firearm mortality rate of any state, with 4,164 firearm-related deaths in 2020, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Representatives for Cruz did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment sent outside regular business hours. Read the original article on Business Insider Ukraines prosecutor general called on international leaders to obey an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, as South Africa expressed frustration ahead of a summer summit in which Putin is set to attend. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued the warrant for Putins arrest last month, along with Russias Presidential Commissioner for Childrens Rights Maria Lvova-Belova, for the allegedly unlawful deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia. The arrest warrant to Putin shows that no one could be above the law, Andriy Kostin said Wednesday in a conversation with the Washington Posts Live series, calling on all state members of the ICCs Rome Statute to execute the warrant. If they intentionally dont want to do it, it shows that they are not fair and they are not honest. And that for them, probably, justice is just a word. The comments come as South African leaders expressed concern Wednesday over how to handle an upcoming BRICs summit set for August, in which leaders of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa are on the guest list. All heads of state would be expected to attend the summit. But now we have a spanner in the works in the form of this ICC warrant, Vincent Magwenya, spokesperson for South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa, said in a Wednesday press briefing, AFP reported. What that dictates is that there be further engagements, in terms of how that is going to be managed and those engagements are underway. Once theyve been concluded, the necessary announcements will be made, he added. South Africa has refused to condemn Russia;s invasion of Ukraine, remaining neutral on the conflict while calling for dialogue to end the war. Kostin argued criminal proceedings are the best tool to hold Russian authorities accountable for the deportation and abduction of over 16,000 Ukrainian children. From my point of view, the main goal is to return Ukrainian children to their families and to their country, the Ukrainian prosecutor said. And we also need to do it as soon as possible because for many of them, who are very small and young, in some years it will be very difficult to change their national identification. Story continues In response to leaked documents from the Pentagon that discussed weaknesses in Ukraines defenses, Kostin emphasized the importance of unity between Ukraine and its allies going forward and said the leak means nothing regarding criminal investigations. We will go ahead with our joint efforts to make Russia accountable, Kostin said. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Concerns about automation have spurred labor protests by workers at the Port of Los Angeles. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Id like to work four days a week instead of five. Wouldnt you? I'd take Fridays off. The way I imagine it, it'd be just a few years from now. A robot in a butlers uniform would serve us drinks in the backyard on what used to be just another workday. I'd toss a ball around with the kids while ChatGPT did their homework for them. Who says the world is going to hell and the future is bleak? Artificial intelligence, advanced robotics and job automation hold out the hope of less work, more leisure and long weekends every weekend. Thats the view, anyway, of Christopher Pissarides, who was awarded a Nobel Prize in economics and believes that thanks to AI and automation, society could move to a four-day week easily. He said it in an article that appeared in the L.A. Times last week. They could take away a lot of boring things that we do at work and then leave only the interesting stuff to human beings, he added. Pissarides has written that automation gets a bad rap" and that we should embrace AI and automation without hesitation" while helping workers make the transition to the new economy. Itd be great if hes right that productivity gains and increases in efficiency will be reinvested, spurring new innovations, creating new jobs and industries, and driving economic growth as older, less productive jobs are replaced with more advanced occupations and we all get Fridays off with no cut in pay. But Im skeptical that it'll happen easily. I realize its presumptuous of me to question the optimism of a Nobel Prize winner, especially given that I didnt do so good in "Intro to Economics" 45 years ago. But, with all due respect, count me among those who wonder whether the financial benefits of automation will really be put to use improving workers well-being or whether theyll just feed higher profits for shareholders and heftier bonuses for executives, thereby exacerbating income inequality. Story continues Count me among those who worry that employers will work hard to grab most of the savings for themselves unless society forces them not to. Automation, of one sort or another, is as old as humans are, and fear of losing jobs to machines goes back at least to the textile mills of the Industrial Revolution. Many of us learned in school about the Luddites, a secret organization of disaffected early 19th century English mill workers who went around destroying automated looms and other newfangled machinery they feared would eliminate their jobs or worsen labor conditions. These days automation is moving faster than ever. A Goldman Sachs report released last month said 300 million jobs worldwide could be impacted or disrupted thanks to generative AI alone. A report by the McKinsey Global Institute determined that up to half the jobs people do in the world could theoretically be automated. Already, salespeople are disappearing at my local Rite-Aid because of self-service checkout machines. Parking garage attendants can hardly be found thanks to automatic gates, ticket-dispensing machines and self-paying kiosks. At airports, boarding passes are dispensed by machines. Baggage handlers are being displaced by robots, immigration officers by facial recognition technology. And do we think those workers are all off enjoying three-day weekends? With the extraordinary innovations in AI, automation may soon move beyond blue-collar and less-skilled workers, increasingly affecting so-called "knowledge workers" with college educations. Who's at risk? Think software engineers, tax preparers, copy editors and paralegals. For starters. Many economists share Pissarides optimistic view. They note that, historically, when automation has eliminated jobs, new ones offset the losses. Productivity gains drive down prices, which drives up spending and creates jobs. And innovation itself requires workers: Although we no longer employ blacksmiths, weve got auto mechanics, solar panel installers and airline pilots. One Massachusetts Institute of Technology study found that more than 60% of jobs in the U.S. in 2018 hadn't been invented in 1940. Furthermore, robots can do jobs that are undesirable or highly dangerous or require superhuman strength and stamina. In many cases, robots are faster, stronger, more accurate and more efficient than people. So there are definitely benefits to automation. But the challenge is to ensure they're spread around. MIT economist Daron Acemoglu says that over the last four decades, jobs lost to automation have not been replaced by an equal number of new ones. Since the late 1980s, he says, automation has increased income inequality rather than raising all boats. The real beneficiaries of automation during that period? Corporations, their owners and in some cases workers with very high skill levels, especially those with postgraduate degrees. The case that workers will benefit from mass-scale automation is pretty weak, Acemoglu told me. The evidence indicates that the productivity gains from automation of the last four decades have been largely captured by companies and managers. Now I'm not suggesting we should or could stop innovation or halt progress. But to mitigate the enormous disruption, the transition cannot be left entirely to the caprice of employers. Automation's benefits must not simply be dispatched directly into the pockets of the Jeff Bezoses and Elon Musks of the world. Pissarides urges the government to provide income and job-transition support to workers. Harry J. Holzer, a public policy professor at Georgetown University, calls for tax incentives and subsidies for good job creation. K-12 education, he says, should be retooled to prepare 21st century workers with the communication skills, critical thinking abilities, creativity and good judgment that will be valuable and marketable in the new economy. Too often in history, society has left workers to fend for themselves in times of dramatic economic change. Is government committed, this time, to ensuring it doesn't happen again? Like everyone else, Im eager for my four-day workweek. But I dont kid myself that itll happen on its own thanks to the generosity of the modern-day mill owners. It'll take a fight. @Nick_Goldberg This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Louis Gaskin Raiford, Fla. - Louis Bernard Gaskin, known as the "ninja killer," was put to death by lethal injection Wednesday for killing a Palm Coast couple in 1989. He spent the last 33 years of his life on death row. The 56-year-old Gaskin was convicted in 1990 of two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Robert and Georgette Sturmfels on Dec. 20, 1989. Kayla McLaughlin Smith, director of communications for the Department of Corrections, said the execution took place "without incident." Last moments Before his execution, Gaskin had final words, but they were difficult to understand. "Justice is not about the crime. It's not about the criminal. It's about the law," he said. "Look at my case." A tan curtain separating Gaskin from witnesses was raised at 6 p.m. Gaskin was restrained with leather straps on each wrist and a white sheet covered him. IV tubes were taped along each arm in preparation for the lethal cocktail of drugs he was about to receive. Body movement ceased after 6:07 p.m., once the sedative took effect. At one point, the man who led the execution pushed on Gaskin's shoulders and yelled, "Wake up!" There was no reaction. After 11 minutes, a woman in a white lab coat walked in and checked Gaskin's eyes. She then placed a stethoscope on several places on his chest and neck area. She then said something to the man who led the execution who then said: "The sentence of the state of Florida was carried out at 6:15 p.m." Among the approximately 23 witnesses were 7th Circuit Judge Raul Zambrano and 7th Circuit State Attorney R.J. Larizza. Gaskin's last morning Gaskin woke up at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday. At 9:45 a.m., he had his last meal, which consisted of barbecue pork ribs, buffalo wings, pork and turkey neck, shrimp fried rice, french fries, and water. Gaskin was offered a sedative, as is customary for executions, but Smith would not comment on whether he accepted it. Story continues Gaskin's sister visited him earlier in the day, according to Smith. His relatives were not allowed to attend the execution. Gaskin did not have a spiritual advisor visit him, Smith said. Victims or relatives of victims did not attend the execution, Smith said. She described Gaskin as calm and in good spirits. The crime Gaskin used a .22-caliber rifle to shoot the Strumfels from outside their 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 dressed in a black ninja outfit. Gaskin was also convicted of the attempted first-degree murder of Joseph Rector on the same night in the same section of Palm Coast as well as two counts of armed robbery and two counts of burglary. Coverage recap: Live updates: Louis Gaskin executed at Florida State Prison Gaskin tells about murders: In his own words: So-called 'Ninja killer' describes how he murdered Palm Coast couple Gaskin describes second attack With his execution looming, Louis Gaskin describes attack on second Palm Coast couple Lethal injection records Judge denies defense request for lethal injection records in 'ninja killer' case Gaskin threw wood and rocks onto the roof of Rectors' house in hopes of luring him out but when he didn't come out of the house, Gaskin shot him through a window. Gaskin had cut the phone line to the house, so Rector and his then-wife Noreen were unable to call for help. But they managed to get in their car and speed off as Gaskin fired at them. The Sturmfels were part-time residents of Palm Coast. Three years earlier, the New Jersey couple bought a house at 10 Ripley Place and spent their winters there. Gaskin had told a psychologist before his trial that he knew what he was doing. "The guilt was always there," he said. "The devil had more of a hold than God did. I knew that I was wrong. I wasn't insane." Gaskin also confessed to killing a man in 1986. Victim opposes execution Noreen Rector says she opposed Gaskins execution and that she hoped it would not help Gov. Ron DeSantiss presidential ambitions. "I would be satisfied if Louis remained in prison, without the possibility of release. I dont believe the death penalty serves any purpose," she said in a statement provided to The News-Journal. "What will really bother me is if this might, in some way, advance Gov. DeSantis in his presidential quest. I find him and his views highly offensive and divisive." Appeal rejected: Florida Supreme Court rejects appeal from Louis Gaskin to stop execution next week Volusia, Flagler death row inmates: Florida executes 100th death row inmate. Who's on the list from Volusia, Flagler counties? Joseph Rector could not be reached but told an Orlando television station that he supports the execution. "I think he should die for what he did, he told WESH last month. After his conviction, a jury recommended by an 8-4 vote that Gaskin be sentenced to death and a judge followed the recommendation. DeSantis signed the death warrant on March 13. DeSantis has signed 3 death warrants this year Gaskins was the states second death warrant signed by DeSantis this year. The first was Donald Dillbeck, 59, who was executed on Feb. 23 by lethal injection. Dillbeck was on death row for 32 years. Dillbeck was convicted and sentenced to death for fatally stabbing Faye Lamb Vann, 44 while carjacking her in a mall parking lot in Tallahassee. Dillbeck stabbed Vann more than 20 times and slit her throat. When he killed Vann, Dillbeck was already wanted for escaping from a work-release job while serving a life sentence for killing Lee County Deputy Dwight Lynn Hall, 31, in 1979. Dillbeck was 15 at the time he killed the deputy. Since signing Gaskin's death warrant, DeSantis signed a third death warrant on April 3. That warrant is for Darryl B. Barwick. Barwick was convicted in 1992 of first-degree murder, armed burglary, attempted sexual assault, and armed robbery in the killing of Rebecca Wendt in 1986 in Bay County. Barwick, 56, was sentenced to death 31 years ago in 1992. Before this year, the last death warrant DeSantis signed was for Gary R. Bowles who was executed on Aug. 22, 2019, for murder in Duval County. Murderer executed Serial killer Gary Ray Bowles executed Bowles was executed after a five-hour delay as the U.S. Supreme Court considered his request for a stay. Bowles, 57, had spent 23 years on death row for killing 42-year-old Walter Hinton, of Jacksonville, in 1994. Bowles was a serial killer who targeted gay men and killed six in 1994 with the first murder in Daytona Beach where he killed John Hardy Roberts, 59. Gaskin was Florida's 101st execution since capital punishment resumed in 1979 after the U.S. Supreme Court reinstated the death penalty in 1976. This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Louis Gaskin known as 'ninja killer' executed at Florida prison The Kenton County Detention Center. A Kenton County Detention Center deputy, accused of smuggling drugs into the jail, used a Cash App account with the username "Mercedes" to receive payments for bringing contraband into the facility, an investigator said in court on Wednesday. During a preliminary hearing, Ryan King, an agent with the Northern Kentucky Drug Strike Force, said the account tied to Curtis Edwards was referenced in several chirp messages, or inmate text messages to friends and family members, dating from March 11 to April 1. He allegedly gave his account information to the inmates, according to a criminal citation. Edwards, 26, is facing charges of promoting contraband and trafficking in a controlled substance, according to Kenton County District Court records. His arrest came after the detention center discovered evidence indicating that drugs were being given to inmates by a jail employee, according to the Kenton County Commonwealth's Attorney's Office. An investigation by the drug strike force revealed Edwards was receiving money from people outside the jail in exchange for delivering drugs to inmates, prosecutors said in a news release. King said agents received information that Edwards was providing meth, Percocet and Suboxone to an inmate at the jail. Court records state that when the inmate was later searched, jail staff found Suboxone concealed inside a nicotine pouch container. Authorities apprehended Edwards as he returned to work from his lunch break early in the morning on April 7, according to the citation. He was immediately fired upon his arrest. Edwards was then escorted by jail staff to a room where he was made to empty his pockets, the citation states. He had a blue glove filled with tobacco packets, cash and a red marijuana container that held two red balloons containing fentanyl, according to King. The narcotics were meant to be distributed to inmates at the jail, prosecutors said. Edwards told authorities he'd been approached by inmates and that he'd become "too friendly with them," King said, adding that Edwards stated he was asked to smuggle contraband into the facility. Story continues Edwards admitted to meeting with a woman in Ohio to collect the fentanyl, the citation states. King said Edwards was paid $505 for the transaction. District Judge Douglas Grothaus referred Edwards' case to a grand jury, which will consider whether to indict him. Christopher Meier, Edwards' public defender, declined to comment Thursday afternoon when reached by The Enquirer. The commonwealth's attorney's office has said Edwards, if convicted on both counts, faces a possible prison sentence of up to 25 years. This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: NKY jailer paid through Cash App to give inmates drugs, agent says Erik and Pete Nordstrom in 2012. Frank Franklin II/AP Nordstrom was founded in 1901 by Swedish immigrant John W. Nordstrom, who used the money he made in the Alaska gold rush to start the company. Over a century later, the fourth generation of Nordstroms is running the company: brothers Erik and Peter Nordstrom, who serve as CEO and president, respectively, of the department store chain. But the family dynasty may be ending: the brothers told The New York Times that their children might not be interested in working their way up the ladder. John W. Nordstrom, a Swedish immigrant who arrived in the US in the late 1800s and headed to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush, founded Nordstrom. He made $13,000, which he used to open a shoe store with a friend, Carl Wallin. Darron Cummings/AP Source: Nordstrom By the 1920s, the Wallin & Nordstrom brand had grown to two locations in Seattle, and John was ready to retire. He and Wallin sold their shares in the business to Nordstrom's sons, Everett and Elmer, with a third son, Lloyd, joining a few years later. A family business was born. A Nordstrom shoe department in 1997. Greg Smith/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images Source: Nordstrom "The depression hit us in 1929, and for five years, we struggled with the store. Everett and I put in long hours, did janitorial work, trimmed windows and helped with our books," Elmer Nordstrom wrote in a letter to Nordstrom employees in the late 1990s, describing the Great Depression. A Hooverville in Seattle in 1934. "Hoovervilles" were shantytowns of temporary homes during the Great Depression in the US. Getty Images Source: Seattle Times But Nordstrom hung on. By the early 1960s, it had become the nation's largest independent-shoe-store chain. The brothers began expanding the business by acquiring two local apparel retailers women's apparel came first, and men's and children's clothing followed a few years later. A Nordstrom store in 1997. Greg Smith/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images Source: Forbes, Nordstrom The third generation of Nordstroms took over in 1968: Everett's son, Bruce; Elmer's sons, James and John; and Lloyd's son-in-law, Jack. This new branch of the family tree took the company public in 1971 and introduced an off-price division, Nordstrom Rack, in 1973. Story continues Bruce Nordstrom. Getty Images Source: Forbes, Nordstrom The Nordstroms spent the next two decades expanding the business, opening stores across the country from Alaska to Virginia. By this time, Everett and Lloyd Nordstrom had died, but Elmer Nordstrom lived to be 88. He was working in his office right up until his death in 1993. A Nordstrom department store in southern California in 1998. Rolando Otero/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images Source: Nordstrom, Seattle Times In 1995, the third generation of Nordstroms retired as co-chairs of the business, handing the empire over to the next wave, a group of brothers and cousins who had all worked their way up through the ranks. From left: Blake, Peter, Erik, and Jamie Nordstrom in 2007. John Wilcox/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images Source: The New York Times, Nordstrom But the business was struggling. Sales growth had been stalling for several years and rumors were swirling that the family wasn't getting along with two top executives, John Whitacre, the CEO, and Michael Stein, the CFO, neither of whom were family members. On September 1, 2000, both Whitacre and Stein resigned. A Nordstrom store in Chicago in 2003. Scott Olson/Getty Images Source: The New York Times Blake Nordstrom, who had started working at the company in 1974, took over as president. His father, Bruce, became the chair of Nordstrom's board. Blake Nordstrom in 2010. Tina Fineberg/AP Source: The New York Times Blake's goal was to return Nordstrom to its core value: customer service. He trimmed the fat and got rid of the consultants who had been brought in to turn things around. Soon, Nordstrom began growing once again, according to The New York Times. Vince Talotta/Toronto Star via Getty Images Source: The New York Times The Times described Blake as "a model Nordstrom": He often wished employees a happy birthday a day early so he could be the first, carried others' luggage, and filled his brother's woodshed if he noticed it running low. Blake and Erik Nordstrom. Getty Images Source: The New York Times In 2015, Pete and Erik joined Blake as co-presidents of Nordstrom. The company's board said at the time that the brothers had already "supported the business as a team for many years." Blake, Pete, and Erik Nordstrom. John Wilcox/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald via Getty Images Source: Nordstrom In January 2019, Blake died suddenly at age 58. He had recently been diagnosed with lymphoma, which his doctors had said was treatable. But he started feeling sick while on a trip with his wife and died shortly after returning home. Blake Nordstrom at a Nordstrom Rack in 2018. Vince Talotta/Toronto Star via Getty Images Source: The New York Times "He was the best out west. Just a tremendous young man," his father, Bruce, told The Times in 2019. His brother, Erik, said at the time that he would often reflexively think to ask Blake for advice. "Something will come up and I'll have this thought in my head like, 'Oh, Blake's better at that,' or 'That's Blake's strength,'" Erik said. Erik and Blake Nordstrom. Getty Images Source: The New York Times Nordstrom had other issues to contend with around the same time: profits had been faltering as online shopping started to edge out traditional retail. Plus, Nordstrom had been spending big to revamp its stores, acquire e-commerce brands like Trunk Club and HauteLook, and build a new Manhattan flagship store that cost a reported $500 million. Jae C. Hong/AP Source: The Wall Street Journal, Vogue Business By 2018, Nordstrom's sales had declined every year since 2012. "About the worst thing that could happen is to be known as the generation at Nordstrom that screwed it up," Pete Nordstrom told The Wall Street Journal at the time. Pete Nordstrom in 2012. Frank Franklin II/AP Source: The Wall Street Journal Then the pandemic hit, initially shuttering stores nationwide. Nordstrom later permanently closed 20% of its fleet and has since announced it would close down Canadian operations entirely. A shuttered Nordstrom store. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images Source: WWD, Nordstrom The company's market capitalization has plunged over the past eight years from a peak of $15 billion to around $2.6 billion. In early 2023, multiple reports said the activist investor Ryan Cohen was building a stake in the company, sending the share price soaring. A Nordstrom store. Reuters Source: Markets Insider Meanwhile, Erik Nordstrom was named the sole CEO of the business in early 2020. "He's the smartest," Bruce had told The Times a few months prior. After Erik's promotion, his older brother, Pete, stayed in the president role and continued overseeing the merchandising side of the business. Erik Nordstrom in 2019. Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Source: The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal But both Erik and Pete seem to agree that whoever succeeds them at the company will not be a Nordstrom, because they'd need to work their way up over decades just like the generations before them. "I just think it's a different deal for our kids," Pete told The Times. "There's a lot of work to get from here to there." Erik and Pete Nordstrom in 2012. Frank Franklin II/AP Source: The New York Times These days, Bruce Nordstrom and his sister, Anne Gittinger, are the largest individual shareholders in the family business. Though their respective net worths took a dip in 2020 during the onset of the pandemic, Forbes estimated in April 2022 that Bruce was worth $1 billion. Bruce Nordstrom. Getty Images Source: Insider, Forbes Read the original article on Business Insider A federal court is blocking the Biden Administration's Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, halting interpretations for what constitutes a body of water for South Dakota and 23 other states. On Wednesday, the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota issued a preliminary injunction against the new rule, which interprets definitions for U.S. waters consistent with definitions set during the Obama administration, according to the EPA. "The agencies are reviewing the decision and their options. The agencies continue to believe the rule is the best interpretation of the Clean Water Act," EPA told the Argus Leader in an e-mail. More: $50 million water legislation falls two votes short on final day The injunction stems from pressure by attorneys general from 24 states, including South Dakota Attorney General Marty Jackley, who jointly filed a lawsuit against the EPA and USACE in February. Idaho and Texas were previously granted an injunction in March, according to the Associated Press. Todays ruling is a tremendous win for our farmers and ranchers and for the premise that the States are better positioned than a distant Washington to protect the environment within our own State, Jackley said in a statement. In light of the injunction, EPA said it will use pre-2015 regulations in the other 26 states until further notice. The Biden-era rule expands federal protections allotted through the Clean Water Act to include "adjacent wetlands" and "additional waters" certain local lakes, streams, tributaries, wetlands, etc. as determined by the EPA and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The rule is applied to these qualifying waters on a case-by-case basis if they meet a "relatively permanent" or "significant nexus" standard. More: South Dakota releases little toxic waste. But Smithfield's water pollution among worst in US The former applies to "relatively permanent, standing, or continuously flowing waters" connected to traditional waters, like large rivers or lakes, seas and interstate waters. The latter applies to certain water bodies, like tributaries and wetlands, that significantly affect the water quality of larger downstream waters. Story continues The Trump administration's "Navigable Waters Protection Rule," which the current rule repealed, narrowed the definition of what falls under "waters of the U.S." Tributaries that did not run year-round and wetlands that were not directly connected to larger water bodies were excluded by the previous rule. The court's decision comes after President Biden vetoed a bipartisan congressional attempt to overturn the rule on April 6. Congress attempted to repeal the rule on March 10. The final rule went into effect 10 days later. Dominik Dausch is the agriculture and environment reporter for the Argus Leader and editor of Farm Forum. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook @DomDNP and send news tips to ddausch@gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Sioux Falls Argus Leader: North Dakota injunction halts WOTUS rule in South Dakota, other states North Korea likely fired a "new type" of ballistic missile Thursday that may have used advanced solid fuel, Seoul's military said, representing a potential technical breakthrough for Pyongyang's banned weapons programmes. All of Pyongyang's known intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are liquid-fuelled, and solid-fuel ICBMs that can be launched from land or submarines have long been on top of leader Kim Jong Un's wish list. "North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. Such missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch, and thus harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively. North Korea showed off a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles at a military parade in Pyongyang in February, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuelled ICBM. Seoul's military said on Thursday it had detected one "medium range or longer" ballistic missile launched on a lofted trajectory -- up not out -- from the Pyongyang area at 7:23 am (1023 GMT), which flew 1,000 kilometres (620 miles). Japan, which briefly issued a seek-shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region, said the missile had not fallen within its territory and posed no threat to residents. Climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven are due to meet this weekend in Sapporo, Hokkaido's regional capital, a month before the bloc holds its summit in Hiroshima. The United States said it "strongly condemns" North Korea for the test of what it described as a long-range ballistic missile. China blamed the "negative impact" of US military drills for driving up tensions on the Korean peninsula and called on all parties to "remain calm and restrained". The launch is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea, which has already fired several of its most powerful ICBMs this year. Story continues It has also tested what state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones -- known as Haeil, the Korean word for tsunami -- which it says are capable of unleashing a "radioactive tsunami". Kim attended a meeting on Monday 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. He ordered that the North's deterrence capabilities be strengthened with "increasing speed" and in a "more practical and offensive" manner. - 'Real war' - Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang declaring itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. Kim also ordered the military this year to intensify drills to prepare for a "real war". Washington and Seoul have ramped up defence cooperation in response, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets. North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion and described them on Tuesday as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang. The latest test was likely a bid by the North "to put pressure on the South and the United States over their joint military exercises", Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University, told AFP. South Korea also accused North Korea on Tuesday of being "irresponsible" after Pyongyang cut hotline contact with Seoul last week. North Korea has not answered the twice-daily calls made through a military hotline and an inter-Korean liaison channel since Friday, according to Seoul's unification ministry. The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged Pyongyang to "reopen communication channels, and to resume dialogue" towards peace and total denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, according to a statement issued by his spokesman condemning the latest missile launch. The links were cut a day after Seoul accused Pyongyang of continued unauthorised use of a joint industrial complex in the North Korean city of Kaesong. "Pyongyang's provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defence exercises because Kim Jong Un hasn't finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation." kjk-kh-sh/ceb/pbt/sw/dw (Bloomberg) -- North Korea launched a suspected intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday toward waters off Japans main northern island of Hokkaido, prompting a brief warning for residents to take shelter from the threat. Most Read from Bloomberg Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said North Korea fired one missile on a lofted trajectory that was possibly an ICBM-class rocket, which fell outside of the countrys territory. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said it detected one intermediate-to-long range ballistic missile launched from near Pyongyang at around 7:23 a.m. that flew for about 1,000 kilometers (620 miles). The missile did not pose any immediate threat to people on land, leading to the warning being lifted, officials in Japan said. But it served a reminder of a bevy of weapons Kim Jong Uns regime has rolled out in recent months to deliver a nuclear strike as it refuses to engage in disarmament-for-aid talks that have been stalled for years. Theres a possibility North Korea may have tested a new type of solid-fuel ballistic missile, a South Korean Defense Ministry official told reporters. At a military parade in February, North Korea rolled five canisters for an apparent new solid-fuel ICBM through the streets of Pyongyang, showing off a future weapon that would be easier to deploy and quicker to fire off than its current arsenal of liquid-fuel ICBMs. Read: Kim Jong Un Puts New ICBM, And a Potential Heir, on Parade This launch is a brazen violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions and needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region, US National Security Council Spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. Story continues Tokyo and Seoul also denounced the latest launch, which was the most powerful rocket Pyongyang has fired since March 16, when it shot off a Hwasong-17 ICBM designed to deliver a nuclear warhead to the US mainland. That test came just hours before the leaders of Americas allies, South Korea and Japan, held a historic summit in Tokyo. Kim said that launch was meant to strike fear into the enemies as the US stepped up its joint military exercises with South Korea. The leader also brought his preteen daughter to that missile test, in a signal to the outside world that there is another generation waiting in the family dynasty forged in the Cold War and it will depend on nuclear weapons for its survival. On Saturday, North Korea is set to celebrate the birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of the current leader. The day is one of the biggest events on the countrys calendar. Earlier this month the US, South Korea and Japan held joint naval drills off the peninsula in a move that angered North Korea. The last time similar drills were held in 2022, Pyongyang fired its first missile over Japan in five years. The two-day anti-submarine and rescue drills were held in international waters off South Koreas Jeju Island and included vessels from the USS Nimitz aircraft carrier group. The latest launch came after leader Kim this week called for practical and offensive war capabilities as his state issued a fresh warning to the US over joint military drills and cut communications links with South Korea used to reduce tensions on their heavily armed border. North Korea has fired 16 ballistic missiles since Feb. 18, which included three ICBMs and new projectiles to deliver nuclear strikes against South Korea and Japan. Some defense stocks in Japan, such as Ishikawa Seisakusho Ltd. and Hosoya Pyro-Engineering Ltd. opened higher in early Thursday trading while the so-called peace stocks expected to benefit from improved inter-Korean ties dropped, under-performing the broader benchmark. In late March, North Korea released photos of Kim inspecting the states biggest display of warheads since he took power about a decade ago, indicating the leader has no intention of abandoning his atomic arsenal. Weapons experts said the images indicate Pyongyang has made progress in miniaturizing its warheads and could lead to more testing to verify their capabilities. Kim Yo Jong, the influential sister of the leader, has warned Pyongyang would turn the Pacific into a firing range if the US continued drills. She also hinted the state could start testing whether its warhead designs can withstand the heat of reentering the atmosphere. Pyongyang has demonstrated its missiles could fly as far as the US but there are questions as to whether the warheads would be able to stay intact to reach their targets. North Korea put on its biggest display of ICBMs during a military parade in Pyongyang in February. Kim Jong Un oversaw the event, with his daughter, called the precious child by state media, on hand to watch from a seat of honor. --With assistance from Erica Yokoyama, Lily Nonomiya, Sangmi Cha and Jordan Fabian. (Updates with missile flight data and statement from US.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. A missile launch by North Korea sparked confusion in northern Japan, where an evacuation order was abruptly retracted A missile launch by North Korea sparked confusion in northern Japan, where an evacuation order was issued and then retracted within 30 minutes. Sirens blared across Hokkaido and residents were told to "evacuate immediately" on Thursday morning. Authorities later said the missile did not land near the island and withdrew the alert. Tensions have been growing in the region, as North Korea has already fired 27 missiles this year. The projectile flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), in what South Korea's military called a "grave provocation". The missile is believed to be of medium or longer-range, but details on which weapon was tested on Thursday morning have not yet been made public. Meanwhile, Japanese coastguards said the missile had splashed into waters to the east of North Korea. Mr Hamada said he could not confirm whether the missile flew over Japan's exclusive economic zone. Schools in Hokkaido delayed their start times and some train services were suspended, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported. Japan's Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi said Pyongyang's repeated missile launches pose a "grave and imminent threat" to Japan's security. US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch "needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilising the security situation in the region". This latest launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ordered his military to adopt a "more practical and offensive" manner in war deterrence, as reported by its state media agency KCNA. For the past week, North Korea has not been answering twice-daily phone calls from South Korea, which has concerned the government in Seoul. The two Koreas typically exchange calls at 09:00 and 15:00 local time (00:00 and 06:00 GMT) via a military hotline - these daily check-ins are intended to prevent clashes along the countries' border. Earlier this week, South Korea's Unification Minister Kwon Young-se described the North's suspension of communication as "unilateral and irresponsible". Story continues "Pyongyang's provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defence exercises because Kim Jong-un hasn't finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, "However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation," he said. This is an important week for North Korea as it celebrates Mr Kim's 11th year in power - the country tends to mark these anniversaries with displays of military progress. North Korea has been working to increase its nuclear arsenal and build ever-more sophisticated weapons. It has also criticised joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, accusing them of escalating tensions. The latest missile launch also comes two days before the birthday of North Korea's founding leader Kim Il Sung - the biggest annual holiday on the country's calendar. In October 2022, residents in northern Japan woke up to similar sirens and text alerts to take cover after North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan. The missile travelled 4,500km (2,800 miles) before falling into the Pacific Ocean far from Japan, and there were no reported injuries. North Korea says this photograph shows the test-launch of the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile - Korean Central News Agency. North Korea said Friday it has successfully test-launched a new intercontinental ballistic missile powered by solid propellants, marking a potential breakthrough for Pyongyang's weapons programme. If true, it would be an alarming step forward from the less stable liquid-fuel currently used with one of North Koreas most advanced missiles, which has a range capable of striking the United States. Kim Jong Un was on site to supervise the launch of the missile named Hwasong-18, according to state media which published photographs of the North Korean leader alongside his daughter. Respected comrade Kim Jong Un said speeding up the development of evolving and more advanced and powerful weapons systems is our party and governments consistent policy to respond to military threats and worsening security situation on the Korean Peninsula, Korean Central News Agency said. Kim Jong Un and his daughter - Korea News Service Kim pledged to further expand his nuclear arsenal so that his rivals suffer from extreme anxiety and fear while facing an insurmountable threat, and be plunged into regrets and despair over their decisions. It cited Kim as saying that the Hwasong-18 would rapidly advance North Koreas nuclear response posture and further support an aggressive military strategy that vows to maintain nuke for nuke and an all-out confrontation for an all-out confrontation against its rivals. Solid-fuel ICBMs are easier to store and transport, and harder to detect as they can be launched quickly from land or submarines. They have long been at the top of leader Kims weapons-of-mass-destruction wish list, Dr Edward Howell, a North Korea expert at the University of Oxford, told the Telegraph. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters following North Korea's missile launch - AFP He also wants a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite. The timing of the launch is significant, said Dr Howell: just two days before the birthday of Kims grandfather Kim Il Sung, the most important day of the North Korean calendar. If it was a new type of solid-fuel ICBM, it would fulfil another item on a list of goals he set out in 2021 to advance the countrys weaponry, he said. Story continues North Korea would have demonstrated an ability to expand the scope and sophistication of its missile capabilities, underlining Kim Jong Uns sheer determination for the DPRK [North Korea] to force the international community to recognise its status as a nuclear-armed state, said Dr Howell. Pyongyang declared itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year, torpedoing nuclear disarmament talks that froze after a failed summit between Kim and then President Donald Trump in 2019. A TV screen displays a warning message called "J-alert" following a ballistic missile launch by North Korea - Reuters Thursdays missile test ratched up tensions in the region and briefly triggered a seek-shelter J-alert warning in Japans northern Hokkaido region. In messages automatically sent out via television, radio and mobile phone, residents were instructed to seek shelter underground or in sturdy concrete buildings. Aircraft operating in the area were also warned of the launch. However, the alert was withdrawn 20 minutes later when it was clear the missile test posed no immediate threat. "The alert told me I should hide underground, but I kept driving," Makoto Watanabe, an academic who lives in Sapporo, told The Telegraph. "I figured that there was very little chance of it hitting my car. The fresh escalation came as relations between the two Koreas hit one of their lowest points in years. This week, Seoul accused the North of being irresponsible for cutting off contact via a military hotline and an inter-Korean liaison channel since last Friday. A TV broadcast breaking the news of a North Korean missile launch - AFP Pyongyang made the move a day after Seoul accused it of continued unauthorised use of a joint industrial complex in the North Korean city of Kaesong. The hotlines were first established in 1971 and maintained by the Red Cross. They have been unilaterally disconnected by North Korea eight times, including most recently in 2021. The silence has deepened unease that has been building since March when South Korea and the United States launched their largest joint military drills in five years, including air and sea drills involving a US aircraft carrier, and amphibious landing operations. "Pyongyang's provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defence exercises because Kim Jong Un hasn't finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation." The joint exercises, which the two allies insist are defensive in nature, have infuriated Pyongyang, which sees them as a rehearsal for war. On Thursday, Beijing repeated tacit support for Pyongyang, by blaming the "negative impact" of US military drills for driving up tensions on the Korean peninsula. China called on all parties to "remain calm and restrained". Beijing has recently been disgruntled over a rapprochement between South Korea and Japan which has widely been viewed as an effort to build a new US-aligned security block to meet the threat from Pyongyang and also counter Chinas rise in the Indo-Pacific. North Korea has also viewed the warming ties with suspicion. It has taken a hostile approach to Yoon Suk Yeol, the South Korean president, who was elected last year on a platform that took a more hawkish turn towards Pyongyang. But even before Mr Yoon entered office, the North had begun an unprecedented volley of weapons tests, which have since included multiple ICBMs and purported nuclear-capable underwater drones -which it claims are capable of unleashing a "radioactive tsunami". The rocket to launch. The flag of North Korea. Credit - Getty Images/iStock Photo North Korea just cant seem to stop launching missiles. No matteror perhaps because ofhow angry it makes its rivals, the isolated East Asian nation keeps conducting tests that make the world wonder: is it just bombast or is Pyongyang preparing for an actual blast? North Korea has been hell-bent on developing its nuclear program and missile capabilities for the last six decades. Recently though, the country has ramped up its brinkmanship with more regular tests and explosive rhetoricoften shooting projectiles into the ocean and warning its enemies that the next ones could be coming for them. Last year was already record-breaking: data from the James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies, which has been documenting North Korean missile launches since 1984, showed 68 tests in 202210 times more than in 2021. And there are no signs that the country plans to let up. On Thursday morning local time, prompting a temporary evacuate-or-seek-shelter warning in Japan, North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile toward the East SeaPyongyangs 12th test of the year so far, according to a review by TIME of reports by North Koreas state news agency, South Koreas military, and international media. North Koreas biggest threat is its nuclear arsenal, which the countrys Supreme Leader Kim Jong Un has threatened to use anytime and anywhere. Researchers at the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists cautiously estimate North Korea to have already assembled 20 to 30 nuclear warheads and to have enough fissile material to build as many 45 to 55 nuclear weapons. Other estimates suggest North Korea could have more than 100 nuclear weapons by now. This year, Kim has repeatedly called for the country to exponentially increase its nuclear weapon production. The tests have been a way for North Korea to show off its varied warhead carriersincluding low-altitude cruise missiles which can be guided to attack close targets, as well as ballistic missiles launched high up into the atmosphere that can travel thousands of miles at hypersonic speeds. North Korea has also tested unmanned underwater attack drones, which the country has claimed can carry a nuclear warhead and could trigger a radioactive tsunami. Pyongyang uses all these tests to master the technical aspects of its projectiles. Though North Korea often claims its launches to be reactions to perceived aggression by the U.S. or South Korea, the tests usually only prompt the allies to do more military drills, which North Korea then responds to with even more tests, in a seemingly endless tit-for-tat display of strength. Story continues Some observers believe North Koreas weapons development program is simply a bargaining chip to secure greater recognition or economic aid, but with ever-escalating tests and remonstrations, there remains an element of dangerous uncertainty. Bernard Loo, senior fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies in Singapore, tells TIME that he and many other experts like him tend to view North Korea as a petulant child demanding attention, since it has absolutely no leverage whatsoever, except when it comes to nuclear and ballistic missiles tests. That doesnt mean there isnt anything to worry about. As the child does not get any attention, sometimes it will ratchet up the tantrums, Loo says. Im struggling to imagine what kind of behavior they could do [next] to make us look back at them and pay attention. Tracking North Koreas missile tests this year Jan. 1: One SRBM Pyongyang started 2023 with a bang: in the early morning of New Years Day, it fired one short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) into the East Sea. No other launches were made until February, after the grand display of military equipment on Feb. 8 which unveiled at least 15 missiles, including 11 Hwasong-17sNorth Koreas latest intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) dubbed the monster missile, which is believed to be capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads. Analysts also observed some solid-fuel ICBM canisters, which would allow North Korea to launch its ballistics faster compared to when the missile propellant needs to be refueled in liquid form. Feb. 18: One ICBM The mid-February launch of the Hwasong-15 from the Pyongyang International Airport marks North Koreas first firing of an ICBM this year. Launched at a lofted trajectory, it reached an altitude of more than 3,500 mi. and flew for about 66 minutes. This unverified photo, provided by the North Korean government, shows what it says was a test launch of a Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile at Pyongyang International Airport, Saturday, Feb. 18, 2023. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP North Koreas ICBMs are launched at high angles to avoid hitting any countries during testingbut in an actual attack, they would be launched at much lower angles to maximize their trajectory and reach their targets. But whether or not these missiles will survive the high-temperature, high-stress environment of the earths atmosphere upon re-entry in real-life combat remains unclear, says Joseph Dempsey from the International Institute of Strategic Studies. That doesnt mean they dont [have that ability], Dempsey cautions. It just means they havent demonstrated. Feb. 20: Two SRBMs These SRBMs were launched from the countrys western front, landing in the East Sea. Following the launch, South Korea imposed sanctions on four individuals and five entities linked to North Koreas missiles and nuclear weapons program. Feb. 23: Four cruise missiles North Korea claimed it fired four cruise missiles called Hwasal-2 from the eastern city of Kimchaek in Hamgyong Province, just a day before the U.S. and South Korea started joint exercises in the Korean peninsula. Pyongyangs central news agency claimed the missiles traveled 1,240 miles in eight-shaped trajectories through the East Sea. However, South Koreas defense ministry cast doubt on the details of North Koreas purported launch. March 9: Six SRBMs North Korea ramped up its missile tests in March. Kim and his daughter reportedly had a front-row seat to the firing of six short-range missiles toward the sea off North Koreas west coast under wargames. Kim, according to state media, expressed great satisfaction over the drills, as the troops confidently demonstrated the ability to counter an actual war. March 12: Two cruise missiles South Korea and the U.S. were scheduled to conduct large-scale military drills on March 13. In apparent protest, on the eve of the exercises, North Korea fired two cruise missiles from a submarine in the East Seawhich displayed the countrys amphibious launch abilities. March 14: Two SRBMs Continuing its protests, North Korea fired two more SRBMs from its west coast. While the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said the launches dont pose an immediate threat to its allies, it said the tests highlight the destabilizing impact of the Norths missile programs. March 16: One ICBM The second ICBM launched this year was the homegrown Hwasong-17, which had been paraded in January. North Korea said the launch was meant to strike fear into the enemies by showing how swift Pyongyang could respond to threats. In this unverified photo provided by the North Korean government, Kim Jong Un watches a test launch of an intercontinental ballistic missile, with a young woman who appears to be his daughter, on March 16, 2023. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service/AP Uk Yang, an expert in military strategies at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in South Korea, tells TIME hes skeptical of the power of the missiles large payload, pointing out that its not normal to have such road-mobile weapons. Why U.S. or Russia wouldnt have that big ICBM? Yang says. Because its not effective. March 19: One SRBM Another SRBM was launched from Cholsan County, North Pyongan Province. The area contains North Koreas key long-range rocket launch site. North Korean state news agencies said the country staged a drill simulating a nuclear strike at a major enemy target that same day, using a missile tipped with a test warhead simulating a nuclear warhead. March 23: Four cruise missiles South Korean defense officials said the North had fired at least four cruise missiles from its eastern Hamhung province. North Koreas state media said the missiles used similar simulated nuclear warheads like the previously launched ones, but these missiles also reportedly tested minimum-altitude flight and evasive maneuvers. March 26: Two SRBMs South Korea and Japan detected two more SRBMs launched from North Koreas east coast. The U.S. Indo-Pacific Command reiterated the destabilizing impact of the tests but said there was no immediate threat. April 13: At least one unspecified ballistic missile Japans Ministry of Defense and South Koreas military detected the launch of at least one ballistic missile early Thursday morning. The launch prompted Japan to issue a warning over the island prefecture of Hokkaido, cautioning residents to evacuate or take shelter. It later retracted the warning. Pyongyang said that it was a test of a new type of solid-fuel ICBM, the Hwasong-18. The launch took place after North Koreas Kim expressed dismay at the U.S. flying nuclear-capable B-52 bombers over the Korean Peninsula about a week earlier. What have we learned from these launches? Despite leaps in surveillance technology, gathering intelligence on North Koreas opaque missiles program is still limited, says Loo from Singapore, as much of the assessment is extrapolated from existing combat systems. He also points out that the hermit state has developed a skill for broadcasting television footage of drills and launches that arent checked by independent third parties. We really have very little understanding of whats going on in there. But if Pyongyang increases its provocations, it risks revealing more about its weapon systems, says Dempsey. As much as they want to prove the credibility [of] this system, it could actually backfire, he explains, saying that any display of firepower risks exposing weaknesses and potential failures. Another reason we know so little about North Koreas existing arsenal and capabilities, says Dempsey, is partly because of how fast its military keeps rolling out new technology. Its unclear what they have that actually works. Thats almost too much ambition, Dempsey says of Pyongyangs strategy. Youre doing things running before you can even walk. Still, the uncertainty created by a vicious cycle of North Korea appearing to build up its weaponry followed by the U.S. and South Korea strengthening their military alliance just in case isnt necessarily putting the world on a path to nuclear disaster. Its how deterrence works, Dempsey says. That ambiguity? Its good and badIt means that nobody wants to find out either side. (Bloomberg) -- North Korea said it tested a new type of solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile that could deliver multiple nuclear warheads to the US mainland, with leader Kim Jong Un on hand to see the launch of his latest weapon. Most Read from Bloomberg A powerful new missile, the Hwasong-18 intercontinental ballistic missile, which serves as a crucial part of the nations strategic military power, was tested, the states official Korean Central News Agency said Friday. The missile is designed to serve as a key element of the countrys strategic nuclear deterrent against potential invasion of enemy forces, it added. Kims regime fired off a suspected ICBM on Thursday that landed off Hokkaido, one of Japans main islands. The latest test served a reminder of a bevy of weapons North Korea has displayed in recent months to deliver a nuclear strike as it refuses to engage in disarmament-for-aid talks that have been stalled for years. At a military parade in February, North Korea rolled five canisters for an apparent new solid-fuel ICBM through the streets of Pyongyang, showing off a future weapon that would be easier to deploy and quicker to fire off than its current arsenal of liquid-fuel ICBMs giving the US less time to prepare its defenses. A solid-fuel missile also increases the chance that it could be launched from a hardened underground silo with little warning. Liquid-fuel missiles in general take more time to prepare, giving off signs to spy satellites that a launch could be imminent. The addition of solid-fuel ICBMs to the missile force would make it a more credible strategic deterrent by providing a more capable, less vulnerable preemptive and retaliatory capability, Joseph Dempsey, a research associate for defense and military analysis at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, wrote in a recent report. Story continues While North Korea has demonstrated its missiles could fly as far as the US, there are questions as to whether the warheads would remain intact upon atmospheric re-entry and reach their targets. South Koreas Defense Ministry said it sees the missile launch by North Korea as an intermediate stage to develop a solid-fuel ICBM, adding in a text message sent to reporters that more time and effort are required to complete the development. Kim also issued a fresh warning against the US and its allies, pledging to continue to advance his countrys nuclear weapons program against any aggression and provocations, KCNA said. We will make the enemy suffer from extreme anxiety and fear by constantly applying lethal and offensive responses until they feel a clearer sense of security crisis, Kim said. North Korea released photos of the launch via state media that will be gleaned for clues of the missiles capabilities by the outside world. Early images show what appears to be a larger-scale rocket blasting off from near a body of water, with Kims young daughter on hand to watch. The daughter, thought to be about 10 years old, has been at many of the states tests of nuclear-capable weapons over the past several months, showing theres another generation waiting in the family dynasty forged in the Cold War and it will depend on atomic arms for its survival. On Saturday, North Korea is set to celebrate the birthday of state founder Kim Il Sung, the grandfather of the current leader. The day is one of the biggest events on the countrys calendar. The latest launch comes about two weeks before South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol travels to Washington on a state visit where he will discuss security on the peninsula with President Joe Biden. Kim wants to maximize this opportunity to compel the US and the international community into accepting his country as a nuclear weapons state, said Soo Kim, a former Korea analyst at the CIA who is now a policy practice area lead at US-based management consulting firm LMI. Sophisticating his countrys weapons program and testing them and the resolve of the US, South Korea and the international community will remain on an upwards trajectory until Kim attains that status, she said. North Korea in recent months has ramped up pressure with new tests of systems for nuclear strikes and cutting off a communications link with South Korea installed about five years ago to reduce tensions along the heavily border. It has demanded a halt to joint military drills between the US and its allies in the region, threatening to unleash unprecedented action to the exercises. The US push to isolate Russia over Vladimir Putins war in Ukraine, coupled with increasing animosity toward China, has allowed Kim to strengthen his nuclear deterrent without fear of facing more sanctions at the UN Security Council. Theres almost no chance Russia or China, which have veto power at the council, would support any measures against North Korea, as they did in 2017 following a series of weapons tests that prompted former President Donald Trump to warn of fire and fury. Unless Washington puts priority to the North Korea nuclear issue, there is little chance to make any progress, said Kak Soo Shin, a former career diplomat who once served as South Koreas ambassador to Japan. Unfortunately, the US has no such intent due to its full engagement in the rivalry with China and the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he said. The only way to a breakthrough might be to make China put pressure or brakes on North Korea, which seems to be a remote possibility. --With assistance from Se Young Lee. (Updates with details and analyst comments) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. North Korea said Friday it had successfully tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile, hailing it as a key breakthrough for the country's nuclear counterattack capabilities. South Korea's military had earlier said that a Thursday launch conducted by the North -- which briefly triggered a seek shelter order in parts of Japan -- was likely a new type of ballistic missile. Photographs released by Pyongyang's state media Friday showed leader Kim Jong Un -- accompanied by his wife, sister and young daughter -- watching a missile blast off in a cloud of smoke and smiling in jubilation after the purportedly successful launch. "A new-type ICBM, Hwasong-18, which will fulfill its mission of an important war deterrent as the future core pivotal means of the strategic force of the DPRK (North Korea), was test-fired," the official Korean Central News Agency said. Testing the more technologically advanced solid-fuel missile was one of Kim's major goals in his military modernisation campaign, announced in his New Year report. Such missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch, and thus harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively. "The aim of the test-fire was to confirm the performance of the high-thrust solid-fuel engines for multi-stage missiles (and) estimate the military feasibility of the new strategic weapon system," KCNA said. Kim said the new weapon would "radically promote the effectiveness of its nuclear counterattack posture" and allow the North to "constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror" into its enemies, KCNA added. The images shared by state media and details provided by the South Korean military indicate the test was indeed the North's first successful launch of a solid-fuel missile, US-based analyst Ankit Panda told AFP. "The missile's exhaust plume is consistent with a dirty, smoky solid propellant at work," he said. "We also know from government authorities in South Korea that this missile flew high, and the North Koreans also appear to have released images showing that all stages successfully separated in the course of the missile's flight." Story continues - Wish list - All of Pyongyang's previously known intercontinental ballistic missiles have been liquid-fuelled, and the Friday test marks a long-desired breakthrough for the country's banned weapons programs. It also fits the standard "pattern of provocation" by the North, which likes to first show off, then test new weapons, Go Myong-hyun, researcher at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told AFP. At a military parade in Pyongyang in February, North Korea displayed a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuel ICBM. "The reason North Korea is obsessed with solid-fuel missiles is because it will significantly reduce the preparation time before launch," Go said. "This is important, as the longer it takes after bringing out the missile from a silo or a tunnel, the higher the possibility of destruction before launch." The announcement comes a day before North Korea is set to mark one of its most important political anniversaries, the Day of the Sun on April 15. The date commemorates founding leader Kim Il Sung's birthday and has typically been celebrated with significant weapons tests or military parades. Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang declaring itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. Kim also ordered the military this year to intensify drills to prepare for a "real war". Washington and Seoul have ramped up defence cooperation in response, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets. North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion and described them on Tuesday as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang. kjk/ceb/cwl North Korea tested a harder-to-detect missile for the first time with its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) test in a month, according to South Korean authorities. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said in a statement that the missile was launched at a high angle from an area near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the water between the Korean Peninsula and Japan after traveling 1,000 kilometers. A defense official said South Koreas military believes it was a new type of ballistic missile that might have used solid fuel. North Koreas previous ICBM tests used liquid propellants that needed to be fueled before a launch. A missile with solid fuel would be able to be moved easier and fired faster than those with liquid fuel, giving observers less warning of it being fired. Adrienne Watson, a spokesperson for the U.S. National Security Council, said in a statement that the United States strongly condemns North Korea for its test of a long-range missile. Watson said President Biden and his security team are assessing the situation along with the countrys allies and partners. This launch is a brazen violation of multiple UN Security Council resolutions and needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region, she said. This action demonstrates that the [Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea] continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people. Watson said all countries should condemn the test and call on North Korea to engage in serious discussions. The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement, she said. The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and Republic of Korea and Japanese allies. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un had pledged to push for developing a solid-fueled ICBM as part of the countrys increasingly advanced weapons systems. Story continues The nuclear envoys for the U.S., South Korea and Japan held a phone call following the test to discuss taking stronger efforts to stop North Koreas funding of its nuclear program and call for a decisive and united international response. Japanese officials told residents on the northern island of Hokkaido to seek shelter as the missile was in the air. Train, bus and subway services were also briefly suspended. The Japanese government soon after retracted its missile alert after determining that it could not land near the island. North Koreas last missile test came on March 16 when it tested a liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM. The Associated Press contributed to this report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A North Richland Hills school bus was stopped Thursday morning by police in response to a report that a student got on the bus with what appeared to be a gun, police announced. Police got a call around 7:30 am Thursday from a crossing guard who a parent had flagged down. The parent reported seeing a middle school-aged student holding what appeared to be a gun. The student then boarded the bus to head to school. Police were able to stop the bus along Boulevard 26 and speak to the student. Safety and security officials with the Birdville Independent School District arrived and took possession of what was identified as an airsoft gun, a replica toy gun used in airsoft sports. The student did not threaten anyone with the fake gun, according to police. The student is not facing any criminal charges from the North Richland Hills Police Department. The North Richland Hills Police Department takes school safety very seriously, police said in a news release. Thank you to the diligent parent for keeping an eye out and reporting what they saw. Oil and gas industry Oil spilled routinely into UK waters over five years has added up to thousands of tonnes of pollution endangering marine life, according to data shown exclusively to BBC News. Campaigners say the data shows some spills hit areas meant to protect wildlife including porpoises and orcas. While some oil spillage is allowed in production, they say 40% of monitored releases breached permits. An industry representative said it takes all releases very seriously. Graphic Energy campaigning group Uplift obtained the data through Freedom of Information requests to the offshore oil and gas regulator, the Offshore Petroleum Regulator for Environment and Decommissioning. Uplift's analysis suggested that between 2017 and 2022, 22,000 metric tonnes of oil were discharged in UK waters, or 164,000 barrels. In comparison, the Poole Harbour spill in March leaked 200 barrels of reservoir fluid which contains some oil. Uplift, which campaigns to transition from oil and gas to green energy, said its findings showed the oil and gas industry was spilling far more oil than the government says is safe. "This is the first time we are revealing the extent of this cumulative pollution. This is what happens when you've got spills constantly leaking. You've got tar balls and droplets falling to the bottom of the ocean, threatening wildlife," Uplift Director Tessa Khan said. Companies are allowed to release some oil including in so-called produced water - found within rocks alongside oil and gas - as a by-product of routine production. They are given permits that allow discharges. Regulations allow a maximum limit of 30 parts of oil per million parts of water meaning that it contains a maximum of 0.00003% hydrocarbons, Mark Wilson from Offshore Energies UK, representing offshore oil producers in UK waters, told BBC News. "Our industry is focused on driving continuous improvement," he added. "Our latest data, covering 2022, published in our environment report shows that oil mass in produced water fell by 10%," Offshore Energies UK added. Story continues Uplift's analysis suggested 58% of releases were allowed under those government permits. The remaining 42% breached the permits. "For context, the UK annually produces about 40-45 million tonnes of oil and up to 40 billion cubic metres of gas," Offshore Energies UK said. A government spokesperson said offshore pollution incidents were monitored closely, adding: "We are clear that companies should not be breaching their permit conditions. If they do, appropriate action will be taken, including the use of fines". Uplift also worked with another NGO, SkyTruth, which analysed satellite pictures of UK waters. Images from 2020 to 2022 also show large numbers of oil spills. Some of the slicks detected were 10km long and one cumulative slick extended to an area of 91 sq km. Map The amount of oil released is not comparable to large disasters like Deepwater Horizon when more than 125 million gallons of oil spilled. But Hugo Tagholm, director of ocean conservation campaign group Oceana, said: "oil spills every other day from these regular releases is a huge problem for marine life". It threatens the feeding and breeding patterns of many of the species in Marine Protected Areas, including harbour porpoises, deep sea sponges and slow growing cold water corals, he said. Chart The five companies that Uplift said had spilled the most oil between 2017 and 2022 were Dana, Repsol Sinopec, CNR, Shell, and Apache. Dana and Shell referred BBC News to a statement from Offshore Energies UK as their response. Repsol Sinopec, CNR and Apache did not respond to a request for comment. Oceana and Uplift say that whether the leaks are permitted or not, the pollution damages critical ecosystems that are essential for ocean health and tackling climate change. A review of scientific evidence about the impacts of oil and gas pollution on UK seas, commissioned by Oceana and published on Thursday, claims the waters are now "too noisy, polluted, built-up and disturbed for our rich marine life to thrive. Map The UK has some of the richest and most diverse seas in the world, home to species including the harbour porpoise. "Oil and gas activities are a major contributor to the cumulative impacts on harbour porpoise and can potentially lead them to starvation as their food sources are affected and they use energy to avoid disturbances," explained marine ecologist and report author Dr Fiona Gell. The UK has made major international commitments to protect UK and global oceans, including in the UN High Seas Treaty and at an international conference on biodiversity in Montreal in 2022. But these findings undermine those pledges and threaten UK international leadership, Oceana's Mr Tagholm said. Oceana also said the findings showed that the government should not allow new oil and gas fields to be developed. More than 100 new licences are expected to be granted by regulators this year, including a controversial oil field known as Rosebank. Data visualisation by Erwan Rivault A Denton man has been sentenced to federal prison for threats he made to a Jewish organization, announced U.S. Attorney Brit Featherston of the Eastern District of Texas. Anthony Joseph Hammer, 34, pleaded guilty on May 3, 2022, to interstate communication of a threat and was sentenced to two years in prison on Tuesday by U.S. District Judge Richard A. Schell. According to information presented in court, on July 28, 2021, Hammer sent a threatening electronic message to the Anti-Defamation League, a Jewish civil rights organization based in New York, via the ADL websites contact page. In his message, Hammer stated the following: Come and find me. Come after me. Come hunt me down. This is me. This is really me. All of my info. I will kill all of you Zionist pigs. 4th reich soon. Threatening to harm others by using phones, computers or mail is a federal crime and taken very seriously, Featherston said in a news release. Hammer believed he could promote his malicious agenda by making threats to kill and to disrupt business activity. Thats why he is going to jail and being punished. Others who do the same will have the same fate. An investigation by federal agents revealed that Hammer was already under investigation for threatening calls he made to the office of Tom Wolf, who was then governor of Pennsylvania, according to the release. Hammer made seven calls to Wolfs office. When staff members refused to put him through to the governor, Hammer repeatedly threatened to kill Wolf and his staff members, authorities said. This conduct was taken into consideration in calculating Hammers sentence in the Eastern District of Texas. The FBI is tasked with upholding the Constitution to include the right to Free Speech as outlined in the First Amendment. In this case, the direct threats made by the defendant fell outside of that protected right, said FBI Dallas Special Agent in Charge Chad Yarborough. The FBI and our law enforcement partners take all threats seriously and will hold accountable anyone who seeks to intimidate and cause fear simply because they disagree with the views of their fellow citizens. This case was investigated by the FBI and the Pennsylvania Capitol Police and prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Locker in the Eastern District of Texas in coordination with Assistant U.S. Attorney Carl Marchioli in the Middle District of Pennsylvania. A North Texas man has been sentenced to three years in prison for assaulting two officers during the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol, announced the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia. Robert Wayne Dennis, 63, of Garland, was sentenced Thursday in Washington, D.C., on felony and misdemeanor charges for his actions during the Capitol breach. His actions and the actions of others disrupted a joint session of the U.S. Congress convened to ascertain and count the electoral votes related to the presidential election, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a news release. Dennis was sentenced to prison for civil disorder; two counts of assaulting, resisting or impeding certain officers; and the misdemeanor charges of engaging in physical violence in a restricted building or grounds, entering and remaining in a restricted building or grounds, and acts of physical violence in the Capitol grounds or buildings. Dennis was found guilty on Jan. 13 following a bench trial before U.S. District Court Judge James E. Boasberg. In addition to the prison term, Dennis is ordered to pay $2,000 in restitution and serve two years of supervised release. According to evidence presented at trial, Dennis was captured on video on Jan. 6, 2021, on the upper west terrace of the Capitol during the ongoing riot. Metropolitan Police Department officers had formed a police line on top of a set of stairs to act as a barrier against the crowd and prevent further breaches at the Capitol building. At about 2:50 p.m., Dennis went up the stairs and assaulted the line of officers, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office. One officer, identified in court documents as Officer C.W., attempted to use a baton to push him away. Dennis then attacked the officers again, engaging in a violent struggle with Officer J.S. in which Dennis threw punches at him while he was on the ground. Dennis was convicted of assaulting both Officer C.W. and Officer J.S and was arrested on Oct. 20, 2021, in Texas. Story continues This case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia and the Department of Justice National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Northern District of Texas. The case was investigated by the FBIs Dallas Field Office and the FBIs Washington Field Office. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Capitol police. In the 27 months since Jan. 6 2021, more than 1,000 individuals have been arrested in nearly all 50 states for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol, including more than 320 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement. The investigation is ongoing. By Terje Solsvik and Nerijus Adomaitis OSLO (Reuters) - Norway is expelling 15 Russian embassy officials that the foreign ministry said on Thursday were intelligence officers operating under the cover of diplomatic positions, the latest such expulsion by a Western nation since Moscow invaded Ukraine. The Russian embassy in Oslo told Reuters Norway's decision was "another extremely unfriendly step, which will see a response". Some 40 Russian diplomats are currently accredited in Oslo, so the expulsions amount to more than a third of their number. It is the latest instance of a Western country expelling Russian diplomats since Moscow launched its full-scale war against Ukraine last year. So far this year, Estonia, the Netherlands and Austria have also expelled Russian diplomats. Norway also expelled three Russians in April 2022. "Their activities pose a threat to Norway," Norwegian Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt told a news conference. "We have followed their activities over time. They have increased since the invasion of Ukraine." The officers concerned must leave Norway shortly, she added. The Russian foreign ministry said Moscow would respond to the expulsions, state-owned news agency TASS reported, without elaborating. Norway, a member of the NATO military alliance, shares a border with Russia in the Arctic. The expulsions could further complicate the process of transferring the chair of the Arctic Council, a multilateral body in which Arctic nations discuss issues affecting the polar region. Moscow currently holds the chair but Norway is due to take over on May 11 and Oslo had said it would prioritise a smooth transition. Huitfeldt said it was too early to say whether the expulsions would affect the Arctic Council transition. The Nordic country still seeks to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway, Huitfeldt said. (Writing by Terje Solsvik and Gwladys Fouche, editing by Emelia Sithole-Matarise and Bernadette Baum) Norway on Thursday announced the expulsion of 15 "intelligence officers" working at the Russian embassy in Oslo, further straining relations between the neighbouring countries. Moscow vowed it would respond to what it described as an "extremely unfriendly" decision. "The 15 intelligence officers have been engaging in activities that are not compatible with their diplomatic status," Norway's Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said in a statement. According to the statement, the "officers" had been declared "personae non gratae," and must leave "shortly." Speaking at a press conference, Huitfeldt said their activities had been monitored "over time," but she declined to elaborate on what activities had spurred the decision. According to the Verdens Gang (VG) newspaper, the officers are believed to have worked for the Russian foreign intelligence service SVR and the military intelligence GRU. The Norwegian Police Security Service (PST) in charge of counter-intelligence, declined to comment when contacted by AFP. "The reaction is strongly negative," Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov told AFP in an email. "This is another extremely unfriendly step, which will be followed with a response measure," he added. - 'From cold to freezing' - The Norwegian foreign ministry said that the decision was made in response to a "changed security situation in Europe, which has led to an increased intelligence threat from Russia." Norwegian intelligence services regularly point to Russia and China as the main espionage threats to the country, which is a member of NATO and shares a 198-kilometre (123-mile) border with Russia in the Arctic. In April 2022, a few weeks after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Oslo expelled three Russian diplomats suspected of espionage, which led Moscow to retaliate with the expulsion of three Norwegian diplomats. Story continues If, Russia were to expel 15 Norwegian diplomats in a tit-for-tat, it could almost empty the Norwegian embassy in Moscow, which has only about twenty diplomatic staff. The two countries, which have long had close ties, especially in the far north, have seen their relations deteriorate considerably as a result of the conflict in Ukraine. Although it is not a member of the European Union, Norway has adopted almost all the sanctions imposed on Russia by Brussels. Despite the new expulsion, Huitfeldt stressed that "Norway is seeking to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway." However, Sigurd Falkenberg Mikkelsen, a foreign news commentator with public broadcaster NRK, described the latest expulsion as moving the relations "from cold to freezing." phy/jll/fb Norway has declared 15 Russian embassy officials, who were de-facto intelligence officers operating under the cover of diplomatic positions, personae non gratae. Source: Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Norway on 13 April The ministry notes that the activities of the mentioned individuals were monitored for a long time. "The government has decided to declare 15 Russian intelligence officers who were operating in Norway under diplomatic cover as personae non gratae. The staff declared personae non gratae must leave Norway within a short time period. We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway," the ministrys statement says. Anniken Huitfeldt, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Norway, stated that the activities these Russians were engaged in are incompatible with their diplomatic status, and Norway's decision is an important step to reduce Russian intelligence activity in the country and protect Norway's national interests. She also noted that Russia is currently the biggest threat to Norway in terms of intelligence. The minister added that, at the same time, Norway seeks to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia in the future. "We want Russia to continue to have a functioning diplomatic mission in Norway, but we will not tolerate it being misused for covert intelligence activities," Huitfeldt stressed. Background: Finland reported that Russian espionage operations in the country have weakened after the expulsion of spies and the visa restrictions. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! As it is said, April showers bring May flowers, but it also brings a jelly-like mass to yards. The jelly-like mass is an organism called the Nostoc commune and thrives in wet conditions. >> Greene County township trustee identified as victim killed in West Carrollton crash Tuesday According to Clemson College of Agriculture, the Nostoc commune is often mislabeled as algae and is not considered a plant or bacterium. It can grow on grass, gravel, and cement; however, this is not harmful to your yard, nor will it kill your grass. This cyanobacterium does not kill turfgrass or anything else in Ohio landscapes. Openings in turfgrass are being caused by something else, and Nostoc commune is just an innocent bystander taking advantage of an opening to the sky, The Ohio State University Assistant Professor Joe Boggs recently wrote. >> Cleveland Browns, FirstEnergy end stadium naming rights agreement Finding the jelly-like mass can be alarming for some, but it is easy to remove. Clemson University Consumer Horticulture Extension Agent N. Jordan Franklin suggests taking a flat-edged shovel and skimming the surface below the nostoc commune to remove it. If there is a large area in your yard of Nostoc commune, Franklin says to till around the area and then remove it. To help prevent finding these green blobs in your yard, look for low areas that collect water and fix it by either adding additional drainage, filling in low spots, or reducing the amount of sprinkler time your yard gets. >> Englewood police investigating after mail truck, city street signs vandalized Ohio State University Assistant Professor Joe Boggs suggests, If you cant beatem, eatem .... with caution. According to Boggs, in some Asian countries like the Philippines, Indonesia, Japan, and China, the Nostoc commune is consumed. Before consuming it, Boggs suggests reaching out to an experienced harvester before tasting it. So next time you make some scrambled eggs, add some cooked Nostoc commune and give it a taste. Novak Djokovic was beaten in a three-set thriller (Adam Davy/PA) (PA Archive) World number one Novak Djokovic crashed out of the Rolex Monte Carlo Masters following a shock last-16 defeat to Italys Lorenzo Musetti. The 22-time grand slam champion surrendered a one-set and 4-2 lead to lose 4-6 7-5 6-4 in a rain-interrupted match in Monaco. After clinching the opener, Djokovic struggled to find his best level in the windy conditions on Court Rainier III. LORENZ Musetti defeats World No. 1 Djokovic 4-6 7-5 6-4 to make the last 8 here in Monte Carlo! #RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/Uvr2VEBnSq Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 13, 2023 The 35-year-old lost serve seven times before wet weather forced the players off with the score at 1-1 and him leading 40-30 in the third game of the deciding set. Following the resumption of play, the tie remained on serve until the seventh game of the final set when 21-year-old Musetti secured what proved to be the decisive break. Top seed Djokovic, who won the tournament in 2013 and 2015, doggedly saved three match points before eventually succumbing to defeat to the world number 21 in a thrilling contest lasting two hours and 54 minutes. I am struggling not to cry, Musetti said in his on-court interview, according to atptour.com. UNBELIEVABLE SCENES Musetti with the biggest win of his career over Novak Djokovic in Monte Carlo!#RolexMonteCarloMasters pic.twitter.com/5vePJsVwOA Rolex Monte-Carlo Masters (@ROLEXMCMASTERS) April 13, 2023 It is an emotional win because it was a really long match. Three-hour match and suspended by rain. It was not easy conditions because it was a little bit windy and cold not like we used to play in the recent days. Story continues I am really proud of myself. I am struggling not to cry because it is a dream for me. Beating Novak is something remarkable for me. Musettis reward for a first career victory over the Serbian is a quarter-final showdown with compatriot Jannik Sinner. Sinner battled back to beat Polands Hubert Hurkacz 3-6 7-6 (6) 6-1 earlier on Thursday. Meanwhile, reigning champion Stefanos Tsitsipas, who is bidding for a third successive title in Monte Carlo, overcame Chiles Nicolas Jarry 6-3 6-4. The Greek second seed will take on Taylor Fritz in the last eight following the Americans 4-6 6-4 6-1 comeback victory over Czech player Jiri Lehecka. World number four Casper Ruud the 2022 French Open and US Open finalist suffered elimination at the hands of Germanys Jan-Lennard Struff, losing 6-1 7-6 (6). Elsewhere, Denmarks Holger Rune was awarded a walkover victory against injured 2021 Wimbledon runner-up Matteo Berrettini, while Andrey Rublev beat fellow Russian Karen Khachanov 7-6 (4) 6-2. COPENHAGEN (Reuters) -Diabetes and obesity drug developer Novo Nordisk on Thursday significantly raised its full-year operating profit and sales expectations on the back of strong demand for its highly popular Wegovy obesity drug. "The sales outlook for 2023 is raised, primarily reflecting Wegovy prescription trends in the first quarter and higher full-year expectations for sales of Wegovy in the U.S.," Novo Nordisk said in a statement. Shares in Novo traded up 2% at 1204 GMT at an all-time high. Novo now expects sales growth in local currencies for 2023 to come in between 24% and 30% and operating profit growth between 28% and 34%, up from a February guidance of between 13% and 19% for both those numbers. "Novo Nordisk is a large company and growing at double-digit growth rates doesn't happen automatically. I think many other large pharmaceutical companies of Novo's caliber will be envious," Sydbank analyst Soren Lontoft Hansen told Reuters. The guidance upgrade also partly reflected higher expected sales in the U.S. of its Ozempic diabetes drug, which is based on the same active ingredient as Wegovy - semaglutide. Semaglutide belongs to a class of drugs known as GLP-1 analogues, which mimic an intestinal hormone which reduces appetite and increases the feeling of fullness after eating. Novo Nordisk was overwhelmed by demand for Wegovy after it was launched in the United States in 2021 and the firm's supply constraints were exacerbated when a contract manufacturer had to temporarily suspend production over manufacturing issues. A second contract manufacturer is ready to begin production of Wegovy, which would increase supply, Novo also said on Thursday. The company in February warned of some supply constraints this year. "The upgrade reflects that Novo is able to meet the demand for the whole year in terms of production, because it is a very vertical curve we are seeing for Wegovy in terms of prescriptions," Hansen told Reuters. Story continues Novo also said in March that Ozempic, its best-selling diabetes treatment drug, was back in supply after months of shortages, which could partly be explained by prescriptions to non-diabetic patients seeking to use the drug to lose weight via so-called off-label use. Wegovy has been launched in the U.S., Denmark and Norway and the company expects the drug to be available in more European markets this year. In the first quarter of this year, Novo's sales increased by 25% and operating profit rose by 28% in local currencies, the company said. Novo will present full financial results for the first quarter on May 4. (Reporting by Nikolaj Skydsgaard, editing by Terje Solsvik and Sharon Singleton) The 52 accounts belonging to National Public Radio will suspend their use on Twitter after the Elon Musk-owned company falsely designated the outlet as state-affiliated media. The move comes amid the social platform facing increased scrutiny from press freedom advocates and news organisations. NPRs organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent, according to a statement from Isabel Lara, NPRs chief communications officer. We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the publics understanding of our editorial independence, she added. Twitter defines 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. The platform later changed NPRs description to government-funded media. The move marks the first major news organisation to step away from the once-influential platform under Mr Musks ownership, a period marked by mass layoffs, press antagonism, a spike in hate speech and disinformation, and other chaotic policy changes. NPR says that less than 1 per cent of its annual operating budget comes from grants awarded through federal agencies and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a publicly funded nonprofit organisation with a board appointed by US presidents, and with a statutory obligation to a strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature. On 12 April, NPRs main account posted a thread sharing other ways to find subscribe to its content. We are turning away from Twitter but not from our audiences and communities. There are plenty of ways to stay connected and keep up with NPR's news, music, and cultural content. See full statement below: pic.twitter.com/VPDXy7lWw7 Isabel Lara (@isalara) April 12, 2023 NPRs president and CEO John Lansing said in a statement last week that the company was disturbed to see the state-affiliated label, a description that, per Twitters own guidelines, does not apply to NPR. Story continues NPR and our member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide, he said. 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. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also defended the independence of NPR journalists, telling reporters on 5 April that the outlets journalists work diligently to hold public officials accountable and inform the American people. The hard-hitting independent nature of their coverage speaks for itself, she said. Mr Lansing addressed the move in a letter to staff on 12 April. It would be a disservice to the serious work you all do here to continue to share it on a platform that is associating the federal charter for public media with an abandoning of editorial independence or standards, he said. The change to NPRs account comes after Twitter removed the verification badge for The New York Times following reports that the newspaper would not pay for Mr Musks newly rolled out verification scheme. Other major US outlets including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed News, HuffPost and Politico also reportedly do not intend to pay. Twitter announced it would begin removing blue checks from verified accounts that did not pay for Mr Musks Twitter Blue service on 1 April, but it appears that the plan has not been rolled out en masse; The New York Times appeared to be singled out by Mr Musk, who responded to another Twitter user asking about the newspapers badge status by saying well take it off. PBS, which also receives money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the BBC have also been designated as government-funded outlets. In an interview with the BBC, Mr Musk said Twitter would change its labels for the British broadcaster to publicly funded. Were trying to be accurate, he said. I actually do have a lot of respect for the BBC. When pressed whether the accurate publicly funded label would apply to NPR as well, Mr Musk said it would. Until last week, Twitters own policy specifically stated that NPR as well as the BBC are not defined as state-affiliated media. That language was removed. NPR receives public funding, but is not state-controlled, meaning Twitters listing could pose risks for journalists reporting from areas where suggestions of government affiliation have negative connotations, according to a statement from Committee to Protect Journalists director of programs Carlos Martinez de la Serna. Twitter also labelled US broadcaster Voice of America as government-funded media, through the outlet a part of the US Agency for Global Media is statutorily bound to independence from government officials. The label government funded is potentially misleading and could be construed as also government-controlled which VOA is most certainly not, spokesperson Bridget Serchak said in a statement to NPR. A registered nurse formerly employed at a Long Island hospital has been arrested for allegedly lifting a two-day-old newborn from his bassinet and slamming him face-down back into it. The nurse, identified as Amanda Burke, was charged with endangering the welfare of a child, a misdemeanor, said Suffolk County district attorney Raymond Tierney on Wednesday. However, the nurse's lawyer told CBS News the charges are "not justified by all the facts." Burke was an employee of Good Samaritan Hospital in West Islip, New York when the incident occurred on Feb. 6, 2023. An investigation into Burke's behavior found that the Holbrook, New York nurse was working in the hospital's neonatal intensive care unit and assigned to care for the two-day old. She approached the baby, lifted him and quickly flipped him over before she "violently slammed him" back into the bassinet, face-down, Tierney's office said in a statement announcing Burke's arrest. The incident was filmed by the infant's father, who was outside the nursery, Tierney said. The parents notified nursing staff, and Burke was directed to leave the hospital. She was fired hours later. As of Thursday morning, Burke's license as a registered nurse was still active, according to public records reviewed by CBS News. The district attorney's statement said that the office had informed relevant authorities of the charges against Burke. Burke surrendered herself to the Suffolk County Police Department on Wednesday morning. "The allegations against this defendant, who is someone entrusted with the care of our most vulnerable citizens, are truly disturbing," said Tierney. "I want to commend the members of the Suffolk County Police Department's Special Victims Unit for their hard work in this case, and together we will continue to fight to protect the rights and safety of all Suffolk County residents." Burke's attorney, Robert C. Gottlieb, told CBS News in an emailed statement that "this case should never have resulted in criminal charges." Story continues "Amanda is an outstanding, exemplary, compassionate nurse who did not and would never do anything to endanger any infant or patient under her care," Gottlieb said. "The baby involved was not injured or ever placed in any danger of injury. The District Attorney's statements are off base and not justified by all the facts that will come out in court." Gottlieb did not respond to a follow-up question about the district attorney's claim that Burke's actions were filmed. Burke's next court appearance is scheduled for May 2, 2023, where she will be arraigned. "CBS Evening News" headlines for Thursday, April 13, 2023 Trump, Pence and other 2024 Republican presidential hopefuls to attend NRA convention South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Mace on mifepristone court rulings A civilian New York City police employee has accused her supervisor of sexually assaulting her and threatening to push her in front of a train after their romantic relationship ended. Ammy Ventura, 40, an evidence and property control specialist, accuses Lt. Widler Lucas, 41, and the city of New York of sex discrimination, sexual harassment and a hostile work environment in a lawsuit filed Tuesday in Manhattans Supreme Court, the states highest trial court. Lucas declined to comment Wednesday. The city's Law Department said it will review the case. The police department said it does not directly comment on pending lawsuits. It said in a statement Wednesday that sexual discrimination is prohibited by federal, state, and city laws as well as Department policies, and the NYPD takes seriously all accusations of such behavior." It added that the department thoroughly investigates all complaints and does not tolerate discrimination in any form. Ventura handled evidence for court, cold cases and rape kits and worked in the Intake Unit at the Pearson Place Warehouse evidence storage facility, where she met Lucas in early 2020, the suit said. Ventura and Lucas began texting in February 2021 and dating two months later, she said in the lawsuit. The two bonded over going through divorces, but Ventura later learned Lucas was not in the middle of a divorce, even though he had told her otherwise, the suit says. The couples relationship ended in September 2021 after a trip to the Dominican Republic. During the trip, he told her had three other female friends with him, the suit says. A few weeks later, Lucas texted Ventura, I cant talk I am a married man, the lawsuit says. After the pair split, Ventura was subjected to sexual harassment, an assault and threats, the lawsuit alleges. She was forced to attend work and endured sexual harassment and retaliation day after day and year after year, it says. In August, the suit alleges, Lucas forced Ventura to perform oral sex at his office in Brooklyn. The alleged sexual assault, the suit says, occurred after Lucas asked Ventura to work overtime. Story continues She in no way consented at any time to this act in any shape or form," the suit says. Ventura went completely numb during the sexual attack, during which Lucas did not even close his office door, the suit alleges. Ventura "immediately confined in her best friend about the violent sexual attack," it says. About six months after their relationship ended, the suit says, Lucas accused Ventura of telling people about their sexual relationship. The suit alleges Lucas threatened that if Ventura ever says anything, Ill f------ kill you" and would push Plaintiff in front of a train. Venturas attorney, John Scola, said Wednesday the alleged conduct exemplified the police departments culture and how flippant it is toward its female employees. Venturas lawsuit demands a jury trial and asks for compensatory and punitive damages to be determined at trial. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com A law named for morality crusader Anthony Comstock (left) is being used to argue against abortion medication ilbusca/Getty Images; Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images A federal appeals court discussed an obscure, 150-year-old morality law in its decision on abortion medication mifepristone. A challenge to the legality of sending abortion medications via mail referenced the Comstock Act of 1873. A law professor called the legislation an outdated "zombie law" that was now in danger of being "selectively enforced." An obscure, 150-year-old morality law that one law professor called "zombie" legislation has resurfaced in the legal battle over abortion medication. The Fifth US Circuit Court of Appeals released a decision on Wednesday upholding the FDA's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. But the court ruled that the pill cannot be sent via mail and that patients must get a prescription from a doctor in person. The court's 42-page decision discussed the Comstock Act of 1873, which challengers of abortion said should be interpreted to ban abortion pills from being sent through the mail. The Comstock Act was named after Anthony Comstock, a moral crusader in 19th-century America, according to Middle Tennessee State University's First Amendment Encyclopedia. The law banned the distribution of "obscene, lewd, lascivious, indecent, filthy or vile" materials through the mail. And "obscene" materials included not only depictions of sexuality or nudity, but also pamphlets educating women about contraception, as well as medical tools and drugs that helped women have abortions. Melissa Murray, an NYU law professor who specializes in constitutional law and reproductive rights, told Insider that the Comstock Act was originally written as a morality law aimed at addressing the country's "moral failures" by steering citizens away from the "path to moral degradation." Murray says the law was created in a climate where there was a growing fear that the US was "becoming a less American nation, in large part because immigrants [were] reproducing at far greater rates than their native white counterparts." And Comstock, Murray explained, launched this morality campaign in the interest of "prompting white women to be mothers, and actually compelling them to be mothers by taking away the various technologies that would enable them to control that decision for themselves." Story continues A 'zombie law' that should've been repealed Murray says invoking this "zombie law" is "rolling back modernity." "The law hasn't been enforced by the federal government since the 1930s," Murray said. "That tells you sort of where it has been. And I think most people assumed that it was sort of permanently in a state of [destitution], not likely to be enforced. But, of course, it was never repealed." Murray said that the Comstock Act is being "selectively enforced" to argue only against abortion access because, for example, the law also bans the distribution of pornographic pamphlets. No one has attempted to use the old law to prohibit modern lewd magazines, like Playboy. "I hope people in Congress will take seriously the view that the Comstock Act was sort of a dead letter that needed to be repealed," Murray said, "So that it couldn't be this kind of zombie law that could be resuscitated whenever someone decided it was appropriate to do so." The federal appeals court ruling will almost certainly be taken up by the US Supreme Court, where conservative justices who previously wiped out a nationwide right to abortion last year will hear the case. Read the original article on Business Insider Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area has been closed to camping for more than a month, frustrating would-be visitors and forcing California State Parks to cancel hundreds of reservations. The closure had begun in early March after a series of storms ripped away much of the sand along the beach at the popular park in southern San Luis Obispo County and turned the Arroyo Grande Creek mouth into a wide and dangerous crossing for vehicles. Early Wednesday morning, Anaheim resident Melissa Cieszko drove four hours to the dunes with her kids, camper and off-roading bikes for a spring break camping trip shed been planning for months. She was so busy working and packing that she didnt have time to check her email before she left for the trip, she said. When Cieszko reached the gate at the Oceano Dunes, California State Parks ranger told her she could only attempt crossing the creek for a half day of riding. Thats when she saw shed received an email from State Parks on Sunday notifying her that her camping reservation had been canceled and refunded. So, Cieszko made the disappointing decision to make a U-turn and head back home. Melissa Cieszko drove up to the Oceano Dunes for a reserved spring break camping trip with her kids. The reservations were canceled by email a few days ago but she didnt see the notification. High flow from Arroyo Grande Creek and high tides sweeping the beach have limited access to the Oceano Dunes to day use from 7 am to 2 pm. Ive been coming to the dunes since I was a child, and we come every summer and we were going to go dirt bike riding and camp for the week for spring break, Cieszko said. It took me days to pack and all the gas and my time and now I have crying kids because they cant ride their bikes and quads ... itll be a fun car ride home. Since State Parks started limiting the amount of Oceano Dunes camping reservations available due to COVID-19, Its been extremely hard to snag one, she said. That was actually the first time Ive been able to make (camping) reservations. Weve been doing day trips. As of Wednesday, State Parks had canceled 720 camping reservations at the Oceano Dunes since April 1, according to Moreno. State Parks spokesperson Jorge Moreno told The Tribune via email that park officials are monitoring conditions daily at the park and will reopen camping when the area is safe. Story continues The SVRA will resume camping when the creek is safe and crossable for more than a few hours per day, Moreno wrote in an email on Wednesday. Sign at the Pier Ave. entrance warns Cross at Your Own Risk. High flow from Arroyo Grande Creek and high tides sweeping the beach have limited access to the Oceano Dunes to day use from 7 am to 2 pm. Limited day use at Oceano Dunes due to deep creek crossing Day use at the Oceano Dunes had also been limited since the start of winter storms. Typically, the entire park is open daily from 6 a.m. to an hour past sunset for day use. However, conditions at the Arroyo Grande Creek have caused State Parks to delay opening day use to later in the morning and closing day use south of the creek by the early afternoon each day. Anyone found south of the creek after the daily closures could be cited, according to State Parks. State Parks is evaluating creek conditions and has been measuring creek depth at different tide levels, Moreno wrote. Operational hours are adjusted based on observed creek conditions. A hummer crosses Arroyo Grande Creek. High flow from Arroyo Grande Creek and high tides sweeping the beach have limited access to the Oceano Dunes to day use from 7 am to 2 pm. State Parks lifeguards staged at the mouth of the creek on Wednesday morning said the creek was at least six inches deep in most areas, although the maximum depth was difficult to determine for sure given the changing tides and creek flows. Arroyo Grande Creek has been flowing higher than usual because winter storms dumped enough rain on Lopez Lake to cause the reservoir to overflow for the first time in more than two decades. As of Thursday morning, the lake was spilling more than 118 cubic feet of water per second, according to the San Luis Obispo County Public Works Department. The California Coastal Commission voted in March 2021 to ban vehicle crossings of Arroyo Grande Creek if any amount of water was flowing into the ocean. However, that restriction was temporarily lifted after off-road riding advocacy group Friends of Oceano Dunes sued the state agency. Creek crossings are currently allowed during the litigation process unless the water becomes more than 12 inches deep. The high creek flows, coupled with normal tidal cycles, cause the creek to exceed safe crossing levels for most of the day, Moreno said. Additionally, the beach has been heavily eroded by winter storms and it may only take a small change in tides to cause the creek to exceed safe crossing levels. Tides in the range of 1.5 or 2 feet will result in a complete closure of the creek crossing at the beach. Crossing Arroyo Grande Creek near the ocean is shallow, where it fans out but the creek had cut deeply near at the the dune line so that part of the beach is closed to traffic. High flow from Arroyo Grande Creek and high tides sweeping the beach have limited access to the Oceano Dunes to day use from 7 am to 2 pm. Although the Coastal Commission mandated that vehicle traffic will be prohibited in most of the Oceano Dunes by 2024, Friends of Oceano Dunes continues to advocate for greater access to the park. As the creek flows and swallowing those who tiptoe in the deeper spots of it it just goes to show we need a southern entrance to the Oceano Dunes SVRA, Friends of Oceano Dunes said in an Instagram post on Wednesday. Camping should be RE-OPENED effective immediately! the group said in a separate post the same day. If rentals and day users can tow trailers across the creek, then so can families with camping reservations. A Plano police officer at Collin College accidentally fired his gun Thursday while responding to a call on the campus, which was one of several across the state to receive a hoax phone call about an active shooter, according to an email obtained by the Star-Telegram. The campus will not resume classes until Friday, according to the email. Collin College originally announced that classes would resume at 1 p.m. Thursday. Collin College was one of at least seven institutions in Texas to receive the hoax phone calls about an active shooter Thursday. Other colleges that reported receiving similar calls on Thursday included Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, Baylor University in Waco, Texas A&M University in College Station, Del Mar College Heritage Campus in Corpus Christi, Galen College of Nursing in San Antonio and Tyler Junior College in Tyler. In the email, Collin College District President Neil Matkin told employees that a Plano police officer accidentally discharged his firearm on the second floor of the I building as officers were making their way toward the library. Plano police could not be immediately reached for comment. Matkin said in the email that nobody was hurt but it made an already tense situation even scarier. For those of you on site, I know this was a scary and difficult situation, Matkin said. There is no shame in being afraid in these kinds of potentially horrific, life threatening events. I was afraid and I was in the parking lot. However, I find great comfort that this is something our Collin police and staff routinely train for a planned response. The community college district is working to make counseling services available to students and employees at its Plano campus. This is a developing story. For the latest updates, sign up for breaking news alerts. This story has been updated after a federal appeals court late Wednesday paused part of a lower court's ruling that suspended approval of mifepristone but upheld parts that knocked down expanded access to the abortion pill. Due to rapid and often contradicting changes in abortion policy at both the state and federal levels, abortion rights advocates are unsure precisely how recent federal rulings about medication abortions will affect central Ohio. On Friday, a federal judge in Texas halted the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone, the first in a two-drug regimen for medication abortions performed early in pregnancies. The U.S. Department of Justice asked an appeals court to hold off on implementing the ruling, which was set to go into effect Saturday. "The judge did the right thing there," Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis said. "It could be banned nationwide come this Saturday." Meanwhile, Danielle Firsich, public policy director for Planned Parenthood Advocates of Ohio called the ruling dangerous, saying it sets a precedent for federal judges who have little to no medical training to ban the use of any FDA-approved medication, such as a vaccine or even insulin, for religious or political reasons. For subscribers: What does Texas judge's abortion pill ruling mean for Ohioans seeking abortions? For subscribers: Ohio abortions drop after Roe v. Wade ruling, rebound after state ban blocked, report says Mere hours later, another federal judge in Washington state ordered the FDA not to make any changes that would restrict access to the drug in 17 states and D.C. that sued to expand access to mifepristone. Ohio is not one of the states involved in the lawsuit. On Wednesday, a divided federal appeals court in Louisiana paused a critical part of the Texas ruling, allowing the FDA's 23-year-old approval of mifepristone to remain in effect, but also upheld parts of the lower court's ruling that knocked down expanded access to the drug. For instance, in 2016 the FDA allowed non-doctors to prescribe the drug. In 2021, the agency permitted the drug to be dispensed through the mail. Story continues It remained unclear Thursday morning whether the Biden administration would appeal those portions of the ruling dealing with the restrictions to the Supreme Court. Friday's ruling in Texas leaves only the second drug, misoprostol. While it's still just as safe and nearly as effective as the two-drug regimen, it causes more side effects and makes the recovery process more unpredictable, experts say. Since the U.S. Supreme Court's June reversal of its once-landmark 1973 decision in Roe v. Wade that legalized abortion in the United States and Ohio lawmakers quickly implemented a law Gov. Mike DeWine signed in 2019 that banned most abortions in the state the abortion landscape has become extremely unpredictable, said Dr. Adarsh Krishen, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood of Greater Ohio. "We know patients are going to go where they're going to get safe, legal abortions," Krishen said Tuesday during a virtual news conference with Ohio news outlets, including The Dispatch and USA TODAY Network Ohio. "It hasn't slowed patients down from getting abortions." He doesn't know whether that will lead to an increase of patients traveling to Ohio for abortions or whether an increased number of people seeking abortions in Ohio will opt for surgical abortions now that only misoprostol is allowed under Friday's federal ruling. That said, a misoprostol-only abortion likely will result in more pain and nausea, Krishen said. "If you're a person who needs to work or do other things in your life, it will make this that much more difficult for you," he said. While Planned Parenthood is seeking legal guidance about what the pair of rulings mean, it's prepared to switch to using only misoprostol for medication abortions and remains confident there will be enough, Krishen said. For subscribers: FDA allows abortion pills to be sold at pharmacies but Ohio law prevents it The reason anti-abortion advocates aren't targeting misoprostol is because it also can be used for many other medical purposes, including treating stomach ulcers, inducing labor and treating miscarriages, Firsich said. "This is a very direct and targeted attack on a specific drug, for a very specific reason," she said. "The main characters in this case frankly have no business bringing a case like this." When contacted by a reporter Tuesday, a person who answered the phone at Your Choice Healthcare, a medication-only clinic in Columbus, told The Dispatch that the facility was not allowed to comment. USA TODAY Network Ohio Bureau reporter Jessie Balmert and USA TODAY reporters John Fritze and Christine Fernando contributed to this report. nshuda@dispatch.com @NathanielShuda This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ohio medication abortions: Court rulings make situation unpredictable Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images Under pressure to resign the seat she has held for more than 30 years, Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced Thursday that she wants to temporarily step away from an important Senate committee because of continued ill health. The 89-year-old California Democrat, who is the oldest member of Congress, has been away from the Senate since February because of a shingles diagnosis, missing some 58 votes. The senators spokesperson told the San Francisco Chronicle this week that she had been working at home while she recovers from the virus. But with the Senate set to reconvene on Monday after a two-week recess, there had been fears that her continued absence would halt work in the Judiciary Committee of which she is a member. After narrowly losing control of the House of Representatives to Republicans in last years midterm elections, President Joe Biden has been under pressure to continue to use the Democrats Senate majority to continue confirming as many federal judges as possible . Given the Democrats slim majority, the committee hasnt voted on any new nominees to the federal bench since Feb. 16. Under current rules, a tied vote in committee means a nominee cant advance to a vote in the full Senate. Sen. Dick Durbin, the Illinois Democrat who became chair of the Judiciary Committee when Feinstein relinquished the role after criticism from activists, told Politico last month that he was anxious because they could not move new nominees forward without Feinstein returning. In a statement late Wednesday, Feinstein said she had expected to return to work by the end of March, but that continued complications had prevented her. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel, she said in the statement. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. Acknowledging that her absence was complicating things for her colleagues, Feinstein said that she had asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to appoint another Democrat to the committee temporarily. Story continues Schumers office told media that he would ask the Senate next week for a temporary replacement, but that is no guarantee given it would need either the unanimous consent of all members or the support of at least nine Republicans to break any filibuster. Feinsteins statement came just hours after two members of Congress publicly called for her to resign altogether. Its time for @SenFeinstein to resign, tweeted Rep. Ro Khanna, another California Democrat. 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. Rep. Dean Phillips, a Democrat from Minnesota, also said Feinstein should go. I agree with @RoKhanna. Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But 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. https://t.co/lvaHhLJYsi 09:50 PM - 12 Apr 2023 Progressive former Barack Obama speechwriter Jon Lovett, cohost of the influential Pod Save America podcast, also told listeners this week that it was time for Feinstein to retire. .@jonlovett on Dianne Feinstein: She is now preventing us from being able to confirm judges... As sad as it is to see someone who has had an incredibly storied and important career... Dianne Feinstein should no longer be in the Senate. She should resign. 07:41 PM - 11 Apr 2023 Amid concerns over her age and reports that colleagues worried about what they believed was her declining mental fitness , Feinstein has faced many calls to relinquish the seat. In February, she announced she would step down when her current term ends in 2025. That has prompted three California members of Congress to begin campaigns for her Senate seat: Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee, whom Khanna has endorsed . More on this The woman at the centre of the subtle but cathartic One Fine Morning is cursed by her consciousness. Try as she might, she cant escape the fact that shes ultimately alone, trapped in her own head, and tied through her actions to each and every person around her. Its a torturous existence. Sandra (Lea Seydoux), a young widow, cares for her eight-year-old daughter. She also cares for her father Georg (veteran actor Pascal Greggory), whose sight is mostly gone and whose memory is crumbling away due to a neurodegenerative disease. At work, as a translator, she patiently reinterprets the words of strangers, or guides American World War Two veterans back down the paths of their old traumas. She has carved up and rationed out every last part of her heart. Theres no more left for her own use, as shes forced to admit: I just feel my love life is behind me. Sandra finds her desires suddenly reawakened when a chance encounter with an old crush (Melvil Poupauds Clement) turns into a full-blown affair. But One Fine Morning doesnt treat this exercise in self-care as simple or victorious in nature. Clement is married. He struggles to maintain the tryst, knowing how much pain it causes his wife and child. Every action creates its own ripples, and yet Sandra cant help but relate to the words of her father when he describes his oncoming illness as a sense of an abyss, of being outside of the world, away from others. The irony of being intimately connected while desperately lonely can be a hard one to digest. Yet director Mia Hansen-Lve prods at the concept with the same tenderness that she applies to all her films each of them united by the pains and pleasures of interconnectivity, whether it be a woman haunted by a romance from her youth (2011s Goodbye, First Love), or a filmmaker whose artistic outlook begins to clash with that of her husbands (2021s Bergman Island). But Hansen-Lves work could never be called sentimental. Its too firmly rooted in reality for any whimsy, too tied to the confines of a world where emotions can only stray so far. Seydoux is unfussy in her mannerisms, but has a dreaminess to her look often exploited for femme fatale roles that seems to imply a certain guardedness. You get the feeling that Sandra is still trying to preserve some sense of herself. There are text messages left written but unsent, strained smiles that collapse into wordless tears. Clement is a cosmo-chemist, who spends his days studying extraterrestrial matter thats fallen from the heavens. But despite being exposed to the limitlessness of the universe, Hansen-Lves characters instead find themselves drawn to the philosophical power of ordinary objects and gestures how a persons identity can be mapped out by their book collection, or how a young girls psychosomatic limp can express the entirety of her sorrow. One Fine Morning is a film in which nothing is overstated, but everything is understood. Sometimes, its really as straightforward as the words Sandras grandmother casually lets slip: Its a bit difficult at times, living. Dir: Mia Hansen-Lve. Starring: Lea Seydoux, Pascal Greggory, Melvil Poupaud, Nicole Garcia, Fejria Deliba, Camille Leban Martins, Sarah Le Picard, Pierre Meunier. 15, 112 minutes. One Fine Morning is in cinemas from 14 April, and streams on Mubi in the UK from 16 June Stockton Police detectives search Unity Park on Thursday, Apr. 13, 2023, the day after a Chavez High school student was killed in a shooting at the park. Stockton police are investigating a shooting that left a teenager dead and another in the hospital Wednesday afternoon. Shortly after 3 p.m., officers responded to a report of a shooting at Unity Park near George W. Bush Elementary School and across from Cesar Chavez High School. Officers rushed to the scene and found a 17-year-old boy suffering from a gunshot wound. He was rushed to the hospital but later died from his injuries. A 16-year-old boy, who authorities said was pistol-whipped, was also found near the park. The 16-year-old boy is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries, officer Andres Morado said. Christy Patterson, a spokesperson for the San Joaquin County Medical Examiner, identified the 17-year-old as Thai Khin, a Stockton resident. Both victims were students of the nearby high school according to Melinda Meza, a spokeswoman for the Stockton Unified School District. The shooting occurred during school hours. Authorities said there is no motive or suspect information available at this time investigators are still searching for leads. As of Thursday morning, detectives were scouring the park for evidence. Shortly after the shooting, at least 13 police cars with lights flashing were seen on Jayden Way near Unity Park. Crime scene tape was wrapped around the park, restricting access from neighborhood children. A police helicopter circled the area as police scoured for clues. The park, in part, reopened Thursday. The high school was placed on lockdown due to the shooting and there was a delayed release of students, according to Meza. Students from Cesar Chavez High School less than a mile away from Unity Park passed by the scene on their way home from school, some asking officers for information. "There will be support staff all week at Chavez as far as counselors, social work assistants and mental health clinicians," she said. Police are investigating a shooting at Unity Park in Stockton on Wednesday, Apr. 12, 2023. One neighborhood resident riding a bicycle had to take a detour from his usual route when an officer told him he couldnt pass through the area. Story continues The resident said he wasn't shocked to see the crime scene tape. Its Stockton, he said. Stockton Police detectives comb Unity Park with metal detectors on Thursday, Apr. 13, 2023, the day after a Chavez High school student was killed in a shooting at the park. The shooting came eight months after a stabbing left a student and another person injured at the same park. "That is very concerning ... the time frame and it being in broad daylight near schools," officer David Scott said. "It's a priority for us for students to feel safe going to and from school. Efforts will be made with extra patrols in the area to get that sense of security." Record reporter Hannah Workman covers news in Stockton and San Joaquin County. She can be reached at hworkman@recordnet.com or on Twitter @byhannahworkman. Support local news, subscribe to The Stockton Record at https://www.recordnet.com/subscribenow. This article originally appeared on The Record: One teenager killed, another pistol-whipped in Stockton's Unity Park Kyrylo Budanov Read also: Leaked Pentagon documents significantly inaccurate, UK warns Russia is the only beneficiary of this, said Budanov. We will get the final answer only after the completion of the investigation. According to him, there is no risk of the leak damaging relations between the United States and Ukraine, nor is he concerned the incident would have a major influence on the course of the war. If there is a problem, it will be solved, Budanov adds. If there is no problem, even better. This will not be able to affect the real results of the (counter) offensive operation. Read also: HUR hacks Russian radio, forcing Crimeans to listen to Budanovs address The intelligence officer also said that Kyiv and Washington were cooperating on the matter from the moment the leak was discovered. On April 6, The New York Times, citing sources in the White House, reported that the Pentagon was investigating a leak of classified documents relating to U.S. and NATO efforts to prepare the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the coming counteroffensive. Recently, classified materials, dated March 1, appeared on Twitter, Telegram, and across other social media and messenger apps. Read also: Leaked documents give Pentagon estimates of Ukraine and Russia losses, Kyiv disputes numbers The following day, more papers were made public, revealing alleged U.S. efforts to spy on its allies in Asia and Middle East. On April 11, UK Defense Ministry urged caution when examining the documents, saying they contain a serious level of inaccuracy. Read also: Next three months to determinate course of events in war, Budanov says Ukrainian officials suggested that Russian intelligence community is behind the leak, pointing towards several obvious alterations of the source material which paint a more favorable picture of Moscows standing in the war. Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said the documents contain a mix of truth and lies. 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 video of lawmakers and drag artists discussing the need for new safety zone legislation is circulating in posts claiming Canada has outlawed protests or criticism against the LGBTQ community. This is false; the press conference announced a bill that, if passed, would only apply in Ontario to events or establishments under threat from harassment and intimidation. "CANADA JUST MADE IT ILLEGAL TO PROTEST AGAINST THE LGBT!" says an April 5, 2023 tweet. The post includes a video of an April 4 press conference where Kristyn Wong-Tam, a member of Ontario's provincial parliament, is speaking behind a podium with a pride flag. Screenshot taken April 13, 2023 of one of the tweets with false information about Bill 94. Similar posts spread on Instagram and Facebook with claims that the policy is already law and applies to all of Canada. The claims circulated outside of Canada and in multiple languages, including a tweet in French saying the legislation introduced large fines for criticism of the LGBTQ community. The posts come amid a rise in hate crimes motivated by sexual orientation in Canada. The legislation discussed in the video is Bill 94, which was introduced in Ontario's Legislative Assembly on April 4. If passed, the policy would create an advisory committee on LGBTQ issues. It would also empower the Ontario attorney general to designate a temporary, 100-meter zone around LGBTQ events or establishments to prohibit protests when law enforcement confirms the presence of a threat. "If they think that there is something that is going to take place that could be harmful to the person or the persons being targeted, then the attorney general will have the authority to create a temporary community safety zone, or what you call a bubble, around that establishment for a specified period of time," Kristyn Wong-Tam, one of the bill's sponsors, told AFP. But the bill does not aim to create a blanket ban on protests. "Nothing in this Act prevents peaceful protests or demonstrations," the draft says. No fine for misgendering Another tweet sharing the video says: "New bill in Canada would prosecute anyone that misgendered, criticised or protested against Transgenderism." Story continues Screenshot of a tweet taken April 13, 2023. Wong-Tam's party, the New Democratic Party of Ontario, which holds a minority of seats in the Legislative Assembly, told AFP in a statement that the proposed legislation would not fine people for misgendering others. "I certainly took notice that people either didn't read the bill, or they didn't care about sharing the truth about the actual nuance and the function of the bill," Wong-Tam said. 'Safety zones' vs freedom of expression Some posts criticize the bill for restricting freedom of speech and the right to protest. Wong-Tam said the proposal mimics other Canadian "bubble zone" laws that create distance between protesters and patients seeking access to medical care such as abortion and vaccination. A 1996 case in the Supreme Court of British Columbia found one such bubble around an abortion clinic did infringe on freedom of expression. But the court also held that it was justified under the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms due to a person's right to access health care "without loss to privacy and dignity." Wong-Tam said Bill 94 aims to similarly protect the LGBTQ community. "Nobody should be intimidating, using threats or even inflicting bodily harm and violence upon any other person," they said. However, some experts have reservations about the proposal. "We have serious issues of homophobia and transphobia in Canada, but Ontario's Bill 94 will likely do more harm than good," said James Turk, director of the Centre for Free Expression at Toronto Metropolitan University, citing the bill's contradictory language. Turk questioned how the legislation supports peaceful protest while also prohibiting "engaging in a protest or demonstration for the purpose of furthering the objectives of homophobia and transphobia." He also said some of the actions the bill aims to prohibit -- including "uttering threats or making offensive remarks, either verbally or in writing, with respect to matters of social orientation or gender roles" -- are already criminal offences in Canada. Bill 94 has received a first reading but will need to complete a second and third reading, as well as royal assent, prior to becoming law. More of AFP's reporting on misinformation about the LGBTQ community can be found here. Politicians are motivated by many things, among them power, fame, idealism, greed and fear. The last of these is not to be underestimated. It is a powerful, gut-level force that can strike the most loquacious politicians dumb and make the most attention-hungry suddenly shy. It can cause officeholders or candidates to reverse field on a long-held position almost instantaneously and abase themselves however seems necessary to get to safety. Republicans at the national level, right now, are scared. You can hear it in their silence on the issue of abortion after a district judge in Texas struck down the FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. That decision also came immediately after Republicans lost a key race for a Supreme Court seat in Wisconsin to a progressive jurist who ran, to a large extent, on abortion rights. You could say the Republican fight or flight instinct is kicking in, except its none of the former and all of the latter. Its like the nature show set in the Serengeti when all the gazelle sense lions in the vicinity and freeze in place, their heads in the air on high alert, waiting to make their next move but pretty certain someones getting taken down, no matter what direction they run. Much of what has happened since Dobbs is what youd expect after a longstanding national legal regime on abortion is lifted and the states are given the freedom to decide their own policies. There has been a sorting out toward a new political and policy equilibrium, with red and blue states occupying different poles of the spectrum, and purple states up for grabs. The good news for Republicans is that there are more restrictions on abortion in place than at any time in the last 50 years, and they still took a majority in the House in last years midterms, if smaller than expected. There is broad sentiment for more restrictions than existed under Roe, but location and specifics matter immensely. In Indiana and in much of the South, Republicans have passed sweeping abortion bans and paid no discernible political price for it. Story continues In Georgia, Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed a six-week ban on abortion in 2019. It went into effect after the Supreme Court overturned Roe, and Kemp won reelection handily in a race where the Democrat, Stacey Abrams, made abortion a major issue. In Texas, the details differ, but the story is much the same. The GOP-controlled Florida House takes up a six-week abortion ban on Thursday that Gov. Ron DeSantis is expected to sign after its passed. But especially in Michigan and Wisconsin, the issue has been a debacle for the party, and it has suffered notable losses elsewhere, with perhaps more in the offing. One lesson should be that Republicans cant just run and hide on an issue that has been of defining importance to their base and that Democrats are going to hammer them on regardless of how they try to minimize it. Another is that outside of the Deep South, complete bans cant be defended politically, and the traditional exceptions for rape, incest and life of the mother are essential; polling for anti-abortion groups shows that even Republicans and conservatives dont support prohibitions without the exceptions, which account for a tiny proportion of abortions. What is required is a meeting somewhere in the middle between an anti-abortion movement that has to embrace incremental change and a Republican establishment that has to be willing to fight. The Michigan and Wisconsin disasters stemmed from statutes that no one would have written in the post-Dobbs environment. Michigan had a 1931 law still on the books, and Wisconsins dated from 1849. These complete bans with narrow exceptions went too far for these purple or blue states, and Republicans were inevitably going to get hurt by their association with them. In Kansas last year, a ballot measure that said the states constitution does not create or secure a right to abortion went down to a stinging defeat the vagueness of the proposal allowed opponents to fill in the picture by arguing it would clear the way for a total ban. Republicans should be pushing for restrictions that go as far as a states voters are willing to accept, and no further, while being absolutely clear about the details. This will require keen political judgment and shrewd tactics, both of which are hard to muster in the midst of a panic. The other obvious imperative for the GOP is to try to focus attention on the extremism of the Democratic maximalist position on abortion, which is out of step with public opinion (Gallup finds that only 35 percent of people say abortion should be legal with no restrictions). Republican candidates who emerged unscathed on the issue last year had some success in flipping the script this way. In the current controversy over the abortion pill, that means hitting the Biden administration for attempting an end run around an 1873 law prohibiting the use of the mail to deliver an instrument, substance, drug, medicine, or thing that could be used in an abortion, as a way to undermine abortion restrictions in red states. While the Republican record fighting ballot measures to guarantee access to abortion is dreadful in the post-Dobbs era theyve lost everywhere they are going to have to do more of it. Emboldened Democrats are getting referenda on the ballot in a number of red states over the next two years. A signature battle will be a vote to write abortion rights into the state constitution in Ohio later this year. If opponents defeat the measure, it will be on the strength of arguments that the amendment will end up making parental consent laws impossible and go further than the pre-Dobbs abortion regime. Make no mistake: In many places, Republicans are simply seeking to neutralize the Democratic political advantage on the issue and fight to a draw. If this is unsatisfying and discomfiting, its still better than the pre-Dobbs context when the politics were easier but it was impossible to get any meaningful restrictions done. Yes, it would have been better if Republicans had spent a little more time during the prior half-century contemplating what theyd do if Roe fell, but here we are. If theres one thing that should be clear, its that fear no matter how natural or visceral is no substitute for careful thought and considered action. Mother Buffoon makes her entrance during a performance of Ballet Wests The Nutcracker at the Janet Quinney Lawson Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 10, 2015. | Ravell Call, Deseret News As I was picking up some Utah Symphony tickets the other afternoon, the beautiful concert hall was deserted, so I took a little nostalgic walk around. Fifty-year-old memories flooded my mind, and it occurred to me that there are not many left that can tell the origin story of this hall a story that few, even patrons of the arts, are aware of. It is, for me, a personal story, in a way a kind of miraculous story, and I love remembering it. In 1974, Linda and I, who had started our family and my career as a political consultant in Washington, D.C., took a leave of absence to come to Utah for a year to plan and manage Salt Lake Mayor Jake Garns first U.S. Senate campaign. Jake started the campaign some 20 points behind his opponent, Congressman Wayne Owens, who was particularly prominent because of his recent TV visibility on the House Watergate committee. The Senate campaign was an uphill battle, but we closed the gap. Jake won the Senate seat, and our family returned to our home in McLean, Virginia, in time for Christmas. Then, in February 1975, I was invited to lunch by Obert Tanner (founder of the O.C. Tanner company and chairman of Utahs Bicentennial Commission) who was visiting Washington. We met in the restaurant of the Washington Hilton, and Tanner made me an interesting proposition. He said (paraphrasing) that he and Maurice Abravanel, the longtime Utah Symphony conductor, and others had been trying to find a way to build a new center for the performing arts in Salt Lake that would house the Utah Symphony and Ballet West and other arts groups. They wanted to make it happen as part of Utahs Bicentennial Celebration but the cost was prohibitive, and private fundraising had proven too difficult. So Tanner had decided that the only way to get it built was to hold a bond election. He had come to me because he was impressed with the upset victory I had engineered in the Garn Senate race and thought I was the person who could get this kind of bond election passed. I remember saying something about how difficult I thought that might be getting people in a hunting and fishing and sports-minded state to vote to increase their own taxes to pay for a high-brow symphony hall that they would probably never set foot in. But Obert Tanner was undeterred and, over the next week or so, convinced me that it was a truly worthy cause and that I should come back to Utah and manage the bond campaign. (The fact that Linda was a violinist and music teacher fit into his pitch.) So, only months after returning to Washington, we moved again to Salt Lake and began our campaign for the bond election vote late that year on Dec. 16, 1975. The strong support of the arts community, and of Utahs wonderful and devoted arts patrons, was a given, but I knew there were simply not enough of them to win the vote, and the public opinion polls did not look good. Jack Gallivan, publisher of the Salt Lake Tribune and general chairman of the campaign committee, along with Wendell Ashton, Deseret News publisher, agreed that the odds were long against the bond election succeeding. Related Optimistically, the committee hired a world renowned acoustician (a profession I didnt know existed) named Cyril Harris to come from his New York office to advise us on the arts center we hoped to build on the corner of South Temple and West Temple. I remember Harris as a man of candor as well as expertise, and he told us, bluntly, that it would be a huge mistake to try to build a multipurpose hall. If you try to serve the symphony, the ballet and drama all in one hall, it will be a compromise, he said. A rectangular shoebox hall is best for the acoustics of symphonic music, and if you build a hall with a movable proscenium and deep, high stage needed for dance and drama you will lose the acoustics. You need two separate halls, he said. In my mind, that made the difficult bond issue look completely impossible. I didnt know how we could pass an election for one hall for the performing arts, let alone two. But a couple of weeks later, a wonderfully serendipitous thing happened. I was on my way to the airport to go look at some other concert halls around the country and as I drove down 200 South, I noticed the old Capitol Theatre on my right. I couldnt remember ever having been inside, and it was then a run-down, walled-over movie theater, a far cry from the live performance hall it had been built as decades earlier. On an impulse, remembering Harris words that we needed two halls, I pulled into a parking space, bought a ticket, and went in to walk around and explore the old hall. Laura Seitz, Deseret News I was anything but an expert, but I could tell that, under all the wallboard, lowered ceilings, and paint, there was a classic old theater here, perhaps one with potential for restoration. From that moment, we were on a new trajectory for possible election success. As I discussed it with Tanner and Gallivan and others, a new campaign plan took shape. We could build a dedicated new symphony hall for the orchestra, and restore the Capitol for the ballet and other dance and drama use. Ensuing cost estimates showed that we could actually build the simpler shoebox symphony hall and restore the old theater for less than the projected cost of one multipurpose performing arts center. We could sell this to the voting public as a two-for-the-price-of-one sale. From there we picked up momentum, and our campaign volunteers (we were manning a phone bank of 40 or 50 phones, day and night, to find and turn out our voters) now consisted of musicians, dancers, actors and historic preservation advocates, each reaching out to their patrons, supporters and friends. We became formidable, and we knew that, while we might still be a minority, if we could turn out a higher percentage of our vote than that of our opponents, we could win. Related And win we did, by the narrowest of margins. I will never forget that election night. The results came in slowly as we all gathered in the shabby lobby of the Capitol Theatre all those who had worked so hard, from prima ballerinas to French horn players to structural historians. And when the TV stations announced that we had won, everyone was hugging one another, and giving emotional high-fives. At last, our renowned Utah Symphony would have its own state-of-the-art home, as would our exceptional Utah Ballet and other performing arts groups. And a marvelous and historic old building would be saved for future generations. The mental image I still see in my minds eye is Obert Tanner and Maurice Abravanel, two majestic, passionate, white-haired arts-patriarchs, embracing each other, tears rolling down their cheeks. A dream had come true. Few if any cities of Salt Lakes size have the quality and brilliance of our performing arts, and now they would have venues worthy of their exceptionalism. My hope is that we will all appreciate those venues, and our arts heritage, more by knowing the rest of the story. Personal postscript: Shortly after the arts bond election passed, Linda and I were called to be mission leaders for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in London, so we didnt get to witness the construction of Symphony Hall or the restoration of the Capitol Theatre. But we had the almost magical exhilaration of returning three years later to see both of those two works of art completely finished and in operation their beauty exceeding our imagination and expectation. Tanner had gold-leafed all the beautiful accents and balconies of the new hall, frequently quoting his favorite Keats poem, A thing of beauty is a joy forever. Gallivan had seen (and led) the coming together of an arts-focused community coalition in a way that had never happened before. And Abravanel had, for the first time, conducted the Utah Symphony in a venue other than the borrowed Latter-day Saint Tabernacle. Richard Eyre is a New York Times No. 1 bestselling author who, with his wife Linda, wrote a column in the Deseret News for 10 years and who still occasionally contributes to the editorial page. More Thoughts. More Prayers. No Action. Our thoughts and prayers go to the victims, their families and first responders for this senseless act of mass shooting. This is the typical sentiment which most of us share on social media in response to senseless acts of mass shootings that plague our nation. We always imagine that such tragedies will always happen in another community and city but will never happen in our backyard and will never affect our loved ones. I am also guilty of posting similar sentiments while feeling secure and safe in my city. April 10, the reality of our vulnerability to such horrors hit us with a gut-wrenching punch. It still seems like a bad dream - five innocent citizens dead with many injured in a span of a few minutes by flying bullets with no obvious rhyme and reason. Nickolas Wilt, a 26-year-old police officer, fights for his life in a hospital because he selflessly placed himself in harm's way to protect his fellow citizens. Editorial: Louisville mourns mass shooting and legislative stubbornness. The mass shooting in Louisville, as well as the many others that have scarred our society, do not differentiate among the victims on the basis of age, gender, race, religion and political affiliations. These bullets indiscriminately kill Americans in their homes, schools, houses of worship, places of work and public spaces. Gun violence shatters parents dreams to see their children grow and have families of their own. Almost every day, parents literally bury their children and their dreams as the bullets continue to fly. My friend Tommy Elliott lost his hopes of spending the remaining years of his life with his wonderful wife Maryanne and daughters in Mondays senseless mass shooting. He was an amazing man who was greater than life and who never said no to anyone for anything. Similarly, the gift of life was snatched away from Joshua Barrick, Juliana Farmer, James Tutt and Deana Eckert within those same tragic moments. They were all living and breathing Kentuckians who aspired for happiness and safety for themselves, their families and loved ones. Story continues University of Louisville Dr. Jason Smith We just can't keep doing what we're doing. Instruments of death make killing much easier There is an old cliche that guns don't kill people, people kill people. This is an incomplete statement that does not consider the lethality of firearms - instruments of death which make killing much easier, quicker, up close and at a distance. Whether fired at the spur of the moment, well thought out, in aggression toward someone else or toward the shooter, pulling the trigger is swift and deadly. The United States ranks 29th in the world in prevalence of depressive disorders according to the U.S. News and World Report. But it ranks among the top six nations with regard to the total number of gun related deaths along with Brazil, Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia and Guatemala according to a 2016 study by the University of Washington's Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation. A lot of it has to do with America's preoccupation with guns. According to the 2017 Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey, the United States is the only nation in the world where civilian guns outnumber people (120.5 guns per 100 people). According to mapping project by the data visualization company 1point21 Interactive, there are more gun dealers (approximately 65,000) in the USA than grocery stores (37,716), McDonalds (14,098), total coffee shops (55,246), and almost 6 for every Starbucks (10,843). If we include gun collectors, manufacturers, and importers (138,659 as of December 2015), there are more gun dealers in the U.S. than there are pharmacies (67,000) or public schools (98,328),the report said. The commonwealth of Kentucky and 25 other states allow eligible citizens to carry firearms without a permit. In 2019, Kentucky legislature stripped away the provisions that required gun owners to pass background checks to carry concealed weapons. People over 21 years of age can buy and carry guns without any license to most of the places in the commonwealth of Kentucky. In short, a firearm license, which requires a background check, is only meant for Kentuckians who want to travel out of state with their firearms. The commonwealth of Kentucky does not have any laws which prohibit gun sales to the Kentuckians who have violent misdemeanor convictions, domestic abuse related restraining orders, or are suffering from mental health and substance abuse disorders. Letters to the Editor: Louisville responds to mass shooting at Old National Bank, 'Do something!' Americans are feeling helpless. Many are losing hope that those in power will ever take steps to curb this epidemic of gun violence. Americans are wondering how many more must lose their lives, how many more families have to give up their dreams, before legislators find a way to end this vicious cycle of death. At this moment in time, the onus is on us, as citizens, to remind our leaders that one more life lost will be one too many. Otherwise, our coming generations will remember us for our hopelessness and apathy. Americans keep wondering what is next after each mass shooting. Thoughts, prayers and philosophical memes flood social media. There will be vigils, rallies, blood drives and charitable events to honor the fallen. While noble expressions, they ultimately fall flat. Politicians would not risk losing support from their gun lobbyist benefactors, so any laws that might be introduced from the latest tragedy will be symbolic at best. In another month, week or even tomorrow, more blood will be spilled at the hands of someone who wields a gun obtained legally or illegally. Debates will rage about the right to bear arms. Legislators will again decry the violence. More thoughts. More prayers. No action. This is our reality. In America, guns get a pass. To me, as a person strong in my faith and committed to my vocation as a physician, that is insane. It is up to We the People to hold our lawmakers accountable on Election Day if we want to get rid of our addiction to guns and the toll they take on our society. Dr. Muhammad Babar is president of Muslim Americans for Compassion and Doctors for Healthy Communities.He is serving as board member at Dare to Care, Family Community Clinic, Center for Interfaith Relations, Muhammad Ali Center, Kentucky Refugee Ministries and Kentucky Council on postsecondary education. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville mass shooting: How many must die before legislators act A forest burns during a wildfire near Altura, in eastern Spain, last summer. Spanish-language climate disinformation spreads from foreign sources to the U.S. (Alberto Saiz / Associated Press) Disinformation about the climate crisis has never been hard to find in English, but its even more pervasive and less moderated in Spanish-language media. Compared with Twitter, Trump and other famously prolific disseminators of English-language misinformation, the sources in Spanish are less predictable, more global and all but unchecked. A recent report commissioned by GreenLatinos and Friends of the Earth found that a majority of U.S. Spanish-language climate disinformation last year originated in Spain. The propaganda often coincided with extreme events such as the countrys 2022 forest fires . Over the last few weeks, the cycle repeated as new fires devastated Spains lush Asturias region and disinformers sought to obscure the connection to climate change. Some weaponized the fires to spread political attacks against renewable energy and sustainable development, copying and pasting the same false content across multiple accounts. Spanish speakers are disproportionately exposed to false content on social media due to their heavier reliance on the platforms and poorer fact-checking and moderation of Spanish-language content. U.S. Latinos are more likely to receive and share misinformation than the general population. Research has shown that false or misleading Spanish content on some platforms is kept up longer if not indefinitely. Facebook spends 87% of its anti-misinformation budget on U.S.-generated content, which allows more non-English and foreign-sourced content to escape notice and flagging. These disparities have become increasingly apparent in Latino susceptibility to disinformation about public health , elections and climate change. Our report explains how online climate disinformation is reaching Spanish-speaking communities in the United States, identifying the main actors and the strategies they use to spread false content. It found that those spreading Spanish-language climate disinformation here primarily operate outside the country, in both Spain and Latin America. Story continues The most prominent offenders are based in Spain, pushing conservative and libertarian viewpoints associated with a national far-right party there. In Latin America, Spanish-language disinformers primarily feed off U.S.-based, right-leaning accounts, amplifying existing content in English by simply translating it into Spanish. Unsurprisingly, this content is often accompanied by misinformation about COVID-19 and conspiracy theories such as the New World Order , the false notion that a shadowy group of elites is working to establish global totalitarian rule. In response to last years protests by Dutch farmers over efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, for instance, Spanish-language propagandists shared content suggesting elites were intentionally causing food shortages for profit. As with English-language climate deniers, most of their Spanish-speaking counterparts promote a broader right-wing agenda that goes beyond climate disinformation. The timing of the content is tactical, coinciding with events such as extreme weather and new climate policy. In July, for example, a report that Spanish reforestation projects precipitated a forest fire was weaponized to undermine the evidence connecting climate change to wildfires a tactic being revisited now. The harm is further amplified by Spanish-speaking communities disproportionate likelihood of bearing the brunt of the climate crisis. Ninety-two percent of Californias farmworkers are Spanish speakers, for instance, and increasing temperatures put them particularly at risk of heat-related illness and death. Access to accurate information is critical to ensure that communities have a clear understanding of climate-induced threats. Thats why social media platforms must be held responsible for ensuring that already vulnerable people dont face further disparities. Companies and policymakers can take a number of steps to halt the spread of climate disinformation in Spanish. At a minimum, social media companies must bolster their moderation of climate and other disinformation, enforce their own standards and demonetize advertisements promoting false content in all languages. And they must invest in native speakers wherever they operate to help monitor content, identify repeat offenders and close language gaps in moderation and enforcement. Policymakers, meanwhile, should pass legislation to require transparency and accountability of Big Tech. Social media executives should be required to detail their plans and procedures to reduce the spread of Spanish-language climate and other disinformation and improve accountability and transparency. They can start by publishing the ratio of moderators to users in each language to help regulators and the public understand how well the platforms are protecting every community. Tech companies are treating Spanish speakers as second-class citizens by failing to consider the danger to non-English-speaking communities that need critical, verifiable and potentially lifesaving information. As the climate crisis intensifies, we need to ensure that everyone has equitable access to a safe and informative digital public square. Edder Diaz-Martinez is communications manager for GreenLatinos. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Epiphanius In the message, Epiphanius says the OCU is not a hostage or party to political competition in Ukraine, nor is it Petro Poroshenkos church. Read also: UOC-MP Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra monks reject crossing over to the OCU During his presidential term, Poroshenko championed the cause of establishing OCU as a pan-Ukrainian orthodox church, independent from the Moscow Patriarchate. The effort was ultimately successful in early 2019. Poroshenko used this achievement prominently while campaigning in the 2019 presidential elections, ultimately losing to Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Read also: OCU Christmas service at the Lavra, Ukraine asks for Saakashvili back According to Epiphanius, the OCU is grateful to every political party that helps the church to grow and develop, but none of them will have an exceptional, let alone controlling role in church affairs. Our opponents (likely referring to the Russian Orthodox Church) are making all effort to subvert the trust and cooperation between us and the state that opposes the aggression of the Russian world, Epiphanius said. Read also: Kyiv-Pechersk Lavra to host services in Ukrainian as Epiphanius vows monastery will remain open Various channels are spreading utterly false information that the OCU and the primate are allegedly controlled and directed by someone else. Statements like that are nothing but bold-faced lies and slander. 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 Actor Jamie Foxx suffered a "medical complication," according to his family. (Michael Nagle / For The Times) Actor Jamie Foxx is recovering after suffering an unspecified medical emergency on Tuesday that reportedly landed the Oscar-winning "Ray" star in a hospital. The 55-year-old entertainer "experienced a medical complication" on Tuesday, according to a family statement posted Wednesday on his daughter Corinne Foxx's Instagram account. "Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery," the statement said. "We know how beloved he is and appreciate your prayers. The family asks for privacy during this time." It's unclear what caused the "Just Mercy" star's medical issue and whether he was or remains hospitalized. Representatives for Foxx did not comment further when reached Thursday by The Times. According to TMZ, the "Spider-Man: No Way Home" actor was taken to a hospital on Tuesday and his condition was serious enough that his family members, some of whom were out of town, traveled there to see him there. The site said the actor is "communicating now, and that's good news," but had no details on Foxx's medical issue either. Foxx has recently been working in Atlanta and in the U.K. on the Netflix film "Back in Action." The movie co-stars newly unretired actor Cameron Diaz and Glenn Close, but the production has been plagued with "meltdown" rumors for weeks. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. When voters go to the polls or fill out their mail ballots for Pennsylvanias May 16 primary election, theyll see a slew of local candidates with a lot of direct power over their daily lives. While these officials have a direct say in the taxes you pay and how the criminal justice system treats you, it can be difficult to find good information about the people running to represent you. Spotlight PA has some tips to make the vetting process easier. Along with statewide races for Pennsylvanias appellate courts, this years primary will also feature elections for school boards, mayorships, councils, local judgeships and more. Exactly which races you see on your ballot will depend on where you live. Pennsylvania has a closed, partisan primary system. Only Democrats can vote for Democratic candidates vying to move to the November general election. The same rule applies to Republican voters. However, all voters, including those who are unaffiliated or who are registered to a third party, can vote in special elections that coincide with a spring primary there are two on May 16 or for local ballot initiatives. Thats why its important to check a sample ballot or contact your county about whats on your ballot ahead of Election Day. Here are some steps you can take to prepare for May 16: What do these officials do? Some candidates are running for specialized municipal or countywide positions such as tax collector, controller, coroner and register of wills, who issue marriage licenses. They serve four-year terms. Also on the ballot will be the many executive and legislative branch officials of local governments, including school board members, mayors, county commissioners and in Allegheny County, the county executive. They set and enact a range of policies, from local property tax rates to zoning rules to police budgets. Story continues Finally, candidates are running for positions that influence the criminal justice system, including constables, local judges and district attorneys. Among other duties, the latter are responsible for prosecuting people who are arrested. Local judgeships fall into two main categories. Magisterial district judges, sometimes called the frontline of the states justice system, issue arrest and search warrants, approve protection from abuse orders, oversee evictions, set bail and can officiate weddings. Candidates do not have to be lawyers to hold the position; however, those elected are required to take four weeks of training and pass an exam. They are elected to six-year terms, and face an opponent for reelection rather than a yes-or-no vote. This system is different in Philadelphia, where voters elect municipal and traffic judges. Then, there are Common Pleas judges who are elected by district, of which there are 60. Some districts contain multiple counties. You can find a full list of counties by judicial district here. These judges must be admitted to the state bar and are the first rung in most civil and criminal trials. They serve 10-year terms before running in nonpartisan retention elections. Thirty counties have an open Common Pleas judgeship on the ballot this year, according to Pennsylvania Department of State records. Find who is on your ballot To learn who is on the ballot, you should check with your county election office (see a list here). Some counties, such as Allegheny, Lancaster and York, publish sample ballots, although those may not be available until three to five weeks before the election. (Googling [county name] sample ballot or Pennsylvania sample ballot is a solid start.) BallotReady and the League of Women Voters Vote411 initiative also provide sample ballots based on address, though they dont always include down-ballot races such as ones for school board. Learn the basics Use candidates names and a search engine to learn more about them. Campaign websites usually provide background on a candidate, list their platform and detail endorsements theyve received. Social media accounts sometimes give a more personal look into a candidates views, and explain why theyre running for office and what policies they plan to support. To find a social media account, search for a candidates name plus a social media platform by typing a phrase such as Jane Smith Twitter or Jane Smith Facebook. You can also use Facebooks ad library to explore how candidates or political groups boost their messages across the platform. News articles can offer you a more in-depth look at a candidate, detail how a community perceives them and raise any potential red flags about the candidates beliefs or affiliations. But its important to vet the trustworthiness and accuracy of the news source. To learn how to vet your sources, read this guide to spotting false information by Cornell University, and this guide to analyzing a news source by Melissa Zimdars, a communications professor who researches misinformation. Check out endorsements Figuring out which candidates align with you on key topics is difficult. Many politicians, and interest groups such as gun rights organizations and unions, try to cut through this uncertainty with endorsements. Candidates will usually prominently display them. These endorsements are even more critical in judicial races. State law bars candidates for the bench from taking public stances on policy issues, as they are expected to provide impartial judgment on cases before them. As such, their remarks and statements might not be helpful when youre trying to figure out how theyll rule. If you want more objective information, you can also learn about a judicial candidates legal qualifications through local bar associations. These groups sometimes offer recommendations on their countys Common Pleas candidates, either through a special committee or by polling their members on the candidates and their qualifications. Bar association recommendations look over each candidates resume and provide a short summary of their ability to handle the job. Usually, bars will offer three different ratings: highly recommended, recommended or not recommended. However, some candidates who arent recommended argue that their skills are undervalued by their peers, and jurists who won without a recommendation have gone on to have long, respected careers on the bench, such as former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Saylor. Below are links to the websites for bar associations in five of Pennsylvanias more populous counties. Its not an exhaustive list, so check Google to see if your own county has one. (Your county may also just not have any Common Pleas judges on the ballot.) Take a deeper dive Following the money will take even more work, but its just as important. Under federal and state campaign finance laws, all candidates are required to regularly file paperwork that shows who has given them money and how they spent it. Donations from political committees, other organizations or even individuals can indicate who influences the candidate, and the policies they might support once elected. All of this information is available to you in theory. The Federal Election Commission website and platforms such as OpenSecrets allow you to search for donations to federal campaigns. In Pennsylvania, state-level candidates (including Common Pleas judges) file their campaign finance information with the Department of State, which lists those reports online. Candidates for local positions like mayor or school board have to file financial reports too, but they file with only the county election office. Theres no central, statewide database for filings, and not all counties widely allow voters to access this information. A few counties, such as Allegheny, Erie and Philadelphia, post this information online, while others only allow people to view it in person. If the records you seek are not accessible online, you can contact the county election office. If theyre accessible only in person, you will have to take time out of your day to visit the election office and review the documents. Read more Election 2023 coverage from Spotlight PA: 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 foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Getty Images The Education Department updated guidance for applying for Public Service Loan Forgiveness. Employers now have the option to digitally certify an employee's eligibility for the program. Previously, strict paperwork requirements caused many borrowers' applications to be rejected. A new change to a student-loan forgiveness program could make it easier for government and nonprofit workers to get relief. President Joe Biden's Education Department updated guidance for the Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program, which is intended to forgive student debt for government and nonprofit workers after ten years of qualifying payments. Leading up to Biden's presidency, the program was flawed and borrowers in public service were being turned away for minor paperwork errors, along with issues having their employer certify their eligibility for the program. Updated guidance could make that just a bit easier. According to the Federal Student Aid (FSA) office, a borrower applying for PSLF needs the employer to verify information including the dates of employment for the employee and their name, contact information, title, and signature. Previously, the Education Department had strict guidelines for those certification requirements, and applicants were rejected if a signature on paper did not meet specific requirements, like incorrect formatting of the date signed. Now, borrowers have the option to use a digital signature during FSA's testing period for this function. "FSA has begun to implement and test a digital employer signature for PSLF," an Education Department spokesperson told Insider. "The Department will have more information once testing is complete." According to the website, borrowers can use the PSLF Help Tool for "digital signature and submission capabilities." With that option, employers would receive an email from FSA via DocuSign to confirm borrowers' employment online rather than using the often error-prone paper forms required in the past. Story continues Employers can still elect to use a manual form if they do not want to certify their information digitally. This change is part of the Education Department's broader reforms to PSLF. In October 2021, it implemented a limited-time waiver to allow previously ineligible payments to count toward a borrower's loan forgiveness progress. While the waiver expired on October 31, the department also announced permanent changes to the program, including a one-time account adjustment to allow borrowers one more shot to get their payments up to date, even if they missed the waive deadline. So far, 453,000 borrowers have gotten their debt wiped out under the PSLF reforms, and the department said it will continue processing the other applications submitted before the waiver deadline. To be sure, the process could take time given the department has limited resources to implement those reforms, along with resume repayment for federal student-loan borrowers this year and implement broad student-debt relief if the Supreme Court rules in favor of Biden's plan. Read the original article on Business Insider You are here: World Flash Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Wednesday he discussed military support for his country with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. "We discussed in detail the urgent needs of Ukraine for the successful conduct of another counteroffensive operation to liberate Ukrainian lands," Shmyhal, who is on a visit to the United States, wrote in a Telegram post. In particular, Ukraine needs air defense, heavy artillery and equipment, mortars and ammunition for them, Shmyhal said. Ukraine is also counting on the United States to provide it with longer-range missiles, he added. Earlier in the day, Shmyhal arrived in the United States for a visit to discuss military, financial, and sanctions support for Ukraine, as well as investment and assistance for reconstruction. This article was originally published in Florida Phoenix. GOP lawmakers say that partisan school boards would provide greater transparency for voters, but Democrats and other critics argue that nonpartisan boards should serve all families in Floridas massive education system, rather than cater to a particular political party. The voters would be the ones to make the decision through a Constitutional amendment on the ballot if proposed legislation is successful in the 2023 session. The legislation, SJR 94, is now heading to the full Senate for consideration. The state House has already approved the measure. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter Florida voters would determine if the races for non-partisan district school board members should instead be partisan affairs, potentially teeing up for partisan politics in 67 school districts across the state. The bill would be presented as a constitutional amendment on the ballot of the next general election or at an earlier special election to make school boards races partisan and signify whether a candidate is a Democrat, a Republican, a different party all together, or even not affiliated with a party. The legislation finished its final committee stop Tuesday morning during the Senate Rules committee after very little discussion from the lawmakers, though some Democrats voted against the bill. Sen. Joe Gruters, a Republican representing parts of Manatee and Sarasota counties, is a sponsor of the bill. He argues that the partisan school board elections would provide greater transparency for voters. He was formerly the chair of the Republican Party of Florida and argues that all these elections are partisan. You can say Im an expert in partisan politics because I was the chairman of the state party and longtime chairman of my local party, Gruters told lawmakers Tuesday. And, I want to say, all these races are partisan now. What were doing is were pulling the bag off of peoples heads, allowing people to have full knowledge of where people stand. Story continues While those Democrats who opposed the bill did not discuss their opposition on Tuesday, previous opposition on the legislation argued that school board elections should remain nonpartisan. Another concern with the bill involves No Party Affiliate voters who would be cut out from part of the election process of school board candidates, as Florida is a closed primary state. Meanwhile, the House version of the bill has already been approved by the full House on a 79 to 34 vote, with Democrats in opposition of the legislation. Both the House and Senate will have to approve the same legislation before it goes to Gov. Ron DeSantis. Florida Phoenix is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Florida Phoenix maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Diane Rado for questions: info@floridaphoenix.com. Follow Florida Phoenix on Facebook and Twitter. A 74-year-old man has appeared in court accused of murdering PC Sharon Beshenivsky 18 years ago. Piran Ditta Khan was charged over the 2005 shooting of the 38-year-old after being extradited from Pakistan. PC Beshenivsky had been a police officer for only nine months when she was killed in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Mr Khan appeared in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court in central London on Thursday wearing a blue and white tracksuit jacket. He is also charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. Mr Khan spoke only to confirm his name in court and listened as he was told his case would be sent to the Old Bailey for a hearing on Monday. PC Beshenivsky, who had three children and two stepchildren, was shot dead as she and a colleague, PC Teresa Milburn, responded to an alarm at a travel agent in Morley Street, Bradford, on 18 November 2005. PC Milburn was also seriously injured but survived. Police officers in Morley Road, Bradford, after PC Beshenivsky was shot in 2005 Mr Khan is charged with robbery of a quantity of cash from Mohammed Yousaf, the owner of the travel agent. He is also accused of possessing a Mac 10 machine gun, which it is alleged had been modified to fire in a burst with one pull of the trigger, and a 9mm handgun. Three men were found guilty of murdering PC Beshenivsky in 2007, along with two convicted of manslaughter and a sixth man found guilty of robbery. Craig Nicholls, chair of West Yorkshire Police Federation, said the officer's death "sent a shockwave not only through West Yorkshire but throughout the world". He added: "We still mourn the loss of Sharon. She will never be forgotten. "The persistence to bring to justice all those involved in the murder of PC Beshenivsky has never wavered. I know my colleagues within West Yorkshire will now be watching closely the wheels of justice turning in this case." Follow BBC Yorkshire on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to yorkslincs.news@bbc.co.uk. A Pennsylvania man was sentenced to up to 44 years in prison Tuesday after strangling his wife to death. Stephen Capaldi, 57, pleaded guilty to third-degree murder, abuse of a corpse and tampering with physical evidence. He also pleaded guilty to obstructing the administration of law and possessing an instrument of crime. Capaldi was sentenced to 22 to 44 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $8,000 in funeral expenses for the murder of his wife, Elizabeth "Beth" Capaldi. Detectives said Stephen smothered 55-year-old Elizabeth with a pillow while she was sleeping in their Sellersville, Pennsylvania, home on Oct. 10. He then dismembered her in the basement, FOX 29 Philadelphia reported. GUN CRIMES GRAB MOST MEDIA ATTENTION WHILE GUN USE IN SELF-DEFENSE GETS MERELY A FRACTION: EXPERTS Stephen Capaldi was sentenced to 22 to 44 years in prison and ordered to pay more than $8,000 in funeral expenses for the murder of wife Elizabeth Capaldi. Capaldi reportedly disposed of Elizabeth's remains in a dumpster on Oct. 12, when she was reported missing. The couple had been married for 30 years. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP He buried more of her remains along the Delaware River in Tinicum Township a location to which he eventually led investigators. MAN SPENT SEVERAL DAYS WITH DECAYING CORPSE OF LOVER HE ALLEGEDLY KILLED: POLICE Bucks County detectives believe that Stephen smothered Elizabeth with a pillow while she was sleeping in their Sellersville home in Pennsylvania. "Stephen Capaldi fully cooperated with investigators, told them what he did to his wife and led them to her remains, allowing her family to give her a proper burial," the Bucks County District Attorney's Office said in a statement. Stephen was arrested in December after being ordered to take a polygraph test during a Pennsylvania grand jury appearance. He was also issued a no-contact order with his daughter unless she decides to speak with him. He is also required to take a mental health evaluation. Stephen Capaldi also pleaded guilty to obstructing the administration of law and possessing an instrument of crime. "My mother is dead, and my father killed her," Capaldi's daughter said, according to the district attorney's office. "I have the love of friends, family, even strangers, but my own father took the person who loved me most." She added that she feels grief and love for her father, but he "should never be free from prison to finally leave my mothers memory in peace." It's been almost a week since news broke that top-secret U.S. military documents had been quietly posted in some dark corners of the Internet about the status of the war in Ukraine and U.S. efforts to get allies to help. The Department of Defense is now in full damage-control mode in an urgent effort to identify whats in the documents and whether any more might become public soon. It is also investigating whether the documents, many of them crudely photocopied slides, will impact Ukraines ability to fight off a springtime Russian offensive, and what the impact will be on U.S. allies. Some of the documents also show U.S. efforts to spy on its enemies and its allies upending some diplomatic relations as they pertain to the Ukraine war effort. On Thursday, federal authorities in Massachusetts arrested Jack Teixeira, a member of the intelligence wing of the Air National Guard, and said he is suspected of leaking the classified documents in question. Teixeira, 21, is charged with the alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced at a news conference. He will have an initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. More: Pentagon leak won't impact Ukraine, experts say. But what is the 'political cost' to come? Heres what we know so far: What Pentagon documents leaked? A Ukrainian MSLR BM-21 "Grad" fires towards Russian positions, at the frontline in Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Saturday, April 8, 2023. The documents appear to be highly sensitive reports related to the war effort in Ukraine, including data on military activities like U.S. drone spy planes in the region and use of ammunition by Ukrainian forces. Some of the most detailed slides appear to show what the U.S. believes about the training and state of readiness of Ukrainian forces, and the number of Ukrainian and Russian troops killed and equipment destroyed in the ongoing conflict. One document appears to have come from the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Dated March 1 and labeled secret and not for distribution to foreign governments, it details U.S. forces in the region on the ground, air and at sea. Story continues The document also includes how many artillery shells Ukrainian forces have fired, including rocket-assisted missiles that have been used to devastating effect on Russian command posts and supply depots. The New York Times, which first broke the story, also reported Saturday that more documents had been released that show the U.S. spying on allies. In all, more than 100 U.S. documents were leaked, containing sensitive, classified information about the war in Ukraine, Russian military activity, China and the Middle East were posted last month. How did the leaked DOD documents become public? Thats unclear. "We're still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue," Pentagon spokesperson Chris Meagher told reporters on Monday. He said the Department of Defense is looking into who has been given access to such sensitive and often highly classified documents. There have been steps to take a closer look at how this type of information is distributed and to whom," he said. The Justice Department, at the Pentagon's request, has launched an investigation into the leak and who is responsible for the intelligence breach. It is also unclear, officials have said, if more documents could be released or the motivation for leaking them. More: Leak of secret Pentagon documents on Ukraine sparks probe, raises fears of more to come The Department of Defense is also actively reviewing the matter, in addition to making a formal referral to the Justice Department for an investigation, Sabrina Singh, the Pentagon's deputy press secretary, said in a statement on Saturday. An aerial view of Bakhmut, the site of heavy battles with Russian troops in the Donetsk region, Ukraine, Sunday, March 26, 2023. What secrets has the Pentagon leak revealed? One of the most potentially damaging disclosures concerns what the U.S. believes are the potential vulnerabilities in Ukraine's air defense capabilities. Some of the documents include highly classified assessments of whether some U.S. allies, including Israel and South Korea, are willing to provide military assistance to Ukraine, according to copies of the documents posted online and on social media. On Wednesday, Reuters reported that Serbia has agreed to provide Ukraine with lethal aid or has already sent it, according to another allegedly leaked secret Pentagon document. USA TODAY has not independently confirmed the authenticity of the documents, but Pentagon officials have commented on them. The leaked documents represent a "very serious risk to national security," the Pentagon's Meagher said. "We're still investigating how this happened, as well as the scope of the issue." Meagher declined to say whether the Department of Defense believes the documents are genuine, but said some of them "appear to have been altered." Investigating the Pentagon leak Aric Toler, who heads research and training for Bellingcat, a Netherlands-based investigative fact-checking and open-source intelligence group, said the documents appear to be dated to early March, around the time he said they were first posted online on Discord, a messaging platform popular with gamers. In a Bellingcat post, Toler reported that the Discord channels in which the documents were posted focused on the Minecraft computer game and as well for fans of a Filipino YouTube celebrity. Then they spread to anonymous English-language imageboard website 4Chan and then Telegram and ultimately Twitter and major media publishers around the world in recent days. Toler, who has investigated the source of the documents, said he and others at Bellingcat have seen evidence "that some documents dated to January could have been posted online even earlier, although it is unclear exactly when." Toler told USA TODAY he could not comment on his research, citing an inquiry from the FBI. Whats the impact been so far? One Biden administration source called the leak an egregious betrayal of trust but speculated that the information released had limited value because it is several weeks old. The war changes rapidly, day by day, rendering the information a snapshot in time, the source said. White House national security spokesman John Kirby, speaking at a press briefing Monday, declined to discuss specific documents revealed in last week's massive leak but said U.S. officials "have been in touch with relevant allies and partners in recent days" to discuss them. Who could have done it? The number of possible suspects is large potentially hundreds of people had access to the documents, according to a senior administration official. They range from members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, headed by Army Gen. Mark Milley, to political appointees and career bureaucrats and contractors. The documents also would have been shared with the federal governments sprawling intelligence community, adding another large body of potential suspects. What's the possible leak motive? The suspect could be somebody who sympathizes with Russia and its autocratic leader, Vladimir Putin, the official said. A disaffected, low-level spy, somebody seduced by an operative posing as a journalist or a person seeking notoriety intent on displaying their importance, the official said. Why did it take so long for officials to discover the leak? Congress will surely demand answers when lawmakers return to Washington next week. The documents had not been hiding. They had been posted for weeks on social media sites. As the documents sat unnoticed by the Defense Department, the Pentagon announced in mid-March that it was asking Congress for $29.3 billion to fund its intelligence programs in 2024. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: DOD leaked documents: What we know about damage to military secrets The high-profile Pentagon leak which has exposed hundreds of classified documents, including intel about Russias war with Ukraine, has been linked to a gun enthusiast in his early 20s. The man, who is referred to by the initials OG, is understood to have worked on a military base and shared the cryptic information on an online chat group Discord for fellow gamers and weapon fanatics. The group was most often known as Thug Shaker Central- a nod to the unsubtle racism in the platform. The invitation-only chat group made up of roughly two dozen people, mostly men and boys, formed in 2020. It is believed that around half of the members were from countries outside of the US. In an interview with a teenage member of the group, The Washington Post learned that OG is laying low and he seems very confused and lost as to what to do. The teenager, who is under 18, added: Hes fully aware of whats happening and what the consequences may be. Hes just not sure on how to go about solving this situation He seems pretty distraught about it. The links to the online platform was first reported by the Bellingcat investigative journalism group on Sunday, who also interviewed the teenager. OG claimed to work inside a security facility where phones and electronic devices were restricted due to the highly-classified material all around him. He said he spent hours transcribing a range of top-secret reports to share with his friends in the server. He reportedly got tired of sending the documents he painstakingly typed up and annotated to decode the text to normal citizens, and began sending photographs of the articles. The content of some of these images included charts of battlefield conditions in Ukraine. Hundreds of classified Pentagon documents were leaked (Getty Images/iStockphoto) Speaking about OG, the teenage member said: Hes fit. Hes strong. Hes armed. Hes trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie. ThePost watched a video of the man shooting at a range with a large rifle. He yells a series of racial and antisemitic slurs into the camera, then fires several rounds at a target, the report said. Story continues The teenager said that OG has a sinister view of the US government. In one instance, he claimed that the government knew in advance about a shooting rampage that would happen in a supermarket in Buffalo in May 2022 by a white supremacist. He claimed that officials allowed the attack to happen so they could make a case for increased funding. The US is taking the leak very seriously, having launched a multi-agency investigation to find the source of what would be one of the most damning breaches of American intelligence in years. While some reports state that the documents circulating on social media platforms like Twitter, Telegram and Discord have been doctored to suit Russian estimates of casualties in the war, unnamed US officials have told the New York Times that a chunk of these documents appear genuine. In the first official comments from Washington, the US defence secretary Lloyd Austin has said that the country will investigate the recent purported leak of classified documents until the source is found. We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it, Mr Austin said during a press conference at the State Department. The Pentagon. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) The trove of classified Pentagon documents posted online has exposed sensitive U.S. spying operations not just on enemy states but on allies such as South Korea and Egypt, raising troubling questions about the access that low-level members of the military have to national secrets as well as the damage they can potentially do to Americas relationships with other countries. According to a report in the New York Times, the leaker is Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old officer in the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard who is fond of guns, racist memes and video games. To the select group of Thug Shaker Central, the invitation-only, male-dominated chat forum where the documents first appeared on the Discord messaging platform, Teixeira was known as the OG. Hes fit. Hes strong. Hes armed. Hes trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie, a teenage online acquaintance said of Teixeira. Remarkably, Teixeira, who was taken into custody on Thursday, seems to have committed a felony crime in distributing American state secrets not out of ideological fervor or for money but for attention. He shared these documents to make his friends impressed with him, Aric Toler, director of training and research at the Dutch investigative outlet Bellingcat, and the lead open-source investigator responsible for identifying Teixeira, told Scripps News. As bizarre and unnerving as this breach may be, its not over yet. The Washington Post has examined 300 new photographs of classified materials, most of which have not been made public. Worse still, there could be a lot more material than that, some of which may yet be posted and deleted in some dark corner of the internet, waiting to be ferreted out by enterprising online sleuths. Our intelligence collection system runs on trust, Joshua Manning, a former analyst in the Defense Intelligence Agency, told Yahoo News of the leakers identification. In this case, some random MAGA extremist defiled that trust for personal gain. The question the community and especially the Defense Department needs to ask is whether that specific unit and many others across the country and world really need this level of access. Story continues An infographic on the Pentagon documents leak created in Ankara, Turkey. (Kenan Kaplan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The U.S. now finds itself in an awkward but familiar place, more than a decade after Chelsea Manning, an Army soldier stationed in Iraq, downloaded hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents pertaining to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus sensitive State Department cables, and passed them to WikiLeaks for publication. Not long after Mannings breach, intelligence contractor Edward Snowden exposed the National Security Agencys elaborate eavesdropping programs. As in both of those incidents, U.S. diplomats are once again fielding uncomfortable phone calls with foreign counterparts in which theyre forced to answer difficult questions. Yet former spies say the U.S. can muddle through this scandal, which, at least so far, pales in comparison to prior breaches. Even the most shocking of the Pentagon disclosures, they insist, are not shocking enough to do irreparable or even serious harm to bilateral relations. The current commander in chief agrees. Theres nothing contemporaneous [in the documents] that Im aware of that is of big consequence, President Biden told reporters Thursday. For one thing, none of the allies or partners have kicked up much of a fuss over disclosures that a broad spectrum of U.S. intelligence agencies have been spying on them, mainly on the question of where they stand with respect to Russias war in Ukraine, an outsize preoccupation for the Biden administration and U.S. intelligence community. In fact, a consensus is now emerging among the spied-upon nations that some if not most of these documents contain information that is absurd, untrue or manipulated. Those responses run counter to the characterizations of some U.S. media outlets that the U.S. intelligence breach is the most damaging in years, potentially worse than Snowden and the apparent cause of indigestion among several Pentagon staffers. There is little evidence to date that the leaked documents are inauthentic or have been doctored (apart from one well-litigated example that was the result of pro-Russian social media users who fudged Ukrainian and Russian casualty figures after the fact). But if the materials do not contain shards of disinformation, it only raises the question of why Americas friends are closing ranks behind Washington to do damage control on its behalf. South Korea South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. (Jung Yeon-Je/Getty Images) One of the most significant U.S. penetrations of a partner nations government detailed in the leak was that of South Koreas National Security Office. These files, labeled Top Secret (the highest category of classification) and culled from a CIA intelligence brief, detail specific interactions between top South Korean officials, including the former Secretary for Foreign Affairs Lee Mun-hee and the former national security adviser Kim Sung-han, as they debated Seouls policy of not supplying lethal military aid to Ukraine and whether it should be changed. The leak came just weeks before South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is scheduled to visit the United States on April 26. That state visit is also mentioned in the intercept, with Sung-han expressing concern that any South Korean announcement of a change in their policy to supply lethal military aid to Kyiv might be seen as a quid pro quo in relation to the state visit. (The visit, as it happens, was scheduled to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries.) The reaction to the breach in Seoul was largely split along party lines. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party told foreign reporters on Tuesday that 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. President Yoon Suk-yeols government, meanwhile, sought to downplay the leak. A statement released by the office of the South Korean president claimed that the allegations that U.S. intelligence had heavily penetrated the South Korean government were an absurd false suspicion. The statement also revealed that current South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup held a conversation with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in which both sides agreed that quite a few of the documents in question were fabricated. Neither Lee nor Austin have elaborated on what else they believed to be fake. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Another possible reason for South Koreas muted response to the spying revelations of U.S. spying is that Seoul is, by many accounts, likely guilty of the same thing. A former U.S. intelligence official told Yahoo News that, much like the Germans, the South Koreans regularly spy on the United States, primarily in order to glean crucial intelligence about their main adversary, North Korea, which the U.S. intelligence community is unwilling to share with Seoul. Indeed, another CIA intelligence briefing contained in the latest breach, also marked Top Secret, discusses North Koreas tests of its intercontinental ballistic missiles. On the same page, it states that the North Koreans have been parading around a number of inactive ICBM launchers in order to trick the Americans into believing they have a more capable missile force than they actually do. Weve had cases of catching South Koreans red-handed in the past trying to get our secrets about Pyongyang, the former U.S. intelligence official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. And guess what? Were still friends. Politically these leaks may be awkward, but no professional in our line of work would or should be shocked by anything in those files, which, by the way, are only summaries of collected intelligence. The really sensitive stuff isnt put into these files for a reason and that reason is now evident all over the internet. A good portion of the contents of the leaked Pentagon files read like a mishmash of open-source information gleaned from media reports, and rumors obtained and dispatched back to Washington by American diplomats stationed overseas. John Sipher, the former deputy head of Russia House at the CIA, told Yahoo News that the popular conception of espionage, culled from Hollywood movies and spy novels, is markedly different from the mundane realities. We often see this assumption in our press that intelligence is this huge surprise, the keys to the kingdom that wed otherwise not have. Often, what we collect simply confirms what we already knew, bolstering confidence in our assessments. A TV screen in a Seoul, South Korea, railway station shows a report on the leaked Pentagon documents, April 12. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo) In the Ukraine-related documents, for instance, there is a lengthy write-up of internal Ukrainian government conversations about the perilous state of the Donetsk city of Bakhmut. Catastrophic is how Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraines military intelligence service, characterized the situation there as of Feb. 28, by way of ordering the deployment of HURs elite Kraken unit of special operators to help stabilize Ukraines northern and southern flanks around Bakhmut. Yet Russian advances in the city were no secret: they had been a predominant item of Ukraine reporting for weeks around that time, both in the West and in Ukraine itself. One hardly needed Budanovs opinion to know things were going badly for Ukraine in Bakhmut a month and a half ago. Marc Polymeropoulos, the former head of European and Eurasian Affairs at the CIA, as well as a former case officer stationed in the Middle East, thinks Washington has seen and muddled through far worse intelligence breaches. Ive read reports on these leaks suggesting that some countries will restrict intelligence-sharing with the U.S. after this, Polymeropoulos told Yahoo News. Bullshit. There is a massive land war in Europe. There may be some hard chats between U.S. embassies and their counterparts, but we have a war to win. In the end, we build strong bilateral ties in order to weather these storms. Israel and Egypt A demonstration against the Israeli government's controversial justice reform bill, in Tel Aviv, March 4. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images) Two of the most revealing documents in the leak concern Middle East allies of the United States. The first, taken from a CIA intelligence update dated March 1 that was acquired from U.S. intercepts, purports to show that the heads of the Mossad, Israels foreign intelligence service, were encouraging popular protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu governments controversial plan to limit the Israeli Supreme Courts oversight over the constitutionality of Knesset-passed laws. The notion that Mossad chiefs were fomenting the protests in Israel is just not plausible, Polymeropoulos said. So I think there is some question on authenticity here, or a question on the quality of the analysis. What may have happened is that Pentagon analysts conflated news reports that the Mossad was allowing its officer corps to take part in the protests as a matter of their democratic right for foreign spy agencys interference in the domestic political affairs of Israel. On that note, Polymeropoulos added, lets remember how flawed the U.S. military assessments have been during the entire course of the Ukraine war. The Pentagon gets a lot just plain wrong. The Mossad did not directly comment on the allegations contained in the leaks, but Netanyahus office, speaking on behalf of the intelligence agency, called them false and unfounded, adding that even the ostensible source material upon which they were based was also wrong. The Mossad and its senior officials have not and are not encouraging workers at the organization to demonstrate against the government, and participate in political demonstrations in general, the prime ministers office said in a written statement on April 9. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaking at a summit in Cairo, Feb. 12. (Ahmad Hassan/AFP via Getty Images) The other Middle East ally cited in the trove is Egypt. The Washington Post reported that a document dated Feb. 17 details tentative plans drawn up by Egyptian President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials to secretly supply Russia with 40,000 rockets, most likely referring to munitions for the 122-millimeter Grad multiple-launch rocket system. Egypt is the recipient of $1.3 billion annually in U.S. military assistance. Yet Sisi also enjoys strong ties with Vladimir Putin, with Egypt operating and purchasing a significant quantity of weaponry from Russia, a wide variety of small arms and Ka-52 attack helicopters. Cairo even reportedly recently inked a deal to purchase 500 T-90MS main battle tanks from Moscow, that will be assembled under license in Egypt. In an interview on Tuesday with state-linked media outlet Al Qahera News, an Egyptian government spokesperson described the leaked reports as informational absurdityand claimed that the country followed a balanced policy with international parties. The United Kingdom John Healey, British shadow secretary of state for defense. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) The assessment seems to be taken entirely from statements made on the record by British politicians and other open sources. In fact, the whole thing seems to have originated in a speech made by Shadow Defense Minister John Healey to the Royal United Services Institute, a prominent British foreign policy think tank in London. The speech was livestreamed and later published on a number of pro-Labour news outlets. In this case, the Pentagon was simply clicking through for intelligence. That the U.S. is interested in the internal workings of British politics is not exactly breaking news. Among the State Department cables leaked by Manning was a write-up by the U.S. charge daffaires in London, Richard LeBaron, titled Gloomy Budget and a New Scandal Torpedo Browns Poll Numbers, a detailed analysis of how an adviser to then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, leader of the Labour Party, had planned to plant false rumors online about Conservative politicians, a scandal known in the U.K. as Smeargate, and how the exposure of the plan had adversely affected Browns approval ratings. Furthermore, the United Kingdom certainly returns the compliment. In 2019, Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the United States, was forced to resign after British government DipTels short for diplomatic telegrams were leaked showing Darrochs assessment of the Trump administration as inept and insecure. As former acting U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain Lewis Lukens pointed out at the time, Sir Kim was doing what hes paid to do. And what he was paid to do was reporting honestly and frankly on the situation in Washington. This was but a hiccup in a special relationship between the United States and United Kingdom that has endured the Cambridge Five compromises, George Blake and much else during the Cold War and shows not even the slightest sign of growing any less special now. On Ukraine, Washington and London have been in lockstep, particularly in their disclosures of Russias invasion plans and intentions before Feb. 24, 2022. A high-ranking official in an allied NATO intelligence service told Yahoo News that most of what the Americans and British knew about Putins designs came from signals intelligence. In this latest breach, the British government seemed to follow South Koreas lead in disputing the veracity of the leaked information. A significant proportion of the content of these reports is untrue, manipulated, or both, a British defense official told the Times (U.K). We strongly caution against anybody taking the veracity of these claims at face value and would also advise them to take time to question the source and purpose of such leaks. British lawmaker Tobias Ellwood, a member of the ruling Conservative Party and the chair of the influential Defense Select Committee, had a less sanguine take on the leaks, saying the revelations could endanger lives. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Carlos Costa/AFP via Getty Images) Media doomcasting about worst-case scenarios is as common under these circumstances as the leak of classified information itself. Just 10 years ago, another spy scandal was similarly described as having the capacity to upend an important bilateral relationship, possibly for good. In 2013, German magazine Der Spiegel revealed that a U.S. unit known as the Special Collection Service, jointly run by the CIA and National Security Agency, had been listening in on phone calls in Germany. And these were not just any phone calls but ones placed by top German officials including then-Chancellor Angela Merkel on her personal cellphone. Confronted with this embarrassing revelation, mined from the mountain of NSA data stolen by contractor Edward Snowden, the U.S. had a rather sheepish response: There was not currently nor would there in future be any spying on the chancellors phone, the implication being that there had been in the past. The fallout in Berlin was predictably ferocious. Some German politicians demanded pausing or scuttling a much sought-after EU free-trade agreement with the U.S. (It went ahead.) Diplomats warned of a coming deep freeze in relations not just between Washington and Berlin but between Washington and Brussels. (Diplomacy continued.) Even Barack Obama, who spoke to a rapturous crowd of 200,000 at the Brandenburg Gate when running for president in 2008, was transformed overnight from progressive icon into untrustworthy snoop in German public opinion. Spying between friends, Merkel rather touchingly announced at an EU summit in Brussels that October, thats just not done. Except, of course, it is, was and always will be at least when it comes to certain friends. That fact was made amply apparent when, just two years later, Der Spiegel reported that Germanys Federal Intelligence Service had itself been spying for years on the White House, state and treasury departments, even branches of the U.S. military. Whereas politicians like to pretend to abide by a code of ethics and disdain acts of hypocrisy, no such covenants apply in the worlds second-oldest profession, however titillating the exposure of espionage programs may be to journalists and pundits. If everyone were telling the truth all the time, John Sipher, formerly of the CIA, said, we wouldnt have to spy on them. The man believed to be responsible for the leak of hundreds of US defence documents that have laid bare military secrets and upset Washingtons relations with key allies is a 21-year-old air national guardsman based in Massachusetts. Related: Who is Jack Teixeira, the man arrested over Pentagon files leak? Jack Teixeira was arrested at his home in the town of North Dighton, Massachusetts, by FBI agents on Thursday. Helicopter news footage showed a young man in red shorts, being made to walk backwards towards a team of agents standing by an armoured vehicle dressed in camouflage and body armour, pointing their rifles at him. The US attorney general, Merrick Garland confirmed the arrest, saying Teixeira was being held in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defence information. Teixeira was the leader of an online chat group who uploaded hundreds of photographs of secret and top-secret documents, according to the New York Times. The online group called itself Thug Shaker Central, made up of 20 to 30 young men and teenagers who shared their love of guns, racist memes and video games. Members of the group have told the investigative journalism organisation Bellingcat, the Washington Post and the New York Times that the documents were shared on Thug Shaker Central in an apparent attempt to impress the group, rather than to achieve any particular foreign policy outcome. The Times said it had seen about 300 of the documents, only a fraction of which have so far been reported, indicating the national security damage could be worse than has been acknowledged. Earlier on Thursday, Joe Biden, who is on an official visit to Ireland, said: Theres a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the justice department, and theyre getting close. An increasing volume of evidence pointed to the leaker being a disaffected young man with racist views and a preoccupation with guns, who claimed to work on a military base. The person shared photos of the documents on a chat group with about two dozen active members, starting last year and continuing until March. Story continues Im not concerned about the leak, Biden said. Im concerned that it happened. But theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of thats of great consequence. Some of the leaked documents are dated as recently as March, and discussed Ukraines troop deployments, military vulnerabilities and efforts to arm its forces before a spring counteroffensive. There is also evidence of the US spying on allies, and their reluctance to arm Ukraine, and material about Russian forces and decision-making in Moscow that could help the Kremlin better understand the strengths and weaknesses of US intelligence collection efforts in Russia. Related: Pentagon leaks: how much damage will they cause? Some newly reported documents show knowledge of infighting between the Russian intelligence and the defence ministry. In one document reported by the New York Times, US officials describe how the Federal Security Service (FSB) had accused the defence ministry of trying to cover up the extent of Russian casualties in Ukraine. The FSB said the official statistics did not include the dead and wounded from the national guard or two significant militias involved in combat, the Wagner mercenary force and fighters fielded by the Chechen republics warlord leader, Ramzan Kadyrov. The US intelligence assessment was that the spat demonstrated the continuing reluctance of military officials to convey bad news up the chain of command. Despite Bidens optimistic assessment of the investigation, federal authorities had reportedly not approached an important witness, a teenage member of the internet group that the leaker managed. The teenager talked to Bellingcat at the weekend, and in more detail to the Washington Post on Wednesday. He described the leaker, referred to by the initials OG, as a charismatic leader. The Post viewed a video of a man identified as OG at a shooting range with a large rifle. He yells a series of racial and antisemitic slurs into the camera, then fires several rounds at a target, the report said. OG told fellow members of the same internet group that he worked on a military base, which was not named in the report, where his job involved viewing large amounts of classified information. The Pentagon has begun tightening its circle of employees and contractors and has promised to review its policy in granting top-secret clearance. In March, a batch of the documents were shared by a teenage member of Thug Shaker Central on another server dedicated to following a Filipino YouTuber called WowMao, with a wider readership. A moderator on the WowMao server, known as Kralj, described the teenager who shared the documents as in his late teens, a good kid with a good heart. He just wants to inform his friends about stuff hes finding online but didnt want the documents to leak. It was just bad luck for him that the documents were real, Kralj added. Related: Pentagon leaks: key revelations of classified documents According to the teenage member of the group interviewed by the Post, OG had a dark view of the government, portraying the government, and particularly law enforcement and the intelligence agencies, as a repressive force. He ranted about government overreach. The Post said details were confirmed anonymously by other members of the group, and that it had viewed a total of 300 photographs of classified documents, three times the number previously thought to be circulating. The teenage group member told the Post that OG seemed very confused and lost as to what to do. Hes fully aware of whats happening and what the consequences may be, he said. Hes just not sure on how to go about solving this situation He seems pretty distraught about it. In his final message to his fellow group members, OG told them to keep low and delete any information that could possibly relate to him, including any copies of the classified documents. Does the government work for us or do we work for the government? Can the government morally steal data about allies and enemies and then make it a crime to reveal that data, even when the revelation shows that the government has been lying about killing? What to do about high-ranking government officials who lie about war? When the First Amendment states that Congress shall make no law abridging ... the freedom of speech, does it really mean NO LAW? All these questions came to mind as I attempted to digest the significance of the recent leak of top-secret documents from what appears to be a Pentagon briefing on the current status of military operations in Ukraine. In all, about 50 documents appear to have been printed off a computer and taken out of a secure federal facility and then photographed. The photos were then uploaded to various internet sites. The essence of the revelations is that Russia is killing seven Ukrainian troops for every one of its own that Ukrainians are killing, Ukrainian air defenses are projected to collapse totally by the end of next month, and the U.S. has excellent sources of Russian military plans, so good that the Pentagon is able to inform its Ukrainian counterparts of Russian troop movements and air assaults before they occur. Do the math. A 7-to-1 kill ratio is a slaughter that cannot endure much longer. So, when Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin tells the Senate Armed Services Committee he expects Ukraine to do well militarily this spring and next winter, how can he reconcile his statements to that kill ratio? The American government is deeply committed to aiding Ukraine in its resistance to Russian forces in ways not even known to members of Congress, the media or the American public. Stated differently, the U.S. is at war with Russia. White House investigates classified Ukraine leaks The U.S. steals Russian military plans and gives them to Ukraine officials. The U.S. has provided more than $60 billion in cash and military equipment to Ukraine. The U.S. spies on Ukraine political, military and intelligence leadership with such effectiveness that the U.S. knows Ukraine plans before they are executed. Story continues Add to all this, the U.S. has troops on the ground in Ukraine, out of uniform, operating sophisticated American military hardware. Americans in Ukraine choose Russian targets and Americans in Poland pull the triggers. Are American boys using American military hardware to shoot American ammunition at Russian boys? In a word: YES. Is any of this legal? In a word: NO. Here is the backstory. Daniel Ellsberg was a civilian employee of the Pentagon in the 1970s who secretly copied about 7,000 pages of classified documents concerning the war in Vietnam and handed the documents to reporters for The New York Times and The Washington Post. When the Nixon administration got wind of this, its Department of Justice sought and obtained injunctions against the publication of the documents. The newspapers appealed and the Supreme Court in a very rare step directly took both appeals, bypassing the intermediate appellate courts. In the famous Pentagon Papers case, the court ruled in favor of the media. It held that matters material to the public interest especially matters pertaining to the government, particularly matters about war can be published with impunity, no matter how the materials came into the possession of the media. It is on this basis that Edward Snowden published secret documents showing government mass warrantless spying on Americans, and Julian Assange published classified materials showing U.S. war crimes. More Napolitano: Take Easter seriously. Here's why The documents that Ellsberg revealed showed that American generals and President Lyndon B. Johnson had been lying to the public about the war. The Supreme Courts decision was a complete exoneration for the media, but what about Ellsberg and Snowden? And what about Bradley Manning, who stole the materials that Assange revealed? Snowden is indicted yet living in Russia. Ellsberg and Manning were prosecuted for espionage failure to retain secrets reposed to them for safekeeping. The case against Ellsberg was dismissed when the judge learned during his trial that the FBI broke into Ellsbergs psychiatrists office looking for his medical records. Manning pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 45 years in prison. His sentence was commuted by President Barack Obama. Should Ellsberg and Manning have been prosecuted for revealing truths? Should Snowden be prosecuted? Should the leaker of the Ukraine documents be prosecuted? Should the medias immunity from criminal and civil liability be limited to the media in this age of internet self-publishing? If I were free to do so, Id terminate all prosecutions for the revelation of truthful matters about the government and pardon all persons who revealed government truths that are of material interest to the public. Id do this because truth is a higher good than government comfort in wars that do not threaten American national security. The public has the right to know when the government is materially misleading it by spying or killing and lying about it. In Ukraine, American troops are killing Russian troops in a war that the government itself believes is a losing effort. Moreover, Congress has not declared war against Russia, but President Joe Biden is surreptitiously fighting one. Congress can only declare war on a country whose military is an imminent threat to America. Today, the U.S. is more of a threat to Russia than Russia is to the U.S. The more all this is exposed, the better Americans can decide who should lead them. What about the freedom of speech? The whole purpose of the First Amendment is to encourage open, wide, robust speech about the policies of the government. This underlying value is assaulted when speech is silenced because the government hates or fears it. Government punishment of speech is the work of tyrants, as are secret and illegal wars. The revelation of all this is courageous and heroic. Andrew P. Napolitano, a former New Jersey Superior Court Judge, has published nine books on the U.S. Constitution. Andrew P. Napolitano This article originally appeared on New Jersey Herald: Ukraine Pentagon leak Pentagon Papers BuzzFeed News; Getty Images; Aquaphor Joan McKenzie Wilburn, a 20-year-old from Dallas, wore Aquaphor, a petroleum-based product, during her spring break trip to Mexico, continuously applying it to her lips throughout the entire day. It wasnt until the next morning that she found out what a lip sunburn was . Her lips were swollen and uncomfortable, and then, when they began to blister, the pain really set in. I found out I had sun poisoning, Wilburn told BuzzFeed News. Sun poisoning is a sunburn so extreme it leads to dehydration, blisters, pain, swelling, and sometimes fever and chills. I woke up every morning for four days and had to ice my lips, take Benadryl, and drink lots of fluid for the swelling to go down only a little bit. My lips peeled for over a week and blistered and bled, and I had to use steroid cream on my lips for it to heal quicker. Wilburn said it was extremely embarrassing to walk around looking like she had botched lip filler or a cosmetic procedure. Although Wilburn said it might have felt like she had free lip injections, she would not recommend that people wear Aquaphor in the sun. Because the internet is going to internet, however, some people on the social platform are already posting themselves applying Aquaphor in hopes of achieving a full-lipped pout without lip plumpers or injections. The search sunburn Aquaphor has 2.1 billion views on TikTok , with some users commenting about how they cant wait to try the trend for themselves on their next trip to the beach. This is my sign to wear aquaphor in the sun , one user commented on the post. Thanks Ill be trying, another said. However, dermatologists are warning users of the risks of sun damage. A spokesperson for Aquaphor also told BuzzFeed News about the brands thoughts on the TikTok trend. We only encourage usage of Aquaphor as directed on the label and for its main purpose, which is to hydrate lips and provide long-lasting moisture, said Leslie Kickham, external communications leader at Beiersdorf, the company that owns Aquaphor. People who are following TikTok trends and applying Aquaphor in unapproved ways should not do so. Story continues The company recommends that people use a specific product it makes, Aquaphor Lip Protectant + Sunscreen , if they are going to be in the sun. Heres what to know about Aquaphor, sunburns, and why you shouldnt apply this on purpose to plump up your lips in the sun. Why do some products cause lip sunburns? First up, we need to point out that theres nothing special about Aquaphor in this case. Applying any petroleum-based product, like Vaseline, to your lips before spending time in the sun can lead to sunburn because the products dont contain SPF, which protects against UV rays. Although petroleum and oil products are great for locking in moisture on dry and cracking lips dermatologists warned against using the products in the sun, and instead, told us to opt for an SPF lip balm. On other parts of the body that produce sweat, petroleum- or oil-based products can block pores and trap sweat. It looks like some people are purposely applying petroleum-based products on their lips to make them bigger. This is incredibly unwise, said Ranella Hirsch, a board-certified dermatologist based in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Since a key component of this hack is to cause a sunburn, you put yourself in a direct line for hyperpigmentation, pain, infection, and skin cancer. Lips are a combination of muscle and connective tissue and are automatically positioned to be exposed to the sun just like the rest of your face. As a result, a sunburn can manifest as the immune system tries to protect the body from UV rayinduced damage. Since the lips are a different type of tissue (mucosal tissue, which is a soft tissue), Dr. Elizabeth Bahar Houshmand, a fellow at the American Academy of Dermatology, told BuzzFeed News, there are specific risks of using petroleum- and oil-based products on thinner and more sensitive skin. Lipcare products with SPF protect against sun damage, but products with petroleum like Aquaphor or Vaseline put you at risk for a sunburn, as they do not have photoprotection or SPF, Houshmand said. This is why you are seeing the swelling, redness, and enlargement of the lips and even blister formation with excessive sun exposure. Similar to applying baby oil to the skin and getting a sunburn. Compared to other parts of the body that typically have 15 to 16 layers of skin, lips are made up of three to four layers , one of the thinnest layers on the body. That means that our lips dont have a layer of protection like the rest of our skin does. The 10 to 30 upper layers of skin are called the stratum corneum, where cells are a bit tougher and ready to fight against the suns radiation. Additionally, sebaceous glands, or sweat glands, arent found on the lips like they are in other areas of the body. Sweat controls body temperature and serves as the first layer of defense from environmental factors . As a result, chronic sun exposure can cause a precancerous lesion, actinic cheilitis, also known as sailors lip , which often forms on the lower lip. The lesion can develop into squamous cell carcinoma, a common form of skin cancer. Although the majority of squamous cell carcinomas are successfully treated, lesions can become disfiguring, dangerous, and deadly . Squamous cell carcinomas typically are not as likely to spread as some types of skin cancers, but when they form on the lips they are 11 times more likely to metastasize than those that develop elsewhere on the body. (There is also a risk of basal cell carcinoma appearing on the top lip.) With an estimated 1.8 million cases of squamous cell carcinoma diagnosed each year in the US and a 200% increase in the past three decades its important to practice sun safety, including applying SPF, wearing protective clothing, and avoiding tanning. Symptoms of sunburned lips Swelling, redness, peeling, and blistering are all signs of a lip sunburn, Houshmand said. The risks are having a decreased skin barrier meaning dryness irritation, dehydrated lips, and excessive temperature extremes, Houshmand said. Applying petrolatum and going out in the sun can cause a burn which leads to the swelling making the lips bigger. This is being called instant filler. It is a sunburn and sun damage. A sunburn can present in many different ways. The skin on the lips might feel warm and swell as blood flow increases and immune cells reach the affected area . Applying sunscreen is just as important as applying it on other areas of your body, Hirsch said. Since the skin on the lips is the most susceptible part, sun damage can be a significant risk factor for developing skin cancer. Heres what you can do to help with swelling Its important to avoid petroleum and oil products in the sun, and experts told BuzzFeed News, it also might be harmful to apply after a sunburn as well. If you have a mild sunburn, use a cool compress on your lips to help with swelling and to decrease the heat in your lips. With a sunburn, do not use any lip products with petroleum; this will keep the heat in and prolong the burn and the symptoms, Houshmand said. Taking an anti-inflammatory may be helpful. Like other parts of the body, adding an extra step to your routine can lower your risk of skin cancer. A broad sunscreen that protects both UVA and UVB rays , or has an SPF of 15 or higher on all exposed skin can prevent skin cancer. Additionally, finding a chapstick with an SPF of 15 or higher can protect against sun damage. The goal is cooling and pain relief, Hirsch said. Staying hydrated, avoiding additional sun, gently applying a cold compress soaked in whole milk, taking an anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen or Tylenol, and staying away from spicy foods can be helpful. If your skin is peeling, Hirsch also added that its critically important to not help it along by peeling off the skin on the lips. Additionally, if blisters do appear, dont pop them. They are functioning as a biological wound dressing, Hirsch said. Interfering with them such as unroofing or popping them increases the risk of developing an infection. Learn from the experience and always apply, and reapply, sunscreen to the lips, Hirsch said. More on this Photograph: Sebastian Castaneda/EPA A former Peruvian presidential candidate, Daniel Urresti, has been sentenced to 12 years in jail for his role in the murder of a journalist in 1988 at the height of the countrys brutal civil conflict. A court ruled on Thursday that Urresti, then a military intelligence army officer, took part in the ambush and murder of Hugo Bustios, who was investigating human rights abuses. As the sentence was read, Urresti listened along with his wife and daughter, whom he hugged before being taken into custody by the police. Lawyers for the politician and former interior minister said they would appeal the verdict. Prosecutors had requested 25 years, but said they were satisfied with the decision. Related: Abimael Guzman, Shining Paths leader, died a year ago. The terror he unleashed on Peru lives on Hugo Bustios was a reporter for the weekly magazine Caretas in the Andean region of Ayacucho at the centre of the armed conflict in the 1980s and 90s. The journalist reported on human rights abuses committed both by the Shining Path rebels and the armed forces in the region, the worst hit by the political violence which left nearly 70,000 people dead or disappeared, according to Perus truth and reconciliation commission. Bustios was shot at with machine guns by a group of plaincloths soldiers while riding a motorbike, forcing him to lose control and crash. His companion, another journalist who had been riding pillion, managed to escape. As Bustios lay gravely wounded, prosecutors said, soldiers detonated explosives on his body, killing him. Urresti was accused by two fellow officers from his military base who had been convicted of ordering the journalists murder in 2007. They claim Urresti, then a captain in charge of intelligence, took part in the ambush in which Bustios was killed in November 1988. In 2018, Urresti was cleared of any involvement in the journalists murder when he was a front-running candidate to be mayor of Lima, an election which he narrowly lost. Story continues But Perus supreme court overturned the ruling and ordered a new trial, which following a lengthy hearing led to his conviction for murder in the early hours of Thursday. The judges also ruled that Bustios murder had been premeditated. In a combative political career, Urresti served as Perus interior minister between 2014 and 2015, ran twice for the presidency, in 2016 and 2021, as well as the mayoral office of Lima, in 2018 and 2022. He lost the latter by less than a percentage point to the ultra-conservative millionaire Rafael Lopez Aliaga. Throughout, he courted notoriety for his social media attacks on politicians while brushing off accusations that police used excessive force against protesters. Despite backing for his populist law-and-order platform, the former army generals political career has been overshadowed by allegations he took part in Bustios brutal murder. Related: Mayor closes museum of memories in battle over story of Perus violent past Sharmeli Bustios, the eldest daughter of the murdered journalist, welcomed the ruling, saying in a tweet that she could finally light a candle for her parents and tell them: Justice has been done, 34 years later. The road has been hard and painful. Today all that remains is to give thanks. Perus National Association of Journalists said on Twitter that the verdict represented redress for the Bustios family and an important step towards justice and the defense of press freedom in Peru. You are here: World Flash U.S. President Joe Biden arrived on Wednesday for a three-day visit. This is Biden's first visit to Ireland as president of the United States. During his three-day official visit, Biden is scheduled to meet Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins, hold talks with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and address the lower house of the country's parliament. Earlier on Wednesday, Biden stopped over in Northern Ireland, where he attended a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace deal that brought an end to decades of violent conflicts in Northern Ireland. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. A Kennewick woman is accused of siphoning off nearly half a million dollars from a Tri-Cities business. Kristina L. Ripplinger, 43, is under investigation for taking cash from bank deposits at Horse Heaven Hills Pet Urgent Center for more than four years. She was arrested Tuesday and appeared briefly in Benton County Superior Court on Wednesday afternoon. The business became aware of the missing funds this month and hired a CPA firm to inspect their financial processes, according to a Kennewick Police Department news release. The firm found more than $470,000 in cash was missing, said the release. The deputy prosecutor at Ripplingers first appearance noted that the amount in this case is alarming. Ripplinger is a licensed veterinary technician and practice manager at the urgent pet center at 3315 W. Clearwater Ave. Shes worked in veterinary medicine for more than two decades, including at veterinarian offices in the Tri-Cities and Pocatello, Idaho, according to her LinkedIn. She was booked Tuesday into Benton County jail on investigation of one felony count of theft. On Wednesday, she had her first court appearance in Benton County Superior Court, where bail was set at $40,000. Ripplinger asked for a public defense attorney, but Judge Norma Rodriguez said she was unsure if she qualified. The issue was expected to be settled before her next court appearance. Online public records show Ripplinger has also been involved as leader of at least one Tri-Cities booster club for a local cheer organization, which was incorporated September 2019. Protestors opposed to the French government's proposal to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62 briefly stormed the LVMH headquarters in Paris. Lewis Joly/AP Photo Protestors opposing France's plans to raise the retirement age stormed LVMH headquarters. The world's richest man, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, and other top execs have offices in the building. LVMH's stock price recently reached a record high due to China reopening and high demand elsewhere. Protestors opposed to the French government's proposal to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62 stormed the headquarters of LVMH Thursday where the world's richest man, LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault, has offices. Photos show protestors entering the building with flags and flares, but people in the building told The Wall Street Journal that the protestors did not stay for long. Striking railway workers entered LVMH's headquarters to protest the French government's proposal to raise France's retirement age. Lewis Joly/AP Photo French President Emmanuel Macron proposed raising France's retirement age to 64 from 62 by 2030, saying that France's pension system needs reform to be able to support future generations of retirees. In March, Macron invoked a constitutional power to force the bill through without a parliamentary vote. The country's constitutional council is set to decide on the bill on Friday. "Apparently our government is struggling to finance our social security and pension system, so money needs to be found where it is, which is in billions in companies like LVMH," Fabien Villedieu, a union leader for Sud-Rail, told the French news channel BFM TV. Protestors inside LVMH's headquarters in Paris. Lewis Joly/AP Photo Arnault is currently the richest person in the world and recently saw his net worth surpass $200 billion. LVMH, the world's largest luxury group and home to Louis Vuitton and Moet, saw its shares reach a record high due to China's reopening and high demand in Europe and Japan, the WSJ reported. Protestors entering LVMH headquarters on the Rue Montaigne in Paris. Lewis Joly/AP Photo Read the original article on Business Insider The proposed mast would be built on the road which divides the grassy area from the castle rock Plans for a 5G mast in the middle of the most photographed view of Edinburgh Castle have been described as "damaging" by a conservation charity. An application has been lodged to erect the 17m (56ft) structure on Johnston Terrace, which passes below the castle. Mobile network Three UK says the mast is "vital" and will not spoil the view. But the plans have sparked more than 160 objections, with The Cockburn Association among those calling for an alternative solution to be found. Terry Levinthal is director of the association, Scotland's oldest conservation charity. He told BBC Scotland it was "unacceptable" to erect a mast in such a significant location. The mast would be similar to ones which have been erected in other parts of the UK "The castle is one of Edinburgh and Scotland's most historic and iconic heritage sites and tourist destinations," he said. "It [a mast] will inevitably have a significant and negative impact on views to and from Edinburgh Castle and the Old Town. "A mast would visually damage it and therefore damage the context of Edinburgh. An alternative solution is needed as this is unacceptable." He acknowledged that effective telecommunications were needed in the city - but said the mast should be located in a "more inconspicuous" spot. It is proposed to site the mast in Johnston Terrace, which runs just below the castle rock at the top of Granny's Green Steps. Many city tours stop in the Grassmarket area so that visitors can capture the view looking up at the castle. Lucia Ibarra Rodriguez from Alicante in Spain said she was amazed at the view of Edinburgh Castle from the Grassmarket Chris Sandeman, who runs a free walking tour, said he was "saddened and disgusted" by the plans. He said: "I can see the argument for it, as there should be the option to have reception in the city centre - but this mast would destroy an iconic view. "It is very short-sighted to obstruct a view which makes money for Edinburgh. "We take all our tours there to photograph Edinburgh Castle and they then post it on social media, which helps to promote the capital." Story continues Iain Ponton, who owns the Oz Bar in Candlemaker Row, said the mast would "stick out like a sore thumb beside such an historic site". A spokeswoman for Historic Environment Scotland, which manages Edinburgh Castle, said it had not been consulted about the plans. Extra capacity 'vital' The application will now be considered by City of Edinburgh Council. The mast is being proposed by CK Hutchison Networks to help provide coverage for Three UK's network. A Three UK spokesman said: "The high footfall at this popular tourist destination means that the extra capacity provided by our 5G rollout is vital for residents, visitors and businesses of Johnston Terrace. "We want to offer the community a reliable network experience and this site will be critical to making that happen. "Masts need to be situated where people will be using the service and, in many cases, in precise locations to ensure the widest breadth of coverage. "We carry out extensive searches and evaluate a wide range of options before submitting any planning applications and we are sure that both visitors and locals will still be able to enjoy clear views of Edinburgh Castle." WASHINGTON and WARSAW The German defense ministry on Thursday approved the re-export of five Polish MiG-29 aircraft to Ukraine, deciding the matter on the same day that Warsaw asked for permission. Defense officials in Berlin, eager to shed Germanys reputation as sluggish on Ukraine, trumpeted the speedy approval. The request only arrived today, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius was quoted as saying in a statement, proclaiming that Germany can be relied upon. The Soviet-era warplanes originally belonged to the former East German military. The German government gave them to Poland in 2003 with the caveat that subsequent transfers to other countries need Berlins permission. Poland has given eight MiG-29s to Ukraine, with Slovakia vowing to deliver a further 13 jets, of which four were supplied last month. European and U.S. officials believe the planes are more useful to Kyiv than Western aircraft because Ukrainian forces have experience in flying and maintaining them. Still, some NATO countries have begun training Ukrainian pilots on more modern planes, like F-16s, with an eye toward creating a post-war Ukrainian air force. Following Russias invasion of Ukraine, Germany was seen by some allies, especially those in Eastern Europe formerly under Soviet rule, as too skittish on supporting Ukraine with military aid. Berlin has since begun to be more forward-leaning in its weapons donations, which include modern Leopard 2 tanks that the countrys own armed forces also use. Polish daily Rzeczpospolita quoted Jacek Siewiera, the head of the Polish National Security Bureau, as saying that Poland is still operating about 12 of the MiG-29s it secured from Germany. Due to this, in the short-term, the transfer could weaken the Polish militarys air combat capabilities. Polands forthcoming MiG-29 donation will be made while its air force is awaiting the delivery of the first South Korean FA-50 light attack aircraft. Last September, Warsaw signed two deals to purchase 48 such jets to replace its Soviet-made aircraft. The first 12 light attack aircraft are to be supplied this year, and a further 36 jets between 2025 and 2028. In addition to this, the Polish Air Force will also obtain 32 F-35 Lightning II fighters, with deliveries of the fifth-generation jets scheduled to begin in 2024. Meanwhile, Bulgarian Defense Minister Dimitar Stoyanov denied on April 12 that his country had agreed to donate its MiG-29s to Ukraine while admitting that the Bulgarian government discussed with allies swapping the countrys Soviet-made weapons with western gear, suggesting that Sofia could be interested in exchanging the MiG-29s for NATO-made aircraft. WARSAW (Reuters) - Poland is skeptical about French attempts to organise talks between Ukraine and Russia, the Polish foreign minister said on Thursday. "We are skeptical about French initiatives to lead to some form of talks between Russia and Ukraine," Zbigniew Rau said in a speech to parliament. "We do not see any signs that Russia is ready to revise its policy of territorial conquests... the possible result of such talks cannot be any separate guarantees for Russia, apart from the observance of the norms of international law." (Reporting by Alan Charlish and Pawel Florkiewicz; Editing by Bernadette Baum) Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki confirmed on April 13 that Poland would supply Ukraine with more MiG-29 fighter jets, the Polish Press Agency reported. Morawiecki said that "one more batch" of the Soviet-era aircraft would be headed to Ukraine. He said that the Polish military no longer needed the MiG-29s given that they possessed modern aircraft and were also expecting the delivery of U.S.-made F-35 jets in "the coming years," the Polish Press Agency wrote. The German government approved on April 13 Poland's request to give Ukraine MiG-29 fighter jets that had originally belonged to the East German air force before reunification. Since Germany sold the jets to Warsaw in 2002, Berlin's permission must be obtained for the transfer, just as with any other German-made arms, including Leopard 2 tanks. Poland has already sent eight of its own MiG-29 jets to Ukraine. Unlike Western jets, the Soviet-built MiGs, which Ukraine already operates, can be put into service quickly without months of flying and logistics training. Ukraine has been making appeals to its allies for more modern fighter jets, particularly the U.S.-built F-16, saying they are needed to support offensive operations and defend against Russian missile and guided bomb attacks. Russias new guided bombs pose increasingly serious threat to Ukraine Still unable to achieve air supremacy, Russia is nevertheless finding ways to threaten Ukraine from the sky. Early this year, Russia introduced guided bombs essentially, the regular gravity bombs modified to be dropped by multirole fighter-bombers from safe distances and deal precise and very dam Kyiv IndependentIllia Ponomarenko Although several countries, such as the U.K. and the Netherlands, have not publicly ruled out the possibility of making such deliveries, as of now, no country has committed to providing Western-built combat aircraft. Since the start of Russia's all-out war, Poland has repeatedly pledged crucial military aid to Ukraine, including being the first country to pledge fighter jets. Story continues In regards to other allies, Morawiecki expressed confidence that allies such as Germany and France were committed to Ukraine's victory. "But to what extent they are able to mobilize their financial resources, weapons, and diplomacy to support Ukraine, I am not sure of that," Morawiecki said, as quoted by the Polish Press Agency. San Francisco's police chief said he couldn't share details of evidence uncovered in the investigation into Cash App founder Bob Lee's death, per ABC-7. Jeff Chiu/AP Photo. The San Francisco Police Department said it arrested a suspect in the fatal stabbing of Bob Lee. The police took 38-year-old Nima Momeni, an individual they say knew Lee, into custody on Thursday. Lee was fatally stabbed on April 4 in downtown San Francisco. The San Francisco Police Department said it arrested a suspect in its investigation into the fatal stabbing of Cash App creator Bob Lee on Thursday morning. Police arrested 38-year-old Nima Momeni, confirming prior reports. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said during a press conference that there is evidence that Momeni knew Lee. Local publication Mission Local first reported the arrest, and said the arrest took place at an address associated with a Nima Momeni who is the owner of Expand IT, an IT services company based in California. Insider was unable to reach spokespeople for Expand IT or Momeni for comment. 38-year-old Momeni was booked around 9 a.m. on Thursday, records from the San Francisco Sheriff's Office show. Momeni faces a murder charge and a "special enhancement" related to the knife that police say was used, the department said. Momeni will be arraigned on Friday at 1:30 p.m. PT. Jenkins said her office is planning to file a motion to detain the suspect without bail. Authorities declined to give further details on the case during the press conference as the investigation is ongoing. Mission Local, which first reported the arrest, also reported that Lee was riding in a car with the suspect on the day of the attack and the two men allegedly had "some manner of confrontation." Lee was the chief product officer of MobileCoin and former CTO of Square. He was fatally stabbed on April 4, NBC first reported. ABC's KGO-TV previously reported that surveillance footage from the moments after the incident showed Lee walking around the Rincon Hill neighborhood in downtown San Francisco and asking for help before the police arrived at the scene. Read the original article on Business Insider Police have arrested a suspect in the killing of Cash App founder and former Square executive Bob Lee. Board of Supervisors President Aaron Peskin has confirmed to The San Francisco Chronicle that someone is in custody in connection with the April 4th stabbing of the 43-year-old in San Francisco. This might not have been a mugging or random murder. Mission Local sources claim the suspect is Nima Momeni, the Emeryville-based owner of outsourcing firm Expand IT. Lee reportedly knew Momeni and was a passenger in a car belonging to the suspect, the insiders say. A confrontation supposedly erupted in the car, and may have continued after Lee stepped out. We've asked the San Francisco Police Department for comment. Lee was most recently the chief product officer of crypto startup MobileCoin. Before his time with Square, he helped create Android's early core library. He was also an investor in tech startups and helped develop the World Health Organization's mobile app during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. If accurate, the report would explain why Lee was killed in a section of San Francisco that rarely sees pedestrian traffic in the early morning. It would also make the death a historical rarity. While there are certainly personal feuds in tech, they seldom escalate to violence. Update 4/13 3:43PM ET: The SFPD has confirmed in a press conference that it arrested Momeni for Lee's murder, and that the two knew each other. It's not sharing more details as there's an ongoing investigation. Police are investigating the death of a woman in McCreary County who was attacked by dogs. McCreary County Coroner Tim Corder identified the woman as Wilma Ridner, 61. The death happened on Slab Vanover Road, which is off KY 90 in the Parkers Lake community. Ridner lived in the area. Corder said police contacted his office at about 2 a.m. Wednesday about the death. Corder said the cause of Ridners death had not yet been determined. The state Medical Examiners Office in Frankfort was doing an autopsy Thursday. The autopsy will help determine if something happened to Ridner before the dogs attacked her, Corder said. Corder said Kentucky State Police and the McCreary County Sheriffs Office were involved in the investigation. At least four dogs were involved in the attack, McCreary County Sheriff David Sampson told the Herald-Leader. Those four dogs were euthanized, Sampson said. Two other dogs may have also been involved, he said. The dogs were neighborhood dogs, Sampson said. The death is the second involving dogs in McCreary County in recent years. In July 2017, four dogs mauled and killed 79-year-old Vinson Tucker in the county. A state police detective said at the time that the dogs had been seen roaming the community, but had not caused any problems before the attack. Police in San Francisco arrested a suspect on Thursday morning over last weeks stabbing death of Cash App creator and fintech pioneer Bob Lee , authorities said. San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott told reporters at an afternoon news conference that Nima Momeni, 38, was arrested at his home in Emeryville, a suburb between Oakland and Berkeley. Lee and Momeni, the owner of the technology company Expand IT, knew one another, the police chief said. Our investigators have been working tirelessly to make this arrest and bring this case to justice for the Lee family, just as we would for every homicide that occurs in this city, Scott said. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Momeni was being charged with murder and the special enhancement of committing murder with a knife. Jenkins told reporters that Momeni had not been not an immediate suspect in the case but that hed been identified because of an extensive police investigation. He will be arraigned on Friday afternoon and prosecutors will ask the judge to deny him bail, Jenkins said. News of Momenis arrest was first published by Mission Local . Police found Lee, 43, with stab wounds in the citys downtown area around 2:35 a.m. on April 4. He was taken to a nearby hospital but died from his injuries. Some in tech, including Twitter owner Elon Musk , had used Lees killing to condemn the city as dangerous and criticize what they believed to be lax liberal policies toward crime . Many people I know have been severely assaulted. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately, Musk tweeted on April 5. Is the city taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders @BrookeJenkinsSF? Speaking at the news conference, Jenkins criticized Musk by name, as well as others who made reckless and irresponsible statements about Lees killing. Jenkins said these statements serve to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crimes as it spreads misinformation. Story continues Scott also said Lees killing could have happened in any city. This is more about human nature and human behavior than it is about our city, he said. At the time of his death, Lee had been working as chief product officer at payment company MobileCoin. He had previously worked as the first chief technology officer at Square, the e-commerce company created by Twitter cofounder Jack Dorsey that is now known as Block. In that role, Lee created Cash App, which allows users in the US and UK to send money to one another via their mobile phones. According to his LinkedIn profile, Momeni began Expand IT in 2010. The company provides IT and technology support services to other businesses. A voicemail seeking comment left at Expand IT was not immediately returned. In a post on Facebook, Lees brother Tim Oliver Lee thanked police for apprehending the suspect. We look forward to working with [the] District Attorney's office to prosecute the case, he wrote. Hopefully now our family can begin the healing process. More on this Apr. 13, 2023, at 20:47 PM UPDATE Apr. 13, 2023, at 20:18 PM China reviews US cyber attack cases, saying US owes explanation over leaked Pentagon docs 09:04, April 13, 2023 By Global Times ( Global Times The US owes the international community an explanation over the leaked Pentagon documents as they clearly show that the US has long used its tech edge to conduct indiscriminate secret theft, surveillance and eavesdropping on countries in the world, including its allies, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Wednesday, reveals five typical cases of cyber attacks conducted by the US government. Wang's remarks came after the online leaking of a set of highly classified Pentagon documents in recent weeks, which have exposed the extent of US eavesdropping on key allies, including South Korea, Israel and Ukraine. These cases show once again that the US is the origin of cyber warfare, the biggest spreader of advanced cyber weapons and the biggest global cyber thief, said Wang after listing cases picked out of a report released by China Cybersecurity Industry Alliance on Tuesday. The report uncovered cyber attacks, surveillance and secret thefts carried out by US intelligence agencies. According to Wang, In 2010, the US was found using the Stuxnet virus to attack Iran's nuclear facilities. This is the first case in history where a government launched cyber attacks against key infrastructure of other countries. In 2013, the media exposed that the US National Institute of Standards and Technology uses its cryptography standards to install backdoors, which expands the targets of supply chain attacks from IT products to IT standards. Wang also mentioned the "PRISM incident" in 2013, which revealed how the US engaged in cyber espionage across the world, including against China, the US' "Project CAMBERDADA" in 2015 which is aimed to intrude, divide and suppress foreign cybersecurity vendors and force them to dance to the tune of the US, and the ransomware WannaCry that affected most countries and caused the most severe losses across the world in 2017, which was the result of leaked cyber weapons from the US National Security Agency. Despite this record of cyber attacks, Wang said the US has been citing digital security as an excuse to suppress Chinese companies without providing any evidence, and it even coerced its allies who were also victims of US espionage to join the gang. The so-called Clean Network and what the US calls "technology that reflects democratic values and interests" are just a pretext for it to unscrupulously conduct cyber thefts and attacks and ensure its supremacy. The US has been holding other countries to high standards, but clearly these standards mean little to the US itself. This is textbook double standards, Wang noted. Calling the leak of highly classified Pentagon documents "another PRISM incident," Chinese experts on Tuesday said it gives a rare chance to glimpse into how the US spies on its allies, which will exacerbate the lack of strategic mutual trust between them and deal a heavy blow to Washington's strategy of maintaining global hegemony. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Flash Regarding the U.S. intelligence agency eavesdropping on the South Korean government, a local newspaper said that Seoul must demand swift clarification and apology from the U.S. side. "The recent report that U.S. spy agencies eavesdropped on top South Korean officials is neither new nor totally unexpected. America has done and will continue to do so," the Korea Times said on Tuesday in an editorial titled "Spying on friends." However, Seoul shouldn't let Washington get away with it like before, said the editorial, adding that South Koreans have yet to hear the United States formally admit and apologize for spying on one of its staunchest allies. Citing the 2013 revelation that the United States had been spying on 35 foreign embassies in Washington D.C., the article said there were no explicit expressions of regret or even clarification from Washington then, except for some "behind-the-scenes" requests for understanding. Calling the U.S. spy agencies' wiretapping and eavesdropping "an open secret," the article pointed out that trust is the key even in a relationship between allies and eavesdropping on friendly governments infringes on their countries' sovereignty. Akron police are looking for multiple suspects after customers attacked another customer who was providing information Monday about a shoplifter at the Family Dollar store at 19 North Arlington St. The assailants were encouraged to attack the 45-year-old informant by another customer in the store, who held up a $100 bill as a reward, Akron police told Beacon Journal partner News 5 Cleveland, which obtained surveillance video of the incident from the store. A police report on the incident says an unknown suspect ran out of the store with about $100 worth of "bathroom vanity items such as soaps" and was followed by the 45-year-old patron and employees around 11 a.m. The patron returned to the store and reported the suspect had entered an apartment about a block away from the store. More: Akron man shot trying to protect his family, died in his father's arms Police said another customer in the store then started yelling at the patron, stating he lived at the same apartment building and got mad at the customer for "snitching," according to the report. "The male pulled out his wallet and removed a $100 bill. He waves this $100 and said he has $100 for anyone who beats this man's a**," according to the report. Police said a male and female customer took up the offer and attacked. The man who had offered the $100 also joined in the fight, according to the report. The 45-year-old patron was punched in the face by the male assailant, but beat off all three while the store manager called 911, police said. He did not suffer serious injury, according to police. Police said the man who had offered the $100 gave it to the male assailant who had punched the witness in the face as the three attackers left the store. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Akron police seek three who attacked 'snitch' after being offered $100 Poland's prime minister on Thursday accused Europeans of making a potentially historic mistake by seeking greater ties with China, in a clear reference to French President Emmanuel Macron, as he warned of consequences for Ukraine. "Short-sightedly they look to China to be able to sell more EU products there at huge geopolitical costs, making us more dependent on China and not less," Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on a visit to Washington. "Some European countries are trying to make with China the same mistake which was made with Russia -- this dramatic mistake," he said at the Atlantic Council think tank. Paraphrasing Macron's remarks without naming him, Morawiecki said, "You cannot protect Ukraine today and tomorrow by saying Taiwan is not your business." "I think that, God forbid, if Ukraine falls, if Ukraine gets conquered, the next day China may attack -- can attack -- Taiwan," he said. Alluding to Macron's comments alongside President Xi Jinping about a more multipolar role, Morawiecki scoffed. "European autonomy sounds fancy, doesn't it? But it means shifting the center of European gravity towards China and severing the ties with the US," he said. "I do not quite understand the concept of strategic autonomy if it means de facto shooting into our own knee." Macron visited China last week with a major French business delegation and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen. Macron urged Xi not to send weapons to Russia but also said that France would not be a mere "follower" of either Washington or Beijing when it comes to growing tensions over Taiwan. The French leader said bluntly that Europeans could not credibly promise to support Taiwan as they had not solved the Ukraine crisis. China launched military exercises near Taiwan, a self-ruling democracy it claims, shortly after Macron left, with Beijing angry over Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting in California with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Story continues Poland, where memories remain raw both of Soviet domination and Nazi Germany, has taken a leading role in supporting neighboring Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022, including by sending MiG-29 fighter jets. Morawiecki, in a barely concealed allusion to both Germany and France, accused Western European powers of providing weaker support for Ukraine than the United States, Britain and the bulk of Eastern and Central Europe with the exception of Hungary. Western European nations have grown accustomed to a model based on cheap energy from Russia, high-margin trade with China, low-cost labor from Eastern Europe and "security for free from the United States," Morawiecki said. "Now their modus vivendi collapsed in ruins so what do they do? They want a quick ceasefire, armistice, in Ukraine, almost at any price," he said. Some politicians in Western Europe are thinking, "'Ukraine, why are you fighting so bravely?'" he said. Germany and France have both provided military support to Ukraine including by sending armored vehicles -- a decision that Berlin made after prolonged debate. sct/dw The town of Port Royal passed a new tree ordinance Wednesday that would impose the highest financial penalties in South Carolina for taking down specimen and landmark trees. The 5-0 vote came despite concerns raised about the penalties impact on growth and affordable housing. But supporters said the increased fees will encourage developers to think twice about cutting down the towns iconic live oaks and other species, and wont harm business growth or affordable housing as much as some claimed. Grant McClure of the Coastal Conservation League called the new ordinance and the fees a model for other communities to follow. The increased cost is really a way to encourage replanting where possible so developers dont elect to simply pay the fine, McClure said. The proposed mitigation cost for removing a specimen tree would increase from $50 to $500 per inch and $100 to $750 per inch for a landmark tree. The fees apply only to the removal of specimen and landmark trees, including live oaks and several other species. That translates to an $8,000 mitigation fee to remove a single 16-inch specimen live oak (16 inches x $500/inch), and $22,500 to cut down a 30-inch landmark live oak (30 inches x $750/inch). Specimen trees are valuable due to their age and potential to reach landmark size. Landmark trees are the most mature and valuable in the urban canopy. For a live oak tree, a specimen is a tree with a width or diameter of 12 inches. A live oak landmark is at least 24 inches in diameter. Hank Hofford, a builder, told the council before the vote that the higher fees would be the end of two workforce housing projects he was planning to develop in town. The fee structure will take projects out of any level of feasibility, Hofford said. He compared the fees to a taking of property, and predicted the ordinance would be legally challenged but not by him. Ian Scott of the Beaufort Regional Chamber of Commerce also predicted the higher fees will add to the cost of building workforce housing, which the region badly needs. The cost of housing remains the biggest challenge for employers in attracting and retaining staff, Scott said. Story continues Scott asked that the ordinance be reviewed in six months, and council members agreed. Seeking a balance Talk of toughening up the ordinance first started in July when a property owner sparked an uproar among residents by preparing to remove two large live oak trees as part of a small infill development on 12th Street. Developer Paul Trask, calling the reaction to that incident knee-jerk, said landmark trees need to be protected but thats its sometimes necessary to remove specimen trees. I think there should be a balance struck, Trask said. But resident Elizabeth Bergmann said the proposed fines should be doubled. They can be reduced in the future, she said. A 200-year-old live oak cannot be mitigated, Bergmann said. Bergmann filed an appeal to the towns decision to remove the 12th street trees, launching months of debate about strengthening the tree ordinance. She disputed the harmful impacts some said the new ordinance would have on affordable housing and growth. The ordinance, she said, would bring bring more discerning people to town. Council member Darryl Owens said he supports economic growth but the council is tasked with protecting the culture of Port Royal and attracting businesses that are the right fit for the town, which does not include big box stores or industrial manufacturing facilities. We have a responsibility to protect the character of Port Royal and also its citizens and rich history, Owens said. Affordable housing also is important, Owens said. But I dont see $1,500 a month as affordable and thats the the price of affordable housing thats being built in the area. Affordable to you may not be affordable to someone else, Owens said. Mayor Joe DeVito agreed to the ordinance to support the council but said he still believes the mitigation fees are too high. He said hes concerned about the long-term ramifications on construction and property tax revenue. He called for the town to review building permits in six months and a year. Highest fee in SC South Carolina has firm private property rights, and no municipality would attempt to ban the removal of trees, said Town Manager Van Willis. Instead, communities use design parameters, waivers and mitigation and tree replacement costs that discourage tree removal. The new Port Royal mitigation fees will be the highest in South Carolina, Willis said. Im not aware of any municipality that will have mitigation costs remotely close to what we have, he said. The new Port Royal ordinance is a recognition of the high value residents place on the towns iconic trees, Willis said. It encourages builders to accommodate trees, making them front and center when projects are designed, versus paying significant mitigation fees, Willis said. To help lesson the impacts, the council agreed to exclude commercial developments that dont have residences from the higher mitigation fees. Another change from the original proposal is that Town Council would not hear requests from property owners to remove trees. That would fall to the Design Review Board. Courtney Worrell, CEO of 303 Associates LLC, a real estate development and management company and also representing the Chambers Lowcountry Land Council, said its easy to paint all developers with a broad brush as seeking to spoil the land and clear cut trees. But thats not the Lowcountry Land Council, Worrell said. She said she supported the adjustments the town made to the ordinance to help keep the door open to responsible commercial business. PORTSMOUTH Kyle Hendrickson, the 25-year-old suspect accused of threatening to shoot up Portsmouth High School in a social media video, was apprehended by authorities in Portland, Maine, Thursday, according to Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport. Hendrickson, who is known for a history of incidents with local law enforcement, was believed to be the only person involved with the incident, Newport said. The chief said Hendrickson did not attend Portsmouth High School. All city schools were closed Thursday after Portsmouth police received a tip about the threatening video around 6 p.m. Wednesday. Hendrickson was identified by Portsmouth police Thursday as the suspect who allegedly posted a video on Snapchat of himself with a gun seated in a vehicle outside Portsmouth High School. He said, Imma gonna shoot up the school, in the video, according to police. Newport said the FBI reported the video to Portsmouth police Wednesday evening, starting the local investigation. Kyle Hendrickson was arrested in Portland, Maine, Thursday, April 13, 2023, and charged in connection with a school shooting threat at Portsmouth High School in New Hampshire. Newport said Hendrickson was located at a Portland residence and taken into custody by Portland police around 2 p.m. Thursday. He is being charged with criminal threatening with a firearm, a Class B felony, and is being held by Portland police as a fugitive from justice. Assisting police in Portland were the FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms. Portland police said Thursday Hendrickson was being held at the Cumberland County Sheriff's Department and will have an initial court appearance in Cumberland County Superior Court on Friday. A city police cruisier is seen outside Portsmouth Middle School Thursday, April 13, 2023, as the school was closed following a shooting threat made on social media against Portsmouth High School. Never miss a story: Follow local news on the Seacoastonline mobile app or the Fosters.com mobile app Authorities tracked his location using social media posts, Newport said. Through our investigation, we tracked down associates of his through social media and were able to pinpoint him to the area of Portland, he said. Portsmouth schools to reopen Friday All Portsmouth schools will reopen for classes on Friday, according to the chief. Story continues "The impact of closing schools today was not taken lightly, but this allowed the police department to focus on the investigation to identify and locate the suspect," Portsmouth police announced in a news release. "We appreciate everyones cooperation and patience as we worked to keep the school community safe." "We have been in continuous communication with the Portsmouth school administration, and we are both in agreement that the school community is safe to return back to school in Portsmouth tomorrow," police stated. "The school will be sending out a communication soon and preparing to welcome students and staff back to school." The incident in Portsmouth came just over two weeks after a deadly school shooting in Nashville that claimed the lives of six people, including three 9-year-old students. In that massacre at the Covenant School, the shooter was killed by police minutes after making entry to the building. "Fortunately we were able to get ahead of this one, be proactive and investigate this threat to the point where we canceled schools as a cautionary measure to ensure that our schools are safe," Newport said. FBI, DEA and local law enforcement have been working with Portsmouth police in the case, the chief said. What we know about Kyle Hendrickson's local criminal history Newport said Hendrickson has "been arrested by a lot of different communities in the region." A teenager was medflighted following a single-vehicle crash March 3, 2020 on Old Dover Road in Rochester. In December 2020, Hendrickson was arrested and charged in Rochester in connection with a March 2020 Old Dover Road car crash that injured five people. He was a Berwick, Maine, resident at the time. He faced five second-degree assault charges in the single-vehicle rollover crash that resulted in one teenager being transported to a Boston hospital via medflight. According to court records, Hendrickson pleaded guilty on April 22, 2022, to five counts of vehicular assault as part of a negotiated deal with prosecutors. The second-degree assault charges were dropped. He received a 12-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years on all five counts (to be served concurrently) and was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of up to $100,000. He was also ordered to have no contact with the victim and participate in counseling, treatment or educational programs. The Rochester crash case was reopened Sept. 16, 2022, and there was a hearing on Jan. 25 for a violation of a court order. North Berwick, Maine, police said they arrested Hendrickson in February 2023 and charged with him with operating under the influence. Somersworth police arrested Hendrickson on Feb. 12, 2020 on the charges of disorderly conduct, resisting arrest or detention, and carrying or selling a weapon (brass knuckles). He was released on personal recognizance bail, but failed to show up at court and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, police said. Hendrickson turned himself in to the police on Aug. 26, 2020 and given a new court date. The charges of disorderly conduct and carrying an illegal weapon were not processed. He pleaded guilty to the resisting arrest/detention and was fined $434. The Berwick Police Department noted that Hendrickson grew up in town, though the department was uncertain where he lives presently. When he was a minor, according to town police, there were 16 juvenile charges filed against him by the department, the details of which were not provided. How Portsmouth school officials reacted to threat The city closed all schools on Thursday due to the online shooting threat, according to an alert the school district sent out Wednesday evening. Zach McLaughlin, superintendent of schools for SAU 52 (Portsmouth schools), notified district families of the decision late Wednesday night, informing the school community about the threat to shoot up the high school. Zach McLaughlin, superintendent of schools for SAU 52, notified district families of the decision late Wednesday night, writing that city police received a video of a person stating they would shoot up the high school. As we are not currently in a position to feel that the threat is yet resolved, we need to make a decision regarding tomorrows school day, McLaughlin wrote. Out of an abundance of caution and a commitment to the safety of our school community, all Portsmouth schools will be closed tomorrow, April 13th. As the situation develops, I will be sure to provide you with updates as I am able. McLaughlins message to the district community was sent out shortly after 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Finally, I just want to acknowledge the emotions of a moment like this, McLaughlin added in his note. It can be laced with fear, anger, and sadness. Amid this challenging time, we appreciate your support as we do our best to keep our students and staff safe. When reached for comment Wednesday night, McLaughlin could not disclose the details of the video, including who it appeared to be made by, what social media platform it was posted on and whether there was a direct threat made against any person in particular, due to the ongoing investigation. On Thursday afternoon, McLaughlin applauded collaborative police efforts to track down Hendrickson. Their skill and tenaciousness helped resolve the issue and put us in a position to re-open our schools, he wrote in an alert to school system families on Thursday. Their ongoing collaboration can not be overvalued. Portsmouth schools will have an increased police presence on Friday morning as students return to classes, and the district will have New Hampshire's Mobile Crisis Response Team on hand. Thank you to our families, students, and staff for your ongoing patience and support, McLaughlin continued. These are challenging moments, but they are also opportunities to show the strength, grit, and unity of the greater Portsmouth community. In December, the Portsmouth and Dover school districts were two of several across the state to be the target of hoax school shooting calls, prompting lockdowns and police responses in public school systems around New Hampshire. The month prior, a minimum of 10 Maine schools, including Sanford High School, received similar unsubstantiated threats. Such false reports are referred to as swatting. In this Dec. 8, 2022 file photo, Portsmouth police leave Portsmouth High School after responding to a report of an active shooter that is believed to have been a hoax. Police gave the all clear at 11 a.m. and no intruders were found at any of the city's schools. Commentary from Oyster River sophomore: We students are taking a stand on school shootings:. Will government hear us? More: Police respond to hoax calls of school shooters in Portsmouth and Dover In Maine: How hoax school shooting calls in Sanford, across Maine caused chaos The New Hampshire Department of Safetys Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management stated Thursday morning that it was aware of the threat. All threats are taken seriously until such time as their validity is determined, the department wrote in its release. Everyone is encouraged to report any suspicious activity to their local law enforcement agency. Karen Dandurant contributed to this report. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Portsmouth High School shooting threat suspect arrested This "Face the Nation" interview with a panel of presidential historians was scheduled to be aired on Easter Sunday, 2023. Due to the Masters Tournament, the segment was pre-empted. The full interview is in the player above for our viewers to watch and enjoy. Former President Donald Trump last week became the first former president to be charged with a crime, an unprecedented time in history that historian Jon Meacham reminded Americans that not just those in government matter to keep the democracy but also "we the people" in this "big, broad, disputatious, diverse country." "I think what everybody has to do is, take a deep breath, assess where the country is headed, where are we now, and say, you know what, we believe that as imperfect as our past has been, that declaration, that Constitution, has managed to get us pretty far down the road. And those should be preserved and amended as necessity dictates," Meacham said during a panel discussion on "Face the Nation." Meacham was joined on the panel by other presidential historians Lindsay Chervinsky, Richard Norton Smith and Douglas Brinkley. CBS News chief elections and campaign correspondent Robert Costa moderated the panel. While there is no historical precedent for a former president being indicted and charged, Smith noted that in 1974, President Gerald Ford "personally believed" that if the legal process played out in the Watergate investigation, President Richard Nixon would be "indicted and would be convicted, at least on an obstruction of justice charge." Ford had "to make the tough decision, which he realized could be politically suicidal, of trying to not forgive Nixon, but forget Nixon," Norton Smith said. This era, Meacham noted, is "where we were in the 1850s in many ways." "I don't think we do ourselves any favors by pretending that somehow or another, this is an ordinary clash of political interests," Meacham added. Chervinsky also spoke to this divide and what makes it so unique. Story continues "I think one of the biggest effects of Trump's legacy and his presence still in American politics, and perhaps also the biggest challenge that President Biden is facing, is he literally can't reach a portion of the American people," Chervinsky said. "They won't hear him, they won't listen to him. They think that he is evil and does terrible things and it's often not based on fact, or news, but rather through the information silo that they are in. And Trump really dominates that information silo." Chervinsky's warning came as a judge ruled that Fox News will go to trial over its airing of false allegations that the 2020 election was rigged in favor of Joe Biden. The network and its correspondents repeatedly made claims of election rigging despite internal documents showing that Fox News employees knew the claims were false. The four presidential historians also weighed in on this moment in history and American democracy. "I'm really drawn by the moment that we see and the parallel that we see in Franklin D. Roosevelt's presidency, where actually the time I think when fascism was most appealing to Americans was in the 1930s because people weren't sure then, as Doug was saying, sometimes they aren't sure now, that democracy could actually get the job done," Chervinsky said. "What FDR did so brilliantly was he reminded people how important democracy is to their daily needs, to their goals, to their family, to their American way of life," said Chervinsky. "And so I think that if President Biden and his successors can double down on the Democratic themes, can remind people that it's not just some big high ideas, but it's actually essential to their way of life, that is going to be the best way to combat the dangerous trend of nationalism." But Brinkley said that as the U.S. grapples with an identity crisis, "so many countries in the world right now are trying to figure out what is the United States?" "I'm worried about it and I'm worried about President Putin and President Xi and their summit and that the signals we're getting from China is that they don't want to be as collaborative with us as we had hoped," Brinkley said. "So we're living in very perilous times. And in that arena, presidents still have the power, not Congress or the Supreme Court." Norton Smith also described what presidents can do to safeguard American democracy. "[America] requires that politicians, you know, professional practitioners of democracy, in effect, play by a rulebook, and they're willing to lose," said Smith. "They're willing to lose for principle, as Ford demonstrated when he pardoned Nixon, but they're also willing to lose at the ballot box." Earlier this week, former President Trump was indicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. A Georgia court has also empaneled a grand jury to investigate actions by Trump to overturn the results of the 2020 election. Since the indictment, Trump has continued to fundraise for his current presidential campaign. He has also framed the indictment as an attempt by Democrats to hurt his chances at his third presidential bid in 2024. Meacham ended the panel with a quote from Frederick Douglass. "'The fiat of the Almighty,' let there be light, 'has not yet spent its force,'" Meacham said. "But it's up to all of us to make sure that light continues to be shed." Police say murder of Cash App founder was not a random attack Trump deposed for second time by New York prosecutors More rain in the forecast for flooded Fort Lauderdale Newsmax Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC), who recently launched a presidential exploratory committee, tripped over himself on Thursday trying to avoid questions about whether he supports a 15-week federal abortion ban. At one point, he pivoted to a very important conversation he had had during a congressional hearing featuring Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. Already in full campaign mode a day after announcing his intent to run for president, the conservative lawmaker was outside a New Hampshire diner when reporters confronted him on where he stood on federal abortion restrictions. After hemming and hawing when one reporter asked him about a federal judges recent decision to suspend access to an FDA-approved abortion pill, Scott was asked whether he supported fellow South Carolina GOP Sen. Lindsey Grahams proposal to ban abortions nationwide. Would you support a federal ban on abortions? Newsmax correspondent Mike Carter wondered, prompting Scott to go into full duck-and-dodge mode. I would simply say that the fact of the matter is, when you look at the issue of abortion, one of the challenges that we have, we continue to go through the most restrictive conversations without broadening the scope and taking a look at the fact thatIm 100 percent pro-life, the South Carolina lawmaker stumbled. I never walk away from that, he added. But the truth of the matter is that when you look at the issues on abortion, I start with the very important conversation I had in a banking hearing where I was sitting in my office and listening to Janet Yellen, the secretary of the Treasury, talk about an increase in the labor force participation rate for African-American women who are in poverty by having abortions. Continuing to not answer the question, Scott went on to fixate on Yellen while insisting that there needed to be a serious national discussion about the issue. I think were just having the wrong conversation. I ran down to the banking hearing to see if I heard her right, he said. Are you actually saying that a mom like mine should have an abortion so that we increase the labor force participation rate? That just seems ridiculous to me. And so Im going to continue to have a serious conversation about the issues that affect the American people. I want to start by pointing out the absolute hypocrisy of the left on the most one of the more important issues. Story continues In an attempt to follow up, Carter asked what Scott had to say to a conservative who wants a clear message on that, only for the senator to ignore him and move on to another reporter. This wasnt the first time Scott had recently stumbled when pressed on his support for national abortion restrictions. During a campaign trip to Iowa on Wednesday, he deflected when asked whether he backed Grahams 15-week ban. In a Thursday morning interview with a New Hampshire news station, he did say hed definitely get behind a 20-week federal restrictiona proposal hes supported in the past. With abortion once again becoming a major political issue at the ballot box after last years reversal of Roe v. Wade, and a bevy of new reproductive health restrictions turning out angry voters, Republicans have struggled to address the furious backlash over their anti-abortion stance. Not only do current polls show most Americans believe abortion should be legal in most cases, but Democrats and liberals have flipped recent political races over the issue. This is probably why you see many GOP lawmakerswhenever they arent burying their heads in the sandsaying its time to get off the abortion issue, or calling for the FDA to simply ignore a right-wing judges ruling on an abortion drug. Read more at The Daily Beast. Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. For decades, a local Tuskegee Airmans valor went unrecognized. Now, preparations are underway for a weeklong celebration to honor Marshall Cabiness and his service to our country. There will be a parade through Gastonia, a proclamation for Cabiness, who was also the citys first Black licensed pilot, and a public recognition for the World War II veteran who served in one of the most storied units: The Tuskegee Airmen. Theyre honors Cabiness never got before he died. ALSO READ: Group pushes for second African American historic landmark in Statesville Channel 9s Gaston County Reporter Ken Lemon spoke with Cabiness loved ones about his life and the overdue recognition. Its time for this generation to see what it takes to stand, said Cabiness cousin, Tanzi Barrow Wallace. Wallace said Cabiness stood tall through the worst of it. For decades, a local Tuskegee Airmans valor went unrecognized. Now, preparations are underway for a weeklong celebration to honor Marshall Cabiness and his service to our country. He came up in the Great Depression. These people were survivors, Wallace said. Cabiness family said he graduated at the top of his class from Highland High School, graduated with honors from Morehouse College, and much later became one of the first Black people to receive an MBA at Wharton. In 1941, he earned his wings at the Tuskegee Institute in Alabama, an all-Black Army Air Corp. My grandfather, I just think thats so amazing, said Marshall Cabiness III, his grandson. ALSO READ: The Carolinas Get Real: A Conversation with Black Officers He had to parachute out when his plane went down in training, but he continued to provide ground support to defeat the Nazis. But Cabiness returned to a world that didnt acknowledge his service. His family said Cabiness was an insurance adjuster who handled claims from the bombed 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham, and they say he stepped in when underwriters wouldnt pay for Martin Luther King Jr.s bombed home. For decades, a local Tuskegee Airmans valor went unrecognized. Now, preparations are underway for a weeklong celebration to honor Marshall Cabiness and his service to our country. My grandfather paid for the repairs out of his own pocket, his grandson told Lemon. For decades, that part of Cabiness life and his service was just chatter at the family dinner table with no public honor. That is, until next week. Story continues We had a historical fact that no longer should be silent, said Dot Guthrie, who is the director of the African American History and Culture Museum. ALSO READ: Quiet rebel: Shirley Fulton, first Black woman elected Superior Court judge in NC, dies at 71 Next week, the mobile museum for the Tuskegee Airmen will be in Gastonia. Cabiness story will be added to it, along with teaching guides about his life. Its here, we just need to share it, Guthrie said. Its a contribution almost 80 years old thats finally acknowledging a man who died in 1989. For decades, a local Tuskegee Airmans valor went unrecognized. Now, preparations are underway for a weeklong celebration to honor Marshall Cabiness and his service to our country. The pride outweighs the disappointment that its taken so long, said his cousin, Peter Cabiness. The parade for Marshall Cabiness will end in front of Tabernacle Baptist Church. His family members will then receive the acknowledgement and the honor he had been denied for so long. Lemon asked, but no one can say why it has taken so long to acknowledge Marshall Cabiness service. The mobile museum arrives in Gastonia on April 18. The parade starts on April 22 and will be followed by proclamations in honor of Cabiness. (WATCH BELOW: Charlotte joins nationwide initiative to support Black-owned businesses) King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will be joined by 2,000 guests at Westminster Abbey for their coronation on 6 May. Among the senior members of the royal family, a number of celebrities, actors, and politicians in attendance. The Archbishop of Canterbury will conduct the ceremony. After months of speculation surrounding whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend the event, Buckingham Palace confirmed on Wednesday 12 April that Prince Harry will attend. Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will stay at home with their children, Archie and Lilbet. Meanwhile, The Independent understands that Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York has not been invited by the King. Here are all of the royals and celebrities who have confirmed they will be attending the Kings coronation: Prince Harry Prince Harry will attend the coronation of his father and Queen Camilla, while his wife, Meghan Markle, will stay at home in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. It is believed that Meghans decision to stay is, in part, to do with the fact that the coronation date of 6 May falls on Archies fourth birthday. The news comes after months of speculation over whether the couple would attend the 6 May ceremony. The Duke of Sussex has been seeking an apology from his family, according to his round of television interviews in January. Despite the Dukes insistence that he wanted to reconcile with his father and brother, there has been no word of any meaningful reunion with Charles and William since the many personal family revelations made in his memoir, Spare. Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, the royal statement said on Wednesday. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Prince Harry will attend his fathers coronation without his wife (REUTERS) Prince William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales As heir to the throne, William will be in attendance with his wife Kate, Princess of Wales, and will likely be very close to the King and Queen Consort throughout the day. They are expected to follow behind the monarch and his wife in the royal procession with their children, Prince George, nine, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince Louis, four. Story continues Prince William is next in line to the throne after King Charles (PA) Princess Beatrice and Eugenie Though the King and Queen have decided not to invite Sarah Ferguson to the coronation, her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie will likely attend the event, as they are 10th and 11th in line to the British throne. Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice looking at the flowers left for the late Queen Elizabeth II outside Balmoral Castle (WireImage) Zara and Mike Tindall Zara Tindall, the granddaughter of the late Queen Elizabeth II and niece of King Charles III, will likely be attending the coronation with her husband. Mike Tindall recently appeared on Im a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! and was also present with Zara at the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Zara is 20th in the line of succession to the throne. Zara Tindall is the daughter of Princess Anne, the late Queens younger sister (PA) Dame Joanna Lumley Sky News announced on Thursday (13 April) that the Absolutely Fabulous star will be joining correspondents Alastair Bruce, Kay Burley and Anna Botting as a special guest in the news coverage on the day, fresh from attending the coronation service. The statement reads: The actress will join the Sky News line-up on Saturday fresh from attending the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey as a guest of the King and Queen Consort. Lumley is reportedly a close friend of King Charles and attended his wedding to Camilla in 2005. Dame Joanna Lumley will be a special guest on Sky Newss coronation coverage (PA Archive) The actor has previously said she wont watch Netflixs hit series The Crown, which is based on the British royal family. I know them [the royal family], so I know its all made up and its rubbish, she told Womens Weekly previously. She added: All the poor actors who are doing their best to copy them, its awful. Imagine somebody making up conversations they think youve had. Jill Biden Jill Biden will be repesenting the US president at the Kings coronation (AFP via Getty Images) US President 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. The President congratulated the King on his upcoming Coronation and informed him that First Lady Jill Biden looks forward to attending on behalf of the United States, the statement read. Keep up to speed with all of the latest royal news via The Independents liveblog. Princess Margaret spent her final days reminiscing about her true love. The claim was made by George Carey, the former Archbishop of Canterbury, in a new ITVX docuseries titled "The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor." The five-part documentary aims to examine the struggles the British royal family has endured over the years. Carey, who was Archbishop between 1996 and 2002, revealed in the documentary that he visited Queen Elizabeth IIs younger sister on her deathbed in 2002. "She was sad," he recalled, as quoted by U.K.s Daily Mail. "There were moments when she expressed that sadness." Princess Margaret passed away in 2002 at age 71. "Here is a woman who longed for love and commitment, and the love of her life was forbidden from her, and there was a deep human sadness in that," he shared. The princess first met Peter Townsend in 1947 when she was 17 years old. She quickly fell head over heels for the dashing World War II fighter pilot who was married with two sons. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP A year after Townsend divorced his first wife, he proposed to Margaret, who was 16 years his junior, in 1953. At the time, divorcees werent allowed to remarry in the Church of England. Margaret also required her sisters permission to marry before the age of 25. Despite the couples love for each other, the much-decorated war ace was banished from Buckingham Palace on the advice of Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill to a diplomatic post in Brussels. Still, the romance survived, at least until 1955. At the time, Margaret was 25 and third in line to the throne. That year, she ended her engagement with Townsend. PRINCESS MARGARET'S LADY-IN-WAITING DETAILS HER 34-YEAR EXTRAMARITAL AFFAIR Peter Townsend, the fighter pilot who loved and lost Princess Margaret, died in 1995 after more than 30 years of self-imposed exile. He was 80. "I have been aware that, subject to my renouncing my rights of succession, it might have been possible for me to contract a civil marriage," Margaret said in a statement to BBC Radio at the time. "But, mindful of the Church's teaching that Christian marriage is indissoluble and conscious of my duty to the Commonwealth, I have resolved to put these considerations before any others," she shared. "I have reached this decision entirely alone, and in doing so I have been strengthened by the unfailing support and devotion of Group Captain Townsend." Story continues After the couple called it quits, Townsend moved to Belgium before settling down in France. Then in 1959, he married Marie-Luce Jamagne. "[Margaret] could have married me only if she had been prepared to give up everything her position, her prestige, her privy purse," Townsend later reflected in his 1978 memoir. "I simply hadnt the weight, I knew it, to counterbalance all she would have lost." Princess Margaret called off her engagement to Peter Townsend in 1955. In 1960, Margaret became engaged to Antony Armstrong-Jones. It was a quick engagement, with the couple saying, "I do" mere months later. But the union wasnt to last. The pair divorced in 1978, two years after they separated. Townsend died in 1995. He was 80. Looking back, Carey said he believed that Margaret died with a "deep sadness" about her lost love. "I talked to her quietly and said a prayer, anointed her with the oil, and she died soon after that," he said. "It was a lovely moving occasion." CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR THE ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER Princess Margaret (left, seen here with Queen Elizabeth and Peter Townsend) and the rest of the British royal family is the subject of a new docuseries titled The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor. HOW MANY SIBLINGS DID QUEEN ELIZABETH II HAVE? A LOOK INTO THE LIFE OF PRINCESS MARGARET Margaret was 71 when she passed away. Her sister, who became Englands longest-reigning monarch, died in September of last year. She was 96. The queens eldest son, King Charles, will be crowned on May 6. Two Indianapolis police officers were indicted by a grand jury for their roles in the death of Herman Whitfield III nearly a year ago, Marion County Prosecutor Ryan Mears announced Thursday. Five Indianapolis Metropolitan Police officers and a recruit trainee were called to Whitfields parents' home April 25, 2022. During that interaction, police tased and handcuffed him naked and face down on the ground while he was in the throes of a mental health episode. Whitfield died shortly after arriving at a hospital. The results of an autopsy for Whitfield, who was 39 years old, determined his death was a homicide and further ruled he died from heart failure while under law enforcement restraint. Adam Ahmad was indicted on charges of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, battery resulting in moderate Injury and battery. More: Indy clergy, family of Herman Whitfield III ask Dept. of Justice to investigate IMPD Gladys Whitfield (center), joined by family and lawyers, speaks during a press conference on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in reaction to the indictment of the Indianapolis police officers who killed her son, Herman Whitfield III, nearly a year ago. On April 25, 2022, five IMPD officers and a recruit trainee were called to Whitfields parents' home. Police tased and handcuffed him, naked and face down on the ground, while he was in the throes of a mental health episode. Whitfield died shortly after arriving at a hospital. Steven Sanchez has been indicted on charges of two counts of involuntary manslaughter, reckless homicide, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, battery resulting in moderate injury and battery. Whitfield's family through their attorney on Thursday thanked the prosecutor and grand jury. "The family is grateful that the criminal process will proceed and hope that justice for their son will prevail," their statement said. They noted they will continue with the pending federal civil lawsuit against the City of Indianapolis and officers who responded to their home, as well as their calls to the U.S. Department of Justice to investigate Whitfield III's death. More: DOJ asked to investigate Indy police. That's unlikely to happen, says ex-fed prosecutor Both Ahmad and Sanchez had less than three years working with the Indianapolis police department at the time of Whitfield's death. The officers involved, including Ahmad and Sanchez, remain on paid administrative duty status, IMPD said in a prepared statement. Story continues "Mr. Whitfield's death was a tragedy for all involved and our thoughts continue to be with those impacted by his loss," the statement said, noting Police Chief Randal Taylor "respects the grand jury process." The attorneys for Ahmad and Sanchez, John F. Kautzman and Edward Merchant, released a statement noting that the charges only represent probable cause to hold a trial and are not proof of guilt. "The merit of these allegations will ultimately be determined through due process in a court of law and we ask the public to allow that process to play out," the statement read. "The officers look forward to a full and fair opportunity to defend themselves in court and establish that they did not act illegally or with any type of criminal intent." Kautzman's statement added that Ahmad and Sanchez have no prior criminal or disciplinary history. Kautzman declined to speak on record about the officers' actions on the night of Whitfield's death. Ahmad and Sanchez are set to be arraigned Friday morning. Gladys Whitfield looks down at a photo of her late son, Herman Whitfield III, during a press conference on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in reaction to the indictment of the Indianapolis police officers who killed him nearly a year ago. On April 25, 2022, five IMPD officers and a recruit trainee were called to Whitfields parents' home. Police tased and handcuffed him, naked and face down on the ground, while he was in the throes of a mental health episode. Whitfield died shortly after arriving at a hospital. Whitfield's family spoke to media Thursday afternoon and said they were pleased with the grand jury's decision, adding the indictments were "a long time coming." "It's been our opinion that the defendants still have not been transparent," said Gladys Whitfield, who stood close beside her husband, Herman Whitfield Jr., and held onto his arm. "Even though they promised transparency, all they have delivered is obliqueness and darkness and deception." The grand jury's indictment allows criminal cases against the officers to proceed and is not an indication of guilt. Assistant Chief of Police Chris Bailey said the "entire investigative file" by the Critical Incident Response team was handed over last year for review to the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office then decides who the targets are for the grand jury. The prosecutor's office would not say if the other officers involved had cases presented to the grand jury. Video: Herman Whitfield III's mother told police she was concerned officers would kill son The grand jury includes six jurors and one alternate who live in the county and are selected by the Marion County Superior Court. People are summoned for grand jury duty in the same way as residents who are picked for regular jury duty. Grand jurors must all agree on the decision to indict or the case is dropped or "no-billed." In the hours after the grand jury announcement, state lawmakers began to comment about the indictment. State Rep. Gregory Porter, D-Indianapolis, who represents Whitfield's parents, called his death an example of when de-escalation training should have been in place. Gladys Whitfield holds the arm of her husband Herman Whitfield Jr. during a press conference on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in reaction to the indictment of the Indianapolis police officers who killed their son, Herman Whitfield III, nearly a year ago. On April 25, 2022, five IMPD officers and a recruit trainee were called to Whitfields parents' home. Police tased and handcuffed him, naked and face down on the ground, while he was in the throes of a mental health episode. Whitfield died shortly after arriving at a hospital. "While nothing can undo the pain Whitfield's family has experienced from his death, I'm glad the family is getting some sense of justice through these indictments," his statement said. State Rep. Earl Harris J., D-East Chicago and chair of the Indiana Black Legislative Caucus, said the caucus will be closely monitoring the cases and said his thoughts are with Whitfield's family. "The indictment of two of the six officers involved in Mr. Whitfield's death signals a changing tide in policing and community," his statement said. "Too often in the past, police officers who took it upon themselves to act as judge, jury and executioner have never faced justice. If we want to maintain the integrity of policing and the integrity of the vast majority of officers who joined the force to protect and serve their communities, we must ensure that those who break that pledge face the consequences." IndyStar's Jen Guadarrama and John Tufts contributed to this report. Contact IndyStar reporter Sarah Nelson at 317-503-7514 or sarah.nelson@indystar.com Contact IndyStar reporter Ko Lyn Cheang at kcheang@indystar.com or 317-903-7071. Follow her on Twitter: @kolyn_cheang. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 2 Indianapolis officers indicted in death of naked, unarmed man Flash Liu Jianchao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, met with a cadre delegation led by Peter Lam Both, secretary general of Sudan People's Liberation Movement of South Sudan, in Beijing on Wednesday. The two sides exchanged views on implementing the important consensus reached by the top leaders of the two parties and countries, strengthening inter-party exchanges and cooperation, and promoting the development of bilateral relations. Federal prosecutors said Wednesday they do not plan to press charges in the death of Shanquella Robinson, an American woman who died under suspicious circumstances at a Mexican resort last year. The United States Attorneys Offices for the Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina issued a joint statement on Wednesday saying the FBI had worked diligently on its investigation since Robinson died in October. As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed, the statement said. Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinsons family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution. Robinson, 25, died last October while on vacation with six friends at a Mexican resort, in a case that garnered national media attention and suspicion of foul play. Some of her friends initially told Robinsons mother that her daughter died from alcohol poisoning, however, a death certificate local authorities issued in Robinsons case lists the cause of death as severe spinal cord injury. Video also circulated online showing Robinson being assaulted by another woman at the resort while another person in the room was recording the fight. In a statement, Robinsons family attorney Sue Ann Robinson told CBS News that they were disappointed but not deterred by the outcome of the investigation, noting that they will continue to seek justice for Robinsons murder. Local authorities in Mexico also launched a homicide investigation into Robinsons case, and were seeking to extradite a woman from the U.S. back to Mexico in connection with Robinsons death, according to CBS News. The federal prosecutors noted in Wednesdays statement: As in any case, the government is prepared to review and examine new information related to the investigation should it become available. Story continues Newsweek reported that Robinsons attorney said the family is planning to stage a rally in Washington, D.C. next month to call for more action to be taken in Robinsons case. The Hill has reached out to the attorney for comment. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The COVID pandemic had severe effects on the U.S. job market, including layoffs of government employees at all levels. But 2022 was a banner year for public-sector hiring, with federal, state and local governments adding a total of 685,000 jobs. In raw numbers, public-sector unions reaped a benefit from this hiring surge, adding some 83,000 members to their ranks. Though the percentage of government employees who belong to a union fell to a low of 33% in 2022, the new members were certainly a welcome addition. Unfortunately for the unions, the good news was not widespread. In fact, the growth in membership was entirely due and then some to one state: California. Get stories like these delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for The 74 Newsletter The Golden State added more than 250,000 government jobs in 2022, enabling its public employees unions to add more than 111,000 members. Twenty-eight other states added a combined 256,496 public-sector union members. But 21 states and the District of Columbia lost 284,517 members, for a net decline of 28,021 outside of California. New York and Minnesota were the biggest losers. Each year, Barry Hirsch of Georgia State University and David Macpherson of Trinity University produce this data for their Union Membership and Coverage Database, posting it on their website Unionstats.com. Thanks to their work combing through Current Population Survey figures, I was able to create this table, which shows the total number of government employees and public-sector union members for each state in 2022, along with the change from 2021. Public sector union membership by state, 2022: Click here if youre having trouble viewing the chart. Examining data for all 50 states and D.C., there is a clear divide between states where unions are growing along with hiring and states where membership losses continue to mount. This trend should not be surprising. Before the Supreme Court ruled in 2018 that public-sector unions could no longer charge non-members an agency fee, growth in the government workforce led almost automatically to growth in union membership. Now, unions must actively recruit each new hire. It stands to reason that unions in some states will do this better than others, and that those efforts will be affected by local conditions. Story continues We cant use this data to draw any firm conclusions about teachers unions. When categorized by occupation, the numbers include both public and private schools, plus teachers unions include significant numbers of other types of workers as members. What the data does show is a drop in the number of unionized teachers. The percentage of elementary and middle school teachers who belonged to a union fell slightly from 46.6% in 2021 to 46.3% in 2022. The percentage for secondary school teachers showed a steeper decline, from 49.6% to 47.1%. The percentage for special education teachers similarly tumbled, from 55.8% to 51.4%. All this suggests that public employees unions will need even greater levels of hiring just to tread water. When this runs headlong into the loss of COVID relief money and/or a recession, there will be an unprecedented display of labor unrest in government. Brace yourselves. Mike Antonuccis Union Report appears most Wednesdays; see the full archive. SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) Two cousins of Puerto Ricos Gov. Pedro Pierluisi pleaded guilty Thursday for embezzling an estimated $3.7 million in federal funds earmarked for the management of public housing on the island. Walter Pierluisi, 58, and Eduardo Pierluisi, 52, entered their pleas on charges of federal funds theft before Judge Camille Velez in federal court in San Juan. A third co-defendant, David Velez, was expected to plead guilty later. Gov. Pierluisi told reporters at a separate event that the guilty pleas showed that there was no impunity on the island. Both of his cousins had been closely involved in Pierluisis 2020 gubernatorial election campaign. If you fail the people, if you commit an act of corruption you will have to respond. In this case we are talking about family members, two cousins, who failed my family, failed the country and now must face severe penalties, Pierluisi said. The governor rejected the idea that the convictions had tarnished his mandate, but said that going forward he would keep any family members out of his political campaigns. The case against the governors cousins stemmed from an FBI raid on offices of American Management & Administration, or AMAC, which had been awarded $73 million in contracts since it was incorporated by Walter Pierluisi in 1995 to administer public housing complexes in Puerto Rico. Eduardo Pierluisi and Velez were employees of the company. The defendants and their company harmed the integrity of a program designed to help underprivileged homeowners, W. Stephen Muldrow, U.S. Attorney for the District of Puerto Rico said in a news release, adding that prosecutors in such cases would work tirelessly to pursue justice. The money embezzled by Pierluisi brothers will have to be returned to the government as part of the plea agreement. The deal calls for a 37-month jail sentence for Walter Pierluisi and a 30-to-37 month sentence for Eduardo Pieorluisi, who can request a more lenient sentence of 24 months, citing health issues. Osvaldo Carlo, an attorney for Walter Pierluisi, said that none of the embezzled money had been used for political purposes, nor that prosecutors were alleging that. AMAC administered more than 5,000 units of public housing in 12 municipalities in the northwest of the island, according to prosecutors. Oleksandr Vilkul, Head of Kryvyi Rih Defence Council, is convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin should be killed. Source: Vilkul in an interview with Ukrainska Pravda Details: In the spring of 2019, when asked what Vilkul would say to Putin if he met him, he said that he would remind the Russian president of his own words that Russians and Ukrainians were "brotherly nations". Back in 2019, he would have also suggested that Putin restore "normal relations between brotherly nations". Now Vilkul says he would kill Putin. Quote from Vilkul: "If I had the opportunity to kill him, I would. There is full-scale aggression going on. Bloody orcs [Russian forces ed.] are destroying our homes, villages, and cities. In fact, I believe the end of the war can only be brought closer by the number of coffins that will go from here to Russia." Details: When asked to be more specific, Vilkul said he would not say anything to Putin. "He must be killed," he said. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! This article originally appeared on Trail Runner More than 2,300 runners will line up at the 10th annual Istria 100 by UTMB this weekend in Croatia. The top male and female podium (18 total runners, nine men and nine women) of each event will get automatic entry to the event of the corresponding distance in the 2023 UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix, and all runners who complete the event will receive stones (four for the 100M, three for the 100K, two for the 69K, and two for the 40K) for a chance to enter the lottery to compete in Chamonix in 2024. This race will be streamed live on Outside Watch, along with a full schedule of top-tier trail running events from UTMB. This early season event is garnering attention because Jim Walmsley is slated to run the 100-mile course to earn his spot at the UTMB World Series Finals in Chamonix. Walmsley moved to France last year to focus his training efforts on the 106-mile circumnavigation of Mont Blanc, where he placed fourth in 2022. Walmsley didn't run much for several months during the winter; instead, he focused on alpine touring skiing in and around Beaufort, France. "Istria will provide an early season opportunity to run 100 miles, through the night, with my backpack full of mandatory gear," Walmsley said. "I'm looking forward to traversing the peninsula of Istria, connecting ancient villages through vineyards, olive groves, and old forests along the Mediterranean coast." RELATED: Outside is Partnering with UTMB To Bring You Onto The Trails and Into the Action with Live and On-Demand Race Streaming Top Contenders In addition to Jim Walmsley, 2022's CCC champion and World Long Trail Champion and French runner Blandine L'Hirondel will be running the 69K, as will Norwegian Stian Angermund (winner of the World Short Trail Championship in Thailand). Andreas Reiiterer (3rd, 2022 CCC) will also be stepping up to the 69K. 2022's Istria 42K champion and French athlete Kevin Vermeulen will return to tackle the longer 69K event. Story continues The women's field is just as exciting, with Austrian trail runner Esther Fellhofer (UTMB index of 714) who will undoubtedly be hunting down a ticket to the UTMB World Series Finals after a disappointing DNF in last year's TDS Mont-Blanc. Other elite women include Claire Bannwarth, from France, who came first female at the 100-miler at Kullamannen by UTMB, and the Austrian, Ulrike Striednig, who is racing in the 60-64 category with an impressive index of 651. Istra 100 UTMB Course Description There are five distances for the race in the Istrian Peninsula: 168K (104.4 miles), 110K (68.3 miles), 69K (42.8 miles), 42K (26 miles), and 21K (13 miles). While all five finish in the historic town square of Umag, on Croatia's western coast, only the longest race distance has the benefit of touring the country's east coast as well. A total of 2,294 runners are expected to race in the five events. The 168K race starts in the coastal town of Labin at 5 P.M. local time, meaning runners will begin by running through the night as they trek north along the Adriatic Sea and into Uck Nature Park. After about 32 miles, they'll head west across the country until they hit the finish in Umag. In addition to experiencing 21,620 feet of total elevation gain along the way, runners will see the beautiful country on foot through vineyards, olive fields, and medieval, stone-street towns. Where to Stay and What to Know The best place to stay for the race is around the finish line in Umag. All races finish there, but they also start there for most runners. Bib pickup, the race expo, and most official race events occur there. Because of this, the race offers bus rides from the finish to the start of all races. For the 168K, the bus ride is about an hour and 15 minutes. For the 21K, it's about a 20-minute ride. Crew and spectators cannot take the bus. However, they are allowed to watch and crew the runners from four aid stations along the course. (You can find those here.) They are accessible by car, but be warned: the race discourages crews from driving to them at night because of the narrow roads. For anyone looking to explore or see sites while crewing, before or after the races, Ivana Greguric, an event director for the race, recommends enjoying the local cuisine like fuzi pasta, wines, prosciutto, olive oil, and wild asparagus (a springtime delicacy), or visiting historic towns like Motovun, Groznjan, Labin, and Rabac. For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. (Bloomberg) -- South Africa attracted 1.51 trillion ($84 billion) of new investment pledges over the past five years, 26% more than a target set in 2018, President Cyril Ramaphosa said. Most Read from Bloomberg New commitments made at an investment conference in Johannesburg on Thursday include those from companies including mobile-phone company Vodacom Group Ltd., miner Anglo American Plc and brewer Heineken SA, Ramaphosa said at a closing ceremony. The government is targeting 2 trillion rand of investment over the next five years, the president said earlier. Key investment pledges on Thursday: Energy Crisis Has Created Catalyst for Change: JSE CEO (4:36 p.m.) South Africas energy crisis has created a catalyst for powerful transformational change that is resulting in promising policy reforms, JSE Ltd. Chief Executive Officer Leila Fourie said. Weve seen for example a sweeping change in the approach to the Eskom consolidation in the form of the breaking up of Eskom into three groups, Fourie said in an interview with Bloomberg TV. This is something that was highly unlikely two or three years ago. Eskom to Spin Off Transmission Business in Third Quarter (1:03 p.m.) Eskom Holdings SOC Ltd., South Africas state-owned electricity company, expects to complete the spin-off of its transmission company in the third quarter, according to Chairman Mpho Makwana. Fast-tracking the process to add a separate board of directors and other measures needed to hive off the unit will create a competitive electricity trading platform thats part of a turnaround plan to restore healthy energy availability and end record power outages by March 2025, Makwana said. Story continues The utility is also examining different methods of providing power to poor households. Microgrids have emerged as a solution thats been piloted by Eskom in the Free State province using solar-powered containers to provide energy for up to 50 homes, Makwana said at an investment conference in Johannesburg on Thursday. Partners are sought to expand the project. Pace of Investments Accelerating, Finance Minister Godongwana Says (April 13, 12:13 p.m.) The pace of investment in Africas most industrialized economy is accelerating, Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana said citing pledges made at the conference. Government plans to lift economic growth through increasing investments in infrastructure, making decisive changes to regulations and taking steps to create an efficient state, Godongwana said in column published by Johannesburg-based Business Day. Vodacom Plans to Get Power From IPPs (April 13, 11:20 a.m.) Vodacom Group Ltd. plans to buy 16 billion rand ($879 million) of energy from independent power producers, Chief Executive Officer Shameel Joosub said. The deal will be signed in the coming days and done through Eskom, he said. Ramaphosa Seeks $109 Billion in Five Years (April 13, 11:15 a.m.) South Africa will target 2 trillion rand of new investment over the next five years, President Cyril Ramaphosa said, as he sought to address investor concerns about the nations energy and logistics crises, and rampant crime. The government is implementing its Energy Action Plan to help reduce daily electricity outages of as long as 12 hours a day, and is planning new bid windows for wind, solar and other renewable energy projects, Ramaphosa said. The state has also agreed to establish a National Logistics Crisis Committee to drive the enactment of a plan to repair the nations railways, ports and other transport infrastructure, he said. Specialized multidisciplinary task teams have been set up by the police to tackle crimes of economic sabotage such as violence and extortion at construction sites, illegal mining, infrastructure vandalism and cable theft, Ramaphosa said. South Africa Addressing Challenges to Attract Investment, Ntshavheni Says (April 13, 11:05 a.m.) South Africas government is taking steps to address power cuts, energy security, crime and challenges in the logistics sector to attract investment, Minister in the Presidency Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said in an interview with Bloomberg. Government Weighing Measures to Lure Investment (April 13, 10:45 a.m.) South Africas government is struggling to compete with tax incentives offered by other countries and is looking at alternatives to lure back investors, Human Settlements Minister Mmamoloko Kubayi said. Other countries are offering better conditions in terms of tax, either a six-month tax holiday or something like that, which sometimes makes it difficult for South Africa to do, but we are paying attention to it and looking at alternatives, Kubayi, who is also the chairwoman of the cabinets economic cluster, said at the conference. The minister was responding to concerns raised by Rand Merchant Bank CEO Emrie Brown, who said that South Africa must find a way to stem capital outflows. --With assistance from Loni Prinsloo, S'thembile Cele, Tom Mackenzie, Jennifer Zabasajja, Mpho Hlakudi and Adelaide Changole. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Of the public high schools ranked as the top 10 in North Carolina by Niche, an organization that collects data on K-12 schools and colleges, seven are in the Triangle. Each of those schools received A+ overall scores from the national school ranking website. For the full list and more details about each school, visit niche.com/k12/search/best-public-high-schools/s/north-carolina. Here are the top Triangle schools on the list. NCs top public high school is in Durham #1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham is a public high school. Address : 1219 Broad St. in Durham Website: ncssm.edu NCSSM was ranked the #1 public high school in America. Last year, the school was ranked #2. There are two campus locations in Durham and Morganton. NCSSM is a boarding school. This public high school offers 11th and 12th grade instruction for selected students with interest in STEM. These top-10 high schools are in the Triangle #3. Raleigh Charter High School in Raleigh is a public charter school. Address : 1307 Glenwood Ave. in Raleigh Website: raleighcharterhs.org It has 569 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1, Niche says. According to state test scores, 87% of students are at least proficient in math and 95% in reading. Raleigh Charter School is also ranked #2 for the best public high school teachers in North Carolina and #2 for best college prep public high schools in the state. #4. Green Hope High School in Cary is a public school. Address : 2500 Carpenter Upchurch Rd. in Cary Website: wcpss.net It has 2,247 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1, Niche says. According to state test scores, 81% of students are at least proficient in math and 81% in reading. Green Hope High School also ranks #6 for best high schools for athletes in North Carolina and #6 for best college prep public high schools in the state. #5. William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh is a public magnet school. Story continues Address : 128 Clarendon Crescent in Raleigh Website: wcpss.net/enloehs It has 2,337 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1, says Niche. According to state test scores, 60% of students are at least proficient in math and 71% in reading. William G. Enloe High School also ranks #2 for best magnet high schools in North Carolina and #4 for best college prep public high schools in the state. #6. Panther Creek High School in Cary is a public school. Address : 6770 McCrimmon Pkwy in Cary Website: wcpss.net/panthercreekhs It has 2,470 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 21 to 1, says Niche. According to state test scores, 80% of students are at least proficient in math and 83% in reading. Panther Creek High School also ranks #7 for best college prep public high schools in North Carolina and #16 for best high schools for STEM in the state. #7. Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill is a public school. Address : 9217 Seawell School Rd. in Chapel Hill Website: chccs.org/chhs It has 1,526 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. According to state test scores, 80% of students are at least proficient in math and 75% in reading. Chapel Hill High School also ranks #5 for best college prep public high schools in North Carolina and #13 for best high schools for STEM in the state. #8. East Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill-Carrboro is a public school. Address : 500 Weaver Dairy Rd. in Chapel Hill Website: chccs.org/ECHHS It has 1,540 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1, Niche says. According to state test scores, 75% of students are at least proficient in math and 81% in reading. East Chapel Hill High School also ranks #3 for best college prep public high schools in North Carolina ND #7 for best high schools for STEM in the state. Methodology: Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents, their website says. These Triangle public high schools send the most students off to college Ranking: 12 of the top public elementary schools in NC are in the Triangle On the heels of a frosty winter season that brought record-low temperatures to parts of the Northeast, the sudden onset of warm weather this month has come alongside a pattern of red flag warnings seen recently across large sections the U.S. The National Weather Service issues these advisories to alert people about increased risks of fire in their areas. In addition to formal bulletins released by the agency, red flag warnings appear in banners at the top of daily or weekly forecasts in smartphone weather applications. Intentional burns are strongly discouraged while they are in effect, from prescribed blazes scheduled routinely on federal lands to more ordinary hazards, like improperly disposing of a match or cigarette from inside a moving vehicle. What is a red flag warning? Red flag warnings are issued when forecasts indicate that a combination of high temperatures, very low humidity and strong winds in a given location could create an environment that is conducive to dangerous fires, according to the National Weather Service. The agency sets these warnings most often between February 1 and April 30, and again from October 1 to December 15, when typical weather conditions are consistent with that criteria. More specific criteria established by the National Weather Service, in coordination with government land management agencies, uses thresholds to determine whether a red flag warning should be issued, when it should be issued and for how long. The criteria considers fuel conditions a parameter that refers to the amount of water held by "small vegetation," like grass, leaves and mulch, which indicates how the land could respond to either wet or dry environmental changes when they have reached a critical point that could be favorable to the growth and spread of large fires, according to the agency. Officials warned of heightened fire danger in parts of Colorado this week as relative humidity dropped below 15% while wind gusts increased to 50 miles per hour. / Credit: CBS Criteria also stipulates that a red flag warning is issued when relative humidity in an area drops to about 25% while surface winds or frequent gusts simultaneously climb to at least 25 miles per hour. Both conditions must occur simultaneously for at least three hours over a 12-hour period. Widely scattered, dry thunderstorms could trigger a red flag warning as well, with the National Weather Service deeming a thunderstorm "dry" if it produces less than 1/10 of an inch of rainfall. Story continues Other environmental factors that contribute to a red flag warning include: lightning, when it is significant and occurs for the first time after a hot and dry period; dry cold fronts forecasted to cause strong and gusty winds and abrupt wind shifts, but little or no rainfall, especially in areas where there are ongoing wildfires or prescribed burns; and any weather and fuel conditions that could otherwise elevate the risks of fires when taken together, like unusually high temperatures and long-term drought. In California, for example, where massive and devastating wildfires are one consequence of a lengthy and severe drought in the American West, some experts have suggested that parts of the state are now experiencing a "wildfire season" that lasts year-round. Red flag warning vs. fire weather watch A red flag warning is technically not the same as a fire weather watch, whose threat is more explicit, although both kinds of advisories rely on the same fundamental criteria. Fire weather watches can develop into red flag warnings if environmental conditions progress to a point of serious urgency. The National Weather Service generally issues a fire weather watch to alert officials and the public to "the possible development of red flag conditions in the near future," often between 24 and 72 hours in advance of a forecasted weather event. Then, if necessary, it will issue a red flag warning to advise "of occurring or imminent red flag conditions, generally within the next 12 to 24 hours." Who is at risk this season? Red flag warnings are usually issued in western and southwestern U.S. states, where arid climates have historically made the land more susceptible to wildfires. Parts of those regions are still receiving red flag warnings in mid-April one advisory that remained in effect on Thursday applied to Denver, Colorado but the addition of numerous places also under warnings, which stretched from New Mexico to the eastern tip of Massachusetts earlier this week, prompted more widespread questions and concerns than usual about the forecast and what it could mean. As an enormous wildfire burned nearly 4,000 acres of land in New Jersey on Wednesday, vast sections of the tristate area and New England, including New York City, southern Connecticut and the entire state of Pennsylvania, had just emerged from a smattering of red flag warnings that ultimately expired in waves. The National Weather Service noted in a bulletin shared Wednesday night that relative humidity in southern Connecticut was still quite low, but the fire hazard diminished with calmer winds. A massive wildfire had burned through almost 4,000 acres of land in New Jersey on Wednesday, April 12. / Credit: CBS News Philadelphia In New York and parts of New Jersey and Connecticut, recent red flag warnings coincided with a spike in temperatures over the last 10 days or so. The heat in Newark, Islip, Bridgeport and the areas around LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy Airports broke their daily high temperature records for April 6 this year, while Central Park tied its record high, according to the National Weather Service's New York branch. Red flag warnings had moved to parts of the upper Midwest on Thursday, with the Twin Cities and southern Minnesota under advisories that included 31 individual counties, CBS Minnesota reported. In Wisconsin, Governor Tony Evers declared a state of emergency in response to the threat of dangerous wildfire conditions touching most of the state. The same day, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources had reported a 100-acre wildfire in the central part of the state, about 90 miles north of Madison, which the agency attributed to warm temperatures, low humidity and gusty winds, according to CBS Minnesota. Suspect arrested in classified Pentagon documents leak From 1988: Hal Prince and the Broadway opening of "Phantom of the Opera" Pentagon on document leak: "This was a deliberate criminal act" A 100-acre fire reported in Juneau Co. near the community of Necedah forced evacuations on Wednesday, but has since been contained. For the second day in a row a Red Flag Warning has been issued for most of Wisconsin as atmospheric conditions, gusty winds and dry vegetation have created a significantly higher risk for wildfires than normal. In Monroe County, the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources fire crews and local agencies are fighting a roughly 3,000-acre wildfire Thursday afternoon. This comes as a 100-acre fire in Juneau County forced individuals to evacuate on Wednesday before finally being contained Thursday morning. In response to these dangerous conditions, Gov. Tony Evers declared a state of emergency in Wisconsin. The DNR tweeted that it responded to 21 wildfires on Wednesday, burning over 2,500 acres. Nearly 80 wildfires have occurred in the last week. On Thursday, the Red Flag Warning will once again be in effect from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and the National Weather Service has asked Wisconsinites to avoid burning during that time. As of 2 p.m. Thursday, 17 additional fires had burned more than 2,800 acres, according to the DNR. 3,000-acre fire in Monroe County is still burning near Arcadia A 3,000-acre wildfire in Monroe County is continuing to grow after it started burning Wednesday night and as of Thursday afternoon is 46% contained. Officials say the Arcadia fire began at the north end of Fort McCoy. Around 1 p.m. evacuations of nearby homes took place. No injuries have been reported, however three structures have been damaged and one shed lost. The cause of the wildfire is still under investigation. The state patrol is continuing to monitor smoke on Interstate 94 and will shut it down for a second time if visibility or fire conditions warrant it. 100-acre fire reported in Juneau County, forces parts of Necedah to evacuate DNR fire crews and local agencies were called to the scene of a roughly 100-acre wildfire in Juneau County on Wednesday. Evacuations were necessary for surrounding areas as several structures were in the fires path. Officials say the fire began in the town of Necedah and would eventually be contained after eight heavy units, seven engines, one DNR air attack, two Wisconsin National Guard Blackhawks, one county heavy dozer, two U.S. Forest Service engines, one U.S. Fish and Wildlife engine and marsh master, and one correctional camp crew assisted. Story continues No injuries have been reported and the cause of the wildfire is still under investigation. What is a Red Flag Warning? A Red Flag Warning is issued when warm temperatures, very low humidities, and stronger winds are expected to combine to produce an increased risk of fire danger. When a Red Flag Warning is issued all burn barrels must be covered with a weighted metal cover, with holes no larger than of an inch. The weather service recommends that you extinguish all outdoor fires properly and drown fires with plenty of water to make sure everything is cold to the touch. The weather service also says that during a Red Flag Warning even acts like throwing cigarettes or matches out of a moving vehicle could ignite dry grass on the side of the road potentially starting a wildfire. Why is a Red Flag Warning being issued? Red Flag Warnings are in part determined by the humidity values in certain areas. On Thursday, the weather service said that the humidity levels in many counties have dropped to between 18% and 24% and that combined with dry vegetation, 25-30 mph wind gusts and temperatures rising into the high 70s mean the chance for a fire is significantly higher. Rebecca Hansen, a meteorologist with the weather service, said that Red Flag Warnings can be particularly common during spring and fall when vegetation is very dry but there is no snow to protect it from burning. "We generally have two seasons when this can happen," she said, "before greenup in the springtime and then before we start getting snow cover in the fall, just because things are getting drier." Evers declares state of emergency Protecting Wisconsinites from the destructive danger of wildfire is a top priority," Evers said. "Although northern Wisconsin still has considerable snow cover, the danger is extreme across much of the state today. This executive order will give the Department of Natural Resources the ability to have all available resources ready to be quickly dispatched at critical moments to keep fires small and minimize damage, Evers wrote in the release. The executive order comes as the DNR has requested wildfire suppression support from the Wisconsin National Guard. The order will help the state in rapidly mobilizing the Army National Guards Blackhawk helicopters to the areas of the state in most need of aerial fire suppression resources during the critical spring fire season; this critical period in Wisconsin generally lasts through the month of May. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: 21 fires in Wisconsin on Wednesday; Red Flag Warning issued statewide Regina King Uncovering family history can often lead to mixed emotions as you learn about your loved ones and yourself. In an episode of PBS Finding Your Roots, actor Regina King discovered unimaginable details about her grandfathers life. King, 52, said her father, the late Thomas King Jr., never shared details about his childhood or upbringing when he was alive. Instead, he lived a peculiar life that only he knew about not even his friends or family knew about his past, Today reported. Growing up, I never really knew much about him other than he loved us and where he worked and his friends, who were his good friends. But never did he share (his roots), she said. During the episode, host Henry Louis Gates Jr. helped the Los Angeles native navigate her fathers side of the family, specifically her grandfather, Thomas King Sr. She learned he wasnt around for part of her fathers childhood. King was taken aback by the news, given that she had a close relationship with her grandfather. From my vantage point as a girl, my grandfather was definitely in (my fathers) life because I knew my grandfather. My grandfather actually gave me away at my wedding, King said. The Academy Award winner felt sorry for her father after realizing he never had a male role model. It makes me angry. It makes me feel sad for my dad, she said. Gates also recovered census records from 1940, stating that King Sr. had two separate families in different cities. While Kings father and her grandmother, Ruby, lived in Memphis, her grandfather was legally married to another woman named Cora, who lived in Chicago, according to Today. The Friday star couldnt believe the information she was reading about her grandfather in the census document. She recalled never hearing about her grandfathers double life during her childhood. However, the discoveries also gave her a new outlook on her grandmother. My grandmother was a very sad woman. I remember that as a little girl, King said. Story continues Now you know why, Gates replied. King also learned her grandfather had struggles growing up. His parents, James and Callie King, divorced when he was a child, and his mother remarried in a new city. Gates and the Finding Your Roots team also unearthed information about Kings mothers side of the family. Her great-grandfather, Bob Kane, was enslaved and considered property at around 6 years old. Years later, he became a free man, married, had a family and became a registered voter. After learning about both sides of her family, King was left speechless. My mind is just this is a lot to take in. A lot Ive never seen and never heard, King said, speaking about her familys patterns. She described the new findings as unimaginable. Flash Photo taken on Aug. 15, 2022 shows the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) headquarters behind security fencing in Washington, D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua] The reported leaks of classified Pentagon documents show the United States' double standards as it is engaged in spying on countries, including its allies, while it accuses other countries of engaging in network surveillance, a Croatian expert said on Wednesday. "In many respects, America has double standards, as it accuses others of what it is doing itself. Double standards are visible in many fields in American politics today," Hrvoje Klasic, a professor at the University of Zagreb, told Xinhua in an interview. The leaks of classified U.S. documents show that Washington is trying to gather information from everyone, including its allies, "because it clearly does not trust anyone completely," Klasic said, adding that it is the same case with Ukraine, as the documents revealed that the U.S. has been spying on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Eavesdropping on everyone, including its allies, is nothing new for the United States, and the leaks of classified military documents certainly "cast a new picture" on the background of the Ukraine crisis, Klasic noted. In May 2021, Denmark's national broadcaster DR News reported that the Danish Defense Intelligence Service had given the U.S. National Security Agency (NSA) open internet access to spy on senior politicians of neighboring countries, including then German Chancellor Angela Merkel. That exposure somewhat cooled off the relations between the U.S. and Europe and showed that the transatlantic alliance faced countless challenges, Klasic said. The reported leaks of highly classified documents that have been trending online recently shed light on the extensive spying activities conducted by Washington on its allies and foes alike, as the latest leaks of documents have raised concerns from U.S.-friendly nations involved, while other allies are also conducting damage assessments to determine if their own sources and methods have been compromised. Earlier this month, reports on batches of alleged U.S. intelligence documents that were uploaded on social media platforms such as Twitter and Telegram grabbed headlines. According to U.S. officials, several of the documents are authentic and are believed to have been generated between mid-February and early March. They contain extensive top-secret data related to U.S.-friendly nations, including Ukraine, South Korea and Israel. Dracula (Nicolas Cage) and Renfield (Nicholas Hoult) in Renfield. (Universal) Nicolas Cage playing Dracula? It's a casting match made in heaven... or should that be hell? Either way, it's a treat we'll all be able to enjoy on the big screen when Renfield hits cinemas on Friday, 14 April. Directed by The Lego Batman Movie's Chris McKay, the film features Mad Max: Fury Road's Nicholas Hoult as the titular Renfield, Dracula's lackey who decides to try and end the toxic relationship he has with his blood-obsessed boss when he falls for a new love interest. Unsurprisingly, it's not that easy to do. Having played so many different roles in so many different ways, all eyes are on Cage with regards to how exactly he'll tackle a role as rich and devilish as the Prince of Darkness. That said, he's hardly the first big-name star to give it a stab. Read more: Renfield stars admit seeing Nicolas Cage as Dracula was 'pretty intimidating' When a character has been portrayed so many times on screen, it is perhaps inevitable that some performances even those from very well-known actors may slip through the cracks somewhat. Here are a mere handful of the famous names to have tried their hand at playing the Transylvanian terror, in movies which we tend to overlook (sometimes with good reason) Gerard Butler Gerard Butler as Count Dracula in Dracula 2000. (Dimension) Before he attained tough guy leading man status in 300, Butler landed his first major role in Dracula 2000, a glossy modernisation of the character produced by horror legend Wes Craven and directed by Patrick Lussier (My Bloody Valentine, Drive Angry). Sadly this proved a rather inauspicious introduction to audiences and Butler was largely overshadowed by his co-stars, including Johnny Lee Miller as the cartoonish hero, Christopher Plummer as Van Helsing, and Jeri Ryan very much a late 90s pin-up from her role in Star Trek: Voyager as a voluptuous vampire bride. Richard Roxburgh Richard Roxburgh as Dracula in 2004's Van Helsing. (Alamy) The Australian character actor, best known for his roles in Mission Impossible II and Moulin Rouge at the time, was hardly the most obvious choice to play the Count in Van Helsing, Stephen Sommers misguided mega-budget attempt to revive the Universal monster movie brand, with Hugh Jackman and Kate Beckinsale. Story continues Nor did the film approach the character in a traditional way, eschewing his usual aristocratic dress sense in favour of an unorthodox gypsy look, replete with ponytail and earrings. Alas, none of these risks paid off, leaving Roxburghs performance as just one of the many disappointments the film had in store. Frank Langella Frank Langella in 1979's Dracula (Alamy) The long-standing American stage and screen actor has played some notorious tyrants over the years notably Richard Nixon and Skeletor but many seem to have forgotten his title role in the 1979 version of Dracula from director John Badham (Saturday Night Fever, Short Circuit). In some ways, this isnt surprising, as its hardly the most compelling take on the story ever shot, although it does go some way to reviving the romantic interpretation which would be developed further in Francis Ford Coppollas version, and has quite a notable co-star in Sir Laurence Olivier as Van Helsing. Jack Palance One of Hollywoods foremost masters of villainy also took on the arch vampire in a 1974 adaptation directed by Dark Shadows creator Dan Curtis, and scripted by legendary sci-fi/horror writer Richard Matheson (himself responsible for one of the 20th centurys greatest vampire novels, I Am Legend). Perhaps the key reason this one is largely forgotten is that it was made for TV. Infamously, when facing off against Nigel Davenports Van Helsing, the Count hisses through his teeth, city folk! (Okay, we might have made that bit up.) Harry Nilsson Harry Nilson and Ringo Starr appeared in 1974's Son of Dracula. (Alamy) Thats right, the man who sang Without You and Everybodys Talkin also portrayed the king of the vampires sort of. In one of those utterly bonkers-sounding films that could surely only have happened in the mid-70s, Nilsson played Draculas heir Count Downe (groan) in Son of Dracula, a 1974 musical comedy (not to be confused with Universals 1943 film of the same name, which also made a curious casting decision in Lon Chaney Jr. as the new Count). Just in case it doesnt sound strange enough already, the film also features Ringo Starr as Merlin. Panned on release and hard to find nowadays, allegedly Starr owns a copy but says he cant bring himself to watch it. Rutger Hauer No, were not confusing this with the Blade Runner icons appearance as the villainous Lothos in 1992s original Buffy the Vampire Slayer movie. Hauer portrayed the most famous vampire of all in one of his lesser-seen films: 2005s Dracula III: the Legacy, a direct-to-DVD second sequel to Dracula 2000, following on from Gerard Butler and Dracula II star Steven Billington (bit of Doctor Who-ish regeneration going on there). Hauer later returned to Bram Stokers classic, this time taking on the role of Van Helsing in Dario Argentos Dracula 3D. Neither film is likely to be held up as a career highlight. Renfield will be released in cinemas on Friday, 14 April. Watch a trailer below. Rep. Andy Biggs announced Thursday that he has introduced legislation that would punish the Manhattan District Attorney for prosecuting former President Donald Trump over his business records. The "No Federal Funds for Political Prosecutions Act" would prohibit state and local law enforcement agencies from using funds to investigate or prosecute the president, vice president or a presidential candidate in a criminal case, Biggs, R-Ariz., said. It also would prevent using or property seized through asset forfeiture for such purposes. Any agency the U.S. attorney general found to violate the law would lose some funding because they would be disqualified from receiving proceeds from property seized by the attorney general, or the seized property. A New York grand jury voted in March to indict Trump, the first time a former president has been charged criminally, after investigating hush-money payments to two women who claimed to have had sex with him. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz., listens as votes are cast for the next Speaker of the House on the opening day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol, Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2023, in Washington. Trump surrendered to the Manhattan District Attorneys office April 4 and pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business documents to conceal the payments. Biggs and other Trump supporters have suggested that prosecution is aimed at hurting Trump's chances of reelection in 2024, as he is a leading Republican presidential candidate. The charges normally would be misdemeanors had the business records not been falsified to conceal campaign expenditure violations, according to the case. Biggs says charges politically motivated Former president Donald Trump delivers his remarks during his rally at Legacy Sports Park in Mesa on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2022. District Attorney Alvin Bragg ran on a campaign pledge to indict President Trump," Biggs said in a written statement announcing the legislation. "Bragg took the unprecedented action of converting alleged minor business misdemeanors to 34 individual felonies in an attempt to put President Trump behind bars and humiliate him and his supporters." Biggs noted the potential cost of the prosecution and called it a "waste of federal resources." Story continues The legislation has a clear partisan tone aimed at helping Republicans, but had it been in place when President Barack Obama ran for office, it could have prevented former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio from conducting a five-year investigation into Obama's place of birth. Arpaio's investigation was largely funded through donations and volunteers, but in 2012 he used taxpayer money to send an investigator to the tropical island. Another Biggs bill would cut off DA Biggs also announced a second piece of legislation Thursday called the "Accountability for Lawless Violence In Our Neighborhoods Act," or the ALVIN Act. That two-page legislation simply states that no federal funds can go to the Manhattan district attorney, and all such money shared with that office since Jan. 1, 2022, needs to be repaid. Republicans hold a nine-vote majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, where both pieces of legislation were introduced. The proposals are unlikely to make it through the U.S. Senate, where Democrats hold a slim majority. Biggs' legislation is not the only fallout for Bragg from his case. Three House Republican committee chairs called for testimony from Bragg because of concerns his investigation would become a politically motivated prosecutorial decision. Republican Reps. Jim Jordan of Ohio, James Comer of Kentucky and Bryan Steil of Wisconsin told Bragg in a March letter his actions could erode confidence in the evenhanded application of justice if he charged Trump. Jordan also subpoenaed a former prosecutor in Bragg's office. Bragg responded by suing Jordan and seeking a restraining order on the subpoena. He called Jordan's actions an unprecedentedly brazen and unconstitutional attack on a local criminal case. Reach reporter Ryan Randazzo at ryan.randazzo@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4331. Follow him on Twitter @UtilityReporter. Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Rep. Andy Biggs bill would block New York prosecution of Trump Senator Tim Scott tours the Marion Public Library, Wednesday, 12 April 2023, in Marion, Iowa (AP) Senator Tim Scott dodged questions around federal abortion ban as he voiced being 100 per cent pro-life. The comments came hours after the sole Black Republican senator announced his exploratory committee to run for the Republican nomination to challenge former president Donald Trump in 2024. I am certainly 100 per cent pro-life without a question, Ive been very clear about that, Mr Scott told CBS News as he tiptoed around the question about his stance on whether federal government should be involved in regulating abortion. Your colleague from South Carolina Lindsey Graham has a bill to limit abortions at 15 weeks, federal restriction. Do you support that measure? asked the journalist. So I would say this. I am certainly 100 per cent pro-life without a question. Ive been very, very clear about that. Very consistent about that. I do think we spend not enough time understanding how far the far left has gone on the issue of abortion, he said. Senate Democrats have voted for late-term abortions well into the third trimester, some even suggesting that we should have abortion up until the day of birth. The fact that we are one of a handful of countries that allows for late term abortions is a challenging predicament for us to be in. Journalist Caitlin Hue-Burns pressed again, asking if he thinks that the federal government should be involved with something like what Lindsey Graham is proposing? Theres no question that were gonna have lots of folks talk about legislation from a federal perspective, but from what Ive heard so far, and what Ive seen in the Senate arent proposals but votes from the left trying to figure out how to continue their campaign towards late-term abortions, even allowing abortions based on the gender of the child or the race of the child or the disabilities of the child, he said again, shying away from giving a straight response. But as president, if you were president, would you advocate for federal limits? the journalist tried the third time. So once again, I am 100 per cent pro-life and I do believe said Mr Scott, as the journalist asked whether he was saying yes. Story continues No, thats not what I said, the South Carolina senator responded. A slew of Republican-led states have moved to ban abortion after the Supreme Courts decision to overturnRoe v Wade in June last year. The landmark precedent established in the 1973 ruling from Roe affirmed the constitutional right to abortion care. According to the New York Times, most abortions are banned in 13 states This is not the first time Mr Scott painted an exaggerated picture of a womans reproductive rights. Earlier in August, the GOP member claimed that if his party does not win back the Senate in November, the Democrats will grant abortions up to 52 weeks, a comment health care workers criticised for inaccuracy. A full-term pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks, Dr Meera Shah, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, told HuffPost. It is not logical or medically accurate to say that people can be pregnant at 52 weeks, let alone be seeking an abortion. It is comments like this one that underscore exactly why medical decisions should not be made by politicians. Mr Scotts announcement marks the fourth candidate in the race for the Republican nomination. Along with him, Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy announced their candidacy. The South Carolina senator has spoken about racism in the United States, talking about how he was racially profiled by police. He also voted against the nomination of a judicial nominee who was accused of intimidating Black voters. He and senator Cory Booker attempted to negotiate a police reform in the previous Congress after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. But negotiations ultimately failed. He hinted at reigniting talks after Memphis police were caught on video assaulting Tyre Nichols, who later died. District 4 Sen. Christine Marsh speaks during an open session on March 20, 2023, at the State Capitol in Phoenix. Aaaaand the award for best melodramatic performance in Arizonas official theater of the absurd this week goes to Senate Republicans. The Arizona Senate on Wednesday approved a bill advertised as a way to crack down on the fentanyl that is flooding across the U.S.-Mexico border. House Bill 2469 passed on a party-line vote. Republicans, naturally, were aghast (or, perhaps, jubilant?) that Democrats opposed the bill. Republicans blasted Marsh on social media They quickly took to social media to trumpet the appalling fact that the (dis)loyal opposition is, apparently, in league with the soulless drug cartels that are poisoning Americas youth. Senate Republicans voted in support of declaring a public health crisis for the fentanyl trafficking that is claiming the lives of countless Arizonans, as well as requiring the AZ Dept. of Health Services to address this emergency, they tweeted. Senate Democrats did the opposite and voted in support of the drug cartels that are threatening our public safety, health and welfare. Republicans went on to single out the apparent ringleader in this lawlessness: Sen. Christine Marsh, D-Phoenix. Its bizarre that any lawmakers in Arizona would vote against a bill that aims to address the public health crisis of fentanyl overdoses in our state, they tweeted. Young people are dying from this drug at an alarming rate. Its our job as lawmakers to do everything in our power to stop this from happening but unfortunately, Senator Christine Marsh doesn't agree and wants to play political games that are costing lives. Marsh lost her son to fentanyl. She's offered bills Nearly 2,000 Arizonans lost their lives to opioid overdoses in 2022, with fentanyl the most commonly reported drug in opioid overdoses, according to the Arizona Department of Health Services. Can you imagine, someone playing political games while unsuspecting Americans are ingesting a highly addictive drug that may well kill them? Story continues Sadly, I can, too. Just not Senator Marsh. Three years ago, Marshs 25-year-old son, Landon, a student at Northern Arizona University, died after taking a pill he thought was a pain reliever. Turns out it was laced with fentanyl. Ever since then, Marsh has focused on legislation aimed at saving lives. Real bills that do real stuff, like her proposal this year to appropriate $30,000 to distribute fentanyl testing strips on college campuses. It never even got a hearing. GOP bill looks more like performance art Instead, our leaders were busy passing HB 2469, which looks more like performance art than an actual plan. The bill, one of several addressing the fentanyl crisis, comes to us from Rep. Steve Montenegro, R-Goodyear, who I would guess sincerely wants to do something about this ugly epidemic foist upon us by the drug cartels. The problem is, Montegegros bill doesnt seem to actually do anything. At least, not that I can make out. His bill would declare that trafficking of fentanyl across the border is a public health crisis and require the Arizona Department of Health Services to do everything within its authority to address the crisis. Fentanyl smuggling: Exposes rift in US-Mexico relationship So what, you might wonder, can a public health department that maintains statistics and licenses health-care facilities do to stop the smugglers? Raise an army? Boobytrap the border? The bill doesnt say. Even in this session, that's a low blow What is it specifically that they (DHS) are being prescribed to do? Rep. Eva Burch, D-Maricopa, asked, during a recent hearing on the bill. What we are doing, Montenegro replied, is were codifying our authority, our sovereignty as a state, which I do think opens the door for us, whether its the Governors Office, whether its the Legislature, to then use all tools possible as we move forward. I dont think theres one answer right now. Certainly, there's not one in this bill. Which is perhaps why Marsh and the Democrats voted no. This is a bill that I desperately want to be voting yes on, Marsh said, during Wednesdays floor vote. Im going to be voting no because I dont think there is enough focus on the bill, period. It seems more like a statement piece and if were going to be addressing something as significant as fentanyl coming across the border I think we need to get it right. Or we could just put out a few cheap tweets making it sound as if the Democrats including a legislator who lost her son to fentanyl voted in support of the drug cartels that are threatening our public safety, health and welfare. Even in a legislative session as politically poisonous as this one, thats low. Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on Twitter at @LaurieRoberts. Support local journalism: Subscribe to azcentral.com today. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Republicans sink to new low with swipe at Sen. Christine Marsh A makeshift memorial is set up on the steps of Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, where a gunman, a 25-year-old bank employee, opened fire Monday, killing five people and wounding at least eight others before police fatally shot him. A makeshift memorial is set up on the steps of Old National Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, where a gunman, a 25-year-old bank employee, opened fire Monday, killing five people and wounding at least eight others before police fatally shot him. There is a stark, startling conclusion one can draw from the endless string of mass shootings weve seen in America: Murder is one of the prices we pay for the freedoms we say we want. Or at least the freedoms some of us say we want. I think its worse than that. I dont think we care. Or at least not anymore. There was a time when such a thing shocked the nation. Who remembers the reaction to the Columbine shooting? Maybe it was a shock because it was a first the first such incident in recent memory. Maybe we thought it was a one-off, so let freedom ring! But the shootings continued. They happen with such frequency now that a national complacency has set in. We have become numb. Beyond the communities in which they happen, are we shocked anymore? Does the nation grieve? Is there any remaining description a president or elected official hasnt uttered yet? At least a particular class of lawmakers have abandoned the old thoughts and prayers routine. Either we dont care, or weve given up. It doesnt matter how many were killed, whether children were killed, or whether the motive was racism or anti-gay. Such incidents seem so commonplace now that we brush them aside as just another day in the United States. The numbers dont matter no matter how startling they are. In each of the last three years, there have been over 600 mass shootings in the U.S., according to the Gun Violence Archive, a nonprofit research database. That is more than 12 mass shootings a week. And yet, some say thats the price we pay for freedom. Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk says we have to accept mass shootings to protect the Second Amendment. Dont let shooting victims define the narrative, he said on his podcast in reaction to the latest mass shooting in Louisville. Story continues By shooting victims, I assume he means the ones who arent dead. Jeez, what a Republican! So many of us seem to shrug our shoulders. It wont happen to me, we say. It wont happen here. A gangland shooting? Im not in a gang, not my world. Not my problem. Suicide, ya gotta be depressed or mentally ill. Im not either, so not my problem. But mass shootings? We may not know the people who died, but we know people just like them. A Lunar New Year shooting earlier this year happened in Monterey Park, California, a city listed as one of Americas best places to live and raise a family. Hey, I live in a place where its great to live and raise a family! Maybe it could happen here. Maybe it could happen to me. Do these mass shooting incidents give you pause about attending certain events, or, when attending such events, are you mindful of what to do should such a terrifying moment arise? Where I grew up, where violence was not uncommon, you learned at a young age to have an escape route, to know where the exits are, and to avoid certain kinds of locations lacking some form of egress. You prepare for the eventuality and think, what do I do if? Do you do that? Have you done that? Are you more inclined to do that now? How long before you let your guard down? Been to the movies lately? Maybe a lot? Maybe you forgot about what happened in Colorado. Or that grocery store in Buffalo? How about a nightclub? Folks in Orlando thought that would be okay. Or a music festival? You do recall what happened in Las Vegas. Or maybe youve been to a political rally. Forget what happened in Tucson? How about your house of worship? Mr. Kirk says the Second Amendment protects all other freedoms. Apparently not. A makeshift memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two adults. A makeshift memorial outside Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas, where a gunman killed 19 children and two adults. According to a national poll released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit that focuses on healthcare research, the fear of gun violence is impacting where people go when outside the home: decisions to take public transit, dine out, attend a concert, and where they send their child to school. Eight in 10 participants said they took at least one precaution to protect themselves or a loved one from the possibility of gun violence. The survey found that 1 in 5 has had a family member killed by a gun, 1 in 5 has been threatened with a gun, and nearly as many have personally witnessed a shooting. One in 5 parents has considered changing where their child attends school. Smaller percentages have shot a gun in self-defense or been injured in a shooting. More than half (54%) have experienced or had a family member who experienced gun violence. Most of these incidents happened in the home, either through domestic violence, accidents or suicides. Either way, it has affected our behaviors outside the home. The surveys broader conclusion: Were a nation living in fear. I would say we are a nation living in apathy. Or maybe its resignation. Opponents of stricter gun laws often oppose such regulations saying it doesnt work. They point to Californias gun laws as proof given those three nearly back-to-back mass shootings earlier this year. Those shootings offered a lesson in the limits of state power to stop American gun violence, even with the political will at all levels of the state government to do so, a New York Times piece reported. Its headline: California Has More Than 100 Gun Laws. Why Dont They Stop More Mass Shootings? What critics dont point to, arent able to point to, is what didnt happen because of those gun laws. Its what Garen Wintemute calls the Paradox of Prevention. Wintemute is a renowned expert on the public health crisis of gun violence and director of the University of California Violence Prevention Research Program. California gun laws are tough, he told HuffPost. But you only hear about the failures. They work more often than they fail because when they work, nothing happens. Nobody tells the story of the thing that never happens. But it turns out Californias firearm violence and firearm homicide rates are far below the national average. The states suicide rate is among the nations lowest. As of 2020, the most recent data, the rate in the other 49 states taken together is 60% higher than the rate in California, Wintemute said. If the country had Californias firearm death rate in 2020, we would have saved nearly 16,000 lives. In the roughly half a dozen states with firearm violence death rates lower than Californias, every single one of those states has a legal regulatory apparatus that is as strict as ours, or stricter, he added. When people say gun laws dont work, then how do you explain this? That same study found there were about 1,500 more gun deaths in Texas alone than there would have been if Texas had Californias firearm death rate. Did those 1,500 people have to die? asked Wintemute. Thats a question for Greg Abbot. (Abbot is the current governor of Texas.) People visit a memorial for those killed at Pulse nightclub on June 16, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were killed and 53 others were wounded. People visit a memorial for those killed at Pulse nightclub on June 16, 2016, in Orlando, Florida, where 49 people were killed and 53 others were wounded. The Paradox of Prevention may become the fate of the gun control bill signed into law last year, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act. Media outlets celebrated its passage as the first major gun safety legislation passed by Congress in nearly 30 years. Thats nothing to celebrate when it took roughly a quarter-century of increasing rates of mass shootings to pass legislation that Joe Biden conceded. Doesnt do everything I want. Its none of what gun advocates want. President Biden is pushing politically divisive measures that could seriously damage our right to keep and bear arms without making the nation any safer, the Heritage Foundation proclaimed. The National Rifle Association repeated its fallback panic position: Biden wants to ban guns. Gun rights groups threatened legal action against the executive order designed to increase background checks that Biden signed last year. Its going to target legal gun owners! Yet the Kaiser Family Foundation survey found that some of those legal gun owners arent exactly responsible gun owners. Among the 4 in 10 respondents who said there was a gun in their household, more than half said they stored at least one gun in the same location as the ammunition. Four in 10 stored their firearms in an unlocked location, and more than one-third said they have a loaded gun in the house. Parents with children? Four in 10 with children under age 18 say there is a gun in their household. Among that group, one-third say the stored gun is loaded or stored in an unlocked location. More than 6 in 10 said they stored any gun in the same location as ammunition. Some take comfort in a concealed carry permit. I dont oppose them, but Im skeptical. Anyone can go to the shooting range and learn to hit a stationary target. But firing a weapon under duress, when someone is firing in all directions, or firing at you Try firing your weapon then. Being a good guy with a gun doesnt necessarily mean a guy who is good with a gun. Another question is what to do if you encounter something that raises a red flag. We did a large-scale statewide survey in California, said Wintemute. At any moment in time, one adult in eight 12% of us is aware of at least one person, someone they know personally, who they believe is at risk of harming themselves or somebody else. We have to be willing to make the call [notify the authorities]. Otherwise, we may have to be living with the consequences of not doing so, he said. That has a disturbing feel to it. How many people would feel comfortable ratting out someone we know personally? Yet recently passed laws in some states allow you to sue anyone who assisted another in getting an abortion. Well, its about saving the life of the unborn child. How about saving the lives of who knows how many when the next mass shooting comes along? Speaking of which, the leading cause of death among children is now firearm violence. Gun safety advocates participate in the March for Our Lives rally in downtown Orlando on June 11, 2022. Similar marches have been held across the U.S. in the wake of recent mass shootings. Gun safety advocates participate in the March for Our Lives rally in downtown Orlando on June 11, 2022. Similar marches have been held across the U.S. in the wake of recent mass shootings. Most mass shootings have familiar telltale benchmarks. An angry person. A person with no recourse. Targets. Guns. Victims. Often, instead of suicide notes or rambling screeds in a diary, digital breadcrumbs tempt us into thinking we could have prevented such a tragedy had we only known about this tweet, that Facebook page, or TikTok video. But such clues are only realized in hindsight. Maria Martinez and her daughter told Denvers KDVR of their disturbing encounter with the accused Club Q shooter Anderson Lee Aldrich, who they recorded spewing racial slurs and death threats while getting off a plane. Even my friend was like, we wont be surprised, like, if hes a mass shooter, Martinez said. The Club Q shooting happened four months later. George Sodini, who killed three people and wounded nine others in 2009, kept a blog online detailing his plans to commit a mass shooting at a specific health club in Pittsburgh. He indicated that he was profoundly unhappy. He felt women did not like him. He claimed not to have been in a relationship for 25 years, and he resented that. His blog even contained such astonishing things as his date of death, which he listed as Aug. 04, 2009, the day of the shooting. It was a date he entered long before it had arrived. Classmates of the Uvalde school shooter suspected something was off. A year before the tragedy, he had threatened women, shared graphic descriptions of violence and rape, carrying around a dead cat, and been nicknamed school shooter, which had been something of an inside joke among his peers. But he had no record, so he went undetected by law enforcement. And no one said anything to anyone. It was a minor miracle more people werent killed when Stephen Paddock opened fire from the 32nd floor of his hotel room into an estimated crowd of 22,000 people. Fifty-eight dead, nearly 900 wounded. But Paddock left no clues, no grandiose manifesto. His brother described him as just another guy, and apparently, a wealthy one: A retired multimillionaire real estate investor. Investigators found no single or clear motivating factor to explain why he carried out the attack. But even if he had left a trail of breadcrumbs, if you happened to encounter someone whose behavior was alarming or chilling, or if you stumbled upon a menacing social media post, would that have compelled you to call the police? Most of us wouldve dismissed the matter, thinking, Oh, another kook. The more you talk about this, the more you come to realize that you have to accept one of two conclusions: Either murder is the price we pay for living in a society with the freedoms we (or enough of us) say we want, or, weve given up any hope in our lifetimes of ever resolving the problem of gun violence in America. And that raises a larger question: How comfortable are you with the fact that perfection eludes us in the temporal realm and that we cant prevent shootings like the one in Louisville, Nashville, or wherever the next one takes place? And who would be astonished if, as soon as you read these words, somewhere another mass shooting may strike? What freedoms do we give up in exchange for those demanded by others? People have a right to be wrong in their choices. They dont have a right to be wronged by the choices of others. Reflexively, we talk about gun laws or someones mental stability. Polling data shows that Americans supportstricter gun regulationsand a ban on assault-style weapons. Yet we continually elect and reelect people who oppose such bans. I used to think that one day enough would be enough. That one day, a shooting so grievous, so horrific, would impel us to finally take action. But after events like Sandy Hook, Las Vegas, Virginia Tech, Uvalde, and so many others, I dont know what it will take. Until we confront this issue willingly, honestly and accordingly, we will have to live with the discomfiting reality that mass shootings are the unfortunate outgrowth of our free society. We do not seem capable of perfecting a system that can prevent them, nor do we have enough societal will to try. Related... RICHMOND, Ind. A Richmond resident faces felony charges over allegations he stabbed a local man. William Gary Barker, 39, was arrested April 8 after he reportedly stabbed the other man, in the abdomen, at a home in the 500 block of Northwest L Street. Richmond police said Barker was friends with the stabbing victim's girlfriend, and had spent much of the previous day with her. Apprehended at a nearby convenience store, Barker said he and the other man had earlier quarreled about their dealings with their mutual female acquaintance. He said that he believed they had resolved their differences, but when he returned to the man's home that night, they began to argue and fight. Barker said he was knocked down and struck, in the jaw and elsewhere, before he stabbed the victim in the stomach with a 7-inch knife. More: Police: Richmond woman attacked mother, pushed her down stairs The victim was taken by ambulance to Reid Hospital and was later flown to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio, where he underwent emergency surgery. Barker was charged this week in Wayne Superior Court 2 with aggravated battery, a Level 3 felony carrying up to 16 years in prison, and battery with a deadly weapon, a Level 5 felony with a maximum six-year sentence. He was being held in the Wayne County jail under a $50,000 bond, His record includes convictions for maintaining a common nuisance, possession of cocaine, possession of a narcotic drug, resisting law enforcement, theft and unlawful possession of a syringe. In other crime news: Misconduct sentence: A Richmond man convicted of sexual misconduct with a minor was sentenced this week to four years in prison. Anderson Audiel Godinez Mazariegos, 24, had pleaded guilty in Wayne Circuit Court to a Level 4 felony with a maximum 12-year sentence. His conviction came after Mazariegos had entered into a plea agreement. He received credit for 165 days already spent in the Wayne County jail. Douglas Walker is a news reporter at The Star Press. Contact him at 765-213-5851 or at dwalker@muncie.gannett.com. This article originally appeared on Richmond Palladium-Item: Richmond man charged with aggravated battery in stabbing About 10 months ago, Solanas co-founder and CEO, Anatoly Yakovenko, announced the launch of Saga, a web3-focused Android smartphone. The phone is now being rolled out, and we got to test one ahead of its launch. Solana says Saga was launched to make crypto products and services more accessible for users by offering them through a phone instead of the traditional way of accessing crypto platforms and applications, which is via computers. I had an interesting few days using the Saga as my daily driver. Heres what I thought about it. Saga phone at a glance Lets get the basics out of the way: The $1,000 device comes packaged in a black box that includes the phone itself, a USB-C charging cable and a physical seed phrase paper card so you can write down your recovery phrase, which is a sequence of random words that you need to access your crypto wallet. The phones operating system is based on Android 13, and it comes with 512 GB of storage with a 6.67-inch OLED display. The setup process is your standard Android experience, involving the usual prompts for setting up your account and internet connection. You can skip most of that and set it up later, but Id recommend setting up the fingerprint unlock, as it also serves as a verification method for signing crypto transactions. I used Saga as my work phone for a few days. The phones 4011 mAh battery lasted me about 1.5 days starting at 82% on Monday night when I unboxed it to about 4% Wednesday morning. So Id say it works well as far as battery life is concerned. The phone also has a built-in mobile wallet adapter, which is part of the Solana Mobile Stack (SMS) that is invisible to users but is infrastructure that connects dApps to wallets, Steven Laver, the engineering lead at Solana Mobile, told TechCrunch. Similar to how MetaMask has a connect button on its desktop client, this adapter is a comprehensive technology that will bridge web dApps to mobile devices, he added. The device also includes a web3-focused feature, the Seed Vault, which is embedded into the phone. Users can import a seed phrase from another crypto wallet or create a new one (Solana recommends creating a new one). Story continues And that brings us to the core purpose of this phones existence: dApps. A unique experience marred by bugs Unlike typical Android devices, the Saga has web3 features and a Solana dApp Store, where you can find apps for web3 platforms. The store has a slim handful of applications: Four wallets: Phantom, Solflare, Ledger and Squads Three DeFi apps: Marinade.finance, Jupiter and Mango Three NFT apps: Nokiamon, Minty Fresh and TIEXO Three social apps: Dialect, Audius Music and urFeed And the dApp workspace Interestingly, Magic Eden isnt on the list of dApp stores, even though the marketplace shared plans to partner with the Solana Mobile Stack (SMS) last year when Saga was announced. After publication, Chris Akhavan, chief gaming officer at Magic Eden, told TechCrunch in a tweet its app would be live soon and is currently in a review state. When the phone is released to the public in the next two weeks the Solana team is hoping more applications will be added to the dApp store, but Laver did not disclose to TechCrunch how many the store would eventually house. Weve been reaching out and engaging with big players in the Solana ecosystem and those who recognize that mobile has won for everything else, Laver said. A lot of developers are realizing mobile will win eventually and they want to be there when it happens. Saga owners get $20 worth of USDC and 0.01 SOL, or 0.0026 of a dollar, as part of the dApp store welcome pack. The 0.01 SOL was not enough to play around with some of the applications, so I had a friend send my new crypto wallet a few dollars worth of SOL to test out the dApps. The dApp Store currently gives Saga owners rewards, which includes an airdropped Saga genesis token, which is an NFT that provides access to rewards offered by dApps. The token is non-transferable and non-burnable, so users should make sure it's not connected to a temporary wallet. We tested out the Minty Fresh dApp and minted a picture of ourselves for 0.01197 SOL within seconds. It now lives forever on the Solana blockchain and can be found here. The process itself was easy -- and admittedly, fun -- but using the phone was not the smoothest experience. The phone was sometimes slow, and I had to close and reopen dApps multiple times because the crypto wallet and NFT minting platform kept freezing. Its worth noting that I faced these issues the whole time I used the device, not just with dApps. I found myself having to close applications, tap the screen a number of times to unlock it or use dApps, or even order myself an Uber. Thats not a problem you want to have with a brand new phone. Rollout and future plans Laver said that while the phone is still in its early stages, there will be software upgrades over time to keep things fresh. Last June, Yakovenko said the phone would be delivered in Q1 2023, but deliveries have since been pushed to Q2. The phone is available for preorder with a $100 deposit. A number of major web3 companies like crypto wallet Phantom, NFT marketplace Magic Eden and the now-collapsed crypto exchange FTX shared in June that they were partnering with Solana to help launch the phone, alongside a $10 million developer fund for people who build apps on it. This phone is an attempt for web3 to compete with Big Tech providers like Apple, Microsoft and, of course, Android -- but many are skeptical of its potential to do so given its niche market. Last year, Yakovenko said the phone is targeting the hardcore people who know what self-custody means. You gotta start with a group that loves this product and grow from there. On the other hand, Laver sees this as a device for a bigger crypto audience. He said Sagas team is planning a marketing push with crypto-native users as well as people who are crypto curious. We want this to be someones phone, Laver said. This is the only phone I carry, I dont have a second phone; it does everything a phone should do plus web3 things. Laver didnt disclose the exact number of phones that were preordered, but said the number was in the high single digits of thousands. The phone is certified for sale in 33 countries and the company plans to expand to other countries in the long term, he added. Were in this interesting place where were building interesting technologies, but also interested to see where people take it next, Laver said. We dont have a roadmap of A, B or C. Weve done A of building this phone, but were excited to see where people take it next for B and C. Gov. Ron DeSantis political operation has started calling Republican members of the Florida congressional delegation to consolidate support after four members publicly backed Donald Trump in his 2024 presidential bid. Sources with four of the six members contacted by DeSantis' team shared the outreach with NBC News; each requested anonymity to confirm the calls. As Trump continues to lead in the polls for the GOP presidential nomination, DeSantis is trying to stop defections in his own backyard ahead of his expected run. DeSantis has no endorsements from the 20 Republicans in the state congressional delegation. The efforts started after Trump picked up the backing of Rep. Byron Donalds, who has been a DeSantis ally. The three earlier endorsements were from Reps. Anna Paulina Luna, Matt Gaetz and Cory Mills, who are vocal Trump boosters and whose support wasn't surprising. Since Donalds came out for Trump, DeSantis' team has called at least six members of Floridas congressional delegation, asking that they hold off on making any endorsements in the near future. They are: Reps. Aaron Bean, Vern Buchanan, Kat Cammack, Mario Diaz-Balart, Laurel Lee and Greg Steube. Ryan Tyson, a longtime GOP pollster and mainstay in DeSantis political orbit, has led the effort. Tyson has initiated the calls, reaching out to schedule later calls between the members of Congress and DeSantis himself. There is clearly some angst from the DeSantis camp that so many members of the states congressional delegation are throwing their support behind Trump, said a GOP consultant for one of the members contacted by DeSantis team. Gaetz going with Trump is one thing, but Byrons endorsement of the former president undoubtedly rattled some cages. DeSantis' political team did not reply to a request for comment. There was a general concern among the members about being stuck in the middle of whats expected to be a bruising 2024 primary battle between Trump and DeSantis, who is expected to announce his bid for the White House in May or June. Story continues Theyre both great Republicans, and well see what develops down the road, said Max Goodman, a Buchanan adviser. A Cammack adviser said she has not yet decided on an endorsement or when that will come. She not only has great relationships with all of the leading candidates but plans to continue to speak with all of them at some point about endorsements during the process, the person said. Once shes in, she will be all in for her candidate. A top adviser to another Florida congressional Republican contacted by DeSantis team said, Calls have been made. Donalds' endorsement was seen as more significant than previous congressional endorsements for a handful of reasons. DeSantis administration poured billions of dollars into southwest Florida, which Donalds represents, after Hurricane Ian, which hit the region in September and was the most expensive storm in state history. DeSantis has also been a supporter of an effort led by Donalds wife, Erika, to elect conservative members to local school boards. Last year, DeSantis endorsed several of her candidates in school board races, which governors generally have not gotten involved in. He also appointed her to the board of trustees for Florida Gulf Coast University in March 2022. On election night in November, Donalds himself introduced DeSantis at the victory night party in Tampa. He notably referred to DeSantis as Americas governor. Donalds said in an interview Wednesday that he was supporting Trump because the country needed someone "ready for prime time" and that he thought Trump was that person. It echoed his statement last week backing Trump. There is only one leader at this time in our nations history who can seize the moment and deliver what we need, Donalds said in his statement at the time. That is why Im honored to endorse Present Donald J. Trump for President in 2024, and I ask my fellow Americans to join me. DeSantis won re-election in the 2022 midterms by nearly 20 percentage points, helped along by a state Legislature with Republican majorities. In recent months, however, DeSantis has faced new political headwinds as Trump has gone on the attack against him. He has also suffered some self-inflicted wounds, including having to walk back his comments calling Russias invasion of Ukraine a territorial dispute and stumbling over how to respond to Trumps legal woes. The wave of Florida congressional endorsements for Trump comes as he faces a 34-count indictment from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. The charges have given him a surge of momentum with Republican primary voters, many of whom see Braggs work as political. CORRECTION (April 13, 2023, 9 a.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the jurisdiction of the 34-count indictment against Trump. It is a New York state indictment, not a federal one. This article was originally published on NBCNews.com Experts have revealed how to get a row of seats on a plane to yourself. (Getty Images) If theres one thing that every flyer can agree on, its that the more space you have on a plane to yourself, the better. Admit it it's a small win when you discover just before take off that no one is claiming the seat next to you, allowing you to relax and spread out more without having to play elbow wars in order to secure the arm rest. The one thing that could beat this however, is having an entire row to yourself. This is especially handy on long-haul flights when you can use the space to lie down and attempt to get some kip. Read more: Why cabin crew welcome you on a flight with their hands behind their back Known as poor mans business class, a row of empty seats will allow you to stretch out, says Nicky Kelvin, Head of The Points Guy UK. On most aircraft, except in emergency exit and bulkhead rows, you can lift the armrests to create a bed of sorts, so you can lie down. Having a whole row to yourself on one side of the plane also means you get the benefits of both window and aisle seats. While you may think securing a row of seats all to yourself comes down to luck, there are some tactics you can use to heighten your chances. Having a free row of seats including a window and an aisle seat gives you the best of both worlds. (Getty Images) Check seat availability ahead of time Many airlines allow you to check seat availability online prior to the flight, Jessie Moore, travel expert and founder of the luxury travel blog Pocket Wanderings, says. This will show you how many seats are empty on the flight and if any rows are completely empty, allowing you to choose a different seat on a row with free seats. Just remember, while a row may be free when you change your seat, theres no guarantee someone wont go on to book a seat on the same row later. Monitor seat maps Kelvin recommends using the website ExpertFlyer.com to monitor seat maps and set alerts for free seat changes so that you can change your seat choice accordingly. Read more: How to sleep on a plane, from uncrossing your legs to making a tactical seat choice You can also ask at check in if any rows are completely free. It helps to have the seat map info ahead of time so you know what youre asking for. You are also able to ask the crew on board, he adds. Story continues Befriend the cabin crew It is usually good practice to befriend the crew on a quiet flight and ask for their help, Kelvin advises. You would always need to wait until boarding is complete as you wouldnt be sure until then whether more passengers are coming. It is of course possible to just up and move (but not on smaller aircraft where passengers are often distributed according to weight) but asking the crew means you wont encounter any issues. If the flight is busy there will be less chance of securing a row of seats to yourself. (Getty Images) Moore says to make sure youre not pushy or forceful when attempting to move to a free row. Its always courteous to politely ask a flight attendant whether you are able to move to an empty row on your flight. The primary concern for flight attendants is the safety of everyone onboard, and there may be safety reasons why rows are empty, she adds. Airline staff have policies and protocols in place for a whole host of situations that may arise some of which may be based on the official seating arrangements for the flight. Dont be pushy or forceful, and dont ever undermine the flight attendants who are there to ensure your safety. Consider the row you choose when you select your seat When travelling on a plane, people often book seats closer to the front in order to board or get off the plane first, so Moore recommends booking a seat towards the back of the plane to increase your chances of securing a free row. Read more: Flight attendant reveals why there is a 'secret' bedroom on long-haul flights Some people have reservations about travelling at the back of a plane, so these rows are often more likely to be free, she adds. Remember some planes may be busier than others Free seats on a plane are always going to come down to how busy the flight is, Kelvin explains. This will depend on the passengers wishing to travel on a certain route or with a certain airline and the capacity of the flight or flights serving that route. Even on the same route this can fluctuate greatly. A route like London to New York has over 35 direct flights in a day. As a route I fly often myself, I have observed flights that are full to the brim and others that fly half empty. Often when boarding a plane the flight attendants or captain will announce whether the flight is full or not, if its not full then there will be a higher chance of securing that elusive row of seats to yourself. Watch: Woman Shares Clever Travel Pillow Luggage Hack King Charles is not inviting Prince Andrews ex-wife Sarah Ferguson to his coronation, The Independent has learnt. The Duchess of York, who still lives with Andrew at Royal Lodge and is very close to him even though they divorced in 1996, will have to watch the 6 May ceremony on TV. The news follows Buckingham Palaces announcement on Wednesday (12 April), confirming that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation, but Meghan Markle will stay at home in California with their two children. King Charles III is reportedly very disappointed that his daughter-in-law and his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will not attend the event. The news comes after months of speculation over whether the couple would fly to the UK to attend the event, as the relationship between the Sussexes and senior members of the royal family is expected to be fraught after Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Royals news - latest updates Prince Harry to attend coronation without Meghan, Buckingham Palace announces King Charles tired and infuriated as Prince Andrew refuses to leave Royal Lodge, report says Queen Elizabeth II surprised when Meghan Markle dismissed her advice, author claims Inside Royal Lodge: Prince Andrews 30-room mansion that Prince William has his eye on Inside Royal Lodge: Prince Andrews 30-room mansion that Prince William has his eye on 10:45 , Ellie Muir 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. Andrew first moved into the vast property in 2004 and made it his family home. He lives there with ex-wife Sarah Ferguson. Story continues Read the full story below: Inside Royal Lodge, Prince Andrews 30-room mansion that William has his eye on Everything we know about 2023 coronation ceremony 10:15 , Ellie Muir The coronation 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. Heres everything you need to know about the coronation ceremony: When is the coronation of King Charles III? Coronation coins with first ever crowned effigy of King Charles III revealed by Royal Mint 09:40 , Ellie Muir A crowned portrait of the King will for the first time feature on a new range of commemorative coins created to celebrate the upcoming coronation. The collection, which includes a 50p and 5 coin, will be released later this month ahead of the historic 6 May celebration. Bronwen Weatherby reports. Coronation coins with first ever crowned effigy of King Charles III revealed King Charles 'reacts' to news Prince Harry will attend his coronation in May 08:31 , Ellie Muir King Charles III is reportedly very disappointed that his daughter-in-law the Duchess of Sussex nor his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will attend his and Queen Camillas coronation next month. Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday (12 April) that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation, but Meghan Markle will stay at home in California with their two children. Read the full story below: King Charles disappointed that Meghan will be absent from coronation This is the official Twitter emoji for King Charless coronation 08:20 , Peony Hirwani 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 Ex-diplomat reveals Prince Andrews insane list of demands while travelling 07:50 , Peony Hirwani 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. Kate Ng reports. Ex-diplomat reveals Prince Andrews insane list of demands while travelling Queen Elizabeth wanted William and Harry to go to war 07:20 , Peony Hirwani 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. Andy Gregory reports. They must do their duty: Queen Elizabeth wanted William and Harry to go to war Prince Harry to attend coronation without Meghan, Buckingham Palace announces 06:50 , Peony Hirwani Meghan Markle will stay in California with her children as Prince Harry attends King Charless coronation on 6 May, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. 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. 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. Harry laid bare his grievances with the royal family in his controversial autobiography Spare, released in January, along with his and Meghans Netflix documentary series, Harry and Meghan. Roisin OConnor reports. Prince Harry to attend King Charless coronation without Meghan Markle Coronation coins with first ever crowned effigy of King Charles III revealed by Royal Mint 06:20 , Peony Hirwani A crowned portrait of the King will for the first time feature on a new range of commemorative coins created to celebrate the upcoming coronation. The collection, which includes a 50p and 5 coin, will be released later this month ahead of the historic 6 May celebration. Bronwen Weatherby reports. Coronation coins with first ever crowned effigy of King Charles III revealed King Charles III coronation: Everything we know about 2023 ceremony 05:50 , Peony Hirwani King Charles IIIs coronation will take place on Saturday 6 May, 2023. Below is what we know about the ceremony. When is the coronation of King Charles III? 03:00 , Meredith Clark Prior to confirming his attendance at King Charles IIIs coronation, the Duke of Sussex said he was seeking an apology from his father and brother before committing to attending the ceremony in May. Prince Harry previously refused to commit to attending the Kings coronation on 6 May unless King Charles and Prince William are willing to sit down and talk about his allegations against the royal family. In an ITV interview earlier this year, ahead of the release of his memoir Spare, Harry said that the ball is in their court, but the door is always open for reconciliation. According to The Times, a source has claimed that Harry is keen to get an apology from Charles and William. However, another source said the royals do not believe that an apology is owed after he accused Buckingham Palace of leaking and planting negative stories about Meghan Markle to distract the media and public from less favourable coverage about other members of the royal family. Read the full story below: Prince Harry seeking apology before committing to King Charles coronation 01:00 , Meredith Clark King Charles IIIs coronation will also be significant for his wife Camilla, who will be crowned Queen Camilla alongside him at Westminster Abbey. The invitation to the coronation invites 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. Prince Harry, who has confirmed he will be attending the coronation without Meghan Markle, has previously made many comments about his relationship with Camilla following the release of his memoir, Spare. The Duke of Sussex previously described her as the villain and alleged in his book that Camilla had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar. He also claimed that she had launched a campaign to marry his father, King Charles. In an interview with Good Morning America, Prince Harry said that he and his stepmother havent spoken for a long time, but that he loves every member of his family despite their differences. Chelsea Ritschel has more: Prince Harry clarifies relationship with Camilla amid claims she was the villain Wednesday 12 April 2023 23:15 , Chelsea Ritschel Although Prince Harry will attend the coronation, it remains to be seen what role, if any, he will play in the ceremony, as he is no longer a working royal. According to reports, the duke is not expected to appear on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the rest of his family members on the day of the coronation. The occasion will also mark the first time that Harry has seen his family since the release of his best-selling memoir Spare, which included a number of details about his strained relationship with members of his family. 5 of the most revealing takeaways from Harrys memoir Spare Wednesday 12 April 2023 21:15 , Chelsea Ritschel Following the confirmation that Prince Harry will be attending the coronation without Meghan or their children, many have applauded the Duchess of Sussexs decision. Meghan made the right decision and I respect it, one person tweeted, while another said: Good for Meghan, its Archies birthday afterall. Wednesday 12 April 2023 20:18 , Chelsea Ritschel As of now, it is not clear how the Duchess of Sussex will celebrate the fourth birthday of her and Prince Harrys son Archie in California. However, the couple typically mark the occasion with a new photo of their firstborn. For Archies second birthday in 2021, the couple shared a photo of their son holding birthday balloons on their Archewell Foundation website, where they also asked fans to donate to Covid vaccine equity. We cannot think of a more resonant way to honour our sons birthday, the duke and duchess wrote at the time. Wednesday 12 April 2023 18:15 , Chelsea Ritschel Prince Harrys decision to attend his fathers coronation comes after he refused to say whether he would make the trip during an interview with ITVs Tom Bradby in January, at which point the Duke of Sussex said the ball is in their court. Theres a lot that can happen between now and then. But, you know, the door is always open, Harry said during the interview about his memoir Spare. The ball is in their court. Theres a lot to be discussed, and I really hope that they are willing to sit down and talk about it. Meghan Markle to stay in California with children as Prince Harry attends Charless coronation Wednesday 12 April 2023 17:12 , Ellie Muir Meghan Markle will stay in California with her children as Prince Harry attends King Charless coronation on 6 May, Buckingham Palace has confirmed. 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. 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. Harry laid bare his grievances with the royal family in his controversial autobiography Spare, released in January, along with his and Meghans Netflix documentary series, Harry and Meghan. Read the full story below: Prince Harry to attend King Charless coronation without Meghan Markle Meghan Markle snubs Kings coronation as Prince Harry to attend Wednesday 12 April 2023 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. 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 Wednesday 12 April 2023 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 Wednesday 12 April 2023 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 Wednesday 12 April 2023 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 Wednesday 12 April 2023 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 Wednesday 12 April 2023 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 Wednesday 12 April 2023 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 MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia plans to ban shares in defence companies from so-called "unfriendly" countries from being traded on Moscow exchanges, business newspaper Vedomosti reported on Thursday, citing a senior member of the country's parliament. Vedomosti cited first deputy chair of the State Duma's financial markets commission Konstantin Bakharev as saying the lack of a ban was "unacceptable and amoral". The newspaper reported that Russia's finance ministry backed the ban. Russia first published its list of "unfriendly" countries in 2021. The list includes the United States, all European Union member states, and a string of other countries that have imposed sanctions on Moscow over the conflict in Ukraine. (Reporting by Reuters; Editing by Bernadette Baum) The top diplomats from Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan attended a conference Thursday that focused on ensuring regional security in light of the situation in Afghanistan. The foreign ministers of the four countries met in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, and discussed the need to cooperate with Afghan authorities to maintain political stability and to prevent a humanitarian crisis, the Russian Foreign Ministry said. The ministers also talked about the coordination of efforts to counter the threats of terrorism and drug trafficking from the Afghan territory. Russia and China are among a few countries that have kept their diplomatic missions in Afghanistan's capital, Kabul, since the Taliban took power in August 2021. Moscow worked for years to establish contacts with the Taliban, even though it designated the group a terror organization in 2003 and never took it off the list. It hosted several rounds of talks on Afghanistan that involved senior representatives of the Taliban and neighboring countries. Beijing has taken a higher profile on regional issues related to Afghanistan as part of China's efforts to extend its global clout. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang held separate talks on the sidelines of Thursday's meeting to discuss a range of issues, including the situation in Ukraine, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry. In a statement preceding the Uzbekistan conference, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Beijing was ready to work more closely with Afghanistans neighbors and the international community for stability, security, prosperity, and development in both the country and wider region. The statement reaffirmed Chinas pledge to respect the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Afghanistan, as well as the choices made by its people. It called on the international community to firmly support Afghanistan to combat terrorism, and urged the United States to live up to its commitment to the country. Story continues Beijing also expressed hope that Afghanistan's interim government would continue working actively to meet its peoples interests and the international communitys expectations for an open and inclusive political structure. We hope the Afghan interim government will protect the basic rights and interests of all Afghan people, including women, children and all ethnic groups, the statement said. Girls currently cannot attend school beyond sixth grade, and women are not allowed at universities in Afghanistan. Authorities present the education restrictions as a temporary suspension and not a ban, but universities and schools reopened in March without their female students. Women also are barred from public spaces, including parks, and most forms of employment. The policies have raised fierce international objections, increasing the countrys isolation at a time when its economy has collapsed and worsened a humanitarian crisis. No country has recognized the Taliban as the legitimate government of Afghanistan. ___ Follow AP's coverage of Afghanistan at https://apnews.com/hub/afghanistan The FSB named the alleged citizen of Ukraine Yuri Denisov involved in the bombing of propagandist Vladlen Tatarskyi Read also: Salute to Prigozhin or Putins provocation to more brutal actions. Who benefits from the death of the propagandist Tatarsky? The FSB alleges that Denysov prepared the murder together with the previously accused Daria Trepova. They believe he gave her an explosive device through a delivery service and an intermediary, reported Russian media. Russia claims that Denysov arrived from Kyiv to Moscow Oblast via Latvia in February. He then gathered information about Tatarsky before traveling to Turkey via Armenia following Tatarskys April 3 murder. Russian authorities plan to put him on the international wanted list. In addition to claiming Ukraines intelligence services of involvement, the FSB also accused members of the Russian opposition abroad. They claim that Trepova carried out Tatarsky's murder after repeated calls from leaders of Navalnys Anti-Corruption Foundation, Leonid Volkov and Ivan Zhdanov. Read also: Tatarskys assassination most likely a Russian false flag, expert says Russian propagandist Vladlen Tatarsky (real name Maxim Fomin) died as a result of a blast at his evening event in a cafe in St. Petersburg on April 2. According to media reports, a woman named Daria Trepova allegedly carried a bomb to the meeting with the propagandist. The explosive was hidden in a statuette she gave to Tatarsky. Russian security forces detained Trepova on April 3. She was charged with terrorism and arrested on April 4. Russia also claimed that Ukrainian special services and representatives of the Foundation of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny were involved in Tatarsky's murder. Russian security forces believe Trepova was "recruited" via Telegram by a journalist living in Ukraine. In return for Tatarsky's murder, she was allegedly "promised" to become an "editor in Kyiv." Commenting on the explosion in St. Petersburg and the elimination of Vladlen Tatarsky, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said that it was food for thought for Russia. Story continues Read also: Ukraine has nothing to do with Duginas murder, says Zelenskyy Ukrainian intelligence has in turn stated that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and his regime are responsible for Tatarsky's death. The Russian opposition group the National Republican Army has also claimed responsibility for the killing of the propagandist. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Russia may be willing to discuss a prisoner swap involving jailed Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich after a court delivers its verdict on espionage charges, a top Russian diplomat said Thursday. We have a working channel that was used in the past to achieve concrete agreements, and these agreements were fulfilled, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told the state-run Tass news agency. Not-guilty verdicts are almost unheard of in Russian courts. U.S. basketball star Brittney Griner, who played in Russia during the WNBA offseason, was convicted on drug charges and spent 10 months in prison before her December release in exchange for Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout. President Joe Biden on Tuesday called Russia's detention of the American journalist "totally illegal,'' and the U.S. State Department elevated his case by formally categorizing him as wrongfully detained. Gershkovich, 31, was detained by Russian authorities two weeks ago in the Ural Mountains city of Yekaterinburg. Russia alleged that Gershkovich "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 and the U.S. government have repeatedly denied Gershkovich is a spy. 'TOTALLY ILLEGAL': Biden blasts Russian arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich Latest developments: Norway said it is expelling 15 Russian diplomats suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt described the expelled Russians as intelligence officers under diplomatic cover. Ukraine Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said Thursday that his country remains firm in its demand that Russia withdraw its forces from Crimea, as well as from parts of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed since the invasion began in February 2022. PENTAGON LEAK: Information won't impact Ukraine, experts say. But what is the 'political cost' to come? Story continues Air National Guard member linked to documents leak taken into custody A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity because it hadnt been publicly announced. Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. The New York Times and Wall Street Journal, citing documents and U.S. officials, identified the leader as Jack Teixeira, who oversaw a private online group named Thug Shaker Central, where a group of mostly young men and teenagers "shared love of guns, racist online memes and video games," the Times reports. The Defense Department issued a statement: We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents. Members of the group told the Times that the airman was not a whistleblower, and the secret documents were never meant to go beyond their group. Two U.S. officials confirmed to the Times that investigators want to talk to the airman, described as a member of the Guard's intelligence wing. Ukrainian soldiers atop an armored personnel carrier in Bakhmut, Ukraine, on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Russia names suspect in restaurant bombing that killed blogger Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, on Thursday accused a Ukrainian man of organizing the St. Petersburg restaurant bombing that killed pro-Kremlin military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky and wounded dozens more. The agency said Yuriy Denysov, who it said was a working for Ukrainian security services, arrived in in Moscow from Kyiv, traveling through Latvia, in February. He rented an apartment next to Tatarsky and collected information about his "daily routine," the agency said. Denysov also is accused of giving Darya Trepova the plaster statuette of Tatarsky stuffed with explosives that Trepova presented to Tatarsky moments before the blast. Trepova, being held in Russia, reportedly has denied knowing there was a bomb in the statuette. The day after the explosion Denysov flew to Turkey. The FSB said it would put Denisov on the international wanted list. Contributing: Joey Garrison, Michael Collins,Tom Vanden Brook, Maureen Groppe and Wyatte Grantham-Philips, USA TODAY; The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ukraine live updates: Swap for WSJ reporter possible, Russia says Cruiser Moskva goes to the bottom Im sure the Moskva will become one of the most popular locations for divers after our victory, he said. Read also: Details about the sinking of Russias Moskva flagship emerge Tourists from all over the world will raise glasses of fantastic Crimean wine in Ukrainian Crimea to a wonderful toast Bottoms up to the Russian military fleet! The minister recalled that one year ago, the Ukrainian Navy rewrote centuries-old history by hitting Russias Moskva missile cruiser, the then flagship of Russias Black Sea Fleet, with Neptune anti-ship missiles. The cruiser sank the following day. Remember the mood of a year ago, Reznikov said. Read also: Sinking of flagship Moskva is a serious blow to Russian war machine and national pride The event was so inspiring and incredible that many thought it couldnt be true. After all, the last time Russia lost its flagship was more than a century ago. Ukraines Armed Forces struck the Moskva missile cruiser with two Neptune anti-ship missiles on April 13, 2022. The cruiser sank as a result of damage sustained from the missile strike. Russia initially attempted to downplay the attack, stating that a fire had broken out and the ship was returning to port. However, by the evening of April 14, the Russian Defense Ministry admitted that the Moskva had sunk. Read also: Day 50 of Putin's war. Invaders mass aircraft on eastern border of Ukraine, Russia confirms fire on cruiser Moskva The Moskva had a crew of 510 marines; only 58 were rescued, said Oleksiy Danilov, secretary of Ukraines National Security and Defense Council. Families of Moskva sailors are being silenced about their dead relatives under threat of non-payment of compensation, Ukrainian intelligence says. 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 Russian troops conducted air strikes on a residential area, multi-storey buildings and a factory in the town of Orikhiv in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on 13 April. Source: Zaporizhzhia Oblast Military Administration on Telegram Quote: "The enemy carried out three air strikes on a residential area, multi-storey buildings and a factory in [the town of] Orikhiv. Emergency rescue workers are at the scene and dealing with the aftermath of the enemy attack." Details: The authorities reported that the extent of the damage is being established. There is no information on casualties. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Sergei Sukharev - GTRK Kostroma They were told they were the best of the best. Russias 331st Guards Parachute Regiment is regarded as the pick of Vladimir Putins army, whose service as an airmobile reserve goes back decades to Soviet times. Now, with heavy losses and a diminished reputation, the regiment has come to represent the failure of Russias army to achieve a quick war in Ukraine and the heavy price now being paid. Ive spent the last year tracking the 331st regiment for BBC Newsnight and our research has confirmed at least 94 soldiers from the unit have been killed since it joined the invasion in February 2022. When those missing in action (often their bodies cannot be recovered), seriously wounded, deserted and taken prisoner are added to the total of confirmed fatalities, its likely that the number of men put out of action could be several hundred. Traditionally, the regiments soldiers have been contraktniki professionals recruited into the army following their national service, so mostly men in their twenties. Although the airborne forces can be recruited from anywhere in Russia, a strong local association has built up between the 331st and Kostroma, a city of around a quarter of a million inhabitants about 300km north-east of Moscow. The married paratroopers families tend to live there and so do hundreds of ex-soldiers from the 331st Regiment who have settled in the city. Combing through social and local media in Kostroma reveals much about the way the Kremlin is sustaining the long war as well as the failures of its military system. As a showpiece unit, the 331st marched in Red Square parades. It had also served in the Chechen wars, and Kosovo, and was accused by the Ukrainians of massacring hundreds of their soldiers during 2014s Donbas conflict. The regiment joined Februarys ill-fated drive on Kyiv with two battalion groups (a total of 1000-1,200 troops). At the time the paratroopers, like many Russian units, were deceived by their commanders, being told they were heading on a training exercise. This lie, repeated to families back in Kostroma, added to their distress when the casualty reports started coming in. Story continues The regiment was heavily engaged in fighting near Hostomel airfield during which dozens of men were killed, including Colonel Sergei Sukharev, who was posthumously awarded the Hero of the Russian Federation medal. Since then it has been in all the main flash points, from Izum early last summer, to Kherson later on, and Kreminna (in Luhansk) this February. Each of these battles has been followed by the arrival of casualty replacements and seen a gradual shrinkage of the unit. During the early weeks of the war, with an effective news blackout, rumours ran rife as we monitored local groups on VKontakte, the Russian equivalent of Facebook. Whats happening? When will this end? one user wrote. Then we started to see local news coverage of Sergey Sitnikov, Kostromas Kremlin-appointed governor and a former CO of the 331st, visiting wounded paratroopers. There were commemorations for fallen soldiers too, and fund-raising drives to send the regiment warm clothes. In December, Sitnikov was seen visiting positions in Ukraine, telling viewers that we need to help [the] guys so they have decent conditions. He had brought with him crowdfunded care packages and commercially sold drones. Sergey Sitnikov - Maksim Konstantinov/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images These demonstrations of concern, and implicit acknowledgement of the armys failure to supply these things on its own, might seem rather tame, but they stand in contrast with Putins apparent reluctance to visit frontline soldiers or admit anything is going wrong. A Kostroma TV station has adopted a trend seen in a few Russian garrison towns, of wives and mothers posting pictures of themselves with the absent soldiers uniform. The grieving mother of a dead paratrooper from the 331st Regiment remembered the Great Patriotic War (as Russia calls its 1941-45 fight against the Nazis), and added: I hope there will be stories written about our guys. These are signs of a qualified openness about the human cost of this war. Local TV last November showed around 150 men, called up as part of the mobilisation ordered by Putin, parading in Kostroma before being sent to the front. The rate at which the regiments soldiers are dying has slowed with the death toll standing at 39 two months into the war, 62 five months after the invasion and now, at the 14-month point, reaching 94. This hints at deliberate attempts by Russian generals to limit their losses last summer and autumn, as well as some improvement in their tactics. Its now believed that the 331st continues to fight with a number of company groups, spearheading attacks that probably total a few hundred soldiers. Back in Kostroma, the regimental communities remain strong the town being home to an airborne artillery regiment and one of infantry as well as the 331st. Death and serious injury continues to be documented on local media. As to the purpose of this fight (and indeed the suffering being inflicted on Ukraines civilians), thats another question. The city of Kostroma has around a quarter of a million inhabitants and is about 300km north-east of Moscow - Walter Bibikow Ukraine isnt my Motherland, our boys are dying for nothing, one person recently wrote on Kostroma VKontakte page. Another swiftly answered: Thats a stupid opinion. No point in writing that stuff here. In the towns graveyard, there is plenty of evidence of the price being paid for Russias invasion. Buried too is the regiment's reputation as the best of the best. Additional research by Maria Jevstafjeva and Louis Harris-White Russias Long War, a new film which forms part of the BBCs War in Ukraine collection, is available on BBC iPlayer now. BBC Newsnight airs Monday to Friday, 10.30pm BST, BBC Two. In the last 24 hours, Russian attacks were reported in nine Ukrainian oblasts Sumy, Chernihiv, Kharkiv, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Luhansk, and Donetsk. According to local authorities, four civilians were killed, and at least five were injured. Russia struck a total of 135 settlements using mortars, tanks, artillery, multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), small arms, S-300 missiles, drones, and tactical aviation, Ukraine's Defense Ministry media center said on April 13. Fifty infrastructure facilities have been hit, according to the report. Russian attacks killed one civilian and wounded two more in eastern Donetsk Oblast, reported Governor Pavlo Kyrylenko. Russia hit more than seven settlements in the region, damaging over 30 houses, five apartment buildings, and a school, said Kyrylenko. In Kharkiv Oblast bordering Russia, settlements in four districts were hit, according to Oleh Syniehubov, the oblast governor. Two men aged 71 and 75 were killed, and one 63-year-old woman was wounded, he said. Russian shelling damaged two houses, an educational facility, and a tractor in several regional villages, added Syniehubov. Russian forces struck Kherson Oblast 46 times, firing 186 rounds of ammunition, the regional administration said. The attacks reportedly killed one person in the region and injured two more. A plant was hit in the regional capital Kherson, according to the administration. Russias elite hope for a draw at best in war on Ukraine, says intelligence No one has hoped for success there for a long time, except perhaps a few very sick people, Yusov said. There is a feeling of total hopelessness. At best, they hope for some sort of a stalemate or a draw, where they can protect their own interests. But it has been clear for a long time that this is a strategic defeat for Russias military, political leadership, and business elite. However, Russias elite is not yet ready for resistance to the regime of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, said Yusov. The most they are ready to do, so far, is to try to protect their own personal interests in exchange for some information or some interaction, Yusov said. They already have it. But I think theyll be ready for more decisive actions in the future. Russia launched an offensive in winter after rebuilding its mangled army in Ukraine with mobilized soldiers and convicts recruited from Russian prisons. It launched attacks on around five sections of the front, but these attacks mostly sputtered out with few gains and large losses for the Russians. Read also: Russian military doctrine a failure, bloggers exaggerating Russian successes near Bakhmut, says ISW Only at the Donetsk town of Bakhmut, where the Russian assault has been going on for nine months or more, did the Russians achieve very modest advances, at the expense of huge losses. According to reports from military bloggers and military sources on both sides, Russia is steadily squeezing Ukrainian forces out of Bakhmut, though Ukrainian forces are not encircled and still control the road leading into the town from the west. Further south, the Russians also advanced on both flanks of the town of Avdiyivka in Donetsk Oblast, but Ukrainian forces still hold the town in a large salient. 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 Yevgeny Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin and Dmytro Peskov The documents underscore several of the overarching reasons why Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has failed to secure a military victory in Ukraine after more than 13 months of war, says the NYT. The article highlights infighting and finger-pointing among Russian agencies responsible for war, including the Federal Security Service (FSB) and Defense Ministry. While casualty numbers in the leaked documents provide little context for the U.S. intelligence findings, it reports that the FSB questions the Russian Defense Ministrys own casualty count in discussions with the Russian government. FSB officials, for example, complain that the Defense Ministrys count did not include dead and wounded from the Russian National Guard, the Wagner mercenary forces, or Chechen strongman Ramzan Kadyrovs fighters. The FSB instead calculated (that) the actual number of Russians wounded and killed in action was closer to 110,000, says the document according to the NYT. U.S. intelligence officials in one document say that the FSB has accused the Defense Ministry of obfuscating Russian casualties in Ukraine. They argue that this highlights the continuing reluctance of military officials to convey bad news up the chain of command. The new documents provide fresh details about the February public dispute between Wagner Force founder Yevgeny Prigozhin and Russian military officials over the withholding of needed ammunition from his fighters. Putin personally attempted to resolve the dispute by calling Prigozhin and Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu to a meeting believed to have taken place on Feb. 22, one document reports. Read also: Leaked Pentagon documents significantly inaccurate, UK warns Included in a document dated Feb. 28 that includes a series of updates about the war in Ukraine and other global hot spots, the information appears to be based on electronic intercepts collected by U.S. intelligence agencies. The leaked documents do not appear to contain much, if any, information from human sources, suggesting the original leaker may not have had access to that more highly classified material. Story continues The Pentagon is investigating a leak of classified documents relating to U.S. and NATO efforts to prepare the Armed Forces of Ukraine for an expected counter-offensive, NYT reported on April 6, citing White House Sources. Ukrainian Defense Intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov has said that the documents were forged by Russian special services, pointing out that the documents contain false data on combat losses for both sides, with some other information gathered from open sources. Another batch of secret documents that appear to detail U.S. national security secrets on Ukraine, the Middle East, and China surfaced online on April 7. Read also: Pentagon leaks wont affect aid to Ukraine, Washington says The Pentagon is still working to determine the scale of a leak of classified information that has occurred in recent weeks, said Chris Meagher, assistant to the U.S. secretary of defense for public affairs, on April 10. He noted that the documents circulating online pose a very serious risk to national security and have the potential to spread disinformation. 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 Russian mine has exploded near a power unit at the occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP), and the Russians have tried to hide it from IAEA experts. Source: Press service for Energoatom, Ukrainian national power generating company Quote: "The Russian occupiers are continuing to turn Zaporizhzhia NPP into a military base, laying mines on the perimeter of the plant. And these actions cannot but have consequences. Sources say that an explosion occurred near the engine room of the fourth power unit. As stated by the nuclear terrorists themselves, one of their mines detonated." Details: Energoatom reported that the sound of the explosion had been heard by Ukrainian nuclear scientists who are continuing to work at the ZNPP. At the same time, the Russians tried to "calm" the workers and quickly hid their tracks so that the IAEA experts would not see this. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has announced that it will investigate a video showing a Ukrainian soldier being beheaded. Source: Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation on Telegram Quote: "In the footage of the video, an unidentified person in a camouflage uniform in the summertime employs violence using a knife against an unidentified soldier, causing his death. In order to assess the authenticity of these materials and make an appropriate decision, they were sent to the investigative authorities for an inspection." Details: The Russian Prosecutor General's Office has noted that they had discovered photo and video materials containing scenes of the brutal murder "in the course of monitoring the Internet". It is also reported that the course and results of the inspection are under control of the Russian Prosecutor General's Office. Background: On the evening of 11 April 2023, a video of the brutal murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war was posted on social media. The footage shows a Russian soldier cutting off the head of a Ukrainian defender, who was still alive at the time, with a knife. The Security Service of Ukraine (SSU) launched a pre-trial investigation into the brutal murder of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. Vasyl Maliuk, Head of the SSU, stressed that the security forces would find the monsters who did it. Volodymyr Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, called on world leaders to react to the video in which Russian occupiers cut off the head of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. Vladimir Osechkin, founder of the Russian human rights organisation Gulagu.net, said that the Wagner Group was involved in the killing of a Ukrainian prisoner of war whose head was cut off while he was still alive. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russian sociologist Igor Eidman believes that Vladimir Putin's regime will not survive until the 2024 presidential election Read also: Putin personally approved arrest of WSJ reporter When they realize that this complacency wont work, that it doesnt work out and everything is going to collapse quickly, then of course they will speak in a completely different way, said Eidman. And this dulled discontent, which already breaks through in some phone conversations, will turn into some real actions, in particular, the fact that Putin will really be overthrown. But it will happen, as I said, when they realize that this is the end. And they will understand that this is the end when the Russian army flees from occupied Ukrainian territories. According to Eidman, Russias weakness against the background of the Ukrainian counter-offensive will be fatal for Putins authority and that of his regime. When they (the Russian population and the ruling elite) understand that no victory is in sight, it will be a humiliating defeat, the expert said. Read also: Chechen fighters believe Russia may collapse sooner or later They will, of course, start passing the buck. And it will be the president, i.e., Putin. And thats why, I think, his regime wont survive after such a defeat, not that long, but not for several months after such a defeat. And defeat would be not just surrendering everything, including Crimea, but even retreating to the positions of Feb. 24, 2022. The Russian sociologist also said that he does not believe that the 2024 Russian presidential elections will take place. I think they (elections) wont take place, and Putin will definitely not be able to participate in them, Eidman said. Read also: Putins ex-wifes loan company sees record profits amid Russias full-scale invasion Because during this time, during a little over a year before the elections, Putins regime wont survive. Earlier, Russian journalist Roman Popkov said in an interview with Radio NV that Yevgeny Prigozhin has managed to turn his Wagner Group private military company into a full-fledged army. Story continues Read also: Putins ex-wifes loan company sees record profits amid Russias full-scale invasion He believes that in this way Prigozhin is preparing for an armed struggle for power in a post-Putin Russia. 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 At least one person has been killed and two others wounded as a result of a Russian attack on Donetsk Oblast on 12 April. Source: Pavlo Kyrylenko, Head of Donetsk Oblast Military Administration, on Telegram Quote from Kyrylenko: "On 12 April, Russians killed 1 resident of Donetsk Oblast, in [the village of] Ocheretyne. Two more people were wounded in the oblast." Details: In particular, the occupiers wounded one civilian in Ocheretyne and another in Kurakhivka. As of the morning of 13 April, since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russians have killed at least 1,465 and wounded at least 3,382 civilians in Donetsk Oblast. Kyrylenko emphasises that these figures are not final, as it is currently impossible to establish the exact number of victims in Mariupol and Volnovakha. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB) has said that the murder of propagandist Vladlen Tatarsky was organised by Ukrainian citizen Yurii Denisov and "the country's secret services." Source: Russian state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti Quote: "The organisers of the terrorist attack in St. Petersburg that killed Vladlen Tatarsky were Ukrainian special services and their agents, including Russian oppositionists hiding abroad. Vladlen Tatarsky's murder was prepared jointly with Daria Trepova by Yurii Denisov, a citizen of Ukraine, who handed her an explosive device through an intermediary delivery service." Details: The occupiers claim that Denisov arrived from Kyiv via Latvia to Moscow Oblast in February; there, he collected information about Tatarsky. The Russians claim that after the terrorist attack on 3 April, Denisov left Russia and transited through Armenia to Turkiye. The FSB wants to put him on the international wanted list. The Russians also posted a photo of Denisov's documents, as they accuse him of involvement in the murder. According to the posted photo, the man received his driver's licence in Torez (now Chystiakove), Donetsk Oblast, which has been under occupation since 2014. Russian security forces also claim that Trepova committed the attack as a result of "repeated calls by Anti-Corruption Foundation leaders, Volkov and Zhdanov, to subvert the country". Background: On 2 April, in the centre of the Russian city of St. Petersburg, an explosion occurred in a cafe that previously belonged to the founder of the Wagner PMC, Yevgeny Prigozhin, killing military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky (real name Maxim Fomin) and injuring 30 other people. Russian security forces detained local resident Daria Trepova on suspicion of murder. Analysts at the American Institute for the Study of War suggested that forces inside Russia could be involved in the assassination of Tatarsky and that this could be a "warning" to Prigozhin. Russia's National Anti-Terrorist Committee accused Ukrainian special services and supporters of Alexey Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation of killing Tatarsky. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Russians have reportedly figured out how to quickly deport residents from the temporarily occupied territories; people are afraid that after a counteroffensive, the Ukrainian authorities will allegedly carry out punitive measures against them. Source: Hanna Maliar, Deputy Minister of Defence, on Telegram Quote from Maliar: "The enemy is spreading false information about the alleged negative consequences of the return of Ukrainian authorities as a result of the counteroffensive of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Thus, the Russian occupation administrations are encouraging the population of certain areas of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson oblasts to urgently evacuate to the so-called safe regions of the Russian Federation and the temporarily occupied territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, ostensibly to avoid punitive measures by the Ukrainian authorities." Details: In addition, Maliar said that the occupiers are forcibly involving evacuees in the most difficult works on the construction of engineering fortifications in Crimea. It is noted that these people are working under the supervision of armed Russian servicemen. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Sacramento County is keeping children inside jail cells. County officials have bounced approximately one dozen foster children under the age of 18 from one inappropriate holding facility to another each time these barbaric living conditions are made public. Right now, no less than a dozen children in Sacramento sleep in jail cells inside the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center every night, in defiance of state law. Its not only illegal but also morally disgusting and reprehensible to take these children from deeply troubled situations and place them inside a youth detention center. It is an atrocious and shocking desertion of the profound duty we owe to these minors, who are often in this situation through no fault of their own. Opinion A county spokesperson declined to allow reporters from The Bee to tour the facility, citing youth privacy concerns. But state officials who visited the center in August say they saw children sleeping in cells with metal bunk beds, near toilets covered with wood. The imagery somehow seems even worse than when Fresno Countys Social Services Department was found housing foster children in abandoned offices in 2021 and forcing them to sleep on conference room tables. How have we so abandoned our children that we can allow this to keep happening? According to a letter of concern sent last year by the California Department of Social Services, Sacramento Countys reliance on the Warren E. Thornton Youth Center to house foster children ages between the ages of 12-17 shortens the pipeline between these foster children and jail. The physical space of the facility and the facility environment has potential to re-traumatize or trigger youth, leaving children to feel physically and psychologically unsafe, Department of Social Services Foster Care ombudsperson Larry Fluharty wrote in the letter sent last September. Housing children at a former youth detention facility has long-lasting impacts on youth. Story continues Sacramento County shuffled these children to the current detention center only after it was found to be negligent in its use of the Childrens Receiving Home in September 2020. A report by The Sacramento Bee exposed numerous police calls and runaways at the nonprofit campus. The county stopped housing foster children there later that same month, only to move them into a Rosemont office building that was also found to be deficient. When the state sent more letters raising concerns about the conditions in that office building, the county moved the children yet again in August of 2022 this time to the Thornton detention center. The county plans to apply for a state license to allow it to keep using the former detention facility to house these foster kids, despite pleas from the state Department of Social Services to move the children into a more accommodating space. Sacramento County clearly hopes the public will forget about these children, as they already have, at some point in this ceaseless shuffling. Given their heartbreaking circumstances, these kids have a right to a comfortable and safe home. They are not criminals. They are human beings in a tragic situation. Sacramento County must do right by these minors, many of whom depend on the kindness and care of the government during the worst weeks and months of their young lives. They have already been torn away from their families and suffered every kind of abuse, and now these children live, sleep and play in jail cells. Surely, Sacramento County can do far, far better than literal jail cells. Its unacceptable that these children must endure yet more trauma. Until this year, Brian Ulery spent most of his career working for healthcare systems in the South. A few weeks into his latest post as the new CEO of North Jersey's major healthcare systems, he sees the same roadblocks here to navigating financial, regulatory and staffing issues as he did in Florida, Georgia and West Virginia. New CEO's experience Ulery, 51, officially took over at the Denville-based Saint Clare's Health System on April 3 and arrived with more than 20 years of healthcare executive experience. Most recently, he served as executive vice president, chief operating officer and acting president and CEO of Thomas Health, a two-hospital system in South Charleston, West Virginia. "The challenges of healthcare with lower reimbursement, higher costs, staff shortages those are all universal songs throughout the industry," Ulery, who currently lives in Byram, said in an interview Tuesday. "Those challenges that Saint Clare's has were exactly what I had when I was at Thomas and in Georgia." Brian Ulery is the new president and CEO of the Saint Clare's Health system Ulery, currently living in Byram, shared a relevant quote from the late West Virginia U.S. senator Robert Byrd, who said "West Virginia was the northernmost southern state and southernmost northern state in the country." Battling bigger systems Owned and operated by Prime Healthcare, the Saint Clare's system serves Morris, Sussex, and Warren counties. It includes hospitals in Denville and Dover Hospital and a behavioral health division with affiliated clinics in Boonton Township, Parsippany and Denville. While it has been a significant healthcare provider since the Denville hospital opened in 1953, the Saint Clare's network is overshadowed in Morris County by Atlantic Health, which includes Morristown Medical Center, Overlook in Summit, Chilton in Pequannock and Newton Medical Center. Fixing staffing shortages Ulery does not see a physical expansion of the Saint Clare's network in the near future, but hopes to overcome staff shortages so it can care for more patients in its existing facilities. Story continues More: Morristown Restaurant Week returns in April with 35 eateries, gift certificate giveaways Denville: Demolition begins at historic St. Francis senior home "We staff appropriately for the patients we have," Ulery explained. "There are times when it does get strained there, no doubt. We take as many patients as we can that match what our staff can handle. Are we looking for more? Yes. Because we would like to take care of more patients and we are not able to do that without additional staff." Negotiating higher payments The size of larger competing healthcare systems such as Atlantic Health allows them to negotiate higher reimbursement payments than Saint Clare's, Ulery said. "They use that leverage to generate additional revenue for every service they provide," he explained. More revenue also gives them an edge in hiring staff in a tight market, leaving Saint Clare's at a "competitive disadvantage," Ulery said. Saint Clare's Hospital in Denville. "We all have to look for ways to encourage people to work here, retain the talent we have, making this the best possible place that they can call home," Ulery said. Quality rankings The key to hopefully gaining better reimbursement deals, according to Ulery, is for Saint Clare's to stay the course of "providing the highest quality care that we can." The high grades are already there, Ulery says, pointing to nine consecutive years of "A" ratings from the national nonprofit Leapfrog Hospital Survey, "which is an amazing track record of quality." "By being a high-grade provider, we are then able to use that in negotiations with insurance companies," Ulery said. Ulery's background includes master's degree in healthcare administration and business administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, Certified Medical Practice Executive, Medical Group Management Association. "I haven't found very many differences [in New Jersey compared to the South], but I've found a lot of commonalities," Ulery said. "The people are as great here as anywhere I've ever worked." William Westhoven is a local reporter for DailyRecord.com. For unlimited access to the most important news from your local community, please subscribe or activate your digital account today. Email: wwesthoven@dailyrecord.com Twitter: @wwesthoven This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: Saint Clare's Health NJ: New CEO Ulery talks staffing, competition San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins has condemned Elon Musk for spreading misinformation about Cash App founder Bob Lees murder. The prosecutor eviscerated Twitters CEO during a Thursday press conference regarding suspect Nima Momenis arrest, calling Musks comments reckless and irresponsible. The embattled tech executive had reacted to news of Lees Apr. 4 murder by tweeting that San Franciscos horrific crime problem was to blame. Musk, who worked with Lee at SpaceX, then challenged Jenkins, asking if the city was taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders. Elon Musk leaves a San Francisco courthouse on Jan. 24, 2023. Elon Musk leaves a San Francisco courthouse on Jan. 24, 2023. In her response, Jenkins called Musks tweet an attempt to mislead the world and their perceptions of San Francisco. We all must do better to stop the spread of misinformation, she said. San Francisco Chief of Police William Scott echoed Jenkins, saying Lees murder was more about human behavior and human nature than about where it happened. This is not about SF, he said. San Francisco police arrested Momeni, who also works in the tech industry, on Thursday morning in Emeryville, California, a suburb of Oakland. Initial reports say Momeni knew Lee, but authorities did not disclose any further details about their relationship. Momeni is set to be arraigned on Friday afternoon. He is facing a murder charge with a special enhancement based on allegations the crime was committed with a knife. Watch the full press conference below. Jenkinss comments come at the 10:29 mark. Related... SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A tech consultant was arrested and charged with murder Thursday in the stabbing death of the gregarious and popular Cash App founder Bob Lee last week in downtown San Francisco, authorities said. Nima Momeni, 38, and Lee, 43, knew each other, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said at a news conference, but he declined to elaborate on their connection. Momeni was taken into custody Thursday morning in Emeryville, a San Francisco suburb, and booked on suspicion of murder. The stabbing death of Lee shocked the tech industry, with friends and former colleagues mourning the demise of a brilliant and generous man. Police found Lee with stab wounds in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco at 2:30 a.m. April 4. He died at a hospital. Scott declined to give details on how they linked the killing to Momeni. The chief also refused to disclose a possible motive. Investigators served search warrants in San Francisco and Emeryville. Scott would not say whether a weapon has been found. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement that Momeni has been charged with murder in Lees death and is expected to be arraigned Friday. Prosecutors will ask a judge to hold him without bail, she said. It was not immediately clear whether Momeni has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. On his LinkedIn profile, Momeni describes himself as an IT Consultant/Entrepreneur as well as the owner of a company called Expand IT. Business filings with the state list Momeni as the chief executive officer, secretary and chief financial officer of Expand IT INC, described as an information technology consulting business. He signed the filing in August 2022. According to his LinkedIn profile, Momeni has been a dedicated technology partner since 2005 and that he started Expand IT in 2010. Criminal records show Momeni was charged with carrying a switchblade in 2011, a misdemeanor offense. The case was dismissed the following year after he took a plea. Story continues Publicist Sam Singer met Momeni about a month ago as Singer has an office next door to Momeni's live-work loft in the stylish Besler Building Lofts. Singer described Momeni as very welcoming, warm and his loft as a typical Bay Area technology consultants office with a big pool table, gourmet food and high-end stereo system. Lee is known for creating the widely used mobile payment service Cash App while working as chief technology officer of the payment company Square, now known as Block. He was the chief product officer for the cryptocurrency firm MobileCoin at the time of his death. Lee was raised in Missouri and had recently moved to Miami with his father, but was back in San Francisco for business when he was killed. Friends described him as adventurous and fearless, and a doting father to his two children. I acknowledge and understand how the loss of a young, vibrant leader and innovator has rocked our city and even beyond, Jenkins said at the news conference. Lee's brother, Tim Oliver Lee, posted on Facebook the familys gratitude to the San Francisco Police Department for catching the suspect. Tim Lee said his brother dreamed of making technology accessible to all and that he made friends from all walks of life. Bob loved being in San Francisco, and San Francisco loved Bob. Walking down the street would sometimes be difficult because every young person with a dream would search him out, and he would make time for every one, his brother wrote. After Lee's killing, prominent tech leaders, including tech billionaire Elon Musk, took to Twitter to mourn Lees death and blame San Francisco for what they called the citys lax attitude toward crime. Musk tweeted at Jenkins, saying that crime in San Francisco is horrific and that even when attackers are caught, they are often immediately released. Mayor London Breed and other top city officials have pushed against that narrative and on Thursday, Jenkins addressed Musk directly. I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musk tweet that assumed incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lees death serve to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco, Jenkins said. ___ Stefanie Dazio contributed from Los Angeles. San Francisco police on Thursday arrested a suspect in the fatal stabbing of technology executive Bob Lee, law enforcement officials announced Thursday, drawing a close to a nine-day manhunt that rattled the city and drew national attention. In a news conference Thursday afternoon, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott identified the suspect as 38-year-old Nima Momeni of Emeryville, a suburb of San Francisco. Scott confirmed that Lee and Momeni knew each other, but he declined to go into detail on a possible motive. Momeni will be charged with murder, with a special allegation that he used a knife as a murder weapon, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins told reporters. She plans to file a motion to detain him without bail. MobileCoin Chief Product Officer Bob Lee. (via MobileCoin) He is expected to be arraigned Friday afternoon. The killing has intensified debate about public safety issues in San Francisco. In her remarks, Jenkins nodded to the scrutiny. I acknowledge and understand how the loss of a young, vibrant leader and innovator has rocked our city, and even beyond, Jenkins said. She went on to criticize public figures who attempted to portray Lees killing as a symptom of a lawless metropolis without knowing all the facts a group that included tech mogul Elon Musk. I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements, like those contained in Mr. Musks tweet that assumed incorrect circumstances of Mr. Lees death, serve to mislead the world in its perception of San Francisco, Jenkins said. Jenkins was referring to a tweet Musk sent after the news of Lees killing first broke earlier this month. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately, Musk wrote, tagging Jenkins. Bob Lee (Bob Lee via Facebook) Police have said officers responded to a report of a stabbing around 2:35 a.m. on April 4. The officers discovered Lee with apparent stab wounds. He was taken to a hospital and died of his injuries. In a surveillance video published by the Daily Mail, Lee can be seen staggering and appearing to ask for help after he was stabbed. Story continues Lee had been working as the chief product officer of the cryptocurrency company MobileCoin. He was previously chief technology officer of Square (now known as Block), a financial technology startup co-founded by the former Twitter chief Jack Dorsey. He went on to create Cash App, a well-known money transfer service. Lee also was an investor in Musks SpaceX venture, as well as other tech firms, such as the social audio app Clubhouse, according to his LinkedIn profile. In a Facebook post on April 5, Lees father mourned his son, writing that the two had recently relocated from California to Miami. Bobby worked harder than anyone and was the smartest person I have ever known, Richard Lee said in the post, which was accompanied by a news article about the stabbing. Thank you to those who have reached out in support. San Francisco has recorded 13 homicides since the start of the year, according to data compiled by the police department. The city recorded the same number of homicides over the same period last year. This article first appeared on NBCNews.com. This article was originally published on TODAY.com Elon Musk had said "violent crime in SF is horrific" following the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee last week. Susan Walsh/AP San Francisco's DA is calling out Elon Musk for a tweet he made about Bob Lee's death. Musk tweeted "violent crime in SF is horrific" following the fatal stabbing of the 43-year-old Cash App founder last week. DA Brooke Jenkins says there's evidence the suspect knew Lee, and that Musk's tweet "spreads misinformation." San Francisco's district attorney says Elon Musk made a "reckless and irresponsible" statement over the recent death of tech executive Bob Lee. The San Francisco Police Department said in a press conference on Thursday that a suspect, 38-year-old Nima Momeni, has been arrested following Lee's fatal stabbing last week. The 43-year-old was the founder of Cash App and former CTO of Square; at the time of his death, he was working as the chief product officer of another fintech company, MobileCoin. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said during the press conference that there is evidence that Momeni knew Lee. She also addressed a tweet from Elon Musk over Lee's death. "Very sorry to hear that. Many people I know have been severely assaulted," Musk had tweeted about Lee's death last week. "Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. Is the city taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders?" he asked, tagging Jenkins in the tweet. In the press conference Thursday, Jenkins said Musk's tweet "spreads misinformation at a time when the police are trying to solve a very difficult case." "While we are not going to release any additional facts at this time, I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musk's tweet that assumes incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lee's death serve to mislead the world in their perception of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crimes as it spreads misinformation at a time when the police are trying to solve a very difficult case," Jenkins said in the conference. "Since this incident happened, since waking up to Elon Musk's tweet, my office has worked hard to tell people not to make assumptions about this case, about the facts of this case." Story continues Several tech executives expressed shock and shared their condolences when the news broke last week. Jack Dorsey, who cofounded Twitter, said Lee's death was "heartbreaking." Lee was the CTO of Square, Dorsey's fintech company, from 2010 to 2014. "It's real. Getting calls," Dorsey wrote on Nostr. "Bob was instrumental to Square and Cash App." Several tech executives and VCs who commented on Lee's death via Twitter shared concerns about crime and safety in San Francisco, and others had speculated that he'd been killed in a random attack. Musk did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider San Joaquin Valley farmers are working against the clock to rescue cropland from damaging floodwaters and bolster defenses before an epic spring snowmelt. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) For the record: 1:05 p.m. April 19, 2023: An earlier version of this story said the levee protecting Corcoran stands 188 feet tall. The levee stands 188 feet above sea level. Tom Barcellos has farmed the reclaimed soil of the Tulare Lake Basin for nearly five decades, and hes rarely witnessed a winter like 2023. A slew of drenching storms, funneled across the Pacific Ocean as atmospheric rivers, have prompted prolonged flooding in large swaths of the San Joaquin Valley. For the first time in decades, Tulare Lake is reemerging from the valley floor, as rivers swollen with runoff from heavy rains and snow spill down from the Sierra Nevada into the valley, overwhelming canals and levees. The lake's return has engulfed thousands of acres of cropland, orchards, highways and homes, upending the region's economy, possibly for years. And even as blue skies return, the flood-weary farmers have only to look east, to the towering Sierra mantled in historic layers of snow, to know there is worse to come. Barcellos is awed and exhausted by what nature has wrought. But like other farmers with deep roots in this valley, he has no serious thoughts of leaving. Instead, he is digging in for battle. "This is our livelihood," said Barcellos, who owns both cropland and dairies. "This is more important than anything else, in my mind. And I thank God everybody has jumped in to fight." But there will be no quick victories. For weeks now, farmers, their crews and residents of the nearby towns threatened by flooding have tromped through water, sludge and punishing storms to try to shore up the region's defenses. Barcellos recounted a strenuous episode in early March when his team, armed with excavators and heavy machinery, set out to limit destruction along the surging Tule River, normally a "lifeline for nearby dairies and more than 125,000 acres of crops. Most years, the Tule River serves as a crucial irrigation line, ferrying Sierra snowmelt to the man-made channels and ditches that interlace the valley floor, redirecting the area's major rivers with a strategic precision that has enabled landowners to transform these arid lowlands into an agricultural heartland. Story continues And in the rare years of heavy rain and snowfall, the Tule is a critical release valve, ideally holding the heavy flows within its banks as it passes rural outposts like Porterville, Corcoran and the lucrative agricultural enterprises that crisscross the basin. On this day, as the Tule hurtled along its banks, the concern was clearing the riverbed of accumulated refuse and debris to create room for heavy flows. Using a short boom like a claw in an arcade machine, Barcellos and his team worked for more than 20 hours, pulling out felled trees, heavy sediments, even a washing machine from the turbulent waters. Were running on pure adrenaline, Barcellos recounted, pointing to a pickup truck that was driven into the river in an attempt to stop the erosion. At one point, he had to rescue a friend from falling into the rapids surging through the sodden banks. Despite their efforts, the force of the flood was too much to withstand, and water six inches deep soon began seeping into the adjacent fields and evacuated dairies, Barcellos said. As temperatures rise, the floodwaters engulfing San Joaquin Valley orchards pose a grave risk of root rot and could kill thousands of trees. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Roads, bridges and parts of the districts irrigation system were swept away in the process. The dirt along the riverbed today looks as though somebody took a cleaver to a chocolate cake. Its devastating, Barcellos said. We see there's loss here that wont recover. Once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, Tulare Lake was largely drained by the early 20th century as the rivers that fed it were dammed and diverted for agriculture. In the days before the damming, the lake could stretch for 790 square miles, four times the size of Lake Tahoe, with depths of 30 feet. This is not the first time the farms and ranches that now proliferate in the ancient lakebed have been threatened by the phantom lake's reemergence. Its last high point was in 1983, when another period of heavy rain and snow unleashed massive runoff that suffused tens of thousands of acres and took some land out of production for years. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times) Barcellos is chair of the Lower Tule River Irrigation District, one of about a dozen reclamation districts that share responsibility for flood control in the Tulare Lake Basin. He estimates $1.5 million is needed to complete necessary repairs in his jurisdiction. And thats only this small area, on this system, he said, wondering where the money will come from. Richard Valle, a supervisor in neighboring Kings County, shared estimates for his county that top $1 billion in damage. With the multipliers added lost jobs, wages, etc., he said, that takes us to $2 billion. Valle is among the local leaders who hope to tap federal assistance for storm response and recovery efforts. President Biden signed a major disaster declaration earlier this month to jump-start emergency aid to seven flood-battered counties, including Tulare. Kings County, omitted from the original request, has asked to be added to the emergency order. The challenge going forward, Barcellos said, is managing the water for the remainder of the year. If orchards now engulfed in floodwaters aren't drained, root rot will pose a risk to thousands of trees. The hay that feeds area cattle is also in danger. And as temperatures warm, it is only a matter of time before a Sierra snowpack that is the deepest recorded in 70 years starts to melt, unleashing torrents of water that will further test the region's defenses. Crews have a matter of weeks, maybe months, to reinforce levees and repair breaks. Normally, I could look to the east, and see snow as I scan north," Barcellos said. "Now, I look to the east and there's a lot of snow going to the south that is normally not there. That is going to have an impact. Robert Hansen, a retired biology professor and former president of the Tulare Basin Watershed Network, an environmental stewardship group, believes no amount of quick-hit reinforcements will be able to contain the water that would spew down the mountains if the region sees an early-season heat wave. It's probably going to be the biggest flood I've ever seen, Hansen said, recalling the flood of 1983 when he kept a canoe on hand in case he had to paddle into work. And the snow melts April to bloody July, he said, meaning towns like Alpaugh, Allensworth and Corcoran, a trio of communities that sit in the lakebed, face a months-long risk of being wiped away. A home near the town of Corcoran is inundated by floodwater. Low-lying areas of the vast and fertile San Joaquin Valley have experienced flooding after recent heavy rains and snowmelt from surrounding mountains. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Corcoran in Kings County has a front-row view of the devastation. With about 22,000 residents, the town is home to a state prison that serves as a major employer, along with the region's farms and dairies. Corcoran is protected to the south by a long, mounding levee that stands 188 feet above sea level. On the other side of that defense, the reformed Tulare Lake continues to take shape, swallowing up pomegranate fields, barns and warehouses. The floodwaters lap against the levee banks and from there stretch miles to the horizon. Like Barcellos, town residents are girding for the inevitable snowmelt, choosing for now to bolster defenses rather than evacuate. They are using excavators and heavy machinery to cart in mounds of dirt in hopes of raising the levee just enough. Unfortunately, we're not getting a whole bunch of information or resources from the county, the state or the federal government, City Manager Greg Gatzka said. The water level on the outer side of the levee sits at 178 feet above sea level, 10 feet below the rim. Gatzka said the aim is to raise the levee by 4 feet. Anything above and beyond that, he said, probably wont matter because the entire valley could be underwater. Crews raise a makeshift levee wall to protect Corcoran from the resurgent Tulare Lake. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Partnering with the Cross Creek Flood Control District, the city hopes to haul in 150,000 cubic yards of dirt, enough to pack a 14-mile stretch. The work has been complicated by travel conditions: Roadways throughout the basin remain underwater, and access to and from Corcoran has withered to just two routes. Coming up with the $17 million needed to finance the reinforcements is another problem. But waiting on construction was not an option, because as the water rises, the banks will become muddier, making it difficult for heavy equipment to maneuver. As it is, Gatzka estimated the work will take two months. And with temperatures rising, "We do not have the luxury of time," Gatzka said. "We have to be proactive if we're going to have the best shot at protecting the city." Corcoran residents and inmates in the prison, which sits at the lowest part of the city, will have to seriously consider evacuation if water levels reach 184 feet before the reinforcements are completed, Gatzka said. He thinks it's likely the town will be at risk of flooding for anywhere from seven months to two years. Assuming the town survives, the economic fallout is hard to predict, Gatzka said. Most residents are farmhands and dairy workers, so their fate hinges on which agricultural properties stay dry and when cultivation can resume in areas that flooded. Despite the unknowns, he maintains faith. "It'll be a struggle all across the valley," Gatzka said. "But we'll weather through it." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Saudi Arabia was preparing Thursday to host an Arab regional meeting on ending Syria's isolation at a time of dizzying diplomatic shifts following its deal to resume relations with rival Iran. Friday's nine-nation talks in Jeddah, the Red Sea gateway to Mecca, come after Syria's foreign minister arrived on a previously unannounced visit -- the first since the outbreak of the country's civil war in 2011. It was one in a flurry of events that were nearly unthinkable before Saudi Arabia and Iran's landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement on March 10 that they would resume ties, seven years after an acrimonious split. On Wednesday, an Iranian delegation landed in Saudi Arabia to pave the way for reopening diplomatic missions, following a trip by a Saudi team in the opposite direction. The Saudi ambassador to Yemen has held talks with Iran-backed Huthi rebels this week aimed at ending the devastating civil war that has raged since a Saudi-led military intervention started in 2015. Earlier this month, the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers pledged to work together to bring "security and stability" to the troubled region during a meeting in Beijing. And late on Wednesday, gas-rich Qatar and its tiny Gulf neighbour Bahrain agreed to re-establish relations, putting aside a long-running diplomatic feud. Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia, the world's biggest oil exporter, and Shiite theocracy Iran have long been vying for influence around the region, with Yemen a major battleground. But analysts say Saudi Arabia is now trying to calm the region to allow it to focus on domestic projects aimed at diversifying its energy-dependent economy. - Bloody crackdown - On Friday, ministers and top officials from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries -- Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates -- along with Egypt, Iraq and Jordan will meet in Jeddah. On the table is Syria's suspension from the Arab League, in place since President Bashar al-Assad's government launched a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011. Story continues Staunch Assad opponent Qatar threw cold water Thursday on Syria returning to the pan-Arab body, with Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al-Thani saying in a television interview that "nothing is proposed", and this was "all speculation". Assad is backed by Iran and Russia but has been shunned by many Middle Eastern countries and is regarded as a pariah in the West over the brutal civil war. However, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and his Saudi counterpart have discussed "the necessary steps" to end Damascus's isolation, according to a Saudi statement on Wednesday. Although the 22-nation Arab League, which meets next month in Saudi Arabia, takes decisions by consensus, unanimous agreement is unlikely, a Riyadh-based diplomat told AFP. "The meeting aims to overcome the Gulf differences over Syria as much as possible," the diplomat said, singling out Qatar. "I will not say taking a unified position because this will not happen, but the Saudis are trying at least to ensure that Qatar does not object to Syria's return to the Arab League if the issue is put to any vote," the diplomat added. It was possible that Foreign Minister Mekdad would attend the meeting "to present the Syrian point of view", another diplomat said. Ahead of the talks, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan flew to Cairo for talks with Egyptian leader Abdel Fattah al-Sisi. Unlike some other Arab governments, Cairo never fully severed ties with Damascus after the war, but relations were downgraded. The UAE has led the charge to bring Syria back into the Arab fold, with Sheikh Mohamed saying last month that "the time has come" for Damascus to be reintegrated into the wider region. ht/th/tw/srm/pjm SBU detains enemy informant in Odesa He was allegedly providing the Russians with information on the location of the Defense Forces units and strategic defense facilities in the southern Ukrainian city. Read also: Russia tries new tactics to get past Ukraines air defense in Odesa Oblast "It was his coordinates that the occupiers used to carry out one of the strikes with Iranian Shahed drones in Odesa," the SBU said. The collaborator was a radio mechanic at one of Odesa's military-industrial plants. He passed along the illicit information about the location of defense units and the location of their weapons to a Telegram group comprised of mostly Russians. SBU SBU Read also: Law enforcers detain 'Russian world', Putin adherent in Odesa He also "leaked" data on the fulfillment of defense orders by the enterprise. Read also: SBU detains Russian agent collecting data on defenses of Pivdennoukrainsk nuclear plant After the Russian attacks, he recorded the results of the strikes and informed the group about them, describing in detail the extent of damage to the targeted facilities. "The enemy could have used this data to carry out repeated attacks, and prepare new strikes with kamikaze drones on the Ukrainian city," the SBU said. The SBU charged the enemy informant with unauthorized dissemination of information on the sending, movement of weapons, armaments, and ammunition to Ukraine; movement or deployment of the Armed Forces, or other military formations formed in accordance with the laws of Ukraine (Article 114-2 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code). He will remain in custody until trial. The investigation is ongoing. 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 South Carolina businessman Bill H. Stern, who served as Donald Trumps 2020 state finance chairman, is joining an effort to elect Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis as president. Stern is joining Never Back Down, a political action committee encouraging DeSantis to make a White House bid, as a senior adviser. If we want to win in 2024, we need Gov. DeSantis to run for president, and that is why I am not only enthusiastically endorsing him but also joining the Never Back Down movement, Stern said in a statementThursday. Stern endorsed former President Donald Trump in 2016 and was appointed by Trump to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council in October 2020. Stern is president and CEO of Stern Development, a commercial real estate and investment company with an office in Columbia, and serves as chairman of the S.C. Ports Authority Board of Directors. Last year, Stern also attended a DeSantis fundraiser in Charleston, the Post and Courier reported. DeSantis is considering a run for president but has yet to jump into the GOP nomination race, which already includes Trump, former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. South Carolina U.S. Sen. Tim Scott has launched an exploratory committee ahead of an expected run. The Never Back Down PAC already has support in South Carolina, as state Sens. Josh Kimbrell, R-Spartanburg, and Danny Verdin, R-Laurens, have joined the effort. DeSantis is scheduled to visit South Carolina Wednesday, April 19, with an event in Spartanburg. A Lancaster County father and son who with other members of their family were part of the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, pleaded guilty Thursday afternoon in federal court, according to court documents and federal prosecutors. Linwood Robinson Sr. and Linwood Robinson II pleaded guilty to parading, picketing or demonstrating in a Capitol building before U.S. Judge Amy Berman Jackson in federal court in Washington, D.C., plea agreements show. A spokesperson for the U.S. Attorneys Office in Washington confirmed in an email to The State that both Robinsons pleaded guilty by video in a court hearing Thursday. Sentencing will take place at a later, as yet unscheduled, date. The maximum penalty for this charge is six months in prison and a $5,000 fine. Robinson IIs wife, Brittany Robinson, and his brother, Benjamin, are scheduled for a plea hearing Friday in Jacksons court, according to court documents. The Robinson father and son live in the Indian Land panhandle area of Lancaster County near Fort Mill. The area is just south of the North Carolina state line and is part of the Charlotte metro area. All four Robinsons were arrested in May 2022 by the FBI. Charges against them have been pending ever since. A juvenile member of the family accompanied the Robinsons into the Capitol, but due to his age, he was identified only by initials, according to a plea agreement in the case. An FBI affidavit and statement of facts that is included in the guilty plea agreement for both Robinsons who pleaded guilty Thursday said there was closed caption video footage and videos taken by other rioters and members of the media that showed their actions during the riot. Evidence also included Facebook pages and geolocation data on Robinson Sr.s cellphone. A complaint in their case says that the four Robinsons and the juvenile were among the first rioters into the Capitol and breached the police line to gain access to the rest of the building. At the time, the Capitol grounds and buildings were closed to the public, and the Robinsons had to pass through broken police barricades to penetrate into the grounds and the Capitol building, according to a statement of facts in their case. Story continues The Robinsons were among a crowd of people close to activist Ashli Babbit when she was shot to death by an officer as she attempted to go through a window that led to a corridor to the House chambers, the complaint said. Escalating violence had caused officers to retreat from the area, the complaint said. The Robinson family entered the Capitol through the Senate wing door at approximately 2:17 p.m., around five minutes after the first rioters breached the building by breaking windows and forcing open the doors, the affidavit said. Then the family made their way from the Senate side of the Capitol to the House side, walking down a hall to the Capitol Crypt, breaching a police line and then proceeding along a long hallway toward the House wing door, the affidavit said. They then walked up a small spiral staircase to a corridor west of the Rotunda and Statuary Hall, where the House Speakers office is located, according to the affidavit and evidence in their case. They walked into the Speakers office suite for a few moments, and exited from across the suite through a different door, the affidavit states. Then they walked through Statuary Hall to join a growing crowd amassing outside of the House chamber. From there, they moved to an opening to the east and walked down the House corridors toward the southeast doors. At one point, the Robinsons joined a crowd chanting inside the Capitol, Whose house? Our house! according to a statement of facts in the case. In all, they were in the Capitol approximately 30 minutes, according to a statement of facts in their case. The Robinsons had attended then-President Trumps Stop the Steal rally before the riot and then walked to the Capitol, according to a statement of facts in the case. Trump and his associates had spread false claims before and during that rally that the November 2020 election had been stolen and that was the reason Trump lost. Some 60 courts have ruled there was no fraud substantial enough to change the election. Trump and associates urged his followers to march on the Capitol on Jan. 6 and stop a joint session of Congress from doing a formal count of President Joe Bidens electoral votes. The rioters shut Congress down for five hours. Twenty people from South Carolina have been arrested so far in connection with the breach of the Capitol. Of those, 13 have pleaded guilty including the two Robinsons who pleaded guilty Thursday and so far have received sentences ranging from probation to 44 months in prison. More than 1,000 people from nearly every state have been charged with offenses related to the Capitol breach. Approximately 340 of those have been charged with assaulting, resisting or impeding officers or employees. Some 140 police officers were assaulted Jan. 6 at the Capitol, according to the District of Columbia U.S. Attorneys office. Rioters did more than $2.8 million worth of damage to the Capitol, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Black mothers in York County are more than four times as likely to lose infants at birth compared to white mothers, new state data shows. And the disparity is widening. On Wednesday, the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control released its 2023 Infant Mortality Report and separate maternal morbidity and mortality review committee findings. Both found significant upticks in infant and maternal mortality rates. Both found disproportionately high impacts for Black families. With the new data, DHEC public health director Brannon Traxler said the infant mortality rate increase is alarming and goes against state efforts to prevent those outcomes. Traxler said the data will be used to work toward improvement with health partners. As a mom, my heart aches for those parents who have experienced the unimaginable loss of a child, Traxler said. Infant mortality is the rate of deaths per every 1,000 live births. Statewide, the rate jumped 12% from 2020 to 2021, the most recent year of data. The rate is up almost 40% since 2017. The 416 infant deaths was highest in South Carolina since there were 435 deaths in 2012. Deaths from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome more than doubled in a year. SIDS was the fourth most common cause of death in 2021, behind congenital malformations or birth defects, disorders from short gestation or low birth weight and maternal pregnancy complications. Accidents ranked fifth, just behind SIDS. As in past years, suffocation or strangulation in bed made up by far the most accidental deaths. Overall, Black infants died at almost 2.5 times the rate as white infants. York, Lancaster, Chester counties State data classifies mortality rates based on the race and ethnicity of the mother. Its for residents within the state or, where designated, counties. The difference between counting residents compared to hospital data in areas can be significant in the Rock Hill region, where a large segment of the population lives as close to North Carolina hospitals as those in South Carolina. Story continues DHEC data lists non-Hispanic Black and non-Hispanic white data for the state and counties. Hispanic and other non-Hispanic statistics are shown statewide, but arent large enough for comparison at the local county level. The easiest figures to compare are new numbers for 2019-21, against the same data from 2016-18. Black infant mortality rates already were higher than white infants, and York County saw its Black infant mortality rate increase 2.5% from one three-year span to the next. Chester County went up 2%. Only Lancaster County went against the state trend, among local counties. For all counties statewide that had enough deaths to generate a mortality rate in each three-year window, Lancaster County had the best improvement in Black infant mortality rate with a 5.5% drop. White mortality rates of 10.9% in Chester County (down from 12%) and 2.6% in York County (down from 4.7%) were lower in the 2019-21 window than in the prior three years. Chester County had six deaths compared to seven in 2016-18. York County had 15 deaths in the more recent span, about half the 28 it had in the prior one. The 5.2% mortality rate, and with 11 deaths, were the exact same in Lancaster County, compared to the prior three years. Statewide, Hispanic mothers saw the lowest infant mortality rate in 2021 for the first time in three years. The 5.1% rate was just below white mothers at 5.2%, and well below the overall state figure of 7.3% and number for Black mothers at 12.7%. The maternal morbidity and mortality report doesnt break down by county, but does show a similar trend. Black mothers had a 67% higher pregnancy-related death rate than white mothers in both 2018 and 2019. DHEC bureau of maternal and child health director Kimberly Seals said disparity rates for Black women and infants remains a concern in South Carolina. We must continue our work to ensure we are reaching more expecting parents so we can close this gap, Seals said, which will assist in bringing the total infant mortality rate down as well. Population comparison From 2016 to 2021, there were 95 listed infant deaths in York County. Of them, 45% were to white mothers, and 44% to Black mothers. There was one more white infant death (43) than Black infant death (42). Those numbers come in a county where the U.S. Census Bureau counted almost 192,000 white residents in the 2020 Census and almost 52,000 Black ones. Almost 19,000 more residents were described as two or more races, per the census. More recent bureau estimates project 74% of York County is white compared to 19.5% Black, with another 2.4% of two or more races combined. The census bureau estimates almost 75% of Lancaster County is white. Almost 21% is Black and 2% is two or more races. The 39 infant deaths there from 2016 to 2021 involved 22 white (56%) and 14 Black (36%) mothers. Chester County has a more even overall population distribution at 60% white and 36% Black. More than 2% of its population is two or more races. Chester County had 24 infant deaths in the six-year span. White mothers accounted for 13 of them (54%) compared to 11 infant deaths (46%) for Black mothers. For a time, they thought they would never get home. The two Lake City natives who survived being kidnapped by the Gulf drug cartel in Mexico thought they would be shot to death, like the two men traveling with them who they considered their brothers. For four days, they were held at gunpoint by men wearing red masks, moved from place to place as their kidnappers listened to police radio and tried to stay a step ahead of the law. In an exclusive interview with Anderson Cooper of CNN, Eric Williams and LaTavia Washington McGee spoke about what happened to them in March. Childhood friends, Williams and McGee along with Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard, traveled to Mexico for McGee to have cosmetic surgery. They said they were followed after they crossed into Mexico, then crashed their car. When they got out, the men were shot. They were all still alive when they were loaded into the back of a pickup truck, which was widely broadcast on the internet and television. The captors took them to a clinic, but Brown and Woodard died from their injuries. Woodards last words were, I love yall. Im gone. Brown was shot twice in the back. To hear your brother, somebody who is your friend, who you can call a brother, tell you they love you and know youre never gonna see them again, Williams said. McGee said, Watching them fight for their life, and theres nothing you can do. They said the captors told them to have sex with each other, but they said they were siblings and McGee was pregnant. Williams was shot in the legs. He was treated at the clinic with 2x4 lumber fashioned into braces and stitched up. He appeared on Coopers show in a wheelchair with braces on his legs. At one point, McGee heard one of the captors watching something on his phone. She asked if it was them being kidnapped and could she see it. He showed her. I just started crying, she said. Its, like, Im never going home. She had no idea it was being broadcast in the United States. Story continues I just didnt know our families knew anything that happened to us, she said. At one point a man who said he was an American came to them and said he was trying to get his boss to release them. He said they couldnt bring their brothers back, but they were sorry it happened.. Somebody made the wrong call, they was high, drunk, McGee recalled the man saying. He came back a couple of days later, blindfolded them and loaded them into a truck. They drove around for hours, then were dropped off at a shack, where they were rescued. McGee and Williams have hired civil rights lawyers, Harry Daniels and Jason Keith. Daniels has represented myriad families of people who have been shot by police, people beaten while in custody, people alleging excessive use of force in communities as diverse as Austin, Texas, and Colorado Springs, Colorado. Last year, he won a $3 million settlement for the family of Andrew Brown Jr. against Pasquotank County in North Carolina. Brown was killed in 2021 while deputies were serving warrants related to drug allegations. Daniels is based in Atlanta. Keith of Greensboro, North Carolina, specializes in state and federal criminal law and is the senior partner at Keith & Associates and the founder of NexGenLaw. He told WFMY television station that Williams has had eight surgeries for gunshot wounds to his legs in Brownsville, where he was taken after he and McGee were rescued. The Gulf cartel turned over to authorities five of their members believed to be responsible for the kidnapping and deaths. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) unveiled a framework for regulation of the booming artificial intelligence (AI) industry on Thursday. Schumers framework aims to increase transparency and accountability of AI technologies, on the heels of warnings from experts about the rise in AI following the popularity of the ChatGPT chatbot. Given the AI industrys consequential and fast moving impact on society, national security, and the global economy, Ive worked with some of the leading AI practitioners and thought leaders to create a framework that outlines a new regulatory regime that would prevent potentially catastrophic damage to our country while simultaneously making sure the U.S. advances and leads in this transformative technology, Schumer said in a statement. The framework would require companies to allow independent experts to review and test AI technologies ahead of public releases and updates. The disclosure will include four guardrails: Who, Where, How, and Protect, according to Schumers announcement. The guardrails seek to inform users and give the government data to regulate, as well as align systems with American values. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) speaks during a press event to discuss the the Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act at the Capitol on Feb. 28. Schumer will work with stakeholders in academia, advocacy organizations, industry and the government in coming weeks to refine the proposal, according to the announcement. As majority leader, Schumer has control over the legislative calendar giving him a better shot at bringing his proposal to the floor, although it would still be subject to meeting the 60-vote threshold to pass. The senators proposal follows other voluntary guidance on AI issued by the federal government. The National Institute of Standards and Technology released an AI Risk Management Framework in January that aimed to improve the ability of companies to incorporate trustworthiness into the design, development and use of AI products and services. The White House released an AI Bill of Rights in October that also included a voluntary framework. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. The director of the Scientology documentary Going Clear has said he is surprised there hasnt been a reckoning for Tom Cruise. The Top Gun: Maverick star is one of the highest profile members of the Church of Scientology, having joined the controversial religion in the 1980s. Alex Gibney is a filmmaker known for directing the 2015 film Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. The film, which was vehemently denounced by the Church of Scientology upon its release, made a number of shocking allegations about the organisation, involving claims of abuse inflicted upon members and misconduct among its leadership. Representatives of the church denied the allegations. Speaking to Rolling Stone magazine in a new interview, Gibney was asked what it was like to see Cruise endure as the King of Hollywood. The interviewer begins by suggesting that Cruise hasnt had to answer a single question about [his involvement in Scientology] in the eight years since Going Clear. I agree, replied Gibney. And Im kind of surprised. I think he took a step away, so hes not the kind of ambassador for Scientology that he used to be not like he was back in the day when he was making [2005 blockbuster]War of the Worlds and had a Scientology tent on the set. Being a star is super important to him, he continued. I agree, there hasnt been any reckoning for him. Its surprised me. The Independent has contacted a representative of Cruise for comment. Cruise in Top Gun: Maverick (Paramount Pictures) Earlier this year, Judd Apatow took aim at Cruises links to Scientology in a series of jokes while hosting the the Directors Guild of America Awards. Every time he does one of these new stunts, it does feel like an ad for Scientology, joked the comedy mogul. I mean, is that in Dianetics? Because theres nothing about jumping off a cliff in the Torah. At the Golden Globes in January, Cruise was also roasted for his association with the Church, as host Jerrod Carmichael made reference to Shelly Miscavige, the wife of Scientology leader David Miscavige who has not been seen in public since 2007. Story continues Backstage, I found these three Golden Globe awards that Tom Cruise returned, joked the comedian. I think maybe we take these three things and exchange them for the safe return of Shelly Miscavige. The Church has denied that Miscavige is missing. Gibneys latest project, Boom! Boom! The World vs Boris Becker, is out now on Apple TV+. NEW YORK (AP) Martin Scorsese was knee-deep in preparation for Killers of the Flower Moon when Mara Hennessey reached out to invite him to see David Johansen. The former frontman for the trailblazing 1970s proto-punk band the New York Dolls and Hennessey's husband was performing a new show at the Cafe Carlyle. Scorsese, a longtime fan of Johansen (he had once played the Dolls to rile up his actors for a fight scene), went eagerly with a handful of others, including his frequent documentary collaborator David Tedeschi. There, they saw Johansen perform a lounge act of grit and grace. Here was a downtown fixture relocated to one of uptowns swankiest rooms. As his pompadoured alter ego, Buster Poindexter, Johansen was performing stripped-down versions of his own songs and Dolls hits, with plenty of reflective, comic interludes. Scorsese, smitten by Johansens performance, immediately resolved to shoot it the still ringing echo of a vanished New York. It was just a natural feel: We have to do this, Scorsese explained in an interview. We have to capture it before it goes. Personality Crisis: One Night Only, which debuts Friday on Showtime, is the result, mixing footage Scorsese and co-director David Tedeschi shot over two nights at the Carlyle in January 2020 with flashbacks through Johansens wildly varied career and intimate interviews taped during the pandemic by Johansen and Hennesseys daughter, Leah. Like Scorseses recent Netflix series Pretend Its a City with Fran Lebowitz, it's also a portrait of a still clarion, still vibrant New York voice in a city that now hardly resembles the one they were all forged in. The environment that he came out of in the 70s, in a way, Im still there, says Scorsese, whose third feature film, Mean Streets, debuted the same year as the Dolls first album. It has to do with New York because we live in New York. Im not doing L.A. Im not doing Chicago. I live in New York. And this is a part of where I came from. It turns out that its changed, its finished, its gone, its going somewhere else. Story continues Time is much on the mind of Scorsese, 80, who in a month will debut at Cannes Killers of the Flower Moon, his sprawling adaptation of David Granns bestseller about a series of murders of members of the Osage tribe in 1920s Oklahoma. The scope of the Apple release with a budget of $200 million and a reported runtime of nearly four hours makes it one of Scorseses biggest undertakings. Its not four hours, he says. Its lengthy. Its an epic. Adding in The Irishman, Scorseses ambitions seem to be only growing with age. Bigger productions, he says, are what he's aiming toward now even if hes less accustomed to directing the movement of mass groups of people the way Steven Spielberg or Ridley Scott can. They just snap their fingers and it happens. But I cant. Maybe I could, says Scorsese. Something else happens. If the character finds himself in a story that takes a longer period of time to tell, then I feel comfortable with that. And I think theres an audience for that. Or I should say I think theres still an audience for that. Other big projects may loom, Scorsese says. If I get there, he says. You got to get there. All of which makes Personality Crisis, sandwiched between two monumental masterworks, a stirringly intimate contrast. I was surprised by how much I liked it, says Johansen. I hardly cringed. The Staten Island-born Johansen, now 73, was a pivotal figure of 70s East Village New York and the New York Dolls presaged the punk movement. Since then, he's reinvented himself as the lounge-singing Buster Poindexter, who had the 1980s hit Hot Hot Hot (a song that Johansen now more or less disowns). Hes acted, too. Many will remember Johansen as the taxi-driving ghost of Christmas past in Scrooged. Part of the joy of Personality Crisis is that it takes Johansen so often associated with particular eras of rock out of those contexts. Here, hes simply a gravel-voiced lounge lizard supreme a rock n roll survivor with the anecdotes to go with it. Its not a rock doc, says Hennessey. To me, its a portrait of an artist. Almost since the beginning, Scorsese has toggled between narrative features and documentaries, though he and Tedeschi dont love the term documentary. (Wed rather have fun, says Tedeschi.) Each are simply films, Scorsese says, with different rhythms, choreographies and grammar. And they inform each other, a back-and-forth alchemy that began with 1974s Italian American, a dialogue with his parents released in between Mean Streets and Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore. These films that David and I do free me to think differently about the narrative films Im making. The narrative films Im making are becoming more like novels. These are not quite, says Scorsese. Sometimes you get locked in by whats around you and the way things are supposed to be done. Italian American, I just hold the camera on my mother and my father speaking and it was interesting. It changed everything for me. The Last Waltz, Scorseses seminal film with The Band, he says shaped Raging Bull. The Rolling Thunder Revue: A Bob Dylan Story (2019), Scorsese connects with 2016s Silence both in their way about the performance of a spiritual act. Personality Crisis likewise influenced Killers of the Flower Moon. Several songs Scorsese heard while listening to Johansens wide-ranging satellite radio show Mansion of Fun made it into the movie, including Mamie Smiths Crazy Blues. Charlie Musselwhite plays harmonica alongside Johansen in Personality Crisis; he also, by coincidence, is an actor in Killers of the Flower Moon. They just seem to come together, says Scorsese of his nonfiction and fiction films. The same could be said for Johansen and Scorsese. They've known each other for decades. Johansen remembers seeing Mean Streets when it came out, not knowing anything about the director. It was so fundamentally good, he says, shaking his head. Johansen, though, initially wasn't thrilled about the idea of a documentary. People always ask me, Would you be in this documentary? Its about punk. I would just say nope, Johansen says. Because when I see myself in that situation, I feel like, Who is this idiot and where did he come from? But making a film with Scorsese whose long line of rock n roll chronicles includes George Harrison: Living in the Material World and the Rolling Stones concert film Shine a Light was an easier call. I like him for a lot of reasons but one of the reasons I like him is because he, like myself, finds music so inspiring, says Johansen. Johansen and Hennessey first thought about turning the Carlyle concert into an off-Broadway show, but Scorsese said it should be filmed. Marty said, Ask my wife. I fall asleep in the theater, recalls Johansen. Scorsese and Tedeschi shot his performances unsure of what shape it would take. Over the pandemic, it morphed into a film, and perhaps the clearest and most unfiltered recording of Johansen yet. (A soundtrack is forthcoming.) I used to think about my voice like: Whats it gonna sound like? Whats it going to be when I do this song? And Id get myself into a knot about it," says Johansen. "At some point in my life, I decided: Just sing the f----ing song. With whatever you got. To me, I go on stage and whatever mood Im in, I just claw my way out of it, essentially. Scorsese, too, has been trying to persevere without compromise in a sometimes unhospitable environment for cinema. Along with his extensive efforts to preserve and restore old films with the Film Foundation and attempts to bring classic films to new audiences with the Restoration Screening Room, Scorsese has often publicly spoken against the predominance of blockbusters in today's moviegoing. I did a film ('The Irishman') with Netflix. That was a great experience. The same with Apple even more so because were going theatrical, he says of the film to open in theaters Oct. 20. The experience watching at home is OK. Its OK. But its not what it should be. He worries that a generation will grow up with the idea that a theatrical movie is a blockbuster, and everything else is alternative cinema. Who said movies were going to be made like they were in the first 75, 80 years? Because they were made for theaters," says Scorsese. "That may not be the case anymore. Its a new world. But Scorsese is still holding out hope. He'd like to see streaming companies build theaters. Maybe these new companies might say: Lets invest in the future of the new generations for creativity, Scorsese says. Because a young person actually going to see a film in the theater, that person, who knows, five or 10 years later could be a wonderful novelist, painter, musician, composer, filmmaker, whatever. You dont know where that inspiration is going to land when you throw it out there. But its got to be out there. ___ Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jakecoyleAP The body of one of two young men who fell into the Trinity River on Easter Sunday was recovered Thursday afternoon, officials said. The body of 21-year-old Juan Ruben Chel Botzoc was found around 3:30 p.m. about 100 yards south of a small dam, according to KXAS-TV. Chel Botzoc and 18-year-old Edin Oswaldo Yat Choc, both immigrants from Guatemala, were having a cookout at the California Crossing Park on Sunday. One of them got caught in the current when trying to recover part of a grill that had fallen into the water, according to Star-Telegram media partner WFAA-TV. His friend tried to help him and went underwater too. Chel Botzocs father, Alfredo Chel, told KXTX-TV that he is working with the Guatemalan consulate to send his sons body back to Guatemala. Crews were expected to continue the search for Yat Choc on Friday. Dallas Fire-Rescue helped search for the men Sunday, but spokesperson Jason Evans said Monday morning that DFR search efforts would not resume. The men are believed to be dead, and the most likely case is that the bodies will resurface on their own, at which point we will be asked to help get them from the water, Evans said. The Dallas Police Department took over the search as it moved into the recovery phase, according to WFAA. Dallas Police Executive Assistant Chief Albert Martinez said drones, helicopters, boats and the dive team had searched two miles down river. Cadaver dogs were brought in Wednesday to help, WFAA reported. Police said divers couldnt enter the water Monday and Wednesday to search because the water was moving too fast, KDFW-TV reported. Search crews returned Thursday morning. Rebecca Sosa and Kendra Jimenez are volunteering their time to translate for the mens families. You just want them to get their children back and have that peace of mind, Sosa told WFAA. Jimenez said the father of one of the victims has been sleeping at the park every night. He wont leave until they find the body, she told WFAA. The State Emergency Service of Ukraine has warned residents of the liberated regions that most cemeteries in these areas remain mined. Source: Oleksandr Khorunzhyi, the spokesperson for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine, at a briefing on 13 April, quoted by Suspilne news outlet Details: Before going to a cemetery, one should follow the reports of local authorities on whether it has been cleared of explosives or not. According to Khorunzhyi, local authorities receive full information about the completion of mine clearance in such areas from search and rescue workers, police and the military. The State Emergency Service spokesman has advised checking the details of "specific facilities". Quote: "The areas with most mines planted are, of course, Kherson, Kharkiv, partly Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, Sumy and Chernihiv oblasts. Even Kyiv Oblast. But in Kyiv Oblast, practically all critical infrastructure and life support facilities have been cleared, and only some forest areas and fields remain mined. Detailed information should be clarified directly from specific facilities. In particular, in Kharkiv Oblast, if I'm not mistaken, more than 500 cemeteries may be mined." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! A former employee of the Kentucky Department of Juvenile Justice sued the state on Wednesday, saying that he was wrongfully fired for reporting the physical abuse of a boy held in custody. Its at least the second lawsuit this year filed by DJJ employees who claim they lost their jobs because they tried to expose the mistreatment of youths in the states chaotic juvenile detention centers. Two nurses, Nina Burton and Joanne Alvarado, sued Jan. 31 and alleged they were effectively forced out in a toxic cocktail where violence was not only predictable, but inevitable. During the 2023 General Asembly that recently ended, lawmakers made a number of changes to state law to address problems of chronic abuse and neglect of youths in juvenile detention centers. Lawmakers also called for DJJ Commissioner Vicki Reed to step down, although Gov. Andy Beshear said he still supports Reed. Vicki Reed In the newest suit against the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet, which oversees DJJ, David Richardson said he worked from January to March as a social service worker at the Adair Youth Development Center in Adair County. On March 6, Richardson said, he helped colleagues to physically restrain a youth at the facility without difficulty. Richardson said he was a high school wrestling champion and is currently a professional mixed martial artist, and when he asked the youth if he was finished resisting the staff, the youth agreed that he was. However, Assistant Superintendent Christopher Rakes shouted at David, I need him in compliance, indicating to David to bend the youths arm back more, the suit alleges. Richardson said he refused to bend the youths arm further because there was no need for it, according to the suit. David pleaded with Rakes, telling Rakes, He is in compliance, he is in compliance and that there was no reason to bend the youths arm any farther, the suit alleges. Another staff worker then pushed David to the side, grabbed the youths arm and cranked it back until the youth yelled out in pain, the suit alleges. Rakes roared to David and everyone else, Now THATS compliance. Story continues That night, Richardson emailed the facility superintendent, Tonya Burton, to report the abuse, the suit alleges. He was fired days later, on March 14, as an act of retaliation, the suit alleges. There was no legitimate reason to fire him, the suit alleges. Richardsons attorney, Thomas Coffey of Louisville, did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. In a prepared statement, the Justice and Public Safety Cabinet said Richardson was released from probation for several instances of misconduct, without further elaboration on that point. The video of the incident referenced ... was reviewed by facility leadership and the restraint was determined to be appropriate, said cabinet spokeswoman Morgan Hall. DJJ does not retaliate against staff or youth for reporting misconduct, Hall said. Facilities routinely encourage contacting the facilitys superintendent and/or the Internal Investigations Branch of the cabinet when misconduct is witnessed, which allows corrective action to be taken as needed ensuring safety and security is upheld. In the previous suit filed by the nurses, in Franklin Circuit Court, Burton and Alvarado said they tried to provide compassionate medical care for youths held at the same juvenile detention facility in Adair County, and especially for a 17-year-old girl with worsening mental health who was locked in isolation for extended periods. However, the facility administration and some of its security staff harassed the medical staff for wanting to give proper health care and safe living conditions to the youths. Medical staff were bullied, belittled and cursed at by adult colleagues once they reported mistreatment of youths up the chain of command, the nurses said. The Justice Cabinet has filed a motion to dismiss the nurses lawsuit. Among its reasons, the cabinet says the nurses waited too long to sue, and it cites the states legal liability shield under sovereign immunity. Also, the cabinet says, the girl referenced in the nurses suit was an unusually difficult case for whom the state made its best efforts. In fact, DJJ referred (the girl) D.B. several times for outside treatment, but she has been denied by every DJJ-contracted provider because of her criminal charges, extreme aggressive behavior, assaults on staff and peers, and property damage, the cabinet wrote in its motion to dismiss last month. This has impeded DJJs ability to find a consistent placement for D.B. either in-state or out-of-state, despite its repeated efforts, the cabinet wrote. In total, D.B. has been placed in 20 therapeutic foster homes, 14 psychiatric hospitals, six acute hospitals, eight detentions centers and four residential treatment facilities. When the girl turned 18 in January, the state moved her to Western State Psychiatric Hospital in Hopkinsville, where she remains, the cabinet wrote. Nurses sue KY juvenile justice agency, say they reported inhumane conditions Lawmakers approved big changes to KY juvenile justice system. Heres what they did. The Tarrant County Medical Examiners Office identified a second victim who died following a shooting Monday at a Fort Worth convenience store. Michael Charles Sansom Jr., 29, died Wednesday at John Peter Smith Hospital from a gunshot wound to the head, according to the medical examiners office. Marques Parker, 18, was also fatally shot in the head by the same suspect at the convenience store, Joes Food Mart, located in the 4200 block of Miller Avenue, according to Fort Worth police. Parker died Monday at the scene. The killings occurred about 2 a.m. during a disagreement between the assailant and Parker, police said. The unidentified assailant left in a vehicle with two other people. Police have not announced an arrest. Police declined to say whether the victims were inside the store or outside it when they were shot. It is the second homicide at the convenience store in four months. Deunte Ogaro, 18, died after he was shot in the head there on Dec. 18. Two other people were shot at the same time. In the Dec. 18 shooting case, Curtis Griffin, 20, was arrested in February and in March was charged with murder, which the Tarrant County Criminal District Attorneys Office alleged occurred during a robbery. U.S. Army Green Berets and Australian commandos conduct free-fall training as a part of the Balikatan military exercise on April 10, 2023. (Spc. Lee Gaozong/U.S. Army) A U.S. soldier in sniper camouflage takes position at an static display of equipment during a U.S.-Philippines military exercise at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province, north of Manila, on April 13, 2023. (Ted Aljibe/AFP via Getty Images) A U.S. Marine drives a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle off of an Army landing craft mechanized in preparation for the Balikatan drills at Camp Agnew in Casiguran, Philippines, on April 8, 2023. (Staff Sgt. Danny Gonzalez/U.S. Marine Corps) U.S. soldiers walk during a brief drizzle at the joint military exercise between the U.S. and Philippines called Balikatan at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines, on April 13, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP) U.S. troops take part in a live-fire exercise as part of U.S.-Philippines drills on March 31, 2023, at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Philippine and U.S. troops held live-fire exercises as part of the annual drills called Salaknib, which involved more than 3,000 troops, and are in preparation for the largest-ever joint military drills called Balikatan the following month. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) A Javelin anti-tank missile hits a target during a joint military exercise between the U.S. and Philippines on April 13, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP) Demonstrators burn a U.S. flag during a rally in front of Camp Aguinaldo military headquarters in Quezon City, Philippines, on April 11, 2023, as they protest against opening ceremonies for the joint military exercise Balikatan, or Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder. The U.S. and the Philippines began their largest combat exercises in decades that will involve live-fire drills, including a boat-sinking rocket assault in waters across the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. (Gerard Carreon/AP) A Filipino soldier is seen through the barrel of a Carl Gustaf recoilless anti-tank rifle during Balikatan on April 13, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP) US and Philippine troops operate a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during live-fire exercises on March 31, 2023 in Laur, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) U.S. and Philippine troops take part in weapons training during the Balikatan exercise on April 13, 2023. More than 17,000 Philippine and U.S. soldiers started their largest joint military exercise yet, known as Balikatan. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Alyssa McKee, an air traffic control communications technician, conducts a radio check as part of a combat readiness evaluation during Balikatan at the Subic Bay International Airport in the Philippines on April 10, 2023. (Cpl. Kyle Chan/U.S. Marine Corps) U.S. and Philippine troops fire a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System on March 31, 2023, in Laur, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. (Ezra Acayan/Getty Images) U.S. Gen. Charles Flynn, left, who leads U.S. Army Pacific, shakes hands with Philippine Army Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner during the joint military exercise Balikatan on April 13, 2023. This year's Balikatan exercises between the treaty allies are the largest since the two sides started joint military combat-readiness exercises in the early 1990s. (Aaron Favila/AP) U.S. soldiers talk during the Balikatan exercise at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines, on April 13, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP) U.S. Lance Cpl. Alexander Bennett launches a Javelin anti-tank missile during Balikatan on April 13, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP) U.S. soldiers carry a Javelin shoulder-launched anti-tank missile past a U.S. M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System in the northern Philippines on April 13, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP) A Filipino soldier launches a Javelin anti-tank missile at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines, on April 13, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP) A Filipino soldier carries a Javelin anti-tank missile during a joint military exercise between the U.S. and the Philippines. (Aaron Favila/AP) U.S. Marine Corps Cpl. Brandon Meyer sets up a satellite communication antenna as part as a combat-readiness evaluation during Balikatan at the Subic Bay International Airport in the Philippines on April 10, 2023. (Cpl. Kyle Chan/U.S. Marine Corps) U.S. Marines prepare to refuel am MQ-9A Reaper drone with the California Air National Guard during the Balikatan exercise at the Subic Bay International Airport in the Philippines on April 7, 2023. (Cpl. Kyle Chan/U.S. Marine Corps) U.S. soldiers practice during a military exercise at Fort Magsaysay in Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines, on April 13, 2023. (Aaron Favila/AP) U.S. Marines set up radar equipment as part as a combat-readiness evaluation during Balikatan on April 10, 2023. (Cpl. Kyle Chan/U.S. Marine Corps) FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines U.S. and Filipino forces have blasted vehicles with anti-tank missiles in combat-readiness drills in the Philippines that are part of a show of American firepower that has alarmed China. The treaty allies are holding their largest joint military exercises called Balikatan or shoulder-to-shoulder in decades. They involve 17,600 military personnel and will feature live-fire maneuvers, including a ship-sinking rocket attack and beach assaults to simulate retaking an island near the disputed South China Sea. Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said the Philippine militarys focus is shifting from decades of battling communist and Muslim insurgents to external defense to ensure the protection of the countrys territory as disputes with China in the South China Sea persist. Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila with The Associated Press contributed to this report. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., on Capitol Hill last year. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Two House Democrats are calling on Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., to resign amid concerns about her health and ability to serve in Congress. Feinstein, 89, who has been absent from the Senate for more than a month while recovering from shingles, plans to retire at the end of her fifth term in 2024. Heres everything we know. Who called on Feinstein to resign? Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., was the first House Democrat to publicly call for Feinstein to step down. Its time for @SenFeinstein to resign, he tweeted on Wednesday. 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. Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., echoed Khannas call. I agree with @RoKhanna, Phillips wrote on Twitter. Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But 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. As Yahoo News partner The Hill pointed out, their calls came after John Lovett, a Crooked Media co-founder and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama, said Feinstein should step aside, adding that more people should be calling on her to resign. What was her response? Feinstein walks through the Senate subway on her way to a vote at the Capitol in September 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Feinstein released a statement on Wednesday night saying she intends to return to the Senate as soon as she is cleared to travel by her doctors. When I was first diagnosed with shingles, I expected to return by the end of the March work period. Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis, she said. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. Feinstein, who sits on the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee, was hospitalized after being diagnosed with shingles in February. Story continues Her absence has stalled the committees push to confirm President Biden's judicial nominees. According to the Los Angeles Times, the committees last vote on a nominee was on Feb. 16. In her statement, Feinstein said that she had asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve on the panel until Im able to resume my committee work. What was Schumers response? Sen. Chuck Schumer. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) In a brief statement, Schumers office said he would seek to grant Feinsteins request when the Senate convenes next week. 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, the statement read. However, its unclear whether Schumer will have the votes to grant Feinstein's request. As Politico pointed out, Democrats would need to pass a resolution on the Senate floor and would need Republican votes to get it passed. (So far, no Republicans have threatened to block the request, but that could change.) Schumers Republican counterpart, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, has been recovering after being hospitalized for a concussion following a fall on March 8. He was discharged a few days later and had been receiving inpatient care but has not yet returned to the Capitol. What about Pelosi? Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Rep. Nancy Pelosi, the former House speaker and Feinstein's fellow California Democrat, wondered aloud whether calls for the senator to step aside were born out of sexism. Its interesting to me. 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, Pelosi told reporters on Wednesday. Freshman Sen. John Fetterman, D-Pa., has also been out since February for treatment for clinical depression. He will be returning to Capitol Hill next week. As Reuters noted, Feinstein was the first woman to serve as mayor of San Francisco and the first woman to chair the Senate Judiciary Committee; she is currently the longest-serving female senator. Whats next? Feinstein at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, April 28, 2021. (Tom Williams/Pool via AP) Feinsteins advanced age, health problems and reported memory lapses have led to speculation that she might decide to retire before the end of her term. In 2022, the San Francisco Chronicle reported that colleagues were worried that she was unfit to serve, citing situations during which they had to reintroduce themselves to her multiple times during a policy discussion that lasted several hours. Feinstein subsequently defended her job performance and said she had no plans to step down. Democratic California Reps. Katie Porter, Barbara Lee and Adam Schiff have already announced bids to fill Feinsteins seat in the upper chamber. Porter announced hers before Feinstein announced plans to retire. California needs a warrior in Washington, Porter said in a video announcing her candidacy. Its time for new leadership in the U.S. Senate. The race is expected to be one of the most expensive in congressional history. Khanna, who had been considering his own bid, announced last month that he would not run and endorsed Lee for the seat instead. Dianne Feinstein Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who has been at home in San Francisco since announcing she was hospitalized with shingles in early March, said in a statement Wednesday night that she has asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to temporarily replace her on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which has been hamstrung by her absence. Feinstein, 89, is the oldest member of the Senate by several months and the longest-serving woman in Senate history. Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) has acknowledged he's been unable to advance any of President Biden's judicial nominees in Feinstein's absence, since the committee is now tied between Democrats and Republicans. "I can't consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee," Durbin told CNN earlier this week. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) called on Feinstein to step down earlier Wednesday, citing the stalled judicial nominations. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) seconded his call. Schumer's office said Wednesday that, per Feinstein's request, he would ask the Senate to approve another Democrat for the Judiciary Committee. That would require either unanimous consent or 60 votes in the Senate chamber, where Democrats hold a 51-49 edge. It isn't clear Republicans will agree to the swap, "given the leverage Feinstein's absence has given them over judicial nominations," The Washington Post notes. Feinstein hasn't been the only absence. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has been out for treatment of depression since Feb. 15, though he returns to the Senate April 17, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has been recovering at home after tripping and falling in early March. Feinstein said her "return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis," and she plans to return to Washington "as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it's safe for me to travel." Multiple Democrats close to Feinstein, whose final term ends in two years, "are growing increasingly concerned that she may never come back to Washington at all," Politico reports. Story continues You may also like Federal appellate panel blocks part of expansive abortion pill ban, allows some restrictions to take effect Ariana Grande addresses concerns about her weight: 'You never know what someone is going through' Trump's tale about Manhattan court workers crying and apologizing at his arraignment isn't true, source says Hours after House Democrats called for her resignation, U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee. In a statement Wednesday evening, Feinstein said her recovery from shingles has been delayed because of complications, and she asked Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to allow another Democratic senator to serve in her committee seat until she returns. Feinstein, who is the oldest senator at 89 and has said she would retire at the end of 2024, gave no estimated date for her return. "I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel," Feinstein said in a statement. "In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco." Previous coverage: House Dems Ro Khanna, Dean Phillips call on Sen. Dianne Feinstein to resign. Here's why Pressure mounts for Feinstein to resign California Sen. Dianne Feinstein walks through the Senate subway on her way to a procedural vote on the Respect For Marriage Act on Nov. 28. Her statement comes as her lengthy absence has delayed President Joe Biden's judicial nominees and members of her own party have started calling for her resignation. "This is a moment of crisis for women's rights and voting rights. It's unacceptable to have Sen. Feinstein miss vote after vote to confirm judges who will uphold reproductive rights," Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., said in a statement Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Khanna and Rep. Dean Phillips, D-Minn., urged her to step down. Feinstein, who will be 90 in June, has faced numerous questions about her health and fitness for office. If she answers the calls to resign, it would be up to California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, to fill the vacancy. He said in 2021 that he would nominate a Black woman to fill the seat if Feinstein steps aside. Retirement: Dianne Feinstein, California's longest serving senator, won't seek reelection in 2024 Contributing: The Associated Press Candy Woodall is a Congress reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at cwoodall@usatoday.com or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dianne Feinstein asks for temporary replacement after calls to resign Dianne Feinstein. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Sen. Dianne Feinstein asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee. She's been absent from the Senate since mid-February as she recovers from shingles. Without her in Washington, DC, Democrats have been unable to confirm as many Biden judges as preferred. After two Democratic representatives publicly called on her to resign, Sen. Dianne Feinstein announced that she asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily have someone replace her on the Judiciary Committee amidst health concerns. Feinstein, who's 89 years old and has served in the Senate for more than 30 years, contracted shingles in mid-February. Whilst she first expected she'd return to Washington, DC by the "end of the March work period," she said in a release that her "return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis." Feinstein currently sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Democrats hold 11 seats compared to the Republican Party's 10. To send a judicial nominee to the Senate floor, the 21-person panel requires a majority of its members be present to vote for the nominee. If a tie vote happens, the nominee never makes it to the Senate. Without Feinstein in Washington, DC, committee chair Sen. Dick Durbin has had to ask to delay meetings on several occasions when Feinstein was to be the pivotal tiebreaking vote, according to NBC News. This problem came to a head on Wednesday, after two Democratic congressmen including one from California called on Feinstein to resign. "It's time for @SenFeinstein to resign," Rep. Ro Khanna tweeted on Wednesday. "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." Story continues Feinstein released a statement saying that she asked Schumer to have a Democrat temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee until her health concerns subside. However, this is unconventional, and could fail due to GOP opposition. Politico noted on Thursday, it's not typical to change someone's committee assignment mid-session, even temporarily, and it will require either 60 votes or unanimous consent to occur. Democrats can count on 51 votes typically, and it's not obvious which if any Republicans will break rank to aid Democrats in appointing judges. Michael Thorning, a former Senate Democratic aide who now works on governance issues at the Bipartisan Policy Center, warned that cooperation is hard to come by in today's highly politicized environment. "While the Senate has traditionally handled these matters by unanimous consent, Sen. Feinstein's request for a temporary replacement is likely unprecedented," Thorning said of the impromptu proposal. Democratic Rep. John Garamendi of California rose to Feinstein's defense, urging Senate Democrats to honor her wishes and slot in a short-term substitute. "I both respect and support her decision, and I do not believe it is necessary for Senator Feinstein to resign," the eight-term lawmaker wrote in a statement, adding that the "steward of progress" had earned the right to serve out her remaining term. No Republicans have publicly said just yet if they'll vote against Feinstein's request, though it could serve as an opportunity for the party to further prevent or slow down the Senate from confirming President Joe Biden's preferred judges. It's not obvious which if any Republicans will break rank to aid Democrats in appointing judges. If Republicans in the Senate prevent the committee change from happening, it could lead to even more pressure from Democrats for Feinstein to resign. If she does choose to step down before her term ends, California Gov. Gavin Newsom has the power to appoint a replacement for her to finish off her Senate term. Read the original article on Business Insider KITTERY, Maine In March, President Joe Biden and leaders from Australia and the United Kingdom touted a deal that could see Australia purchase three to five U.S. Virginia-class, nuclear-powered submarines and develop a future Australian and United Kingdom submarine model using U.S. technology. The phased approach, criticized by Chinas Foreign Ministry, would lift all three nations submarine industrial bases and undersea capabilities, enhancing deterrence and promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific, according to a White House announcement released last month. The partnership is known as AUKUS. How could Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, which overhauls nuclear-powered submarines, play a role in the agreement? As of now, officials said they have no details of how the 223-year-old shipyard and other U.S. military facilities could be involved in the partnership or affected by it, but U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen expressed confidence the shipyard was poised to make an "important contribution" as the deal moves forward. Portsmouth Naval Shipyard on Seavey Island in Kittery, Maine. More: Portsmouth Naval Shipyard seeks 1,200 more workers, offers $5,000 bonus: How to apply Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, one of four public shipyards in the United States, has been underdoing a multi-billion-dollar upgrade and expansion of its facilities. In San Diego last month, Biden, United Kingdom Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese lauded the agreement, which would develop the SSN-AUKUS submarine for United Kingdom use in the 2030s and for use by the Royal Australian Navy starting in the early 2040s. The United Kingdom and Australia would be building the submarines with British design technology and implementing American submarine technology. Beginning this year, the United States will increase submarine port visits to Australia, while the United Kingdom will conduct more port visits to Australia starting in 2026. The year following, the U.S. and United Kingdom will kick off a rotational presence between one United Kingdom submarine and upwards of four U.S. subs at the HMAS Stirling Australian naval base near Perth. Under the AUKUS agreement, Australia will remain a nuclear-free country and will not seek to acquire such weapons. Story continues U.S. Department of Defense responds to questions Asked if Portsmouth Naval Shipyard could see a increase in civilian workers or active military members as a result of the partnership, a defense official noted little is known about the AUKUS impact on American military facilities. Jeff Jurgensen, spokesperson for the secretary of defense's office, said in a prepared statement there are no current plans for how Portsmouth Naval Shipyard or other bases could be involved. More: Child care center coming to Pease: National Guard, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard team up AUKUS is a generational opportunity to strengthen the military capabilities and prosperity of the United States and two vital allies. The U.S. will partner with our AUKUS partners on ensuring sufficient facilities, staffing, and infrastructure is present to support nuclear submarine operations, he said. This will include both U.S. organic and defense industrial base sustainment support, as well as growing the existing Australian submarine maintenance capabilities and capacity. Recent announcements regarding AUKUS represent the first steps in a series of future commitments. However, we have no additional information to provide regarding potential impacts to specific industrial base facilities at this time. Taken together, this plan augments the investment the U.S. is making in the Submarine Industrial Base to increase capability, capacity, skilled workforce, and improve supply chain to meet the requirements, Jurgensen added. It creates additional production capacity, enabling AUKUS partners to grow and sustain the size of our submarine forces as required. Furthermore, it strengthens and makes our trilateral supply chains more resilient, enhancing the industrial bases in all three nations. A spokesperson for Portsmouth Naval Shipyard referred questions to the secretary of defenses office. Sen. Shaheen says she'll speak up for shipyard's capabilities Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-New Hampshire, hailed the historic trilateral partnership as an opportunity for the nation to bolster its presence in the Indo-Pacific and advance its military capabilities. The third-term senator serves as senior member of the Senate Armed Services Committee and co-chairperson of the bipartisan Senate Navy Caucus. Shaheen said while its unknown how Portsmouth Naval Shipyard may be utilized in the AUKUS agreement, shed remain connected with the Department of Defense on how the yard could be of service. Our shipyard workforce is incredibly talented and shoulders the immense responsibility for maintaining our cutting edge Virginia-class submarines, so their talent would be an important contribution to the AUKUS submarine effort, she said. Outlets at Kittery project: Hotel, apartments, restaurant planned. Here's what we know. A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson rebuked the agreement following Albanese, Biden and Sunaks joint appearance in California. The latest joint statement issued by the U.S., U.K., and Australia shows that the three countries have gone further down the wrong and dangerous path for their own geopolitical self-interest, completely ignoring the concerns of the international community, said Wang Wenbin. The AUKUS agreement was formally launched in September 2021 by the three partners. Material from the Associated Press was used in this report. This article originally appeared on Portsmouth Herald: Shaheen touts shipyard talent as 3 nations ink AUKUS submarine deal As he tiptoes closer to launching a 2024 White House bid, Republican Tim Scott released a video to his supporters this week that trumpeted his biography. Scott, the lone Black Republican in the Senate, grew up poor, was raised by a single mother and is the grandson of man who had to drop out of third grade to pick cotton. "I know America is a land of opportunity, not a land of oppression," he said in the video unveiling his exploratory committee for a presidential run. That message strikes at the heart of how Scott plans to appeal to the country and how he views the issue of race in America. The South Carolina lawmaker isn't offering voters a colorblind candidacy, but rather a belief in redemption rooted in his faith. It echoed remarks Scott delivered during the GOP rebuttal to President Joe Biden's first joint address to Congress in 2021. At the time, the South Carolina senator declared: "America is not a racist country," which was denunciated by Democratic critics and other progressives. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C. speaks during the Republican Party of Polk County Lincoln Dinner, Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023, in West Des Moines, Iowa. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall) ORG XMIT: IACN118 That the 57-year-old lawmaker chose to unveil his intentions on the 162nd anniversary of the Civil Warand at Fort Sumter where the conflict's first shots were fired also reveals how Scott sees the 2024 campaign taking shape. He strikes a tone that seeks to uphold American idealism while aggressively confronting Democratic policies and views on race in a way that will appeal to GOP base voters plugged into culture war issues. "America's soul was put to the test, and we prevailed," Scott said while passing a row of cannons. "Today our country is once again being tested." Scott: 'This is personal to me' Like many Black conservatives Scott has been on the receiving end of sharp criticism and name-calling. Story continues In 2021, he was dragged across social media by Twitter users who used the term "uncle Tim"a play on "uncle Tom" to describe a selloutafter he said the country wasn't racist. While Scott didn't address that incident specifically, he said Democrats have often weaponized his race against him. "When I fought back against their liberal agenda, they called me a prop, a token, because I disrupt their narrative," he said in the announcement video. "I threaten their control," he added. "They know the truth of my life disproves their lies." Politics: Will Trump's indictment hurt his campaign? Or his rivals? The 2024 race has turned on its head More: GOP 2024. Which Republicans are running for president? Who has yet to announce? Who's considering? The video continues a conversation Scott has been at the center of for years around race, where he has often talked about the country's past, current attitudes and how he's navigated them. A Republican adviser close to the Scott campaign, who asked for anonymity in order to speak freely, told USA TODAY the senator is deeply conservative with evangelical roots, but that he's not a polarizing figure. "The biography he has can connect with people who have never viewed themselves as Republicans," the source said. "He can say, 'hey, this is what conservatism really is about' in a way that's really powerful. Other messengers that come along, it's a bit of a different story." Scott focuses on America's progress, but not 'colorblind' to its past Much like other GOP presidential contenders, Scott goes after Democrats and accuses them of being the party that practices "grievance" politics. In the exploratory announcement video, the senator said Biden and his allies promote "victimhood" over "personal responsibility." He goes as far to argue his political opponents are guilty of "indoctrinating our children to believe we live in an evil country." Scott has used many of the same lines his GOP counterparts have on the trail. He has evoked how "woke" companies appoint themselves decision-makers, and that "woke prosecutors and anti-cop activists" are responsible for violent crime. Yet as a senator Scott has spoken openly about racism, admitting how it has negatively impacted his life. He described some of it in a series of Senate floor remarks in 2016. In one of those speeches, Scott talked openly about the humiliation of being pulled over by police officers more than half a dozen times in one year. "I do not know many African American men who do not have a very similar story to tell no matter their profession, no matter their income, no matter their disposition in life," he said. At different times he has been involved in major legislative efforts attempting to tackle bias and discrimination through public policy, such as passing a landmark civil rights bill that made lynching a federal hate crime or the failed attempt at pursuing bipartisan police reform legislation in the wake of George Floyd's murder. During those behind-the-scenes negotiations, Scott spoke about being "pulled over for simply having an improper headlight" at age 21 and how the officer called him "boy." Scott jabbed Trump on Charlottesville If Scott officially enters the 2024 fray, he will eventually have to contend with the presumed front-runner: former President Donald Trump. Unlike other GOP hopefuls, such as Nikki Haley and Mike Pence, Scott didn't work in the Trump administration which Republican strategists have told USA TODAY could be an asset in a crowded primary. In terms of race relations, the GOP advisor to the campaign added how Scott has "historically" confronted Trump when necessary. He will again if there's a moment or issue that needs to be addressed, the source said. President Trump reacts as Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., praises him as Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson (L) looks on during a signing event of an executive order to establish the White House Opportunity and Revitalization Council on Dec. 12, 2018 at the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. In 2017, Scott said Trump's "moral authority" as president was "compromised" when the former reality TV star said that many sides were to blame for the violence during a neo-Nazi rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. Scott was blunt that he would work with Trump when they saw eye-to-eye, but that he would speak out when the two disagreed. After the two met to discuss Trump's response, Scott told USA TODAY at the time that he tried to put the comments "in a historical context" for the president to understand. Politics: Police documents detailing President Biden security information found on Belfast street More: Anti-abortion group urges federal appeals court to uphold suspension of mifepristone approval "I certainly started my comments on why I found the presidents comments unsettling and went over his comments," Scott said in 2017. The New York indictment may benefit Trump in the short term with GOP primary voters and his rivals who, including Scott, criticized the district attorney. But multiple polls show a growing numbers Americans are taking notice of his legal troubles and not in a good way. An ABC News/Ipsos poll released this month show Trumps unfavorable rating had climbed to 61%, up from 55% a week prior. Another April survey by Economist/YouGov showed Biden holding a slight edge in terms of favorability. Whether or not Scott speaks out against Trump directly, in the wake of Charlottesville he took note of how Trumps "coattails (were) shorter" as a result. And as in other instances where racism was the topic, he spoke candidly about his views. Racism is real," Scott said in a 2017 interview with VICE News. "It is alive. It is here." This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What Tim Scott does and doesn't say about race in 2024 announcement Senate Bill 83, also known as the Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act, could change how students learn and professors teach at Ohio's public colleges and universities for years to come. Since it was introduced last month, Senate Bill 83 has been the subject of outcry from university faculty members and leaders, who say the bill would radically change campus life across Ohio. The bill, also known as the Ohio Higher Education Enhancement Act, proposes a slew of wide-ranging changes, including rules aimed at ending mandated diversity trainings, bans on partnerships with Chinese institutions, prohibitions on faculty unions striking during contract negotiations, and new evaluations for students to rate professors on how well they've removed bias from their classrooms. The far-reaching bill could change how students learn and professors teach at Ohio's public colleges and universities for years to come. Here's a look at SB 83 by the numbers: 61 Ohio is home to 14 public universities, 24 regional campuses and 23 public colleges. SB 83 does not apply to Ohio's private and independent colleges. There is, however, a clause in the proposed legislation that would prohibit the chancellor from distributing state funds to a private institution unless it submits a statement "affirming its commitment to intellectual diversity, free speech, and compliance with certain policies required of state institutions of higher education." 480,529 That's how many students were enrolled at Ohio public colleges and universities for fall semester 2022, according to the Ohio Department of Higher Education's census. Of those students, 267,833 were enrolled at public universities, 34,506 attended those schools' regional campuses, and 178,190 were enrolled at public colleges. 27 At least 27 unions representing thousands of Ohio faculty members would be affected by proposed language in SB 83 that would bar campus employees from striking when negotiating their contracts with administration. The bill would add faculty to the list of public employees who aren't allowed to strike in Ohio, which includes first responders and corrections officers. Story continues 11 At least 11 Ohio public colleges and universities have current partnerships with Chinese institutions. Some schools have dozens of partnerships, others have just one or two. Many of the partnerships include relationships with Chinese high schools and colleges to recruit students to Ohio colleges, study abroad and exchange programs, and dual enrollment programs. $2.2 million That's how much federal funding Ohio State University could lose if SB 83 passes in its current form banning partnerships between Ohio public colleges and Chinese institutions. Ohio State's East Asian Studies Center received $2.2 million in funding from the U.S. Department of Education to receive Comprehensive National Resource Center and Foreign Language and Area Studies Fellowship grants through 2026. 5 years That's how often Ohio colleges and universities would be required to submit an institutional cost summary to the Department of Higher Education under SB 83. 2027 Ohio's public colleges and universities would have to implement a three-credit hour American government or American history course requirement for all students seeking an associates or bachelors degree, beginning with the Class of 2027. 3 The bill would also require the Department of Higher Education to conduct a study on how feasible it would be to implement three-year bachelors degree programs in Ohio. Sheridan Hendrix is a higher education reporter for The Columbus Dispatch. Sign up for her Mobile Newsroom newsletter here and Extra Credit, her education newsletter, here. shendrix@dispatch.com @sheridan120 This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: By the numbers: How would Senate Bill 83 affect Ohio higher education? Editors Note: If you or a loved one is experiencing thoughts of self-harm or suicide, you can confidentially seek assistance via the Military/Veterans Crisis Line by calling 988 and dialing 1, via text at 838255 or chat at http://VeteransCrisisLine.net. You dont need to be a VA beneficiary to use the service. A bipartisan group of senators is demanding a complete, thorough and impartial investigation into the death of a young female soldier at Fort Hood last month, expressing concerns about ongoing harassment problems at the Army post. Pvt. Ana Basaldua Ruiz, 20, was found dead at the Texas installation on March 13. Army officials have said that no foul play was evident when her body was found, but they have publicly acknowledged that Ruiz had complained about sexual harassment by peers and a superior officer before her death. Fort Hood officials said they are conducting a full investigation into the incident. In a letter to the post commander Lt. Gen. Sean Bernabe, the group of lawmakers decried the permissive environment regarding sexual harassment at the base and demanded that investigators look into not only Ruiz death but the ongoing problems among soldiers stationed there. Family says Fort Hood soldier found dead faced sexual harassment We expect Fort Hood to take this case very seriously, senators wrote. We expect you to provide all necessary resources to secure justice for Ana and to ensure that her death is the last of its kind. Fort Hood leadership has come under national scrutiny since the death of Spc. Vanessa Guillen at the Army site in April 2020. A fellow soldier murdered Guillen and later hid her remains with the help of his girlfriend. Guillen similarly had complained of sexual harassment and abuse at the base. An independent committee released a report in November 2020 criticizing sexual harassment prevention and response programs there as ineffective. Murder, sexual harassment rates at Fort Hood among highest in the service, Army secretary says Story continues In light of the recent case, senators wrote, Fort Hood officials have again failed the young women who stand up to serve our country and entrust themselves to the Armys care. The group of lawmakers includes Senate Armed Services Committee members Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.; Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii; and Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, the ranking member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, also joined in the letter. Fort Hood officials have not announced an expected completion date for their investigation. Oleksii Danilov Read also: Danilov is sure that Ukraine will receive F-16 fighter jets We are appraised of everything thats going on at the front line, said Danilov. All the speculation about the plans of the Ukrainian military, in particular regarding the counteroffensive, are utterly baseless. Everything will be decided at the last moment, when the final decision is taken. He noted that the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) has prepared not one, not two, not three, and even not four possible scenarios, with the ultimate choice depending on a multitude of factors that are evaluated daily. Read also: From the Putinist triumph to the war of all against all. Five scenarios for Russias future We have an understanding that we have to liberate all our territory, up to (our internationally recognized) 1991 borders, Danilov adds. Read also: Canada expands trade deal, Zelenskyy on seized RU assets, counteroffensive delayed Until we achieve that, until the AFU manages that, ending the war is out of the question. Citing sources close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, CNN previously reported that the recent U.S. intel leaks forced Kyiv to alter some of its military plans. Commenting on the matter, Danilov cautioned Ukraines Western partners to be more vigilant with handling of sensitive information. Read also: Reznikov denies Ukraines involvement in Nord Stream explosions While Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov repeatedly maintained that the counteroffensive could begin in April-May, PM Denys Shmyhal recently said the operation may begin as late as summer, suggesting a certain delay had to be made. 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 Surfer Mike Morita knew immediately that he was in trouble when something grabbed his leg while he waited for a wave in Kewalo Basin on Oahu. It wasnt really like a chomp, Morita told KHON. It was just pressure. I can feel the strength of it and right away I knew it was a shark. The shark pulled Morita, 58, underwater as he tried to fight back, his son Kamu Morita told Hawaii News Now. It was a struggle according to him, he got a few blows in, but the shark just wouldnt let go, his son told the station. Somehow after he was getting tossed around, he kind of came face-to-face with (the shark) with his foot still in its mouth and he was able to kind of bear hug it and dig the gills and eyes and thats really when it finally let go. His fellow surfers came to his rescue, tying a makeshift tourniquet on his leg out of surf leashes, McClatchy News reported. Its a close community we got out there and we always look out for each other, Mike Morita told KHON. And sure enough, when I needed it, they came together and they came to me and they saved my life. But he did end up losing his right foot from his injuries, his family told Hawaii News Now. Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources officials say it appears an 8-foot tiger shark attacked Morita just before 7 a.m. Sunday, April 9, McClatchy News reported. Shark warning signs were posted and people were warned to stay out of the water until noon Monday, April 10, state officials said. A dive boat with 30 passengers left the area after being warned. Morita, who is still recovering in the hospital, told KHON hes thankful to be alive and hopes to surf again. The United States led the world in unprovoked shark attacks in 2022, with 41 confirmed cases, the International Shark Attack File of the Florida Museum reported. Hawaii accounted for five of the attacks, with one fatality. Florida had the most at 16. 7-foot alligator ends up in California river and no one knows how it got there Millions of bizarre blue blobs wash ashore on California beaches. What are they? Gray whales fight off 30 killer whales in dramatic drone video off California coast A Pennsylvania community is mourning the loss of a beloved teacher who was gunned down in a drive-thru line on Tuesday morning while her 11-year-old son sat in the back seat. According to Montgomery County District Attorneys Office, Rachel King was sitting in the drive-thru line of a Dunkin Donuts when a hooded gunman approached the drivers side of her SUV and fired multiple shots through her window at approximately 7:39 a.m. on Tuesday. Kings 11-year-old son, who was sitting in the back seat, was not wounded. Rachel King sitting in her car with her son in the backseat. (Photo: Screenshot from Rachel Kings Facebook page) This appears to be a targeted murder, Montgomery County District Attorney Kevin Steele said in a statement. The gunman did not attempt to open the victims vehicle door, nor did he appear to communicate with her prior to shooting her numerous times through her drivers side window. The 35-year-old was a teacher at Mastery Charters Grover Cleveland Elementary School in the Tioga-Nicetown section of Philadelphia, according to ABC 6 News. Shed light up the room, Kings brother, Allen King, told ABC News. She was bright in every way possible, whether it was her shoes, her hair, her nails, her voice. And she was just a good person. Montgomery County District Attorneys Office said that the suspect they are searching for is a Black male with a thin build. He drove away from the scene in a light-colored sedan, possibly a Ford or Mercury. The Philadelphia Inquirer reports police used local surveillance cameras to determine the sedan had been following Kings SUV before she pulled into the Dunkin parking lot, and the driver of that vehicle parked in that lot when King arrived before he got out of the car to carry out the shooting. The CEO of Mastery Charter Schools and parents were devastated when they heard of the tragic news. Were heartbroken, said Scott Gordon, CEO of Mastery Charter Schools, to ABC News. Gordon said King had been with the school for 10 years. She reportedly taught seventh and eighth-grade history. Story continues She was really the heart of this community and to lose her is just a tremendous blow for the kids, the families, for the staff, Gordon said. She was the person who organizes things like graduations and trips. She was just a remarkable and very special person. Gordon also stated that King had a front license plate that read teacher life. Its just sad for her to lose her life like that. She was out here doing good, helping the children, said Vivian Rainey, a parent, to ABC News. Gordon reportedly delayed the start of school on Wednesday and brought in support staff to help the ones that were grieving. The suspect is still at large, and investigators have asked if anyone has any information to contact Cheltenham Township police or Montgomery County detectives. "You don't always get to do what you want in Hollywood," says "Mafia Mamma" director Catherine Hardwicke. (Aaron DuRall / For The Times) Catherine Hardwickes new movie, Mafia Mamma, is a comedic fantasy about a smart, talented, too-long underestimated American woman, played by Toni Collette, who suddenly becomes the head of an Italian mob family. It is also something of a message from Hardwicke to Hollywood. When Collette sent her the script (by Michael J. Feldman and Debbie Jhoon, based on a story by Amanda Sthers), Hardwicke was thrilled by the thought of shooting in Italy and working with Collette again. Tonis got that comedic range. Shes done so many serious things lately, so I was happy at the thought of seeing her not being thrown down a staircase or getting murdered just Toni looking glamorous and having fun. But she was equally motivated by the films larger theme. Of course, I could relate to the message of a woman not being as respected as we want to be in our jobs. Shes been people-pleasing all her life when she starts realizing, Im going to give the orders thats an order. I loved that arc. Its an arc she understands very well. Twenty years ago, Hardwicke, then a production designer, co-wrote and directed Thirteen, a shockingly frank look at a girls troubled entrance into adolescence and a mothers despair as she watches her daughter turn into someone she does not understand. Written with then-14-year old Nikki Reed, who also starred alongside Evan Rachel Wood and Holly Hunter, Thirteen debuted at Sundance, where Hardwicke won the directing award for drama. The films depiction of sex and drug use made it the subject of as much controversy as critical acclaim. Hunter received an Oscar nomination for her performance, and Hardwicke entered the then-tiny pantheon of female directors to watch. Her second film, Lords of Dogtown, based on the documentary Dogtown and Z-Boys and starring a young Heath Ledger, solidified her fame as a creative teller of real-life tales. Hardwicke thought she had established a career path. The mind-set closest to my heart was making underdog stories gritty, fully immersive true-life stories and I thought I would keep getting to do that, Hardwicke says. Story continues But you dont always get to do what you want in Hollywood. (Aaron DuRall / For The Times) What she did instead was Twilight, the film adaptation of the popular Stephenie Meyer book, back when young adult fiction was not something Hollywood valued. Then, after her film became a blockbuster and launched an entire franchise, she shocked the industry by declining to direct any of the subsequent films. Because, she thought, having proved herself a moneymaker, she would be able to get back to her own projects. The first book is the one I really liked, she says. It inspired me, to create this ecstatic feeling people feel when reading the book. The next book didnt really have it; I wasnt inspired, she adds, laughing ruefully. I was naive. I thought Hey man, I just made four or 500 million dollars; Ill be able to make what I want. But thats not how it turned out. Although Twilight briefly put her in a category all by herself a female director who launched a film franchise being a poster child for possibility did not profit Hardwicke, or female directors, very much. People love to say a woman directed it, but thats because no one thought the book was that popular. Every studio turned it down. I got to direct it because no one thought it would make money, and when it did, all the rest of them went to men the rest of Twilight, 'The Hunger Games, Divergent, all that model went to male directors. Would she have liked to have worked on The Hunger Games? That would have been amazing, she says. I would have loved that. Meanwhile, Hardwicke has amassed a trove of un-greenlighted projects. I call them ghosts in the garage, she says. All sorts of projects that I did research for scouting locations, storyboards, budgets, everything, but then I never got green-lit. I remember going to a Stanley Kubrick exhibit at LACMA, she adds, and they had a whole room devoted to all his research on the [as-yet never made] Napoleon movie, and I thought OK, even Stanley Kubrick couldnt get his passion project made; maybe Im not such a big loser. We all try to get these passion projects made, she continues, and sometimes people send you something and you think, Can I put enough of my heart in this to live with it for a year and a half? Increasingly, some of those projects have been in television. In 2020, Hardwicke did a series for the ill-fated Quibi; Dont Look Deeper follows a young woman as she discovers she is AI. Very much in my wheelhouse, Hardwicke says, and it was great fun being in charge of a series. Unfortunately, Quibi, a platform built on shortform stories that people could watch only on their phone, folded as the COVID-19 pandemic sent people back to their homes and flat-screens. I wish it had worked out, she says, adding you can see it on Roku now. More recently, she directed an episode for the anthology series Guillermo del Toros Cabinet of Curiosities. Guillermo just called me out of the blue; I didnt even know him, she says. That was a nice little treat. Nice Netflix money so I could have beautiful production design and costume design. I thought the chance to learn from him, his creature designs why would I say no? Hardwicke flashes her new finger nails at Park Lane New York in Manhattan. (Aaron DuRall / For The Times) The rise of television and streaming has opened many doors for female directors, she says, in large part because, when various studies revealed an utter lack of gender parity, those platforms took it seriously. They made a big effort to have a better balance of women directors, so thats fantastic, she says. But those directors dont have much power; the showrunners have the power. So directors can have shows and experience under their belts, but its not quite the same as creating your own project. Which is one reason Hardwicke is so excited about Mafia Mamma, delighting in the locations we shot in 400-year-old villas all around Rome. Everywhere you went they said, 'the pope slept here,'" and in describing the execution of a certain scene that was near and dear to her heart. In the interest of not spoiling anything, lets just say that Collettes character Kristin gets to make use of the moves she has practiced in her self-defense class even as shes been muted on a Zoom call. Eye/crotch, eye/crotch, Hardwicke says. When I read that scene, I thought, Oh if I can do this right, I just want to see that rage build up, the arc of that rage aaaaa! she says finishing up with a guttural yell. The other reason Hardwicke is thrilled with "Mafia Mamma" is Bleecker Street's decision to open it in 2,000 theaters, complete with the kind of publicity push thats become all too rare for nonfranchise (or Oscar bait) films. "Its never a guarantee, she says of a theatrical release, never mind one on that scale. Its so confusing these days. I think when they saw the movie, they saw how fun it was to see with an audience. You get that rolling laughter going. We hid microphones in test screenings, she adds, and if a joke didnt get a laugh, I cut it out. I just want you to be on a ride the whole time. When shes not promoting Mafia Mamma, shes following the TikTok fandom that's sprung up around her previous work. 'Twilight' TikTok is insane, she says, but Thirteen has found a whole new audience. That film, she says, is proof that the algorithm-led projections of what people like will never serve Hollywood well. Thirteen was one of those films the audience could have never said it wanted. You could have never predicted it, and those are the breakthrough films. The ones that linger like ghosts in some filmmakers garage until someone has the foresight to say go. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. It takes a lot to keep Lillie Young Middleton out of church. On Easter Sunday, it took a house fire. The Lowcountry ministers Port Royal home went up in flames early Sunday morning, while she was asleep. She awoke to the smell of smoke and escaped without injury. Once a life-size time capsule, with walls covered in family portraits and mementos, Young Middletons home is now a mass of charred furniture and burnt belongings. She lost everything, a family member told The Island Packet and Beaufort Gazette. Among the destroyed belongings were some of Young Middletons last surviving photos of her grandparents. Young Middletons family created a GoFundMe page Sunday to raise funds for the Lowcountry minister, whose Port Royal home of 65 years will have to be demolished and rebuilt. As of Thursday afternoon, donors had raised nearly $800 of the fundraisers $10,000 goal. Family members are raising funds to repair the home of Lillie Young Middleton, a longtime leader of church congregations across the Lowcountry. Young Middletons home was destroyed in an early-morning house fire on Easter Sunday. Jack Washington Sr. The 91-year-olds ministerial service in Beaufort County spans over 50 years, said Jack Washington Sr., Young Middletons eldest child. Although shes Pentecostal at heart, Young Middleton has led congregations of all types, including Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church in Port Royal, First African Missionary Baptist Church of Port Royal and Grace Chapel AME Church in Beaufort. First responders from the city of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department arrived at the Robinson Street home around 6:15 a.m. Sunday to find smoke and flames pouring from the residence. After putting out the flames, investigators determined the fire had started in one of the homes bedrooms, according to department spokesperson Deputy Chief Ross Vezin. Although the cause of the fire has not yet been determined, the incident appears to have been accidental, Vezin said. The incident is under investigation by the City of Beaufort/Town of Port Royal Fire Department. Cherokee County jail A Shelby woman is dead after officers found her hanged in her jail cell, according to the Cherokee County Coroners Office in South Carolina. Coroner Dennis Fowler is investigating the death of an inmate at the Cherokee County Detention Center. In a statement, Fowler said, A detention center officer discovered Angelica Marie Thayer, 50, of Shelby, N.C. hanging by a bed sheet that had been tied to a vent in the shower of her cell at 11:50 a.m. Saturday, April 8. Officers immediately cut Thayer down and called for EMS however she was pronounced dead at the scene. An autopsy will be performed to assist with my investigation of the death in custody, Fowler said. According to the Cherokee County Sheriff's Office, Thayer was arrested on Dec. 11, 2022, on a charge of grand larceny more than $10,000 for allegedly stealing a motor vehicle. She was being held on a $10,000 bond. This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Shelby woman dies in Cherokee County jail Before the onset of COVID-19, the Training Ship Golden Bear was used as a freshman residence hall while docked in Morrow Cove on the northern San Francisco Bay. During months-long cruises, about 300 students and crew members live and work on the 500-foot vessel. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) For nearly three decades, the navy-and-gold Training Ship Golden Bear has plied oceans around the globe for California State University's Maritime Academy, providing a unique classroom for students training to be leaders in the seafaring industry. In recent years, Cal Maritime students and employees reported accusations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment aboard the 500-foot ship to officials at the Vallejo campus. Interviews and internal campus records reviewed by The Times showed the allegations included two rapes reported in 2019, a sexual assault in 2022 and accusations that a captain sexually harassed women and made disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ community and women during a 2021 training cruise. The school did not report those allegations to federal maritime authorities and has not followed consistent procedures for handling wrongdoing on the vessel, a Times investigation has found. Cal Maritime acknowledged it did not report the allegations to the U.S. Maritime Administration, which owns the vessel. The federal agency said such reports are required under a long-standing agreement allowing the campus to use the training ship. The agreement requires the campus to promptly report alleged violations of state, federal and international laws, statutes or regulations and provide "complete written details of the occurrence." That includes sexual harassment, sexual assault and retaliation, a spokesman for the Maritime Administration said in statements to The Times. Campus officials said they believe they complied with the provisions, noting they contain no language that "directly addresses reporting obligations for sexual assault and sexual harassment ... incidents." The maritime agency acknowledged that it has never conducted a compliance review to determine whether sexual misconduct cases at Cal Maritime are being properly handled by the campus. Following inquiries by The Times, presidents from Cal Maritime and other state maritime academies are moving to strengthen protocols for reporting sexual misconduct on their U.S.-owned training vessels. Story continues The new details come amid heightened scrutiny of alleged misconduct at the school on the San Francisco Bay after a Times report in December exposed decades-long claims of sexual assault and sexual harassment, homophobia, transphobia and racism on campus and during training cruises. The Maritime Administration said it was concerned about accusations raised in The Times' report. The agency said its civil rights office will review the school's handling of sexual misconduct and retaliation complaints and work with the campus to address any problems. The review will also determine whether the campus violated the terms of the agreement. The Golden Bear training ship anchored at California State University's Maritime Academy in Morrow Cove on San Francisco Bay. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) Failure to abide by the agreement, the agency said, could jeopardize funding it provides to the small campus, which has totaled more than $10 million in the last five years, and prompt an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. The senior Democrat on a congressional subcommittee overseeing maritime operations said in a statement that he was deeply troubled to learn of "Cal Maritimes failure to report instances of sexual assault, harassment, and retaliation." "Their top priority must be uprooting any culture that turns a blind eye to sexual misconduct," Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) said in response to The Times findings. The campus said President Thomas A. Cropper was unavailable for interviews. In a statement, Cropper said that the school has been a leader in addressing sexual misconduct in the maritime industry and that he recently was in Washington meeting with federal officials and leaders from other state maritime academies to develop improved reporting protocols for sexual harassment and sexual assault. The retired rear admiral added that the campus is working with the Maritime Administration on a new agreement that will clarify language about reporting sexual misconduct. Cal Maritime believes it has met every reporting obligation under federal law and our agreement with [the Maritime Administration], said Cropper, who is stepping down in August. In 2021 and 2022, the campus said it reported two incidents of wrongdoing, while the Maritime Administration said it received three reports. Neither the campus nor the agency could account for the discrepancy. Cal Maritime did not provide direct answers to detailed and repeated questions from The Times about the recent misconduct allegations and vaguely described accusations of rape and sexual assault aboard the ship as sexual activity without affirmative consent. The campus said it took appropriate action in each and every one of these incidents and launched investigations per the CSU nondiscrimination policy, which prohibits sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, retaliation and other wrongdoing. The school said it reported the incidents to the U.S. Department of Education as required by law. A Times review of internal campus records, including sexual misconduct investigations, emails and shipboard captain reports, found significant disparities in how officials handled misconduct accusations aboard the Golden Bear: After a death threat last year against a transgender officer, the captain and another top officer said there was a lack of written protocols for conducting investigations on the ship and began their own inquiry after complaints that the threat had created a hostile environment for LGBTQ crew members. When vandalism and homophobic graffiti were discovered in 2021, Cropper ordered a senior administrator to rendezvous with the vessel to investigate. During the inquiry, according to internal records, multiple people accused the captain of sexual harassment and making disparaging remarks. The campus did not formally investigate those accusations until a separate complaint was filed months later, the records show. And after two women reported in 2019 and 2022 that they were raped and otherwise sexually assaulted by male classmates while the Golden Bear was docked on campus, the school hired an outside firm to investigate the allegations. :: Nestled along a tree-lined cove overlooking the Carquinez Bridge, the campus trains cadets to become U.S. Merchant Marine officers. About 800 students attend the school, one of seven maritime academies in the United States and the only one of its kind on the West Coast. Federal reporting requirements are important, maritime law experts say, because they can alert officials to systemic problems and provide additional oversight to protect employees and cadets, as students at Cal Maritime are called. "They should be leading the way in responding to this ... rather than trying to explain why they are not doing that," said Edward M. Bull III, an Oakland attorney who specializes in maritime law. Cadets who spoke to The Times said they didnt know that the university was required to report allegations of sexual misconduct to federal maritime officials, nor did they realize that students could do the same. They said a broader awareness and practice of the policy might help deter predatory behavior. Concerns about the university's response to allegations of wrongdoing aboard the training ship date back decades. During a 1990 hearing in the California Legislature, lawmakers criticized Cal Maritime leadership for failing to protect students after the Maritime Administration investigated claims of sexual misconduct and racial discrimination aboard its training ship at the time. A state senator said the university would not be allowed to return to business as usual. The president at the time announced his retirement shortly after and was replaced by the first woman to head the academy. Carbajal, who recently told the California State University chancellor in a letter that the pervasive problems at Cal Maritime were inexcusable, said that weeding out sexual misconduct is more important than ever as the country struggles to recruit mariners, who are vital to the supply chain. A culture that protects our mariners starts with our training pipeline at institutions like Cal Maritime, he said. Cal Maritime is one of 23 campuses within the CSU the largest four-year public university system in the nation. The state is conducting an audit following Times investigations that found repeated inconsistencies in how campuses across the system handle sexual misconduct and retaliation cases. :: Before the onset of COVID-19, the Golden Bear was used as a freshman residence hall while docked at the edge of campus in Morrow Cove on the northern San Francisco Bay. Originally built for the U.S. Navy, the ship was transferred to Cal Maritime in 1996 and has provided a hands-on learning experience for cadets who study the design of the vessel and navigate ocean waters under the direction of a captain and ship officers. During months-long summer ocean cruises, about 300 cadets and crew members live and work on the vessel, which has nine decks connected by stairwells and narrow passageways. The ship is outfitted with classrooms, a library and a gym, and students sleep in small rooms with stacked beds and shared bathrooms. There's a lounge known as Pirate's Cove and space to stow fishing gear and surfboards. Work assignments include the bridge, where the captain commands the vessel, and the engine room below deck, where massive diesel engines power the Golden Bear on voyages to Asia, Europe and Latin America. A cadet who lived on the Golden Bear while it was docked on campus said that a male student also residing on board raped her twice in the ships close quarters, according to campus investigative records reviewed by The Times. The assaults took place in a classroom and her bedroom, she alleged in a sexual misconduct complaint filed in 2019. It was one of the claims the campus did not report to federal authorities. The cadet asserted that she never consented to sex with the male student and that she was intoxicated during both incidents a claim corroborated by multiple witnesses who spoke to investigators. In the first incident, the cadet said, she met with the male student in the ship classroom hours after she had been drinking with him. They had planned to watch a movie, she said, when he allegedly raped her. A month later, the woman alleged, the cadet raped her again after she returned from a party. She said she didn't have the strength to stop him, campus records show. At a campus hearing in 2020, the cadet accused of assaulting the woman said he inferred permission for the encounter from her reaction to his advances," the records show. The hearing officer concluded there was no violation of CSU policy. Afterward, the woman said that a campus official encouraged her to file an appeal. She chose not to go forward. I was burnt out and wanted to put it behind me, she said in an interview with The Times. She recalled the emotional turmoil she felt. During the investigation, her grades fell and she was placed on academic probation as she recovered from the trauma, she said. That took a little bit of psychological healing, she said. The Times does not typically identify people who allege that they were sexually assaulted. Another cadet who reported an alleged sexual assault aboard the Golden Bear said it was troubling that the university did not disclose her claim and other such incidents to federal officials. She and a male classmate were on a late-night security patrol of the ship while it was docked at the academy last spring, according to records from a campus sexual assault investigation launched after she filed a formal complaint last year. She alleged that he pulled her into a room, grabbed her face and began kissing her, then unzipped her boilersuit and grabbed her all over her body, the records show. The investigation, which is continuing, is also examining a second allegation by the woman that the classmate raped her in a separate attack in the campus dorms, according to the records. He said that he did nothing wrong and that they engaged in consensual sex. In interviews, the woman said she kept an eye out for her alleged attacker's vehicle in school parking lots and stopped going to the dining center to avoid seeing him. After much self-blame, she said, she was prescribed antidepressants, which she no longer takes. This semester has been better, she said, because her accused attacker is no longer at school. But the cadet said she remains disappointed that campus leaders did not alert federal maritime officials. "It makes it seem like they want to carry on as if nothing happened," said the woman, who wants to travel the world as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine. "Its this kind of ... response that manipulates victims into believing that what happened to them wasnt a big deal, she said. Cadets train to become U.S. Merchant Marine officers aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In summer 2021, cadets vandalized the Golden Bear during a training cruise. Phallic symbols were chalked on walls, and a sleeping quarters door was removed from its hinges and replaced with another that had a window in the middle and a homophobic slur etched below. Chief mate Jessica Ryals, the second in command, alerted the ship captain and the campus to the vandalism. The president dispatched the director of marine transportation, Samuel Pecota, to meet the vessel the next day off Catalina and investigate. The captain notified federal maritime officials about the vandalism, according to the campus. During Pecotas inquiry, internal records reviewed by The Times show, multiple people accused Capt. Louis Solana of staring at womens breasts, singing a lewd karaoke song and being openly dismissive of and derogatory toward women and the LGBTQ community. The claims were detailed in a confidential report to Cropper on Sept. 1, 2021, several days after the Golden Bear had returned to the school. Solana was put on leave for the semester as officials reviewed the vandalism investigation, the campus said. The university ordered a review of training cruise culture, focusing on the two voyages that summer. But the campus did not report the sexual harassment claims against Solana to federal maritime officials, nor did it launch a formal investigation into the allegations that Pecota reported. Pecota declined to be interviewed. In October 2021, Solana defended himself in an 18-page rebuttal that he shared with a faculty member and cadet. In the document, which was leaked to the campus community, he called the accusations in the report slanderous and labeled the relationship between Pecota and Ryals as collusive. He also accused Ryals of displaying poor leadership and questionable moral conduct, adding that she contributed to a hostile environment aboard the vessel. Solana declined to comment for this article, saying that campus management told him the case is confidential. Ryals told The Times that the campus community turned on her in defense of Solana. She was targeted in anonymous social media posts and heard whispers directed at her that included c, bitch, "just quit already and kill yourself. Someone broke into her car on campus, she said, and she no longer felt safe walking the grounds. It became almost impossible to actually do my job, Ryals said, adding that she lived on campus as a residence life coordinator. There was no avoiding this hostile environment that I was working in. The campus began investigating Ryals' allegations in January 2022 after she filed a formal complaint against Solana. She described several of the sexual harassment allegations raised in Pecotas memo from months before and the hostility she said she faced following Solana's rebuttal. Cal Maritime said supervisors counseled Solana about the accusations while the investigation into Ryals' complaint was continuing. The inquiry concluded in October 2022, finding that Solana had sexually harassed and retaliated against her in violation of CSU policy, campus records show. He was allowed to continue teaching because removing him from class would have resulted in significant disruption and harm to the academic progress of students, the campus said. He remains employed by the university but is not teaching. Ryals left the university soon after the investigation began, ending her dream of becoming the first woman to captain the Golden Bear. I cared very greatly about educating and graduating the next generation of merchant mariners and being a mentor and helping to train and guide these young people, she said. It absolutely broke my heart to feel like that was all taken away from me. The investigation into training cruise culture was conducted by a civil rights expert from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and its findings were released early last year. The report cited frequent use of racist, sexist, transphobic and homophobic slurs on the ship and on campus, all of which were part of a more pervasive problem at the academy. In response, campus officials said they strengthened the reporting and investigative process to ensure that sea training was more positive, safe and equitable. But concerns about a hostile environment and a lack of thorough shipboard investigations surfaced again during a training cruise last summer. As second mate, Elizabeth Neumyer was one of the top officers on the Golden Bear during the voyage. Troubled by the accusations of transphobia and homophobia noted in the campus report on cruise culture, she decided to head things off. While cadets lined up during formation, Neumyer announced that she was a transgender woman. I didnt want any students getting hurt, and I figured that one of the ways for them to potentially be safer was if people knew that the person who's partially responsible for enforcing such things was from this community, she recounted in an interview. She received support from a number of people. But before the ships departure in May, a student reported on an anonymous texting app that a classmate on the vessel allegedly said he wanted to kill the second mate because she is transgender, according to a report by the ships captain that was reviewed by The Times. Campus police investigated and interviewed the cadet suspected of making the threat. The cadet denied wrongdoing, and an officer closed the case after concluding that it did not appear that a criminal act occurred, a police report shows. According to the campus, the ship captain alerted federal maritime officials to the threat. Days later, as the ship headed to Seattle, Neumyer and a cadet who is transgender filed formal complaints. They didnt do anything to assuage anyones fears, Neumyer said of campus officials who probed the death threat. Capt. Darrin Muenzberg and his third mate launched an investigation. Internal records show that both officers said they were relying on their experience and best judgment because, as Muenzberg noted in his investigation report, there was an absence of procedure, checklists, or guidelines for shipboard conduct of discrimination [and] harassment investigations. Their investigation found a hostile environment for the LGBTQ community. The cadet suspected of making the threat was kicked off the ship in Seattle for allegedly violating the student conduct code, the records show. Muenzberg declined to comment. Cal Maritime said the coordinator who oversees campus sexual misconduct and discrimination complaints, not the captain, is responsible for investigating wrongdoing on the Golden Bear. But the coordinator is not assigned to the ship during sea training that lasts up to two months, which hinders evidence gathering when the case is fresh, Neumyer said. After the Golden Bear returned from the training voyage, the campus conducted a "preliminary inquiry" into the hostile environment accusations but did not formally investigate because officials were unable to determine who was responsible, according to an email from the coordinator. Neumyer said she became the first woman to captain the Golden Bear during a second training cruise last summer, which was overseen by the Maritime Administration and included cadets from several academies, including Cal Maritime. She said Cal Maritime must develop clear procedures on how to investigate wrongdoing aboard the ship, including coordinating efforts between campus officials and the vessels captain during sea training. They're throwing a lot of words at the problem, but theyre not putting any substance to it, Neumyer said. Its a system that just doesnt work. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Craig Harrison said he had never had a "shock horror" like when he discovered the spider. (Caters) A shopper has had the fright of his life after discovering a huntsman spider in his bag of Tesco bananas. Craig Harrison, 35, an IT worker from Windsor, had already eaten one of the bananas when he noticed the female spider clutching a sack that could contain around 200 eggs. The huntsman spider is one of the largest in the world and can have a leg span of up to half a foot. Harrison said he was in "shock" when he saw the spider and stumbled backwards losing his balance. He said he was disgusted when he found a "scary and evil-looking" egg sac. The spider was hidden in the bananas until Harrison opened the pack and had one. (Caters) Harrison said: "I don't think I've ever had a shock horror reaction like it before, I was completely gobsmacked to discover it. "I had no idea the package I picked up in store had a Huntsman spider hidden inside, the spider had been nestled between the bananas out of sight, clutching onto its egg sac. The bag wasn't fully transparent, which obscured any view of it. Read more: Woman whose allotment was poisoned with salt raises 170k to continue feeding hungry "I opened the bag at home, ripped off and ate a banana oblivious to the spider being right there in the bag. It was only afterwards, when the bag was moved, that it crawled down the bananas and gave me the fright of my life. "I don't consider myself to have a spider phobia, generally. This one was in a completely different league though!" The spider was clutching an egg sack. (Caters) In a bid for compensation, Craig had to manoeuvre the eight-legged monster into a Tupperware box to be sent off to the supermarket's pest control service. Harrison said he had not decided if he should accept the 100 gift voucher the supermarket offered. Read more: Inside the UK shopping centre that only has one store left The London Zoological Society identified it as a huntsman from the Dominican Republic. The grocery giant apologised to Harrison and told The Sun: "We have robust processes to prevent spiders travelling with our fruit but on very rare occasions they can sometimes sneak through." The U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) says it will not put a stop to private housing companies asking military families to sign non-disclosure agreements in settlements over housing problems. We told you how our reporting uncovered NDAs are used by some private housing companies that run homes on-base when military families are looking to enter settlement agreements to be compensated after facing housing problems like mold, bug infestations and structural problems. After our reporting, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) led a letter sent to the DoD in December demanding answers about the use of NDAs in military housing settlements and called on the DoD to put a stop to the use of the NDAs after complaints from military families surfaced about the practice. Given these concerns, we ask that you put an immediate end to any and all NDA provisions that military housing providers have put in place, Warrens letter said. Our Washington News Bureau spoke with a senior DoD official this week who said the Department will not make that change. The senior DoD official pointed out NDAs are currently allowed in military housing settlements under the law and said the Department will continue to review proposed NDAs for consistency with the law. The DoD said it encourages tenants to seek legal advice from a military legal assistance attorney or other legal counsel about proposed settlement agreements. Just as Congress did not take away that opportunity for a settlement, were not looking to take away that opportunity, said the senior DoD official about the use of NDAs. Were more focused on trying to address any underlying conditions that might be the result of some condition in the home and helping clarify for the residents their options. The senior DoD official said NDAs are commonly used in the private sector and said they can benefit both parties by protecting the privacy of the tenant and the housing company. Non-disclosures are beneficial to both sides, not just one, said the senior DoD official. There is a purpose and a use for non-disclosures. There is a rationale for them depending on the terms of the settlement itself and whats involved in whats happened. Story continues I think its sickening that the DoD is OK with families signing an agreement to that degree for any reason, said Breanna Bragg, a military spouse. We told you how Braggs family refused to sign an NDA that would have prohibited them from even talking negatively about military housing in general after her family was displaced over mold at their previous home at Fort Belvoir in Virginia. We obtained that NDA which said the parties cannot make negative statements related to or concerning Fort Belvoir housing or military housing in general, to the public (including but not limited to current, future, or former residents at Fort Belvoir), the press, on social media, or with any other media outlet. Theres nothing beneficial about a family who was in crisis signing an agreement or a document, a legal document saying they cant mention military housing in a negative way, said Bragg. We asked the DoD if it supports the language used in this particular NDA from Fort Belvoir since the confidentiality isnt solely restricted to the terms of the settlement, but rather about military housing in general. In response, the DoD reiterated that the Department is not a party to the settlement agreements and said its between the tenant and the housing company. It is not the Departments role, nor would it be appropriate, for DoD to provide an opinion regarding the terms of a proposed settlement agreement between an MHPI company and a Tenant, beyond reviewing any proposed NDA for consistency with section 2890(f) of title 10, United States Code, the DoD said. Military families we have spoken with since the start of our months-long investigation into privatized military housing problems have said they feel the NDAs unfairly silence the families. They see the pot boiling and theyre like no, no, no were going to put a lid on it because we dont want anyone to know how bad it is, said Stephanie Graham, a military spouse who previously lived in privatized military housing. If they keep putting a lid on it and silencing families, then they keep getting their paycheck. The DoDs written response to Sen. Warrens letter indicated there were nearly 100 proposed settlements with tenants and military housing companies since FY 2019 and the majority included confidentiality clauses. The senior DoD official said some settlements may include cases where the tenant wants confidentiality about the terms. The thing that concerns me is the assumption that all the settlement agreements are because theres something wrong with the home, said the senior DoD official. The senior DoD official said some settlements could include instances where the tenant may have accidentally been at fault or a weather event could have caused a problem at the home. There are reasons why settlements are very beneficial to both sides and so we hate to have Congress or DoD take away that opportunity, said the senior DoD official. The senior DoD official also said the Department does not view the reported housing problems to be systemic or widespread among the roughly 210,000 privatized military homes. The DoD said it takes all resident complaints seriously and expects the housing companies to provide quality housing and a positive living experience. I would take issue [with saying] that this is a widespread systemic issue across the portfolio, said the senior DoD official. I will acknowledge there are complaints that come up here and there and maybe its some locations more than others. Thats despite multiple inquiries in Congress over at least the last five years about ongoing military housing problems. The Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing in February of 2019 about reported unsafe living conditions on military bases and there have been several other hearings related to the topic since then. Last year, a bipartisan Senate investigation uncovered mistreatment of military families at bases in Georgia and Texas. Last month, we spoke exclusively with Sen. Jon Ossoff (D-GA) who led a bipartisan letter sent to the DoD demanding answers about the potential link between health problems for the military families and these housing problems. And just this week, Sen. Ossoff went to Fort Gordon to oversee home inspections after the investigation he led in the Senate revealed unsafe living conditions for military families. Complaints that military families have been raising for years, said Ossoff at Fort Gordon. Widespread mistreatment of families living in privatized housing on post. The DoD has not yet provided a response to Sen. Ossoffs letter about the health impact for military families. We asked Bragg what she wants to see happen next, now that the DoD has said it will not put a stop to the use of NDAs in military housing settlements. Legislative change, Bragg responded. In December, Sen. Warren told us shell make that happen if the DoD doesnt stop the use of the NDAs. Will you push to have the language of the law changed to prohibit the use of these NDAs? Manning asked Warren in December. Yes, Warren responded. In response to the DoD saying it will not stop the use of NDAs, Sen. Warren told us: The Defense Departments written response already shows its not conducting sufficient oversight of non-disclosure agreements by private housing contractors, despite these bizarre and inappropriate claims in contrary to families speaking out against NDAs. I will continue working to improve housing conditions for military families and ensure their concerns are addressed, not silenced. Well stay on top of this story and well keep you posted on how other members of Congress respond. 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 man is in custody nearly a month after being accused of shooting and killing an 11-year-old girl, Georgia deputies said. On March 14, a vehicle was ambushed in what deputies believe was a gang-related attack, according to a March 23 news release from the Spalding County Sheriffs Office. Inside the vehicle was a man and a 3-year-old, but as shots were fired toward the vehicle, they all missed their target, deputies said. Instead, the bullets went through the bedroom window of 11-year-old Asijah Jones in a nearby apartment. She was asleep in her bed next to her sister, according to an April 12 news release from the Spalding County Sheriffs Office. The bullets hit Jones, killing her, deputies said. There were so many bullets, but only she was hit, Jones younger sister told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I just heard her scream. Jones sister said it was not the first shooting in their complex, and she was having nightmares, FOX5 reported. A 22-year-old man, Kionta Parks, was a known person of interest in the shooting, and deputies said he was a self-professed, well-known and documented criminal street gang member. Parks was charged with felony murder, aggravated assault, cruelty to children, possession of a firearm during commission of a crime, violation of Georgia Criminal Street Gang Terrorism Act and Violation of the Georgia Domestic Terrorism Statute, officials said. Deputies also said Parks had warrants out for another shooting that deputies were able to tie to him while conducting this investigation, according to the March 23 news release. As the Jones family mourned, Parks went on the run. Deputies said they believed Parks had changed his hair and taken other steps to change his appearance. They said Parks was likely no longer in the area. At this point he has made the conscious decision to run, deputies said. Running isnt going to help him, and its just a matter of time before he is caught. Her blood on his hands isnt going away, and neither are we. Story continues Deputies and other law enforcement agencies looked for weeks, but Parks was nowhere to be found. Then, on April 11, deputies received information from Griffin Police that zeroed in on Parks location, according to the April 12 news release. Parks was spotted by surveillance teams as the passenger in a vehicle, pulling into a gas station, deputies said. He had dyed his hair. Parks was taken into custody, and the driver of the vehicle was charged with hindering the apprehension or punishment of a fugitive, according to the release. Deputies said she knew that Parks was wanted for the childs murder but chose to help him anyway. Thats why she went to jail, and anyone else we can find that helped him, housed him, or hid him will go to jail too. Spalding County is about 40 miles south of Atlanta. Man shot after kicking in door to estranged wifes home, Oklahoma police say Remains found by utility crew belong to man last seen 2 years ago, Georgia deputies say Man too drunk to recall killing 5-year-old stepdaughter now pleads guilty, feds say Man convicted of dismembering wife should never be free from prison, daughter says San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart is joining with other California mayors to urge Gov. Gavin Newsom and lawmakers to provide $3 billion in annual funding to address homelessness, saying the city needs state funding to continue serving unhoused residents. Stewart was in Sacramento on Wednesday for a one-day conference with the League of California Cities and the California State Association of Counties. The groups gathered several dozen city, county and state officials with the principal goal of lobbying for an annual stream of $3 billion for local governments to help the unhoused. A survey by the League showed nearly 90% of its 479 member cities have fiscal concerns about continuing to provide homelessness services. About 80% have used general fund money since the 2018-2019 fiscal year to address the problem, the survey found. Stewart described San Luis Obispos efforts to conduct outreach to homeless residents with a mobile crisis unit, which employs an emergency medical technician and a social worker to connect unhoused people with services. Unfortunately, the majority of this is paid by our city, not from state funding, Stewart said at a news conference ahead of the gathering. And we need help. We believe every single person deserves housing. The cities alone are not going to be able to do this forever. We cant do it. But we are your partners in action. Look at everyone here. We are your partners, and we want to do this. Mayor Porsche Middleton of Citrus Heights, located in the Sacramento area, said homeless residents need for services and housing is overwhelming our resources. We need ongoing, permanent funding to continue providing critical services and to shelter those who are unhoused residents in our communities, Middleton said. With an (impending) economic recession, we understand that it is now time for us to deal with this decades-long problem. San Luis Obispo Mayor Erica Stewart urges state lawmakers and Gov. Gavin Newsom to allocate $3 billion in ongoing funding to address homelessness on April 12, 2023, ahead of a convening of California city and county leaders in Sacramento. Newsom balks at ongoing homeless funds Newsom and legislators, facing a budget deficit of at least $22.5 billion, are reluctant to commit long-term funds to the issue. Story continues Instead, they have demanded accountability from cities they say have received billions and failed to produce a decline in the unhoused population. Californias homeless population increased by about 10,000 people from 2020 to 2022, totaling 171,521 people, according to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Lets see results, Newsom said during his January budget presentation. Well fund success, not failure. I want to see results ... Lets see results. Ive been listening to that rhetoric my entire life: We cant do anything until we have more ongoing. I get it, I get it. In particular, Newsom has pushed for accountability from communities receiving Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) funds through grants that have allocated more than $3 billion statewide since 2019. Newsoms 2023-2024 budget contains $1 billion for a fifth round of grants. Recent rounds of HHAP grants have required action plans showing how communities plan to use the money. Newsom in November froze $1 billion in HHAP funds, claiming communities plans lacked ambition. His administration is considering tying homeless funding to cities housing elements, or state-required plans for long-term housing production. I think the governor has been very clear that new multi-billion dollar ongoing funding proposals are not going to be able to be accommodated in this budget, said Jason Elliott, Newsoms deputy chief of staff. Cities have at least one ally in Assemblywoman Luz Rivas, D-San Fernando Valley. Rivas authored a bill creating an accountability framework for HHAP fund recipients, but she also sent a letter to budget leaders requesting $2 billion in annual homeless funding. The state is currently allocating billions to programs that may not be effectively reducing our homelessness population, Rivas wrote, and without an aggressive investment and restructuring of our state and local homelessness response efforts, we will likely continue to see our homeless rates increase. In spite of the budget crunch, League representatives said its up to Newsom and lawmakers to put homelessness at the top of their funding list. We should not be asking for something, said Ali Sajjad Taj, League president. This is something that we should get anyway. And our state is facing an ever-worsening crisis. It is (a) moral imperative that every level of government come together and prioritize this crisis. By Robert Muller (Reuters) -Slovakia's prime minister called on Thursday on the head of the country's central bank, Peter Kazimir, to resign after he was convicted in a bribery case and fined 100,000 euros ($110,000). Kazimir, a European Central Bank (ECB) policymaker who is currently attending World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings in the United States, denied wrongdoing. The case concerns "suspicion of corrupt criminal activity in connection with tax audits against several commercial companies" when Kazimir was finance minister in a previous government, prosecutors said in February. Following Thursday's ruling against him by a criminal court judge in the town of Pezinok, Kazimir should walk out of the National Bank of Slovakia's doors and "never come back", Prime Minister Eduard Heger said. "It is unacceptable for a person convicted of bribery by a court to hold the post of governor of this respected institution," Heger told a news conference in front of the bank's headquarters. The European Central Bank and the National Bank of Slovakia both declined to comment. The court's ruling was made by a criminal warrant - based on evidence submitted during the investigation - and not in a full trial. The decision was for the crime of bribery, the court said, adding that it had not taken legal effect pending possible appeals. "Despite the criminal warrant, which has not even been delivered to me yet, I am innocent," Kazimir said in a statement. "I have committed no crime and I have no doubt that I will defend myself before the judge at the main hearing or before the courts of appeal in Slovakia or in Europe." He now faces a full trial after prosecutors said they had appealed the court ruling, which was delivered on April 3 and made public on Thursday. The special prosecutor's office had charged Kazimir with a "corruption-related crime" in October 2021, but withdrew the charge last June pending a review. Slovak police revived the charge last November. Story continues A final conviction could cost Kazimir his position, which he has held since 2019 under a six-year mandate. Under Slovak central bank statutes, board members can continue to serve with a criminal record provided that record is clear of "final convictions for a deliberate crime". Central bank governors are appointed and dismissed by the president and subject to approval by parliament. Kazimir was finance minister from 2012 to 2019 before being nominated as central bank governor by the leftist SMER party that lost power in 2020. ($1 = 0.9074 euros) (Reporting by Robert Muller, Jason Hovet and Jan Lopatka in Prague; additional reporting by Balasz Koranyi in Washington; editing by Alison Williams, Mark Heinrich, Kirsten Donovan and Susan Fenton) Consequences of the Russian missile attack on Slovyansk on the night of April 13 One Russian S-300 missile hit the grounds of School No. 8. Nearby multi-storey buildings were also damaged. Windows and doors were smashed, and balconies were damaged. A second strike was recorded near the city water utility, where private houses were damaged. No one was killed or injured, said Lyakh. Four high-rise buildings and three private houses were damaged, reported regional governor Pavlo Kyrylenko, who also posted photos of the aftermath of the enemy attack. Pavlo Kyrylenko/Telegram Pavlo Kyrylenko/Telegram He noted that one person was killed and two others injured in the region on April 12. Private houses in Kurakhivka and Siversk were destroyed. The aggressor also attacked settlements in Mykolaiv, Kharkiv, and Kherson oblasts. Read also: Russia preparing evacuation plan for Rosatom employees from occupied Zaporizhzhya NPP Russian forces struck Ochakiv in Mykolaiv Oblast with multiple rocket launchers on April 12, reported Mykolaiv Oblast Military Administration head, Vitalij Kim, on Telegram. There were no reported casualties, but information about damage is still being clarified. In Kharkiv Oblast, Russia attacked settlements in Kharkiv, Kupyansk, Chuhuyiv and Bohodukhiv districts over the past day. Two people were killed, and another woman sustained injuries in the explosion and was hospitalized. Kharkiv regional governor Oleg Synegubov added that the shelling of villages damaged private houses and vehicles, as well as an educational institution building. Russian troops shelled Kherson Oblast 46 times over the last day, firing 185 shells from heavy artillery, UAVs, and aircraft at the region. Read also: Intensity of shelling by Russian military up significantly in March, border guards say The enemy attacked Kherson city five times, with some shells hitting an industrial plant, said Kherson Oblast Military Administration head, Oleksandr Prokudin, on Telegram. One person was killed and two injured over the last day, while Residential neighborhoods have been destroyed. Story continues Russia has in recent weeks reduced its attacks on Ukrainian cities further from the frontlines, but occupation troops continue to target civilian targets in frontline settlements. At the same time, the Russian military has intensified the use of drones along the front line, which could indicate that Russia is preparing a new attack on 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 With Snowfall in its final season, fans knew the bloodshed would be much more heightened than the previous seasons. But the death of Amin Josephs character, Jerome Saint, left fans in tears. Despite his characters downfall, his work on the show wasnt done. He made his directorial debut on the show helming last weeks episode, Ballad of the Bear, just after his characters demise. The actor broke down the characters rollercoaster journey, his tragic ending and his excitement to direct his first episode on the show. Fare saddened about this season being the last season, but you guys have done such a phenomenal job. So how do you think the show's impact has been on today's culture? Im just like the fans waiting to close this chapter and see how we finish this out, because I think that this is the story about how crack began. So you kind of want to see how that final chapter is closed [and to] tell this sort of cautionary tale [and see] how it concludes. Only then will you be able to see how it ultimately affects the fan base and the culture. Now, do you feel as if this was a good season to close the show out with? And obviously, we're excited about the announcement of Gail Beans character Wanda potentially getting a spinoff. So what are your thoughts on that? Im excited that were closing the deal of this first installment. I feel like in six seasons, we were able to tell the beginning, middle and end of this particular story. As I said, its the story of how crack began. So I feel like weve encompassed all of that, and were closing that out. And as far as Gails spinoff, whatever that installment is, that is a completely different story, but perhaps may have some characters from the mothership series that are recurring. But it is actually a different story than this one that weve been tracking for the last six/seven years. The show continued after John Singleton's passing, which I'm sure was difficult for you guys in the beginning, but he had already contributed so much to American film and television, especially by pushing Black stories forward. So how do you feel as if 'Snowfall' has been a good final tribute to him? I hope [this] is not the final tribute. I know that John was working on many things other than just Snowfall. I feel like this is one of the bound volumes of his legacy that is now closing a chapter. Its coming to an end, but I would hope that his legacy endures well beyond Snowfall. And like you said, it was already established 20, 30 years before this show. So [he was] just a monumental man thats given so much to TV and to the cinema. Story continues You made your directorial debut in Episode 8, congratulations on that. Could you tell us about your transition into the directorial space and what it felt like going from being a star of the show to being behind the camera and how you went about doing that? I feel like Ive always, from the pilot episode, Ive been a collaborator and very vocal about things. My castmates and I talk about the same thing with the crew, so its always been like that. And I think thats something that also John Singleton wanted to see that this be a collaboration. So I feel like it was a natural progression for me to get behind the camera and to add some [my] POV, perspective and specificity to the story. So I went to shadowing, and then I went through a couple of director workshops with some of our producers, and ultimately, I was given the opportunity and I was supported. The company, the crew, and the cast supported me in this endeavor, and I feel like we made some really great television. It was definitely an amazing episode. And Jerome's death was shocking. And we all know that this season there would probably have been a higher body count than others, but it was still very hard to see him taken out and also heartbreaking in the way that it all happened. What were your thoughts when you found out about how your character would exit the show? You know, I didnt know really how I would end until maybe an episode or two before that episode was written. So maybe by episode 3, maybe while shooting 3, I realized the first draft of episode 5 coming out. So it wasnt like I had a lot of time to ponder on exactly how it would happen, but I knew that it was going to happen from season 1 anyway, so as far as the whole ordeal, it was a little pain. And Louie and Franklin that was something that when I read it or saw the page, it kind of like, Oh, wow. It comes at the expense of the future and is a potentially unspeakable act happening to Louie. And I just didnt know how that would be played out as far as the portrayal helming it. And it was something that the script got better, and we all figured out the stakes that would be at play, and then we just signed up and went on into it. You know that the best job is to fully commit to the circumstances. What did you make of the fans reaction to the rift within the Saint family this season? Did you agree with some of the sentiments of the fans or disagree, especially when it came to Louie? As far as Louie being a villain and things of that nature? I would say that I can understand with the fans felt. The story, was a single narrative for Franklin and his family was there to support him in his efforts to build an empire. And as he kind of made mistakes and had focused on real estate and things of that nature, it seems as though Louie and Jerome were handling most of the drug dealing and building out that empire for him. So when she says she wants to go her own way, I can understand how that had a lot of the viewers side with Franklin and say that she needs to come back into the fold because I spend so much time with the Louie character and Im literally tethered to her. I can understand her point of view. I can understand the point of view that Franklin made a lot of mistakes, mistakes that actually almost cost her her life. And then, from her deathbed, she was able to they come up with a plan to get everyone working for Franklin. So from the first break, [she] took him to Claudia and was able to set him up where he might have been in grave danger if he wasnt able to fill that first break. So shes always been a mover and shaker in his world. And I think a lot of people were just angry and still are angry that everything seemed like it was torn apart because of her wanting to sort of operate on her own and seek her own power and her own autonomy. For my character, for me, its a little simpler. From the moment he came into the house with the first brick, I knew that it came with nothing but trouble and that it would be the demise of me and my family. I had nothing, but trouble came from it. And to me, that was a foreshadowing or intel right there from the pilot episode of knowing that. And I let my nephew and my wife be very not manipulative, but I guess they were able to convince me. And I think it was Jeromes own greed and a sense that he would be able to live a lifestyle of riches and cars and jewelry and clothing and be able to support himself and his family in a way that he had never imagined. And I think that I think he became intoxicated with those grapes of wrath. And the price of that is the cautionary tale that were telling that you cant choose when youre going to get out when youve made decisions like that. And I think his PTSD got a hold of him, and it got the better of him. And when he tried to escape, he couldnt. He couldnt take him all the way. So he was going to be back ingratiated with the community. He had to deal with the fallout of his family falling apart right in front of him and his friendships not meaning anything. And his paranoia and quick rash decisions led to his death. Now you directing what many people are calling the most pivotal episode of the series, because it brings together a lot of the elements from the show that fans have been waiting for. And you spoke a little bit about how everything kind of tied together for this specific episode. So what did it mean for you to direct that episode? Ive been wanting to direct since the second season and I got opportunities to shadow and everything. And then here it is. The culmination of that leads to me being killed and me being able to get an opportunity to direct without me acting in the episode. And its a pivotal role because were at the end of our run. So you cant write that. You cant. Thats just how things go. And Im just happy that not only is this for my first time, but it was prepared. This is the career path for methat I think Im really talented and Im really collaborative. I think the episode shows that Im well-approved and I have a unique way of trying to tell a story and rebuild it and pace it and bring nuance and suspense and a lot of vital storytelling elements to something thats already been great. Snowfall is already heralded as being cinematic and good cinema and great writing and amazing performers. So to be able to be given that wealth of resources, if you want to just turn in the best episode that you possibly can, you wonderme being around this for seven years, it almost felt like a cheat code that I was able to be able to recall things and dreams deferred within the characters and within the artists and within the crew members and our company to extract some of that and put that on the screen. Up until his death, what was your what was the biggest part of the most pivotal part for you of your character's journey? I think the most pivotal part for Jerome was becoming aware of his PTSD. I feel like the character was very two-dimensional before perhaps sacrificing the relationship with his nephew to side with Louis in season 5. But more importantly, when he realized after he was actually dealing with mental illness and that he needs to reevaluate his life. I feel like with the two Jeromes, as he tried to do that, he tried to marry the woman that he loves. He tried to reconnect with the community and say that he was going to open up businesses and that drug dealing with something that he would support her in doing, but he wouldnt be a part of. And all tragedies, it just was a little too late. He got married right when he was trying to go on his honeymoon Because of what Teddy did, Franklin came in, robbed him, killed people in front of his wifes club, put a gun to his wife, said and forced his hand into coming back into this with a vengeance. And all that trauma just spiraled Jerome out of control. So that was the pivotal point for me, was when he became conscious. Now there are only two episodes left in the series, and we know that you can't give us much. But what do you think fans will be the most shocked or surprised by or even the most saddened by? I think we know this is the story of how crack began. And as that comes to an end and we see the stakes of the characters and the storylines, they converge, I think we can tell that this is not going to be a happy ending. We just dont know how its going to end. And I feel like our audiences live with these characters and live with these circumstances, these heightened circumstances now for about two years at its extreme height. Theres money on the table, like the $73 million, the presence of the CIA and the KGB and the DEA. And then there are these characters that weve come to love even in there. Even in their flaws and even in their conflict. And I think that as this comes to a close, were going to have a hard time really going to be ripped out with what comes of the people that we come to love. Now that 'Snowfall' has come to an end, what are you looking forward to delving into next? You spoke a lot about your love of directing and your being collaborative in that way. So do you foresee yourself continuing to direct in the near future, and what other projects would you like to explore? Ill be acting, and Ill be directing and producing. Ive always been doing those things, and perhaps my stars have arisen that people care or notice, but Ill just continue doing that and kept putting my head down and doing the work that it takes to make some of the to me, what should be some of the best drama of our time. Ill continue to do comedies as well. Ill continue to just do the work that it takes to make great art. And thats what you do as an actor like me. So its not so much about what was next, [but] what is [about] is just to stay doing the work and being ready for the next story and committing to that story. A rare white bison has been born at a southern Utah resort, and now she needs a name. The calf made her debut March 31 at the Zion White Bison Glamping and RV Resort, the resort wrote on an April 2 Facebook post. Fresh from heaven, the resort wrote. We are so excited for this beautiful white bison calf to join the family. Now, the resort is asking folks on social media to help name the calf. People can vote for the names Willow, Snowflake, Fluffy, Bright Moon and Sakar, meaning sweet. Facebook users can comment which name they prefer in the post above. To Native American tribes, the birth of a white bison is revered and held sacred, McKell Davis, a spokeswoman for the resort, told St. George News. If that happened, they had a ceremony; it was this very special thing, Davis told the newspaper. The birth of a white calf is considered good omen, as it happens in the most unexpected places and often happens among the poorest of people, according to the National Park Service. The birth is sacred within the American Indian communities, because it brings a sense of hope and is a sign that good times are about to happen, NPS said. In addition offering glamping in lodges styled like pioneer wagons near Zion National Park, the resort also functions as a sanctuary for these rare white bison, according to the resort. Endangered hellbender dad found fathering eggs in Missouri river. Hes made history Whats a fanaloka? Nashville Zoo celebrates first one ever born in the US Friends forever? Softbanks stake in Alibaba is shrinking down to single digits. The Japanese investing giant has sold more than $7 billion worth of Alibaba shares this year, the Financial Times reported yesterday (Apr. 12), citing an analysis of regulatory filings sent by post to the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). This comes after Softbanks record $29 billion selldown in Alibaba stock over 2022. Read more Alibaba shares, which had recently soared on the news of the tech giants plan to split its business into six units, plunged more than 5% on the news, but then recovered most of their losses over the course of the day (Apr. 13). Softbank told the FT that the company would provide details of the sale when it reports quarterly results in May. In mid-2022, SoftBank chief Masayoshi Son said his company is going into defense mode, after it suffered a record $23 billion loss in the April-June quarter. Uncertain market conditions and struggling tech investments were both to blame. Geopolitical tensions likely weighed heavily on this decision, too. Once a cheerleader of Chinas burgeoning tech scene, Son also turned less optimistic as relations between Beijing and Washington soured. The Chinese authorities crackdown on tech firms like Alibaba only worsened those concerns. Softbanks Alibaba investment, by the digits 5.2%: How much Alibabas stock tumbled after the Financial Times report came out $20 million: The amount Son and Softbank spent on buying almost all of its Alibaba stake two decades ago, in 2000a year after Ma founded the company. For a long-time, it was considered one of the most lucrative deals ever etched $5 billion: Pre-tax loss reported by Softbanks Vision Fund in the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2019the fourth straight quarterly loss for the unit focused on tech bets Story continues 34%: Softbanks peak stake in Alibaba after the Chinese internet companys 2014 US IPO. The value of Softbanks stake in Alibaba was $60 billion at the time 25%: Softbanks stake in Alibaba in December 2019, which was valued at over $100 billion 3.8%: Softbanks stake in Alibaba in April 2023 80%: How much the value of Alibabas shares has fallen since peaking in October 2020 Quotable: Softbanks faith in Alibaba We would like to make Alibaba the next Yahoo in the world. Masayoshi Son during the 2000 investment. A brief recent timeline of Alibaba and Softbank June 2020: After 15 years on Alibabas board, Son steps down. Ma also leaves Softbanks board after 13 years. We will remain friends for the rest of our lives, a teary Son said at the time. October 2020: During an event in Shanghai, Ma criticizes Chinas regulatory system for stifling innovation and chides the countrys banks for harboring a pawnshop mentality. November 2020: Beijing stops Mas Alibaba fintech-spinoff Ants $37 billion IPO two days before its due to start trading. November 2020: Ma goes missing. The flamboyant billionaire entrepreneur wont be seen in public for at least three months. January 2021: Ma addresses 100 village teachers via video, making his first public appearance in months. For the next two years, Ma jet sets around Spain, Japan, the US, Israel, Thailand, Australia, Hong Kong, and more. July 2022: Alibaba is one of 100 Chinese companies added to the SECs delisting watchlist December 2022: The delisting risk is averted as the US gains complete access to inspect and investigate registered public accounting firms headquartered in mainland China and Hong Kong. March 2023: A day after the teacher-turned-entrepreneur is spotted mingling with students and teachers at Yungu School in Hangzhou, Alibaba announces it is splitting its business into six units and assuming a holding company structure a la Google parent Alphabet to help the businesses become more agile, enhance decision-making, and enable faster responses to market changes, according to letter to employees from CEO Daniel Zhang. Is Softbanks exit good news for Alibaba? At first glance, a long-time backer retreating in the middle of a massive corporate overhaulAlibaba is splitting its business into six with the intention of taking some public and selling off othersappears concerning. Whats reassuring is that Softbanks move hasnt come out of the blue. They (SoftBank) have been clear that ... they need to monetise profitable holdings, Jon Withaar, head of Asia special situations at Pictet Asset Management, told Reuters. Perhaps some expected that they may slow the pace of their selling in (Alibaba) now that their Arm IPO is moving closer to completion, but ultimately everything they are doing is within the scope of what they have told the market. (Arm is a British chip designer SoftBank bought in 2016 for $32 million.) Related stories Masayoshi Son is departing the board of Alibaba, SoftBanks most successful investment How the massive scale of SoftBanks Vision Fund helpsand hurtsits investments The SoftBank of China has invested in more unicorns than SoftBank More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. About one in six Central Ohio Transit Employees had problems with their paychecks a week ago because of a payroll computer glitch at the transit agency that led to money being debited rather than credited to accounts. COTA has since issued paper paychecks to to those workers. But it's another tech-related problem for the agency, which had to pay $162,850 in penalties to the Internal Revenue Service for late payroll tax payments for tax years 2019, 2020 and 2021 and comes as COTA is struggling to hire and retain drivers. Erin Delffs, COTA's chief financial officer, said a software update inadvertently dropped a "zero" from checking or savings accounts that began with that number for deposits of bi-weekly paychecks that were supposed to be made on April 7. That malfunction also created another headache. "The file read by the bank read it as a debit than a credit," Delffs said. In all, 184 employees of COTA's approximately 1,100 total employees were affected, Delffs said. "We immediately notified employees that we were going to take care of the situation," Delffs said. All were ultimately paid as COAT cut paper checks late Friday that were available for pickup. He said the software problem has been fixed. Employees are paid bi-weekly. Jeff Pullin, a COTA spokesman, said most of the employees affected bank at Huntington, but the problem was on COTA's end. "Huntington has been an incredible partner throughout this incident and has insured that none of our employees will incur penalties," Pullin said. Jarvis Williams, president of Transport Workers Union Local 208, which represents drivers and other COTA employees, said agency management contacted him on Friday about the problem, which he said also affected workers who bank with CME Federal Credit Union. "That is bad, you know," Williams said. "It is a normal practice for people to do automatic pay for certain things." Story continues The problem occurred as COTA continues to try to sign up more drivers and other workers so it can boost service. When something such as this happens, it's hard to advocate for people to stay, Williams said. Craig Treneff, who chairs the COTA board, said he hadn't heard about the paycheck glitch. "It's very important to be paid timely," Treneff said, But after Treneff checked into it, he said that the mistake was related to a consultant COTA employed to deal with the software update. "Simply, a mistake was made. Its been addressed. Its going to have to be a lesson to learn from," Treneff said. In December, COTA took its IT systems offline after they were hacked, which cut off Wi-Fi access in buses and made it impossible for riders to track real-time transit information though an app. COTA plans to seek a sales-tax increase in Franklin County on the November 2024 ballot to raise money for bus rapid transit lines. mferench@dispatch.com @MarkFerenchik This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: A software glitch hit one in six COTA employees' pay last week House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries is under fire for an editorial he wrote when he was a college student attending Binghamton University. Jeffries defended his uncle, Black studies professor Leonard Jeffries, as well as Nation of Islam leader Louis Farrakhan, in the piece. CNN resurfaced the article on The Lead with Jake Tapper this week. Leonard Jeffries was criticized for comments he made in the 1990s about the slave trade and the involvement of rich Jews. He also said a conspiracy, planned and plotted and programmed out of Hollywood by Jewish movie executives was to blame for disparaging Black people in films. Farrakhan in the past called Judiasim dirty religion. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY). (Photo: creative commons) Leonard Jeffries was condemned by New York City Mayor David Dinkins, New York Gov. Mario Cuomo and the Anti-Defamation League for his comments. After a legal battle, the professor left his position at the City University of New York in 1995. After the men received backlash for their comments, Jeffries defended his uncle and Farrakhan with an article written in 1992 condemning Black conservatives, white supremacy and the Ku Klux Klan. Dr. Leonard Jeffries and Minister Louis Farrakhan have come under intense fire, wrote Jeffries. Where do you think their interests lie? Dr. Jeffries has challenged the existing white supremacist educational system and long-standing distortion of history. His reward has been a media lynching complete with character assassinations and inflammatory erroneous accusations. Hakeem Jeffries also compared Black conservatives to House Negroes. The House Negroes didnt labor in the field, they were domestic servants. The House Negro was dressed up and led to believe that he or she was better than those in the field. Most importantly, the House Negro sought to emulate the white master, he wrote. The House Negro of the slavery era and the Black conservative of today are both opportunists interested in securing some measure of happiness for themselves within the existing social order. Story continues Soon after he was elected to Congress in 2012, Jeffries told The Wall Street Journal back in 2013 that he had a vague recollection of the controversy surrounding his uncle and Farrakhan but that he was away at college at the time and frequently referred back to statements given to the WSJ when asked about the controversy. And so when a lot of the controversy took place and my brother and I were away at school, he said. There was no Internet during that era and I cant even recall a daily newspaper in the Binghamton, N.Y., area but it wasnt covering the things that the New York Post and Daily News were at the time. CNN reports that Jeffries knew more about the controversy than he let on and even invited his uncle to speak at his school while he was on the board of the universitys Black Student Union. Leonard Jeffries accepted the invitation and reiterated his comments about Jewish moguls in Hollywood being anti-Black to a crowd of 800 people. He also defended himself from the backlash he received from the Jewish community by comparing them to Nazis. Its ironic that members of the Jewish community felt compelled to take a position that is antidemocratic and.pro-Nazi in its viciousness, he said. A spokesperson for Jeffries, Christiana Stephenson, told the outlet that the House Minority Leader does not agree with his uncles views. Leader Jeffries has consistently been clear that he does not share the controversial views espoused by his uncle over 30 years ago, said Stephenson. Conservatives were quick to call Jeffries an anti-Semite. Rep. Byron Donalds, a Black Republican representing Floridas 19th district, challenged Jeffries to a debate. Im over the phony apologies. Lets have an honest debate about Black conservatism vs. Black liberalism, he wrote. Lets have a real conversation about whose policies will unleash not just Black America but all of America. Thats the debate the people want. Im ready, @hakeemjeffries. Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida defended Jeffries and noted his embodiment of the Jewish values of love and kindness and his leadership in the face of hate. As native NYers, Leader @RepJeffries and I became fast, dear friends. I saw how he embodied the Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and gemilut hassadim (giving love and kindness). While others foment antisemitism, Hakeem Jeffries always leads in the face of hate. As native NYers, Leader @RepJeffries and I became fast, dear friends. I saw how he embodied the Jewish values of tikkun olam (repairing the world) and gemilut hassadim (giving love and kindness). While others foment antisemitism, Hakeem Jeffries always leads in the face of hate. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (@DWStweets) April 12, 2023 Minnesota Democratic Rep. Dean Benson Phillips also defended the House Minority Leader and called Jeffries one of the committed defenders of the Jewish community. Leader @RepJeffries spent an hour with me on my first day in Congress in 2019. I nominated him for Speaker and now serve on his leadership team, he wrote. Few Americans are more committed defenders of the Jewish community, and all communities subject to hate, than Hakeem Jeffries. #truth. Others also defended Jeffries on social media and noted his dedication to fighting hate. More than 30 years have passed since that college op-ed, wrote one Twitter user. If Jeffries shared the antisemitic views of his uncle, we would certainly know it by now. Instead, it seems that he has vigorously condemned all forms of racism and bigotry throughout his political career. Someone on the GOP side is trying to dirty up Hakeem Jeffries. Its not gonna work, said @juaelz1. Dusting off 30-year-old stories? someone has decided Jeffries has to go. Wonder who theyve picked as the new minority leader? Wrote RightWing_Vet. Surveillance camera footage of a dark-colored Hyundai Elantra that police believe was involved in an April 6 drive-by shooting into a Buncombe County Deputy's vehicle and occupied home. ASHEVILLE - Local law enforcement officers are continuing to search for a drive-by shooter they say targeted a Buncombe County Sheriff deputy's home and vehicle. The deputy's vehicle was marked with the sheriff's office logo and sitting outside his home in a densely occupied neighborhood in the Arden area of South Asheville. Multiple shots were fired shortly after 10 p.m. on April 6 and struck the deputy's vehicle and another vehicle in the same driveway. Bullets also struck the deputy's home and another house nearby, according to a release from the Asheville Police Department. The deputy was in his home at the time, APD spokesperson Samantha Booth said on April 13 in response to Citizen Times questions. The other home that was struck was also occupied, she said. More: 2 dead in Feb. 26 shooting at Asheville's Lee Garden Apartments More: Permit to buy handgun no longer required in NC after veto override Booth said officers had learned nothing new in the last few days. "Detectives are continuing to investigate and are seeking to ID the driver of the vehicle attached in the release yesterday," she said. APD Patrol officers responded to Wellington Drive around 10:16 p.m. on April 6 to investigate reports of property and vehicle damage from bullet holes. They found the deputy's vehicle struck by multiple bullets and the other vehicle in the driveway struck by one bullet. "Officers canvassed the area and located damage from one bullet hole to the exterior of the deputy's home. A residence directly behind received damage from four bullet holes to the outside of the home," APD said in its initial release. Booth did not respond to a message asking what type of gun was used. Following an extensive investigation, officers said they determined the shooter was intentionally targeting the deputy's vehicle and home. More: After missing court, attorney accused of felonies in Asheville property scam accounted for Story continues More: Asheville police: Violent crime up across city, property crime down in 2022 A nearby surveillance camera captured a dark-colored Hyundai Elantra that is believed to be involved. APD and the Sheriff's Office are conducting a joint investigation and are asking for help identifying the alleged shooter. APD can be contacted by calling 828-252-1110 or giving information anonymously by texting TIP2APD to 847411 or using the TIP2APD smartphone app. The sheriff's office can also be contacted by calling 828-250-6670. Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Someone shot into an officer's occupied Asheville home; suspect sought Two Hong Kong men have been arrested for disorderly conduct after they shot water guns at policemen during an event celebrating Songkran, the Thai new year. The duo, both in their 20s, used the festival as a cover to target law enforcers, police said. The Sunday event was held in Kowloon City, a district where many Thais live. Traditionally during Songkran, water is splashed using buckets and squirt guns to drive away bad luck. Hong Kong has seen an erosion of freedoms since Beijing imposed a national security law in 2020 that critics say is designed to squash dissent, and weaken Hong Kong's autonomy. The city is a Special Administrative Region of China. Under its "one country, two systems" principle, residents are supposed to enjoy certain freedoms unavailable on the mainland. One of the two men runs a YouTube channel, the South China Morning Post reported citing police sources. A video uploaded on 10 April shows a man in red firing a water gun at two policemen and reporters of TVB, which many consider pro-government. Text on the video includes the words "Vs HK Po", referring to the police, and an expletive directed at TVB, according to the Hong Kong Free Press. The men were "stirring up trouble" and "maliciously" targeted authorities, according to an op-ed on the state-backed Ta Kung Pao newspaper. The article was published just hours after the arrests, the outlet reported. Security minister Chris Tang did not comment on the case during a Legislative Council meeting on Wednesday, but said some have been putting up "soft resistance" to incite discontent against the government. Last month, police arrested two men for possession of children's books that authorities deemed seditious. A digital billboard was also taken down for containing secret references to local dissidents. The Tribune is partnering with the League of Women Voters of the South Bend Area and the American Democracy Project of Indiana University South Bend to publish candidates' answers to questions on the issues. The League, with local help from the ADP, operates Vote411.org, a website with information about the candidates and their positions on key issues. The Tribune has agreed to run candidate answers unedited, meaning any spelling, typographical or grammatical errors are the candidates' own. The Tribune is publishing only some of the questions from a selection of contested races. Additional questions and answers, including from candidates who have no opponent in the primary, are available at Vote411.org. Early voting for Indiana's May 2 municipal primary election began last week. To vote early, either fill out an application for a mail ballot at https://indianavoters.in.gov/MVPHome/PrintDocuments or vote in person. In St. Joseph County, there are two early-voting locations: the County-City Building, 227 W. Jefferson Blvd. in South Bend; or the Mishawaka County Services Building, 219 Lincoln Way W. in Mishawaka. Voters must present a valid government-issued photo ID. Early-voting hours at both locations are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays (except May 1, when voting closes at noon.); 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays April 22 and 29; 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30. In South Bend's Common Council 3rd District, current President Sharon McBride is challenged in the Democratic primary by Drew Duncan. The winner will face Republican Sonia Perez in the fall. Perez has not responded to the questionnaire yet, but if she does before the general election, her answers will appear then. Drew Duncan Drew Duncan is a candidate for South Bend Common Council. Occupation: Marketing specialist Email: theduncangroupllc@gmail.com Website: integrity4district3.net Campaign phone: 574-323-0000 Facebook: facebook.com/DrewForSouthBendDistrict3 Sharon McBride Sharon McBride seeks re-election to South Bend Common Council. Occupation: Director of St. Joseph County Community Corrections DuComb Center; President of South Bend Common Council Story continues Email: sharonlyvettemcbride@gmail.com Campaign phone: 574-514-3743 What is most unique about the district you seek to represent? How will you promote your district's needs while working with other council members? Duncan: District 3 is unique because its the most diverse district in the city and so are our issues. Riverfront folks are concerned about illegal dumping. Our South Side and Miami Village neighbors are concerned about gun violence. Our River Park and Sunnymede neighbors want more robust small business support. Our concerns are as diverse as our people, but one concern is had by everyone. District 3 doesnt feel represented. Our neighbors have reached out with concerns and their calls and emails have gone unanswered. Weve seen parts of the city grow while most of District 3 has fallen into disrepair. Ill promote my districts needs by listening to their concerns, taking their phone calls or meeting for a coffee or block tour. I will fight to overturn the gag order on citizens naming council members during public comments. McBride: District 3 is unique both socially and economically. When I was elected to serve, my first action was to bring the various neighborhood associations, stakeholders, and businesses together to seek their input. This district has two institutions of higher learning, two high schools, one intermediate school and three elementary schools. Most recently, we welcomed the United Ways 1Roof Neighborhood Community Center. In addition, the district is home to the Potawatomi Zoo. Another attribute of the district is the partnership between 466Works, SOAR Neighborhood Association, and the City in building affordable housing that has a tremendous impact on reshaping the neighborhood. I will continue to be present, responsive, and a voice for the District while continuing to support my colleagues to enhance the quality of life for all. What is the best way to curb crime? Should we increase police staffing, technology and budgets? Or should we redirect resources away from policing? Explain your reasoning. Duncan: I will fight to refund street outreach programs that have been drained. Brotherhood fellowship programs have reduced gun violence by up to 80% in some regions where implemented. We have to start gun tracing so that we can hold bad faith actors accountable. I will fight to bring well paying jobs to our city and district. We have to expand our mental health resources. I will fight to expand public transportation. I will fight to give houseless intervention programs more funding. McBride: The Council has provided funding needed for our police department to become fully staffed. The Council has also provided the department with the latest technology, making it one of less than a dozen departments with a state-of-the-art virtual crime center. Simultaneously, the Council has also provided record funding to social services to help reduce crime by providing social services and wrap around services to those dealing with mental health and addiction. The Council, city, police department, and the residents must all work together and continue to tackle crime in our community. Lastly, we must focus on our children. There must be open dialogue with our youth to find out their barriers and address their concerns by allocating resources to minimize those barriers. Many recognize a disparity in economic growth in different parts of the city. What steps will you take to ensure economic growth and development is more widely distributed across the entire community? Duncan: A part of addressing the disparity and economic growth between the different parts of the city is electing people who have lived in its poorest parts. Neighborhood investment should be addressed on need not favoritism. Spreading economic growth throughout all parts of the city ensures that all ships in the harbor rise. We cannot continue to create these microcosms of wealth at the expense of neighborhoods that have never seen investment. I would specifically focus on major corridors like Miami Village. There has not been a major investment from city dollars in decades! Building up critical business infrastructure in that corridor would make the neighborhoods more walkable and attract a tax base. McBride: I have and will continue to advocate for development in all areas of the city for equitable resources throughout all districts. In District 3, I have been a strong advocate for investing in the Miami and Michigan Street Corridors and bringing businesses into the area to uplift both neighborhoods. For example, I listened to my constituents and Randolph Park is now a fully operational park that is safe for kids and families to gather and play. This would not have happened without continued dialogue with the neighborhood association and members of the community. I will continue to advocate and support the curb and sidewalk allocation program, traffic calming, infrastructure, and affordable housing, especially in disparaged neighborhoods. What can the city do to address the issues of children and adults living in poverty and/or homelessness in the community? Duncan: The city cannot forever be in the business of housing all of the houseless. But what the city can do is support nonprofit partners in the community. They have crafted programs that can successfully fund themselves and have transition programs for their residents. Safe no barrier entry facilities must exist to address houseless folks dealing with substance abuse and mental health crises. These programs must include wraparound services, including mental health and employment programs. We need to heavily vet nonprofit organizations taking tax dollars and require they develop a metric to measure progress. We have to expand public transportation so folks can get to work. As a resident who found myself homeless in previous years, this issue runs deep. McBride: In addressing the issue of homelessness, poverty, and children there are multiple factors that affect this population. We need to focus on the systemic issues and address the causes that create poverty and homelessness. I will continue to allocate funding to our neighborhoods across the city. The Council has committed to funding the Motels4Now program with wrap around services for people who experience substance abuse and mental health crisis. The city has partnered with SB Heritage foundation and built Oliver Apartments, Hope Avenue, and the Youth Service Bureau (YSB) development that focuses on youth homelessness. I will continue to be an advocate for some of our most vulnerable residents. This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: South Bend candidates speak to issues facing Dist. 3 and rest of city A South Carolina man will serve prison time after he pleaded guilty to setting fire to a home with his ex-girlfriend and her children inside. Jorge Mora-Vahena, 29, pleaded guilty to second-degree arson and first-degree assault and battery charges on Monday for setting fire to the home in September 2022, according to a report from The State. According to authorities, fire crews were dispatched to the home of Mora-Vahena's ex-girlfriend and her two children, where they were sleeping when the house went up in flames. The family was able to make it out of the burning house alive, but a family pet was unable to escape. The home was destroyed in the blaze. 14-YEAR-OLD GIRL KILLED IN NORTH CAROLINA MASS SHOOTING THAT INJURED 5 OTHERS Jorge Mora-Vahena DEADLY LOUISVILLE BANK SHOOTING BODYCAM RELEASED; OFFICERS' ACTIONS DESCRIBED AS HEROIC An investigation by the Newberry Fire Department, Newberry Police Department, and Newberry County Sheriffs Office determined that the fire had been intentionally set, with phone records eventually placing Mora-Vahena at the scene at the time of the blaze. Mora-Vahena later confessed to authorities that he was behind the blaze. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP "It takes a malicious, evil heart to set a home on fire where children are sleeping," Solicitor David Stumbo said in a press release. "I am pleased that Jorge Mora-Vahena will be behind bars for a long time, and we will continue to stand with our partners in law enforcement to fight this scourge of domestic violence in our communities." Mora-Vahena was initially charged with second-degree domestic violence, unlawfully placing a child at risk of or cause of harm or willfully abandon the child, and two counts of attempted murder, eventually pleading guilty to the second-degree arson and first-degree assault and battery charges. Mora-Vahena was sentenced to 10 years in prison on the arson charge and five year in prison on the assault charge, the latter of which will be suspended to 30 months. The prison sentences will run concurrently, while Mora-Vahena will receive credit for 142 days of time served. By Hyonhee Shin and Minwoo Park SEOUL (Reuters) -Every Saturday a group of young South Koreans gathers in Incheon just west of Seoul to talk about their battles with drug abuse, seeking sympathy and support in often emotional exchanges. The free midday therapy sessions are organised by Choi Jin-mook, who fought addiction for more than 20 years before becoming a counsellor and advocating for a shift in South Korea's drugs policy towards treatment and away from punishment. Choi, 48, began taking nonprescription cough medicines at age 17 and was jailed for marijuana in his 20s. In and out of prison for 15 years, he turned to meth and stronger drugs before another addict-turned-counsellor led him to an "awakening". "I thought I would be a normal person when I got out of prison, but there I learned more about drugs instead of getting treatment," Choi said. "I just couldn't break away from the fetters." South Korea has only six drug rehabilitation centres, according to Choi, including just two run by the food and drug safety ministry. In comparison, Japan - with 126 million people to South Korea's 52 million - has about 90 rehab centres. The centre Choi heads is one of three set up 10 years ago with funding from Japan. The centres run on a Japanese model and hire only former addicts to provide care and counselling. Choi and other counsellors have been trying to build more rehab centres and make them more accessible, but Choi said he has failed to get government funding because of a general lack of awareness of the need for more facilities. PRISON NOT REHAB One of the biggest problems is that South Korea's corrections system focuses mostly on punitive detention and lacks rehabilitation support, Choi said. In recent months, the arrests of chaebol heirs and celebrities such as award-winning actor Yoo Ah-in on illegal drugs charges have prompted authorities to crack down on narcotics and bolster customs enforcement. Story continues Drug crimes are typically punishable by at least six months in prison or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers. Some drug crimes are also punishable by death although South Korea has not carried out any executions since 1997. While most first- and second-time offenders usually get suspended sentences and 30 to 40 hours of mandatory drug education, Choi said this does little to get them off drugs. "The golden time for addiction treatment is when you get caught for the first time, but thinking that addicts would quit after attending those classes for several hours is hoping for a miracle," he said. "The system needs proper treatment and rehabilitation to help addicts start a new life when they go back to society." The government created special intra-agency squads last week to clamp down on drugmakers and distributors, and Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon unveiled plans last year to expand state rehab facilities, vowing to fight drugs "as if we are at war". The justice ministry did not respond to requests for information on any plans for more state rehab centres. And the food and drug safety ministry said it would add only one this year due to budget constraints, without elaborating. On Thursday, the Seoul city government announced an expansion of support for addicts, including developing a rehab centre at a city hospital and working with Choi's organisation to open at least two more residential facilities. DRUG-FREE NO MORE Drugs have become cheaper and more accessible because of social media and an increase in overseas travel, Choi said. "In Seoul, you can get exactly what you want within 30 minutes via social media." The number of people convicted of drug crimes shot up to more than 16,000 in 2021, from around 12,000 in 2015, according to the Supreme Prosecutors' Office. Almost 60% of those convicted of drug crimes in 2021 were 39 or younger, while the number of teen offenders jumped 44% in 2021 from 2020. The volume of confiscated illicit drugs more than tripled to a record 1.3 tonnes (2,870 lb) in 2021, due partly to multinational investigations into smuggling rings, data from the prosecutors' office also showed. Meth, cocaine and marijuana made up around 85% of the seizures. Authorities are as well seeing more synthetic cannabinoids and opioids like fentanyl, which is up to 100 times more powerful than morphine. "A higher volume and a greater variety of drugs are being smuggled in many different forms," said Lee Kyoung-ran, a customs officer at South Korea's largest airport in Incheon. President Yoon Suk Yeol, who has lamented that the country is no longer "drug-free", last week ordered tougher measures to root out traffickers and confiscate drug profits. Meanwhile, addicts trying to quit are left looking for help. Desperate to get off meth, Lee Dong-jae, 23, managed to find Choi last year. Choi offered free counselling and housing at his rehab centre and also gave Lee a job at his wife's restaurant. "I've never had a job or daily life like this since taking drugs, but now feel I'm slowly recovering the lively and positive side of me," Lee said. (Reporting by Hyonhee Shin and Minwoo Park; Additional reporting by Daewoung Kim and Dogyun Kim; Editing by Tom Hogue) A 90-year-old man was killed when he was thrown from a tractor and pinned under one of its wheels Wednesday, a Fayette County coroner said. Authorities are calling the death an accident, Salem radio station WJBD reported. Patoka Fire Chief Blake Hyde told the radio station that the person who discovered Billy Edwards beneath the tractor believes he was already deceased. Firefighters were able to remove the body. Edwards was pronounced dead at the scene, which was on his property off East 100th Avenue a mile south of the Boat Dock Road west of Patoka, according to WJBD. The accident was reported at about 3:54 p.m. Wednesday. Patoka is located along Illinois 51 east of Carlyle Lake. Hyde said the tractor had just been purchased a few days earlier. Mary Thomas helped Spartanburg families to get food, clothing, childcare, or whatever they needed to build healthier lives and then led a group to establish a village for Rwandan refugees and Zairian children after the Rwandan War. For more than 25 years, Thomas has used her talents and leadership skills to help people and communities in need. Now she is taking her work to the national level by becoming the new president and CEO of CFLeads. The Boston-based nonprofit is a national network of community foundations committed to advancing community leadership, according to its website. Thomas is completing her work as the Chief Operating Officer for the Spartanburg County Foundation and executive director of the Robert Hett Chapman III Center for Philanthropy. Her last day on the job is April 17. "I cannot imagine a better fit for Mary at this time in her career than her new role at CFLeads," said Troy Hanna, president and CEO of the Spartanburg County Foundation. "She takes with her the good work being done locally in Spartanburg to a national platform with this move. I could not be happier for her." Surprise ceremony: Spartanburg County Foundation COO Mary L. Thomas honored Thomas was a part of CFLead's founding board and definition of community leadership, in 2009. Now, she becomes president and CEO. "I never would have imagined I'd be sitting in the seat as their next president and CEO," Thomas said. "CFLeads was not something I necessarily pursued. A dear friend of mine, George Newby, told me a long time ago 'Let the game come to you,' and that's what happened." The Spartanburg County Foundation announces that Mary L. Thomas, the Foundations Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director for the Robert Hett Chapman, III Center for Philanthropy, has accepted a new position. She will be leaving to become the President & CEO of CF Leads, a national network of community foundations. Developing a career to help others improve their lives In 1987, Thomas became the executive director of the Bethlehem Center and held the job for 11 years. She worked to bring quality programs and services to the Highland community. Thomas oversaw various initiatives, including childcare services, afterschool programs and senior citizen activities. She even expanded her philanthropic work to Zaire, where she lead a team to rebuild a village for children after the Rwandan War. Story continues "I come from a background of service, and I've always been a part of a family that looks out for other people," Thomas said. "The first philanthropist I ever knew was my grandmother. The love of humankind is what philanthropy is. It comes from how I was raised, my love for community, humanity and people." Thomas's humanitarian efforts influence Spartanburg's communities When Thomas began working for the Spartanburg County Foundation in 1998, it served simply as a charitable bank, providing financial services for organizations in the county. "We weren't doing the outreach in the community that community foundations do," Thomas said. "We have evolved into more than just a charitable bank. The board, under the leadership of John Dargan, allowed me to spread my wings. I just started convening and bringing the community together to consider what's best for Spartanburg." She led the Extended Day Academic Program, a program that reached out to younger students to enhance their abilities in academics. The program allowed the trustees to make the largest grant in the foundation's history of $1.05 million to all seven school districts. The Spartanburg County Foundation announces that Mary L. Thomas, the Foundations Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director for the Robert Hett Chapman, III Center for Philanthropy, has accepted a new position. She will be leaving to become the President & CEO of CF Leads, a national network of community foundations. From 2003 to 2004, the foundation began losing money from stock markets and struggled to figure out how to do more with fewer finances. Thomas's experience at the Bethlehem Center allowed her to start bringing more national funding to the Spartanburg community. "I was serving on some national boards at the time, and met with some foundations that had an interest in the South," Thomas said. "One thing led to another, and we were able to get William Randolph Hearst Foundation funding, Mary Reynolds Babcock Foundation funding and the faith-based initiative that George Bush led while he was in office. All of that together helped us leverage well over $750,000 to do what we call 'strengthening voices.'" "Strengthening voices" was about building organizations to be more effective and to work with the people they serve. The individuals went through a Grassroots Leadership Development Institute, an institute that builds leaders in the community by promoting community growth and activism. The Spartanburg County Foundation announces that Mary L. Thomas, the Foundations Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director for the Robert Hett Chapman, III Center for Philanthropy, has accepted a new position. She will be leaving to become the President & CEO of CF Leads, a national network of community foundations. When Thomas served as the foundation's executive vice president in 2006, she was honored with the Robert W. Scrivner Award for Creative Grant Making. As part of the award, she received a $10,000 prize which she used to launch the Mary L. Thomas Fund for Civic Leadership and Community Change Fund. This fund provides recognition to outstanding leaders in the community, who have made a positive and lasting contribution to Spartanburg. "Mary Thomas, in my estimation, brought to life the Community Leadership work of the Spartanburg County Foundation," Hanna said. "Mary has been dedicated to community transformation throughout her career, and I am grateful for her 25 years of service to our community through her work at the Spartanburg County Foundation." Adom Appiah, who is a freshman at Duke University, is the founder of the nonprofit organization Ball4Good. He took a seventh-grade service project and created the nonprofit volunteer organization that has raised more than $70,000 for causes such as autism, the homeless and abused children. Appiah has been recognized for his dedication to community service. He said Thomas's guidance and leadership are what shaped him into the leader he is today. "Ms. Mary Thomas' mentorship has significantly impacted me in my journey as a leader," Appiah said. "Over the years, her guidance has helped me to understand the power of community building. I am so greatly thankful for her influence in my life." The Spartanburg County Foundation announces that Mary L. Thomas, the Foundations Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director for the Robert Hett Chapman, III Center for Philanthropy, has accepted a new position. She will be leaving to become the President & CEO of CF Leads, a national network of community foundations. Thomas will help communities at a national level with CFLeads Thomas will be in a new position, but she will be able to spend some time in Spartanburg. "It's bittersweet that Mary is leaving. I am happy that she gets to spread her wings and do the work she loves to do nationally," said Victor Durrah Jr., president and executive director of BRUHMentorship. "I had the honor to meet her through Grassroot and from there she's been a mentor of mine. "She's taught me a lot of work about leadership and has been a real influence on the work we've been doing in BRUHMentorship. Her leadership in Spartanburg reaches beyond the Spartanburg County Foundation. She has a leadership and professional quality that is unmatched throughout our community." Thomas said the message of CFLeads shared the same passions she believes in. She said the organization is unapologetically committed to advancing public policy, insisting on racial equity and amplifying community voice. Everything in CFLeads speaks to who Thomas is. "That's what really drew me to this opportunity and I'm so excited about it," Thomas said. "They use the term 'evangelize' and I just knew that this job was for me. I'm in ministry and I understand what it means in the spiritual realm, but in this context, we have a compelling message that we hope community foundations will embrace so we can do the work in place space communities." Thomas hopes to leave her legacy in a way to be remembered for her innovation, commitment to community and passion to serve others. She is looking forward to seeing the impact other members of the Foundation will bring to the community. The Spartanburg County Foundation announces that Mary L. Thomas, the Foundations Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director for the Robert Hett Chapman, III Center for Philanthropy, has accepted a new position. She will be leaving to become the President & CEO of CF Leads, a national network of community foundations. "It's not just about Mary, it's about who we bring along with us," Thomas said. "Sometimes we have to step back so others can step up, and that's what I'm excited about seeing. I want to say thank you to Spartanburg and every member of the community I've had the privilege to work with and I want to thank our incredible team here at the Foundation." This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Mary L Thomas joins CFLeads to help communities across the nation US can't drive a wedge between China and Africa 09:23, April 13, 2023 By Hannan R. Hussain ( China.org.cn A view of the White House in Washington D.C., the United States. [Photo/Xinhua] Well after U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris touted her week-long Africa trip as a win for U.S. trade and security commitments, close observers and U.S. officials are now clear about the trip's real objective: more anti-China signaling to governments in Ghana, Tanzania, and Zambia. But Harris' recurring focus on countries' strictly internal affairs and her push for U.S.-influenced democratic reforms fail to reckon with underlying grievances in Africa about transactional U.S. attitudes towards the region. It took a fruitless visit from America's top diplomat last year and unwarranted debt conspiracies from its treasury chief to confirm Washington's neglect of the U.S.-Africa partnership under Biden. Deflecting the blame on China only highlights the real hypocrisy of American diplomacy in the region, given its desire to interfere in African countries' independent reform trajectories and use selective investments as a political weapon. Recall Harris' exchanges in Tanzania and Zambia. America is unqualified to preach the value of coexistence and "democratic reforms" to Tanzania. It has employed democracy as a weapon to filter African allies based on regime type, as opposed to common interests, effectively challenging its broader support for "freedom, justice, and democracy." Harris' endorsement of America's divisive Summit for Democracy ignored Washington's own role in aggravating Africa's food insecurity, hunger, and adaptation challenges through undemocratic means, including sanctions. Tanzania, in stark contrast, is a principled case study, where its "efforts in building a democratic nation" are informed by choices that are internal to the country and its people. U.S. approval of what acceptable reform should look like is an unwanted obstacle to that autonomy. Calling on governments to downplay their friendship with China is nothing but a glaring representation of U.S. insecurities and can only strengthen time-tested partnerships further in the face of America's cold war attitudes. Any expectations that Harris' trip genuinely reckoned with U.S. contributions to Africa's colonial legacy were also in vain. During her stop in Ghana, Harris chose to focus more on lofty promises about U.S. support for "African innovation." Innovation and cooperation are a tough sell given U.S. efforts to undercut Ghana's sovereignty in support of an expanding military presence in the recent past. Also, its continuous failure to win back goodwill after brazenly castigating Africa's innovation lifeblood: its nations. On trade and investment, Harris' three-nation tour also appeared tall on pledges and painfully short on actual deliverables, indicating where U.S. priorities should actually focus. From $7 billion in "new commitments" to Zambia to repackaged offerings in Ghana and Tanzania, her administration fell short of a plan to scale up these offerings in the long term. History makes clear that America's waning trade priorities for years have confined its trade with the continent to a fraction of Africa's total with leading partners. In effect, this challenges the credibility of new U.S. "investments" and the "significant economic benefits" that Harris allegedly saw coming. On regional security, U.S. contributions to West Africa's security challenges warrant serious questioning rather than scapegoating Beijing for America's own overreach. In Ghana, Harris announced $100 million in U.S. aid to ward off militancy. And yet, it is counterproductive U.S. security assistance of the past and its domestic warfare support that left key militant groups undiminished in the region. Similarly, the geopolitical overtones of Harris' trip extended to America's erroneous perceptions about Chinese influence in Africa. "We are continuing to reiterate our call for all bilateral official creditors to provide meaningful debt reduction," said Harris in response to a press question on China's debt restructuring. Her precise insistence that the trip was not "about China" directly contradicts senior officials from her own government who said Harris sought to bring up Chinese economic and technological engagement with Africa, billing them as a so-called concern to the U.S. It is anyone's guess that futile efforts to sow discord between Africa and China can only expose deep-seated insecurities in America's courtship of Africa. In a sign that Harris walked away without an audience, hear it from Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema: "Things must not be seen that way." Thus, it is clear by now that Harris' much hyped-up Africa trip was another futile exercise in anti-China hostilities. The real casualty of America's cold war obsession is its diplomatic credibility, given alarming doublespeak on "cooperation" with Africa. There is a telling discord between calling for a progressive Africa in speech and attempting to clip that progression through unwarranted targeting of Africa's most treasured relationships. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Stability AI, the startup funding a range of generative AI experiments, has released a new version of Stable Diffusion, the text-to-image AI system that was among the first to rival OpenAI's DALL-E 2. Called Stable Diffusion XL, or SDXL, the new system -- which is available in beta through DreamStudio, Stability AI's generative art tool -- improves upon the original in key ways. Tom Mason, Stability AI's CTO, says that it brings a "richness" to image generation that the old model (Stable Diffusion 2.1) lacked, with improvements most notable in applications like graphic design and architecture. "We're excited to announce the latest iteration in our Stable Diffusion series of image solutions," he said in a canned statement. "[It's] transformative across several industries ... with the results taking place in front of our eyes." Setting aside the hyperbole, SDXL does indeed seem on a par with -- and perhaps even better than -- the latest release of Midjourney's model, the model responsible for "Balenciaga Pope" (among other memes). While the previous version of Stable Diffusion and many other text-to-image systems struggle mightily to recreate certain anatomy, like hands, SDXL has no such trouble. The hands aren't always... well, realistic. But they're miles ahead of the nightmare fuel SDXL's predecessor would often produce. Stable Diffusion SDXL handles hands better, but obviously not perfectly. Image Credits: Stability AI Stable Diffusion Stable Diffusion 2.1 is clearly worse at hands, hands down. (I'll see myself out.) Image Credits: Stability AI SDXL is supposedly better at generating text, too, a task that's historically thrown generative AI art models for a loop. But it still has a ways to go if my brief testing is any indication. Stable Diffusion roadside On the top, results from Stable Diffusion 2.1. On the bottom, outputs from SDXL. Image Credits: Stability AI In a press release, Stability AI also claims that SDXL features "enhanced image composition and face generation" and doesn't require long, detailed prompts to create "descriptive imagery," unlike its predecessor. Moreover, SDXL has functionality that extends beyond just text-to-image prompting, including image-to-image prompting (inputting one image to get variations of that image), inpainting (reconstructing missing parts of an image) and outpainting (constructing a seamless extension of an existing image). Story continues As a wildcard, I tried to recreate the Balenciaga Pope meme with as short a prompt as possible: "Balenciaga Pope." The difference in the results was starker than I expected, I must say, with SDXL posing runway models in what might pass for designer attire versus the straightforwardly religious-seeming apparel that the old Stable Diffusion conjured up. Once it exits beta, SDXL will be open sourced, Stability AI says, just like the previous iterations of Stable Diffusion. In addition to DreamStudio, SDXL is currently available through Stability's API, also in early access. While generative AI art tech marches forward, tools like SDXL have landed companies in hot water over the way they've been built and commercialized. Stability AI is in the crosshairs of a legal case that alleges the company infringed on the rights of millions of artists by developing its tools using web-scraped, copyrighted images. Stock image supplier Getty Images has also taken Stability AI to court for reportedly using images from its site without permission to create the original Stable Diffusion. The open source release of Stable Diffusion has also become the subject of controversy, owing to its relatively light usage restrictions. Some communities around the web have tapped it to generate pornographic celebrity deepfakes and graphic depictions of violence. To date, at least one U.S. lawmaker has called for regulation to address the release of models like Stable Diffusion that "don't sufficiently moderate content." In response to the lawsuits, Stability AI recently pledged to respect artists' requests to remove their art from Stable Diffusion's training dataset, but that didn't apply to SDXL -- only the next-generation Stable Diffusion models, code-named "Stable Diffusion 3.0." Artists have removed more than 78 million works of art from the training dataset to date, according to Spawning, the organization leading the opt-out effort. Legal challenges be damned, Stability AI is under pressure to monetize its sprawling AI efforts, which run the gamut from art and animation to biomed and generative audio. Stability AI CEO Emad Mostaque has hinted at plans to IPO, but Semafor recently reported that Stability AI -- which raised over $100 million in venture capital last October at a reported valuation of more than $1 billion -- "is burning through cash and has been slow to generate revenue." Just over a month remains before voters will decide the next mayor of Jacksonville and the outcome of the race could have implications beyond the borders of Duval County. Statewide leaders including Governor Ron DeSantis and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson have thrown their support behind Republican Mayoral Candidate Daniel Davis. Meanwhile, Democratic mayoral candidate Donna Deegan has garnered support from national figures like the head of the Democratic National Committee and noteworthy political strategists. Nikki Fried, Chair of the Florida Democratic Party and former Florida Agriculture Commissioner, told Action News Jax after a disappointing loss in 2022, Democrats are hoping a blue victory in the Jacksonville mayors race could provide a spark that resonates throughout the state. Read: Former FWC officer arrested by St. Johns deputies for possession of child sexual abuse material And it also raises back the awareness of the rest of the country that Florida is back on the map. We are back in play, Fried said. Recent polls have shown Deegan up by eight to 15 points over Davis, but the states current Ag Commissioner isnt deterred. Read: Florida GOP passes 6-week abortion ban; DeSantis supports it Its not going to materialize for them, Simpson said. Simpson is hopeful with Davis staying ahead on fundraising, Davis will be able to pull out a victory in May. Davis raked in roughly $560,000 to his political action committee last month alone, compared to $185,000 raised by Deegan. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] Our voters know what theyre doing, and yes, they may like her even as a newscaster, but they certainly do not like her liberal policies, Simpson said. Fried, on the other hand, is optimistic Duval voters are ready for a change in direction. Shes hopeful Deegans name recognition will help overcome the cash difference. [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Duval County is one of the largest blue counties in the nation that doesnt have a blue mayor and so this is an opportunity for this county to truly elect a leader who is reflective of the values of the people who live in Duval, Fried said. Story continues While election day is still 40 days away, you can get a chance to hear the candidates in their own words on a wide array of policies in just one week. Catch the mayoral debate next Thursday at 7 p.m. right here on Action News Jax. Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. TUPELO, Miss. Production at a large north Mississippi tire plant has ground to a halt in the wake of a damaging tornado, pausing operations at one of Goodyears largest production facilities in North America. Storms that dropped possibly dozens of tornadoes tore through the South and Midwest on April 1, killing at least 26 and causing widespread damage. Cooper Tire and Rubber Company, which was acquired by the manufacturing giant Goodyear in 2021, has shuttered its Tupelo plant as officials oversee repairs to the facility. Large sections of roofing atop the plant sustained heavy damage during the early morning storm that blew through Tupelo, which is about 115 miles (185 kilometers) southeast of Memphis. The broken and damaged trees along U.S. Hwy 45 South are covered with metal and other materials that were ripped off the nearby Cooper Tire and Rubber Company, on April 1, 2023, in Tupelo, Miss. Production at the large north Mississippi tire plant has ground to a halt in the wake of a damaging tornado, halting operations at the second-largest production facility for Goodyears North American network. Goodyear officials have not revealed a timetable for when the plant's roughly 1,700 workers can return to work. Melissa Monaco, the vice present of communications for the Ohio-based company, told the Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal that waylaid workers would be paid for the duration of the shutdown. The Tupelo plant is the second-largest production facility for Goodyears North American network, according to Modern Tire Dealer. The trade magazine estimates the plant produces about 42,000 tires per day. This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Storm damage halts production at Goodyear tire plant in Tupelo US-MILITARY-INTELLIGENCE-DOCUMENTS-LEAK-MEDIA This aerial footage courtesy of WBZ via CBS shows the suspect, national guardsman Jack Teixeira, being taken into custody by FBI agents in North Dighton, Mass. Credit - WBZ/CBS/AFP/Getty Images Moments before his arrest by armed FBI agents on Thursday, a helicopter from a local news station caught footage of 21-year-old Jack Teixeira reading a book on the sun-splashed back porch of his house in North Dighton, Mass. In his front yard, meanwhile, FBI agents in camouflage tactical gear were climbing out of an armored vehicle, tightening the straps of their bullet-proof vests and gripping long guns. The dramatic scene playing out in a sleepy, riverside exurb underscored the peculiarity of a case that exposed military documents, complicated relations with U.S. allies, and triggered national embarrassment. Intelligence leaks of this magnitude in the past have been the result of an alienated whistle-blower, double agent or successful spy operation. Now arguably the most damaging disclosure of U.S. government documents in a decade may have stemmed from the hubris of a junior enlisted member in the Massachusetts Air National Guard who shared them in a small online chat group called Thug Shaker Central. In recent days, reports have surfaced that the suspected leaker wanted to show off his access to classified intelligence to the members of the Discord group largely composed of teenagers. On Thursday, Teixeira was charged with the alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a brief statement at the Justice Department on Thursday. FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident, he said. Two long-standing national security issues converged to create this surreal saga. The first is the governments fight to control access to classified intelligence in the nations sprawling military apparatus. The second is law enforcements struggle to monitor potentially illegal activities on fringe online platforms and Internet subcultures the U.S. government may have little visibility on. Story continues Read More: The Mysteries of the Biggest Intel Leak in a Decade. The challenges presented by widespread access to classified intelligence have long been recognized by experts inside the government and out. The threat that this has now exacerbated was a known threat, says Mark Zaid, an attorney who practices national security law. Its not new that there are too many people who have access to classified information, and even once you have authorized access, you have access to too much data that you dont have a need to know. The question is, what are we doing about it? The guardsman the government alleges is tied to the leak is equally familiar. The portrait emerging of Teixeira resembles that of many of the young men who congregate in the far-flung online spaces where right-wing youth culture has taken root with often devastating consequences. According to reports, Teixeira appears to have reveled in leading a small community where young men, many of them teenagers, gathered to talk guns and religion, swap racist memes, discuss world events, and express anti-government sentiments marked by references to Waco and Ruby Ridge. Teixeira seemed to seek the attention of his online acolytes, posting classified documents in order to keep them in the loop, according to one of the members of the group who spoke to the Washington Post. Airman Jack Teixeira, in a photo from social media. Hundreds of pages of these classified U.S. intelligence documents sat on Discord chat servers for more than a month before one of the teenage members of the group posted them to more mainstream public platforms, from where the media and eventually the U.S. government seemed to become aware of them. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was first briefed on the leaks on April 6, according to the Pentagon, the same day their existence was first reported by the New York Times and a day after the documents began circulating on mainstream social platforms. The Pentagon referred the matter to the Justice Department, which opened a formal criminal probe last week. Defense and State Department officials are still assessing the damage that may have been wrought by the leak. Before Teixeiras arrest, national security officials told TIME they expected the perpetrator to be caught quickly. The leaker hadnt been careful, haphazardly photographing documents that had clearly been folded and smoothed out on a desk containing several objects, including a hunting magazine, a bottle of glue, and nail clippers. Some documents reviewed by TIME also contained date and time stamps in the corners, likely making it easier to identify when and how they had been printed, because the government logs who opens or prints digital documents Read More: How Far-Right Personalities Cashed in on Gaming Platforms. It remains unclear how Teixeira, a junior enlisted National Guard member, would have access to such sensitive classified material. Teixiera works as a cyber transport systems journeymen, which entails repairing communication systems, according to his military records released by the National Guard. Hes stationed with the 102nd Intelligence Wing, headquartered at Otis Air National Guard Base located on Cape Cod. Since enlisting in September 2019, he has only received a single award, the Air Force Achievement Medal, in his more than three years in service. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Thursday said he was considering additional measures necessary to safeguard our nations secrets, and had ordered a review of our intelligence access, accountability and control procedures within the Department to inform our efforts to prevent this kind of incident from happening again. The Joint Staff, which is composed of the top uniformed members of the six military branches, began whittling down their email distribution lists shortly after slides appeared online last week, bearing the mark of their intelligence directorate, a senior defense official tells TIME. The revamped distribution lists now involve individuals who need-to-know, rather than would-like-to-know. Pentagon spokesman U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon on April 13, 2023. Alex BrandonAP The leak may also add new urgency to the ongoing debate over the screening of online profiles of military service members and government officials for potential problematic affiliations and activities. People who raise obvious red flags shouldnt be in the U.S. government having access to classified information, plain and simple, says Zaid. The question is, how do we identify those people? The leak has also put a spotlight on the lack of law-enforcement visibility into platforms like Discord. Payton Gendron, the teenager who pleaded guilty to killing 10 shoppers in a Buffalo supermarket last year, openly shared on Discord how he planned to target black people in a live-streamed attack for months before he carried it out. Users on many of these platforms tend to be young: the average age of members on servers that researchers found to engage with right-wing ideologies, when determinable, was 15, according to a 2021 analysis by the London-based Institute for Strategic Dialogue (ISD), a nonprofit that analyzes online extremism. Asked if the Pentagon had been in contact with Discord, a spokesman referred questions to the company. In a statement, a Discord spokesperson told TIME that the company was cooperating with law enforcement. A student mysteriously vanished from a South Carolina college town in 1998 and hasnt been seen since, officials said. Now, 25 years later, deputies are still seeking clues about the disappearance of Jason Knapp. The York, Pennsylvania, native was 20 years old when he reportedly was last seen at his apartment in Clemson, South Carolina, on April 11, 1998. Then, 10 days after he was last seen, his Chevrolet Beretta was found abandoned about 30 miles from his apartment. It was found in a parking area at the vast Table Rock State Park, which spans 3,000 acres of mountain terrain, according to the Pickens County Sheriffs Office and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System. The discovery sparked extensive searches of the area, and a lake was drained at one point after Knapps disappearance. Chief Deputy Chuck James told McClatchy News in a phone interview that the parking lot is a gateway to miles of trails at the park. Its dense trees and vegetation in a mountainous area, James said. Searching those types of areas can also be very difficult because there are areas that are in some cases inaccessible just due to the danger. At the time of his disappearance, Knapp was a mechanical engineering student at Clemson University. He had just gotten into the elite Pershing Rifles ROTC program and shared his excitement with his mom days before he went missing, officials said. He was totally looking forward to the future, friend Amanda Outen told The Greenville News in 2014. He had so many things to look forward to. He was just in a happy place. Knapp, who has brown hair and blue eyes, was wearing a t-shirt, blue jeans, and blue sneakers when his roommates last saw him leaving their apartment complex. They believe he was going to a restaurant over Easter weekend in 1998, according to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children and a post that deputies shared in 2015. After Knapps car was found in Table Rock, his mother Deborah Boogher said she met with the park manager for years to get search updates. Her son wouldnt go hiking alone and didnt tell his friends about going to the park, she told The York Dispatch in 2018. Story continues Thats the one thing to this day that I dont understand, she told the newspaper. Its all a mystery to me. Twenty years after the disappearance, Boogher told the newspaper her son had been declared legally dead, despite no body being found. Deputies said there isnt evidence of foul play in the case, but they havent ruled it out in their investigation. Then in 2022, an age-progression photo was released to help people visualize how Knapp would look as a 44-year-old. But the release didnt produce leads, and tips slowly have been trickling in over the past few years, James said. 25 years later Jasons mom, Deborah Boogher, still holds on to the hope that she will find the answers she has been searching for and longs to bring her son home safely, the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children wrote April 12 on Facebook. Deborah told NCMEC that several years ago she created scrapbooks filled with cherished photographs, mementos, and belongings of Jason. She holds these close to her heart and hopes that they will be passed down through their family. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 800-843-5678 or the sheriffs office at 864-898-5500. Clemson is roughly 30 miles southwest of Greenville. Georgia teen vanished in South Carolina one year ago. What we know as search continues 26-year-old found dead in creek after out of character disappearance, SC cops say Officers searched a student for weapons at Camden County High School on Thursday morning after getting a report that the student intended to bring a weapon to school. Camden County Schools said in a news release that school officials were notified of a potential threat on Thursday morning. School resource officers met the student as they entered the school and performed a search. No weapon was found. The Kingsland Police Department also responded to assist in investigating the threat. The school district encourages parents to stay up-to-date on the latest information by following the Camden County Schools website and Facebook page as well as the SchoolMessenger app. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live. A substitute teacher in a Nevada school district was fired after he wrote a racial slur on a whiteboard during class, according to local news outlets. The teacher was working as a substitute at Charles Silvestri Junior High School in Las Vegas, according to KVVU. A video uploaded to TikTok on April 12 shows a male teacher standing at a whiteboard in a classroom and starting to erase words, including a racial slur and the word and symbol = Black. A photo of the whiteboard and teacher was also posted on Twitter by an account called No Racism in Schools #1865. The Clark County School District, which oversees the high school, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from McClatchy News on April 13. The schools principal sent a letter home to families to inform them about an incident that involved communication that contained racial implications, according to KSNV. The administration will continue to communicate with you about these situations because it will take the entire Silvestri Junior High School community to condemn these actions collectively, the letter obtained by the outlet says. As the school principal, I assure you that appropriate action will be taken against those responsible based on the outcome of the investigation. Social media users, including the Nevada attorney general, commented on the incident online. Who could possibly think this is appropriate?! Nevada Attorney General Aaron D. Ford wrote on Twitter. Shameful and offensive. Hard to believe that (Clark County School District) substitute would lack common sense and write out a racial slur on the whiteboard, wrote another Twitter user. The letter from the principal also thanked the students who came forward to report the actions by the substitute teacher, according to KSNV. The letter did not identify the teacher. We are thankful to the students who immediately brought this to our attention, the letter says, according to KVVU, which also obtained it. Silvestri Junior High School is dedicated to inclusion as the foundation of emotional, social, and academic growth and support of all individuals. Story continues Charles Silvestri Junior High School serves grades six-eight and enrolls 1,415 students, according to U.S. News & World Report. Shooter drill inspired teacher to have students write their obituaries. He was fired Student asked to perform pornographic monologue in class, parents say. Theyre suing School bus driver accused of fighting 12-year-old Michigan student in vicious attack KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) Sudans military warned Thursday of potential clashes with the countrys powerful paramilitary force, which it said had deployed troops in the capital of Khartoum and other areas without the army's consent. Tensions between the military and the paramilitary, known as Rapid Support Forces or RSF, have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the countrys democratic transition. In a statement, the military said the buildup of the RSF in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country was done without the approval of, or coordination with" the armed forces leadership and presents a clear violation of the law. The paramilitary recently deployed troops near the northern Sudanese town of Merowe. Also, videos circulating on social media Thursday show what appear to be RSF-armed vehicles being transported into Khartoum, further to the south. The latest tensions between the army and the paramilitary stem from a disagreement over how the RSF should be integrated into the military and what authority should oversee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudan's unsigned transition agreement. The army-RSF rivalry, dates back to the rule of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019. Under al-Bashir, the paramilitary force, led by powerful Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, grew out of former militias known as the Janjaweed that carried out a brutal crackdown in Sudans Darfur region during the decades of conflict there. Although the army and the RSF together carried out a coup in October 2021 that upended Sudan's transition to democracy, friction between them became increasingly visible in recent months, with conflicting public statements, heavy military presence in Khartoum and parallel foreign trips by military and RSF leaders. The RSF said Wednesday that its presence in northern Sudan and elsewhere is aimed at achieving security and stability and fighting human trafficking and illegal migration. The wealthy paramilitary force is estimated to have tens of thousands of fighters. Story continues According to Kholood Khair, founder and director of Confluence Advisory, a think tank in Khartoum, tensions between the army and the RSF are at an all-time high and Thursday's militarys statement just fell "short of accusing the RSF of committing an act of rebellion. The escalation has raised concerns of new fighting in a country known for internal armed conflicts. Many took to social media to express their concerns. Sudan's National Umma Party one of the country's largest political groups called for restraint and urged all political forces against escalating the situation. The party also called an emergency meeting Thursday morning with military and RSF representatives and senior political figures. No details immediately emerged following the meeting. A joint statement Thursday by envoys to Sudan from France, Germany, Norway, Britain, the United States and the European Union said they were deeply concerned about the recent escalation. It called on the military and the RSF to resolve the outstanding issues" on security and establish a "unified, professional military accountable to a civilian government. In response to the escalation, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum advised American citizens on Thursday against travelling to northern Sudan. Also, U.S. government staff have been prohibited from venturing beyond the capital's metropolitan area until next Thursday, it said. The 2021 coup removed a Western-backed, power-sharing administration and dashed Sudanese aspirations for democratic rule after three decades of autocracy and repression under al-Bashir. A months-long popular uprising forced the militarys overthrow of al-Bashir in April 2019. Since then, the former president, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide in the Darfur conflict, has been imprisoned in Khartoum. On the anniversary of the sinking of the Moskva cruiser, Russia's Black Sea Fleet flagship, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has said that Ukraine's victory in the war is inevitable, and the sunken Russian flagship will one day become a popular location for divers. Source: Reznikov on Facebook Quote: "Naval Forces from the Armed Forces of Ukraine rewrote a century of history one year ago. The missile cruiser Moskva, the 'Russian warship' (a pun where Ukrainian soldier tells the Moskva's crew to go f**k itself ed.), the flagship of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation was hit by a well-aimed strike of Ukrainian Neptune missiles, and sank the next day. Remember the mood we had a year ago. The event was so inspiring and at the same time incredible that many thought it couldn't be true. After all, the last time Russia lost its flagship was more than a century ago." Details: The minister recalled how Ukrainian soldiers did something that changed the course of history and led to a chain reaction, such as accelerating the provision of aid by partners, facilitating the escape of the Russian occupiers from Zmiinyi (Snake) Island, and allowing the "grain corridor" to be opened. Reznikov emphasised that the Ukrainians have proved in combat conditions that Ukraine-made weapons are able to cope with the most difficult tasks and protect citizens just as effectively as the best developments coming from its partners. Therefore, according to the minister, the development of the Ukrainian military industry is a priority, because it is an "element of independence". Reznikov also noted that the success of Ukraines Armed Forces on the battlefield is a guarantee that Ukraine will be supported, so now the most important thing is to support the defenders, maintain unity and reach the ultimate goal, step by step. "Victory is inevitable. I am sure that after our victory, the Moskva will become one of the most popular locations for divers. And tourists from all over the world will raise glasses of fantastic Crimean wine in Ukrainian Crimea for a good toast 'for the Russian navy right down to the bottom!'," Reznikov concluded. Story continues Background: On 14 April 2022, the Moskva cruiser, the flagship of the Russian Black Sea Fleet, sank in the Black Sea. This happened after the cruiser was hit by Ukrainian missiles. It was the crew of the Moskva cruiser who suggested that the defenders of Zmiinyi (Snake) Island surrender; the Ukrainian garrison told them to "go f**k themselves", which has since become a meme widely used in Ukraine and abroad. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Meteorologists are calling Wednesdays near 26 inches of rain in Fort Lauderdale a 1-in-1,000-year event. The Weather Channel blamed a stalled supercell thunderstorm for the deluge that shut down schools and a major international airport, and put surrounding neighborhoods underwater. Good afternoon! Thunderstorms will develop this afternoon across SFL, bringing a risk of both severe weather and flooding. Please exercise caution, particularly in those areas saturated from prior rainfall and/or where residual flooding is ongoing!#Flwx pic.twitter.com/GLFSOEf1mh NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) April 13, 2023 Heres what to know about what was behind the weather: Why did South Florida get all this rain? There were areas of South Florida that received prolific rainfall amounts yesterday, with the highest amounts of over 20 inches in coastal Broward County. Here is a map of the preliminary rainfall reports for 24 hours ending this morning.#flwx https://t.co/Ttl2lmxCOU pic.twitter.com/5LIPDVedqr NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) April 13, 2023 There is a weather science behind the five-day rain streak that began Easter Sunday, weather experts say. National Weather Service in Miami meteorologist Sammy Hadi predicted the weather pattern that has given us such a wet week. Theres a frontal boundary in the Florida Straits, he told the Miami Herald early on the start of the second nearly full day of rain. Its basically along the Florida Keys. And basically whats resulted is today [Tuesday] the bulk of the heavy rainfall will stay largely confined to the Florida Keys, the Florida Straits and Miami-Dade County. Story continues Then Wednesday came, with the shifting of winds and a mightier frontal boundary. The issue is as this frontal boundary begins to lift further north, this warm front begins to push further north across the area beginning [Tuesday night] into Wednesday. And during the day on Thursday, there will be the potential for all this heavy rain to work back up northwards across the area. And in doing so, theres the potential for thunderstorms as well, Hadi said. This is why a significant rain chance in South Florida remained on Thursday afternoon and flood warnings into the evening. Luke Culver, a storm data specialist for the weather service picked up on Hadis explanation in a phone interview with the Miami Herald on Thursday. Hadis prediction had come to pass. We just had a warm front slowly moving across the area yesterday, which led to slow moving and kind of back filling heavy rainfall showers and thunderstorms, Culver said. In other words, a succession of storms, all unloading in fast succession, steered by a cross section of winds and a particularly high amount of atmospheric moisture stirred off Atlantic waters, fellow NWS meteorologist Shawn Bhatti told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel on Thursday. The best way to explain it is that winds steer storms and moisture. In the lower 1-3 kilometers [of the atmosphere] we had east-southeast flow with really good moisture coming off the Atlantic water. Then we had good southerly flow in the mid levels, and above that we had westerly wind, Bhatti told the Sun-Sentinel. Now add another factor that came into play: a supercell thunderstorm. Whats a supercell thunderstorm? A supercell thunderstorm near Groom, Texas, on June 18, 2010, viewed from the National Weather Service Amarillo office. According to the weather service, a supercell thunderstorm is a tall storm cloud that has an anvil that stretches far east. What makes a supercell unique from all other thunderstorm types is that it contains a deep and persistent rotating updraft called a mesocyclone, the weather service said on its website. Wind sheer creates the mesocyclone and allows the storm to be tilted, which maintains its separate updraft and downdraft regions. These characteristics give supercells their hours-long longevity and helps explain why so much rain soaked Fort Lauderdale-area neighborhoods Wednesday. Supercells are the least common type of thunderstorm but earn their name for their high propensity to produce severe weather that can spawn tornadoes. Those are not totally atypical for here, especially during the wet season. It just so happened that multiple rounds of those thunderstorms kept recurring over the same area and that was primarily the Fort Lauderdale metro area, Culver said. A storm for the millennium? So, from a climatological perspective, did Wednesdays rains in Fort Lauderdale feature as a 1-in-1,000-year occurence or a 1-in-500-year storm? Both. Depends on the time being measured. The local weather service used Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport as its location. Nick Carr, lead forecaster with the National Weather Services Miami office, called the 25.91-inch rain totals historic and confirmed that this much rain in a single 24-hour day has a 0.2% chance of happening every year, which makes this a 1-in-500-year storm. KNOW MORE: Historic flooding in Fort Lauderdale But that much rain fell in a fraction of that time, which also allows for meteorologists to call what happened Wednesday a 1-in-a-1,000-year event. NWS Miami meteorologist Jennifer Simmons explained: Relative to a six-hour time period which is when a lot of this rain fell, within 6 to 12 hours these rain amounts have a 1-in-1,000, which is . 1% chance, of occurring at FLL in any given year. So, you probably heard the 1-in-1,000 because they were looking at a short time period because so much of this rain did fall in such a short time period. What about the tornadoes? Our survey crew has completed the tornado damage portion of their investigation. Two EF0 tornadoes were confirmed near Dania Beach yesterday. More info can be found in this Public Information Statement (PNS): https://t.co/lexa1IhU14 or in the attached graphic. pic.twitter.com/CG7HulO8e0 NWS Miami (@NWSMiami) April 13, 2023 On Thursday, the weather services survey crews confirmed that two EF0 tornadoes touched down near Dania Beach Wednesday. The first happened at 3:26 p.m. about a mile west of Hollywood and was of short duration causing minimal damage. The tornado may have just impacted the tree-top level, the survey team wrote in its report. The second EF0 tornado happened at 9:41 p.m. about a mile west-southwest of Dania Beach. This short-lived tornado was a bit stronger and caused tree damage along Old Griffin road before crossing into a mobile home community east of Interstate-95, the weather team wrote. Metal siding roof damage was noted throughout the community, they wrote. There were no reported injuries. Waves crash against the jetty at the Bal Harbour Lighthouse on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Bal Harbour, Florida. Rip current risk remains in effect through Thursday evening. Miami Herald climate change reporter Alex Harris contributed to this report. The Supreme Court will face its first test in the battle over abortion pills after the Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday asked it to pause a ruling set to take effect this weekend that would significantly hamper the availability of mifepristone. A late Wednesday night federal appeals court ruling on the widely used abortion pill will keep it on the market for now, but it could make it significantly more difficult to access, even in blue states that have fought to expand availability. Abortion-rights advocates, along with medical and legal experts, said Wednesday nights ruling from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals threatens to throw the availability of mifepristone into chaos if it is allowed to take effect. The late-night decision temporarily blocked the most contentious part of a decision handed down last week by a judge in Texas that invalidated the Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of mifepristone. So the drug will remain available, but severely restricted unless the Supreme Court stops the circuit court ruling from coming into force. Two of the three judges on the panel kept in place parts of the decision that essentially turned the clock back to 2016, when the FDA started issuing new guidelines to ease access to the pill. Those changes included increasing the gestational age when mifepristone can be used up to 10 weeks of pregnancy, allowing the medication to be mailed to patients, allowing providers other than physicians to prescribe the drug, and approving a generic version of mifepristone. Attorney General Merrick Garland will likely ask the Supreme Court to pause each of those remaining portions, which go into effect early Saturday morning, barring an intervention from the justices. The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Fifth Circuits decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA to deny in part our request for a stay pending appeal, Garland said in a statement on Thursday. Story continues 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. The Supreme Court is not required to consider the case, but legal experts and advocates said the stakes are too high for it to ignore. If the Supreme Court rejects the case, the Fifth Circuits decision remains in place. All eyes are focused on the Supreme Court, said Jennifer Dalven, director of the American Civil Liberties Union Reproductive Freedom Project. This has dangerous implications both in terms of federal law and state law as well. And so we really need the Supreme Court to step in here and right the ship and impose some sort of judicial accountability. In addition, the 5th Circuits opinion seems to directly contradict a ruling on Friday from a Washington state judge, who ordered the FDA to leave in place the current mifepristone prescribing and dispensing rules for 17 blue states and D.C. that filed a separate lawsuit. The Biden administration warned if the decision were allowed to stand, it would put every FDA drug approval decision at risk of being challenged for political purposes. If this decision stands, no medicationfrom chemotherapy drugs, to asthma medicine, to blood pressure pills, to insulinwould be safe from attacks, Vide President Harris said in a statement. This decision threatens the rights of Americans across the country, who can look in their medicine cabinets and find medication prescribed by a doctor because the FDA engaged in a process to determine the efficacy and safety of that medication. American Medical Association President Jack Resneck Jr. issued a similar warning. Last nights decision from the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals is a profoundly dangerous step backwards on access to mifepristone, he said. The order opens a pandoras box for similar politically motivated, unscientific attacks by judges with no medical or scientific training against the FDAs scientific, evidence-based approvals of countless other medications, Resneck said. If the Supreme Court does consider the case, the compressed timeline means the DOJ could initially ask the justices for an administrative stay, which would pause all prior rulings until the high court can consider the administrations request. The Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative Christian legal organization that represents the anti-abortion groups suing the FDA, told reporters during a briefing Thursday that they see the appeals courts decision as a significant victory and has no immediate plans to appeal it. However, the group is confident it will be able to argue that FDAs initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 was unlawful, just like District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ruled last week. We anticipate that we might be able to persuade the Fifth Circuit on a fuller briefing that the 2000 ruling is in play, the groups senior counsel Erin Hawley said. But for now, weve got a great victory in the fact that there are now three required doctor visits to make sure women are safe, and the FDA complies with the rule of law. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. A sign reading "Cancel Student Debt" outside the Supreme Court building in Washington, DC. Sarah Silbiger for The Washington Post via Getty Images The Supreme Court ruled that $6 billion in student-debt relief for 200,000 borrowers can move ahead. It's part of a settlement in a lawsuit filed in 2019 by borrowers who said they were defrauded. Three schools named in the settlement had asked the Supreme Court to pause the relief. The Supreme Court just handed thousands of student-loan borrowers a victory. The nation's highest court ruled on Thursday that $6 billion in student debt relief for 200,000 borrowers a result of a settlement from a yearslong lawsuit now known as Sweet v. Cardona. The lawsuit was first filed in 2019 under former President Donald Trump on behalf of borrowers with stalled borrower-defense claims, or claims borrowers can file if they believe they were defrauded by the school they attended. If approved, their debt would be wiped out. President Joe Biden's Education Department agreed to a settlement last summer, and a federal judge signed off on the relief in November. Shortly after, three schools named in the settlement appealed the decision and requested a lower court pause the relief as the legal process plays out. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the request, and now, the Supreme Court came to the same conclusion. "The application for stay presented to Justice Kagan and by her referred to the Court is denied," the Supreme Court wrote in its very brief decision. It offered no explanation for its decision. The three schools argued in their legal filing that they were not given "due process" to respond to the claims in the settlement and that they've suffered reputational harm from the settlement. The Education Department pushed back on those claims, writing in its response filed with the Supreme Court on Wednesday that "the Department has already begun implementing the settlement by notifying class members that they will receive discharges, directing loan servicers to start processing those discharges, updating its own internal systems to reflect the rescission of previous denials, and beginning the adjudication process for those reopened cases through the settlement's streamlined procedures." Story continues "The whipsawing that would occur if the settlement were stayed would cause confusion among the affected borrowers, loan servicers, and the public and would undermine the Department's ability to effectively implement the borrower-defense program," it said. This decision is separate from Biden's broad plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student debt for federal borrowers. That plan was paused in November due to two conservative-backed lawsuits seeking to permanently block the relief, and the Supreme Court heard oral arguments for the cases in February. It's expected to issue a final decision on the legality of the broad debt-relief plan by June. Read the original article on Business Insider (Bloomberg) -- Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and relatives sold three Georgia properties that include Thomass boyhood home to GOP mega-donor Harlan Crow in 2014, according to a report, marking the first known instance where money flowed to the high-court justice from the same Texas real estate magnate who has provided him with lavish trips around the world. Most Read from Bloomberg ProPublica said Thursday that Thomas didnt list the real estate sales on his financial disclosure form that year, just as he didnt report his extensive travel financed by Crow that occurred over two decades. Judicial experts interviewed by the investigative journalism organization said that omission appears to violate a federal law passed after the Watergate scandal that requires justices and other officials to provide details about most real estate transactions over $1,000. The report said one of Crows companies spent about $134,000 on the three properties in Savannah, owned by the justice, his mother and his brother. Thomass mother still resides in the home where he once lived. Crow paid contractors tens of thousands of dollars on improvements to the two-bedroom, one-bathroom house. That included roof repairs, a carport and a new fence and gates, ProPublica said, citing city records and blueprints. The two other parcels are nearby, the report said. Thomas did not immediately respond to a request for comment. He defended himself after the earlier report about the trips, saying hed been advised that he didnt have to disclose hospitality from close personal friends who didnt have any business before the court. In a statement, Crow insisted that the three Thomas property purchases were at market rate based on many factors including the size, quality, and livability of the dwellings. He said the purchase of the Thomas home is part of a broader plan to create a museum that could tell the story of the Black justices rise from poverty to prominence. Story continues I approached the Thomas family about my desire to maintain this historic site so future generations could learn about the inspiring life of one of our greatest Americans, Crow said. He added that his company bought the other two properties because they had fallen into disrepair and later sold them to a builder who was committed to improving the quality of the neighborhood. He said the improvements to Thomass childhood home serve to preserve its long-term viability and accessibility to the public. ProPublica said it could not determine whether Crow paid a fair market value for the properties. Steven Lubet, a Northwestern University legal ethics professor said The statute is completely straightforward and offers little wiggle room. Judges dont have to disclose sales of their primary residences, but Thomas listed the Savannah property as rental property on previous disclosure reports, including in 2014. Unlike the vacations, which were arguably within the personal hospitality exclusions, there is no apparent exclusion for this transaction, said Arthur Hellman, an ethics professor at the University of Pittsburgh. Last week, the news organization reported that Thomas and his wife, Virginia Thomas, traveled in Indonesia aboard Crows 162-foot yacht, vacationed frequently at his lavish Adirondacks resort and flew on his private plane on trips worth hundreds of thousands of dollars. Judicial experts interviewed by Bloomberg News disagreed as to whether Thomas violated the law by not revealing them. While the post-Watergate statute applies to gifts, its open to interpretation and justices have questioned whether they applied to them. The Supreme Court is the only federal court not subjected to a code of conduct. That report sparked swift calls for action by Democrats and outside government watchdog groups. Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, a Rhode Island Democrat, said in a statement that the Judicial Conference, a policymaking body for the US courts, should refer Thomas to US Attorney General Merrick Garland over possible violations of the Ethics in Government Act. Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin called the new report astonishing in a tweet. The chief justice must investigate how such conduct could take place at the Court under his watch, Durbin said. And if the court does not fix these clear abuses, Congress must. On Monday, all 11 Democrats on the Judiciary Committee sent a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts, calling on him to probe Thomass trips. Led by Chairman Dick Durbin of Illinois, they also called on Roberts to champion creation of a high-court code of conduct and vowed to consider legislation if that doesnt happen. They also said a hearing is planned to examine ethics issues at the court. --With assistance from Emily Birnbaum and Greg Stohr. (Updates with reaction, starting in 10th paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Experts say you have about a minuted to escape a sinking vehicle. Wikstrom, Jeppe/Getty Images After a Jeep was spotted submerged in a Texas lake, a woman was found alive inside. Survival experts said the woman probably had a pocket of air in the car. They also shared what you should remember if you drive your vehicle into a lake: SWOC. A woman in Texas was lucky to survive after being pulled from a Jeep that was submerged in a lake, but there are straightforward steps a person can take if they end up in a vehicle in a body of water, according to survival experts. A fisherman called police after spotting a black Jeep in Lake O' the Pines on Friday morning. Deputies with the Marion County Sheriff's Office were dispatched to the scene, arriving in about 18 minutes. After the wrecker service arrived to pull the jeep out of the water, the fisherman took them out in the water to hook onto the Jeep to pull it out. "It was at that time they saw the woman," Capt. Chuck Rogers told Insider. "The fisherman and wrecker employee were able to help the woman from the jeep. They placed her into the boat and she was brought to shore." The woman told authorities she thought she had spent several hours in the Jeep in the lake. But how exactly she ended up there, or how she survived, was not clear. Cat Bigney, a survival expert who has taught at the Boulder Outdoor Survival School for decades, told Insider a vehicle in water is "an urgent survival situation" because brain death typically begins within four minutes of oxygen deprivation. "Act quickly but don't panic. You may only have a minute to get out, but you must stay focused," Bigney, who has consulted for Bear Grylls and National Geographic, said. SWOC: Seat belts off. Windows open. Out immediately. Children first. Gordon Giesbrecht, a professor at the University of Manitoba, agreed that the first minute is absolutely crucial when a vehicle enters a body of water. Giesbrecht, who has been called Professor Popsicle, has studied cold water survival and the prevention of vehicle submersion deaths, even conducting his own demonstrations of driving a car into a body of water and what not to do in a sinking vehicle. Story continues Giesbrecht explained there is a simple way to remember what you should do if you drive into water SWOC: Seat belts off. Windows open. Out immediately. Children first. "You've got about a minute to get out of the vehicle," he said, adding it was more than enough time if you act quickly and don't waste precious minutes panicking. It may take several minutes for the car to sink, but it's important to get the windows open as soon as possible. As the water level rises on the outside of the vehicle, the resulting pressure can push into the windows, making them impossible to open, he said. Electric windows will continue to work for some time it's the external pressure from the rising water that will quickly make the windows impossible to open. If you are unable to open the windows in time, the next option would be to try breaking them. But Giesbrecht described that as nearly impossible. You can try to get creative with tools you have in the car, or use a tool designed to specifically break glass, but he said you shouldn't count on it. A woman was pulled from a submerged Jeep at Lake O' the Pines in Texas. Marion County Sheriffs Office Don't count on opening the door: 'Nothing good can happen after 60 seconds' Giesbrecht also rebuked the widely held idea that you should wait for the car to fill with water, at which point the pressure on the inside and outside of the vehicle will equalize, allowing you to open the door. When a car sinks, even if the windows are closed, water will get in through the vents and through the trunk, which is not airtight, unlike the doors in the passenger compartment. Although the trunk and passenger compartment are generally separated by a backseat, that barrier is also not airtight, meaning the two areas form one continuous air space, rather than two. Typically, the passenger compartment will fill with water first, causing the car to go vertical, with the trunk portion up in the air as it sinks, until the remaining air escapes through the trunk and it also fills up with water. Meaning, if you wait for the passenger compartment to fill with water, but the trunk isn't yet filled, there will still be more pressure outside than inside, and you won't be able to open the door. "When the passenger compartment is full, the vehicle is not," Giesbrecht explained. "There's more pressure on the outside than inside because there's still air inside the trunk." And if you try to wait until the entire vehicle, passenger compartment and trunk, is filled with water, you likely won't have enough time. The bottom line, Giesbrecht said, is don't count on escaping that way, adding: "Nothing good can happen after 60 seconds." As for the woman in the Jeep, he said there must have been an air pocket in the vehicle that allowed her room to breathe. He also noted that the Jeep was likely not fully submerged. Indeed, photos from the scene appear to show the very top of the Jeep just above the water. The Jeep also appeared to be horizontal, meaning the water was not deep enough to cause the vertical inversion that can happen when a car sinks. "That woman was very lucky that her vehicle stayed horizontal and was in shallow water and somebody came by," he said, but added that, assuming she wasn't injured or unconscious, "she would've absolutely had time to invoke SWOC." Have a news tip? Contact this reporter at kvlamis@insider.com. Read the original article on Insider One of two Americans who survived a deadly abduction last month in Mexico says she watched the video of the drug cartel shootout that killed two of her close friends on one of the kidnappers' phones. A road trip for cosmetic surgery took a fatal turn on March 3 when Latavia McGee and three friends crossed into a border town dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel where they were fired on and loaded into a pickup truck. McGee and Eric Williams survived but Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown died. All grew up together in Lake City, South Carolina, a town of fewer than 6,000 people. McGee and Williams discussed the experience in an interview Tuesday with CNN's Anderson Cooper. The all-too-familiar sounds of the gunshots and commotion from the abduction rang out from someone's phone in the house where masked, gun-toting members of the cartel had taken them, McGee recalled. When she got confirmation that the video depicted her kidnapping, she asked if she could see it. I just started crying," McGee said of her reaction to the video. "I was like, Im never going home. Learning of the video's circulation made her feel a little better, McGee said, but she still didn't know if their families had any knowledge of the events. Indeed, the events shook families across the Carolinas who said they agonized for days waiting to hear whether their loved ones had survived. McGee and Williams shared grisly details with CNN about their days held captive in a remote region of the Gulf Coast. At one point the two friends said the cartel tried to make them have sex. Williams, sitting in a wheelchair with a brace on his left leg, told CNN that the cartel brought them to a clinic after questioning them at gunpoint. Williams, who had been shot in the left leg, said the someone stitched his wound on a two-by-four. McGee's despair persisted as cartel members drove them around blindfolded in trucks filled with police scanners. Story continues They knew what was going on. They always was a step ahead," McGee told CNN. I was like, Theyre never going to find us like this. Their fortunes changed when McGee said they awoke one night from the dark room in a remote region of the Gulf Coast. A man holding a phone light entered and said he was fighting with his boss to free them after somebody made the wrong call," according to McGee. Early on the morning of March 6, the two survivors said the cartel dropped the four Americans at a wood shack where officials later found them. Williams said he lay covered on the floor of a pickup truck, hidden by the dead bodies of Woodard and Brown. Photograph: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images San Francisco police have made an arrest in the killing of the tech executive and Cash App creator Bob Lee, who was fatally stabbed last week in a crime that sent shock waves through the city and the tech industry. Law enforcement officers made an arrest early Thursday morning in nearby Emeryville, officials confirmed at a press conference Thursday afternoon. The suspect in the case, Nima Momeni, knew Lee, officials said, and appears to work in the tech industry. Momeni was taken into custody without incident and transported to the county jail on a charge of murder, said the San Francisco police chief, Bill Scott. Our investigators have been working tirelessly to make this arrest and bring this case to justice for the Lee family, just as we would for every homicide that occurs in the city, he said. Related: Bob Lee deserved better than to be killed and then co-opted in death | Joe Eskenazi Officials declined to provide details about the evidence that led them to Momeni and the exact circumstances of Lees death, citing an investigation that is still under way. We know that this has been a high-profile case and there has been a lot of speculation, and a lot of things said about our city and crime in the city, said the citys mayor, London Breed. Police found the 43-year-old Lee with stab wounds on the sidewalk in front of a condominium building in the Rincon Hill neighborhood shortly after 2.35am last Tuesday. Few details were released in the case immediately, but surveillance footage showed Lee stumbling along a sidewalk and seeking help in the aftermath of the violent attack. Lee was traveling in Momenis car when there was a confrontation and Lee left the vehicle, reported Mission Local, which broke the story of the arrest. Momeni allegedly stabbed Lee multiple times using a knife that was later recovered near the scene, according to the outlet. Momeni, 38, describes himself as an IT consultant and entrepreneur on LinkedIn. The San Francisco Chronicle reported that Momeni was charged in 2011 with allegedly selling a switchblade knife. Story continues The San Francisco police did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Lee, who created the mobile payment service Cash App while working as chief technology officer of Square, was the chief product officer for the cryptocurrency firm MobileCoin when he died. Friends have described him as a brilliant man with innate kindness and boundless energy. Though the circumstances of Lees death long remained unclear, the tragedy fueled fears about crime in San Francisco. . The city has a lower homicide and violent crime rate than other major cities, but many residents have grown frustrated by the addiction and homelessness crisis playing out on the streets and high rates of property crime. Tech leaders were quick to put pressure on public officials to address crime in the city. After the killing, Twitter CEO Elon Musk had decried violent crime in San Francisco and claimed perpetrators are often quickly released. The district attorney, Brooke Jenkins, described Musks comments as misinformation. Even one murder is too many. Regardless of the facts, violent acts like this are jarring to us all, Jenkins said. I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr Musks tweet, that assumed incorrect circumstances about Mr Lees death serve to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime. Officials pointed out that Lee was killed by someone that he knew and pushed back against depictions of the city as out of control. They knew each other. This has nothing to do with San Francisco. This has to do with human nature, the police chief said. Momeni will be arraigned on Friday afternoon, Jenkins said, on charges of murder with an enhancement for the use of a knife. Screenshot: Mobilecoin Police have made an arrest in the murder of Bob Lee, 43, the tech executive and co-founder of Cash App who was found stabbed to death in downtown San Francisco last week. Mission Local reports that police were recently dispatched to Emeryville, California, another Bay Area city, to arrest Nima Momeni, who is described as the owner of Expand IT and a man Lee purportedly knew. Read more According to the outlet, police have said that Lees murder was neither a robbery attempt nor a random attack. Instead, it is alleged to have been the result of a fight between the two men as they were riding together in Momenis car in the early hours of April 4. Police told Mission Local that Momeni and Lee were driving together through downtown San Francisco on the night of Lees murder and that they were traveling in a car registered to Momeni. At some point, a fight is said to have broken out inside the car, which potentially continued after Lee exited the car. This allegedly culminated in Momeni stabbing Lee multiple times. A knife was recovered near the crime scene. During a press conference Thursday, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said that Momeni had been charged with murder. The charge carries with it an enhancementa legal flourish that could impact sentencing in the casedue to the murder having been committed with a knife, said Jenkins. Momeni is scheduled to be arraigned tomorrow for the charges, the DA shared. Prior to his death, Lee was a well-known tech executive who, in addition to founding Cash App, worked for a number of large tech companies, including Jack Dorseys payment platform Block, nee Square. Lees death set off a wave of chatter online and in the media about San Franciscos crime problem. But a personal relationship between Lee and Momeni may undermine that narrative. Story continues Gizmodo reached out to the San Francisco Police Department for confirmation of Mission Locals details and will update this story if they respond. This article is part of a developing story. Our writers and editors will be updating this page as new information is released. Please check back again in a few minutes to see the latest updates. Meanwhile, if you want more news coverage, check out our tech, science, or io9 front pages. And you can always see the most recent Gizmodo news stories at gizmodo.com/latest. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Jack Teixeira, an airman in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested Thursday in Massachusetts in connection with the leak of classified documents shared in a group he managed on a website popular with gamers. Teixeira oversaw Thug Shaker Central, a group on Discord where more than 100 classified documents on topics ranging from Ukraine to intelligence gleaned from spying on allies first appeared. Teixeiras arrest comes after The New York Times reported last week that documents dealing with intelligence on Ukraines battle with Russia from as far back as February had been percolating on the site before spreading to other social media platforms. Investigators getting close to identifying US intelligence leaker: Biden Teixeira, 21, enlisted in the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and in July was promoted to Airman First Class. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed the arrest in a brief public statement, indicating Teixeira could face charges under the Espionage Act. Today the Justice Department arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, Garland said. FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident. He will have an initial appearance at the US District Court for the District of Massachusetts. The Espionage Act does not specifically bar the sharing of classified information but rather any information dealing with national defense. The arrest follows a week of speculation on the identity and motivation of the leaker, prompting the Pentagon to cull distribution lists for its intelligence reports as the FBI sought to identify the leaker through a digital trail along with clues included in the photographs of intelligence documents shared online. Here are the 7 biggest revelations from the US leaks so far The FBI on Thursday confirmed the arrest outside in North Dighton, Mass., as well as the ongoing search of Teixeiras home. Story continues The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence, the agency said in a statement. Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads and todays arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our countrys trust and put our national security at risk. The arrest comes after several outlets spoke with members of the online group Teixeira led, which reportedly included about 20 to 30 members, including Ukrainians and foreign nationals. Some of the content shared in the group was labeled NOFORN indicating it should not be shared with foreigners. Close Thank you for signing up! Subscribe to more newsletters here The latest in politics and policy. Direct to your inbox. Sign up for the Defense and National Security newsletter Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder on Thursday would not comment on the arrest, referring reporters to DOJ, be he acknowledged that the leak of classified information was a deliberate criminal act. He also stressed that strict rules are in place to ensure classified material is not leaked, and that distribution lists assessing how and where intelligence products are shared have been reviewed following the incident. We do have stringent guidelines in place for safeguarding classified and sensitive information. This was a deliberate, criminal act, a violation of those guidelines, he said. The documents shared to the Discord group included a number of sensitive details that have ruffled the feathers of allies in recent days. The intelligence cast doubt on Ukraines air defense systems ahead of a major counteroffensive expected this spring. It also showed that South Korea was privately concerned about munitions sent to the U.S. going to Ukraine. US intelligence leak deals severe blow to Ukraine war effort It also highlighted how deeply the U.S. had penetrated Russian military and intelligence outlets, prompting concern from experts that the documents could give adversaries a roadmap for cutting off sources of the information. Information on Egypt, Israel and Iran were also included among the documents shared. Reviews of the online group Teixeira oversaw indicate he was one of the older members of the group, with several of the members who spoke with news outlets identified as being under 18 years old. Members of the Thug Shaker Central group bonded over their interest in guns, military gear, and war. Authorities are sure to review how a 21-year-old Air Guard member based in Cape Cod would have access to such a wide range of materials, including those prepared for senior Pentagon leadership. Within the government, theres oftentimes over classification, said David Schenker, who has served in the Geroge W. Bush and Trump administrations and is now a fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. But a lot of these seem to be, really, really sensitive. Ellen Mitchell and Laura Kelly contributed. Updated 3:46 p.m. The 5 biggest US intelligence leaks For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. BEIRUT (AP) Syria and Saudi Arabia said Thursday they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade. The joint statement followed a visit by Syria's top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012. Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assads brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League. However, in recent years, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country, Syria's neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The overtures picked up pace since the massive Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks about bilateral relations, state media in the two countries reported. Saudi state media said Mikdad was received by the kingdoms Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. The meeting focused on the steps needed to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that would ... achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab fold," the joint statement said. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, when Syria's membership is widely expected to be on the table. Some members, mainly Qatar, have opposed Damascus' return to the organization. Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, reiterated his countrys longstanding position in an interview with state TV late Thursday. There were reasons for suspending Syrias membership in the Arab League and for participating in boycotts of the Syrian regime at that time, and those reasons still exist as far as we are concerned, he said. Our decision, as an individual state, has been to not take any steps (toward normalization) without political progress or a political solution to the Syrian crisis. Story continues But Anna Jacobs, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said she believes prospects are high that Syria will be readmitted to the Arab League soon, noting that even Qatar has softened its rhetoric. Even if several countries have expressed their opposition to normalization with Assad, its not likely that they would go against Riyadh and block Syrias re-entry, she said. The Syrian and Saudi officials also discussed enhancing security" and ''cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking, according to the statement. Syria is a primary producer of the amphetamine-based drug Captagon, which is largely smuggled into Gulf Arab markets for sale. Syria may be hoping the rapprochement with a regional heavyweight will help end its political isolation, improve its flagging economy and potentially bring in reconstruction dollars. Meanwhile, incentives for Saudi Arabia to make a deal are less clear. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a research fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute, said Saudi Arabia and specifically Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may be looking for a way to rehabilitate the kingdom's image. That image was tarnished by the kingdom's involvement in the war in Yemen and by the 2018 slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, believed by the United States and others to have been at the princes orders. Brokering an Arab consensus on Syria, would feed into Prince Mohammed's desire to portray himself as a regional statesman and underline the Saudi ability to lead the region, Ulrichsen said. Jacobs said the kingdom's rapprochement with Syria may be part of its strategy on Iran, which is two-pronged and focused on both containment and diplomacy, as opposed to the Trump administration's maximum pressure approach. As for Syria, Ulrichsen pointed out that U.S. sanctions on Damascus would still stand as an obstacle to any major investments in the Arab country, even with Syria normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia and its readmission to the Arab League. Mikdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came after Syria announced on Wednesday that it will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, which cut off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied said earlier this month that he had directed the foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria. His move was reciprocated by the Syrian government, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. Screaming citizens reacted to everything from missile strikes to a chemical weapons blast and a deadly metro station attack during disaster-preparedness drills in Taiwan on Thursday. More than 1,000 volunteers enacted this alarming range of potential disasters and more in the wake of China's latest war games that ended only three days earlier. The emergency scenarios played out in Taichung city had emergency workers rushing to evacuate the wounded on stretchers, and dead mannequins being carted away in body bags. "I am proud to be Taiwanese and I believe in our country. We need to learn more about disaster prevention and war," said local government worker Chang Wei-chen, 40. "It will be helpful to us." Self-ruled Taiwan is on high alert after Beijing staged three days of military drills that simulated "sealing off" the island. China claims democratic Taiwan as its own territory and has vowed to take it one day, by force if necessary. Chinese jets and warships have continued circling Taiwan even after the conclusion of the massive drills. Taiwan's defence ministry detected seven Chinese naval vessels and 26 aircraft between Wednesday and Thursday morning. It said 14 aircraft had crossed the unofficial median line that separates the island from mainland China. The pre-planned exercises in Taichung usually focus on disasters. This year, however, war scenarios accounted for the majority of the drills that put a mix of civilians, firefighters, soldiers and students through their paces. Explosions sounded in one scenario as flares were launched at a residential building to simulate a missile strike, while loudspeakers declared an attack by "Communist China". Fire engines rushed to the scene, sirens blaring, as diggers and cranes worked to remove fake debris. In another, coloured gas was released to simulate a chemical attack in which a crew of hazmat-suited responders saved an unconscious civilian caught in the crossfire. Story continues TV screens aired breaking news showing a crisis meeting of officials. - 'We are determined' - The island's authorities have been readying civilians for an outbreak of conflict, as well as stepping up military spending and training for reservists. Air raid drills were held across Taiwan last year and a handbook was given to residents to prepare for a Chinese invasion. Thursday's exercise was part of that wider effort after two rounds of Chinese war games in the past year and increasingly bellicose threats from the Chinese government under President Xi Jinping. Russia's invasion of Ukraine has also stoked fears that Beijing now has a roadmap for annexing its smaller neighbour. Several drills appeared to mirror situations seen in bombarded Ukrainian cities, including rescue work from collapsed buildings. They also included a blast at a petroleum facility and an attack knocking out telecommunications. Thursday's drill was the first in a series of 11 that will take place across Taiwan until July. "These mock exercises help us cooperate better with government and civilian groups and help build teamwork," said Cheng Ho-chen, a 55-year-old mechanic turned search-and-rescue volunteer. Officials looking on said being prepared was more important than ever. "What happened in the Taiwan Strait during the last few days has the whole world watching and raised the concerns of our fellow citizens," Taichung mayor Lu Shiow-yen told reporters. "We are telling the world we are determined to protect our country and safeguard our homeland." sc-jfx/ssy/pbt The summer-like temperatures in the forecast almost guarantees kayaks and canoes will be pulled out of storage for the first launch of the season this weekend. I have lived across the road from the Portage for 30-plus years and have seen hundreds of people paddling downriver. Ive often heard thunk thunk, scrape scrape, grumble grumble grumble, the sound of small boats being dragged across the rocks when the river is so shallow one has no choice but to get out and carry, or portage, their boat to deeper water. Hence, the reason for the rivers name. A shiny new blue sign has been installed at Trail Marker Park on the west side of Cherry Street, along with another sign high up on a pole at the rivers edge. The signs are part of the recently designated Portage River Water Trail, and indicate the park is an access point. A shiny new blue sign at Trail Marker Park is part of the recently designated Portage River Water Trail, and indicates the park is an access point. After several years of planning, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) and the Ohio Division of Wildlife announced the designation of the water trail in 2022. It begins at William Henry Harrison Park in Pemberville and ends at Lake Erie Beach in Port Clinton. The water trail is 36 miles long, with Trail Marker Park at the 28.5 mile marker. Reach the rapids at Opfer-Lentz bridge, and 'you better have your lifejacket on Jim Taylor lives on the Portage River and has been kayaking for 15 years. He has gone from New Rochester to Oak Harbor, although not all in one day, and enjoys the serenity of the river and all of the wildlife, especially the bald eagles. Taylors favorite trips are when the river is high enough to be in his backyard and hes heading to Elmore. Once you reach the rapids at the old Opfer-Lentz bridge, the fun begins and you better have your lifejacket on. Taylor said. Immediately after that is the dam, which is followed by rapids before and directly after the turnpike bridge. Last year, one of Taylors friends was sucked out of his kayak at the rapids when he chose the path to the right. By the time they returned to Taylors house, the river had gone down enough that it was no longer in his yard, which Taylor described as creating a toilet bowl flushing effect on the rapids. Story continues The water on the Portage River was low in October between US Route 23 and Woodville. Kayakers are warned to be aware of water levels unless they enjoy carrying their kayak around. Even though Ive lived so near the Portage for so long, it was just last year I took my first kayak trip. The wildlife along the river is fascinating with the wide variety of birds, from waterfowl to songbirds, turtles sunning themselves on logs and deer wading across the river. Ive even seen a fawn pick its way along the riverbank and mink running along the shoreline. River from Woodville to Elmore is 'a blast' Woodville resident Brian Spieldenner, who also lives on the river and has worked the last five summers as a river guide for the Portage River Paddling Company in Port Clinton, has kayaked every section of the river from Pemberville to Lake Erie. Like Taylor, his favorite also is the Woodville to Elmore segment.Everybody smiles when they get out of a kayak, Spieldenner said. Even the lady who lost her paddle and had to be towed back to the paddling company. When the river is up a bit, its a blast. A note of caution, only experienced kayakers should try navigating that section when the river is up and flowing fast. Copies of the official Portage River Water Trail Map and Guide, published by the ODNR and Division of Wildlife, are available online and at the Woodville Public Library. Water levels can be checked with an app such as Rivercast or online at waterdata.usgs.gov. And finally, a bit of advice if youre planning to travel any part of the river between Pemberville and the bridge at Ohio 590 take a moment to check water levels at the low spots. If you see rocks, you may want to start your trip further downstream. Unless, of course, you enjoy carrying your kayak as a form of exercise. Remember to take sunscreen. Bridge improvements coming The Sandusky County Engineer recently inspected bridges throughout the county and has determined the Cherry Street bridge is in need of repair or replacement within the next two years. Weight limit signs have been placed at either end of the bridge. No schedule has been set yet for work on the bridge, but in the meantime, the weight limits mean larger vehicles will need to travel Main Street to access the south side of the river. This also means the Fourth of July Committee will have to make a few changes to the lineup and start of the parade this year. Details on that will be shared in a future column. Annual Road Clean-up The Woodville Buckeyes 4-H Club and Troop Woodmore Boy Scouts will pick up trash along Woodvilles township roads on Sunday. Please slow down if you see these young people cleaning up litter. Red Cross blood drive The next Red Cross blood drive will be noon-5 p.m. April 27 at the Woodville Township Fire Station. Appointments can be made at www.redcrossblood.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Contact Rene Dix at 419-307-0914 or via email at rene.dix@email.com. This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Talk About Woodville: New signs mark Portage Rivere Water Trail A man getting angry at his computer In the second half of the 20th century, computers went from chunky business calculators to a part of nearly every corner of human life. Along the way, we started using the terms and concepts that describe how these machines work. Just the other day I realized that even though say URL about once a day in my work life, I didnt know what the acronym stood for. People like to pretend that the world used to be simplerit wasnt. Things were just complicated in a different way. But it is true that were all walking around discussing and relying on fantastically complex systems that most of us cant even begin to understand. Tech companies sometimes use that to their advantage, hiding shady practices behind a wall of technical jargon. One way to push back on that is to learn just a little bit about these acronyms we throw around all the time without even knowing what they mean. Shall we? Read more URL A cat using a computer URL stands for Uniform Resource Locator. Depending on your background, theres a good chance youve never heard anyone say the acronyms full phrase out loud. It speaks to how fundamental the concept is to the structure of the modern world. Like the name suggests, a URL identifies the location of something that lives on the internet, including servers and websites, and we use them to give our browsers instructions on where to go. Theyre uniform because theyre all structured the same way. Its the same concept as an address for a building which tells the Postal Service where to take your mail. LTE A man confused by his computer Heres a weird one. When your normally-very-fast cell service is spotty, you might notice a little logo letting you know your phone switched from 5G to LTE. Guess what that stands for: Long Term Evolution. Weird right? LTE is one of many standards for wireless telecommunication (e.g. cell phone service). As we expand the use of cellphones and other wireless devices, telecom companies are forced to expand the capacity of their systems, both in terms of speed and the number of devices a network can handle. LTE is sort of a half-way point between 3G and 4G (which well get to, just be patient). In other words, when they developed it LTE was one step in the long term evolution of telephony standards. Story continues API A cat using a computer When Twitter says its going to start charging for its API, or OpenAI says it wont steal data from people who use the ChatGPT API, what the hell are they talking about? API stands for Application Programming Interface. Its a way for two computer programs (aka applications, aka apps) to talk to each other. Take Facebook, for example. Its a huge network of interconnected systems made up of millions of lines of code. That system is, to say the least, complicated. Not only is it complicated, it involves a ton of trade secrets and thats going through constant internal changes as the company works on it and builds new things. Developers want to connect their apps to other apps for all kinds of different reasons, but they need to do it in a way thats simple, doesnt give away secrets, and doesnt break when an engineer changes a line of code. Thats where APIs come in. To continue the Facebook example, the companys APIs do all kinds of things, including connecting to Facebooks advertising system, letting other apps post on the platform, and providing outside access to users friend lists (with permission of course). 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G.... A woman using a computer This ones a little less weird. Some people think the G stands for gigahertz, but its actually Generation, which is why you never heard about 1G. It didnt really need special nomenclature until we started making sequels. These generations are referring, once again, to the standards used by wireless cellular technology. We keep making more wireless devices that use more data and require faster data transfers, but theres a hard ceiling in terms of what our systems can handle. When 5G rolled out, the telecom industry made a big deal about how it was going to revolutionize the world and make way for smart cities where everything was connected. Unfortunately for anyone who bought the hype, that doesnt look like its happening anytime soon. The introduction of 5G was a flashpoint for conspiracy theories which were all pretty ridiculous from the start (unless you count private companies making money on government-funded infrastructure as a conspiracy). If thats the new normal, get used to it, because this is a never ending process. People had already started working on 6g before 5G was even finished. Wifi A cat using a computer Guess what: Wifi isnt short for wireless fidelity, even though the name was based on hi-fi, which stands for high fidelity. It actually isnt short for anything at all. Wifi is the proper name, and Wi-Fi is a registered trademark of the Wi-Fi Alliance, an tech industry trade group. HTML A man using a computer Right now you are reading a webpage that is written using a lot of HTML. We say HTML so we dont have to spell out Hyper Text Markup Language. HTML is a simple system that tells a browser how to display a web page. Its hyper text as opposed to plain old text because you can use all sorts of cool colors and fonts and add videos and pictures. It marks up the page by saying things like put these words here, or put this image here and make it this exact size. HTTP? HTTPS? A can using a computer HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. As we just learned, hypertext makes up the content of webpages and tells browsers how to display it. But your browser also needs a way to ask for a copy of all of that and a variety of other things. HTTP is the language browsers and servers use to communicate and send files. HTTP lets your browser say Hello, I am a browser, and Im looking for this particular website. The server responds with something like, Hi browser, Im a server. Heres the website you wanted. And because those files are written using a standardized system like HTML. The problem with HTTP is its not encrypted, so a new secure protocol was developed and they slapped an s at the end, which stands for secure. HTTPS lets browsers and servers send encrypted information back and forth, so anyone who intercepts it in the middle wont be able to see the content. Security fans have slowly forced the internet to adopt HTTPS, and today its used by around 80% of all websites. What even is the World Wide Web? A man confused by his computer In the early days of the consumer internet, you had to type www. at the beginning of URLs. You probably know that it stands for World Wide Web. What you might not know is the World Wide Web and the internet arent the exact same thing, even though the words internet and web get used interchangeably. Towards the end of the 60s, the US military started working on a system that would let different computers work together with each other at the same time. Everyone agreed this was a cool idea, and soon governments, business, and academics started working on their own systems which, together, would eventually form the internet. To be really useful, those systems needed to work interoperable, so the world needed a standard way for computers to communicate. Enter a guy named Tim Berners Lee, who came up with the World Wide Web in 1991. The Web is a system which lets computers use a web browser to access documents and files that are stored on servers using the internet, and communicate in a way thats seamless and interoperable so everyone can build on each others work. It includes a number of different standards , including the aforementioned HTML, HTTP, and URLs. SMS A cat on a computer SMS is an acronym for Short Message Service, an early system for cellphones to send text messages to each other. You might also have heard of its older brother MMS, or Multimedia Messaging Service, which allowed for things like images and group texts. The first text message, Merry Christmas was sent in 1992, during the Cretaceous period. We still use SMS today, which is too bad, because it has serious flaws. When two iPhones text each other, they communicate using iMessages encrypted communication protocol. Newer Android phones have largely moved over to RCS (Rich Communication Services), which allows for end-to-end encryption and lots of other neat features. But when iPhones and Androids text each other, it gets sent over regular old, unencrypted SMS, which leaves users vulnerable and prevents things like reactions or audio messages from working. This is decidedly Apples fault. Google, the maker of Android, wants to solve this problem. Apple refuses to adopt RCS, or to make iMessage interoperable. Why? It might have something to do with keeping Apple users locked in its system, which company executives said explicitly in internal emails. Which is a shame, because it means Apple users have to suffer, even though theyve spent hundreds or thousands of dollars on the companys products. RSS A man using a computer Have you noticed that theres a lot of stuff on the internet? Heck, these days theres so much that a person might start having a hard time keeping track of it all! People have been trying to figure out what to do about all that for a long time. RSSwhich stands for RDF Site Summary or Really Simple Syndication depending on who you askwas one early idea. RSS let websites that make content, like this, one for example, to create a feed of content. People could plug the address of that feed into a tool called an RSS Reader, which would aggregate all of that content in one place, complete with convenient automatic updates. For a while RSS seemed like it was gaining steam, and many of the biggest names and companies behind the internet got behind it. Unfortunately, the internet isnt run by a bunch of benevolent visionaries who want the web to be great, its run by tech companies who want it to make them money. RSS didnt fit into a lot of companies strategies, and one by one, all the biggest names in tech stopped supporting it, including Google, Facebook, Twitter, and even Mozilla. But recently theres been a push to reanimate RSS, and Google actually added an RSS reader to Chrome for Android in 2021. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Markell Hughes, a teen from the 2022 "Kia Boyz" YouTube video, pleaded guilty Thursday to a felony charge in connection to the viral footage. Hughes pleaded guilty to one count of operating vehicle without owner's consent. Two other felony charges and a misdemeanor were dismissed as part of the plea agreement. He also pleaded guilty to another felony charge in a separate case. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for June 21. The YouTube video caught the attention of the Milwaukee Police Department, which announced shortly after its release it would investigate. Criminal charges soon followed, accusing Hughes of driving the red Hyundai seen famously driving recklessly through a Milwaukee neighborhood. Police said at the time Hughes admitted to being the driver. The roughly 16-minute video follows a host, Thomas "Tommy G" Gerszewski, as he spends time talking with residents about a group known as the "Kia Boyz." The group earned the moniker because they primarily targeted Kias and Hyundais. The video has been viewed millions of times. Hughes is now 18 years old, but was 17 at the time the video was filmed. He also pleaded guilty Thursday to another felony charge in a separate stolen vehicle case. He pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to take a vehicle and driving without owner's consent. Two misdemeanor charges were dismissed in that case. The charge related to the Kia Boyz video carries a maximum sentence of 3 years, 6 months, or a fine up to $10,000, or both. The other charge carries a maximum sentence of 6 years, or a fine up to $10,000, or both. In total, Hughes could be sentenced up to 9 years, 6 months in prison. Contact Drake Bentley at (414) 391-5647 or DBentley1@gannett.com. Follow him on Twitter at @DrakeBentleyMJS. Our subscribers make this reporting possible. Please consider supporting local journalism by subscribing to the Journal Sentinel at jsonline.com/deal. DOWNLOAD THE APP: Get the latest news, sports and more This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Teen seen driving red Hyundai in Kia Boyz video pleads guilty Tennessee house Democrat Justin Jones, who was just reinstated to the chamber after being expelled for leading a disruptive gun-control protest on the floor, assaulted a driver and faced serious charges for other misconduct committed while attending racial-justice protests in the summer of 2020. Footage of rioting outside the state Capitol in 2020 first shared by Scoop Nashville appears to show Jones repeatedly hitting the driver of a car with a traffic cone. The video, which was resurfaced by the Post Millenial, shows Jones and other activists stopping and surrounding the vehicle before the driver escaped. Jones was charged with assault, assault on an officer, and reckless endangerment, for which he was indicted on two counts after the video was presented to the grand jury in his case. Despite his violent behavior, Jones claimed in June 2021 that he was being peaceful and claims to the contrary were a false narrative. They will try to push a false narrative portraying me as violent as a way to deflect from their own actions. They will suggest that I am out of order. That is their strategy. However, Im hopeful for the chance to present our evidence in a transparent manner, he tweeted. Jones alleged that police colluded with prosecutors to weaponize the law as a form of punishment for the mere fact that we chose to stand up. Last week, Jones, alongside progressive lawmakers Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, was stripped of committee assignments and ousted from the statehouse by a vote of 72 to 25. All three legislators were accused of egging on protesters, who stood on a balcony within the chambers chanting, Fascists! Fascists! Demonstrators also blocked several entryways and exits, forcing state troopers to step in to assist members in moving throughout the building. What they did is they hijacked the house floor which has never been done in our history, house speaker Cameron Sexton told National Review of the three lawmakers. 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. Story continues Then on Monday, Jones was unanimously appointed as an interim representative for the 52nd district by the Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners also sent Pearson back to the Tennessee house as an interim representative less than a week after he was kicked out. Both lawmakers will have to win special elections to be officially reinstated. More from National Review A federal appeals court has partly blocked a Texas judges ruling that would have suspended access to a widely-used abortion pill. In an order just before midnight on Wednesday, the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Justice Departments request to put US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling on hold. This now means that the US Food and Drug Administrations (FDA) approval of the medication abortion drug mifepristone will stay in effect and the drug will remain on the market while an expedited appeal plays out. However, while the appeals court ruling protects an outright ban on the abortion pill, the conservative-led panel has effectively made the drug harder for Americans to obtain. Parts of Judge Kacsmaryks ruling were left in place by the appeals court, suspending changes the FDA made in 2016 to broaden access to the drug. Among the restrictions lifted and which are now back in place are the requirements that mifepristone be picked up in person and that a qualified physician must supervise the obtaining of the pill. The appeals court panel made up of George W Bush nominee Judge Catharina Haynes and two Donald Trump nominees Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham said that, while it was reinstating the approval of the drug, the DOJ has not shown they are likely to succeed in fighting against the challenge to the rule changes. As far as the record before us reveals, FDA has not structured the distribution of any comparable drug in this way, the panel said. Last Friday, Judge Kacsmaryk issued a ruling to revoke the FDAs 23-year approval of the drug in a move that marked perhaps the most consequential backpedaling of abortion rights since Roe v Wade was overturned last year. In November, a group of anti-abortion activists filed a lawsuit against the FDAs approval of mifepristone and the way the agency has changed the rules around its use, making it easier to obtain. The judge who has made several right-wing rulings sided with them. Story continues In his ruling, 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. Protesters hold up signs after US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks ruling (REUTERS) He also dismissed findings from major health organisations that determined the drug is both overwhelmingly safe and effective. The judges ruling had been set to take effect in seven days on 14 April unless the appeals court intervened, prompting protests from the nations leading abortion rights advocacy groups and the appeal brought by the Biden administration. The DOJ appealed the decision, saying it 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. Mifepristone is used for more than half of all abortions in the US. The drug 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. This story originally appeared in The Texas Tribune. In an effort to combat a rising number of opioid overdose deaths in the state, the Texas House on Tuesday passed a bill that would decriminalize fentanyl test strips, which warn people if a drug they are about to take contains traces of the deadly synthetic opioid. The House voted 143-2 to approve House Bill 362 by Rep. Tom Oliverson, R-Cypress. The bill will now head to the Senate. Overdose deaths continue to skyrocket as fentanyl floods across our southern border, and we need a way to combat the crisis, Oliverson said on the floor of the House on Monday. Decriminalizing test strips is one way to do that. The bill would take fentanyl test strips off the states drug paraphernalia list, meaning it would no longer be a crime to carry strips that would test for fentanyl or other fentanyl derivatives. Supporters of the bill say that would prevent overdose deaths by giving people a tool to know if a drug they are about to take has been mixed with fentanyl. Nationwide, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that more than 107,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2021. Synthetic opioids were responsible for 71,000 of those deaths, and they were largely caused by fentanyl. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is 100 times more powerful than morphine and 50 times more powerful than heroin. It is sometimes prescribed by doctors for pain management, but has become readily available on the illicit market due to its production by Mexican drug cartels. The criminal organizations favor production of fentanyl over other drugs because it is very cheap to make, increasing their profits. Drug dealers have also started mixing fentanyl into other drugs or disguising their fentanyl to make it appear like prescription drugs. But unlike medically prescribed fentanyl, the cartels illegally produced drug has no oversight and often contains lethal doses. As little as 2 milligrams, about the size of five grains of salt, can be deadly depending on a persons body size and tolerance. Story continues Though the bill is a step forward, drug policy experts say it doesnt go far enough. By solely focusing on fentanyl, lawmakers are repeating past policy mistakes of fixating only on the drug of the day while other, sometimes stronger, drugs are beginning to penetrate the illegal drug market. Katharine Neill Harris, a drug policy fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy, said lawmakers should consider expanding the bill to cover equipment that tests for other drugs, including xylazine, an animal tranquilizer that is increasingly being mixed into fentanyl and other illicit opioids. The drug causes a stupor that can last for hours. It also leads to wounds of a scaly dead tissue called eschar that, if left untreated, could require amputation. Xylazine test strips recently became commercially available but such test strips for controlled substances are illegal to carry in Texas. Thankfully, xylazine is not yet a major problem in Texas, Neill Harris said. But if we dont act now, it will become one. Expanding HB 362 to include xylazine test strips would help the state intercept this drug before it becomes a greater threat. In March, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration warned of a sharp increase of fentanyl mixed with xylazine, which was making the deadliest drug threat in the country even deadlier. Still, the decriminalization of fentanyl test strips is an acknowledgment by Republican state leaders that their past tough on drugs approach has not worked. In Texas, the CDC predicts that more than 5,000 people died of drug overdoses between July 2021 and July 2022. Overdose deaths involving fentanyl in the state more than quadrupled in two years, rising from 333 people dying in fiscal year 2019 to 1,662 deaths in fiscal year 2021. Those numbers are likely far short of the actual fentanyl-related deaths in the state, where tracking of opioid overdose deaths is inadequate. Texas has only nine medical examiners offices for a population of 30 million, meaning that a lot of the states investigation and tracking of deaths is scattered and does not always reach the levels of scrutiny to discover whether opioids were involved. The increased penetration of fentanyl into Texas illegal drug market has led to a rash of teen deaths across the state, some after they believed they were taking a different type of drug. Deaths from fentanyl cut across age, race and wealth groups, making combating overdoses a top priority for lawmakers this session. Gov. Greg Abbott, who previously opposed decriminalizing fentanyl test strips, came out in favor of the policy last year. The topic is a rare point of bipartisan agreement at the Legislature, where several similar bills are filed in both the House and the Senate. Erin Douglas contributed to this story. Disclosure: Rice Universitys Baker Institute for Public Policy has been a financial supporter of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan news organization that is funded in part by donations from members, foundations and corporate sponsors. Financial supporters play no role in the Tribunes journalism. Find a complete list of them here. The Texas Tribune is a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans and engages with them about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. AUSTIN, Texas A bill before the Texas legislature would create a vigilante force to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border, drawing sharp criticism from civil rights groups and raising questions about how far the states conservative lawmakers are willing to go to challenge federal control of immigration enforcement. The bill, penned by Republican state Rep. Matt Schaefer, would allow any U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident without a felony conviction to join a volunteer police force called the Border Protection Unit. Schaefers bill cites the deadly activities of transnational cartels and trafficking of lethal quantities of opioids such as fentanyl as reasons for the urgent need to recruit amateurs to do part-time police work on the border, but its almost certainly a response to concerns about unauthorized immigration as well. Civil rights groups, immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers gathered in Austin, Texas, on April 13 to protest a proposed state law that would create a volunteer police force to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. Civil rights groups, immigrant advocates and Democratic lawmakers gathered in Austin, Texas, on April 13 to protest a proposed state law that would create a volunteer police force to patrol the U.S.-Mexico border. The proposed law would give volunteer border patrollers the authority to deter and repel people attempting to cross the border outside ports of entry. The units volunteers would not automatically gain arrest powers, but they could obtain them with training and authorization from the governor. Civil rights groups, immigration advocates and Democratic lawmakers said at a press conference Wednesday that the proposed law would put a target on the backs of people of color who live along the border, as well as migrants fleeing violence in their home countries. These laws criminalize our very existence, said Alicia Torres of the criminal justice reform group Grassroots Leadership. The proposed law would create a Texas secret police, said Democratic state Rep. Gene Wu. I know who are the people who are going to be listed as enemies. Theyre going to look like us. Were the ones who look like everything theyve demonized. Story continues Forty-eight members of the state House of Representatives have signed on as co-authors of House Bill 20. House Speaker Dade Phelan supports the bill, describing it as bold and innovative, which means it is all but certain to pass the lower chamber. It also has a strong chance of passing the Senate, which is presided over by the hyper-conservative Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The two Republicans have clashed, however, over Phelans disinterest in cheering along Patricks culture war fixation. As the session draws to a close, its possible that Patrick will let HB 20 die to deprive Phelan of a legislative accomplishment that would appeal to the Republican base, according to Rice University political scientist Mark Jones. This is the issue this session that Phelan is going to pass that is [in] some ways to the right of Dan Patrick, to shield his moderate colleagues from the criticism that they are insufficiently conservative, Jones said. Right-wing volunteer patrol groups and militias have flocked to the U.S.-Mexico border in search of unauthorized migrants and drug runners for decades, dating back to a 1977 publicity stunt organized by Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke. But creating a volunteer police force targeting immigrants would give unprecedented official backing to border security hobbyists, and put the state of Texas on a collision course with the federal government. The Supreme Court has historically limited states role in immigration enforcement, which is a federal responsibility. Texas, however, has invested more than a decade and billions of dollars in state immigration enforcement programs, with dubious and dishonestly reported results. Since 2021, the state has deployed some 10,000 National Guard members to the border as part of an initiative called Operation Lone Star. Texas has prosecuted thousands of migrants on state criminal charges under the program. The proposed vigilante law would push Texas so far into federal immigration enforcement that opponents see it as a ploy to force a legal reckoning over the issue, with the aim of getting it in front of a more conservative Supreme Court that has overturned the right to abortion and century-old gun restrictions. They are trying to create an immigration system in Texas, said Fernando Garcia, director of the Border Network for Human Rights. Its illegal. Whats next? Theyre going to enforce IRS law? The proposed law contends that Article 1, Section 10 of the U.S. Constitution gives the Texas governor the ability to declare a state of invasion, which in turn lets the state use its own forces to combat the invaders. But an invasion, for the purposes of passing legal muster in the federal courts, almost certainly refers to a military incursion by a foreign country, rather than migrants or drug traffickers. Fielding a volunteer police force to enforce immigration in response to a contrived invasion would make it legally indefensible, even with a uniquely conservative Supreme Court, according to Jones, the political scientist. If Gov. Greg Abbott (R) were to sign HB 20 into law, the courts would likely block it before Texas could implement it. If it passes, Jones said, it would go into that long list of legislation that passes out of the Texas legislature, is immediately enjoined and is never heard about again, because it was passed for purely symbolic reasons. Related... Colin Farrell as the Penguin in 'The Batman'. (Jamie Hawkesworth/DC Comics/Warner Bros) In 2022, Matt Reeves The Batman introduced us to a new Gotham City with a new take on its twisted characters, one of which, Colin Farrells the Penguin, is getting his very own show. Farrells heavily made-up portrayal of Gotham City crime boss Oswald Cobblepot, better known as Bat baddie the Penguin, was one of the most memorable elements of Reeves' dark and brooding take on DCs Dark Knight. While he only played a small role in a larger tale revolving around Robert Pattinsons caped crusader and Paul Danos The Riddler, well soon get to explore his life and crimes in a more expanded way on the small screen. Read more: Every upcoming DC film and series Shortly after The Batmans 2022 release, HBO Max revealed that Farrell will be returning to the make-up chair to play Cobblepot in an eight-part limited series. What will it entail? Its still early days but heres everything we know so far Is there a trailer for The Penguin? Warner Bros. Discovery's presentation in early April showcasing its new 'Max' streaming service gave us our first 'in production' glimpse at The Penguin. While still featuring shots of Farrell filming, this brief teaser provided ample material to whet our appetite for what's to come, specifically a waddling, Tony Soprano-esque Gotham villain that's not afraid of violence. Watch for yourself above. The Penguin release date The Penguin has been confirmed to debut in 2024 however a specific release date is still TBC. Is The Penguin part of the new DCU? Robert Pattinson in The Batman. (Warner Bros.) Good question. After Guardians of the Galaxy helmer James Gunn was revealed to be the new story-steerer for the DC cinematic universe moving forward, many people wondered what that meant for the future of Gothams protector in the shadows. While spilling about his future plans for the DC Universe, Gunn revealed that he will indeed be retooling the Batman character in a yet-to-be-cast project that takes its cues from Grant Morrisons popular comic book run, The Brave and the Bold. Story continues Read more: Looking back at the making of Batman Returns That means that Pattinsons Batman and Jaoquin Phoenixs Joker, for that matter will still exist but in a separate creative timeline from Gunns future DC plans. These stand-alone projects will fall under a category known as DC Elseworlds. It is here where Reeves and Farrell will continue to explore the Penguins shady dealings in Gothams underworld. What is the plot of The Penguin? Colin Farrell as Penguin in The Batman (Warner Bros,) According to the shows official logline details, The Penguin will explore the characters rise to power in Gothams criminal underworld. Much like the Penguins nemesis, firm plot details for this new series are still very much in the shadows. However, the show's star has spoken briefly about what we can expect, revealing that The Penguin takes place just weeks after the climactic events of Reeves movie and finds Gotham city largely submerged under water after the Riddler achieved his goal at the end of The Batman. Read more: Everything we know about Joker 2 I read the first script for the first episode, and it opens up with my feet splashing through the water in Falcones office, teased Farrell during a recent interview. Even just that alone, I read it, I was like, Oh, jeez. Its lovely. Its so well-written. Meanwhile, Reeves has suggested that the series will lean into Cobblepots quest for control as he grabs violently for power in Gotham. The show will span eight episodes and be released on HBO Max under the title The Penguin. However, theres a chance this moniker could change closer to the shows release. Speaking of which, an official ETA for this spin-off series has yet to be unveiled. Who is starring in The Penguin TV series? Colin Farrell as The Penguin in 'The Batman'. (Jonathan Olley/DC Comics/Warner Bros). Itll come as no surprise that Farrell will be at the centre of The Penguin, once again donning a hefty amount of prosthetic makeup in order to transform himself into Gothams slipperiest villain. Joining Farrell is Palm Springs star Cristin Milioti who will play Sofia Falcone, daughter of criminal boss Carmine Falcone who was played by John Turturro in Reeves movie. Cristin Milioti in 2022 (NBC via Getty Images) The Shawshank Redemption star and voice actor behind SpongeBob Squarepants boss, Mr Krabs, Clancy Brown, has also joined the series as rival crime kingpin Salvatore Maroni. Comic fans will of course recognise this name as the person responsible for chucking acid in Harvey Dents face and creating Two-Face. Could this coin-loving bad guy be making an appearance? Only time will tell. Other actors confirmed to appear in The Penguin include Deirdre OConnell, Shohreh Aghdashloo, Michael Kelly, Rhenzy Feliz, Michael Zegen, James Madio, and Scott Cohen but their roles are currently unknown. Has The Penguin begun shooting? Colin Farrell arrives for The Batman world premiere in 2022. (AFP via Getty Images) Filming for The Penguin is currently underway in New York City and is due to last until mid-2023. As with any outdoor shoot, it didnt take long for stills from the production to leak online, with images of Farrell in familiar Penguin makeup and wearing a Joker-esque purple jacket and suspenders quickly circulating online. Read more: Mind-blowing Batman movies that nearly got made He was also seen filming sequences involving a slick purple car, once again hitting home the characters focus on social status. While Reeves is executive producing the show, he is not confirmed to direct any of the series' eight episodes but The Leftovers helmer Craig Zobel has signed on to direct three instalments. The Penguin will be released on HBO Max. Samantha Lee/Insider A therapist helps a woman decode unexpected feelings for her best friend. Getty; Marianne Ayala/Insider Navigating unfamiliar attractions can feel scary. You don't have to act right away, therapist Rae McDaniel said. McDaniel said sitting with your emotions and reflecting on the nature of your friendship can help you decide what to do. You can't get rid of your feelings, but you can use them to know yourself better. Have a question for Julia? Fill out this anonymous form. All questions will be published anonymously. You can read more Doing It Right here. Dear Julia, I have this weird feeling that I want to be more than a friend to my best friend. We're both girls, but I don't know for sure if I am attracted to girls. I don't get butterflies or sexual feelings, but thinking about her keeps me up at night. It's more like a heartache, although she hasn't broken my heart, at least not yet. What is this feeling I'm dealing with and how do I get rid of it? - Amsterdam Dear Amsterdam, When comes to emotions, I tend to feel mine deeply. Sometimes, I feel desperate to escape their intensity, especially when I can't pinpoint what caused my anger, sadness, or fear. But I'm learning that there's no escaping emotions. The more I try to escape them, the worse I feel. The only way out of tough emotions, in my experience, is really feeling them. The tough part is doing so without judging myself, or assigning too much meaning to a particular feeling. To answer your question, I spoke with Rae McDaniel, a therapist who specializes in gender and sexuality. McDaniel is also the author of the upcoming book "Gender Magic." According to McDaniel, it's common to feel confused by same-gender attraction, especially if you first experience it with a friend. Though it can feel disorienting, experiencing attraction outside of your assumed "type" is normal and something you should feel free to be curious about, McDaniel said. But since society often conditions us to fear same-gender attraction, it can be hard to stop racing thoughts like "What does this say about me?" or "What will people think of me?" Story continues If you find yourself in one of these thought spirals, like you alluded to with your sleepless nights, the first step is to breath, McDaniel said. "Here's the thing about sexual orientation: It is a label and labels are only useful when we apply them to ourselves," McDaniel told me. They said that individuals could choose to change their labels throughout life, and that labels have nothing to do with who you're currently dating, how you look, or how you feel in a particular situation. Rather, labels are about naming what resonates with you at any given point. So, instead of focusing on what your thoughts and feeling could mean about your sexuality and the future of your friendship, consider if you feel comfortable being honest with your friend, McDaniel said. It's OK to sit with complex feelings before taking action You may want to jump into action and come clean to your friend to "fix" your unfamiliar feelings. I know that tends to be my first instinct. But you shouldn't pressure yourself to act right away, McDaniel said. "It's not an emergency, right? Just because you have a strong feeling for someone does not mean you have to say something to them today, tomorrow, or next week," McDaniel told me. Instead, McDaniel suggested you spend time alone. You could go for walks or journal to process your emotions. They also said you could talk with a close friend or therapist, if you have access to one. "Give yourself time to actually feel the feelings, work through them on your own, and listen to your own gut," McDaniel said. During this time, consider how this particular friendship feels to you and how it compares to other relationships you have. According to McDaniel, it's possible you and your friend have an intimate connection you haven't experienced in other relationships. They said that intimacy doesn't always come with sexual or romantic feelings, but it can make relationships feel intense if you're not used to a certain level of emotional closeness. After you take time to more closely examine your feelings and where they're coming from, consider if and how you should approach your friend. McDaniel said it's important to think about whether your friend is the type that can handle an honest conversation about your feelings, since not everyone has that capacity. Ask yourself if you and your friend have a strong enough bond to stay connected, regardless of the outcome of this potential talk. Are you able to accept the possibility of your friendship changing if you share your feelings? Or, would you rather avoid that risk and keep your feelings to yourself? You have more than one way forward, Amsterdam, but no matter which path you choose, you will learn and grow. To me, that's the beauty of your predicament. As Insider's resident sex and relationships reporter, Julia Naftulin is here to answer all of your questions about dating, love, and doing it no question is too weird or taboo. Julia regularly consults a panel of health experts including relationship therapists, gynecologists, and urologists to get science-backed answers to your burning questions, with a personal twist. Have a question? Fill out this anonymous form. All questions will be published anonymously. Read the original article on Insider After flooding rainfall and hail were seen in portions of the Plains on Friday, severe weather is set to last into this weekend across a large swath of the central United States, according to AccuWeather forecasters. The storms have interrupted a much-needed lull in the active weather pattern across the middle of the country where multiple tornado outbreaks occurred in late March and early April. The threat of severe thunderstorms packing damaging wind gusts, destructive hail and flooding downpours comes on the heels of drenching storms in the Southeast on Thursday from a separate storm system and precedes a threat later this weekend in the Northeast. The impetus for thunderstorm development has been a wave of low pressure emerging from the Rockies that was a part of the 'storm train' impacting the Pacific Northwest since last week. Another important ingredient is the sudden return of cooler air from Canada, clashing with an air mass that has featured record warmth over the past week. GET THE FREE ACCUWEATHER APP Have the app? Unlock AccuWeather Alerts with Premium+ The threat began late Friday across portions of Iowa, Nebraska and Kansas, with dozens of severe weather reports confirmed as a line of intense storms swept through. Hail was reported in downtown Omaha, along with over 6 inches of estimated rainfall to the south of the city. A much larger area will be at risk of severe thunderstorms on Saturday as the storm pushes into the Midwest. By the evening hours, around a dozen states stretching from Texas to Illinois are expected to experience heavy, gusty thunderstorms. On Saturday afternoon, several reports of tennis-ball to four-inch sized hail were reported in southeastern Missouri. One of the severe storms that produced large destructive hail moved within 30 miles north of Springfield, Missouri. "The greatest area of concern will be across the mid-Mississippi Valley by the evening hours," said AccuWeather Meteorologist Alex DaSilva. Story continues The magnitude of the wind packed in some thunderstorms will be enough to cause damage. The AccuWeather Local StormMax for Saturday will be 110 mph. Major cities that can experience these gusty storms include Chicago; Houston; Indianapolis; Little Rock, Arkansas; Memphis, Tennessee; and St. Louis. Many storms will also feature the threat of flash flooding from brief, heavy bouts of rain, which can threaten motorists driving through low-lying or poor-drainage areas. The threat of tornadoes appears that it will be lower with this episode of severe weather compared to storm outbreaks earlier this month. Forecasters say this is because there is less energy available in the upper atmosphere, and winds will not be changing as much over differing levels of atmospheric height, both vital ingredients needed for a tornado outbreak. Despite that, there still can be an isolated tornado or two in some of the stronger storms. A separate storm that has been spinning in the Southeast since earlier this week has already unleashed flash flooding and severe weather there. On Wednesday over 2 feet of rain fell in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, leading to devastating flash flooding. There were also multiple tornado warnings issued for the thunderstorm that led to the flooding. Another round of gusty thunderstorms is expected to unfold on Sunday, covering a wide area stretching from Michigan to Florida. Detroit, Columbus, Ohio, and Atlanta are among the cities that can experience thunderstorms with damaging winds of 50-60 mph, flooding downpours and even hail to end the weekend. Behind the storm, much colder air streaming into the Northeast could actually lead to some snow by early next week. 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. This article originally appeared on Climbing According to reports in The Himalayan Times and website Everest Chronicle, three Sherpa climbers who were navigating the treacherous Khumbu Icefall were buried by an avalanche on Wednesday morning. The slide was triggered when a massive ice serac located on the ridge above the glacier collapsed--falling debris tumbled down and swept the men into a crevasse, Everest Chronicle reported. Climber Lakpa T. Sherpa filmed the massive slide and uploaded video to his Instagram page on Wednesday afternoon. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Lakpa T Sherpa (@8000_meter_lakpa_t_sherpa) An official with the Himalayan Rescue Association named Lakpa Norbu Sherpa told The Kathmandu Post that the chances of rescuing the three climbers is "very slim." Officials launched an aerial search shortly after the incident occurred, but they were unable to see the missing men. "They are buried five to six meters underneath. It's not possible to launch a search mission because the risk of an avalanche is still ongoing," Lakpa Norbu Sherpa told the Post. "We have traced the spot but it's not possible to go there. The ice sheets are as big as houses." The three missing climbers are all veterans of Himalayan expeditions, and all three have summited the world's highest peak. According to Everest Chronicle, the missing men are Lakpa Rita Sherpa, Pemba Tenjing Sherpa, and Da Chhiri Sherpa. They were working for guiding company Nepal Trek and Expedition, the website reported. "They were descending from Camp II after unloading expedition logistics," Palden Sherpa of the company told the website. "The company is doing everything possible, and we will continue the search tomorrow." The incident etches the latest chapter into the long history of accidents in the Khumbu Icefall, which is regarded as one of the most dangerous sections of the popular South Col route from Nepal. The Khumbu glacier tumbles 2,000 vertical feet down from the Western Cwm, breaking into enormous shifting chunks as it descends, some as big as skyscrapers. Every year, guides must trace a new route through the shifting ice, fixing ropes and laying ladder bridges across crevasses. Called the "Icefall doctors," these guides do some of the most dangerous work on the mountain. Over the years, multiple rope fixers and climbers have been killed there by avalanches, collapsing ice towers, and falls. Story continues In 1970, six guides working for the Japanese expedition to film the adventure documentary The Man Who Skied Down Everest died when an avalanche swept them away. In 2014, 16 Sherpas perished when a serac fell from the ridge and crashed onto a team fixing ladders across a crevasse. Teams hoping to ascend Mount Everest are reaching Base Camp this week for the traditional acclimatization period on the mountain, before the push for the summit occurs in May and early June. In mid April, guides climb high on the mountain to break trail and fix ropes for the climbing teams. Elsewhere in the Himalayas, the climbing has begun on 26,545-foot Annapurna and 26,781-foot Manaslu, but summit pushes on both mountains have been delayed by recent heavy snow storms. These storms may have contributed to the avalanche on Wednesday, Everest Chronicle reports. "Fresh snow has not settled properly, which makes it tricky. The icefall doctors had tough time navigating the route through mounds of fresh snow," Tshering Sherpa, an official with the Icefall Doctors, told the website. This article was originally published on Outside Online. Also read: For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. Jacksonvilles business community has reason to celebrate. Three other billionaires are also in Jaguars owner Shad Khans company on the Forbes billionaires list. Wayne Weaver, who sold the Jacksonville Jaguars to Khan, along with Fidelity National Financial Inc. Chairman Bill Foley and Fanatics Inc. CEO Michael Rubin are all included on Forbes ranking of 2,640 billionaires that was published on April 4, 2023. Khan with $12.1 billion holds the title of worlds 144th wealthiest person. Rubin ranked at 151st, with $11.4 billion. Foley placed 1,804th with $1.6 billion and Weaver was 2,259th with $1.2 billion. Their inclusion in the Forbes list underscores the strength of Jacksonvilles business community and Khans role in it. Khan has been a driving force in the citys economic growth and development. The news is especially exciting for Jacksonville residents who take pride in their city and its local businesses. Seeing local leaders recognized on a global stage is a source of inspiration and motivation for aspiring entrepreneurs and business leaders in the area. Jean-Luc Ponty French fusion violinist Jean-Luc Ponty is to have three of his 1980 and 1990s albums reissued through the MPS/Edel label over the next few months. 1984's Open Mind will be reissued on May 12, followed by 1993's No Absolute Time on June 9 and finally 1983's Individual Choice will be released on July 14. The albums will be reissued on vinyl, CD and digitally. MPS have previously reissued Ponty's 1967 album Sunday Walk. Ponty had moved from France to the USA in 1970 at Frank Zappa's suggestion, with whom hee toured with Zappa before moving on to the Mahavishnu Orchestra and Chick Coreas Return To Forever and became one of the pioneers of jazz-rock and jazz-fusion Ponty released a string of acclaimed solo albums in the 70s including Imaginary Voyage in 1976 and Enigmatic Ocean in 1978, and by the 1980s he was experimenting with synthesizers on both Individual Choice and Open Mind are from , while with No Absolute Time he was influenced by West African rhythms. Ponty worked with an array of talent on these releases, including Allan Holdsworth, George Duke, Randy Jackson, Chick Corea and George Benson George is for me one of the greatest jazz guitarists in the world, Ponty said of Benson, and he proves it with his amazingly creative solo on Modern Times Blues. Pre-order Open Mind. Pre-order No Absolute Time. Pre-order Individual Choice. My late Hope College mathematics colleague, Mary DeYoung, had a quote from anthropologist Margaret Mead on her office door, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, its the only thing that ever has. Indeed, Mary was one such person herself. Dying suddenly of cancer in the summer of 2011, Mary and her husband, Steve, provided my first home when I moved to Holland in 1988 in the appendage to their house on Pine Ave and 18th Street which was originally constructed as a doctors office. Through her 25-year career of teaching and inspiring K-8 math education students at Hope College, Mary has impacted hundreds of thousands of lives. Tim Pennings Meads quote came to mind recently as I listened with fascination to a BBC account of a new biography, The Empress of the Nile by New York Times best-selling author Lynne Olson. The book cover describes its subject, Christiane Desroches-Noblecourt, as The Daredevil Archaeologist Who Saved Egypts Ancient Temples from Destruction. Born in Paris in 1913, Desroches-Noblecourt attended a progressive all-girls school in which she became hooked on Egyptology. Her life was one adventure after another. As a curator for the Louvre during WWII, she braved interrogation by the Gestapo and twice moved, hid, and secured its contents, including the Mona Lisa from the advancing Nazis. But her most stunning success was the following decade when Egypts President Nasser decided to build a dam across the Nile River. Looking to its future rather than its history, Egypt was willing to sacrifice 12 sacred temples, including the statues of Ramses II dating back 3,000 years for the economic benefits that a dam would provide. Challenging Charles de Galle and the Kennedy administration for funding, planning the details with Egypts President Nasser, Desroches-Noblecourt won the day by gathering contributions from 50 countries. She was a real-life Indiana Jones in her love for antiquity and her willingness to fight any battle to save it. She saved all of the sacred monuments even though the largest had to be cut into small pieces and reassembled much as once happened to Hope Colleges Dimnent Chapel. Story continues Indeed, local parallels to Christianes life go deeper than that. Reading her story, I was reminded of a West Michigan woman who also had a unique vision for saving history and who clung to her mission like a bulldog. Im speaking of Saugatucks Felt Mansion. Built in the 1920s by the inventor of the first mechanical calculator, the Felts died within a couple years of its completion. The Catholic Church owed it for a while it was a convent for nuns secluded from the outside world. There was a turn-style in the front entrance so messages could be transported without human contact. The grand rooms were gutted to make space for many small living quarters. In the 1970s, a state legislator had the idea of securing this beautiful land for a state park. There was no money designated for parks, but ample available for prisons. So the state bought it, built and used the prison long enough to satisfy legalities, then tore the prison down and kept the land as a state park. (Bravo for creative imagination!) The land was retained for the Saugatuck State Park, but there was no use for the mansion. So Laketown Township bought it from the state for $1 in 1996 with the plan to let it fall to ruin so that eventually the only choice would be to tear it down. But then in 2001 Patty Meyer and her husband took a walk through the park. Seeing the potential, she badgered the township for permission to restore it. After multiple refusals, the township board decided the easiest way to discourage this determined woman was to let her have it for six months so she would realize what a useless effort it was. Remarkably and gladly, their plan backfired. Patty and her husband filled six haul-away garbage trailers with dead bats, birds, rats, foxes, raccoons, opossums and other trash. They eventually found the grand mantle for its fireplace in the barn of a local farmer, and after years of work the mansion is now restored to its former glory and available for rent and general viewing. But Patty is not satisfied with restoring historic buildings. Taking this essay full circle, her new mission is raising childhood literacy throughout the state. Mary would approve. Kudos to these women changing our world. Community Columnist Tim Pennings is a resident of Holland and can be contacted at timothy.pennings@gmail.com. Previous columns can be found at timothypennings.blogspot.com. This article originally appeared on The Holland Sentinel: Tim Pennings: Women changing our world Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., talks with reporters during a visit to the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, N.H., on Thursday. (Charles Krupa/AP) Sen. Tim Scotts evolving answers on abortion as he begins his presidential campaign show the difficulties facing Republicans as they attempt to navigate the issue ahead of the 2024 election. While the South Carolina Republican has been staffing up for a potential run and visiting early primary states for months, he formally announced an exploratory campaign for the 2024 GOP nomination on Wednesday. As one of three Black senators and one of the most prominent Black Republicans, Scott is a unique figure in a presidential race in which former President Donald Trump has extended his lead over the man considered to be his closest rival, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. As part of the exploratory campaign launch, Scott did a series of interviews. In one with CBS News published Wednesday, he repeatedly sidestepped questions on the topic of reproductive rights. The issue has proved a difficult one for Republicans since Roe v. Wade was overturned last summer. GOP Sen. Tim Scott declines to say whether he supports Sen. Lindsey Graham's proposed 15-week federal abortion ban.@CHueyBurns: "If you were president, would you advocate for federal limits?" Scott: "I'm 100% pro-life." Huey-Burns: "So, yes?" Scott: "That's not what I said." pic.twitter.com/SjXUP0gqIh CBS News (@CBSNews) April 12, 2023 "Do you think the federal government should be involved with something like what Lindsey Graham is proposing?" asked reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns, referencing a 15-week federal ban proposed by Scotts fellow South Carolina senator last year. "There's no question that we're gonna have a lot of folks talk about legislation from a federal perspective, but what I've heard so far, and what I've seen in the Senate, aren't proposals, Scott replied, stating that Democrats were pushing what he considered to be extreme abortion policy. Story continues "But if you were president, would you advocate for federal limits?" asked Huey-Burns. Scott replied, "So once again, 100% pro-life, and I do believe but when Huey-Burns pressed him with So, yes? he responded, "That's not what I said." In 2021, Scott co-sponsored a bill proposed by Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., that would guarantee fetal personhood giving rights to a fetus at the moment of conception and banning abortion completely. Scott refined his position in an interview released Thursday morning with WMUR9, a New Hampshire outlet, saying he supported a 20-week federal ban on abortion. Twenty weeks is less restrictive than the total bans or six-week bans that Republicans have put in place in a number of states, but its also prime attack fodder for Democrats. Within minutes of the clip being posted to Twitter, both the Democratic National Committee and American Bridge 21st Century, a pro-Democrat super-PAC, highlighted it. Scott had previously supported a 20-week ban proposed by Graham in 2021. In a 1-on-1 interview with @WMUR9, Sen. Tim Scott @votetimscott says the Dobbs decision left abortion policy to the states, but if he's President he says he would sign a 20-week federal abortion ban into law. #FITN #NHPolitics #WMUR pic.twitter.com/fHPGZ4gr5z Adam Sexton (@AdamSextonWMUR) April 13, 2023 Scott changed his position again during a live scrum with reporters on Thursday. The conservative outlet Newsmax asked him if he supported a federal abortion ban, to which Scott replied by noting a conversation about abortion and the workforce that he had with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at a hearing last year. Scott said he was 100% pro-life, Ill never walk away from that but didnt reply to a follow-up asking for a clear message. It's unknown if the 20-week proposal that Scott mentioned to WMUR would work similarly to Grahams, which would still allow Republican-controlled states to keep stricter bans while putting a limit on states that want broader reproductive rights. While both senators have criticized Democrats for supporting late-term abortions which is not a medical term abortions later in pregnancies are very rare (about 1% of all abortions, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation) and are usually tied to health complications. Staking out even a 20-week ban could potentially hurt Scott and other Republicans in primaries, as some GOP voters support stricter bans that are out of step with national polling. Trump appointed three Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe, fulfilling a campaign promise. Meanwhile, DeSantis is set to sign a strict six-week ban in Florida. But while taking a strict position on abortion can be survived in general elections by Republicans in traditionally conservative states, it has demonstrably benefited Democrats in swing state races since last Junes ruling. Last week, a Wisconsin state Supreme Court election was won comfortably by Janet Protasiewicz, the liberal candidate, after she ran on protecting reproductive rights. An anti-abortion demonstrator in 2020. (Kevin Lamarque/Reuters) Following Protasiewiczs win, the Wall Street Journals conservative editorial board which cheered the overturning of Roe wrote that the issue of abortion was still politically potent. Republicans had better get their abortion position straight, and more in line with where voters are or they will face another disappointment in 2024, wrote the board. A total ban is a loser in swing states. Republicans who insist on that position could soon find that electoral defeats will lead to even more liberal state abortion laws than under Roe. Thats where Michigan is now after last years rout. Some conservatives have said that the Wisconsin loss wasnt a sign of abortions importance but instead the result of a bad candidate: conservative Dan Kelly, who had lost by an identical margin to a different liberal opponent in 2020. For Republicans to recapture the White House in 2024, either abortion will have to fade as an issue or they will have to land on a middle ground that keeps the base engaged while not completely turning off swing voters. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) danced around answering whether he supports a federal ban on abortion, instead arguing he is 100 percent pro-life as he launched an exploratory committee for a possible 2024 presidential bid. I am certainly 100 percent pro-life without a question, Ive been very clear about that, Scott said when asked during an interview with CBS News whether he supports the 15-week federal ban on abortions that Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) has proposed. I do think we spend not enough time understanding how far the far left has gone on the issue of abortion. But when pressed again on whether he thinks the federal government should get involved with a restriction similar to the one Graham is proposing, Scott dodged, pointing again to what he said was a campaign from the left to continue late-term abortions. Asked a third time whether he would support federal limits on abortions as president, Scott again returned to saying he was 100 percent pro-life. CBSs Caitlin Huey-Burns said so, yes?, to which Scott responded, Thats not what I said. I do believe we should have a robust conversation about whats happening on a very important topic, Scott said. The gymnastics from Scott surrounding the questions on abortion comes as he moved one step closer to launching a White House campaign for 2024, opening an exploratory committee to consider the run. The issue of abortion has become increasingly prevalent on the campaign trail, especially following the ruling from the Supreme Court last year that eliminated federal protections for abortions. A slew of Republican-led states have moved to restrict abortion access, while Democratic lawmakers at the federal level have launched efforts to try to codify federal protections for the procedure into law. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) might be running for president and might favor a national ban on abortion in the early stages of pregnancy, but he wont say. This week Scott announced a presidential exploratory committee and fielded questions from reporters but avoided giving definitive answers about whether hed support a total ban on abortion or a 15-week ban. I would simply say that the fact of the matter is when you look at the issue of abortion, of the challenges that we have is we continue to go to the most restrictive conversations without broadening the scope and taking a look at the fact that Im 100% pro-life, Ill never walk away from that, Scott told Newsmax TV in New Hampshire on Thursday. Scott then brought up a May 2022 Senate Banking Committee hearing with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, who had testified that banning abortion would hurt the economy because fewer women would be able to hold jobs. Scott called it the wrong conversation. In a separate clip posted online by CBS News on Wednesday, Scott was asked if, as president, he would support banning abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, per a proposal by his colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). I would say this: I am certainly 100% pro-life, without any question, Scott said. I do think we spend not enough time understanding how far the far left has gone on the issue of abortion. Scott avoided directly answering a follow-up question, instead lamenting Democratic support for late-term abortions. He also brought up the Yellen hearing, which he said stunned him. The senator was less evasive this week when asked about a 20-week abortion ban, an idea he and most Senate Republicans have previously supported. Twenty-week ban, definitely, he told WMUR in New Hampshire. Scott was not one of the nine cosponsors of Grahams 15-week bill, which he introduced last year after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that guaranteed a federal right to abortion nationwide. Last years reversal resulted in near-total abortion bans in more than a dozen states. Story continues Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis one of Scotts likely opponents for the Republican presidential nomination is set to sign a six-week ban into law pending its passage by the Florida Legislature. The Supreme Courts decision prompted Yellen to discuss abortion at the Senate Banking Committee last year. Roe v. Wade and access to reproductive health care, including abortion, helped lead to increased labor force participation and enabled many women to finish school. That increased their earning potential, Yellen testified. It allowed women to plan and balance their families and careers. And research also shows that it has a favorable impact on the well-being and earnings of children. Scott, a panel member, recalled initially watching the hearing from his office but then making his way to the committee room to confront Yellen. Are you actually saying that a mom like mine should have an abortion so that we increase the labor force participation rate? Scott recalled saying at the hearing. That just seems ridiculous to me. At the time, he said Yellens remarks about how abortion affects labor force participation seemed callous. Well, I certainly dont mean to say what I think the effects are in a manner thats harsh, Yellen responded, adding that allowing women to regulate their reproduction lets them live more fulfilling lives. And she noted that younger women, particularly low-income and often Black, have unexpected pregnancies that disrupt their education and future career prospects. There is a spillover into labor force participation... and it means the children will grow up in poverty and do worse themselves, Yellen said. This is not harsh. This is the truth. Related... MANCHESTER, N.H. Sen. Tim Scott has quickly discovered how tricky abortion politics can be when forced to discuss them on the national stage. On his second day of campaigning since announcing a presidential exploratory committee, the South Carolina Republican pivoted, deflected and avoided specifics when repeatedly pressed on where he stood on federal abortion restrictions. On Wednesday, Scott dodged questions as to whether he would support a federal abortion prohibition, such as a 15-week ban introduced by his colleague Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), when pressed by both national and local Iowa media. By Thursday morning in New Hampshire, Scott said he did believe some type of federal restriction should be implemented, and said if president, he would definitely sign into law a 20-week ban a measure he has supported in the Senate. We have to have a federal limit on how far we can go, and that is something that we have to discuss, Scott said in a local television interview in Manchester. Pressed later on the issue outside the Red Arrow Diner in Manchester, Scott deflected accusing Democrats of hypocrisy and raising objections to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen suggesting that abortions could increase the African American workforce. He did not elaborate on how far the federal government should go to restrict abortions. Scott is expected to hinge a potential presidential campaign on his Christian faith and court the evangelical vote a voting bloc that overwhelmingly opposes abortion rights. But his answers over the past 24 hours suggest that he believes Republicans have done themselves no electoral favors by celebrating recent abortion restrictions and calling for sweeping national bans. But by the standards of many in the GOP and as red states around the country have passed six-week and even total bans the 20-week ban that Scott said he would sign does not go far enough. Scotts reluctance to weigh in on earlier, more restrictive bans illustrates the fine line he and other Republican White House hopefuls must walk. Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley has similarly avoided providing specifics about her position on a national ban, while former President Donald Trump has suggested that Republicans suffered electorally by not embracing exceptions to their abortion ban bills. Scott in 2021 co-sponsored the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, a bill that proposed jailing doctors for up to five years for performing abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Scott did not directly answer a question about whether he agreed with prosecuting doctors who did so. He has, however, condemned a bill introduced in the South Carolina legislature that could impose the death penalty on women receiving abortions. Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.), who is inching closer to a presidential bid, said on Thursday that he would support a 20 week ban on abortion. I think states have to solve that problem on their own, Scott said in an interview with WMUR in New Hampshire. The big problem that we see today is that Democrats want to make this a federal issue of having abortions into the third trimester. That is something that puts us in the company of China and North Korea. We cannot go there, so we have to have a federal limit on how far we can go, and that is something we have to discuss. When asked whether he would sign a 20 week ban on the procedure into law if it reached his desk, Scott said definitely. Scotts comments come after he danced around whether he would support a federal ban on abortion during an interview with CBS News in Iowa, while calling himself 100 percent pro-life without a question. I do believe we should have a robust conversation about whats happening on a very important topic, he told the network. Scott is in the midst of an early presidential contest swing after announcing on Wednesday that he was launching a presidential exploratory committee. Republicans up and down the ballot have grappled with how to message on abortion after Democrats successfully zeroed in on the issue in the lead up to last years midterm elections following the overturning of Roe v. Wade. Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel has called on Republicans to put Democrats on the defense on the issue by labeling them as extreme on abortion. This is not an issue that is going away for our party in a post-Dobbs world, and we cant put our head in the sand thinking that its going to heading into 2024, McDaniel said in an interview with Fox News last week. President Trump has sidestepped the question when asked whether he supports a federal abortion ban, telling The Associated Press last month that were looking at a lot of different things. Meanwhile, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R ), who is preparing to enter the 2024 GOP primary, has signaled that he supports a measure that would make abortion in Florida illegal after six weeks of pregnancy. Roe v. Wade upheld the constitutional right to an abortion prior to viability, typically around 23 to 24 weeks of pregnancy. After viability, states had the authority to regulate abortion under Roe. Abortions at or after 21 weeks are uncommon, and represent 1 percent of all abortions in the U.S., according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Tim Scott has made one thing clear while dipping his toe in the 2024 waters: Hell be a candidate who knows how to say II Corinthians. He can probably even quote the book from memory. The South Carolina senator, who announced an exploratory committee on Wednesday, remains a mysterious factor in the Republican primary field. Donors float him as a potential alternative to Donald Trump, should Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis stumble. And Scotts genteel personality and lack of past Trump entanglements could give him unique appeal to independents and a newer swath of GOP voters. A foregone conclusion, though, is that evangelicals with all their subsets and denominations will be his top constituency. In a video announcing his new committee, Scotts first pledge was to defend Americas faith values and protect religious liberty. Scotts answer later in the morning on how he would beat Trump in a primary involved a reference to Psalm 139. And own advisers say Scotts path to viability involves courting the vote of churchgoers, particularly in Iowa, where his first meetings after his Wednesday announcement were with homeschool families and pastors. Dear Heavenly Father, read the first fundraising appeal from his exploratory committee, an email Wednesday morning that included a suggested two-minute prayer for Scott. But the evangelical lane isnt one Scott will likely have to himself, and his focus on social conservatives could complicate Scotts ability to appeal to a newer generation of Republican voters with looser opinions on abortion access and marriage equality. In addition to Trump who in the White House became a hero of conservative Christians after delivering them the Supreme Court, among other things former Vice President Mike Pence also speaks the language of Bible-believing Christians. Pence has long oriented his political message around faith and, like Scott, is at home in evangelical church settings. But a day after news broke that he was launching an exploratory committee, Scott sounded like a man ready to compete for primacy with that constituency. Story continues To a room of 35 pastors and their wives in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on Wednesday, Scott told his life story his spiritual testimony before taking questions from Christian leaders who could ultimately help steer Iowa Christian voters toward one candidate or another. Anybody whos around him for just a couple minutes doesnt doubt his heartfelt belief in Christ as his savior, said Chad Connelly, the former chair of the South Carolina Republican Party who now runs an organization that engages pastors on political and policy issues. Connelly, who is also organizing pastor roundtables for other Republican 2024 hopefuls, recalled a minister telling him once: Tim Scott quotes more scripture in conversation than a pastor does. In a place like Iowa or Scotts home state of South Carolina, though, the pool of voters identifying as conservative Christians is broad. And it represents a wide range of pro- and anti-Trump Republicans. Ive just learned this constituency theyre not like robots, said Steve Scheffler, the Republican National Committeeman from Iowa and president of the Iowa Faith & Freedom Coalition. Even though they agree on most issues, their methodology by the time they have their final pick in the caucuses can vary by 180 degrees. A person familiar with Scotts campaign strategy said voters are going to be hearing a lot about his faith, and how it affects his worldview and vision. As for his path to viability with the Republican primary electorate, another Scott adviser pointed to Scott being little-known nationally, which affords him a higher favorable rating and lower unfavorable rating than much of the rest of the field. His name recognition problem, meanwhile, can be remedied with the nearly $22 million he had sitting in his campaign account as of the end of last year a number likely to be larger when he posts his first-quarter filings in coming days. Scott has kept a healthy distance from Trump in the Senate, neither a loyalist and cheerleader nor a critic. That puts him in position to pick up Trump admirers who are ready for the party to move on, as well as anti-Trump Republicans. But positioning oneself as the candidate who can earn the support of social conservatives while also broadening the GOPs appeal to independents and swing voters will prove to be a tall order. Example No. 1: Abortion. At a time when Republican leaders are reckoning with the partys losses among young voters and suburban women particularly after last years Dobbs decision Scott is attempting to walk a fine line on abortion rights. The issue has long remained one of the top priorities of conservative evangelicals. The senator, who was among the featured speakers at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Lifes gala last fall and says he is 100% pro-life, has declined to answer reporters questions on whether he would support a national abortion ban, such as a 15-week ban proposed by his home-state colleague, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.). Scott remained reticent to speak about the issue on Wednesday, telling local reporters in Cedar Rapids that he favors a robust debate on abortion. Later, in an interview on CBS News, Scott brushed off multiple questions about whether he would support federal abortion limits. In his exploratory committee launch video, Scott vowed to protect the right to life, something he doesnt mention on his websites six-point issues page. Similarly, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley has spoken about the need for the country to reach consensus on the issue, while avoiding specifics about when in the course of a pregnancy it should be outlawed. Trump, meanwhile, has drawn sharp criticism from top anti-abortion opponents for suggesting that the party became too extreme on the issue, despite the fact he appointed judges who later issued major court rulings siding with opponents of abortion rights. In contrast, Pence has positioned himself as the GOP primary fields chief crusader against abortion rights, calling for a national ban and, more recently, celebrating a Texas judges controversial ruling against use of an abortion pill. Despite most other candidates and prospective candidates in the field also incorporating faith into their message, opponents of Scott note that he has not sought to brand himself as a conservative fighter, and religion is no longer the primary motivating factor for many voters. Its kind of like bringing a knife to a gun fight, said one GOP consultant working for another 2024 Republican hopeful, referring to Scotts emphasis on faith. Everyone else is playing 12-dimensional chess, and youre playing checkers. Scotts first events after launching his exploratory committee were behind closed doors. Wednesday morning, he and Rep. Ashley Hinson (R-Iowa) spoke privately with homeschool families, before emerging to speak with reporters. Scotts roundtable with pastors was also closed to news media, though he gave a public address Wednesday night at a GOP womens dinner in Cedar Rapids. Randy Page, the chief of staff to the president of Bob Jones University and a longtime Republican operative in the state, said he believes Scott is nimble enough to draw in independent-leaning and swing voters even while championing socially conservative causes. Page said he will support Scott if he ultimately runs. Some of the things suburban women may have concerns about, he can talk about the issues in a way that appeals to them, Page said. Even if they may not agree with him on those things, they will find other issues they agree with him on and say, This is the kind of man we would want to represent us as president of the United States. So often youre drawing from yourself, so that can feel icky, says Murphy (BBC) Charlie Murphy doesnt usually watch herself on screen. She didnt watch Happy Valley, in which she played victim-turned-copper Ann Gallagher. Nor did she see Peaky Blinders, in which she played real-life trade union activist Jessie Eden for two seasons. But Netflixs new erotic thriller Obsession was different: Im really happy I watched it, the Irish actor tells me over Zoom. The main reason was to see... She pauses for a split second to think of the word she means, before concluding: To see the process play out. Im sorry, I tell her, I really thought you were going to say the sex scenes then. She throws her head back and howls. I watched it to see... the tits. Were they OK? Yes, OK, theyre fine. Its true: tits are on show in Obsession, the new Netflix four-parter thats being touted as the horniest series on the platform. It is part psychological frog boiling, part BDSM thriller. Based on Josephine Harts 1991 novel Damage, it tells the story of a well-to-do doctor turned politician, William, who allows himself to become embroiled in a steamy affair with his sons fiancee, the mysterious and alluring Anna. Quickly, he becomes completely obsessed with her. The sex scenes have been heavily trailed on social media and in the official trailer, all sultry lighting and shots ranging from the suggestive (a thumb being run up a neck, wrists being bound in ribbon) to the downright demonstrative (knickers landing over a pair of heels and Murphy being slammed against a wall by co-star Richard Armitage). Its the return of the erotic thriller, claims one headline. Not since Fifty Shades of Grey have we been teased like the slathering horndogs that we are with the promise of flesh on flesh, of kinks played out on screen. I mean, Ive been nude a lot before, Murphy laughs: in Obsession she is mounted and bound, held and controlled by a lover who can demand anything of her. Writing in The Telegraph, Armitage said the project was pitched to him with a sense of trepidation, with the actor told: Its going to be a challenge, physically. Its nudity parity (thats industry speak for full kit off for male and female actors). Story continues In Happy Valley, Murphys best-known performance to date, we watched Ann Gallaghers journey from petulant teenage rich kid to troubled, astute police officer after she was kidnapped and assaulted by the evil-to-the-core-or-is-he Tommy Lee Royce. Ann was a role that combined worldliness with a sort of sweet naivety, an inner strength and an outer straightforwardness. Her blistering, wine-soaked monologue to Ryan about his dads true nature was a standout moment of the final season, when her pain bubbled over after several years of her stoic attempts to move on. On the surface, the mysterious, enticing femme fatale that is Anna in Obsession couldnt be less like Ann (though as the story unfolds there are more and more parallels between them). Anna seduces her fiances dad and point-blank refuses to tell her soon-to-be-husband anything about her past. Anna has the keys to a fancy flat in the centre of town, perfect for illicit liaisons involving rules, bondage and shagging anywhere that isnt a bed. Murphy appears on my screen with a new shock of platinum blonde hair, drawing a definitive line between her and either character. Shes in the middle of an online junket, perched on the edge of a sofa in a nondescript hotel room and peering down at her screen, smiling. Having grown up as one of six children in southeast Ireland, she speaks with a gentle Irish lilt and is curious but careful with my questions, steering them back to her talking points and careful not to give too much of herself away. Her character in Obsession is similarly guarded, but she certainly isnt coy. She pursues William and is in control of all aspects of their relationship, except the moments theyre alone together in the sex flat but that too is her decision: she hands him the power. Murphy describes her character as a dominant submissive. At times [she is] his mother, his lover, his sexual spiritual guide, and architect of this brand new world that hes been born into and at the same time, his drug giver. It feels unusual to see BDSM represented in pop culture in a way that is actually quite sexy. The shots are sweeping, the bodies sculptural (thats intentional, Murphy explains: she and Armitage were inspired by Renaissance art), and the music is overwhelmingly dramatic. Murphy reckons part of the reason the sex in Obsession actually feels sensual and somewhat realistic is down to the female-led creative team and the inclusive, collaborative atmosphere they created. Writer Morgan Lloyd Malcolm really reordered this world; took a very not female heavy perspective and swung it the other way, she says. Lloyd Malcolm and her writing partner Benji Walters eschewed the exclusively male point of view of both the original book and the subsequent 1992 film starring Jeremy Irons, and instead split it down the middle: sometimes were as hopelessly intrigued by Anna as William is, sometimes were as disappointed by Williams lack of control as Anna is. Directors Lisa Barros DSa and Glenn Leyburn, a husband-and-wife team, also fostered a much more collaborative way of working than Murphy had been used to. It was a very theatrical process, which you dont normally get [in TV], she says. When I read [the script], it felt like Anna kept just being out of reach, she was a real puzzle. She, Lloyd Malcolm, Barros DSa and Leyburn worked out the character together in pre-production, finding answers such as, this is the psychological drive at this point as to why their sex is a bit rougher and the next one is a bit softer. We figured all of that out together which gave us autonomy very early on with our characters. Of course, this is a Netflix show and not a French arthouse film, so its a pretty PG portrayal of a kink one reliant on lingering shots of William tying ribbons around Annas wrists and long meaningful eye contact, before a quick, boisterous shag up against a wall. And, in an era of open discussion about kinks and sexual adventurousness, polyamory and ethical non-monogamy (the acronym for which you will find on almost every east London mans Tinder profile), the love triangle plot and fleeting shots of thundering flesh can feel almost outdated. Charlie Murphy and Richard Armitage embrace in Obsession (Ana Blumenkron/Netflix) But the brooding drama is compelling, and its Hitchcockian heightening of tension is almost unbearable, as intended: an affair with your sons girlfriend is never going to end neatly and this one certainly doesnt. But as the layers are peeled back youll find your sympathies shifting constantly, never quite sure of who you feel is most deserving of a big hug, a warm blanket and a cup of tea (although I will say it is almost never William, who at one point caused me to jot down: Is he going to shag that cushion? and then two minutes later, Yes.). Such scenes required a pair of actors who were very game and committed. Murphy and Armitage met for the first time at their chemistry read. He fed me a few olives and then we shook hands and said goodbye, she jokes. At first they would keep their distance on set, wanting to maintain a similar arc to their characters who know very little about each other aside from their intense physical attraction. Then they spent a week together filming their intimate scenes, which made it almost impossible not to develop at the very least a jovial comradery. It was a nice parallel because no one else had witnessed it except this very close crew, so after that we had these loaded looks in our public scenes together: eating dinner, touching hair and all that. Wed experienced our world already. Equally important to the process was intimacy coordinator Adelaide Waldrop. Intimacy coordinators are a relatively new presence on film sets, helping to choreograph the physical sex scenes and ensure the safety of the actors who put themselves in incredibly vulnerable situations to tell us a story. So often youre drawing from yourself, so that can feel icky, Murphy says, recoiling slightly. Its like saying, OK, get up there and do a dance. Youre like, OK, well, now its Charlie doing the dance. And Im feeling a bit self-conscious. Its the same with sex scenes. Ive never really had any bad, bad experiences, thank God and we all know that theres been loads out there but it has given me more bravery to know that I have an armour on in some way, even if Im fully nude. That people are watching, not me going, Oh, this is me, Im drawing from my own very personal sexual experience. Perhaps this is why shes slightly flustered by the one question I ask that veers anywhere near Murphys life as opposed to Annas. Her response to whether the show taught her anything about sexual dynamics turns into an answer about work: In my own personal life? I think what I learned the most was on set, feeling like an adult, like my opinion counted... Murphy as troubled police officer Ann Gallagher in Happy Valley (BBC) In real life, in fact, shes pretty shy actually. When Im sitting around my sisters and my family, Im like, Why have I chosen this career? To invite this upon myself, Murphy ponders, talking about being nude in front of thousands of people and accessing parts of herself that most of us keep hidden. But playing Anna has been empowering for her: not just slipping into the skin of a woman who twists the world so as to give herself control, but also the cogs and processes behind the scenes that keep the story turning. Shes probably not going to seduce her partners dad, but she knows now that she wants a bit more of that control for herself. It was really fun to explore that dominant-submissive powerplay then the signs of his obsession, the signs of her questioning it. Each time we could go a little bit more with the danger. She grins, eyes twinkling and that newly-bleached hair looking wild, untamed. It was really, really fun. Obsession is on Netflix Annie Fu/Insider Russian forces are slowly edging forward in the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut. Both sides are throwing manpower and resources into the brutal battle as they try to grind each other down. A timelapse map shows how Russia has now moved forward to enclose the city on three sides. A new timelapse shows Russian forces slowly closing in on the Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, after weeks of stalemate in what is considered the longest and bloodiest battle in Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Institute for the Study of War and AEI's Critical Threats Project The months of fighting for the eastern city have been slow, grinding, and often brutal, with commanders on both sides calling the battle a "meat grinder." Russia started shelling the city in May last year, and the fighting ramped up in August. Both sides see Bakhmut as an opportunity for a symbolic victory in the slow-moving war, and also a chance to wear down their opponent. The changing map shows how Russian forces have moved forward, and now surround the city on three sides. They have also reached the city center. Washington DC-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said on Tuesday that Russia has taken at least 76.5% of Bakhmut. It added that fighters with the Wagner mercenary group, which is leading Russia's fight in the city, took the Bakhmut City Administration building on April 2. Russia's gains in April come after US officials, UK intelligence and experts all said in March that Russia's progress had appeared to stall. Russia is suffering huge losses as it inches forward. US Gen. Mark Milley, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last month that the battle had turned into a "slaughter-fest" for Russian forces. Western officials estimated that, as of early last month, between 20,000 and 30,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured in the city. NATO predicted that Russia was losing five soldiers for every Ukrainian killed. Ukrainian officials have suggested that continuing the fight in Bakhmut allows the country to grind down Russia's forces, weakening them so their strength can be limited for other offensives. Story continues One expert told Insider last month that Russia seems to be sacrificing its troops to try and grind down Ukraine's own supplies of ammunition and personnel. Bakhmut does not actually hold much strategic importance for Russia, experts told Insider earlier this year, but they said that it is desperately seeking a win after failing to make any notable territorial gains in recent months. Read the original article on Business Insider Tunisia's coastguard said Thursday 24 people had died in a shipwreck carrying sub-Saharan African migrants, a group that complains of not feeling safe since the country's president delivered an incendiary speech against them. The coastguard announced on Wednesday that it had recovered 10 bodies after the shipwreck the day before off the North African coastal city of Sfax. On Thursday, it said 14 more bodies of migrants were discovered, including six women, as well as the body of the boat's Tunisian captain. Faouzi Masmoudi, the spokesman for the court of Sfax which is investigating the tragedy, said the 15 bodies had been trapped under the boat. The spokesman for the National Guard also announced Thursday that 41 Tunisian migrants, including five women and nine children, had been "rescued" off the coast of Sousse. Tunisia's coastguard said last week it had intercepted over 14,000 migrants trying to reach Europe from January to March, more than five times the number of those who attempted the trip in the first quarter of 2022. Dozens of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, have drowned off Tunisia in recent weeks, in desperate attempts to reach Europe. - 'Respect us as human' - Departures have spiked since President Kais Saied in February delivered a speech against them, sparking a wave of violence and evictions. Saied accused "hordes" of illegal immigrants of causing a crime wave and being part of a "plot" to change Tunisia's demographic make-up. Hundreds of migrants, including children and pregnant women, were made homeless and many faced violence in the days that followed. Many have been sleeping rough outside United Nations offices in the capital Tunis. Tunisian police used tear gas on Tuesday to disperse homeless migrants who had blocked the entrance to the UN refugee agency UNHCR to demand evacuation to "any other safe country that will accept and respect us as human". Story continues On Thursday, two rights groups held a press conference in Tunis to demand a safe place for them to stay. "The urgent thing is to protect these people. They must be put in a safe place, especially the women and children," said Zeineb Mrouki of Lawyers Without Borders (ASF). "They need emergency accommodation, and they have a lot of health issues that need to be taken care of." Tunisia, whose coastline is less than 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa, has long been a favoured spot for migrants attempting the journey. - 'Lives are at stake' - The UN rights chief Volker Turk voiced alarm on Thursday over the "precarious" situation of asylum seekers and migrants attempting to cross the central Mediterranean, the world's deadliest migration route. "We are seeing a steep increase in the number of desperate people putting their lives at grave risk," he said in a statement. Since 2014 over 26,000 people have died or gone missing crossing the Mediterranean, including over 20,000 along the central Mediterranean route alone, it said. "We cannot afford to dither, and to become embroiled in yet another debate about who is responsible. Human lives are at stake," Turk said. Romdhane Ben Amor of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) called on authorities to allow aid organisations and citizens to help the migrants, after a volunteer who tried to deliver food was arrested. Police are using a law which "criminalises any form of assistance to people in an irregular situation", he said. ayj/ezz/par/pjm Tianna Day's friend, left, the two children, and Day outside the drag brunch. Tianna Day I decided to bring my 7-year-old daughter and her 5-year-old friend to a drag brunch in Canada. The kids wore glitter, tipped the drag queens, and danced onstage. They loved the experience. When I posted on TikTok about the brunch, I got a lot of hate, but the kids can't wait to go back. I brought my 7-year-old daughter and her 5-year-old friend to a drag brunch where the two queens Devine Darlin and Destiny Doll put on one heck of a show. My family lives in Canada, just outside Toronto, but I've heard about the controversy in the US around drag queens and children. It's just a matter of time before that same controversy seeps into Canada. When I took my daughter to the drag brunch, I filmed every moment and made a video for TikTok. It went viral. The video made a lot of people angry, but I learned that the drag brunch was safe for my kid. On top of that, my daughter can't wait to go back. I called ahead I was surprised to learn a restaurant in my small town in Ontario was hosting a drag brunch. I decided I wanted to take my daughter. When my best friend's husband found out I planned on going, he asked whether I could take his 5-year-old daughter. Luckily, our daughters are friends, too, so they were both excited. I called the restaurant ahead of our arrival and asked whether it would be OK if I brought two kids. I asked whether the performers and other attendees were anticipating more-adult content. The person on the phone told me this brunch, specifically, would be toned down and child-appropriate and they'd be happy to have us. In March, I took my daughter and her friend to the drag brunch where we met up with another friend of mine. The four of us dressed up in sparkly outfits and colorful eye makeup. I also came armed with cash so that the girls could tip the drag queens. The queens made everyone including the kids feel special. At one point, they brought my daughter and her friend up to the dance floor for a dance competition to the "Baby Shark" song. Story continues I posted a satirical TikTok about the drag brunch, and it went viral In the TikTok video, I pretended to be someone who opposed children attending drag shows, but many didn't get the joke. A lot of commenters asked, "Why did you take your kids if you're such a bigot?" The sarcasm went right over their heads. I did get a lot of people who wrote, "Good for you! You're a good mom." But there were a lot of people who said what I did was child abuse and that I should have my kids taken away. Many said that I was grooming my children. Some folks didn't like that the girls tipped the drag queens. But I raised my daughter to tip performers always. The girls loved the drag brunch, and they can't wait to go back As far as the girls were concerned, the queens were gorgeous princesses. Neither of the kids asked about gender. My daughter asked only how they got their hair and makeup so beautiful. Both of the girls asked when they could go again. I fully understand that there are some drag brunches that are not kid-friendly. But calling ahead and asking about the nature of the show is a great way to avoid that. At the end of the day, we all enjoyed the show filled with glitter, dancing, dress-up, and even pancakes. Read the original article on Insider Two Torrance police officers linked to a racist text messaging scandal have been indicted in the 2018 shooting death of a Black man who was holding an air rifle, according to defense attorneys for one of the officers. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Two Torrance police officers linked to a racist text messaging scandal have been indicted in the 2018 shooting death of a Black man who was holding an air rifle, according to defense attorneys for one of the officers. Defense attorney Tom Yu confirmed Thursday that Matthew Concannon and Anthony Chavez were indicted in the killing of Christopher DeAndre Mitchell, a 23-year-old suspected car thief. Yu said he did not know what charges the officers would face, but a court appearance is expected early next week. Attorneys for Concannon did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and a spokeswoman for the district attorney's office declined to comment. An attorney representing Mitchell's family said he had not been informed of the indictment. Former Dist. Atty. Jackie Lacey cleared both officers of wrongdoing in 2018, but the case was one of four her successor, George Gascon, promised to reopen after he was elected in 2020. Special prosecutor Lawrence Middleton, whom Gascon hired to review those cases independent of the district attorney's office, began presenting evidence to a grand jury last month. In December 2018, Concannon and Chavez pulled up to Mitchell, who was suspected of driving a stolen vehicle, in a Ralphs parking lot in Torrance, according to an earlier district attorneys office memo clearing the officers of wrongdoing. The officers parked behind Mitchell, exited their vehicle and yelled, Police! Mitchell initially placed his hands on the steering wheel, according to the memo. The officers repeatedly ordered Mitchell to get out of the car, but he did not comply, according to the report. When they approached him, the officers noticed Mitchells hands move toward his lap, where Concannon saw what he believed to be a firearm. They opened fire. The officers described the weapon, later determined to be a break barrel air rifle, as pinched between Mitchells legs, though neither alleged he grabbed it or pointed it at them before they shot him. Story continues "Based on Mitchells failure to follow the officers directions, his continued efforts to conceal the object in his lap, the physical appearance of the object, and the movement of his hands toward the object, it was reasonable for the officers to believe that the object was a firearm and to respond with deadly force," read the original district attorney's office memo declining to charge the officers in 2019. "Accordingly, both officers use of deadly force was reasonable under the circumstances." When news of Middleton's pursuit of a grand jury indictment broke last month, Yu told The Times the move to seek an indictment years after Lacey cleared his client of wrongdoing was entirely motivated by politics and due to the campaign promises by Mr. Gascon to his constituents. Concannon and Chavez were among 15 officers linked to a racist text message scandal within the Torrance Police Department after a search warrant in a criminal case against two other officers turned up a trove of messages sent between 2018 and 2020 that made gruesome, violent and racist comments about Black and Latino people, members of the LGBTQ community and members of the Jewish faith. The Times did not find evidence that Concannon and Chavez sent racist messages, but several sources and documents reviewed by the newspaper confirmed they were part of the text thread and under investigation as part of the scandal. Mitchell's death was discussed in the text messages several times, with unidentified officers using the N-word to describe the dead man's loved ones and others glorifying violence against protesters who wanted the officers charged. Both officers' status with the department remains unclear. Chavez and Concannon did not appear on a copy of the Torrance Police Departments roster provided to The Times in response to a public records request filed last year. But Sgt. Ron Salary, a Torrance police spokesman, and Concannon's attorney have said he's still employed as an officer. Salary declined to comment on Chavez's job status and did not respond to a request for comment on the indictment Thursday. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. MARKO DJURICA While Russian authorities have repeatedly claimed to be rescuing Ukrainian civilians in the territories they seize control of, those who survived Russias occupation of Kherson say troops systematically tortured civilianssometimes to death. Thirty four people interviewed by Human Rights Watch after Russian forces withdrew from the area last November described a slew of torture sites throughout the region, according to a new report released Thursday. Their accounts are just the latest in a rapidly growing list of war crimes allegations that include rape, torture, forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings, and a genocidal campaign to wipe out the Ukrainian identity. Agents from Russias Federal Security Service were present for much of the torture, survivors said, and the violence went hand in hand with an attempt to force victims to embrace their new Russian world. Every day we could hear torture, we could hear screams. The worst was when we were forced to sing the Russian national anthem. We had to stand at attention and yell, Glory to Russia! When someone sang we had to clap for him. If we didnt applaud [loudly enough], theyd take us from our cell and beat us again, Leonid Remyga, 68, the chief doctor at a local hospital, told HRW investigators. Olha Strohan, 53, described a similar scenario. She said she was abducted and beaten by Russian forces trying to hunt down her husband. While in captivity, she said, she watched guards force other female captives to chant Glory to Putin! and sing patriotic Russian songs, threatened with beatings if they did not do as they were told. Booby-Trapped Hellscape Left Behind by Putins Losing Troops Others described being electrocuted. They placed electrodes on my ear and between my fourth finger and my pinky. It lasted for two hours, with breaks. I sat on a stool. They demanded information about activists in 2014 In the interrogations after that they threatened to kill me. Theyd say, for example, Were going to take you away, shoot you, and no one will find you. They also said, Now were going to put an electrode on your dick and electrocute you, said Roman Baklazhov, who spent 54 days in captivity. Story continues Another survivor, Serhiy Ihnativ, described threats of rape and mutilation at the hands of masked Russian soldiers. They started to beat me on the legs, on my ankle bone, and I fell. They said, Were going to rape your girlfriend in front of you, and cut your balls off, he told HRW. Some survivors said theyd literally watched in horror as other captives were tortured to death. We heard screams, as if someone was being beaten. Then he was thrown into the cell with us with his hands tied He screamed loudly to be untied. He was beaten and said something about electroshock. We realized he was the farmer Oleh Kovalyuk from Miroliubovka, said Serhiy Urodlivichenko. He died after 20 minutes. We called the guards and said that he had died... They took the body away the next day. That is, his body lay in the cell for a day. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. PureWow Are we the only ones who didnt know Netflix still had their DVD delivery service? Apparently, Live morning show host Kelly Ripa didnt know either and she had (by far) the best response to learning this piece of info. On a recent episode of Live with Kelly and Mark, Ripa, 52, and her husband/hosting partner, Mark Consuelos, 52, talked about the media companys rental service, which dates back as far as 1998. The DVD mailing service, which currently delivers movie and television show discs to cu JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas Two years after a Japanese air force pilot and his American instructor died in a military jet crash in Alabama, officials are mulling whether a U.S.-run program that teaches English to foreign aviators is partly to blame. The incident has prompted U.S. Air Force leaders to take a closer look at the quality of the instruction they provide, and consider how to better accommodate foreign students. It has opened fresh discussion of how much time and money the program needs to succeed. It has also highlighted a breakdown in communication between the Air Force-led Defense Language Institutes English Language Center here, the organizations that oversee it, pilot training units across the service, and the nations that send their students to Texas. The Japanese are nervous because of what happened, said Terry Harsh, an instructor at the center, in a recent interview here. They come through here, asking, I dont want the same thing to happen to me why did he die? Why did a professional American instructor pilot die with him? These are language issues, and theyre very concerning. The fatal T-38C Talon training sortie on Feb. 19, 2021, killed 24-year-old 1st Lt. Scot Ames, an instructor pilot at Mississippis Columbus Air Force Base, and his 25-year-old Japanese trainee, Capt. Renshi Uesaki. An official accident investigation concluded that Ames and Uesaki made errors in judgment that caused the crash. Investigators noted that Uesaki struggled with the language barrier despite completing six months of English training in 2019. That directly impacted his ability to receive and process instruction as well as listen and talk on the radios, the report said. This challenge was exacerbated while flying instrument sorties, which required more frequent communications with air traffic control. Uesaki passed his English comprehension test upon arriving at Lackland but needed more time to improve in conversation. He finished the course as an average to slightly above average student, according to the accident report. Story continues But he continued having difficulty speaking and understanding technical aviation vocabulary, which affected his ability to comprehend instructions and make radio calls while flying. Those communication challenges often overwhelmed Uesaki and caused him to lose focus in the cockpit, the report said. The cause of the mishap was [Amess] loss of situational awareness on final approach and failure to take timely and necessary actions as a dangerous situation developed, the Air Force wrote in its accident report. [Uesaki] substantially contributed to the mishap after becoming task-saturated in the traffic pattern and placing and leaving the throttles in idle. Foreign pilot deaths in U.S.-led military training are infrequent, but they do occur. At least four foreign airmen have died in the U.S. in the past decade: Uesaki; two Iraqi pilots, Brig. Gen. Rasid Mohammed Sadiq and Capt. Noor Faleh Rassan Al-Khazali; and a Taiwanese airman, Maj. Kao Ting-cheng. All but Uesaki were flying F-16 Fighting Falcon jets over Arizona when they crashed in separate incidents in 2015, 2016 and 2017. Foreign deaths account for around 6% of the 80 people who have died in U.S. Air Force-affiliated aircraft mishaps since 2013, according to the Air Force Safety Center. But losing an American instructor pilot brought scrutiny of the program to a new level, Harsh said. The crash sparked meetings across the U.S. Air Forces training enterprise and with Japanese military officials to discuss what went wrong and how to stop it from happening again. The Air Force command structure went into a different gear, said Harsh, a former scout helicopter pilot who has taught at the center for over a decade. They were like, What do you teach? Whats going on at DLI? Teaching the world to fly The English Language Center has been the first step on the path to a military air career for thousands of people around the world. Its college-level aviation program is one piece of the centers broader security cooperation mission that reaches around 6,000 students from more than 100 countries each year. The school offers a general English curriculum and remedial classes ahead of more difficult courses that prepare troops for military jobs. Each country picks the airmen it wants to send to the U.S., where they receive a more in-depth education in English the official language of the skies than they may otherwise get at home. To join, people must pass a series of proficiency tests that judge their speaking and listening abilities. They have to score at least a two meaning they could shop for groceries or rent a car on a scale where three is fluent, Harsh said. The nine-week aviation course prepares airmen to hold conversations with pilots in flight, crew members in the back of an aircraft, and air traffic control towers. Anyone from air traffic controllers to flight nurses can attend the course, which offers fixed-wing and rotary-wing specialties. Around 350 foreigners from about 50 countries go through the aviation program each year, Harsh said. NATO airmen dont often attend because they tend to be more fluent in English than people from other parts of the world. Students are drilled on NATOs alpha-zulu phonetic alphabet and the niche vocabulary, acronyms and scenarios that crackle across U.S. military radios no accents allowed. These little differences have led to accidents in the past, and we really want to emphasize the importance of being clear on the radio, Harsh said. They take lessons on subjects like crew management and leadership, with occasional time in simulators, while learning from American airmen and their foreign classmates. The center also tries to work through the cultural differences that can lead to safety issues, like deference to older or higher-ranking airmen. Teachers urge the international students to get comfortable asking questions. Its not really a rank thing when you get in the cockpit, Harsh said. If you dont ask, the instructor pilot is going to assume you know. If something seems amiss, he added, Dont assume that the IP is not making a mistake. You have the right its your life to challenge that instructor pilot respectfully, he said. The goal is to get students up to speed so they can enter the next phase of training, like undergraduate pilot school, without a significant language barrier. But Harsh said theres a big difference between how fluent they need to be to finish the program and how fluent they should be to fly safely. He estimates that airmen need at least another six months of class time to be comfortably proficient, for which the United States or the partner countries would need to foot the bill. Weve tried to emphasize to the military departments, this does not succeed without you, he said. Youve determined the language prerequisites. DLI wildly succeeds in meeting that mark. But thats not what the students need. Nearly everyone who arrives at the center passes, Harsh said. But when they reach their next stop, like undergraduate pilot training, that completion rate falls to around 78%. That training gap is a safety issue, he said. [The solution is] time and money. And nobody wants to pay that. Changes needed The Defense Language Institute is updating the aviation English program, a process that will take another few years to come to fruition. One of the biggest changes the English Language Center could make is forging closer ties between military experts, the follow-on training units and the curriculum team, Harsh said. The curriculum is largely written by civilians without expertise in real-world military aviation, he said. That creates an artificial standard that makes students feel prepared until they reach their training unit. He argues the solution is to embed military experts in the curriculum department who can act as a liaison between the training unit and the English program. That way, the expert could keep the English program apprised of what instructor pilots need and vice versa. Harsh wishes the school had a better system in place to collect feedback from its students, like interviews, but acknowledges that it would add time and effort for already busy staffers and stressed students. Once a year, center staff visits the follow-on training units that take its students to see how well the foreigners do within the first month. That still doesnt paint the full picture, Harsh said. He wants more qualitative and quantitative data on how students are faring: Why did someone need to log extra hours in the cockpit? What have their instructors said in post-flight reports? That is gold to us. Ive never seen it, Harsh said. Without that feedback loop, were shooting arrows in the dark. And he wants the instructors that receive the students down the line to be more aware of who theyre getting. Airmen need to establish safe words before they fly, he said. If an international student gets overwhelmed in the air, they can use the safe word to let their instructor know they need to pause to discuss what theyre doing. Those simple steps can protect the instructor pilots, too. Be somewhat accommodating, he said. This is incredibly difficult. Imagine going to Japan or Korea or an Arab community to try to learn how to fly. Now the Air Force is trying to make clearer how proficient a student will be when they leave the language program, and what should be expected of students who finish it. In February, Air Force international affairs staffers, flight instructors, and members of the Defense Language Institute, Air Education and Training Command and 19th Air Force a subunit that manages pilot training met to review the English language courses curriculum and how it is delivered, said Air Force spokesperson Marilyn Holliday. The English Language Center has worked on a rubric for instructor pilots to gauge how well their international students communicate, she said. Instructor pilots are helping the center make videos to familiarize international students with pre- and post-flight briefings, and pilot training bases have also provided the center with scripts so that students can rehearse conversations about take-off, flight patterns and landing. The visit served as a forum to identify and bridge training and academic gaps between English language curriculum and instruction as it applies to international students, Holliday said. The working group will reconvene in mid-April to re-engage and assess progress on all tasks. The Japanese Self-Defense Forces did not respond to a request for comment on their discussions with American air training officials. Business as normal Business has continued as usual after the 2021 crash, said Col. Joe Schaefer, commandant of the English Language Center. The U.S. Air Force still graduates around 50 foreign pilots each year; Schaefer said the program has maintained its relationship with Japan, a key ally in the Pacific. It retains a Japanese liaison officer who looks out for the countrys students while in the U.S. On the first anniversary of Uesakis death, Schaefer said the Japanese liaison delivered a letter to Lt. Gen. Brad Webb, then the head of Air Education and Training Command. It was a note from the pilots mother: Thank you for caring. Travis Barker said he jumped off a yacht in Portofino before his wedding. Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for The Met Museum/Vogue; Robino Salvatore/GC Images Travis Barker said he jumped off a yacht into the water less than an hour before his wedding. Barker said he was "nervous" and didn't want to "sit around thinking about it." The couple share their Portofino, Italy wedding in a new Hulu special. Travis Barker said that he decided to jump into the ocean less than an hour before he married his wife Kourtney Kardashian Barker to try to calm his nerves. Barker and Kardashian Barker shared the story of their three weddings in Las Vegas, Nevada, Santa Barbara, California, and Portofino, Italy in their Hulu special "'Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis." While Kardashian Barker was getting ready, Barker and his son Landon were taking a plunge. "Because I was nervous, and I knew it was like, the wedding day, I went and like, jumped off like the roof of a boat, like less than an hour before we got married," Barker recalled in the Hulu special. "'Cause I just wanted to do something, I just wanted to like, not like, sit around thinking about it." Barker then proceeded to jump from the rail of a yacht into the water, remarking that it was "so fun" before heading back to presumably prepare for the ceremony. Barker and Kardashian Barker's most extravagant wedding took place in Italy in May 2022. The ceremony and subsequent celebration were the third in honor of their union: The couple were first married without a license in Las Vegas after the Grammys in April 2022, and then legally during a ceremony in Santa Barbara prior to their Italy wedding. The Portofino wedding took place on Dolce & Gabbana's Portofino estate, and Dominico Dolce offered to "throw" the couple their wedding, Kardashian Barker said during the special, designing the ceremony from the "feeling" and "vibe" that they provided. "'Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis" is now streaming. Read the original article on Insider How hard could it be to bring more carbon-free power to New England, a region with a professed dedication to tackling the climate crisis? It hasnt been easy or straightforward for the New England Clean Energy Connect, a long-running effort by Massachusetts to import 1,200 megawatts of electricity produced by hydropower from Quebec. Instead, the projects storyline resembles the unrelenting mishaps of Odysseus journey home from Troy, or perhaps the more contemporary twists of a Shonda Rhimes show. The transmission line doesnt need to get away with murder, but it is on trial this week in Maine. The specifics have a distinctly Mainer flavor to them a jury of nine Cumberland County residents in Maines Business and Consumer Court will now decide if the billion-dollar project can move forward. But the missteps and setbacks in Maine offer lessons for all the other places where more clean-energy transmission lines are needed to clean up the grid and thats pretty much everywhere. The U.S. Department of Energy found there is a pressing need for more transmission infrastructure around the country to keep the grid reliable while incorporating more renewable power. However, recent history is riddled with failed or delayed projects, and the NECEC saga shows how much can go wrong along the way. Populations that may be committed to clean energy in a general sense have fought the NECEC transmission line over its effect on the local environment. But many also decry the project for operating in a way that prioritized the corporate profits of a scandal-ridden utility over the input of the affected communities. The case also hits on the structural difficulty of building transmission lines across states. Massachusetts leaders hope to claim the imported renewable energy toward their ambitious decarbonization goals. But to do so, the lines must traverse someone elses territory; Maine gets the construction jobs along the way, but bears all the ecological downsides for a project instigated by its neighbor not long after Massachusetts balked at building the Cape Wind project in its own backyard, for that matter. Story continues A history of misfires Massachusetts missteps started back in 2018, when a state panel picked a winner from a solicitation of all sorts of clean energy sources. Rather than building new clean power plants, Massachusetts picked a transmission line to bring electricity from Canadian hydropower through New Hampshire, burying the power lines through the scenic White Mountains to minimize visual impact. But New Hampshire regulators denied a key permit just a week after Massachusetts trumpeted its selection, effectively killing that plan. Later that year, Massachusetts switched to the Maine transmission line, which would be built by that states largest utility, Central Maine Power, a subsidiary of Avangrid. Picking your partners has huge ramifications for clean energy projects. Massachusetts bet its clean energy supply on a corporate affiliate of Central Maine Power, which had just bungled the launch of a new customer billing system in 2017, resulting in erroneously inflated bills for some and unjustified threats to cut off service for others, according to a detailed investigation by The Portland Press Herald. That article called the episode a customer service disaster that shattered the reputation of Maines largest utility. Fresh from that scandal, the utility got to work locking down approvals for a project that it clearly stood to benefit from, but which offered more ambiguous upside to everyone else in the state. Opponents couldnt stop the project from getting its necessary approvals from the Maine Public Utilities Commission. Usually, when a project goes through the regulatory process and gets approved, its safe to go ahead and build it. But after the utility spent $450 million on construction and cut a path through 124 miles of forest, opposition groups rallied voters to pass a ballot referendum to stop it in November 2021, in a lopsided 60%40% win. For many Mainers, the resistance wasnt so much about disrupting pristine nature much of the region in question is already a working industrial landscape, noted Mary Ignatiadis, who is working on a documentary about Maines rejection of the transmission project. Mainers objected to what they saw as the project being rammed through with a lack of inclusive stakeholder engagement. Urban policymakers and investors underestimate the intuition and intelligence of rural communities and write them off, said Ignatiadis, who works in clean energy and got involved in the documentary after the planned transmission line was proposed to be routed near her partners parents home in Anson, Maine. But the coalition opposing the project deserves some scrutiny as well, because its indicative of how clean transmission lines can incite a diverse group of antagonists. In this case, environmental and conservation groups like the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Council of Maine were joined by well-funded fossil gas plant owners like NextEra and Calpine, which would suffer economically if cheap hydropower started competing with their polluting plants in New Englands wholesale market. Project opponents, particularly when bankrolled by incumbents looking out for their own bottom lines, will find opportunities to misinform the public and obstruct development, said Ari Peskoe, director of the Electricity Law Initiative at Harvard Law. A common critique is that Maine would suffer environmentally for the project on behalf of Massachusetts. Theres no doubt that the physical disruption would take place in Maine. But, Peskoe pointed out, though Massachusetts would keep the renewables credits for its climate accounting, Maine would still enjoy downward pressure on energy prices from the influx of cheap hydropower in New Englands regional grid. Maine consumers should pay lower prices due to that project, he said. Transmission proponents may decry the pushback to NECEC as NIMBYism obstructing the clean energy transition. But jumping to the NIMBY label is unnecessarily derogatory, according to Portland-based energy and environmental lawyer David Littell. Maine has permitted and allowed more large-scale wind, solar and new transmission than any other New England state, said Littell, who previously served as a commissioner on the Maine Public Utilities Commission. When good projects are proposed, they are eventually approved. And Maine processes work better than most others Ive seen. Now, the jurys specific task is to decide whether Central Maine Power had completed enough work by the time the referendum intervened that it can legally finish the project, per the Boston Globe write-up of the case. Either way the trial goes, its clear that Massachusetts bet on a quick clean-energy fix did not pay off. A story I wrote about the original plan in January 2018 pointed out that project organizers have also promised that the whole thing will be done in time to begin delivery of power in 2020, but projects of this scale have a knack for thwarting timelines and budgets. Five years later, the saga continues to elucidate how not to get transmission built in America. A truck carrying $750,000 in dimes was robbed in a Walmart parking lot, Pennsylvania police say. Officers with the Philadelphia Police Department arrived at the scene on the citys northeast side at around 6 a.m. on April 13, the department said in a news release. An unmarked trailer filled with dimes had been broken into and coins were spilled all over the ground. Investigators believe roughly $100,000 in dimes were stolen from the trailer, WPVI reported. A single dime weighs 2.268 grams, according to the U.S. Mint, meaning the thieves stole about 5,000 pounds of dimes. The truck was loaded with a shipment from the Philadelphia Mint bound for Florida, but the driver left it parked overnight so they could rest before beginning the trip, police told WPVI. When they came back in the morning, the trailer had been broken into. Its not clear if the suspect, or suspects, knew what was on board. Police say thieves often target trailers, KYW reported. Theres been a lot of cargo thefts here and there in Northeast Philly and South Philadelphia over the ensuing months where weve had lamb, chicken, TVs, refrigerators, etc. taken, alcohol, Capt. John Ryan told the TV station. The investigation is ongoing. Men use stolen truck to destroy ATM and snatch a big haul from Florida bank, feds say Tunneling heist nabs $500,000 in iPhones from Apple Store, Washington police say Target worker caught stealing from cash registers over $13K in a month, CT cops say Texas man bragged about stealing money from cartel. Now hes missing, officials say Alex Bruesewitz, a GOP consultant aligned with former Presiden Trump, is planning to launch a bid for Wisconsins 8th congressional district if Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) decides to challenge Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) for her seat next year, according to a person familiar with the plans. Bruesewitz isnt expected to run for the seat if Gallagher mounts a reelection campaign. Still, he has family ties to the district and grew up in Ripon, Wis., which is a short drive south of the district, the person noted. He also has deep ties to Trumps orbit. Hes close allies with the former presidents eldest son Donald Trump Jr. and his fiance Kimberly Guilfoyle, and he has previously advised Trump-backed House candidates including Reps. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) and Cory Mills (R-Fla.). He also advised Trumps Save America PAC. Alex is a MAGA warrior and would easily win this deep Republican seat, a person close to Bruesewitz said. If Gallagher decides to run for Senate, his good relationships with Trump world and GOP leaders would be unmatched. Gallagher, a rising Republican star whos represented the northeastern Wisconsin district since 2017, is seen by many Republicans in the state as a top candidate to challenge Baldwin, who announced her reelection campaign on Wednesday. For his part, Gallagher hasnt ruled out a Senate bid, but he told CNN recently that hes not thinking about it at present. Unlike Gallagher, who broke with Trump over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and said recently that the former president lost [his] support, Bruesewitz is a staunch Trump ally. He was associated with the Stop the Steal events after the 2020 presidential election and has been strongly critical of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, the likely 2024 Republican presidential candidate who is seen as Trumps most serious challenger. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Trump is in New York on Thursday for his second deposition in a fraud lawsuit spearheaded by New York Attorney General Letitia James (D). Trump is returning to New York after appearing last week in Manhattan for his arraignment on 34 felony counts from the local district attorney related to hush money paid to an adult film star shortly before the 2016 election. The former president has denied any wrongdoing. In the separate lawsuit from James, the state attorney general alleges Trump, along with his three adult children and his business entities, manipulated property values to obtain investments and loan benefits over numerous years. Trump previously appeared for his first deposition in the civil fraud case last August; he did not answer anything but procedural questions, invoking the Fifth Amendment more than 400 times. It is unclear whether he will answer questions in his deposition on Thursday. President Trump is not only willing but also eager to testify before the Attorney General today, Trump attorney Alina Habba said in a statement reported by The Associated Press. He remains resolute in his stance that he has nothing to conceal, and he looks forward to educating the Attorney General about the immense success of his multi-billion dollar company. The good thing about the A.G. Peekaboo James persecution is that I will finally be able to show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I built, actually, some of the greatest real estate assets anywhere in the world, Trump said in a Truth Social post Thursday. New York is seeking $250 million in financial penalties and asked the court to ban the former president and Donald Trump Jr., Ivanka Trump and Eric Trump from serving as an officer or director in any corporation registered or licensed in New York. James also requested the court ban the former president and his business from acquiring real estate in New York or from applying for loans from any New York financial institution for five years. Story continues Trump has decried Jamess lawsuit against him as another witch hunt and has repeatedly claimed that there is no merit to this case, or any of the pending investigations looming over him. He said Thursday morning that he was on his way to the deposition, again arguing the case is ridiculous. This civil case is ridiculous, just like all of the other Election Interference cases being brought against me, he said in a Truth Social post. If I had a fair judge, this case would have never happened. MAGA! For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. By Karen Freifeld NEW YORK (Reuters) - Former U.S. President Donald Trump returned to New York to answer questions under oath on Thursday in a $250 million business fraud lawsuit brought against him by the state attorney general. But the questioning took place behind closed doors, and Trump's appearance for the civil case did not draw the kind of attention that his historic surrender on separate criminal charges did last week. A smattering of protesters stood outside New York Attorney General Letitia James' offices in lower Manhattan when Trump arrived for the deposition shortly before 10 a.m. local time, with one group carrying a banner reading, "No One Is Above the Law." He did not leave until shortly after 6 p.m. Trump, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, was asked about his business practices, a person familiar with the matter said.Unlike during questioning in August, Trump did answer questions on Thursday, the person said. The questions and answers will not be made public immediately. In August, before the case was filed, Trump invoked his right against self-incrimination under the U.S. Constitution's Fifth Amendment more than 400 times. Legal experts say the attorney general was also entitled to a deposition after the filing of the lawsuit. When the case was filed in September, James accused Trump of a "staggering" financial fraud. The lawsuit claims Trump, three of his adult children and others participated in a decade-long scheme to manipulate property values and his net worth to obtain favorable loans and tax and insurance benefits. A trial is scheduled to begin Oct. 2. Thursday's deposition could be used to try to discredit any testimony Trump may give from the witness stand, or be offered if he is unavailable. "I will finally be able to show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I built," Trump said in one of a series of social media posts early Thursday. He also lashed out at the attorney general, the judge presiding over the case and the district attorney who brought the separate criminal charges. Story continues Alina Habba, one of his attorneys, said in a statement that Trump was "eager to testify" and remains "resolute in his stance that he has nothing to conceal." The lawsuit seeks $250 million that James says was obtained through financial fraud. It also aims to bar Trump and the three adult children from running businesses in the state and to prohibit him and his company from acquiring commercial real estate in New York for five years. Trump's surrender on April 4 drew worldwide media attention and a huge police presence and he returned to his home in Florida the same day after pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Those charges were tied to allegations that he orchestrated a hush-money payment to a porn star before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence over an alleged sexual encounter. Trump has said the sexual encounter did not take place. His indictment marked the first time a U.S. president has been criminally charged while in office or after. Trump also faces federal investigations stemming from his handling of government documents after leaving the White House and alleged attempts to overturn his election defeat as well as a state-level probe in Georgia into whether he unlawfully sought to reverse the 2020 election results there. In addition, a trial is set for April 25 in federal court in New York over whether Trump defamed former Elle magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll by denying he raped her. Trump is seeking to delay that trial. (Reporting by Karen Freifeld; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Katharine Jackson, Brendan McDermid; Editing by Doina Chiacu, Nick Zieminski and Deepa Babington) (Bloomberg) -- Donald Trumps attorney questioned the credibility and motives of a New York writer who accused the former president of sexual assault, after discovering her lawsuit was being bankrolled by the billionaire co-founder of LinkedIn who is also a major donor to the Democratic Party. Most Read from Bloomberg Trump learned of the financing by a legal group supported by Reid Hoffman in a letter from E. Jean Carrolls legal team April 10, seemingly contradicting a response Carroll gave on the topic during her deposition last year, Trump attorney Alina Habba said in a New York court filing Thursday. At the deposition, Carroll said she had a contingency-fee arrangement for paying her lawyers and answered no when asked if she was receiving outside funding for the litigation, which began in November 2019. Carrolls attorney, Roberta Kaplan, said in her letter to Habba that her client remembered just recently that she had been told at some point about outside funding by a nonprofit and that it was irrelevant to her claim anyway. Habba said she didnt buy that. She called the funding a sign of bias that raises questions about Carrolls motives in bringing the suit. The proposition that plaintiff has suddenly recollected the source of her funding for this high-profile litigation which has spanned four years, spawned two separate actions, and been before numerous state, federal, and appellate courts is not only preposterous, it is demonstrably false, Habba said. Read Habbas letter to the judge here The disclosure complicates a case that was already politically charged and is set to go to trial on April 25, even as Trump campaigns to return to the White House in 2024. Trump has long denied Carrolls rape allegation and claimed that her lawsuit as well as the unrelated criminal indictment of Trump in Manhattan earlier this month and other probes into his conduct in Georgia and Washington are part of a partisan effort to take him down. Story continues Hoffman has provided third-party financial support for a variety of legal matters to protect our citizens from violent threats in our country, including a civil suit against rioters who injured people during the 2017 Unite the Right march in Charlottesville, Virginia, according to his political adviser, Dmitri Mehlhorn. While Hoffman contributed to the nonprofit that provided financial assistance to Carroll, the billionaire had no prior knowledge that the organization would fund her case, Mehlhorn said in a statement. We later agreed that some of that money could be allocated to Ms. Carrolls suit in September 2020, he said. Without philanthropic support to defray legal costs, Ms. Carroll might have become one of thousands of people who had been out-gunned in court by Mr. Trumps decades-long practice of bullying and delay to avoid accountability for his actions, Mehlhorn said. In a Thursday filing responding to Habba, Kaplan said the funding issue is plainly irrelevant to Carrolls claims against Trump, who is financing his legal defenses with money donated by his own supporters to a political action committee. Kaplan said Carroll doesnt have that luxury. Carroll is not a wealthy person, Kaplan told the court in her letter. Trump, by contrast, claims to be a billionaire who has reportedly used his own PAC funding to pay for his personal attorneys. There is no requirement for a party to a lawsuit to disclose their financing, and Kaplan said that the line of questioning at Carrolls deposition was inappropriate. Some funding Kaplan acknowledged Hoffman provided some funding for the case, but that it wasnt secured until almost a year after Carroll filed her lawsuit. Carroll wasnt aware of the outside financing at the time of the deposition and her answer was accurate, Kaplan said. Carroll wasnt involved in the talks with a nonprofit tied to Hoffman, Kaplan said in her letter. We informed Trumps counsel that Carroll has never met and has never been party to any communications (written or oral) with anyone associated with the nonprofit, Kaplan said in her letter. Kaplan said her team investigated Carrolls response to the question during the deposition soon after it took place to determine that Carroll had testified truthfully given her then-existing knowledge. That only changed in recent days, she said. Last week, during the course of preparing for her testimony at trial, Carroll recollected additional information relating to the above exchange, Kaplan said in the letter. Accordingly, we promptly disclosed to Trumps counsel that, while Carroll stands by her testimony about this being a contingency fee case, she now recalls that her counsel at some point secured additional funding from a nonprofit organization to cover certain expenses and fees. Habba argued in her letter that the trial should be delayed by one month and that she and her team should be allowed to investigate the funding issue. Alternatively, the court should give the jury an instruction about Carrolls willful defiance of her discovery obligations, Habba said. In a ruling late Thursday, the judge in the case rejected Habbas request to postpone the trial, but said Trumps lawyer will get another chance no later than April 19 to question Carroll about her knowledge of the financing arrangements. The judge also ordered Carrolls team to turn over any documents verifying her lawyers claim about when the financing was secured. Hoffmans Donations Habba said the financing is concerning because Hoffman has publicly stated his determination to use his money to avoid another Trump presidency. Trump is currently the leading contender for the 2024 Republican nomination. Hoffman also gave $600,000 to a legal defense fund tied to Fusion GPS, which created a widely criticized report on Trump known as the Steele dossier before the 2016 election, Habba said in her filing. The late disclosure of Hoffmans funding for the Carroll case strikes at the heart of one of the key aspects of plaintiffs defamation claim, Habba said. She said that was whether the lawsuit is a hoax that was commenced and/or continued to advance a political agenda. Carroll alleges Trump assaulted her in a department store dressing room in Manhattan after they ran into each other while shopping. She went public with her claim in 2019 and sued Trump for defamation when he called her a liar from the White House. She has also sued him for battery under a new New York law that temporarily lifts the statute of limitations on decades-old assault claims. Thats the case set for trial this month. Read More: Trump Access Hollywood Tape Can Be Played at Carroll Trial The case is E. Jean Carroll v. Donald J. Trump, 22-cv-10016, US District Court, Southern District of New York (Manhattan). (Updates with judge rejecting request for delay in trial.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. New Yorkers boarding subways for their morning commute in 2010 were met with an unusual sight: anti-abortion advertisements, portraying a young, hip woman whose decision to terminate a pregnancy had unalterably marred her future. I thought life would be the way it was before, the ads read, set against a somber portrait of the woman. I wonder if there was something I could have done to help her, another one said, showing a man looking solemnly at the floor. The advertisements, which reportedly numbered 2,000 in the subway system alone in addition to billboards and print ads, all promoted the same website: AbortionChangesYou.com, which offers healing to those whove been touched by abortion. The site features a page where users are invited to read and anonymously write testimonials about the effects of terminating a pregnancy, such as feeling far away from or angry toward God. The ads attracted some light vandalism but otherwise have largely been forgotten. Yet more than a decade after the subway ads began, a federal judge in Texas cited a linguistic analysis of those same website testimonials in a radicalorder that the Food and Drug Administrations 2000 approval of the abortion pill mifepristone a safe and effective drug should be revoked. Women also perceive the harm to the informed-consent aspect of the physician-patient relationship, wrote U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump nominee known for his anti-abortion views. He cited a study that found fourteen percent of women and girls reported having received insufficient information about the side effects of abortion and wrote that Plaintiff physicians lack of pertinent information on chemical abortion harms their physician-patient relationships because they cannot receive informed consent from the women and girls they treat in their clinics. That 14% actually represented exactly 14 women who submitted testimonials to the AbortionChangesYou.com project, run by what was then called Life Perspectives and is now the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care. Story continues In 2020, two authors from the Charlotte Lozier Institute presented the referenced study of those testimonials. Neither the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care nor the Charlotte Lozier Institute answered HuffPosts questions about research methods, including questions as basic as whether there were any procedures in place to vet the authenticity of the anonymous entries. But Michaelene Fredenburg, founder of the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care, stressed in a statement that the study was published in a peer-reviewed, prestigious scientific journal, and that its data set and goals were very limited and not politically related. The study was included in the original lawsuit over the FDAs approval of the drug. The journey from subway ads to a federal judges order illustrates the sophisticated research and lobbying efforts of conservative groups that have spent years seeking to minimize or outright eliminate access to abortion care. It also may have surprised the creators of AbortionChangesYou.com; the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care told HuffPost the testimonials were not intended to be representative. No qualitative study can be generalized to the population as a whole; particularly a study like this one, which included 98 anonymous women who self-selected to use the site AbortionChangesYou.com as a means to privately share their personal feelings, the group said in a statement. No qualitative study can be generalized to the population as a whole; particularly a study like this one.Institute of Reproductive Grief Care Even the researchers who created the study, the statement added, cautioned against generalizing their findings. Later in his order, Kacsmaryk referenced the same study again, falsely referring to multiple studies, rather than just one, that he said show eighty-three percent of women report that chemical abortion changed them and seventy-seven percent of those women reported a negative. As the studys authors have repeatedly stressed, this may not be surprising for entries to a website called Abortion Changes You. Critics of Kacsmaryks ruling have pounced on the studys inclusion in his order: The New Republic called the study completely bogus, and Adam Unikowsky, who had been a clerk for the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, observed, This is roughly like reporting a statistic that 83% of people are fans of Judge Kacsmaryk without mentioning that the entire sample consisted of posters on JudgeKacsmarykFanClub.com. The federal government has taken note of Kacsmaryks thin sourcing. In an emergency appeal of his order, which is on hold as the fight moves to higher courts, Justice Department lawyers said Kacsmaryk based his ruling on the courts own interpretation of articles and studies, including many submitted by plaintiffs or their amici [friends] to the court but not to FDA. For example, in concluding that no women should have access to mifepristone because it is harmful to them, the court relied on an article that was based on fewer than 100 anonymous blog posts submitted to a website called Abortion Changes You, the filing reads. But Americans neednt listen to the Biden administrations skepticism of the study: The authors themselves have repeatedly expressed the limits of their work and their own expertise. Katherine Rafferty, a communications lecturer at Iowa State University, author of The Dating Fast and the lead author of the study, has said in multiple interviews that shes not qualified to speak about the medical science of abortion pills nor about the regulations surrounding them. That is outside my pay grade, she said during a question-and-answer session with Path of Life Spokane, a Christian conference, in 2021, one of several appearances in which she struggled to pronounce mifepristone. Those specific nuances I do not have the insight on, she said in response to another question about risks associated with the medication, before adding: I do know that there are risks to a medication abortion, just like there are side effects associated with any sort of medication. Still, Rafferty, who did not return HuffPosts request for comment aside from an automated message saying she was on leave after the birth of her daughter, has been clear on the purpose of the study. As she put it on the Catholic talk radio show Straight Talk last month: Looking simply at What are these women experiencing? and using this evidence-based research to kind of influence legislation. In addition to her Iowa State job, Rafferty is an associate scholar at Charlotte Lozier Institute, the research and education arm of Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. She credited the institute for helping make this study possible and said the organization was working on educating legislators on issues like this. She described the purposes of the study as showing this voice of the pro-life movement. For her part, Rafferty has described herself as pro-life my whole life, and she signed on to an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America has used the study as anti-abortion advertising of its own. A study found 77% of women on https://t.co/GSNNPj2SQK (a site where women can anonymously share their abortion stories) explicitly stated their regret following the decision to have an abortion. #AbortionChangesYoupic.twitter.com/Gi16THjPNf SBA Pro-Life America (@sbaprolife) December 10, 2022 Ironically, this Twitter post shows precisely how anti-abortion groups can twist research to their own ends: After the study noted that 77% of testimonials, or 75 women, said they regretted their decision to have an abortion, it clarified that the term regret was rife with contradiction and also included talk about initial relief. One of the examples included in the figure is a testimonial that reads, I know I did the right thing for myself and it would be a lot harder for me right now. But I still would give anything to go back in time and keep my baby. The individuals associated with AbortionChangesYou.com and its affiliated websites are clear about their anti-abortion agenda, though they often appear apolitical or otherwise focused on healing people whove terminated pregnancies. As far back as 2008, Fredenburg debated in favor of a proposed constitutional amendment in California that would require health care providers to notify parents before performing an abortion on a minor. The moderator in that debate, Michael Bernstein, dean of arts and humanities at the University of California, San Diego, described Fredenburgs group as a national organization that calls itself pro-life and pro-woman, and advocates safe, holistic solutions to reduce the number of abortions in the United States. That same year, an article in Biola Magazine, a publication affiliated with the private Christian university of the same name, paraphrased Gary Strauss, a professor at the university whod helped write content for the website as well as for Fredenburgs book. One of the strengths, Strauss said, is that the materials are firmly grounded in biblical principles without appearing overtly Christian, the article read, referring to the website. That opens the door for people who might otherwise be immediately turned off by the site to ultimately experience Gods true healing. In 2010, Fredenburg declined to tell The New York Times who funded her subway advertising campaign, but the Metropolitan Transportation Authority told the newspaper the ad had been bought by the Vitae Caring Foundation, whose website said it sought to reduce the number of abortions by using mass media education. Back then, AbortionChangesYou.coms Find Help section directed Manhattanites to Project Rachel, an anti-abortion group affiliated with the Catholic Church. An article posted on the website of the Archdiocese of Baltimore about the subway ads quoted the Project Rachel coordinator in New York, who commented, The only way to stop abortion is to heal post-abortion women and men. Nowadays, visitors to AbortionChangesYou.coms Find Help page see the new number for the suicide hotline, 988, and two anti-abortion websites: Support After Abortion and International Helpline for Abortion Recovery. Under its Considering an abortion? section, Support After Abortion plays purported testimony from abortion recipients, including one who says I was ashamed of what I had done and another who says they ended up feeling very deceived by the doctor and nurses at the clinic. On taxforms, Support After Abortion says its mission is to end the demand for abortion through healing people impacted by abortion. (In an email, a spokesperson disputed the anti-abortion label and said SAA simply provides support for people who are struggling after experiencing abortion.) The founder of the International Helpline for Abortion Recovery says in a testimonial on the site regarding her own abortion, I will have regret for the rest of my life and so will my husband. The fate of mifepristone access in the United States now lies in the hands of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit and ultimately, maybe, with the U.S. Supreme Court. If the appeals court doesnt block Kacsmaryks order, it will take effect Saturday. Related... Former President Trump picked up the endorsement of Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) on Thursday, moving the total to seven sitting senators that have backed the former president for his 2024 White House bid. Just a few years ago America was strong, but now under Joe Biden, we are a nation in decline, Budd said to Breitbart. Thats why I endorse Donald J. Trump for President. Hardworking, everyday families need a return of the America First agenda to restore prosperity and peace. Budds backing of Trump comes as GOP lawmakers in the Senate have largely stayed out of the Republican primary for president so far. While the likes of Budd and Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and J.D. Vance (R-Ohio) have publicly endorsed Trump, many have waited to see how the primary field comes into shape. Trump announced his plans to launch a third presidential campaign shortly after the 2022 midterm elections, which saw Budd, a former House member, win North Carolinas Senate race over Democrat Cheri Beasley. Trump endorsed Budd in the primary of that race, giving him a boost in a crowded Republican field. Trump picked up Budds support even after becoming the first sitting or former president to face criminal charges, being arrested in Manhattan earlier this month and charged with 34 felony counts related to the falsification of business records. While the arrest of Trump has served as a rallying cry for some Republicans, others point to it as another reason why the party should seek other leadership for the 2024 election. Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley and former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson have both announced plans to run, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence both actively considering campaigns. Trump has also picked up the endorsement of 39 House members, according to The Hills endorsement tracker. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Former President Donald Trump appeared Thursday for his second deposition at the Manhattan offices of New York Attorney General Letitia James. A source familiar with his legal team's planning told CBS News early Thursday that Trump was expected to answer questions in this deposition, unlike a previous deposition in August 2022 in which he invoked the Fifth Amendment more than 400 times. James' office sued Trump, three of his children, and their company in September 2022, alleging years of fraud. This deposition is part of the civil pretrial discovery process. Trump and his legal team arrived at the attorney general's offices shortly before 10 a.m. ET, and remained in the building for about eight hours, not departing until just after 6 p.m. It was unclear exactly how long Trump sat for questioning, but under New York state law, depositions can run a maximum length of seven hours. They typically include several breaks, including for lunch. Donald Trump departs Trump tower on April 13, 2023, in New York City. / Credit: Gotham/GC Images Alina Habba, an attorney for Trump, said in a Thursday morning statement to CBS News prior to the deposition that "President Trump is not only willing but also eager to testify before the Attorney General today." "He remains resolute in his stance that he has nothing to conceal, and he looks forward to educating the Attorney General about the immense success of his multi-billion dollar company," Habba said. The deposition marked Trump's first return to New York since April 4, when he was arraigned on 34 felony counts of falsification of business records in a Manhattan criminal case related to hush money payments made before the 2016 election. In the New York Attorney General's civil case, Trump, three of his children, and the Trump Organization are accused of orchestrating an extensive fraudulent scheme. James' suit is seeking $250 million and a raft of sanctions that would effectively cease the company's operations in New York. The Trumps and the company have vehemently denied wrongdoing. Story continues Portions of that previous videotaped deposition were obtained by CBS News via a freedom of information request in January, showing him repeatedly responding "same answer" to every question after he first invoked the Fifth. A spokesperson for James' office did not respond to a request for comment. The civil case is scheduled to go to trial on Oct. 2. The state court judge in that case, Arthur Engoron, has rejected repeated attempts by Trump attorneys to push that date back. The lawsuit is proceeding as Trump is facing mounting legal issues on different fronts. Trump entered a not guilty plea in his Manhattan criminal case, which revolves around alleged attempts to hide reimbursements to his former lawyer and "fixer" Michael Cohen, who paid adult film star Stormy Daniels $130,000 before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump years earlier. Trump denied having a sexual relationship with Daniels and has repeatedly said he did nothing wrong. In Fulton County, Georgia, the district attorney is considering charges in connection with an investigation into efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the election results in the state after his defeat in 2020. Trump is also under scrutiny in Washington, D.C., where a special counsel is reviewing his handling of sensitive government documents found at his Mar-a-Lago home, and possible obstruction of government efforts to retrieve them, and, separately, efforts to interfere with the lawful transfer of power following the 2020 presidential election. Trump has denied wrongdoing in connection with all of the investigations. What causes a 1,000-year rain event? New Yorkers help migrants navigate city with free bikes Brazilian President Lula arrives in China for economic talks Former president Donald Trump has returned to New York to be deposed in the $250 million civil-fraud case New York attorney general Letitia James has brought against him. While the criminal probes into Trump gather steam in New York, Georgia, and Washington D.C., so do the civil suits against him. James filed a lawsuit against Trump and his children last year for misstating the value of real estate properties to obtain favorable loans and tax benefits. Trump filed a suit against James in response. The former president already sat for a deposition last August before James filed the suit. The questioning lasted several hours and resulted in Trump invoking the Fifth Amendment over 400 times, the Washington Post reported. Trump took to social media last night to decry Jamess lawsuit, saying its a persecution. I built a GREAT & prosperous company, employed thousands of people, built magnificent structures all over the World, but particularly in New York, & now have to prove it to this LOWLIFE who campaigned on a I will get Trump platform, even before knowing anything about me! Trump wrote on Truth Social. This morning he revealed he will meet with James at 9:30 a.m., accusing the attorney general of leaking the exact time. Jamess case is expected to go to trial in October. Discovery is ongoing at present and witnesses continue to be deposed. The amount James has sued Trump for is what she calls Trumps ill-gotten gains related to fraud. The case is unrelated to Manhattan district attorney Alvin Braggs prosecution of Trump for 34 counts of falsifying business records. After Trump pleaded not guilty in a Manhattan courtroom earlier this month, he returned to his estate Mar-a-Lago and gave a wide-ranging speech attacking Bragg, James, and many others. [Letitia James] should be focused on violent crime thats driving people out of the state. This is a persecution, not an investigation. Shes putting my family through hell, explained Trump during the speech. Story continues They want to settle the case. But I want no part of that, Trump asserted. The Trump organization and longtime chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg have already been convicted of multiple fraud-related charges. The former president sought to delay Jamess civil suit, saying he needed a six month extension to provide the necessary time to review the staggering volume of materials, including millions of pages of documents, and question dozens of witnesses, Reuters reported. Trump has pursued a similar legal strategy in another civil case against him namely, E. Jean Carrolls rape and defamation suit against the former president. CNN reported that lawyers for Trump asked a judge to delay the start of the trial for one month to allow a cooling off period following Braggs historic indictment of Trump. Lawyer Joe Tacopina argued that, due to media coverage of his arraignment, the pool of potential jurors will have the criminal charges top of mind when they are called and that could taint the jury pool. More from National Review Photo Illustration by Luis G. Rendon/The Daily Beast/Getty Are you on Truth Social? What cable news network do you watch? Have you ever used the hashtag #BelieveAllWomen when discussing sexual assault? With just weeks to go before E. Jean Carrolls rape trial against Donald Trump in New York, lawyers on both sides are figuring out what questions to ask prospective jurors. And while some questions are the run-of-the-mill kind used to screen biased jurors, a fair share highlight the bizarre nature of the case involving the countrys most divisive politician. The federal trial is set to begin April 25 in Lower Manhattan, where the magazine columnist seeks to prove that the former president raped her in a changing room inside the luxury department store Bergdorf Goodman in the 1990s. Due to Trumps delay games and refusal to test his DNA against the black coat dress she wore that daywhich has been tested at a crime labjurors will mostly have to decide on competing recollections of what happened that day. As such, the stakes are high for weeding out MAGA types and Trump haters. And the questions they plan to ask at jury selection indicate as much, half a dozen legal scholars told The Daily Beast. One of Trumps proposed questions stands out: Do you think that the #metoo movement has gone too far? Hes trying to poison the well a little bit and plant seeds in the jurors' minds. Hes warming them up before he even talks to them, noted Aviva Orenstein, a law school professor at Indiana University Bloomington. However, Orenstein noted that unlike New York state courts, judges in federal court normally screen jurors with lawyers suggested questionsand no self-respecting judge would ask a leading question like that. Id ask, What is your opinion of #metoo? she said. Trump to Face Sexual Battery Suit Under New Survivors Law Both sides proposed lists include several questions on a persons feelings about alleged sexual assault, and scoring open-minded jurors who havent already labeled Trump a scumbag will be difficult. At trial, Carrolls lawyers are hoping to convince jurors that Trumps abundant history of misogynist comments paint the picture of a serial sexual predator protected by his entitlement and wealth. Story continues In that sense, U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan has already tilted the trial in Carrolls favor by allowing jurorsif they somehow havent alreadyto watch the leaked 2005 Access Hollywood tape where Trump infamously said, When youre a star, they let you do it you can do anything grab 'em by the pussy. Trumps lawyers also want to engage in what several legal scholars noted was a blatant litmus test for peoples politics: dredging up the debacle that was the Senates contentious confirmation of Trumps Supreme Court pick in 2018, Brett Kavanaugh. After he underwent a surface-level FBI background check, it was journalists who documented Kavanaughs long history of alleged sexual misconductincluding one episode in high school, where a prep school student recalled him drunkenly pinning her down in a bed while covering up her mouth so she couldnt scream. At Carrolls trial later this month, Trumps lawyers want to ask: Are you familiar with the allegations made against Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh before he was confirmed to the Court? Attorneys trying to assess peoples biases regularly draw from examples in movies and widely followed news storiesbut this one carries a particular undertone that smacks of a MAGA loyalty test, noted Andrea D. Lyon, a longtime public defender whos tried 138 cases in court. These are the kinds of questions you cant get to ask. Judges wont let you, because youre bringing in a case that has nothing to do with a trial theres a huge backstory. And my guess is, its to identify people who just hate Trump, and also take a look and see if grab em by the pussy people stick together, said Lyon, a law professor at Indianas Valparaiso University. The Misogynist Things Trump Has Said That His Lawyers Dont Want Jurors to Hear There is something that attorneys for both Trump and Carroll are itching to know: where these New Yorkers hang out online. Carrolls team is keen to identify anyone who joined Trump when he got booted off Twitter and launched his own social media networka relatively small batch that was estimated at 513,000 active daily users last year. Is there anyone who uses or has used the social media platform Truth Social? Carrolls lawyers have proposed asking. Most of them probably dont know what Truth Social is. Obviously, if they use it, it tells you a lot about who they are. It's Trump's platform, noted Bennett L. Gershman, a law professor at Pace University in New York City. Meanwhile, Trumps team wants prospective jurors to list every social platform theyre on. But they stopped short of asking for potential candidates usernames, which could be seen as an offensive intrusion of privacy. Carrolls lawyers seem intent on using the jury selection process to point out how Trump is also under criminal investigation, with proposed questions probing peoples familiarity with the Manhattan District Attorneys criminal case against him for faking business records to hide his hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels and the Justice Departments investigation into his hoarding of classified documents at his Florida oceanside estate of Mar-a-Lago. Just this week, Trump lawyer Joe Tacopina cited that first case and the widespread press coverage of Trumps criminal arraignment in Manhattan criminal court as a reason to delay the trialsomething that Carrolls lawyer, Roberta Kaplan, starkly resisted in a letter to the judge on Wednesday. Carrolls lawyers are trying to screen the crazies who still parrot Trumps unfounded claims that he lost the 2020 election to President Joe Biden unfairly. Is there anyone who believes the results of the 2020 Presidential Election are illegitimate? her lawyers hope to ask. Gershman doubts that the federal judge will allow it, though. This one is unique to our time. We havent had a presidential election where there are elements about whether the results are legitimate or not. But this is a question that the judge might not allow, because its getting into politics and partisan politics has nothing to do with this trial, he said. But he stressed that its a question worth askingalong with a persons views about alleged sexual assault. Id like to know how they feel about those kinds of issues that are prevalent today to get a sense of whether Im dealing with someone whos intelligent and somewhat progressive or in the Dark Ages, Gershman said. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Donald Trump testified under oath for several hours on Thursday in a New York civil case that accuses the ex-president and three of his children of business fraud. The behind-closed-doors deposition came a week after Trump's historic arraignment on criminal charges in a Manhattan courtroom in a separate case. The 76-year-old Republican is facing a slew of state, federal, and congressional probes that threaten to complicate his bid to regain the presidency in next year's White House election. The lengthy deposition was the second time he had sat for questions in the lawsuit brought by New York state attorney general Letitia James. Trump arrived at James's office in lower Manhattan around 10:00 am (1400 GMT) and returned to Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue shortly after 6:30 pm. "This civil case is ridiculous, just like all of the other Election Interference cases being brought against me," he wrote on his social media site Truth Social ahead of his testimony. A lawyer for Trump and a spokesperson for James did not return requests for comment. James sued Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump in September last year alleging they committed "incredible" fraud at the Trump Organization. Her lawsuit asserts that they lied to tax collectors, lenders and insurers for years in a scheme that routinely misstated the value of the organization's properties to enrich themselves. - 'Witch hunt' - James said they provided fraudulent statements of Trump's net worth and false asset valuations "to obtain and satisfy loans, get insurance benefits, and pay lower taxes." Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in next year's presidential election, has used his common refrain of "witch hunt" to describe the case. He appeared for six hours of questioning in the probe last August, shortly before James filed her lawsuit. In a dramatic court appearance last Tuesday that transfixed the nation, Trump denied 34 felony counts related to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election that brought him to power. Story continues He became the first former or sitting president to ever be charged with a crime. That case has been criticized almost unanimously by Republican officials, including congressional leaders who have asked Manhattan's district attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, to testify about the probe before Congress. James, also an elected Democrat, has requested that Trump pay at least $250 million in penalties -- a sum she says he made from the alleged fraud -- and that his family be banned from running businesses in the state. No criminal charges can stem from her case, which is expected to go to trial later this year. Trump is also being investigated over his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents taken from the White House and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. A civil trial for a sexual assault and defamation lawsuit brought by former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll against Trump is scheduled to start in New York later this month. pdh/bfm Donald Trump was back in New York on Thursday to answer questions in a civil case accusing the ex-president and three of his children of business fraud. The behind-closed-doors deposition comes a week after Trump's historic arraignment on criminal charges in a Manhattan courtroom in a separate case. The 76-year-old Republican was to be questioned under oath in the lawsuit brought by New York state attorney general Letitia James. Trump pumped his fist as he left Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue shortly after 9:30 am (1330 GMT), arriving at James's office in lower Manhattan around 10:00 am. "This civil case is ridiculous, just like all of the other Election Interference cases being brought against me," he wrote on his social media site Truth Social. James sued Trump, Donald Trump Jr, Eric Trump and Ivanka Trump in September last year alleging they committed "incredible" fraud at the Trump Organization. Her lawsuit asserts that they lied to tax collectors, lenders and insurers for years in a scheme that routinely misstated the value of the organization's properties to enrich themselves. James said they provided fraudulent statements of Trump's net worth and false asset valuations "to obtain and satisfy loans, get insurance benefits, and pay lower taxes." Trump, the frontrunner for the Republican nomination in next year's presidential election, has used his common refrain of "witch hunt" to describe the case. He appeared for six hours of questioning in the probe last August, shortly before James filed her lawsuit. In a dramatic court appearance last Tuesday that transfixed the nation, Trump denied 34 felony counts related to hush money paid to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election that brought him to power. He became the first former or sitting president to ever be charged with a crime. That case has been criticized almost unanimously by Republican officials, including congressional leaders who have asked Manhattan's District Attorney Alvin Bragg, a Democrat, to testify about the probe before Congress. Story continues James, also an elected Democrat, has requested that Trump pay at least $250 million in penalties -- a sum she says he made from the alleged fraud -- and that his family be banned from running businesses in the state. No criminal charges can stem from her case, which is expected to go to trial later this year. Trump faces a slew of state, federal, and congressional probes that threaten to complicate his bid to regain the presidency. They include his efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state of Georgia, his alleged mishandling of classified documents taken from the White House and his involvement in the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. A civil trial for a sexual assault and defamation lawsuit brought by former magazine columnist E. Jean Carroll against Trump is scheduled to start in New York later this month. pdh/des Getty Images A new report suggests that Trump needed lotion before having his fingerprints taken by authorities. A law enforcement source told Yahoo News that was the only unplanned event that delayed his arraignment. This week, in an interview with Tucker Carlson, Trump claimed that courthouse staff wept for him. The only thing that slowed down Donald Trump's arraignment last week was his own fingers, according to a new report from Yahoo News. A court employee had to provide lotion because his fingers were too dry to be fingerprinted, the report, which cited a law enforcement source, claimed. According to Yahoo News, no one was visibly crying in the courthouse when Trump was arrested, which the former president claimed to Tucker Carlson in an interview that aired on Tuesday. The only delay in his arraignment came when he needed to moisten his fingers with lotion, because they were too dry for authorities to take his fingerprints, per the report. Last Tuesday, a Manhattan grand jury indicted Trump on 34 felony business fraud charges, related to allegations of a $130,000 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels ahead of the 2016 election. Trump's lawyer did not immediately return Insider's request for comment. The Manhattan DA's office did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. In an interview with Tucker Carlson that aired on Tuesday night, Trump said that employees wept as he was arrested. "It's a tough, tough place, and they were crying. They were actually crying. They said, 'I'm sorry.' They said, '2024, sir. 2024.' And tears were pouring down their eyes," Trump told Carlson. A law enforcement source told Yahoo News, the claim was "absolute BS." "There were zero people crying. There were zero people saying 'I'm sorry,'" the source told Yahoo. Read the original article on Business Insider Does this mean you can grab more of your grandma's favorite storage containers for cheap? Getty Images/Allrecipes Have you ever wondered how Tupperware is still making money when most of us who use the product are using the vintage hand-me-downs from our parents and grandparents Tupperware Parties? Well, the truth is, it might not be. The company recently shared that it has substantial doubts about its ability to continue as a business. Therefore the company has enlisted the help of financial advisors to improve capital structure and alleviate these doubts. "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, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Tupperware Brands, said 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." The brands statement continues to say its exploring investor and financing options as well as other cash management options to accrue or, at least, preserve its income. Additionally, Tupperware could be in trouble with the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) as it has yet to file the proper 2022 tax forms. If not remedied, the NYSE reserves the right to commence delisting proceedings against Tupperware, which remove the business from the stock exchange. Tupperware claims it intends to file the form within 30 days. Following this April 7 statement, Tupperwares already-low stock, which was valued at about $2.45 per share, fell to $1.44 when the markets opened back up on Monday, April 10. Tupperware has been making its products for more than 75 years and its reach spans five continents. While products were originally only available for sale through Tupperware Parties, where an individual would host a get-together to try to sell Tupperware products in exchange for incentives, customers can now purchase them through Tupperwares online store. Some products are also available through retailers like Target, Amazon, and Bed Bath & Beyond. At this time, Tupperware isnt offering any liquidation sales, but only time will tell if youll be able to stock up on more of your favorite heritage Tupperware products for cheap. Is the Tupperware era ending? The 77-year-old US company, known for its trademark plastic food storage containers, warned of "substantial doubt" about its ability to keep operating in light of its poor financial position, according to a recent regulatory filing. When the market opened on Monday following its April 7 disclosure, shares of the company plunged 50 percent and lingered at the depressed level in successive days. On Thursday, however, shares staged a partial rebound, rising about 25 percent. The company's roots date to 1946, when chemist Earl Tupper "had a spark of inspiration while creating molds at a plastics factory shortly after the Great Depression," according to Tupperware's website. "If he could design an airtight seal for plastic storage containers, like those on a paint can, he could help war-weary families save money on costly food waste." Over time, Tupper's hermetically sealed plastic containers also became associated with "Tupperware Parties," where friends would gather with food and drink as a company representative demonstrated the items. In December 2021, the Orlando, Florida-based company had about 10,000 employees. But the brand's reach has dwindled, with annual sales falling by half over the last decade to just $1.3 billion in 2022, when it reported a $14 million loss. "Tupperware is being hit by a number of forces including 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," said Neil Saunders of GlobalData. "The company used to be a hotbed of innovation with problem-solving kitchen gadgets, but it has really lost its edge." A company initiative to gain distribution through big-box chain Target marked an attempt at change, but "its reach is very limited compared to other brands," Saunders said. In an April 7 press release, Tupperware said it had enlisted financial advisors "to assist in securing supplemental financing, and is engaging in discussions with potential investors or financing partners." The company is also evaluating its real estate portfolio and other assets that could be tapped "to preserve or deliver additional liquidity," the filing said. jum-jmb/des ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Ankara and Cairo will cooperate more closely regarding Libya, where they back opposing sides, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Thursday, marking another step in the rapprochement between the two regional powers. Cavusoglu's comments come as the two countries work to mend ties after being at odds for a decade, having cut diplomatic links following the overthrow of Egypt's then president and Ankara ally Mohamed Mursi. Cavusoglu visited Cairo last month while Egypt's Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry previously came to Turkey to show solidarity after February's massive earthquakes that killed more than 50,000 people in Turkey and Syria. Among the disputes between the two countries was the conflict in Libya. "We will cooperate more closely regarding Libya from now on. In our meeting today, we (saw) that our views are not essentially very different but that we think differently on some methods," Cavusoglu said during a news conference in Ankara. The two countries will work on a roadmap to hold elections in Libya and can work on training and reinforcing a joint military between forces in the east and west of Libya, he said. "We share a common desire with Turkey to hold elections in Libya," Shoukry said. Libya has had little peace since the 2011 NATO-backed ouster of Muammar Gaddafi, and it split in 2014 between rival eastern and western factions, with the last major battle of the conflict ending in 2020 with a ceasefire. The political process to resolve the conflict, however, has been stalled since the collapse of a scheduled election in December 2021 over disputes about the rules, including the eligibility of major candidates. The last major international attempt to break the deadlock, via a 2020 political forum, led to formation of the current interim government and the roadmap for the December 2021 election that was thwarted by internal political disputes. Cavusoglu and Shoukry also said the two countries would take steps to re-appoint ambassadors and hold a summit between their leaders. "We agreed on a specific time frame to raise the level of diplomatic relations with Turkey and to prepare for a summit between the two presidents," Shoukry said. (Reporting by Ali Kucukgocmen in Istanbul and Enas Alashray in Cairo; Editing by Daren Butler and Bill Berkrot) Twitter no longer exists as a company after Elon Musk merged it with another entity called X Corp. The move means the app now forms part of Mr Musks X Holdings Corp., which has been touted as the future parent company for all of his companies, which include Neuralink, SpaceX, Tesla and The Boring Company. It also potentially signals the next phase of Mr Musks plan to turn Twitter into an everything app. The merger only became public after lawyers for the social media firm were forced to disclose it in an ongoing lawsuit involving failed congressional candidate Laura Loomer. Twitter, Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists, the court filing stated. X Corp. is a privately held corporation. Its parent corporation is X Holdings Corp. No publicly traded corporation owns 10 per cent or more of the stock of X Corp. or X Holdings Corp. Twitter could not be reached for comment, with the companys press email set to auto respond to requests with the poo emoji. Mr Musk appeared to confirm the change in a tweet on Tuesday, which stated simply: X. The billionaire already owns the X.com domain, having founded a company of the same name in 1999, which went on to become PayPal. In October 2022, when his Twitter takeover deal was still being finalised, Mr Musk tweeted: Buying Twitter is an accelerant to creating X, the everything app. Twitter probably accelerates X by three to five years, but I could be wrong. Industry experts have questioned whether Mr Musk can succeed in transforming Twitter into a platform where users can access all basic online services, from making a payment to ordering a taxi. Chinas WeChat offers similar functionality, though attempts to do the same in the West have so far failed. Super apps, as they are known in the industry, are not a new thing. Theyve been hugely successful in Asia, but have not really caught on elsewhere, social media expert and industry commentator Matt Navarra said at the time. Could Twitter form part of a super app that lets you buy goods, chat to friends, get news updates, book a taxi etc? Sure. Can Elon Musk make it work? Possibly. Will Elon actually do it? Who knows. A superstar from Ireland is the 3-5 morning-line favorite for Fridays $600,000, Grade 1 Makers Mark Mile at Keeneland. Modern Games, a 4-year-old bred and owned by Godolphin Racing, leads a field of eight in the 35th annual running, one of 10 races on the card in Lexington on Friday. Modern Games will be racing Friday for the first time since winning the Breeders Cup Mile at Keeneland on Nov. 5 last year. Modern Games also won the 2021 Breeders Cup Juvenile Turf at Del Mar and the Grade 1 Woodbine Mile Stakes last September. All three are Grade 1 races. Modern Games, trained by Charles Appleby and ridden by William Buick, has won seven of his 13 career starts, with three runner-up finishes and total earnings of $3,176,716. His two Breeders Cup wins have been his only previous races in the United States. Horses like this dont come along very often, said Lorna Ford, who has been Modern Games regular exercise rider his entire career. I didnt know hed become what he has, but he progressed rapidly. Second choice on the morning line for the Makers Mark Mile is Emmanuel (4-1). The Todd Pletcher trainee, who finished third in last years Toyota Blue Grass Stakes at Keeneland, has won five of eight career races including his last two in a row the Grade 3 Tampa Bay Stakes on Feb. 4 at Tampa Bay Downs and the Grade 3 Canadian Turf Stakes on March 4 at Gulfstream Park. Chad Browns Dr Zempf (6-1) won his first start on American soil in an allowance race at Gulfstream on March 10. Before that, Dr Zempf ran nine races in England and won three. Also in Fridays field are Up to the Mark (10-1), Chez Pierre (12-1), Speaking Scout (15-1), Cabo Spirit (20-1) and In Love (30-1). Half the field was bred internationally Chez Pierre (France), Dr Zempf (Great Britain), In Love (Brazil) and Modern Games (Ireland) with the rest bred in Kentucky. First post at Keeneland on Friday is 1 p.m., with the Makers Mark Mile slated for a 5:16 p.m. post time (FanDuel TV). Story continues Wednesdays racing at Keeneland was highlighted by the $120,000 Woods Edge Purse for fillies and mares. Irish-bred Flirting Bridge rocketed past longtime leader Sister Lou Ann inside the sixteenth pole to win the 1 1/16-mile race on turf by 1 1/4 lengths. Sister Lou Ann finished second, 4 lengths in front of One Time Mo in third. Winning jockey Tyler Gaffalione also won Wednesdays two previous races back to back. On Wednesday, Judge Thomas Hardiman of the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit dismissed the notion of a scandal surrounding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Last week, ProPublica published an article in which experts, some unnamed, argue Justice Thomas violated disclosure obligations by neglecting to report luxury gifts he received from billionaire friend Harlan Crow. Washington Free Beacon reporter Aaron Sibarium interviewed Judge James Ho of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit and Judge Hardiman for an event at Princeton University on April 12th, sponsored by the Princeton Federalist Society chapter, the Princeton Pre-Law Society, and Princetonians for Free Speech. Approximately 30 students attended. The thing that I thought was weird about the Justice Thomas thing is the scandal, to use your word, there was no intimation at any time, ever, that his billionaire friend ever had any business before the Supreme Court. So, hows he helping his friend? Hes not even in a position to help his friend because his friend had exactly zero cases in the Supreme Court, Judge Hardiman said in response to a question posed by an undergraduate during the audience Q-and-A, who referenced the ProPublica article. You know, I decide cases involving lawyers in Pittsburgh. And I know these lawyers, some of them are former law partners of mine. I belong to organizations with them, I go to lunch with them. Should I not hear their cases? If you have such suspicion about our integrity, you could really end up in a situation where judges cant even do their jobs because at some point youre attached to everybody, Hardiman continued. Ive had my former law clerks stand up in court and argue cases. And I dont think theyve ever won a case, Hardiman said, prompting laughter from the audience. And its not because theyre not brilliant lawyers. They are. But usually theyre doing pro bono immigration cases, and sadly, for the immigrants, those cases can be very difficult to win. Story continues If someone wanted to make me look bad and I happened to rule in favor of a client in an immigration case that was argued by my former law clerk, oh, there would be a big expose, oh, Hardiman chose partiality to his law clerk, Hardiman said. I think thats a great answer, Judge Ho responded, who clerked for Justice Thomas at the Supreme Court. Ho distinguished between an actual instance of corruption and the mere perception of it, but stated that I think the appearance issue is absolutely important because the judiciary basically rests on its credibility and therefore it is absolutely vital to what we do that people believe in what we do. The judiciary, like any human institution, isnt perfect, because none of us are perfect, Ho added. Today, ProPublica published an article stating that Crow purchased property owned by Justice Thomas, his mother, and the family of Thomas late brother, which was not disclosed. More from National Review Ecuador's President Guillermo Lasso speaks with President Biden in an Oval Office meeting in December 2022. (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press) The Biden administration once again appears to be running into trouble as it seeks a reliable partner in Latin America, where major issues, including immigration and Chinese influence, are looming just next door. In the last year and a half, administration officials have eagerly reached out to the government of Ecuadorean President Guillermo Lasso, one of the last center-right rulers in South America, amid a tide of newly elected leftist leaders. Yet even as U.S. officials sang his praises as a pro-free-market democrat, Lasso, a millionaire former banker, was battling allegations of corruption, money laundering in Florida and ties to a drug-trafficking network. He faces impeachment in the Ecuadorean congress an earlier, separate motion to impeach Lasso was rejected in 2021 and the real likelihood of removal from office. Now, a small group of U.S. Congress members is turning up the pressure on the Biden administration to reassess its relationship with Ecuador. At play is the overall policy approach of the U.S. to Latin America, which critics say is doomed to fail because it often ignores human rights and corruption problems in the interest of cooperation on other issues such as immigration. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva (D-Ariz.) was one of five Democratic members of Congress who wrote a letter sent to President Biden on Wednesday that demanded the U.S. investigate corruption allegations against Lasso. It marks the most public rupture to date with regard to policies embracing the Ecuadorean leader. This is about the schizophrenic foreign policy weve had for decades and decades in our relations with Latin America as a whole, Grijalva said in an interview. It puts the importance of being in support of U.S. policies ahead of everything else. There was no immediate comment on the letter from the White House or State Department. Biden and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken are traveling this week in Ireland and Northern Ireland. Story continues Many thought the U.S. approach to Latin America would change under Biden, who emphasizes human rights and democracy over autocracy in his foreign policy. Critics say its been one disappointment after another. Vice President Kamala Harris was appointed to oversee diplomatic initiatives in the northern triangle of Central America countries El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras that feed illegal immigration into the U.S. But the plan failed as she sought partners to fight corruption and improve the lives of ordinary citizens, and it became clear that the regions elected leaders were abusive authoritarians or alleged criminals. One of them, Juan Orlando Hernandez, the president of Honduras, was indicted and extradited last year to a U.S. federal court on drug conspiracy charges. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has turned steadily more autocratic, criticizes the U.S. and verbally attacks journalists and anyone else who criticizes him. But he cooperates in taking migrants into Mexico that the U.S. does not want, and there have been few statements of condemnation from Washington. In June, the best friend the U.S. had in Latin America, Colombia, elected a leftist president for the first time in its history. While Blinken has sought to build a relationship, President Gustavo Petro, a former guerrilla fighter, has repeatedly defied U.S. policies. By comparison, Ecuador was a lone bright spot in the region from Washingtons perspective. You and I are united not only in our values but in our vision of the future, one thats both free and democratic, Biden told Lasso when the Ecuadorean president appeared at the White House in December. And I am here to reaffirm that spirit that we share among us as allies in our fight for democracy, peace and justice, not only in the region but also to support your vision throughout the world, Lasso responded. Ecuador was the first Latin American country to join the U.S. in condemning Russias invasion of Ukraine, from a global south region that has not enthusiastically embraced Washingtons position. And just this month, U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield, on her second trip to Quito, the Ecuadorean capital, in just under two years, again praised Lasso, calling Ecuador a very strong partner of the United States. She also headed the U.S. delegation to Lassos inauguration in May 2021. In her comments this month, Thomas-Greenfield declined to address a reporters question about domestic politics, referring to Lassos political troubles, and added that democracy is difficult. The Biden administrations overtures to Ecuador have been an ostentatious display of boosterism coming even as security and democracy under Lasso were fast deteriorating, says veteran Latin America expert Michael Shifter, senior fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue think tank in Washington. U.S. officials are faced with a very tough challenge in finding reliable partners in Latin America, he said. And to have effective policy, you need partners. As Biden administration officials were praising Lasso in Washington, he was fighting for his political survival at home. A vote to impeach him comes before the National Assembly this month. His popularity has sunk so dramatically that he is likely to be booted from office, analysts say. The accusations against Lasso include his alleged involvement in an embezzlement case that allowed private investors to siphon money from the lucrative state oil-shipping company and a bribery scheme involving a brother-in-law, Danilo Carrera, aimed at planting loyalists in key state positions and profiting off fake energy contracts. A key witness in the cases and member of Lassos inner circle, Ruben Cherres, whom authorities were seeking to arrest and who might have provided valuable evidence, was found killed March 31, adding to the questions swirling around Lasso. The president and Carrera have also been accused in a journalistic investigation known as the Pandora Papers, a massive collection of reports based on leaks from Latin American financial entities, of overseeing an offshore network of tax havens including some in Florida in potential violation of Ecuadorean law. But it is not yet clear that those allegations, which also involve money laundering, form part of the impeachment case against Lasso. Ecuadorean media have reported on efforts by Lasso to allegedly interfere with those investigations, including one action that removed police agents from the national prosecutors office. Lasso has denied wrongdoing, arguing that the impeachment is political, and has said he will not cooperate. Under Ecuadorean law, he has the option of dissolving the countrys congress to avoid impeachment, which would trigger snap presidential and legislative elections. However, experts believe that Lasso is reluctant to take that action because he and his political party would not fare well. The corruption and political issues in Ecuador have substantially undermined stability in the nation, Shifter said. Lasso and his party have been left extremely weak by the corruption scandals, he said. He inherited a lot of problems ... but the problems have metastasized, and the country is in a profound crisis. Separately from the corruption issues, Indigenous and human rights activists have reported harassment and intimidation from government security forces. Ecuadoreans have begun to show up at the southern U.S. border, joining the ranks of migrants trying to enter. Lasso is also facing an unprecedented surge in crime, including one of the highest homicide rates in the Western Hemisphere, according to Ecuadors Interior Ministry, which oversees domestic law enforcement. Much of it is tied to drug-trafficking gangs who have multiplied due to Ecuadors location at the heart of Latin American routes producing and transporting cocaine and other narcotics. Hoping to appeal to a panicked public, Lasso last week authorized private citizens to carry guns for personal protection and to fight the common enemy [of] delinquency, drug trafficking and organized crime. While such permits are common in the U.S., legal gun possession is rare in Latin America. As U.S. influence has waned in Latin America, Chinas sway has grown exponentially. Lasso has hoped for a free-trade agreement with the U.S., but Biden has resisted such deals in a time of global economic uncertainty. China quickly filled the void, reaching a trade pact that has pushed Beijing past the U.S. as Ecuadors top trading partner in non-petroleum goods. But Lasso is still receiving support in some U.S. circles. Several senators, from Republicans including Marco Rubio of Florida to Democrats such as Tim Kaine of Virginia, have made the pilgrimage recently to Quito and praised Lasso. Kaine was quoted Wednesday in the Ecuadorean newspaper La Hora saying that Ecuador was a strong partner for trade and security, but especially for democracy, particularly at a time when other nations with problems [in Latin America] have regressed in their democracies. Kaine added that the U.S. had a great relationship with Lasso. A Kaine spokesperson told The Times on Wednesday that Ecuador was one of four countries Kaine visited in South America this week, and while the senator was aware of the allegations surrounding Lasso, he knew there was a process underway to resolve them. The relationship between the U.S. and Ecuador is extremely important and the delegation had meaningful discussions with government officials and private sector leaders about how to advance our shared commitment to democracy, security, and development, the spokesperson said in a statement. Grijalva said that if the U.S. insists no one is above the law, as the ongoing investigation of former President Trump is supposed to illustrate, then the Biden administration should keep its distance from another countrys leader facing similar accusations. We want a more equitable attention to Latin America, Grijalva said. The letter to Biden that he drafted, which was obtained last week by The Times, notes a major speech that Blinken gave in October 2021 in Quito. In it, he listed as a top priority a governments battle against corruption, which, Blinken said, stifles growth, discourages investment and deepens inequities. Given your administrations commitment to supporting anti-corruption efforts abroad ... we urge you to engage in a prompt investigation into the allegations surrounding Lasso, the letter states. In light of the aforementioned corruption allegations as well as other troubling developments that negatively impact human rights and press freedom in Ecuador, we believe that you should re-evaluate our governments close relations with the Lasso government. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. By John Kruzel WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday refused to halt a legal settlement that would erase more than $6 billion in debt owed by former students of colleges - many of them for-profit institutions - who have said they were misled by schools about academics and job prospects. The justices turned away a request from three colleges that are challenging a settlement between the U.S. Education Department and borrowers that linked the colleges to claims of "substantial misconduct," an allegation they dispute. Three of the schools identified in the settlement - for-profit Lincoln Educational Services Corp and American National University Inc as well as nonprofit Everglades College Inc - challenged the agreement after it was approved by a federal judge in California last November. Around 3,500 borrowers entitled to automatic loan discharge under the settlement attended one of the three schools. The decision was separate from a case pending before the high court over the legality of President Joe Biden's plan to cancel $430 billion in student debt for about 40 million borrowers. A ruling in that case is expected by the end of June. The latest dispute stemmed from a class-action settlement under which the Education Department would automatically cancel the debt of nearly 200,000 borrowers who attended 151 schools. The schools have been accused of boosting enrollment through aggressive sales tactics as well as misrepresentations about the quality of their academic offerings, graduates' career prospects and networking opportunities, according to Eileen Connor, director of litigation at the Project on Predatory Student Lending, a group that represents borrowers involved in the settlement. "Today's swift and decisive action from the highest court should end, once and for all, any ongoing debate about the legitimacy of this settlement. The message is clear: the rights of student borrowers will not falter, even in the face of well-funded, overblown political attacks masquerading as legal argument," Connor told Reuters. Story continues The three schools argued in court filings they had suffered reputational harm, comparing their inclusion on the settlement's list of schools to being "branded with [a] scarlet letter." They also argued the Biden administration lacked the legal authority to cancel the debt. The settlement arose from what initially was a legal effort by borrowers in 2019 to force then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos, who served under President Donald Trump, to resume the Education Department's adjudication of their misconduct claims against the schools. After three years of litigation and a change in presidential administrations, the parties reached a settlement in June 2022. California-based U.S. District Judge William Alsup approved the settlement last year and in February rejected the objections raised by the three colleges. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March denied the bid by the three schools to block the settlement from taking effect while their appeal proceeds. Twenty conservative-leaning U.S. states, led by Ohio, had asked the Supreme Court to grant the request by the schools to pause further loan discharges under the settlement. Around 78,000 borrowers had already received loan discharges by April 11, the Biden administration told the justices in a court filing. The administration declined comment and an attorney for the schools did not immediately respond to a request for comment. (Reporting by John Kruzel in Washington; Editing by Will Dunham) Uber and Lyft drivers in Washington state will be the first in the United States to get Paid Family and Medical Leave benefits. Today is a landmark in the fight for worker rights nationwide, said Peter Kuel, Drivers Union President, in a news release Wednesday. Washington Uber and Lyft drivers are the first in the nation to win the right to Paid Family and Medical Leave and now have their right to unemployment benefits a lifeline at the height of the Covid pandemic enshrined in state law. In the State of Washington, drivers must no longer choose between caring for unwell loved ones and putting food on the table. HB 1570 has now passed in both chambers and is headed to the governor. Uber and Lyft drivers will now get the same benefits as other workers in the state. An Uber driver from Fircrest said Paid Family and Medical Leave would have provided the coverage his family needed when disaster struck. One day, while I still had no work due to the pandemic, I felt a pain in my chest, said Bill Horton. Without emergency heart surgery, I could have died. I recovered from that surgery, but I learned that because I was no longer able to work, my ongoing unemployment benefits would be denied. With Paid Family Medical Leave, drivers like me will no longer have to face the terrible choice between aggravating a dangerous health condition and providing for their family. In addition to the change in benefits, the cost of a drivers premiums for Paid Family and Medical Leave will be fully paid by Uber and Lyft. Paid Family and Medical Leave access will come online for drivers in July 2024. Washington has more than 30,000 Uber and Lyft drivers. This story was originally published by MyNorthwest.com. (Bloomberg) -- The UK economy stalled unexpectedly in February when strikes crippled the public services, leaving little hope for a significant improvement in the lead-up to the next general election. Most Read from Bloomberg Gross domestic product was unchanged from January instead of eking out the 0.1% growth analysts had expected, the Office for National Statistics said Thursday. The figure for January was revised up to 0.4%. Together, the readings further reduce the risk of a recession this year but leave the UK on track for an extended period of sluggishness. With inflation lingering in double digits well above the Bank of Englands 2% target, consumers are tightening their belts to adapt to a cost-of-living squeeze. Growth in the UK is stagnating and has fallen behind its developed market peers, said George Lagarias, chief economist at accountancy firm Mazars, who read the report as bad news for the UK. We expect the UK to continue to underperform the other G-7 economies for the time being. That contrasts with the upbeat assessment from Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt, who said in a statement after the GDP report that the outlook is looking brighter than expected. Hunt separately told Bloomberg Television on Wednesday in Washington that the UK would do significantly better than the International Monetary Fund had projected, potentially setting the stage Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to renew his mandate with voters next spring. Even so, the broader outlook is for growth well below what the UK has enjoyed in previous years. The central bank estimates the economy can grow just 0.7% without sparking inflation, reflecting worker shortages after at least 500,000 people dropped out of the labor market since the pandemic. Story continues Reports due next week on inflation and wage growth are likely to have a decisive influence on the BOEs next interest rate decision in May, when policy makers led by Governor Andrew Bailey will determine whether to continue their quickest monetary tightening in three decades. What Bloomberg Economics Says ... Its the upcoming CPI and jobs market releases that will be central to decision making at the next policy meeting. We expect data to fall in line with the BOEs forecast, giving it enough reason to hold rates steady in May at 4.25%. Ana Andrade, Bloomberg Economics. Click for the REACT. Investors have bid up the likelihood for further rate hikes, pricing in an 80% chance of a quarter-point increase next month to 4.5% and an almost certain further increase to 4.75% by September. Bailey, speaking last night in Washington, voiced optimism that the banking system had survived the rescues of Silicon Valley Bank and Credit Suisse, leaving monetary policy makers a free hand to combat inflation. What we shouldnt be doing is saying, weve got such a problem with financial stability that we have to aim off a decision on monetary policy because of conditions and financial stability, Bailey said at the International Monetary Funds spring meeting. Hunt also is optimistic about the UKs prospects, with the latest readings bringing the UK into line with other Group of Seven nations with output back above pre-pandemic levels. Read more: UK Will Beat IMFs Dismal Growth Forecasts, Chancellor Hunt Says Assuming no revisions, the economy probably grew 0.1% in the first quarter unless the figure for March shows a contraction of more than 0.2%, the ONS said. A contraction of 0.6% would be required for GDP to fall 0.1% on the quarter, as forecast by the Bank of England. That would be a bigger fall than in December, when consumer sentiment was weaker and the country suffered the most days lost due to strikes since 2011. While a flat economy is not usually grounds for celebration, there are some encouraging signs in todays data, said Kitty Ussher, chief economist at the Institute of Directors. Were it not for the industrial action that took place in the public sector, the economy overall would have grown. There were a number of one-time factors dragging down the latest reading. February figures reflect the impact of widespread industrial action during the month. Services output fell 0.1%, hit by walkouts by teachers and civil servants. Manufacturing, which economists had thought would deliver small growth, also showed no change in the month. Strikes intensified during the month, with teachers in England staging a national walkout on Feb. 1 in their dispute over pay and regional strikes on other days. Other action involved rail workers, university staff, nurses, paramedics and civil servants. February also was unusually warm, reducing output from utilities. Education output slumped 1.7% during the month, making it the largest contributor to the fall in services output. Public administration was the second largest contributor, falling by 1.1%. These declines were partially offset by growth in six of the 14 services sub-sectors. The largest contributors to this were human health and social work activities and other service activities, which grew by 0.3% and 2% respectively. Despite the fall in the services sector, consumer-facing services grew by 0.4% in February, driven by retail which expanded at the fastest rate since October. However consumer-facing services are still 8.9% below their pre-pandemic level, while other services have clawed back losses to be up 2.2%. Second-quarter results may be dragged down by an extra bank holiday to mark the coronation of King Charles III. Further ahead, the fiscal loosening Hunt announced in his March budget will start to help the economy in the second half. A combination of upward revisions in GDP data and an improvement in global economic conditions could help the UK economy avoid a recession this year, said Yael Selfin, chief economist at KPMG UK. While this will provide relief for policymakers, the outlook for growth in the medium-term remains relatively weak by historical standards. Read more: UK Will Beat IMFs Dismal Growth Forecasts, Chancellor Hunt Says UKs Hunt Hints Growing Economy Sets Stage for Polls Next Spring Bailey Says BOE Financial Stability Issues Will Not Affect Rates UK Property Surveyors See Sales Pickup for First Time in a Year --With assistance from Elina Ganatra. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. G4S security staff UK-based security giant G4S should lose a contract to run a private prison in South Africa after a convicted rapist and murderer faked his death and escaped with guards help, MPs have said. Thabo Bester fled his cell after staging a fire and leaving a charred body to cover his jailbreak, before going on the run with his girlfriend, a celebrity doctor. Bester lived the high life in Johannesburg for nearly a year, before police were finally alerted to the plot and he fled the country. He and his girlfriend, Nandipha Magudumana, arrived back in South Africa on Thursday after they were arrested in Tanzania at the weekend. Details of the convicted killers privileged life inside jail, his audacious escape and the alleged complicity of staff at a high-security private prison have astonished South Africa. The prisons night supervisor and two warders in the security camera control room have all been fired on suspicion of helping Bester escape amid the confusion of the pre-dawn blaze in his cell. One of them faces a murder charge over the body of the unidentified man that was left burned beyond recognition in Bester's cell. Serious reputational risk Senior executives from G4S, a multinational with its headquarters in London, were grilled for hours this week by a committee of MPs. Richard Dyantyi, with the ruling African National Congress, told the firm the prison break represented a serious reputational risk to South Africa and called for the immediate cancellation of the contract. Why must we keep this contract? he asked G4S officials. Glynnis Breytenbach, of the opposition Democratic Alliance, asked them if more warders and officials were bribed to help Bester escape from Mangaung Correctional Centre in the central Free State province. He asked: How many palms were greased? Are you honestly telling us this escape of Hollywood proportion was done with the assistance of only three people? Cobus Groenewoud, regional commercial director for G4S Africa, told MPs the company had not been incompetent and he disagreed that the contract should be terminated. Story continues He said: "Our track record over 22 years is a good track record." Bester had been nicknamed the Facebook rapist for luring victims on the social media platform before raping and robbing them. He was sentenced to life in 2012 for rape, robbery and murder. In May 2022, the charred body of a man was found in Besters cell, leading prison authorities to believe at first that he had set himself on fire. Yet the prison and G4S officials conceded to MPs that a TV cabinet big enough to possibly hold and hide a dead body was brought into the prison in an unauthorised vehicle hours before Bester broke out. Neither the cabinet nor the vehicle was searched. Senior prison officials also gave Bester permission to be transferred to a single-occupant cell three days before his escape. The cell was situated next to a fire exit, which hes believed to have used to flee. An internal G4S investigation also found security cameras had a power interruption around the time of the escape. Prosecutors believe the unknown man whose body was burned could have been murdered deliberately for the job. He died from blows to the head. Magudumana was expected to be charged with murder as part of the plot. A prison guard and Magudumanas father have already been charged with murder. For months after Besters escape, he and Magudumana, whom police identified as his accomplice, are alleged to have lived in a mansion in a wealthy Johannesburg suburb, driving luxury cars while reportedly running a company that allegedly defrauded businesses out of hundreds of thousands of dollars. G4S runs only one private prison in South Africa, after inheriting the contract during a takeover in 2004. Protect yourself and your family by learning more about Global Health Security The suspect has been organizing illegal sales since November 2022 Read also: Putin personally approved arrest of WSJ reporter It was established that the law enforcer stole weapons from his military unit and was looking for buyers among criminals who had previously been charged with gun trafficking, the message reads. The investigation asserts the suspect set up the scheme in November 2022, and has since managed to sell some F-1 frag grenades. He was apprehended on April 12, in the middle of an attempt to sell a handgun and 1,500 rounds for $600. Read also: Russia wants to use Belarusian prisoners as builders in occupied Mariupol, mayor advisor says He now faces up to seven years in prison. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Read the original article on The New Voice of Ukraine Polish air force MiG-29 fighter jets from Lask Air Base take part in a NATO shielding exercise on October 12, 2022. Omar Marques/Getty Images Poland will provide Ukraine with five Soviet-era MiG-29 fighter jets. The jets originally belonged to East Germany during the Soviet era and were sold to Warsaw. The German government approved the transfer on Thursday. The German government on Thursday authorized Poland to transfer five Soviet-era fighter jets to Ukraine, boosting Kyiv's ability to challenge Russia by air. Poland obtained the MiG-29 jets from Germany in the early 2000s, according to media reports. They were originally used by the armed forces in Communist-era East Germany. Because Germany imposes limits on the subsequent transfer of military equipment that it sells, Poland had to ask permission from Berlin to hand the jets to Ukraine. Boris Pistorius, Germany's defense minister, said that request was received and granted on Thursday. "I welcome the fact that we in the federal government have reached this decision together," Pistorius said in a statement, as reported by ABC News. "This shows you can rely on Germany!" Ukraine has been asking its allies for months to provide it with more air power. So far, however, allies such as France and the United States have rejected requests to provide their own advanced fighter jets, leaving it up to Ukraine's allies in Eastern Europe to pull from their stockpiles of Soviet-era aircraft. Poland has said it was willing to provide Ukraine with its entire fleet of 28 MiG-29s. Slovakia has also promised to chip in. Germany originally balked at allowing its former jets to be sent to Ukraine. "So far, everyone has agreed that it's not the time to send fighter jets," Pistorius said just last month. First, put in service in 1983, the MiG-29 is considered a fourth-generation fighter jet, similar to if not quite on par with the US-built F-16 and capable of flying at more than twice the speed of sound. Have a news tip? Email this reporter: cdavis@insider.com Read the original article on Business Insider Ukrainian military on the front line in Donetsk Oblast Butosov wrote that he no longer feels any new emotions toward the enemy, who openly says and shows everyday that Russias goal is the destruction of all Ukrainians, the ethnic and political cleansing of all living things through terror and mass murder as Putin did in Chechnya in the early 2000s. Butosov said that more than simply promising revenge, Ukraines government and military must answer several questions. What is being done to reduce the number of videos of fighters being captured by one-two-three people at some forgotten observation posts amid poorly organized defenses or in some hastily organized attacks, without proper intelligence and management? he asked. Other questions the journalist would like to see answered include: On military organization, There is a need to revise the order of organization and the use of troops. We need more drones in the army than soldiers, so that sensors of various types become standard equipment for infantry. On improving the training quality of soldiers, What skills and how much time do soldiers get in training? Has an optimal program been approved? On analyzing Ukrainian losses and captures, Are conclusions being drawn? On the effectiveness of military command, What is being done to remove commanders who are unable to use personnel wisely? How effectively is the military in promoting effective combat leaders to command positions? He concluded that the less we let ourselves be killed at the front, the more enemies we will kill at the front. Butusov said he was convinced that it is not a matter of emotion, but a matter of organization that constantly needs attention. A video was posted on pro-war Russian Telegram channels on April 11 showing Russian troops executing a Ukrainian soldier, allegedly by decapitating him alive with a knife. Ukraines SBU security service has launched an investigation. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar asked not to reveal the soldiers identity until official information is available. Story continues Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on world leaders to respond to Russian atrocities. World leaders, including UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell, and Council of Europe Secretary General Marija Pejcinovic Buric, admitted they were horrified by the video of yet another Russian atrocity and condemned the heinous crime. 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 is unhappy about the leaked US assessment of its counteroffensive, which states that Ukraine will manage to make "modest territorial achievements." Ukrainian officials believe that the US is once again underestimating the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Source: Politico Details: In particular, Ukrainian officials have told reporters that they were not happy about the leaked "top secret" February assessment, which suggests that Ukraine will make only "modest territorial gains" from the planned counteroffensive. The Washington Post, which reported on the document on Monday (10 April - ed.), said it was part of a leak of classified US intelligence data about the war in Ukraine, as well as China, Israel and other hot spots around the world. Kyiv says that the document shows that the US is once again underestimating the capabilities of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. A person in contact with senior officials in Kyiv said that "the same people who said that Kyiv would fall in three days are now leaking harmful and equally meaningless information on the eve of an offensive critical to the entire free world." Journalists also quote a representative of the Ukrainian Defence Ministry. Quote from the representative of the Ministry of Defence: "There are people who continue to doubt Ukraine's military chances in a counteroffensive, but we have proved that they are all wrong." He said that forecasts about Ukraines chances "do not correspond to reality": "this gives us grounds for suspicion about how seriously the US supports Ukraine's goals of completely ousting Russia from the country." A source in the Ukrainian government said that such sentiments are widespread in the Cabinet of ministers. All media sources spoke anonymously so they could talk in detail about sensitive internal discussions in Ukraine. Politico believes that these comments make it clear that the US and Ukraine are not as in sync as both countries claim after 14 months of war. Story continues Quote: "It may also indicate a decline in trust between Washington and Kyiv ahead of a crucial few months of fighting that could dictate the course of the war with Russia. Since Russia controls 20 percent of Ukraine's territory, it is hoped that a counteroffensive, even with reduced supplies, will force Moscow's troops and mercenaries to leave the country they invaded." Previously: US intelligence believes that Ukraine's problems with building up troops, ammunition and equipment may lead to the fact that its military will "significantly lag behind" Kyivs original goals regarding the expected counteroffensive. Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Defence of Ukraine, has said that the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine is planning to conduct a counter-offensive on several fronts, but it all depends on the weather conditions. The Ukrainian military is also waiting for the "right moment", and Reznikov believes it will happen in April or May. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov has said that a set of classified Pentagon documents that was allegedly leaked on the Internet is a mixture of true and false information. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba stressed that the narrative of a counteroffensive as a decisive battle is dangerous for Ukraine, because if it fails, it will contribute to position of those in the West pushing Ukraine towards a compromise with Russia. He said that if the spring counteroffensive is perceived as decisive, but does not lead to "100% liberation of Ukrainian territory," then "some could say that this was the last decisive battle, and now we need to think about an alternative scenario." Ukraine has already changed some of its military plans due to the leak of classified US documents and this is delaying its counteroffensive, the media reported. Oleksii Danilov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, has urged that people wait before drawing any hasty conclusions about the leak of secret Pentagon documents, in particular those related to Ukraine. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Key developments on April 13: Spiegel: Berlin approves Polands request to ship fighter jets from East Germany stocks Leaked US intelligence files anticipate no Ukraine-Russia negotiations this year Military: Russia has fired 8,000 long-range anti-aircraft missiles against Ukraine since February 2022 Zelensky gathers military, intelligence chiefs; awaits allies-pledged weapon deliveries Ukraine repels 20 Russian attacks over April 13 Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki confirmed on April 13 that Poland would supply Ukraine with more MiG-29 fighter jets, the Polish Press Agency reported. Morawiecki said that "one more batch" of the Soviet-era aircraft would be headed to Ukraine. He said that the Polish military no longer needed the MiG-29s given that they possessed modern aircraft and were also expecting the delivery of U.S.-made F-35 jets in "the coming years," the Polish Press Agency wrote. The German government approved Poland's request for the export of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets from East Germany stocks to Ukraine, German newspaper Spiegel reported on April 13. The Polish president's security adviser, Jacek Siewiera, said Poland still has about a dozen of those 23 MiG-29s Poland bought from Germany 21 years ago. Poland earlier pledged 14 MiG-29s to Ukraine. Four of them have already been delivered to Ukraine, according to Polands President Andrzej Duda. However, no jets from former East German stocks have been supplied. Slovakia also delivered four of its MiG-29 fighters on March 23. The government has approved providing Ukraine with a total of 13 MiG-29s. Yurii Ihnat, Ukraines Air Force spokesperson, earlier said that the MiG-29 transfer is a major help but unlikely to be a game-changer at the front. Ukraine is campaigning to receive more advanced Western jets, like the U.S.-made F-16s. They are needed to support offensive operations and defend against Russian missile and guided bomb attacks. So far, no country has pledged such fighters, though several allies of Ukraine have not ruled out such a move. Story continues 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 Intelligence leak suggests no Ukraine-Russia talks in 2024 According to an alleged U.S. intelligence assessment leaked online and obtained by the Washington Post, Russia's war is expected to continue in 2024, with Kyiv and Moscow refusing to talk in 2023 despite neither of them gaining a decisive victory, The highly confidential papers suggest that even if Ukrainian forces liberate significant territories, the gains will not lead to peace talks with Russia this year. Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely during 2023 in all considered scenarios, reads the document, as quoted by the Washington Post. According to the files, the U.S. intelligence also predicts that the year will end with only marginal territorial gains for Ukraine and Russia due to insufficient troops and supplies for effective operations. The document describes such a stalemate as the most likely scenario. According to the leaked files, the alleged stalemate may not be actualized if there are substantive improvements to Ukrainian or Russian military capabilities. U.S. officials have warned that such analysis on the war in Ukraine is fluid, and the leaked material may not contain the details the U.S. has gathered in the days since it was produced, reads the report. Earlier, the Washington Post reported that Ukraine altered the plans and delayed its expected counteroffensive due to the leak, among other reasons. Speculation about the authenticity of the leaked intelligence files is ongoing. (Editors Note: Our video podcast, This Week in Ukraine, next episode will focus on this leak. Subscribe to the Kyiv Independents YouTube channel to not miss it.) Ukraines military intelligence said on April 7 that the supposed classified war files leaked online were forged by Russia and dismissed it as fake. The reports suggest, however, that the U.S. is taking the leak seriously and investigating it. The five-week-old documents leaked in the Discord community havent revealed details of when, how, or where Ukraine plans to launch its counterattack. Oleksii Danilov, National Security and Defense Council Secretary, said on April 6 that no more than five people are filled in on Ukrainian plans for the upcoming counteroffensive. Russia has launched thousands of missiles against Ukraine since February 2022 Russia has fired 8,000 long-range anti-aircraft missiles against Ukraine since late February 2022, using up around half of its arsenal, General Staff Deputy Chief Oleksii Hromov said on April 13. The current production level is hindering Russia from replenishing its missile stocks in the medium term, which could potentially jeopardize Moscow's ability to protect its strategic interests in the Far East and the border with NATO countries, Hromov told a news conference, as quoted by the Ukrinform news agency. However, Russia aims to start mass production of X-50-type strategic cruise missiles in June, Hromov said, adding that it would enable the Kremlin to intensify missile strikes against Ukraine in the fall. Since October 2022, Russian forces have carried out repeated missile and drone mass attacks against civilians and energy facilities nationwide. Bulgarian FM says relations with Russia frozen, yet military aid to Ukraine remains in limbo Russias full-scale war against Ukraine has again exposed Russias far-reaching influence over Bulgaria. The Bulgarian energy sector is dominated by Russia. The defense minister was dismissed in March 2022 for echoing the Kremlins war propaganda. The country has denied Ukraines officia Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima Zelensky vows powerful actions after meeting military chiefs President Volodymyr Zelensky met defense and intelligence chiefs to talk about front-line needs. Without providing further details, Zelensky said that our actions will be powerful as Ukraine is preparing its troops. And we are very much looking forward to the delivery of weapons promised by our partners, Zelensky said in his evening address on April 13. Some Ukrainian soldiers and officers have recently finished the training on Western-provided military hardware, including Patriot air defense systems and Challenger 2 main battle tanks, while others are reportedly being trained. On the battlefield The General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces reported in its 6 p.m. update on April 13 that Russian forces are focusing their offensive efforts in Donetsk Oblast. The Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiivka, and Marinka sectors remain Russia's top assault priorities, according to the report. Ukraine's forces hit Russian troops seven times with missiles and artillery, destroying two temporary command points, and two radar stations. Apart from Donetsk Oblast, Russian forces shelled settlements in Sumy, Luhansk, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts on April 13, according to the report. The most severe fighting is ongoing for the towns of Bakhmut and Marinka, where Ukraines forces repelled around 20 Russian attacks, the military said. According to the report, Russian troops conducted an unsuccessful attack near the village of Predtechyne, some 10 kilometers west of the front line. The General Staff also reported that Russia keeps some of its units close to the border in Russias Kursk and Belgorod regions. Leaked US documents have revealed that disagreements in Russia's security apparatus led to the defence ministry being accused of undercounting casualties of the war in Ukraine. Russia has said very little publicly about the scale of its war deaths. But the files show the FSB security service claimed officials were not counting deaths of the Russian National Guard, Wagner mercenaries and others. Russia has already warned the leaks may be fake, deliberately dumped by the US. However, the detail corroborates what was already widely known: that Russia's military and security groups have had frequent disagreements about the handling of the war in Ukraine and that Russia has avoided publicising the numbers of dead and wounded. The FSB's reported calculation of almost 110,000 casualties by February is still far lower than numbers this week in previously leaked US documents, which estimated Russian losses at between 189,500 and 223,000 casualties, with 35,500-43,000 men killed in action. Russia's most recent official figure dates back to September last year, when the deaths of 5,937 servicemen were confirmed. The same document says under-reporting of casualties within the system highlights the military's "continuing reluctance" to convey bad news up the chain of command. Commentators have often suggested that President Vladimir Putin has been shielded from the extent of Russia's losses on the battlefield, and this assessment appears to be borne out by these communications intercepts, labelled "SI" or Special Intelligence. More Pentagon leaks coverage: Another leaked document labelled top secret refers to an "information war" between the defence ministry and Wagner's mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin in February. Story continues Prigozhin repeatedly accused the military of halting ammunition supplies as his men fought to capture Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. The leak quotes ministry officials suggesting that they find "allies of equal status to fight Prigozhin rather than doing so itself". Tellingly, the assessment in the leak asserts that significant losses suffered by Russia's National Guard, or Rosgvardia, will "probably hinder Moscow's attempts to fully secure all of its annexed territories". Rosgvardia troops have taken part in combat and helped organise Russia's rigged referendums that led to Mr Putin annexing four Ukrainian regions last September. Little is known about the identity of the leaker, but the Washington Post has reported that he is a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a US military base. According to the Post, the leaker transcribed and then typed up the content of classified documents he had seen on the base, and then posted photos of the documents themselves. Among the pages of photographed documents, one shows a US assessment of Russia's "grinding campaign of attrition" in Ukraine's eastern Donbas region. It says barring an "unforeseen recovery" by Russian forces, Ukraine will be able to frustrate Moscow's war aims "resulting in a protracted war beyond 2023". Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has suggested that the US may have dumped the documents deliberately. As a "party to the conflict" he argued that Washington may have sought to "mislead the enemy, that is the Russian Federation". Wagner mercenaries have died in large numbers in the battle for Bakhmut - these military cadets attend a mercenary's funeral However, another intriguing leak cites Russia's Main Operations Directorate hailing a successful operation in early February aimed at convincing Ukrainian intelligence of a potential joint Russian-Belarusian offensive from Belarus. As Russia's military campaign in the east stalled in the run-up to the anniversary of the war, there had been reports of a Russian military build-up in Belarus with the aim of reviving its failed invasion from Belarusian territory the year before. Kyiv was forced to move troops to defend the area from possible attack, diverting them from the front lines in the east and south. The leaked document cites a Directorate official recommending two more phases of activity in March "to further mislead Ukrainian forces". The leak makes clear the plans were being sent to Belarus's military chief for approval. Ukraine's National Corruption Prevention Agency has designated Chinese tech brand Xiaomi an "international sponsor of war," according to an April 13 press release. The company is known not only for its smartphones but tablets, laptops, wearable devices, TVs, routers and other smart home devices. According to the National Corruption Prevention Agency, Xiaomi was designated as an "international sponsor of war" for continuing to do business in Russia following its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "While the Russians bombed peaceful Ukrainian cities, Xiaomi managed to increase deliveries to the Russian Federation by 39% in the third quarter of 2022 compared to the previous one," the press statement read. The company is now the leader in smartphone sales in Russia, meaning that the Russian market is extremely lucrative for the Chinese company. According to the National Corruption Prevention Agency, Xiaomi has not conducted marketing campaigns in Moscow since spring 2022. However, Xiaomi is now "actively resuming recruitment for its Russian offices" and "announced the official start of sales of flagship smartphones," which led the government agency to believe Xiaomi is resuming an active presence in the Russian market. "Xiaomi Corporation is sponsoring the military aggression of a terrorist state and must bear both the reputational and legal consequences of its actions," the National Corruption Prevention Agency said. The government agency has already designated 21 companies as "international sponsors of the war," according to the press statement. Oleksii Reznikov, the Defence Minister of Ukraine, has discussed "some interesting things" with NATO Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana regarding Ukraine's preparations for the summit in Vilnius. Source: Reznikov announced this on the sidelines of the First Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest, quoted by Ukrinform, as reported by European Pravda. Quote: "We also discussed some interesting things regarding the preparation of Ukraine for the summit in Vilnius, which we are waiting for. We outlined a work plan and agreed that my next meeting with Mr Jens Stoltenberg (NATO Secretary General) will take place soon on the sidelines of Ramstein," Reznikov commented to Geoana on the meeting in Bucharest. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The list of the 100 Most Influential People in the World in 2023 by the American magazine Time includes Olena Zelenska, the First Lady of Ukraine, and Oleksandra Matviichuk, Nobel Laureate and human rights activist. Source: Time Details: Zelenska and Matviichuk are represented in the Leaders category. In addition to them, this category also includes US President Joe Biden, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, The Wall Street Journal journalist Evan Gershkovich, who was arrested on Putin's orders, and others. Introducing Zelenska, Jill Biden, the First Lady of the USA, says this about her: "Olena Zelenska didnt expect to become a warrior for the people of Ukraine, but she has answered this call with selfless courage. She could take her family and flee. What mother would blame her? Yet, she stays. She stays because freedom and democracy deserve defenders. She stays to show the world that heart and hope can make even the largest tyrant seem small. She stays for her children for their future, and the future of all Ukrainians." Hillary Clinton speaks about Matviichuk: "A renowned Ukrainian human-rights lawyer at just 39 years old, Oleksandra Matviichuk has devoted her life to protecting democracy. Oleksandra and her team at the Center for Civil Liberties a human-rights organization based in Kyiv have strived to make Ukraine more democratic and document Russias war crimes against civilians By documenting Russias atrocities so perpetrators can face prosecution, she is proof that women are not just victims of war; they can be agents of peace and justice." The list of Time 100 Most Influential People also includes the categories of Artists, Icons, Pioneers, Titans and Innovators. For reference: Time 100 is an annual list of the most influential people in the world according to this American magazine. It was first published in 1999 as a result of a discussion among American scientists, politicians and journalists. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine has reported that Russia is planning to start manufacturing Kh-50 air-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in order to resume attacks on Ukraine in autumn. Source: Brigadier General Oleksii Hromov, Deputy Head of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during a press briefing Quote: "According to the information available, the Russian Federation is planning to start manufacturing Kh-50 air-to-surface strategic cruise missiles in June of this year, which will allow the Kremlin to resume missile strikes on the territory of our country in autumn. Russia has expended at least 50% of its long-range anti-aircraft missile stockpile since February 2022, having used at least 8,000 of these missiles, the majority of which were surface-to-surface missiles. Given the current levels of production, Russia will not be able to replenish its reserves in the medium term. This potentially undermines Moscows ability to defend its strategic interests in the Far East and near its borders with NATO countries." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of Ukrainian Defence Intelligence, has said that Russia will benefit the most from the large-scale leak of US government secrets that has dominated news headlines in recent days. Source: Kyrylo Budanov, the Chief of Ukrainian Defence Intelligence, in an interview with the ABC News channel Quote: "Russia is the only beneficiary of this. We will get the final answer only after the completion of the investigation... We have communication with the relevant services in the U.S., and from literally the first hours, we started to talk." Details: Major General Kyrylo Budanov made this comment on Wednesday evening in his office in Kyiv. He declined to comment on some of the most explosive revelations from the leak, including that US officials were listening in on internal Ukrainian discussions about the task of striking targets deep in Russia. Budanov told ABC News that information warfare is nothing new. The head of Ukrainian intelligence is convinced that there is "no risk" that the matter would damage relations between Ukraine and the United States. He also doesn't expect the data leak to have much of an impact on the course of the war. Quote: "If there is a problem, it will be solved. If there is no problem, even better. This will not be able to affect the real results of the offensive operation." Details: Budanov spoke of the Ukrainian military's ability to succeed in a future and long-awaited counteroffensive against Russian forces, while US officials suggested in private conversations that success would be more modest than last year's lightning operation, which returned vast swathes of territory to Ukrainian government control. "What will be the results of these actions? I think that, in the near future, everyone will see and feel it," said the Chief of Ukrainian Defence Intelligence. However, Budanov admitted that "the success of this offensive operation is badly needed", not only for the Ukrainians but also for the allies who supply them with funds and ammunition. Story continues "Without victories, sooner or later, questions will be asked whether it's worth continuing to support Ukraine," he said, although he did not hear that further support from the West would depend on success on the battlefield. Budanov again promised to take back the Crimean peninsula and mocked Russian President Vladimir Putin's undisguised nuclear threats and the failed "winter offensive" that ended with minimal gains and heavy losses. Studying a map of Russia, Budanov predicted "seismic change" in the neighbouring country, which he believes will play a role in ending Vladimir Putin's war in favour of Ukraine. Quote: "Borders can be changed. This is an artificially created mistake and, now, the moment has come for this country to collapse." Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's state-owned gas company Naftogaz said on Thursday that Moscow had been ordered by an arbitration court in The Hague to pay $5 billion in compensation for unlawfully expropriating its assets in Russian-annexed Crimea in 2014. Naftogaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov described Wednesday's ruling by The Hague's Arbitration Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration as a "key victory on the energy front" and said he expected more decisions in Ukraine's favour to come. "Despite Russia's attempts to obstruct justice, the Arbitration Tribunal ordered Russia to compensate Naftogaz for losses of $5 billion," Naftogaz said. "Russia must now comply with this decision in accordance with its obligations under international law," it said in a statement. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, seized the peninsula of Crimea in 2014, drawing a wave of sanctions from Western governments. There was no immediate comment from Russia or Russia's Gazprom on the ruling. The court in The Hague did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. Naftogaz said if Russia refused to pay voluntarily it could initiate a "process of recognition and admission to enforce the award in the territory of those states where assets of the Russian Federation are located." The company, whose assets in Crimea included Chornomornaftogaz which produced significant amounts of gas from the Black Sea, gave no further detail of which overseas Russian assets it could target. Some high-profile Russian-owned international assets - such as superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs - have already been targeted by governments as part of sanctions following the Ukraine invasion. Naftogaz had initiated arbitration proceedings with six other companies within Naftogaz Group in October 2016, it said, noting the arbitration award was made after hearings to determine the amount of compensation, which ended in March 2022. Story continues Tim Ash, an analyst at BlueBay Asset Management, said the ruling was a "huge legal win for Ukraine, and I would think more (is) to come." Naftogaz has been in talks with investors on a debt restructuring to bring the company out of a months-long default. (Reporting by Pavel Polityuk; Writing by Tom Balmforth; Editing by Jason Neely and David Holmes) Dmytro Lubinets Speaking to Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty, the ombudsman said he had recently spoken with intelligence officials. Read also: SBU vow to find Russians behind brutal beheading murder of Ukrainian PoW According to their assumptions, theyve almost identified those who did it, in which area and who was directly involved in it including the executor, he said. Lubinets refused to disclose more details, including any more information about the execution of the Ukrainian soldier by fighters of the Wagner Group private military company. Read also: Russia released footage of Ukrainian POW execution for intimidation, Kyiv says A video was posted on pro-war Russian Telegram channels on April 11 showing Russian troops executing a Ukrainian soldier, allegedly by decapitating him alive with a knife. Ukraines SBU security service has launched an investigation. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar asked not to reveal the soldiers identity until official information is available. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on world leaders to respond to Russian atrocities. 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 GENEVA (AP) The U.N. human rights chief has called for an expansion in regular migration channels and search-and-rescue operations after a steep increase in the number of migrants and asylum-seekers making risky attempts to cross the central Mediterranean to Europe. Volker Turk called for solidarity with Italy, which has traditionally received most of the influx, adding that the Italian coast guard had rescued some 2,000 people on the route since Friday. Italy's right-wing government this week imposed a six-month state of emergency to deal with the situation. We are seeing a steep increase in the number of desperate people putting their lives at grave risk, said Turk, who is the U.N. high commissioner for human rights, in a statement. We cannot afford to dither, and to become embroiled in yet another debate about who is responsible." "Human lives are at stake, he said, while also urging Italy's government to scrap a law passed this year that restricts civilian search and rescue operations. The appeal came a day after the International Organization for Migration announced the reported number of dead and missing along the central Mediterranean reached the highest level of any first quarter since 2017 in the first three months of this year. The IOM documented 441 migrant deaths along the route during January, February and March 2023, compared with 742 in 2017 and 446 in 2015. Also Thursday, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies said it was scaling up humanitarian assistance and protection services along the route including psychological support, first aid, family reunification services and help with disembarkation in Italy. A sharper view of the M87 black hole. Using machine learning, a team of researchers has enhanced the first image ever taken of a distant black hole. Importantly, the newly updated image shows the full resolution of the telescope array for the very first time. Black holes are some of the most massive objects in the universe. Their gravitational pull is so intense that light cannot escape their event horizons, hence the blackness at the center of the above image. Youre not actually seeing the black hole, but rather the superheated material surrounding it that creates a silhouette of where the object resides. Read more The machine learning model has sharpened the otherwise blurry image of black hole M87, showcasing the utility of machine learning models in improving radio telescope images. The teams research was published today in the Astrophysical Journal Letters. Approximately four years after the first horizon-scale image of a black hole was unveiled by EHT in 2019, we have marked another milestone, producing an image that utilizes the full resolution of the array for the first time, said Dimitrios Psaltis, a researcher at Georgia Tech and a member of the EHT collaboration, in an Institute for Advanced Study release. The new machine learning techniques that we have developed provide a golden opportunity for our collective work to understand black hole physics. Back in 2019, scientists with the Event Horizon Telescope released the first-ever image of a black hole: M87, a supermassive black hole 55 million light-years away. The 6.5-billion-solar-mass object was imaged using a network of seven telescopes on four different continents, to create a massive radio telescope array. The first image of M87, as seen by the Event Horizon Telescope. But even using radio telescopes around the world doesnt give astronomers a complete view of the black hole; by incorporating a machine learning technique called PRIMO, the collaboration was able to improve the arrays resolution. What appeared a bulbous, orange doughnut in a 2019 image has now taken on the delicate, thin circle of The One Ring. Story continues PRIMO (principal-component interferometric modeling) was used to study over 30,000 simulated images of black holes in the process of accreting gas. Its the accretion of such superheated material that gives imaged black holes their eerie silhouettes. The patterns in the simulations were then used to boost the resolution of the fuzzy image released in 2019. We are using physics to fill in regions of missing data in a way that has never been done before by using machine learning, said Lia Medeiros, a researcher at the Institute for Advanced Study and the lead author of the paper, in an institute release. This could have important implications for interferometry, which plays a role in fields from exo-planets to medicine. Sharper images of black holes can help physicists hone in on details of the objects, like the true areas of their event horizons and the gravitational forces the objects exert. For example, the new image of M87 scaled down the luminous ring around the black hole by a factor of two. Last year, the EHT released an image of another black hole: Sagittarius A*, the black hole at the center of our galaxy. That shot was similarly fuzzy to the first look at M87; if applying machine learning to black hole images becomes routine, we may see a sharper view of the center of our galaxy soon. More: See a Black Holes Magnetic Fields in New Image From the Event Horizon Telescope More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. By Ross Kerber and Sarah N. Lynch DIGHTON, Massachusetts (Reuters) - The FBI on Thursday arrested Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the U.S. Air National Guard, over the leaks online of classified documents that embarrassed Washington with allies around the world. Federal agents in an armored car and military gear swooped in on Teixeira, dressed in gym shorts, a T-shirt and trainers, at his home in Dighton, Massachusetts, a mostly wooded town of 8,000 about 50 miles (80 km) south of Boston. The arrest comes a week after the leaks first became widely known, setting Washington on edge about the damage they may have caused. The episode embarrassed the U.S. by revealing its spying on allies and purported Ukrainian military vulnerabilities. The leak of documents, posted largely on social media sites, was believed to be the most serious security breach since more than 700,000 documents, videos and diplomatic cables appeared on the WikiLeaks website in 2010. Teixeira was an airman 1st class at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts, according to his service record. He joined the Air National Guard in 2019 and worked as a "Cyber Transport Systems Journeyman," or an IT specialist. Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters Teixeira was wanted "in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information." The FBI said its agents had conducted "authorized law enforcement activity at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts." Aerial news video showed Teixeira with his hands laced behind his head, walking backward toward the armored car with one officer watching from the turret. He was handcuffed and placed in the back of the vehicle. Garland said he was taken into custody "without incident." LIKELY CRIMINAL CHARGES The Justice Department did not say what charges Teixeira would face, although they will likely involve criminal charges of willfully retaining and transmitting national defense information. Story continues Brandon Van Grack, a former Justice Department national security prosecutor now with the law firm Morrison Foerster, said the likely charges could carry up to 10 years' imprisonment, even if Teixeira did not intend to cause harm. "This is someone who is facing on the higher end of exposure for years in prison ... because the leaks were so damaging," Van Grack said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement a Pentagon task force had been "working around the clock to assess and mitigate any damage." Teixeira was expected to appear in court on Friday, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office in Boston said. A police road block on the way to the house where Teixeira was arrested kept neighbors away from their homes. One was Dick Treacy, who said he saw officers arriving as he left to go shopping in the early afternoon. "There were about six to eight army guys with rifles walking around," Treacy said. "This is a very quiet area." Eddy Souza, 22, said he grew up nearby and that he knew Jack Teixeira when both attended Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School several years ago. Souza said Teixeira had expressed no extremist sentiments when they were last in touch several years ago. "He's a good kid, not a troublemaker, just a quiet guy," Souza said. "It sounds like it was a stupid kid's mistake." DAMAGE ASSESSMENT Although the leak only garnered widespread attention after an April 6 story in the New York Times, journalists have found evidence that the documents or at least some of them had been floating around on social media as far back as March or even January. Bellingcat, the Washington Post and The New York Times have traced the documents' earliest appearance to a defunct server on the instant messaging site Discord. In a chat group on the site, Teixeira went by the handle OG and was admired by the group's mostly young members, who shared a love for guns and military gear. The Justice Department opened a formal criminal probe last week, after a referral from the Defense Department, which called the leak a "deliberate, criminal act." Reuters has reviewed more than 50 of the documents, labeled "Secret" and "Top Secret" but has not independently verified their authenticity. The number of documents leaked is likely to be over 100. A number of countries have questioned the veracity of some of the leaked documents, including Britain, which said there was "a serious level of inaccuracy" in the information. The leaks revealed information about allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey. U.S. officials believe most of the materials are genuine. Some, however, appear to have been altered to show inflated estimates for Ukrainian battlefield casualties in the war with Russia as well as understated numbers for Russian forces. (Reporting by Ross Kerber in Dighton and Sarah N. Lynch and Idrees Ali in Washington; Additional Katharine Jackson, Susan Heavey, Jasper Ward and Raphael Satter in Washington, and Michelle Nichols at the United Nations; Writing by Alistair Bell, Patricia Zengerle and Daniel Trotta; Editing by Don Durfee, Daniel Wallis, Matthew Lewis and Cynthia Osterman) A federal U.S. appeals court late Wednesday partially blocked an unprecedented ruling by a single federal judge in Texas last week that reverses the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the widely-used abortion drug mifepristone. The United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit granted the U.S. Department of Justice's emergency request to put on hold U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision to suspend the FDA's initial authorization of mifepristone back in 2000, citing the the statute of limitations. However, the three-judge panel determined that other parts of Kacsmaryk's ruling, which suspends changes the FDA later made to mifepristone's approved use and halts distribution of the drug by mail, could still go into effect at the end of the day Friday. MORE: Unprecedented Texas abortion pill ruling sparks debate about 'judge shopping' The Justice Department could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to intervene and completely block Kacsmaryk's order. The challenge to mifepristone's FDA approval stems from a lawsuit filed in Amarillo, Texas, in November 2022 by Alliance Defending Freedom, an Arizona-based conservative Christian legal advocacy group working to outlaw abortion. The case was assigned to Kacsmaryk, who was appointed to the federal bench in 2019 under former President Donald Trump and is currently the sole judge seated in the Amarillo division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas. MORE: DOJ files appeal after judge reverses FDA approval of abortion drug On April 7, Kacsmaryk ruled to suspend the FDA's authorization of mifepristone, saying the drug was unsafe and its approval process was rushed. The Justice Department subsequently appealed the decision to a higher court. The lawsuit against mifepristone came just months after the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade case that legalized abortion nationwide nearly 50 years ago. Story continues MORE: What to know about Texas ruling that could see abortion drug taken off the market Mifepristone has been on the market for 23 years. In 2016, the FDA lifted some of mifepristone's original safety restrictions by increasing the maximum gestational age at which the drug can be used from 49 to 70 days, reducing the number of in-person office visits that patients are required to make from three to one, allowing non-doctors to prescribe and administer the drug and eliminating the requirement for prescribers to report non-fatal adverse events. In 2021, the FDA announced it had permanently lifted its restriction that mifepristone must be dispensed in-person. Last month, the agency went a step further by allowing retail pharmacies to provide the drug too, either by mail or in person, so long as they meet certain requirements. MORE: If an abortion drug is banned, could misoprostol be used as a safe alternative? Medication abortion now accounts for more than half of all abortions in the U.S., using a combination of two drugs, mifepristone and misoprostol, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a New York-based research group focusing on sexual and reproductive health. The FDA has not approved misoprostol to be used for abortions on its own. ABC News' Anne Flaherty, Marilyn Heck, Alexandra Hutzler, Mary Kekatos, Bonnie McLean, Ashley Riegle and Mireya Villarreal contributed to this report. US appeals court partially blocks federal judge's ruling on abortion drug mifepristone originally appeared on abcnews.go.com By Andrew Chung and Brendan Pierson (Reuters) -U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Thursday the Justice Department will ask the Supreme Court to intervene to stop restrictions set by a federal judge on the abortion pill mifepristone as President Joe Biden's administration moves to defend access to the drug. The administration will seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court to defend the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "scientific judgment and protect Americans' access to safe and effective reproductive care," Garland said in a statement. Mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000, is used in combination with another drug called misoprostol to perform medication abortion, which accounts for more than half of all U.S. abortions. The FDA is the U.S. agency that signs off on the safety of food products, drugs and medical devices. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late on Wednesday put on hold part of last Friday's order by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, that would have removed the drug from the market by suspending the FDA approval while he hears a lawsuit by anti-abortion groups seeking to ban it. The 5th Circuit, however, declined to block portions of Kacsmaryk's order, reinstating restrictions on the pill's distribution that had been lifted since 2016. In addition to a requirement of three in-person doctor visits to prescribe and dispense the drug, those restrictions include limiting its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, down from the current 10. Kacsmaryk's order was set to take effect at 12 a.m. CDT (0500 GMT) on Saturday, according to the Justice Department. Garland is seeking to have the Supreme Court block Kacsmaryk's order in its entirety. "We are going to continue to fight in the courts," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters traveling with Biden in Ireland. "We believe that the law is on our side, and we will prevail." Story continues Kacsmaryk's ruling conflicts with a different federal judge's decision last Friday ordering the FDA to maintain access to mifepristone with no new restrictions in 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia, which had sued the Biden administration in an effort to loosen restrictions around the drug. In response to a request for clarification from the administration, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice in Spokane, Washington affirmed on Thursday that the FDA is forbidden from enforcing any new restrictions in those states, regardless of Kacsmaryk's order. 'THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW' Anti-abortion groups led by the recently formed Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and four anti-abortion doctors sued the FDA in November seeking to pull approval of misoprostol. The Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative legal group representing the plaintiffs, in a statement on Thursday called the 5th Circuit decision "a significant victory for the doctors we represent, women's health and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law." Removing mifepristone from the market would deal another major setback to U.S. abortion rights on the national level after the Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized the procedure nationwide. The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Kacsmaryk found that the FDA exceeded its authority by ignoring "legitimate safety concerns" about mifepristone and relying on "plainly unsound reasoning and studies" when approving it. Health policy and legal experts have said Kacsmaryk's decision, if allowed to stand, would threaten the FDA's power to regulate all drugs nationwide and to act as the ultimate arbiter on drug safety. The 5th Circuit found that the plaintiffs had waited too long to challenge the original 2000 regulatory approval of mifepristone but were likely to succeed in targeting the agency's decisions in recent years expanding access. It said the government's arguments for an emergency stay of the ruling focused on the potential harm of pulling mifepristone from the market entirely but that it was "difficult to argue" that the 2016 changes "were so critical to the public given that the nation operated - and mifepristone was administered to millions of women - without them for 16 years." Major U.S. medical groups, including the American Medical Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have said the judge's ruling is unsupported by science, and that mifepristone's safety has been confirmed by hundreds of studies and more than two decades of experience. The Justice Department has said the challengers have no basis for second-guessing the FDA's scientific judgment and that when used as directed, adverse effects of mifepristone are exceedingly rare "just as they are for many common drugs like ibuprofen." The plaintiffs sought a sympathetic court by suing in Amarillo, where Kacsmaryk is the only federal district judge. Kacsmaryk is a conservative former Christian activist who was appointed to the bench by Republican former President Donald Trump, serving since 2019. The lawsuit is part of an ongoing effort by anti-abortion activists and Republican officials to further limit abortion access following last year's Supreme Court ruling - one that freed states to outlaw the procedure. Since that decision, 12 U.S. states have outright bans in place while many others prohibit abortion after a certain length of pregnancy. For an Explainer on the case and what to expect next see: (Reporting by Brendan Pierson and Andrew Chung in New York; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Dublin, Ireland, and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Will Dunham, Bill Berkrot and William Mallard) US President Joe Biden has stated that the US government is close to identifying the leaker responsible for the disclosure of sensitive military documents posted to social media. Source: CNN citing Bidens interview with journalists in Dublin Quote: "Theres a full-blown investigation going on, as you know. The intelligence community and the Justice Department. And theyre getting close," Biden said. It was the first time the UP president commented on the leak. Biden said he was concerned about the fact the leaks happened, but not necessarily about their content. "Theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of any consequence," Biden added. Background: A huge number of American intelligence documents were posted on social media in recent weeks. In this regard, the US Ministry of Justice has launched an investigation into the leak, which may last several months. The US State Department says that the incident involving the leakage of classified documents of the US Department of Defence will not affect the support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! An attendee at the 2022 NRA annual meeting in Texas looks at semi-automatic rifles The National Rifle Association (NRA) is holding its annual meeting in Indianapolis, with former US President Donald Trump and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis due to address delegates. The meeting is taking place amid increasing calls for tighter US gun laws in the wake of a record number of mass shootings in 2023. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 146 mass shootings in the country since January. What is the NRA? Founded in 1871 as a recreational group designed to "promote and encourage rifle shooting", the National Rifle Association has grown into one of the most powerful political organisations in the US. It lobbies heavily against all forms of gun control and argues aggressively that more guns make the country safer. It relies on, and staunchly defends, a disputed interpretation of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution, which it argues gives US citizens the rights to bear arms. It directly funds US politicians and lawmakers who support its aims. Who runs the NRA? Chief executive Wayne LaPierre has run the NRA since 1991. NRA executive vice president Wayne LaPierre speaks during the NRA-ILA Leadership Forum at the 2015 NRA Annual Meeting & Exhibits on April 10, 2015 in Nashville, Tennessee The group is currently in legal difficulties, having been locked in a court battle with New York's Attorney General since 2020. Letitia James alleges that in the past the organisation diverted millions of dollars to leaders including Mr LaPierre for their personal use. She is suing Mr LaPierre for millions of dollars he has been paid by the NRA, and wants the organisation to face financial monitoring. The NRA has described her lawsuit as a "baseless, premeditated attack". How big is the NRA? Estimates of the NRA's membership vary widely. The association claimed that membership rose to nearly to five million in response to the mass shooting at Sandy Hook school in 2012. However, some analysts put the figure at closer to three million. There are frequent protests outside the NRA's headquarters in Virginia Current NRA members include former vice-presidential candidate Sarah Palin, and actors Tom Selleck and Whoopi Goldberg. Former vice-president Mike Pence is expected to join Mr Trump and Mr DeSantis in Indianapolis for the 2023 meeting. Story continues How influential is the NRA? In 2022, the NRA received $97m (78m) from membership dues. That is down by more than 40% from its peak year, 2018. The organisation blamed the Covid pandemic for the fall. However, the NRA still has a substantial budget which it uses to try and influence US politicians on gun policy. In 2021, it spent $4.2m on lobbying, according to non-partisan US research firm OpenSecrets. OpenSecrets' figures suggest that since 2010, the NRA has directed more than $140m to pro-gun election candidates. The NRA also has considerable influence via its membership, many of whom will vote for a candidate based solely on their stance on guns. It grades members of Congress from A to F on their perceived friendliness to gun rights. Those ratings can cost pro-gun control candidates their seats. Why is the NRA controversial? For decades, the NRA has aggressively opposed measures which would restrict gun ownership, despite a series of high profile mass shootings, including many in schools. The late actor Charlton Heston - a former NRA president - famously held a rifle over his head following the 1999 Columbine High School mass shooting, telling gun control advocates they would have to take the weapon "from my cold, dead hands". Actor Charlton Heston was a long-serving NRA president What has the NRA said about school shootings? On 27 March, six people including three children were killed at a school in Nashville. The NRA responded by calling for more security in schools, rather than restrictions on gun ownership. The Nashville attack was the worst mass shooting at a US school since 19 children and two adults were killed in Uvalde, Texas, in May 2022. The NRA held its 2022 meeting in nearby Houston only days after the Uvalde attack, despite widespread calls to cancel the event. In 2018, it backed a call by then-president Donald Trump to arm teachers and other members of staff to deter gun attacks - although many teachers do not want to be armed. Sergey Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, is due to preside over a meeting of the UN Security Council in New York in April. However, the United States still needs to issue clearance for the arrival of the minister's special plane and visas for the Russian delegation. Source: European Pravda; CNN Russian Ambassador to Washington Anatoly Antonov has urged the United States to issue permission for Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrovs aircraft and visas for the Russian delegation to the UN. "We urge Washington not to delay issuing visas to our delegation, including our journalists," Antonov said. He also said that the US had "not agreed to the planes arrival." Antonov stressed that although the event is still days from now, there is still no certainty. The Security Council consists of five permanent members of the UN, including Russia, the United Kingdom, France, the United States and China, which have the right to veto, and ten member countries on a rotating basis. Russia began its presidency of the UN Security Council on 1 April on a rotating basis. The president of Ukraine consequently called for a reform of the Security Council "so that a terrorist state and any other state that wants to be a terrorist cannot destroy the world." The Czech Foreign Minister supported Kyiv's appeal, while Turkiye also spoke out in favour of the reform of the UN Security Council. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! The Biden administration is urging U.S. meat processors to make sure children arent being illegally hired to perform dangerous jobs at their plants. The call comes after an investigation found more than 100 kids working overnight for a company that cleans slaughterhouses, handling dangerous equipment like skull splitters and razor-sharp bone saws. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter Wednesday to the 18 largest meat and poultry producers urging them to examine the hiring practices at their companies and suppliers. The letter is part of a broader effort by the administration to crack down on the use of child labor. The Labor Department has reported a 69% increase since 2018 in the number of children being employed illegally in the U.S. The use of illegal child labor particularly requiring that children undertake dangerous tasks is inexcusable, and companies must consider both their legal and moral responsibilities to ensure they and their suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors fully comply with child labor laws, Vilsack said in the letter. Just last year, the Labor Department found that more than 3,800 children had been working illegally at 835 companies in various industries. In the most egregious recent case, Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, agreed earlier this year to pay a $1.5 million fine and reform its hiring practices after investigators confirmed that at least 102 kids were working for the company at 13 meat processing plants nationwide. PSSI, which is based in Wisconsin, employs about 17,000 people working at more than 700 locations, making it one of the largest food-processing-plant cleaning companies. The plants where PSSI was found to be employing minors were in Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas. The Labor Department says it has more than 600 child labor investigations underway and officials are concerned about the exploitation of children, particularly migrants who may not even have a parent in the United States. Several federal agencies launched a broad effort to combat child labor earlier this year, and officials asked Congress to increase the penalty for violations because the current maximum fine of $15,138 per child isnt enough of a deterrent to big companies. One major meat producer, Smithfield Foods, said Wednesday it was not aware of any violations at its facilities. Smithfield Foods and all of its affiliates comply with all child labor laws, both federal and state, the company said. We require all of our contractors to do so as well. A sinkhole caused by flooding from spring runoff is seen on Orchard Ridge Lane in Kaysville on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. | Spenser Heaps, Deseret News A cold front will move into northern Utah late Wednesday into Thursday, dropping rain at lower elevations and, yes, more snow in the mountains. The changing weather pattern puts the brakes on temperatures in the 70s, giving some respite as a cooler climate takes hold for next couple days before it inches back up into another warming trend next week. Spot flooding is already happening in multiple Utah communities as a result of overwhelmed infrastructure such as storm drains failing to function, causing the evacuation of multiple homes in Kaysville. Orchard Ridge Estates, a newly built subdivision nestled in the foothills above Kaysville, received the brunt of the flooding. At about 3:30 this morning, we woke to the fire department banging on our doors and trying to get our attention with lights in our windows, said Jayna Howard, an Orchard Ridge resident. Evacuation was optional in Howards part of the neighborhood, but she said she worried she wouldnt be able to make it out if the flooding continued. The way it looked was quite threatening. It sounded like a river and it was rolling down the street. Public works crews, construction workers and volunteers from nearby neighborhoods gathered Wednesday morning to place sandbags along the street, trudging through ankle-deep water and avoiding the major road erosions. Jeff and Kate Harris planned to move into the Orchard Ridge neighborhood on Wednesday, only to find out that morning that the road in front of their new home had collapsed. Our belongings were in the garage already, Kate Harris said. So we went to bed so happy and on such a high, and to wake up to this is just such a low. After the initial shock which Jeff Harris said lasted several hours the couple said they were grateful that neighbors who they barely knew were up late trying to divert the water from their house. Its kind of a strange way to meet everybody, but we created some bonds, Kate Harris said. Story continues Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Related And that wasnt all. In Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County Flood Control division director Kade Moncur said the Wasatch Hollow Retention Basin has a clogged outlet 25 feet below the water, forcing crews to reroute that water back to Emigration Creek. The urbanized flooding resulted in the closure of 1700 South between 1500 East and 1700 East. In North Ogden, flooding led to the closure of Fruitland Drive at 1700 North, with a sandbag brigade plugging flows where they can. Wednesday night, Sugar House residents were also evacuated as water surged down their street. Michael Wessler, meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Salt Lake City, said stream flow forecasters are keeping watch on three particularly troublesome areas: Emigration Creek, Silver Creek in the Heber City area, and the Weber River in Weber County. The agency issued a flood advisory for areas along Salt Lake Citys East Bench and downstream of Emigration Creek that is in effect through noon Thursday. A River Flood Advisory has been issued for portions of Salt Lake City's East Bench and areas downstream along Emigration Creek. This advisory stands through 12 PM Thursday where it will either expire or be continued based on the latest information available. #utwx NWS Salt Lake City (@NWSSaltLakeCity) April 12, 2023 No creeks or rivers have reached flood stage yet, and most of the flooding being experienced in urban settings is the result of runoff compromised by clogged storm drains or other infrastructure that needs to be cleared of debris. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News More snow to come Wessler said this kind of snowmelt is what they want to see: lower and mid-elevation snow coming off the mountains in a slow march while the higher elevation snow waits backstage. So, big picture is weve had this string of warm days where weve started to melt the low and mid-elevation snowpack. One of the key factors to this melt is that the overnight low temperatures have been temperatures that have remained above freezing. He added the freezing temperatures remain in play for the high elevation snow, which is why this cold front wont deliver a dreaded rain on snow event that would accelerate the melt and more potential for flooding. The coming rain, however, is another headache for public works directors and first responders as they hope to minimize the impacts and galvanize volunteers for sandbagging. As tempting as it might be for warm weather enthusiasts and sun worshippers, what Utah does not want to see is a sudden, severe spike in temperatures to bring the record snowpack down all at once. That is what happened in 1983 when a river roared down State Street in Salt Lake City and flooding along the Wasatch Front and elsewhere was rampant. Related Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Utahs big snowpack After more than two decades of drought, the dread that comes with a dwindling Great Salt Lake and severe curtailments of water, especially in the secondary water arena, Utah and much of the West abruptly embraced a stellar winter. While one good year wont erase the enduring drought, it does help. How much snow did Utah actually see? The latest Utah Snow Survey report released by the U.S. Natural Resources Conservation Service provides these details: Nine of Utahs 16 major basins have record-high snow water equivalent: Duchesne (191% of normal), Northeastern Uintas (172% of normal), Weber-Ogden (208% of normal), Provo-Utah Lake-Jordan (216% of normal), Tooele Valley-Vernon Creek (237% of normal), Southeastern Utah (282% of normal), Price-San Rafael (205% of normal), Lower Sevier (280% of normal), and Beaver (202% of normal). While not a record high, southwestern Utah is at a whopping 331% of normal for snow water equivalent. A few noteworthy SNOTEL (measurement) sites are: Ben Lomond Peak, in first place for Utah with 81.8 inches of snow water equivalent. In second and third place are the two sites in Little Cottonwood Canyon: Atwater (71.9 inches of snow water equivalent) and Snowbird (68.8inches of snow water equivalent). 32 SNOTEL sites have at least double the amount of snow water equivalent that they would have at their typical (median) peak and 45 of Utahs SNOTEL sites have more than 100 inches of snow depth, with seven of those deeper than 150 inches. 126 sites are reporting the deepest snow depths ever measured at those locations. Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Spenser Heaps, Deseret News Spenser Heaps, Deseret News This Friday marks Vaisakhi, one of the most significant and widely observed annual celebrations for Sikhs, who make up the fifth-largest major world religion. Vaisakhi sometimes spelled Baisakhi has long been celebrated as a harvest festival across South Asia and especially in the Punjab region of India, where it is also observed by Hindus. But in Sikhism, the day honors a pivotal moment in the evolution of the religion more than 300 years ago, when the tenth in a line of Gurus or spiritual leaders unified Sikhs and formalized many aspects of the faith. "Vaisakhi presents an opportunity for me to reflect on my journey as a Sikh, and to reaffirm my commitment to the values of Sikhism," said Harman Singh, senior manager of education at The Sikh Coalition. When is Vaisakhi 2023? Vaisakhi is typically observed on April 13 or April 14 and marks the first day of the month Vaisakh in the Sikh calendar. This year, the celebration falls on Friday. Earlier this month, a bipartisan group of U.S. representatives introduced a bill that would designate April 14 as "National Sikh Day" to "honor and celebrate the important role played by the Sikh community" in the U.S. A float travels down the street during the annual Sikh Parade in Stockton, California, on April 17, 2022. Happy Vaisakhi! Say "Happy Vaisakhi" or "Vaisakhi Diyan Vadhaiyan," which means best wishes for Vaisakhi. What is the history of Vaisakhi? In 1469, a boy named Nanak was born in the Punjab region of South Asia, where the predominant religions were Islam and Hinduism. Nanak founded a new, independent religion Sikhi, or Sikhism and became the first Guru. In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh Ji chose the harvest festival of Vaisakhi to start what is known as the Khalsa Panth, a community of committed, initiated Sikhs, according to Kiran Kaur Gill, executive director of the Sikh American Legal Defense and Education Fund. These Sikhs vow to live by the principles of Sikhism, including remembrance of God, truthful living, service to humanity and standing up against tyranny and injustice, Gill said. Story continues When is Ramadan this year? What to know about the Muslim holy month, Eid al-Fitr in 2023. When is Passover? What to know about 2023 dates, meaning of the Four Questions, more. "Up until this time, Sikhism was a philosophy, collection of scriptures and set practices. When the Khalsa was established, it unified and solidified Sikhism into a collective faith and religion," Gill said. The creation of the Khalsa was also important because of what was happening in northern India at that time, when Sikhs and people from other backgrounds were facing religious persecution and unjust taxes, Gill said. "With the establishment of the Khalsa, Sikhs were more organized and were better prepared to fight for religious freedom and oppose corruption," she said. Vaisakhi and the Sikh visible identity Throughout the history of the ten Gurus, Sikhs had developed a distinct outward appearance, and it was on Vaisakhi that initiated Sikhs were given this visible identity as a mandatory and formal requirement, Gill said. "This identity ensures that Sikhs stand out and can be called upon for help," she said. The identity is comprised of five religious symbols known as the "5 Ks" worn by all initiated Sikhs, Gill said. Those include: Kesh, uncut hair symbolizing spirituality Kanga, a wooden comb signifying cleanliness Kachera, cotton undershorts signifying modesty and self-discipline Kara, a steel bracelet worn on the dominant hand as a reminder to do good deeds Kirpan, a small sword worn as reminder to stand up for those in need On Vaisakhi, the Guru also gave Sikhs new last names. All women were given the name "Kaur," meaning "Princess," and men were given "Singh," meaning "Lion," Gill said. "This was to reinforce the ideas of equality, sovereignty and leadership," she said. When is Earth Day? Everything to know about the holiday, its history and this year's theme. When is Hanukkah in 2023? When it starts, why it's celebrated and how to honor Jewish tradition. What happens on Vaisakhi festival? Sikhs often celebrate Vaisakhi by visiting their local gurdwara to worship, meditate and partake in langar, a free community meal prepared and served at all gurdwaras by volunteers, Singh said. Many gurdwaras organize Vaisakhi parades, with singing and the distribution of langar, he said. "My favorite aspect of Vaisakhi is being with my family, friends, and community to meditate and sing in gratitude of Waheguru, the one divine being," Singh said. "Don't be afraid to ask your Sikh friends and neighbors about Vaisakhi, and to join in their celebrations. The gurdwara is open to all, and we welcome you to join us!" Members of the Desi Giddha Group perform a dance at the Vaisakhi Spring Festival in Stockton, California, on April 30, 2022. What is Sikhi, or Sikhism? The three daily principles of Sikhi include: truthful living, service to humanity and devotion to the divine, according to The Sikh Coalition. The worldview "centers on the idea of oneness," and Sikhs believe people of all faiths worship one divine being who "created this world and lives within it," the group says. There are more than 25 million Sikhs worldwide, with most living in the Punjab region, according to The Sikh Coalition. While there isn't census data on Sikhs, the group estimates there about 500,000 Sikhs in the U.S., with large populations in California, New York and New Jersey. Vaisakhi around the U.S. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Vaisakhi 2023: Everything to know about the Sikh holiday celebration Police in Canada have removed a squatter who had set up a makeshift shelter on one of the most expensive pieces of real estate in Vancouver and lived there for almost a year. A campsite on Vancouvers Belmont Avenue overlooking Spanish Banks Beach, one of the most pricey and exclusive streets in the city, was completely dismantled by police on Tuesday, and a squatter was arrested, CTV News reported . The man arrested was identified as Joseph Grenon, and he has been charged with mischief, but police did not offer more specifics beyond that. "This was an ongoing issue in the community, something our officers took very seriously," police said in an email. CALIFORNIA WIDOW SUES CITY AFTER SQUATTER ALLEGEDLY KILLED BANKER HUSBAND Squatting has been a significant issue for residents in the area, specifically on the three large side-by-side lots on Belmont Ave that are valued at roughly $60 million. READ ON THE FOX NEWS APP Squatters have set up makeshift buildings with wooden planks and blue tarps, changed the locks to the gates multiple times and even brought their own toilets onto the property, the Vancouver Sun reported . REALTY COMPANY: SQUATTERS MAKING LIFE MISERABLE FOR PROPERTY OWNERS, PHILADELPHIA OFFICIALS DON'T SEEM TO CARE Vancouver, Canada After being cleared of encampments, the vacant wooded property, which is reportedly owned by an investor who goes by Edison Washington and Qiang Wang, now sits mostly empty, and patrol cars have been spotted driving by to ensure that no one returns. The Vancouver Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Squatters have been a growing problem in the United States since the start of the coronavirus pandemic as homeowners have continued to be tormented by individuals camping on vacant properties, showing up with fake paperwork and taking over foreclosed properties. "I think it's a fairly big problem, and I think it's pretty hard to avoid," Jim Burling, vice president of legal affairs for Pacific Legal Foundation, told Fox News Digital last month. Hong Kong: Choi Yuk-lin views Mainland schools Secretary for Education Choi Yuk-lin visited Anji, Zhejiang to learn about the development and achievements of its early childhood education as well as called on a number of education units and Hong Kong youths in Shanghai yesterday and today. This morning, Ms Choi visited East China Normal University and Shanghai Normal University in Shanghai to exchange views with students and teachers. She noted that universities in Shanghai and Hong Kong have been conducting professional exchanges in various ways with collaboration in areas covering talent cultivation, student admission and employment as well as scientific studies. Ms Choi also called on Shanghai Municipal Education Commission Director General Zhou Yaming to exchange views on various education issues and discuss ways to promote education interflow and co-operation between Shanghai and Hong Kong. The education chief also visited the headquarters of Xiaohongshu to understand the development of social media platforms on the Mainland. She then met Hong Kong-Shanghai Youth Association representatives and Hong Kong youngsters at the Hong Kong Economic & Trade Office in Shanghai to learn about their development in Shanghai. She encouraged Hong Kong youths to grasp the development opportunities brought about by the National 14th Five-Year Plan and better integrate into the overall development of the country, thereby becoming the future pillars of the country and Hong Kong. Yesterday, Ms Choi toured Jiguan Kindergarten and Lingfeng Center Kindergarten in Anji, Zhejiang. Both kindergartens have put into practice the pedagogy of Anji Play for early childhood education by designing the campus environment and facilities based on the needs of children, thereby allowing them to learn through playing. She also observed the practice of Anji Play, chatted to local principals and teachers, and listened to their vision and practical experience in early childhood education. This story has been published on: 2023-04-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Buyers participating in Canton Fair increase 10 times over past 60 years Ecns.cn) 09:28, April 13, 2023 The 133rd Canton Fair is scheduled to open on April 15, 2023. Photo/China News Service (ECNS) -- The China Import and Export Fair, also known as the Canton Fair, has attracted buyers to Guangdong Province from over 220 countries and regions this year, more than ten times that of 60 odd years ago. About 200 members of the Malaysia-China Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) will attend the Canton Fair this year. Malaysian entrepreneurs believe that it brings together the best enterprises and products in China and provides participants with incomparable resources and business opportunities, said MCCC president Loo Kok Seong. Malaysian entrepreneurs are fully prepared for the fair every year, Loo added. A total of 27 leading multinational corporations from the United States, France, Germany, Japan, United Arab Emirates, and other countries have confirmed participation in this years Canton Fair. Guangdong is a pillar of Chinese foreign trade. Official data shows that in the first quarter of 2023, its import and export volumes of the province reached 1.84 trillion yuan (about $267.16 billion), up 0.6 percent year-on-year, of which export volume was 1.14 trillion yuan, up 2.2 percent year-on-year. Foreign businessmen are optimistic about the future development prospects of China. According to a report released by the American Chamber of Commerce in South China (AmCham South China) at the beginning of this year, 75 percent of the enterprises surveyed plan to increase investment in China in the next three to five years to expand their existing business and meet customer needs. Harley Seyedin, president of the AmCham South China, said the Canton Fair is an important bridge for Sino-U.S. trade. "Every year, the Canton Fair provides buyers and sellers from all over the world with various kinds of commodities with the best quality, allowing buyers from America to find suitable goods covered by their business and market outlets here as well, said Seyedin. The AmCham South China formally established a cooperative relationship with China Foreign Trade Center (CFTC) in 2021. We will continue to work closely with the CFTC to promote more American enterprises to participate in the fair, he added. Xie Baojian, a professor with Jinan University, said the Canton Fair is a significant international platform to enlarge business and trade networks, trade partners, and trade entities. He said Chinese and overseas enterprises can learn about each others products, markets, cultural differences, market demands, and business modes, which is beneficial for enterprises to enter in some emerging markets. Xie also believes that the Canton Fair should adopt a normalization mechanism, which means activities of different themes should be held in different periods, creating a Canton Fair that never stops responding to uncertainties in the world economy. Sun Bo from the Guangdong University of Foreign Studies said the Canton Fair needs to further promote digital transformation, establish a digital trading platform and provide more comprehensive and customized services. The 133rd Canton Fair is scheduled to open on April 15. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) NATICK The woman who was assaulted three years ago by former Natick police Sgt. James Quilty while she was a dispatcher in town has filed a nearly $1.2 million civil suit against Quilty, the town and Ashland Police Chief Cara Rossi, who was a Natick police lieutenant at the time of the sexual assault. The lawsuit was filed March 24 in Norfolk County Superior Court in Dedham. While the assaults occurred in Natick, which is in Middlesex County, the victim lives in Norfolk County. The Daily News is not identifying the woman because she is the victim of a sexual assault. The lawsuit alleges sexual harassment; having a hostile workplace based on gender; gender discrimination; retaliation; aiding and abetting in discriminatory practices and coercion; intimidation; threats; and interference with the right to be free from discrimination. Guilty plea: Natick police sergeant admits to three counts of indecent assault, battery Quilty pleaded guilty in December to three counts of indecent assault and battery. He resigned from the department days later, just as the Select Board was scheduled to have a hearing to terminate him. Former Natick police Sgt. James Quilty, left, is among those named in a nearly $1.2 million civil suit against the town. The assaults occurred on April 12, 2020, which was Easter Sunday. According to Middlesex Superior Court records, Quilty, the victim and several other officers had gathered in a parking lot on West Central Street a little after 8 a.m. to have some drinks after working the overnight shift. During the get-together, Quilty groped and kissed the woman, despite her telling him no, according to court documents. The report also said that when she then tried to leave, Quilty went to stop her, pulled up his shirt and forced her hand onto him over his pants. Victim feared losing her job According to the lawsuit, the woman did not report the incident initially because she was afraid she would lose her job. But for three months afterward, Quilty repeatedly texted her, seeking a relationship, according to the lawsuit. At one point, Quilty allegedly told the victim he had a "temper," and at another, when she was alone in the dispatch room, he allegedly showed her a photo of his new handgun and ammunition. Story continues Special meeting: Select Board will convene to discuss future of Natick police Sgt. James Quilty The lawsuit alleges that when Rossi, who was head of internal investigations, first spoke to the victim, the victim felt the lieutenant was intimidating her into not making a formal complaint against Quilty. Police began a formal investigation in July 2020, and the victim took an unpaid leave of absence. She has not returned. Seeking nearly $1.2 million in lawsuit The victim is seeking a judgment of $1.179 million. That includes $85,000 in lost wages, another $64,000 in future lost wages and $30,000 in future medical expenses. The remaining amount $1 million is for emotional distress, punitive damages and attorney fees and costs. Natick Town Manager Jamie Errickson declined to comment, citing the case's status as an ongoing legal matter. Rossi also declined to comment. Quilty and lawyers for the victim could not be reached for comment. Norman Miller can be reached at 508-626-3823 or nmiller@wickedlocal.com. For up-to-date public safety news, follow him on Twitter @Norman_MillerMW or on Facebook at facebook.com/NormanMillerCrime. This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Victim in Natick police sex assault files $1.2 million lawsuit Bytedance is pushing a new social media app in the US, Lemon8, as it deals with calls for a TikTok ban. Jonathan Raa/NurPhoto via Getty Images Amid talk of a TikTok ban, its Chinese parent company ByteDance is pushing a new app in the US called Lemon8. Lemon8 uses the same coveted algorithm as TikTok, and is looking to replicate its success. The early success of Lemon8 shows how banning TikTok wouldn't actually solve anything, experts say. As calls for a national TikTok ban escalate, its China-based parent company ByteDance is pushing a new app in the US called Lemon8. Lemon8, described as something of a hybrid of Instagram and Pinterest, uses TikTok's famous recommendation algorithm to deliver users content around fashion, beauty, food, and travel. And it's quickly found some success with American users: It was briefly in the top 10 free apps on Apple's App Store around its launch at the end of March, and remains in the top 50 to this day. Because Lemon8 is powered by the same underlying technology as TikTok, and owned by the same Chinese company, it should theoretically be subject to the same concerns around potential privacy and national security risks as its better-known older sibling. Which is to say that even if TikTok gets banned, Lemon8 will likely keep standing. It's reflective of ByteDance's strategy of focusing on growing its US customer base, experts say. Even if TikTok gets banned, ByteDance is showing that it's willing and able to keep introducing new apps to keep growing. In fact, beyond TikTok and Lemon8, ByteDance has another success in its US portfolio: CapCut, a video-editing app. "This is a huge business for ByteDance. They're not gonna go down without swinging," David Glancy, a professor at the Institute of World Politics, told Insider. Banning TikTok wouldn't stop China's influence on US tech Lemon8's rise illustrates how difficult it would be to totally unwind the influence that Chinese companies now have in the American market. TikTok very much paved the way, as online retailers Temu and Shein have followed in its footsteps, reaching the top of Apple's App Store. Story continues "We're seeing the TikTok playbook, applied elsewhere," said Mark Shmulik, an analyst with Bernstein. For Lemon8, ByteDance is pushing hard to get creators on the new app. The Chinese tech giant is paying creators to post on Lemon8, and is hiring a creator partnerships team in New York as it looks to expand, Insider previously reported. For TikTok, however, the future is less clear. The Biden administration has ordered ByteDance to sell TikTok's US business to an American company, or else get banned in the country entirely. Meanwhile, bills like the RESTRICT Act are being considered in Congress, which would ban TikTok and other social media apps from countries deemed to pose national security concerns. The RESTRICT act, if passed, would likely apply to both TikTok and Lemon8 but likely not ByteDance's other app, CapCut, which is considered a productivity app, not social media. ByteDance would retain some power and influence in the US. Similarly, it's unclear if it would affect touch Temu or Shein, given that they're both owned by corporations with deep ties to China. Temu is owned by PDD Holdings, which also owns Pinduoduo, a social commerce platform in China. Shein was founded in China and is now headquartered in Singapore. In a few years time, they could disrupt Amazon's dominance in ecommerce the same way TikTok is disrupting Facebook and Instagram, Shmulik said. That would mean the conversation around those two apps would be at exactly the same place we are around TikTok today. And on the flip side, Glancy warns that you would need dangerously broad legislation to ban all apps that come out of China. Some legislators and civil rights groups on both sides of the aisle worry that the RESTRICT act itself gives the Executive Branch too much power. In other words, there doesn't seem to be an elegant solution that would actual curtail the perceived risks of all of these China-linked apps without going overboard, experts said. "This proliferation of this many apps may complicate the legislative strategy," Glancy said. Read the original article on Business Insider Travelers from around the world are facing long wait times to apply for visitor visas to the United States. (Thomas Fuchs/The New York Times) Every wedding comes with a flurry of last-minute arrangements, but Sunil Dhar has an unusual task on his to-do list when his younger son gets married this June: make sure everyone is in the right country. The Dhars are from the San Francisco Bay Area. But the wedding is set to take place nearly a thousand miles north in Blaine, Washington, near the Peace Arch, a monument along the border of the United States and Canada with a park that extends into both countries. The park is considered a neutral zone, where people from both countries can mingle without going through immigration checkpoints. Its the only way the brides parents, who live in Delhi, can attend. They would need visitor visas to enter the United States, and the wait time in India to apply for these visas is nearly a year. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times So the wedding will take place in the southern half of the park in Washington in a rentable building called the American Kitchen. The brides parents and other family members, who already have Canadian visas, will enter the park from the northern half in British Columbia. The parking lot on the U.S. side is as far south as they can go without having to show IDs and immigration documents. Dhar, 65, said he did not want to see a repeat of the visa-related absences during his elder sons wedding last year in the Bay Area especially when it comes to his future daughter-in-laws family. This is a memory that lasts a lifetime, Dhar said. And I wouldnt want her to not have her parents there at her wedding. It isnt just India. Travelers from around the world are facing long wait times to apply for visitor visas to the United States. Applicants from Brazil and Mexico must wait more than a year. In Colombia, the wait stretches into 2025. The delays are taking an emotional toll on families. Many immigrants are not sure when they will see their aging parents. Celebrations have been postponed because loved ones are unable to come to the United States. Story continues Still Struggling to Catch Up U.S. citizens can travel to more than 100 countries without a visa. But billions of people around the world who arent citizens of one of the 40 countries in the U.S. visa waiver program must first apply before they can visit the United States. This document, called a B1/B2 visa, is typically granted for personal or business trips, and usually requires an in-person appointment at a U.S. embassy or consulate to submit digital photographs and fingerprints, and be interviewed. At this interview, applicants are required to demonstrate proof that they have strong ties and intend to return to their home countries and have legitimate reasons to come to the United States. This step is where the bottleneck has formed. In 2020, U.S. consular offices around the world shut their operations and stopped processing applications as the coronavirus spread. When applications began rolling in again, officials found themselves swamped. There was an enormous backlog that was created through the two years that the posts around the world were closed, said Annelise Araujo, an immigration lawyer and a former chair of the American Immigration Lawyers Associations New England chapter. And I think that they dont have enough resources to catch up. At the same time, within the United States, a similar pandemic-linked crush of passport applications has overwhelmed understaffed passport centers, leading to 10- to 13-week delays for new passports and renewals. The State Department said it aimed to get to prepandemic staffing levels at U.S. visa offices abroad by the end of September. Even before the pandemic, countries like Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, India were our biggest operations in the world. So weve surged staffing to those locations, Julie M. Stufft, deputy assistant secretary for visa services, said in an interview. We issued more of these tourist visas last year in places like Mexico and Brazil than we did before the pandemic. This year, that will be true for India. Stufft said the department would also start a pilot program this fall to allow certain work visa renewals within the United States allowing some applicants to avoid the time-consuming and expensive need to leave the United States to reapply. This program, she said, will help reduce the workload of visa officers abroad: We can take that work off their hands so they can see more first-time B1/B2 applicants. The department has also waived the interview requirement for those who had a visa in the past two years, a solution Stufft said was the preferred way to mitigate wait times over options such as doing interviews over video. All other applicants still require an interview. A Keep Out Sign for Foreign Tourists While domestic travel is starting to return to prepandemic levels, international visitor numbers are still lagging. International arrivals into the United States in 2022 continued to be down nearly 40% from prepandemic levels, according to data from the National Travel and Tourism Office, a part of the Department of Commerce. Brazil, India, Mexico and Colombia where applicants are currently experiencing the worst delays are among the top sources of international visitors to the United States, according to National Travel and Tourism Office data. More than 2.4 million visitor visas were granted to citizens of these four nations in fiscal 2019, the last year of prepandemic travel, State Department data shows. International visitors contributed $239 billion to the U.S. travel economy before the pandemic. This fell to $83 billion in 2021, according to the latest available data from the National Travel and Tourism Office. The travel industry is pushing the administration to do more about the backlog. We have people that want to come and spend their money here and were basically putting in front of them a Keep Out sign. Were basically saying America is closed for business to these travelers. And that is remarkably detrimental and shortsighted, said Geoff Freeman, head of the U.S. Travel Association, a trade group. Congress has also gotten involved. A bipartisan group of six senators wrote a letter in February to the Bureau of Consular Affairs, asking it to address the issue of visa delays. While more visitors from across the country are coming to Nevada and helping our tourism industry bounce back, international visitation numbers continue to lag behind pre-COVID levels. We have more work to do to bring back international tourists, said Sen. Jacky Rosen, D-Nev., who heads the Senate tourism subcommittee and was one of the lawmakers who signed the letter. Rosens state is home to the annual CES tech show, in Las Vegas, where technology and consumer electronics companies showcase cutting-edge innovations. More than a third of the nearly 119,000 attendees at CES this January were from foreign countries, with about 2,700 of them from countries experiencing visa delays, according to data provided by the shows organizer, the Consumer Technology Association. At least some exhibitors could not make it to CES because of visa delays, said Gary Shapiro, the associations chief executive. Bruno Da Costa heads Global Leaders Experience, a Brazilian company that runs an experience program for C-suite executives. On each of two to three trips to the United States the program runs each year, 40 to 50 executives visit companies, attend networking events and explore cities in their free time. Normally, participants wait for an upcoming trip usually in the next few months if they are unable to get a visa on time. With the long wait times, Da Costa is rethinking his strategy. If the border is getting closed, we need to adapt and we need to redirect our participants to a different country, Da Costa said. He is sending the next group of executives to Israel and Dubai, United Arab Emirates. c.2023 The New York Times Company I visited Branch Brook Park in Newark, New Jersey, during its spring Cherry Blossom Festival. The park has around 5,200 Japanese cherry trees, compared to around 3,800 in Washington DC. The cherry blossoms were breathtaking, and the park was busy but not too crowded. On Saturday, I visited the Essex County Cherry Blossom Festival in Branch Brook Park, the largest public park in Newark, New Jersey. Amanda walks a path between Japanese cherry trees at Branch Brook Park. Amanda Paule Branch Brook Park spans about 360 acres from Newark's North Ward up to the southern portion of Belleville. A map shows the primary areas of Branch Brook Park where you can find the groves of cherry-blossom trees. Amanda Paule/Google Maps Locals started the Cherry Blossom Festival in 1976, and Branch Brook Park has been listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1981. A sign marks the entrance to the historic Forest Hill neighborhood of Newark. Amanda Paule Source: Branch Brook Park Alliance As a Jersey native, I was surprised I'd never heard of Branch Brook and its 5,200 cherry-blossom trees that's more than any other park in the US. Cherry blossoms surround the lake on the southern side of the park. Amanda Paule Source: Travel + Leisure The trees arrived in 1927 when local philanthropist Caroline Bamberger Fuld returned from a trip to Japan and donated more than 2,000 of them to the park. Cherry blossoms can be several shades of white and pink. Amanda Paule Source: Patch, NJ.com This festival sees only a fraction of the visitors that flock to DC this time of year about 100,000 attendees compared to DC's 1.6 million. Visitors walk the path near the lake and pause to take photos. Amanda Paule Source: Jersey's Best, Washington Post The park now has 18 varieties of the Japanese cherry tree, with blooms ranging in hue from white to bright pink. Visitors snap photos of cherry blossoms overhead. Amanda Paule Source: Branch Brook Park Alliance To start my visit, I found parking along the street near the under-construction Cherry Blossom Welcome Center (set to open fall 2023). Parked cars line the road under a Cherry Blossom Festival banner. Amanda Paule The park is open from dawn until 10 p.m. each day, but I arrived at 10 a.m. after driving from South Jersey. A visitor walks next to a cherry-blossom tree. Amanda Paule The views were gorgeous, and the paths were perfect for a romantic stroll or a day trip with family and friends. Two visitors kiss under the bough of a vibrant-pink flowering tree. Amanda Paule There was plenty of space on paths and in open fields for gazing at the blossoms and posing for photos. Two visitors pose as someone takes their photo near a large tree. Amanda Paule I saw photographers snapping pictures for maternity photoshoots, family portraits, and a quinceanera. A woman poses for a maternity photoshoot. Amanda Paule Most of the trees are planted in the southernmost and northernmost sections of the park, so I walked 45 minutes along a path between the two areas. Story continues An unpaved trail connects with a paved path that runs between the northern and southern portions of the park. Amanda Paule I saw dozens of people walking cute dogs along the way. A couple walks their dog under the Park Avenue overpass near the park's southern cherry-blossom grove. Amanda Paule Several groups had laid out picnic blankets throughout the park, including a few near Newark's Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart. Visitors picnic on a grassy slope under the blossoms. Amanda Paule Near the lake, a group was playing traditional Japanese music and dancing with parasols. A group dances with multicolored parasols. Amanda Paule And a massive crowd had assembled for a community Easter egg hunt. A crowd gathers in the park's Concert Grove. Amanda Paule On certain days during the two-week festival, the park hosts events like Japanese cultural performances, a 10k run, and a bike race. A group lines up while performing a choreographed dance with Japanese parasols. Amanda Paule A few visitors were fishing on the lake. Two visitors use fishing poles on the lake. Amanda Paule Calling the number on this sign brought me into a guided tour of the park. At this stop, I learned about a nearby gazebo's architecture. A sign marks a stop on the park's phone tour. Amanda Paule I especially loved the weeping cherry trees, like this one near the gazebo. Amanda takes a selfie next to a weeping cherry tree. Amanda Paule I ended the afternoon with a treat from a nearby ice-cream truck. A crowd waits in line for ice cream. Amanda Paule I'll definitely be back to Branch Brook Park for next year's festival, and I'll probably visit throughout the year to walk along the trails or find a green space to read. Amanda ends the day walking along a path surrounded by cherry blossoms. Amanda Paule Read the original article on Insider Putin - GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/Shutterstock The precise veracity of the large cache of intelligence documents that have apparently been leaked from the Pentagon might be open to question, but there can be little doubt about the negative impact that they are having on Ukraines war effort. Even if the release of the documents turns out to be part of a clever disinformation campaign by the Kremlins cyber-trolls, it could nevertheless prompt Ukraines high command to rethink its long-planned counteroffensive against Russian forces. Throughout the winter, Ukrainian troops have been undergoing rigorous training in advance of launching a new wave of attacks this spring against their Russian occupiers, aiming to make a decisive breakthrough of the Kremlins ill-equipped and deeply demoralised front lines. Preparations for the offensive have included sending large detachments of Ukrainian troops to Europe for training, with several thousand being mentored by the British Army. When the most recent consignment of Ukrainian volunteers began the long journey home from Salisbury Plain earlier this month, British troops formed a guard of honour with cries of Slava Ukraini Glory to Ukraine echoing through the ranks. Nor does the planned offensive lack ambition. There has even been talk of the Ukrainians attempting to recapture the Crimean peninsula, home to Russias Black Sea naval fleet, which was occupied and illegally annexed by the Kremlin in 2014. While senior US military officials have questioned Ukraines ability to inflict such a devastating blow on the Russians, last months drone strikes, which destroyed stocks of Russian cruise missiles in northern Crimea, suggest that the Ukrainians are deadly serious about achieving their goal. Yet, with a dozen new Ukrainian brigades said to be ready to join the fray some of them equipped with Western equipment such as Britains Challenger 2 tanks and AS-90 self-propelled artillery guns Ukrainian commanders have suddenly been forced to reassess their plans. Story continues Some of the claims made in the leaks such as the suggestion that Britain has 50 special forces operating in the war-torn country have been dismissed, in this case by the Ministry of Defence, which called it misinformation. In the murky world of counter-espionage, it is often difficult to distinguish fact from fiction, and even if the leaked material does relate to live intelligence generated by the US and its allies, there is always the possibility that it has been subjected to Russian manipulation. Nevertheless, there is a significant amount of detail that does seem to be highly plausible and while some facts may have been altered (for example Russian and Ukrainian casualty figures), US officials have acknowledged that the bulk appears to be genuine. Perhaps most alarming for Kyiv will be the evidence of the Americans somewhat downbeat opinion of Ukrainian forces ability to mount and sustain major offensive operations. The damning assessment of Ukraines air defences, for example, which are said to be in danger of being overwhelmed without significant quantities of additional weapons, is a serious concern. The Ukrainians have been warning for months that, without fresh supplies of Western warplanes, such as F-16 fighters, and missiles, they will be vulnerable to Russian attacks. Certainly, no rational Ukrainian commander will want to risk the newly constituted combat brigades without being able to provide effective air cover. The documents also seem to confirm what many of us have feared since the outset of this terrible conflict: that some Western leaders have little faith in Ukraines ability to achieve victory. One document from early February expresses misgivings about the prospects of Ukraines forthcoming counter-offensive, warning that problems with generating and sustaining sufficient forces will only result in modest territorial gains. It could be, then, that even Kyivs strongest allies believe the Ukrainian conflict is heading for a bloody stalemate. This could embolden those Western leaders who already have reservations about maintaining their support for Ukraine. This could even have an impact on their commitment to sending weaponry and other aid, which will alarm Kyiv because it has been facing crippling shortages. A lack of ammunition has recently seen some of Ukraines frontline forces being reduced to firing only two shells a day, compared with 20-30 previously. These assessments will certainly lend encouragement to Moscows forces which, while lacking the means to conduct their own offensives, have succeeded in strengthening their defences. According to the latest British military intelligence reports this week, the Russians have completed the establishment of three new lines of defensive formations along a 75-mile long stretch of the Zaporizhzhia region in eastern Ukraine to protect Crimea from attack. Irrespective of the validity of the information contained in the leaked documents, the Ukraine conflict may be nearing a watershed moment, one where, without Kyiv receiving more support from the West, there is a real risk of the war ultimately turning in Vladimir Putins favour. The Washington Senate voted Wednesday to supplant the Commercial Aviation Coordinating Commission, the state-created group whose consideration of three greenfield sites for Washingtons next major airport ignited a furor in Pierce and Thurston counties. By a 31 to 17 vote, state Senators approved Engrossed Substitute House Bill 1791. Due to minor changes, the House must concur before sending the amended bill to Gov. Jay Inslees desk for approval. Pierce County Council member Amy Cruver, who represents the district encompassing two greenfield sites in the county, wrote in a newsletter to constituents that there were no anticipated problems related to concurrence. If signed by Inslee, the legislation will go into effect immediately. The bipartisan bill, which was championed by Reps. Jake Fey, D-Tacoma, and Tom Dent, R-Moses Lake, among other lawmakers, would effectively reset a process underway since 2019 when the CACC was pegged with recommending a preferred location for the states next major airport. The CACCs mandate from legislators was prompted by existing concerns that Washington was nearing commercial flight capacity, with Seattle-Tacoma International Airport expected to max out by 2032. ESHB 1791 would replace the CACC with a work group that would be directed to broadly examine the states future aviation needs and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of an expanded list of potential airport sites. Unlike its predecessor, the work group would not be tasked with recommending any location. The bill, which is supported by anti-airport activists, would also specifically exclude from airport site consideration any location incompatible with nearby military operations. Joint Base Lewis-McChord has said that all three sites being considered by the CACC would interfere with its operations. In September, the CACCs search for a preferred place to construct a two-runway airport landed on two sites in rural Pierce County near Graham and Roy and a third in Thurston County, setting off a wave of opposition from local residents, lawmakers and others. They expressed concerns about an airports feasibility and its effect on quality of life, health, wildlife and the environment. The CACC, which last met in March but did not push any sites forward, currently has until June to advance a final site recommendation to the state. Inslees signature on ESHB 1791, which passed the House last month, would make that deadline moot. Editors note: A previous version of this story misstated the procedure for ESHB 1791 following its passage in the Senate. Ron DeSantis critics have spent weeks knocking his national political rollout, attacking his operations slow-motion pace and raising doubts about whether hes already fallen irrevocably behind Donald Trump in the 2024 GOP presidential primary. Now, even some of the Florida governors own early supporters are starting to question his strategy. In interviews with more than 20 Republican strategists, DeSantis allies and current and former elected officials, many expressed a growing anxiety about DeSantis approach, fretting that a politician who started the year with so much momentum is starting to falter before he even formally becomes a presidential candidate. Their overarching concern: The Florida Republican has already waited too long to launch, leaving him ill-prepared to defend against the former presidents bludgeoning attacks and lagging behind in the type of on-the-ground organizing critical in states with an early nominating contest. Politics is about seizing the moment his moment was in December and January and the door for the Florida governor is closing with every day that he doesnt formally launch a campaign, said Dennis Lennox, a Republican operator who helped organize a letter on behalf of Michigan state GOP lawmakers supporting DeSantis. DeSantis can win this race, but he needs to get in now. Lennox, like other Republicans interviewed for this story, remains optimistic that the governor can regain momentum, emphasizing that theres still time to right the ship at this very early stage of the primary. Other Republican strategists who remain neutral in the 2024 GOP primary offered even harsher assessments about DeSantis effort so far this year but also usually hastened to add they think he remains a strong potential candidate. The governor just needs to start accelerating his timeline, they say. If I were one of his advisers, Id be like Dude, what are you waiting for?, Mike Murphy, a Michigan sheriff and DeSantis backer, told McClatchyDC in an interview. The shots are coming regardless, whether youre a presidential candidate or in the exploratory phase or dropping hints I wouldve already announced. Story continues SLIPPING IN POLLS The frustration adds further scrutiny to the decision from DeSantis who last year won a landslide reelection victory in a once-competitive battleground state to prioritize Floridas new legislative session this winter and spring over more concerted attempts to begin laying the groundwork for a presidential campaign. And it comes at a moment when the Florida governor, overshadowed by Trumps criminal indictment and facing a steady stream of criticism from rivals, has slipped noticeably in early polls of a hypothetical GOP primary. READ MORE: All Trump: Former presidents indictment puts GOP rivals in an awkward position Former President Donald Trump interacts with his supporters for the first time at an event at his Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Florida, on Tuesday, April 4, 2023. Trump was arraigned earlier that day by a Manhattan grand jury for his alleged role in a scandal stemming from hush money payments made to the pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 U.S. presidential election. A Monmouth University national Republican primary poll tracked a 27-point swing in Trumps direction between December and March. While some surveys last fall showed DeSantis leading Trump in the kick-off caucus state of Iowa, a string of more recent data has the former president holding a single-digit lead. Just this week, the number of Florida Republican members of Congress announcing their support for Trump grew to four, after Rep. Cory Mills formally backed the former president. DeSantis has two congressional backers Rep. Chip Roy of Texas and Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky but more elected Republicans may be reluctant to climb aboard unless his trajectory improves. Day in and day out, hes going in the wrong direction, said David Urban, a longtime Republican operative who previously worked for Trump but is remaining neutral this primary. Theres a gap thats growing. So I think there is a pressure to start making more appearances in these states. Some DeSantis defenders acknowledge the frustration even as they insist the governor remains on track if and when he decides to run for president. READ MORE: Total and complete disaster: DeSantis takes rhetorical aim at Fed Chairman Powell Im not surprised to hear that because just from my own experience, people who supported me, they want their guy to be out there swinging, and they dont like seeing him with his hands tied behind his back while hes getting punched, said Lou Barletta, a former congressman from Pennsylvania who has publicly urged DeSantis to run for president. As a supporter, they think you need to fight. But the governor, Barletta added, has said hell wait until the legislative session ends before he decides whether to run for president a decision the former lawmaker, once an ardent Trump supporter, says is evidence of why he likes the governor in the first place. Its refreshing to see someone who cares about governing but doesnt care about getting elected to the next office first. And thats what makes DeSantis different, Barletta said. The fact hes not listening to other people makes me like him even more. Other Republican supporters dismissed the criticism as a product of over-eager gadflys and unrepresentative of the broader GOP electorate. My constituents in Northern Kentucky near Cincinnati and in the rural and suburban areas along the Ohio River dont pay attention to the political chattering class, said Massie, who issued a statement through a super PAC backing DeSantis, Never Back Down. The folks I represent are more concerned about the disaster the Biden administration has created. They see a fighter in Governor DeSantis who can put this country back on its feet with conservative principles. A DeSantis official declined to comment for this story. DeSantis has said he will make a decision about his political future after Floridas legislative session, which is expected to end sometime next month. Theres also the hovering question of whether DeSantis is waiting for the Legislature to change state law to permit him to remain governor as he pursues the White House. In the meantime, he has embarked on a nationwide book tour that has taken him to several key political backgrounds, including Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan. He is scheduled to visit Ohio and New Hampshire this week and South Carolina the week after. EARLY STATE INFRASTRUCTURE Anxiety about DeSantis political approach falls into two categories: That the governor appears unready to push back against relentless criticism from Trump, who has already unleashed a fury of sometimes baseless attacks, and that he has yet to start building an early state infrastructure. RELATED CONTENT: Staff calls and puppies: DeSantis lays low on day Trump is arraigned While there are a lot of things that can be done by entities besides the campaign, there is no substitute for the candidate himself, said Lennox, the GOP consultant from Michigan. DeSantis-supporting Republicans are getting frustrated because their entreaties are going unanswered. Some have literally flown down to Florida in the hopes of getting a response from someone. The problem isnt simply that the governors political operation has a light presence in states with an early nominating contest, including Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina, according to five political operatives interviewed by McClatchyDC. They say the political operation lacks even a single point of contact in many states, leaving many would-be supporters, including donors and political operatives, unable to help and scratching their heads about the state of what they expected to be a major presidential campaign in waiting. TUNE IN: Latest Episode of the Miami Herald Editorial Board Podcast Woke Wars Theres some frustration among potential supporters about DeSantis presence in the Palmetto State, acknowledged Republican state Sen. Josh Kimbrell, who is hosting an event with the governor in South Carolina next week as part of his book tour. Kimbrell said he thinks the states Republican voters remain excited about the governor and pointed to his coming appearance in the state as proof that hes doing the necessary work to prepare for a possible campaign. It should be the first trip of many, the state senator added. He needs to understand you gotta come down here, press the flesh, go to the diners, go to the party events, and make sure people see you and like you, Kimbrell said. Hes going to have to spend some time here. In New Hampshire, where DeSantis is set to appear Friday night, a tussle between the state party and DeSantis team over the installation of metal detectors left a sour taste in the mouth of some locals due to the cost. Theres a lot of carping, said Dave Carney, a longtime Granite State consultant. A couple of weeks ago they were very disappointed in the turnout [for tickets.] Another GOP operative in the Granite State said that although interest in the Florida Republican remains high, many of his supporters have become antsy in recent weeks, eager for him to start more explicitly laying the groundwork for a campaign. Building on-the-ground infrastructure, of course, isnt the only way to prepare for a campaign. Never Back Down, the super PAC backing DeSantis, already raised $30 million in its first three weeks of existence. The super PAC has also started raising money, subject to Federal Election Commission regulations, that it could transfer to DeSantis presidential campaign account should he decide to run for president, according to an official from the group. Fundraising accounts controlled by the governor show he has more than $80 million on hand. TRUMP CRITICISM Never Back Down will begin running its first nationwide TV ad backing DeSantis on Monday, a source with the group confirmed Thursday. The super PAC is putting more than $1 million behind the spot. But Trump-aligned super PAC Make America Great Again Inc. started specifically targeting the governor two weeks ago, running an ad criticizing the governor over entitlement programs like Social Security and Medicare. Its part of a broader challenge facing DeSantis, who has dealt with a barrage of attacks from the former president and his allies in recent months. The governor has, by and large, ignored the criticisms, saying he is focused on governing Florida and delivering conservative policy victories. But the attacks have nonetheless prompted an open debate among some DeSantis supporters about whether the governor or his allies should respond more forcefully. State Rep. Phil Green, one of DeSantis Michigan endorsers, acknowledged that while the governor has sustained a polling hit from Trumps frontal attacks, the loss is marginal and recoverable. Theres an ebb and a flow and an up and a down. You would expect when the attack ads start, he would lose some support, lose some momentum, Green said. But he added that the clash with Trump would be a furious battle that surrogates like himself were unequipped to handle. The only person who can stand up to attacks and address the attacks is the candidate, Green added. Even as hes attacked by Trump, however, DeSantis has also dealt with criticism from other rivals, including former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley. A memo from the Haley campaign released this week, citing his responses to questions about the Russia-Ukraine war, declared that the Florida governor had made one misstep after another and was not ready for prime time. Erin Perrine, spokeswoman for Never Back Down, said in a statement that the focus on DeSantis from other candidates shows they know he has the strongest potential to beat Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The Never Back Down movement continues to grow in support for Governor DeSantis to become President DeSantis, Perrine said. We clearly have a field of announced Republican candidates who are worried about the potential of Governor DeSantis entering the race, and they should be. Michael Caputo, a former Trump aide based in Florida, said the developments over the last month have left him wondering for the first time if DeSantis will actually pull the trigger. The governor has got to know this race will now be a much rougher ride, not the one he had considered, Caputo said. Before [Trumps] arrest Id have said its absolutely certain Gov. DeSantis will get in the race. Now Im not so sure. Dave Wilson, a GOP strategist in South Carolina unaffiliated with any campaign, said he understood why DeSantis has started the year the way he has, but it has started to frustrate some Republicans nonetheless. If you live in the world of politics, you understand why Ron DeSantis has had to focus on the legislative session in Florida, Wilson said. He is still governor of the state and has to do the responsibility of governing a very important state in the union. Wilson added: At the same time, people in the other 49 states are wondering when are you going to kick off this anticipated campaign? And that part has lingered for what feels like just a little too long. UPDATE: This story has been updated to include a statement from Walgreens. A Walgreens employee accused of shooting a pregnant woman in Tennessee said he thought she was shoplifting and acted in self-defense, Nashville police said. The Walgreens team leader, a 21-year-old man, told police that another employee informed him they saw two women stealing items from the shelves in the East Nashville store around 8 p.m on April 12, according to a Metropolitan Nashville Police Department news release on April 13. The team leader said he saw the women putting items in a store cart and in a large over-the-shoulder purse, police said. Police said the team leader started recording the women using his cellphone and followed them out into the parking lot after he said they left the store without paying. He followed the women to their car and saw them putting items into their trunk, according to the news release. Then, the team leader told police one of the women pulled out a can of mace and began spraying him. The employee told investigators he was in fear and he wasnt sure if the women were armed, so he pulled out a gun and opened fire, hitting one of the women, according to police. The 34-year-old woman was seven months pregnant, according to Nashville police, and was taken to a hospital by the other woman she was with. The other woman dropped off the pregnant woman and then drove away, police said. The pregnant woman had multiple gunshot wounds, and doctors had to perform an emergency cesarean section, according to the news release. The child did not have any gunshot injuries, but the baby and the mother were listed in critical but stable condition, according to police. The team leader said he acted in self-defense and is cooperating with the Metropolitan Nashville Police Department, according to police. He handed over his gun and cellphone, the news release said. The safety of our patients, customers and team members is our top priority, and violence of any kind will not be tolerated at our stores. We take this matter seriously and are cooperating with local authorities, Walgreens said in an emailed statement to McClatchy News. Story continues The district attorneys office will determine if charges will be filed against the Walgreens employee once the investigation has finished, according to police. Mom stabs her son when fight about cleaning a dirty dish escalates, Tennessee cops say 28-year-old killed after he was shoved onto train tracks and electrocuted, MD cops say Truck carrying $750,000 in dimes robbed in Walmart parking lot, Pennsylvania cops say Firefighter training exercise turns into water rescue for a bald eagle, video shows Hilton Head Island is a sports mecca for those who maintain a healthy lifestyle and spend most of their time outdoors. Each year, millions of vacationers visit the island who long to spend their time on the beach, golfing, playing tennis, kayaking and fishing. Hilton Heads fishing opportunities have even been nationally ranked as one of the best. Anglers in the area have ample options for fishing, with some of the best fishing being for redfish, flounder, red snapper, cobia, bass, tarpon, sheepshead, sea trout and several different shark species. However, guests should be aware of their surroundings while fishing in lakes, ponds or lagoons in the area as alligators are beginning to be more active due to their imminent breeding season. Before fishing in South Carolina, its important to obtain a fishing license from the state. Children under 16 years old are not required to purchase a hunting or fishing license unless they are engaged in commercial activity or using any non-game fish devices. For all others, license pricing is based on where you live. For more information on obtaining a license, visit https://www.dnr.sc.gov/purchase.html. Saltwater fishing can be tricky if you dont have a boat or if you dont always want to spend money on gas. If this sounds familiar, here are four public access fishing locales on Hilton Head Island. Charles C. Haigh, Jr. Fishing Pier The Charles C. Haigh Fishing Pier is free to use and provides those wanting to fish with a spot to go deep saltwater fishing without the need of a boat. In addition to free access, the pier also has free parking and anglers can enjoy this spot all year long. This fishing locale is located at 2 William Hilton Parkway across Highway 278 from Pinckney Island. Matthew Moore, age 6, of Ripley, W.Va., eyes a baby sand shark caught by Bettie Caballe of Pittsburgh Wednesday afternoon at the C. C. Haigh, Jr. Landing on Pinckney Island. Moore and his family were searching the pier for shells, crabs and sharks teeth. Caballe let them get a close look at the shark before tossing it back. Pinckney Island Fishing Pier The Pinckney Island Fishing Pier gives those who fish in this spot year-round saltwater fishing access on Pinckney Island to a wide variety of different fish species. As a reminder, a South Carolina saltwater fishing license is required to fish at this pier. Freshwater fishing is prohibited on Pinckney Island. However saltwater fishing is allowed in the waters surrounding the refuge. Story continues Jarvis Creek Park Jarvis Creek Park can be found off of William Hilton Parkway at 100 Jarvis Park Road and includes a fishing pier, large pond, picnic pavilions, free parking, restrooms, playground, a walking trail and workout stations. The parks fishing dock allows for those who fish there ample opportunity to catch and release several largemouth bass, which may provide a great spot to teach younger kids to fish. The parks hours include Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. until 9 p.m. and then Monday through Sunday from 6 a.m. until 6 p.m. once daylight saving time has ended. Hilton Head Islander Celeste Iannazzo helps her son Rocco, 5, untangle the line on his new pole while fishing from the dock at Jarvis Creek Park on Monday. We didnt catch any fish, but we caught a turtle, said Celeste of the after-school outing. Palmetto Dunes Lagoons The Palmetto Dunes Resort lagoon system is open for everyone to fish and is full of many varieties of fish. These lagoons serve as a nursery to several saltwater fish species, which include giant redfish, trout, bluefish, black drum, flounder and tarpon. Fishing in these lagoons offers a way to wind down as you fish the calm waters throughout the private neighborhood and resort community of Palmetto Dunes. Photo Illustration by Erin O'Flynn/The Daily Beast/Getty Images Political innovators are a free societys tragedy. Their good intentions lead them to seek to fix problems in the electoral and the economic systems, under the guise of good government and harm-prevention. But in advocating for change, theyre creating new dangers. In pursuit of fixing relatively small problems, they too often both enlarge the existing problems and add new onesthen come back with more reforms to fix the problems they have created, rather than undoing the previous ones. Take our polarized electoral politics. An innovative solution gaining popularity is ranked-choice elections. This system puts several candidates of all parties on the same ballot and, at best, disincentivizes candidates from nasty attacks and leads to centrism and moderation. New York City and Alaska implemented this model, and the results were the triumphs of Eric Adams (running on a centrist platform) and the re-election of temperamentally moderate Sen. Lisa Murkowski. An added benefit was the defeat of Sarah Palin to centrist Democrat Mary Peltola. COVID Proved Were Unprepared to Handle Chinas Dictatorship But there could be a troubling outcome as well: The two parties (which already lack any substance beyond their brands) could become entirely meaningless. Considering the current states of our two parties, this might sound like a desirable result, but it will be the first time that a modern democracy would operate without parties, and whether a democracy can survive this proposition remains to be seen. Its always possible that the parties will find new clever ways to live on. This too is worrying, as one must never welcome cleverness from political parties whose only virtue is cynicism in pursuit of victory. New York City mayoral candidate Eric Adams speaks during his election night party at Schimanski on June 22, 2021 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images It is troubling that the innovators looking to solve our problemselectoral, economic, and societalseldom pause to investigate their roots. Intellectual laziness is a probable cause. Another explanation is that they will come to realize that the mess is in large part their own fault, and that the answer might lie not in more innovation, but undoing previous reforms. Story continues What makes American democracy unique in a bad way is that its two parties have no power over their candidates and nominees and are reduced almost entirely to brand names. Imagine this scenario: A self-proclaimed fascist declares candidacy as a Republican, and a Stalinist as a Democrat. The parties will have little but prayers to stop them, as its all up to the partys voters to determine who gets to be the nominee. The two parties also have no immunity from external interference, and one can look at the large number of former Democrats who voted for Donald Trump in the 2016 primariesor Rush Limbaughs botched 2008 Operation Chaos to prolong the Democratic primary raceto see this vulnerability. Democrats successfully exploited this problem by disgracefully promoting pro-insurrection Republicans during the 2022 midterm elections, most of whom won the Republican nomination and lost in the general election. Blame the political innovators and good government reformers. Primaries are only decades old, a relatively new system to enable partisan voters over the party elders and political machines as the dominant voices in deciding who gets to be their parties nominees. Later, other reformers tried to get rid of money in politics. The former policy ignored James Madisons warnings against the passions of the masses, so now the most passionateand often unreasonabledecide who gets to be on the ballot in November. The latter failed to get rid of money in politics, but it got rid of a lot of the money in parties, hence elevating outside advocacy groups, Super PACs, and grifters over the parties in controlling candidates. Further, shrewd backroom dealmaking is a necessary skill for those interested in governing, and it used to be a necessary skill to get elected, too. This consistency meant that successful campaigning was a test for how well one could govern, but the new electoral system has removed this test, which explains why so many members of Congress are so bad at legislating. Another explanation is congressional transparency reforms. They were meant to allow constituents to hold their representatives accountable for their conducts. What few foresaw was that only the politically obsessed pay sufficient attention to hold their representatives accountable, and the fear of the wrath of activists and primary voters has meant that members of Congress opt to do nothing so they can get re-elected. Today, little happens in Congress, and whatever legislation thats to actually be passed is decided at the last minute at the offices of congressional leadersleaving the other 500 members with practically no use. These particular reforms that were meant to better represent democracy are, in fact, destroying it. Why Are Democrats Making It Harder to Hire Child Care Workers? Not all reform is bad, though. The Constitution was an extraordinary product of reform to establish a more perfect Union. It didnt create an absolutely perfect Union, because the flaw in human design means that there is no perfect political system. And so long that these imperfections exist, reform will remain popular. Nowhere in its history has the United States lacked its share of imperfections. Today, many perceive polarization to be the most urgent onerightly so in all likelihood. Political parties frequently end up with nominees who are the most extreme in their words and absolutist in their demands. The information structure adds to this challenge. The incentives of candidates largely correspond to the often-extreme demands of party activists, leading them to run against two parties: the opposition and their own. So there is no question that change is needed, or we are all doomed. But it is troubling that the reformist class trying to clean its own mess is still advocating for forward-thinking solutions. Lets examine backwards-looking solutions for once! There is another reform movement trending in different states, and it has a lot to teach us. Over decades, occupational licensing laws have piled up across the country, spurred by advocates who meant well, trying to ensure customers were being served by well-trained technicians of various professions. But as a result, in many states it costs thousands of dollars to become a barber, florist, or a real estate agent. A few customers are better off for it, but many unemployed workers are not, and all customers are paying much higher prices for services. Old-School Censorship Only Makes the Misinformation Crisis Worse There is a concerted movement to reform occupational licensing overreach, getting rid of some of these unnecessary obstacles to the job market and allowing poor and lower-middle-class Americans to find work much easier. But the irony is that this reform movement is the opposite of what it is called: It is an un-reform movement, going back in time to correct a previous reform that did more harm than good. Some reforms do net goodagain, the U.S. Constitution comes to mind, as well as the Bill of Rights, Reconstruction amendments, womens suffrage, and the Civil Rights Act. Even the great conservative Edmund Burke conceded the occasional need for change. But the law of unintended consequences dictates that most fail to fix the problems they address and, instead, result in exacerbating them and adding new ones. An English jurist once mocked, Reform! Reform! Arent things bad enough already? Innovators should keep in mind that most innovations fail and become forgotten. What makes political innovations so dangerous is that they usually stayeven if they fail. For reformism to succeed, it must always consider un-reform first as a solution; rather than considering that new problems are the results of new technologies and cultural trends, reformers must ask whether policy changes are to blame. So take this as a plea to our innovator that they will do us more good by considering turning the clock back often, instead of coming up with great new ideas. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get the Daily Beast's biggest scoops and scandals delivered right to your inbox. Sign up now. Stay informed and gain unlimited access to the Daily Beast's unmatched reporting. Subscribe now. Russia's war against Ukraine is expected to continue in 2024, with both sides refusing to negotiate despite neither of them achieving a decisive victory, according to an alleged U.S. intelligence assessment leaked online and obtained by the Washington Post. The highly confidential document purportedly suggests that even if Ukraine regains a "significant" amount of territories and inflicts "unsustainable losses on Russian forces," which U.S. intelligence considers unlikely, the country's gains would not lead to peace talks. "Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely during 2023 in all considered scenarios," reads the document, cited by the publication. The U.S. intel assessment also predicts that the year will end with only "marginal" territorial gains for both sides due to "insufficient troops and supplies for effective operations," according to the Washington Post. The document describes such a stalemate as "the most likely scenario" but also analyses possible outcomes of Russia or Ukraine gaining a "decisive advantage" on the battlefield. U.S. officials have warned that such analysis on the war in Ukraine is fluid, and the leaked material may not contain the details the U.S. has gathered in the days since it was produced, reads the report. According to the leaked document, the alleged stalemate in Russia's war may not be actualized if there are "substantive improvements to Ukrainian or Russian military capabilities." The document obtained by the Washington Post is part of a larger classified U.S. military and intelligence files leak that first appeared on the social media network Discord. Following the leak, the Pentagon announced that it had launched an investigation into the source of the leaks. Leaked intelligence papers suggest that Ukrainian, Russian total casualties reach up to 354,000 Leaked U.S. intelligence documents suggest that up to 354,000 Ukrainian and Russian soldiers have been killed or injured since the start of the full-scale invasion, Reuters reported on April 12. Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk Story continues Ukraine's Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov spoke about the intelligence leak during a visit to Spain on April 12, acknowledging that there is a "mix" of true and false information contained in them. However, according to Reznikov, the true information is already outdated. Earlier, the Washington Post wrote that the leak was one of the factors slowing Ukraine's upcoming counteroffensive, given that the documents delve into details about the Ukrainian military, which could potentially force them to alter plans for the counteroffensive. According to a source close to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, cited by CNN, Kyiv has already changed some of its military plans following the leak. Visiting the Porsche Museum in Stuttgart, Germany is almost like the trek to Mecca for brand loyalists. But not every collector can make the trip in person. Thanks to the wonders of YouTube, you can now do the next best thingtake a high-flying video tour of the museum online. Chinese drone maker DJI has just posted a video to Youtube (via Motor1.com) of its Avata drone zipping through the automotive museum. The clip is quick at just two minutesany longer might trigger motion sicknessbut it gives you a wonderful taste of what to expect from the stunning exhibition hall. More from Robb Report The clip is clearly meant to be a commercial for DJIs new compact first-person view (FPV) drone, but if youre like us, youll only have eyes for all the Porsches on display. The Avata begins the video outside the museum, hovering in the night sky, before diving through its front doors and setting off on a quick tour of the multi-floor building and its stunning collection of historically important automobiles. The drone zooms passed dozens of incredible Porsches throughout, including the Type 360 Cisitalia race car, 356 speedster and the Carrera GT. The DJi Avata FPV drone zooms between race cars at the Porsche Museum What really caught our eyeand is the best show of the drones capabilitiesis how close the drone gets to some of the collections most important vehicles. It zips under the open engine cover of the Rothmans Porsche 953 that won the 1984 Paris-Dakar Rally, shoots through the opening in the rear clamshell of a Gulf-liveried 917K race car and passes through the open window of the original air-cooled 911 GT2. If you came this close to any of these Porsches at the actual museum, youd almost certainly be immediately escorted out by security. Story continues If youre not heading to Stuttgart anytime soon, and would rather see some Porsches in person, youre in luck. The Peterson Museum in Los Angeles is hosting a 40-car retrospective in celebration of the marques 75th anniversary. The exhibition, which includes everything from a 1953 550 Spyder that was raced by Betty Shutes and Ken Miles to Steve McQueens 1976 911 Turbo, opens on Sunday, April 16, and will be on display for the next year. Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. SpaceXs Transporter-6 mission launched on January 3. SpaceX has packed more than 50 payloads into a Falcon 9 rocket as the company prepares for its latest rideshare mission. Update: April 14, 8:29 a.m. ET: SpaceX scrubbed Fridays launch due to unfavorable weather and is now targeting Saturday, April 15 at 2:47 a.m. ET. Catch the action live at the video feed below. Read more Transporter-7 Mission Original post: The Transporter-7 mission is scheduled to launch on Friday at 2:47 a.m. ET (Thursday at 11:47 p.m. PT) from the Vandenberg Space Force Base in California, according to SpaceX. You can watch the liftoff live through SpaceXs website or by tuning in to the feed below. The live feed is scheduled to begin about 10 minutes before launch time. As the name suggests, the launch will mark SpaceXs seventh rideshare mission. The missions are designed to provide low-cost access to space for smaller payloads (and for smaller companies, for that matter), and with rates as low as $275,000 to send 110 pounds (50 kilograms) to Sun-synchronous orbit. Typically, small-sat and micro-sat manufacturers would be forced to piggyback aboard a mission featuring a primary payload or two, but SpaceX decided to service the small satellite market through its rideshare program. SpaceXs inaugral Transporter mission kicked off in January 2021 from Cape Canaveral in Florida, carrying 143 satellites on board. The most recent rideshare mission, Transporter-6, launched on January 3, 2023 with 114 satellites. Transporter-7 is carrying a significantly lower number of satellites, including microsatellites and nanosatellites destined for a Sun-synchronous orbit. The missions payloads include Kenyas first operational nanosatellite; called Taifa-1, its an Earth-observing satellite and the first in a constellation that the African country wants to build in orbit to help monitor its habitat and agricultural land. Story continues Another payload on board the Falcon 9 belongs to AstroForge. The aspiring asteroid mining company hopes to test its rock refining capabilities in deep space with OrbAstroa spacecraft that will attempt to vaporize onboard asteroid-like material and break it down into its elemental components, and do so for the first time in zero gravity. NASA is also sending two cubesats to study Earths atmosphere as part of its Low-Latitude Ionosphere/Thermosphere Enhancements in Density mission, also known as LLITED. Given the large number of satellites on board the mission, and given the low-cost and experimental nature of some projects, there is a higher chance that some might fail. So far, at least one satellite launched aboard SpaceXs Transporter-6 mission has failed. Space startup Launcher said its Orbiter SN1 failed due to a loss of power caused by the spacecrafts GPS antenna system. But the company is still planning on launching more of its payload on SpaceXs rideshare mission, targeting the upcoming Transporter-8 for a ride to space. Want to know more about Elon Musks space venture? Check out our full coverage of SpaceXs Starship megarocket and the SpaceX Starlink internet satellite megaconstellation. And for more spaceflight in your life, follow us on Twitter and bookmark Gizmodos dedicated Spaceflight page. More from Gizmodo Sign up for Gizmodo's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. HONOLULU (AP) Hawaii surfer Mike Morita woke up early and planned to get a few waves in before going to Easter service with his wife. Morita, 58, headed to his regular spot locals call Kewalos, known for reliable waves over shallow reef near the mouth of a harbor not far from downtown Honolulu on the island of Oahu's south shore. The water was crystal clear, he said, noting how it was already bright at 6:15 a.m. He was lying on his stomach on his board after riding a few waves when he felt a bite on his right leg. The sheer strength of it, I knew right away it was a shark, he said Wednesday from his hospital bed. In that critical moment, I went to God. He prayed for the shark to free his leg as the pressure intensified and the creature thrashed about. I kind of surprised myself that I went straight into prayer, he recalled. But he didn't pray to stay alive: The whole time, I never thought I was gonna die. God wanted me to fight, so I started beefing, he said, using a Hawaii Pidgin term for fighting. He repeatedly punched and swore at the shark. His shouts and swearing got the attention of his fellow Kewalos regulars, who paddled straight toward him without hesitation. The water was red with my blood, he said. I cannot believe how much courage my friends had. The friends later told Morita the shark dragged him underwater. Morita remembers slipping an arm around the shark, sort of like a hug. He reached for its gills. As I went by the gills, it let go," he said. State officials said it was reported to be an 8-foot (2.4-meter) tiger shark. Morita's surf buddies used their board leashes to make a tourniquet and helped him onto a longboard that carried him back to shore. At one point, he looked back and saw only bone from ankle to knee on his right leg. Paramedics later told him without the tourniquet, he would have bled to death, Morita said. Doctors amputated Morita's right foot, and he was scheduled to undergo another surgery Thursday. Story continues My prayer now is they won't have to amputate above the knee, he said. Morita, who started surfing in the fourth grade, believes he'll surf again. I'm not good at it, but I love it, he said. It's a hobby he enjoyed on days off from his job as a United Airlines ramp service worker. Morita said his faith in God, which has grown in recent years, has kept him from getting depressed. I would be mad at God, mad at the world, mad at the shark," he said. I can honestly say I am at peace. I have no fear of the ocean right now. He joked that he should have gone to New Hope Oahu's 7 a.m. Sunday church service instead of planning to go to the one at 9:15 a.m. Unfortunately I never made it to the service, he said. Weight gain in senior citizens isnt correlated with mortality risk, but a new study finds that weight loss can be. Losing weight may not always be cause for celebration, in some cases it could be cause for concern in older adults, for instance. You may already be well aware of when some seniors begin to shrink. They can lose inches off of their height and their weight can drop over time. According to a study published recently in JAMA Network Open, weight loss in older adults may be associated with life-threatening conditions and even death. A new study has found a link between weight loss in senior citizens and underlying life-threatening conditions. (Photo credit: Getty/Ariel Skelley) The study analyzed the weight of roughly 20,000 older adults 65 years of age or older in both Australia (around 17,000 adults) and the United States (more than 2,000). Participants were weighed during their annual checkups between 2010 and 2014. Our study found that even a 5% weight loss increases mortality risk, particularly in older men, lead study author Monira Hussain, a clinical epidemiologist and senior research fellow in public health and preventative medicine at Monash University in Melbourne, told CNN. She added that weight loss could be cause for concern, but weight gain wasnt. The risk of life-threatening conditions following weight loss was reportedly observed across starting weights, including participants who were considered obese at the beginning of the study. Hussain noted that the study excluded people with preexisting conditions such as cardiovascular disease, dementia, physical disabilities, or chronic illness. Folks with recent hospitalizations were also excluded. The study also does not account for who lost weight intentionally or unintentionally, thus not offering any insight into what role those factors played. What the study makes clear, however, is how weight loss can be a sign of underlying issues in older adults. Hussain said weight loss could be a warning sign for conditions like cancer and dementia, and it is often linked to reduced appetite influenced by inflammation and hormones. Story continues According to Perri Halperin, the clinical nutrition director of New York Citys Mount Sinai Health System, weight loss in seniors could also be a sign of troublesome lifestyle changes. A major contributing factor to weight loss in older adults is social isolation, she told CNN. Other concerns include financial constraints and pain and discomfort. She emphasized that the study found a correlation between weight loss and death, not that weight loss was the cause of death. Importantly, she noted that gaining weight isnt necessarily a life-saving move either. All in all, Halperin said key takeaways are that older adults should monitor their weight and discuss any changes with their doctor, while physicians who detect any changes in the weight of their patients should conduct further testing. TheGrio is FREE on your TV via Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Roku, and Android TV. TheGrios Black Podcast Network is free too. Download theGrio mobile apps today! Listen to Writing Black with Maiysha Kai. The post Weight loss for older adults may be life-threatening appeared first on TheGrio. Utah Gov. Spencer Cox shakes Rabbi Avremi Zippels hand after an informal meeting at the Utah state Capitol in Salt Lake City on Monday, April 10, 2023. | Ryan Sun, Deseret News Its a Monday afternoon, and a rabbi, a Latter-day Saint governor and a Jewish policy wonk walk into a room. It sounds like the start of a bad joke, but this is no joke, nor is it coincidence these three friends circled the meeting on their calendars weeks ago, under the enigmatic subject line JEWTAH! Rabbi Avermi Zippel arrives first, sporting a trim, dark suit and a grey kippah, and takes a seat outside the governors office. Gov. Spencer Cox arrives soon after, trailed by a throng of aides, and greets the rabbi. Do we know where Shoshana is? one staffer asks, and the rabbi pulls out his phone before noting he doesnt have the third guests phone number. We communicate through Twitter DMs, he says, smiling. Ryan Sun, Deseret News Before the third guest arrives, lets meet the friends: Theres Rabbi Avrohom Avremi Zippel, the program director of Salt Chabad Lubavitch of Utah and the states first homegrown rabbi. (He moved to Salt Lake City from Brooklyn when he was 1 year old, when his father Rabbi Benny Zippel established Utahs Chabad congregation.) Theres Spencer Cox, Utahs first-term governor, who has emerged as an ally to Utahs small-but-growing Jewish community. He led a delegation to Israel in 2022, where he met with the countrys president, visited the Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial museum and prayed at the Western Wall, alongside the elder Rabbi Zippel. And then theres Shoshana Weissmann, the Jewish digital director at the R Street Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based libertarian think tank. Shes garnered something of a cult following on social media for her eclectic personality and her political spark her purple-and-blue hair, and a stuffed animal she named James Madisloth. Weissmann arrives in a rush, sporting a Fitbit and a hiking backpack shes on a three-day work trip to Utah, but the real reason she comes to the state is for the mountains. How can you not fall in love with this? she says, signaling out the window. Story continues The three friends make for an interesting bunch. But their ecumenical relationship, in a state dominated by one Christian religion, hints at how one faith tradition can help another as antisemitic incidents surge in the U.S. Somehow, calling them friends seems wholly natural, though only two of them have ever met in person. Weissmann first interacted with both through Twitter the rabbi, because she was searching for a Jewish community in her adopted state, and the governor, because when Trump rose to power, he was one of the few sane Republicans, Weissmann said. Coxs apparent love for Judaism doesnt hurt, either. I dont think Ive seen a governor post more pictures with rabbis, Weissmann said. Its like youre finding every rabbi here, saying, lets be friends. Cox smiles, saying it happens organically. (There are, it turns out, only about 10 rabbis in the state.) Weissmann first discovered Utah in 2018, and over the two subsequent years, she visited four times; on the fifth visit, she brought her parents, and Cox arranged for a private dinner with them at the Governors Mansion. Ryan Sun, Deseret News Coxs relationship with Rabbi Zippel, however, goes back a bit further. Their first interaction was in 2014, when then-Gov. Gary Herbert arranged for the first-ever menorah lighting ceremony in the Utah Capitol. Minutes before the ceremony was to begin, Cox requested for additional reserved seats, which sent Rabbi Zippel scrambling. Rabbi Zippel later learned that the seats were for Coxs children, who he wanted to witness the unique event. Thats been the hallmark of our relationship, Rabbi Zippel recalls. He has a deep respect for our faith, and he wanted those closest to him to feel the same. Related Pleasantries through, the friends move on to the real agenda item. So, why didnt my flag design win? Weissmann asks. When Utah lawmakers were accepting public submissions for a new state flag last year, shed playfully tweeted her own design featuring a Star of David, a beehive, a space laser and the word JEWTAH sprawled along the bottom. There was more support for other options, the governor deadpans. Long work day so I took a quick break to try a new Utah state flag design concept. @SpencerJCox just gonna start a thread so you can tell me your feedback or just know what horrors are happening in my photoshop. Also cc @UtahRabbi pic.twitter.com/dwnrsjzBb0 Shoshana Weissmann, Sloth Committee Chair (@senatorshoshana) January 20, 2022 The conversation drifts from flag designs, to weather, to fighting antisemitism. (Anything and everything is on the table; Weissmanns Google Calendar invitation said theyd chat about Judaism, Utah, policy, mountains, and anything else we like!) Cox leads off by reminding his guests that Utah was the third state to have a Jewish governor, when Simon Bamberger was elected in 1917. How did he get here? Rabbi Zippel asks, bewildered, before acknowledging Utahs Jewish community consistently punches above its weight. At present, there are an estimated 6,000 Jews in Utah, among a state population of 3.3 million. But Jews feel welcome here, Rabbi Zippel says. I cant attempt to speak for the whole community, Rabbi Zippel says. But its a remarkable place to be, to start a family. Theres a certain commonality. That respect is mutual. When Cox asked Utahns in 2021 to pray for rain as divine intervention to combat the states ongoing draught, he was met by scorn from some, but the states Jewish community, he notes, was unequivocally supportive. Related Ryan Sun, Deseret News They said, were fasting and praying with you, Cox recalls. That it felt like a real unifying thing for us. At this, Rabbi Zippel nods at the snow-capped mountains out the window and jokes, I hear you guys are going floating in the Great Salt Lake this summer. Cox smiles. Now were praying it comes down gently. Rabbi Zippels perspective on the relationship between Latter-day Saints and Jews in Utah is a unique one. When his family arrived in 1992, the states Jewish population was a fraction of what it is now. Rabbi Zippel views the relationship as one of brotherhood both have experienced expulsion and the longing for a homeland, and both receive less-than-flattering portrayals in public, at times. Rabbi Zippel quotes The Atlantics McKay Coppins, whose review of Hulus Under the Banner of Heaven notes, If you learn about Mormonism from watching TV, you might think that we spend all of our time kidnapping and murdering or getting kidnapped and murdered. Rabbi Zippel feels the same about many portrayals of Jews. All you know about us on Netflix is space lasers and dishonesty and Madoff, he says. There are a lot of good folks whose stories arent being told in the public arena. Cox presses him on this. Were having this wonderful conversation, he interjects, but sadly, we have not eliminated antisemitism from the state. What is it really like living here as a Jew? Rabbi Zippel explains that the state has certainly changed since his childhood. Growing up, it felt like living in a fishbowl: People would see my dad with a kippah, and theyd think, Where did you come from, and how long are you staying? Rabbi Zippel chalked up many such comments and questions to genuine curiosity, and took no offense. (He recalls, for example, some friends at school asking if he had horns.) But today, Rabbi Zippel posits, negative views of Jews are no longer born of innocent curiosity, but of a lack of understanding. The curiosity has been swapped out with ignorance, Rabbi Zippel says. People are cool with very observant Jews walking the streets of Salt Lake City. But now the question is, what does that mean if theyre your neighbor? Ryan Sun, Deseret News Even as Rabbi Zippel lauds the states embrace of its Jewish community, his experience has not always been Zion. Rabbi Zippels synagogue was defaced with a swastika in 2021. In 2022, a prominent Utah businessman was fired after sending an antisemitic email. In recent months, a string of antisemitic incidents have occurred at the University of Utah. I think both Jews and LDS people remember when we were persecuted, Weissmann says. And I worry sometimes when any group of people forget that. Its so important to remember this, and make sure it doesnt happen to other people, too. Cox nods. If people dont feel that belonging here, he adds, they wont stay. As Cox excuses himself for another meeting, Weissmann and Rabbi Zippel stay to chat. They talk through their Passover celebrations and the difficulty, at times, of finding Kosher food in Utah. It requires Talmudic patience. Weissmann grins, and mentions policy for the first time all day. Look, Im all for Kosher regulatory reform, she jests. Wells Fargos Mary Mack, a top executive in Charlotte, will retire this summer after nearly 40 years in the banking industry and navigating a massive scandal at the bank. Mack led the transformation of Wells Fargos retail bank branch network as CEO of its consumer and small business banking for the past seven years. Mack also served as president and head of Wells Fargo Advisors, and other leadership roles in consumer banking, brokerage, commercial banking and corporate and investment banking, according to a bank news release Thursday. Mary has spent her entire career at Wells Fargo, which spans nearly four decades, CEO Charlie Scharf said Thursday in a statement. I can think of few Wells Fargo colleagues who have done as much for our company and who have been as visible in the communities that we serve over such a long period of time. Mary Mack, head of community banking for Wells Fargo in Charlotte, is retiring after a 40-year career. Mary Macks leadership at Wells Fargo In 2016, Mack became one of Wells Fargos first top executives in Charlotte leading community banking after Carrie Tolstedt stepped own right before the San Francisco-based bank was fined $185 million over fake accounts. Wells Fargo employees created millions of fake accounts for customers without their knowledge in order to meet aggressive sales goals. Mack was tasked with winning back angry customers, reinventing the sales culture for 94,000 employees and restoring a tarnished brand. Mary is not intimidated by a challenge, retired Wells Fargo executive John Tate, who hired her into a position at Charlotte-based First Union in the 1980s, told The Charlotte Observer in 2016. She will meet it head on. Under Mack, the community banking division underwent an overhaul including eliminating product sales goals for bankers who sell traditional products like checking accounts and credit cards. The bank also launched a nationwide ad campaign that said the bank was founded in 1852 and re-established in 2018, referring to changes that were made to move forward. Story continues Mack was lauded in the financial community for her actions in the aftermath of the scandal, which included listening tours with Wells employees across the U.S. in the scandals wake. Mary Mack, Wells Fargos CEO of consumer and small business banking, has also been active in the Charlotte community. Career and community A native of Augusta, Ga., Mack graduated from Davidson College. Her first job in banking was as a commercial lender in 1984 at Charlotte-based First Union. She eventually managed commercial banking for the East Coast and health care banking group in the capital markets side of the business. In 2001, when First Union bought Winston-Salem-based Wachovia, she was a regional president in the community bank. By 2006, Mack ran the brokerage business inside bank branches. In 2008, Wells Fargo acquired Wachovia. In Fort Mill, S.C., the Mary Warner Mack Dog Park at the Anne Springs Close Greenway is named in honor of Macks eldest of three daughters who died at age 23 in 2014. Mack and husband Barry were credited as major drivers of the project. Fortune magazine named Mary Mack one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business for six consecutive years, starting in 2016, and she made American Banker magazines top 10 list of Most Powerful Women in Banking in 2021 and last year. Mack also has been involved in the community, including Habitat for Humanity International, Charlotte Executive Leadership Council and United Way Worldwides Board of Trustees, according to Wells Fargo website. Fortune magazine named her one of the 50 Most Powerful Women in Business for six consecutive years, starting in 2016, and she made American Banker magazines top 10 list of Most Powerful Women in Banking in 2021 and last year. New roles after Macks departure Saul Van Beurden, head of technology at Wells Fargo, will succeed Mack, effective May 15. Tracy Kerrins, head of consumer technology, will fill Van Beurdens seat. Van Beurden also held senior leadership roles at ING Group, running operations and technology for international retail and direct banks. Kerrins has worked in the technology and finance industries for over 20 years. More about Wells Fargo in Charlotte Wells Fargo is headquartered in San Francisco but has its largest employment hub in Charlotte, with about 27,000 workers. In late January, the bank announced it was moving all of its workers out of two uptown towers to consolidate into one space. The bank also is spending over $500 million in the next five years to upgrade its northeast Charlotte campus. Since the 2016 scandal, regulators identified additional problems with how the bank handled mortgages, auto loans and consumer deposit accounts. That culminated in a $3.7 billion charge in fines and restitution from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau last year. Wells Fargo is stepping back from the mortgage business. Heres what we know. Wells Fargo to pay $3.7 billion in penalties, restitution over widespread mismanagement US President Joe Biden continues his visit to Ireland on Thursday (PA Wire) The White House has been forced to correct a gaffe made by US President Joe Biden on his visit to Ireland. Mr Biden confused New Zealands All Blacks rugby team with the Black and Tans, the British military force that operated in Ireland. Mr Biden was speaking in the Windsor pub in Dundalk on Wednesday night on the first day of his three-day visit. The White House website attempted to smooth over the situation by clarifying its official record to refer to the All Blacks. However, Mr Bidens error threw into question the presidents partisan stance towards Northern Ireland and the Republic. It also attracted fierce criticism online and from major media outlets. Gaffe spoils Bidens charm offensive, said a Times headline. The New York Post called it a cringeworthy gaffe. Heres what you need to know about the Black and Tans. What did Joe Biden say about the Black and Tans? The US president, paying tribute to relative and former Ireland rugby player Rob Kearney, thanked him for the tie he was wearing. He referenced Irelands first victory over the All Blacks (a 40-29 win) at Soldier Field in Chicago in November 2016. He said: This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, was a hell of a rugby player. He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans. The delivery version of the speech on the White House website has the Black and Tans crossed out and All Blacks added in brackets. Who were the Black and Tans? The Black and Tans were a notorious group of British paramilitary forces that operated in Ireland during the early 20th century. A 10,000-strong group of British recruits to the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), they were sent to counter Irish Republican Army (IRA) extremism. They were recruited from January 1920. Many of those who signed up were unemployed veterans, who had already served in the First World War. They worked in Ireland to suppress the demands to break away from Britain. During the War of Independence from 1919-21, many RIC members quit, as they were worried about reprisals and because of divided loyalties. Story continues They were known for their brutal approach, but also faced extremists in the IRA whose tactics were also vicious. The group was notably singled out in the pro-IRA song, Come Out, Ye Black And Tans, which is still popular with Irish rebel bands. The Black and Tans were eventually disbanded in 1922 following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State. Why were they called the Black and Tans? Their nickname originated from the colour of their uniform. They wore some of the dark green clothing of the RIC, which looked black, and some of the khaki of the British army. Cody Barlow, former principal of Wewoka Middle School, walks to a court hearing Thursday at the Seminole County Courthouse in Wewoka. WEWOKA After several months of investigation, a middle school principal in this town of 3,000 residents was charged Thursday with inappropriately touching two children. Wewoka Middle School principal Cody Coy Barlow, 33, faces two felony counts of lewd or indecent acts to a child under 16. Barlow appeared with his attorney, Richard E. Butner, before a district judge on Thursday at the Seminole County Courthouse in Wewoka, 70 miles southeast of Oklahoma City. Barlow denies the charges, his attorney said after the court hearing. "He never hurt anybody," Butner said. "He wouldn't hurt these children. He looks forward to the opportunity to vindicate himself." The mother of an alleged victim said Wewoka Public Schools failed to protect her son from the principal, who has been on administrative leave since October. More: Former Wewoka Middle School principal arrested after male student reports assault A sign that reads Stand Up for Children, No Excuse for Child Abuse stands in front of the Seminole County Courthouse in Wewoka on Thursday. The woman, who asked to remain anonymous to protect her 13-year-old son's identity, said Barlow rubbed the boy between his legs in the school gym. Her son disclosed the incident to her after the principal was arrested in October. The boy tried to laugh it off, she said, but she told him there is "nothing funny about what you just said." Soon after, she reported her son's account to law enforcement and made sure he interviewed with the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. "I'm angry. I want to lash out, but I know to keep my son's identity safe," she said. "I want to act real ugly, but I know I can't." She told The Oklahoman she intends to join a lawsuit already pending against Barlow and Wewoka schools in Muskogee federal court. More: In 'football heaven,' a coach suspended. A town divided. What happened in Ringling? Another boy, identified in the lawsuit as John Doe, accused Barlow of exhibiting "grooming behavior" toward him and other boys at school. The boy alleged the district was aware but failed to stop it. Cameron Spradling, an attorney representing John Doe in the lawsuit, said several more boys have reported misconduct from Barlow. Spradling said he expects to see more of the boys incorporated into the lawsuit and the criminal case. Story continues "We know that (the) OSBI used a lot of their resources and a lot of their agents over these many months to this investigation," Spradling said. "We are so pleased that today he was formally charged with his activities with two boys. We fully expect that that'll be amended with additional charges for our other boys." Cody Barlow, former principal of Wewoka Middle School, walks away from a court hearing on Thursday at the Seminole County Courthouse in Wewoka. Court documents list two alleged victims in the criminal case. Both children are identified only by their initials. A number of school district employees, including Wewoka Superintendent Shellie Gammill, are named in court records as having been interviewed by investigators. Gammill didn't immediately return requests for comment Thursday afternoon. Prosecutors allege Barlow touched one child in a "lewd and lascivious manner" on the body, legs or genital area sometime between Aug. 1, 2021, and May 31, 2022. He is accused of touching a second child in the same way sometime between Aug. 1 and Oct. 19 of last year. If convicted, each offense is punishable by three to 20 years in prison. More: Retired Edmond police officer arrested after investigation into relationship with teen The OSBI arrested Barlow at his home in October after a male student accused him of sexual assault. The agency said at the time it was looking into allegations from multiple victims. "The male child reported to authorities that Barlow had inappropriate contact with him on multiple occasions this school year," the OSBI reported. "The behavior escalated in September." Details of the OSBI investigation remain under seal. The assistant district attorney prosecuting the case, Tara Portillo, said she is unable to comment. 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: Oklahoma principal accused of sexual assault is charged with 2 felonies Photo Illustration by Amelia Manley for Verywell Health; Getty Images Fact checked by Nick Blackmer The Supreme Court on April 21 granted a full stay to the case regarding the abortion pill mifepristone. This means there will be no change to the access or availability of the pill in the foreseeable future. The battle to revoke access to the abortion pill mifepristone is happening in the U.S. courts right now. A Texas judge on April 7 issued a controversial ruling that blocked the FDA approval of mifepristone, which would eliminate access to the drug in every state. The decision was put on hold for a week to allow for appeals. At the same time, a judge in Washington state ordered the FDA to do nothing that would restrict access to the pill. The conflicting rulings have left the status of abortion pill access ambiguous and confusing. In the following weeks, we can expect more legal drama and changing rules over mifepristone. Related:What Will Happen to Abortion Pills If Mifepristone Remains Banned? Medication abortion consists of two medications: mifepristone and misoprostol. Mifepristone, the first drug in the regimen, blocks a hormone called progesterone and stops a pregnancy. Misoprostol is then used to empty the uterus. What Is the Most Current Status of the Abortion Pill? The Supreme Court on April 21 granted a full stay to the case regarding mifepristone. This means there will be no change to the access or availability of the pill anytime soon. Earlier last week, an appeals court ruled that mifepristone could remain available but banned the drug from being sent by mail. The judges in this court said the new ruling would hold until the full case is heard. The court had ordered a rollback of the FDAs expanded access measures from 2016, which would mean that mifepristone could only be used until seven weeks of pregnancy instead of 10. In some states, the pill can be prescribed by health providers other than physicians, but that ruling required mifepristone to be dispensed under the supervision of a qualified physician. The three in-person office visits requirement would also be restored if the 2016 changes were reverted. Story continues Related:How Far Into a Pregnancy Can You Use the Abortion Pill? Where Is Medication Abortion Legal? A total of 12 states have banned medication abortions so far, including Alabama, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Oklahoma, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia. Abortion is technically legal in Wisconsin, but abortion providers in the state have stopped offering all services temporarily until there's more clarity on an old law. Medication abortion remains available in other states with the new legal restrictions. Related:What Are Trigger Laws and What Do They Mean For Abortion Rights? Why Are the Courts Fighting About Mifepristone? The original lawsuit was brought on by anti-abortion groups that accused the FDA of approving mifepristone without studying its safety thoroughly. However, since mifepristone was approved in 2000, medication abortion has proven to be safe and effective. According to the FDA, out of 5.6 million medication abortions, 28 deaths associated with mifepristone have been reported, but none of these cases could certainly attribute the cause of death to mifepristone. In Canada, where mifepristone has been widely available since 2017, a large study showed that medication abortion with both mifepristone and misoprostol is safe. Related:Study: Self-Managed Abortions Rise Alongside Abortion Restrictions What Might Happen Next? The Supreme Court's temporary stay order will expire at midnight on Wednesday, April 19. Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. has ordered the anti-abortion groups that are challenging the FDA's approvals of mifepristone to file their brief by Tuesday. The Supreme Court will then decide whether to leave the FDA approvals in place. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 The White House message on the legality of abortion medication isnt just about abortion anymore. Ever since a conservative federal judge in Texas issued a decision invalidating the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations decades-old approval of a key abortion drug, the Biden administration has been warning that such an unprecedented ruling could jeopardize access to all kinds of other medications and treatments used by millions of Americans. You can understand the implications of this ruling by just opening your medicine cabinet, Vice President Kamala Harris said Wednesday at a meeting of an administration task force dedicated to protecting abortion rights. It is very likely that you rely on some type of medication, prescribed by a doctor, approved by the FDA, to alleviate your health concerns and improve your condition in life. Attacking the very credibility of the FDA on this matter, for the sake of a political agenda, could have far-reaching consequences, Harris added. Administration officials arent the only ones making this argument. A broad coalition of pharmaceutical companies, physicians and public health experts are filing amicus briefs, issuing strongly worded press releases and basically telling anybody who will listen that ruling against the FDA could limit the availability of vital vaccines and treatments, while discouraging the kind of research that would lead to medical breakthroughs in the future. Undermining the FDAs longstanding authority given to them by Congress to approve drugs would have a chilling effect on the research and development ecosystem, PhRMA, the powerful trade group representing drugmakers, said in a statement Wednesday. Biopharmaceutical researchers and scientists need certainty that FDA approvals will be upheld so they can make the long-term investments required to develop new medicines and ultimately get them approved for use by patients. The alliance between the Biden administration and pharmaceutical industry may seem unlikely, given the intense, prolonged fight they just had over drug pricing legislation. But it makes perfect sense, given their shared interest in a scientifically sound drug approval process and the threat that this litigation poses to it. Story continues A Case Thats About An Abortion Drug FILE - Bottles of the drug misoprostol sit on a table at the West Alabama Women's Center, March 15, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. FILE - Bottles of the drug misoprostol sit on a table at the West Alabama Women's Center, March 15, 2022, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. The drug at issue in the court case is mifepristone, which goes by the brand name Mifeprex and has a generic version called GenBioPro. The FDA first approved its use more than 20 years ago and doctors have prescribed it for literally millions of patients since, as part of a two-drug combination to induce abortion. It has such a low rate of reported complications and deaths that experts routinely describe it as safer than penicillin, Tylenol or Viagra. Medication abortion accounts for more than half of all pregnancy terminations in the U.S. and has long drawn the scrutiny of anti-abortion groups. Late last year, some of these groups filed a lawsuit claiming the FDA violated its own procedural rules and ignored evidence that mifepristone is actually dangerous, despite its safety record. These groups did so in federal district court in Amarillo, Texas, where they knew they would draw a sympathetic jurist in Matthew Kacsmaryk, a former deputy general counsel for the First Liberty Institute, a right-wing Christian advocacy group. He took his seat in 2019, following a nomination by President Donald Trump and a party-line confirmation vote in the Republican-controlled Senate. Trump, the Republicans and their anti-abortion allies got what they wanted on Friday, when Kacmaryk sided with the plaintiffs, although he did so in a decision even some conservatives have attacked for its flimsy legal reasoning and right-wing pseudoscience. Among other things, Kacmaryk backed up claims of the drugs supposed potential for harm by citing a study of anonymous blog items published on a website called abortionchangesyou.com. Whether Kacsmaryks ruling will stick remains to be seen. He stayed his own decision for a week, to give the Biden administration a chance to appeal. And late Wednesday, a panel of conservative judges from the 5th Circuit of Appeals overturned parts of Kacsmaryks order, but only parts in effect, allowing the FDAs original approval of the drug to remain in place, while significantly narrowing the existing rules for prescribing and dispensing it. The Fifth Circuits decision just like the district courts second-guesses the agencys medical experts, Harris said on Thursday. If this decision stands, no medication from chemotherapy drugs, to asthma medicine, to blood pressure pills, to insulin would be safe from attacks. Meanwhile, a federal judge in the state of Washington last week issued a ruling that conflicted with Kacmaryks and now appears to be at odds with the 5th Circuit, as well. That Washington decision stems from a separate lawsuit, brought by 18 states and the District of Columbia seeking to preserve access to mifepristone. In the ruling, the judge barred the FDA from withdrawing its approval for those jurisdictions. Even veteran lawyers are still piecing through (and arguing over) what these conflicting, overlapping rulings mean in practice. That is one reason the case is likely to end up in the U.S. Supreme Court, quite possibly in the near future, and its anybodys guess what would happen there. The justices could plausibly rule for the FDA on any number of legal grounds, including whether the organizations that brought the case even have standing to sue. Then again, this is the same conservative Supreme Court that just struck down Roe v. Wade, ending the federal guarantee of abortion rights. While it is possible to get medication abortion using only the other drug thats normally part of the two-drug combination, that other drug comes with a greater chance of side effects. And its always possible the same groups that went after mifepristone would target the second drug as well. A Ruling With Implications For Other Drugs Vice President Kamala Harris said Americans only need to look in their medicine cabinets to see how the ruling could ripple across American health care. Vice President Kamala Harris said Americans only need to look in their medicine cabinets to see how the ruling could ripple across American health care. But administration officials and their allies say the long-term impact of Kacsmaryks ruling would extend beyond abortion drugs. In particular, they say it could undermine the authority of the FDA, which Congress empowered to make decisions based on scientific evidence. The worry is that if a Texas judge can overrule the agencys judgment, based on interpretations of evidence from right-wing advocates, there might be challenges to other drugs from other organizations pushing their own agendas like groups that object to the use of antidepressants or certain kinds of vaccines. And then there are the vaccines and treatments derived from fetal tissue, which could draw opposition from the same anti-abortion groups that challenged mifepristone. Youve got this whole range of views on reproductive rights, youve got all the crazy conspiracy theories about vaccines and other treatments out there suddenly, all of that becomes fair game, Joshua Sharfstein, an FDA deputy commissioner during the Obama administration, told HuffPost. Once courts or legislatures start to overrule the FDA willy-nilly, then everybodys gonna jump in and try to interfere, added Shafstein, who is now a vice dean at Johns Hopkins Universitys Bloomberg School of Public Health. Nicole Huberfeld, a professor at Boston University and widely cited expert on health care law, told HuffPost she thinks Kacsmaryks decision has already undermined the drug regulatory system, regardless of what happens with the appeals. It is impossible not to see this decision as having broader implications for FDA than reproductive care, Huberfeld said. Even if this decision is overturned, the door is open to a new line of litigation. One could see this occurring with regard to vaccines and other medications subject to political controversy. So, the FDA is challenged as an agency by a single judges decision that is rooted in a social movement rather than law. The sight of drug manufacturers standing up for the FDA might seem strange, given their frequent disputes over the speed, procedures and outcomes of drug approval decisions. But, Sharfstein noted, the industry has a big stake in a predictable, scientifically rigorous regulatory process insulated from political pressure and patient groups do, too. For a judge to say, Im gonna wake up in the morning and disrupt this process, it makes everyone else who relies on the FDA understandably nervous, Sharfstein said. If one judge can make a determination on one product, why cant another judge make a determination on another product? Or a state legislature? Lawmakers could wake up in the morning and say, hey, we dont like the way this particular treatment works. The pharmaceutical industry has responded with an open letter signed by dozens of companies and executives protesting the ruling. A number of pharmaceutical companies and trade groups also submitted an amicus brief to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which ruled Wednesday in the Justice Departments appeal of Kacsmaryks decision. Judicial activism will not stop here, the open letter warns. 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. A Political Fight With Strange Bedfellows President Joe Biden bashed the pharmaceutical industry during a campaign stop in Milwaukee last fall. His administration is now making the same arguments as the industry as they battle a ruling overruling the FDAs approval of mifepristone. President Joe Biden bashed the pharmaceutical industry during a campaign stop in Milwaukee last fall. His administration is now making the same arguments as the industry as they battle a ruling overruling the FDAs approval of mifepristone. The White House, and Democrats more broadly, are happy to battle with Republicans over the merits of the lawsuit and the popularity of abortion medication. A Pew Research Center poll, conducted from March 27 to April 2, found 53% of Americans thought medication abortion should be legal in their state. Only 22% of Americans thought it should be illegal. Only conservative Republicans clearly thought abortion medication should be illegal, by a 47% to 24% margin. Including moderate and liberal Republicans and Republican-leaning independents in the poll shows a split: 36% think it should be illegal and 35% think it should be legal. Those numbers reflect the political hole Republicans have found themselves in on abortion rights since the Supreme Courts Dobbs ruling last year. While every Republican in the Senate at the time except Susan Collins of Maine backed Kacsmaryks confirmation, few have spoken up publicly to praise his decision. (Sixty-nine congressional Republicans, including 10 senators, have signed an amicus brief supporting the decision.) While the White House is not shying away from defending abortion rights, emphasizing the threat to prescription drugs could generate opposition to the ruling from even some abortion rights opponents, or from voters who view abortion rights as a lower priority. That the fight aligns the White House with the pharmaceutical industry represents a break from the past two years, when President Joe Biden and other officials happily bragged about taking on the powerful lobby to give Medicare the power to negotiate prescription drugs and then hassled insulin manufacturers to cut their prices. We beat pharma! Biden said on the campaign trail last fall. We beat pharma this year, and it mattered. Were going to change peoples lives. The fight also pits the pharmaceutical industry on the opposite side of congressional Republicans, who traditionally defend it and are lavished with campaign cash in response. As the liberal magazine The American Prospect noted, however, that cash is coming back to bite the industry: Corporate PACs for four major pharmaceutical companies donated nearly $585,000 to senators who voted to confirm Kacsmaryk over the past six years. Banksy has been linked The Crown pub in Somerset. (Getty and SWNS) A picturesque village pub has been "heaving" since it reopened after it was rumoured Banksy bought the building and spent 1m refurbishing it. Rumours the artist was involved with The Crown in Pilton, near Glastonbury, began circulating last year. Owain Powell, who currently runs the pub with partner Rowena Draper, denied Banksy's involvement. But locals in the sleepy village claim the pub has never been busier since it re-opened in November last year. The pub is elaborately decorated but does not feature any Banksy art, but it does come with an upmarket menu where people can be charged 16 for a burger and chips. Read more: Banksy migrant ship detained in Italy for 'breaking rules' Banksy's has become famous for his distinctive street art. (Getty) A retired woman who has lived in Pilton since the 1990s said the pub was much more friendly than under its old owners and said it was "heaving with locals" when she went soon after it reopened. Has Banksy's identity ever been revealed? Over the years, there have been various theories and claims about Banksy's identity, but none have been confirmed. Banksy's intentional anonymity allows him to operate without facing legal repercussions for his often unauthorised street art, which can be considered vandalism in some jurisdictions. It also allows him to operate however he pleases without fear of being followed by fans or the media. Read more: Banksy artwork sold at auction for three times estimate by band who changed name for piece Banksy does not support the sale of his art. (Getty) Many have tried to guess who the artist is and the general assumption is he lives in or near Bristol, but other than that very little is known about him. What is Banksy's real name and how has he remained anonymous? Again we don't know much about him so his real name has remained a mystery. But he has carefully guarded his anonymity, often wearing masks in the rare interviews he does. He also never reveals the place he will be doing his next artwork, which is often only noticed after members of the public circulate them on social media. Story continues How does Banksy make money? Banksy generates income through various means, despite his anonymous persona and unconventional approach to art. Part of his persona even rejects the concept of "commercial success" and has in the past encouraged people not to buy his work. Speaking to Village Voice in 2013, the artist said: "Graffiti art has a hard enough life as it is, before you add hedge-fund managers wanting to chop it out and hang it over the fireplace. "For the sake of keeping all street art where it belongs, Id encourage people not to buy anything by anybody, unless it was created for sale in the first place." Despite this, he has still likely made a significant sum of money from his work. Read more: Art fan who pushed Banksy to make a piece in Herne Bay 'heartbroken' after work destroyed by builders Banky's satirical graffiti has become famous across the world. (Getty) He has published several books in his time, including best-seller Wall and Piece and likely generates royalties from that. He has also directed an award-winning documentary called Exit Through The Gift Shop, exploring modern and underground art. The film generated more than 3m in profit. He maintains the Pest Control agency which validates his work. It does not currently offer a shop to purchase his art, it simply tells people to print off his work "in a colour that matches your curtains, make a card for your gran, submit them as your own homework, whatever." But it also makes clear Banksy and Pest Control does not licence the art for third parties or any commercial purpose. On occasion, Banksy has offered the purchase of some of his art through Pest Control, which is the only way he approves of the sale of his art. Where is Banksy from and how much is he worth? Although it is hard to know where an anonymous artist is from he rose to fame in the early 1990s with spray-painted murals on walls in Bristol and has stayed connected to it ever since. Banksy's art is now all over the world in London, New York City, Paris, and many others. It is difficult to guess how much he is worth, but his art is estimated to be worth nearly 40m. Read more: Banksy giant seagull mural worth millions removed from house 'The Armed Dove' street art by Banksy near the Israeli separation West Bank Wall in Bethlehem. (Getty) However, this valuation is based on the sale of his art which he has not condoned, and the profits usually go to the people who owned the site where the art was located. Some of the profits of Banksy's art may have made its way back to him but no one knows for sure. Is Banksy married? Although never revealed publicly Banksy fans have identified Joy Millward as a potential candidate for Banksy's wife. Millward runs a lobby group that campaigns on behalf of charities. She is married to Robin Gunningham, who has several times been named as the most likely person to be Banksy. In 2008 the Mail on Sunday identified Gunningham as Banksy. Millward and Gunningham maintain an extremely private life and very little is known about them. Whether this is a personal choice, or because they are sick of the speculation around supposedly being Banksy and Banksy's wife or if Gunningham is in fact Banksy, we may never know. Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the U.S. National Guard, was charged Friday with unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information and willful retention of classified documents in connection with the alleged leaking of highly classified information on the war in Ukraine. Heres everything we know about Teixeira so far, culled from our original reporting and Yahoo News partner network, including the New York Times, the Military Times and ABC News. Inside the courtroom Jack Teixeira appears before a federal judge in Boston on Friday in this courtroom sketch. (Margaret Small/Reuters) In his initial appearance in federal court in Boston, Teixeira wore a beige smock and pants with a black T-shirt underneath, according to ABC News. He entered in handcuffs, which were removed before he sat at the defense table with his attorney, and appeared to briefly scan the crowd while in his seat. He did not enter a plea and was ordered detained pending a detention hearing set for April 19. As Teixeira was re-handcuffed and led out of court, someone in the front row called out, "Love you, Jack," according to ABC. He responded, "Love you, too, Dad." The arrest FBI agents arrest Teixeira in Dighton, Mass., on Thursday, in this image taken from video. (WCVB-TV via ABC via Reuters) Teixeira, an airman first class with the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard's 102nd Intelligence Wing, based on Cape Cod, was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents in Dighton, Mass., about 15 miles east of Providence, R.I., and 45 miles south of Boston. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced the arrest in a brief statement at the Justice Department, adding that Teixeira surrendered without incident. Aerial footage from Boston-based news channel WCVB-TV showed Teixeira wearing a T-shirt and shorts, on a porch and reading a book, just before heavily armed tactical agents moved in, taking him into custody along a wooded driveway. The investigation Local police maintain a roadblock as FBI agents conduct a search of a home in Dighton, Mass., on Thursday. (Ross Kerber/Reuters) The Pentagon and FBI had been scrambling to identify the source of the leak since last Friday, when a trove of Defense Department slides, many marked Secret or Top Secret, were posted to a private group on Discord, an online chat platform popular with gamers. Story continues As Yahoo News reported earlier this week, the documents included 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. Speaking to reporters in Dublin, Ireland, earlier Thursday, President Biden said the United States was closing in on identifying a suspect. Theres a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, Biden said. And theyre getting close. The background Jack Teixeira. (via Facebook) The New York Times, which first identified Teixeira as a suspect, reported that he oversaw a private online group on the Discord site called Thug Shaker Central, where about 20 to 30 people, mostly young men and teenagers, came together over a shared love of guns, racist online memes and video games. According to charging documents released Friday, a member of the group told federal agents that Teixeira began posting classified information to the Discord server in December. Teixeiras mother told the paper that her son had recently been working overnight shifts at the base on Cape Cod and that he had recently changed his phone number. According to the Military Times, he joined the Air National Guard in September 2019, serving as a cyber transport systems journeyman, which the publication describes as a sort of information technology specialist. The response The Pentagon. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters/File Photo) Teixeiras alleged disclosure of highly sensitive information has prompted the Department of Defense to reevaluate safety measures at the Pentagon. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Thursday that he has ordered a thorough review of all "intelligence access, accountability and control procedures" and may take "additional measures necessary to safeguard our nation's secrets." As the Associated Press pointed out, the emergence of Teixeira as a primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how such a profound breach could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age, Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, said at a press conference Thursday, just before Teixeiras arrest. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat." In a statement issued by the White House on Friday, Biden said, "I commend the rapid action taken by law enforcement to investigate and respond to the recent dissemination of classified U.S. government documents. "While we are still determining the validity of those documents," the president added, "I have directed our military and intelligence community to take steps to further secure and limit distribution of sensitive information." CHINA-PLA-EASTERN THEATER COMMAND-TAIWAN ISLAND-MILITARY EXERCISES (CN) This photo taken on April 9, 2023 shows a J-15 fighter taking off from aircraft carrier Shandong during the combat readiness patrol and military exercises around the Taiwan Island by the Eastern Theater Command of the Chinese People's Liberation Army PLA. The Eastern Theater Command of the PLA has accomplished all tasks in the combat readiness patrol and military exercises carried out from April 8 to 10 around the Taiwan Island.The operations have comprehensively tested the integrated joint combat capability of the PLA's multiple services and arms under actual combat conditions. Credit - An Ni-Xinhua via Getty Images After Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen visited the United States last week and held a brief meeting in California with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, China predictably responded with a show of force in the Taiwan Strait. Over three days of military drills, its fighter jets, naval vessels, and even an aircraft carrier carried out what Beijing called simulated precision attacks, that serve as dress rehearsal for a military encirclement of the island state that might one day lead to an invasion. Once the exercises were complete, Chinas military declared itself prepared at any time to smash Taiwanese independence separatism and external meddling in any form. Its no surprise then that Western media have covered this story as a potential emergency, particularly since it comes at a time when U.S.-China relations are bad and getting worse. Chinas President Xi Jinping has gone further than his predecessors in declaring that Taiwan will be returned to the Peoples Republic of China by any means necessary, and President Joe Biden has said multiple times that the United States would come to Taiwans aid if China attacked though representatives of his own administration have walked back some of his past comments. It would be foolish to ignore Chinas provocations, for several reasons. With this much hostile hardware moving through narrow lanes of air and water, accidents can happen, and any incident that increases the risk of direct armed conflict between the two most powerful countries on Earth must be taken seriously. Second, Chinas maneuvers amount to a rehearsal. Though China will not show Taiwan, the U.S., or anyone else exactly how it would launch a full blockade or invasion of Taiwan, Chinas armed forces find it very valuable to practice. After all, Chinese troops havent faced a shooting war since a brief conflict with Vietnam in 1979. Finally, Taiwan will hold national elections next year. Though Chinas latest intimidation may not lead to military conflict anytime soon, it may have an effect on how Taiwans voters imagine the future. Story continues All that said, the actual risk of imminent Chinese military action against Taiwan remains low. Beijing always flexes military muscle when highest-level U.S. and Taiwanese officials meet face to face. Yet, though Speaker McCarthys visit with Taiwans president marks the highest-level U.S.-Taiwan meeting on US soil since 1979, Chinas latest response was less militarily threatening than its reaction to last summers visit to Taiwan by then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Beijing is well aware that Washington will notice that. Read More: An Insiders Perspective on Chinas Strategy in Ukraine More importantly, Xi is spending considerable energy these days on playing a larger role on the global stage, particularly as a peacemaker. He has offered a 12-point peace plan for Ukraine he hopes will encourage others to see China as a global mediator, even if this particular plan has no chance of success. This past weekend, Xi welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission Chairman Ursula Von der Leyen to Beijing for discussion of the Ukraine war and the future of Chinas relations with Europe more broadly. Though Xi didnt promise his European guests to lean harder on Russia, the Chinese and French governments issued a joint statement pledging they would work together to bring Russian and Ukrainian negotiators to the bargaining table. This follows the remarkable visit to China of the foreign ministers of Middle East rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia, where they agreed under Chinas mediation to improve their historically contentious relationship. Most importantly, just days ago, Taiwans former president Ma Ying-jeou became the first current or former Taiwanese leader to visit the mainland since Taiwan broke away in 1949, and during his visit he spoke of the common inheritance of blood, language, history and culture between the two sides, raising hopes in Beijing that reunification can still be achieved without risking a potentially catastrophic conflict. In short, Xi Jinping wants to be (at least perceived as) a peacemaker, and though Taiwans future remains of far more importance to him that any of these issues, Chinas president is unlikely to reverse all these diplomatic victories by stumbling into a costly war. There are more basic reasons why China is unlikely to move against Taiwan soon. Xi has watched carefully as Russias President Vladimir Putin has provided a vivid demonstration of just how unpredictable, costly, and humiliating an ill-conceived war can be. Taiwan, backed with generations of sophisticated and powerful American weapons, has been preparing for a possible Chinese invasion even longer than Ukraine has prepped for a full-frontal assault from Russia, and given the complete lack of Chinese combat experience over the past 44 years, Xi understands that the risks of Pyrrhic victory or even of defeat are real. At a time when China is emerging from the worlds most draconian lockdown and its worst economic slowdown in decades, Xi is likely to be extra careful about the fights he picks. At least for now. Theres also the critical issue of semiconductors. About 90 percent of the worlds most sophisticated computer chips are made in Taiwan. Aware of the risk this creates, China, the U.S., and others are working as quickly as possible to lessen the risk of economic catastrophe that would result if that production were dramatically slowed or even halted, but self-sufficiency in chip production is years away for every country. China is loath to risk conflict that would leave its economy without access to the 21st centurys most important economic resource. One day, China may invade Taiwan, triggering a war with global implications. But that day isnt soon. When and if it does, the timing will be determined by Chinas leader, not as the result of any diplomatic provocation, but by his own calculation of benefit and cost. For now, its still possible to hope that cooler heads can one day find a diplomatic solution to avert a war that would have disastrous implications far beyond Asia. Questions of the chance of success at trial and jurisdiction likely loomed over the decision by U.S. authorities to not file criminal charges in the Shanquella Robinson case, criminal justice and legal experts say. When deciding whether to bring charges, prosecutors typically assess whether they have a substantial likelihood of success at trial, Charlotte attorney George Laughrun told The Charlotte Observer. Keep in mind that the prosecutors role is not to convict people. The prosecutors role is to do whats fair, and sometimes being fair for a prosecutor means he doesnt file any charges, said Laughrun, a criminal defense lawyer and former assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County. The easy thing for a prosecutor to do is to try every case that comes across his desk, Laughrun said. I think thats easier than having to meet with the family of a victim and say Well, we just cant make the case because of A, B, C and D. US authorities wont make arrest in Shanquella Robinson case, officials announce United States Attorneys Sandra J. Hairston and Dena J. King, for the Middle and Western Districts of North Carolina, respectively, said in a Wednesday statement they and the FBI had met with Robinsons family to present the findings of the federal investigation into her death while on vacation in Mexico. As in every case under consideration for federal prosecution, the government must prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, that a federal crime was committed, the statement said. Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both U.S. Attorneys Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinsons family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution. Robinsons case has gotten widespread attention since a video of her being attacked while on vacation surfaced. The 25-year-old Charlotte woman was staying at a villa in Cabo, Mexico in October with six other people when she died. Story continues The group reportedly told Robinsons mother her death was caused by alcohol poisoning, but her family has questioned that story, and the FBI began investigating the case in November. A death certificate, based on an autopsy in Mexico, said her cause of death was severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation a broken neck. But an attorney for Robinsons family said at a Wednesday press conference she was told by U.S. officials a secondary autopsy in the U.S. didnt find a spinal cord injury and ruled her cause of death undetermined. That attorney, Sue-Ann Robinson, questioned the validity of that second autopsy because she said it was conducted after Shanquella Robinsons body was embalmed. Can extradition still happen in Shanquella Robinson case? Attorney Sue-Ann Robinson, of Frontline Law, speaks to members of the media on the investigation of Shanquella Robinsons death on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Earlier in the morning, The U.S. Attorneys Office in North Carolina announced that the FBI has concluded its investigation and federal authorities will not pursue charges against any suspects in Robinsons case. Wednesdays announcement by the U.S. Attorneys Office shouldnt impact the chances of a suspect potentially being extradited to face charges in Mexico, said Stephen Ward, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Belmont Abbey College. Sue-Ann Robinson and fellow attorney Benjamin Crump in a March 13 letter to President Joe Biden and diplomatic leaders wrote that an arrest warrant issued in Mexico charges one of the people on the trip with Shanquella Robinson with femicide (similar to homicide). Previously, a top prosecutor in the Cabo region confirmed that without naming the suspect and said his office was seeking to extradite the American citizen for arrest. When an extradition request is made, thats simply asking the jurisdiction that receives the request for the police to pick this person up and turn them over to us. We do that all the time between states here in the United States and extradite with other countries, said Ward, a retired assistant district attorney in Mecklenburg County. Activists and attorneys for Shanquella Robinsons family have specifically called for U.S. officials to comply with an extradition request or take jurisdiction and charge the suspect under federal laws. But Ward questioned whether U.S. authorities ever had the jurisdiction to charge someone with a crime allegedly committed abroad. The main reason that they would not prosecute anybody is because it didnt happen in the United States, he told the Observer. We dont have jurisdiction, so unless they were trying to come up with some other justification to charge such as, you know, conspiracy to conceal a crime or something of that nature, this happened in Mexico. The United States, the FBI, no one has jurisdiction over the case. The U.S. State Department previously told The Charlotte Observer it supports a thorough investigation into the circumstances of this incident and is closely monitoring local authorities investigation. In Wednesdays statement, the U.S. attorneys said U.S. officials are prepared to review and examine new information related to the investigation should it become available. Full text of letter stating U.S. will not arrest suspect in Shanquella Robinson case A Wichita woman who pleaded guilty to aggravated child endangerment in connection with the July 28 death of her boyfriends 20-month-old son has been sentenced to one year of supervised probation, according to court records. Xjohnna Hannah, 26, was originally charged with murder, child abuse and aggravated child endangerment in the death of Lasiah Williams, who became unresponsive and died at a Wichita hospital after spending two nights in his fathers care. Kentrell Willingham, 26, of Wichita, pleaded guilty earlier this year to one count of child abuse in a deal where his own murder charge was dismissed after his sons autopsy showed the boy had suffered extensive external injuries, including bruises to his head and body, but failed to pinpoint exactly how he died. Hannahs murder charge was dismissed for the same reason, the Sedgwick County District Attorneys Office said in a news release. She pleaded guilty on Feb. 9. Her sentence, imposed Thursday morning by Sedgwick County District Judge David Dahl, carries an underlying prison term of seven months, which she could be ordered to serve if she fails to follow the conditions of her probation. In Kansas, probation is the presumptive punishment for a person with little or no prior criminal history who is convicted of aggravated child endangerment. Lasiah died after a custody exchange between Willingham and one of the toddlers family members, who realized he had become unresponsive after they left the exchange point. The boy had no notable internal injuries and had been uninjured when the visitation with his father started, according to court documents. Willingham claimed in a police interview that his son had played roughly with other kids during a lake trip but hadnt been hurt, court records say. He told police Lasiah had been alert and smiling when their visit ended. But phone messages between Willingham and Hannah suggested that the toddler had been abused, court records show. Willingham is serving a 5 1/2-year prison sentence in the case. A male wolf wandered into Klickitat County in southwestern Washington and now has a female companion, creating the regions first wolf pack in a century, according to the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). Known as the Big Muddy Pack, named after its recorded territory being near Big Muddy Creek, the two wolves were enough to meet the minimum requirements to be recognized as a pack, and a new litter of pups is expected from the pair. According to WDFW, wolf pups are typically born in late April or early May. Judge restores gray wolf protections after being eliminated in 2020 Their territory lies within the Yakama Indian Reservation, who named the pack. As of Dec. 31, 2022, WDFW calculated, alongside data provided by local tribes, 216 wolves in 37 packs in Washington, including eight new packs. Last week, it was reported that Washingtons wolf population grew once more in 2022 for the 14th consecutive year with an approximate 5% growth in population. The growth were observing in the North Cascades continues to be encouraging and having a pack become established in the South Cascades is a big step toward recovery of wolves in Washington, said WDFW Director Kelly Susewind in a press release. The goal has been for wolves to spread into all three recovery zones, and we are pleased to see their progress in recolonizing their former range. With wolf populations growing, local livestock producers and herders are already gearing up for more protections. Last year, the state issued a kill order against the Togo wolf pack in Northeastern Washington after the group injured or killed four calves within a month. Washington reinstates kill order for Togo wolf pack after a series of cattle attacks Implementation of proactive, nonlethal deterrence efforts by livestock producers, community partners, range riders, and WDFW staff has minimized documented livestock depredation and removal of wolves, all while our wolf population continues to grow, said WDFW Wolf Policy Lead Julia Smith in a prepared statement. Wolf pack attacks against cattle were at a minimum last year as just 19% of known wolf packs were involved in a depredation. Fifteen cattle and two sheep were confirmed to have been killed by wolves. A woman killed early Wednesday when her car collided with a tow truck at Friant and Shepherd avenues was identified by the Fresno County Coroner as Amaya Chenot, 22, of Fresno. The collision, which was caught on camera, took place about 12:45 a.m. when the tow truck crashed into Chenots sedan in the middle of the intersection, said Fresno police Lt. Robert Dewey. The large crash scene shut down a significant part of the roadway in the area as police worked to determine what caused the collision and who was at fault, Dewey added. The tow truck driver remained on scene and spoke with police A YouTube page called Friant Roulette posted video from the crash that appears to show the tow truck run a red light before T-boning the sedan. Fresno Sgt. Diana Trueba Vega said around noon Wednesday that detectives had not yet confirmed the video was legitimate, but said it was consistent with the information police received. A Washington state woman who has been diagnosed with tuberculosis and refused numerous orders to isolate was spotted boarding a bus to a casino by an officer who had been tailing her and had a warrant for her arrest, according to a court filing obtained Wednesday. Instead of arresting the woman, identified only as V.N. in documents filed in Pierce County Superior Court, the officer let her go and a local judge found her in contempt. On Friday, Judge Philip K. Sorenson ordered that she be seized and treated against her will, online records show. Authorities havent been able to find her, a Pierce County sheriff's spokesman said in an email. Tuberculosis, which once killed millions of people worldwide but declined to nearly 7,900 cases in the U.S. in 2021, can be deadly if left untreated. The bacterium that causes tuberculosis is spread through the air when a person with an active case coughs, sneezes or speaks. It isnt clear which casino V.N. went to or why the officer, who wasnt identified in the filing, didnt take her into custody. According to a declaration filed with the court from Patricia Jackson, the chief of the Pierce County Corrections Bureau, the officer had been tasked with surveilling the woman to execute the warrant in a safe manner. The officer began surveillance promptly following receipt of the warrant in March 2023 and observed a person they believed to be Respondent leave her residence, get onto a city bus, and arrive at a local casino, Jackson said. The officer continued to surveil V.N. but found she wasnt home, Jackson said. V.N.s relatives were unresponsive, Jackson said, and she told the officer to stop surveilling her. It is believed that the Respondent is actively avoiding execution of the warrant, Jackson said. Jackson didnt say why the officer didnt take V.N. into custody or why she asked him to stop surveilling her. The sheriffs spokesman, Sgt. Darren Moss, said his office wont comment on how we conduct surveillance, when we do it or when we will attempt to make an arrest after that person is in custody. Story continues Moss added that the chiefs declaration was supposed to be sealed but wasnt. By printing this story all the news agencies are basically telling the woman to continue avoiding us and tipping her off that we conducted surveillance on her, he said. Sarah Tofflemire, a court-appointed lawyer for the woman, said she had no information about the incident beyond what was in the filing. Sorenson signed the arrest warrant last month, describing it as a last resort after public health officials asked him 16 times to order V.N. to take medication or isolate herself. The Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department has declined to offer information about why the woman has steadfastly refused treatment. Under state law, public health officials have the legal authority to seek a court order when a persons refusal to take medication poses a threat to the public. In previous court filings obtained by The News Tribune of Tacoma, Tofflemire has said her client may be refusing to comply because she doesn't understand what is happening. "She has not acknowledged the existence of her own medical condition, Tofflemire said, adding, "She has primarily focused on how she dislikes papers coming to her home, and not the import of the process in which she finds herself." This article was originally published on NBCNews.com An ape that lived 21 million years ago was used to a habitat that was both grassy and wooded. Corbin Rainbolt Human evolution is tightly connected to the environment and landscape of Africa, where our ancestors first emerged. According to the traditional scientific narrative, Africa was once a verdant idyll of vast forests stretching from coast to coast. In these lush habitats, around 21 million years ago, the earliest ancestors of apes and humans first evolved traits including upright posture that distinguished them from their monkey cousins. But then, the story went, global climates cooled and dried, and forests began to shrink. By about 10 million years ago, grasses and shrubs that were better able to tolerate the increasingly dry conditions started to take over eastern Africa, replacing forests. The earliest hominins, our distant ancestors, ventured out of the forest remnants that had been home onto the grass-covered savanna. The idea was that this new ecosystem pushed a radical change for our lineage: We became bipedal. For a long time, researchers have linked the expansion of grasslands in Africa to the evolution of numerous human traits, including walking on two legs, using tools and hunting. Despite the prominence of this theory, mounting evidence from paleontological and paleoclimatological research undermines it. In two recent papers, our multidisciplinary team of Kenyan, Ugandan, European and American scientists concluded that it is time finally to discard this version of the evolutionary story. A decade ago, we began what, at the time, was a unique experiment in paleoanthropology: Several independent research teams joined together to build a regional perspective on the evolution and diversification of early apes. The project, dubbed REACHE, short for Research on Eastern African Catarrhine and Hominoid Evolution, was based on the premise that conclusions drawn from evidence across many locations would be more powerful than interpretations from individual fossil sites. We wondered whether previous researchers had missed the forest for the trees. Story continues An ape in Uganda 21 million years ago Based on the lifestyle of apes alive today, scientists have hypothesized that the very first ones evolved in dense forests, where they successfully fed on fruit, thanks to a few key anatomical innovations. Apes have stable, upright backs. Once the back is vertical, an ape no longer has to walk on the top of small branches like a monkey. Instead, it can grab different branches with its arms and legs, distributing its body mass across multiple supports. Apes can even hang below branches, making them less likely to lose their balance. In this way, they are able to access fruits growing on the edges of tree crowns that otherwise might be available only to smaller species. But was this scenario true for the earliest apes? A 21 million-year-old site in Moroto, Uganda, became an ideal place to investigate this question. There our REACHE team discovered teeth and other remains belonging to Morotopithecus, the oldest ape for which scientists have found fossils from the cranium, teeth and other parts of the skeleton. Two bones in particular helped us understand how this species moved. A lower backbone found decades ago and curated by the Uganda National Museum had already been noted for its bony attachments for back muscles, indicating that Morotopithecus had a stiff lower back, good for climbing upright in the trees. A discovery of our own confirmed this climbing behavior in a major way. At Moroto we found a fossil ape thigh bone that is short but strong, with a very thick shaft. This kind of bone is characteristic of living apes and helps them climb up and down trees with a vertical torso. Three fossilized bones from Morotopithecus: a vertebra, part of a jaw and a femur. L. MacLatchy and J. Kingston Although both skeletal fossils are consistent with the fruit-eating, forest-dwelling ape hypothesis, we found something astonishing when we discovered an ape lower jaw fragment in the same excavation layer. Its molars were elongated, with well-developed shearing crests running between the cusps. These ridges are ideal for slicing leaves but are unlike the low, round, crushing tooth cusps of committed fruit eaters. If ape skeletal adaptations evolved in forests to aid in fruit exploitation, why would the earliest ape showing these locomotor features instead have teeth like a leaf eaters? Such inconsistencies between our evidence and the traditional narrative of ape origins led us to question other assumptions: Did Morotopithecus live in a forested habitat at all? The environment at Moroto To figure out Morotopithecus habitat, we studied the chemistry of fossil soils called paleosols and the microscopic remains of plants they contain in order to reconstruct the ancient climate and vegetation at Moroto. Trees and most shrubs and nontropical grasses are classified as C plants, based on the type of photosynthesis they perform. Tropical grasses, which rely on a different photosynthetic system, are known as C plants. Importantly, C plants and C plants differ in the proportions of the various carbon isotopes they take in. That means carbon isotope ratios preserved in the paleosols can tell us the composition of the ancient vegetation. We measured three distinct carbon isotope signatures, each providing a different perspective on the plant community: carbon resulting from decomposition of vegetation and soil microbes; carbon resulting from plant waxes; and calcium carbonate nodules formed in soils through evaporation. Although each proxy gave us slightly different values, they converged on a single remarkable story. Moroto was not a closed forest habitat but rather a relatively open woodland environment. Whats more, we found evidence of abundant C plant biomass tropical grasses. (A) Forested ecosystem traditionally believed to be the habitat of early apes, which ate fruit at the ends of tree branches, compared with (B) new perspective of grassy woodland ecosystem reconstruction, where early apes lived in open habitats and fed on leaves. Figure modified with permission from MacLatchy et al., Science 380, eabq2835 (2023) This discovery was a revelation. C grasses lose less water during photosynthesis than C trees and shrubs do. Today, C grasses dominate seasonally dry savanna ecosystems that cover more than half of Africa. But scientists hadnt thought the levels of C biomass we measured at Moroto had evolved in Africa until 10 million years ago. Our data suggests it happened twice as far back in time, 21 million years ago. Our colleagues Caroline Stromberg, Alice Novello and Rahab Kinyanjui used another line of evidence to corroborate the abundance of C grasses at Moroto. They analyzed phytoliths, tiny silica bodies created by plant cells, preserved in the paleosols. Their results supported an open woodland and wooded grassland environment for this time and place. Example of typical grass phytoliths, extracted from paleosol at one of the sites, some of which indicate the presence of C grass. Alice Novello Taken together, this evidence dramatically contradicts the traditional view of ape origins that apes evolved upright torsos to reach fruit in forest canopies. Instead, Morotopithecus, the earliest known ape with upright locomotion, consumed leaves and inhabited an open woodland with grassy areas. A new, regional view of early ape habitats Through the REACHE project, we applied the same approach to reconstruct habitats at eight other fossil sites in Kenya and Uganda, ranging in age from around 16 million to 21 million years old. After all, Morotopithecus is only one of several apes that lived during this time period. To our surprise, we discovered that the ecological signal measured at Moroto was not unique. Instead, it was part of a broader pattern in eastern Africa during this time. Our isotopic proxies at each fossil site contributed two significant revelations. First, vegetation types ranged from closed canopy forests to open wooded grasslands. And second, every site had a mixture of C and C vegetation, with some locations having a high proportion of C grass biomass. Phytoliths from the same paleosols again corroborated that abundant C grasses were present at multiple sites. Paleoenvironments for the nine fossil sites analyzed range from closed canopy forest to more open wooded grassland environments. Inset map shows the geographic location of sites in eastern Africa. Dan Peppe The realization that such a variety of environments, especially open habitats with C grasses, was present at the dawn of the apes forces a reassessment not just of the evolution of apes but of humans and other African mammals. Although some studies had suggested such habitat variation was present across Africa, our project was able to confirm it, repeatedly, within the very habitats that early apes and their animal contemporaries occupied. Because the timing of the assembly of Africas grassland habitats underlies many evolutionary hypotheses, our discovery that they existed much earlier than expected calls for a recalibration of those ideas. Regarding human origins, our study adds to a growing body of evidence that our divergence from apes in anatomy, ecology, behavior cannot be simply explained by the appearance of grassland habitats. Nevertheless, we cautiously remind ourselves that hominin evolution unfolded over many millions of years. It is almost certain that the vast and majestic grasslands of Africa played an important role in some of the many steps along the path to becoming human. This article is republished from The Conversation, an independent nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. The Conversation is trustworthy news from experts, from an independent nonprofit. Try our free newsletters. It was written by: Laura M. MacLatchy, University of Michigan; Dan Peppe, Baylor University, and Kieran McNulty, University of Minnesota. Read more: Laura M MacLatchy receives funding from the US National Science Foundation, the LSB Leakey Foundation, the Wenner-Gren Foundation and the University of Michigan. Dan Peppe receives funding from National Science Foundation, Leakey Foundation, Baylor University. Kieran McNulty has received funding from the National Science Foundation, Leakey Foundation, Wenner-Gren Foundation, Leverhulme Foundation, and the University of Minnesota. World Bank member countries have endorsed measures allowing a $50 billion lending boost over the next decade, its outgoing president David Malpass said Wednesday. The move, announced during the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, is part of an ongoing evolution of the development lender amid pushes for it to meet global challenges like climate change. Earlier on Wednesday, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged the World Bank to continue taking on added reform measures this year. "We should use the rest of the year to undertake additional reforms through a staged implementation approach," Yellen said at a roundtable discussion on the evolution of multilateral development banks. The United States is the largest shareholder of the World Bank Group. - 'Signs of progress' - Malpass, who announced his upcoming resignation in February, said in a statement late Wednesday that discussions with shareholders this week have "yielded signs of progress" on issues including a need for greater debt transparency, greater development finance and more impactful climate action. "Our member countries endorsed measures that can add up to $50 billion of IBRD lending capacity over the next ten years," he added, referring to the bank's middle-income lending arm, the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Malpass said there was full recognition of the importance of concessional resources and private sector investment. With financing capabilities falling "far short of the resource needs for development and climate," Malpass stressed that addressing these needs will require a global effort. For now, a development committee paper outlines changes "that provide a foundation for further evolution," said Malpass. These include an affirmation that ending extreme poverty and promoting development remain at the core of the World Bank's work, but efforts towards these goals require "a stronger focus on sustainability, resilience, and inclusiveness." Story continues The paper also contains proposals to support private sector development and private capital facilitation, among others. - 'Historic opportunity' - French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, who attended talks with Yellen and Malpass on Wednesday, said that there is a "historic opportunity" to bring the necessary financial resources to developing countries -- through the reform of development lenders. He noted the need to narrow the growing gap between developed and developing countries, adding that "the situation now has become really critical." And Yellen highlighted that there needs to be efforts for further progress. Global leaders can tap upcoming events such as the Group of 20 Leaders' Summit in September to "keep the momentum strong," she said in a speech. In an interview with AFP ahead of the spring meetings, Yellen added that Malpass, who will leave his position at the end of June, has laid a "solid foundation" for the ongoing reform effort. She expects US candidate Ajay Banga to succeed Malpass and continue the revamp. Other key issues on the spring meetings' agenda include debt restructuring, and leaders at a global sovereign debt roundtable committed Wednesday to further efforts to help speed up restructurings. The debt roundtable is co-chaired by the IMF, World Bank and India, which currently holds the G20 presidency. bys/des The Women's Tennis Association announced on Thursday that they will be ending their boycott of China and will resume playing there in the near future, despite there being no resolution on the situation of Chinese player Peng Shuai. The boycott was inspired by Peng after she alleged in late 2021 that a high-ranking Chinese government official raped her several years ago. She posted the allegations on a Chinese social media site, but it was taken down hours later. Peng disappeared from public view shortly after, sparking concerns for her safety. In response, the WTA instituted a boycott, requested a private meeting with Peng, and called for a "full and transparent" investigation into her accusations. WTA chairman and CEO Steve Simon told The Associated Press at the time " ... the one thing that we cant do is walk away from this." But the WTA never got that investigation from the Chinese government, and it never got to meet with Peng, either. The stance that we took at the time was appropriate. And we stand by that. But 16 months into this, were convinced that our requests will not be met. And to continue with the same strategy doesnt make sense, Simon said Thursday via The Associated Press. So we needed to look at a different approach. With this, our members believe its time to resume the mission in China, where we believe we can continue to make a positive difference, as we have for the last 20 years, while at the same time making sure that Peng is not forgotten. By returning, hopefully more progress can be made. Even though the WTA has not gotten a resolution on the Peng Shuai situation, they have elected to resume holding tournaments in China. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images) The last time Peng, 37, was seen in public was over a year ago, when she had several carefully planned appearances during the 2022 Olympics in Beijing. It was then that Peng attempted to take back her accusation, saying in an interview that she is the one who decided to erase the social media posts, and that she never intended to accuse anyone of sexual assault. Simon said at the time that the interview did not "alleviate any of our concerns about Peng's situation, and he continued to call for a full investigation and a chance to meet privately with Peng to discuss her concerns. Since then there has been virtually no coverage or news about Peng, from the media or from Simon and the WTA. The WTA has not released its schedule for China yet, but Simon said it will be released in the coming weeks. He also said the first tournament there will be in September and the schedule will be similar to what was done in 2019, the last time the WTA had a full slate of tournaments scheduled in China. "Yellowstone" actors Hassie Harrison, left, and Ryan Bingham confirmed they are dating. (Evan Agostini / Invision / AP; Chris Pizzello / Invision / AP) On-screen love interests Hassie Harrison and Ryan Bingham are now an off-screen couple too. On Wednesday, the "Yellowstone" actors confirmed via social media that they are dating in real life. Bingham made their relationship Instagram official by posting a photo of the pair kissing in front of a bonfire in the woods in matching camouflage jackets. "More than a spark," Bingham, 42, captioned the pic. "i love you, cowboy," Harrison, 33, replied. In the popular western drama, Harrison plays barrel racer Laramie and Bingham portrays ranch hand Walker. The characters meet and fall for one another on the Dutton ranch. Naturally, Bingham's Instagram post ignited a wave of excitement among fans of the popular Paramount Network series who expressed their delight and support in the comments section. "from the very first moment I saw you on Yellowstone I KNEW it!" @josiejocape7 wrote. "I swear to God! Flipping Fantastic! What a great couple. ... Sending you guys lots of good wishes from Cape Cod!" "Not cool that you did loyd like this lol," @grkelley2 wrote, making a quip about Laramie's former lover on the show. "congrats yall!" "Yessss!!!!" @lynnieruns wrote. "Ok Lainey [Wilson] and Ian [Bohen] next???" Another "Yellowstone" cast member, Jen Landon (Teeter), also commented with a series of heart-eye emojis. Bingham and Harrison's relationship reveal comes amid a behind-the-scenes controversy involving the "Yellowstone" cast and Paramount Network. Last month, rumors surfaced that Paramount Network was making moves to end the hit series over a scheduling dispute with lead actor and executive producer Kevin Costner. Further fueling speculation, Costner and other main cast members unexpectedly pulled out of Los Angeles' PaleyFest fan event a couple of weeks ago. Despite Costner's glaring absence, Paramount exec Keith Cox told disgruntled PaleyFest attendees that the network is very confident he will continue with the show. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. New York Mayor Eric Adams isn't happy about some of the visitors coming to town. Former President Donald Trump will be deposed Thursday in a civil case brought by New York Attorney General Letitia James, who is leading a fraud investigation into the Trump Organization's business dealings. Meanwhile, House Republicans are preparing to lead a Judiciary Committee hearing Monday in Manhattan that targets Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the city's crime rate. The hearing comes after Bragg indicted Trump, who pleaded not guilty and is now the first former president to be criminally charged. Adams sees the latter as a political stunt, an extension of Trump's campaign and he'd prefer neither the former president and his top House supporters didn't use the city as a backdrop in the latest salvo of the fight. "We thought that we were in a good place because he was in Florida and, you know, he didnt tie up our city," Adams said of Trump during a press conference Wednesday. "Now, hes going to be back here often." New York Mayor Eric Adams, left, introduces Kathleen Corradi, center, as the city's first-ever citywide director of rodent mitigation, also known as the "rat czar," in New York, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. What's next: Trump 2024 campaign strategy after indictment prepares supporters for more charges against him NYC Mayor Adams slams House GOP over crime hearing The House Judiciary Committee, led by Trump loyalist and Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan, will hold a hearing at 9 a.m. Monday in a Manhattan federal building to probe Bragg's crime policies. The Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan" hearing will focus on how Braggs "pro-crime, anti-victim policies have led to an increase in violent crime and a dangerous community for New York City residents," according to the committee. Adams said House Republicans should focus on their own districts, citing data to say Jordan's district in Mansfield, Ohio, has more crime per capita than New York City. "Im a little disappointed that theyre coming here complaining about crime here when, per capita, their crime is through the roof," Adams said Wednesday during an unrelated press conference. Story continues He quipped that, because crime is so high in their districts, perhaps they want to meet with him "and find out what were doing so successfully." Jordan had a different take Wednesday on Twitter: "Major crimes rose 22% in New York City last year. Doesn't sound like 'America's safest big city' to me." Pentagon document leak: Here are the biggest takeaways after U.S. military secrets leaked Why are House Republicans going to NYC? House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, speaks during a subcommittee hearing on Feb. 9, 2023. Adams sees the GOP hearing as a favor to Trump. "This is just an extension of the Donald Trump campaign, and it really makes no sense," he said. Jordan sees it as a justified investigation. "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 said in a tweet Tuesday. Bragg sued Jordan for what the lawsuit described as a "fishing expedition" and "campaign of intimidation, retaliation, and obstruction" that interferes with the Trump case. The lawsuit: Manhattan DA Bragg sues House GOP Rep. Jordan over Donald Trump criminal case Candy Woodall is a Congress reporter for USA TODAY. She can be reached at cwoodall@usatoday.com or on Twitter at @candynotcandace. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: New York Mayor Eric Adams slams Trump, House GOP for crime hearing Podcast host Ethan Klein is claiming in a series of YouTube videos and tweets that his content creator agency stole over $600,000 from him. Days after making allegations against the agency hes had a relationship with since 2017, he confirmed in an April 12 livestream that he was going to get the money back. What happened between Ethan Klein and BBTV? h3h3productions, which is co-founded and owned by Klein and his wife, Hila, partnered with BBTV in 2017. Klein claimed in a video that the original agreement, which has been in effect since the partnership started, said that h3h3 got to keep 100% of YouTube revenue. BroadbandTV (BBTV) was founded in 2005 on the cusp of the digital video revolution and works to help creators grow their audiences and drive revenue. According to its site, BBTV is the second-largest video property in the world after Google in terms of unique viewers. I never thought Id be the last idiot to get by an MCN, but here I am, Klein said in his first BBTV-related video from April 8. MCN stands for multi-channel networks, which began as management companies. BBTV is an MCN. When you sign up with an MCN, YouTube sends all of your ad revenue everything you make via YouTube to them and they send it to you, Klein explained. Klein reiterated that when h3h3productions originally signed the contract, the deal was that they would get 100% of the YouTube revenue. But if a company came to BBTV and asked to have an ad placed either in a podcast episode or in a video, then BBTV could get a cut of that ad revenue. Klein included in his video what he claimed were screenshots from the original contract he signed with BBTV in 2017. Klein also explained why h3h3productions got involved with BBTV in the first place. Klein and his wife started their YouTube account when they still lived in Israel. AdSense, which monetizes YouTube videos, only allows one account per YouTube channel, so since the couple lived in Israel, AdSense was sending money to an Israeli bank. Story continues After the couple moved to the U.S., Klein claimed the only way they could get their YouTube revenue was by having YouTube send it to an MCN and then the MCN would send the money to them. The only way to get paid in our American bank accounts was to send it to the MCN first, he said. Which is crazy. According to Klein, creating a new AdSense account that would connect to the couples U.S.-based bank could take up to two weeks. That meant that, for two weeks, the couples channel would be demonetized and they would make no ad revenue. For me, I was just like, I dont want to go through that, Klein said. But what happened recently was I got my payment stub from [BBTV] like usual, which shows basically how much they paid us. And when I went into YouTube Analytics I noticed it was significantly off. Klein added that he had been outsourcing the task of going through BBTV receipts to an unnamed accountant who he said left h3h3productions three months ago. It turns out, she wasnt checking it at all, he said. I thought that she was doing it, which is why it went on for so long. Klein said he started looking into the BBTV paystub on April 4 and asked h3h3productions accountant to go over other paystubs to see if there were any discrepancies. According to Klein, the accountant allegedly found that BBTV had skimmed at least $620,000 from YouTube membership money. Klein emailed BBTV the same day and included a screenshot of his email in the video. These are people who are coming to us and showing us their direct support, Klein said. That was the whole point of this program. The h3h3productions YouTube channel has over 6 million subscribers and the H3 Podcast channel has almost 3 million subscribers. To join the H3 Podcast channel, users have the option to pay as little as $4.99 a month to $19.99 per month for extra membership perks that include access to the podcast Discord channel, behind-the-scenes videos, members-only chats and bonus weekly podcast episodes. Its one of our main sources of income, Klein said about the YouTube membership. Part of what pisses me off is [BBTV] went after that money. YouTube memberships were not available in 2017 and its unclear whether Klein or BBTV tried to update the original contract when the H3 Podcast started using them. But YouTube membership money is paid through Google and, per the screenshot Klein included that allegedly came from the contract, BBTV had agreed to 100% of Google net revenue going directly to h3h3productions. But, according to Klein, BBTV told him that YouTube memberships were classified as Other Net Revenue, which, allegedly per a clause in the contract, would only allow h3h3productions to get 70% of the total amount of membership money. But Klein had a problem with using the clause as a reason for BBTV to allegedly keep the $620,000. There was no writing, there was no case-by-case basis, he said. This was [BBTV] silently saying, Oh, theres this huge new revenue stream coming in. Lets fucking steal it secretly, silently, and hope they dont notice. BBTV has not yet made a public statement in response to Kleins accusations. A BBTV representative did provide a statement to Tubefilter, which said: In the 18 years that we have been in business supporting thousands of creators across the world, we have never commented on situations with individual creators. That said, we feel the need to set the record straight in the face of Ethan Kleins numerous factually incorrect statements, egregious and untrue allegations, and defamatory comments about BBTV. We have at all times followed our contractual obligations to the letter and are prepared to defend ourselves against these allegations. Klein has added disclaimers to his allegations, including adding in my opinion almost every time he writes or says something along the lines of BBTV and CEO Shahrzad Rafati stole $620,000 from me. Both BBTVs Twitter and Rafatis personal Twitter accounts are private. Klein concluded the video by claiming that during a phone call with an unnamed BBTV employee, the employee said, as paraphrased by Klein: At this time, we believe, by what the contract says, were justified in keeping this money and we will not be paying you back. When I joined BBTV, they were the biggest MCN at the time and theyre a big company, theyre publicly traded, Klein said. So I never thought these guys are going to be stealing money from me. In response to the alleged phone call with BBTV, Klein said he has since paused the YouTube membership and is trying to make a new AdSense account connected to a U.S.-based bank. I dont want this, Klein pleaded at the end of the video. Just give me the money back. In a follow-up video posted on April 9, Klein said his allegations against BBTV have pushed other creators with similar deals with BBTV to reexamine their paystubs and contracts. Klein also included a tweet YouTuber Kavos wrote on March 14 weeks before Kleins public allegations sharing a screenshot of an email allegedly from BBTV that announced payouts would be pushed back a month. In another tweet, Kavos, who has 1.26 million subscribers on YouTube, claimed that after sending them loads of emails and pressure he was paid on time despite the email. I have been with @BBTV for 5 years. Every month on the 15th of each month I have been paid for 5 years. Today everyone receives this email telling us, ONE DAY before pay day, that the payout has been moved to next month Luckily I can afford to take a hit like this but (cont) pic.twitter.com/0gdkgt6Qwb Kavos (@KavosYT) March 14, 2023 Whats interesting is Im looking at my bank account and [BBTV] did pay me on March 16, Klein said in his second video. It seems like theyre only screwing over some creators. But the fear is, why are you paying some people and then not paying other people? On April 12, in a livestream on the H3 Podcasts YouTube channel, Klein announced that BBTV is paying him back the full amount in one payment. According to Klein, Rafati told him on the phone that the money should be sent to him as soon as possible. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post After days of public back-and-forth, Ethan Klein is getting the $620,000 he claims was stolen from him by creator agency appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: YouTuber Tana Mongeau opens up on 'H3' podcast about her so-called 'throuple' with Bella Thorne and Mod Sun Who is Ethan Klein? The YouTuber is best known for h3h3 productions How controversial YouTuber Trisha Paytas has transformed their image in 2021 David Dobrik issues second apology after losing hordes of fans and sponsors President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appointed new heads of the Luhansk and Sumy Oblast State Administrations. Source: the Presidents decrees dated 12 April, posted on the president's website Details: Artem Lysohor was appointed Head of the Luhansk Oblast State Administration, while Volodymyr Artiukh now heads the Sumy Oblast State Administration. Most of Luhansk Oblast is occupied by the Russian invaders, while Sumy Oblast is shelled by Russia on a daily basis. Luhansk Oblast was previously headed by Serhii Haidai [until 15 March - ed.] and Sumy Oblast by Dmytro Zhyvytskyi [until 24 January - ed.]. Earlier: On 11 April, the Cabinet of Ministers approved the appointment of new heads of the Luhansk and Sumy Oblast Military Administrations. In January, President Zelenskyy dismissed the heads of the State Administrations for Kherson, Sumy, Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk oblasts. In mid-March, he dismissed the heads of the State Administrations for Luhansk, Odesa and Khmelnytskyi oblasts. Reference: Artem Lysohor worked in the Ministry of Internal Affairs. In 2015 he was made Deputy Company Commander in the Dnipro-1 Special-Purpose Patrol Police Regiment. From 2016, he served temporarily as Deputy Head of the National Police Department in Zhytomyr Oblast. He was appointed Deputy Head of the Department in the same year. Volodymyr Artiukh devoted 37 years of his life to the army. He was the head of the Podil branch of the Ukrainian State Centre for Radio Frequencies, and later became an adviser to the Head of the Vinnitsa Oblast Military Administration, as well as Deputy Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine [in 2009 - ed.]. Journalists fight on their own frontline. Support Ukrainska Pravda or become our patron! (Bloomberg) -- Zimbabwe will hold talks with the US, UK and the European Union to end an impasse over $14 billion owed to external creditors as it seeks to shore up funding for development programs. Most Read from Bloomberg The southern African nation has been locked out of international capital markets since defaulting on payments to the World Bank and other multilateral lenders more than two decades ago. It resumed token repayments in 2021 to regain access to those credit lines and is seeking an International Monetary Fund staff-monitored program to help implement an arrears-clearance and debt-resolution plan overseen by African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina. The government of Zimbabwe will shortly conduct deeper and direct bilateral engagements with the capitals Washington DC, London and Brussels, Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube said in a presentation to IMF and World Bank executive directors. Adesina and former Mozambican President Joaquim Chissano, a facilitator on the nations debt resolution process, will also visit some of the capitals for direct talks, he said. Ncube is currently in Washington for the IMF and World Bank Spring meetings. Zimbabwe is targeting a High-Level Debt Resolution Forum on May 11, Ncube said. The external debt overhang and lack of access to international financial resources is weighing heavily on the nations development needs and will continue to negatively impact its ability to meet Sustainable Development Goals targets, especially in health, education and social protection, he said. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Stacker looks at the proposed laws that aim to restrict certain topics from being taught in U.S. classrooms. A Spotsylvania County student has been charged in connection with a social media threat that raised concerns over the weekend but was eventually deemed to be not credible. According to police and court records, the 15-year-old Riverbend High School freshman posted a picture on Snapchat showing a young male holding a large gun. The posting warned people to stay away from RHS. Spotsylvania County Sheriffs Maj. Troy Skebo said detectives, school resource officers and school administrators immediately began an investigation and were able to identify the student who posted the threat. Skebo said extra security was sent to Riverbend on Tuesday in an effort to ease concerns, but said the threat was not credible and there was no danger. Students were not in school Monday. Detective Earle Swift met with the student and his parents, an affidavit for a search warrant states, and the boy claimed he had received the picture from another juvenile. The boy told Swift that he was concerned but didnt know if the threat was real. He then decided to send it to other juveniles instead of reporting it to an adult or police, the affidavit states. The boy, who is not being named because he is a juvenile, was arrested Tuesday and charged with felony threats of death or bodily injury to persons on school property. He was placed in the Rappahannock Juvenile Detention Center. Sheriff Roger Harris said that such threats create unnecessary panic for students, parents and faculty. Every threat must be taken seriously, Harris said. This is no laughing matter and even if students believe a threat is a joke, they should let an adult know rather than reposting or sharing images on social media. The search warrant allows Swift to examine the boys phone in an effort to determine if the boys story is true and whether there were others involved. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Burundi and Tanzania have floated a tender for designing and constructing about 282 kilometers of electrified railway, part of East Africas wider cross-border electric railway line plans aiming at boosting the competition for cargo business in the region and helping the region tap a US$3 trillion single market opportunity. What will be the continents second multinational electrified railway is projected initially connect Burundi and Tanzania and pass through the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), as the countries look to tap the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA), the worlds largest single market. The AfCFTA is set to combine Africas population of nearly 1.4. billion people and markets with a current combined GDP of over $3 trillion. The electrified Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project will be implemented for a period of five years and, upon its completion, it is set to become Africas second cross-border electrified rail after Djibouti and Ethiopia launched the continents first fully electric multinational railway line, in 2016. Funded to the tune of US$3.4 billion mainly by the Chinas Exim Bank, the 750km-long Djibouti-Ethiopia line from the Red Sea port of Djibouti to Addis Ababa is still the longest of its kind on the continent. The tender document for the Tanzania-Burundi line indicates that both governments have applied for construction funding from the African Development Bank (ADB). Tanzania has recently begun an aggressive pushed to modernize its railway infrastructure, revamping its aging regional rail networks to facilitate cross-border trade, including through the construction of a SGR network of 2,561 kilometers, linking Dar es Salaam to landlocked countries like the Burundi, DRC, Rwanda, and Uganda. With this investment, the East African country is looking to vault ahead of regional peers including the regions largest economy, Kenya, by providing the most efficient trade routes in the bloc. Moroccos water department plans to announce the company that would build Casablancas desalination plant by years end, water and equipment minister Nizar Baraka said, adding that the competing companies include Moroccan ones. Consecutive droughts emptied many Moroccan dams pushing the government to invest in desalination to free dam water for inner regions. By 2030, Morocco will source 50% of its fresh water from desalination, up from 11% currently, Baraka said. In November, King Mohammed VI urged the government to speed up the countrys renewable energy efforts which would power desalination plants. Industry minister Ryad Mezzour who was speaking together with Baraka at a meeting by the alliance of Istiqlal party economists- said that 70% of the equipment used in desalination plants in the country are made by Moroccan suppliers. Between 1960 and 2020, the availability of renewable water resources decreased from 2,560 m3 to about 620 m3 per person per year, placing Morocco in what is considered a situation of structural water stress, The World Bank said in a recent report. The International Finance Corporation (IFC), an offshoot of the World Bank, agreed to lend Moroccos phosphates and fertilizers giant OCP 100 million euros to fund the building of four solar plants, the two parties said. The agreement was announced during the International Monetary Fund-World Bank Group Spring Meetings in Washington DC. The green loan will help OCP forge ahead with its strategy to reach carbon neutrality by 2040 and fully rely on renewables for the industrial production of fertilizers. The four plants will have a combined peak capacity of 202 megawatts and will be located in Khouribga and Benguerir, OCP said in a statement. Securing this loan is a testimony to the partnership we are building with IFC and the alignment of our institutions addressing the global challenges of food security and climate change simultaneously, said OCP CEO Mostafa Terrab. In 2021, IFC provided OCP with a $100 million loan to support its subsidiary, OCP Africa, to increase the availability of fertilizers and improve training on practices on local soils and crops in Cote dIvoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, and Tanzania. IFC also assisted OCP to obtain EDGE (Economic Dividends for Gender Equality) certification for gender equality in 2022. Speaker of Canadas Senate, George F. Furey has paid tribute to the leadership of King Mohammed VI and to the reforms engaged in Morocco, leading to progress, inclusive and sustainable development. Speaking to journalists following a meeting held Wednesday in Rabat with Foreign minister Nasser Bourita, Furey commended Moroccos key role in the fight against global terror threat and commitment to human rights and gender equality. Economic relations between Morocco and Canada are gaining momentum, said the Senate Speaker, underlining the huge joint business opportunities offered in the sectors of agriculture, aerospace, education, infrastructure and green technologies. Thanks to its close ties with Europe and Africa, the North African Kingdom can serve as a gateway for Canadian companies to expand across the African continent, said Mr. Furey. He also conferred separately with speakers of the House of Representatives and of the House of Councilors. Talks focused on parliamentary cooperation between the two countries legislative institutions, joint political dialogue and consultation on regional and international issues of common interest. After a series of arbitrary arrests and bogus charges against outspoken reporters, Algeria moved to institutionalize its crackdown on free speech through a law that makes muzzling the press a legal process. The law includes provisions forcing journalists to uncover their sources and bans receiving foreign funds, a charge that has been used to shutdown Algerias last free media Radio M, whose editor Kadi Ihsane in chief received 5 years in jail with 2 suspended. Reporters without Borders urged the Algerian Senate to reject the bill, which was approved on March 28 by the lower house. Khaled Drareni, North Africa representative for Reporters Without Borders (RSF), said the effect of the laws will not be positive on journalism in the country. Algeria is ranked 134th out of 180 countries in RSFs 2022 World Press Freedom Index. The law also institutes discrimination by banning Algerian dual nationals from owning all or a part of shares of a media organization. It further restricts access by foreign media organizations by fining them with up to 7400 dollars in case they reported in the country without proper accreditation. Accreditation in Algeria has always been used as a means to restrict access of independent journalists to reporting in the country. The law, according to rights activists, would further bolster the media blackout imposed by Algerian authorities as the country heads straight to economic collapse due to its dependence on oil and gas prices that are doomed to drop while the domestic consumption is set to increase, undermining exports and auguring ill for the countrys social peace. Germanys Defense Minister, Boris Pistorius, Wednesday said the European country will use Niger as base as it remains committed to the Sahel region flagged by ramp insecurity. Our future military engagement in the Sahel will focus on Niger, he said as he embarked on a visit to the African country. Security in the Sahel region is in Germanys particular interest. Although we are ending our military engagement with Minusma, we remain engaged in the region, he added. Germany in November announced pullout from the UN mission in Mali, in the footstep of France and the UK which have accused Malian authorities of working with Russian mercenaries blamed for crimes on populations. The pullout is expected to be complete May next year. The European powerhouse is however planning to send military forces to Niger as part of a European Union mission officially aimed at supporting the African country in the military field. The 60-soldier force is waiting for final parliament approval in April. The EU member initially planned to send soldiers to Niger back in December 2022 to join the EU Military Partnership Mission in Niger (EUMPM Niger). EUMPM Niger is tasked to help the African nation enhance its military logistics and infrastructure and contribute to the countrys military capacity to combat terrorism over a three-year period. The EU launched the mission in February and expects to send up to 50-100 in the first stage, and up to 300 at later stages of the operation. The EUMMP Niger was birthed amid Frances military pullout from several African states, including the Central African Republic, Mali, and Burkina Faso. Niger is facing insurgency in its western Tillaberi region, near the border with Burkina Faso and Mali. The region has been plagued by insecurity sown by terrorist groups including al Qaeda affiliates. The Nigerien army is also fighting Boko Haram activists near the border with Nigeria. Tunisias Foreign minister Nabil Ammar is currently on a working visit to Italy, as Rome presses Tunis to curb waves of illegal migrants batting its coasts. Ammar is expected to meet with Antonio Tajani, his Italian counterpart. The two sides are to discuss global economic interests of both countries, clamping down on illegal migration, increasing investments, developing internal regions and creating employment opportunities for young people in the North African country. Italy is very concerned about socio, economic and political situation in Tunisia and fears that it might compound further the illegal migration crisis it is confronted with. Tunisia Friday said it saved 27,665 migrants trying to cross the Mediterranean and foiled 889 illegal immigration attempts during the first quarter (Q1) of this year. The North African country has emerged as a launching pad for vessels taking risks with migrants after Libya stepped up efforts to curb the phenomenon. As Burkina Faso is dogged in insecurity, 18.846 of its citizens have found refuge in Cote dIvoire, Ivorian authorities indicated Wednesday. The national security council, headed by President Alassan Ouattara, had it that the refugees have settled in north and north-east areas of the country. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees conducted a biometric census of the displaced population and 4, 235 have been counted, the council said in a statement. The president has issued orders to provide humanitarian assistance to the refugee. This measure has also enabled the identification and ongoing development of two transit sites in the departments of Ouangolodougou and Bouna, intended to temporarily accommodate these refugees, pending their return to their country of origin, the statement said. Burkina Faso has, since 2015, been struggling with insecurity posed by bandits and terror groups. The state has lost 40 per cent of the territory to terrorists. According to the the UN refugee agency, at least 100 refugees cross into Cote dIvoire every day. The European Union has been slammed for its inability to act against Samherji, Icelands largest fishing company, following its involvement in one of Africas biggest scandals, as it has exposed the hollowness of its self-declared fight against corruption. The financial scandal named after a 2019 Wikileaks release called the Fishrot Files stretches from Namibia to Iceland, taking in government ministers and involving at least $20m. Samherji was accused of illegitimate trawling in Namibias waters, for which the Iceland-based company allegedly bribed Namibian government officials and embezzled funds, besides intimidating its critics. The racket, carried out in Namibia, Iceland, and Norway, also reportedly involved some Angolan nationals. Unlike Namibia that has apprehended and prosecuted the accused, Iceland has so far failed to even frame charges against those implicated in the scam. In Iceland, no formal charges have been laid against Icelandic suspects, says a joint statement issued by Namibias Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR) and Transparency International Iceland. Instead, Icelandic police are investigating journalists reporting on Samherji, undermining press freedom and anti-corruption efforts. Drago Kos, chair of the OECD Working Group on Bribery in International Business Transactions, has called the Icelandic response to Fishrot almost embarrassing, especially in the face of the EUs self-proclaimed tough stance against corruption and illegal and unregulated fishing. With nearly 1,600km of South Atlantic coastline, fishing is one of Namibias main industries, contributing 3% to the desert countrys GDP and accounting for about 20% of export earnings. The Fishrot scam was uncovered at a time when Namibia was grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic and its economic fallout. It led to the collapse of the fishing industry, wiping out jobs and livelihoods. Samherji, which was also accused of tax evasion in Namibia, left the country in 2020. A year later, it absolved itself of all allegations. As for Iceland, not only has the reputation of one of its most important companies been tarnished, but also the image of the entire country has been battered as it has slipped in the international corruption index over the past years. The mobilization in capital Khartoum and other cities of a paramilitary force headed by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, generally referred to as Hemetti, had raised the risk of confrontation with the federal armed forces, the Sudanese army said this Thursday April 13. The mobilization of the powerful paramilitary, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), represented a clear violation of law, the army said in a rare comment on an ongoing dispute that has hampered a planned transition to democracy. These movements and deployments happened without the agreement of the leadership of the armed forces or even coordination with it, the army spokesman said, adding that their continuation will lead to more tension and divisions that could lead to insecurity in the country. The RSF is a powerful paramilitary force which emerged from militias involved in the conflict in Darfur that broke out two decades ago, and has been accused of widespread human rights abuses. It joined with the military to overthrow long-ruling strongman Omar Hassan al-Bashir in a coup in 2019 and then the two carried out another coup in October 2021. The RSF responded by stating it deploys across the country as part of its duties and as part of its national forces operating within the framework of the law, and in full coordination with the leadership of the armed forces. Hemeti is now deputy leader of Sudans ruling council, which took power after a coup by the army and RSF in late 2021. However, he has recently pulled away from military colleagues and found common ground with a civilian political alliance. According to military forces, Sudans army demanded RSFs withdrawal from Marawi within 24 hours. The two armed bodies have been vying for supremacy as the army tries to establish its authority over all the countrys military forces and the RSF works to maintain its independence since al-Bashirs overthrow. The Israeli Knesset hosted on Wednesday evening, for the first time in its history, a ceremony in Moroccan colors on the occasion of Mimouna, the traditional holiday of Moroccan Jews, which has become a public event celebrated every year in the country. The Mimouna, propagated by Moroccan Jews, is held directly on the night of the end of Passover, as a popular festival marking the return to the consumption of leavened bread (Hametz), banned during the entire week of Passover. On this occasion, a large traditional Moroccan tent was set up in the Knesset square, furnished with traditional Moroccan furniture, while large tables were set up for the dishes that Fassi Jewish families used to serve, most of which are made of leavened dough. The ceremony, presided over by Knesset speaker Amir Ohana, a native of Rabat, was attended by several ministers, MPs, senior officials and their families, the head of the Moroccan liaison office, Abderrahim Beyyoudh, as well as hundreds of citizens. Many of the guests were donning traditional costumes, including the Kaftan, Djellaba and Fouqiah, in addition to the Tarbouch, while local groups performed the most famous traditional Moroccan songs, including some from the Jewish repertoire. Following is Wednesdays full floor speech by state Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte (District 42) on Legislative Bill 626, which would generally ban abortion in Nebraska if an ultrasound detects a fetal heartbeat. All five western Nebraska senators voted to break a filibuster and to give the bill first-round approval. Thank you, Mr. President. I rise in opposition to the IPP motion (to indefinitely postpone) and in firm support of LB 626. I know a lot of people were here last year when LB 933 (a 12-week abortion ban) was heard. Fortunately, I was here at that time. It was part of my time in that short session. I can tell you that 626 has made every every accommodation that was asked for by the opponents of 933 last year and more. I think, as was laid out earlier and in (public hearing) testimony, that were talking about the health of the mother (in the bill) as opposed to the life of the mother. Major change. We can sit here and we can talk about how people are afraid to deliver babies now. Well, are those same people, our surgeons, afraid to go into the operating room and operate? Because every time they do, they run a risk of malpractice or something going wrong. Its part of the process. Human life is the most precious thing in the world. How any of us can think that a child an unborn child is not precious is truly beyond me. I remember when Julie and I were first married. Its one of the happiest days of your life. But, you know, the one that rivals that is the day your first childs born. But, you know, in our case, it was a long journey because in our case we had multiple miscarriages. I remember going to the hospital with Julie when we were told the news that she miscarried, that she had to go through a D and C (dilation and curettage) and the pain that went with that process. But we kept trying, we kept doing that, and ultimately we got to the point to where we got past the first trimester and we were going to have a baby. And then Ill never forget that fateful night when Julie woke up in the middle of the night having cramps. We decided to wait a couple hours until the nurses and doctors were there to call and ask what she should do. We were told at the time, Its probably Braxton-Hicks (contractions), dont worry about it. So she went to parochial school to teach that day. I went to work. And about midmorning, she was doubling over with cramps (and) called the doctor, (who said) Get over to the hospital immediately. I got there, and at that point in time, she was dilated to the point where we had to go forward with the delivery. John was 24 weeks along. Somebody want to talk about a Tic Tac (the size of a roughly 6-week-old fetus)? John was 24 weeks. He weighed a pound and 12 ounces. He looked like a GI Joe doll. He was a perfect child. And he was a fighter. He had a bleed, a brain bleed that was caused from the contractions. Fortunately, we were at St. Es at the time (now CHI Health St. Elizabeth in Lincoln), in a neonatal unit. And John lived for five weeks and died on our 10th wedding anniversary. Theres no greater pain in this world than the loss of a child. So I can tell you that as someone whos lost a child, abortion abortion is critically important to me. No ones going to convince me that my son didnt deserve to live. No ones going to tell me that he was part of tissue. Hes buried in Lincoln Memorial Cemetery. I can take you out there and show you I can show you pictures of us holding him in our arms. He was a real child. We need to protect human life. What kind of a society are we when we say that human life is not worth protecting? And that means every human life. This is not a health care issue. How can it be health care when the perfect result is you take a life? Thats not health care. This is a good bill. Pass it. Among other comments by western Nebraska state senators Wednesday on Legislative Bill 626: Sen. Steve Erdman, Bayard, District 47: Sen. (Jane) Raybould said we should care for the least (among us). I agree with her. I agree with her. But shes got the definition wrong. Those who we should care for are the babies. Its not the mother. Its not those who are choosing to have an abortion. Its the babies. Its the babies. This is about a heartbeat. This is about a human life. Doctors have taken an oath to do no intentional harm. To do no intentional harm what does that mean? If you are a medical professional and you hear a heartbeat, theres only one conclusion you can draw from that, and (its) that its a life. This is not medical care, killing someone. I dont know who we think we are, that we can choose to be God. God created those people. They deserve a chance. Sen. Teresa Ibach, Sumner, District 44: As a mother of triplets, I am pro-life. I believe this is a discussion that we should be having, because to me, there clearly is a compelling government in regulating the practice of abortion. Personally, our current law allowing abortion up to 20 weeks is excessive At this stage of pregnancy, the fetus has a beating heart, the curve of its spine has developed, the fetus has a face and their arms and legs are waving. To me, to abort a baby is unthinkable and we should be protecting these children. Sen. Brian Hardin, Gering, District 48: Since Roe (v. Wade in 1973), 200,000 babies have died in Nebraska, 10% of our entire state population. In the 42 weeks since Dobbs (v. Jackson Womens Health Organization) overruled Roe last June 24, the day we could have provided greater protections for preborn children, 1,800 babies or more have lost their lives to abortion in Nebraska. The Nebraska Heartbeat Act is an opportunity for a generational win, one that people will be able to look back on as a moment in history where a profound shift took place in the state of Nebraska. We can stop the abandonment of women to abortion, protect unborn human beings from violence and take a step toward the restoration of public confidence in the integrity of the medical profession. A baby with a beating heart deserves to be protected. We envision a Nebraska where every life is celebrated, valued and protected. The Lincoln County Sheriff's office has identified the body of the woman found dead on a Union Pacific Railroad locomotive at Bailey Yard. Bernadette Lopez, 42, of Cheyenne, Wyoming, was found by U.P. officials at 9:25 a.m. Sunday. Preliminary results of the autopsy revealed Lopez died from hypothermia seven to 10 days prior to finding her. The locomotive came in to Bailey yard from Cheyenne on April 8, which means she likely died in Wyoming. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office investigation is closed and the case will be turned over to the Cheyenne Police Department. The last two years of Donald Trumps presidency, despite Republicans losing their House majority, were a nonstop engine of conservative judicial appointments. After retaining control of the Senate despite losing the House in the midterm elections, Democrats had planned something similar for this Congress. At the moment, however, their judicial conveyer belt is stalled. The reason: Senator Dianne Feinstein is on medical leave, depriving Democrats of their majority on the committee. There is no way of knowing when, or even if, she will return. If Feinstein were to resign now, she could immediately be replaced by a senator able to perform his or her duties. Feinstein, however, has refused. She recently offered to let another Senate Democrat fill her Judiciary Committee seat until such time as she can resume her duties. The trouble is this maneuver would require either unanimous consent or 60 Senate votes, and Republicans have little incentive to supply the necessary cooperation. In the meantime, the Democratic Partys ability to restock the judiciary rests in Feinsteins hands. Understood by nearly any moral calculus, the choice is obvious. Feinstein is 89 years old, well past both the age and the condition at which most people retire. Her personal wealth is in the high eight figures. She would be fine. On the flip side, her retaining control of a job she cannot perform is already eating up unrecoverable time, which will have effects on the composition of the judiciary that are impossible to calculate but likely to be very large, with an impact on laws affecting millions of people. But the calculus employed by public officials, senators in particular, tends to discard standard moral calculations. It instead places all its weight on the prerogative of the famous and powerful to hold their titles as long as they wish. The office is a kind of private-property entitlement that no larger social good can override. One well-known analog to the current deliberations over Feinsteins decision is the similar debate that surrounded Ruth Bader Ginsburg. After Barack Obama won a second term, some liberals urged the Supreme Court justice (then an octogenarian cancer survivor) to retire while Democrats still held the White House and the Senate. Other liberals insisted it was slightly sexist, bad manners, or gross, to treat her so rudely. Ginsburg herself seemed to be motivated to cling to the office through a combination of believing in her own personal indispensability how dare liberals presume some other justice could simply replace her like some mere cog in a voting machine? and an aversion to the boredom of retirement. These arguments did not age well when Republicans proceeded to win the Senate and then the presidency, and then Ginsburgs cancer returned. Nancy Pelosi has, amazingly, chosen to recapitulate the defenses of Ginsburgs non-retirement on Feinsteins behalf. I dont know what political agendas are at work that are going after Senator Feinstein in that way. Ive never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way, Pelosi told reporters yesterday. Perhaps male senators have not faced similar calls to retire, but Feinsteins predicament is unusual. For one thing, she has stuck to the office for an unusually long time, even by senatorial standards, to a point where her colleagues and staff openly doubt her cognitive functioning. The San Francisco Chronicle reported a series of alarming anecdotes last year: One California congressional Democrat had to reintroduce themselves to Feinstein multiple times during an interaction that lasted several hours; some close to her said that on her most difficult days, she does not seem to fully recognize even longtime colleagues; a month prior, she repeated a question to a witness, word for word, in a hearing with seemingly no awareness of having done so. This situation might be tolerable if far short of ideal as long as her staff can guide her along. But when shes recuperating away from Washington, her constituents are effectively disenfranchised. Finding analogous cases of male Supreme Court justices pushed to the side isnt hard. After a private lobbying campaign, Anthony Kennedy strategically retired in 2018, at the age of 81, enabling a Republican president to name his successor. In general, men and women in many fields of American life are routinely pushed out of their jobs when they reach an advanced age (often much younger than Feinstein). And nearly all those are cases in which the social value of the job is infinitesimal compared with that of a senator holding a decisive vote. Pelosi isnt arguing that its better for women on net to allow Feinstein to stay in office. That argument would be nearly impossible given the stakes of the judiciary on abortion rights, let alone on all the other issues handled by the courts. Her case rests on elevating the individual prerogative of a senator above the millions of people she serves. It is to forget that senators are public servants at all to conceive of the role as a place of honor in American life and believe that stripping it away constitutes some form of punishment. The Senate imagines and to an extent conducts itself as an exclusive club. Its splendor and majesty are a favorite subject of senatorial speeches, especially in those rare moments when the body is functioning. The effect of this belief system on the egos of the 100 members is difficult to overstate. It provides the context in which Feinsteins overly long good-bye seems rational and not an act of almost sociopathic indifference to the people shes supposed to be serving. The Queen said, "My grandsons have taken my shilling, therefore they must do their duty," according to General Sir Mike Jackson in the new documentary The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Prince Harry, Prince William and Queen Elizabeth Queen Elizabeth expected grandsons Prince William and Prince Harry to "do their duty" by serving their country. In the new ITV documentary The Real Crown: Inside the House of Windsor, former British Army officer General Sir Mike Jackson recalled a conversation he had with Queen Elizabeth about her grandsons. "The chiefs have an audience with The Queen once or twice a year. You need to have done your homework," he recalled. "She's very wise I used to tell my staff, see if you can get the midday slot. Um, because after half an hour or 40 minutes, the Queen would ring a small bell and 'Time for a Sherry, I think, CGS." "What goes on in those audiences and who says what to whom, remains for the two people involved," he continued. "And I will break the rule, uh, 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." Jackson added that with Prince William as second in line to the throne at the time, the risk of him serving on the frontlines was deemed "too great." However, he said "the risk was acceptable" for Prince Harry. Related:Queen Elizabeth Denied King Edward VIII's Dying Wish to Grant Wallis Simpson HRH Title, New Doc Claims Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Prince William Prince William, now 41, spent over seven years in full-time military service. Following the completion of his time with the Household Cavalry, he undertook attachments to the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy. He spent three years as a search and rescue helicopter pilot before retraining as a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance. Prince Harry, now 38, graduated from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in 2005 and served in the British Armed Forces for a decade. He rose to the rank of Captain, deploying twice to Afghanistan and completing elite training to fly Apache helicopters. Story continues Prince Harry wrote extensively about his military experience in his memoir Spare, released earlier this year, saying that he wanted to leave the war in Afghanistan with his "conscience intact." Chris Jackson/Getty Prince William and Prince Harry 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! In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE surrounding the release of his book, the Duke of Sussex addressed how he reconciles the ethical impacts of war. "I don't know that you ever fully reconcile the painful elements of being at war. This is something each soldier has to confront, and in the nearly two decades of working alongside service personnel and veterans, I've listened to their stories and have shared mine," Harry told PEOPLE. "In these conversations, we often talk about the parts of our service that haunt us the lives lost, the lives taken. But also the parts of our service that heal us and the lives we've saved," he added. "It's a duty, a job and a service to our country and having done two tours of duty in Afghanistan for my country, I've done all I could to be the best soldier I was trained to be," Prince Harry said. "There's truly no right or wrong way to try and navigate these feelings, but I know from my own healing journey that silence has been the least effective remedy. Expressing and detailing my experience is how I chose to deal with it, in the hopes it would help others." For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The Auburn University Food Pantry has seen in recent months a staggering uptick in the number of students facing food insecurity. In 2022, the pantry had just over 1,400 visits. So far in 2023, that number has jumped to around 1,000 visits per month from students. Due to the increase in activity, the pantry is now reaching out to the public for help. Sarah Grace Kaschak, a coordinator for Auburn Cares who oversees the campus food pantry, said they are in need of food and toiletry donations, monetary donations and volunteers. Anyone from the public can donate their time or resources. Weve grown exponentially and so were just really struggling to keep our shelves stocked, Kaschak said. Were just really, really struggling to feed the amount of students that really need our services right now. The food pantry is essentially a small grocery store located in the Melton Student Center on Auburns campus. Its a place where students struggling with food insecurity can get a variety of non-perishable foods, refrigerated and frozen items, as well as toiletries. The pantry is open four days a week. The pantry typically receives bulk orders from local grocery stores each week, but its not enough for them to keep up with the need. A recent Monday delivery saw 62 students waiting in line Tuesday morning so they could get first choice on food and toiletries. Kaschak said they served over 190 students in the four hours the pantry was open that day. Currently over 80 percent of the pantrys users are graduate students living on a fixed income with a graduate stipend. Kaschak said their workload often doesnt lend itself to finding an outside job to supplement their stipend, resulting in a tight income for many. The demand is so high that they come, and they wait in line for hours to shop, Kaschak said. They wait in line for an hour to checkout solely. Because they know that if they dont get there first, then by a couple days later if they wait we may be out of some of the items that they want. The annual SEC Food Fight Event, which raises funds and items for SEC school food pantries, has generated $30,000 for Auburn in the last two years. The food pantry spends that amount on groceries each month alone. The Auburn Food Pantry has been on campus for 12 years. However, a recent move to the more centrally located Melton Student Center has made it more visible to students. Kaschak said the move along with increasing their business hours is part of the reason for student uptick. However, Kaschak also cites increased housing and grocery costs without a comparable increase in wages as adding to the problem. Their money just isnt going as far, so a lot more people are really struggling, Kaschak said. The public can help the food pantry by giving monetarily, donating food or volunteering their time. For donations, some of the more popular items students look for include rice, produce, breakfast foods, such as oatmeal, cereal, muffin mix and grits. They also prefer snacks, like gold fish, trail mix, pretzels or peanuts. Monetary donations can be made to the food pantry by visiting Auburngiving.org/OCMfoodfight. Item donations can be dropped off at the pantry from 7:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday in the Melton Student Center, Suite 1206. For more info on how you can help, visit the campus food pantry section on Auburns website. Former Lee County Commission Human Resources Director Erica Baker Norris has filed a lawsuit against the Lee County Commission under claims of racial discrimination and is requesting a trial by jury. Chase Estes, Norris attorney, said Norris notified her supervisor in January 2022 that she believed she was being subjected to race discrimination. About two months after the initial complaint, she was issued a final written warning for alleged policy violations. Norris has worked in the human resources field for about 20 years in different roles, including president of the Alabama Association of Public Personnel Administration. She served as the human resource director for the Lee County Commission from June 2016 until September 2022. She is also the current president pro temp of the Opelika City Council and the councilwoman representing Ward 2. In Norris complaint, she said there were several occasions where she told her supervisor that she felt she was being targeted. She said she was subjected to harassment and discrimination on the basis of her African American race and treated differently than a Caucasian counterpart. Norris stated she also informed the Commission in April 2022 of additional instances of race discrimination, including hostile work environment, retaliation and discrimination in Commission offices. Ms. Norris reported that there had been African American employees that were demoted or disciplined for inappropriate behavior and Caucasian employees who were not demoted or disciplined for similar behavior, the complaint states. The document states an independent review substantiated that a employee used derogatory terms to refer to President Joseph Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. The review further confirmed that the same employee made a reference to tie a noose around another employees throat, but no record was found that this allegation was ever followed up on by the Commission, according to the complaint. In June 2022, Norris made a request for FMLA leave (Family and Medical Leave Act), but her supervisor told her it was not sufficient for FMLA leave. Norris requested an update on the status of her FMLA leave in July, and the court document states she believes the untimely response to her request was in retaliation to her earlier grievances. In September 2022, Norris was informed she was being terminated for multiple policy violations, but Norris says she did not commit any of the violations that were cited. On Sept. 27, 2022, Norris filed a charge of race discrimination with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission in Birmingham. On April 11, she filed a federal lawsuit in the Middle District of Alabama stating that she was terminated because of her race and in retaliation for reporting discrimination and harassment based on race, according to the release. An Opelika-Auburn News reporter reached out to the Lee County Commission for comment. Holly Leverette, the county administrator, said they do not comment on ongoing litigation. The Auburn-Opelika Aviation Association will be hosting a fly-in and charity event on Saturday at the Auburn University Regional Airport from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pilots from around the southeast will showcase their planes. Food truck vendors will be set up and there will be a raffle. The event will be like a car show but for airplanes, said Adam Romito, the president of the association. Its just a chance to hang out, check out planes and talk to folks. You can bring a chair. Its just a laid back, fun thing to do, he said. Raffle winners will have the opportunity to schedule an hour-long discovery flight over Auburn with an instructor either in a Piper Cherokee plane or in a helicopter with South Atlanta Helicopters. Raffle tickets will be sold for $5 a ticket or $15 for a set of five. Winners will be notified through email or a text message. To make a donation or to purchase a raffle ticket ahead of time, contact Romito at 334-524-5800. All proceeds from the raffle will go towards the cost of treatment for 22-year-old Trentin Dupper, who is battling Ewings Sarcoma. Its a rare form of cancer in the bones or soft tissue around the bones. Dupper will be continuing treatment at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. Romito, a 37-year-old Opelika native, said his idea for the fly-in event came from his desire to build an aircraft community for pilots and other people in the community as well as to support and raise funds for Dupper. During the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, Romito left the music industry scene in Nashville and decided to learn to fly airplanes. His friend Quintin Dupper, Trentin Duppers brother, became his flight instructor. In 2022, they established the Auburn-Opelika Aviation Association with the help of Auburn University Regional Airport Director Bill Hutto and Assistant Airport Director Adam Foutz. Theres so many aircraft owners and pilots around here that we felt it was a need to start an organization to kind of get everybody together, Romito said. Romito always had an interest in airplanes but never knew how to get started until Brion Gluck invited him to fly a warbird plane. Romito met Gluck in 2019 at a car race in Atlanta. Since dividing into the world of aviation, Romito has made it his mission to help introduce others to flying as well as helping others with purchasing or managing aircraft. He said he also wants to share what hes learned with the next generation. In the future, he hopes to be able to put together a scholarship for high school graduates pursuing a career in aviation. He also has a goal to plan fly-in events twice a year one in the spring and one in the fall. Its been really cool to see the last three years how much aviation has changed around here, Romito said. Southern Union State Community College in Opelika is getting ready to launch an aviation technology program in the fall, and Romito said hes enjoyed helping out Richard Belk, the director of the program, where they can. Homework for the class, please tell me the Spotify streaming numbers on SWV's "Weak" and Xscape's "Understanding" because... I really liked this show especially since we KNOW the drama with Xscape stretches way back before everyone scrambled to get on these shows and make up storylines.OP's fave of the series is Taj and Coko's "I sold 30 million records bitch" lives rent free in my head.He might live in Atlanta, but Rocky seems to love snow and stealing. Shockingly he didn't burst into flames entering the gospel studio.Looks like more drama is stirred up on social media which I don't keep up with them like that so... but their co-headlining show seemed to be great even if there were no horses. awful and wholly unsurprising. on a brighter note, i really enjoyed her graphic novel Squad. Reply Thread Link This is disgusting but not surprising. It's so scary to realize that media giants can rewrite history as they wish Reply Thread Link Ugh, I hate this so much. Thanks for posting this story. Also, the fourth bullet had me wondering how Todrick Hall got involved. Edited at 2023-04-12 10:54 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Fixed now! Reply Parent Thread Link Todrick-Hall refused the offer OP this typo I'm lmao. I was so confused why he was in it. Anyway fuck Scholastic!! Reply Thread Link LMAO imagine todrick hall refusing an offer aside from the offer to pay a dancer Reply Parent Thread Link Scholastic has a track record with this type of nonsense, specifically with Asian-American stories. I've been working on an article about the Dear America series. (If you aren't familiar with them, they were fictional diaries from the perspective of girls from different time periods. They are almost all told from white character perspectives, aside from a handful of black characters, and 2 Native-American characters but these 2 books were massively criticized for how poorly they handled the subject matter.) I'm just now getting writing up the 2010 revival, which opened with a book set during the Japanese-American internment... and Scholastic chose to hire a writer to write a book from the perspective of a white girl whose father willingly entered one to be a missionary. Reply Thread Link i loved the Dear America series as a kid. i'd be really interested in reading your article when you're done! (if you're ok w that, of course.) Reply Parent Thread Link big same!! OP pls share if you wish when it is finished. I loved this series as a kid. Reply Parent Thread Link I loved the series too. I still enjoy it, it's just now in that pile of things of "Enjoying the books individually while understanding the books and the series through a critical lens too." Looking back into the series requires a lot of challenging my own personal nostalgia, that's for sure. I'm also kind of expanding the article into the companion My Name is America & Royal Diaries series as well, though the main focus is Dear America. I started writing something years ago and only recently got back to working on it. I can definitely send you a link whenever it's done! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link same I was a huge fan as a kid! Reply Parent Thread Link You covering them boy ones too? I always felt like those got some god-awful depressing stories. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link omg was that series related to the one about princesses?? i remember reading the fiction diaries of princesses marie antoinette and kaiulani. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Ughhh wtf Please do write about this!!! Reply Parent Thread Link I was super into the Dear America series as a kid and would love to read your article when it's completed! Reply Parent Thread Link This is gross and unsurprising but also makes me heave a big sigh because I'm sure this type of convo is going on alllll the time behind the scenes as publishers try to navigate hysterical white supremacists fee-fees. What stories are we losing out on? Even the "indie" presses aren't safe. A lot of them are bankrolled by the children of right-wing billionaires playing at being artists. Reply Thread Link Conservatives want a world in which racism doesn't exist, not even as a term, but do nothing to stop actual racism and even engage it in themselves. They all love the poorly educated. Reply Thread Link That's why they push for homeschooling Their base is only educated with harmful rhetoric, and it's a threat to their future if their kids go to PUBLIC SCHOOL. Reply Parent Thread Link I read an article the other day about a podcast on how to homeschool your children Nazi-style. Like LITERALLY Nazi-style. ETA: found it Edited at 2023-04-12 11:10 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Expand Link 100%. I know someone who's home-schooled, and they will occasionally express regret about their situation. They never say that it's because of their upbringing, and maybe there's more to it, but I think that must be a big part of it. They talk of isolation and of boredom and about not having many friends. I don't know them well (we're just online acquaintances), so I never comment, but sometimes I want to say, maybe you need to get a job? Get out into the real world? Experience all of these things that you've only read about or watched on a screen? I think they're financially dependent on their parents, so they can't just leave, and it makes me sad. They know there's something missing, and they can't do anything about it. Reply Parent Thread Link And they don't want their [white] kids to learn ANYTHING that might ~upset them, but they also do absolutely anything they can to avoid talking to or parenting their own kids. Teachers should do it for them, but no, not like that!! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Wow fuck them, thats just beyond. I wish the circumstances didnt suck but Im grateful this book is now on my radar bc it sounds amazing Reply Thread Link Love that conservatives are getting exactly what they fucking wanted even though they are completely outnumbered. Reply Thread Link https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/01/18/463488364/amid-controversy-scholastic-pulls-picture-book-about-washingtons-slave And yet they saw nothing wrong with that book portraying one of George Washingtons slaves as a fulfilled chef until they got called out. Reply Thread Link This is HORRIBLE. Fuck Scholastic for this. (I also always love to take the opportunity to point out the Succession-style drama that happened/continues to happen since the CEO's death in 2021this is a free link! https://www.wsj.com/articles/succession-drama-grips-scholastic-ceos-sudden-death-an-office-romance-and-a-surprise-will-11627850787?st=yrcwzbvhmxgwtom&reflink=desktopwebshare_permalink) Reply Thread Link as an author none of this shit surprises me the majority of these publishers (even mid-sized ones like Scholastic) pretend to give a fuck but really are only concerned about their bottom line, and if it means appeasing racists and conservatives, they're often happy to that's not to harp on individual imprints and editors (though many are messy too). these are probably CEO-level/admin/marketing decisions that trickle down and make life hell for everyone. Reply Thread Link Disappointing but not surprising. Everyone is all for StopAAPIHate but people change their tune once they are confronted with the fact that anti-Asian racism has existed for centuries and requires unpackaging this history to address the root of the issue Reply Thread Link The AAPI support after the Atlanta spa shooting was so performative. Lots of people/businesses posted about it once and that was it. There were some additional posts in May 2021 for AAPI heritage month because it was only about a month later, but I noticed that in 2022 things went back to the pre-pandemic level of little to no publicity/social media/anything about it. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, I don't expect better from Scholastic. And given the quality of Scholastic's licensed editions, she's better off declining that offer anyway. Reply Thread Link The fucking perv was last seen around a high school. DIE. Reply Thread Link Where I graduated from 20 years ago...small world :[ Reply Parent Thread Link ...i thought he was living in mexico... going by drake campana Reply Thread Link yeah i thought he was hiding out there Reply Parent Thread Link According to the police report, Bell, whose real name is Jared Drake Bell, was seen traveling in a 2022 gray BMW and his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School on 4/12/2023 just before 9 p.m. It hasn't been too too long, so I wonder if his friends/family have other reasons to think he's endangered. Reply Thread Link My thought is that he probably has a minor with him and they arent releasing those details. Reply Parent Thread Link if he had a minor with him, wouldn't an AMBER alert go out? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Wouldn't the emphasis be put on the missing child with an Amber alert? Reply Parent Thread Expand Link https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna79552 Edited at 2023-04-13 06:05 pm (UTC) Police are now saying hes been found safe. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link the area of Mainland High School Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah my first thought it hasn't even been 24 hours Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Better he endangers himself than more children... Reply Thread Link Considered endangered?? Reply Thread Link maybe they think he is likely to harm himself?? Reply Parent Thread Link He may be on drugs. Reply Parent Thread Link Back in June 2021, Bell pleaded guilty to a felony charge of attempting to endanger children and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. He was later sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service So he's still on probation and missing... Reply Thread Link Sorry to his family and whatever friends he might have, but as long as he's not hurting any innocent people or kids, *shrug* Reply Thread Link I don't believe in curses but is The Amanda Show cursed? Reply Thread Link I would not be shocked if a whole lot of horrible things happened on that set that negatively impacted the well being of the kids that were on it. Trauma can fuck you up for life (but also theres no excuse for Drake Bells actions as an adult of course) Reply Parent Thread Link it was a Dan Schneider production. Reply Parent Thread Link nickelodeon at that time at a whole seemed to have a very toxic power structure and dan schneider in particular is someone who hasn't got what's coming to him Reply Parent Thread Link i honestly think when it comes to child stars at this point knowing what we know we can assume in cases where we dont know that something super fucked up was going on until proven otherwise, even if it was only exploitation and the inherent trauma of being in the public eye before you were old enough to understand what you were signing up for Reply Parent Thread Link the last thing I heard about him was that he got caught huffing in his car while his baby was in the backseat and this was after he got accused of being abusive/predatory, so yeah... I hope he's found and that his loved ones are doing okay. Reply Thread Link This guy has a kid? I hope he stays far away from his baby. Reply Parent Thread Link his wife left him after this news came out and he went into rehab. didn't know he was out until today. honestly what a pathetic existence. all he had to do was not be a predator. Reply Parent Thread Link I just hope he only endangers himself and no one else. Reply Thread Link One less pedo. Reply Thread Link I mean, I dont want to see him harm anyone else but I cant say I care about his health or safety. Reply Thread Link yeah i just hope his baby is ok. he can rot. Reply Parent Thread Link Oh no Reply Thread Link TMZ updated the article to say he was seen at seaworld with his one year old on Tuesday. I hope the child is safe and okay. Reply Thread Link I'm surprised he has visitation rights. Or, I guess this could be considered supervised visitation? Reply Parent Thread Link Ugh same <3 poor bb Reply Parent Thread Link Edited at 2023-04-13 10:48 pm (UTC) looking forward to not having to shelve more of her books at work Reply Thread Link Lmao she took up *multiple* shelves. Omg. Reply Parent Thread Link shew almost as bad as James Patterson! Reply Parent Thread Link oh my god I just put two and two together, I spent so much time confusing her with Ann Rule!! Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Yeah I remember watching Heavenly Creatures on Bravo as a kid. The whole story is crazy and sad. "Because they were minors, the girls were spared the death penalty and instead each served five years in prison. Later Hulme would rename herself Anne Perry, move to Scotland & work various jobs, before becoming a published writer." This is so wild! Looking at the real-life pictures...Peter and Fran did a good job with casting. Reply Thread Link I think part of their sentence was they had a no contact order. I wonder if either one ever sent a Facebook poke or something to the other. Reply Thread Link Okay but "facebook poke" just sent me into hysterics looooool!! Reply Parent Thread Link Reportedly they both moved to the UK under their new identities at one point.. but its unclear if they had any contact. The only info I could find on the other woman (Parker) is that she became a riding instructor for children. Reply Parent Thread Link This is apparently false from what I've read Reply Parent Thread Link Of course. Boo! But I suppose that would be very hard to enforce. Reply Parent Thread Link Holy shit Also intense friendship lol okay Reply Thread Link Oh RIP too Reply Parent Thread Link I remember reading that they said unlike the movie they were not lesbians. I always wonder if that was true or was it just an intense friendship Reply Parent Thread Link obviously, it could have been that. But i feel like sometimes people think things only get intense or all consuming in sexual/romantic relationships. And that's just not true. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link They both deny it but they also both ended up with long-term female partners. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link This is nuts A fucking murderer became a published author, fuck this Good riddance psycho Reply Thread Link And the other friend who helped her with the murder apparently became a riding instructor FOR KIDS!! What in the world man. Reply Parent Thread Link whaaaaaaat the HELL Reply Parent Thread Link Wait until you hear about that old lady who wrote Where The Crawdads Sing Reply Parent Thread Expand Link Working as a mental health therapist https://graziamagazine.com/articles/candy-jessica-biel-true-story/ Well it's like the "Candy" true crime story, Candy Montgomery acquitted but all signs pointed to her killing her lover's wife, Betty Gore. Hit her 41 times with an axe and claiming self defense... and now guess what she does?Working as a mental health therapist Reply Parent Thread Expand Link how the hell did i not know that SHE was one of the girls from heavenly creatures. Reply Thread Link UHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH also this reminds me of that Where the Crawdads sing(?) author who is also wanted for potentially murdering someone? lordy jesus Reply Thread Link I think her husband and stepson (?) are suspects Reply Parent Thread Link But she's wanted in Zambia for questioning. Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah, she's connected to it through them, but I don't think there's any evidence she personally took the shot or disposed of the body. She's murder-adjacent. It's weird how much Crawdads reads like a confession. Like, in her mind, she is wholly justified for her role in this and other people are unfairly persecuting her. Reply Parent Thread Link No, her step-son Reply Parent Thread Link WHAT Reply Thread Link This is wild! Holy shit. Reply Thread Link I always forget who was who in the Heavenly Creatures film confused. I try to remember she was played by Kate Winslet Edited at 2023-04-13 11:02 pm (UTC) Reply Thread Link Melanie Lynskey was Pauline Reply Parent Thread Link Kate played Juliet. Reply Parent Thread Link i remember it cause Melanie is a kiwi so she played the new zealand girl Reply Parent Thread Link Lol wait, did people not know this? Is this more of a true-crime weirdo thing? Well, RIP, sort of. Reply Thread Link I barely remember the book and only because it had a movie that flopped Reply Parent Thread Link I knew, so my "don't know how to react to this" is more about THAT than the fact that others didn't know her lol Reply Parent Thread Link I definitely did not know Reply Parent Thread Link I either saw or heard about Heavenly Creatures ages ago and forgot what it was about, and definitely didn't associate this lady with that story. I saw the headline earlier that this old lady author died and thought "oh sad" with no clue about her background until this post I want more deets did she ever marry and have a family? Did she have siblings or a dad, and what happened to them? What a sad story. Reply Parent Thread Link There have been a few books about the case/her, but I never read any & can't recommend anything. Reply Parent Thread Link I recommend Anne Perry and the Murder of the Century by Peter Graham. Reply Parent Thread Link I had no idea Reply Parent Thread Link ok, well since the comments are the way they are... have y'all checked out the podcast Witnessed: Devil in the Ditch season 4? Reply Thread Link Am I misremembering or did she convert to Mormonism? Reply Thread Link According to USA Today she" joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" sometime after moving to Scotland. Reply Parent Thread Link That's what her Wiki page says. Reply Parent Thread Link truthfully, i never considered there to be mormons outside the US....according to google they are, but like its just a US grown religion, im surprised it spread Reply Parent Thread Link That cult has like the most well organized and expansive missionary operation in the current world. Reply Parent Thread Link she became a mormon while living in the us, so that was also the case here. Reply Parent Thread Link I was 14 when a Colombian girl told me (Black Londoner) that she was Mormon. I genuinely had no idea what it was and thought she was making it up. Kept saying thats not a religion? lol :( Reply Parent Thread Link considering her beliefs as a delusional teenager, it's not surprising Reply Parent Thread Link I....... don't know how to react to this lol Reply Thread Link RIP. I have a few of her lace leotards, they're always fun to wear. Reply Thread Link Omg so jelly! Reply Parent Thread Link "Good taste is death, vulgarity is life" #UglyClothingPride RIP Reply Thread Link She looks like she has stolen ideas/ designs from people of color her whole life Reply Thread Link I know I've heard this name before but RIP. Reply Thread Link I don't know anything about this lady but I think I first heard about her from Ricky from My So Called Life. RIP. Reply Thread Link Same here, and that was my first though when I saw the news. Reply Parent Thread Link I knew I heard her name from somewhere. Reply Parent Thread Link this is exactly what i was thinking of. Reply Parent Thread Link same! I remember that episode Reply Parent Thread Link I dont remember the episode! Can you summarize please? Ricky was the best character. Reply Parent Thread Link I think it was the one where Pati was trying to get Angela to do some mother and daughter modeling show. Pati was sewing their dresses and Ricky mentions that the style reminded him of Mary Quant. I think the episode was called Self Esteem. Reply Parent Thread Link Omggggg I remember! Bless you. I need to rewatch the series. Reply Parent Thread Link I have been super into mod fashion lately but also had no idea she was alive. that's a very cool quote tho. Reply Thread Link First Paco Rabanne, now Mary Quant... RIP to the mod fashion greats. Reply Thread Link oh dang, I didn't know she was with us this whole time (until now). she certainly made her mark on the world Reply Thread Link I remember checking out huge vintage fashion books from the library as a teen and never wanting to give them back. I loved her designs. The colors, the short skirts, and that haircut was iconic for the time! Reply Thread Link a true legend! gonna wear a mini skirt today for ha Reply Thread Link In this free webinar will discuss how to pull everyone together to reduce time lost to rework, enhance your organization's reputation, and improve margins by: Focusing on the distinctive characteristics of high-performing teams , Achieving a richer understanding of the supports needed for quality inspections at scale, Leveraging data and metrics to discover how to continuously improve performance and outcomes , Communicating more effectively among team leaders, team members, and other stakeholders The small Caribbean nation of Guyana is experiencing a colossal oil boom which keeps getting bigger and bigger. In January 2023, ExxonMobil, which is the operator, made yet another world-class oil discovery in the prolific 6.6-million-acre Stabroek Block offshore Guyana. The energy supermajor has made over 30 high-grade discoveries in the block since 2015. These endowed Exxon, which holds a 45% working interest in the Stabroek Block, and its partners, Hess owning 35% and CNOOC 25%, over 11 billion barrels of recoverable oil resources. The quality and volume of discoveries saw Exxon fast-track development of the Stabroek Block, which in as little as five years went from discovery to first oil. Guyana, which is enjoying explosive economic growth because of the oil boom, is on track to become a major global oil producer and exporter. There are many indicators that the former British colonys petroleum potential is far greater than originally anticipated. Ministry of Natural Resources data shows by the end of February 2023, Guyana was pumping 383,000 barrels per day from two Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSOs) vessels operating in the Liza oilfield in the Stabroek Block. That makes the former British colony the seventh-largest oil producer in Latin America and the Caribbean. It is believed that Exxon can, through optimizing operations, increase production from the two FPSOs operating in the Stabroek Block to 400,000 barrels per day. A third vessel FPSO Prosperity is en route to Guyana, having left its Singapore shipyard in February 2023. That vessel is destined for the Payara development, which on start-up in 2023, is targeting production of 220,000 barrels per day. Guyana, according to Hess Chief Executive John Hess, is on track to be pumping 1.2 million barrels per day from six FPSOs in the Stabroek Block by 2027. That represents a substantial increase over previous estimates, which put expected petroleum output at 850,000 barrels per day by the end of 2027. This significant increase in estimated production is due to Exxon fast-tracking the development of the Stabroek Block, which the supermajor outlined as a priority in early December 2021. By mid-2022, Exxon was planning to drill 35 wells in the Stabroek Block during 2023, which will likely lead to further quality oil discoveries and potentially drive production to levels higher than anticipated. The January 2023 Fangtooth SE-1 discovery, according to Hess, is so significant it will underpin another development in the Stabroek Block to support an additional FPSO. That will not only bolster the volume of oil resources but support production growth to at least 1.2 million barrels per day and likely even more. Related: OPEC: The Oil Market Is Less Tight Than A Year Ago While the prolific Stabroek Block is catching the global oil industrys attention, it isnt the only operation in offshore Guyana. Canadian junior explorer CGX Energy, operator of the Corentyne Block, during May 2022 announced a light oil and gas condensate discovery in the northern part of that block with the Kawa-1 wildcat well. The well was drilled to a total depth of 21,578 feet finding hydrocarbons in multiple zones with 228 feet of net pay in the Maastrichtian, 66 feet in the Campanian, 23 feet in the Santonian and 15 feet in the Coniacian intervals. CGX stated the results of further analysis of the well was consistent with other discoveries made in blocks neighboring the northern segment of the Corentyne Block, notably those in Block 58 offshore Suriname. The Kawa-1 discovery supported CGXs seismic and lithological studies paving the way for a second exploration well Wei-1, which was spudded in January 2023. Wei-1 is located roughly nine miles to the northwest of Kawa-1 in the northern segment of the Corentyne Block. Source: CGX Energy. It is anticipated that Wei-1, which is targeting the Maastrichtian, Campanian and Santonian intervals, will be drilled to a total depth of 20,500 feet over a period of five months at an estimated cost of $120 million to $140 million. Frontera, which holds a 68% working interest in the Corentyne Block and owns 77% of CGX, believes the petroleum fairway in the Stabroek Block extends through the northern tip of Corentyne into Block 58 offshore Suriname. CGX, because of budget constraints, is currently in the process of relinquishing its interests in the Berbice and Demerara Blocks offshore Guyana, a procedure that commenced in September 2022. This forms parts of CGX and Fronteras strategy of focusing on the Corentyne Block, which is believed to hold the most potential. It is, however, extremely likely that if the Wei-1 well proves successful that the companies will need to find a partner with deep pockets to farm into the Corentyne Block to fund appraisal and development activities. Guyanas 2022 licensing round has been underway since December 9, 2022, with bids closing on April 14, 2023. There are 14 offshore blocks for tender comprised of three deepwater blocks located to the northeast of the Exxon-operated Kaieteur Block and 11 shallow water blocks situated west of the Repsol-operated Kanuku Block. The shallow water blocks have a two-year exploration period which is extended to three years for deepwater blocks with an initial 10-year production period for both. The auction has attracted the interest of at least 10 energy companies including supermajors Shell, Petrobras and Chevron, all of which possess considerable capital to invest in what has become the worlds hottest frontier oil play. Georgetown will introduce a new production-sharing agreement when awarding successful bids. The new PSA, while not as favorable as the previous contract secured by the Exxon-led consortium for the prolific Stabroek Block it still offers beneficial fiscal terms. The conditions of the new PSA include the application of a 10% royalty which, despite being five times greater than the 2% royalty applicable for the Stabroek Block, is still at the lower end of the scale for South America. Cost recovery oil is capped at 65% of gross production after the royalty is allocated, compared to 75% for the Stabroek contract. The new PSA retains the existing 50% profit-sharing arrangement after allowing for cost recovery and royalty payments. A 10% corporate income tax, which will go along to boosting government coffers if the oil auction is successful, has also been implemented. ADVERTISEMENT By Matthew Smith for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: JP Morgan is no longer the worlds biggest financier of fossil fuels. Last year Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) became the top bank funding oil and gas, a report by environmental groups showed this week. Fossil fuel financing from the worlds 60 largest banks hit $673 billion in 2022. These banks have funded $5.5 trillion in fossil fuels projects in the seven years since the adoption of the Paris Agreement, according to the annual Banking on Climate Chaos report by Rainforest Action Network, Oil Change International, Indigenous Environmental Network, BankTrack, Reclaim Finance, Sierra Club, and Urgewald. To compare, the previous edition of the report from last year showed that the 60 largest banks in the world poured as much as $742 billion in fossil fuel financing in 2021. For the first time since 2019, US bank JP Morgan Chase dropped from the top spot of the biggest backer of fossil fuels. RBC financed fossil fuel projects with $42.1 billion in 2022, including $4.8 billion for oil sands and $7.4 billion for fracking, the report found. Overall, U.S. banks dominated fossil fuel financing, accounting for 28% of all fossil fuel financing in 2022. JPMorgan Chase remains the worlds biggest funder of fossil fuels since the Paris Agreement, while Citi, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America are still among the top 5 fossil financiers since 2016. Commenting on the report, co-author April Merleaux, Research and Policy Manager at Rainforest Action Network, said, Fossil fuel companies are the ones dousing the planet in oil, gas, and coal, but big banks hold the matches. Without financing, fossil fuels wont burn. Under pressure from ESG trends and shareholders, some banks have announced stricter rules on the financing of fossil fuels in recent months. ING, for example, is further restricting financing to the oil and gas industry, reducing the volume of traded oil and gas it finances and no longer financing midstream infrastructure for new oil and gas fields. Barclays has said it will no longer provide financing to oil sands companies or oil sands projects and tightened conditions for thermal coal lending in an updated policy, which fell short of announcing overall pledges or targets in funding oil and gas. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In the three decades since the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian Federation and China have pursued divergent interests in post-Soviet Central Asia, as Moscow seeks to retain its influence even as Beijings soft power grows, underpinned by its dynamic economy. In a recent sign of the latter, Chinese President Xi Jinping, in his congratulatory Nowruz message on March 21 to Tajikistani President Emomali Rahmon, announced that China was preparing a grandiose plan for upgrading relations with Central Asia, stating, The new plan will be presented at the first ChinaCentral Asia summit in Xian in May. Xi also sent a similar message to Uzbekistani President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (Vzglyad, March 28). While Russian influence in the post-Soviet Central Asian states continues to decline overall as a consequence of its misadventures in Ukraine, the region remains a critical source of hydrocarbons as well as a critical transit point for Beijings Belt and Road Initiative in supporting Chinas rising economic interests there. This in turn has caused Beijing and Moscow to tussle covertly to increase their own regional hegemony at the expense of the other. Since Russian President Vladimir Putin began his ill-advised special military operation against Ukraine a year ago, China has taken advantage of Russias rising wartime distraction by discreetly attempting to increase its influence in Central Asia, far from the front lines. Beijing can now offer Central Asia what Russia cannotthat is, massive potential foreign direct investment (FDI). In contrast, the Russian Federations main economic contribution to Central Asia is now primarily serving as a destination for the regions economic migrants, whose remittances continue to form a significant part of Central Asias economies. Related: Russia's Gasoline Exports Jump As African Buyers Replace Europe On February 16, Xi sent a message to the participants at the First ChinaCentral Asia Forum of Industrial and Investment Cooperation, convening for three days in Tsingtao, in which he reaffirmed Chinas readiness to expand economic ties as well as industrial and investment cooperation with the countries in the region. The largest economic enticement offered by Xi was not only access to Chinas massive market but also its highly developed industrial system and advanced technologies to deepen business cooperation in achieving mutually beneficial results and promote the qualitative development of the Central Asian economies (Vzglyad, February 16). The Chinese enticements appear even more alluring in light of a lack of similar proposals from Russia. Chinas increasing influence in Central Asia has benefited from Putins faltering Ukrainian campaign. At the outset of his war against Ukraine, the Russian president apparently believed not only that Russia had preemptively infiltrated and undermined Ukraines government but also that a majority of the Ukrainian populace opposed Volodymyr Zelenskyys government and favored a closer relationship with Russia (Kyiv Post, September 23, 2022). Nevertheless, if that did not occur, then the Russian military was capable of a quick, decisive and overwhelming shock and awe strike on Ukraine, which would produce a Kremlin-triggered color counter-revolution regime change. Yet, none of these expectations came to pass. Instead, the special military operation has produced a hemorrhaging of Russias military and economic resources with no end in sightlessening Moscows ability to project influence throughout the post-Soviet space. A number of key statistics, in contrast, chronicle Chinas consistently rising economic influence throughout post-Soviet Eurasia. According to official Chinese government data, in 2022, Chinas trade with Central Asia totaled $70.2 billion, an increase of approximately 40 percent as compared to 2021 and 100 times the level of trade directly following the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, when the newly independent Central Asian nations officially established diplomatic relations with China (Orient.tm, February 16). While Russia and Central Asia have historically had the most powerful economic, political, linguistic, cultural and military ties, Beijings prosperity, which it is willing to share a portion of with friends, coupled with the lack of an overt imperialist political agenda generate an increasing gravitational pull for the Central Asian states away from their previous status quo relationship with Russia. As for the future, in November 2022, Xi declared at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in Bangkok that China will consider hosting the Third Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum next year to give a new impetus to the development and prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region and the world (RIA Novosti, November 18, 2022). Furthermore, on March 7, Foreign Minister Qin Gang announced that, along with hosting the Third Belt and Road International Cooperation Forum, China would also host the first ChinaCentral Asia summit later in the year (Newscentralasia.net, March 7). With no seeming end to Russias misadventures in Ukraine, it is difficult to see what Putin can offer Central Asia in the short term to counter Xis upcoming grandiose plan, particularly if it comes laden with significant Chinese FDI. By Jamestown Foundation ADVERTISEMENT More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: When the flow of Western goods to Russia was choked in the wake of the Ukraine invasion, attention turned to Central Asia. In part by funneling goods through Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, Russia managed to bring in $20 billion worth of goods between March and December 2022, Kommersant business daily reported on April 10. Other countries relied upon for this parallel import strategy include Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, and Uzbekistan. Industry insiders are warning, however, that there is a ceiling to capacity for this arrangement because the nations that are most heavily used for parallel imports are suffering from a chronic shortage of warehouse space. Demand for foreign-sited warehouses from Russian logistics companies and retailers has doubled since last spring, around the time when Moscow embarked on its invasion of Ukraine, according to analysts cited by Kommersant. Real estate consulting company NF Group said Russian companies looked for almost 400,000 square meters of warehouse space over that period. But the space is simply not there. A shortfall of skilled logistics facilities developers across the Commonwealth of Independent States (or CIS, common Russian industry shorthand for describing a large chunk of the former Soviet Union) means fixing this problem will not be easy. Russian companies are said to be able and willing to take up the challenge, but then there is the lack of suitable, ready-to-go construction sites to worry about. Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan are said by analysts to have no vacant sites. Uzbekistan has some marginal capacity to offer newcomers. Kommersant cited NF Group as saying that the demand for fresh warehouse capacity in the CIS is coming from online retailers and logistics operators. According to Alexander Perfilyev, commercial director at Ghelamco, a logistics park developer, fully 80 percent of requests are coming from two companies alone: Wildberries and Ozon. Wildberries is focusing considerable energy on Kazakhstan. In February, the mayor of Almaty, Yerbolat Dosayev, met with Wildberries founder Tatyana Bakalchuk to discuss plans for building a $100 million logistics facility in the city. Bakalchuk talked up this investment as an opportunity for Kazakh producers to sell more of their goods abroad, but the real prize may lie, for as long as Russia is trapped in a state of diplomatic and economic isolation from the West, in the re-export market. The road has been far from straightforward for Wildberries, though. In December, Trade and Integration Minister Serik Zhumangarin traveled to Moscow to meet with Bakalchuk to discuss a number of options. One was to set up a cross-border hub in Khorgos, a giant trade zone on the border with China. Contrary to what analysts told Kommersant, Zhumangarin seemed to suggest this location did in fact have free areas for building new warehouses. Another idea pushed by the Kazakh government was to create a cross-border trade center dubbed Eurasia in the West Kazakhstan region, which shares a long border with southern Russia. Zhumangarin said the center could capitalize on continent-straddling transport corridors running north-south and west-east. But it does not sound like Wildberries is especially interested in all this lofty talk. It just needs to solve a pressing business problem and wants to do so without incurring too much financial pain. This strong pragmatism may be ruffling some feathers in Astana. Only a few days after Zhumangarin returned from Moscow, deputy Foreign Minister Almas Aidarov complained that Wildberries had laid out what he considered to be unreasonable conditions for coming to Kazakhstan and investing in the construction of warehouses. During our very first negotiations, Wildberries demanded exemption from taxes for a period of 30 years, as well as assistance in constructing warehouses, Aidarov said. Naturally, we have not agreed to such conditions. It is not known, meanwhile, what kinds of terms Dosayev, the Almaty mayor, discussed with the company. ADVERTISEMENT Ozon has had a more fruitful time of things. The company announced in March that it had completed construction of a 38,000-square-meter fulfilment center in Astana. Facilities of this kind, modeled after the fashion of U.S. e-commerce titan Amazon, are used to both store goods and handle their delivery to customers. Ozon says this hub will be able to store 9 million items, anything from food and electronic goods to building materials, and process 260,000 orders daily. Delivery times to buyers in Russia are being slashed as a result, Ozon said. The facility is due to start work this month. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The biggest oil importers in Asia have been busy buying June-loading spot crude cargoes from the Middle East since top OPEC+ producers announced additional cuts beginning in May and after Saudi Arabia hiked again the price of its term cargoes going to Asia. Customers from China, Japan, and Thailand have been snapping spot cargoes from Middle Eastern producers such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar, traders told Bloomberg on Thursday. The higher demand for spot Middle Eastern supply has pushed up the regional Dubai benchmark, according to the traders. Russias crude is also a favorite with some Asian refiners, with spot offers for the ESPO grade also on the rise, the traders told Bloomberg. The biggest OPEC producers in the Middle East and several other members of the OPEC+ pact announced early this month a total of 1.16 million bpd of fresh production cuts. Saudi Arabia, OPECs de facto leader and top global crude exporter, will cut 500,000 bpd and said that the move was a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market. The voluntary production reductions include big cuts, beginning in May and lasting through the end of 2023, from the top Middle Eastern producers who typically export sour and more heaver varieties of crude. Saudi Arabia has signaled that it will keep supplying at least several refiners in North Asia with full contractual volumes of crude in May despite the Saudi production reduction. Saudi Arabia, however, supplies its crude under long-term contracts. ADVERTISEMENT After the latest cuts were announced, Saudi oil giant Aramco also raised its official selling prices (OSPs) for its crude going to Asia in May. The higher prices could increase the upward momentum for Middle East medium and sour grades while the cuts tighten the market for those grades just as demand in Asia is set to rebound. By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Indian banks fear an end to the countrys major intake of discounted Russian oil in the wake of OPEC+ surprise production cuts, which have helped push Urals crude close to overrunning the G7s $60 per barrel price cap. According to The Millennium Post, citing an unnamed refinery executive, both the State Bank of India and Bank of Baroda have informed refiners they will not handle payments for oil bought above the limit. In the meantime, Indian banks are very closely monitoring crude prices at ports, where costs of logistics are intermingled, making for a more complicated pricing mechanism, the Millennium Post reports, adding that banks are demanding details on so-called free-on-board prices to ensure they fall at, or below $60 a barrel. Anything above that would trigger European Union sanctions, which prevent Russia from selling above $60 a barrel using G7/EU services and logistics. While Russian oil has not yet breached the $60 mark, but is trading very close to that, if Brent ends up riding higher to the mid-90s, Urals will move up in tandem. While key Indian banks are starting to get worried, Millennium Post cited a Mumbai refining executive as suggesting that buyers might start looking to different banks with less foreign exposure who are less risk-averse to falling afoul of the G7 rules. The biggest OPEC producers in the Middle East and several other members of the OPEC+ pact announced early this month a total of 1.16 million bpd of fresh production cuts. Saudi Arabia, OPECs de facto leader and top global crude exporter, will cut 500,000 bpd and said that the move was a precautionary measure aimed at supporting the stability of the oil market. The voluntary production reductions include big cuts, beginning in May and lasting through the end of 2023, from the top Middle Eastern producers who typically export sour and more heavier varieties of crude. The surprise OPEC+ cuts have also led to Asias biggest oil importers snapping up June-loading spot cargoes from the Middle East after Saudi Arabia moved once again to hike the price of oil to the continent. ADVERTISEMENT By Charles Kennedy for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Russian gasoline exports surged in the first quarter of this year compared to the same period in 2022, as Moscow placed growing volumes of fuels with African customers after the EU embargo on seaborne imports of Russia's fuels. Russian gasoline exports were estimated at 1.9 million tons in the first quarter of 2023, up compared to 1.3 million tons exported in the same period of 2022, per Refinitiv data cited by Reuters. Analysts at Kpler have estimated that Russia's exports of gasoline surged to 2.2 million tons in Q1 2023, from around 1.5 million tons for the same period a year ago. The EU bannedeffective February 5seaborne imports of Russian refined oil products and around 1 million barrels per day (bpd) of Russian diesel, naphtha, and other fuels had to find a home elsewhere if Moscow wanted to continue getting money for those products. The flow of Russian fuels to third countries is also regulated by price caps, similar to the cap on Russian crude if the trade is carried out through Western insurers. The cap on Russian diesel is $100 per barrel, while the cap on lower-cost petroleum products is set at $45 a barrel. Ahead of the EU ban on Russian petroleum products, Russia began to divert its oil product cargoes to North Africa and Asia. North Africa has become a key export outlet of Russia's diesel and other petroleum products, while Russia is also boosting exports of its diesel to Latin America. So far, tanker tracking suggests that Russia has been relatively successful in placing most of its fuels in markets other than Europe, even though Moscow has been forced to divert cargoes to distant markets to maintain export volumes, Gibson Shipbrokers said in a market report a month after the EU embargo on Russian fuels came into effect. "However, much depends on Russia's export strategy and ability to maintain refining runs and Western Governments' willingness to allow Russian products to be rebranded and re-exported overseas," Gibson noted. "In any case, the refined products price cap has created additional inefficiencies in refined products trade, which are unlikely to be reversed anytime soon, if ever." ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: Via AG Metal Miner Aluminum prices saw a short-term rebound recently. After declining for much of February, price action found support in March and then began to return to the upside entering April. While the trend is starting to shift upward, the long-term direction for the aluminum market remains unclear. Overall, the Aluminum Monthly Metals Index (MMI) moved sideways, with a modest 0.92% increase from March to April. Last month, MetalMiner released its quarterly revision to the Annual Outlook. The report consolidates our 12-month view and provides buying organizations with a complete understanding of the fundamental and technical factors driving prices. The report also includes a detailed forecast to use when sourcing metals for 2023. This includes expected average prices, support and resistance levels, and specific buying strategies. China Steps Up Imports of Russian Aluminum While the West continues to shun Russian aluminum, China remains an eager buyer. In fact, Chinese aluminum imports from Russia have nearly tripled, with customs data showing imports jumped over 266% during January and February. The burgeoning partnership between the two countries is not new. Historically, Russia represented a key supplier for China. In 2022 alone, Russia accounted for 69% of total primary aluminum imports to China. So as Western nations increasingly narrowed Russian imports throughout last year, China instead opted to take advantage of discounted material. Moreover, this most recent increase comes at a time when Chinas aluminum sector remains slow due to a severe water shortage. Aluminum Prices: A Tale of Three Premiums While controversial, the ongoing trade relationship between China and Russia remains a benefit to prices. For instance, it prevented some of the supply tightness (and bullish price direction) a total absence of Russian material would have created. It also represents a shift in global trade patterns. This has led to a mostly sideways trend for aluminum prices, even after the U.S. leveled a 200% tariff. Still, it remains unclear to what extent capacity cuts in China will impact global supply, especially as Chinas economy continues to recover. Indeed, the Chinese construction and automotive industries largely drive aluminum demand. And while auto demand appears strong, the same cannot be said for the construction sector, which remains in a downtrend. Meanwhile, a rise in the quarterly Main Japanese Port (MJP) premium suggests a recovery of eastern demand. Though the MJP slumped to $85/ton in Q1, reports suggest it rose to $125-145/ton in Q2. Japan is the largest Asian aluminum importer, and this increase marks the first in six quarters. European Duty Unpaid Premium Moreover, the European Duty Unpaid premium has also begun to trend upward. According to reports, that premium has risen almost 23% since it hit a bottom in November. Indeed, a warmer-than-expected winter in Europe helped support demand in the region while energy prices triggered rampant cuts to aluminum production. The Midwest Aluminum premium continued to diverge from its global counterparts. It remained bullish throughout Q4 of 2022 before finding a peak in late January and inverting down. Since Jan. 24, the premium has fallen over 14%. The mixed direction among premiums suggests that aluminum demand remains globally uneven. That disparity has likely helped prevent the establishment of a strong breakout for aluminum prices to the upside or down, supporting the ongoing sideways trend. Get weekly updates on aluminum market trends and other commodity news with MetalMiners free weekly newsletter. Click here. ADVERTISEMENT SDI Aluminum Mill Begins Construction In domestic capacity is on its way in the U.S. as Steel Dynamics (SDI) recently began construction on a new flat-rolled mill in Columbus, Mississippi. The company broke ground on March 7 and aims to start production by the summer of 2025. According to SDI, the mill will boast an annual capacity of 650,000 tons and will serve the automotive, sustainable beverage packaging, and common alloy industrial sectors. By Nichole Bastin More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: After his restaurant Florios won an award for being the best Italian restaurant in Lincoln, owner Besmir Bes Gjoka had an idea: Lets bring that good food to Plattsmouth. Welcome to Milanos, which recently opened at 209 23rd St. Weve had only good feedback, Gjoka said. The people who work here are amazing. Milanos offers a wide variety of popular Italian dishes, plus some unique ones. For starters, theres crab stuffed mushrooms covered with chopped clams, and Milanos Trio featuring breaded shrimp, calamari and cheese ravioli. Traditional main dishes include fettuccine Alfredo, chicken aristocrat, spaghetti with meat sauce and spaghetti with meatballs. We get good feedback on our steak, especially the ribeye, Gjoka said. Among the favorites heard from patrons so far are his classic lasagna, chicken Parmesan, chicken Alfredo and the tour of Italy that features breaded chicken, cheese manicotti and four cheese ravioli, topped with melted mozzarella. Milanos also prides itself on bringing something unique to the traditional menu, such as crab stuffed pasta or the garlic and basil pasta. We have seafood options that are also unique, Gjoka said. Whats more, his lasagna, bread and pizza dough are made in-house, he said. Our portions are generous, Gjoka said. We want to make sure that when people leave they are happy. So too is Gjoka, a native of the country of Albania. He said his father won a green card in a lottery to come to this country with his family. Ive been here in the Omaha area since 2005, he said. I love it. Its been great, the best thing to happen to me. Looking to expand in this area, Gjoka said he and a friend came upon this building for lease. It once housed an Eagles club. His restaurant covers 10,000 square feet with two big dining rooms that seat 160, plus a private room for 60. Milanos opened on March 14 and expects any day now to have a license to serve alcohol. The Plattsmouth City Council unanimously recommended the license a month ago, sending it to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission. Among those who have already enjoyed Milanos dishes are Plattsmouth Mayor Paul Lambert and his wife. It was excellent food with large portions. In fact, my wife and I both had to take boxes home, he said. There was a good selection and the service was exceptional. Im sure there will be people who drive there from Beaver Lake, Louisville, Bellevue and elsewhere. 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. 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. Clare Duda has battled fires on his farm and surrounding land north of Omaha before, but a blaze that torched his property and nearby N.P. Dodge Park Thursday was on another level. Ive never seen anything like this, said Duda, a former member of the Douglas County Board. Theres so much wind, and its so dry. Its burning everything. The massive brush fire that burned along the Missouri River consumed, by Dudas estimation, 400 to 500 acres of woods, crop stubble and everything between. Smoke from the blaze could be seen from downtown Omaha, and radar images showed smoke plumes extending north of Missouri Valley, Iowa. The Omaha Police Department blocked off N.P. Dodge, a city park that is north of Interstate 680. At one point, a car was spotted pulling a boat on a trailer away from one of the parks marinas. At least seven fire departments battled the blaze, including Ponca Hills, Irvington, Fort Calhoun, Bennington, Valley, Waterloo and Omaha. On Dudas farm, they pumped water out of a lake to fill tankers and trucks. We put many thousands of gallons of water on it, said Duda, who has spent decades as a volunteer firefighter. As of 6 p.m., Ponca Hills Fire Chief Joel Sacks said forward progress of the fire had been stopped, though the fire was not yet under control. The fire comes as nearly all of Nebraska and all of Iowa are under red-flag warnings for fire danger. Authorities responding to the fire reported wind gusts of up to 40 mph. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen declared a state of emergency Thursday due to the ongoing wildfires across the state, according to a Twitter post. He also issued a ban on open burns in Nebraska until Sunday. Duda said the blaze had jumped the Missouri River from Iowa. He said no one had been injured, as far as he knew. Nor were buildings damaged on his farm. His herd of about 350 goats, including almost 200 baby goats, were safe, but he had livestock trailers ready just in case. Duda said the fire burned beyond his farm past his neighbors to the north, and he could see firetrucks at the Surfside Club beyond. Firefighters poured water on the blaze, although they had trouble getting to it in the woods. Dudas son and a friend were discing fields trying to make firebreaks amid the cornstalks and soybean stubble. The fire consumed cornstalks and soybean stubble. It roared through woods. We have several hundred acres of woods along the river and thats the main thing, it keeps spreading out, jumping into the fields and things. ... This goes all the way from Dodge Park to the Surfside. By Thursday evening, the fire was not threatening Hummel Park to the west, although there had been a fire there Wednesday. Its the wind, and the humidity, and the drought, Duda said. Everythings just so dry. World-Herald staff writer Dan Crisler contributed to this report. For those of you seeing smoke north of downtown Omaha, this is coming from a fire along the Missouri River north of I680. Attached is a screen cap from our WSR88D radar showing the smoke plume outlined (shown is the default reflectivity and the correlation coefficient). pic.twitter.com/PQJq3fUFKj NWS Omaha (@NWSOmaha) April 13, 2023 Three teenage boys have been arrested and taken to the Douglas County Youth Center for their alleged involvement in a shooting and subsequent police chase through east Omaha on Wednesday afternoon. In a press release issued late Wednesday, the Omaha Police Department said a 17-, 15- and 14-year-old were taken into custody after an incident that began as a crowd disturbance at 1227 S. 13th St. at 1:43 p.m. The disturbance reportedly elevated when officers heard gunshots, which then led to a police pursuit of a brown Kia SUV. During the pursuit, police said the SUV struck a vehicle at 24th and Lake Streets. Soon after, four occupants fled from the vehicle near 34th and Lafayette Streets. Police arrested three of the individuals, but were unable to find the fourth person. Police said they recovered a handgun. Around 2 p.m., a 16-year-old girl arrived at the Nebraska Medical Center with a gunshot wound that police said was allegedly suffered during the incident. Police said the girl arrived in critical condition but is expected to survive. The 15-year-old was arrested on suspicion of first-degree felony assault involving a gun, shooting at an occupied dwelling, possessing a stolen firearm and minor in possession. The 17-year-old was arrested on suspicion of multiple charges, including being an accessory to a felony, theft of over $10,000 and leaving the scene of a personal injury accident. The 14-year-old was arrested on suspicion of being an accessory to a felony. The investigation is ongoing. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) One of two Black Democrats expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House will return to the Legislature after a Memphis commission voted to reinstate him Wednesday, nearly a week after his banishment for supporting gun control protesters propelled him into the national spotlight. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted 7-0 to reinstate Justin Pearson as a state representative. I will continue to fight with and for our people, whether in or out of office. We and the young protesters are the future of a new Tennessee. Those who seek to silence us will not have the final say, Pearson wrote in an op-ed published in The New York Times. Republicans expelled Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones last week over their role in a gun control protest on the House floor after a Nashville school shooting that left three children and three adults dead. The Nashville Metropolitan Council took only a few minutes Monday to unanimously restore Jones to office. He was quickly reinstated to his House seat. Read the rest of the story here: Photos: Scenes from the mass shooting at a private Christian school in Nashville WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. spies caught Russian intelligence officers boasting that they had convinced the oil-rich United Arab Emirates to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies, according to a purported American document posted online as part of a major U.S. intelligence breach. U.S. officials declined to comment on the document, which bore known top-secret markings and was viewed by The Associated Press. The Emirati government on Monday dismissed any accusation that the UAE had deepened ties with Russian intelligence as categorically false. But the U.S. has had growing concerns that the UAE was allowing Russia and Russians to thwart sanctions imposed over the invasion of Ukraine. The document viewed by the AP includes an item citing research from March 9 with the title: Russia/UAE: Intelligence Relationship Deepening. U.S. officials declined to confirm the document's authenticity, which the AP could not independently do. However, it resembled other documents released as part of the recent leak. The Justice Department has opened an investigation into the possible release of Pentagon documents that were posted on several social media sites. They appear to detail U.S. and NATO aid to Ukraine and U.S. intelligence assessments regarding U.S. allies that could strain ties with those nations. Some of the documents may have been altered or used as part of a misinformation campaign, U.S. officials said. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby on Monday urged caution, since we know at least in some cases that information was doctored. Referring to the main successor agency of the Soviet-era KGB, the document seen by the AP says: In mid-January, FSB officials claimed UAE security service officials and Russia had agreed to work together against US and UK Intelligence agencies, according to newly acquired signals intelligence." Signals intelligence refers to intercepted communications, whether telephone calls or electronic messages. The UAE probably views engagement with Russian intelligence as an opportunity to strengthen growing ties between Abu Dhabi and Moscow and diversify intelligence partnerships amid concerns of US disengagement from the region, the assessment concluded, referring to the UAE capital. Its not clear if there was any such agreement as described in the UAE-Russia document, or whether the alleged FSB claims were intentionally or unintentionally misleading. But American officials are speaking out increasingly about a surge in dealings between the UAE and Russia. A U.S. Treasury official, Assistant Secretary Elizabeth Rosenberg, in March singled out the UAE as a country of focus." She said businesses there were helping Russia evade international sanctions to obtain more than $5 million in U.S. semiconductors and other export-controlled parts, including components with battlefield uses. U.S. intelligence officials in recent years have pointed to possible links between the UAE and the Wagner Group, a Russian paramilitary group closely associated with the Kremlin and active in Ukraine and several African countries. In 2020, the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency assessed that the United Arab Emirates may provide some financing for the groups operations. Andreas Krieg, an associate professor at Kings College in London, on Monday called the UAE the most important strategic partner for Russia in both the Middle East and Africa. The head of Russias Foreign Intelligence Service, Sergey Naryshkin, held extensive meetings with UAE leaders in Dubai in 2020. Russia and the UAE share similar outlooks in some key conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa, and the influx of Russians into the UAE since Russia launched its war in Ukraine also has strengthened ties between the two, said Kristian Ulrichsen, a Middle East expert at Rice University's Baker Institute. But the reference to teaming up against U.S. and British intelligence agencies is surprising, said Ulrichsen. Russian intelligence officials probably have an interest in describing something in those terms, he said. If that was the way the UAE was describing it, I'd certainly take it ... quite differently. A U.S. official separately has told the AP that the United States also was worried about Russian money coming into Dubai's red-hot real estate market. And in October, federal prosecutors in New York announced charges against two Dubai-based Russian men and others accused of stealing military technology from U.S. companies, smuggling millions of barrels of oil and laundering tens of millions of dollars for the oligarchs surrounding Russian President Vladimir Putin. Prosecutors in that case quoted one of the Dubai-based Russians as assuring his partners there were no worries about using a UAE financial institution for the transactions. This is the (worst) bank in the Emirates, he was quoted as saying, using an expletive. They pay to everything. In a statement Monday to the AP about the apparent intelligence document, the United Arab Emirates said UAE officials had not seen the document and claims regarding the FSB were categorically false. We refute any allegation regarding an agreement to deepen cooperation between the UAE and other countries' security services against another country, the statement said. The UAE has deep and distinguished relations with all countries, reflecting its principles of openness, partnership, building bridges, and working to serve the common interests of countries and peoples to achieve international peace and security. The leak of the purported document comes as Emirati officials have recalibrated their foreign policy in the Middle East after a series of attacks attributed to Iran. Attacks claimed by Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels hit Abu Dhabi in 2022, killing three people and leading locally stationed American forces to respond with Patriot missile fire. In the time since, and as Emiratis perceived Americas presence waning in the region after its chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan, the UAE reached a detente with Iran. Thats even as the United States maintains multiple military bases and stations thousands of troops and weaponry in the region, including at Abu Dhabis Al Dhafra Air Base. Dubais Jebel Ali Port remains the busiest U.S. Navy port of call outside of the continental U.S. The UAE also remains one of the few places still running daily, direct flights to Moscow after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine. That has seen money, megayachts and Russian citizens come into the UAE, an autocratic federation of seven sheikhdoms on the Arabian Peninsula. However, it hasnt been a full embrace. Relations between the U.S. and the UAE have seesawed over the past decade, as Abu Dhabi ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan cemented his power. Under the Trump administration, the UAE diplomatically recognized Israel. In the deal's wake, the UAE sought but has yet to receive advanced American F-35 fighter jets under President Joe Biden. Meanwhile, the Emirates has criticized Israel over the escalating violence between Israel's hard-right government under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Palestinians. Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report. Pius Rotich, general manager of investment promotion and business development at the Kenya Investment Authority, gives a speech during a promotion forum for the upcoming 133rd China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, in Nairobi, Kenya, April 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) NAIROBI, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A promotion forum for the upcoming 133rd China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, was held in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi on Wednesday, attracting a wide cast of participants, including senior policymakers and budding entrepreneurs. Held concurrently with a match-making session for 20 local firms that will send delegations to the Canton Fair, the half-day forum took place against a backdrop of concerted efforts to deepen Sino-Kenya economic and trade ties. Pius Rotich, general manager of investment promotion and business development at the Kenya Investment Authority, said the government was keen to leverage the Canton Fair to enhance trade and attract investments from China in line with a new economic transformation agenda. According to Rotich, the Canton Fair provides an opportunity for Kenyan entrepreneurs to explore partnerships with their Chinese peers, and secure the capital, technology and know-how required to spur the growth of key economic sectors like manufacturing and agriculture. "We are keen to partner with Chinese firms, negotiate for technology, financing and machinery required to grow our manufacturing sector, reduce imports and create new job opportunities," Rotich said. He added that other strategic areas where Kenya is keen to explore partnerships with Chinese firms during the Canton Fair include affordable housing, special economic zones, and small and medium-sized enterprises. Kenya will dispatch a 68-person delegation to the Canton Fair, slated from April 15 to May 5, mainly dealing with machinery, new energy and construction materials, said Gao Wei, managing director of the Nairobi-based China Information & Culture Communication Kenya Ltd, a local partner with the Canton Fair. Gao revealed that the first batch of Kenyan entrepreneurs will depart for China on April 15 while the second batch will travel to the Asian nation on April 25, adding that the fair will be held in three phases, each lasting five days. Eva Muhia, director of Varet Products, a Kenyan firm dealing with sanitation equipment, said the fair has been exposing local entrepreneurs to vast business opportunities in China. Attendees talk during a promotion forum for the upcoming 133rd China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, in Nairobi, Kenya, April 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) A promotion forum for the upcoming 133rd China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, is held in Nairobi, Kenya, April 12, 2023. (Photo by Charles Onyango/Xinhua) Guests cut a cake during a promotion forum for the upcoming 133rd China Import and Export Fair, also known as Canton Fair, in Nairobi, Kenya, April 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Li Yahui) Spread the love Senate Spokesperson and chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Ajibola Bashiru has revealed criteria to be taken in consideration for election of the next Senate President and Speaker of the House of Representatives. Speaking during an interview on Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily on Wednesday, Bashiru explained that factors such as ranking, competence, capacity, religion and zoning will determine how the 10th National Assembly principal officers will be elected. This was disclosed by the Senate Spokesperson, Ajibola Bashiru, while speaking during an interview on Channels Televisions Sunrise Daily on Wednesday. He said, I believe that our party will ultimately take a decision on the zoning possibly after Ramadan and certainly before June when the next Assembly will be convened. READ ALSO: APC opens up on Tinubus alleged drug case, $460,000 forfeiture It will be in the best interest of our party to zone the offices so that we can narrow the number of contestants because when you have eight persons from a single political party contesting, it creates a problem for us to have a cohesive force going into the election, he added. The APC won a majority of the legislative seats during the elections with over 55 Senate seats out of 109 and over 160 out of 360 House of Representatives seats. Bashiru said any of the Senators-elect are competent to be presiding officers over the National Assembly. He, however, said the APC National Working Committee (NWC) and the partys National Executive Committee (NEC) has not taken any decision yet on which of the six geopolitical zones will produce the next Senate President. READ ALSO: Akpabio sets blaze in race for Senate President He said, Im not aware that the NWC of our party has taken a position on the issue of zoning and where the zoning will be done. Advertisement Im not aware that the NEC of our party has taken any decision but party leaders will be making a lot of permutations to ensure a seamless relationship between the executive and the legislative arms. The leadership of the party as well as the members of the 10th Assembly will have to look at so many variables. For instance, arguments may be canvassed like the religious argument that the President is a Muslim, the Vice-President is a Muslim, will it not be reasonable to have a Christian as the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and you cannot wish away such argument particularly when you see the divisive nature that politics has taken in recent time in Nigeria. You may also look at the North-West (geopolitical zone) which has produced the bulk of the votes by which we won the Presidency. Will you discountenance their contribution? The Lagos State Government has reacted to a seven-storey building under construction on Banana Island, Lagos State, which collapsed in Lagos today. A press statement released by the ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development said there was no fatality while those who sustained injuries are being treated. PRESS RELEASE LASG INVESTIGATING COLLAPSED BUILDING IN BANANA ISLAND An unapproved 7-floor building under construction has collapsed in Banana Island, Lagos State, this evening. Few who sustained injuries are being treated. There is no fatality. This unfortunate incident happened while casting was being done. The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins was immediately on site to assess the situation and flag- off investigation. We ask members of the public to remain calm and expect further information from the ministry as we know more. Mukaila Sanusi Deputy Director, Public Affairs The Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development has confirmed the collapse of an unapproved seven-storey building under construction collapsed in Banana Island, Ikoyi area of the state. The building was reported to have collapsed late Wednesday afternoon with some workers feared trapped under the rubble. It was also gathered that the incident occurred on First Avenue in the exclusive neighbourhood of some of the wealthiest Nigerians. NEMA confirms incident The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in Lagos state in a statement confirmed the incident. It stated, A report of a storey building under construction was just received at Banana Island. Workers trapped. We are mobilising to respond. No fatality According to reports, the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development stated only a few people sustained injuries as there was no fatality. The ministrys Deputy Director, Public Affairs, Mukaila Sanusi, said, Few who sustained injuries are being treated. There is no fatality. This unfortunate incident happened while casting was being done. He noted that the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, visited the site immediately to assess the situation and flag off the investigation. He said, We ask members of the public to remain calm and expect further information from the ministry as we know more. This is a developing story Related Advertisement Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, former governor of Delta says the consistent growth of infrastructure in any society remains a catalyst for nations development. Uduaghan stated this on Wednesday at the 2023 Maris Annual Public Service Lecture series with the theme, Provision of Infrastructure as Catalyst for Growth of Democratic Governments in Asaba. The former governor, represented by his daughter, Orode Uduaghan, said that infrastructure was about growth, development, sustainability, advancement and satisfaction of the people. The consistent growth of any nations infrastructure is a catalyst and most important factor for nation building. The holistic view of infrastructure that is both economical and social is important in developing the basis of any society. To a large extent, the adequate provision of infrastructure in Nigeria today are skewed, the majority of the people are overlooked and this has been the challenge for years. Without the right infrastructure, the average Nigerian is merely surviving rather than thriving, Uduaghan said. He said that the inadequate and epileptic power supply in the country had hindered the economic survival of the people, adding that access to social amenities would aid faster development in the country. He, however, blamed lack of continuity from successive governments, adding that in democracy, the provision of infrastructure was promises made the people by the political class during elections. The role of government is to improve the lives of its citizens by providing essential amenities and services that are necessary for survival and for growth. The provision of good infrastructure could be said to be good governance. Providing infrastructure in terms of eduction, health, labour, agriculture, technology, will boost the standard of living of citizens in any given society. He noted that government who fulfil its promises earn the peoples trust. To make Nigeria and Delta a happy place, we must instill trust in our people and one way to do this is to keep our promises of providing sustainable infrastructure for the people. The Guest Lecturer, Chief Fidelis Tiliji, Delta Commissioner for Finance, opined that the greatest infrastructure was for the mind of Nigerians to conceptualise a thing and make it come to past. In my lecture, I did say that there are several infrastructure that the Gov. Ifeanyi Okowa adminstration actually imparted in the state. I mention, the airport, roads, education, hospitals, Ogenye floating market, and others. I will tell you that the best infrastructure that Okowa has built was establishing the three universities, because he was striking the mind and those mind that he struck would produce people with positive mind. What is infrastructure? I think we should begin to leave this physical touches that we do, because in the real sense, infrastructure is not the road, the hospital that you build, it is the mind of the people. If you do not conceptualise the mind of the people, whatever you do comes to nothing. In fact it was the mind that built Dubai. Here at home, look at the electoral amendment that was conceived by the President Muhammadu Buhari administration, we talk about electronic voting but because the mind was not there, we also threw that away. While we are busy thinking about roads and others, the legislatures were busy thinking about shortchanging the people. It is the mind that talks about literacy or illiteracy and enables you understand what the law says. It is respected democracy that is the best government not just democracy. Dubai is not practicing democracy but it is the mind that conceptualise the infrastructure you see there. It is not the form of government that you practice that matters but the foundation of trust and believing that a lot can be done by those at that point that try to put things together. If we have our minds put together, we will stay in the comfort of our homes and press the voting button and it is read in Abuja and it is counted. Until we are able to conceptualise that mind and put it in a positive form, it can never work, he said. Tilije noted that it was that negative mind that segregated the nation into tribal, and religious segments that played out during the last general elections particularly the presidential election and not the provision of infrastructure. The Moderator, Dr Kemi Emina, and the discussants; Dr Paul Owen, Dr Olumami Oyibo, Mrs Augustina Erah and Dr Festus Okubor held the opinion that provision of infrastructure was responsible for the victory of the governorship election in Delta. They scored the Okowa administration high, while proposing devolution of power and adequate resources allocation to states and local governments to fast rack infrastructural development in the country. The Chairman, Maris Trust Council, Chief Kenneth Olise and the Secretary, Mr Fidelis Egugbo thanked the guests for their continued support while pledging more. Egugbo a Journalist, father and founder of Maris School, at the heat of the COVID-19, directed parents not to pay the pupils and students tuition for a term to ameliorate the hardship occasioned by the pandemic. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture series was organised in memorial of Stella-Maris Chukwufuninenya Egugbo, a promising young girl who died in Oct. 30, 2010 whose death birthed the institution, Maris Schools, Okpanam in Delta. Related Advertisement April 13, (THEWILL) Former Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Sinatu Ojikutu, has alleged that her life is being threatened by disgruntled politicians, for not supporting the president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubus presidential ambition. Briefing newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday, Ojikutu said she was currently endangered, ostracised and humiliated. The former deputy governor, who said she supported the Labour Party (LP) Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, in the just-concluded presidential election, noted that her decision was to ensure equity, justice and fairness. If we claim we are one united Nigeria, It should reflect in our character and attitude, and so the Igbo also should be given the opportunity to rule Nigeria, she said. Speaking on threat to her life, Ojikutu recalled that she had at various times before the elections and after been subjected to different forms of harassment, intimidation and humiliation, even in places where she deserved honour and respect; adding that she had already vowed to renounce her nationality and relocate to another country where she can live peacefully. I have viewed it that, if Bola Tinubu wins the presidential election, I have threatened to renounce my citizenship of Nigeria. I am personally endangered, ostracised, I have been humiliated where I should be honoured It bothers me, it is worrisome. People have been calling me to take it easy. I have said it, I would renounce my citizenship and I am working on it, she said. Ojikutu disclosed that she sent entreaty to the president-elect through his associates, to know why she was much hated because of political differences, but said the response she got through them was that, Tinubu allegedly demanded to know if she were still alive. He once demanded to know if I was still alive. Up till today, since I raised the issue in January this year none of his associates has come back to me to give me a reply, which gives me some concern. People complain that some people dont like Asiwaju Tinubu, what about those ones he does not like, do they know how those ones are fairing? she queried. Ojikutu alleged that because of hatred Tinubu had for her (fallout first of the encounters she had with him as Commissioner representing Lagos State at the Federal Character Commission (FCC) while he was serving as governor of the state), the Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) of her land on Bishop Aboyade Cole Street, Victoria Island was revoked. On the last general elections, the former deputy governor, warned that the issues surrounding the exercise needed to be resolved on time. She noted that those who were not comfortable about the outcome of the elections had every right to challenge the process in court, warning further that a situation whereby those challenging the electioneering process were being threatened with treason makes the situation messier. Ojikutu, while insisting that move to malign members of the opposition party for challenging outcome of the poll would make the nation be in turmoil, however, urged whoever was sworn in as the president of Nigeria to take it as a task to restructure the country so that each geo- political zone might developed at its own pace. A coalition of civil society organisations (CSO) has condemned the rhetoric of some politicians and have called on aggrieved politicians to stick to the legal process in pursuit of their mandate . The Executive Director, Citizens for Development and Education (CDE) Amb. Ibrahim Waiya and Executive Director Center for Peace and Environmental Justice (CEPEJ) Convener, Nigerian Peace Advocates, Comrade Mulade Sheriff made the appeal in a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday. According to them ,the reactions on the outcome of the presidential elections in Nigeria, is taking some strange dimensions. He said they have recognised the conspiracy of some evil minded and selfish people, had since shown the level of their political desperation, and have since started submitting themselves to the dictates of some hidden interest, to destabilize the country. Therefore, they noted as representatives of non partisan civil society organizations across the six geo political zones in the country, who have worked for years in the promotion of democracy, peace and development, they are worried with the unfolding political happenings in the country, through the actions and inactions of some politicians. We wish to unequivocally condemn all advocacies for the establishment of an interim Government in Nigeria. We condemn all utterances and unguarded statements promoted directly or through proxy by any politician or religious leader along ethnic, regional or religious sentiment capable of inciting violence in Nigeria, especially at this critical period of our democratic transition. That, all media organizations should further exercise restraint in the interest of peace and national unity on all broadcast that may create confusion and or aggravate our fragile security situation, by x raying all content before airing to avoid Rwanda experience in Nigeria. That Nigerians should not fall into a trap of any sentiments to serve the interest of any desperate and greedy political leaders. That, all aggrieved politicians should stick to legal process for redress as provided by our legal system, and should desist from threatening, intimidating and discrediting the same system he or she is seeking to serve. That, International Organizations and Communities should exercise restraint in submitting to the sentiments of some politicians, who are hell bent on destabilizing the country, as Nigeria direly needs the support of its friends at this critical time of transition, to salvage our nascent democracy in the interest of Africas stability and the World at large. That, we strongly urge and advise the incoming administration to run an all-inclusive government to give a sense of belonging to every region, ethnic, religious and political affiliations . Local legislative outreach office in Shanghai puts whole-process people's democracy in great practice 09:45, April 13, 2023 By Zhang Yi ( People's Daily Photo shows the Gubei Civic Center in Hongqiao sub-district, Shanghai. (Photo from Shanghai Morning Post) Developing whole-process people's democracy is one of the essential requirements of Chinese modernization. Shanghai, while building itself into a modern socialist metropolis, has integrated whole-process people's democracy into its urban development, trying to set a great example for practicing whole-process people's democracy. Recently, a discussion on a draft revision to China's Charity Law was hosted in a community cafeteria along the Hongqiao Road, Changning district of Shanghai, joined by a number of local residents. This cafeteria was designated as a meeting room for view seeking on legislation by the local legislative outreach office of Hongqiao sub-district. The local legislative outreach office of Hongqiao sub-district was established in 2015 by the Legislative Affairs Commission of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, one of the earliest in the country. It enables citizens to take part in the country's legislation just near their homes. Photo shows a room in the Gubei Civic Center in Hongqiao sub-district, Shanghai, which displays the achievements in soliciting public opinions of the local legislative outreach office of Hongqiao sub-district. (Photo from Shanghai Observer) The office has solicited public opinions for a number of laws, including a draft amendment to the Individual Income Tax Law and a draft amendment to the Law on the Protection of Minors. In particular, it heard 64 opinions from the local residents on the draft amendment to the Individual Income Tax Law and submitted 25 to its superior department. Three were adopted finally. With regard to the draft amendment to the Law on the Protection of Minors, the office solicited 67 public opinions and submitted 50 of them, including 9 that were adopted. Zhu Guoping, who runs a community service studio in Changning district, has been working in Hongqiao sub-district for decades. She became an "information officer" of the local legislative outreach office when it was established, and joined opinion collection for many draft revisions to laws. Zhu said the local legislative outreach office needs to turn legal terms into easy language, so that residents can make suggestions centering on the laws being discussed. Besides, it also needs to turn public opinions, which are mostly colloquial, into precise legal expressions. "Information officers" from all walks of life exchange ideas at the Gubei Civic Center in Hongqiao sub-district, Shanghai. (Photo from Shanghai Observer) The office is where the public and professionalism merge. Its first discussion was on a draft version of Anti-Domestic Violence Law. At the beginning of the discussion, participating residents were confused by legal terms involved, such as "statutory agent." "They might not understand legal terms, but they have rich life experiences," said Wu Xinhui, director of a law firm in Shanghai. She has joined three such discussions, during which her task was to "translate" legal terms into popular language. According to her, participating residents would always become talkative as soon as they found, through her paraphrasing, that the legal terms were actually about everyday affairs. As the view seeking on legislation sees higher and higher public enthusiasm and draws wider and wider participation, the opinions received have become more targeted. Both the number and quality of opinions are on a rise, and the local residents are getting more sense of fulfillment in democracy and higher satisfaction of livelihood. As of this January, the local legislative outreach office of Hongqiao sub-district had solicited public opinions on a total of 78 laws and submitted 1,926 opinions to its superior department. Among them, 163 were adopted. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) TEHRAN, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Iranian foreign minister on Thursday said Afghanistan is in need of regional cooperation to solve its current challenges rather than the U.S.-led intervention that had pushed the country toward poverty and instability. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a quadrilateral meeting with Chinese, Russian, and Pakistani representatives on the sidelines of the foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. He said Iran is concerned about the spread of terrorism and extremism in Afghanistan and the continuation of the wrong U.S. policies in the country, adding that today, Afghanistan is more in need of regional cooperation and solutions, rather than the intervention by the United States and the West that have pushed the Asian country toward poverty and instability. He stressed that the United States and its allies should be held to account as the occupiers of Afghanistan that had oppressed the country for two decades, and as UN members to be answerable for the current situation in the country. In the wake of the terror attacks on New York and Washington on Sept. 11, 2001, the United States launched the so-called war on terror in Afghanistan under the pretext of pursuing Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind of the terror attacks. In late August 2021, the U.S. forces hastily withdrew from Afghanistan with a military defeat, leaving the war-torn country in insecurity and abject poverty. The Iranian foreign minister highlighted the necessity of managing the economic situation in Afghanistan and cited the economic pressures in the country as a factor behind the increased migration of Afghan refugees to neighboring countries, which has resulted in certain types of insecurity in these countries. He added the U.S. 20-year presence in Afghanistan led to a significant increase in the cultivation and trafficking of opium in the country, noting that the role of "the Western countries' mafia network" is quite conspicuous in the expansion of the illegal drug trade. Amir-Abdollahian also expressed concern about the Afghan women and girls having been deprived of education and the opportunity of being present in society, voicing Iran's readiness to offer further assistance in terms of providing education to Afghan girls and women with the United Nations' help. President Muhammadu Buhari will travel to the United States on Sunday to attend the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the Presidency said on Thursday. According to the Presidency, Buhari is one of many leaders who will speak on topics around the theme of the session, Galvanising multilateral efforts for poverty eradication, quality education, climate action and inclusion, during debates beginning on September 24. President Buhari is scheduled as number five speaker on the first day of the debates another plus for the country as most world leaders will be listening in the General Assembly Hall, while the global audience watches on live television, it said. A State House statement by Buharis Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, said the Nigerian delegation is expected to participate at the side-events organised by the countrys Ministries, Departments and Agencies. It added that the events would touch on budget, Sustainable Development Goals, financial crimes, donor agency support, among others. The Presidency said, The President would be accompanied to New York by governors Abdullahi Sule, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu and Adegboyega Oyetola of Nasarawa, Kebbi and Osun states respectively; Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama; Minister of Environment, Dr Muhammad Mahmoud; Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; and Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, among others. KUNMING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. The first passenger train departed from Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, at 8:08 a.m. (Beijing Time), heading for the Lao capital Vientiane. NORMAL When Matthew Beigie first joined the Experimental Ensemble at Normal Community High School, his bands creative director, Stefen Robinson, told him not to play his instrument ever. The NCHS senior and cello player said that annoyed him at a first. His bandmate, Lilly McClelland, then added they've come to understand Robinsons comment to knowing instead that they dont play notes." The violinist said: Its more playing the instrument that we have and not the one that we knew that we had. McClelland said its very different going from a typical high school band to the ensemble, which she described as an eclectic bunch. Nine NCHS students are pushing the boundaries of sonic artistry with the guidance of three teachers, including Robinson, Zachary Sargent and Jacob Wiechman. The group of 12 plans its fourth concert Saturday evening at the McLean County Museum of History, as the final production in local nonprofit pt.fwds event season. One month ago, this column explored experimental music by Jeremy Young, of Montreal, who manipulates audio tapes for his art. Here in the Twin Cities, NCHS junior Ram Paramatmuni is spinning by hand vinyl records of percussive sounds on a turntable, when not working a gong. Instead of plucking an electric guitar with a plastic guitar pick, student Ibrahim Muftee scrapes the strings with the edge of a quarter to make metallic scratches. A board with at least nine guitar-effect pedals is cabled to an upright bass that student Diego Martinez hits with a bow, instead of strums. Robinson explained these art modes can be traced back to John Coltranes freeform jazz heard in the 1966 album Ascension. Experimental audio has since made lasting marks in popular rock music, from the feral screams belted by Iggy Pop in The Stooges 1970s track L.A. Blues, or the sucking sounds of a vacuum cleaner taking big stages with hit jam band Phish. On Saturdays setlist are four original compositions, including three that were individually arranged by ensemble members. There will also be several interludes of duo performances, and a fourth ensemble piece Robinson said he spearheaded with the group. He said its based on an art piece by Nazafarin Lotfi previously displayed last fall in the University Galleries at Illinois State University; the dots in Lotfis visual artwork mark the time when the ensemble instruments sound off. Additionally, the group will perform Charlie Hadens Song for Che. Aside from the gong, two electric guitars, a vinyl turntable and a double bass, also in the ensemble are two cellos, a violin, a viola, an alto saxophone, a large drum, a bass clarinet and a Moog Mother 32 semi-modular synthesizer. Robinson said while some students who come to the ensemble dont need much direction, others need to be encouraged to think outside of the instrument. Some students just require time and space, the sociology teacher said. They just need to be there for a couple months and not be pushed. Turmoil Striking many sounds of strangeness, the end results transcend typical expectations for electroacoustic performances by provoking a range of emotive reactions. One of those can be described in the composition title by ensemble member John Nguyen: Turmoil. Nguyen said it begins with violin and guitar running through heavy reverb. Then the bass picks up, later followed by percussion and some strings. All strings sound off with the melody as the electronic instruments join in, Nguyen said, and the strings sustain the last note before the bassist prepares to improvise with pedal effects. Calling back to its namesake, the student composer described the pieces atmosphere as tumultuous. I wanted it to feel uncomfortable in parts, Nguyen said. The senior added places in the piece for the audience to breathe between moments of dissonance. Interconnected Robinson said his approach to teaching music experimentation is to give students a space where they're allowed to try new things and make sounds theyve never been encouraged to make before. He agreed that it takes a lot of courage for students to experiment with music. Robinson added a main lesson they practice is how to just listen. He said theyll do that too in a choir or orchestra, but they employ a different kind of listening one without sheet music or clear notation. He said theyll question how different instruments complement each other, and whether to add or remove certain layers of sound. The teacher, who graduated from a precursor of ISUs Creative Technologies program (then termed in 2004 as Arts Technology), said he believes liberated music can create liberated people. Robinson said theyll want to do the work of imagining a different society beyond violence. He said Coltrane made spiritual music beyond what any one religion attempted to communicate, sparking an understanding of how interconnected we are all. IF YOU GO WHAT: pt.fwd presents Normal Community High School Experimental Ensemble WHEN: 7 p.m. Saturday WHERE: Inside the McLean County Museum of History, 200 N. Main St., Bloomington TICKETS: Free Can you guess the rock band from just one lyric? Can you guess the rock band from just one lyric? Once I had a love and it was divine/ Soon found out I was losing my mind Blondie: 'Heart of Glass' I've been trying to make it home/ Got to make it before too long Journey: 'Wheel in the Sky' And the battle's just begun/ There's many lost, but tell me who has won? U2: 'Sunday Bloody Sunday' But if you want money for people with minds that hate/ All I can tell you is, brother, you have to wait The Beatles: 'Revolution' I know I've felt like this before/ But now I'm feeling it even more The Cranberries: 'Dreams' I waited eight long months, she finally set him free Paramore: 'Misery Business' And if it's just a game/ Then we'll hold hands just the same The Replacements: 'I'll Be You' Late night, come home/ Work sucks, I know Blink-182: 'All the Small Things' She's got a smile that it seems to me/ Reminds me of childhood memories Guns N' Roses: 'Sweet Child O' Mine' All systems go, the sun hasn't died/ Deep in my bones, straight from inside Imagine Dragons: 'Radioactive' But I'm a million different people From one day to the next The Verve: 'Bittersweet Symphony' This is how an angel dies/ Blame it on my own sick pride AWOLNATION: 'Sail' But I ain't seen nothing like him/ In any amusement hall The Who: 'Pinball Wizard' All the kids just getting out of school/ They can't wait to hang out and be cool The Go-Go's: 'We Got the Beat' You lyin' so low in the weeds/ I bet you gonna ambush me Heart: 'Barracuda' They're forming in straight line/ They're going through a tight wind Ramones: 'Blitzkrieg Bop' 'Kathy,' I said as we boarded a Greyhound in Pittsburgh/ 'Michigan seems like a dream to me now' Simon & Garfunkel: 'America' Hey, street boy, want some style?/ Your dead-end dreams don't make you smile The Runaways: 'Cherry Bomb' We come from the land of the ice and snow/ From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow Led Zeppelin: 'Immigrant Song' With the lights out, it's less dangerous/ Here we are now, entertain us Nirvana: 'Smells Like Teen Spirit' My shadow's the only one that walks beside me Green Day: 'Boulevard of Broken Dreams' He's never early, he's always late/ First thing you learn is that you always gotta wait Velvet Underground: 'I'm Waiting for the Man' I dream at night, I can only see your face The Police: 'Every Breath You Take' Criminal record says I broke in twice/ I must have done it half a dozen times Nickelback: 'Photograph' Sometimes I get the feelin'/ She's watchin' over me My Chemical Romance: 'Welcome to the Black Parade' SPRINGFIELD Law enforcement agencies in 19 Illinois counties received threats directed toward schools on Wednesday, likely part of a pattern of false warnings of violence at high schools and colleges across the country, authorities said. A total of 21 calls were received, according to Illinois State Police. First responders had not located any evidence of credible threats as of 3 p.m., the agency said. Affects areas stretched across the state, from Chicago and Rockford in the north to Bloomington, Decatur, Peoria, Champaign and Springfield in the central region to Carbondale, Murphysboro, Mount Vernon, Marion and Centralia in the southern part of the state. Communities in Illinois and across the country are experiencing what is commonly referred to as "swatting" a fake report about an active shooter situation, typically at a school. In some cases, caller ID spoofing is used to disguise the originating number. The goal is to get authorities, particularly a SWAT team, to respond to an address. An FBI official said in November that the agency believes the wave of false threats focused on schools may be coming from outside of the country. Officials said at the time that they had identified calls to about 250 colleges, 100 high schools and several junior high schools just since early June falsely reporting explosive devices being planted at the schools or saying that a shooting was imminent. The hoaxes come as authorities are already on edge about real mass shootings, particularly in schools. Last month, three students and three staff members were shot to death at a The Covenant School, a private Christian school in Nashville. On Monday, five people were killed and eight injured in a mass shooting at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky. Law enforcement agencies, including the Illinois State Police, say each call is taken seriously sometimes resulting in tremendous use of energy and resources. For instance, Minnesota's Bureau of Criminal Apprehension issued a warning in February after fake calls forced eight schools into lockdown over two days. In Iowa, so many schools were targeted last month that Gov. Kim Reynolds complained at a news conference about the toll it was taking to confirm the calls were fake. Authorities have warned that such hoaxes can prove deadly. In 2017, a police officer in Wichita, Kansas, shot and killed a man while responding to a hoax emergency call. Last month, the city agreed to pay $5 million to settle a lawsuit, with the money to go to the two children of 28-year-old Andrew Finch. The full list of Illinois communities reporting threats on Wednesday: Champaign in Champaign County Chicago in Cook County Aurora in DuPage County Carbondale and Murphysboro in Jackson County Mount Vernon in Jefferson County Vienna in Johnson County Dixon in Lee County Decatur in Macon County Granite City and Collinsville in Madison County Centralia in Marion County Bloomington in McLean County Jacksonville in Morgan County Peoria in Peoria County Pittsfield in Pike County Eldorado in Saline County Springfield in Sangamon County Freeport in Stephenson County Marion in Williamson County Rockford in Winnebago County Law enforcement, public safety and private sector security officials are encouraged to remain vigilant and report all suspicious behavior to local police. The Associated Press contributed. Photos: Chicago Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Election 2023 Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - 2023 Brandon Johnson - File Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 Brandon Johnson - 2022 BLOOMINGTON Two memoranda of understanding, one to incentivize the recruitment of corrections officers in McLean County and one to encourage the hiring of experienced part-time corrections officers, will be up for county board approval on Thursday. The initiatives come as the McLean County Sheriff's Office deals with a declining number of corrections officers, which has required significant overtime costs and inmate transfers. McLean County Sheriff Matt Lane said under the terms of the recruitment incentive, any corrections officer or staff member will receive $500 for recruiting a new corrections officer who completes his or her field training. Recruiters will receive an additional $1,500 if that new corrections officer finishes his or her one-year probationary period, Lane said. Any corrections officer who is hired in 2023 will receive a $2,000 loyalty bonus at the end of their probationary period. Lane said these incentives will run until the end of the year. The second memorandum of understanding will give part-time officers the opportunity to fill open slots full-time officers can't or won't pick up. Lane said open overtime slots will be offered to union members first. "Part-time officers will not be part of the collective bargaining unit," Lane said. Overtime slots that aren't accepted will be offered to part-time officers. Lane added that McLean County currently has no part-time corrections officers. In addition to the memoranda, the sheriff's office has lowered the age of service to 18 and advertised openings on the radio and billboards to recruit new officers. The McLean County Jail, which currently is 24 officers short of operating at full capacity, already has taken emergency actions to ensure the safety of its officers and inmates. Last month, the jail transferred about a quarter of its inmate population to the LaSalle County Jail at a cost of $45 daily per inmate. Lane estimated that the transfers would be in place for about three months, which could cost the county over $200,000, not including transportation and health care costs for inmates. The McLean County Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 400 of the McLean County Government Center, 115 E. Washington St., Bloomington. Updated mug shots from The Pantagraph Bryant Lewis Derek Roesch Justin M. Mata Marcus D. Wesley Phillip Tinch Trisha L. Hanke William B. Givens David L. Oliver Kenneth E. Funk Jordan R. King Holly M. Isaacson Kenneth L. Minton Tony L. Jackson Britley L. Hilger Jasmine L. Smith Jackie S. Claypool Noah R. Demuth Brandon L. Parsano Alexander N. Williams Carlos Sanchez-Solozarzano Jaylin S. Bones Jordan R. King Dominique M. Banks Austin T. Daugherty Sandra M. Lewis Samantha E. Morris Nolan C. Love Nikkita L. Sandefur Katlin M.B. Wilson Eli C. Garozzo Tysean T. Townsend Curtis J. Byrd Noral K. Nelson Charles J. Tankson Davis, Micah S Livingston, Joshua D. Kevin L. Ewen Emmanuel K. Mpay Ahmad S. Manns Dylan R Mann Tony L. Jackson CHARLESTON The Eastern Illinois University faculty and academic support staff union welcomed students and community members to the picket line Wednesday afternoon as its strike continued for a sixth day. The ongoing talks that sparked the strike continued with Eastern's administration making its "last, best and final" offer Tuesday night and University Professionals of Illinois Local 4100 responding that the administration is "trying to force a deal onto our members." Still, a union leader said their bargaining team was taking time to review this offer. Union members invited students to share lunch on Wednesday at Morton Park and then join them on the picket line in front of Old Main, where Eastern's administrative offices are located. Community members were invited to join the picketing at 3 p.m. Elementary educator major Joshua Doty, a junior from Greenville, was one of many students who accepted the invitation. "I just want to show my support for them and what they are doing," Doty said, adding that he is not worried about missing classes because he knows faculty will be supportive of students when studies resume. "They will be understanding and patient with us." The students in attendance also included music education major Emily Ross, a junior from Newton. She carried a homemade sign saying, "Bleed Green 4 A Fair Contract." She said this was a play on words regarding Eastern's "Bleed Blue" motto in support of its school colors. "It's hard to bleed blue when our teachers don't have a fair contract," Ross said, adding that it has been strange to hear the usually bustling Doudna Fine Arts Center fall silent during the strike. "I really hope EIU's administration and UPI can reach an agreement." The union and university have been in talks for over a year, and faculty and staff have worked without a contract since September. Union members went on strike Thursday, April 6. In a statement released shortly after midnight Wednesday, the university accused the union's bargaining team of abruptly walking out of talks Tuesday night. "EIU cannot express enough how disappointed it is in the conduct of UPI and its refusal to stay at the table to end this strike," the statement said. University administrators gave more ground on the issue Tuesday, agreeing to add an additional 3% over the life of the contract, according to the statement. However, union members provided an economic proposal at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday and then left negotiations without waiting for a reply, the university said. This left the university with "no choice but to deliver its last, best and final offer" electronically to the union, according to the statement. The agreement would provide 5%, 4%, 3%, and 3% in across-the-board salary increases along with increases in merit and other types of payment. The financial package exceeds $6.6 million over four years, the university said. EIU UPI President Jennifer Stringfellow said in a prepared statement on Wednesday that the administrations latest statement was "a new low." "By not bargaining in good faith for as long as it took (this week) and by not negotiating reasonably for 13 months before that, the EIU administration has brought this upon themselves," Stringfellow said. "Where were you when we exposed how EIU treats their employees, who are dedicated to educating future teachers, yet may not make enough to ever enjoy retirement security after decades of service teaching? The union's statement reported that it offered to bargain at 10 a.m. Wednesday, but the administration replied with a final offer and declined the meeting. During the lunch at Morton Park, Stringfellow said the union's bargaining team is taking time to review and digest the administration's "final" offer. EIU UPI Lead Negotiator Billy Hung added in the statement that it makes him hopeful to see that university President David Glassman is concerned with reaching a deal after "dragging this out for more than a year." "We sent our proposal (Tuesday) night assuming that the administration would take appropriate time to consider it and continue our discussion together in the morning," Hung said. "Instead, they sent us a final offer an hour later and sent the media a middle-of-the-night press release. I am disappointed by this step that administration took because they are clearly trying to force a deal onto our members. This damages the process and it is a disservice to our campus and community. Photos: Eastern Illinois University faculty strike SPRINGFIELD The Democratic National Committee announced this week that Chicago will host the partys 2024 presidential nominating convention. The city beat out Atlanta and New York for the four-day convention next August after Democratic leaders in the Midwest pushed for it to be the site. It will be hosted at the citys United Center and McCormick Place. A news release announcing the choice noted Chicago is an ideal backdrop to host the nominating convention for President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris. It will also highlight the importance of the Midwest as a key voting bloc in the 2024 election, the release noted. Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention, Biden said in the news release. 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. Gov. J.B. Pritzker was a leading force behind the push to bring the convention to Chicago, as was outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot. Last week, after a meeting with Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson, Pritzker said his administration has worked to relay to the DNC that the best convention that anyone could have would be here in the city of Chicago. He emphasized Chicago and Illinois status as a pro-choice state thats stood up for labor rights and workers and taken action to ban assault weapons. And thats not true of some of the other competitors states, he said. He made similar points at a news conference in Chicago Wednesday afternoon. Now after all, Chicago and the entire Midwest looks like America, and is the capital at the heart of the nation, Pritzker said. Illinois is home to a bustling metropolis, a strong rural tradition, thriving suburbs, not to mention a longstanding history rooted in civil rights, and workers rights, and reproductive rights. The convention is scheduled for Aug. 19-22 next year. It is expected to bring tens of thousands of visitors to Chicago. The city last held the convention in 1996. This region was critical to President Biden and vice-president Harris's 2020 victory, DNC Chair Jaime Harrison said at a news conference Wednesday. We won big here in 2020 and it will be a part of how we win big again in 2024. This region will also give us the opportunity to showcase the Biden-Harris economic agenda that is unleashing a manufacturing boom, strengthening U.S. supply chains, creating good paying union jobs and expanding economic opportunities. The Republican Party will host their presidential nominating convention in July, roughly 90 miles north of Chicago in Milwaukee. Also on Tuesday, GOP Congressman Darin LaHood, of Dunlap, announced that presumed presidential hopeful and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis will be the keynote speaker at the 2023 Lincoln Day Dinner. The event hosted by the Peoria and Tazewell County Republican Central Committees will take place Friday, May 12. Gov. Ron DeSantis is one of the preeminent conservative voices in our country, fighting back against the radical left, LaHood said in a statement. As Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis has enabled his state to thrive because he leads with fiscal responsibility, family values, and Constitutional principles. I am honored to welcome him to this years Peoria-Tazewell Lincoln Day Dinner and look forward to hearing him share his Florida Blueprint with Central Illinois conservatives. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term CHICAGO Donald Trump won the White House in 2016 by breaking up the famed electoral "blue wall," snatching the Midwestern battleground states of Michigan and Wisconsin, along with Pennsylvania, from Democrats. He lost the White House four years later when those same states flipped to Joe Biden. Both parties are already zeroing in on the Midwest ahead of next year's presidential election, each choosing to hold their national conventions in the region. Republicans will have their event in July 2024 in Milwaukee, the largest city in the swing state of Wisconsin. Democrats announced Tuesday that they would hold theirs the following month in Chicago, just 90 miles away, in solidly blue Illinois. In picking Chicago over other finalists New York and Atlanta, the Democratic National Committee said, the party was "returning to the Midwest, a critical Democratic stronghold" and called Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota part of the "blue wall" crucial to Biden's 2020 victory, as well as his party's success in last fall's midterm elections. That overlooked Trump's Midwestern success four years prior, but the DNC also noted that Chicago embodied the "formidable coalition" of voters that will be vital to Biden in his expected 2024 reelection campaign. "We're seeing the importance of those states and the recognition by the Democratic Party that we must win them," said Democratic Illinois Gov. J. B. Pritzker, who was a leading advocate for Chicago's bid. The Midwest wasn't the only part of the country that boosted Biden in 2020. He flipped two Sun Belt states, Arizona and Georgia, and captured Pennsylvania, which is often considered part of the "blue wall" but is not located in the Midwest. Still, the selection by both parties of Midwestern convention sites shows the region's enduring political importance even though it's no guarantee of support. "The Midwest is the place to be," said Cam Savage, a Republican strategist who has worked with top GOP elected officials around the region. "You're looking at Pennsylvania to Wisconsin and more or less everything in between as key battleground areas in any national election these days." It was the second election cycle in a row that Democrats looked to the Midwest for their convention. In 2020, the party selected Milwaukee to host but ended up holding it virtually because of the coronavirus pandemic. This year, it was up to Biden to pick a site, and he said Chicago would be a "showcase" for his administration's overseeing post-pandemic economic growth and falling unemployment. The nation's third-largest city, Chicago is also heavily pro-union, demonstrating Biden's commitment to organized labor, which played a key role in helping him clinch the Democratic primary and presidency in 2020. "Atlanta could have been strategic as well. But it doesn't allow the party to really show off all of the principles that it is supposedly standing for, and they can do that in Chicago," said Sara Nelson, president of the Association of Flight Attendants. She signed a letter to the DNC from top labor groups and union workers urging them to choose Chicago. Pritzker stressed his state's strong defense of abortion rights as an important factor. Other Democrats worried about Georgia's Republican-controlled Legislature and the state's relaxed gun laws. That's despite Chicago being plagued by gun violence, potentially exposing Democrats to GOP attacks about rising crime rates in cities around the country. Lisa Hernandez, the Illinois Democratic Party chair, said that the bid went beyond Chicago and her state, calling the convention site the "gateway to the Midwest's blue bastion." Her party noted that Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota voted Democratic in every presidential election but 2016 over the last 30 years, and that each state reelected its Democratic governor last fall. Organizers of Chicago's bid also argued to White House officials from the start that it represented the Midwest as a whole. That hasn't always been a positive for Democrats, though. Few places better illustrate the Midwest's ever-shifting electoral loyalties than Wisconsin, where both Democratic Gov. Tony Evers and Republican Sen. Ron Johnson won reelection in last fall's midterm elections. Democrats, meanwhile, are still celebrating Judge Janet Protasiewicz's victory last week in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, which gave liberal justices control of the court for the first time in 15 years. They'll likely have the opportunity to counter an 1849 statewide ban on abortion triggered by the U.S. Supreme Court's overturning of the Roe v. Wade decision, as well as congressional district maps that had favored Republicans. That same night, however, Republican Dan Knodl won an open seat in the Wisconsin state Senate, giving the GOP a supermajority in the chamber. "Wisconsin is always going to be 50/50, right down the line," said Democratic strategist Pete Giangreco, who worked on Barack Obama's presidential campaigns and is advising 2024 U.S. Senate candidates in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan. "But you've got to have the blue wall first, or the Georgias and the Arizonas don't matter." Giangreco, who also was part of Protasiewicz's victorious campaign, noted that progressive Brandon Johnson's win over a moderate Democratic rival in Chicago's recent mayor's race may have boosted the city's convention bid. Johnson, a former Chicago Teachers Union organizer, was endorsed by progressive leaders including Sens. Bernie Sanders of Vermont and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. The 47-year-old, who is Black, won by building a multiracial coalition that included young people and labor unions, and he brings a new sense of optimism to the city a combination of factors that Democrats need to recreate in 2024, Giangreco said. "It's very clear Brandon brought younger people into activism, into the electorate," Giangreco said. "It certainly didn't hurt our chances at all that you have a mayor of the city who's dynamic and young and part of a movement that is an important part of our party." Weissert reported from Washington. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term SPRINGFIELD Some Illinois lawmakers are calling for a review of one of the tests prospective teachers must pass in order to be licensed in Illinois. The test is known as the Teacher Performance Assessment, or edTPA, and it is intended to determine whether a prospective teacher has the knowledge and skills necessary to be effective in the classroom. It has been a requirement for teacher licensing in Illinois since 2015. State Sen. Tom Bennett, R-Gibson City, said he started hearing concerns about the test from people in his district, and he later learned that those concerns were shared by other lawmakers. And it was over and over again, he said in an interview. I was only hearing from a few folks that thought it was the best thing since sliced bread, which, okay, but then I hear from the other side. It's like, I'm not hearing the same thing from people in my district. Every state has its own criteria for licensing teachers and every school of education uses its own curriculum for training teachers. Developed at Stanford University, the edTPA was intended to be a standardized way of measuring an aspiring teachers knowledge and abilities, regardless of what state they came from or which college or university they attended. The assessment is given at the end of a prospective teachers student teaching experience. Its a performance-based assessment that, among other things, requires applicants to submit a portfolio that includes actual lesson plans and tests that theyve administered, examples of their students work, and other material that demonstrates their knowledge and competence. The portfolios are then scored by teachers and teacher educators with expertise in the subjects and grade level in which the applicant is seeking a license. Bennett said that having outside evaluators who have never met or worked with the applicant scoring their portfolios is one of the issues that concerns him about edTPA. Theyre weighing in, and their weight is pretty heavy, he said. If they pass, great. If they don't, it's based on this evaluation from these folks that don't understand the whole situation. So that just got my attention. Sen. Meg Loughran Cappel, D-Shorewood, a cosponsor of the bill, said she has concerns that edTPA is so rigorous and intensive that it could deter some people from ever trying to become a teacher. You will have someone that wants to be a math teacher, and then they get to the point where they have to do all this work for their student teaching and all this additional rigorous testing and projects, she said. And what you end up having is, they're like, Why would I go through all of this and maybe not even make it, only to make $40,000 coming out (of college) when I could stop what I'm doing right now as a junior, take a couple extra classes and become an accountant and come out making $60,000 or $65,000? During the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. J.B. Pritzker issued an executive order suspending use of the edTPA but that executive order will expire when the disaster declaration is lifted on May 11. Bennett is the lead sponsor of Senate Bill 1488, which passed unanimously out of the Senate March 30 and now awaits action in the House. It would continue the suspension of the edTPA through Aug. 31, 2025. It would also establish a task force to evaluate teacher performance assessment systems and make recommendations to the State Board of Education and the General Assembly by Aug. 1, 2024. I think this is a good time to sit back, lets review it, see what we got, and I'm very grateful for bipartisan support from a number of Republican and Democrat senators really feeling the same way, Bennett said. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term AMMAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi said on Wednesday that his country will continue its support for the Palestinians and take "all necessary steps" to halt the Israeli practices that "deprive Palestinians of their right to freedom, statehood, and sovereignty." The minister's remarks, which were made during a parliamentary session, followed Israeli raids on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound earlier this month. The raids were condemned by countries in the Middle East and triggered an escalation of conflicts along Israel's borders with Lebanon and the Palestinian enclave of Gaza Strip. "Jordan has always stood by the Palestinians and will continue to do so," Safadi said. Jordan has never stopped supporting Palestinians' rights, because fulfilling the legitimate rights of the Palestinian people and establishing their independent, sovereign state is in the national interests of Jordan, he said. While calling for respecting the historical and legal status quo of the holy sites, Safadi urged Israel to stop all actions that would "undermine the two-state solution and prevent the achievement of comprehensive and fair peace." CHICAGO When The Warehouse made the top seven list of most endangered buildings in Chicago facing possible demolition, preservationists sprung to action to save the West Loop industrial building where legendary DJ Frankie Knuckles elevated Chicago to a higher musical level with "house music." Besides playing soul-moving music through sound systems created by a New York engineer, Knuckles brought together partygoers from all backgrounds. Some have said The Warehouse was Chicagos Paradise Garage and Studio 54. Frankie Knuckles would take the patrons of The Warehouse on a musical journey, said longtime friend Kevin Abdullah, a retired Chicago Fire Department lieutenant. He said that Knuckles, along with the former owner of The Warehouse, Robert Williams, brought elements of the New York party scene to Chicago. To date about 13,000 people have signed a petition agreeing The Warehouse deserves landmark status. The building, which is in the West Loop, an area once commercial and desolate, is a hotbed for redevelopment. Preservationists said the three-story industrial building has no historical protections, which puts it at risk of being demolished. A petition was started to urge city officials to take action. Under landmark rules, owners would have to get permission to make any changes to the building. In the late 70s and early 80s, Ward Miller, the executive director of Preservation Chicago, remembers attending The Warehouse. It was a nice time. It was a different time and place, Miller remembered. The whole building rocked. We were young and probably naive, but Black, white, Asian, Hispanic ... we all were together having a good time. Miller said. The building was beautiful but modest. I am very proud to say I knew the place. The body-moving sound was developed by house music promoter and native New Yorker Robert Williams, who visited Chicago in the 70s before making it his home. Williams found the parties back then to be different from what he was accustomed to in New York, he explained in an interview after being recognized by Chicago under the Rahm Emanuel administration. He was recognized with Robert Williams Day on May 28, 2021. Williams took house music parties to another level, hiring Richard Long, the New York engineer, to build the sound system for The Warehouse. He also tagged Knuckles to "spin" records, looking to bring a DJ from New York to seize a pivotal moment in Chicagos nightlife scene. Robert Williams was an important part of the house music movement in Chicago, said Abdullah, a close friend of Knuckles and Williams. The Warehouse was the first club that had a predominantly Black gay following. Of course, people of other races came later, but it started as a safe haven for Black gays to party, and it became a place for them to call their own. Abdullah said once people got over homophobic beliefs, the party began. If you could get over (homophobia), you would have a wonderful time, Abdullah said. He told a story of how Knuckles embraced the term "house music." Abdullah said Knuckles and a few close friends were driving and stumbled across a window advertisement stating The Warehouse plays house music. Knuckles asked the group, What is house music? and one of them replied: Thats the music you play at The Warehouse. A South Bronx native, Abdullah and others navigated the house music scene in Chicago that mimicked Paradise Garage and Studio 54 in New York. He mentioned other clubs such as Sauers, the Penthouse and the Power Plant. Knuckles combined gospel, disco, techno, R&B and soft rock, creating the house music scene at The Warehouse. There were other underground clubs in Chicago as well that played house music, but The Warehouse put Chicago on the map. The unforgettable sound system, set up in an industrial building, created a powerful sound. Last fall, the property was up for sale and slated for redevelopment. Max Chavez, the director of research and special projects at Preservation Chicago, said recently there were no demolition permits on hand for the structure. The new buildings owners said they plan to use the property for office space, Miller said. With almost 10,000 signatures, its a place that really matters to people, even in the United Kingdom, Chavez said. We need to be proactive while we have a chance. The Warehouse is such a cultural building with historic importance. Chavez said the petition will gain the citys attention and the sky is the limit for how many may sign. Robert Williams told the Tribune that he is following the landmark effort. I am very happy about the movement. The Warehouse in itself made a big contribution to Chicago, Williams said. He noted the importance of Mayor Richard J. Daley backing The Warehouse in the 70s. During the mid-70s, they werent accustomed to Blacks in that area, Williams said. He said mothers often would show up looking for their children, and when they would appear in the front yelling, I know shes in there, someone would direct the partygoer out the back where they would take refugee at Union Station until the coast was clear. Williams said youth learned networking at The Warehouse. The Warehouse inspired people to live and go on, he said. One of Williams proteges, party promoter Reginald Corner, said he thinks its an excellent idea to give The Warehouse landmark status. It would be nice to have a museum because its one of the founding places of the genre called house music, Corner said. Its all around the world now. The Warehouse played a significant role of Chicago being the place were house music was born. Knuckles, a 1997 Grammy Award winner for Remixer of the Year-Nonclassical, also had a portion of Jefferson Street between Monroe and Van Buren named Frankie Knuckles Way in 2004. The following year he was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame for his musical achievements. Knuckles died March 31, 2014, in Chicago due to complications of diabetes, friends said. The Warehouse gave partygoers a dramatic sound, allowing the crowd to hear things in songs they didnt hear at other clubs. The sound was incredible, the best (expletive) Ive ever heard, Corner said. Photos: Tornado collapses northern Illinois theater roof CHICAGO Walmart is closing half of its stores in Chicago, citing financial losses that have topped tens of millions of dollars. In its announcement, Walmart officials said the closures come after a series of meetings with Chicago officials to try and save the stores. As we looked for solutions, it became even more clear that for these stores, there was nothing leaders could do to help get us to the point where they would be profitable, the company said in a press release. 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, Walmart said. The company had tried several strategies through the years to improve business performance at the locations, it said, including building smaller stores, offering more localized products and offering services beyond traditional retail. 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, Walmarts release said. It was hoped that these investments would help improve our stores performance. Unfortunately, these efforts have not materially improved the fundamental business challenges our stores are facing. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said she was incredibly disappointed with the news of the closures. All communities in Chicago should have access to essential goods and services, Lightfoot said. Unceremoniously abandoning these neighborhoods will create barriers to basic needs for thousands of residents. I call on Walmart to ensure that these soon-to-be-closed stores are repurposed with significant community engagement so they can find a new use to serve their neighborhoods. Mayor-elect Brandon Johnson said the closures will leave a void in the communities they serve. These stores, especially the locations in communities that have historically lacked options for grocery stores and pharmacies, served as a crucial lifeline for communities to obtain fresh, affordable produce. We are committed to identifying ways to fill the gaps these closures will leave in neighborhoods. The following stores will close to the public 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 Additionally, Walmart had previously announced it will close two stores in suburban Chicago one in Homewood and one in Plainfield along with a Walmart pickup location in Lincolnwood. Photos: Pritzker sworn in for second term Osagyefo Aseadeeyo Agyemang Badu II, the Dormaahene has called the bluff of the United States government on the matter of same-sex relationships. He stressed at a public function over the weekend that Ghana will not under any circumstance accept a man marrying a man and a woman marrying another. He called on government and all politicians to send a strong signal to that effect, warning that he will personally see to the political loss of anyone who supports the LGBTQ+ agenda in the country. He addressed the United States Vice President, Kamala, Harris, who is the most recent American official to speak on the matter, stating that LGBTQ+ rights were human rights. Take your America, as for me Agyemang Badu II, if I come to you and you think because of some pronouncements I have made, you wont grant me a visa, I will remain here in my country. I will stay here till death. This is where I was born, he stressed as the audience applauded him. He said Ghana was seeking a meager US$3 billion from the International Monetary Fund [IMF] alleging that it was because of the funds that we were being bombarded with pro-LGBTQ positions. He also called out Kamala Harris for choosing to visit Ghana with her husband, why didnt she come with a gay wife, he quizzed. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Archbishop Frimpong Manson Samanhyia of Reconciliation International has cut sod for the construction of an ultramodern prayer camp and orphanage building for the All Nations Prayer Camp And Orphanage Village (The City Of Light) at DC Bungalow old town, Wiamoase in the Ashanti Region. According to Archbishop Frimpong Manson Samanhyia, the project will be financed through voluntary contributions and fund raising activities by the church and the community. The construction of the prayer camp and orphanage village comprises a worship centre and a retreat centre. In a sermon on the theme let us rise up and build (Nehemiah 2:18), Archbishop Frimpong Manson Samanhyia urged the church members and the community both home and abroad to give offerings to construct the prayer camp building and orphanage to help the needy. I pray to God to open the floodgates of heaven and pour out what is needed into the hands of members for the construction of this project. He also appealed to the MCE and the Member of Parliament to help them with street lights, clean water and good roads. He further urged the youth to be addicted to the Word of God which, he said, is the surest way of succeeding in life. The program was supported by Chief of staff Madam Frema Opare, who offered water, rice, oil and undisclosed amount for the orphans and Mr John Harris, Director of T. Cribs & funeral services - United Kingdom and Ghana - also sent his support. Present at the ceremony were the Chief and Queen of Waimoase, Nanahemaa Dokua of Kyebi Mama Effie at Nhyira, friends and family. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video APO Group (www.APO-opa.com), the leading Pan-African communications agency and press release distribution service, is delighted to announce that its Founder and Chairman, Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard (www.Pompigne-Mognard.com), has been invited to join the Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa Advisory Board (https://apo-opa.info/43rH0PR) as a founding member. The inaugural Bloomberg New Economy Gateway Africa conference, in partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco, will be held in Marrakesh in June 2023. The event will bring together leaders from the private and public sectors to discuss the worlds most pressing issues. These include the impact of a slowing global economy, rising food and energy prices, supply-chain shocks, tightening financial conditions, and the growing risk of distress among sovereign borrowers. As a founding member of the advisory board, Nicolas will assist in the development of the conference program and audience, and serve as a champion for the event. Other members of the advisory board include H.E. Wamkele Mene, Secretary-General of the African Continental Free Trade Area; Dr. Benedict Okey Oramah, President and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the African ExportImport Bank (Afreximbank); Alain Ebobisse, CEO of Africa50; Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of International Cooperation of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Sergio Pimenta, Regional Vice President for Africa of the International Finance Corporation (IFC). Africas increasing importance on the global economic stage has been the driving force behind the Gateway Africa conference, and Morocco, ranked No. 1 in Africa on the Climate Change Performance Index 2022, is a venue that perfectly reflects Bloomberg New Economys five editorial pillars: Finance, Commerce, Sustainability, Resilience, and Security. Michael Bloomberg commented: As we expand our New Economy gatherings to Africa, we look forward to broadening our conversations in Morocco a major gateway for global trade and climate action. Our event will put a special focus on sustainability and resilience, issues critical to the future of every country, and of special importance to King Mohammed VI. We expect our global community of business and government leaders will get a lot out of it. Franco-Gabonese entrepreneur Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard brings a wealth of experience in business, as well as a vast network of prominent connections to his role as advisory board member. Nicolas founded APO Group (www.APO-opa.com) in 2007, and has seen it develop into the leading Pan-African communications consultancy and press release distribution service. APO Group counts among its 300+ clients some of the biggest multinational companies, public institutions and sporting organizations operating in Africa, including the likes of FIFA, Canon, and the European Investment Bank. APO Group revenue grew 60% year on year in 2022. Over the years, both Nicolas and APO Group have been committed to changing the narrative about Africa, working with their clients and partners to ensure international audiences have access to positive African stories. Nicolas sits on several advisory boards, task forces, and international committees, imparting his knowledge and expertise to diverse organizations. These include the Senior Advisory Board of the Canada-Africa Chamber of Business (https://apo-opa.info/3KnBFQM), the Task Force for the FIFA CAF Infrastructure Development Project (https://apo-opa.info/43t4vYG), and the Advisory Boards of the African Energy Chamber (https://apo-opa.info/3KyaVgL), the Africa Hotel Investment Forum (AHIF) (https://apo-opa.info/43q9LfO), the EurAfrican Forum (https://apo-opa.info/3ME9P5S), and the International Committee of the All Africa Music Awards (AFRIMA) (https://apo-opa.info/3EyQLSj). Im thrilled to be a part of this exciting new initiative that will bring the attention of the world to Africa, said Nicolas Pompigne-Mognard, Founder and Chairman of APO Group. Bloomberg is one of the most influential and recognizable names in global business and media, so it is fantastic news that the Bloomberg New Economy community will gather in Morocco to discuss the kind of issues that are affecting people in Africa and all over the world. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mavis Hawa Koomson, has announced that the government will be providing alternative livelihood training for 8,000 fishers during the closed season. According to her, the training which will state with 550 fishers is in collaboration with the Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity and other partners of the minister. Speaking at a stakeholder engagement to access the 2022 fishing closed season, in Accra, on Friday, April 13, 2023, Hawa Koomson said that the alternative livelihood training is part of efforts to ensure that fishing households are not adversely affected during fishing closed seasons. The Ministry and its partners, including the Ghana Fisheries Recovery Activity have launched the alternative livelihood training support for fishers starting with five hundred and fifty (550) fishers in masonry, carpentry, dressmaking, hairdressing, electronics and auto engineering etc in selected Communities along the coast. This training would be scaled up to cover 8,000 fishers aged from 18 to 35 years. After the training, trainees would be supported to set up to ensure that they can earn incomes from their trade, she said. The minister also indicated the government will also provide fishing households with other support, including the provision of food items, as it did in 2022. Ministry during the 2022 Closed Season distributed 20,000 bags of rice and 8,333 oil to totally support fishers during the closure. As we have always indicated, the relief items are not sufficient to whole support the fishers during the one (1) month Closed Season. We, therefore, encourage fishers to save towards the period. I must also mention that the fishers have been supported with 6,000 wire mesh, 20,000 basins, 1710 chest Freezers and 1150 outboard motors, she said. She also explained that the closed season is needed to help ensure that there is no depletion or decline of fish stocks in the nations water bodies. The fishery resources have been the economic backbone of the many fishing communities in this country for centuries, especially artisanal fishers and fish processors. It is therefore important that we manage our fisheries sustainably to promote the well-being of these communities. The implementation of the Closed Season, is part of the series of strategies to recover fish stock and ensure sustainable management of the fisheries resources. We have all come to accept that, there is the need to continue the Closed Season within the same period of July and August as implemented in 2021 and 2022 since it is the period of the upwelling. Upwelling is the best period for spawning, Hawa Koomson said. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Upper West Regional Command of the Ghana Police Service has invited the National Youth Organiser of the ruling New Patriotic Party, Abdul Salam Mustapha for questioning. According to a copy of the invitation letter sighted by GhanaWeb, Mr Salam was to report to the Upper West Police Command on Friday, April 7, 2023, to assist in an ongoing investigation in which he was seen wearing a military camouflage during a radio interview contrary to the law. You are respectfully invited to report to the Regional Police Command/Wa on 7 April, 2023 at 1100 hours to assist in an ongoing investigation in which you were seen wearing a military camouflage contrary to section 1 of the restriction on the use of military uniforms and equipment Act 1967, (NLCD 177) as amended by the restriction on the use of military camouflage and equipment (Amendment) Act 2007, (Act 746) while you granted an interview on Tuusung radio in Wa on 13 March, 2023 between the hours of 10:00am and 11:00am. I wish to kindly request you to bring along the said military camouflage long-sleeved shirt to aid investigation, the invitation letter dated March 31, 2023 said. Reacting to the letter in a Facebook post, the NPP National Youth Organiser confirmed receipt of the invitation and said he had arranged with the police to report himself to the Police CID headquarters on Thursday, April 13, 2023. According to Salam Mustapha, the invitation by the police is a result of an equalisation attempt by the opposition National Democratic Congress who had some of its executives being invited by the police recently on similar grounds. I received this letter from the Police Commander to report to the Upper West Regional Police Command. Due to some family circumstances, I couldn't travel to Wa, but upon further communication, we subsequently have arranged for me to meet the police at CID headquarters tomorrow at 12 noon. I understand that the NDC petitioned the police to invite me because some officers of theirs were invited to answer questions on why they wore camouflage to campaign in the Ashanti Region. I will honour the invitation tomorrow, but this equalisation attempt has failed. How the police failed to see the symbol of 'true religion' embossed on the shirt left breast pocket strikes me. How can a shirt bought in a shop in London with its label be described as a military camouflage? he questioned in his Facebook post sighted by GhanaWeb. 8 NDC regional executives invited by police Eight members of Ashanti region executives of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) were recently invited by the Ashanti Regional Police Command for campaigning in the partys Green Army uniform. Confirming the invitation on Kumasi-based Abusua FM, the first Vice Chairman of the party, Captain retired Kwame Jabari said, they were ready to meet the regional police commander to justify the use of the uniform. The camouflage was bought at Kumasi Kejetia Market which bears no military symbol of the Ghana Armed Forces to warrant this needless invitation. The camouflage is available on the market NPP people including their antinational Organizer and Youth Organizer Nana Boakye have all been wearing the camouflage so why us, Mr. Jabari asked. According to him, the Party will not be cowards to the police and military intimidation in Ashanti region for no wrong doing. They call us on the phone for a meeting after 9am, we are now going to meet as a party to make a decision on the invitation extended to us, either to honor the invitation or not. By our principle we will decide whether the invitation is intimidation tactics or not. If we deem it as intimidation we will not honor it if it is not we must honor it." Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As part of the campaign embarked on by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to go after monies owed them, 52 customers in the Accra West Region of ECG were found to have engaged in illegal connections. This, according to the ECG, are customers who are illegally connect to the grid and have refused to pay for the power they used. The result is the retrieval of GH750,000.00 worth of 550,000kWh of electricity illegally used by the customers. ECGs Revenue Protection Manager for Accra West, Dr Mark Owusu Ansah noted that through the illegal connection, customers are able to use power without contributing to the revenue basket of the company denying them of raising the needed revenue to run the company. Some of the illegalities included meter bypass, meter tampering and direct connections. According to Dr Mark Ansah, the arrests were made within the first ten days of the campaign. The aim is to recoup monies owed them as well as check the health of meters it has installed in the area. As per the records, he added that the customers have illegally used about 550,000kWh of electricity translating to about GHc750,000 (plus taxes and administrative charges) and some actions have already been taken against the people responsible. Power to these customers has been disconnected, they have been surcharged for the electricity they used without paying and charged a penalty fee for engaging in the illegalities. Also, depending on the gravity of the offense, we will hand some cases over to the police for prosecution. he said. Dr Mark added that the sophistication of the illegal connections shows that the culprits have resolved to not paying for the power they use. He, thus, appreciated the field team who are helping to identify and arrest persons who are engaging in the illegal acts. The General Manager for the region, Mr Emmanuel Akinie, added that the ECG is investing heavily in technology such as the introduction of smart meters to help in the early identification of customers who engaged in any illegalities. We have introduced some smart meter solutions on pilot basis, which give us real-time updates of what is happening on a customer premises. It signals our office once the meter-case is opened, bypassed or tampered with, he said. The smart meters, he added, will be rolled out in no time to help the company fight the menace. The areas under the Accra West region include; Ablekuma, Achimota, Amasaman, Bortianor, Dansoman, Kaneshie, Korle Bu and Nsawam. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Bernard Allotey Jacobs says he finds nothing wrong with Mr. Byran Acheampong's controversial statements that have aroused political sentiments. The Minister for Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, speechifying before a mammoth NPP supporters, stated emphatically that there is no way the NPP will hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). "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," he stated. He also stressed the "NDC party will collapse...We will show them that we have the men. We have the men!...We will make sure NPP remains in government at all cost. After making these statements, Mr. Bryan Acheampong has been bombarded with a barrage of criticisms with particularly the NDC petitioning the IGP to arrest him. Reacting to the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show, Allotey Jacobs exclaimed that he doesn't "see anything wrong with what Bryan Acheampong said". To him, Mr. Bryan Acheampong was possessed by what he called "gbesi" to pep his party supporters up. "It could be that he was possessed by 'gbesi' and in one way or other was motivating their footsoldiers because of their large crowd which the other party never expected the NPP, their Unity walk, would have such a crowd," he stated. He also described Bryan Acheampong's comments as a political strategy to debilitate the National Democratic Congress. Narrating how he used to mobilize NDC footsoldiers to politically attack their opponents, Allotey Jacobs said; "We can group our footsoldiers and brief them as to what to say on a particular station. We tell our serial callers to tow a certain line. I mean it is organizational strategy; communicational strategy. So, Bryan Acheampong also felt that let me motivate my people because sometimes when you see the crowd, something we call in Ga 'gbesi' could arrest you." Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Seasoned journalist, Kweku Baako Jnr. has described the National Democratic Congress (NDC) petition to the Police to arrest Bryan Acheampong over his recent statements as "laughable and comical". The National Democratic Congress (NDC) is calling on the Inspector General of Police, Dr. George Dampare to direct his officers to arrest the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, for telling his party supporters that "it will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC". Addressing the supporters at Mpraeso, the Minister cautioned that "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". The legal team of the National Democratic Congress has petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to immediately arrest and prosecute Mr. Bryan Acheampong. But to Kweku Baako, "those inviting the Police for investigations and possible charges and so forth, the whole thing is laughable and comical". Making his submissions on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" programme Wednesday, Mr. Baako asked host Kwami Sefa Kayi if Bryan Acheampong made any comment to say the NPP won't hand over power to the NDC if the Electoral Commission declares the opposition party winner of the 2024 elections. "That was key. I was looking for that. I was actually looking for that but it wasn't there. It was missing. It was missing because it wasn't said", he replied. He wondered if what the Minister said was a breach of the constitution, stressing "anything outside the constitutional framework is potentially treasonable. So, I don't get the understanding that Bryan Acheampong was saying that 'come what may if we lose the elections, we won't hand over', rather I could hear him suggesting that if we address our challenges and difficulties in such a manner, it will enhance our chances. That's my understanding". Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video BUENOS AIRES, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Guillermo Fernandez scored an own goal as San Lorenzo kept alive their title hopes with a 1-0 home win over Boca Juniors in Argentina's Primera Division on Wednesday. Fernandez gifted the hosts the lead in the ninth minute when his attempt to block Ivan Leguizamon's cross deflected into his own net. Boca dominated possession but lacked sharpness in the final third against San Lorenzo's organized five-man defense. The visitors' task became more difficult on the hour mark when Nicolas Figal was sent off for a second yellow card following a rash tackle on Andres Vombergar. San Lorenzo defended stubbornly thereafter to secure their seventh win of the campaign and move to within a point of leaders River Plate, who have a game in hand. Boca, who have lost four of their past five games, are 15th in the 28-team standings, 10 points behind River Plate. Nana Akomea, Chief Executive Officer of the InterCity State Transport Corporation (STC) has asked Agric Minister, Bryan Acheampong to clarify his recent comment which has generated some backlash against him. The Member of Parliament for Abetifi constituency has been called out for saying the NPP will not hand over power to the largest opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). At a recent health walk, he 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 remains in government at all cost". Meanwhile, the NDC has called on the Inspector General of Police (IGP), to arrest the Minister for what they describe as a "reckless and treasonable" comment. Reacting to this during a panel discussion on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', Nana Akomea said: "When we are speaking in public as politicians we must ensure that our comments are not misrepresented . . . I don't think Bryan means when the Electoral Commission declares NDC winners NPP will say they won't hand over. It's not possible . . . but the way he said it, someone might think so . . . " He further called on Bryan Acheampong to "issue a clarification and state what exactly he meant". Listen to him in the video below Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Henry Osei Akoto, a former National Organiser aspirant of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), has stated that if the New Patriotic Party (NPP) insists that it will not hand over power in 2024, even after it loses the elections, then they will have to do so from exile. He explained that since it appears the ruling party is bent on holding on to power even in a democracy, they would make sure that they are only able to continue doing that outside the shores of Ghana. In a series of tweets in reaction to the comments made by Bryan Acheampong, the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, and Minister of Food and Agriculture, recently, Henry Akoto stressed that the NDC is also ready to match any violence the NPP brings. Be rest assured that the NDC will employ every means necessary to win election 2024. Whatever it takes! he tweeted. He also sent a strong word to the NPP and Bryan Acheampong that he would ensure that their love for political power beyond 2024 - even in an instance they lose, does not happen within Ghana. If you won't hand over power when you lose, we will make sure you rule from exile, not in Ghana, he said in another tweet. The NDC and the NPP have been going at each in the last few days after the Minister for Food and Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong, told party supporters in Kwahu that his party (NPP) will not hand over power to the opposition party. NDC party will collapse. If the NDC dares to use threats, Violence and foolishness in the 2024 election we will let them know we have the men. We will show them that we have the men. We have the men![He screamed to emphasize]. It will never happen that we the NPP will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC. It will never happen! We will make sure NPP remain in government at all cost, he said. A number of NDC members and leaders have since called out the minister, who is also the Member of Parliament for Abetifi, calling on the police to have him arrested for the comments. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Managing Editor of the Insight Newspaper, Kwesi Pratt Jnr, has expressed concern over the future of Ghana due to recent political developments. Kwesi Pratts concern follows a statement made by the Minister of Food and Agriculture who doubles as the Member of Parliament for Abetifi in the Eastern region Bryan Acheampong. The Minister is on record as saying that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) will not hand over power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC). The other issue being the appointment of pro-NPP official to the Electoral Commission office by President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo. Speaking on Metro TVs Good Morning Ghana on April 12, 2023, he stressed that Bryan Acheampong's statement could create an atmosphere of tension and uncertainty in the country, especially in the lead-up to the general elections. He added that the statement was not in line with democratic principles and could undermine the peaceful transfer of power in the country as well as create a perception of bias and erode public confidence in the fairness and integrity of the electoral process. I am frightened for the future of Ghana; Im really frightened for the future of Ghana. we have gone a step further, a card-bearing professor, swearing in as a member of the electoral commission. So, it gives more meaning to the threats of not handling over under any circumstance. If there is an election dispute and this gentleman is sitting on the electoral commission, how are we going to resolve it? So, when you listen to this gentleman who has just been appointed unto the electoral commission and you get a leading member of the government, in fact, a cabinet minister says that we would never hand over power to the NDC, what conclusion comes to mind after listening to this gentleman? So even the statement that Bryan Acheampong made, which ought to be placed in the context of this development, is even worse. The statement gets more meaning, it gets amplifications if you add all of these considerations. Look we are accelerating at an unprecedented pace into Armageddon, that is what is happening, I mean what is this? I am really scared about the future of this country. And I think that all right-thinking people must be very scared about the future of our country. But Randy (host) jokes aside, we should be worried about the future of our country, Im very deeply worried," he said. 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." On the other hand, President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo recently swore in three new members of the Electoral Commission (EC). The three are Dr. Peter Appiahene, Madam Salima Ahmed Tijani, and Reverend Akua Ofori Boateng. They took office at a short Jubilee House ceremony on Monday, March 20, 2023. The appointments have, however, seen some criticisms by some factions in the public with members of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) accusing President Akufo-Addo of packing the commission with members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP). Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President John Mahama has assured Ghanaians that he will not disappoint them when re-elected to govern the country in 2024. The 2020 flagbearer of the opposition NDC said he will not make promises he and his government cannot fulfill but will rather ensure that he works according to the partys policies which have been lined up already. Speaking to party executives during his tour of the Eastern Region on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, the presumptive flagbearer of the NDC pledged not to win elections on the back of enormous promises like President Nana Akufo-Addo did prior to the 2016 elections. Mahama said upon all the promises that helped him win the 2016 elections, Akufo-Addo has little to show although his government is the luckiest one in the history of the country. In 2024, I am not going to promise you 1 village 1 dam, 1 district 1 factory, he noted as he tagged them as lies. In 2024, What I can pledge to you Ghanaians is my God-given experience. I will use that experience to transform this country into a better Ghana that we all want, John Mahama said at Akuapem Akropong. Mahama believes rising through the ranks to become a one-time president has given him a rich experience, especially after he has been in opposition for almost 8 years and has reflected on the concerns of Ghanaians on daily basis. The former president assured that he will not run a government that will try policies but rather an administration that is well experienced to transform the country at a faster pace. John Mahama went on and urged the party executives especially those at the branch level to work harder and ensure they maximize their votes next year than they got for the NDC in the previous election years. He said the party has instituted a rewarding scheme to award branches and constituencies that will reach the targets the party will set for them ahead of the 2024 polls. Campaign The 2020 flagbearer of the NDC is expected to visit thirty-one (31) constituencies in the Eastern Region where he will meet and interact with branch and constituency executives. He has been speaking about his vision of Building Ghana we want together, and why securing a convincing win in the NDC primaries will be a great boost for the 2024 presidential election. An earlier statement from Mahamas Special Aide, Joyce Bawa Mogtari, said her boss will also share his plans for improving the partys polling and electoral area campaign. That will be done through voter mobilizing and canvassing, and the effective utilization of campaign materials and resources said Bawa Mogtari. 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. Former President John Mahama has so far toured 7 regions, touching the ground in at least 116 constituencies. He is expected to visit all 275 constituencies in the country before May 13, 2023, when the NDC will hold both its parliamentary and presidential primaries. Two other people are contesting Mahama for the flagbearer position to lead the NDC to the elections 2024. Source: XYZ Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Any attempt by the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) to rig the 2024 general elections will be met with equal force. That is the assertion of the former president and flagbearer-hopeful of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama. He explained that, towards that end, their members, scattered across the country, have been positioned to protect the ballot boxes very well, a report by myjoyonline.com has said. He, therefore, called on members of the NDC to remain vigilant during the 2024 general elections so as not to allow such a thing to happen. The NPP should not even think of rigging the elections because the NDC would mark them boot for boot, he said. Speaking with executives of the party in the Abuakwa South, Abuakwa North, Fanteakwa South, and Fanteakwa North constituencies in the Eastern Region, he further entreated them to be resolute and resist any move by the NPP to rig the 2024 general elections. The former president was in the region as part of his three-day campaign tour. John Dramani Mahama has been touring the country as he tries to get the grassroots to support his bid to, once again, become the NDCs presidential candidate. He is facing competition from Dr. Kwabena Duffuor, a former Minister of Finance; and Kojo Bonsu, a former Mayor of Kumasi. The presidential primaries of the NDC will take place on May 13, 2023. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Campaign team of NDC aspiring Presidential candidate, Dr. Kwabena Duffuor has dismissed claims by former President John Dramani Mahama that he is the only NDC potential candidate capable of snatching power from the ruling NPP in the 2024 elections. Former President Mahama recently declared during his campaign tour of the country that he is the only candidate the NPP is afraid of facing in the next elections for which reason he is contesting for the fourth time to lead the NDC into the 2024 Presidential elections. However, the Dr. Kwabena Duffuor campaign says the facts and electoral data and the trend analysis speaks an opposit story from the claims of the former President. Apau-Wiredu Lateef, aid to Dr. Kwabena stated in a radio interview that the ruling NPPs failure in government is the major factor that will give the opposition NDC victory in 2024 and that will not change with a change of Presidential candidate. The NDC has become more attractive to Ghanaians due to the failures of the NPP government. The NDC brand has become more attractive to Ghanaians and anyone on the NDC ticket is capable of winning power but we want someone who can attract floating voters with their track record to give us sweet victory. He added, Someone like Dr. Kwabena Duffuor who has privately employed so many Ghanaians in his several companies for over fourty years, many of who will vote for NDC because of him. Apau-Wiredu Lateef questioned the validity of the claim that only John Mahama can win power for the NDC in 2024. If John Mahama is saying that no other candidate can win power for the NDC in 2024, is he saying that the NPP government would not have failed Ghanaians if the NDC had a new Presidential candidate in 2024? He continued, This is not different from what John Mahama told us in 2020 when he said he was the surest bet for the party. But clearly the people voted skirt and blouse in 2020 where NDC parliamentary candidates gained more votes than John Mahama in about 118 constituencies. Why did we get a hung parliament in 2020 yet the Presidential elections did not go into a runoff? He questioned. He said John Mahamas past electoral performance and the voting pattern of Ghanaians shows clearly that he is the weakest link to the NDCs chances of winning power in 2024. It is rather he John Mahama that the NPP is not afraid of. Kwabena Duffour has something to attract voters beyond NDC which John Mahama does not have. 2024 is a battle for floating voters and this is where I say anybody can win power for the NDC in 2024 but Dr. Kwabena Duffuor will win it easily. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The former President of Ghana H.E John Dramani Mahama has described the Akufo-Addo-led NPP government as the most corrupt government in the fourth republic. According to the former President due to the corrupt act of the NPP government they have the instinctive belief and fear that when the NDC wins power in 2024 they will be held accountable. He reiterated that it is time for the NPP to go on leave but because they have dug a corruption hole and they are sitting on it, it is very difficult for them to get up for fear of being exposed. He expressed worry that if the NPP government continues to stay in office or remain in power after the 2024 general elections, Ghana will be in serious crisis. The former President made the disclosure when he met delegates in Fanteakwa South Constituency. Source: Salaamat kuukua Paintsil/Peacefmonline Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video " " Demonstrators hold signs during a rally against voter ID laws, Sept. 13, 2012 in Philadelphia. William Thomas Cain/MCT via Getty Image In the U.S., the right of adult citizens to vote and elect public officials is one of their most hallowed principles or at least, that's what is taught in middle-school civics class. In reality, though, there's another tradition that goes back even further in American history: finding ways to keep people from voting, whether through arcane laws or open intimidation. In some ways, voter suppression, as such efforts are called, goes back to the earliest days of the country. As historian Jill Lepore wrote in a 2008 New Yorker article, only 6 percent of the U.S. population was eligible to vote in the first presidential election in 1789. That's because most states only allowed white male landowners to vote. Advertisement In the 1800s, the property requirements started to fade, and over the next century, racial minorities and women legally got the right to vote. But, local and state governments came up with a variety of ways to limit who actually got to participate in elections, whether it was requiring poll taxes, literacy tests or changing the dates and times for polling stations. Efforts to restrict voting continue even today. According to the Brennan Center for Justice, a New York-based think tank and civil rights advocacy organization, since 2010 alone, 25 states have passed new laws making it more difficult to vote. Here are 10 ways that people have been kept from voting, both in the past and the present. So, with that in mind, could a coup d'etat happen in the U.S.? Experts say it's improbable, though not impossible. Coups rarely happen in what political scientists have termed "consolidated democracies," where democratic institutions are deeply and firmly entrenched. "The United States is a consolidated, albeit severely flawed, democracy," Klaas says. Advertisement Anderson says three major factors contribute to the United States' "coup-proofing." The first is an independent court system. By and large, U.S. courts are non-partisan and beholden to judge, jury and legal precedent rather than a particular political party. This holds true even for Supreme Court justices, who may be appointed directly by a sitting president. Second is military chain of command. The president holds the highest rank in the military; as Commander in Chief, every general answers to them. And as an institution, respect for authority in the military runs deep. But if corruption enters the hierarchy, there are still checks in place. Soldiers have the right to refuse orders that strike them as "palpably illegal." Furthermore, U.S. military personnel are not a completely homogenized group. As of 2021, people of any gender, racial background, sexual orientation or political persuasion can and are encouraged to serve. Together, these (theoretically) ensure that one political actor or party does not achieve an unbreakable stranglehold over military power. Finally, there's the sheer byzantine sprawl of the United States government. "We have a highly decentralized system," Anderson says, "it's actually fairly difficult to hijack the system, because you would need to hijack lots and lots of parts." Some political scholars have argued that the 25th Amendment, which allows a sitting vice president to take over for a president who is deemed "unfit for office," could amount to a non-military coup under the right circumstances. Other individuals have argued on Facebook that the Insurrection Act of 1807 somehow provides a legal loophole that would authorize the former president to command the military a claim that Anderson calls "complete nonsense." But democracy needs to stay vigilant. Once the idea is in the air, a coup becomes marginally more possible, feeding the fears and false beliefs of a small group of extremists. That's why, as Klaas says, "Flynn's statement was extraordinarily dangerous." Now That's Wild In November 1987, a "medical coup d'etat" was carried out in Tunisia by seven doctors who snuck into 84-year-old president Habib Bourguiba's room in the dead of night to declare him incapacitated. Advertisement Originally Published: Sep 21, 2006 " " Blue evil eyes hang on a tree in winter in the Cappadocia region of Turkey. The evil eye is said to cause physical and mental illness and these amulets offer protection from it. Ayhan Altun/Getty Images What do fashion model Gigi Hadid, Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle and my 98-year-old grandma have in common? A belief in the "quiet curse" of the evil eye. In 2017, Hadid released a line of shoes emblazoned with the nazar, the traditional eye-shaped amulet believed to ward off the evil eye. Markle has been frequently photographed wearing evil eye jewelry, like necklaces and rings featuring the nazar and also the hamsa, the hand-shaped talisman favored by Jewish and Muslim cultures to deflect the evil eye. Advertisement My late grandmother didn't wear eye-catching evil eye amulets, but she was keenly aware of the dangers of sharing good news in public for fear of inviting the envious glances that released the evil eye. "Kinehora," she'd say in Yiddish, followed by three staccato spitting sounds, "Pooh, pooh, pooh," the protective spell of all Jewish grandmothers. (Kinehora is a contraction of three Yiddish words, kayn ayin hara, meaning "No evil eye.") Despite their differences in age and cultural backgrounds, all three women are proof that belief in the evil eye symbol is as persistent today as it was 5,000 years ago. As long as there is envy, jealousy and "negative energy" in the air, the evil eye will always be with us. DOHA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Qatari-Bahraini Follow-up Committee on Wednesday decided to restore diplomatic relations between Qatar and Bahrain in line with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961, the Qatar News Agency (QNA) said. The decision was made during the second meeting of the committee at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the QNA said. Both sides have said that the decision stems from a mutual desire to foster the development of bilateral relations and promote integration and unity within the Gulf region, in accordance with the principles outlined in the GCC Charter, it said. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt broke diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017, and imposed sanctions and blockades, due to religious and geopolitical rows. During a GCC summit in 2021, Saudi Arabia and other countries lifted the boycotts and resumed links with Qatar. 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: Alaska Airlines canceled more than two dozen flights in its namesake state Thursday because of an ash cloud from a volcano in Russia that drifted into Alaska, the Seattle-based airline said. The ash cloud is from Shiveluch Volcano, the airline said. By midday Thursday, 28 flights to, from and within Alaska were canceled. "We continue to monitor the ash cloud, and depending on its location, movement and timing, we might need to cancel additional flights," the airline said in a statement. It encouraged travelers to check the status of their flights online. Among those affected was U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, an Alaska Democrat, whose overnight flight from Honolulu to Anchorage was canceled, Dillingham, Alaska, radio station KDLG reported. Sam Erickson, a Peltola spokesperson, declined comment to The Associated Press. The ash cloud drifted over Alaska air space in the last few days, the Alaska Volcano Observatory said in a statement. "Although this cloud poses a potential hazard to aviation and has disrupted some flights, no ashfall is expected on Alaska communities," it said. Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka Peninsula's most active volcanoes, started erupting early Tuesday, spewing ash more than 300 miles (500 kilometers) northwest. Several Russian villages were covered in grey volcanic dust in the largest fallout in nearly 60 years. On Wednesday, the eruption sent an ash cloud more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) into the air. The volcano is about 1,772 miles (2,772 kilometers) west of Anchorage. Volcanic ash is angular and sharp and has been used as an industrial abrasive. The powdered rock can cause a jet engine to shut down. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The LOCA2 data estimate how often a once-in-a-century day of rain or snow will hit in different climate change scenarios between now and 2100. Colors on the maps show how frequently researchers expect such an extreme precipitation event to occur, with the darkest brown indicating every 30 to 40 years. Credit: Dave Pierce/Scripps Institution of Oceanography A key source of information underpinning the upcoming National Climate Assessment suggests that heavy precipitation days historically experienced once in a century by Americans could in the future be experienced on several occasions in a lifetime. Scientists at Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego and the Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) report that extremely intense days of rain or snow will be more frequent by the end of this century than previously thoughtas often as once every 30 or 40 years in the Pacific Northwest and southeastern United States. The conclusions come from analyzing a 30-terabyte data set that models temperature and precipitation at scales roughly the size of urban ZIP codes: six kilometers (3.9 miles). Researchers developed the data set, called Localized Constructed Analogs Version 2 (LOCA2), to provide climate information that is useful for local planners. In contrast, most of the existing advanced climate models look at regions that range from 50 to 250 kilometers (30 to 400 miles). "With this data set, we're able to look at the impacts of actual weather pattern changes across the United States at an extremely granular level," said Dan Feldman, staff scientist at Berkeley Lab and the project's principal investigator. "We see that there is a lot more extreme weather that is likely to happen in the futureand by looking at actual weather patterns, we show that changes in extreme precipitation will actually be more extreme than previously estimated. Land use managers and planners should expect more extremes, but location matters." The LOCA2 data set updates a similar analysis conducted in 2016 in advance of the Fourth National Climate Assessment (NCA), which was released in 2018 by the U.S. Global Change Research Program. The NCA is intended to assist the U.S. government with planning for, mitigating, and adapting to changes in climate that will affect the country. The Fifth NCA is expected to be issued later this year. LOCA2 projections cover the lower 48 states of the United States, southern Canada, and northern Mexico. The data set draws on more than 70 years of weather data and incorporates 27 updated climate models from the Coupled Model Intercomparison Project (CMIP6), the latest iteration of an international effort to simulate climate that includes the "coupling" of natural systems such as the ocean and atmosphere to understand how they will act in concert as climate changes. "We've spent a lot of effort improving the representation of extreme wet days, which is important for understanding both the likelihood of flooding and the availability of water for agricultural, commercial, and residential use," said David Pierce, a scientist at Scripps Oceanography and the developer of LOCA and LOCA2. The LOCA2 climate projections are available through the end of the century down to the daily level, and for three different greenhouse gas emissions scenarios known as SSPs, or Shared Socioeconomic Pathways. The three scenarios are a medium level of emissions that is slightly less than current levels (SSP 245), medium-high (SSP 370), and high, where emissions greatly increase (SSP 585). The data set is freely available for planners and decision makers to use. The projection reinforces what climate scientists have long predicted: Future weather events will become more extreme in a warming world. LOCA2 finds that the heaviest days of rain and snowfall across much of North America will likely release 20 to 30 percent more moisture than they do now. Much of the increased precipitation will occur in winter, potentially exacerbating flooding in regions such as the upper Midwest and the west coast. "The big picture is clear: it's getting warmer and wetter," Feldman said. "This research translates that bigger picture into more practical data for infrastructure and operations planning. With this more detailed look at local impacts, we can help local officials make better-informed decisions, such as how long to make an airport runway, how much resilience to include for constructing buildings or bridges, or where to put crops or culverts." The improved set of LOCA2 data was created by better identifying and preserving extreme weather events in the past, training models to more accurately reflect extremes in simulations of the future. "We undertook a Herculean effort of personnel and computer time not just to produce a bunch of numbers, but to produce local projections that are relevant and useful," Feldman said. "We do so by recognizing how heat waves and storms have occurred and will occur at the local level, and projecting those forward." Seasonal and regional predictions While the data varies at the local level, researchers found substantial trends across the area covered by LOCA2 at the end of the century. Across most seasons, a major part of North America will see roughly the same or fewer number of days with precipitation, roughly the same or fewer number of days with light and medium amounts of precipitation, and a large increase in the number of days with the most extreme precipitation (the top 1 percent and 0.1 percent of storms). "People will be more affected by the really rare and most extreme events, because those are showing the biggest increase," said Pierce, who is the lead author of the paper on extreme precipitation published in the Journal of Hydrometeorology. "The wettest day you would expect to see in five years, or 50 years, or 500 yearsthose extreme events are going to be substantially wetter, and that's a really big issue, because it has implications for flooding and run-off." Southern Canada and most of the United States will see increases in extreme precipitation days that occur primarily in winter. The wettest days of precipitation will increase by 20-30 percent, depending on the emissions scenario and how extreme the storm is. Arizona, New Mexico, and northern Mexico can expect increases in extreme precipitation days that occur primarily in autumn. The wettest days of precipitation increase by 10-30 percent, depending on which emissions scenarios come to be and how extreme the storms are. While the region becomes drier overall, the number of days with extreme precipitation events still goes up, meaning the precipitation that does come will often do so in larger storms. "It's quite interesting that you see the same kind of pattern of fewer low- and medium- precipitation days and more extreme precipitation days across pretty much the entire country," Pierce said. Knowing the changing character of precipitation and the frequency of extreme events is useful in two ways, Pierce added. "One is for building new infrastructure in the future, and one is for understanding impacts upon existing facilities already there." More information: David W. Pierce et al, Future Increases in North American Extreme Precipitation in CMIP6 downscaled with LOCA, Journal of Hydrometeorology (2023). DOI: 10.1175/JHM-D-22-0194.1 This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain When a team led by researchers from Brown University's School of Public Health tried to gather data about the health effects of the longstanding water contamination crisis in Jackson, Mississippi, little was available, even on the toxicity of the water supply. So they turned to two sources that were accessibleschool attendance records and public safety alerts that advised residents to boil water before use. Now, the team's analysis of this information in a study published in Nature Water shows how boil water alerts significantly disrupted student learning: Each time an alert was issued, unexcused absence rates in Jackson's public schools increased between 1% and 10%. Chronic school absenteeism impacts not only a child's academic record, but also their health and well-being, said lead author Erica Walker, an assistant professor of epidemiology at Brown. Research shows that chronic absenteeism is associated with increased likelihood of poverty and decreases in mental and physical health. "We're talking about much larger repercussions than gastrointestinal illness from drinking unsafe water," Walker said. "These findings show how chronic exposure to contaminated water over time can negatively affect the trajectory of a child's life." The water crisis in Jackson has made global headlines as a major environmental catastrophe, impacting the health and well-being of residents. The researchers focused on the city's most vulnerable population: its children. To conduct the study, the team used data on boil water alerts issued by the City of Jackson's Water and Sewer Business Administration Office between 2015 and 2021, daily school attendance data from Jackson's Public School District and demographic data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The data showed that each time a boil water alert was issued, unexcused absence rates increased by 1 to 10%. They also showed decreases in unexcused absences in schools where much of the student body receives free and reduced luncheslikely, Walker said, because the water contamination disrupts at-home meal preparation, so families may instead count on schools to safely provide lunch for children that day. As the director of the Community Noise Lab at Brown, Walker originally wanted to study the effects of noise pollution on public health in Jackson. However, when the community made clear that the water contamination was a more pressing concern, Walker shifted focus. She organized a team, which included graduate students from Brown, to set up mobile laboratories across the city to test tap water qualitywork that remains ongoing. Separately, Walker partnered with researchers from the University of Mississippi, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Boston University and Salem State University to learn more about the effects of contaminated water on community health. They recognized that the ubiquity of boil water alerts would make them an accessible metric that would be understandable to the public. In the study, the researchers concluded that their analysis highlights the urgency of addressing the root causes of the poor water quality in Jackson. They provide suggestions for how municipalities can more effectively spread the word about contaminated water, including social media posts, voicemails or conducting door-to-door outreach when resources enable it. They also suggested that the Mississippi Department of Health publish a sample press release for local water systems that includes information about the cause of the boil water alert, the population and public schools impacted, and what precautions to take. The team said the findings could benefit other cities struggling with poor water infrastructure and shed light on the many issues directly and indirectly caused by boil water alerts. Team members from MIT created a data visualization to engage the community both within Jackson and across the world about the research findings. A personal connection to a community project This issue is personal for Walker, who grew up in Jackson. She said she does not remember hearing about boil water alerts when she was a child. Yet in 2020 alone, Walker said, the City of Jackson issued approximately 500 boil water advisories because of unsafe drinking water. These interruptions ranged from a few hours to weeks long. In a commentary for Nature Water that accompanied the study, Walker imagined what it would be like to live with the water crisis in Jackson. "When a boil water advisory is issued, families with school-aged children living in the impacted communities must boil their water before any consumption, making necessary school preparation chores that we normally take for granted like brushing teeth, taking medications, and preparing meals difficult, if not impossible," Walker wrote. Walker's essay explored her nostalgia for the Jackson of her youth, and her feelings of survivor's guilt. She wrote, "Would I be who I am now if I lived in the Jackson that exists today?" Walker said that the team helped train community members as well as students at the Piney Woods School, a historically Black co-educational private boarding school in Mississippi, how to test water for contaminants. As next steps, the team hopes to use the information from the mobile testing labs to examine the biological effects of contaminated water. They created an activity book for children and adults to explain the current water situation in Jackson and how drinking water comes from its source"so that the next time people get a boil water notice, they'll have a better understanding of what it means and how it affects them," Walker said. "Hopefully," she said, "this community research partnership will lead to education, empowerment and advocacy around the issue of contaminated water and how it impacts public health." More information: M. Kim et al, Boil water alerts and their impact on the unexcused absence rate in public schools in Jackson, Mississippi, Nature Water (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s44221-023-00062-z Journal information: Nature Water 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: Alan Friedlander monitors fishes within Molokinis submerged crater during Hawaiis COVID lockdown. Comparing these data with those from similar pre- and post-lockdown surveys allowed the researchers to detect differences in fish community structure caused by human presence. Credit: K. Weng/VIMS During August 2019, more than 40,000 tourists visited Hawaii's Molokini island to snorkel or dive. In March 2020, the worldwide COVID lockdown dropped that number to zero. The sudden and prolonged drop in visitors to one of the world's most popular snorkeling spots provided scientists with a novel opportunity to study how underwater tourism impacts marine fishes. The results of their study, published in today's issue of PLOS One, will help resource managers better care for Molokini and other threatened marine habitats. The study's lead author, Kevin Weng of William & Mary's Virginia Institute of Marine Science, says, "The COVID-related tourism freeze provided a unique natural experiment to measure the effects of decreased tourism on fish behavior in a high-use, no-take marine protected area." Joining Weng on the study were Alan Friedlander and Whitney Goodell of the National Geographic Society and Laura Gajdzik and Russell Sparks of the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. Friedlander and Goodell are also affiliated with the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Molokini, which lies about three miles off the shore of Maui, was designated as a "no-take" marine protected area or MPA in 1977 based on tour operators' concerns regarding the impacts of fishing and other "consumptive" uses. "Tour operators have always been interested in the conservation of Molokini, and have partnered with the State on several measures," says Sparks. As the volume of "non-consumptive" uses such as snorkeling and SCUBA diving increased, tour operators worked with state officials to establish a limited-entry permit system for tour boats and install permanent moorings to protect corals from boat anchors. The current study focused on the impacts of these non-consumptive uses. "Our research demonstrates that human presence alone can alter the community structure and possibly the functioning of an ecosystem," says Weng. "This means we can improve how tourism is configured in Hawaii and around the world to reduce the impacts of human presence." Community structure refers to the type and numbers of species present in an ecosystem. During Hawaii's COVID lockdownwhich began at full force in March of 2020 and was then slowly lifted until visitation returned to pre-pandemic levels in May of 2021the researchers conducted SCUBA surveys on five separate occasions to record the species, abundance, size and location of predatory and herbivorous fishes within Molokini's submerged crater. They also tracked the movement of the predatory species using electronic tags. Comparing these observations with data from similar surveys conducted in the years before and after the lockdown allowed them to detect differences in fish community structure caused by human presence. The researchers gathered data on human presence using logbooks kept by the 40 charter boat companies permitted to bring tourists into Molokini's waters. The results of this natural experiment were clear. "When tourism shut down due to COVID," says Friedlander, "species that had been displaced from shallow habitats by high human presence moved back in on a timescale of months, increasing fish biomass as well as the proportion of larger predators." Visitation to the waters of Molokini Crater dropped sharply during the COVID lockdown (yellow box), providing scientists with a unique opportunity to study the impacts of human presence on marine fishes. The circles show monthly visitation and are colored by season. Credit: K. Weng/VIMS The species that mainly drove the observed increase in lockdown biomass were fast-swimming predatory fishes known as jacks, which learn to fear humans as they are often targeted by anglers. When tourism resumed, the predators moved to deeper waters, reducing fish biomass and habitat use to pre-pandemic levels. Biomass is a combined measure of fish abundance and size. The observed changes in predator biomass were also reflected in the fishes' behavior. Before the COVID lockdown, jacks were known to leave the inside of the crater during the morning peak in tourist visits. However, during the lockdown, they remained in the shallow, sheltered interior. These predators were quickly displaced from this shallow-water habitat when tourism resumed. Their displacement is particularly concerning because their summertime spawning season overlaps with the annual peak in marine tourism. The human-induced displacement of predatory fishes from Molokini's crater likely sends ripples throughout the local food web. Previous studies have shown that a drop in the abundance of predatory fishes affects not only the herbivorous fishes they count as prey, but the algae and other primary producers eaten by the herbivores. "Predators have diverse ecosystem roles," says Friedlander, "and their loss can reduce the resistance and resilience of ecosystems to other stressors." Overall, the team's findings suggest that "Molokini is being over-used, and that management is needed to improve not only ecosystem health but the visitor experience," says Sparks. "Our findings indicate that the business-as-usual conditions of high tourism alter community structure by displacing predatory fishes to deeper environments," adds Weng. Moreover, a 2011 study found that more than two thirds of visitors to Molokini felt crowded during their trip and supported actions that would reduce visitor numbers. "As Hawaii formulates marine management plans and undertakes the Sustainable Hawaii Initiative," says Gajdzik, "lessons from Molokini can help inform managers and help facilitate an effective response. As part of this process, we need to think strategically about the scale and configuration of tourism in Hawaii to optimize earnings and employment without damaging the environment." "Our study indicates that the intensity of non-consumptive uses, especially in heavily visited MPAs, should be considered for the long-term health and resilience of these ecosystems," says Weng. "Management of tourism should be guided by biological research, and include clear and well-enforced rules, adaptive management and broad stakeholder involvement." More information: Kevin C. Weng et al, Decreased tourism during the COVID-19 pandemic positively affects reef fish in a high use marine protected area, PLOS ONE (2023). DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283683 Journal information: PLoS ONE 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: Living stromatolites at Shark Bay, Western Australia. Oxygen produced by ancient stromatolites may have left its mark on Earth's environment as early as 2.5 billion years ago. Credit: Ariel Anbar When did molecular oxygen, the gas that all large and complex forms of life on Earth today require to function, first appear on Earth? For more than 15 years, work by a team of scientists led by Ariel Anbar, professor at Arizona State University's School of Earth and Space Exploration, has advanced the case that this biologically critical gas first appeared at least 2.5 billion years ago. Beginning with a pair of studies published in 2007, the team analyzed the chemistry of sedimentary rocks laid down on the ancient seafloor. The results revealed evidence of the gas in oceans 2.5 billion years ago, long before conventional wisdom said it should have been around. Today, numerous subsequent studies have bolstered the case for this early "whiff" of molecular oxygen. The findings stirred debate in the scientific community. The latest word in that debate was published April 7 in Science Advances by Anbar and his team. In "Technical Comment on 'Re-examination of 2.5-Ga 'whiff' of oxygen interval points to anoxic ocean before GOE,'" they address a recent challenge to their groundbreaking study. The challenge emerged last year. According to a study led by researchers at Caltech and published in 2022, the 2007 interpretations were incorrect. The scientists argued that the rocks examined by Anbar and his team were not well preserved, and so cannot be used to track changes in Earth's ancient environment. "It's great to see others generate new data to try to challenge the assumptions underlying our work," Anbar said. "The ancient record is complicated, so these rocks demand careful and constant scrutiny. But we did not find their arguments persuasive." The history of oxygen in the form of the oxygen molecule on Earth draws intense interest from many scientists because it is produced by photosynthesis. So, knowing when it first started to leave a mark on the environment is a way of learning about the history of life itself. Scientists know that biological oxygen molecule production left a big mark on Earth starting about 2.4 billion years ago, after what is often called the Great Oxidation Event. But what came before? Sometimes the debates are heated. Reviewing the 2022 study, Anbar and his team found that the two research groups were comparing apples and oranges. Whereas the original study focused on the overall chemistry of the rocks, the challengers focused on small nodules and veins made of pyritecommonly known as fool's gold. "The new data are exquisite, but they aren't very relevant to understanding ancient oceans," Anbar said. "The pyrite nodules grew when hot fluids passed through these rocks well after they had first formed. We've always known these nodules existed. In our work, we tried to avoid this fool's gold. Instead, we focused on the chemistry of the entire rock because that's a way to see through this kind of alteration." In addition to pointing out the late formation of the pyrite nodules, the team's critique highlighted several other weaknesses in the challengers' arguments, especially a failure to address the full range of inorganic geochemical evidence of oxygen molecules that has emerged since the 2007 papers. "We stand by our original study," Anbar said. "But the debate is important! Science isn't only about getting the right answer. It's also about poking at what others think is right to see if there are any holes. We only know if our ideas are right if they can stand up to scrutiny. Ours did." More information: Ariel D. Anbar et al, Technical comment on "Reexamination of 2.5-Ga 'whiff' of oxygen interval points to anoxic ocean before GOE," Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abq3736 Journal information: Science Advances Provided by Arizona State University 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 In the run-up to the 2020 election, people appear to have become savvier in spotting misinformation online: Clicks onto unreliable websites have declined, according to a new Stanford study published April 13 in the journal Nature Human Behaviour. According to prior research, some 44.3% of Americans visited websites during the 2016 U.S. election that repeatedly made false or misleading information. During the 2020 election, Stanford scholars saw that number drop by nearly half to 26.2%. While these findings are promising, the scholars are cautious in interpreting the study's results. Exposure even among fewer people can still have serious consequences, they noted in the paper. Extrapolating their results, the scholars estimated that nearly 68 million Americans made a total of 1.5 billion visits to untrustworthy websites during the 2020 election. "Although we saw a serious reduction in the overall number of people exposed to misinformation on the web, misinformation remains a serious problem in the information ecosystem for some populations, especially older adults and diverse communities," said Jeff Hancock, a professor of communication in Stanford's School of Humanities and Sciences and senior author of the study. The scholars found that those who did visit websites touting false claims tended to be older and lean more to the right of the political spectrum, a finding consistent with 2016 data. They did however visit fewer untrustworthy websites and spend less time on them than they did in 2016. How the study worked The study builds on previous research conducted by Andrew Guess at Princeton University. In 2016, Guess compiled a list of some 490 untrustworthy websites that included pages that prominent researchers in the disinformation research community had previously identified, including Stanford economist Matthew Gentzkow. Here, Hancock, along with Stanford Ph.D. students Ryan Moore and Ross Dahike, augmented the list with an additional 1,240 unreliable domains from NewsGuard, an organization that rates the credibility of news and information websites. Their rankings are done manually by experienced journalists and editors who rigorously review and rank websites on a variety of criteria, including whether they repeatedly publish false content, issue corrections on errors in their reporting, and distinguish between news and opinion. The Stanford researchers then recruited a representative sample of 1,151 American adults through the polling firm, YouGov. Participants completed an online survey and installed a browser plugin that allowed the researchers to passively track web activity between Oct. 2, 2020, and Nov. 9, 2020. In sum, they gathered some 7.5 million website visits on users' desktop and mobile devices. So, who reads false news online and how did they find it? The scholars found that in 2020, 5.6% of visits to untrustworthy websites were referred to by Facebookin 2016, it was 15.1%. The scholars credit this decrease to efforts the social media platform took to mitigate the issue of false news on the website. "The drop in visits referred by Facebook may reflect investment in trust and safety efforts to decrease the prevalence of misinformation on their platform, such as flagging, content moderation, and user education, which they and other platforms weren't doing as much of in 2016," said Moore. While the scholars found that the average number of times a person visited a misinformation website decreased from an average of 32 visits in 2016 to 23 visits in 2020, there are a few individuals who still consumed misinformation online at extremely high clicks. "There are some people still consuming hundreds of misinformation websites," said Dahlke. "We need more research to understand the effect of this type of exposure on people's beliefs and actions." The scholars also found that older adults were twice as likely to visit a misinformation website compared to those aged 1829 years old. While a smaller percentage of Americans 65 and older were exposed in 2020 (56.2%) than in 2016 (37.4%), they continue to consume misinformation at much higher rates than younger adults. "Older adults continue to be targeted by misinformation purveyors because that generation tends to be wealthier and more civically engaged than other generations, making them prime targets for bad actors trying to make money or change election outcomes," said Hancock. Misinformation evolves, mutates Misinformation is pernicious, it morphs and mutates quickly, the scholars said. "While one could interpret our findings as evidence that the problem of online misinformation is improving in some way, they could also be interpreted as evidence that the nature of the problem is changing," the scholars write in the paper. The scholars only studied web browsing activity, and misinformation could have been displaced to other social media platforms or encrypted messaging services, such as WhatsApp or Signal. Moreover, a click is not the only metric of fake news consumption; people could have still consumed untrustworthy information passively online through a meme or even just skimming a headline when scrolling through news feeds. All of these factors make it a difficult topic to study. Looking ahead to the 2024 election Hancock, Moore, and Dahike are already thinking about what their findings might reveal about how misinformation will spread in the next general election in 2024. They anticipate that older adults will continue to be vulnerable to fake news, an issue that Hancock's Social Media Lab has separately been working to address with support from the Stanford Impact Lab program. In 2020, Hancock and Moore collaborated with the nonprofit news organization Poynter to create a digital media literacy intervention to help seniors identify misinformation online. They are also concerned about the role of misinformation in under-resourced areas, such as non-English speaking communities, as highlighted in a recent paper Hancock and Moore co-authored with Stanford Ph.D. student Angela Y. Lee on the topic. More information: Ryan Moore, Exposure to untrustworthy websites in the 2020 US election, Nature Human Behaviour (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s41562-023-01564-2. www.nature.com/articles/s41562-023-01564-2 Journal information: Nature Human Behaviour 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: Eastern Wolves from Algonquin Provincial Park, Whitney, Ontario. Credit: Dave Ciufo/ Molecular Biology and Evolution A new paper in Molecular Biology and Evolution provides interesting new evidence about the evolution of North American wolves, which has been a subject of debate among conservationists and taxonomists. Southeastern Canada is home to populations of wolves and coyotes whose origins and genetic relationships have long puzzled scientists. In particular, eastern wolves have been the subject of great dispute, and it remains unknown whether these canids represent a distinct species or if they are the result of recent hybridization between coyotes and gray wolves. The Canidae animal family includes coyotes, foxes, jackals, wolves, and domestic dogs. In Canada, the eastern wolf (also known as the eastern timber wolf or the Algonquin wolf) has been recognized by some as a distinct species based on genetic and behavioral studies. Eastern wolves are listed as "Special Concern" in Canada under the federal Species at Risk Act and "Threatened" in Ontario under the provincial Endangered Species Act. But whereas previous studies have noted the distinctiveness of eastern wolves from coyotes and gray wolves in Canada, the provincial government currently manages them as a single species across their primary range in central Ontario. This pooling of these three taxonomic entities for management is considered necessary because it is so difficult for humans to visually distinguish between wild canids and their hybrids in central Ontario. This leads to frustration among some hunters, trappers, and farmers, and challenges in enforcing hunting and trapping regulations. To test hypotheses related to these competing findings for eastern wolves, researchers sequenced whole genomes of 25 animals of known origin and levels of contemporary hybridization, representative of all Canadian wolf-like canid types. The analysis shows that eastern wolves that inhabit the Great Lakes region in southeastern Canada are genetically distinct from other canids in the region. Based on the findings, it appears that eastern wolves evolved separately from gray wolves about 67,000 years ago. The scientists here believe that eastern wolves bred with coyotes about 37,000 years ago and continue to mix with both coyotes and gray wolves. "This manuscript addresses key evolutionary questions among North American wolf-like canids, but also provides data of direct and applied relevance," said the paper's lead author, Christopher Kyle. "This work represents a strong international collaboration that culminates from complementary expertise between wolf experts from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry and scholars from the University of Ferrara in Italy, and Trent University in Ontario, Canada, with a long-standing interest in North American Canis ancestry and genetics." 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: Microichthys grandis n. sp., SMNS 27380, holotype, 54.5 mm SL, Northeastern Atlantic Ocean, continental slope off southwest coast of Ireland, 324 km west of Dingle. Fresh colouration. Lateral view. Credit: Bram Couperus It is five centimeters long, but larger than all its relatives: Microichthys grandis, literally "big little fish." Researchers from the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart in Germany and Wageningen Marine Research (WMR) in the Netherlands discovered this new fish species during a survey off the Irish coast last year. This finding in the Northeast Atlantic is something special for the scientists and has now been published in the journal Ichthyological Research. Researcher Bram Couperus of WMR is pleasantly surprised by the spontaneous discovery: "Discovering a new fish species in the Northeast Atlantic is a rare event. It has not occurred before in the history of our institute, founded in the 1950s. This fish was caught in an area where there is a lot of fishing, especially by Dutch fishers. One would therefore expect the species to have been caught before. If this is the case, at least it escaped attentionuntil last year." The new fish species was noticed last year in the catch during the blue whiting survey, a survey conducted annually to assess blue whiting stocks in European waters. Couperus says, "Blue whiting lives in the so-called meso-pelagic or twilight zone. At that depth you will find striking species, such as lanternfish and deep-sea angler fishes. Among those, there was suddenly an unknown fish." A scientist from Stuttgart studied the fish For the Wageningen researchers, the search for the fish's identity led via a Russian taxonomist to the State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart in Germany, where the fish taxonomist Ronald Fricke already had experience with this group of fish, the deepwater cardinalfishes (Epigonidae). Fricke notes, "Deepwater cardinalfishes of the genus Microichthys are known from three other species that live in the Mediterranean Sea and eastern Atlantic. They are free-swimming in deep water and only a handful of specimens is known to science. The discovery of the new species off Ireland is very exciting, as it seems closer related to a Mediterranean species from Sicily, than to the other Atlantic species from the Azores." Microichthys grandis n. sp., SMNS 27380, holotype, 54.5 mm SL, Northeastern Atlantic Ocean, continental slope off southwest coast of Ireland, 324 km west of Dingle. Coloration of preserved specimen. Credit: Ichthyological Research (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s10228-023-00909-1 Fricke further suggests a theory on the zoogeography of the species: "There are currently two pairs of species, one in the Atlantic, the other in the Mediterranean. During the Mediterranean salinity crisis about 6 million years ago, the Mediterranean was dry and could not be inhabited by fish, so a species pair survived in the Atlantic. When the Strait of Gibraltar opened up again, they immigrated into the Mediterranean, but due to much warmer deep sea water in the Mediterranean, they adapted to these conditions and evolved into separate species." New fish, new name One reason the fish had not been noticed before is that it measures only 5.5cm, making it easy to slip through the meshes of a net or be overlooked when caught. The previously known species of this group of fish are even smaller than the specimen caught. The Latin name of this genus is therefore Microichthys, meaning "little fish." The new species gets the addition "grandis." That makes its full name Microichthys grandis, literally "big little fish." The location where the big little fish was caught is the Porcupine Bank Canyon, an underwater canyon with cold water coral along the western edge of the Porcupine Bank. The fishing technique used by the researchers did not involve bottom trawling. This is because blue whiting is a so-called pelagic species that swims in schools in the water column and is not bound to the seafloor. Fishing vessels targeting blue whiting in the area also fish with a pelagic net. The researchers suspect that the newly discovered species is naturally very rare, and also so small that it usually passes through the meshes of the net, making the chances of catching it very low. More information: Ronald Fricke et al, Microichthys grandis, a new species of deepwater cardinalfish from off Ireland, northeastern Atlantic Ocean (Teleostei: Epigonidae), Ichthyological Research (2023). DOI: 10.1007/s10228-023-00909-1 Provided by State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart 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: Blackgrass and field beans. Credit: Sonja Kersten Blackgrass has become the most economically damaging herbicide-resistant weed in Europe. A team led by researchers of the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tubingen and the University of Hohenheim in Stuttgart has now found out that these resistances are mostly attributable to genetic variants that predate the use of herbicides. Their results now appear in the journals Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and Plant Biotechnology Journal. Farmers all over Europe wage an increasingly fervent battle against blackgrass. This annual grass, native to Eurasia and thriving in moist meadows and deciduous forests, has invaded cultivated land: growing densely and competing with crops such as wheat or barley, it can considerably reduce the harvest yield. The decades-long practice to control this weed with herbicides that target specific proteins of the plant has resulted in a concerning rise in herbicide resistance: blackgrass causes an estimated annual damage of almost half a billion euros in the U.K. alone. Its rapid adaptation to the herbicides threatens to outpace innovation in chemical weed control. Samples from local farmers and from all over Europe A team of scientists led by researchers of Detlef Weigel's Department for Molecular Biology at the Max Planck Institute for Biology Tubingen (Germany) and Karl Schmid's Department for Crop Biodiversity and Breeding Informatics at the University of Hohenheim (Stuttgart, Germany) has now studied the evolutionary mechanisms of how resistances arise. The two most common herbicides used against blackgrass impede the activity of either one of two proteins, which are both vital for the weed to thrive. Blackgrass has developed different strategies of withstanding the toxins: the weed may prevent them from reaching the proteins they are designed to deactivate, for example by metabolizing them. Plants with this type of resistance are mostly still sensitive to larger doses of the herbicides. Worse for farmers and far more frequent is the so-called target-site resistance: a change directly in the gene encoding the targeted proteins can make the plant insusceptible to even high levels of the herbicide. The rapid rise of these target-site resistances led the researchers to ask what role newly arising mutations play versus mutations that are already present in a population before the exposure to herbicides. To answer this question, the researchers started locally: "From farmers, we learned that herbicide resistant blackgrass is also a problem around Tubingen, and we were able to collect our first samples with the kind help of local farmers," recalls first author Sonja Kersten, whose Ph.D. project laid the foundation for the study. "We soon realized, however, that we could only learn so much from our own, limited collection. We were lucky to be able to team up with colleagues from BASF Agricultural Solutions, who already had blackgrass samples from all over the continent, allowing us to expand the scope of the study to a European scale." BASF benefited as well, as understanding genomes such as the one of blackgrass enables them to derive stewardship measures that can contribute to the sustainable use of herbicide products. Blackgrass. Credit: Sonja Kersten Genetic variation provides insight into evolutionary history The researchers generated a reference genome of blackgrassan idealized representation of the DNA sequence that genetic studies use as a standard for comparisonand analyzed the genetic structure of resistant populations. "The variation we found in most resistant populations indicates that the spread of the resistances is the result of pre-existing gene variants, and only to a lesser degree of spontaneous mutations," explains Fernando Rabanal, senior author of the study. "When an evolutionary advantage arises from a spontaneous mutation, we typically see a certain decrease of genetic variation across the populationand this was not the case here." The researchers compared their empirical data with simulations of different scenarios for adaptation, confirming that the target-site resistance variants were likely present already before herbicides started to exert the selective pressure. Developing diagnostic methods for a better monitoring of resistances To get their results, the team sequenced with high accuracy the genes encoding the targeted proteins as well as their surrounding regions by generating what biologists call long-read amplicons. However, they were faced with the difficulty of having to process hundreds of individual plants, a time-consuming and costly endeavor. Kersten, Rabanal, and Weigel hence developed a gene sequencing protocol that allows to analyze more than 100 individuals from a single DNA extraction without having to sacrifice much of the original accuracy. With support from collaborators from Agris42, a Stuttgart-based company developing physiological resistance tests for farmers and industry partners, they applied their method to 64 field populations across Germany, using samples obtained from Agris42. This collection may become a valuable resource for monitoring the prevalence of resistances; all the more since simulations included in the study indicate that resistant gene variants, even the rarer ones, will persist for decades in untreated fields. With a view to the immediate practical consequences of their findings, the authors note that management strategies should not rely on herbicides alone, but rather to also "integrate mechanical weed management and crop rotation, to keep the incidence of weeds in the field continuously low." 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: Research Image. Credit: POSTECH Nitrogen dioxide is one of the criteria air pollutants that plays an important role as a precursor gas of fine particulate matter and ozone. NO 2 emissions are known to be primarily generated by industrial facilities or vehicle exhausts. Recently, a research team from POSTECH analyzed satellite remote sensing data from the European Space Agency (ESA) and released results showing that food processing facilities and high-rise apartments that are 10 stories or higher are significant sources of NO 2 emissions. Their findings have drawn attention from NASA. A POSTECH research team led by Professor Hyung Joo Lee used the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI), an instrument on an Earth observation satellite that can monitor atmospheric composition, to analyze NO 2 emissions from various types of properties in California. Their analysis suggests that NO 2 emissions were highest at food processing facilities and residential complexes with high population density. The research was published in Science of the Total Environment. The team estimated average NO 2 concentrations at the spatial resolution of 500m in California between 2018 and 2019 and assessed whether NO 2 concentrations measured at ground monitors were representative of population exposures to NO 2 in each county. They also evaluated which property types showed the highest NO 2 emissions and therefore exposures. Their assessment revealed that the highest NO 2 exposures were attributed to food processing facilities and high-rise apartments that are 10 stories or higher. The same results were obtained when traffic was taken into consideration. Such high residential emissions are presumed to be attributed to combustion sources within the apartments, such as water boilers, space heaters, and other indoor-generated emissions vented outdoors. Residential combustion sources have not been considered significant sources of air pollution in previous research. POSTECH Professor Hyung Joo Lee explained, "Highly populated residential areas, specifically high-rise apartments, have not been extensively studied. However, the research indicates that these areas should be regarded as crucial contributors to NO 2 emissions in the formulation of environmental policies." He emphasized the significance of the research by stating, "The research demonstrates that satellite remote sensing can be effectively used to inform air quality management." More information: Hyung Joo Lee et al, Neighborhood-scale ambient NO2 concentrations using TROPOMI NO2 data: Applications for spatially comprehensive exposure assessment, Science of The Total Environment (2022). DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159342 Journal information: Science of the Total Environment RIYADH, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabian Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud on Thursday launched four new special economic zones in the kingdom. The zones, located in Riyadh, Jazan, Ras al-Khair and King Abdullah Economic City, are part of the kingdom's commitment to strengthening its position as a global investment destination, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The crown prince said the new zones would have a substantial impact on how business is done in the kingdom, create tens of thousands of jobs, and contribute billions of riyals to the kingdom's GDP. "Saudi Arabia welcomes investors from all around the world to see first-hand the historic opportunities we have to offer," he said. Benefits for companies operating in the new zones include competitive corporate tax rates, exemption from customs duties on imports, 100-percent foreign ownership of companies, and favorable policies to attract and hire talents worldwide, among others. The launch of the new economic zones came on the heels of several other similar projects in the kingdom, including the launch of the integrated logistics special zone at King Salman International Airport in Riyadh in November 2022. Together, they represent the first phase of the kingdom's long-term program to encourage foreign direct investment, attract the most talented professionals worldwide, and promote entrepreneurship and economic development. 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: (a) Schematic cross section of our device. Gr is superconducting graphene under BSCCO, Gr is a p-doped graphene, and Gr is native graphene. d is the length of Gr. The dotted lines at either end of Gr denote the interfaces. (b) Optical micrograph of device A from Table 1. S is shorthand for BSCCO. The dotted white outline tags graphene. The red X and N1N5 are contacts to graphene. C1C4 are contacts to BSCCO. The scale bar is 10m. Credit: Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.156201 Developing new quantum devices relies on controlling how electrons behave. A material called graphene, a single layer of carbon atoms, has fascinated researchers in recent years because its electrons behave as if they have no mass. For decades, scientists have also been interested in high-temperature superconductors: ceramic materials where electron interactions yield a macroscopic quantum state where electrons pair with each other. They do so at a temperature above the usual superconducting temperature of metals, which approaches absolute zero. In a recent study published in Physical Review Letters, researchers from the SUNY Polytechnic Institute, Stony Brook University and the Brookhaven National Laboratory in the US, along with Aalto University in Finland, demonstrated a new electronic device that employs the unique ways in which electrons behave in these two materialsgraphene and high-temperature superconductors. The experiment, led by Sharadh Jois and Ji Ung Lee from SUNY with the support of theoretical work done by Jose Lado, assistant professor at Aalto, demonstrated a new quantum device that combines both graphene and an unconventional high-temperature superconductor. In particular, the team demonstrated that the electronic transport between graphene and the high-temperature superconductor was dominated by a unique transport process arising from the combination of two peculiar properties: graphene's Klein tunneling and the superconductor's Andreev reflection. The team showed experimentally, for the first time, that this transport process was fully consistent with the existing theoretical predictions concerning hybrid Andreev-Klein electronic transport. Tunneling and reflecting The study relies on two unique phenomena found in these materials: Klein tunneling in graphene and Andreev reflection in unconventional high-temperature superconductors. Because graphene electrons behave as if they have no mass, they can move in situations where normal electrons could not. This phenomenon is known as Klein tunneling. In turn, electrons in high-temperature superconductors form so-called Cooper pairs of two electrons. Cooper pairs can have unique mathematical structures, leading to unconventional superconducting states. When a Cooper pair forms exactly at the meeting point of a standard material such a piece of metal and a superconductor, it can result in a phenomenon called Andreev reflection, in which the pair "kicks back" another kind of particle into the metal. While Andreev reflection involving conventional superconductors and metals is well understood, doing the same with graphene electrons and high-temperature superconductors had not been demonstrated until now. A milestone in graphene quantum devices "The demonstration of electronic transport stemming from graphene's Klein tunneling and unconventional superconducting pairing establishes a milestone in graphene-based quantum devices. This observation establishes the starting point to develop a whole new family of graphene-based superconducting quantum circuits that exploit unconventional superconductivity," Lado says. The unique electronic properties of graphene have made it a promising platform for developing electronics that do not consume a lot of power. Conventional superconductors are key materials in a variety of quantum devices, and they are especially important in one of the strategies to build both qubit and topological quantum computers. By combining the two, the study's results can open new fundamental physics in these materials and ultimately establish a whole new platform for quantum technology devices. More information: Sharadh Jois et al, Andreev Reflection and Klein Tunneling in High-Temperature Superconductor-Graphene Junctions, Physical Review Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.156201 Journal information: Physical Review Letters 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: Macro-scale relationships of species richness to productivity and fire. Considering productivity as an influence on latitudinal species richness patterns (a), observed and hypothesized relationships are primarily positive, although the shape is debated (Gillman et al., 2015; Whittaker et al., 2001). Fire is also generally found to be positively related to species richness as an ecological driver (b), acting as an agent of pyrodiversity that generates environmental heterogeneity (He et al., 2019). In an evolutionary context (c), fire could have multiple positive effects on species richness (He et al., 2019); however, via combustion fire also removes resources (Chen et al., 2010; Polis & Strong, 1996) that could otherwise fuel the maintenance and diversification of species richness. The null response of no effect, already largely rejected for productivity (a), is also included as a horizontal line for each panel. Note that shapes here refer to untransformed data (i.e., original scale prior to log transformation). (Also see additional references in the text.). Credit: Ecology Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1111/ele.14177 Wildfires. Many see them as purely destructive forces, disasters that blaze through a landscape, charring everything in their paths. But a study published in the journal Ecology Letters reminds us that wildfires are also generative forces, spurring biodiversity in their wakes. "There's a fair amount of biodiversity research on fire and plants," said Max Moritz, a wildfire specialist with UC CooperativeExtension who is based at UC Santa Barbara's Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, and is the study's lead author. Research has shown that in ecosystems where fire is a natural and regular occurrence, there can be more species of plantsa greater "species richness"due to a variety of factors, including fire-related adaptations. But, he said, there hasn't been nearly as much research in the way of animal biodiversity and fire. "If you look at how fire operates across the planet, fire actually eats plant productivity," Moritz said. Productivity, which is a measure of how quickly biomass is generated within a given ecosystem, is also a driver of species richness at broad spatial scales. "When fires occur they can take a bite out of that bottom line," he added. If fire regularly consumes some of the base of an ecosystem's food chain, how does that ripple up to affect the biodiversity at higher levels? That was the question Moritz investigated during a project supported by UC Santa Barbara's National Center for Ecological Analysis & Synthesis; he later recruited collaborators Enric Batllori from Universitat de Barcelona and Benjamin M. Bolker from McMaster University in Canada. For several years they combed through global datasets on various factors such as plant biomass, fire observations and species richness patterns. While it might be natural to assume that plant biomass regularly consumed by fire would in turn lead to lower animal biodiversity, they found that for birds and mammals, fire is associated with increased diversity. In fact, they say, the effect of fire on biodiversity in the case of birds rivals that of the ecosystem's productivity. And in the case of mammals, fire's influence was even stronger than that of productivity. "It's counterintuitive," Moritz said. In the short term, fire's consumption of plant material (also known as "net primary productivity") could result in less food for the animals that consume plants and make it more difficult to survive and reproduce. But in the longer term, he said, there may be evolutionary effects that unleash adaptations and formations of new species. The researchers also looked at the effect of fire on amphibian species, however, the connection between fire and biodiversity in their case was difficult to make, possibly because amphibians live in wetter environments where fires may not be a regular occurrence. So what accounts for the net positive effects of fire on mammal and bird diversity? The study is a correlative one, Moritz said, so more granular examinations have to be made to find out for sure. But it's likely that fire selects for species that can adapt to and quickly recover from a burn, and fire often creates environmentally complex habitats that meet different species' requirements. "We know that fire creates a lot of heterogeneity and opens up all these niches," Moritz said, and this resource availability might create favorable environments for some organisms to flourish alongside or over others. For example, animals that have strategies to survive fires or reproduce faster might do better in a fire-prone environment, as could those that make use of different habitats that emerge in the wake of a blaze. Despite the connection between fire and species richness, the authors are careful to point out it does not mean fire is good for all ecosystems. In places where fire is not a natural occurrence, its presence "is more of a modern threat than an important process to maintain," they said. And for places where fire is a natural part of the ecosystem, climate change-driven and intentional deforestation fires "may be quite different from natural fire regimes." Nevertheless, they say, these findings indicate that fire plays an underappreciated role in the generation of animal species richness and biodiversity conservation. Furthermore, the study adds nuance to the Latitudinal Biodiversity Gradient, a global pattern of terrestrial biodiversity in which the world's most biodiverse areas are located nearest to the equator, with levels of biodiversity generally decreasing toward the poles. "This is a pattern that people have known for decades and have argued quite a bit about in terms of what drives it," Moritz said. "And it turns out, it's hard to figure out. And it looks like fire plays a far more important role than we've ever really understood." More information: Max A. Moritz et al, The role of fire in terrestrial vertebrate richness patterns, Ecology Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1111/ele.14177 Journal information: Ecology Letters 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: A 39,600-year-old leather punch board from Canyars, Gava, Spain. Credit: Francesco d'Errico and Luc Doyon A team of archaeologists and anthropologists from Universite de Bordeaux, Institut Polytechnique de Bordeaux and Universitat de Barcelona, has found evidence of a tool used to make leather clothing dating back to the Upper Paleolithic. In their study, reported in the journal Science Advances, the group analyzed a bone fragment with marks that they believe reveal new details about human history on the Iberian Peninsula. The bone fragment was found at a dig site called Terrasses de la Riera dels Canyars, located close to Barcelona, Spain. Because it had no collagen, the fragment could not be dated directly. Instead, the team inferred its age using the age of material around itthey believe it was from approximately 39,600 years ago, from the middle of the Upper Paleolithic. At that time, the researchers note, Europe and the Iberian Peninsula were coldmore like modern Siberia than today's warm Mediterranean climate. That would have necessitated warm clothes made using animal hides. To make them fit, they further reasoned, would require stitching parts together. However, needles with eyes had not been invented yet. Thus, the best way to pass a thread through a hide was to punch a hole in it first, using an awl-like tool called a burin, which requires something underneath to serve as a base. They believe the fragment they found is just such a base. The marks on it, they suggest, are the results of a burin striking it after passing through a piece of leather. The team came to this conclusion by closely studying the marks on the bone fragment. They were lined up in a way that proved they were not made by animal bites, or human bites, for that matter. Next, they fashioned several variations of their own burins out of stone and placed a large animal bone underneath a piece of leather to use as a base and pounded holes through it, finding that the same types of marks appeared. The research team notes that by using this technique, early humans could also have made other things from animal skins, such as shoes or bags. More information: Luc Doyon et al, A 39,600-year-old leather punch board from Canyars, Gava, Spain, Science Advances (2023). DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg0834 Journal information: Science Advances 2023 Science X Network This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Cropland expansion in private lands into the Amazon forest in the Municipality of Feliz Natal, Mato Grosso, Brazil. Credit: Ramon Bicudo, Michigan State University As Brazil seeks ways to protect its crucial Amazon Forest, a new study shows that excusing private landowners from conserving their precious land has come at a steep cost to global sustainability. In this week's Communications Earth & Environment, scientists at Michigan State University's Center for Systems Integration and Sustainability (MSU-CSIS) as well as Brazil and the UK found that since 2012 more than half of the deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has taken place on designated private conservation areas within rural private properties. However, those conservation areas were designed by the national conservation forest policy aimed at restoring natural vegetation. The amnesty granted to 80% of landowners of small properties in the Amazon prevented the restoration of 14.6 million hectares of agricultural land, with a carbon sequestration potential of 2.5 gigatonnes. "It's important to enlist owners of private propertiesespecially those in global biodiversity hotspots such as Brazilto participate in practices that reduce the carbon emissions and mitigate climate change through carbon sequestration," said co-author Jianguo "Jack" Liu, Rachel Carson Chair in Sustainability and CSIS director. "Our work to reveal the true nature of private rural lands in Brazil has great impact not just for that country, but for the entire world. Local drivers of climate change mitigation truly are a global issue." Brazil has since 2012 been modifying its Native Vegetation Protection Law in to encourage more regrowth of natural vegetation. As part of that effort, the government began collecting information from private landowners about how their land was being usedfor farming, development, or being covered by natural vegetation. The international team used that information to provide a first deep dive into the state of natural growth across Brazil, integrating self-declared land ownership and conservation data from landowners, which improve the assessment of policy compliance and conservation beyond what can be learned from satellite remotely sensed data alone. "We've been able to pinpoint whether private properties were in compliance with national rules," said lead author Ramon Bicudo. "We've found that enforcing Brazil's Forest Code and demanding landowners comply would greatly increase the Brazilian carbon stocks which it needs to offset emissions." Granting the amnesty from the 1965 Code freed landowners from restoring 14 million hectares in small private properties in the Amazon. The researchers also found 3 million hectares amnestied in the Atlantic Foresta global hotspot of biodiversity and the most endangered biome in Brazil with only approximately 15% of natural vegetation remnants. Bicudo noted that showing how imprecisions in self-declared data may lead to large overlapping areas between private lands and protected areas and providing a suite of ways to deal with the enormous datasets of quantitative validation methods to deal with such a large dataset is a crucial step. Brazil is under increasing pressure to produce more soybeans and beef in private lands for both international and domestic markets, so having a tool to understand the state of private lands, and identify paths forward in forest governance, is crucial. More information: Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva et al, Slow-down of deforestation following a Brazilian forest policy was less effective on private lands than in all conservation areas, Communications Earth & Environment (2023). DOI: 10.1038/s43247-023-00783-9 Journal information: Communications Earth & Environment This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The Mk II in flight. Credit: Dawn Aerospace Access to space is getting easier and more accessible as more and more platforms are coming online that can significantly decrease the cost of getting into Earth's orbit or even beyond. Now, another company has taken a step forward in making inexpensive, reusable access to space a reality. Dawn Aerospace, which operates out of the U.S., New Zealand, and the Netherlands, has successfully tested a prototype spaceplane. This isn't Dawn's first success, as the company already has satellite propulsion systems in orbit on 15 different satellites. It isn't even its first successful space plane testthey had previously completed some testing using jet engines. However, it is the first time the company has successfully tested a rocket-powered plane. The series of three tests happened at the end of March at the Glentanner Aerodrome in New Zealand, where the plane successfully fired its rocket engine. Clocking it at over 170 knots and 6,000 ft of altitude may not seem like much, but it is a first step for the technology. And it allowed the company to make a video with very catchy music they could share for their marketing campaign. Credit: Dawn Aerospace The Mk II is a drone with no direct pilot in the cockpit, which has plenty of advantages, mainly due to decreases in the project's physical weight and the testing necessary to certify a vehicle for crewed flight. Unfortunately, that also means that Dawn will only be able to launch cargo rather than taking people into orbit, at least with the current iteration. Like many companies, Dawn has a phased approach to starting their commercial launch operations. These tests represent the beginning of the Mk II Aurora, which will eventually be able to fly up to 100 km to deposit payloads, then return to its runway, and repeat the process the same day. It hopes to be the first vehicle to be able to do so. On the other hand, Mk III will include a non-reusable second stage that will help lift payloads of up to a ton into suborbital flight and 250kg into orbit itself. Its plane-based first stage will again be reusable, but the second stage will be lost. Dawn isnt the only company working on this concept. Heres a UT video describing a competitor AstroClipper. Credit: Universe Today If that business model sounds suspiciously like the recently bankrupted Virgin Orbit, that's because it is. Using a plane (which in Virgin Orbit's case was air-launched) to get relatively small payloads into orbit has been a common goal of several companies as they attempt to make access to space cheaper by making the vehicles that get there reusable. In this case, Dawn has succeeded where Virgin Orbit failed. It still has plenty of testing and development left to go before it can hit either the Mk II or III milestone, but this first rocket-powered test is a step in the right direction. And with this success, the country of New Zealand seems to be moving up in the list of the most consequential global powers in the race to decrease the cost of access to space. 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: A Penn State-led research team developed a standalone system to monitor nitrogen dioxide in exhaled breath and in the environment. Fabricated from the same nanocomposite material, the self-powered system stretches to adhere to skin or clothes. Credit: Provided by Huanyu "Larry" Cheng/Penn State For mere dollars, a Penn State-led international collaboration has fabricated a self-powered, standalone sensor system capable of monitoring gas molecules in the environment or in human breath. The system combines nanogenerators with micro-supercapacitors to harvest and story energy generated by human movement. The researchers published their approach, which costs up to just a few dollars for materials and uses widely available equipment, last week in Nano Letters. The development is the culmination of years of work led by corresponding author Huanyu "Larry" Cheng, James L. Henderson Jr. Memorial Associate Professor of Engineering Science and Mechanics at Penn State. "This is a really a combination of previous studies where we've continued the journey of developing wearable gas sensors," Cheng said. "Most sensor research and development centers on the fabrication of device materials. Here, we've used one material to produce multiple components on a single platform that work together as a standalone system." Cheng and his team previously developed sensors to detect nitrogen dioxide, which can indicate various pulmonary diseases in exhaled breath, and other gases that may signal poor environmental air quality. They also invented a laser-induced graphene foam material with MXenes, or two-dimensional transition metals that are less reactive than other metals. The novel material and new fabrication method make for a stretchy sensor that can bend with human movements. The researchers also applied this approach to produce stretchable micro-supercapacitors that can store energy produced by those human movements. In this paper, the group combined these efforts. They first applied a laser to previously developed 3D porous graphene foam on a flexible substrate. Next, the researchers sprayed MXenes on the graphene foam and used another laser to combine the foam and MXenes into a nanocomposite material. They then transferred the nanocomposite material to a pre-strained elastomer, which they slowly released. This slow release crumples the nanocomposite, which can be patterned differently for sensors, nanogenerators and micro-supercapacitors. "Using this laser is almost like toasting a piece of bread: it changes the surface of the bread into something more stable," Cheng said, explaining the laser uses carbon dioxide to change the material's surface. "You end up with a more stable and porous product than what you started with. This material enables more sensitivity in the sensors and more conductivity in the other components." The standalone system converts energy from human movement, like running) to power gas sensors at the mouth and wrist, as well as to send data via Bluetooth. Credit: Provided by Huanyu "Larry" Cheng/Penn State The lasers used are available in most machining shops, according to Cheng. "These materials are cheap, and the more expensive tools are widely availablePenn State alone has hundreds of these lasers," said co-corresponding author Cheng Zhang, who is affiliated with Minjang University in China and was a visiting scholar in Cheng's lab. "With the low-cost and wide availability of materials and tools, this approach could certainly be scaled up for use in the clinical setting." With the same nanocomposite material comprising each device, the components of the system work together seamlessly, according to Cheng. Since the 3D nanocomposite foam was pre-strained, creating the "crumpled" effect, each component can also be stretched and bent to adhere to human skin or clothing without losing sensitivity. "The improved electrical conductivity, mechanical robustness and specific surface area of the crumpled porous graphene/MXenes from the simple fabrication provide opportunities for applications in the standalone stretchable device platform," Zhang said. To demonstrate proof-of-concept, a research associate wore gas sensors under their nose and on their wrist, as well as nanogenerators on their shoes and an array of micro-supercapacitors on their shirt. The person exercised vigorously, with the nanogenerators harvesting energy produced by their foot movements. That energy was stored by the micro-supercapacitors, which used the power to collect and send data from the gas sensors to a Bluetooth receiver, where the scientists could analyze it. The sensors continuously monitored both exhaled breath and the environment for nitrogen dioxide. "The measurements were consistent with those made by a commercial sensor," Cheng said. He also noted that the system demonstrated stable rates over 50 days in laboratory testing, indicating the long-term stability of the system for real-life applications. "The design strategies and demonstration from this work pave the way for the design, fabrication and application of next-generation bio-integrated electronics for healthy aging and precisions medicine." More information: Cheng Zhang et al, Laser Processing of Crumpled Porous Graphene/MXene Nanocomposites for a Standalone Gas Sensing System, Nano Letters (2023). DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.3c00454 Journal information: Nano Letters 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: A new hypothesis states that the first sugars emerged from glyoxylate (pictured as the center molecule). In this hypothesis, glyoxylate first reacts with itself and then the byproducts from these reactions, ultimately forming simple sugars and other products (pictured as the surrounding molecules). Credit: Scripps Research and Unsplash Two prominent origin-of-life chemists have published a new hypothesis for how the first sugarswhich were necessary for life to evolvearose on the early Earth. In a paper published on April 13, 2023, in the journal Chem, chemists from Scripps Research and the Georgia Institute of Technology propose that key sugars needed for making early life forms could have emerged from reactions involving glyoxylate (C 2 HO 3 ), a relatively simple chemical that plausibly existed on the Earth before life evolved. The study is titled "The Potential of Glyoxylate as a Prebiotic Source Molecule and a Reactant in Protometabolic PathwaysThe Glyoxylose Reaction." "We show that our new hypothesis has key advantages over the more traditional view that early sugars arose from the chemical formaldehyde," says Ramanarayanan Krishnamurthy, Ph.D., a professor in the Department of Chemistry at Scripps Research. Krishnamurthy's co-author was Charles Liotta, Ph.D., Regents' Professor Emeritus at the Georgia Institute of Technology's School of Chemistry and Biochemistry. Origin-of-life chemists seek to explain how the basic molecular building blocks and reactions necessary for life could have arisen from the simple chemicals that were likely present on the "prebiotic" Earth. The overarching aim of the field is to answer the fundamental question of how our living planet came to be. But its discoveries also can informand have informedmany other fields, from atmospheric science and geology to synthetic biology and the search for life on other planets. The three major classes of biological molecule whose availability needs to be explained by origin-of-life chemistry are: the amino acids that make up proteins, the nucleobases that make up the "letters" of DNA and RNA, and the sugars (also called carbohydrates) that are found throughout biology, including in the twisted backbone structure of DNA and RNA. According to the prevailing theories, amino acids probably arose from ammonia (NH 3 ), while nucleobases arose from hydrogen cyanide (HCN). The origin of sugars has been less clear. Many scientists believe the first sugars came from reactions involving formaldehyde (CH 2 O), but this theory has some drawbacks. "The formaldehyde reactions proposed by this theory are quite messythey have uncontrolled side reactions and other drawbacks due to formaldehyde's high reactivity under the envisioned early-Earth conditions," Liotta says. The chemists' proposed alternative is a "glyoxylose reaction" scenario in which glyoxylate first reacts with itself, forming a close cousin of formaldehyde known as glycolaldehyde. The researchers suggest that glyoxylate, glycolaldehyde, their byproducts and other simple compounds could have continued to react with one another, ultimately yielding simple sugars and other productswithout the drawbacks of formaldehyde-based reactions. Glyoxylate already has a prominent role in origin-of-life chemistry theories. Swiss chemist Albert Eschenmoser proposed in 2007 that a form of it might have been the source for multiple original biomolecules. Krishnamurthy and Furman University chemist Greg Springsteen, Ph.D., also suggested in a 2020 Nature Chemistry paper that glyoxylate could have helped initiate a primordial version of the modern (tricarboxylic acid) TCA cycle, a basic metabolic process found in most life forms on Earth. Krishnamurthy and his team are currently working to demonstrate in the laboratory that the glyoxylose reaction scenario could indeed have yielded the first sugars. "Such a demonstration would expand the role of glyoxylate as a versatile molecule in prebiotic chemistry and further stimulate the search for its own origin on the prebiotic Earth," Krishnamurthy says. The chemists are also looking into potential commercial applications of reactions that make glyoxylate, since these effectively consume CO 2 and thus can be used to reduce CO 2 levels, either locally in industrial settings or globally to combat global warming. More information: Jonathan B. Krishnamurthy, The Potential of Glyoxylate as a Prebiotic Source Molecule and a Reactant in Protometabolic Pathways The Glyoxylose Reaction, Chem (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.chempr.2023.03.007. www.cell.com/chem/fulltext/S2451-9294(23)00126-2 Journal information: Nature Chemistry , Chem 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: West Virginia University researchers are studying how high school seniors and college students can utilize ChatGPT to learn how to code, while recognizing the potential shortcomings of the AI-powered chatbot. Credit: WVU Photo/Alyssa Reeves West Virginia University researchers are preparing high school seniors and college students to harness the power of ChatGPT, the popular artificial intelligence chatbot, through coding while addressing the platform's potential shortcomings. In a paper published in Quantitative Biology, a team led by Gangqing "Michael" Hu, assistant professor in the WVU School of Medicine Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology, explored how they could help students overcome the fear of learning code and enhance their critical thinking skills. "This is like kids wading in the muddy shoreline seeking beautiful seashells," Hu said. "The kids are the beginning students and the muddy shoreline is ChatGPT. The beautiful seashells represent all the attractive opportunities which beginners cannot resist. But the ChatGPT shoreline is muddy with challenges such as the uncertainty from the chatbot's responseincluding misleading artifactsand students' overreliance on AI for coding." ChatGPT produces human-like responses to text-based conversations and is being used by multiple companies to respond to customer inquiries and provide general information. Anyone can use it to seek information on a plethora of subjects. One of the responses from ChatGPT can be code, and in this case the platform becomes a coding tool through prompting. "This is a new tool of learning coding and there are some misconceptions," Hu said. "Students may think coding is not important because of prompting or they may have a fear in trying to learn it. We need to educate them on the purpose of this chatbot-assisted learning. Because some of the code from the chatbot can be wrong, students need to use critical thinking to be able to tell if the answer is correct and, if it is not, how to find a solution." One of the biggest drawbacks to ChatGPT is that generated responses to questions can be either correct, incorrect or incomplete. In fact, it takes a human to provide carefully crafted prompts to fully harness the tool in providing valid and robust results. Inspired by adaptive learning in educational literature, the team used the OPTIMAL model to facilitate chatbot-aided scientific data analysis. OPTIMAL, which stands for Optimization of Prompts Through Iterative Mentoring and Assessment, involves a series of steps to improve communication with a chatbot. In this case, it was geared toward bioinformatics, the science of collecting and analyzing large amounts of biological, medical and health information. Researchers say the model can be used for other purposes as well, such as finance and economics. "The OPTIMAL model is like rubber boots for the children to wear at the muddy shoreline," Hu said. "The boots protect the kids from getting dirty much like the model is a protective mechanism to prevent the students from being misled by inaccurate information from the chatbot. The model aims to improve both coding skills and prompting skills through an iterative communication with a chatbot guided by critical thinking and assessment." Following the OPTIMAL model, students review all the information needed for input and receive guidance on how to create a set of draft prompts. Once they input the prompt, the chatbot produces code and students are ready to give it a test. If error messages result after running the code, students must evaluate the error and determine the best way to proceed, such as instructing the chatbot to revise the code or debugging the code manually. The process continues until the code no longer issues errors and outputs a result for critical assessment. At the end of the session, students reflect on the entire communication process and review the code to identify any missing details to finalize the prompts. The research team found that merely using the chatbot as a code-generating tool may limit creative thinking and that reviewing the code at the end of each session is just as important as optimizing the prompts. The work brought together researchers from a spectrum of disciplines: Evelyn Shue, student volunteer in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Cell Biology; Bingxin Li, WVU John Chambers College of Business and Economics; Xin Li, WVU Benjamin M. Statler College of Engineering and Mineral Resources; Zifeng Feng, University of Texas at El Paso; and Li Liu, Arizona State University. The team plans to evaluate the OPTIMAL model's effectiveness in enhancing traditional bioinformatics education for beginners in the classroom. "This assessment should encompass improvements in coding skills, prompting skills, problem-solving abilities, and critical thinking during interactions with a chatbot," Hu said. Future research will delve into more profound insights and strategies on applying ChatGPT to precision education. "There are certainly other sorts of rubber boots," Hu said. The findings are published in the journal Quantitative Biology. More information: Evelyn Shue et al, Empowering beginners in bioinformatics with ChatGPT, Quantitative Biology (2023). DOI: 10.15302/J-QB-023-0327 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: A University of Minnesota Twin Cities-led team looked more than 13 billion years into the past to discover a unique, minuscule galaxy that could help astronomers learn more about galaxies that were present shortly after the Big Bang. Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, P. Kelly Using first-of-their-kind observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, a University of Minnesota Twin Cities-led team looked more than 13 billion years into the past to discover a unique, minuscule galaxy that generated new stars at an extremely high rate for its size. The galaxy is one of the smallest ever discovered at this distancearound 500 million years after the Big Bangand could help astronomers learn more about galaxies that were present shortly after the universe came into existence. The paper is published in Science. The University of Minnesota researchers were one of the first teams to study a distant galaxy using the James Webb Space Telescope, and their findings will be among the first ever published. "This galaxy is far beyond the reach of all telescopes except the James Webb, and these first-of-their-kind observations of the distant galaxy are spectacular," said Patrick Kelly, senior author of the paper and an assistant professor in the University of Minnesota School of Physics and Astronomy. "Here, we're able to see most of the way back to the Big Bang, and we've never looked at galaxies when the universe was this young in this level of detail. The galaxy's volume is roughly a millionth of the Milky Way's, but we can see that it's still forming the same numbers of stars each year." The James Webb telescope can observe a wide enough field to image an entire galaxy cluster at once. The researchers were able to find and study this new, tiny galaxy because of a phenomenon called gravitational lensingwhere mass, such as that in a galaxy or galaxy cluster, bends and magnifies light. A galaxy cluster lens caused this small background galaxy to appear 20 times brighter than it would if the cluster were not magnifying its light. The researchers then used spectroscopy to measure how far away the galaxy was, in addition to some of its physical and chemical properties. Studying galaxies that were present when the universe was this much younger can help scientists get closer to answering a huge question in astronomy regarding how the universe became reionized. "The galaxies that existed when the universe was in its infancy are very different from what we see in the nearby universe now," explained Hayley Williams, first author on the paper and a Ph.D. student at the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics. "This discovery can help us learn more about the characteristics of those first galaxies, how they differ from nearby galaxies, and how the earlier galaxies formed." The James Webb telescope can collect about 10 times as much light as the Hubble Space Telescope and is much more sensitive at redder, longer wavelengths in the infrared spectrum. This allows scientists to access an entirely new window of data, the researchers said. "The James Webb Space Telescope has this amazing capability to see extremely far into the universe," Williams said. "This is one of the most exciting things about this paper. We're seeing things that previous telescopes would have ever been able to capture. It's basically getting a snapshot of our universe in the first 500 million years of its life." More information: Hayley Williams, A magnified compact galaxy at redshift 9.51 with strong nebular emission lines, Science (2023). DOI: 10.1126/science.adf5307. www.science.org/doi/10.1126/science.adf5307 Journal information: Science This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: The new paper compares the results obtained by six different trailside signs. Credit: Jeremy Shellhorn Stewards of parks and wild lands would do well to understand the term "typography as image" and to employ it in practice, according to the results of a new study of how trailside signs influence users' behavior. The design strategy combines the two qualities most desired by those who wish to send messages like "leash your dog" or "wipe your feet to prevent invasive plants spreading"it grabs the attention, which then gives the communicator a chance to provide more information to answer the "why" question in related text and images. These qualities of "attention capture" and "elaboration" were among the factors considered in a new paper that will be published in the June edition of the Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism. A pre-publication copy of the paper went online in January. The article is titled "The impact of graphic design on attention capture and behavior among outdoor recreationists: Results from an exploratory persuasive signage experiment." It is credited to Jeremy Shellhorn, an associate professor in the University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design, and William Rice, assistant professor of Outdoor Recreation and Wildland Management in the Parks, Tourism and Recreation Program and Department of Society and Conservation at the University of Montana. They worked with students who helped carry out the experiment over the summer of 2022. The paper is the result of the latest iteration of Shellhorn's Design Outside Studio, in which he takes students camping each summer to execute a project that will benefit the public while it offers the students hands-on training. Shellhorn said Rice learned about Design Outside and contacted him to suggest they collaborate. "He said, 'I'd love to take what you guys do visually and join it with what my students put together in terms of strategic messaging.' So we bounced ideas back and forth," Shellhorn said. "For this particular class, we wanted to do a shorter, four-week project as a proof-of-concept on how graphic design students and outdoor recreation and park management students might collaborate together." Rice's Montana students had previously worked with the Missoula Parks and Recreation Department, Shellhorn said, and knew what "resource issues" they faced, including invasive plants spreading and dogs wandering unleashed on recreational trails. "They came up with some positive messaging around it, and then presented those messages to my class on Zoom," Shellhorn said. "And then we came up with visual ways that we thought could express those, using proven graphic-design principles." For each of the two messagesconcerning dogs and plantsthe designers came up with six different signs to compare how they worked. They built semi-permanent frames with a slot for posters, then rotated through the designs and observed how trail users responded. The plant-related sign also had an adjoining boot-scraping brush, which hikers/readers were urged to use. Shellhorn said it was a challenge to meet the park rangers' communicative expectations. "People are going to these places to not be inundated with messaging," he said. "So you have to find that balance wanting to prompt them, but also not to belabor it. ... What typeface is it, and how big is it? What kind of imagery reinforces it or subverts it... to get somebody to pay attention; to essentially engage with this? "That was a fun thing to bring into the classroom and challenge the students. We could all put the sign up and look at it from a distance and see 'Is there is there a takeaway from 20 feet away, if you don't want to read the fine type? And how much is somebody willing to read, in this case?' "At that point, the students are doing it for the project. They're not doing it for me anymore. It's not me saying, 'It's not working. It's just not working.'" In each case of dog and plant messaging, Shellhorn said, the best resultsby a significant marginwere gleaned from a "typography as image" approach. "It's a good strategy because people are reading the words, but they're also reading the image at the same time," he said. "If you can get somebody to read something in a certain context, it makes the messaging happen faster. if I have to look at a picture, and then I have to read the text, that's two things that I have to read. But if I can read them simultaneouslyif I can make a word look like a dog's leash, or like it's made out of native plantsthen, all of a sudden, you don't have to say 'native plants' in the text. You can say something else in the text. "That strategy works really well when you're trying to get a quicker read on a poster or a trailhead signwhere somebody's going to read it while there they're moving or where there's a lot of other activity going on, and you're trying to capture their attention." Furthermore, he said, "If you've gotten them to read that first one, and it's done in a creative or interesting way, then you're more likely to get them to get to the elaboration." More information: William L. Rice et al, The impact of graphic design on attention capture and behavior among outdoor recreationists: Results from an exploratory persuasive signage experiment, Journal of Outdoor Recreation and Tourism (2023). DOI: 10.1016/j.jort.2023.100606 YAOUNDE, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Cameroonian Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Gabriel Mbairobe said on Wednesday that the Central African nation is working to create jobs for young people and enhance rural development through agriculture. Mbairobe was speaking in the capital Yaounde during the 7th Steering Committee Session of the Agriculture Value Chain Development Project, which seeks to ensure food security in the country. "This project focuses on agricultural development and youth employment. Our country wants to be the breadbasket of Central Africa," Mbairobe told reporters during the session. "(We want to) create jobs for youth, increase incomes in rural areas, facilitate market access for producers through the construction of farm-to-market roads and community infrastructure like warehouses and processing units, and build the capacity of young people to transform them into agropastoral entrepreneurs," he added. Agriculture is the mainstay of Cameroon's economy, accounting for an estimated 80 percent of the primary sector's contribution to the country's GDP, according to the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development. Schedule of events Adirondack Winery 15th Anniversary Event Lineup: April 13 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: 2000s Trivia with That Trivia Guy: Test your knowledge about the 2000s for a chance to win prizes, including free wine April 14 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Celebratory Music & Chocolate: Release of their new sweet red wine infused with dark chocolate, free Barkeater Chocolate samples and live music with Kiel Love April 14 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.: Adirondack Themed Paint & Sip with Robin: Sip on a selection of wines while painting an Adirondack Chair with wine by the lake design canvas or two wine glasses. April 15 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: The Extra Mile Pizza, Wine & Music! Wood-fired pizza on-site accompanied by live music with Mark Rabin April 15 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.: Comedy at the Winery: Comedians Mikael Gregg, Travis Stealey and headliner Andy McDermott April 16 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Sparkling Boogie, Brunch, and Boozie Zumba: Move to the beat of the 2000s and wear your sparkling attire for a free Sparkling Mimosa after class April 16 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Acoustic Brunch at the Winery with Dan Webster: Indulge in their brunch experience while listening to live music April 20 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Dueling Pianos with Savage Pianos: Dueling Pianos is a high-energy, request driven, rock and roll singalong experience April 21 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: The Extra Mile Pizza, Wine & Music! Wood-fire pizza on-site accompanied by live music with Chuck Kelsey April 21 7:30 p.m. to 10 p.m.: Dueling Pianos with Savage Pianos: Dueling Pianos is a high-energy, request driven, rock and roll singalong experience April 22 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.: Live Music with Jason Irwin April 22 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.: Live Music with Greg Auffredou April 23 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.: Acoustic Brunch at the Winery with Tom Keller: Indulge in their brunch experience while listening to live music At 10:32 p.m. on Tuesday, troopers were in the area of Route 9 in the Town of Moreau, investigating an unrelated matter when they interviewed Julia M. Burton, 35, of Fort Edward. According to police, Burton had an outstanding warrant out of Glens Falls City Court. When police tried to arrest her, Burton allegedly resisted and fled on foot, trooper said. Burton "was quickly taken into custody" and found to possess multiple controlled substances, including felony-weight narcotics and drug paraphernalia. Burton was charged with a felony count of fifth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, two misdemeanor counts of seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance, second-degree criminally using drug paraphernalia and resisting arrest. She was issued an appearance ticket for the Moreau Town Court on May 3 and turned over to the Glens Falls Police Department. She is currently in Warren County Jail with a $5,000 bond, for bail jumping, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. SOUTH GLENS FALLS As in years past, the South Glens Falls mayor recently presented his tentative budget to the trustees, proposing a spending increase of $128,025 for the 2023-2024 fiscal year. But more concerning to some on the board than an expenditure increase was how the mayor went about putting his $3.184 million proposal together, and the impact it may have on residents property tax bills. Trustees Harry Gutheil and Tony Girard said there were several line items in the budget they wanted to address, including a 10% pay raise for the board and mayor. The union people, in their contract, I think theyre getting, like 3%. Why would I want 10%, Girard said. Wed like to have a chance to modify that and other issues that we might have or at least ask questions about, Why did this go up this much, why is this a new line item, what is this for, how did you arrive at that. Just common sense discussions that you would have. In a summery letter that accompanied the tentative budget packet, mayor Nicholas Bodkin explained that he proposed the wage increase in an effort to create competitive salaries that reward and retain our valued employees. I firmly believe that if we dont utilize tax dollars as budgeted, theres a problem, he said. For us to not invest in our staff, not invest in our community, not invest in our equipment, were not doing our jobs. Another point of contention Gutheil and Girard have with Bodkins budget is the reduced tax rate. Although Bodkins tentative budget proposes a property tax rate decrease, property assessments for the village have gone up, which Gutheil said still means a jump up in residential tax bills. It reduces the rate, so youll be led to believe that your taxes are going down, but if you got one of those assessment notices from the assessor that your assessment went up $40,000 or $20,000 youre gonna pay a lot more in taxes. According to the proposed budget, each property owner would be charged $4.84 per $1,000 of value assessed to their property. Gutheil explained that since most property assessments had increased for 2023-2024, that lower rate would still result in a higher tax levied against each property owner by about 4.78%. As perspective, last years valuation went up by around $20 million, and the tax rate was reduced by 35 cents per $1,000; this year, the valuation increased by around $25 million and the proposed tax rate is only decreased by 15 cents. Gutheil thinks the tax rate should be reduced even more to compensate for the increased valuation. You protect your property values by keeping your taxes down, and then people are more interested in coming in, which makes a bigger demand, and thats what keeps your prices up, Gutheil said. We should be reducing them more than $.15, thats the bottom line. We dont need to raise that much money if we make some cuts. But Bodkin justified his proposed budget by pointing out that the general fund, which is fed through property tax withholdings, would be balanced while adding money to the villages reserve coffers. If you look at the appropriations and the revenues, youll see that they balance, Bodkin said. Yes, were collecting more revenue in total than what we have in the past, but expenses go up every year so if you never collect more revenue, how are you ever going to pay your bills three or four years from now. Further frustrating for Gutheil and Girard is the way Bodkin structured his tentative budget preparation. Id like it entered into the hearing minutes that the board was left out of the budget process, Gutheil said during the April 5 public hearing. We still have an opportunity, but this hearing is on the tentative budget that the mayor filed with no input, no meetings scheduled for the board to make any changes. Gutheil went on to say that there had been a meeting of the board called on March 28 for a March 31 for a budget presentation, but he felt the notice was short. To call a meeting at 6 o-clock, Friday night and think youre gonna get good input, its not gonna happen, he said. It was disrespectful to every board member. In a phone call with The Post-Star after the meeting, Bodkin said he was following the timeline laid out by the office of comptroller as outlined in New York State Village Law section 5-508, regarding budget adoption. According to statute, the village mayor must file their tentative budget with the village clerk by March 20, then the clerk must present the tentative budget to the board of trustees at a special or regular meeting on or before March 31. A public hearing regarding the tentative budget must then be held by April 15, and the finalized budget must be adopted into law no later than May 1. Generally additional meeting are scheduled around budget season in which the mayor, along with the board gathers proposals from department heads and engage in discussions to generate his tentative budget. Bodkin explained that when he was beginning his first budget preparation as mayor for the 2022-2023 fiscal year, he approached the board to schedule those meetings, but the offers were declined. I approached the board last year and asked them to participate, I was told, no, its the mayors tentative budget, and to prepare my budget for review, he said. So when it came to this year, thats what I did. Bodkin said he did send updated budget requests to the board as he worked with department heads while preparing his tentative budget. But Gutheil said Bodkin should have called several public meetings between the filing deadline and public hearing date, as he did during his time as village mayor, for the board to discuss the budget as a collective body. Sometimes wed have several. Youd meet with department heads, sometimes wed meet with the fire company and go over the tentative budget to see what peoples concerns were, he said. This year, the mayor filed the tentative budget and scheduled a public hearing without any input from the board. It was decided at the April 5 meeting that the board would reconvene at 4:30 p.m. on April 19 for a budget meeting to discuss any propose changes to the mayors tentative budget. There is still time for the trustees to weigh in on the tentative budget and if they deem to, with cause, they can make motions to make modifications to that budget with specific details and justifications for those changes, Bodkin said. I do propose that any individuals or groups of people that have suggested changes prepare those changes and submit them to the entire board prior to any workshop so that all individuals have an opportunity to read and digest that information so that we can have an effective and productive meeting. To view the tentative budget, visit, SKM_C25823033009060 (sgfny.com) ALBANY A new audit scolds the state Office for People with Developmental Disabilities, concluding the agency failed to ensure sufficient safeguards were in place for vulnerable people residing in state-regulated group homes at the onset of the pandemic. The audit report, issued by state Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli, highlighted the fact that from March 1, 2020 to April 5, 2022, the agency reported a total of 13,079 COVID-19 cases among people with intellectual/developmental disabilities. A total of 657 of those individuals died from their COVID infections. But the audit acknowledged the auditors did not find a causal link between the deaths and the agencys alleged failure to take proactive steps to safeguard group home occupants. Our audit found the Office for People With Developmental Disabilities did not issue timely, consistent guidance to the vast majority of their certified group homes, DiNapoli said. Inconsistent emergency management coordination and oversight put residents, families and staff in harms way. The audit noted people with IDD can face more severe and even deadlier outcomes from COVID-19 exposure due to an elevated prevalence of comorbidities and immune dysfunction among individuals residing in those group homes. Congregate living poses special challenges to infection control, the report said. Responding to DiNapolis office, a supervisor at OPWDD, Richard Cicero, said while his agency ultimately agrees with some of the audits recommendations, the inquiry triggered challenges for staff, coming as it did amid the pandemic. The comptrollers office, Cicero said, did not incorporate a meaningful review of the extensive guidance documents OPWDD issued in response to the actual COVID-19 pandemic, dismissing them as reactive instead of assessing their real world and real-time effectiveness at addressing the challenges of the pandemic. The audit comes less than five months after Gov. Kathy Hochul vetoed legislation that sought to require that a study be undertaken on the pandemics effects on the occupants of adult group homes. Hochul cited budgetary concerns in explaining the veto. The author of the bill that was vetoed, Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara, D-Schenectady, said he is reintroducing the legislation this year, noting it drew overwhelming support in both chambers last year. Reacting to the audit, Santabarbara called the findings deeply concerning, adding: We need to make sure this inadequate emergency management does not happen again in the future. Residents of group homes, who often have disabilities, deserve the right to weigh in on how they are being treated, Santabarbara said. However, the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted a stark failure in communication between residents and the institutions tasked with supporting them. OPWDD bureaucrats were criticized by the audit team as uncooperative for initially balking at requests for data, including statistics related to COVID infections and deaths, the report noted. Ultimately, it took several months for OPWDD officials to provide data and access to key personnel to complete our audit tests, including 10 requests over an 8-month period to receive data related to COVID-19 cases and deaths in homes, the report from DiNapolis office stated. Cicero said in the OPWDD response that the agency appreciates that the audit found the homes it oversees never had staffing below required levels and never ran out of personal protective equipment. DiNapolis team was unimpressed with some of the agencys responses to the audit, commenting in its final report: Rather than being defensive, OPWDD should learn from this experience and examine how it can be more proactive in the future. After a federal review of National Guard helicopter accidents, including a fatal crash that occurred near Rochester in 2021, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is urging the U.S. Army and Air Force to take action and implement the reports recommendations. The Government Accountability Office examined 298 Army and Air National Guard non-combat helicopter accidents from 2012 through 2021. The agency found flight safety training programs could be improved and that pilots faced hurdles in meeting their flying hour goals, including the lack of crew availability, maintenance problems with aircraft and access to flight simulators. One of the eight recommendations issued by the GAO is for the Air Force and Army to address challenges affecting helicopter pilot training. Schumer, D-N.Y., requested the GAOs report after a National Guard Blackhawk helicopter crashed in Mendon, a suburb of Rochester, in 2021. Three Guardsmen Christian Koch, Daniel Prial and Steven Skoda died in the crash. The accident occurred while the crew was attempting to practice an emergency maneuver. The reports release follows another helicopter crash at Fort Campbell in Kentucky. Nine soldiers were killed when two Blackhawk helicopters collided on March 29. We need action, Schumer said. We cannot let this horrifying trend continue. Josephine Koch, whose son, Christian, was killed in the crash near Rochester, welcomed the GAOs report and called for action. What Koch learned in the aftermath of the crash is that pilots faced difficulty in getting flight simulator time because they lacked access to the technology in upstate New York and had to travel to Fort Indian Gap in Pennsylvania. But the simulators were fully booked from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. five days a week, she said. Koch also thinks the emergency maneuver that was being performed when the crash occurred two years ago should not be practiced in the air. I know those three men my son being the chief pilot were 100% dedicated to their jobs and wanted to come home at night, she said. Schumer said he will push to ensure the National Guard facility in Rochester and others have flight simulators. He is also asking the Air Force and Army to quickly implement the GAOs recommendations. Many of these devastating crashes are preventable and these safety reforms are the first step to making sure that our pilots are well prepared in every flight, he said. GALLOWAY TOWNSHIP Grasshopper Farms NJ, LLC has the next 180 days to convince the Township Committee to change its designation from conditional redeveloper to redeveloper of a proposed indoor cannabis cultivation and manufacturing facility at a farm on South Cologne Avenue. The five-member Township Committee voted unanimously during its regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday to approve a resolution that appointed Grasshopper Farms NJ, LLC as a conditional redeveloper and authorized the execution of a memorandum of understanding. This is the first step of a lengthy process, Mayor Anthony J. Coppola Jr. said. Township Committee members Tom Bassford and RJ Amato III did not attend Tuesdays meeting. Grasshopper Farms was originally interested in outdoor cannabis cultivation and manufacturing, but the company withdrew its application after receiving feedback from the Township Committee that it would not approve outdoor marijuana growing. The conditional redeveloper designation and memorandum of agreement allows Grasshopper Farms to set up an escrow account to pay for meetings and negotiations with the Township professionals to iron out a redevelopment agreement. Besides the township, Grasshopper also has to deal with the state Pinelands Commission when it comes to its proposed marijuana project. In July, Grasshopper Farms received approval of their conditional license application as a Class 1 cannabis cultivator and a Class 2 cannabis manufacturer from the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission. During the last regular Township Committee meeting on March 28, the members adopted a resolution authorizing local support for Grasshoppers cannabis cultivator and cannabis manufacturer license applications. In other township news, council: Authorized the award of a bid to Arawak Paving Company for this years road program in the amount of $1,064,700 to streets that include: New Leaf Court from Jimmie Leeds Road to end; Genista Avenue from White Horse Pike to Polk Avenue; Frankfurt Avenue from White Horse Pike to Geneva Avenue; and Cheltenham Avenue from White Horse Pike to Blenheim Avenue. Held and approved the first reading of an ordinance to accept a lot of vacant land from Cenon Jacob that is located on Avenue C and is assessed at $13,800. A second reading and a public hearing will be held at a later date prior to possible acceptance. Approved the authorization to exceed the municipal budget appropriation limits and establish a CAP bank after a second reading and a public hearing. The final appropriations of the township shall increase by 3.5%, amounting to $790,786 for the current budget year. The municipal budget has not yet been adopted for this year. Authorized the award of a bid to Arawak Paving Company for the resurfacing of Chris Gaupp Drive in the amount of $344,900. Three bids were received for this project. The director of public works and the township engineer recommended the award. PLEASE BE ADVISED: Soon we will no longer integrate with Facebook for story comments. The commenting option is not going away, however, readers will need to register for a FREE site account to continue sharing their thoughts and feedback on stories. If you already have an account (i.e. current subscribers, posting in obituary guestbooks, for submitting community events), you may use that login, otherwise, you will be prompted to create a new account. BRIDGETON A 20-year-old Vineland man on Thursday was acquitted of charges in the stabbing death of a New Jersey corrections officer sparked by a fight between their families, court officials said. Zachary Latham was charged in May 2020 with reckless manslaughter after stabbing William T. Durham Sr., 51, also of Vineland, during a fight in a garage captured on video by the defendant's wife. Latham, then 18, contended he acted in self-defense after Durham Sr. and his two sons walked up to him inside his garage, prompting an altercation between two vehicles. His charges and pre-trial release outraged state and local police unions. "We are disappointed but respect the will of the jury," Cumberland County Prosecutor Jennifer Webb-McRae said in a follow-up statement after the verdict was read. Latham's trial, which lasted for seven days over three weeks, was heard before Cumberland County Superior Court Judge Cristen DArrigo, state court spokesperson MaryAnn Spoto said. Court TV highlighted the case on its programming, dubbing it the "Nasty Neighbor Stabbing Trial." Speaking with the Court TV after the verdict was read, Latham's attorney, Nathan Perry, expressed gratitude that the jury found that his client was defending himself, as he claimed. Doing so, Perry said, reinforces state law that guards citizens who are protecting themselves. "We're very, very pleased about the verdict," Perry told Court TV's Ted Rowlands in a post-hearing interview. "As defenders, we're very concerned about the defense of the constitution. An adverse ruling, in this case, could have had a very devastating impact." Attempts were made at exploiting the trial's results, Perry said. "A few in law enforcement tried to influence the outcoming of this case by pressuring the prosecutor, and, as defenders, that, to us, is completely unacceptable." Vineland police responded to Latham's Thornhill Road home at 7:48 p.m. on May 4, 2020, after an altercation was reported. Witnesses said Latham, Durham and both their wives had been in a confrontation, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office said at the time of 18-year-old's arrest. Latham was indicted for reckless manslaughter, aggravated assault, possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose and unlawful possession of a weapon. Video of the fight shows Durham's two sons arrive at the Latham house seconds before the 51-year-old pulls up next to the home's driveway in a pickup truck, exiting the vehicle and approaching Latham. Shouting ensues, after which Latham can be seen using a knife against one of the men, according to camera footage obtained by Court TV. Prosecutors said Latham was also armed with and used a stun gun during the fight. Durham Sr. was later pronounced dead about an hour after the struggle. Durham Sr. worked as a senior correctional police officer at South Woods State Prison in Cumberland County since 2001. EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP A local Wawa employee is being recognized for her kindness and befriending of a local family as the company tries to highlight how it contributes to the community. The Wawa at 6678 Black Horse Pike hosted a celebration Thursday morning for the companys annual Wawa Day. The festivities focused on honoring the work of store employees in general and particularly cashier Gina Adams-DeJarnette. During a short ceremony, Adams-DeJarnette, of Mays Landing, was awarded the stores day brightener distinction for her kindness and patience, especially when serving customers with disabilities. It means the world to me, Adams-DeJarnette said after the ceremony. I like to give people the best service and make sure that when they leave that Ive put a smile on their face. Wawa Day is an annual company event during which the company celebrates its founding and typically offers customers free coffee. For this years holiday, which marked the Delaware County, Pennsylvania-based companys 59th anniversary, company officials asked customers to nominate individual employees or stores who have acted as day brighteners. Patrice Dawson, a township resident and youth director of Faith Baptist Church in Pleasantville, decided to nominate Adams-DeJarnette for the award. After the ceremony, Dawson recalled how Adams-DeJarnette has always taken time out of her day to welcome and talk with her 13-year-old son Spencer Dawson, who is autistic. She said these interactions have left a lasting impression on her and Spencer over the last two years. I gained a new friend and I feel so blessed, Patrice Dawson said. You make him feel important, because a lot of people, they dont speak to children that are challenged or have neuro disabilities. So, that made him feel important, valuable. It makes me happy, Spencer Dawson added. As part of its recognition of Adams-DeJarnette and her friendship with the Dawson family, Wawa donated $1,500 to Eden Autism Services. The store presented an oversized check to Eden President and CEO Mike Decker during the Wawa Day ceremony. Decker said Eden has a decades-long partnership with Wawa, noting its support for the industry and offering of employment opportunities for Eden students. Its really helped us make an impact on the lives of people who are autistic, Decker said. Wawa store General Manager Kyle Kulikowski said he was proud of the recognition for his store and employees, saying they routinely go the extra mile to help customers. Its amazing, its awesome, its everything we do every single day, Kulikowski said. We acknowledge it every single day, but to actually make a big deal out of it, it tops the cake. Wawa Area Manager Emmanuel Paul, who manages six Wawa stores in Atlantic County, added that he felt the award highlighted the companys broader commitment to the community. Its a great feeling to know that this is what we do in the community, helping neighbors helping neighbors, Paul said. And to have one of my stores be part of it, be recognized as part of it, its a great honor. Wawa is honoring day brighteners at several of its stores across the East Coast, including several in New Jersey. In addition to its smaller donations, Wawa is marking its holiday by donating $50,000 to Childrens Miracle Network Hospitals. In further celebration of Wawa Day, customers were able to get free, any-sized hot coffee all-day Thursday. Contact Chris Doyle LUSAKA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has activated an emergency response to tackle the shortage of mealie meal, also known as maize meal or mielie meal, which has hit the southern African nation. Zambia has experienced a critical shortage of mealie meal, used in preparing the country's staple food, resulting in people queuing to buy the commodity. The situation has also resulted in a sharp rise in the price of the commodity. On Tuesday, people in Chingola town in the Copperbelt Province ran amok and fought running battles with the police over the shortage of the commodity. The situation has resulted in counter-accusations with the government blaming the high demand for the commodity in some neighboring countries where local people are smuggling it. The government has since stepped up security measures in border areas to curb the smuggling of the commodity. Critics, however, have accused the government of poor planning. President Hakainde Hichilema said an emergency response has been activated to address the situation following a consultative meeting between the government and the private sector. "We acknowledge the seriousness of the current situation, particularly with the shortage of the commodity in some neighboring countries. We anticipate that the measures implemented will improve the situation and we will closely monitor developments on the ground," he said in a statement posted on his Facebook page. He has since urged citizens to maintain lawful and orderly conduct and uphold the interventions implemented by the government. The Minister of Finance and National Planning Situmbeko Musokotwane has since signed a statutory instrument to provide for the suspension of duty on mealie meal. A release from the ministry noted that the measure has been implemented to help address the shortage of the commodity in some parts of the country. "By suspending the duty on mealie meal, the government expects to see increased availability of the staple commodity," read the release. Some stakeholders, however, believe that the government is to blame for the current shortage with others suggesting that the solution lies in increasing the annual production of maize in order to meet both the domestic demand and exports. Stakeholders are wondering why the country could be experiencing a critical shortage of mealie meal when the government has been boasting that it has sufficient maize in reserves to meet local demand. Fred M'membe, leader of the opposition Socialist Party, said the decision by the government to remove duty on the importation of mealie meal is a desperate measure, adding that the real issue is addressing maize parity pricing in the region. "Our maize is too cheap in comparison to other countries in the region so the pressure of our maize leaving the country will always be there," he said in a statement. According to him, despite the duty waiver, the export pressure due to lucrative prices in neighboring countries will still incentivize the smuggling of imported mealie meal. Peter Sinkamba, leader of the opposition Green Party, said the current crisis was an indication that the government lacks policy direction. He said it was time the government put in place incentives that will allow farmers to grow more maize to meet the demand of the increasing population, local media quoted him as saying. Isaac Mwaipopo, the executive director of the Center for Trade and Policy Development (CTPD), believes that solar hammer mills installed with the support of the Chinese government could sort out Zambia's mealie meal shortages if properly implemented. Mwaipopo said there is a need to evaluate the performance of the solar hammer mills and relook at the model because the project could deliver if the bottlenecks it has encountered were addressed. He said the solar hammer mill project was established to reduce the price of mealie meal and tackle poverty but noted that so far there has been no report to evaluate the performance and the impact on the cost of mealie meal. More than 1,000 solar-powered milling plants were installed in Zambia under the Presidential Milling Plants Initiative with the support of China. China has also helped the southern African nation to construct three industrial milling plants, with a combined capacity to produce 520 metric tons of mealie meal per day as part of efforts to enhance food security and reduce the price of mealie meal. AVALON An extra 10 blocks of borough shoreline will have fresh sand after being added to a beach fill project, officials said on Thursday. The project, at no additional cost, will now stretch from Ninth Street to 28th Street, placing 581,000 cubic yards of sand to the beaches there, borough officials said in a news release. The project is expected to begin next Monday. Previously, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' outline for the work had sand fill between Ninth and 18th streets. Mayor Martin Pagliughi said that additions are welcome news because harsh winter storms have chewed away sand on the borough's north-end beaches. "These projects truly represent how projects involving federal, state and municipal partners should work," Pagliughi said in a statement on Thursday. "It will result in a protective beach and dune system in advance of the Atlantic hurricane season." The beach fill was detailed by the Army Corps on Jan. 9, when a contract was awarded to Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Company, an Oak Brook, Illinois-based company that has previously been tasked with similar borough projects. Most work calls for extending the beach profile between the toe of the dune and waterline, officials said. When the borough's project concludes, another will be conducted on behalf of Stone Harbor, which neighbors the seaside community to the south. Both are on the same barrier island. Officials expect a beach fill pipe's landing area to be on the 12th Street beach. The fill will begin on Ninth Street, heading south to about 27th and 28th streets, with workers placing sand 24-7. Work would only be suspended because of unsafe weather conditions or mechanical problems, officials said. An additional pipe will be placed on the beach as the project moves south, officials said. To keep beach goers safe, the area about 1,000 away from the fill will be closed off, gradually reopening once beach paths are formed. SEA ISLE CITY An attorney representing the high-rise condominium association where a balcony collapsed, killing a worker, said work was being done outside of an agreement between management and a Pennsylvania contractor. Workers with Ferguson Contracting Inc. of Yardley, Pennsylvania, were cutting pieces of rebar on an eighth-floor balcony of the Spinnaker Condominiums South Tower when it fell and crushed Jose Pereira on the balcony below. That was outside of the scope of what the Spinnaker had asked to be done, said Karim Kaspar of Lowenstein Sandler LLP, which is representing the Spinnaker. Pereira, 43, of Philadelphia, was pronounced dead after first responders reached him after the fatal balcony collapse in late February. City Construction Official Cornelius Neil Byrne couldnt provide further updates to the accidents investigation on Wednesday. Were still waiting for the reports to come back, Byrne said. Spinnakers association had authorized work by Ferguson Contracting addressing needs to both the pool and balconies, Kaspar said. Ferguson has been used by the association for work there for about seven to eight years, he said, adding several projects undertaken by the company were for exterior building repairs. They were supposed to be putting up some scaffolding, remove some concrete I think an inch or so of the top layer of concrete on the balconies had been removed and was supposed to be repaired, Kaspar said. They were going to seal out all of the surface cracks and replace any of the damaged concrete. But, Kaspar said, Fergusons workers were performing work not asked of them in the agreement. Cutting the rebar, which may have been a contributing factor, was not within the scope of the work that Ferguson was supposed to be doing, Kaspar said. Ferguson Contracting did not return a request for comment on Wednesday. Both the seventh- and eighth-floor concrete balcony slabs are being preserved in storage for further testing, Kaspar said. Samples of the concrete and rebar will be analyzed to confirm any failure in their structural integrity, he said. After the accident, Byrne issued a stop work order for both the Spinnaker North and South Towers. Balconies on the South Towers south side can be used, an engineering report found, adding needed maintenance must be done to preserve their strength. The unsafe structure notices from the North Tower were removed. They were put in place on the same day as the accident, Byrne said. A separate report found the North Towers balconies were also approved for use, he said. Theyre still usable for their intended purpose, Byrne said. The 2023 Atlantic Hurricane Season official kicks off on June 1 and the 21 storm names are in from the World Meteorological Organization. The names encompass almost every letter of the alphabet, leaving out Q, U, X, Y and Z. This year's primary list of names is largely borrowed from 2017's. The storm names rotate every six year, a feature that began in 1979. However, storms that were particularly destructive and deadly may be retired if the World Meteorological Organization, an agency of the United Nations, votes to do so. In the case of this cycle, Harvey, Irma, Maria and Nate were retired from the 2017 list. In it's place for 2023 are Harold, Idalia, Margot and Nate. The World Meteorological Organization also names storms for other parts of the world as well. Amid talks of opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the Congress, JD(U) and RJD leaders met here on Wednesday. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, along with his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in the presence of Rahul Gandhi. The meeting took place at Kharges residence. After the meeting, the four addressed the media jointly. Kharge said that they will reach out to like-minded parties. We have decided to unite all opposition parties and fight the election unitedly. Chief minister Nitish Kumar said, We will reach out to as many political parties and move forward together. Former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said, This is a battle of ideologies and it is a historic step towards the 2024 fight. The meeting comes after Congress president Kharge took the first step to unite the opposition parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha election. IANS Vivian Anthony Dominic slips down as the half ladder is pulled without clearance and prior intimation from aircraft A 36-year-old man working as a security supervisor from the Air Asia ground crew was killed after falling from the aircraft while on duty. The victim, Vivian Anthony Dominic, who worked for the airline, was reportedly working on Air Asia flight I5-767, which was supposed to depart from the Pune airport for New Delhi at 7 am on April 13. The ladder that passengers used to board the plane was fastened to the planes back door. At 6:15 am, the ladder was detached without clearance and prior intimation and the victim fell from the aircraft onto the ground from almost 15 feet height, suffering significant head injuries. The victim was rushed to the Sahyadri Hospital, where the medical staff declared him dead. Dominic moved to Anand Villa, Adarsh Nagar, close to Ganesh Park in Lohegaon, four months ago to work as a security supervisor at the Pune airport. He hails from Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. A statement released by Air Asia stated, We regret to inform you that one of our personnel lost his life while performing his duties at the Pune airport. At this point, our immediate focus is on providing the family with all the support needed. We will conduct a thorough investigation and work with the authorities to determine the cause and ensure gaps are bridged. Our guests and employees health and safety is our primary priority in all our operations. A source said, The victim had joined Pune airport four months ago. He was supervising the aircraft when suddenly the half ladder was pulled by the operator, causing him to fall from almost 15 feet from the aircraft resulting in his death. The incident took place at around 6:30 am at the Pune airport today. The victim was referred to hospital but he was declared dead by the doctor, Vilas Sonde, Sr PI of Vimantal police station, told Mirror. The terminal manager of Pune Airport refused to comment on the incident. The accident highlights a lack of safety measures taken by airlines putting the lives of staff and passengers at risk. CAMBRIDGE, Ill. A Coal Valley man has been charged in Henry County Circuit Court with one count of terrorism for an alleged bomb threat at the Henry County Courthouse. Dimitris J. Roush, 23, of Coal Valley was charged with the Class X felony on Wednesday. He was arraigned with regard to the charge and the penalties by Judge Terry Patton, who set bond at $100,000-10%. If convicted, the penalty would be six to 30 years in prison. The public defender's office was appointed to the case. Should he post bond, he was warned not to consume any alcohol or illegal drugs, and he was ordered to undergo a mental evaluation. A preliminary hearing has been set for April 17. Roush is currently serving two years in Illinois' Offender Initiative Program. He was charged in December of 2020 with one count of criminal damage to property between $500 and $10,000, a Class 4 felony under Illinois law that carries a prison sentence of one to three years. He also was charged with one count of criminal damage to property less than $500, a Class A misdemeanor that carries a jail sentence of up to one year. According to Henry County Circuit Court electronic records, on July 30, 2021, Henry County Associate Judge James Cosby allowed Roush to enter Illinois' Offender Initiative Program for two years. The program helps certain individuals who have committed certain non-violent crimes for which they could receive probation avoid a criminal conviction on their records. While in the program participants are forbidden from breaking any laws. If it is found Roush failed to adhere to the terms of the program, the criminal case against him for criminal damage to property can then move forward toward conviction and sentencing. DES MOINES Iowa Republicans insist newly proposed legislation that would require in-person voting in the Iowa caucuses is designed to preserve the states first-in-the-nation status, which Democrats already have lost. Iowa Democrats insist the legislation and New Hampshires threat to jump ahead of Iowa in the presidential nominating order if Democrats plans for mail-in balloting proceed are premature and unnecessary overreactions. Prominent Iowa Democrats made their first public comments Thursday on the recent developments. On Monday, state lawmaker Bobby Kaufmann, a Republican from Wilton and the son of Republican Party of Iowa chairman Jeff Kaufmann, introduced legislation that would require Iowa caucus participants to cast their presidential preference in-person. If passed into law, the legislation would effectively nullify Iowa Democrats plans which were designed to appease critics in the national Democratic Party as they redesigned their presidential primary voting order to collect presidential preferences via the mail ahead of caucus night. On Wednesday, the New Hampshire state Republican Party chairman posted on social media a screenshot of an email in which New Hampshire Secretary of State David Scanlan wrote that if Iowa Democrats follow through on their plans for mail-in balloting, New Hampshire will move its primary election earlier in the calendar, before the Iowa Democratic or Republican caucuses. It was the exact scenario Iowa Republicans had been warning against. Whats best for Iowa But Iowa Democratic Party leaders on Thursday said the legislation and calendar jockeying are premature. Iowa Democratic Party chairwoman Rita Hart, speaking to reporters on a virtual news conference, said the Iowa House Republican legislation and threats from New Hampshire are unnecessary because neither party knows yet what Iowa Democrats exact plans for mail-in participation in the 2024 caucuses will look like. She said those plans are still being crafted by state party workers. Hart added that she does not believe Iowa Democrats or Republicans should feel beholden to New Hampshires interpretation of their caucus plans. As chair of the Iowa Democratic Party, Im committed to doing whats best for Iowa, not whats best for New Hampshire, Hart said during the new conference. And if Iowa Republicans are serious about defending Iowa, and I believe that they are serious about that, they wont let another state weigh in on the laws that we write. And they would give me an opportunity to work with them to work together with them on behalf of Iowans. Scott Brennan a member of the Iowa Democratic Partys state leadership committee, its representative on the national partys rules committee, and a Des Moines lawyer hinted the bill may be challenged in court if it becomes law. Derek Muller, an election law professor at the University of Iowa College of Law, said this week he thinks the bill may be unconstitutional. I am a practicing lawyer, and I have my own thoughts on the subject, Brennan said. But maybe, ultimately, somebody will have to make a decision whos wearing a black robe. Brennan called Scanlans threat to jump in front of Iowa Republicans if Iowa Democrats use a mail-in system insanity. If hes got a crystal ball, Id love to see it. But we do not have a final determination of what were going to do, he said. GOP: Its a primary Chairman Kaufmann asserted in a statement Wednesday that the Democrats plan as publicly presented turns the Democratic caucuses into a primary election. In an effort salvage their caucus and appease party insiders, Iowa Democrats have developed a plan to turn the Iowa Caucus into a primary, Chairman Kaufmann said, a move that would ignite unnecessary one-upmanship with New Hampshire and its first-in-the-nation primary and ensure the demise of the entire Iowa caucus and Iowas ability to go first as the first-in-the-nation caucus state. Iowa bill advances The proposed legislation, House Study Bill 245, passed out of an Iowa House committee along party lines on Thursday. Minority-party Democrats offered a raft of amendments that were destined to fail that would have disqualified former President Donald Trump from being a candidate in the 2024 Republican caucuses and drew attention to Kaufmanns employment by the Trump campaign. The Democrats amendments would have barred any candidate from participating in the caucuses if they were under investigation for election-related crimes or they owed outstanding debt to the state or a local government. Trump was indicted this month on charges related to payments to an adult actress, and Sioux City officials said last year some expenses had not been paid a month after his Nov. 3 rally. The city was reimbursed by January. Another amendment would have said a person employed by a presidential campaign should recuse themselves from voting on bills that would affect their outcome in the caucuses. This bill is not about preserving Iowas first-in-the-nation caucus, or even getting more Iowans to participate in the caucus, said Rep. Amy Nielsen, D-North Liberty. This bill is straight politics. This bill is about putting in the fix for Donald Trump. Bobby Kaufmann said the changes in the bill apply to all candidates equally, and Iowa voters should choose candidates without restrictions. This bill unequivocally and absolutely protects the Iowa caucuses for both parties, period, he said. The idea that the bill is about a particular candidate, he said, is not a factual statement. Democratic caucus changes In recent years, an increasing number of leaders in the national Democratic Party have expressed criticism of caucuses as a means of nominating the partys presidential nominee. Unlike elections, caucus participants must attend the event on a specific date for a specific time, which can make it challenging to attend for people with conflicting work schedules or those who do not have access to child care. On the night of the 2020 Iowa caucuses, a new program designed to calculate and more rapidly report the Democratic caucuses results crashed, throwing the process into chaos. Official results were not finalized for weeks. That failure presented an opening for caucus critics, and when in 2022 the national party decided to reset its primary calendar, Iowa Democrats developed a new caucus plan in hopes of addressing criticisms of the caucus structure. They landed on a process by which Iowa Democrats would state their preferred presidential candidate on a ballot that would be mailed to the state party before caucus night, when the results would be announced. But the national party still spurned Iowa Democrats and announced a slate of five early-voting states that does not include Iowa. Iowa Democrats have said they plan to continue with their mail-in ballots, because it will make a part of the caucus process more accessible to more Iowans. But some Iowa Republicans warned such a process would compel New Hampshire, which historically has followed Iowas first-in-the-nation caucuses with the countrys first presidential primary elections, to enact a clause in its state laws that allows the state to move ahead of any other state that attempts to hold a presidential primary election earlier. Editor's Note: This was written to Rock Island Mayor Mike Thoms. I understand that you have no personal interest in the statue of Black Hawk that was toppled by a storm, but I and my people do. My father was Meskwaki and Sauk. Most non-Native American people would just look at it as a huge piece of rusted metal. To Native Americans, especially to the Sauk and Meskwaki, that statue and who it represents hold great significance. It is a symbol of our great war leader. The land that the statue fell onto used to be my ancestor's village, Saukenuk. That land, the forest, the homes and the crops in the fields were stolen from my people. My people were chased, hunted down like animals, shot, and murdered. When they ran from the soldiers who were on horseback and the people were on foot running, it was old men, old women, mothers with babies, toddlers, and children who were being chased and murdered. When they tried to cross the river to escape the soldiers, the military had a group of soldiers with guns shooting them in the backs and another group of soldiers on the other side of the river shooting them in their faces. They were shot while they were swimming in the river and trying to escape being killed. The Mississippi River ran red with the lifeblood of innocent people. My own ancient grandfather died in The Black Hawk War protecting this homeland, Saukenuk (Rock Island). His wife was nine months pregnant with their only child. The survivors of the slaughter were dragged off to the reservations or were put in prisoner of war camps to starve or to die from the white man's diseases like small pox. The children were ripped away (literally) from their mother's arms at the age of 5 and dragged off to boarding schools for the next 12 years to further endure having their hair cut off, forbidden to speak their language, raped, beaten and have a foreign religion forced upon them. The land itself is of sacred and historical significance to us. So, what does that have to do with a rusted 60-year-old statue? To the Native people it is a symbol of the great war leader who led his people on the last stand to save his homeland and his people. I resent your comment on television that "some people" feel they are "entitled" to the statue. You were referring specifically to Rudy Vallejo, the Native American people, the Sauk Nation, the Meskwaki Nation, and the Native American Coalition of the Quad-Cities. Your words cut to the heart like a knife. Yes, we are morally entitled to the statue, the land it stood on, the homes that were burned, the crops that were stolen, and repayment for the lives of our ancestors who were hunted down and murdered. This was our land and not yours or anyone else's. It was Native American land. Sure, this is not 1832, but it is still our land. While to you it is a worthless old piece of scrap metal that should be thrown into the nearest garbage dump (that is the way you certainly came across on television), but to the Sauk and Meskwaki Tribes and the Native American people it means much more. Why do you think that a Native American Elder would drive all that way and pitch his tipi in the cold wet mud, during bad weather, right after a tornado, and protect it? Do you think that he wanted the value of the metal? Certainly not! As taxpayers, we lost millions of dollars in buying up all those businesses so a Walmart could be built there without even a solid contract and yet ... you think that the Native Americans want some input on what happens to the statue because of its monetary value? Word spread across Indian Country faster than that 90-mph tornado did. Did you not think that the Indian Nations in Oklahoma, in Tama, Iowa, and the Natives here in the Quad-Cities weren't keeping an eye on that statue and what happened to it? This has nothing to do with money, value, who's "entitled" to it, or anything else like that. This is preserving the dignity and memory of a great Sauk War Leader. If it is time for the statue to be scrapped, then input from the Native people should certainly be done. We do not want that statue to be sold to the highest bidder to do with whatever they want. I am asking that you please use some graceful diplomacy and inquire from either the Sauk Tribe or the local Native American Community on what we recommend be done with the statue and whether it should be moved, tried to be preserved by a museum, or properly dismantled by the city and scrapped. Maybe the Sauk or Meskwaki Nations might want that statue. Maybe they don't. Did you ask for anyone's input who was Native? The president of the Native American Coalition of the Quad Cities is Regina Tsosie. The great-great-great grandson of Black Hawk himself is only a 2 1/2-hour drive from here living near the Meskwaki Settlement in Tama, Iowa. Sauk and Meskwaki people are still living here in the Quad-Cities. We are not Natives who are far away, insignificant, or don't care. We are here, right here, living here still in the Quad Cities 193 years later! Please call Regina Tsosie and get the recommendation of what the Native Americans and the descendants of Black Hawk want done with the statue and not what you want done. This is not just an old dump truck you are trying to pawn off on the highest bidder. Even if the decision is to have the statue melted down, it should be done in a manner with dignity and on the recommendation, endorsement, and participation of the Native American people. We don't want to drive to the city dump and find the statue of our great war leader thrown on the top of a garbage dump. This is not just a heap of "junk" but a statue of our honored leader and should be treated as such. Improvements to a beloved war memorial in Rapid City are nearly complete, and city officials are excited to partner with a local nonprofit to maintain the monument and the legacy of local contributions to America's freedoms. Sitting at Sixth and Omaha streets, the Black Hills War Monument dedicated in 1991 stands as a memorial to South Dakota's sacrifice as far back as World War I. The Black Hills War Monument Association, headed by Ed Manzano, proposed more than $100,000 worth of improvements to the monument in December 2021. After months of fundraising efforts, the upgrades including six granite walls bearing the names of fallen service members, flags for each military branch and QR codes linking to information about those who paid the ultimate price were done in September 2022. One granite slab was broken during installation, so the group is waiting for the replacement to be installed. As completion draws near, the City of Rapid City is planning to partner with BHWMA to help with maintenance, flag changes and care something Manzano said is very important to the organization. "I think it's a great contribution to the legacy of the Black Hills," he said. "We have a tremendous legacy that's why there's 700 names on those walls." The monument contains names from World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War, the Iraq/Afghanistan wars and names from Black Hills POW-MIA listings. It features names from Butte, Custer, Fall River, Haakon, Lawrence, Meade, Oglala Lakota, Pennington, Bennett, Todd and Jackson counties in South Dakota. During Rapid City's Legal and Finance Committee meeting Wednesday, Parks and Recreation Director Jeff Biegler called the memorial "a pretty fantastic deal," with committee members echoing thanks to BHWMA for their work on the project. Ward 2 Representative Ritchie Nordstrom, a veteran of the U.S. Navy, said, "Tell them thank you for us, especially for all the other veterans." "The word 'heroes' is thrown out quite frequently these days, but I think heroics are measured in sacrifice and the ultimate sacrifice is laying down your life as these folks have done," said Ward 3 Council member Jason Salamun. "I'm so glad we're cooperating with this endeavor, and I look forward to supporting it." Biegler said the full text of the agreement will be on Monday's City Council agenda. On Memorial Day, May 29 at 9:30 a.m., the association will hold a dedication for the completed memorial and honor those who served and died in our nation's wars. MOGADISHU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Waving a placard with the words "Walaal Shaqo Isii," translating into "my brother give me a job," Iglan Abdullahi Mohamed, aged 22, recently burst into the streets of Mogadishu, the capital of Somalia, opening the lid on growing frustration among unemployed youth in the country. Dressed in a cream-white flowing Islamic gown called buibui, Abdullahi staged a protest in the bustling Mogadishu streets as she waved the placard to the consternation of onlookers. She narrated to motorists and pedestrians her predicament, taking care of her younger siblings without a decent job. Abdullahi lost her mother, the family's sole breadwinner and her elder brother to a terrorist attack at the Mogadishu Mall in February 2019. The deadly blast also claimed the lives of 16 other shoppers while 38 suffered injuries. "The untimely demise of my mother and brother left me with the responsibility to provide for my four siblings and pay for my university fees, a role previously played by my mother," she told Xinhua during a recent interview in Mogadishu. "I found it difficult to put food on the table for my siblings. Out of desperation, I found myself out on the streets begging for a job." Abdullahi graduated from the University of Somalia in Mogadishu in 2021 with a degree in public administration but since then, she has been looking for job opportunities to no avail. "I persevered to remain at home without a job for years, but the responsibility to fend for my younger siblings forced me to beg for a job in the most unusual way," she said. Her action in a conservative community, which forbids women from expressing desperation in public has caused tongues to wag on social media with pundits saying her strange action mirrors the soaring frustrations affecting Somalia's unemployed youth. High level of unemployment has been blamed for youth recruitment into outlawed militia groups that use them to carry out attacks inside the country and across the borders. Ali Hussein, aged 25, started a small business to eke out a living after staying two years without a job, having graduated from the Modern University of Science and Technology in Mogadishu in 2019 with a degree in business administration. Dusting shelves stocked with bundles of new clothing as customers made purchases ahead of the Eid Fitr festivity marking the end of the holy month of Ramadan, he said that he opted to borrow money from relatives and try his hands at the clothes business. "I am doing this retail business to keep myself away from idleness that could lead me into engaging in bad activities. This business also supports my family, but my dream is one day to get a white-collar job," Hussein said. Hussein, who hails from Baidoa in the South-West State of Somalia, migrated to Adado six months ago to start his small-scale business since he felt embarrassed to start a similar venture in Baidoa whose residents expected his degree certificate would secure him a well-paying job. According to the Somalia Integrated Household Budget Survey (SIHBS) 2022, the first of its kind since 1985, the youth unemployment rate currently stands at 30.1 percent. "Nearly two-thirds (65.5 percent) of the Somali population has no formal education. The educational level most commonly reported is primary education, as this group represents 16.6 percent of the population. Only 4.6 percent of the population report having completed secondary education and 4 percent attained higher education," said the report. The report said that among nomads, the overwhelming majority, or 92.5 percent, reported no formal education, while two-thirds or 68.6 percent of rural respondents have no formal education. Only 3 percent of rural residents have completed secondary education and 1.7 percent have attained higher education. Sabrin Hassan Mohamed, a public health major from the Horn Africa University Adado campus, central Somalia, said getting a job in Somalia remains a mirage for the majority of the youth, with the potential to create a national crisis. After looking for gainful employment for three years to no avail, she decided to borrow capital from family members and start her small eatery business on one of the streets of Adado. She started her now-popular eatery called Maamus, the graduates' joint, in one room with 50 U.S. dollars borrowed from a family member, adding that she got support from fellow unemployed graduates who frequent the joint as they vent frustrations regarding unemployment. "The eatery is now a popular meeting place for job seekers. The unemployed youth arrive in the morning and stay until midnight when we close for the day," she said. "Most of the discussions here are mainly about unemployment and lack of opportunities for the youth in Somalia hence this joint has been nicknamed by the locals the graduates' joint." Hot Springs Police responded to Hot Springs Elementary School Wednesday morning to investigate an incident involving a firearm on campus. In a press release, Chief of Police Ross Norton said officers responded after an individual reported being in possession of a firearm. HSPD said a staff member advised them they had left a firearm secured in their vehicle "with the intention of turning it over to law enforcement." The school resource officer was able to secure the firearm without incident. Norton said at no time during the event was there a threat to students, staff or the community. The investigation is ongoing. A federal judge in North Dakota has temporarily blocked new federal regulations dealing with navigable waterways in 24 states that are jointly suing over the matter. North Dakota officials who consider the rules a federal overreach praised Wednesday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland, in which he said, "There is little that is intelligible about the 2023 rule and the broad scope of its jurisdiction." The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency told the Tribune it was reviewing the decision and its options, and added that federal officials "remain committed to establishing and implementing a durable definition of 'Waters of the United States.'" Rules defining which Waters of the United States commonly referred to as WOTUS are protected by the Clean Water Act changed under the Democratic Obama and Republican Trump administrations. The Democratic Biden administration updated them again, building on a pre-2015 definition with changes to reflect court opinions, the latest science and federal agencies' experience and expertise, with a goal of reducing "uncertainty from changing regulatory definitions," EPA said earlier. Twenty-four states led by North Dakota and West Virginia in February filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in North Dakota, calling the rule "an improper federal power grab over state waters." They asked a judge to put the rules on hold while the lawsuit plays out, maintaining that implementation "will trigger significant burdens for the states, who administer costly and time-intensive permitting and other programs under the CWA." The federal government argued against a pause, questioning the states' claims of pending harm and maintaining that the water rule "affirms, refines and provides clarity and consistency to a regulatory framework that has been in place for the better part of four decades." Justice Department attorneys said the rules resulted from a yearlong effort in which 114,000 comments were considered, and they argued "the public will benefit from the added clarity." They also asserted that the states' lawsuit is unlikely to succeed. Hovland in his ruling suggested that the government's new regulations might be too broad, that "The category of covered waters under the 2023 rule is problematic." He said the rule "will require states, landowners and countless other affected parties to undertake expensive compliance efforts when their property may implicate navigable waters in ill-defined ways." "The phrase 'Waters of the United States,' a term that has been hopelessly defined for decades, remains even more so under the 2023 rule," Hovland wrote, adding later that the states, "have persuasively shown that the new 2023 rule poses a threat to their sovereign rights and amounts to irreparable harm." North Dakota and other states sued in 2015 when President Barack Obama sought to expand federal water protections, and court injunctions prevented his administration's rule from taking effect. Federal courts later threw out a Trump-era rule that North Dakota leaders backed but environmentalists had argued left waterways vulnerable to pollution. The Biden rule applies federal protections to wetlands, tributaries and other waters that have a significant connection to navigable waters or if wetlands are relatively permanent." Roughly half of all U.S. states are taking part in lawsuits challenging the rule, according to The Associated Press. A judge in Texas late last month block blocked the regulations from taking effect in Texas and Idaho. EPA in its statement to the Tribune said that, "In light of the preliminary injunctions, the agencies are interpreting 'Waters of the United States' consistent with the pre-2015 regulatory regime in 26 states until further notice." Other plaintiffs in the North Dakota lawsuit are Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia and Wyoming. The U.S. Supreme Court is considering a separate case out of Idaho that could upend the finalized rule, according to AP. Chantell and Michael Sackett wanted to build a home near a lake, but the EPA stopped their work in 2007, finding wetlands on their property were federally regulated. Hovland in his ruling said, "Hopefully, the Supreme Court decision in Sackett will provide some clarity. The outcome of the Sackett case may have significant implications for the EPA's authority to determine jurisdictional waters under the Clean Water Act. It may also determine EPA's ability to enforce the 2023 WOTUS rule. Until then, every state will continue to swim in waters of uncertainty, ambiguity and chaos." U.S. Sens. John Hoeven and Kevin Cramer and Rep. Kelly Armstrong, all R-N.D., issued statements lauding the ruling, as did state Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring and Gov. Doug Burgum. The governor said the Biden rule "would unlawfully extend federal jurisdiction to nearly every stream, pond and wetland in North Dakota," and Armstrong called WOTUS "a red tape disaster." The EPA in its statement to the Tribune said federal officials believe the rule "is the best interpretation of the Clean Water Act." "Our goal is to protect public health, the environment, and downstream communities while supporting economic opportunity, agriculture, and industries that depend on clean water," officials said. A Pine Ridge man was charged with second-degree murder for allegedly shooting and killing a man in a trailer during an argument on April 1. Two witnesses said 20-year-old Trent Brewer shot 39-year-old Allec Dillon during an argument over Dillon supposedly calling Brewer an insulting name, according to an FBI affidavit asking for an arrest warrant and criminal complaint against Brewer. FBI Special Agent Brian Healy wrote a woman called the Oglala Sioux Tribe Department of Public Safety at about 1:13 a.m. on April 1 and reported she heard gunshots and screaming in the Old Sundance Grounds area. When law enforcement arrived at the trailer, they found Dillon lying on the ground with gunshot wounds to the head, neck and chest. Officers' attempts to revive him failed, and Dillon was pronounced dead at the scene. OST received a second call as they investigated the death from a man who said he had picked up his granddaughter from the trailer, and she had a wound from the shooting. An FBI agent later looked at the wound and observed it appeared to be a "grazing." When an OST officer spoke to the woman, she said Dillon, Brewer, herself and another woman were drinking together at the trailer. At some point, Brewer and Dillon got into an argument, and Brewer left. When he returned through the back door of the trailer, Brewer started yelling at Dillon about the derogatory name he had called him, the woman told an FBI agent. Brewer then pulled a small handgun out and fired multiple shots at Dillon, according to the witness. She estimated six or seven shots. Officers and agents found five shell casings. According to the affidavit, the other woman also said she was sitting on the couch and heard Brewer confront Dillon and shoot him. Brewer ran out of the house after the shooting, according to the first witness. Law enforcement found shoeprints outside the house with what looked like blood. Brewer wasn't located until his arrest on April 6 in Rapid City five days after the shooting. Brewer appeared in court before U.S. Magistrate Judge Daneta Wollmann on April 7 for the second-degree murder charge. He pleaded not guilty. Brewer is currently held at the Pennington County Jail for the U.S. Marshals Service, and a trial date is set for June 13 if neither the government nor the defense request continuations in the case. If convicted, Brewer would face a maximum of life in prison and a $250,000 fine and five years of supervised release. A judge could also order restitution. The Rapid City Police Department arrested an 18-year-old April 7 for a shooting outside a Lacrosse Street strip mall last month. Cetan Long Soldier, of Rapid City, is accused of shooting a man in the leg on March 19. According to the RCPD, a witness said a man who police later identified as Long Soldier and two other people approached the victim. One of them allegedly started to assault him before shooting him in the leg. When police arrived, the victim was inside one of the businesses and taken to the hospital for serious, non-life-threatening injuries. Shortly after the shooting, police released a photo of an unidentified man carrying a gun and leaving the scene. His description was a Native American male in his 20s, around 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 160 pounds. Long Soldier is charged with carrying a firearm while committing a felony, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and second-degree robbery. He has a pending misdemeanor case from a few weeks before the shooting for possessing a loaded gun while intoxicated and obstruction. He also has a pending case from February for allegedly possessing methamphetamine and impersonation to deceive law enforcement. If convicted of the charges related to the Lacrosse Street shooting, Long Soldier could face 25 years in prison and a $50,000 fine for the firearm felony, 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine for the aggravated assault, and 10 years and a $20,000 fine for the robbery. He made his initial appearance Tuesday before Magistrate Judge Todd Hyronimus, who set his bond at $10,000 cash only. Long Soldier is scheduled to appear in court at 2 p.m. on April 25 for a preliminary hearing where the state will prevent evidence to support formal charges against him. He is currently held at the Pennington County Jail on a criminal complaint. If a grand jury hears evidence before that date and charges Long Soldier with an indictment, the court will cancel the preliminary hearing. The proposed budget for the state health department grew by $56 million Tuesday as a Senate budget committee made their changes to the bill that will set state spending for the next two years. The new spending is mostly aimed at the Montana State Hospital in Warm Springs and was added through amendments from Sen. Carl Glimm, R-Kila. The Department of Public Health and Human Services' budget is the largest of all agencies in the state, clocking in at just shy of $14 billion over the next two years. Earlier in the session, House Bill 835 from Rep. Bob Keenan, R-Big Fork, brought on behalf of the state health department and governors office, would have directed $150 million to the state health department outside the typical budgeting process. About $56 million was intended for overspending in the budget cycle that ends in July and the rest was money department Director Charlie Brereton told lawmakers his agency would need over the next two years to keep the state hospital operating and pay for Medicaid caseloads. However, overspending on the old budget is typically dealt with in a different bill and spending on department operations for the upcoming two years is put into House Bill 2, the states main budget legislation. Some lawmakers objected to Breretons approach, and later HB 835 was stripped to only contain the $56 million for last budgets estimated extra costs. The first amendment Tuesday, added by Glimm, increased the health department budget by $50 million for facility operations and staffing at the state hospital, Glimm said. This covers both the overages in traveling nurses and the overage due to us losing our certification there from CMS, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Glimm told the committee. Were putting it in the budget like it should be. Without any further discussion, the amendment passed an 11-8 vote, with all Democrats and some Republicans on the committee opposed. The next amendment from Glimm was $6.1 million, with $4 million aimed at regaining certification from the federal government at Montana State Hospital and the rest to maintain that status at the Montana Mental Health Nursing Care Center in Lewistown. That amendment also passed, on a 13-6 margin. The Montana State Hospital lost its federal certification last year amid findings of patient deaths and mistreatment. The decertification came with a loss of millions in federal matching money used to operate the facility. Another amendment also passed, on a contingency basis, to remove child care funding lawmakers added in the House to help boost child care subsidies using untapped federal money from the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families. The amendment was again from Glimm, who said if a separate bill to spend $7.1 million in state money on the Best Beginnings child chare scholarship program passes, the TANF funding would be pulled back. One block of funding that would be removed put $1.3 million in unused TANF money to child care subsidies. Through the rest of Tuesdays meeting, Republicans shot down amendment after amendment from Democrats, including one seeking to increase the rates paid to Medicaid providers to reach benchmark rates found in a recent study. Those rates have been one of the most-debated issues this session, with Republicans pointing to the increases already approved and Democrats saying they want to see even more of the states historic surplus put toward the issue. The rate amendment proposed by Sen. Chris Pope, D-Bozeman, would have increased the states budget by $24.8 million in state money and a corresponding $48.9 million in matching federal special funds. These inadequate reimbursement rates have been going on for decades, and it's been the responsibility of administrations (from both parties) during that time period where the reimbursement rates have basically been neglected and mismanaged, Pope said. Glimm opposed the amendment, saying Montana had already made historic adjustments. While Pope referenced several nursing home closures in Montana where owners have cited the lack of reimbursement as part of the reasons why, Glimm said that wasnt the only reason why. It is true that providers, some providers, are closing their doors. That isn't always just a money issue. This is a changing landscape. Things are happening differently and there are models that maybe don't work anymore, Glimm said. There are people who run their businesses better than others. All those things factor into that. We can't just throw money at the issue. Popes amendment died on a 6-13 vote. Democrats also brought failed amendments to increase funding for waiver programs that serve people with disabilities. The minority party has tried to boost money to reduce waitlists on programs, but Republicans have resisted, saying that money wont necessarily mean more open slots in programs. Democrats also saw an effort to re-add continuous eligibility to the states Medicaid expansion program go down with Republican opposition. Other failed efforts from Democratic legislators included one-time only money to boost nursing homes and directing money to tobacco cessation and prevention. Several smaller, underserved community financial institutions in South Dakota received funding from the Treasury Department as part of a federal government award project designed to help low- and moderate-income communities invest in long-term prosperity. South Dakota recipients included institutions in Renner, Wagner, Eagle Butte, Kyle, Pine Ridge and Agency Village. Vice President Kamala Harris and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo announced that the U.S. Department of the Treasurys Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) awarded grants to 603 Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) across the country through the CDFI Equitable Recovery Program (ERP). The funds seek to strengthen the ability of CDFIs to help low- and moderate-income communities recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and invest in long-term prosperity. Awards were given to mission-driven community development financial institutions that specialize in delivering responsible capital, credit and financial services to underserved communities, according to the U.S. Treasury Department. These grant funds will be transformative for grantees that are building a more equitable, resilient economy, along with helping sustain our strong economic recovery, said Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen. These critical resources will allow mission-driven lenders to expand access to capital in financially underserved communities, which will help increase contributions to long-term economic growth. The institutions that received grants through CDFI ERP include banks, holding companies and credit unions as well as non-depository loan funds and venture funds that are designated as CDFIs by the Treasury Departments CDFI Fund. The selected financial institutions specialize in delivering responsible capital, credit and financial services to underserved communities. The CDFI ERP grant funds may be used to support lending related to small businesses and microenterprises, community facilities, affordable housing, commercial real estate and intermediary lending to non-profits and CDFIs. The funds can also be used for financial services, development services to support borrowers, and operational support for the CDFI grant recipient. A Victor man faces multiple felony charges after being accused of sexually assaulting a child under the age of 16 on multiple occasions. Edward Cody Jirsa, 38, was charged in Ravalli County Justice Court with five felony counts related to the sexual abuse of a minor and one felony count of tampering with a witness on April 11 after being issued a summons in late March. According to court documents, Jirsa is accused of having sexual contact with the child multiple times over a five-year period. The frequency of the assaults varied over the years, sometimes taking place multiple times a week, according to the child. The Ravalli County Sheriffs deputy first received a report of sexual assault from a school counselor in April 2022. At an interview at Emmas House shelter in Hamilton, the child described multiple situations in which Jirsa allegedly subjected the child to varying degrees of sexual assault, including rape. The child told investigators that Jirsa would them show pornography and try to convince the youth to do what they had watched. The youth also described a game in which Jirsa would have the child choose a number, and Jirsa would allegedly subject the child to varying degrees of sexual assault based on the number chosen. The youth also reported that Jirsa confronted them after becoming aware of the allegations, telling the child to deny everything to authorities so he would not go to jail. In an interview with a Ravalli County sheriffs detective in May 2022, Jirsa denied any inappropriate contact with the youth, but he allegedly corroborated other details provided by the child. The detective noted that Jirsa presented as evasive and manipulative during the four-hour deposition. Justice Jennifer Ray did not set bond. Jirsa was released on his own recognizance. Officials for the Lego Group are breaking ground Thursday on a $1 billion factory in Chesterfield County. It is the Denmark company's first U.S. manufacturing facility. Here's what to know about the plans: THE LOCATION The plant is being built in the Meadowville Technology Park at Interstate 295 and the James River. The 1,262-acre center also is home to an Amazon fulfillment center and a Capital One data center. The Chesterfield County Economic Development Authority in 2020 also purchased a 353-acre property that was part of an 800-acre American Tobacco cigarette plant site. THE BACKGROUND "The LEGO Group cited more than 100 selection factors and sub-factors," the Virginia Economic Development Partnership said in statement Among the factors, according to the partnership: "The region boasts 33,000 local manufacturing workers and proximity to more than 20 colleges and universities and is renowned for its ability to attract and retain top talent." Also cited were the site's access to interstates 85 and 95, The Port of Virginias Richmond Marine Terminal and coastal facilities in the Hampton Roads region. WHAT LEGO SAID We were impressed with all that Virginia has to offer, from access to a skilled workforce, support for high-quality manufacturers, and great transport links, said LEGO Group CEO Niels Christiansen. We appreciate support for our ambition to build a carbon-neutral-run facility and construct a solar park and are looking forward to building a great team with support from the Virginia Talent Accelerator Program. ABOUT THE FACTORY Plans call for a 1.7 million-square-foot molding, processing, and packing plant. Plans were announced in June. The facility is projected to create more than 1,760 new jobs within 10 years. A past-present temporal mashup, Paint from first-time feature writer-director Brit McAdams is set in a world that has stood still, or at least been slow to catch up to our present day. The film, which is set in Vermont and is said to be a sendup of pioneering TV artist Bob Ross, is a deadpan, perhaps too deadpan and not-very-funny, comedy that paints a portrait (excuse me; its contagious) of Carl Nargle (Owen Wilson), a bearded, 'fro-sporting, pipe-smoking star of the local Burlington, Vermont, PBS station. Carls show is titled Paint, and on it, he, OK, paints pictures, all of them of Vermonts Mount Mansfield, the highest peak in the state. Carl is a superstar to legions of oldsters and barflies enraptured by his every word (and picture). This includes his co-workers, who are mostly women, as well as station manager Tony (Stephen Root), who cannot ingratiate himself with Carl enough and proudly displays one of Carls paintings on his office wall. When he isnt on live television, Carl tools around in his Van-tastic orange Chevy van, which is equipped with Paintr vanity plates, a citizens band radio and a custom-made sofa bed. Carl, who lives in a barn lined with his paintings, has his choice of the women at the station, including his ex, Katherine (Michaela Watkins). The two split up after Katherine cheated on Carl with a Vermont Mountain Express hunk. But she still has feelings for him. Also under Carls spell are middle-aged Wendy (Wendi McLendon-Covey), young staffer Jenna (the likable Lucy Freyer) and the strangely wound-up Beverly (Lusia Strus). In the lives of all of these people comes Ambrosia (a charismatic Ciara Renee), a young painter inspired by Carl as a child, who becomes the stations new star and the latest subject of a cushy feature story in the Vermont daily the Burlington Bonnet. Carl is upset, and not even a suggestive fondue dinner at the local eatery Cheesepot with Jenna is going to cheer him up. Carl is partial to vintage leather jackets and embroidered shirts. Just when you are wondering when this story is set, Jenna calls an Uber to take her home. Whats that? Carl asks. Half the dialogue in Paint is weirdly or openly suggestive (Im hot as a hot pocket). Half of it makes me gag. Carl is obsessed with getting a painting into the not-very-distinguished Burlington Museum of Art. The museums director (Michael Pemberton) seriously suggests Carl donate his work to Motel 6. Like many of the films narrative threads, this one is OK, but not as funny as it might have been. Wendy has a speech in which she tells everyone that when Carl told her she looked nice in a track suit, she wore track suits that had the word Juicy sewn on the butt to church for a year. Ambrosia drives Katherine to a house and comes on to her. Getting out of the car, Katherine remarks that she has never had sex with a woman. As it turns out, the house belongs to Ambrosias parents, and they are within earshot. A lot of the laughs are derived from that sort of inappropriate timing or speech. On the soundtrack, we hear such old-time standards as John Denvers Annies Song (You fill up my senses, Gordon Lightfoots If You Could Read My Mind and Jerry Reeds When Youre Hot, Youre Hot. In other words, even the music is not funny. Wilson has played this sort of not-quite-living-in-the-real-world type before in Zoolander 2, Drillbit Taylor and You, Me and Dupree. Hes fine as Nargle, but certainly not juicy, and I have always liked him better in more earthbound roles. by Naim-Ul-Karim FARIDPUR, Bangladesh, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Kaushik Ahmed Shubo was brimming with joy when the first train traveled on a newly-constructed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) railway line on Bangladesh's largest Chinese-built Padma Bridge. "Today marks a milestone," Shubo, a local undergraduate student, told Xinhua as he took the train on April 4. The test run of train was conducted by the Bangladesh railway authorities on one of the rail link project's three sections from Bhanga to Mawa in the central Faridpur district. It is one of the most significant projects under construction by the China Railway Group Limited (CREC) and funded by the Export-Import Bank of China. Hundreds of people from Faridpur and surrounding districts, like Shubo, witnessed the landmark event. "I feel very proud as a Bangladeshi citizen to witness the journey on the rail link," Shubo said, adding that the Padma Bridge railway connection will play a very important role in the Bangladeshi education system for students. He said the implementation of the railway under the BRI, with the overall cooperation of China, has strengthened the friendly relationship between Bangladesh and China. "It is a matter of pride for the people of Bangladesh," Shubo stressed. The history of crossing the mighty Padma River between dozens of districts in southern Bangladesh and the capital of Dhaka only by ferries or boats ended in June last year, as the bridge was opened to traffic. Now, the lower deck of the double-decked Padma Bridge has started to carry passenger trains. It took 16 minutes for the trial train to cross the 6.15-km bridge at a very low speed of around 20 km per hour. CREC workers welcomed the train by waving mini-flags of Bangladesh and China and setting off fireworks as the train was passing a station near the Padma Bridge. The special train carried Bangladeshi Railways Minister Nurul Islam Sujan, senior officials, lawmakers, politicians and journalists, among others. Sujan, who flagged off the trial run, said the CREC worked very hard to maintain the quality of trial run. "I would like to thank the CREC on behalf of the government and country's residents. Hopefully they will work more with us in the future." "This Padma Bridge is not only the bridge of our dreams but also our economic emancipation," said Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury, known locally as Nixon Chowdhury. The parliamentary member from Faridpur added that the Padma Bridge rail link has been launched to improve southern Bangladesh districts both economically and socially. "Today seems very unbelievable and like a fairy tale in which we will travel by train," local businessman Aladita Khan Shanto said. "I cannot express in words how much it will help us, thank you China." Hu Guangming, CFO from the CREC's project management office of the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project (PBRLP), said it is a priority project for Bangladesh, an important cooperation project between the two countries, and also the key construction project for the BRI. "The trial run today is a significant milestone for the Padma Bridge Rail Link Project," he said. The Padma Bridge is located about 40 km southwest of Dhaka. The full length of the Padma Bridge rail link is 172 km and the railway, which started to be constructed in July 2018, is scheduled to be completed in 2024. More performers have been added to Pharrell Willimas Something in the Water music festival, headed to Virginia Beach later this month. A$AP Rocky, Busta Rhymes, De La Soul, M.I.A. and more will be performing alongside Williams during his set. In addition, Arcade Fire, Jonas Brothers and Third Eye Blind have also been added to the festival lineup. Something in the Water will be returning to Virginia Beach April 2830. Previously announced performers include Lil Wayne, Machine Gun Kelly, Mumford & Sons, Wu-Tang Clan, The Kid LAROI and Skrillex. Find the full list of previously announced performers here. Three-day passes from $399 are on sale at somethinginthewater.com. VIP passes have already sold out. The inaugural Something in the Water festival was held in Virginia Beach in 2019, but it pulled out of Virginia in 2022 with Williams citing the citys toxic energy. Last years festival was held in June in Washington. In 2021, city officials said that the city experienced record-breaking economic success and the festival had a total economic impact of over $24 million on both Virginia Beach and the surrounding region. At Williams Mighty Dream Forum, a business conference held in downtown Norfolk in November, the hip-hop mogul announced that the festival would be returning to his native Virginia Beach. This is about the 757. Its always been about the 757, Williams said in November. Something in the Water is returning to Virginia Beach in 2023... [Im] grateful to be back home, very very excited to do it. It was [meant]... to bring our region together. Lets continue to do it every year. A U.S. Capitol Police officer who tried to help a Virginia fisherman avoid criminal charges for storming the building his law enforcement colleagues defended was sentenced on Thursday to two years of probation and four months of home detention. Michael Angelo Riley, a 25-year police veteran, was on duty when a mob attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, injuring more than 100 officers. Rileys voice cracked as he lamented how his awful judgment cost him his career, tarnished his reputation, ended friendships in the department and traumatized his family. The amount of regret and remorse I have over this situation in unimaginable, Riley told U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson before she sentenced him. Before the hearing, prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of two years and three months for Riley. Jackson agreed to spare him a term of imprisonment. The judge said Rileys actions were shocking conduct for any member of law enforcement. You knew exactly how bad January 6th was, she added. Jackson also ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine and perform 150 hours of community service. On Jan. 6, 2021, Riley investigated a report of an explosive device at Republican National Committee headquarters and helped an injured officer. The following day, he posted a Facebook message calling for federal charges against anyone who assaulted police, damaged property or breached the Capitol. If we dont send a message it will surely happen again, he wrote. Less than two hours later, Riley read a Facebook post by Jacob Hiles, a fisherman he knew from YouTube videos. Hiles wrote about his own participation in the riot and posted a video of rioters clashing with police. Riley, 51, of Virginia Beach, privately messaged Hiles and identified himself as a Capitol police officer who agreed with his political stance. Take down the part about being in the building they are currently investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to be charged. Just looking out! Riley wrote. They continued to exchange friendly messages until Hiles told Riley that the FBI was very curious that they had been communicating. They took my phone and downloaded everything, Hiles wrote. Riley immediately deleted all of their private messages, according to prosecutors. Riley was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice. In October, a jury convicted him of one count but deadlocked on the second. Riley described his actions as stupid and reckless but said he did not think he was breaking the law. It certainly doesnt excuse my lapse in judgment, he said. Riley fully understood the horrors of the Jan. 6 attack, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Howland said in a court filing. And yet, when the time came for (Riley) to hold the line, he sided with a known rioter, a person he had never met or spoken to, because of the rioters political views and because he happened to be a good fisherman, Howland wrote. Rileys lawyers said he has already paid a steep price for contacting Hiles: He has lost his job and his K-9 partner, a dog named Toby. If he could do it all over again, he never would have contacted him, they wrote. Hiles pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Jackson sentenced him in December 2021 to two years of probation and ordered him to complete 60 hours of community service. 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 at the Capitol on Jan. 6. Also on Thursday, a different judge is scheduled to sentence a Michigan man who pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer at the Capitol during one of the most brutal clashes between rioters and law enforcement. Logan Barnhart, a pipelayer who modeled for covers of romance novels, grabbed an officer by his neck and torso and dragged him into the crowd of rioters on the Capitols Lower West Terrace. Minutes later, Barnhart returned to a police line and struck other officers with a flagpole. With no revised budget on the table yet, Senate Democrats on Wednesday postponed a potential showdown with Gov. Glenn Youngkin on tax cuts and spending priorities, but they reminded the governor that the legislature does not back down on policy decisions it already has made. The General Assembly gave Youngkin most of what he wanted during its annual veto session on Wednesday, sustaining three gubernatorial vetoes and approving changes he made to legislation to tighten regulation of the commercial hemp industry largely aimed at products containing delta-8 as well as nearly 70 other bills that it had adopted during the legislative session that ended on Feb. 25. It also agreed with four amendments he had proposed to a stopgap budget bill the legislature adopted on the last day of the session, as the House and Senate continue to negotiate over a $1 billion difference in changes to the two-year state budget. But the Senate rejected amendments he proposed to at least 10 bills as an inappropriate exercise of executive power on issues the legislature already had decided. He is trying to go around the process and be an extra legislator, said Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, who led the push to reject Youngkins proposed amendments to three bills. For example, Senate Democrats blocked a substitute bill Youngkin had proposed to prohibit picketing at the residence of U.S. Supreme Court justices, other judges and court participants, just as the assembly did earlier this year and during deliberations on the budget last year. The governor tried to attach the substitute to a bill that Deeds had introduced and the legislature had approved to prevent the publication of personal information about judges and other court officials on state websites. Senate Republicans argued that the governors proposal was consistent with the underlying bills intent to prevent intimidation of judges and other court officials, but Democrats said the constitutional right to free speech is paramount. We have to remain faithful to the First Amendment, said Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Petersburg. The Senate also rejected Youngkins attempts to reverse decisions the assembly made earlier this year. Those decisions included a reduction of the minimum amount of acre ownership required to participate in the state site readiness program for economic development (two companion bills), requiring disclosure of State Parole Board decisions to make prisoners eligible for parole (two bills), allowing Dominion Energy to recover costs for its offshore wind farm, the location of a facility for growing medical marijuana in western Virginia, the allocation of money to the repair of highway bridges and the development of policy on the resilience of coastal areas to sea level rise. One of the most sensitive debates involved access by children to pornographic sites on the internet. The assembly had adopted legislation proposed by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, to prevent children from being exposed to online porn, but Youngkin proposed to go further by restricting commercial access to online data for anyone up to 18 years old without parental consent. Senate Democrats argued that the governors amendments went too far, potentially raising conflicts over interstate commerce and consumer data privacy on issues that are not resolved nationally. We have to get this right and we have to do this the right way, said Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax. And thats through the legislature, and thats next year. Senate Democrats also objected to Youngkins proposal of substitutes to more than two dozen bills that would change the policy decisions that assembly already had made. Hes a bit of a rookie and hes not willing to take no for an answer, said Sen. Adam Ebbin D-Alexandria, who noted that the Senate General Laws Committee, which he chairs, had twice voted down the amendments that Youngkin proposed to Stanleys bill. Youngkin was generally upbeat about the outcome, which he said once again showed us that together we can find commonsense solutions on behalf of the 8.7 million Virginians who hired us. I was humbled to see legislators from both sides of the aisle come together around our proposals to lower the cost of living with more transparency around electric utility legislation, strengthen the enforcement on our new ban on the purchase of agricultural land by foreign adversaries, and improve our enforcement of intoxicating hemp product regulations, he said in a statement. But Youngkin said he was shocked by the Virginia Democrats decision to put politics before the safety of Virginians, especially our youth, online, at home, and at work. We will continue to fight for legislation that protects our children from the dangers of Big Tech, defends our Supreme Court Justices and their families from intimidation tactics, and shields Virginia residents and businesses from soaring offshore wind costs. Hemp Youngkins amendments to bills that more tightly regulate Virginias hemp industry passed both chambers Wednesday following robust debate. The amendments to the House bill sponsored by Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, passed on a vote of 52-42. The amendments to the Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, passed 33-7. Youngkins amendments allow businesses packaging products that include hemp to exceed a previously proposed 2-miligram THC cap if a product meets a 25-to-1 ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) to THC. THC is a chemical found in both hemp and marijuana that can create the feeling of a high. While most hemp companies have operated within federal guidelines for hemp products (a 0.3% cap on THC in products), some companies have sold products containing a chemical called delta-8, which is not federally regulated. The compound creates a similar high to chemicals found in marijuana and is available in some hemp products. Youngkin also struck language that required a bittering agent in topical products like hemp skincare. Businesses selling products meant to be consumed or inhaled will need to pay an annual $1,000 fee and could face a fine of $10,000 per day if caught selling illegal or mislabeled products. Kilgore said his bill accomplished the key goal of regulating THC in hemp products. He said the governors amendments spared a kind of CBD product the General Assembly authorized in 2015 when it learned it was the only medication that helped a family manage its childs epileptic fits. Dels. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William and Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, argued that passing the amendments would only encourage an illegal market for delta 8 and THC products. Adams said the governors amendments would create what she called an illicit THC market, with language that allows products with cannabidiol that is no less than 25 times greater than the amount of total tetrahydrocannabinol per package. Adams said that ratio would allow a product that could be intoxicating, and that the governors amendment was meant to ensure that an out-of-state firms product remained available, although it could be made by other firms. This is about money, not people, she said. But Del. Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland, said no other firm had stepped up to market a product that would meet the same need as the product the General Assembly authorized in 2015. The Hanger and Kilgore bills were inspired, in part, by an uptick in calls to poison control centers after some hemp products intoxicated children. Attorney General Jason Miyares also vowed to crack down on products that are packaged to resemble popular candy brands. While some in the hemp industry supported ideas like packaging requirements and child-proofing, they worried that further restricting THC limits would make many products that are currently sold illegal and put companies out of business. This bill still takes a lot of full-spectrum non-intoxicating products off of store shelves, Virginia Hemp Coalition president Jason Amatucci said in an interview with The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Its far too punitive with retail retailers. Rights restoration Before the session on Wednesday, state Sen. Lionel Spruill, D-Chesapeake, met with Youngkin to stress his concerns with the governors new approach to restoring the rights of people convicted of felonies We agreed to meet again next week, Spruill said. While Govs. Bob McDonnell, Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam took steps to restore rights automatically roughly 300,000 former inmates thus regained their right to vote Youngkin has adopted a case-by-case approach, and last year restored rights to just 4,300. Virginia and Kentucky are the only states that bar people convicted of felonies from voting; most restore rights automatically once individuals complete their sentences or probation. Youngkin spokesperson Macaculay Porter said the meeting had a constructive tone. The governor deeply respects Sen. Spruill and has a good working relationship with him, Porter said. During todays meeting, Gov. Youngkin and Secretary (of the Commonwealth Kay Coles) James were receptive to his ideas, she said. Theyve agreed to have a follow-up meeting and continue to work on this topic. Abigail Zwerner honored Also Wednesday, lawmakers formally commended Abigail Zwerner, the teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student Jan. 6 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City County, welcomed Zwerner and members of her family to the chambers floor for the formal presentation of a Senate resolution that commended her for her heroic actions in protecting the pupils in her classroom. Norment told lawmakers that, as Zwerner reached for the gun, the child fired and the bullet passed through Zwerners hand and her chest and lodged in her shoulder. Zwerner ushered her students to another room and was the last person to leave the classroom where the shooting took place heroic actions the legislatures resolution highlighted. The Richneck Elementary shooting came months after high-profile shootings at the University of Virginia and a Chesapeake Walmart. I am prayerful that those of you who are privileged to return in 2024 have a laser like focus on school safety, Norment said as he introduced Zwerner. Zwerner has filed a $40 million suit against Newport News school officials. A Newport News grand jury has charged the 6-year-old boys mother with a child neglect felony and a misdemeanor related to recklessly storing a loaded firearm endangering a child. Welcomes and goodbyes The Senate welcomed a new member, Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, who was sworn into office on Tuesday, two weeks after winning a special election for the 9th Senate District seat vacated by former Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, elected to Congress in late February to succeed the late Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th. Bagby, who previously served six years in the House of Delegates, acknowledged after his inaugural Senate session that the pace is slower, but he expressed pride in serving a Senate district that previously had been represented by Gov. Doug Wilder and Sen. Benjamin Lambert, both Richmond Democrats, as well as McEachin and McClellan. The veto session also was a time for goodbyes to senators and delegates who will not seek re-election this year although they are likely to meet again in special session on the budget before leaving office. Del. Mike Mullin, D-Newport News, thanked the House for rallying around his family after the death of his infant son Peter, and said it was the honor of his life to have served. He shared stories about how his corner of the House pioneered the white flags House members wave these days when a colleagues speech has lasted too long. He also recalled how two successive speakers of the House chastised him as acting beneath the dignity of the House for his habit of saying Play Ball at the start of each days business. So I say, one last time: Play Ball. From the Archives: The James River James River James River James River James River James River James River James River James River Michael Martz (804) 649-6591 @mmartzrtd on Twitter Dave Ress (804) 649-6948 @DaveRess1 on Twitter Charlotte Rene Woods (804) 649-6254 Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis addresses the Liberty University convocation on Friday, joining a long line of GOP presidential hopefuls past and present who have courted evangelical voters at the Christian school founded by the Rev. Jerry Falwell Sr. Liberty has the largest enrollment of any Virginia college, with 130,000 students, about 115,000 of them fully online. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, announced his presidential bid at Liberty in March 2015. Gov. Glenn Youngkin, who is often touted as a potential GOP candidate for national office but notes that hes focused on Virginia, not Iowa, spoke about his faith at Libertys convocation in May 2022. As a candidate for governor, he stopped by an election integrity rally at Liberty in August 2021. Here is a look at some current presidential hopefuls who have spoken at Liberty in recent years. In September, former Vice President Mike Pence, another likely GOP presidential candidate, made his third visit to Liberty, telling students that You must be the freedom generation. Pence previously spoke at a Liberty convocation in October 2006 and was vice president when he addressed Libertys commencement in May 2019. Then-Secretary of State Mike Pompeo addressed Libertys commencement in May 2020. Pompeo, a former Kansas congressman, has said he is considering a run for the GOP nomination. Nikki Haley, a former South Carolina governor and U.S. ambassador to the U.N. under President Donald Trump, addressed a Liberty convocation in November 2019. Haley urged students to make the most of today and face challenges head-on. When you push forward and you push through the fear, you find out youre so much stronger on the other side, she said. Haley announced her presidential campaign in February. While Liberty is best known politically for appearances by GOP hopefuls, former President Jimmy Carter, a Democrat, addressed graduates in 2018. The Associated Press reported that Carter began his address by ribbing Trump, noting the crowd was even bigger than in 2017, when Trump addressed Libertys commencement. I dont know if President Trump would admit that, a reference to the controversy over the size of the crowd at Trumps inauguration in January 2017. (Sen. Bernie Sanders, a Vermont independent who supports same-sex marriage and abortion rights, spoke at Liberty in 2015 during his presidential bid.) Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., who announced this week that he has formed a presidential exploratory committee, took part in a September 2017 program at Liberty on Constitution Week. Trump, who announced his current presidential bid in November, made his third visit to Liberty in May 2017, delivering his first commencement address as president. (President George H.W. Bush had addressed Liberty graduates in 1990.) Trump told students to enjoy being an outsider and not to worry about criticism. Following your convictions means you must be willing to face criticism from those who lack the same courage to do what is right, and they know what is right, but they dont have the courage or the guts or the stamina to take it and to do it, he said. In January 2016, two weeks ahead of the Iowa caucuses, Trump had given a wide-ranging, hourlong speech at Liberty in which he pledged to help protect Christianity and said he did not have time for political correctness. Trump cited a Bible passage from Corinthians that says: Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. From the archives: Former President Donald Trump's Virginia visits Conagua workers in Chetumal protest in national movement Chetumal, Q. R. More than two dozen Conagua workers from the Chetumal office protested outside their building Wednesday in support of a national movement. Employees from the National Water Commission (Conagua) Chetumal joined the national movement in support of the failure of general working conditions. On Wednesday, access to the building was blocked by unionized personnel demanding compliance with the general working conditions that included a suspension of the hiring of additional workers and benefit payments, among other grievances. The National Union of Workers are in talks to resolve the ongoing issues, however, unionized workers say they will continue with their work stoppage until a suitable response has been received. Mexican Navy responds to sighting of 34 migrants off Isla Mujeres Isla Mujeres, Q.R. The Secretary of the Navy rescued 34 drifters north of Isla Mujeres on Monday night. All 34 were found in good health and have since been turned over to INM. The 33 men and one woman were rescued after Mexican port authorities were notified that a ship Comet located a small vessel at sea. On board were 34 people. Mexican Navy officials headed out to sea in two boats where they located Comet approximately 90 nautical miles (166.68 kilometers ) north of Isla Mujeres. It is important to mention that at all times we acted with adherence and respect for the human rights of the assisted foreigners who were transferred to the Puerto Juarez Naval Station where they were received by authorities of the National Institute of Migration (IMN) to carry out the corresponding legal procedures, the Secretariat wrote in their statement. Jimmy Lai is one of the Chinese Communist Partys most prominent targets, and for good reason. The 75-year-old Hong Kong entrepreneur now sits shackled in solitary confinement for the crime of fighting for democracy. Lais freedom may now hang on his access to top international lawyers, which the CCP has sought to curtail at every step of the legal process. Yet Lai remains doggedly committedif he can secure access to highly qualified legal professionals from around the world, his latest move could be a pivotal step in getting out of the prison hes been forced to called home since December of 2020. If Lai, who gained international attention as a key figure in Hong Kongs pro-democracy movement in 2019/20, gets his lawyers, he still faces a difficult road to freedom. Under Beijings National Security Law, enacted in 2020 after a surge in pro-democracy protests across Hong Kong, he faces two counts of conspiracy with foreign forces and one count of foreign collusion. These charges could keep Lai in prison until his death. As Lai fights to secure his release, a key hope for his legal team is veteran U.K. human rights lawyer Timothy Owen, a specialist in international law and the rights of political protestors. Although the Hong Kong High Court initially approved Owens admission, the Hong Kong government created massive pushback, arguing that allowing overseas lawyers in national security trials posed threats to Chinese state secrets. A decision from Beijing came in December: Hong Kong had the authority to bar overseas lawyers, and therefore Owen, from trials like Lais. Lais team has made their next move: they seek to quash the Beijing legislatures judgment and maintain the possibility of admitting Lais star lawyer from the United Kingdom. Its a risky business. For Lais team to be successful, the CCP would have to cease its sweeping expansion of its national security powers in Hong Kong. The team argues that the whole judicial administration would collapse if such expansion continues, yet the Beijing legislature seems committed to continuing its persecution of Lai. The former entrepreneur has become a symbol of fierce pro-democracy resistance to Xi Jinpings regime. As such, hes still a target; what started for Lai as a mere judicial proceeding has become an example of one mans struggle against totalitarianism. When his trial resumes, Lais freedom and life are hanging in the balance. The Hong Konger, the Acton Institutes new documentary, tells the story of Jimmy Lais heroic struggle against authoritarian Beijing and its erosion of human rights in Hong Kong. The film premieres worldwide at freejimmylai.com on April 18, 2023, at 8pm ET. A girl was detained by Roanoke police Tuesday afternoon after a fight broke out at Patrick Henry High School between classes. The Roanoke Police Department said officers responded to a disorder at the high school at about 2:30 p.m. Karen Leslie, the schools principal, said in a message to families that two students began fighting during the Bridge class change. The fight did draw a crowd, and school resources officers responded, breaking up the fight, Leslie said. These behaviors will not be tolerated. Please talk with your students so we can finish the year strong. Roanoke police officers ultimately sought petitions for one girl for assaulting a law enforcement officer, Caitlyn Cline, the departments public information officer, said in an email Wednesday. The petitions were granted and she was transported to Roanoke Valley Juvenile Detention Center, Cline said. Further details about what led to the disorder arent available at this time. Additional charges on juveniles involved may be pending. The woman whose 10-year-old son fatally shot her boyfriend outside an apartment complex in Vinton in September 2020 has been sentenced to serve five years in prison, with an additional 15 years suspended. Teirra Shanae Poindexter, 31, was found guilty in September of involuntary manslaughter and two counts of child neglect related to the death of 29-year-old Carlos Andre Jones. Poindexter spoke in Roanoke County Circuit Court for the first time since being charged two years ago. During her March 27 sentencing hearing she said she wishes she could change everything about the day that Jones was killed. She said she loved him. Every day wasnt bad, she said. And in relationships, sometimes you think its going to get better if you work it out, but it really doesnt. I was trying, but it didnt work. And when you love somebody, sometimes you just continue to deal with it until you get tired. On September, 16, 2020, a fight broke out between Poindexter and Jones. It started in Poindexters apartment, where defense attorney Sheila Moheb said Poindexter was beaten viciously. Poindexter testified in March that Jones punched her in the face. Then, Moheb said, the fight escalated, and when Jones approached Poindexter in her kitchen, she threw a pan filled with cold grease at him. The fight continued throughout the day. A portion of it was captured on video by Poindexter, who made what Assistant Commonwealths Attorney Nathaniel Griffith said were 13 threats to kill Jones. The video also captures Poindexter pointing a handgun toward Jones as he holds her son in front of him like a shield. Griffith and Judge Charlie Dorsey concluded after hearing Poindexters testimony in March that the pistol was loaded. To point it at your own son No words. Just no words, Dorsey said. Ive never had those facts and those circumstances occur in practice or on a bench, and if that doesnt resonate with people, then I dont know what does. Poindexter said she doesnt remember making the recording. I wasnt myself, she said in March. My voice was different. My actions were different. [] I cant change my past, but me as a person, I am not that video. As the conflict between Poindexter and Jones continued to escalate, Poindexters 5-year-old daughter called 911 and spoke briefly with a dispatcher before attempting to pass the phone to her mother. Griffith said a recording captures Poindexter saying, I dont want that. Poindexter testified in March that she didnt take the phone from her daughter because she didnt want Jones to see her on the phone with authorities. Moheb said her client was afraid of Carlos ramping up the senseless beating. Ultimately, the handgun that Poindexter had used to threaten Jones was left in the living room of the apartment, where her son picked it up and used it to shoot Jones. Im sorry for what happened to him, Poindexter said. I never wanted him to die, although [in] that video you can hear me saying that over and over again. That was a reaction of pain, a reaction of being hurt. But Griffith said the case wasnt simply about a beaten woman, quoting Roanoke Times coverage of Poindexters bench trial. She brought the fight to Carlos as much as she claims Carlos brought the fight back to her, Griffith said. She was the aggressor. [] She is the first to grab the knife. She throws oil. She throws bleach. She grabs the firearm. She points the firearm at her own kids. This is not a battered woman syndrome case, Dorsey said, adding that Poindexter never acted to prevent harm from coming to herself or her children. But he said the abuse Poindexter alleged is significant and had to be dealt with as he considered her sentence. The judge sentenced Poindexter to 10 years in custody for involuntary manslaughter and five years on each count of child neglect. That total sentence of 20 years will be suspended after Poindexter serves five years. Poindexter is currently being held at the Western Virginia Regional Jail. Once released, she will be placed on supervised probation for another five years. Poindexters aunt testified that Poindexters son, now 12, fears that his mother is going to jail because of him. We cant change that day, but we can change what is going to happen to my nephew, Poindexters aunt said. Not having his mother, the only constant parent at this point in his life, is going to be devastating as a young Black man growing up here. But Dorsey said the preteen is a very impressive person who has done nothing wrong. Griffith said Poindexter is entirely at fault for what took place. Chinese vice premier meets WMO secretary-general on global meteorological cooperation Xinhua) 09:54, April 13, 2023 Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong meets with Petteri Taalas, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), in Beijing, capital of China, April 12, 2023. (Xinhua/Gao Jie) BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong met with Petteri Taalas, secretary-general of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), Wednesday in Beijing. Liu said China attaches great importance to international meteorological cooperation. Liu said the Chinese government actively supports the UN's Early Warnings for All Initiative and stands ready to work with the WMO to keep enhancing communication and cooperation, deeply participate in international meteorological management, and contribute to building a community with a shared future for humanity. Taalas commended China's achievements in the meteorological field and said the WMO is willing to work with China to enhance meteorological cooperation. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) TOKYO, April 13 (Xinhua) -- A fire ravaged a house in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Aomori early Thursday, killing five people in a possible case of murder-arson, local media reported. The five bodies were found in the two-story wooden house in the town of Rokunohe in the prefecture. Local police said they were investigating the cause of the blaze at the house, which was occupied by eight people and completely gutted by the fire. The police said it was possible that the fire was stared deliberately. Of the victims, one is thought not to be a resident of the house, the police said. A 68-year-old man and his two grandchildren managed to escape the fire, local reports said, adding that one resident was still at work when the fire completely torched the 340-square-meter property, its garage and a storage shed. Police said the cause of the fire could have been deliberate and a case of murder-arson, according to local accounts. The Roanoke man who was charged in a March 2022 shooting at a hotel has been sentenced to six months in jail. Christopher A. Withers, 34, was originally charged with aggravated malicious wounding and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. Assistant Commonwealths Attorney John McNeil said Roanoke police were called on March 29, 2022, to what was at that time a Days Inn in the 600 block of Orange Avenue Northeast. There, officers found a man with a gunshot wound to his leg. He was transported to a hospital for treatment. But he refused to cooperate with investigators. He, from the beginning, said he would not cooperate, would not identify anybody, McNeil said Thursday. But there was some surveillance video from the old Days Inn, and from that surveillance video, they were able to identify Christopher Withers as the individual who committed the shooting. Withers made a statement to the police in which he said he did in fact, do the shooting, but he did so in self defense, McNeil continued. He was not a convicted felon at the time. The charges against Withers were not prosecuted in Roanoke General District Court due to the victims lack of cooperation. But the charges were reinstated in Roanoke Circuit Court in hopes of getting a felony conviction to ensure that Mr. Withers would not be able to possess a firearm in the future, Mc Neil said. On April 6, McNeil said Withers struck a plea agreement with the commonwealth on two amended charges: felony unlawful wounding and misdemeanor reckless handling of a firearm. In accordance with the terms of the agreement, Withers was sentenced to two years in jail on the felony charge, and all of that time was suspended. Unlawful wounding is a violent felony under the code of Virginia, McNeil said. He is now, as a result of this, a violent convicted felon and can no longer possess a weapon. On the misdemeanor charge, Withers was sentenced to one year in jail, suspended after he serves six months. He is being held at the Roanoke City Adult Detention Center. McNeil said the victims lack of cooperation made it difficult to ascertain the source of the conflict, adding that the relationship between Withers and the victim remains fairly unknown. But, McNeil said, the fact that there was some video surveillance allowed us to at least have some prosecution in this case, despite the lack of cooperation of the person that was shot. U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine met Wednesday in Roanoke with health care providers, educators and students who called the current shortage of medical workers urgent. Kaine, D-Va., said he knows. He is among those who handle health care issues in Washington through his seat on the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. We were short before COVID. Were really seeing shortages post COVID, Kaine said at the Radford University Carilion education facility. He met with more than 15 health care provider staff members and executives, clinicians, academic leaders and students training for medical professions. He also toured laboratories dedicated to instruction in nursing and respiratory therapy. Kaine heard a number of suggested strategic moves, such as one to streamline the process under which medical personnel exiting the military can enter private sector work. Ill take that back, he said. Demand for health care is growing along with the aging of the population, but COVID burnout is also driving workers out of the profession, especially nurses. The shortage of nurses is critical, but there are also acute needs for doctors, especially in such specialties as endocrinology, rheumatology and dermatology. Pharmacies, nursing homes and home health care providers are also strained to fulfill their duties with more caregivers needed. Workforce issues have displaced financial concerns as the top worry among hospital CEOs, Beckers Hospital Review reported. Its a local issue here because health care is what Kaine called the regions economic pillar, with tens of thousands of employees. Many more are needed. Carilion Clinic, the largest local health care organization with more than 13,000 workers, is seeking to fill the equivalent of 1,648 full-time jobs in clinical positions and 418 jobs in non-clinical positions, spokesman Pete Larkin said. Wednesdays dialogue raised the issue of instructor shortages at educational institutions due to issues with pay levels. The pay for clinical faculty is not that great, said Wendy Downey, interim dean of Radford Universitys nursing school. Another problem is insufficient numbers of licensed personnel to provide students hands-on experience during clinical rotations. That issue hinders our ability to practice these skills in real time, said Stephanie DiLaura, an RU nursing student. For a group of 10 students, there may be one preceptor, she said. But at the same time, there are experienced nurses capable of instructing others who lack the required masters degree to actually teach. Ill raise it, Kaine said. Francis Cannizzo, chief of staff of the Salem VA Medical Center, agreed with a number of the roundtables participants who want to see health care careers marketed to youth to a greater degree. The idea is that by exposing children as early as elementary school to the variety of medical professions available, more grow up headed in that direction. We have to be able to show any K through 12 student that they can occupy any position in health care that they put their minds to, Cannizzo said. Kaine said the shipbuilding industry on Virginias coast, facing its own labor shortage, tells area youth that shipbuilding is a cool job. They really are out there early, Kaine said, and if were going to solve this health care workforce thing, weve got to be real early. Its not just about financial aid when you get to college. Its about making sure people see this as a choice. School systems are in the loop on this. In Roanoke City Public Schools, for instance, high school students can enroll in health care classes on the vocational track, spokeswoman Claire Mitzel said.In addition, a summer program for fifth graders introduces diverse career opportunities including health care as one option, she said. More broadly, the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers, formed in 2019, unites the efforts of health care employers, educators and economic development professionals in the Roanoke and New River valleys, Alleghany Highlands and Lynchburg region to improve health sciences education and align instruction to meet the needs of employers, officials said. Wastewater that included nitroglycerin, copper and lead was released at excessive levels into the New River from the Radford Army Ammunition Plant, state regulators say. The plant has agreed to pay a $21,145 fine as part of an agreement with the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality. Although the releases of treated wastewater exceeded limits set by a DEQ permit, there was no environmental or public harm documented in a consent order recently posted to the agencys website. Water treatment plants at what is commonly called the Radford arsenal are authorized to discharge treated waste from the manufacturing area and runoff from building rooftops, a fly ash truck loading area and other portions of the sprawling munitions plant. Monitoring by BAE Systems Inc., the civilian operator of the arsenal, showed a total of 26 excessive releases from Jan. 10, 2022, to Dec. 10, 2022, according to DEQ documents. Only one of the releases was classified as having a serious potential for harm. Eleven were considered moderate, and the remaining 12 were ranked as marginal. Two were not considered. The high levels were mostly for biochemical oxygen demand, which refers to the amount of dissolved oxygen consumed by microbes to break down organic matter in wastewater over five days, according to Claire Powell, a spokeswoman for BAE. The arsenal was aware of the permit limits and legal requirements that were violated and had full control over the events constituting the violation, DEQ found. Plant officials are taking proactive steps for corrective action and have used external lab resources to deliver a strong and unbiased analysis, Powell wrote in an email. Extensive permitting and reporting requirements are in place to ensure the health and safety of the surrounding communities and to protect the environment, Powell wrote. But Alyssa Carpenter, chair of Citizens for Arsenal Accountability, said the states permitting system needs tougher enforcement. The DEQ cannot continue to assure us that these permits are protective, Carpenter said. A $21,000 fine means nothing to a multi-billionaire company, and trillion dollar military infrastructure, and it means nothing to the community that is exposed to these chemicals when facilities violate their permits. DEQ enforcement actions are not uncommon at the arsenal, due to its size the main plant occupies more than 4,000 acres along the New River north of Radford and the volatile ingredients that go into its manufacture of propellants and ammunition for the U.S. military. In 2018, the arsenal was fined $64,287 for excessive air emissions from boilers used to generate steam and electricity for use at the plant. And in 2021, DEQ cited the plant for failing to adequately monitor and keep records of emissions from smokestacks in the solvents area. A $20,000 fine was imposed in that case. The arsenal also tops the list of facilities statewide that release the most toxins. In its most recent annual Toxics Release Inventory, DEQ reported last month that 10.3 million pounds of chemicals were released from the plant in 2021. That was nearly five times the amount produced by the second-largest source, WestRock Corp. in Covington, which makes bleached paperboard used in packaging. Nearly all of the arsenals toxic releases were of nitrate compounds into the New River. Nitrates are the byproduct of a process that neutralizes acids used to make explosives. They can affect the bloods ability to carry oxygen, although that is a concern only if high concentrations are consumed. Nitrate releases at the plant do not exceed DEQ limits, Powell said. In general, her email stated, the arsenal fully abides by all applicable federal and state laws when storing, processing, treating, discharging and reporting all hazardous chemicals and hazardous waste. Although the arsenal and DEQ are in agreement on the investigation results and fine, the agency will take public comments through May 9 before making a final decision. Comments can be submitted by email to Timothy.Fletcher@deq.virginia.gov or by mail to DEQs Blue Ridge Office, 901 Russell Drive, Salem, Virginia, 24153. Warm Hearth Village recently hosted its second annual arts and crafts fair showcasing resident and community artisans. The 24 vendors offered greeting cards, pottery, wheat weaving, fiber weaving, traditional rug hooking, knit dolls, crocheted doll clothes, jewelry, journals, decorative housewares, Japanese ink prints and more. Several residents donated their wares with $282 in proceeds benefiting the Warm Hearth Foundation. This money will be used to benefit seniors in need of housing and health care services on the WHV campus. The Crafty Sisters -- village resident Debbie Koller and her sister Patty VanHassel -- created exquisite greeting cards and stationery portfolios. My sister and I decided the Warm Hearth Craft Fair would be a fun way to share our craft with others. This was our first time and we had so much fun preparing together, Koller said. VanHassel said selling at the fair was a really nice way to feel part of the community. I have moved here recently and this was a good way to meet some new people, she said. Life Enrichment Director Mardy Baker launched the fair in 2022 as a way to bring people back out after the pandemic. There were no vending fees because we really just wanted people to come out and have a good time and show off their creative skills at the same time, Baker explained. The next craft fair will be held in the spring of 2024. - Submitted by Susan Bixler Last Thursday, Dr. Kellogg Hunt sent me an email that posed a series of questions to Reps. Ben Cline, R-Botetourt, and Morgan Griffith, R-Salem. The former chief of medicine at both Carilion Clinic and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center asked if I could get answers from them. I replied Id give it a try. But I noted both congressmen, and their spokespeople, began ignoring inquiries from me early in 2021. (This began around the time they voted to reject Electoral Votes from particular states.) Anyway, on Friday, I sent Hunts list to Charlotte Law, communications director for Cline, and Mollie Timmons, who works in the same role for Griffith. I asked them to respond by Tuesday. But I warned Hunt not to hold his breath on getting answers. And as expected, no responses materialized. Because it would be a shame to let his questions go to waste, Ive imagined how Cline and Griffith mightve responded if they werent so busy legislating. So here we go with Hunts questions and my answers on behalf of our estimable congressmen. Do you believe Trump lost the 2020 presidential race in a fair election? GRIFFITH (channeled by Dan Casey): Everybody knows Trump lost by more than 7 million votes. But ye gods, I cant admit it to my Trump-idolizing constituents that would be political suicide. Look what happened to former Rep. Liz Cheney in Wyoming. Do you honestly want Del. Marie March representing the 9th District? CLINE (via Dan Casey): If the cable channel Newsmax says Trump lost unfairly, then I absolutely believe it. Newsmax is unbiased news and straight news. Unlike all the fake, woke, biased and communist news outlets that claimed Biden won fair and square. Do you support Trumps attempt to overturn the 2020 election by calling on his voters to storm the Capitol Jan. 6, 2021 and force a recount? CLINE: I supported attempts to overturn the election in the U.S. Supreme Court, with the Texas cases, and later in Congress by voting to reject Electoral Votes from Arizona and Pennsylvania. But I condemn all violence especially by Antifa and BLM supporters. GRIFFITH: Regarding the heinous violent events of January 6, I believe they were a disgraceful moment in American history. Most disgracefully, Congress voted to certify Joe Bidens election, despite my votes to nullify it by rejecting Electoral Votes from two states. Do you believe a man who brags about sexually assaulting women should be fit to serve as a leader in our country? CLINE: I voted for Trump in the 2016 and 2020 elections. And I voted against his impeachment in 2019 and 2021. Does that answer your question? GRIFFITH: Has Trump bragged about sexually assaulting women? Really? When? I never heard about that. Do you believe all U.S. citizens should have the equal right to vote? CLINE: I believe in equal voting rights for all adult American citizens who possess photo ID that requires time, money and effort to obtain. GRIFFITH: I agree with my congressman, Rep. Cline. These days, you practically need photo ID to get a haircut. Why shouldnt foolproof identification be required for the sacred constitutional act of voting? Do you favor an autocratic form of government rather than our current form? Cline: Since President Biden took office, he has focused on pushing a far-left agenda to appease the radical members of his party, such as Karl Marx and George Soros. If autocracy is the opposite of that, then I favor it wholeheartedly. Do you favor US withdrawal from NATO? CLINE: Not yet, but last year I voted against efforts to strengthen democracy in NATO nations. Too much democracy is dangerous. Thats what put Joe Biden in the White House! GRIFFITH: No, and I want it on the record that I voted for the resolution to strengthen democracy among NATO members, even though my congressman in the 6th District opposed it. Do you believe in the U.S. Constitution? CLINE: The original U.S. Constitution is one of the greatest documents in human history. Not so sure about the amendments, though. The first few are OK, but would our forefathers ever have approved some of the later ones? GRIFFITH: I revere the U.S. Constitution, especially my interpretation of it. Fun fact: Nowhere does the Constitution prohibit Republican presidential candidates from paying hush-money to porn stars and Playmates. Do you believe in the rule of law in the United States? CLINE: Of course. The rule of law should apply equally to everyone except Donald J. Trump. He deserves a pass, because the Deep State failed with all its investigations, and the liberals impeached Trump twice but he was acquitted both times, and the mainstream media covered up the Hunter Biden laptop story. GRIFFITH: Yes. My wife is a judge, you know. If I answer any other way, she might bop me with a gavel! Do you believe LGBTQ individuals should have the same rights as other citizens in the United States? GRIFFITH: When I was the majority leader of the Virginia House of Delegates in 2004, we banned same-sex civil unions and anything resembling them. That ought to answer your question. CLINE: I served in Richmond back then, too, and I enthusiastically voted to ban gay civil unions. Do you believe state or federal government should restrict a womans right to make her own medical decisions about her body? CLINE: The federal government should definitely stay the heck out of Americans personal medical decisions except those involving women and reproduction. Then the government should be intimately involved. GRIFFITH: As a red-blooded, cisgendered American male, I cant really speak to womens medical decisions, obviously. But if the Biden administration ever restricts mens right to Viagra, I promise a fight! A third Roanoke Democrat is campaigning toward June, when an intraparty primary election will decide a nominee for state Senate in a new district. Following the retirement of longtime Sen. John Edwards, D-Roanoke, voters on June 20 will decide the partys nominee in a primary involving Trish White-Boyd, Luke Priddy and DA Pierce, candidates said. Whoever wins that nomination contest will compete against Sen. David Suetterlein, R-Roanoke County, who seeks a third lawmaking term during the general election in November. Pierce is the latest to enter his name in the race. He is a William Fleming High School graduate, veteran of the U.S. Air Force and engineer draftsman, according to his campaign website. Being a public servant isnt new to me, Pierce said on his campaign website. My inspiration to serve the public comes from my Mother, Darlene Pierce, who worked as a clerk in Roanoke Citys Commissioner of Revenues office for over 30+ years before retiring. Pierce lists medical care, housing and education as his top priorities. The two other Democratic candidates, White-Boyd and Priddy, are members of Roanoke City Council. White-Boyd, who kicked off her campaign in March, is director of Blue Ridge Senior Services and council member since 2019. Trish White-Boyd is a dedicated community advocate, experienced leader, and passionate public servant with a long-standing commitment to improving the lives of her community, her campaign website said. She is dedicated to championing policies that support and empower all members of her community, ensuring that every voice is heard and every resident has the opportunity to thrive. White-Boyds website lists education, womens rights, affordable housing, sustainability and economy as priorities. Priddy, a graduate of Hidden Valley High School, was elected to city council in 2022, and worked since 2018 as chief of staff for Edwards. This region needs someone who will carry on John Edwards legacy in the Senate of Virginia, and with five years of experience working under his wing, that person is Luke, Priddys website said. The new lines for Senate District 4 present a challenge, an uphill battle that I am prepared to take on, because I believe this district is winnable with the right strategy and effort. Senate District 4, redrawn during statewide redistricting in 2021, includes Roanoke, Salem, and parts of Roanoke County and Montgomery County. This district overlapped the political territories of incumbents Edwards and Suetterlein. Edwards February decision not to seek reelection after 28 legislative sessions averted a showdown against Suetterlein in the new district, which leans Republican, according to data from the Virginia Public Access Project. Arkansas Times columnist Gene Lyons is a National Magazine Award winner and co-author of "The Hunting of the President" (St. Martin's Press, 2000). You can email Lyons at eugenelyons2@yahoo.com. "Big Capital & the Carceral State" | Main | "Why Can't I Have a Robot Lawyer? Limits on the Right to Appear Pro Se" April 13, 2023 Jury gives defendant (with significant criminal history) a 70-year prison sentence for spitting at cops There is a lot more to this local sentencing story from Texas than the headline, but what a headline: "Man found guilty of spitting at Lubbock Police gets 70 years in prison." Here are the details: Larry Pearson, 36, was sentenced by a Lubbock jury on Wednesday to 70 years in prison after he was found guilty on two counts of harassment of a public servant for spitting at Lubbock Police officers. Youre not going to get 70 years for something like this when youve never been in trouble before, Prosecutor Jessica Gorman said. Gorman told EverythingLubbock.com that Pearson was arrested in May of 2022 for domestic violence after a victim flagged down an officer in the 200 block of Zenith Avenue. The victim told police that Pearson hit her several times, and that he had a gun. Gorman said that firearm turned out to be an airsoft gun. A police report at the time stated the victim had multiple visible injuries on her face. Gorman said after Pearson was taken into custody, he was upset the victim was not arrested instead. Gorman said Pearson started kicking at the doors in the officers vehicle. When the officers opened the door to tell him to stop, Gorman said he spit at both officers. Gorman said Pearson kept spitting after he arrived at the Lubbock County Detention Center. During closing arguments of the sentencing phase of Pearsons trial, Gorman asked the jury to consider a number that would send a message to Pearson and society. Gorman told EverythingLubbock.com that Pearson had prior convictions of aggravated robbery and continuous family violence. Due to those convictions, the minimum sentence Pearson could have received wouldve been 25 years. If youre going to live the life of crime, youre going to do that among other criminals [in prison], Gorman said during closing arguments. Defense Attorney Jim Shaw told the jury the sentencing was for a simple misdemeanor in a circumstance that got out of control. I tend to be a fan of jury sentencing, but this sounds like a lot. April 13, 2023 at 03:06 PM | Permalink Comments Yeah, it's a problem. Posted by: federalist | Apr 13, 2023 3:49:34 PM I think each of the jurors should get on year and one day. Posted by: anon1 | Apr 13, 2023 4:19:40 PM "I tend to be a fan of jury sentencing, but this sounds like a lot." Yup. But two observations. First, jury sentencing can cut both ways, as we see. Second, I strongly suspect the jury saw this guy as a years-long bad actor, and that it was either serious prison now or something much worse than spitting later. I also wonder how he looked and acted during the trial. Posted by: Bill Otis | Apr 13, 2023 4:44:51 PM I read the other day that Lubbocks crime rate is far above the national average. It is very conservative, white and Christian demographically. (Im wondering if Soreil Haetir, known to many of us on this site and who advocates for such draconian sentences, hails from Lubbock?) Misdemeanor violations with misdemeanor priors resulting in veritable life sentences in my opinion are violations of the 8th Amendment. We all can recall the man prosecuted for taking a slice of pizza receiving a life sentence a number of years ago, because he had misdemeanor priors. Did that reduce the crime rate any? Was justice served? Posted by: SG | Apr 13, 2023 4:54:24 PM What the prosecutor left out of her story is that even if the guy qualified as a "habitual offender" under Texas law, she has to make the decision to add that allegation to an indictment to invoke the 25-Life sentencing range. Ergo, vindictive DA made the decision to habitualize him (or "high bitch" him as they say in West Texas. I am not kidding). That meant he was looking at 25-Life. Most of the time, a DA will not add a habitual offender enhancement (similar to an 851) unless they are trying to be punitive in these types of cases. Even then, they can abandon that enhancement at trial if they want to do it. So don't let the DA act like she's some innocent bystander here. Posted by: Zachary Newland | Apr 13, 2023 5:07:03 PM off subject. To paraphrase King Henry II berating his knights about Thomas Becket, Archbishop of Canterbury, ""Will no one rid me of this corrupt Justice Thomas." Posted by: Dave from Texas | Apr 13, 2023 11:23:26 PM This is excessive and violates the 8th Amendment. I can understand 12 months probation, maybe even 10 days jail, but certainly not 70 years. Posted by: Anon | Apr 14, 2023 9:17:13 AM SG, Sorry to disappoint but I've only spent about two hours of my life anywhere in Texas, and that only at DFW when making a single flight transfer. In order of time spent as a resident the list of places goes Alaska (where I currently live), Idaho, Washington, California, Guam and Oregon, although I was young enough I do not remember the last at all. Posted by: Soronel Haetir | Apr 14, 2023 2:47:34 PM Soronel, I envy those who spent time or live in the Northwest/Alaska. Truly God's country. Posted by: SG | Apr 14, 2023 9:53:08 PM Sentenced 70 years for spitting on 2 cops seemed weird so I filed a few FOIA requests in Lubbock county as well as the surrounding counties so I could see his criminal record. He has multiple records in multiple counties. (Lubbock County, Dallas county) This is not a 1st time offender. Not even close. This is a guy who has been routinely beating his girlfriends and children for a decade. He breached a protective order and his bond conditions. He punched his girlfriend in the face in front of the police officers. He keeps getting convictions and they keep letting him out. He racked up over 30 more infractions in jail while waiting for his day in court. Even after everything he has done he is expected to only serve 17 years. (1/4 of a 70 year sentence) This guy is the reason prisons exist. Posted by: Grundy | Apr 15, 2023 1:42:27 AM Pearson may have an extensive criminal record, but that does not justify a 70 year sentence. A sentence to reflect the gravitas of the crime. Posted by: Anon | Apr 15, 2023 5:35:07 PM Seventy is definitely excessive, but the lack of truth in sentencing is part of the problem. I am assuming that the jury is not informed about parole eligibility but all jurors know that parole is a possibility. As such, they are trying to guess how long they need to give the defendant to get what he wants. Given that we are really talking about misdemeanor conduct (spitting) enhanced to a felony only because the victim is a public servant, I am thinking that somewhere between five years and ten years of actual prison time (given defendant's record) is the ballpark. But the jury has no way of knowing what sentence length gets in that ballpark. The DA, on the other hand, has that information. Having done the enhancement, the DA should have told the jury that a sentence of thirty to forty years was appropriate. Posted by: tmm | Apr 16, 2023 10:09:43 AM "what he wants" should be "what they want". Posted by: tmm | Apr 16, 2023 10:10:38 AM I have mixed feelings. If he "breached a protective order and his bond conditions" and "punched his girlfriend in front of the police", he should have received substantial time for those convictions. Is this a case where two wrongs make a right? Maybe. It does sound like he has reached a level of criminality where release needs to be earned by him, not simply granted after some period of time. Nothing I've read above suggests to me that he needs a sentence that will result in him actually serving an effective life sentence, even if he manages to improve himself. Assuming an older version of him does have a genuine chance to earn release 17 years from now, well, I'd prefer a little sooner, but "17 years" has to be a better answer in his case than "1 year". Posted by: William C Jockusch | Apr 16, 2023 1:00:41 PM Post a comment Danish company LMS365, an online learning management system (LMS) built for use inside Microsoft products, has raised $20 million in its first institutional round of funding. Used by companies including logistics giant Hellmann and soda bottling franchise G&J Pepsi, LMS365 allows users to create their own courses from scratch or import them from a third-party such as Go1 or LinkedIn Learning, which LMS365 announced a partnership with just last month. Embedding a learning management system directly into workers' core everyday tools is one of LMS365's core selling points versus incumbents in the LMS space such as Workday, Eloomi or TalentLMS. "LMS365 does not invent a technology problem, but meets the professionals where they are," CEO Rasmus Holst explained to TechCrunch. Under the hood With the LMS365 course creator and learning module builder, users can drag-and-drop elements from existing content housed in Microsoft Office software, including PowerPoint, Word and Stream. Or they can import pre-existing courses or quizzes constructed elsewhere and stored in the SCORM or AICC format, which can be useful for general industry-specific training for cybersecurity, or regulatory compliance. LMS365: Creating a course LMS365: Creating a course. Image Credits: LMS365 From the end-user perspective, all this means that new hires can be onboarded directly through Microsoft Teams, or receive ongoing training in all manner of disciplines from customer service to managing mental health. LMS365: Course and content management Course and content management. Image Credits: LMS365 Managers can also track learner progress and present relevant data via Microsoft Power BI visuals. LMS365: Tracking and reporting Tracking and reporting. Image Credits: LMS365 The story so far LMS365's history can be traced back to 2003, when dentist Bjarne Mortensen founded a company called Elearningforce that was focused squarely on on-premise deployments of Microsoft SharePoint. In the intervening years, Elearningforce evolved to a cloud-based product with support for Teams and Microsoft 365, and it recently introduced support for Viva, Microsoft's so-called "employee experience and engagement" platform. Story continues Mortensen retired in 2018 and sold his stake to entrepreneur Johan Wedell-Wedellsborg and Ole Kristoffersen and Steen Skallebk, founders of Danish bakery chain Ole & Steen. Holst joined LMS365 last year from secure messaging company Wire, where he previously served as chief revenue officer. While its corporate name technically remains Elearningforce, the company transitioned to the LMS365 brand back in 2015, intended to reflect its focus on Microsoft. But why target training delivery through Microsoft, specifically, and not Zoom or Google's cloud-based software suite? According to Holst, it's all about focus and addressable market size, not to mention Microsoft's expansive software suite spanning hosting, communication/collaboration and big data insights. "It's [Microsoft software] a global, coherent market of 350 million users -- so our platform is easy to access and is placed in an app millions use everyday," Holst said. "Also, Microsoft provides a toolset for the [whole] business -- LMS365 uses Azure for hosting, Teams for delivering their application, VIVA for recommending courses, and Power BI for data extraction." Moreover, by focusing on Microsoft, this minimizes any risks associated with trying to support too many software ecosystems. This was perhaps more of an issue for a business that has grown organically without institutional funding. "For LMS365 to build technically on other platforms and exposing ourselves to technical debt in that way, is not a trade-off that would have been beneficial to us as a bootstrapped business," Holst said. A little more than half of LMS365 users are based in the U.S., almost a third are located in EMEA (Europe, Middle East, and Africa) and the remainder are spread throughout the rest of the world. "Typical customers are SMEs with 200 to 1,000 users," Holst said. "Our primary markets (around 80%) are services industry, logistics, manufacturing, automotive, healthcare and government." LMS365's first external investment was led by New York-based Blue Cloud Ventures, with participation from Singapore's Kamet Capital and existing shareholders. The company said that it plans to use its fresh cash injection to double down on its global growth through acquiring distribution partners in the U.S., Germany and Australia. We see a clear window of opportunity in the market where we can accelerate, Henrik Jeberg, LMS365 chief strategy officer, said in a statement. "We will use M&A strategically going forward, including in relation to product development." Strides, Premier join forces to form second-largest taxi operator in Singapore. SINGAPORE SMRT Corporation announced on Thursday (13 April) that its taxi business, Strides Taxi, will be merged with Premier Taxis, creating Singapore's second largest taxi operator. A new joint venture company, Strides Premier Pte Ltd (Strides Premier), will be formed to hold the merged business, which will include Strides Automotive Services and Premier Automotive Services. Strides Holdings, a wholly owned subsidiary of SMRT, will hold a majority stake in Strides Premier, and Premier Corporation and BS Investors will jointly hold the remaining stake. The deal, which will take effect from 1 May, will bring together a combined fleet of approximately 2,500 taxis, overtaking second-largest taxi operator Trans-Cab, which has 2,170 taxis. ComfortDelGro still has the largest fleet in Singapore, with around 8,100 taxis. The merger, SMRT said, will help to safeguard the long-term interest of driver and passengers as the demand for taxis and private hire cars (PHCs) rebound to pre-pandemic levels. "Strides Premier will offer a full suite of technical expertise and workshop capabilities to service the expanded fleet," it said in a press release. "This merger is a significant milestone to help drive greater efficiency and better services for both our vehicle hirers as well as end users of taxis and PHCs," Ang Wei Neng, CEO (designate) of Strides Premier said. Raymond Ng, founder of BS Capital Group said, "After acquiring Premier Taxis last year, we see this merger as an opportunity for further growth. We are committed to serve our existing customers better and to attract more to join us in this competitive P2P market." Strides Premier will be working closely with the National Taxi Association (NTA) and National Transport Workers Union (NTWU) to engage existing drivers and staff of all the entities involved in the merger. Story continues All current rental agreements of the PHCs, taxis, limousines and private cars will not be affected. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter. * The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. * The services meet the aspirations of the people of the two countries for cross-border travel and continue to foster a path of development and friendship. * The cross-border passenger trains are also of great significance in promoting economic and trade exchanges between the two countries, and advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. KUNMING/VIENTIANE, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. The first passenger train departed from Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, at 8:08 a.m. (Beijing Time), heading for the Lao capital Vientiane. The train, which is packed to capacity for this trip, will travel at a speed of up to 160 km per hour through mountains and valleys. There are eight stations along the route that stretches over 1,000 km, and the journey takes 10 and a half hours, including the time spent on going through customs. A passenger train bound for the Lao capital Vientiane awaits departure from Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Liu Jin, 32, is on this first train along with his mother, and they are traveling to Luang Prabang in Laos. He has made eight previous trips to Laos, usually by bus, when his journey lasted more than 27 hours on winding mountain roads. "The launch of cross-border train services has made traveling to Laos much easier," said Liu. "It cuts the travel time and offers great comfort." Shortly after 9 a.m. (Beijing Time), a train departed from Vientiane for Kunming. Starting Thursday, one passenger train will operate daily from Kunming to Vientiane and another one the other way around. Lao and Chinese drivers of a cross-border passenger train bound for Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province prepare for departure from Vientiane, Laos on April 13, 2023. (Photo by Yang Yongquan/Xinhua) The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project showcasing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, began operation in December 2021. The railway also serves as a docking project with Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. After its launch in 2021, passenger train services have been offered along the section between Kunming and the Chinese border town of Mohan, as well as the section connecting Vientiane and Boten, the border town on the Lao side. As of Sunday, 13.93 million domestic passenger trips had been handled and 18.38 million tonnes of cargo transported on the China-Laos Railway. The first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane passes by tea plantations in Pu'er, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) LINKING HEARTS People on both sides of the border have been looking forward to the launch of the cross-border passenger train services with excitement and hope. Chen Pei, deputy general manager of the China Railway Kunming Group Co., Ltd, hailed the newly launched services as a move that meets the needs of the two peoples and cements their friendship. "The launch of cross-border passenger services will meet the aspirations of the people of the two countries for cross-border travel and continue to foster a path of development, happiness and friendship," Chen said. Passengers pose for a photo aboard the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Manilanh, a food vendor in Vientiane, was visibly excited to welcome the first group of passengers traveling via the cross-border train. "The launch of the service is a milestone for Laos, which makes me feel like I'm part of the history," she said. In September 2021, Dai Rui, a China Railway Kunming Group staffer, traveled to Laos to provide training to railway attendants in the country. One of the attendants who benefitted from Dai's guidance was Thierry Thongkhammy, who works in the Lao section of the railway. Thanks to Dai's expertise, she was able to quickly hone her professional skills and enhance her performance. "Dai would frequently speak about the beautiful sceneries of Kunming and introduce me to the delicious local cuisine. I've been eagerly looking forward to visiting the city," she said. "With the cross-border passenger services, I can go there by train now." China Railway Kunming Group has sent more than 540 employees to work in the Lao section and they helped train over 700 Lao railway workers. A train attendant checks a passenger's ticket and travel document aboard the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) "The physical link of the railway tracks has strengthened the link of hearts between the two peoples," said Ma Yong, head of the Institute of Southeast Asian Studies at the Yunnan Academy of Social Sciences. "China and Laos are geographically close and people of the two countries have fostered solid friendship," Ma said, adding that the cross-border passenger trains are of great significance in facilitating travel, promoting economic and trade exchanges between the two countries, and advancing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation. BOOSTING CONNECTIVITY Since it began operation, the China-Laos Railway has promoted regional connectivity, brought opportunities to enterprises and individuals in both countries, and injected strong impetus into the economic and social development along the route. In particular, the railway has emerged as a crucial factor in boosting Laos' tourism industry, which plays a pivotal role in strengthening its economy. The Lao tourism authorities anticipate that around 368,000 Chinese travelers will visit the country in 2023, up 21 percent from 2022. A passenger shows her ticket aboard the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) "The launch of cross-border passenger trains has ushered in a new chapter in deepening cooperation between China and neighboring countries," Meng Rui, president of Yunnan tourism planning and research institute. "It has added another fast and convenient travel route between China and Laos, becoming a new highlight of the already prosperous tourism industry in Yunnan," Meng said, adding that he expects a significant increase in the number of Chinese tourists to Laos, as well as tourists from Laos and third countries visiting China. People in Chengzi Village, which is adjacent to the China-Laos Railway in Yunnan's Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, are gearing up to seize new opportunities. "A lot of villagers have refurbished their houses into homestays in a bid to attract tourists," said Ai Hanpeng, the village head. "With the launch of the cross-border passenger trains, we are expecting more foreign visitors." "The railway serves as the foundation of our development," Ai said, adding that developing rural tourism has enabled villagers to share the dividends of the railway. (Video reporters: Ding Yiquan, He Chunhao, Chu Yi, Zhou Erjie, Sun Min, Zeng Wei, Li Huaiyan, Zhou Yang; video editors: Zhou Yang, Li Qin, Liu Yutian) The boy had allegedly damaged the exterior of the bus and eventually abandoned it, according to some social media posts. (PHOTO: FB Screengrab/jiraiya.sama.58) UPDATE: A&S Transit addresses public concerns and calls for gracious approach in guiding youth SINGAPORE A young boy had allegedly stolen a private bus and somehow managed to drive it around the northeastern part of Singapore for about five hours on Wednesday (12 April), covering about 100 kilometres before police found and stopped his "joyride". Photos and information of the alleged "bus-jacking" were circulating on social media, with one of them showing the boy being surrounded by police officers. Some social media accounts on Instagram and Facebook alleged that the boy had damaged the exterior of the bus and eventually abandoned it, having used about a quarter tank of diesel. He was said to have driven the bus around Tampines, Pasir Ris, Bedok and Punggol. Police confirmed the incident, saying in a statement to Yahoo Southeast Asia, "On 12 April at 12.04pm, the Police were alerted to a case of theft of a motor vehicle along Tampines Avenue 10. "A boy is assisting with investigations in relation to the case. Police investigations are ongoing." Tried starting other buses on the same night The boy, whose age is still unknown, had allegedly tried his luck at starting other buses earlier on the same night. He was eventually successful in starting a bus belonging to private bus charter company A&S Transit. An Instagram post stated that the boy reportedly came in with a white chair and bicycle and trespassed onto two buses under A&S Transit parked at Tampines Avenue 9, where he stole one of the bus and attempted to drive it away. Some eyewitnesses informed the company and the police were also alerted. Details of the alleged incident were shared on an Instagram account on Wednesday (12 April) (PHOTO: IG/cast_canstransit) Private bus charter company responds to stolen bus incident In a statement posted on Facebook on Thursday (13 April), the private bus charter company A&S Transit said that it was not their intention for the matter to become public. "The issue involves a minor and we do not wish for any undue disruption on the person, taking into consideration that it is approaching the school examinations period," the statement said. Story continues "A&S hopes for all of us to take a gracious and forgiving approach in guiding our youths and supporting them in the pursuit of their passion." The company also called on the public, government and organisations to see this incident as a call to hear the growing enthusiasm among the younger generation, and to support them with more outlets and opportunities to pursue their interests. "While we do not condone the action of the minor, we hope to support the person and any youth in guiding them to express their passion in healthy ways," A&S Transit's statement said. 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. China declared it was "ready to fight at all times" after concluding an unprecedented, three-day-long war games in the waters around Taiwan in retaliation against the Taiwanese president's visit to the US. Although a full-scale invasion is unlikely, experts suggest that Taipei at best would be able to deter Chinas military might, till its allies responded. The Chinese military began the combat readiness patrol" around the self-governed island on Saturday following president Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with House speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. Beijing simulated a complete attack on the island from missile bombardment to sealing off the island by blocking sea and air traffic. The war games not only serve as intimidation, but also as an opportunity for the Chinese troops to practice locking the island in case of an actual attack. Beijing had reacted in a similar manner to former US House speaker Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taipei in 2022. The military harassment has only grown since then with China flying record numbers of aircraft into Taiwan's airspace. The communist government claims Taipei is obliged to reunite with the mainland, by force if necessary, and has no right to conduct foreign relations. The drills have been condemned by Japan and the US one of Taiwan's strongest allies. China has the largest armed forces in the world by active duty military personnel, with over two million active soldiers and 510,000 in reserve. Taiwan, in comparison, has 169,000-strong active military personnel and is currently backed by some 1.66 million civilian warriors, according to data from the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS). Both the mainland and the self-governed island have substantially increased their defence budget this year amid escalating tensions between the Asian countries. China in March announced defence spending at $225bn, a 7.2 per cent rise and the quickest rate of increase since 2019. Then-premier Li Keqiang warned that "external attempts to suppress and contain China are escalating". Story continues "The armed forces should intensify military training and preparedness across the board," he said as he presented the government's annual work report. The Taiwanese administration also beefed up the defence budget this year to $19bn, a nearly 15 per cent increase from last year. The allocations were made for enhancements to air and naval combat systems to counter China's incursions. During the latest combat exercises, China focused on "anti-access and area denial", a Taiwanese government official told Financial Times, referring to a strategy of blocking US forces from entering and operating in airspace and waters close to China. There were a lot of simulated attacks on aerial and sea targets, focused on keeping forces out that would be arriving from outside the island chain. China has a massive fleet of 86 naval ships and 59 submarines, whereas, Taiwan operates 26 naval ships and just four submarines. In terms of airpower as well, China outnumbers Taiwan with over 2,921 warplanes, including the J-20s. Taipei is reported to have 744 aircraft in its arsenal. Taiwan has 650 tanks to defend against China's 4,800 tanks. In terms of self-propelled artillery, China's fleet consists of 9,550 compared to Taiwan's 2,093. Meanwhile, Taiwan said it has launched an annual large-scale drill on Thursday jointly with its disaster services and defence ministry. Last year, the government revamped the disaster-preparedness drills to include more wartime scenarios. This year, the administration said, that trend would continue with war preparedness, which will comprise 70 per cent of the drills contents. WINNEBAGO, Neb. Many in Winnebago consider the new St. Augustine Indian Mission School a blessing for students, teachers and the community. But you can't go wrong with a few extra blessings. The school won't be open for classes until August, but Catholic and tribal leaders will be here Tuesday to bestow their blessings upon a building that answers a lot of prayers. Some might say the project has been a miracle. When fundraising kicked off in 2019 to replace the current aging school building, the Rev. Mark Beran, St. Augustine Indian Mission director and pastor of St. Augustine Church in Winnebago said he was told they'd be lucky to raise around $8 million, well short of the $13 million construction estimate. Beran said he prayed to Saint Katharine Drexel, who was known as Mother Katherine when she and the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament in 1909 established the school in Winnebago to provide a Catholic education to children from the Winnebago and Omaha tribes. "She built 60 schools. I figured she could build one more," Beran said. Beran's prayers were answered. The building eventually would come in under estimates at $10.5 million, and more than $10 million was raised from donors across Nebraska and Iowa, particularly Omaha and Sioux City. "We had some people step forward that we'd never heard of before," Beran said. "We've done the project debt free, which is something I didn't expect." Construction began in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic in October 2020, but many of the building materials had been ordered before COVID-related supply chain delays and shortages drove up construction costs. There were some delays, and the school ultimately will open a year later than originally planned, but Beran's not going to complain. "It always seemed like a dream that was off in the future or lines on paper that represented classrooms. To see it finished is almost surreal," he said. It will replace a building built in 1967 that was not meant to be a school. Six years ago, engineers said it could be used safely for about seven to 10 more years. The roof leaks. There are large cracks inside and outside. Tiles on the gym floor are coming loose. The air system is noisy, making it hard for students and teachers to hear one another at times. The building isn't handicapped-accessible, either. The mission faced the choice of spending millions to fix up a failing building or build a new school that would enable them to ditch three portable classrooms and bring all the school's programs, including a kitchen and lunchroom, under one roof. It's no surprise they're happy with the decision to build the 45,000-square-foot school, which has an enrollment of nearly 100 students in kindergarten through eighth grade. "I'm just looking forward to the opportunities it presents to give our kids the best learning environment, the learning environment they deserve," said Deacon Don Blackbird, the school's principal and a St. Augustine alum. Classrooms aren't yet outfitted with all the technology teachers will have available to them, and electricians were at the school this week tweaking wiring in the gym, which has been used for some physical education classes already. That limited use of the building makes it harder for students and teachers to wait until August to move in. "The anticipation is building, and it's been worth the wait," Blackbird said. Many will get a long-awaited look inside Tuesday when a ribbon-cutting will be celebrated. Omaha Archbishop George Lucas will preside over Mass at St. Augustine Church, then bless the school. Tribal elders will conduct a cedar blessing to be followed by a drum ceremony. The formalities will be fun, Beran said, but the real excitement comes in August, when students will step inside their new school to begin a new school year. "That's actually what I'm looking forward to most is seeing them enter for the first time," Beran said. At that point, the community will begin to reap the blessings they've received throughout the project. ORANGE CITY, Iowa The Iowa Court of Appeals will travel to Orange City next month for a special session designed to give more people a chance to observe the court. The court will be in session at 10 a.m. May 4 in the DeWitt Theatre Arts Center (The Theora England Wilcox Theatre), 721 Albany Ave. SE. Oral arguments are open to the public, and a question-and-answer period will take place after the cases have been heard. Iowa Court of Appeals, 2023 The Iowa Court of Appeals will have a special session May 4 in Orange City. Court members are: front row, from left, Judge Sharon Soorholtz Gr The court will hear oral arguments in three cases: A Dickinson County divorce case, an Ida County estate case and a Dallas County drug possession case. Each year, the Court of Appeals and Iowa Supreme Court have one or more special sessions outside Des Moines. The sessions give Iowans who don't live near Des Moines a chance to see the courts in action. The Court of Appeals heard arguments in two cases last year during a session at the Woodbury County Courthouse in Sioux City. SIOUX CITY A Remsen, Iowa, man was sentenced Thursday to 32 years in prison for stabbing another man in Sioux City. Francisco Tapia, 25, pleaded guilty in Woodbury County District Court to three counts of willful injury and one count of second-offense possession of a controlled substance. An original charge of attempted murder was amended to two counts of willful injury as part of a plea agreement. District Judge James Daane sentenced Tapia according to terms of the plea agreement. Tapia must serve 15 years before he's eligible for parole. Tapia stabbed the other man three times in the back, right arm and right leg Jan. 14 in the 2700 block of Floyd Boulevard. Tapia assaulted the man inside a laundry, and as the victim was walking away, Tapia stabbed him. The victim was treated for potentially life-threatening injuries. Police officers viewing a surveillance video of the incident identified Tapia as the suspect and found him three hours later inside a garage in the 1500 block of 23rd Street sleeping in vehicle that did not belong to him, armed with a knife and in possession of psychedelic mushrooms. DENISON, Iowa A Sioux City man has been charged with stalking a Denison woman for several days before breaking into her home, handcuffing her and shocking her with a stun gun several times. Chance Michaels also is accused of possessing dozens of fake debit and credit cards, driver's licenses and Social Security cards. Assistant Crawford County Attorney Martha Sibbel on Tuesday filed charges of second-degree kidnapping, first-degree burglary, going armed with a dangerous weapon, assault while participating in a felony, possession of burglar tools, stalking, stalking -- unauthorized use of GPS, obstruction of emergency communications, possession of a controlled substance and 37 counts of forgery. Michaels, 49, is scheduled to be arraigned May 8 in Crawford County District Court. According to court documents, Michaels used 12 different phone numbers and seven email addresses to contact the woman several times from March 7-17 and placed a GPS tracker on her car. In the early morning hours of April 2, court documents said, Michaels, armed with a knife, broke into the woman's apartment and waited for her to come home. When the woman arrived, Michaels handcuffed her so she couldn't leave and shocked her six or seven times, telling her not to scream or he'd do it again. The shocks caused injuries to the woman's neck, back, shoulder and arm. At one point, the woman was able to call 911, and dispatchers heard her scream for help while Michaels told her to be quiet before the call was disconnected. Later in the day, Denison police arrested Michaels after a traffic stop. Officers found 36 fake debit and credit cards, driver's licenses and Social Security cards, in addition to fentanyl inside the car. Michaels is being charged as a habitual offender, an enhancement that increases prison sentences to 15 years on each charge, because of his previous felony convictions. Court documents show Michaels was convicted of third-degree sexual abuse in Plymouth County in 1999 and domestic abuse and false imprisonment in Woodbury County in 2014. In the Woodbury County case, Michaels was sentenced to six years in prison for forcing his estranged wife into a car and injuring her. After police found the couple at Chautauqua Park, Michaels jumped into the Missouri River to avoid arrest but was pulled from the water with the help of civilians in a boat. SIOUX CITY -- A Sioux City man suspected in several Siouxland armed robberies faces a number of new charges in federal court. A superseding indictment filed Wednesday charges Kevon Spratt with bank robbery, attempted bank robbery, two counts of interference with commerce by robbery and four counts of use of a firearm during a crime of violence. Spratt, 30, previously pleaded not guilty of one count of possession of a firearm by a felon, a charge that's included with the new ones. An arraignment is scheduled for April 21 in U.S. District Court in Sioux City. According to court documents, Spratt is suspected of entering BankFirst in Onawa, Iowa, on Oct. 21 with an AR-15-type rifle, pointing it at the tellers and demanding money. The robber was handed $11,510 in cash, but dropped $990 in the bank lobby when trying to put the gun back in his pants. Spratt is also accused of threatening employees with a handgun during an Oct. 22 robbery of Bluff's Stop in Sergeant Bluff in which $482 was stolen and the Oct. 24 robbery of approximately $4,855 from Check Into Cash in Sioux City. On Nov. 14, Spratt is accused of displaying a handgun and assaulting a bank employee outside Pioneer Bank in Salix, Iowa, before entering the bank and searching through the teller drawers before fleeing without taking any cash. Spratt was arrested later that day when he was spotted driving on Interstate 29 and stopped by police. A handgun matching the appearance of a gun used in the robberies was found in the car, which closely resembled a car captured on surveillance videos at the scene of the other robberies. FBI agents reviewing Spratt's social media accounts found photos of him dressed in clothing matching clothes the robber was seen wearing in surveillance videos, holding a handgun consistent with the one seized from his car and holding an 8-inch-thick stack of cash. Tattoos in the photos also matched tattoos seen on the suspect in the surveillance videos. Spratt was originally charged with robbery, assault and gun charges in Woodbury County District Court, but those charges were dismissed after he was indicted in federal court. He is also suspected of robbing a Dakota City, Nebraska, convenience store and attempting to rob a Jefferson, South Dakota, convenience store during the same time period. Those incidents are outside the jurisdiction of Sioux City's federal court district. SIOUX CITY Improper disposal of smoking materials ignited a fire that severely damaged a home on Sioux City's north side Wednesday, according to fire officials. "Improper disposal of smoking materials ignited structural members in the rear of the structure," Sioux City Fire Rescue said in a statement released Thursday. At 10:40 a.m., Sioux City Fire Rescue was dispatched to 3106 Jackson St. for a structure fire. Firefighters observed heavy smoke coming from the two-story home. Upon entering the structure, they found heavy smoke and flames on the second floor. Two occupants and a pet were in the home when the fire broke out, but they were able to escape without injury. The Red Cross is assisting the family. Two minor firefighter injuries were reported. The home, which sustained severe fire and water damage, has been red-tagged by city officials, according to the statement. It took firefighters an extended period of time to suppress the fire, due to windy conditions. More than eight fire rigs were on scene, along with more than 25 firefighters and investigators. Residents are being urged to refrain from any activities that may ignite a fire, amid dry and windy conditions. STARKE, Fla. (AP) Florida executed a man known as the ninja killer on Wednesday for the 1989 slayings of a couple visiting the state from New Jersey. Louis Bernard Gaskin, 56, was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. after receiving a lethal injection, the governors office said. He was convicted of killing Robert Sturmfels, 56, and Georgette Sturmfels, 55, on Dec. 20, 1989, in their Flagler County winter home on Floridas northeastern coast. Gaskin woke up at 4:45 a.m. Wednesday and had his last meal at 9:45 a.m., Department of Corrections spokesperson Kayla McLaughlin Smith said during a news conference. The meal included BBQ pork ribs, pork and turkey neck, Buffalo wings, shrimp fried rice, french fries and water. Gaskin was visited by his sister Wednesday, but he did not meet with a spiritual adviser, McLaughlin Smith said. No relatives of the victims had arranged to be in the witness room during the execution, which was scheduled for 6 p.m. and started without delay. When asked if he had any final statement, Gaskin said: Justice is not about the crime. Its not about the criminal. Its about the law. He then referred to the legal proceedings surrounding his case and the appeals and finished his statement saying, Look at my case. Gaskin began receiving the lethal cocktail of drugs at 6:02 p.m., causing him to breathe heavily as his chest rose and fell under a white sheet. The prisons warden went to check on whether Gaskin was still conscious at 6:05 p.m. He didnt respond. Gaskins breathing appeared to stop at 6:07 p.m. A doctor entered the death chamber at 6:14 p.m. to examine Gaskin and declared him dead a minute later. Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis has been signing death warrants at a rapid pace this year as he prepares his widely expected presidential campaign. He oversaw only two executions in his first four years in office, both in 2019. Gaskin's execution came six weeks after Donald Dillbeck, 59, was put to death for the 1990 murder of Faye Vann, 44, in Tallahassee, and three weeks before the scheduled execution of Darryl B. Barwick for slaying Rebecca Wendt, 24, in 1986 in Panama City. Barring any stays for Barwick, it will be the shortest period that three executions have been carried out in Florida since three were put to death within 36 days in 2014 under former Gov. Rick Scott, also a Republican. Gaskins death marked the states 101st execution since the reinstatement of the death penalty in 1976. There are an additional 297 people on Floridas death row, which is located at Florida State Prison, about 40 miles (65 kilometers) southwest of Jacksonville. Gaskin, who was dubbed the ninja killer because he wore all-black ninja clothing during the crimes, shot his victims with a .22-caliber rifle, investigators said. He was convicted of first-degree murder. Property that he stole from the Sturmfels home a clock, two lamps and a videocassette recorder was found at his residence and were intended to be Christmas gifts for his girlfriend, according to investigators. He was also convicted of armed robbery, burglary and the attempted murder that same night of another couple who lived nearby. Local media reported at the time that Gaskin quickly confessed to the crimes and told a psychologist before his trial that he knew what he was doing. The guilt was always there, Gaskin said. The devil had more of a hold than God did. I knew that I was wrong. I wasnt insane. Jurors voted 8-4 in 1990 to recommend the death sentence, which the judge accepted. Florida law now requires a unanimous jury vote for capital punishment, although the Legislature could send DeSantis a bill this week that would allow 8-4 jury recommendations for capital punishment. The state and U.S. supreme courts rejected appeals Gaskin filed since his death warrant was signed. The latest denial came Tuesday. For decades, the pharmaceutical and biotech industry tried to avoid the politics of abortion. On Friday, that strategy came to a crashing halt. U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks lawless and unprecedented decision ordering the Food and Drug Administration to revoke approval of mifepristone, the first drug in a medication abortion, poses an existential threat to the entire industry: If upheld, the order would allow any doctor to file a lawsuit compelling the FDA to revoke approval of any drug they dislike. If any such suit succeeds, a single, handpicked judge could overrule the FDAs scientific determinations and issue a nationwide block on that medication. The drug need not have anything to do with reproductive health: vaccines, antibiotics, antidepressants, hormones, statins, painkillersall are vulnerable under Kacsmaryks decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Put simply, the battle against abortion has landed squarely on the doorstep of the biotech and pharma (biopharma) industry. And after evading the issue for so long, the industry leapt into action over the past five days: Nearly 600 executives (and counting), including some of the most prominent players in the field, have signed a scathing letter criticizing Kacsmaryks ruling as unscientific judicial activism that puts an entire industry focused on medical innovation at risk. Their letter demands the swift reversal of this decision, noting that it puts any drug at risk of the same outcome. An amicus brief filed on behalf of biopharma heavyweights (including Pfizer) similarly warns that the decision will result in a seismic shift in the clinical development and drug approval processes, erecting unnecessary and unscientific barriers to the approval of lifesaving medicines, chilling drug development and investment, threatening patient access, and destabilizing the pharmaceutical industry. Advertisement This reaction suggests that the anti-abortion movement has made a grievous tactical error: In its reckless quest to obtain a nationwide block on mifepristone, the movement has awakened a sleeping giant, turning biopharma into an extremely well-funded and politically connected foe. That tectonic shift has major implications not only for this particular case, but for the rights broader efforts to use the courts as a shortcut to a 50-state abortion ban. Abortion rights advocates just gained one of the most powerful corporate allies in the country. Advertisement Even though medication abortion was approved in 2000, most biopharma companies want nothing to do with it. For 19 years, just one drugmaker, Danco Laboratories, manufactured the medication for termination of pregnancies; only in 2019 did one other company bring a generic version to market. The drug industry has largely avoided advocacy around abortion rights, but that tactic is no longer possible. For decades, FDA approval has served as the global gold standard of scientific review; now a lone judge has undermined its authority, abolishing the agencys longtime role as the final arbiter of which drugs are safe and effective. Advertisement Advertisement To see why Fridays decision imperils the entire biopharma field, start with Kacsmaryks attempt to establish standing for the plaintiffs, a group of anti-abortion doctors. To sue in federal court, the Constitution requires plaintiffs to establish a concrete and particularized injury that is actual or imminent. To meet these requirements, the doctors in Kacsmaryks case said they might treat a future patient who is injured by mifepristone thats prescribed by someone else. Thats a totally speculative and generalized injurythe opposite of concrete and imminent. Incredibly, Kacsmaryk still embraced this theory of standing, brazenly defying binding Supreme Court precedent in the process. Advertisement Advertisement By doing so, he set off alarm bells for every drug manufacturer in the country. Why? Because his theory has no limiting principle: It opens the floodgates to nonstop lawsuits against FDA-approved medicines. Imagine, for instance, that Doctor A gives the COVID vaccine to his patient. The patient suffers side effects and goes to Doctor B for treatment. According to Kacsmaryk, Doctor B can now walk into federal court and ask for an order revoking FDA approval of the COVID shot. If the judge agrees, he can single-handedly issue a nationwide block on the shot. Advertisement Actually, its even worse: In this scenario, Doctor B does not even have to treat a patient who suffered side effects from the vaccine. They need only claim that they may one day have to do so. And that, per Kacsmaryk, is enough to establish standing. The exact same scenario could play out with any other drug, but controversial treatments would be most vulnerable. For example, Republicans are currently taking aim at PrEP, an extremely effective HIV prevention drug thats commonly prescribed to gay and bisexual men, longtime targets of the GOPs ire. Under Kacsmaryks theory, an anti-gay doctor could stroll into federal court and ask a judge to revoke the FDAs approval of PrEP because, at some point in the future, they might treat a PrEP user who suffers side effects. Rinse and repeat with any drug under fire: hormones and puberty blockers prescribed for gender-affirming care; emergency contraception and birth control pills; the HPV vaccine (which Republicans are also assailing in court)the list goes on. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In truth, no drug would be safe: Innovative new therapies frequently draw challenges from fringe groups that allege some conspiracy in the approval process. (Just look to the anti-vax fervor of the past few years.) In fact, Kacsmaryks ruling against mifepristone itself rests in part on a conspiracy theory about the FDA. There will always be someone eager to challenge a new drug in court. And, sadly, there are plenty of fringe doctors willing to play their part in such a scheme. Thats why, as industry leaders explained, the district courts lawless opinion will empower any plaintiff to grind drug approvals to a halt, disrupting patients access to critical medicines. All that said, this strategy only works if the plaintiffs can persuade a judge that the FDA erred so grievously in approving a drug that a court must overturn its decision. Before the mifepristone case, such a power grab was unthinkable; never before in history had a judge claimed the authority to revoke FDA approval of a medication. Judges are not scientists or doctors, and they lack the competence to second-guess an expert agency. Advertisement Yet Kacsmaryk blew past this limitation, too: The judge ignored nearly 150 studies proving that mifepristone is extremely safe and instead relied upon anonymous blog posts on an anti-abortion website to argue that the drug is, in fact, dangerous and under-regulated. If allowed to stand, his decision sets a new precedent allowing any judge to overrule the FDAs judgment by disregarding the science behind its decisions. Advertisement Advertisement It gets worse. Kacsmaryk fabricated stringent new rules for clinical trials, requiring many drugs to undergo head-to-head trials that directly compare two different treatments. The judge just made this up: No statute or regulation requires such trials, and the FDA has always accepted many different kinds of studies. Kacsmaryk also concocted draconian new labeling rules and reporting requirements: Perversely, he barred label updates that reflect new research and FDA consideration of crucial safety information reported by drugmakers. As the biopharma amicus brief explains, this anti-scientific approach would chill crucial research and development, undermine the viability of investments in this important sector, and wreak havoc on drug development and approval generally, causing widespread harm to patients, providers, and the entire pharmaceutical industry. Advertisement Advertisement No wonder, then, that the Biotechnology Innovation Organizationthe largest advocacy group representing the international biotech industryscorned Kacsmaryks dangerous decision for undermining the FDA and creating regulatory uncertainty that will impede the development of important new treatments and therapies. Or that Jeremy Levin, CEO of Ovid Therapeutics, called the ruling one of the greatest threats to drug approvals in the last 50 years. Or that the leaders of Pfizer, Biogen, and hundreds of other companies signed onto the letter repudiating the ruling. The vast majority of these companies have no direct connection to abortion-related medicine. But they understand that the assault on mifepristone has become an assault on their ability to function. Advertisement In 2022, biopharma spent about $374 million in lobbying efforts. A huge amount of its campaign contributions go to Republican candidates. Its far too soon to say whether the mifepristone disaster will prompt companies and trade groups to send their money to candidates who do not think the judiciary should replace the FDAs judgment with its own.. But this case has forced executives to recognize that the anti-abortion movement will gladly declare war on biopharma to curb reproductive rights. The movement may come to regret its rash decision to pick a fight with a multitrillion dollar pillar of international medicine. Early Thursday morning, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals partially vindicated Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks lawless and unprecedented decision attempting to cut off access to mifepristone, the first drug in a medication abortion. Even the 5th Circuit could not defend Kacsmaryks attempt to revoke the Food and Drug Administrations approval of the drug, which it granted in 2000. But the appeals court agreed with him on nearly everything else, imperiling access to abortion in blue states. Thursdays decision, if enforced to the letter, would radically reduce access to the medicationand put abortion providers under serious threat of federal prosecution under the Comstock Act. Advertisement The FDA, however, has no legal obligation to enforce this ruling, for two reasons. First, and most importantly, the agency has vast discretion not to enforce ostensible violations of the law. It can, and should, simply say that it will not penalize providers who defy the 5th Circuits decisionand providers should follow the FDAs guidance, not the 5th Circuits. Second, the FDA is under a competing court order to preserve access to mifepristone in 17 blue states and the District of Columbia. At a bare minimum, the agency should acknowledge that it must pick one order over another. And the choice should be clear; the competing order more explicitly obligates the agency to maintain mifepristone access in most states where abortion remains legal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Because the 5th Circuit largely adopts Kacsmaryks off-the-wall theory of standingand because that theory has already been dismantled by expertstheres no need to dwell on the profound wrongness of the courts reasoning. The case really should have stopped with a straightforward explanation of why these plaintiffs, a group of anti-abortion doctors, have no standing to challenge mifepristone in court: They say they are injured because they might treat a future patient who is prescribed mifepristone by someone else. That speculation is not nearly enough to give the plaintiffs standing. But they got lucky: The randomly assigned 5th Circuit panel included Andrew Oldham and Kurt Engelhardt, two of the most extreme Donald Trump appointees in the entire federal judiciary. (The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is a more moderate George W. Bush appointee who wouldve stayed Kacsmaryks whole decision.) The ruling was obviously written by Oldham, as it bears all the judges rhetorical trademarks. These plaintiffs really could not have hoped for a more favorable judge to adjudicate their case. Advertisement Oldham agreed with Kacsmaryk that the doctors have standing because they assert that they have had to devote significant time and resources to caring for women experiencing mifepristones harmful effects, and because of the enormous stress and pressure physicians face in the emotionally taxing work of treating these women. And he held that the doctors anti-abortion organization has standing because the FDAs actions have frustrated their organizational efforts to educate their members and the public on the effects of mifepristone. Advertisement The only novel feature of the 5th Circuits analysis is that the court admits that the six-year statute of limitations for challenging such an agency action bars an attack on the original approval of mifepristone in 2000. So, instead, the appeals court suspends every FDA approval related to the drug since 2016. Those approvals reduced medication abortion patients required trips to the doctor from three to one, and then to zero (by allowing mifepristone to be mailed); allowed a generic version of the drug to be manufactured (thereby lowering costs); increased the period of pregnancy when mifepristone can be prescribed, from 50 days to 70; allowed medical providers other than doctors to prescribe the medication; and eliminated reporting requirements of certain adverse reactions (because 16 years of reporting had proved the drug was safe). The 5th Circuit grants the plaintiffs standing to challenge all those changes because, it asserts, the approvals made the risk of mifepristones complications even higher. That analysis extends Kacsmaryks already absurd logic to the point of parody. Advertisement Advertisement Having leapt that hurdle, the 5th Circuit spends less than three pages explaining why the FDAs gradual reduction of limits on mifepristone were illegal. It agrees with Kacsmaryk that the agency should not have eliminated mandatory reporting of certain adverse events, even though the FDA explained that 16 years of reporting proved the drug was extraordinarily safe and effective. (Its safer than Tylenol, Viagra, insulin, and most antibiotics.) This move, the court says, renders everything the FDA did around mifepristone from 2016 onward unlawful. And so it orders the agency to bring back all the drugs bygone restrictions. Although the decision is rather sloppy and vague, in nullifying every FDA action after 2016, the court also appears to overrule the 2019 approval of a generic version. There is, of course, no evidence the generic version is more dangerous than the brand name. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Then comes the coup de grace: The court finds that overruling the FDA is especially justified because the Comstock Act ostensibly outlawed the mailing of medication abortion. This notorious 1873 law was designed to preserve traditional sexual morality by giving the government sweeping powers to censor the mail. The act is so impossibly broad that federal courts have consistently interpreted it to encompass only acts that are intended to produce an illegal result. But the 5th Circuit strongly suggests thats wrong, and that the law criminalizes all carriage in interstate commerce of any drug, medicine, article, or thing designed for producing abortion. If thats true, then it lays the groundwork for a federal ban on abortion. All means of abortion invariably go through interstate commerce. Pills must be shipped to providers, even if they are not ultimately mailed to patients. The medical instruments used in procedural abortions must travel across state lines to reach their destination. In a modern economy, it is just inevitable that something designed for abortion will go through interstate commerce. The 5th Circuit appears to think thats all a federal crime. If its right, then the Comstock Act is effectively a 50-state abortion ban. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The Justice Department will now ask the Supreme Court for an emergency stay on the 5th Circuits ruling. The justices will have to respond one way or another, because of the competing orders: A federal judge in Washington state, Thomas Rice, has ordered the agency to continue allowing mifepristone, without the barriers resurrected by the 5th Circuit, in 17 states and D.C. Only the Supreme Court can resolve these mutually exclusive orders. In the meantime, the FDA should announce that it will not impose the barriers revived by the 5th Circuit, resting on its enforcement discretion. The agency has clear authority to say that it will not take any action against medical providers who do not comply with the 5th Circuits order. And no matter how the agency responds, doctors still retain clear authority to prescribe mifepristone off-label beyond 50 days of pregnancy. Advertisement Finally, if all else fails, abortion providers can start to prescribe misoprostol-only abortions. Misoprostol is usually the second drug used in medication abortion, but it is also effective on its ownthough it causes slightly more complications and discomfort. One irony of this case is that the plaintiffs say they want fewer patients suffering side effects from medication abortion, yet they acknowledge that a mifepristone ban will result in more misoprostol-only abortions, which produce more side effects. (That fact alone should defeat their claim to standing.) Advertisement Advertisement This whole case is a humiliating mess for the judiciary, and it remains very possible that at least five justices will see that. The 5th Circuit tried to strike a pose of moderation, but it failed badly. If the Supreme Court does not stay its decision, it will have allowed federal judges to overrule the FDAs expert authority for the first time, permanently undermining the gold standard of drug approval. This case is not just a threat to reproductive autonomy. It is a frontal assault on the entire biotech and pharmaceutical fields ability to function with constant, catastrophic interference from unelected judges who will impose their will at any cost. This article is an excerpt from Adams Legal Newsletter. Read the full post here. The views expressed in this publication are the authors views alone. On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk issued an order overturning the FDAs approval of mifepristone. The order will take effect within seven days unless it is stayed or reversed by a higher court. The court holds that the plaintiffs have standing, that their lawsuit was filed on time, that their lawsuit can proceed even though they did not make their arguments to the FDA, and that they win on the merits. Each of these holdings is egregiously wrong. This excerpt will walk through the courts errors on the issue of standing, which are sufficient to establish that a higher court should stay and ultimately reverse Judge Kacsmaryks decision. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The plaintiffs are organizations of pro-life doctors seeking to overturn the FDAs approval of mifepristone in 2000. Under a 2013 Supreme Court case called Clapper v. Amnesty International USA, the plaintiffs bear the burden of proving a certainly impending injury from the FDAs approval of mifepristone. Neither the organizations, nor their doctor-members, can meet that standard. The plaintiffs philosophical disagreement with abortion does not give them standing to seek a federal court order banning all doctors nationwide from prescribing mifepristone to their patients. The district court nonetheless finds that the plaintiffs have both associational standing (based on injuries suffered by their doctor-members) and organizational standing (based on injuries to the organizations themselves). Both holdings are profoundly wrong. Advertisement The court starts with associational standing. It begins by reciting assertions from the plaintiffs filings and declaring, without additional analysis, that they establish standing. For example, the court quotes the plaintiffs assertions that chemical abortion drugs can overwhelm the medical system and consume crucial limited resources such as blood for transfusions. These allegations do not establish standing. To establish standing, the doctor-members must show that they personally face an imminent risk of concrete and particularized injury. Vague speculation that someday, somewhere, some unspecified doctor will be overwhelmed by an onslaught of patients coming to the ER after taking mifepristone does not establish that these particular doctors face an imminent risk of a concrete and particularized injury. Advertisement Also, these allegations are disconnected from reality. Mifepristone has been on the market for the past 23 years. Patients suffering complications from mifepristone abortions have not overwhelmed the medical system or rendered blood unavailable for transfusions. The agency record shows that the rates of transfusions are 0-0.1 percent and hospitalization is 0-0.7 percent. The judge was required to defer to these factual findings if substantial evidence supports them, which it does: The FDA reached these conclusions by compiling eleven studies containing data on over 30,000 patients. Advertisement Advertisement How does the court deal with these facts? It doesnt. The court appears completely uninterested in conducting any kind of neutral evaluation of whether the plaintiffs allegations are true. It simply quotes them and declares victory for the plaintiffs. The court appears completely uninterested in conducting any kind of neutral evaluation of whether the plaintiffs allegations are true. The court also credits the plaintiffs allegation that the doctors may be forced to be made complicit in an elective chemical abortion by forcing them into a situation in which they need[] to remove a baby with a beating heart or pregnancy tissue as the only means to save the life of the woman or girl. It doesnt appear that any of the doctor-members have ever had to involuntarily remove a baby with a beating heart as a result of an unsuccessful mifepristone abortion; its unclear whether this has happened to any doctor, ever. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But even if it has, its absurd to suggest that this is a certainly impending outcome for these doctors. Think of what these doctors are saying: They are claiming standing to ban all women from obtaining mifepristone from all doctors in all 50 states, and force all of these women to obtain surgical abortions if they want to terminate their pregnancies, in order to ward off against the hypothetical possibility that some unspecified woman, somewhere, might someday take mifepristone, have some extremely unusual reaction, enter a hospital, and randomly encounter one of these particular doctors, who personally will have to conduct an extremely rare surgical procedure to save the womans life, which will lead to the doctor experiencing emotional harm from being complicit with abortion. Really? Advertisement Next, the court says: Plaintiffs also argue the challenged action prevent Plaintiff doctors from practicing evidence-based medicine and have caused Plaintiffs to face increased exposure to allegations of malpractice and potential liability, along with higher insurance costs. Each of these allegations is weaker than the last. The plaintiff doctors dont prescribe mifepristone, so the fact that other doctors choose to do so does not prevent them from practicing evidence-based medicine. It is a joke to say that the plaintiff doctors face a certainly impending injury on the theory that the FDAs approval of mifepristone 23 years ago might lead to some unspecified hypothetical lawsuit at some point in the future. And it is totally speculative to suggest that insurance costs will decrease if the plaintiffs prevail. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement It gets worse. Even though literally millions of women have taken mifepristone, and there are many studies exhaustively studying the health effects of mifepristone, the district judge does not feel that there are enough studies, and therefore feels that women and girls are prevented from giving informed consent to providers. Of course, this does not establish that the plaintiffs, who are pro-life doctors who do not prescribe mifepristone to their patients, have standing to block other doctors from prescribing mifepristone. But lets set that point aside for a moment and see how the court justifies its conclusion regarding informed consent. The court rests its analysis on a study: Women also perceive the harm to the informed-consent aspect of the physician-patient relationship. In one study, fourteen percent of women and girls reported having received insufficient information about (1) side effects, (2) the intensity of the cramping and bleeding, (3) the next steps after expelling the aborted human, and (4) potential negative emotional reactions like fear, uncertainty, sadness, regret, and pain. See Katherine A. Rafferty & Tessa Longbons, #AbortionChangesYou: A Case Study to Understand the Communicative Tensions in Womens Medication Abortion Narratives, 36 HEALTH COMMCN. 1485, 148594 (2021). Plaintiff physicians lack of pertinent information on chemical abortion harms their physician-patient relationships because they cannot receive informed consent from the women and girls they treat in their clinics. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement What is this study? Its a study consisting of an analysis of anonymous blog posts on a pro-life website. A group called the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care maintains a website called Abortion Changes You that, among other things, includes anonymous blog posts of women who regretted having abortions. In the study, the authors try to draw conclusions from these blog posts. Heres a quote from the abstract: Advertisement Our contrapuntal analysis rendered four sites of dialectical tension found across womens blog posts: only choice vs. other alternatives, unprepared vs. knowledgeable, relief vs. regret, and silence vs. openness. Each site of struggle characterized a different noteworthy moment within a womans medication abortion experience: the decision, the medication abortion process, identity after abortion, and managing the stigmatizing silence before and after the abortion. Advertisement To recap: Judge Kacsmaryk asserts that fourteen percent of women and girls report having received insufficient information, without revealing that the entire sample consists of anonymous blog posts on a pro-life website designed for women who regret their abortions. Perhaps this sample might not be reflective of the entire universe of women who have abortions? I would also not say that the methodology of this study is ironclad. The authors methodology consists of scanning anonymous blog posts for words such as but: Advertisement Women used negating when saying, cant, not, couldnt, and never. Examples of countering were most apparent when women used the word but. Entertaining often occurred when women used the words possibility and could have. Finally, we identified where and how competing discourses interpenetrated. Advertisement The sample size consists of 98 blog posts. You might think this is a small sample size, but actually it turns out that the authors applied their methodology on only 54 blog posts, decided theyd had enough, and then decided to skim the rest for good quotes: Data were analyzed until the point of theoretical saturation (i.e., no new thematic categories were present in the blog posts; Strauss & Corbin, Citation1990), which occurred after the 54th blog post. However, we continued to analyze the remaining blog posts in an effort to verify that our analysis of the discourses evident in the 54 posts accurately reflected all of the posts within the entire data set. Further, we wanted to extract the best exemplars from the entire case study and desired that quotations within all posts be considered for representation. Advertisement Advertisement And again, I am totally lost on how this shows that pro-life doctors who never even prescribe mifepristone have standing to seek an order banning all women from taking mifepristone. Advertisement Advertisement The court then claims that Plaintiff medical associations have associational standing via their members third-party standing to sue on behalf of their patients. This section reveals that the court does not understand what third-party standing means. Third-party standing is something that plaintiffs sometimes have to show in addition tonot instead ofArticle III standing. Plaintiffs always, 100 percent of the time, have to show what the Supreme Court has called the irreducible constitutional minimum of standing under Article III: (1) a concrete and particularized injury that is (2) caused by the defendants action and (3) redressable by the requested relief. In some cases, a plaintiff that has standing asserts that some action harming them is illegal because it violates someone elses rights. In that case, they bear the additional burden of showing they are entitled to assert the rights of that third party. Thats third party standing. Advertisement Lawsuits by abortion providers challenging abortion restrictions are a classic illustration of the third-party standing doctrine in action. In most cases, especially pre-Dobbs, abortion restrictions target abortion providers rather than women seeking abortions: If a provider performs an abortion in violation of state law, the provider is punished. Abortion providers who sue states seeking to enjoin abortion restrictions have obvious Article III standing. They face a concrete and particularized injury (the state is going to shut them down and incarcerate their doctors if they perform illegal abortions); its caused by the state, which enforces the law; and an order enjoining the state from enforcing the law would redress the injury. I find it bizarre to suggest that the plaintiffs have a close relationship with this totally conjectural class of patients. In challenging those laws pre-Dobbs, the providers would claim that the laws are unconstitutional because they violate their patients constitutional right to an abortion. Thus, although the providers were the direct targets of the law, the providers legal theory was that the laws were unconstitutional because they violated the constitutional rights of third partiesthat is, their patients. In this context, courts would consider whether the providers were permitted to assert the legal interests of their patients under a doctrine known as third-party standing, or whether instead the plaintiffs had to be women seeking abortions. So, for plaintiffs who already had Article III standing, courts would consider whether the plaintiffs also had third-party standing. Advertisement Advertisement The district judge doesnt understand this. He says: The injuries suffered by patients of the Plaintiff medical associations members are sufficient to confer associational standing. In other words, he thinks that if hypothetical patients have Article III standing, this means that the doctor-members of the plaintiff organizations can also assert third-party standing without a showing that the doctor-members themselves were injured. Standing does not work this way; this is completely wrong. Even if standing did work this way, the courts application of the doctrine would still be wrong. Lets start with the black-letter law. To establish third-party standing, a plaintiff must typically show two things: (1) the party asserting the right has a close relationship with the person who possesses the right, and (2) there is a hindrance to the possessors ability to protect his own interests. In assessing third-party standing, courts also consider whether there is a conflict of interest between the party asserting the right and the party possessing the right. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The right at issue is the right to be safe from dangerous drugs. So, I guess, the women who face certainly impending harm from mifepristone are women who are considering taking mifepristone and must be protected from their own bad decisions. Do the plaintiffs have a close relationship with those women? Obviously not! They are other doctors patients. The plaintiff-doctors dont even know who they are! The court holds otherwise, finding that the plaintiff-doctors have the requisite close relationship to women who, in the future, will take mifepristone prescribed by other doctors, have complications, and then switch to the plaintiff-doctors. I find it bizarre to suggest that the plaintiffs have a close relationship with this totally conjectural class of patients. But even assuming these hypothetical patients ever actually materialize, by the time the plaintiff-doctors see the patients, they have already taken the mifepristone and wouldnt benefit from an order banning it. Its literally never the case that any of the plaintiffs actual patients could benefit from an order banning mifepristone. Advertisement Advertisement I am also wowed by this statement by the court: Here, the physician-patient dynamic favors third-party standing. Unlike abortionists suing on behalf of women seeking abortions, here there are no potential conflicts of interest between the Plaintiff physicians and their patients. Advertisement Really? There are no potential conflicts of interest between women who want to use mifepristone to have an abortion and doctors who are seeking to ban them from using mifepristone? The court also finds that that the plaintiffs patients have a hindrance to asserting their own rights. It claims that women who have already obtained an abortion may be more hindered than women who challenge restrictions on abortion because adverse abortion experiences that are often deeply traumatizing pose a hindrance to a womans ability to bring suit. The court doesnt seem to realize that women who have already obtained an abortion dont have standing based on the prior abortion. The plaintiffs arent seeking damages to redress prior harms; they are seeking an injunction to redress future harms. These women dont have standing unless they wish to obtain an additional abortion, in which case there is a rather obvious conflict of interest between those women and the plaintiffs who seek to ban them from getting the medical care they want. Advertisement Satisfied that there is associational standing, the court then turns to organizational standing. The court finds that because of FDAs failure to require reporting of all adverse events, FDAs actions have frustrated their ability to educate and inform their member physicians, their patients, and the public on the dangers of chemical abortion drugs. And: Plaintiffs have re-calibrated their outreach efforts to spend extra time and money educating their members about the dangers of chemical abortion drugs. Advertisement Advertisement This theory of standing directly contradicts Supreme Court precedent and cant possibly be right. First, Clapper v. Amnesty International USA, explicitly rejects this diversion-of-resources theory unless the diversion of resources is curing the members injury caused by the challenged law (in which case organizational standing adds nothing to associational standing). Advertisement Advertisement The district court fails to cite Clapper in its discussion of organizational standing. Instead, it offers this citation to a post-Clapper 5th Circuit case: See also Zimmerman v. City of Austin, Tex., 881 F.3d 378, 390 (5th Cir. 2018) (changing ones plans or strategies in response to an allegedly injurious law can itself be a sufficient injury to confer standing). Looks promising! But heres what Zimmerman actually says (emphasis mine): Finally, while changing ones campaign plans or strategies in response to an allegedly injurious law can itself be a sufficient injury to confer standing, the change in plans must still be in response to a reasonably certain injury imposed by the challenged law. Oh. In addition to directly contradicting Supreme Court precedent, the district courts theory implies that any organization can immediately manufacture standing to challenge any rule in the entire world it thinks would harm safety. Its simple: Advertisement Federal agency does something that the organization thinks is unsafe. Organization now has to start educating people about safety, which it wouldnt have to do without the rule. Organization has less money to do other things. And actually, I dont even see why the rule would have to be a safety rule, presumably it could be any rule: Federal agency enacts rule. Organization doesnt like rule, spends money educating people about why rule is bad. Organization has less money to do other things. Presto, standing! The district court doesnt identify any kind of limiting principle. It just blows past this. The court then spends some time explaining why it thinks the injuries are concrete and redressable The Supreme Court has held that an injury cannot give rise to standing unless it is certainly impending, and the court finds that this standard is satisfied. The courts reasoning boils down to this: Plaintiffs declarations list specific events where Plaintiff physicians provided emergency care to women suffering from chemical abortion. And based on those past events, plaintiffs have good reasons to believe their alleged injuries will continue in the future, and possibly with greater frequency than in the past. That doesnt sound certainly impending to me, but the court assures us that the certainly impending standard for an imminent injury is not as demanding as it sounds. Advertisement Advertisement The problem here is that the organizations have no idea which doctor-members will be harmed, or who the hypothetical future patients will be; theyre simply saying that statistically, its likely that some unspecified doctors will be harmed in the future by encountering future patients who show up in the emergency room. The Supreme Court has rejected this exact theory of standing in Summers v. Earth Island Institute, a 2009 decision by Justice Scalia: The dissent proposes a hitherto unheard-of test for organizational standing: whether, accepting the organizations self-description of the activities of its members, there is a statistical probability that some of those members are threatened with concrete injury This novel approach to the law of organizational standing would make a mockery of our prior cases, which have required plaintiff-organizations to make specific allegations establishing that at least one identified member had suffered or would suffer harm. The court fails to cite this binding Supreme Court precedent in its decision. To sum up, the courts analysis of standing directly contradicts binding precedent, relies on skewed evidence, and would yield absurd consequences. For that reason alone, the courts decision should be reversed and the case should be dismissed. Tennessee Democrats just showed that making noise, pissing off their political enemies, and making even more noise can pay off. Less than a week after Republicans expelled two young, Black state representatives from the state Legislature for participating in a protest calling for gun control, both lawmakers are back in the statehouse with a stronger popular mandate than ever. Justin Pearson and Justin Jones have brought national attention to the antidemocratic practices of the Republican-run state. And theyve helped pressure the Tennessees Republican governor so significantly that he has already signed on to new gun-control measures and signaled a willingness to pursue further action. Advertisement In the direct aftermath of a March 27 mass shooting at a school in Nashville, Republican Gov. Bill Lee was calling for prayers and nothing more. Now he has signed an executive order strengthening background checks, and is urging the Legislature to pass some type of red flag law. And his fellow Republicans will now be forced to put their names on the record voting up or down the 15 gun-control bills that Jones told CNN hell be introducing; Lee will likely have to comment on them in some way as well. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement All of that happened in part because the so-called Tennessee ThreePearson, Jones, and a third state representative, Gloria Johnsondid what Democratic pundits have sworn is dangerous, costly, and ill-advised: They fought back aggressively against Republicans; embraced young, grassroots groups; and even broke some rules in the process. Jones and Pearsons subsequent expulsions drew thousands of people, especially young people, into the political fray, marching and protesting on behalf of gun control and the expelled pols. They kicked off a fundraising boomlet in a state where Democrats have had little to celebrate for years. As one former Democratic candidate for Congress noted, it has resulted in the best front page of the Tennessean for Democrats in over 20 years. Advertisement This is the best front page of the Tennessean for Democrats in over twenty years. pic.twitter.com/2KqTX3i3bL Christopher Hale (@chrisjollyhale) April 12, 2023 Advertisement That approach is the exact opposite of the one that has long been preached by liberal pundits, campaign strategists, and southern Democratic parties in particular. For years, it has been treated as common sense that Democrats in red and purple states need to triangulate aggressively and make themselves increasingly indistinguishable from Republicans. Their efforts are often based on highlighting similarities to Republicans, not maximizing their differences. Fund the police. Close down that border. Definitely do not protest inside the state Capitol. Advertisement Advertisement On guns especially, this logic is supposed to be even more sacrosanct. (Some centrist pundits continue to hold this line). In a little over a week, Jones and Pearson have shown that fighting back is a winner both policy-wise and politicallyand theyve even drawn a national spotlight to the extremely antidemocratic practices that shut Democrats out of power in the first place. Indeed, a group of Democratic U.S. senators, including Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Raphael Warnock, just formally petitioned Attorney General Merrick Garland to have the Justice Department investigate the expulsion of Jones and Pearson. In their letter, they ask that the DOJ determine whether any violations of the United States Constitution or federal civil rights laws have occurred, and to take all steps necessary to uphold the democratic integrity of our nations legislative bodies. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement If those Tennessee Republicans dont ultimately face scrutiny from the feds, theyre at least getting a drubbing at home. Last week, it seemed like fighting for their principles would cost Jones and Pearson their jobs. This week, it seems like its only benefited them and their party. (Though there is a risk that funding to Shelby County, where Memphis is, will be cut in retaliation over Pearson being reinstated). In the meantime, Democrats have started to loosen the Republican stranglehold on state politics, a development which would have seemed impossible just weeks ago, and that the party would have paid almost any amount to secure. Its easy to forget now that abortion rights have been widely embraced as a political winner for Democrats nationally, but the conversation and strategy on abortion followed a similar line until very recently. Democrats tiptoed around the issue and were hesitant to say the word outright or pledge any firm action. Even in the wake of the Supreme Courts decision to overrule Roe v. Wade last year, there were Biden White House officials and senior Democrats in Congress who didnt want to make too much of it for fear of blowback. They instead fell back on an old refrain: Theres nothing we can do until you vote for more of us. It would have been very easy to say the same in Tennessee. Advertisement Advertisement Theres certainly a generational gap at play here. Older Democrats have clung to these outmoded notions and fought to keep grassroots groups at bay, which has proven again and again to be a losing approach. Younger Democrats dont have that problem. And the last two election cycles have proven activating young voters is the key to Dems electoral success. Meanwhile, national Democrats would be wise to take a lesson from this saga. Despite their newfound willingness to embrace the word abortion, theyve still resisted doing what Pearson, Jones, and Johnson did: Cast aside their chambers decorum, written and unwritten, to fight for their principles. There are any number of ways this could have gone in the first two years of the Biden administration: getting rid of the filibuster and passing abortion protections, getting rid of blue slips that are holding up judicial nominations, overriding the Senate parliamentarian to pass a minimum wage increase. Tennessee is not going to turn blue because of these two representatives; neither will many of the fiercely gerrymandered states where Democratic party apparatuses have withered and collapsed and the party is simply not competitive. But thats not to say this is just a one-off, either. Even in the south, the suburbs are full of winnable voters for whom gun control is a meaningful issue. For places where Democrats have struggled to even figure out where to start, Tennessee, one of the least Democratic places in the country, can now be a model. Over the past week, hundreds of articles have been written warning the public not to charge cellphones at airport or hotel USB ports. Most of the news items cite a recent tweet from the FBI, which includes the menacing detail that bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto 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 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement FBI warns against using public phone charging stations, CNBC wrote on Monday. FBI says public phone chargers may put your data at risk: What to know, the Washington Post wrote on Tuesday. As of Wednesday afternoon, CNN and Good Morning America were dominating Google News business headlines with their coverage of the threat, which many referred to as juice jacking. For those of us who tend to find ourselves holding a phone thats about to die in a situation that urgently requires keeping it on, this was terrifying news. As it turns out, though, not only is the scam not increasing, theres little evidence that it has ever posed a real threat to the general public. And what actually did happen, I found after contacting multiple government agencies, is this: On April 6, someone in the FBIs field office in Denver decided to resurface an old warning about juice jacking that the Federal Communications Commission had in fact posted to its sitein 2019. Advertisement It was a standard PSA-type postnothing new, Vikki Migoya, an FBI spokesperson in Denver, told me in an email. Because its the FBI, hundreds of news outlets and content creators took it seriously and acted as if something new had happened, though an FCC spokesperson assured me that it hadnt and said that the agency was surprised by the newfound attention to the issue. Still, because the FCC was suddenly getting so many inquiries about the topic, it decided to update its original tips page and put out multiple tweets about the scam on April 11, which further reinforced the false idea that authorities had just uncovered some sort of malicious juice-jacking ring. Think twice before using public charging stations. Hackers could be waiting to gain access to your personal information by installing malware and monitoring software to your devices. This scam is referred to as juice jacking. https://t.co/hzLl2ZFTB5#juicejacking The FCC (@FCC) April 11, 2023 Advertisement Advertisement Ultimately what the whole scenario offers is not a warning to avoid public charging stations, but a reminder that verified social media accounts from government agencies are uniquely equipped to create unfounded mass hysteria. I first began to suspect that this story was a hyped-up mess when I went looking for a concrete example of someone who had been juice jacked. On TikTok I found reports that all citizens should be aware of the scam, which had been increasing. Buffalo-based country-radio station 106.5 WYRK also implied that it was a particularly serious local issue, warning,DO NOT Use Public USB Chargers in New York State. But on social media, the only first-person accounts of getting #juicejacked I could find involved a vegan and a fighter getting jacked up on actual juice and someone who can not confirm 100% but had noticed odd behavior. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Why couldnt I find any actual people charged with or victimized by juice jacking, I asked Andy Thompson, an offensive cybersecurity evangelist at CyberArk, an information security company. Because it doesnt exist, he explained. Zulfikar Ramzan, the chief scientist at the consumer cybersecurity company Aura, agreed, There isnt much evidence to show that juice jacking is a widespread problem, he said, but it still remains a real security threat. Indeed, from a proof of concept perspective it works, Thompson told me. Cybersecurity analysts have known about this hypothetical threat since 2011, he said, when it made headlines at DefCon, the annual hacker convention in Las Vegas. It is possible, as the FCC site suggests, that malware installed through a corrupted USB port can lock a device or export personal data and passwords directly to the perpetrator. Criminals can then, in theory, steal valuable passwords or other private data or install spyware. But its really only considered to be a desirable attack method for hackers, he said, if they are targeting a particular individual, like a high-level executive, government official, a political dissident, or an investigative journalist. In that case, Thompson said, its more common to replace a cable in that persons office or other space that they will definitely use, he said, rather than sabotaging a public port. It also helps that new Androids and iPhones ask users whether they want to share their data or charge only when they plug into a USB port that is set uptransparently or covertlyto capture data. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement So how did we get to this weeks new cycle? Asked if there was a particular incident or series of incidents that prompted the tweet, the FBI spokesperson in Denver apologized. I am sorry I cant give you an answer that is more newsy, she wrote. Rather, it stemmed from this FCC warning she said, linking the 2019 statement. The reason the FBI social media person shared it is because the agency regularly provides reminders and public service announcements in conjunction with our partners, she wrote. In other words, it seems that the FBI, like every many other entities in America, feels the need to put out content and turns to old stuff when nothing new is going on (hey, Slates been there). But instead of taking the approach of many news organizations, which highlight the date when they resurface old content, the FBI took more of a meme-account approach. Not only was there no date to suggest this was an old warning, it didnt even bother to link out the FCC, where the information came from. Advertisement Many news outlets, eager to build out a story about the FBI tweet, managed to find the FCC statement on their own. (Or perhaps the FBI sent it to them in response to a request for comment.) But rather than undermine the story, it served to bolster it. Not only the FBI but also the FCC were warning about this! Now this scam must be really scary! as the New York Post reported. Advertisement Advertisement An FCC spokesman said that the agency put out the original 2019 tip page in response to actual consumer complaints, but could not offer any additional details about those communications and said the agency had no reason to believe the scam had increased in recent years. Among details the FCC page includes is this: There have even been reports of infected cables being given away as promotional gifts. The spokesperson was not familiar with these reports, but directed me to a 2019 New York Times article and statement from the L.A. County DAs office about the scam. As it turns out, the New York Times article did not include any actual victims either. And when TechCrunch followed up with the L.A. County DA in 2019, it found that it has no cases of juice jacking on its books, though the DAs office said there are known cases on the East Coast, but could not elaborate on them. All of this is to say, make sure you have a fully charged portable charger with you at all times. Buy a USB condomas many call hacker-prevention devicesand consider bringing a cord that can be plugged into an actual electrical outlet. But if you cant, because you are a normal human and your phone is dying, just know that it will probably be OK if you use a public USB port. Future Tense is a partnership of Slate, New America, and Arizona State University that examines emerging technologies, public policy, and society. New details of secret American documents that have found their way online are coming to the public, and they also talk about the war in Ukraine, among other things. This time the content is related to the Secretary General of the United Nations, Guterres. The US is said to believe that the latter is too accommodating to Moscow and that he would be willing to violate Western sanctions in order to reach an agreement on the export of grain. Putin and Guterres at the 2018 meeting PHOTO: AP New details from classified US documents indicate that the Pentagon is also keeping a close eye on the United Nations (UN). According to the records, the US government believed he was the secretary general of the assembly Antonio Guterres too willing to accommodate Russian interests. Leaked documents online show Guterres Washington followed very closely. Several US documents that have surfaced online detail Guterres private communications. The documents also contain frank comments from the secretary-general about the war in Ukraine, as well as several world leaders, the BBC reports. Guterres was ready to break sanctions for the grain export deal One of the American documents refers to the agreement on grain in the Black Sea, which the UN concluded with Turkey last year due to fear of a global food crisis. In it, however, it is written that Guterres wanted so badly to conclude an agreement that he was ready to accommodate Russian interests during the negotiations. A Russian soldier protects grain stocks in the port PHOTO: AP Guterres has stepped up his efforts to improve Russias situation, is recorded. Even if that includes dealings with sanctioned Russian entities or individuals. American intelligence even wrote that Guterres actions undermined broader efforts to hold Moscow accountable for its actions in Ukraine. Ukraine is one of the largest exporters of grain in the world, and due to the Russian invasion, about 20 million tons of grain remained blocked in Ukrainian ports months ago. However, under the auspices of the United Nations and Turkey, the two sides reached an agreement in July that allowed exports to continue. Since then, about 500 ships with a total of more than ten million tons of grain on board are said to have sailed from Ukraine. UN officials are not impressed with the content. Although they rarely speak in their comments, they defend Guterres in principle. One of the senior officials of the assembly said that he would not comment on the documents, as the UN is working led by the need to mitigate the impact of war on the worlds poorest and that they try to do everything they can to lower food prices or deliver fertilizers to poorer countries. Russian grain and fertilizers are not part of the Western sanctions packages against the country, but Russia is said to have more problems with exports. Moscow has repeatedly announced that international sanctions have a negative impact on the export of these unsanctioned goods, and they have threatened to withdraw from the agreement at least twice. The last time was less than a week ago, when Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said that Russia would terminate the agreement if there was no removal of barriers to exports. READ MORE Secret documents leaked: US spies on allies and adversaries He handled von der Leyna and other world leaders with a deputy Another document published on the Internet describes a conversation between the Secretary General and his deputy Amin Mohammed. It says yes Guterres he is not in favor of the appeals of the President of the European Commission Ursula von der LeyenEurope should produce more ammunition because of the war in Ukraine. He and Mohammed also spoke about the recent summit of African leaders, and his deputy said that she thought the Kenyan president William Ruto ruthless and that he doesnt trust him. READ MORE Exposing US Secret Documents: From Discord to 4chan Although it has been known to the public for many years that America regularly spies on the UN, the disclosure of the information can be very harmful for the diplomat to whom it relates. The first screenshots of confidential documents that foreign media were able to verify appeared on Discord, one of the platforms that is very popular among gamers. These then spread further through online and social networks. Discord said on Wednesday that it is working with US authorities to uncover the source. Pentagon spokesman John Kirby but at the same time he emphasizes that matters will get to the bottom. If you buy something through our links, we may earn money from our affiliate partners. Learn more. If youre a busy business person looking for a creative outlet and a fun way to keep organized and productive, the 25 bullet journal printables well reveal in this article are the perfect solution. With one simple package, you can easily stay on top of your day-to-day while still indulging in creative tasks. This post will cover what is a bullet journal and go over several options you can print and use today. Lets dive in! What is a Bullet Journal and Why Should You Use One? A bullet journal is a versatile, customizable time and task management tool that consists of bullet journal printables and printable planner pages. Its been primarily used by college students, teens, and bullet journalists to organize college life, but it can also be an incredibly useful tool for business people looking to juggle their workloads. With bullet journal printables, business people are able to stay organized while still having fun and being creative. The Benefits of Using Bullet Journaling With bullet journaling, businesspeople can enjoy the benefits of better organization and productivity. Bullet journals offer easy-to-use printable bullet journal pages that make it simple to track projects, tasks, and to-dos. Some benefits include: Improved focus: A bullet journal helps you stay focused on what needs to get done each day by providing a visual representation of goals and tasks. More efficient processes: By using a bullet journal, you can set up processes that help you work more efficiently and get more done in less time. Better collaboration: You can use a bullet journal to keep your team on the same page, making it easier to collaborate effectively and complete projects quickly. You can use a bullet journal to keep your team on the same page, making it easier to collaborate effectively and complete projects quickly. Enhanced problem-solving skills: A bullet journal makes it easier to break down complex problems into manageable chunks, allowing for faster problem-solving. A bullet journal makes it easier to break down complex problems into manageable chunks, allowing for faster problem-solving. Increased motivation: Seeing completed tasks listed in a bullet journal provides an instant morale boost as well as motivation for completing future tasks. Printable Journal Pages and Other Things You Need to Start There are many places online to find both paid and free bullet journal templates. To start using bullet journal free printables and paid ones to create your own bullet journal, you will need: A computer or device with a PDF reader to download and view the printable pages. A printer to print out the journal pages in the desired size (e.g. letter size or A5). Paper or a notebook to print or glue the journal pages into. Writing tools such as pens, pencils, brush pens, or markers to fill out the journal pages. Glue stick or adhesive tape to attach the journal pages to the notebook or paper. Cute stickers or other decorative elements to add a personal touch to the journal. Printable bullet journal pages or bullet journal layout templates, which can be found online for free or purchased from various sources. How to Set up Your Bullet Journal for Success To set up a successful printable bullet journal, start with a clear idea of your goals and tasks. Use the index page to create a table of contents for easy reference. Create a monthly spread to visualize your goals and tasks for the month. Use a weekly log to break down your tasks and appointments for each week. Include trackers for habits or goals you want to work on, and use symbols to categorize tasks by priority or status. Finally, keeping track of your progress and evaluating your system regularly will help you make adjustments and stay productive. 25 Useful Printables to Help You Get Started Take your bullet journaling to the next level with this bullet journal collection of 25 printables. From habit trackers to weekly logs, these resources will help you create a successful bullet journal. 1. Bullet Journal Key This bundle includes 32 printable bullet journal pages covering organization, wellness, mental health, guided journaling, mindfulness, self-care, goals, and life planning. It is a digital download available in PDF format and includes all current and future printable products in the shop. Notifications for new products are also available upon ordering. 2. Bullet Journal Pages Printable The 2023 bullet journal bundle is a time-saving tool that combines the benefits of a traditional bullet journal with ready-made graphics. It is designed to help individuals organize their dreams, health, fitness, self-care, and finances, and achieve their goals. The bundle includes printable bullet journal printables for download with a handmade aesthetic and a digital bullet journal that can be imported to various notetaking apps. 3. Groovy Daisy Digital Planner This digital planner is a comprehensive bullet journal printable for 2023, designed to help with life, business, or academic planning on tablets such as iPads. It includes a cover, monthly and weekly layouts with to-do lists and notes, daily planner layouts, budget planning, goal setting, workout routines, a vision board, and a password tracker. All layouts are lined or boxed for easy typing or writing. 4. All-Purpose Printable Bullet Journal Template This printable planner bundle offers over 1,200 templates, with 12 planners available in different themes and designs, including fitness journals, gratitude journals, and financial planners. The editable PDFs are available in five paper sizes and include extras such as a one-page journal cover, bookmarks, stickers, and washi tapes. This bundle can be useful for daily life planning for both kids and adults. 5. Editable Printable Habit Tracker Wheel This digital download, which includes 12 editable daily tracking sheets and habit wheel trackers in 2 PDF file types, can be accessed using the completely free Adobe Reader. The templates come in 6 different colors and are easy to customize with Canva, which can also be used for free. 6. Printable Daily Log This is a boho-themed printable life planner that includes 32 pages for goal tracking, meal planning, and budgeting. The planner can be printed repeatedly and fits in a binder, perfect for busy moms. It includes a year at a glance, weekly and daily trackers, habit, workout, and medical information pages. Its a digital download available in US letter size. 7. Printable Weekly Spread This downloadable weekly bullet journal comes in 11 layouts with flexible blank spaces to include notes, to-do lists, goals, etc. The undated templates have a 5mm dotted grid background and can be customized to fit different monthly themes. The 38-page PDF file includes both a Monday and Sunday start calendar template, weekly spreads, a mood tracker, a meal planner, a weather tracker, and a weekly habit tracker. 8. Printable Mood Tracker This is a monthly mood tracker and journal that can be personalized with your favorite colors and emotions. It is a digital download that includes a printable PDF file and can be printed as many times as you like. It features a candy style with hand design and is for personal use only. 9. Gratitude Tracker This gratitude log encourages individuals to begin their day with gratitude and take a moment for themselves. It also includes a section to track water intake and a notes section for anything to remember throughout the day. 10. Bullet Journal Habit Tracker Printable This product is a set of 39 printable pages designed for bullet journaling. It includes various planners, trackers, and pages for notes and doodles, among others. The pages come in different sizes, with margins that can be hole punched for binders and planners. 11. Editable Bujo Set This pre-made BuJo planner for 2023 is optimized for digital use and designed for young adults who want to minimize the stress of daily tasks. It includes bujo printables in various sizes and is compatible with apps such as XODO and GoodNotes. BuJo is short for bullet journal, a popular method of organizing and tracking daily tasks and goals. 12. Christmas Planner Set This is a printable Christmas gift planner available for instant download. It includes a shopping list and a budget tracker. The planner is both cute and functional, making it a great tool for keeping track of holiday shopping. It can be printed from home and is a must-have for anyone looking for bullet journal ideas. 13. Printable Bullet Journal Planner This pre-made student-dotted bullet journal planner, with over 280 pages, features a different theme for each month and can be colored in with the help of planner stickers. It includes useful trackers, contacts, and schedule pages, making it ideal for students. The undated planner can be used for any year and can be uploaded and used in apps such as Goodnotes or Notability. 14. Future Log The journal provides a calendar layout with space for notes for special dates. It features four months per page and includes Monday and Sunday start versions. Its minimalist design includes grey text and lines. The journal is available as PDF files, which you can download and print in various sizes. 15. Dot Grid Goals Page Dot grid paper is considered the best for organizing a bullet journal as it provides structure while allowing for flexibility and creativity. This product is a digital notebook suitable for those who love bullet journalling and hand-drawn elements. It features sweet illustrations of stationery items on each page, inspired by Japanese aesthetics and minimalism. It also includes dot grid paper without illustrations and can be downloaded and printed, or used directly as a digital PDF file. 16. Printable Stickers GoodNotes recommended this digital planner bundle with 1,000,000 customizable planners. The bundle includes productivity, wellness, fitness, nutrition, and finances sections, 60+ templates, 50,000 stickers, and 500 cover designs. Customers can make unlimited planners with the planner builder tool, and the planner features Google and Apple Calendar integration and easy navigation. 17. Water Tracker Tracking your water intake is crucial for maintaining a healthy lifestyle, and the water tracking chart is a great idea to help you do just that. This printable tool provides visual evidence of your daily and monthly water consumption, reminding you of how far youve come and motivating you to keep going. 18. Petite Planner Download this printable planner cards bundle that includes 48 non-editable PDF cards for organization, including a monthly calendar, weekly tracker, and daily planner cards. It also includes bill trackers, goal setting, and meal planning cards, among others. The cards can fit in planner pockets or be used with paper clips or washi tapes. 19. Adorable Weekly Planner This weekly layout for the classic Happy Planner features a variety of fashion girls with different skin tones and hair colors. The package includes eight high-resolution PDF files without watermarks, free SIL cut files, and PNG and blackout files. Bleed areas are also included. This layout can be added to ones to-do list. 20. Printable Bulletin Board Borders These printable bulletin border sets are fun and easy to use, perfect for personalizing classrooms with cute and stylish designs. They can be used in various spaces around the room such as bulletin boards, walls, doors, and desks. The set includes a PDF file with 20 different border options and straight and scalloped edges which can be assembled easily and used year after year. 21. Bullet Journal Stickers Printable The Super Bundle is a digital planner journal sticker pack for IOS devices, exclusively for Goodnotes. It includes 420 pre-cropped PNG pages spread across 7 sticker books, but doesnt include individual PNG or PDF formats. The package comprises a cover page and a download link file with easy access to the purchased sticker books. 22. Bullet Journal Book Tracker Printable Download the Reading Journal printable, an instant PDF file with 18 pages of customizable trackers to keep track of your reading progress. The printable is US letter-sized, and you can add your own titles with stamps, hand lettering, or stencils. The trackers include a bookshelf, book club review, book bingo, monthly review, and more. 23. Bullet Journal Budget Tracker Printable The Ultimate Budget Planner Kit is a set of 90 pages of budget planning worksheets for personal and family finances. It includes templates for budgets, expense and income tracking, savings, bill tracking, goals, debt payoff, planners, and note-taking. Its a lifetime resource, printer-friendly, and helps save money on ink. 24. Monthly Bill Tracker The digital payment tracker is a convenient solution to keep track of bills, installments, and payments. It allows users to record payment information, such as the name of the bill, last payment date, and amount, for 12 months. The tracker helps users manage their budget by providing a clear and useful interface. Its a one-page PDF file that assists in achieving savings goals by keeping a spending log. 25. Monthly Logs The Monthly Budget Spreadsheet printable for Google Sheets helps users track their finances, with all calculations done automatically. The template comes with step-by-step instructions, a dashboard, charts, and graphs, as well as a transactions tracker categorized by shopping, food, utilities, groceries, and more. It doesnt include monthly cover pages but customization options are available upon request. "Anne Frank's Diary: The Graphic Adaptation" has been removed from Vero Beach High School. Apparently the Indian River County chapter of Moms For Liberty objected to two portions of the book, according to WPTV. One scene contains Frank telling a friend they should expose themselves to one another, and in another scene, Frank walks along a path of nude female statues. Frank was a teenager who hid from the Nazis for two years during World War II. During those years she documented her life in a diary. She was eventually discovered and later murdered in a concentration camp during the Holocaust. Her father, who survived, later published her writings. That original book is still on the shelves in the Indian River School District. According to WPTV, the school district determined that some of its text of the graphic novel did not contribute to the themes of Holocaust education. One reason for the objections could be because Frank was attracted to girls. According to the Times of Israel that attraction was left out of the original published diary because her father was embarrassed by the content. I must admit, every time I see a female nude, I go into ecstasy. I wish I had a girlfriend, Frank wrote in one passage from her original diary. In another entry Frank recalled suggesting that she and a friend show each other their breasts during a sleepover as a sign of their friendship. The 2017 graphic-novel version included those passages. Today the Anne Frank Foundation owns the familys archives and believes its important to understand Franks entire history. Times change and there is a growing desire to get to know the many aspects of the real Anne Frank and so it was decided to publish after [her fathers] death the full diary, including for the first time parts that [he] took out, the Foundation said, as reported by the Times. Cristen Maddux, a spokesperson for the Indian River County School district, told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, the book was determined to be not age appropriate for high school students. Thats not the actual diary of Anne Frank, she added. Its a fictional novel that has some inappropriate content in it. But the passages Moms for Liberty appear to have objected to are not fictional. Maddux also added: Library spaces in the district currently have factual accounts of The Diary of Anne Frank." But as mentioned above, the problematic scenes are factual. Maddux admitted in the interview she had not read the graphic novel and did not immediately know what the inappropriate content in question was. Dr. Kyra Schafte, the director of academic compliance and equity for the district, also defended their decision to remove the novel. "In these times, the content did not promote behaviors we would want our students to have access to," Schafte told WPTV. The Foundation pushed back on the sentiment. We consider the book of a 12-year-old girl to be appropriate reading for her peers, they said in a statement to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. The graphic novel was removed from a Texas school district last year but was put back on the shelves a week later following protests. The Moms for Liberty chapter told WPTV they have about 250 more books theyll be challenging in the future. In a damning report, Marylands top prosecutor accused the Archdiocese of Baltimore of covering up the sexual abuse of over 600 children for over a half-century, according to the Associated Press. Anthony Brown detailed the abuse in a 463-page report naming several priests and describing what they are alleged to have done, the AP reports. Read the full report here. "Time and again, members of the Churchs hierarchy resolutely refused to acknowledge allegations of child sexual abuse for as long as possible," the report reads. The state found more than "600 children are known to have been abused by the 156 people included in this Report, but the number is likely far higher." The abuse was so rampant sometimes multiple predators would target the same victim. Based on hundreds of thousands of documents and untold stories from hundreds of survivors, it provides, for the first time in the history of this State, a public accounting of over 60 years of abuse and cover-up, Brown wrote in a statement. Originally published by The 19th. Gender theory. Ethnic studies. Intersectionality. If Floridas House Bill 999 passes, students at the states public colleges and universities would be prohibited from majoring or minoring in these academic disciplines as well as in related fields, including queer theory, critical race theory, feminist theory and social justice. The fields that are being threatened are fields that challenge the status quo, and these are well-established, respected disciplines, said Irene Mulvey, president of the American Association of University Professors. They enrich academia. They enrich our civilization, but they're being dragged into the culture wars now. And I feel like these bills are an attempt by people in power to maintain the status quo . . .at the expense of a free and open democratic society. Wording in HB 999 has also sparked fears that it could threaten sororities, fraternities and other clubs on campus that cater to Black students and other students of color. Currently in the Florida Houses Education and Employment Committee, HB 999 will take effect July 1 if enacted. Along with its companion legislation in the Florida Senate, the bill is one of the latest introduced in a state that has passed a series of recent laws to limit what students can learn about race, gender, sexuality or inequity. Another piece of legislation in front of the legislature, HB 1069, would restrict what can be taught in sex education courses in Floridas public schools, so that abstinence is emphasized and students learn that sex is determined by chromosomes, naturally occurring sex hormones, and internal and external genitalia present at birth. Floridas HB 1223 would prohibit use of pronouns that don't match a childs assigned gender at birth and has been described as an expansion of legislation commonly known as Dont Say Gay. Both of these laws would also take effect in July, if enacted. Educational gag orders which is how free expression advocacy group PEN America describes legislation that limits lessons on certain topics typically target K-12 schools. Most states have introduced such bills over the past two years, and House Republicans last month passed the Parental Bill of Rights Act, which echoes legislation filed at the state level and purports to give parents a say in their childrens education. This includes access to learning materials, school board meetings and conferences with teachers rights educators note that parents already enjoy. Increasingly, PEN America research has found, educational gag orders focus on higher education, indicating that these policies intend to do far more than expand parents rights over their minor childrens education but to broadly limit free thought. Most of us understood that what was happening in K-12 was going to find its way to higher ed, Mulvey said. It's extremely concerning because the difference between K-12 and higher education is that in colleges and universities, students and faculty are free to follow their interests wherever they lead. That's what makes American higher education globally preeminent. This system of higher education, where robust academic freedom is enforced by disciplinary norms and professional standards and peer review, is what makes higher education a driver of the economy and has given us great breakthroughs. While critics of legislation such as Floridas HB 999 warn that it is dangerous, they are also optimistic that, if passed, it would ultimately be struck down in court as unconstitutional due to long-standing legal precedents that protect academic freedom in higher education. HB 999 has not only raised concerns because it would limit what college students can study but also because it would allow state university boards of trustees to review the tenure status of faculty members, a provision the legislations detractors say could have a chilling effect on the free speech of educators. Jerry Edwards, staff attorney with the ACLU of Florida, said the legislation puts tenure in the hands of political appointees, which significantly lessens job protections for faculty. I think the goal is to chill speech that our leaders in the state government disagree with, Edwards said. I don't think that's something anybody should want because, first of all, leadership in state government changes. So you may like the leadership today, but you may not like it tomorrow. And do you want tomorrow's leadership who you don't like having that ability to bully the professors who are speaking out, who are dissenting? We need dissenting voices in society and in our public institutions. We need people to be able to research things without fear of retribution. Joe Cohn, legislative and policy director for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a nonprofit that works to protect free speech on college campuses, called HB 999 unconstitutional because it bans both majors and ideas that legislators have deemed disfavorable. There's over 60 years of Supreme Court case law prohibiting government intrusion into higher ed, Cohn said. For example, there's a case called Keyishian v. Board of Regents, and there, the Supreme Court said academic freedom is of a special concern of the First Amendment, which does not tolerate laws that cast a pall of orthodoxy over the classroom. And it's hard to envision a law that casts more of a pall of orthodoxy than one that says, These topics can't be discussed, and these ideas can't be discussed because the majority in the legislature don't like those ideas. If HB 999 is enacted, both Cohn and Edwards said that their organizations plan to fight it. The ACLU of Florida is one of the groups, along with the NAACP Legal Defense Fund and law firm Ballard Spahr, that filed a lawsuit to block enforcement of Floridas Stop W.O.K.E. Act in public colleges and universities. FIRE took part in separate litigation against the legislation, which bans critical race theory (CRT) and allows legal action to be taken if CRT is taught. While in effect in K-12 schools, a preliminary injunction prevents the Stop W.O.K.E. Acts enactment in higher education. Earlier this month, the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied an appeal by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis administration to remove the injunction. As for HB 999 and its companion legislation in the Senate, Cohn said if it does get into a courtroom, there's very little chance that it will survive. The case law is very strong. For decades, FIRE has defended tenure because it has been one of the most important tools for protecting faculty with disfavored views, but the group has no position on what form tenure should take. It also acknowledges that tenure isn't the only way to protect academic freedom, Cohn explained. The problem with the current crop of legislation, he added, is that it does not replace tenure with comparable policies that would allow faculty to speak freely and engage in scholarship and research without fear of reprisal. Mulvey views any attack on tenure as an attack on academic freedom. She said legislation such as HB 999 amounts to censorship. In addition to that legislation, Texas and North Dakota have recently introduced bills that take aim at tenure. We're going down a dark road if we're allowing the statehouses to censor what can be learned and what can be taught and what can be said in the classroom, Mulvey said. Over the past year, the University of Wyoming has withstood multiple attempts by lawmakers to defund its gender studies program, most recently in the form of a budget amendment in the Wyoming House that failed in February. A similar amendment was proposed unsuccessfully last year. We were really pleased that the Wyoming law that would have eliminated gender studies didn't advance, Cohn said. It was a bad idea and it was important that the legislature recognized that and didn't move it forward. College students are also concerned about legislation that imposes restrictions on courses of study. Last week, Florida students rallied against HB 999 in the capital city of Tallahassee. Maxx Fenning, a senior at the University of Florida and the founder and president of LGBTQ+ advocacy group PRISM, also finds the legislation unsettling. He worries about HB 999s potential impact both because PRISM is a proponent of LGBTQ+-inclusive education and because he is studying business administration with a specialization in education. As part of this specialization, he takes classes that focus on the role systemic oppression, gender identity, sexual orientation and gender theory play in education. Its unclear if all classes focused on topics such as gender, race or intersectionality would be banned if HB 999 passes or if the legislation would simply prohibit students from majoring or minoring in these subjects. Being able to have access to this information is so impactful for young adults, Fenning said. Being able to have access to a wide diversity of opinions, a wide diversity of theories about the way that the world works, the way that we interact with each other, is part of building a nuanced view of the world. While studying education, Fenning said hes learned about the importance of mirrors and windows seeing oneself reflected back in the curriculum and being exposed to materials that help students empathize with people who are different from them. There's so many ways that this sort of representation matters, Fenning said. So when we're talking about things like HB 999, in particular, we see this effort to whittle down the worldview that we present into one that certain legislators agree with, to shatter those mirrors, to tint those windows and prevent us from being able to live and learn authentically. As both a graduate student and a lawmaker, Florida State Sen. Shevrin Jones is particularly concerned about HB 999s potential impact on higher education in the state. The Democrat is pursuing a doctorate in higher ed administration at Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton. Students go to school to explore diversity of thought, Jones said. We should not be in the business of interfering with that diversity of thought, interfering with that exploration. That is not our job. Our job is to create the best type of system where individuals can flourish, not push an agenda on students and on a system thats been shown to work. Florida is home to four historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Although three of them are private, they receive state funding for certain academic programs. Jones questions how HB 999 could affect the states HBCUs and the nine Black sororities and fraternities known nationally as the Divine Nine. He wrote an MSNBC opinion piece earlier this month urging Black Greek-letter organizations to keep fighting the bill. He noted that language in the Senate version of HB 999 has been changed to offer some protections to Black sororities and fraternities, but he worries that the House bill still prohibits public colleges and universities from paying for programs or campus activities that espouse diversity, equity, or inclusion or critical race theory rhetoric, he said. Jones argues that this line could be interpreted in a way that would lead to the defunding of Floridas Black Greek organizations. Florida Rep. Alex Andrade, the Republican lawmaker behind HB 999, said that this was not his intent. HB 999 in no way applies to student-led organizations, he told The 19th in a statement. Student organizations are neither contemplated nor affected by the bill. Jones said he knows the bill sponsors have said that's not their intention. But the problem is that, particularly in how the House bill is written, it could be implied because the bill clearly states that it prohibits state and federal fund usage for programs or campus activities that advocate for DEI and engage in political and social activism. Fraternities and sororities fall into that category. Edwards agrees that the broadness of the legislation may pose a risk to a wide range of campus organizations, including Black sororities and fraternities, Latinx groups, affinity groups or even veterans organizations. I'm sure they'll say that they added language in the most recent version of the bill that permits expressive activity, to the extent it's not inconsistent with regulations or university rules, but the problem there is that . . .after they passed the Stop W.O.K.E. Act, the Board of Governors then implemented regulation that was basically identical to what the statute prohibited. So if that happened [with HB 999], if they implemented a regulation, while the statute wouldn't necessarily stop those things, the regulation would. Its unclear what will happen to Black Greek-letter organizations if HB 999 is enacted, but Jones said that he eventually expects HBCUs to face questions about their right to exist, pointing out that they are already massively underfunded and that HBCU Tennessee State University is currently under scrutiny amid questions about mismanagement. The [TSU] president right now is having to defend the reason why the institution is important to the Tennessee state legislature, Jones said. And I think we will continue to see this questioning of whether or not HBCUs are still needed, which they are because HBCUs were founded because they were the only place where African Americans could be educated. Still to this day, HBCUs do admit students that PWIs [predominantly white institutions] just won't admit. A potential consequence of statewide legislation that takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion; prohibits students from learning about race, gender and sexuality; and weakens tenure is that faculty and students may decide to pursue scholarship elsewhere. Many progressive Florida youth with the means to leave the state plan to do so, Fenning said. It is not a good reputation to have as a state when your best and brightest cannot wait to get out of it and take their business elsewhere, quite literally their business and their economic impact elsewhere, he added. If there are greener pastures and they have the ability to get to those greener pastures, theyre gonna. Faculty are already telling their graduate students not to teach in states where there's no academic freedom, Mulvey said, and some institutions in these states are seeing fewer donations. Jones said that he has made similar points about HB 999. Many researchers, particularly in STEM, come here because they know they are secure in their work and they will be able to complete a research project without being tampered with, without anyone trying to come against their research, he said. They're not going to even think twice about coming to Florida if they know that they can be fired for their views or fired for any reason if the board of trustees or the board of governors find a need to do so. No one's going to come to teach in that type of state. I know I wouldn't. Republished with permission of The 19th. 13. Apr 2023 at 17:12 I Modified at 13. Apr 2023 at 18:25 I Peter Kazimir served as finance minister under the previous Fico governments. Slovakia's central bank governor Peter Kazimir was found guilty of bribery in early April 2023. (Source: SME - Jozef Jakubco) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled National Bank of Slovakia Governor Peter Kazimir is guilty of corruption following a decision made by Specialised Criminal Court Judge Milan Cisarik. In his early April penal order, the judge fined the governor 100,000. The judge also verified that Kazimir would receive a two-year prison sentence if the financial punishment is thwarted on purpose. Kazimir has said he is innocent. "I have not committed any crime and I have no doubts that I will defend myself before the judge at the main hearing or before the appeal courts in Slovakia or Europe," the central bank governor said on Thursday. Kazimir is a former finance minister. He served under the previous Smer-led governments from 2012 to 2019, when he was appointed the governor by then Slovak president Andrej Kiska. Closed and ongoing criminal investigations have revealed how bribes and mafia-like practices took over the former Smer governments led by Robert Fico. On Thursday, most politicians called on the governor to resign. First shop not expected to open this year. Another chain of grocery shops will enter the Slovak market. Biedronka is a popular Polish brand. (Source: Biedronka.) Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled A popular Polish discount chain of grocery shops, which goes by Biedronka (ladybird), will open its first shops in Slovakia. Biedronkas head, Luis Araujo, confirmed this ambition during a press conference at the end of March, wirtualnemedia.pl wrote. Biedronka popular with Slovaks The firm is currently seeking locations around Slovakia. The first Biedronka stores in Slovakia are likely to open near the Slovak-Polish border, interia.pl writes. But the first shop is not expected to open in 2023. Jeronimo Martins, a Portugal-based corporate group that operates Biedronka in Poland, have said that the decision to expand to Slovakia comes from the fact that Slovaks have a similar shopping culture to Polish people. Many Slovaks, in fact, cross the border with Poland to do their shopping at Biedronka. There are about 3,400 Biedronka stores in Poland. Lienka, Biedronka or something else It is not clear if the planned shops in Slovakia will bear the Polish name or its Slovak version: lienka. The company is carrying out market research and analyses. In Portugal, the group runs the Pingo Doce (sweet drop) shops. However, with the arrival of Biedronka, the Slovak market may once again experience turbulence because its concept is very similar to Lidl, which is very popular among Slovaks due to its cheap products. Biedronkas 2022 profit amounted to 1.5 billion, compared to 1.3 billion a year earlier. The group is also said to be opening one Hebe drugstore in Slovakia this year. The brand launched its online store in Slovakia last December. Biedronka's expansion to Slovakia, a major business bluff, and rain weather warnings issued for the Bratislava area. Font size: A - | A + Comments disabled Good evening. Here is the Thursday, April 13 edition of Today in Slovakia - the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Ex-Smer minister guilty in bribery case Peter Kazimir serves as Slovakia's central bank governor today. (Source: SME - Gabriel Kuchta) Slovakia's central bank governor Peter Kazimir, a former finance minister under the Smer governments, has been found guilty of corruption. The penal order was issued by a judge in early April, but the Kazimir case will be taken to court after all. The Special Prosecutor's Office disagrees with the judge's decision and demands a more severe sentence for the governor. While the governor is visiting the USA, many politicians - except Robert Fico - called on Kazimir to leave the post. He cannot be sacked as the decision is not valid. More stories from The Slovak Spectator website If you like what we are doing and want to support good journalism, buy our online subscription with no ads and a print copy of The Slovak Spectator sent to your home in Slovakia. Thank you. FEATURE STORY FOR THURSDAY Hyperloop in Slovakia a bluff A hyperloop test line. (Source: Hyperloop Transportation Technologies ) In March 2016 Slovakia learnt that it was supposed to be the first country where the ultramodern hyperloop transport system would be constructed. It was just a big business bubble. FREE EVENTS 3 things to enjoy in Bratislava Jazz concert Osztriga (Source: rakuskekulturneforum.sk) On Friday, a jazz concert is taking place at the Austrian Cultural Centre near the Presidential Palace. During the weekend, set out on a walk. In other news Acting Agriculture Minister Samuel Vlcan has confirmed that some 1,500 tonnes of Ukrainian wheat that entered Slovakia contained an increased amount of a pesticide banned in the EU. The contaminated wheat will be destroyed. of Ukrainian wheat that entered Slovakia contained an The contaminated wheat will be destroyed. Ukrainian refugees in Slovakia will have the opportunity to meet at special events dedicated to their traditions and cultural heritage. This project, developed by the Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Culture Ministry, has been supported with 100,000 from UNESCO. and cultural heritage. This project, developed by the Institute of Ethnology and Social Anthropology of the Slovak Academy of Sciences in cooperation with the Culture Ministry, has been supported with 100,000 from UNESCO. The Health Ministry does not have a minister, nor two state secretaries. One of the two state secretaries, Lenka Dunajova Druzskovska, has resigned. (Dennik N) The Museum of Croatian Culture in Slovakia in Bratislava. (Source: TASR - Jan Novak) WEATHER FOR FRIDAY: Cloudy skies, rain, showers, and occasional thunders. The daytime temperature will range from 9C to 21C on Friday. First-level rain warnings are in place in the Bratislava Region and parts of the Trnava Region until Friday evening. (SHMU) Thank you for subscribing and reading. It means a lot to us. P.S. If you have suggestions on how our news overview can be improved, you can reach us at editorial@spectator.sk. Follow The Slovak Spectator on Facebook, Instagram (@slovakspectator) and Twitter (@slovakspectator). Deployed strategically, color offers the ability to influence the way we experience the world in all its sensory parts. Think back to how you chose your most recent bag of coffee. Was it because of a minimalist design or a brightly colored pattern? What about the latest cafe you visited: did you get drawn in by its natural materials or an overall color scheme? You may be unable to articulate your reasons because these choices are often subconscious. There are many ways to experience a coffee, and setting the scene with color is just one way to manipulate it. Color impacts the coffee journey starting from the very beginning. Before coffee reaches your favorite roasters, it first passes through Q graders, who use all their available senses to evaluate coffee. To obtain certification, they must first pass a series of sensory evaluations. But, in tests like Matching Pairs, Triangulations, and Roast ID, where other senses are being tested, a red light is used to remove visual cues. These exams confirm the cuppers ability to use their sense of taste and smell to identify differences in coffee; we want to ensure that cuppers are not using other clueslike visual differencesto discern the difference between two cups, explains Sandra Elisa Loofbourow, owner of Loupe Coffee Consulting and a CQI instructor, via email. Next, we have packaging. Weve seen a wide range of design choices in coffee: from brown kraft paper to a simple label on a white bag to maximalist in color and shapes. Just a glimpse through this years Coffee Design Awards entries in packaging shows how diverse one years designs can be. The psychological part of color theory tells us what feelings we associate with certain colors. If you organize your phone apps by color or category, youre probably already familiar with this. Blue builds trust, which is why so many bank logos have blue in them (however, remember that color doesnt solve everything; it can only help build so much trust). Red warns us of danger or to stop before we go. Green is all about growth and nature. While there are many studies published about the various influences that color and package design have on consumers, one study looked more closely at package colors that deviate from a category norm. Researchers showed consumers two different products in typical and atypical category colors: orange juice was placed in both an orange box (typical) and a blue box (atypical), and sparkling wine in a gold-wrapped bottle (typical) and purple bottle (atypical). The results show that an increase in package color typicality decreases consumer skepticism and enhances interest, leading to more positive attitudinal and behavioral reactions, the study concluded. In contrast, package color atypicality was found to negatively inuence consumer preferences. Basically, its nice to stand out on the shelf but dont go too far out of the category norm. Dr. Fabiana Carvalho is a neuroscientist, a researcher at the University of Campinas, Brazil, and the founder of The Coffee Sensorium Project. In her upcoming talk at Re:co Portland, Carvalho will be sharing detailed results from a research project on how the colors of the cups and coffee bags impact consumer expectations and perceptions of the coffee. She confirms via email, We have found that colors hugely impact both sensory and hedonic (i.e., related to pleasantness of consumption) judgments of the coffee. Colors can be used to communicate the main flavor notes of a coffee. Its important to choose the right color palette based on the overall sensory profile of a coffee, says Carvalho. By doing so, the bag design itself can already indicate the sensory characteristics of a coffee, such as the roast level, and the main aroma/flavor notes. If you dont differentiate with colors, you risk making a mistake as I did, which was to buy a very dark-roasted coffee when I thought I was buying a light-roasted one (the only indicator on the roast level were tiny words in the corner of the labelentirely my fault for not looking more closely). In these Instagram days, we make assumptions and judgments about a cafe before even stepping inside. Everything from bags to wall colors to equipment create indicators of what your experience will be like. In Japan, researchers examined color interiors of cafes, how people felt upon entering, and their expectations of the coffees taste. Kosuke Motoki is an assistant professor at the University of Tokyo and one of the researchers on the study. About their findings, he says, The greenish, darker-colored interiors create feelings of calmness, which increased the expected tastiness of the coffee and then increased their likelihood of visiting. Reddish and lighter-colored interiors gave people the expectation that the coffee was sweeter, while the greenish, darker ones were associated with sour/bitter/tastier coffee. But then, why arent all the cafes dark and green? To help answer this, I turned to an interior designer whose firm has worked on restaurant and cafe interiors, like the 36 Below cocktail bar in the photo above. Design is innovative, and there is no one-size-fits-all color scheme that can be considered the ideal choice, says Dala Al-Fuwaires, owner and principal designer of House of Form in Scottsdale, Arizona. The right color scheme can play a crucial role in setting the tone and creating a welcoming atmosphere, but it should always be tailored to the specific coffee shop and its unique identity. As an example, she points to Peixoto Coffees downtown Gilbert location, which her firm designed. The large space incorporates stone, leather, and greenery to tie back in with the owners farm. Al-Fuwaires says, Peixoto emphasizes the journey of the coffee bean, from farming to roasting, and incorporates earthy and natural tones that reflect their sustainable ethos. In addition to interiors, retailers could use color in their menus to highlight flavor profiles and origin. Fruity coffees could be highlighted with bright and vibrant colors, such as shades of orange or yellow, to evoke the freshness and sweetness of the fruits, she says. Coffees from Central and South America, known for their nutty and chocolatey notes, could be represented with earthy tones of brown and green, inspired by the lush forests and fertile soils of the region. Sensory expectations dont stop at interiors or menu design; it also includes the mug you drink out of. In 2012, researchers found that coffee served in red glass cups was perceived as the warmest (38.3%), followed by yellow (28.3%) and green (20.0%). Building on this, Carvalho and Charles Spence published a research study on cup color and its influence on consumer expectations. Four cup colors (white, pink, yellow, and green) and two very different coffees (sweet Brazilian coffee and an acidic Kenyan coffee) were provided to participants. They wrote: The results revealed that the colour of the cup exerted a significant influence on both pre- and post-tasting ratings for all attributes measured. Liking ratings significantly decreased in incongruent pairing conditions which also increased the unexpected acidity of the Kenyan coffee when tasted from the pink cup. Taken together, these results demonstrate for the first time that the colour of the cup significantly impacts sensory and hedonic judgements of specialty coffee. What stood out in the report for me were the notes on yellow: often a color associated with sourness, it instead triggered expectations towards both acidity and sweetness in both coffee samples. This difference could be because, in Brazil, where the study took place, the common yellow fruits are highly sweet, not sour. They pointed out that participants in tropical countries may have a tendency to associate the colour yellow with sweet taste given contextual and cultural influences. Colors often have different meanings in other cultures; more notably, the same color may not have the same name (about Candoshi, a Peruvian language, Jones writes, The word kavabana was used for the color green all the way to the color purple, but kamachpa was applied to dark green.). At the SCA Sensory Summit EU in 2020, Assistant Professor of Food Science Qian Janice Wang conducted a live experiment with attendees on how cup color and cup weight affected the perceived flavor. Coffee served in black cups didnt have any perceived difference in sweetness or bitterness from that in the white cups. But, there was a significant difference in perceived body, where the coffee served in the black cup was significantly full in body compared to the white cup. What about the absence of color? 2D cafes have recently gathered steam worldwide, treating coffee drinkers with the experience of being in a comic book or flat illustration. In Chicago, 2D Restaurant combines interior designer Vanessa Thanh Vus love for Parisian art with my passion for black and white Asian comics, owner Kevin Yu tells me via email. Our guests were invited to take a break from reality and jump into our 2D comic world. The food menu is infused with Asian flavors that are quite bright in their presentation. Any splash or glimpse of matchas deep green, Thai teas bright orange, and ubes rich purple is amplified by its stark contrast, making it truly stand out, says Yu. Speaking of the absence of color, Id be remiss to not mention colorless coffee. For a brief moment in the coffee industry timeline, CLR CFF shocked everyone by revealing clear coffee in a bottle. Coffee professional James Hoffmann tasted it back in 2017 and found it to have a smell of rubber, burnt wood, and slightly rancid smoke and a taste of not really coffee flavored to be honest, thats not coffee as I know coffee. The product is not currently available anymore. After learning about how colors influence your coffee experience, I wouldnt blame you if you start second-guessing your next coffee decision. Lets end on a mind-bender: What would happen if you drank this clear coffee from a clear glass in a black-and-white cafe? Would you even taste anything? Jenn Chen (@thejennchen) is an Editor At Large at Sprudge Media Network. Read more Jenn Chen on Sprudge. AP Photo / Patrick Semansky In his Dundalk speech, Biden said his ancestors left Ireland around the same time as former US President Barack Obama's great-great-grandfather Falmouth Kearney, who was originally from Manigalla in County Offaly. Above: President Joe Biden reacts to seeing a child in the crowd as he leaves after speaking at the Windsor Bar and Restaurant in Dundalk, Ireland. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/black-sea-will-never-be-natos-sea---kremlin-1109464746.html Kremlin: Black Sea Will Never Be NATO's Sea Kremlin: Black Sea Will Never Be NATO's Sea The Black Sea will never be NATO's sea, it is a common area, and there should be indivisible security, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday. 2023-04-13T10:20+0000 2023-04-13T10:20+0000 2023-04-13T14:19+0000 world nato black sea /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/0e/1105461261_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_c3d53e0f889aa37472cd48f9ebc1724e.jpg "The Black Sea will never be a 'NATO sea.' This is a common sea for all coastal states, it should be a sea of cooperation, interaction and security. And it should have indivisible security," Peskov said. The Kremlin believes that NATO and demilitarization are mutually exclusive concepts, the spokesman added.Earlier in the day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called for turning the Black Sea into a "NATO sea", at the same time stating the need for its demilitarization. Currently there are no plans to hold phone talks between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday.Xi paid a state visit to Russia from March 20-22, during which he had a meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The leaders signed a joint statement on a plan to develop key areas of Russian-Chinese economic cooperation by 2030. black sea Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International black sea, nato's sea, indivisible security https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/chilling-and-frightening-us-bioweapons-in-ukraine-pose-massive-risks-1109463019.html 'Chilling and Frightening': US Bioweapons in Ukraine Pose Massive Risks 'Chilling and Frightening': US Bioweapons in Ukraine Pose Massive Risks Earlier this week, Russian lawmakers finished a probe into the US-sponsored military-related biological activities in laboratories across Ukraine, putting their findings into a 200-page report a document, which astonished some observers in Moscow and overseas. 2023-04-13T10:32+0000 2023-04-13T10:32+0000 2023-04-13T10:32+0000 analysis us ukraine russia biological weapons /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/05/1a/1095788670_0:61:1280:781_1920x0_80_0_0_e396608d19ae538353d84ddbf267c4b6.jpg The report of the Russian parliamentary commission, which is based in part on findings previously published by Russias Radiation, Chemical and Biological Defense Troops, lays out in detail how Washington and Kiev created a network of laboratories across Ukraine, where military-oriented or double-purpose biological research was performed under the guise of medical biological or biosecurity projects. The parliamentary commission has also concluded that the US aims to develop a universal genetically engineered bioweapon, capable of infecting not only people, but animals as well as agricultural crops.Sputnik asked Christopher Black a Toronto-based international criminal lawyer, and Igor Nikulin a former inspector of the UN Commission on Chemical, Bacteriological and Biological Weapons, to weigh in on the conclusions of the investigation which sheds light on double-purpose biological research with the use of dangerous pathogens in more than 50 laboratories across Ukraine, being performed in cooperation with Pentagon subcontractors.Christopher Black said that for him reading the Duma report was a chilling and frightening experience. He explained that former US President Richard Nixon directed the US bioweapons research to be terminated in 1969, but the evidence in the Russian State Duma report establishes that his directive was never implemented and research on these weapons of mass destruction continues on a large scale.According to Black, the report states that Russias concerns about the US-sponsored biological laboratories in Ukraine are not just rhetoric or anti-American propaganda, as claimed by the West, and there were many instances of malicious uses of deadly biological agents:The history of the use of bio weapons by the US, for example against Korea and Cuba, and the Anthrax attacks in the US in 2001, are further proof that they are ready and willing to use such weapons. Black told Sputnik. Americas refusal to account for or explain the presence of biolabs in Ukraine, for example, also supports the conclusions of the report and indicates that the Americans have things to hide.Russia has been warning the international community about the dangers of the US-sponsored biolabs for years, said microbiologist and former UN bioweapons inspector Igor Nikulin. He told Sputnik that the investigators took into account some of his findings from his 2019 works for the anti-terrorism committee of the Collective Security Treaty Organization, and added that there are many technical details in the new report that were never made public before:Even though some of the information was already disclosed three years ago, some particular data on the number of anthrax and leptospirosis containers that were destroyed, for instance that is something new, it hasnt been known before. Nikulin said.When asked whether the subject of the US double-purpose biological overseas research will get any coverage in the US, Christopher Black gave a negative answer, saying that in NATO countries the media is likely to dismiss Russian State Dumas claims as Russian propaganda, but, nevertheless, pointed at the need for Moscow to continue pushing this issue in front of the world.Black has explained that the UN Biological Weapons Convention itself doesnt have a mechanism for its enforcement aside from allowing complaints about their use to be made to the UN Security Council, but said that such complaint becomes a dead letter when its target is a permanent council member with veto rights. He added, however, that pacifist organizations may have the leverage necessary to put the subject of biolabs into limelight:World peace groups should pay more attention to this serious issue and pressure their governments to make sure all the nations of the world adhere to the Convention and world governments should sit back and acquiesce in these crimes. But we can expect little in this regard from the West or NATO countries who have turned a blind eye to the danger or by their action or inaction in condoning the American actions.According to Igor Nikulin, if Russia decides to raise at the UN Security Council the topic of Americas shady biological research activities in Ukraine, it will need more international support.Russia needs to gain critical mass of supporters, like the Soviet Union was doing. said Nikulin Whatever the USSR was proposing there were 100 countries voting for it in unison. If we manage to create such a coalition we will succeed, if not well, "little strokes fell great oaks", we will continue doing our work.The previous resolution proposed by Moscow on the topic was rejected in November 2022 with the US, Britain and France voting against it and the 10 other UN Security Council members abstaining. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/us-working-on-universal-genetically-engineered-bioweapon-russian-parliamentary-investigation-1109381193.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20220903/russian-mod-us-to-move-unfinished-bio-weapons-programs-from-ukraine-to-eastern-european-states-1100339981.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Dmitry Kondratenko Dmitry Kondratenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Dmitry Kondratenko us bioweapons in ukraine, us bioweapons, us bioweapons risks, russian probe into us bioweapons, pentagon-related biological activities in ukraine, moscow's report on us bioweapons https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/china-sanctions-us-congressman-for-visiting-taiwan-1109483780.html China Sanctions US Congressman for Visiting Taiwan China Sanctions US Congressman for Visiting Taiwan China has imposed sanctions against US Congressman Michael McCaul, Chair of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee, for violating the one-China principle while visiting Taiwan, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said Thursday. 2023-04-13T16:17+0000 2023-04-13T16:17+0000 2023-04-13T16:17+0000 us-china relations sanctions taiwan asia china one china policy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0a/1109316341_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_01e37e9223ed21f047a0b73db94caca1.jpg Republican Congressman Michael McCaul has repeatedly "interfered in China's internal affairs" and "impaired China's interests" with his words and deeds, the statement read. In particular, the ministry noted that on April 6, he led a bipartisan delegation of US lawmakers to Taiwan, seriously violating the one-China principle and the provisions of the three China-US joint communiques, thus "sending a wrong signal to Taiwan independence separatist forces." As of April 13, any and all of McCaul's property in China will be frozen. Chinese organizations and individuals will be prohibited from having any dealings with him. He will also be banned from entering China and obtaining a Chinese visa. On April 7, China sanctioned two US entities, namely the Hudson Institute and the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, for violation of the one-China principle. The situation around Taiwan escalated last August after ex-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi traveled to the island. Beijing condemned Pelosi's trip, which it regarded as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military drills in the vicinity of the island. China's tough reaction notwithstanding, Pelosi's visit unleashed a wave of trips by Western politicians to the island. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230406/us-delegation-led-by-house-foreign-affairs-committee-chair-on-visit-to-taiwan-1109212759.html china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International sanctions for visiting taiwan, china--us relations. chinese sanctions, taiwan issue https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/donald-trump-arrives-in-new-york-for-second-deposition-in-250mln-civil-lawsuit-1109456048.html Donald Trump Arrives in New York for Second Deposition in $250Mln Civil Lawsuit Donald Trump Arrives in New York for Second Deposition in $250Mln Civil Lawsuit Former US President Donald Trump has arrived at Trump Tower on Fifth Avenue in New York to attend a second deposition in a $250 million civil fraud lawsuit on Thursday, a Sputnik correspondent reports. 2023-04-13T04:44+0000 2023-04-13T04:44+0000 2023-04-13T04:44+0000 americas us donald trump lawsuit /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/05/1109141287_0:139:1929:1224_1920x0_80_0_0_c68cdf57f7bbc29f0902fbcfb33f6320.jpg Trump regularly stays in his tower when he comes to New York from his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. As usual, the police and security forces blocked the street adjacent to Trump Tower before his arrival, the correspondent reported. The former president headed straight to the building from his car, escorted by guards, without lingering at the entrance. During the second deposition, Trump is expected to plead the Fifth to refuse to answer any question to avoid potentially incriminating himself as he did during the first deposition in August 2022, New York Post reported, citing sources from multiple agencies. In September 2022, New York Attorney General Letitia James filed a lawsuit against Trump, his children, Ivanka and Eric Trump, and senior executives at the Trump Organization for "acts of fraud and misrepresentation." James alleged that Trump and others falsely inflated his net worth by billions of dollars to influence banks decisions to lend money to the Trump Organization on more favorable terms, among other benefits. In addition, the lawsuit also alleged that between 2011 and 2021, Trump and his organization "knowingly and intentionally" created more than 200 false and misleading valuations of assets on his annual statements of financial condition to defraud financial institutions. Previously, Trump attended an hours-long deposition in August, weeks before James filed the lawsuit. Then, Trump and his company denied any wrongdoing, and the former president called James' probe politically motivated and "a continuation of the greatest Witch Hunt of all time." Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree in connection to his alleged involvement in a $130,000 hush money payment and subsequent cover-up involving a purported affair with adult film actress Stormy Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges, which prosecutors elevated from misdemeanors to felonies by arguing that the fraud was linked to violations of election and tax laws. Trump also faces three additional investigations in connection with his purported role in the January 6 riot, his handling of classified documents at his Florida home, and alleged interference with the 2020 Georgia election results. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/manhattan-da-bragg-sues-republican-lawmaker-jordan-over-attack-on-trump-probe---filing-1109368684.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us president donald trump, trump tower, civil fraud lawsuit https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/donald-trump-sues-michael-cohen-accuses-ex-attorney-of-breach-of-contract--spreading-falsehoods-1109455505.html Donald Trump Sues Michael Cohen, Accuses Ex-Attorney of Breach of Contract & 'Spreading Falsehoods' Donald Trump Sues Michael Cohen, Accuses Ex-Attorney of Breach of Contract & 'Spreading Falsehoods' Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against his one-time attorney Michael Cohen, seeking $500 million in damages. 2023-04-13T05:19+0000 2023-04-13T05:19+0000 2023-04-13T05:20+0000 americas us donald trump michael cohen /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109455331_0:257:2730:1793_1920x0_80_0_0_7d27f37331632fe6f0f2546aaff97408.jpg Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit against his one-time attorney Michael Cohen.The former US President is seeking $500 million in damages, according to the lawsuit, filed in federal court in Florida on April 12 and cited by media reports.The legal team representing Trump stated in the suit that Cohen divulged confidential, prior-attorney-client information during media interviews pertaining to the Manhattan District Attorneys grand jury investigation that resulted in the indictment of the 45th POTUS.Furthermore, Trumps ex- backroom fixer is accused of breaching an employee confidentiality agreement he signed with The Trump Organization when he published his two books about his former boss.Michael Cohen chose to capitalize on his confidential relationship with (Trump) to pursue financial gain and repair a reputation shattered by his repeated misrepresentations and deceptive acts, fueled by his animus toward the Plaintiff and his family members, according to the text of the filing.The suit states that Cohen churned out inflammatory, misleading, or outright false information in his podcast Mea Culpa.In response to the lawsuit, Cohens lawyer, Lanny J. Davis, said in a statement on Wednesday:He added that the ex-POTUS seemed terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him.According to Davis, Cohen, "will not be deterred and is confident that the suit will fail based on the facts and the law.The suit comes as Michael Cohen is likely to be a key witness in the court case against Donald Trump. On April 4, Trump flew from his Florida home to New York for an arraignment hearing on 34 felony charges brought by Democrat District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Earlier, a Manhattan grand jury indicted him on 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree before and after the 2016 presidential elections. The charges are connected with Trump's alleged involvement in a $130,000 hush money payment and subsequent cover-up involving a purported affair with porn actress Stormy Daniels, among others. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges during his arraignment. The Republican ex-president denounced the charges as a political witch-hunt.Michael Cohen pleaded guilty back in 2018 to campaign finance violations for arranging the hush money in question, as well as a variety of other charges. Cohen also rolled out his book, "Disloyal", described at the time as "the inside story of the real President Trump by his former attorney and personal adviser - the man who helped him to get into the Oval office". https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/2024-election-charges--nord-stream-sabotage-trump-tells-all-in-first-interview-since-indictment--1109371024.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230405/read-full-text-of-the-trump-indictment-1109145249.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko donald trump, michael cohen, ex-attorney, ex-us president, sues, file a lawsuit, spreading falsehoods, divulging confidential information, attorney-client information, hush money payments, stormy daniels, trump arraignment, felony charges against trump https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/eu-council-approves-over-1bln-for-emergency-ammunition-supplies-to-ukraine-1109479574.html EU Council Approves Over $1Bln for Emergency Ammunition Supplies to Ukraine EU Council Approves Over $1Bln for Emergency Ammunition Supplies to Ukraine Joe Biden's Three-Day Visit to Republic of Ireland 2023-04-13T12:54+0000 2023-04-13T12:54+0000 2023-04-13T14:00+0000 military european union (eu) ukraine ammunition /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/09/1109298287_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6ca00b5997bacedca28fe958145133e4.jpg "The Council today adopted an assistance measure worth 1 billion under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the Ukrainian Armed Forces. This measure will allow the EU to reimburse member states for ammunition donated to Ukraine from existing stocks or from the reprioritisation of existing orders during the period 9 February to 31 May 2023," the EU council said in a statement.The adopted assistance measure has boosted "the total EU contribution for Ukraine under the EPF to 4.6 billion," according to the statement.Since the beginning of the Ukrainian conflict in 2022, the EU has allocated seven aid tranches worth about 500 million euros to finance arms supplies to Kiev.The EPF was established in March 2021 under the Common Foreign and Security Policy in order to strengthen the EU's self-proclaimed role as a global security provider. The EPF's declared purposes include the maintenance of peace and the prevention of conflicts.Western countries have been supplying military aid to Ukraine since the start of the conflict with Russia last February. The aid evolved from lighter artillery munitions and training in 2022 to heavier weapons, including tanks, by 2023. Ukraine has now asked for fighter jets, a request that has so far been met with reluctance in the United States and most EU countries. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230404/us-announces-26bln-in-military-aid-for-ukraine-including-himars-ammunition-1109125045.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International emergency ammunition supplies, eu council, ammunition supplies to ukrain https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/eu-should-not-support-independent-taiwan-says-swedish-political-heavyweight-1109456712.html EU Should Not Support Independent Taiwan, Says Swedish Political Heavyweight EU Should Not Support Independent Taiwan, Says Swedish Political Heavyweight While Beijing sees Taiwan as an inalienable part of the People's Republic, the EU lacks a common stance on the matter. 2023-04-13T06:32+0000 2023-04-13T06:32+0000 2023-04-13T06:32+0000 china sweden taiwan one china policy carl bildt world /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102218/90/1022189065_0:0:3132:1762_1920x0_80_0_0_f151bfb4762e7c3f4fd38953ba74b292.jpg The EU must regard Taiwan as part of China and advocate a peaceful re-unification, former Swedish Prime Minister and political heavyweight Carl Bildt has argued.The political tensions surrounding the tortuous relationship between China and Taiwan have escalated again after China conducted an extensive military drill in the Taiwan Strait during the Easter weekend. The US has repeatedly indicated its support for an independent Taiwan, whereas the EU lacks a common stance on the matter.According to Bildt, who served as prime minister of Sweden from 1991 to 1994 and as foreign minister from 2006 and 2014, and headed the liberal-conservative Moderate Party from 1986 to 1999, the EU should stick to the idea of Taiwan's re-unification with the mainland, commonly referred to as the "one China" policy.This runs counter to the position of French President Emmanuel Macron, who has just returned from a visit to Beijing and said that the EU should refrain from taking a stance on this issue as such. In a subsequent interview, Macron warned Europe against "getting caught up in crises that are not ours" and that "prevent it from building its strategic autonomy".Beijing claims Taiwan as an inalienable part of the People's Republic, but the US has promised to arm and defend the self-ruled island a pledge repeatedly voiced by President Biden himself. In recent months, the US has been increasing military aid to Taiwan, justifying the move with the "threat" of China's "invasion" amid soaring political divisions on the island ahead of the presidential election slated for 2024.China has repeatedly warned Washington policymakers against militarizing Taiwan and fueling separatist sentiment on the island. After the recent drill, Beijing stressed its military forces were "ready for battle at any time" and were ready to "destroy any kind of separatist or foreign interference attempts for Taiwan's independence".The situation around Taiwan escalated in August 2022 after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island. Beijing harshly condemned Pelosi's trip, which it saw as a gesture of support for separatism, and launched large-scale military drills near the island. Despite China's fierce criticism, Pelosi's visit unleashed a wave of trips by Western politicians to the island, voicing token support. China discourages contact with Taiwanese officials circumventing Beijing. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230410/beijing-calls-military-drills-near-taiwan-warning-for-separatists-foreign-powers-1109313713.html china sweden Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Igor Kuznetsov Igor Kuznetsov News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Igor Kuznetsov eu-taiwan ties, china-taiwan ties, carl bildt, taiwan independence, one china https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/feinstein-asks-to-temporarily-step-down-after-house-dems-accuses-her-of-dereliction-of-duty-1109454861.html Feinstein Asks to Temporarily Step Down After House Dems Accuses Her of Dereliction of Duty Feinstein Asks to Temporarily Step Down After House Dems Accuses Her of Dereliction of Duty Citing her poor health, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has requested that her position on the Judiciary Committee be temporarily replaced, immediately after several of her Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives publicly urged her to step down before her term ends. 2023-04-13T03:43+0000 2023-04-13T03:43+0000 2023-04-13T03:41+0000 americas dianne feinstein chuck schumer us senate temporary replacement diagnosis health us politics /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/101808/05/1018080541_0:55:2000:1180_1920x0_80_0_0_bc21d02ada2647c2d7313c72581fff52.jpg Citing her poor health, Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) has requested that her position on the Judiciary Committee be temporarily replaced, immediately after several of her Democratic colleagues in the House of Representatives publicly urged her to step down before her term ends.Feinstein has been missing in action since she was diagnosed with shingles in late February. With both her and Senator John Fetterman (D-PA) both too ill to do the job, Democrats slim 51-49 majority in the Senate has been reduced to an even 49-49.Making matters worse for the party, Feinsteins position on the Senate Judiciary Committee has left the panel unable to get its nominees to the floor of the chamber for a vote.A statement bearing Feinsteins name, which was published Wednesday evening, said that when she was first diagnosed with shingles, she expected to return by the end of the March work period.Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis, the statement continued.Feinstein said she plans to return as soon as possible to the Senate once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel, but in the meantime Ive asked [Majority Leader Chuck Schumer] to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until Im able to resume my committee work.The statement came just hours after Democratic Representatives Ro Khanna of California and Dean Phillips of Minnesota publicly demanded Feinsteins resignation from the Senate, citing her inability to fulfill her duties.While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties, said Khanna, who noted that not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representatives of the people.Representative Phillips responded to Khannas message in agreement.While insisting that Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable, the Congressman concluded that he now believes its a dereliction of duty for her to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet, as well. https://sputnikglobe.com/20220415/its-bad-and-getting-worse-fellow-dems-voice-concerns-over-dianne-feinsteins-job-performance-1094772989.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Wyatt Reed Wyatt Reed News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wyatt Reed dianne feinstein, dereliction of duty, us senate, house democrats https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/inmate-in-us-state-of-georgia-dies-after-being-eaten-alive-by-bugs---family-1109494072.html Inmate in US State of Georgia Dies After Being 'Eaten Alive' by Bugs Inmate in US State of Georgia Dies After Being 'Eaten Alive' by Bugs A prisoner in the US state of Georgia was eaten alive by insects in his cell after being detained on a misdemeanor battery charge, his family and their attorney told US media on Thursday. 2023-04-13T22:22+0000 2023-04-13T22:22+0000 2023-04-14T04:37+0000 americas us prison industrial complex georgia fatality criminal investigation /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082126940_0:180:1920:1260_1920x0_80_0_0_c6e1626a4c60e5113329604067fec8fe.jpg Family members of the inmate, Lashawn Thompson, age 35, are now demanding a criminal investigation into his death."The medical records show he was deteriorating. No one did anything to help him as far as we know. No assistance was provided," Michael Harper, an attorney representing Thompson's three siblings, exclusively told Newsweek.Photographs released by Harper and Thompson's family show his prison cell in the Fulton County Jail fitted with rusting metal furniture, which along with the walls, floor and toilet appear to be covered in filth. In describing the conditions under which Thompson was housed, Harper said the area was not fit for a diseased animal, adding that the 35-year-old did not deserve his fate. Thompsons family said in a statement that staff literally watched their brother's health decline until he died. Harper also said, that a detention officer allegedly refused to administer CPR to Thompson because she was rattled after discovering Thompsons body, which had been bitten by insects and bugs. A report by a medical examiner stated that the cause of death was "undetermined," but also noted that "the decedent's body was covered in bed bugs." A local rights group, the Southern Center for Human Rights, has previously stated that the Fulton County Jail has undergone outbreaks of lice and scabies and has for decades suffered from overcrowding and mismanagement. americas georgia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International georgia, inmate, fulton county jail, criminal investigation https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/iranian-embassy-in-saudi-arabia-opens-after-7-year-hiatus-1109468067.html Iranian Embassy in Saudi Arabia Opens After 7-Year Hiatus Iranian Embassy in Saudi Arabia Opens After 7-Year Hiatus The Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia's Riyadh opened for the first time in seven years as part of an agreement on the restoration of diplomatic relations, Saudi Arabian newspaper reported, citing sources. 2023-04-13T11:19+0000 2023-04-13T11:19+0000 2023-04-13T11:19+0000 world saudi arabia riyadh iran embassy /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/10/1082090597_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_614425d674e792d921999069581db34c.jpg The opening ceremony reportedly took place a few hours after the announcement of the Iranian delegation's arrival in Riyadh on Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Iranian Foreign Ministry sent a technical delegation from Tehran to Riyadh to prepare for the opening of the Iranian embassy in Saudi Arabia's capital and the consulate in Jeddah. In early March, Iran and Saudi Arabia, with China's mediation, agreed to resume diplomatic ties that were severed in 2016 after Saudi Arabia's diplomatic missions in Iran had been attacked following the execution of Shiite preacher Nimr al-Nimr.Last week, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, met in China and signed an agreement on the restoration of diplomatic relations and preparation for the opening of diplomatic missions. They also agreed to resume direct flights between the two countries. saudi arabia riyadh iran Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International iranian embassy in saudi arabia, riyadh opened embassy https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/joe-bidens-denial-of-any-knowledge-of-hunters-business-dealings-ripped-as-all-out-lie-1109474619.html Joe Biden's Denial of Any Knowledge of Hunter's Business Dealings Ripped as 'All-Out Lie' Joe Biden's Denial of Any Knowledge of Hunter's Business Dealings Ripped as 'All-Out Lie' "Corruption at its core" is how South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Ruth Mace descibed US president Joe Biden's denial of any knowledge of his son Hunter Biden's shady business dealings. 2023-04-13T17:58+0000 2023-04-13T17:58+0000 2023-04-13T17:58+0000 americas us hunter biden joe biden us house oversight committee tax fraud white house /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/09/01/1100286915_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_808e1e47320723bf00c36858f62ed5ef.jpg "Corruption at its core" is how South Carolina Republican Rep. Nancy Ruth Mace described Joe Biden's obdurate denial of any knowledge of his son Hunter Biden's shady business dealings.The US presidents dismissal of any claims of complicity was maintained throughout the notorious "Laptop from hell" row, and amid the dual investigations into Hunter Biden's financial dealings.Later that year he reiterated: "I dont discuss business with my son." Then-White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, after Biden became POTUS, also insisted that Joe Biden had never talked to Hunter about his foreign business deals."The president does not get involved in the business dealings of his son," she said in April 2022."What the president said stands," current White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre echoed in July 2022.Nevertheless, a lot has happened regarding probes into both Hunter, and his father, the 46th POTUS. Hunter Biden is currently being investigated by the Department of Justice (DOJ) for tax affairs and foreign business dealings, while a GOP-led House panel is also probing President Joe Biden and his family over their business dealings to assess whether national security was compromised. Republicans vowed to do so if they claimed the House in the November 2022 midterm elections.Weighing in on the probe of the financial dealings of President Bidens family by the Oversight and Accountability Committee of the GOP-led House of Representatives, launched on January 4, Mace added:The outburst by Rep. Nancy Mace comes as top staff members of Hunter Bidens now-defunct investment firm were revealed to have visited the White House on over 80 occasions when Joe Biden was vice president in the Barack Obama administration. According to a US media report, citing WH visitor logs, at least 17 visits were made to the White House by Joan Mayer, who was vice president of Hunter Bidens firm Rosemont Seneca Advisors, from 2008 to 2017. Anne Marie Person, another former assistant of Hunter Bidens outfit, is said to have paid no less than five trips to the White House during Barack Obamas stint as POTUS. Hunter Biden's longtime business partner Eric Schwerin clocked up around 27 such appearances. WH visitor logs reveal that John Robinson "Rob" Walker, also an ex-business partner 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. The list continues, with names like co-founder of Rosemont Seneca Partners, Devon Archer, sentenced to a year in prison for "fraudulent issuance and sale of Native American tribal bonds," former Rosemont Seneca partner, Chris Heinz, Hunters Mexican business associates, Miguel Aleman Velasco and Miguel Aleman Magnani, as well as numerous others.The saga over Hunter Biden's so-called laptop from Hell began when it was first broken by the New York Post ahead of the 2020 US election. The content of the laptop, including the first sons nude photos and graphic videos, is part of the ongoing federal investigation into whether Hunter Biden violated US laws when he engaged in his foreign financial and business dealings during his fathers vice presidency between 2009 and 2017. Furthermore, federal agents are probing Hunter Biden for alleged tax crimes and lying about his drug abuse in order to buy a gun.While Joe Biden dismissed any knowledge of his sons business activities, most US news outlets and social media companies did their best to shield him from the laptop-related revelations ahead of the 2020 presidential election campaign. At the time, they were branded as being part of a Russian disinformation operation. Last year, however, The New York Times and The Washington Post made a U-turn, confirming that the laptop was authentic and that the damning information contained on the device was genuine. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230411/hunter-bidens-business-associates-visited-wh-over-80-times-when-joe-biden-was-vp-1109356039.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230314/treasury-may-let-house-panel-inspect-bidens-reported-foreign-business-deals-1108365071.html americas white house Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko hunter biden, shady foreign business dealings, no knowledge of hunter's business dealings, hunter's laptop from hell, laptop from hell scandal, corruption at its core, department of justice probe, tax affairs probe, gop-led house panel, probing president joe biden, biden family probe, national security compromised, white house logs, visitor logs https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/pentagon-leaks-prove-west-is-fighting-proxy-war-in-ukraine-1109463535.html Pentagon Leaks Prove West is Fighting 'Proxy War' in Ukraine Pentagon Leaks Prove West is Fighting 'Proxy War' in Ukraine The release of US defense briefings on Ukraine's preparations for a new offensive have caused uproar in Washington. John Kiriakou, Former CIA Officer & Co-Host of 'The Backstory' on Radio Sputnik, and Chris Helali, political analyst, researcher and independent investigative journalist, discuss the motives and implications around the leaks. 2023-04-13T16:18+0000 2023-04-13T16:18+0000 2023-04-13T16:43+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine us pentagon leaks john kiriakou ukraine russia us department of defense (dod) pentagon nato /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0a/1109332088_0:109:1170:767_1920x0_80_0_0_a469a7454bddcbb473ccca29b955eaae.jpg The Pentagon's leaked battle plans for Ukraine may be an elaborate fake designed to feed misinformation to Russia, says a former CIA agent.The trove of leaked situation reports on preparations for Ukraine's long-advertised spring counter-offensive has dominated the headlines in the US for the past week."I think they're real," former CIA officer John Kiriakou told Sputnik but cautioned that they might contain subtle attempts at misdirection.The documents certainly look genuine, with the correct formatting, headers and fonts, he noted, but argued that none of the documents leaked so far are "particularly sensitive" since they do not detail "sources and methods.""It's already been out there. It's mildly embarrassing for the government, but it doesn't cause a problem in national security," Kiriakou pointed out. "A whistleblower or even a leaker from government would have leaked these to a news outlet or to WikiLeaks," whereas the Pentagon documents were stored on a server for the online game Minecraft and then circulated on four Telegram channels for a month before they were reported by mainstream media.The former CIA insider highlighted two points that struck him among the information from the leaks."Number one was this insinuation that the US has intelligence sources all over Russia," Kiriakou said. "I think that's nonsense. Both the Russians and the Americans have very robust counterintelligence operations, so they're constantly trying to root out moles in their own organizations."The other was the "silliness" that Israeli foreign intelligence service Mossad was supporting domestic protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's attempts to curb the power of the country's supreme court."In Israel, it would be Shin Bet instead of the Mossad. The Mossad is a foreign intelligence collection organization," Kiriakou stressed. "Even if the leadership of Mossad was supportive of the demonstrations in Israel, they wouldn't tell the Americans and certainly they wouldn't tell the American military. They don't liaise with the military."A new leak indicated that intelligence services in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), a close ally of Washington, were now working with their Russian counterparts.But Kiriakou said it was "completely normal for every country to have an intelligence liaison relationship with every other country" recalling that he once got into an argument with his KGB counterpart on an overseas assignment over park spaces at their office."This is what people do. They play these baby games. The UAE is joined at the hip with the United States to the point where we've given them F-35s. We only give F-35s to our the closest of our allies in the world," he said.Independent journalist Chris Helali told Sputnik the leaks "paint a very bleak picture" of the conflict."They showed that, in fact, we are entering into a phase of, at best, a prolonged stalemate between both sides," he argued, highlighting the assesment that Kiev's forces will see "the collapse of their air defense capabilities come May if they are not resupplied."But the US intelligence 'community' is busily "spinning this as disinformation once again," he said, claiming that "it's coming from Russian backed telegram, chat rooms and things like that.""There's been a lot of back and forth, now, whether these numbers are accurate," Helali pointed out. "A lot of the intelligence and Pentagon officials and government spokespeople are now saying that these documents were edited for that number." That showed that the conflict was "not only a war on the ground, but a much larger information and ideological war as to the information that's coming out," he argued. "Even just something as basic as statistics and how many soldiers have been killed on both sides has proven to be very political and very charged."But crucially, the analyst said the West's denial of Moscow's assertion that it is fighting against all of NATO via its "proxy" Ukraine "has been absolutely obliterated by these leaks.""Not only do we now have information that there are US and NATO personnel on the ground within the borders of Ukraine," but that 12 Ukrainian combat brigades have been assembled for the offensive, "nine of which are trained by U.S. forces and equipped by US forces."For more cutting-edge analysis of current affairs, tune into Sputnik's radio shows. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/who-leaked-pentagon-documents-2023-1109462375.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/pentagon-leaks-risk-lives-expose-spy-methods-russia-can-exploit---ex-us-intel-officer-1109456898.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/us-senators-to-get-classified-briefing-on-leaked-pentagon-documents-on-april-19--reports-1109470697.html ukraine russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png pentagon, leaks, us, russia, ukraine, us department of defence, cia john kiriakou, nato, chris helali https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/pentagon-leaks-risk-lives-expose-spy-methods-russia-can-exploit---ex-us-intel-officer-1109456898.html Pentagon Leaks Risk Lives, Expose Spy Methods Russia Can Exploit - Ex-US Intel Officer Pentagon Leaks Risk Lives, Expose Spy Methods Russia Can Exploit - Ex-US Intel Officer Recent leaks of classified materials from the Pentagon may enable Russia to develop countermeasures that will reduce Washingtons spying capabilities, in addition to putting lives at risk, former US intelligence officer Charles Morgan told Sputnik. 2023-04-13T05:06+0000 2023-04-13T05:06+0000 2023-04-13T05:06+0000 world pentagon leaks us /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0a/1109311057_0:149:2620:1623_1920x0_80_0_0_d821d20fc697afa38c0f16b3bac4de45.jpg Top secret Pentagon files leaked online in recent weeks provide intelligence on a range of sensitive security matters, including Ukrainian air defenses, Russian military activities, and US assessments of the conflict. Some of the leaked documents provided specific details on Ukrainian military activities, including the attacks on Russian surveillance aircraft near Minsk and a gas compression station in Moscows suburbs in late February. In addition, the intelligence conflicted with earlier Pentagon assessments of the situation on the ground in Ukraine and revealed US doubts that Kiev could launch a spring offensive. Former US Navy fighter jet pilot Vincent Aiello told Sputnik that the leaks of military intelligence could affect the direction of the conflict in Ukraine. Since the recent leaks, the US Department of Defense has significantly reduced the number of employees who have access to classified information, according to US media. The Pentagon is also leading an interagency effort to determine the impact the leaks have on US national security. Earlier in the day, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said that Moscow has no position regarding the latest leak of classified Pentagon documents, but it is not excluded that they were leaked deliberately to mislead Russia. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/pentagon-leaks-5-key-revelations-1109396000.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International classified materials from the pentagon, leaks of classified materials https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/polish-prime-minister-eu-leaders-want-to-maintain-close-trade-relations-with-china-1109485461.html Polish Prime Minister: EU Leaders Want to Maintain Close Trade Relations With China Polish Prime Minister: EU Leaders Want to Maintain Close Trade Relations With China Leaders of the European Union are eager to maintain close trade relations with China as demonstrated in their latest visits to the country, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Thursday. 2023-04-13T16:50+0000 2023-04-13T16:50+0000 2023-04-13T16:50+0000 economy china european union (eu) official visit china trade poland trade /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/05/05/1082808941_0:173:3027:1875_1920x0_80_0_0_f965a6eda10b14e0067a288655cf8178.jpg "They [European leaders] want also [that] the selling of high margin products to China continues. The wake-up call with regards to China is very soft, very weak in Europe, across the EU, and you could see this over the last couple of weeks, some European leaders went to Beijing also, and this was quite clear," Morawiecki said during the conversation session at the Atlantic Council in Washington.Such visits only made Europe more dependent on China, the prime minister stated, adding that some European countries were making the same mistake with China that they made with Russia, becoming dependent on Russian gas. Last week, French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen arrived in China on an official three-day visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Prior to that, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited Beijing on March 31 and held talks with Xi. The EU announced last week that EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell would also visit China from April 13-15. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230408/is-eu-able-to-depoliticize-economical-cooperation-with-china-1109249739.html china poland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International trade relations with china, eu-china relations, mateusz morawiecki , european leaders in china https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/russian-export-center-supported-291-companies-in-bashkiria-in-2022-1109481206.html Russian Export Center Supported 291 Companies in Bashkiria in 2022 Russian Export Center Supported 291 Companies in Bashkiria in 2022 The Russian Export Center (REC), part of VEB.ru, supported 291 companies in the Republic of Bashkortostan in 2022. During the year, companies received over 1,600 services, the volume of exports supported in this way amounted to over $278 million, Renat Manyapov, head of the REC's representative office in Ufa, said. 2023-04-13T13:41+0000 2023-04-13T13:41+0000 2023-04-13T13:41+0000 russia russia bashkiria russian export center jsc (rec) /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/06/01/1095915180_0:169:3020:1868_1920x0_80_0_0_127bcb47c4c52d125356f6c2810928a0.jpg According to him, in 2022. exporters were searching for new markets and reorienting themselves to markets of friendly countries. Companies started actively participating in exhibitions and business missions to promote their products there, as well as joining international consultations and regular webinars on logistics held by the Russian Export Center. The My Export platform's digital services have become even more in demand, including partner search, compensation, and analytics services. "In 2022, the usual sales channels stopped working and companies had to adapt their commodity flows to the new challenges. They faced having to reconsider priority markets, build distribution in new countries and look for alternative logistics corridors. The REC provided comprehensive support to our exporters, including promptly transforming support tools," Manyapov said. "In 2022, with the assistance of the Russian Export Center, we launched the series of pilot industry acceleration programs 'Export Fast Track,'" she added."Some 60 companies from the oil and gas, agribusiness and timber industries participated in them. The 'Emergency Export Assistance' project is also being implemented. It was included in the list of best practices and recommended for replication in Russian regions. Some 230 companies have been advised within its framework. 28 of them concluded 65 export contracts and expanded their supply geography. The volume of supported exports exceeded $6 million," the minister said. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/rec-head-sme-exporters-in-russia-grew-by-15-in-2022-1109247432.html russia bashkiria Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russian export center, republic of bashkortostan https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/scott-ritter-pentagon-leaks-show-that-ukraine-cant-win--1109484135.html Scott Ritter: Pentagon Leaks Show That Ukraine Cant Win Scott Ritter: Pentagon Leaks Show That Ukraine Cant Win Anyone who has been following the ongoing Russian Special Military Operation (SMO) in Ukraine is aware that there has been talk of a Ukrainian spring offensive for some time now. 2023-04-13T16:00+0000 2023-04-13T16:00+0000 2023-04-13T16:06+0000 analysis pentagon leaks special operation ukrainian crisis russia ukraine /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/01/09/1106153931_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_db7530db80358f8e98aea2f631ee4a45.jpg Since early fall of last year, the government of Ukraine has been aggressively advocating for increased provision of specific kinds of military equipmenttanks, artillery, infantry fighting vehicles, and modern jet aircraft top the listwhich would enable the armed forces of Ukraine to execute a major military offensive designed to penetrate the so-called land bridge connecting the Crimean Peninsula with Russias Rostov region. In particular, the Ukrainian military appears to be planning for a concerted attack to capture the city of Mariupol and re-establish itself on the shores of the Sea of Azov. From here, the Ukrainian military would be able to subject the totality of the Crimean Peninsula to punishing attacks, the goal of which would be to break the fighting spirit of Russia and eventually drive the Russian military from all the former territories of Ukraine that were incorporated into Russia following the referenda of 2022, as well as Crimea.To this end, significant quantities of military equipment, including hundreds of tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and artillery systems, and thousands of wheeled combat support vehicles, were pledged to the Ukrainian effort, along with the training and logistical support required to transform promised support into reality. When all the promised material was matched to announced training support, it was clear that the US, NATO, and Ukraine were planning for a major offensive capability to be ready for use sometime in late April-early May of 2023.All the information listed above was available through publicly available sources, and as such was not unknown to Russian military planners. Moreover, Russian military intelligence has undoubtedly made use of Russias extensive intelligence gathering potential to produce their own assessments of US, NATO, and Ukrainian capability and intent as it regards a potential Ukrainian spring counteroffensive. As such, when documents sourced to the US Department of Defense began appearing on social media platforms that purported to show sensitive US intelligence assessments regarding various aspects of the military preparations underway for a Ukrainian spring counteroffensive, the existence of such plans did not take anyone by surprise. One of the main things that jumps out from the leaked documents is the fact that the timeline for organizing, equipping, and training the Ukrainian military formations earmarked for a spring counteroffensive is too aggressivein short, it is unlikely that these forces would be able to achieve 100 percent readiness, or anything closely resembling that, in time to meet the anticipated late April 2023 launch date. Moreover, the documents suggest that the heavy fighting centered on the city of Artemovsk (Bakhmut) is a major drain of Ukrainian military resources, strongly suggesting that any forces that have been trained and equipped with the expectation of participating in a spring counteroffensive would more than likely find themselves diverted to the Artemovsk (Bakhmut) meatgrinder, or other hot spots along the extended line of contact between Ukrainian and Russian forces.The other disconcerting news, as far as the US, NATO, and Ukrainian military planners are concerned, is the status of two major sub-sets of material that are essential if Ukraine was to have any chance of successfully executing a major spring counteroffensiveair defense and artillery ammunition inventories. The leaked documents reveal the dismal status of on-hand supplies of both air defense missilesparticularly the Soviet-era systems that are the mainstay of the Ukrainian air defense networkand western artillery rockets and 155mm artillery shells. In short, the Ukrainians are expected to exhaust their supply of both soon, and there is little hope of achieving a meaningful resupply capability in time to support a late April-early May schedule for initiating a spring offensive.The consequences of these deficiencies are fatal not just to Ukraines hope of a spring counteroffensive, but Ukraines military position. As the leaked documents reveal, Russia is already deploying stand-off precision aerial bombs that are destroying Ukrainian troop and material assembly points behind the front lines free from any fear of Ukrainian air defense systemsthe Russians are simply releasing the bombs outside of the effective range of Ukrainian surface-to-air missiles. Once Ukraines supply of Soviet-era missiles are exhausted, the Russian air force will have virtually free range over Ukraine, increasing both the scope, scale, and lethality of its air interdiction campaign. This will prove to be devastating for any Ukrainian counteroffensive forcewithout an effective air defense umbrella overhead, these forces will become little more than sitting ducks for the Russian military. The counteroffensive, in short, will die before it can even begin.The other problem that emerges from the leaked documents is the fact that Ukraine is expending US- and NATO-supplied ammunitionHIMARS rockets and 155mm artillery shellsat a rate far greater than can be resupplied. The success of any potential spring counteroffensive is centered on Ukraines ability to suppress/neutralize Russian defensive positions, silence Russian artillery, disrupt Russian command and control and logistics, and breakup any Russian counterattacking force. This can only be done through the extensive application of precision artillery fires. While Ukraine has demonstrated that, when provided with western artillery systems and western intelligence, it is able to carryout deadly attacks against Russian forces, these impressive capabilities mean nothing if the guns seeking to put steel on the targets identified by western intelligence lack ammunition. According to the leaked documents, this is a real problem, one which the US and NATO are working overtime to fix. The prognosis of the critical shortfall in artillery ammunition being rectified in time for a spring counteroffensive is, however, not good.All these shortfalls were identified and discussed openly before the leak of the Pentagon documents. What the documents provide, however, is official corroboration of these publicly held concerns, helping expose the lies and distortions of truth that have been told by senior US and NATO officials about the efficacy of a Ukrainian counteroffensive. By exposing the malfeasance of these officials, who appear more than happy to see Ukraine sacrifice the lives of tens of thousands more of its soldiers in a lost cause rather than encourage a negotiated settlement to the conflict which, while politically unpalatable for the US, NATO, and Ukraine, would at this juncture represent the best outcome availablebetter by far than the position these parties will find themselves in once Ukraines military has been destroyed and Russian forces push even further westward into Ukraine.And here we may find the purpose behind these leakssomeone privy to the data that exposes the lies of the US government and its NATO allies, and who believes that, if the public were made aware of these lies, pressure could be brought to bear to prevent the needless sacrifice of additional lives in support of a military missionthe spring counteroffensivewhich is doomed from the start.One can only hope that this gambit succeeds. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230407/us-congressman-ukrainian-spring-offensive-to-show-whether-crimea-off-table-for-kiev--1109247941.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/trying-to-hold-artemovsk-is-detrimental-to-ukrainian-military---security-analyst-1109389110.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/recent-us-arms-packages-for-ukraine-will-be-last-ones-for-foreseeable-future---reports-1109479734.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.jpg Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Scott Ritter https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e6/0c/17/1105733958_0:0:334:334_100x100_80_0_0_b457e4e9c850ef224b0cc79059bb38df.jpg ukrainian counteroffensive, spring offensive, special military operation, scott ritter comments, pentagon leaks on ukraine conflict https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/slovakias-national-bank-head-reportedly-fined-110000-in-bribery-case-1109485932.html Slovakia's National Bank Head Reportedly Fined $110,000 in Bribery Case Slovakia's National Bank Head Reportedly Fined $110,000 in Bribery Case A Slovak court found the head of the National Bank of Slovakia, Peter Kazimir, guilty of bribery while he was serving as the country's finance minister and fined him over $110,000, Slovak media reported Thursday. 2023-04-13T17:07+0000 2023-04-13T17:07+0000 2023-04-13T17:07+0000 world slovakia bribery /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/102495/97/1024959725_0:371:1805:1386_1920x0_80_0_0_eec2a784ed15626e01bcd544eaafec81.jpg In early April, the court ordered Kazimir to pay a 100,000 euro ($110,532) fine, a local news portal reported. If the fine is not paid, Kazimir could be sentenced to an alternative punishment in the form of imprisonment, the report added. Kazimir, while serving as the country's finance minister, acted as a courier and handed over an envelope containing a bribe of 50,000 euros to the then-head of the Slovak financial service responsible for tax and customs regulation. Slovak Prime Minister Eduard Heger called on Kazimir to resign over the issue. Slovak President Zuzana Caputova has also urged Kazimir to step down. slovakia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International slovakia, national bank of slovakia, bribery, fine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/tanzania-and-burundi-issue-tender-to-build-electrified-railway-1109388292.html Tanzania and Burundi Issue Tender To Build Electrified Railway Tanzania and Burundi Issue Tender To Build Electrified Railway Tanzania and Burundi have announced a tender for designing and constructing an electrified railway that will connect the neighbouring countries and pass through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). 2023-04-13T05:54+0000 2023-04-13T05:54+0000 2023-04-13T05:54+0000 africa east africa tanzania burundi railway infrastructure project construction african continental free trade area free-trade area /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0c/1109388597_0:161:3069:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_4f64c47b0a1cb37070007408e058af39.jpg Tanzania and Burundi have announced a tender for the design and construction of an electrified railway that will connect the neighboring countries and pass through the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).According to the tender document, the governments entered into a bilateral agreement and appointed the Tanzania Railways Corporation (TRC) as the agency responsible for the multinational TanzaniaBurundiDRC Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) project. About 282 kilometers of an electrified SGR line will be built from Uvinza, western Tanzania (off the Tabora - Kigoma SGR line), across the international border along the Malagarasi river to Musongati and on to Gitega, which are both in Burundi. The project is expected to be implemented within five years. The TRC is going to engage a single works contractor and a single supervising consultant for the whole project. It is divided into two lots: the 156km Tanzania section and the 126km Burundi section. The tender document indicated that applications for initial selection should be submitted by 15 May 2023. It was also noted that the countries applied for financing from the African Development Bank toward the cost of the construction of the Tanzania-Burundi section, which is the first phase of the Tanzania - Burundi - DR Congo SGR project.Upon completion, the project is expected to become the continent's second cross-border electrified rail after the Addis Ababa - Djibouti Railway, which is the continent's first fully electric multinational railway. It was formally inaugurated for passenger services in 2016, and became officially operational at the beginning of January 2018.Tanzania has recently increased its efforts to modernize its railway infrastructure, revamping ageing national and regional rail networks in a bid to facilitate cross-border trade within the AfCFTA. In December 2022, the country signed a $2.2Bln deal with China. According to the deal, two Chinese companies will build the final section of the country's SGR line to connect landlocked neighboring nations to Tanzanian ports.The 506km section goes from Tabora, western Tanzania, to Kigoma on the north-eastern shores of Lake Tanganyika and close to the border with Burundi and the DRC. The section is part of the 2,561km railway network linking the Indian Ocean port of Dar es Salaam to such countries as the DRC, Rwanda, Burundi and Uganda. Construction is set to be complete in 2026. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230319/what-has-tanzanias-first-female-president-achieved-in-two-years-1108539945.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20221103/china-to-assist-tanzania-in-developing-infrastructure-and-maritime-trade-1103690515.html africa east africa tanzania burundi Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Maria Konokhova Maria Konokhova News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Maria Konokhova east africa, tanzania, burundi, democratic republic of the congo (drc), multinational railway, rail line, construction, tender for design and construction, infrastructure https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/top-us-officials-may-have-greenlighted-pentagon-leaks-to-mislead-russia---ex-fbi-agent-1109454321.html Top US Officials May Have Greenlighted Pentagon Leaks to Mislead Russia - Ex-FBI Agent Top US Officials May Have Greenlighted Pentagon Leaks to Mislead Russia - Ex-FBI Agent President Joe Biden or other top ranking US administration officials could have approved all or some of the recent Pentagon leaks as part of a misinformation campaign to confuse Russia, retired FBI Agent and former Minneapolis Division Legal Counsel Coleen Rowley told Sputnik. 2023-04-13T01:13+0000 2023-04-13T01:13+0000 2023-04-13T01:10+0000 americas pentagon leaks us coleen rowley biden administration leak /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0a/1109311057_0:149:2620:1623_1920x0_80_0_0_d821d20fc697afa38c0f16b3bac4de45.jpg Recent leaks of classified Pentagon documents reveal secrets regarding a number of sensitive security issues including with respect to the conflict in Ukraine. Some of the documents reportedly reveal US doubts about Ukraine being able to launch a spring offensive, in addition to revealing alleged weaknesses in Ukraine air defenses. Whether authorized or not the disclosures could well have had more than one purpose, Rowley said. "The 'leaks' could even be mixed with some disinformation to mislead the Russians," the former intelligence agent added. Rowley also said its hard to discern what is happening with these latest classified information dumps given the level of "information-disinformation warfare" that has been going on. Former UK Ambassador Peter Ford told Sputnik another motive for the leaks could be to illustrate the bellicose public narrative on Ukraine is some distance from reality, and expectations of success ought to be scaled back. Ford said this is likely given US inventories are being seriously depleted by Ukraine's "endless" demands. Some of the intelligence that emerged conflicted with earlier Pentagon assessments of the situation on the ground in Ukraine, US media said. However, even Russian officials have raised doubts about the intent of the leaks. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Moscow does not rule out the possibility the documents were leaked on purpose in an attempt to mislead Russia. The US Justice Department opened a criminal case to investigate the leaks and the Pentagon launched an interagency effort to find out what happened. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230412/pentagon-leaks-5-key-revelations-1109396000.html americas Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International us president joe biden, retired fbi agent and former minneapolis division legal counsel coleen rowley, pentagon leaks, biden administration, misinformation campaign https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/trump-labels-the-democrat-party-the-party-of-disinformation-1109453364.html Trump Labels the Democrat Party: "The Party of Disinformation" Trump Labels the Democrat Party: "The Party of Disinformation" On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including NPR announcing it will leave the Twitter platform, and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers endorsing Robert F. Kennedy Jr for President. 2023-04-13T04:04+0000 2023-04-13T04:04+0000 2023-04-13T10:17+0000 the backstory radio cosmonautics day ireland canada safe third country agreement (stca) russia chicago /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0c/1109453207_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_cbcc39397d970bbf4cd7bc53193989fc.png Trump Labels the Democrat Party: "The Party of Disinformation" On todays episode of The Backstory, host Lee Stranahan discussed current events including NPR announcing it will leave the Twitter platform, and NFL quarterback Aaron Rodgers endorsing Robert F. Kennedy Jr for President. Andrew Arthur - Former Immigration Judge, Center for Immigration Studies | ICE Enforcement Has Been Curtailed, Biden Administration Lack Transparency on Immigration Enforcement, and Expedited Removals In the first hour, Lee spoke with Andrew Arthur about Title 42 expected to end in May, US citizens wanting more immigration enforcement, and northern border apprehensions. Andrew talked about the staffing issues for border patrol and how the northern border has become a concern. Andrew also described the CanadaUnited States Safe Third Country Agreement.In the second hour, Lee spoke about the media blackout on Robert F. Kennedy Jr's Presidential run, Donald Trump's comments on Joe Biden's mental health, and the recent Pentagon leaks. Lee described the importance of Robert Kennedy Jr and his chances of winning the Democratic Presidential nomination. Lee talked about Edward Snowden and how Snowden is discussed as a traitor to America.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. ireland canada russia chicago Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Lee Stranahan https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125222_0:0:293:292_100x100_80_0_0_a8bc846f559660e5bf7574f8a9608a1d.png the backstory, who runs for president in 2024, biden president campaign, nato intel leaks, pentagon docs leaked, war plans leak, who leaked nato war intel, us-canada border, who controls us northern borders, https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/us-considers-troops-in-taiwan-eu-wary-of-china-conflict-artemovsk-on-the-edge-1109453908.html US Considers Troops in Taiwan; EU Wary of China Conflict; Artemovsk on the Edge US Considers Troops in Taiwan; EU Wary of China Conflict; Artemovsk on the Edge European leaders are distancing themselves from the US hard line on China as the reality of the Ukrainian disaster reveals a crashing empire. 2023-04-13T04:01+0000 2023-04-13T04:01+0000 2023-04-13T10:32+0000 the critical hour radio julian assange taiwan ukraine donald trump china /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0c/1109453751_0:0:1920:1080_1920x0_80_0_0_c0b6aee8c5af3583690341f8bb028cc0.png US Considers Troops in Taiwan; EU Wary of China Conflict; Bakhmut on the Edge European leaders are distancing themselves from the US hard line on China as the reality of the Ukrainian disaster reveals a crashing empire. Brian Berletic, writer and youtube host joins us to discuss foreign policy. The US is mulling sending troops to Taiwan. Also, Ukraine will eventually reveal horrible losses and the spring offensive is looming.Mark Sleboda, Moscow based international relations security analyst joins us to discuss Ukraine. The US has been working on biological weapons. Also, Artemovsk (Bakhmut) is 90% taken by Russian forces and Trump speaks out on Nord Stream.George Koo, Journalist, Social Activist, International Business Consultant, Chemical Engineer joins us to discuss China. The Philippines and the US are starting their largest ever military drills. Also, the IMF projects China's economy to grow 5.2% in 2023.Dan Lazare, Investigative Journalist, Author of America's Undeclared War joins us to discuss US policy towards China. French president Emmanuel Macron calls for European sovereignty. Also, Trump complains that Macron is cozying up to China.Laith Marouf, broadcaster and journalist based in Beirut, Lebanon joins us to discuss the Middle East. The Saudi delegation in Yemen is moving towards a peace plan. Also, Syria is about to move back into the Arab fold and Lindsey Graham is meeting with the Saudi Crown prince.Caleb Maupin, Journalist and Political Analyst joins us to discuss the new world order. The US wants full spectrum dominance over the world to preserve corporate profits. Also, we contrast the world bank with the BRICS economic institution.John Burris, Civil Rights Attorney joins us to discuss the charges against president Trump. The Manhattan DA is suing House leader Jim Jordan.Jim Kavanagh, Writer at thepolemicist.net and Counter Punch joins us to discuss Julian Assange. Supporters of Assange rallied at the Department of Justice in DC on Tuesday. Also, several House democrats are calling for his release.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. ukraine china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Garland Nixon https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e5/02/13/1082125302_0:0:239:239_100x100_80_0_0_d5d43c970b0740f228597fbcdb4ffd66.jpg 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, what are ukranian casualties, what are russian casualties, , us drills with philippines, us drills in south china sea, free jullian assange https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/us-expects-no-russia-ukraine-peace-talks-in-2023-leaked-pentagon-docs-reportedly-show-1109458569.html US Expects No Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in 2023, Leaked Pentagon Docs Reportedly Show US Expects No Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks in 2023, Leaked Pentagon Docs Reportedly Show A Defense Intelligence Agency assessment, which was among the recent leaks of classified materials from the Pentagon, revealed that the United States does not expect peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in 2023, 2023-04-13T06:26+0000 2023-04-13T06:26+0000 2023-04-13T06:26+0000 world pentagon leaks russia ukraine peace talks /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/106247/87/1062478795_0:131:1920:1211_1920x0_80_0_0_b80b3ab1cf080334dccc0a9d55880d40.jpg The assessment was based on data on the troops count, weaponry and equipment of each side to the Ukraine conflict, as well as the lack of will to negotiate from both Moscow and Kiev, the report said. In addition, the US intelligence analysis of the situation concluded that even if Ukraine inflicts "unsustainable losses on Russian forces" and captures "significant" amounts of territories, the gains would not lead to peace negotiations, according to the newspaper. Meanwhile, an unnamed US official told The Washington Post that the decision when to negotiate is up to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people. Top secret Pentagon files leaked online in recent weeks provide intelligence on a range of sensitive security matters, including Ukrainian air defenses, Russian military activities, and US assessments of the conflict. Moscow launched its special military operation in Ukraine on February 24, 2022. Russian and Ukrainian delegations have engaged in several rounds of peace talks since then, but the negotiations ultimately reached an impasse. Russia has insisted that it is open for talks with Ukraine, even after Zelenskyy signed a decree prohibiting negotiations with Moscow in October 2022. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/top-us-officials-may-have-greenlighted-pentagon-leaks-to-mislead-russia---ex-fbi-agent-1109454321.html russia ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International russia-ukraine peace talks, leaked pentagon docs https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/us-president-biden-continues-visit-to-republic-of-ireland-1109458080.html US President Biden Continues Visit to Republic of Ireland US President Biden Continues Visit to Republic of Ireland Sputnik goes live as US President Joe Biden continues his visit to the Republic of Ireland following his trip to Northern Ireland earlier in the week. 2023-04-13T09:57+0000 2023-04-13T09:57+0000 2023-04-13T09:57+0000 world us republic of ireland joe biden /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0b/1109369284_0:160:3072:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_60480887169db32826af67d6d91552d1.jpg Sputnik comes live as US President Joe Biden continues his visit to the Republic of Ireland after his trip to Northern Ireland earlier in the week. On his second day in the Republic of Ireland, Biden is expected to address the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament).On Wednesday, Biden met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast. During his speech at Ulster University to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, Biden backed the Windsor Framework negotiated by the UK and the European Commission in February to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol in the wake of Brexit.Follow Sputnik's Live Feed to Find Out More! republic of ireland Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 US President Biden Continues Visit to Republic of Ireland US President Biden Continues Visit to Republic of Ireland 2023-04-13T09:57+0000 true PT360M58S 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International biden visit to republic of ireland, northern ireland https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/us-to-keep-giving-military-aid-to-ukraine-going-forward--white-house-1109467639.html US Will Keep Giving Military Aid to Ukraine, White House Says US Will Keep Giving Military Aid to Ukraine, White House Says The United States is committed to making sure that Ukrainians get everything they need for sustained combat, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday. 2023-04-13T11:13+0000 2023-04-13T11:13+0000 2023-04-13T11:23+0000 russia's special operation in ukraine ukraine us aid /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/03/13/1108562932_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_8766ffc15fbb5893a11579b324fb2335.jpg "The US is going to continue to commit to the Ukrainian people to do everything that we can to make sure that they have the assistance on the ground to fight for their freedom," she told a press gaggle in Dublin, Ireland. The spokeswoman was quizzed about whether the US and NATO were concerned that the Ukrainian conflict could escalate into one between NATO and Russia. She said the allies showed a strong commitment to making sure that Ukrainians "get what they need when it comes to security assistance, making sure that they are able to fight on the ground." Russia has repeatedly warned countries sending weapons to Ukraine that it sees military shipments as legitimate targets. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has said that NATO allies arming and training Ukrainians is tantamount to a direct involvement in the conflict. https://sputnikglobe.com/20230404/us-announces-26bln-in-military-aid-for-ukraine-including-himars-ammunition-1109125045.html ukraine Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International united states, military aid to ukraine https://sputnikglobe.com/20230413/what-to-expect-from-german-foreign-minister-annalena-baerbocks-visit-to-china-1109457781.html What to Expect From German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbocks Visit to China What to Expect From German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbocks Visit to China What to Expect From German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbocks Visit to China 2023-04-13T09:02+0000 2023-04-13T09:02+0000 2023-04-13T13:40+0000 world china germany taiwan annalena baerbock emmanuel macron xi jinping qin gang wang yi /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdn1.img.sputnikglobe.com/img/07e7/04/0d/1109457589_0:0:3072:1728_1920x0_80_0_0_86949a34514b7772e189ebe97a186674.jpg Germany's top diplomat is the latest European politician to pack her bags and head to China on an official visit. It is anticipated that Annalena Baerbock has been tasked to do damage control after the explosive remarks on the US, China, and Taiwan made by French President Emmanuel Macron in the wake of his foray to Beijing.Baerbock who recently urged Europe to be "geopolitically more active" in its systemic rivalry with China, which she described as a "competitor" and a "systemic opponent", is visiting the Asian powerhouse from April 13-15. The trip comes at the invitation of State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang. In China, Baerbock intends to discuss such issues as the situation in the Taiwan Strait, the Ukraine conflagration, human rights, as well as the fight against climate crisis, according to the German foreign ministry spokesperson, Andrea Sasse. Regarding military exercises conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) near Taiwan following the meeting in the US between Taiwanese leader Tsai Ing-wen and US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, the spokeswoman added:It was also underscored that both Germany and France were involved in shaping a joint EU-China policy, which was also done in cooperation "with our transatlantic partner," in a reference to Washington.Afterwards, Baerbock will reportedly head to Japan to attend a meeting of the foreign ministers of the G7 countries in the Japanese Nagano Prefecture's resort town of Karuizawa.'Set the Record Straight'Annalena Baerbock will be expected to "set the record straight" during her trip to China, Nils Schmid, the foreign policy spokesperson for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz's Social Democratic Party (SPD), told the media.Frances Emmanuel Macron, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez have all descended upon Beijing recently, with EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrel forced to postpone his own trip to China after testing positive for COVID-19.Macron paid an official visit to China in early April, during which he praised Beijing's role on the international arena and underlined the importance of bilateral French-Chinese relations in various spheres. During the trip, Macron held talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. However, after the visit, Macron made headlines with remarks that critics saw as undermining a common European China policy.Europe should not let itself be drawn into the confrontation between the United States and China over Taiwan," French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview when commenting on his China visit.Macron noted that for Europe, the priority was "not to adapt to the agenda of other countries in all regions of the world." Macron's comments that, regarding Taiwan, Europe risks getting embroiled in "crises that aren't ours" and should "depend less on the Americans" drew a flurry of condemnation from the likes of Senator Marco Rubio to former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul. The official White House simply chose to comment that the Biden administration is "comfortable and confident in the terrific bilateral relationship we have with France".Incidentally, as President Emmanuel Macron began a state visit to the Netherlands on April 11, he doubled down on his statement, saying:Macron added that Paris "supports the One China policy and the search for a peaceful resolution to the situation".Taiwan has been governed independently from mainland China since 1949. Beijing views the island as its province, while Taiwan a territory with its own elected government maintains that it is an autonomous nation but stops short of declaring independence. Beijing opposes any official contacts of foreign states with Taipei and considers Chinese sovereignty over the island indisputable.Hawkish China StrategyMany analysts have speculated that German Foreign Minister's diplomatic mission to China will be a very challenging one. Besides the "cloud of Macron's visit" hanging over her, the typically more hawkish on China Baerbock, unlike Chancellor Olaf Scholz, is a proponent of reducing Germany's economic reliance on Beijing.The visit comes as Baerbock's foreign ministry is drafting Germany's China strategy, which, reportedly, has vowed a more tough line toward Beijing, unlike Scholz's favored approach. Furthermore, on Wednesday the German government said it was mulling whether to ban Chinese state company Cosco (China Ocean Shipping (Group) Company) from going through with an agreement to acquire parts of a Hamburg port terminal. While Olaf Scholz pushed for the deal when he visited China in 2022, German security authorities have since classified the terminal as "critical infrastructure."In March, in an interview for a Spanish newspaper, Annalena Baerbock said that Europe ought to be aware of "systemic rivalry" with Beijing.She added that Beijing had "strategically taken advantage of this gap we left to expand its influence, create economic dependence, for example, in case of the New Silk Road. We have not done enough to stand up to it." https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/chinese-army-simulates-strikes-on-key-targets-in-taiwan-amid-drills-1109295378.html https://sputnikglobe.com/20230409/macron-urges-europe-to-stay-out-of-feud-between-us-china-over-taiwan-1109300224.html china germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2023 Svetlana Ekimenko Svetlana Ekimenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Svetlana Ekimenko german foreign minister, annalena baerbock, china visit, emmanuel macron visit to china, macron statements on taiwan, one china policy, taiwan tensions, Shaming Students into Silence WARNING: Forced silence coming to a school near you on April 14, 2023 NEWS PROVIDED BY Capitol Resource Institute April 13, 2023 SACRAMENTO, Calif., April 13, 2023 /Christian Newswire/ -- Friday, April 14th, is the Day of Silence, sponsored by the Gay, Lesbian, & Straight Education Network (GLSEN). Each year, GLSEN promotes this event nationwide and the extreme Left once again uses our schools to push their agenda. GLSEN, the Gay, Lesbian, and Straight Education Network, is rallying the troops for their Day of Silence. And by troops we mean, students in schools. And no, don't expect them to ask your permission. For some reason schools feel the need to bow to GLSEN and allow the Day of Silence to take place on campuses all across the US without informing parents. The Day of Silence claims to be necessary to highlight the silencing of LGBTQ students in schools and calls for a more "inclusive" school environment. Supporters claim this as a day that: "[illustrates] the silencing effect of bullying and harassment on LGBT students and those perceived to be LGBT." In reality this day forces anyone who might disagree with these lifestyles into silence as they are often publicly shamed by fellow students, and sometimes even teachers. People who have beliefs that differ from those pushing this agenda are forced to live in the shadows, bullied into silence. Regardless of how one feels about LGBT lifestyles the classroom is most certainly not the place to discuss these issues. They're best discussed at home. GLSEN wants teachers to actively engage in picking a side on one of the most controversial topics of the day, and then advocate that to students. We highly encourage you to keep an eye on what your school district is doing on this day. Listen to the voicemails and emails we've received because of our opposition to the "Day of Silence." They are full of hateful rhetoric and threats of violence. Does this sound like a day that promotes tolerance? The answer is a resounding "No." This day does nothing but promote division and shaming of others who disagree with you. GLSEN is funded by progressive donors like The Gill Foundation, the National Education Association, and the David Geffen Foundationall flush with cash to fund their progressive agenda in our nations schools. The interim Executive Director of GLSEN makes more in one year, than CRI's entire staff salaries put together. View their 2020 financials here. Unlike GLSEN, our organization is 100% donor funded. Will you help us continue to raise our voice despite the forces that would silence us? Yes! I want to give a tax-deductible donation today! Mail a Check to: CRI 520 Capitol Mall, Ste. B-1 Sacramento, CA 95814 SOURCE Capitol Resource Institute CONTACT: Karen England, 916-212-5607, KEngland@CapitolResource.org Share Tweet Dougsmonkeybusines is unbeaten this year and will look to add another trophy to his case when he heads the cast for Friday nights $15,000 California Sire Stakes for the four-year-old pacing males at Cal Expo. There will be nine races presented by Watch and Wager LLC with first post set for 6:45 p.m. Dougsmonkeybusines is a homebred son of Wind Me Up out of the General Aidid mare Moonshinenmonkeys who carries the banner of Doug Flores and Rick Bertrand. He is conditioned by Bertrand and will have Luke Plano back at the helm when he starts from the outside post five as the 6-5 morning line favourite in Friday's third race. He comes into this assignment riding a four-race winning streak, including a victory in the most recent stakes dance for this group two weeks ago. Sent off the 3-5 choice in that contest, Dougsmonkeybusines tracked the pace to the drive and then dug in when it counted to prevail by a head in a lifetime-best 1:54.4 mile. Lukes Proclamation just missed in that stakes clash and will gunning for some revenge. The son of Captive Audience is owned by Derek Stout and Nancy Retzlaff, hails from the Doug Stout barn and will once again have Brad Irvine giving directions. He will start from the inside post and is the 5-2 second choice on the morning line. A conditioned winner over a sloppy track last month, Lukes Proclamation made his stakes debut two weeks ago and came home with a rush to just miss after a stalking journey. Rounding out the cast are Hollywood Double, who will have Mel Mullet doing the honours; Bin A Mystery with Mooney Svendsen handling the lines; and Polar Storm, who is guided by Shawn Thayer. Cowboys Dirtyboots back on the beam Cowboys Dirtyboots finally got over the hump last week when he recorded his first win of the year in his 13th appearance. The 11-year-old son of Brandons Cowboy is owned trainer Marco Rios, Vince Jacobo and Virginia Thorsen, and had leading pilot Luke Plano doing the honours as he proved a punctual 2-1 favourite. Cowboys Dirtyboots was actually the darling of the longshot players at the beginning of the meet last fall, winning at 10-1 and 22-1 in his first two starts, but was then blanked in his first dozen starts this year before getting the picture taken last Friday evening. I claimed him four years ago and hes been very good to us, related Rios. He may be 11, but he acts more like a three or four-year-old around the barn and hes great to train. Cowboys Dirtyboots recorded last weeks win in one of those Atmospheric River Pace events, so named because they were designed for horses who missed at least two starts because of the heavy rains that occurred in Sacramento. (With files from Cal Expo) The Midwest Theater in downtown Scottsbluff will soon relight its marquee as a major project nears completion. On Wednesday, crews arrived to begin initial replacement and construction phases on the marquee. Midwest Theater executive director Tina Worthman said that the process of building the new marquee will be broken into two phases, with the current round focusing on structural and electrical work. Theyre working on getting it ready for the next phase, she said. Theyre coming back in the middle of May, probably in the last two weeks of the month, with the materials to finish it then. So were hoping that by the end of May or beginning of June everything will be completed. Work began last July when construction crews from Wagner Electric Sign Co. of Elyria, Ohio, disassembled the original marquee. Since then, many upgrades have been made, including replicating the original glass tube neon with LED lighting, electrical upgrades and inclusion of structural and weather-resistant materials. Worthman said, Theres been a lot of pieces that havent been lit due to weather damage or other things, so for it to actually be redone with the LED lights and all that its going to look better than ever. The rebuilt marquee is one of the final phases of restoration efforts at the historic Midwest Theater, which also included interior painting, installing new terrazzo flooring, completing interior neon replacement and original sidewalk restorations. The marquee is the most iconic aspect of the building, and Worthman said she hopes that its restoration brings back memories for many and helps create even more new ones. Its a historic piece that has always been there, so it brings all of the history and memories for everybody who grew up here, she said. This is a way to bring back that excitement for everyone thats been here, but also a whole new start and new excitement for everyone who doesnt remember. Restoration costs have been covered by donations from the community to the Friends of the Midwest Theater, which made it possible to secure federal grants to cover the remainder of the expenses. Worthman credited the tremendous support for the effort over the past three and a half years from the community, local businesses and local government for making the project possible. Worthman said that the expected completion of the project in late May means that the Midwest will be in its most vibrant state when residents and tourists visit downtown throughout the summer. I find it refreshing and exciting that the marquee is coming back to the Midwest and Broadway, and that the project is coming to fruition, she said. I feel like this is going to heighten the excitement of everything going on at the Midwest right now and bring even more attention to it. With tourism and everything going on over the summer, this is perfect timing. Sidewalk and parking obstructions may occur in the area around the theater while construction crews are on site, so the public is advised to be mindful while the project is ongoing. LINCOLN This year's effort in the Nebraska Legislature to curtail abortion access just cleared its biggest hurdle so far. Lawmakers advanced Legislative Bill 626 Wednesday night in a 33-16 vote. The bill would ban most abortions in the state once embryonic cardiac activity can be detected, which usually happens around six weeks of pregnancy. The vote was split nearly perfectly down party lines, with all Republican lawmakers voting "yes" along with Democrat State Sen. Mike McDonnell of Omaha, and all other Democrats voting against it. LB 626 locked state senators in a contentious debate for eight hours, which culminated in the bill receiving just enough votes to pass a filibuster-ending cloture motion. It still must pass two more rounds of debate before it is sent to Gov. Jim Pillen, who is expected to sign it into law. The debate drew hundreds to the Capitol Wednesday, where competing rallies were held for and against the bill during the lunch hour. Pillen spoke during the supporting rally, saying that Nebraskans have been waiting for legislation like LB 626 to be passed since the U.S. Supreme Court issued its landmark Roe v. Wade abortion ruling in 1973. "This is the greatest day in the state of Nebraska in more than 50 years," Pillen said. Meanwhile, the opposing rally heard from religious leaders who are against LB 626. Though the Nebraska Catholic Conference is a prominent supporter of the bill, several representatives of various faiths spoke to The World-Herald last year to explain how the subject of abortion is a lot more nuanced across different religions. Other critics of the bill have noted that many major medical groups oppose the legislation, including the Nebraska Medical Association, the Nebraska Nurses Association and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The bill's introducer, Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, said her intent is to stop elective abortions. Albrecht referred to the point at which abortions would be prohibited as when a "fetal heartbeat" can be detected. She said that is a sign of human life. The term "fetal heartbeat" is controversial. Sen. Jen Day of Omaha said that embryos at six weeks do not have heartbeats. Instead, she said, the sounds that can be heard during an ultrasound are electrical signals that eventually become a heartbeat. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said it isnt accurate to characterize an embryos cardiac activity as a heartbeat until the chambers of the heart are developed around 17-20 weeks of gestation. This is the second year in a row that Albrecht has attempted to increase abortion restrictions in Nebraska. Last year, she nearly got a trigger bill passed that would have banned all abortions once the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. That bill died during its first round of debate when it was two votes shy of a cloture motion. Sen. Mike Jacobson of North Platte argued that LB 626 adds all the accommodations that opponents of the previous bill sought last year. The bill includes exceptions for rape, incest and life-saving procedures. It also clarifies the bill does not apply to ectopic pregnancies, in vitro fertilization and other procedures that lead to the end of a pregnancy. But LB 626 would significantly alter Nebraskas current law banning abortions at 20 weeks past fertilization. Albrecht estimated her bill would eliminate 85% of abortions in the state, equating to a reduction of about 2,000 abortions per year. In response to criticism that the bill is extreme, Sen. Lou Ann Linehan of the Omaha area said LB 626 already compromises on what a majority of lawmakers want for Nebraska's abortion law. She claimed most state lawmakers would rather have legislation closer to last year's trigger bill. "This bill is a compromise from Sen. Albrecht's heart," Linehan said. Opponents say the bill will effectively act as a total ban on abortion for most pregnancies, as most women don't realize they are pregnant until after six weeks. Day described LB 626 as "state-sanctioned forced pregnancy." Supporters challenged that, saying the bill still leaves a small window open for some women to obtain a legal abortion. At LB 626's public hearing before the state Health and Human Services Committee, multiple physicians both for and against the bill said the earliest a woman can typically find out they are pregnant is around four weeks. Some committee members said Wednesday that detection could happen even earlier than that, with Sen. Brian Hardin of Gering said it could happen as early as 7 to 10 days after fertilization. However, pregnant women can often receive false negative results if they take a pregnancy test too early. Though LB 626 includes exceptions for life-saving procedures, Sen. Machaela Cavanaugh of Omaha said it would still effectively ban all abortions unless a woman is actively dying. And Day said that at six weeks, a fetus is about half the size of a candy Tic Tac. She said it's unreasonable for the bill to put women's lives at risk based on that. "That half of a Tic Tac is more important than her life," Day said. Several supporters objected to Day's metaphor, saying it was inappropriate to compare fetuses to candy. Sen. Julie Slama of Dunbar said that no matter how small, fetuses are still lives that are worthy of protection. "We are all just half a Tic Tac at some point in time," Slama said. Albrecht said the bill is the "friendliest" legislation for physicians among other states that have passed abortion restrictions. Other states have imposed criminal penalties in their restrictions. LB 626 could revoke a physicians medical license if they perform an abortion after embryonic cardiac activity is detected. But opponents said implementation of the new restrictions would be more complicated, and could criminalize the procedure. "It is not as simple as it is being portrayed," Cavanaugh said. Sen. George Dungan of Lincoln said existing Nebraska law criminalizes abortions that are performed outside accepted medical procedures. Since LB 626 does not define what counts as an acceptable medical procedure, it leaves the possibility that a physician could face criminal charges. But Sen. Carolyn Bosn of Lincoln, a former prosecutor who just replaced Sen. Suzanne Geist of Lincoln after she resigned last week, said the law Dungan referenced refers to the procedures, not the timing of an abortion. Other opponents took issue with LB 626's reporting requirements for the rape exception. Albrecht said rape victims would not be required to report the crime to police in order to qualify for an abortion. The physician would be required to document that the abortion was performed due to a rape in the patient's private medical file, she said. But Sen. Carol Blood of Bellevue said that requirement is problematic due to its lack of anonymity. The state's current reporting process for abortions allows anonymity. Sen. John Fredrickson of Omaha said LB 626 supporters are living a "fantasy" in their belief that the bill would stop abortions. He said there is little difference in the number of abortions performed in areas that have restrictions compared to areas that don't. Several other critics said the legislation would only stop safe abortions. Clearing the first round of debate doesn't guarantee LB 626 will pass. Several co-sponsors have hinted their support could waver in future rounds. Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston introduced an amendment that has yet to see debate that would ease the bill's restriction to a 12-week ban, while Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner said that she is taking in opinions from both sides of the debate, including from physicians who oppose the bill. Both Riepe and Ibach voted "yes" on LB 626 Wednesday. But if either does not support cloture in future rounds, there may not be enough votes to keep it alive. To Floyd County Public Schools, Sandra Smith is more than just a music teacher and choir director she is an inspiration and considered one of the most phenomenal teachers Floyd County has ever had. Originally from Independence, Mrs. Smith started her career at Floyd County Public Schools in 1971 nine years after the current Floyd Elementary and Floyd High School was built. She teaches music to grades K-7, and choir and piano lab to grades 8-12 Its easy to tell that Mrs. Smith loves what she does. She looks forward to every day ahead of her. If you need a way to make a living, find something that you absolutely love and be committed to itdont like it, love it, she said. Mrs. Smith started her musical career when she was in seventh grade. She taught piano to a total of 30 students every week and even had adult students who were older than her. Although she taught piano lessons, she originally wanted to be a nurse. When I was a child, I wasnt sure what I wanted to do, but all I knew was that I didnt want to be a music teacher. I wasnt sure why I felt that way, Mrs. Smith said. Her mind changed when she attended a choral concert with a friend during her senior year of high school. One of my friends sisters was a choral student at Radford University, and the family asked me to ride along with them to her concert, Mrs. Smith said. We went to the concert, I sat there, and I was totally spellbound. I was amazedI didnt know anything like that existed. Mrs. Smith attended music classes at Virginia Tech, UVA-Wise, Westminster Choir College and Cambridge University in England, and obtained her bachelors and masters degree in Musicology (the study of music history and literature) at Radford University. To be a music teacher or choir director, you only need to have a bachelors degree, but Mrs. Smith went above and beyond with her own education. A good leader sets an example and is knowledgeable in the field they are trying to lead, Mrs. Smith said. She is everything a good leader is supposed to be. While she was attending classes at Cambridge University in England in the late 1980s, Mrs. Smith saw Queen Elizabeth ll. Her class went on a field trip to St. Jamess Palace, located on the grounds of The Chapel Royal. There, Mrs. Smiths class was standing on the street when two carriages went by in a parade. In the first carriage were Queen Elizabeth and the King of Monaco. In the second carriage was the spouse of the King of Monaco, Prince Phillip and the queens mother. Queen Elizabeth was dressed in royal blue whilst wearing a hat and gloves to compliment her outfit, Mrs. Smith said. The wave that queens do on TV she was doing it. Mrs. Smith was about 12 feet away from the queen when she went by in the carriage. Mrs. Smith also had a conversation with the organist who played at King Charles and Princess Dianas wedding: John Scott. Scott was the head organist and choir director at St. Pauls Cathedral. He was a guest speaker and had come to give Mrs. Smiths class a lecture at the University of Cambridge in England. I had gone through the lunch line and sat down. I looked up and saw that John Scott had gotten through the line, and there was an empty seat beside me., Mrs. Smith said. I literally said Dear Lord, please, do not let him sit beside me, because I would have been flustered. Here he comes and sits down beside me. She said that he was the nicest man and loved talking to him. The conversation continued to go on as though they had been friends for ages. He asked me where I was from and I said I was from the United States. He said, Are you anywhere close to Roanoke? Mrs. Smiths drive and motivation is unlike anyone Ive ever seen. Her motivation encourages others to do the best that they can do. She obtained those traits from her father, Albert Rector. He was one of the wisest people Ive ever known. He was super encouraging, patient, honest and just set a superb example, Mrs. Smith said. The 51-year veteran of teaching music at Floyd County Public Schools is a go-getter in everything she does; everything she does is done with sheer grit. Her greatest strength is perseverance: sticking to whatever she has to do. Her contribution to Floyd County Public Schools has been a tremendous blessing, and she has touched the lives of all her students. Former mentee of Mrs. Smiths, Heather Blake, said, Far beyond music, Mrs. Smith has been a support system for me when I felt that I had nobody else to turn to. As a music teacher myself, Blake continued, I often find myself frustrated when a lesson isnt going as smoothly as I had hoped. In these moments, I am reminded of the patience and joy Mrs. Smith always has when working with me. Students who walk into her classroom walk out transformed in a beautiful way. Even if they dont sing or play a note ever again, I hope theyre slightly a better person because of something Ive done, Mrs. Smith said. Activists are urging for the prosecution of the criminal in Germany, according to Orient Net. Activists have been sharing a picture on social media of Bahaa Wannous, one of the criminals associated with the Assad regime. It has been reported that he has left Assad-controlled areas and is currently residing in Berlin, Germany. Wannous, who is originally from a village in Lattakia, has been accused of torturing hundreds of detainees in Assads prisons, according to posts on Facebook. Activists are urging for the prosecution of the criminal in Germany and for his crimes to be exposed, with the hope that he will be arrested and brought to trial for the atrocities he committed against Syrians who stood up against the Bashar al-Assad regime. However, it is widely believed that individuals who participated in killings or other violent acts with Assads militia against Syrians are rarely held accountable. This highlights the urgent need for organized action by human rights groups and international organizations to bring these criminals to justice. Armed battalions Zaman al-Wsl has disclosed the identities of several individuals who were involved in killing Syrians before seeking refuge in Europe. Among them is Amal Azza, a member of the leadership of the Damascus branch of the Baath Party, who is currently residing in Germany under temporary protection. The website has provided evidence in the form of certificates and photos that confirm Azzas participation in military activities in Syria. Azza was reportedly responsible for supervising armed battalions in support of the Baath Party and training children to fight and carry weapons within the organizations Revolutionary Youth Union of the Baath. In addition, Major General Shawkat Saleh al-Ali, the former deputy commander of the naval forces in the Assad militia, has been accused of being responsible for the southern sand massacre in Lattakia. According to Zaman al-Wsl, he is currently residing in both the Netherlands and Germany. 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. Serious Variances Found in Pfizer COVID-19 Shot Batches NEWS PROVIDED BY April 13, 2023 COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 13, 2023 / Christian Newswire / -- As a result of emergency use authorizations and rapid rollout of vaccination programs abridging standard clinical trials, Danish scientists reviewed 52 batches of the Pfizer COVID-19 shot and found variations between them regarding the number of severe adverse events (SAE) reported after injection. The study, published March 30 in the European Journal of Clinical Investigation, showed that out of nearly eight million COVID-19 shot doses administered in Denmark from December 2020 to January 2022, there were nearly 69,000 suspected adverse events across 52 different shot batches. In addition, more than 14,000 of those suspected events were classified as severe. The study used data available from the Danish Medical Agency, and other reporting systems, all akin to the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System (VAERS) used in the U.S. The study showed a correlation between higher SAE occurrences according to a person's batch number of those receiving two mRNA COVID-19 shot doses. Dr. Peter McCullough, an internist, epidemiologist, and one of the most published cardiologists in America, with over 1,000 publications and 660 citations in the National Library of Medicine, explained the Danish study found that "71% of serious adverse events came from 4.2% of doses." McCullough noted that with more side effects associated with just a small percentage of the doses means the majority of COVID shot risks reside in the shot itself rather than the person receiving it. "These are critically important results," said McCullough. "They imply the COVID-19 vaccine debacle is indeed a product problem and not due to patient susceptibility in most circumstances. Additionally, the lack of inspections has led to a safety disaster. Some unfortunate patients are getting too much mRNA, contaminants, or both and thus are exposed to damaging and in some cases, lethal injections." The researchers were clear to underscore that more research is necessary to confirm their results. The authors stated, "In conclusion, the results suggest the existence of a batch-dependent safety signal for the BNT162b2 vaccine, and more studies are warranted to explore this preliminary observation and its consequences." Dr. Jessica Rose, a COVID-19 researcher and expert in molecular biology and biochemistry, stated that there is "lot-to-lot and even vial-to-vial variation." "[The authors] claim that further investigations of this lot-to-lot variation need to be done, and I couldn't agree more," said Rose. "The manner in which this is done is important. I commend the authors for providing this evidence and I believe that we must examine the contents of the vials directly as an obvious next step. And then, once we have a better idea of which batches are contaminated and how they are contaminated, for example, then we can cross-reference these batches back to deaths and other SAEs to more precisely define why people are experiencing a variety of adverse events." In addition, toxic contamination of COVID-19 shot batches and even individual vials has previously occurred. In 2021, Japan recalled three batches of the Moderna COVID mRNA shot totaling more than 1.6 million doses due to finding 39 vials contaminated with stainless steel particles. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver said, "The medical literature is catching up and exposing the human cost and damage done by these harmful injections. As scientists and researchers continue this important work, we expect more studies in the near future that validate the dangers of the COVID-19 shots. They have never been safe nor effective." Liberty Counsel provides broadcast quality TV interviews via Hi-Def Skype and LTN at no cost. SOURCE Liberty Counsel CONTACT: Mat Staver, 407-875-1776, Liberty@LC.org Regime loyalists have described Abbas as "a prominent leader" who fought in numerous battles, Shaam Network reports. According to reports from media sources closely associated with the regimes militias, retired Major General Ali Ahmed Abbas passed away under mysterious circumstances at the age of 66. During his time leading military operations for the regime, particularly in Eastern Ghouta, the brigade he commanded is alleged to have committed numerous crimes. Despite this, he was hailed by loyalists as the lion of Ghouta. The obituary announcing the passing of the militia leader stated that he passed away on Tuesday. On Wednesday, he was mourned in his hometown located in the countryside of the Jableh region of Latakia. Regime loyalists have described Abbas as a prominent leader who fought in numerous battles and attacks and sustained five injuries during his military career. One of his injuries caused a disability in his hand and face. Abbas began his military career as an officer in the Fourth Division before moving on to the Chemical Warfare Department. He retired from his position at the beginning of 2022. Prior to his retirement, Abbas held several military positions within the Assad regime. He served as the director of the chemical warfare department and was the commander of the 28th Chemistry Regiment. Additionally, he held the position of commander of the chemistry battalion of the 38th Brigade of the Fourth Division, which is led by terrorist Maher al-Assad, the brother of the head of the Syrian regime. The details surrounding the death of the officer have not been disclosed, including the cause and place of his passing. This adds to the growing number of military figures in the Assad regimes army and militias whose deaths have been announced under mysterious circumstances. In a separate incident, one of the most prominent military figures in the regimes militias, Youssef Badie Shaheen, was killed in the western countryside of Hama. Pro-Assad regime pages have been mourning the famous leader, who was the leader of the Shawahin Group within the 25th Division that was supported by the Russian occupation 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. Sources close to the regime have reportedly cited Iran's negative role in obstructing a consensus between Ankara and Damascus, according to Baladi News. The Russian and Turkish governments have released conflicting statements regarding the scheduled date of the quadripartite ministerial meeting on Syria, which is set to include representatives from Turkey, Iran, the Syrian regime, and Russia. Originally planned for April 10, the meetings timing remains uncertain. Mikhail Bogdanov, the Russian presidents special envoy to the Middle East and African countries, has confirmed that the exact date for the quadripartite meeting has not been determined. He added that his Turkish colleagues have not provided a final answer, implying that Turkey is the party responsible for the delay. On the other hand, the Turkish foreign minister suggested that the meeting may take place in early May. According to unnamed sources cited by Syria TV, the Syrian regime has not responded to Turkeys calls for progress towards a political resolution. Reportedly, Ankara views the regimes insistence on the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian soil as an attempt to sidestep political obligations. Instead, Turkey is advocating for the revival of the Constitutional Committees path as a means to eventually hold general elections. These claims were also attributed to the same sources. Sources claim that the Syrian regime has been uncompromising in talks since the security and military meeting it had with Turkey in Moscow at the end of 2022. The regime demands a clear answer regarding the withdrawal date of Turkish forces, while Ankara links its withdrawal to achieving sustainable stability. Therefore, both tracks, combating terrorism and advancing the political process, must be discussed in order to attain the desired stability. In his recent visit to Ankara, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov attempted to persuade the Turkish side to proceed with the ministerial meeting and finalize the talks, even though technical committees failed to arrive at a clear vision for discussing a political resolution. Moscow aims to complete the normalization of relations and resolve contentious issues. Sources familiar with the Syrian regimes inner workings have reportedly cited Irans negative role in obstructing a consensus between Ankara and Damascus, according to Syria TV. The sources highlighted that Iran is urging the Syrian regime to take a firm stance on the withdrawal of Turkish forces, while Russia does not share this position. The sources suggested that Iran is uneasy with the prospect of normalizing relations between Turkey and the Syrian regime, given Turkeys significant military presence on Syrian soil. Despite the significant differences in perspectives, there is a high probability of the ministerial meeting being held in May, especially considering the upcoming Turkish presidential elections on the 14th of the same month. This possibility was highlighted in a report by opposition television. 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. Analysts have concluded that Arab countries have no other options but to restore their relations with Syria, Athr Press says. There have been recent developments in the Arab worlds efforts to mend relations with Syria. One of the most notable developments was the Gulf Cooperation Councils conference held in Jeddah to discuss Syrias potential return to the Arab League. An important aspect of this meeting was the invitation extended to Qatar, a country that has been viewed as resistant to restoring ties with Syria. Many analysts see this invitation as a significant step forward in the ongoing effort to rebuild Arab-Syrian relations. Analysts have concluded that Arab countries have no other options but to restore their relations with Syria. In this context, Dr. Abdel Moneim Saeed, the head of the al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, wrote an article in Asharq al-Awsat newspaper emphasizing that although Syria and Turkey received international and regional sympathy for the earthquake disaster, Arab sympathy was immediate, tangible, and had a significant impact. The Arab approach was not limited to providing relief aid but also included discussions about restoring diplomatic relations with Syria. Syria cannot be left to deal with its situation alone. Historical experiences have shown that isolating an Arab country comes at a high cost, not only for the country in question but also for the entire Arab region. Therefore, restoring relations with Syria deserves significant diplomatic and political efforts from Arab reform countries working together. In an article published in the al-Arab newspaper, Emirati strategist Salem al-Ketbi stated that the Syria issue is one of the most significant strategic concerns for the Arab world, given Syrias strategic importance. He noted that there is a semi-official Arab consensus on the need to re-engage with Syria, and the current situation since 2011 is unsustainable. It is urgent to support the Syrian people, create conditions for millions of refugees to return home, and take advantage of the recent breakthroughs in regional relations. While al-Ketbi acknowledged that there are complications that make it difficult to achieve a complete breakthrough in the Syrian crisis soon, he noted that the UAE is making efforts to accelerate the search for solutions. Another article published in the same newspaper discussed the positions of Saudi Arabia and Qatar regarding this rapprochement. It stated that Saudi Arabia and Qatar do not wish to hinder Syrias return to the Arab League, which has become inevitable due to regional and international changes. However, they seek a Gulf and Arab consensus on this matter to prevent any potential embarrassment. 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. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal al-Mekdad has arrived for a visit to Saudi Arabia, as ties between Damascus and Riyadh grow, and a restoration of relations between the two Arab countries becomes increasingly likely. Mekdad arrived in Jeddah on Wednesday having been invited by the Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, both Saudi and Syrian state media reported. Syrias SANA reported that the visit came at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan. Saudi Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji and a number of diplomats received Minister Mikdad and the accompanying delegation upon their arrival at Jeddah Airport, SANA added. The two will hold a session of talks on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. They will also discuss facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, and securing humanitarian access to the affected areas in Syria, the statement added. The visit is the first by a Syrian foreign minister to Saudi Arabia since 2011 when the war in Syria began. Saudi Arabia supported the Syrian opposition, but ties have thawed in recent months. Al-Jazeera described the visit as the latest sign of a move towards a restoration of relations between Syria and Saudi Arabia, as Assad comes in from the cold. The two will hold a session of talks on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria, the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. They will also discuss facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, and securing humanitarian access to the affected areas in Syria, the statement added. The visit is the first by a Syrian foreign minister to Saudi Arabia since 2011 when the war in Syria began. Saudi Arabia supported the Syrian opposition, but ties have thawed in recent months. Saudi-owned Al-Arabia TV Network reported that Mekdad will discuss Syrias crisis including means to reach a political solution that preserves the countrys unity, security and stability. Talks will also discuss facilitating the return of Syrian refugees and securing the delivery of humanitarian aid to affected people across Syria. Over the past few months there has been increasing engagement with Syrias President Bashar al-Assad, who has been isolated since the start of the Syrian war in 2011, the network added. Iraq supports Syrias return Iraqi Foreign Ministry Spokesperson, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf has affirmed Wednesday that his country still supports restoring Syrias role on the Arab level, SANA reported. Iraq has always supported Syrias return to its seat at the Arab League, Al-Sahhaf said in a statement to Sputnik, stressing that the integration of the Arab countries reflects positively on them. Syrias rapprochement advances with Tunisia, Saudi Arabia Syria will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, state media reported Wednesday, as Syrias top diplomat visited Saudi Arabia seeking to restore ties that have been severed for more than a decade, AP reported. Tunisia has become the latest Arab state to reestablish diplomatic ties with Syria, after cutting off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied announced earlier this month that he had directed the countrys foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria. His move to appoint a new ambassador to Syria was reciprocated by the Syrian government, a joint statement from the two countries foreign ministries said Wednesday, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. The announcement was the latest in a regional trend of rapprochement with the war-torn country, which has picked up pace since the massive Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran. SDF responds to attack targeting U.S. forces in Syrias Deir-ez-Zor Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) announced on Wednesday responding to a 107mm rocket attack that targeted the US-led Global Coalition to defeat Islamic State (ISIS) east of Deir-ez-Zor Governorate, eastern Syria, on April 10. The SDF said, in a statement, The attacks resulted in no injuries to Coalition personnel, equipment, or facilities. On the same day of the attack, the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR) announced that no casualties or damages to the coalition infrastructure were reported in the indirect fire attack. The statement stressed that such attacks place civilians, the SDF fighters, and the coalition forces at risk and undermine the safety of the region. In addition, the SDF emphasized that they will keep conducting operations with the coalition to maintain stability and security in the region. Microsoft to pay penalty for selling software to Syria Microsoft will pay $3 million penalty in the U.S. for selling software to sanctioned companies in Russia, Cuba, Iran and Syria from 2012 to 2019, reported IANS. The multinational tech giant has been asked by the US authorities to pay a penalty of $ 3 million for selling software to sanctioned companies in Russia, Cuba, Iran and Syria over a period of eight years from 2012 to 2019. The majority of the apparent violations involved blocked Russian entities or persons located in the Crimea region of Ukraine, the IANS report mentioned. The sale occurred as a result of Microsoft Entities failure to identify and prevent the use of its products by prohibited parties, according to the US Department of the Treasury. The settlement amount reflects Office of Foreign Assets Controls (OFAC) determination that the conduct of the Microsoft Entities was non-egregious and voluntarily self-disclosed, and further reflects the significant remedial measures Microsoft undertook upon discovery of the apparent violations, it said in a statement. According to an enforcement notice from OFAC, Microsoft, Microsoft Ireland, and Microsoft Russia failed to oversee who was buying the companys software and services through third-party partners. Nearly 1,339 such violations of multiple OFAC sanctions programs were recorded where they sold software licenses, activated software licenses, and/or provide related services from servers and systems located in the US and Ireland to SDNs, blocked persons, and other end users located in Cuba, Iran, Syria, Russia, and the Crimea region of Ukraine. The causes of these apparent violations included the lack of complete or accurate information on the identities of the end customers for Microsofts products, said the Treasury. Brussels attack suspects say Wests bombing of ISIS fuelled hate AFP reports that defendants on trial over the 2016 Brussels attacks recounted Wednesday the anger they felt at the aerial bombardments of the Islamic State group by an international coalition. Nine defendants are currently on trial over the March 22, 2016 suicide bomb attacks claimed by the jihadist group that killed 32 people at Brussels airport and the citys metro. Investigators believe the IS cell behind the attacks was linked to the group that carried out the November 2015 Paris attacks, which left 130 dead. Sofien Ayari, already sentenced to 30 years in jail over the Paris attacks, went to fight with IS in 2014 before being wounded and hospitalized in the Syrian city of Raqqa. What I experienced in Raqqa was not a war, it was something else, it was bomb falling on men, women, children, the 29-year-old Tunisian said. It was a tipping point for me. I had never felt such hatred, such incomprehension. I was mad with rage. He claimed Western leaders showed no consideration for human lives in IS territory. I have the impression that only one side is being condemned, he said. Ayari fled after the Paris attacks but was detained in the Belgian capital just before the Brussels bombings. Co-defendant Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving member of the unit that carried out the Paris attacks, linked his actions to disastrous decisions taken by the heads of the anti-IS coalition. Like Ayari, Abdeslam was in custody on the day of the Brussels attacks and denies being involved. The pilots of the planes on Raqqa and Mosul will never find themselves in the dock to answer for their abominable acts, they have been rewarded, said the 33-year-old Frenchman, who did not go to Syria. Another suspect Bilal El Makhoukhi, a 34-year-old Belgian-Moroccan former IS fighter, said that in Syria he had spent the best moments of his life, even if it was hard. Can Europe bring Syrian regime officials to justice? The New Arab published an in-depth report trying to answer that question. French judicial officials have decided to try members of the Assad regimes security forces in absentia for the disappearance and death of two French-Syrian nationals. The officials hope to bring individuals such as Bashar al-Assad to justice for their role in war crimes committed in Syria. However, they face the challenge of enforcing convictions since it is unlikely that those accused of war crimes will ever be brought to justice. The Syrian regime has a history of using the mukhabarat, the secret police, to enforce the Baath Partys power over the country and eliminate all political opposition. Despite the difficulties, members of the Mukhabarat have been convicted in recent years. However, the EU now faces the prospect of the Middle East normalizing ties with Damascus. This is particularly troubling given that Bashar al-Assad has visited the UAE twice, and Saudi Arabia is preparing to invite him to an Arab League summit in May. These diplomatic overtures will take place against the backdrop of continued trials and investigations into the crimes committed by various current and former Syrian officials. European countries such as Germany have been particularly interested in bringing individuals accused of war crimes to justice due to their history of war and the trauma of the Gestapo during the Nazi period and the East German Stasi of the Cold War. Nonetheless, justice, rule of law, human rights, and transparency remain paramount to them. Despite the challenges of enforcing justice, arrest warrants are essential in proving what happened in Syria and the crimes committed by the Assad regime. Exclusive: Iran exploits earthquake relief mission to fly weapons to Syria Reuters exclusively reported that Iran used earthquake relief flights to send weapons and military equipment to its ally Syria in order to strengthen Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and defend against Israel, according to nine sources, including Syrian, Iranian, Israeli, and Western sources. After an earthquake in northern Syria and Turkey on February 6th, hundreds of flights from Iran brought supplies to Syrias Aleppo, Damascus, and Latakia airports for seven weeks. The supplies included advanced communications equipment and radar batteries and spare parts for Syrias Iran-provided air defence system, said the sources. Irans mission to the United Nations in New York denied the claims, but Syrias government did not respond to a request for comment. Regional sources said that Israel became aware of the shipments and carried out targeted air strikes against them. Brigadier General Yossi Kuperwasser, a former head of research in the Israeli army and former director of the Ministry of Strategic Affairs, said that the strikes relied on intelligence so specific that Israels military knew which truck in a long convoy to target. An Israeli defence official said that the aid was mainly delivered to Syrias northern Aleppo airport and was organized by the Quds Force, the foreign espionage and paramilitary arm of Irans Revolutionary Guards. Ground transportation was handled by the Quds Forces Transport Unit 190. Israel has carried out attacks against what it describes as Iran-linked targets in Syria for years. A Syrian army officer said that Israel has recently stepped up efforts to defeat Iran in Syria. LEWIS COUNTY After an extensive two-month review of the Lewis County Sheriffs Offices investigation into the death of Aron Christensen, the Lewis County Prosecutors Office has decided there is not enough evidence at this time to support felony charges against the primary suspect in Christensens death. The Lewis County Sheriffs Office referred first-degree manslaughter and first-degree animal cruelty charges against Ethan Michael Asbach, 20, of Tenino, to the Lewis County Prosecutors Office at the end of January. Asbach was accused of firing the bullet that killed Christensen and his dog, Buzzo, on the 101 trail between Walupt Lake and the Walupt Lake Campground on Aug. 19. The bodies were found the next day. The prosecutors office reached its charging decision at the end of March but waited until Prosecutor Jonathan Meyer met with Christensens family on Monday, April 10, before making the decision public. The Oregonian reports Meyers said his office is considering other potential misdemeanor charges related to Asbachs possession of a firearm and leaving the scene of the shooting without calling authorities. There were over 100 years of combined Washington prosecution law experience involved in the review, Meyer said Monday, adding that everyone involved in the review came to the same conclusion. While the Lewis County Coroners Office has ruled Christensens cause of death was homicide by gunshot wound to the chest, and forensics have confirmed the bullet recovered from Christensens torso during an autopsy matches the gun Asbach carried onto the 101 trail the night of Christensens death, Meyer said a manslaughter charge would not hold up in court because theres no evidence to indicate Asbach acted recklessly or with criminal negligence. The only evidence the prosecutors office has regarding Asbachs behavior is Asbachs own statement, Meyer said, as the sheriffs offices investigation turned up no physical evidence at the scene to either confirm or challenge his statement. Meyer expressed frustration Monday toward how the sheriffs office handled the investigation, specifically referencing Lewis County Sheriffs Deputy Andrew G. Scrivners decision to call off detectives and move the bodies from the scene on Aug. 20. You treat a case like its a homicide case until its not. That didnt happen, he said during the meeting with Christensens family, later adding, Ive made my feelings known about that to the sheriffs office. Thats really all I can do. When asked directly by one of Arons family members Monday if he believed his charging decision would be different had the sheriffs office done the initial investigation correctly, Meyer said, I dont know what that initial investigation would have turned up. The prosecutors office plans to look into the Gifford Pinchot National Forests shooting parameters to determine whether or not Asbach can be charged for discharging his firearm, but those would be misdemeanor charges, Meyer said Monday. The Lewis County Prosecutors Office will reconsider its charging decision if it receives new evidence on the case, Meyer said. The general statute of limitations for felony charges in Washington state is three years, though some serious felonies, including murder and voluntary manslaughter, have no statute of limitations. Christensens family indicated Monday they intend to release a statement about the charging decision in the near future. Family members and friends of Christensen have previously told The Chronicle they are frustrated with a lack of information from authorities, the failure to arrest a suspect in the case following Christensens death and poor treatment they received from the Lewis County Sheriffs Office during the investigation. Editors note: The Daily News contributed to this article. The overall injury rate at Amazon warehouses declined in the past year, according to two new analyses of injury data. The Strategic Organizing Center, a coalition of labor unions that has focused on working conditions at Amazon, analyzed data the company submitted to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration for 2022. In a report released Wednesday, it found the overall injury rate at Amazon had decreased from 7.9 injuries per 100 workers in 2021 to 7.0 injuries in 2022. Amazon released its own safety report in March, mostly using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, that showed a similar decline. Amazon reported that its injury rate at U.S. facilities fell from 7.6 injuries per 200,000 working hours in 2021 to 6.7 injuries in 2022. While Amazon touts this statistic as evidence that it has made strides on founder Jeff Bezos 2020 commitment to become Earths safest place to work, the Strategic Organizing Center said the data overall shows Amazon has failed to make meaningful progress on worker safety. Its long past time for Amazons executives and board of directors to come clean with workers, communities and investors about the safety crisis, and give them the full picture, said Eric Frumin, the health and safety director at the Strategic Organizing Center. And its time for Amazon to make the changes to its operations that will actually reduce the hazards and finally stop this plague of serious injuries that threaten their workers every day. In response to the SOC analysis, Amazon said the labor group twisted the facts to paint an inaccurate picture. The safety and health of our employees is, and always will be, our top priority and any claim otherwise is inaccurate, Amazon spokesperson Kelly Nantel said in a statement Wednesday. Were proud of the progress made by our team and well continue working hard together to keep getting better every day. Amazon says that it does not have fixed quotas, or expectations, for workers to meet during their shift and that employees are free to take breaks as needed. Managers are told that productivity or speed should not be pressed at the expense of safety or quality, Amazon said Wednesday. The Strategic Organizing Center analyzed injury data from 1,034 Amazon facilities with a workforce of 716,688 employees. It found that there were 38,609 total recordable injuries at Amazon in 2022. Of those, 95% were considered serious, meaning the worker either had to take time off or switch job responsibilities while they recovered. While the rate of injury declined in the past year, it did not dip to the same low levels Amazon recorded in 2020 when it temporarily slowed down the pace of work at its warehouses amid the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, Amazon recorded 6.6 injuries per 100 workers, compared to 7.0 injures per 100 workers in 2022. In this years analysis, the SOC maintained that workers at Amazon warehouses are still injured more frequently and more severely than workers at other non-Amazon warehouses. In 2022, the serious injury rate at Amazon warehouses was 6.6 injuries per 100 workers. At other non-Amazon warehouses, that rate was 3.2. Amazon workers generally need 10 more workdays to recover from an injury than workers at other warehouses, the SOC found. The SOC combines the rates of injuries that require time off work and those that require workers to switch job responsibilities temporarily to create what it calls the rate of serious injury. Amazon, in response, says that the serious injury rate is not a regulatory metric. Calculating it this way includes what could be considered minor injuries, like a strain that prevents an employee from lifting boxes over 15 pounds but does not prevent them from coming to work, Amazon said. The group of labor unions also found that the rate of injuries resulting in time off work has declined from 2020 to 2022, while the rate of injuries that lead workers to switch job responsibilities has gone up. That could be part of a tactic to push workers to return to the warehouse floor before theyve fully recovered, the Strategic Organizing Center alleged in its report. It found in a 2021 survey that 37% of workers who participated in the poll said management pressured them to return to work before they felt ready to do so. In 2020, Amazon reported 2.64 injuries per 100 workers that resulted in time off work to recover. In 2021, that rate was 2.43. In 2022, it dipped to 1.68. Comparatively, Amazon reported 3.31 injuries per 100 workers that resulted in light duty, or workers switching to a different job duties while recovering. In 2022, it rose to 4.89. Amazon saw a similar change in its analysis, but it touted it as a success. The company reported that it had reduced the number of injuries that required workers to take time away from work by 53% between 2019 and 2022, falling to 1.6 injuries per 200,000 working hours. It credited the change to a new return-to-work program that finds safe and appropriate temporary placements for workers while they are recovering. Weve made meaningful and measurable progress over the last four years but theres more to do, Amazon wrote in its report. Amazon noted that 55% of all recordable injuries were work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Also known as MSDs, musculoskeletal disorders can include strains, sprains and lower back injuries. They can be caused by repetitive motions, such as lifting, reaching and bending. The other 45% of recorded injuries in 2022 were from falls and occasional objects that came loose and fell, Amazon said in its report. In 2022, Amazon continued, the company lost three Amazon employees in the United States to work-related fatalities. Other workers, including some who helped with Amazons delivery and fulfillment network, were also impacted by tragedy last year during fatal incidents, Amazon wrote. In addition to its employees, Amazon works with independent contractors to keep packages moving through the warehouses and to customers doorsteps. The company plans to invest $550 million in safety initiatives in 2023, adding to the $1 billion it committed to safety from 2019 to 2022. That $1 billion does not include COVID-related safety initiatives, Amazon said. While the Strategic Organizing Center found Amazons injury rate was higher than the average at other warehouses, Amazon pushed back on that notion. It compares itself with two different industry groups: general warehousing and storage, as well as courier and express delivery services. Using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Amazons injury rate in 2021 7.6 injuries per 200,000 working hours was higher than the average for the warehouse industry 6.7 injuries per 200,000 working hours. But, in the delivery industry, Amazons injury rate was lower than the average: 8.5 injuries per 200,000 working hours compared to 9.7 injuries on average. In both reports, Amazon and the Strategic Organizing Center accused other groups of distorting the data to fit a narrative. Amazon wrote it was sharing its safety practices to help clarify misconceptions. The SOC called out Amazon more specifically, writing that the company chose to compare its injury rates against skewed, outdated and misleading industry averages. The group of labor unions has asked the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate Amazon for making what the SOC contends are false and misleading claims about its warehouses. Meanwhile, state and federal safety regulators are investigating Amazon facilities after complaints from workers about safety conditions. Washingtons Department of Labor and Industries has cited and fined Amazon four times for safety violations at its warehouses in the state. OSHA has cited seven Amazon facilities around the country and issued nearly $122,800 in fines. In one of those citations, OSHA said Amazon had failed to properly record work-related injuries at warehouses in five states. Amazon has appealed all of the citations from Washingtons DOL and plans to appeal the citations from federal safety regulators. We take the safety and health of our employees very seriously, and we dont believe the governments allegations reflect the reality of safety at our sites, Nantel, the Amazon spokesperson, said. We also know there will always be more to do, and well continue working to get better every day. The Department of Justice is investigating whether Amazon executives knew about the safety hazards at its warehouses and misled others about the companys safety record. Daniel Rivera, who works at Amazons San Bernardino air hub, said at a news conference Thursday that the data he sees in Amazons safety report doesnt match his experience as an employee. Rivera said hes suffered a wrist injury from the fast pace of work and has raised concerns about excessive heat and lack of air circulation in the facility. When he asked management for fans recently, Rivera said he received a warning that he could lose his job. In the community where he was born, raised and now works, Rivera said he wants good jobs for the community and, more importantly, safety on the job. Knowing just going to work wont lead to lifetime pain or serious injuries or death. I know thats something we should already expect from our employers, but at Amazon that isnt my experience, he added. Safety is always something were fighting for. FERNDALE Three people have been arrested and accused of murder in the early March death of a 5-year-old girl in Ferndale, according to a Thursday city of Ferndale news release. Melissa Welch, Cody Curtis Craig and Michael Wayne Doane were all booked into the Whatcom County Jail on April 13 on suspicion of first-degree murder. The 5-year-old child died March 8 due to a "very high and fatal amount" of fentanyl in her bloodstream, according to the news release. Ferndale police will not be releasing the child's name "out of deference to the family," Riley Sweeney, a city of Ferndale spokesperson, told The Bellingham Herald. The Whatcom County Medical Examiner's Office and Ferndale police had been investigating the child's death since early March, The Herald previously reported. The Herald has reached out to the medical examiner's office for more information regarding cause and manner of the girl's death. Welch and Craig were arrested April 13 in the 3300 block of Northwest Avenue in Bellingham, while Doane was arrested at his home in the 2300 block of Douglas Road, according to the news release. Welch appeared to have a medical problem while en route to the jail. The arresting officer pulled over, requested medical assistance and Welch was taken to the hospital for evaluation as a precaution, according to Sweeney. Welch was then taken to the jail, Sweeney said. The Whatcom County Sheriff's Office and the Whatcom Gang and Drug Task Force helped Ferndale police with the arrests, according to the release. Child's death Ferndale police were initially called to Doane's residence on Douglas Road on March 8 for a death investigation, Sweeney said. Information on who placed the 911 call or whether life-saving measures were taken once officers arrived was not immediately available. The child, who was an Eagleridge kindergarten student in the Ferndale School District, died at Doane's residence, according to the release and previous reporting in The Herald. Doane and Welch are the child's parents, while Craig is Welch's boyfriend, according to the release. Investigators determined the 5-year-old's death was due to her having "a very high and fatal amount of fentanyl in her blood." Evidence indicated the girl accessed fentanyl from the residence before her death, the release states. When asked how the child may have accessed the fentanyl or how it got into her blood, Sweeney said Thursday that he did not immediately have that information. Fentanyl, methamphetamine, methadone and drug paraphernalia consistent with the consumption of fentanyl were found during a search of Doane's residence. The drugs and paraphernalia were found in areas that were accessible to the 5-year-old girl and an 8-year-old sibling, according to the release. Investigators determined Doane, Welch and Craig were all present the night of the child's death. Evidence indicated all three had used fentanyl while at the residence. Welch and Craig also distributed fentanyl in the days after the 5-year-old's death, according to the release. "These circumstances manifested an extreme indifference to the lives of the children present. The conduct of Melissa Welch, Cody Craig and Michael Doane created a grave risk of death to the children present and thereby caused the death of the victim," the city's news release states. Ferndale police and Child Protective Services relocated the 8-year-old sibling, who is now safely with family members, Sweeney said. Recognize, help during opioid overdose Opioid-related overdoses and overdose deaths are rising both locally and nationally. Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood said recently that the city is seeing an average of 2.5 overdoses a day a 70% increase from last year, as fentanyl use has risen, The Herald previously reported. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is up to 50 times stronger than heroin and 100 times stronger than morphine. Two milligrams of fentanyl, which is roughly the size of a few grains of sand, can be lethal. Other common opioids include heroin, morphine, OxyContin and Percocet. Anyone using opioids can be at risk for an opioid-related overdose, but people who use drugs after they stopped using drugs for a few days, people who mix opioids with other drugs or alcohol and people who are alone when using drugs are more likely to overdose, according to the Washington State Department of Health. Signs of an opioid overdose include loss of consciousness or ability to talk; slow, shallow breathing; unresponsive to shaking, yelling or pain; blue lips on a person with a lighter skin color or ashy or white lips on a person with a darker skin color; slow or erratic pulse, or lack of pulse and other symptoms, The Herald previously reported. If you suspect someone is experiencing an opioid overdose, don't hesitate to act. Call 911 and then try to wake the person up by shaking them or shouting their name to see if they respond. Administer naloxone, commonly known as Narcan, if available, and stay with the person until emergency first responders arrive. Naloxone is a medication used to reverse the effects of opioids and is often used during suspected opioid overdoses. Naloxone comes in either an injectable form or as a nasal spray. One kit usually has two doses. There are multiple ways to get naloxone in Whatcom County and across Washington state. If you're worried about being arrested or sued for using naloxone, calling 911 or providing aid while someone is overdosing, there are several laws in Washington that protect you. Under the state's Good Samaritan Law, if you seek medical help for someone having an overdose, neither one of you can be charged for having or using a small amount of drugs. The law does not apply to outstanding warrants, controlled substance homicide, probation or parole violations or other crimes besides drug possession. A judge can take your actions to provide aid into account during sentencing, though. Italy's data protection agency said on Wednesday it would lift its temporary ban on OpenAI's ChatGPT artificial intelligence (AI) technology if the U.S. company complied with data protection and privacy demands by end-April. Rapid advances in AI such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI's ChatGPT are complicating governments' efforts to agree on laws governing the use of the technology. Here are the latest steps national and international governing bodies are taking to regulate AI tools: AUSTRALIA The government requested advice on how to respond to AI from Australia's main science advisory body and is considering next steps, a spokesperson for the industry and science minister said on April 12. BRITAIN Britain said in March it plans to split responsibility for governing AI between its regulators for human rights, health and safety, and competition, rather than creating a new body. CHINA China's cyberspace regulator on April 11 unveiled draft measures to manage generative AI services, saying it wants firms to submit security assessments to authorities before they launch offerings to the public. China's capital Beijing will support leading enterprises in building AI models that can challenge ChatGPT, its economy and information technology bureau said in February. EUROPEAN UNION EU lawmakers are discussing introduction of the European Union AI Act that will govern anyone who provides a product or a service that uses AI. It will cover systems that can generate output such as content, predictions, recommendations, or decisions influencing environments. Lawmakers have proposed classifying different AI tools according to their perceived level of risk, from low to unacceptable. FRANCE The country's privacy watchdog CNIL said on April 11 it was investigating several complaints about ChatGPT after the chatbox was temporarily banned in Italy over a suspected breach of privacy rules. France's National Assembly approved in March the use of AI video surveillance during the 2024 Paris Olympics, overlooking warnings from civil rights groups that the technology posed a threat to civil liberties. ITALY Italy imposed a temporary ban on OpenAI's ChatGPT on March 31 after the national data agency raised concerns over possible privacy violations and for failing to verify that users were aged 13 or above, as it had requested. On Wednesday, its data protection agency set an end-April deadline for OpenAI to meet its demands on data protection and privacy before the service can be resumed in the country. JAPAN Digital transformation minister Taro Kono said on April 10 he wants the upcoming G7 digital ministers' meeting, set for April 29-30, to discuss AI technologies including ChatGPT and issue a unified G7 message. SPAIN Spain's data protection agency has asked the EU's privacy watchdog to evaluate privacy concerns surrounding ChatGPT, the agency told Reuters on April 11. U.S. The Biden administration said on April 11 it is seeking public comments on potential accountability measures for AI systems. President Joe Biden had earlier told science and technology advisers that AI could help in addressing disease and climate change, but it was also important to address potential risks to society, national security and the economy. 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: Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signs a bill requiring age verification before creating a new social media account as Sen. Tyler Dees, R-Siloam Springs, looks on during a signing ceremony on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the state Capitol in Little Rock, Ark. Credit: Thomas Metthe/Arkansas Democrat-Gazette via AP Arkansas on Wednesday became the second state to restrict social media use by children, as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved legislation requiring minors to get their parents' permission to create a new account. The bill signed by the Republican governor requires social media companies to contract with third-party vendors to perform age verification checks on new users. The law will apply to new accounts created starting in September. "While social media can be a great tool and a wonderful resource, it can have a massive negative impact on our kids," Sanders said before signing the legislation. The proposal is similar to a first-in-the-nation law that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed last month. Utah's law takes effect in March 2024. Several other states are considering similar measures, touted by supporters as a way to protect children. California last year enacted a law requiring tech companies to put kids' safety first by barring them from profiling children or using personal information in ways that could harm children physically or mentally. Sanders last month announced the state had filed lawsuits against TikTok and Facebook parent Meta, claiming the social media companies misled consumers about the safety of children on their platforms and the protection of users' private data. The legislation has drawn criticism from opponents who said restrictions could raise new privacy concerns and exacerbate the mental health crisis among young people. Experts have also questioned how and if the restrictions could be enforced. "The governor and the legislators who voted for this bill must not understand the harm it will cause to the privacy and free speech rights of the people they represent, because if they did, I don't think they could pass it in good conscience," Jason Kelley, acting director of activism for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in a statement. The restrictions would only apply to social media platforms that generate more than $100 million in annual revenue. It also wouldn't apply to certain platforms, including LinkedIn, Google and YouTube. Social media companies that knowingly violate the age verification requirement could face a $2,500 fine for each violation under the new law. The law also prohibits third party vendors from retaining identifying information of users after they've been granted access to the social media site. Republican Sen. Tyler Dees, the Arkansas bill's sponsor, said the new law "sends a clear message that we want to partner with parents and empower them to protect our children." 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. 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: Wikipedia logo. A Moscow court on Thursday again fined Wikipedia for a Russian-language article it refused to remove about Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the latest in a series of government moves to silence objective reporting or criticism of the war and restrict the Russian public's access to information. The court fined Wikimedia Foundation, the nonprofit that runs the free, publicly-edited online encyclopedia, 2 million rubles ($24,464) for not removing a Wikipedia article titled "Russian occupation of the Zaporizhzhia region," a reference to one of four Ukrainian provinces that Russia annexed last September. Most countries have condemned the annexation, as well as that by Russia in 2014 of Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, as illegal. The state Tass news agency said the Wikimedia Foundation had failed to heed the demands of Russia's state communications watchdog Roskomnadzor to remove articles containing "false information." Tass said a Wikipedia representative asked the court to reject the removal demand as vague. President Vladimir Putin in recent years has increased his crackdown on criticism and factual reporting that doesn't correspond to his government's views or versions of events. The crackdown has widened since his troops invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, focusing especially on information and dissent against what he calls Russia's "special military operation" in the neighboring country. Through Roskomnadzor, his government has also tried, with mixed success, to technically limit Western news reports that can be seen in Russia. The BBC and some Voice of America sites are among those it has blocked but which Russians can access using virtual private networks. This is not the first time Wikipedia has been fined for refusing to delete "false" information about the war in Ukraine. Last week, the same Moscow court issued a fine of 800,000 rubles ($9,785) to the Wikimedia Foundation for not removing materials linked to a song by a Russian rock band called Psychea, which Russian authorities consider to be extremist. In November 2022, the organization was fined 2 million rubles for refusing to delete "false" information in seven Wikipedia articles about the "special military operation," including information about atrocities in Bucha and the destruction of Mariupol's theater. Wikipedia didn't respond immediately to a request for comment but says in its online encyclopedia about censorship: "Since the early 2010s, Russian Wikipedia and its editors have experienced numerous and increasing threats of nationwide blocks and country-wide enforcement of blacklisting by the Russian government, as well as several attempts to censor pages, spread propaganda, and disinform." Tass said Roskomnadzor will label Wikimedia in search engines as a violator of Russian law, and that more action against specific articles is planned. 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) Globe Telecom has called on telecommunications regulators to expand the list of acceptable official ID cards in registering SIMs to include company and school IDs as some Filipinos struggle to secure government-issued IDs. During a briefing on Thursday, the firm explained that one of the deterrents for subscribers to register especially prepaid subscribers and the youth is their lack of access to a government ID. It reiterated that the failure to register SIM cards may result in subscribers loss of mobile services. Registration will run until April 26, but the Department of Information and Communications Technology can extend it by 120 more days. "[The IDs,] hindi siya issued by the government pero 'yong identification 'yong habol natin," Globe's Chief Sustainability and Corporate Communications Officer Yoly Crisanto said in a media briefing on Thursday, referring to school and company identification. [Translation: The IDs are not issued by the government but what we are after is their identification.] "The other thing is 'yong tinatawag nating conditional registration, 'yon bang pumasok ka doon sa sistema, magre-register ka, pero wala kang ma-upload na ID so ang tawag doon conditional tanggapin natin ng tamang panahon para makapag-upload sila ng ID in that way hindi sila mawawalan ng services ng April 27," she said. [Translation: The other thing is conditional registration where we will allow subscribers to register in the system without uploading an ID we will give them time to upload an ID in that way, they will not lose services by April 27.] While Globe has witnessed a 30% spike in the number of registrants, the company remains hopeful that the government would heed the industrys call for an extension. That's why we continue to appeal to the government for an extension and to give our customers more options, for now, dahil mga may mga limitations, Globe's Vice President for Mobile Prepaid Business Eric Tanbauco said. [Translation: Thats why we continue to appeal to the government for an extension and to give our customers more options, for now, due to limitations.] Aside from Globe, PLDTs wireless arm Smart Communications and DITO Telecommunity made a similar appeal. As of April 11, the National Telecommunications Commission reported that about 66 million SIMs of the more than 168 million have been registered. Of the registered SIMs, 32.9 million are SMART subscribers; 28.3 million are Globe subscribers; and 4.9 million are DITO Telecommunity subscribers. This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain Japanese tech investment titan SoftBank has decided to sell nearly all of its stake in Alibaba to limit exposure to China, the Financial Times reported Thursday. SoftBank was an early investor in the Chinese internet giant founded by Jack Ma but began to offload its shares last year. According to the report, SoftBank, which once owned 34 percent of Alibaba, has sold more than $7 billion of its shares since the start of the year through prepaid forward contracts. Last year, it sold a record $29 billion of shares in the Chinese company, reported the FT. Shares in Alibaba plunged more than five percent at one point in Hong Kong, before recovering almost half the losses. Like other leading Chinese tech firms, Alibaba has been negatively impacted by a regulatory crackdown on the industry that began in 2020. That year, Beijing pulled the plug on what would have been a gigantic Hong Kong initial public offering for Alibaba's digital payment subsidiary Ant Group, just 48 hours before its completion. Alibaba was then investigated for alleged anti-competitive behavior, and eventually fined a record $2.75 billion. The company last month launched its most significant organizational restructuring since its founding, splitting its operations into six separate entities. Chinese authorities seem to have adopted a more conciliatory posture towards the domestic industry in recent months, but uncertainty around the sector remains. Tencent, another top Chinese tech firm, dropped more than five percent in Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Wednesday after Prosus NVits main shareholdersuggested a withdrawal. 2023 AFP Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) Finance Secretary Benjamin Diokno is confident that the governments move to pump up its spending for infrastructure projects would make the Philippines more attractive to foreign investors. During his keynote speech at the Philippine Economic Briefing (PEB) in Washington, D.C. on Wednesday, Diokno said the national government sees infrastructure spending as the front and center of our growth strategy. We are committed to reverse the decades-long underinvestment in infrastructure: from 2001 to 2015, average infrastructure spending was only at 2% of GDP, he explained. Through reviving its partnership with the private sector, the current administration vowed to sustain high infrastructure investment for the next six years, the official added. He also said efforts would focus on upgrading energy, logistics, transportation, telecommunications, and water infrastructure in the country. Now, the spectrum of industries that foreign investors can participate in has grown wider than ever before," Diokno pointed out. "The economic liberalization measures that the Philippine government has enacted in recent years have opened up key high-growth sectors to international participation." He cited the amendments to the Retail Trade Liberalization Act (RTLA), Foreign Investments Act (FIA), and the Public Service Act (PSA) which relaxed restrictions to foreign investments in the country. For his part, Speaker Martin Romualdez assured foreign investors that the House of Representatives would back measures intended to support the local economy. We are committed to passing more measures that the Marcos administration may need to further enhance investment in the Philippines aimed at improving the lives of Filipinos," Romualdez said in a statement on Thursday. "I urge foreign investors to stay the course with us and share the benefits of progress and development, he added. Romualdez also said briefing American investors was a strategic move by the Philippine government as the US remains a major source of investments and funding assistance. He said he was confident that this approach would result in more foreign investments and job opportunities for Filipinos. One of the defining eras of Bill Burns career in public service was serving as a young diplomat during the George H.W. Bush administration when he learned how to apply American power in the world with skill, ability and optimism. Bush 41s presidency was an intersection of transformative changes on the international landscape, Burns noted, which included the end of the Cold War, the collapse of the Soviet Union and the reunification of Germany. Ive never forgotten that, even as the international landscape has changed, Burns said. Fast forward 30 years, Burns is now director of the CIA and said he believes the world and America is at another transformative moment. The CIA director discussed how Americas intelligence leaders assess world threats during an event hosted by Texas A&M Universitys Intelligence Studies Program and Bush School of Government & Public Service in front of a packed Annenberg Presidential Conference Center. A majority of Burns 30-minute discussion centered on China, Russia, Vladimir Putin and particularly Russias war with Ukraine. I continue to believe the United States should approach that landscape with optimism and confidence, Burns said. I think we still have a better hand to play than any of our rivals, but were no longer the only big kid on the geopolitical block. Burns has served as the CIAs director since March 2021 after previously serving as president of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace upon retiring from a 33-year diplomatic career in 2014. Greg Vogle, director of the Bush Schools intelligence studies program, noted how Aggies turned out for Burns appearance and said it looked like Midnight Yell at Kyle Field. We try very hard here at the Bush School to bring remarkable people, remarkable leaders and new ideas and current events into students lives every year to help prepare them for the dreams theyre all going to chase in the public service sector and I think this event tonight is a very good example of that, added Mark Welsh, dean of the Bush School. Burns joked most of his gray hair has come from dealing with Putin over the last 20 years. Burned noted it seems Putins principle ambition is to restore Russia as a great world power following the Soviet Unions collapse, which would establish himself as a great Russian leader. In order to accomplish that, Burns said Putin had to create two things: a sphere of influence that controlled the countrys choices and an oppressive, authoritarian order in Russia. Burns credited both of those things to a mistrust within Putin of his own people, political opponents and neighbors. Putin convinced himself in the fall of 2021 that his window of opportunity to establish control over Ukraine was beginning to close and he saw 2022 as a favorable landscape tactically, Burns said. He added Putin thought Ukraine was a weak and divided country, the Europeans and the United States were distracted and he thought the Russian military was at a point where they could achieve a quick and decisive attack. He got each of those assumptions profoundly wrong, Burns said. When faced with battlefield and economic challenges, though, Burns said Putin doubled down rather than back down. Burns said the challenge moving forward is to puncture Putins pride and added the Ukrainians have proven to not be underestimated. Risks come with this conflict and supporting Ukraine, which Burns said the United States should continue to do, but he also noted Putin has an understanding of the healthy current cohesion of NATO and doesnt want to have a confrontation to the alliance. When you look at the weakness of the Russian military thats been exposed, the losses in manpower and material, the long-term economic damage that Russia has suffered, hes gutted the Russian middle class that I saw emerging when I was ambassador there 15 years ago, Burns said. While discussing China, Burns said it is Americas biggest long-term geopolitical challenger and noted the CIA has tried to organize itself against China. One initiative Burns outlined was how the CIA has formed a new mission center focused exclusively on China. The mission center is hiring and training more Mandarin speakers and added the CIA has roughly doubled its budget devoted to China over the last two years. Burns also said another mission center created is aimed at building partnerships within the private sector on technology issues. We cant compete effectively with China for all of the incredible skill we have across the CIA in technology, and science, and data, and cyber, and digital issues unless we have a better connection with the private sector and can learn from our partners in the tech sector about the pace of integration and the kind of supply-chain vulnerabilities that American policymakers need to pay attention to, Burns said. One question Vogle said he gets from a lot of students is the possibility of China invading Taiwan. Burns said thats a subject that grabs a lot of attention and energy at the CIA and noted he does not underestimate Xi Jinpings determination to control the island nation. Burns said Xi and Chinese military leadership have doubts about whether they could accomplish a successful invasion right now. He added nobody has watched the events in Ukraine closer than Xi, though, but noted the risk of conflict is likely to grow. We know President Xi has instructed his military to be ready for such a conflict by 2027, Burns said. The operative phrase there is be ready. It doesnt mean hes made a decision to launch an invasion by 2027, or 2028 or 2026, but it does mean, as I said, I think the risks grow at the end of this decade and beyond it. With a number of Bush School students in attendance, Burns said the CIAs biggest opportunity is to recruit the best talent across American society. He noted hundreds of A&M graduates have served in the CIA over the years. I hope many of the students in this audience will follow in their footsteps as well because at our core, we are a human intelligence service, Burns said. Were [measured] by the quality of our people, their commitment and their sense of patriotism and thats whats going to set us apart from other intelligence agencies in the years ahead. The CIA has taken steps to accelerate its onboarding process since Burns took over. He explained how when he became director, it took nearly two years from application to a formal offer. By creating a modern, digitalized system to manage applications, that rate is down to about 180 days, Burns said, and a backlog of 10,000 applicants two years ago is less than 100 now. Burns said the CIA is looking to create a diverse workforce and seeks prospective officers with language and technology skills. A lot of the work we do at the CIA is not well understood across American society, but its hugely important and you dont do it for the money, you do it in large part out of the respect of your peers, Burns said. You get a chance to play a very small part in history and sometimes a chance to shape it a little bit as well. To do it at this remarkable time of change on the international landscape, at this moment with new challenges for our country, I think is an incredible opportunity. BANCO DO BRASIL/S (OTCMKTS:BDORY Get Rating) passed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of $7.69 and traded as high as $7.85. BANCO DO BRASIL/S shares last traded at $7.73, with a volume of 60,179 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised BANCO DO BRASIL/S from a neutral rating to an overweight rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 14th. Get BANCO DO BRASIL/S alerts: BANCO DO BRASIL/S Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of $24.90 billion, a PE ratio of 4.70, a P/E/G ratio of 0.31 and a beta of 0.62. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $7.70 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.30. BANCO DO BRASIL/S Increases Dividend BANCO DO BRASIL/S Company Profile The business also recently declared a dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 10th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were paid a $0.0574 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a yield of 9.38%. This is a boost from BANCO DO BRASIL/Ss previous dividend of $0.04. BANCO DO BRASIL/Ss payout ratio is presently 17.84%. (Get Rating) Banco do Brasil SA provides banking products and services for individuals, companies, and public sectors in Brazil and internationally. The company's Banking segment offers various products and services, including deposits, loans, and services to retail, wholesale, and public sector markets, as well as to micro-entrepreneurs and the low income population. Read More Receive News & Ratings for BANCO DO BRASIL/S Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for BANCO DO BRASIL/S and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Banco Macro S.A. (NYSE:BMA Get Rating) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $17.02 and traded as high as $18.34. Banco Macro shares last traded at $18.01, with a volume of 186,957 shares traded. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on Banco Macro in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Get Banco Macro alerts: Banco Macro Trading Up 4.4 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 0.71 and a current ratio of 0.72. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $19.40 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $17.04. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Banco Macro ( NYSE:BMA Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The bank reported $1.47 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.24 by $0.23. The company had revenue of $658.89 million for the quarter. Banco Macro had a return on equity of 8.24% and a net margin of 6.23%. Equities analysts forecast that Banco Macro S.A. will post 2.27 EPS for the current year. Several institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in BMA. Atlas Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Banco Macro during the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. UBS Group AG increased its position in Banco Macro by 980.3% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 3,889 shares of the banks stock worth $56,000 after buying an additional 3,529 shares during the period. Activest Wealth Management acquired a new position in Banco Macro during the third quarter worth approximately $69,000. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased its position in Banco Macro by 456.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 6,298 shares of the banks stock worth $109,000 after buying an additional 5,167 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC purchased a new position in shares of Banco Macro in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $134,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 4.87% of the companys stock. Banco Macro Company Profile (Get Rating) Banco Macro SA engages in the provision of financial and banking services. It serves the low and mid-income individuals, and small and mid-sized companies. The firm offers savings, checking accounts, time deposits, fund management, loans, mortgages, and direct banking transactions. The company was founded on November 21, 1966 and is headquartered in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Banco Macro Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Macro and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Natural Resource Partners L.P. (NYSE:NRP Get Rating)s share price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $48.58 and traded as high as $53.25. Natural Resource Partners shares last traded at $53.00, with a volume of 6,320 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Natural Resource Partners in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Get Natural Resource Partners alerts: Natural Resource Partners Stock Down 0.5 % The firm has a market cap of $666.38 million, a PE ratio of 4.00 and a beta of 0.28. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.27, a quick ratio of 1.39 and a current ratio of 1.39. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $54.71 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $48.66. Natural Resource Partners Dividend Announcement Natural Resource Partners ( NYSE:NRP Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The energy company reported $3.36 EPS for the quarter. Natural Resource Partners had a net margin of 63.24% and a return on equity of 63.56%. The firm had revenue of $97.06 million during the quarter. The business also recently announced a None dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 21st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 14th were given a $2.43 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Monday, March 13th. Natural Resource Partnerss dividend payout ratio is 22.66%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Natural Resource Partners Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Avalon Investment & Advisory bought a new position in shares of Natural Resource Partners in the 1st quarter worth about $214,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA increased its stake in shares of Natural Resource Partners by 360.9% in the 1st quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA now owns 77,722 shares of the energy companys stock worth $3,322,000 after acquiring an additional 60,859 shares in the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE increased its stake in Natural Resource Partners by 26.2% during the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 29,413 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $1,257,000 after purchasing an additional 6,102 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its stake in Natural Resource Partners by 0.7% during the 2nd quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 1,122,078 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $41,775,000 after purchasing an additional 7,655 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Group AG increased its stake in Natural Resource Partners by 2.2% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 422,180 shares of the energy companys stock valued at $18,681,000 after purchasing an additional 9,120 shares in the last quarter. 38.67% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Natural Resource Partners (Get Rating) Natural Resource Partners LP engages in the business of owning, managing, and leasing a diversified portfolio of mineral properties. It operates through the Coal Royalty and Other, and Soda Ash segments. The Coal Royalty and Other segment consists of coal royalty properties and coal-related transportation and processing assets. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Natural Resource Partners Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Natural Resource Partners and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mainland willing to create all conditions to support cross-Strait youth exchanges: spokesperson Xinhua) 10:01, April 13, 2023 BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese mainland is happy to see and support more exchanges between young people across the Taiwan Strait, and is willing to create any sort of conditions for that purpose, a spokesperson said on Wednesday. Furthering exchanges between the young people from both sides of the Taiwan Strait can instill vitality and vigor into the peaceful development of cross-Strait relations, said Zhu Fenglian, spokesperson for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference. The mainland will provide services and platforms for young people from Taiwan in terms of their internships, employment and entrepreneurship on the mainland, help them take part in the peaceful and integrated development of cross-Strait relations, and share with them the opportunities arising from the mainland's high-quality development, Zhu said. As COVID-19 prevention and control on the mainland has entered a new phase, the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office will encourage various localities and departments to provide job internships this summer for young people from Taiwan and host exchange events featuring internship, employment and business start-ups, based on their needs, the spokesperson added. However, Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities have been keeping Taiwan schools at different levels from exchanging with mainland schools, and restricting mainland personnel from going to Taiwan for exchanges, which is the biggest obstacle to the exchanges between young people across the Strait, Zhu said. Such restrictions from the DPP authorities are unreasonable and inappropriate, and should be immediately rescinded, she said. The mainland has been actively working on the resumption of normal personnel exchanges and regular cooperation in various areas between the two sides of the Strait, which is the common aspiration of compatriots from the two sides, Zhu said. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) Tropical Depression Amang has so far left over 12 million worth of damage to the agriculture sector, the Department of Agriculture (DA) said Thursday. Citing initial data from its regional field office in Bicol, the DA reported losses in rice, high value crops, and livestock amounting to 12.34 million which are seen to affect over 1,000 farmers. Thousands of hectares of agricultural lands in Camarines Sur and Sorsogon were also affected, the DA added. Amang weakened into a low pressure area earlier in the day and is seen to dissipate by Friday, according to the state weather bureau. The DA said it is coordinating with concerned agencies and local government units to provide assistance for affected farmers and fishers. Toast, Inc. (NYSE:TOST Get Rating) insider Stephen Fredette sold 5,352 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $18.00, for a total transaction of $96,336.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 3,419,711 shares in the company, valued at $61,554,798. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this link. Stephen Fredette also recently made the following trade(s): Get Toast alerts: On Tuesday, April 4th, Stephen Fredette sold 1,485 shares of Toast stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $17.86, for a total transaction of $26,522.10. On Monday, January 23rd, Stephen Fredette sold 136,364 shares of Toast stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $22.14, for a total transaction of $3,019,098.96. Toast Stock Up 0.5 % Shares of NYSE TOST traded up $0.09 during trading on Wednesday, hitting $17.75. 7,622,975 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 6,476,668. Toast, Inc. has a 12-month low of $11.91 and a 12-month high of $26.03. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $19.21 and a 200-day moving average price of $19.08. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Toast ( NYSE:TOST Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 16th. The company reported ($0.19) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of ($0.18) by ($0.01). Toast had a negative net margin of 10.03% and a negative return on equity of 24.30%. The firm had revenue of $769.00 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $753.13 million. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted ($0.46) EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 50.2% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Toast, Inc. will post -0.59 earnings per share for the current year. A number of brokerages have issued reports on TOST. BNP Paribas began coverage on shares of Toast in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. They issued a neutral rating and a $16.00 price target on the stock. DA Davidson reissued a buy rating on shares of Toast in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Credit Suisse Group lifted their target price on shares of Toast from $21.50 to $23.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Friday, February 17th. Mizuho decreased their target price on shares of Toast from $24.00 to $23.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, KeyCorp decreased their price objective on shares of Toast from $26.00 to $24.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eight have given a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Toast presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $23.25. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. SG Americas Securities LLC lifted its position in shares of Toast by 214.5% during the third quarter. SG Americas Securities LLC now owns 28,674 shares of the companys stock worth $479,000 after purchasing an additional 19,557 shares in the last quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Toast during the third quarter worth about $3,453,000. Trinity Financial Advisors LLC lifted its position in shares of Toast by 6.4% during the third quarter. Trinity Financial Advisors LLC now owns 22,693 shares of the companys stock worth $379,000 after purchasing an additional 1,365 shares in the last quarter. Amalgamated Bank lifted its position in shares of Toast by 10.6% during the third quarter. Amalgamated Bank now owns 55,758 shares of the companys stock worth $932,000 after purchasing an additional 5,326 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Ocean Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Toast by 9.0% during the third quarter. Ocean Capital Management LLC now owns 14,385 shares of the companys stock worth $244,000 after purchasing an additional 1,185 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 50.82% of the companys stock. Toast Company Profile (Get Rating) Toast, Inc operates a cloud-based and digital technology platform for the restaurant industry in the United States and Ireland. The company offers Toast Point of Sale (POS), a hardware product; Toast Order & Pay, which allows guests to order and pay from their mobile devices; Toast Flex that is used for on-counter order and pay, as well as used as a server station, guest kiosk, kitchen display system, or order fulfillment station; Toast Go, a handheld POS device that enhances the table turn times through tableside ordering and payment acceptance; and Toast Tap, a card reader. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Toast Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toast and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Get Rating) had its price objective upped by Barclays from $130.00 to $142.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday, The Fly reports. Barclays currently has an equal weight rating on the specialty chemicals companys stock. Several other research analysts have also issued reports on PPG. Royal Bank of Canada increased their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $133.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. KeyCorp increased their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $144.00 to $159.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Argus increased their price target on shares of PPG Industries from $144.00 to $149.00 in a research report on Monday, January 23rd. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price objective on shares of PPG Industries from $124.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group raised their price objective on shares of PPG Industries from $118.00 to $128.00 in a report on Monday, April 3rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, PPG Industries presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $140.74. Get PPG Industries alerts: PPG Industries Stock Down 0.9 % NYSE PPG opened at $138.01 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.52. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $130.54 and a 200 day simple moving average of $126.09. PPG Industries has a twelve month low of $107.06 and a twelve month high of $141.36. The stock has a market cap of $32.48 billion, a PE ratio of 31.87, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.17. PPG Industries Announces Dividend PPG Industries ( NYSE:PPG Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 20th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.22 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.14 by $0.08. PPG Industries had a net margin of 5.81% and a return on equity of 22.55%. The firm had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.12 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $1.26 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down .1% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts forecast that PPG Industries will post 6.77 EPS for the current year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $0.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 16th. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.80%. PPG Industriess payout ratio is 57.27%. Insider Buying and Selling In other PPG Industries news, VP Anne M. Foulkes sold 21,757 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction on Tuesday, January 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $128.33, for a total value of $2,792,075.81. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 10,577 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,357,346.41. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 61,867 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.96, for a total transaction of $8,040,235.32. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now owns 183,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,866,504.20. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, VP Anne M. Foulkes sold 21,757 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.33, for a total transaction of $2,792,075.81. Following the sale, the vice president now directly owns 10,577 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,357,346.41. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.55% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of PPG Industries Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of PPG Industries by 0.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 20,472,227 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,266,070,000 after buying an additional 68,359 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its holdings in shares of PPG Industries by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 17,843,159 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $2,243,597,000 after buying an additional 931,097 shares during the period. Geode Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of PPG Industries by 2.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 4,748,598 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $595,991,000 after buying an additional 117,868 shares during the period. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in PPG Industries by 163,082.5% in the 4th quarter. Moneta Group Investment Advisors LLC now owns 4,157,889 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $522,813,000 after purchasing an additional 4,155,341 shares during the period. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in PPG Industries by 2.1% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 3,193,621 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $418,589,000 after purchasing an additional 65,996 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 80.04% of the companys stock. About PPG Industries (Get Rating) PPG Industries, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. It operates through the Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings segments. The Performance Coatings segment supplies a variety of protective and decorative coatings, sealants, and finishes along with pavement marking products, paint strippers, stains, and related chemicals, as well as transparencies and transparent armor. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PPG Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPG Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bell Bank reduced its position in shares of UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Rating) by 1.8% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 5,036 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock after selling 90 shares during the period. Bell Banks holdings in UnitedHealth Group were worth $2,670,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other large investors have also modified their holdings of the company. F M Investments LLC acquired a new position in UnitedHealth Group during the 4th quarter valued at $2,382,000. Core Alternative Capital raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 13.5% during the 4th quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 41,785 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $22,154,000 after purchasing an additional 4,959 shares during the last quarter. Community Bank N.A. raised its stake in UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% during the 4th quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 8,495 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $4,504,000 after purchasing an additional 83 shares during the last quarter. Graypoint LLC raised its stake in shares of UnitedHealth Group by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Graypoint LLC now owns 4,554 shares of the healthcare conglomerates stock valued at $2,414,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC acquired a new position in shares of UnitedHealth Group in the 4th quarter valued at $42,000. 86.31% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get UnitedHealth Group alerts: UnitedHealth Group Stock Up 0.0 % Shares of NYSE UNH opened at $521.19 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $486.19 billion, a PE ratio of 24.60, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.45 and a beta of 0.67. The company has a current ratio of 0.77, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.67. UnitedHealth Group Incorporated has a 1 year low of $449.70 and a 1 year high of $558.10. The firms 50-day moving average is $483.07 and its 200-day moving average is $506.86. UnitedHealth Group Announces Dividend UnitedHealth Group ( NYSE:UNH Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Friday, January 13th. The healthcare conglomerate reported $5.34 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $5.17 by $0.17. UnitedHealth Group had a net margin of 6.21% and a return on equity of 27.04%. The business had revenue of $82.79 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $82.53 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $4.48 EPS. UnitedHealth Groups quarterly revenue was up 12.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities analysts expect that UnitedHealth Group Incorporated will post 24.69 EPS for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, March 21st. Investors of record on Monday, March 13th were paid a dividend of $1.65 per share. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.27%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 10th. UnitedHealth Groups payout ratio is 31.15%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have recently issued reports on UNH. Raymond James upgraded shares of UnitedHealth Group from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and increased their price objective for the company from $615.00 to $630.00 in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Stephens restated an overweight rating and issued a $605.00 price objective on shares of UnitedHealth Group in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $615.00 to $617.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 24th. UBS Group dropped their target price on shares of UnitedHealth Group from $590.00 to $550.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. Finally, StockNews.com cut shares of UnitedHealth Group from a strong-buy rating to a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Three investment 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. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $602.00. About UnitedHealth Group (Get Rating) UnitedHealth Group, Inc engages in the provision of health care coverage, software, and data consultancy services. It operates through the following segments: UnitedHealthcare, OptumHealth, OptumInsight, and OptumRx. The UnitedHealthcare segment utilizes Optums capabilities to help coordinate patient care, improve affordability of medical care, analyze cost trends, manage pharmacy benefits, work with care providers more effectively, and create a simpler consumer experience. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding UNH? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for UnitedHealth Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for UnitedHealth Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canal Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Rating) by 3.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 60,897 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 2,291 shares during the period. Philip Morris International makes up about 1.5% of Canal Capital Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 11th biggest position. Canal Capital Management LLCs holdings in Philip Morris International were worth $6,163,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fairfield Bush & CO. increased its position in Philip Morris International by 1.1% in the 1st 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. boosted its stake in shares of Philip Morris International by 35.6% during the 1st quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 4,939 shares of the companys stock worth $463,000 after acquiring an additional 1,296 shares in the last quarter. Loomis Sayles & Co. L P boosted its stake 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 valued at $288,000 after purchasing an additional 608 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd boosted 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 purchasing an additional 186 shares during the period. Finally, Mather Group LLC. boosted its stake in Philip Morris International by 14.7% during the 1st quarter. Mather Group LLC. now owns 8,987 shares of the companys stock valued at $844,000 after purchasing an additional 1,154 shares during the period. 75.85% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Stock Performance Shares of PM opened at $98.80 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $153.35 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.00, a PEG ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.68. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $98.56 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $96.84. Philip Morris International Inc. has a 52 week low of $82.85 and a 52 week high of $109.81. Philip Morris International Dividend Announcement Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $1.39 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.10. The firm had revenue of $8.15 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $7.54 billion. Philip Morris International had a negative return on equity of 127.24% and a net margin of 11.22%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company earned $1.35 EPS. As a group, research analysts forecast that Philip Morris International Inc. will post 6.31 EPS for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, April 11th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd were given a $1.27 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 22nd. This represents a $5.08 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.14%. Philip Morris Internationals dividend payout ratio is currently 87.44%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Several analysts recently weighed in on PM shares. StockNews.com started coverage on Philip Morris International in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. The Goldman Sachs Group raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $95.00 to $120.00 in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and upped their price target for the company from $109.00 to $116.00 in a report on Thursday, March 30th. 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 target for the company. Finally, UBS Group raised Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and upped their price target for the company from $106.00 to $116.00 in a report on Wednesday, March 1st. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $110.36. Insider Transactions at Philip Morris International In other news, insider Werner Barth sold 8,000 shares of the firms 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 in the company, valued at approximately $8,588,020.35. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other Philip Morris International 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 sale, the insider now owns 87,321 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $8,588,020.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total value of $8,028,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chairman now directly owns 1,007,048 shares in the company, valued at approximately $101,057,266.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold 117,064 shares of company stock worth $11,738,763 in the last three months. Insiders own 0.13% of the companys stock. 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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding PM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Philip Morris International Inc. (NYSE:PM Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canal Capital Management LLC grew its stake in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Get Rating) by 555.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 16,297 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 13,812 shares during the period. Canal Capital Management LLCs holdings in iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF were worth $1,581,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James & Associates raised its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 15.2% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 46,527,580 shares of the companys stock valued at $4,482,469,000 after purchasing an additional 6,127,129 shares in the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 24.5% in the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 8,925,971 shares of the companys stock valued at $955,866,000 after buying an additional 1,754,499 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank lifted its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 320.0% during the 3rd quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 2,100,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $202,246,000 after purchasing an additional 1,600,000 shares during the last quarter. Continental Investors Services Inc. increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 6,307.4% during the third quarter. Continental Investors Services Inc. now owns 1,503,361 shares of the companys stock valued at $152,004,000 after acquiring an additional 1,479,898 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Orgel Wealth Management LLC increased its holdings in shares of iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF by 9,635.5% during the third quarter. Orgel Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,251,009 shares of the companys stock valued at $120,522,000 after acquiring an additional 1,238,159 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 80.07% of the companys stock. Get iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF alerts: iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Stock Performance AGG opened at $100.16 on Thursday. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF has a 52-week low of $93.20 and a 52-week high of $104.74. The firms 50-day moving average price is $98.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $97.86. iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Company Profile IShares are index funds that are bought and sold like common stocks on national securities exchanges as well as certain foreign exchanges. iShares are attractive because of their relatively low cost, tax efficiency and trading flexibility. Investors can purchase and sell shares through any brokerage firm, financial advisor, or online broker, and hold the funds in any type of brokerage account. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AGG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:AGG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Core U.S. Aggregate Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Capital Investment Counsel Inc acquired a new position in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 2,056 shares of the healthcare product makers stock, valued at approximately $226,000. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in Abbott Laboratories by 1.3% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 154,563,421 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $14,955,557,000 after acquiring an additional 2,011,683 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 74,138,862 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $7,173,676,000 after buying an additional 351,136 shares during the period. Polen Capital Management LLC increased its position in Abbott Laboratories by 2.1% during the 3rd quarter. Polen Capital Management LLC now owns 15,689,512 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,518,117,000 after buying an additional 316,416 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Abbott Laboratories by 1.9% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 11,523,473 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $1,363,917,000 after purchasing an additional 218,683 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD boosted its stake in Abbott Laboratories by 8.6% in the third quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 10,226,688 shares of the healthcare product makers stock valued at $989,536,000 after buying an additional 813,894 shares in the last quarter. 72.93% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of analysts have recently commented on ABT shares. Bank of America cut their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $115.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. SVB Leerink upped their price objective on Abbott Laboratories from $90.00 to $102.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. Sanford C. Bernstein upped their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $132.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on Abbott Laboratories from $140.00 to $136.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $121.88. Abbott Laboratories Stock Down 0.7 % ABT stock opened at $102.56 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a current ratio of 1.63 and a quick ratio of 1.23. Abbott Laboratories has a 1-year low of $93.25 and a 1-year high of $124.35. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $102.84 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $104.44. The firm has a market cap of $178.24 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.23, a PEG ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 0.67. Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.13. The business had revenue of $10.09 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $9.69 billion. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 15.88% and a return on equity of 26.09%. The companys quarterly revenue was down 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $1.32 earnings per share. Research analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current year. Abbott Laboratories Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be issued a $0.51 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.99%. Abbott Laboratoriess dividend payout ratio is currently 52.17%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $103,922.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares in the company, valued at $5,256,842.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Randel William Woodgrift sold 1,032 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total transaction of $103,922.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 52,203 shares in the company, valued at $5,256,842.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total value of $26,842.40. Following the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 40,896 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,222,103.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last quarter, insiders have sold 1,971 shares of company stock worth $199,140. Insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. About Abbott Laboratories (Get Rating) Abbott Laboratories engages in the discovery, development, manufacture, and sale of a broad and diversified line of health care products. It operates through the following business segments: Established Pharmaceutical Products, Diagnostic Products, Nutritional Products, and Medical Devices. The Established Pharmaceutical Products segment refers to the international sales of a line of branded generic pharmaceutical products. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Big Technologies PLC (LON:BIG Get Rating) insider Charles James John Lewinton sold 10,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, April 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 255 ($3.16), for a total transaction of 25,500 ($31,578.95). Big Technologies Stock Up 2.0 % Shares of LON BIG opened at GBX 260 ($3.22) on Thursday. The company has a current ratio of 9.08, a quick ratio of 7.23 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. The stock has a market cap of 755.04 million and a PE ratio of 4,333.33. The company has a 50-day moving average of GBX 244.96 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 261.62. Big Technologies PLC has a 12-month low of GBX 216 ($2.67) and a 12-month high of GBX 304 ($3.76). Get Big Technologies alerts: About Big Technologies (Get Rating) Recommended Stories Big Technologies Plc provides products and services to the remote personal monitoring industry under the Buddi brand name in the United Kingdom and internationally. The company's criminal justice solution includes proprietary cloud-based monitoring software platform with modular hardware that allow real time tracking monitoring. Receive News & Ratings for Big Technologies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Big Technologies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. China CITIC Bank Co. Limited (OTCMKTS:CHCJY Get Rating)s share price shot up 7.4% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $10.05 and last traded at $10.05. 374 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 76% from the average session volume of 1,544 shares. The stock had previously closed at $9.36. China CITIC Bank Stock Performance The stocks 50-day moving average price is $9.31 and its 200 day moving average price is $8.75. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.57. Get China CITIC Bank alerts: China CITIC Bank (OTCMKTS:CHCJY Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.70 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $7.16 billion for the quarter. China CITIC Bank Company Profile China CITIC Bank Corporation Limited provides various banking products and services in the People's Republic of China and internationally. The company operates through Corporate Banking, Personal Banking, and Treasury Operations segments. It accepts deposits; offers corporate and personal loans; and provides securities agency, remittance and settlement, and guarantee services, as well as investment banking and international services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for China CITIC Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for China CITIC Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Constantine Metal Resources Ltd. (CVE:CEM Get Rating) shot up 4.5% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as C$0.37 and last traded at C$0.35. 207,650 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 199% from the average session volume of 69,562 shares. The stock had previously closed at C$0.33. Constantine Metal Resources Price Performance The company has a market cap of C$22.52 million and a P/E ratio of -10.78. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of C$0.35 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$0.33. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 5.75, a current ratio of 2.08 and a quick ratio of 2.07. Constantine Metal Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Constantine Metal Resources Ltd., a junior mining company, engages in the exploration and development of mineral properties in North America. The company primarily explores for copper, zinc, gold, and silver deposits. Its principal project is the Palmer project that includes 340 federal mining claims and 63 state mining claims located in Alaska, the United States. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Constantine Metal Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Constantine Metal Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fifth Third Securities Inc. decreased its stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IVE Get Rating) by 5.9% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 39,599 shares of the companys stock after selling 2,499 shares during the quarter. Fifth Third Securities Inc.s holdings in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF were worth $5,745,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Hudson Capital Management LLC boosted its stake in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. Hudson Capital Management LLC now owns 28,395 shares of the companys stock valued at $3,649,000 after purchasing an additional 81 shares during the period. First Manhattan Co. boosted its stake in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 0.5% in the 1st quarter. First Manhattan Co. now owns 15,916 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,478,000 after purchasing an additional 85 shares during the period. Gofen & Glossberg LLC IL boosted its stake in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Gofen & Glossberg LLC IL now owns 6,102 shares of the companys stock valued at $784,000 after purchasing an additional 86 shares during the period. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC boosted its stake in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 1.3% in the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 7,017 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,018,000 after purchasing an additional 88 shares during the period. Finally, Family Firm Inc. boosted its stake in iShares S&P 500 Value ETF by 0.9% in the 3rd quarter. Family Firm Inc. now owns 10,175 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,308,000 after purchasing an additional 89 shares during the period. Get iShares S&P 500 Value ETF alerts: iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Stock Up 0.9 % Shares of NYSEARCA:IVE traded up $1.36 during trading on Thursday, reaching $152.47. 169,942 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 925,322. The companys 50 day moving average is $151.06 and its two-hundred day moving average is $146.66. The firm has a market capitalization of $24.56 billion, a PE ratio of 15.85 and a beta of 0.94. iShares S&P 500 Value ETF has a 52 week low of $127.33 and a 52 week high of $160.30. About iShares S&P 500 Value ETF iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares S&P 500 Value Index Fund, is an exchange-traded fund (ETF). The Fund seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the S&P 500 Value Index (the Index). The Index measures the performance of the large-capitalization value sector of the United States equity market and consists of those stocks in the S&P 500 exhibiting the strongest value characteristics. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding IVE? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for iShares S&P 500 Value ETF (NYSEARCA:IVE Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P 500 Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P 500 Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) A Muntinlupa court has issued a warrant of arrest against former Bureau of Corrections (BuCor) chief Gerald Bantag and former Deputy Security Officer Ricardo Zulueta over the death of one of the alleged middlemen in the killing of journalist Percival "Percy Lapid" Mabasa. The Muntinlupa City Regional Trial Court Branch 206 issued the non-bailable warrant on Wednesday for the crime of murder. The two were allegedly involved in the October killing of "middleman" and New Bilibid Prison (NBP) inmate Jun Villamor. Villamor was found unconscious inside the NBP on Oct. 18, hours after the self-confessed gunman in the murder of Lapid surrendered to authorities. He was brought to the prison hospital but was declared dead on the same day. Findings by the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) showed that there were no signs of foul play or physical injuries on his body. But a second autopsy conducted by forensic pathologist Raquel Fortun revealed that he died from plastic bag suffocation. Authorities later said four members of the Sputnik gang inside the NBP were ordered to kill Villamor, who was also part of the group. According to the NBI, the gang members received orders from Bantag and Zulueta. READ: NBI: Inmates who killed alleged middleman in Lapid slay only received orders from Bantag, Zulueta The two jail officials were also accused of being behind the fatal shooting of Lapid in Las Pinas City on Oct. 3, with Bantag tagged as the mastermind. They both denied the allegations. READ: Bantag to collaborate with Zulueta on Lapid murder case Last month, the Department of Justice found probable cause to file murder charges against the two, along with several others, in relation to both the Lapid and Villamor cases. In the meantime, the Mabasa camp said they expect that arrest warrants against Bantag, Zulueta, and other suspects over Lapids death will be issued "in a matter of days." Inaasahan natin na sa lalong madaling panahon ay lalabas na rin yung warrant of arrest diyan [We hope that the arrest warrant will be released soon], the Mabasa familys legal counsel Atty. Danilo Pelagio told CNN Philippines News Night. In a matter of days na lang kasi sabay lang naman finile yung information against sa mga akusado. So ineexpect natin na may kaunting difference na ilang araw lang, Pelagio added. [Translation: We expect it in a matter of days because the information against the accused were filed at the same time. So we expect that there will be a slight difference of only a few days.] Pelagio also hopes Bantag and Zulueta will voluntarily surrender and submit to the processes of the court. Bantag was suspended as BuCor chief in October after being implicated in the killing of the veteran journalist. In March, he was formally replaced as director-general by Gregorio Catapang Jr., who acted as officer-in-charge while he was suspended. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Flexible Solutions International (NYSE:FSI Get Rating) in a report released on Monday morning. The firm issued a hold rating on the stock. Flexible Solutions International Trading Down 0.6 % Flexible Solutions International stock opened at $3.24 on Monday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 3.01 and a quick ratio of 1.61. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $3.10 and a 200-day moving average of $3.01. The company has a market cap of $40.28 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 5.78 and a beta of 1.74. Flexible Solutions International has a one year low of $1.51 and a one year high of $3.70. Get Flexible Solutions International alerts: Flexible Solutions International Company Profile (Get Rating) Recommended Stories Flexible Solutions International, Inc is an environmental technology company engaged in the research, development, and manufacture of products that save water and energy. It operates through the following segments: Energy and Water Conservation Products and Biodegradable Polymers. The Energy and Water Conservation Products segment consists of a liquid swimming pool blanket which saves energy and water by inhibiting evaporation from the pool surface, and a food-safe powdered form of the active ingredient within the liquid blanket. Receive News & Ratings for Flexible Solutions International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Flexible Solutions International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc. (OTC:FKKFF Get Rating) hit a new 52-week low during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $17.36 and last traded at $17.36, with a volume of 0 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $17.36. Analyst Ratings Changes Separately, Daiwa Capital Markets downgraded Fukuoka Financial Group from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Get Fukuoka Financial Group alerts: Fukuoka Financial Group Stock Performance The firm has a market cap of $14.92 billion, a PE ratio of -32.14 and a beta of 0.03. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $17.36 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $17.36. About Fukuoka Financial Group Fukuoka Financial Group, Inc, through its subsidiaries, provides various banking services to individual and corporate customers. The company accepts various deposits, such as current deposits, ordinary and other demand deposits, time deposits, and negotiable certificates of deposit, as well as provides loan products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Fukuoka Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Fukuoka Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Holmen AB (publ) (OTCMKTS:HLMNY Get Rating) shares rose 3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $21.33 and last traded at $21.33. Approximately 333 shares changed hands during trading, an increase of 99% from the average daily volume of 167 shares. The stock had previously closed at $20.70. Holmen AB (publ) Price Performance The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $21.85 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $21.01. Get Holmen AB (publ) alerts: Holmen AB (publ) Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, April 19th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 30th will be given a $0.4758 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 29th. This represents a dividend yield of 2.27%. This is a boost from Holmen AB (publ)s previous dividend of $0.38. Holmen AB (publ) Company Profile Holmen AB (publ) produces and sells paperboards, papers, wood products, and renewable energy in Sweden, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, rest of Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company's Forest segment offers logs, pulpwood, and biofuel to sawmills, pulp mills, and paperboard and paper mills; and manages forests, which cover approximately one million hectares. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Holmen AB (publ) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Holmen AB (publ) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hormel Foods Co. (NYSE:HRL Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Monday, March 27th, RTT News reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 17th will be given a dividend of 0.275 per share on Monday, May 15th. This represents a $1.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.73%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 14th. Hormel Foods has increased its dividend by an average of 7.0% per year over the last three years and has increased its dividend annually for the last 57 consecutive years. Hormel Foods has a payout ratio of 58.8% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Equities analysts expect Hormel Foods to earn $1.90 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $1.10 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 57.9%. Get Hormel Foods alerts: Hormel Foods Stock Down 0.3 % Shares of NYSE HRL opened at $40.22 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $21.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.47, a PEG ratio of 3.96 and a beta of 0.17. Hormel Foods has a 1 year low of $37.78 and a 1 year high of $55.11. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.43, a quick ratio of 1.07 and a current ratio of 2.33. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $41.82 and its 200-day simple moving average is $44.74. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Hormel Foods ( NYSE:HRL Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.40 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.45 by ($0.05). The business had revenue of $2.97 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.08 billion. Hormel Foods had a return on equity of 13.10% and a net margin of 7.90%. Hormel Foodss revenue for the quarter was down 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.44 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Hormel Foods will post 1.74 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. HRL has been the subject of several research analyst reports. Stephens dropped their target price on shares of Hormel Foods from $52.00 to $47.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 6th. Piper Sandler cut their price target on Hormel Foods from $44.00 to $43.00 in a report on Wednesday. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded Hormel Foods from a neutral rating to an underweight rating and lowered their price objective for the stock from $47.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Friday, March 3rd. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Hormel Foods from $48.00 to $45.00 in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Hormel Foods in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating and five have assigned a hold rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $44.14. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Elsa A. Murano sold 6,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.50, for a total transaction of $243,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 102,698 shares in the company, valued at $4,159,269. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other news, Director Elsa A. Murano sold 6,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.50, for a total transaction of $243,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 102,698 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,159,269. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Also, Director Becerra Jose Luis Prado sold 5,200 shares of Hormel Foods stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $39.01, for a total value of $202,852.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 18,410 shares in the company, valued at approximately $718,174.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.81% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Hormel Foods Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd purchased a new position in Hormel Foods during the first quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lifted its position in Hormel Foods by 24.4% in the 1st quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 1,527 shares of the companys stock worth $79,000 after buying an additional 300 shares in the last quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. boosted its stake in shares of Hormel Foods by 61.5% during the 4th quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 2,062 shares of the companys stock valued at $93,000 after buying an additional 785 shares during the period. Industrial Alliance Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Hormel Foods during the 4th quarter valued at $102,000. Finally, Covestor Ltd grew its holdings in shares of Hormel Foods by 153.0% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 2,123 shares of the companys stock valued at $109,000 after acquiring an additional 1,284 shares in the last quarter. 39.74% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Hormel Foods Company Profile (Get Rating) Hormel Foods Corp. engages in the production of meat and food products. It operates through the following segments: Grocery Products, Refrigerated Foods, Jennie-O Turkey Store, and International and Other. The Grocery Products segment focuses on the processing, marketing, and sale of shelf-stable food products sold in the retail market. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hormel Foods Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hormel Foods and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. VELA Investment Management LLC lowered its position in shares of Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI Get Rating) by 28.4% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund owned 5,970 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 2,367 shares during the period. VELA Investment Management LLCs holdings in Houlihan Lokey were worth $520,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted its holdings in Houlihan Lokey by 16.8% in the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 117,793 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $10,342,000 after purchasing an additional 16,957 shares during the period. American Century Companies Inc. lifted its holdings in Houlihan Lokey by 57.5% in the first quarter. American Century Companies Inc. now owns 18,165 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,595,000 after purchasing an additional 6,633 shares during the period. Bank of Montreal Can lifted its holdings in Houlihan Lokey by 6.0% in the first quarter. Bank of Montreal Can now owns 18,962 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,777,000 after purchasing an additional 1,078 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in Houlihan Lokey by 54.8% in the 1st quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 27,261 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,394,000 after acquiring an additional 9,655 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Panagora Asset Management Inc. acquired a new stake in Houlihan Lokey in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,135,000. Institutional investors own 70.74% of the companys stock. Get Houlihan Lokey alerts: Houlihan Lokey Trading Up 0.6 % HLI stock opened at $87.02 on Thursday. The firm has a market capitalization of $5.97 billion, a PE ratio of 23.08 and a beta of 0.76. Houlihan Lokey, Inc. has a one year low of $74.18 and a one year high of $102.36. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $92.53 and a two-hundred day moving average of $91.16. Houlihan Lokey Dividend Announcement Houlihan Lokey ( NYSE:HLI Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The financial services provider reported $1.14 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.12 by $0.02. The company had revenue of $456.50 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $470.81 million. Houlihan Lokey had a return on equity of 22.28% and a net margin of 14.15%. The firms quarterly revenue was down 48.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $2.90 EPS. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that Houlihan Lokey, Inc. will post 4.56 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Investors of record on Thursday, March 2nd were issued a $0.53 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 1st. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.44%. Houlihan Lokeys dividend payout ratio is currently 56.23%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In A number of equities research analysts have weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Houlihan Lokey in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods upped their price objective on shares of Houlihan Lokey from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have given a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Houlihan Lokey currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $89.60. Houlihan Lokey Profile (Get Rating) Houlihan Lokey, Inc engages in the provision of investment banking services. It operates through the following segments: Corporate Finance, Financial Restructuring and Financial and Valuation Advisory. The Corporate Finance segment provides general financial advisory services in addition to advice on mergers and acquisitions and capital markets offering. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HLI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Houlihan Lokey, Inc. (NYSE:HLI Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Houlihan Lokey Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Houlihan Lokey and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Travelers Companies (NYSE:TRV Get Rating) had its price objective cut by Jefferies Financial Group from $188.00 to $182.00 in a research report released on Monday morning, The Fly reports. They currently have a hold rating on the insurance providers stock. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Travelers Companies Q1 2023 earnings at $3.60 EPS, Q2 2023 earnings at $2.10 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $2.72 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $5.83 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $14.25 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $19.40 EPS. A number of other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on TRV. Barclays reduced their price objective on Travelers Companies from $197.00 to $196.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on Travelers Companies from $196.00 to $204.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Travelers Companies from $181.00 to $182.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. BMO Capital Markets began coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. They set an outperform rating and a $212.00 price target for the company. Finally, StockNews.com began coverage on Travelers Companies in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating, four have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Travelers Companies has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $191.00. Get Travelers Companies alerts: Travelers Companies Stock Performance Shares of Travelers Companies stock opened at $173.84 on Monday. Travelers Companies has a one year low of $149.65 and a one year high of $194.51. The company has a market cap of $40.35 billion, a PE ratio of 14.79, a P/E/G ratio of 1.13 and a beta of 0.60. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 0.33 and a current ratio of 0.33. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $177.34 and a 200-day simple moving average of $179.64. Travelers Companies Dividend Announcement Travelers Companies ( NYSE:TRV Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 24th. The insurance provider reported $3.40 earnings per share for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $3.40. The firm had revenue of $8.83 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $8.78 billion. Travelers Companies had a return on equity of 13.34% and a net margin of 7.71%. The firms revenue was up 10.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $5.20 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts forecast that Travelers Companies will post 14.11 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were given a $0.93 dividend. This represents a $3.72 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.14%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. Travelers Companiess payout ratio is 31.66%. Insider Activity In other news, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 9,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.42, for a total value of $1,722,780.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 251,605 shares in the company, valued at $48,162,229.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other Travelers Companies news, CEO Alan D. Schnitzer sold 150,829 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, February 8th. The stock was sold at an average price of $188.53, for a total value of $28,435,791.37. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 196,914 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $37,124,196.42. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this link. Also, Vice Chairman William H. Heyman sold 9,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $191.42, for a total value of $1,722,780.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 251,605 shares in the company, valued at $48,162,229.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 188,163 shares of company stock worth $35,402,200 over the last 90 days. 1.07% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Travelers Companies A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in TRV. First PREMIER Bank acquired a new stake in Travelers Companies in the 3rd quarter worth about $26,000. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV lifted its stake in shares of Travelers Companies by 57.8% in the 3rd quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 183 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $28,000 after purchasing an additional 67 shares in the last quarter. FWL Investment Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $28,000. US Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 4th quarter valued at about $29,000. Finally, FNY Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new position in shares of Travelers Companies in the 1st quarter valued at about $31,000. 81.59% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Travelers Companies (Get Rating) The Travelers Cos., Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of commercial and personal property and casualty insurance products and services. It operates through the following business segments: Business Insurance, Bond and Specialty Insurance, and Personal Insurance. The Business Insurance segment provides an array of property and casualty insurance, and insurance related services to its customers primarily in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland and throughout other parts of the world as a corporate member of Lloyds. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Travelers Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Travelers Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mohawk Industries (NYSE:MHK Get Rating) was upgraded by analysts at Loop Capital from a hold rating to a buy rating in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Marketbeat.com reports. The brokerage currently has a $115.00 price objective on the stock. Loop Capitals price target points to a potential upside of 17.55% from the companys current price. Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft increased their price objective on Mohawk Industries from $104.00 to $121.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Barclays raised their price target on Mohawk Industries from $83.00 to $105.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Mohawk Industries in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Finally, Credit Suisse Group dropped their target price on Mohawk Industries from $109.00 to $103.00 in a report on Monday, March 20th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have assigned a hold rating and two have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $129.15. Get Mohawk Industries alerts: Mohawk Industries Trading Down 2.3 % MHK opened at $97.83 on Tuesday. The firm has a market cap of $6.22 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 326.10, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.30 and a beta of 1.28. Mohawk Industries has a 52 week low of $87.01 and a 52 week high of $159.00. The businesss 50 day moving average is $104.20 and its two-hundred day moving average is $102.76. The company has a quick ratio of 1.01, a current ratio of 1.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25. Insider Transactions at Mohawk Industries Mohawk Industries ( NYSE:MHK Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 10th. The company reported $1.32 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.29 by $0.03. Mohawk Industries had a return on equity of 10.06% and a net margin of 0.22%. The business had revenue of $2.65 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.69 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $2.95 earnings per share. The companys quarterly revenue was down 4.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, research analysts predict that Mohawk Industries will post 8.98 EPS for the current year. In other news, insider Suzanne L. Helen sold 4,250 shares of Mohawk Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.23, for a total value of $438,727.50. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 13,453 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,388,753.19. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. In other Mohawk Industries news, insider Suzanne L. Helen sold 5,200 shares of Mohawk Industries stock in a transaction on Monday, February 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $119.59, for a total transaction of $621,868.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 14,853 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,776,270.27. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Suzanne L. Helen sold 4,250 shares of Mohawk Industries stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $103.23, for a total value of $438,727.50. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 13,453 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,388,753.19. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last quarter, insiders sold 12,150 shares of company stock worth $1,374,876. 17.40% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Mohawk Industries Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Bessemer Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Mohawk Industries by 5.9% in the 3rd quarter. Bessemer Group Inc. now owns 9,544 shares of the companys stock worth $870,000 after buying an additional 530 shares in the last quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama raised its stake in shares of Mohawk Industries by 2.7% in the 3rd quarter. Retirement Systems of Alabama now owns 17,515 shares of the companys stock worth $1,597,000 after buying an additional 453 shares in the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Mohawk Industries by 125.5% in the 3rd quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 181,068 shares of the companys stock worth $16,643,000 after buying an additional 100,786 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System grew its holdings in shares of Mohawk Industries by 0.3% in the 3rd quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 64,609 shares of the companys stock worth $5,892,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Easterly Investment Partners LLC grew its holdings in shares of Mohawk Industries by 5.4% in the 3rd quarter. Easterly Investment Partners LLC now owns 26,802 shares of the companys stock worth $2,444,000 after acquiring an additional 1,364 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 75.85% of the companys stock. Mohawk Industries Company Profile (Get Rating) Mohawk Industries, Inc engages in the manufacture, design, and distribution of residential and commercial flooring products. It operates through the following segments: Global Ceramic, Flooring North America (NA), and Flooring Rest of the World (ROW). The Global Ceramic segment manufactures ceramic, porcelain, and natural stone tile products used for wall and floor applications. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mohawk Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mohawk Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MV Oil Trust (NYSE:MVO Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Wednesday, April 5th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Monday, April 17th will be given a dividend of 0.345 per share by the oil and gas producer on Tuesday, April 25th. This represents a $1.38 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 10.38%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 14th. MV Oil Trust has raised its dividend payment by an average of 28.4% annually over the last three years. Get MV Oil Trust alerts: MV Oil Trust Stock Up 2.5 % Shares of MV Oil Trust stock opened at $13.30 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $152.95 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.96 and a beta of 0.95. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $12.39 and its 200-day simple moving average is $13.40. MV Oil Trust has a 52 week low of $8.38 and a 52 week high of $16.41. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Institutional Trading of MV Oil Trust Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of MV Oil Trust in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. grew its position in shares of MV Oil Trust by 446.1% during the first quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 9,830 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $116,000 after purchasing an additional 8,030 shares in the last quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC bought a new stake in MV Oil Trust in the 1st quarter worth approximately $128,000. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA purchased a new stake in shares of MV Oil Trust during the 1st quarter worth approximately $137,000. UBS Group AG boosted its position in shares of MV Oil Trust by 207.5% during the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,297 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $29,000 after acquiring an additional 1,550 shares during the last quarter. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC grew its holdings in shares of MV Oil Trust by 61.6% in the third quarter. BNP Paribas Arbitrage SNC now owns 19,998 shares of the oil and gas producers stock valued at $249,000 after purchasing an additional 7,623 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 4.67% of the companys stock. About MV Oil Trust (Get Rating) MV Oil Trust is a close-ended investment trust. It engages in acquiring and holding a term net profits interest for the benefit of the trust unitholders. The company was founded on August 3, 2006 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for MV Oil Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MV Oil Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Source Financial Advisors LLC increased its stake in EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating) by 5.2% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The firm owned 5,076 shares of the energy exploration companys stock after purchasing an additional 251 shares during the quarter. Source Financial Advisors LLCs holdings in EOG Resources were worth $657,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors and hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of EOG. CENTRAL TRUST Co raised its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. CENTRAL TRUST Co now owns 9,118 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $1,019,000 after acquiring an additional 74 shares in the last quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. lifted its position in EOG Resources by 6.3% during the third quarter. Farmers & Merchants Investments Inc. now owns 1,260 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $141,000 after purchasing an additional 75 shares during the last quarter. Hallmark Capital Management Inc. lifted its position in EOG Resources by 3.6% during the third quarter. Hallmark Capital Management Inc. now owns 2,197 shares of the energy exploration companys stock valued at $245,000 after purchasing an additional 77 shares during the last quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC grew its stake in shares of EOG Resources by 24.8% in the 3rd quarter. Bogart Wealth LLC now owns 397 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $44,000 after buying an additional 79 shares in the last quarter. Finally, PAX Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in shares of EOG Resources by 3.0% in the 3rd quarter. PAX Financial Group LLC now owns 2,705 shares of the energy exploration companys stock worth $302,000 after buying an additional 80 shares during the last quarter. 87.40% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get EOG Resources alerts: EOG Resources Stock Up 0.5 % NYSE:EOG opened at $122.31 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a current ratio of 1.90 and a quick ratio of 1.71. EOG Resources, Inc. has a 1-year low of $92.16 and a 1-year high of $150.88. The company has a 50-day moving average of $117.54 and a 200 day moving average of $126.31. The firm has a market cap of $71.88 billion, a PE ratio of 9.26, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.35 and a beta of 1.53. EOG Resources Dividend Announcement EOG Resources ( NYSE:EOG Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 24th. The energy exploration company reported $3.30 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.31 by ($0.01). The business had revenue of $6.72 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $6.09 billion. EOG Resources had a return on equity of 34.95% and a net margin of 30.19%. EOG Resourcess revenue for the quarter was up 11.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $3.09 EPS. As a group, research analysts anticipate that EOG Resources, Inc. will post 11.98 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a dividend of $0.825 per share. This represents a $3.30 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 13th. EOG Resourcess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 24.98%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of research analysts recently commented on EOG shares. Roth Capital reiterated a buy rating on shares of EOG Resources in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Raymond James lowered their price objective on EOG Resources from $171.00 to $140.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. Citigroup cut their target price on EOG Resources from $160.00 to $122.00 in a research report on Friday, March 17th. Morgan Stanley lowered their price target on EOG Resources from $140.00 to $132.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Truist Financial boosted their price objective on shares of EOG Resources from $146.00 to $152.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research report on Tuesday. Five analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seventeen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, EOG Resources currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $149.87. EOG Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) EOG Resources, Inc engages in the exploration, development, production and marketing of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through the United States, Trinidad & Tobago, and Other International segments. The company was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EOG? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for EOG Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EOG Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tupperware Brands Co. (NYSE:TUP Get Rating) was the target of unusually large options trading on Thursday. Investors purchased 2,625 call options on the stock. This is an increase of 167% compared to the typical volume of 984 call options. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth TUP has been the subject of a number of recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Tupperware Brands in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. DA Davidson decreased their price target on Tupperware Brands from $4.50 to $3.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, March 13th. Get Tupperware Brands alerts: Tupperware Brands Price Performance Shares of TUP traded up $0.18 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $1.50. The stock had a trading volume of 2,688,400 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,452,971. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.15 and a 200-day simple moving average of $4.47. The firm has a market capitalization of $66.72 million, a P/E ratio of -3.65, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.29 and a beta of 2.18. Tupperware Brands has a 1-year low of $1.21 and a 1-year high of $21.10. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Tupperware Brands Tupperware Brands ( NYSE:TUP Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The company reported ($0.24) EPS for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.29 by ($0.53). The firm had revenue of $313.70 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $294.30 million. Tupperware Brands had a negative net margin of 1.36% and a negative return on equity of 11.11%. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 20.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $0.38 earnings per share. Equities analysts predict that Tupperware Brands will post 0.36 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC lifted its position in Tupperware Brands by 68.8% in the 1st quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 159,288 shares of the companys stock valued at $398,000 after acquiring an additional 64,933 shares in the last quarter. Acrisure Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Tupperware Brands during the 4th quarter worth approximately $151,000. DGS Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Tupperware Brands during the 4th quarter worth approximately $45,000. Macquarie Group Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Tupperware Brands by 4,168.4% during the 4th quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 116,100 shares of the companys stock worth $481,000 after buying an additional 113,380 shares in the last quarter. Finally, State of Wisconsin Investment Board lifted its position in shares of Tupperware Brands by 63.4% during the 4th quarter. State of Wisconsin Investment Board now owns 171,988 shares of the companys stock worth $712,000 after buying an additional 66,762 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 71.39% of the companys stock. Tupperware Brands Company Profile (Get Rating) Tupperware Brands Corp. operates as a direct-to-consumer marketer of products across multiple brands and categories. It operates through the following geographical segments: Europe, Asia Pacific, North America and South America. product brands and categories include design-centric preparation, storage and serving solutions for the kitchen and home through the Tupperware brand, and beauty and personal care products through the Avroy Shlain, BeautiControl, Fuller, NaturCare, Nutrimetics and Nuvo brands. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Tupperware Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tupperware Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) has recommended keeping the fishing bans in oil spill-hit towns in Oriental Mindoro, as it admitted that the agency is still "fast-tracking" its laboratory analyses to show the current situation of marine products in the area. In its latest bulletin on Wednesday, the BFAR said fish samples collected and analyzed from select areas in the province showed low-level contaminants or polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The contaminants were also found in seaweeds from Caluya, Antique, it added. "PAH are harmful to humans and other living organisms, and may accumulate in the flesh of marine organisms over time," the agency explained. "Seaweeds and other sessile organisms have greater chances of accumulating PAHs due to their immobility." It said the minimal amounts of PAH levels present in seafood collected from sampling sites in Oriental Mindoro were consistent in the bureau's first and second batches of analyses. But it still recommended retaining the fishing bans, as well as the harvest ban on seaweeds in Caluya, Antique, "since the initial analyses are not yet conclusive evidence as far as food safety is concerned." "These samples were collected during the early days of March, making the current situation unknown due to the possibility that the spill had spread further due to ocean current and wind direction, and more PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) may have accumulated in marine organisms," the bureau said. The BFAR said it will conduct more analyses of fish and seaweed samples, assuring that it will fast-track its efforts without compromising the accuracy of data. Pola town, the most affected in Oriental Mindoro, has been under a fishing ban for more than five weeks now. Authorities are still rushing to contain the spillage from the MT Princess Empress, an oil tanker carrying at least 800,000 liters of industrial fuel oil when it sank in waters off Naujan town last Feb. 28. In a statement, the BFAR said it has already allocated 4.4 million worth of livelihood aid through post-harvest technology packages for 10 fisherfolk associations and cooperatives. "About 1.5 million was also earmarked for the provision of food assistance to 5,000 affected fisherfolk in MIMAROPA, while 580,500 was spent to help displaced fishing groups in Western Visayas," it added. The latest data from the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Council (NDRRMC) showed the oil spill has affected 38,871 families or 178,306 individuals in Calabarzon, Mimaropa, and Western Visayas. Disaster response officials also said 16,930 fisherfolk were impacted, incurring around 263 million in production losses. The NDRRMC added that 208 people got ill. The agency said over 235 million worth of assistance was provided to oil spill-hit areas. On April 10, environmental groups citing residents of Calapan City and Pola disclosed that the oil spill's effect on people's livelihood is worse than that of COVID-19. The groups also said aid given to affected fisherfolk was insufficient. ***Unit Will Be Available on 06/16/23***Remodeled and move-in ready! Prime SW County location. Hidden Valley School District. Approximately 1581 sq. ft. of living space to include 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths. You will find a spacious living room and kitchen on the entry. Nice back deck off entry for relaxing. Lower features a full bath, bedroom, laundry room, recreation room/bonus room with walkout doors to patio. Upper level you will find 2 bedrooms, nice closet space in each bedroom, linen closet, full bath with tub/shower. Beautiful luxury vinyl plank flooring and some tile. Come see for yourself. This one will not last long. View More RICHMOND With no revised budget on the table yet, Senate Democrats on Wednesday postponed a potential showdown with Gov. Glenn Youngkin on tax cuts and spending priorities, but they reminded the governor that the legislature does not back down on policy decisions it already has made. The General Assembly gave Youngkin most of what he wanted during its annual veto session on Wednesday, sustaining three gubernatorial vetoes and approving changes he made to legislation to tighten regulation of the commercial hemp industry largely aimed at products containing delta-8 as well as nearly 70 other bills that it had adopted during the legislative session that ended on Feb. 25. It also agreed with four amendments he had proposed to a stopgap budget bill the legislature adopted on the last day of the session, as the House and Senate continue to negotiate over a $1 billion difference in changes to the two-year state budget. But the Senate rejected amendments he proposed to at least 10 bills as an inappropriate exercise of executive power on issues the legislature already had decided. He is trying to go around the process and be an extra legislator, said Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, who led the push to reject Youngkins proposed amendments to three bills. For example, Senate Democrats blocked a substitute bill Youngkin had proposed to prohibit picketing at the residence of U.S. Supreme Court justices, other judges and court participants, just as the assembly did earlier this year and during deliberations on the budget last year. The governor tried to attach the substitute to a bill that Deeds had introduced and the legislature had approved to prevent the publication of personal information about judges and other court officials on state websites. Senate Republicans argued that the governors proposal was consistent with the underlying bills intent to prevent intimidation of judges and other court officials, but Democrats said the constitutional right to free speech is paramount. We have to remain faithful to the First Amendment, said Sen. Joe Morrissey, D-Petersburg. The Senate also rejected Youngkins attempts to reverse decisions the assembly made earlier this year. Those decisions included a reduction of the minimum amount of acre ownership required to participate in the state site readiness program for economic development (two companion bills), requiring disclosure of State Parole Board decisions to make prisoners eligible for parole (two bills), allowing Dominion Energy to recover costs for its offshore wind farm, the location of a facility for growing medical marijuana in western Virginia, the allocation of money to the repair of highway bridges and the development of policy on the resilience of coastal areas to sea level rise. One of the most sensitive debates involved access by children to pornographic sites on the internet. The assembly had adopted legislation proposed by Sen. Bill Stanley, R-Franklin County, to prevent children from being exposed to online porn, but Youngkin proposed to go further by restricting commercial access to online data for anyone up to 18 years old without parental consent. Senate Democrats argued that the governors amendments went too far, potentially raising conflicts over interstate commerce and consumer data privacy on issues that are not resolved nationally. We have to get this right and we have to do this the right way, said Sen. David Marsden, D-Fairfax. And thats through the legislature, and thats next year. Senate Democrats also objected to Youngkins proposal of substitutes to more than two dozen bills that would change the policy decisions that assembly already had made. Hes a bit of a rookie and hes not willing to take no for an answer, said Sen. Adam Ebbin D-Alexandria, who noted that the Senate General Laws Committee, which he chairs, had twice voted down the amendments that Youngkin proposed to Stanleys bill. Youngkin was generally upbeat about the outcome, which he said once again showed us that together we can find commonsense solutions on behalf of the 8.7 million Virginians who hired us. I was humbled to see legislators from both sides of the aisle come together around our proposals to lower the cost of living with more transparency around electric utility legislation, strengthen the enforcement on our new ban on the purchase of agricultural land by foreign adversaries, and improve our enforcement of intoxicating hemp product regulations, he said in a statement. But Youngkin said he was shocked by the Virginia Democrats decision to put politics before the safety of Virginians, especially our youth, online, at home, and at work. We will continue to fight for legislation that protects our children from the dangers of Big Tech, defends our Supreme Court Justices and their families from intimidation tactics, and shields Virginia residents and businesses from soaring offshore wind costs. Hemp Youngkins amendments to bills that more tightly regulate Virginias hemp industry passed both chambers Wednesday following robust debate. The amendments to the House bill sponsored by Majority Leader Terry Kilgore, R-Scott, passed on a vote of 52-42. The amendments to the Senate bill sponsored by Sen. Emmett Hanger, R-Augusta, passed 33-7. Youngkins amendments allow businesses packaging products that include hemp to exceed a previously proposed 2-miligram THC cap if a product meets a 25-to-1 ratio of cannabidiol (CBD) to THC. THC is a chemical found in both hemp and marijuana that can create the feeling of a high. While most hemp companies have operated within federal guidelines for hemp products (a 0.3% cap on THC in products), some companies have sold products containing a chemical called delta-8, which is not federally regulated. The compound creates a similar high to chemicals found in marijuana and is available in some hemp products. Youngkin also struck language that required a bittering agent in topical products like hemp skincare. Businesses selling products meant to be consumed or inhaled will need to pay an annual $1,000 fee and could face a fine of $10,000 per day if caught selling illegal or mislabeled products. Kilgore said his bill accomplished the key goal of regulating THC in hemp products. He said the governors amendments spared a kind of CBD product the General Assembly authorized in 2015 when it learned it was the only medication that helped a family manage its childs epileptic fits. Dels. Candi Mundon King, D-Prince William and Dawn Adams, D-Richmond, argued that passing the amendments would only encourage an illegal market for delta 8 and THC products. Adams said the governors amendments would create what she called an illicit THC market, with language that allows products with cannabidiol that is no less than 25 times greater than the amount of total tetrahydrocannabinol per package. Adams said that ratio would allow a product that could be intoxicating, and that the governors amendment was meant to ensure that an out-of-state firms product remained available, although it could be made by other firms. This is about money, not people, she said. But Del. Margaret Ransone, R-Westmoreland, said no other firm had stepped up to market a product that would meet the same need as the product the General Assembly authorized in 2015. The Hanger and Kilgore bills were inspired, in part, by an uptick in calls to poison control centers after some hemp products intoxicated children. Attorney General Jason Miyares also vowed to crack down on products that are packaged to resemble popular candy brands. While some in the hemp industry supported ideas like packaging requirements and child-proofing, they worried that further restricting THC limits would make many products that are currently sold illegal and put companies out of business. This bill still takes a lot of full-spectrum non-intoxicating products off of store shelves, Virginia Hemp Coalition president Jason Amatucci said in an interview with The Richmond Times-Dispatch: Its far too punitive with retail retailers. Rights restoration Before the session on Wednesday, state Sen. Lionel Spruill, D-Chesapeake, met with Youngkin to stress his concerns with the governors new approach to restoring the rights of people convicted of felonies We agreed to meet again next week, Spruill said. While Govs. Bob McDonnell, Terry McAuliffe and Ralph Northam took steps to restore rights automatically roughly 300,000 former inmates thus regained their right to vote Youngkin has adopted a case-by-case approach, and last year restored rights to just 4,300. Virginia and Kentucky are the only states that bar people convicted of felonies from voting; most restore rights automatically once individuals complete their sentences or probation. Youngkin spokesperson Macaculay Porter said the meeting had a constructive tone. The governor deeply respects Sen. Spruill and has a good working relationship with him, Porter said. During todays meeting, Gov. Youngkin and Secretary (of the Commonwealth Kay Coles) James were receptive to his ideas, she said. Theyve agreed to have a follow-up meeting and continue to work on this topic. Abigail Zwerner honored Also Wednesday, lawmakers formally commended Abigail Zwerner, the teacher who was shot by a 6-year-old student Jan. 6 at Richneck Elementary School in Newport News. Sen. Tommy Norment, R-James City County, welcomed Zwerner and members of her family to the chambers floor for the formal presentation of a Senate resolution that commended her for her heroic actions in protecting the pupils in her classroom. Norment told lawmakers that, as Zwerner reached for the gun, the child fired and the bullet passed through Zwerners hand and her chest and lodged in her shoulder. Zwerner ushered her students to another room and was the last person to leave the classroom where the shooting took place heroic actions the legislatures resolution highlighted. The Richneck Elementary shooting came months after high-profile shootings at the University of Virginia and a Chesapeake Walmart. I am prayerful that those of you who are privileged to return in 2024 have a laser like focus on school safety, Norment said as he introduced Zwerner. Zwerner has filed a $40 million suit against Newport News school officials. A Newport News grand jury has charged the 6-year-old boys mother with a child neglect felony and a misdemeanor related to recklessly storing a loaded firearm endangering a child. Welcomes and goodbyes The Senate welcomed a new member, Sen. Lamont Bagby, D-Henrico, who was sworn into office on Tuesday, two weeks after winning a special election for the 9th Senate District seat vacated by former Sen. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, elected to Congress in late February to succeed the late Rep. Donald McEachin, D-4th. Bagby, who previously served six years in the House of Delegates, acknowledged after his inaugural Senate session that the pace is slower, but he expressed pride in serving a Senate district that previously had been represented by Gov. Doug Wilder and Sen. Benjamin Lambert, both Richmond Democrats, as well as McEachin and McClellan. The veto session also was a time for goodbyes to senators and delegates who will not seek re-election this year although they are likely to meet again in special session on the budget before leaving office. Del. Mike Mullin, D-Newport News, thanked the House for rallying around his family after the death of his infant son Peter, and said it was the honor of his life to have served. He shared stories about how his corner of the House pioneered the white flags House members wave these days when a colleagues speech has lasted too long. He also recalled how two successive speakers of the House chastised him as acting beneath the dignity of the House for his habit of saying Play Ball at the start of each days business. So I say, one last time: Play Ball. SPENCER Antioch Christian Church in Spencer recently had an open house to celebrate the church building that was rebuilt after a tragic fire in 2017. Late in the night of Christmas Day in 2017, a wire on a light on a piano shorted out and caused a series of fires to break out in the church building at 555 Spencer-Preston Road. The fire rekindled two additional times after the initial flame and eventually took down the whole building. Deacon Jean Johnson, who has been with the church for 79 years, lives just a short distance from the church. She got a call saying smoke was coming from the church and went to see what was happening, when she found the church on fire. The fire completely destroyed the building of one of the oldest Black Disciples of Christ churches. Antioch was established in 1876, and the building that was destroyed had been built in 1976. The only items that were salvaged were one cross that is now displayed on the podium in the chapel and some Bibles, said Rita Wade, who is a deacon and the church clerk. Losing the church building was like somebody had died in the family, said Wade, who hasnt left the church since she started coming there at age 7. This is our home where we grew up, where we learned about Jesus, where we played together, prayed together, Wade said. It was just unbelievable. The Rev. Junior W. Wimbush, pastor of the church for 36 years, and the congregation of 53 active members were forced to find a new place to hold services. Many other local churches and businesses offered space for them to meet, but they eventually settled on renting a room at the Horsepasture Volunteer Fire Department where they held services for five years. Theyve been good to us, Wade said. Theyve been so, so good to us. Johnson said the adjustment of having the church she grew up in burned down and then going to services elsewhere was not easy. It was devastating, she added The new church building, standing in almost the same spot as the old building, was used for the first time on the first Sunday in February, and the church members were excited to be back, Johnson and Wade agreed. Since rebuilding, the church has had a busy few months holding services, a baptism and also a funeral for its oldest member, the late Mary Ann Penn Redd, who died at 91. She had been in a nursing home for 11 years and passed away in February. Wade said Redd had always said she wanted her funeral service to happen in the church she grew up in. Weve always had a close church group, Wade said. Were just like a family. To rebuild the church they used insurance money and donations from both businesses and individuals, Draper said. The look of the new church building is totally different, said Church Elder Abe Draper, who has been a member of the church for 74 years. The churchs structure is a bit different with an area for balcony seating in the chapel, new ceiling style made of exposed wood beams and a new baptismal pool downstairs that used to be upstairs. The church is also bigger than it used to be with a larger kitchen, an updated fellowship hall, bathrooms on both floors and plenty of classrooms and storage. Nobody knows the blessing to us, Wade said. Because we lost everything that we had, Johnson added. God is good, Wade said. Believe me, we have struggles in the past five years. We have had ups and downs. Times when we didnt think wed make it, but God is so good We never gave up and always stuck together. Recently the congregation is welcoming the public in to see the new church building, from 1-4 p.m. They will be given a tour and light refreshments. Starting in May, the church will begin to hold Sunday school again and look into starting more services they used to provide in the past. For some people, the JoAnn store is part of the fabric of their lives. Seventeen people showed up at Wednesday afternoon's Community Redevelopment Authority meeting, opposed to the closing of Grand Island's JoAnn store. The redevelopment of Conestoga Mall puts the future of the store's mall location in doubt. Woodsonia, a real estate company based in Elkhorn, now owns the Conestoga Mall property. Woodsonia's plans do not include JoAnn, which has been in the mall since 2011. According to a local employee, JoAnn's lease runs until 2027. The JoAnn supporters were not allowed to speak at Wednesday's meeting, because no related item was on the agenda. Community Redevelopment Authority Board President Tom Gdowski thanked the group for coming and encouraged the attendees to send an email to Regional Planner Chad Nabity, who was present. Nabity and Interim City Administrator Laura McAloon spoke with the JoAnn supporters after the meeting, and Nabity gave at least one member of the group his business card. The company that owns the store is suing Woodsonia in Hall County District Court. JoAnn Stores are based in Hudson, Ohio. According to the complaint filed by JoAnn Stores, Grand Island's mayor wrote to the tenants of Conestoga Mall last November. The letter told the tenants of an anticipated redevelopment project and that the city looked forward to "your continued involvement in our City's economy, especially in your role as a tenant during the Redevelopment Project. "JoAnn took the Mayor at face value and has no reason to allege that the City desired to remove JoAnn from Grand Island," the complaint says. "However, the City's messages have been contradicted through conduct and communications from Woodsonia," the complaint says. Woodsonia "has attempted to use the weight of the City's authority" through the city's Community Redevelopment Authority to "unfairly and improperly force JoAnn from its leased premises for the financial and commercial benefit of Woodsonia," the complaint says. "As a result of this improper conduct and self-dealing, the lease terms which Woodsonia is attempting to enforce should be declared void and/or unenforceable. Woodsonia should also be required to compensate JoAnn for its breach of the Lease Agreement," the complaint maintains. As part of background materials, the complaint says that in anticipation of the redevelopment, "Woodsonia communicated with JoAnn regarding assorted options for JoAnn to remain a tenant at the Conestoga Mall, with compensation to be provided to JoAnn for leasehold improvements, new fixtures and equipment, and store labor to complete the project in a manner consistent with Woodsonia's redevelopment plans." At the time, JoAnn informed Woodsonia representatives of the lease, "and JoAnn was attempting to propose solutions to complete the redevelopment work in compliance with the Lease or, alternatively, a lease buyout which would allow JoAnn to relocate in an orderly manner," the complaint says. "JoAnn did not and does not object to the redevelopment of the Conestoga Mall and has been willing to make reasonable accommodations to allow the redevelopment work to proceed as long as its rights under the Lease are honored," the complaint says. "Indeed, as recently as late March and early April 2023, JoAnn made multiple proposals to allow the redevelopment to proceed while respecting JoAnn's Lease and location." However, Woodsonia broke off negotiations in early January of this year "and did not disclose its motives at that time for discontinuing negotiations," the complaint alleges. In February of this year, Woodsonia, through its attorney, wrote a letter to JoAnn "threatening that eminent domain would be used if the Lease was not voluntarily terminated," the complaint says. "Woodsonia has refused to negotiate on the basis of its proposals and, in fact, has provided a new plan with Old Navy in the space currently occupied by JoAnn," the complaint says. Nabity told the JoAnn's supporters Wednesday that eminent domain is a possibility, but there first have to be negotiations. Nabity pointed out that mall plans were never on Wednesday's agenda. He said that early redevelopment plans for the mall did include JoAnn. The JoAnn store has operated in Grand Island since the mid 1970s. The original location was on South Locust Street. The Grand Island location is the oldest JoAnn store in Nebraska. According to the court document, the store currently has 14 employees. "I have a lot of customers who are very upset. They drive here from Kansas. They drive here from South Dakota. They drive here from western Nebraska, out in the Sandhills, North Platte, McCook, and just right here in Grand Island and surrounding areas," said a local JoAnn employee, who asked that her name not be used. The other JoAnn stores in Nebraska are in Lincoln and Omaha. There's also a store in Rapid City, South Dakota. A federal judge in North Dakota on Wednesday blocked in 24 states the Biden administrations newly effective definition of waters that can be regulated under the Clean Water Act. U.S. District Judge Daniel Hovland, a George W. Bush appointee on retired status in the North Dakota District, issued a preliminary injunction in a case two dozen Republican state attorneys general brought against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Army Corps of Engineers. The ruling for now blocks enforcement of a rule to expand what the EPA could consider waters of the United States, or WOTUS, under the Clean Water Act in Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, Virginia, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Utah, West Virginia and Wyoming. The rule took effect March 20, despite bipartisan objections from Congress. The Clean Water Act was meant to apply to navigable waters, Hovland said. But the Biden administration definition ignored that standard, removing any limit on federal regulation of any waterway that crosses a state boundary. That went beyond the statutory meaning of the Clean Water Act and raised serious federalism questions and concerns, Hovland said. The exercise of jurisdiction over all rivers, lakes, and other waters that flow across state boundaries, no matter how small or isolated and regardless of navigability is constitutionally troublesome, he wrote. There is nothing in the text of the Clean Water Act that supports making every wetland, stream, or other water crossing a border subject to federal jurisdiction. As the EPA and Army Corps review their options, they are enforcing the pre-2015 definition of waters of the United States in the 24 states, an EPA spokesperson said in a written statement Wednesday. The agencies continue to believe the rule, which is informed by the text of the relevant provisions of the Clean Water Act and the statute as a whole, as well as the scientific record, relevant Supreme Court case law, input from public comment, and the agencies experience and technical expertise after more than 45 years of implementing the longstanding pre-2015 regulations defining waters of the United States, is the best interpretation of the Clean Water Act, the spokesperson wrote. The agencies remain committed to establishing and implementing a durable definition of waters of the United States informed by diverse perspectives, the spokesperson added. Our goal is to protect public health, the environment, and downstream communities while supporting economic opportunity, agriculture, and industries that depend on clean water. Nothing but confusion The legal definition of waters of the United States has been the subject of fierce debate for years. Describing the long procedural and legal history of the rule, Hovland said the shifting definitions of the rule have created nothing but confusion, uncertainty, unpredictability, and endless litigation throughout this country. After years of litigation and a 2006 U.S. Supreme Court case that defined waters subject to federal enforcement as having a significant nexus to navigable waters, the EPA under President Barack Obama in 2015 issued a rule seeking to clarify what that meant. Many in agricultural and construction industries that rely on federal permitting said that definition expanded what the federal government could regulate. Under President Donald Trump, the EPA narrowed the definition to traditional navigable waters. President Joe Bidens rule once again widened the definition to be closer to the Obama administrations version. Congress sought to overturn enforcement of the rule, with majorities in both chambers voting in March to adopt a resolution blocking the rule. Biden vetoed that resolution April 6. Supreme Court case pending The Biden rule has been deeply unpopular with farmers and ranchers, many of whom view it as federal overreach onto private lands. In statements praising the decision, some of the attorneys general in the case echoed that sentiment. Geoff Rose has lived his life in two countries, England and the United States. Right now, he and his Old Glory Roofing company is firmly entrenched in York. The company is located in Suite C1 at the Olde York Plaza. Born in the UK to an American mother and an English father, he lived in England with his father after his parents divorced. That was until 1998 when he visited Nebraska to see his mother Bridget and stepfather Mike Yoder who were living in Henderson. Rose decided to stay and live with his mother, attended and then graduated from Heartland High School in 1998. He was working for Time Warner Cable in Lincoln when he visited friends in Kansas where he met his wife, Jennifer. The couple was married in 2004 and had two children. The family took a vacation to England in 2008 where. My wife loved it there, said Rose. The family eventually made the decision to move to England in 2012. It was a hard decision, added Rose. I had gotten to a position with Time Warner where my career was in a great place. We made the move and I went to work for Virgin Media there which was also a cable company. The impetus to return to the states came with Mike Yoders cancer diagnosis and eventual passing away in 2022. Rose returned for the funeral and during this trip he and his siblings discussed their mothers situation and the fact none of them lived in the area. Roses brother Jeremiah had been operating his Old Glory Roofing company in LeMars, Iowa for eight to ten years and the two discussed the possibility of Rose opening a second location somewhere in this part of Nebraska. Rose agreed to give it some thought and returned to England. That was the same day the massive hail storm hit York last June and made the decision to open in York an easy one. I literally got home, slept three hours and got back on a plane to the States, said Rose. We started small and we wanted to build that base, he added. We were the new company in town, did a lot of advertising and we want people to know that were not going anywhere. We want to be a part of the community and help support what is happening in town. At Old Glory Roofing, we believe in the principles of hard work, integrity, and commitment, said Rose. Whether you need help with roof repairs or replacements, our team will provide you with the best service out there. We also put everyone into at least a Grade 3 shingle, he added. That should help customers from an insurance aspect as that will help mitigate some claims and many insurance companies will also give a discount for that level of shingle. Old Glory Roofing in York has branched out also to include siding, gutters, windows and painting. We want to be a one-stop shop for our customers, said Rose. The company gives free estimates and can be reached by calling 402-366-8456. You can also visit the companys website www.oldgloryroofing.com. Rose has moved his family back to the states and their kids Kaelyn who is a junior and Jack in 7th grade are attending Heartland Community Schools just like their dad. Rose also mentioned that it was important for the family to live close to his mother who has continued to live in Henderson. The year is going good, said Rose. We just want to keep building on last year. As I said, were not going anywhere. York General receives Excellence in Healthcare Award York General was recently recognized as a Top Performer Employee Engagement; Senior Leadership and Upholding Mission, 5-Star Employee Engagement; Total Compensation, Patient Experience, Professional Development and Resources, 4-Star Employee Engagement As a Place to Work, Teamwork between Departments, Employee Engagement, Communication within Department, Patient Care, Immediate Supervisor and Inpatient Services Overall Quality of Care, by PRC, a leader in the healthcare intelligence space. The Excellence in Healthcare Awards recognize organizations and individuals who achieve excellence throughout the year by improving patient experiences, healthcare employee engagement, and/or physician alignment and engagement based on surveys of their patients and employees. It is an honor to recognize York General with these Excellence in Healthcare Awards for their deserving work, said Joe M. Inguanzo, Ph.D., President and CEO of PRC. It takes true dedication and determination to achieve this level of excellence in healthcare and York General has shown their commitment to making their hospital a better place to work, a better place to practice medicine, and a better place for patients to be treated. We are honored to receive these awards from PRC. York General has the best employees who are engaged in the organization and take ownership in their work they do every day, said Jim Ulrich, CEO of York General. PRC is a leader in the healthcare intelligence space with the most comprehensive healthcare discovery platform. PRCs surveys and intuitive reporting focus on changing the way organizations manage and improve five key areas of the healthcare experiencepatient, physician, employee, community, and brand. What the heck? Can we get some rain please? Just saying. YORK -- York University Children's Theatre invites the York community to a free performance of The Commedia Pinocchio this Saturday, April 15 at 7 p.m. The performance will be held in the Bartholomew Performing Arts Center. No tickets or reservations are necessary. This familiar tale is brought to life with a unique spirit and wild fun. The commedia flavor gives the story vigor and makes it entertaining for children, as well as, adults without losing the charm and significant message of Collodi's famous story. The cast includes Dalton Brandt, Samantha Crump, Emily Eggar, Samara Hannel and Eli Lane-Embray. The show is directed by Professor John I. Baker III. This is the Traveling Children's Theatre's 26th year of sharing joy and good laughs through performance! The group performs 20 times in a spring semester, visiting elementary schools and other community venues in the surrounding area. Cybersecurity Ransomware Targeting K-12 Grew a Massive 827% Last Year, SonicWall Reports Malware Attacks Also Rose Significantly as Did Attacks on IoT Devices Ransomware attacks targeting K12 schools worldwide last year grew at an absolutely massive rate of 827% over 2021, according to SonicWalls 2023 Cyber Threat Report, and the data shows that education customers those whose data is compromised during ransomware attacks had the highest percentage reporting ransomware attempts of all sectors studied. Overall, ransomware attacks worldwide decreased in 2022 by about 21% from 2021 totals, SonicWall said in its new report. Ransomware attacks in the United States fell by almost half; yet the United States still experienced the most ransomware attacks by far, with 217.5 million recorded in 2022 more than three times the No. 2 most-targeted country, the United Kingdom. The biggest growth in cyber attack vectors targeting education last year came in the form of encrypted attacks, or malware over HTTPs, rising 411% in the education sector, and as malware targeting Internet of Things or connected smart devices, which rose 169% in the United States and 146% in the education sector specifically, according to SonicWalls report. K12 organizations experienced a 323% rise in malware attacks, SonicWall said, by far the largest increase of all sectors analyzed for the report. Malware worldwide rose 2% to 5.5 billion reported incidents; intrusion attempts worldwide rose 19% to 6.3 trillion incidents; and IoT malware attacks worldwide were up 87%, SonicWall reported. Mounting cyberinsurance requirements and the specter of mandatory reporting offered even more motivation to harden defenses, the report said. And in 2022, the U.S. government created the Virtual Asset Exploitation Unit, increasing tracking and enforcement efforts against ransomware operators. Faced with a risk/benefit analysis no longer working in their favor, some cybercriminals shifted targets, leading to double-digit ransomware increases in places like Europe and Asia. Still others are diversifying their tactics. The increased focus on cyber risk management in the United States likely motivated many organizations to create and maintain strong backups and incident response plans, making file encryption less effective than it once was, perhaps further reducing incentives for perpetrators to target some U.S. sectors, SonicWall noted. For example ransomware attacks targeting higher education actually decreased by 29%, the report said. Ransomware attacks in all sectors were frequently far more costly and complicated for victims last year, with threat actors using double extortion tactics 120% more often than in 2021, the report said. Threat actors are also exploiting zero-days vulnerabilities much more, with 35 being actively exploited in 2022, up 150% from the year before. SonicWall said CISAs ongoing reporting of common vulnerabilities and exposures continues to help U.S. organizations prevent attacks through timely patching and it appears patching is being completed more quickly and more broadly: CISAs list of top vulnerabilities exploited in 2021 only included one old vulnerability from the previous year. While some of these rankings are undoubtedly due to how much the newer vulnerabilities are being exploited (case in point: Log4Shell), the fact that a majority of the old vulnerabilities on the more recent list are not the same old vulnerabilities that were on the 2020 list suggest that we may finally be seeing some progress on the patching front, SonicWall said. One threat vector that saw a decrease in 2022 yet also showed alarming trends for education organizations was malicious intrusion attempts, which fell about 10% overall from the year before and fell 17% among the education targets, SonicWall said. However, a rise in the latter half of 2022 in the percentage of education customers being targeted by malicious intrusions prompted SonicWall to project that education customers will continue to see increasing attempts at malicious intrusions, said the report. The most common form of malicious intrusions recorded last year was Remote Code Executions. Also growing in 2022 was the worldwide number of PDF-based attacks, which rose 35% over the year before, SonicWall said. Attacks through malicious Microsoft Office files rose by a meager 3% in 2022. Cryptojacking attacks also rose overall and in the education sector and although the 20% rise in total attack volume last year represented the smallest growth of all sectors, education had the highest percentage of customers targeted, according to the report. In the report introduction, SonicWall President and CEO Bob VanKirk warned that new tactics are being developed with breathtaking speed. Last years shift in cybercrime brought growth in pure extortion attacks, the fall of Big Ransomware, widespread expansion to Linux and cloud targets, the adoption of powerful new languages and platforms, and the growing specter of AI and quantum attacks, VanKirk said. In this volatile threat environment, preparation is more critical than ever before. And today, being prepared means more than just deploying the most advanced solutions. It means developing comprehensive cybersecurity strategies, based on the most current threat intelligence available. Download the full report at SonicWall.com. CARBONDALE A budget hearing and discussion was held for the Fiscal Year 2024 during the regular meeting of the Carbondale City Council on Tuesday evening. During the hearing, several residents voiced concerns about increases in funding for the Carbondale Police Department. The budget says the department will get an increase of $1.4 million in the next fiscal year. More police funding will not increase safety, Victor Ludwig said. He suggested using the extra funding to create a human services department that would work on things like mental health and domestic violence. Garrett Elmsworth agreed. He said the city has a fine police department, but could benefit by working with social workers. He believes it would help prevent crime. I can only imagine how much good could be done with a little more funding, Elmsworth said. After public comments, the hearing closed. The budget came up again during the business portion of the meeting. Councilman Lee Fronabarger asked about the Washington Street project and whether or not it would affect use of the adjacent city parking lot and ground during the upcoming eclipse. Carbondale City Manager Gary Williams said it would not affect anything with the eclipse. He also asked if the traffic analysis for the Glenview/Turley Park project showed what exactly would keep pedestrians safer. It showed that the pedestrian crossing from Murdale to Turley Park should be moved to a new four-way stop at the intersection of Glenview and Old W. Main Street. I am not a fan of the budget. It seems to be a lot of fat at the top for personnel, said Councilwoman Ginger Rye-Sanders. She added that she has a problem when everyone gets a raise but they vote to not raise money given to organizations that have boots on the ground doing work to fight gun violence. She also asked why the storm water on the northeast side of town was not on the CIP (Community Improvement Plan) list. Why is the Northeast side always forgotten about? Rye-Sanders asked. Councilman Adam Loos asked how projects get taken off the CIP. He said there are projects on the list that the city does not want to do, and they need taken off the CIP. Williams agreed that some of the projects need to be taken off the list. Then, citizens of Carbondale had the chance to ask questions about the budget. Elius Reed asked if the city was still paying for Saluki Way at $1 million a year and how much longer the city had to pay. Williams said the city still has seven years to pay on their obligation to Saluki Way. There were no other questions or comments about the budget, so the council moved to the final item on the budget: A discussion of a TIF-Funded Downtown Commercial Property Code Compliance Program. The program will reimburse property owners for up to $50,000 in improvements made to bring buildings into compliance with current city code. The program will have a cap of $150,000. Several citizens commented on the value of the program. During the discussion, several members of city organizations began speaking about grants they applied for with the city. First, Mary Carruthers of Good Samaritan Ministries spoke. Then, Dan Jutras of Carbondale Food Autonomy came to the podium and said he was a little confused. The community organizations who applied for funding from the city received an email saying they should come to the council meeting prepared for discussion. Mayor Pro Temp Carolin Harvey told him the discussion had taken place and funding was already set for organizations. He expressed displeasure that the meeting concerning the city funding was already discussed and made known to the organizations and other agency officials. After a discussion, the council allowed representatives of organizations to speak about their organizations. Nancy Maxwell said the TIF program sounds fine, but asked where the city program was to help Black businesses. She then asked the council to hear from the organizations. I think it would be a mistake not to hear from the organizations, Maxwell said. Harvey said she called the for budget and no one wanted to make a comment. She then asked the council if they would agree to listen to the organizations. After finishing the TIF discussion, the council decided to returned to the previous item to discuss funding in the budget for organizations. They heard from these organizations: Debra Woods, Leahn Driscoll and Jutras of Carbondale Food Autonomy, Margaret Nesbit of I Can Read, Debra Woods for Women for Change, Ayla of Carbondale Rocks, Stephanie Eicholz of Green Earth, Jessica Harrick of Carbondale United, Georgia De La Garza, Leah Maciell of Southern Illinois Collaborative Kitchen, Chastity Mays of Carbondale Black Chamber of Commerce and Nancy Maxwell of Carbondale United. Adam Loos then corrected some information and reminded the groups that Carbondale is the only city in the region that funds organizations. They used to require "obsequious begging from the organizations, but have changed to an application process. Harvey thanked the organizations for being at the meeting and said they will send dates out with applications next year. Multiple schools across the region went into lockdown mode on Wednesday after a sequence of individual calls claimed that there were active shooter threats happening at schools in Illinois - all of which were false. Carbondale and Marion police departments both sent out press releases regarding reports of active shooters at Carbondale Community and Marion High Schools. The Carbondale Police Department responded to a hoax call regarding an active shooter at Carbondale Community High School at 9:59 a.m. The school resource officer was present and additional officers arrived within two minutes, but no threats were discovered. At approximately 10 a.m. on Wednesday, Marion Police Departments (MPD) Dispatch Center received a call from an individual stating that six Marion High School students had been shot. Officers responded to the school and quickly learned that no incident had occurred at Marion High School. No student, teacher or visitor had been harmed in any way, and no suspicious person was currently or had been at the school. At approximately 10 a.m. on Wednesday, an anonymous call to Mount Vernon police said there was an active shooter at Mount Vernon Township High School. School officials immediately followed procedures and called a code red lockdown for all students and staff. Officers from the Mount Vernon Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriffs Department and Illinois State Police immediately arrived to clear the building and ensure whether the threat was credible or not. School resumed in session on a code white with a heightened level of awareness and supervision. Both police departments reported that swatting calls were made throughout the state. "Swatting is a national trend in which a false report of a school shooting is made. CCHS Superintendent Daniel Booth said Illinois State Board of Education was reporting at least seven schools had been impacted across the state by 10:40 a.m. It's regrettable that schools become targets of such incidents, but we are grateful for the swift and serious action taken by the Carbondale Police to ensure the safety of students and staff. We extend our appreciation to the administration, teachers, students and staff for their cooperation during this time," Booth said. He added that the response by both the police and the school was real, even though threat turned out to be a hoax. Carbondale School District 95, the elementary district, initiated a lockdown as a precautionary measure after being notified of the incident at the high school. Parents of students in both districts received notifications from the schools. Despite it being a hoax call, we take every threat seriously and respond accordingly. Our officers acted swiftly and professionally to ensure the safety of all involved. I want to extend a special thank you to our school resource officer for her quick thinking and expertise in handling the situation, Carbondale Police Chief Stan Reno said. Disruptions from the calls were short. At 10:45 a.m., Carbondale Community High School resumed its usual activities. Illinois State Police said a total of 21 schools had fake threats reported to police agencies by 3 p.m. Wednesday. ISP Responders have not located any actual threat at the schools. In addition to those mentioned above, the threats included schools in Murphysboro, Vienna, Eldorado, Centralia, Collinsville, Granite City, Champaign, Springfield, Chicago, Freeport, Aurora, Rockford, Dixon, Decatur, Bloomington, Jacksonville, Peoria and Pittsfield. Marion police said an investigation into the incident is ongoing. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) The United States plan to allocate $100 million worth of infrastructure investments is not enough to cover the nine Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites in the Philippines, a lawmaker said on Thursday. This is a very little amount considering na nine sites 'yan Kasi gagamit yan ng ating facilities, gagamit sila nung ating kuryente, etc., ACT Teachers Party-list Rep. France Castro told CNN Philippines The Source. [Translation: This is a very little amount considering there are nine sites. They will use our facilities, electricity, etc.] In a joint briefing on Wednesday, US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin III said Washington is expecting to have allocated more than $100 million in infrastructure investments" at all EDCA sites in the Philippines by the end of 2023. He noted such investments will "spur job creations and economic growth in local Philippine communities." There are currently nine EDCA locations in the country, following the addition of new ones in Naval Base Camilo Osias in Santa Ana town, Cagayan; the Lal-lo Airport in Lal-lo town, Cagayan; Camp Melchor Dela Cruz in Gamu town, Isabela; and Balabac Island in Palawan. Castro maintained that the EDCA sites pose threats to the countrys sovereignty. These also do not lead to any advantage for the Philippines, she noted. While authorities say the establishment of EDCA sites will help improve the skills of Filipino troops, nothing has really happened for the past years as the Armed Forces of the Philippines remain inferior, Castro pointed out. She also does not see that the EDCA sites, as well as the Balikatan exercises, will benefit Filipino fishermen since these will only hinder fisherfolk from doing their job. "''Yung sinasabi nila na maprotektahan 'yung territorial waters natin... in the past naman wala rin namang nangyari doon sa ginagawa ng China against our fishermen," she added. [Translation: When they said this is to protect our territorial waters, in the past nothing has also been done with regards to China's harassment of our fishermen.] The SIU Alumni Associations Saluki Sleuths video program has covered a number of the myths, legends and folklore of Southern Illinois University Carbondale - everything from the tunnels that crisscross underneath the campus to the origins of the saluki mascot. Information about one campus icon, however, is among the most requested by alumni. One of the biggest requests weve been getting recently is for an episode on the towers, explained Anna Twomey, public information associate with the association. Our alumni remember living there, making friends there and many of them now are dropping their kids off to live there. Those alumni are getting their wish as the latest episode of Saluki Sleuths, released on the Alumni Associations YouTube and social media channels, covers the history of the three 17-story buildings and looks at the life inside and the views from outside the residence halls. There is a huge interest in an update about whats become of the towers and what they look like now, Twomey said. The towers have such a special place in the hearts of alumni, we wanted to take them on a tour with us and allow them to reexperience the dorm life that left them with so many memories. Collectively known as "the towers" or more formally, the East Campus Residence Halls Mae Smith Hall, Neely Hall and Schneider Hall are home to a majority of SIU students who choose to live on campus. Neely Hall was first, built in 1965, according to Jim Hunsaker senior associate director with University Housing. Prior to his 20-plus year career with the University, he lived in one of the towers as an undergraduate. Mae Smith and Schneider were completed in 1968. Each of the buildings can accommodate up to 816 students. One of the buildings Mae Smith is a Living Learning Community reserved only for students in the college of Health and Human Services. The building features college branding, special study and meeting spaces as well as specific majors on certain floors. For instance, automotive technology students all live on three floors and aviation students, appropriately enough, reside on the top two floors. In LLCs, students who are either in the same major or in the same college will live together in a cluster or in a building on multiple floors, explained Hunsaker. They can form study groups and we actually have faculty members come in and do learning opportunities for the LLC. It gives students an opportunity to get college experience where they live instead of only in the classroom. The buildings werent always as popular or as utilized as much as they are now. As recently as 2018, the future of the towers was questioned. The plan at the time was to demolish the three buildings following a decision by the SIU Board of Trustees to explore a public-private partnership where a third-party funder would construct new residence halls on the campus. Room and board payments would repay the outside investment. The demolition cost was expected to be between $3 million and $4 million per building, but the plan was scrapped when an outside consultant questioned the financial viability of replacing the towers with new buildings. Then, a demand for more single-occupancy rooms led to reopening in the fall of 2019. In years, since, the facilities have undergone many upgrades, ranging from heating and cooling systems to new internet data networks. The buildings are again popular with students. The towers continue to work for us, especially as we are handling the increase in our freshman class, SIU Chancellor Austin A. Lane explained. Even though these buildings are dated they are a little older they are sound and a lot of students will tell you that they love staying there. It gives them a sense of community. For more on the towers, including room tours and the no-longer used rooftop sun decks, catch the latest episode of Saluki Sleuths at www.youtube.com/@SalukiAlumni. Close Students unload their belongings at the Thompson Point dormitories on the first day of move in on the SIU campus on Thursday in Carbondale. As a line of cars waits, Cpl. Daniel Presley of the SIU Department of Public Safety gives a family directions for new student move in at the East Campus residence halls, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Ellie Long (left) and her father, Jim (center), get some assistance from members of the men's basketball staff as she moves into her Thompson Point dormitory on the first move-in day at SIU on Thursday in Carbondale. Ellie is one of three Long triplets starting at SIU this fall. A sibling watches his sisters belonging while she checks into her residence hall at West Campus at SIU on Thursday morning in Carbondale. Nina Davis, an SIU sophomore in zoology from Nashville, Tennessee, holds an "Ask Me" sign during new student move in at SIU's West Campus residence halls. Davis serves as an academic peer associate for SIU University Housing. Students and their parents unload belongings at the tower residence halls on the first day of move in for the 2022 fall semester on the SIU campus in Carbondale. Shawn Harris, a freshman in sports administration from Chicago, makes adjustments to his loft bed in his residence hall room at SIU. Harris and hundreds of other new SIU students moved in Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Caleb Oxley, a freshman in cinematography from Galesburg, makes his bed for the first time in SIU's Smith Hall. Oxley and hundreds of other new SIU students moved in for the fall semester 2022. Claire Schultz (left) poses with her mother Lowie so that family friend Linda Scaffidi can take a photo while Claire's sister Grace (far right) looks on. The women had just finished moving Claire's belongings into an East Campus residence hall at SIU during new student move in, Thursday, Aug. 18. Claire Schultz will be majoring in biological sciences and be part of the Saluki Swimming and Diving team. Parents and new SIU students line up for an elevator as part of new student move in at the East Campus residence halls Thursday, Aug. 18. Jalyn Wood of Du Quoin begins the process of unpacking her items in her East Campus residence hall room during SIU's new student move in, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Wood will be a freshman in exercise science. Joe Wood of Du Quoin balances items belonging to his daughter Jaylynn on a cart in anticipation of her move into Neely Hall on the SIU campus during new student move in day for the Fall 2022 semester. More than 150 people attended the SIU Alumni Association's Legacy Luncheon on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The luncheon was for university alumni moving in a second or third generation of SIU students. An SUV with Pennsylvania license plates "SIU Alum" is parked near the SIU Alumni Association's Legacy Luncheon during new student move-in, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Students line up inside SIU's Grinnell Hall waiting their turn to purchase parking passes during the first day of move in for the fall semester 2022. Photos: SIU New student move-in, Fall 2022 Students unload their belongings at the Thompson Point dormitories on the first day of move in on the SIU campus on Thursday in Carbondale. As a line of cars waits, Cpl. Daniel Presley of the SIU Department of Public Safety gives a family directions for new student move in at the East Campus residence halls, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Ellie Long (left) and her father, Jim (center), get some assistance from members of the men's basketball staff as she moves into her Thompson Point dormitory on the first move-in day at SIU on Thursday in Carbondale. Ellie is one of three Long triplets starting at SIU this fall. A sibling watches his sisters belonging while she checks into her residence hall at West Campus at SIU on Thursday morning in Carbondale. Nina Davis, an SIU sophomore in zoology from Nashville, Tennessee, holds an "Ask Me" sign during new student move in at SIU's West Campus residence halls. Davis serves as an academic peer associate for SIU University Housing. Students and their parents unload belongings at the tower residence halls on the first day of move in for the 2022 fall semester on the SIU campus in Carbondale. Shawn Harris, a freshman in sports administration from Chicago, makes adjustments to his loft bed in his residence hall room at SIU. Harris and hundreds of other new SIU students moved in Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Caleb Oxley, a freshman in cinematography from Galesburg, makes his bed for the first time in SIU's Smith Hall. Oxley and hundreds of other new SIU students moved in for the fall semester 2022. Claire Schultz (left) poses with her mother Lowie so that family friend Linda Scaffidi can take a photo while Claire's sister Grace (far right) looks on. The women had just finished moving Claire's belongings into an East Campus residence hall at SIU during new student move in, Thursday, Aug. 18. Claire Schultz will be majoring in biological sciences and be part of the Saluki Swimming and Diving team. Parents and new SIU students line up for an elevator as part of new student move in at the East Campus residence halls Thursday, Aug. 18. Jalyn Wood of Du Quoin begins the process of unpacking her items in her East Campus residence hall room during SIU's new student move in, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Wood will be a freshman in exercise science. Joe Wood of Du Quoin balances items belonging to his daughter Jaylynn on a cart in anticipation of her move into Neely Hall on the SIU campus during new student move in day for the Fall 2022 semester. More than 150 people attended the SIU Alumni Association's Legacy Luncheon on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. The luncheon was for university alumni moving in a second or third generation of SIU students. An SUV with Pennsylvania license plates "SIU Alum" is parked near the SIU Alumni Association's Legacy Luncheon during new student move-in, Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022. Students line up inside SIU's Grinnell Hall waiting their turn to purchase parking passes during the first day of move in for the fall semester 2022. CARBONDALE From the military to college to the top prize in a national competition and a job waiting after graduation thats where Colten Savage has traveled in the last four years, thanks to hard work, determination and Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Savage, a senior mortuary science and funeral service major from Blue River, Wisconsin, recently won the Service Corporation International Scholarship, claiming the $10,000 prize. It is such an honor for Colten to win the most prestigious mortuary science scholarship in the country, said Anthony Fleege, mortuary science and funeral service program director and associate professor. He has exemplified the qualities and traits that are found in excellent funeral directors since the day he started at SIU. His drive, perseverance and can-do spirit set him apart on a national stage. A nontraditional student, Savage came to SIU after a four-year stint as a field radio operator in the Marine Corps. As Savage, the son of an SIU alumnus, was wrapping up his tour of duty in 2019, he had decided on a career shift. He chose his new profession for one simple reason. Im passionate about helping people and having an impact on families, he said. Being there to assist them and help them pick up the pieces at a difficult time is an incredible feeling. My goal is to give them a positive last image of their loved one and a meaningful farewell. The satisfaction I get helping others is awesome. As he began checking out MSFS programs, he discovered that SIU was home to one of the rare four-year bachelors degree programs and that he could start during the January 2020 semester. On top of that, he fell in love with the area and the camping, trails and scenery it offered. The decision was made, and he is very happy about it. Tough competition Just getting selected as a finalist in the SCI contest, sponsored by one of North Americas largest providers of funeral, cremation and cemetery services, was quite a feat. Hundreds of students submitted entries including essays, applications and videos. The best 25 were chosen as winners, with numbers 11 to 25 each claiming $2,500. The top 10 finalists then travelled to Houston where they met with company officials, toured the corporate offices and participated in three separate interview panels with company and industry representatives from across the country. Savage said he was one of the youngest among the 10 finalists, going up against a longtime attorney, a federal court translator who spoke 17 languages, a fellow Marine veteran from the communications field who was stationed at the same base as Savage, and other remarkable candidates. Ultimately, Savage was announced as the winner, claiming the $10,000 grand prize. The other nine received $5,000. Savage also won the Steve Mack Memorial Scholarship for $1,000 from SCI. The other students came from a lot of different backgrounds, had a lot of awesome experience and were incredibly impressive, Savage said. I was honestly amazed that I won. Experiential, well-rounded study At SIU, Savage found a strong academic program with extensive practical experience, helpful mentors and ample support. I really like SIUs program, and I appreciate the faculty, especially Professors Anthony Fleege and Robert Broomfield (assistant instructor), he said. They have found a way to make what would seem to be the most mundane classes, like regulations, interesting. They also go above and beyond to help us succeed. Ive emailed them late at night and gotten a response quicker than you would believe. He said SIUs MSFS program is impressive for other reasons as well. One of the things that makes SIUs program special is that you can complete your entire bachelors degree here, Savage said. Some programs require you to do your general studies elsewhere before completing your MSFS. It was appealing to me to do it all in one place. And SIU offers so much hands-on experience. Hes also excited about another recent addition to SIUs MSFS program the only university-housed crematory in the U.S. He said the academic curriculum is challenging, and the standards are high, with a 75 being a flunking grade. But hes grateful for all of the support from faculty, staff, mentors and friends at SIU, helping him reach his goals. He also appreciates his spouse, Ell Savage, and cat, Suki, who have provided him with love, support and study help. Employed before graduation Savage has also been enhancing his experience with an internship at Meredith-Waddell Funeral Home in Energy this semester, and he already has a job waiting after graduation. He had already decided he wanted to head to the northwest, and after winning the competition, he accepted a job offer as a funeral director and embalmer apprentice from Howell, Edwards, Doerksen with Rigdon-Random Funeral Directors in Salem, Oregon. The business is owned by Dignity Memorial, which falls under SCI. MEXICO CITY A new exhibit hosted by Museum of Templo Mayor in Mexico City marks the 45th anniversary of the discovery of a monolith depicting Coyolxauhqui, the Mexica lunar goddess. The finding was a milestone for Mexican archaeology, as it shed light on Mexica civilization before the Spanish conquest. "Coyolxauhqui: The star, the goddess, the discovery" displays more than 150 archaeological objects focused on the mythology, symbolism and scientific research around this deity (whose name is pronounced Koy-ol-shauw-kee). The exhibit runs through June 4. For almost 500 years, the exact location of Templo Mayor remained a mystery. The religious complex was demolished shortly after Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortes ordered the destruction of every building in Tenochtitlan, capital of the Mexica empire, around 1521. Patricia Ledesma, archaeologist and director of Museum of Templo Mayor, said that her predecessors undertook the task of rescuing the traces of the Mexica civilization after the colonial era, in 1821. For more than a century, though, they made little progress. When the country regained its independence, the heart of the capital was densely populated, which complicated any excavation plans. But then Coyolxauhqui appeared. In 1978, near Mexico City's cathedral where many thought the ruins of Templo Mayor were buried, an electrical worker hit something with his shovel. It was Coyolxauhqui, carefully portrayed in stone as the dismembered lunar goddess who lost a battle against her brother, the Sun. The discovery was a turning point. "We thought that we were no longer going to find anything about the Mexicas," Ledesma said. "And then, there she was, signaling us where Templo Mayor might be". Coyolxauhqui's location was crucial. Since the circular stone where she was carved in 1469 was found near a flight of stairs, it soon became clear that she had laid hidden for centuries at the base of Templo Mayor, dedicated to Huitzilopochtli, the solar god. These hints prompted national and international interest, which led the National Institute of Anthropology and History to greenlight an archaeological project that is still ongoing. "The temple reproduces the myth of the birth of the solar god," Ledesma said. "It represents that a world of night and darkness is defeated at the feet of the house of the triumphant Sun." The myth goes as follows: Coatlicue, mother of the gods, sweeps outside her temple when a ball of feathers falls from the sky. She holds it in her bosom and becomes pregnant. Soon after, Coyolxauhqui -- her daughter and goddess of the Moon -- finds out. She becomes enraged and convinces her 400 brothers -- the stars -- to collaborate on a plan to kill their mother. When they try to assassinate Coatlicue on top of a hill, she gives birth to Huitzilopochtli (prounced wee-tsee-loh-poch-tlee), the solar and war deity, who is born fully dressed and ready for battle. After facing his sister in combat, Huitzilopochtli triumphs. He decapitates Coyolxauhqui and throws her remains to the base of the hill, where she lays dismembered. This is why the Mexicas placed her stone near the stairs they built to homage Huitzilopochtli, their patron and most beloved god. "This myth isn't about her murder," Ledesma said. "The message is that we are children of the Sun." According to her, the treasured monolith where the broken body of Coyolxauhqui remains untouched by time survived the fury of Cortes because it was out of sight. There were many Coyolxauhqui sculptures, Ledesma said. When the Mexicas won an important battle, they renovated their temple and its sculptures. The old ones were probably kept under the new ones, which remained visible and were destroyed by the Spaniards. To date, archaeologists have discovered five Coyolxauhquis. The best-preserved sculpture is the one that the electrical worker found 45 years ago. Since she was found, Coyolxauhqui has overwhelmed Mexican hearts. After the excavation project in Templo Mayor was launched, the chief archaeologist, Eduardo Matos, opened the excavation to the public once a week and people lined up to visit their ancestors' lunar goddess. "People came and presented her with flowers, with gifts" Ledesma said. "It was like a rediscovery of a society that we had thought lost to the war." (TBTCO) - Tham gia bao hiem e nhan uoc su bao ve tai chinh truoc cac rui ro trong cuoc song la nhu cau chinh ang cua nhieu nguoi, nhung do nhieu nguyen nhan, viec khong duy tri ong phi bao hiem ung han, ac biet la trong nhung nam au tien de dan en tinh trang hop ong bao hiem mat hieu luc, khach hang vi the khong nhan uoc su bao ve tai chinh nhu mong muon. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) China expressed its serious concern and strong disapproval of the stance of the United States and the Philippines on the South China Sea issue, insisting indisputable sovereignty over islands in the disputed waters. Beijing made the comment on Wednesday following the release of the joint statement of the US and the Philippines and the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue strengthening the two nations ties. The US has reaffirmed its commitment to stand with the Philippines against any form of intimidation and coercion in the South China Sea, a move that China firmly opposed. "Let me point out first and foremost that China is gravely concerned over and strongly disapproves the joint statement of the US and the Philippines," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said. "China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters. The joint statement of the US and the Philippines misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China. We strongly oppose this," he added. Wenbin also slammed the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal Award, which upholds the Philippines rights over the West Philippine Sea, an area in the South China Sea being claimed by China. He claimed the ruling is "illegal, null and void" and "gravely violates international laws, including UNCLOS." "China's position of not accepting or recognizing it is clear and firm," he added. China also maintained its position against the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement (EDCA) sites. "With regard to the new military base sites to which the Philippines gives the US access, we have stated China's position several times. Facts speak louder than words. Judging from the locations of the new military bases, the intention behind those sites is more than obvious," Wenbin said. China has repeatedly warned against expanded military cooperation with the US, saying the move could backfire on the Philippines. The US and Philippines, however, have yet to determine the extent of use for the new EDCA sites, saying this is still up for discussion. You have reached a premium content area of Transitions. To read this entire article please login if you are already a Transitions subscriber. Not a subscriber? Subscribe today for access to: Full access to the website, including premium articles videos, country reports and searchable archives (containing over 25,000 articles). One person was killed and three people were injured in a three-vehicle pileup Tuesday afternoon in Lincoln County, the Wyoming Highway Patrol announced. Steffany Bolivar Velasquez, of Wyoming, died after two semi-trucks and an SUV crashed near the intersection of U.S. Highway 89 and U.S. Highway 30 at Border Junction, the statement said. A Toyota RAV4 was heading south on U.S. Highway 89 before attempting to turn east onto U.S. Highway 30 shortly before 3 p.m. Witness statements stated the Toyota failed to stop at the stop sign... the statement said. The SUV driver didnt see a Peterbilt combination semi-truck driving west on U.S. Highway 30 at the same time, the statement said. The front bumper of the Peterbilt truck hit the Toyotas side rear door. A person was fully ejected from the right rear passenger side, as the Toyota spun counterclockwise after the crash, the statement said. The Peterbilt semi-truck overturned onto its side and slid across the highway. While the Peterbilt skidded west, a tractor-trailer truck crashed into it. Velasquez, 24, was not wearing a seatbelt at the time and suffered fatal injuries. Driver inattention is being considered as a possible cause. The weather was clear in the area, and the road conditions were dry. A fifth person was involved in the crash, but he or she was not injured. Velasquez was the 35th person to die on Wyomings roads in 2023. At the same time last year, there were 21 in 2022, 25 in 2021 and 19 in 2020. A 32-year-old Casper man was sentenced Thursday to 170 years in prison for possessing and producing child pornography, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Wyoming said. Salvador Salas, Jr. was found guilty of one count of possession of child pornography and five counts of production after a three-day jury trial in Casper back in January. If Salas were ever to be released from his prison term, he will also face 10 years of supervised release, the statement said. U.S. District Judge Scott W. Skavdahl imposed the sentence. The court also ordered $132,056 in restitution be paid to the victims to cover the expense of care and treatment, the statement said. Salas was a family friend who was entrusted to babysit a 13-year-old girl, the statement said. He was a graphic artist, clothing designer and DJ, so he offered to mentor the girl on clothing and shoe design. However, on one occasion, the girl arrived home in the early hours of the morning exhibiting signs of illicit substance intoxication, behaving strangely and shaking, the statement said. Salas claimed the girl had developed an allergic reaction to something she ate at his house and sent her home in an Uber on Feb. 28, 2021. Her mother took the young girl to the emergency room after she arrived home. She had burns on her lips consistent with using a meth pipe and tested positive for methamphetamine, the statement said. The mother sought for her daughter to be admitted to the Wyoming Behavior Institute and reported to police that she was with Salas at his home before she had come home high. Casper police executed a search warrant at Salass home for evidence of drugs because they believed he had supplied her with the meth. Officers recovered methamphetamine, paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine use, cocaine, and buprenorphine, the statement said. While there, officials found probable cause that Salas had taken sexually explicit photos of the girl. Officers executed a second search warrant that same day. The Casper Police Department collected Salass electronic devices that time. On his devices, there was child pornography downloaded from the internet, which featured graphic sexual abuse of prepubescent children, five videos and 47 photographs of the 13-year-old girl, the statement said. Those images depicted Salas sexually abusing her. Salas can be heard talking to the minor victim and remarking that she is just 13 years old, the statement said. The videos and photographs were taken in Salass home. The minors clothes reveled semen and Salass DNA. Salas also admitted to police that he engaged in sex acts with the victim and recorded it on his iPhone. He used his relationship with the victims mother to gain trust and access to the child, U.S. Attorney Nicholas Vassallo said in the statement. The lengthy sentence is a just punishment for Salas, as this kind of trauma devastates the victim, the family and the city of Casper. The evidence in this case demonstrated that Salas is a sexual predatorsomeone who manipulated people that trusted him, Vassallo said in the statement. Once he had that access, he supplied the child with drugs, making her even more vulnerable to his sexual abuse. While this man will no longer be able to harm children, the victim will continue to need support throughout her life, Mark Michalek, an FBI Denver special agent in charge, said in the statement. The significant sentence and restitution in this case recognizes the lasting impact on the survivor of this horrific crime and provides for appropriate care and treatment, the statement said. This case was brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, which is a nationwide imitative to combat child sexual exploitation and abuse, the statement said. Specifically, the imitative targets individuals who exploit children on the internet and identifies and rescues potential victims. More information can be found on the Department of Justice website. Those who exploit children will always be a focus of FBI resources, Michalek said in the statement. Our partners like the Casper Police Department enable us to identify, prioritize, and investigate individuals who victimize children and to prevent future abuse. Two books under scrutiny will remain in Natrona County School District high schools but will be removed from a middle school after a review committee found last month the books were appropriate for high schoolers. NCSDs Reconsideration Committee issued a memo to district administrators on March 23 detailing its decision to keep Crank and Fallout by Ellen Hopkins in Kelly Walsh and Natrona County high schools and Midwest School, but pull them from Dean Morgan Middle School. The committee cited the books literary and practical value, their lack of sexually explicit images and their relative fit for high school students, among other criteria. Its the second time that the committee has refrained from pulling books from NCSD high schools amid local and national outcry from parents and community members over learning materials. NCSD receive two review requests in January for five books written by Hopkins. Per district policies, the review committee started with Crank and Fallout. Crank details a 16-year-old girls fall into a destructive meth addiction, a story based in part on the experiences of Hopkins daughter. Its portrayal of issues like addiction and sexual violence have made the book a target, including in Laramie County School District No. 1 where parents sought to remove Crank alongside seven of Hopkins other books. Fallout is the third novel in the Crank trilogy and details the ongoing struggles of the same character, who is now the mother of three children struggling with the intergenerational effects of addiction. Both books were in the libraries of Kelly Walsh, Natrona County High School, Midwest School and Dean Morgan Middle School, but were not used as required reading for classes, according to the memo. Since 2015, Crank had been checked out 104 times between Kelly Walsh and Natrona County, while Fallout had been checked out a 29 times between the two schools, according to the memo. NCSDs Reconsideration Committee read both books and examined their product details, reviews and awards. It held a public meeting on Feb. 28 and another closed session during which the committee weighed the two books against criteria, such as sexually explicit images and their literary, artistic, and aesthetic quality, according to the memo. District policies dictated that the committee form opinions based on the material as a whole rather than on passages or sections taken out of context. In a nod to the concerns that have catalyzed efforts to ban books in Natrona County and elsewhere, the committee focused on the appropriateness of the books, including analyzing their literary value and expertise and going so far as to discuss their free verse forms. The committee found that neither book had sexually explicit images, and both were for aimed for students 14 and up. Both also won numerous awards, including the Wyoming Soaring Eagle Award, which Crank won in 2008 2009 as chosen by the states seventh to 12th graders. The use of [free] verse allowed for the serious nature of the topics addressed in the novels as more accessible to high school students while not sensationalizing drug addiction, sexual activity, and or [sic] other dangerous activities, the committee wrote in its memo. In the judgement of the Reconsideration Committee, there was not an attempt for exploitation or moral disruption, but to clearly communicate the dangers of drug addiction and the effects that it has on families. In the closed session, the majority of the committee voted that Crank and Fallout met NCSDs criteria for learning materials and were appropriate for high school libraries. Its not the first time that the Reconsideration Committee has rejected an attempt to pull books. Over the last year, efforts to ban books deemed inappropriate by parents and community members have taken Natrona County and school districts across the country by storm. In September, the committee decided to keep Gender Queer and Trans Bodies, Trans Selves, in Kelly Walsh High Schools library, two LGBTQ+ books that opponents called pornographic. Community members appealed their decision, which then went before the school board. Board trustees voted in November to keep the two books with the caveat that parents could opt-out and restrict access for their children, something the committee also referenced in its decision and memo on Crank and Fallout. GILLETTE (WNE) Gillette College will receive about $2 million to expand workforce development and kick-start a new commercial driver's license program. The $1,235,000 provided by the state will create a workforce and community development program at the college, according to a Gillette Community College District press release. The college will receive another $600,000 from the Board of Cooperative Higher Education Services, specifically for CDL program equipment and supporting operating costs. The funding is part of the $26 million Gov. Mark Gordon earmarked for phase two of the Wyoming Innovative Partnership. The partnership came about in 2021 at Gordon's request. It streamlines the communication and alignment of community colleges across the state with each other, the University of Wyoming and the states business council and workforce services. The goal is to focus efforts in developing the states economy and workforce. Across the state and nation, theres been an increased need for trained CDL drivers and locally the college receives requests for CDL training weekly, said Travis Grubb, Gillette College Dean of Career and Technical Education, in the press release. The hope is for the first group of students to begin the program in spring of 2024. College officials submitted the application for the second phase of funding in February. Phase two of the partnership runs from this July through June 2024 and focuses on starting up workforce programming and large-scale collaboration between partners across the state. 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. Those were the three words calypso icon David Rudder used to summate his feelings over his illustrious 40-year music career. Sensing the room of journalists wanting more from him he almost reluctantly continued. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) A police officer in Cotabato was sacked and arrested on Wednesday after a video made the rounds online where he was caught beating up his partner. The embattled cop was identified as Police Corporal Louie Jay Lumancas, 30, of the Magpet Municipal Police Station. According to a statement by the Police Regional Office 12, Lumancas hurt his partner after the latter confronted him for concealing his marital status. Lumancas is now under custody of Kidapawan City Police Station and will be brought to Cotabato Provincial Prosecutors Office for inquest proceeding. The Cotabato Police Provincial Office said criminal and administrative complaints were filed against the cop. On the other hand, the victim is now in stable condition. "Nasa recovering stage na yung victim at stable naman po, at tuloy na tuloy na po yung pag-file niya ng kaso, said Cotabato Police public information officer PCpt. April Rose Soria in an interview with CNN Philippines Balitaan. [Translation: The victim is now on recovering stage and she is stable. She will also file charges against the suspect.] "Malaking time pa po 'yung ire-recover niya based sa seriousness ng injury na natamo niya. [Translation: It will take more time for her to fully recover based on the seriousness of the injury she sustained.] For its part, the regional police office warned all police officers who violate Republic Act No. 9262 or the Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of 2004. Police Regional Office 12 will be very vigorous in preventing exploitation, averting assaults, abuses and violence against women and children," regional director PBGen. Jimili Macaraeg said in a statement. Port of Spain Mayor Joel Martinez intends to ask for an investigation as to why it is with t Amid the escalating murderous scourge in our country some are finding it possible to use a f Abe Hamadeh will get a chance to argue hes entitled to a new trial in his bid to overturn Novembers election for attorney general. Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen set a hearing for May 16 to let Hamadehs lawyers present their claim there is new evidence that some votes were not counted. The lawyers also want Jantzen to allow a full inspection of all ballots, something the judge denied when he first ruled in December that Democrat Kris Mayes indeed defeated Republican Hamadeh in the race. The new order doesnt mean the judge ultimately will agree to grant a new trial, much less that he would either declare Hamadeh the winner over Mayes, who has now been in office for 100 days, or require a new election. Hamadehs attorneys point to problems found during a recount of votes in Pinal County. Officials there took a closer look at some of the ballots after a mandatory recount produced 507 ballots that apparently were not counted the first time around. Hamadeh picked up 392 of those. That wasnt enough to close the gap with Mayes, who was declared the winner by just 280 votes statewide out of more than 2.5 million ballots cast. Pinal County election officials have since blamed the disparity on human error. Now the lawyers who represent Hamadeh, the Republican National Committee and two voters want Jantzen, who limited their ballot inspections ahead of the first trial, to reopen the case. The Pinal County hand recount found some voters marked their choices with an X or a slash through names of their chosen candidates. Those marks were not recognized by the automatic tallying equipment, but the hand review was able to determine each voters intent. Attorney Tim La Sota argues there were probably Election Day ballots from Maricopa County with similar issues. He also is citing undervotes, meaning ballots where people voted for other candidates but seemingly skipped the race for attorney general. There were approximately 90,000 more ballots cast than those on which voters made a choice in that race. He said only an examination of those ballots will determine if people really skipped that race the same thing happened in the races for governor and secretary of state or if the machines simply missed counting the votes. At the first trial, Jantzen allowed Hamadehs legal team to inspect about 2,300 ballots based on laws governing election challenges. Out of that, the judge concluded, there were just 14 ballots with unclear markings where there could be some question whether a vote should have been counted for Hamadeh or Mayes. For eight days this month from Saturday, April 15 to Sunday, April 23 southern Arizonans have the opportunity to join with Rotarians and put service above self through volunteerism. Arizona Rotary Days of Service will offer more than 100 volunteer opportunities through 13 Rotary clubs throughout Tucson, SaddleBrooke, Sierra Vista, Yuma and other Southern Arizona cities. Projects, which are also available statewide, range from roadside cleanup and environmental awareness to a seminar on human trafficking; painting and refurbishing buildings at Triangle Y Ranch Ranch Camp; a Peace Day celebration and more. Fundraising events such as Rincon Rotary Foundations Taste of Chocolate to support local teachers are also available. The program was spearheaded by District 5500 Governor Anita McDonald after feedback from Rotarians indicated that prospective service projects were sometimes limited by member availability. We really wanted to increase the visibility of Rotary while highlighting who Rotarians are, the causes that they focus on and the impact they have in the community. We thought this was a way to help clubs have an even greater impact with more volunteers, McDonald said. The Days of Service coincide with National Volunteer Month in April and Earth Day on April 22, which Rotarians have supported in the past through plantings of trees citywide, including at Arizona Veterans Memorial Cemetery. This year, Rotary Club of Tucson Verde is seeking volunteers to assist with activities with children at the Earth Day Festival at the Childrens Museum Tucson. McDonald said she is optimistic that collaborations with volunteers will help to promote awareness about the diversity of modern Rotarians. Rotary International is comprised of more than 1.4 million members in more than 200 countries worldwide. Projects include local, national and international endeavors including global eradication of polio. I think sometimes people picture Rotary as a group of older, white businessmen doing good in the community, but it is a diverse organization and we have been working enthusiastically on inclusion. We want people to see that this is a different Rotary that is flexible, supports many causes and works to include everyone while making a difference in the community, said McDonald, the first African American district governor for District 5500. The last four out of five district governors in Southern Arizona have also been females. WASHINGTON A Massachusetts Air National Guard member was arrested Thursday in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues, an alarming breach that has raised fresh questions about Americas ability to safeguard its most sensitive secrets. The guardsman, an IT specialist identified as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, was taken into custody without incident after FBI officers converged on his Massachusetts home. He is to be charged under a provision of the Espionage Act that makes it a crime to remove or transmit classified national defense information, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. Garland did not reveal a possible motive, but accounts of those in the online private chat room where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology. While Thursdays arrest was a pivotal moment in an investigation into the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, the military and Justice Department were still scrutinizing how sensitive government secrets shared in a chat room ended up circulating around the world. The emergence of Teixeira as a primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how such a profound breach, one that the Pentagon termed a very serious risk to national security, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman, referred all questions about the investigation to the Justice Department. 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. Hours after the arrest, Rep. Mike Turner, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a statement pledging to examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks. Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts at the time heavily armed tactical agents took him into custody, is due to have his initial court appearance in Massachusetts on Friday. He could also face charges in a military court. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned. The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported last week, moving to assure allies and assess the scope of damage. Pentagon officials have expressed alarm about the disclosures, but President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters in Ireland earlier Thursday, said theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated by U.S. officials range from briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons. Theres no clear answer on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed approximately 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds. The leak is believed to have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. Discord said it was cooperating with law enforcement. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement issued after the arrest, said the Pentagon would conduct a review of its intelligence access, accountability and control procedures to prevent such a leak from happening again. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed. Typically in classified briefings with slides like those that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That can be done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected later. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. For those with a security clearance, their handling of classified material is based largely on training and trust that they will safeguard the information. When you join the military, depending on your position, you may require a security clearance, Ryder said. And if you are working in the intelligence community, and you require a security clearance, youre going to go through the proper vetting. Ryder said each service member who obtains a clearance signs a nondisclosure agreement and is trained on the militarys strict guidelines for handling classified material. He said the leaks were a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines. A 25-year-old man who posted a Snapchat video threatening to shoot up a New Hampshire high school has been arrested, police said Thursday. Portsmouth Police said the suspect, 25-year-old Kyle Hendrickson, was charged with criminal threatening with a firearm. In the video posted Wednesday afternoon, he is in a vehicle with a gun outside Portsmouth High School and says Imma gonna shoot up the school. The incident, police said, was caught by Snapchat, which relayed it to the FBI who then contacted the local police around 6 p.m. They would not release the video. People should know better, Portsmouth Police Capt. Dave Keaveny told The Associated Press. If he thought it was funny or he did it to gain popularity on social media, then he should make better choices. We take those threats very seriously. The police and the school district released a joint statement Thursday, after deciding to close the school as a precaution. They said it was unclear why Hendrickson targeted the school, though Keaveny said they were unaware of any threats to staff or students. Hendrickson had not attended the school. "The impact of closing schools today was not taken lightly, but this allowed the police department to focus on the investigation to identify and locate the suspect," police said in a statement. We appreciate everyones cooperation and patience as we worked to keep the school community safe. Superintendent Zach McLaughlin said in a message to the community Wednesday that police notified him about the threat and that they would close all seven Portsmouth schools. Schools will reopen Friday. I just want to acknowledge the emotions of a moment like this. It can be laced with fear, anger and sadness, McLaughlin wrote in a statement posted on social media. Amid this challenging time, we appreciate your support as we do our best to keep our students and staff safe. A spokesman for Snapchat did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hendrickson was apprehended over 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast in Portland, Maine. Police said his last known address was in Berwick, Maine, and he was known to frequent the New Hampshire seacoast area and southern Maine. A phone number for him had been disconnected. Hendrickson will be held as a fugitive from justice until he can be brought to New Hampshire to answer the charge. Its unclear if Hendrickson has an attorney. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) Negros Oriental Rep. Arnolfo Teves Jr. has made the commitment to virtually attend the Senate investigation into the killing of government officials, Senator Ronald Dela Rosa said on Thursday. The Senate Committee on Public Order and Dangerous Drugs, chaired by Dela Rosa, will start its probe next week into the cases, including the March 4 assassination of Negros Oriental Gov. Roel Degamo. "Nag-confirm siya through his secretary, nag-confirm sa aking secretariat," Dela Rosa said in an interview. [Translation: He confirmed through his secretary, who in turn confirmed through my secretariat.] Dela Rosa likewise verfiied Teves' virtual attendance in a text message to CNN Philippines. Teves has been out of the country since Feb. 28 on a travel authorization from the House of Representatives. The travel permit expired March 9. Due to his absence, he was suspended from his congressional post for 60 days. On Apr. 11, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla claimed that Teves was in Cambodia READ: Remulla: Arnie Teves 'still in Cambodia' When asked what he expects from Teves' attendance at the probe, Dela Rosa said he will let him speak out. "I am the chairman, I will control everything, I will moderate everything. At kung nakikita ko na gagamitin niya yung aking [And if I see that he is using my] committee for his grandstanding, I will control him," Dela Rosa said. "Nandoon tayo to hear both sides so pakinggan pa rin natin siya," he added. [Translation: We are there to hear both sides so let's listen to him.] According to Dela Rosa, the officials of the Department of Justice (DOJ), the Department of Interior and Local Government, and the Philippine National Police were invited to the Senate probe. The DOJ earlier tagged Teves as one of the masterminds and "executive producer" behind the assassination of Degamo. Riders who have been featured on Yellowstone and the reality show The Last Cowboy are competing at the 2023 National Reining Breeders Classic (NRBC) April 16 through 23 in the Built Ford Tough Livestock Complex at Expo Square. That list of riders includes Andrea Fappani, Matt Mills, Abby Lengel, Cade McCutcheon and Craig Schmersal. Preparations are under way as the Tulsa Convention & Visitors Bureau (and Expo Square get ready to host the event. So far, more than 800 horses have been registered, representing states from across the U.S. and 16-plus countries. Among them: Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Austria, Sweden, Israel and South Africa. The release said NRBC president Tom McCutcheon is excited about the move to Tulsa from Katy, Texas, and appreciates the warm welcome the event has received. With the move to Expo Square this year, I think the NRBC will open the door for a lot of people to be able to attend who havent been able to in the past, McCutcheon said. Tulsa is a great place to show reining horses and we appreciate the efforts that Expo Square and Visit Tulsa have made to welcome us. We are glad to be calling Tulsa home. The NRBC is one of the top three events annually in the reining industry. In 2022, the show paid out nearly $1.4 million. The show is estimated to have around 4,000 attendees. Part of the reason this show moved to Tulsa is because of how massive it is, Renee McKenney, senior vice president of tourism for the Tulsa Regional Chamber and president of Tulsa Regional Tourism, said in the news release. With 5,125 area hotel room nights booked, we estimate that the show will bring in a direct economic impact of more than $2.5 million, with a total economic impact estimated at nearly $4.5 million. Vendors will be on site at the show, which is free to attend beginning at 8 a.m. daily. WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The United States is in the middle of an opioid crisis, yet new research shows that only about 7% of Americans on Medicaid who have opioid use disorder receive residential treatment. This means that many people who could potentially benefit from what is more commonly known as "rehab" arent getting the care they need to help them with their addiction. We know residential care is important when it's done right and when it's evidence-based. We know it's incredibly important to engaging people in their recovery from opioid use disorder, said study corresponding author Lindsay Allen. She is a health economist and assistant professor of emergency medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago. And Medicaid is a major payer. It's the biggest payer of opioid use disorder treatment nationally because so many individuals with OUD [opioid use disorder] are covered by Medicaid, Allen continued. Making direct comparisons of access to residential OUD treatment can be difficult because states code or define programs differently. But the researchers used a research network that standardized data for nine states that represent about 14.9 million people, including 20% of all Medicaid enrollees. Using an apples-to-apples comparisons of data, the investigators discovered that usage of residential treatment for OUD varied widely, depending on the state. While some states provided residential treatment for up to 14.6% of Medicaid enrollees with OUD, others only allowed 0.3% to access rehab. Allen said the differences were disconcerting. Among the benefits of having standardized data is providing information about where and what policies need to be targeted, she said. The states that were part of the study were Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia and West Virginia. While residential treatment is effective, its not all equal, Allen noted. Those that Allen considers most effective offer 24-hour live-in care with structured support, including individual and group therapy, as well as medication for OUD, such as buprenorphine or methadone. We know that if you take these medications, you are going to do so much better than if you don't take these medications, Allen said. But about 60% of residential facilities dont yet offer this medication, and some may even prohibit it, she noted. Other issues include how states reimburse for treatment. Medicaid is state-run, so any plans to increase residential treatment rates are up to the states. There are several federal mechanisms the states can use to get federal financial assistance for care. The issue of OUD is itself a big problem, with millions of American adults addicted to opioids, the researchers noted. Stigma and other issues exist for certain groups who need residential treatment, Allen said. Among them are pregnant women and mothers who are worried about who will care for their children if they go to treatment, and are also concerned about losing their kids. Solutions could include helping certain groups who are experiencing disparities in access to residential treatment. I think we need a shift in understanding that it is a medical clinical disease. It's a chronic condition and we need to treat it just like we do diabetes, just like we do heart disease. We need to prevent it the way we prevent heart disease and diabetes, Allen said. Intervening early, as with other physical health issues, is a must, she stressed. The findings were published April 12 in the Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment. The U.S. National Institute on Drug Abuse provided funding for the study. One reason people may look toward residential treatment is because theres a housing crisis in addition to an opioid crisis, said Dr. Sarah Wakeman, medical director for substance use disorder at Mass General Brigham, in Boston. Yet, there isnt convincing evidence that residential treatment is best for treating OUD, she said, noting that many residential programs dont offer medication to treat OUD, or even prohibit them. What is best is treating a patient with an opioid agonist, such as methadone and buprenorphine, Wakeman said, comparing this to providing insulin to someone with diabetes. The medications are misunderstood and deeply stigmatized, she said. They restore normal functioning. They allow a person to feel well again, to not experience cravings or an urge to want to use opioids, to not experience withdrawal and to just get on with their life, Wakeman said. And they've been shown in literally hundreds of studies over decades to reduce the recurrence of opioid use disorder and reduce both overdose-specific mortality and all-cause mortality. Residential treatment may be helpful for someone who has experienced significant consequences from their opioid disorder, who has not successfully stabilized in an outpatient treatment setting or who is also addicted to other substances, said Dr. Larissa Mooney, director in the division of addiction psychiatry at UCLA's David Geffen School of Medicine in Los Angeles. However, even in residential treatment, medication for OUD needs to be offered, Mooney said. The most robust treatments for opioid use disorder are FDA-approved medications, which include buprenorphine, methadone and extended-release naltrexone, Mooney said. Managing co-occurring psychiatric disorders, such as depression or anxiety, is also an important part of addiction recovery, she said. With support and access to medication treatment, many people can achieve remission from opioid use disorder. Individual paths to recovery vary widely, so we need to ensure access to as many treatment options as possible, Mooney said. More information The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has more on the opioid crisis in the United States. SOURCES: Lindsay Allen, PhD, health economist and assistant professor of emergency medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago; Sarah Wakeman, MD, medical director, substance use disorder, Mass General Brigham, Boston; Larissa Mooney, MD, professor, clinical psychiatry and director, division of addiction psychiatry, department of psychiatry & biobehavioral sciences, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles; Journal of Substance Use and Addiction Treatment, April 12, 2023 A man was charged with first-degree murder after turning himself in Wednesday evening in connection with a fatal shooting last weekend, Tulsa police said. Raterrius King is accused of killing his father, 37-year-old Ismeal King, who was found shot in the chest near 4300 S. Garnett Road, a Tulsa Police Department social media post states. Ismeal King died from his injuries Tuesday. Raterrius King, who will turn 20 next month, reportedly surrendered to authorities after a warrant was put out for his arrest. He was being held in the Tulsa County jail in lieu of bail totaling $1 million, online records show. Tulsa World Newsroom podcast True crime in Tulsa: Why are Tulsa police so good at solving homicides? Come August, the attendance areas for two Broken Arrow elementary schools will be shifting. Citing an anticipated influx of up to 280 students at Rosewood Elementary School due to seven residential construction projects underway within its attendance area, Broken Arrow Public Schools Board of Education voted 4-0 Monday night to redraw the boundaries and move students living between 91st and 101st Streets and Lynn Lane and County Line Road to Vandever Elementary School starting with the 2023-24 school year. Its a hard choice, said board Vice President Jerry Denton, whose district includes Rosewoods campus. But the reason is right. I can rest on that because were looking at the size of the classes. When it comes to the size of classes, weve known and its been proven that it is a make or break in a successful learning environment and an environment for kids to thrive. As approved, 87 students potentially would be impacted. That does not include the approximately 30 students living in that area who would be allowed to stay at Rosewood, including current fourth graders and any third grade students who were subject to the districts last round of redistricting when the school opened less than three years ago. Located five miles west of Rosewood, Vandever Elementary School has 395 students enrolled in kindergarten through fifth grade. BAPS officials reiterated during Mondays meeting that more teachers would be moved to the school in order to accommodate the additional students without increasing class sizes. Rosewood opened in August 2020 and was designed to accommodate 600 students in kindergarten through fifth grade across 28 classrooms. However, with its enrollment up by 100 students this school year, the campus is already over capacity with about 630 pupils. In addition to the seven neighborhood construction projects currently underway, four more planned communities are slated to be built within Rosewoods current attendance area. No construction timeline has been set for any of the four additional residential projects, prompting Chief Technology Officer Ashley Bowser to advise the board that it may need to reassess school site boundaries again in the future. If it grows by another 100 (kids), I can assure you we will have this same conversation again, Bowser said. I think it is irresponsible of us also, on the flip side, to move 200 kids out of Rosewood when that may not be warranted. Tulsa city councilors discussed on Wednesday whether they should change their own rules regarding behavior during public meetings after three of their own were hit with a civil lawsuit alleging violations of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. A proposal advanced by Councilor Crista Patrick would ban private communications regarding city business among councilors during public meetings. I just felt that it was important that we have an open conversation about going forward, Patrick said, later adding, I would never propose we not have electronics at the table. The issue comes up after the Rev. Freeman Culver III, executive director of the Greenwood Chamber of Commerce, filed a lawsuit March 29 in Tulsa County District Court. Councilors Lori Decter Wright, Vanessa Hall-Harper and Laura Bellis are named as defendants in their official capacities, along with the city of Tulsa. The lawsuit alleges that the three councilors violated the Open Meeting Act when they communicated among each other via text messages during City Council meetings and committee meetings. City Councilor Grant Miller, who works for the attorney who is representing Culver, posed a scenario to City Attorney Jack Blair during Wednesdays meeting and asked whether such actions violate the Open Meeting Act. While in an open meeting, while all the city councilors are sitting at the table, if they pass a secret note to each other but not everybody sees it and it regards city business, that is not a violation of the Open Meetings Act? he asked. I read that as an informal gathering and communication among less than a majority of the members of a public body, so no, Blair replied. The Open Meeting Act states in part that no informal gatherings or any electronic or telephonic communications, except teleconferences as authorized by Section 3 of this act, among a majority of the members of a public body shall be used to decide any action or to take any vote on any matter. Miller described texting and note passing during a meeting as unacceptable conduct. But Blair said it was up to the nine-member council to decide what it deemed unacceptable conduct. He said the City Council rules, which would govern such behavior during public meetings, have largely been unrevised for the past 30 years. As proposed, the new council rule would add one sentence: Private communications among Councilors to discuss, deliberate, decide or take action on any item of public business within their purview is prohibited while participating in a publicly posted Council meeting, or a publicly posted Council committee, subcommittee, or task force meeting. Earlier in the meeting, Blair briefed council members on the Open Meeting Act and provided examples of what would be permitted under the law. For example, can a city councilor hand a note to another city councilor during a meeting addressing a topic on the agenda? Blair said. Or can two city councilors huddle with the committee chair and whisper among themselves about how to move the agenda along faster? These are examples of informal gatherings and communications among councilors discussing public business, which the public isnt privy to and, more importantly, a majority of councilors arent privy to, Blair said. In my opinion, they are not prohibited by the Open Meeting Act, Blair said. Miller, though, said the public has a right to know what is being said and written during public meetings. Its all about public confidence; thats the whole point of the Open Meeting Act, Miller said. And so when we are passing notes among each other, that hurts public confidence, and its not good for us to be secretly communicating. I think that any kind of communications that are created, while we are all sitting at the table, while councilors are in session in an open meeting, should be visible to the public, Miller said. It should be either audible or visual. If there is no audible piece to it for example a note that note should be communicated electronically and streamed in some way so the public can see every communication going on within a meeting. Bellis warned that any action that might limit use of electronic devices could have a chilling effect that might lead to less transparency. I really want to emphasize that we need to be careful, not overly police each other or each others behavior, Bellis said. Im just thinking about how do we balance wanting to create responsive policy here with also not wanting to have an obstructive effect on our processes, our communications, our whole council culture overall, Bellis said. Wright said she routinely uses her smartphone to access City Council documents during meetings. For folks who are concerned about phone activity, my phone activity today was looking up some of that stuff, she said. Also, I received a text from my husband about who is picking children up and my mother about the security code on our home-based security system. Those are two text messages I looked at during the meeting, Wright said. I was not looking at the news or buying shoes. She added that council positions are considered part-time jobs, so you may see us checking in time to time. Hall-Harper, meanwhile, called the proposed new rule unnecessary. I think its impossible to totally police actions, and I think its unnecessary, she said. The law dictates what a quorum is. Thats the rule we have abided by thus far, and I think thats what we should continue to do. Councilor Jeannie Cue said she sometimes communicates with other councilors during public meetings. A lot of times if I have to get up and leave the room, and I might not be feeling well, I want Crista (Patrick) to know it, Cue said. I might not want to share it with everybody in the city. So where do you draw the line? Thats where Im confused. Councilor Phil Lakin told Cue the rule as proposed would not require Cue to make that communication public. Council members discussed the matter for nearly an hour during a meeting of the Urban & Economic Development Committee. Lakin, who chaired the meeting, said the committee would continue discussing the proposal next week. Americans will have to make some hard business cybersecurity decisions that go to the heart of individual freedom and privacy, U.S. Sen. Markwayne Mullin said at a Tulsa Regional Chamber luncheon on Wednesday. This is really tough, Mullin said in response to a question. In order for the federal government to protect a company, it means they have to be integrated into your systems. And you have to understand the threat. Forty-six percent of all cyber attacks happen to businesses with less than 1,000 employees. Mullin said smaller businesses are targeted because theyre less likely to have the resources to combat the attacks. As a small business, how can you protect yourself against countries like North Korea that literally has a whole army that thats all they do? asked Mullin. Or Iran? Or Russia? Or China? How government can play a role in that? We have to control the internet system itself. Its really difficult. People dont want to give up freedoms. We dont want to give up access. People are already afraid of (the National Security Agency). Can you imagine it monitoring everything that goes in and out of the internet? The only way you can do it is with a closed loop system, Mullin said. Mullin has developed expertise in this area through his years on the House Intelligence Committee and now the Intelligence Subcommittee of the Senate Armed Services Committee. As a conservative with a business background, he isnt crazy about the government sticking its eyes and ears into every aspect of Americans lives. But as someone who receives classified briefings on the subject, he knows a lot of other eyes and ears, foreign and domestic, are following just about every move already. The experts, said Mullin, tell us its impossible to look over all the businesses out there unless we close the system. Instead of billions of on and off ramps, we have one. You think of the freedom we give up if we do that, but then theres the protection were losing by being wide open. These are the conversations were having right now, he said. We dont really want to close the internet down where we have one portal for things to go in and one portal for things to go out (and) we have someone watching that gate constantly. That would have to be the government. Most people dont want everything going in and out on the internet being watched. Mullin said business sectors will have to come together to decide on the level of security they want and present that to the federal government. And even that seems to make him uneasy. This a decision the American people I dont think its even legislative, to be honest with you, he said. I think this is something, if we decide to do something like this, the American people would have to vote on it. Video: White House releases cybersecurity plan 4 states passed nearly half of all new cybersecurity laws enacted across the US in 2022 4 states passed nearly half of all new cybersecurity laws enacted across the US in 2022 Maryland and Florida passed the most new legislation of all states Kentucky Virginia Florida Maryland Officials on Wednesday announced a major scientific breakthrough in the DNA investigation related to the search for 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre graves. Of the 22 sets of remains exhumed at Oaklawn Cemetery near downtown Tulsa, six of those yielded DNA profiles that can be traced to relatives living today, Mayor G.T. Bynum announced during a news conference. We do not believe a match of this type has ever been achieved before in American history, Bynum said. Bynum said Intermountain Forensics, based in Salt Lake City, has flagged specific surnames and specific counties where relatives may be found. We do not know for certain that these relatives are direct descendants or whether they are the remains of massacre victims, Bynum said. We know these remains share DNA with people living in America today. Those who see their last name among those flagged and have a family history in Tulsa are asked to reach out to the investigative team at Tulsa1921DNA.org or email idteam@tulsa1921dna.org. You can help our community take an important step toward the truth, Bynum said. Bynum announced that the city has received a $1 million grant to continue efforts on victim advocacy, genealogical research, curriculum development and forensic genealogy training for stakeholders. He added that more geophysical work is expected at the citys Oaklawn Cemetery, as well as at some other sites, including an area referred to as the Canes east of Newblock Park near the Arkansas River. This information we have received today is absolutely historical, Tulsa Race Massacre descendant Brenda Alford said Wednesday. I know my grandparents could never have imagined this point in time when the community is not only talking about the massacre but also committing to the search for victims, she said. Danny Hellwig with Intermountain Forensics said the companys team, trained to be impartial, actually has an emotional investment in this investigation. We are putting our hearts and souls into it and will continue to work meticulously to leave no stone left unturned, Hellwig said Wednesday in Tulsa. According to Hellwig, even if the six individuals do not turn out to be victims of the 1921 Race Massacre, it will still be impactful to the investigation and help them determine their next steps. The investigation now turns to forensic genealogy, Hellwig said. Most of the names identified would have been living in the late 1800s or early 1900s in the areas identified. They dont need to be living there now, said Alison Wilde with Intermountain Forensics. Some of the relatives who have been identified through the DNA investigation are relatively young, she said, which can help the team reach out and make contact. We have people were very excited to reach out to, Wilde said of the 12 to 15 relatives identified, adding that they might never have known their families connection to Tulsa. The best way to help, for those who think theyre connected, is to participate in the teams DNA investigation. Online genealogy profiles wont help, Wilde said, so folks are asked to take an extra step so the Intermountain Forensics team can access the information. Hundreds of people have already submitted their information in advance of Wednesdays announcement, so the team will not lose sight of whats already been provided, Wilde said. Individuals who voluntarily share independent DNA tests with GEDmatch or Family Tree DNA, whether as part of this investigation or otherwise, will have the six genetic profiles (and any others produced from the investigation in the future) compared to their own, a news release states. Bynum added that those who prefer not to upload a DNA profile may still be valuable to the investigative team if they are able to share their families oral history. The team is continuing its analysis of 10 more sets of remains found in 2021 and 2022 excavations and exhumations, the release states. Surnames identified through DNA investigation Anyone whose family tree includes the surnames in the location of interest for unknown burials is asked to contact the Intermountain Forensics team. The team has stressed that those who may share one of the surnames and/or location of interest may not be directly tied to the burial itself or to the Tulsa Race Massacre. Male decedent with relatives in Coweta County area of Georgia (surnames: Scott, Huntley, Daniel, Meriwether, Sims, Bohannon) and Austin County, Texas (surnames: Benjamin, Willis) Female decedent with relatives in LeFlore County area of Mississippi (surnames: Maggett), in Union Parish area of Louisiana (surnames: Strong, McGee), and in Oklahoma during Indian Territory era (surnames: Still) Male decedent with relatives in Sabine Parish area of Louisiana (surnames: Holden, Larrimore) and Rapides Parish area of Louisiana (surnames: Luckett, Mayre) Male decedent with relatives in Alabama, Texas and Oklahoma during Indian Territory era and early 1900s (surnames: Smith, Davis, Rentie) As the genealogy team reaches out to DNA relatives, more information will help build the family trees associated with the unknown burials at Oaklawn, a news release states. November 2022 video: Forensic anthropologist discusses implications of DNA analysis connected to search for 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre graves Timeline: The 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre Tulsa in 1921: 'Oil Capital of the World' Tulsa's 1921 demographics Tulsa and Greenwood Modern Tulsa began in 1882 Glenn Pool oil field World War I creates petroleum demand T.D Evans elected Tulsa mayor Mary Seaman Tulsa law enforcement Race issues in Tulsa and Oklahoma Greenwood: Home to doctors, lawyers, teachers and exceptional schools Drexel Building Nab Negro for Attacking Girl in Elevator Tulsa Tribune NAACP and The Black Dispatch 'We are going to lynch that negro' Rising tension Oklahoma National Guard 'All hell broke loose' Seeking National Guard assistance Guardsmen come under fire from both sides At dawn 'And the invasion of the negro district began' Greenwood's destruction 'They joined in with the hoodlums in shooting at good citizens homes' Complaints of khaki clothes 'Even women with shopping bags would come in' Dr. A.C. Jackson Oklahoma Gov. J.B.A. Robertson declares martial law Detainees subject to harassment and humiliation Fairgrounds camp houses up to 5,000 True death toll will probably never be known 37 death certificates Unsuccessful search Conspiracy and cover-up? Ku Klux Klan rally Most insurance claims denied Few landmarks associated with massacre remain Statute of limitations runs out Original indictment of participants dismissed in 2007 'Before They Die' documentary premieres in October 2008 Documentary shows survivors' struggle for reparations from 1921 massacre October 2008: Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor apologizes 'I hope we get there very soon.' February 2017: Tulsa Race Riot Centennial Commission announced June 2018: Tulsa Public Schools teachers learn why race massacre is more accurate term May 2019: Oklahoma state budget bill includes $1.5 million for Tulsa race massacre centennial May 2019: Mayor G.T. Bynum sets 1921 Tulsa race massacre graves investigation into motion May 2019: $9 million renovation and expansion of Greenwood Cultural Center announced May 2019: Tulsa Regional Chamber to release 1921 minutes June 2019: 'Signs of gentrification': Greenwood community worries residents being pushed out, history disrespected September 2019: New book, 'Tulsa 1921,' is product of years of research into Tulsa Race Massacre October 2019: Mass graves search begins June 2021: President Joe Biden visits Tulsa on 100th anniversary Why the Tulsa World uses "race massacre" now instead of "race riot" Tulsa Race Massacre / The Tulsa World Library Race Massacre: Tulsa Regional Chamber apologizes Eight Senate medical marijuana bills, including one that would limit the THC content of edibles, advanced through an Oklahoma House of Representatives committee on Wednesday. Alcohol, Tobacco and Controlled Substances Committee Chairman T.J. Marti, R-Broken Arrow, carried all but one of the medical marijuana bills, including a couple whose original language he completely stripped and replaced with House bills the Senate had refused to hear. Getting perhaps the most attention was Senate Bill 440, which would limit Delta-9 THC content to 1,000 milligrams per package. Several committee members seemed skeptical of such a limits practical effect, but Marti said it will help curb black market uses. Delta-9 is a naturally occurring THC that accounts for most of marijuanas potency. Its come to our attention that people are making a 20,000- or 30,000-milligram cake or piece of pie and driving it across the border, Marti said. Rep. Mickey Dollens, D-Oklahoma City, said some patients using marijuana for pain need more than 1,000 milligrams. Marti noted that the bill as currently written does not limit the total THC value a person may purchase, only the amount in each package. But because each package is tracked, Marti said, the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority would be able to spot abnormally large purchases. Other medical marijuana bills passed by Martis committee Wednesday include: SB 437, which originally concerned training for doctors prescribing cannabis but now repurposed as a second attempt at forcing the Oklahoma Medical Marijuana Authority to rebid its contract for seed-to-sale technology. Marti and Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, said the current system is not working as expected and that those in the industry complain that the vendor does not respond quickly enough to problems. SB 645, which would require packaging of all products, including flower, which according to Marti is now sold out of 10-gallon drums. This measure, and SB 437, are intended to provide more consistency in the quality and content of the product. SB 801, another full substitute, brings back House language that would allow authorities to monitor water and power usage of grow facilities. Such information would help identify unreported production. SB 913, carried by Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, would require grow operators to post a $50,000 bond unless theyve owned the property for at least five years. The bond is to cover the cost of cleanup if the grow is abandoned, as Moore said several in his area have been. Also Wednesday, the House passed and sent to the governor a measure taking $600 million out of Oklahoma Health Care Authority reserves and reappropriating them for fiscal year 2024, apparently to make sure they arent funneled into an economic development scheme. Appropriations and Budget Committee Chairman Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, said a white paper circulating around the Capitol proposed using as much as $750 million for in excess Medicaid money for concepts that have nothing to do with health care, including a project involving the Tulsa Port of Catoosa. Im not saying they are bad ideas, Wallace said. Im not saying I dont support ideas. Im saying if we need to, put them on the board and pass them. Wallace said the Health Care Authority, which administers the states Medicaid programs, has accumulated a surplus of more than $800 million because of increased federal matching funds during the COVID-19 pandemic and the states expansion of Medicaid eligibility. The surplus could still indirectly wind up in something other than health care, should budget makers decide to use it to free up general revenue for other purposes. The House Public Health Committee advanced an amended version of SB 613, which prohibits gender transition procedures for minors. A House version sought to effectively bar gender transition care for adults and children. OKLAHOMA CITY Oklahomas attorney general advised the head of the state Senate that Superintendent Ryan Walters could not serve simultaneously in his statewide elected position and as the governors education secretary. The March 7 letter Attorney General Gentner Drummond sent Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat likely doomed Walters chances of being confirmed by the Senate to continue serving on Gov. Kevin Stitts Cabinet. Stitt on Tuesday replaced Walters as education secretary. Katherine Curry, a college professor, will now serve as the governors education secretary. Treat, R-Oklahoma City, was supposed to shepherd Walters through the Senate confirmation process. A spokesman for Treat on Wednesday confirmed that the GOP leader of the state Senate sought legal guidance on whether Walters could serve simultaneously as state superintendent and secretary of education. I have had numerous conversations with legislators who have expressed their concern that Mr. Walters is in violation of the prohibition against dual office holding, Drummond wrote in his response letter. State law prohibits state elected officials from holding two offices simultaneously. The law includes limited exceptions. The position of state superintendent and secretary of education each constitute a state office, and as such, Mr. Walters is statutorily prohibited from serving in both capacities, Drummond added. The attorney general cited state law and detailed the duties of the education secretary to make his case that the appointed position constitutes a state office. In the letter, Drummond cites the education secretarys role as chair of the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. The education secretary can unilaterally veto agency rulemaking and also has some authority to control the disbursement of state funds due to one of Stitts executive orders, Drummond wrote. In 1991 Sandy Garrett took office as state superintendent but also retained her position serving as education secretary to Gov. David Walters. The Cabinet position used to be more of a ceremonial role, said Drummond spokesman Phil Bacharach. But the number of duties and statutory responsibilities for the education secretary have grown over the years, he said. For his Cabinet duties, Walters was earning $40,000 a year on top of his $124,373 annual salary as state superintendent. Stitt spokeswoman Carly Atchison did not directly answer a question about whether the attorney generals letter factored into the governors decision to rescind Walters appointment. This is all a big nothing-burger, though the media wants to believe otherwise and peddle narratives to the contrary, Atchison said in an email. Appointing Dr. Curry is not a reflection on Ryan Walters or his service as Secretary of Education on the governors cabinet for the last four years. The governor was thrilled with Ryans service and as Superintendent remains a close advisor and will always have a seat at the table. Walters did not directly answer a question Wednesday about whether he had the support needed in the state Senate to get the 25 votes necessary to be confirmed as education secretary. Ive got great support in the Senate and the House and continue to work with them on moving the ball forward on school choice, Walters said. He added that hes looking forward to working with Curry. At a recent community forum on homelessness, a local bar owner stood up to claim a bus full of homeless individuals from Denver were dropped off in downtown Tulsa. This is one continuing urban legend that needs to be eliminated. As Tulsans struggle to understand the continued presence and growth (up 8.3% from last year) of homelessness in our community and its causes, we need to focus on facts. Often communicated in law enforcement circles, this story and others like it can be classified, in the parlance of our day, as fake news. If this ever happens, it would garner the kind of attention putting on the front pages of the Tulsa World, Denver Post and national news. What we dont talk about enough is the bussing of indigent inmates released from Oklahoma prisons with $50 and, if they have no ride, a bus ticket to the county of their conviction. What about the practice of local hospitals discharging homeless patients back onto the streets with little or no collaboration with the shelter providers? Do these practices contribute to our homelessness issues in Tulsa and in Oklahoma? Lets talk about the much more complex reasons Tulsa, and every other major U.S. city, continues to witness the growth of homelessness in their communities. First, there is the issue of eviction. Once evicted for lease violations, unpaid rent or utility bills, or other problems, people are often legally rejected from other housing. Many of these evictions involve families with children. Tulsa, through legal support and other initiatives, is working to address and prevent evictions at the courtroom stage. Thats progress. Rapid Rehousing funds from public and private local sources allows for individuals and families to avoid eviction or return to stable, affordable housing whenever possible to stop the evolvement into chronic homelessness. Progress! Tulsa now has a cadre of homeless outreach workers and shelter providers working together to identify those experiencing homelessness. These professionals help navigate a rather complex, often slow process of breaking barriers allowing people to reenter the affordable, permanent supported housing market, if available. Often, these individuals are connected to case managers and other services reaching out to them once housed to ensure ongoing stability. Thats progress. Second, there remains a need for more consistent, continuous collaboration and coordination between business owners, homeless outreach workers and first responders, including EMSA, fire and law enforcement. This takes a great deal of time and effort but can reap huge rewards every day if all parties truly work together, leaving their egos at the door. Everyone must recognize each needs the other to effectively address homeless issues at the street level. This is happening, but more is needed. Limited progress. Last year, A Way Home For Tulsa composed of nonprofits, faith-based groups and other partners housed 1,131 individuals, ending or preventing their homelessness. Thats progress but with an understanding that more people are entering homelessness than are exiting. Third, and the toughest of all, is NIMBY not in my backyard. This is what we hear: We need more affordable housing, but it cannot be near me and my neighbors. Multifamily apartments are scattered across the community and embedded in neighborhoods in each of the nine districts in Tulsa. We walk, ride our bikes and drive by them every day without a second thought. But the shortage of lower cost affordable housing exists, and much more is needed. The political will with a real plan must include the development of affordable housing for low income, and yes, people currently homeless that will exist in every one of the nine city districts. Want to solve homelessness in Tulsa? A plan is needed with everyone sharing in the effort; no city district is immune. Do our elected officials have this level of collective courageous leadership in their DNA? Now that would be real progress. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) Former President Rodrigo Duterte encouraged the bloody crackdown on illegal drugs in the Philippines, according to an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor. In the 59-page response filed before the ICC Appeals Chamber, a copy of which was released on Wednesday, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan rejected the Philippine governments claim that the killings and other crimes related to the anti-drug campaign are of marginal gravity. To the contrary, they are extremely serious, and appear to have been at the very least encouraged and condoned by high-level government officials, up to and including the former President, Khan said. He said that the war on drugs launched by Duterte killed over 5,000 and possibly about 30,000 civilians, led by authorities or unidentified perpetrators apparently acting in coordination with police. Khan also pointed out that the police allegedly staged self-defense scenarios, planted evidence, or otherwise obstructed justice in an effort to justify the premeditated and deliberate murder of civilians. The Chamber, he said, also authorized probes into other crimes committed that were linked to the drug war. The available information indicates that torture, other inhumane acts, and other crimes were also committed in connection with the war on drugs campaign, Khan said. Nothing about these crimes, committed in large part by law enforcement personnel entrusted with protecting citizens from violence, suggests that the potential cases before the Court are of marginal gravity, he added. Rejecting the Philippine governments arguments, Khan sought to dismiss the formers appeal as he pushed for the resumption of the investigation. READ: ICC prosecutor rejects PH govts arguments in plea vs. drug war probe In March, the Philippines formally asked the ICC to reverse its decision to reopen the drug war probe, saying it would violate the countrys sovereignty. Dutertes successor, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., said the Philippines would disengage from any contact with the ICC after it rejected the government's deferral request. In recent weeks our state superintendent for public instruction, Ryan Walters, has twice delivered to the Legislature images he says are pornographic, as part of his campaign to distract from his failure to manage the State Department of Education. Thats a long and sordid story. But along with the images, I found something much more disturbing: a list of books he said were questionable and might need to be kept out of our schools. He didnt conduct an exhaustive search of school libraries, mind you. No, all he did was copy and paste the American Library Associations Rainbow List, a 190-book set of LGBTQ+ inclusive books for readers of different ages. Hidden behind his hysterical screed against porn was a subtle and wicked message of intolerance. I examined a few of the titles on the list. One was A Song for the Unsung, a biography of Bayard Rustin, one of the leaders of the Civil Rights movement. Never heard of him? That might be because he was gay. Then there was A Clash of Steel, a retelling of Treasure Island with two queer Chinese protagonists. Or Moonflower, about a transgender kid who escapes depression in the waking world by exploring the spirit world in their dreams. Or Early One Morning, about a boy who wakes up before his two moms but not before his cat. I dont believe any of these books is questionable. Why should Rustins sexual orientation be any more controversial than Thomas Jeffersons, if the book highlights his contributions to America? Who cares if a boy has two moms the story is about his cat! And why cant two girls pursue their dreams as they pursue pirate gold? Further, by mixing dark allegations of pornography with an anti-inclusion message, Walters is dog-whistling that its not OK to be gay or transgender. Maybe he goes even further than that, given the high proportion of books on the list that feature people of different national and racial backgrounds. Why else would he try to erase Rustin a second time? The superintendent needs to remember that he is responsible for the education of all kids, and not just those who were like him when he was growing up. He does not get to determine their dreams or dictate their choices. It is not given to him to deny children the chance to see images of people like them, nor can he control the future by relentlessly scrubbing away evidence of diversity. Our society is changing. He should let it change. Instead, he continues a campaign of exposing so-called pornography without providing evidence, and he brings a wrecking ball to a system that educates 700,000 Oklahomans of all backgrounds. This is all as much by design as is the systematic neglect that has kept our libraries and schools underfunded for generations. Theres a dark agenda here at work, one that undermines our public schools in the name of power, profit and bigotry. Im thinking people should be much more concerned by the censorship than by the false claims of pornography. It was never about porn. It was always about inclusion. To find the Rainbow Reading List, go to glbtrt.ala.org/rainbowbooks/archives/1444. DUBLIN (AP) Holding up his family history as an example, President Joe Biden on Thursday told lawmakers in a packed parliament building that the story of Irish immigrants setting sail for the U.S. is at the very heart of "what binds Ireland and America together. Like so many countries around the world, though perhaps more than most, the United States was shaped by Ireland, Biden said in address to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas in Leinster House. And the values we share remain to this day the core of the historic partnership between our people and our governments. Biden stressed the importance of economic ties, a Fearghail,united front on the war in Ukraine and a shared urgency to manage climate change. Biden addressed parliament as part of his four-day trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland, where he also met with political leaders and took a whirlwind tour of his ancestral homeland. Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, speaker of the Dail, parliaments lower chamber, told Biden that Ireland has benefitted immensely from American investment, and noted that it goes both ways Ireland is the ninth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the U.S. Long may this bilateral investment continue, O Fearghail said to cheers. He welcomed Biden home as he introduced him. Biden was the fourth U.S. president to address the Irish parliament, after John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. For Biden, Ireland has been the backdrop for discussion about his favorite themes, like dignity, possibilities," democracy and poetry. He addressed parliament on what would have been the 84th birthday of his favorite poet, Seamus Heaney. O Fearghail gave Biden a signed copy of Heaney's poems, and Heaney's widow was present for the speech, watching as Biden quoted The Cure at Troy." The president spoke with poetic flourishes about how the two nations could dream together over horizons we can't see." He talked about visiting County Louth this week, gazing out at the sea from the stone balcony of Carlingford Castle, which would have been the last Irish landmark that Owen Finnegan, Bidens maternal great-great-grandfather, saw before sailing for New York in 1849. These stories are at the very heart of what binds Ireland and America together, he said. They speak to a history, defined by our dreams. The 80-year-old Biden also reflected on his age, something he rarely does publicly. He said was at the end of my career, not the beginning." He told the Irish lawmakers you can see how old I am, saying he comes to the job more experienced than any other president in American history. It doesn't make me better or worse, but it gives me few excuses," he said. Biden is expected to run for reelection, and would be 82 were he to start a second term. Earlier Thursday, Biden met with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Irelands prime minister, praising the nation for its humanitarian work welcoming Ukrainian refugees. Ireland has hosted nearly 80,000 refugees from Ukraine following Russia's invasion, and it has been staunchly supportive of U.S.-led efforts on the war. Biden said he was impressed by Ireland's commitment. I think our values are the same, Biden told Varadkar. And I think our concerns are the same. So Im really looking forward to continuing to work with you. Biden also met with with Irish President Michael D. Higgins at his grand Dublin residence. The two octogenarian leaders clasped hands and laughed as they walked inside along a red carpet. Biden signed the guest book with a writerly missive for Irelands poet-president: As the Irish saying goes, your feet will bring you where your heart is. Its an honor to return. Biden helped shovel dirt around a freshly planted Irish oak, not far from one planted years earlier by then-President Barack Obama. He also rang the Peace Bell, unveiled in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Biden clanged the bell four times, including one for all my Irish ancestors, and a fourth one for peace. Then he thanked Higgins, who turns 82 next week. Im feeling great, and Im learning a lot, Biden said at Higgins' estate. I know it sounds silly, but theres many Irish-Americans, like my relatives, whove never come back here. Varadkar and Biden also exchanged toasts at a dinner banquet at Dublin Castle. Biden opened the trip earlier this week in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that ended years of sectarian violence. The U.S.-brokered deal brought peace to a region of the United Kingdom where the Troubles left some 3,600 people dead in bombings and other attacks. Addressing parliament Thursday, Biden said the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland to support Northern Ireland. His reminder of the importance of maintaining a quarter century of peace in Northern Ireland was likely to irk some British Conservatives and Northern Ireland unionists, who are suspicious of U.S. interference. Biden arrived in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, a day after he landed in Northern Ireland. Crowds lined five-deep and waited for eight hours to catch a glimpse of Biden in County Louth, where his mother's family is from. In the town of Carlingford, the Democratic president toured a castle, gazing out over the sea where his ancestors sailed toward America. From inside a packed old pub with a sticky wooden floor, Biden acknowledged that his ancestors emigrated to the United States to escape famine, but he added, When youre here, you wonder why anyone would ever want to leave. The president was elated by the dive into his Irish heritage, which he often cites as a driving force in his public and private life. According to the Irish Family History Centre, Biden is among the most Irish of all U.S. Presidents. Ten of his 16 great-great-grandparents were from the Emerald Isle. Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report. Ho Chi Minh City chairman Phan Van Mai has given the go-ahead for a proposal to extend the operation of express boat services at the inland waterway port of the Bach Dang Wharf in the downtown area, an official from the municipal Department of Transport told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday evening. Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the leader of the department proposed that the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee allow the continued exploitation of the inland waterway port at the second quay of the wharf. The proposal was passed by the chairman of the Peoples Committee. According to the proposal, Greenlines DP Technology Company can operate the express Bach Dang-Can Gio-Vung Tau waterway route until state agencies close the port. Tickets previously bought for trips from District 1, Ho Chi Minh City to the city's Can Gio District and neighboring Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province's Vung Tau City will remain valid. The extension will last for one year, giving enough time for relevant units to relocate facilities at the quay and find a new location for the high-speed boat services. During the extension period, the firm must follow all requirements set by the authorities and ensure the safety of passengers and the security of inland waterway activities at the port. The city will create favorable conditions for the Bach Dang-Can Gio-Vung Tau waterway route to operate pending their relocation and guarantee the benefits of the firm and passengers, said the leader of the municipal Department of Transport. The municipal department had earlier sent a dispatch to Greenlines DP Technology Co. Ltd. asking the firm to stop its express boat services at the Bach Dang Wharf. The firm is responsible for its financial obligations. On March 27, the department proposed that the municipal Peoples Committee allow Greenlines DP Technology Company continue offering express boat services at the quay until the end of this year. The reinforced concrete second quay at the Bach Dang Wharf is 80 meters long and nine meters wide. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Ho Chi Minh City chairman Phan Van Mai has given the go-ahead for a proposal to extend the operation of express boat services at the inland waterway port of the Bach Dang Wharf in the downtown area, an official from the municipal Department of Transport told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday evening. Speaking at a meeting on Wednesday afternoon, the leader of the department proposed that the Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee allow the continued exploitation of the inland waterway port at the second quay of the wharf. The proposal was passed by the chairman of the Peoples Committee. According to the proposal, Greenlines DP Technology Company can operate the express Bach Dang-Can Gio-Vung Tau waterway route until state agencies close the port. Tickets previously bought for trips from District 1, Ho Chi Minh City to the city's Can Gio District and neighboring Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province's Vung Tau City will remain valid. The extension will last for one year, giving enough time for relevant units to relocate facilities at the quay and find a new location for the high-speed boat services. During the extension period, the firm must follow all requirements set by the authorities and ensure the safety of passengers and the security of inland waterway activities at the port. The city will create favorable conditions for the Bach Dang-Can Gio-Vung Tau waterway route to operate pending their relocation and guarantee the benefits of the firm and passengers, said the leader of the municipal Department of Transport. The municipal department had earlier sent a dispatch to Greenlines DP Technology Co. Ltd. asking the firm to stop its express boat services at the Bach Dang Wharf. The firm is responsible for its financial obligations. On March 27, the department proposed that the municipal Peoples Committee allow Greenlines DP Technology Company continue offering express boat services at the quay until the end of this year. The reinforced concrete second quay at the Bach Dang Wharf is 80 meters long and nine meters wide. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! WASHINGTON -- Relativity Space, an aerospace startup that carried out the first test flight of a 3D-printed rocket, announced Wednesday that it will focus on a bigger rocket to compete for commercial launches with SpaceX and other companies. The Long Beach, California-based company launched the world's first 3D-printed rocket, Terran 1, on March 22 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Although it failed to reach orbit, the test flight proved that the rocket -- whose mass is 85 percent 3D-printed -- could withstand the rigors of liftoff and space flight. Relativity Space said it was shifting its focus from Terran 1 to a larger, reusable 3D-printed rocket known as Terran R, with the first commercial launches scheduled for 2026 from Florida. "Relativity is accelerating the company's focus on Terran R to meet significant and growing market demand," the company said in a statement. "Terran R also represents a large leap towards Relativity's mission to build humanity's multiplanetary future, eventually offering customers a point-to-point space freighter capable of missions from the Earth to the Moon, Mars, and beyond." The commercial satellite launch market is currently dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX and its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, which is capable of placing a payload of 22,800 kilograms (50,265 pounds) in low Earth orbit. The 270-foot (82-meter) tall Terran R would be able to put a payload of 23,500 kilograms in low Earth orbit, Relativity Space said. A satellite operator can wait for years for a spot on a SpaceX or Arianespace rocket and Relativity Space hopes to accelerate the timeline with its 3D-printed rockets, which it says are less costly to produce and fly. Tim Ellis, co-founder and CEO of Relativity Space. Photo: AFP "Terran 1 was like a concept car, redefining the boundaries of what is possible by developing many valuable brand-new technologies well ahead of their time," Relativity Space CEO Tim Ellis said. "Terran R is the mass-market, huge demand product." Terran 1 was made using the world's largest 3D metal printers and was powered by engines using liquid oxygen and liquid natural gas, what Relativity calls the propellants of the future capable of eventually fueling a voyage to Mars. SpaceX's Starship and Vulcan rockets being developed by United Launch Alliance use the same fuel. Relativity has signed commercial launch contracts worth $1.65 billion for the Terran R, according to Ellis, who co-founded the company in 2015. WASHINGTON -- Relativity Space, an aerospace startup that carried out the first test flight of a 3D-printed rocket, announced Wednesday that it will focus on a bigger rocket to compete for commercial launches with SpaceX and other companies. The Long Beach, California-based company launched the world's first 3D-printed rocket, Terran 1, on March 22 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. Although it failed to reach orbit, the test flight proved that the rocket -- whose mass is 85 percent 3D-printed -- could withstand the rigors of liftoff and space flight. Relativity Space said it was shifting its focus from Terran 1 to a larger, reusable 3D-printed rocket known as Terran R, with the first commercial launches scheduled for 2026 from Florida. "Relativity is accelerating the company's focus on Terran R to meet significant and growing market demand," the company said in a statement. "Terran R also represents a large leap towards Relativity's mission to build humanity's multiplanetary future, eventually offering customers a point-to-point space freighter capable of missions from the Earth to the Moon, Mars, and beyond." The commercial satellite launch market is currently dominated by Elon Musk's SpaceX and its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket, which is capable of placing a payload of 22,800 kilograms (50,265 pounds) in low Earth orbit. The 270-foot (82-meter) tall Terran R would be able to put a payload of 23,500 kilograms in low Earth orbit, Relativity Space said. A satellite operator can wait for years for a spot on a SpaceX or Arianespace rocket and Relativity Space hopes to accelerate the timeline with its 3D-printed rockets, which it says are less costly to produce and fly. Tim Ellis, co-founder and CEO of Relativity Space. Photo: AFP "Terran 1 was like a concept car, redefining the boundaries of what is possible by developing many valuable brand-new technologies well ahead of their time," Relativity Space CEO Tim Ellis said. "Terran R is the mass-market, huge demand product." Terran 1 was made using the world's largest 3D metal printers and was powered by engines using liquid oxygen and liquid natural gas, what Relativity calls the propellants of the future capable of eventually fueling a voyage to Mars. SpaceX's Starship and Vulcan rockets being developed by United Launch Alliance use the same fuel. Relativity has signed commercial launch contracts worth $1.65 billion for the Terran R, according to Ellis, who co-founded the company in 2015. Five public bathrooms will be constructed on vacant land lots in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City as part of a bid to address a dearth of toilets in the city. Ho Chi Minh City vice-chairman Bui Xuan Cuong has approved a proposal from the District 1 Peoples Committee and the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment to build makeshift restrooms on five vacant land lots in District 1. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Investment was assigned to help the district select a suitable investor for the public toilet development project, while the District 1 Peoples Committee is in charge of determining the locations, sizes, and investment methods for them. The district was also told to work with the investor to reach a consensus on the construction time and draw up a plan for dismantlement when the owners of the land lots begin construction on already approved pending projects. Potential investors for the projects have been told that they must be committed to dismantling the projects for free, ensuring that no fees will be collected at the restrooms while they are in use. The District 1 Peoples Committees proposal centered on constructing the public toilets on five vacant land lots whose investors had yet to implement projects, including lots on Nguyen Hue, Le Duan, Nguyen Trung Truc, and Hai Ba Trung Streets. The municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that the department could immediately hand over lots on Le Duan and Hai Ba Trung that are currently under the management of the Land Fund Development Center. Ho Chi Minh City is facing a severe shortage of public restrooms. The city has a mere 51 urination sites and around 200 public restrooms. The city is ranked 67th among 69 tourism cities in the world with poor public toilets, Nikkei Asia cited rankings by QS Supplies, a toilet trading company, in a report released in early February. Woefully, in downtown Ho Chi Minh City the citys tourism hub there is a severe lack of public toilets. District 1 has 18 public restrooms in 13 public locations, including four markets, seven parks, one bus stop, and a residential area. A recent survey conducted by the District 1 Peoples Committee showed that 1-2 million people travel or work each day on the districts streets. Meanwhile, the districts public toilets serve some 12,500 people each day. At a working session with District 1 on March 19, Ho Chi Minh Party chief Nguyen Van Nen said that public restrooms are a necessity for the city and urged the district to speed up public toilet construction, while calling on schools, restaurants, and businesses to allow free use of their toilets. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Five public bathrooms will be constructed on vacant land lots in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City as part of a bid to address a dearth of toilets in the city. Ho Chi Minh City vice-chairman Bui Xuan Cuong has approved a proposal from the District 1 Peoples Committee and the municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment to build makeshift restrooms on five vacant land lots in District 1. The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Planning and Investment was assigned to help the district select a suitable investor for the public toilet development project, while the District 1 Peoples Committee is in charge of determining the locations, sizes, and investment methods for them. The district was also told to work with the investor to reach a consensus on the construction time and draw up a plan for dismantlement when the owners of the land lots begin construction on already approved pending projects. Potential investors for the projects have been told that they must be committed to dismantling the projects for free, ensuring that no fees will be collected at the restrooms while they are in use. The District 1 Peoples Committees proposal centered on constructing the public toilets on five vacant land lots whose investors had yet to implement projects, including lots on Nguyen Hue, Le Duan, Nguyen Trung Truc, and Hai Ba Trung Streets. The municipal Department of Natural Resources and Environment said that the department could immediately hand over lots on Le Duan and Hai Ba Trung that are currently under the management of the Land Fund Development Center. Ho Chi Minh City is facing a severe shortage of public restrooms. The city has a mere 51 urination sites and around 200 public restrooms. The city is ranked 67th among 69 tourism cities in the world with poor public toilets, Nikkei Asia cited rankings by QS Supplies, a toilet trading company, in a report released in early February. Woefully, in downtown Ho Chi Minh City the citys tourism hub there is a severe lack of public toilets. District 1 has 18 public restrooms in 13 public locations, including four markets, seven parks, one bus stop, and a residential area. A recent survey conducted by the District 1 Peoples Committee showed that 1-2 million people travel or work each day on the districts streets. Meanwhile, the districts public toilets serve some 12,500 people each day. At a working session with District 1 on March 19, Ho Chi Minh Party chief Nguyen Van Nen said that public restrooms are a necessity for the city and urged the district to speed up public toilet construction, while calling on schools, restaurants, and businesses to allow free use of their toilets. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has adjusted the expected completion date for its first metro line project to the end of this year, two years later than previously planned. Post-construction work will last from 2024 to 2028. The contractors warranty period will last from 2024 to 2025 and the contractor will continue its operation and maintenance support from 2024 to 2028. The city asked that the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), the investor of the project, organize the execution of the project in line with the law and the approved schedule, ensuring its financial and socio-economic effectiveness. MAUR was asked to draw up a detailed plan for carrying out the remaining workload and analyzing risks associated with the project. The investor was also told to coordinate with the municipal Department of Planning and Investment, along with the Department of Finance, to ensure capital sources for the project and come up with solutions to prevent capital risks when items lag behind schedule. MAUR will also be responsible for reporting issues of the project to the city so that the latter can direct departments and agencies to deal with the issues and take full responsibility before the municipal Peoples Committee and other state bodies in case of further delays. Meanwhile, the Department of Planning and Investment must work with the Department of Finance and relevant units to submit a proposal to the municipal Peoples Committee to allocate adequate capital for the project. The investor should choose a unit to assess and certify the routes safety, seek the State Council for Acceptance of Construction Works approval for a draft acceptance of the project, and cope with the fallen rubber cushion used for a girder of a viaduct at the project. Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railways No. 1 Co. Ltd. should be provided with capital to recruit employees operating the metro line. The company used up its granted charter capital of VND14 billion (US$597,313) in August 2021, when its employees stopped receiving salaries and social insurance premiums, currently valued at VND6.7 billion ($286,157). Up to 21 out of 36 employees of the company have quit despite a need for 706 laborers to operate and maintain the metro line. The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has proposed that the Ministry of Finance handle the companys financial problem. Contractors have also asked Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railways No. 1 Co. Ltd. to dispatch human resources for training and technology transfer since last month but the company has yet to meet the requirement. The first metro line project in Ho Chi Minh City was approved in 2007 with an initial investment of over VND17 trillion ($725.6 million). Work on the project started in August 2012 and was scheduled to be completed in 2018. The project saw its estimated investment revised up to VND43.7 trillion ($1.9 billion) and planned completion delayed to the last quarter of 2021 due to multiple bottlenecks. The project was delayed further due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the late signing of an appendix of the consultancy contract. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave a nod to the delay to the expected completion of the project to the last quarter of 2023. The first metro line is now 94.55 percent complete. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has adjusted the expected completion date for its first metro line project to the end of this year, two years later than previously planned. Post-construction work will last from 2024 to 2028. The contractors warranty period will last from 2024 to 2025 and the contractor will continue its operation and maintenance support from 2024 to 2028. The city asked that the Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railway Management Board (MAUR), the investor of the project, organize the execution of the project in line with the law and the approved schedule, ensuring its financial and socio-economic effectiveness. MAUR was asked to draw up a detailed plan for carrying out the remaining workload and analyzing risks associated with the project. The investor was also told to coordinate with the municipal Department of Planning and Investment, along with the Department of Finance, to ensure capital sources for the project and come up with solutions to prevent capital risks when items lag behind schedule. MAUR will also be responsible for reporting issues of the project to the city so that the latter can direct departments and agencies to deal with the issues and take full responsibility before the municipal Peoples Committee and other state bodies in case of further delays. Meanwhile, the Department of Planning and Investment must work with the Department of Finance and relevant units to submit a proposal to the municipal Peoples Committee to allocate adequate capital for the project. The investor should choose a unit to assess and certify the routes safety, seek the State Council for Acceptance of Construction Works approval for a draft acceptance of the project, and cope with the fallen rubber cushion used for a girder of a viaduct at the project. Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railways No. 1 Co. Ltd. should be provided with capital to recruit employees operating the metro line. The company used up its granted charter capital of VND14 billion (US$597,313) in August 2021, when its employees stopped receiving salaries and social insurance premiums, currently valued at VND6.7 billion ($286,157). Up to 21 out of 36 employees of the company have quit despite a need for 706 laborers to operate and maintain the metro line. The Ho Chi Minh City Peoples Committee has proposed that the Ministry of Finance handle the companys financial problem. Contractors have also asked Ho Chi Minh City Urban Railways No. 1 Co. Ltd. to dispatch human resources for training and technology transfer since last month but the company has yet to meet the requirement. The first metro line project in Ho Chi Minh City was approved in 2007 with an initial investment of over VND17 trillion ($725.6 million). Work on the project started in August 2012 and was scheduled to be completed in 2018. The project saw its estimated investment revised up to VND43.7 trillion ($1.9 billion) and planned completion delayed to the last quarter of 2021 due to multiple bottlenecks. The project was delayed further due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the late signing of an appendix of the consultancy contract. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh gave a nod to the delay to the expected completion of the project to the last quarter of 2023. The first metro line is now 94.55 percent complete. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The number of children visiting hospitals in Hanoi is soaring, with the majority involving respiratory illnesses. Vietnam National Childrens Hospital was overflowing with sick children and their parents on Wednesday morning, with patients facing agonizing wait times. My child got sick when the weather in Hanoi turned cold. I gave my child medicine that had been prescribed by a clinic near our home, but it did not help, said Hue, the mother of a child suffering from a cough and fever. Tran Thi Hoai Thuong, a resident of Hai Phong, 120km east of Hanoi, also spent Wednesday morning with her child at Vietnam National Childrens Hospital. Thuong and her child arrived at the hospital at 7:00 am on Wednesday and were given number 43 for their turn. By 10:00 am, doctors had only reached number 27. Its always crowded at the hospital and there are always long waits. The [long waits] make sick children uncomfortable and upset, said Thuong. It is not a surge though the number of pediatric patients at the hospital has risen, according to a representative from Vietnam National Childrens Hospital. The representative also noted that the hospital examines about 4,000 child outpatients each day. The number of childhood patients at other Hanoi hospitals is also on the rise, with Ha Dong General Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, and Thanh Nhan Hospital all reporting completely full pediatric departments. Rising respiratory illnesses The number of newborns and children under six months being put on respirators in order to cope with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is on the rise, according to Dr. Nguyen Thuy Duong, head of the pediatric department of Ha Dong General Hospital, The symptoms of RSV often mimic those of the flu, Dr. Duong noted. RSV is a common and contagious virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. It is the a particularly common cause of respiratory hospitalization among infants. Nguyet, a resident of Ha Dong District in Hanoi who is caring for her newborn at the hospital, said that her child was hospitalized with a cough and fever. The child was then diagnosed with RSV and respiratory failure and had to be put on a respirator. Most of [the children] who are hospitalized have a cough and fever. If patients are not examined in a timely manner, they risk developing obliterative bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure, Dr. Duong said. Because of RSVs ability to spread quickly, one infected child can transmit the virus to five other children. "If infected patients are not detected and treated, the disease can threaten their lives and others'. RSV is not the only disease wreaking havoc on Hanois pediatric departments. Cases of both chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) are also climbing. Hanoi reported 185 cases of chickenpox last week, bringing the total to 985 since the start of the year, according to statistics from the Hanoi Center for Disease Control. The city also recorded 50 HFMD cases over the past week, taking the count to 298 since the beginning of the year, up 294 cases year on year. In order to avoid these diseases, doctors have advised against allowing children to gather in public places. They have also suggested that children wear face masks when venturing out and avoid having close contact with other children who display symptoms of a cough and fever. Parents should also make sure their children bathe, wash their hands, and consume key nutrients. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The number of children visiting hospitals in Hanoi is soaring, with the majority involving respiratory illnesses. Vietnam National Childrens Hospital was overflowing with sick children and their parents on Wednesday morning, with patients facing agonizing wait times. My child got sick when the weather in Hanoi turned cold. I gave my child medicine that had been prescribed by a clinic near our home, but it did not help, said Hue, the mother of a child suffering from a cough and fever. Tran Thi Hoai Thuong, a resident of Hai Phong, 120km east of Hanoi, also spent Wednesday morning with her child at Vietnam National Childrens Hospital. Thuong and her child arrived at the hospital at 7:00 am on Wednesday and were given number 43 for their turn. By 10:00 am, doctors had only reached number 27. Its always crowded at the hospital and there are always long waits. The [long waits] make sick children uncomfortable and upset, said Thuong. It is not a surge though the number of pediatric patients at the hospital has risen, according to a representative from Vietnam National Childrens Hospital. The representative also noted that the hospital examines about 4,000 child outpatients each day. The number of childhood patients at other Hanoi hospitals is also on the rise, with Ha Dong General Hospital, Bach Mai Hospital, and Thanh Nhan Hospital all reporting completely full pediatric departments. Rising respiratory illnesses The number of newborns and children under six months being put on respirators in order to cope with respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is on the rise, according to Dr. Nguyen Thuy Duong, head of the pediatric department of Ha Dong General Hospital, The symptoms of RSV often mimic those of the flu, Dr. Duong noted. RSV is a common and contagious virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. It is the a particularly common cause of respiratory hospitalization among infants. Nguyet, a resident of Ha Dong District in Hanoi who is caring for her newborn at the hospital, said that her child was hospitalized with a cough and fever. The child was then diagnosed with RSV and respiratory failure and had to be put on a respirator. Most of [the children] who are hospitalized have a cough and fever. If patients are not examined in a timely manner, they risk developing obliterative bronchiolitis, pneumonia, and respiratory failure, Dr. Duong said. Because of RSVs ability to spread quickly, one infected child can transmit the virus to five other children. "If infected patients are not detected and treated, the disease can threaten their lives and others'. RSV is not the only disease wreaking havoc on Hanois pediatric departments. Cases of both chickenpox and hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) are also climbing. Hanoi reported 185 cases of chickenpox last week, bringing the total to 985 since the start of the year, according to statistics from the Hanoi Center for Disease Control. The city also recorded 50 HFMD cases over the past week, taking the count to 298 since the beginning of the year, up 294 cases year on year. In order to avoid these diseases, doctors have advised against allowing children to gather in public places. They have also suggested that children wear face masks when venturing out and avoid having close contact with other children who display symptoms of a cough and fever. Parents should also make sure their children bathe, wash their hands, and consume key nutrients. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Binh Dinh Province in south-central Vietnam will organize its first-ever hot-air balloon festival from April 24 to May 5 as part of an effort to attract domestic and foreign tourists. The festival, entitled 'Quy Nhon Sea Paradise Brilliant Colors,' will be held at Quy Nhon Square in the namesake city in Binh Dinh Province, deputy director of the provincial Department of Tourism Huynh Cao Nhat said on Wednesday. Twelve colorful hot-air balloons, each measuring 25-28 meters in diameter, will float above the city throughout the festival. The hot-air balloons can rise 300-500 meters into the air and carry two to five passengers each flight. Tourists can opt for either tethered or free-floating balloon as they explore the beautiful sea city from above. Free-floating rides will start at 6:00 am every day with two passengers and a pilot on the balloons. These rides last 45-60 minutes. Meanwhile, the tethered balloon rides will open from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm daily. Each balloon can accommodate two to three passengers and a pilot for five-minute rides. This is the first time Binh Dinh has held a hot-air balloon festival. It will be a key tourism activity for the province in 2023 and will help to woo local and international travelers, said Nhat. Binh Dinh will also hold a photo exhibition to display its tourism offerings, the final round of the Miss World Vietnam 2023, a convention for the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program and traditional craft villages in Binh Dinh, and a martial arts fest, according to the provincial Department of Tourism. The province served 1.26 million tourists in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 33 percent. Its tourism revenue reached VND2.6 trillion (US$111 million) last quarter, double the figure from the same period last year. Binh Dinh set targets of welcoming five million visitors and generating tourism revenue of VND16.4 trillion ($700 million) this year, Nhan Dan (People) newspaper reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Binh Dinh Province in south-central Vietnam will organize its first-ever hot-air balloon festival from April 24 to May 5 as part of an effort to attract domestic and foreign tourists. The festival, entitled 'Quy Nhon Sea Paradise Brilliant Colors,' will be held at Quy Nhon Square in the namesake city in Binh Dinh Province, deputy director of the provincial Department of Tourism Huynh Cao Nhat said on Wednesday. Twelve colorful hot-air balloons, each measuring 25-28 meters in diameter, will float above the city throughout the festival. The hot-air balloons can rise 300-500 meters into the air and carry two to five passengers each flight. Tourists can opt for either tethered or free-floating balloon as they explore the beautiful sea city from above. Free-floating rides will start at 6:00 am every day with two passengers and a pilot on the balloons. These rides last 45-60 minutes. Meanwhile, the tethered balloon rides will open from 5:30 pm to 7:30 pm daily. Each balloon can accommodate two to three passengers and a pilot for five-minute rides. This is the first time Binh Dinh has held a hot-air balloon festival. It will be a key tourism activity for the province in 2023 and will help to woo local and international travelers, said Nhat. Binh Dinh will also hold a photo exhibition to display its tourism offerings, the final round of the Miss World Vietnam 2023, a convention for the One Commune One Product (OCOP) program and traditional craft villages in Binh Dinh, and a martial arts fest, according to the provincial Department of Tourism. The province served 1.26 million tourists in the first quarter of this year, a year-on-year increase of 33 percent. Its tourism revenue reached VND2.6 trillion (US$111 million) last quarter, double the figure from the same period last year. Binh Dinh set targets of welcoming five million visitors and generating tourism revenue of VND16.4 trillion ($700 million) this year, Nhan Dan (People) newspaper reported. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The website vietnam.vn, whose input is sourced from over 100 large press agencies and the portals of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam, was introduced on Thursday to provide information about the Southeast Asian country. The website is being operated on a trial basis and will be upgraded further in the coming time. Vietnam is now home to 250 press agencies and some 80 websites in foreign languages of ministries, agencies, and localities, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications. That is not to mention many media channels on social networks of organizations, enterprises, and individuals that have been promoting the images of the country and Vietnamese people to the world. A screenshot of the home page of vietnam.vn The website vietnam.vn will provide updates on localities and stunning photos and videos about Vietnam. Vietnam.vn is an open platform where locals and foreigners can express their viewpoints and insights on Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications. The website uses the automatic translation tool Google Translate to translate its content into English, French, German, Russian, Korean, and Japanese. A screenshot of the photo and video contest 'Happy Vietnam 2023' on the website vietnam.vn The Authority of Foreign Information Service under the Ministry of Information and Communications also launched a photo and video contest called 'Happy Vietnam 2023' under the theme 'For Everyones Happiness' on the occasion of the launch of the website. The contest is open to all Vietnamese people and foreigners to encourage them to promote Vietnams images with prizes totaling VND400 million (US$17,138). Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The website vietnam.vn, whose input is sourced from over 100 large press agencies and the portals of 63 provinces and cities in Vietnam, was introduced on Thursday to provide information about the Southeast Asian country. The website is being operated on a trial basis and will be upgraded further in the coming time. Vietnam is now home to 250 press agencies and some 80 websites in foreign languages of ministries, agencies, and localities, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications. That is not to mention many media channels on social networks of organizations, enterprises, and individuals that have been promoting the images of the country and Vietnamese people to the world. A screenshot of the home page of vietnam.vn The website vietnam.vn will provide updates on localities and stunning photos and videos about Vietnam. Vietnam.vn is an open platform where locals and foreigners can express their viewpoints and insights on Vietnam, according to the Ministry of Information and Communications. The website uses the automatic translation tool Google Translate to translate its content into English, French, German, Russian, Korean, and Japanese. A screenshot of the photo and video contest 'Happy Vietnam 2023' on the website vietnam.vn The Authority of Foreign Information Service under the Ministry of Information and Communications also launched a photo and video contest called 'Happy Vietnam 2023' under the theme 'For Everyones Happiness' on the occasion of the launch of the website. The contest is open to all Vietnamese people and foreigners to encourage them to promote Vietnams images with prizes totaling VND400 million (US$17,138). Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A national record of 100 delicious dishes made from sentinel crabs was set at an event held in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province in Vietnams Mekong Delta region on Wednesday afternoon. Speaking at the event, Ho Dac Thuan, director of the Center for Culture, Sports, and Radio of Phu Quoc, lauded the island as a paradise amidst the sea blessed with natural advantages and a mild climate that attracts a large number of tourists. Delegates receive the certificate of the Vietnamese record of 100 delicious dishes made from sentinel crabs in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, April 12, 2023. Photo: V. Xuan / Tuoi Tre Phu Quocs cuisine also impresses tourists with many specialties such as pepper, sim wine, which is made from the fruits of the local rose myrtle, fish sauce, herring salad, grilled jack mackerels, and sea urchins, according to Thuan. Chefs prepare dishes from sentinel crab at a Vietnamese record-setting event in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, April 12, 2023. Photo: V. Xuan / Tuoi Tre Among that, the Ham Ninh sentinel crab, which is native to the namesake fishing village and perfect for various dishes such as crab sticky rice, sour and spicy crab soup, crab roasted with tamarind, and spicy salted crab claws, is tourists favorite. Dishes made from sentinel crab are on display at a Vietnamese record-setting event in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, April 12, 2023. Photo: V. Xuan / Tuoi Tre Therefore, Thuans center organized Wednesdays event as a way to promote the Ham Ninh sentinel crab and Phu Quoc seafood specialties at large. Sixty chefs skillfully prepared Ham Ninh sentinel crabs and turned them into about 100 dishes such as sentinel crab in salted egg sauce, Phu Quoc-style butter sauteed sentinel crab, salted sentinel crab claws, Cham-style rice served with sentinel crab curry, and sentinel crab served with sticky rice. A dish made from sentinel crab is on display at a Vietnamese record-setting event in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, April 12, 2023. Photo: V. Xuan / Tuoi Tre The event is expected to leave a lasting impression of the distinctive cuisine of the island on tourists, Thuan said. Previously, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam granted a collective mark to a group of Ham Ninh sentinel crab providers on February 8, 2022. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! A national record of 100 delicious dishes made from sentinel crabs was set at an event held in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province in Vietnams Mekong Delta region on Wednesday afternoon. Speaking at the event, Ho Dac Thuan, director of the Center for Culture, Sports, and Radio of Phu Quoc, lauded the island as a paradise amidst the sea blessed with natural advantages and a mild climate that attracts a large number of tourists. Delegates receive the certificate of the Vietnamese record of 100 delicious dishes made from sentinel crabs in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, April 12, 2023. Photo: V. Xuan / Tuoi Tre Phu Quocs cuisine also impresses tourists with many specialties such as pepper, sim wine, which is made from the fruits of the local rose myrtle, fish sauce, herring salad, grilled jack mackerels, and sea urchins, according to Thuan. Chefs prepare dishes from sentinel crab at a Vietnamese record-setting event in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, April 12, 2023. Photo: V. Xuan / Tuoi Tre Among that, the Ham Ninh sentinel crab, which is native to the namesake fishing village and perfect for various dishes such as crab sticky rice, sour and spicy crab soup, crab roasted with tamarind, and spicy salted crab claws, is tourists favorite. Dishes made from sentinel crab are on display at a Vietnamese record-setting event in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, April 12, 2023. Photo: V. Xuan / Tuoi Tre Therefore, Thuans center organized Wednesdays event as a way to promote the Ham Ninh sentinel crab and Phu Quoc seafood specialties at large. Sixty chefs skillfully prepared Ham Ninh sentinel crabs and turned them into about 100 dishes such as sentinel crab in salted egg sauce, Phu Quoc-style butter sauteed sentinel crab, salted sentinel crab claws, Cham-style rice served with sentinel crab curry, and sentinel crab served with sticky rice. A dish made from sentinel crab is on display at a Vietnamese record-setting event in Phu Quoc Island City off Kien Giang Province, Vietnam, April 12, 2023. Photo: V. Xuan / Tuoi Tre The event is expected to leave a lasting impression of the distinctive cuisine of the island on tourists, Thuan said. Previously, the Intellectual Property Office of Vietnam granted a collective mark to a group of Ham Ninh sentinel crab providers on February 8, 2022. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) A health advocate on Thursday said young adults are encouraged to receive the second COVID-19 booster vaccine amid threats of other illnesses that make them vulnerable to the coronavirus. "Lifestyle diseases are killing the younger population so its a reason that the second booster should be given to all and be accessible or even mandatory, Dr. Tony Leachon told CNN Philippines The Source. Latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that the top three leading causes of death in the country remain to be non-communicable diseases (NCDs), particularly, ischaemic heart diseases, cerebrovascular diseases, and neoplasms. These NCDs are lifestyle-related diseases as they are mostly the result of unhealthy habits, according to the Department of Health (DOH). Leachon explained that these lifestyle-related diseases are very common among the young adult population, claiming that the new 50 is around 30s or even younger. We want to protect the young population. The young population are getting sicker lang. Hindi lang sila healthy adults [Theyre not healthy adults.] I think thats one thing we need to consider, he said. Pending the release of guidelines, the DOH has announced that adults 18 years old and above may soon receive their second booster shot. Prior to this, only the vulnerable population, which includes health workers, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities, were allowed to get an additional booster. Leachon said this could have been done earlier before over 50 million doses of COVID-19 shots expired. As the COVID-19 positivity rate increases to around 7% due to increased mobility, it is important to also protect the general population since most of them are working individuals, he added. Infectious diseases expert Dr. Rontgene Solante also said in a public briefing on Thursday that getting the second booster is recommended, especially for those who got their first shot six to eight months ago since their immunity has already waned. Leachon said he believes the DOH will ensure that unexpired vaccines will be used for the administration of second booster shots. Given the limited time these stocks have, the expert urged the government to deploy vaccination sites in universities, workplaces, and pharmacies to be able to reach more eligible individuals. Latest DOH data showed that more than 78 million individuals have received their primary COVID-19 vaccine, and 23 million have received their booster shots. RELATED: DOH logs 1,944 new COVID-19 cases from April 3 to 9, up 13% from previous week Season 20 of Grand Designs begins on ABC this Sunday night as Kevin McCloud meets a couple builing an eye-popping curved glass family home in the south Manchester suburb where they grew up. Colin and Adele are adventurous types, not afraid to explore the more hair-raising corners of the planet. Through his film production company, Colin has even filmed in North Korea with dictator Kim Jong-un. However, his next production will involve his biggest challenge yet building an eye-popping curved glass family home in the south Manchester suburb where the couple grew up. Colin and Adele have followed their globetrotting instincts by engaging a Swedish architect, an Italian interior design company, and a Latvian building company. But will this multinational team click together, or will their plans get lost in translation? Right from the start their 700k construction budget comes under stress when Colin refuses to compromise and goes with an expensive engineering change to make the house look like its floating. However, it gets a lot worse a few months in, when there is a manpower issue with the contractors Colin paid up front to build the entire structure. 7:30pm Sunday on ABC. Levels of Diversity in Drama have improved across First Nations, LGBTIQ+ and non-European people according to a new report by Screen Australia. However, while numbers have also improved for disabled people on screen, representation remains critically low compared to the Australian population. Just 3.9% of actors receiving main roles publicly identify as disabled. Seven in ten titles feature no main characters who are disabled. Seeing Ourselves 2: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Australian TV Drama examined the diversity of main characters in 361 scripted Australian TV and online dramas (including YouTube, Facebook, IGTV, TikTok) between 2016 and 2021, and how this compares to the Australian population. Characters were analysed by cultural background, disability, gender, sexual orientation, occupational status and two new variables: age and location, as well as how these different aspects of diversity intersect. The report found the following increases: Non-European people (16% from 6.9%) LGBTIQ+ people (7.4% from 4.5%) First Nations people (7.2% from 4.8%) Disabled people (6.6% from 3.6%) There is a strong and growing level of First Nations representation on screen. However, First Nations main characters are more concentrated in fewer titles than characters from other groups. Among First Nations main characters, there are lower rates of LGBTIQ+ and disability representation than among main characters overall. The overall rate of LGBTIQ+ representation has also improved but is still significantly below the population benchmark. Almost seven in ten titles have no LGBTIQ+ main characters, and almost half of the titles that feature LGBTIQ+ main characters feature just one. 4.8% of actors cast in main roles publicly identify as LGBTIQ+ including four trans men, three trans women and ten nonbinary actors. Nearly all trans or gender diverse main characters are played by actors who publicly identify as trans or gender diverse. One in four TV dramas feature all AngloCeltic main characters, which remarkably an improvement from around one in three in a previous study. The report also found an underrepresentation of people aged under 12 or 60 and over, and people in regional areas. There is a bias in Australian TV drama towards centring stories on characters aged 1844, and living in capital cities. There is also a bias towards socioeconomic advantage on our screens, particularly among AngloCeltic and European main characters. While nearly all groups are represented at all occupation skill levels, First Nations, nonEuropean and disabled characters are less likely to be represented in higher skill level occupations. Minister for the Arts, Tony Burke said, Australian drama on screen is compelling and powerful. Its a cornerstone of how Australians see themselves, learn about each other and how the world comes to know us. It shouldnt be too much to ask that when you watch Australian screen, it looks like modern Australia. Screen Australias CEO, Graeme Mason said, Its vital that Australian screen stories authentically reflect the diversity of our nation, and we know that the screen industry is becoming more aware of the cultural and commercial value of creating diverse content. Its great to see improvements since 2016, however these results show that the overall pace of progress is slow and there is a long way to go to reach genuine representation of Australias diverse communities on screen. Authenticity and inclusivity are a core consideration in all of our work at Screen Australia, and are why we invested in this new Seeing Ourselves report. This research serves to shine a light on the current landscape, and we hope it will inform, educate and influence decision-making across the whole sector. We know more action is needed to bring about transformative change and collaboration will be essential. We look forward to working with the sector to achieve greater representation in the Australian screen industry. The report provides the industry with key findings that show the gaps in representation on-screen and some of the challenges faced by practitioners in the sector. FIRST NATIONS The study found that the level of First Nations representation on screen is strong, increasing from 4.8% of main characters in the previous study to 7.2%, compared to the population benchmark of 3.8%. Screen Australias Head of First Nations Angela Bates said, For Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to be able to see ourselves represented on screen in shows such as Mystery Road, Total Control and Black Comedy, is powerful. This result shows good progress and its not by accident it represents years of advocacy and consistent hard work to ensure our practitioners feel supported and are afforded opportunities in an industry that hasnt always been accessible. Its proof of whats possible when we are empowered to tell stories from our perspective it translates to screen and gives credibility to stories in a way that cant be replicated, slowly breaking down stereotypes and barriers, which is extremely validating. While more work needs to be done, the positive impact that seeing ourselves on screens has on entire communities cannot be underestimated, and all Australians benefit because it adds so much more cultural richness to our screens. CULTURAL BACKGROUND (NON-FIRST NATIONS) Although 53% of the Australian population have Anglo-Celtic ancestry, they represented 71% of main characters in this study. This is down from 82% in 2016, suggesting the industry has made efforts to increase the cultural diversity in the main characters on our screens. For the purpose of this report and to allow for comparison with the 2016 report, top-level findings for cultural background has been grouped into Anglo-Celtic, European and non-European2, mirroring key waves of migration to Australia. The share of non-European main characters (for example, those with Indian, Chinese or Middle Eastern ancestry) has more than doubled from 6.9% to 16%. However, this is still lower than the population benchmark of 25%. One in four TV dramas feature all Anglo-Celtic main characters, down from one in three in the previous study. DISABILITY The rate of disability representation among main characters has improved, but from a low base. Disability remains very much under-represented in TV drama (6.6%, up from 3.6% in the previous study) compared to the Australian population (18%). The report found that nearly three quarters of programs did not feature any disabled main characters, an improvement from the 90% reported in 2016. This indicates that more work needs to be done so that disabled people are included as main characters in our screen stories. GENDER IDENTITY AND SEXUAL ORIENTATION The gender of main characters was evenly split between women and men, similar to the Australian population. There were 13 characters who are transgender (0.4% of main characters) and five who are non-binary (0.2%). At the time of preparing this report, there were no population statistics for people who are trans and/or gender diverse. Representation of LGBTIQ+ characters has increased to 7.4%, up from 4.5% in 2016. This is still lower than the estimated 11% of the population who identify as LGBTIQ+. The report found that 69% of programs did not feature any LGBTIQ+ characters, a slight improvement from 73% in 2016. Jennifer DeStefano (r) received a distressing call she believed to be from her daughter Brie (Jennifer DeStefano/Facebook) A mother has said she was 100 per cent convinced by an AI voice clone of her daughter that scammers used in a faked kidnapping attempt. Jennifer DeStefano from Arizona picked up a call from an unknown number and heard what she believed to be her 15-year-old daughter Brie sobbing. The voice on the other end of the line said, mom, I messed up, before a male voice took over and made threatening demands. This man gets on the phone, and hes like, listen here, Ive got your daughter, Ms DeStafano told local news show WKYT. The apparent kidnapper told the mother: You call the police, you call anybody, Im going to pop her so full of drugs, Im going to have my way with her, and Im going to drop her off in Mexico. In the background, Ms DeStefano said she could hear her daughter saying help me, mom, please help me and crying. It was 100 per cent her voice, Ms DeStefano said. It was never a question of who is this? It was completely her voice, it was her inflection, it was the way she would have cried I never doubted for one second it was her. That was the freaky part that really got me to my core. The apparent kidnapper demanded $1 million for the daughter to be released, before lowering the figure to $50,000. Ms DeStefano only realised that her daughter was safe after a friend called her husband and confirmed that she was safe. The scammer, who police are still investigating, appears to have used artificial intelligence voice clone technology, which has become increasingly competent in recent years at mimicking peoples voices. It is also relatively easy to access and use, with AI tools freely available on the internet. AI-generated voices have already been used in films to replicate actors like James Earl Jones who voiced the original Darth Vader character in the Star Wars franchise. Voice clone apps that use artificial intelligence to mimic how people sound are becoming increasingly popular and powerful (iStock/ Getty Images) It has also been touted as a way for authors to produce audiobooks without spending hours in a studio reading their work. The technology has also raised fears that it could be misused by scammers or people attempting to create deepfake videos, with one voice clone startup warning that it could be harmful in the wrong hands. In a press release last year, the firm Respeecher said: The widespread attention and adoption of deepfake technologies will accelerate the need to regulate the use of the technology. (Bloomberg) -- Americans are increasingly seeing China as an enemy of the US rather than a competitor, reflecting growing public skepticism over the ability for the worlds two largest economies to cooperate, according to a new survey by the Pew Research Center. Most Read from Bloomberg Some 38% of respondents to the survey labeled China as an enemy, up 13 percentage points from last year. More than half those polled described China as a competitor, while just 6% said the country was a partner of the US. The survey of more than 3,500 US adults, which was taken in late March and published Wednesday, also found that 83% of respondents had unfavorable opinions of China up one percentage point from 2022. The Pew report drew upon focus groups conducted in Virginia late last year, too. People are broadly concerned about Chinas role in the world, the Pew researchers wrote in the report, which also highlighted worries about Chinese President Xi Jinpings relationship with Russian President Vladimir Putin in the aftermath of the ongoing war in Ukraine. Few Americans have confidence in Xi to do the right thing in world affairs including nearly half who say they have no confidence at all in him. The report underscores the worsening US-China relationship, which soured during the Trump administration with the trade war and was further strained during the pandemic, which former President Donald Trump called a Chinese plague. The nations also tussled over allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang and the crackdown on political freedoms in Hong Kong. Ties have continued to deteriorate under President Joe Biden, with Xi in March accusing the US of containment over Chinas technological advances. An alleged Chinese spy balloon was also shot down over American skies recently, prompting US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to call off his visit to China. Story continues Taiwan has been another pain point: Meetings between President Tsai Ing-wens and major US political leaders have led Beijing to up military pressure on the island. Beijing sees the democracy as part of its territory, and concerns about a potential conflict have been growing. Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said he wouldnt comment on survey results but blamed anti-China forces for spreading disinformation about his country, misleading public opinion. China is committed to peaceful development, he said Thursday at a regular press briefing in Beijing. Our development is an opportunity for the world, not a challenge to anyone. The Pew survey found that 47% of respondents think tensions between China and Taiwan are very serious, a record high share. Some 62% of those surveyed also cited the China-Russia partnership as a very serious issue, too. Nearly half of the surveys respondents now see the US as the worlds leading economic power while only about 40% see China on top a marked change from last year, when opinion was divided equally between the two. Even so, around eight in 10 Americans said economic competition with China was at least a somewhat serious problem. --With assistance from Philip Glamann. (Updates with comment from Chinas Foreign Ministry.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Russian officers guard during the Victory Day Parade at Red Square on May 9, 2022 in Moscow, Russia. Russian officers guard during the Victory Day Parade at Red Square on May 9, 2022 in Moscow, Russia. Russia may inadvertently expose the real extent of its losses in Ukraine by honouring those who fell in World War 2 next month, according to the UK. The Ministry of Defence explained in its daily update on Thursday how Russias annual high-profile military parade to mark World War 2s Victory Day on May 6 has been partially cancelled. Reportedly, some regions bordering Ukraine, and the occupied peninsula of Crimea, had called the celebration off due to security concerns while the parade is still going to take place further inland. But this split poses a sensitive communications challenge for the Kremlin, according to the UK officials. Vladimir Putin has positioned the ongoing war in Ukraine in the spirit of the Soviet experience in World War 2. The Russian president first justified the special military operation (otherwise known as the invasion of Ukraine) by making the baseless claim he was just trying to de-nazify the country. The Soviet Union did unite with the US and Britain to fight Nazi Germany in World War 2, leading to the death of almost 20 million Soviet soldiers on the Eastern Front. But, trying to revive the World War 2 spirit this May poses a particular risk to the Kremlin, according to the MoD. The UK officials explained: The message risks sitting increasingly uneasily with the many Russians who have immediate insights into the mismanaged and failing campaign in Ukraine. Honouring the fallen of previous generations could easily blue into exposing the scope of the recent losses, which the Kremlin attempts to cover up. Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine - 13 April 2023. Find out more about Defence Intelligence's use of language: https://t.co/SVyeIJPUC4 #StandWithUkraine pic.twitter.com/YXX1fNpkdM Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 13, 2023 Since last year, there have been widespread reports that Russia has tried to cover up the extent of its casualties. Story continues Some claim the Kremlin has been placing injured troops in Belarusian hospitals to avoid further demoralising troops who are already struggling amid their string of losses on the frontline. After all, Russia initially claimed that the war in Ukraine would last a matter of days. More than a year later, it has faced tremendous losses and altered its goals rather than hoping to conquer the whole country, it is now looking just to maintain the Donbas region and hold onto Crimea. The UK also suggested in February that Putins invasion has led to between 175,000 and 200,000 Russian casualties in the last year, including between 40,000 and 60,000 deaths. The MoD claimed that the casualty rate had significantly increased since Putin introduced partial mobilisation back in September, bringing in an extra 300,000 reservists. The move triggered widespread protests in Russia with more than 1,000 people detained, with many others trying to flee the country. Related... A lorry driver has been jailed for nine years for smuggling migrants into the UK in the back of his refrigerated truck carrying spinach. Romanian national Marinel Danut Palage was a key member of an organised crime group convicted of bringing migrants illegally into the country. The 31-year-old, who lives in Spain, would meet the migrants in northern France before taking them in the back of his lorry on a ferry from Caen to Portsmouth. Marinel Danut Palage (NCA/PA) He would then drive them to an industrial estate at Runcton near Chichester, West Sussex, where they would be met by drivers to take them to the Midlands and north of England. Bournemouth Crown Court heard that the operation was carried out at least three times bringing about 10 to 12 people illegally into the UK. Palage and the four others were arrested in March 2019 on the third trip by officers following a four-year investigation by the National Crime Agency. During a search of his cab, plastic bags containing 34,500 in cash, with further bundles of euros and sterling to the value of about 7,000, were discovered hidden behind a tachograph panel. Sentencing Palage, Judge William Mousley KC told him: You performed the essential function of driving the immigrants across the border in your lorry. Cash was hidden behind a panel in the lorry (NCA/PA) You had a clear organisational role in managing aspects of the enterprise. You expected, and received, large sums of money for your involvement. The judge added that Palage had shown no remorse as he had gone on to carry out similar offences in Germany and had to be extradited to stand trial in the UK. He ordered that Palages vehicle and the money found to be seized. Father-of-three Pshtewan Ghafour, 37, from Middlesbrough, was jailed for five years for his role in the organisation which included ensuring the group members were paid. Pshtewan Ghafour (NCA/PA) Both defendants were found guilty of conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration following a four-week trial. NCA branch commander Richard Harrison said: This people smuggling group were content to put vulnerable migrants, including children, in the back of refrigerated lorries for hours on end during dangerous Channel crossings . Story continues It is clear from the evidence we found that their sole reason was for profit, without any regard to the migrants safety. A NCA spokesman said that Palage and Ghafour were arrested following a surveillance operation on March 11 2019 and Palages lorry was found to be carrying at least three people on that occasion. The ringleader Goran Jalal, 37, from Bradford, remains wanted by the NCA having absconded following his arrest. Kamaran Kader, 44, also from Bradford; Mariwan Mustafa, 33, from Halifax; and Manchester duo Jamal Saied, 38; and 37-year-old Hemin Salih, who has also absconded, will be sentenced separately for their part in the network. SWNS A family-run restaurant has pleaded for a group of diners to come back and settle their 60 bill after they allegedly did a runner while staff were distracted. The crafty family-of-four can be seen on CCTV footage apparently sneaking out of an Italian restaurant as staff prepared their deserts on Saturday night. The unknown man and woman were first seen by checking for filming equipment before chowing down on a 60 dinner with their two kids. But a CCTV camera caught them later making their escape from Vitos in Sheffield, South Yorks., after they ordered deserts to distract the unsuspecting staff. Chef Vito Ciaraolo, 59, who has owned the classic Italian restaurant for 32 years, said it was frustrating that theyd pulled off the nasty trick at his neighbourhood eatery. And he said the couple had set a particularly bad example to the children, who had fled with the woman moments before the man headed out the door behind them. He said: Its very frustrating. You can imagine what I would do if I would have caught them. But there was nothing I could do. The waitress made an order in the kitchen. She said they'd ordered three deserts but the kids and the woman had left, and it was just the man in the restaurant. I said to the waitress 'Go upstairs. I think they are going to do a runner.' "I realised they were up to something. But by the time she went upstairs, one minute later, they had left. The family arrived at Vitos restaurant at 6pm on Sunday (April 23) and ordered olives. They then ordered three pizzas and an aubergine dish as main courses, a fruit juice and three soft drinks, racking up a bill of 60.95. But when they finished their mains, CCTV footage shows the woman - dressed in black - standing up from her seat and leading the children from the table. The man, in a blue t shirt, then orders deserts before making a dash while the waitress is distracted. Vito said the staff didn't know the family, who had chosen to sit at a table close to the door before they began to make their orders. He said: They just walked in. They were new to us, and the staff said they had never seen them before. "They were looking around to see if there were any cameras. But they didnt see one of the cameras, which is very high up. They started with some appetizers, some olives, and then they had three pizzas and a Melanzane Parmigiana, they also had some soft drinks. Vito said he was shocked when he found out that the couple had legged it from his premises on foot without settling their bill. But he now believes from the way they acted that they may have tried the same trick at other restaurants before. He added: I think theyve gone out to have food before and have done the exact same thing which they have done to me. "Thats the impression I have got. I think they do this all the time. If someone comes to the restaurant and says they havent got any money, I can give you something to eat. Its not a problem. "Thats the kind of person I am. I try to help everybody. Vito said he's since had an outpouring of support from his regulars, adding if the family coughed up the money for their bill he would donate it to a good cause. He said: Everybody is disappointed about what happened. But they are very supportive. I have a lot of lovely customers. I have been here for 32 years and this is only the second time its happened. But If that guy gives it back, I will give that money to charity. Vito has not yet reported the matter to the police. Pc Sharon Beshenivsky (PA) A man accused of murdering Pc Sharon Beshenivsky 18 years ago, on Thursday appeared in court after being extradited from Pakistan. Piran Ditta Khan, 74, was brought back to Britain on Tuesday charged with the murder in Bradford on November 18, 2005. He is also charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. He appeared in the dock of Westminster Magistrates Court in central London wearing a blue and white Nike tracksuit jacket. A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said the charges were first authorised in 2006, leading to the issuing of the extradition warrant. Pc Beshenivsky, who had only been serving with the police for nine months, was fatally wounded when responding to reports of a robbery at a travel agent after an alarm was raised. She was the seventh serving female officer ever to be killed in the line of duty in Britain at the time. Piran Ditta Khan appearing in the dock at Westminster Magistrates Court, London on Thursday. (PA) Joanne Jakymec of the CPS said: A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford in 2005 has been extradited to the UK from Pakistan thanks to the continued hard work of prosecutors in the CPSs extradition and international units. Since Piran Ditta Khan was arrested in Pakistan in 2020, our specialist prosecutors have been working closely with our Pakistani partners to complete the legal process in the country so that he could be extradited back to England to face the allegations from almost 20 years ago. Pc Beshenivsky, who had three children and two stepchildren, was shot as she responded with colleague Pc Teresa Milburn to the alarm. Her colleague was also shot but survived to give evidence at the trial of other members of the armed gang charged with being involved in the murder. On the day of her death, the Beshenivsky family were due to hold a birthday party for their youngest daughter Lydia, aged four, at their home near Haworth, West Yorkshire. The officer had been coming to the end of her shift when she was scrambled to the robbery. Story continues Piran Ditta Khan (AP) Two men, Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah and Yusuf Abdullah Jama, were jailed for life in 2006 over the shooting. Shah admitted murder but denied firing the shot that killed Pc Beshenivsky, while Jama was convicted of murder after he told the court he shot the officer by accident. A third man, Faisal Razzaq, from London, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to life with a minimum of 11 years. A year later his brother Hassan was also convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 20 years. A fifth man, Mustaf Jama, was extradited from Somalia in 2007 and sentenced to life for murder with a minimum of 35 years. RBCs Annual General Meeting at the Delta Bessborough hotel in Saskatoon, Sask., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards) Royal Bank of Canada (RY.TO)(RY) has overtaken JPMorgan Chase (JPM) as the top lender and financial service provider to the fossil fuel industry, according new analysis funded and authored by climate activist groups. The 14th annual Banking on Climate Chaos report says 60 of the worlds largest banks funnelled US$673 billion into the sector in 2022, spanning lending, as well as underwriting for bonds and equities. That figure includes US$150 billion to the top 100 companies expanding fossil fuels, as identified by the report's authors. Those include Canadas TC Energy (TRP.TO)(TRP), TotalEnergies (TTE), ConocoPhillips (COP), and Saudi Aramco (2222.SR). The latest Banking on Climate Chaos report released on Thursday was authored by the Rainforest Action Network, the Indigenous Environmental Network, BankTrack, Oil Change International, Reclaim Finance, the Sierra Club, and Urgewald. The US$673 billion in total loans and financial services provided to the oil and gas industry last year marks a 19 per cent drop from the US$800 billion total from 2021. RBC offered the most financing in 2022, according to the report, at US$42.1 billion. Canadas biggest bank by market capitalization was followed by JPMorgan, which had topped the list between 2016 and 2021. The shakeup at the top was largely the result of JPMorgan's 41.7 per cent decline in loans and services last year, from $67.3 billion in 2021 to $39.2 in 2022. At the same time, RBC increased its business with the fossil fuel sector by 4.2 per cent. Wells Fargo (WFC) (US$38.9 billion), Bank of America (BAC) (US$36.9 billion), and Citigroup (C) (US$33.9 billion) rounded out the top five, respectively. This report does not measure progress in meeting our climate goals.Andrew Block, spokesperson, Royal Bank of Canada April Merleaux, research manager at the environmental nonprofit Rainforest Action Network, says all of the banks included in the report were offered the opportunity to review data attributed to their institution prior to publication. RBC disputes this. Story continues The authors of this report did not validate their figures or findings with us, and we cant confirm their conclusions, spokesperson Andrew Block said in an email to Yahoo Finance Canada. Further, this report does not measure progress in meeting our climate goals. Marchers during a protest against the RBCs Annual General Meeting at the Delta Bessborough hotel in Saskatoon, Sask., Wednesday, April 5, 2023. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Liam Richards) The Royal Bank of Canada has been the primary target for environmental critics among Canadas largest six banks. Last year, Canadas Competition Bureau opened an investigation into allegedly deceptive advertising related to climate action following a complaint from Ecojustice, a non-profit environmental law group. Earlier this month, environmental protestors gathered outside the bank's shareholder meeting in Saskatoon. Speaking at the event, CEO David McKay defended the banks climate plan in the face of shareholder resolutions calling for stronger and faster climate action. Charlotte Powell, a spokesperson for JPMorgan, confirmed the Wall Street bank was able to verify its figures included in the report. Asked about the 41 per cent year-over-year decrease in lending and services to the fossil fuel sector, she points to trends in the broader market, such as lower loan volumes and oil and gas companies flush with cash thanks to higher commodity prices. Not having seen data of JP Morgan's peers, Powell said similar declines would be expected. Morgan Stanley (MS) and Goldman Sachs (GS) booked 52.9 per cent and 50.4 per cent decreases, respectively. TD Bank the biggest lender to Canada's oilsands While RBC has caught the brunt of recent environmental backlash against big Canadian banks, Toronto-Dominion Bank (TD.TO)(TD) has more financial exposure to Canada's domestic oil and gas industry, according to additional data from the reports authors provided to Yahoo Finance Canada. The data show TD Bank has been the top Canadian banker to oilsands companies since 2016, providing loans and services to the tune of US$38.5 billion. RBC ranked second, at US$31.8 billion. Last year, TD Bank increased its business with oilsands companies slightly, while RBC's lending saw a small decrease. Jeff Lagerquist is a senior reporter at Yahoo Finance Canada. Follow him on Twitter @jefflagerquist. Download the Yahoo Finance app, available for Apple and Android. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 12) Philippine National Police-Drug Enforcement Group (PNP-PDEG) Director PBGen. Narciso Domingo was relieved from his post amid his alleged involvement in the 6.7-billion shabu haul "cover-up" in October 2022. According to a document from the PNP, the order to remove Domingo from his post took effect on April 12. He was reassigned to the Office of the PNP chief. PBGen. Faro Antonio Olaguera, a lawyer and director of the PNP Legal Service, will replace him as head of the PDEG. Domingo and PCol. Julian Olonan, chief of PDEG Special Operations Unit Region 4A, earlier announced they will file a leave of absence to heed Interior Secretary Benhur Abalos call amid the alleged massive attempt to cover up the arrest of anti-drug intelligence officer PSgt. Rodolfo Mayo. Mayo owns the property where nearly a metric ton of methamphetamine hydrochloride, also known as shabu, worth 6.7 billion was seized by authorities last October. Besides Domingo and Olonan, the interior secretary asked several other high-ranking police officials to go on leave. Abalos presented CCTV footage of the Oct. 8 anti-drug operation, which he said shows a different scenario from the narration of events in the reports provided by the PNP. The video showed a cuffed Mayo entering and leaving his establishment, then boarding and alighting from a gray SUV multiple times. He was also uncuffed at some point in the footage. Domingo has denied the allegations of a cover-up. He said if they were really in connivance with Mayo, they would have destroyed the CCTV footage. Domingo did admit that there were lapses in how police conducted the operation, as seen in the CCTV footage, but he said he and Olonan were not at the scene yet when these lapses happened. He added that these can be considered a tactical move in order for Mayo to lead them to a bigger haul a warehouse containing more drugs. Sa kagustuhan natin na makakuha pa ng mas maraming drugs at mas malaking bodega pakinlearance po natin yan sa mas nakakataas sa atin na magsagawa ng follow-up operation, he said. [Translation: Because we wanted to seize more drugs in a bigger warehouse, we asked for clearance from the higher-ups to conduct a follow-up operation.] However, he explained that the plan did not push through due to fears Mayo may be murdered. The police officers will be investigated to determine if administrative and criminal charges will be filed against them. WPC Sharon Beshenivsky was shot while responding to a robbery at Universal Travel in Morley Street, Bradford, in 2005. (PA) A 74-year old man has appeared in court after being extradited from Pakistan and brought back to the UK, charged with the 2005 murder of police constable Sharon Beshenivsky. Piran Ditta Khan was taken into custody at a West Yorkshire police station, where he was charged with killing the 38-year-old officer on 18 November, 2005. He appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court in central London on Thursday. He is also charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. A metal fence is erected around Universal Express travel agents in Bradford, West Yorkshire, after Sharon Beshenivsky was shot dead by armed robbers. (PA) Who was Sharon Beshenivsky? Beshenivsky, 38, was a serving police officer who had previously worked as a police community support officer with West Yorkshire Police. She was a constable for nine months and was classed as a probationer and under the supervision of an experienced colleague. Beshenivsky was a mother of three and had two stepchildren. Paul Beshenivsky (right), husband of Sharon Beshenivsky, during a memorial service for the officer in Bradford. (PA) How did she die? Beshenivsky and her colleague, PC Teresa Millburn, responded to a robbery at a travel agent in Bradford, on 18 November, 2005. Beshenivsky was shot and suffered a fatal wound to the chest. PC Theresa Milburn was seriously injured during the incident. (PA) Milburn was also shot and seriously injured but survived the incident. Beshenivsky was the seventh female officer to die in the line of duty in England and Wales, and the second to be fatally shot. Hundred of floral tributes at the scene of the murder of Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford. (PA) The memorial to PC Sharon Beshenivsky following her murder in Bradford. (PA) What happened to Piran Ditta Khan? He was arrested by Pakistani police in January 2020 following an operation involving the National Crime Agency and local partners. Khan appeared at Westminster Magistrates Court charged with murder on May 13 following his extradition from Pakistan. He was also charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. Piran Ditta Khan, right, appears in the dock at Westminster Magistrates' Court, London, charged with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford 18 years ago. (PA) Khan was not asked to enter a plea to any of the alleged offences and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and to tell the court he was having some trouble hearing. The court heard that a warrant was issued for the arrest of the defendant in Pakistan in 2018 and that he was was detained in 2020. Story continues Khan was also charged with the robbery of Mohammed Yousaf of a quantity of cash of a value unknown. The firearms charges relate to his alleged possession of a Mac 10 sub-machine gun and a 9mm pistol. All the alleged offences are said to have taken place on the same day. (Bloomberg) -- Venezuela will push back a legal deadline on $60 billion of defaulted debt in a bid by President Nicolas Maduro to prevent creditors from filing a wave of lawsuits while he attempts to regain recognition from the US. Most Read from Bloomberg Maduros administration announced Thursday it suspended the statute of limitations on bonds issued by the government and state oil company, PDVSA, according to statements published on government websites. The suspension will be in effect for five years or until the US government lifts economic sanctions that prevent a debt restructuring. Lea la nota en espanol The statute is set to expire on some bonds in October six years after Caracas stopped payments on the debt meaning creditors face losing their right to pursue repayment in court. Bondholders now have to decide whether to accept Maduros offer or file suit to protect their claims. The offer by Caracas, known as a tolling announcement, would give the government and creditors more time to work on a potential restructuring. But because Maduros government is not recognized by the US, creditors say other guarantees are needed. The Venezuela Creditor Committee, a group of long-term investors holding in excess of $10 billion of the debt, said in a statement that it welcomed the announcement and urged the opposition-led National Assembly to endorse it and the US government to recognize its validity. A tolling is necessary to avoid holders and asset managers of Venezuela, PDVSA and Elecar bonds being forced to commence litigation in New York courts, the committee said. The funds spent on litigation could be put to better use given Venezuelas challenges, the creditors said. Story continues Make no mistake about it, this is an important first step, said Richard Cooper, an attorney at Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP who represents the committee. The Biden administration doesnt recognize anyone as Venezuelas legitimate president, leaving a diplomatic vacuum that complicates legal matters. Read more: Venezuela Power Vacuum in US Raises Questions for Creditors Tolling measures are a seldom-used tactic applied when countries have experienced long default periods, such as Peru in the 1990s. Its also usually done in the context of a broader debt restructuring. The announcement marks a renewed attempt by Maduro to work with creditors as he seeks to regain international legitimacy and convince foreign governments to remove sanctions against his country. Washington has quietly softened its stance toward Maduro over the last year by lifting some restrictions on the oil industry and sending envoys to Caracas for direct talks that led to prisoner swaps. Maduro, who took over from late President Hugo Chavez a decade ago, has repeatedly said the government is open to a restructuring, without providing details. A previous tolling agreement offered by his administration in 2020 failed to gain traction. Venezuela defaulted on its debt in 2017 and has been unable to engage with bondholders as economic sanctions prevent US investors from dealing with the Maduro government. Billions of dollars in interest have accrued on the bonds, which trade around 11 cents for the sovereign and less than 5 cents for bonds issued by the state oil company, Petroleos de Venezuela SA. Even if the opposition endorses the tolling announcement, creditors still may need to seek a declaration from the court indicating that the endorsement is effective given the legal ambiguity over the issue, Cooper said. The removal of opposition-leader Juan Guaido from his role as the US-recognized interim president in December has left a void. We need clarity, said Claudio Zampa, founder of Switzerland-based Mangart Capital Management Ltd. and member of the Venezuela Creditor Committee. The big issue at the moment is that we dont have a formal decision by the US government to tell us as bondholders who is the legal representative of Venezuela. (Adds statement from creditors starting in fifth paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea on Thursday conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, possibly testing a new more mobile, harder-to-detect missile for the first time, its neighbors said, as it extends its provocative run of weapons tests. Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to take shelter in an indication of its vigilance over North Korea's evolving missile threats. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the launch and reiterated his calls on North Korea to comply with U.N. resolutions banning such launches, reopen communications channels and resume dialogue toward peace and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, his spokesman said. The missile was launched on a high angle from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan following a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) flight, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staffs said in a statement. It described its range as medium or longer. The U.S. National Security Council called it a long-range missile and Japans government said it likely had an intercontinental range. South Koreas military believes North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, a defense official said under the condition of anonymity because of office rules. If the launch involved a solid-fuel ICBM, it would be the Norths first test of such a weapon. North Koreas known ICBMs all use liquid propellants that must be fueled before launches. But the fuel in a solid-propellant weapon is already loaded, allowing it to be moved easier and fired faster. A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the key high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to build to better cope with what he calls U.S. military threats. He also wants a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch may have involved a new intermediate- or long-range missile powered by solid propellants, or be linked to North Korean preparation to launch a spy satellite. Story continues U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region. Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies. During an emergency meeting of Seoul's National Security Council, officials stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting of his NSC to analyze the launch and Japans response. The nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held a telephone conversation where they called for a decisive and united international response to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean funding of its weapons program. North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, using elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries. South Korea and Japan typically dont issue evacuation orders unless they determine the North Korean weapon is flying in their direction. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the North Korean missile launched Thursday did not reach Japan The government then retracted its missile alert, saying there was no possibility of the missile landing near Hokkaido. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the alert was based on the Japanese Defense Ministrys early assessment of the missiles path and was an appropriate step to prioritize peoples safety. Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order in October when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the weapon's potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. Thursdays launch was the Norths first long-range missile firing since the country tested its longest-range, liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM on March 16. Kim Jong Un reviewed his countrys attack plans Monday and vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways. North Korea has launched about 100 missiles since the start of 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea or Japan within striking distance. The Norths testing spree is largely in protest of South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea uses its rivals' drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. Later Thursday, China, North Koreas last major ally, reiterated its blame for the heightened animosities on the U.S. and South Korea. The negative impact of the U.S. military exercises and strategic weapons deployed around the peninsula a few days ago is obvious to all, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a briefing. North Korea unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead in late March, raising concerns it could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles. South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Communications on those channels are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals disputed western sea boundary. On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse expressed strong regret over what he called North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the hotlines. North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Experts say the discussions between world leaders at Japans Group of Seven meetings in May could be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea. U.N. Security Council permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russias war on Ukraine. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency said the spill "was contained" and did not threaten nearby waterways A truck carrying 40,000 lbs. of contaminated soil from the East Palestine train derailment site in Ohio spilled nearly half its load after flipping on its side mid-transport. The commercial vehicle was traveling northbound on State Road 165 in Ohio on Monday when it "traveled off the roadway and overturned onto its right side," according to a news release from the Ohio Emergency Management Agency (EMA). The Ohio State Highway Patrol said Phillip Falck, 74, lost control of the open-top truck around 1 p.m., striking a ditch and a utility pole during the accident, NBC affiliate WFMJ and CBS affiliate WOIO reported. The crash occurred about four miles north of the Norfolk Southern derailment site, according to CBS affiliate WKBN. Related:What to Know About the Ohio Train Derailment and Chemical Spill: A Timeline of Events Highway Patrol officials believe about 20,000 lbs. of soil spilled onto the roadway and berm as a result of Monday's crash, Ohio EMA said. The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) said the spill "was contained" and did not threaten nearby waterways, per Monday's news release. Highway Patrol said the driver of the truck sustained minor injuries from Monday's crash, according to the Ohio EMA. The Pennsylvania man was later cited for operating a vehicle without reasonable control, WFMJ and WKBN reported. 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. State Road 165 was temporarily closed at State Road 617 in Mahoning County and at State Road 14 in Columbiana County following Monday's crash, according to the Ohio EMA. The Ohio EPA said about 19,900 tons of soil have been removed from the East Palestine train derailment site since the Feb. 3 incident, according to the Ohio EMA. Story continues However, there is still reportedly more than 17,000 tons of excavated soil that still must be removed from the site, per the agency. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The EU and other markets are imposing stricter requirements on Vietnamese companies' production and business practices, forcing Vietnamese businesses to prioritise transparency in their production and business processes. Nguyen Ba Ngai, vice chairman and general secretary of the Viet Nam Forest Owners Association (VIFORA), spoke to Viet Nam News reporter To Nhu about this issue. Export conditions to the EU market are stricter. How will they affect the input materials of domestically planted forest wood? The EU market has many barriers. They do not aim to ban exports from others to this market. They want to import wooden products that meet all legal requirements for the EU market. The EU has a new law aiming that all forest-based products must be proven to be deforestation-free. Viet Nam and the EU have signed a Voluntary Partnership Agreement (VPA) on Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade (FLEGT). This is a trade agreement between Viet Nam and the EU to create a legal framework for timbers and wood products exported by Viet Nam and the EU. This agreement deals with accountability and forest law enforcement. However, it is not enough under the new EU law. All wood products, non-timber forest products and other products from the forest can still be exported. Still, enterprises must demonstrate that these products do not harm the environment and do not involve natural deforestation. This is a new challenge for enterprises exporting timber and wood products to this market. Therefore, the first thing Viet Nam has to do is to review whether the timbers are taken from activities of natural deforestation. Shortly, we need to have very strong changes in the proof of forest origin. Viet Nam has the Viet Nam Timber Legality Assurance System (VNTLAS) and several sub-law documents relating to this issue for wood products to trace the origin of timber. However, those regulations for some other products are still unclear. Therefore, we need to continue to improve the traceability system. Will Vietnamese businesses face many challenges if their export products do not meet the new EU standards? This is a development process. The enterprises should not be afraid, but they need to consider this as work they must do themselves and meet the EU requirements. This is similar to the fact that EU goods entering Viet Nam must meet Vietnamese standards. The businesses will need a lot of effort and expense, but they must do it to integrate into the international market, including the EU. Viet Nam has a large volume of coffee exports to the EU market. However, if the enterprises cannot prove that the area growing coffee trees does not destroy the natural forests, they will not be permitted to export coffee. At that time, the coffee production and export chain will be suspended. Therefore, it forces enterprises to do this. With the new requirements of the EU, does Viet Nam need to be more transparent, especially in the supply chain of planted timber? This is correct. Viet Nam has had the VNTLAS system and Decree 102, but the State needs to perfect this decree and meet the standards of the EU market and other markets. The problem is weak enforcement of the regulations. Viet Nam has a system of regulations relating to product traceability, but it lacks human resources, an administration system and the technology to monitor this issue. Those are things that Viet Nam needs to complete. At present, this nation has made great efforts to prove the origin of products to keep the export market. Viet Nam has already had laws to prevent businesses from committing fraud of product origin to protect Vietnamese commodities sectors. VNS NE China city offers support to boost birth rate Xinhua) 10:46, April 13, 2023 SHENYANG, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, began to hand out cash subsidies starting this year to encourage families to have a third child. Couples in the city are entitled to receive a monthly allowance of 500 yuan (about 72.6 U.S. dollars) for their third child born from Jan. 20 until their child gets to be three years old, according to an implementation plan on optimizing childbirth policy and promoting long-term and balanced population development, which was recently released by the local government. A number of Chinese cities have issued policies to support childbirth by reducing the cost of child care. In some provinces and regions, families with a second or third child can receive government support in schooling, medical insurance, and public rental housing. Cities such as Shenzhen and Wenzhou have included one-child families in soliciting opinions for optimizing policies to support childbirth. The city of Hangzhou has clarified that all families with newborn children registered in the city can apply for childbirth subsidies. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) The Department of Budget and Management (DBM) said on Thursday it has released to the National Food Authority a total of P1.18 billion for the grant of a one-time rice assistance to all employees of national government agencies. Nearly 1.9 million workers, including contractual and job order staff, are expected to receive 25 kilograms of rice from the government through Administrative Order No. 2 that was signed by President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. in December 2022. It will be granted to those who are still in the government service and/or engaged by government agencies as of Nov. 30, 2022. HA NOI - The Saigon-Hanoi Bank (SHB) has set a profit target of more than VN10 trillion (US$426,400) this year and plans to seek foreign strategic partners. At the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on Tuesday, Ngo Thu Ha, General Director of SHB, presented two business scenarios in 2023, corresponding to two plans on credit growth limits of 10 per cent and 14 per cent. Specifically, with a credit growth limit of 10 per cent, equivalent to VN429.8 trillion, SHB aims to increase pre-tax profit by 6.15 per cent to VN10.3 trillion; total assets up by 8.93 per cent to VN600 trillion; mobilised capital up by 12.05 per cent to VN456.18 trillion. With a credit growth limit of 14 per cent, equivalent to VN445.12 trillion, the target pre-tax profit will increase by 9.67 per cent to VN10.63 trillion; total assets will be up by 10.09 per cent to VN606.5 trillion, and mobilised capital is expected to increase by 14.78 per cent to VN467.29 trillion. In both options, SHB expects the dividend payout ratio in 2023 to be 15 per cent. Regarding the increase of charter capital, o Quang Vinh, a member of the Board of Directors of SHB, presented to shareholders at the meeting a plan to issue more than 552 million shares to existing shareholders to pay dividends in 2022. The issuance rate is 18 per cent, with a par value of more than VN5.52 trillion. Issuing time is within 45 days from the date the State Securities Commission notified the receipt of full issuance report documents, and is expected to be completed in 2023. SHB said that the charter capital would be raised by VN5.52 trillion and is expected to supplement working capital. In addition, the bank will also issue 45.12 million shares under the employee stock ownership plans (ESOP) at the price of VN10,000 per share. The shares issued to employees will be restricted from being transferred for 18 months from the ending date of the issuance. After completing the above two issuances, SHB's charter capital will increase from VN30.67 trillion to VN36.6 trillion. Regarding the search for foreign strategic investors, o Quang Hien, Chairman of the Board of Directors of SHB, said he was negotiating with many partners. SHB plans to find long-term foreign strategic partners who will invest capital and participate in administrative support and technology sharing. "It is expected that a foreign strategic partnership will be found for SHB and our partner this year or early next year," said SHB's Chairman. In 2022, SHB's total assets reached nearly VN551 trillion, up 8.7 per cent compared to the end of 2021, ranking in the top 6 in total assets among the largest private joint stock commercial banks in Viet Nam. Equity capital reached VN62.6 trillion, up 17.8 per cent compared to 2021. Total deposits reached more than VN407 trillion, up 7.6 per cent, and outstanding loans to customers reached more than VN385 trillion, up 10 per cent. In 2022, SHB's pre-tax profit reached more than VN9.7 trillion, up 55 per cent over the same period last year. SHB also completed the payment of dividends for 2021 in shares at the rate of 15 per cent. As of December 31, 2022, SHB's charter capital reached VN30.67 trillion. VNS HA NOI Viet Nam's draw as a foreign direct investment (FDI) destination remains strong among European business leaders, with 3 per cent more European business stakeholders citing it as one of their top three investment hotspots worldwide. This information was released at the latest Business Climate Index (BCI) report by the European Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (EuroCham) and announced by Decision Lab on Tuesday. Overall, 36 per cent of those surveyed ranked Viet Nam either first, within their top three, or among their top five investment destinations on a global scale. The BCI, which quantifies the business sentiment of the European business and investment community in Viet Nam, held steady at 48.0 in the first quarter of 2023. Though it remains at the same level it registered as 2022 drew to a close, there are promising indications that European business stakeholders are witnessing a positive shift in their economic outlook. The Business Climate Index is the premier metric for gaining insight into the European business and investment community's perceptions of the Vietnamese market. Assembled from feedback gathered from EuroCham Viet Nam's expansive network of 1,300 members, who collectively represent nearly every sector of the country's dynamic economy, this quarterly survey delivers indispensable insights into the current state of Viet Nam's business environment. It provides a snapshot of what to expect in the future. EuroCham Chairman Gabor Fluit said: While a score of 48 might not appear impressive, it is encouraging that the situation is not deteriorating further. The fact that the score is not dropping is a sign of progress, even if it is still far from ideal. This gives us hope that the situation can be improved with further effort. As we have all seen in the past, the Vietnamese government takes swift and decisive action during times of crisis. Therefore, we expect more productive measures in the year's second half. Upcoming reforms to work permit and travel visa procedures will likely directly impact growth. We eagerly await further information on these proposed changes. "There has also been a notable improvement in liquidity in recent months, and we believe that a clear indication from the government on improved access to finance would boost morale. Overall, we have a positive outlook on the future of Viet Nam's economy and look forward to engaging in productive conversations with the Vietnamese government. We are enthusiastic about working together to take on the challenges and embrace the opportunities ahead. CEO of Decision Lab Thue Quist Thomasen said: There are two components to the score: sentiment during the first quarter of 2022 and an outlook for the future. The first quarter score is stable this time, while the future outlook is more positive. This could indicate that we are at a turning point. Orders are also picking up, while investments and hiring remain relatively low. This indicates that this is still a 'wait and see' period for many companies, but improvements may be on the horizon. "Despite the improved outlook, it is important to remember that the economy is still fragile, and caution is warranted. It is also essential to monitor the current situation to anticipate any potential changes in the market. Taking a proactive approach to the current situation may be the best way to ensure success in the future. Modest business outlook improvements European business leaders remain cautious but see signs of improvement in Viet Nam's economy. Encouragingly, the business environment outlook for 2023 is displaying promising signs of betterment. Specifically, the number of respondents sanguine about the nation's economy has risen by 8 points, signalling a growing faith in its prospects. Likewise, a notable uptick in the number of individuals anticipating the stability and growth of the economy was observed. According to the survey, the number of individuals expecting a downturn in the economy decreased by 6 per cent. In comparison, the number of those forecasting an upturn in revenue and orders increased by 7 per cent. Through a range of strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing the business environment, Viet Nam has emerged as a leading destination for foreign investment and domestic enterprises. Based on feedback from survey participants, regulatory simplification, sustainable development measures, investment incentives, and workforce development programs have all played a key role in creating prime conditions for long-term economic success. The survey results also indicate that the European business and investment community is broadly content with the level of attention policymakers have given to business needs in Viet Nam, with a third of respondents expressing significant or moderate satisfaction. This positive feedback is a testament to the government's ongoing commitment to fostering a business-friendly environment in the country. Despite this, foreign businesses in Viet Nam continue to grapple with regulatory opacity, administrative inefficiencies, and visa and work permit issues. There has been an observable upward trend in the number of respondents pointing out inadequacies in anti-corruption legislation. The manufacturing sector faces an additional hurdle in complicated customs procedures, while services firms face the prominent challenge of visa and work permit difficulties. Furthermore, various other industries, such as transportation, pharmaceuticals, and renewable energy, are hampered by inadequate anti-corruption legislation. To strengthen Viet Nam's appeal as a dynamic investment locale, participants in the BCI reinforced the need for improvements in political stability, regulatory frameworks, and tax and tariff regimes. These measures would go a long way in addressing the concerns of foreign businesses and bolstering investor confidence in the country's economic prospects. VNS HCM CITY There is ample room for Viet Nam and Chinas localities, particularly Guangxi province, to boost trade collaboration, said Deputy Director of the citys Investment & Trade Promotion Centre (ITPC) Nguyen Tuan. Speaking at a conference on import-export cooperation between Viet Nam and Guangxi province held on Wednesday in HCM City, he said the relationship between Guangxi and Viet Nam has developed to a new height. The two sides have agreed to implement cooperation in electricity trade and seaport, and improve customs clearance efficiency by piloting the "smart gate" model, contributing to deepening the China-Viet Nam comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership. By March 2023, China registered US$23.8 billion in total FDI in Viet Nam, ranking 6th out of 143 countries and territories investing in the Southeast Asian nation. In HCM City alone, China has 473 valid investment projects with a total capital of over $267 million, ranking 18th among the city's 119 investors. He also affirmed that the citys administration is always committed to accompanying businesses throughout their investment and business process. Wu Juan, vice head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT) Guangxi Committee, said that among ASEAN countries, Viet Nam is China's largest trading partner with a bilateral trade turnover of $234.9 billion last year. For many consecutive years, China has been Viet Nam's largest import market and second biggest export market in the Asian region. In particular, Viet Nam has maintained its position as Guangxi's largest trading partner for 24 years in a row. In 2022, total trade between Viet Nam and the Chinese province hit $29.3 billion, accounting for 70 per cent of the figure between Guangxi and ASEAN. She said the trade promotion conference helped build a connection platform and promote trade cooperation in areas such as construction materials, interior decoration, import and export supply chain, as well as partnerships between fruit traders of Guangxi and Viet Nam. At the event, the two sides inked cooperation agreements on cold chain logistics to jointly promote the upgrading of cross-border cold chain system, thus facilitating the signing of fruit and vegetable purchase agreements between Guangxi and Vietnamese enterprises. VNS HA NOI Samsung Vietnam Complex, Samsung Vina Electronics and Junior Achievement Organisation on Wednesday officially launched the "Solve for Tomorrow 2023 competition. The programme not only gives students the opportunity to apply STEM knowledge related to the fields of science, technology, engineering and maths, but also nurtures their ability to access technology and create solutions to solve the problems of society. This year is the 15th anniversary of Samsung officially making a great investment in Viet Nam. In the future, along with efforts to contribute to Viet Nam's economic development, Samsung will further promote activities to nurture technology talent one of the key pillars in the future development of the country. With that goal, this year, the competition will be expanded. It is expected that the number of students and teachers registered and the number of entries will double compared to 2022. It is expected that 140,000 students and teachers will register with more than 2,000 test papers sent from middle and high schools across the country. Samsung also increased the value of the awards for participating schools and students. The total prize money for this year's competition will increase to nearly VN8 billion with many attractive prize categories. In order to further improve the quality of STEM teaching and learning in Viet Nam, schools that win first prizes will be sponsored by Samsung with a functional classroom STEM Lab worth more than VN1 billion. Solve for Tomorrow 2023 in Viet Nam will be implemented over seven months, from April 12 to November 11, 2023 and divided into two groups: Group A for middle school students, and Group B for high school students with three rounds of competition. Students will apply STEM knowledge and design thinking to find and realise creative solutions to existing social problems. In addition, the TOP 40 teams will also be guided by a group of senior professional advisors who are experts and Samsung employees, and have the opportunity to hone their soft skills through a special workshop within the framework of the programme. Speaking at the event, Choi Joo Ho, president of Samsung Vietnam, said: Developing talent is the foundation for the country's development. Especially, in the modern era, developing technological talent is key for countries to reach out and become developed countries. "Samsung is actively implementing the Solve for Tomorrow programme to support Viet Nam to leapfrog and become a technology nation. Not only stopping at economic contributions such as contributing 20-25 per cent to Viet Nam's export turnover, Samsung also wants to contribute to fostering technology talents, thereby increasing fundamental competitiveness of Viet Nam. Ngo Thi Minh, deputy minister of Education and Training, added: Through practical experience activities in the competition, the students not only have the opportunity to improve their knowledge and soft skills that are necessary in self-development, but also increase confidence and initiative in the process of choosing and finding the right job for themselves. "I believe that the "Solve for Tomorrow 2023" Competition will really prosper, reap many brilliant results, which are highly applicable projects of the teams, contributing to nurturing dreams for young people who are passionate about science and technology, as well as spread positive values to develop the community and locality where they live. Initiated by Samsung worldwide in 2010 in the US, Solve for Tomorrow has since been expanded to 33 nations, including the US, Singapore, Russia, France, Canada, India, and Brazil with nearly two million students participated and became one of Samsung's typical social responsibility programmes. In Viet Nam, "Solve for Tomorrow" Competition was first held in 2019. So far, the competition has become an annual creative thinking playground for middle and high school students aged 12 to 18. As of 2022, the programme has attracted the participation of 165,000 registered students and teachers. In particular, in 2022, the competition has achieved impressive results such as attracting 1,160 ideas and about 76,000 students and teachers from middle and high schools across the country to attend online training courses. Along with the efforts to win the right to host World Expo 2030, as a member of the Advocacy Committee for the right to host, Samsung is also actively participating in supporting activities. Busan Korea aims to organise World Expo 2030 with the main theme of Transforming Our World, Navigating Toward a Better Future, offering solutions to three global challenges including: climate change, effects of digital transformation, and inequality within or between countries. As for Viet Nam, as an important strategic partner of South Korea, when this country hosts the Expo, Viet Nam will also receive many advantages. South Korea is a leading country in smart technologies, future technologies including artificial intelligence, 6th generation mobile telecommunications networks (6G), aviation and smart seaports. This is also the direction that Viet Nam will focus on developing in the future. In addition, this is also an opportunity for Samsung to bring high-tech products manufactured by the group in Viet Nam to the expo, thereby contributing to promoting the image and strengthening the relationship between the two countries. Viet Nam's participation in the expo in South Korea will also bring opportunities to attract investment and promote tourism. VNS HCM CITY The Smart City Asia International Expo and Forum 2023 in Viet Nam opened in HCM City on Thursday, showcasing leading technologies and solutions for public lighting, smart cities and smart homes, urban planning and public administration, and others. Smart City Asia has attracted nearly 300 local and foreign exhibitors, 70 per cent international, from Korea, Finland, the UAE, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and other countries and territories. Major Vietnamese telecommunications and technology corporations such as FPT, Viettel and VNPT are taking part. There will be a Smart City Development Forum and seminars to share international experiences in developing smart cities and discuss smart city development suitable for Viet Nam. There will also be a business matching programme. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Phan Van Mai, chairman of the HCM City Peoples Committee, said the city is set to integrate globally and have a high profile in Southeast Asia. To achieve the target, the city has identified science and technology and innovation as the main driving force, he said. Smart City Asia would be a place for management agencies, domestic and foreign experts to meet and discuss strategies, solutions and practical management tools for smart city development, he added. Nguyen Minh Hong, chairman of the Viet Nam Digital Communications Association, said the exhibition aims to promote public-private partnerships for building smart cities. Organised by the Vietnam Digital Communications Association, Exporum Co., Ltd., Vietnam Institute of Digital Transformation and Innovation, and Vietnam Automation Association, Smart City Asia 2023 at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre will go on until April 15 and expects to receive more than 10,000 visitors. VNS HCM CITY More than 70 executives from 42 technology companies participated in the Australia-Viet Nam Tech Forum that opened in HCM City on Wednesday. The event introduced Australian expertise in fintech, digital transformation and smart cities. Assoc Prof Nguyen Quang Trung, head of the management faculty at RMIT Vietnam, said the Government views digital transformation as critical to continued growth and prosperity. On April 4 the National Action Plan on Digital Transformation was announced, he said. Viet Nam has a national agenda for utilising Industry 4.0 technologies to improve productivity and accelerate economic growth. Viet Nam is one of the fastest-growing digital economies and a promising market with a large population and ambitious goals and commitments from the Government. According to World Bank data, the countrys digital sector could exceed US$200 billion by 2045, a huge figure compared with its 2021 GDP of $352 billion. Binh Pham, managing director at BCA Partners, said Viet Nams fintech payment value increased by 2.98 times between 2017 and 2021 mostly to e-commerce. The COVID-19 outbreak quarantines and safe distancing requirements changed consumer behaviours, and the number of people buying online has increased tremendously over the past two years, leading to a boom in both e-commerce activities and digital payments, he explained. Phan Thanh Son, chief business development officer at FPT Information System, said 41 out of 63 provinces and cities in Viet Nam have plans for smart cities. Nearly 40 have been developing smart city services, while 17 have started building or have agreed to build smart city operating centres, he said. Rebecca Ball, senior trade and investment commissioner at Austrade, said the Australian Government supports ASEAN in its development of sustainable smart cities, including Viet Nam. Australia is working with ASEAN to create cities that are smart and sustainable. A good example is the A$5 million pilot of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trades InnovationXchange programme that aims to support and scale up high-growth potential enterprises, focusing on smart urbanisation solutions in ODA eligible cities across ASEAN. VNS HA NOI More than 200 streets and landmarks in Viet Nam and France that have been named after connections between the two countries have been spotlighted in a book titled Dau an Phap-Viet qua ten nhung con uong (French-Vietnamese Imprints Through the Names of Roads) by overseas Vietnamese writer Tran Thu Dung. The 292-page book is introduced on the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries and ten years of the bilateral strategic partnership. It shows the great efforts of the author in collecting data and exploring the history of names of locations with their names attached to France and Viet Nam. "All roads bear the imprint of history," she said. "However, these roads might be replaced over time, therefore, I started taking notes when I discovered several roads with Vietnamese names existent in France." Dung explained that there is much help to the gathering process, such as the information offered by friends and authorities, but also numerous challenges, as most of the names are tied to history. Because of this, she always double-checks the information she collects, even if it includes a road that is too obscure to be located online or that seems unrelated to Viet Nam. The origin of the names and stories in the process of naming streets in Ha Noi, HCM City and a Lat City (Lam ong Province) as well as those in Paris, Lyon and Marseilles are told in both Vietnamese and French, which go along with precious pictures and documents as well as the geographic locations, giving the reader a deep insight of the streets and landmarks. The writer told Vietnam News Agency correspondents in Paris that as the names of the streets may change with the developments of history, she wants to write the book to maintain a memory of the history and contribute to fostering the friendship between the two peoples. The President of the France-Viet Nam Friendship Association in Eure & Loir region, Gilbert Teneze, one of the first to read the book, hailed the author's efforts in promoting the friendship between the two countries, underlining that the book shows the sentiments that the two countries give each other. Earlier in 2014, Dung also introduced a book on Vietnamese imprints in the names of streets in France. VNS HCM CITY Su Me Hoac Tu Nghe Thuat Xam Minh (Enchantment from Tattoo Art) by tattoo creator Tran Nhat Trung, aka Trung Tadashi, was hailed as the first Viet Nam book about oriental tattoo art in Vietnamese and English by the Viet Nam Records Organisation (VietKings). A ceremony was held at Capella gallery hall in District 10 on April 12. Enchantment from Tattoo Art, published by HCM City General Publishing House, will help readers learn about Asian-style tattoos, including Vietnamese cultural beauty themes, epic Chinese mythology themes, and Japanese cultural themes. A representative of VietKings, Vo Luu Lan Uyen, said that Tattooing originates from the ancient customs of Viet Nam and had a strong development in the Ly - Tran dynasties. However, tattoos nowadays are not popular in Viet Nam. The book of Trung Tadashi has contributed to a better understanding of the origin, history, and values of tattoo art in Viet Nam and Asia, as well as the deep techniques needed to create a tattoo, she added. Trung Tadashi said he wants to make not just a regular catalog book, but rather he wants to show the whole story of this industry from the inside. Tran Nhat Trung has been creating tattoos for 15 years. He has won numerous awards from competitions around the world, such as the Best Sleeve award and "Best Tattoo in Show" at the Nordic Ink Festival in Denmark. The book's price is VN500,000 (US$21). VNS Le Huong Dr Amandine Dabat, a historian, would seem to be a typical academic investigating a Vietnamese monarch, save for one crucial fact: she is the great-great-granddaughter of King Ham Nghi. This familial connection lends her research a heightened level of credibility and significance, as she possesses intimate access to the king's personal effects and her family's historical archives. Back to history King Ham Nghi, real name Nguyen Phuc Ung Lich (1871-1944), was the 8th king of the Nguyen dynasty. In 1884, he became a king at 13. On June 6, 1884, the Nguyen Royal Court signed the Patenotre Convention with the French, which officially facilitated the French to settle their regime all over Viet Nam. Two factions were inside the court: one supported the French, and the other opposed the French. The kings close mandarins Nguyen Van Tuong and Ton That Thuyet led the fight against the French in July 1885, though they were soundly beaten. Ton That Thuyet brought the King to evacuate from the Hue Imperial Citadel and called for people to support the Kings movement to fight against the French. In 1888, King Ham Nghi was captured by the French. Although the resistance movement continued in his name, he was forced into exile in Algiers, Algeria. In 1904, he married Marcelle Laloe, a Frenchwoman, and had two daughters and a son. He died on January 14, 1944, at 73. When Algeria gained independence, his tomb was moved to Thonac Village, in the central region of France, where the tombs of his wife and two of his children were also. Vietnamese history recorded Ham Nghi, Thanh Thai (1879-1954) and Duy Tan (1900-1945) as three patriotic kings during the French colonial era. Family secret Being a descendant of Ham Nghi gave me the opportunity to discover the private archives of the King, all the papers and letters he kept all his life, Dabat told Viet Nam News. The discovery of Ham Nghi's papers at the beginning of my research is how I understood that even if the French government considered him a former emperor, a politician, a prisoner, Ham Nghi considered himself an artist. Dabat didn't know they existed when she looked for these private archives. My family wouldn't have let any other historian look for private archives, as they didn't know themselves that these archives had been kept, she revealed. The other point is that Ham Nghi never spoke about his past to his wife or his children. His wife did not allow him to speak in Vietnamese to their children. So he did not say anything to his children about his culture. When Dabat was born five generations later, her family didn't know Ham Nghi's history well. When she decided to study King Ham Nghi's life, she had many questions that nobody in her family could answer. Ham Nghi was considered as a grand-father, a great-grand-father, my family was taking care of his grave, but his personal history was mostly unknown, she said. Of course, my family knew that he had been exiled, that he used to be an emperor, then a prisoner. But nobody told me anything about that when I was a child. My family did not realise that he was a historical figure, a patriotic emperor, a national hero. Dabat has spent 13 years on this topic, including five years of her PhD. I am very lucky that the French archives did not disappear during the wars, she said. Most of the historical archives regarding Ham Nghi are kept in the papers of the French government in Indochina and Algeria. Most of these papers were brought to France after colonisation. The eldest daughter of Ham Nghi also took care of his personal papers. Dabat had many documents to do her research (about 2,500 private documents from Ham Nghi himself). I travelled to Viet Nam and to Algeria to study the documents which remained there, but most of my work on the archives happened in France, she said. An artistic soul Dr Dabat said Ham Nghi's letters, in which he writes his feelings about exile, the beauty of nature, and art impressed her most. She will have her French-language book on the King translated into Vietnamese and published soon in Viet Nam. It is very important to me to offer Vietnamese people the opportunity to know who Ham Nghi was during his exile, what his life looked like, what happened to him, and which artist he was, what art he created, she said. Ham Nghi is not well known as an artist because of the context of his exile and because he never came back to Viet Nam. But he is the first Vietnamese modern artist as he learned fine arts from 1889, a decade before Le Van (Huy) Mien (1873-1943), considered as the first Vietnamese painter, who learned fine arts in Paris. Dabat has donated the King's water pipe to the Hue Monument Conservation Centre. Another person who wishes to remain anonymous has donated a painting made by Ham Nghi that had been published in Dabat's PhD thesis. He took this water pipe with him when he was exiled from Viet Nam, she said. He used it all his life to smoke black tobacco he imported directly from Viet Nam. Bringing some of his belongings back to Viet Nam is a way of bringing a part of Ham Nghi himself, who remains in exile after his death, as his tomb is in France. Dabat said Ham Nghi is very present in her daily life as he is the topic of her work. Reading all the private papers and letters of Ham Nghi made her feel very close to him, as a very close friend. I had the feeling of understanding who he was, what he thought, how he felt, as he used to describe this in the drafts of his letters that he also kept, Dabat said. She said after her PhD thesis, the publication of her book in French was an important step to make Ham Nghi better known as an emperor, but also as an artist, a painter, and a sculptor. With my research, I have shown that during his exile, Ham Nghi was not interested anymore in politics, she said. He became an artist, and his life was led by art. Dabat hosted an exhibition of his artwork in the Museum of Asian Art in Nice in 2022. The exhibition was a success, with 30,000 visitors. Many Vietnamese or Vietnamese-French visited the exhibition, and most of them were very touched to discover the artworks of their emperor. I was told that some people were so touched that they were crying when leaving the exhibition, she said. I am very happy that the artworks of Ham Nghi were shown and are opened to the world, especially because as he was a prisoner during his exile, he didn't feel free to show his works very often. He was so watched by the French police that he preferred to keep his artworks as a part of his private life. According to Dabat, some of Ham Nghi's paintings and belongings will be loaned for exhibitions in Paris (Palais de la Porte doree) and Berlin (Gropius Bau) this autumn. Dabat also prepares an exhibition about Ham Nghi in Vichy (France) in 2024. VNS HA NOI Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son called on United Nations (UN) organisations to step up collaboration with Viet Nam in four prioritised areas at a reception for UN Resident Coordinator in Viet Nam Pauline Tamesis in Ha Noi on Wednesday. According to Minister Son, the prioritised areas include mobilising resources to successfully implement the Viet Nam-UN Strategic Framework for Sustainable Development Cooperation 2022-2026, which helps accelerate the fulfillment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Viet Nam; and providing policy advice and technical assistance to Viet Nam during its socio-economic recovery and development. The UN should support Viet Nam in climate change adaptation, energy transition, and green finance, while assisting Vietnamese citizens in applying for positions in the UN system, he stressed. At the meeting, Son emphasised the role of the UN in coordinating multilateral efforts to respond to the common challenges of the international community such as global economic downturn, climate change, food crisis, water security, strategic competitions among major powers. He affirmed that Viet Nam considers the UN one of its top priority partners and always remembers the valuable cooperation and support of the UN during its development in nearly 50 years. The minister wished that the Resident Coordinator would serve as an effective bridge between UN organisations and the Vietnamese Government, ministries and agencies to further promote bilateral cooperation. For her part, Pauline Tamesis appreciated Viet Nam's active, positive, and effective contributions to multilateralism and UN activities. She emphasised that despite difficulties and challenges, especially the COVID-19 pandemic, Viet Nam has still maintained its strong commitment to realising the SDGs. UN organisations are committed to continuing to stand side by side with Viet Nam to seize new opportunities and respond to challenges, she said, adding that they will help mobilise international resources to serve the country's sustainable and inclusive development. VNS Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) Traditional jeepneys may continue plying routes until 2028 as long as they are "road-worthy," Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said Thursday Basta road-worthy naman ang pinag-uusapan natin, Bautista told reporters. Kung maayos ang makina, maayos ang brakes, maayos ang mga upuan; pwede namang i-consider yan ng LTFRB. [Translation: We are talking about road-worthiness. If the engine, brakes, seats are in good condition, the LTFRB can consider that.] The Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief explained that although the government encourages the modernization of more public utility vehicles, he understands the plight of drivers and operators. Kung hindi naman talaga magagawa, well see to it na lang na road-worthy yung equipment [If its really not doable, well just see to it that all the equipment are road-worthy], Bautista added, noting the long and costly process of modernizing PUV units. According to the DOTr, out of 200,000 jeepneys in the country, only about 6,000 have been modernized. The agency is currently working on the consolidation of PUV drivers and operators into cooperatives or corporations for them to maximize the efficiency of their fleet. So far, around 60% are consolidated, Bautista said. Asked how they would encourage more drivers and operators to go through modernization, the DOTr chief pointed out the benefits of taking part in the consolidation. If they are consolidated, they can borrow money from the banks, which can finance the acquisition of new vehicles, he said. Bautista said the DOTr will continue our dialogue with the different organizations, with the deadline for consolidation set for Dec. 31. WASHINGTON DC Vietnamese Ambassador to the United States Nguyen Quoc Dung on April 12 (local time) met with nearly 200 lecturers and students of the University of Virginia (UVA) in Virginia, US, as part of the Ambassador Series at the universitys Department of Politics. The ambassador highlighted Viet Nam's socio-economic achievements, potential, open external policies and rising position in the region and the world, spotlighting the progress in the Viet Nam-US relationship 28 years after the normalisation of their relations and 10 years of the comprehensive partnership. Before that, he had a discussion with UVA professors on opportunities to further foster tertiary training cooperation between it and education facilities of Viet Nam, especially in the exchange of students. The diplomat presented the universitys library with books on the nation, people, history and culture of Viet Nam. The UVA is a public university established in 1819 by US President Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the US and the author of the USs Declaration of Independence. It is currently the only in the US recognised by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) as a World Heritage Site. Many Vietnamese professors and approximately 170 students are currently studying and working at the university. VNS BAC LIEU President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee o Van Chien on Thursday visited the Mekong Delta province of Bac Lieu's Patriotic Clergy Solidarity Association on the occasion of the Chol Chnam Thmay, the traditional New Year Festival of Khmer ethnic people. Accompanying Chien on the visit was Lu Van Hung, secretary of Bac Lieu Province Party Committee and chairman of the People's Council; Tran Thi Hoa Ry, deputy chairwoman of the National Assembly's Ethnic Council; and Nguyen Van Hoa, head of the provincial Committee for Mass Mobilisation and head of Bac Lieu chapter of the Fatherland Front. Chien expressed his delight at the improvements in the life of the Khmer people in the province and extended his best wishes to them. He said he hopes that Khmer monks and people will continue to promote solidarity and patriotism and successfully carry out socio-economic tasks to build a prosperous homeland. Most Venerable Huu Hinh, permanent member of the Viet Nam Buddhist Sangha's Central Committee and chairman of the provinces Patriotic Clergy Solidarity Association, said that the association and pagodas regularly urge people to preserve and promote the traditional cultural identity of the ethnic group. The association always calls on people to seriously implement the laws and policies of the Party, State, and Government, develop the family economy, and maintain peace in their residential areas, he said. The VFF leader presented gifts to the provinces Patriotic Clergy Solidarity Association and outstanding Khmer monks, families, and disadvantaged people. Bac Lieu Province is home to nearly 17,000 Khmer households with 73,600 people, making up more than 7.6 per cent of the local population. VNS HA NOI About 1.2 million mobile phone subscribers will have their SIM cards two-way locked from Saturday if they do not provide accurate personal information. If the SIM card is two-way locked, users cannot make or receive phone calls and messages. Nguyen Phong Nha, deputy head of the Vietnam Telecommunications Authority, said that 1.67 million subscribers with unverified information have been one-side locked since the end of last month. They are not allowed to make phone calls or send text messages. From April 1 to 10, 394,000 mobile phone subscribers had their information verified following the Ministry of Information and Communications plan. There remain about 1.2 million unverified subscribers. Those with unverified information will have their mobile phone numbers withdrawn on May 15. Mobile users are advised to follow the verification request to avoid being locked. Subscribers can text 'TTTB' to number 1414 without fees to know if the subscription is verified or not. Viet Nam has about 126 million mobile subscribers. VNS HA NOI The 2022 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index - PAPI Report on Viet Nam was released on Wednesday, highlighting that poverty remains the primary concern in Viet Nam, particularly in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PAPI report was unique in its position to deliver invaluable insights into government performance at all levels, with a record 16,117 respondents randomly selected from Viet Nams 63 cities and provinces. It assesses government performance in governance, public administration and public service delivery every year and contributes to actualising the 2023 legislative agenda. This years PAPI report reflected public optimism about the national economy, with 66.1 per cent of respondents rating the national economy as good in 2022, a 19.4 per cent increase from the previous year. The percentage of citizens who assessed economic conditions as bad decreased from 19.8 per cent in 2021 to only 6.1 per cent in 2022. Similarly, at the household level, fewer citizens reported their economic situation as poor (11.4 versus 15.3 per cent in 2021). However, the report also highlighted that although 56 per cent of respondents claimed their household economic conditions were better in 2022, this rate was still among the lowest levels since 2012. Furthermore, the number of citizens who considered their household economic conditions to be "poor" increased in 2022, reflecting the ongoing impact of the pandemic. Ethnic minorities and women were the most acutely impacted, given the higher prevalence of poverty and vulnerable employment among them. The report also noted a shift in people's opinions on the most important issues in 2022. Concerns over health and insurance issues fell sharply, with only 6.38 per cent of respondents citing them as the most important issue. Poverty, on the other hand, returned to the top, with 22.13 per cent of respondents selecting it as the most pressing issue. The report also highlighted a 4.8 per cent rise in citizens expressing greater concern about corruption in 2022 than in the previous year. This trend is consistent with PAPIs findings in Dimension 4, Control of Corruption in the Public Sector,' with the first publicly perceived downturn in government performance in tackling corruption since 2016. Nepotism in State employment and corruption in land registration was cited as driving factors behind this trend. The report noted that transparency was a critical factor in reducing corruption by exposing potential malfeasance. However, little progress was evident in the dimension Transparency in Local Decision-making. This was primarily the result of citizens concern about the accuracy of household poverty lists developed by grassroots authorities to allocate State resources. Nonetheless, some improvements in the transparency of commune budgets and expenditures were evident. To support the governments 2023 legislative agenda, PAPI in 2022 included key indicators to inform policy discussions and track the implementation of two key legal documents: amendments to the 2013 Land Law and the new Law on Grassroots Democracy Implementation. The report revealed an increase in farmland seizures, with 4.1 per cent of respondents reporting such incidents. The figure was higher in localities where over 30 per cent of residents worked in agriculture, with 6.5 per cent of respondents reporting land seizures, up from 5.4 per cent in 2021. These findings highlight the need for stronger regulations in the Land Law to ensure transparency and equal access to land information and address this issue in rural areas. It also revealed that perceived low compensation offered by authorities to citizens is a common source of friction underlying land seizures. A special PAPI question in 2022 indicated that respondents' estimates of the market and official land prices in their locality diverged. This suggested that local governments are not considering market rates when setting land seizure compensation. More frequent changes in official prices are needed to keep up with rapidly changing market prices, especially in urban areas. The survey also pointed to citizens' low awareness of land prices, with up to 70 per cent of respondents unable to estimate a market or official land price. This lack of awareness could be due to citizens' limited engagement and understanding of local land use planning. Addressing the conference, UNDP Resident Representative in Viet Nam, Ramla Khalidi, said PAPIs mission is to monitor the Governments implementation of development and policy agendas, contributing to enhanced responsiveness, transparency, and accountability of public institutions. This 2022 PAPI Report provides reliable, evidence-based data for central and local authorities to review their performance in the key areas of governance, public administration and public service delivery, she said. Nguyen Huu Dung, Vice President of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front Central Committee, said over the past 14 years, the PAPI research program had had a positive impact, transforming the awareness and actions of provincial governments. It has practically contributed to public administration reforms a key content of three strategic breakthroughs in socio-economic development that the Party and State of Viet Nam have been trying to implement. Therefore, the research and analysis of citizens assessment of the provincial governance and public administration performance provide important indicators that help policymakers timely adjust policies and innovate operating methods to meet realitys requirements, he said. Australian Ambassador to Viet Nam Andrew Goledzinowski said he was pleased to see the Government of Viet Nam has embraced PAPI to strengthen policy and the delivery of public services, especially at the provincial level. Importantly, PAPI presents the views of various voices, including women and men and people with disability," he said. "Hearing these views is critical for improving government services. Australia has supported this important governance initiative for seven years as we recognize the value of the work to Viet Nam. The full 2022 PAPI Report and more in-depth analysis of the findings are available at www.papi.org.vn. VNS LAI CHAU Ha Van Thoi, a Thai ethnic entrepreneur in Than Uyen, Lai Chau, created a product beloved by customers worldwide for its exotic but eco-friendly qualities, but the road wasn't always easy. Ten years ago, 20-year-old Thai ethnic man Ha Van Thoi finished high school and went to perform his military service. After finishing the service, he returned to his hometown to raise pigs but failed due to the effects of the swine flu outbreaks. In 2018, Thoi left his hometown to work as a labourer in Ha Noi. In 2019, he worked for a company in Hai Phong. One day, while out for a walk, he noticed that many establishments producing decorative light shades were using plastic, glass, or paper. When he stopped at a cafe to rest and drink, he saw some glass light shades on display and was inspired by the idea of creating lamp shades with different designs. Back in his room, he wondered why he couldn't create unique, environmentally friendly light shades. He decided to quit his job and return to his hometown. While helping his family farm, Thoi noticed a lot of bamboo in the area. From this, he came up with the idea of making lights from bamboo. Thoi researched online to create unique and unusual light shade designs. He then continued to learn from carpenters how to cut bamboo tubes and create holes, as well as how to draw and create patterns. After that, Thoi returned home and immediately started experimenting. At first, he was still hesitant and constantly made mistakes. Sometimes, he felt discouraged and wanted to give up. Thoi thought that if he gave up and returned to his previous difficult job, he would regret it. So he was determined to persist. Every day, he diligently practised making the products. After a few months of experimentation, he created a product he was satisfied with. At first, he made products with simple patterns and then gradually learned to make more complex ones. In the process, he created many different products from bamboo. An eco-friendly product When he started his entrepreneurial journey, Thoi didn't have enough money to buy machinery. Thanks to the support from the Youth Union of Than Uyen District, he had additional capital to buy machinery and introduce his products. In 2020-2021, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, he produced a small number of products and searched for markets. By 2022, the pandemic was under control, and he hired more people to produce many products with different designs. He focused on creating patterns that ensured both sharpness and were in line with the customs and traditions of the Thai people. Holding a bamboo tube lamp in his hand, Ha Van Thoi shared that he initially made his products by hand. Later, he purchased machinery to create more complex product patterns and designs. A finished product must go through many meticulous stages. Bamboo is chosen as the type of plant with straight tubes that is not too young to ensure the product's aesthetic value. The time to create a product depends on each type. For simple products, one person can make 5-7 pieces per day; for complex designs such as a flower or animal shapes, only 2-3 products can be made per day by each person because they have to go through stages such as cutting, carving, grinding, polishing, drawing moulds and finishing paint. Initially, the owner mainly sold products through social media. Gradually, more people knew and actively contacted to place orders. Now, his startup model has produced 50-70 models from bamboo tubes, such as decorative lamps, drinking cups, office supply holders, clocks, etc. Each product has a different price. Simple designs cost VN65,000-80,000 (US$2.84-3.49) per product, office supply holders cost VN45,000-50,000, and more complex designs cost VN200,000 per set. The products are mainly sold in markets in Lao Cai, Ha Noi, Son La and some other countries. Ha Van Thoi's products quickly became known to everyone because they are unique, safe, and environmentally friendly. Consumers are increasingly aware of environmental protection, so his products are gradually being imported by stores. So far, Thoi's startup model has provided jobs for 3-5 local workers, with a salary ranging from VN4.5-6 million ($196-261) per person per month. Most of the workers are young people in the village and have the same passion as him. Hoang inh Nguyen, from ong Village, Muong Than Commune, said that he saw Thoi making handicrafts from bamboo, and he really liked it, so he applied for a job. His current job is to paint and finish the products and create promotional videos. This job is very suitable for his abilities and provides a stable income. He thinks making bamboo tube lamps is very meaningful because natural products contribute to environmental protection. In addition, the locality has a lot of bamboos, so they take advantage of the available raw materials to create products to promote the image of the homeland to everyone. Thoi said that in the future, for the bamboo tube lamp products to continue to expand into the market, he plans to expand his workshop and invest in more machinery. However, due to limited capital, he hopes that the local government and the Youth Union will continue to support him in funding and promoting the sale of products, thereby contributing to creating stable employment for young people in the village. Assessing Ha Van Thoi's entrepreneurial model, o Van Tuan, Secretary of the Thanh Uyen District Youth Union, emphasised that this is a new and first entrepreneurial model of young people in the district in handicrafts. In the future, the District Youth Union will continue to support Thoi in developing environmentally friendly products and connecting with homestays and restaurants to sell products. In this term, the District Youth Union aims to make bamboo tube lamps and other products of young people become OCOP products with a brand and competitiveness in the market. VNS HA NOI The France-Viet Nam Medical Federation (Federation Sante France Vietnam - FSFV) has become a bright spot in the movement of solidarity and friendship between the two nations. It brings together around 25 associations, groups, investment funds, and medical equipment and pharmaceutical companies, as well as Vietnamese, French, and French-Vietnamese individuals working in the medical field in France, who have cooperation with hospitals and medical facilities in Viet Nam. Dr ao Thu Ha, head of Radiology, Henri-Mondor University Hospital in Creteil, president of the Society for Imaging Medicine Without Borders (IMSF), said the idea of establishing the federation was made in 2014 during the France Viet Nam Year, with an aim to gather associations and individuals in the medical profession who have affection and relationship with Viet Nam. The FSFV officially made its debut at a symposium held in HCM City in 2015, with the goal of creating a comprehensive strength in actions, sharing professional experience and information, as well as implementing cooperative projects between the two countries. Dr Ha, who acts as FSFV president, along with Paediatrician Gildas Treguier, FSFV General Secretary, has made efforts to promote cooperation between Vietnamese and French hospitals, organised exchange activities, supported medical human resource training for Viet Nam, and improved expertise and professionalism for doctors, technical assistance and medical equipment. The federation has also maintained the organisation of congresses, meetings on the occasion of the traditional Lunar New Year. It has also welcomed students, trainees and doctors from Viet Nam, organised evaluation conferences on the health cooperation between the two countries in recent times and mapped out future action programmes. It kept a close watch on the developments of the COVID-19 pandemic in Viet Nam, and took all-out efforts to search for sources of aid regarding vaccines and medical equipment to join hands with Viet Nam in the fight against the health crisis, Ha said. During the first wave of COVID-19, the Vietnamese Embassy in Paris called for our help to share our experience as a multidisciplinary health dialogue partner. "At the peak of the pandemic in Viet Nam during the fall of 2021, 12 webinars were conducted, with the collaboration of experts in various health sectors including intensive care, respiratory care, geriatric. Those seminars were broadcasted live on the federations website and YouTube channel. The first COVID-19 seminar had 3,000 views, she said, speaking highly of support from her Vietnamese colleagues, especially those from the Vietnam Respiratory Society represented by Professor Ngo Quy Chau who contributed to the success of the webinars. Revealing the federations future plans, Ha said it will organise specialised conferences in November in Ha Noi in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations, and 10 years of the strategic partnership between the two nations. Vietnamese Ambassador to France inh Toan Thang highly appreciated the contributions of French and French-Vietnamese doctors to promoting healthcare cooperation between the two countries, especially in human resources training and modernising the medical sector through providing technical assistance and donating medical equipment to hospitals and healthcare facilities in Viet Nam. He expressed his hope that the FSFV will continue to play its special role in training young generations who can continue and inherit the mission of promoting healthcare cooperation between the two nations. VNS HA NOI The Ministry of Health reported a spike in COVID-19 cases in the past week, as Viet Nam recorded 183 new infections on Tuesday. It was also the highest number of daily cases recorded since the beginning of 2023, followed by 122 cases on April 8. Most new infections are in the northern region, with the highest figure in Ha Noi. Thanh Nhan Hospital in the capital city said that the number of its patients infected with COVID-19 in April is already triple the amount from the whole of March, increasing from 25 to 75. The facility is providing treatment to 10 COVID-19 patients, all of them are over 60 and have underlying health conditions. The hospital noted that while all of these patients are required to have had four COVID-19 vaccines, a majority only had two or three, and some are still to be vaccinated. Meanwhile, the National Hospital of Tropical Diseases is treating 74 COVID-19 patients, 10 of whom are on oxygen support. On April 8, 52 infections were detected among teachers and students of Khanh Yen Secondary School in Van Ban District, Lao Cai Province. Most patients showed mild or no symptoms. Some are self-quarantining at home while attending classes via online devices. The school has resumed operations as normal, although large gatherings have been temporarily halted. Health experts believe that the spike is caused by the transition from spring to summer weather, which creates ideal conditions for viruses to multiply, including SARS-CoV-2. Dr Tran ac Phu, former director of the health ministrys General Department of Preventive Medicine, said that COVID-19 would not disappear as in the case of SARS in 2003. Due to opening policies for tourism and development, the situation of the disease in Viet Nam is linked to the global context, he said. Dr Phu noted that people need to pay attention to preventive measures, wearing masks in high-risk environments, washing hands regularly and refraining from contact with suspected COVID-19 cases. He added that those with symptoms need to be proactive in curbing the spread of the disease. Special focus should be placed on protecting high-risk groups of senior citizens and those with underlying conditions, as well as on vaccination. The health ministry will continue to monitor the situation in the country and abroad and strengthen control at border gates, in communities and health facilities. More patient samples will be sent for testing and genome sequencing to detect new variants, especially those that can cause serious illness. The ministry will also continue the vaccination drive, focusing on high-risk groups and children aged from five to 12, especially those in major cities and provinces with many international tourists. Viet Nam has recorded more than 11.5 million coronavirus infections, ranking 13th out of 230 countries and territories. Among them, over 10.6 million have recovered. The countrys COVID-19 death toll is 43,186, or 0.4 per cent of the total cases. There have been no COVID-related fatalities in almost the past four months. More than 266 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in the country. Among the adult population, more than 52 million have received the third dose, while nearly 18 million have had the fourth dose. VNS HA NOI The Department of External Information under the Ministry of Information and Communications launched a new platform to promote Viet Nam's image. Launched on Thursday in Ha Noi, https://vietnam.vn is an upgrade to the website but with completely different features on a new technology platform, aiming at aggregating information from more than 100 major press agencies, 63 portals of provinces/cities and other data sources to update and provide information quickly and multi-dimensionally about Viet Nam. Pham Anh Tuan, head of the Department of External Information, said the Party and State have an interest in promoting the country's image abroad due to Viet Nam's increasing integration into the global political, economic, cultural, and social spheres. There are currently more than 250 foreign-service press agencies and 80 websites in foreign languages operated by ministries, branches, and localities to serve external information and dissemination. Many organisations, businesses, and individuals are participating in media promotion efforts to showcase Viet Nam's culture and people online. Tuan said the increasing development of digital technology and artificial intelligence is driving a need for innovation in the field of journalism and communication. To keep up with this trend, new and intelligent technologies with outstanding features are required to process and provide information quickly and with diverse access, enabling the best possible response to all reader requests. Apart from providing official information, the website also features continuously updated local information in the Destinations category, beautiful images and videos of Viet Nam in the Multimedia category, digitised versions of Viet Nam in digital space in the Vietnam 3D category, and a Figure section that showcases typical faces of the public. The Views column provides an open forum for individuals from both domestic and international regions to share their views and perspectives on Viet Nam and its people. The website aims to target a broad range of foreign readers by utilising Google's automatic translation support tool, which automatically translates all content into six languages: English, French, Spanish, Russian, German, and Japanese. These languages will default to the reader's choice during their next visit. The translated content is also edited to ensure accuracy. VNS The balance of quality and quantity of foreign-invested projects is an ever-present issue in Vietnam, Le Toan According to the latest report by the Foreign Investment Agency (FIA) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment, in the first quarter of 2023, the total newly registered capital, adjusted capital, and capital contributions and share purchases of foreign investors stood at about $5.45 billion, equivalent to 61.2 per cent on-year. Among them, the newly registered capital reached more than $3 billion while the additional capital hit $1.2 billion, down 5.9 and 70.3 per cent, respectively. Meanwhile, investment capital through capital contributions and share purchases touched $1.25 billion, down 25.5 per cent over the same period last year. The reason is that the first three months last year had a surge with Danish-backed Legos $1.32 billion project. However, there were no large-scale projects receiving investment certificate in the first quarter of this year. The report noted that the newly registered capital did not maintain its vigorous growth as in the first two months of the year, however, the number of new projects continued to increase on-year and slump compared to the first two months of 2023. There were 522 new foreign-invested projects were granted licences, up 62.1 per cent on-year. The reason is that small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) continued to pay attention to and had confidence in the investment climate of Vietnam to expand operation. Meanwhile, the number of projects under $1 million accounted for nearly 70 per cent of the total number of foreign-invested projects registered in Vietnam in the first three months of this year, but its value has only made up 2.2 per cent of the total, said Do Nhat Hoang, the FIAs director general. There are plenty of enterprises of varying sizes that want to do more in Vietnam. Nakajima Takeo, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organization in Hanoi, said Japanese SMEs intend to increase their investments in Vietnam. Although their capital totals are not large, these SMEs still possess many advanced technologies and hold a large market share. Therefore, Vietnam should pay attention to this trend and offer adequate preferential policies to attract these enterprises, which in turn will improve the domestic industry, Takeo said. The reason for the opportunity of smaller businesses to take advantage is that large corporations are considering their business strategies more carefully, due to the impact of the upcoming global minimum tax (GMT) policy. Although many large corporations made commitments to investing in Vietnam in 2022, this trend slowed down towards the end of the year. As governments around the world adjust to the upcoming tax process, many large-scale projects adjusted and increased investment capital last year in Vietnam, including Samsung initiatives in Thai Nguyen province and Ho Chi Minh City, as well as Goertek projects in Nghe An and Bac Ninh provinces. Both newly registered and additional investment capital dropped in the first quarter of this year due to the lack of large-scale projects. The same pattern is seen in investment capital through capital contributions and share purchases. The merger and acquisition market, however, is expected to warm up after Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation scooped up 15 per cent of VPBank shares, with a total value of up to $1.5 billion. The adoption of the GMT in some countries starting in 2024 is causing a general slowdown in foreign investment flow, with some investors no longer rushing to make key decisions. They take a wait-and-see approach as governments come up with new policy responses to take the GMT into account. Speaking at the recent Vietnam Business Forum, representatives of foreign business associations expressed their concern about the new tax regime. If Vietnam does not take measures, GMT will affect the countrys foreign direct investment attraction. In particular, the country will find it hard to lure large-scale projects, as the GMT only affects investors with a consolidated turnover of 750 million ($821.5 million) or more. There may be hundreds of businesses hit by the GMT. The Vietnamese government needs to mitigate the impact of the tax by changing its investment incentives. This can be in the form of cash subsidies or other additional forms to maintain competitiveness in attracting capital, said Hong Sun, chairman of the the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam. Meanwhile, a representative of Foxconn said that Foxconn is looking to expand investment in Vietnam. However, the group hopes that Vietnam will implement the no retroactive policy. If the new policy is more unfavourable than the old one, investors would still be able to enjoy the original investment incentives. This is particularly helpful when many countries begin to implement GMT, he said. Dong Nais FDI attraction booming, nearly triple in Q1 Foreign direct investment in the southern province of Dong Nai surpassed 500 million USD in the first quarter this year, nearly tripling that in the same period last year, according to the management board of the provincial industrial parks. HCM City sees over 22 per cent rise in FDI inflows in Q1 Ho Chi Minh City has drawn 497.5 million USD of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the first three months of this year, up 22.4 per cent year on year, according to the citys Statistics Office. More than $370 million of FDI poured into Dong Nai province Dong Nai Peoples Province granted five foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) licences to increase their investment capital by a total of more than $370 million on March 31. The Ministry of Finance is currently collecting feedback from those affected on the proposed amendment to the Law on Special Consumption Tax (SCT), which includes bringing online video games into the subject of excise tax. Businesses in the sector are worried it will lead to adverse effects on their development. Duong Truong Minh, director of the International Business Centre at Gosu Corporation, said that registered games would be directly affected if online games were added to the SCT. The application of the special consumption tax will increase the price of game products, thereby reducing the number of consumers and sales of games, Minh said. Furthermore, the SCT will indirectly reduce the demand for legal services in Vietnam and lead consumers closer to using illegal services from abroad. As the prices of domestic game products increase, players may seek illegal game software or free games to avoid high expenses. This could indirectly encourage customers to use unlicensed games, causing revenue losses for legitimate game manufacturers and publishers. Meanwhile, foreign businesses that are not registered and do not pay taxes or comply with Vietnamese laws are not subject to any restrictions, Minh said. There are more than 220 licensed game businesses in Vietnam, but the number of companies that are actually operating and providing games to the market is only about 20 According to the Authority of Broadcasting and Electronic Information of the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC), as of November 2022, there were 248 companies licensed to provide G1 online gaming services in the country, including 54 companies that have ceased operations or had their licenses revoked. The number of approved electronic games with approved content and scenarios is 1,327, including 856 games currently in circulation and 471 games that have been announced as discontinued. There are more than 220 licensed game businesses in Vietnam, but the number of companies that are actually operating and providing games to the market is only about 20. The rest are almost no longer active because they can't compete with foreign businesses," said La Xuan Thang, VNGs online game publishing manager. In addition, the gaming industry in Vietnam has low revenue and profits compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. According to Newzoo, in 2022, Indonesia led the region with game industry revenue of $1.8 billion, followed by Thailand at $1.1 billion, Malaysia at $911 million, Vietnam at $782 million, and Singapore at $511 million. Le Xuan Hoa, vice chairman of the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association, said that game companies in Vietnam were facing a shrinking tendency, as licensed games were losing ground to their pirate or unlicensed counterparts. Many Vietnamese game companies have set up and operated successfully in foreign countries, such as Singapore, leading to a drain of resources. The basic reason identified is tax policies and better incentives in Singapore, Hoa said. Hoa drew on the example of Vietnam's neighbouring country, saying that game production companies in Singapore do not have to apply for licences to provide electronic game services or approval of content and scenarios for each game product. In particular, newly established companies in Singapore are exempt from 75 per cent of the tax applied to taxable income of the first SGD100,000 for the first three years, and continue to be exempt from 50 per cent of the tax applied to taxable income of the next SGD100,000. The MIC is developing a Strategy for the Development of the Online Gaming Sector for the 2022-2027 period In light of difficulties faced by online gaming businesses in Vietnam, the MIC is developing a Strategy for the Development of the Online Gaming Sector for the 2022-2027 period. This includes building policy mechanisms, supplementing legal regulations to simplify administrative procedures, providing incentives for the gaming industry, and attracting companies currently headquartered overseas. Economist Can Van Luc believes that Vietnam's gaming sector is not yet well-developed in the ASEAN region and has a large inflow of imports from abroad, so the tax revenue from games is not significant. Therefore, policymakers need to evaluate the risks and how to prevent them. There should be a thorough assessment of the impact on users and businesses and clear reasons for applying this tax rate, Luc said. He recommended that Vietnam should have guidelines to control consumer behaviour and establish a gaming culture to encourage the industry's development. There should be solutions to reduce the risks of gambling and their effects on players' health, psychology, and behaviour. Singapore and China have such guidelines, and they are essential for the industry, he said. Gaming publishers shy away from tax proposition A proposal to impose special consumption taxes on online games in Vietnam has been shot down by businesses and industry experts. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) Former Negros Oriental Governor Pryde Henry Teves claimed that the cops disabled the CCTV cameras while conducting a search inside the 10-hectare Tolong Sugar Mill or HDJ compound. In his counter-affidavit, Teves attached a video file supposedly showing how the search team disabled the CCTV camera at the main gate. "The act of the police officers tilting and disabling the CCTV camera away from them in an effort to conceal something seriously puts into question the discovery of the items within the compound," Teves said. He pointed out that the CCTV cameras could have been the best safeguard of the cops to prove they had nothing to hide. Teves also claimed that witnesses from their corporation were only called to sign the inventory of the seized items, insisting that no representatives were present during the actual search. He also denied possessing the firearms, ammunition, and explosives seized in the property during the seven-day raid. He argued that he never had actual possession of the items. Teves also questioned the search warrant used by the police, pointing out that the place to be searched was not described in detail. He said that since the search warrant is void, it only follows that the items seized should be suppressed for being "fruits of the poisonous tree," which rendered them inadmissible as evidence. "I cannot help but ask: Why am I being singled out? There is a modern-day witch hunt happening and I continue to bear the brunt of it. Never have I imagined having the name Teves carried so much weight," he said. Authorities seized about 18 million in cash, multiple firearms, and nearly 10,000 rounds of live ammunition in the first raid in the sugar mill allegedly owned by Teves. Several personal belongings of alleged gunmen who assassinated Negros Oriental Governor Roel Degamo were also later on recovered in the sugar mill. Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park focuses on improving competitiveness through investment in infrastructure and internal utilities On the first publication of the Annual Report on Foreign Direct Investment in Vietnam, Prof. Nguyen Mai, chairman of the Vietnam's Association of Foreign-Invested Enterprises, said that institutions and policies related to FDI, including the global minimum tax (GMT) application, must be completed. The GMT policy is a significant component of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD) tax-based anti-erosion programme and profit shifting. The GMT is a relatively new notion in Vietnam, yet it is a critical problem both worldwide and domestically. This strategy was established by developed nations, and has been endorsed by 141 countries and territories, including Vietnam. Several nations will impose a worldwide minimum tax rate of 15 per cent on major enterprises with a revenue of 750 million euros or more beginning in 2024. According to Phan Duc Hieu, Standing Member of the National Assembly's Economic Committee, the GMT is important in terms of global economic development and promoting a healthy and fair competitive environment among nations. The demand is for progressive tax reform, with the goal of restricting the many wealthy corporations want to avoid taxes by shifting earnings to tax havens or doing business through cross-border digital platforms. But tax breaks are still being used to entice foreign investment in Vietnam and many other nations. When the GMT is applied, investors will have to pay the difference in tax to their home nation, rendering tax breaks ineffective. The adoption of the GMT will provide several hurdles to Vietnam's investment environment's competitiveness. Prof. Mai said that a government working group should be formed to analyse, discuss, and come up with answers to this problem. The government formed a Special Working Group on the GMT in August last year. He believes that the attraction of FDI in countries around the world is not limited to tax incentives, but also to many other policies related to political institutions, government support, management mechanisms, open trade agreements, infrastructure, and labour. As a result, among probable nations that may implement the GMT policy, Vietnam retains significant advantages in attracting FDI. As a result, the current difficulty is determining how to create a solution that allows Vietnam to maximise benefits while minimising negative consequences when participating in the GMT. Nam Dinh Vu Port has now completed investment in both phases and can receive ships with a tonnage of up to 48,000DWT Infrastructure investors strive to improve competitiveness As an investor and businessman in industrial park infrastructure, Nguyen Thanh Phuong, general director of Sao Do Group - the developer of Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park (IP) said, "Definitely, while implementing the worldwide minimum tax, competitiveness, and attractiveness could be damaged. Nonetheless, the government is actively preparing countermeasures. From the standpoint of industrial park infrastructure enterprises the direct subject of this new challenge it is also required to take the initiative." Phuong believes that the most essential thing is to invest in and increase the quality of IP infrastructure in a synchronised, contemporary direction, while also providing the most utility for investors. "The more benefits of the IP, the more enticing it will be to invest sustainably. Tax breaks are simply one of the considerations they consider when making investment decisions. Investors always emphasise selecting a safe and stable location to guarantee that their investments run well, saving cash and improving earnings," Phuong said. Nam Dinh Vu Port is located in Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park Sao Do Group's Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park is located in the Dinh Vu - Cat Hai oastal economic zone. This IP has a tremendous geographical advantage since it is adjacent to the sea and near key transportation infrastructure projects such as Lach Huyen International Port, Cat Bi International Airport, and Hanoi - Haiphong Highway. This helps secondary investors reduce their logistical expenses. The IP has developed a full, synchronized, and convenient business investment environment with an area of 1,329 hectares separated into four functional subdivisions that complement each other (industry and warehousing). Nam Dinh Vu Port, in particular, is one of the IP's unique features. It has attracted a number of logistics clients, including Germadept, Pantos Hai An, SLP, and Haiphong Port Services, and others, which contributes a logistics ecosystem to the industrial park. In the near term, Sao Do Group will invest in the construction of a liquid cargo dock, as well as the provision of petroleum, gas, and natural gas services for industrial clients. In mid-May 2022, investor JD Future Explore V Limited (Hong Kong) also held the groundbreaking ceremony of JD Property Logitics Park Haiphong 1 project at Nam Dinh Vu IP. With the total investment of $32 million, this investor will build a warehouse for rent from 5,000 to 55,000 square metres. GNP Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Centre is a new project with a total capital of $38.5 million that will be operational by July this year to provide services to investors. Resetting focus on human resources management at industrial zones The outbreak of COVID-19 in a number of industrial zones has revealed a long-overlooked issue in the management of human resources. VIR had a discussion with Nguyen Thanh Phuong, general director of Sao Do Group, the investor and infrastructure developer of Nam Dinh Vu Industrial Park in Haiphong city. Industrial real estate: Narrow internal-external distance To keep their home market, many domestic industrial real estate investors are not only racing to amass land funds but also to improve the quality of their products and industrial park management capabilities to attract customers. IPs with seaports will have the advantage in attracting new-generation FDI flows The COVID-19 pandemic affected global supply chains and the transport industry, especially aviation, was disrupted, thus shipping took the throne. Meanwhile, new developments from free trade agreements are creating new opportunities for Vietnam's industrial real estate market. Sao Do Group celebrates its 20th anniversary and marches forward December 26 marked the milestone of 20 years of establishment of Sao Do Group. Right from the beginning of the new year, the group prepared many activities for this big event. Sao Do Group to escalate its business Marking the milestone of 20 years of construction and development while driving the momentum for a brand new development journey, Sao Do Group has been preparing many business expansion plans for the year 2022. Illustrative photo (Source: VNA) Hanoi - The capital city of Hanoi scored over 43.9 points out of 80 in the 2022 Provincial Governance and Public Administration Performance Index (PAPI), which was freshly released by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on April 12. The score helped it be listed among 16 localities with high points of between 43.44 and 47.88. Among the eight sub-criteria, the capital city scored highest in "public administration procedures" with 7.31 out of 10, followed by "public service delivery" with 7.22 and "control of corruption in the public sector" 6.8. According to the municipal department for internal affairs, with its point, Hanoi ranked 12th nationwide, down two places compared to 2021. For Hanoi to improve its ranking in the PAPI index in the time to come, Dang Hoang Giang, a research member of the 2022 PAPI, urged the city to strengthen its performance across all aspects related to administrative performance, from education, transparency in land management, and accessible online public services to environmental management. Conducted jointly by the Center for Community Support and Development Studies (CECODES), the Vietnam Fatherland Front's Center for Research and Training, Real-Time Analytics, and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), PAPI is a policy monitoring tool that assesses citizens' experiences and satisfaction with government performance at the national and subnational levels in governance, public administration, and public service delivery. It is in a unique position to deliver invaluable insights into government performance at all levels two years into its 2021-2026 term and actualise the 2023 legislative agenda. In particular, the index measures eight dimensions: participation at local levels, transparency, vertical accountability, control of corruption, public administrative procedures, public service delivery, environmental governance and e-government. The 2022 PAPI report provides a source of reliable, evidence-based data for central and local authorities to review their performance in the key areas of governance, public administration, and public service delivery, said UNDP Resident Representative in Vietnam Ramla Khalidi at the April 12 launch. As reflected through the index, Vietnams efforts to overcome the socio-economic impacts of the unprecedented health crisis in 2022 translated into increased economic confidence at household and national levels. In a notable turnaround, 66.1 per cent of the respondents viewed the national economy as good in 2022 a 19.4 per cent leap from a year earlier, while there was a 13.7 per cent drop in citizens assessing conditions as bad from 19.8 per cent in 2021 to only 6.1 per cent in 2022. Similarly, at the household level, fewer citizens reported their economic situation was poor (11.4 versus 15.3 per cent in 2021). Despite this progress, some scarring from the health crisis was evident. While 56 per cent of the respondents confirmed their economic conditions were better in 2022 than a year earlier (52 per cent), aside from 2021, this percentage in 2022 was still the lowest since 2012. Similarly, those suggesting that their economic conditions were worse rose to their highest levels since 2012, except for 2021. This underlined that many respondents are still feeling the lingering pain of the economic damage by the pandemic, with ethnic minorities and women most acutely impacted given the higher prevalence of poverty and vulnerable employment among them. The transition to the post-pandemic era is also reflected in health and health insurance as 2021s issue of greatest concern plummeting from 23.84 to 6.38 per cent to be overtaken by poverty/hunger (22.13 per cent) perennially at the top of the list since 2015, aside from pandemic-hit 2021. Following the initial pilot in 2009 and a larger survey in 2010, the PAPI survey has been implemented nationwide each year since 2011. For the 2022 PAPI Report, 16,117 randomly selected citizens were surveyed. In total, 178,243 Vietnamese citizens nationwide have been directly interviewed for PAPI since 2009. Hanoi's housing prices rise 10-15 per cent over three years Despite a stagnant real estate market, housing prices particularly those for luxury apartments in Hanoi have continued to rise. Hung Yen to help ease housing burden on Hanoi Real estate experts predict that Hung Yen will "share" the burden of housing demand with Hanoi in the near future. Cat Linh- Ha Dong metro line serves more than 2.65 mln passengers in Q1 The Cat Linh Ha Dong metro line served more than 2.65 million passengers in the first quarter of this year, skyrocketing 262% year-on-year, according to General Director of Hanoi Railway Company Limited (Hanoi Metro) Vu Hong Truong. Just over a week ago, TGS Tra Vinh Green Hydrogen Company, a member of the Green Solutions Group, started construction of Vietnams first and largest green hydrogen factory in the Mekong Delta province of Tra Vinh, with a total investment of $341 million. The project, which will cover 21 hectares, is anticipated to be operational in two years and will initially produce 24,000 tonnes of green hydrogen and 195,000 tonnes of oxygen per year. Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan said at the groundbreaking ceremony in Tra Vinh that Vietnam is promoting the development of the chemical industry, which includes producing green hydrogen and green ammonia. Green hydrogen is expected to be the energy source of the future, the key to the worlds energy transition strategy towards sustainable, environmentally friendly trends, he said, adding that the development is an important milestone in the process of greening energy sources in the spirit of Vietnams National Energy Development Strategy for this decade and beyond. Over recent years, Vietnam has taken the first steps of the transition from traditional energy to green and cleaner renewable energy, promoting the development of wind power, solar power, and energy power projects. Last year Thyssenkrupp, a large German industrial company, agreed to cooperate with TGS to produce green hydrogen and green ammonia in the same province. Their goal is to produce 216,000 tonnes of green ammonia and 36,000 tonnes of green hydrogen annually to support carbon neutralisation efforts and help Vietnam reach its net-zero carbon goal by mid-century. Elsewhere, Enterprize Energy agreed to spend $5 billion on Thang Long Wind 2, an offshore wind project off the coast of the south-central province of Binh Thuan, with PTSC G&S and Fugro. A portion of the expenditure will go towards producing hydrogen via seawater electrolysis for export to Japan, Singapore, and South Korea. The 2,000MW venture would be Vietnams first seawater electrolysis plant, and aims to be operational by 2030. PetroVietnam has also discussed hydrogen plans to guarantee future energy security, noting that green hydrogen will eventually replace fossil fuels to form a hydrogen economy. Hydrogen use dependent on roadmap, illustration photo/ Shutterstock Accelerating the transition Hydrogen is one of the cleanest alternative fuel sources when produced from wind and solar energy, contributing to reducing carbon emissions. The development of hydrogen energy has been directed by the government in the Politburos Resolution No.55-NQ/TW dated 2020 on the orientation of the National Energy Development Strategy to 2030, with a vision to 2045. The acceleration of Vietnams energy transition is made urgent by the rapid growth of the economy, accompanied by continuing urbanisation and industrialisation. The transition to renewable energy will be a long-term engine for employment as well as a way to address air pollution, experts said. The American Chamber of Commerce in Vietnam (AmCham) noted that Vietnam is one of the first countries to renew its nationally determined contribution to the UN, committing to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To achieve the zero-carbon goal by 2050, it will be necessary to prioritise energy sources that are both affordable and socially sustainable, and this process will require financial and technical support from external sources, AmCham wrote. Building on COP26 commitments and the signing of the Just Energy Transition Partnership in December 2022 also reflects practical assistance to the countrys ambitious climate targets, including a substantial rise in renewable energy by 2030. These targets are reflected in the recent draft of the Power Development Plan VIII, which estimates an investment cost of $142 billion ($126 billion for power generation/sources and $16 billion for power transmission grid) for 2021-2030. Hydrogen could be part of a long-term solution. While too expensive for power plant use today, it is already cost-effective for industrial and agricultural use. Vietnam should ensure that liquefied natural gas (LNG) turbines, and piping and offshore wind projects, are built with hydrogen in mind, but making renewable energy more available is most important right now, said AmCham. Meanwhile, Michael DiGregorio, head of the Vietnam Business Forums Environment Working Group, said last month that COP26 made it certain that the world is looking to phase down the use of coal. Governments, multinationals, the private sector, banks - in short, all major institutions with a stake in energy - have agreed that the negative environmental impacts of coal-fired power far outweigh short-term economic gains, he said. Vietnam must also secure a baseload sufficient to replace coal, meaning the transition towards renewables. I think it is an open secret that many of the major oil companies that missed opportunities in renewables are now investing in hydrogen, both in the production of hydrogen and in supply chains. These companies are expecting the first place where hydrogen will be used is in automobiles and transportation, and then gradually become more common in power supply, DiGregorio added. Hong Sun, chairman of the Korea Chamber of Business in Vietnam, said that discussions on sustainable and eco-friendly energy development are being conducted actively in Vietnam. Currently, many South Korean energy enterprises are promoting the construction of LNG power plants in various regions of Vietnam, such as Quang Tri in the central region, but in the north and south too, he said. He said South Korea enacted the worlds first hydrogen economic law and possesses the worlds best hydrogen energy technology. In this vein, Vietnam is currently considering investment in various fields, such as using LNG facilities for hydrogen production and investing in hydrogen gas power generation project. We hope that this will be an opportunity for cooperation to help both sides develop together in energy, Sun added. Key bottlenecks According to the Energy Institute of Vietnam, although the country has a very fast development in renewable energy in Southeast Asia, renewable energy for hydrogen production is still not competitive enough on cost and scale. In addition, Vietnam is not yet self-sufficient in technology to produce significant input materials. It is lacking infrastructure, storage systems, and supply stations as well as charging stations. We are at a very preliminary starting point, said the institutes deputy director general Le Viet Cuong. He suggested developing and implementing a roadmap for the development of hydrogen energy in accordance with the overall energy transition strategy, suitable for Vietnam from an early age. If we dont prepare now, we will miss out on opportunities, he added. Cuong proposed completing the legal aspect to reduce investors worries about risks and ambiguities in the project implementation process, especially related to laws for environmental-based investment, and legislation related to electricity prices, renewable energy, and carbon-related incentives. Nguyen Van Vy, deputy chairman of the Vietnam Energy Association, admitted that hydrogen production requires large investment costs, a national development strategy and roadmap, as well as specific supporting policies. In addition, technology and human resources lack experience in management, engineering and production, and transportation and storage of hydrogen. The infrastructure of the gas industry and the transmission grid has not been considered, considering the need and common use mechanism for hydrogen development. Also, there is insufficient awareness among regulatory agencies, businesses, and individuals about the role and importance of hydrogen energy and the benefits of producing this material, he said. According to Vy, currently, only about 20-30 countries have a robust hydrogen strategy, mainly in the transportation sector. The first thing we must do is to develop a national green hydrogen research strategy, and put each roadmap between the needs, capabilities, and policies for development. In the short term, Vietnam can research green hydrogen in offshore wind power projects, contributing to offsetting gas for a number of plants in Phu My and Ca Mau, said Vy. JAKS Hai Duong fined for land violation JAKS Hai Duong Power Co., Ltd. was last week forced to pay back illegal profits obtained from the act of occupying land, at a cost of more than VND1.8 billion ($76,750). The company was also fined VND210 million ($9,100) by the Peoples Committee of Hai Duong province for occupying protective forest land. The power plant comprises two 600MW coal-fired thermal units with a project cost of $1.87 billion. JAKS Resources Bhd formed a joint venture with China Power Engineering Consulting Group (CPECC) to build and operate the power plant, in which JAKS holds 30 per cent equity interest, and CPECC holding the remainder. The Hai Duong thermal power plant is the first foray of JAKS Resources into Vietnam. Japanese bank signs loan agreement with Vietcombank The Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) signed a loan agreement with Vietcombank at the end of March to set up a credit line of up to $300 million for renewable energy projects in Vietnam. JBICs portion of the credit line is $165 million, with the remainder co-financed by Mizuho Bank, Joyo Bank, and Shiga Bank. Vietnam, which hopes to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, has installed a renewable generation capacity that is expected to reach 72.2GW in 2030, almost half of its total power capacity, which is projected to stand at 156.4GW in that year. Electricity of Vietnam takes hit The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) reported that in 2022, Electricity of Vietnam suffered a loss of $1.13 billion. The loss did not include exchange rate differences, and there were some items which have not been taken into account. Electricity of Vietnam (EVN) has once again proposed to increase electricity prices to combat enormous losses. Under the prime ministers Decision No.24/2017QD-TTg dated 2017 on mechanisms for adjustment of average retail electricity price, if the input factors fluctuate by 3 per cent or more, electricity prices will be adjusted. If the average price increases by 3-5 per cent, the increase will be determined by EVN. If the price expands from 5 per cent to below 10 per cent, the increase will be decided by the MoIT, and if the price climbs 10 per cent or higher, this will be reported to the government. EVN failed to negotiate prices for wind and solar power prior to March 31 as requested by the MoIT a few weeks prior. Escalating national hydrogen production and exports When contemplating the growth of the hydrogen industry in Vietnam, it is necessary to examine the industrys export focus towards key Asian markets. Race for hydrogen energy heating up against backdrop of carbon-free future The emerging hydrogen market is set to be very complex, and for Vietnam to become a producer and exporter of green hydrogen over the next five years, there will be huge challenges, but the potential upsides are vast. Creating suitable models for exploitation of hydrogen Investors are ramping up the development of hydrogen to meet the rising energy demand in Vietnam. HDF Energy inks MoU with PTSC to build hydrogen power plants Hydrogene de France SA (HDF Energy) has signed an MoU with PetroVietnam Technical Services Corporation (PTSC) to jointly develop, finance, and build HDF's hydrogen power plants in Vietnam. With the desire to spark the creativity of young students majoring in Construction and Architecture, the INSEE Prize helps turn sustainable dream projects into reality and create a solid foundation for participants on their future career paths, with total prize money of more than VND300 million ($13,043). As the leading building materials and waste management company in the South of Vietnam, INSEE strives to innovate its entire production process by using green methods and ensuring the core value in our development is sustainability. The company makes great efforts in promoting sustainable construction to future generation of engineers and architects. Mat Ngot Library The Champion project of the INSEE Prize 2021 was actualised in 2022 at Phuoc Tan A Primary School, Bac Ai district, Ninh Thuan province The prize was organised as an opportunity for talented students from universities of Construction and Architecture nationwide to join in a prestigious playground and contribute their ideas and sustainable resolutions to solve social problems and improve the local community. By participating in the INSEE Prize, students can bring their projects and ideas forward, receiving advice and suggestions from leading experts in the Construction and Sustainable Development industry. This can help them perfect their dream project in the most practical way and directly solve specific social problems. Besides this, the candidates also have the opportunity to receive valuable prizes. Over a 15-year journey, the INSEE Prize has directly invested well over VND3 billion ($130,434) and mobilised more than VND13 billion from sponsors for a total of nine projects that have been implemented, bringing invaluable benefits to more than 5,000 beneficiaries nationwide. Outstanding figures of the INSEE Prize journey The organising committee of INSEE Prize 2023 will start receiving submissions from March 29 to June 15, 2023. Feel free to express your ideas and send them to insee.prize-vnm@siamcitycement.com with a chance to receive valuable prizes. All detailed information about the INSEE Prize 2023 is regularly updated by the Organising Committee via our Facebook page Life at INSEE. INSEE launches Mat Ngot library project with wealth of support On May 10, the sponsorship announcement and signing ceremony for the INSEE Mat Ngot project a library for children in mountainous areas took place with the attendance of Wiraka Moodhitaporn, Consulate General of Thailand in Ho Chi Minh City, the Thai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and sponsors and partners. At a recent meeting with more than 200 foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) held in the province, representatives of various industrial parks (IPs) said that current complexes in Dong Nai had been developed with a strong inner infrastructure system, but links to outside areas were poor, congested, and unsafe for workers. Widescale renovations needed for FIEs to thrive in Dong Nai - Illustrative image (Photo: VNA) Businesses complained that the transportation of goods in and out of the IPs, especially at peak hours, was inconvenient due to heavy traffic, along with narrow and degraded roads. The dust situation at the under-construction Long Thanh airport is also strongly affecting production activities and the workers health. Doan Huong Giang, a representative of Elite Long Thanh Co., Ltd., said that dust had affected the companys products and staff. We hope provincial leaders and departments have a solution to make the environment fresher to protect peoples health, Giang said. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Mai, a representative from Longwell Co., Ltd, in Dau Giay IP, said that currently, the companys employees had difficulty with accommodation and other services such as kindergartens, clinics, and leisure. We suggest Dong Nai pay attention to investing in social housing and building cultural institutions for workers, Mai said. In addition, many FIEs in the province are facing difficulties when applying for fire prevention permits for their factories. A representative of Samtec Vietnam Trading Company in Long Thanh IP reflected that the company is reviewing the fire protection design due to the need to renovate the warehouse. The company has been working with the local fire protection agency since October, but has not yet received a licence because the application standards remain unclear. A representative of Hyosung Vietnam Co., Ltd. in Nhon Trach V park also reported difficulties getting a fire safety permit. Previously, the appraisal and approval of fire prevention and fighting permits was carried out by Dong Nai Peoples Committee, but since the end of 2022, it has been transferred to the Hanoi Fire Fighting and Prevention Police Department for review and approval. We really do not know when our submitted can be approved and this is difficult for us to implement the next procedures for Hyosungs production expansion, he said. After hearing feedback from the FIEs, Chairman of Dong Nai Peoples Committee Cao Tien Dung acknowledged that there were problems that the local authorities had not been proactive with. In particular, infrastructure construction is the responsibility of the state, but the process has been poor. After this dialogue, the director of the Department of Planning and Investment must immediately review and report back to provincial leaders for appropriate handling, Dung said. Foreign investment in Dong Nai surpassed $500 million in Q1 this year, tripling that in the same period last year. Of that, there were 11 new projects with the total registered investment capital of nearly $50 million and 22 others with additional capital of more than $451 million, mostly those from Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan. According to the plan for 2030, Dong Nai will have 40 IPs with an area of about 19,000ha. Of those, 32 are already in operation, with an occupancy rate of over 85 per cent. Many large-scale infrastructure projects are being implemented in Dong Nai, including Long Thanh International Airport, Phan Thiet-Dau Giay and Dau Giay-Lien Khuong highways. Dong Nais FDI attraction booming, nearly triple in Q1 Foreign direct investment in the southern province of Dong Nai surpassed 500 million USD in the first quarter this year, nearly tripling that in the same period last year, according to the management board of the provincial industrial parks. More than $370 million of FDI poured into Dong Nai province Dong Nai Peoples Province granted five foreign-invested enterprises (FIEs) licences to increase their investment capital by a total of more than $370 million on March 31. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) Alaska Airlines canceled more than two dozen flights in its namesake state Thursday because of an ash cloud from a volcano in Russia that drifted into Alaska, the Seattle-based airline said. The ash cloud is from Shiveluch Volcano, the airline said. By midday Thursday, 28 flights to, from and within Alaska were canceled. We continue to monitor the ash cloud, and depending on its location, movement and timing, we might need to cancel additional flights, the airline said in a statement. It encouraged travelers to check the status of their flights online. Among those affected was U.S. Rep. Mary Peltola, an Alaska Democrat, whose overnight flight from Honolulu to Anchorage was canceled, Dillingham, Alaska, radio station KDLG reported. Sam Erickson, a Peltola spokesperson, declined comment to The Associated Press. The ash cloud drifted over Alaska air space in the last few days, the Alaska Volcano Observatory said in a statement. Although this cloud poses a potential hazard to aviation and has disrupted some flights, no ashfall is expected on Alaska communities, it said. Shiveluch, one of Kamchatka Peninsulas most active volcanoes, started erupting early Tuesday, spewing ash more than 300 miles (500 kilometers) northwest. Several Russian villages were covered in grey volcanic dust in the largest fallout in nearly 60 years. On Wednesday, the eruption sent an ash cloud more than 6 miles (10 kilometers) into the air. The volcano is about 1,772 miles (2,772 kilometers) west of Anchorage. Volcanic ash is angular and sharp and has been used as an industrial abrasive. The powdered rock can cause a jet engine to shut down. PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday expelled a Republican lawmaker who organized a presentation making unsubstantiated accusations that a wide range of politicians, judges and public officials of both parties took bribes from a Mexican drug cartel. Rep. Liz Harris, a prominent supporter of discredited election conspiracies, was kicked out of the Legislature in a bipartisan vote after the presentation by an Arizona insurance agent. The lawmaker's ouster came a day after the House Ethics Committee determined Harris had engaged in disorderly behavior in violation of the chamber's rules. The committee's report said Harris knew the person she invited to a legislative hearing in February would accuse her colleagues of criminal activity, that she took steps to hide it from House leaders ahead of time and then misled the committee investigating her actions. This comes down to the integrity, in my opinion, of this institution and us as leaders, said Rep. David Livingston, a Republican who voted to expel Harris. This is not personal. Harris, who was sworn into her first term in January, did not speak ahead of the expulsion vote. Immediately afterward, she carried boxes to her car, placed them in her trunk with the help of a handful of supporters and left. She called the ethics report a lie. God knows the truth, Harris said, according to video recorded by a reporter for KPNX-TV. This was an example of how you need to toe the line. If you dont toe the line, this is what happens. The vote against Harris comes less than a week after Tennessee Republicans voted to expel two black Democrats, a decision that made that state a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy. But the Arizona vote did not carry the same partisan and racial overtones, with widespread and bipartisan condemnation for Harris's actions. Harris organized a daylong hearing of the House and Senate elections committees in February. At the end, a Scottsdale insurance agent, Jacqueline Breger, gave a 40-minute presentation alleging without reliable evidence that two women working on behalf of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel used fraudulent mortgage documents to launder money to a range of officials. Arizona Republican lawmakers have given wide leeway for people claiming to be election experts to share unsubstantiated or disproven claims in hearings at the Capitol. But GOP legislative leaders raced to distance themselves from Breger's claims and pin blame on Harris. Before she was elected to the Legislature, Harris led a door-to-door canvassing effort searching for proof of fraud following the 2020 presidential election. Her effort drew scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justices civil rights division, which warned about potential voter intimidation. There was little public discussion before the expulsion vote. Republican Rep. Alexander Kolodin said Harris made an error in judgement, but expelling her would send the wrong message. It will be perceived as setting the precedent that if you rock the boat too much, you will be expelled, said Kolodin, who voted against expulsion. All Democrats and about half of Republicans voted to expel Harris in a 46-13 vote. She's the first lawmaker to be expelled in Arizona since Rep. Don Shooter was kicked out for sexual misconduct amid the 2018 #MeToo movement. Rep. David Stringer quit the following year after old sex crimes charges came to light that likely would have led to his expulsion. There has been real and lasting damage to the lives and reputations of people who did not deserve it, said Rep. Andres Cano, the top Democrat in the House. Most importantly, the integrity of this House has been jeopardized. Harris represented one of the most competitive legislative districts in the state in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler. Both parties had been anticipating she would face a difficult reelection campaign next year. By law, Harris must be replaced by a Republican. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will choose from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican precinct committeemen in her district. Thirty years after the fateful 1993 raid, siege and fire of the Branch Davidian complex that killed 86 persons, one wonders if there's much new to be said. The five-part docudrama series "Waco: The Aftermath," whose first episode debuts Friday on Showtime, finds it in the subsequent trial of Branch Davidians and the trail through white nationalism that led a discontented Timothy McVeigh to blow up the Alfred Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City in 1994. Created and produced by the same team behind the 2018 series "Waco" on Paramount+, "Waco: The Aftermath" proves surprisingly engaging, thanks in large part to a storyline that weaves the trial, FBI negotiator Gary Noesner's search for a reported "payback" for the Waco fire and flashbacks that follow Vernon Howell (Keean Johnson), his gradual takeover of the Branch Davidian community led by Lois Roden (J. Smith-Cameron) and his rise in their eyes as a prophet in the years leading up to the raid. Michael Shannon returns from "Waco" as Noesner, haunted by how FBI leadership foiled his efforts to negotiate a peaceful resolution to the siege, finds he can't ignore hints and rumors that anti-government groups are planning a terrorist attack of some sort. Despite his superiors' reluctance, his investigation leads to an armed white supremacist camp in Oklahoma called Elohim City, one he tries to infiltrate with Carol Howe (Abbey Lee), a former and abused girlfriend of a camp resident. Entwined with this narrative thread is the trial of surviving Branch Davidians Clive Doyle (John Hoogenakker), Ruth Riddle (Kali Rocha), Livingstone Fagan (Michael Luwoye) and Paul Fatta (Nicholas Kolev), on conspiracy to murder charges in a San Antonio federal court. Attorney Dan Cogdell (Giovanni Ribisi) fights not only a popular prejudice against religious cults, which the Branch Davidians have been branded as such, but biased presiding judge Walter S. Smith (David Costabile) and eager, fresh-faced prosecutor Bill Johnson (Michael Cassidy). The seemingly separate stories begin to share a common theme as they develop: the white supremacists that Noesner is trying to track believe the government is forcibly repressing and killing citizens who oppose it; Cogdell tries to paint the Davidians as defending themselves from armed ATF and FBI action, whose leaders were actively trying to hide their lies and mistakes in the aftermath. The sequel comes from the same creative crew behind the "Waco" miniseries, directors Drew and John Erick Dowdle, and several of its actors return as well: Shannon, John Leguizamo as ATF undercover agent Jacob Vasquez, Annika Marks as Davidian Kathy Schroeder and Shea Whigham as FBI leader Mitch Decker. Shannon and Ribisi drive their stories with focused, compelling acting, but part of "Waco: The Aftermath's" appeal is encountering characters largely ignored in past documentaries and docudramas: the intensely religious Davidian Livingstone and believers Doyle and Riddle; former Davidian prophet Lois Roden and her unhinged son George (Michael Vincent Berry); informant Howe; enigmatic investigator and supposed ex-CIA agent Gordon Novel (Gary Cole); and the high-handed Judge Smith. Oklahoma City bomber McVeigh (Alex Breaux) also plays a leading part, but an underdeveloped one. All add shading and complexity to a complicated saga often painted in broad strokes. The five episodes lead to the known aftermaths of Waco, the Oklahoma City bombing and the trial conclusion (which may surprise some), but one almost wishes for a sixth episode that pursues the white supremacist terrorism angle in the years between 1994 and, say, today. New episodes will air on Fridays for the next five weeks. Upcoming events Next week also features several in-person events pertaining to the 1993 raid and siege. Baylor University professor and author Bob Darden, who co-authored with Brad Bailey the 1993 book "Mad Man in Waco," will interview Kevin Cook, author of the new book "Waco Rising," at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Fabled Bookshop and Cafe. Branch Davidian David Thibodeau and religion scholars James D. Tabor and J. Phillip Arnold are among the panelists in a "The 1993 Branch Davidians and Federal Agents Conflict: What Have We Learned?" discussion, held at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Taylor Museum of Waco History, 701 Jefferson Ave. Taking advantage of the time one has is a major theme in the 1994 musical "Rent," and timing shapes the relevance of this weekend's production of the musical by the Wild Imaginings theater company. Many remember the musical for characters struggling with HIV/AIDS, or their sexuality, but director Trent Sutton said it also raises the question of affordable housing at a time of rising rents and declining income. "As a queer theater artist, it's an important story and has something to say to Waco for a lot of reasons," he said. "It's about the AIDS crisis, but even more about housing. It's about people who aren't sure where they're going to go." Sutton pointed out his company will perform the musical at downtown's Texas Music Cafe, located several blocks from the former location of the Oak Lodge Motor Inn, which provided low-rent shelter for the housing insecure before it was purchased and razed for condos and loft apartments. Also intentional was the small confines of the Texas Music Cafe, which puts actors in close proximity to the audience and heightens the emotional impact. "It's an intimate show. It deals with friends, loss and tragedy," he said. Playwrights and composer Jonathan Larson famously modeled his work as a rock musical inspired by Puccini's "La Boheme," its 19th-century Paris setting and penniless bohemians translated into 1990s New York City and a mix of scrappy creatives trying to survive poverty, AIDS and drugs. Larson died before the play's original run and didn't get to see his musical go on to win a Tony Award and a Pulitzer Prize in addition to becoming one of Broadway's most popular musicals of the late 20th century. It also proved an important steppingstone in the careers of actors Idina Menzel, Jesse L. Martin, Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. "Rent" follows a handful of friends, former partners and acquaintances whose paths cross, divide and overlap in a low-rent East Village apartment during a holiday season in the late 1980s. Fledgling filmmaker Mark Cohen (Jake Page) and his struggling musician roommate Roger Davis (Caleb Howard) scheme how to stay in their place without paying rent to landlord Benny Coffin (Jeffrey Vitarius), a former roommate. Gay professor Tom Collins (Jared Guidry), like attorney Joanne Jefferson (Kalyssa Smith), were former roommates with Mark and Roger, but are on separate paths. Jefferson is the girlfriend of Maureen Johnson, a performing artist set to protest local housing evictions, while Collins has AIDS and is in love with Angel Dumott Schunard (Keyshaun Hollie), who also has AIDS and performs in drag. Exotic dancer Mimi Marquez (Breshena Crosby) lives downstairs and is in love with Roger as both navigate being HIV-positive. The character of Angel takes on additional significance these days given current Republican efforts in multiple states to ban or restrict drag shows, Sutton noted. "Truly, the purest of souls onstage is a drag queen," he said. The 13-member cast will sing to recorded tracks and will play on a minimal set. Howard and Smith return from Wild Imaginings' last musical, "Into the Woods." The company director said the proximity of actors to audience will heighten the human connections that "Rent" celebrates. "I feel like this is a story that is contemporary to the people in our city. It's important to recognize the humanity of 'Rent,'" he said. The city of Bellmead is hosting its third annual Family Dog Day to educate residents on animal welfare, increase transparency of animal control operations and gather the community for fun in the park. The event will be held 2-6 p.m. Saturday at Brame Park off Hogan Lane. Animal services will be available to all McLennan County residents. Police Chief Shawn Myatt said Bellmead animal control officer Randi Winget developed the event with an emphasis on educating the public about the health and well-being of animals. He said it is also a good way for the community to interact with animal control to build more positive perceptions about Bellmeads officers, and an opportunity to have some fun. She wanted to create an environment where the whole family can come be a part of the education piece, he said. Texas Animal Medical Center will provide discounted pet vaccinations for a variety of illnesses, including rabies, distemper and parvo. Myatt said last year the city gave out more than 200 vaccines and will have 500 doses on hand this year. Vaccines will be available individually or as a bundle. Cribs for Canines will give free microchips, and Furry Land of Greater Waco will be on site with mobile grooming services. Myatt said microchipping pets is very important, as collars and dog tags sometimes get lost. Microchipped animals are more likely to make it back to their owners when lost. If the animal wanders into Waco or Lacy Lakeview, theyre also able to reunify that animal with their owner, Myatt said. The Texas A&M Veterinary Emergency Team will also have a presence at the event informing attendees of what to do with their pets in cases of natural disaster or fire. They will have stickers available for residents to stick on a front window of their house that will inform first responders if there are pets in the home in the case of an emergency, Myatt said. Several rescue groups will have animals available for adoption. Girl Scout Lucy Patel and Winget will also host a booth to talk about community trap, neuter and release programs for cats. Animal services aside, there will be plenty of family-friendly fun in store. Gelu Italian Ice and Papa Bears food trucks will serve food and treats, more than 20 vendors will sell items and handcrafted goods, and water will be provided. There will be face painting, a corn hole tournament, bounce house and obstacle course, and music will be provided by DJ Batman. Nerftastic will set up a course for a Nerf gun war with barrels and walls to hide behind. The event will also host a dog show, which had eight entries by Wednesday. Anyone interested in entering their dog in the show should contact Winget at 254-424-8455 as soon as possible to take part. A portion of Oak Grove Drive next to the park will be closed off for the event. Parking will be available along Hogan Lane, Briarwood Lane and Shelton Street. Additional parking is available at St. Josephs Catholic Church, 1011 Boston St., next door to the park. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 13) Tropical Depression Amang weakened into a low pressure area (LPA), the state weather bureau said Thursday. The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (PAGASA) reported that Amang weakened into an LPA at 8 a.m. on April 13. In its 11 a.m. update, weather forecaster Aldczar Aurelio said the LPA was last spotted over the coastal waters of Polillo Island, and it could dissipate by Friday. It continues to move in a "generally northwestward" direction at 10 kilometers per hour. Rains are still expected in most areas in Central Luzon, Metro Manila and Calabarzon, and residents are advised that flash floods and rain-induced landslides could occur in areas susceptible to these risks. Amang first hit land in Panganiban, Catanduanes then in Presentacion, Camarines Sur. It made another landfall in Lagonoy, Camarines Sur at 4 p.m. on Wednesday. Before Amang weakened into an LPA, PAGASA raised Signal No. 1 over the northern and western portions of Camarines Norte, the southern portion of Aurora, and the northern and eastern portions of Quezon, including Pollilo Islands. After serving longer than 31 years in Arlingtons police department leading patrol districts and investigative units there and attaining the rank of deputy chief Hewitts new Police Chief John McGrath wanted a new and different challenge. Being the chief of a department is a completely different role than assistant chief over a patrol district or an investigative bureau, McGrath said Wednesday. Now, Im answerable to the city council, and Im responsible for the culture and training of the whole department. McGrath took the helm of Hewitt Police Department on April 3 after the prior chief, James Devlin, became Hewitts assistant city manager this past winter. As chief in the Hewitt Police Department, McGrath oversees 31 sworn personnel and 14 civilians. His civilians include those responsible for records, dispatch, animal control and code enforcement. His sworn personnel include patrol officers, detectives and a canine officer. McGraths salary is $125,000. Among the new chiefs first goals are building relationships with residents, the city council and fellow department heads. I want to get to know the residents here and see how they want to be policed, McGrath said. McGrath sees the role of municipal police in an emergency situation such as a tornado, a flood, or the next pandemic, as continuing to provide safety and security for residents. I would work out of a joint command with other agencies, McGrath said. But he said the role of leading the response to those kinds of situations falls to an emergency management office or the fire department. McGrath said some of his most interesting cases when he was a detective in Arlington were the ones he investigated in the citys crimes against children unit. He found solving those cases and helping prosecutors put the offenders in prison particularly rewarding, he said. He said he could stay as the Hewitt police chief until he retires. If he wanted to lead larger departments in cities with more complex crimes, he could have stayed in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Devlin, who was part of the search committee for his successor, said the city and the new chief are good fits, each to the other. In his new role as assistant city manager, Devlin said he now has the opportunity to learn about many other functions in municipal government, in addition to public safety. Im learning about the water and sewer department as well as streets and parks, Devlin said. He said he had not really thought about a role in city management before the city offered him the job he now holds. But he will keep all of his Texas Commission on Law Enforcement certifications and credentials current. I have a nonpaid role now, TCOLE doesnt call it reserve officer anymore, Devlin said. Ill serve my hours in patrol every month under the leadership of Chief McGrath. McGrath graduated from the University of North Texas with a bachelors degree in criminal justice in 1990. Next he attended the second cadet class at the Arlington Police Departments police academy in the summer of 1991. He also has a masters degree in municipal leadership from Tarleton State University, and certificates from the FBI National Academy, the Senior Management Institute for Police in Boston and the command college at the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration in Plano. In his prior role as deputy chief for technical services in the Arlington Police Department, McGrath was responsible for 110 sworn personnel. He led police units that provided security for municipal courts and ran the citys jail, and he oversaw a criminal intelligence unit, criminal analysts, and crime scene technicians. 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. 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. WAHOO Bishop Neumann will present a new musical version of the classic tale Alice in Wonderland during three performances at the end of April. Former President Donald Trump and his vice president, Mike Pence, will be among the speakers addressing an Iowa Christian conservative groups event later this month. Trump announced Wednesday that he will speak via video to the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalitions annual spring fundraiser on April 22 at the Horizon Events Center in Clive. While the other speakers will appear at the event, Trump will deliver his remarks remotely, his campaign said. Previously confirmed speakers at the event, which the group announced earlier this week, include Pence, Tim Scott, Asa Hutchinson, Vivek Ramaswamy, Perry Johnson, Will Hurd, Larry Elder and Tulsi Gabbard. The Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition invited 20 official and potential Republican presidential candidates to speak at the event. Tickets cost $60 for an individual or $100 for a couple. Tickets can be purchased at ffciowa.com. Questions can be sent to events@ffciowa.com or by calling (515) 971-7363. DESANTIS RETURNING TO IOWA: Gov. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., is set to appear as the featured guest at Republican U.S. Rep. Randy Feenstras third annual Family Picnic on May 13 at the Dean Family Classic Car Museum in Sioux Center, the Sioux City Journal reported. The trip would be DeSantis second to Iowa since the start of 2023 and his first to Siouxland. Feenstra, a 4th Congressional District representative in his second term, made the event announcement on Twitter on Wednesday. Though DeSantis, a two-term incumbent, hasnt officially declared as a candidate for the 2024 presidential election, polling averages from firms such as Morning Consult show him having the second-best support among GOP primary voters after former President Donald Trump. DES MOINES Personal information of more than 20,000 Iowa Medicaid members was compromised in a data breach of a state contractor last year, the Iowa Health and Human Services Department announced Tuesday. Independent Living Systems, a firm that was contracted to do work with Iowa Medicaid, was hacked between June and July 2022. The breach exposed the personal information of more than four million people, including 20,800 in Iowa, the department said. Names, Social Security numbers, financial information and Medicaid identification of affection individuals may have been impacted, according to Independent Living Systems. The HHS Department and Iowa Medicaid learned of the breach in February, the department said in a press release. At least five class-action lawsuits have been filed against Independent Living Systems because of the breach, which accuse it of irresponsibly storing patient data and not providing adequate notice to affected individuals. Independent Living Systems is working to improve network security and increase employee training in dealing with sensitive information, according to a notice on the companys website. The state Medicaid program is mailing letters to all affected members this week, which will include information on what was compromised and how to access free credit monitoring. DRONE PROHIBITIONS: Flying a drone over a farm or homestead would be a crime under a bill House lawmakers passed on Tuesday. House File 572 would make it illegal to fly a remotely operated aircraft over a homestead or farm for a prolonged period of time, and would enact harsher penalties if the drone has a surveillance device. Flying over a covered property would be a simple misdemeanor, and using a drone with surveillance equipment would be a serious misdemeanor. The bill would exempt people operating a drone with the consent of the propertys owner, for commercial and agricultural purposes, or for a public utility or railroad company, among other things. MEDICAID PREMIUM TAX: Iowa lawmakers hope to increase Medicaid revenues by imposing a 2.5% tax on premiums from managed care organizations that administer the states Medicaid program in a bill House lawmakers passed Tuesday. The federal government would reimburse 70% of the taxes paid by the organizations, which would bring in more than $100 million in federal dollars in each of the next two years, according to a fiscal analysis of the bill. The bill, House File 685, passed the House unanimously. INFRASTRUCTURE GETS A C: Iowas infrastructure received an overall C grade from the American Society of Civil Engineers in its 2023 report card, holding steady from the last report in 2019. Most grades remained the same from the organizations 2019 report. Solid waste dropped to a B-minus grade while roads climbed to a B-minus the highest grades received among the 13 categories. The category that received the worst grade was dams, which received a D. Bridges received a D-plus. Twenty percent of Iowas bridges are rated poor, making Iowa the worst state in the nation by number of poor bridges. Multiple sectors of Iowas infrastructure would benefit from funding the states Natural Resources and Outdoor Recreation Trust Fund, the organization said. The fund was created by a 63% popular vote in 2010, but requires a one-cent sales tax increase to be funded. Flooding and natural disasters are also a threat to Iowas infrastructure, officials said. The report also argued for improving the resilience of Iowas water systems by putting money toward wastewater, drinking water, stormwater, dams, and levees. The complete results are: C- aviation, D+ bridges, D dams, C drinking water, C+ energy, D+ inland waterways, C levees, C public parks, C+ rail, B- roads, B- solid waste. DES MOINES Iowa parties would be barred from holding remote caucuses and people would need to register in advance to participate in a caucus under a bill House Republicans advanced on Wednesday. The bill, proposed by Rep. Bobby Kaufmann, R-Wilton, would effectively scrap the Iowa Democratic Partys plan to conduct the 2024 presidential precinct caucuses mostly by mail, a plan devised over the last year as the party sought to maintain its first-in-the-nation status in the national Democrats presidential nominating contest. The Democratic National Committee ultimately stripped Iowa of its status anyway, reshuffling the calendar and elevating South Carolina to the coveted spot. But Democrats maintained their plan to allow participation by mail-in preference cards. Derek Muller, an elections law expert and professor at the University of Iowa College of Law, said the bill may be unconstitutional. U.S. Supreme Court precedent holds that states cannot regulate a partys internal processes without the partys approval, he said. There are Supreme Court cases talking about how the state cant interfere with the internal workings of the party, he said. And if this is a deal brokered between the Iowa Democratic Party and Democratic National Committee about how theyre going to choose their presidential delegates, I dont know that the Legislature can prevent them from doing that. Kaufmann said that interpretation is dead wrong. Republicans on a five-member House subcommittee that advanced the bill said the intent was to protect the integrity of the caucuses as a party event and retain their first-in-the-nation status. They argued a mail-in system would constitute a primary, prompting New Hampshire to jump ahead of Iowa in the presidential calendar knocking off the Republican caucuses status as first-in-the-nation in the process. New Hampshire state law dictates it will hold a primary election earlier than any other state and allows the secretary of state to reschedule the state primary if another state is deemed to have an earlier primary. Everybody Ive talked to, everyone that Ive had conversations with on both sides of the aisle, nationally and locally, say that when you do mail-in, its a primary, he said. New Hampshire is obligated by law to jump us if we do this. New Hampshire officials have said they will still hold their primary before any other state, despite the DNCs calendar placing South Carolina as the first state where Democrats would cast their votes for president. In a Twitter post on Wednesday, New Hampshire GOP Chair Chris Ager shared an email from the states Republican Secretary of State David Scanlan, who said he would consider a mail-in process to be a primary. Any change of caucus format in Iowa that moves in the direction of a primary election, including the use of mail-in or absentee ballots, will trigger New Hampshires law protecting our first presidential primary position, Scanlan wrote in the email. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds said in a statement she will do everything I can to protect the status of the caucuses. The Iowa Democrat Party is unwilling to accept that their changes, an all-mail-in system of ballots, are by definition a primary and not a caucus, she said. Because of this, our coveted status as first in the nation is in jeopardy. Kaufmann is the son of Republican Party of Iowa Chair Jeff Kaufmann and a senior adviser for former President Donald Trumps 2024 campaign. He said he and others on the bill had had a conversation with people involved, but had not had a direct conversation with Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart. Kaufmann said the bill has no relation to his employment by the Trump campaign. This bill is made for every presidential candidate in each party to ensure that the status of the caucuses remain, he said. The 70-day registration period is meant to prevent parties from sending large numbers of people into the opposite groups caucus, Kaufmann said. He said anyone can still register with whichever party they want to participate in that partys caucus. National Republicans left their presidential nominating calendar the same for 2024, leaving Iowa in the first spot. The state party will conduct in-person caucuses in 2024 and express their presidential preference via a straw poll. Muller said he is not sure how likely New Hampshire would be to schedule its primary before Iowa under the state Democrats current plan. The state party has not laid out specific dates for their caucuses, and he said they could potentially hold two separate party meetings to comply with both state law and the DNC rules. It wouldnt offend New Hampshire, I think, if your January get-together is an informal shadow caucus, something that would comply with the DNCs rules And then its not till March or April that you actually hold the votes in the caucuses, he said. Democrats argued the bill would shut people out of the caucus process and that New Hampshire may not move ahead of Iowa. The parties have a right to decide who gets to show up, I think we also have the right to decide how we run them, said Rep. Amy Nielsen, a Democrat from North Liberty. I dont think that allowing some remote access to our caucuses is creating a primary. What its doing is opening up access. Iowa Democratic Party Chair Rita Hart said on Tuesday the bill came as a surprise without input from Democrats. Iowa Democrats will do whats best for Iowa and that means moving forward with an inclusive caucus process, she said. The Iowa GOP gave its support to the bill in a press release Wednesday. Jeff Kaufmann, the partys chair, said the state Democrats plan would ignite unnecessary one-upsmanship with New Hampshire and its first-in-the-nation primary. The bill would also allow the Iowa Secretary of State to leave the Electronic Registration Information Center, a national bipartisan voter roll maintenance organization, and work with other groups or lists to maintain its voter rolls. Iowa was one of several Republican states to announce its exit from the group this spring. The bill is scheduled for a full committee vote on Thursday, making it eligible for a floor vote. It would then need to pass in the Senate before being eligible for Gov. Kim Reynolds signature. In a written statement, Republican Senate Majority Leader Jack Whitver of Grimes said no decision has been made about the bills future in the Senate. March 4, 1949-April 10, 2023 Arvan Haase, age 74, of Nashua, Iowa died Monday, April 10, 2023, at his home in Nashua surrounded by his wife and six children. Funeral Services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua with Military honors conducted immediately after the service outside of the church. Friends may greet the family from 4:007:00 p.m. Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Hugeback Johnson Funeral Home & CrematoryOlson Chapel in Nashua. Visitation continues an hour prior to the service at the church on Friday. (CNN) Flowers, a coconut and a round of cheers were part of the celebrations following the inaugural test run through India's first underwater metro tunnel on Wednesday. The Kolkata metro's newest line, set to open to the public in November, passes underneath the Hooghly River in the city's northeast, with the tunnel 32 meters (105 feet) below the water. "This is a historic moment for Metro Railway," Kausik Mitra, chief public relations officer for the Kolkata metro system, said in a statement. "This is a revolutionary step in providing a modern transport system to the people of Kolkata and suburbs." The line will connect the soon-to-open metro station of Howrah Maidan and the existing station of Esplanade on the opposite side of the river, traveling 520 meters (1700 feet) in just 45 seconds. Once open, Howrah Maidan will be the deepest metro station in India. To bless the new tunnel and train, officials conducted a puja, or Hindu religious ritual, to bring good luck, after the train successfully pulled into the station at Howrah Maidan. Bright-orange saffron flowers were sprinkled around the conductor's compartment inside the train, and one worker broke a coconut amid cheers and applause from his colleagues. The full metro line through Howrah Maidan will be 4.8 km (three miles) long. Kolkata was the first city in India to have a metro system. Infrastructure is a major national initiative under the leadership of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier this year, the country celebrated opening the first stretch of a new eight-lane express highway connecting the cities of New Delhi and Mumbai. The first completed section links the capital with the city of Lalsot in the northwestern state of Rajasthan, a popular destination for tourists. And in January, the MV Ganga Vilas ship departed from Varanasi to sail on waterways including the Ganges River for a 1,988-mile journey lasting 51 days, clinching the title of the world's longest river cruise trip. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Historic moment: Indias first underwater metro route completes maiden run" THURSDAY, April 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- It sounds like the stuff of a vampire novel, but for people with a group of rare genetic disorders, exposure to sunlight can cause excruciating pain. Now, an experimental medication is showing promise for helping them better tolerate the light of day. In an early clinical trial, researchers tested the drug for patients with either of two related conditions: erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and X-linked protoporphyria (XLP). Both belong to a group of eight rare genetic disorders called porphyrias. Studies estimate that EPP and XLP affect one in every 75,000 to 200,000 white people. Both conditions arise from certain genetic abnormalities that cause a chemical called protoporphyrin to build up in the blood and the lining of the blood vessels. The trouble comes when a person with EPP or XLP goes into the sun: That light activates protoporphyrin in the blood vessels, which triggers inflammation, cell damage and severe pain. Both disorders usually become apparent in childhood which, clearly, takes a toll on kids' quality of life, said Dr. Robert Desnick, one of the researchers on the new trial. "They call themselves shadow-jumpers, because they have to run from one shady spot to another to avoid the sun," said Desnick, a professor of genetics and genomic sciences at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, in New York City. Standard sunscreen offers no protection, he said, though zinc oxide sun block can help. Traditionally, the main way to manage the disorders has been staying indoors and, when outside, covering up in sun-protective clothing. But in 2019, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first treatment for adults with EPP: a drug called Scenesse. It's a hormonal medication delivered through an implant placed just under the skin. It increases the skin's pigmentation, which allows people with EPP to have more pain-free time outdoors. The implant naturally dissolves and has to be replaced by a health care provider every two months. In contrast, the new drug, called dersimelagon, is taken by mouth. Desnick said that makes it easy to adjust the dose to (in future studies) make the medication suitable for children. It could also make treatment more accessible for people who cannot easily get to medical appointments for new Scenesse implants. As it stands, only certain doctors can provide the implants. While availability is improving, some patients still have to travel for the treatment, said Dr. Angelika Erwin, a physician at the Cleveland Clinic who treats porphyrias. Beyond that, it's always good to have more than one treatment option, said Erwin, who was not involved in the new trial. "If you only have one option and you develop side effects, you have nothing to fall back on," she explained. For the trial, published April 12 in the New England Journal of Medicine, Desnick and his colleagues recruited 102 adults with EPP or XLP. The patients were randomly assigned to take either dersimelagon (at a higher or lower dose) or placebo tablets every day for 16 weeks. Like Scenesse, the oral drug works by boosting the skin's pigmentation. Overall, the study found, the medication increased the amount of time patients could spend in the sun before developing "prodromal" symptoms. Those are warning signs like tingling or a burning sensation in the skin that tell people they need to find shade fast, Desnick said. About one-quarter of people with EPP develop such symptoms within 10 minutes of sun exposure, he said, and a majority have them within 30 minutes. In the trial, patients on dersimelagon were able to increase their time in the sun by about an hour per day, on average, versus the placebo group. "To someone without EPP, that might not seem like much," Erwin said. But for people with these conditions, she said, that extra time could make a big difference in quality of life. The drug did have side effects most often nausea, freckles and headaches. The nausea and headaches were short-lived and "well-tolerated," Desnick said. (Some people did not like the freckles, though, he noted.) Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma, the drug company developing dersimelagon, funded the trial. Whether and when the drug might gain approval remains to be seen. But a larger trial is underway, and it includes kids as young as 12, Desnick noted. Eventually, Erwin said, the hope would be to have an option for younger children, too. While the conditions take a toll on anyone's quality of life, she noted, they are particularly hard on children, who just want to play outside and do all the usual kid things. More information The United Porphyrias Association has more on EPP and XLP. SOURCES: Robert Desnick, MD, PhD, professor, genetics and genomic sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York City; Angelika Erwin, MD, PhD, Center for Personalized Genetic Healthcare, Cleveland Clinic, Ohio; New England Journal of Medicine, April 13, 2023 CEDAR FALLS A Cedar Falls man has been charged after he accidentally left his daughter in the pickup truck in below freezing temperatures while he went to work. Someone called authorities around 6:20 p.m. on March 17 to check on the 5-year-old child who was unattended in an unlocked vehicle parked in a lot in the 200 block of Main Street. At the time, outdoor temperatures were 25 degrees Fahrenheit, and the child had been alone for about 90 minutes. The vehicles engine wasnt running. The child wasnt injured, according to court records. Officers found the father working at The Horny Toad American Bar and Grill on Main Street, according to court records. He told police he forget she was in the vehicle. On Tuesday, Cedar Falls police arrested the father, Jacob William Stevenson, 37, for child endangerment, a misdemeanor. He was released from jail pending trial. Photos: Missing children in Iowa Jade Colvin Fredrick Workman Benjamin Roseland Erin Pospisil Marc Allen Eugene Martin John Gosch Kimberly Doss Colleen Simpson Fatima Conteh Daquan Nelson Diomarix Crespo WATERLOO Casa Montessori has found a new home and organization to financially back and continue to offer its well-known brand of preschool education in the Cedar Valley. The Family YMCA of Black Hawk County is spending as much as $100,000 to renovate and remodel a multi-use meeting space into a future 27-foot by 29-foot preschool classroom near the entrance of its facility on South Hackett Road. It will include a lot of what the Casa Montessori board had been struggling to find with requirements for childcare facilities being so stringent, including a restroom and sink in the room as well as an emergency exit and green space. Were all about partnerships here at the YMCA and, through those partnerships, we feel that helps ensure that zip code does not determine life expectancy by offering childcare, sports, fitness classes, and things to help with ones health and well-being, said Norman Johnson, YMCA chief executive officer. Youth development helps eradicate lifes barriers and we felt Montessori fit in with the YMCAs mission. The Montessori school had been preparing for drastic changes after having been around since the 1980s. But planning sped up after learning that its longtime home, the former Cedar Falls Mennonite Church on Ninth Street, was being demolished by a new owner who had plans of building a residential neighborhood on the lot. Up to 20 children will be part of the first class at the YMCA beginning in August. Families are allowed to sign up their 3- to 5-year-old child beginning April 21. The Casa Montessori board is dissolving and has transferred its remaining $25,398 in funds to the YMCA. Bekah Sanders is the youth development director of the Early Learning Center at the YMCA and now will also lead Montessori at the YMCA. Theyll have access to everything that the YMCA has to offer, she said. Were excited to add another child care option and grow the number of families we can reach. We saw a need and an opportunity to help close a gap in the Cedar Valley, she added. We have a passion for children, teaching and learning, and helping children grow up to be little citizens and teaching them the values of the YMCA, like respect. Jenna Strom will be the assistant director of the early learning center and Montessori school and will help offer what the YMCA describes as more explorative, tactical and creative learning curriculum. The Casa Montessori board had been working to determine its future since the summer and was forced to take time off for the 2022-23 school year. We needed stability, said Meghan Goering, a former board member with two daughters, including one who went through the program. And we feel like now the YMCA has the building and resources to allow the teachers to ... focus on whats important and thats teaching. They already love and breathe child care and they do it well, she added. The YMCA will help Casa Montessori pick up where it left off and continue its legacy for decades. The board had done its due diligence and considered other options, but the YMCA was by far and away the best option to help Montessori live on in the Cedar Valley. One former Casa Montessori board member is expected to join the YMCAs board. That will be the only member of the former leadership and administration to make the move with the program. Ludicrous Landscapes by Katie Walbert katie walberg artwork .jpg 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-09 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-06 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-07 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-08 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-01 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-02 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-03 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-04 011320kw-ludicrous-landscape-05 MARION In a divided country desperate for unity, Marion parent Amy Lovseth sees South Carolina Republican U.S. Sen. Tim Scott as the GOPs answer to polarizing front-runners like former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. I think he would be a better choice than Republicans have put up lately, Lovseth said, adding shes not a fan of Trump. And so I feel like if the Republicans really want to win the presidency, they need to put up somebody who is pretty solid a good listener and who is more focused on bringing everybody together than polarizing people, she said. Despite how politically divided the country has become, Lovseth said she thinks most Americans are really somewhere in the middle. He may be our guy, she said. We need somebody who focuses more on what we have in common than we disagree on, and brings us together, because thats what we need. Scott announced Wednesday he has formed a exploratory committee, which moves him closer to a formal campaign for the White House. Scott stopped Wednesday at the Marion Public Library, where he met with Lovseth and other local parents who home-school their children. He was joined by Iowa Republican U.S. Rep. Ashley Hinson of Marion. The pair talked about the need to empower parents and expand educational opportunities for students. Scott, who last year headlined Hinsons annual BBQ Bash fundraiser, praised Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds for signing a bill that allows families to use taxpayer money to pay for private school tuition. He continued to push a message of American exceptionalism and hope and unity that hes touted in previous visits to the early nominating state as part of his Faith in America listening tour. He planned to meet with a group of pastors before speaking before a group of about 100 mainly Republican women at the Cedar Rapids Country Club on Wednesday evening. Asked what he has left to explore, Scott said he wants to make sure hes listening to voters including in Iowa and making sure his optimistic, positive message anchored in conservatism actually resonates. So far so good, he said. Campaign points Scott talked about his faith and his biography as a Black man raised by a single mother who overcame poverty. He shared how his family went from cotton to Congress in a generation. He dropped out of school in ninth grade only to return to complete his education. Scotts grandfather was forced to leave school in third grade to pick cotton. We have too many false prophets talking about how we are condemned eternally for the original sin, Scott said, speaking to the Five Seasons Republican Womens Group. I believe that our nation is a story of redemption. Scott, in a video announcing his exploratory committee, talks of the unwavering belief he and his family had that we too could live the American dream, and that it pains my soul to see the Biden liberals attacking every rung of the ladder that helped me climb. We are indeed the land of opportunity and not a land of oppression, Scott said. Theres this new concept being spread by the far-left, and its like a drug of victimhood and the narcotic of despair that somehow, someway we as Americans are all victims. I grew up understanding the power of individual responsibility and the importance of taking responsibility for how your life turns out. Scott, addressing the group of Linn County Republicans, said he sees an administration that has lost its way. If you wanted to create a blueprint for how to ruin America you would do what President Biden and radical left have been doing. He went on to say that it is time for American to have a change in leadership one that understands that China is our adversary, secures the Southern border by building a wall, goes after Mexican cartels smuggling deadly fentanyl into the country, and pursues pro-growth policies like the 2017 Trump tax cuts Scott helped write. Scott also talked about his outreach to Iowas influential evangelical conservatives. Hell be back in Iowa later this month to address the Iowa Faith and Freedom Coalition at its April 22 event in Clive, joining a slew of declared and potential presidential candidates. He said faith has played an important role in the nations history and will go forward as a powerful weapon for good. Abortion Scott, in his video, also said he will protect our most fundamental right, the right to life itself but would not say if he supports a national ban on abortion. Instead, he said he supports a robust debate, centered on support by the far-left for late-term abortions. Democrats scored a landslide victory in last weeks Wisconsin Supreme Court race, a campaign that focused squarely on abortion rights, and backlash has erupted after a federal judge in Texas suspended federal approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. A majority of Iowans continue to support legal abortion. A new Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll last month found 61 percent of Iowa adults say abortion should be legal in most or all cases, while 35 percent say the procedure should be illegal in most or all cases. Asked whether the party has gone too far on the issue of abortion, Scott ducked the question, stating hes ardently pro-life and reiterated a need for robust debate. Should he run, Scott would join a field that includes fellow South Carolina Republican Nikki Haley, former governor of the first-in-the-South GOP primary state, as well as former President Donald Trump, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and anti-woke biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Others, including DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence, are considering launching campaigns in the coming months. Scott, the only Black Republican senator, would be the nations first Black Republican president if elected. National polling shows Trump as the early favorite in the 2024 Republican presidential primary, and many Iowa Republicans remain committed to the former president, including an evangelical community grateful for his judicial appointments. That base seems to be unswayed by the 34-count felony indictment handed down against Trump last week, stemming from a hush money payment made to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who alleged having a sexual encounter with Trump. Asked about the indictment, Scott suggested the issue is a distraction, saying politicians should spend more time focusing on the voters they serve. He also suggested the indictment against Trump was politically motivated and brings into question the weaponizing of the law against political enemies. Democratic National Committee Chair Jaime Harrison, another South Carolinian, in a statement said Scott seeks to govern from the far, conservative right, as someone who embraced Trumps Make America Great Again agenda, and who served as an architect of Trumps 2017 tax cuts that Democrats argue largely benefited the highest-income Americans and corporations. The Associated Press contributed to this story. Briefing by Chief of NBC Protection Troops Materials of the briefing by Chief of NBC Protection Troops The Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation has repeatedly noted the signs of the implementation of dual-purpose programmes by the USA and its allies outside their national territories, including within the operation of the biolaboratories funded by the Pentagon or its contractors. The fact that the United States blocked the initiative to establish a monitoring mechanism of the Biological and Toxin Weapons Convention (BTWC) at the Ninth Review Conference once again confirms that Washington has something to hide, while the transparency of the biological research contradicts the interests of the USA. We have previously informed about the works on enhancing the pathogenic characteristics of COVID-19 causative agent, carried out at Boston University with funds of the U.S. state budget, as well as the possible involvement of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in the emergence of the new coronavirus. The key role in the implementation of the abovementioned projects belongs to EcoHealth Alliance intermediary organisation. The available documents of the U.S. Defence Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) confirm that since 2015, professionals of the abovementioned company have been studying the diversity in the population of bats, searching for new coronavirus strains, and mechanisms of its transmission from animals to humans. Over 2.5 thousand specimen have been researched. The project on zoonotic virus research in South-East Asia contain the following recommendations for the employees of EcoHealth Alliance: If any of the experiments proposed for Aim 1 result in a virus with a phenotype of enhanced pathogenicity and/or transmissibility, enhanced growth by more than 10 fold when compared to wild type strains , the recipient must immediately stop the work and notify the NIAID Program Officer, Grants Management Specialist, and appropriate institutional biosafety committee The high degree of readiness of the U.S. mRNA vaccine manufacturers for a pandemic of the new coronavirus infection raises questions. One gets the impression that pharmaceutical companies had produced the vaccine preparations in advance, being unable to rapidly introduce them into the market due to specific characteristics of the virus that embodied in low efficiency of vaccination and numerous side effects. It is to be reminded that on 18 October 2019, two months before the first official reports about the emergence of the new coronavirus infection in China, the John Hopkins University, supported by Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, conducted Event 201 exercise in New York. This exercise simulated the epidemic of a previously unknown coronavirus that, according to the scenario, was transmitted from bats to humans via pigs, the intermediate host. Outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic precisely according to this scenario raises questions about its premeditated nature, involvement of the USA in this incident, as well as real objectives of the U.S. biological programmes aimed at enhancing the characteristics of dangerous pathogens. We have repeatedly noted that the United States conduct the studies that are most controversial in terms of the international law outside the national territory. The examples are the experiments related to HIV infection that have been carried out by U.S. specialists in Ukraine since 2019. It should be emphasized that the target groups include not only high-risk infection patients (convicted or drug addicts), but also representatives of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The premises of Pharmbiotest Medical Centre in Rubezhnoye were explored during the special military operation in the liberated territory of the Lugansk Peoples Republic. It was a venue for clinical trials to test the medicinal products that caused serious side effects: they include medications for treating leukaemia, mental disorders, neurological diseases, epilepsy, and other dangerous illnesses. In early 2023, residents of Lisichansk found a large landfill of biomaterial residues that belong to Pharmbiotest. The clinical samples and patients clinical records with their personal data were buried instead of being cremated or eliminated in appropriate manner, prescribed by the rules. This means that the evidence were being eliminated in extreme hurry. The Russian Defence Ministry has received data on numerous facts of Ukrainian military personnel taking psychostimulants and narcotics (tramadol, methadone, amphetamines). The facts about smuggling morphine into war zones have been revealed. It is to be reminded that in accordance with Ukrainian laws, illegal circulation and transportation of the abovementioned products is to be punished by deprivation of liberty ranging from eight to 12 years. Russia considers the actions committed by the officials who carried out the research on Ukrainian personnel, whose blood contained high concentrations of antibiotics, narcotics, antibodies to the causative agents of infectious diseases, require appropriate legal assessment. During the special military operation, Russian personnel acquired over 20,000 documents, reference and analytical materials, as well as surveyed witnesses and participants of the U.S. biological programmes. The abovementioned materials confirm that the Pentagon aimed at creating elements of a biological weapon, and testing it on the population of Ukraine and other countries along the perimeter of the Russian borders. The Russian Defence Ministry has already mentioned the names of the participants of the military and biological programmes, including those of the U.S. Democratic Party representatives, employees of the U.S. military department, and the Pentagons contracting organisations. The DTRA reports have led us to the new information about key persons involved in the so-called Ukrainian projects who have been staying in the shadow until now. Among of them are: Karen Saylors, CEO at Labyrinth Global Health and ex-director of Metabiotas programmes in Central Africa. Since 2016, Saylors has worked in Ukraine as leading advisor at the UP-10 project, dedicated to studying ways of spreading of African swine fever. Colleen B. Jonsson, an employee of the University of Tennessee, Director of the Institute for the Study of Host-Pathogen Systems. She observed the UP-8 project, dedicated to studying the capabilities of the Crimean-Congo fevers causative agent in Ukraine. Jonsson managed the selection of biological samples from Ukrainian personnel, provided the cooperation between the contract specifiers in the USA and the Center for Public Health of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. Lewis Von Thaer, President and CEO of Battelle company, a major contractor of the Pentagon and U.S. Department of Energy. Since 2003, the company has been responsible for organising research projects in Ukraine related to zoonotic infections. Other persons involved in the Ukrainian projects are presented on the slide. The acquired materials will be submitted to the Investigative Committee for measures to bring those guilty to justice. The active action of the Russian Defence Ministry has resulted in halting the military biological programmes in Ukraine. In this regard, the Pentagon is actively relocating the studies, that have not been completed within the Ukrainian projects, to Central Asia and Eastern Europe countries. At the same time, the cooperation with African and Asia-Pacific countries Kenya, Singapore, and Thailand is being actively enhanced. Under the pressure from the international community, Washington changes its approaches to organising its military biological activity, transferring the functions of the customer to purely civilian departments: the Department of Health, Department of Energy, and the Agency for International Development. This will allow the U.S. authorities to avoid criticism at international venues, and deflect a blow from the Department of Defense and DTRA. Within curtailing the military biological activities in Ukraine, the United States actively use the material base of chemical and pharmacological enterprises of Poland and Baltic countries, where the equipment from the Ukrainian territory was sent to. The funding, imposed by the collective West, makes the post-Soviet countries conceal the true nature of these works. The European Union is actively promoting the initiative to deploy a network of centres of excellence in the field of nuclear, biological and chemical protection, that provides for placing EU-funded biolaboratories in the territories of the former Soviet Union. The prospective partners are highly recommended not to advertise this initiative due to its extreme sensitivity for the Russian Federation At the same time, it is stressed that the Central Asian countries are already taking benefit from technical cooperation with the European Union In 2022, the USA, Canada, and EU countries initiated programmes to employ and relocate the Ukrainian professionals, who had been involved in military biological works before, to Western countries. It is primarily due to the concerns that the Russian law enforcement can receive additional testimonies to the illegal activities carried out in violation of international obligations. It is to be emphasised that the strategy of military and biological expansion is not fundamentally new, and it was founded by the United States back in the period of the Korean conflict. Since the 1950s, biological laboratories were established in Africa, Central and South America, as well as South-East Asia, with the priority role of the U.S. Navy. Their main objective was to sample causative agents of highly dangerous infections, and determine the level of morbidity among local population. The areas, where these laboratories located, witnessed a deterioration in the epidemic situation regarding highly dangerous infections, as well as now. New diseases, uncharacteristic for these regions, emerged. One of the examples is the outbreak of Rift Valley Fever in 1977 in Cairo, where the U.S. Naval Medical Research Unit Three was located. This disease had previously been recorded only south of the Sahara, but then it suddenly emerged in Egypt, simultaneously infecting 18,000 people. Further analysis of the samples taken from the population showed that the total number of infected people was around 2,000,000. A whole array of proofs reveal the artificial nature of this outbreak and the involvement of the U.S. laboratory. First, several months before the epidemic started, its staff had been vaccinated against Rift Valley Fever, although there had been no records of an outbreak of this infection in that region, whilst in the endemic regions of Africa, it proceeded as a light influenza-like illness that caused no human deaths. Second, the causative agent suddenly acquired high pathogenicity for humans during the epidemic in Egypt. The disease caused haemorrhage, severe eye and nervous system lesion. The virus became highly pathogenic and almost could be compared with smallpox, Marburg and Lassa fevers in this regard. It is extremely difficult to define the sudden change in pathogenicity of the virus by its natural evolution. The analysis of initial focus shape is of particular interest. The form of this epidemiological focus reminds an aerosol cloud trace that can emerge in case of intentional dispersion of a biomaterial or its accidental release into the environment. Despite the available evidential base about the artificial nature of the outbreak, the U.S. leadership has done everything to conceal the involvement of the laboratory in this incident. Only in 2019, it was decided to relocate it to the U.S. Naval Air Station Sigonella, Italy, to continue the research on highly dangerous pathogens, including coronaviruses. In conclusion, I would like to note that the disclosure of the content of the Pentagons military biological programmes in Ukraine by the Russian Federation has gained a wide public response. Mass demonstrations against the activities of the U.S.-funded laboratories were held in the countries of the former Soviet Union. Non-governmental organisations of the Eurasian Economic Union adopted a resolution against the Pentagon-funded biolaboratories. Various investigations were initiated in the United States itself. The U.S. law enforcement has paid attention to the topics related to bribing employees of social networks and mass media while broadcasting the cause of the new coronavirus infection, as well as manipulating the public opinion about the U.S. vaccines against COVID-19 commissioned by biotechnological and pharmaceutical corporations. It is to be reminded that lobbying the interests of large pharmaceutical companies by the U.S. government is a common practice. Back in 2010, the operation of a U.S. Navy Medical Biological Centre in Jakarta was ceased due to a conflict of interests and various violations. The Americans performed their works outside the agreed research programme, carried out unauthorised sampling, and refused to inform the Indonesian government on the purposes of their works and the results achieved. These biomaterials turned out to be used to the benefit of the Gilead company, affiliated with the Pentagon, that tested their preparations in Ukraine and Georgia (including, but not limited to). The Indonesian example was followed by Malaysia: the government of that country decided to establish special control over the activities of the U.S.-funded biolaboratory. Therefore, the concerns of the international community, related to the activities of the Pentagon-funded biolaboratories, is gradually increasing. The issues, raised by the Russian Federation at the international venues the Nineth Review Conference of BTWC Member States, and the UN Security Council have revealed the reluctance of the USA to conduct a substantive dialogue. Russia considers it extremely important that the disclosure of the facts that reveal the illegal military and biological activities have caused various countries to consider possible consequences of their biosafety cooperation with the USA, and take a fresh look at the necessity and rationale of this kind of cooperation. The Russian Defence Ministry will continue its work in this direction and report on it. NBC Protection Troops Briefing (PPT)_1 WtR 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. && (CNN) Prince Harry will attend the coronation of King Charles next month, but his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will remain in the United States with the couple's children, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday following months of speculation. "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet," the palace said in a statement. There had been widespread speculation over whether the Sussexes would travel to the United Kingdom for the historic occasion. In March, the duke's spokesperson told CNN that the couple had received an invitation to the coronation but had not yet confirmed their attendance. In his memoir, "Spare," which hit bookshelves in January, Prince Harry launched a series of incendiary accusations against members of his family, revealed a number of private confrontations between him and other senior royals and detailed his split from the family. Details of the sibling rivalry between Harry and his brother Prince William were also shared. The duke's autobiography set a record when the English language version sold more than 1.4 million copies on its first day of publication. The book followed the broadcast of a six-part Netflix documentary and the explosive Oprah interview in 2021. In a January interview with Britain's ITV to publicize his book, Harry said the door with his family was "always open." "The ball is in their court. There's a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they're willing to sit down and talk about it," Harry said. King Charles and Queen Camilla will be crowned on May 6 at Westminster Abbey. The coronation will see three days of celebrations across the country in which the public will be invited to participate. Harry's own potential role in the coronation is unclear given that he is no longer a working royal following his decision to step back from royal duties three years ago. He and Meghan attended Queen Elizabeth II's birthday parade in June as part of the Platinum Jubilee celebrations but did not join other royals for the traditional balcony appearance after the Queen decided that only family members carrying out official duties would be included. On May 6, King Charles and Queen Camilla will arrive at Westminster Abbey in procession from Buckingham Palace and return later in a larger ceremonial procession, accompanied by other members of the royal family. The palace has not specified which members of the family will appear in the procession and on the balcony. The University of Nevada teamed up with local law enforcement and Nevada Donor Network to encourage people to become organ donors. They held a Dogs, Donuts & Donate Life for Donate Life month at the campus on Wednesday. Reno Police and the University of Nevada Police Department brought their K9 officers and encouraged students to sign up to donate. "I'm a living example of someone who has received the gift of donation, so I'm a kidney transplant recipient. So, this is important to me to be able to encourage people to give the gift of life because it's changed my life, Lauren Reid/Victims Services Coordinator, University Police Department. Reid received her kidney transplant from her mother who was a living donor. You can learn more about organ donation by clicking on the image below - Leaving AARP.org Website You are now leaving AARP.org and going to a website that is not operated by AARP. A different privacy policy and terms of service will apply. Board Changes Perth, April 13, 2023 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Cyprium Metals Limited ( ASX:CYM ) advises the following changes to its Board: Appointment of Mr John Featherby as Non-Executive Director Cyprium is pleased to announce the appointment of Mr John Featherby as a Non-Executive Director of the Company, effective immediately. Mr Featherby has extensive experience in the stockbroking and wealth management industry. Mr Featherby joined Hartley Poynton (now Euroz Hartleys) in 1987 from State Treasury, was appointed a Director in 2003 continuing through to 2018 serving as Chairman for seven years in that period. His skills in securing finance, corporate relations and business development will be integral to the Company's strategic review on all assets in the company. In his role as Non-Executive Director, Mr Featherby will receive a salary of $60,000 per annum. Resignation of Mr Nicholas Rowley as a Non-Executive Director Mr Nicholas Rowley has resigned as a Non-Executive Director, effective immediately. The Company thanks Mr Rowley for his service and wishes him the best in his international relocation and future business endeavours. Cyprium's Managing Director, Barry Cahill said: "We thank Nick for his efforts and contribution to the growth of CYM since 2019, at inception, to its current three projects with over 1.6 million tonnes of copper in resources. We wish him well with his future endeavours. It is with pleasure that we announce the appointment of John, who's experience and knowledge will be of great benefit to Cyprium as we move to the next stage of the company strategy." About Cyprium Metals Ltd Cyprium Metals Limited (ASX:CYM) is poised to grow to a mid-tier mining business and manage a portfolio of Australian copper projects to deliver vital natural resources, strong shareholder returns and sustainable value for our stakeholders. We pursue this aim, in genuine partnerships with employees, customers, shareholders, local communities and other stakeholders, which is based on integrity, co-operation, transparency and mutual value creation. Distribution of company announcements to the professional platforms, finance portals and syndication of important corporate news to a wide variety of news aggregators and financial news systems. Forty high school students from across New Mexico have been named as finalists for four top awards in the biggest celebration of high school theater in the state. The Enchantment Awards named students from 10 different high schools as nominees for their annual show. The students chosen as Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor will be announced during the show in Popejoy Hall on 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28. Our show puts as many as 150 students on Popejoys stage to perform throughout the evening, says Laura A. Maness, co-executive director of the New Mexico High School Musical Theatre Awards, the organization that stages the celebration. With that many performers, its a true celebration of their accomplishments, their performances, and their growth as artists and individuals. The awards program itself is called the Enchantment Awards. This is the first time since 2019 that the program has been able to present its full show. Two winners from the show will also go on to compete in the National High School Musical Theatre Awards. We have a lot of music in this show, says Terry S. Davis, co-executive director. Its a night filled with some astoundingly good performances by the students. The Enchantment Awards features solos and medleys from the Best Actress and Best Actor nominees, and a medley performed by the Best Supporting Actress and Best Supporting Actor nominees who are joined by the Directors Choice Chorus, representatives from each school registered with the program. The five finalists for the Best Production award will also perform a number from their nominated show. Weve seen these students perform in shows in their high schools around the state since last fall, says Maness. These are just a few of the many hundreds of students who perform in their school drama programs or work backstage on those shows. Those programs are incredibly important to so many students in this state. SANTA FE New Mexico will receive nearly $17.1 million under a legal settlement with electronic cigarette maker Juul Labs Inc., which also reached similar settlements with five other states to resolve claims its nicotine vaping products were targeted at youthful users. Attorney General Raul Torrez announced the settlement Wednesday, saying the money from the settlement would be used to fund youth vaping cessation programs in New Mexico and research into the health effects of e-cigarettes. Under the settlement agreement finalized Wednesday, Juul also agreed to new advertising guidelines that include no use of cartoons, no billboards within 1,000 feet of public school playgrounds and no depictions of individuals under age 35 in any promotional materials. In addition, the settlement agreement stipulated Juul products must be sold from behind retail store counters and that the e-cigarette company must verify a customers age for online sales. I will fight to protect children from harmful advertising and products and ensure that companies who target and sell products to children through social media platforms are held accountable for their dangerous messaging, Torrez said in a statement. The settlement represents one of the largest payouts received from a tobacco company in recent New Mexico history. It also marks the latest in a string of settlements the embattled e-cigarette manufacturer has entered into with cities and states. In all, Juul agreed to pay $462 million to six states New Mexico, Colorado, California, Illinois, Massachusetts and New York and Washington D.C. under the most recent round of settlements, according to the Associated Press. A spokesperson for the Washington D.C.-based Juul said that with Wednesdays settlement, we are nearing total resolution of the companys historical legal challenges and securing certainty for our future. Former state Attorney General Hector Balderas filed New Mexicos lawsuit against Juul in May 2020, alleging the company had almost singlehandedly reversed decades of progress made in reducing adolescent and teenage nicotine use. The lawsuit, which was filed in state court in Santa Fe, claimed Juuls advertising campaign was targeted at young people via social media and did not disclose its vaping products delivered nicotine at a higher potency than traditional cigarettes. Partially as a result, the lawsuit claimed the rate of New Mexico high school students who reported using e-cigarettes rose to 24.7% as of 2017 nearly double the national rate. Juul, which touts its device as a vaporizer with no buttons or switches, came under federal scrutiny after vaping products with flavors such as cool cucumber, mango and creme brulee surged in popularity. The federal Food and Drug Administration in 2020 banned the sale of different flavors of cartridge-based e-cigarettes, though the action was challenged in court. E-cigarette proponents have said vaping products have proven successful at helping steer adult smokers away from cigaretes, making them a valuable smoking abatement tool. Meanwhile, New Mexico continues to receive an annual payment under an agreement the state and 45 other states signed with big tobacco companies in 1998. Money from the annual settlement payments was originally intended to be split between the states Tobacco Settlement Permanent Fund and tobacco education and health programs, but lawmakers have at times in recent years siphoned away the funding to help balance the states budget and pay for other initiatives. Public schools received the biggest share of this years state general fund budget. Now, its up to districts and the state Public Education Department to deliver. In total, some $4.17 billion in recurring funds, or almost 44% of the states total budget signed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Friday, is going to schools and educators, according to the state Finance and Administration Department. This years appropriations mark a roughly $300 million increase from last year. As a person that has been in public education for my entire career, this is the most that (weve) ever spent on students, Education Secretary Arsenio Romero told the Journal. This is going to allow us to have the resources, the professional development, the tools necessary across our state to be able to tackle some of the issues that we know are there. That includes providing resources highly trained teachers, especially for student groups identified in the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit, in which a judge found the state wasnt fulfilling its constitutional duty to provide a sufficient education system for English learners, indigenous students, economically disadvantaged students and those with disabilities. More time in school One of the biggest price tags among new appropriations came from increasing the class time for students across the state, which is funded through a base amount of $202 million. And over $50 million was set aside for schools to extend their calendar beyond 180 days. House Bill 130, which was signed by Lujan Grisham in mid-March, requires students to spend at least 1,140 hours in school per year. If (theres) anything that I know for sure, its that spending time with teachers as a student is always a good thing, Romero said. We have been working on this for years to be able to give more opportunities for students to be with teachers, and I think this year is going to be the year where we see that dramatic difference in calendars. While many districts and charter schools already met all or some of those requirements, many districts, including Albuquerque Public Schools, have crafted or are in the process of crafting new academic calendars. With the new class time minimums, New Mexicos existing extended learning time and K-5 Plus programs, which lost about $279 million in funding, will go away this year. Long overdue Next up in the public education budget were educators. Almost $170 million was set aside for all school workers to get an average 6% raise, after they received a 7% raise last year. Lawmakers also set aside $14.5 million to raise the minimum salaries of educational assistants to $25,000 from $12,000, which was made effective in the 2004-2005 school year. Were really excited, and especially (for) the EA salary that is long overdue, American Federation of Teachers New Mexico President Whitney Holland told the Journal. Another $8 million went to increasing the minimum salary levels of principals by $3,500, which both Holland and Romero said will better schools as a whole. Principals set the tone of the culture of a building, Holland said. So having money available to recruit and retain principals is a key part of what makes the school a place where teachers want to work and students want to go to school. Tribal education Some $20 million was set aside for the Indian Education Fund, a roughly $5 million increase from last fiscal year. Still, its far from the dream of Rep. Derrick Lente, D-Sandia Pueblo, who one day hopes to establish a tribal education trust fund somewhere in the ballpark of $250 million. Lente, the sponsor of the bill that would have set aside money for the trust fund, himself made the decision to back off from the idea this legislative session, he told the Journal in February. He said hes confident he can get far more than what was settled on this year. Were not defeated. Postponed, yes. Why? I think the outcome is well worth the wait, Lente told tribal leaders at the time. Still, Romero said the extra $5 million for the Indian Education Fund will help the PED work with pueblos on specific needs affecting their communities, including improving internet access, recruiting teachers and making sure they have the instructional materials they need. Getting kids to school The budget also sets aside money for measures aimed at improving school attendance. That includes $5 million for attendance improvement interventions, and another $3 million to provide free feminine hygiene products in public school bathrooms, per a bill spearheaded by Albuquerque Academy students. Last school year, the statewide rate of chronic absenteeism which is to say a student missed 10% or more days of school was about 40%. It is absolutely one of (our) top priorities, Romero said. No matter what the reason, it has a negative effect, and we just want to make sure families are aware of that. A judge on Wednesday sentenced Dominic Sepulveda to 10 years in prison in the 2021 shooting death of a 33-year-old Aaron Johnson. Sepulveda, 31, pleaded guilty in February to second-degree murder in Johnsons killing in an apartment near Montgomery and Carlisle NE. Second Judicial District Judge Stan Whitaker dismissed charges of aggravated battery and tampering with evidence under the terms of Sepulvedas plea agreement. Albuquerque police responded on Feb. 10, 2021, to a report that a woman and Johnson had been shot, according to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court. Police found Johnson dead on a couch with multiple gunshot wounds. The woman was taken to a hospital for a gunshot wound in the arm, according to the criminal complaint. The woman identified Sepulveda a cousin of Johnsons girlfriend was responsible for both shootings, the complaint said. The woman told police she had allowed Johnson to stay in her apartment for a week and he had taken over, using drugs and alcohol and fighting with his girlfriend. The woman said she and Sepulveda drugged Johnson with sleeping pills to allow the girlfriend to escape. Sepulveda later turned to the apartment, shot Johnson two or three times, then fired a single gunshot into the womans shoulder, it said. Julie Rombach-Kendall, also known as Mrs. R-K, a music teacher at Albuquerques John Baker Elementary School, makes an effort to hit the right chord with students at all grade levels. She uses games and seeing, hearing and moving activities to develop long-term memory. Her puppet, Mary Flora, assists her in teaching her youngest students, and she has engaged students in the third, fourth and fifth grades by teaching them to perform on mallet instruments such as xylophones. Rombach-Kendall is also a proponent of students concerts. Music is a performing art; therefore, those who study it should perform it, she said. On Wednesday, Rombach-Kendalls career hit a high note when her teaching abilities were recognized with a Golden Apple Award, presented by the Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico. Rombach-Kendall is the third Albuquerque Public Schools teacher to be awarded a Golden Apple this year. Last week, Shannon Ryan, a Lavaland Elementary fifth-grade teacher noted for her imaginative and adventurous approach to education got the award, as did Norma Lujan-Quinones of Dolores Gonzales Elementary. A fomer bilingual teacher who now teaches dance at Dolores Gonzales, Lujan-Quinones learned recently that she is also being honored by the New Mexico Association for Bilingual Education with its Henry W. Pascual Teacher Excellence Award. Lujan-Quinones, a teacher for more than a decade, has spent all her teaching years at Dolores Gonzales. She is involved in the schools guitar club, theater club and Folklorico dance club. The Golden Apple Foundation of New Mexico has presented 174 Golden Apple Awards since 1996. In addition to a Golden Apple trophy, recipients get $1,500 in cash and a $2,500 professional development stipend. Besides the three Albuquerque teachers who got the Golden Apple Award this year, recipients in other parts of the state are Michelle Armijo, third-grade, Pinon Elementary in Santa Fe; Amanda Hermann, a fifth-grade, Bernalillo Elementary in Bernalillo; Tara Hughes, early childhood special education teacher at Nye Early Childhood Center in Santa Fe; and Michelle Sanchez, fifth-grade, Pojoaque Elementary in Pojoaque. The winners will be honored at a celebration in the fall. What does it take to close a poor-performing school these days? With handcuffs on, as one board member put it, the Albuquerque Public Schools board begrudgingly renewed the charter last week for El Camino Real Academy by a 4-2 vote. The school board initially tabled and then denied El Camino Reals renewal application for good reason. El Camino Real students who took statewide standardized tests last school year performed dismally. Only 6% of students were proficient in math, 18% in language arts. Compare those shameful numbers to district charter schools students in general, who were about 29% proficient in math, 40% proficient in English, and Albuquerque Public Schools students overall who were about 25% proficient in math, 35% proficient in English. And yet concerns about the charter schools lagging proficiency levels and financials were trumped by the all-knowing state Public Education Department, which found there was no substantial evidence to support the school boards decision not to renew El Camino Reals charter. Really? In fact, PED ordered the school board to approve a five-year charter renewal with no conditions whatsoever. Translation: PED rubber stamps 6% proficiency. One thing that really bothers me about the way charters are structured is that we have little control over them, said board member Barbara Petersen, who ended up voting for the renewal with handcuffs on. APS board vice president Peggy Muller-Aragon, one of the nay votes, correctly notes its the schools students who will suffer in the end. APS staff are proposing a newer approach that could include bringing evaluations on a schools performance to board members sooner. And the district plans to begin negotiating academic indicators with El Camino Real. But thanks to PED, the deed, unfortunately, is done for the next five years. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. A Chama man was arrested this week on felony charges, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, for his alleged actions during the Jan. 6, 2021, breach at the U.S. Capitol, the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia announced. Rockne Earles, 62, allegedly was observed on a video assaulting a U.S. Capitol Police officer on the stairs under scaffolding outside the U.S. Capitol building, prosecutors said in a written statement. Earles also was charged with civil disorder, also a felony, and a variety of misdemeanor charges connected with entering and remaining in a restricted building or ground, the statement said. Earles federal public defender, Martin Juarez, did not immediately respond Wednesday to email and voice messages requesting comment. The actions allegedly occurred on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol, prosecutors wrote. In a publicly available video, Earles is seen grabbing and throwing a U.S. Capitol Police Officer (Victim Officer 1) against the Northwest stairs, the statement said. The statement did not identify by name victim officer 1. In the video, Earles grabs and throws Victim Officer 1 to the ground using what appears to be a significant amount of force, the statement said. Two other rioters joined Earles in shoving and assaulting Victim Officer 1, who then attempted to escape the attackers, it said. The officer later recalled being assaulted repeatedly that day, including being struck with a flagpole by an unidentified man, the statement said. The officer was hospitalized and was off work for 45 days as a result of the attack. Earles, who is formerly of Oriska, North Dakota, was arrested Tuesday in Chama and was scheduled to make his initial appearance Wednesday in U.S. District Court of New Mexico. An order setting conditions of release filed Wednesday in U.S. District Court shows that Earles is required to report to probation and pretrial services and is prohibited from travelling outside the United States. He is also required to submit to a mental health assessment as directed by pretrial services. The FBIs Albuquerque field office is participating in the investigation, the statement said. In the 27 months since Jan. 6, 2021, more than 1,000 people have been arrested nationwide for crimes related to the breach of the U.S. Capitol. MEXICO CITY (AP) Mexicos immigration head will face criminal charges in a fire that killed 40 migrants in a detention center last month, but President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday that he will not dismiss the official known for his hard line on northbound migration. Obradors decision to keep Francisco Garduno as head of the Mexican Immigration Institute appeared to conflict with the federal Attorney Generals Office announcement late Tuesday to charge Garduno in connection with the blaze. That shows both some separation of powers in Mexico and the conundrum faced by the Mexican government. Lopez Obrador and his administration are struggling with U.S. pressure to slow the flow of migrants while the international community calls on them to treat migrants humanely and safely. Lopez Obradors comments came on the same day that relatives gathered in rural Guatemala to hold funerals for some of the victims of the deadly fire. Thousands of people gathered in the Guatemalan village of Chicacao for the funeral of Francisco Gaspar Rojche Chiquival and his uncle Miguel Rojche Zapalu, two of the 19 Guatemalans who died of smoke inhalation or burns in the March 27 fire. I am destroyed, I am wounded, said the younger mans father, Manuel Rojche. This is a very hard blow. The family had handed over title to their land to raise the $15,000 tha smugglers demanded to get Rojche Chiquival to the United States. They stand to lose the land. The only possession the 21-year-old left behind his beloved motorcycle traveled with his coffin in the procession to the local cemetery. The men died after a migrant set fire to foam mattresses in protest, and guards fled without opening the cell doors. That president is a coward, Manuel Rojche said of Lopez Obrador. How can you treat people like that, not even an animal much less a human being. Garduno, a lawyer and criminologist, was called to take over the immigration job in June 2019 as Mexico was under pressure from the Trump administration to decrease the flow of migrants. The Mexican immigration institute has been hit for years with repeated complaints of human-rights violations and unhealthy conditions in center for migrants, conditions including inadequate ventilation, clean water and food. There also have been numerous corruption complaints. Under Garduno, the institute took a harder line. Calls have come from within Mexico, and from some Central American nations, not to stop the case of last months fire at the five low-level officials, guards and a Venezuelan migrant already facing homicide charges. Federal prosecutors said late Tuesday that Garduno was remiss in not preventing the disaster in Ciudad Juarez despite earlier indications of problems at his agencys detention centers. Prosecutors said that government audits had found a pattern of irresponsibility and repeated omissions in the immigation institute. However, charges being brought in Mexico, especially against public officials, do not always result in prison time. On Wednesday, Lopez Obrador said that even though the Attorney Generals Office was investigating Garduno, prosecutors had revealed few details and it was not exactly clear how they would charge him. We are going to wait and we are going to make decisions in the (right) moment, Lopez Obrador said. The president defended Garduno, saying his work is good in general; he has always had good performance, despite the misfortune that happened in Juarez. Garduno has been close to Lopez Obrador since the latter was Mexico City mayor, and Garduno has overseen a strategy to contain migrants in southern Mexico with the help of the National Guard, which has been criticized as the start of a militarization of Mexicos immigration policy. It included placing retired or active military officers in leadership positions inside the immigration agency. Gardunos predecessor at the immigration institute, sociologist Tonatiuh Guillen, said the prosecutors decision is a good signal, given that the expectation at first was just an investigation of those who were directly responsible. Guillen said, however, that keeping Garduno in his position generated an unnecessary tension because he should have been dismissed in order to make the case against him more straightforward. Guillen resigned in 2019 because of his disagreement with hardening migration policy, as Washington was demanding. Anger in Mexico initially focused on two guards who were seen fleeing the March 27 fire, without unlocking the cell door to allow the migrants to escape. But Lopez Obrador had said earlier Tuesday that they didnt have the keys. 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 without making an effort to release them. The Attorney Generals Office said several other officers 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. An immigration official said on Wednesday morning that Garduno had not yet been called to testify. The official asked for anonymity because was hot authorized to speak on the record. One migrant allegedly set fire to foam mattresses at the detention center to protest detention conditions and what he apparently thought were plans to move or deport the migrants. Mexico has returned the bodies of 31 migrants to their home countries. Dozens of mourners turned out on the dusty streets of the village of Proteccion, in Honduras, where the coffins of three local men arrived from Mexico. Cindy Umana recieved the coffin of her brother, Edin Umana, in her house. The only thing she could ask was that those responsible be prosecuted. I know that locking them up will not give us our relatives lives back, Umana said. But at least we will know that justice has been done. Complaints about corruption and bad conditions at Mexicos migrant detention facilities have never been seriously addressed: 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 that needed to be corrected, but alleged they failed to act. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Dozens of scientists from universities and environmental groups are pushing for the removal of the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming she lacks the educational background required to run the agency despite securing Senate confirmation last year. The concerns over the credentials of service Director Martha Williams were outlined in a letter from 100 scientists sent Wednesday to President Joe Biden and U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Williams is an attorney who majored in philosophy, and her critics claim she does not have the science-based education that federal law says is required for the position. Government attorneys have rejected allegations shes not credentialed, but they have not disputed her lack of a science degree. There was no discussion of Williams educational qualifications during her Senate confirmation hearing. She was confirmed on a voice vote in February 2022 with bipartisan support. She worked as an attorney at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for more than two decades, then led the state agency for three years before being named principal deputy director at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following Bidens election. During the Obama administration, she was a deputy solicitor at the Interior Department for two years. The call for her resignation or dismissal comes as Biden faces growing pressure from some wildlife advocates who contend the administration has not done enough to protect endangered plants and animals from extinction. Many of the scientists named in the letter also have been involved in efforts to retain federal protections for threatened grizzly bears in Western states and gray wolves across most of the nation. Williams came to the Biden administration from Montana, where hunting wolves is legal. She said during her confirmation hearing that the grizzly bear population around Yellowstone National Park has recovered, putting her at odds with wildlife advocates. The battle over her qualifications has simmered since she was announced as Bidens pick in late 2021. The Interior Departments solicitor and inspector general dismissed complaints over the matter, but still pending in federal court is a lawsuit that focuses on the educational requirements outlined by Congress when it overhauled the wildlife agency in 1974. Federal law says only someone with scientific education and experience can be appointed director of the service. Williams has a bachelors in philosophy from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Montana, according to congressional records and the Department of Interior. The Fish and Wildlife Service did not respond to multiple emails about her qualifications. Interior spokesperson Melissa Schwartz declined to comment on the letter, and the White House did not respond. Attorneys for the Biden administration said in court filings that the law requires Williams education to be considered cumulatively with her experience. She clearly has the requisite background, they wrote. A spokesperson for Montana Sen. Steve Daines said Wednesday that the Republican lawmaker stood by his vote for Williams. Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, said that since her confirmation, Williams has brought collaborative, science-based solutions to the tough problems facing our wildlife and public lands. Other than resigning or being fired by the president, impeachment is the only mechanism for removing Senate-confirmed civil officers such as Williams, according to Katherine Scott, associate historian in the U.S. Senate Historical Office. The scientists calling for her ouster say theyre concerned the administration is setting a precedent by sidestepping the scientific education requirement. They claim Williams is serving in contradiction to the administrations own policies and ethics rules. They pointed to an assessment done by Bidens Scientific Integrity Task Force that suggests executive branch positions should be filled by candidates with appropriate credentials and that violations of scientific integrity policies should be taken as seriously as violations of ethics rules. The scientists include Dave Parsons, who led government efforts to reintroduce the endangered Mexican gray wolf in the Southwest; two board members and a scientist with Silver Spring, Maryland-based Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; well-known biology professors Paul and Anne Ehrlich at Stanford University; and wolf experts William Ripple and Robert Beschta from Oregon State University. With the exception of Williams, every director since the agency was overhauled in the 1970s had a scientific education, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. I see this appointment as a tipping point, where politics will forever override statutory credentials, said Parsons, who authored the letter. In the lawsuit challenging her confirmation, Illinois lawyer Robert Aland claimed decisions made by Williams would be contaminated since she was appointed illegally. Wildlife could suffer the most serious adverse consequences as a result, he said. A judge dismissed the case over jurisdictional issues and did not address the dispute over education. Aland has appealed. Aland previously sued the agency over its attempts to lift protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone region of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Federal judges restored protections in both instances, but a new proposal to lift protections is under consideration by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency is planning a new rule that could lift protections for gray wolves in early 2024. Some of the scientists in Wednesdays letter said the decisions on bears and wolves are up to Williams. They said her qualifications could be used as an argument in future litigation over the species. Williams is not the first to have her qualifications questioned. Under former President Donald Trump, political appointee Greg Sheehan oversaw Fish and Wildlife for more than a year as the agencys deputy director at a time when no director was in place. Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke unsuccessfully sought to make Sheehan acting director, but government officials said he did not have the science degree required for the position under federal law. Sheehan stepped down in 2018 and was never formally nominated. Before Trump nominee Aurelia Skipwith was confirmed for the post in 2019, environmental groups objected in part because she had studied molecular biology and not wildlife specifically. The Center for Biological Diversity called her an industry shill because of Skipwiths past work with the chemical company Monsanto. Center for Biological Diversity government affairs director Brett Hartl said the group knew about Williams lack of a degree, but decided nevertheless to support her. He said his group believed having an outside person serve as director would offer a better opportunity to solve deep cultural issues that have plagued the agency over the years. Hartl agreed that the law requires a science degree but said the Senate has the ultimate authority to decide whos qualified. Despite the early support for Williams, Hartl said his group has been disappointed with the Biden administrations failure to replace a Trump-era rule that weakened protections for many species. To me, thats the stuff she should be evaluated on, he said. Weve been fairly underwhelmed thus far at her tenure. ___ Brown reported from Billings, Montana. SANTA FE New Mexicos embattled child welfare agency is once again looking for a new leader, as Children, Youth and Families Secretary Barbara Vigil plans to step down from her high-profile post after less than two years on the job. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grishams office announced Vigils transition out of the secretary role Thursday and said a national search would be conducted for a replacement. Teresa Casados, the governors chief operating officer, will lead the agency in the meantime. I am profoundly grateful to Barbara Vigil for her legacy of service to the children of our state, especially for being such a stabilizing force for the Children, Youth and Family Services Department, Lujan Grisham said in a statement. In a letter to CYFD employees obtained by the Journal, Vigil cited unrelenting factors that adversely impact New Mexico children in explaining her decision to retire effective May 1, but she said she would remain involved as a member of an advisory council created by the governor. While I know there is more to be done, I believe that, together, we have made meaningful, positive change and have set CYFD on a lasting course of working with all of its partners to improve the well-being of children and families in this great state, Vigil said. The shakeup comes just two months after the Democratic governor issued an executive order aimed at improving the performance of a department she described as dysfunctional by creating the new seven-member advisory council and an office of innovation within CYFD. But Lujan Grisham opposed legislative efforts during this years 60-day session to establish more independent oversight of CYFD, saying such a move could make it harder for the agency to hire more social workers. She also pocket vetoed a proposal approved by lawmakers to create a new civil rights division within the Attorney Generals Office to investigate abuse by state agencies, school boards and other public bodies. Sen. Crystal Diamond, R-Elephant Butte, described the news of Vigils resignation as a sad day for New Mexico. I am heartbroken to see the vulnerable children of our state failed by this administration yet again, Diamond said in a statement. We had a chance to force structural change in the department that would have created stability and accountability. Instead, certain legislators were bullied by the governor into rejecting viable, bipartisan solutions with the empty promise that Secretary Vigil would be a steady hand of change. Cabinet reshuffling continues A retired chief Supreme Court justice, Vigil was appointed by the governor to lead the child welfare agency in August 2021 amid calls to improve transparency. She took over from Brian Blalock, who had faced questions about department-wide use of a secure text messaging app criticized by open records advocates, a lawsuit filed under the Whistleblower Protection Act and alleged state procurement code violations. However, CYFD continued to face questions under Vigils leadership about high staff turnover and compliance with a 2020 settlement that obligated the state to follow a series of standards intended to help abused and neglected children. Maralyn Beck, a former foster parent who is the executive director of New Mexico Child First Network, said turnover and leadership issues have hampered CYFDs ability to improve child welfare outcomes. CYFD isnt a simple state agency this agency determines life or death situations for children and families every single day, Beck said Thursday. Our children and families deserve more than a revolving door of policy figure heads. Meanwhile, Vigils looming departure from her $200,000 per year job continues a recent turnover trend in the governors Cabinet. Since Lujan Grisham started her second term in January, four secretaries have now announced plans to leave the administration former Human Services Secretary David Scrase, former Public Education Secretary Kurt Steinhaus, ex-General Services Secretary John Garcia and Vigil. String of abuse cases test reform efforts New Mexico has reeled from shocking allegations of child abuse in recent years, including the recent report of a sexual assault inside a CYFD office building in Albuquerque. In addition, child maltreatment death rates more than doubled during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to legislative data. Over the past year, critics of the agency, including childrens attorneys, have become more vocal about CYFD returning children back to homes where they werent safe. Reports emerged that some CYFD investigators tried to take children into state custody, only to be overruled by their supervisors. In November 2021, the death of a one-month Valencia County boy, allegedly at the hands of his mother, prompted Vigil to launch an outside review of CYFD protective services, including examining recent child fatalities. The boy died of blunt force trauma, and law enforcement officials found the mother had called authorities one week earlier fearing she was going to hurt her children. CYFD was alerted but didnt remove the infant, or an older sibling from the home. In response to the outside consultants report, Vigil pledged to retrain employees and create new critical incident teams to review serious injuries and child deaths. Such teams were to interview families, law enforcement, physicians and others to fully understand how the system worked or didnt work and how it can be improved to prevent similar incidents in the future, Vigil said at the time. But other cases have emerged, as CYFD was sued in February for placing a one-year-old boy in a Questa home where investigators allege he was tortured for months. And CYFDs history with a Texico family came under public scrutiny last August after children in a home were taken into state custody after they were allegedly chained to beds, and placed in dog kennels, while being mistreated for years. Agency officials typically wont explain the agencys actions in such cases, citing confidentiality required by the state Childrens Code. A bill that would have overhauled those confidentiality provisions stalled in the House during this years session. Turnover a chronic problem at CYFD Since being appointed, Vigil spent much of her tenure at the agency trying to strengthen and stabilize the CYFD workforce. She stressed that improving morale and offering support to CYFD front-line workers could stem high turnover rates and result in better outcomes for children whose cases came to the agencys attention. However, legislative analysts have continued to flag staff turnover and high case loads as challenges facing the department, which oversees the foster care system in a state with high rates of alcohol and drug abuse. In particular, the turnover rate for CYFD youth care specialists has more than doubled in recent years hitting 39% in the 2022 budget year. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) A tech consultant was arrested and charged with murder Thursday in the stabbing death of the gregarious and popular Cash App founder Bob Lee last week in downtown San Francisco, authorities said. Nima Momeni, 38, and Lee, 43, knew each other, San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott said at a news conference, but he declined to elaborate on their connection. Momeni was taken into custody Thursday morning in Emeryville, a San Francisco suburb, and booked on suspicion of murder. The stabbing death of Lee shocked the tech industry, with friends and former colleagues mourning the demise of a brilliant and generous man. Police found Lee with stab wounds in the Rincon Hill neighborhood of San Francisco at 2:30 a.m. April 4. He died at a hospital. Scott declined to give details on how they linked the killing to Momeni. The chief also refused to disclose a possible motive. Investigators served search warrants in San Francisco and Emeryville. Scott would not say whether a weapon has been found. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said in a statement that Momeni has been charged with murder in Lees death and is expected to be arraigned Friday. Prosecutors will ask a judge to hold him without bail, she said. It was not immediately clear whether Momeni has an attorney who could speak on his behalf. On his LinkedIn profile, Momeni describes himself as an IT Consultant/Entrepreneur as well as the owner of a company called Expand IT. Business filings with the state list Momeni as the chief executive officer, secretary and chief financial officer of Expand IT INC, described as an information technology consulting business. He signed the filing in August 2022. According to his LinkedIn profile, Momeni has been a dedicated technology partner since 2005 and that he started Expand IT in 2010. Criminal records show Momeni was charged with carrying a switchblade in 2011, a misdemeanor offense. The case was dismissed the following year after he took a plea. Publicist Sam Singer met Momeni about a month ago as Singer has an office next door to Momenis live-work loft in the stylish Besler Building Lofts. Singer described Momeni as very welcoming, warm and his loft as a typical Bay Area technology consultants office with a big pool table, gourmet food and high-end stereo system. Lee is known for creating the widely used mobile payment service Cash App while working as chief technology officer of the payment company Square, now known as Block. He was the chief product officer for the cryptocurrency firm MobileCoin at the time of his death. Lee was raised in Missouri and had recently moved to Miami with his father, but was back in San Francisco for business when he was killed. Friends described him as adventurous and fearless, and a doting father to his two children. I acknowledge and understand how the loss of a young, vibrant leader and innovator has rocked our city and even beyond, Jenkins said at the news conference. Lees brother, Tim Oliver Lee, posted on Facebook the familys gratitude to the San Francisco Police Department for catching the suspect. Tim Lee said his brother dreamed of making technology accessible to all and that he made friends from all walks of life. Bob loved being in San Francisco, and San Francisco loved Bob. Walking down the street would sometimes be difficult because every young person with a dream would search him out, and he would make time for every one, his brother wrote. After Lees killing, prominent tech leaders, including tech billionaire Elon Musk, took to Twitter to mourn Lees death and blame San Francisco for what they called the citys lax attitude toward crime. Musk tweeted at Jenkins, saying that crime in San Francisco is horrific and that even when attackers are caught, they are often immediately released. Mayor London Breed and other top city officials have pushed against that narrative and on Thursday, Jenkins addressed Musk directly. I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musk tweet that assumed incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lees death serve to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco, Jenkins said. ___ Stefanie Dazio contributed from Los Angeles. Cover Images/Dutch Press Photo Celebrity Buckingham palace and representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reveal that Harry will attend the historic event on May 6 alone, without his wife. Apr 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - Whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend King Charles' coronation remains one of public's biggest questions ahead of the May 6 event. Now, Buckingham palace and representatives for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex reveal that Harry will attend the historic event alone, without his wife. "Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6th May," Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Wednesday, April 12. "The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet." In a separate statement, the Sussexes' reps confirmed, "The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet." While Harry will jet off to the U.K., Meghan will stay in California to celebrate Prince Archie's fourth birthday which happens to fall on May 6 as well. On the other hand, a source revealed Meghan won't join Harry at the coronation at Westminster Abbey because things still remain "awkward" between the former "Suits" actress and the royal family. "There was no way that Meghan was going to miss her son's birthday," the source told Page Six. Despite Meghan's absence, things may still be awkward as the coronation visit marks the first time for Harry to see his family since making a series of bombshell accusations in his book, "Spare". The royal insider shared, "Even though Meghan is not going, it's still going to be extremely awkward." Additionally, it should be noted that it was the first time Buckingham Palace officials referred to the Sussexes' children as Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in a statement after their titles were recently updated on the line of succession. A highly placed source said "it is a shame" that Archie and Lilibet will not be in attendance on "such a historic occasion." The palace continued, "The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet." You can share this post! NBC/Will Heath TV The 29-year-old comedian, who departed from the show in 2022, is set to return to 'Saturday Night Live' as a host in the upcoming May 6 episode of the hit NBC comedy series. Apr 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - Pete Davidson is heading back to 30 Rock. The 29-year-old comedian is set to return to "Saturday Night Live" as a host in the upcoming May 6 episode of the popular NBC comedy series. A source claimed to Page Six that the former cast member of the show "is very excited to go back." The insider added, "[Leaving the show] has been a change of pace for him, but in a good way." Pete's return to the series marks his first appearance on the show following his exit back in 2022. While it's unknown if the actor will reprise his character Chad in the episode, it is expected that "The King of Staten Island" star will promote his upcoming Peacock comedy series "Bupkis", which sees "SNL" boss Lorne Michaels serving as executive producer. Of Pete's former boss, the source said, "Lorne has always been a huge supporter of Pete and his creative vision and Pete thinks the world of Lorne." "Bupkis", which Pete writes, produces and stars on, is described as a fictionalized version of his life growing up on Staten Island. The comedy series will additionally star Joe Pesci as his grandfather and Edie Falco as his mother. A slew of celebrities are reportedly also set to make guest appearances on the forthcoming project including Charlie Day, Al Gore, Bobby Cannavale, John Mulaney, La La Anthony, Kenan Thompson and Machine Gun Kelly. Pete's new girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders, with whom he starred in "bodies, bodies, bodies", will also appear on "Bupkis". Prior to Pete, Ana de Armas will stop by the sketch comedy as a host. The Cuban-Spanish actress, whose credits include "Blonde", "Deep Water", "Knives Out" and "Blade Runner 2049", will host the show in the April 15 episode. You can share this post! Cover Images/Faye`s Vision/INSTA Celebrity The photo appears to convince 'Vanderpump Rules' fans that the Something About Her co-owner did assault the bar owner weeks before news of Scandoval hit the web. Apr 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - A picture of Tom Sandoval sporting a black eye has resurfaced online after he claimed that ex Ariana Madix punched him for trying to break up with her. The photo appears to convince "Vanderpump Rules" fans that Ariana did assault the bar owner weeks before news of Scandoval broke. Fans noticed that Tom sported what appeared to be a bruise near his right eye in the "Vanderpump Rules" midseason 10 trailer. In the trailer, which was filmed following their split, the 40-year-old cover band frontman told Ariana, "I wish we both would've tried harder," to which the Something About Her co-owner replied, "You don't deserve one f**king tear of mine." Tom claimed that Ariana attacked him when he tried to break up with her in a bombshell interview on "Howie Mandel Does Stuff" podcast on Tuesday, April 11. "She freaking punched me and all this s**t, but after she calmed down, we started talking," he revealed. "A couple days later, I sit down and talk with her again, and she's like, 'I'm not letting you leave me. You're gonna have to force me out of this relationship.' " The Bravo personality went on to tell Howie, "And I was like, 'Ariana, I don't think I could be faithful in a relationship with you right now.' " Tom added that at the time, he "hadn't told her" about his months-affair with Raquel Leviss "yet." Ariana, meanwhile, has yet to comment on Tom's allegations. Tom made headlines after it was revealed that he had been having an affair with co-star Raquel behind Ariana's back. The latter allegedly found out about his infidelity when she discovered a sexually explicit video of the former pageant beauty queen on his phone. It was said that the two had been "communicating inappropriately" since at least July 2022, though Peter Madrigal believed that they started their affair way before that. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity Prior to surrendering to police and being charged with murder, Montrel Lenard Burley was arrested one day after the deadly shooting for narcotics possession, but was released. Apr 13, 2023 AceShowbiz - A man accused of shooting and killing BTB Savage has been in custody. Montrel Lenard Burley has been arrested and charged with the murder of the Houston rapper, whose real name is Darrell Gentry. Houston Police Dept. said Montrel surrendered to authorities at the Harris County Joint Processing Center on Tuesday, April 11. In a court appearance that day, the state requested no bond for Montrel. The judge ultimately set his bond at $1 million. She noted that only a district judge can deny the bond, which would require a hearing. The judge claimed Montrel presents a flight risk, citing his previous conviction for failing to appear in court while out on bail. She also said the court is concerned because Montrel was willing to travel the distance to avenge the death of his friend. He previously lived in Houston, but had been living in the New Braunfels area for the past two years. Court records additionally show that Montrel was under arrest and in custody one day after the deadly shooting. On March 31, he was arrested and charged with narcotics possession during a traffic stop in New Braunfels on March 31. He was a passenger in the vehicle that police believe was used in the shooting at 2100 Mid Lane on March 30. When police started asking the 40-year-old about the car, which he had rented, he requested an attorney and ended the interview. He was then released. Burley is believed to be a close friend and fellow gang member of Omar Richardson, a man killed by BTB's girlfriend in self-defense during a robbery at their home earlier this year. Montrel was allegedly present and also injured in the home invasion. San Antonio police had apparently said the shooting was justified. Just hours before he was shot and killed, BTB posted on social media photos of him at the bloody crime scene. He had also conducted interviews about the incident, claiming he showed no mercy and told the suspect, who was pleading for help, "I don't give a (expletive) about you. You're going to die." Police believe two men opened fire on BTB as he drove his white Mercedes on March 31. The second suspect has not been identified yet and is still at large. You can share this post! Instagram Music The 'Certified Lover Boy' artist makes a special surprise at one show of Wayne's 'Welcome to tha Carter Tour', which kicked off on April 4 at The Fillmore in Minneapolis and will conclude on May 13 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Lil Wayne has surprised fans by bringing out Drake at one of his shows. The Young Money founder, who has been on his "Welcome to tha Carter Tour" since earlier this month, invited the "Certified Lover Boy" artist onstage during a stop in Toronto. Wayne let Drake open his show on Wednesday, April 12. In a video surfacing online, the four-time Grammy winner could be seen walking onstage rocking a black ensemble from head to toe. Once the crowd recognized him, they erupted in cheers. The concertgoers were quick to record the special moment with their phones. Wayne kicked off his "Welcome to tha Carter Tour" on April 4 at The Fillmore in Minneapolis. He will make several stops in cities across the United States before wrapping the 28-show trek on May 13 at The Wiltern in Los Angeles. Prior to this, Wayne showed up at Drake's set at the 2023 Dreamville Festival. 21 Savage, GloRilla and Lil Uzi Vert also surprised fans with their appearances. The first to take the stage was Glo, who entertained the crowd by delivering her viral hit "FNF (Let's Go)". Uzi came next, rapping two of his biggest hits, "XO Tour Llif3" and "Just Wanna Rock". Drake later performed a rendition of his 2011 track "The Motto" alongside Wayne. The Canadian rap star then left the stage so the 40-year-old rhymer could perform his tracks "Uproar" and "A Milli". Before concluding his set at the Raleigh, North Carolina event, Drake brought out his "Her Loss" collaborator, 21 Savage. The two emcees performed two of the album's tracks, "Knife Talk" and "Rich Flex". You can share this post! Celebrity There have been fictions between the couple and his children before the media tycoon dumped his wife via an email and barred her from giving story ideas to 'Succession'. Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Rupert Murdoch quit his marriage to Jerry Hall with a brief email, it has been claimed. The 92-year-old media mogul parted ways with his fourth wife last summer, six years after they tied the knot, and left the Texan supermodel "blindsided" when she received the message out of the blue last June while waiting to meet her then-husband at their home in Oxfordshire. Jerry checked her phone and found an abrupt email which read, "Jerry, sadly I've decided to call an end to our marriage. We have certainly had some good times, but I have much to doMy New York lawyer will be contacting yours immediately," according to Vanity Fair magazine. Tom Cashin, a close friend of the 66-year-old model, said she was left "devastated, mad, and humiliated" by what had happened, while the outlet claimed Jerry told pals she had made an effigy of Rupert, tied dental floss around its neck, and burned it on a grill. The model told friends she was stunned by the divorce. She confided, "Rupert and I never fought." There had been some disagreements over the billionaire's anti-abortion views and friction with his children over Jerry's rules about masking and testing before they saw their father but the blonde beauty never felt Rupert treated them as major issues. The former couple's divorce was finalised last August and Jerry was reportedly barred from giving story ideas to the writers of "Succession", which is believed to be loosely based on the Murdoch family, as part of her settlement agreement. Upon moving into the Oxfordshire abode she was given in the divorce, Jerry was said to have found security cameras were still sending live footage to the Fox headquarters in New York but her former partner, Sir Mick Jagger, sent his own security consultant to disconnect them. And when she moved out of the couple's house in Bel Air, California, Jerry - who has Elizabeth, 39, James, 37, Georgia, 31, and Gabriel, 25, with Mick - was given just 30 days to remove her belongings and was made to show receipts to prove items belonged to her as security guards watched her and her children pack her things. You can share this post! Instagram Celebrity The Brazilian supermodel who retired in 2018 is making a comeback as the face of Victoria's Secret perfume, claiming it's 'the perfect time to reunite the brand.' Apr 14, 2023 AceShowbiz - Adriana Lima claims it is the "perfect time" to return to Victoria's Secret as the face of its new Heavenly perfume campaign. The 41-year-old Brazilian - who became the brand's longest-serving supermodel after she first walked the runway as one of its angels in 1999, before retiring in 2018 - is making her comeback after previously saying it was one of her biggest wishes. "Heavenly is the perfect time to reunite the brand. It's the most iconic and timeless fragrance with Victoria's Secret. I missed Victoria's Secret," she told People about being a face of its Heavenly Eau de Parfum campaign. Adriana added the vanilla-like essence of the new scent reminded her of her past working for the brand, and said Heavenly products were an integral part of its famous shows. She added, "I was living a dream. (Heavenly is) really beautiful. (It) has been also part of the Victoria's Secret Show for many, many years.. they had the body lotion that was shimmery, so we used to use that a lot before we walked out." She said about her love of scents, "I am obsessed with jasmine. The flower, I think, is the most elegant and feminine. I will definitely have jasmine in my house, and, when I smell it, it brings me back to my childhood. It's a beautiful, elegant scent." Adriana added about Victoria's Secret's branding pivot from extreme female beauty to empowerment, "I feel very honoured to be part of a brand that actually is embracing and celebrating women in every stage of their life. Now I'm in a new stage and I feel really happy to be here and to be celebrated. Not only by the brand, but also by everybody that will be seeing the Heavenly campaign." You can share this post! Versatile Actor Sunny Hinduja starts shooting for the highly anticipated second season of TVF Aspirants. Sunny Hinduja was last seen in Shehzada and Thai massage. The actor not only received raved reviews from critics but also was loved by fans for his gripping acting skills. The first season of the show had been a massive hit among the viewers, and Sunny's character, Sandeep Bhaiya, had become a household name. People loved the way he portrayed the struggles and aspirations of an average Indian student trying to crack the civil services examination. The first season of TVF Aspirants left the viewers with a cliffhanger, and everyone eagerly waiting for the second season to see what happens next in Sandeep Bhaiya's journey. Sunny is excited to get back to work and portray Sandeep Bhaiya's character once again. As he got ready for the shoot, Sunny looked back at the success of the first season 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" Hinduja will also be seen in YRF Studio's first web series "The Railway Men" along with a few unannounced projects As technology continues to evolve and consumer behaviour shifts towards online shopping, social commerce is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the e-commerce landscape. In Part 1 of this indepth report, Adgully explored the growth and potential of social commerce in the B2B sector and how businesses can leverage this trend to drive their own growth and success. Also read: Unleashing the power of social commerce Part 1: Driving growth and success Part 2 of this report will cover aspects such as the entry of e-commerce players, the challenges, the growing importance of Conversational commerce, preferences and behaviour patterns of Indian consumers, and more. The entry of e-commerce player Dharmender Khanna, Country Head - D2C India, AnyMind Group, notes that the dominance of e-commerce giants like Amazon and Flipkart has made it challenging for social commerce platforms to compete. According to him, e-commerce giants have massive resources and have developed sophisticated logistics networks and supply chains, making it easier for them to offer a wide range of products at competitive prices. Moreover, he adds, e-commerce giants have invested heavily in building their own platforms, which offer a seamless and intuitive user experience, making it easier for customers to find and purchase products. In contrast, social commerce platforms often rely on third-party payment and delivery systems, which can lead to delays and other issues. Despite these challenges, social commerce platforms in India have shown tremendous growth potential, primarily due to the massive user base of social media platforms. Social commerce platforms have been successful in leveraging the social networks of users to promote their products, leading to increased sales, he adds. Along similar lines, Ramya Ramachandran, Founder-CEO, Whoppl, too, says that the emergence of e-commerce giants has led to intense competition in terms of quality, delivery speed, ease of purchase, and customer experience. To keep up with these giants, additional features like one-day delivery, doorstep delivery, and quick commerce have become the need of the hour. The social commerce space is constantly evolving, and there is ample scope for growth. We are witnessing changes in consumer behaviour, and the space is expected to expand further as more players enter the market, making it more consumer-friendly and consumer-focused, she adds. According to Ramachandran, Indian consumers show a greater inclination towards purchasing products in categories such as fashion, beauty, lifestyle, skincare, and hair care through social media platforms, leading to faster conversions. Affordable products also see higher conversion rates. Brands that create awareness about their product range, offers, exclusivity, and influencer marketing witness a positive impact on their conversion rates. The trend is expected to continue as more brands tap into the potential of social commerce and leverage social media platforms to reach their target audience, she adds. The challenges What are some of the challenges and barriers to adoption of social commerce in India and how can these be addressed? According to Keerthi R Kumar, Business Head - South, FoxyMoron, the challenges are: Low digital literacy: Despite increasing smartphone and Internet penetration in India, many consumers still lack the digital literacy required to engage in social commerce. This can make it difficult for social commerce platforms to acquire new users. Despite increasing smartphone and Internet penetration in India, many consumers still lack the digital literacy required to engage in social commerce. This can make it difficult for social commerce platforms to acquire new users. Concerns about trust and security: Consumers in India are often hesitant to share personal information and make online payments, especially when dealing with new or lesser-known social commerce platforms. This can lead to a trust deficit, stifling the growth of social commerce. Consumers in India are often hesitant to share personal information and make online payments, especially when dealing with new or lesser-known social commerce platforms. This can lead to a trust deficit, stifling the growth of social commerce. Supply chain fragmentation: Indias supply chain is frequently fragmented, with many small businesses operating on a local level. This can make sourcing products and ensuring quality difficult for social commerce platforms. Kumar further says that these challenges can be addressed by the following steps: Investing in digital literacy: Social commerce platforms can help consumers develop digital literacy by providing education and training on how to use their platforms. Social commerce platforms can help consumers develop digital literacy by providing education and training on how to use their platforms. Building trust and security: Social commerce platforms can increase trust and security by implementing strict data privacy policies, utilising secure payment gateways, and collaborating with reputable logistics companies. Social commerce platforms can increase trust and security by implementing strict data privacy policies, utilising secure payment gateways, and collaborating with reputable logistics companies. Engaging with local businesses: Social commerce platforms can work with local businesses to source products and ensure quality, all while supporting the growth of small businesses. For AnyMind Groups Khanna, the biggest challenges are trust and security, which keep away a large part of the Internet population in India from transacting online. The government is working on solving this issue with strict regulations and education on online fraud. Another challenge is language; a higher percentage of social and commerce in India operates in English and the number of English-speaking consumers in the country is relatively low. Although progress has been made, there is still a long way to go, and businesses must address this issue more aggressively, he says. Conversational commerce Conversational commerce is a crucial component in social commerce. Companies need to adopt certain strategies and capabilities to win with conversational commerce. According to Christoph Jourdan, VP - Solutions Consulting, APAC, Sprinklr, companies should adapt the style of conversational commerce to match their brand category and price level. He adds, Conversational commerce managed by a real human being improves conversion rates, but only becomes profitable at large transaction sizes. For lower price points, an implementation focused on chatbots with human escalation paths is more cost-effective. Once the automated chatbot experience is built, deploy it across all relevant channels like messaging apps and live chat. Lastly, continuously learn from the conversations to further improve conversation rates for both the chatbot and human to agent experience. As for how businesses can develop conversational AI capabilities to succeed with social commerce, Jourdan has some tips for the industry. According to him, brands need a platform to easily discover, build, test, deploy and measure conversational AI models across all relevant channels. Effective conversational AI requires periodic inspection by humans to ensure quality, both before and after they go live. By running test projects to optimize each bots ability to accurately interpret and respond to identified customer intents the success metrics increase immensely. For example, LOreal is using Sprinklrs AI-driven chatbot support to answer every engageable customer question and optimise their engagement rate across digital channels, he explains. Jourdan further says that Sprinklrs unified customer experience management (Unified-CXM) platform combines omnichannel coverage with advanced AI capabilities to help brands tailor customer experiences at scale. With personalised experiences consumers are 80% more likely to convert, and it is equally important to connect and enable all customer-facing teams to act in sync. If the customer service department doesnt have access to the same customer experience data as the sales team, a brand is not able to elevate the customer experience across the entire customer life cycle because customer-facing teams act in silos, he explains. When asked how brands can integrate conversational commerce in their CX strategy, Jourdan has some advice for brands in this regard. Take an honest look at the experience youre currently delivering to your customer base, says. Is it consistent across all channels and interactions? A poor experience indicates to your customers that youre more interested in a transaction than a relationship. Its the fastest way to alienate the audience youre trying to reach. If you are mainly looking to boost your conversational commerce strategy, fielding queries effectively, relieving agents, and achieving high levels of automated support needs to be an immediate priority, he adds. Social media platforms in India, including Instagram and WhatsApp, are leveraging social commerce to enhance their user engagement and monetisation strategies, says Keerthi R Kumar. Following are some ways in which they are doing so: Instagram: Shopping feature: Insta has launched a number of shopping features, including the ability to tag products in posts and stories, a dedicated shopping tab, and Instagram Checkout, which allows users to complete purchases without leaving the app. Insta has launched a number of shopping features, including the ability to tag products in posts and stories, a dedicated shopping tab, and Instagram Checkout, which allows users to complete purchases without leaving the app. Influencer marketing: Instagram has become a popular platform for influencer marketing, with many brands collaborating with popular influencers to promote their products and drive sales. Instagram has become a popular platform for influencer marketing, with many brands collaborating with popular influencers to promote their products and drive sales. Reels: Instagrams Reels feature allows users to create short videos with shoppable products, giving brands a new way to engage with users and drive sales. WhatsApp: WhatsApp Business: WhatsApp Business is a free app that allows businesses to interact with customers through the messaging platform. It includes features such as automated messages, quick replies, and catalogues of products. WhatsApp Business is a free app that allows businesses to interact with customers through the messaging platform. It includes features such as automated messages, quick replies, and catalogues of products. WhatsApp Payments: WhatsApp has launched a payments feature in India that allows users to send and receive money through the app. This provides a convenient way for users to complete transactions and for businesses to monetize their presence on the platform. According to Dharmender Khanna, the following are the preferences and behaviour patterns of Indian consumers when it comes to buying products through social media platforms: Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 13.04.2023 - Switzerland is continuing its long-term support efforts in Ukraine. On Thursday 13 April, local NGOs in Kyiv received five used ambulances donated by the Canton of Basel-Stadt and the City of Zurich. More supplies and training will follow in the weeks to come. The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC), which is part of the FDFA, is funding and organising the transport. It is now a year since the start of Russia's military aggression, which has devastated Ukraine's healthcare system. Hospitals and health facilities have been damaged, and there have been heavy casualties among the civilian population. There is an urgent need for ambulances in particular. Therefore, the Canton of Basel-Stadt and City of Zurich contributed CHF 225,000 (BS) and CHF 500,000 (ZH) to the purchase of used ambulances, which will now be delivered to Ukraine in two shipments. A first shipment of five vehicles arrived in Kyiv on Monday 10 April and was handed over to local NGOs today (Thursday). A second shipment is planned for summer 2023. Deployed in Kharkiv and Kramatorsk The purchase and shipping of one of the ambulances took place in Neuchatel. The four other vehicles were purchased and shipped via the Netherlands as currently very few used ambulances of the required category are available on the market. When the ambulances arrive in Ukraine, the Swiss embassy in Kyiv will hand them over to hospitals in the Kharkiv region and the city of Kramatorsk. Also involved in the process are local NGOs SMARTA and Caritas Ukraine. The SDC is organising and paying for the shipments. Fire engines and training on the way In weeks to come, three additional fire engines and five tonnes of firefighting foam from the reserves of the Federal Department of Defence, Civil Protection and Sport (DDPS) will be delivered to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU). Swiss experts will be providing a week of on-site training to accompany the handover. The used value of the vehicles is CHF 180,000. A new fire engine of this type would cost CHF 1,710,000. Here too, the SDC will organise and cover the cost of the shipment and training. Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html Federal Department of Foreign Affairs Bern, 13.04.2023 - On 19 April Federal Councillor Ignazio Cassis will travel to Rome for a three-day working visit and a series of talks with officials of the Holy See and the Italian Republic. The head of the FDFA will meet with the secretary of state of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. In addition to opening the new premises of the Swiss embassy to the Vatican, he will meet with Italy's foreign minister, Antonio Tajani and economy and finance minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti. On Wednesday 19 April, the Swiss foreign minister will officially open the new premises of the Swiss embassy to the Holy See, which were presented to the public in May during a ceremony marking the start of the renovations. The new embassy is now fully operational. In keeping with the aims of the Federal Council, it will serve to maximise the potential for bilateral and international cooperation in key areas for Switzerland's foreign policy and to respond to an increase in diplomatic activities in recent years. Mr Cassis will also attend a series of bilateral meetings. He will meet with the secretary of state of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the secretary for relations with states, Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher. These meetings are expected to focus on bilateral relations between Switzerland and the Holy See, current international developments, and topics of shared interest including efforts to promote peace and human rights in the world. Also scheduled is a visit to the Community of Sant'Egidio, an international Christian organisation dedicated to helping the vulnerable and conflict mediation. Since this will be his first visit to Italy since the formation of the new Italian government, Mr Cassis will also meet with the foreign minister, Antonio Tajani, with whom he spoke briefly at the UN General Assembly in New York in February. The two are expected discuss their countries' bilateral relations in addition to international topics such as the war in Ukraine, Switzerland's non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council and SwissEU relations. Mr Cassis's meeting with the Italian economy and finance minister, Giancarlo Giorgetti, will focus on pending matters in the financial relations between the two countries. Address for enquiries FDFA Communication Federal Palace West Wing CH-3003 Bern, Switzerland Tel. Communication service: +41 58 462 31 53 Tel. Press service: +41 58 460 55 55 E-mail: kommunikation@eda.admin.ch Twitter: @SwissMFA Publisher Federal Department of Foreign Affairs https://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home.html Image: Reuters Kamathipura Mumbais famous red-light area which is known for the flesh trade business. It was established after 1795 with the construction of causeways that connected the erstwhile seven islands of Mumbai. Initially known as Lal Bazaar, it got its name from the Kamathi (workers) of other areas of the country, who were laborers on construction sites. Due to tough police crackdowns, in the late 1990s, with the rise of AIDS and the governments redevelopment policy that helped sex workers move out of the profession and subsequently out of Kamathipura, the numbers of sex workers in the area declined. Before the completion of the Hornby Vellard project in 1784, which built a causeway uniting all seven islands of Mumbai under William Hornby, governor of Bombay (17711784), it plugged the Great Breach in Mahalaxmi, while the subsequent Bellasis Road causeway joined Mazagaon and Malabar Hill in 1793. This resulted in several low-lying marshy areas of the Mumbai Flats, like Byculla, Tardeo, Mahalaxmi, and Kamathipura, opening up for habitation. Thereafter, starting in 1795, Kamathis (workers) from other areas of the country, working as laborers on construction sites, began settling here, giving the area its present name. It was bounded by Bellasis Road on the north, Gaodevi on the south, and the main road across, Falkland Road. At one point during this period, it was home to a Chinese community, which worked as dockhands and ran restaurants. By the late 19th century, it had all changed. As previous 1864 Census figures for Mumbai indicate, other areas had a larger population of prostitutes, like Girgaon (1,044), Phanaswadi (1,323), and Oomburkharee (1,583), compared with Kamathipura (601), all of which declined after 1864. This small region boasted the most exotic consorts. In the 19th and early 20th centuries, a large number of women from continental Europe, Japan, and China were trafficked into Kamathipura, where they worked as prostitutes, servicing soldiers and locals alike. Gradually, social stratification also took place: a busy road in Kamathipura was known as Safed Gully owing to the European prostitutes housed here during the British era. The lane is now known as Cursetji Shuklaji Street. The most well-known brothel in the area, Pila House, is a hybridization of its original word: playhouse. The first venereal disease clinic in Bombay was opened in 1916, and it was taken over by BMC in 1925. Nearby, Bachu Seth ki Wadi on Foras Road was famous for its kothewalis, or tawaifs and mujras. When India gained independence, Indian sex workers moved into the area. In recent decades, large numbers of Nepalese women and girls have also been trafficked into the district. Over the years, under Indian government rule, the sex industry in Kamathipura continued to flourish. Trafficking and economic circumstances also brought women from different parts of the country there. Eventually, it became Asias largest sex district. The brothels in the area are crowded. Sex workers wait outside to pick up customers and then rent an available bed. The estimated 3,000 buildings in the area are largely dilapidated; safe drinking water and sanitation are threatened in this area. The movie Gangubai described the exact politics of this area. There were a lot of wonder world activities in this area; in the 1970s and early 80s, Bachchu Wadi at Kamathipura was frequented by gang leaders from the Mumbai underworld, such as Haji Mastan, Karim Lala, and Dawood Ibrahim. In 1992, the Mumbai Municipal Corporation recorded that there were 45,000 sex workers here, which were reduced to 1,600 in 2009 and 500 in 2018. Many sexual workers have migrated to other areas of Maharashtra, with real estate developers taking over the high-priced lands. In 2018, the Maharashtra government sought tenders to demolish and redevelop this area. Kamathipura is one of the prime locations in south Mumbai. This is not the first time that a proposal has been put forth for the redevelopment of Kamathipura. In the 1980s, Mhada carried out a comprehensive survey as the first step towards transforming the entire neighborhood through an urban renewal proposal, but the project was stalled citing financial risks. In 2005, a local private developer expressed his interest in undertaking the redevelopment of a large part of Kamathipura, according to a report prepared by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences. This time the state government has decided to constitute three different committees to ensure that the project is successfully executed and without delays. The first committee, called the project feasibility committee, will consist of Mhada and BMC officials who will determine the actual area that will come under redevelopment, determine the eligibility of the tenants, and help in getting approvals from at least 51 percent of tenants to take the project ahead. Kamathipura is divided into roughly 14 lanes and divided according to the regional backgrounds of the workers. Most of the workers come from other Indian states. There is little interaction between areas, which makes it harder for social organizations to organize them into a movement or union. Further, a lack of public opinion, political leadership, or social activism that is empathetic towards them means a tough time forming unions. The area had 55,936 voters in 2007. Since 2015, when the BJP came to power in Mumbai, they have focused on the development of all these neglected and dilapidated areas. For speedy implementation of the project, a high-powered committee headed by the additional chief secretary of the housing department will clear all the proposals related to the project. The committee will also examine the DPR prepared by MHADA, approve the appointment of the developer, review the project at regular intervals, and coordinate with various government departments. The present government is committed to the development, and they have plans to give it a facelift. Mumbaikar are curious to know how the new Kamathipura would look like. Various Sources Get the Ed Chat newsletter: Enter your email for weekly updates about Alabama schools from Trisha Powell Crain: The debate over what Alabama students should learn about race and history has reignited in the state legislature, resulting in a committee vote that Black lawmakers called a slap in the face. I can bet all the tea in China that when we have this vote its going to be on racial lines, said Rep. Kelvin Lawrence, D-Hayneville, as a committee of lawmakers prepared once again to push a divisive concepts bill to the House floor. HB7, authored by Rep. Ed Oliver, R-Dadeville, prohibits public schools, colleges and other state agencies from promoting certain divisive topics related to race, sex or religion. The legislation, which has 21 white, Republican cosponsors, was approved 9-3 in committee Wednesday. Read more Ed Lab: Alabama considers punishing parents who let children take guns to school. Read more Ed Lab: Alabama parents could get $6,900 for homeschool, private school costs. The three opposing votes came from Black lawmakers. This is a slap in the face to every decent, hard working Black Alabamian thats in this room, thats out of this room, and to the children and the unborn, said Rep. Prince Chestnut, D-Selma, just before the vote. Its divisive that not a single white person on this committee is going to vote against this bill. Thats divisive. Olivers bill, which he said was designed to prevent racism in schools and state agencies, is the latest version of a series of bills to take aim at diversity programming and classroom instruction. Obviously, most of the people in this state are concerned about what our kids are being taught, he said at a hearing Wednesday. It simply prevents the teaching of some divisive concepts, which we have discussed in great detail, that we believe would tend to teach them racist ideas. A similar bill, HB312, passed in the House last year, but time ran out in the session before the Senate issued a vote. Lawmakers instead passed a bill that restricted certain LGBTQ topics in elementary classrooms. HB7 prohibits the teaching of seven concepts, down from the 11 proposed in previous legislation, and includes allowances for discussions of the concepts at the college level, as long as they are taught in an objective manner and without endorsement. Public response In a hearing Wednesday, two people spoke in favor of the bill. Both speakers linked divisive concepts to critical race theory, an academic concept that they claimed was seeping into K-12 instruction. Critical race theory is a college-level theory, however concepts and tenets are being taught in K-12, said Becky Gerritson of the Eagle Forum, noting a privilege walk exercise that she said required students to disclose their socioeconomic status. Others questioned the legislations intent and said they believed the bill wouldnt actually address racism in the classroom. One called the bill a candid display of deliberate dishonesty. Another said it was based off white fragility. Rather than play these games, why dont we make a full repudiation of the things of the past, and move forward with healthy discussion, dialogue and debate? said Robert White, a Montgomery pastor. Stevie Rae Hicks, a Montgomery educator, said the bill was designed to distort the truth and similar efforts have had a chilling effect on classroom instruction. The past few years have been very hard for educators, she said, noting the challenges of the pandemic. All to return to our classroom amid a wave of efforts by lawmakers to censor classroom discussions, strip funding from public schools and deprive Alabamas children of an education they deserve. Among 2,000 teachers surveyed nationwide, 37% said they are more likely to leave the field if a push for laws that prevent honest teaching and conversations reaches their classrooms, according to data from Stand for Children, a nonprofit advocating for equity in public education, and SurveyUSA, an independent research firm. My students are very smart and very inquisitive, Hicks added. They have questions about what they notice about the world. And they deserve good answers. Jeff Walker, an Auburn parent, said the bill is disrespectful to educators, who he trusts to lead responsible discussions about difficult topics. Im really tired of hearing people stand up and saying things like wokeism and CRT, he said. Really what theyre trying to demonize is compassion for vulnerable members of our society and understanding of the plight of your neighbor that may be different than your own. History of divisive concepts bills Divisive concepts bills first emerged after a 2020 Executive Order from former President Donald Trump, which targeted diversity trainings in government institutions and took aim at critical race theory, a 50-year-old legal concept typically taught in law school classes. A 2023 study from UCLA Law identified more than 500 anti-CRT measures across local and state governments since 2020. Nearly half 241 were enacted or adopted and 41% used the term divisive concept. The Alabama State Board of Education officially banned the topic in October 2021, despite claiming it was not taught in K-12 classrooms. In a recent interview with Rightside Radio, Oliver claimed the critical race theory sexualized and racialized children. In previous discussions about his bill, he claimed teachers were proselytizing children to become socialists and communists. He would not give specific examples of such lessons. Ultimately, the reason that the left wants to push CRT amongst little kids is simply they want to sexualize them. They want to racialize them at an early age to make them easy to manage, pure and simple, he said. I hate to say a way to create more left-wingers that are woke and will do the things that the left wants them to do, but thats exactly what it is, to divide people. To make groups fight each other, so theyre easier to manage. Next steps Oliver said Sen. Will Barfoot, R-Pike Road, plans to carry a companion bill in the Senate. He also plans to introduce a second bill that will target diversity, equity and inclusion training in state colleges, he told Rightside Radio. The state GOP has said it wants to abolish many diversity trainings and DEI initiatives in the state. Meanwhile, another bill seeking to make history instruction more inclusive could be up for a vote soon. SB180, authored by Sen. Rodger Smitherman, D-Birmingham, tweaks the states 1975 curriculum law to ensure that social studies lessons are historically accurate and inclusive of minority groups. It was given a favorable report in committee Wednesday and will head to the Senate floor for a vote. Alabama Education Lab reporter Trisha Powell Crain will lead a panel about her 2021 High Flyers project in Birmingham Friday, April 14, during the annual Alabama Opportunity Summit. The Alabama Education Lab is a team of journalists at AL.com who cover education and child health and wellness issues around the state. Crains High Flyers project explored how certain low-resourced schools beat the odds and outperformed their peers. She spoke to teachers, students, parents and community members about specific recipes for success. Her project was honored with awards and recognized by national organizations for its ability to explain complex issues and produce a positive impact. Alabamas school improvement specialists used the stories in trainings to help other low-resourced schools understand what is possible. Read more coverage from the Ed Lab team here and sign up to follow reporters work on Twitter, Instagram and through free newsletters. Catherine Coleman Flowers, an environmental health activist from Lowndes County whose work led the White House to address the waste and sanitation issues plaguing Alabamas Black Belt, is one of Times Most Influential People of 2023. Since its creation in 1999, Times highly publicized annual list (branded the TIME 100) spotlights trailblazers and leaders in various mediums, from art and culture to science and social justice. Time listed Coleman Flowers among 15 innovators working to change their communities and fields of work, including reproductive justice advocate Monica Simpson, as well as Sean Sherman, the indigenous chef devoted to honoring the culinary heritage of native communities. Each year, Time recruits thought leaders to write the profiles for each person on the list. Bryan Stevenson, the founder of the Equal Justice Initiative and one of Times 100 most influential people in 2015, penned the profile for Coleman Flowers. Catherines fight to expose the dirty secret of systemic neglect across the U.S. in places like Lowndes County, where more than 40% of the majority-Black residents lack access to clean sanitation, has persuaded environmentalists and policymakers to engage more directly with the poor and people of color, Stevenson wrote. Read the full Time 100 Most Influential People list. Coleman Flowers is the founder of the Alabama Center for Rural Enterprise, an organization that addresses the lack of sewage disposal infrastructure in Alabamas Black Belt. In 2020, the MacArthur Foundation named Coleman Flowers to its fellowship program for her work to bring the inadequate sewage and water sanitation systems in Alabamas rural communities to national attention. READ: The story of Catherine Flowers, a Lowndes County native turned environmental activist Basic sanitation determines the health of the community and also the health of the nation, Coleman Flowers said in her MacArthur interview. In 2022, Coleman Flowers led EPA Administrator Michael Regan, U.S. Department of Agriculture Undersecretary for Rural Development Xochitl Torres Small, and other officials from the EPA and USDA on a tour of homes in Lowndes County where malfunctioning septic systems discharged untreated sewage into backyards. The officials also spoke to residents who had nowhere to go to address their sewage issues. Straight piping into lagoons, failing septic systems, waste and raw sewage backing up into yards into homes, seeing children have to walk around delicately so that they dont sink or get bogged down into their own front yards. This is not the America that we all know it should be, Regan said at the time. Five months later, Regan, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, and White House Infrastructure Coordinator Mitch Landrieu returned to Lowndes County to announce a new federal program to help rural communities. Using funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, the pilot program called Closing Americas Wastewater Access Gap Community Initiative distributes technical assistance from the Department of Agriculture and EPA to 11 different communities across seven states struggling with wastewater challenges, including Lowndes County and Greene County in Alabama. Other Alabamians who have landed on the annual Time 100 list include Tim Cook, Suni Lee, Laverne Cox and N.K. Jemisin. LAS VEGAS (AP) A 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 last week, 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, saying his accusers wanted to have sex with him. One of the women was younger than 16 the age of consent in Nevada when 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 Dakota home to the Sicangu Sioux, one of the seven tribes of the Lakota nation and 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, when Chasing Horse told her that the spirits of their ancestors had instructed him to have sex with her. Her mom is ill, Clark County prosecutor Stacy Kollins said in court Wednesday, and shes told that her virginity is the only pure part of her left and she has to sacrifice this to maintain her moms health. Kollins also declined to comment 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 next 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. By RIO YAMAT Associated Press PHOENIX (AP) Native American tribal members fighting plans for an enormous copper mine on land they consider sacred say they are increasingly worried U.S. officials will publish an environmental review paving the way for the project even as they await a federal appeals court ruling in the case. A U.S. government attorney said during last months hearing of a full panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the final environmental impact study for construction of the mine at Oak Flat, Arizona, could be published this spring. San Carlos Apache Tribe Chairman Terry Rambler said during a visit last week that U.S. Forest Service officials confirmed plans to push forward on publication of the environmental analysis. That step would kick off a 60-day period culminating in a land swap allowing the project to go forward. Obliterating Oak Flat for a copper mine will be a grave human rights violation against Indigenous people and an environmental catastrophe, Rambler said in a written statement this week. The Biden Administrations commitment to Indian Country will be seriously eroded if it approves this mine. Apache Stronghold, a group composed of San Carlos Apache members and others, wants to halt the land swap while the case plays out in court. The panel of 11 judges on the appeals court is expected to issue a decision in the next few months. Apache Stronghold sued the U.S. government under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act to protect the land known as Chichil Bildagoteel, an area of ancient oaks and traditional plants the San Carlos Apaches consider important for their ceremonies at Oak Flat in the Tonto National Forest about 70 miles (110 kilometers) east of Phoenix. FILE - Tribal councilman Wendsler Nosie Sr. speaks with Apache activists during a rally to save Oak Flat, land near Superior, Ariz., sacred to Western Apache tribes, in front of the U.S. Capitol on July 22, 2015, in Washington. Native American tribal members fighting plans for an enormous copper mine on land they consider sacred say they are increasingly worried U.S. officials will move forward on the project even as they await a federal appellate court ruling in the case. (AP Photo/Molly Riley, File)AP The Forest Service is now revising the environmental analysis, which is expected to be completed in the coming months, national press officer Wade Muehlhof said Friday in a written response to emailed queries about the agencys plans. He wrote that the Forest Service has committed to providing at least 60 days notice before any future environmental analysis and Draft Record Of Decision (DROD) for the Land Exchange and Project is issued. Muehlhof also said consultation with tribal members is ongoing, including a planned April 25 meeting. Representatives of the Resolution Copper mining company said they were unaware of the meeting or any plans by the agency. U.S. Rep. Raul M. Grijalva, a Democrat who represents southern Arizona, has introduced legislation aimed at halting the project. He urged Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack this week to continue withholding publication of the environmental review. If allowed to proceed, Resolution Copper would desecrate Oak Flats tribal cultural and religious heritage sites, deplete already scarce water resources in Arizona, adversely impact imperiled species, and create a crater up to 1,115 feet deep and roughly 1.8 miles across, Grijalva wrote. The destruction this mine would cause far outweighs its benefits. The swap was a provision included in a must-pass defense bill to give Resolution Copper 3.75 square miles (9.71 square kilometers) of national forest land for eight other parcels the company owns elsewhere in Arizona. Publication of the environmental analysis will start the clock on the 60-day period for the Forest Service to transfer Oak Flat to Resolution Copper. An earlier environmental survey was pulled back while the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which oversees the Forest Service, consulted for months with Native American tribes and others about their concerns. The mining company says it has been addressing concerns about the project. It notes there is broad local support for the mine, which could create thousands of jobs, add up to $1 billion annually to Arizonas economy and potentially supply enough copper to meet up to one-quarter of U.S. demand. Resolution Copper is a joint venture of global mining firms Rio Tinto, which has headquarters in Australia and the U.K., and BHP, which is based in Australia. A smaller 9th Circuit panel previously ruled 2-1 that the federal government could give the Oak Flat land to Resolution Copper for the project. The court later agreed to let the larger panel hear the case. By ANITA SNOW Associated Press Get the Ed Chat newsletter: Enter your email for weekly updates about Alabama schools from Trisha Powell Crain: Alabama lawmakers are considering a bill that would create the possibility of criminal charges for parents who let children access unsecured weapons and take those weapons to a school. Rep. Barbara Drummond, D-Mobile, introduced the bill, HB123, that would make parents or guardians who do not reasonably secure lethal weapons liable for criminal charges, should a minor get a hold of the weapon and take it to school property. During a House Judiciary Committee meeting Wednesday some representatives expressed concerns about the bills language and potential consequences for gun owners. Drummond said she did not believe the bill violates anyones Second Amendment right, but would help families and schools keep children safe. This bill is simple, Drummond said. It is a bill that will require that if a weapon is found on school campus and the authorities trace it back to the household of a parent or a guardian and the gun belongs to them, that that guardian will be held responsible. Everytown, a gun violence prevention organization, has estimated that thousands of children have accidentally shot somone in recent years after finding an unsecured weapon. In Alabama, in recent weeks, schools have found an antique weapon in an elementary students backpack, a loaded gun on a junior high school student and a gun on a high school student. According to an AL.com analysis, Alabama schools reported dozens of incidents of guns on campus in the 2021-22 school year. When Drummond introduced the bill, parents could be charged with a Class C felony. The bill was amended in committee to potentially change the penalty to a misdemeanor, though a copy of the amendment has not been publicly updated yet. Rep. Shane Stringer, a Republican from Mobile, asked Drummond whether shed considered a bill that would penalize parents or guardians if the weapon was used. Read more: Does your Alabama school have a discipline, safety problem? See the data. Beyond the Violence: Read AL.com, Birmingham Times coverage of gun violence, possible solutions. You know, I thought about that, but I think you have to ask yourself if and when and I think its when, given all of what is happening, and please know that this bill was filed long before Nashville, the shooting there, Drummond said in response. I think that we need to do everything that we can to protect not only our children, but also the campuses and those faculty members and everybody that that comes in contact on a school campus. Drummonds bill says that parents who reasonably secure their weapons will not be charged. An amendment defined reasonably secure as including, but not limited to, storing a firearm using a trigger locker and a lock box or gun safe that requires a key, numerical or alphanumerical combination or fingerprint to open. Drummond used an example of a child bringing a gun with a trigger locker on it to school. If her bill passed, that parent would not be charged, since the gun would be considered reasonably secured, she said. Guns used in school attacks typically come from the home of a parent or family member, according to a 2019 federal report; in many of those cases, firearms were easily accessible. But its rare to see family members prosecuted in connection to a school shooting. Michigan prosecutors have charged the parents of a teenager who shot and killed four students in 2021 with involuntary manslaughter. And a Virginia mother has been charged with child neglect after a 6-year-old shot a teacher. Stringer said he was afraid of unintended victims of Drummonds bill. A March school shooting in Nashville, he pointed out, was not the result of a parent who did not secure their weapons. The Nashville shooter was an adult who used legally owned weapons to kill six people, according to police. Stringer said he knows some people consider guns stored in their homes, bedrooms or closets to be reasonably secured. Well, I dont want to wake up tomorrow and that weapon ends up on a school campus and children are killed, or a teacher, or whoever on that campus, Drummond said in response. This bill only tells a parent that youve got to be responsible. Rep. David Standridge, a Republican from Hayden, said when he was serving on the school board in his county several years prior, a student left a hunting weapon in his car. The student let administration know, and Standridge said the student got in trouble, but that he did not think a parent should be charged in a similar situation. Drummond responded that, since the child was still under the care of his parents, they would be held responsible, even if he had permission to hunt after school. Drummonds bill did provide several exceptions for the charges, provided that the parent or guardian can legally possess a firearm and meets additional requirements laid out in the bill. Her bill received a favorable committee report, despite several committee members voting against it. Next, it will head to the House floor. The Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission voted today to accept 90 applications as properly submitted by companies that intend to take part in the states new medical marijuana industry. The AMCC will begin reviewing the applications for cultivators, processors, dispensaries, secure transporters, testing labs, and integrated licensees with multiple functions. The AMCC is scheduled to award licenses at its meeting on June 12. We are excited to be one step closer to program implementation, AMCC Director John McMillan said in a news release. Now that we have our official slate of applicants, the sixty-day window to review applications has started. Todays move is the latest step in setting up the new industry that the Alabama Legislature approved in 2021. Alabama is one of 38 states that have authorized the use of marijuana products for medical purposes, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. The AMCC posted the list of applicants on its website. The AMCC accepted applications until Dec. 30, 2022. Applicants were given opportunities to correct or amend their applications until March 24. The states medical cannabis law placed limits on how many licenses the AMCC can issue in some categories. Here are the number of applications accepted and the maximum number of licenses the AMCC can award: Cultivators: 12 applications accepted; limit of 12 licenses to be issued. Processors: 11 applications accepted; limit of 4 licenses to be issued. Dispensaries: 18 applications accepted; limit of 4 licenses to be issued. (Each licensee can have three dispensary locations.) Secure transporters: 9 applications accepted; no limit specified. State testing labs: 2 applications accepted; no limit specified. Integrated facilities: 38 applications accepted; limit of 5 licenses to be issued. (Integrated facilities will be authorized to cultivate, process, transport, and dispense medical cannabis. Each integrated licensee can have up to five dispensaries). The University of South Alabama will work with the AMCC to evaluate, score, and rank the applications. The AMCC has full discretion on the licensing decisions within the limits set by the Legislature, according to a news release from the AMCC. The AMCC said it would make application contents (as redacted by applicants) available for public inspection on Friday. The AMCC will accept public comments in favor or opposed to granting licenses to applicants until May 14. Public comments must be made electronically through the AMCC website. We look forward to an operational program that will not only benefit patients by providing relief to pain and other debilitating symptoms, but also will provide opportunities for patients with these debilitating conditions to function and have a better quality of life, AMCC Chairman Dr. Steven Stokes said. Stokes is an oncologist. Doctors who receive training in medical cannabis will be able to recommend medical marijuana products for more than a dozen conditions -- autism spectrum disorder; cancer-related pain, weight loss, and vomiting; Crohns Disease; depression; epilepsy or conditions causing seizures; HIV/AIDS-related nausea or weight loss; panic disorder; Parkinsons Disease; persistent nausea; post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD); sickle cell anemia; spasticity associated with multiple sclerosis or spinal cord injury; Tourettes Syndrome; a terminal illness; and conditions causing chronic or intractable pain. The legislation allows the products to be pills, capsules, tinctures, gelatinous cubes, oils, creams, patches, suppositories, nebulizers, and liquids or oils for an inhaler. No raw plant materials or products for smoking or eating will be allowed. Go here for more information from the Alabama Medical Cannabis Commission. A bill to overhaul the membership of Birmingham Water Works Board won approval by a narrow margin today in an Alabama House committee. Five opponents of the bill, including members and staff of the BWWB, spoke in opposition to the legislation during a public hearing at the House Commerce and Small Business Committee. The committee then approved the bill by a 6-5 vote. That moves it into position for consideration by the full House of Representatives. The BWWB provides water to about 770,000 people in Jefferson, Blount, Shelby, St. Clair, and Walker counties. The board has come under criticism for billing problems and other problems. Rep. Jim Carns, R-Vestavia Hill, sponsor of HB177, said the intent of the legislation is to improve oversight, accountability, and governance for the board, which he said is a regional board, despite the name. The Water Works has carried the name Birmingham Water Works forever, Carns said. And I think people got it soaked into their psyche that they owned it. But they dont. Carns read from a stack about complaints from organizations, public officials, social media, and other sources. Those included complaints from Birmingham Mayor Randall Woodfin about billing problems and other issues. Last September, former BWWB chair Chris Rice resigned a few weeks after Woodfin publicly criticized the board amid the storm of billing complaints. The BWWB has nine members now. Four are appointed by the Birmingham City Council, two by the Birmingham mayor, and one each by the Jefferson County Mayors Association, the Shelby County Commission, and Blount County Commission. Carns bill approved by the committee today is a new version of one he introduced in March., which was also sponsored by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook. Like the original bill, it would immediately remove the current members from the board and reduce the board from nine members to seven members. Carns new bill would have two members appointed by the Birmingham City Council, two by the Birmingham mayor, one each by the Shelby and Blount county commissions, and one by the Jefferson County Mayors Association. One of the board members appointed by the mayor and one appointed by the city council would have to be a graduate engineer or have experience in an engineering discipline. The other appointee of the mayor and the city council would have to be well qualified and experienced in financial matters. BWWB Chair Tereshia Huffman defended the utilitys leadership when the original bill was introduced in March. Today, Huffman spoke in opposition to the new bill at the public hearing. Huffman said she and BWWB Vice Chair William Butch Burbage of Shelby County have been in their leadership positions for about four months. We are committed to work together as a board and will continue to be committed to steering this committee in the right direction, Huffman said. Huffman said the BWWB has adopted new bylaws to modernize board meetings and refinanced debt to save money and improve the BWWBs bond ratings. Burbage also spoke to the committee today in opposition to the bill. Burbage has been on the board for six years. We truly believe, and I truly believe, that in the six years weve been there, we are doing what we can to right this ship and get it going in the right direction, Burbage said. Do we have challenges? Yes. Are we going to have more challenges? Yes, we are. But the thing is. But the thing is, were trying to do the best we can. And I believe this board can be working more in cohesiveness to go forward than what has happened in the past. The appointing authorities for the boards current membership were set up under legislation that passed in 2015 and that took effect in 2017. Rep. Patrick Sellers, D-Birmingham, urged the committee to slow down the bill for more review. I think we need to slow this down to grasp what this is, Sellers said. This is a large change. Voting for the bill today were Carns, and Reps. Rhett Marques, R-Enterprise; Ritchie Whorton, R-Owens Cross Roads; Phillip Rigsby, R-Huntsville; Mark Shirey, R-Mobile; and Troy Stubbs, R-Prattville. Voting against the bill were Sellers and Reps. Berry Forte, D-Eufaula; Adline Clarke, D-Mobile; Phillip Ensler, D-Montgomery; and Mark Gidley, R-Gadsden. Approval by the committee put the bill in position for consideration by the full House of Representatives. Read more: Local officials continue defending Birmingham Water Works existing leadership Birmingham Water Works Board bill sparks opposition in Alabama Senate Birmingham Water Works Board takes first step towards automated meters Update: Daytona Beach Police Department has confirmed law enforcement officials are in contact with Bell and he is safe. No other information was provided. This story will be updated as more information is available. Earlier: Former Nickelodeon star Drake Bell was reported missing and endangered Thursday by the Daytona Beach Police Department. A post on the departments Facebook page said Bell, 36, and former star of the show Drake & Josh was traveling in a 2022 gray BMW. His last known location was in the area of Mainland High School near International Speedway Boulevard on Wednesday night. The police post said Bell, whose full name is Jared Drake Bell, is considered missing and endangered. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Jayson Wallace at 386-671-520 According to Variety, Bell pleaded guilty to a felony charge in June 2021 of attempting to endanger children and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. He was later sentenced to two years probation and 200 hours of community service. China-Europe freight train service continues making new progress 10:50, April 13, 2023 By Li Xinping ( People's Daily A fully-loaded China-Europe freight train departs from Yiwu, east China's Zhejiang province, for the capital of Spain, March 9, 2023. (People's Daily Online/Lyu Bin) China-Europe freight trains made 4,186 trips and transported 449,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEUs) of goods in the first quarter this year, up 15 percent and 28 percent year on year, respectively, according to statistics released by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., or China Railway, on April 10. In particular, 1,488 trips were made and 162,000 TEUs were transported in March alone, growing 31 percent and 52 percent respectively from a year ago. It marked the 35th straight month since May 2020 that China-Europe freight train trips exceeded 1,000. On the morning of March 24, a freight train loaded with automobile parts and other cargo departed from Wuhan, central China's Hubei province. It was the first China-Europe freight train heading for Zhodzina, Belarus from Wuhan, and the third new route for the cargo service opened in the city this year. So far, the transportation channel in the central Chinese city has 44 stable cross-border routes involving 109 cities in 40 countries on the Eurasian continent. Since this year, a number of Chinese cities have launched new routes or stations for the China-Europe freight train service, including Beijing, north China's Tianjin municipality, Anyang of central China's Henan province and Zhongshan of south China's Guangdong province. The cargo service has constantly expanded its transportation network with increasing channels. Besides, upgraded services also enriched the sources of cargo and clients for China-Europe freight trains. In particular, the seamless connection between the land-based "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the oceangoing "21st-century Maritime Silk Road" has opened up new prospects for rail-sea intermodal train services. Recently, a cargo vessel from the Port of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam arrived at the Haitian Container Terminal at Xiamen Port, southeast China's Fujian province. After fast transit formalities, cargo on the vessel was soon transferred to a China-Europe freight train bound for Almaty, Kazakhstan. Containers to be shipped by China-Europe freight trains are piled in a container yard in Jinhua, east China's Zhejiang province. (People's Daily Online/Hu Xiaofei) According to an employee of the China Railway Nanchang Group in east China's Jiangxi province, the rail-sea intermodal train services could shorten the cargo transportation to only 20 days, which is 45 days less time than whole sea transportation. It has become the best logistics route between Southeast Asia and Central Asia, the employee added. In the future, Xiamen's China-Europe freight train service will promote cross-border LCL (Less than Container Load) business, selecting the fastest shipping schedule to gather bulk cargo from South Korea, Japan and Southeast Asian countries to Xiamen, and then transfer them to Europe through railway, the employee said. The constant upgrading of infrastructure and relevant services has significantly improved the efficiency of China-Europe freight trains. Xi'an International Port in northwest China's Shaanxi province, a departure station and return destination of China-Europe freight trains in Xi'an, has expanded its handling capacity by 30 percent after three rounds of upgrading. The China Railway Beijing Group has opened two cargo routes in a China-Europe freight train base in Shijiazhuang, north China's Hebei province, which improves loading capacity by 50 percent. In Wuhan, the customs department and the railway department are sharing logistics data of the China-Europe freight train service, which reduces the time for customs clearance by one to two days. Today, the types of cargo transported by China-Europe freight trains have been significantly expanded, including automobiles, wood, furniture, chemical products, machinery, fertilizers and others. A cargo train departs from Pinggu district, Beijing, March 16, 2023, marking the launch of the first direct China-Europe freight train service from the Chinese capital. (People's Daily Online/Sun Lijun) On the morning of April, 8, a China-Europe freight train carrying new energy vehicles (NEVs) departed from southwest China's Chongqing municipality. These vehicles were expected to head for Duisburg, Germany via Alashankou Port in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. Thanks to the prospering development of the NEV sector in China, the type of vehicles is driving the cargo volume of China-Europe freight trains. "China-Europe freight trains have become a new choice for Chinese automakers like Geely and BYD to export their products," said an employee of the Xi'an International Port, which has launched a service for whole-vehicle exports. According to the China Railway Zhengzhou Group in Henan province, the group has launched customized reinforcement plans for different vehicle models during shipping. Each container is able to carry up to four vehicles at most, which has largely reduced the logistics cost for auto exporters. The continuous recovery of China's macro economy has helped many cities set new records in the China-Europe freight train service. In the first quarter of this year, Xi'an saw over 1,100 China-Europe freight train trips, which carried more than 1 million tons of cargo, up 39.6 percent and 66.1 percent year on year, respectively. During the same period, 315 trips departed from Wuhan, delivering nearly 26,000 TEUs. The two figures surged 202.88 percent and 202.8 percent respectively from a year ago. Also in the same quarter, Hefei in east China's Anhui province set up 21 new stations for the cargo service. A total of 340 China-Europe freight train trips were made by the city, up 49.78 percent year on year. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) The Huntsville police officer whose murder conviction was overturned last month is free. William Ben Darby is a free man after being released Thursday from Limestone Correctional Facility. He is free on bond, according to the office of his attorney, Robert Tuten. The Alabama Department of Corrections confirmed to AL.com that he is no longer an inmante. He is also listed as being on bond by the state court website. Darby was released directly from the prison. Darby had been incarcerated at Limestone Correctional Facility since a Madison County jury convicted him of murder in 2021. The Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals reversed the jurys verdict March 24, finding that trial judge Donna Pate erred in instructing the jury. While on duty, Darby shot and killed a Huntsville man after responding to a call. Darbys attorneys have claimed Darby fired in defense of himself and other officers at the scene. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison by Pate. The shooting occurred on April 3, 2018. Darby was among the responding officers to a call involving Jeffrey Parker, who was threatening to shoot himself. Madison County District Attorney Rob Broussard has said the state will try the case against Darby again. The appeals court ruled that Judge Pate erred in declining to give the jury the following instruction requested by Darbys attorneys: The reasonableness of an officers actions in using deadly force must be objectively reasonable judged from the perspective of a reasonable officer on the scene, the fact that officers are forced to make split-second decisions, and in light of the facts and circumstances confronting them at the time. In their opinion, the appeals court judges wrote, Although the trial court was not required to use the precise language in Darbys requested instruction, the court erred by refusing to instruct the jury, in some fashion, that it must evaluate Darbys use of deadly force from the perspective of a reasonable police officer in the same situation. AL.com reporter Ashley Remkus contributed to this report. Updated today, April 13, 2023, at 12:44 p.m. with ADOC confirming that Darby is no longer an inmate. When Pastor Ferron Smith opened New Life Assembly of God about 17 years ago, the worries about safely leaving church did not exist like they do today. The traffic has just been getting heavier and heavier through the years, said Smith on Wednesday, not long after the morning traffic rush had ended at nearby Rockwell Elementary School. The weekends dont seem so bad, but we are concerned about people pulling out and getting into an accident out here. Related stories: U.S. 31 remains a complex situation for Spanish Fort, less than two months after state transportation officials declared a five-year, $21.9 million expansion of the highway completed. That project cut through the heart of Spanish Fort and covered 3.6 miles of U.S. 31 south of Alabama State Route 181. But the worst of the congestion seems to be building north of Route 181, where new subdivisions have popped up and a new elementary school opened this year. In fact, the congestion only seems to have gotten worse since the original U.S. 31 project first began in 2018. Even a 35% reduction of Rockwell Elementary Schools enrollment since last year has done little to alleviate the problem. In my opinion, the problem isnt our school said Rockwells longtime principal Robbie Owen. Look at how many people live here now. The situation has gotten so bad that Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan met this week with Alabama Department of Transportation Director John Cooper to discuss how the problem can be addressed. It can take 20 to 30 minutes, McMillan said, referring to the time someone will sit in a traffic jam on U.S. 31 during morning and afternoon rush hours. I purposely dont drive that way. Its just going to get worse if something doesnt happen soon. Four-lane frustrations Spanish Fort Mayor Mike McMillan speaks during the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization's meeting on Wednesday, July 27, 2022, at Daphne City Hall in Daphne, Ala. (John Sharp/jsharp@al.com). The most preferred resolution for Spanish Fort officials is to further transform U.S. 31 north from the Route 181 intersection to Alabama State Route 59. At approximately 7 miles, that project, which would turn the two-lane highway into four lanes, could have a price tag that is more than triple the cost of the first leg of the project. Were trying to get our hands around on making this happen, said McMillan. We had a figure tossed out to us and it nearly blew us away. Indeed, the costs of continuing with the U.S. 31 project would involve expensive right-of-way, realignments, utility relocations, engineering and other pre-construction necessities that drive up a projects cost. McMillan said the city plans to begin pursuing grants and begin developing a plan that will reveal the costs of the entire project. He said the project will involve the city of Loxley and include a partnership with the state and Baldwin County. The next step is identifying the moving elements involved, McMillan said. Traffic counts, looking for grant availabilities, and some kind of estimated cost for putting together a comprehensive plan for the development of that area. He added, We all recognize it has to go up to 59. Expanding U.S. 31 is not in the short-term transportation plans for the state or the Eastern Shore Metropolitan Planning Organization. The MPOs Transportation Improvement Plan does include an intersection realignment at U.S. 31 and Old Highway 31, but that work is not expected to be more than a safety measure at that intersection and will not do much to alleviate the congestion, McMillan said. James Gordon, spokesman with ALDOTs Southeast Region, said anything beyond the intersection realignment will require a corridor study to look at impacts and project right-of-way impacts, alternative road alignments and projected costs. Funding is limited and prioritized statewide to address overcrowded two-lane roadways and this project is competing for those limited roadway capacity/widening funds like many other overcrowded two-lane roads across the state, Gordon said. There is no schedule at this time that can be provided with any confidence. Further expanding U.S. 31s lanes is in the MPOs long-term plans to 2045. According to that plan, U.S. 31 is among the highways within fast-growing Baldwin County to become substantially congested within the next 22 years. Rockwell and Stonebridge Owen said the perception for years has been that U.S. 31 is congested because of Rockwell, which opened in 1999, at a time when the only business within the vicinity was a gas station. Spanish Fort, which was incorporated only 30 years ago this July, had around 3,500 residents the year Rockwell opened. The city is close to 11,000 now. Owen said the opening of Stonebridge Elementary School a new school tucked within a growing subdivision north of Rockwell and close to U.S. 31 allowed Rockwell to decrease its enrollment from 1,150 students last year to 750. Stonebridges enrollment is over 500 students. The Stonebridge subdivision is huge, and all of those parents who travel to Mobile to work, their route from Stapleton they empty out on 31 at the same time (parents) are taking their kids to school, Owen said. Traffic often backs up at a new traffic light installed last fall at U.S. 31 and Eastern Shore Boulevard, but Owen said its been tweaked already several times to accommodate school and rush-hour traffic. He said a school resource officer helps with traffic control, but does not stop traffic along the highway. We have to be able to let parents come in and leave, but I cannot control the highway, he said. I think people have that perception they are getting stopped at Rockwell. But we are not stopping traffic. Alabama State Senator Chris Elliott, R-Daphne, said while schools located along a busy highway are a challenge, the congestion is related to a dramatic growth within the entire 31 corridor. Elliott was a Baldwin County commissioner at the time the first U.S. 31 project began, and she said he feels the first portion of the project is working well. But in a high growth area, we need to do more. A good location For now, Smith -- the pastor at New Life Assembly of God -- is trying to find his own solutions to living with the traffic congestion. He said the church is looking to build a new parking lot admittedly, an expensive fix that he said will provide an alternative access to U.S. 31. Despite the traffic worries, though, Smith said that having the church on a busy highway has been a blessing. The church has grown from hosting Sunday worship services before 30 people when it was first built about 18 years ago, to a congregation that is over 100 and growing. Spanish Forts population is about 75% larger today than it was when the church was being constructed in 2005. Its a very, very good location for our church, said Smith. All of the new subdivisions are out here, and we are in the middle of where a lot of people are living. We are ready to serve. We just have to wait for a break in traffic before turning left. This story was updated at 8:56 p.m. on April 13, 2023, to clarify the role of the school resource officer at Rockwell Elementary School. Forty-eight Confederate symbols were removed, renamed or relocated in 2022 including two in Alabama, newly released Southern Poverty Law Center data shows. The two in Alabama occurred at one time. The Montgomery County School Board, following a 5-2 vote during a meeting in November, renamed two schools after civil rights activists and leaders, removing the names Jefferson Davis and Robert E. Lee from their institutions. Related: A battle at the Alabama courthouse: Resolution sparks renewed focus on Confederate monuments Proposed Alabama bill would raise penalty for removing Confederate monuments All students should be able to hold a sense of pride in their school and not be forced to attend institutions named in honor of men who fought to keep Black children enslave and uneducated, said Tafeni English-Relf, director of the Southern Poverty Law Centers Alabama State Office. Jefferson Davis High School long named after the first and only president of the Confederate states -- was renamed Dr. Percy Julian High School, who was a Montgomery native, and grandson of slaves credited with synthesizing medications to treat glaucoma and rheumatoid arthritis. Frank M. Johnson Jr. is shown in a 1972 photo. He is a federal judge who issued key rulings that helped bring down racial barriers across the South and improved the treatment of prisoners and mental patients. (AP Photo)ASSOCIATED PRESS Robert Lee High School named after the Confederate general during the Civil War was renamed JAG High School. The schools name is inspired by three civil rights activists: Judge Frank Johnson, Ralph Abernathy, and Robert Graetz. Johnson was a federal judge in Montgomery from 1955-1979, who sided with Rosa Parks during the bus boycotts and struck down the citys segregation policy. Abernathy was the pastor of an all-Black church and a good friend of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who was arrested alongside King during the civil rights demonstrations. Graetz, a native of West Virginia, was a young minister when he arrived to Montgomery in 1955, to serve as pastor of the all-Black Trinity Lutheran Church. He encouraged congregants to participate in the Montgomery bus boycott, and provided them transportation. Graetz, the only white minister to support the Montgomery bus boycott, died in 2020, at age 92. The namesakes for J.A.G and Dr. Percy Julian High Schools are civil rights pioneers that the entire community as well as the nation can be proud of, said English-Relf. Fort Novosel Fort Rucker will be renamed for Michael Novosel Sr. Novosel, a native of Enterprise hoS was a military aviator for more than 40 years and received the highest military honor for his service in Vietnam. He died in 2006.US ARMY The SPLC is also tracking other Confederate symbols pending for renaming or removal. A renaming of Sidney Lanier High School in Montgomery is likely no longer under consideration since the school is slated for closure, and students will be merged into Carver High School. Sidney Lanier High School is named after a Confederate Army solider and a poet who was once hailed as the poet of the Confederacy. The SPLC, in next years listing, will be able to add the renaming of Fort Rucker. The military post was officially renamed during a redesignation ceremony Monday. The post, which spans 63,000 acres in southeast Alabama, was named Fort Novosel after the late U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Michael Novosel Sr., a Medal of Honor recipient. Novosels heroism included two tours in Vietnam where he is credited for flying in 2,543 extraction missions and rescuing over 5,500 seriously wounded soldiers. Novosel died in 2006 at age 83. Fort Rucker had long been named after the Confederate Gen. Edmund Rucker, who fought under Nathan Bedford Forrest, a slave trader and an early Ku Klux Klan leader after the Civil War. Rucker later was an business leader in Birmingham. The Southeast Alabama military site has been in use by the U.S. Army since 1942. The post is the home of Army aviation. His legacy of courage under fire in support of soldiers on the ground is what we train for and expert of our soldiers, said Maj. Gen. Michael McCurry, U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and commanding general of the military base, in a statement. It is an honor for the Home of Army Aviation to bear his name. Fort Ruckers renaming was one of nine U.S. Army installations redesignated based on the Naming Commissions recommendations, and part of a process initiated last year under Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a Mobile native and the first Black man to serve in that role. Tuskegee pending English-Relf said that the SPLC is also awaiting on a resolution involving a Confederate monument in downtown Tuskegee near the Macon County Courthouse. The monuments fate is tangled up in ongoing litigation over a 117-year-old deed that gave the monuments land to the Tuskegee Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy for the purpose of maintaining a park for white people and maintaining a monument to Confederate soldiers. A Macon County judge ruled in January that there is no evidence the space has been maintained as a segregated park, and that the 1906 deed should revert back to the Macon County Commission since it was not being used as a park for white people. An attorney for the Confederate heritage group said in February that he was planning to appeal the ruling to the Alabama Supreme Court, arguing that he did not believe the deed was enforceable. Macon County Commission Chairman Louis Maxwell said there was no update to the case, and that they were awaiting to see what the all-white state supreme court planned to do. He said he was hopeful there would be a negotiation on the matter and has said that the site of the Confederate monument is public property for Macon County. The county is 80% Black, while Tuskegee is 97% Black. English-Relf, with the SPLC, said she believes the Confederate memorial in Tuskegee will be removed in 2023. The Montgomery-based SPLC has been tracking the removal of Confederate symbols through its Whos Heritage? report, first released in 2018. The report is tracks where Confederate symbols are removed and is an effort that began after nine Black people were killed in 2015 during a Bible study at Mother Emanuel A.M.E. Church in Charleston, South Carolina, by a gunman radicalized by white supremacist websites. The latest report highlights the locations where Confederate symbols were removed. Virginia, for the third straight year, led the nation in removing 13 Confederate symbols from public spaces. Louisiana and North Carolina tied at seven each for second place, while New York and Texas tied at five a piece, finishing tied for third. A total of 482 Confederate symbols have been removed, renamed or relocated from public spaces following the Charleston massacre. Alabama is one of seven states that has a preservation law in place assessing fines to block removal of Confederate symbols. The SPLC reports 18 Confederate symbol removals in Alabama since 2015. Lawmakers could be considering increased fines for future Confederate symbol removals. A draft bill proposes to raise the fine for moving a monument or changing the name of a memorial street or building from the current $25,000, to a penalty of $10,000 per day for every day that a government entity failed to restore what it moved or changed. Get the Ed Chat newsletter: Enter your email for weekly updates about Alabama schools from Trisha Powell Crain: A parental rights bill will head to the House floor after receiving approval in committee Wednesday. HB 6, authored by Rep. Kenneth Paschal (R-Pelham) prohibits the government from interfering with the fundamental rights of parents unless it is narrowly tailored and there is a compelling state interest. Read more: Alabama House committee approves ban on transgender collegiate athletes. Read more: Alabama parents could get $6,900 for private school, homeschool costs. In a committee meeting Wednesday, Paschal called the legislation a simple bill that aims to preserve parents rights to direct the education, upbringing, care, custody and control of their children. When kids exist, theres an order, he said. God gives parents the responsibility to make decisions. There are some exceptions to those rights, he said, including in cases of child abuse or neglect, or truancy. Paschal said the bill would not change any existing legislation, but would codify previous case law that notes the importance of a parents role in a childs life. We see a lot of things taking place throughout our country, and this is just being proactive, instead of reactive, he said. The House Judiciary committee unanimously voted to give the bill a favorable report, with an amendment clarifying that it would not be construed to authorize child abuse or neglect. The bill now will head to the House floor. The legislation saw little debate from lawmakers Wednesday, but critics have called the bill vague and unclear. In interviews with the Alabama Reflector, some questioned the bills description of fit parents, and noted the bill failed to define what that meant. Parents of transgender teenagers also worried the compelling state interest clause of the bill would prevent them from being afforded the same rights as other parents. I would like to think the law would include me, my husband and our doctors judgements about what is best for my transgender child, but somehow feel they would see the transgender as a compelling reason to deny my rights, Cardelia Howell-Diamond, a parent to two transgender teenagers, told the Reflector. Others said similar bills, which have appeared in at least 35 states over the past two years distract from real issues affecting families. In a recent interview with AL.com, Ailen Arreaza, executive director of the nonprofit research organization ParentsTogether, said parental rights bills like Alabamas are intentionally vague efforts to distract and divide parents. Last year, Florida passed a law with similar language aimed at parental rights that restricts certain classroom curriculum and instruction. Arreaza said such restrictions dont address issues that would actually make a difference for families, like child tax credits, paid leave, affordable childcare or mental health supports. Behind that vague language, its this political agenda thats all about censoring books and censoring curriculum and censoring what teachers can talk about in the classroom, she said. Which is absolutely not what parents want. Get Down in Alabama's newsletter: Enter your email to subscribe to the daily Down in Alabama newsletter: From todays Down in Alabama podcast: The Down in Alabama podcast is short and free. Listen to it by clicking on the player above or subscribe by looking for Down in Alabama on the device of your choosing. You can find Down in Alabama in these places: Spotify podcast page Alexa skill page on Amazon Amazon Music podcast page Apple podcast page Ike Morgan on Facebook Ike Morgan on Twitter An explosion at a dairy farm has left one person in critically injured and caused a fire that killed an estimated 18,000 cattle, reports say. The Castro County Sheriffs Office says in a news release that a female worker at Southfork Dairy Farms was trapped inside a building after the explosion and fire Monday. Firefighters were able to rescue the woman, who was flown to UMC Hospital in Lubbock. KFDA Channel 10 reports the woman was in critical condition. KFDA reports the cattle were in a holding area before being brought in for milking when the fire occurred. Very few cows in the holding area survived the fire, officials say. The Animal Welfare Institute says that if the death estimate is correct, the fire is the deadliest involving cattle since the agency began tracking barn fires in 2013. (An earlier version of this story incorrectly reported that it was the deadliest fire involving cattle in Texas history.) The cause of the fire remains under investigation, but Castro Sheriff Salvador Rivera tells Everything Lubbock that machinery at the dairy farm might have ignited methane gas buildup. The Duchess of Sussex has a good reason for not showing up to the coronation of King Charles even though her husband will join the May 6 festivities. On Wednesday, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Prince Harry will attend his fathers crowning ceremony. The statement added that his wife, the former Meghan Markle, will remain in California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The big event takes place on the same day that the eldest son of the royal couple celebrates his 4th birthday. People reported that Meghan will spend the weekend celebrating with the children. The children were last in their fathers native country in June 2022 for Queen Elizabeth IIs Platinum Jubilee celebrations. A source, identified as a friend, told the outlet that the bestselling Spare author wanted to be at the service to support his father at this important moment in his life. Meghan was last seen in London when she joined Prince Harry and members of the Royal Family for the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September. Last month, the Duke of Sussex shocked royal watchers during a surprise U.K. visit to attend legal proceedings. Prince Harry and six more prominent Brits, including Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, sued Associated Newspapers in a case that alleged the tabloid companys staffers used illegal tactics to obtain private information. According to royal expert Alexander Larman, King Charles III was too busy to see his youngest son during the trip. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The former Walker County sheriffs deputy charged with manslaughter in the 2019 on-duty crash that killed a 14-year-old boy has pleaded guilty as part of a plea deal, according to court records. Blake Carter Hudson, 34, agreed to an eight-year suspended sentence and five years probation in connection with the 2019 crash that killed 14-year-old Austin Aaron, who was riding an ATV when he was killed. Hudson pleaded guilty to manslaughter on Tuesday in Walker County Circuit Court, records showed. As part of the deal Hudson agreed to with prosecutors over his attorneys objection, according to court records, the former sheriffs deputy will no longer seek accreditation as a law enforcement officer. Hudson, who is unemployed, also agreed to resume counseling for post-traumatic stress disorder if he gets a job. The crash happened shortly before 11 p.m. Aug 2, 2019, on Alabama 69 South at the intersection of Old Tuscaloosa Road in Jasper. Austin was driving an ATV when he and Hudsons sheriffs patrol cruiser collided. The indictment against Hudson stated he was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash and was driving his patrol vehicle at excessive speeds, in an unsafe manner and without his emergency lights. Following the indictment, Hudson was booked into the Walker County Jail on $30,000 bond. Austin was transported to Childrens of Alabama where he remained until his death three days later. His mother, Amanda Aaron, posted on Facebook after his death that the family had chosen to donate some of his organs to help save other children. Hold your babies close because you never know what God has in store for them, she wrote, asking people to remember his contagious smile, silly laugh and big heart. Austin Aaron, 14, was killed when he was riding an ATV in 2019. A Walker County sheriff's deputy has now been charged in his death. (Special to AL.com) On Tuesday, Amanda Aaron said she was relieved over the resolution of the case. To hear Blake finally say Im guilty was the biggest relief you could ever imagine, she said on her Facebook account. Now I can finally start properly grieving the loss of my child. A Center Point man serving time in a federal prison in Tennessee has been charged with the 2020 murder of a 26-year-old Birmingham man, authorities announced Thursday. Torace Jakhino Laster, 25, of Center Point, was identified as a suspect in the fatal shooting of Lamar Markeith Harris on June 14, 2020, said Officer Truman Fitzgerald with Birmingham police. Laster, who is in custody of the U.S. Bureau of Prisons at Federal Correctional Institute Memphis, will remain in Tennessee until his extradition to Jefferson County to face murder charges in Harris death. Laster was charged with murder and certain persons forbidden to possess a firearm. He does not have bond. Birmingham police said the shooting appeared to stem from Laster being upset with Harris over a reported theft committed by the victim. Harris was riding a bicycle when he was fatally shot. East Precinct officers responded to a Shot Spotter call of multiple rounds fired in the 7600 block of Third Avenue South around just after midnight on June 14, 2020, police said at the time. Officers found Harris laying unresponsive with multiple gunshot wounds. Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service personnel pronounced him dead at the scene. A Huntsville man is being held in the Madison County Jail on five counts of possession of child pornography after federal authorities took him into custody in Birmingham, police said Wednesday. Huntsville police executed a search warrant in December for a home on Saint Charles Road Southeast that led to the charges against 65-year-old Stuart Edwin Smith. On Tuesday, Smith was captured in Birmingham by U.S. Marshals before being booked Wednesday in the Madison County Jail. His bond was set at $50,000, jail records showed. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security also assisted with the investigation, according to Huntsville police. The investigation remained ongoing as of Wednesday and further information was unavailable. The state trooper shot in the line of duty on Sunday in south Alabama has been released from the hospital and is recovering at home, authorities said Wednesday. Cpl. Jeremy Alford was shot by a suspect in Escambia County on Sunday night following a pursuit. An exchange of gunfire followed, injuring two people, including Alford, and killing the suspect. The incident began at 6:30 p.m. Sunday as Alford tried to stop a vehicle for a traffic violation on Interstate 65 in Conecuh County. The driver failed to stop, and a pursuit ensued. The chase traveled into Escambia County where the suspects vehicle left the road. Once off the roadway, an officer-involved shooting occurred, said Alabama Law Enforcement Agency Sgt. Jeremy Burkett in a news a release. He did not elaborate on how many people, or who, fired shots. The name of the slain suspect has not yet been released. ALEA Secretary Hal Taylor, who commended Alfords bravery in a statement on Tuesday, gave an update on the corporals condition on Wednesday. He has been released from the hospital and is currently at home resting with family, Taylor said through a spokesman. We ask that everyone continue to keep Cpl. Alford and his family in both your thoughts and prayers as he continues to recover, the secretary said. A recently redrawn Mobile City Council map with a majority Black council districts will never be realized under proposed annexation ideas city officials are weighing, the Mobile County Democratic executive committee said Thursday. A spokeswoman for Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson, however, said the partys concerns are based on false information or a lack of understanding and they are inviting executive committee members for a meeting to review data-supported facts. The political partys leadership announced their opposition to the proposal and process of the current annexation plan via a five-paragraph news release. The concerns focused mainly on the dilution of the Black voting age population if annexation of a mostly white areas of west Mobile is annexed into the city limits and resurrects a concern during the annexation debate of 2019 that ultimately led in the defeat of a proposal to add 13,000 residents from west of Mobile into the city. Cooksey said the maps presented to the council and public in January were built on four primary goals set by Stimpson: Preserve Mobiles status as a black-majority city, ensure the voting age population in four of Mobiles seven council districts remains majority Black, bring Mobiles overall population above 200,000, and ensure any annexation would be revenue positive. Simply put, there is not an outcome or scenario of the annexation referendum for any of the four study area maps that can or would change that commitment to preserving four majority black voting age council districts, Cooksey said. This is the first administration that ever attempted and achieved four majority Black City Council districts during a redistricting process. Any suggestion that we would want to undermine this accomplishment is absolutely false. Related: The city the maps aimed, in part, at boosting Mobiles population above 200,000 residents, and making it the second-largest city in Alabama trailing only Huntsville. But the Democratic Party is worried that growth to the west of Mobile will mean a dilution of Black political power. The committee has grave concerns over the undermining of fair representation for all of Mobiles citizens, the Democratic Partys news release reads. The committee is mindful of the historic use of discriminatory redistricting and annexations to undermine the political power of Black communities of Alabama. The news release noted the lengthy redistricting process, which ended last year with the council instituting a fourth majority-minority district on the seven-member council. The party claimed that redistrictings new map, has not even been in place a year and there is already an effort to take it away. Mobile City Councilman William Carroll, who led much of the scrutiny on the redistricting plans and argued in support of majority-minority districts based on the voting age population, said he had not seen the committees news release, but said that every concern will be listened to and heard and measured before the council votes on annexation. I appreciate the concerns of every who is watching and following annexation closely, Carroll said. As I have said before, I have been an annexation proponent in the past in the (Sam) Jones administration. What we do now has a heavy weight on the economic prosperity in the city in the next 20 to 30 years. The council adopted its new redistricting map on August 9, 2022. The map outlines the boundaries of the seven council districts for the next 10 years. The vote followed seven months of contentious debate, and end with a historic 6-0 vote creating, for the first time, a council map with a majority Black districts. The councils current racial makeup is three white members, and three who are Black. The councils fourth member, Scott Jones, resigned about two weeks ago. His council districts demographics is overwhelmingly white. Mobiles new council map will not take effect until the 2025 city elections. Under the new map, the district in the northwest area of Mobile that is currently represented by Gina Gregory, who is white, will consist of a voting age population that is 53.2% Black, 41.2% white. Its a considerable shift from its previous 48% white-45% Black voting age population split that was established after the 2010 Census. Its unclear what the districts racial makeup will look like if annexation is approved. The council is in charge with determining whether a special election should be held to decide if annexation should be allowed. Voters, ultimately, decide the fate of an annexation proposal during a special election. The city is pitching four different annexation proposals and is looking to grow the city from anywhere between 16,738 residents to 25,806 residents. In each of the citys four proposed annexation scenarios provided by the city, demographic information shows the city maintaining its majority-Black status, but its voting age population barely maintaining a Black majority. If the citys largest annexation plan is adopted, Mobiles voting age population would be a razor-thin 46.8% Black and 46.7% white. Mobile city officials who support annexation say the city stands to gain a net $7.1 million to $8.4 million in sales tax revenue from the annexed territories, depending on which territories are annexed. Those numbers climb a decade after annexation, with a projected $11 million to $13 million coming back to city coffers. This story was updated at 3:11 p.m. on April 13, 2023, to include comments from Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpsons spokeswoman Candace Cooksey. This is a guest opinion column The Poarch Band of Creek Indians cares about the safety and security of our country, and so we commend the Alabama Congressional Delegation for being a reliable champion for our men and women in uniform. We proudly support our military through our Government Services Division in collaboration with Muskogee Technology, PCI Aviation, Integrated Federal Solutions, and Media Fusion. Now more than ever, our Congressional leaders must step up and revitalize our Air Forces waning technological edge, particularly the future of the F-35 Lightning II. With strong ties in Alabama, more than $30 million in annual economic impact, and more than twenty supplier companies in our state, any cuts to the F-35 would dramatically affect hundreds of jobs in our communities. The Department of Defense (DOD) has drastically reduced the capacity of the United States Air Force over the past few years. According to the Mitchell Policy Papers, the service needs more capacity and modernized capabilities to deter and, if necessary, defeat peer aggression. The Mitchell Policy Papers further state, The Air Force of 2022 is a high-risk force that is not sized to fight a major conflict with China and meet its other global operational requirements established by the National Defense Strategy. And this is not just about the Air Forcethe missions its forces execute like air superiority, long range strikes, and air mobility underpin the success and viability of all joint force operations. The F-35 is feared among our enemies as much as our allies praise it. Our Air Force and our allies need its fifth-generation technology, stealth, lethality, and interoperability. Producing fewer F-35s sends a strong message: the United States is unwilling to rebuke China and Russias rising tyranny. It tells our manufacturing community that Congress will talk about supporting domestic manufacturing but stops short of doing so when Congressional support is needed most. I urge our Congressional delegation to do what they have always done: support our men and women in uniform. Our Congressional delegation must fight to fully fund the F-35 program to ramp up to peak production levels. Our Air Force needs their help, our manufacturing community needs their support, and our allies need reassurance that the United States is not backing down from our commitments. We have known gaps in our ability to deter international tension and defeat our enemies. Now is the worst possible time to talk about reducing our capacity and limiting our capabilities. It is critical that Congress fully fund the F-35 program because our military needs the support that only air superiority can bring should we ever be in a major conflict with China or Russia. Stephanie Bryan is Chairwoman of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama. The indomitable Betsy McCaughey has called out the latest ugly manifestation of "diversity, inclusion, and equity" the drive to destroy the suburbs. The Biden administration and Democrat-controlled legislatures in several states have taken the lead in this effort. In New York State, Governor Kathy Hochul, as part of the state budget, has advanced a so-called Housing Compact that would eliminate local control and single family zoning. Hochul's plan would require that high-rise "affordable" (read: low-income, taxpayer-subsidized) housing be constructed close to each sleepy village train station mostly a few miles apart on Metro North and the Long Island Railroad. If the affected communities fail to do so "voluntarily," the state will have the power to override local zoning. Those who fail to applaud this combined coup by warriors for social justice and real estate interests are, you guessed it, racist. Suburban homeowners, Democrats as well as Republicans, are beginning to awaken to the deadly threat these proposals pose to their way of life. What is largely overlooked is that this is a repeat of a similar effort in 1972 about which I wrote at the time ("Housing Controversy in Westchester," Congress Biweekly, November 10, 1972 and December 22, 1972). Believe it or not, the effort to overthrow zoning was then spearheaded by Republicans with New York's Westchester County selected to pioneer the program. On June 20, 1972, the New York State Urban Development Corporation announced that it was overriding local zoning to create a variety of low- and moderate-income housing developments in nine, for the most part rural, Westchester communities. Reminiscent of the emotional reaction to the death of George Floyd, the UDC had been given zoning override power by a hitherto balky state Legislature the day after the murder of Martin Luther King. Republican governor Nelson Rockefeller, in a burst of virtue-signaling, argued that this was the best tribute the Legislature could give the slain civil rights leader. When rationality returned, efforts by the state Legislature to take away the override power were vetoed by Rockefeller. On a national level, Nixon's Department of Housing and Urban Development, headed by George Romney, joined in the pressure from another angle. It introduced project selection criteria reducing the availability of federal funds for low-income housing in areas with existing large minority populations. This in turn led to protests from inner-city communities arguing that the new guidelines would make it impossible to rehabilitate their areas. The only clear winners in these proposals were real estate investors. The UDC calculated that investors needed to put up only 5% of the cost of the projects. An investor in the 50% bracket could recoup his entire investment in a year; an investor in the 70% bracket needed only three months. For banks, building contractors, and real estate middlemen of all varieties, it had the potential to be the biggest gravy train of the decade. Needless to say, proponents did not mention the profit motive (one site had been sold to UDC at a figure eight times its market price a few months earlier). The slogan UDC used to describe the program was "Fair Share," underlining the view that all communities have the responsibility to assume a share of the problems of social disorganization concentrated in urban centers. In part, this reflected ressentiment: a New York Times op-ed entitled "A Pox on You, Riverdale" asked why some communities should "escape" the problems others suffer. There was also a high-minded hope that population transfers would "uplift" those who had been left behind. A flood of protests by the affected communities derailed the politicians' overreach. An organization called United Towns for Home Rule sprang up, which decried the "administrative despotism" of a group accountable to no elected body. The slogan that brought the audience roaring to its feet at a July 20 meeting was "People's Power," a cry thus far unfamiliar in the staid establishment circles of the nine prosperous Westchester communities under immediate threat. What are the chances that this time, 51 years later, legislation to override zoning in New York will be successful? The current triumph of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity throughout our institutions, the belief in systemic racism, the near deification of the poor all speak to a climate much more susceptible to supporting zoning overrides in the name of "social justice" than existed fifty years ago. Nonetheless, the likelihood is that this effort will fail for the same reason the earlier one did. The American Dream includes the notion that by working and "getting ahead," you can move up in the world, which involves finding a more attractive home and neighborhood in which to live, educate, and raise your family. This legislation tells Americans there are no rewards for mobility because any time, by fiat, some bureaucracy can alter the character of your community. Whether Republicans or Democrats, suburban householders are unwilling to see community zoning decisions and local master planning become meaningless exercises and to see the value of their greatest investment potentially plummet at far-off bureaucratic whims. That means their representatives in the state Legislature, however "progressive" their personal views, will fear defeat at the next election if they don't oppose Governor Hochul's "death to the suburbs" legislative agenda. Image: Kathy Hochul. Credit: NYS Funeral Directors Association via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). In April, 1865, General Lees troops surrendered their arms at Appomattox. The Civil War was almost over. It is ever fascinating, and ever more horrible to look at. Recent historians have noted that the death toll was larger than originally estimated. But in 2011 [an] in-depth study of recently digitized census data concluded that a more accurate estimate of Civil War deaths is about 750,000, with a range from 650.000 to as many as 850,000 dead. -- History Not only has recent examinations of the casualties resulted in higher numbers, but a look at immigration patterns in the United States indicates that the America might have been more ethnically diverse than many realize, and that this difference might have been sharper than previously suspected, and contributed to the nature of the Civil War. In fact, this war might have been the last stand of a civilizational war, one that was not recognized until recently. If one looks at the settlement in the North of the United States, one notices a pattern. One sees the Puritan stock of East England -- essentially descended from Anglo-Saxons, who themselves primarily came from Denmark and the areas of northwest Germany adjacent to Denmark. These were North Germanic peoples. Other Germanic peoples also settled in the North. The Dutch had been in New York since the beginning of European colonization. Starting in the 1820s, Scandinavians started coming to America. Then there were the continental Germans proper. These had been concentrated in Pennsylvania and upstate New York, such as the German Flatts, since before the Revolution. Another prominent second wave of Germans came over in the 1840s after the failure of democratic revolutions in Europe. One might add the English-speaking mislabeled Scots-Irish (originally from Lowland Scotland). Despite their name, these were often descended primarily from the English who had drifted into southeast Scotland, along with Vikings, Danish, and Normans (the descendants of Vikings). Another Germanic people group. The only significant outlier in this primarily Germanic group were the Irish-Catholics. They had been in America since before the Revolution (in small numbers), but the potato famine drove roughly two million over in the 1840s -- the vast majority to the North, and this may be critical, as we shall see. These Irish Catholics were Gaels Celts, but between 1840-1861, most had been absorbed -- with a degree of social friction -- in to the urbanizing North. Apart from that, the North was primarily a pan-Germanic group. Again, this may be critical. Originally, the South was considered by historians to be similarly settled, chiefly by the English. However, the South was not affected that much by the Dutch or later Scandinavian/German immigrations. While historians note a large Scots-Irish immigration to the South, even that has come under re-examination. This has produced surprising insight. The South was not quite as Anglo-Saxon as it claimed to be. There is North Carolina, which was settled by Highland Scots, Gaelic Celts, after failed rebellions in the 17th and early 18th centuries. They have Highland Games annually. The Louisiana French were heavily descended from the seafarers of Brittany who themselves descended from Celtic Britons (precursors to the Welsh) who had fled the Anglo-Saxon invasions of Britain in the 5th - 8th centuries. Louisiana was not so much classic French as heavily Breton Celt. The Souths General P.G.T. Beauregard, who was also part-Welsh, came from Louisiana. The historian Grady McWhiney noticed that a large part of the indentured servants who went South, where there was a demand for field hand labor, came from Ireland. And these were not merely plantation settlers from Ulster of English descent. Rather, they had Gaelic names. Simpkins and Roland highlight a recurring problem in Southern scholarship: The automatic labeling of any non-Irish-Catholic Southerner whose ancestry derives from any part of the British Isles as ethnically and culturally Anglo-Saxon. To do so means not only that an unreservedly anti-English, Scots-Irish family like that of Andrew Jackson would be lumped under the cultural heading Anglo-Saxon but so would Scottish Gaelic and Welsh speakers and any recent converts from Irish Catholicism to any form of Protestantism. -- Celts in the South, p. 34 It seems that many Gaelic Irish left Ireland from Ulster, only to be mislabeled as members of the Anglo-Ulster plantation. Moreover, it was a common practice for the English to enslave young waifs and ship them off as indentured servants to the tobacco fields of the South. A large portion of these would be Celtic Gaels or Welsh, who, after being released from indentured servitude, may have adopted the surnames of their English masters. [T]he basic cultural patterns of the South were in place roughly by the beginning of the nineteenth century, and the seventeenth- and eighteenth-century immigrants from Ireland, Scotland, and Wales came from lands in which the majority of people were fluent in a Celtic language -- Celts in the South, p. 34 A lot of coincidences start creeping up. By the 19th century, it was fashionable to claim an Anglo-Saxon heritage, and so Southerners did so, many of them unwittingly -- maybe unawares that their surname came from a Celtic ancestor indentured to an English master. But recent scholarship is starting to show that if the North was heavily Germanic in ancestry -- and it was -- the South may have been primarily Celtic, much more so than previously thought. Because there was a plantation aristocracy among the slaveholders, which were descended from the English, and because the slaveholders (the Fire-Eaters) fomented the rebellion, it was erroneously assumed that the rest of the South was as English as the plantation owners. Yet, anyone who has heard country music will immediately recognize it as the offspring of Irish and Scottish Celtic music. But what about the mislabeled Scots-Irish? Arent they actually Germanic from Lowland Scotland? Well, yes, many are. If they came from the eastern Lowlands. However, the Lowland Scots were further split. While those on the east were Germanic, genetically Anglo. Those on the west coast of Scotland were descended from Gaels, and should have been labeled Highlanders. It turns out that in 1641, when the Irish revolted against Englands colonization in Ulster and tried to drive out the Ulster Plantation Settlers, they preferentially went after English speakers. However, some of the Plantation Settlers were Gaelic speakers, descended from Scottish Gaels, who had converted to Presbyterianism, and these were often left alone. This resulted in the targeting of English settlers in 1641, with some recorded instances of the Scots also taking an active part. However, when order was restored, it was the Irish who suffered, while the Scots would simply acquire extra land left by the absent Irish and English. -- Irish Origenes It turns out that the issue in Ulster was not religion -- as the English like to claim for justification -- but nationality. The rebel Irish wanted the English out, but cut some slack with fellow Gaelic Celts, even if Scottish Gaels. So while the Lowlanders who went to Ulster were heavily Germanic, many of those who stayed on in Ulster were of Gaelic stock, and from these came a large part of the Southern Scots-Irish. The North was heavily ethnically and culturally Germanic -- except for recent Irish Catholic arrivals. The South may have been considerably more ethnically Celtic than it realized. Because of indentured servitude, and forced language acquisition, a lot of Southerners who fancy themselves Anglo-Saxon may be more Gaelic, Welsh, or Breton than they know. The Celts were famous for their music, their love of alcohol (the Romans thought the Celts were drunks), clan feuding, and their religious fervor. The Gauls were frightfully pagan. The Irish were super Catholic, while the Scots were extreme Presbyterian. Also the Celts were famous for strong women (Boudicea and Grace OMalley). The Celtic God of War was a goddess. And what do we see in Southern Culture: Celtic music, a love of whiskey, clan feuding, the Bible belt, and strong women. Some scholars dismiss this as fanciful, as did I at first. After all, much of the leadership of the South was descended from English Cavalier stock. But those were the elites, and a small group at that. It turns out that the base population were indeed descended from Scottish Gaels, the Welsh, Irish Gaels, and the Bretons -- many of whom may have adopted English names and be unaware of their true ancestry. If one doubts this, look at this recreation of the Battle of Bull Run from the movie Gods and Generals. The Southerners seems to be staging a Highland Charge. Putting this all together, it turns out that the American Civil War may have been the last stand of Celtic civilization. The Celts were tragic warriors who won every battle except the last, and lost every war, Between the Romans, the Germans, and the English, the Celts were overrun. The American Civil War may have been a tragic echo of that pattern. Image: Public Domain Thomas Jefferson owned slaves and is widely believed by able and honorable people to have raped the enslaved child Sally Hemings and fathered all her children. Therefore, its understandable that some wish to see our third president canceled, to use the Woke vernacular. Today would be Jeffersons 280th birthday, so it seems fitting to pause briefly and reassess these horrendous allegations. I have studied Thomas Jefferson for more than half a century, and I am delighted to report that his critics are misinformed. In reality, Thomas Jefferson may well have been Americas first abolitionist. Moreover, by far the most thorough investigation of the alleged Jefferson-Hemings sexual relationshipa year-long inquiry involving more than a dozen senior professors from all over the countryconcluded (with but a single mild dissent) that the allegation is false. Jeffersons critics are not wrong about everything. He did own slaves, and (to use his language) slavery was certainly an abomination. But when he inherited slaves upon the deaths of his father and father-in-law, it was illegal in Virginia to free them. And it was Thomas Jefferson who, in 1769, drafted the law that permitted manumitting slaves and, later, the 1778 law prohibiting importing new slaves into Virginia. The first of these laws led Marxist Professor Philip Fonerwho edited a book of Jeffersons writings, a two-volume collection of The Complete Writings of Thomas Paine, and a five-volume collection of the writings of abolitionist Frederick Douglassto identify Jefferson (rather than Paine) as Americas first abolitionist. Image: Thomas Jefferson by Rembrandt Peale. In his original draft of the Declaration of Independence, Jefferson denounced King George III for having waged cruel war against human nature itself on a distant people who never offended him by carrying them into slavery in another hemisphere. Most Americans today dont know this, because the language was removed to keep Georgia and South Carolina from walking out of the convention. Addressing slavery in his only book, Notes on the State of Virginia (1783), Jefferson reasoned, [C]an the liberties of a nation be thought secure when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God? That they are not to be violated but with his wrath? Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just: that his justice cannot sleep for ever. The Almighty has no attribute which can take side with us in such a contest. Article 1, section 9, of the Constitution, prohibited Congress from banning the slave trade for two decades. More than a year before that period elapsed, President Jefferson congratulated Congress on its approaching opportunity to withdraw the citizens of the United States from all further participation in those violations of human rights which have been so long continued on the unoffending inhabitants of Africa, and which the morality, the reputation, and the best interests of our country, have long been eager to proscribe. Congress concurred at the earliest opportunity. As a member of the Second Continental Congress in 1784, Jefferson was called upon to draft rules to govern the Northwest Territories. Article Six read: There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in the said territory, otherwise than in the punishment of crimes whereof the party shall have been duly convicted. It failed by one vote, leading Jefferson to lament, heaven was silent in that awful moment! But seven decades later, near the end of the Civil War, the authors of the Thirteenth Amendment incorporated Jeffersons language to honor his courageous struggle against slavery. I have in the past described Jefferson as a reluctant racist, because he did express the tentative view that African slaves were not as intelligent as other races (while giving blacks the nod in such areas as physical courage and musical talent). But he was certainly not a white supremacist, having argued in 1785 that Native Americans were in body and mind equal to the white man. The following year, he wrote, The want of attention to their rights is a principal source of dishonor to the American character. Many were also offended by Jeffersons defense of the rights of Jews and Muslims. Days before concluding his second term as president, Jefferson wrote, in a February 25, 1809, letter to Henri Gregoire, that no person would be more pleased than himself to see refuted the doubts he had expressed about the intellectual abilities of black slavesa distinction he repeatedly emphasized might be but a consequence of their enslaved circumstances. He added, [W]hatever be their degree of talent, it is no measure of their rights. Because Sir Isaac Newton was superior to others in understanding, he was not therefore lord of the person or property of others. In American Sphinx, Professor Joseph Ellis asserted Jefferson could have passed a polygraph test confirming his conviction that his own slaves were more content and better off as members of his extended family than under any other imaginable circumstances. This view was reinforced when Jefferson manumitted the highly talented James Hemings in 1796, after which James soon turned to alcohol and committed suicide. Jefferson died deeply in debt in 1826, and Section 54 of the Revised Virginia Code of 1819 made it illegal to free slaves (like livestock, legally considered chattel property) until all an estates creditors were satisfied. In 2000-2001, I chaired the above-mentioned Jefferson-Hemings Scholars Commission, which included professors who had taught at Harvard, Yale, Oxford, Brown, UVA, and several other prestigious universities. After an intensive, year-long study, we concluded (with one mild dissent) that the charge that Thomas Jefferson fathered even one child by the enslaved Ms. Hemings is likely false. The 1998 DNA study reported in the science journal Nature as having established Thomas Jeffersons paternity of Sally Hemings youngest son Eston did not even have a sample of Thomas Jeffersons DNA to test. Dr. Eugene Foster, who designed and oversaw the study, emphasized that the results pointed equally to any of the more than two-dozen adult Jefferson males known to have been in Virginia at the time. Based entirely upon the DNA evidence, the odds that Thomas Jefferson fathered Eston are under 5%. For many generations, Estons descendants passed down the story that he was not President Jeffersons child but the son of an uncle. President Jeffersons much younger brother Randolph was known at Monticello as Uncle Randolph because of his relationship to the presidents daughter Martha, who ran the plantation when her father was in the White House. Roughly 15 days before Estons most likely conception date, Randolph was invited to visit Monticello to see his beloved twin sister, who had returned from an extended absence. Randolph had five sons between the ages of 14 and 27 who would likely have accompanied him and would be more likely suspects than the 64-year-old President. The book Memoirs of a Monticello Slave notes that, when Randolph visited Monticello, he would come out among black people, play his fiddle, and dance half the night. Our 400-page report is available on-line for anyone to read. Numerous efforts to arrange a debate have failed because no pro-paternity scholar has been willing to take part. The offer remains open. Professor Turner retired from the University of Virginia in 2020 and is writing a book on Jefferson and Slavery. The Scholars Commission report can be found here. In the April 8 issue of The Epoch Times, Jenna Ellis, former senior legal adviser and counsel to President Trump, had an op-ed entitled Indictment Against Trump is Chance for Unity Against Government Weaponization. Ellis wrote at the close: This is a moment when all Republicans, conservatives, and anyone who believes in the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution, regardless of party or politics, can and should come together to fight the weaponization of government against Trump and every targeted American on every level. Ellis then goes on to implore readers not to back down: We cant back down or become fractured over politics. What chutzpah! Didnt Ellis back down to the Colorado Bar Association? The 65 Project goes after attorneys who stood with and for President Trump regarding the questionable 2020 presidential election. The organization seeks to have these attorneys disbarred. Image: Jenna Ellis by Gage Skidmore. CC BY-SA 2.0. Like other progressive organizations attacking conservatives, the 65 Project does not want Donald Trump to have any competent legal advocate. This tactic is the type of thing that occurs in tyrannical nations, where the accused are rarely allowed legal representation. (Lack of legal counsel has also happened to many Americans arrested related to the January 6, 2021, protest at the U.S. Capitol.) In 2022, the 65 Project filed a legal ethics complaint against Jenna Ellis in her home state of Colorado. It appears that the woman telling us in an Epoch Times op-ed that we cant back down did exactly that and more. From Rachel Alexander in The Caving of Ex-Trump Attorney Jenna Ellis: Earlier this month, Ellis quietly settled the case. She admitted to spreading misrepresentations with at least a reckless state of mind. For these concessions, which are very damaging to Trump and his cause, Ellis escaped with a censure for professional misconduct from the Colorado courts. Based on her tweets, Ellis appears now to be leaning toward Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis over Trump for president in 2024, although a year ago she offered to represent Disney against DeSantis. Ellis censure deal required her to say she had misled Americans with statements such as, The election was stolen and Trump won by a landslide. And, The proper and true victor is Donald Trump. These are statements most Republican voters believe are true, according to polls. A Quinnipiac poll found that 76% of Republicans believe there was widespread fraud in the 2020 election. Alexanders article also shares that, before being censured rather than disbarred, Ellis tweeted that Kari Lake was a grifter for continuing her appeal regarding Arizonas gubernatorial race. Elliss recanting, which was fuel for the liberal medias regular Trump attacks, was reported elsewhere, including PBS and The Washington Post. I dont begrudge Jenna Ellis for backing down to save her legal career. However, then to turn around and tell the rest of us to have backbone when she didnt is an affront to all America First patriots, many of whom have lost their jobs and liberty by refusing to back down. If it weren't so serious, Gavin Newsom's current assault on red states would be hilarious. What he is peddling as "democracy" is totalitarianism in its worst form. What's frightening is that there are millions of voters throughout America who will lap up what he's selling. Why? Because they are Zombie Voters; brain-dead people who do zero research and even less thinking before they vote. They get their news from TikTok and Facebook. They vote based on how they feel about a candidate instead of what they think about that candidate's positions. It's sad but true. California is full of them. Most California voters don't know how to think because most were never taught. California public schools stamp out individuality and individual thought from day one. They teach boys to be girls and girls to be boys. They teach hard and fast segregation by race ("diversity"), equal outcomes for everyone despite the fact that that is an impossible goal given individual abilities ("equity"), and exclusion unless you fall in lockstep with the approved mantra ("inclusion"). Unless your child precisely follows the state-sponsored curricula and toes the line every step of the way, he will be shut down and shut up. Creativity and free thinking are strictly not allowed. Your child certainly won't learn to read or write or do arithmetic (it's racist, remember). In fact, the California Department of Education celebrates that California students lost less ground than their peers in some other states. How can any adult think losing less than someone else is something to celebrate? It's something to investigate and work to solve. Unfortunately, the California Department of Education and teachers' unions could not care one speck about what the children under their control learn unless, of course, it's the aforementioned gender-bending and DIE. Long after the worst of the pandemic passed, the California Teachers Association pressured Governor Newsom to keep schools closed and he capitulated. Johnny and Janie can't read because they lost two years of school? That's too bad. Children from California public schools are by and large the people who keep California deep blue. They show up at the polls and vote for candidates without knowing one single thing about them or giving one instant's thought to what that person will mean for them or their future. These are the people Gavin Newsom and the Democrat party are counting on to rid the country of conservatives and red-blooded American patriots. For those of you who don't know what it's like to live in California, here's the low-down. California was once the Golden State. That was more than forty years ago, when Ronald Reagan was governor. In the 1980s, under Governor Jerry Brown, Sr., the state shifted slightly left. During the 1990s, under Jerry Brown, Jr., things began to come apart, but it was still livable. With Gray Davis, the slide continued, and he was recalled. Since Gavin Newsom took office, California has achieved terminal decline. It has become unlivable. Since 2020, 500,000 people have moved out of the state. More are leaving every day. Because of that mass exodus, California lost a congressional seat based on the 2020 Census. Getting a U-Haul is hard to impossible because none is to be found. They were rented by the lucky ones who can afford to leave for one-way journeys to anywhere else. Drug use is rampant. It's out in the open, and no one does a single thing about it. In fact, there are laws that prohibit law enforcement from stopping it assuming, of course, that the city in which it's taking place hasn't defunded its police force. In major cities San Francisco, Oakland, Los Angeles drug use is out of control. In California cities, it is not unusual for school children to have to walk past or step over unconscious drug users on their way to school. Homelessness is rampant. The homeless camp wherever they choose. They're clustered along freeways and frontage roads, on walking paths, in Park-and-Ride lots. Taking a walk almost anywhere in California can be dangerous. You never know whom you'll encounter or in what state of mind. In cities, you have to watch where you step to avoid the piles and smears of human feces and discarded needles. In response, Governor Newsom and the California Legislature repeatedly raise fees and taxes and throw money at the problem without dealing with the root cause, and nothing changes. Those fees and taxes are directly and immediately behind the push to get California residents to move to 100% electric everything. That push has zero to do with the environment. It has everything to do with money. The State Public Utilities Commission determines electric rates in California. Electricity has always been more expensive than natural gas because the infrastructure is far more expensive to maintain, and the supply is relatively limited. Under Gavin Newsom and through executive order instead of a vote of the people, all residents who need or want a new car will be forced to buy E.V.s starting in 2035. There will be no choice. Can't afford to charge your car? Too bad, but take the bus (which will be loaded with the mentally ill, homeless, and drug abusers whom you'll have the privilege of sitting next to). Can't afford to heat or cool your home? That's okay. California is pretty temperate. Get some more blankets and sweaters, or just suffer through it if it's hot. Power goes out because the grid implodes and you don't have electricity? Tough. Just last September, we had the image of Governor Newsom standing in an obviously well air-conditioned room wearing a fleece jacket while California baked under a heat wave as he told California residents not to plug in their electric cars because the grid couldn't take the strain. Yet we're all supposed to be driving E.V.s by 2035. Californians no longer have the freedom to choose, to decide what kind of vehicle we want to buy or drive. Some jurisdictions are taking it a step farther by outlawing new gas stations and replacement pumps and tanks for existing stations. What happens when gas stations are no longer available? We're no longer allowed to decide if we want a gas stove a stove that will continue to operate when the electrical grid goes down. Ditto gas water heaters and furnaces that will continue to provide hot water and warm air if there's no electricity. Perhaps you like to stand naked under a freezing jet of water while you shower so you can go to work on the bus loaded with the homeless and mentally ill. Gavin Newsom and people like him are an existential threat to this nation. If he takes the policies he and his cronies have enacted in California to Washington, D.C., this country is going to be a solid third-world toilet, and there is nowhere else to go, because these kinds of policies are being enacted the world over. Wake up, America. Engage your brain, and think about whom you vote. Otherwise, welcome to Gulag California. Image: Gavin Newsom. Credit: Gage Skidmore via Flickr, CC BY-SA 2.0. For DACA recipients, U.S. life under Joe Biden just keeps getting better and better. Here's the latest from the Washington Examiner: President Joe Biden is reportedly set to expand the health plans available to hundreds of thousands of people who illegally immigrated to the United States as children. Biden's decision will allow participants in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program to access government-funded health insurance programs such as Medicaid and Obamacare's health insurance exchanges, officials reportedly told the Associated Press. A formal announcement is expected on Thursday. DACA was announced in 2012 and allows participants to work legally. However, recipients don't have full legal status and are denied access to multiple government benefits given to citizens. In particular, DACA recipients are disqualified from government-subsidized health insurance because they lack a "lawful presence" in the U.S. Seems the camel's nose under the tent of the DACA executive order, which was supposed to be a two-year renewable amnesty with work permits alone, has expanded into greater and greater benefits and won't be likely to stop. Now, there are some understandable reasons for doing this, at least from the Democrats' and the migrants' point of view. Illegals clog up emergency rooms if they don't have health insurance when they get sick, driving many hospitals into bankruptcy from their unpaid bills. We already know that that is happening in the Southwest. Second, the DACA kids, who may have shelled out $600-plus for the DACA application fee, or gotten an NGO or university to pay it for them, can't buy subsidized insurance on the Obamacare exchanges, or get health insurance for free if they qualify for Medicaid, which a large percentage of the estimated 580,000 of them do. Asylum-seekers, by contrast, do get it all for free paying no application fee for their usually invalid asylum claims, and getting free health care as well. That includes the two to five million recent border-crossers who've rolled in from the Biden border surge. The DACA kids, by contrast, must be feeling mighty screwed over, given the free ride the Biden border-surgers are walking off with. President Obama signed his original executive order creating DACA against significant political headwinds in 2012, defensively insisting that it was just a temporary little stopgap measure, a crumb, some breathing space until "comprehensive immigration reform" (read: amnesty) could be enacted. Now, let's be clear this is not amnesty, this is not immunity. This is not a path to citizenship. It's not a permanent fix. This is a temporary stopgap measure that lets us focus our resources wisely while giving a degree of relief and hope to talented, driven, patriotic young people. It is Biden, of course, with this measure, shows intent to institutionalize DACA as a big sprawling government program that continuously adds new staff and services for this class of illegals as a political constituency. That's evident enough in this Kaiser Family Foundation study, finding that a significant portion of the DACA population already has health insurance. Someone else may be paying for it, such as the State of California, or other states that have volunteered to pay for such things, or a legally employed relative who can put them on his insurance plan until age 26, or the federally funded universities the DACA kids may attend, or some employers, or they may be paying full fare themselves from private companies for the tax breaks if they pay taxes. What's more, since DACA recipients are by definition young, they are probably like many young people throughout the country, meaning they could buy health insurance, but as healthy young people, they are unlikely to use it, and therefore, they don't want to. But if all of these factors are the case, that's a lot of mitigating factors. So why is Joe Biden handing it out for free? Why isn't he at least billing the DACA recipients' host countries for the cost instead of dumping it onto the U.S. taxpayer? What we see here is simply gravy to a favored constituency, with a bailout to the blue states that have overcommitted to pay for illegals' "free" health care, and a big price tag for the taxpayers attached. The Daily Kos, a far-left blog that is still around, observed that many but not all of the DACA kids would probably help themselves: There's roughly 580,000 immigrants who have DACA status as of today. While all of them would presumably become eligible for ACA enrollment (and, therefore, federal ACA subsidies) via the change in their residency status, that doesn't mean 580K new ACA exchange enrollees. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, around 39% of them are currently uninsured, or roughly ~230,000, give or take.The rest have other types of healthcare coverage just like most other Americans do. Even among those ~230K, not all of them will necessarily qualify for financial subsidies as some may have too high an income, although I suspect that number will be minimal among this population. And of course some of them will become eligible for Medicaid instead. On the other hand, some of the other ~350K DACA recipients who are currently categorized as "insured" may have terrible coverage via short-term or other types of "junk" plans and thus may become eligible for ACA/Medicaid coverage as well. As these things go, count on the migrants to take the least expensive, most subsidized option, because, like anyone, they respond to proffered incentives. That saddles the taxpayers with the most debt, and the Washington Examiner noted that the cost of Biden's new health care giveaway to the foreigners is unknown. The Daily Kos report noted that even if all don't enroll, the number of people to be suddenly covered through the taxpayer-subsidized exchanges would be significant equivalent to a state the size of Iowa or West Virginia. Sound like a bill the U.S. is in a position to pay? It's not just that this is a significant expense for a low-priority problem here. It's also a slap in the face to American citizens, whom Biden is currently saddling with higher and higher debt. If my unsubsidized health care bill costs me $1,400 a month, then we can assume that the subsidized costs of that amount are a percentage of a figure like that, or if the DACA recipient goes on Medicaid and gets an entirely free ride, Biden will effectively make his health care giveaway a $10,000$20,000 gift to DACA recipients. What's more, any subsidy to DACA foreigners will likely show up in the health care bills of those who have to pay their health care costs themselves as insurance companies shift the cost of the discount health care onto the paying customers. Subsidies don't usually cover everything, so paying Americans can look forward to higher insurance bills, as if Bidenflation's damage were not already enough. Health care costs on citizens required to buy the health care in the past year rose between 5% and 14% for those who buy their insurance on the exchanges. Biden, of course, has done nothing about that. That's not even on his radar. Every move Biden makes saddles the taxpayers with higher and higher costs and debt burdens there's his California water-rationing plan, which will drive water bills in the Southwest sky-high, making even the water-rich years into drought years. There is his sneaky electric car mandate to force auto manufacturers into offering only high-priced electric cars on the market, pricing out the middle class who can't afford those unreliable vehicles, converting America's roads and highways to solely rich men's playthings once again. Yet for illegal aliens, Biden keeps lowering the cost, raising the incentives, handing out the gifts. As life gets better and better for illegal aliens in the States, it gets worse and worse for everyone else. Biden's priorities are utterly backwards, unless one interprets it as his being utterly hostile to American voters. Many people already suspect this, but this giveaway to foreigners utterly nails it. Image: Screen shot from NBC Nightly News via YouTube. Just yesterday, Twitter boss Elon Musk was interviewed by the BBC's North America tech reporter, James Clayton. This interview occurred against the backdrop of Twitter tagging one of the BBC's accounts as "government-funded media." Musk spoke on a range of topics, including his acrimonious purchase of Twitter for $44 billion, which involved an intense back-and-forth between him and the former Twitter bosses. Talking about running Twitter, Musk joked, "It's not been boring. It's been quite a roller coaster." He added that it was "really quite a stressful situation over the last several months," but he insisted that buying the company was the right thing to do. Musk said Twitter wasn't doing well financially when he took over and was being run almost like a non-profit organization. Twitter is now close to breaking even because of drastic cost-cutting and various subscription services such as the blue tick. Musk said that usage of the site is up, and "the site works." He added that the workload, since Musk also runs car maker Tesla and rocket firm SpaceX, means that "I sometimes sleep in the office." He added that he has a spot on a couch in a library "that nobody goes to." Regarding his controversial tweets, he joked, "Have I shot myself in the foot with tweets multiple times? Yes." He then joked, "I think I should not tweet after 3 a.m." Musk spoke about his efforts to curb disinformation by removing bots. Musk spoke also about his commitment to free speech and the fact that he is against banning TikTok. When asked about the decision to add a label to the BBC's main Twitter account describing it as "government-funded media," the interview got interesting. Musk said Twitter was adjusting the label for the BBC to "publicly funded." The BBC receives most of its funding through license fees paid by U.K. households. In 2022, the BBC received $4.7 billion of its total annual funding of $6.3 billion from license fees. The rest of the funding emanated from its commercial and other activities like grants, royalties, and rental income. The BBC also receives roughly $112 million per year from the U.K. government to support BBC World, which serves non-U.K. audiences. Clayton proceeded to ask Musk about Twitter ending its "COVID misinformation" policy that was used to label or censor tweets about alternative cures for COVID-19 and the effectiveness or the side-effects of vaccines. "Has BBC changed its COVID misinformation?" Musk asked. "Does the BBC hold itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and side effects of vaccinations, and not reporting on that all? And what about the fact the BBC was put under pressure by the British government to change editorial policy? Are you aware of that?" Clayton wriggled out of that one by saying the interview was not about the BBC, and he does not set the editorial policy. Now for the most controversial section of the exchange. Musk's detractors have frequently claimed that since his purchase, Twitter has become a platform of disinformation, bigotry, and hate. The BBC "analyzed" more than 1,000 previously banned accounts that had been reinstated following Musk's takeover and found that since being reinstated, over a third of them had spread "abuse or misinformation." What is this "abuse or misinformation"? The BBC listed false anti-vax claims, misogyny and anti-LGBT rhetoric, and the denial of the 2020 U.S. election result. Doubtless, there must be several other "studies" that arrived at identical inferences. Numerous showbiz celebrities quit Twitter owing to this change. All my life Ive tried to use music to bring people together. Yet it saddens me to see how misinformation is now being used to divide our world. Ive decided to no longer use Twitter, given their recent change in policy which will allow misinformation to flourish unchecked. Elton John (@eltonofficial) December 9, 2022 .@WhoopiGoldberg says on #TheView that "as of tonight," she's "done with Twitter." "I'm going to get out, and if it settles down and I feel more comfortable, maybe I'll come back." https://t.co/cVclFZQmjA pic.twitter.com/0Ih9fp9yHG The View (@TheView) November 7, 2022 I'm shocked and appalled at some of the "free speech" I've seen on this platform since its acquisition. Hate speech under the veil of "free speech" is unacceptable; therefore I am choosing to stay off Twitter as it is no longer a safe space for myself, my sons and other POC. Toni Braxton (@tonibraxton) October 29, 2022 Even Captain Sully Sullenberger, the brave pilot who saved 155 lives by landing U.S. Airways Flight 1549 on the Hudson River with two disabled engines, couldn't take the turbulence on Twitter and quit. To my friends on Twitter, I will be taking a step back from the platform for now. Connect with me on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram to stay informed and hear my latest personal and professional updates. Sully Sullenberger (@Captsully) November 9, 2022 The best excuse came from British film's Mark Kermode, who quipped he "moved on due to the vile stench of Musk." His display picture shows "Gone," which is from the poster of the thriller Gone Girl (2014). Clayton claimed he noticed a slight rise in hateful tweets since Musk took over. Musk rightly countered Clayton by asking him to cite specific examples to substantiate his claim. "Honestly, I don't...honestly...I don't actually use that 'For You' feed anymore because I don't particularly like it, and a lot of people are quite similar," said Clayton, struggling after being caught fabricating. "You said you've seen more hateful content, but you can't name a single example? Not even one?" Musk pressed. "I'm asking for one example. I say, sir, you don't know what you're talking about. Because you can't name a specific example of hateful content, not even one tweet. Yet you claimed that the hateful content was high. That's false. You just lied." Clayton attempted to amend his initial claim, saying that he meant organizations who track that type of content say hateful tweets are on the rise. Musk again pressed Clayton for examples, but Clayton could provide none. WATCH: The moment @elonmusk confronts @BBC reporter @JamesClayton5 for not being able to provide a single example of hate speech he has witnessed on Twitter. - Elon also points out the BBCs double standards regarding Covid misinformation. pic.twitter.com/EBRCcOrTP4 Censored Men (@CensoredMen) April 12, 2023 So what does one make of all this? Obviously, the BBC interviewer came across like befuddled squawking chicken when challenged by Musk. Obviously, there is no proof to suggest that hate and disinformation are on the rise since Musk took over Twitter. Twitter is a public platform, and there will always be a significant amount of misinformation and bigotry. What is amazing is that a journalist from a seemingly reputable organization such as the BBC would be so ill prepared for the interview. Any interviewer must be armed with facts to support his claim when he is going to make allegations. This is an elementary level of preparation that is expected from even cub reporters. An interview with Musk was a very important assignment that had the eyes of the world watching. You would assume that Clayton would assiduously prepare for the exchange, and even if he was lacking, his editorial team would arm him with the necessary information to substantiate his allegations. But nothing of the kind occurred. This is probably because the likes of Clayton are accustomed to interactions with people with whom they are in total agreement regarding key issues. They are accustomed to merely nodding in reaction to outrageous claims as long as they follow the liberal groupthink. But when provided with an elementary counter, they fall flat. Make no mistake: the real objection that the BBC and others who have been slamming and quitting Twitter have but cannot say aloud is that the platform no longer manipulates expression to suit the liberal narrative. Twitter under Musk seems to be attempting to reflect public opinion. Liberals know that their ideas are flawed, hypocritical, and unpopular, hence they despise free expression and debate. Since Twitter is no longer under the control of the liberal eco-system, they slam and dismiss it with pejorative epithets. Fortunately, their big lie was caught live on the air! Image: Twitter screen shot. Well, the geniuses in the Democrat party have made their bed in Chicago for the 2024 Democrat National Convention. It will be interesting watching them try to lie in it. What with the homeless sleeping in O'Hare National Airport, the infrastructure crumbling, and the crime rate soaring, who would have thunk the Grand Pooh-bahs of the Left would have selected Chi-town rather than someplace safe and aromatic, like San Francisco? Chicago has an unfortunate Democrat National Convention history. The scenario is oddly familiar. In 1968, our nation was in the midst of riots and aggressive protests following the assassinations of Martin Luther King and Bobby Kennedy. Today, the riots devolve from Antifa and anti-racists. Back in '68, Mayor Richard Daley had the convention center ready to rumble: The convention was among the most tense and confrontational political conventions ever in American history. The convention's host, Mayor Richard J. Daley of Chicago, had refused permission for "anti-patriotic" groups to demonstrate at the convention, and had the International Amphitheatre, where the convention was being held, ringed with barbed wire while putting the 11,000 officers of the Chicago Police Department on twelve-hour shifts. In addition, there were 6,000 armed men from the Illinois National Guard called up to guard the International Amphitheatre, giving the feeling that Chicago was a city under siege. Chicago remains a city under siege. Just like in 1968, The Democrats appear to have an incumbent president who won't be vying for renomination, and that will add to the tension. The convention may not have histrionics to measure up to the protests and performance art of the Chicago Seven, but it should be fun to watch. Is there a modern-day figure who could compare to Jerry Rubin, Abbie Hoffman, or Bobby Seale? The stage is set, and more will be revealed. Short of holding the nominating convention someplace safe (like a red state, perhaps?), the Donkeys didn't have much of a choice. Seattle and Portland are burned out husks after their failed Summers of Love, and the New York police and prosecutors are preoccupied with framing Donald Trump when they're not busy releasing murderers and rapists on their own recognizance. What about Detroit, Philadelphia, Atlanta, or Newark? Even the Rottweilers roll up their windows when they drive through these hellscapes. There's always St. Louis, but since the Ferguson/Michael Brown riots, St. Louis remains the only city in America that shows up on the worst crime on Earth top ten list. When even an icon like Jussie Smollett isn't safe on the demeaned streets of Chi-town, you know that most regular folks will need to be packing heat on their way to the Subway for the sandwiches that made Jussie and Jarrod famous. The questionable judgment of the denizens of the City with Broad Holsters is reflected in their voting habits: on what other planet could Brandon Johnson succeed Lori Lightfoot as mayor? It won't be long before the Grifty Citydwellers will be chanting in unison; "Let's go, Brandon." Considering the fact that Chicago has the worst roads, the most toll booths, the nation's second highest sales tax at 10.5%, and the nation's highest gas prices outside the People's Republic of California, it would be difficult to select a worse city to shoehorn your convention into. As former residents of Indiana, we would make the four-hour trip to Chicago twice a year once at Christmastime and once in the summer. Not anymore. The Coney dogs and pizza are still world-class, but we can't afford to dress our family in Kevlar to shop at Marshall's or Bloomingdale's. Even the CEO of the Magnificent Mile seems worried: "Violent crime has been up and that's what has us concerned," Bares said. "Carjackings, recovery of guns, some shootings, those kinds of things." Maybe the conventioneers and the city's mothers and fathers have more faith in state's attorney Kim Foxx, a George Soros protegee, than we do. But the odds in favor of a crackdown on crime in Chicago before the convention' are about equal to the odds of Joe Biden winning the decathlon in the next summer Olympics. The stage is set. Only this time, the City that Works will be supporting the protesters and disrupters rather than foiling them. Grab some popcorn, and be grateful that you won't be there. Ralph Alter is a modern art dealer and a regular American Thinker contributor. Image: David Wilson. It's time for Republicans to wake up and stop playing defense! The weeks leading up to and the actual indictment of Donald Trump show just how little we have learned about the progressive takeover of our media and legal system. It is beyond frustrating to see even conservative media parrot the liberal talking point that this is about a hush money payment to a stripper (we even use those same words) and not first about a bad-faith stretch of the law by a political activist masquerading as a prosecutor. Even the Wall Street Journal headline read "Trump Indicted over Hush Money." It is catchier than "radical prosecutor stretches criminal law to create a new theory that extends bookkeeping misdemeanors committed too long ago to warrant punishment." Because conservatives like to explain things and give logic to their arguments, we lose the public in trying to dissect the nuances rather than attacking the brazen abuses. We need to stop putting everyone to sleep without compromising our values of being intellectually honest with facts, rule of law, and history. The frustration is the reinforcement of the intended tie of Trump to the phrase "hush money" rather than a focus on Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg, his blood-in-the-water political motives, and putting himself above the rule of law. We all know that "nobody is above the law," but our lead-in should be "nobody is below the law." Even the former FBI director, Jim Comey, said that no reasonable prosecutor would go after a presidential candidate who committed obscure records-based crimes. Who someone is doesn't justify warping the law. Make this about the party who supports a rogue prosecutor, crafting new law, refusing to prosecute truly heinous crimes, and his history of political actions, including his campaign promise to convict Donald Trump. We now know that Bragg has woven the flimsiest of indictments thin threads of a series of record-keeping misdemeanors based on mere restatement of the same underlying facts, strung together to create a felony that even he cannot name or even define. Calling him "Soros-backed" does not go far enough. Change the lead from "Hush Money Payment" to "Banana Republic Activist Prosecutor." And wake up to the steady rewriting of our legal system. When pundits throw out the warning about setting a precedent that liberals should worry when the "shoe is on the other foot" the joke is on conservatives. Both sides know that those who respect the rule of law generally do not abuse it for politics, leaving liberals safe from ideological attack. It also assumes conservatives will ever take control of our institutions again. A dramatic change in our justice system and the concept of justice itself is already underway. The indictment juxtaposed with the chilling and utter lack of respect for the First Amendment at Stanford law school a few weeks ago (and Yale Law School last year) forewarns of this. To think Bragg and his ilk are mere Soros-backed rogue activists is not taking into account that hundreds of our elite-advantaged future lawyers already see the law as activism and defined by relativism, feelings, positions in society, and factors other than the written law itself. Social and political ends, rather than the logical application of rules, facts, and evidence, determine the law and decision-making. If that is so, then justice will be only unique to the person and never measured by true and established standards. And if they can make up anything to put away any one, then no person is guaranteed any protection under this new form of law. The only way we can mount an effective offense is to recognize that Republicans are the only guardians of the rule of law, and that trumps any differences we have within our party. The indictment is so flimsy that even NeverTrump Republicans are coming to the defense of the former president. For once, we have a chance to mount a unified offense, as long as we stay focused. The threat to Republicans is not Trump, but a Democrat party that has embraced legal activism as a means to political ends. If we fail to keep our legal system intact (the greatest in human history), then it won't matter what kind of Republican we call ourselves, since we will be done winning elections. It is a long time until primary season, so make the headlines about them, not us. Image: Ninian Reid via Flickr, CC BY 2.0 (cropped). I never thought I'd have to face the prospect of witnessing the decline and fall of the United States, the greatest country in the history of the world. I've always felt grateful to have been born in this marvelous nation. Yet, today, as I woke up and was having my morning coffee, I began to realize that things are changing quickly, and the changes are corroding us from the inside. Regardless of how I vote, or whether I vote, it seems as if it doesn't matter, because something evil has invaded this great land, and our lives are never going to be the same. I've been confused by the hostility coming from family and friends. I look at people I've known for years, who have become so hateful that they will agree with opinions they would never have expressed as their own. The indoctrination from the mainstream media has done a thorough job of implanting a sinister poison into the consciousness of a growing segment of the population that once would have immediately rejected the absurdity coming from the left and deemed it to be ludicrous on its face. Instead, it's as though our planet has tilted on its axis and scrambled the innate common sense that once allowed us to think clearly. We've become a nation that has lost its collective mind. We're urged to abandon reason and reject cultural norms, choosing instead an accommodation to an assortment of freakish behaviors, which, during a saner time in our history would have required psychological counseling, rather than fawning acquiescence. The more we cater to the idiosyncrasies from that tiny fraction of society, the more likely it is that it will get progressively more repugnant. You can't justify this insanity. If a guy pretends to be a woman, you're required to pretend with him. If you say it's impossible for a man to get pregnant and have children, you're attacked as a "transphobe." A woman running for the Supreme Court can't define what a woman is. If a man walks into a room wearing a dress, high heels and panty hose, while sporting a beard and goatee, and you address him as "sir," you might be vilified for "misgendering." Russians influencing our elections are bad, but illegals voting in our elections is good. It was okay for Biden to extort the president of Ukraine, but it's an impeachable offense if Trump inquires about it. Twenty is too young to drink a beer, but 18 is old enough to vote. People who never owned slaves should pay reparations to people who have never been slaves. People who have never been to college should pay the debts of college students who took out steep loans for their degrees. Immigrants with tuberculosis and polio are welcome, but you'd better be able to prove your dog is vaccinated. Irish doctors and German engineers who want to immigrate to the U.S. must go through a rigorous vetting process, but any illiterate gang-bangers who jump the southern fence are welcome. Five billion dollars for border security is too expensive, but 1.5 trillion for free health care is not. If you cheat to get into college, you go to prison, but if you cheat to get into the country, you go to college for free. People who say there's no such thing as biological sex are demanding that we elect a female president. We see other countries going socialist and collapsing, but it seems like a great plan to some of us. Some people are held responsible for things that happened before they were born, and other people are not held responsible for things they're doing now. Criminals are caught and released to hurt more people but stopping them is bad because it's a violation of their rights. And pointing out all this hypocrisy somehow makes us racists. Nothing makes sense anymore! No values, no morals, and no civility. People died from a Chinese virus, but it's racist to refer to it as Chinese, even though it began in China. We're clearly living in an upside-down world where right is wrong, and wrong is right, where moral is immoral, and immoral is moral, where good is evil, and evil is good; where killing murderers is wrong, but killing unborn babies is okay. Wake up, America! Nihilists are systematically robbing us of everything that made our country the envy of the world. Our ancestors fought and died to give us this bountiful life. Did they pass their freedom-loving DNA to us in perpetuity? Or did the soft life they created for us weaken our backbones and drain us of the courage needed to hold onto their gift? That swinging pendulum we've been hearing about for decades has reached the breaking point. Get involved in reversing it, or prepare for the end of everything you've worked for. The left is willing to destroy our country. What are you willing to do to save it? Image via Max Pixel. James Holman was a remarkable figure in the history of travel and exploration. Born in Exeter, England, in 1786, Holman lost his sight in his early twenties due to an unknown illness. Despite this setback, Holman went on to embark on a journey around the world that was both ambitious and unprecedented. James Holman was the son of an apothecary. As a young boy, he developed a fascination with the sea and dreamed of becoming a sailor. At the age of 12, he joined the Royal Navy as first-class volunteer. Holman's career in the Navy was promising, and he quickly rose through the ranks. However, his life took a dramatic turn when he fell ill with what was believed to be rheumatism. The illness left him blind and in chronic pain, and he was forced to retire from the Navy at the age of 25. In recognition of the fact that his condition was duty-related, the Navy gave Holman a pension and a lifetime of accommodation at the Windsor Castle along with other retirees and veterans. Life at the Castle was peaceful, but the quietness of such a life harmonized so poorly with his active habits and keen interests that it made him physically ill. A doctor suggested that a warmer climate might do his health good, and Holman decided to visit the Mediterranean. Following the doctors advice, he left for France. The trip would forever change him. Holman became determined to leave the life of sedentary and continue exploring the world. In 1819, Holman set out on what would become an epic journey around the world. He traveled to France, Italy, and Switzerland before crossing the Mediterranean to North Africa. Holman's next stop was the Far East, where he visited China, Japan, and other countries. He made a journey to Siberia, where he was accused of spying, imprisoned and exiled as an enemy of the Tsar. The Russians believed that it was impossible for a blind person to be travelling and so he must have been faking his illness. In Africa he participated in fighting the slave trade, helping to found what is now the nation of Equatorial Guinea. On Fernando Po Island, now part of Equatorial Guinea, the Holman River was named in his honor. Holman's journey around the world was remarkable not only because of his disability but also because of the sheer scope of his wanderings. He covered vast distances and visited many different countries, making his journey one of the most ambitious and impressive travelogues of the 19th century. Holman navigated using his other senses, and he became proficient at using a walking stick to help him move around listening to the thuds and clinks of his walking stick ricochet off his surroundings. Holman would also physically touch practically anything to gain a better understanding of his surroundings. He would glide his hands over brick walls, sculptures, and, on occasion, people. Holman's literary contributions were significant, especially considering the challenges he faced as a blind traveler. He wrote several books about his travels, including "A Voyage Round the World," which was published in 1834. This book chronicled his journey across four continents and was widely read at the time. He also published The Narrative of a Journey through France, etc. in 1822, Travels through Russia, Siberia, etc. in 1825, and Travels in Africa, Asia, Australasia, America, etc., in several volumes from 1827 to 1832. Holman made his last journeys through Spain, Portugal, Moldavia, Montenegro, Syria and Turkey. After returning from the trip, Holman finished the manuscript of his next book, Holman's Narratives of His Travels. Unfortunately, Holman died within a week and this manuscript was never published and is presumed lost. Apple rumors have been a real rollercoaster lately. The iPhone 15 Pro drama surrounding solid-state buttons is currently in, and now we have some iPhone SE 4 info to share. The iPhone SE 4 wont arrive before 2025, if the latest rumor is to be believed. The iPhone SE 4 may not launch before 2025 This information comes from a well-known analyst, Jeff Pu (via MacRumors). The analyst says that the iPhone SE 4 will launch with a custom-designed 5G modem in 2025. Why is this odd? Well, for one, the phone was previously rumored to launch next year, in 2024. The source of that info was probably the best-known Apple tipster, Ming-Chi Kuo. The same source said that Apple canceled the iPhone SE 4, which was back in December. Since then, the company obviously changed its mind. In any case, if Jeff Pu is to be believed, the iPhone SE 4 wont arrive as soon as we thought. A 2025 launch is what he thinks well see. It remains to be seen if Ming-Chi Kuo will have a response to this. Advertisement In any case, the phone is also expected to get a custom-designed 5G modem, as Apple will sort of test it via that phone. The company is probably looking to move further away from Qualcomm. It will be the first SE device to feature a different design The iPhone SE 4 will be a rather interesting launch, as it will be the first SE device from the company to feature a different design. The first three models offered the iPhone 8 design, so its time for Apple to change things up. The iPhone SE 4 is expected to look more like the iPhone 14, than the iPhone 8. It may not be the same chassis, Apple may use chassis from one of the previous iPhones, as theyre all very similar. It remains to be seen. That means it will be considerably larger than the previous iPhone SE models. It likely wont have a horrible battery life, though, and will finally adopt an OLED display. Ever since the start of the AI revolution late last year with the launch of ChatGPT and other language processing models, the music industry has expressed its concerns, as people are now using AIs to analyze existing music to generate original compositions. As a result, record label Universal Music Group (UMG) reportedly sent a letter to the streaming services, warning them against allowing AI labs to scrape millions of tracks to use as training data for their models. This move from UMG follows a similar step taken by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) in October 2022, where the body expressed its concerns that AI could produce very similar or almost as good as reference tracks by selected well-known sound recording artists. UMG fears that this scraping of original songs to train AIs will allow them to copy top artists in an indistinguishable way. This is because these music generator AIs have become increasingly sophisticated and can now create convincing fakes of famous artists performing new cover versions of popular songs. For example, an AI-generated Jay-Z track was so good that it prompted one of the first successful copyright strikes after the artists agent, Roc Nation, had the song pulled from YouTube. On the other hand, systems like Googles MusicLM are capable of generating entirely new compositions from text prompts. Recent Changes to UK Intellectual Property In an effort to assist in the provision of training data for AI systems, the UK government recently amended its intellectual property law to allow for the non-commercial use of legally acquired copyrighted material for AI research. However, some experts have criticized this as data laundering since people can legally use this research to train commercial models and still enjoy copyright exceptions. Advertisement Although AI-generated music is a fascinating innovation, it raises important copyright issues. Therefore, streaming platforms and companies like Google must take measures to prevent copyright infringement and compensate rights holders for their work. UMG has warned that it will take steps to safeguard its artists rights and the music industry as a whole. Its no secret that in this day and age, smartphone addiction poses a significant threat to children. The constant barrage of notifications, social media updates, and addictive games can make it difficult for children to put their phones down, leading to negative impacts on mental health, relationships, and academic performance. As a result, the parent group UsforThem has launched a campaign urging the UK government to ban smartphones for children under 16 and implement tobacco-style health warnings on mobile phone packaging. The campaign has already gained traction amongst experts and MPs, including school reformer Katharine Birbalsingh, who believes that banning smartphones for children under 16 is necessary. Birbalsingh argues the law already bans children from engaging in activities like drinking alcohol, smoking cigarettes, and watching certain films, so it makes sense to also ban smartphones. Additionally, British actress Sophie Winkleman, who also supports the movement, stated that the regular use of phones and social media apps, such as TikTok, hampers childrens ability to learn. The internet is a toxic wilderness were letting children stumble through without protection. I lived in California and spent time with bigwigs in Silicon Valley, and tellingly they did not let their children anywhere near screens, said Winkleman. Advertisement Limiting childrens smartphone usage with parental controls While the idea of banning smartphones for children may seem extreme, considering the increasing use of online classes, parents can still limit their childrens use of these devices without resorting to a ban. Both iOS and Android offer parental control features that allow parents to set limits on their childrens app usage. For instance, Screen Time on iOS and Digital Wellbeing on Android both allow parents to set up usage restrictions, app limits, and content and privacy filter. Moreover, parents can also require approval for app installations and manage in-app purchases. Still, even with these parental management tools, it seems that some feel a ban is a more appropriate measure. Samsung may be looking to poach another expert from a rival semiconductor firm. The South Korean tech giant is reportedly in talks with Zhao Guo, co-founder of Chinese fabless semiconductor company Biren Technology, to join its GPU team. It recently hired semiconductor experts who have previously worked with two of its biggest rivals in the industry: Qualcomm and TSMC. Guo has previously worked with Qualcomm too. Zhao Guo is a senior-level semiconductor talent who has been integral to Qualcomms Snapdragon team in the past, particularly in the GPU area. He reportedly led the development of the companys Adreno GPU architecture for five generations. Most recently, Guo teamed up with a bunch of like-minded people to found Biren Technology. Founded in 2019, the new company expectedly specializes in GPUs. Like many other Chinese tech companies, including Huawei and ZTE, Biren Technology was also severely affected by the recent US sanctions. It had to modify its products and make them less powerful to ensure continued business with some of its partners, including the manufacturer SMC. Advertisement It Looks like some of the co-founders of the company are now considering leaving for other opportunities. And, Zhao Guo may be headed to Samsung. Samsung may soon add another expert to its semiconductor talent pool Samsung hasnt been as successful in the non-memory semiconductor business as in some other areas. Qualcomms Snapdragon processors have historically performed better than its Exynos solutions. Its chip fabrication process has also been inferior to TSMCs. The company tried developing its own custom Mongoose CPU cores but that didnt work. It is now using stock ARM CPU cores but has teamed up with AMD to bring Radeon graphics to mobile. Last years Exynos 2200 is the only Samsung processor to feature AMD graphics so far (Xclipse 920 GPU). However, the two companies recently extended their partnership, so they are just getting started. In the meantime, the Korean firm is bolstering its semiconductor talent pool with the strategic hiring of industry experts. Advertisement Last month, it roped in a veteran semiconductor engineer who worked for TSMC for almost two decades. It is now looking to hire another semiconductor expert. All of this is coming at a time when Samsungs quarterly profits have declined a staggering 96% to hit a 14-year low. The company is on its way to registering its first loss from the semiconductor business since 2008. But, despite these difficulties, it doesnt plan to scale back investments. It wants to continue the planned investments in the semiconductor business in the coming years. These hirings are likely part of the plans. Hopefully, Samsung will be able to turn the tide soon. The chair of the Commons defence select committee has warned allegedly leaked documents about UK special forces in Ukraine could endanger lives. The Ministry of Defence warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak of US classified information, which have been published online, at face value. But the committee chair Tobias Ellwood told The Times: Given our long-established lead in scale and capability when it comes to elite forces, it will come as no surprise that our special forces are doing much of the heavy lifting. But this deliberate, large-scale disclosure of sensitive material could easily endanger lives and should prompt an urgent review about who has access to sensitive information and how it is shared. Media outlets including the BBC and The Guardian reported that a document, dated March 23, indicates as many as 50 UK special forces personnel have been deployed to the country alongside other western special forces. But the document reportedly does not state where the allegedly deployed forces are located or what they are doing. Former special forces commander Dan Jarvis, who served in Afghanistan and is now the Labour MP for Barnsley Central, told The Times such operations are by necessity shrouded in secrecy. He said: Any compromise of secret material regarding their deployment or numerical strength is not only politically embarrassing but also militarily disadvantageous. It risks jeopardising the security and effectiveness of those operations and could put lives at risk. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said on Twitter: 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. In response to the leak of alleged classified US information: pic.twitter.com/WWFLOhbeeU Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 11, 2023 Chris Meagher, a spokesman for the Pentagon, has urged caution in promoting or amplifying any of these documents, adding that it does appear that slides have been doctored. The documents may first have been published in a chatroom on Discord, a social media platform popular with gamers, Associated Press reported. 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. Associated Press could not independently confirm many details shared by the person and the original chatroom has been deleted. 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. Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner has denied the party is playing dirty with its attacks on Rishi Sunak and said it is right to highlight the Governments record on crime which she branded a disaster. The frontbencher defended the campaign, which has included a claim the Prime Minister does not think child sex abusers should be jailed, as factual. She said the advertisements seek to show the public how the Conservatives have failed absolutely, dismally in letting serious criminals off the hook. Asked about the claims during a visit to a food shop in Derby on Thursday, Ms Rayner said: The attack ads are taken from data that is from the official Government records about these despicable and awful statistics of serious crime whether thats burglary, whether thats child sexual abuse, that actually were not punishing people, convicting people. Theyve been in power for 13 years and it is absolutely right for us to highlight that. Asked by broadcasters if she thinks Labour is playing quite dirty, Ms Rayner said: No, were being very factual with it. Weve made it very clear that the Government have failed, not just failed slightly but failed absolutely, dismally, and are letting serious criminals off the hook because their record on crime is a disaster. Rishi Sunak is the Prime Minister. Hes been a senior politician in the Conservative benches all the way into the Cabinet, all the way through the last couple of years and nothing has been done to resolve these despicable crime figures that were seeing. I make no apology for allowing the public to see that and to put that responsibility at his door. Labour is the party of law and order. pic.twitter.com/EP6VXToK9z The Labour Party (@UKLabour) April 6, 2023 Ms Rayners comments echo those made on Wednesday by Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who defied critics by arguing the campaign is highlighting the failures of the Tory Government. The partys latest ad focused on the non-dom tax status previously held by Mr Sunaks wife Akshata Murty. The biggest outcry was sparked by the first in the campaign, which was a Twitter post featuring 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. Mr Sunak called for less talk, more action from politicians as he hit back at the campaign. The Prime Minister on Wednesday said he is focused on delivering for the British people when asked about the claim on a visit to Northern Ireland. The baby of a senator became an unexpected guest of honour in the Irish Parliament after getting a special acknowledgement from the US president. Ahead of an historic address to TDs and senators as part of Joe Bidens trip to the island of Ireland, the Dail speaker drew attention to the young infant who was being held by her mother in the chamber. As Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail was reading out the list of distinguished guests in the room for the presidential address when he mentioned one particularly young member of the audience. Joe Biden addressing the Oireachtas Eireann (Tony Maxwell/PA) I think I must mention somebody else, Mr President, because its just come to my attention that a very young observer is in attendance here today, and that is the daughter of Senator Rebecca Moynihan, he said. The introduction was met with applause by parliamentarians as Ms Moynihan held up her eight-week-old daughter Margot, dressed in a yellow outfit. MEPs Ciaran Cuffe and Frances Fitzgerald, sitting beside Ms Moynihan, laughed and applauded as Mr O Fearghail namechecked the young guest. I do suspect that Margots attendance here will go down in family folklore for many years to come, he said. After beginning his address, Mr Biden apologised to Margot for having to listen to a policy speech by the US president, which he said his own children also had to endure. Margot, I apologise to you, little baby girl, he said. After leaving the Dail chamber, Mr Biden descended the stairs outside the chamber and was handed baby Margot, and held her for several seconds. Former Taoiseach Enda Kenny has said he hopes US President Joe Biden will receive an almighty welcome when he arrives in Co Mayo for the end of his four-day trip to the island of Ireland. Mr Biden will travel to the west of Ireland to make a public address at a cathedral in Ballina, Co Mayo on Friday evening, the town where some of his ancestors hail from. Prior to that, he will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, also in Co Mayo. Knock shrine is a Catholic pilgrimage site that has been visited by popes, most recently by Pope Francis in 2018. Mr Biden is then set to visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. Speaking to RTEs Morning Ireland, Mr Kenny said the trip was the longest presidential visit to the island of Ireland ever and brought endless opportunity. Of all the American presidents that Ive seen and met, he has been the most active Irishness of them all. A man deeply proud of his faith, deeply proud of his heritage, and has paid tribute to that during his visit here. And I hope that as a Mayo man myself, that by the time he gets to the Moy river and St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina this evening, that they will give him one almighty welcome. Tanaiste Micheal Martin said it had been a very special week for Ireland. Mr Martin told the same programme: It has been a very special week insofar as it captures that special relationship with this president and the American people in terms of a shared past, and in many ways its a tribute to the legacy of that past given his own personal family story of emigration. But it is also a tribute to rich possibility of the future which I think he did focus on very significantly. In addition to that it is about shared values, it is about faith in the rules-based international order. On Wednesday, the president visited Co Louth, to where some of his family have been traced, and the visit to Co Mayo tracks the other side of his family tree. It is also believed Mr Biden will make a private visit to the Mayo Roscommon Hospice in Castlebar that is dedicated to his son Beau who died of brain cancer in 2015. The visit will conclude in the town of Ballina where Mr Biden will make a speech at St Muredachs Cathedral. Mr Bidens great-great-great grandfather Edward Blewitt sold 27,000 bricks to the cathedral in 1827, which helped buy tickets for himself and his family to sail to America decades later in 1851. The Mayo visits conclude the presidents four-day trip to the island of Ireland. In the Irish parliament on Thursday, Mr Biden spoke of his pride at addressing the countrys politicians. This is one of the great honours of my career, to be here today, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, he said. In a dinner at Dublin Castle in his honour, the president received a standing ovation as he finished a speech in which he reflected on his family roots and told the audience: No barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland. Fashion designer Dame Mary Quant, who was widely credited with popularising the mini skirt, has died at the age of 93, her family said. The British fashion designer died peacefully at her home in Surrey on Thursday morning, a statement from her family to the PA news agency said. Her clothes were popularised by famous faces including model Jean Shrimpton, photographer and model Pattie Boyd, Cilla Black and Twiggy, with Boyd remembering her as a true icon following the news of her death. Boyd recalled on Twitter how Dame Mary made her and her former husband George Harrisons wedding coats, sharing an image from the ceremony in 1966 which shows her and the Beatles star donning the fur coats. She wrote: Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant. Mary insisted on making Georges and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. A true icon. RIP. Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant.Mary insisted on making George's and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox.A true icon. RIP pic.twitter.com/qQeNjyFz2T Pattie Boyd (@thepattieboyd) April 13, 2023 Born in south-east London on February 11 1930, Dame Mary was the daughter of two Welsh school teachers. She gained a diploma in the 1950s in Art Education at Goldsmiths College, where she met her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, who later helped establish her brand, he died in 1990. The designer is survived by her son Orlando, three grandchildren and her brother Tony Quant. A statement from the family said: Dame Mary Quant died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK, this morning. Dame Mary, aged 93, was one of the most internationally recognised fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties. Mary Quant at Buckingham Palace after receiving an OBE at her investiture (PA) Following the news, fellow designer Sir Paul Smith said: Im very sad to hear about the passing of Mary Quant, she was a brave innovator who was constantly modern, willing to shock and blessed with a business and personal partner, Plunket Greene, who could help turn her ideas into reality. Professor Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, added: Dame Mary was a pioneer who made an indelible mark on society through her visionary work. Prof Corner added that she was one of the original disruptors whose trend-setting work changed the way we thought as well as how we dressed. This profound impact took us from the black and white world of the 1950s to the technicolour brilliance of the 1960s and beyond. Dame Mary was taken on as an apprentice to a milliner before making her own clothes and in 1955 opened Bazaar, a boutique on the Kings Road in Chelsea. Mary Quant (foreground), with models showing her new shoe creations in 1967 (PA) Her far-sighted and creative talents quickly established a unique contribution to British fashion. She was one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the 1960s and is credited with making fashion accessible to the masses with her sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs. Among her collection, she is arguably best known for conceiving the mini skirt as well as helping to develop the mod style in the 1960s. She began experimenting with shorter hemlines in the late 1950s, culminating in the creation of one of the defining fashions of the following decade. In 2014, Dame Mary, who named the skirt after her favourite make of car, recalled its feeling of freedom and liberation. She said: It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, shorter, shorter. Other styles from the 1960s included Peter Pan collars, as well as knitwear, swimwear and accessories and garments made using Butterick patterns. Dame Mary Quant was one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the 1960s and is credited with making fashion accessible to the masses with her sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs (Yui Mok/PA) Dame Mary also revolutionised the high street with hot pants, and trousers for women, as well as accessories, tights and make-up, while using the daisy brand design that became synonymous with her creations. She broke into the American market in 1962 following a deal with US department store chain JC Penny for clothing and underwear design. From that point onward, she was inundated with requests for designs in various fields from Britain, Europe and US. In 1964, she launched her own cosmetics brand. She resigned as the director of the company in 2000 after a Japanese buyout which soon produced more than 200 Mary Quant Colour shops in Japan. She was made a dame for services to British fashion in the 2015 Queens New Year list and was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the most recent New Year Honours list. The special award is granted to those who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine or government. She was also awarded the prestigious Hall of Fame Award by the British Fashion Council for her contribution to British fashion in 1990. In 2021, actress and film producer Sadie Frost created a fashion documentary about Dame Mary called Quant. Contributions to the biographical film came from prominent figures in the world of fashion such as supermodel Kate Moss, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, designer Jasper Conran and designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. A V&A exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career from 1955 to 1975 had had runs in London and in galleries across the world (Dominic Lipinski/PA) A Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career from 1955 to 1975 is set to open in Glasgows Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month following an international tour which included Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan and runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. At the time, Dame Mary said: It was wonderfully exciting and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. We didnt necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge! Following the news of her death, Jenny Lister, the curator of the Dame Mary exhibition at the V&A, said the fashion world owes so much to the revolutionary, trailblazing Mary Quant. In a statement to the PA news agency, Lister said: Its impossible to overstate Dame Mary Quants contribution to fashion. With her unique sense of humour, style, and determination to democratise and share the fun and creativity of her designs, she provided a new kind of role model for young women, creating a space for them to be themselves. She added that Dame Mary helped to define Britains global identity as a centre of street style and innovation with signature looks including PVC macs, colourful tights, the skinny-rib sweater, the mini skirt and her classic daisy logo. RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship- a visionary who was much more than a great haircut Alexandra Shulman (@AShulman2) April 13, 2023 She blasted through barriers of snobbery and tradition, with her vision of fashion as a way of resisting stereotypes, with well-made clothes and cosmetics that were empowering and liberating, as well as affordable, she added. Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, also described the designer as a visionary. She wrote on Twitter: RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship- a visionary who was much more than a great haircut. Children born via surrogacy or egg or sperm donation should be told of their biological origins before they start school, academics have said. A 20-year study found that there is no difference in psychological wellbeing or quality of family relationships between children born by these types of assisted reproduction and those born naturally by the time they reach the age of 20. But the findings suggest that parents should tell their children about the way they were conceived early ideally before they start school, experts said. Academics from the University of Cambridge set out to examine the long-term effects of different types of so-called third-party assisted reproduction (egg or sperm donation and surrogacy). They tracked a number of families from infancy to early adulthood. The team examined survey and interview responses from 65 assisted reproduction families, including 22 surrogacy families, 17 egg donation families and 26 sperm donation families, and compared them with responses from 52 families who conceived naturally. Researchers found that only 42% of sperm donor parents disclosed by age 20, compared with 88% of egg donation parents and 100% of surrogate parents. But they found that there were no differences between the assisted reproduction and unassisted conception families in mothers or young adults psychological wellbeing, or in the quality of family relationships. The authors of the paper, which has been published in the journal Developmental Psychology, said that young adults who learned about their biological origins before the age of seven had less negative relationships with their mothers, and their mothers showed lower levels of anxiety and depression. Study lead author Professor Susan Golombok said: Despite peoples concerns, families with children born through third-party assisted reproduction whether that be an egg donor, sperm donor or a surrogate are doing well right up to adulthood. There does seem to be a positive effect of being open with children when theyre young before they go to school about their conception. She added: Today there are so many more families created by assisted reproduction that it just seems quite ordinary. But 20 years ago, when we started this study, attitudes were very different it was thought that having a genetic link was very important and without one relationships wouldnt work well. What this research means is that having children in different or new ways doesnt actually interfere with how families function. Really wanting children seems to trump everything thats what really matters. Specialist cranes are on site as investigations continue into why a vessel owned by the US Navy toppled over in an Edinburgh dry dock, leaving 35 people injured. Two large Mammoet cranes have been placed at the port side of the Petrel, which tipped over to a 45 degree angle more than three weeks ago and sparked a huge emergency service operation at the dry dock operated by Dales Marine Services. Officers remain at the scene, and on Thursday a police car could be seen as workers operated the cranes and moved around the stricken 3,371-tonne vessel. Both the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Police Scotland said investigations into the incident, which happened on March 22, are continuing. Investigations into why a vessel owned by the US Navy toppled over in the Imperial Dry Dock in Leith, Edinburgh, continue (Dan Barker/PA) A HSE spokesman said: Specialist inspectors from HSE are assessing the technical aspects of the structural collapse and continue to work with Police Scotland on the investigation into this incident. The 76m-long Petrel was once owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who bought the ship to locate historically significant shipwrecks and discovered 30 sunken warships, including the Japanese Imperial Navys IJN Musashi. But in 2022 the Isle of Man-registered vessel was sold to the US Navy, and is now operated by American-owned firm Oceaneering International. The Petrel has been moored at Imperial Dry Dock in Leith since September 3 2020 due to operational challenges from the pandemic. After it tipped over, a huge emergency service operation was launched, which included trauma teams, an air ambulance and the Coastguard, who all worked for hours to rescue people off the ship. A view of the ship Petrel at Imperial Dock in Leith, Edinburgh (Jane Barlow/PA) Some 35 people were injured, with 23 taken to hospital and 12 others treated at the scene. A Police Scotland spokesman said: Officers are working with the Health and Safety Executive. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. The US Navy, Dales Marine Services, and Oceaneering International have been approached for comment. In a statement on Dales Marine Services website, it said it continues to liaise with the emergency services and relevant authorities in dealing with the incident and at this time it cannot comment any further. A lorry driver has been jailed for nine years for smuggling migrants into the UK in the back of his refrigerated truck carrying spinach. Romanian national Marinel Danut Palage was a key member of an organised crime group convicted of bringing migrants illegally into the country. The 31-year-old, who lives in Spain, would meet the migrants in northern France before taking them in the back of his lorry on a ferry from Caen to Portsmouth. Marinel Danut Palage (NCA/PA) He would then drive them to an industrial estate at Runcton near Chichester, West Sussex, where they would be met by drivers to take them to the Midlands and north of England. Bournemouth Crown Court heard that the operation was carried out at least three times bringing about 10 to 12 people illegally into the UK. Palage and the four others were arrested in March 2019 on the third trip by officers following a four-year investigation by the National Crime Agency. During a search of his cab, plastic bags containing 34,500 in cash, with further bundles of euros and sterling to the value of about 7,000, were discovered hidden behind a tachograph panel. Sentencing Palage, Judge William Mousley KC told him: You performed the essential function of driving the immigrants across the border in your lorry. Cash was hidden behind a panel in the lorry (NCA/PA) You had a clear organisational role in managing aspects of the enterprise. You expected, and received, large sums of money for your involvement. The judge added that Palage had shown no remorse as he had gone on to carry out similar offences in Germany and had to be extradited to stand trial in the UK. He ordered that Palages vehicle and the money found to be seized. Father-of-three Pshtewan Ghafour, 37, from Middlesbrough, was jailed for five years for his role in the organisation which included ensuring the group members were paid. Pshtewan Ghafour (NCA/PA) Both defendants were found guilty of conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration following a four-week trial. NCA branch commander Richard Harrison said: This people smuggling group were content to put vulnerable migrants, including children, in the back of refrigerated lorries for hours on end during dangerous Channel crossings . It is clear from the evidence we found that their sole reason was for profit, without any regard to the migrants safety. A NCA spokesman said that Palage and Ghafour were arrested following a surveillance operation on March 11 2019 and Palages lorry was found to be carrying at least three people on that occasion. The ringleader Goran Jalal, 37, from Bradford, remains wanted by the NCA having absconded following his arrest. Kamaran Kader, 44, also from Bradford; Mariwan Mustafa, 33, from Halifax; and Manchester duo Jamal Saied, 38; and 37-year-old Hemin Salih, who has also absconded, will be sentenced separately for their part in the network. Esme Young and Twiggy are among the famous faces to remember fashion designer Dame Mary Quant as a trailblazer whose designs helped liberate women. The British fashion designer, widely credited with popularising the mini skirt, died on Thursday morning aged 93, her family said. Fashion designer and TV presenter Young, 74, told the PA news agency: She designed things for the women who wanted to wear them and she was a big influence on a lot of designers a really big influence. She added: I absolutely think she did liberate women. She put it out there and we were all influenced by that. It felt like freedom I can have a mini skirt and I can wear whatever colour tights I want and you can piss off. It was about women. And I know some men might say it was sexual but I dont believe that. I believe it was a way of women expressing themselves and having freedom. Young also explained the impact Dame Mary had on the establishment of Londons Kings Road as a fashion and design hub, telling PA: She made the Kings Road happen. Without her, I dont think it would have happened. Dame Marys clothes were popularised by famous faces including model Jean Shrimpton, photographer and model Pattie Boyd, Cilla Black and Twiggy, with the latter, whose real name is Dame Lesley Lawson, remembering her as a brilliant female entrepreneur. Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant.Mary insisted on making George's and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox.A true icon. RIP pic.twitter.com/qQeNjyFz2T Pattie Boyd (@thepattieboyd) April 13, 2023 In a post on Instagram, Twiggy wrote: Mary Quant was such an influence on young girls in the late 50s early 60s. She revolutionised fashion and was a brilliant female entrepreneur. The 1960s would have never been the same without her. Condolences to her family, RIP dear Dame Mary. Boyd called Dame Mary a true icon. She recalled on Twitter how Dame Mary made her and her former husband George Harrisons wedding coats, sharing an image from the ceremony in 1966 which shows her and the Beatles star donning the fur coats. She wrote: Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant. Mary insisted on making Georges and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. A true icon. RIP. Born in south-east London on February 11 1930, Dame Mary was the daughter of two Welsh school teachers. She gained a diploma in the 1950s in Art Education at Goldsmiths College, where she met her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, who later helped establish her brand, he died in 1990. The designer is survived by her son Orlando, three grandchildren and her brother Tony Quant. A statement from the family said: Dame Mary Quant died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK, this morning. Mary Quant at Buckingham Palace after receiving an OBE at her investiture (PA) Dame Mary, aged 93, was one of the most internationally recognised fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties. Following the news, fellow designer Sir Paul Smith said: Im very sad to hear about the passing of Mary Quant, she was a brave innovator who was constantly modern, willing to shock and blessed with a business and personal partner, Plunket Greene, who could help turn her ideas into reality. Professor Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, added: Dame Mary was a pioneer who made an indelible mark on society through her visionary work. Prof Corner added that she was one of the original disruptors whose trend-setting work changed the way we thought as well as how we dressed. Dame Mary was taken on as an apprentice to a milliner before making her own clothes and in 1955 opened Bazaar, a boutique on the Kings Road in Chelsea. Mary Quant (foreground), with models showing her new shoe creations in 1967 (PA) Her far-sighted and creative talents quickly established a unique contribution to British fashion. She was one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the 1960s and is credited with making fashion accessible to the masses with her sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs. Among her collection, she is arguably best known for conceiving the mini skirt as well as helping to develop the mod style in the 1960s. She began experimenting with shorter hemlines in the late 1950s, culminating in the creation of one of the defining fashions of the following decade. In 2014, Dame Mary, who named the skirt after her favourite make of car, recalled its feeling of freedom and liberation. She said: It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, shorter, shorter. Other styles from the 1960s included Peter Pan collars, as well as knitwear, swimwear and accessories and garments made using Butterick patterns. Dame Mary Quant was one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the 1960s and is credited with making fashion accessible to the masses with her sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs (PA) Dame Mary also revolutionised the high street with hot pants, and trousers for women, as well as accessories, tights and make-up, while using the daisy brand design that became synonymous with her creations. She broke into the American market in 1962 following a deal with US department store chain JC Penny for clothing and underwear design. From that point onward, she was inundated with requests for designs in various fields from Britain, Europe and US. In 1964, she launched her own cosmetics brand. She resigned as the director of the company in 2000 after a Japanese buyout which soon produced more than 200 Mary Quant Colour shops in Japan. She was made a dame for services to British fashion in the 2015 Queens New Year list and was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the most recent New Year Honours list. The special award is granted to those who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine or government. She was also awarded the prestigious Hall of Fame Award by the British Fashion Council for her contribution to British fashion in 1990. In 2021, actress and film producer Sadie Frost created a fashion documentary about Dame Mary called Quant. Contributions to the biographical film came from prominent figures in the world of fashion such as supermodel Kate Moss, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, designer Jasper Conran and designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. A V&A exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career from 1955 to 1975 had had runs in London and in galleries across the world (PA) A Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career from 1955 to 1975 is set to open in Glasgows Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month following an international tour which included Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan and runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. At the time, Dame Mary said: It was wonderfully exciting and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. We didnt necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge! RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship- a visionary who was much more than a great haircut Alexandra Shulman (@AShulman2) April 13, 2023 Following the news of her death, Jenny Lister, the curator of the Dame Mary exhibition at the V&A, said the fashion world owes so much to the revolutionary, trailblazing Mary Quant. In a statement to PA, Lister said: Its impossible to overstate Dame Mary Quants contribution to fashion. With her unique sense of humour, style, and determination to democratise and share the fun and creativity of her designs, she provided a new kind of role model for young women, creating a space for them to be themselves. Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, described the designer as a visionary. While head of curatorial at the Design Museum, Priya Khanchandani, said: Known for popularising miniskirts, hot pants and hosiery, Mary Quants playful designs in contrasting colours represent the apotheosis of 60s fashion and female liberty. A creative visionary and retail pioneer, who built one of the most enduring businesses of her time, she made her innovative style accessible to so many; and design today owes a great deal to her legacy. Two fishermen have written a protest song against plans to ban fishing in 10% of Scottish waters, saying they consider the move one of the biggest risks to rural life since the Highland Clearances. Donald MacNeil, 64, said fishing has been his whole life and it supports his family as well as the community he lives in on Vatersay in the Outer Hebrides. He has teamed up with fellow fisherman Angus MacPhail, the founder of Celtic band Skipinnish, to make his recording debut in the track The Clearances Again a stand against plans to introduce Highly Protected Marine Areas (HPMAs). Donald MacNeil, 64, has provided vocals on the song (Stephen Kearney/PA) The Scottish Government proposals would place strict limits on some human activities, such as fishing and aquaculture, in at least 10% of Scotlands waters. Ministers insist HPMAs will conserve marine ecosystems while providing economic and social benefits. But Mr MacPhail, who is based on Barra in the Hebrides, said: They (HPMAs) pose the biggest peacetime risk to our communities since the Highland Clearances and give zero regard to the effective local management of these waters. To be told by officials in Edinburgh that they know better than those of us in the fishing community is frankly insulting and proves they know nothing of how we operate and how fragile the economy of these communities are. For the sake of my children and those who will come after us, I will do everything I can to stand against these ill-conceived and badly planned proposals. HPMAs have only one objective to devastate our rural, coastal communities and clear them of the indigenous people who have protected them for millennia. This cannot be allowed to happen. As DF (Mr MacNeil) sings at the end of The Clearances Again, My song marks a fight for survival/A Mayday call we cry/We will stand for the rights of our children/We will not let our islands die. This is a strong clarion call to everyone that holds the future of these communities dear to make their voices heard through the Governments consultation. Mr MacNeil sings the vocals on the track. He said: Fishing has been my whole life. It supports my family and many in the community I have lived in since I was born. I know every reef, skerry and sandbank around these shores, better than any who are pushing these devastating proposals on us. For generations we have fished responsibly, taken only whats sustainable, and made sure we do not damage the industry that puts food on my familys table. The Clearances Again is available to download on all streaming platforms from Friday. Skipinnish and Mr MacNeil will perform The Clearances Again live for the first time at the bands Aberdeen Music Hall concert on May 12, coinciding with the annual major fishing exhibition in the city. A Scottish Government spokesperson said: Scottish ministers remain committed to supporting Scotlands fishing sector, which plays such a key role in contributing to our economic prosperity especially in remote, rural and island communities. However, we are equally clear that a healthy marine environment is essential to supporting the long-term sustainability of the sector that would allow key species and habitats to restore and recover. We are currently at the early stages of consulting on the principles which will inform our overall approach to the future development of Highly Protected Marine Areas and how sites will be identified and selected. No sites have been proposed or selected as yet. We will continue to work closely with the fishing industry, other marine users and coastal communities as this work progresses. Scotland is not alone in recognising the need for higher levels of protection for the marine environment the UK Government is developing proposals for Highly Protected Marine Areas and the EU is taking action to designate similar strictly protected areas through the EU Biodiversity Strategy to 2030. Fly-tipping has been effectively legalised under the Tory Government, the Liberal Democrats have claimed as they highlight research suggesting just one in 500 cases leads to prosecution. The party is the latest to accuse ministers of failing to tackle rising levels of dumped waste amid competing efforts to be seen as tough on crime in the run-up to local elections. Data from local authorities across England shows more than a million fly-tipping incidents were recorded in 2021-22, though fewer than 2,000 resulted in legal action, the Lib Dems said. Fly-tipping is an offence under the Environmental Protection Act 1990 and can result in a warning, formal caution or prosecution. According to the Lib Dems analysis, only 1,798 fines were issued by courts for the offence last year, with a total value of 837,000. This amounts to an average of just 77p in fines being issued for every fly-tipping incident in the country, the party said. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said the 77p figure is inaccurate, and that it does not take into account 91,000 fixed penalty notices issued in 2021/22, with each containing a fine of up to 400. It said there were 4% fewer fly-tipping incidents in 2021/22 than in the previous 12 months, while enforcement action and the number of penalty notices both increased. Defra also said the number of court fines rose from 621 to 1,798 in the same period, with the total value of fines more than doubling to 840,000. The Lib Dems want the Government to increase court fines and put the money raised into a fly-tipping fighting fund to give greater support to local authorities. Party spokesman for the environment and former leader Tim Farron MP said: The fact that fly-tipping is going unpunished is simply appalling. If people arent being fined, its no wonder that they think they can dump their rubbish on the streets without consequence. Brits do the right thing with their waste but a badly behaved minority is spoiling our environment. The lack of action on this issue from the Government sends out the message that they do not take it seriously enough. They have effectively legalised littering through their inaction. The Lib Dems (would) take more action against fly-tippers by increasing the cost of the fine and using the profits to crack down on fly-tippers. With local elections around the corner, communities must vote to clean up the mess that the current Government has created. Conservative party vice chairman Paul Holmes said: The Lib Dems record speaks for itself they charge more in council tax than Conservatives while delivering poorer services for local residents. Meanwhile, the Conservatives are tackling fly-tipping through our anti-social behaviour action plan, including fines of up to 1,000 for fly-tippers, while helping deliver new CCTV across the country to catch offenders and restore pride in communities. It comes after Labour pledged to force fly-tippers to remove litter as part of clean-up squads, highlighting research showing there are nearly 3,000 incidents of dumped waste per day in England. As both main parties ramp up commitments on law and order ahead of Mays elections, the opposition pointed to Government data on fly-tipping showing cases have risen by a third over the last 13 years under the Conservatives. The number of incidents of rubbish blighting highways and footpaths rose from 819,571 in 2010 to 1.09 million in 2022, according to the figures. That amounted to an average of 125 incidents an hour, or 2,989 a day, Labour said. The Scottish Governments legal challenge against the blocking of controversial gender recognition reforms will be very difficult, a former Supreme Court justice has said. First Minister Humza Yousaf confirmed on Wednesday that a judicial review is to be sought after the UK Government stopped the Bill, and Lord Sumption warned the Scottish Governments legal position is arguable, but I think it is weak. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack used powers under Section 35 of the Scotland Act to prevent the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which was passed by MSPs late last year, from gaining royal assent. Lord Sumption warned the Scottish Governments case will be very difficult (Supreme Court/PA) The UK Government argued the legislation, which was introduced to simplify and speed up the process trans people go through to obtain legal recognition in their preferred gender, impacted on UK-wide equalities laws. But SNP ministers have accused the UK Government of seeking to undermine devolution by preventing legislation backed by MSPs from all parties in the Scottish Parliament from becoming law. Speaking about the Scottish Governments legal challenge, Lord Sumption told BBC Radio Scotlands Good Morning Scotland programme: I think their case is very difficult. The case for judicial review will initially be heard in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, but is widely expected to end up in the UK Supreme Court for a final decision. Even if it was a Bill I fundamentally disagreed with, I would defend the right of our Parliament to enact legislation passed by a majority & supported by members of every political party. We cannot allow a Tory UK Govt to overrule the voice of the Scottish people with impunity. Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) April 12, 2023 Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the legal challenge will give ministers important clarity on the interpretation and scope of the Section 35 power and its impact on devolution. But Lord Sumption claimed: What this means for her, I suspect, is that it is important to be able to point to some way in which Westminster is cramping Scotlands style. That is of course something the Scottish National Party has always been keen to do. Section 35 empowers the UK Government to stop a Scottish Bill becoming law if it modifies the law relating to a matter reserved to Westminster in a way that adversely affects how the law works. One of those matters is equal opportunities, and what the UK Government says is the Scottish Bill modifies the law relating to equal opportunities in a way that adversely affects how it works. So if you think about it, the result will be that some UK citizens, if this Bill comes into force, will have a different legal gender in different parts of the UK depending on where they happen to be. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack ordered the use of Section 35 to block the legislation (PA) That poses really quite serious legal and practical problems for employers and for public authorities operating equalities legislation on a UK-wide basis. For example, they will have to discriminate between trans people in Scotland and the rest of the UK on matters like equal pay, gender discrimination, benefits, pensions, all of these things which are subject to UK-wide statutory regimes. So on the face of it the Scottish Bill does modify the law in a way that does adversely affect its operation. He said the Scottish Government will have to argue that gender recognition is nothing to do with equal opportunities, instead saying the legislation is about defining a persons legal status. But he said the impact of the Bill could introduce serious problems, highlighting that Lord Hope, a former deputy president of the Supreme Court, had described the Scottish Governments position as hopeless and a waste of public money'. The case could end up being decided at the UK Supreme Court (Victoria Jones/PA) Lord Sumption said: I wouldnt go that far. I think that the Scottish Governments legal position is arguable, but I think it is weak. Their basic problem is that gender reassignment is a protected characteristic and the Bill alters the way the law works as applied to those. The whole scheme of the Scotland Act is that matters that affect only Scotland are devolved to Scotland, matters that affect the whole of the UK remain in the jurisdiction of Westminster. That is the way the Scotland Act works. The UK Government is arguing that this is something that affects the way that UK-wide legislation works. When they met at the White House on St Patricks Day in Washington, Leo Varadkar pledged to roll out the red carpet for Joe Biden when he got to Ireland. On Thursday night, with a banquet dinner in St Patricks Hall at Dublin Castle, the Taoiseach delivered on his promise. As the worlds media waited for the arrival of the president, running significantly behind schedule after a packed day of events, the red carpet outside the State Apartments became the focus of attention. So anxious were officials to keep the fabric pristine, that a worker emerged three times to vacuum it inside half an hour. The theme of the dinner, attended by current and retired politicians and public servants, was in-season Irish produce. The menu consisted of a seafood starter with Lambay Island crab cake, a roast lamb main course and pear and maple tart for dessert. Opening the banquet, Mr Varadkar said Ireland and the US shared a similar past and philosophy. He added: When we become beacons of hope as well as of liberty, helping others to find their own paths to freedom, and the freedom to achieve freedom that is the promise of America, and it is the promise of Ireland too. Mr Biden received a standing ovation as he finished his speech in which he reflected on his family roots and told the audience: No barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland or the United States of America. Together we have worked to become more peaceful, more equal, more diverse, more unified, and I think more hopeful. So today, wherever theres a yearning for freedom, a struggle for change, a cry for justice, people around the world know they can count on Ireland. They can count on Ireland. Joe Biden arrives for the state dinner at Dublin Castle (Damien Storan/PA) Our countries remember well the cost of war and, most importantly, the profits of peace, and especially as we mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement this week, above all remember the vital and ceaseless work of strengthening democracy to deliver progress for our people everywhere. Lets renew our commitment to defending all the values we stand for. And lets remember, no barriers too thick or too strong for Ireland or the United States of America. Especially today. Theres nothing, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, theres nothing our nations cant achieve if we do it together. In the same room at Dublin Castle in 2011, Queen Elizabeth II made history when she spoke in Irish during her first visit to the Republic of Ireland. Mr Biden evoked similar memories on Thursday when he spoke in Irish during his address at Leinster House. At the White House last month Mr Varadkar said the presidents Irish visit would be like no other. As the third day of Mr Bidens trip to the island came to a conclusion, it was becoming clear he had also delivered on that promise. John Lewis has announced an expansion of its childrens fashion business as it looks for an increasing cut of the lucrative tween market. The department store is launching its first own-label tween collection for seven to 12-year-olds as part of an expansion of more than 2,100 lines alongside 10 new brands. The childrens clothing market will be worth 7.3 billion by 2027, up from last years 6.8 billion, according to Mintel. An image from the new tween collection (John Lewis/PA) John Lewis currently holds a 16% share of the UK nursery market selling one in three (34%) of all pushchairs in the UK but said this was not significantly maintained beyond a childs early years. This season sees the first childrens ranges from the retailers new director of design for fashion Queralt Ferrer, who joined the partnership in September having held senior design roles for Massimo Dutti and Marks and Spencer. Its new focus on older children sets out our ambitions to make sure we are better placed than ever to meet the needs of families as their children grow up, it said. The move followed customers reporting that their tweens did not want clothes from younger collections. A recent survey of parents by the retailer suggested that most children began to develop their own views on fashion and their style at the age of seven as they find a voice on what they do and dont want to wear. The own-brand tween range is style-led, drawing heavily on the return of 90s trends, with oversized hoodies, logo tees and wide leg cargo trousers in a monochromatic colour scheme, with prices ranging from 7 to 38. John Lewis executive director Naomi Simcock said: Weve long been trusted by families and have strength in the nursery and baby market. Through expanding our kids range, were excited to be there for even more customers, at every stage of family life. Not only have we expanded our kidswear range, weve made it more stylish taking inspiration from 90s trends, with bold prints and colours and have innovative plans to make it a focal point in our shops. She added: Its that age where you want to start creating your own sense of style, and we knew that simply scaling up our range for younger kids wasnt going to cut it any more. Now weve got exciting options, designed specifically for older children helping them shape their own look. Last month the partnership cautioned over potential job cuts as it told staff it will not hand out a bonus for only the second time since 1953 after a hefty loss. Bosses at the retail giant said employees were likely to be affected by plans to cut costs more aggressively to help complete a turnaround of the groups financial performance. A European spacecraft is all set to go to Jupiter in a mission to explore whether its ocean-bearing moons can support life. The six-tonne probe, named Juice (Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer), will be heading towards the solar systems biggest planet carrying 10 scientific instruments, in what is the European Space Agencys (ESA) biggest deep-space mission yet. Juice will lift off on an Ariane 5 rocket on Thursday at 1.15pm UK time from the European spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. Justin Byrne, head of science for Airbus and the missions lead contractor, told the PA news agency: After more than 10 years developing this pioneering spacecraft, were all going to be crossing our fingers that things go smoothly and that this amazing mission will finally be on its way. (PA Graphics) After lift-off, Juice will separate from the rocket about half an hour later. Then it will embark on a 4.1 billion-mile journey that will take more than eight years. Scientists from Imperial College London have led the development of one instrument, known as the magnetometer. Called J-MAG, it will measure the characteristics of magnetic fields of Jupiter and Ganymede the only moon known to produce its own magnetic field. Dr Caroline Harper, head of space science at the UK Space Agency, told PA: The launch of Juice marks years of hard work and collaboration by scientists, engineers and space agencies all over the world, but the journey is far from over. We look forward to following the spacecraft as it makes its eight-year trip to Jupiter and then as it studies the planet and its moons, using specialised UK-developed science instruments. The Red Team is getting on console! The #ESAJuice Spacecraft #Operations Manager now is Ignacio Tanco, and he and his team will see Juice through launch and its early moments in orbit. Thanks to the Blue Team see you in 12 hours -2:06 hrs pic.twitter.com/JjNvfnV6tn ESA Operations (@esaoperations) April 13, 2023 We have a large community of research experts in the UK who are eagerly awaiting the data that Juice will provide. With this information we hope to discover more about the nature of gas giants in space, and their icy moons, bringing us another step closer to understanding the evolution of the universe. At its destination, the spacecraft will spend at least three years making detailed studies of the planet and three of its largest moons, Ganymede, Europa and Callisto. Engineers and mission controllers have a very short launch window to send the spacecraft on its journey. 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. Juice spacecraft will explore Jupiter and its moons (ESA) Mr Byrne said that despite having three and a half tonnes of fuel, it is not enough for Juice to get to Jupiter directly. He told PA: 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. Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (ESA/CNES/Arianespace/PA) Beneath the ice crust of Europa is thought to lie a huge ocean of liquid water, containing twice as much water as Earths oceans combined. But scientists are more interested in Ganymede, Jupiters largest moon, which is thought to have a salty ocean beneath its icy shell. One of Juices key goals is to explore this body of water and determine whether this world may be habitable. Data gathered from the J-MAG instrument will help characterise the depth and salt content of Ganymedes ocean. Dr Harper told the BBCs Today programme: Where theres water, there is the potential for life. And now we need to go and have a dedicated up-close survey to confirm whether that saltwater ocean exists and then to assess whether the conditions for life could exist under the ice. Juice 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 spacecraft. "Our main question is whether we could find habitable places within the Jupiter system. Learning more about Jupiter will tell us more about our #SolarSystem & other systems" #ESAJuice scientist Olivier reminds us why we're going to Jupiter at todays @esaoperations press briefing pic.twitter.com/aHy8vEzGYW ESA's Juice mission (@ESA_JUICE) April 13, 2023 If all goes well, Juice should reach Jupiter in July 2031 and will have enough fuel to make 35 flybys of the icy moons before orbiting Ganymede from December 2034. Once the spacecraft runs out of fuel, Juice will perform a controlled crash into Ganymede, marking the end of the 14 billion mission. Dr Harper told the BBCs Today: Weve done everything we can everythings been tested and retested and then tested again, to assure us that it will all work. But its a very ambitious mission and well be very glad when in eight years time, we finally start downloading data. A man accused of murdering Pc Sharon Beshenivsky 18 years ago has appeared in court following his extradition from Pakistan. Piran Ditta Khan, 74, is charged with the murder of the 38-year-old on November 18, 2005, as she and a colleague responded to a robbery at Universal Travel in Morley Street, Bradford. The 38-year-old married mother-of-three, with two stepchildren, was a probationer with only nine months service when she was killed. Her colleague, Pc Teresa Millburn was seriously injured. Sharon Beshenivskys patrol car outside Universal Travel agent in Bradford in 2005 (West Yorkshire Police/PA) Khan appeared in the dock of Westminster Magistrates Court in central London on Thursday wearing a blue and white Nike tracksuit jacket. He is also charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. He was not asked to enter a plea to any of the alleged offences and spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth and to tell the court he was having some trouble hearing. The court heard that a warrant was issued for the arrest of the defendant in Pakistan in 2018 and that he was was detained in 2020. Khan is charged with the robbery of Mohammed Yousaf of a quantity of cash of a value unknown. The firearms charges relate to his alleged possession of a Mac 10 sub-machine gun and a 9mm pistol. All the alleged offences are said to have taken place on the same day. No bail application was made and District Judge John Zani remanded Khan back into custody before he appears at the Old Bailey on Monday. The judge told him: All the allegations that you face are to be dealt with at a higher court, the Crown Court, so I am transferring this case to the Central Criminal Court in London and you will appear there on Monday. The trial may take place in Leeds but detailed arrangements for that were not made, the court heard. A 74-year-old man is to appear in court charged with the murder of Police Constable Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford 18 years ago after being extradited from Pakistan. Piran Ditta Khan was brought back to the UK and taken into custody at a West Yorkshire police station, where he was charged with killing the 38-year-old officer on November 18 2005. He is also charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. He will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court. A Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) spokesman said that the charges were authorised in 2006, leading to the issuing of the extradition warrant. A memorial for WPC Sharon Beshenivsky (John Giles/PA) Joanne Jakymec, chief crown prosecutor for the CPS, said: A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford in 2005 has been extradited to the UK from Pakistan thanks to the continued hard work of prosecutors in the CPSs extradition and international units. Since Piran Ditta Khan was arrested in Pakistan in 2020, our specialist prosecutors have been working closely with our Pakistani partners to complete the legal process in the country so that he could be extradited back to England to face the allegations from almost 20 years ago. Pc Beshenivsky, who had three children and two stepchildren, was fatally shot as she responded with colleague PC Teresa Millburn to an alarm at a travel agent in Morley Street, Bradford. Pc Millburn was also seriously injured. Mary Lou McDonald has said there is no ambiguity about Sinn Feins stance on US foreign policy, but she insisted Irish issues will be her port of call when speaking to Joe Biden. It comes after a TD accused the US president of using the Dail chamber as a soapbox to air his foreign policy agenda as statements will not be taken from political parties following his remarks to parliamentarians. Ms McDonald indicated that she shares concerns about Americas role in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the countrys support for Israel, but said a boycott of the US presidents address to the Irish parliament is the wrong choice. People Before Profit is boycotting the historic speech by Mr Biden to both houses of the Oireachtas over objections to his foreign policy. Paul Murphy said Joe Biden should be pressed on US foreign policy during his visit (PA) The party said the move is due to Mr Bidens record on Palestine, Iraq, Nato expansion and over climate pollution as well as the absence of opportunity for Dail parties to ask questions. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told the PA news agency it is possible to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement while also raising concerns about US foreign policy. We think its our duty to speak out about this and to draw attention to it Its treated as a visit by an interesting Irish-American celebrity, as opposed to a visit of the most powerful person in the world who needs to be asked hard questions about the kinds of policies that he is pursuing, he said. When asked about Sinn Feins position, he said there is no indication the party is going to raise the foreign policy criticisms it has. When Biden speaks in the Dail this afternoon and I presume he will make allusions to Ukraine, hints towards Nato, the importance of the West standing together, etc Sinn Fein TDs will, together with every other single TD and Senator in the Dail I presume, stand up and give a standing ovation. That is not raising necessary criticisms of Joe Biden, that is allowing him to present himself as something that hes not. Sinn Fein Party leader Mary Lou McDonald is to meet US President Joe Biden during his Irish visit (Liam McBurney/PA) The problem is we are not being given an opportunity to give our position, nor is any other party in the Dail. This has been the policy previously for US presidents who address the Dail, Mr Murphy said the Oireachtas Business Committee heard this was due to the prominence and stature of the position of US presidents. Mr Murphy added: We do think that if you go to address a parliament, which is made up of representatives of people representing different viewpoints, you really should listen to the views of those people. This visit hes just speaking, theres no response by anybody, no questions, no nothing. All that Leinster House is being used for is a soapbox to push Bidens agenda. He said that in the absence of statements, the best way to show opposition is by not participating in the whole thing. Speaking earlier, Ms McDonald heaped praise on the US contribution to the peace process, but said Sinn Feins concerns about aspects of Washingtons foreign policy are well known. The Sinn Fein leader also told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme that there wouldnt have been a peace process without America. Asked directly if she shares left-wing criticisms of US foreign policy, she said: Of course I do. And those are legitimate criticisms. I very much doubt that anybody in the American administration is unaware of the wide criticism of many of their foreign policy stances. Questioned whether she would raise concerns about Israel with the president, she added: Ill meet him today. Im not sure what opportunity I will have to have any length of a conversation with him. My first port of call with the president is Ireland and Irish affairs, marking progress, marking their contribution, but my position as regards Palestine, the rights of the Palestinian people, and Israeli apartheid are well, well documented. There is nobody with any ambiguous or lack of clarity of my or Sinn Feins position on all of those matters. Today, this visit is about Ireland. This visit is about the political impasse that we have here. The political opportunities that I want us to grasp with both hands, and the United States of America is a partner in that, and for the criticism of their foreign policy, be very clear, Ireland, building peace in Ireland, the success of all of this, is very much an American foreign policy triumph, and is very, very much to their credit. Asked about the planned boycott, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters on Thursday morning that Mr Biden was looking forward to meeting the leaders of the main political parties in Ireland. He has received an incredibly warm welcome here in Ireland. He is very much appreciative of the invitation to address the houses of parliament today. She said it was a historic opportunity for Mr Biden to set out his views to the Irish people. Eight serving and former Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of gross misconduct over discriminatory and offensive messages they shared, including some which made fun of Katie Prices disabled son. The officers, seven men and one woman, were found to have sent sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic and disablist comments in a WhatsApp group called Secret Squirrel Shit between May 17, 2016 and June 26, 2018. Legal chairman Christopher McKay described gross misconduct as a breach of the standards of professional behaviour that is so serious as to justify dismissal, during the fifth day of hearings at Palestra House in Southwark, central London, on Thursday. He found each officer to have committed gross misconduct over their own messages, as well as by failing to challenge or report the conduct of others in the group. Some of the messages targeted Katie Prices disabled son Harvey (PA) The hearing concerned former sergeant Luke Thomas, former acting sergeant Luke Allen, former Pc Kelsey Buchan, former Pc Carlo Francisco, former Pc Lee South, former Pc Darren Jenner, Pc Glynn Rees, and Officer B, who has been granted anonymity. Their messages included derogatory comments about 20-year-old Mr Price, who suffers from PraderWilli syndrome and autism, and about a junior female officer, known in the hearings as Officer A. Mr McKay said Officer B, who can be named at the end of proceedings, posted an edited photograph of Mr Price in the chat with the caption: Youve heard of elf on a shelf, now get ready for Harvey Price eating Uncle Bens basmati rice after trying to read three blind mice on spice, saying hello you c***. Mr McKay said: The rhyme has a racist tone and refers to his disability he is partially sighted. There is no need to refer to Uncle Bens rice unless pointing to the racial origins of Uncle Ben and Harvey Price being similar. The words trying to read also highlight his disability. The officers shared offensive messages in a WhatsApp group (Nick Ansell/PA) Mr McKay said the post was a significant breach of the standard of equality and diversity, inappropriate and offensive to Mr Price, and constitutes gross misconduct. The panel found the most senior-ranking officer in the group, Mr Thomas, appears to have been one of the most active participants in the WhatsApp group. Mr Thomas, who resigned in February, mocked Mr Prices weight in some messages, called Officer A f****** ugly, and joked that he should name his dog Auschwitz, Adolf or Fred or Ian after my two favourite child sex killers. Mr McKay said: Given his supervisory role as a sergeant, he failed to adequately supervise or guide his team in respect of conduct. His failings are extremely serious. He could and should have closed the WhatsApp group as soon as the highly inappropriate nature of the messages became apparent. Instead he became one of its main contributors. This was undoubtedly gross misconduct. Mr Jenner, who is believed to be living abroad and has not participated in any way in these proceedings, contributed to the conversation citing concentration camps. The officers mocked Katie Prices son Harvey (Nick Ansell/PA). Meanwhile, serving Pc Rees described an image of Mr Price riding a childs train as genius, which the panel found to be obviously sarcastic and making fun of him behaving in a childlike manner because of his disability. Mr Allen, who resigned in January and said he felt ashamed by his comments, posted a photograph of himself in the chat attempting to imitate Mr Price, with the caption: Hello you c***. He also used inappropriate terms to describe mentally disabled people, made offensive references to Germans and Nigerians, and about a victim of sexual assault. Ms Buchan, who resigned in March last year, called a colleague a f****** rude little c*** who she described as mugging me off in front of his mongy fanclub. Ms Buchan later directly apologised to Officer A for comments she had made about her, which her representative said demonstrates not only remorse but insight into her behaviour. Mr Francisco, who was dismissed in July 2022, also made offensive comments criticising Officer As appearance. The panel heard that Mr South, who was one of the more active members of the chat, said: If any of this group got out my job would be f***** long ago. South also made several racist comments in the WhatsApp group, including referring to a black male as it and made a reference to cotton picking when talking about a black inspector. Eight serving and former Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of gross misconduct over "discriminatory and offensive" messages, including ones about our ambassador and Myth Buster, Harvey Price. Here is our response to this news: https://t.co/N1KHDVIjmQ pic.twitter.com/J9s2tNgfng Mencap (@mencap_charity) April 13, 2023 Learning disability charity Mencap, where Mr Price is an ambassador, condemned the officers comments. A spokesman for Mencap said: Its absolutely appalling that serving police officers have been found guilty of sharing abusive content about vulnerable people, the very same people they have a duty to protect. We stand alongside our ambassador Harvey and condemn their actions. The charity added that it hoped the disciplinary outcome would serve as a warning to those who turn a blind eye, or worse partake in bullying. None of the officers attended the misconduct hearing on Thursday. The outcome will be announced on Friday. People aged 75 and over are being urged to book a slot for a fresh coronavirus booster jab, with appointments available in England from Monday. Covid-19 hospital admissions remain highest among over-75s, with the rate currently standing at 34.9 admissions per 100,000 people for 75-84 year-olds and 74.5 per 100,000 for those aged 85 and above. Rates have fallen in recent weeks but are still well above those for other age groups. Around five million people in England are eligible for the latest booster, including everyone aged 75 and over, older adult care home residents and those with a weakened immune system. Some care homes have already been visited by vaccination teams, but the rollout of jabs begins in full next week. Many people will already have received an invitation through the NHS app, where they can also book their appointment. It is also possible to secure a slot online using the National Booking Service website. The booster is available to anyone who is eligible and who received their last vaccine dose at least three months ago. Appointments will be offered up to June 30. Dr Jamie Lopez Bernal, consultant epidemiologist for immunisation at the UK Health Security Agency, said: Those aged 75 and over are still experiencing the highest hospital admission rates with Covid-19, so it is important everyone in this age group keeps their immunity topped up. Bookings for the spring booster vaccination are now open to all those aged 75 and over, as well as those aged five and over with weakened immune systems. Vaccinations begin on Monday, and I would encourage everyone who is eligible to come forward and strengthen their protection. Prosecutors are continuing to consider a number of files around crimes associated with the former British Army agent known as Stakeknife for other suspects. The Public Prosecution Service (PPS) made the statement after the death of west Belfast man Freddie Scappaticci, who was alleged to have been the Armys top mole in the Provisional IRA. Mr Scappaticci, who recently died in his 70s, always denied he was Stakeknife. Stakeknife worked in the IRAs notorious nutting squad, interrogating suspected informers during the Troubles. Former Bedfordshire chief constable Jon Boutcher (PA) The alleged activities of Stakeknife are under investigation in Operation Kenova, led by former Bedfordshire chief constable Jon Boutcher. The probe is examining crimes such as murder and torture linked to Stakeknife and the role played by the security services, including MI5. The investigation continues and is set to issue an interim report this year. The PPS said on Thursday a significant number of files submitted by Operation Kenova concerning the alleged criminality of Stakeknife and a large number of other suspects remain under active consideration. It described the suspects as including alleged paramilitaries, former police officers and former members of the intelligence and security forces, saying the files concern a range of potential offences including murder, false imprisonment, serious assaults and misconduct in public office. PPS assistant director Martin Hardy said that when it is made aware of the death of a suspect under consideration in any case, no decision is issued and it is the end of any potential prosecution in relation to that individual. The test for prosecution is applied only to living individuals, he said. Where there are other suspects reported in relation to such a case, those suspects remain under consideration. The available evidence is considered carefully and the test for prosecution is applied impartially, independently and in line with the PPS code for prosecutors. He said the PPS has made steady and significant progress on 26 investigation files received from Operation Kenova and which remain under consideration. In 2020, the PPS announced a decision not to prosecute four individuals investigated by the operation. They included an individual being considered for the offence of perjury while three others two former members of the security service and a former PPS prosecutor were considered for the potential offence of misconduct in public office. Mr Hardy described the volume of material generated in the Kenova investigation as vast. It includes over 1,000 witness statements and approximately 12,000 documents comprising more than a million pages, he said. Due to the cross-cutting nature of the evidence and information across multiple cases, it is not considered appropriate to take decisions in respect of individual cases in isolation. The intention has been that decisions as to prosecution in all of the outstanding cases will follow consideration of the totality of the evidence relevant to each. The complex and extensive work involved is being progressed as quickly as possible in light of the limited resources available to the PPS for dealing with legacy casework. The need for bespoke handling arrangements due to the sensitivity of the material under consideration is also a factor which impacts on the pace at which decisions can be progressed. He added: We recognise, however, that this is a long and difficult process for the families and victims who await decisions in these cases. The PPS will continue to work closely with the Operation Kenova team as our consideration of these files continues. We will also continue to keep families and victims updated as we move closer to the time when the outstanding decisions can issue. Security measures for the Kings coronation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis amid a huge policing operation with the Duke of Sussex preparing to return to the UK for the historic occasion. Policing minister Chris Philp said he hopes the high profile crowning of Charles and the Queen Consort in just over three weeks time will be similar in success to the fantastic handling of the late Queens funeral. Buckingham Palace ended months of speculation on Wednesday when it confirmed Harry will be a guest at Westminster Abbey, despite his troubled relationship with his family, though the Duchess of Sussex will stay in the US and miss Charless big day. The Duke of Sussex with the royal family on the day of the late Queens funeral (PA) The Kings second son, who moved to California after stepping down as a senior working royal, is taking legal action against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK. Months ago, Harry was criticised for revealing in his memoir that he killed 25 Taliban insurgents while fighting in Afghanistan, with security experts suggesting it has made him and those associated with him targets. Asked what effect Harrys presence will have on security measures at the coronation, Mr Philp told LBC: Those obviously get assessed on a case-by-case basis. On whether there will be a significant additional cost due to the dukes attendance, Mr Philp added: Im not going to get into peoples individual protection arrangements but, by the way, were providing protection for hundreds of foreign heads of state, overseas heads of state who are attending as well. Harry serving at Camp Bastion in southern Afghanistan (PA) Its a huge policing operation, both in terms of the streets and obviously protection for individuals, so its a big operation. He added: Were going to make sure that everybody involved in the coronation, including the general public, are kept safe, obviously. Mr Philp said police did a fantastic job at the late Queens funeral, adding: Were going to work to make sure we have a similar successful operation. More than 2,000 guests will gather at the Abbey on May 6 to witness the nations first coronation for 70 years, with foreign dignitaries set to include First Lady Jill Biden. A mass police presence will be out in force on the streets of central London as well-wishers flock to the capital to see the King, Camilla and the royal family take part in a grand carriage procession and make an appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Police on The Mall ahead of the ceremonial procession of the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II in September (PA) Harrys stay in the UK will be brief, with the duke heading quickly back to California to join the celebrations for Prince Archies fourth birthday, which coincides with the day of the coronation. The duke will only be attending the ceremony and not taking part in other coronation festivities during the three-day bank holiday weekend. A concert is being staged at Windsor Castle on Sunday May 7, with people also encouraged to come together across the country for a Coronation Big Lunch, while on Monday May 8, the focus is a Big Help Out volunteering drive. Chef and TV presenter Ainsley Harriott hailed the power of food to bring communities together on Thursday morning as he knocked on doors to hand out invitations to a local Coronation Big Lunch in Richmond, south-west London. Local resident Sarah Mountcastle and Celebrity TV Chef Ainsley Harriott with a coronation spread as he takes part in the Big Knock (Kirsty OConnor/PA) The Big Lunch ambassador, known for hosting Ready Steady Cook, said: One of the most important things about longevity in life is feeling a part of your community. We have gone through a period when everybody just became a little bit selfish; this coronation is an opportunity for us to address those things, to show our human sides and look out for our neighbours. The Metropolitan Police has yet to comment on the coronation security arrangements. Workers face a very complicated task of righting a vessel which toppled over while in drydock, a marine expert said as investigations into the incident continue. Two huge cranes have been placed next to US Navy vessel the Petrel, which tipped to a 45-degree angle last month, leaving 35 people injured. The incident sparked a huge emergency service operation at the drydock in Leith, Edinburgh, which is operated by Dales Marine Services. Iraklis Lazakis, of the University of Strathclyde, said the two cranes are at the vessels port side but no other specific action can be speculated on about righting the vessel, which he said would be a very complicated procedure. Police remain at the scene, and on Thursday a police car could be seen as workers operated the cranes and moved around the stricken 3,371-tonne vessel. Both the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Police Scotland said investigations into the incident, which happened on March 22, are continuing. Investigations into the incident continue (Dan Barker/PA) An HSE spokesman said: Specialist inspectors from HSE are assessing the technical aspects of the structural collapse and continue to work with Police Scotland on the investigation into this incident. Dr Lazakis, of the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, said for the ship to be put upright a number of aspects need to be considered, including the potential damage on the outer hull of the vessel on the starboard side, any internal structural damages or otherwise, any transfer of loads internally, and any movements of the keel blocks due to the shifting of the ship. He added: One would also need to consider the lifting capacity/radius and angle of lift of the cranes in relation to the ships lightweight or lightship as well as any additional weights or loads within the ship. Another way to bring the ship up would be by initially assessing its structural condition externally and internally and shifting of loads etc, as well as performing any repairs needed on the outer hull, repositioning the keel blocks in the drydock if needed as per the ships docking plan, then starting to flood the drydock very slowly and tilting the vessel upright gradually. Overall, this is a very complicated procedure, also considering that, as I understand it, the drydock is used by another vessel I believe. I cannot speculate on how long this would take as there are so many unknowns at the moment. Thirty-five people were injured when the ship toppled last month (Jane Barlow/PA) The 76m-long Petrel was once owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who bought the ship to locate historically significant shipwrecks and discovered 30 sunken warships, including the Japanese Imperial Navys IJN Musashi. But in 2022 the Isle of Man-registered vessel was sold to the US Navy, and is now operated by American-owned firm Oceaneering International. The Petrel has been moored at Imperial Drydock in Leith since September 3, 2020 due to operational challenges from the pandemic. Twenty-three people injured in the incident were taken to hospital and 12 were treated at the scene. A Police Scotland spokesman said: Officers are working with the Health and Safety Executive. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. In a statement on the Dales Marine Services website, it said it continues to liaise with the emergency services and relevant authorities in dealing with the incident and at this time it cannot comment any further. An emotional Marie Heaney, widow of Seamus Heaney, watched on as Joe Biden cited one of the late Nobel laureates best-known works in his Oireachtas address. Heaney, who died in 2013, is one of the best-known modern Irish poets and has long been a favourite of the US president. Ms Heaney was invited by Mr Biden to attend his historic speech at the Irish Parliament on Thursday, which took place on her former husbands birthday. Mr Biden, fond of his Irish heritage and perhaps fonder still of Irish poetry, told the seated TDs and senators: I was always quoting Irish poetry in the United States Senate over my career. Its a long career 36 years. And my colleagues always thought I did it because I was Irish. Thats not the reason, they have the best poets in the world. Thanking Ms Heaney for a signed copy of the Co Derry-born poets work, the president read a much-quoted extract of his work The Cure At Troy, a translation of a Sophocles play. He wrote, Dont hope on this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime, that longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up and hope and history rhyme, Mr Biden said. Its everything Ive been taught, rise up. Weve, in the past, made hope and history rhyme. Joe Biden addressing the Oireachtas (Tony Maxwell/PA) So today, ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate the enduring partnership between our nations, our shared past, our present, lets set our eyes squarely on the future. Former US president Bill Clinton quoted the same words when he visited Londonderry in 1995, three years before the Good Friday Agreement was secured. Mr Biden used the same quote at the 2020 Democratic national convention as he began the road to the White House. In his opening remarks on Thursday, Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail paid a warm welcome to a visibly emotional Ms Heaney, describing the poet whose work often reflected the violent turbulence of Northern Ireland during The Troubles as one of our great literary treasures. Seamus would have been 84 today and Im sure he is looking down on us with his glasses nestled between his fingers and a hint of a smile, said Mr O Fearghail. Internal party issues have left the SNP completely distracted from getting on with running the country, a Scotland Office minister has said. John Lamont said the public are concerned about how the Scottish Government is operating amid a series of controversies within the party. In recent weeks, the SNP has fielded criticism over its lack of transparency about the loss of 30,000 party members, resulting in the resignation of then chief executive Peter Murrell. Mr Murrell was arrested and questioned last week amid a police investigation into the SNPs finances. He was released pending further inquiries. Scotland Office minister John Lamont said the SNP need to get on with running public services (Jane Barlow/PA) It also recently emerged that the partys auditors Johnston Carmichael resigned around six months ago, with a search now under way for a new accountancy firm and a new chief executive. Mr Lamont, the Conservative MP for Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, urged the SNP to get themselves sorted out. He told the PA news agency: When I was out and about in my constituency in the Scottish Borders last week knocking on doors, every single person almost without fail raised concerns about what was going on with the SNP Government in Edinburgh. That is undoubtedly a big, big concern for Scotland. Its very clear the SNP Government is now completely distracted by everything that is being reported. I know my constituents just want them to focus on the day-to-day job of running the NHS, running our schools well. But there are very serious allegations being made and I do hope the First Minister, his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon and everybody else involved in the SNP leadership fully co-operate with the ongoing police inquiries. They need to sort themselves out. In a visit to Crookston Castle Early Years Centre in Glasgow on Thursday, First Minister Humza Yousaf said it would have been better if we had been informed about the resignation of the partys auditors. But looking to the future, he said: Ive got a job to do which is not so much looking back over the past, but looking at what needs done now and into the future to make sure were on firm footing when it comes to our auditors and getting replacement auditors in as soon as possible. Mr Yousaf claimed the public are not overly concerned about the issues within the SNP. First Minister Humza Yousaf visited a nursery in Glasgow on Thursday (Robert Perry/PA) Asked whether the situation could hurt his party electorally in future, he said: I think its a fair question, but I also know that in peoples living rooms, people in their everyday lives are probably more concerned about the cost-of-living crisis. Theyre more concerned about the economy and the businesses that they run or they work for. Thats the issues I want to get back to talking about. When Parliament returns from recess next week, Mr Yousaf said he hopes the Scottish Government will be able to focus on talking about the priorities of Scots. Ive genuinely been speaking to a number of members of the public and they tend to raise with me, not issues around membership numbers or auditors, but actually issues around their heating bills or the fact that they want to see our NHS recover. These are all issues that I think affect people more so than internal navel-gazing party issues. Rishi Sunak has admitted his plans to stop boats crossing the Channel wont happen overnight and declined to promise they could be completed by the next general election. In an interview with ConservativeHome on Thursday, the Prime Minister said the immigration issue is complicated with no single, simple solution. It comes after figures showed more than 4,500 people have been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats this year despite a promised crackdown. A group of people thought to be migrants are brought in to Dungeness, Kent, after being rescued by the RNLI following a small boat incident in the Channel in January (PA) Mr Sunak pledged to stop the boats as one of his five main priorities. Asked if he will be able to do that by the next election, he said: Ive always said this is not something that is a) easy; it is a complicated problem where theres no single, simple solution that will fix it. And Ive also said it wont happen overnight. Ive been very clear about that. People should know its very important to me. Its hugely important to the country that we need to fix the system as a matter of fairness. Its not fair that people are breaking the rules and coming here illegally. Mr Sunak said he expects a legal battle over the novel, untested and ambitious Illegal Migration Bill, which is going through Parliament. He confirmed there may well be an interim judgment from the European Court of Human Rights against the policy, as happened with the Rwanda scheme. Thats always likely to happen in these cases and we will robustly challenge those, as we are doing with the Rwandan cases that are currently working their way through the court system, he said. Mr Sunak added: You have to expect legal challenge on these things; our job is to robustly defend them and thats what well do. Home Office figures show 77 people in two boats risked a voyage across the Channel last Thursday. They followed 492 people on Wednesday, the years highest daily total and a figure that was revised up after it was first published. The total number of migrants making crossings last year was 45,755. The Governments Illegal Migration Bill is aimed at changing the law to make it clear that people arriving in the UK illegally will not be able to remain in the country. Instead they will either be sent back to their home country or to a nation like Rwanda with which the UK has a deal, although so far legal challenges mean no flights carrying migrants have taken off for Kigali. The Governments attempts to use a former RAF base in Essex to house asylum seekers is also set to end up in court. Braintree District Council said it has been granted an injunction hearing at the High Court on April 19 and the Home Office has agreed not to move any migrants on to the Wethersfield site until after that date. In a statement, the Tory-run council said the Home Office has confirmed preparatory work will continue at the site. Labours 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. Police have named a 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death in east London as Chima Osuji. The teenager was killed in Chingford at about 9.20pm on Easter Monday, the Metropolitan Police said. Members of the public and emergency services tried to give first aid but the teenager died at the scene. A 14-year-old boy has been arrested and two other teenage boys had previously been arrested in connection with the stabbing. Officers were on the scene within three minutes, along with paramedics from the London Ambulance Service and Londons Air Ambulance. His family have been told. The police said they are still awaiting formal identification. A friend told news website MyLondon 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. US President Joe Biden has said the UK should be working more closely with the Irish Government to support the people of Northern Ireland. Mr Biden also claimed hundreds of US corporations were ready to invest in Northern Ireland but were cautious about the lack of devolved government in the region. Devolution is in cold storage at Stormont due to a political impasse over post-Brexit trade. In a speech to the Irish parliament in Dublin, the US president touched again on themes he focused on in an address in Belfast on Wednesday when he expressed hopes of a return to powersharing and insisted stable governance at Stormont could deliver an economic windfall for the region. However, his remarks in the Irish capital on Thursday went further, particularly his assertion that the UK should be working more closely with the administration in Dublin to support Northern Ireland. During his trip to the island of Ireland, White House officials have dismissed claims made by some unionist politicians that the US president is anti-British. The UK Government also moved to explain why Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not play a more prominent role in Mr Bidens short visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday. In his historic address to both houses of the Oireachtas in Dublin, Mr Biden said more work was needed to nurture Northern Irelands peace. Peace is precious. It still needs its champions. It still needs to be nurtured, he said. Yesterday I was in Belfast to honour those who commit themselves to peace, to reiterate the enduring support of the United States to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Irelands democratic institutions and help accelerate the economy, economic growth that is opening new futures for young people in Northern Ireland. As I pointed out, there are literally hundreds of American corporations ready to come and invest but they are cautious because the institutions are not in place. Rishi Sunak meets Joe Biden at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast (Paul Faith/PA) The Good Friday Agreement, he said, had changed lives in Northern Ireland and had also had a significant positive impact across the Republic of Ireland as well. Reflecting on discussions with Taoiseach Leo Vardakar on the political situation in Northern Ireland, Mr Biden spoke of how Ireland and the United states can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland. He added: I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour. Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island. In Wednesdays keynote address at Ulster University in Belfast, Mr Biden praised the work of the UK and EU to strike the Windsor Framework on post-Brexit trading arrangements. The presidents visit to Northern Ireland came as the region marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark Good Friday peace accord that created Stormonts powersharing institutions. The DUP is blocking those institutions in protest at Brexit trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has said the framework does not go far enough to address its concerns over sovereignty. There had been speculation that Mr Biden would address the Stormont Assembly on his visit north of the border, but that plan did not materialise, with suggestions that the powersharing impasse was a determining factor. On Thursday, Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail referenced the fact that Mr Biden had not spoken at Stormont, as he welcomed the Northern Ireland Assemblys speaker as an invited guest at Leinster House. He said: From north of the border we also welcome Alex Maskey, speaker of the Northern Assembly, which Im sure you wouldve liked to have been able to address. Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle ONeill, Alliance Party chief Naomi Long and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood attended Thursdays address in the Dail. No unionist politicians from Northern Ireland accepted invitations to attend. Earlier, Mr Varadkar rejected claims that Mr Biden is anti-British. Some DUP figures past and present have been critical of Mr Bidens approach to the UK, particularly in respect of the Brexit debate. MP Sammy Wilson claimed the president has got a record of being pro-republican, anti-unionist, anti-British, while former first minister Baroness Foster suggested he hates the UK. After meeting Mr Biden in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Varadkar was asked about the anti-British suggestion. I dont agree with that assessment, thats certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration, he said. Theyre very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. We should never underestimate the strength of the UK-American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also the institutions up and running. Because people and politicians come and go, its institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. I dont feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole. US President Joe Biden addressing the Oireachtas as Leo Varadkar and deputy premier Micheal Martin watch on (Government of Ireland/PA) The Taoiseach would not be drawn on an Irish role in Northern Ireland if the impasse at Stormont continues. Definitely something that I need to speak to the Prime Minister about before speaking in public, but plan A is the only plan we have at the moment, and that is to get the Good Friday Agreement working as envisaged, have the five parties form an executive four of them want to, one doesnt, he said. I think it is possible to get the DUP on board and then, not only crucially have the powersharing institutions up and running in Northern Ireland, but also the North-South bodies which are very important too. Mr Varadkar also said Northern Ireland can benefit from US investment if it establishes political stability. I think whats envisaged is investment by the US private sector, by American companies in Northern Ireland, he said. I think if there is stability in Northern Ireland, if theres predictability about the trading arrangements and the political situation there, Northern Ireland can benefit from that investment too. Earlier, UK minister Chris Philp defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday amid criticism that the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and the US president appeared to have been scaled back to a less formal conversation over a cup of tea. Touring broadcast studios on Thursday, the minister was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the presidents speech at the Ulster University campus after meeting him in the morning. I dont know exactly what the Prime Ministers schedule was, he told GB News. I havent discussed it with him or No 10. Of course they did have extensive discussions in Belfast yesterday before President Bidens speech. Scientists in the UK have spoken of their excitement about playing key roles in the European Space Agencys (ESA) mission to launch a spacecraft to Jupiter. Juice, which stands for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, is due to blast off on Thursday from French Guiana, with an eight-year journey ahead. Its mission is to find out if any of the planets three ocean-bearing moons Ganymede, Europa and Callisto are habitable. Professor Geraint Jones, of University College Londons (UCL) Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL), who is a co-investigator on one of Juices 10 scientific instruments, said: We are excited that the mission will shed new light on worlds that could potentially host life. (PA Graphics) Scientists from Imperial College London led the development of the magnetometer, known as J-MAG, while the UK Space Agency provided 9 million of funding for the 1.4 billion project. J-MAG will measure the characteristics of the magnetic fields of Jupiter and its largest moon, Ganymede. It will also play a key role in detecting moving salts in the oceans beneath the icy crusts of Ganymede, and 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 instruments measurements, we are almost looking inside these worlds. What were doing however is extremely difficult, as the signals were trying to detect are extremely small. She added: But we think the results are going to be spectacular. Prof Dougherty and her team will be collaborating with experts from the University of Leicester as well as UCL. "[J-MAG] can sense magnetic fields five million times smaller than the Earths and is built to withstand the extreme temperatures and harsh radiation environment around Jupiter." pic.twitter.com/XXwsM92FBn Imperial Sciences (@ImperialSci) April 5, 2023 Professor Emma Bunce, director of the Institute for Space at the University of Leicester and co-investigator on J-MAG, said: After many years of hard work from science, engineering and industry teams, we are so excited that the Juice mission is finally ready to launch and start its long journey to the Jupiter system. As well as J-MAG, Leicesters scientists will also collaborate with other experts on two other instruments on Juice: MAJIS (the Moons and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer) which will observe cloud features and atmospheric constituents on Jupiter; and UVS (UV imaging spectrograph) which will characterise the composition and dynamics of the exospheres of the icy moons. Meanwhile, the MSSL has provided particle detectors for Juices PEP (Particle Environment Package) instrument, which will gather data on the atoms surrounding Jupiter and its moons. Prof Jones, a co-investigator on the PEP instrument, said: This data will help us, for instance, to understand how particles around Jupiter reach such high energies energies that could be fatal for an astronaut. Juice being slowly lifted into the air then carefully lowered on to the top of the Ariane 5 rocket (M Pedoussaut/ESA) The MSSL, along with the Open University, also has science roles in Juices 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 Jupiters 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. #ESAJuice will use its unique instruments to study Jupiter's atmosphere and answer questions such as: What's the weather & climate like?How does an atmosphere work with no solid surface?What makes the upper atmosphere so hot? pic.twitter.com/6ZTzS5Qf3n ESA's Juice mission (@ESA_JUICE) April 3, 2023 Commenting on the launch, British astronaut Tim Peake said: This is such an exciting mission, with the power to inspire the next generation of scientists and explorers. What could be more inspirational than the search for extraterrestrial life? Personally, Im convinced that there is life out there, somewhere. We have already identified 50 billion stars likely to have planets with a habitable zone in this galaxy alone. If you consider that there could be as many as 200 billion galaxies in the observable universe, the chance of Earth being the only planet supporting life is extremely slim in my view. The Juice launch is an important step in trying to unlock the hidden mysteries of the universe. Irish premier Leo Varadkar hailed the importance of US and European leadership, as he met with President Joe Biden in Dublin. The Taoiseach, meeting Mr Biden at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, praised American leadership since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Mr Varadkar said he wanted to thank you and your administration and your countrys leadership when it comes to Ukraine because I never thought in my lifetime that wed see a war of this nature happening in Europe again. He added: Democracy and liberty and the things that we believe in are on retreat, or in retreat, in large parts of the world, and if it wasnt for American leadership, and if it wasnt for America and Europe working together, I dont know what kind of world wed live in. Mr Biden, who also met with the Irish leader in Washington on St Patricks Day, praised Irish values and the countrys acceptance of thousands of Ukrainian refugees as he spoke of a stronger and stronger relationship between the US and Ireland. The pair are set to discuss efforts to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland, with Mr Varadkar thanking Mr Biden for US support for the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden told Mr Varadkar it had been great to see him in Washington last month, and said: I think there really is an opportunity to make serious progress, not just because of the accord that was signed 25 years ago, but in terms of the way Ireland is moving, the way it is taking its place in the world, working on helping countries around the world that are dealing with starvation, the way youve I know its not easy welcomed Ukrainians here and the leadership youve shown. Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina watch as Joe Biden rings the peace bell (Brian Lawless/PA) Earlier, in the grounds of the Irish presidents official residence in Dublin, Mr Biden had reiterated his hopes for the return of politicians to Stormont as he rang the symbolic peace bell. Speaking to Mr Varadkar, Mr Biden appeared to reference the progress made in securing the Windsor Framework the deal between the EU and UK to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol as he spoke of co-operation between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as very valuable as well. The US president, who will address the Irish Parliament later on Thursday as part of a day filled with ceremonies and formal honours, was greeted at Aras an Uachtarain by Michael D Higgins as he continued his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. Mr Biden, who stopped to speak to reporters after ringing the peace bell four times, said: I hope that the government begins to function as it used to in terms of functioning as a representative body in the north. I think thats necessary and thats for you all to decide, not for me to decide. US President Joe Biden is welcomed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House (Niall Carson/PA) The peace bell was installed in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden, who visited Belfast on Wednesday as part of a trip to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace accord, referenced former US senator George Mitchell, who chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement. He said: Im very proud of my colleague George Mitchell. He did a fine job. He said 300 days of failure, one day of success. We have got to build on that one day. Mr Biden is expected to later set out a shared vision for the future of US-Irish relations when he addresses both Houses of the Oireachtas. He received a ceremonial welcome to Aras an Uachtarain, with his motorcade cheered by onlookers as it passed into the vast Phoenix Park. Joe Biden, centre, with Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina (Brian Lawless/PA) It was Mr Bidens third visit to the residence, but his first as president. A military band played the American national anthem as Mr Biden stood outside the grand residence with his right hand on his heart. After listening to the Irish national anthem, the president inspected a guard of honour before being introduced to Irish dignitaries including Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy and head of the Irish police, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. But Mr Biden was peppered with questions from reporters as he stood in the grounds of the Irish presidents house, including on a high-profile national security leak and his feelings on being back in Ireland. The world leader said it feels great to be home, adding: I know it sounds silly. Mr Biden and Mr Varadkar met young Camogie players (Niall Carson/PA) The visit finished with Mr Biden and Mr Varadkar together meeting some young GAA players. Mr Biden will be accompanied to the Irish parliament by Marie Heaney, the widow of his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney. Nine members of the US Congress, one senator as well as Mr Bidens sister Valerie and son Hunter will attend the event, as well as former Irish president Mary McAleese, two former taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland political leaders and Larysa Gerasko, ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland. Mr Biden will attend a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle hosted by Mr Varadkar in the evening. Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said the strength of the UK-US relationship should never be underestimated, as he rejected claims that Joe Biden is anti-British. It comes as a Home Office minister insisted Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks interaction with the US president in Belfast involved extensive discussions while the White House characterised their talks as broad and general. The Taoiseach, speaking to reporters in Dublin following a meeting with the US president, rejected any suggestion that Mr Biden was anti-British. I dont agree with that assessment, thats certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration, he said. Theyre very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. We should never underestimate the strength of the UK/American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also the institutions up and running. Because people and politicians come and go, its institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. I dont feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole. The Taoiseach would not be drawn on an Irish role in Northern Ireland if the current impasse at Stormont continues. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking to the media in Dublin (Niall Carson/PA) Definitely something that I need to speak to the Prime Minister about before speaking in public, but plan A is the only plan we have at the moment, and that is to get the Good Friday Agreement working as envisaged, have the five parties form an executive four of them want to, one doesnt, he said. I think it is possible to get the DUP on board and then, not only crucially have the powersharing institutions up and running in Northern Ireland, but also the North-South bodies which are very important too. Mr Varadkar also said Northern Ireland can benefit from US investment if it establishes political stability. I think whats envisaged is investment by the US private sector, by American companies in Northern Ireland, he said. I think if there is stability in Northern Ireland, if theres predictability about the trading arrangements and the political situation there, Northern Ireland can benefit from that investment too. Earlier, Chris Philp defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday amid criticism that the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and the US president appeared to have been scaled back to a less formal conversation over a cup of tea. Touring broadcast studios on Thursday, the minister was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the presidents speech at the Ulster University campus after meeting him in the morning. I dont know exactly what the Prime Ministers schedule was, he told GB News. I havent discussed it with him or No 10 Of course they did have extensive discussions in Belfast yesterday before President Bidens speech. Later on Thursday, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat said the leaders had a broad, general discussion during the meeting. They discussed a number of global challenges, she said. Ms Sloat denied that the president was kept away from people in Northern Ireland, adding that it was a briefer stop than his visit to the Republic of Ireland. The president had the opportunity to engage with the leaders of the parties ahead of the speech and others, she said. I can say, as one who sat in the motorcade for about an hour before we left after the speech, the president was on the rope line in Belfast for I think almost an hour, engaging with virtually everybody, it seemed, that was sitting there. The president really enjoyed his time in Belfast, Ms Sloat added. Mr Bidens visit to the island of Ireland continued on Thursday in Dublin, with the president taking part in a series of engagements. Asked whether he agreed with claims the president was anti-British, Mr Philp replied: No I dont. I think the president, when he spoke to the King recently, agreed to come to the United Kingdom on a full state visit, which is fantastic. I think hes been here four times since becoming president so no, I dont think I would not accept that characterisation at all. Mr Philp also echoed the presidents remarks on powersharing, saying political parties in Northern Ireland should get around the table to bring an end to the deadlock. He described the Windsor Framework as a huge step forward by the UK Government which helped to remove obstacles to restoring the executive. The minister told Sky News: That was a huge step forward by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he got that Windsor Framework agreed with the European Union just a few weeks ago. So those obstacles we feel have now been removed. So we agree with President Biden, we think the parties should get around the table, restore the powersharing arrangements. Mr Philp added that Mr Bidens remarks that the return of powersharing could unlock new investment were interesting and made the case for ending the current paralysis really strong. The cost of the Scottish Governments legal challenge against the blocking of gender recognition reforms will not be revealed until after the case has concluded, the First Minister has said. Humza Yousaf said he has received legal advice on the worst case scenario figure, but added the costs cannot be made absolutely transparent before the case ends. A judicial review is to be sought by his Government after Scottish Secretary Alister Jack used a Section 35 order of the Scotland Act to prevent the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which was passed by MSPs in December, from gaining royal assent. The UK Government argues the veto was used because the legislation, which simplifies the process trans people go through to obtain legal recognition in their preferred gender, impacted on UK-wide equality laws. Mr Yousaf has been urged to declare how much Scottish taxpayers will be spending on the legal challenge. It comes after a Supreme Court challenge on independence, which ruled the Scottish Government cannot hold a legal referendum, cost more than 250,000. Speaking to journalists while visiting a nursery in Glasgow on Thursday, Mr Yousaf said he cant go into the detail of the cost because it is part of legal advice he has received in relation to the case. Asked if he has been given a worst case scenario figure of the total costs, he said: Of course, but added: I dont go into legal advice in terms of what the cost of a court case may well be. But of course, at the conclusion of that court case, well make those figures absolutely public and absolutely transparent. He also dismissed claims that his Governments challenge is destined for failure. Even if it was a Bill I fundamentally disagreed with, I would defend the right of our Parliament to enact legislation passed by a majority & supported by members of every political party. We cannot allow a Tory UK Govt to overrule the voice of the Scottish people with impunity. Humza Yousaf (@HumzaYousaf) April 12, 2023 If the legal advice said that there is not a stateable case, the Government wouldnt take it forward, Mr Yousaf said. Scotland Office minister John Lamont however vowed the Westminster administration would strongly defend its use of the Section 35 order. Mr Lamont questioned how strongly the legal advice to the Scottish Government would have supported taking action. He told PA Scotland: I do question what the legal advice will be that the Scottish Government has received on this, my feeling is it will be similar to what the UK Government has had. Mr Lamont added: This is taxpayers money that is being used by the Scottish Government to take this action. And if they do have less than certain legal advice you have to question what the motivations are for taking this action if theyve not got robust advice to back up the decision they are taking to challenge us. Meanwhile former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption told the BBC that the Scottish Governments position is weak and the legal challenge will be very difficult. Lord Sumption said the Scottish Governments case is weak (Supreme Court/PA) The case for judicial review will initially be heard in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, but is widely expected to end up in the UK Supreme Court for a final decision. Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the legal challenge will give ministers important clarity on the interpretation and scope of the Section 35 power and its impact on devolution. But Lord Sumption told the Good Morning Scotland programme: What this means for her, I suspect, is that it is important to be able to point to some way in which Westminster is cramping Scotlands style. That is of course something the Scottish National Party has always been keen to do. Section 35 empowers the UK Government to stop a Scottish Bill becoming law if it modifies the law relating to a matter reserved to Westminster in a way that adversely affects how the law works. One of those matters is equal opportunities, and what the UK Government says is the Scottish Bill modifies the law relating to equal opportunities in a way that adversely affects how it works. So if you think about it, the result will be that some UK citizens, if this Bill comes into force, will have a different legal gender in different parts of the UK depending on where they happen to be. That poses really quite serious legal and practical problems for employers and for public authorities operating equalities legislation on a UK-wide basis. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack ordered the use of Section 35 to block the legislation (PA) He said the Scottish Government will have to argue that gender recognition is nothing to do with equal opportunities, instead saying the legislation is about defining a persons legal status. But he said the impact of the Bill could introduce serious problems, highlighting that Lord Hope, a former deputy president of the Supreme Court, had described the Scottish Governments position as hopeless and a waste of public money. Lord Sumption said: I wouldnt go that far. I think that the Scottish Governments legal position is arguable, but I think it is weak. Their basic problem is that gender reassignment is a protected characteristic and the Bill alters the way the law works as applied to those. The whole scheme of the Scotland Act is that matters that affect only Scotland are devolved to Scotland, matters that affect the whole of the UK remain in the jurisdiction of Westminster. That is the way the Scotland Act works. The UK Government is arguing that this is something that affects the way that UK-wide legislation works. Actor Gerard Depardieu, who is currently charged with rape in France, is facing a new round of sexual assault and harassment allegations. (Axel Schmidt / Associated Press) This story contains details of allegations of sexual assault. French actor Gerard Depardieu has denied any criminal behavior after facing a new wave of sexual assault and harassment allegations made by 13 women over the past two decades. French investigative news website Mediapart on Tuesday reported several alleged cases of sexually inappropriate behavior such as having "a wandering hand," groping and making obscene remarks. The alleged incidents, recounted by actresses, makeup artists and production staff, had "varying degrees of seriousness" and are reported to have occurred between 2004 and 2022, in public places and on film and TV sets during the making of 11 projects, including on the French comedy "Big House," the biopic "Dumas" and the Netflix crime series "Marseille." The months-long investigation began after numerous women shared their personal stories on the Instagram account of French actor-director Andrea Bescond, a prominent figure involved in the fight against sexual violence, who told Mediapart that Depardieu is "the only public personality about whom I've received so many stories." In the report, the women made allegations of groping in their pants, between their legs, on their butt or on their chest enduring obscene sexual remarks and sometimes having to put up with "persistent groaning noises." Some of the women told the publication that they were shocked that no action was taken on the sets and said that Depardieu's alleged behavior was being tolerated or met with laughter. "Three of these women have told their stories to the French justice system, though none has made a formal complaint. Some gave up on doing so, others did not even consider it. The reason was the feeling that their word would carry little weight against this 'giant of French cinema.' And that doing so could even mean the end of their careers," Mediapart's Marine Turchi wrote. Depardieu, 74, declined to be interviewed or comment on the report but denied any criminal behavior through his Paris-based law firm Cabinet Temime. He "formally denies all the charges which may fall under criminal law," his attorney told Mediapart, calling some of the allegations very subjective assessments and/or moral judgments. Representatives for the actor did not immediately respond Wednesday to The Times' requests for comment. The Paris prosecutor's office told the news agency AFP on Wednesday that it had "not received any new complaint to date," the BBC reported. The actor is under investigation separately after being charged with rape in December 2020. French prosecutors at the time revived a 2018 investigation relating to allegations made by an actress in her 20s that was initially dropped in because of lack of evidence. Depardieu absolutely denies any rape, any sexual assault, any crime," his lawyer said. During questioning relating to that investigation, Depardieu has denied that he is a predator" and described himself as a gentlemen who "likes to woo," someone who is "opposed to all form of violence whether it be verbal, physical or psychological and who is extremely reserved about sexual matters, Mediapart reported. The controversial star who broke through in Hollywood with the 1990 comedy "Green Card" is one of France's most well-known and prolific actors. The Oscar-nominated "Cyrano de Bergerac" star has more than 200 credits to his name over his five-decade spanning career. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. LONDON (AP) Prince Harry will attend his fathers coronation, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday, ending months of speculation about whether the prince would be welcome after leveling charges of racism and media manipulation at the royal family. His wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will remain at the couples home in Southern California with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the palace said. A nearly identical statement from the Sussex's representatives confirmed the news. The May 6 date of the coronation at Westminster Abbey coincides with their sons birthday. While the announcement should silence the will he or wont he debate in the British media, it wont end the royal soap opera swirling around Harry and Meghan as King Charles III prepares for his coronation. When the prince attended the funerals of his grandfather, Prince Philip, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, commentators discussed everything from whether Harry would be allowed to wear his military uniform to exactly where he was seated. And there is always the question of whether he will meet face-to-face with his father and older brother, Prince William. That intrigue will only be heightened after Harry and Meghan stoked their critique of the royal family in a six-part Netflix series about their decision to step back from royal duties three years ago, which was followed by Harrys decision to reveal family secrets in his bestselling memoir Spare. Harry and Meghan, who is biracial, have alleged she faced racist attitudes from both the palace and the U.K. press. The treatment contributed to their decision to leave the country. The revelations in Spare,'' including details of private conversations with his father and brother, Prince William, fanned tensions between Harry and his family that became public when he and his wife moved to North America in 2020. The book also included allegations that members of the royal family regularly feed the press unflattering information about other members of the House of Windsor in exchange for positive coverage of themselves. The prince singled out Camilla, the queen consort, accusing her of leaking private conversations to the media as she sought to rehabilitate her image after marrying Charles. Camilla was once reviled for her long-term affair with Charles, which contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to the late Princess Diana, Harry and Williams mother. The acrimony between Harry and his family once again spilled into public view last month when the Sussexes said that they had been asked to vacate their home in Britain. Frogmore Cottage, a royal residence on the grounds of Windsor Castle west of London, was the couples main residence before they gave up royal duties and moved to Montecito, a wealthy enclave in Southern California. At first, when suburban mom Kristin gets the mysterious call to head to Italy to settle the affairs of a dead relative, she protests shes too busy. Then she realizes theres not much keeping her: Her son is off to college, her job is dead-end, and her husband? He's cheating with the school guidance counselor. So why not treat herself to a me-focused trip, a la Julia Roberts? Maybe an Eat, Pray, Love trip, muses Kristin (Toni Collette), to which her friend (Sophie Nomvete) replies that what she really needs, bluntly, is to Eat, Pray, $%&$. Soon thats the slogan for her trip. It also would a great alternative title for Mafia Mamma, if they could get away with it. And really, they try to get away with most everything else. That includes some cringe-worthy slapstick, some Tarantino-level violence, and also every Italian stereotype you can imagine (Grape-stomping? Check. Gelato, gnocchi and cannoli? Check. Speaking of cannoli: The Godfather? Check. Stanley Tuccis food show? Check!) Some of this is to be expected, but Mafia Mamma, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, is over-saturated with shtick. And in a script which seeks to empower its protagonist by having her don a tight dress and commit murder with a stiletto heel to the groin (and eyeball), the goriest death is by cliche. Nobody escapes it. Not even the wonderfully versatile Collette, who does yeomans work selling the increasingly repetitive plot developments, especially in the latter half, and maintaining sympathy for her character, who's such a wide-eyed fish out of water, shes never even seen The Godfather (a running joke, which like many jokes here is funny the first time). The opening scenes are promising. We begin with always-welcome Monica Bellucci, as hardened consiglieri Bianca, surveying a crime scene full of dead bodies, including her boss Giuseppe Balbano, and declaring: This is war. Soon, Kristin gets Bianca's call about grandad, whom she never knew. Kristin grew up in America and always assumed grandad was a vintner or (and Tony Soprano was in waste management...). Soon Kristin arrives in Rome, ready to eat, pray and you-know-what. (After all, her husbands you-know-whatting with the guidance counselor, who has one of the films funnier lines when she says, caught in the act: I want you to know Im a feminist!) It seems like the you-know-what is about to happen quickly for Kristin too, because an impossibly handsome guy just happens to show up at the airport and take her number. At the funeral, Kristin narrowly escapes death when the procession itself is attacked by the rival family (a cascade of oranges running down the cobblestoned street is a clever Godfather reference, until the joke gets tired). At the family home, shes shown a video message designating her as the successor. She tries to flee, but Bianca tells her she cant run from her destiny. And so the film chronicles her making peace with that destiny, even if peace means severing a few eyeballs from their sockets along the way. Not that Kristin becomes evil or anything. Most of her bad deeds are done by accident or in self-defense. But the worst deed of all is that the movie cant decide what it wants her, or itself, to be. Its not fully slapstick comedy wine-stomping scenes aside and hardly a serious crime saga. Most of all, it seems to want to tell a story of female empowerment; at one point Kristin is reminded to never let a man dictate who she can be or what she can do. Nice message, but its muddled. Who exactly is dictating? Surely not her husband, a caricature of a doofus. And so, despite some satisfying moments, by the increasingly cringe-worthy last third of the movie youre just annoyed that it seems to want to cover all bases to have its, er, cannoli and eat it, too. Maybe Kristin should just eat, pray, you-know-what, and head on home. Mafia Mamma, a Bleecker Street release, has been rated R by the Motion Picture Association of America for bloody violence, sexual content and language. Running time: 101 minutes. Two stars out of four. ___ MPAA definition of R: Restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian. A pregnant Utah mom included her three children in a gender reveal, and boy, things did not go exactly as planned. In February, Angela Holm handed her kids Zakkri, 6, Vienna, 4, and True, each a cupcake infused with frosting to correspond with the babys sex blue for boy, pink for girl. Is everyone ready? Holm, 26, asks in a now-viral Instagram video. Take a bite! Their eyes light up at the sight of the treats, but moments later, Viennas face crumples. The inside of her cupcake is blue. Shes getting another brother. Its a boy, Vienna sobs. I wanted it to be a girl. On a scale of 1 to 10, her disappointment level is an 11. Vienna, its OK, Holm says. But its blue, I wanted pink! Vienna explains, through tears. Meanwhile, Zakkri and True are all smiles. They cant seem to figure out what the fuss is all about. Youre getting another brother! Holm exclaims, cheerfully. But hearing "brother" only makes the preschooler cry harder. Mom, I dont like brothers! Vienna whines, and and sets her cupcake off to the side. She cant bear to look at it. Holm then attempts to comfort her daughter by promising that the new baby will be cute just like True. Vienna is inconsolable. But I wanted a baby sister!!!! she wails. Holm, a content creator who is due in July, tells TODAY.com that she was surprised by Viennas reaction. The night before the gender reveal she said to me, Mom, its OK if we have a baby brother because True is so cute, Holm says. So when I found out it was going to be a boy, I thought shed be totally fine. I never expected her to cry or freak out. Vienna calmed down shortly after Holm stopped filming. Holm and her husband, Scout, both want a large family. Holm is one of 11 children. Shell get her baby sister, Holm says. I know it. Holm's video has been liked more than 1.6 million times and it received more than 19,000 comments. "Tell her she will be the only GIRL so she inherits ALL of moms jewelry!!" one person wrote. Added another, "My mom has a video of me finding out my last brother was a boy they played it for me the week before my wedding I have 5 brothers, its awesome but I feel her pain!"Related video: This article was originally published on TODAY.com Anne Perry, the prolific crime writer with a murderous past of her own, has died. (Liz Hafalia / Associated Press) Anne Perry, a prolific British crime writer with a murderous past that was brought to light in Peter Jacksons 1994 film Heavenly Creatures, has died. She was 84. Perry died in a Los Angeles hospital on Monday, her literary agent, Meg Davis, told the New York Times on Wednesday. Ms. Perrys health had declined since she had a heart attack in December, Davis said. Perrys 1979 debut novel, The Cater Street Hangman, and her 1993 historical mystery, A Sudden, Fearful Death, are among the author's numerous period thrillers. But for nearly two decades of her soaring literary career, no one knew that the crime writer Anne Perry was actually the teenage murderer Juliet Hulme. At 15, Perry served five years in prison for her part in bludgeoning to death Honorah Mary Parker, her best friend Pauline Parkers mother, in Christchurch, New Zealand, in 1954. The two plotted her murder, using a brick stuffed inside a stocking, and wrote of the details and anticipation in journals found by the police. Hulme was born Oct. 28, 1938, in London to physicist Henry Rainsford Hulme and marriage counselor Hilda Marion Hulme. As a child, Hulme developed tuberculosis. She told the New Zealand Herald in 2006 that doctors used experimental drugs (now recognized as mood-altering) to treat her tuberculosis. "A long needle in your behind every third morning," she said. "They'd catch you when you were still asleep." She moved to Christchurch, New Zealand, as a teenager and attended Christchurch Girls High School, where she met Parker. The two bonded intensely and planned to move to the United States to become famous novelists. They became so enmeshed that Parkers mother attempted to put an end to their friendship, a move that enraged the angsty and dangerous teenagers. When Hulmes father and mother announced plans to divorce and relocate Hulme to South Africa to live with an aunt, Hulme wanted Parker to join her. Parkers mother refused. Police found enough evidence to arrest Parker on the night of her mothers death and Hulme the next day. The entry in Parkers diary on the day of the grisly murder was titled, The Day of the Happy Event. The case was sensationalized in their town due to the extraordinary circumstances and the two were found guilty and sent to separate prisons, never to speak again. Hulme spent the first three months of her incarceration in solitary confinement at Mt. Eden womens prison in Auckland,. "It was cold, there were rats, canvas sheets and calico underwear," she told the Guardian in a 2003 interview. "I had to wash out my sanitary towels by hand and they put me on to physical labor until I passed out." Hulme was released when she was 21, changed her name to Anne and took on the surname of her new stepfather. She said going to prison was the best thing that could have happened to her, allowing her to accept guilt and repent for her crime. Why cant I be judged for who I am now, not what I was then? Perry asked during her interview with the Guardian. I had to give up my past the hardest thing imaginable and begin life in my new identity as Anne Perry, knowing even a tiny slip could unravel everything. The murder carried out by the teens inspired Peter Jacksons 1994 film "Heavenly Creatures," in which Melanie Lynskey portrayed the sullen Parker and Kate Winslet the smug Hulme. In his review for The Times, Kenneth Turan wrote, "This ability to get inside hysteria and obsession, the skill to make us feel sensations as intensely as its protagonists, is what makes 'Creatures' memorable." Heavenly Creatures served as the catalyst for Perry being outed as Hulme. As the movie screened over the summer, New Zealand journalist Lin Ferguson of the Sunday News put the pieces together and revealed Perrys true identity, forcing her to publicly reckon with her past. Hulme slammed Fran Walsh and Jackson, who were nominated for an Oscar for their Heavenly Creatures screenplay, calling them idiotic movie-makers who made a film that painted a grotesque and distorted portrait" of herself. She later recanted her statement and said she was caught up in the heat of the moment. Perrys books grapple with murky morals, explore social and ethical issues and themes of sin and repentance. It is vital for me to go on exploring moral matters, she told the Guardian. Perry moved to San Francisco in 1967 and then to Los Angeles, where she worked as a nanny and began writing the crime novels that catapulted her career. During that time, she converted to Mormonism, appreciating the religion for offering forgiveness of past sins. Perry was a regular on the New York Times bestseller list, and her 100-plus mysteries and thrillers have garnered critical acclaim, selling more than 26 million copies worldwide. She won an Edgar Award in 2000 for her short story Heroes, and the Times of London named her one of the 100 Masters of Crime. In 2013 and 2020, she was guest of honor at Bouchercon, the international convention of mystery writers and fans. Of course I would like to be known as a great writer. Wouldnt all writers? she said in a 2013 interview with Open Road Media. Id like to be known as a thinker, a teacher, a philosopher, all these kind of things, but if I could just be known for being kind, that will do it. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. WASHINGTON (AP) A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced. Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. Garland identified the guardsman as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, and said he would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information. FBI agents converged Thursday at Teixeira's Massachusetts home and heavily armed tactical agents took Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, into custody outside the property, without incident," Garland said. He will be charged with unauthorized removal of classified national defense information, Garland said, and will have an initial court appearance in federal court in Massachusetts. It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned. Law enforcement officials roped off the street near the home. The New York Times, which first identified Teixeira on Thursday, said that a man who had been standing outside the Teixeira home earlier said that he needs to get an attorney if things are flowing the way they are going right now. The Feds will be around soon, I'm sure. The emergence of Teixeira as the apparent primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, one that continues to unfold with almost daily revelations of highly classified documents, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. The Biden administration has scrambled for days to contain the fallout from the leaked information, which has publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraines air defense capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on an array of intelligence matters. The National Guard did not confirm his identity but said in a statement that, We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, referred all questions about the case to the Justice Department. But he said: We have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement. This is a criminal act, a willful violation of those." The Biden administration has been working to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. A top Pentagon spokesman told reporters earlier this week that the disclosures present a very serious risk to national security, and the Justice Department opened an investigation to identify the person responsible. We're getting close, President Joe Biden told reporters in Ireland on Thursday. He said that though he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been disclosed, "theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday. Its possible the leak may have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community. In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the posters own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of folded papers. Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed, which may provide critical clues as to who is responsible. Typically in classified briefings, as with the slides that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That is done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected afterward. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. Its those digital clues like the record of printouts that may help investigators hone in on who took the documents. In most of the photographs of documents posted online the pictures are of paper copies that look like they had been folded into quarters almost as if theyd been stuffed into someones pocket. In the days since the leaks came to light, the Pentagon has deferred questions on the investigation to the Justice Department, stating that its a criminal matter. Even if the person who leaked the files is an active duty member of the U.S. military, the Justice Department would likely still have the lead in the prosecution until it was ready to turn the matter over to the Defense Department, a defense official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. This has been the case in previous criminal cases, such as when two Marines based at Camp Pendleton in California were arrested on drug trafficking charges in 2020, the official said. If the person responsible turns out to be a civilian, the Justice Department will be responsible, the official said. ____ Associated Press writers Michelle R. Smith in Swansea, Massachusetts, Nomaan Merchant and Zeke Miller in Washington, Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston and Colleen Long and Darlene Superville in Dublin contributed to this report. School in Indian capital evacuated after receiving bomb threat Xinhua) 10:54, April 13, 2023 NEW DELHI, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Students of a school in the Indian capital city were evacuated after the school administration received an email about a bomb threat on Wednesday, police said. The evacuation took place at the Indian Public School in Sadiq Nagar locality of Delhi. The email from an unknown sender sent a tizzy among the school administration, which alerted the police. Immediately the bomb detection and disposal squad along with the dog squad rushed to the school premises to conduct a thorough check. A contingent of Special Weapons And Tactics (SWAT) also reached the school to assist in checking. The searches for the bombs went on until the last reports poured in. However, nothing suspicious was found so far. "Information was shared telephonically by Brijesh from the Indian School, BRT Road regarding receipt of an email regarding bombs planted in the school. The email was received today morning. The school has been evacuated and a thorough check is being done by bomb squad," senior police officer Chandan Chowdhary told media. In the wake of the bomb threat, the school administration informed the parents of the students to pick up their children. The incident triggered panic among parents who rushed to the school. Television footage showed a large anxious crowd, mostly parents of the students, waiting at the gate. "Dear parents, on account of some unexpected security reasons, we are having to close school early. Kindly arrange to pick up your ward as per details...Front Gate...self pickup...Back gate van users. School will resume as usual tomorrow," reads the message from the school. The police said a similar threat email was sent to the school in November last year. The students were evacuated and the threat was later found to be a hoax. The police have registered a case and ordered an investigation. The police are trying to track the Internet Protocol address and identify the sender of the email. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The desk used by Arizona Republican Rep. Liz Harris at the state Capitol in Phoenix stands empty moments after she was expelled from the Legislature on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. The Arizona House of Representatives expelled a Harris in a bipartisan vote after she organized a presentation accusing a wide range of politicians, judges and public officials of both parties of taking bribes from a Mexican drug cartel. (AP Photo/Jonathan J. Cooper) (ASSOCIATED PRESS) PHOENIX (AP) The Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday expelled a Republican lawmaker who organized a presentation making unsubstantiated accusations that a wide range of politicians, judges and public officials of both parties took bribes from a Mexican drug cartel. Rep. Liz Harris, a prominent supporter of discredited election conspiracies, was kicked out of the Legislature in a bipartisan vote after the presentation by an Arizona insurance agent. The lawmaker's ouster came a day after the House Ethics Committee determined Harris had engaged in disorderly behavior in violation of the chamber's rules. The committee's report said Harris knew the person she invited to a legislative hearing in February would accuse her colleagues of criminal activity, that she took steps to hide it from House leaders ahead of time and then misled the committee investigating her actions. This comes down to the integrity, in my opinion, of this institution and us as leaders, said Rep. David Livingston, a Republican who voted to expel Harris. This is not personal. Harris, who was sworn into her first term in January, did not speak ahead of the expulsion vote. Immediately afterward, she carried boxes to her car, placed them in her trunk with the help of a handful of supporters and left. She called the ethics report a lie. God knows the truth, Harris said, according to video recorded by a reporter for KPNX-TV. This was an example of how you need to toe the line. If you dont toe the line, this is what happens. The vote against Harris comes less than a week after Tennessee Republicans voted to expel two black Democrats, a decision that made that state a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy. But the Arizona vote did not carry the same partisan and racial overtones, with widespread and bipartisan condemnation for Harris's actions. Harris organized a daylong hearing of the House and Senate elections committees in February. At the end, a Scottsdale insurance agent, Jacqueline Breger, gave a 40-minute presentation alleging without reliable evidence that two women working on behalf of Mexico's Sinaloa cartel used fraudulent mortgage documents to launder money to a range of officials. Arizona Republican lawmakers have given wide leeway for people claiming to be election experts to share unsubstantiated or disproven claims in hearings at the Capitol. But GOP legislative leaders raced to distance themselves from Breger's claims and pin blame on Harris. Before she was elected to the Legislature, Harris led a door-to-door canvassing effort searching for proof of fraud following the 2020 presidential election. Her effort drew scrutiny from the U.S. Department of Justices civil rights division, which warned about potential voter intimidation. There was little public discussion before the expulsion vote. Republican Rep. Alexander Kolodin said Harris made an error in judgement, but expelling her would send the wrong message. It will be perceived as setting the precedent that if you rock the boat too much, you will be expelled, said Kolodin, who voted against expulsion. All Democrats and about half of Republicans voted to expel Harris in a 46-13 vote. She's the first lawmaker to be expelled in Arizona since Rep. Don Shooter was kicked out for sexual misconduct amid the 2018 #MeToo movement. Rep. David Stringer quit the following year after old sex crimes charges came to light that likely would have led to his expulsion. There has been real and lasting damage to the lives and reputations of people who did not deserve it, said Rep. Andres Cano, the top Democrat in the House. Most importantly, the integrity of this House has been jeopardized. Harris represented one of the most competitive legislative districts in the state in the Phoenix suburb of Chandler. Both parties had been anticipating she would face a difficult reelection campaign next year. By law, Harris must be replaced by a Republican. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will choose from a list of three candidates nominated by the Republican precinct committeemen in her district. Harvard University just received a $300-million gift from hedge fund billionaire Ken Griffin. But why should taxpayers subsidize the donation? (Charles Krupa / Associated Press) Harvard University wants us to bow down to the exceptional generosity of Kenneth C. Griffin, a hedge fund billionaire who just made a $300-million gift to the school's graduate program. Griffin's donation to his alma mater "underscores the power of education to transform lives and to expand the reach of our research in every field imaginable," Harvard President Larry Bacow said in the announcement press release. "It has been a great pleasure to get to know Ken throughout my presidency." In return for the money, the program has been renamed the Harvard Kenneth C. Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences. It has been a great pleasure to get to know Ken throughout my presidency. Harvard President Larry Bacow lauds Ken Griffin, one of his university's biggest donors We're not so sure about the rationale for that last part. The program could just as well have been named the U.S. Taxpayer Graduate School, because that's who almost certainly will be covering at least some of the gift. Griffin's donation, you see, is likely to bring him a sizable federal income tax deduction. Its actual size is impossible to calculate without knowing more about Griffin's specific tax situation. What's known comes to us from ProPublica, which last July drew from a trove of leaked documents to report on how members of the 0.01% get away with minimizing the tax bite on their enormous wealth. Griffin ranked high on ProPublica's list. The news organization found that he had "averaged an annual income of $1.7 billion from 2013 to 2018," making him the fourth-highest income-earner in the country. His average tax rate was 29.2% in those years, ProPublica reported. That's considerably lower than the top marginal tax rate, which currently is 37% on income over about $578,000 for single taxpayers. (Griffin, according to the latest biographical material, is divorced.) On the raw numbers, Griffin may be able to reduce his federal income tax bill by about $110 million through his donation to Harvard. Who would pick up the slack? You and me, that's who. Perhaps Griffin has disavowed a tax break from his Harvard gift, though that's implausible. Indeed, a spokesperson for Griffin acknowledged, as ProPublica reported last year, that his tax rate was "lowered by charitable contributions," among other factors. The dirty little secret about how plutocrats finance the charitable deductions that get their names on distinguished institutions is only one aspect of Griffin's gift that should concern all Americans. More broadly, it points to the wisdom of a wealth tax on American millionaires and billionaires. As we've noted in the past, concentration of wealth on the scale seen in America today would have appalled the Founding Fathers. Thomas Jefferson, for one, advocated a system by which every fibre would be eradicated of antient [sic] or future aristocracy; and a foundation laid for a government truly republican. The rich often defend their accumulated fortunes by ostentatiously doing good with the money through philanthropy. The announcement of a major donation on the scale of Griffin's is typically accompanied by an accounting of the donor's other charitable efforts. Usually, however, what passes for selfless charity is a mask for the rich to fund their personal hobby horses. A classic example of this identified in 2012 by then-Reuters columnist Felix Salmon (now at Axios) was a $100-million gift to the Central Park Conservancy of New York by hedge fund boss John Paulson who happened to live a few doors down from the park. "If you wanted to give $100 million to charity while making the barest minimum impact on the world, youd be hard pushed to improve on Paulsons performance," Salmon wrote. In some cases, big donors get credit for saving institutions from financial quagmires resulting from the sort of tax breaks the donors have enjoyed. They get credit for funding anti-poverty programs and those to support hospitals, drug rehabilitation clinics, art museums, scientific research laboratories that all should be supported by public funding. Except there isn't enough funding to go around because the wealthy have been collecting ever-increasing tax breaks for decades. It's fair to presume that one purpose of all this eleemosynary activity is to obscure the less uplifting ways that the rich deploy their wealth. One is lobbying to keep and augment their tax breaks. In 2020, for instance, Griffin contributed $54 million to a campaign fighting an Illinois ballot measure that would have raised the state's marginal tax rate on incomes higher than $750,000 to about 8% from 5%. ProPublica estimated that the measure could have cost Griffin about $50 million a year. The measure was defeated. During the campaign, Griffin wrote in an op-ed that this opposition to the tax increase was merely an expression of his civic-mindedness. The tax measure's promoters, including Democratic Gov. J.B. Pritzker (also a billionaire) "seek to shift even more hard-earned taxpayer money into the hands of politicians who have consistently proven to be irresponsible stewards," he wrote. "I'm willing to stand up for what is right." He wasn't willing to stay, however. The following year, Griffin moved his family and the headquarters of his Citadel hedge fund and Citadel Securities firm to Miami from Chicago. Griffin said tax considerations weren't at issue, but unlike Illinois, Florida has no personal income tax. Since his move, he has become a major financial supporter of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. (While living in Chicago, he was a financial backer of former Mayor Rahm Emanuel, a Democrat.) One particularly questionable category of high-level philanthropy is tax-advantaged donations to rich universities such as, well, Harvard. That ostensibly nonprofit institution has an endowment of more than $50 billion, the largest in the country. On what planet can a taxpayer-subsidized addition to this endowment be justified? We raised the same issue back in 2016, when Nike founder Phil Knight collected plaudits for making a $400-million gift to Stanford University, where he received a business degree. Knight got his name on the scholarship program funded by his gift; an earlier donation got his name on a new classroom building on campus. What was striking then, and remains notable today, was the mismatch between the public funding of elite private universities and public support for even the best public universities. A 2015 data survey by Nexus Research placed the discrepancy in stark relief by comparing the implicit per-student subsidy at rich private institutions with the government funding of public colleges in their state. In California, it showed that Stanford received about $63,000 per student, while UC Berkeley got $10,500, Cal State Fullerton got $4,000 and Fullerton Community College $8,100. The figures were based on estimated exemptions from capital gains taxes for the private schools and government appropriations for the others. Tax-deductible donations tend to flow toward a tiny cadre of extremely well-heeled institutions. According to a 2015 survey by the Council for Aid to Education, nearly one-fifth of the record $40.3 billion raised by U.S. colleges and universities that year went to just 10 schools. Alumni and other individuals were the largest source of gifts, accounting for nearly 47% of the total. Through the tax deductions these donors claimed, taxpayers covered roughly $7.5 billion of the total donations. (That's the amount donors would have had to pay into the federal treasury, were it not for the deductions.) None of this is to suggest that the philanthropic donations of Griffin or any other American plutocrats aren't sincere and heartfelt. Among Griffin's beneficiaries are the Obama Foundation, programs to bring internet access to low-income pupils, museums and COVID research programs. Before his latest gift to Harvard, he gave the university $150 million for student financial aid. If all that makes you think that you shouldn't have the temerity to question Griffin's spending on political influence, then his charitable efforts have done their job. But you shouldn't overlook that you're paying for much of their efforts, with an invoice that comes in mid-April every year. You're not getting your name on the edifices they're building, and you don't have a dime's worth of say about where they put their money. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Drag performer Poly Tics, right, attends a rally in Frankfort, Ky. (Bruce Schreiner / Associated Press) Trump in court. Newsom in Florida. Clarence Thomas on a yacht. And let's not forget the Bud Light brouhaha, an Idaho law meant to stop girls from leaving the state to obtain an abortion and Tennessee Republicans booting (then being forced to reinstate) two Democratic lawmakers for leading a gun safety protest in the state General Assembly. Then, not least, there's the Texas ruling trying to end access to an important drug for medical abortions. Lately it's been a fire hose of news: jaw-dropping, history-making Donald Trump becoming the first ex-president ever indicted and just plain weird. Should Californians care about any of it? Columnists Anita Chabria and Mark Z. Barabak discuss. Chabria:I admit, I don't know how much more crazy I can handle from the national news. But there are some threads that tie it all together, and tie it back to California in important ways. We are seeing messaging for the 2024 election taking shape on the right, but not as clearly for Democrats. When Gavin Newsom announced he was going to Florida for a not-running-for-president tour, I had visions of him doing tequila poppers with Judy Blume in Key West. But being the serious guy he is, he went to Sarasota and spent his time acting as a field researcherfor the Democratic Party, testing out messaging on the national stage. Newsom can do whatever he wants politically, a freedom that many other ambitious Democrats, like Kamala Harris and Pete Buttigieg, lack. (Though he told MSNBC's Jen Psaki that he did check in with President Biden before his Southern states jaunt). Whether Newsom is really trying to position himself for an eventual White House run, California's governor and by extension California and its attitudes about diversity and inclusion are shaping up to be an important part of this next presidential contest. As much of the country swings hard right, with conservatives trying to fear-monger about what they see as a failed blue state, the reality is we are becoming proof that civil rights and diversity aren't the path to destruction Republicans claim. How do you make sense of this flood ofevents? Barabak: Is it possible to go into hibernation before all that snow melts in the Sierra? I mean, it's a funny thing: Joe Biden's 2020 campaign message, essentially, was that he would stop the crazy, put the country back on an even keel and rid us, once and for all, of the one-man national wrecking crew known as Donald Trump. We can see how that's worked out. As for our gallivanting governor, I think it's overly flattering to suggest Newsom is doing much meaningful spadework to boost Biden and the Democrats in 2024. I think the party would do just fine if, say, the governor instead chose to visit parts of red California that have long felt neglected and scoffed at by Sacramento, rather than swanning through Alabama and Arkansas. There will be no end of contrast between Biden and whomever Republicans end up nominating for the White House, and the choice will be plenty clear to voters in November 2024, even if Newsom is watching from the sidelines. Chabria: For me, it comes down to offense versus defense. Right now, the Republicans are on the offensive and setting the agenda of what we talk about. Biden has largely taken that elder statesman, above-the-fray attitude that, as you point out, he promised. Which is great. Except that we have a growing wave of fascists and Christian nationalists who aren't bothered by facts, and who are working far outside the bounds of traditional politics to strip rights away from women, minorities and other vulnerable communities. Like the latest Texas abortion ruling. I honestly do not care about Newsom's political future, but I do care about democracy. My father was a refugee, my mom was LGBTQ and I am a mixed-race woman with mixed-race daughters. So this is personal to me and I have genuine fears about the future. We can't wait another year before we collectively address this erosion of rights. Newsom is offering the closest thing Democrats have to an offense although Harris has stepped out more recently, with a trip to Africa that showed her in a far more personal light, and then a stop in Tennessee to support the two Black lawmakers ousted for seeking to introduce a little sanity into our guns laws. Do you think this is the start of a higher profile for her? Barabak: That seems to be the plan. Part of it is the rhythm of the political calendar. (Can calendars keep a beat?) As election year 2024 edges closer, we can expect both Biden and Harris to start traveling more around the country and, especially, hitting the battleground states that will decide the race. The role of vice president has traditionally been the more overtly political of the two, leaving the president to, as discussed, float a bit more above the fray. And remember, Harris was chosen as Biden's running mate in good part for political reasons, namely to boost his standing among Asian American, Black and female voters who will, again, be central to Democrats' success. Part of the veep's elevated profile also seems a bit of White House pushback following yet another batch of reports questioning Harris' capabilities and even asking whether she'll be dumped from the Democratic ticket, which is a complete and total nonstarter for, among other reason, her above-mentioned ties to key groups. Those who accompanied Harris through Africa, including our colleague, Courtney Subramanian, described a vice president who projected greater ease and confidence and seemed more open than Harris has been in her not wildly successful domestic travels. We'll see if that continues. Chabria: That covers California'stwo marqueepoliticians. What about the state itself? Newsom advertises California as a sanctuary for just about everyone a place where LGBTQ families are safe and welcomed, where we are stockpiling abortion medication and where we have common-sense gun laws. At the same time, San Francisco is the place conservatives love to hate. Except apparently Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, who when he isn't yachting around the world with his Nazi-obsessed corporate benefactor hangs out nearby with his buddies at the secretive all-male Bohemian Grove, where rich dudes do whatever rich dudes do in private. ThatSan Francisco-as-lefty-hellholenarrative was boosted by the recent fatal stabbing of tech entrepreneur Bob Lee and a much-hyped claim by former NCAA swimmer Riley Gaines that she was assaulted at San Francisco State University after giving a speech against the participation of transgender women in women's sports. How do you think the rest ofAmerica is thinking about California? Or do they think about us as little as we think about them? Barabak: The glib answer is they hate us because they ain't us. A more serious response is there is a vast political and cultural divide between California and other Democratic-run states and the pugnacious conservatism ascendant in places like Florida and Texas, and the issues surrounding that conflict among them guns, LGBTQ rights, school curriculum will be at the center of the 2024 presidential race. No matter who wins the White House, that conflict isn't about to go away. It's both sad and quaint to recall how a little-known Illinois state senator by the name of Barack Obama shot to overnight fame on the strength of a speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention calling for an end to the divisions between red and blue America. Needless to say, that gulf has since widened to an extent that anyone giving that kind of speech would probably be laughed, or booed, off the convention stage. Chabria: You're right. And if that gulf continues to grow, we may be tasked not just with choosing who to vote for, but where we feel safe and welcomed living. For me, I'm sticking to the Golden State. But let's see where you belong with this quiz to help identify your political homeland: Snowboarding or waterboarding? Dylan Mulvaney or Mick Mulvaney? Bohemian Grove or "Bohemian Rhapsody"? Barabak: I'll take snowboarding and Queen, thanks very much. But I'll confess, while I'm familiar with Mick Mulvaney (the former South Carolina congressman and Trump chief of staff), I had to Google "Dylan Mulvaney" (the transgender social media star) to find out who she is. Sad, I know. Chabria:Dylan Mulvaney did a social media post with Bud Light, which caused a conservative meltdown that culminated with Kid Rock shooting beer cans. But I know you were on the slopes of Tahoe when that chaos ensued, so you're forgiven. And two out of three ain't bad we'll keep you here with the other coastal elites. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Returning to political office in January after six years away, North Carolina Rep. Tricia Cotham found many new faces and more scrutiny. When Democrats first appointed Cotham to office in 2007, the Mecklenburg County lawmaker received attention for being one of the youngest state House members and the youngest woman. More-experienced lawmakers mentored her. But the group she rejoined this year had seen turnover, and some of its leaders didnt serve with her previously. And instead of being chosen as a mentor, in recognition of her previous service, she says, she was given one. The caucus today is very different than what it was when I first came into the House and when she came into the House and sometimes those changes drive us to make different decisions, former Rep. Brian Turner of Buncombe County said. Fast-forward three months, and instead of mentoring the newest House Democrats, shes the newest House Republican. Whatever the personal and political motivations of Cothams party switch from Democrat to Republican, it shows another shift in the political party that continues to lose power in North Carolina. N.C. Senate leader Phil Berger, left, and House Speaker Tim Moore, center, look on as N.C. Rep. Tricia Cotham speaks during a press conference at the N.C. GOP headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. Wednesday, April 5, 2023. The press conference was to announce Rep. Cotham is switching parties to become a member of the House Republican caucus. Democrats losses, pressure from Cooper Within days of Cotham announcing she would change parties, Democrats used it to raise money. On Monday, the subject line of a fundraising email from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper said: We need you to read this message ASAP. The email went on: The state of NC politics has been completely shaken up by a Democratic representatives decision to defect to the Republican Party. It recapped Cothams switch, stressed the importance of supporting Cooper, and asked for donations. Continued success at campaign fundraising wont be enough on its own to turn around the fortunes of a party that has won governors races in recent years but lost most federal races and now is losing ground at the state level, too. Republicans took over control of the state Supreme Court in last years elections, and with those elections combined with Cothams move, they have veto-proof supermajorities in both chambers of the General Assembly. That means Democrats, even while harshly criticizing Cotham for switching parties, still need her vote. North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton denounces Rep. Tricia Cothams defection to the Republican Party on Wednesday, April 5, 2023 at the North Carolina Democratic Headquarters in Raleigh, N.C. So about the same time the fundraising email went out, in the first of a four-tweet thread on Monday afternoon, Cooper said: Much has been made about the @triciacotham switch from D to R in the legislature. If she keeps her word on the issues, her votes and the positions she takes in Republican Caucus can still stop bad legislation that hurts people she promised to help, regardless of her party. Cooper is more than halfway through his second term as governor, and cant run for a third term. At the start of this year, Republicans only needed one Democrats vote for a total legislative supermajority. That very small buffer of one seat, rather than a few, added scrutiny to Cotham. She said during the Republican press conference announcing her switch that the Democratic Party she had known to have a big tent had changed, and wanted lawmakers to do what they were told. She said it was clear that she was expected to vote in line with everything that Gov. Cooper wanted you to do ... All of this sense of control. I will not be controlled by anyone. Cotham said in her speech that Cooper even wanted to be involved in choosing where lawmakers sit on the House floor. Floor seating is determined by the controlling party, which is Republican. The Governor has not expressed any opinion about and has no role in choosing where legislators sit on the House or Senate floor. The House Speaker and Senate President Pro Tem and their respective Rules (committee) chairs make those decisions exclusively, Cooper spokesperson Jordan Monaghan told The N&O on Thursday. Last year, Cooper supported a primary challenge of sitting Democratic Sen. Kirk deViere, who lost his primary. Coopers involvement in the race led to Democrats spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to keep an already blue seat blue. DeViere, who had voted with Republicans on a few key issues ahead of being primaried by Cooper, faced a similar directive when he was in office to the one Cotham described. I was told by someone on Coopers political team to push the button I tell you to push. We made an investment on you, and we want a return, deViere told The N&O this week. I dont think its a healthy strategy. I think you build teams. I dont think you lead through threats, you lead through building teams, and mutual respect and loyalty, deViere said. He said he was asked to switch parties but did not, and after he lost his primary, he worked to elect other Democrats. Everybody makes their own individual decisions. I did not find a need to leave the party, even though what I had gone through with the leader of the party, deViere said. Cotham deceit? Cotham said she switched because Democrats targeted her for not always toeing the party line, saying there were attempts to control her as well as attacks against her on social media. This doesnt help women in politics, Cotham said during the Republican press conference, saying Democrats will slice and dice you in a second with malicious, vicious, untrue rumors and do not celebrate your success. It bothers me that theyre hypocritical, she said. North Carolina Democratic Party Chair Anderson Clayton called Cothams switch a deceit of the highest order. But Cotham was already voting with Republicans on some issues and was expected to continue to do so as a Democrat. Not on every vote, though: She signed on as a co-sponsor with all the other House Democrats early this session to codify Roe v. Wade. Now, as a Republican, she could vote with the rest of her new caucus more often, though so far she has not publicly discussed any changes in policy positions. Turner, the Buncombe County Democrat who did not run for another term in 2022 and now works for North Carolina Audubon, said when they served together, Cotham was an effective legislator. House Democratic Leader Robert Reives of Chatham County pushed back on Cothams comments about being given a mentor even though she had a decades previous service in the House. He said that returning lawmakers are part of that sessions new freshman class, and that House Democrats knew of her service and held her in high esteem. A lot of people felt we were lucky to get her back, including me, Reives said. House Democrats were taken aback by her party switch, he said. Reives texted Cotham the day Axios Raleigh broke the news of her switch, after he received a press inquiry. The text was simple: how did she want him to handle press inquiries? Reives said she never responded. He said that outside groups put scrutiny on lawmakers and everything we do is watched. North Carolina House Democratic Leader Rep. Robert Reives is photographed in the House chambers on Monday, Sept. 19, 2022, in Raleigh, N.C. Hot-button issues like guns and abortion garner a lot of scrutiny, including nationally. Its hard on them, he said about lawmakers in competitive districts, acknowledging intensity is high. But he said: I dont believe in criticizing each other as caucus members. Youve got to understand that were all weve got, Reives said. If you dont want the attention and scrutiny, (the House Democratic Caucus) are not your problem. That attention is there, and theres nothing we can do about it, Reives said. Back home in Mecklenburg County, Democrats ask why For Democratic leadership in Mecklenburg County, the why of Cothams departure remains elusive. Jane Whitley, Mecklenburg County Democratic Party chair, said that when Cotham gave her speech announcing her departure, I had no idea what she was talking about. Nothing had been brought to my attention. She had not contacted me about any of these issues. To my knowledge, I dont know anyone else that knows anything about what she was talking about. For Whitley, Cothams decision to leave appeared to be based on personal issues rather than policy issues. Cotham had been out of office since 2016, so Cotham having a mentor, Whitley said, may have been just to try to bring her up to speed with any changes. If she was upset because she was assigned (a) mentor, and I dont know if that was true or not, but if that was a reason for her to leave, it does not sound like a very good reason, Whitley said. Asked whether the allegations of the party limiting dissent had a foundation, Whitley said the party has many people who disagree on different issues and that following Cothams missed vote on a repeal of the states pistol permit requirement, many angry constituents contacted the Mecklenburg office. Shortly after her missed vote, Cotham announced her departure from the Democrats. We did not as the party address the missed vote with her but we did direct people who had complaints about her missing the vote, we did refer them to her office to express those concerns, Whitley said. She campaigned as a Democrat. She ran as a Democrat. So the people in her district are the reason that shes there, Whitley said. Wake-up call for Democrats? Asked what Cothams switch meant for the future of the Democratic Party, Whitley said there was a lot of anger among the voters and what were seeing is, its kind of a groundswell. People want to know what they can do to keep this from happening again. Braxton Becoats, president of the African American Caucus of Mecklenburg County, said Cothams departure, rather than lead to further disarray, would have the opposite effect. I think her switch is going to galvanize and push more Democrats to get out and get active because we now know that the Republicans can pass anything, Becoats said. This is not going to further disjoint our political party, he said. I think its going to actually bring us together and motivate us to get out, get active and figure out what we need to do in order to elect Democrats. So that we do not continue to have people switching parties. Cothams departure will help mobilize the party, said Kevan Woodson, former president of Senior Democrats of Mecklenburg and a member of the states Democratic executive committee. We have not done the best job in terms of capturing the mindset of the voter, particularly the unaffiliated, and we need to do better to carry a message that everybody can get behind, he said. Yes, there are some issues there. Is that a reason for her to leave? No, he said, You dont like it, say something to somebody, dont just walk away, unless, again, a personal opinion, you feel you have nothing to offer. Responding to criticism of Democrats, Woodson said, Well, weve lost connection. So lets get out and re-establish connection. We dont have a platform to stand on. I disagree with that. But the fact is the platform needs to be constructed better and were going to be doing it, theres going to be a lot of changes that are coming forward. And its a wake-up call. Things have changed and you need (to) change with it. GOP House coalition Stephen Wiley, the N.C. House Republican Caucus director, said when he heard about Cothams upcoming switch, the weekend before it happened, he met with Cotham and gave her the 10,000-foot view of what the process would be, and what the fallout would be. Wiley said he told Cotham what he tells other Republicans who have a more traditional recruitment to the caucus: to be themselves. We will never ask them to be anything other than themselves, he said. Cotham brings the number of women in the House caucus to nine, out of 72. There is a desire in our caucus leadership to grow our coalition, Wiley said. You win elections by growing your coalition, and to have Tricia Cotham in our caucus is certainly a way to grow our coalition a professional woman with extensive background in education and policy in a suburban area, Wiley said. He said that unlike Republicans in other states like Tennessee and Michigan, North Carolina Republicans in the House are more interested in persuading voters and winning seats, not just turning out their base. Wiley said Cotham is an example of a vote persuaded. The General Assembly has been on recess this week. Committees are scheduled for Tuesday, include House Education, which is co-chaired by Cotham. Reives doesnt think anything in the House will be different when it reconvenes, he said. We only had a one vote margin as it was. Everything in that building is controlled by two people [House Speaker Tim Moore and Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger] and they have incredible amounts of carrots and sticks. Tennessee State Rep. Justin Pearson speaks to a crowd of supporters outside of the Vasco A. Smith Jr. County Administration Building, Wednesday, April 12, 2023 in Memphis, Tenn. Hundreds of supporters marched Justin Pearson through Memphis to the Shelby County Board of Commissioners meeting, chanting and cheering before entering the commission chambers, where officials quickly voted 7-0 to restore him to his position. (Patrick Lantrip/Daily Memphian via AP) NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The second of two Black Democrats who were kicked out of the Republican-led Tennessee House followed his colleague back to work at the Capitol on Thursday, a week after their expulsion for participating in a gun control protest propelled them into the national spotlight. State Rep. Justin Pearson, of Memphis, was sworn in Thursday outside the Statehouse. The day before, Shelby County commissioners unanimously voted to reinstate him. Yes indeed, happy resurrection day, Pearson said Thursday morning as he signed paperwork for his return. There will be a new building of this building, with a foundation built on love, Pearson said during a fiery speech outside the Capitol after being sworn in. With pillars of justice rising up. With rafters of courage covering us. With doors that are open to everybody in the state of Tennessee. Not just rich somebodies, but everybody. Not just straight somebodies, but everybody. Not just Republican somebodies, but everybody. After delivering his speech to supporters and reporters outside the Capitol, Pearson walked into the House chamber as debate on bills was underway. He pumped his fists and silently mouthed, This is our House. Those in the gallery pumped their fists back and mouthed Our House as Pearson circled around the floor. Upon Pearson's returning to the House floor, lawmakers debated legislation that deals with the teaching of divisive concepts" regarding race, gender and sex on college campuses. After a brief spirited debate involving Pearson and Jones, Republicans used procedural rules to immediately halt discussion and force members to vote on the bill. The move exasperated Democrats, who immediately pointed out that cutting off debate and silencing dissenters was what led the so-called Tennessee three to break House rules after being cut off from previous debates. Before Pearson returned to the chamber, lawmakers cheered and applauded as the police officers who responded to the deadly March 27 mass shooting at a Nashville elementary school shooting the event that prompted the gun control protest were honored in the chamber. Democratic state Rep. Bob Freeman praised the officers bravery but also stressed to his fellow lawmakers that inaction is not an option on how to respond to the tragedy. Republicans banished Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones last week over their role in the protest on the House floor over the shooting, which left three children and three adults dead. In his address outside the Capitol, Pearson read the names of those killed and referenced another mass shooting on Monday at a bank in Louisville, Kentucky, in which five people were killed and eight others were injured. Our law enforcement, which many people praise, are being forced to go to war when they just are going to work, Pearson said. Kids are told to go to fortresses, instead of to go to school and places of learning. Were told to go to church, carrying the status quos thoughts and prayers, while we must be in fear that somebody will walk in with an assault weapon. The Nashville Metropolitan Council took only a few minutes Monday to restore Jones to office. He was quickly reinstated to his House seat that day. The appointments are interim, though both Jones and Pearson plan to run in special elections for the seats later this year. The Houses vote to remove Pearson and Jones but keep white state Rep. Gloria Johnson drew accusations of racism. Johnson survived by one vote. Republican leadership denied that race was a factor, noting that Johnson's role in the protest didn't involve some steps that Jones and Pearson took, including speaking into a bullhorn. Banishment is a move the chamber has used only a handful times since the Civil War. Most state legislatures have the power to expel members, but it is generally reserved as a punishment for lawmakers accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents. The expulsions last Thursday made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy. In the span of a few days, the two raised thousands of campaign dollars and the Tennessee Democratic Party received a new jolt of support from across the U.S. Political tensions rose when Pearson, Johnson and Jones, from the House floor, joined with hundreds of demonstrators who packed the Capitol to call for passage of gun control measures. As protesters filled the 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. Their participation from the front of the chamber broke House rules because the three did not have permission from the House speaker. In Tennessee, Republican lawmakers have been supportive of the idea to strengthen school safety, but they have largely rejected calls for stricter gun controls with only weeks to go in the legislative session. The shooting and aftermath have pushed some, including Republican Gov. Bill Lee, to support some changes. Lee has since called on the General Assembly to pass legislation aimed at keeping dangerous people from acquiring weapons. It's unclear how successful he will be at drumming up support from lawmakers within his party at the tail end of the legislative session. Lee, meanwhile, has avoided commenting on the lawmakers expulsions, saying the controversy is a House issue. Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon announced assault charges Wednesday against two former Whittier police officers who are accused of shooting a fleeing unarmed suspect in 2020 and severing his spine. (Associated Press) Two former Whittier detectives were charged with assault Wednesday on allegations that they shot a fleeing unarmed suspect in the back, severing his spine following a brief pursuit in 2020. Cynthia Lopez, 34, and Salvador Murillo, 41, each face multiple assault charges for the incident that left Nicholas Carrillo paralyzed from the waist down, according to Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. George Gascon. Lopez and Murillo were driving in an unmarked vehicle when they spotted a Mitsubishi sedan that was allegedly linked to a robbery at a Whittier Walmart, Gascon said. The detectives followed the vehicle into an alley, left their car and drew their weapons. Then the driver of the sedan allegedly backed up and collided with the unmarked police car, according to Gascon, who described the collision as a "tap of bumpers." Carrillo, who was driving the vehicle, jumped out and started running away from Lopez and Murillo. The detectives opened fire, striking Carrillo twice in the back, Gascon said. "One shot completely severed his spinal cord, immediately paralyzing him from the waist down," Gascon said. "Although he was lucky to survive, his life was forever changed." Carrillo was unarmed when the detectives fired, and no weapons were found in the vehicle, according to Gascon, who said parts of the shooting were captured on surveillance video. The detectives were not using body-worn cameras because they were in plainclothes and their unmarked vehicle did not have a dashboard camera, said Diana Teran, director of the bureau of prosecution support operations who also oversees prosecutions of police misconduct. Carrillo was not suspected in the robbery the detectives were investigating, according to Gascon, but police were looking for a female passenger in the sedan. The initial robbery did not involve a weapon and no one was injured, according to Teran. The woman eventually pleaded guilty to a crime, Teran said, but did not offer specifics. Teran said the woman took a television from a Walmart in Whittier and briefly tussled with someone in the parking lot while fleeing with the stolen merchandise. The robbery and shooting happened several weeks apart, Teran said. Calls to attorneys representing Lopez and Murillo were not immediately returned. Gascon said they could be arraigned early next week. Lopez was charged with two counts of assault under the color of authority, one count of assault with a firearm and one count of shooting at an occupied vehicle. Murillo was charged with two counts of assault with a firearm and two counts of assault under color of authority. If convicted, Lopez faces six years in state prison. Murillo would face nine years. The officers are no longer employed by the Whittier Police Department, though Police Chief Aviv Bar would not say whether they resigned or were fired. "The Whittier Police Department also conducted a separate administrative investigation of the shooting to determine if the involved officers, who were placed on leave following the incident and neither of whom currently works for the Department, complied with Department policies," the chief said in a statement. "The Whittier Police Department, which is committed to responsible and accountable policing, will provide assistance to the District Attorneys Office as needed." The charges are a part of a recent surge in attempts to prosecute police officers in shootings and in-custody deaths under Gascon. Late last month, Gascon charged seven California Highway Patrol officers with involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of Edward Bronstein following a 2020 traffic stop. Lawrence Middleton, a special prosecutor hired by Gascon to review police shooting cases that prior administrations declined to prosecute, has also begun presenting evidence to a grand jury in an attempt to indict two Torrance police officers in the 2018 killing of Christopher DeAndre Mitchell. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) An alternate juror in the trial of a U.S. Army sergeant convicted of murder said Wednesday that Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's rush for a pardon is an egregious overreach to wipe aside the jury's unanimous decision over a 2020 shooting during a Black Lives Matter protest. In an interview with The Associated Press, Jere Dowell said prosecutors put on a convincing case against Daniel Perry, who was in his car working as a ride-share driver when he shot 28-year-old Garrett Foster, who had been legally carrying an AK-47 while marching with demonstrators through downtown Austin. As an alternate, Dowell did not have a vote in convicting Perry but said she was in the room for deliberations and she agreed with the verdict handed down Friday. I just think its a travesty, Dowell said of Abbott already seeking a pardon. Her comments are the first time a juror has spoken publicly since Abbott, a Republican, announced Saturday he would use the power of his office and seek to wipe away the verdict. Legal experts have called the governors move highly unusual and prosecutors condemned it as troubling. Abbott made his intentions known on Twitter less than 24 hours after the verdict and amid outrage from conservative voices on social media and television over the conviction. I just thought it was an egregious overreach of power, Dowell said. It's undermining due process. It's undermining democracy. I was upset, honestly. Perry, who was on active duty at the time of the shooting, is still awaiting sentencing from a judge. He faces up to life in prison. Dowell, who said she has not previously supported the three-term governor politically, said she worried that Abbott wading into the case could cause other jurors to second-guess their decisions. She said the verdict was strictly based on evidence, following 17 hours of deliberation, and politics did not factor in. If your governor is coming out and saying you made the wrong decision, that may make you think twice about what you said or what you felt, she told AP. The AP has attempted to reach all jurors who served during the weeklong trial in Austin. Others have declined to speak about the case or not returned messages. Spokespersons for Abbott did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment Wednesday. The trial had received little national attention prior to Friday's verdict and Abbott had not previously commented on the case publicly. He has has not elaborated on how he reached his conclusion about Perrys case, and his office on Monday referred questions to his statement on Twitter. The encounter leading up to the shooting began when Perry 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 downtown crowd. Then, several shots ring out, and protesters begin screaming and scattering. Perry drove off, later calling police to report the shooting, and officers arrived to find Foster shot. What led up to the gunfire was a core question in the trial that resulted in Perrys conviction. Dowell said her confidence in the verdict was based in part on testimony that Foster's gun was pointing up close to his ear moments before the shooting and that Foster was at least a foot away from Perry's car. She said prosecutors also presented text messages between Perry and a friend, exchanged prior to the shooting, discussing other cases in which protesters had been shot and whether it amounted to self-defense. Witnesses testified that Foster never raised his rifle at Perry, and prosecutors said the sergeant could have driven off rather than opening fire with a handgun. Perry didnt testify. But his defense attorneys have said Foster pointed his gun at the driver and that the shooting was self-defense. I look forward to approving the Board's pardon as soon as it hits my desk, Abbott tweeted Saturday. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, whose office prosecuted the case, said Wednesday in an interview on CNN that it appeared clear that neither Abbott nor his staff had watched the trial. Garza, who ran as a progressive when he was elected in 2020, has previously been a target of criticism from the governor. The district attorney said he did not know why Abbott was pushing for the pardon: I dont know whats in the governors mind. Garza has requested to meet with the Texas Board of Pardon and Paroles and present evidence. The board did not immediately respond to questions emailed Wednesday. Clint Broden, Perry's attorney, has said they did not petition the governor for a pardon prior to Abbott's tweet. He has also filed a motion seeking a new trial. ____ Associated Press writers Paul J. Weber, Jake Bleiberg in Dallas, Jim Vertuno and researcher Jennifer Farrar in New York contributed to this report. California Representative Katie Porter, who is running for Senate and has already faced accusations that she runs a toxic workplace, had previously been accused of being abusive toward her ex-husband and her kids, according to divorce records obtained by the Daily Mail. Porters ex, Matthew Hoffman, said in court filings about a decade ago that the enraged congresswoman once smashed a glass coffee pot on the counter because she didnt believe their house was clean enough. He accused her of dumping a bowl of steaming mashed potatoes on his head, burning his scalp. And he said she frequently accused him of being a f***ing idiot and f***ing incompetent, according to the paper. She would not let me have a cell phone because she said, youre too f***ing dumb to operate it, Hoffman said in court documents. He also accused Porter of throwing toys, books, and other objects when she gets angry. When she gets angry, she will claw and scratch her arms and then say to me Look what you made me do! Hoffman wrote. She regularly says that I am a bad parent in front of the kids. Porter, who was elected to Congress representing Orange County in an upset victory in 2018, announced her Senate candidacy in January. Porter is expected to face off against Democratic representatives Adam Schiff and Barbara Lee to replace the retiring Dianne Feinstein. Porter, a bankruptcy lawyer and former student of Senator Elizabeth Warren, has become something of a Democratic darling in recent years. She is known for her sharp exchanges with congressional witnesses, using a white board as a political prop, dressing as Batgirl on the day of a vote on then-president Donald Trumps impeachment, and for reading the self-help book The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck while Republicans struggled to elect a House speaker. A glowing portrait of Porter published in the San Francisco Chronicle in 2020 identified her as a Democratic rising star, and a straight shooter who possesses a finely tuned hypocrisy detector. But questions about her temperament could be a liability during the Senate race. In the weeks before she announced her candidacy, some former Porter staffers took to Twitter to accuse her of screaming and belittling employees, and running a toxic office. Sasha Georgiades, a Navy veteran who worked for Porter for two years as a Wounded Warrior fellow, told National Review in January that the congresswoman seemed to be driven by a desire for fame and power. She accused Porter of dismissing a sexual-harassment allegation by one of her staffers, telling off-color and offensive jokes about race and sexuality, and lashing out at staffers if they didnt complete tasks to her liking. Nobody should be getting yelled at like that, anywhere, Georgiades said, adding that other than a small number of Porters favorite staffers, everybody was fair game. Porter previously addressed the accusations of domestic violence in her former marriage during her 2018 congressional run, painting herself as a victim to the Huffington Post. Hoffman, she said, had once ripped dental floss from her hands because she was brushing her teeth too slowly, punched a wall, pushed her into a wall, and called her a dumb bitch in front of her three kids, according to the report. She said that Hoffman once shoved their then-one-year-old daughter across the kitchen in her highchair, and threatened to kill himself. I dont have a shady background, Porter told the outlet. Im the most boring person in America. Im a mom of three kids, I protected my family, I ended a marriage that was troubled. The Daily Mail report highlights both sides of the dispute between Porter and Hoffman. The couple filed for divorce in 2013, but decided to continue living together for the sake of their three kids. Porter was the sole breadwinner, according to the report. In one filing, Porter said she and Hoffman had attended anger-management classes together in 2009. In filings, Hoffman said that Porter came home from work one day in 2012 and was angry that the house wasnt clean. This house is a mess! You f***ing slob! Youre incompetent! What the f*** do you do all day! she said, according to the report. Hoffmann said that Porter slammed a glass coffee pot on the counter, breaking it to shards, which cut him. He described an occasion in 2006, when he said Porter accused of him failing to read the instructions while making mashed potatoes for dinner. She then took the ceramic bowl of steaming hot potatoes and dumped it on my head, burning my scalp, Hoffman said, according to the Daily Mail. He said Porter once stood over their son, just 2 years old at the time, and screamed at him to Get out of my face and leave me alone! Porter was pregnant at the time, and the boy had been talking to Porter about his excitement of having a baby sister, according to Hoffman. In a filing, Porter called the allegation absolutely false, according to the Daily Mail. In her own filing, Porter accused Hoffman of being physically abusive, of telling her that she was ruining our children, and that she was a dumb bitch, a despicable person, and f***ing evil, and that she should rot in hell. She also accused him of yelling at their children. At one point, Porter received a temporary emergency protective order against Hoffman. He filed for his own domestic violence restraining order against her. Porters campaign told the Daily Mail that his allegations against Porter were false. In 2014, the couple reached an agreement that Porter would pay Hoffman spousal and child support, and that they would share custody of their children. More from National Review For the record: 1:06 p.m. April 13, 2023: A previous version of this story reported there were 13 call centers in California. A Yolo County center stopped fielding 988 calls in February, lowering the number to 12. While campaigning for mayor in mid-August, Karen Bass spoke about a brand-new three-digit mental health crisis hotline 988 and its promise to save lives of people suffering from mental illness by avoiding deadly confrontations with police. As a member of Congress, she had examined more than 100 lethal police encounters throughout the country and found that at least 40% involved a mental health crisis, she said. The figure dwarfs the often-cited national statistic that a quarter of all people who die at the hands of law enforcement have serious psychiatric problems. In Los Angeles, police reported a similar figure in 2022: 39% of the people their officers shot were in the midst of a mental health crisis. Now, that would change, Bass said at the news conference highlighting the launch of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. I'm so proud to know that L.A. is going to be on the forefront of having a solution, she declared. But the rollout of 988 and related psychiatric emergency services has so far failed to live up to that promise, a Times investigation has found. On July 15, 2022, one day before the 988 hotline went live, the L.A. County Department of Mental Health proclaimed the county was ready for a "seamless" rollout of the service that would include "trained psychiatric mobile crisis response teams who can be connected to through the 988 line when necessary. The county would hire privately contracted teams so crisis therapists could respond 24/7, up from 18 hours a day, the county statement said. More than eight months later, none of that has come to pass: Hotline workers cannot directly dispatch mental health teams, and callers often wait hours for an emergency response. Although the county mental health department has a fleet of mobile teams dedicated to responding to people in psychological distress, in more than 9 of 10 cases, those unarmed mental health workers take more than an hour to respond to callers in need of emergency services, a Times analysis of county data found. About half of the time, teams take more than four hours; sometimes callers wait days. Meanwhile, the phone and computer systems that city and county agencies use to help residents in crisis remain disconnected from 988. Crisis counselors who answer the 988 hotline via the nonprofit Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, based in West L.A. cannot dispatch emergency teams. Instead, they must transfer a person in crisis to a separate county hotline, which can opt to send mental health workers bouncing the caller around the system. Sam Blake starts to prepare dinner at his Sylmar board and care, which houses low-income individuals with serious mental illness who may become unstable and require intervention. Blake, who is in his mid-70s, has largely given up on calling mobile teams staffed with mental health workers to help because they take too long to show up. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) Sam Blake, who runs a home for people with severe mental illness in Sylmar, has pretty much given up requesting a mobile crisis team when a client becomes unstable or aggressive, which can happen weekly for residents with hard-to-treat disorders. He said teams usually take four to six hours to show up. The last time, they didnt come at all. Theyre too slow, and they're not sufficient, Blake said of the teams. Our first choice now is either call the police or at least get the client to stop being destructive. A new way to show up: Sending therapists instead of cops A person who breaks their leg, faces a robber at gunpoint or flees a house in flames can count on paramedics, police or fire personnel to rush to their aid. There is no equivalent in much of the U.S. to assist an individual battling psychological demons. "That is what we are trying to change here in L.A. County," Supervisor Janice Hahn said in a statement. In Los Angeles, policymakers and law enforcement officials have long known that what's in place wasn't working. They began efforts to change the system years before the national 988 number came along. Both the LAPD and Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department pair mental health clinicians with specially trained officers in an effort to deescalate crises without using force. The law enforcement agencies began rolling out those specialized teams in the early 1990s. The county mental health department also began building its civilian mobile response more than two decades ago. Calls to scale up these programs became more urgent in recent years, prompted by disturbingly frequent incidents of police killing people particularly Black men who were in the midst of mental health crises. Sharon Watkins, who fought for the passage of a state law that funds non-police local crisis responses, is keenly aware of that urgency. On the night of Feb. 11, 2015, Watkins got a call that Phillip Watkins was talking about killing himself. Her 23-year-old son appeared to be having a psychotic break. She drove furiously to get to the scene but was met with police tape. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office said Phillip ran toward two San Jose police officers with a folding knife, "intent on dying that day." Seven bullets were found in his body. His mother said Phillip's 2 -year-old daughter was in earshot of the guns going off. Its hard to explain if you've never been through it, not to rush and how important it is to get it right, Watkins said of developing alternatives to police response. Because to me, even one death is one too many." A breakdown in the system: waiting hours for someone to come With the launch of the 988 hotline in mid-July, Los Angeles officials hoped to put in place a system to avoid such tragedies. County officials don't plan to completely remove police from responding to mental health crises. Instead, they aim to reduce and refine law enforcement's role so they respond only in the most dangerous or volatile situations. That goal has support from a wide range of groups involved in the system. In March, the largest Los Angeles Police Department employees union said it would seek to have officers stop responding to mental health calls in which there is no threat of violence or criminal activity. "I don't think there's ever going to be a situation where we can say law enforcement is not going to be" involved, said Jennifer Hallman, alternative crisis response manager for the mental health department. "But we want to make sure that we minimize that, right that it's not law enforcement just because they can get there faster or it's what people know to do." A shift to civilian response, however, requires having someone else who can rapidly show up when residents need in-person help, as well as agreement on how to gauge the severity of calls. Instead, the in-person piece of the puzzle the number of civilian response teams has remained stubbornly stagnant even as the volume of people calling the 988 hotline has grown and the focus of the call centers has broadened, bolstered by an infusion of what's risen to nearly $1 billion by the federal government. Services at the roughly 200 centers scattered across the country including 12 in California have expanded from primarily providing suicide prevention to soothing an array of mental health issues, including substance use problems and advice on how to help a loved one in crisis. Only a fraction of those calls require an emergency response.Didi Hirsch Mental Health Services, which handles 988 calls from Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, Ventura, Imperial and Inyo counties and is also the lead agency for the state, reported a 22% jump in calls, texts and chats in the first six months since the launch. The call center has also grown, bringing on an additional 106 volunteers and 77 staffers. In a step toward meeting the increased need, the mental health department modified two contracts last year one in August, one in December to expand its fleet of 33 civilian mobile crisis teams. But only two contracted teams are up and running bringing the total to 35. The hours of operation haven't budged, with teams available from 8 a.m. to 2 a.m. The county would require 138 teams within the next few years to meet the needs of its 10 million people spread across 4,753 square miles, according to a report by an outside consultant assessing the system's needs. The county's current goal is to scale up to 60 teams by the end of the year. Three are expected to begin operating this month, said Lisa H. Wong, director for the L.A. County Department of Mental Health. "This capacity will allow us to provide 24/7 coverage as well as reduce response times so those experiencing a mental health crisis can receive timely care," Wong said in a statement. The inability to hit those goals so far is not due to a lack of money: The department is budgeted for about 50 teams for the current fiscal year, according to a January report. The county Board of Supervisors has invested $152 million in state and federal funding into beefing up its alternative crisis system, including expanding its mobile crisis teams and call center services, according to a recent motion. County officials say it's been difficult to hire for work that requires clinicians to leap into the field including during weekends and all hours of the night to treat some of the sickest residents. Since the COVID-19 pandemic prompted many therapists to transition to telehealth, clinicians can opt to work from home, making hiring for field jobs even harder. Since COVID, "it has become a challenge to hire staff because competition out there is pretty high, said Miriam Brown, deputy director for the emergency outreach and triage division at the mental health department. I myself, I'm a licensed clinical social worker, I get a lot of offers left and right. County leaders anticipated this problem ahead of the 988 launch, "so we sped up the hiring process and offered bonuses and loan forgiveness," said Hahn, who represents the county's Fourth District. "This hasnt been enough." Supervisors Hahn and Kathryn Barger authored a motion, approved earlier this month, calling for the creation of a pilot program to explore additional incentives. "We can only be successful in our efforts if we have enough teams to respond when and where they are needed," the supervisors said in their motion. "We must do everything we can to fill these positions." Why the police show up faster: a history of delays Response times for the county's psychiatric mobile crisis teams have worsened since the start of the pandemic, according to data analyzed by The Times. In 2019, about 10% of teams dispatched took more than eight hours to respond. That number ballooned to 34% in 2022. The pandemic decimated resources as people fell ill or burned out of the workforce, slowing down response, according to the county mental health department. In some cases, mobile crisis workers waited hours with patients until ambulances, facing similar shortages, arrived to transport patients to hospitals, department officials said. Even before the pandemic, however, wait times were staggering: In 2019, nearly 88% of dispatched teams took longer than the goal of one hour to respond, while 25% took longer than 4 hours. By contrast, the Sheriff's Department's 34 Mental Evaluation Teams took about 18 minutes on average in 2021 to arrive, according to Capt. John Gannon, who previously oversaw the units. Those who use, work in and oversee the crisis system have long been aware of how slow the civilian teams are. Yet as of October, officials with the mental health department said they were not routinely tracking or analyzing data. Department officials said they improved their dispatch processes in February and are working with labor unions on ways to speed up mobile crisis interventions. The inadequacy of the civilian response has created a vacuum filled by other emergency services typically law enforcement. Annadennise Briz, the lieutenant in charge of the L.A. County Sheriff's Department Mental Evaluation Team, listens to a radio call in South El Monte. Around 1993, LASD began to deploy the teams that include a deputy and a mental health clinician. The LAPD and Long Beach Police Department soon followed suit. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) When a family calls for help, it means they're afraid of a bad situation, said Lt. Annadennise Briz, a former county mental health clinician who leads the Sheriff's Department's Mental Evaluation Team. Families in crisis typically can't wait hours for a civilian team to arrive. "To keep the family from living in fear until [the civilian team] gets there, they will call us and we will go out," she said. A long endgame amid an urgent crisis Proponents of the 988 system stress that its in its infancy and will take time, effort and money for reality to match the long-term vision of transforming the nation's crisis response. Developing a policy and financing framework for the new system will be a lengthy process, in California and across the country, said Michelle Doty Cabrera, executive director of the County Behavioral Health Directors Assn. of California. There's the downstream ambitious goal or vision that some people have, that 988 will be that portal and that conduit to connect people to something much more, and then there's the sort of work that we need to do to build out toward something like that, Cabrera said. I would say that there are still a lot of gaps to establish 988 as that conduit or portal and that's OK. In the interim, however, people with serious mental illnesses continue to die in confrontations with police. Less than five months after the news conference at which Bass lauded 988, LAPD officers called to a Westlake apartment fatally shot Takar Smith, a father of six who was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Officers huddled outside of the apartment didnt loop in LAPD's Mental Evaluation Unit when planning how to respond although his estranged wife, Shameka Smith, had mentioned several times on her call to police that he hadnt been taking medication to treat his psychotic disorder. I begged them not to shoot him, she said. This article was produced as part of the USC Annenberg Center for Health Journalism's 2022 Data Fellowship and engagement initiative. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. The Shelby County Board of Commissioners voted on Wednesday to send Democrat Justin Pearson back to the Tennessee House of Representatives as an interim representative, less than one week after he was ousted from the legislative body for his role in disrupting proceedings on the House floor. The vote comes after the other Democrat who was expelled last week, Justin Jones, was also unanimously appointed as an interim representative by Metropolitan Council of Nashville and Davidson County on Monday. Both lawmakers will serve in an interim capacity and will need to win their respective special elections in order to formally win back their seats. Nashville thought they could silence democracy, but they didnt know that the Shelby County Commission was filled with some courageous leaders, Pearson said after the vote on Wednesday. You cant expel hope, he added. You cant expel justice. You cant expel our voice. And you sure cant expel our fight. We look forward to continuing to fight. Continuing to advocate. Until justice rolls down like water. And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream. Lets get back to work. House Speaker Cameron Sexton held a vote to expel Jones, Pearson and state Representative Gloria Johnson last week after the trio encouraged raucous protesters in the House chambers. Protesters stood on a balcony within the chambers chanting, Fascists! Fascists! Demonstrators also blocked several entryways and exits, forcing state troopers to step in to assist members in moving throughout the building. The demonstration was held in response to a shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville that killed six people, including three children. Jones was expelled by a vote of 72-to-25, while the House voted 69-to-26 to expel Pearson. A vote to expel Johnson failed by one vote. What they did is they hijacked the House floor which has never been done in our history, Sexton told National Review of the three lawmakers. 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, continued Sexton. Those actions that they did on the House floor deserve expulsion. More from National Review The Pentagon. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters) The trove of classified Pentagon documents posted online has exposed sensitive U.S. spying operations not just on enemy states but on allies such as South Korea and Egypt, raising troubling questions about the access that low-level members of the military have to national secrets as well as the damage they can potentially do to Americas relationships with other countries. According to a report in the New York Times, the leaker is Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old officer in the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard who is fond of guns, racist memes and video games. To the select group of Thug Shaker Central, the invitation-only, male-dominated chat forum where the documents first appeared on the Discord messaging platform, Teixeira was known as the OG. Hes fit. Hes strong. Hes armed. Hes trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie, a teenage online acquaintance said of Teixeira. Remarkably, Teixeira, who was taken into custody on Thursday, seems to have committed a felony crime in distributing American state secrets not out of ideological fervor or for money but for attention. He shared these documents to make his friends impressed with him, Aric Toler, director of training and research at the Dutch investigative outlet Bellingcat, and the lead open-source investigator responsible for identifying Teixeira, told Scripps News. As bizarre and unnerving as this breach may be, its not over yet. The Washington Post has examined 300 new photographs of classified materials, most of which have not been made public. Worse still, there could be a lot more material than that, some of which may yet be posted and deleted in some dark corner of the internet, waiting to be ferreted out by enterprising online sleuths. Our intelligence collection system runs on trust, Joshua Manning, a former analyst in the Defense Intelligence Agency, told Yahoo News of the leakers identification. In this case, some random MAGA extremist defiled that trust for personal gain. The question the community and especially the Defense Department needs to ask is whether that specific unit and many others across the country and world really need this level of access. An infographic on the Pentagon documents leak created in Ankara, Turkey. (Kenan Kaplan/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images) The U.S. now finds itself in an awkward but familiar place, more than a decade after Chelsea Manning, an Army soldier stationed in Iraq, downloaded hundreds of thousands of classified U.S. documents pertaining to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, plus sensitive State Department cables, and passed them to WikiLeaks for publication. Not long after Mannings breach, intelligence contractor Edward Snowden exposed the National Security Agencys elaborate eavesdropping programs. As in both of those incidents, U.S. diplomats are once again fielding uncomfortable phone calls with foreign counterparts in which theyre forced to answer difficult questions. Yet former spies say the U.S. can muddle through this scandal, which, at least so far, pales in comparison to prior breaches. Even the most shocking of the Pentagon disclosures, they insist, are not shocking enough to do irreparable or even serious harm to bilateral relations. The current commander in chief agrees. Theres nothing contemporaneous [in the documents] that Im aware of that is of big consequence, President Biden told reporters Thursday. For one thing, none of the allies or partners have kicked up much of a fuss over disclosures that a broad spectrum of U.S. intelligence agencies have been spying on them, mainly on the question of where they stand with respect to Russias war in Ukraine, an outsize preoccupation for the Biden administration and U.S. intelligence community. In fact, a consensus is now emerging among the spied-upon nations that some if not most of these documents contain information that is absurd, untrue or manipulated. Those responses run counter to the characterizations of some U.S. media outlets that the U.S. intelligence breach is the most damaging in years, potentially worse than Snowden and the apparent cause of indigestion among several Pentagon staffers. There is little evidence to date that the leaked documents are inauthentic or have been doctored (apart from one well-litigated example that was the result of pro-Russian social media users who fudged Ukrainian and Russian casualty figures after the fact). But if the materials do not contain shards of disinformation, it only raises the question of why Americas friends are closing ranks behind Washington to do damage control on its behalf. South Korea South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol. (Jung Yeon-Je/Getty Images) One of the most significant U.S. penetrations of a partner nations government detailed in the leak was that of South Koreas National Security Office. These files, labeled Top Secret (the highest category of classification) and culled from a CIA intelligence brief, detail specific interactions between top South Korean officials, including the former Secretary for Foreign Affairs Lee Mun-hee and the former national security adviser Kim Sung-han, as they debated Seouls policy of not supplying lethal military aid to Ukraine and whether it should be changed. The leak came just weeks before South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol is scheduled to visit the United States on April 26. That state visit is also mentioned in the intercept, with Sung-han expressing concern that any South Korean announcement of a change in their policy to supply lethal military aid to Kyiv might be seen as a quid pro quo in relation to the state visit. (The visit, as it happens, was scheduled to mark the 70th anniversary of the alliance between the two countries.) The reaction to the breach in Seoul was largely split along party lines. Lee Jae-myung, the leader of the opposition Democratic Party told foreign reporters on Tuesday that 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. President Yoon Suk-yeols government, meanwhile, sought to downplay the leak. A statement released by the office of the South Korean president claimed that the allegations that U.S. intelligence had heavily penetrated the South Korean government were an absurd false suspicion. The statement also revealed that current South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup held a conversation with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in which both sides agreed that quite a few of the documents in question were fabricated. Neither Lee nor Austin have elaborated on what else they believed to be fake. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Another possible reason for South Koreas muted response to the spying revelations of U.S. spying is that Seoul is, by many accounts, likely guilty of the same thing. A former U.S. intelligence official told Yahoo News that, much like the Germans, the South Koreans regularly spy on the United States, primarily in order to glean crucial intelligence about their main adversary, North Korea, which the U.S. intelligence community is unwilling to share with Seoul. Indeed, another CIA intelligence briefing contained in the latest breach, also marked Top Secret, discusses North Koreas tests of its intercontinental ballistic missiles. On the same page, it states that the North Koreans have been parading around a number of inactive ICBM launchers in order to trick the Americans into believing they have a more capable missile force than they actually do. Weve had cases of catching South Koreans red-handed in the past trying to get our secrets about Pyongyang, the former U.S. intelligence official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity. And guess what? Were still friends. Politically these leaks may be awkward, but no professional in our line of work would or should be shocked by anything in those files, which, by the way, are only summaries of collected intelligence. The really sensitive stuff isnt put into these files for a reason and that reason is now evident all over the internet. A good portion of the contents of the leaked Pentagon files read like a mishmash of open-source information gleaned from media reports, and rumors obtained and dispatched back to Washington by American diplomats stationed overseas. John Sipher, the former deputy head of Russia House at the CIA, told Yahoo News that the popular conception of espionage, culled from Hollywood movies and spy novels, is markedly different from the mundane realities. We often see this assumption in our press that intelligence is this huge surprise, the keys to the kingdom that wed otherwise not have. Often, what we collect simply confirms what we already knew, bolstering confidence in our assessments. A TV screen in a Seoul, South Korea, railway station shows a report on the leaked Pentagon documents, April 12. (Ahn Young-joon/AP Photo) In the Ukraine-related documents, for instance, there is a lengthy write-up of internal Ukrainian government conversations about the perilous state of the Donetsk city of Bakhmut. Catastrophic is how Gen. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraines military intelligence service, characterized the situation there as of Feb. 28, by way of ordering the deployment of HURs elite Kraken unit of special operators to help stabilize Ukraines northern and southern flanks around Bakhmut. Yet Russian advances in the city were no secret: they had been a predominant item of Ukraine reporting for weeks around that time, both in the West and in Ukraine itself. One hardly needed Budanovs opinion to know things were going badly for Ukraine in Bakhmut a month and a half ago. Marc Polymeropoulos, the former head of European and Eurasian Affairs at the CIA, as well as a former case officer stationed in the Middle East, thinks Washington has seen and muddled through far worse intelligence breaches. Ive read reports on these leaks suggesting that some countries will restrict intelligence-sharing with the U.S. after this, Polymeropoulos told Yahoo News. Bullshit. There is a massive land war in Europe. There may be some hard chats between U.S. embassies and their counterparts, but we have a war to win. In the end, we build strong bilateral ties in order to weather these storms. Israel and Egypt A demonstration against the Israeli government's controversial justice reform bill, in Tel Aviv, March 4. (Jack Guez/AFP via Getty Images) Two of the most revealing documents in the leak concern Middle East allies of the United States. The first, taken from a CIA intelligence update dated March 1 that was acquired from U.S. intercepts, purports to show that the heads of the Mossad, Israels foreign intelligence service, were encouraging popular protests against Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu governments controversial plan to limit the Israeli Supreme Courts oversight over the constitutionality of Knesset-passed laws. The notion that Mossad chiefs were fomenting the protests in Israel is just not plausible, Polymeropoulos said. So I think there is some question on authenticity here, or a question on the quality of the analysis. What may have happened is that Pentagon analysts conflated news reports that the Mossad was allowing its officer corps to take part in the protests as a matter of their democratic right for foreign spy agencys interference in the domestic political affairs of Israel. On that note, Polymeropoulos added, lets remember how flawed the U.S. military assessments have been during the entire course of the Ukraine war. The Pentagon gets a lot just plain wrong. The Mossad did not directly comment on the allegations contained in the leaks, but Netanyahus office, speaking on behalf of the intelligence agency, called them false and unfounded, adding that even the ostensible source material upon which they were based was also wrong. The Mossad and its senior officials have not and are not encouraging workers at the organization to demonstrate against the government, and participate in political demonstrations in general, the prime ministers office said in a written statement on April 9. Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi speaking at a summit in Cairo, Feb. 12. (Ahmad Hassan/AFP via Getty Images) The other Middle East ally cited in the trove is Egypt. The Washington Post reported that a document dated Feb. 17 details tentative plans drawn up by Egyptian President Abdul Fatah al-Sisi and senior Egyptian military officials to secretly supply Russia with 40,000 rockets, most likely referring to munitions for the 122-millimeter Grad multiple-launch rocket system. Egypt is the recipient of $1.3 billion annually in U.S. military assistance. Yet Sisi also enjoys strong ties with Vladimir Putin, with Egypt operating and purchasing a significant quantity of weaponry from Russia, a wide variety of small arms and Ka-52 attack helicopters. Cairo even reportedly recently inked a deal to purchase 500 T-90MS main battle tanks from Moscow, that will be assembled under license in Egypt. In an interview on Tuesday with state-linked media outlet Al Qahera News, an Egyptian government spokesperson described the leaked reports as informational absurdityand claimed that the country followed a balanced policy with international parties. The United Kingdom John Healey, British shadow secretary of state for defense. (Ian Forsyth/Getty Images) The assessment seems to be taken entirely from statements made on the record by British politicians and other open sources. In fact, the whole thing seems to have originated in a speech made by Shadow Defense Minister John Healey to the Royal United Services Institute, a prominent British foreign policy think tank in London. The speech was livestreamed and later published on a number of pro-Labour news outlets. In this case, the Pentagon was simply clicking through for intelligence. That the U.S. is interested in the internal workings of British politics is not exactly breaking news. Among the State Department cables leaked by Manning was a write-up by the U.S. charge daffaires in London, Richard LeBaron, titled Gloomy Budget and a New Scandal Torpedo Browns Poll Numbers, a detailed analysis of how an adviser to then-British Prime Minister Gordon Brown, leader of the Labour Party, had planned to plant false rumors online about Conservative politicians, a scandal known in the U.K. as Smeargate, and how the exposure of the plan had adversely affected Browns approval ratings. Furthermore, the United Kingdom certainly returns the compliment. In 2019, Kim Darroch, the British ambassador to the United States, was forced to resign after British government DipTels short for diplomatic telegrams were leaked showing Darrochs assessment of the Trump administration as inept and insecure. As former acting U.S. Ambassador to Great Britain Lewis Lukens pointed out at the time, Sir Kim was doing what hes paid to do. And what he was paid to do was reporting honestly and frankly on the situation in Washington. This was but a hiccup in a special relationship between the United States and United Kingdom that has endured the Cambridge Five compromises, George Blake and much else during the Cold War and shows not even the slightest sign of growing any less special now. On Ukraine, Washington and London have been in lockstep, particularly in their disclosures of Russias invasion plans and intentions before Feb. 24, 2022. A high-ranking official in an allied NATO intelligence service told Yahoo News that most of what the Americans and British knew about Putins designs came from signals intelligence. In this latest breach, the British government seemed to follow South Koreas lead in disputing the veracity of the leaked information. A significant proportion of the content of these reports is untrue, manipulated, or both, a British defense official told the Times (U.K). We strongly caution against anybody taking the veracity of these claims at face value and would also advise them to take time to question the source and purpose of such leaks. British lawmaker Tobias Ellwood, a member of the ruling Conservative Party and the chair of the influential Defense Select Committee, had a less sanguine take on the leaks, saying the revelations could endanger lives. Former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. (Carlos Costa/AFP via Getty Images) Media doomcasting about worst-case scenarios is as common under these circumstances as the leak of classified information itself. Just 10 years ago, another spy scandal was similarly described as having the capacity to upend an important bilateral relationship, possibly for good. In 2013, German magazine Der Spiegel revealed that a U.S. unit known as the Special Collection Service, jointly run by the CIA and National Security Agency, had been listening in on phone calls in Germany. And these were not just any phone calls but ones placed by top German officials including then-Chancellor Angela Merkel on her personal cellphone. Confronted with this embarrassing revelation, mined from the mountain of NSA data stolen by contractor Edward Snowden, the U.S. had a rather sheepish response: There was not currently nor would there in future be any spying on the chancellors phone, the implication being that there had been in the past. The fallout in Berlin was predictably ferocious. Some German politicians demanded pausing or scuttling a much sought-after EU free-trade agreement with the U.S. (It went ahead.) Diplomats warned of a coming deep freeze in relations not just between Washington and Berlin but between Washington and Brussels. (Diplomacy continued.) Even Barack Obama, who spoke to a rapturous crowd of 200,000 at the Brandenburg Gate when running for president in 2008, was transformed overnight from progressive icon into untrustworthy snoop in German public opinion. Spying between friends, Merkel rather touchingly announced at an EU summit in Brussels that October, thats just not done. Except, of course, it is, was and always will be at least when it comes to certain friends. That fact was made amply apparent when, just two years later, Der Spiegel reported that Germanys Federal Intelligence Service had itself been spying for years on the White House, state and treasury departments, even branches of the U.S. military. Whereas politicians like to pretend to abide by a code of ethics and disdain acts of hypocrisy, no such covenants apply in the worlds second-oldest profession, however titillating the exposure of espionage programs may be to journalists and pundits. If everyone were telling the truth all the time, John Sipher, formerly of the CIA, said, we wouldnt have to spy on them. Rep. Jamaal Bowman is calling on the Biden administration to pass an executive order on gun reform, after three 9-year-old children and three adults were killed in a mass shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn., last month. I wish the president would sign an executive order to ban assault rifles, and if it goes to the courts for a fight, so be it, Bowman, D-N.Y., told Yahoo News on Wednesday. The American people need to see that we give a crap. And that we're fighting. And that we're doing everything we can. Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y., speaks at a rally outside the Capitol in Washington, D.C., on W March 22. (Nathan Posner/Shutterstock) Last month, Bowman confronted Republicans just outside the U.S. House of Representatives in Washington, D.C., for not taking action on gun violence, after the slew of school shootings in the United States. Theyre all cowards! They wont do anything to save the lives of our children at all, he said on March 30. Bowman says that viral moment, which included a heated exchange with Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., was unplanned. The feeling was rage, frustration, confusion, just [a] lack of understanding. Why my colleagues on the other side of the aisle arent gonna take this issue more seriously, and don't respond with a sense of urgency, Bowman said. In a statement to Yahoo News, Massie said Bowman had wanted to discuss solutions to school shootings, but when I offered a solution he began shouting. When he asked for data, I gave him data, but then he just shouted more. Bring facts. Massie also said that shootings have never happened at "the hundreds of schools that allow staff to carry." He cited a 2019 study from researcher John Lott of the Crime Prevention Research Center that examined school shootings from 2000 to 2018. Lotts work is often cited by gun control opponents to argue that restrictions arent a solution to curbing gun violence. For Bowman, senseless gun violence has been a part of his life since he was a kid, he told Yahoo News. When I was in college, a good friend of mine, her and her 8-month-old baby [were] shot and killed in Connecticut. My other best friend's mother was killed, (the friends) brother was killed, and cousin was killed. Additionally, the congressional leader was an educator, a profession that is grappling with the scourge of gun violence in schools nationwide. The year before Bowman started his teaching career in New York, 12 students and one teacher were killed in the 1999 Columbine High School massacre in Colorado. A couple of years later, Virginia Tech happened. A couple years later, the 6-year-olds in Connecticut were killed, Bowman said. And we had no national day of mourning, no national response, no ban on assault rifles, nothing. After the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary school shooting, Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W. Va., and Sen. Patrick Toomey, R-Pa., attempted to pass a law to expand background checks on the purchase of firearms, but the bipartisan bill failed in the Senate. Two women hug at a memorial at the entrance to the Covenant School in Nashville, Tenn, on March 29. (Wade Payne/AP) But last year, following the shooting in Uvalde, Texas, where 19 children and 2 teachers were killed, Congress passed a bipartisan bill that requires tougher background checks for those under the age of 21. "After 28 years of inaction, bipartisan members of Congress came together to heed the call of families across the country and passed legislation to address the scourge of gun violence in our communities, Biden said in a statement after Congress passed the legislation. During Bowmans intense exchange at the Capitol, Massie, R-Ky, who in 2021 posted a holiday photo of him and his family members holding guns along with a note to Santa requesting more ammo, days after a school shooting in Michigan, suggested that the solution is arming teachers with firearms. More guns leads to more death, Bowman responded. Bowman says teachers shouldnt have to carry a firearm in schools, because gun-control policy is more effective. So a national ban on assault rifles, a national Red Flag Law, a national law that makes sure guns are safe and secure, national background checks, national waiting periods. There are policies that can be implemented that will be stronger than arming teachers, Bowman said. In Tennessee, three Democratic leaders participated in a gun violence protest in the wake of the Covenant School shooting, calling for stricter gun laws. Two of the representatives, who were Black, Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, were expelled. Both have since been reinstated. Bowman says the actions of the so-called Tennessee Three were necessary because the United States only reacts when it's forced to take action. Abolition, suffrage, civil rights, gay rights, those were all movements that led to policy changes. And we need that now more than ever, especially as we push back against the rise in the far-right MAGA Republicans, Bowman said, referring to the slogan for Donald Trumps 2016 presidential campaign that has come to define Trumps supporters. Some leaders say there isnt much that can be done to decrease gun violence in the U.S. Republican Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., stood on the steps of the Capitol after the Covenant School shooting and said, Were not going to fix it. Criminals are going to be criminals. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been 146 mass shootings this year, which is, to date, more than the number of days in 2023. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said it's shameful and unacceptable for Republicans to say there is nothing to be done. Our schools, our churches, our places of worship have now become deadly places for many Americans who have lost their lives just this past year, Jean-Pierre said at a White House press briefing on March 29. Bowman says Americans will remain frustrated until action is taken. That's the sort of apathy and complacency that is common in the Republican Party and common for many career politicians, he said. We're sacrificing the lives of our kids and innocent people for the Second Amendment. San Joaquin Valley farmers are working against the clock to rescue cropland from damaging floodwaters and bolster defenses before an epic spring snowmelt. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Tom Barcellos has farmed the reclaimed soil of the Tulare Lake Basin for nearly five decades, and hes rarely witnessed a winter like 2023. A slew of drenching storms, funneled across the Pacific Ocean as atmospheric rivers, have prompted prolonged flooding in large swaths of the San Joaquin Valley. For the first time in decades, Tulare Lake is reemerging from the valley floor, as rivers swollen with runoff from heavy rains and snow spill down from the Sierra Nevada into the valley, overwhelming canals and levees. The lake's return has engulfed thousands of acres of cropland, orchards, highways and homes, upending the region's economy, possibly for years. And even as blue skies return, the flood-weary farmers have only to look east, to the towering Sierra mantled in historic layers of snow, to know there is worse to come. Barcellos is awed and exhausted by what nature has wrought. But like other farmers with deep roots in this valley, he has no serious thoughts of leaving. Instead, he is digging in for battle. "This is our livelihood," said Barcellos, who owns both cropland and dairies. "This is more important than anything else, in my mind. And I thank God everybody has jumped in to fight." But there will be no quick victories. For weeks now, farmers, their crews and residents of the nearby towns threatened by flooding have tromped through water, sludge and punishing storms to try to shore up the region's defenses. Barcellos recounted a strenuous episode in early March when his team,armed with excavators and heavy machinery, set out to limit destruction along the surging Tule River, normally a "lifeline for nearby dairies and more than 125,000 acres of crops. Most years, the Tule River serves as a crucial irrigation line, ferrying Sierra snowmelt to the man-made channels and ditches that interlace the valley floor, redirecting the area's major rivers with a strategic precision that has enabled landowners to transform these arid lowlands into an agricultural heartland. And in the rare years of heavy rain and snowfall, the Tule is a critical release valve, ideally holding the heavy flows within its banks as it passes rural outposts like Porterville, Corcoran and the lucrative agricultural enterprises that crisscross the basin. On this day, as the Tule hurtled along its banks, the concern was clearing the riverbed of accumulated refuse and debris to create room for heavy flows. Using a short boom like a claw in an arcade machine, Barcellos and his team worked for more than 20 hours, pulling out felled trees, heavy sediments, even a washing machine from the turbulent waters. Were running on pure adrenaline, Barcellos recounted, pointing to a pickup truck that was driven into the river in an attempt to stop the erosion. At one point, he had to rescue a friend from falling into the rapids surging through the sodden banks. Despite their efforts, the force of the flood was too much to withstand, and water six inches deep soon began seeping into the adjacent fields and evacuated dairies, Barcellos said. As temperatures rise, the floodwaters engulfing San Joaquin Valley orchards pose a grave risk of root rot and could kill thousands of trees. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Roads, bridges and parts of the districts irrigation system were swept away in the process. The dirt along the riverbed today looks as though somebody took a cleaver to a chocolate cake. Its devastating, Barcellos said. We see there's loss here that wont recover. Once the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River, Tulare Lake was largely drained by the early 20th century as the rivers that fed it were dammed and diverted for agriculture. In the days before the damming, the lake could stretch for 790 square miles, four times the size of Lake Tahoe, with depths of 30 feet. This is not the first time the farms and ranches that now proliferate in the ancient lakebed have been threatened by the phantom lake's reemergence. Its last high point was in 1983, when another period of heavy rain and snow unleashed massive runoff that suffused tens of thousands of acres and took some land out of production for years. (Paul Duginski / Los Angeles Times) Barcellos is chair of the Lower Tule River Irrigation District, one of about a dozen reclamation districts that share responsibility for flood control in the Tulare Lake Basin. He estimates $1.5 million is needed to complete necessary repairs in his jurisdiction. And thats only this small area, on this system, he said, wondering where the money will come from. Richard Valle, a supervisor in neighboring Kings County, shared estimates for his county that top $1 billion in damage. With the multipliers added lost jobs, wages, etc., he said, that takes us to $2 billion. Valle is among the local leaders who hope to tap federal assistance for storm response and recovery efforts. President Biden signed a major disaster declaration earlier this month to jump-start emergency aid to seven flood-battered counties, including Tulare. Kings County, omitted from the original request, has asked to be added to the emergency order. The challenge going forward, Barcellos said, is managing the water for the remainder of the year. If orchards now engulfed in floodwaters aren't drained, root rot will pose a risk to thousands of trees. The hay that feeds area cattle is also in danger. And as temperatures warm, it is only a matter of time before a Sierra snowpack that is the deepest recorded in 70 years starts to melt, unleashing torrents of water that will further test the region's defenses. Crews have a matter of weeks, maybe months, to reinforce levees and repair breaks. Normally, I could look to the east, and see snow as I scan north," Barcellos said. "Now, I look to the east and there's a lot of snow going to the south that is normally not there. That is going to have an impact. Robert Hansen, a retired biology professor and former president of the Tulare Basin Watershed Network, an environmental stewardship group, believes no amount of quick-hit reinforcements will be able to contain the water that would spew down the mountains if the region sees an early-season heat wave. It's probably going to be the biggest flood I've ever seen, Hansen said, recalling the flood of 1983 when he kept a canoe on hand in case he had to paddle into work. And the snow melts April to bloody July, he said, meaning towns like Alpaugh, Allensworth and Corcoran, a trio of communities that sit in the lakebed, face a months-long risk of being wiped away. A home near the town of Corcoran is inundated by floodwater. Low-lying areas of the vast and fertile San Joaquin Valley have experienced flooding after recent heavy rains and snowmelt from surrounding mountains. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Corcoran in Kings County has a front-row view of the devastation. With about 22,000 residents, the town is home to a state prison that serves as a major employer, along with the region's farms and dairies. Corcoran is protected to the south by a long, mounding levee that stands 188 feet tall. On the other side of that defense, the reformed Tulare Lake continues to take shape, swallowing up pomegranate fields, barns and warehouses. The floodwaters lap against the levee banks and from there stretch miles to the horizon. Like Barcellos, town residents are girding for the inevitable snowmelt, choosing for now to bolster defenses rather than evacuate. They are using excavators and heavy machinery to cart in mounds of dirt in hopes of raising the levee just enough. Unfortunately, we're not getting a whole bunch of information or resources from the county, the state or the federal government, City Manager Greg Gatzka said. The water level on the outer side of the levee sits at 178 feet, 10 feet below the rim. Gatzka said the aim is to raise the levee by 4 feet. Anything above and beyond that, he said, probably wont matter because the entire valley could be underwater. Crews raise a makeshift levee wall to protect Corcoran from the resurgent Tulare Lake. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) Partnering with the Cross Creek Flood Control District, the city hopes to haul in 150,000 cubic yards of dirt, enough to pack a 14-mile stretch. The work has been complicated by travel conditions: Roadways throughout the basin remain underwater, and access to and from Corcoran has withered to just two routes. Coming up with the $17 million needed to finance the reinforcements is another problem. But waiting on construction was not an option, because as the water rises, the banks will become muddier, making it difficult for heavy equipment to maneuver. As it is, Gatzka estimated the work will take two months. And with temperatures rising, "We do not have the luxury of time," Gatzka said. "We have to be proactive if we're going to have the best shot at protecting the city." Corcoran residents and inmates in the prison, which sits at the lowest part of the city, will have to seriously consider evacuation if water levels reach 184 feet before the reinforcements are completed, Gatzka said. He thinks it's likely the town will be at risk of flooding for anywhere from seven months to two years. Assuming the town survives, the economic fallout is hard to predict, Gatzka said. Most residents are farmhands and dairy workers, so their fate hinges on which agricultural properties stay dry and when cultivation can resume in areas that flooded. Despite the unknowns, he maintains faith. "It'll be a struggle all across the valley," Gatzka said. "But we'll weather through it." This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. A TV screen is seen reporting North Korea's missile launch with file footage during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, April 13, 2023. North Korea launched a ballistic missile that landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to take shelter as a precaution. The order has been lifted. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea on Thursday conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, possibly testing a new more mobile, harder-to-detect missile for the first time, its neighbors said, as it extends its provocative run of weapons tests. Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to take shelter in an indication of its vigilance over North Korea's evolving missile threats. The missile was launched on a high angle from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan following a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) flight, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staffs said in a statement. It described its range as medium or longer. The U.S. National Security Council called it a long-range missile and Japans government said it likely had an intercontinental range. South Koreas military believes North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, a defense official said under the condition of anonymity because of office rules. If the launch involved a solid-fuel ICBM, it would be the Norths first test of such a weapon. North Koreas known ICBMs all use liquid propellants that must be fueled before launches. But the fuel in a solid-propellant weapon is already loaded, allowing it to be moved easier and fired faster. A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the key high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to build to better cope with what he calls U.S. military threats. He also wants a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch may have involved a new intermediate- or long-range missile powered by solid propellants, or be linked to North Korean preparation to launch a spy satellite. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region. Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies. During an emergency meeting of Seoul's National Security Council, officials stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting of his NSC to analyze the launch and Japans response. The nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held a telephone conversation where they called for a decisive and united international response to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean funding of its weapons program. North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, using elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries. South Korea and Japan typically dont issue evacuation orders unless they determine the North Korean weapon is flying in their direction. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the North Korean missile launched Thursday did not reach Japans exclusive economic zone. But Japanese authorities still urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter and temporarily suspended train, bus and subway services there. Local communities also activated alert sirens through community speakers, urging people to evacuate. The government then retracted its missile alert, saying there was no possibility of the missile landing near Hokkaido. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the alert was based on the Japanese Defense Ministrys early assessment of the missiles path and was an appropriate step to prioritize peoples safety. Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order in October when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the weapon's potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. Thursdays launch was the Norths first long-range missile firing since the country tested its longest-range, liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM on March 16. Kim Jong Un reviewed his countrys attack plans Monday and vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways. North Korea has launched about 100 missiles since the start of 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea or Japan within striking distance. The Norths testing spree is largely in protest of South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea uses its rivals' drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. Later Thursday, China, North Koreas last major ally, reiterated its blame for the heightened animosities on the U.S. and South Korea. The negative impact of the U.S. military exercises and strategic weapons deployed around the peninsula a few days ago is obvious to all, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a briefing. North Korea unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead in late March, raising concerns it could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles. South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Communications on those channels are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals disputed western sea boundary. On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse expressed strong regret over what he called North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the hotlines. North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Experts say the discussions between world leaders at Japans Group of Seven meetings in May could be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea. U.N. Security Council permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russias war on Ukraine. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. Before the onset of COVID-19, the Training Ship Golden Bear was used as a freshman residence hall while docked in Morrow Cove on the northern San Francisco Bay. During months-long cruises, about 300 students and crew members live and work on the 500-foot vessel. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) For nearly three decades, the navy-and-gold Training Ship Golden Bear has plied oceans around the globe for California State University's Maritime Academy, providing a unique classroom for students training to be leaders in the seafaring industry. In recent years, Cal Maritime students and employees reported accusations of rape, sexual assault and sexual harassment aboard the 500-foot ship to officials at the Vallejo campus. Interviews and internal campus records reviewed by The Times showed the allegations included two rapes reported in 2019, a sexual assault in 2022 and accusations that a captain sexually harassed women and made disparaging remarks about the LGBTQ community and women during a 2021 training cruise. The school did not report those allegations to federal maritime authorities and has not followed consistent procedures for handling wrongdoing on the vessel, a Times investigation has found. Cal Maritime acknowledged it did not report the allegations to the U.S. Maritime Administration, which owns the vessel. The federal agency said such reports are required under a long-standing agreement allowing the campus to use the training ship. The agreement requires the campus to promptly report alleged violations of state, federal and international laws, statutes or regulations and provide "complete written details of the occurrence." That includes sexual harassment, sexual assault and retaliation, a spokesman for the Maritime Administration said in statements to The Times. Campus officials said they believe they complied with the provisions, noting they contain no language that "directly addresses reporting obligations for sexual assault and sexual harassment ... incidents." The maritime agency acknowledged that it has never conducted a compliance review to determine whether sexual misconduct cases at Cal Maritime are being properly handled by the campus. Following inquiries by The Times, presidents from Cal Maritime and other state maritime academies are moving to strengthen protocols for reporting sexual misconduct on their U.S.-owned training vessels. The new details come amid heightened scrutiny of alleged misconduct at the school on the San Francisco Bay after a Times report in December exposed decades-long claims of sexual assault and sexual harassment, homophobia, transphobia and racism on campus and during training cruises. The Maritime Administration said it was concerned about accusations raised in The Times' report. The agency said its civil rights office will review the school's handling of sexual misconduct and retaliation complaints and work with the campus to address any problems. The review will also determine whether the campus violated the terms of the agreement. The Golden Bear training ship anchored at California State University's Maritime Academy in Morrow Cove on San Francisco Bay. (Gary Coronado/Los Angeles Times) Failure to abide by the agreement, the agency said, could jeopardize funding it provides to the small campus, which has totaled more than $10 million in the last five years, and prompt an investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice. The senior Democrat on a congressional subcommittee overseeing maritime operations said in a statement that he was deeply troubled to learn of "Cal Maritimes failure to report instances of sexual assault, harassment, and retaliation." "Their top priority must be uprooting any culture that turns a blind eye to sexual misconduct," Rep. Salud Carbajal (D-Santa Barbara) said in response to The Times findings. The campus said President Thomas A. Cropper was unavailable for interviews. In a statement, Cropper said that the school has been a leader in addressing sexual misconduct in the maritime industry and that he recently was in Washington meeting with federal officials and leaders from other state maritime academies to develop improved reporting protocols for sexual harassment and sexual assault. The retired rear admiral added that the campus is working with the Maritime Administration on a new agreement that will clarify language about reporting sexual misconduct. Cal Maritime believes it has met every reporting obligation under federal law and our agreement with [the Maritime Administration], said Cropper, who is stepping down in August. In 2021 and 2022, the campus said it reported two incidents of wrongdoing, while the Maritime Administration said it received three reports. Neither the campus nor the agency could account for the discrepancy. Cal Maritime did not provide direct answers to detailed and repeated questions from The Times about the recent misconduct allegations and vaguely described accusations of rape and sexual assault aboard the ship as sexual activity without affirmative consent. The campus said it took appropriate action in each and every one of these incidents and launched investigations per the CSU nondiscrimination policy, which prohibits sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, retaliation and other wrongdoing. The school said it reported the incidents to the U.S. Department of Education as required by law. A Times review of internal campus records, including sexual misconduct investigations, emails and shipboard captain reports, found significant disparities in how officials handled misconduct accusations aboard the Golden Bear: After a death threat last year against a transgender officer, the captain and another top officer said there was a lack of written protocols for conducting investigations on the ship and began their own inquiry after complaints that the threat had created a hostile environment for LGBTQ crew members. When vandalism and homophobic graffiti were discovered in 2021, Cropper ordered a senior administrator to rendezvous with the vessel to investigate. During the inquiry, according to internal records, multiple people accused the captain of sexual harassment and making disparaging remarks. The campus did not formally investigate those accusations until a separate complaint was filed months later, the records show. And after two women reported in 2019 and 2022 that they were raped and otherwise sexually assaulted by male classmates while the Golden Bear was docked on campus, the school hired an outside firm to investigate the allegations. :: Nestled along a tree-lined cove overlooking the Carquinez Bridge, the campus trains cadets to become U.S. Merchant Marine officers. About 800 students attend the school, one of seven maritime academies in the United States and the only one of its kind on the West Coast. Federal reporting requirements are important, maritime law experts say, because they can alert officials to systemic problems and provide additional oversight to protect employees and cadets, as students at Cal Maritime are called. "They should be leading the way in responding to this ... rather than trying to explain why they are not doing that," said Edward M. Bull III, an Oakland attorney who specializes in maritime law. Cadets who spoke to The Times said they didnt know that the university was required to report allegations of sexual misconduct to federal maritime officials, nor did they realize that students could do the same. They said a broader awareness and practice of the policy might help deter predatory behavior. Concerns about the university's response to allegations of wrongdoing aboard the training ship date back decades. During a 1990 hearing in the California Legislature, lawmakers criticized Cal Maritime leadership for failing to protect students after the Maritime Administration investigated claims of sexual misconduct and racial discrimination aboard its training ship at the time. A state senator said the university would not be allowed to return to business as usual. The president at the time announced his retirement shortly after and was replaced by the first woman to head the academy. Carbajal, who recently told the California State University chancellor in a letter that the pervasive problems at Cal Maritime were inexcusable, said that weeding out sexual misconduct is more important than ever as the country struggles to recruit mariners, who are vital to the supply chain. A culture that protects our mariners starts with our training pipeline at institutions like Cal Maritime, he said. Cal Maritime is one of 23 campuses within the CSU the largest four-year public university system in the nation. The state is conducting an audit following Times investigations that found repeated inconsistencies in how campuses across the system handle sexual misconduct and retaliation cases. :: Before the onset of COVID-19, the Golden Bear was used as a freshman residence hall while docked at the edge of campus in Morrow Cove on the northern San Francisco Bay. Originally built for the U.S. Navy, the ship was transferred to Cal Maritime in 1996 and has provided a hands-on learning experience for cadets who study the design of the vessel and navigate ocean waters under the direction of a captain and ship officers. During months-long summer ocean cruises, about 300 cadets and crew members live and work on the vessel, which has nine decks connected by stairwells and narrow passageways. The ship is outfitted with classrooms, a library and a gym, and students sleep in small rooms with stacked beds and shared bathrooms. There's a lounge known as Pirate's Cove and space to stow fishing gear and surfboards. Work assignments include the bridge, where the captain commands the vessel, and the engine room below deck, where massive diesel engines power the Golden Bear on voyages to Asia, Europe and Latin America. A cadet who lived on the Golden Bear while it was docked on campus said that a male student also residing on board raped her twice in the ships close quarters, according to campus investigative records reviewed by The Times. The assaults took place in a classroom and her bedroom, she alleged in a sexual misconduct complaint filed in 2019. It was one of the claims the campus did not report to federal authorities. The cadet asserted that she never consented to sex with the male student and that she was intoxicated during both incidents a claim corroborated by multiple witnesses who spoke to investigators. In the first incident, the cadet said, she met with the male student in the ship classroom hours after she had been drinking with him. They had planned to watch a movie, she said, when he allegedly raped her. A month later, the woman alleged, the cadet raped her again after she returned from a party. She said she didn't have the strength to stop him, campus records show. At a campus hearing in 2020, the cadet accused of assaulting the woman said he inferred permission for the encounter from her reaction to his advances," the records show. The hearing officer concluded there was no violation of CSU policy. Afterward, the woman said that a campus official encouraged her to file an appeal. She chose not to go forward. I was burnt out and wanted to put it behind me, she said in an interview with The Times. She recalled the emotional turmoil she felt. During the investigation, her grades fell and she was placed on academic probation as she recovered from the trauma, she said. That took a little bit of psychological healing, she said. The Times does not typically identify people who allege that they were sexually assaulted. Another cadet who reported an alleged sexual assault aboard the Golden Bear said it was troubling that the university did not disclose her claim and other such incidents to federal officials. She and a male classmate were on a late-night security patrol of the ship while it was docked at the academy last spring, according to records from a campus sexual assault investigation launched after she filed a formal complaint last year. She alleged that he pulled her into a room, grabbed her face and began kissing her, then unzipped her boilersuit and grabbed her all over her body, the records show. The investigation, which is continuing, is also examining a second allegation by the woman that the classmate raped her in a separate attack in the campus dorms, according to the records. He said that he did nothing wrong and that they engaged in consensual sex. In interviews, the woman said she kept an eye out for her alleged attacker's vehicle in school parking lots and stopped going to the dining center to avoid seeing him. After much self-blame, she said, she was prescribed antidepressants, which she no longer takes. This semester has been better, she said, because her accused attacker is no longer at school. But the cadet said she remains disappointed that campus leaders did not alert federal maritime officials. "It makes it seem like they want to carry on as if nothing happened," said the woman, who wants to travel the world as an officer in the U.S. Merchant Marine. "Its this kind of ... response that manipulates victims into believing that what happened to them wasnt a big deal, she said. Cadets train to become U.S. Merchant Marine officers aboard the Training Ship Golden Bear. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In summer 2021, cadets vandalized the Golden Bear during a training cruise. Phallic symbols were chalked on walls, and a sleeping quarters door was removed from its hinges and replaced with another that had a window in the middle and a homophobic slur etched below. Chief mate Jessica Ryals, the second in command, alerted the ship captain and the campus to the vandalism. The president dispatched the director of marine transportation, Samuel Pecota, to meet the vessel the next day off Catalina and investigate. The captain notified federal maritime officials about the vandalism, according to the campus. During Pecotas inquiry, internal records reviewed by The Times show, multiple people accused Capt. Louis Solana of staring at womens breasts, singing a lewd karaoke song and being openly dismissive of and derogatory toward women and the LGBTQ community. The claims were detailed in a confidential report to Cropper on Sept. 1, 2021, several days after the Golden Bear had returned to the school. Solana was put on leave for the semester as officials reviewed the vandalism investigation, the campus said. The university ordered a review of training cruise culture, focusing on the two voyages that summer. But the campus did not report the sexual harassment claims against Solana to federal maritime officials, nor did it launch a formal investigation into the allegations that Pecota reported. Pecota declined to be interviewed. In October 2021, Solana defended himself in an 18-page rebuttal that he shared with a faculty member and cadet. In the document, which was leaked to the campus community, he called the accusations in the report slanderous and labeled the relationship between Pecota and Ryals as collusive. He also accused Ryals of displaying poor leadership and questionable moral conduct, adding that she contributed to a hostile environment aboard the vessel. Solana declined to comment for this article, saying that campus management told him the case is confidential. Ryals told The Times that the campus community turned on her in defense of Solana. She was targeted in anonymous social media posts and heard whispers directed at her that included c, bitch, "just quit already and kill yourself. Someone broke into her car on campus, she said, and she no longer felt safe walking the grounds. It became almost impossible to actually do my job, Ryals said, adding that she lived on campus as a residence life coordinator. There was no avoiding this hostile environment that I was working in. The campus began investigating Ryals' allegations in January 2022 after she filed a formal complaint against Solana. She described several of the sexual harassment allegations raised in Pecotas memo from months before and the hostility she said she faced following Solana's rebuttal. Cal Maritime said supervisors counseled Solana about the accusations while the investigation into Ryals' complaint was continuing. The inquiry concluded in October 2022, finding that Solana had sexually harassed and retaliated against her in violation of CSU policy, campusrecords show. He was allowed to continue teaching because removing him from class would have resulted in significant disruption and harm to the academic progress of students, the campus said. He remains employed by the university but is not teaching. Ryals left the university soon after the investigation began, ending her dream of becoming the first woman to captain the Golden Bear. I cared very greatly about educating and graduating the next generation of merchant mariners and being a mentor and helping to train and guide these young people, she said. It absolutely broke my heart to feel like that was all taken away from me. The investigation into training cruise culture was conducted by a civil rights expert from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, and its findings were released early last year. The report cited frequent use of racist, sexist, transphobic and homophobic slurs on the ship and on campus, all of which were part of a more pervasive problem at the academy. In response, campus officials said they strengthened the reporting and investigative process to ensure that sea training was more positive, safe and equitable. But concerns about a hostile environment and a lack of thorough shipboard investigations surfaced again during a training cruise last summer. As second mate, Elizabeth Neumyer was one of the top officers on the Golden Bear during the voyage. Troubled by the accusations of transphobia and homophobia noted in the campus report on cruise culture, she decided to head things off. While cadets lined up during formation, Neumyer announced that she was a transgender woman. I didnt want any students getting hurt, and I figured that one of the ways for them to potentially be safer was if people knew that the person who's partially responsible for enforcing such things was from this community, she recounted in an interview. She received support from a number of people. But before the ships departure in May, a student reported on an anonymous texting app that a classmate on the vessel allegedly said he wanted to kill the second mate because she is transgender, according to a report by the ships captain that was reviewed by The Times. Campus police investigated and interviewed the cadet suspected of making the threat. The cadet denied wrongdoing, and an officer closed the case after concluding that it did not appear that a criminal act occurred, a police report shows. According to the campus, the ship captain alerted federal maritime officials to the threat. Days later, as the ship headed to Seattle, Neumyer and a cadet who is transgender filed formal complaints. They didnt do anything to assuage anyones fears, Neumyer said of campus officials who probed the death threat. Capt. Darrin Muenzberg and his third mate launched an investigation. Internal records show that both officers said they were relying on their experience and best judgment because, as Muenzberg noted in his investigation report, there was an absence of procedure, checklists, or guidelines for shipboard conduct of discrimination [and] harassment investigations. Their investigation found a hostile environment for the LGBTQ community. The cadet suspected of making the threat was kicked off the ship in Seattle for allegedly violating the student conduct code, the records show. Muenzberg declined to comment. Cal Maritime said the coordinator who oversees campus sexual misconduct and discrimination complaints, not the captain, is responsible for investigating wrongdoing on the Golden Bear. But the coordinator is not assigned to the ship during sea training that lasts up to two months, which hinders evidence gathering when the case is fresh, Neumyer said. After the Golden Bear returned from the training voyage, the campus conducted a "preliminary inquiry" into the hostile environment accusations but did not formally investigate because officials were unable to determine who was responsible, according to an email from the coordinator. Neumyer said she became the first woman to captain the Golden Bear during a second training cruise last summer, which was overseen by the Maritime Administration and included cadets from several academies, including Cal Maritime. She said Cal Maritime must develop clear procedures on how to investigate wrongdoing aboard the ship, including coordinating efforts between campus officials and the vessels captain during sea training. They're throwing a lot of words at the problem, but theyre not putting any substance to it, Neumyer said. Its a system that just doesnt work. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, signed an executive order Tuesday to strengthen background checks and called on the General Assembly to pass the equivalent of a red flag law. Lee said at a news conference that the order would ensure that information-sharing more closely guarantees the safe, lawful purchase of firearms in Tennessee. He also said legislation was needed to address shortcomings in existing gun laws. Our current law is proven and effective in many circumstances, especially with regards to domestic violence, but this new stronger order of protection law will provide the broader population cover, safety, from those who are in danger to themselves or to the population, Lee said. Red flag laws, which are similar in scope to order of protection laws, allow authorities to temporarily seize firearms from people who are found to be dangers to themselves or others. President Joe Biden last year signed landmark bipartisan gun legislation that included grants to states for red flag laws. Police said the Nashville school shooter was under care for an emotional disorder and hid weapons at their parents home. It was not clear whether the legislature, where Republicans hold a majority, would take up such a bill during this legislative session. Lt. Gov. Randy McNally, who is also the speaker of the Senate, was supportive of Lee's efforts. I support the Second Amendment unequivocally and believe that a law-abiding, armed citizenry is the greatest defense against criminality and tyranny. But I also believe we must take steps to ensure those experiencing mental health crises do not have access to weapons that can be used in mass casualty events, McNally said in a statement. Any such order process must be tightly constructed with sufficient due process and protection against false or fraudulent reporting. 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. Gov. Bill Lee responds to questions during a news conference Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Lee held the news conference to talk about gun control legislation and an executive order to require information for background checks on gun purchases to be updated more rapidly. (George Walker IV / AP) In a statement, House Speaker Cameron Sexton's office said any proposal dealing with mental health orders of protection "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, his office added. Tensions have been heightened in Tennessee after Justin Jones and Justin J. Pearson, both Black Democrats, were expelled from the General Assembly last week over their involvement in a protest on the chamber floor against gun violence. A third Democrat, Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, survived her expulsion vote. The floor protest was in response to a mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville in which six people were killed, including three children. Jones was reinstated Monday after a Nashville city council vote. The Shelby County Commission is expected to hold a similar vote for Pearson on Wednesday. Asked at the news conference about the expulsions of Jones and Pearson, which thrust the state into the national spotlight, Lee declined to comment directly and instead said legislators were operating in an emotionally charged environment after last months mass shooting. We should be very serious about real solutions and about getting real solutions across the finish line, and I look forward to working with the General Assembly to do just that, Lee said. We should work to set aside our differences and accomplish something that Tennesseans want us to get accomplished, he added. Asked whether Lee's actions Tuesday were influenced by Jones' and Pearson's expulsion, Jade Byers, a spokesperson for the governor, told NBC News: "To be very clear, the Governors action to protect Tennesseans is a response to the tragic shooting at the Covenant School that took six precious lives, including three children who were just nine years old. Lee has been encouraging bipartisan solutions for "nearly two weeks," Byers said in a statement, noting that Lee had previously asked the General Assembly to propose legislation to ensure that people who are threats to themselves or the public do not have access to weapons. A week after the mass shooting, Lee and legislative leaders proposed measures and funding to place armed school resource officers at the state's public schools. The executive order Lee signed Tuesday requires entering criminal history information and court mental health information within 72 hours to the Tennessee Instant Check System or supplying that information to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation. Courts will be required to submit similar information to the background check system. The order also calls on the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to examine the current process to buy firearms and issue a report within 60 days. "If there are changes needed, we can make those changes," Lee said. Caden Young, of Boise, was revived through CPR and medication and taken to a Washington hospital after potentially using fentanyl-laced cocaine, according to police reports obtained by the Idaho Statesman. He was released less than 12 hours later. And about seven hours after that, the 22-year-old University of Idaho student died in his sleep on March 21, according to a witness. The police reports describe a chaotic series of events at a hotel in Seattle, where Youngs two companions summoned emergency responders on March 20. But they also indicate that nothing out of the ordinary occurred between his exit from the hospital and his arrival at a friends apartment in Centralia, 83 miles away. The incident led to drug charges against the two companions who were with him at the hotel, one a woman he knew from U of I. The friend who reported Youngs death later contacted the woman on behalf of police to try to set up a meeting to purchase drugs, according to the police report, so police could find her. Love you guys but not right now, the woman replied on Snapchat. That was super scary working through the situation. This man literally died in Ds arms. We love Caden and I want him to be straight and I want to make sure he rests and is taken care of and understands how serious that was. I want to see him healthy. We love you guys. Youngs death was the latest tragedy in a turbulent school year for the U of I. Four students were stabbed to death in November. Young was a member and former president of the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. A journalism student, he wrote for the U of Is student newspaper, The Argonaut, in 2021 and was pursuing his interest in reporting on human rights and geopolitical issues, according to a Facebook post from the journalism college. The Office of Fraternity and Sorority Life at the U of I did not reply to the Idaho Statesmans request for comment. This has understandably been a difficult year for the Vandal family, with the loss of several students since the start of the academic year last August, Blaine Eckles, U of I dean of students and vice provost for student affairs, said in a memo to students. Please make sure to take care of yourself and others. As a community, we collectively mourn Cadens death and share our deepest condolences with his family and friends who are most impacted by his passing. According to the reports from the Centralia Police Department, these are the events that led to Youngs death: While in Washington on March 16 during a U of I break, Young first stayed with a former college fraternity brother in Centralia the same man who would pick him up from the hospital and take him home the day he died. Young then traveled to Seattle, where he spent time at a Holiday Inn with the 22-year old Moscow woman and a 36-year-old Tacoma man. The hotel manager told police she received a call from the woman asking the manager to call 911 on March 20. The manager and a maintenance worker went up to the room to find Young lying unconscious, vomiting and blue in color. The manager told police the man and woman were freaking out. The man splashed ice water on Young, slapped him in the face and performed CPR until medics arrived, according to the manager. After medics used low doses of Naloxone to revive Young, he began breathing again and became conscious. The police reported that the man and woman seemed emotional, with the woman falling to her knees and the man hitting the wall and saying, Thank God. Police said the man made a statement to an officer confirming that (Young) ingested fentanyl. At 2:23 p.m., Young was taken to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where medical staff treated him for a fentanyl overdose. The hospital released him at about 2 a.m. March 21 when his former fraternity brother picked him up. Susan Gregg, director of media relations for the medical center, confirmed to the Idaho Statesman that Young was treated and released at Harborview. She said she could not release further information on his treatment because of HIPAA laws. Centralia police received Youngs medical records from Harborview. When the Statesman requested those records, they were all redacted. The Centralia friend told police that after he picked up Young, Young fell asleep multiple times on the drive back to the apartment and was so out of it that the friend had to guide him because he could not keep his eyes open. Young fell asleep at the apartment at about 4:30 a.m. and the Centralia friend checked on him for the next several hours, according to statements to police. The friend showed police a video he took of Young snoring loudly at 8 a.m. Based on the snore, I recognized it to sound similar to the snorting sound people who were dying commonly did with their last breaths, Officer Timothy ODell wrote in a police report. At about 8:39 a.m., the friend woke and found Young unresponsive. The friend and a roommate attempted CPR before calling 911 at 9:07 a.m. to report that Young was unconscious and not breathing. First responders and police arrived but were not able to get a pulse. A preliminary analysis of Youngs urine later found that he had fentanyl, benzos, marijuana, cocaine and alcohol in his system. Police believed the woman who provided drugs to Young in Seattle was a safety concern because she was actively trafficking in cocaine that was laced with fentanyl. They took measures to track her down immediately. Her license plate was entered into the Flock camera system, which uses automated license plate recognition technology, and police began tracking her phone as well. Using phone pings, they were able to find her and the Tacoma man in Des Moines, Washington. Officers arrested them on suspicion of delivery of a controlled substance at 10:05 p.m. March 21, according to Lewis County Jail records. A white substance found in the womans car was cocaine containing fentanyl, police determined. Residents in Kherson have given harrowing accounts of their suffering in an alleged Russian torture chamber in the recently liberated Ukrainian city. Alleged victims told Human Rights Watch of being electrocuted and stabbed, and having guns held to their head and knives to their genitals as their fellow detainees lost their lives in a series of facilities, including one known as the hole, as Russia occupied the city between March and November. The accounts came as the United Nations said it was appalled by videos circulating online, including one purporting to show Russian troops beheading a Ukrainian soldier, over which Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed legal revenge. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has called the video horrible but said its authenticity needs to be verified, while a Telegram account linked to the Wagner mercenary group claimed it would not be the last violent execution of the war. On the battlefield, Ukraine has rejected the latest claims from Wagners chief to have captured 80 per cent of Bakhmut city. Key Points Kherson residents detail abuses in deadly Russian torture chamber Zelensky says Ukraine living through a storm of emotions' after beheading video Ukraine rejects Wagners claims on Bakhmut Ukraine compares Russia to Isis after beheading video of Ukrainian prisoner of war circulates online US concerned by Hungarys eagerness for Russia Russia completes successful' test launch of new intercontinental ballistic missile Dozens of UKs elite special forces 'deployed in Ukraine', leaked documents claim to show What we know about the leaked Pentagon documents on Ukraine 10:27 , Andy Gregory Its been less than a week since news of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war surfaced, sending the Pentagon into full-speed damage control to assure allies and assess the scope of the leak. Overall, the leaked documents present a very serious risk to national security, a top Pentagon spokesman told reporters Monday. Tara Copp and Nomaan Merchant take a look at what the documents are, what is known about how they surfaced, and their potential impact: What we know about the leaked Pentagon documents on Ukraine Putin faces communications challenge as Victory Day parades cancelled, says MoD 10:06 , Andy Gregory The cancellation of high-profile Victory Day parades in Crimea and several Russian regions bordering Ukraine poses a communications risk for the Kremlin over the true scale of Moscows war losses, Britains Ministry of Defence has suggested. Leaders of several Russian regions bordering Ukraine, as well as occupied Crimea, have announced that their usually high-profile 9 May Victory Day military parades will be cancelled, the ministry said, citing British intelligence. Some Russian cities further away from Ukraine have confirmed they plan to go ahead with Victory Day. The cancelled events have likely primarily been called off because of security concerns near the border, as officials have claimed. However, the different approaches highlight a sensitive communications challenge for the Kremlin. Putin couches the special military operation in the spirit of the Soviet experience in World War Two. The message risks sitting increasingly uneasily with the many Russians who have immediate insights into the mismanaged and failing campaign in Ukraine. Honouring the fallen of previous generations could easily blur into exposing the scope of the recent losses, which the Kremlin attempts to cover up. Poland sceptical about French attempts to broker Ukraine-Russia talks 09:48 , Andy Gregory Poland is sceptical about French attempts to organise talks between Ukraine and Russia, Warsaws foreign minister has said. We are sceptical about French initiatives to lead to some form of talks between Russia and Ukraine, Zbigniew Rau said in a speech to parliament. We do not see any signs that Russia is ready to revise its policy of territorial conquests ... the possible result of such talks cannot be any separate guarantees for Russia, apart from the observance of the norms of international law. Pentagon leaker is young gun enthusiast who worked on military base 09:20 , Andy Gregory The person who leaked a huge trove of classified US documents impacting Washingtons allies, including Ukraine is a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base, the Washington Post has reported, citing fellow members of an online chat group. The person shared classified information to a group on the instant messaging platform Discord of about two dozen men and young boys who shared a mutual love of guns, military gear and God, according to the paper, which based its report on interviews with two members of the Discord chat group. The person went by the handle OG and was described by one of the sources as being in his early to mid-20s, and was looked up to by members of the group. Hes fit. Hes strong. Hes armed. Hes trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie, said one member of the chat group, who was under 18 and spoke on the condition of anonymity with the permission of his mother. Kherson residents detail abuses in deadly Russian torture chamber 08:44 , Andy Gregory Residents in Kherson the Ukrainian city held by Russia from March to November have given harrowing accounts of their suffering in an alleged Russian torture chamber. Human Rights Watch has spoken to residents who described being electrocuted, subjected to fake executions, and having knives held to their genitals in several facilities in the city, one of which was known as the hole. Former detainees consistently reported similar forms of abuse, including severe beatings with sticks and rubber batons, electric shocks, threats of death or mutilation, and use of painful stress positions, the rights group said. No adequate medical care was provided to detainees, with at least three detainees alleged to have died. One former detainee told the group: There were five men They were all beaten up. There was one who had been shot in the leg; another one had a broken rib. We heard screams all day and night. People would be screaming at 3am and in the evenings They didnt give medical help to anyone. Another said: They strip- searched me for tattoos, and had me face the wall completely naked. They put a knife to my genitals held it between my legs. They stabbed me once below my buttocks. I still have scars That went on for three to three-and-a-half hours. Then they put a pistol to back of my head and said, If you are Orthodox, pray. After that they shot twice [into the air]. A Ukrainian policeman walks in a basement of the regional police headquarters, allegedly used as a torture site of pro-Ukrainian citizens (GENYA SAVILOV/AFP via Getty Images) Real peace means restoring borders of Ukraine, says Kuleba 08:04 , Andy Gregory All Ukrainian cities and Crimea must and will be part of Ukraine again, and a real peace will come by restoring the countrys borders, Ukraines foreign minister Dmitro Kuleba has said. There is no difference between ... any Ukrainian city, they all must and will be Ukraine again, he told a Black Sea security conference in Bucharest via videolink. Russian military apparatus rife with infighting, new leaked documents show 07:04 , Arpan Rai A fresh tranche of 27 pages of leaked documents purport to show the Russian military, Vladimir Putins ministers and intelligence apparatus are plagued with infighting. One of the documents claims Russias intelligence agency, the Federal Security Service, levied accusations against the defence ministry for obfuscating Russian casualties in Ukraine, according to notes from US intelligence officials. The documents highlight the continuing reluctance of military officials to convey bad news up the chain of command, reported the New York Times. The documents also show the FSB questioning the Russian defence ministrys own casualty count in discussions within the Russian government. Estonian PM condemns Ukrainian beheading: Deeply rooted terror' 06:48 , Arpan Rai Estonian prime minister Kaja Kallas has condemned the purported video showing the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier. When we think of terrorists, Russian soldiers should come to mind. Russia is a terrorist state. Wagner is a terrorist organisation, the European leader said, sharing Volodymyr Zelenskys message on the video. Terror was always deeply rooted in the arsenal of the Red Army and it lives on - the collapse of the Soviet Union did not change a thing, Ms Kallas said. Wagner likely removing civilians from Bakhmut ISW 06:19 , Arpan Rai Russias private military Wagner Group is likely involved in the removal of Ukrainian civilians, including children, from Bakhmut, a new assessment suggests. Wagner-affiliated source RIAFAN posted footage on 11 April detailing the story of an 11-year-old girl from Bakhmut whom Wagner found and rescued, the Institute for the Study of War said. The US based think-tank said that the Russian commissioner for childrens rights Maria Lvova-Belova reported on 6 April that her administration is working to provide humanitarian assistance to families with children whom Wagner removed from Bakhmut. It is still unclear where these families and children are being re-homed, but it is likely that Wagner is facilitating their removal further into Russian occupied territory or deportation to the Russian Federation and using humanitarian justifications to do so, the ISW said. Alleged leaked documents suggest UK special forces have operated in Ukraine 06:08 , Arpan Rai Claims that UK special forces have operated in Ukraine have been widely reported after allegedly leaked documents were published online. The Ministry of Defence warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak of US classified information at face value. A spokesperson said in a message posted on Twitter: The widely reported leak of alleged classified US information has demonstrated a serious level of inaccuracy. Alleged leaked documents suggest UK special forces have operated in Ukraine Ukraine rejects Wagners claims on Bakhmut: More than 20% under control 04:53 , Arpan Rai The Ukrainian military has rejected the latest claims over Bakhmut from the Russian mercenary group Wagner. I was just in touch with the commander of one of the brigades holding the defence of the city. And I can confidently say that Ukrainian defensive forces control a considerably larger per cent of Bakhmuts territory, said Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for Ukraines eastern military command. Ukraine said it controlled considerably more than 20 per cent of Bakhmut, the salt-mining city that has become centre stage for the bloodiest battle in the continuing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin claimed on Tuesday that his forces have captured more than 80 per cent of the town. The Russian defence ministry also backed the claims and said that Wagner forces had captured three city blocks. Russian forces, it said, had struck Ukrainian army reserves trying to break through. Zelensky says Ukraine living through a storm of emotions' after beheading video 04:28 , Arpan Rai Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russian forces of normalising violence and atrocities in the continuing war in Ukraine as he said that the latest video of beheading shows their pride at being able to kill. Ukraine is currently living through a storm of emotions. Yesterday, a video of the brutal murder of our soldier by the occupiers was shared by Russian sources. They are there, in this video, are proud with their ability to kill, he said in ministerial meeting yesterday. He added: You have probably all seen it on the news. And you know, that Russian army tries to make this level of violence and atrocities a routine everywhere on Ukrainian soil. Every time when they do something like this, one gets shocked like for the first time. And deaths brought by Russia must not become a usual routine! The long story of Russian impunity must finally stop, the war-time president said. Putin approved WSJ reporters arrest Bloomberg 04:14 , Arpan Rai Russian president Vladimir Putin personally approved the arrest of US reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges for the first time since the Cold War, reported Bloomberg, citing people aware of the matter. The move to arrest Gerschkovich came from hawks among top officials of Russias security services, the people with knowledge of the issue said. Zelensky calls on world leaders to act over beheading video 03:00 , Liam James Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky has urged world leaders to act after the emergence of footage appearing to show Russian soldiers beheading a Ukrainian prisoner of war. How easily these beasts kill. We are not going to forget anything. Neither are we going to forgive the murderers, Mr Zelensky said of the video, which has not been verified by The Independent, but is circulating online. There will be legal responsibility for everything. The defeat of terror is necessary. It is unclear when or where the video was shot, but the captive is wearing the yellow arm band used by Ukrainian soldiers. A second video appears to show the beheaded corpses of two Ukrainian soldiers next to a destroyed military vehicle. Click here to read the full story: Zelensky calls on world leaders to act over beheading video US Yellen calls to keep up Ukraine aid 02:00 , Liam James US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday called for continued significant aid to Ukraine as it battles against Russias invasion, and lauded Ukrainian authorities for their focus on good governance and anti-corruption. Ms Yellen, who paid a surprise visit to Kyiv in February, spoke at the start of a ministerial meeting on Ukraine during the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund, where Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and prime minister Denys Shmyhal also spoke. Supporting Ukraine is a collective effort. We welcome the efforts by our allies and partners to provide significant, predictable, and timely assistance, and urge all of us to continue doing so, Ms Yellen said. Yellen arrives at a World Bank Development Committee Plenary at the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington (AFP/Getty) US intelligence leak complicates summit with South Korea 01:00 , AP Leaked US intelligence documents suggesting that Washington spied on South Korea have put the countrys president in a delicate situation ahead of a state visit to the US, the first such trip by a South Korean leader in 12 years. The documents contain purportedly private conversations between senior South Korean officials about Ukraine, indicating that Washington may have conducted surveillance on a key Asian ally even as the two nations publicly vowed to reinforce their alliance. Since taking office last year, conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has put a bolstered military partnership with the United States at the heart of his foreign policy to address intensifying North Korean nuclear threats and other challenges. The 26 April summit with President Joe Biden is seen as crucial to winning a stronger US security commitment and resolving grievances over the Biden administrations economic and technology policies. Click here for the full story: US intelligence leak complicates summit with South Korea US hostage chief pledges to bring home Americans detained in Russia Thursday 13 April 2023 00:00 , Liam James The top US hostage envoy has pledged to bring home two Americans detained by Russia journalist Evan Gershkovich and ex-Marine Paul Whelan as he pressed Moscow to grant consular access to the Wall Street Journal reporter. The president of the United States and the secretary are committed to bringing Evan home and Paul Whelan as well. And were gonna find whatever it takes to get that job done, Roger Carstens, a US special presidential envoy, said on CNN. Mr Gershkovich appears to be in good spirits and good health, he said. But we havent been able to verify that by way of a consular visit, Mr Carstens said. Earlier in Moscow, deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said Russia was weighing granting access. The US State Department has designated Mr Gershkovich as wrongfully detained, a move Ryabkov said would not change Moscows approach. The journalist has pleaded not guilty to espionage charges. Manchin leads senators in bipartisan Ukraine trip Wednesday 12 April 2023 23:00 , Liam James United States senator Joe Manchin visited Kyiv with a bipartisan group of senators to show support for Ukraines fight against the Russian invasion. In a statement after meeting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, the Democrat said: The Ukrainian people continue to show unimaginable courage in the face of Vladimir Putins unjust war. I was honored to meet with President Zelensky and members of his cabinet in Kyiv to learn firsthand about the challenges they face as this war rages on. Accompanying Mr Manchin was Republican senator for Alask, Lisa Murkowski, who said: For more than a year, the people of Ukraine have stood against the unspeakable atrocities unleashed against them by Vladimir Putin. Ukraine is an inspiration to the world, and it was an honor to meet with President Zelensky to reiterate our unwavering bipartisan support for their sovereignty and fledgling democracy. Manchin passes by damaged Russian tanks exhibited in central Kyiv (AP) Manchin, Mark Kelly and Murkowski attend a meeting with Zelensky in Kyiv (Reuters) Two Americans killed while fighting in Ukraine, State Department confirms Wednesday 12 April 2023 22:00 , Liam James Two Americans have been killed while fighting in Ukraine, the US State Department has confirmed (Gustaf Kilander writes). The department didnt reveal the identities of the US citizens fighting Russian forces but told The Daily Beast that they are in contact with their families. No additional details on the deceased Americans were available as of Wednesday afternoon. Two Americans killed while fighting in Ukraine, State Department confirms The Pentagon leaks are staggering in scale and expect more to come Wednesday 12 April 2023 21:30 , Liam James Kim Senguptas take on the ongoing leak of US security documents: The Pentagon documents currently being leaked are staggering in scale and range, an unveiling of secrets and lies spanning the globe with fresh and detailed instalments being drip-fed every day. The Ukraine war has been the common link in revealing a web of intrigue involving governments, politicians and diplomats, intelligence agencies and the military, mercenaries and arms dealers and millions of dollars in weapons and oil contracts. The Pentagon leaks are staggering in scale and expect more to come | Kim Sengupta World Bank to give 160m for Ukraines battered power grid Wednesday 12 April 2023 20:45 , Liam James The World Bank said it would finance $200m (160m) to help fix Ukraines energy and heating infrastructure, with partners and others to provide another $300m in additional funding as the project expands. The $200m grant will be used to make emergency repairs to Ukraines transition transformers, mobile heat boilers and other emergency critical equipment, the World Bank said in a statement. Ukraine endured a brutal Russian campaign of strikes on its energy infrastructure from October last year. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said around one-third of Ukraines power system, though British intelligence last week said Russias energy assault had subsided in recent weeks. Smoke billows from a power infrastructure following a Russian drone attack in Kyiv Oblast on 19 December (AP) Russia says it escorts German naval plane over Baltic Sea Wednesday 12 April 2023 20:00 , Liam James Russia said on Wednesday it sent a fighter jet to escort a German reconnaissance plane over the Baltic Sea after it approached the Russian border. The crew of the Russian fighter jet identified the air target as a P-3C Orion patrol aircraft of the German Navy, Russias defence ministry said. The German plane did not cross the Russian border, it said. Macrons China visit a mistake, says Truss Wednesday 12 April 2023 19:15 , Liam James Former British prime minister Liz Truss said it was a mistake and a sign of weakness to ask for Chinas help in ending the war in Ukraine. At a speech to the Heritage Foundation in Washington, Ms Truss hit out at French president Emmanuel Macron after his visit to China, on which he controversially said Europe should not follow the US over the Taiwan dispute. Mr Macron said in Beijing: I know I can count on you [President Xi] ... to bring Russia to its senses and bring everyone back to the negotiating table. Ms Truss, speaking today, pointed to Russian president Vladimir Putin and the invasion of Ukraine, and Chinas President Xi and the build-up of armaments in China and the menacing of Taiwan. She said later in her speech: Putin and Xi have made it very clear that they are allies against western capitalism. Thats why I think it was a mistake for western leaders to visit President Xi and ask for him to intervene in seeking a resolution to the conflict in Ukraine. Truss in Washington today (AP) US doc leak latest: Ukraine and Russian casualties 10 times higher than claimed Wednesday 12 April 2023 18:30 , Liam James As many as 354,000 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers have been killed or injured in the Ukraine war which is grinding towards a protracted conflict that may last well beyond 2023, according to a trove of purported US intelligence documents posted online. If authentic, the documents, which look like secret US assessments of the war as well as some US espionage against allies, offer rare insight into Washingtons view of one of Europes deadliest conflicts since World War Two. The Independent has not been able to independently verify the documents and some countries, including Russia and Ukraine, have questioned their veracity, while US officials say some of the files appear to have been altered. According to an assessment collated by the US Defence Intelligence Agency, Russia has suffered 189,500-223,000 total casualties, including 35,500-43,000 killed in action and 154,000-180,000 wounded. Ukraine has suffered 124,500-131,000 total casualties, including 15,500-17,500 killed in action and 109,000-113,500 wounded in action, according to the document entitled Russia/Ukraine - Assessed Combat Sustainability and Attrition. The figures are around 10 times bigger than any public casualty figures published by either Moscow or Kyiv. The US was thrown into a diplomatic crisis after documents, labelled Secret and Top Secret, appeared on social media sites in March, purportedly revealing details of Ukrainian military vulnerabilities and information about allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey. The Pentagon issued a statement on Sunday saying it was reviewing the documents, while analysts have said they appear authentic. US concerned by Hungarys eagerness for Russia Wednesday 12 April 2023 17:45 , Liam James The United States has concerns over the Hungarian governments continued eagerness to foster ties with Russia, the US ambassador to Budapest said after Washington announced sanctions against three top officials of the International Investment Bank in Hungary. David Pressman told a news conference that the government had dismissed US concerns raised over the presence of the Russia-controlled International Investment Bank (IIB) in Budapest. Hungary yesterday signed new agreements to ensure its continued access to Russian energy a sign of the countrys continuing diplomatic and trade ties with Moscow. Alexey Likhachev, Rosatom director, left, and Peter Szijjarto, Hungarian trade minister, pose after signing a document during their meeting in Moscow (AP) Poland shields gas plant over Russian spy fears Wednesday 12 April 2023 17:00 , Liam James Poland will introduce a temporary 200 metre exclusion zone around its Swinoujscie Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) terminal on Thursday, the interior minister said on Wednesday, citing concerns about Russian espionage. The exclusion zone for members of the public will not affect the terminals operations, Polands gas pipeline operator said of the plant located on the Baltic coast. A staunch ally of Ukraine and a hub for deliveries of weapons to Kyivs armed forces, Poland says it has regularly found itself the target of Russian efforts to destabilise the country. In March Poland said it broke up a Russian espionage network that it said was preparing acts of sabotage and was monitoring rail routes to Ukraine. US sanctions Turkish entities on claims of Russian links Wednesday 12 April 2023 16:22 , Liam James Washington imposed sanctions on at least four Turkey-based entities it said violated US export controls and helped Russias war effort, in the biggest US enforcement action in Turkey since the invasion of Ukraine last year. The designations which included an electronics company and a technology trader alleged to have helped transfer dual-use goods were part of a global sanctions package on more than 120 entities announced by the US Treasury. The US and its allies imposed extensive sanctions on Russia after its invasion, but supply channels from Black Sea neighbour Turkey and other trading hubs, including Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, have remained open. A US administration official told Reuters the sanctions targeted entities and people in Turkeys maritime and trade sectors that were primarily Russia-owned or Russia-linked. Its meant as a warning shot in the evolving phase of enforcing export controls, the official said, requesting anonymity. Ukraine denies Russia's Wagner controls 80% of Bakhmut Wednesday 12 April 2023 15:55 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraines military rejected as untrue a Russian claim to have captured more than 80% of the city of Bakhmut and said on Wednesday that Kyivs forces controlled considerably more than 20% of it in the east. Serhiy Cherevatyi, spokesperson for the eastern military command, made the comment to Reuters a day after the head of Russias Wagner mercenary group said that his forces were advancing in their bid to seize Bakhmut after months of fighting. I was just in touch with the commander of one of the brigades holding the defence of the city. And I can confidently say that Ukrainian defensive forces control a considerably larger percent of Bakhmuts territory, he said. 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. Wagner head Yevgeny Prigozhin said on Tuesday his forces controlled most of Bakhmut including the whole administrative centre, factories, warehouses and municipality buildings. Prigozhin needs to show at least some kind of victory in the city, which they have been trying to capture for nine months in a row and thats why hes making such statements, said Cherevatyi. Ukraine compares Russia to ISIS after beheading video of Ukrainian prisoner of war circulates online Wednesday 12 April 2023 14:52 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraine compared Russia on Wednesday to Islamic State and called on the International Criminal Court to investigate after a video emerged online showing apparent Russian soldiers filming themselves beheading a Ukrainian captive with a knife. Reuters could not immediately verify the authenticity or provenance of the video on social media, which showed a man in uniform beheading a man who wears the yellow arm band used by Ukrainian soldiers. The Kremlin described the video as awful but said its authenticity needed to be checked. Moscow has denied in the past that its troops carry out atrocities during the conflict. There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in a video message. There will be legal responsibility for everything. The defeat of terror is necessary. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmitro Kuleba said on Twitter: A horrific video of Russian troops decapitating a Ukrainian prisoner of war is circulating online. Its absurd that Russia, which is worse than ISIS, is presiding over the UNSC, he said, referring to the U.N. Security Council, where Russia took up the rotating presidency this month. Russian terrorists must be kicked out of Ukraine and the UN and be held accountable for their crimes. Militants from Islamic State in Iraq and Syria were notorious for releasing videos of beheadings of captives when they controlled swathes of those countries from 2014-2017. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters at a briefing: First of all, in the world of fakes that we live in, we need to check the veracity of this footage. Then it could be a pretext to check whether or not this is true, whether it happened, and if it did, where and by whom, Peskov said. Ukraines foreign ministry called on the International Criminal Court to immediately investigate yet another atrocity of the Russian military. Egypt wanted to arm Russia with thousands of rockets in secret to avoid problems with West, report claims Wednesday 12 April 2023 14:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In case you missed it... 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. Egypt wanted to arm Russia in secret to avoid problems with West Frontline cemeteries shut to Ukrainians for Easter over dangerous war debris Wednesday 12 April 2023 14:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Hundreds of cemeteries near front lines will be closed to Ukrainians wanting to pay their respects at graves of their relatives for Orthodox Easter this weekend, as officials fear the danger of land mines and unexploded ordnance. But in the formerly Russian-occupied village of Kobzartsi in the southwest Mykolaiv region, residents say they are hugely grateful that demining officers have been able to clear one of the two local cemeteries of hazards to allow them to visit. Thank God that (deminers) came through here. We will visit (the cemetery) as usual, and we will celebrate Easter. Thank God we are alive, this is most important, said Olena Yarova, a 46-year-old villager. Many Ukrainians visit the graves of their loved ones around Easter to pay their respects and tidy up the graves. Only 42 people remain in Kobzartsi out of 1,200 who lived there before Russia invaded in February 2022. Fighting has littered Ukraine with an appalling amount of dangerous war detritus. The head of the demining unit in Kobzartsi said they had found munitions and debris on the ground. If it goes off nearby, there is a 100% possibility of shrapnel wounds. In 90% of such cases a person dies after being hit with such munitions, said Vladyslav Hrytsai, the officer. The second cemetery was not demined and 74-year-old Lidiia Osypenko said: We will go only after the deminers. We will not go without them. It is dangerous to go just like this. The village was liberated after months of occupation in November when Ukrainian forces recaptured a swathe of the Kherson region, which was taken shortly after the start of Russias invasion. The governor of Kherson region, tracts of which remain occupied, has declared a ban on cemetery visits for Easter this year. In the northeastern Kharkiv region, back in Ukrainian hands after a partial Russian occupation, 753 cemeteries have been closed. Ukraine says Pentagon leaks are a mix of truth and falsehood Wednesday 12 April 2023 13:53 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Ukraines defence minister said on Wednesday that the alleged Pentagon document leaks contain a mixture of true and false information, and that the information which was true was no longer relevant. Speaking in Madrid, Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov said he believed the leaks were a psychological information operation which would benefit Russia and its allies. Kremlin says electronic draft papers will fix 'mess' at military recruitment offices Wednesday 12 April 2023 13:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a move to bring in electronic draft papers for the first time in Russias history was needed to sort out what it called a mess at military recruitment offices. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that the problems in drafting men into the army had come to light last year when Moscow launched what it calls its special military operation in Ukraine. Russia says it mobilised just over 300,000 men last year to help bolster its forces in Ukraine where, according to Western officials, it has suffered tens of thousands of casualties in the biggest land war since World War Two. The State Duma, the lower house of the Russian parliament, on Tuesday gave its backing to a package of legislative amendments that will bring in electronic draft papers and close numerous loopholes exploited by draft dodgers. The changes were rushed through the Duma with little public scrutiny, prompting some lawmakers to complain, and fuelling speculation that Russia may be poised to announce another wave of mobilisation, something the Kremlin has denied. Peskov said that the changes to how men are drafted - which will apply to both conscripts who are called up twice a year as well as to separate mobilisation campaigns - are badly needed. When the special military operation began, you and I saw that in some places we had a lot of mess in the military recruitment offices, said Peskov. That is exactly the purpose of this legislative initiative: to clear up this mess and to make it (the system) modern, effective and convenient for citizens. (EPA) Russia says U.S. intelligence leaks may be fake, part of hybrid war against it Wednesday 12 April 2023 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday that a trove of U.S. intelligence documents posted online in recent weeks might be fake and a deliberate attempt to mislead Moscow. The documents, the authenticity of which Reuters has not been able to independently verify, include what look like classified U.S. assessments of the war in Ukraine and the casualties purportedly suffered by the two armies, as well as documents covering other countries. Ryabkov told Russian news agencies on Wednesday that, for now, the leak threw up many questions. Its probably interesting for someone to look at these documents, if they are documents at all, or maybe they are fake, maybe this is a deliberate information dump, Ryabkov was cited as saying. Since the United States is a party to the (Ukraine) conflict and is in essence waging a hybrid war against us, its possible such things are being done to mislead the enemy - that is the Russian Federation, he said. The Kremlin said earlier on Wednesday that it did not know like everyone else how authentic the documents were. Some national security experts and U.S. officials say they suspect that the leaker could be American, but do not rule out pro-Russian actors. A former CIA officer has said it is highly likely that Moscow orchestrated the leak in order to sow confusion and potential divisions between Washington and its allies. When asked about such allegations, the Kremlin has said theres a tendency to always blame everything on Russia. (AP) Russia says it strikes Ukrainian forces trying to reinforce Bakhmut Wednesday 12 April 2023 12:29 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russias defence ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had struck Ukrainian army reserves trying to break through to the embattled city of Bakhmut, the Interfax news agency reported. Russia also said Wagner mercenary forces had captured three more blocks in their attempt to seize control of the city in eastern Ukraine, Russian news agencies reported. UK sanctions financial fixers for Russian oligarchs Abramovich and Usmanov- update Wednesday 12 April 2023 12:09 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Britain on Wednesday sanctioned individuals and companies who it accused of acting as financial fixers for Russian oligarchs Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov. Britains Foreign Office said in a statement the new measures targeted those helping the two prominent businessmen to avoid the full cost of sanctions that were imposed following Russias invasion of Ukraine. We are closing the net on the Russian elite and those who try to help them hide their money for war, foreign minister James Cleverly said in the statement. We will keep cutting them off from assets they thought were successfully hidden. The government said sanctions were imposed on Demetris Ioannides and Christodoulos Vassiliades, two Cypriots it described as professional enablers who had helped to create offshore structures and trusts. The sanctions were also targeted at Usmanovs financial network, including companies USM, Curzon Square Ltd, and Hanley Limited, according to the statement. Britain froze the assets of Abramovich and Usmanov within weeks of Russias invasion of Ukraine in February last year. UK sanctions financial network of Russian oligarchs Abramovich and Usmanov Wednesday 12 April 2023 11:46 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Britain on Wednesday sanctioned individuals and companies with financial links to Russian oligarchs Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov. Britains Foreign Office said the measures target those helping oligarchs to avoid the full cost of sanctions. (PA Wire) Leaked Pentagon documents claim elite British special forces are in Ukraine Wednesday 12 April 2023 11:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The British defence ministry has deployed some of its elite special forces alongside scores of other Western military personnel to Ukraine during the war, the latest tranche of leaked Pentagon intelligence documents purport to show. A total of 50 British special forces members are in the war-hit nation, an intelligence document dated 23 March claimed, according to The Telegraph. It suggests that British soldiers may comprise more than half of the western special forces personnel present in the war-hit nation between February and March this year. Alongside Britain, Latvia has 17 elite military personnel in Ukraine, France has 15, the US has 14 and theres one elite soldier from the Netherlands, the report claims. Arpan Rai reports: Leaked Pentagon documents claim elite British special forces are in Ukraine Kremlin says electronic draft papers are needed to sort out 'mess' at military recruitment offices Wednesday 12 April 2023 11:01 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Kremlin said on Wednesday that a move to bring in electronic draft papers for the first time in Russias history was needed to sort out what it called a mess at military recruitment offices. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters on Wednesday that the problems had come to light during a mobilisation drive last year to draft more troops for what Moscow calls its special military operation in Ukraine. The lower house of parliament gave its backing to the necessary legislative amendments on Tuesday that will bring in the changes in an effort to make it harder for men to avoid being drafted. Watch: Putin launches 'new intercontinental ballistic missile' Wednesday 12 April 2023 10:24 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Russia has completed a test-launch of a new intercontinental ballistic missile from the Kapustin Yar training ground in Russias Astrakhan Region, Kremlins Defense Ministry reported on Wednesday. On April 11, 2023, the combat crew of the Strategic Missile Troops successfully launched the intercontinental ballistic missile of the land-based mobile missile system from the Kapustin Yar State Central Multiservice Training Ground in the Astrakhan Region, the report said. By Brendan Pierson (Reuters) - The abortion pill mifepristone will remain available in the United States for now but with significant restrictions including a requirement for in-person doctor visits to obtain the drug, a federal appeals court ruled late on Wednesday. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put on hold part of last Friday's order by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, that had suspended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the drug while he hears a lawsuit by anti-abortion groups seeking to ban it. However, the appeals court declined to block portions of Kacsmaryk's order, which is set to take effect on Friday, that effectively reinstate restrictions on the pill's distribution that had been lifted since 2016. In addition to a requirement of three in-person doctor visits, those restrictions include limiting the drug's use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, down from the current 10. The ruling came from a panel of three 5th Circuit judges, two appointed by then-President Donald Trump and one by George W. Bush, both Republicans. The Biden administration, the anti-abortion groups or both could now appeal the U.S. Supreme Court. The FDA and lawyers for the groups could not immediately be reached for comment. Kacsmaryk's ruling apparently conflicts with a different federal judge's decision, also issued last Friday, ordering the FDA to maintain access to mifepristone with no new restrictions in 17 states and the District of Columbia. The Biden administration has asked the judge in that case to clarify his order in light of Kacsmaryk's. The lawsuit before Kacsmaryk was filed against the FDA in November by four anti-abortion groups led by the recently formed Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and four anti-abortion doctors. They contend the agency used an improper process when it approved mifepristone in 2000 and did not adequately consider the drug's safety when used by girls under age 18 to terminate a pregnancy. Both judges' rulings last week were preliminary injunctions meant to remain in effect while the lawsuits are pending, and are not final. However, Kacsmaryk said he thought the anti-abortion groups were likely to succeed on the merits, writing 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" when it approved mifepristone. Hundreds of biotech and pharmaceutical company executives on Monday signed an open letter calling for reversal of Kacsmaryk's ruling, saying it undermines the FDA's authority and ignores decades of scientific evidence on the drug's safety. The other ruling, ensuring access to mifepristone, was issued by U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice in Spokane, Washington. It arises from a lawsuit brought by a group of Democratic-led states challenging federal safety restrictions for mifepristone. Both the 5th Circuit's ruling and Rice's ruling are likely to be subject to further appeals. Dozens of legal briefs have been filed in the two cases, with mainstream medical associations like the American Medical Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, abortion rights groups and Democratic politicians supporting the drug's approval, and anti-abortion groups and Republican politicians opposing it. Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen, administered in combination with misprostol, for medication abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The drugs account for more than half of all abortions in the country. Some abortion providers have said that if mifepristone is unavailable, they would switch to a misoprostol-only regimen for a medication abortion, which is not as effective. It is not yet clear how widely available it would be. Some Democratic-led states have begun stockpiling the drugs since Kacsmaryk's ruling. The Supreme Court last year overturned its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling recognizing a constitutional right to abortion. Since then, 12 of the 50 states now ban abortion outright while many others prohibit it after a certain length of pregnancy, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a research organization that supports abortion rights. (Reporting By Brendan Pierson in New York, Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Bill Berkrot and William Mallard) remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The US believes the UN Secretary General is too willing to accommodate Russian interests, BBC reported citing fresh revelations in classified documents leaked online. The files suggest Washington has been closely monitoring Antonio Guterres. Several documents describe private communications involving Guterres and his deputy. It is the latest from a leak of secret documents. The documents contain candid observations from Guterres about the war in Ukraine and a number of African leaders. 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 Guterres was so keen to preserve the deal that he was willing to accommodate Russia's interests. "Guterres emphasised his efforts to improve Russia's ability to export," BBC quoted the document as saying, "even if that involves sanctioned Russian entities or individuals." His actions in February, according to the assessment, were "undermining broader efforts to hold Moscow accountable for its actions in Ukraine." Saying he wouldn't comment on leaked documents, one senior UN official told the BBC the UN was "driven by the need to mitigate the impact of the war on the world's poorest." "That means doing what we can to drive down the price of food," he added, "and to ensure that fertiliser is accessible to those countries that need it the most." Russian grain and fertilizer are not subject to international sanctions, but Russia says it has experienced difficulties with securing shipping and insurance. UN officials say that Guterres has made his opposition to Russia's war very clear. Another document from mid-February describes a frank conversation between Guterres and his deputy, Amina Mohammed. In it, Guterres expresses "dismay" at a call from the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, for Europe to produce more weapons and ammunition as a result of the war in Ukraine. US national security spokesperson John Kirby told the BBC that the US government was scrambling to get to the bottom of the leaks. "This was a series of dangerous leaks. We don't know who's responsible, we don't know why. And we are assessing the national security implications, and right now there is also a criminal investigation," he said on Wednesday. Washington was "reaching out actively" to allies to answer questions they have about the leaks, so they know "how seriously we are taking this", he added. Kirby said that while the authenticity of some of the documents had yet to be established, they "certainly appear to have come from various source of intelligence across the government". The leaked documents allegedly expose the extent of US spying on key allies and partners, including South Korea and Israel, among other information. YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. On April 13, the Chairman of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, Sargis Khandanyan, received the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic to Armenia, Anne Louyot, ARMENPRESS was informed from the parliament of Armenia. Welcoming the Ambassador, Sargis Khandanyan thanked the French Foreign Ministry for issuing a statement regarding the Azerbaijani provocation that took place in Tegh community on April 11. The interlocutors discussed a number of issues related to Armenian-French cooperation, as well as regional developments. The French Ambassador congratulated Sargis Khandanyan on his election as the Chairman of the Standing Committee and wished him fruitful work. The Ambassador attached importance to the cooperation of the parliamentarians of the two countries in international structures. Reference was made to the visit of Yael Braun-Pivet, the Speaker of the National Assembly of France, to Armenia and the agreements reached with the President of the National Assembly of Armenia regarding the expansion of cooperation between legislative bodies, as well as cooperation between staffs, exchange of experience. On April 11, around 4:00 p.m., the units of the Azerbaijani armed forces started to fire at the servicemen of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia carrying out engineering works in the direction of Tegh community. The Armenian side resorted to retaliatory actions. As a result of the Azerbaijani provocation on April 11, the Armenian side has 4 victims and 6 wounded. The Armenian side does not have any positional loss. A saffron-clad swami went to the extent of saying an untouchable had no business meddling in matters normally the preserve of Brahmins If Childrens Day on November 14 reminds one of Jawaharlal Nehru, the architect of modern India, April 14 instantly brings to mind the legacy of Dr B.R. Ambedkar, the architect of Indias Constitution, whose 132nd birth anniversary is being celebrated this month. In 1948, Pandit Nehru entrusted the drafting of the Hindu Code Bill to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. It was felt by the Cabinet, especially Nehru and Ambedkar, that codifying Hindu law would to a great extent check the injustices suffered by Hindu women. The life mission of both the first PM and the first law minister was to bring equality in Indian society and to end all discrimination based on grounds of caste, race, religion and gender. But no sooner was the bill introduced that there was vehement opposition from orthodox Hindu elements. Even President Rajendra Prasad was opposed to the idea and wanted it postponed, but the PM declined to do so. Though the Cabinet decided to bring the Hindu Code Bill in February 1951, it was postponed to the next session of Parliament, till the first week of September. Ambedkar wrote to Nehru that in view if his ill- health which required immediate long-term treatment, the bill should be taken up in mid-August and passed by September. But there were more urgent bills to be taken up and it was not possible to advance the date for the introduction of the Hindu Code Bill. The opposition to the bill also built up. Jan Sangh leader Syama Prasad Mookerjee issued a public statement: The magnificent structure of Hindu culture will stultify a dynamic and catholic way of life that had wonderfully adapted itself to changes for centuries. The reservations of the orthodox in Parliament was supplemented in the streets by the RSS cadres who shouted slogans against Pandit Nehru and Dr Ambedkar: Down with the Hindu Code Bill and May Pandit Nehru perish. One saffron-clad swami even went to the extent of saying an untouchable had no business meddling in matters normally the preserve of Brahmins. On September 15, 1951, President Rajendra Prasad sent a note to Nehru expressing a desire to act solely on his own judgment, independently of the council of ministers. He maintained that the Provisional Parliament did not have the authority to enact such major legislation as the Hindu Code Bill because it was indirectly elected and its members lacked the public mandate of a general election. He desired to use the power of his office either to force the Provisional Parliament to shelve the measure or, failing that, to veto it even against the advice of his Cabinet. Due to stiff opposition both within and without Parliament, the bill could not be moved despite Nehrus best efforts. In view of the heavy business before the House and the short time at its disposal before the session ended, it was decided to concentrate on passing as a separate measure Part II of the bill -- that dealing with marriage and divorce. Yet even Part II of the bill could not be passed and was dropped on September 22. Deeply disappointed, Dr Ambedkar remarked: It was killed and buried, unwept and unsung after four clauses were passed. Finally, he resigned from the Nehru Cabinet on September 27. Besides non-passage of the Hindu Code Bill there were, however, other reasons why Ambedkar resigned from the Cabinet. First, his differences with Nehru on Kashmir policy and foreign policy in general. Second, he was deeply distressed with the treatment accorded to Scheduled Castes and other backward castes who were suffering from the same old injustice, the same old oppression, and the same old discrimination which existed before. Third, he wanted the stewardship of the Planning Commission in the place of law ministry, which did not materialise. Dr Ambedkars resignation from the government was soon followed by a decision of far-reaching consequences: his decision to renounce Hinduism, and embrace Buddhism. However, the Hindu Code Bill was later split into four bills, and the same were put on the statute book by Parliament after the elections to the first Lok Sabha in 1952. By this time Dr Rajendra Prasad, overwhelmed by the popularity of Pandit Nehru in the country as shown by the results of the first Lok Sabha polls (Congress won 364 out of 489 seats), did not raise any objections. But Syama Prasad Mookerjee of the Bhartiya Jan Sangh remained as opposed to the Bill as they were in 1951. The four bills -- the Hindu Marriage Act 1955; the Hindu Succession Act 1956; the Hindu Minority and Guardianship Act 1956 and the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act 1956 -- soon became law and incorporated most of the ideas and principles of the original Hindu Code Bill. Despite the fact that Ambedkar had resigned from his Cabinet in October 1951, in extreme bitterness, Prime Minister Nehru paid a generous tribute to him after the Dalit icon passed away in December 1956: Dr Ambedkar would be remembered, above all, as a symbol of revolt against all the oppressive features of Hindu society, (and) he will be remembered also for the great trouble he took over the question of Hindu law reform. I am happy that he saw that reform in a very large measure carried out, perhaps not in the form of that monumental tome that he had himself drafted, but in separate bits. Today's headlines: China will close its airspace north of Taiwan to recover parts of a falling satellite; North Korea reportedly launched a new type of ballistic missile; Notorious Vietnamese blogger sentenced to six years; In India, references to the fathers of the motherland continue to be erased; Arrests in the Russian Far East of people accused of supporting Ukraine. BAHRAIN-QATAR Manama and Doha will re-establish diplomatic relations. The normalisation comes two years after some Arab countries, including Bahrain, had broken off their boycott of Qatar. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt had resumed full relations with the Qataris in December 2021, unlike Manama. TAIWAN-CHINA The Taiwanese government says it has convinced Beijing to scale back its plan to close the airspace north of the island. According to South Korea, the Chinese announced the initiative to recover falling debris from one of its own satellites. The operation went from a duration of three days as of 16 April to 27 minutes on Sunday. KOREA-JAPAN North Korea reportedly tested a new type of solid-fueled ballistic missile today. This is the warning issued by Seoul. The rocket allegedly landed east of the Korean peninsula, in the direction of Japan. Tokyo had issued an evacuation order for the island of Hokkaido, which was withdrawn after 30 minutes. VIETNAM The Hanoi People's Court sentenced Nguyen Lan Than, a well-known political activist and blogger, to six years in prison. Two years of probation were added to the sentence. The charge against him is spreading "anti-state propaganda". INDIA The removal of references to the fathers of the motherland from school textbooks continues. The National Council of Educational Research has removed from political science textbooks the sentence referring to former education minister Maulana Azad (a Muslim) as a member of the post-independence Constituent Assembly. Already deleted mention of Mahatma Gandhi's assassination. RUSSIA Two more arrests were made in the Russian Far East on charges of 'betrayal of the state'. One on the island of Sakhalin of a citizen who intended to move from the East to Ukraine to join the Kiev army; the other in Khabarovsk, from where funds were allegedly transferred to the Ukrainian forces, a fact already noted on other occasions. KAZAKHSTAN Astana wants to increase oil exports via Azerbaijan (to Europe), President Tokaev said after his meeting with Azerbaijani counterpart Aliev. The Kazakhs intend to give the new directive 'a stable and long-term character', with the 'Middle Corridor' project for the period 2022-2027, as a guarantee for all international partners. by Sumon Corraya Dhaka Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze leads delegation. Under current rules, Catholic priests and nuns must provide personal bank details, but, unlike Protestant clergy, they often do not have them. Home Affairs and Religious Affairs ministers pledged full cooperation to solve the matter. Dhaka (AsiaNews) Catholic leaders have asked the Government of Bangladesh to make it easier to issue visas for missionaries. On Tuesday, Archbishop Bejoy N. D'Cruze of Dhaka, president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Bangladesh (CBCB), led a delegation that met with Home Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman Khan and State Minister of Religious Affairs Md Faridul Haq Khan. Accompanied by several prelates and religious leaders, Archbishop D'Cruze delivered a letter to the Religious Affairs minister asking him to make it easier to get M Category Visa for foreign and local Catholic missionaries. Under existing regulations, missionaries men and women religious who come to Bangladesh or go abroad need to show their personal bank information and their Tax Identification Number (TIN), but many dont have either and are not expected to have one. Their accounts are in the name of the community and their association, explained Archbishop Bejoy during the meeting. All their expenses are incurred from that account. Therefore, we ask assistance from the State Minister of Religious Affairs on this regard. Protestant missionaries, who have personal bank accounts and their own TINs, have no problem obtaining visas. At the meeting, both ministers reassured their interlocutors that the government would fully cooperate to resolve the issue, expressing their determination to work together to protect harmony in the country. Minister Asaduzzaman Khan also noted the important role religious leaders played between 2013 and 2016 to counter Islamic extremism, citing the former archbishop of Dhaka, Card Patrick D'Rozario, and the president of the Bangladesh Christian Association Nirmol Rozario, both of whom were present at the meeting along with Fr Swapan Das. The Private Secretary to the Minister of State, Md Sadiqur Rahman Khan, and the Secretary of Public Security Department of the Home Affairs Ministry, Md Mostafizur Rahman, were also present. by Nirmala Carvalho The states High Court ordered the release of Bishop Almeida of Jabalpur after he was arrested as part of a campaign by the local Child Rights Protection Commission against Catholic entities. Meanwhile, accusations have been made after an inspection at a school science lab in the Diocese of Sagar found human remains. Jabalpur (AsiaNews) The Madhya Pradesh High Court granted bail to Bishop Gerald Almeida of Jabalpur, who had been arrested in connection with an alleged scam involving a Church-run hostel in a tribal area. He will remain at liberty at least until his case is heard on 24 April. Nam Singh Yadav, the principal of a Catholic school in the village of Junwani (Jabalpur), was also released. He had been arrested on 7 March after he was accused of sexual abuses following an inspection by the Madhya Pradesh Child Rights Protection Commission (MPCPCR). His release came about after girls involved in the case and their parents denied the charges against him and demanded a proper investigation into how such allegations could be made by the people who inspected their school. According to the Diocese of Jabalpur, the scam charges against the bishop were laid after the case against the school principal in Junwani proved groundless. Still, this has not stopped the MPCPCR from fabricating more cases. The latest involves a human foetus found at the Nirmal Jyoti School in Bina, a village in the Diocese of Sagar, which the child protection agency inspected from top to bottom. The human foetus was stored in a jar in the science lab of missionary school, and everything suggests that it had been there for a long time. When asked for an explanation, the school asked for time to determine the facts. However, local media picked up the story and began running with it at Easter, speculating about forced conversions and other abuses. On Monday, as expected, protests began at the school with demonstrators calling for the establishment to be closed. Today Bishop James Athikalam of Sagar released a report on the case, explaining that the foetus in question comes from the diocesan hospital and was used years before in science class. It also detailed the way the child protection agency carried out its inspection, saying that it clearly sought to smear the school. A report published by Iran Human Rights (Ihr) and Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort denounces, 75% more people were hanged in 2022 than in previous years. The aim is to "instil fear and terror" to stop pro-Mahsa Amini demonstrations. Among those executed, drug offenders and minorities, especially Kurds and Beluchis, are on the rise. Tehran (AsiaNews) - In 2022 the Iranian government hanged 75% more people than in previous years, continuing even for the first months of this year to arm the executioner with the aim of "intimidating" the population and curbing street protests, exploiting convictions for drug offences. This is what two pro-human rights NGOs denounced today, calling the Islamic Republic an 'execution machine' whose ultimate aim is to 'instil fear and terror' among its inhabitants. Most of the hangings (288, or 49% of the total) are for murder, the highest figure in 15 years, but there is also widespread use for offences related to drug use and trafficking. The report published today by the Norwegian Iran Human Rights (Ihr) and the Paris-based NGO Ensemble Contre la Peine de Mort (Ecpm) mentions 582 executions carried out last year (but the numbers could be higher), the highest figure since 2015 and well above the 333 in 2021. What armed the executioner and prompted the authorities to resort to capital punishment in the first place was the massive wave of popular protest in response to the killing of 22-year-old Kurdish woman Mahsa Amini at the hands of the morality police because she was not wearing the hijab properly. The demonstrations against the compulsory headscarf turned into a broader movement for freedom and rights, the largest and most participatory since the 1979 revolution, which was suppressed in blood by the ayatollahs. Director Ihr Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam points out that while the international reaction to the executions linked to the popular protest has stopped the use of the death penalty in this matter, Tehran continues to execute for other crimes, with the aim of intimidating the population. "The international reactions to the death sentences against protesters have made it difficult for the Islamic Republic to proceed with their executions," he said. "To compensate, and in order to spread fear among people, the authorities have intensified the execution for non-political charges. These are the low-cost victims of the Islamic Republic's execution machine," he added. With regard to the protests, the report points out that after the first four executions of protesters Tehran froze further hangings of the more than 100 people sentenced to death and who still risk ending up in the hands of the executioner. In contrast, there has been a steady increase in the number of people executed for drug offences since the uprisings began in September last year, with other movements including Amnesty International accusing Iran of a 'chilling escalation in the use of the death penalty' particularly against Kurds and Beluchis. A drop in the number of drug-related executions - linked to the 2017 amendments to the Anti-Narcotics Law - had led to a collapse in the use of capital punishment until 2021. In contrast, more than half of those executed after the start of the demonstrations and 44% of the 582 executions carried out last year were drug-related. This figure is twice as high as in 2021 and 10 times higher than the figure for executions for drug trafficking or use in 2020. At the same time, activist movements denounce the failure of the UN Office for Drug Control and Crime Prevention (UNODC) and donor countries to take action against this 'dramatic escalation'. The study shows that members of the Beluci minority, mainly Sunni Muslims, accounted for 30% of the total number of executions throughout the country, although they represent only 2-6% of the Iranian population. The number of Kurds and Arabs executed was also disproportionate, especially for drug crimes, when compared to the population. 'The death penalty is part of the systematic discrimination and extensive repression,' the report concludes, 'to which Iran's ethnic minorities are subjected'. by Vladimir Rozanskij A survey of web searches reveals that the population of the region is less afraid of military mobilisation. Anticipation grows for Vladimir Putin's exit from the scene. there is no longer any hesitation in using the term 'war' for the special operation. Irony criticism of the Moscow regime rony. Moscow (AsiaNews) - People today are less afraid of mobilisation than they were last autumn; more and more people are waiting for Vladimir Putin to leave the scene; and there is no longer any hesitation in using the term "war" for the special operation in Ukraine, for which the wait for the end is also growing. In general, the submerged disapproval of the Kremlin's policy is growing, so much so that some observers say that a 'pre-revolutionary' situation is forming. These are three findings, in contrast to the propaganda and official information, of a survey by the Kavkaz.Realii website on the issues agitating the population of the Russian Caucasus over the war in Ukraine. In order to avoid the ambiguities of traditional polls, to which no one now confides their authentic thoughts, Yandex-Metrika, a tool freely available to anyone, was used to analyse the most popular issues of the inhabitants of the two federal districts in the area, based on what is circulated via the internet and social networks. The use of the word 'war' is punishable by administrative and even criminal sanctions, but research on the topic of 'news about the war in Ukraine' showed the word being banned 54 thousand times in the South Caucasus (the Rostov and Crimea Caucasus), and 16 thousand times in the North Caucasus (Chechnya, Dagestan, Ingushetia). The area where the war is most intensively and freely talked about is the republic of Karacaj-Cherkessia, with more than 1,000 enquiries per month, and also in the Volgograd region (Stalingrad) with 11,000 enquiries, for a much larger population. The official definition of a 'special operation' remains confined to official and public statements, while the population knows full well that this is a real war, no matter how much one is for or against it. The well-known sociologist Nikolai Mitrokhin, who emigrated to Germany, confirms that 'people are not fooled by propaganda, even if they are afraid to speak freely'. In any case, even the regular Levada-Centr polls emphasise that support for the war continues to decline. Another sociologist who has remained in Russia, Iskander Jasaveev, confirms that the population 'is not assimilating the new language of power', everyone understands the reality of what is going on, and criticism of official policy is widespread in the sense of both war radicalism and pacifism and the desire for an end to the conflict, in various forms. From the expressions on the net, it is evident 'the weariness with the negativity of the whole affair, one can no longer watch the news and broadcasts of the state media, which always repeat the same things'. Advice on 'how to escape mobilisation', which was widespread a few months ago, is decreasing, and now only a few dozen are to be found, although 'how to volunteer' remains topical. The most popular phrase is 'when the war ends' (62,000 times), by Mathias Hariyadi The governor issued the permit in a ceremony ending battle that had lasted years. The laying of the foundation stone in September, on the feast day of the saint of abandoned people. Bekasi (AsiaNews) - The Catholic community of Bekasi district, in the province of West Java, will finally have a church dedicated to Mother Teresa of Calcutta. The permit for the building, which has been awaited for years, was officially handed over the other day by governor Ridwan Kamil. It concerns a 7,500 square metre plot of land in the municipality of Cikarang that had been duly purchased years ago by the local parish. The problem in issuing the concession for the church building had emerged in 2012; under pressure from some local Muslim groups, bureaucratic problems had been raised to justify the non-issue. Now, however, less than a year before the elections in February 2024, a party-independent local administration has unblocked the dossier with a simple modification of the urban plan through which the place of worship has been allowed in a commercial area. "Since I took office as interim district chief in 2021," said administration head Dani Ramdan, "I have been trying to find a good solution with all parties to end the crisis. So now the Catholic community of Cikarang - which has many families and for years now has gathered for liturgies in a hall of the local Catholic Trinity School - will be able to have its own church. Pastor Fr. Antonius Suhardi Antara told AsiaNews that the successful outcome was possible thanks to "long years of good relations with all parties in the Bekasi district and good communication with the new administration. "The laying of the foundation stone of the church,' he added, 'will take place in September, in memory of the date of death of the parish's patroness, Mother Teresa of Calcutta." The daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra leads in the polls. Some 52 million Thais will cast their ballots for the lower house on 14 May. Senators were appointed by the former military junta before the 2019 election. The post of prime minister is coveted by many candidates. Human rights remain an important concern. Bangkok (AsiaNews) A month from Thailands general election, polls show the main opposition party, For Thais Party (Phak Phuea Thai), in the lead, but incumbent Prime Minister Prayut Chan-ocha could still get a third mandate if his new party, the United Thai Nation Party (Ruam Thai Sang Chart), forms an alliance with one of the other conservative, pro-military parties. Prayut is a retired army officer who came to power for the first time following a coup in 2014. Election law On 14 May, more than 52 million Thais will be called to the polls to pick 500 members of the House of Representatives (lower house) 400 MPs in single constituencies and 100 from party lists. The Senate has instead 250 members who were appointed prior to the 2019 election by the National Council for Peace and Order, the former military junta. At the end of August, the two chambers, which constitute Thailands National Assembly, will meet to choose the next prime minister, who will need at least 376 votes to get the job. After the 2019 election, every senator voted for Prayut. Last week, Human Rights Watch reported that given the nature of Thailands political regime, a truly free and fair election is impossible in the Southeast Asian country since the constitution, adopted in 2017 by an assembly chosen by the military, entrenched the role of the military at the expense of civilians. Thai law bans buying and selling votes but also the sale of alcohol and hosting drinking sessions" from 6 pm the day before the election until the end of the election day. Prisoners, people with severe mental illness and monks are not allowed to vote. Main candidates As the economy took a nosedive and political unrest grew over the past few years, Prayuts approval ratings have waned. In this election, the 69-year-old, who left the army in 2019, pledged to end the work started in 2014 and find a successor within two years. Thailands Constitutional Court ruled last year that Prayut could only serve for only two more years having reached the limit of eight years of government. When Prayut left the Palang Pracharat party to create his own United Thai Nation Party, he was replaced by as party leader Prawit Wongsuwan, 77, currently the first deputy prime minister in the outgoing administration. Like Prayut, Wongsuwan is a retired army general and a former member of the last military junta. In these elections, he has positioned himself between conservative and pro-democracy forces. The main opposition party, Pheu Thai Party, has won every election since 2001, under different names. Its leader, 36-year-old Paethongtharn Shinawatra, is the youngest daughter of exiled former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. An executive at a real estate firm, she is best known by her nickname "Ung Ing. Although a political novice, she hopes to win enough seats to overrule the military-controlled Senate. Her campaign has led her into the vote-rich rural strongholds, promising to bring back populist policies like raising the daily minimum wage to 600 baht (US$ 17.61). Her appeal among voters has been rising, but Pheu Thai has also presented Srettha Thavisin, 60, CEO of one of the country's largest real estate companies, who is popular in the business community. According to some observers, his candidacy counterbalances Shinawatras, who has little experience. Pita Limjaroenrat, 42, leads the progressive-leaning Move Forward Party (Phak Kao Klai), and is running second in public opinion polls, 15 points behind the forerunner. Elected for the first time in 2019, he has strong appeal among younger voters. He has proposed amendments to the strict lese-majeste law, which punishes insults to the royal family with penalties of up to 15 years in prison. The incumbent Health Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, 56, could play kingmaker according to some analysts. His party, Thai Pride Party (Phak Phumchai Thai), has 50 seats in the lower house and has pushed for the legalisation of medical marijuana, angering conservative groups. Economy, young people and human rights In recent years, the cost of living has increased and household debt continues to be very high. At the same time, the economy grew by 2.8 per cent in 2022. The Office of the National Economic and Social Development Council expects growth to be around 3 per cent this year, lower than other Southeast Asian countries. This has made the economy the centrepiece of party platforms with pledges of higher wages, better jobs and greater benefits. Internationally, Thailand has moved closer to China since the 2014 coup, while at home, the role played by young people in the protest movement three years ago with their calls for changes to the monarchy has drawn closer scrutiny. Since July 2020, Thai authorities have indicted more than 1,800 pro-democracy activists, opposition supporters and government critics for expressing their views or taking part in peaceful demonstrations. More than 280 are minors, including 41 under the age of 15, Human Rights Watch reported. In the current campaign, the Election Commission has banned any reference to the monarchy, threatening to prosecute those who violate the law. In November 2021, the Constitutional Court ruled that criticising the monarchy is tantamount to treason. Bill Guth provides a signature as he is sworn into office at his first meeting as an Aspen City Council member. Guth spoke his mind on several issues, and said he would not seek any board or commission appointments during his first year in office. I'm fine, as I'm very fortunate to own my home I own, but I'm feeling the pinch on my mortgage with other inflation costs I rent and it's expensive, but it could be worse I'm seriously considering leaving the valley if something doesn't give Vote View Results Photo: Serena House Photo: Serena House A tiny house on wheels that can also double as a mobile workshop would be the dream house for an artistic couple. The Art-easan was custom-built for a couple like this by the renowned Serena House. This company specializes in off-grid, sustainable tiny homes that arent big on luxury but on functionality and comfort.The Art-easan is slightly bigger than most of the Serena House designs. It is 8 meters wide (26 feet) and 4 meters tall (13 feet), with a width of 2.5 meters (8 feet). This makes it large enough to accommodate two people comfortably, integrate a work area, and even provide optional accommodations for three more people (thanks to the huge convertible sofa).Described as a multi-purpose XL space, the Art-easan was based on the brands Penates XL format. As its name suggests, this design is perfect for those who want a bit more space, which makes it ideal for a workshop thats also a mobile home.Unlike all the other Serena House formats, the Penates XL doesnt need to comply with the 3,500 kg (7,716 lbs) weight limit because it features an independent platform instead of a trailer. This means a truck can tow it anywhere, but it doesn't come on a road-legal trailer, like the smaller tiny houses. Thanks to this, the large format is much more flexible in terms of configuration, allowing bigger windows or more insulation.The Art-easan is a custom version of the Penates XL, which boasts a loft bedroom, a generous kitchen, and unusually-large storage space under the living room. Best of all, its also entirely self-sufficient.The ground floor area integrates a living room, the actual workshop area, an impressive kitchen, and a compact bathroom. Even so, the living room is larger than youd expect. Surrounded by windows, it reveals a modular six-people seater that can convert to a bed. Plenty of storage is integrated into the seats and under the living area platform itself.An adorable stove keeps things cozy year-long, while the work area sits in front of an oversized window for maximum light.One of the best things about this Spanish brand is that most of the furniture is custom-made. The Art-easans kitchen and bathroom reveal beautiful details for an elevated rustic style. Things like the solid countertop, the interesting shelf above the sink, or the unusual bathroom vanity give this space a personal touch and unique character.The use of a ladder instead of a staircase is more in line with the idea of a workshop, especially an artistic one. The loft bedroom isnt big on space or light (you wont see the typical large windows on both sides), but functionality is emphasized by adding even more storage.Like all Serena House models, the Art-easan is a fine example of sustainability and self-sufficiency. It boasts a wooden structure with breathable walls for natural humidity regulation, and its built using traditional techniques inspired by the Nordic countries. Only ecological fibers are used for thermal and acoustic insulation, and the exterior paint is eco-friendly.One of the best things about the Art-easan is that it is packed with modern appliances yet entirely autonomous. The kitchen includes a four-burner stovetop, an oven, and a rustic stove in the living area.With no connection or foundation, this tiny is 100% off-grid, thanks to a complete solar system and a gas installation. Plus, its fitted with a plan for rainwater collection and filtration. On the outside, it includes a washing machine and an outdoor tank with a generous 1,000 liters (264 gallons) capacity.The Serena House models can include as many off-grid features as their customers want. Solar panels and batteries are essential for energy autonomy, while rainwater harvesting, filtration, and depositing ensure water autonomy. A composting toilet is added to eliminate black water, and an efficient phytofiltration system is used to process grey water.Art-easan is just as beautiful and comfortable as a typical tiny house, incorporating a functional work area. The fact that its entirely autonomous and easily moved to any location takes the idea of work freedom to a new level. Who wouldnt love to work on their art in such a beautiful space In terms of costs, the Penates XL format starts at 73,795 ($81,000) for the turnkey version. But the best part is that the off-grid setup is supposed to reduce living costs afterward drastically. Plus, the Art-easan is built to last for generations and to be entirely recyclable good for people and good for the environment. Hello, IoT apps! Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution App categories on Android Auto Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution IoT apps on Android Auto Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution Android Auto vs. Android Automotive The two apps spearhead the companys mobile ambitions, especially as they both get more traction. The adoption of Android Auto is continuously on the rise, as its now considered an essential feature in new cars.Android Automotive is progressing slowly, but more developers are discovering its benefits. Google works directly with carmakers to install the operating system in their cars, thus obtaining deeper access to their vehicles.Google must unlock app categories for Android Auto and Android Automotive manually. Developers can create apps for the two platforms using templates, and as such, Google must first build these templates to enable new categories.The first application to control IoT devices debuted on Android Auto nearly two years ago. At that point, Samsung joined forces with Google to launch SmartThings in the car . With this app, users can control their smart home right from the display in the cabin.Google aims for a similar approach by making IoT apps for Android Auto and Android Automotive more common.The company has released driving-optimized templates for such apps in the Android for Cars App Library. Developers can use them to build smart home and IoT apps that can be released on Android Auto and Android Automotive.Developers can also access all the other tools necessary to test-drive apps before the release. The Automotive OS emulator for Android Automotive OS and the DHU for Android Auto now support the new app category. Google has also updated the developer documentation, car quality guidelines, and design guidelines to include resources for the new app category.Navigation tools and audio apps are currently the most popular choices on Android Auto and Android Automotive. Big names like Google Maps , Waze, Spotify, and YouTube Music spearhead the app push on both platforms.Google wants to enhance the capabilities of both platforms, so in the last few years, it expanded the support for apps by opening the doors to more categories.Right now, Android Auto supports media apps (such as Spotify and YouTube Music), messaging apps (including the likes of Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp), navigation solutions (Google Maps, Waze, and others), and Point of Interest (POI) apps.Android Automotive also supports video apps that can only be used when the vehicle is parked.Google does not allow the likes of Netflix and YouTube on Android Auto , regardless of the vehicles state. Users have been asking for YouTube support on Android Auto for years, but so far, Google has shown no intention of unlocking video apps on this platform.The company should theoretically use an approach similar to Android Automotives and only allow YouTube when the vehicle is parked. A motion detection system is also available on Android Auto and helps block access to the keyboard when the driver begins a journey.While Google is now paving the way for IoT apps on Android Auto, controlling such apps from the car is already possible.Google Assistant, the digital assistant also integrated into Android Auto, can also control your smart devices. Its capabilities on this front, however, are very limited. Furthermore, Google Assistant isnt playing nice with all devices, so by allowing dedicated IoT apps on Android Auto, Google addresses this significant shortcoming.Samsungs SmartThings is proof of how a smart home app will work on Android Auto.Using the app, drivers can do things such as turning on the porch lights or adjusting the thermostat's temperature at home. The app also supports automation, so users can open the garage door as they arrive home.Android Auto and Android Automotive both play a key role in Googles long-term automotive expansion plans.Android Auto is a smartphone mirroring system that enables the projection of the mobile UI to the larger screen in a car. On the other hand, Android Automotive is a fully featured operating system installed from the factory and powering all infotainment capabilities.Android Automotive does not require a phone to run, as its the operating system that powers the media receiver. Furthermore, if the carmaker allows, users can also run Android Auto on top of Android Automotive.Google is now working with auto manufacturers to expand the adoption of Android Automotive. This strategy is making slow progress, as some companies dont agree to give in to Google and provide the company with access to all data. As such, some companies plan to use the open-source version of Android Automotive without Google services, eventually providing drivers with alternative apps and a third-party store. BMW is one of the top names thatll embrace this strategy , with the first cars running on a custom Android Automotive build to see the daylight next year. The information on this front is painfully limited. Samsung launched the Galaxy S23 in February, and the Android Auto nightmare started shortly after the first units shipped.Galaxy S23 buyers revealed that running Android Auto wasnt possible . The connection between the mobile device and the head unit appears to work, as the phone sometimes charges when plugged in. Others say the receiver doesnt even detect their phones at all.The bug looked a lot like a problem experienced by the Galaxy S23 predecessor last year. Back in 2022, when Samsung launched its Galaxy S22 flagship, Android Auto started misbehaving in ridiculous ways. Once again, users complained of connectivity problems and a generally unstable experience with Android Auto In other words, Galaxy S22 and Galaxy S23 appear to have the same Android Auto connection problems.Samsung has already tried to address the problems several times for the Galaxy S22. The Galaxy S23 is yet to receive any updates aimed at the Android Auto experience.The nightmare might finally come to an end.Several of our readers told me that the April update released by Samsung addresses the Android Auto connection problems . After installing the update and plugging the phone into the car's USB port, the app runs properly with no crash whatsoever.Most of the reports Im seeing come from Samsung Galaxy S22 users, so I cant tell just yet if Galaxy S23 is getting the same patch as well. However, if Samsung has indeed included Android Auto fixes in the Galaxy S22 April update, the same improvements would almost certainly be part of the S23 release as well. Ive reached out to the company for clarification and will update the article accordingly.In the meantime, if you own a Samsung device that fails to run Android Auto, the best thing you can do is install the latest updates. If Samsung found a way to improve the experience with Android Auto, its likely just a matter of time until it releases the same refinements to everyone. Regardless of the phone model, that is.Samsung is currently the number one brand in the Android Auto phone world. As such, its phones are the most common choice to run Android Auto as well. In its turn, this means most Android Auto users who struggle with the app own a Samsung phone. The South Koreans rarely discuss its patching plans for Android Auto, as most improvements roll out quietly as part of its monthly updates also bringing us security fixes. kWh EV The only thing kept under wraps, for that matter, was the front hood. Every other body panel was visible, and it wore a bright green paint finish. The high visibility jacket-like look certainly suits the model like a glove, and it further emphasizes its new design, with the Y-spoke DRLs, big shoulders, and Y-spoke taillights separated by the high-mounted exhaust tips that have a very generous size.Succeeding the Aventador as Lamborghini's new flagship exotic , the Revuelto continues to pack a naturally aspirated V12. Despite having a 6.5-liter displacement, the engine is said to be new. Also, since the model is here to stay, it needed electric assistance, hence the presence of three electric motors. One was mounted at the rear, assisting the gasoline unit by driving the rear wheels, and two sit at the front, and each drives one wheel. With a 9,500 redline, the 6.5L V12 steams out 813 hp, and the total system output is 1,001 horsepower.Boasting Bugatti Veyron power levels, the new Lamborghini Revuelto can hit 62 mph (100 kph) in just 2.5 seconds. The spec sheet of the Huracan's bigger and way punchier sibling reveals that it takes less than 7 seconds to sprint from zero to 124 mph (200 kph). Those brave enough will eventually see 217 mph (350 kph) on the speedometer, which is the maximum speed of this exotic beast. Thanks to the 3.8battery pack that sends electrons to the three motors, it can drive in complete silence for short periods, thus allowing it to access historic city centers worldwide. On top of that, themode will seriously boost its daily driving credentials over its predecessor.Gunning for the Ferrari SF90 Stradale, the Lamborghini Revuelto celebrated its US debut at the 2023 New York Auto Show last week. Customer deliveries are expected to kick off before the end of the year, CEO Stephan Winkelmann said. Are you curious about the MSRP? They still need to say how much it will cost once the first units arrive at dealers nationwide. Nevertheless, it has been reported that it might be a roughly $650,000 affair. That is without destination, handling, dealer fees, and options, in all likelihood. The alleged starting price of the new supercar would make it some 30% more expensive than the Lamborghini Aventador Ultimae (its predecessor), an absolute marvel that can already be considered a modern-classic machine with neck-snapping performance and head-turning looks. SUV AWD Codenamed L460, the latest and greatest Range Rover of the bunch uses either inline-six mills developed by Jaguar Land Rover or the N63 twin-turbo V8 that serves as the basis for the high-performance S63. The V8-powered Range Rover is referred to as P530 by the British manufacturer, with P standing for petrol and 530 designating the engine's output in metric horsepower.On February 16 and February 21, the peeps at Jaguar Land Rover were informed that engines were suspected of a missing or incorrectly installed turbo oil drain pipe gasket. Said powerplants were repaired while in Jaguar Land Rover's control. Come March 3, the German automaker told its customer that two more Range Rover engines have to be inspected for extra peace of mind.Those two were outside JLR's control at that point, prompting the British automaker to recall them. One of those vehicles was sold in the US market, as per the report attached below, which lists November 9, 2022 as the production date of the suspect vehicle. As with all fifth-gen Range Rovers, the luxury-orientedwas assembled in the West Midlands at the Solihull plant.A missing or miss-fitted gasket may lead to an oil leak, which in contact with the exhaust manifold can result in a fire. Land Rover isn't aware of any fires, injuries, or warranty claims related to this concern. The vehicle sold in the United States will receive a replacement turbo oil drain pipe gasket at no cost to the owner. Said owner will be notified about the recall no later than May 26.Jaguar Land Rover's order book is estimated at 200,000 units. Most orders are for the Range Rover, the slightly smaller Range Rover Sport, and Defender. Both Range Rover models are based on the MLA-Flex platform, whereas the Defender uses the D7x platform.As expected, the full-size Range Rover is the most expensive Land Rover out there in terms of starting price. The SE P400Automatic MHEV with the standard wheelbase kicks off at $106,500 sans destination charge, whereas the V8-engined SE P530 AWD Automatic can be made yours from $129,000.The build & price tool for the US market lists 523 horsepower and 4.4 seconds from zero to 60 miles per hour (97 kilometers per hour), which is quick for such a heavy vehicle. Rated at 553 pound-feet (750 Nm) of torque, the BMW-engined Range Rover comes standard with Ebony perforated Windsor leather seats, soft grain leather on the steering wheel, walnut veneer, a 13.1-inch touchscreen, and 22-inch alloy wheels. EV At first glance, it looks about the same size as the Austral. This probably means it will be based on it, inevitably sharing the same CMF-CD construction. As a result, it will get most (if not all) powertrains from its more practical sibling, which in turn gave birth to a more spacious model recently, the new Espace One thing leads to another, because while the Espace is back as a crossover and the Scenic is returning next year as a high-riding, there is one people carrier moniker that the diamond brand has yet to resurrect: the Avantime . Our spies believe that the nameplate used on a quirky two-door minivan in the early 2,000s will make a comeback on this new crossover coupe.Its size and shape will automatically position it above the Arkana , turning it into a mainstream alternative to the premium compact crossover coupe establishment, which comprises models such as the BMW X4 and Mercedes GLC Coupe. Targeting customers who favor style over substance, the all-new Renault Avantime, if it will indeed use this moniker, has all the premises to become a trendy vehicle in Renault's modern-day lineup.Visually, the placement of the headlamps appears to be about the same as that of the the Austral . The shape and size of the upper and lower grilles, and the side vents in the front bumper, cannot be deciphered yet due to the heavy amount of camouflage present. The roofline is more arched behind the B pillars, so it will inevitably have less headroom for rear-seat passengers and a smaller trunk capacity. The rear license plate was incorporated into the bumper, unlike the Austral that has it on the tailgate, and the reflectors were positioned further down. We can also see a single exhaust tip on the left-hand side of the rear bumper and what appear to be a pair of spoilers above and below the rear windscreen.Most of the interior may be identical to that of the Austral. This might include the overall shape of the dashboard panel, complete with the digital dials behind the three-spoke steering wheel and the portrait-oriented screen in the middle. The center console could be slightly different, and so could the door cards. The unveiling of the new Renault Avantime might occur early next year, rumors suggest, and that's when we should find out whether this is indeed its name. For people living on one of Orkney's 19 islands, getting their mail is a challenging task. All postal deliveries come from central Scotland via airplane and then get delivered to the residents on the main island. Ferries or small aircraft take the mail further to those on the islands, and bad weather often causes delays and changes.This is why Orkney, with its challenging geography and unfriendly weather, was the perfect candidate for a pilot project regarding drone delivery. The Royal Mail, the Orkney Islands Council Harbor Authority, and Loganair will test a new way of delivering mail together with Skyports Drone Services Initially, the inter-island mail distribution service will only focus on three locations across Orkney. During three months, mail will be delivered daily via ground and drone transportation. The mail will travel from Kirkwall to a hub in Stromness on the ground; drones will take it further on the Royal Mail route.This will kick off in the second quarter of this year and hopefully be extended after the first three months.In addition to that, Skyports will also explore shore-to-ship operations. This is part of the Orkney I-Port operation, a pioneering project for fully-electric drone logistics. It even claims to be the first of its kind in the UK that has the potential to convert into regular services under the current regulations.Skyports Drone Services is a previous winner of the Freight Innovation Fund Accelerator. The company was founded in 2018, and it has a strong focus on dedicated eVTOL (electric vertical take-off and landing) infrastructure as well.On the one hand, Skyports is a pioneering vertiport developer. It unveiled the worlds first vertiport, a demonstration project in Marina Bay, Singapore, in 2019. Its currently building one near Paris, which could become the first vertiport in Europe, and bringing several of them to Los Angeles.On the other hand, the Skyports Drone Services branch was designed to improve connectivity for people living in challenging environments such as Orkney.Orkney I-Port isnt Skyports first endeavor in Scotland. In 2022, the company launched a similar program. In that case, drones were used for delivering school meals, not mail. In both cases, all-electric cargo drones could tremendously improve connectivity for rural island areas, saving time and money.This is a milestone for the freight sector in the UK. If things go well, people in Orkney could get their mail delivered by drones on a daily basis. kW That does not mean it is a bargain because, at roughly $185,000 in the U.S. of A., which is its estimated MSRP, it is not. As a matter of fact, it's not that budget-friendly in Australia either, where BMW has announced that it will kick off at AU$344,200. Thats US$229,860 at the current exchange rates. Limited to 500 units globally and featuring the BMW Individual Frozen Carbon Metallic hue, the XM Label Red Edition will start at AU$349,900 (US$233,665), and only 30 examples are destined for the Pacific country. Production is scheduled to kick off at the Spartanburg factory in the United States this August, and the first units will arrive Down Under before the end of the year, the Munich auto marque states.As you already know, the new BMW XM Label Red is the company's most powerful vehicle ever made, and it has the electrified V8 to thank for it. With a 4.4-liter displacement, the twin-turbocharged gasoline burner is assisted by an electric motor that is actually identical to the one powering the normal XM. This means that in order to come up with the extra oomph, it was the V8 that was massaged. It kicks out 430(585 ps/576 hp), with another 145 kW (197 ps/194 hp) coming from the electric motor. The German company says that the combined output is 550 kW (748 ps/737 hp) and that the powertrain develops a total of 1,000 Nm (738 lb-ft) of torque.On paper, that's enough to allow the XM Label Red to take on some full-blown supercars. However, since it is rather large and quite heavy, for that matter, it is two-tenths of a second slower than the Lamborghini Urus S at 100 kph (62 mph). The sprint is a 3.8-second affair, the official spec sheet of the car reveals. The Porsche Cayenne Turbo S E-Hybrid is one-tenth faster than the high-riding Bimmer . Thus, no matter how badly you may want to teach that exotic crossover passing by every now and then a lesson about fast take-offs and straight-line sprints, you won't be able to do that in the XM Label Red, which tops out at 175 mph (280 kph) with the optional M Driver's Package, or 155 mph (250 kph) without it. Photo: PVY Photo: PVY Photo: PVY The e-bike bubble has peaked, if we're to believe analysts, but far from this being a bad thing for customers, it means we get to pick and choose from a broader range of models, with varying specs and features, at increasingly more affordable price points. Put it differently, the fact that there are so many e-bike manufacturers and retailers means we get more and improved options at competitive prices.An excellent example in this sense is the PVY Z20 Pro e-bike from the Chinese startup PVY. If you're a rider, especially of fully electric or motor-assisted bikes, you know that most of the bikes on the international market are sourced in China for parts, electronics, and frames. More recent models come directly from Chinese manufacturers looking to enter the global market.PVY is one such company. With a founding team that includes mobility experts and technical engineers with 10 years of experience in the urban mobility field, PVY boasts the noble (and profitable) goal of wanting to deliver green, convenient, and reliable two-wheelers to customers, at an affordable price. Case in point: the PVY Z20 Pro. It might not have the catchiest name out there, but it definitely seems to be a sum of every feature you're looking for in a city bike for the daily commute.If you live in the city and commute daily, your options are not that many. You can get a car, but that means paying for gas daily and dealing with rush hour congestion. Or, you can use public transport, but that can mean extended waiting times, and being comfortable with crowded spaces. Or, you can ride a bike to work, but that means having to find a place to store the bicycle inside your home.If you're ok with the idea of braving the elements on the daily and dealing with whatever shortcomings of your city's infrastructure on option no. 3, PVY promises to take care of the rest. The Z20 Pro is a compact bike that rides on 20-inch wheels, made even more compact by means of a folding frame, so it's ideal for storage inside a small city apartment.On the face of it, this e-bike is neither highly innovative nor particularly good-looking, but that's only because it's probably not striving to be either. Instead, the Z20 Pro wants to be that trusted friend you go to every day for help: reliable, convenient, durable, and comfortable. It aims to impress by putting together all the features you will want in this kind of bike.The aluminum alloy frame is foldable, and the 36v10.4aH lithium battery that hides in the front part of the tube is removable so that you can charge it indoors. The bike itself weighs 22 kg (48.5 lbs), and while it's not the lightest e-bike of the kind, it's still light enough to be carried up the stairs and into a city apartment for safe storage . The battery is good for 50 to 80 km (31 to 50 miles) of range per charge, but take that figure as an estimate, since real-life range depends on various factors, including terrain, riding mode, the weight of the rider, and weather conditions.Power comes from a rear hub brushless DC motor limited electronically to 250 W, so it fits EU regulations (the bike has CE certfication), but it's unlockable. Top speed is 25 kph (15.5 mph) for the former and can go as high as 32 kph (20 mph) in the latter mode, and the 50 Nm of torque guarantees the ability to go up steep inclines of up to 25 degrees. A 6-speed Shimano gearshift helps with that, as does a throttle function, and you get double shock absorbers in the fork, for those riders whose city infrastructure is far from perfect.Stopping power comes from mechanical disk brakes, and the small display on the handlebar offers essential rider stats like top speed, distance covered, and battery level. It's nothing too fancy or out of the ordinary with a middle-entry e-bike, but it's more than what you get on similar models, at a similar price point. Most e-bikes of this kind won't get you a suspension fork, extra accessories, or a detailed display, and that's understandable: this is a budget product.That's what makes the PVY Z20 Pro stand out: it brings all these features together while still being a budget product, with an 839 price tag, now reduced to 759 ($922 and $834, respectively, at the current exchange rate). To further sweeten the pot, PVY throws in a bunch of freebies, including a phone mount that goes with the USB charge point on the handlebars, front and rear fenders, a rear rack, a detachable taillight, and even a waterproof car cover, which we assume you can also use for the bike.Unicorns are magical creatures no one has seen in real life, but the PVY Z20 Pro sure sounds like an e-bike version of a unicorn. On paper, at least. EV SUV kWh First and foremost, the company offered the modulararchitecture to all of its offshoots, including Volkswagen, Audi, Seat, and Skoda. But the architecture was probably always destined to live outside the core family to recoup the development costs better. As such, it was only logical for VW and Ford to extend their partnership outside the realm of commercial vehicles ( Ranger-Amarok siblings are just an example) and into the world of zero-emissions vehicles.After all, the Blue Oval company is adamant about its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality, and it needs to move as fast as possible to achieve its goals. Recently, they have pushed the accelerator pedal to the metal with the fresh, first-ever 2024 Ford E-Transit Courier that arrived as the smallest Ford Pro electric van and the attractive all-electric Explorer. While it shares the same name as the larger model produced in the US and China, the latter is entirely different from the regular model series and only grabbed the nameplate for heritage purposes.While the traditional Explorer is also offered as a 318-hp Hybrid at home in America and with a plug-in hybrid option in Europe that mates a 350-hp 3.0-liter V6, a 100-hp electric motor, and a 13.6lithium-ion battery for a combined rating of 450 hp, the new zero-emissions version is neither that powerful nor as focused on a hulking demeanor. Instead, the all-electric Ford Explorer has twinned with the Volkswagen ID.4 and ID.5 siblings, thus sharing their compact crossover SUV dimensions in a completely different styling package.Some will still prefer the Volkswagen design; others might say this Blue Oval SUV is a breath of fresh styling air. But one thing is for sure, though. At least the latter has attained a superior level of hype, both in the real world and across the imaginative realm of digital car content creators. Over there, folks have started taking matters into their hands or, rather, at the tip of their CGI brushes , making it either a five-door 'coupe' or transforming it into a practical EV pickup truck.The virtual artist, better known as Theottle on social media, who has also resorted to CGI slicing and dicing the Explorer EV into adopting the pickup truck lifestyle, has been increasingly focusing on zero-emissions models as of late. As such, we have seen stuff like the Ford Fiesta EV, Volvo EX90 pickup truck, and a VW ID. 2all sedan, or the hypothetical Volvo EX60 crossover SUV before this new behind-the-scenes making-of video we have embedded below.Interestingly, this Ford Explorer 'Ute' EV sounds the most intriguing, as the pixel master followed the Volkswagen connection and based his CGI transformation on the American Volkswagen Atlas Tanoak Concept, which long has been rumored to pave the way for a German electric pickup truck on the US market . Sure, the latter will arrive one day, but under the Scout banner rather than the VW one. Anyway, looking at the successful result of this digital project, it sure feels like Ford might have a winner here if it ever wanted to replicate the success of the compact Maverick unibody pickup truck in other regions and with a fully electric twist. For now, though, this is all wishful thinking! It said the fighting, which left at least seven soldiers from both sides dead, broke out Tuesday in Armenian territory near Tegh, a border village in Armenias Syunik province. Azerbaijani army units took up new positions in the area on March 30 after advancing into what Yerevan regards as Armenian territory. Baku denies that they crossed the border. We reiterate that the delineation of the border must be achieved exclusively through negotiations, and we urge the Parties to continue their efforts to that end, read a statement released by the French Foreign Ministry. Armenias territorial integrity must be respected and Azerbaijani forces occupying positions on the Armenian side of the line of contact must withdraw in order to prevent future incidents and preserve the foundations of a lasting peace in the region, it said. The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry condemned the one-sided statement and presented is as another example of Frances biased attitude towards Azerbaijan. Unlike France, the European Union did not blame either side for the fighting. An EU foreign policy spokeswoman urged Armenia and Azerbaijan to withdraw their troops from the volatile border and respect each others territorial integrity. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian hailed the EUs reaction on Thursday, saying that Yerevan has backed the idea of troop disengagement for the last two years. Such a solution is hampered by Azerbaijans unconstructive position, he said. The Armenian military has said that Tuesdays fighting erupted when its troops deployed just outside Tegh came under Azerbaijani fire. Baku has blamed the Armenian side for the escalation. The official, Arman Maralchian, was relieved of his duties on Wednesday one day after four Armenian soldiers were killed in fighting with Azerbaijani forces near the Armenian border village of Tegh. Azerbaijani army units took up new positions in that area on March 30 after advancing into what Yerevan regards as sovereign Armenian territory. They completed a partial change of the route of the Lachin corridor connecting Armenia to Nagorno-Karabakh. Pashinian and the National Security Service (NSS) initially downplayed the Azerbaijani advance but later acknowledged the loss of a large part of agricultural land and pastures belonging to Teghs farmers. Pashinians political opponents blamed him for the fresh Azerbaijani territorial gains, saying that the Armenian army should have taken up positions along the Armenian side of the border section beforehand. They said that Pashinian not only failed to issue such an order but also declared on March 30 that from now on the Tegh area will be patrolled and protected by lightly armed border guards subordinate to the NSS, rather than army units. The criticism intensified following Tuesdays border clash, which also left at least three Azerbaijani soldiers dead. Pashinian claimed on Wednesday that the deadly violence occurred because security officials failed to execute his concrete instructions. What happened should not have happened and it is clear, at least for me, that we need to investigate what happened there and why it happened, he told the Armenian parliament. Maralchians dismissal was announced shortly after Pashinians remarks. Armenian government officials and pro-government lawmakers declined to comment on it on Thursday. Tigran Abrahamian, a senior lawmaker representing the opposition Pativ Unem bloc, said that Pashinians government is seeking to scapegoat security officials for its inability to defend the country. I believe that the sacking of the commander of the Border Guard Troops primarily stems from the authorities obsession with dodging political responsibility and finding scapegoats whom they can blame, Abrahamian told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. The reportedly unarmed soldier was spotted and apprehended by several men on a highway near Kapan, the administrative center of southeastern Syunik province. They handed him over to police. At first he claimed to be an Iranian. But he wore an Azerbaijani military uniform, one of the men, Ara Sukiasian, told RFE/RLs Armenian Service. We tied his hands and I told my wife to call the police so that they come and deal with him, he said. Law-enforcement authorities in Yerevan did not clarify whether the soldier is connected to another Azerbaijani serviceman who was detained on Monday in a Syunik village located about 100 kilometers northwest of Kapan. According to the Armenian military, the latter claimed to have crossed the Armenian border with Azerbaijans Nakhichevan exclave together with another soldier. They deserted their army unit in Nakhichevan because of being subjected to hazing and humiliation by other soldiers, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian claimed on Wednesday as the Armenian authorities continued looking for the other presumed fugitive. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported on Monday that two of its soldiers serving in Nakhichevan have done missing in heavy fog. It subsequently identified the conscripts as Akshin Bebirov and Huseyn Akhundov and asked international organizations to help repatriate them. The Armenian authorities have still not released the identity of either soldier held by them in detention. The second detention came one day after the killing of a security guard working for a Syunik-based mining company. The 56-year-old man was found shot dead outside a village located several kilometers from whether the second Azerbaijani was caught. Another Syunik resident who apprehended him told News.am that the soldier possessed the murdered guards mobile phone. Sukiasian said, however, that he did not see the phone. Rumors about the Azerbaijani soldiers involvement in the murder intensified after the circulation later on Thursday of an Instagram video of seemingly the same soldier bragging about killing Armenians and saying at the same time that we are not traitors of our fatherland. A spokesman for Armenias Investigative Committee said afterwards that the law-enforcement authorities not yet have any evidence that the detained soldier committed the murder. 13 April 2023 09:00 (UTC+04:00) By Akbar Hasanov, Day.az Well, that's the end of the story. The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Armenia, Ararat Mirzoyan, calling things by their names, admitted the reasons for the provocation by the Armenian side - the shelling of Azerbaijan Army positions in the direction of the Lachin district with small arms. "Armenia considers the normalization of relations with Azerbaijan to be unrealistic, as well as the establishment of peace and stability in the region without solving the problems related to the rights and security of the "people" of Karabakh," he said, answering the questions of the deputies. Following the military provocations, here we see the rising information and political turbulences. In fact, it was a frank, unequivocal refusal of the official Yerevan to sign a large peace treaty with Azerbaijan. Yes, the representatives of the leadership of Armenia can at least pray until they are blue in the face that they are constructive and want peace, but it is exactly the same thing; for more than two decades, the way that the former Armenian rulers used to say. Recall that the second and third presidents of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan formally declared their desire to achieve peace with our country. Keeping, at the same time, Azerbaijani lands under occupation. Moreover, Serzh Sargsyan somehow even said that "Agdam is not our land", without taking any steps to return 20% of the territories of our state occupied by Armenia. Exactly the same steps we observe from the side of the current Armenian leadership, which is ready to replicate their predecessors. Look how primitively Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is trying to manipulate. "If before the Madrid principles, the USSR was the place of self-determination of Karabakh, then after that, as a result of Armenia's "brilliant" diplomacy, Azerbaijan would be the place of self-determination of Karabakh. According to the Madrid principles, Armenia recognized Karabakh as part of Azerbaijan. Today we are reaping these fruits," he told. In the eyes of public, Pashinyan addresses the internal Armenian audience telling, "everything has already been stolen before us." Continuing his maneuvers he repeatedly says: "But I have nothing to do with it, I have nothing to do with it at all." Pashinyan decided not to elaborate on the fact that the former leadership of Armenia, like him now, dragged out the issue of implementing international law and UN resolutions. However, not only this. He pretends not to remember the results of the quadripartite meeting in Prague, where Pashinyan was forced to agree that Baku and Yerevan would sign a peace treaty, guided by the UN Charter and the Alma-Ata Declaration, which clearly states that the borders between the new states will be be based on the borders between the union republics of the former USSR, where the so-called Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Region is clearly part of the Azerbaijan SSR. So, just another "feint" turned out to be an attempt to beat himself. But neither Nikol Pashinyan nor Ararat Mirzoyan will ever admit this. The Armenian FM, who has not fully recovered from the consequences of the execution within the walls of the Armenian Parliament in November 2020, pretends that he is not yet familiar with the content of the tripartite statement signed by the Armenian Prime Minister. There, let me remind you, there is not a word about the "people" of "Nagorno-Karabakh". Precisely pretends, in other words, fools around. In reality, he knows everything. Including the fact that there is no "Nagorno-Karabakh", but there is the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan, where people of Armenian nationality still live, completely illegally, with passports of citizens of Armenia. There are about 40-50 thousand of them there. At the same time, hundreds of ethnic Azerbaijanis do not live in Armenia. Moreover, with passports of citizens of Azerbaijan. The agreement that Armenians live in the Karabakh economic region of Azerbaijan is proof of constructivism on the part of official Baku. However, as we see, the leaders of Armenia do not realize this. They still hope to drag out the negotiation process to the utmost by refusing to sign a peace treaty with Azerbaijan. This is their fatal mistake. Its roots go back to the naive belief that external forces will help the Armenian leadership to maneuver till eternity. In the meantime, the head of the secretariat of the State Commission for the delimitation of the state border between Azerbaijan and Armenia has been appointed. That is, our country is doing its part of the work. And in the end, everything will end with the fact that in Azerbaijan they will consider those lands where our troops will actually be located as the border with Armenia. And they can reach such milestones that Pashinyan and Mirzoyan never dreamed of in their worst dreams. And no one will be able to prevent the victorious march of our heroes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 16:12 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Azerbaijan - Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council held its first meeting in Riyadh, Azernews reports, citing the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA). SMBDA noted that the representatives of institutions supporting business in Azerbaijan, as well as tourism, agriculture, industry, construction, investment, transport, consulting, etc., and businessmen operating in the sectors are on a visit to Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the visit, which was organized by SMBDA and supported by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Saudi Arabia, is to expand relations between SME subjects and organizations that provide support and services to entrepreneurs of both countries, opportunities to realize joint business and investment projects with the participation of SMEs, and is a review of the exchange of experience. Within the framework of the visit, the first meeting of the Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council was held in Riyadh. Officials and businessmen from both countries participated in the meeting organized by the Council of Saudi Chambers, the Ministry of Investment, and SMBDA. The meeting heard the possibilities of cooperation between the business circles of Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan in the field of trade and investment, the purpose of establishing the council, and the visit of the Azerbaijani delegation of businessmen of SMBDA to Saudi Arabia. Within the framework of the event, SMBDA and AZPROMO made presentations about business and investment opportunities of Azerbaijan, export potential, support and services provided to local and foreign businessmen, as well as prospects of cooperation in the field of business and trade by Azerbaijani businessmen. The Ministry of Investment and Export Development Authority of Saudi Arabia held presentations on the investment potential of this country, the opportunities created for businessmen, and the products and services produced. In the "B2B" meetings organized after the event, issues such as the exchange of information and experience, opportunities for cooperation, the organization of joint events and meetings, and mutual business missions were discussed between the SMEs of both countries. We should note that the Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council was established in December 2022 based on the Agreement signed between SMBDA and the Council of Saudi Chambers. The Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council, represented by business representatives from both countries, will support entrepreneurs' initiatives, help establish direct relations between them, organize mutual visits, meetings, and various events, and exchange information between businessmen. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 13:57 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan's Shusha city has become a new symbol of unity and solidarity of the entire Turkic world. With its age-long history, the city was declared the Cultural Capital of Turkic World 2023. A vast array of cultural events will be held in Azerbaijan's cultural center as part of the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2023. Moreover, many cultural events have already been held in the Turkish city of Bursa, the Cultural Capital of the Turkic World 2022, Azernews reports. Reza Deghati's photo exhibition, fascinating concert and splendid fashion show were jointly organized by the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and Bursa Metropolitan Municipality. Reza Deghati's photo exhibition As part of the Shusha Days held in Bursa, renowned photographer Reza Deghati presented his photo works at the photo exhibition "Pearl of Azerbaijan Shusha", reflecting the Karabakh culture. The exhibition featured 60 photos taken by the photographer before and after the Armenian occupation of Shusha. The photo works aroused great public interest. President of Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva presented a plaque of thanks to Reza Deghati on behalf of the institution she heads. For over 40 years, photographer Reza Deghati has captured thousands of powerful images that tell impressive human stories. The world-famous photographer has always drawn the attention of the world community to the Azerbaijani realities. Reza Deghati for the first time visited Azerbaijan in 1987. In 1997, he lived in Azerbaijan for several months and traveled across the country capturing the ordinary people in their everyday life, customs, and traditions of various people. The photographer also raised international attention to the atrocities committed by Armenia against Azerbaijan. As a researcher at the National Geographic Society, Reza Deghati received a number of international awards. In 2022, Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev awarded a renowned photographer with the Dostluq Order. Fascinating gala concert The Seven Beauties music ensemble has fascinated the audience in Bursa. Established by the foundation, Seven Beauties music ensemble consists of talented and professional female musicians and artists representing seven countries: Azerbaijan, Turkiye, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Hungary. The conductor and soloist of the ensemble is the Honored Artist of Azerbaijan, composer and pianist Turan Manafzade. The concert program was well received by the audience. The ensemble thrilled the listeners with music of Turkic-speaking peoples. The ensemble members were awarded with special plaques on behalf of the foundation. Splendid fashion show Famous fashion designer Gulnara Khalilova has showcased stunning gowns in Bursa from her collection devoted to Karabakh region. Speaking at the event, the President of Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva said that she felt very proud by the fact that the foundation actively works on the promotion of rich historical and cultural heritage of Shusha, which is holding the status of the Cultural Capital of Turkic World 2023. She stressed that the national and moral values of Karabakh, including Shusha, were conveyed to the world community during the two-day Shusha Days held by the foundation in Bursa. Each event held within the framework of Shusha Days reflected the city's culture and history through music, literature and national costumes. Azerbaijan's national costumes, which fascinate people with their mysterious beauty, were received with great sympathy by the audience. Gulnara Khalilova expressed her gratitude to the event organizers for the invitation. The fashion designer said that she was proud of the fact that she contributed to the introduction of Azerbaijan's national clothing culture to the world, as well as to the future generations. She pointed out that the fashion collection includes different Karabakh ornaments. After the fashion show, a special gift was presented to Gulnara Khalilova by Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 12:56 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more Ganja State University held a meeting with students within the framework of the project Promotion of the Global Forest Viewing Platform in the Caucasus Region, Azernews reports. At the meeting, the university's vice-president for humanitarian affairs Docent Gulsum Fataliyeva spoke about the measures implemented by the state to protect, preserve and restore forests. Yashar Karimov, the director of the Azerbaijan branch of the Regional Ecological Center for the Caucasus, gave detailed information about the work carried out within the framework of the project implemented by the UN Environment Program (UNEP) and the World Resources Institute with the support of the Global Ecology Fund. Center employees Ilaha Ibrahimova, Aslan Shikhaliyev and Nazrin Gojayeva said in their speeches that the goal of the project implemented by the Azerbaijan branch of the Regional Ecological Center for the Caucasus is to create an online forest atlas with forest control and analysis capabilities in the direction of preventing desertification and protecting biodiversity. The online forest atlas was shown at the meeting, and the rules of its use were explained. In the end, the questions that interested the students were clarified. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 11:19 (UTC+04:00) Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the French government to refrain from statements that incite Armenia to further provocations and support revanchist forces, Azernews reports, citing the ministry. The Foreign Ministry made the remarks in a response to the statement of French Europe and the Foreign Ministry on April 12 supporting Armenia in connection with the provocation of the Armenian side on April 11 against Azerbaijani positions located in the direction of Lachin District. France, which did not judge Armenia's aggression and occupation policy while acting as a mediator in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict for nearly 25 years, did not try to resolve the conflict, and carried out a smear campaign against our country after Azerbaijan ended the occupation and resolved the conflict on its own, has once again demonstrated an unfair position with this statement, the ministry pointed out. The ministry stressed that the statement of France, which calls on the importance of unilateral respect to the territorial integrity of Armenia, which hasnt called on Armenia to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and hasnt demanded Armenia to withdraw the Armenian armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan per the Trilateral statement and the outcome of the Prague meeting attended by the French President, is an example of the countrys bias against Azerbaijan. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 18:30 (UTC+04:00) Qabil Ashirov Read more France continues to support Armenia, a weak link in the region, to build its influence in the South Caucasus. Along with meddling in the regional issues of other countries, it does this in such an unprofessional and amateurish manner that its actions cause irritation in the region. In connection with the provocation of Armenia against Azerbaijan in the Lachin district, without investigating the issue in details, France, once again, made a biased and groundless statement accusing Azerbaijan of aggression, and calling for Respect for the territorial integrity of Armenia. However, despite having been the co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, France had turned a blind eye to Armenia keeping Azerbaijani lands under occupation for 30 years. Speaking to Azernews, political analyst, Professor at Western Caspian University Fikret Sadigov commented on the recent Armenian provocations. The pundit said the Armenia's shelling the Azerbaijani Army position is part of a plan made between Armenia and France. It of srprize that instead of taking steps to make an objective decision, France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council openly takes a pro-Armenian position. In other words, for France, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is understood as though a conflict between Azerbaijan and France, and France sees Azerbaijan as an aggressor. As for the reason for Frances such stance, the pundit pointed out that the roots of this are much deeper. Of course, the strong activity of the Armenian lobby is felt in this issue. Also there (in France) are quite powerful circles and rich forces that influence such a position and decision of France. I have no doubt about it, Fikret Sadigov opined. The pundit thinks that another reason for Frances biased stance is because of its concern about the forming of an alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkiye and evolving into a single power. Another reason is that the creation of a joint alliance with Turkiye and becoming a single force worries France very much. I think such a biased position is closely related to this issue, said Fikret Sadigov. In addition, the pundit considers that the Azerbaijani victory over Armenia in the 44-day war in 2020, forced France to unmask and overtly stand with Armenia. For 30 years, France was the co-chair of the Minsk Group of the OSCE. The issue was not resolved because there was a co-chairman of the group like France. Now, it seems that France has taken off its mask and stands with Armenia openly, that is, without investigating the issue at all, and supports and caresses Armenia, Sadigov noted. He said that undoubtedly France is aware of the situation very well and comprehension of who is right, and who is wrong. Paris knows who invaded whose territory and who made a provocation against whom. This biased, subjective position is so related to Armenia's position and the factors, I mentioned above, that they simply cannot get away from it. They believe that at the present stage and in the future, France should only stand with Armenia. This is not a situation that suits a big European state, and a permanent member of the Security Council like France, the pundit added. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 21:00 (UTC+04:00) Sabina Mammadli Read more Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyans expertise in finding excuses for his own actions or for the actions of the Armenian government, in general, comes as no surprise. The PM constantly finds ways to come out clean out of any buffoonery of his making. In this regard, Pashinyan always has the next excuse for Armenias defeat in the Second Karabakh War and over the lingering peace talks with Azerbaijan. In a comment with Azernews, Russian political expert and editor-in-chief of the National Defense magazine Igor Korotchenko talked about the Armenian premiers manipulations on the Armenian public, the secret behind his remaining in power, and the worsening Russian-Azerbaijani ties. Given that Nikol Pashinyan managed to maintain power even during the upheavals and riots that accompanied the capitulation of Armenia in the Second Karabakh war, and won the parliamentary elections, one comes to the conclusion that in terms of political stability and mimicry, Pashinyan has fully managed to effectively use the levers of manipulation of the Armenian society, the political analyst stated. According to Korotchenko, the main goal behind all this chicanery for Pashinyan is to prolong his stay in power for which he uses all sorts of political techniques, partly borrowing them from other political leaders such as French President Emanuel Macron, partly relying on Armenian political traditions. However, up to the present time, Pashinyan remains in power, and although there is opposition, the number of his supporters exceeds the number of opponents. That is why he remains in power and interprets any events in such a way as to turn them to his advantage or blame others for certain problems in order to avert any claims from him, the pundit underlined. Here, the editor-in-chief drew attention to the fact that a series of criminal cases were initiated with the consent of Pashinyan against a number of high-ranking Armenian military officers as a result of the defeat in the 44-day-long war as another manifestation of the PM throwing the blame off himself onto others. Commenting on the remarks of the premier in the Armenian parliament claiming that the blame for the worsening of Armenian-Russian relations lies on the ex-president Serzh Sargsyan, the Russian analyst stated that the ties between Moscow and Yerevan were much better under his rule. Serzh Sargsyan was not an angel either. It was under him that the glorification of the Nazi criminal and collaborator Garegin Nzhdeh took place. However, as for accusations of worsening Russian-Armenian relations, Pashinyan has done a lot to worsen them, he noted. The pundit emphasized that the relations were far better before the Second Karabakh War, however, having committed another military provocation against Azerbaijan, Armenian politicians, and society expected Russian intervention. These hopes did not come true despite the active work of Armenian lobbyists in Russia who trumpeted the need to transfer several Russian airborne divisions in order for them to take part in hostilities on the side of the Armenian armies. Therefore, a surge of anti-Russian sentiments in Armenia occurred after the defeat of the Armenian army. Russias decision not to sacrifice the lives of its soldiers in the name of Armenian interests stood behind that, the politician emphasized. That was the turning point of the start of the anti-Russian sentiments in Yerevan and its active attempt to become closer to the West, Korotchenko underlined. Noting the frequent visits of Western politicians to Yerevan and their collaborations, the politician stressed that Pashinyans political survival relies on fulfilling the wishes of his Western curators. The break in relations with Moscow and the subsequent inevitable withdrawal of Yerevan from the CSTO, Armenias denial to participate in the CSTO drills and its deep engagement with the United States, France, the European Union, which are political opponents of Russia, demonstrate the conscious course of Pashinyans government, Korotchenko remarked. Besides, the pundit highlighted the critical importance of the North-South transport corridor for Russia, the successful functioning of which depends on stability in the South Caucasus. The continuous Armenian armed provocations both in Karabakh and on the border are aimed at stirring the situation and provoking an armed conflict which would earn Western support and the employment of a NATO mission to Karabakh. Therefore, the actions of Yerevan are completely hostile to the interests of both: Russia and Azerbaijan, Korotchenko finalized. --- Sabina Mammadli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @SabinaMmdl Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 18:00 (UTC+04:00) Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov, who is on a visit to the USA, met with Vice Chief of the US National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Marc H. Sasseville, Azernews reports citing the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. In the meeting attended by the Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the USA Khazar Ibrahim, the current state of military cooperation within the framework of the State Partnership Program, the further development of the work in this field, the training of military pilots, as well as other issues of mutual interest were exchanged. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 16:33 (UTC+04:00) By News Center The Turkish automotive industry broke a historical record on a monthly basis in March. The sector's exports in March increased by 22.8 percent compared to the same period of the previous year and reached $3.3bn. The share of the industry, which ranks first in Turkiye's exports, was 13.9 percent. In the first three months of 2023, automotive industry exports increased by 15.8 percent and reached $8.6bn. The exports of the supply industry, which is the largest product group of the automotive industry, increased by 15 percent reaching to $1.3bn last month. March exports of Passenger Cars increased by 47 percent and reached $1.7bn. While exports to Germany, which is the country to which the most exports are made, increased by 13 percent. Besides that, export to Italy indicates 9 percent, which is one of the most important markets, and 29 percent to France, 350 percent to Russia and 11 percent to England. However, the export to USA decreased by 8 percent. Further, the export of passenger cars increased by 238 percent to France, which is one of the important markets in passenger cars, 81 percent to Spain, 46 percent to Italy, 68 percent to the United Kingdom, 60 percent to Germany, 60 percent to Poland, 65 percent to Bulgaria, and export fell by 65 percent to Israel. While exports to Germany, which is the largest market on a country basis, amounted to $475m in March, the second largest market was $434m to France with an increase by 97 percent, and to the United Kingdom with $309m with an increase by 15 percent. Exports of $2.3bn were made to the European Union countries, which is the largest market with a share of 70 percent on the basis of a country group, with an increase of 29 percent. While other European countries ranked second among country groups with a share of 12 percent, exports to this country group increased by 20 percent. There was a 212 percent increase in exports to the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 22:45 (UTC+04:00) China issued a new set of guidelines on Wednesday regarding the use of face masks by the general public to prevent COVID-19 infection, stating that it is now no longer mandatory to wear face masks when using public transport. The guidelines from the joint COVID-19 prevention and control mechanism of the State Council aim to clarify situations and circumstances where people should, can choose to, or may choose not to wear face masks. People are advised to put on face masks when using public transport and entering supermarkets, movie theaters, and other indoor places with large gatherings. Individuals have the discretion to choose whether or not to wear face masks in outdoor locations such as public squares and parks. Students are not required to wear face masks at school, according to the guidelines. However, in certain circumstances, the use of face masks is mandatory. These include when a person has tested positive for COVID-19 or is displaying relevant symptoms, during local outbreaks, and when visiting medical institutions and nursing homes. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz 13 April 2023 17:42 (UTC+04:00) Laman Ismayilova Read more Azerbaijan's tourism potential has been promoted at the 26th East Mediterranean International Tourism and Travel Exhibition (EMITT 2023). According to Azernews, every year, EMITT 2023 attracts thousands of industry professionals and tourists looking for new and exciting travel opportunities from destinations and travel service companies from across the globe. The four-day tourism fair is a valuable business platform providing new business and cooperation opportunities to the Turkish and global travel sectors. Nearly 600 participants from 30 countries arrived in Istanbul to demonstrate their tourism potential this year. The Azerbaijani pavilion at the fair provided insight into the tourism opportunities of Azerbaijan Airlines CJSC, two local tourism companies, hotel groups. EMITT 2023 visitors viewed Azerbaijani stand with keen interest. The national stand was organized by Azerbaijan Tourism Board (ATB) with the support of Azerbaijan State Tourism Agency. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. 'Safari' Event at Haystack Rock Takes You Deeper Into This Colorful Oregon Coast World Published 04/09/23 at 12:02 AM By Oregon Coast Beach Connection staff (Cannon Beach, Oregon) On a regular basis, especially in the warmer parts of the year, the Haystack Rock Awareness Program (HRAP) makes this north Oregon coast landmark even more interesting. The Cannon Beach-based group provides some serious depth to the famed rock. (Photo above Oregon Coast Beach Connection) On April 21, look for yet another detailed glimpse into what goes on here with a special event dedicated to lowly but extremely colorful nudibranch. From 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., the 6th Annual Nudibranch Safari takes place. For an hour, you will discover and assist Lisa Habecker, Volunteer Coordinator and resident nudibranch lover, in an attempt to find all the species of nudibranchs commonly found in Haystack Rock's tidepools. Photo HRAP The Nudibranch Safari event is free and engaging for learners of all ages. If you can't make it to the Oregon coast in person, it will be live-streamed on their on Facebook and Instagram. Find them on Facebook and Instagram @Haystackrockawarenessprogram. Nudibranchs are a curious little wonder along the Oregon coast and Washington coast, with some 3,000 species of them inhabiting the tidepools of the entire world. 200 of those hang out on these two coastlines. They come in various sizes, from 1/8 of an inch to about a foot long, with many a vibrant explosion in colors. Others do their best to hide from the world. Loggerhead nudibranch, courtesy Seaside Aquarium The name nudibranch, it turns out, means naked gills, because their gills are on the outside of their bodies. This is due to the fact they've lost their shells over time through evolution, according to Seaside Aquarium's Tiffany Boothe. Nudibranchs are marine snails, relatives of limpets and abalone, Boothe said. While most lack shells some species have a reduced or internal shell. Just like most animals in the world, if a creature has a bright color it serves as a warning to other predators. It says if you chomp on me you're not gonna like it, as these practically-glowing critters contain poison, or at least some really unpleasant tastes. Boothe said scientists often observe fish swallow them and then spit them back out. It takes some time, but many fish learn not to lunch on that thing again. For more information, visit www.haystackrockawareness.com or contact Mylasia Miklas, Haystack Rock Awareness Program Communications Coordinator, at 503-436-8079 or email hrap@ci.cannon-beach.or.us Hotels in Cannon Beach - Where to eat - Cannon Beach Maps and Virtual Tours MORE PHOTOS BELOW Photos below Seaside Aquaarium More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight Andre' GW Hagestedt is editor, owner and primary photographer / videographer of Oregon Coast Beach Connection, an online publication that sees over 1 million pageviews per month. He is also author of several books about the coast. LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on Oregon Coast Beach Connection All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright Oregon Coast Beach Connection. Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Increased Medicaid reimbursements provided to hospitals through the Healthcare Access and Stabilization Program (HASP) Increased hospital assessments to provide funding for the NC Health Works coverage and the HASP program at the start of the next fiscal quarter Repeal Certificate of Need (CON) review for the following: psychiatric beds and facilities; chemical dependency treatment beds and facilities; replacement equipment up to $3 million, indexed to inflation; an aggregate total of $3 million diagnostic center equipment that individually exceeds $10,000; early and periodic screening, diagnosis, and treatment services to children under age 21 at home health agencies Medicaid coverage for adults aged 18-64 with incomes up to 133% of the federal poverty level, going into effect once the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) approve the start date Workforce development measures promoting employment among Medicaid enrollees This post appears here courtesy of the Carolina Journal . The author of this post is Alex Baltzegar On Thursday, the North Carolina House gave final passage to H.B. 76, a bill to expand Medicaid, by a vote of 87-24. On Wednesday, the day prior, the vote was 95-21.The bill now officially goes to Gov. Roy Cooper's desk for his signature.Donny Lambeth, R-Forsyth, spoke in support of H.B. 76 on the floor on Wednesday and urged his colleagues to vote in favor.Cooper has been a longtime proponent of Medicaid expansion and issued a mostly supportive statement when legislative leaders announced the deal, although he said he wanted expansion implemented immediately.At the time, Cooper said he lookedCooper can sign the bill, veto the bill, or not sign the bill, in which case it would automatically go into law after ten days.Cooper is expected to sign the bill quickly. However, the component of H.B. 76 that expands Medicaid will not go into effect until lawmakers reach an agreement on the state budget for the 2023-24 fiscal year.The following will go into effect as soon as Cooper signs the bill:These parts of the bill will go into effect once the budget is approved:Two years after the first HASP payment is made, ambulatory surgical centers will be removed from CON review if those centers meet certain requirements.Three years after the first HASP payment is made, MRI machines in counties with a population in excess of 125,000 would be removed from CON review.The SAVE Act, which would remove barriers for nurses to practice in North Carolina, is not included in the bill.said Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland, who is a proponent of the bill.Opponents of the bill argue that this bill doesn't go far enough to address supply-side problems.said Donald Bryson, president of the John Locke Foundation.House Bill 76 previously passed the Senate 44-2.Senate Leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham, wrote an op-ed in the Carolina Journal in support of this Medicaid expansion bill. Rep. Ben Moss, R-Richmond, wrote an op-ed in opposition to expansion. First Citizens Bank will acquire Silicon Valley Bank on Monday after the latter company faced a run on deposits and collapsed.The implosion of Silicon Valley Bank, where the vast majority of account balances exceeded the $250,000 threshold guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, also called the FDIC, prompted the government-backed company to secure all accounts to prevent additional bank runs. Silicon Valley Bank had been forced to sell a long-term bond portfolio at a substantial loss to cover deposit requests.The FDIC revealed in a statement that the 17 branches of Silicon Valley Bank will be operated by First Citizens Bank as soon as Monday, while all depositors will automatically become account holders at the company. First Citizens Bank will purchase $72 billion of Silicon Valley Bank's assets at a discount of $16.5 billion, while $90 billion will remain with the FDIC.said First Citizens Bank CEO Frank Holding.First Citizens Bank, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, will assume management of $56 billion in Silicon Valley Bank deposits. The failure of Silicon Valley Bank cost the Deposit Insurance Fund, which is funded by fees on banks, an estimated $20 billion.The bond portfolio sold by Silicon Valley Bank, which regulators shuttered on March 10, had declined substantially in value amid Federal Reserve actions to hike interest rates and combat inflation. Assets in the overall banking system are now $2 trillion lower than their book value, according to a study from analysts at the National Bureau of Economic Research, prompting worries about the stability of the sector.Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen commented last week that withdrawals from regional banks have stabilized and asserted that the financial system remains sound.she said in remarks to the American Bankers Association.Officials shuttered Signature Bank, where a majority of account holders likewise had deposits exceeding the $250,000 insurance threshold, on March 12. New York Community Bancorp acquired the firm for more than $38 billion. It will service the defunct firm's clients via Flagstar Bank, exacerbating fears about additional consolidation in the financial sector due to the present volatility.The two largest banks in Switzerland, UBS and Credit Suisse, similarly merged last week as the former purchased the latter for more than $3 billion. Credit Suisse, formerly the eighth-largest investment bank in the world, had struggled over the past several years under lackluster risk and compliance management. WASHINGTON, D.C. After two years in captivity, the QAnon buffalo guy has been tagged and released back into the wild to roam the plains once again.said Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene with a tear in her eye.The news of Buffalo Guy's release has shaken Washington, with Democrat politicians running and hiding in terror upon hearing the news.said a terrified Senator Chuck Schumer from under his desk.Sources say Buffalo Guy is now free due to the release of additional January 6th footage which showed the docile, lovable creature being gently escorted through the Capitol grounds by a team of trained Capitol Police buffalo handlers.At publishing time, AOC heard the news and died again. Medicaid expansion is a government intervention created to address problems caused by previous interventions Government artificially inflating demand while restricting supply has resulted in unaffordable prices and a lack of availability Instead, legislators should repeal interventions and empower markets to deliver affordable health care This post appears here courtesy of the John Locke Foundation . The author of this post is Brian Balfour After more than a decade-long battle, Gov. Roy Cooper signed into law a bill for North Carolina to expand Medicaid as provided for in the Affordable Care Act (i.e., Obamacare). The bill was the result of an agreement between Republican leadership in the state House and Senate and is contingent upon a state budget bill being enacted this summer.Indeed, Senate President Pro Tempore Phil Berger went so far as to claim expansion willBerger added that expansion is aMoving beyond the claim that the largest increase of entitlements in state history is consideredwe must further consider the ramifications of defaulting to ever-bigger government instead of markets to address problems like affordable and accessible health insurance and medical care.Instead of using government to providefor more people in the current system, why not address what is causing health care to become so unaffordable in the first place?Ludwig von Mises warned us nearly a hundred years ago that government intervention begets more intervention.As he wrote in 1929,Once the interventionists realize their interventions made things worse, Mises argued, they areto remove the initial intervention, but rather seek to address the new problems with still more interventions. The new interventions create new problems, and the cycle repeats, ad nauseam.This is what we've seen play out for more than 80 years in America's health care industry.When discussing rapidly rising prices of a good or service, the culprit inevitably is rising demand, restricted supply, or a combination of both.On the supply side, we see government interventions like Certificate of Need (CON) laws, scope of practice restrictions, Obamacare provisions that accelerated provider consolidation, medical school caps that restrict the supply of physicians, and prohibitions against out-of-state doctors providing telehealth, among others. Meanwhile, health insurance options are restricted by prohibitions on the availability of insurance from other states and by countless coverage mandates that deny consumers affordable, basic coverage options.Demand, meanwhile, is inflated in large part because of the third-party payer system, which means that most of patients' bills are paid for by a third party.Steadily rising government intervention into the health care industry over the past several decades has created a system in which roughly 90 cents of every health care dollar is paid for by a third party.As noted in this 2017 study by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University,Government programs like Medicare and Medicaid of course shift the cost from the user, but private insurance similarly shifts costs from fee-for-services to premiums, prompting consumers to view their insurance as a sort of prepaid medical card. It's important to note that private insurance's rise and its tie to employment are in no small part due to the government's 1943 decision to make employer-based health insurance exempt from taxation, incentivizing employers to invest more in insurance benefits than salaries.One costly result of the third-party payer system is unnecessary and excessive testing and treatment. According to a February 2018 report by ProPublica,ProPublica described the waste asin which tons of patientsAfter all, why not get the unnecessary tests and treatments when someone else is paying?Obamacare and Medicaid expansion are government interventions created to address problems caused by decades of previous government interventions. What was the result of the? A 2022 Commonwealth Fund study found that a decade after Obamacare's passage, employer health plan premiums and deductibles were consuming about 27% more of median household income.As Mises predicted, Obamacare aggravatedNext up will be more interventions. As John Locke Foundation Board member John Hood warned, we may be on aSadly, North Carolina Republicans bought into more government intervention as a means to address the problems of previous government interventions. A far better path would be to unwind as many such interventions as possible and empower market solutions. To their credit, legislators did include some incremental rollback of a few CON laws, but such market-based reforms pale in comparison to the historic government enlargement Medicaid expansion represents.Markets deliver. And as I wrote previously,And not only would markets deliver greater access to affordable health care, they are more conducive to a free society. Markets involve people and organizations freely and voluntarily interacting with each other. Conversely, government interventions involve restrictions, mandates, and wealth confiscation under the threat of force.There's nothingorabout choosing the latter. In a massive power play that reeks of eco-fascism, the Biden regime has put forward a proposed regulation that would require 2/3rds of all cars sold in the US to be electric by 2032. Congress is not even being consulted, much less asked to approve this tyrannical government diktat. Polls show that most Americans do not want electric cars, but the tyrant Biden is trying to force them down our throats by abusing government regulatory power. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-11964737/Biden-unveils-tough-emissions-rule-force-Americans-buy-electronic-vehicles.html https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/editorials/uncle-joe-has-a-car-you-cant-refuse "Beijing Joe" Biden's move will also make America more dependent on Red China: https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/04/12/mike-braun-biden-electric-vehicle-scheme-will-make-america-more-dependent-china/ US Senator Ted Budd (R-NC) has endorsed Donald Trump in the Republican primary for President in 2024. https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2023/04/13/exclusive-north-carolina-sen-ted-budd-endorses-donald-trump-for-president/ Senator Budd has also been active in endorsing conserative US Senate candidates in Republican primaries where they are running against establishment hacks. The Babylon Bee, a popular online satirical publication is taking the Peoples Republic of California to court over its suppression of freedom of speech. The Bee's target is a California law passed last year, AB 587 that requires publications to report to the state Attorney General regular reports on "misinformation, disinformation, extremism, radicalization, and hate speech". All of those terms are subjective and seen through a political prizm. For a satirical publication like the Babylon Bee or The Onion, just about all of its content could be attacked under these terms for the very reason that it is satirical. The term "hate speech" is a particularly odious term of Orwellian Newspeak used by totalitarians who hate FREE speech. California is directly attacking America's First Amendment freedom of speech. https://redstate.com/bobhoge/2023/04/12/not-funny-babylon-bee-sues-california-ag-bonta-over-extreme-media-censorship-law-n730508 https://www.breitbart.com/tech/2023/04/12/first-amendment-lawsuit-challenges-california-hate-speech-law/ As George Orwell wrote "freedom of speech is your right to say what I don't want to hear". It is under attack in both America and Europe, and it is good to see the Babylon Bee fighting back. The biggest threat to democracy in America is the Democrats and the left's attack on freedom of speech. WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) The judge presiding over a defamation case against Fox News admonished its attorneys Wednesday for potentially withholding evidence and said he is inclined to order an independent review by a special master that could lead to sanctions. The move by Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis came amid a burst of fresh revelations in the $1.6 billion defamation case filed by Dominion Voting Systems against the conservative network and its parent company, Fox Corp. The judge expressed anger and frustration during a pretrial hearing after learning that Fox only recently turned over recordings of Fox Business host Maria Bartiromo talking with two lawyers for then-President Donald Trump, Sidney Powell and Rudy Giuliani. That came after the disclosure a day earlier that Fox lawyers had withheld critical information about the role company founder Rupert Murdoch, who is chairman of Fox Corp., played at Fox News. I am very concerned that there have been misrepresentations to the court, Davis said. The judge had expressed his displeasure at the late disclosure regarding Murdoch and became even more perturbed Wednesday when he was told that Fox also did not reveal the recordings made by a former producer for Bartiromo. The recordings were of conversations the host had with Giuliani and Powell before and after her show. Their existence surfaced in a lawsuit the former producer, Abby Grossberg, has filed against Fox alleging that the networks attorneys forced her to give misleading deposition testimony in an effort to protect the company in the defamation case. In one pre-show conversation on Nov. 8, 2020, just days after the presidential election, Bartiromo asked Giuliani whether he had information about Dominions software, which some people had alleged could be manipulated. Thats a little harder. Its being analyzed right now, Giuliani responded. A week later, Giuliani said on Bartiromos show that the software had been developed by a company founded by Venezuelan strongman Hugo Chavez and had been used to cheat in elections in South America. Colorado-based Dominion alleges that Fox damaged the company by repeatedly airing false allegations that its machines and the software they used rigged the 2020 presidential election to prevent Trumps reelection. Records produced as part of the lawsuit show many executives and hosts didnt believe the claims, but aired them anyway. There was no indication that the recent developments would delay the trial, which is scheduled to start Thursday with jury selection, but they dealt additional blows to Fox in a lawsuit that already has embarrassed the network. In part, it has revealed how Fox used the false election claims to win back viewers who were angered after the network correctly called Arizona for Joe Biden on election night. The judge on Wednesday said he was considering asking a special master to investigate actions taken by Fox attorneys after they had certified to the court in December that they had complied with their obligations to produce documents. That could include Fox failing to disclose the Grossberg recordings and a Bartiromo email. Dominion attorney Davida Brook told the judge that Dominion only recently learned that Powell had forwarded to Bartiromo an email Powell received in November 2020 from a woman who described a wide range of conspiracy theories, including those involving claims of election fraud. In her deposition, Bartiromo said she didnt know if she even saw the email. Its not anything I looked at or considered real, she said under oath. But on Wednesday, the judge was shown an email confirming that Bartiromo not only read Powells email, but apparently discussed its contents with Trumps son, Eric Trump, and sent a reply to Powell: I just spoke to Eric & told him you gave very imp info, Bartiromo wrote Powell. Davis said he would allow Dominion to question Bartiromo under oath again, at Foxs expense, though there was no immediate indication from Dominion that it would do so. The judge said he also was likely to ask a special master to investigate how Fox attorneys handled the issue of Rupert Murdochs role at Fox News. Fox Corp. had asserted since Dominion filed its lawsuit in 2021 that Murdoch had no official role at Fox News. In its filings, it had listed Fox News' officers as Jay Wallace, Joe Dorrego and Suzanne Scott, who is the networks chief executive officer. But on Sunday, Fox disclosed to Dominions attorneys that Murdoch also is executive chair at Fox News. The judge Wednesday ordered Fox attorneys to collect and preserve all internal communications regarding the matter. Earlier in the day, he denied Dominion's request to hold separate trials based on the new information about Murdoch's roles one for Fox News and another for the network's parent company. Murdochs role and those of other top Fox executives are at the heart of Dominions defamation case. Fox attorneys have argued that executives roles at the parent company, Fox Corp., removed them from the day-to-day decisions that allowed the false election claims to be aired on various Fox News programs. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) For several months, Fox News treated Donald Trump like yesterday's news. But now the former president has come roaring back at the popular network for conservative viewers, most notably since his indictment in New York on hush-money charges. The Trump revival was on display Tuesday night, when Tucker Carlson devoted his entire prime-time program to a historic interview with him, promising more excerpts on Wednesday. It was two weeks after Sean Hannity similarly gave Trump extensive airtime. Left unmentioned were Carlson's two-year-old private text message s, revealed in a defamation case against the network, in which he disparaged Trump and talked eagerly of putting the former president behind him. In one of the exchanges, from Jan. 4, 2021, Carlson wrote that we are very, very close to being able to ignore Trump most nights and I truly cant wait. Trumps return reverses what some had been calling a soft ban by Fox News, which had no on-air interviews with him between Sept. 22, 2022, and Hannity on March 27. The short answer is, they need each other, said Jane Hall, a journalism professor at American University and author of Politics and the Media: Intersections and New Directions. He's getting attention, he's getting ratings, and cable news needs it because they've been down, Hall said. Records released as part of Dominion Voting Systems $1.6 billion defamation case against the network and its parent company, Fox Corp., show that Fox repeatedly aired false allegations about the 2020 presidential elections as part of a bid to win back viewers angered that the network had called Arizona for Joe Biden on election night. The lawsuit also revealed how Fox executives and many of its star hosts, including Carlson, didn't believe those claims but aired them anyway. The judge presiding over that case said Wednesday he was inclined to order an independent review to determine whether the network had improperly withheld evidence A week ago, Fox News Channel carried in full Trump's speech from Mar-a-Lago on the day he was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury on charges that he falsified business records to conceal payments made ahead of the 2016 election to silence a porn star who says she and Trump had an extramarital sexual encounter years earlier; Trump denies the two had sex. The speech reached 6.7 million viewers, or about double the typical audience Carlson generally receives at the same time, the Nielsen company said. Fox says Trump's return is because of the news, not ratings. The Hannity interview was billed as Trump's first after his indictment, Carlson's the first after his arraignment, when the former president pleaded not guilty to the charges. Fox personalities and commentators leapt to his defense when news of the grand jury indictment came out. Trump's higher profile also coincides with his growing strength in polls of Republican voters, according to the network. While Fox News continues as the top-rated cable network, its prime-time viewership was down 18 percent in the first three months of the year, compared to 2022. CNN was down 34 percent in the same measurement and MSNBC was down 8 percent, Nielsen said. They're in the business of fan service and right now conservative politics is all the Trump show, said Charlie Sykes, a conservative and founder of the Bulwark website. If the show is back in town, Fox can either try to counterprogram or buy into it. Right now, what is the counterprogramming? Trump's return was always inevitable, said Sykes, also an MSNBC contributor. They can't quit him. Fox knows what its audience wants and what its audience will accept. If Fox wasn't quitting Trump, it surely had been pulling back. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, viewed as Trump's chief GOP rival, has made 12 appearances on Fox News this year but none since March 13, according to the liberal advocacy group Media Matters for America, which monitors Fox. March 5-11 was the first week this year where the name DeSantis received more mentions (177) than Trump (142) on Fox, Media Matters said. Others recognized Trump's potency for their viewers as well: The same week, Trump was mentioned 925 times on MSNBC, compared to 268 for DeSantis. Back on Jan. 8, 2021, two days after the U.S. Capitol insurrection, Fox News founder Rupert Murdoch wrote in an email to a former Fox executive that the network was pivoting. We want to make Trump a non-person, Murdoch wrote, according to documents revealed as part of an elections technology company's defamation lawsuit against Fox. The trend away from Trump accelerated following the midterm elections when candidates he supported did more poorly than he expected. When he announced in November he was running again for president, Fox didn't carry his speech in full. Other Murdoch-controlled media properties were even harsher: The New York Post headlined its story: Florida man makes announcement. Following the midterms, a Wall Street Journal editorial was headlined, Trump is the Republican Party's biggest loser. Yet, as spring neared, Fox warmed again to the former president. The network carried Trump's entire 90-minute speech to the Conservative Political Action Committee live on the network March 4. Tuesday night, understandably, Carlson didn't talk about his critical texts and emails directed at Trump following the 2020 election, as seen in court papers related to the Dominion Voting Systems lawsuit. Back in January 2021, when Carlson said his show was close to being able to ignore Trump most nights. he wrote, I hate him passionately." Carlson said in an interview with WABC radio last month that a wounded Trump had called him, seeking an explanation after the text messages became public. Carlson said he'd been angry about election information passed on by Trump's team that proved false. He told the radio station that he found Trump funny and insightful and that he spent four years on the air defending his policies. ___ More on Donald Trump-related investigations: https://apnews.com/hub/donald-trump This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Ivan Schwartz has been a sculptor nearly 50 years, creating bronze statues and other pieces found in some of the most historically renowned sites in the United States, including Thomas Jeffersons Monticello, George Washingtons Mount Vernon, multiple presidential libraries, including the George Bush and Lyndon B. Johnson libraries in Texas, the New York Historical Library and more. At 6:30 p.m. Thursday, the New-York based sculptor will talk about his work and the changing landscape of historic monuments at the McFaddin-Ward House Visitor Center. Monuments and Symbols in American History is part of the museums ongoing lecture series that features roughly eight lectures between September and May. Schwartz is the director of StudioEIS in Brooklyn, New York a design and sculpture studio, which he founded in 1976. The studio works in bronze, resin and stone and specializes in classical figurative sculpture and visual storytelling, according to a news release. RELATED: McFaddin-Ward House getting electrical upgrade Their work has been exhibited and installed in museums, cultural/historical institutions and corporations across the globe. The lecture will not only address their work, but also the cultural context in which it was created and how that narrative has changed and continues to change over time. Monuments are symbols for people whose contributions we value and respect, Schwartz said. And today, as America reexamines its history, as you might expect, new monuments are going up, but they are also coming down all over the country.this old-fashioned sculpture thing Ive been doing for nearly 50 years has been front and center in a moment of national reflection. In 2020, as America faced protests for racial justice in the wake of George Floyds death, and a resurgence in the discussion of racial politics and culture, Confederate statues and other monuments became a point of focus. RELATED: Beaumont Confederate monument comes down Monuments were defaced and many removed in states throughout the south, including Virginia, Alabama, Kentucky and North Carolina. Some had been at the center of debate for years; others, including some in Alabama and North Carolina, were forcibly removed in violation of existing laws. In Beaumont, the Our Confederate Soldiers monument was removed on June 29, 2020, following a near-unanimous vote in favor of its removal by the City Council. That shift in historical value and symbolism is part of the changing landscape Schwartz and other sculptors are facing, which he sees as opening up new opportunities. Some of what Ive been doing for nearly five decades, while following on history's coat tails, has become an important part of our American history, he said. Were currently working on a lot of projects we might not have 10 years ago, and thats part of the changing values in our country today. RELATED: Southeast Texans join in nationwide protest movement Among StudioEIS newest projects was completion of the Virginia Womens Monument in Richmond, Virginia, and the Clara Luper Memorial Sculpture currently in progress in Oklahoma City. Schwartzs work was well known to McFaddin-Ward House Museum Executive Director Tony Chaveaux through his prior affiliation with the National Endowment for the Arts, who worked with him in getting the Virginia womens monument created. We try to offer an array of topics each year to include a mix of programs that are of local, regional and national interest, Chaveaux said. The 2022-23 Lecture Series included programs on Magnolia Cemetery and the Port of Beaumont (local interest), the Battle of San Jacinto and the revival of an extinct Native culture (regional interest), architectural ornamentation and American jewelry (the arts), nationally recognized folk and traditional artists and the topic of national monuments (national interest). The lecture series and any honorariums offered to guest lecturers are fully funded by the Mamie McFaddin-Ward Heritage Foundation, which allows the museum not only to bring in world-renowned guests, like Schwartz, but also to offer the programs to the public free of charge. Martin Andrade / EyeEm/Getty Images/EyeEm The U.S. Coast Guard stopped five lancha boat crews and seized 590 pounds of illegally caught red snapper in federal waters in southern Texas on Thursday, officials said. The boat crews caught 22 Mexican fishermen engaging in illegal fishing near Corpus Christi, said in a news release. The fishermen were transferred to border enforcement agents for processing, according to a news release. The community turned out to pay their respects during the funeral service for Federal Judge Thad Heartfield Wednesday at St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica in Beaumont. Heartfield passed away Dec. 27. He was 82 years old. Unless your flight is under two hours or you identify strongly with the sociopathic community, you shouldnt be flying in proper jeans. Or chinos. Or khakis. Pack all the stiff, scratchy, belt-requiring pair of pants you want, but dont wear them to the airport. This, of course, presents the general conundrum of not looking like a total scrub at the airport while the 90s era of massive airport fits are long gone, it doesnt mean you need to look like you just rolled out of bed. No, you need a pair of travel pants. Flights are uncomfortable enough (and getting more uncomfortable less legroom is the new normal) without you needing to fidget and readjust after every hint of turbulence. No matter whats waiting at your destination, whether its a meeting, a honeymoon, or just home, it was always worth taking two minutes postbaggage-check and pre-Uber to commandeer an airport bathroom stall and, dopp kit in hand, change into something more presentable, than to sacrifice comfort for a formal aesthetic. What Is a Travel Pant? Theres no need to change these days. A cohort of young, plucky labels and heritage brands alike have taken it upon themselves to create a new breed of pants in recent years that match (or even trump) the comfort of a pajama pant or sweatpant, in colors and cuts that look appropriate in a variety of situations, whether with sneakers or chukka boots. These new digs are ultra-technical, often sporting weather (or more likely, spill) resistant materials and sweat-wicking tech for the most comfortable possible ride. Interal drawstrings or self-belting e-waists are industry standard, as are a cabal of pockets for everything from your passport to your Nintendo Switch. Theyre a fortunate offshoot of the clothing revolution pioneered by activewear, and perfectly applicable to a day spent at the airport and in the sky. Below, weve rounded up 11 superior examples from brands in the menswear space. These pants often have stretch capabilities (with cotton-synthetic blends), come packed with zippered pockets, and will not require you to take off a belt in the security line. Theyre all comfy as hell, too, and easy to fall asleep in when it matters most. From Mack Weldon to lululemon, here are the best travel pants in 2023. The Best Mens Travel Pants in 2023: Some of the best tech pants youre going to find here, and a long-time favorite of InsideHook editors. True to form for Lulu, this is an article of clothing that far outperforms its price tag. These four-way stretch pants are comprised of a polyester-nylon blend and feature two deep hand pockets, so you dont lose your passport back at baggage check. One of our editors once said he wants to be buried in them, so if thats not enough to pick up a couple of pairs we dont know what is. Chicago-based Public Rec was a Kickstarter darling back in 2015 when they sold 2,000 pairs of sweatpants. Theyve since branched out to all manner of versatile activewear, but the original All Day Every Pant is still their crown jewel, and now available in nine different colors. What makes it so special? Four zippered pockets, tapered legs, elastic waistband, and creatively a faux front fly, so youll look reasonably formal. Jokes on them. Much like their other wares Macks Silver Trunk took top prize in our best underwear round-up earlier this year Mack Weldons in-house comfiness gold standard applies to its pants, too, which are made from a technical, weather-resistant blend. Prepping for a big meeting mere hours after you land? Probably not a bad idea for any flight out of your time zone to just wear Mack Weldon briefs and a pair of the office-appropriate Radius Flex Joggers. That combo could even make the middle seat bearable. They may be priced at a premium, but you know what youre getting with Rhone. Theyve doubled down on their transit offerings in recent years, often with surprisingly formal-seeming looks. For those extremely busy, completely-unwilling-to-get-changed folks, you can reasonably wear these to a meeting for dinner. Theyre made from a Japanese stretch fabric thats got a bit of polyester, so theyll come in handy, too, if youve gotta make a run for the gate. Choose from a ton of colors, and pick your exact size. We wear these pants to the gym over a pair of shorts, usually with keys and assorted cards tucked into the zippered back pocket. They are unconscionably soft and made by Vuori, a San Diego County-based activewear brand thats been around since 2013. This is a great option for people who dont vibe with the tailored look of a jogger or ribbed sweatpants; its a straight travel pant, and loose in all the right regions. Matching perfectly with one of our favorite travel blazers, the Buck Mason Carry-On Pants lightweight 5.5 oz twill blend gives it just enough shape and weight to stay relatively unhampered and fundamentally comfortable, even considering its dressed-up vibe. Ditch the massive garment bag and avoid cramming your wedding get-up into the weekender just were these bad boys on the plane, instead. More Travel Pants We Love: We've put in the work researching, reviewing and rounding up all the shirts, jackets, shoes and accessories you'll need this season, whether it's for yourself of for gifting purposes. Sign up here for weekly style inspo direct to your inbox. The post These 11 Pants Are Perfect for Long Travel Days appeared first on InsideHook. Here are five moves from Oakland, Calif.-based Kaiser Permanente since Feb. 13. 1. Kaiser Permanente is aiming to strengthen the nation's public health system through three new initiatives, the company said in March healthcare delivery, community-based organizations and research. 2. Kaiser on March 24 broke ground on an inpatient tower with 138 beds at Roseville (Calif.) Medical Center, which serves about 360,000 healthcare members in the area. 3. Kaiser tapped Mitch Winnik to lead its Downey service area in Southern California. 4. Kaiser plans to move 1,200 administrative jobs from its headquarters in Oakland, Calif., to a suburb about 30 miles away. 5. Kaiser reported a loss of $4.5 billion in 2022, according to financial results. The loss is down from a net income of $8.1 billion in 2021 its operating margin dipped from 0.7 percent in 2021 to -1.3 percent in 2022. Here are eight updates on the orthopedic industry to know that Becker's has reported since April 7: 1. DISC Surgery Center at Newport Beach (Calif.) was recognized by the Validation Institute for its complex spine outcomes. 2. Sonny Gill, MD, an orthopedic spine surgeon at Vail, Colo.-based Steadman Clinic, was appointed the head team physician for the U.S. men's and women's freestyle ski team. He will serve in the role through the 2026 Olympics in Milan, Italy. 3. The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care has updated its three-year standards for orthopedic practices seeking an advanced orthopedic certification. Here is what to know about the updates. 4. Becker's asked the artificial intelligence chatbot ChatGPT to name the best orthopedic care center in the United States. Here is what it had to say. 5. From a Stryker executive to the founder of Globus Medical, eight Americans who earned their wealth from orthopedics- and spine-related ventures have been named to Forbes' annual "World's Billionaires List." Meet them here. 6. Detroit-based Henry Ford Health appointed orthopedic surgeon and shoulder specialist Jonathan Braman, MD, as its chair and medical director of orthopedic services. 7. Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute and Conner Strong & Bucklew, an insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm, have partnered to form Rothman Direct, a service for scheduling appointments. 8. Three orthopedic surgeons connected with Becker's to discuss what they are most afraid of. A Minnesota dentist purchased a former realty office for $785,000 to house his dental practice, Post Bulletin reported April 13. Scott Funke, DDS, of Med City Dental in Rochester, bought the 5,200-square-foot building that previously housed the Southeast Minnesota Realtors organization. Dr. Funke told the news organization he wanted to relocate the practice from the city's downtown area to increase accessibility for patients. He hopes to move into the new space this fall. Portland, Ore.-based Legacy Health is to reopen its Mount Hood maternity center within the next three months following disagreements with the Oregon Health Authority over the legality of its original decision to close the Gresham, Ore.-based facility, the Lund Report wrote April 12. Citing an internal email from Mount Hood President Bahaa Wanly, "Legacy will welcome pregnant patients at the Mount Hood Family Birth Center within the next 90 days," the report said. Safety concerns were a priority for the Oregon Health Authority in refusing to grant a waiver for the center to close, and the OHA has also launched a separate but linked investigation into Legacy Health's original decision to close the Mount Hood maternity center without such a waiver. Legacy Health was choosing to divert pregnant women to other locations in its service area before this week's turnaround. The closure of the Mount Hood location was always expected to be a temporary one, Legacy Health said in comments cited in the report.. Nursing staff at the location recently decided to join the Oregon Nurses Association, which had been pushing for the center to stay open. "Legacy must fully reopen the birthing center as soon as possible and begin the difficult work of rebuilding our community's trust after choosing to close the center and putting its profits ahead of patients' needs," the union said in a statement. For its part, Legacy Health said April 7 it respected the decision of the nursing staff to join the union. "Legacy is committed to open, respectful and productive relationships with our employees, regardless of whether they are represented by a union or not," according to a statement on its website. CEOs across industries want more from their CFOs, as research shows 63 percent of company leaders believe the CFO's role will become more important over the next few years. So says an Oracle Netsuite report, citing KPMG research. That same research shows 30 percent of the same CEOs saying their CFOs fail to assist with organizational challenges, let alone understand them. "Gone are the days of back-office bean counters," the report says. CFOs need seven key skills to thrive in such a changing environment: The CFO must lay the groundwork for effective fundraising. While the CEO will do the actual fundraising, putting in the hard work at the initial stages with a strong list of contacts and knowledge of the processes can be hugely beneficial. Strong communication skills: The ability to tell the company story using key numbers in a clear, honest, non-jargon way. Have a holistic view of the company business. CEOs recommend spending time with colleagues who don't work in finance and accounting. Things can change very quickly and CFOs need to be proactive and flexible, potentially using what one CEO called a "rapid strategy creation" process rather than focusing on less flexible longer-term cycles. Be more savvy with technology. CFOs don't need to be programmers but do need to have a working knowledge of technology trends and possibilities. CFOs have typically taken a more cautious approach as stewards of a company's financial health. But today's CEOs need them to take calculated risks and play a significant role in identifying risks to an organization and then coming up with mitigating strategies for such risks as well as to capitalize on potential opportunities. Finance skills are of course important, but fitting in with company culture is crucial. "The company's leadership is a team," said David Windley, president of IQTalent Partners at Caldwell, an executive search firm. "That team is leading the company and the chemistry between them working together is very important." "Business leaders are looking for their CFOs to go well beyond the balance sheet to serve as strategic partners who contribute to growth," the report concludes. Decreased clout reason for U.S. anger at Beijing-brokered Tehran-Riyadh detente, experts say Xinhua) 10:57, April 13, 2023 TEHRAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The United States is reportedly frustrated with the China-brokered rapprochement between Iran and Saudi Arabia, as the detente hints at a developing rift between Washington and Riyadh and reflects decreased American influence in the Middle East, analysts said. China, Saudi Arabia, and Iran announced on March 10 that the latter two had reached a deal, which includes an agreement to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions within two months, almost seven years after Riyadh cut diplomatic ties with Tehran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shiite cleric. Following the March agreement, 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. EMERGING RIFT WITH U.S. Speaking to Hamshahri Online news website, Iranian international affairs expert Mostafa Khoshcheshm said the Tehran-Riyadh detente was an "absolute defeat" for the United States as it dealt heavy blows to Washington. The main downside of the rapprochement for the United States was that one of its main allies in the Middle East, Saudi Arabia, reduced tensions with Iran, which is among Washington's enemies, he added. Hossein Shariatmadari, the CEO of Iran's Kayhan newspaper, said the United States is angry at Saudi Arabia's U-turn toward Iran. Saudi Arabia turned a blind eye to the preconditions set and dictated by the United States for resuming relations with Iran and achieved an agreement with Tehran based on logical common demands, he added. He added that Saudi Arabia's decision to normalize ties with Iran has secluded Riyadh from the U.S. camp, which could impact U.S. activities in the Arab state's market, from which the United States used to reap huge dividends in return for empty promises of providing security. Saudi Arabia began to lose faith in the United States after failing to achieve the security components it was seeking through partnership and a 500-billion-U.S.-dollar security deal with Washington, Iran's Borna news agency cited Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh, an Iranian analyst and a former member of parliament, as saying. He also noted that a new situation has begun to pervade Riyadh-Washington relations following the inauguration of President Joe Biden and that Saudi Arabia has come to the conclusion that long-term agreements with the United States would not "last long." Khoshcheshm, speaking to Hamshahri Online, shared the same view, saying that during former U.S. President Donald Trump's term in office, Riyadh relied heavily on Washington's support to ensure its security. However, when Saudis realized that U.S. backing was conditional on safeguarding American economic interests and saw the chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan, which led to the collapse of the Afghan government in a matter of days, they decided to reduce their reliance on Americans' support. Riyadh has realized that it cannot rely on Washington, Shariatmadari said. Alameh noted that one of the reasons for Riyadh's drifting away from Washington was that the approach adopted by Trump toward Saudi Arabia was based on "holding the latter to ransom." DECREASING CLOUT Almost all the analysts unanimously maintained that the "declined regional influence" was the heaviest blow that the normalization of Tehran-Riyadh ties dealt to the United States. Khoshcheshm said the United States failed to play any role in the easing of the tension between Iran and Saudi Arabia, which is among the reasons why it has been infuriated by the detente. He added that by mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia, China has gained a good political foothold in the region and has increased its influence. Falahatpisheh noted that having been well aware of the U.S. habit and track record of keeping old tensions alive in different parts of the world, Beijing proceeded with its policy of peaceful development. Praising Beijing's role in the rapprochement, Alameh said China is a great country and interacts with other states based on mutual respect, unlike the United States which seeks to dominate other nations, impose its policies on them, and hold them to ransom in bilateral relations. To better illustrate the U.S. frustration, Kayhan newspaper, in an analysis, quoted Mark Dubowitz, the CEO of the Washington-based Foundation for Defense of Democracies -- a non-profit think-tank -- as saying that the renewed Iran-Saudi ties were "a lose, lose, lose for American interests." "It demonstrates that the Saudis don't trust Washington to have their back, that Iran sees an opportunity to peel away American allies to end its international isolation," he added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) The Biden administration proposed new patient privacy protection regulations on April 12 so that patients' protected health information can't be used to investigate or sue people who are seeking out abortions. Here are the four new health privacy protections regulations the administration is looking to enforce: Micheal Alexander has been promoted to CEO of Hillsboro (Ill.) Area Hospital. Mr. Alexander has been the hospital's interim CEO since January. In the past, he has served as a senior healthcare consultant, COO of Knoxville, Tenn.-based Rennova Community Health and CEO of Jamestown (Tenn.) Regional Medical Center, according to his LinkedIn profile. "Mike's impact at Hillsboro was recognized right away and we are very pleased that the hospital board has selected him as their CEO," said Neil Todhunter, CEO of the hospital's management consultant HealthTech, in a news release shared with Becker's. "He will be a great asset to both the hospital and our company." A new community report on HCA Healthcare-owned Transylvania Regional Hospital in Brevard, N.C., indicates concerns from local residents about the facility, ABC affiliate WLOS reported April 12. The report was released by the Community Engagement Council and sent to Samuel Hazen, CEO of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA, on April 11, according to the TV station. The group is asking for a response within 30 days. The community council, which is not the hospital's group, formed amid concerns about how the hospital is run. Two members of Transylvania Regional's board, Mark Weinstein and Parker Platt, resigned in September 2021. Brevard Mayor Maureen Copelof had also sent a letter to Mr. Hazen in March 2022 about community concerns at the hospital, including the loss of physicians and healthcare providers, and the resignation of the two board members. HCA acquired Asheville, N.C.-based Mission Health in 2019, and Transylvania Regional is part of Mission Health. Since then, HCA has faced lawsuits accusing it of being anti-competitive including one from Brevard. After the council held multiple public listening sessions with residents, "the basic thing that we heard is that the residents of Transylvania County have lost trust in our community hospital," Mr. Weinstein, president and CEO of the Brevard Music Center and council member, said, according to WLOS. The report states that when HCA acquired the hospital, as part of Mission Health, "residents still largely believed that it was for the best; that their cherished hospital was being sold to a company that would act responsibly and continue to provide the services and care this community needed and had come to rely on. Now there is a sense that HCA has broken that trust and lost the confidence of this community through policies, procedures and decisions that appear disconnected from the needs of our people." The report details concerns the council heard from residents during its listening sessions, including the loss of primary care physicians, elimination of services such as adult day care and rehabilitation services, a perceived decrease in quality of care in the emergency department, and problems with billing. According to WLOS, the report also suggests solutions, including hiring a healthcare consultant to conduct a performance audit of Transylvania Regional and for HCA to sell the hospital back to the community. Mission Health spokesperson Nancy Lindell, in a statement shared with Becker's on April 12, said the health system "has not yet had the opportunity to review the entirety of this 'report' but the portions we have reviewed are seriously and obviously inaccurate. "Specifically, the 'report' claims there have been cuts both to staff and services. In reality, the number of physicians on our medical staff has remained relatively constant, and we promptly and actively recruit to fill any open positions on the staff. Additionally, the rate of nurse turnover at TRH is the lowest that it has been in more than a year. We are proud of our commitment to Western North Carolina and the significant investments we have made in TRH, including over $14 million in significant infrastructure projects, additional specialty services, new medical technology, and the hiring of a new general surgeon." Ms. Lindell also emphasized Mission Health's commitment to addressing feedback from patients and said the organization "looks into every concern and works diligently and quickly to address them. Unfortunately, because many of the examples listed in the 'report' lack detail or are second-hand accounts, we cannot respond to them." Additionally, Ms. Lindell addressed the hospital's relations with the community. "Last year, HCA Healthcare CEO Sam Hazen met with Mayor Copelof and other members of this community group. While we hoped the meeting would start a thoughtful and ongoing dialog about healthcare in the city of Brevard and the broader Transylvania County region, it did not," she said. "Very shortly after the meeting, Mayor Copelof and the city of Brevard filed an apparently long-planned, but never disclosed, lawsuit against us. "For obvious reasons, we cannot participate in a group whose most vocal member is actively litigating against us. We asked Mayor Copelof to recuse herself from the group, but she refused to do so. As a result, Michele Pilon, BSN, RN, the CEO of TRH, formed the Transylvania Regional Hospital Community Council and has engaged with community members and leaders through that group." Ms. Lindell added that Mission Health "remain[s] steadfast in our commitment to this community and TRH, and we will continue to invest in quality care for the patients we are privileged to serve. We are incredibly proud of our teams and their caring commitment to our community." From 2019 to 2021, 17 states reported their first case of Candida auris, a yeast fungal infection becoming more resistant to treatment. Three Massachusetts General Hospital experts told Becker's the three ways to contain the spread. The fungal infection mainly spreads among vulnerable patients in hospitals, long-term care facilities and skilled nursing sites. Somewhere between 30 percent and 60 percent of people infected with C. auris die, but this estimate is based on limited information, according to the CDC. Three tactics to diminish the threat of C. auris: 1. Improving disinfection practices The fundamentals of infection control measures, such as correct disinfection of equipment and hand hygiene, have fallen by the wayside, according to Erica Shenoy, MD, PhD. For example, in a Florida hospital's COVID-19 specialty care unit in summer 2020, half of its 67 screened patients tested positive for C. auris, six colonized cases became infections and eight died within 30 days of screening. The CDC said "whether C. auris contributed to death is unknown," and the outbreak spurred an investigation. There were numerous factors leading to the C. auris spread: Computers and medical equipment were not always disinfected between uses; the "multiple opportunities for contamination" when the healthcare staff took off their personal protective equipment; medical supplies were stored in open bins in hallways; and observed lapses in hand hygiene. "[For] pathogens that spread through contact, your tools are hand hygiene, really good cleaning and disinfection of equipment, the cleaning of the environment, and then when you identify people with these organisms, using personal protective equipment appropriately and not in a way that's going to lead to more transmission," said Dr. Shenoy, an infectious diseases physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and the medical director of infection control at Mass General Brigham, both based in Boston. Failures in fundamental practices are because "there's more work and fewer people to do that work," Dr. Shenoy said. Saskia Popescu, PhD, an assistant professor at Fairfax, Va.-based George Mason University and an expert in infection prevention, echoed that statement and said "infection control within healthcare is extremely neglected" because of a lack of resources. The usual turnover of an operating room will not work against Candida auris, according to Michael Mansour, MD, PhD, a faculty member at Massachusetts General Hospital. "It sticks to surfaces really really well, so [...] traditional cleansers that many hospitals use are insufficient; they don't sterilize Candida auris stuck to the bedrails or the side tables," said Dr. Mansour, who is also associate professor of medicine at Boston-based Harvard Medical School. Minor changes and investments to bettering compliance to infection control measures can be a large help to preventing C. auris outbreaks, Dr. Mansour and Dr. Shenoy said. 2. Making a screening plan Dr. Shenoy said the one thing missing from the national conversation around C. auris and its threat in hospitals is an unclear screening strategy. The CDC's map of C. auris shows pockets of infection, so a national screening policy does not make sense, she said. It will be up to each healthcare facility on whether to screen everyone or do targeted screening after identifying a colonized case. "Once you've identified a clinical case, that's really the tip of the iceberg and you really need to make sure there's been no spread," Dr. Shenoy said. "Many people with Candida auris can be colonized and not show any symptoms, and if those people are not isolated, they can be a reservoir to transfer those pathogens to other individuals, who can be colonized or actually have an infection from it." The CDC recommends screening close healthcare contacts after discovering C. auris and screening those who stayed overnight in a healthcare facility outside the U.S. in the last year. It also said more extensive screening, such as a point prevalence survey, might be needed. Test turnaround time can also vary, she added, so healthcare sites should plan for surveillance strategies as they wait for those results. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of C. auris cases tripled, according to a CDC study published March 21. With this worsening risk, Dr. Mansour said C-suite leaders at hospitals and healthcare sites need to acknowledge the threat and proactively plan for what to do when C. auris is detected. 3. Equipping labs There are also difficulties in identifying C. auris, according to Sarah Turbett, MD, associate lab director for the clinical microbiology laboratories and an infectious disease physician at Massachusetts General Hospital. Platforms that test Candida species pull from a database of the biochemical properties of common organisms, but some of these devices could be misidentifying C. auris. "When you have an emerging pathogen, you don't know the biochemical profile," Dr. Turbett said. "When that's not built into that system, it can be much tricker. It turns out that some of these more traditional systems or platforms actually can misidentify Candida auris because it's trying to match it to what it thinks it is based on its reference database." For facilities that do not have labs or the right equipment to test for C. auris, preemptively developing a relationship with a state lab is imperative, Dr. Turbett said. The CDC also offers free testing with its AR Lab Network. Depending on the database, she recommended maldi-tof, a mass spec for organism identification, and full genome sequencing, which is usually used in reference labs. Dr. Turbett said an FDA-approved assay is coming down the pipeline, and Dr. Mansour said he is hopeful for technology currently being researched that wipes C. auris off the skin. "That's the stuff to look forward to; we need to do something today," Dr. Mansour said, such as "having more active surveillance [and] having a plan in place." About 50 percent of healthcare workers with symptomatic COVID-19 in a new study showed up for work, indicating concern over high workload burden for coworkers and personal responsibility. The findings were published in Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology and involved an observational cohort of all healthcare workers at the VA Boston Healthcare System who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 between December 1, 2020, and September 30, 2021. During that period, all healthcare workers were required to self-review COVID-19 symptoms. Of 255 healthcare workers who had a symptomatic infection, including those involved in direct patient care nearly 50 percent reported presenteeism at the time of diagnosis. "Among all respondents, concerns over workload burden for coworkers and personal responsibility were endorsed more frequently (66 percent and 45 percent, respectively) than limits on paid leave or perceived expectations to work while sick," researchers said. View the full study here. In the days since the Texas federal court ruling that suspended the FDA's approval of mifepristone one of two pills used to induce abortion medically several medical associations reacted to the unprecedented case. The decision comes nine months after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and 23 years since medication abortion was FDA-approved in 2000. The new ruling out of Texas is the first time a federal judge has called for removal of the medication's approval even though both the FDA and the drugmaker oppose it. While abortion remains legal in several states, the move will affect providers' and patients' ability to access the medication. Before the ruling came out, some states even stockpiled large quantities of the drug to preserve access to the medication for individuals in their states in the meantime. A separate ruling on a case out of Washington contradicted the Texas court's ruling, which will likely send the case before the Supreme Court. In the meantime, well-known medical associations came out on different sides of the fence as well. As of April 12, an appeals court partially overturned the Texas judge's decision and for now the medication will remain available as more evidence is considered. Here's how 10 prominent medical associations responded to the mifepristone ruling from the Texas court: In opposition of The American Nurses Association came out condemning the decision to block the FDA's approval of mifepristone. The organization stated it is "appalled" by the ruling and called the move "yet another threat to individuals' basic reproductive health and human rights." came out condemning the decision to block the FDA's approval of mifepristone. The organization stated it is "appalled" by the ruling and called the move "yet another threat to individuals' basic reproductive health and human rights." The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists noted in an April 10 press release that it is "concerned about the Texas ruling's potential impact on patient access to care as well as implications for the FDA approval of other drugs." It also reaffirmed its support for a patient's right to access reproductive healthcare services, including an individual's decision to terminate a pregnancy. noted in an April 10 press release that it is "concerned about the Texas ruling's potential impact on patient access to care as well as implications for the FDA approval of other drugs." It also reaffirmed its support for a patient's right to access reproductive healthcare services, including an individual's decision to terminate a pregnancy. The American Medical Association published a statement after the ruling April 7 noting that the judge's decision "flies in the face of science and evidence and threatens to upend access to a safe and effective drug that has been used by millions of people for more than 20 years." The organization also criticized the court for intervening in patient decisions and its "disregard for well-established scientific facts in favor of speculative allegations and ideological assertions." published a statement after the ruling April 7 noting that the judge's decision "flies in the face of science and evidence and threatens to upend access to a safe and effective drug that has been used by millions of people for more than 20 years." The organization also criticized the court for intervening in patient decisions and its "disregard for well-established scientific facts in favor of speculative allegations and ideological assertions." The American Public Health Association called the decision "catastrophic" and stated that what is "equally as disastrous" is how the decision also "undermines the ability of the FDA to make safe and effective medications available to patients who need them." It also reaffirmed its support for abortion as a healthcare service and underscored that as such, it should remain accessible. called the decision "catastrophic" and stated that what is "equally as disastrous" is how the decision also "undermines the ability of the FDA to make safe and effective medications available to patients who need them." It also reaffirmed its support for abortion as a healthcare service and underscored that as such, it should remain accessible. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists also criticized the judge's ruling, saying that it is a "grievous legal overstep into America's well-established regulatory system" and "misrepresents medication abortion care" as well as the work of those who provide it to patients in need. also criticized the judge's ruling, saying that it is a "grievous legal overstep into America's well-established regulatory system" and "misrepresents medication abortion care" as well as the work of those who provide it to patients in need. Physicians for Human Rights published a statement April 7 after the decision was released calling it "unconscionable" and claiming that "this case and the broader campaign to restrict access to abortion care nationwide are not based in medicine or science" and will result in broader implications for public health nationwide. published a statement April 7 after the decision was released calling it "unconscionable" and claiming that "this case and the broader campaign to restrict access to abortion care nationwide are not based in medicine or science" and will result in broader implications for public health nationwide. The American Pharmacists Association released its position on the decision April 7, noting that it will continue to "stand behind the FDA review and approval process that relies on evidence-based expert review," and added that the court's decision further adds to the ongoing "confusion and complexity to an already complicated state and federal legal and regulatory landscape for pharmacists and patients related to mifepristone." released its position on the decision April 7, noting that it will continue to "stand behind the FDA review and approval process that relies on evidence-based expert review," and added that the court's decision further adds to the ongoing "confusion and complexity to an already complicated state and federal legal and regulatory landscape for pharmacists and patients related to mifepristone." Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health issued its statement April 10 expressing concerns that the decision will result in "a real and immediate impact on patients and healthcare providers" and "make many healthcare procedures less safe for patients." In support of The American Association of Pro-Life OB-GYNs, one of the original groups to file a petition against the FDA over mifepristone in 2002, issued a statement calling the judge's decision a "victory" for all patients. The organization claimed mifepristone is dangerous and stated, "Today's ruling places women's welfare back at the forefront of the conversation on this issue." one of the original groups to file a petition against the FDA over mifepristone in 2002, issued a statement calling the judge's decision a "victory" for all patients. The organization claimed mifepristone is dangerous and stated, "Today's ruling places women's welfare back at the forefront of the conversation on this issue." Christian Medical and Dental Associations, which was also one of the original groups to file a petition in 2002 against the FDA, published a statement April 10 praising the ruling for holding the FDA "accountable for their actions." In its statement, the organization also condemned the FDA for approving the medication in the first place and said the judge's decision "protects women and girls from drugs that cause harm." The group is one of the largest religious-based healthcare associations in the country. According to the FDA, mifepristone is "safe when used as indicated and directed" and its approval in 2000 was "based on a thorough and comprehensive review of the scientific evidence presented." Since its approval, medication abortion has risen in use to account for 51 percent of abortions nationwide, according to the CDC. An unknown person opened fire on Kaiser Permanente's Roseville (Calif.) hospital, striking the building, CBS Sacramento reported April 12. The Roseville Police Department reported to the scene just before 9 p.m. after reports of shots fired from a vehicle. Officers found the Kaiser building was struck but no one was hit and no injuries were reported, the police told CBS Sacramento. The incident appears to be related to an incident in Citrus Heights earlier that night, according to police. Citrus Heights police received a report around 8:46 p.m. about a suspect allegedly shooting multiple rounds. Shell cases were found in the area, but police said no one was struck by the gunfire. A lockdown at Kaiser hospital was lifted a little after 10 p.m. No suspect information has been released. "Our Roseville Medical Center is open for patient care," a spokesperson told Becker's. Thibodaux (La.) Regional Medical Center has been ordered to halt operations in nearby Houma amid an ongoing lawsuit between it and Houma-based Terrebonne General Health System, according to an April 12 report in Houmatoday. A Terrebonne, La., judge ordered the ceasing of operations at two Thibodaux Regional clinics effective May 5. Thibodaux Regional will appeal the ruling, according to a hospital spokesperson. The dispute centers around the Hospital Service District Law, which essentially limits hospital systems from crossing into neighboring authorities to offer their services. Thibodaux Regional maintains that its conversion into a nonprofit hospital system allows it to expand where it wishes. Terrebonne General Health lost a similar case in 1998 when it attempted to expand into nearby Raceland, La. The system is using that as case law in its current lawsuit with Thibodaux Regional, according to the report. The two affected clinics include an urgent care location serving approximately 20,000 people annually and a general clinic serving about 10,000 patients, the report said. Terrebonne General Health operates its flagship 321-bed hospital, employing 1,500 people, describing it as "the largest community hospital in the Tri-Parish region," according to its website. A urologist who practiced at prominent New York City hospitals was arrested April 11 on allegations of yearslong sexual abuse of patients. A four-count indictment charges Darius Paduch, MD, with inducement of a person to travel to engage in unlawful sexual activity and inducement of a minor to engage in unlawful sexual activity. The indictment, unsealed April 11 in Manhattan federal court, alleges that Dr. Paduch sexually abused multiple male patients, including minor male patients, while conducting purported urological exams while employed by two "prestigious" and "prominent" medical institutions in New York City, which were not named in the news release issued by the U.S. attorney's office. The abuse occurred from 2015 through 2019. Dr. Paduch worked at one institution before moving to the second in 2019, where the abuse continued, according to the news release. The urologist used his position to make or attempt to make the victims believe that the sexual abuse he inflicted on them was medically necessary and appropriate, and directed the victims to schedule follow-up visits, according to the U.S. attorney's office. As a result, some of the victims attended numerous appointments with Dr. Paduch over the course of multiple years, at which they were repeatedly abused, the U.S. attorney's office claims. The sentences for the charges against Dr. Paduch range from decades to life in prison. The case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams. Service Employees International Union-United Healthcare Workers West is suing a California hospital, alleging the facility laid off employees instead of complying with a new city minimum pay law, according to mynewsla.com. The union filed the complaint April 11 against Centinela Hospital Medical Center in Inglewood, Calif., part of Ontario, Calif.-based Prime Healthcare. Union members allege in Los Angeles Superior Court that the hospital violated a new city law that established a $25 minimum hourly wage for workers at private healthcare facilities. The issue was on the November ballot for Inglewood, and city voters passed the law. Centinela Hospital, in a statement shared with Becker's, said it takes its responsibility to comply with city law seriously and has fully complied at all times. The union's lawsuit states that the hospital, instead of complying with the city law, laid off 48 workers March 31 after previously reducing work hours of various others, according to mynewsla.com. Specifically, the lawsuit states that employees were told the layoffs were a result of a decrease in the number of patients, but that total hospitalizations remained relatively level and even increased some, the publication reported. "The much more logical and likely explanation for the layoffs is that defendants are funding the cost of increased wages for the rest of its workforce by laying off an unlucky group," the suit states, according to mylanews.com. "This is clearly prohibited by the ordinance." The hospital said the layoffs were "unrelated to the ordinance and impacted fewer than 4 percent of the workforce. Additionally, Centinela Hospital provided impacted employees alternate positions. We are unable to comment further due to pending litigation." The lawsuit seeks reinstatement of the laid-off employees with back wages and interest. Ndubuisi Joseph Okafor, MD, a physician based in Washington, D.C., has been arrested and charged with 16 counts of illegal distribution of opioids. Dr. Okafor allegedly distributed oxycodone to individuals without legitimate medical reason, according to an April 12 news release from the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. "Okafor allegedly performed only cursory evaluations of individuals, and further solicited and received cash inside the examination rooms of his clinic in exchange for opioid prescriptions," the release states. If convicted, he could face a sentence of up to 20 years in prison on each of the 16 counts which at most could total to 320 years. The new charges he now faces led to the Drug Enforcement Agency serving the physician an immediate suspension order for his DEA registration "because it was determined that he posed an imminent danger to public health and safety due to the volume of unlawful distribution of opioids," according to the release. The legal challenges are not the first the physician has faced. In 2007, Dr. Okafor was indicted for failing to report more than $1 million in income and evading $360,000 in taxes. He pleaded guilty to the charges in 2008 and was incarcerated for more than five years, according to court documents. As part of the guilty plea, Dr. Okafor was also ordered to pay $769,192 in restitution to tax authorities and $33,060 to Medicare. He later appealed, requesting to withdraw his guilty plea, citing "ineffective assistance of counsel," but the motion was denied and his conviction remained. After serving his sentence, Dr. Okafor applied to reinstate his medical license, and the D.C. Board of Medicine did so in May 2013 with certain conditions. However, documents indicate that he faced further complications doing so with the Maryland State Board of Physicians. China's efforts to ramp up the country's biotechnology capabilities are outpacing progress to strengthen laboratory safety, prompting concerns that a deadly pathogen could escape the laboratory setting and potentially spur another pandemic, experts told The Washington Post. The Post spoke with numerous Chinese and Western officials and scientists who visited biotech facilities in the country as recently as 2020. The experts described regular equipment issues and substandard safety training in the labs. In some cases, lab animals are illegally sold illegally after being used in experiments, and contaminated lab waste is poured into sewers, the Post's investigation found. "It is very, very apparent that their biological safety training is minimal," Robert Hawley, a biosecurity expert who used to oversee a maximum biocontainment Army lab in Maryland, told the publication. The Chinese Embassy in Washington, D.C., and China's National Health Commission did not respond to the Post's request for comment. The COVID-19 pandemic's origins are still unclear, though the World Health Organization and many U.S. Intelligence officials have not ruled out a lab leak as a possible cause. Hawaii nurses are urging hospitals to take more steps to keep weapons out and protect patients and staff after a recent incident at Straub Medical Center in Honolulu, according to a report from HawaiiNewsNow. In late March, hospital staff found a ghost gun and high capacity magazine inside a patient's backpack that was left behind. According to the report, the man became irate and demanded to leave. Police arrested the man when he returned to look for the bag. Members of a Hawaii nurse union said the incident is indicative of a growing problem. Guns, knives and machetes are among the weapons that have been recently confiscated in Oahu hospitals. "It's not an everyday thing. But it's not an uncommon thing either," Daniel Ross, RN, president of the Hawaii Nurses Association, told the news outlet, "There was an incident at Queen's a few months back where the staff actually had to wrestle a loaded handgun out of a patient's hand." The group is calling on hospitals to install metal detectors, conduct bag checks and consider hiring off-duty police officers to enhance security. "There's way too much violence against healthcare workers. There shouldn't be any," Mr. Ross said. In a statement shared with the news outlet, Straub's Chief Operating Officer Travis Clegg said the hospital is evaluating additional measures. "The Hawaii Nurses Association has been involved in our review process. We continue to meet with and support our staff while reinforcing our existing security measures and evaluating additional technologies to further enhance safety. We are committed to keeping our medical center safe," he said. A spokesperson at Queen's Health System, the state's largest, told the news outlet it has "a number of security procedures in place, which include having our security teams conduct screenings in areas such as the Emergency Departments and ambulance bays," and that the safety of patients and caregivers is "our highest priority." Workers desire the flexibility of remote work until it comes to layoffs. Then, the coveted lack of rigidity can become distressing. As organizations restructure and layoffs become commonplace, remote workers are questioning their roles in workplaces where they've never set a physical foot. The management firm Korn Ferry recently stated that a good portion of remote workers feel they have a target on their backs; work-from-homers are 32 percent more likely to experience layoff anxiety, according to a survey from HR consultant Humu. It's true that managers tend to prefer their teams on-site. Around 96 percent of executives say they notice and value work done in-office "far more" than work done remotely, according to a survey from software firm Envoy. Plus, more organizations are requesting workers' return to office, concerned their pandemic productivity has expired. It's not a risk many leaders are willing to take in an economy riddled with unknowns. When it comes to layoffs, there's not firm evidence that remote workers are first to meet the chopping block. However, more organizations are taking advantage of online layoffs' ease. McDonald's asked employees to work from home as it issued layoff decisions in early April, following in Twitter's footsteps, The Washington Post reported April 11. An Amazon employee told the Post she logged into work one day to find that she was locked out of most internal systems, and her calendar had been cleared. In her one remaining meeting a 15 minute "organizational update" a manager read from a corporate script, saying her position had been terminated. Some workers argue this method is inhumane, particularly when an employee has served a company for years. Being laid off over Zoom feels comparable to being broken up with over text. However, some leaders tout remote layoffs for the security they offer an organization no chance for disruption or destruction on an ex-employee's way out and the privacy they give eliminated workers. "If I were getting laid off, would I rather be informed in a conference room and then be escorted out the hallway when I'm having very intense emotions, or would I rather hang up the Zoom call and then go cry in my pillow at my house?" Jessica Kriegel, chief scientist of workplace culture at Culture Partners, told the Post. "It's much more compassionate for the employee to be able to have that safety." Remote workers are in uncharted territory when it comes to layoffs, but Sharon Egilinsky, a senior leader on Korn Ferry's ESG and sustainability solutions team, advises them to "read the room." "If your team is mostly remote, you're OK," Ms. Egilinsky said. "But if everyone else is in there, you should be concerned." March saw the highest levels of teenage employment since 2007, and yet, job growth is slowing for the age group. Last month, 5.48 million workers between the ages of 16 and 19 were employed the highest March total since 2007, according to a Challenger, Gray & Christmas report shared with Becker's. However, the firm predicts teenagers will gain 1.1 million jobs in 2023, marking the lowest addition since 2011. An economic slowdown could hurt job creation, according to the report. Andrew Challenger, senior vice president of Challenger, Gray & Christmas, suggests organizations can benefit from a surge in young job-seekers. Teens are less likely to request flexibility and higher wages than older workers, he says. The healthcare industry in particular could benefit from younger workers, Jeremy Sadlier, executive director of the American Society for Health Care Human Resources Administration, told Becker's in August. "Creating more opportunities for work study programs, healthcare career exploration, and highlighting fulfilling clinical careers from an early age must continue if we ever hope to get the industry out of its workforce shortage," Mr. Sadlier said. Cincinnati-based OrthoAlliance added Indianapolis-based Midwest Center for Joint Replacement of Central Indiana, the management services organization said April 13. Midwest Center for Joint Replacement has offices in Indianapolis and Bloomington, Ind., according to a news release shared with Becker's. OrthoAlliance will provide administrative support and other services. Midwest Center for Joint Replacement has six physicians, according to its website. Orthopedic surgeon Andrew Dowd, MD, and injury lawyer George Constantine were convicted by a Manhattan federal jury on Dec. 16 of running a $31 million slip-and-fall scheme that defrauded New York City businesses and insurance companies, according to a Dec. 16 report from Law360. Dr. Dowd and Mr. Constantine allegedly ran a scheme using 400 fake patients to stage falling incidents on sidewalk cracks, cellar doors and potholes. The patients were referred to Mr. Constantine, who filed fraudulent personal injury lawsuits. Patients then sought medical treatment from Dr. Dowd, who told them they were required to have surgery to pursue the lawsuit. Patients would receive $1,000 to $1,500 in incentives following the orthopedic procedures. A jury of seven women and five men deliberated for two days before finding Mr. Constantine guilty on three counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and mail fraud, and finding Dr. Dowd guilty on six counts of conspiracy, wire fraud and mail fraud. Dr. Dowd earned around $3 million from the scheme, according to the report. Eight other individuals involved with the scheme have also been found guilty, including pain management specialist Sady Ribeiro, MD, attorney Marc Elefant, a litigation funder, two fraud ringleaders and three 'runners' who recruited patients. Here are five figures that offer insight into the orthopedic industry: 7: The number of states without an accredited orthopedic residency program, according to 2023 data from the National Resident Matching Program. 8: The number of American billionaires who earned their wealth from orthopedics- and spine-related ventures that were named to Forbes' 2023 "World's Billionaires List." 45 percent: The percentage of orthopedic surgeons that reported experiencing burnout in Medscape's "Physician Burnout & Depression Report 2023." $573,000: The average salary for orthopedic physicians, according to Medscape's Physician Compensation Report 2023. 18,469: The number of active orthopedic surgeons in the U.S., according to the Association of American Medical College's "2022 Physician Specialty Data Report." Deanna Sasaki-Adams, MD, joined the department of neurosurgery at the University of Arkansas for Medical Center in Little Rock. Dr. Sasaki-Adams is a vascular and skull base neurosurgeon with experience in aneurysm clipping, according to an April 11 news release from the university. Prior to joining UAMC, she served as section chief of cerebrovascular and skull base neurosurgery in the department of neurosurgery at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The university is the only health sciences school in Arkansas and has colleges of medicine, nursing, pharmacy, health professions and public health. City hall has signed off on a 100,000 boost for the music industry in Belfast. Elected representatives at Belfast City Council this month approved the allocation involving three branches of the industry in the city, with funds going towards investment in venues, a new digital music and marketing platform, and industry mentoring. At the April meeting of the councils City Growth and Regeneration Committee, 20,000 was approved for the Pipeline Investment Fund for music venues, 50,000 for the creation of a digital music support service and marketing channels, and 30,000 towards the development of the Music Industry Mentoring Programme for 2023/24. Read more: Year-long events programme of cultural celebration coming to Belfast in 2024 Last December, councillors agreed upon a city hall music strategy called Music Matters: A Roadmap for Belfast. It sets out governance recommendations including the formation of a Belfast Region Music Board, comprising between 15 and 20 members, to address the UNESCO City of Music designation. The council report states: The board will help to embed music in all communities across the city to make music a sustainable career option for creators and people who support them. It had its first meeting earlier this month. Regarding the venue funding, the report states: This funding, which will support a minimum of four venues, will be administered through the Music Venue Trust process with scoring and final decisions made via a panel consisting of MVT staff and Belfast City Council. This initial pilot programme will be reviewed in-year to assess the impact, with a view to potentially expanding the work to support more venues. The 50K digital funding will go towards a music support service (initially a digital space/website) which will act as a point of contact for all questions arising from within the music community (new, emerging and tipping point artists), deliver and promote educational and development opportunities, and facilitate connections amongst and beyond individuals and organisations working within the music sector. It will also create a one-stop-shop online music directory to promote and connect all facets of the music business and those working in it and a one-stop listing service for venues, organisations and the hospitality sector to promote their music activity to the citys locals and visitors. The mentoring programme will involve specially designed mentoring for individuals working in music, including continued professional development for senior or experienced individuals working in music. The council states a tender will be created to invite interested parties to design a short course of training and mentoring for individuals currently working or considering working as agents or managers, for labels, or within marketing and PR. The concert business, Mo Mowlam and musics yellow brick road Back in 1997, Mo Mowlam was determined to rock Stormont. The Secretary of State discussed her plans with PM Tony Blair for a big concert. And on May 27, 1998, Elton John sang Don't Let the Sun Go Down on Me in the shadow of the Parliament Buildings. The Oscar-winning filmmakers behind An Irish Goodbye have signed with two high-profile entertainment agencies as they continue to revel in their post-awards success. Belfast-born director Ross White alongside co-director Tom Berkeley have been signed by WME in the U.S. and Independent Talent Group in the UK, according to US media publication Deadline. WME represents high profile clients such as Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Christian Bale, while Independent Talent represents the likes of former Doctor Who star Jodie Whitaker. The pair, who are the youngest Oscar-winning team in history, will soon follow up the short film with their third film together called The Golden West. Its described as an Celtic Western and is set to hit the festival circuit later this year. It will be followed by their debut feature film. Their high-profile signing comes as the star of their latest film James Martin was celebrated by President Joe Biden during his speech at Ulster University on Wednesday. "I understand the star of the recent Oscar-winning film, and someone from a Belfast barista, is here today - James Martin" said the US President, picking out the actor from the crowd. The President added that he will "brag" to his daughter Ashley Biden about meeting the barista turned actor. An Irish Goodbye scooped the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at last months ceremony in Los Angeles. It also won the BAFTA for Best British Short Film in March. World Six men and three women chosen as jurors in rape case against Trump A Co Antrim man appeared in court on Thursday accused of sexual activity with a teenage girl A Co Antrim man appeared in court today accused of sexual activity with a teenage girl. Standing in the dock of Ballymena Magistrates Court, 54-year-old Mark Bowman confirmed he understood the four charges against him. Bowman, from Ransevyn Park in Whitehead, faces three counts of sexual activity with a girl aged 13-16 by being intentionally engaged in sexual touching of the alleged victim between April 14 and 15 last year. Bowman was also also charged with attempting to meet a child following sexual grooming of a person he did not believe was 16 or over on May 1 last year. During a brief Preliminary Enquiry, the legal step necessary to elevate any criminal case to the Crown Court, a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a case for the defendant to answer which was conceded by Bowmans solicitor. Freeing the defendant on bail, Deputy District Judge Philip Mateer returned the case to Antrim Crown Court, scheduling the arraignment to be heard on May 10. A patient who slapped and grabbed a young nurse by the hair as she treated him for a drug overdose has been jailed for five months. Kieran McGrandles subjected the victim to a prolonged attack at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. A judge told the 30-year-old he behaved appallingly towards a medical worker who may have saved his life. McGrandles, of Oldpark Road in the city, pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage to a police car during the same incident. Belfast Magistrates Court heard he was found unconscious after overdosing on February 9 this year. McGrandles was taken to hospital but became increasingly aggressive towards staff providing treatment. He slapped a young female nurse across the face, leaving her with marks, a Crown lawyer said. He then grabbed the nurse by the hair; it was a prolonged assault on that particular healthcare professional. Other members of staff had to physically restrain him until police arrived. When McGrandles was escorted out to a PSNI car he repeatedly spat inside the vehicle despite warnings to moderate his behaviour. Defence solicitor David Jones told the court there were no mitigating circumstances for his clients behaviour. He puts rubbish in his body, suffers an overdose and is taken to hospital (where the assault occurs), Mr Jones said. Its sickening and its appalling. District Judge Anne Marshall was equally scathing of McGrandles actions, telling him: Your behaviour was shocking. This was a young female nurse; its a very difficult job to do in a hospital and not particularly well-paid. To receive abuse from a member of the public, in a situation where she may have been saving your life given you had taken an overdose, is unacceptable. Judge Marshall confirmed: There will be five months immediate custody. Paul Samuel Gray and Carolyn Murray were both charged with three offences. Two east Belfast pastors were charged today with stealing items from a woman they allegedly assaulted. At Newtownards Magistrates Court, 55-year-old Paul Samuel Gray and Carolyn Murray (54) were both charged with three offences alleged to have been committed on February 17 and 18 last year. Gray, from Ballyregan Park and Murray, from Longstone Avenue, both Dundonald, are jointly charged with two counts of common assault of a woman and a single charge of theft of various items worth 575 from the same alleged victim. Neither of the defendants attended Newtownards Magistrates Court and while the alleged facts were not fully opened, defence counsel Conor OKane revealed theyre both pastors. The alleged injured party is a person who converted, or went to their church to be part of that community, said the barrister, adding that there is outstanding disclosure in the case. He told District Judge Mark Hamill there is a possible resolution to have the charges withdrawn so he suggested putting the case back for two weeks. Adjourning the case until May 4 to fix a date for contest, Mr Hamill suggested you can pray for a resolution. US President Joe Biden arriving to address the Oireachtas Eireann, the national parliament of Ireland, at Leinster House in Dublin, on day three of his visit to the island of Ireland. Pic by Liam McBurney/PA Wire. PA Dame Arlene Foster has questioned whether the US President snubbed the United Kingdom by not flying the Union flag on his official car while in Belfast but later opted for the Irish tricolour in Dublin. During Joe Bidens visit to Northern Ireland this week his official vehicle donned the US Stars and Stripes along with the presidential standard on the bonnet. But as soon as he crossed the border the latter symbol on The Beast his high-security car was switched to green, white and orange. Dame Arlene said: I hope its not the case that he does not recognise Northern Irelands case within the United Kingdom which is, of course, part of the Good Friday Agreement. I think his administration should be asked it would be very interesting to hear what the administration has to say, the former First Minister and DUP leader told GB News. The White House has been contacted for a response. Mrs Foster also claimed Mr Biden has a history of offending unionists in Northern Ireland. It follows a major gaffe during Mr Bidens visit to Co Louth on Wednesday evening when he appeared to confuse the name of the New Zealand rugby team with a contentious War of Independence-era police force. The White House has since clarified that Mr Biden meant to say the All Blacks instead of "the Black and Tans" during the speech. But Dame Arlene doubled downed on her view that Mr Biden hates the UK and said the blunder goes to his mindset in relation to Irish history. I think he has a disdain for the UK and he had very carefully scripted words when he was in Belfast which I think were greatly appreciated by those in attendance, Mrs Foster told GB News. But once hes off script, he reverts to type and he spoke about his cousin who played for the Ireland rugby team, and he said he beat up the Black and Tans, as opposed to the All Blacks. The Black and Tans are a recruited force who were brought in during the time of the war for independence and they were hated by Irish republicans. They came mostly from Great Britain and they served in World War One. Even to this day Irish republicans have songs for the Black and Tans. Now why would the President be thinking about the Black and Tans when hes discussing the All Blacks?" Dame Arlene said Mr Biden is not always balanced in matters relating to Northern Ireland but acknowledged he was diplomatic during his trip to Belfast. However, Mrs Foster attributed the diplomacy to the teleprompter. She said the US leaders record in NI has not been even-handed. I think just to push it all away and say that's nonsense is not recognising what he has said in the past, which has been offensive to people living with a British tradition here in Northern Ireland. Mrs Foster went on to list several examples dating back to 1985 during the special relationship between President Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. "He [Biden] opposed attempts to make extradition easier, in other words bring IRA suspects back from America to Northern Ireland to face trial, she claimed. He made comments such as if you wear orange, youre not welcome here, when he was Vice President. Of course those of an orange tradition here in Northern Ireland found that offensive. "Hes very proud of the fact that his mother refused to sleep in a bed that her late Majesty the Queen slept in. Mrs Foster said the president continuously makes comments about Irish matters and also cited an incident during one his visit to the West Bank. "He said he could understand how Palestinians felt as someone from a Catholic background in Ireland, implying that the UK was similar to Israel in connection with Palestine," she said. He makes all of these comments and thats what I was reflecting on. National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat has insisted claims that Mr Biden is anti-British are simply not true. She said: I think the track record of the president shows that he is not anti-British. "The president has been very actively engaged throughout his career dating back to when he was a senator in the peace process in Northern Ireland and that involved engagement with leaders of all of Northern Ireland parties from both of the two main communities. Irish premier Leo Varadkar also rejected claims that Mr Biden is anti-British. "I don't agree with that assessment, that's certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration," he said. "They're very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. "We should never underestimate the strength of the UK/American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also... the institutions up and running. "Because people and politicians come and go, it's institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. "I don't feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole." South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott announces plans to form a presidential exploratory committee The South Carolina lawmaker's latest move is seen as a strong indicator that he plans to run for president in the 2024 elections Scott is the only Black Republican serving in the US Senate South Carolina Sen. Tim Scott announces plans to form a presidential exploratory committee which many see as a strong indication that the Republican lawmaker will run for president of the United States in the 2024 elections. Washington Examiner commentary editor Tim Carney wrote of the importance of Scott's attempts to connect the dots between religious liberty and the so-called "ladder of opportunity." He argued that the American Dream was a story of civil society providing the foundation for people to climb higher. Tim Scott's Presidential Exploratory Committee Carney argued that people get the connections, mentoring, modeling, belonging, and human-level safety net using community institutions, thus enabling them to do better. Scott was also said to be voicing his belief that it is a mistake to "indoctrinate our children to believe that we live in an evil country," as the Washington Examiner said. Scott's efforts come at a time when most of the dominant cultural institutions in the United States are pushing the narrative of a deeply flawed country in its very foundation and laws. But the South Carolina senator argued that America is a land filled with opportunity and pushed back against the idea that it is a land of oppression. Should the Republican lawmaker attempt a 2024 White House run, he will join the GOP primary race against several high-profile candidates, including former President Donald Trump. Launching the committee would also help him raise more money that he could later use following a formal announcement of a presidential nomination. The senator is currently the only Black Republican serving in the United States Senate. In a video announcing the committee's launch, Scott said that he would never back down in defense of conservative values that make the US an exceptional nation. Read Also: Trump Would Not Drop Out of Presidential Race Even if Convicted A Potential 2024 White House Run The senator will use the presidential exploratory committee to measure his chances of success in the 2024 presidential elections. According to BBC, other candidates who have announced their campaigns include former US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson, and tech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy. Despite being seen as highly likely candidates, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence have not announced any formal campaign runs for the 2024 elections. In a Wednesday video, Scott echoed right-wing sentiments that accused Democratic lawmakers of weaponizing race to divide the nation. He added that the US is a land of opportunity since he has lived in the country. Scott spoke during an interview that his decision to launch the committee resulted from weeks of him touring early primary states. He said that in his travels, he found that people were starving for hope, for optimistic, positive messages anchored in conservative values, said the New York Times. Related Article: US Drug Czar Calls for Immediate Action Against Deadly Fentanyl-Xylazine Combination @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. US President Joe Biden delivering his speech at Ulster University in Belfast (Credit: Jim Watson via Getty Images) AFP via Getty Images An Australian artist has described her delight after her work was beamed around the world by news outlets covering Joe Bidens visit to Belfast. Danni Simpson, originally from the Gold Coast but now living in Ballycastle, said she never imagined her mural would play a part in such a significant moment in Northern Irelands history. The piece of art, displayed at the Ulster University, was the backdrop to the US Presidents speech on Wednesday to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Yet, 31-year-old Danni was completely oblivious before she was contacted by excited friends. Danni Simpson. It was a huge surprise, she said. I was talking to my boyfriend and we were joking about photoshopping the President into my murals, especially as I knew he was at the university. I was saying it would be funny if he had seen it and then I started getting messages from people with pictures of him standing in front of it. The biggest thing as an artist is to stand back and see your work finished and then to have it showcased around the world on so many different platforms, its incredible. I was speaking to my nan in Australia and she saw it on the television and was able to tell all her friends. Its been really, really nice to be involved in such an historic moment. I am completely self-taught, I only started painting as a way of dealing with anxiety and I used to sit up a hill on the Gold Coast and eventually my work was getting bigger and bigger. When I think of myself sitting up on that hill, it makes this even more crazy. President Joe Biden visits the new Ulster University Belfast Campus. (PressEye) It is even more significant given Dannis connections to Northern Ireland. My mum is from here originally and she moved to Australia during the Troubles, she continued. I came over to visit my granny who lives in Belfast and Ive been here for five years now. Basically, when I came across, I was asked to paint some murals at the Harp Bar and I spent the whole two weeks doing that. US President Joe Biden (left) meeting Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O'Neill at Ulster University in Belfast in front of Danni's mural (Handout photo). PA Danni made a return trip and took on more work, eventually settling in Ballycastle. Ive always found it so welcoming here, people are really willing to give you a chance and pass their connections on to help others, she said. So many people ask me why I came here from Australia when so many people from here go over there and I think this shows how things have gone full circle. I live here now and my mum is seeing my work in Australia and I probably know more about the country where she was born. The mural, which contains a vibrant and colourful message of welcome, features some of Belfasts well-known landmarks. I didnt want it to be anything about Belfasts history, explained Danni. The city is often thought of because of that but this speech was about hope and the future and I think the mural was the perfect backdrop for that. Framework will ensure NI consumers get same goods as rest of UK, says EU chief Lanark Way gates interface barriers which runs along the Peace Wall between the Shankill and Falls roads which is part of a new Troubles themed tour (Liam McBurney/PA) Liam McBurney The Lanark Way interface gates, which allow traffic to move between the republican and loyalist areas of Belfast during limited times of the day, were painted ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Photo: Liam McBurney/PA PA The PSNI has urged young people involved in disruption at the peace wall between the Shankill and west Belfast to consider the impact of their actions. Officers maintained a presence at the interface gates at Lanark Way which remained closed until earlier this morning (Friday). They received reports of youths carrying glass bottles in the area yesterday. Objects were also thrown at police upon their arrival and they were assisted by youth workers to diffuse the situation. A 16-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of causing criminal damage has since been released on police bail. A police spokesperson said: I would urge the young people who have been involved in this activity previously, and their parents, to seriously consider the impact of their actions on the local community, but also on their own futures. "These actions have serious consequences. My message is simple, walk away and dont get involved in any trouble. I want to thank local community representatives who worked with us to restore calm and minimise the impact on the local community. "I would again reassure the local community that we maintain the capability and resource to deal with any further disturbances and address any community concerns. Neighbourhood officers will be out conducting high visibility patrols across the areas to prevent and detect crime. The majority of people in Northern Ireland believe the Good Friday Agreement should be reformed, according to a new survey. According to the Northern Ireland Life and Times (NILT) survey, 55% people believe the peace deal needs at least some reform. However, 69% agree it remains the best basis for governing Northern Ireland while 1 in 6 people, (16%) believe it should be removed altogether. Earlier this week marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the historic peace deal which largely marked the end of violence in Northern Ireland. The survey results were analysed in a report called Political attitudes in Northern Ireland 25 years after the Agreement' as a part of a joint initiative between Queens University Belfast and Ulster University and co-authored by Professor Katy Hayward and Ben Rosher. Some of the surveys key findings include showing a dramatic decline in support for Northern Ireland being a part of the UK under a devolved settlement from 54% in 2016 to just 35% now. There has been a steady and equally dramatic rise in support for Irish unification since the Brexit referendum (now 31%, compared to 14% in 2015). If there were a border poll tomorrow, 47 per cent of respondents say they would vote for Northern Ireland to remain in the UK (down 6 percentage points from 2020), with 35 per cent saying they would vote for a united Ireland. The percentage of groups identifying as unionist, nationalist or neither have grown closer, with nationalist (26%), unionist (31%) or neither (38%). However, the survey states the results show a particular strengthening of nationalist identities since 2016. The survey also found that the NI Civil Service is most trusted governing factor in Northern Ireland (41%), followed by the EU (37%). The lowest levels of trust are in the NI Executive (17%) and the UK Government (21%). There are high levels of distrust in the UK government (60%) and NI Executive (52%). Respondents are more ambivalent about the Irish Government, with the predominant response being neither trust nor distrust/dont know (37%). "On the anniversary of the Agreement, it is a sign of its success that the large majority think it remains the best basis for governing Northern Ireland" said Professor Hayward in a statement accompaning the results. However, the NILT Survey also shows that there are consequences to a lack of fully-functioning institutions. Declining confidence in devolution, growing anticipation of Irish unification, and high levels of distrust in political actors reflect the some of the post-Brexit flux experienced in Northern Ireland. Ben Rosher added: Although the so-called Agreement generation is the cohort with the lowest levels of confidence in the Agreement, it is also the one with the highest level of trust in political actors. "This could either be because 18-24 year olds simply accept dysfunctional politics as the norm or, more optimistically, because they have no direct experience of the Troubles that informed the current political set up. The full report can be found here. Former Prime Minister Tony Blair will take part in Good Friday Agreement events at Queen's University (PA) Tony Blair will join former US senator George Mitchell at an event marking the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement at Queens University next week. The former Prime Minister has been announced as part of the three-day conference which is also set to include events including former US Secretary and current Queens Chancellor Hillary Rodham Clinton. It comes as key Agreement negotiator Senator Mitchell was confirmed to be visiting Belfast last week, despite ongoing cancer treatment. Read more George Mitchell to travel to Belfast despite health problems to mark 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement Mr Blairs wife Cherie Blair will also attend the conference and contribute to a Women in Business event. Queens Universitys Vice-Chancellor Professor Ian Greer said the appearance from both Mr Blair and Mr Mitchell is a major coup for the educational institute. It is another major coup to have secured two more of the key architects in achieving the peace that we continue to enjoy for the Agreement 25 conference," he said. Senator Mitchell has expressed his immense attachment for Northern Ireland and his return will be an emotional visit for many of us. We will have the honour of unveiling a bust in his honour in the grounds of the university which will further cement the great relationship Senator Mitchell has had with Queens University. US Senator George Mitchell, Prime Minister Tony Blair and Taoiseach Bertie Ahern played crucial roles. Photo: Niall Carson/PA PA Queens University missed out on a visit from President Joe Biden, who instead held his keynote speech at Ulster University during his brief visit to Northern Ireland. Mr Blair was instrumental in the Good Friday Agreement talks alongside his Irish counterpart former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Earlier this month, he said the Agreement should be reviewed over time but said any review had to come from compromise and that the distrust is still there. We also welcome Tony Blair who will contribute to the Guaranteeing Peace - The Guarantors section of our conference" added Professor Greer. Joining former US President William J. Clinton and former Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, he will reflect on the magnitude of the agreement, how it was reached and the impact it has had on Northern Ireland. An emotional Marie Heaney, widow of Seamus Heaney, watched on as Joe Biden cited one of the late Nobel laureates best-known works in his Oireachtas address. Heaney, who died in 2013, is one of the best-known modern Irish poets and has long been a favourite of the US president. Ms Heaney was invited by Mr Biden to attend his historic speech at the Irish Parliament on Thursday, which took place on her former husbands birthday. Mr Biden, fond of his Irish heritage and perhaps fonder still of Irish poetry, told the seated TDs and senators: I was always quoting Irish poetry in the United States Senate over my career. Its a long career 36 years. And my colleagues always thought I did it because I was Irish. Thats not the reason, they have the best poets in the world. Thanking Ms Heaney for a signed copy of the Co Derry-born poets work, the president read a much-quoted extract of his work The Cure At Troy, a translation of a Sophocles play. He wrote, Dont hope on this side of the grave. But then, once in a lifetime, that longed-for tidal wave of justice can rise up and hope and history rhyme, Mr Biden said. Its everything Ive been taught, rise up. Weve, in the past, made hope and history rhyme. Joe Biden addressing the Oireachtas (Tony Maxwell/PA) Tony Maxwell So today, ladies and gentlemen, as we celebrate the enduring partnership between our nations, our shared past, our present, lets set our eyes squarely on the future. Former US president Bill Clinton quoted the same words when he visited Londonderry in 1995, three years before the Good Friday Agreement was secured. Mr Biden used the same quote at the 2020 Democratic national convention as he began the road to the White House. In his opening remarks on Thursday, Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail paid a warm welcome to a visibly emotional Ms Heaney, describing the poet whose work often reflected the violent turbulence of Northern Ireland during The Troubles as one of our great literary treasures. Seamus would have been 84 today and Im sure he is looking down on us with his glasses nestled between his fingers and a hint of a smile, said Mr O Fearghail. Sir Tony Blair and George Mitchell will take part in a conference in Belfast marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (PA) PA Sir Tony Blair and former US senator George Mitchell will attend a conference in Belfast next week marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. They are among the architects of the 1998 peace deal taking part in the event at Queens University. Mr Mitchell chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement, while Sir Tony was prime minister at the time. His wife Cherie Blair will also attend the conference and take part in a Women In Business event. Bertie Ahern and former US president Bill Clinton will take part in the conference in Belfast (Julien Behal/PA) Julien Behal Bill Clinton, US president in 1998, and his wife Hillary will also attend, along with former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Queens University vice-chancellor Professor Ian Greer said: It is another major coup to have secured two more of the key architects in achieving the peace that we continue to enjoy for the Agreement 25 conference. Senator Mitchell has expressed his immense attachment for Northern Ireland and his return will be an emotional visit for many of us. We will have the honour of unveiling a bust in his honour in the grounds of the university which will further cement the great relationship senator Mitchell has had with Queens University. We also welcome Tony Blair who will contribute to the Guaranteeing Peace The Guarantors section of our conference. Joining former US president William J, Clinton and former taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, he will reflect on the magnitude of the agreement, how it was reached and the impact it has had on Northern Ireland. A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland marking the anniversary of the agreement which largely led to the end of the Troubles and established the powersharing Assembly at Stormont. US President Joe Biden delivered a keynote speech in Belfast marking the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (Aaron Chown/PA) Aaron Chown US President Joe Biden delivered a speech at Ulster University on Wednesday in which he expressed hope for a return to powersharing, saying a stable devolved government could deliver an economic windfall for the region. The institutions are currently suspended as part of a DUP protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Biden said: As a friend, I hope its not too presumptuous for me to say that I believe the democratic institutions established in the Good Friday Agreement remain critical for the future of Northern Ireland. Its a decision for you to make, not for me to make, but it seems to me they are related. Last week a ceremony at Stormont on Good Friday marked the anniversary. In a video message at that event, Mr Mitchell urged current political leaders to act with the same courage and vision as those who secured the Good Friday Agreement. US President Joe Biden meeting Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House, Dublin, on day three of his visit to the island of Ireland (Niall Carson/PA) Niall Carson Irish premier Leo Varadkar hailed the importance of US and European leadership, as he met with President Joe Biden in Dublin. The Taoiseach, meeting Mr Biden at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, praised American leadership since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Mr Varadkar said he wanted to thank you and your administration and your countrys leadership when it comes to Ukraine because I never thought in my lifetime that wed see a war of this nature happening in Europe again. He added: Democracy and liberty and the things that we believe in are on retreat, or in retreat, in large parts of the world, and if it wasnt for American leadership, and if it wasnt for America and Europe working together, I dont know what kind of world wed live in. Mr Biden, who also met with the Irish leader in Washington on St Patricks Day, praised Irish values and the countrys acceptance of thousands of Ukrainian refugees as he spoke of a stronger and stronger relationship between the US and Ireland. The pair are set to discuss efforts to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland, with Mr Varadkar thanking Mr Biden for US support for the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden told Mr Varadkar it had been great to see him in Washington last month, and said: I think there really is an opportunity to make serious progress, not just because of the accord that was signed 25 years ago, but in terms of the way Ireland is moving, the way it is taking its place in the world, working on helping countries around the world that are dealing with starvation, the way youve I know its not easy welcomed Ukrainians here and the leadership youve shown. Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina watch as Joe Biden rings the peace bell (Brian Lawless/PA) Brian Lawless Earlier, in the grounds of the Irish presidents official residence in Dublin, Mr Biden had reiterated his hopes for the return of politicians to Stormont as he rang the symbolic peace bell. Speaking to Mr Varadkar, Mr Biden appeared to reference the progress made in securing the Windsor Framework the deal between the EU and UK to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol as he spoke of co-operation between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as very valuable as well. The US president, who will address the Irish Parliament later on Thursday as part of a day filled with ceremonies and formal honours, was greeted at Aras an Uachtarain by Michael D Higgins as he continued his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. Mr Biden, who stopped to speak to reporters after ringing the peace bell four times, said: I hope that the government begins to function as it used to in terms of functioning as a representative body in the north. I think thats necessary and thats for you all to decide, not for me to decide. US President Joe Biden is welcomed by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar at Farmleigh House (Niall Carson/PA) Niall Carson The peace bell was installed in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden, who visited Belfast on Wednesday as part of a trip to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace accord, referenced former US senator George Mitchell, who chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement. He said: Im very proud of my colleague George Mitchell. He did a fine job. He said 300 days of failure, one day of success. We have got to build on that one day. Mr Biden is expected to later set out a shared vision for the future of US-Irish relations when he addresses both Houses of the Oireachtas. He received a ceremonial welcome to Aras an Uachtarain, with his motorcade cheered by onlookers as it passed into the vast Phoenix Park. Joe Biden, centre, with Irish President Michael D Higgins and his wife Sabina (Brian Lawless/PA) Brian Lawless It was Mr Bidens third visit to the residence, but his first as president. A military band played the American national anthem as Mr Biden stood outside the grand residence with his right hand on his heart. After listening to the Irish national anthem, the president inspected a guard of honour before being introduced to Irish dignitaries including Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy and head of the Irish police, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. But Mr Biden was peppered with questions from reporters as he stood in the grounds of the Irish presidents house, including on a high-profile national security leak and his feelings on being back in Ireland. The world leader said it feels great to be home, adding: I know it sounds silly. Mr Biden and Mr Varadkar met young Camogie players (Niall Carson/PA) Niall Carson The visit finished with Mr Biden and Mr Varadkar together meeting some young GAA players. Mr Biden will be accompanied to the Irish parliament by Marie Heaney, the widow of his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney. Nine members of the US Congress, one senator as well as Mr Bidens sister Valerie and son Hunter will attend the event, as well as former Irish president Mary McAleese, two former taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland political leaders and Larysa Gerasko, ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland. Mr Biden will attend a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle hosted by Mr Varadkar in the evening. Two transatlantic visitors dominate the front pages of Thursdays newspapers, along with one person who is not coming. Several front pages concentrate on the Duke of Sussex confirming he will attend his fathers coronation, albeit without his wife, while others feature the visit of US President Joe Biden to Northern Ireland. The Daily Mail says Harrys visit follows lengthy bouts of transatlantic ping pong, but with the Duchess of Sussex remaining in the US with the children. It also reports that he will only attend the service at Westminster Abbey and play no further part in the days events. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Hopes of a royal truce following the decision are developed on the front of The Daily Telegraph, which says royal insiders are hoping it is a step to reconciliation within the family. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Daily Express follows a similar theme, focusing on the Kings relief at Harrys attendance. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Daily Mirror references Harrys book as it announces simply that Spare will be there. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content And The Sun turns its attention to Meghans non-appearance with a picture of Charles walking her down the aisle, saying after he was there for her, it is so sad you cant make it for him. The Guardian relegates Harrys visit to a secondary story as it concentrates on President Bidens visit and a promise of investment if powersharing is restored in Northern Ireland. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content That pledge on his visit to mark 25 years of the Good Friday Agreement is also the focus of the i, which also reports on US officials denying the president is anti-British. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Anglo-US relations also feature on the front of The Times as it focuses on the threat from a US secrets leak surrounding troops in Ukraine with Pentagon officials fearing there are more to come. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The Financial Times reports on the impact of Bank of England governor Andrew Baileys fears for smaller banks. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Naked fury! is the headline in Metro as it focuses on the response to Channel 4 show Naked Education. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content And the Daily Star reveals why a drop in penguin numbers spells trouble for the planet. Thabo seen on a TV camera screen in the Western Cape High Court on Thursday (Nardus Engelbrecht/AP) Nardus Engelbrecht A man serving a life sentence for murder and rape who escaped from a top-security prison with help from guards by faking his own death was taken back to South Africa on Thursday after going on the run with his girlfriend. The couple were arrested in Tanzania last weekend. State broadcaster SABC showed video of Thabo Bester being driven from Johannesburgs Lanseria Airport in a police vehicle with bars across the windows. Heavily-armed police put the girlfriend, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, into a separate white van at the airport. Magudumana was expected to be charged with murder as part of the elaborate jailbreak plot, which involved getting a dead body into the prison where Bester was held to help him stage his own death in a fire and escape. Newspapers report on the hunt for convicted rapist and murderer Thabo Bester (Denis Farrell/AP) Denis Farrell A prison guard and Magudumanas father were already charged with murder in connection with the body of a man found burned beyond recognition in Besters cell. The unidentified man died of blunt force trauma to the head before the fire, police said. Police and officials from South Africas ministry of justice confirmed Bester and Magudumana were back in the country and said more arrests were expected. Bester was convicted of one count of murder and two counts of rape and sentenced in 2012. He escaped from Mangaung correctional centre in Free State province nearly a year ago, when he was formally declared dead by suicide after the fire in his cell. Details were only made public and pieced together in the past three weeks. Critics allege officials intentionally covered up the story. MPs held a special parliamentary hearing on Wednesday into security failures that played a role in the breakout. They questioned senior officials from the prison and British private security company G4S, which has a long-term contract to run it. Three prison employees, the night supervisor and two guards who worked in the security camera control room, were fired due to suspicion they helped Bester escape amid the confusion of the pre-dawn blaze in his cell on May 3, 2022. Although one was charged with murder, MP Glynnis Breytenbach said she suspected more guards and officials were bribed to get the body into the cell and help Bester escape. How many palms were greased? she asked during the hearing. Are you honestly telling us this escape of Hollywood proportion was done with the assistance of only three people? The prison and G4S officials conceded under questioning that a TV cabinet big enough to possibly hide a dead body in was brought into the prison in an unauthorised vehicle hours before Bester broke out at about 4am the following morning. Neither the cabinet nor the vehicle was searched. They also said top prison officials gave Bester permission to be transferred to a single-occupant cell three days before his escape. The cell was next to a fire exit, which he is believed to have used to flee. MP Xola Nqola said it was not a coincidence that Bester was moved to that cell. An internal investigation by G4S found the prisons security camera recording system had a power interruption at about the time of the escape. Bester was a renowned criminal known as the Facebook rapist for using the social media site to lure his victims to meetings. He was found guilty of murder for stabbing his girlfriend, a model, to death in 2011 and raping two other female models. For months after his escape, he and Magudumana, whom police identified as his accomplice, lived in a mansion in a wealthy suburb of Johannesburg, driving luxury cars while running a company that allegedly defrauded businesses out of hundreds of thousands of pounds, according to media reports. Authorities only announced publicly last month that Bester did not die in his cell and had escaped after South African news organisation GroundUp reported that the charred body found in the cell was not Besters, according to findings from the post mortem examination. The news and heightened public interest in the case appeared to have spurred Bester and Magudumana to flee the country. It also produced heavy criticism against authorities for failing to warn people that a dangerous criminal was on the loose. The parliamentary hearing focused on the initial prison failures and continued on Thursday. Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein faces calls to step down amid extended absence from the Senate The lawmaker announced in March that she contracted the shingles Feinstein's health has continued to be a matter of concern for Democrats worried that she will not be able to come back to Washington to work Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein is facing calls to resign from her colleagues amid an extended Senate absence stemming from various health issues. In early March, the lawmaker announced that she contracted the shingles, and her staff noted that the senator had plans to return to the Senate floor in a few weeks. However, several Democrats close to Feinstein, including top-raking congressional aides, have become increasingly worried that the senator will not be able to return to Washington to work. Dianne Feinstein Faces Calls to Resign Amid Health Issues The 89-year-old Democrat has already spent almost two months away from the Capitol, and she spent a bit of her time in the hospital before returning home to San Francisco to recover. Three people have recently visited Feinstein or been briefed about her condition. Politico says her diagnosis appears to have taken a significant toll on her body. Several other confidants, including two individuals who have either seen or spoken to Feinstein, underscored that they were still optimistic that the Democrat would be able to serve out the two years that remain in her term. However, neither of the two, who addressed the matter under the condition of anonymity, said that they were confident that Feinstein would be able to do so from Washington. Furthermore, aides and confidants must provide a specific timeline for the senator's prospective return to the Capitol. The lawmaker's spokesperson, Adam Russell, also said there had been no update on Feinstein's expected to return to Washington. However, at least one of the senator's associates said she was "making good progress in her recovery." Read Also: US Drug Czar Calls for Immediate Action Against Deadly Fentanyl-Xylazine Combination Prioritize the Country Over Personal Loyalty On Wednesday, Rep. Ro Khanna of California was the first member of Congress to call on Feinstein to step down from her post. He posted on Twitter that it was time for the senator to resign. According to NBC News, Khanna noted that lawmakers should prioritize the country's fate over their personal loyalty. Its time for @SenFeinstein to resign. 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. Ro Khanna (@RoKhanna) April 12, 2023 The California lawmaker said that while Feinstein has already given a lifetime of public service, it is evident that she could no longer fulfill her duties properly. Khanna added that not speaking out undermines their credibility as elected representatives of the American people. Amid Feinstein's potential resignation, a Black woman would replace her based on California Gov. Gavin Newsom's pledge in March 2021 to appoint one if the elderly senator steps down before the end of her term. In addition to Khanna, Rep. Dean Philipps of Minnesota also spoke out and called for Feinstein to resign. He noted that while the senator is a remarkable American with various contributions, it was now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate for those who agree to stay quiet, said The Hill. Related Article: Trump Would Not Drop Out of Presidential Race Even if Convicted @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Heinrich Klaffs/Flickr.com Johnny Cash was an artist and songwriter who mainly composed country and western music. Born in Kingsland, Arkansas, Cash listened to gospel music and radio as a child. When he was 12 years old, Cash started writing and playing songs. After an honorable discharge from the military in 1954, Cash and his wife moved to Memphis, Tennessee, hoping to sign a recording contract at Sun Records. Eventually, Cash got an audition with producer Sam Phillips. When he landed the audition, he sang gospel records, but Phillips didnt produce gospel records anymore. Cash would eventually become one of the most prominent country musicians of all time. Cashs parents raised him in the Southern Baptist denomination of Christianity. In 1944, he was baptized in the Tyronza River as a member of the Central Baptist Church in Dyess, Arkansas. Cash was a troubled Christian, but he remained faithful to his faith throughout his life. The John R. Cash Revocable Trust joined with Dayspring Books to release a distinctive devotional titled Walking the Line: 90 Devotions of Truth and Hope Based on the Faith of Johnny Cash. Johnnys son, John Carter Cash, says that faith was essential in his fathers life, saying, When he was faced with adversaries and struggles, he always went back to faith. He could go back to faith no matter what he went through in life, and it was a certainty, a surrounding cloud of purpose. Johnny Cash didnt have an easy life, and he stumbled, just as any other believer has done. However, through his struggles, he kept his eye on God and remained faithful. Here are some devotions based on Johnny Cashs life that may ring true for you. All your life, you will be faced with a choice. You can choose love or hate. I choose love. Choosing love over any other emotion is a powerful choice. Jesus showed us what choosing love looked like with His actions. In the most unexpected ways, He chose to love even when those around Him didnt. For example, when the people of Jericho disregarded the blind beggar and tried to silence him, Jesus responded differently. He chose to give the beggar His undivided attention and showed him kindness. Jesus asked him what he needed and provided them, changing his life. So how can you choose love in your life? You can respond kindly to someone mean to you on social media. You could compliment a stranger or hold the door for an older adult. There are numerous ways that we can choose love in our everyday lives. We just have to take the opportunity when it presents itself. You never know how choosing love can change someones life. Sometimes I am two people. Johnny is the nice one. Cash causes all the trouble. They fight. Johnny Cash used his first and last name for this devotion to show his personalitys respectable and rowdy sides. However, the apostle Paul called his dual characters good and evil. No matter what you call them, everyone has two sides to them. When dealing with bad circumstances, what happens to our good intentions? Why does our wrong side know all the vulnerabilities of our good side? When battling within ourselves, it takes a lot of our time that we could utilize elsewhere. However, the good thing is that God sees our struggles and understands what were going through. He knows that we want to fight our negative side when it has us in its clutches. When it feels like we cant avoid these battles, we should pray first and let the words and stories of the Bible encourage us. It would also help to realize that everyone deals with these same struggles. So the next time your Johnny and Cash sides start to clash, look to God and read your Bible. I wore black because I liked it. I still do, and wearing it still means something to me. Its still my symbol of rebellion against a stagnant status quo, against our hypocritical houses of God, against people whose minds are closed to others ideas. Johnny Cash knew compliance takes away our most precious gifts: our platform. That means conformity in life, music, and the Christian faith. Cash used his platform to talk about injustice, poverty, and hypocrisy. He spoke of hidden truths for those who didnt have a voice. He sang for those whove been forgotten in our culture. On top of that, he never apologized for his relationship with God and for needing His guidance. He fought against the status quo, as Jesus did. At times, our journeys can be challenging and isolating. However, it helps to have little reminders that our voice, perspective, and platform are different. You may have a parent or grandparent who set an example to emulate. Perhaps you could follow Johnny Cashs example and use a color that tells the world that you dance to the beat of your drum. The things that have always been important: to be a good man, to try to live my life the way God would have me, to turn it over to Him that His will might be worked in my life, to do my work without looking back, to give it all Ive got, and to take pride in my work as an honest performer. Often we ask ourselves, whats truly important? There are plenty of industries that would love to answer that question for you. However, its something that only you can answer for yourself. Of course, being a good citizen, friend, spouse, and worker is essential. Perhaps we should follow Solomons example and fear God and keep His commandments. Fearing God gives Him the place He deserves in our lives. When we honor God in our everyday lives, Hell bless us beyond our wildest dreams. Johnny Cash wasnt a perfect man and never pretended he was. According to his son, thats the reason why so many people connect with him. John Carter Cash added, This isnt a tone thats like one of the gospels. This shows his flaws all the way through it, but thats part of what people connect to, and thats the beauty. As for what he wants people to take away from the book, Cash said he wants people to find a sense of connection and a friend within the texts. Walking the Line: 90 Devotions of Truth and Hope Based on the Faith of Johnny Cash is available for purchase at Amazon.com and bookstores nationwide. Shutterstock.com Planning a vacation, picking a destination, and looking for places to visit can be overwhelming. If youre trying to find a place to visit, then Jordan is the place for you. Jordan is one of the most iconic ancient places in the Middle East. Its home to museums, historic cities, and beachside resorts with something to suit every interest. Desert adventures, old architecture, the Dead Sea, and spectacular holy sites are only a few reasons to visit Jordan. With a population of just 10 million, some might believe Jordan has nothing to offer as a travel destination. Still, travelers will marvel at the history and beauty Jordan has to offer and will leave feeling uplifted by the generosity of its people. From gorgeous landscapes to religious and historical sites, Jordan is a part of the Middle East that needs to be discovered. Here are some reasons why visiting Jordan will uplift your spirit. Explore ancient cities like Petra. Petra is the most popular attraction in Jordan. Its an archaeological and historical city in the south. Petra is nicknamed Rose City due to the coloring of the stone; it also has a captivating entrance at the end of a stone hallway known as the Siq. Movie lovers will recognize the Siq in its appearance in the 1989 film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. In the Bible, Petra was the land of the Edomites, ancestors of Esau. Edom and Israel constantly fought, which started with Edom not allowing Moses and the Israelites to trek through their land on their journey to Canaan. King David and Saul fought the Edomites. Experience Jordanian hospitality. If Jordan is celebrated, for one thing, its the kindness and hospitality of the people. The residents are always ready to support you and go above and beyond to ensure you enjoy yourself in Jordan. Be ready to get numerous invitations to tea and dinner. Taste delicious food. Theres more to Arab food than hummus and falafel. Home-cooked, traditional Jordanian food is some of the healthiest and tastiest food youll come across in the region. If youre eating at someones home, the hosts will provide more food than you could eat. Some must-try dishes include makloubeh and mansaf, the national food of Jordan. If you decide to travel in the summer, the variety of colorful, refreshing salads, like tabbouleh, will go well with these meals. Fortunately for food lovers, dining out at the fanciest restaurants in Jordan is fairly cheap, but if youre looking for an alcoholic beverage, be ready to spend. Visit biblical and historical sites. If youre interested in religion or history, Jordan is a must-visit place. Jordan is home to the Holy Land and has some of the worlds oldest Christian communities. Jordan has plenty of magnificent sacred sites that bring people from worldwide. From the place of Jesus baptism to Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Holy Land, Jordans holy places will give new life to biblical stories, conserving ancient history in the architecture and landscape. There will likely be plenty of sacred site tours to choose from, so pick the one that works best for you. Float in the Dead Sea. The Dead is an enormous body of salt water on the southerly end of the Jordan River. The Dead Sea is mentioned 16 times in the Bible, mainly to describe the borders of the Holy Land. In the Bible, Genesis 14:3 is the only place that refers to the Dead Sea as a location. Other than that, its designated as a border for Israel. The Dead Sea was likely considered a boundary line than a destination for biblical people. However, numerous biblical towns sat on the shores of the Dead Sea, like Qumran, Masada, and En Gedi. The Dead Sea operates as one of the most distinctive experiences in Jordan. Due to its high salt level, you can float effortlessly in the water. You can also cover yourself with natural mud, which has healing properties because of the high concentration of minerals and salts. See the remarkable landscapes. The north of Jordan is filled with luscious greenery, which seems a world away from the gorgeous deserts of the south. The mountainous terrain of Amman makes for beautiful sunsets over the city. If you live life on the wild side, take a hike in one of the valleys in central Jordan and delight in the stunning natural views while hiking. Seeing religions co-exist. Jordan is a Muslim-majority country, but youll also see long-established Christian communities in cities like Fuhais and Madaba. The harmony among the religions is widely celebrated in Jordanian society. Youll see mosques and churches sitting across from each other and hear the Muslim call to prayer and church bells in the same area. Experience diversity. When journeying around Jordan, the diverse people and landscapes may surprise you. Youll see the humble and peaceful lifestyle of the Bedouins in the Wadi Rum desert if you camp with them for one night. Still, dont forget to see what the city life in Amman has to offer. Understandably, Jordan wouldnt be first on your list of places to visit. When planning a vacation, most people think of places like Europe, Thailand, Africa, or even Disney World. However, when planning your next vacation, consider adding Jordan to your places to visit. Outside of the beautiful landscapes, delicious food, and charming people that will uplift your spirit, Jordan is filled with biblical history that will renew your soul and give you a new perspective on your faith. The biblical sites may still be worth visiting if youre not religious or spiritual. You never know how these sites will touch your soul and inspire you to look at life differently. Jordan offers a little bit of everything when it comes to vacationing. Whether youre a history lover, foodie, spiritual person, or adventure seeker, Jordan has lots to offer, and its guaranteed that youll enjoy your time there. Its a memory you and your family will have for a lifetime, and you wont forget it. For more information on the Holy Sites of Jordan and planning your trip, please visit www.holyjordan.com. U.S. Secretary of Treasury Janet Yellen (left) and Indonesian Minister of Finance Sri Mulyani Indrawati sign a U.S. $649 million agreement as Millennium Challenge Corporation CEO Alice Albright looks on, at the International Monetary Fund Building in Washington, April 13, 2023. The United States on Thursday signed a U.S. $649 million, five-year grant for Indonesia to help improve infrastructure, promote economic empowerment for women and transition to clean energy. The grant from the U.S. governments Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) for the Indonesian governments Indonesia Infrastructure and Finance Compact was first negotiated by the two countries leaders on the sidelines of the G20 meeting in Bali in November. The partnership between the two countries represents their shared belief in innovation-driven economic growth, said U.S. Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen, who is vice chairwoman of the MCC, which is an independent U.S. government agency working to reduce global poverty. The $649 million compact with Indonesia represents a catalytic use of grant funds to improve infrastructure, increase access to finance, and promote womens economic empowerment, Yellen said at the grant signing ceremony at the International Monetary Fund in Washington, according to a statement issued by MCC. I am particularly pleased that the compact also supports the Just Energy Transition Partnership with Indonesia. This is a fine example of the partnership between our two countries and a testament to both the United States dedication to bold and impactful climate action and Indonesia's admirably high climate ambition, she said . The Indonesia Infrastructure and Finance Compact consists of projects in transportation, women owned small- and medium- enterprises and private sector infrastructure. The compact includes an additional $49 million contribution from the Indonesian government. The Southeast Asian was taking crucial action to build a robust financial environment, promoting economic growth that benefits everyone, said Indonesias Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati, who was present at the grant-signing ceremony in Washington. I am excited to see how our joint efforts will continue to strengthen economic security for current and future generations of Indonesians, she said. Including the grant signed Thursday, MCC would have worked with Indonesia on projects a total of over $1 billion, said MCC Chief Executive Alice Albright. The compact signed today will focus on sustainability and scalability, improving the countrys resilience against climate change and other external shocks while creating more opportunities for business owners to access market capital, she said, according to the statement. Key projects The U.S. grant seeks to provide access to finance to projects that have employ large numbers of people but have difficulty in attracting funds. It also looks to provide funds to small private sector infrastructure projects. While Indonesia has shown impressive growth since the 1990s, it existing financial structures often prevent small businesses from accessing the finances they need to grow, the MCC said on its website . Indonesias micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) employ almost 97 percent of the nations workforce and contribute around 57 percent of the total GDP. Additionally, these financial structures keep the private sector from investing in infrastructure that would facilitate greater movement of goods and services. As the country continues to invest in manufacturing and commodity-based exports, high-quality infrastructure is needed to transport workers and goods. The transportation project of the Indonesia Infrastructure and Finance Compact will work with five provincial governments South Sumatra, North Sulawesi, Riau, Riau Islands and Bali. It aims to improve accessibility of transport services for women and disabled passengers. Another project on women-owned micro- small- and medium-enterprises will provide business training including digital and financial literacy training and technical assistance to improve credit worthiness and investment readiness. And a third project will help the Indonesian government form new partnerships to fund lower-risk, high-quality private infrastructure projects. United States imposes sanctions on more than 120 targets to choke Russia's invasion of Ukraine The US Treasury Department said it issued sanctions against Russian financial facilitators The move reflects efforts by the American government to broaden sanctions on Moscow as well as stomp on efforts made to circumvent them The United States government issued sanctions on Wednesday for more than 120 targets to choke Russia's war efforts in its invasion of Ukraine, including entities linked to state-held energy company Rosatom. Furthermore, authorities also imposed sanctions on firms based in Russian partner nations such as Turkey. Concerning Britain, the Treasury and State departments imposed sanctions that affect entities and individuals in more than 20 nations and jurisdictions. This includes a Russian private military company, a China-based firm, and a Russia-owned Hungary bank. US Mass Sanctions The Treasury Department said that sanctions were imposed on Russian financial facilitators and sanctions evaders worldwide. These include the United Arab Emirates and China-based individuals and companies, as per Reuters. One of the primary targets of the latest sanctions was Russian billionaire businessman Alisher Usmanov. The Treasury Department described the individual as having, at his disposal, "a wide network of businesses in financial safe havens and family members through which to conduct financial transactions, enabling him to circumvent sanctions potentially." On the other hand, the State Department said that one of its targets for the sanctions was the businessman's company, USM Holdings, and several firms under it. However, the company said that the sanctions are "unjust" and "unfounded." Company officials said that Usmanov, who has previously faced US sanctions, had already stepped down from business activity long ago and was not part of the management. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement that the American government would continue taking action against Russia's invasion and entities who support the war on Ukraine. The official added that the latest move was made to follow suit with the G7's commitment to "impose severe consequences on third-country actors who support Russia's war in Ukraine." Read Also: Kyiv Vows To Investigation Disturbing Beheading Video of Ukrainian Soldier Targeting to Choke Russia's Invasion Efforts On the other hand, Treasury Department Undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence Brian Nelson argued that Washington and others should continue efforts to disrupt evasion schemes that ultimately work in favor of Russian President Vladimir Putin's objectives on the ground, according to News24. Furthermore, the United States and its allies, on top of trying to choke Russia's economy, have provided extensive weaponry to Ukraine amid its 13-month effort to defend against Moscow's invasion efforts. Blinken said that the sanctions come more than a year from the beginning of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. He noted that the effects of globally coordinated sanctions had forced Moscow to find alternate sources to fund its invasion. The American official argued that with the help of the United Kingdom, the American government targeted the sanctions evasion network that supports one of the wealthiest people in Russia, said the Washington Examiner. Related Article: Russian President Vladimir Putin's Health Status @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Philippines wont surrender an inch of its territory in the South China Sea, the countrys army chief declared Thursday, as Filipino and U.S. forces practiced firing Javelin missiles similar to those used by Ukraine against invading Russian forces. Filipino soldiers joined their American counterparts in live-fire drills at this army base using the anti-tank weapons system on day 3 of the Balikatan (Shoulder to Shoulder) joint exercises, which the longtime allies are staging in and around the Philippines until April 28. Thursdays live-fire drill in Nueva Ecija province was in keeping with his troops mission of protecting land and waters belonging to the nation, Philippine Army commander Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner Jr. said. However, the top brass from both armies held back from stating openly that their forces were training together in preparation for a potential conflict with China over the disputed sea region or Taiwan. The exercises that we are doing are all in line with the order of our president, President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr., for us to defend our territory and not give an inch of our territory, Brawner told reporters. So all of these are geared toward that, toward achieving his order and we are making sure that the Philippines, the entire country would be ready in case a threat comes to our shores. A U.S. soldier displays a camouflaged rifle during the Balikatan joint exercises at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines, April 13, 2023. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews] The Philippine forces will likely acquire Javelin missiles as part of the militarys modernization program, Brawner said. The troops from both countries were drilling at Fort Magsaysay as part of the largest-ever Balikatan exercises. These are bringing together nearly 18,000 troops 12,000 Americans, 5,000 Filipinos and about 100 Australians. The drills are unfolding against the backdrop of frequent Chinese harassment of Philippine ships in contested waters of the South China Sea and tensions between the United States and China over Taiwan. China has been ratcheting up its activities in the strategic waterway despite having agreed with its neighbors to refrain from taking actions that could cause friction in the potentially mineral rich sea region. Many countries, especially the United States, consider the South China Sea to be a vital sea corridor for global commerce. Gen. Charles Flynn, the commander of the U.S. Army Pacific, said the joint drills were an expression of us trying to commit to enabling and assisting the Philippine military in being able to protect their national sovereignty and protect territorial integrity. Gen. Charles Flynn, commander of U.S. Army Pacific, talks to soldiers during the Balikatan joint exercises at Fort Magsaysay, Nueva Ecija province, northern Philippines, April 13, 2023. [Jason Gutierrez/BenarNews] Brawner said the Philippine Army was looking to acquire the Javelin, a weapon that can take out tanks and other armored vehicles, as the military branch moves toward territorial defense after fighting insurgencies at home for decades. Once we have this weapons system in our inventory, then we will be able to use them effectively against our enemies, Brawner said. We dont have these kinds of weapons but, as I said, we are already starting to train on how to use these weapons because we are envisioning to have these weapons systems in our modernization program. Asked whether the training program was in preparation for a scenario where China could attack Taiwan and pull the Philippines into a conflict over that island, Brawner replied: All the scenarios that we are doing here in the exercise are not specifically targeting any adversary. We are not saying it is against any country or any specific group of adversaries, but we want to prepare for all kinds of threats that would come to our country whether it be man-made or natural. Flynn, for his part, noted that the diplomatic and defense chiefs of both counties had met in Washington this week for so-called 2+2 bilateral talks. The Balikatan drills in the Philippines is an extension of that, an operationalization of the commitment to one another and for a safe, stable, free and open Indo-Pacific that everyone gets to benefit from, Flynn said. As you witnessed in August of last year and you are recently witnessing, there are some irresponsible behaviors that are ongoing and we should call those irresponsible behaviors out, Flynn said. The American commander did not elaborate, but in August 2022 China carried out military drills around Taiwan in response to a visit to the island by then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. At the time, the defense ministry of Taiwan, which China considers as one of its provinces, called the three-day Chinese military exercises highly provocative. The Balikatan exercises kicked off on Tuesday amid anti-U.S. protests by some Filipino activist groups who oppose the Marcos administrations recent decision to grant the American armed forces access to four more Philippine military bases on a rotating basis under an expanded defense pact. The Philippines, a former American colony, was home to the two largest U.S. military bases in Southeast Asia during the Cold War and Vietnam War. The Balikatan exercises are nothing but a blatant display of U.S. imperialisms military intervention and aggression in the country and region, said one local group, the International League of Peoples Struggle (ILPS). The presence of foreign troops in local communities poses a grave threat to safety, security and welfare of the people. It was a clear day when Kham set out from his home in northwestern Laos for what he thought was a chance to make money in the gilded gambling towns of the Golden Triangle, the border region his country shares with Thailand and Myanmar. On that day a Friday, as he recalled the teenager received a Facebook note from a stranger a young woman asking what he was doing and if he wanted to make some cash. He agreed to meet that afternoon. She picked up Kham, 16, along with a friend, and off they went, their parents none the wiser. I thought to myself Id work for a month or two then Id go home, Kham said. Radio Free Asia (RFA) has changed the real names of the victims and blurred their images in this story to protect their privacy. But instead of a job, Kham ended up trafficked and held captive in a nondescript building on the Burmese-Thai border, about 200 miles (322 km.) south of the Golden Triangle and 400 miles (644 km.) from his home isolated from the outside world, tortured and forced into a particular kind of labor: to work as a cyber-scammer. Barbed wire fences are seen outside a shuttered Great Wall Park compound where Cambodian authorities said they had recovered evidence of human trafficking, kidnapping and torture during raids on suspected cybercrime compounds in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Sept. 21, 2022. [Reuters/Cindy Liu] In recent years, secret sites like the one where Kham was detained have proliferated throughout the region as the COVID-19 pandemic forced criminal networks to shift their strategies for making money. One popular scheme today involves scammers starting fake romantic online relationships that eventually lead to stealing as-large-as-possible sums of money from targets. The scammers said that if they fail to do so, they are tortured. Teen victims from Luang Namtha province in Laos who were trafficked to a place they called the Casino Kosai, in an isolated development near the city of Myawaddy on Myanmars eastern border with Thailand, have described their ordeal to RFA, a news service affiliated with BenarNews. Chillingly, dozens of teenagers and young people from Luang Namtha are believed to be trapped at the site, along with victims from other parts of Asia. The case is but the tip of the iceberg in the vast networks of human trafficking that claim over 150,000 victims a year in Southeast Asia. Yet it encapsulates how greed and political chaos mix to allow crime to operate unchecked, with Kham and other teenagers paying the price. This fake Facebook ad for the Sands International is for a receptionist. It lists job benefits of 31,000 baht salary, free accommodation and two days off per month. Qualifications are passport holder, Thai citizen, 20 to 35 years old and the ability to work in Cambodia. [RFA screenshot] The promise of cash Typically, it starts with the lure of a job. In the case of Lao teenagers RFA spoke to, the bait can be as simple as a message over Facebook or a messaging app. Other scams have involved more elaborate cons, with postings for seemingly legitimate jobs that have ensnared everyone from professionals to laborers to ambitious youths. What they have in common is the promise of high pay in glitzy, if sketchy, casino towns around Southeast Asia many built with the backing of Chinese criminal syndicates that operate in poorly policed borderlands difficult to reach. Before 2020, a lot of these places were involved in two things gambling, where groups of Thais and Chinese were going for a weekend casino holiday, or online betting, said Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch. Then, all of a sudden COVID hits, and these syndicates [that ran the casinos] decided to change their business model. What they came up with was scamming. A man rides his motorbike past a closed casino in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Feb. 17, 2020. [Reuters/Matthew Tostevin] Today, gambling towns such as Sihanoukville, in Cambodia, and the outskirts of Tonpheung, on the Laos side of the Golden Triangle, have become notorious for trapping people looking for work. Besides these places, there are also unregulated developments where scamming casinos operate with little outside scrutiny, including on the Thai-Burmese border. Keo, 18, had a legitimate job at a casino in Laos when he was contacted via WhatsApp by a man who said he could make much more 13 million kip (U.S. $766) a month, plus bonuses by working in Thailand. He could leave whenever he wanted, the person claimed. I thought about the new job offer for two days, then I said yes on the third day because the offer would pay more salary, plus commission and I can go home anytime, Keo said. He quit his job by lying to his boss, saying he was going to visit his family. A few days later, a black Toyota Vigo pick-up truck fetched him, along with two friends, and they took a boat across the Mekong to Thailand. Scams By that time, Keo realized he was being trafficked the two men who escorted him and his friends were armed. While on the boat, one of us ... suggested that we return to Laos, but we were afraid to ask, as the men carried guns and knives. He dared not jump. Later, one of us suggested we call our parents but the men said, On the boat, we dont use the telephone. We dared not call our parents because we were afraid of being harmed, he said. So, we kept quiet until we reached the Thai side. Both Keo and Kham told RFA that they were eventually trafficked to Myawaddy Township, an area about 300 miles (482 km.) south of the Golden Triangle. Kham remembered only parts of the journey including when he was made to walk for miles. Keo told RFA Laos he was transported by a series of SUVs that drove for so many days and nights that he couldnt remember how long it really took. During the trip, we suspected that we werent in Thailand anymore we mightve been in Myanmar. We asked the Thai driver, who said that he didnt know either, he was only the driver, he said. At that point, we wanted to go back home, but we couldnt, because the two men were watching us. Casino Kosai. [Citizen journalist] Things were not so bad at first. For three days, Kham said, those who arrived were given freedom to roam the site. They were taught how to use the messaging apps they would rely on to find people to scam and given scripts on what to say. The scheme involved pretending to be a lonely heart in Thailand looking for love, striking up a conversation and establishing a phony online relationship. Very quickly, they were to move on to invite the target to put money in a fake investment account and instead take the money. Kham believes he arrived in August; Keo around September the two crossed paths at Casino Kosai. During the first month, we were OK, as we were allowed to use our phones, Keo said. But in the subsequent months, when we couldnt get customers, we were beaten up. The scammers were forced to work 16 hours a day, sitting in a room from early in the morning until midnight looking for people to swindle. Fifty people were put around a table in a large room, working in groups of 10 or 12 on devices they were given, with their captors monitoring their work on computer screens. We were given three days to get one customer, Keo recalled. If not, we could be beaten up on the fourth day. Malaysian victims of job scams attend a press conference in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia, Sept. 21, 2022. [Associated Press] Cyber scamming centers throughout Southeast Asia target victims all over the world. Half a dozen teens who spoke to RFA said they were made to seek out Thai victims, but others targeted speakers of other Asian languages as well as English speakers and Europeans. To implement such wide-ranging scams, traffickers smuggle in people from China, the Philippines, Malaysia and as far away as Africa. The Thai-Burmese border is an attractive place for syndicates to hide their victims as internal turmoil makes the region hard to police. Power in Myawaddy Township an administrative area of about 1,200 square miles in Kayin state, on the banks of the Moei river that skirts the border has long been contested by the Burmese military and rival ethnic Karen militias. Following the 2021 coup, civil law enforcement in Myanmar generally has collapsed as the junta and police forces really become completely focused on combating resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations involved in the civil war, said Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution in Washington. A splinter Karen militia known as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army controls the area in Myanmars Myawaddy township where Casino Kosai is located, local sources tell RFA Burmese. [Reuters file photo] At the same time, many of the local militias that are on the militarys side have been given tacit permission by the junta to engage in illegal economies that bring in money. So, you have both a withdrawal of the role of law enforcement because of the local capacity, but also deepening of law enforcement complicity because this is the mechanism of paying all the juntas allies, Felbab-Brown said. These dynamics made the border all the more attractive for cyber scamming centers to develop. There are reportedly as many as 20 or 30 of these [casino trafficking] enclaves along the border, HRWs Robertson said. Theyre basically being allowed to do what they want because they [authorities in the region] are part of the alliance with the military, so they are willing to turn a blind eye to all of this, and probably getting some kickbacks. According to a geolocation pin sent to RFA by several parents of Lao teens trapped at the Casino Kosai, the site appears to be a warehouse about 20 miles (32 km.) south of Myawaddy city, across the border from a Thai town. Local sources told RFA Burmese that the area is controlled by a splinter Karen militia known as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) under the command of a brigadier general, Sai Kyaw Hla. The Lao teens likely knew their place of captivity as Casino Kosai as a portmanteau of the word Ko, meaning mister in Burmese, and Sai, the Shan/Thai honorific in Sai Kyaw Hla. However, regional dynamics are complex and difficult to establish with certainty. Asked about these issues by RFA Burmese, the DKBA denied knowledge of the situation and said they did not control the region. The DKBA spokesman, Col. Saw Sein Win, said of the trafficking casinos: We do not allow such things in our region. A youth being forced to work at the Kosai Casino is tied to a column and tased (left). Injuries to his back are seen. [Screenshots from video provided to RFA] Held hostage Those held at the Casino Kosai were mostly Lao teens, but there were also at least a dozen Chinese who seemed a bit older, former detainees said. At first Keo did manage to scam a few people he didnt think much about it, he said, as he was just trying to get paid, and later, to avoid punishment. But it quickly became harder to find new people to con. While being beaten up, I thought about going back home, but an employee said that nobody can go home, he said. After about three months, he was told he would be sold. One of his captors allowed him to call his parents and asked them to pay 500,000 baht ($14,625) for his release. If not, Id be sold dead or alive, he was told. His parents negotiated the ransom down to 200,000 baht ($5,800). Kham, on the other hand, was unsuccessful at the con because his Thai was poor, and for that he was repeatedly punished. He shared images of his torture with RFA, including marks on his body that he said were from a cattle prod. Violence is a common theme in videos seen by RFA that were taken from other secret scamming sites from across Asia, and gruesome treatment of victims at sites have been reported by other media. After a while, the captors also gave Kham the chance to leave. His employers asked many Lao workers, including me, whether we wanted to go home, he said. A group of about 10 of us said yes because we couldnt do the work we couldnt read Thai. They were told to call their parents and tell them that they would be released for 500,000 baht. Some, including Khams family, were able to negotiate the price down to secure release. Kham and Keo, as well as a handful of others, returned home earlier this year. This group of youths gained their freedom. [Provided to RFA] Nowhere to turn for help In interviews with RFA, Lao and Burmese officials acknowledged that trafficking was a problem but said that regional instability deters action. The terrorist military junta lets these lawless activities prevail rather than taking action against them, Tin Tun Naing, a top official with the opposition National Unity Government, told RFA. Lao government officials said they had met with Myanmars junta and forwarded information on the location of Casino Kosai. But authorities cant access the area because there is intense fighting going on between ethnic groups and the authorities of Kayin state, a Lao embassy official in Myanmar told RFA Lao Service. We cant tell you when well be able to go there. Weve asked the local authorities who said that it was difficult to track the Lao workers down because they entered Myanmar illegally, without passports. However, two other teens who spoke to RFA said their releases were facilitated by Burmese soldiers though it is unknown which military or militia faction they worked under. Both victims and human rights analysts said the trafficking is being aided and abetted by authorities on all sides. Sadly across Southeast Asia, there is both enormous corruption of law enforcement forces linked to their weakness, but also indifference, said Felbab-Brown of Brookings. There is [also] a lot of complacency of enforcement forces in Southeast Asian countries. The pattern is, tragically and egregiously, really not at all surprising. Several dozen teens remain trapped, including one as young as 14 whose mother has contacted RFA Lao service, along with other parents of teens still believed to be at Casino Kosai. Another victim still held there contacted RFA earlier this month. Lao police and soldiers were present at his capture and as he was moved to the casino, he wrote in a text message to RFA. Thai police, meanwhile, looked the other way because they were given bribes by what he said were his Chinese traffickers. The police know where we are, he wrote. I dont know why theyre not helping us. Radio Free Asia is a news agency affiliated with BenarNews. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has warned the public against using public phone charging stations due to the risk of exposing their mobile devices to nasty malware. The FBI sheds light on a widespread scheme of cyber attackers. These charging stations, mostly found in malls or airports, which crucially top up the battery of our mobile devices, might end up stealing our information by installing malicious software. Risks of Public Phone Charging Stations As phones have become part of our daily lives, our prolonged use of these mobile devices is quickly draining their batteries. While phone makers are constantly improving the battery life of their latest offerings, it still needs to juice up after a couple of hours. When outside in public places like an airport waiting for our flight, it might sound convenient to charge our phones using the public stations around the facility. Some might have tried it out, while others must have had this habit for quite a while now. But you might want to think twice. According to CBS News, the Denver office of the FBI is now discouraging the public from using public charging stations in spaces like shopping malls or airports. The FBI Denver office took to Twitter to warn against public charging use. The tweet reveals that "bad actors have figured out ways to use public USB ports to introduce malware and monitoring software onto devices." The warning advises the general public to "avoid using free charging stations in airports, hotels, or shopping centers." Instead, the FBI suggests phone users bring their chargers and use an electric outlet in these locations. 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 Read Also: Elizabeth Holmes' Father: Who Is Christian Holmes IV? FCC Warns Against Juice Jacking Besides the FBI, CNN notes that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued a similar warning to the public over concerns about corrupted charging ports. In an FCC blog post, the commission explains the "Juice Jacking" method of threat actors, mostly used for public USB charging stations. Cybercriminals are using these essential stations to stuff malware on their users' mobile devices. Later on, the malicious software ends up stealing some personal information of their victims, including but not limited to critical data like login credentials. In some instances, cyber attackers may also access your photos and messages if ever they want to. And because of this, the FCC encourages consumers to "avoid using a public USB charging station" to avoid falling for the "Juice Jacking" scheme. If you have to settle with these public charging stations, always select "charge only" if a prompt asks to "share data," the commission notes. Related Article: Joe Biden Classified Documents Scandal: FBI Finds Additional Docs at Biden's Home @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Bennington, VT (05201) Today Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 34F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 34F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. News Reporter Scott Stafford has been a reporter, photographer, and editor at a variety of publications, including the Dallas Morning News and The Berkshire Eagle. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Jane Kaufman is Community Voices Editor at The Berkshire Eagle. She can be reached at jkaufman@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6125. Michael Cohen is accused of disseminating false information about Donald Trump The former president seeks significant punitive damages against Cohen Trump's former lawyer testified multiple times in front of the Manhattan grand Former President Donald Trump is suing his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen for more than $500 million, alleging a breach of attorney-client confidentiality, unjust enrichment, and other offenses. On Wednesday, Trump's legal team filed a 30-plus page federal lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida. Trump Files Lawsuit Against Ex-Lawyer Michael Cohen The lawsuit alleges that Cohen breached his attorney-client relationship by "spreading falsehoods" about Trump that were "likely to be embarrassing or detrimental" and engaged in other misconduct, in addition to violating the terms of a confidentiality agreement he signed as a condition of his employment with Trump. According to Fox News, the lawsuit alleged that Cohen disseminated fraudulent information about Trump "with malice and for his benefit alone." It also details Cohen's "vast array of public statements, including the publication of two books, a podcast series, and countless appearances in the mainstream media" despite receiving "cease and desist" orders. It is asserted that Cohen has, in recent months, "increased the frequency and hostility of the illegal acts" and "appears to have become emboldened and continues to make false and misleading statements" about Trump across multiple platforms. Christopher Kise, an attorney representing Trump in a civil case brought by the New York attorney general and instigated in part by Cohen's testimony, lashed out at Cohen, alleging that he had lied to various officials in the past. Trump's lawsuit seeks significant punitive damages against Cohen, but it was possible that the case would backfire. Some members of his legal team objected when the former president filed the lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump and his family business last year. Similar disagreement existed among his attorneys regarding whether or not to sue Cohen, according to persons familiar with the matter. Per NY Times, Trump ultimately withdrew the lawsuit against James before US District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks. Before this, Judge Middlebrooks fined Trump and one of his attorneys nearly $1 million for filing a frivolous lawsuit against several political adversaries, including Trump's 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton. Trump seeks restitution for any "profits, payments, compensations, advances, royalties," and other earnings Cohen receives from publishing his books and podcast. He also desires the return of the $74,000 plus interest, as per NY Post. Read Also: Louisville Bank Shooting: Suspect's Mental Health Issues, Revealed Cohen Claims Former President's Lawsuit is 'Harassment' Cohen testified multiple times in front of the Manhattan grand jury investigating a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. The grand jury indicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Cohen paid Daniels to guarantee her secrecy regarding a ten-year-old alleged sexual affair with the real estate mogul. Cohen pleaded guilty to violating federal election law in 2018 and was sentenced to three years in federal prison for the Daniels payment. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels and participation in the payment. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels and participation in the payment. At his April 4 arraignment in Manhattan's criminal court, he pled not guilty to the offenses in the indictment. Cohen's counsel, Lanny Davis, described Trump's lawsuit as "harassment" and an "attempt at intimidation." According to a source close to Trump's legal team, the lawsuit against Cohen "has nothing to do with the Manhattan DA's lawless and fact-free case and is an entirely separate matter." Related Article: Trump Would Not Drop Out of Presidential Race Even if Convicted @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. PITTSFIELD Holding Gucci, the week-old chick, for the first time tickled Sofia Testas hand. I wasnt scared, said Testa, 6, sounding a bit surprised and looking quite triumphant. She thought the chick might poop on her hand. Gucci didnt. It was actually going fine. The yellow chick with a pattern of intermittent polka dots seemed to doze off in the hands of some students. This was in contrast with the other chick named Dwight, who is a bit more flighty. The chicks were recently hatched in Melissa Rathbuns kindergarten classroom at Egremont Elementary School. Rathbuns class of 14 received an incubator, cage and all the accoutrements needed to hatch six eggs from Hancock Shaker Village nearly four weeks ago. The Hatch Project, as it is called, delivers incubators to dozens of schools across Berkshire County for about a month. The hatched chicks and unhatched eggs, along with the eggs and incubators, then get returned to Hancock Shaker Village at the end of each four-week cycle. At Egremont, the cycle ends this Friday. Ask the students what they know about chickens and eggs, and they break into a song theyve memorized over the past four weeks called A Hen Lays an Egg. Sung to the tune of The Farmer in the Dell, it traces the life cycle of a chick to a hen and ends with the words, It all happens again. Rathbun incorporates eggs and chicks into all parts of the curriculum. We try to use it for as much as we can because its such a memorable experience, she said. Guccis name came about as a result of a vote. Other names in contention had been Dave and Lightning. Dwight, meanwhile, was named by a first grader. On Wednesday, Rathbun formed a circle on a colorful mat and placed on it a red device with a central fulcrum. She demonstrated how it moves by placing weights on one side. One student guessed the thing was a weigher. Another said it was a seesaw. Eventually, she told them it was a balance and placed two, 20-gram weights on one end, explaining that when the chicks hatched a week ago, they weighed between 30 and 40 grams. She asked the students to guess how much each would weigh now. Their guesses ranged, but 50 was a common guess. Gucci weighed a little more than 61 grams and Dwight weighed in at an even 65 grams. Of the six eggs initially delivered to the class, two hatched completely, yielding Dwight and Gucci, and one did so partially, leading to a sad moment for the class. Guccis more easygoing temperament allowed Rathbun to pass the tiny bird from student to student as part of the their study of the life cycle. She warned them not to fling their hands if Gucci pooped, explaining that the chick is delicate. It felt ticklish, said Vacellous Saunders, 6. Sophia De Lima said it was her first time seeing or holding a yellow chick. Like too much good, she said, describing the experience, adding she thought Gucci was thinking, This is not my mom. Mrs. Rathbun is my mom. Like the chick called Dwight, Rathbun had some anxiety initially about the Hatch Project. I was very, very nervous to do this the first time because theres so many things that are involved in making sure the heats right, the humiditys right, she said, adding staff at Hancock Shaker Village helped her with the details. Hancock Shaker Village is also studying the fertility rate of its hens and roosters, so the class will be able to contribute to that study. Rathbun said the class will visit the chicks at Hancock Shaker Village in May, where the chicks will join the flock of other heritage breed chicks. The females will eventually lay eggs, some of which might end up hatching in classrooms. Rathbun is confident that even if the children wont be able to recognize their chicks that the chicks will recognize them. When I walk in the morning, these two will perk right up because I think theyve learned my voice. 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. Many residents are opposed to a planned PCB landfill in Lee as part of a settlement with General Electric Co. Under the terms of the revised Housatonic River cleanup agreement, GE will be permitted to dump contaminated material in a 20-acre landfill at this quarry in Lee. Woods Pond, which is just north of the site, is visible in the upper left portion of the photo. This story was modified to correct the year Steven Henkes was fired. SANDISFIELD When a solar panel fire burned a hole through a residents roof Monday morning, it wasnt an isolated incident. Solar panels ignited at homes in Plainville and Falmouth on Saturday, and atop a big-box chain store in Roxbury, N.J., last week in what one news report called a 50-Foot blaze. While the panels were not all made by the same company, the manufacturer of the panel that caught fire in Sandisfield Tesla is embroiled in a number of lawsuits over similar incidents. Tesla also ran into trouble with Walmart after panels sparked fires at seven stores. No one is officially tracking solar fires From 2002 and 2022, the Office of the State Fire Marshal received 16 reports of solar fires reported by local fire departments In most of those, information about the manufacturer was not available or not provided, but neither Tesla nor SolarCity were among them Boston25 News found there have been at least 15 residential fires in Massachusetts linked to rooftop solar installations between 2017 and 2019 And it appears rooftop solar fires in general might happen more often than we know no one is officially keeping track. The U.S. government says these solar fires are a growing concern, given there are more than 2 million home solar installations in the U.S. A German study, however, says these fires tend to be rare. A whistleblower who contacted the Eagle on Tuesday after reading about the Sandisfield fire suggests that such fires might be more widespread. Steven Henkes, a former Tesla quality engineer, is well known for his claim that Tesla knew about a problem due to a defect with the electrical connectors and suppressed information about the fire risk while quietly remediating systems. His reporting of the problem sparked a federal probe. He was fired in 2020, and he and Tesla are suing each other. The company did not respond to an email seeking comment. But when they do happen, firefighters fret. Theyre very dangerous to deal with, Sandisfield Fire Chief Ralph Morrison said Monday at the scene of the fire at the home of Nicholas and Megan Smigel off Route 8. The rooftop panels continued to reignite while firefighters tried to put the fire out. The panels also contain toxic chemicals and present crews with other hazards. The defect, Henkes said, was in parts that connect the panels together. Extreme temperature fluctuations can cause the connectors to contract and expand, and that can deform them. The parts end up rubbing together, he said, and the friction sparks a fire. A cold snap in the region last week gave way to a warmup beginning Saturday. Tips on solar fire safety form the National Association of Home Builders Some measures include: Creating safe pathways for firefighters on the roof by having at least one path accessible from a public road or easily accessible driveway, and at least two pathways that are 36 inches or wider from the lowest roof edge to the ridge; Implementing local jurisdiction setback requirements on the roof where the solar is installed (a good question to ask the local building department before the layout of the system is designed); Confirming that pathways have limited obstructions such as mechanical equipment, skylights, or vent pipes; Ensuring that emergency escape windows located on the roof plane have at least a 36-inch-wide path from the window to the eave; Taking precautions like installing pest and rodent screens surrounding the array to discourage animals from building nests (which could increase the chance of a fire); and Leaving enough room for airflow between the roof and the panels so that electrical components of the panels can ventilate properly This is the prime time, Henkes said. As the person at Tesla charged with engineering a fix to the problem, Henkes said he was surprised to learn of the Sandisfield fire. Either the remediation was done and not done properly or not done on this house, he said. Nicholas Smigel said he doesnt know whether Tesla fixed the roof panels before he bought the home. He bought the house six years ago, and the panels had been installed about two years prior by Solar City, which later was acquired by Tesla in 2016. Smigel and his family are now back in their house after waiting a day for the utility company to turn the power back on. The Plainville home panels were made Sunrun, according to a relative of the homeowner who did not want his name published. He added that the panels were made in China, and that the fire caused enough damage to displace their relative. The rooftop panels that caught fire in Falmouth were installed in 2014 by Cotuit Solar, according to the homeowners permit. It did not disclose the manufacturer. Cotuit representatives did not respond to questions. The Eagle was unable to confirm with authorities the maker of the Falmouth and Roxbury panels. Both fires are still under investigation, as is the Sandisfield incident. You are the owner of this article. Lee High School students took some time to think about their futures at career fair with the help of professionals in a variety of fields FILE - Two women hug at a memorial at the entrance to The Covenant School on Wednesday, March 29, 2023, in Nashville, Tenn. Family and friends of Michael Hill, the 61-year-old custodian killed during a shooting on Monday, March 27, at a small Christian elementary school in Nashville, gathered on Tuesday, April 4, to mourn their loss. Hundreds turned out for the funeral service at Stephens Valley Church, where pastor Jim Bachmann said the hearts of the congregation were aching for the man they called Big Mike. Maine Mineral and Gem Museum offers up to a $25,000 reward for one kilogram of a meteorite The meteorite caused several sonic booms that were heard in Maine The cosmic object was visible in the sky in broad daylight from New Brunswick, Canada A meteorite is believed to have crashed near the border between the United States and Canada. A museum in Maine is offering up to a $25,000 reward for anyone who could bring back a sample of the cosmic object. The fireball flew across the skies over the weekend and was seen from New Brunswick, Canada. On Monday, the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum announced the reward offer for one kilogram of the meteorite. Museum Offers $25K Reward for Meteorite Sample The museum said that multiple sonic booms were heard from the fireball that even residents in Maine noticed. It added that NASA Doppler radar detected several meteorites from that time, as per CBS News. In a Facebook post, the museum added that an extraordinary event occurred in Washington County. It said many residents spotted a fireball streaking through the sky in broad daylight. Museum officials explained that most meteorites are observed during the night when the light they emit is easily contrasted against the dark background of space. However, in this particular instance, the observance of the fireball is considered to be incredibly rare. The chair of the museum's meteorite division, Darryl Pitt, said in a press release that the time when a fireball produces sufficiently bright light to be seen in broad daylight would mean that it would be exceptionally bright if viewed during the night. NASA noted that four radar sweeps they conducted were able to detect "signatures consistent with falling meteorites that were seen at the time and locations that several eyewitnesses reported." According to Fox News, the space agency added that it was the first time in history that radar spotted a meteorite falling in Maine. Read Also: Scientists Create New Dark Matter Map of the Universe The Rarity of Meteorite Findings On Wednesday, Pitt added that due to many people witnessing the phenomenon, more individuals would be willing to search for the meteorite's landing site. He added that due to the object's descent being detectable by radar, the landing site could be found on the ground. However, even with these favorable conditions, there was no guarantee that searchers would be able to find the landing site of the meteorite. NASA added that the masses of meteorites calculated from the radar signatures range from as small as 0.004 pounds up to 0.7 pounds. They noted that larger masses could have also landed in the region. Pitt acknowledged that finding the landing site of a meteorite in Maine was a more complex task in the world. He said that Maine is an area that did not have many people but still had much more residents compared to where most meteorites fall, which is the ocean. Only about eight out of 10 meteorites worldwide are recovered annually out of the hundreds seen falling on our planet's surface, said CNN. Related Article: NASA Reports Huge Asteroid Heading Towards Earth @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Mary was a young woman chosen by God for an amazing purpose. Her story is predicted in the Book of Isaiah, and is fully told in the Gospels. I am the Lords servant, Mary answered. May your word to me be fulfilled. Then the angel left her (Luke 1:38). Mary shows us that we can completely trust in God. 2. Deborah Appointed to be a judge over Israel, Deborah instructed a warrior named Barak to go into battle. When Barak refused to go without her, the book of Judges quotes Deborahs reprimand. Certainly I will go with you, said Deborah. But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman. So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh (Judges 4:9). Deborah shows us that God demands obedience. 3. Miriam The cousin of Moses, she led worship for the people of Israel. Because she spoke against the wife of Moses, however, she was struck with leprosy but was later healed. Her story is told in the books of Exodus and Numbers. Then Miriam the prophet, Aarons sister, took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women followed her, with timbrels and dancing (Exodus 15:20). Miriam shows us that all our words matter to God. 4. Rahab Rahab was a prostitute in Jericho. When Joshua sent two spies into the city, she took them in and protected them from the king. The book of Joshua tells the request she makes of them. Now then, please swear to me by the Lord that you will show kindness to my family, because I have shown kindness to you. Give me a sure sign that you will spare the lives of my father and mother, my brothers and sisters, and all who belong to them and that you will save us from death (Joshua 2:12-13). Rahab shows us that God will protect us when we stand for Him. Photo credit: Getty Images/Liliboas 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" Join 'Team Normal!' Order your gear now at BillOReilly.com! Pre-order Bills next bestseller Killing the Witches NOW Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Egypt is positioning Africa Health ExCon Exhibition as the continental hub of health innovation and trade in Egypt and Africa The Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council of India (Pharmexcil) has partnered with Africa and the Middle East to boost pharmaceutical exports in these regions. This initiative from Pharmexcil seeks to refocus the minds of all those operating in the health and pharma business towards Africas investment potential. Itll help African pharma and healthcare thrive through the right sourcing of products. This will also help in equitable distribution to contribute to the continents Health Agenda in ensuring equitable access of quality health technology products and services to all African countries, informed Udaya Bhaskar, Director General, Pharmexcil. Bhaskar said, We are pleased to inform that Pharmexcil is an official International Partner for the 2nd Edition of Africa Health ExCon to be held between June 7 and June 10, 2023 at Egypt International Exhibition Center (EIEC), Cairo, Egypt. It is an initiative of the Egyptian Authority for Unified Procurement, Medical supply and the Management of Medical Technology (UPA), under the auspices of President of Egypt Abdel Fattah El-Sisi towards connecting the health care value chain to a fast developing market. Since this is a good opportunity to increase exports in Africa and the Middle-East, we advise the members to take part in the event. Egypt is positioning the Africa Health ExCon Exhibition as the continental hub of health innovation and trade in Egypt and Africa. The Egyptian Authority has offered a special discount of 35 per cent to all the Indian companies who are going to participate under India Pavilion in this Mega Trade Fair. Pharmexcil will organise the India Pavilion by taking 270 sq m of space, divided into 9 sq m stalls, Udaya Bhaskar concluded. This mega event will take place annually to create a sustainable platform connecting the world healthcare buyers and suppliers under one common roof. All healthcare partners can, thereon, interact together as well as support the flow of trade business intra/extra in the mother continent. The region offers numerous opportunities to discover products across several diversified categories, targeting sectors like medical supplies and consumables, medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, laboratory consumables and chemicals, dental equipment and supplies, dermal products, nutrition and vitamins, healthcare providers, pharmacies, medical insurance and packaging. Bhagwati Prasad Jamie Foxx has been rushed to the hospital for suffering a "medical complication," the daughter of the actor-comedian, Corrine Foxx, reveals in her recent Instagram post. The 29-year-old daughter of the American actor disclosed that his father was enduring a "medical condition," but Corrine did not reveal what it was. However, the family of the Hollywood star assures everyone that Foxx is now recovering from the undisclosed "medical condition." Jamie Foxx's 'Medical Complication' Rushed Him to the Hospital According to E! News, the actor's daughter is asking for their family's privacy in the meantime. Although she revealed that her father was suffering from a "medical condition," she refused to explain. In her Instagram post on April 12, Corinne posted a photo containing the statement of the Foxx family. The uploaded image reads: "We wanted to share that my father, Jamie Foxx, experienced a medical condition yesterday." The post has garnered over 14,000 likes since it was posted on the Mark Zuckerberg-owned social network. The actor's daughter turned off the comments on the post, leaving the comments section blank. She further assures in her IG post that his father "is already on his way to recovery." TMZ reports that the condition of the actor-comedian is serious. And as such, the family members of Foxx reportedly gathered in the hospital even if some were not in town. The source of the publication disclosed that the actor is now "communicating," showing signs that he is on his way to recovery from the unnamed "medical condition." Read Also: Cardi B Speaks Out Amid Dalai Lama's Kiss Boy Viral Video, Warns Against Child Predators Foxx Films Action-Comedy Back In Action Before confirming his "medical complication," Foxx was previously seen filming his upcoming movie, as per Daily Mail. The movie that the 55-year-old actor is working on, an action comedy film entitled Back In Action, also stars Cameron Diaz. Last Monday, a photo of Foxx during the shoot circulated. But on Tuesday, the daughter of the actor says that he was rushed to the hospital as he suffered a "medical condition." The upcoming movie that the Oscar winner is filming marks the much-awaited comeback to acting of his co-star, none other than Diaz. However, the actress reportedly plans to return to retirement after this action comedy movie. Foxx previously shared that he begged Diaz to return to the big screen, pulling her out of retirement in acting. Last June 2022, the 55-year-old actor announced that the actress was back on the scene. He posted a phone call with his co-star in Back in Action on Twitter, revealing that the production for their Netflix movie started late last year. As of writing, the medical condition that brought the Oscar winner actor to the hospital has yet to be determined. Related Article: Ariana Grande Issues Strong Statement Against Body Shaming: "Healthy Can Look Different" @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Cape Town International Animation Festival (CTIAF) and the US Consulate General in Cape Town are hosting a pitching incubator for animators and creators. Offering hopefuls the opportunity to learn and grow from industry leaders, the incubator will give eight aspiring South African creatives the chance to finetune their pitching skills across eight weeks and learn to effectively sell their concepts and creations. As pitching is the first step on any creators journey, the programme will lay down the basics, and develop the skills of the participants. Equal opportunity Taking the form of four masterclasses and four feedback sessions, this after-hours programme will give students, employed individuals, and freelance creators an equal opportunity to learn and grow through interactive sessions as well as assignments given throughout the incubation process. The shortlisted candidates for this once in a lifetime opportunity, will be announced at Comic Con Cape Town later this month, and will showcase the work of local creatives to industry leading professionals and mentors including Nathan Stanton, who is known for working as the head of story, as a Storyboard Artist and a Story consultant, is best known for his work on Luca (2021), The Incredibles 2 (2018), Finding Dory (2016) Brave (2012), and Monster Inc. (2021) just to name a few. Stantons focus will be the visualisation of the story, development of beat boards and to look at the structure of the story, making sure its told in an impactful and interesting way. Joining forces This year the Cape Town International Animation Festival also joins forces with the Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct (Tshimologong) and the Durban Film Mart Institute (DFMI) to launch the third edition of the six-month Road to Annecy Animation Incubation Programme at the festival in April. The main objective of the incubation programme is to create a platform where animation creatives develop high-end, commercially viable pitch bibles that can compete on the global stage. The end-goal is to provide emerging creatives with access to markets where they can connect with intermediaries and raise financing for their productions. The incubation programme is facilitated by the Mollo Animation Academy and Studio (Mollo) and Fakugesi African Digital Innovation Festival (Fakugesi). The programme was officially launched two years ago with the support of National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and French Institute of South Africa (IFAS). From the 135 applicants from the last two years, the programme has successfully incubated eight emerging studios through a rigorous development process. Overall, the past two years of Road to Annecy campaign was a roaring success. The Programme of this years Animation Festival features various opportunities for youth development across the four days of the show. Offering visitors the opportunity to gain a leg-up in the industry by avoiding any pitfalls and gaining insight from the session entitled Hindsight: Things I wish I knew before by Annike Pienaar, an animator that has made waves internationally at studios like Illumination. What Broadcasters Want You to will highlight what TV and film production studios look for in pitches from creators, presented by industry expert Ariane Suveg. The Making of The Smeds and the Smoos will unpack the creation of the story of two young aliens from warring families who fall in love and run away, where The Making of the Gale of the Cape offers a behind the scenes peek into the process of creating the trailer. Chocolate Tribe's Tiaan Franken discusses the workflow behind the creation of photo realistic creatures, and audiences are taken behind the scenes with directors Marc Moynihan and Dylan McGarry of the film Indlela Yokuphila/ The Souls Journey. Create Your First Cinematic Shot with Unreal Engine is a five and a half hour introductory training course that is targeted at animation and film-making enthusiasts and will accelerate their transition to Unreal. During the course, attendees will learn how to create a stunning cinematic animation scene in Unreal Engine, from beginning to end. Then, Future proof your workflow with ShotGrid will demonstrate how to use this industry-standard production management solution to support creators through the next decade and beyond. Modelling, Rigging, Animation, Automation highlights new features and improvements to the latest releases of Autodesk Maya and Bifrost. A special addition is a toolset for Bifrost that enables the procedural creation of polygon objects, like automatically produce complete cities in game development. Physical Theatre Masterclass with Rob van Vuuren equips attendees to shoot reference for animators. Physical theatre principals include precise gestures, body language and much more. You can apply here. Deadline is 23 April 2023. AstraZeneca's A. Catalyst Network - a connected array of more than 20 hubs worldwide - has welcomed a new hub to its fold: The Africa Health Innovation Hub. The hub which was launched at the Daspoort Poli Clinic in Pretoria - drives the company's commitment to healthcare equity and fostering partnerships with a range of stakeholders, including governments, healthcare societies, academia, healthcare providers and patient advocacy groups, to better improve patient outcomes. More importantly, it highlights AstraZenecas key partnerships with Tricog Health in Kenya and Medsol AI Solutions in South Africa. To this end, AstraZeneca has partnered with Medsol AI Solutions in South Africa, to help promote the use of AI in the detection of disease through a state-of-the-art wi-fi ultrasound probe that can detect breast cancer in seconds. At the launch of the Africa Health Innovation Hub, healthcare practitioners were able to demonstrate the use of the Melusi Breast AI device in a community clinic setting, which is one of the first points of contact for clinical breast examinations and breast-cancer screening for patients. The Melusi Breast AI rapid-detection app will be rolled out in rural clinics to help in early detection of the disease, supported by a dedicated referral system so that women with positive detection of breast cancer can be offered a quicker turnaround time for therapeutic intervention. Kathryn Malherbe chief executive officer and founder of MedSol AI Solutions said, "Medsol AI is excited to be leading one of the inaugural projects of the Africa Innovation Hub, with support from AstraZeneca. Breast cancer is a devastating disease, with many women in our communities only able to access late-stage diagnoses. The Melusi Breast AI project will enable us to leverage technology and innovation to improve early diagnostic detection rates and patient outcomes in local clinics, ultimately saving lives." Early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure In Kenya, the company is expanding an already successful collaboration with Tricog Health. This, after a few years of piloting an AI technology project in India that connects acute coronary syndrome patients to health professionals and routes them to appropriate facilities, enabling early cardio-renal complications to be addressed. The African hub aims to enhance early diagnosis and treatment of heart failure using Tricogs InstaECG AI tools for rapid diagnosis, reducing mortality rates and improving quality of life. Charit Bhograj, chief executive officer and founder of Tricog Health added, non-communicable diseases, including heart disease, are on the rise in Kenya and across Africa, and we know that the earlier these conditions are diagnosed, the better chance there is for patients to continue to live long healthy lives. By investing in digital health technology, the Africa Health Innovation Hub is enabling the use of advanced AI to screen and diagnose patients remotely, bringing high-quality health tools to people no matter where they live. Digital inclusion at heart of partnerships The hub's fruition marks a positive step in AstraZenecas decision to join the World Economic Forums Edison Alliance, a public-private partnership that aims to improve the lives of 1 billion people through digital inclusion by 2025. The partnership reinforces its commitment to harnessing digital innovation to drive inclusion and equity across the healthcare ecosystem, and will be a strong facilitator of the hub. Gagan Singh, country president of AstraZenecas African cluster said, "AstraZeneca aims to strengthen and future-proof health systems across the whole patient journey, ensuring everyone has equitable and affordable access to the life-changing healthcare solutions they need, regardless of where they live. The launch of the Africa Health Innovation Hub is a significant step in our goal to unlock digital transformation and innovation in health across the continent, paving the way for patient-centric digital-health solutions that leave no one behind. Durban-based retail group Retailability has acquired South African children's clothing brand Keedo from Cape Union Mart Group. Source: Supplied Keedo joins Retailability's stable of brands that includes Legit, Swagga, Beaver Canoe, Style and most recently Edgars, which it acquired in 2020. It operates over 580 stores across Southern Africa in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini. Keedo was founded in 1993 by Nelia Annandale, the creative force behind the brand who was inspired by her twins to develop a product that would serve the children of the world. The Cape Union Mart Group later acquired Keedo in 2016, but at the time it was said that while the kidswear retailer would be wholly owned by Cape Union Mart Group, it would continue to operate independently under the stewardship of Annandale. Today, Keedo is available online and in 20 stores across Gauteng, Polokwane, Nelspruit, KwaZulu-Natal, East London and Cape Town. Building local brands Keedo is a wonderful fit for our portfolio, said Norman Drieselmann, chief executive officer of Retailability, I am truly excited to welcome this great South African brand into our group. Our core focus is on creating good value for our fashion-conscious customers without compromising on quality, and this acquisition allows us to deliver on that intent. The acquisition of Keedo reinforces our strategy of supporting and building local brands. We continue to strive to serve all South Africans with affordable good quality fashion, added Drieselmann. Commenting on future plans for the brand, Drieselmann said, We have a specific methodology that has worked well for us in turning brands around in the past; we will apply this to Keedo. Watch this space! Founded in 1984, Retailability had flown under the retail radar somewhat until it acquired Edgars in 2020, and the company has continued to look for opportunities for brand expansion. We remain optimistic about retail in Africa and this investment is another sign of that mindset, Drieselmann said. Train manufacturer Gibela Rail has picked up the baton to pioneer programmes that help learners close the skills gap and match the skills of the future labour force to the needs of the South African economy. Dr Buyiswa Mncono-Liwani, corporate services and traction motors operation executive at Gibela. Image supplied The need to invest in teaching Maths and Science at schools to prepare learners for future jobs in a changing world is well documented. South Africa is facing a serious skills shortage in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) skills. The results of the 2019 Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), which assessed mathematics and science knowledge of Grade 5 and Grade 9 learners, showed that South Africas performance in both subjects was among the lowest of the 64 countries surveyed. Outlining its findings from the study, the Department of Basic Education stated that just over a third of South African learners demonstrated that they had acquired basic mathematical knowledge and 28% had acquired basic science knowledge. This meant that 63% of learners had not acquired basic mathematical knowledge and 72% had not acquired basic science knowledge. Nobody should be left behind The Department of Basic Education stated it aptly in its Annual Performance Plan: We need to ensure that South African children do not get left behind with regards to acquiring basic skills that are required in the digital age, says Dr Buyiswa Mncono-Liwani, corporate services and traction motors operation executive at Gibela. Gibelas solution is to create a pipeline of opportunities, from grassroots level all the way up to employment level for South Africans, she adds. We designed a programme for Grade 10, 11 and 12 learners to improve their marks at school level. We then created a bursary programme to help fund students to further their education at TVET colleges and universities. Thereafter, learners have an opportunity to become part of Gibela under our apprenticeship programme and, in time, full-time employees, depending on their diligence and performance as interns, she says. Our STEM programme nurtures a passion for and awareness around careers in science, technology, engineering and maths. We help learners to develop and grow their maths and science skills. This is greatly needed in our nation. As Gibela, we have taken up the responsibility to ensure that learners in Ekurhuleni and Tshwane are given a chance to improve their marks through the Math Centre. The main goal of the programme is to make sure that young people develop the competencies required for NQF levels so that they can get good enough grades to enable further studies at university level, TVET colleges and artisan academies, adds Dr Mncono-Liwani. We also want to increase the number of students who are interested in taking up and passing courses, and to improve industry confidence in TVET college graduates. This will be possible through driving better results in STEM subjects, she says. Gibela currently spends R6m a year equipping learners and educators through the maths and science programme. Bursary programmes It doesnt end there. The company has funded more than 1,200 learners through its bursary programme, which has already paid R100m towards funding TVET Colleges and University students. We established a bursary programme that helps address the skills gap in South Africa. It is about empowering students to pursue career paths that would otherwise be out of their reach. The programme is scheduled to run for 10 years and, during this time, we plan to award a total of 2 800 bursaries. The process is managed externally, and students are selected based on interviews, academics performance. Bursary recipient Boitumelo Ndlovu is one of hundreds of students who have benefited from a Gibela bursary. She says she always had a passion for electrical engineering but did not have the funds to study. She applied to the Tshwane North TVET College and was accepted. I found out about the Gibela bursary from a friend who was a Gibela recipient the year before, and he advised me to apply I applied and was given the bursary. Im happy to say that I completed my N6 in Electrical Engineering. Because of Gibela, I managed to excel in my studies and obtain my qualification. Savanna Premium Cider, known for its crisp and dry taste and equally crisp, dry sense of humour, has supported the comedy industry for over 20 years. A brand that uplifts with humour and considers laughter a fundamental human right. The five nominees competing for the ultimate title of the Savanna Newcomer were announced earlier in March. Post the Savanna Newcomer Showcase in February, hosted by the 2013 winner of this same title, Schalk Bezuidenhout, your top five nominees are Khanyisa Jam Jam, Mbali Gudazi, Vafa Naraghi, Vision Masango and Wazi Kunene. Each a worthy contender for this title. We spent time with each of them to get to know the people behind the laughs better. Savanna nominee: Khanyisa Jam Jam Khanyisa Jam Jam has been in the industry since 2019, and his first gig was at Nomad Bistro. "I have always loved to watch stand-up comedy and to make people laugh at school. Once I got invited to do my first gig, I knew it was something I wanted to do forever. Being nominated has already earned me the respect of my peers and fellow comics in the country, paving the way to bigger and better opportunities for me." With an autobiographical and thought-provoking style, he wants people to feel good after watching his performance. Inspired by his family and local comics, he has the honour of having KG Mokgadi and Kate Pinchuck as mentors. Fans can look forward to seeing his ensemble "Friendzone" and a one-person show in 2024. Savanna nominee: Mbali Gumede While working at Transnet Freight Rail in Pretoria, Mbali Gudazis colleagues asked her to be MC at their year-end function. After excelling at her duties, her colleagues and manager encouraged her to do stand up. In April 2017, she tried stand-up for the first time at Wednesday Comedy Nights at Cappello, hosted by the late Vuyo Jiya, who played a massive role in her growth and understanding of stand-up comedy. "After my first time performing, I completely fell in love with it I was happy inside! My first paid gig was in 2018, so I can say that I have been doing comedy professionally for five years now. This nomination, however, opens the door for more opportunities such as being a writer, acting, and even performing at international comedy festivals." Mbalis comedy style can be described as social commentary, talking about her observations and experiences in life. Mbali has big dreams: one day Im expecting to get a call from Netflix to do a stand-up comedy special for them, maybe 2025 or 2026? Savanna nominee: Vafa Naraghi Qualified structural engineer Vafa Naraghi changed careers after six years and started doing stand-up comedy in 2018. "I see comedy as a beautiful tool to inspire change and uplift people an important art form to develop and improve people's lives. The nomination is a sign of recognition from my peers in the industry who have trodden a similar path. It could act as a stepping stone to bigger and better things. I focus on storytelling that is relatable despite the obscurity of my unique experiences and views." Vafas hopes and dreams are to inspire African people to pursue their dreams. Savanna nominee: Vision Masango Medical Scientist Vision Masango has always been a fan of stand-up comedy, but the deal with his parents was first to graduate and get a job. "I started doing stand-up comedy two months before lockdown and picked it up again in 2020 after lockdown. I made use of lockdown to write content and boost my confidence. In January 2021, I got my first paid gig! This nomination is a big deal to me because the validation of comedians in the industry is the one thing you need, and my number of paid gigs has already increased. Taylor Tomlinson and King Kandaro are my inspiration." Vision's comedy style can be described as clean comedy. Coming from a very religious family, he only performs clean comedy to ensure his family continues to support his dream. "Get ready, world; something huge is coming, and this is just the beginning." Savanna nominee: Wazi Kunene Wazi Kunene, the final nominee, encourages us to: believe nothing my haters tell you! Her story began as a scholar with a love for making people laugh.I first understood the power and beauty of being funny in high school you make people feel good, and they want to protect you in return. That's how we keep each other alive. Humour connects us. I love people, and comedy is one way of hugging someone without touching them. I started hustling for stage time in 2018, and by the end of that year, I had performed six times. Being nominated is a shift in my career and for many other women in comedy." Not willing to describe her comedy style yet, she is curious to hear the thoughts of the critics and audiences around the country." She is inspired by life and anyone who dares to honour the calling to be themselves. What's next? "Come and watch me win my first award on 15 April. It's going to be dope!" The Savanna Comedy Newcomer Award and the Comics Choice Comedy winners will be announced on Saturday, 15 April, at a glamorous black-tie birthday celebration event at The Galleria in Sandton, says Kayla Hendricks, brand manager of Savanna Cider. "We are so excited to come together again this time to celebrate the people who are passionate about keeping South Africans laughing, through the best and worst times. Nights like these help us keep our comedy industry alive, and ensures that those driving it feel as valued as they are by not only their peers in comedy, but also the South African people. Savanna Premium Cider, its dry but you can drink it. #SavannaCCA #SiyavannaSA Savanna promotes responsible drinking. Not for persons under 18. For more information, follow Savannas social media channels or go to www.savanna.co.za. Instagram: @savannacider Facebook: @SavannaCider Twitter: @SavannaCider YouTube: SavannaCider About Savanna Its dry, but you can drink it Savanna is a premium, crisp apple cider with a distinctive dry taste. It is one of the largest cider brands in the world and is available in over 60 countries. Since its launch in 1996, Savanna Premium Cider has won consumers' hearts and funny bones with its intelligent, dry and witty sense of humour. Two much-loved South African companies - footwear giant Bata South Africa and FMCG manufacturer, The Lion Match Company - have teamed up to tackle the issue of children in South Africa who face the daily challenge of attending school without proper footwear. To date, the partnership has benefitted over 330 children at four schools, with the most recent handovers at Langalibalele Primary School and Ohlange High School in Inanda, KwaZulu-Natal. For generations, both Bata and The Lion Match Company have been closely associated with the school journey of South African children through their renowned brands. Bata SA produces more than 4 million school shoes in the country each year, including Toughees, the most trusted school shoe since 1954. Over 2.5 million tins of Lion' Quality Shoe Polish are produced each year, giving shoes lasting shine for generations of children, while protecting them from scuffing during busy days spent between the classroom and playground. Every child deserves an opportunity to shine and it starts with the shoes they put on in the morning. Monde Ntuli A common purpose and shared values further unites the two entities. Clear synergies exist between the Bata Children's Programme (BCP), which has been striving to alleviate the burden on underprivileged school children since 2010, and Lion Quality Shoe Polish's ongoing effort to donate school shoes and school supplies to deserving learners, helping to restore their dignity. Monde Ntuli, brand manager for Lion Quality Shoe Polish, said: Both The Lion Match Company and Bata recognise that far too many children in South Africa go to school daily either barefoot or without proper footwear, risking injury and infection. Every child deserves an opportunity to shine and it starts with the shoes they put on in the morning. This is why we are proud to partner with Bata and hope to restore pride and dignity for as many of these vulnerable children and underprivileged schools as possible. Michael Wyatt, managing director at Bata South Africa, agreed: Bata firmly believes in collaborating and addressing worldwide issues locally by forming valuable partnerships with brands that share our principles and aspire to bring positive change in the lives of those who require the most aid. With formidable partners such as The Lion Match Company, we believe we can steadily build a brighter future for South African children. In support of the initiative, Bata is donating half of the quantities of shoes required at schools identified by The Lion Match Company nationally, while the remainder will be supplied at Batas discounted rates for corporate bulk orders. Lion Match will donate 20c from every specially marked tin of Lion Quality Shoe Polish sold, to fund the purchase of new school shoes. Bata pursues numerous partnerships with corporate South Africa and civil society to ensure that South African children can put their best foot forward and access opportunities that help them reach their full potential. During April 2023, anyone who purchases school shoes via the Toughees website and online store will also receive a free Lion Quality Shoe Polish with their order, to keep their Toughees looking their best, protected from water and scuffing, and with leather strength and long-lasting shine. The finalists in the 36th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards, selected from eight universities, have been announced. Each will receive a R10,000 prize and the opportunity to compete for the top title, including a R70,000 grand prize, at a live event on Tuesday, 16 May. The finalists were selected based on their architectural master's theses from the class of 2022. 36th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards finalists. Source: Supplied Our relationship with the awards goes back some 36 years, and it is one that has proved very enlightening for Corobrik. It has added a lot of depth and enriched the architectural profession by allowing young up-and-coming architects to express themselves and show the kinds of directions they believe architecture should be going in, says Corobrik CEO Nick Booth. The 36th Corobrik Student Architecture Awards finalists are: Melicia van Loggerenberg, University of Pretoria Entitled "Environment as a cognitive prosthesis", Van Loggerenbergs mini-dissertation highlights the lack of age-inclusive interventions in public and social environments, specifically pertaining to the growing elderly demographic. A further critique of geriatric care architecture provides insight into the gaps in the discourse of which our failure to consider cognitive dependencies is the biggest shortcoming. The results of Van Loggerenberg's research serve as a guideline for future projects advocating against ageist urban environments, contributing to a knowledge source that we will soon not be able to design without. Mia Pulles, University of the Witwatersrand Entitled "Igniting the heart(h): Resuscitating the heritage of the Melville Koppies through earth and fire craft production", Pulles' project engages with the conservation and resuscitation of the Melville Koppies site in Johannesburg. It celebrates its ancient, richly-layered heritage with the design of a living museum, an artisanal pottery-making and iron-forging production space crafts both deeply embedded in the sites untold history. Katherine van Wyngaarden, University of Cape Town Entitled "Playful architecture constructing sociality", Van Wyngaarden's project explores themes of playful architecture and how activated, adaptable and dynamic spaces are created by embracing the inherent instability of social space. The project is situated within an imagined future fabric of District 6 in Cape Town, on a site with existing activities to be plugged into and reinforced. Ane Meyer, University of the Free State Meyer's thesis is entitled "Ephemeral skin: Towards a reparational, relational, and respectful engagement with the temporal environment". The design of an algae research and manufacturing institute at Hartbeespoort Dam focuses on permanence and temporality in nature and the built form, growing and decaying with the landscape. The building will partly disappear over time, leaving a public park after the threat posed by hazardous algae blooms and the subsequent need for algae research is no longer dominant. Luzuko Funda, Nelson Mandela University Fundas project, "The design of buildings for the Faculty of Agriculture at the University of Fort Hare in East London", aims to revitalise the city surrounding the campus. It creates an edge building that interacts with the public realm, while slightly touching the natural landscape to preserve the natural edge. The technical design looks at adapting the existing Old Miriam Makeba building on the site and using modular systems as an architectural expression to create a sustainable building that fits the context. Kreolin Lyle Naicker, University of KwaZulu-Natal Naickers research, "An exploration of water security through architecture: Towards a learning centre in Durban", aims to change our perception of water by means of a multi-sensory experience of the treatment process. The built and natural environment becomes a living system that demonstrates the water-cleaning process through an outdoor park with various bio-retention systems, allowing visitors to (re)connect with nature. The design encapsulates a strong axis from the entrance to the harbour, with adjoining interactive learning spaces and seating areas to attract visitors, forming active and informal learning environments. Cindy Langa, University of Johannesburg Langa's project, "Broken narratives and blurred recollections: [Re]Constructing Sharpeville's broken memorial landscape", critiques the memorialisation of the Sharpeville massacre. It proves how the memory of the massacre has been vandalised narratively and physically pre- and post-democracy. I argue that the blatant erasure of these narratives is an act of violence against the victims, and the surviving community of Sharpeville, says Langa. Francois Luc Groenewald, Tshwane University of Technology Entitled "The design of an exploratorium at the Swartkop Air Force Base, Valhalla, South Africa", sheds light on the unrecognised and forgotten narratives of our aviation history. The thesis reconstructs and reactivates a pre-apartheid, post-WW1 conservation site dedicated for aviation commemoration into an appropriate architectural solution by rescripting the programme, use and aviation heritage resources. To view the winning regional projects and to watch the awards live on 16 May, go to www.studentawards.corobrik.co.za. South Africa has a large advisory and financial-planning industry serving the retail public, but is this industry evolving quickly enough to provide advice cognisant of emerging risks? Will advice ignore the effects on investment portfolios of climate change, biodiversity loss and water scarcity, among other Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) factors? Or will financial advisors and planners become the missing link between sustainable finance products and customers? With all the noise around ESG investing it can be difficult for customers and their advisors to distil what is relevant. Certainly, ESG investing has become mainstream, being discussed around boardrooms and dining-room tables. There are a growing number of investors wanting to align their investments with their values by investing in companies that prioritise ESG factors and outcomes, and arguably all investors are increasingly becoming aware that to ensure long-term financial value they need to invest in companies pursuing a sustainable strategy and managing ESG-related risk ensuring resilience. This change in investor sentiment has led to the development of investment products labelled by product houses as green or sustainable, designed to soak up this increasing demand. Unfortunately, not all of these labels accurately reflect the real world impact of the packaged portfolios, leading to distrust and accusations of greenwashing. Unhelpfully, the ESG discussion in the United States has become politically charged, suggesting that savers and investors funds should be invested with no other objective than targeting financial returns. Complicating factors such as lack of data available in respect of portfolio companies, inconsistent disclosure and reporting, multiple divergent frameworks categorising projects and portfolio companies, and philosophical difficulties in addressing transition in certain sectors, make it almost impossible for a retail investor, or even institutional investors like pension funds, to know how best to invest to ensure the long-term sustainability of their investments and to align their money with their values. Pension funds as a socially responsible investment From as early as 2011, Regulation 28 of the Pensions Fund Act, 1956 has required pension funds to adopt socially responsible investment approaches that promote and give appropriate consideration to any factor which may materially affect the sustainable long-term performance of a funds assets, including factors falling under the ESG umbrella. This regulation recognises that ESG matters may impact the long-term performance of an asset and should be explicitly considered in a due diligence assessment because a failure to do so could mean under or over-estimating the expected returns to be generated by the asset. This reflects an acknowledgement by South African authorities that to meet at least the first aim of an investor requires consideration of ESG factors. But notwithstanding that, pension-fund trustees have been required to act in accordance with this duty for more than a decade, uncertainty remains and we continue to see pension funds investing in assets with dubious sustainability strategies (with potential risk to long-term return) to realise a short-term gain. Asset consultants and asset managers are not routinely mandated by pension-fund clients to weigh ESG factors pertaining to a portfolio company equally against the expected financial returns posed by the investment. This means that even though service providers may consider ESG metrics when evaluating an investment, they remain incentivised by short-term financial return and in some instances prohibited from disinvesting from an asset providing a short-term financial gain, but scoring badly against ESG metrics. Against this backdrop, imagine then the position of a retail customer either wanting their discretionary investments or pension fund to align capital with positive sustainable impact or even if indifferent to impact, wanting their investment to deliver sustainable long-term performance. Should an advisor to such a customer be required to talk about ESG and sustainability when advising them? South African law and incorporation of this duty South African law does not currently impose this specific duty on financial-services providers (FSPs) and their representatives in so many words, but arguably existing obligations could incorporate this duty. Board Notice 80 of 2003 (General Code of Conduct for Authorised FSPs and representatives) published under the Financial Advisory and Intermediary Services Act, 2002, imposes a duty on financial services providers to render services in accordance with reasonable requests or client instructions, with due regard to the interests of clients which must be accorded appropriately over any interests of the FSP and to provide a client with appropriate advice concerning the clients needs and objectives. The latest draft of the Conduct of Financial Institutions Bill, 2020 confirms this principle by requiring advice to be given in respect of appropriate financial products and services to targeted financial customers and requiring financial institutions to monitor and review the suitability of their financial products and services on an ongoing basis. As such, where a clients interests, needs, objectives and instructions require that their capital be invested either to achieve long-term sustainable growth or align with their values a FSP would have a duty to take ESG factors into account when advising their clients. This is in line with the laws of other jurisdictions, which impose similar duties on their financial services firms. In the UK, guidance on the Consumer Duty issued in 2022 requires firms to consider the diverse needs of customers and ensure that financial products and services are suitable to meet such needs and in the European Union, MiFID II, the legislative framework instituted by the European Union to regulate financial markets and improve investor protections, has recently been amended to incorporate sustainability and impose an obligation on firms to assess the suitability and appropriateness of investment products and services which are provided to clients. Influencer marketing continues to be a growing industry as it helps brands win over new customers and retain existing ones. For many businesses, influencer marketing forms a key part of their marketing strategy its a powerful way for them to differentiate themselves from their competitors, particularly in the face of the current economic downturn which sees brands fiercely competing for consumer spend. By partnering with the right influencers, brands can stand out in the minds of consumers and connect with their target market in an authentic way. According to the Influencer Marketing Hubs State of Influencer Marketing Benchmark Report, influencer marketing had an estimated market size of $16.4bn last year and is expected to reach $21.1bn in 2023 thats a 29% jump. At the same time there has been a massive spike in e-commerce in South Africa with data from the FNB Merchant Services showing that the South African online e-commerce market is expected to jump from R200bn per annum to more than R400bn by 2025 off the back of more than one billion transactions per annum. There has been a marked shift in the role of influencers in marketing in South Africa, particularly in the e-commerce space, as companies recognise the value of peer-to-peer communication. Here is how aspiring social media content creators can get a piece of the influencer pie: 1. Create your own personal brand Breaking into the influencer market requires building a strong personal brand and establishing a loyal following on one or more social media platforms. While it may seem challenging if you havent started yet, it's never too late to begin. Start by identifying your niche, then get to creating and posting quality content regularly, engaging with the audience you build, collaborating with other influencers, and staying authentic this way you create your own personal brand. It takes time and effort, but with persistence and consistency you can succeed. 2. Post content that is relevant, sincere and helpful Compelling content is key to your success. It needs to be authentic, relevant and tell a story that viewers resonate with. In 2023 we are seeing that video content, short-form content and user generated content is popular, as well as content which incorporates trends into its messaging. Additionally, content that provides value such as educational or informative content is compelling to an audience, especially if its tailored to their interests and needs. 3. Master video and these key trends Social media trends are ever-changing and are influenced by both user behaviour and platform algorithms. To maximise reach and engagement, it is important to stay ahead of the trends, and right now that means short-form video content, interactive content, and real-time ephemeral content. Short-form video content like you find on TikTok and Instagram Reels has exploded in popularity in recent years, largely due to its ability to capture and hold users attention quickly. Similarly interactive content such as quizzes, polls and surveys has also grown in popularity. These boost engagement and provide a unique and personalised experience for the audience while enabling your partner brand to gather valuable data and insights. Real-time content that disappears after a set amount of time, such as Instagram and Facebook Stories is also proving popular with audiences. This type of ephemeral content is most suited to a live event, special occasion, or campaign content. Because it is only available for a limited amount of time it creates a sense of urgency and FOMO for the audience, encouraging them to look out for the content and to engage and interact then and there. 4. Prepare a media kit and polish up your branch reach outs Building relationships with brands or their agencies takes time and effort, but a personalised and professional approach goes a long way to establish a positive and mutually beneficial partnership. When it comes to reaching out, here are some important dos and donts: Do: Research the brand and make sure your message is tailored to them. Clearly state your value proposition and what you can offer the brand. Be professional and courteous in your approach, keeping in mind that first impressions are important. Follow up in a week or two if you don't hear back, but don't be pushy or aggressive. Give examples of your work and include a media kit and rate card with links to all your social feeds. Don't: Dont send a generic message to multiple brands. Dont make demands or appear entitled, instead focus on how you can provide value. Dont spam the brand with multiple messages or follow ups. Dont be dishonest about your intentions or experience. Dont exaggerate or misrepresent your reach or engagement rate. 5. Use analytics to your advantage Set time aside to come to grips with social media analytics and leverage these insights to understand exactly what types of content resonate with your audience. Authentic engagement (comments, shares, saves) is the most important stat brands are looking at, so try to spotlight what content gains you the most engagement with your audience. 6. Dont be tempted to buy followers While brands and agencies cant actually access your social media accounts, we have various tools and manual checks which we can use to tell if you have bought your followers. Red flags include a sudden large increase in followers without a corresponding increase in engagement, and a high ratio of followers to following meaning the account follows very few users relative to the number of followers. A low quality of followers, such as profiles with no profile pictures or posts, inactive accounts, or bot accounts also sets off alarm bells, as does a sudden drop in followers, which can happen when social media platforms remove fake or inactive accounts. According to JLL's, R16.7bn of direct investment in the property sector was reported nationally, with the Western Cape and Gauteng markets driving the transactions. The report reviews commercial property investment activity across the office, industrial, retail and alternative, living and hospitality markets in South Africa. Mieke Purnell, research manager at JLL said, All in all, and despite the macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges faced globally, the commercial property market in South Africa fared relatively well in 2022, with strong performance emanating from the Western Cape. Although total property investment in 2022 fell short of 2021, the Western Cape experienced a surge in investment activity, with a total just shy of R3.9bn recorded - a 66% improvement on the previous year. Sectoral performance varied in 2022, including robust performance within the industrial sector, a slower than expected recovery in the retail sector, and a lagging recovery in offices. The alternatives, living, and hospitality sectors also gained market share in comparison to previous years. The total geographical investment spread for Gauteng and the Western Cape across all these sectors over the last two years is reported by JLL as follows: A large portion of the transactions occurred in the industrial sector, with R6.1bn reported for 2022, a mammoth 41% increase on the previous year. Approximately R2bn of these investments occurred in the Western Cape, while Gauteng fell to levels close to R2.5bn. Commenting on the report, Kim Pfaff-Karg, chief investment officer of Cape-based Spear Reit Limited, said, Although Gauteng still accounts for the lions share of investment, the figures show a progressive decline in Gauteng since 2020, while the Western Cape has soared. The Western Cape is a magnet-market, being the key migration destination for both people and companies in search of a more attractive and economically viable location. Kim Pfaff-Karg, chief investment officer of Spear Reit Limited Good quality properties in the Western Cape remain tightly held. Property investors (public and private), from all regions of South Africa, are targeting the province where capital values have remained steadfast and cashflows have proven resilient, despite challenging market conditions, continued Pfaff-Karg. The upshots of semigration are particularly evident in the industrial sector, she continued. Our industrial portfolio has performed well as manufacturers and warehousing industries earmark Cape Town as a growth node for their business. Although we expect this trend to spill over to all sectors in the near future," said Pfaff-Karg, "our strategy is to grow our portfolio with a bias towards industrial and convenience retail assets within the Western Cape. Spear Reit recently announced the disposal of Liberty Life, an 18,244m2 commercial office building in Century City, citing a rebalancing of its portfolio into the industrial sector supported by the acquisition of The Island, a 21,774m2 industrial park located in Paarden Eiland. Growth opportunities in the Western Cape The industrial and retail sectors have been flagged as growth opportunities in the Western Cape in particular, largely due to a surge in demand, coupled with scarcity of land. Although the report shows that 2022s consumer spending did not live up to expectations in the retail sector, with an overall decrease of 32% year-on-year indicated. The office sector has shown a recovery of 4% (equivalent to R2.7bn) after a sharp decline between 2018 and 2021. Most of the investment footprint was driven by owner-occupiers and conversion potential in Gauteng. Return to the office has been given a boost by South Africas energy crisis as load shedding woes bring workers to those offices that offer a charged power point. Pfaff-Karg said that a healthy return to the office environment and semigration are expected to benefit the groups office portfolio, having a positive impact on vacancy rates and rental growth. Spear Reir currently owns a portfolio of R4.5bn in diversified Cape Town-focused assets, with its longer-term strategy to grow the portfolio to a mid-cap Reit with R15bn of assets under ownership within the Western Cape. A song of great love: China's international medical assistance contributes to human peace, development 10:58, April 13, 2023 By He Yin ( People's Daily A member of the Chinese medical team assisting Dominica performs the implantation of an artificial cardiac pacemaker for a local patient. (Photo from the China International Development Cooperation Agency) This year marked the 60th anniversary of China sending its first medical team to Algeria on April 6, 1963. So far, batches of Chinese medical teams have offered sincere assistance to countries in need with outstanding medical skills and noble ethics. They have explained the spirit of the Chinese medical team featuring no fear of hardships, willingness to dedicate, saving lives and great love with practical actions, winning wide applause from the international community. Patients from various countries thanked Chinese doctors for "creating medical miracles," while foreign doctors applauded them for passing on valuable experiences from China. Chinese medical workers have shown their great love with dedication. Over the past 60 years, China has dispatched around 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people. Currently, Chinese medical teams work at 115 sites in 56 countries, nearly half of which are in remote areas with harsh conditions. Overcoming difficulties in work and life, Chinese medical personnel are benefiting the people in those countries with medical proficiency and ethics. Dedicating all their efforts to international medical assistance, they believe that the smiles of the patients are the motivation for their persistence, and doctors must do everything they can to save lives against all odds. The words interpret Chinese doctors' respect for life. A member of the Chinese medical team assisting Morocco offers medical services for a local resident. (Photo courtesy of the Chinese medical team assisting Morocco) Chinese medical workers are not only "angels in white" who save lives, but also envoys of friendship who pass on love. In Algeria, Chinese medical teams often host academic saloons, lectures, acupuncture training programs and other teaching activities. In Vanuatu, Chinese medical teams join local patrol missions, offer free clinical treatment, and launch investigations and health education activities apart from providing routine medical assistance. In Malta, a traditional Chinese medicine center established by Chinese medical workers has held over 10 acupuncture training sessions, which were joined by trainees from multiple European countries including Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Serbia. Chinese medical teams have also trained local practitioners based on each trainee's aptitude, cultivating local medical talents for the community. With concrete actions, they tell Chinese stories to the international community and forge a closer people-to-people bond between China and other countries. In the 1970s, Mei Gengnian, the leader of China's first medical team to aid Ethiopia, sacrificed his life in the country when practicing medical service to local people and was buried in a local village. His tomb has been "guarded" for decades by local resident Zewdie Haile and his family for generations, which has become a warmhearted tale spreading throughout the village. Chinese and Guinean doctors perform surgery for a patient in an operating room of the China-Guinea Friendship Hospital in Guinea. (Photo provided by the Chinese medical team assisting Guinea) The Chinese people love peace and cherish lives, which is illustrated by their efforts in international medical assistance. After the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, China sent more than 1,200 medical workers to treat over 800 patients and provided public health training for more than 12,000 people. After the outbreak of COVID-19 globally, China has shared pandemic prevention and treatment plans with 180 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations and held video conferences on pandemic response exchanges with over 160 countries and international organizations. It has also sent 38 expert teams to 34 countries, and offered anti-pandemic materials to more than 150 countries and 15 international organizations. Besides, China has also sent short-term medical specialist teams overseas for particular diseases to safeguard the health of people in developing countries. Whether in regular health services or in response to major public health emergencies, China has always been an active provider of assistance, which fully showcases the country's major-country responsibility. There's a Chinese saying that "a just cause finds great support and compassion knows no borders." Chinese medical teams have composed a song of great love with concrete actions, making important contributions to promoting the noble cause of human peace and development. China will keep playing an active role in international medical assistance and other international cooperation, build strong synergy for building a global community of health for all and work together with all parties to safeguard the health of all humanity. (Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun) Florida's Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport was forced to close Wednesday night after a severe storm battered the area with heavy rains, which ended up causing flash flood warnings. Flights, both inbound and outbound, have been canceled and delayed amid the closure of the Fort Lauderdale airport, affecting several passengers. Besides the hassle it brought to the international airport, it also flooded the streets near the area, stalling numerous vehicles in the middle of the streets. Heavy Rains in Fort Lauderdale Close Airport As per a report by The New York Post, officials announced that the airport will be closed until 1 am, advising passengers to reschedule their flights with that in mind. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport official halted all flights shortly before 5 pm. The announcement also covers the ground transportation shuttle service in the facility, ceasing its operations temporarily. Shutting down the airport makes a lot of sense as the exit and entrances on the facility are actually "impassable" due to the extreme flooding amid the heavy downpour. Officials are now asking the public to refrain from driving to the airport. Some vehicles that attempted to brave the flooded streets along the way are now causing traffic congestion as some cars have been stranded. The Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport announced on Twitter that "our entrance and exit roads are still flooded and congested with vehicular traffic." Unless the " weather improves, " it discourages people from entering or leaving the airport unless the "weather improves." Read Also: New Zealand: National State of Emergency Raised as Cyclone Gabrielle Hits North Island Flash Flood Emergency On top of that, the National Weather Service (NWS) Miami issued a flash flood warning in several areas, such as Fort Lauderdale, Dania Beach, and Hollywood. Furthermore, NWS told people in the area that "this is a life-threatening situation. The New York Post, citing the Ohio Storm Center, reports that 14 inches of rain have since fallen near the airport. Because of this, some roads are now submerged by floodwater. The Washington Post reports that the heavy rains have relatively calmed around midnight. But despite that, the NWS Miami still warns against possible flash floods in Lauderhill, Sunrise, and Fort Lauderdale. It advises residents to avoid the streets and instead goes to higher ground. The heavy rains started pouring last Easter Sunday. Since then, advisories of tornado, flood, and wind have erupted. Forecasts predict that it will continue for the rest of the week. Potentially clearer skies will see the light of day on Saturday. As such, thunderstorms are likely to continue on Thursday and Friday. Heavy downpours might no longer affect outdoor plans over the weekend. Videos on social media platforms show vehicles stranded in the middle of the road amid deep floods. In some cases, the floodwater reached the windows of cars. Still at the airport in #FortLauderdale and we werent moving, so were driving around. This is Eller Road, and look at all the cars that are halfway under water. Not shown in the video are several more called that stalled behind us. @FLLFlyer is still closed, @nbc6. pic.twitter.com/1SXfIu1Tbg Niko Clemmons (@NBCNiko) April 12, 2023 Related Article: California: Heavy Rains, Snow Flood Towns Prompting Evacuations @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Selecting digital out of home inventory for an out of home advertising campaign across South Africa has become somewhat of a mixed bag in the past few years. The advertisers and agencies bank on us, the media owners, to provide facts that guide their decision-making processes. Facts uphold accountability and transparency; fallacies pave the way to poor representation of the outdoor industry as a whole. Outdoor Auditors reported 459 digital screens across South Africa in August 2022, thats a 227% increase in four years alone. And 64% of these screens are in Gauteng. They are popping up in all shapes; sizes and with variances of product to market positionings. Having options is great, increasing VACS (ROAD 2.0) is even better. But when the decision has to be made on which screen to purchase for a campaign, one needs to ask the question what am I actually buying here? I firmly believe a billboard is not just a billboard and even more so, a digital billboard is not just a digital billboard. Advert lengths differ; there are different loop definitions; there may be a number of flightings of adverts that differ; even the size of a DOOH screen differs from one media owner to the next. Digital screens on the same stretch of road can have price differences that are on opposite sides of the spectrum. We need to ask the question why is this? With over 400 media owners in South Africa, and over 20 of them selling networks of digital screens standardisation of DOOH offerings and reporting has become an elusive pursuit. Proposals stack up in buyers inboxes, with promises of productivity and reach. Some offerings just look so good on paper, how can they not be booked for a marketing campaign? Its time we went back to the basics of selling and buying out of home. There are a few attributes that are crucial to review when buying a digital billboard or network other than just the price offered. DOOH is magnificent, it is unique in all its glory and deserves to be treated as a gateway that can elevate a brand. The benefits of using DOOH are listed in many a proposal and found in online articles, but these can only be realised if the intended goals of using DOOH, match the actual sale concluded and the delivery of the DOOH campaign. Posing the critical questions listed below will ensure a DOOH marketing campaign delivers on promises that are supported by facts from media owners and reap the rewards of a successful advertising plan: How many locations are proposed? What is the runup of the screens proposed? What square meterage are the screens? What is the dwell time (attention) of these screens? What is the audience of these screens and how is this audience measured? How many times will the advert flight in a day per screen? Do the screens have back up power when there is loadshedding? And if not what happens to my audience or flightings? What is the average number of adverts displayed in 2/3/4/5 minutes? Can the campaign be reviewed at any time? Will there be a comprehensive post campaign report per screen and of the overall delivery of the bought network? Programmatic DOOH can answer a few of these questions automatically, and yes, I am a strong proponent of programmatic and of ad server delivery in out of home. However, not all campaigns are delivered through automation and it is imperative that transparency and accountability be upheld not only with the media owner but also with the media buyer, ensuring the advertiser or brand receives the best possible solution on DOOH. In addition to the above, 3rd party verification has become a hot topic over the past year here media owners allow an independent company to audit their DOOH campaign delivery for advertisers. Seedooh an Australian company, and Uniled from the UK are both reputable companies that offer this service and allow for standardisation of 3rd party reporting. Primedia Outdoor has integrated the technology for a POC of both verification companies into our platforms as full disclosure of transparency on what is delivered to an advertiser, along with our own comprehensive post-campaign reports, all the facts as presented before the sale is concluded are available and clear. The inimitable qualities of this media platform need to be protected. Transactions on this platform shouldnt be done just on one single decisive element. DOOH can be complicated if the specific questions are not asked upfront, or more importantly if the information is not readily available during the buying process from the media owner. Buying DOOH should be a simple process, with no grey areas lurking amongst media plans. In order to protect the integrity of this great media platform, lay the facts on the table as media owners and ask the relevant questions as media buyers. With comparable facts at hand, standardisation and quality controls are in close reach ensuring the best possible solution for advertisers. Zambia is planning to finish tests that simulate real-world cryptocurrency usage by the end of June to help it create regulations that balance citizens' safety with innovation, science and technology, minister Felix Mutati said. Source: Reuters. Felix Mutati, when he was finance minister of Zambia. The southern African country also needs digital infrastructure, including digital identities, before cryptocurrencies can be introduced, Mutati said in an interview on Wednesday, 13 April. The Central African Republic surprised investors last year by making bitcoin legal tender and launching its own cryptocurrency token, but other African countries have been warier, with Nigeria banning banks from handling crypto assets. "Our main goal in the area of cryptocurrency is to strike a balance between innovation in terms of digital payments ... against citizens' safety, particularly given that cryptocurrency is very volatile," Mutati said. "The central bank is simulating that to see what would happen in the real world. The results will assist us (in) the formulation of the regulation." Prices of digital currencies plunged last year amid the collapse of exchange FTX and a number of other companies, though they have recovered some of the losses this year. "What we are seeing is increased appetite to invest in Zambia," Mutati said, when asked whether any investments under his purview had been delayed, suspended or cancelled due to Zambia's long-delayed debt restructuring. Zambia, which was the first African country to default in the Covid-19 era in 2020, could lose gains made from economic reforms, if the restructuring of $18.6bn of external debt is further delayed, the country's Treasury secretary said. Creditors from China, which has been accused by some Western officials of slowing down the restructuring process, hold the largest portion of Zambia's external debt - about $5.7bn at the end of 2022, according to government data. Mutati said the way Chinese loans were contracted during his tenure as finance minister between 2016 and 2018 depended on the project. He said state power utility Zesco approached China's Sinohydro about building the Kafue Lower Gorge hydropower project, funded by a $1bn loan by the Export-Import Bank of China and Industrial and Commercial Bank of China. The government initiated the new Lusaka international airport, he said, while Chinese investors started the Chambishi economic zone. Rocket Creative Design & Display has recently marked a momentous occasion - its 25th Anniversary. The event was attended by key clientele, employees, and industry partners, all of whom have played a vital role in the company's success. Held at Dainfern Country Club, the guests took the opportunity to relax and enjoy the occasion in a fun, celebratory atmosphere. Since its inception in March 1998, Rocket Creative has been unwaveringly committed to providing its clients with premium, aesthetically distinctive display products and unparalleled service levels. The company takes immense pride in its accomplishments and contributions to the industry, as well as its distinguished work completed for its valued clientele. Richard Nilson, the founder and managing director of Rocket Creative, expressed his sincere appreciation for the company's clientele, stating that "We are delighted to have reached this incredible milestone, and we are grateful to our blue-chip clientele for their unwavering support over the years." He further acknowledged the exceptional work, dedication, and resilience exhibited by his team, particularly during and after the pandemic. He elaborated, "Rocket Creative has emerged as a prominent player in its industry over our 25 years, thanks to our teams' relentless creativity, diligence and evolution. The company's commitment to innovation has enabled us to remain at the forefront of the industry and cater to the ever-changing requirements of our big-brand clientele", he added. As Rocket Creative looks forward to the future, Nilson expressed his commitment to the company's continued innovation and progression to deliverer exceptional products and services for years to come. With an impressive growth in 2022, the company recently relocated to a new, more spacious facility, enhancing its capabilities, and augmenting its capacity to meet the growing demands of its clientele. For more information on the business, please visit www.rocketcreative.co.za or contact their Client Service Team at +27 (11) 262 4698. On 15 September, Shukri Toefy entrepreneur and global speaker, will explain to Nedbank IMC 2023 delegates how to get up close and personal with our inner entrepreneurs. As an entrepreneur, global keynote speaker, strategic advisor, investor, board director, and the founder of a number of businesses, Toefy has consulted to some of the most exciting brands and organisations in the world, as well as serving as a special advisor to the G20 World Policy Forum. This years Nedbank IMC theme is Marketing. Up Close & Personal and today the Nedbank IMC team have done just that in a Q&A session with Toefy. Read on. Shukri, are entrepreneurs born or made? An entrepreneur can definitely be made by enhancing our innate personal qualities. We all have resilience and grit, and an appetite for risk (at differing levels). But for many of us, if we are not socialised in the correct way and dont have the right people around us, we lose sight of our entrepreneurial abilities. But entrepreneurial thinking can be taught and enhanced. What is important about entrepreneurial thinking for marketers and advertisers? Being an entrepreneur doesnt necessarily mean that you are going out to build a start-up. Entrepreneurial thinking should be applied to creative industries, whether you're a designer or a marketer. As marketers, we speak about being growth marketers. Well, what does that mean? What is our responsibility to our clients? An entrepreneurial mindset can help us look at things from a different perspective. Our job is to assist our clients in putting their imprint on the world. Do we fully get their relevance? Do we understand what their success (and thus ours) looks like? As marketers we need to create a favourable environment so that our clients can flourish. Thinking like an entrepreneur can help create that environment. Can brands be entrepreneurial? Yes, definitely. Entrepreneurial brands approach the market in different ways; looking for opportunities and grasping these. Entrepreneurs must be agile and this goes for brands as well. In the South Africa context, Discovery is a good example of a company that had a vision that's larger than themselves. It made sense to talk about health - and striving for good health - when thinking about healthcare. Yet that link had never before been articulated by a medical aid. It was a mindset that Discoverys customers could easily buy into. Are todays consumers entrepreneurial and does this give risk to brand risk? Consumers have more power now than ever before, and I think they should be able to use that power. We could say that consumers are all entrepreneurs, owning their journeys and forging different ways of interacting with the world around them. Brands have the reciprocal duty to realise this. While people have always cared about what their preferred brands do, today the response to brands happens more quickly, and proliferates much faster. Brands need to have playbook that includes the potential risks that can arise. Importantly though, it is about walking the talk. It's about doing what you say. Brands can't put their values on the wall and then not internalise them in their day-to-day products and services - because you will get called out for that by your consumers. Whether you are a brand considering how to drive an entrepreneurial mindset, or a creator wanting to you want to unleash your inner entrepreneur, then dont delay: Register today for the Nedbank IMC. The one-day event will take place in person at Urban Brew Studios in Johannesburg, on 15 September 2023. There is also an ONLINE option. Limited seats available Virtual tickets priced at R1,499. For more information visit: www.imcconference.com. Democrats in Congress are putting pressure on California Senator Dianne Feinstein to retire after she was absent for a significant amount of time due to health issues. The 89-year-old senator issued a statement late Wednesday detailing the medical problems that have prevented her from returning to Washington. She plans to go home as soon as her doctors give them the all-clear signal. Dianne Feinstein said that she has requested that a Democratic senator be appointed by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to "temporarily" fill her position on the Senate Judiciary Committee until her return, according to CBS News. In a statement released late Wednesday night, Schumer promised to petition the Senate "next week" to grant her request. California Senator Dianne Feinstein has said she plans to return to Washington "as soon as possible" after receiving medical clearance to do so. In addition, the legislator said that she was still dedicated to working from home in San Francisco amid the Dianne Feinstein health issue. On March 7, Dianne Feinstein revealed that she had been released from the hospital and was undergoing treatment for her infection at home. She expressed hope for a speedy return to the Senate. A week before, she had expressed optimism that she would return to Washington by the end of March. After being out of session since March 31, the US Senate will be meeting again the following week. Read Also: US-Mexico Border: Deadly Fire in Detention Center Diane Feinstein's Health Absence Prompts Resignation Calls California Democrat Ro Khanna was the first legislator to demand Feinstein's resignation on Wednesday evening. He tweeted, "It's time for @SenFeinstein to resign. 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." Rep. Khanna underscored the gravity of the issue in the court, where radical justices are actively attacking women's rights. He pointed out the irony of denouncing these judges on television while maintaining silence about Senator Feinstein's frequent absence from important votes on pro-choice justices, NBC News reported. The competition for the potential succession of Senator Dianne Feinstein in California involves House Democratic Representatives Adam Schiff, Katie Porter, and Barbara Lee, as reported by Politico. However, Governor Newsom's pledge to appoint a Black woman as Feinstein's replacement if she resigns further complicates their already intense rivalry. Earlier this year, Sen. Dianne Feinstein stated that she was suffering from shingles and anticipated resuming her Senate responsibilities in a few weeks. However, fears have developed among several Democratic colleagues, including high-ranking congressional aides, that Dianne Feinstein may not be able to return to work in Washington. per a previous HNGN report. Related Article: Jamie Foxx Hospitalized for 'Medical Complication' @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Since 2018, industrial pork producers have been using customizable mRNA-based "vaccines" on their herds. According to drugmaker Merck, the vaccines target existing and evolving swine pathogens, including diseases not covered by conventional swine vaccines. Miss a day, miss a lot. Subscribe to The Defender's Top News of the Day. It's free. Story at a glance: For the last couple of years, Ive recommended not eating pork due to its high linoleic acid (LA) content, but theres an even bigger reason to avoid it now. Since 2018, pork producers have been using customizable mRNA-based vaccines on their herds. The very first RNA-based livestock vaccine, a swine influenza (H3N2) RNA shot licensed in 2012, was developed by Harrisvaccines. The company followed up with an avian influenza mRNA shot in 2015. Harrisvaccines was acquired by Merck Animal Health later that year. CureVac developed an mRNA-based rabies shot for pigs in 2016. The swine vaccine platform Sequivity, introduced in 2018, was developed by Merck in partnership with Moderna. Sequivity can produce endlessly customized vaccines, none of which undergo safety testing. Americans have been eating pork treated with gene therapy for nearly five years already, and even more of our meat supply is about to get the same treatment. mRNA-lipid nanoparticle shots for avian influenza are in the works, as are mRNA shots for cows. Lobbyists for the Cattlemens Association recently confirmed they intend to use mRNA vaccines in cattle, which might affect both dairy and beef. Missouri House Bill 1169 would require labeling of products that can alter your genes. It would also require companies to share information about the potential transmissibility of gene-altering interventions, and asserts that fully informed consent must be given for all vaccines, gene therapies and medical interventions. For the last couple of years, Ive recommended not eating pork due to its high linoleic acid (LA) content, but theres an even bigger reason to avoid it now. Since 2018, pork producers have been using customizable mRNA-based vaccines on their herds, and this has slipped completely under the radar. I myself just found out about it. As described on Mercks animal health website: A revolutionary swine vaccine platform, SEQUIVITY harnesses RNA particle technology to create customized prescription vaccines against strains of influenza A virus in swine, porcine circovirus (PCV), rotavirus and beyond. Its supported by a sophisticated dashboard filled with comprehensive data and insights Sequivity is a custom swine vaccine platform Sequivity only targets swine pathogen gene sequences of interest. Doesnt replicate or cause disease, delivering pathogen information to the immune system Theres no need to transfer or handle live material like autogenous, killed or modified live vaccines Targets existing and evolving swine pathogens, including diseases not covered by conventional swine vaccines. Allows for the creation of multivalent formulations by blending RNA particles to target multiple swine pathogens in one shot. First RNA vaccine for livestock licensed in 2012 Merck was not alone in developing veterinary mRNA shots, however. They werent even first on the scene, although they later acquired the company that started it all. The very first RNA-based livestock vaccine, a swine influenza (H3N2) RNA shot, was licensed over a decade ago in 2012, and was developed by Harrisvaccines. The company followed up with an avian influenza mRNA shot in 2015. Harrisvaccines was acquired by Merck Animal Health later that year. CureVac developed an mRNA-based rabies shot for pigs in 2016. (On a side note, they began conducting human rabies shot trials in 2020 in response to the World Health Organizations goal to achieve zero human rabies deaths by 2030.) In 2016, Bayer also partnered with BioNTech to develop mRNA vaccines for both livestock and pets, but it doesnt appear they ever launched anything. So, in retrospect, it appears Americans have been eating pork treated with gene therapy for the past five years, and even more of our meat supply is about to get contaminated with the same treatment. In addition to the avian influenza RNA shot for chickens licensed in 2015, newer mRNA-lipid nanoparticle shots for avian influenza are also in the works. Iowa State University is also working on an mRNA shot for cows, and lobbyists for the Cattlemens Association recently confirmed they intend to use mRNA vaccines in cattle, which might affect both dairy and beef. Merck and Moderna: Partners in mRNA jab race since 2015 The same year Merck purchased Harrisvaccines (2015), it also entered into a partnership with Moderna to develop a number of undisclosed mRNA vaccines. It was slated to be a three-year collaboration, with a one-year optional extension, in which Merck would perform research and development and commercialization of five potential products using Modernas mRNA technology. As reported by Genetic Engineering & Biotechnology News at the time: Moderna has agreed to design and synthesize the mRNA product candidates directed against selected targets through its mRNA Therapeutics platform. The platform builds on the discovery that modified mRNA can direct the bodys cellular machinery to produce nearly any protein of interest ranging from native proteins to antibodies and other entirely novel protein constructs with therapeutic activity inside and outside of cells. Endless customization, zero safety testing Sequivity, introduced in 2018, was one of the products that came out of that partnership. As explained by Merck (both on its website and in the video below), Sequivity is not so much a single vaccine as it is a platform that can be endlessly customized all without additional safety analyses over and beyond the initial ridiculously inadequate testing. As noted by Zoetis, the largest producer of veterinary drugs and vaccines: Sequivity has safety and efficacy studies based on the platform with a historical initial isolate, not likely the isolate that customers would be requesting in their product. Sequivity is customized as follows: Pathogen is collected and sent to a diagnostic lab. The gene of interest is sequenced and sent electronically to Sequivity analysts. A synthetic version of the gene of interest is synthesized and inserted into the RNA production platform. The RNA particles released from incubated production cells are harvested and formulated into a customized vaccine. Using this platform, a customized vaccine can be created in as little as eight weeks. Now, what could go wrong by not testing every new shot for safety? In my view, there is any number of safety hazards, as every pathogen has distinct effects, and tricking the animals body to produce that pathogen (or a pathogenic portion of that pathogen, as done with SARS-CoV-2) can have wildly unexpected side effects. Weve clearly seen this with the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein in humans. Pfizers own documentation lists 158,000 recorded side effects, and many of these diseases and conditions have never before been reported in response to a vaccine. I reviewed this evidence in Newly Released Pfizer Documents Reveal COVID Jab Dangers and CDC Aware of Hundreds of Safety Signals for COVID Jab. Yet despite the obvious risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has gone ahead and authorized updated COVID shots to be released on an annual basis without additional safety testing, and apparently safety testing of mRNA shots used in animals was foregone nearly five years ago! The risk of dangerous side effects is one of the reasons why not all conventional vaccines work out. Some simply cause too many problems. Now were to believe that the possibility for dangerous side effects doesnt exist just because were forcing the body to produce the antigen internally? If anything, the possibility for problems is higher than ever, as exposure to the antigen is continuous for a long period of time, possibly for the life of the animal. Even organic pork producers can use mRNA shots Unfortunately, due to search engines now only providing a short list of curated and heavily censored content, its been impossible to determine how many pork producers in the U.S. use Sequivity. Without that data, I recommend erring on the safe side and avoiding pork altogether, including organic pork, as organic standards do not have any rules on the use of vaccines, mRNA-based or otherwise. Seeing how the Sequivity platform has been around for nearly five years already, it seems reasonable to assume nearly all large-scale swine producers have made this transition. What do the cells in mRNA-treated meat contain? The question now is, how do mRNA shots affect the meat? For now, this is speculative, as we do not know whether veterinary mRNA shots are substituting uridine with pseudouridine, as was done in the COVID-19 shots. But if they do, then one of the obvious concerns would be that the mRNA might end up in the final meat product that you eat because this substitution makes it extremely difficult to destroy. As explained by Dr. Peter McCullough: Natural RNA is made of two purines adenine and guanine and two pyrimidines cytosine and uracil. The replacement of uracil with its ribose ring (uridine) with N-1-methyl-pseudouridine, a synthetic product makes the genetic code for the Wuhan Spike protein better stabilized on lipid nanoparticles, long-lasting, and very efficient in terms of evading cellular destruction and able to undergo repeat reading by ribosomes for continued protein synthesis. Morais et al indicate that both Pfizer and Moderna chose development strategies replacing all uridine units with pseudouridine, making the entire strand completely unnatural to the human body. Thus vaccine consultants, companies, and patients unfortunately gambled on how long mRNA would be active within the human body. Fertig et al found lipid nanoparticles with mRNA were measurable in plasma for 15 days. Recently, Castruita et al demonstrated mRNA in blood out to 28 days. Roltgen et al have found mRNA in lymph nodes 60 days after injection. None of these studies demonstrated complete clearance of mRNA from a group of patients. This is worrisome since injections are recommended in some populations just a few months apart implying there will be stacking of long-lasting mRNA in the body without adequate opportunity for clearance and elimination. We will look back for many years and ask: how could so many people readily accept injections of heavily modified synthetic genetic code giving the body instructions to manufacture a disease promoting and lethal protein engineered in a biosecurity lab in Wuhan, China? Repeated administrations of mRNA studded with apparently indestructible pseudouridine may have changed the course of lives forever. If mRNA shots can cause significant disease in humans, how has it affected our pork supply for the last five years? And how will it affect beef and chicken in the future? Can consuming genetically manipulated meat affect your health? These are questions that currently do not have answers and must be thoroughly and comprehensively investigated. Big Ag didnt tell us what they were doing One of the most frustrating aspects of this is that the industry didnt tell us they were using novel gene therapy to spin up customized vaccines in weeks without any safety testing. The only reason many of us became aware of this issue in recent weeks was because attorney Tom Renz started warning about it. In an April 2 Substack article, Renz wrote: I have been talking about gene therapy vaccines being introduced into the food supply without providing people informed consent on my Twitter account as well as pushing Missouri HB1169 which is our best bet of stopping this happening. This is a nightmare scenario whereby peoples genetics are potentially altered with factory foods without them even knowing. Let me begin by putting to rest any questions as to whether this can happen. The idea of vaccines in food has been around for a long time Here is an article published in the NIH (you know by our government) talking about foods under application to be genetically modified to become edible vaccines FROM 2013 The fact that food can be altered to act as a vaccine is not disputable. Which foods and in what ways is more of a question. It is claimed that beef, pork, etc. cannot transfer vaccination from the meat to the consumer of the meat. At initial glance that would make sense (cow DNA and people DNA is quite different and an mRNA designed for cows would probably not be able to transfer directly to people), but that is NOT the whole story. You have to remember that the additives in the mRNA vaccines are by no means proven safe and we dont even actually know what all is in these shots Ultimately the mRNA jabs still have not undergone long-term testing because long-term testing can take 10-20 years and they have not existed that long so any claims about the safety or efficacy of the stuff thats in them are garbage at best. What we do know about the mRNA vaccines is that they do not stop the spread of disease and really do not help in any way with anything. We also do know that these jabs were demonstrated, in vitro, to alter the genetic makeup of some cells and I would say it is incredibly likely that they do the outside the Petri dish. Given that we are now talking about a new level of genetic engineering with unknown effects and no long-term studies, do the potential genetic changes the mRNA injections facilitate pose a long-term risk to humans that ingest the altered food? Before you say no, wouldnt you prefer it be tested rather than being the subject of the experiment? Support Missouri House Bill 1169 As noted by Renz, Missouri House Bill 1169 would require the labeling of products that can alter your genes. It also asserts that fully informed consent must be given for all vaccines, gene therapies and medical interventions, and would require companies to share information about the potential transmissibility of gene-altering interventions. The pushback by industry against this bill has been enormous, which should tell you something. It doesnt ban anything; it only requires transparency. That, apparently, is a serious threat to industry, and the most obvious reason for that is because theyd have to admit that all sorts of foods can have gene-altering effects. Not only might this destroy Big Ag, but it would also decimate any surreptitious attempts by Big Pharma to use the food supply as a tool to distribute vaccines unbeknownst to consumers. As noted by Renz, Big pharma DOES NOT WANT people to know they are going to use food to alter their genetics. Farmers are also being set up as the fall guys, and they need to be made aware of this. Renz states: The lobbyists opposing this bill are pushing to shut this bill down because factory mega-farmers like Bill Gates, the CCP, and others want to put vaccines in your food. These guys are supporting the big money but this will come at the expense of the family farmers. The problem is that the major factory farmers like Gates have legal teams that can set up defense shields against the torts that may come if the food supply starts poisoning people Meanwhile, the small farmers will be at risk of being sued if it turns out that the food they are selling is unsafe despite the fact that most of them will not necessarily know what is happening. If the corn growers, soybean, cattle, and pork associations actually cared about the farmers they would be demanding the seed companies and vaccine manufacturers indemnify the small farmers for these products rather than opposing a bill that would force them to tell the farmers what they are doing. The corruption regarding this bill is amazing. Ultimately the labeling requirement would likely serve to protect farmers from being sued because the makers of seed and vaccines would have to make sure the farmers knew if they were putting potential gene therapies into their products. The opposition from the ag lobby is not to help the farmers, it is to help their own pockets. As noted by Renz, if this bill is passed in Missouri, it could help protect the food supply of the entire U.S. In the meantime, I recommend avoiding all pork products, including organic ones, as they not only have high levels of the omega-6 fat, linoleic acid, because of the grains they are fed, but virtually all have been contaminated with the mRNA vaccines for the past five years. Originally published by Mercola. Some businesses are still cash only (support them). Unofficially official cashless society The lady in my local minimart was wearing a red t-shirt with a giant QR code recently. I jokingly asked her if that was the QR code to scan, in order to pay for goods. She giggled and said no, its fashion! Rightok then. Ive resorted to getting a chunk of cash changed into lower denomination bills at the actual physical bank (whaaaat?!?) at the start of each month, so that I have exact change in as many situations as possible. Try it. I often take on the role of a human , when friends banking apps arent working, or when tellers card machines arent working, or when the establishment only accepts cash. Have you noticed such bank app errors becoming increasingly frequent? I noticed it loads when I was in the UK over Christmas. I had to wait around for ages in lots of places because friends and family insisted on paying by card, and the friggin machine was broken. I paid with cash, then just relaxed with my and watched the poor bar manager getting all flustered as a queue of cashless card holders unleashed a torrent of abuse on the poor chap. But one friend keeps telling me how cash sucks. Is it a bug or a feature? My local bank here in the land of masks smiles, is Kasikorn. I felt like they rug-pulled me twice in the past six weeks, the naughty little great-resetters that they are! When I went to pay for a food delivery, the banking app crashed on me. I was all drained of cash, because of being the human ATM the night before for friends. Dont worry, they paid me backwith QR code bank transfers. Heres the joyous little message I got on my slave-phone: Error message from Kbank (Kasikorn) = Rug-pulled. I had to break open the minion and spend every last coin Id horded just to pay the delivery driver, who had to wait patiently for me to double back to the Creed dungeon (he got a good tip of coins too). More recently, Id treated myself to another food delivery and for the first time in a while, found myself cashless again. I pulled out the slave-device whilst taking the lift down to the lobby, and got blindsided by a long-winded, time-consuming bank app update. Reams of terms and conditions. Highly unusual. After getting back to my hovel, I noticed theyd also emailed me a copy. Lets have a gander at the most ominous terminology theyve sneaked in there: Hmm, remember the error message I got? This seems to lay the foundation of the bank being able to blame the customers for when the network crashes (whether for real or by design). You stupid customer, what are you playing at making transactions? You should be owning nothing and being happy! Ah, the biometric malarkey. Will they be chipping me with Elons neuralink next? Or will I have to do a Tiktok dance to prove I am a human being in motion, to verify my digital ID? Know-your-customer (KYC) is getting weirder and weirder with the hoops one needs to jump through (for both banks and centralised crypto exchanges). Interesting how they went with user may open the biometrics function. Thin edge of the wedge before mandatory fingerprint and facial scanning? The plot thickens, but cash sucks, right? Now that would be rather distressing. Does this sound again like being able to terminate customers for simply using the app? Or for wrong-think (morality + public order)? This is all reminiscent of operation chokepoint in the United States. For those that dont know about operation chokepoint, it was an attempt to debank disfavoured individuals, and it seems to be happening again now, as we head towards a cashless society. Id highly recommend James Corbetts recent podcast on this topic to learn more about it. Problem-reaction-solution An interestingly suspect series of articles graced the Bangkok Post recently. I smell propaganda and agendas at play. Bangkok Post article about upcoming elections. problems like poverty and inequality have arguably worsened, even though the government has forked out huge sums on populist schemes. The number of welfare card users continues to soar. It is now reported that 22 million people -- almost one-third of the population -- have registered for this card. We see the populist schemes mentioned and a whopping one third of the countrys population registered for the welfare cards. Lets visit the prequel piece along the timeline: Bangkok Post article about police hunting a mysterious hacker who has allegedly managed to get his hands on the data of almost the entire countrys population! Police are closing in on the hacker who threatened to release data stolen in an alleged security breach affecting 55 million Thais, said Digital Economy and Society (DES) Minister Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn. Woah. This hacker has some serious skills to obtain all that glorious data. According the worldometers.info, Thailands population consists of 69,799,978 people. "We've narrowed down the potential suspects but I think we'd better leave it to police," said the minister. He said security vulnerabilities could occur when state agencies that provide public services want to make it easy for people to get their services, adding people may soon find accessing services more complicated but it is for the sake of data security. Well yeah, I should bloody well think so. Quick! Someone take away all my liberties. Protect me. Save me. Surveil me. No, wait, what? What services will get complicated to access? Its for our own good, isnt it? Wisit Wisitsora-At, DES permanent secretary, said the meeting was to establish facts surrounding the incident, to ask state agencies to assess their security risks and raise awareness about the Personal Data Protection Act (PDPA). Oh, crikey. Mr Wisit said the meeting also discussed how to promote a wider use of digital ID and push for development of digital identity verification system to tackle fraudulent online transactions. I knew it! I told you so! [Tells normie friend about the Bangkok Post articles and waits for their reaction] Its obviously necessary, Nicholas. We live in a digital world that needs digital solutions to keep us safe, so stop espousing all your paranoid conspiracy theories, you nutcase. The government must put in place better measures to improve personal data protection and make the issue national agenda as the country transits into the digital economy, according to the TCC. Whos going to be up CBDC creek with a crypto, cash, or gold paddle? Onwards we march towards the political party cash giveaway, wahooo! Bangkok Post article. The Pheu Thai Party insisted yesterday its policy to give away 10,000 baht to everyone aged 16 and older can be implemented as soon as Jan 1 next year to replace the current state welfare card if it becomes the new government. Sounds absolutely amazing, if you are a Thai national and over 16 years old. Whats the catch? The 10,000 baht of money is aimed primarily at stimulating spending in communities in the first six months, with the help of blockchain technology that will ensure the money given is spent within a 4-kilometreradius to spur economic activity, he said. Blockchain? Thats all about crypto stuff, right? Crypto is the same as CBDC, isnt it [sarcasm]? Spend it within a 4km radius? Kinda like a 15 minute city. It sounds very convenient. Anyway, what is the catch? Upon the implementation of the 10,000-baht project, every Thai who is 16 years of age and older will have a new savings bank account and a digital wallet which will be automatically connected to his or her ID, said Paopoom Rojanasakul, deputy secretary-general of Pheu Thai. Jakkapong Sangmanee, the registrar of Pheu Thai, said the party wouldn't terminate the existing state welfare project for low-income people but, when the digital wallet project begins, most Thais will no longer want to use the state welfare card. It sounds perfectly innocuous [sarcasm] and no doubt the masses will embrace it without a second thought. Onwards to the latest piece in our riveting franchise series: Bangkok Post article sequel to the trilogy. They cant find him guys, just forget about it. The army has yet to find a way to contact a sergeant, a driver at its transport department, suspected of hacking the personal data of 55 million Thais, according to the army spokeswoman. Eh? Could they message him in LINE app or tag him in a Facebook post or something? He must be seriously off-grid, this sergeant; a master of disguise and evasion. The arrest warrant stated the sergeant major was wanted on a charge of disseminating information under the computer crime law. Uh-oh, that instills fear into the hearts of all men to go out of their way to not fall foul the broadly interpretable computer crimes act. The suspect, using the pseudonym "9Near" posted on Breach Forum that he held the personal data of 55 million Thais, including names, surnames, addresses, birthdates, ID card numbers and telephone numbers. The hacker threatened to expose the information if the government agency allegedly involved in the data breach failed to meet a ransom demand last week. The suspense. Its like a crime caper movie. Reports said the suspect's wife is a nurse who is now on the run with her husband. She reportedly gained access to the Mor Prom app, a health service portal of the Public Health Ministry that contained the personal data of most of the Thai population. Wifey is on the run now too, whatever will happen next?! *Do they even exist?* An interesting comment posted under this article sums up the state of affairs in a thought provokingly concise way: Alright, thatll do it for today. The post went on longer than Id intended, probably due to my anecdotal ramblings - although perhaps you realise how that ties in with concerns over a cashless society, and digital dystopia. You may also learn a great deal from a recent email interview by Graham Smith from bitcoin.com with by James Corbett. Corbett discusses the role of crypto, governments using crises to push through CBDCs, and the parallels between the 1907 financial crisis and what were witnessing unfold now with SVB, Signature Bank, Credit Suisse, and others. Happy Songkran Nicholas Creed is a Bangkok-based journalistic dissident. If you liked this content and wish to support the work, buy him a coffee or consider a crypto donation: BTC: 39CbWqWXYzqXshzNbosbtBDf1YoJfhsr45 XMR:86nUmkrzChrCS4v5j6g3dtWy6RZAAazfCPsC8QLt7cEndNhMpouzabBXFvhTVFH3u3UsA1yTCkDvwRyGQNnK74Q2AoJs6Pt Corvette warships from the Russian Pacific Fleet are now participating in anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan. The exercises include using helicopter support to find and destroy a mock enemy submarine. Before leaving, the personnel was trained in emergency procedures to prepare three corvette ships for battle and a military operation. According to a CNN report, the fleet also participated in Russia's anti-submarine and anti-aircraft drills along with these defensive drills. According to a press statement, the Pacific Fleet will engage in "ship-based counter-sabotage support units with practical counter-sabotage grenade-launching" as part of the last phase. The Russian Navy has been conducting maneuvers in this region at least twice in less than three weeks. The Defense Ministry said that Russian missile boats launched cruise missiles at a dummy target in the Sea of Japan at the end of March. Japan's backing of Ukraine during Russia's invasion has contributed to the current rise of Japan-Russia tensions. Read Also: Sen. Dianne Feinstein's Request Amid Calls for Her Resignation Military Activities Near Japan Increase In December, China and Russia engaged in a coordinated naval drill in the East China Sea. The military exercises aimed at bolstering naval cooperation between the two countries, according to the Russian Defense Ministry, according to Anadolu. The most recent Russian military exercise takes place as North Korea launched a brand-new long-range ballistic missile on Thursday, which, according to South Korea, caused concern in northern Japan. Residents were advised to take shelter, but no threat was present. The missile, which traveled over 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), is thought to have been a brand-new weapon that North Korea recently exhibited in military parades and may have utilized solid fuel, per Reuters. The greatest height of the missile, which South Korea's military described as a "grave provocation," was less than 6,000 kilometers, which is the apogee of several of last year's record-breaking launches. Related Article: What Will Happen if China Attacks Taipei? @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Officials from India's financial investigation agency have said that a complaint has been filed against BBC's India branch for alleged breaches of foreign exchange laws. After the BBC produced a documentary analyzing Prime Minister Narendra Modi's management of a violent riot in 2002, Indian tax officials raided BBC headquarters, marking an escalation in India's activities against the British broadcaster. The ED Investigation In a report by The Washington Post, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has come under fire for its aggressive targeting of political opponents, activists, and journalists under the rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party. According to local sources, the ED has interviewed seven BBC workers, including a director, and has requested pertinent papers from BBC authorities. The ED, which investigates and prosecutes charges of money laundering and foreign financing, can punish foreign exchange rule offenders because of the Foreign Exchange Management Act. The case is filed under this bill. Based on the ED's website, just over half of the almost 34,000 instances it is investigating under this statute have been resolved. Also Read: India: Dalai Lama Kissing Child, Asking Him to 'Suck My Tongue' Goes Viral, Spiritual Leader Apologizes Counterattacking the Press The Indian government has a history of retaliating against media outlets it views as being critical of its rule. In February, tax agents raided BBC offices in Delhi and Mumbai, confiscating staff's phones. The search occurred not long after the BBC aired a divisive documentary reviving decades-old claims that Modi had failed to prevent a brutal riot in his home state of Gujarat when he was chief minister. Indian authorities utilized emergency blocking powers to demand that social media sites erase the documentary's connections, and riot police were sent to universities nationwide to jail students who were screening the documentary. According to The Indian Express, students at institutions like Delhi University have petitioned with faculty leaders to be reinstated after being suspended for showing the video despite the university's decision to do so. Meanwhile, officials from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have claimed that the BBC may be getting dubious money from China in the wake of the tax raid on BBC premises. Overlaps With Ongoing Demonstrations The new ED case coincides with persistent public protests by the opposition parties, The Washington Post reported. This is in response to the disqualification of the country's most prominent opposition leader, Rahul Gandhi, from competing in the next election. Opposition parties, in a petition to the Supreme Court that was rejected last week, had claimed that India's investigative agencies were being exploited against crucial figures. This allegation was corroborated by an investigation in the Indian Express. The ED has investigated wealthy fugitives Vijaya Mallya and Nirav Modi, journalist Rana Ayyub, and left-leaning Indian internet news portal NewsClick, among others. Also Read: Elon Musk on BBC: Twitter CEO Talks Firm Acquisition and Takeover, Reveals Sleeping on Office Couch @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. US President Joe Biden acknowledges that sensitive government records have been leaked, but he downplays their significance by saying he is not aware of "anything contemporaneous... of great consequence." President Joe Biden made his first-ever public statement about the Pentagon leaks on various social media platforms. US and NATO assistance to Ukraine and US intelligence assessments seem to be discussed in the leaked US government documents, which might strain ties with partners. The Justice Department is looking into the Pentagon leaks, as per AP News. While meeting with Irish officials in Dublin, President Joe Biden expressed concern about the Pentagon leaks, but he remarked that "nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of great consequence." President Biden said the intelligence community and the Department of Justice were conducting a "full-blown" investigation to determine who was responsible for the leak. There is no definitive information on the exact number of leaked US government documents. The AP has seen around 50 papers, possibly numbering in the hundreds. Read Also: Donald Trump Suing Ex-Lawyer What is in The Pentagon Leaks? US authorities have speculated that at least some of the Pentagon leaks were tampered with or were used in an information blitz, according to The Independent. On Monday, Apr. 10, John Kirby, a spokesperson for the National Security Council, cautioned that people should be careful about the Pentagon leaks as information presented "in some cases" was manipulated. Allegedly top secret files documenting combat evaluations and updates have been leaked online. Information leaked includes the lack of artillery rounds for Ukrainian troops, the presence of US spy aircraft in the area, and the breadth of US surveillance on its enemies and friends that may have been revealed in the papers. The briefings in the Pentagon leaks apparently served as a means of updating senior authorities, such as the Joint Chiefs of Staff, on the state of the continuing Russia-Ukraine War that Vladimir Putin initiated in February 2022. The US Department of Defense has asked the Department of Justice to launch a criminal probe over the Pentagon leaks. Related Article: US Appeals Court Places Limitations on Abortion Pill @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. BEIJING (PTI): President Xi Jinping on Wednesday asked the military to resolutely defend China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain the overall stability of the neighbouring regions, amid rising tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea. Xi, who is also the chairman of the Central Military Commission - the high command of the Chinese military, inspected the troops at the Southern Theatre Command, stressed strengthening training and combat readiness and accelerating transformation to boost the armed forces' modernisation levels on all fronts. He called on the armed forces to resolutely fulfill the duties entrusted by the ruling Communist Party and the people. At the Navy headquarters of the Southern Theatre Command, Xi said the armed forces should analyse and address military issues from a political perspective, carry out military struggles in a resolute and flexible manner, and enhance the ability to ensure timely and proper responses to complex situations. His comments came as China faced increasing tensions with the US over Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea. China on Monday said it has successfully completed its three-day large-scale fire and fury military drills "encircling" Taiwan, including the use of an aircraft carrier, aimed at showing its anger over the US House Speaker's meeting with Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen. Also China braced for tensions in the South China Sea as the US secured access to four additional military bases in the Philippines - a key bit of real estate which would offer a front row seat to monitor the Chinese in the South China Sea and around Taiwan. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. Also, more than 17,000 Philippine and US troops on Tuesday kicked off the most extensive joint military activities in decades in the Philippines. 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 Philippines-US joint drills conducted in decades. About 100 members of the Australian armed forces joined in the exercises, while a dozen countries, including Japan and Britain, are participating as observers. In his speech, Xi ordered the armed forces to strengthen training under combat conditions, innovate the concepts of combat and the methods of combat and training, and intensify force-on-force training based on operational plans. They should develop new types of combat forces and means and accelerate the efforts to incorporate new equipment and new forces into actual combat capacity, he said. Xi stressed the importance of strengthening the Party's leadership over the armed forces and urged relentless efforts to exercise full and rigorous Party self-governance in the military and govern the military with strict discipline in every aspect. Accumulated profits at the Curragh based racing firm owned by one of the best known names in Irish horse racing, trainer, Dermot Weld increased to 4.47 million in 2021. Accounts recently filed by Mr Welds Rosewell Racing Ltd show that the company recorded post tax profits of 99,950 in 2021. The post tax profits were down sharply on the profits of 417,982 in 2020 and the post tax profits of 328,250 in 2019. At the end of 2021, the firms cash funds had declined from 794,275 to 525,454. During Covid-19, Government restrictions imposed in March 2020 forced the industry in which the business operates to close until 8th June 2020 when is re-opened, albeit behind closed doors. The impact of Covid-19 continued to be felt during the year under review and the Weld firm benefited from Government grants of 143,653. Separate figures published by the Revenue Commissioners show that the firm availed of Covid-19 wage supports during 2021. Advertisement Numbers employed by the business show that headcount reduced from 58 to 50 made up of 45 general employees and five in administration. The profit in 2021 also takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 33,689. The four directors of the firm are all members of the Weld family; Mary and Dermot along with sons, Chris and Mark. Dermot, Chris and Mark are each listed as horse trainers and aggregate pay for directors declined marginally from 391,874 to 388,780 in 2021. The companys shareholder funds totalled 2.79 million after a negative 1.698 million other reserves is taken into account. Sport Urgent meetings in horse racing industry after inv... Read More The veteran trainer took over the reins of the family horse training operation at Roswell House at The Curragh in 1972 and has had numerous career highlights. Weld trained horses has won all five Irish Classics, with the trainer's first success coming with Blue Wind in the 1981 Irish Oaks. A qualified vet, Weld became the fifth Irish trainer to land a Breeders' Cup success when Tarnawa and Colin Keane won the Breeders' Cup Turf at Keeneland in November 2020. Welds success on the racecourse continues with Homeless Songs winning the Tattersalls Irish 1,000 Guineas last year where another Fashion designer Dame Mary Quant, who democratised fashion and empowered women, will be remembered for widely being credited with popularising the mini skirt. As one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the 1960s, she was seen as making fashion accessible to the masses with her sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs. In a statement her family said she died peacefully at home in Surrey at the age of 93 on Thursday. Her daring designs spread worldwide and, as she put it, liberated young women by giving them the ability to run for a bus and although she took credit for inventing the mini skirt, there has always been some dispute as to whether she was the actual pioneer. A model wears a sailor-inspired outfit from Mary Quants spring/summer collection (PA) However, she certainly did more than anybody else to popularise it and, with her pop art approach to fashion, brighten up a nation anxious to escape from the austerity of the post-war 1950s. Advertisement Born in south-east London on February 11, 1930, she was the daughter of two Welsh school teachers. She gained a diploma in the 1950s in art education at Goldsmiths College, where she met her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, who later helped establish her brand. Dame Mary was taken on as an apprentice to a milliner before making her own clothes and in 1955 opened Bazaar, a boutique on the Kings Road in Chelsea. Initially her most lucrative lines were small white plastic collars to brighten up black dresses or a black sweatshirt. Black stretch stockings were popular too. This was enough for her, and following the success of a pair of mad house pyjamas designed for the opening of Bazaar, she decided to embark on her own range of clothing. At first she worked solo, but such was the success of her imaginative efforts that she was soon employing a handful of machinists. Within 10 years, she was working with 18 different manufacturers concurrently. Fashion designer Dame Mary Quant, centre (David Parry/PA) Her success was so pronounced that she opened up another location in the no less fashionable London Street, Knightsbridge, and by 1961 she was exporting to the United States. Dame Mary also developed the coloured and patterned tights which generally accompanied mini skirts and which ultimately were to supersede stockings as routine womens wear. Advertisement To keep up with the huge demand for her fashions, she went into mass production and set up what she called the Ginger Group to boost sales. She began experimenting with shorter hemlines in the late 1950s, culminating in the creation of one of the defining fashions of the following decade. Although others claimed to be the inventors of the mini skirt, it was Dame Mary who was not only the power behind its development but who also gave it its name after her favourite make of car, the Mini. In 2014, Dame Mary recalled its feeling of freedom and liberation. Models showing off their footwear with fashion designer Mary Quant, bottom right, in London (PA) She said: It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, shorter, shorter. Other styles from the 1960s included Peter Pan collars, as well as knitwear, swimwear and accessories and garments made using Butterick patterns and the dangerously short micro-mini skirt, as well as paint box make-up and plastic raincoats. By then she was being described as the leading fashion force outside Paris, while the columnist Bernard Levin called her the high priestess of Sixties fashion. Advertisement Dame Mary also revolutionised the high street with hot pants, and trousers for women, as well as accessories, tights and make-up, while using the daisy brand design that became synonymous with her creations. Her clothes were popularised by Jean Shrimpton, Pattie Boyd, Cilla Black and Twiggy. In 1988, she designed the interior of her beloved Mini 1000 motor car. She resigned as director of Mary Quant Ltd, her cosmetic company, 12 years later after a Japanese buyout and there were soon more than 200 Mary Quant Colour shops in Japan. Dame Mary Quant (Yui Mok/PA) Dame Mary, who was also a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers and winner of the Minerva Medal, the societys highest award, was made an OBE in 1966 for services to the fashion industry. In 2014, she was made a dame for services to British fashion in the Queens New Year list. She said at the time: I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded this terrific honour. It is extremely gratifying that my work in the fashion industry has been recognised and acknowledged in such a significant way. In 2020, an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum about Dame Marys fashion proved a hit with the public. It was visited 400,000 times and was said at the time to be the third most visited fashion exhibition in the museums history after Christian Dior: Designer Of Dreams and Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. Advertisement The exhibition showcased more than 120 garments, the majority of which had never been on display before, as well as accessories, cosmetics, sketches and photographs. It also toured in Australia, Scotland and New Zealand. It revealed how Dame Mary democratised fashion and empowered women with her minimal and androgynous graphic look, which rejected the debutante styles of previous generations. Ever wish you could wear Mary Quant designs? You can! (And its easier than you think ) Download our free sewing pattern, inspired by Mary Quant's iconic A-line mini dress, and create your own. https://t.co/3fgClYZ5UF pic.twitter.com/RJZc4H4usB V&A (@V_and_A) August 4, 2021 In 2021, actress and film producer Sadie Frost created a fashion documentary about her called Quant. Contributions to the biographical film came from prominent figures in the world of fashion, such as supermodel Kate Moss, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, designer Jasper Conran and designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. Frost said Dame Mary changed the whole kind of female silhouette and stopped women dressing like their mothers by creating free and daring designs. In 2022, Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Taiwan also exhibited Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary. She was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the 2023 New Year Honours list for services to fashion. Advertisement The special award, granted to those who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine or government, was founded on June 4 1917 by George V. It is sometimes regarded as the junior honour to the Order of Merit and is made up of the sovereign, plus no more than 65 members, who may use the letters CH after their names. Dame Mary joined an illustrious list of recipients including broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, actress Dame Judi Dench, former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and musician Sir Elton John. The suspect in the leak of US classified documents was identified Jack Douglas Teixeira is the leader of a Discord group dubbed "Thug Shaker Central" A Discord member said the leaker works at an unnamed military base FBI agents captured Massachusetts Air National Guardsman Jack Douglas Teixeira at his residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts, concerning a trove of classified documents leaked online over the past few months. Attorney General Merrick Garland stated that the 21-year-old Teixeira is under investigation for the alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information. Pentagon Leaked Documents' Suspect Arrested According to an internal Department of Defense email reviewed by Fox News, Teixeira possessed the highest security clearance granted by the federal government for access to top-secret information when he joined the Air National Guard in September 2019. The suspect's security clearance and access to classified government systems have been revoked. Teixeira was most recently stationed as a member of the 102nd Intelligence Wing at Otis Air National Guard Base. Teixeira was promoted to Airman 1st Class in July of last year. A source briefed on the investigation said that the FBI began monitoring Teixeira about the leaks before Thursday but were compelled to accelerate their plans to apprehend him after the New York Times identified him on Wednesday evening. This New York Times article identified Teixeira as the leader of a Discord group dubbed "Thug Shaker Central" that consisted of approximately twenty to thirty young males. According to the report, Teixeira recently began sharing classified documents with the private group. Still, the disclosures garnered wider attention when another member posted them publicly. A video of the arrest shows a young male, believed to be Teixeira, walking backward with his hands raised toward armed FBI officers before being handcuffed and placed in a car. The FBI said that the arrest happened "without incident" and that agents continued their investigation at the residence. At least fifty and possibly more than one hundred classified documents were posted on the social media platform Discord, which is popular among gamers. The documents contain a variety of intelligence assessments regarding the conflict in Ukraine, as well as confidential information about countries around the globe, including US allies. Per BBC, a spokesperson for the Department of Defense stated that the Pentagon is continuing to "understand the scope, scale, and impact of these leaks." The Washington Post released an interview with a member of the discussion room where the documents first surfaced on Wednesday. He characterized the leaker as a young, charismatic firearms enthusiast who works at an unnamed military base and is in his early to mid-20s. Read Also: Louisville Bank Shooting: Suspect's Mental Health Issues, Revealed Jack Douglas Teixeira's Position in US Military The individual was a Discord chat room administrator with approximately two dozen members who exchanged "memes, offensive jokes, and idle chitchat" and watched movies and prayed together. The members included individuals from Russia and Ukraine and several other European, Asian, and South American nations, according to the report. Early in March, members began publishing the disclosures on other Discord servers, such as those devoted to the video game Minecraft and a Filipino YouTuber. From there, they were posted on the extremist forum 4chan and Telegram messaging application, particularly on pro-Russia channels. In some instances, they were altered to enhance the number of Ukrainian casualties. The Air National Guard is the Air Force's reserve. Teixeira's unit was stationed at the Otis Air National Guard Base in western Cape Cod, Massachusetts. Teixeira's official title is cyber transport systems journeyman, and he holds the rank of Airman 1st Class, an entry-level position. Earlier, HNGN reported that while on a journey to Ireland, US Vice President Joe Biden stated that investigators were near to identifying the leaker. Biden told reporters, "There's a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, with the intelligence community and the justice department, and they're getting close." Related Article: How Did the US Classified Documents on Ukraine War Get Leaked? @YouTube @ 2023 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Residents in Dublin 3 are opposing plans for a new 133 apartment unit ten storey high Large Scale Residential Development (LRD) for the Richmond Rd on a site close to the Tolka River. Earlier this year, a subsidiary, Malkey Ltd of Roscommon native, Michal Coxs UK based home builder, Hollybrook Homes lodged plans for the LRD on the site of the former Leydens Wholesalers & Distributors, Richmond Road, Dublin 3. The new scheme - comprising three blocks made up of 65 one bed apartments and 68 two bed apartments - represents Phase 2 of an overall development where a Hollybrook Homes connected firm has a proposed Strategic Housing Development (SHD) scheme for 183 'build to rent' units currently before An Bord Pleanala. Planning consultants for the LRD before the City Council, Thornton OConnor state that proposed development represents a significant investment in a strategically located site, which is eminently suitable for a mixed-use development comprising artist studios, a creche, a gym, retail floorspace and 133 residential units. Advertisement Patricia Thornton has told the council that this is further supported by the sites proximity to public transport, employment, services and facilities. Ms Thornton has stated the proposed development will aid in regenerating the surrounding area, creating an active street frontage and contributing to employment in the vicinity. However, in response to the scheme, the Residents of the Richmond Area state that it is their strong belief that this development is totally unsuitable for this site and will ruin the character of Richmond Road, as the proposed construction is excessive in scale overlooking existing residential properties and significantly reducing light and privacy. In an objection signed by more than 30 residents, it states that the first phase of the development comprising a built-to-rent scheme is only to drive large developer profits and will have a very negative impact on immediate neighbourhood as well as the existing community in the Richmond Road area. Ireland Dublin apartments set for sale to UK-based investm... Read More Raising traffic concerns over the proposal, the residents state that the large scale of this development will also have a huge impact on the traffic, congestion and personal safety to the existing residents due to ongoing poor condition of the very narrow Richmond Road. They state that the road is at a crawl, beyond traffic capacity during morning and evening rush hours, with no scope for improvement and outside of peak hours represent a real danger to pedestrians and cyclists due to cars driving at fast speed on a dangerous road. Cllr Karl Stanley of the Social Democrats has told the council that he views the proposed development "as being an overdevelopment of the site". He said that lowering the height of the two taller blocks and an increase the amount of open space in the proposal would help it fit better with the historical character and amenity value of the area. President Joe Biden has been told he personifies the story of Ireland as he spoke of how his ancestors were emblematic of so many Irish and American families. Mr Biden has visited Co Louth and is scheduled to travel to Co Mayo, with his ancestors hailing from both areas. During his keynote speech to the Dail on Thursday, the president recalled a trip to Ireland with his family in 2016 when they explored their ancestry in the Cooley Peninsula. He spoke of returning to Carlingford on Wednesday, and the view over Carlingford Lough, as likely one of the last glimpses of Ireland my Finnegan ancestors saw as they gazed on their way out in what in those days was referred to as a coffin ship. In remarks welcoming Mr Biden to the Dail, Speaker Sean OFearghail described the president as one of us. Advertisement He said: You often speak of your Irish roots with great pride and affection especially your ancestors from Louth and Mayo. The story of Ireland is inextricably linked to emigration and in many ways, you personify it. Mr Biden told the Dail chamber that talking about his Irish ancestry is not to wax poetic about bygone days, but because the story of my familys journey and those who left and those who stayed is emblematic of the stories of so many Irish and American families. He said: These stories are the very heart of what binds Ireland and America together. They speak to a history defined by our dreams, they speak to a present written by our shared responsibilities, and they speak to a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. Ireland UK should work more closely with Irish Government... Read More Today Id like to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between Ireland and the United States, a partnership for the ages. Continuing his words on the history of Ireland, Mr Biden said: Their sweat is soaked with communities across the nation all across America, you cant go anywhere and not find them. The journeys of our ancestors expanded our horizons. They became the untiring backbone of Americas progress as a nation. The State has urged the High Court to dismiss law student Simeon Burke's claim that he is unlawfully detained in prison following his arrest on a public order charge at the Four Courts last month. Seamus Clarke SC for the State said that Mr Burke has wrongfully stated that parties including the Gardai, lawyers for the State and the courts have engaged in a "conspiracy" to wrongfully arrest, detain and charge him with an offence arising out of an incident in the Court of Appeal (CoA) last month. Counsel said Mr Burke's allegations that gardai have "lied" about the events leading up to and subsequent to his arrest were also rejected by the State. This was not the case counsel said, adding that the court could be satisfied from the evidence that Mr Burke's ongoing detention is lawful, and that his trial on the public order matter should be permitted to proceed next week. Advertisement Mr Burke was arrested when the CoA was giving judgment in an aspect of his brother Enoch's ongoing legal dispute with Wilson's Hospital School. Mr Burke was earlier this week granted an inquiry under Article 40.4.2 of the constitution into the legality of the 24-year-old Co Mayo man's detention at Cloverhill Prison. The inquiry is being conducted by Mr Justice Brian Cregan. Detained In his submission to the court on the opening day of an inquiry into the legality of his detention Simeon Burke said that on that date he was wrongfully arrested, detained and was "treated like an animal" and was physically injured when being removed from the courtroom, and in the yard immediately outside the court. He also claims that the warrant currently detaining him is fundamentally flawed on grounds including that it states he was arrested by a garda who he alleges did not arrest him. He says the gardai had no right to remove him from the courtroom, adding that the judges of the CoA did not make a direction while they were in the courtroom that he and members of his family should leave the court. He also claims that various procedures were not followed by the gardai, including that he was never properly informed as to why he had been arrested. Advertisement He further claims that the breach of his constitutional rights is so egregious that the District Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case against him. As part of his inquiry he seeks an order from the court directing his release from prison as well as an order prohibiting his trial before the District Court from proceeding. Mr Burke, who became emotional at one point of the proceedings, said that gardai and lawyers for the DPP have lied to the District Court on matters including the use and availability of CCTV pictures taken from cameras mounted outside the CoA courtrooms, and about the availability of the court's Digital Audio Recording of proceedings on March 7th last. In reply to a question from the judge Mr Burke accepted that he did not "acquiesce" when he was detained by the gardai, during what he said was his wrongful arrest. He said that he did not accept that the CoA had asked members of his family to leave the courtroom on March 7th, adding that the judges rose after members of his family had sought to raise issues with that court while the court was reading out its judgement in his brother's case. Advertisement He said he did not accept that those interjections by other members of his family were such that the three judges of the CoA had to rise and were unable to give their decision. Simeon Burke's application is opposed, and the State represented by Mr Clarke appearing with Grainne O'Neill Bl, and the DPP who is represented in the inquiry by Matthew Holmes Bl reject the student's arguments and say that he is lawfully detained. Counsel said that all of Mr Burke's claims regarding the arrest are disputed. Including his claim that the arresting garda was not the garda who arrested him. Gardai counsel added did not require a warrant to remove persons from the courtroom and had to take steps to deal with what was a public order situation. Counsel added that many of the issues raised by Mr Burke, and his sister Ammi in the inquiry are in fact matters for the judge hearing the criminal trial, or are not relevant to an inquiry brought under Article 40 of the constitution, which Mr Burke had brought at the 11th hour. Counsel said Mr Burke had elected not to take up bail afforded to him by the District Court, however that was "his choice". Advertisement If that argument was valid, counsel said the courts would need "a new list" to deal with applications from those accused of criminal offences seeking to get their trials halted. Simeon Burke is charged with a breach of the peace, under the Public Order Act, for engaging in threatening, insulting and abusive words and behaviour at the CoA. The offence carries a possible three-month custodial sentence. Simeon Burke, with an address at Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co Mayo, denies the charges and the contested hearing is due to take place before the District Court on April 17th. Ireland UK should work more closely with Irish Government... Read More He has pleaded not guilty to a breach of the peace offence in connection with outbursts in the Court of Appeal on 7 March last. Mr Burke has been remanded in custody since his arrest over a month ago with consent to bail, which he has declined to take up. He has refused to take up bail on a point of principle, arguing that to do would be to accept that his arrest was in some way lawful. Mr Burke, who is a student barrister-at-law at the Kings Inns has refused to sign a bail bond with a condition to stay away from the Four Courts. US President Joe Biden has said the UK should be working more closely with the Irish Government to support the people of Northern Ireland. Mr Biden also claimed hundreds of US corporations were ready to invest in Northern Ireland but were cautious about the lack of devolved government in the region. Devolution is in cold storage at Stormont due to a political impasse over post-Brexit trade. In a speech to the Dail, the US president touched again on themes he focused on in an address in Belfast on Wednesday when he expressed hopes of a return to powersharing and insisted stable governance at Stormont could deliver an economic windfall for the region. Joe Biden receives a standing ovation in the Oireachtas Eireann. Photo: Tony Maxwell/PA. However, his remarks in the Irish capital on Thursday went further, particularly his assertion that the UK should be working more closely with the administration in Dublin to support Northern Ireland. Advertisement During his trip to the island of Ireland, White House officials have dismissed claims made by some unionist politicians that the US president is anti-British. The UK Government also moved to explain why British prime minister Rishi Sunak did not play a more prominent role in Mr Bidens short visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday. In his historic address to both houses of the Oireachtas in Dublin, Mr Biden said more work was needed to nurture Northern Irelands peace. Peace is precious. It still needs its champions. It still needs to be nurtured, he said. Yesterday I was in Belfast to honour those who commit themselves to peace, to reiterate the enduring support of the United States to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Irelands democratic institutions and help accelerate the economy, economic growth that is opening new futures for young people in Northern Ireland. As I pointed out, there are literally hundreds of American corporations ready to come and invest but they are cautious because the institutions are not in place. Rishi Sunak meets Joe Biden at the Grand Central Hotel in Belfast. Photo: Paul Faith/PA. The Good Friday Agreement, he said, had changed lives in Northern Ireland and had also had a significant positive impact across the Republic of Ireland as well. Advertisement Reflecting on discussions with Taoiseach Leo Vardakar on the political situation in Northern Ireland, Mr Biden spoke of how Ireland and the United States can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland. He added: I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour. Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island. In Wednesdays keynote address at Ulster University in Belfast, Mr Biden praised the work of the UK and EU to strike the Windsor Framework on post-Brexit trading arrangements. The presidents visit to Northern Ireland came as the region marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark Good Friday peace accord that created Stormonts powersharing institutions. The DUP is blocking those institutions in protest at Brexit trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has said the framework does not go far enough to address its concerns over sovereignty. There had been speculation that Mr Biden would address the Stormont Assembly on his visit north of the border, but that plan did not materialise, with suggestions that the powersharing impasse was a determining factor. On Thursday, Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail referenced the fact that Mr Biden had not spoken at Stormont, as he welcomed the Northern Ireland Assemblys speaker as an invited guest at Leinster House. Advertisement He said: From north of the border we also welcome Alex Maskey, speaker of the Northern Assembly, which Im sure you wouldve liked to have been able to address. Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle ONeill, Alliance Party chief Naomi Long and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood attended Thursdays address in the Dail. No unionist politicians from Northern Ireland accepted invitations to attend. Earlier, Mr Varadkar rejected claims that Mr Biden is anti-British. Some DUP figures past and present have been critical of Mr Bidens approach to the UK, particularly in respect of the Brexit debate. MP Sammy Wilson claimed the president has got a record of being pro-republican, anti-unionist, anti-British, while former first minister Baroness Foster suggested he hates the UK. After meeting Mr Biden in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Varadkar was asked about the anti-British suggestion. I dont agree with that assessment, thats certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration, he said. Theyre very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. Advertisement We should never underestimate the strength of the UK-American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also the institutions up and running. Because people and politicians come and go, its institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. I dont feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole. US President Joe Biden addressing the Oireachtas as Leo Varadkar and Tanaiste Micheal Martin watch on Government of Ireland. Photo: PA. The Taoiseach would not be drawn on an Irish role in Northern Ireland if the impasse at Stormont continues. Definitely something that I need to speak to the Prime Minister about before speaking in public, but plan A is the only plan we have at the moment, and that is to get the Good Friday Agreement working as envisaged, have the five parties form an executive four of them want to, one doesnt, he said. I think it is possible to get the DUP on board and then, not only crucially have the powersharing institutions up and running in Northern Ireland, but also the North-South bodies which are very important too. Advertisement Mr Varadkar also said Northern Ireland can benefit from US investment if it establishes political stability. I think whats envisaged is investment by the US private sector, by American companies in Northern Ireland, he said. I think if there is stability in Northern Ireland, if theres predictability about the trading arrangements and the political situation there, Northern Ireland can benefit from that investment too. Earlier, UK minister Chris Philp defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday amid criticism that the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and the US president appeared to have been scaled back to a less formal conversation over a cup of tea. Ireland Seamus Heaneys widow watches on as Joe Biden cite... Read More Touring broadcast studios on Thursday, the minister was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the presidents speech at the Ulster University campus after meeting him in the morning. I dont know exactly what the Prime Ministers schedule was, he told GB News. I havent discussed it with him or No 10. Of course they did have extensive discussions in Belfast yesterday before President Bidens speech. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar hailed the importance of US and European leadership, as he met with US president Joe Biden in Dublin. The Taoiseach, meeting Mr Biden at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, praised American leadership since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Mr Varadkar said he wanted to thank you and your administration and your countrys leadership when it comes to Ukraine because I never thought in my lifetime that wed see a war of this nature happening in Europe again. Democracy and liberty and the things that we believe in are on retreat, or in retreat, in large parts of the world, and if it wasnt for American leadership, and if it wasnt for America and Europe working together, I dont know what kind of world wed live in. Advertisement Mr Biden, who met with Taoiseach in Washington on St Patricks Day, praised Irish values and the countrys acceptance of thousands of Ukrainian refugees as he spoke of a stronger and stronger relationship between the US and Ireland. The pair are set to discuss efforts to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland, with Mr Varadkar thanking Mr Biden for US support for the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden told Mr Varadkar it had been great to see him in Washington last month, and said: I think there really is an opportunity to make serious progress, not just because of the accord that was signed 25 years ago, but in terms of the way Ireland is moving, the way it is taking its place in the world, working on helping countries around the world that are dealing with starvation, the way youve I know its not easy welcomed Ukrainians here and the leadership youve shown. Earlier, in Aras an Uachtarain, Mr Biden had reiterated his hopes for the return of politicians to Stormont as he rang the symbolic Peace Bell. Speaking to Mr Varadkar, the US president appeared to reference the progress made in securing the Windsor Framework the deal between the EU and UK to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol as he spoke of co-operation between the Taoiseach and UK prime minister Rishi Sunak as very valuable as well. Advertisement The US president, who will address the Dail later on Thursday as part of a day filled with ceremonies and formal honours, was greeted at Aras an Uachtarain by Michael D Higgins as he continued his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. Mr Biden, who stopped to speak to reporters after ringing the peace bell four times, said: I hope that the Government begins to function as it used to in terms of functioning as a representative body in the north. I think thats necessary and thats for you all to decide, not for me to decide. The peace bell, which stands at the presidents official residence in Phoenix Park, was erected in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The US president, who visited Belfast on Wednesday as part of a trip to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace accord, referenced former US senator George Mitchell, who chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement. Im very proud of my colleague, George Mitchell. He did a fine job. He said 300 days of failure, one day of success. We have got to build on that one day. Mr Biden is expected to later set out a shared vision for the future of US-Irish relations when he addresses both Houses of the Oireachtas. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said the strength of the UK-US relationship should never be underestimated, as he rejected claims that Joe Biden is anti-British. It comes as a Home Office minister insisted British prime minister Rishi Sunaks interaction with the US president in Belfast involved extensive discussions while the White House characterised their talks as broad and general. The Taoiseach, speaking to reporters in Dublin following a meeting with the US president, rejected any suggestion that Mr Biden was anti-British. I dont agree with that assessment, thats certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration, he said. US President Joe Biden inspects the guard of honour during his visit to Aras an Uachtarain in Phoenix Park, Dublin Photo: Brian Lawless/PA. Theyre very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. Advertisement We should never underestimate the strength of the UK/American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also the institutions up and running. Because people and politicians come and go, its institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. I dont feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole. The Taoiseach would not be drawn on an Irish role in Northern Ireland if the current impasse at Stormont continues. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar speaking to the media in Dublin. Photo: Niall Carson/PA. Definitely something that I need to speak to the Prime Minister about before speaking in public, but plan A is the only plan we have at the moment, and that is to get the Good Friday Agreement working as envisaged, have the five parties form an executive four of them want to, one doesnt, he said. I think it is possible to get the DUP on board and then, not only crucially have the powersharing institutions up and running in Northern Ireland, but also the North-South bodies which are very important too. Advertisement Mr Varadkar also said Northern Ireland can benefit from US investment if it establishes political stability. I think whats envisaged is investment by the US private sector, by American companies in Northern Ireland, he said. I think if there is stability in Northern Ireland, if theres predictability about the trading arrangements and the political situation there, Northern Ireland can benefit from that investment too. Earlier, Chris Philp defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday amid criticism that the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and the US president appeared to have been scaled back to a less formal conversation over a cup of tea. Touring broadcast studios on Thursday, the minister was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the presidents speech at the Ulster University campus after meeting him in the morning. I dont know exactly what the Prime Ministers schedule was, he told GB News. I havent discussed it with him or No 10 Of course they did have extensive discussions in Belfast yesterday before President Bidens speech. Later on Thursday, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat said the leaders had a broad, general discussion during the meeting. They discussed a number of global challenges, she said. Advertisement Ms Sloat denied that the president was kept away from people in Northern Ireland, adding that it was a briefer stop than his visit to the Republic of Ireland. The president had the opportunity to engage with the leaders of the parties ahead of the speech and others, she said. I can say, as one who sat in the motorcade for about an hour before we left after the speech, the president was on the rope line in Belfast for I think almost an hour, engaging with virtually everybody, it seemed, that was sitting there. The president really enjoyed his time in Belfast, Ms Sloat added. Mr Bidens visit to the island of Ireland continued on Thursday in Dublin, with the president taking part in a series of engagements. Asked whether he agreed with claims the president was anti-British, Mr Philp replied: No I dont. I think the president, when he spoke to the King recently, agreed to come to the United Kingdom on a full state visit, which is fantastic. I think hes been here four times since becoming president so no, I dont think I would not accept that characterisation at all. Mr Philp also echoed the presidents remarks on powersharing, saying political parties in Northern Ireland should get around the table to bring an end to the deadlock. Advertisement He described the Windsor Framework as a huge step forward by the UK Government which helped to remove obstacles to restoring the executive. Ireland Boycotting Joe Biden speech to Oireachtas is wrong... Read More The minister told Sky News: That was a huge step forward by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he got that Windsor Framework agreed with the European Union just a few weeks ago. So those obstacles we feel have now been removed. So we agree with President Biden, we think the parties should get around the table, restore the powersharing arrangements. Mr Philp added that Mr Bidens remarks that the return of powersharing could unlock new investment were interesting and made the case for ending the current paralysis really strong. A State workplace watchdog has dismissed an unfair dismissal action taken by a family member against the family who own the former Regency Hotel in Dublin. In the case, Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Adjudicator, Jim Dolan has found that the unfair dismissal complaint submitted by Edel McGettigan against the McGettigan family owned firm is not well-founded. In a decision published on Thursday, Mr Dolan states in this particular case the employer is a family owned and managed business and some family members are in senior management positions. He said at some stage Ms McGettigan spoke to the Chairman of the company who happens to be her father-in-law. He said: Whatever methods that were adopted to address issues were, at times, not the methods one would normally find in the workplace." Advertisement In her complaint form, Ms McGettigan - who represented herself in the case - stated that she was dismissed from her employment on November 5th 2021. However, in his findings, Mr Dolan stated that he could find no evidence of any dismissal taking place. He said: There was no disciplinary process followed and regarding constructive dismissal there is no letter of resignation. Mr Dolan said that the employer in the case stated that Ms McGettigan is still technically an employee of the company. Mr Dolan stated: I would suggest that the complainant utilise a proper grievance procedure to address any problems that may still exist. The Regency hotel on the Swords Rd, Whitehall made headlines in February 2016 when Kinahan crime gang associate, David Byrne was shot dead by gunmen that sparked the murderous Kinahan-Hutch feud. In a sworn statement before the High Court in 2016 concerning the Regency business, director, James McGettigan stated that the Regency hotel had suffered immense reputational damage and loss of business in the weeks which followed the shooting. A net insurance pay-out of 150,000 was made to the McGettigan hotel company, Regan Development Ltd as a result of the gangland shooting and its impact on the hotel business. Advertisement The 200 bedroom hotel rebranded as the Bonnington in October 2017. In Ms McGettigans claim against Regan Development Regency Centra, the firm stated that she commenced employment with Regan Development Limited on June 1st 2013 and the firm traded as the Regency Hotel and the Regency Centra. The hotel and retail firm stated that Ms McGettigan had appointed herself as the General Manager of Regan Developments Centra. As part of the rebranding and restructuring of the Regency Hotel business in July 2017, the assets, liabilities, and trade of Regan Development Limited transferred to Liffeyfield Limited. Ms McGettigan transferred to the McGettigan owned Liffeyfield trading as the Bonnington Centra on August 1st 2017. The firm stated that Ms McGettigan brought a claim under Section 8 of the Unfair Dismissals Act claiming she was constructively dismissed. The firm stated that it denies the claim in its entirety stating that Edel McGettigan was never dismissed nor ever resigned and henceforth dismissal is firmly in dispute. The firm stated that Ms McGettigan was at the time of her lodging her claim in February 2022 an existing employee and continues to be an employee. The family owned firm stated that Ms McGettgian did not exhaust the internal grievance procedures nor did she actually resign before she had considered herself dismissed. In the published decision, Mr Dolan records that at hearing, Ms McGettigan submitted a volume of papers. He said: These papers were in no order and covered subjects including her return from maternity leave, payment during a period of maternity leave and also the repayment of a loan she had made to her employer. The most recent accounts for Liffeyfield Ltd show that it recorded post tax losses of 696,049 in 2021 and this followed post tax losses of 1.36 million in 2020 where both years the business was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. Eight serving and former Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of gross misconduct over discriminatory and offensive messages they shared, including some which made fun of Katie Prices disabled son. The officers seven men and one woman were found to have sent sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic and disablist comments in a WhatsApp group called Secret Squirrel Shit between May 17th, 2016 and June 26th, 2018. Legal chairman Christopher McKay described gross misconduct as a breach of the standards of professional behaviour that is so serious as to justify dismissal, during the fifth day of hearings at Palestra House in Southwark, central London, on Thursday. He found each officer to have committed gross misconduct over their own messages, as well as by failing to challenge or report the conduct of others in the group. Advertisement Some of the messages targeted Katie Prices disabled son Harvey (PA) The hearing concerned former sergeant Luke Thomas, former acting sergeant Luke Allen, former Pc Kelsey Buchan, former Pc Carlo Francisco, former Pc Lee South, former Pc Darren Jenner, Pc Glynn Rees, and Officer B, who has been granted anonymity. Their messages included derogatory comments about 20-year-old Mr Price, who suffers from PraderWilli syndrome and autism, and about a junior female officer, known in the hearings as Officer A. Mr McKay said Officer B, who can be named at the end of proceedings, posted an edited photograph of Mr Price in the chat with the caption: Youve heard of elf on a shelf, now get ready for Harvey Price eating Uncle Bens basmati rice after trying to read three blind mice on spice, saying hello you c***. Mr McKay said: The rhyme has a racist tone and refers to his disability he is partially sighted. There is no need to refer to Uncle Bens rice unless pointing to the racial origins of Uncle Ben and Harvey Price being similar. The words trying to read also highlight his disability. The officers shared offensive messages in a WhatsApp group (Nick Ansell/PA) Mr McKay said the post was a significant breach of the standard of equality and diversity, inappropriate and offensive to Mr Price, and constitutes gross misconduct. Advertisement The panel found the most senior-ranking officer in the group, Mr Thomas, appears to have been one of the most active participants in the WhatsApp group. Mr Thomas, who resigned in February, mocked Mr Prices weight in some messages, called Officer A f****** ugly, and joked that he should name his dog Auschwitz, Adolf or Fred or Ian after my two favourite child sex killers. Mr McKay said: Given his supervisory role as a sergeant, he failed to adequately supervise or guide his team in respect of conduct. His failings are extremely serious. He could and should have closed the WhatsApp group as soon as the highly inappropriate nature of the messages became apparent. Instead he became one of its main contributors. This was undoubtedly gross misconduct. Mr Jenner, who is believed to be living abroad and has not participated in any way in these proceedings, contributed to the conversation citing concentration camps. The officers mocked Katie Prices son Harvey (Nick Ansell/PA). Meanwhile, serving Pc Rees described an image of Mr Price riding a childs train as genius, which the panel found to be obviously sarcastic and making fun of him behaving in a childlike manner because of his disability. Mr Allen, who resigned in January and said he felt ashamed by his comments, posted a photograph of himself in the chat attempting to imitate Mr Price, with the caption: Hello you c***. Advertisement He also used inappropriate terms to describe mentally disabled people, made offensive references to Germans and Nigerians, and about a victim of sexual assault. Ms Buchan, who resigned in March last year, called a colleague a f****** rude little c*** who she described as mugging me off in front of his mongy fanclub. Ms Buchan later directly apologised to Officer A for comments she had made about her, which her representative said demonstrates not only remorse but insight into her behaviour. Mr Francisco, who was dismissed in July 2022, also made offensive comments criticising Officer As appearance. The panel heard that Mr South, who was one of the more active members of the chat, said: If any of this group got out my job would be f***** long ago. South also made several racist comments in the WhatsApp group, including referring to a black male as it and made a reference to cotton picking when talking about a black inspector. None of the officers attended the misconduct hearing on Thursday. The outcome is due to be announced on Friday. North Korea on Thursday conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launch in a month, possibly testing a new type of more mobile, harder-to-detect weapons system. North Korea launched the missile towards the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, South Korean officials said, in an extension of the Norths provocative run of missile tests. The launch prompted Japan to issue an evacuation order on a northern island, and though it was later retracted, it shows the vigilance of North Koreas neighbours over its evolving missile threats. South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said the missile launched on a high angle from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan following a 620-mile long flight. They described the missile as having a medium or longer range. Advertisement The US National Security Council called it a long-range missile and Japans defence minister an ICBM-class weapon. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un (Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP) South Koreas military believes North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, a defence official said, requesting anonymity because of office rules. If the launch involved a solid-fuel ICBM, it would be the Norths first test of such a weapon. Liquid fuel must be injected before the weapon is launched, but its harder to detect launches of solid-propellant weapons in advance because the fuel is already loaded inside. North Koreas previous ICBM tests all involved liquid-fuelled weapons. A solid-propellant ICBM is one of the key high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to build to better cope with what he calls US military threats. Other weapons he wants to acquire are a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite. ALERT: The Japanese government is warning that North Korea appears to have launched at least one ballistic missile. The government is urging everyone in Hokkaido to seek shelter. Follow local media for guidance. pic.twitter.com/Pw4PeRBqav Advertisement U.S. Embassy Tokyo, ACS (@ACSTokyo) April 12, 2023 US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region. Ms Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies. During an emergency National Security Council (NSC) meeting in South Korea, officials condemned the launch and stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters in Tokyo that he planned a Japanese NSC meeting to discuss the launch. The top nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo also held a telephone conversation where they called for a decisive and united international response to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean activities that allegedly fund its weapons programme. North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. All its past ICBM launches were made in the area, but on elevated trajectories to avoid neighbouring countries. South Korea and Japan typically do not issue evacuation orders for North Korean launches unless they determine weapons flew in the direction of their territories. Advertisement Japanese defence minister Yasukazu Hamada (Kyodo News via AP) Japanese defence minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the North Korean missile launched on Thursday did not reach Japans exclusive economic zone. But the Japanese government still urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter. The government then corrected and retracted its missile alert, saying its analysis showed there was no possibility of a missile landing near Hokkaido. It was unclear why Japan issued the order, but the incident suggested it was being cautious about North Koreas evolving missile threats. Asked over the accuracy of Japans information dissemination about future North Korean launches, Mr Kishida, the prime minister, said the government is checking related information including alerts. Norway is expelling 15 Russian diplomats from the country because they were suspected of gathering intelligence while working at the Russian embassy in Oslo, the government has said. Foreign minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the move was an important measure to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, and thereby secure our national interests. Norways government said the activities of the Russians declared persona non grata were incompatible with their diplomatic status. They must leave Norway within a short time, Ms Huitfeldt said, adding: We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway. The Russian embassy in Oslo (Annika Byrde/NTB Scanpix/AP) She said that Oslo wants normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway. Advertisement The Russian foreign ministry said Moscow would respond in kind to Norways action, Russias Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies reported. A year ago, Norway expelled three Russian diplomats it identified as intelligence officers. A man whom the Norwegian police security service alleged used a false name and identity while actually working for one of Russias intelligence services was also arrested last year. He is awaiting trial in Norway. We are not talking about regular diplomats, but intelligence officers under diplomatic cover. Their activities are a threat to Norwegian interests, Ms Huitfeldt said. Norway is expelling 15 Russian diplomats (Annika Byrde/NTB Scanpix/AP) Norwegian newspaper VG described Thursdays expulsions as the most the Scandinavian country has ordered at one time involving Russian diplomats. In a text message to VG, Russian embassy spokesman Timur Chekanov called the Norwegian governments decision another extremely unfriendly step. Ms Huitfeldt told a afternoon news conference: Russia has no reason to respond. We have Norwegian diplomats stationed in Russia, but none of them are undercover intelligence officers. She called Russia an unpredictable neighbour and said many European countries in the past year have expelled hundreds of Russian intelligence officers under diplomatic cover. Advertisement We do not want people who claim they are diplomats and who are actually intelligence officers, she said. We cannot accept that. Nato-member Norway has a 123-mile border with Russia in the Arctic. VG said that including the expelled diplomats, Russia had about 40 people working at its missions in Norway, which include the embassy in Oslo and consulates in Kirkenes and Barentsburg. Barentsburg, on the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, is a Russian coal-mining town of about 500 people. Under a 1920 treaty, Norway has sovereignty over the archipelago, which is more than 500 miles north of the Norwegian mainland, but other signatory countries have rights to explore its natural resources. Hyundai has confirmed that the personal details of car owners in France and Italy have been compromised. The hacker, who has not yet been identified, was able to breach the database of the South Korean automotive company, exposing the personal information of the owners and the test drive schedules in the affected countries. Hyundai Claims No Financial Data or ID Numbers Were Stolen As reported by Bleeping Computer, the hacking attempt made the sensitive information of Hyundai car owners become public. This was first picked up by Troy Hunt, the owner of the website "HaveIBeenPwned." The publicized public information from the Hyundai database was also reported by many individuals on Twitter. The data breach exposed the private details of vehicle owners, which include e-mail addresses, physical addresses, telephone numbers and vehicle chassis numbers. Following these reports, Hyundai issued a public letter to confirm the data breach incident. However, the automotive company also claimed that the hacker who was able to access their database did not steal financial data or identification numbers. As of writing, the identity of the hacker has not yet been determined, nor there have been groups taking responsibility for the Hyundai data breach. The number of affected customers is still unknown, and the company also did not reveal if the data breach lasted for a long time. Nonetheless, Hyundai warned their customers to take extra caution when they receive e-mails and SMS messages from entities claiming to be Hyundai representatives, as these could be a phishing or social engineering attempt. Furthermore, Hyundai said that they have already mobilized their IT experts to address the problem. The affected network systems were taken offline to implement additional safeguards to prevent further attacks. "Although there is no evidence that the data concerned have been used for fraudulent purposes, out of extreme caution, we invite you to pay particular attention and to verify any contact attempt via e-mail, mail and/or text message that may appear to come from Hyundai Italia or by other entities of the Hyundai Group." Hyundai Italy said in the latter. The same letter was also given to Hyundai customers in France. Related Article: Hyundai and Kia Updates Their Software Due to Illegal TikTok Challenge Security Researchers Find Vulnerability Which Makes Hyundai Cars Easier to Hack The latest hacking incident at Hyundai appears to have not affected customers in other countries apart from France and Italy. It is also not clear how the hackers were able to penetrate the company's network security measures, but it is likely due to a vulnerability that the hackers were able to exploit. Prior to the data breach incident, some security researchers found a software weakness that could make Hyundai cars susceptible to hacking. Not only does this vulnerability make it easier for potential hackers to access the car owners' sensitive data, but it will also allow bad actors to remotely control the car's functions. They can easily unlock the car doors or start the engine by exploiting this weakness, according to ITPro. Researchers have determined that this software vulnerability affect Hyundai car models released from 2012 onwards. It should be noted, however, that this vulnerability has never been confirmed to be the cause of the recent hacking incidents at Hyundai. Read Also: Some Kia, Hyundai SUVs Should Park Outdoors Due to Fire Risk - Here's What You Need To Know Romania, Ukraine and Moldova signed cooperation agreements in Romanias capital on Thursday after a trilateral meeting on ways to strengthen security in their Black Sea region to counter threats posed by Russian aggression. The Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest brought together the three neighbouring countries foreign and defence ministers, government officials and international partners. The aim was to address the wide-ranging impact that Moscows war in Ukraine is having on the region. Nato member Romanias foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu called Russia the most direct and serious threat to the Black Sea region and the Western alliance, and said war-torn Ukraine and embattled Moldova are essential to our future European security. Instead of peace and stability, the Black Sea region has become the primary target of the Russian aggression, he said, adding that a strong Nato presence there is a must. Advertisement After signing the agreements, which aim to boost political, economic and security cooperation between the three nations, Mr Aurescu said it records the fact that we have similar visions. Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba who spoke to the Bucharest gathering by video-link called the war a bleeding wound in the middle of Europe and said a security network for countries in the region that feel threatened by the maniac on the loose must be sought. Its time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, a sea of Nato, Mr Kuleba said, referring to Finlands recent admission to the Nato military alliance. He also called for a resolute step forward on the path to Ukraines own Nato membership, a move that Western officials are wary of committing to. After signing the trilateral declaration on Thursday, Moldovas foreign minister Nicu Popescu said that Moldova remains the target of hybrid attempts to destabilise our country and that the impact of Moscows war is being felt by every citizen of non-Nato Moldova. Moldova, which has faced a long series of crises over the past year including alleged Russia-backed destabilisation plots, was granted European Union candidate status last June, the same day as Ukraine. Advertisement As well as addressing security issues, the Black Sea Security Conference held on April 12-13 discussed topics including freedom of trade and the facilitation of energy transport routes. Officials also discussed the importance of countering Russias cyberwarfare efforts. Romanias Mr Aurescu said Moscow is orchestrating (attacks) against the region, against European and Allied states. Former US president Donald Trump arrived in New York to be questioned Thursday in a $250 million (230 million) civil fraud lawsuit against him by the state's attorney general, he said in a series of overnight social media posts that also lashed out against the case. But the deposition will take place behind closed doors and is unlikely to draw the kind of attention that his surrender on separate criminal charges did last week. Mr Trump, who is seeking the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, is expected to head to New York Attorney General Letitia James' offices in lower Manhattan, where he will be asked about his business practices. The lawsuit accuses him and others of a decade-long scheme to manipulate property values and his net worth in order to obtain favourable loans and tax benefits. Advertisement The trial in the case is scheduled to begin October 2nd. Thursday's deposition could be used to try to discredit any testimony Mr Trump may give at trial, or be offered as testimony if he is unavailable to appear. Fifth Amendment It is not the first time Mr Trump is facing the New York attorney general. Under questioning in August, before the case was filed, Mr Trump invoked his right against self-incrimination under the US Constitution's Fifth Amendment more than 400 times. Legal experts say the attorney general is also entitled to a deposition after the filing of the lawsuit. "I will finally be able to show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I built," Mr Trump said in one post on the Truth Social platform early Thursday, after attacking the attorney general and what he called her "persecution," as well as the judge in the case and the district attorney who brought the separate criminal charges. Mr Trump, whose surrender on April 4th drew worldwide media attention and a huge police presence, returned to his home in Florida after the arraignment. Ireland Trump criticises Biden visit: 'You could have a th... Read More The arraignment was over allegations that he orchestrated a hush-money payment to a porn star before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence over an alleged sexual encounter. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges. He has said the sexual encounter did not take place. It marked the first time a US president has been criminally charged while in office or after. Mr Trump also faces federal investigations stemming from his handling of government documents after leaving the White House and alleged attempts to overturn his 2020 election defeat as well as a state-level probe in Georgia into whether he unlawfully sought to reverse the 2020 election results there. In addition, a trial is set for April 25th in federal court in New York over whether Mr Trump defamed former Elle magazine columnist E Jean Carroll by denying he raped her. Mr Trump is seeking to delay that trial. Fledgling wagering company Betr will pay a six-figure fine to the NSW gaming regulator despite arguing it did not breach advertising laws when it aired a controversial promotion last year. Liquor & Gaming NSW is expected to issue a record penalty of $210,000 to the outfit following a long-running investigation into advertisements that ran in News Corp Australias tabloids offering 100-1 odds for bets up to $10 on any horses racing in last years Melbourne Cup. Betr founder Matthew Tripp. Credit: Jesse Marlow This is the first time the NSW regulator has used its powers to issue a fine instead of prosecuting the matter in court. Liquor & Gaming NSW declined to comment. Betr has agreed to pay the fine. A Betr spokesperson said the company had operated in accordance with the law but had decided to accept the penalty notice to resolve the matter amicably. Chinese giant CATL, the worlds largest manufacturer of electric car batteries, says it has discovered a way to use sodium cells and lithium cells in a single electric cars battery pack, combining the low cost and weather resistance of sodium cells with the extended range of lithium cells. The company says it is now prepared to mass produce these mixed battery packs. A large lithium battery at a CATL vehicle charging station in Fuzhou, China. Credit: The New York Times We are ready to industrialise it, Huang Qisen, deputy dean of CATLs research institute, said in an interview at the companys headquarters in Ningde, China. CATL, which is short for Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd, relies partly on chemicals from Changsha and recently built its first large-scale sodium battery assembly line in Ningde. Multinational corporations are taking notice of sodium. It will shave off the peak of demand for lithium, said Mike Henry, chief executive of BHP, the worlds largest mining company. I am confident we will start seeing sodium replace lithium for certain applications. Research into using sodium for batteries began in earnest in the 1970s, led then by the United States. Japanese researchers made crucial advances a dozen years ago. Chinese companies have since taken the lead in commercialising the technology. Out of 20 sodium battery factories now planned or already under construction around the world, 16 are in China, according to Benchmark Minerals, a consulting firm. In two years, China will have nearly 95 per cent of the worlds capacity to make sodium batteries. Lithium battery production will still dwarf sodium battery output at that point, Benchmark predicts, but advances in sodium are accelerating. A vehicle charging station, with large batteries supplied by CATL, in Fuzhou, China. CATL is the worlds largest manufacturer of electric car batteries. Credit: The New York Times At next weeks Shanghai auto show, carmakers and battery producers are expected to announce plans for sodium batteries in at least some limited-range subcompact cars for the Chinese market. The most immediately promising use for sodium batteries is for electric grids, the networks of wires and towers that transmit electricity. Batteries for grids are a fast-growing market, especially in China. Tesla said this week that it would build a factory in Shanghai to make lithium batteries for energy providers. Loading Sodium batteries need to be bigger than lithium ones to hold the same electrical charge. That is a problem for cars, which have limited space, but not for electricity grid storage. Utilities that switch from lithium to sodium can simply put twice as many big batteries in an empty lot near solar panels or wind turbines. Utilities around the world have an increasing appetite for massive amounts of battery storage as they move to climate-friendly sources such as solar and wind. They need to be able to store energy while the sun shines and the wind blows, and then use it later as a replacement for electricity powered by coal or gas. Electricity in one large Chinese province, Shandong, already sells for up to 20 times more in early evening, when demand is high, than at midday, when the grid is flooded with more solar power than factories and homes need. The power generation companies use lithium batteries to distribute their renewable electricity across more hours. But some utilities, including Three Gorges Corp in west-central China, are beginning to experiment with sodium batteries. Many provinces have begun requiring newly built solar or wind power farms to install enough batteries to store 10 per cent to 20 per cent of the electricity that they generate, said Frank Haugwitz, a consultant who specialises in Chinas solar industry. CATL has installed lithium batteries the size of minivans at electric car charging stations in cities including Fuzhou. The batteries automatically charge whenever electricity is cheap, like overnight or when the sun is shining on the charging stations rooftop solar panels, and are ready whenever motorists drive up to recharge. CATL is studying whether sodium can be used in such locations. Unlike lithium batteries, the latest sodium batteries do not require scarce materials like cobalt, a mineral mined mainly in Africa under conditions that have alarmed human rights groups. The newest sodium batteries also do not require nickel, which comes mainly from mines in Indonesia, Russia and the Philippines. Yet as China races toward leadership in sodium, it still faces challenges. For starters, there is where to get the sodium. While salt is abundant, the United States accounts for over 90 per cent of the worlds readily mined reserves for soda ash, the main industrial source of sodium. Deep under the southwestern Wyoming desert lies a vast deposit of soda ash, formed 50 million years ago. Soda ash there has long been extracted for Americas glass manufacturing industry. The nearly completed CATL Cheliwan Production Base in Ningde, China, in February. Credit: The New York Times With minimal natural reserves of soda ash and a reluctance to rely on imports from the United States, China instead produces synthetic soda ash at chemical plants fuelled by coal. Chinas synthetic soda ash industry has a record of hazardous water pollution. That includes the collapse of a pile of alkali slag in east-central China in 2016 that washed away cars and fouled a major river. The countrys environment agency is working to clean up the industry. Another question hanging over sodium is whether lithium will remain costly. Lithium prices quadrupled from 2017 to November 2022 but have since dropped by two-thirds. Loading There are also doubts about the durability of sodium batteries. Power companies want to see how sodium batteries perform for years outdoors, not just in labs, said David Fishman, a power sector consultant at Lantau Group, a consulting firm. But Fishman and others are now watching sodium battery development closely. Demand for batteries is growing fast, and lithium is unlikely to remain the dominant material indefinitely. Yes, sodium has a role, said Henry of BHP. China is at the forefront of driving research in this. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Amazon has been linked to many worker injuries as well as labor unions that demand better treatment. This has caused doubt about the retail giant's ability to provide its workers with a safe and fair working environment, given that it has over 38,000 recorded injuries in 2022. Safety of Amazon Warehouses The company is said to be responsible for 53% of all recorded serious injuries in US warehouses back in 2022. According to the data from the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), injuries sustained in Amazon warehouses were more severe. Overall, Amazon reported a total of 38,609 recorded injuries in 2022. These recorded injuries, according to the Strategic Organizing Center (SOC) were the ones that require the worker to take time off or seek medical attention as opposed to simple first-aid treatment. 95% of the total number of workers suffered injuries that were considered serious or severe since Amazon had given them time off to recover from the injury, or was given a role that would not require them to exert much force. SOC stated that the injury rate of the retail giants was 6.9 injuries out of 100 workers. Although that was lesser than the previous 7.9 injuries per 100 workers in 2021, the SOC believes that Amazon had failed to make "meaningful progress on worker safety." The trade union's report also stated that Amazon's failure to provide safe working conditions raises questions about it being "earth's safest place to work," or if it prioritizes profits over the safety of the people who are "responsible for its success." In 2022, OSHA has investigated four separate incidents in Amazon warehouses that resulted in the death of the worker involved. One employee, Rodger Boland, died after falling from a short ladder, while another was involved in a forklift crash. The company expressed its condolences to the families of the workers involved in the fatal incidents, saying that the tragic events have affected their teams greatly. According to CNET, Amazon provided resources for employees and families who need them. Read Also: Washington DC Sues Amazon for Withholding Delivery Drivers' Tips Amazon's Response Amazon claims that the SOC's data on the company's injury rate shared with OSHA was not an official OSHA metric. The retailer said that the metric it uses for the worker's days off were not limited to serious injuries and that some were "relatively minor" ones. The company stated that the safety and health of their employees will always be their top priority and that anyone who claims otherwise is inaccurate, as mentioned in Engadget. Amazon founder Jeff Bezos dedicated $300 million to improve workplace safety almost two years ago. Amazon spokesperson Kelly Natel expressed that they are aware that there's more work to do. However, the "truth" is outlined in the company's safety report and encourages anyone to tour the facilities and read the safety report. The said report shows that the company's recorded injury rate in all its networks has dropped over 23%, along with a drop of more than 53% in its lost time injury rate. Natek further expressed that they will continue to work harder to keep getting better. Related: Will Amazon Run Out of Workers by 2024? A Leaked Memo Shows the Company Thinks So Gina Rinehart isnt the type to be duped by scammers. Yet con artists seem irresistibly attracted to Australias richest person. The mining magnate had to go public, again, after fraudsters tried, again, to use her name to swindle wannabe crypto investors out of their hard-earned cash. Responding on Wednesday to fake news articles on social media claiming Rinehart invested in a start-up cryptocurrency platform that could make you rich in seven days, the billionaires people warned punters to steer clear. Mrs Rinehart has not made the alleged investment or recommendations or quotes set forth in these adverts, the billionaire miners people said in a statement. This is a scam designed to use Mrs Rineharts positive corporate image to lure people in to invest. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Judith Lucy is up to her neck in it. Literally, that is. Shes not only rehearsing her first lead role with Melbourne Theatre Company, shes doing it while being buried, first, up to her waist and then, second, up to her neck. Its all in the name of Samuel Becketts 1961 play Happy Days, in which she plays Winnie, a woman embedded in dirt under a blazing sun with only a hat for protection. Every morning a bell rings and she wakes up. There is no clue as to how she came to be buried with her husband Willie, who is largely silent and hidden behind a newspaper. Apart from the hat, Winnie only has a broken umbrella, a black bag packed with, among other things, a toothbrush and a gun. She talks endlessly to Willie and hopes for another happy day. Its bleak, its funny. It can be read these days as a parable about climate change or lockdown or plain ol blind optimism in the face of disaster. It is, Beckett apparently said, about the life of a modern woman. Someone who could handle the worst life has to throw at her. I thought who would cope with that and go down singing, only a woman, he said. It is sort of terrifying, says Lucy. How much I can relate to Winnie. That is something that Ive noticed, in terms of just that whole idea of Keep calm and carry on. That in the face of absolute horror, she is deluded enough, or, I dont know, shes just doing the only thing she can to open her eyes every morning when the bell goes, which is just finding some kind of positivity in what is an absolutely horrific existence. Judith Lucy has swapped stand-up for the stage at Melbourne Theatre Company, starring in Samuel Becketts Happy Days. Credit:Simon Schluter What it also is, is Lucys bold next act. After 35 years of stand-up comedy, she announced at the end of last year that she was giving it away. The endless writing and touring was causing too much anxiety, so she quit. It was a decision spurred on by the Melbourne lockdowns, when she realised the angst I was experiencing due to the pandemic was not that different to how I felt most of the time. If theres one thing I know about, its about putting on a happy front, when thats not necessarily how you are feeling, says Lucy. Because I guess thats what Ive spent 35 years of my life doing as a stand-up comedian. Youre not always feeling that great, but youve got to walk out on stage and its showtime. Advertisement But isnt being buried up to her neck, in a role called Hamlet for women or like climbing Everest, more than a little anxiety-inducing, too? I can honestly say to you, that as anxious as I am about starting the play, apparently, Samuel Beckett is quite good, she deadpans. The scripts not bad. And that is actually less anxiety-inducing than me writing everything. And me having to work on the jokes every single night for god knows how long until I get it as perfect as I can and then give up. When we spoke, Lucy was on the verge of beginning rehearsals just as the Melbourne International Comedy Festival kicked off. She was busy getting her ducks in a row appointments, doctors blah blah before rehearsals began. But far from feeling any nostalgic pull towards the festival, all she felt was happiness. For once, she was not there. Judith Lucy in rehearsal with Hayden Spencer (left) as Willie and director Petra Kalive. Credit: Charlie Kinross I have felt nothing but unbridled joy, she says. I mean, there may come a time. As my manager Kev, who I love, said, without a seconds hesitation, when I told him about my decision [to quit], he went, Yeah, but lets not forget, you still havent done that farewell tour. And look, if push comes to shove, I might Johnny Farnham it up and do the farewell tour if I need the money. But maybe I do just need a big, big break from stand-up. Stand up was how Ive made most of my money and its the thing Ive always gone back to, and I dont want that safety net any more. I dont think I want to be perceived mainly as [a comedian] any more. I hear ads for the comedy festival and I was just in Adelaide doing a book event [when their fringe festival was on] and all I thought was, Phew! Im so glad that aint me this year. Advertisement That Lucy is stepping into a mainstage production should be no great surprise. She is an incredibly versatile performer and Happy Days feels like a perfect fit. Its a role that comes with great comedy forebears Ruth Cracknell performed it with the Sydney Theatre Company in 1991 (one critic described it as era-defining), while in the UK, Juliet Stevenson and Father Teds housekeeper Pauline McLynn have put their stamp on it. And you can already hear Lucys dry delivery in the dialogue: No better. No worse. No change. No pain. Even though she has quite stand-up, Judith Lucy says she might Johnny Farnham it up and do the farewell tour. For the shows director, Petra Kalive, the casting of Lucy was a no-brainer. I knew the show needed to be funny, she says. But we also needed somebody who could tap into the emotional well of this character. And having seen a whole bunch of Judiths stand-up, you get that in her work. The shows are incredibly funny, and [the humour] sometimes comes from her own personal stories, traumas and tragedies, and I thought that would really feed the work. Lucy has found that personal connection in the play, too when she thinks of Winnie, she thinks of not only her mother, but every woman in middle age. Even though Willie doesnt have a whole lot to say, hes obviously just pivotal to everything, says Lucy. And it made me think a lot of my parents, to be honest, just how dad was very quiet compared to my mother. My mother spent her whole life, really, trying to get his attention. So it resonated with me. And I guess it resonates, too, in terms of how a lot of women in their 50s feel pretty invisible, and how were just trying to be seen and trying to get tragic, though it is a man to be interested in us. Advertisement So I can certainly relate to it on that level. And just how her body is not what it was. She certainly remembers a lot of times when she was younger, when she went to her first ball and had a first kiss. I mean, theres nothing like middle age to make you go down that path. Loading Despite all of this, Winnie does remain remarkably positive. What keeps Lucy positive? I think the older you get, the more you realise that you dont know anything about anything, she says. Its kind of uppermost in my mind, I guess, because I did just do a couple of very belated book events. I wrote a book called Turns Out Im Fine, which all came about because I had the most horrendous break-up, which is all part of a pretty hideous midlife crisis that started when my brother died. And that was, of course, the very worst thing that happened. But then, as often seems to be the case with life, more shit just happened on top of that. And all of that resulted in me making the podcast series Overwhelmed and Dying. And that wound up with me snorkelling at Ningaloo Reef with a humpback whale while Tim Winton held my hand. So, you know, the phrase, Wouldnt be dead for quids does pop into my mind because you just never know. If I had dropped dead straight after that, if Id gotten back on the boat and just keeled over, that would have been fine. No better. No worse. No change. No pain. Advertisement Exclusive One suspected drug trafficker told the inquiry that although he was unemployed and played with large sums of cash for hours at a time, venue staff had never questioned him about the source of his money. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says her state would step up to the plate on banning phones in schools if the federal government could arrange the national approach now backed by a key minister. Principals across the state already use the power to restrict phone usage on school grounds, a point Palaszczuk and Education Minister Grace Grace have repeatedly made in justifying Queenslands position as the only Australian jurisdiction without a ban. But the issue has re-emerged after an election promise from the new NSW Labor government to ban the devices in high schools and recent comments from a figure involved in a years-old Queensland government review. Speaking to journalists on Thursday, Palaszczuk said Grace was meeting with federal Education Minister Jason Clare later in the day and would raise the issue of national consistency. This drive will require several stops, so why not make them all about good food? Take your first break about 3.5 hours in at the Sir George in Jugiong, just two minutes off the highway. Here you'll find classic pub atmosphere paired with "locavore" modern Australian cuisine. Your next stop is an overnighter in Beechworth to dine at Provenance, chef Michael Ryan's two-hatted, Japanese-influenced eatery. There's accommodation on site. If you're driving Sydney to Eden . Credit: Max Mason-Hubers Plenty of Sydneysiders are flocking to the South Coast this year, and with good reason. If you're making the trek to the likes of Bermagui, Merimbula or Eden, make time for a lunch stop at Rick Stein at Bannisters, about three hours south of Sydney. Here, the well-known British chef is turning out a menu groaning under the weight of high-quality local seafood. If you're driving Melbourne to Port Fairy Credit: COLIN PAGE You can't have a list of great regional restaurants without mentioning the greatest of them all, Brae in Birregurra. This is a perfect stop for those planning to do the Great Ocean Road in reverse, taking the inland route from Melbourne to Port Fairy before heading back along the coast. It's only a brief foray off the Princes Highway to get to Brae, Dan Hunter's three-hatted fine-diner. Simple. The hardest part of this whole experience will be securing a reservation. If you're driving the Great Ocean Road On the Great Ocean Road itself, begin with a sensational meal and a glass of wine at Merrijig in Port Fairy, and towards the end of your journey (or beginning), call into the Lorne Hotel and eat at Italian trattoria-style restaurant Tottis helmed by chefs Mike Eggert and Matt Germanchis. If you're driving Melbourne to Lakes Entrance Heading up the coast from Melbourne? Call in for lunch (from Wednesday to Sunday) at the Tinamba Hotel in Gippsland, about 2.5 hours out of the city. The cuisine here is pub food made fancy, and done extremely well. Your local probably doesn't do a 20-hour slow-cooked Scotch fillet with potato galette but it should. If you're driving Melbourne to Mildura Credit: Dianna Snape Those making a northerly sojourn from the Victoria capital have the perfect place to take a break: Masons of Bendigo, well worth the quick detour into town. Masons does lunch Thursday to Saturday, and it's the sort of seasonal, local cuisine you'll wish you could have every weekend. If you're driving Brisbane to Sydney (New England Hwy) With borders between Queensland and NSW now gloriously if shakily open, it's time for travellers to hit the road. And though the Pacific Highway is the fastest way from Brisbane to Sydney, the inland New England Highway does have its charms, including the chance to stop at Tattersalls in Armidale. This is world-class cuisine served in friendly surrounds, seven days a week. You want to stop here. If you're driving Brisbane to Sydney (Pacific Hwy) The regulation drive from Brisbane to Sydney will take you down the coast, where, about two hours down the highway you'll have the chance to pull in to Fleet at Brunswick Heads. With tasting menus that go for a cool $130 a head at this two-hatted, 14-seater bar-cum-restaurant, a relaxed overnight stay will help ensure full enjoyment. Fleet is open Thursdays to Sundays. If you're driving Brisbane to Hervey Bay The Bruce Highway going north from Brisbane is bound to be busy as Easter approaches, so why not exit at Yandina for a meal at Spirit House? This beautiful, one-hatted restaurant does three-course "prix fixe" meals for $95 per person, featuring the sort of Thai food that will make you realise just how impressively complex and delicious this cuisine can be. If you're driving Mackay to Eungella This is kind of a joke. The Mackay Eungella Road is not exactly Australia's busiest thoroughfare. But it's worth making an exception to mention The Flackyard, a sensational fine-dining restaurant in the town of Pinnacle, population 214, about 45 minutes outside Mackay. What former Vue de Monde chef Nik Flack is doing here is anyone's guess, but there's no doubt his eatery is destination dining. FIVE TIPS FOR GETTING THE MOST OUT OF A FOODIE ROAD TRIP BOOK AHEAD This is no time for whimsical detouring. If you're focused on good food, make sure you're getting the absolute best of it. Many of the restaurants mentioned in this story, and indeed any top regional eatery, will require a booking ahead of time to ensure you don't end up eating servo sausage rolls. CHECK OUT LOCAL PRODUCE Don't just swing through town, eat at a restaurant and go. This is an opportunity to take home some gourmet local produce to experiment with in your own kitchen. Look out for farmers markets and produce shops, where both fresh and preserved ingredients are usually on sale. PLAN AN OVERNIGHT STAY Though a small detour for a good meal is very much what this story is about, it's also a good idea to make that detour into an entire overnighter if you can spare the time. That way you can sample any local wineries, breweries or distilleries, try the local cafes, and scout out the best produce shops. MAKE YOUR ROAD SNACKS GOURMET Toss out the Minties and the Snakes Alive and instead make sure your in-car snacking is as gourmet-focused as your out-of-car experiences. We're thinking local bakery goods such as muffins or slices; maybe some crackers with taramasalata; gourmet granola; or Parisian-style jambon-beurre sandwiches. MAKE TIME FOR MUNCHING Washington: Donald Trump is suing his ex-lawyer, Michael Cohen, seeking at least $US500 million ($745 million) in damages as he increases attacks on his onetime loyal fixer, who gave evidence before the Manhattan grand jury that indicted the former US president. In a complaint filed in federal court in Miami, Trump accused Cohen of failing to keep confidential attorney-client communications private and profiting by spreading falsehoods about him in books and podcasts. Donald Trump and former fixer Michael Cohen, who is now a full-time critic of the former president. Credit: AP Lanny Davis, a lawyer for Cohen, called Trumps lawsuit frivolous. Trump has, over the years, often filed suits against various adversaries. Mr Trump is once again using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen, Davis said. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)may have asked more than enough questions on Twitter. A Republican-led committee recently subpoenaed the FTC after it accused the government agency of asking too many demands of Elon Musk's Twitter. The FTC was investigating Twitter's capability to still protect user data following Musk's takeover in late 2022. FTC's Subpoena Details The Republican-led House Judiciary Committee subpoenaed the FTC on Apr. 12 for documents regarding its ongoing investigation of Twitter's privacy and cybersecurity concerns, per The Wall Street Journal. The requests came after the committee repeatedly asked the government agency to hand over the documents it requested voluntarily but to no avail. Alongside the subpoena comes a letter from Committee Chair Jim Jordan, a Republican representative from Ohio, accusing the FTC's Chair, Lina Khan, of making "inappropriate and burdensome demands" of Twitter around the time Elon Musk acquired the company, per CNBC. According to the representative's letter to the FTC Chair, the agency's responses to the committee's past requests for information about the investigation were "woefully insufficient," per The Verge. Rep. Jordan authorized the subpoena the FTC received from the committee. He also said in his letter that the FTC's earlier response on linking its inquiry into Twitter to a privacy-related order it's tasked with enforcing was ignoring other aspects of the committee's questions about the government agency's inquiry. Read More: Leaked Secret Documents from the Pentagon Linked to Discord The privacy-related order the FTC was tasked with enforcing is a 2022 FTC order which Twitter signed in 2011 to settle allegations that it violated promises to protect user privacy, per the Committee's official website. In addition to the probing, Twitter had to create a "comprehensive privacy and information security" program to protect users, though its ability to protect users has been put into question ever since Elon Musk's takeover of the company. Despite the committee's requests, Khan previously told Rep. Jordan in a Mar. 27 letter that FTC investigations are confidential, and that the agency will continue to discharge its obligations and enforce the law without fear or favor Regardless, FTC spokesperson Douglas Farrar said that the government agency offered to brief the committee on its inquiry but that it hadn't taken the FTC's offer yet. They also mentioned that the FTC respects the oversight the Committee provides and that it didn't have to issue a subpoena for the FTC to cooperate with government oversight. A Political Cold War The subpoena is the latest example of Rep. Jordan's targeting of law enforcement agencies he accuses of abusing authority to allegedly do favors for political allies, especially for Musk. The Chief Twit reportedly earned Republicans' favor after he reversed Twitter's ban on Donald Trump's account and the releasing of the Twitter Files. The FTC's probe could pose a risk for Twitter during a time when it seeks to become profitable once again. If the FTC found the company to be violating the settlement agreement it signed in 2011, Twitter could lose $150 million in fines and its ability to release new products and features without government oversight, along with other serious penalties. Rep. Jordan explained that what he was doing was responding to the Democrats' weaponization of federal agencies. Related Article: Democratic Senators Want The FTC To Investigate Elon Musk's Twitter Takeover UN to mark Russia invasion of Ukraine anniversary by urging 'just peace' (Photo: President.gov.ua, CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), via Wikimedia Commons) Purported US intelligence documents posted online indicate that the ongoing Ukraine conflict, which has resulted in an estimated 354,000 Russian and Ukrainian military casualties, may extend well past 2023. The authenticity of these documents has not been confirmed, and some countries, including Russia and Ukraine, have cast doubt on their veracity. US officials have also stated that some of the files may have been altered. A February 23, 2023 assessment titled "Battle for the Donbas Region Likely Heading for a Stalemate Throughout 2023" suggests that Russia is unlikely to capture the entire Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. The report explains, "These tactics have diminished Russian forces and munition stockpiles to a level that, barring an unforeseen recovery, can exhaust Russian units and frustrate Moscow's war aims, resulting in a protracted war beyond 2023." According to the US Defence Intelligence Agency's assessment, Russia has suffered between 189,500 and 223,000 total casualties, including 35,500-43,000 killed in action and 154,000-180,000 wounded. Meanwhile, Ukraine has experienced between 124,500 and 131,000 total casualties, including 15,500-17,500 killed in action and 109,000-113,500 wounded in action. These figures are approximately ten times larger than any public casualty figures published by Moscow or Kyiv. The leaked documents indicate that both Russia and Ukraine have "moderate" combat sustainability, suggesting that they can continue fighting for some time. The documents also reveal that while Russia has overall numerical superiority in certain areas, Ukraine has more tanks and armored personnel carriers (APCs) in theater than Russia. The US Defence Intelligence Agency estimates that Russia has lost 2,048 tanks and 3,900 APCs, while Ukraine has lost 468 tanks and 1,020 APCs. In theater, Ukraine has 802 tanks and 3,498 APCs fielded, compared to Russia's 419 tanks and 2,928 APCs. The documents also highlight Washington's concerns about potential Ukrainian strikes deep into Russia, including Moscow, due to the potential impact on China's stance. The documents state, "China would respond more strongly and most likely increase the scale and scope of material it is willing to provide Russia if Ukrainian strikes hit a location of high strategic value or appeared to target senior Russian leaders." Over 50 documents labeled "Secret" and "Top Secret" have been reviewed by Reuters. These documents, which first appeared on social media sites in March, allegedly reveal details about Ukrainian military vulnerabilities and information about allies, including Israel, South Korea, and Turkey. In my conversation with clients over the last quarter, the conversation starts and stops with ChatGPT. Its very clear that innovation is surpassing productivity. That kind of theme is what is spanning all these deal wins that we have, it's a huge amount of focus on cloud data. At the same time, you know, machine learning is a very important area of focus for people, said Subramaniam. The chatter of ChatGPT is now an integral part of every deal that the countrys largest IT services firm gets into. N Ganapathy Subramaniam, the COO and executive director, TCS, says that these days client conversations start and stop with ChatGPT. Subramaniam said that TCS has been working with AI for many years, and has also been working with generative AI. Our product TCS Bancs extensively uses generative AI. Our endeavour has been to apply aspects of machine learning and deep learning to the data that we have built and raises the bar for delivery capabilities, he said. He also confirmed that the company has started generating some revenue from the use of generative AI in client environment. He also added that clients are interested in knowing how ChatGPT and generative AI can be integrated into their offerings. The one impact that he said will be evident soon with the use of generative AI is that every aspect and area that was not touched upon by technology, will not get impacted. He, however, added that ChatGPT is just like any other technology tool and as it matures TCS will also be ready for it. As it matures, we will have a centre of excellence around it, we will have core competencies built around it and then see what are the drawbacks on it. What are the pros for it, and then use it the right way to deliver responsibly and meaningfully to our clients, he said. Also Read TCS Q4 Preview: Revenue may rise up to 18% YoY; EBIT margin seen at 25% OpenAI announces ChatGPT chatbot: What is it, how it works, and limitations How does outgoing TCS CEO Gopinathan's salary compare to other IT execs? Chatbot firms in India to generate over 20% of digital customers' revenue TCS Q3: Weak deal wins, negative headcount signal slowdown, say analysts K Krithivasan to take over as CEO of Tata Consultancy Services from June 1 Radisson Hotel Group announces entry of luxury lifestyle brand in India Torrent to give 920 MW power from its gas-based plants under govt tender Apple boost helps India double smartphone exports; shipments hit $11.1 bn RIL to set up $2.4-3 bn InvIT to monetise retail warehousing assets Milind Lakkad, CHRO, TCS said that the new technology does not take away jobs but brings in changes. We need to skill our employee base and based on that new value will get created for clients, he added. One of the aspects that the tech world is still grappling with is how generative AI will impact people: will it take away jobs? Cook, who is coming to India next week in his private aircraft, will launch Apples maiden company-owned single brand stores in Mumbai and Delhi. During the trip, he is slated to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi as well as communic This would generate additional jobs and the scale would help the country build a strong supply chain which can be integrated with the global supply chain, an official pointed out. Co-working major WeWork India on Thursday announced that its employees are eligible to surrender up to 25 per cent of vested stock options. "WeWork India is conducting its first-ever ESOP surrender exercise, offering employees the opportunity to make the most of their vested stock options," the company said in a statement. "As a token of gratitude for the employees' commitment, efforts and faith in the company, team members associated with the company will be eligible to surrender up to 25 per cent of vested stock options," it added. Karan Virwani, Chief Executive Officer, WeWork India said, the ESOP surrender is yet another step towards wealth creation and empowering people. Over the last six years, WeWork India has expanded to six cities across 45 locations with a member base of over 62,000. WeWork India is one of the leading office space providers, aimed at creating flexible workspace solutions for companies of all sizes. Also Read Flexible workspace provider WeWork India raises Rs 550 cr from BPEA Credit WeWork to cut 300 jobs globally as inflation weighs on workspace spending Co-working major WeWork India raises Rs 550 crore from BPEA Credit Air India offers nearly 98 cr shares to employees under stock option scheme WeWork India to focus on 6-8 cities, expects to be valued at $2 bn: CEO Amazon CEO Jassy pledges to keep investing in big bets amid cost cuts Adani's Rs 20,000-cr FPO subscriber info not available: Sebi to RTI query All India chit fund body backs Margadarsi, says no complaint against firm Lamborghini India looking to reduce CO2 emissions by 50% by 2025 Stay away from expensive M&As: Lenders to Anil Agarwal's Vedanta Unsubscribe to continue This is a subscriber only feature Subscribe Now to get daily updates on WhatsApp The officials statement comes days after India dismissed reports that the FTA talks had been stalled over the recent attacks involving pro-Khalistan groups in London. The ninth round of the India-United Kingdom free trade agreement (FTA) talks is scheduled from April 24 to 28, commerce department officials said on Thursday. Government officials said an investment treaty was also being negotiated as a separate agreementBilateral Investment Treaty. It will be concluded simultaneously with the India-UK FTA. While negotiations cover 26 policy chapters, 13 chapters have been closed so far. The eighth round of negotiation was completed last month in New Delhi. Bilateral interaction between the two trade ministers was also held in March to take stock of the progress in the India-UK trade agreement-related negotiations. According to British media reports earlier this week, New Delhi had stalled negotiations with the UK over an FTA as it wanted tougher action against these groups behind the attack on the Indian High Commission in London last month. The report is baseless, an Indian government source had then said. Both nations had kick-started formal negotiations earlier January 2022 and had set an ambitious Diwali deadline towards the finalisation of the trade pact. India had then set an internal/unofficial deadline of March 2023. Both sides now continue to thrash out the thorny issues pertaining to the trade pact. Youn Bum-mo, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, speaks during an inaugural ceremony, March 5, 2019. Korea Times file Youn Bum-mo, director of the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MMCA), has recently conveyed his intention to step down to the culture minister, sources in the art scene said Thursday. The reason for his alleged resignation is unknown. He still has about one year and 10 months left before his term expires in February 2025. Youn was last seen in public Wednesday but turned off his mobile phone after the news reports on his resignation emerged the following day. He is believed to have been under tacit pressure to resign because his reappointment for another three-year term came during the liberal President Moon Jae-in's last months in office and closely before the launch of the current conservative government. Some of the museum's exhibitions held during Youn's term in office came under criticism for being politically biased. The former art critic was first named to the post in February 2019 under the presidency of Moon. Youn was reappointed after his term expired in February 2022. There have also been mounting calls for his resignation inside and outside of the museum since the culture ministry announced the result of its audit into the institution over allegations of workplace bullying and unjust personnel decisions in January. The audit report said Youn neglected his duty by looking on while some department chiefs lorded over their subordinates. (Yonhap) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak spoke to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday and agreed to expedite progress to resolve outstanding issues in the India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) negotiations. In a readout of the call between the two leaders, Downing Street said that Sunak reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable violence outside the Indian High Commission in London last month and updated Modi on the steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian diplomatic staff. The leaders agreed to follow up their discussions at the G7 meeting in Japan next month and the G20 Summit being hosted by India later in the year. The leaders reflected on the close friendship between the two countries, and agreed great progress was being made on the 2030 UK-India Roadmap," a Downing Street spokesperson said. "Discussing ongoing negotiations on a UK-India Free Trade Agreement, the leaders reflected on the huge opportunities a deal would offer to Indian and British businesses and consumers. Both agreed to direct their teams to expedite progress to resolve outstanding issues and ensure a world-leading deal that would see both economies thrive, the spokesperson said. With reference to an attack by pro-Khalistan separatists at the Indian High Commission in London on March 19, the spokesperson said that the British Prime Minister reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable violence outside the Indian High Commission in London. Also Read British PM Rishi Sunak committed to FTA with India, says Downing Street What challenges await Rishi Sunak as the new PM of the UK? Committed to working quickly on UK-India free trade agreement: Rishi Sunak FTAs and their discontents: Do free trade agreements benefit India? UK PM Rishi Sunak, family to move back to smaller flat at 10 Downing Street Highest direct tax buoyancy in 15 years in FY22, shows CBDT data Exports contract most in nearly 3 years in March; trade gap swells Next round of India-UK free trade agreement talks from April 24 Global economic outlook a cause for concern: FM Nirmala Sitharaman Net direct tax collections rose 160% to Rs 16.6 trillion in 2022-23 He stressed that extremism had no place in the UK and updated on the steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian High Commission staff, the Downing Street spokesperson said. The leaders shared their best wishes to those celebrating Vaisakhi in the UK and India tomorrow. Both looked forward to seeing each other at the G7 in Japan next month, as well as at the G20 in India later this year, the spokesperson added. The phone call came against the backdrop of a media report earlier this week that claimed that India had halted the FTA negotiations with the UK until it sees tougher action against pro-Khalistan groups behind the attack on the Indian High Commission in London last month. The reports had been swiftly denied on both sides. Both the UK and India are committed to delivering an ambitious and mutually beneficial FTA and concluded the latest round of trade talks last month, said a UK Department for Business and Trade spokesperson. According to official UK government statistics, the India-UK bilateral trading relationship was worth GBP 34 billion in 2022 growing by GBP 10 billion in one year. These statistics are expected to be dramatically enhanced with a successful FTA. APSC Prelims Result 2023: Steps to check Candidates who registered online for the APSC CEE Exam will be able to download their merit list from the website following the official announcement. Candidates must be aware that the organization releases a merit list with the preliminary exam results. The APSC Prelims Result 2023 was released on Wednesday by the Assam Public Service Commission (APSC) on its official website. As many as 10,148 candidates have met the requirements to take the Mains exam. At apsc.nic.in, candidates who took the APSC CCE 2023 preliminary assessment can confirm and get their APSC Prelims Result 2023. By Bharath Rajeswaran BENGALURU (Reuters) - Inflows into Indian equity mutual funds jumped 31% sequentially to 205.34 billion rupees ($2.51 billion) in March, the highest in 12 months, data from the Association of Mutual Funds in India (AMFI) showed on Thursday. GRAPHIC - Net equity inflows rises to highest in a year in March https://www.reuters.com/graphics/EQINFLOWS-MAR/MAR-EQINFLOWS/klvygmmjzvg/chart.png Also Read MF inflow in equities crosses Rs 1.5-trn for second straight fiscal FDI equity inflows dip 14% during April-September to $26.9 billion: DPIIT The reason you must hold on to equity funds despite turbulence in 2023 What's behind the fall in India's FDI inflows? Mutual funds see muted growth in 2022, expect better days in new year Indian Overseas Bank raises FD rates; senior citizens to get 7.75% interest Allocate to US-focused funds despite shifting tax landscape: Experts The rise in inflows offset some of the pressure on markets, which witnessed sustained selling by foreign investors. While Foreign Portfolio Investors (FPIs) turned buyers in March, the figure was skewed by U.S. firm GQG Partners' $1.87 billion investment into Adani group stocks. FPIs offloaded 262.10 billion rupees worth of equities in the first three months of 2023. The benchmark has fallen over 2% so far this year despite the recent buying streak. "From a low of about 22.50 billion rupees in November, the net inflows into equity funds have been steadily increasing every month," said G Pradeepkumar, chief executive of Union Asset Management Company. He added that steady inflows augur well for the future of the equity markets. GRAPHIC - Segment-wise trends https://www.reuters.com/graphics/SEGMENT-MAR/MAR-SEGMENT/gdpzqnnbgvw/chart.png Small-cap funds accounted for most of the investments at 21.29 billion rupees, while inflows into large-cap funds nearly tripled to 9.11 billion rupees in March from 3.55 billion rupees in the previous month. Contributions to systematic investment plans (SIPs) - in which investors make regular payments into mutual funds - rose over 4% to a record 142.76 billion rupees from 136.86 billion rupees. Over 700,000 new SIP accounts were opened in March. GRAPHIC - SIP Contribution rises to a record in March https://www.reuters.com/graphics/SIP-MAR/MAR-SIP/myvmojjwjvr/chart.png SIP contributions had fallen marginally in February after hitting a fresh record in each of the previous six months, data showed. "A robust SIP book aided inflows into equity schemes," said Ajaykumar Gupta, chief business officer at Trust Mutual Fund. SIP contributions hit nearly 1.91 trillion rupees since the start of 2022, higher than foreign outflows into Indian equities of 1.39 trillion rupees over the same period. Liquid funds - those that mature in a short duration of 91 days - logged outflows of 569.24 billion rupees, the most since September 2022, according to AMFI. The rise in outflows from debt-oriented funds, a typical phenomenon at the end of a calendar or financial year, was driven by rising redemptions and portfolio movements from short-term debt to the longer end of the yield curve, analysts said. GRAPHIC - Liquid funds witness outflows for fourth month in a row https://www.reuters.com/graphics/LIQUID-FUNDSM/FUNDSM-LIQ/myvmojjjqvr/chart.png The mutual fund industry, including debt, equity, hybrid and other schemes, logged a total net outflow of 192.64 billion Indian rupees ($2.36 billion), compared to inflows of 95.75 billion rupees in February, AMFI data showed. GRAPHIC - Mutual funds witness net outflows in March https://www.reuters.com/graphics/NET-FLOWSM/FLOWS-NETM/byvrlxxejve/chart.png The average assets under management fell 1.6% to 40.05 trillion rupees from 40.69 trillion rupees in February. ($1 = 81.8020 Indian rupees) (Reporting by Bharath Rajeswaran in Bengaluru; Editing by Sonia Cheema) The public sector banks, which have been active in providing funds to NBFCs, are reaching the internal exposure limit. Some of the key lenders to finance companies include SBI, Canara Bank, Punjab National Bank, and Bank of Baroda. Non-banking finance companies (NBFCs), including housing finance firms, in India would face increased funding challenges in FY24, impacting their growth aspirations, according to India Ratings (Indi-Ra). There were some private hospitals though with detailed Covid protocols. On the whole, the fear of the virus seemed to have subsided with a large percentage of the population vaccinated and the predominance of a milder strain. In fact, experts called the current stage the new normal in the Covid journey. Pandemic was abnormal; endemic is the new normal. The endemic stage can last forever, said Jacob John, a renowned virologist. Daily Covid cases in India crossed the 10,000 mark on Thursday, the highest since August 2022. But when Business Standard reporters visited hospitals across some of the major cities, there was no sign of any kind of emergencya scene that was so different from the previous instances of such a surge in cases. In many hospitals, empty bottles of sanitisers and handwash dispensers were a common sight. Face masks were rare too, whether it was hospital staff, patients or their attendants. Also, there were hardly any Covid wards this time around. S Narayani, business head, Fortis, Maharashtra, said in Mumbai the hospital was now running a 20-bed ward for Covid patients and a two-three bed Covid ICU. We have separate entry-exits in place; we know how to create negative pressure zones. We can convert almost 50 per cent of our capacity of 400 beds here at Mulund for Covid, if the need arises," she said. There is no sense of panic now, because SoPs (standard operating procedures) are in place, and the staff is trained, the clinical protocols are in place We have learnt from the previous three waves, and can easily handle a surge, she said. AIIMS issued an advisory after four of its doctors and a few staffers tested Covid positive recently but there was lack of clear procedural directions or guidelines about addressing Covid-19-related inquiries or patients looking to get admitted for Covid-19 treatment. AIIMS in Delhi had no Covid ward and the only five beds reserved for Covid-positive patients were all occupied. Some Covid-positive patients were encouraged to look for beds at the nearby Safdarjung Hospital. Also Read Rising Covid cases in India a non-event for markets for now: Analysts Centre tells states to conduct Covid mock drills in hospitals as cases rise Hospitals see influx of foreign patients in Sept qtr as travel norms ease Covid cases hit five-month high, weekly deaths at 29, highest since Dec India now has 20,000 tonnes per day Oxygen capacity. 90% of it lying idle Expert disagrees with Centre's claim of Coronavirus becoming an endemic Delhi govt working on guidelines for school amidst Covid surge: Atishi Covid-19: Serum Institute of India restarts manufacturing Covishield As Covid cases spike in India again, IMA lists 3 possible reasons for rise Bed occupancy under 3% in major cities even as Covid cases top 37,000 Max Super Speciality Hospital in Delhi was among those maintaining an isolated Covid-19 ward, which had five patients. While OPD staff seemed at ease with the present Covid situation, most doctors and medical practitioners working in ICUs and testing labs could be seen wearing the full PPE kit, or face covering and gloves. A senior doctor at a leading private hospital in Delhi said though Covid protocols, such as wearing masks, were already in place, few hospital staffers were adhering to it. According to Dr Anita Mathew, infectious disease specialist, Fortis Hospital, Mulund, I keep some masks handy in my cabin, and insist that everyone has to wear a mask when coming to meet me. Fortis Hospital in Mumbais Mulund area had its staff including security personnel in masks. Roughly six of 10 could be seen in masks in the outpatient department filled with children and elderly. Doctors advised anyone entering their chambers to wear facemask. During the peak of the waves, we had to keep some patients for up to 4-5 days until they got a bed in a dedicated Covid facility, said Dr Devyani Deore, resident medical officer of Mumbais Kamgar hospital. Now, theres no rush for hospitalisation. "We test every surgery patient for Covid, and if positive, we refer them to a designated hospital. It is now like a routine procedure as we do for HIV or HCV," she added. All along a shift in behaviour could not be missed. But some doctors were worried about the unpredictable nature of the virus. In the past, we faltered in forecasting the course of the pandemic. Now its time to take all precautions -- whether it is respiratory or hand hygiene, said Dr Ravi Malik, paediatrician and director of Radix Healthcare, Delhi. Current hospital admissions, too, can be traced back to existing, underlying conditions in the patients and not the seriousness of Covid symptoms, said Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, Delhi. At the government-run Lok Nayak Jai Prakash hospital in New Delhi, a Covid ICU was functional even as admissions were low. Irrespective of their adherence with Covid protocol, most hospitals appeared confident of handling any emergency that may arise. The past waves served as a lesson for them all. At Chettinad Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai, many patients and hospital staff were without masks and social distancing was a thing of the past. It was the same at Chennais Kelambakkam health centre. There was also an increase in the number of daily tests. The seven-day moving average was 1,67,411 on April 12, according to the data from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and government figures. The number of tests conducted was up over 40 per cent from the beginning of April. The tally of 10,158 fresh Covid cases reported on Thursday was the first time since August last year when the figure breached the 10,000-mark. Its the highest since August 26, 2022, when the number stood at 10,256. The seven-day rolling sum of deaths was 104 on Wednesday, and 106 on Thursday. The equivalent data for March 1 was 10 deaths. Deaths too have risen: Over 100 people have lost their lives to Covid-19 over the past week (April 13). Weekly numbers are calculated using the World Health Organisation data and government numbers. There may be some difference in the data between the two, but numbers are broadly indicative of the trend. (Reporting by Ruchika Chitravanshi, Akshara Srivastava, Debargyha Sanyal, Sohini Das, Anoushka Sawhney & Shine Jacob from New Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai) AAP national spokesperson Saurabh Bharadwaj on Thursday said the party's candidates for mayor and deputy mayor will file their nominations on April 17. The nomination process will end on April 18, and the ordinary meeting of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi is scheduled to be held on April 26 for the election of mayor and deputy mayor. "April 18 is the last date, so we will be filing our nominations on April 17," he told reporters. The Urban Development minister also stressed that the BJP has laid arms in the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. "They are slowly digesting the fact that they were defeated in the MCD. Their efforts to buy councillors have reduced," he added. The city gets a new mayor after the end of a financial year. Also Read Oscar nominations 2023 final list to be out today: Here's how to watch BJP fields Shalimar Bagh councillor Rekha Gupta for Delhi Mayor polls After much delay, stage set to elect new MCD mayor following SC order LG claiming credit for work done by Delhi govt to clean Yamuna: Bharadwaj Mayor of Delhi: Election process and role in administering national capital Don't know who is Sukesh Chandrasekhar, says BRS leader K Kavitha Will meet Opposition leaders in Delhi tomorrow: NCP's Sharad Pawar Hindi can't be imposed on ancient Tamil, says TN Governor R N Ravi Orwellian state being created where freedom of press is clamped down: Cong Congress criticises removal of Maulana Azad references from NCERT textbook Oberoi, an AAP councillor, was elected as the mayor of Delhi on February 22. She defeated BJP's Rekha Gupta by a margin of 34 votes. Oberoi polled 150 votes, while Gupta received 116 votes out of the total 266 votes polled. The voting was held at the Civic Centre - the headquarters of the MCD. Delhi had got the mayor in the fourth attempt since the earlier elections were stalled amid a ruckus over voting rights being given to nominated members. Sources said the Aam Aadmi Party is likely to repeat Oberoi and deputy mayor Aaley Mohammad Iqbal as its candidates for the respective posts. In significant decisions that have ramifications for national polity, the Election Commission on Monday recognised Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as a national party and withdrew this recognition from Nationalist Congress Party, CPI and Trinamool Congress. While AAP leaders hailed the national party status, Trinamool Congress Saugata Roy said the party has fought many obstacles and "will overcome this too". The EC decision came amid the campaign for Karnataka assembly polls and months before assembly polls in Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh due by the end of this year. The loss of national party status is a setback for both NCP and Trinamool Congress. The ruling party in Bengal has clear national ambitions with party leaders apparently keen that party supremo Mamata Banerjee emerges as a prime ministerial candidate. The decision will also have a bearing in terms of opposition efforts to forge a united front to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. While the decision has increased the political heft of AAP, it has seemingly affected NCP and Trinamool Congress in the perception battle. NCP chief Sharad Pawar is among the seniormost opposition leaders. In other decisions, the Election Commission gave recognition to Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) as a state party in Nagaland and Tipra Motha Party was recognised as a state party in Tripura. Bharat Rashtra Samithi has been derecognised as a state party in Andhra Pradesh. Also Read EC grants national party status to AAP; Trinamool, NCP, CPI lose tag Trinamool Congress second richest party after BJP, Congress at third: ADR PAN-Aadhaar link status: Are your cards already linked? Learn how to check Election Commission says looking into AAP's national status issue Assam's Gamosa, Telangana's Tandur Redgram, Ladakh's apricot get GI tag India will be third largest economy by 2027-28, says Piyush Goyal Top headlines: Likely profitable Q4 for India Inc, rural FMCG sales up Shinde-led Sena denies connection with plea staking claim on UBT's property The start-up India policy is brainchild of PM Modi: Union Min Sonowal Health Dept is on high alert in view of rising Covid-19 cases: Delhi Min The poll panel also withdrew the state party status of Rashtriya Lok Dal in Uttar Pradesh and of Revolutionary Socialist Party in West Bengal. The Voice of the People Party got recognition as a state party in Meghalaya. Tipra Motha Party, Lok Janshakti Party (Ram Vilas) and Voice of the People Party got recognition as state parties based on their recent performance in the assembly polls earlier this year in Tripura, Nagaland and Meghalaya respectively. AAP rules Delhi and Punjab and it got national party status also based on its performance in Gujarat and Goa. It is a recognised state party in Delhi, Punjab, Gujarat and Goa. AAP has been looking for a national footprint and has contested polls in several states. AAP leaders including Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party congratulated party workers over the decision. Kejriwal said the party's achievement in "such a short time" is "nothing less than a miracle". He said that the people of the country have given them a huge responsibility. "National party in such a short time? This is nothing less than a miracle. Many congratulations to all. Crores of people of the country have taken us here. People expect a lot from us. Today people have given us this huge responsibility. Lord, bless us to fulfill this responsibility well," Kejriwal said in a tweet. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said hard work of workers has paid off. "Congratulations to the dreams of AAP team captain Arvind Kejriwal ji..Congratulations to the crores of team members..Hard work has paid off....Eyewitness of AAP's revolution... ," he said in a tweet. Delhi Minister and AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj said the achievement would not have been possible without people's support. "It's a big thing for us. This wouldn't have been possible without people's support. People are with us. We want God to give strength to Arvind Kejriwal to keep on moving forward," he said. The good news for AAP came at a time when the party has been battling crisis following arrest of former Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia over alleged corruption. Another former party minister Satyendar Jain is facing money laundering cases. AAP was founded in 2012 following India Against Corruption movement. While the party has done very well in Delhi assembly polls, it also won the MCD polls earlier this year. AAP formed the government in Punjab and made its debut in Gujarat assembly last year. AAP MP Raghav Chadha said the party is India's fastest-growing political startup. "Today AAP has been given the status of a national party. I would like to congratulate all AAP volunteers who worked tirelessly to take the party to this milestone.I salute Arvind Kejriwal's leadership. We're India's fastest-growing political startup," he said. The national parties now include the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, Aam Aadmi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party and Communist Party of India (Marxist). Sources said Trinamool Congress is exploring legal options to challenge the Election Commission's decision to withdraw the national party status. Saugata Roy said Trinamool Congress will continue with its work. "Trinamool Congress has overcome many obstacles, we will overcome this too. We will continue to do what we have to do, it will not make any difference," Roy told ANI. Trinamool Congress, which rules West Bengal, could not attain much success in the elections to northeastern states held earlier this year. Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari took a jibe on Trinamool Congress and asked when will it remove "All India" from its name All India Trinamool Congress. "I sincerely thank Hon'ble Chief Election Commissioner of India Shri @rajivkumarec Ji (IAS) & @ECISVEEP for derecognising @AITCofficial as a National Party. I raised this issue after Tripura Elections as TMC failed to fulfill the criteria. When are you removing "AI" AITCofficial (All India Trinamool Congress)?" Adhikari asked in a tweet. The Karnataka High Court had last week passed directions to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar to pass an order before April 13 regarding the national party status of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). Responding to the court's direction, the CEC representative has confirmed the same will be done on April 11. AAP had approached the Karnataka High Court pertaining to the "delay" in the party being granted the status of a 'national party'.The petition was filed in Karnataka HC by Prithvi Reddy, the convenor of the AAP Karnataka unit. AAP stated in the petition that it fulfils all the conditions required to be designated as a national party, but despite that, there has been a delay in the party being granted the status. . Responding to the BJP leaders' remark that opposition unity is not possible in the country, JD(U) leader Abhishek Jha on Thursday claimed that saffron party leaders were unnerved with just one photograph of Congress, JD-U and RJD leaders. Union Minister Giriraj Singh and Bihar BJP Chief Samrat Chaudhary on Wednesday said opposition unity is not possible in the country after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, JD(U) national presidents Lalan Sing and Sanjay Jha met with Congress top brass Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi in Delhi and promoted the opposition's unity in the country. "After the meeting, a beautiful photograph emerged in Delhi. The opposition unity is going in the right direction. BJP leaders are feeling uneasy thinking what will happen when all opposition parties will come together on one platform... BJP leaders will face a difficult situation when all strategies will be implemented against them in 2024 Lok Sabha polls," Jha, who is also spokesperson of the BJP, said. "We have only one motive and that is to stop the BJP from coming to power in 2024, and our leaders are moving in the right direction for that," he said. --IANS ajk/svn/ Also Read BJP seeks to take on Grand Alliance in Bihar with 'rare' social coalition Rahul Gandhi convicted in Modi surname defamation case: What we know so far Nitish Kumar working on someone else's behest: Upendra Kushwaha RJD MLA's remark against Bihar CM unacceptable, says Tejashwi Yadav Digvijaya offers residence to Rahul after he was asked to vacate bungalow Too little, too late: Kharge takes swipe at PM over 'Rozgar Mela' Unseasonal rain in Mumbai; IMD says highest precipitation so far in April K'taka polls: Denied ticket to contest, BJP MLA M P Kumaraswamy quits party Internet services suspended in Sambalpur for 48 hrs after communal violence 'India sees surge in Covid cases; virus moving towards endemic stage' Int'l genomics conference kicks off in central China Xinhua) 11:06, April 13, 2023 CHANGSHA, April 12 (Xinhua) -- The 18th annual meeting of the International Conference on Genomics (ICG-18) opened Wednesday in the city of Zhangjiajie in central China's Hunan Province. The conference is scheduled to run until April 28, and relevant meetings will be held at various locations across China, as well as in Singapore and London, to discuss the latest findings in life science research with a focus on promoting global cooperation. Themed "collaboration for omics," the event has attracted leading researchers and practitioners to discuss various topics including biodiversity and biobanking, artificial intelligence in "the century of biology," and education in life sciences. This year marks the 70th anniversary of the discovery of the double helix structure of DNA and the 20th anniversary of the completion of the Human Genome Project (HGP). Yang Huanming, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, reflected on the gathering of Chinese scientists in Zhangjiajie 25 years ago, which became known as the preparatory meeting of the HGP China Chapter. Yang said this event was a significant milestone in the history of China's genomics research. Since its inaugural meeting in 2006, the ICG has provided a robust platform for open discussions and sharing of information related to omics, thereby facilitating international and cross-discipline cooperation, innovation and application in this field. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Toss Securities CEO Kim Seung-yeon / Courtesy of Toss Securities By Anna J. Park It is rare to see a non-financial expert lead a local brokerage firm as CEO in Korea. But Kim Seung-yeon, the new CEO at Toss Securities since early April, is breaking the mold. Kim, 42, has built an extensive career at global IT firms, including TikTok and Google, during the past 15 years. Accumulating expertise in marketing and business management, Kim served as a general manager at TikTok, a short-video communication platform, leading overall business strategies in Korea and Southeast Asia. TikTok posted the highest annual growth rate in the Southeast Asian region in 2022. Kim also previously worked at Google and Metaps+, a mobile marketing platform. Convinced of Kim's capacities to successfully lead the global platform company's steep growth, the board of Toss Securities decided to appoint him as its new CEO for the next two years, confident that he can contribute to the company's stable growth and business expansion. "I will strive to provide better services for customers by further advancing Toss Securities' businesses while laying out new insights and vision for the firm," Kim said. Regarding market concerns that the new CEO might lack the necessary financial experience, Toss Securities highlighted that Kim's background, expertise and qualifications are enough to lead the retail-focused brokerage's growth. "Toss Securities is a financial service company that is solely focusing on the retail business. As the firm is aimed at providing solutions as well as beneficial experiences for customers through our application platform, the new CEO's expertise in the global mobile platform business will be a great asset for the company," an official at Toss Securities told The Korea Times. As the firm prioritizes increasing customer access to its mobile application, Kim's role in attracting new clients will be ever more important. In just six quarters since the firm's launch, Toss Securities achieved a turnaround, posting a net profit. The firm accounts for about 20 percent of U.S. stock trading services in the country. Toss Securities plans to continue its aggressive market encroachment strategies by launching a web trading system (WTS), in addition to its incumbent mobile trading system (MTS) for trading local and overseas stocks and options. Since the launch of Toss Securities in March 2021, the retail-focused mobile brokerage company has moved unconventionally when appointing its CEOs. Neither the firm's first CEO Park Jae-min, a veteran consultant, nor the next leader, Oh Chang-hoon, the current chief technology officer (CTO) at Toss Securities, were financial experts. China has released a new set of revised rules for military recruitment in wartime, including giving priority to the veterans, drafting high-calibre soldiers and optimising conscription procedures, which an analyst described as combat readiness for a war over Taiwan. A set of revised rules regarding military recruitment has been released by the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC) - the high command of the Chinese military headed by President Xi Jinping - aiming to provide institutional guarantees for consolidating national defence and building strong armed forces, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. The new regulation, with 74 articles in 11 chapters, focuses on recruiting more high-calibre soldiers, standardising and optimising conscription procedures, and improving the system's efficiency, it said in a brief report. The new rules will come into effect next month. The regulations said recruitment should "focus on preparing for war" and increase efficiency by calling up high calibre recruits, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post newspaper reported. For the first time, a separate chapter on wartime recruitment has been included in the regulations, which state that ex-servicemen would be prioritised and expected to join their original units or similar positions. Also Read UN, Russia hold talks on extending wartime grain deal to ease food crisis Bhutan FM talks about geopolitical tensions in Asia Economic Dialogue China plans to triple nuclear warheads to 900 by 2035 amid tensions with US Rolls-Royce's performance 'unsustainable', says CEO Tufan Erginbilgic Are OMC stocks a good bet at the current levels? BJP spokesperson takes a dig at Kejriwal, calls him 'Natwarlal of politics' Madhya Pradesh govt plans to pay insurance premium of small farmers Jallianwala Bagh massacre: What happened on the dark day 104 years ago TATA IHCL to operate CIAL's hotel project with Rs 100 crore investment Rajasthan Cong in-charge Randhawa meets Rahul over Gehlot-Pilot issue The new rules were promulgated as Beijing is facing geopolitical tensions on several fronts, including in the South China Sea, especially in the Taiwan Strait, according to the report. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) broke new ground in its latest drill around Taiwan by testing its capacity to blockade the self-ruled island. The three-day exercises which ended on Monday followed Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China views Taiwan as a breakaway province. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to reunify the self-ruled island with the mainland. China views any official exchanges between foreign governments and Taiwan as an infringement on Beijing's claims of sovereignty over the island. Though the exercises ended, the PLA maintained a substantial presence in the Taiwan Strait, keeping Taipei on tenterhooks. During a visit to the PLA's Southern Theatre Command on Wednesday, President Xi stressed the importance of accelerating the transformation into a modern fighting force through real combat-oriented exercises and innovative warfare concepts. He asked the military to resolutely defend China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain the overall stability of the neighbouring regions amid rising tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. Chinese and Indian troops are also locked in a nearly three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement of troops from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas. Explaining the addition of the wartime recruitment chapter to the military regulations, a CMC official said, in order to ensure the normal replacement of troops and the supplementary needs of soldiers in wartime, the regulations refer to the common practices of various countries ... and set up a special chapter to regulate the issue of wartime recruitment. Citizens who receive a recruitment notice during wartime must go to the designated place on time to enlist or face punishment, according to the regulations, the Post report said. During wartime, the regulations say the State Council and the CMC may adjust recruitment conditions and methods within the scope prescribed by law, leaving space for further changes. The amendment is part of consecutive efforts by Beijing to adjust and improve its legal system to better support wartime arrangements in the face of increasing geopolitical pressure, while at the same time exerting its military presence in the Taiwan Strait, the Post report said. In February, Chinese lawmakers approved a resolution giving the military the power to change how the Criminal Procedure Law is applied during wartime, to safeguard military missions and improve [the PLA's] ability to win in combat. Beijing-based military law expert Xie Dan said the amendment filled a gap in China's wartime legislation, but was also driven by the need for military preparations, including against Taiwan. "The Anti-Secession Law clarifies the conditions for resolving the Taiwan issue by non-peaceful means. Improving relevant military regulations is undoubtedly one of the important contents of current military preparations, Xie told the Post. China's military laws especially relating to wartime have become weak points over the decades of peace since China was last involved in a war, he said. In addition to its 2021 amendment to the military service law, Beijing also amended the Reservist Law in December to improve the development of reserve forces, which refers to the pre-assigned citizens who will become important components of the PLA during wartime. According to Xie, the new recruitment regulations offer more operational and detailed rules for wartime mobilisation. The prioritisation of veterans was necessary because of their skills and experience in operating hi-tech weapons, he said. The PLA recruitment is also focused on college students and graduates, especially those with science and engineering backgrounds, to fulfil Xi's goal of building a world-class military by 2050. Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping played down the implications of the regulation change for any possible military action by Beijing. The goal of the amendment was to enhance the legalisation of recruitment work as part of the military reforms, he told the Post. The Rajasthan High Court on Thursday granted interim relief to Union minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society case and ordered a stay on his arrest. The minister had filed a criminal miscellaneous petition seeking relief in the matter although he is not mentioned as an accused in the FIR registered in connection with the alleged scam of more than Rs 900 crore. The Rajasthan Special Operations Group is investigating the case. A bench of Justice Kuldeep Mathur heard the petition and granted the stay on arrest. The court then listed the matter for further hearing after three weeks. Shekhawat had moved a petition on March 24 for quashing the FIR in the case and transferring the probe to the CBI. His counsel Dhirendra Singh Daspan said they sought the transfer of the investigation to the CBI on the grounds that the state has no jurisdiction in the matter. The Union minister's move came following Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's continuous attack, accusing him and his family of being involved in misappropriation of depositors' money in the name of huge return on their deposits. Shekhawat has also filed a criminal defamation suit in a Delhi court against Gehlot, saying the Congress leader made false allegations that caused an irreparable damage to his reputation. Also Read India has committed over $240 bn in water sector: Gajendra Singh Shekhawat Centre has sanctioned Rs 2,000 cr for Tripura under Jal Jeevan Mission: CM Pratibha Patil's husband Devisingh Shekhawat dies of heart attack in Pune Gehlot alleges Union min's involvement in Sanjivani Credit Society scam Shekhawat records statement before court in defamation case against Raj CM We will be more than happy if Ajit Pawar joins our party: Athawale PM Modi at National Rozgar Mela, distributes 71,000 appointment letters Andhra Pradesh bankrupt due to ruling YSRCP's failed policies: TDP chief BJP continues to face heat over ticket distribution in Karnataka polls 2G scam: HC asks CBI, ED, Raja and others to file submissions in appeal Meanwhile, Gehlot on Thursday demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should sack Shekhawat as Union minister for his alleged involvement in the Sanjivani Credit Cooperative Society case. "He has no moral right to remain a Union minister. The prime minister should sack such a minister," the chief minister told reporters in Jaipur. A Delhi court on Thursday sought the response of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to an application moved by AAP leader Satyendar Jain seeking transfer of a money laundering case to another judge. Principal District and Sessions Judge Vinay Kumar Gupta issued notice to the ED on Jain's plea, and directed the agency to file a reply by May 4, when the court will further hear the matter. The court, however, refused to stay the proceedings before Special Judge Vikas Dhull, who is currently hearing the case, during the pendency of the application. Jain recently moved applications seeking the transfer of the trial proceedings in corruption and money laundering cases, being probed by the CBI and the ED respectively, to another judge alleging bias. Both the cases are currently being heard by Special Judge Dhull. In the CBI matter, the District Judge has stayed the proceedings before Dhull till May 4. Also Read HC seeks ED reply on co-accused bail pleas in Satyender Jain PMLA case Delhi court denies bail to Satyendar Jain in money laundering case Delhi HC dismisses Satyendar Jain's bail plea in money laundering case 'Heavy BJP machinery made MCD polls toughest election contested by AAP' Over 1 mn signatures collected against Sisodia, Jain's arrest: AAP Construction of national highways at 10,993 kms in 2022-23, says MoRTH BJP MP Srinivas announces retirement, says will not contest 2024 LS polls Centre to strengthen Vizag Steel Plant rather than privatising it: Kulaste Govt mulling blocking websites transmitting pirated content: Official Govt to introduce bills to amend insolvency laws in Parl's monsoon session The ED had initiated money laundering investigation on the basis of a First Information Report (FIR) registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on August 24, 2017 under the Prevention of Corruption Act against Jain and others. The CBI alleged that Jain, while holding the office as a Minister in the Government of Delhi during February 14, 2015 to May 31, 2017, had acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. A newborn diagnosed with COVID-19 has been admitted to LNJP Hospital here, its medical director said on Thursday, as he cautioned that coronavirus cases in the national capital will peak in the next couple of weeks. Delhi's single-day caseload addition on Wednesday breached the 1,000-mark for the first time in over seven months while the positivity rate stood at 23.8 per cent, according to data shared by the Health department. The national capital logged 1,149 fresh cases and one fatality on Wednesday. Dr Suresh Kumar, the medical director at LNJP Hospital, told PTI during an interaction that wearing masks has been made "mandatory" at the facility. The 2,000-bed British-era facility is the largest hospital under the Delhi government. "Children are not vaccinated, so we need to take precautions for them as they are getting symptoms like fever, cough, eye infection and stomach infection as well. This variant (XBB.1.16) is affecting children more. An 18-day-old newborn has even been admitted to our hospital and the child is Covid positive," he said. Also Read Hospitals across India hold mock drills to verify Covid readiness Remain cautious, focus should be on clinical cases: Experts on Covid surge LNJP director asks people to wear masks, take Covid-19 precaution dose Delhi hospitals to conduct mock drills today to check Covid readiness 13 new measles cases, 1 death in Mumbai; fatality toll rises to 12 DMRC 'lowest bidder' to operate, maintain Mumbai Metro's Line 3: Officials Wheat export ban to continue to ensure adequate supplies in India: Goyal Trial not fair, no need for maximum punishment: Rahul Gandhi's lawyer Sena founder Balasaheb's name cannot be separated from Ram temple: Maha CM Eknath Shinde had cried and said he will be jailed: Aaditya Thackeray Four more children are admitted to the hospital, Kumar said. It is better to wear masks in schools and public places and even senior citizens should wear masks. Precaution is surely better, he said. "We will see the peak of Covid cases in one-two weeks and the graph will go down from thereon," Kumar said, adding, "We have made all arrangements in the hospital for patients, including children, as they are coming in more numbers with infection". Amid a gradual increase in the number of Covid cases in Delhi, medical experts have said the virus' new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving the surge. However, they maintained that there is no need to panic and people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get their booster shots. Mock drills were conducted at hospitals in Delhi on Tuesday to ascertain their preparedness to tackle the disease amid a surge in cases in the national capital. The drill was conducted as part of a nationwide exercise to take stock of hospitals' preparedness to tackle the surge in Covid cases. Kumar said more cases are being reported in the city but there is no need to panic. "Only 10 patients have been admitted to our hospital while 440 Covid beds are vacant. The objective of the exercise is to ascertain our preparedness in terms of availability of essential medicine, equipment and staff," he had said on Tuesday. Talking about the recent Covid-related deaths, Kumar has said only those who had severe comorbidities such as tuberculosis, cancer and chronic lung diseases, among others, succumbed to the infection. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who flagged off Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express on Wednesday, said that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot attended the programme despite a political crisis in the state. Prime Minister Modi on Wednesday flagged off Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express, the world's first semi-high-speed passenger train on high-rise overhead electric (OHE) territory via video conferencing on Wednesday. At the flagging-off event which he joined via video conferencing, Prime Minister said," I thank Gehlotji that despite facing the political crisis he took out time to attend this railway programme. Gehlot ji you have two laddus in your hand. The Railway Minister and Railway Board chairman are from Rajasthan. Thank you for your faith in me that I will be able to complete the work that has not been done since independence." Notably, Congress leader Sachin Pilot on Tuesday demanded an investigation from Rajasthan government in cases of alleged corruption related to the previous Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in the state. Pilot made these remarks as he ended his day-long fast on Tuesday calling for action by the incumbent Ashok Gehlot government against alleged corruption during the previous BJP rule under former chief minister Vasundhara Raje. PM Modi further said that post-Independence, political interests always dominated the modernization of Railways. Also Read Explained: Why is Sachin Pilot holding a day-long protest in Rajasthan IND vs ENG T20 World Cup Semi-Final Live Streaming: When and how to watch Vande Bharat train between Ajmer, Delhi Cant big gift for Rajasthan: Gehlot NZ vs PAK T20 World Cup SF Highlights: Rizwan, Babar take Pakistan to final Pilot, Raje keep suspense quotient up in Rajasthan's political soap Nitish meets Cong, AAP in attempt for Oppn unity for 2024; BJP hits back Soaring milk prices may become a hurdle in Modi govt's inflation fight K'taka polls: BJP announces 2nd list of 23, denies ticket to 7 sitting MLAs Ukraine to allow Indian students to appear for key exam from India Delhi reports 1,149 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death; active tally at 3,347 "Unfortunately, selfish and mean politics had always overshadowed the modernisation of the Railways. The large-scale corruption did neither let the development happen in Railways nor did it let even the Railways' selection process be transparent," he said. Only after 2014, PM Modi said that the revolutionary transformation started taking place "Who would become the railway minister was decided by looking at the political interest. It was the political interest that such trains were announced which never actually ran. The situation was such that after snatching the land of the poor, they were given a job in the railways. Railway safety...cleanliness everything was ignored. Changes in all these arrangements started coming after the year 2014," stated the Prime Minister. Prime Minister's remarks came against the backdrop of central agencies probing the land-for-jobs case involving Rashtriya Janata Dal chief and former Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family members. He said Vande Bharat Express enriches the spirit of 'India First, Always First'. The prime minister said the Vande Bharat train has today become synonymous with development, modernity, self-reliance and stability. "Today's journey of Vande Bharat will lead us to the journey of developed India tomorrow," he said. Ever since Vande Bharat started, he said, about 60 lakh people have travelled in these trains. The biggest feature of high-speed Vande Bharat is that it saves people time. From fast speed to beautiful design, Vande Bharat train is endowed with many features, he said. Prime Minister said the central government is also working on about 1,400 km of roads in the border areas of Rajasthan. Along with road, the central government is also giving top priority to rail connectivity in Rajasthan. Prime Minister said Vande Bharat Express will immensely benefit the tourism industry of Rajasthan. "I am fortunate to have flagged off the 6th Vande Bharat Express in the last two months," he said. Travelling to Jaipur-Delhi, the PM said will now be easier with the Vande Bharat Express. This train will also help a lot to the tourism industry of Rajasthan. The inaugural train will run between Jaipur and Delhi Cantt railway stations. The regular service of this Vande Bharat Express will start from Thursday, April 13 and will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantt., with stops at Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgaon.Notably, Ajmer-Delhi Cantt Vande Bharat Express is Rajasthan's first Vande Bharat Express train. Vande Bharat Express is an indigenously manufactured, semi-high speed and self-propelled train set. The train is equipped with state-of-the-art passenger amenities, providing passengers with a faster, more comfortable and more convenient travel experience. Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said questions have been raised over "fake" encounters in Uttar Pradesh and the BJP-ruled state has received maximum NHRC notices on such actions, remarks coming in the backdrop of death of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad in a gunfight. The former Uttar Pradesh chief minister also took a jibe at his successor Yogi Adityanath over his "will reduce mafia to dust" comments made in the Assembly, saying those who mouth such "filmi dialogue" have no faith in the Constitution. Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an accomplice, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were shot dead in an exchange of fire with the Uttar Pradesh Police near Jhansi on Thursday, officials said in Lucknow. The alleged encounter took place apparently at the time Ahmad, a former SP legislator, was in a Prayagraj court, where he was presented before the Chief Judicial Magistrate in connection with the same murder. Asked about the gunfight, Yadav told reporters this was not the first time fingers have been pointed at the UP government over "fake" encounters in the northern state. Apparently referring to the killing of gangster Vikas Dubey in an encounter in July 2020 near Kanpur, the SP leader said not many believed the Uttar Pradesh police version that the vehicle carrying him from Madhya Pradesh had overturned. The UP police had then claimed Dubey was shot dead when he was trying to flee after the car carrying him from Ujjain overturned on the outskirts of Kanpur. Recently in Kanpur, when the hut of a mother-daughter duo was bulldozed, and then set afire, both lost their lives. Similarly, one Pushpendra Yadav was killed in a fake encounter (in 2019). A person died in police custody in Kanpur. "In Balia, BJP workers killed a promising student leader. In Balia again, money lenders pressured a trader to such an extent that he lost his life," Yadav said. "Filmy dialogue like 'mitti me mila denge' (will reduce to dust) is uttered by those who don't have faith in the Constitution, he said, attacking Chief Minister Adityanath. Specifically asked whether Atiq Ahmad's son was killed in a fake encounter, Yadav said questions have been repeatedly raised on the Uttar Pradesh government over "fake" encounters in the state. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has given maximum notices to the UP government (over police actions like encounters). Maximum number of custodial deaths in the country take place in Uttar Pradesh," he claimed. The SP leader arrived in Boravan town of Khargone district to pay respects to late Congress leader and former Madhya Pradesh deputy chief minister Subhash Yadav. Also Read State machinery will take care, SC refuses Atiq Ahmad's plea for protection ED conducts searches in money laundering case against Atiq Ahmad: Report Atiq Ahmad's son killed in encounter by Special Task Force in Jhansi One who wants to serve country will never become Agniveer: Akhilesh Yadav BJP might lose all 80 Lok Sabha seats in UP in 2024, says SP chief Akhilesh Opposition leaders united on forming pre-poll alliance, talks on: Nitish PM Modi holds talk with Sunak, calls for action against anti-India elements Covid surge: Maharashtra records 1,086 cases, 1 death; active tally 5,700 Shah to start tours of various states including Bengal, Goa from tomorrow Will continue to cooperate fully with Indian authorities: BBC on ED probe The Delhi High Court Thursday said the city government ought to provide uniforms to school students belonging to the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) and not cash. A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma noted the high court had in August 2014 asked the Delhi government to provide uniforms and not cash to the students and, in the absence of any modification of that direction, the authorities have to comply with it. The court was hearing a batch of pleas concerning the supply of resources to students belonging to the economically weaker sections and disadvantaged groups in schools here and the implementation of the provisions of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act, 2009 and the Delhi Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Rules, 2011. Delhi govenment counsel Santosh Kumar Tripathi said the government is providing books and study material, and from the next academic session, it would also give uniforms to the students. The government lawyer stated from next year the heads of schools can procure uniforms from the market after a survey has been carried out and the cost approved by the authorities. In the meantime, it would provide cash for the purchase of uniforms. "You are not supposed to pay in cash. This is not compliance of the order. Compliance is provide a tailor for a school or cluster of schools. Government will say I will sanction Rs 50 per metre cloth. Heads of schools will say there is no Rs 50 per metre cloth," remarked the court. Also Read Former Bengal and Bihar governor Keshari Nath Tripathi dies aged 88 Supreme Court upholds 10 per cent reservation for EWS in 3:2 verdict Supreme Court to pronounce verdict on EWS quota today; What we know so far DMK files review petition against top court order upholding 10% EWS quota Opposition demands talks on inflation, EWS during all-party meet: Report BJP follows AAP, launches free pilgrimage programme for Delhi's elderly India can meet security challenges posed by Pakistan, China: Jaishankar Amit Shah urges Indians to visit its 'first village' Kibithoo in Arunachal Panel on digital competition law likely to finalise report by May-end Increase in demand for all categories of tea barring Darjeeling leaf Advocate Kamal Gupta, representing certain private schools in the matter, said a paltry sum of Rs 1,500 was given annually to the EWS category students which "makes a mockery of the EWS children". The same amount was also reimbursed to private unaided schools, the lawyer said. Maintaining that Delhi is not special and must comply with the mandate of law on providing aid to EWS students, the court asked when certain schools were providing uniforms to EWS students why can't the government. "We will ensure uniforms are supplied. We will monitor this," the bench, also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad, said and listed the case for further hearing on August 25. In August 2014, the high court had said it was the duty of the state government and the schools to ensure that free textbooks, uniforms etc are made available to children belonging to the EWS category. It had then noted that out of 68,951 EWS category children studying in private schools in session 2014-15, roughly about 51,000 children were without textbooks and uniforms. The high court had observed that such a situation was "wholly unacceptable". Haryana saw a jaw dropping rise of almost 5,000 per cent in cyber crime incidents since 2019, registering 66,784 such complaints in 2022, officials said on Thursday. The state in 2019 had logged 1,362 cyber crime complaints, which rocketed by 4,803.40 per cent by the end of 2022, according to the data. In the first three months of 2023 alone 25,659 complaints of cyber crime have been recorded, the officials said. The average monthly receipt of complaints increased from 272 in 2019 to 956 in 2022, 1,313 in 2021, 5,565 in 2022, and 8,553 in the first three months of 2023, they said. To deal with the rising number of complaints received on cyber crime helpline number '1930', Haryana police has increased call lines from six to ten and number of people manning the lines from 18 to 40. Haryana's Additional DGP (Crime) O P Singh said the victims of cyber crime were being attended to round-the-clock by police. Also Read Interpol's crack team to 'follow the money' in crypto crimes, says official 440% rise in reporting of major crimes in Delhi in 10 years, says report Rising online frauds: Gurugram woman loses Rs 76 lakh in movie review scam Kerala govt launches mobile app to prevent cyber crimes against children Collective responsibility of states and Centre to tackle crimes: Amit Shah 'Securitisation of Samruddhi Expressway's rights will fetch Maha Rs 50k cr' Not seeking permanent immigration visas from any country in FTA: Goyal Not above law, tender unconditional apology: SC to Ex-IPL chief Lalit Modi Co-op society case: Rajasthan HC grants relief to Shekhawat, stays arrest We will be more than happy if Ajit Pawar joins our party: Athawale Haryana Police recovered Rs 56.9 crore from the cyber frauds in the past three years, arresting 1,377 of them, 1,239 from outside Haryana, he said. Singh said that people must keep their Operating System, web browser, and all other software regularly updated to the latest versions to prevent any sort of hacking. "People should use strong and unique passwords. Avoid using common passwords and use long, complex passwords that include a mix of uppercase and lowercase letters, numbers, and special characters. "Do not click on links or download attachments from unknown or suspicious emails. Be wary of unexpected emails, especially those that request personal or financial information and verify the authenticity of the sender before taking any action," he said. He further said that people should enable "two-factor authentication as it adds an extra layer of security to their online accounts by requiring an additional verification step." "Be mindful of the information you share on social media and adjust your privacy settings to limit the amount of personal information that is publicly visible. "Be cautious of friend requests or messages from unknown individuals and avoid sharing sensitive information online. Always make online purchases from reputable websites and avoid clicking on links in unsolicited emails or ads," he said. The officer also urged the public to regularly review their bank and credit card statements for any unauthorised transactions and report any suspicious activity to their financial institution immediately. "Besides, stay informed about common types of cyber fraud, such as phishing, ransomware and identity theft," he added. He urged the cyber attack victims to call '1930' immediately or file a complaint at "http://cybercrime.gov.in" cybercrime.gov.in. India will deploy four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft and two IL-78 mid-air refuellers for a nearly three-week multinational air exercise at France's Mont-de-Marsan military base. It will be the first overseas exercise for the Indian Air Force's Rafale jets. The contingent of the Indian Air Force will leave for France on Friday. "An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will be departing tomorrow for France to participate in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan," the IAF said. "The exercise will be conducted from April 17 to May 5 with the IAF contingent comprising four Rafale jets, two C-17, two ll-78 aircraft and 165 air warriors. Besides the IAF and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), the exercise will be participated by air forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States. Also Read Five parts being made at Nagpur plant to be integrated with all Rafale jets Stealthy, speedy, precise: What are fifth-generation fighter jets? India to receive 36th and final Rafale fighter jet from France by Dec 15 India Army Chief General Manoj Pande embarks on 4-day visit to France The pack is complete, says IAF as last of 36 Rafale jets land in India Courts to have liberal view towards Consumer Protection Act provisions: SC Global sovereign debt roundtable for improving info sharing on debt rejig 'Fake' encounters are staged in UP: Akhilesh after killing of Atiq's son Opposition leaders united on forming pre-poll alliance, talks on: Nitish PM Modi holds talk with Sunak, calls for action against anti-India elements "Participation in this exercise would further enrich the employment philosophy of the India Air Force, by imbibing the best practices from other Air Forces," the IAF said in a statement. India on Thursday was non-committal on participation of Ukranian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G20 summit in September, days after Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said that he will be happy to address it. In an address at a think-tank in Delhi, Dzhaparova on Tuesday said Zelenskyy would be happy to speak at the summit just like he did during the Bali summit of the grouping last November. The Ukranian President had addressed the Bali summit through video conference. India is holding the current presidency of the G20 and will host the summit of the grouping in September in Delhi. When asked about Dzhaparova's comments, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi referred to remarks by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on the invitations. "As far as Ukraine's invitation is concerned, see, during the presser that we did at the time of launch of the G20 presidency, it was made clear as to which nations are invited as guests, including obviously, the G20 members," Kwatra told reporters on March 1. Also Read Crisis in multilateralism affecting developing nations most: PM at G20 meet G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting: Guests welcomed with dance performance G20 foreign ministers' meeting today: Schedule, agenda, other details here LIVE: Blinken asks for 'contact' with Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov PM Modi, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hold talks over phone National Fishworkers Forum urges India, Pak PMs to release 750+ prisoners BJP Ministers file nomination ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls Shah Rukh Khan, Rajamouli, Rushdie among world's 100 most influential: Time Endemic is the new normal as daily Covid cases top 10,000 in India G20 India doing excellent job with focus on global community: IMF "The list of those countries was shared with you. We have not made any changes or addition in that list," he said. Besides the G20 countries, India has invited Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates as the guest countries. "I think we have answered this question in the past, including by the foreign secretary. I have nothing to add to that for the moment in terms of participation," Bagchi said when asked whether India will invite the Ukranian President for participation at the G20 summit. Asked about Dzhaparova's comments during her visit to New Delhi that some of India's actions demonstrate its unbalanced position on Ukraine, Bagchi chose not to respond directly, but asserted that India has been pushing for peace. In her comments, the first deputy minister specifically mentioned visits to Moscow by senior Indian ministers and officials and wondered why they did not travel to Kyiv. "Our position on the conflict in Ukraine has been articulated many times. I do not know the word unbalance ..is not something that we have worked with. We certainly worked towards peace and dialogue and diplomacy. It is what we have been stressing ...will not respond without knowing full context," he said. During her visit, Dzhaparova handed over a letter to Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi. The letter was written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Zelenskyy. Asked about the content of the letter, Bagchi chose not to comment. Since the Ukraine conflict began in February last year, Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Zelenskyy a number of times. In a phone conversation with 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. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. Choi Jae-youg, third from left, vice president in charge of wealth management and pension at KB Financial Group, poses with Jeon Byoung-ha, fourth from left, representative partner at Bae, Kim & Lee and other experts from KB and the law firm after signing an MOU at KB Securities' headquarters in Yeouido, Seoul, Wednesday. Courtesy of KB Financial Group By Yoon Ja-young KB Financial Group signed an MOU with two of the country's leading law firms Shin & Kim and Bae, Kim & Lee to bolster its legal consulting service for its wealthy customers. According to KB, the MOU aims at upgrading its Family Office Service provided to KB Gold&Wise the First customers. Under the Family Office Service program, KB has been offering total consulting services for individuals, families and businesses, where they can get tailored solutions based on lifecycles and business operation stages. Following the MOU, KB Kookmin Bank and KB Securities will be offering in-depth legal services for the whole span of asset management, including inheritance of business from father to son, M&A and living trusts. It plans to expand the MOU to accounting firms, overseas real estate corporations and U.S. tax accounting firms, to offer its customers additional support in tax filing, purchases, sales and real estate development nationally and internationally and for paying taxes in the U.S. "Through collaboration between our KB Family Office team and outside experts, we now can suggest the upgraded optimal solution for customers. We hope to continue leading the growth and development of the country's wealth management sector," said Choi Jae-young, vice president in charge of wealth management and pension at KB Financial Group. Forces who indulged in cross-border terrorism against India for decades now know this is a "different India" which will give them a reply, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, emphasising that today the country can meet its national security challenges posed by Pakistan and China. Addressing the Indian community in Uganda on Wednesday, Jaishankar spoke about the transformation of the country into a new India. Speaking about the challenges India faces on its borders, Jaishankar said: "Today, people see a different India that is willing to stand up and India which will meet its national security challenges whether it is Uri or whether it is Balakot." He was referring to the 2016 Uri attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed insurgents from Pakistan against an Indian Army brigade headquarters and the 2019 Balakot airstrike conducted by Indian warplanes in Balakot, Pakistan against a terrorist training camp. "Today, the forces which indulged in cross-border terrorism against India for decades and which India tolerated, they now know this is a different India and this India will give them a reply," he said. He also spoke about the challenges on the border with China. "For the last three years, in violation of the agreements, the Chinese have brought large forces," he said. Also Read India to contribute $500,000 for UN Trust Fund for Counter-Terrorism Guterres, Jaishankar to unveil Mahatma Gandhi's bust at UN headquarters NFSU opens first overseas campus in Uganda, Jaishankar calls it significant Relations with Indian diaspora bolstered due to Sushma Swaraj: Jaishankar India is an invaluable partner: US State Department on Jaishankar-Blinken Amit Shah urges Indians to visit its 'first village' Kibithoo in Arunachal Panel on digital competition law likely to finalise report by May-end Increase in demand for all categories of tea barring Darjeeling leaf Thumbs up to safety: US aviation agency rewards top safety rating to India Manipur's advisor to CM resigns for not being given responsibilities Today the Indian military is deployed at great heights and in very tough conditions, he said. This situation is different from the past as Indian soldiers have now the "full backing, they have the right equipment and the infrastructure," he said. He acknowledged that more work has to be done to develop the infrastructure on the border with China as it has been neglected in the past. "This is a different India which will stand up for its interests and the world will recognise that," he said. Today, he said India's policies are not impacted by any outside pressure. "It is a more independent India," he said. Today, India cannot be put under pressure by countries that will "tell us where we should buy our oil and where we should not buy our oil." "This is an India which will do what is in the interest of its citizens, its consumers," he said. India has been snapping Russian oil available at a discount after the West sanctioned Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. India continues to buy Russian oil in large quantities. Russia continued to be the single largest supplier of crude oil, which is converted into petrol and diesel at refineries, for a sixth straight month by supplying more than one-third of all oil India imported, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. He said some people felt "bad" when India joined the Quad. In November 2017, India, Japan, the US and Australia gave shape to the long-pending proposal of setting up the "Quad" to develop a new strategy to keep the critical sea routes in the Indo-Pacific free of any influence. China has been criticising the formation of the Quad grouping, saying it was aimed at containing Beijing's rise. 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 past few years. Beijing claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. But Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counterclaims. In the East China Sea, China has territorial disputes with Japan. The South China Sea and the East China Sea are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources. They are also vital to global trade. Although the US lays no claims to the disputed waters, it has challenged China's growing territorial claims in the South China Sea by deploying warships and fighter jets to assert freedom of navigation and overflight patrols in the strategically vital region. In 2007, Jaishankar said Quad had come up but they bent to pressure and gave up. "But this time we are very clear that if the Quad is in global interest and is good for the world it is good for us," he said, adding India will do whatever is necessary for the global interest. Jaishankar said today's India is an Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) country. "Atmanirbhar Bharat at the end of the day is actually a confidence that we are capable of many things. We need a leader who gives us the confidence that we can realise that capability and who can give us the policies that will enable us to go in that direction and it is happening," he said. This is today a different India which will take positions which will be determined by India's national interest and "that is very much that you can actually see in the personality of Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi", he said. "This is also a caring India particularly for Indians abroad, for Indians in a country like Uganda," he added. "This is India which is producing vaccines for itself but which is also ready to share it with others," he said. He also how India helped during the recent earthquake in Turkey and Syria. "Within 1 day on the Prime Minister's instruction, we were able to send out a disaster relief team; our military professionals were able to open a hospital in Syria...We sent medicines in large quantities. "So, this is an India which cares for the world and is prepared to put its capabilities...So, this is an India which is there for the world and this is also what the world needs," Jaishankar stressed. He said that if people talk about the rise of India, a large part of it is actually the hard work done by the Indian community abroad. "I would also like to share what the President (Yoweri Kaguta Museveni) has said about the Indian community here, and I feel so proud that he was so warm and appreciative of you all, what the Indian community has done to build Uganda and their contribution," Jaishankar said. "When I reach Delhi, I will certainly tell the Prime Minister.....a very strong appreciation that President Museveni shared about the community, I will certainly convey it to the Prime Minister and I tell you he will feel as proud as I felt," he added. Apart from this, Museveni also had a message that Uganda is a resource-rich country, there is a young demographic, and there is good leadership and vision and he expects that business relations between India and Uganda should focus on "creating the value addition". "You all know about Make in India. Similarly, there is a natural desire in Uganda to make in Uganda and if India is a partner in Making in Uganda, this is something that will certainly I think will solidify our relationship," he said. He said talks are going on the possibility of a direct flight between India and Uganda. "One is the possibility of a direct flight," he said. "When I go back I will definitely take it up with our civil aviation authorities and my civil aviation minister counterpart and I hope next time I come and I will come very soon and I will tell you why I come very soon...so the next time I come I hope I will come on the direct flight," Jaishankar said. Another thing the Ugandan side has shown interest in is having an Indian hospital here, he said. "I am sharing it with you not as a promise but as an expectation that one of you will actualise this dream...I feel when people talk about soft power, I feel our medical capabilities are also India's soft power and we want it to reach Uganda as well," he said. Jaishankar said he discussed in detail with President Museveni India's digital transformation and how India can share this experience with other countries. "..When we look towards the one we can share it with, Uganda is one country among them," he said. Jaishankar said today countries in the world feel today that India is there for them and that India will take up their interests on their behalf and "that is one thing that is felt very strongly in this region." "During the pandemic, you all know that there were lots of vaccines kept across, precisely there were several nations which had stocked up vaccines more than their population yet they did not share it. Today many countries have recognised that the first vaccine they got was from India and even in the case of Uganda the vaccines that we sent to them even before that we sent them medicines as well. They even procured vaccines from the COVAX initiative," he said. The 'Vaccine Maitri' has changed India's image abroad, he said. "It has created today a very strong sense of solidarity among developing economies. And now there is a new crisis that we all know about the ongoing situation in Ukraine where a war has been going on since last year due to which the prices of oil, fertilisers and grains have shot up," he said. Today every developing economy in the world is feeling that they are under disruption. Many countries feel that their global demand has come down, trade has been disrupted, and shipping rate has gone up, he said. "But if you ask, who takes up these matters in the global council then the answer is that till India brought the matter up there was no other country taking up the matter. So today, India has a great responsibility. It is the responsibility of the presidency of the G20. Now this presidency of the G20 by India is being done in a way that was never done before," he added. During his stay here, Jaishankar also visited the Shree Swaminarayan temple in Kampala and prayed for peace, health and harmony. He also met his Ethiopian counterpart Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, who is also the country's deputy prime minister, during a brief stopover in Addis Ababa on his way back to India. "Welcomed his perspective on developments in the region. Also shared views on our strong multilateral cooperation, including in the AU and United Nations," he tweeted after the meeting. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called a state administrative review meeting next week at the state secretariat to find out the status of the various state-operated schemes, a senior official said on Wednesday. The meeting assumes significance as the panchayat elections will be held soon in the state. All officers in the rank of joint secretary and above have been asked to be present at the meeting on April 26. The Head of the Departments were asked to submit a brief updated report on the allocation and utilisation of funds to the Chief Minister's Office by April 19, the official said. "The CM will chair the meeting and review the progress of various schemes of the state government," the bureaucrat said. Chief Secretary HK Dwivedi on Wednesday held a meeting with senior officials of various departments and those in the districts and set a deadline of the second week of May to resolve all the complaints received at 'Duare Sarkar' (government at doorstep) and other portals. Also Read Mamata meets Patnaik, calls to strengthen India's federal structure Mamata starts dharna to protest Centre's 'discrimination' against Bengal Mamata Banerjee to leave for three-day tour to West Bengal districts Mamata Banerjee to attend PM-convened meeting in New Delhi on Dec 5 From Meta to Zomato, how new online review rules will impact industry Delhi Mayor orders zonal officers to list 'non-performing' employees Competitive bidding must be followed in defence procurement: Rajnath Singh Top Headlines: India's smartphone exports, soaring milk prices and more Summer vacation in Bengal schools preponed by 3 weeks due to intense heat Despite political crisis, he attended programme: PM Modi on Ashok Gehlot Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday claimed that contrary to the BJP and the RSS's "false propaganda" that the population of Muslim community was increasing in the country, the number of the minority community members vis-a-vis Hindus was fast declining, and added that he could prove it. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to counter him as it accused him of indulging in politics of appeasement and giving false statements to divide the society. Singh made the claim here while replying to reporters' query about his party's stand on conducting a census. "The propaganda of BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that Muslim population is increasing in the country is completely false, wrong and unverified, because the minority community's population is decreasing at a faster pace as compared to Hindus and I can prove it," Singh said. "My stand on the census is that it should be conducted and its results should come out on the basis of the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Till now, only the results of the 2011 census are available. The figures after that are not yet released by them. Census should be conducted," the former chief minsiter said. When asked whether the Congress will include in its manifesto the demand for conducting a caste-based census, Singh said there was no need for it as it was as per rules and law. Also Read Bharat Jodo Yatra's forced RSS chief to visit madrasa, mosque: Digvijaya RSS ideology and Netaji's ideals poles apart, don't coincide: Anita Bose Congress to start 'Haat se Haat Jodo' campaign, says Digvijaya Singh Cong to contest MP Assembly polls on Kamal Nath's face: Digvijaya Singh 'We are not at war': Muslim leaders keen on continuing dialogue with RSS Will file criminal defamation case against ED officials: AAP's Sanjay Singh 'Shaky, flawed': SC on Karnataka govt's decision to scrap 4% Muslim quota Wear face masks, WFH if cough, flu: Noida health dept's Covid guidelines India non-committal on Zelenskyy's participation at G20 summit in Sept National Fishworkers Forum urges India, Pak PMs to release 750+ prisoners Asked further about the caste-based census in Bihar, Singh said, "Census should be held at the national level." Reacting to Singh's remark on Muslim population, state Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang said the Congress leader was indulging in politics of appeasement and spreading false statements to divide the society on the lines of caste and religion. Denying the charge that Congress indulges in vote bank politics, Digvijaya Singh said that since 1952, the party has worked for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities as well as deprived sections of the society. The Rajya Sabha member questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on sensitive matters, especially on people spreading hatred in the country through their inflammatory statements and acts, and added that the PM expresses concern even when a player suffers an injury on his finger. Terming the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh due by the year-end and the next year's Lok Sabha polls as crucial for the party, Singh said that although the main contest is between the Congress and the BJP, parties like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AlMIM), Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will also be in the fray to help the BJP in dividing the Congress's votes. "But they won't be able to come to power. The fight is between Congress and BJP," he said. Replying to a question whether the Congress got weakened after Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is currently the Union minister from the BJP, quit the party, Singh said, "After he left, there is peace and unity in Congress, while there is unrest and disunity in BJP now." Singh also criticised Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for launching populist schemes like 'Ladli Behna', and questioned why the BJP did not remember people of the state when it was in power for the last more than 18 years and why it is doing so in the election year. "It is the trademark of Chouhan to indulge in dramatics, making announcements and giving long speeches," the Congress veteran said. The Supreme Court Thursday set aside a Calcutta High Court order for a CBI probe in the alleged attack on Union Minister Nisith Pramanik's convoy during a visit to his constituency in West Bengal in February this year and directed fresh adjudication of the PIL filed by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on the issue. The top court also rejected the vehement submissions of Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, for a status quo on the probe into the incident by the state police which, otherwise, will proceed with a lightening speed in view of the fact that they have not given the case files to the CBI as directed by the high court. No we cannot pass such an order, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J P Pardiwala said. The top court referred to the fresh affidavit filed by the West Bengal police before it with regard to the actions taken so far in the incident and set aside the high court judgement ordering a CBI probe, saying the the high court has not noticed any of the above facets. However, the narration which is set out in the earlier part of the judgement (of the high court) have a bearing on the fact that the high court did not apply its mind to the entirety of the material which was produced before it by the petitioners on whether a proper investigation was being conducted (by the state police), the bench said. In this view of the matter, we are of the considered opinion that it would be appropriate to remit the proceedings back to the high court to apply its mind fresh to the material which has been placed on record including the further material which has been placed before this court," it said. Also Read Police not sharing docs about attack on Pramanik's convoy, CBI to HC Union Minister Nisith Pramanik's car attacked in West Bengal's Dinhata Centre notifies appointment of Justice Dipankar Datta as SC judge Centre notifies appointment of Chief Justices for four high courts Calcutta HC Bar Association divided over attending Justice Mantha's bench India improves its ranking by 6 spots in global biz environment rankings Court seeks ED's response to Satyender Jain's plea seeking transfer of case Construction of national highways at 10,993 kms in 2022-23, says MoRTH BJP MP Srinivas announces retirement, says will not contest 2024 LS polls Centre to strengthen Vizag Steel Plant rather than privatising it: Kulaste The apex court said the high court will be at liberty to take a fresh view on whether the investigation by the state police has been fair and proper, and if not, whether a case has been made out for the transfer of the investigation to the CBI. The top court, in its order, took note of the steps taken so far by the state police with regard to incidents, including the one related to alleged attack on the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs' convoy during a visit to his constituency in Cooch Behar district on February 25. It noted that these materials were evidently before the high court which was also told that 21 arrests were made by the state police in a suo-motu (on its own) case registered by the Sahibganj police station there and three more arrests in respect of the FIR registered on the basis of the complaint given by the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), which was protecting the union minister. Moreover it is stated that six specific cases of house damage and ransacking were registered on February 26-27, 2023 on the basis of the complaint submitted by the supporters of the BJP and that in those cases, five accused have been arrested, it said, adding The high court has not noticed any of the above facets in the course of its judgment. The top court did not refer to the details of the state police affidavit with regard to the latest probe saying these materials have been placed after the decision of the high court. However, the narration which is set out in the earlier part of the judgement have a bearing on the fact that the high court did not apply its mind to the entirety of the material which was produced before it by the petitioners bearing on whether a proper investigation was being conducted, it said while setting aside the CBI probe order. While disposing of the appeal of the state government, the bench said it was leaving open objections, to be raised by police, with regard to the maintainability of Adhikari's PIL for a CBI probe. The Calcutta High Court had on March 28 ordered the CBI to probe the alleged attack on Pramanik's convoy during a visit to his constituency Cooch Behar district on February 25. The high court had passed the order on the PIL filed by Adhikari, seeking a CBI probe into the attack alleging a conspiracy to "cause bodily harm" to Pramanik, a BJP MP, during his visit to Dinhata. A division bench presided over by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava had ordered the transfer of cases filed in connection with the incident from the state police to the CBI. Stating that the allegations are against the workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress, the high court had observed that a possibility that the state police may not fairly carry out the investigation cannot be ruled out, especially when the other side comprises workers of the principal opposition party in the state. Adhikari had alleged that Pramanik's car was attacked during his visit to Dinhata where workers belonging to the Trinamool Congress had thrown stones and hurled bombs at the convoy. It was alleged that bombs broke the window panes of the car and the shrapnel damage to the body of the vehicle could have resulted in fatalities. Maharashtra will earn Rs 50,000 crore from the securitisation of rights of the Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway, which can be loosely termed as a sale, and it will ease the financial burden on the state over its construction, Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Thursday. The 701-kilometre six-lane corridor, which is being built at an estimated cost of Rs 55,000 crore, passes through 10 districts and the 520-kilometre Nagpur to Shirdi stretch was inaugurated in December last year. Speaking at an event organised by Marathi news channel Mumbai Tak, Fadnavis said, "By securitising the rights, which loosely can be described as sale, Maharashtra government will earn Rs 50,000 crore. With this, the state will be free in the next two years from the debt of constructing the Samruddhi Expressway." "It will remove the state's financial burden and the money raised through securitisation can be used for other issues," he added. Asked about Maharashtra lagging behind some other states in attracting FDI, the senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader said, "During my tenure as chief minister (between 2014-19), the FDI attracted by Maharashtra was much higher than the following states (combined)." Some states like Andhra Pradesh and Telangana did not fulfil all the promises they made to the industries while inviting them to invest, which was something Maharashtra never did, he said, adding the state did lose out to Bengaluru for some time in attracting start ups and financial technology firms. "However, once the trans harbour bridge (MTHL) connecting Mumbai with Navi Mumbai and the (missing link of the) Mumbai-Pune Expressway commences, there will be a third Mumbai that will come up in that region. The trans harbour link and the new airport in Navi Mumbai will offer a good ecosystem to companies," he asserted. Maharashtra alone has (India's) 65 per cent data centre capacity, he said, adding data is now bigger than oil. Also Read PM Modi to inaugurate Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway on Dec 11 Mumbai-Nagpur Samruddhi Expressway a game-changer project: Maha CM Shinde Revised RBI guidelines on securitisation likely to impact short-term loans Securitisation volumes see over 40% YoY uptick in 9-month of FY23: Crisil PM Modi inaugurates Phase-I of Maharashtra Samruddhi Mahamarg in Nagpur Not seeking permanent immigration visas from any country in FTA: Goyal Not above law, tender unconditional apology: SC to Ex-IPL chief Lalit Modi Co-op society case: Rajasthan HC grants relief to Shekhawat, stays arrest We will be more than happy if Ajit Pawar joins our party: Athawale PM Modi at National Rozgar Mela, distributes 71,000 appointment letters Fadnavis said Maharashtra Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) was around Rs 34 lakh crore and was heading towards the Rs 40 lakh crore mark. The state's debt is close to Rs 6 lakh crore, which is well within stipulated limits ( as per Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management Act), he added. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit four states in the three days from Friday as he spearheads the BJP's drive to tone up its organisation machinery and boost public outreach in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls next year. Party leaders said Shah will visit Birbhum in West Bengal on Friday followed by Bharatpur in Rajasthan on Saturday and Maharashtra and Goa on Sunday. He will lay the foundation stone of a party office and address a rally in Birbhum and address a meeting of booth presidents in Rajasthan, they said. In Maharashtra, Shah is scheduled to attend an event in Raigarh, where 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award will be given to Appasaheb Dharmadhikari. He will address a public meeting in south Goa on Sunday, BJP leaders added. Also Read Goa lawmakers, oppn leaders want to name new airport on Manohar Parrikar After Mhadei diversion, Rs 5,300 cr grant to K'taka raises hackles in Goa GFP, AAP slam Goa collector's circular seeking funds for event on Jan 26 Legal crisis erupts in Bengal over slander campaign against HC judge Mamata Banerjee to leave for three-day tour to West Bengal districts Will continue to cooperate fully with Indian authorities: BBC on ED probe Delhi logs 1,527 new Covid-19 cases, 2 deaths; positivity rate 27.77% Population of Muslims fast declining vis-a-vis Hindus, says Digvijaya Will file criminal defamation case against ED officials: AAP's Sanjay Singh 'Shaky, flawed': SC on Karnataka govt's decision to scrap 4% Muslim quota Indian medical students, who had returned to New Delhi following Russia's invasion of Ukraine will be allowed to take a key examination from India, Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova conveyed to India during her recent visit. According to the official release of the Ministry of External Affairs, Emine Dzhaparova held talks with the Indian side on several issues. Regarding the Indian medical students, the Deputy FM mentioned that Ukraine will allow foreign medical students to take the Unified State Qualification Exam in their country of domicile. Thousands of Indian medical students were left stranded with their future hanging on the cliff when Russia attacked Ukraine at the end of February 2022 and several were evacuated from Ukraine to India. During her three-day visit to New Delhi, the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine held bilateral talks with Secretary (West), MEA, Sanjay Verma. The two sides discussed spheres such as economic, defence, humanitarian assistance, and global issues of mutual interest. Moreover, the two sides also agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Kyiv on a mutually convenient date. The Ukrainian minister called on the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi. Besides holding discussions on a wide range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, she handed over a letter from President Zelenskyy, addressed to Prime Minister Modi, the MEA release said. Also Read ICAI CA November 2022 PQC-IRM exam postponed; check revised schedule Clear final MBBS exam in 2 attempts: SC to foreign return medical students TS Inter Exams 2023 to begin today: check every detail with instructions Kerala Samastha exam results announced: Here's how to check and download Year later, medical students back from Ukraine plan move to other countries Delhi reports 1,149 new Covid-19 cases, 1 death; active tally at 3,347 Gujarat fully prepared to tackle Covid with 95,000-plus beds :Minister India's progress can create opportunities for Ugandan business: Jaishankar NDMC inks pact with SBI, others to restore buildings in Connaught Place Competition law amendment bill gets President Droupadi Murmu's assent Dzhaparova also spoke at the Indian Council of International Affairs and visited the Manohar Parrikar Institute of Defence Studies. She also emphasised Kyiv's intention to forge a more solid alliance with New Delhi during her visit to India. The two countries' cooperation would be facilitated by Dzhaparova's visit to India. The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Emine Dzhaparova arrived in India on April 10, marking the first visit of an official from the East European country since the beginning of the Russia-Ukraine conflict last year. Outraged, Indian diplomats protested. But to little avail. It is not that difficult to book a room for a meeting in Parliament House. But the Pakistanis feel that they can do these things and there isnt a cost to them. This strengthens our belief that there is a section in the deep state in Britain which is complicit, even content, to let Khalistanis and Pakistanis do whatever they want to do against India in Britain said a former Indian High Commissioner to the UK. In 2019, then Pakistan foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi visited Britain. He got only a few meetings with British ministers -- it was not an especially successful diplomatic engagement. But the highlight of his trip was an International Conference on Kashmir held inside the British Parliament that was attended by MPs from the Conservative, Labour, and Liberal parties. He thanked the shadow foreign secretary of the Labour Party, Emily Thornberry, and MP Debbie Abrahams. Baroness Sayeeda Warsi, who served in former PM David Cameron's Cabinet and was also once minister of state for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, was present. Britain's first turban-clad Sikh MP of Indian origin Tanmanjeet Singh Dhesi was also in the room. Ruchi Ghanshyam, Indian high commissioner to the UK (2018-2020), says: I recall similar attacks that we had faced at India House in 2019. Our experience with Londons Met Police was that they would be present when informed, though on almost every occasion, their numbers would be grossly inadequate! Earlier this week, India went through the tedium of repeating its concerns about the activities of Khalistanis in the UK, especially on the misuse of the UKs asylum status to carry out terrorist activities in India, and asked the British authorities to increase monitoring and take appropriate proactive action during the fifth India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue (HAD) held in Delhi. Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla led the talks on Indias behalf, while the UK delegation was led by Permanent Secretary (Home Office) Sir Matthew Rycroft. This was after protests by pro-Khalistan groups outside the Indian mission in London, which began soon after the Punjab police launched a statewide manhunt for radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his followers. The protesters shouted anti-India slogans and waved Khalistan flags. He adds that mainstream political opinion in Britain is a captive of political correctness. They are reluctant to call out acts of violence by Islamic or Sikh fundamentalists even though these pose great danger to the stability of their society." Diplomats say the activities of Khalistani Sikhs -- not all Sikhs are Khalistanis, they emphasise, adding the radicals are a very small proportion of the community in Britain are tolerated, even encouraged, for a variety of reasons. What we cannot understand is why they (Khalistani activists) get so much freedom to run around the UK. The tolerance of it by the British government goes up and down from time to time. But activists are well-connected. Their capacity to intimidate moderate Sikhs in gurdwaras should not be underestimated. And of course, these are the elements that get more prominence as speaking for the Sikh community during elections for local bodies. People are nervous about saying anything against Sikh extremists," said a former foreign secretary. But I do know that their intelligence services have been involved in this: Why? I dont know, because they have prioritised relations with India. But this is a card that their intelligence agencies are not completely willing to give up." Also Read In Punjab, a political vacuum and remote control bring back the K-word LIVE updates: More pro-Khalistan Twitter accounts blocked in India Amritpal Singh and Waris Punjab De: Everything you need to know about them A dangerous turn in Punjab Why the Sikhs are hurting Mask mandates for children may do more harm than good: Public health expert No indications variant XBB.1.16 leading to infection among kids: Bhardwaj Surat court to pronounce order on Apr 20 on Rahul's plea to stay conviction Unique model of Ganga Ram hospital should be replicated across India: DU VC Delhi govt offices closed on April 14 for Ambedkar's birth anniversary Sikh radicals in Britain are defiant. They say they will never give up their quest for a Sikh state. Incidents of 1984 are repeatedly recalled. Huge pictures of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale continue to be displayed in gurdwaras in Southall and Birmingham. Dhesi, a sitting Labour MP, raised the issue of the manhunt for Amritpal Singh, and his civil rights, in the British Parliament last month. But Indian officials say that as long as Britains deep state tolerates this, the activity of a fringe group is going to continue. Pedestrians pass by a bank in downtown Seoul, Monday. Yonhap By Lee Yeon-woo The Financial Service Commission (FSC) has announced that banks are no longer allowed to shut down their branches without first preparing measures to alternatively offer the same level of service to customers. Additionally, banks should collect feedback from customers during the closure process to ensure their needs are being met. The new restrictions will take effect from next month. "With the accelerated digitalization in the industry, banks are reducing the number of branches for cost efficiency," FSC Vice Chairman Kim So-young said at the meeting on improving management and operation of the banking industry, Thursday. "However, it can lead to inconvenience for customers, especially for senior citizens who frequently visit branches in person. We have implemented measures to minimize the negative impact on them." According to the Financial Supervisory Service (FSS), 17 banks, including commercial, local and specialized banks, operate 5,855 branches as of last September. That is 340 less than a year ago. In particular, the FSC has requested that banks prepare procedures to hear customers' opinions about branch closures before making any decision. This approach has been adopted by banks in other countries such as Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States, where they collect feedback from local residents, if requested, about the closure of branches. If the feedback from customers suggests that the closure of a branch will have a significant impact, banks should consider maintaining the operation or preparing alternative measures to ensure that customers can still receive financial services. These measures can include scaling down branches instead of shutting down, operating joint branches with other banks and establishing temporary banks that can move around. Banks should also evaluate the after-effects of branch closures. For senior citizens, digital financial education should be conducted both before and after branch closures. Banks should also establish an "elderly mode" on their website or application, which utilizes larger fonts and a simpler design and provide education on how to use online services. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Thursday said he will file a criminal defamation case against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials for "falsely" naming him in their excise policy case chargesheet. Addressing a press conference here, Singh alleged that the ED is "involved in making false cases without any facts or evidence". Responding to the Singh's allegations, Delhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva said it seems that the fear of arrest is haunting the AAP MP with each passing day. The AAP leader also invited those who have been victimised by the agency to come forward and inform him. As the Privileges Committee of Parliament has asked me to expose how the ED is fabricating false cases, I will bring your case and information before the Privileges Committee. It's time to hold the ED accountable for their abuse of power and false accusations, he added. Singh accused ED of targeting him after he raised his voice against the agency's actions in the Parliament. He said he had given a speech on ED-CBI in the Parliament on December 12 last year, and his name appeared in ED's chargesheet on January 6 this year. Also Read Gujarat court to deliver verdict in 2019 defamation case against Rahul Rahul Gandhi convicted in Modi surname defamation case: What we know so far Delhi HC stays proceedings against Khurana in Sisodia's defamation case Union Minister Shekhawat moves defamation complaint against CM Gehlot Shekhawat records statement before court in defamation case against Raj CM 'Shaky, flawed': SC on Karnataka govt's decision to scrap 4% Muslim quota Wear face masks, WFH if cough, flu: Noida health dept's Covid guidelines India non-committal on Zelenskyy's participation at G20 summit in Sept National Fishworkers Forum urges India, Pak PMs to release 750+ prisoners BJP Ministers file nomination ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls "I will file a criminal defamation case against ED director S K Mishra, officer Bhanu Priya who signed the chargesheet, and IO Joginder Singh," he said. The AAP leader also alleged that he had sought an appointment with ED 11 times to give information on the Adani issue. However, the facts and documents were received by the ED after two months. Reading out the contents of the chargesheet, Singh said it claimed that on October 1, 2022, Dinesh Arora had told the ED that the transfer of a liquor shop of Amit Arora was done by Manish Sisodia on the direction of Sanjay Singh. Singh alleged that the "ED created a false chargesheet by creating a fake case, simply because he was speaking out against Modi-Adani corruption". Singh presented Arora's statement, which ED had recorded on October 1, 2022 which mentions that Excise Commissioner Rahul Singh transferred Amit Arora's shop in a routine manner. There was no mention of Sanjay Singh's name even remotely in Arora's statement recorded by the ED, he claimed. Singh also presented Dinesh Arora's statement to the court under section 164, which states that when Amit Arora insisted that Dinesh Arora bring up the matter of his shop's transfer, neither did Dinesh Arora talk to the then Deputy CM nor to Sanjay Singh. The ED's attempt to implicate me in a fabricated case is nothing but a political move to suppress my voice against the Adani row. It is evident that the ED is creating a false case to fulfil its own agenda. I won't be silenced by their baseless accusations and intimidation tactics," he said. Meanwhile, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva said it seems that the fear of arrest is haunting MP Sanjay Singh with each passing day as he is realising that summons of ED may strike his door any day now. Sachdeva claimed that Singh was speaking in favour of liquor baron Dinesh Arora because he knows that Arora's evidence will not only nail Manish Sisodia but also him (Singh) and sooner or later Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too. Nationalist Congress Party supremo Sharad Pawar said he would be meeting opposition leaders in Delhi on Friday to forge cooperation among them. Efforts by some opposition parties to forge an alliance against the Bharatiya Janata Party have begun over the past few days, with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar meeting Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday and Communist Party of India's D Raja on Thursday. Aam Aadmi Pary leader and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal too had met Kumar. who was accompanied by Bihar Deputy CM and RLD leader Tejashwi Yadav, on Wednesday. Queried about his absence from Wednesday's meeting, Pawar, a stalwart of the opposition, said he was asked to join the meeting in Delhi but was unable to do so as he had work in Pune. "I will meet all of them as I am travelling to Delhi tomorrow. We (opposition) will all cooperate and offer (each other) support," Pawar said. Pawar refused to answer questions on speculation about his party colleague Ajit Pawar joining the BJP. Also Read NCP president Sharad Pawar admitted to hospital after feeling uneasy NCP chief Sharad Pawar opposes govt's plan to import milk products Ajit Pawar's future bright with NCP, he will not join BJP, says Sanjay Raut Sharad Yadav's demise is irreparable loss to Indian politics, says Pawar Centre cannot remain mute spectator: Sharad Pawar on Maha-K'taka border row Hindi can't be imposed on ancient Tamil, says TN Governor R N Ravi Orwellian state being created where freedom of press is clamped down: Cong Congress criticises removal of Maulana Azad references from NCERT textbook SC sets aside Calcutta HC order of CBI probe in attack on Pramanik's convoy India improves its ranking by 6 spots in global biz environment rankings Former Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar is at the centre of such speculation after he was unreachable for some time on April 7 and also due to his comments on the debate surrounding the university degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Ashok Chandra, executive director of Canara Bank, told Business Standard that the future action plan of the bank for providing end-to-end solutions to start-ups includes specialised branches for easing operations. In the beginning, it will have special branches in Mumbai and Bengaluru, he said. Public sector lender Canara Bank has set up a separate vertical to attend to needs of start-ups, and is in talks with over 60 such entities. Start-ups may diversify their portfolio in light of the recent failure of some banks in the US and other countries, Chandra said. The lender is planning to open five start-up-specific branches in the current financial year. Going forward, the bank plans to rope in venture fund, which will provide seed capital in the form of equity. The Bengaluru-based lender has a risk funding arm Canbank Venture Capital Fund. US-based Silicon Valley Bank was instrumental in financing start-ups and technology players. It faced stress after incurring huge losses on its holdings of US bonds, following the most-aggressive monetary tightening cycle by the Federal Reserve in around four decades. Also Read Canara Bank reports 92% rise in net profit in Q3FY23, NPAs fall to 5.89% Canara Bank Q2 profit jumps 89% to Rs 2,525 cr, asset quality improves Canara Bank hits 3-yr high; stock zooms 33% in 3 weeks on strong Q2 results Canara Bank hits highest level since February 2018; surges 83% in 6 months Why are Indian start-ups facing such a severe funding winter? After Supreme Court's verdict, bank frauds in the eye of the beholder Bank of India plans to raise Rs 6,500 crore in FY24 to fund its growth UBS Group weighs retaining Credit Suisse's private banking unit in India Better net interest margins likely to help bottom line of banks in Q4 HDFC Bank's advances rise 17% YoY to Rs 16 trillion; deposits up 21% Canara Bank may approach the Indian Banks Association (IBA) for revising staff accountability norms for PSBs as it could become a hurdle in the support to start-ups. Department of Financial Services (DFS) Secretary Vivek Joshi chaired a day-long review meeting with heads of PSBs, where progress under various social security (Jan Suraksha) schemes, including Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri MUDRA Yojana, Stand Up India, and PM SVANidhi were reviewed. The finance ministry on Thursday exhorted the public sector banks (PSBs) to achieve the targets allocated to them under the various government schemes for financial inclusion and social security in a time-bound manner. Banks were advised to leverage their banking correspondents network for outreach and enrolling potential beneficiaries, the finance ministry said in a statement. During the meeting, Joshi discussed with banks the three months long saturation campaign of PMJJBY and PMSBY schemes launched on April 1, 2023. During the meeting, the progress of the Kisan Credit Cards (KCC) scheme was also discussed with special focus on issuance of KCC for animal husbandry and fisheries sectors. In the meeting, Joshi emphasised that continued support, active role, and participation from all banks will go a long way in ensuring that the saturation campaign reaches the maximum number of eligible beneficiaries and requested banks to conduct awareness campaigns about these schemes in vernacular languages. Also Read PSB index soars 3%; these three constituents have zoomed over 50% in 1 mth Govt raises PSB CEO term to 10 years, seeks younger talent at the top Deposits by public sector banks up 8.8% in December quarter: RBI data Finance ministry asks public sector banks to share bond portfolio data Merger of PSBs haven't impacted financial inclusion adversely: RBI Canara Bank forms separate vertical for start-ups; to open 5 branches After Supreme Court's verdict, bank frauds in the eye of the beholder Bank of India plans to raise Rs 6,500 crore in FY24 to fund its growth UBS Group weighs retaining Credit Suisse's private banking unit in India Better net interest margins likely to help bottom line of banks in Q4 The meeting also saw the participation of senior officials from fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying ministry, housing and urban affairs ministry, agriculture and farmers welfare ministry, along with National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (Nabard) chairman and National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) CEO. Scaling up of the account aggregator ecosystem was also reviewed. Issues related to Debt Recovery Tribunal (DRT) and digital document execution framework were also discussed in the meeting, the finance ministry said. Earlier, Business Standard had reported that the government was likely to nudge PSBs, which have a good foothold in rural India, to increase the number of beneficiaries under the PMJJBY and PMSBY to 150 million and 350 million respectively. On Monday, the department urged the states and Union Territories to increase enrolments under the micro-insurance schemes of PMJJBY and PMSBY, considering the scope and size of the population in their respective states. Currently, active enrolments under PMJJBY and PMSBY stand at 83 million and 239 million, respectively, and claims of about Rs 15,500 crore have been paid under both schemes. The benchmark S&P BSE Sensex ended 0.06 per cent up at 60,431 as against a 9.6-per cent rally in the IDBI Bank. The stock quoted at Rs 51.67 apiece at close. Shares of state-owned lender IDBI Bank zoomed as much as 13 per cent in the intra-day trade, before settling nearly 10 per cent higher on the BSE on Thursday, amid reports that the Reserve Bank of India has begun evaluating bids by potential buyers who have expressed interest in picking up a majority stake in the lender. The report named Kotak Mahindra Bank (up 1.35 per cent), Prem Watsa-backed CSB Bank (down 0.07 per cent), and Emirates NBD as potential bidders. Business Standard couldn't independently verify the names of the likely bidders. "The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has begun evaluating at least five potential bidders interested in picking up a majority stake in state-owned IDBI Bank Ltd", news agency Reuters reported today. READ HERE According to the report, the proposed IDBI stake sale is divided into two stages. In the first, an expression of interest (EOI) is invited, followed by a 'Fit and Proper' assessment and security clearances. Meanwhile, Business Standard had earlier reported that the strategic sale of stakes held by government and state-owned Life Insurance Corp of India (LIC) in IDBI Bank is expected to move to the second stage by the first quarter of FY24. Also Read Life insurers' new biz premium growth eases to 10% as LIC loses pace LIC shares surge 9% as profit soars 11-fold in Q2 to Rs 15,952 crore Abu Dhabi fund invests $500 mn in Kotak Investment's 13th real estate fund Govt clarifies foreign funds can own over 51% stake in IDBI Bank LIC extends losing streak to 7th straight session, hits record low Surya Roshni hits 52-week high on healthy outlook; zooms 53% so far in 2023 DLF rallies 19% in 9 days, nears 52-week high on hopes of healthy sales Can a CEO change impact a company's stock performance? Some insights here Stock of this conductor manufacturer has zoomed 100% in 2.5 months Renuka, EID Parry: Sugar stocks to sweeten as global prices hit 11 yr-high The government and Life Insurance Corporation (LIC) are selling 60.72 per cent stake in IDBI Bank, for which they had invited bids in October. The last date was set at December 16, but was later extended to January 7. The second stage is where qualified bidders will be provided with the Request for Proposal (RFP) document and further details of IDBI Bank, so that they can submit financial bids on the terms set out in the RFP. READ MORE Thus far in the calendar year 2023 (CY23), the stock has zoomed 53 per cent on the expectation of a sustained healthy performance in the current and coming fiscals, supported by a steady volume growth. At 02:32 pm; the S&P BSE Sensex was down 0.06 per cent at 60,355. Since December 2022, the benchmark index has fallen 1.4 per cent. Shares of Surya Roshni rose 4 per cent to hit a 52-week high of Rs 754.75 on the BSE in Thursdays otherwise range-bound market. The stock surpassed its previous high of Rs 741.25, touched on March 6, 2023. After a robust 39 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in revenues in FY22 on the back of a surge in realisations, increased volumes and higher share of value-added products, the companys performance continued to be healthy in April to December for the financial year 2022-23 (9MFY2023) as it reported an 8 per cent YoY growth in revenues. The financial performance during the period was aided by stable input costs, festive season and continuous improvement in the product mix. Surya Roshni has two reportable segments steel pipes and strips and the lighting and consumer durables segments. All the products in steel pipes and strips segment are sold under the brand name Prakash Surya and products in the lighting and consumer durables segment (including all types of lamps, home appliances, PVC pipes) are sold under the brand name Surya. Together with steady profit margins, this is expected to help the company maintain healthy coverage metrics, despite working capital intensive nature of operations, according to rating agency ICRA. The steps being taken by the company to streamline its working capital cycle are favourably contributing to its cash flow generation and have enabled the company to prepay its debt obligations, facilitating faster deleveraging of its balance sheet, ICRA said in a rationale. The company remains optimistic about the prospects for all its businesses. In the following years, the growth trajectory for all segments is anticipated to remain solid, driven by higher utilization of existing capacities, higher share of value-added products along with improvement in financial parameter. Also Read Metal stocks: Will export duty rollback help? Surya Roshni extends rally on strong Q3 earnings; stock surges 30% in Jan Stock of this iron & steel products company has zoomed 101% in 6 months Bank stocks can slide more; stay away for now: Analysts No SVB-like scenario in India; banks are on a strong footing, say analysts DLF rallies 19% in 9 days, nears 52-week high on hopes of healthy sales Can a CEO change impact a company's stock performance? Some insights here Stock of this conductor manufacturer has zoomed 100% in 2.5 months Renuka, EID Parry: Sugar stocks to sweeten as global prices hit 11 yr-high TCS Q4 review: Near-term growth to moderate, demand levers intact: Analysts Meanwhile, analysts at Anand Rathi Shares and Stock Brokers initiated coverage on Surya Roshni with a BUY rating, valuing the company based on 12.5x of FY24E earnings (average P/E of last 5 year) with a target price of Rs 860. The rating agency further said it could downgrade the rating in case of a sustained deterioration in profitability and cash accruals, or if any sizeable debt-funded capex affects the capitalisation and coverage metrics and liquidity profile. Specific metrics would include an interest cover of less than 7 times on a sustained basis. Despite Covid-19 pandemic, the companys EBITDA margin remained intact at 7 per cent, which depicts its operational efficiency and command over its pricing power. Also, Surya is the largest GI pipe manufacturer in India and second largest player in lighting with a robust track record. We forecast its EPS to grow at CAGR of 27 per cent over FY22-24E and ROE to improve to 15 per cent in FY24 (average 10 per cent over FY16-FY22). Going ahead, we expect the company to continue its strong growth trajectory with its Revenue/EBITDA/PAT growing at a CAGR of 10 per cent/21 per cent/35 per cent respectively over FY22 to FY24E with continuous improvement in margins and return ratios, the brokerage said in a report. The massive 30 per cent jump in Covid-19 cases in 24 hours on April 13 to over 10,000 cases from 7,800-odd the day before, the highest in 223 days, is a potent reminder of the deeply infectious nature of this virus that has afflicted the world since the end of 2019. As on April 13, the health ministry has recorded 44,998 active cases. As before, Kerala, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh have recorded the heaviest case-loads, suggesting a heavy incidence of reinfection. Though the medical fraternity has underlined the mild nature of the current XBB.1.16 variant, also known as Arcturus, which is a sub-variant of Omicron, with far fewer hospitalisations or fatalities, the case to impose robust Covid protocols in public places remains compelling. Given the new virus ability to escape the immune system, it has been the primary cause of Covid among children and the elderly. Omicron, which has over 50 mutations, has been responsible for the largest surge in Co Or Most experts, meanwhile, agree that Q4 will end on a good note. A good monsoon played a key role in it. And another round of good monsoon will pave the way for another impressive earning season. Speaking of the private sector, the country has seen several urban centres metamorphose into the favoured destination for companies over the years. Like Bengaluru and NCR. Ahmedabad seems to be the latest in the line. From industrial giants to start-ups, all are rushing to establish a base in the city. So is Gujarat's financial capital emerging as the next corporate hub of India? Not only farmers, senior officials sitting in RBI headquarters too hold their breath when weathermen come out with monsoon predictions in April. Relationship between rain and key economic indicators is well established. So last week, when private weather forecaster Skymet painted a grim picture of the monsoon, shares of HUL, Nestle and Tata Consumers tumbled. But soon, Indias official weather forecaster, IMD, too came out with its prediction, saying the monsoon will be normal. So what does this forecast mean for the countrys economy? The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) has agreed on urgently improving information sharing, including on macroeconomic projections and sustainability assessments, at an early stage of debt restructuring processes. Co-chaired by the International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank Group President David Malpass and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the GSDR on Wednesday discussed debt sustainability, and debt restructuring challenges and ways to address them. As a priority for India's G20 Presidency, she said there is a need to augment present global efforts, including those of the G20, to address growing debt distress across the globe. Sitharaman stressed on debt transparency and information-sharing as well as clarity on the comparability of treatment, predictability and timeliness of the debt restructuring process, including those for steps involved in the process and ways to assess and enforce. Discussions focused on the actions that can be taken now to accelerate debt restructuring processes and make them more efficient, including under the G20 Common Framework, according to a statement issued by the roundtable,. "We agreed on the importance to urgently improve information sharing including on macroeconomic projections and debt sustainability assessments at an early stage of the process. The IMF and World Bank will rapidly issue staff guidance on information sharing at each stage of the restructuring process," it said. Also Read Has India's insolvency process attained adulthood? RCap resolution: NCLAT allows lenders' plea for another round of bidding Creditors recovered a third of claims in 553 resolved CIRP cases: IBBI data NCLT extends Reliance Capital debt resolution deadline to January Sitharaman, Japanese counterpart to announce Sri Lanka debt restructuring 'Fake' encounters are staged in UP: Akhilesh after killing of Atiq's son Opposition leaders united on forming pre-poll alliance, talks on: Nitish PM Modi holds talk with Sunak, calls for action against anti-India elements Covid surge: Maharashtra records 1,086 cases, 1 death; active tally 5,700 Shah to start tours of various states including Bengal, Goa from tomorrow "The meeting discussed the role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in these processes through the provision of net positive flows of concessional finance. The International Development Association's (IDA) provision of positive net flows and the ex-ante implicit debt relief through increased concessionality and grants to countries facing higher risks of debt distress was welcomed," the statement said. To clarify key concepts to support predictability and fairness of debt restructuring processes, a workshop will be organised in the coming weeks on how to assess and enforce comparability of treatment, it said. "Moreover, further work will be undertaken on principles regarding cut-off dates, formal debt service suspension at the beginning of the process, treatment of arrears, and perimeter of debt to be restructured, including with regard to domestic debt," the statement said. This work will also help in clarifying potential timetables to accelerate debt restructurings, it said. What is the conflict between China and Taiwan? China recently concluded a three-day military exercise around Taiwan. This is not the first time tensions between the two nations have escalated. There is a long history to it. Lets revisit Container ships are docked to load outbound shipments at Busan Port in Busan, March 21. Yonhap By Yi Whan-woo Korea's exports to ASEAN markets are declining an unwanted path for the country eyeing the region as an alternative to China amid growing needs to diversify trade partnerships. According to the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, Korea's outbound shipments to 10 ASEAN member countries combined shrank for the past six months from a year before 5.7 percent in October, 14.2 percent in November, 16.9 percent in December, 19.4 percent in January, 16.1 percent in February and 21 percent in March. Correspondingly, ASEAN's share in total Korean exports dropped to 17.4 percent in the first three months of 2023 from 18.3 percent for the entirety of 2022. The downward trajectory in exports to ASEAN comes as Korea's outbound shipments to China also fall sharply. China's share of total Korean exports slid to 19.8 percent so far this year compared to 22.8 percent in 2022, 25.3 percent in 2021 and 25.9 percent in 2020. The decline in exports to China is mainly attributed to sluggish demand and falling semiconductor prices, which make up nearly 40 percent of Korea's outbound shipments to China. The intensified U.S.-China trade row has also been prompting China to buy fewer imports of interim goods and become more self-sufficient in their supply thereof. "Under the circumstances, ASEAN has been considered the world's last remaining market in Korea's path to diversify its exports," said Kwak Sung-il, director of economic and security at the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy's (KIEP) Economic and Security Strategy Department. "The government is urged to take measures actively to enhance cooperation with ASEAN on supply chain and foster investment in the region." Lee Sang-ho, head of the economic policy team at the Korea Economic Research Institute (KERI), voiced a similar view. He pointed out that ASEAN countries, with a combined population of more than 680 million, are witnessing rapid growth in the middle class as well as increased private spending. The middle class is anticipated to account for 67 percent of the region's entire population by 2030, according to data from the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency (KOTRA). The data also showed the entire consumer expenditure is expected to more than double in 2030 compared to 2020. "The demand for goods will range from digital devices to food, cosmetics and clothing as well as services, such as delivery platforms, music streaming and car sharing," Lee said. Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade (KIET) researcher Shin Yoon-sung said the Seoul government should focus more on ASEAN as it hopes the economy will bounce back in the second half of the year. Microsoft on Thursday announced updates related to its generative artificial intelligence-powered search platform, Bing AI. The American technology giant has integrated the AI-powered Bing services in its smartphone keyboard app SwiftKey, which is available on Play Store for Android smartphones and App Store for Apple iPhones. Besides, the company announced the new versions of its existing integrations across Bing, Skype, Microsoft Start, and Microsoft Edge apps. Below are the details: The updated SwiftKey app is available today. The updated app brings the Bing icon above the keyboard. A tap on the icon opens the Chat, Tone, and Search option. With the chat functionality, you can access the new Bing on the go for more detailed queries. With the tone feature, you can communicate effectively by using AI to customise the in-progress text to fit any situation. The tone feature is to make words sound more professional, casual, polite, or concise enough for a social post. With the search functionality, you can quickly search the web from your keyboard, without switching apps. These new features in SwiftKey are accessible in all markets where the new Bing is available. While the search feature is available for all, the tone and chat require signing into Microsoft Account that has been approved to access the new Bing preview. Besides the new Bing AI-powered SwiftKey app, Microsoft announced an updated Bing app for smartphones with gendered translation functionality for alternative masculine and feminine translations when translating from English to Spanish, French, or Italian. Also Read Microsoft adds Bing AI to Windows Taskbar, introduces Phone Link for iPhone GPT-4: Bing to Word and Excel, AI is changing Microsoft platform experience Explained: Why is Microsoft's Bing behaving like your confused friend? Even Bing admits Google is better in a chat with the improved search engine Microsoft 365 Copilot: Microsoft is bringing AI to its productivity apps Wagering barred in all forms games, be it game of skill or chance: MoS IT Asus launches ROG Phone 7 series gaming smartphones: Price, specs, and more Jabra launches Elite 4 earphones with multipoint connectivity, ANC and more Xiaomi launches Smart TV X Pro series, Air Purifier 4, Robot Vacuum, & more Samsung to launch Galaxy M14 5G with triple camera setup on April 17 In the Skype app, Microsoft has expanded access to the AI-powered Bing in group chats. With the new integration, everyone in group chat gets access to new Bing only one person in the group needs to have access to the preview. Lastly, Microsoft announced the new Bing is now available via the Microsoft Start app too, for users who have cleared the waitlist. After carrying out a 3-day series of military drills near Taiwan, Beijing informed Taipei that a no-fly zone will be implemented north of Taiwan the following week, NHK World reported, citing Taiwan's transportation ministry on Tuesday. China reportedly warned Taiwan's northern flight information zone on Tuesday of the upcoming airspace closure, to conduct aerospace activities in the area. China said the duration would be five hours per day from April 16-18. However, it will be reduced to about half an hour on only April 16, following the complaint lodged by Taiwan's ministry. The transportation ministry cautioned that the shutdown was inappropriate and would provide significant and unnecessary safety hazards in its complaint against China. China intends to block airspace over the high seas north of Taiwan, according to Taiwan's defence minister, who stated that defence officials will closely monitor Beijing's aerospace actions, which may include a potential satellite launch, according to NHK World. As tensions between Taiwan and China continue to escalate, Taiwan recently tracked the People's Liberation Army's 91 aircraft and 12 naval ships from 6 am on Monday (April 10) to Tuesday (April 11). Also Read Chinese military holds large-scale joint strike drills aimed at Taiwan China kicks off live drills near Taiwan in response to Tsai's visit to US Taiwan tracks 91 Chinese aircraft, 12 naval ships: Defense Ministry 47 Chinese military aircrafts enter air defence zone, claims Taiwan China sends 71 warplanes, 7 ships toward Taiwan in 24 hrs to display force Mass layoffs and absentee bosses create a morale crisis at Meta Russia's flagship oil moves closer to $60/barrel cap threshold Indian-origin start-up executives convicted of $1-bn fraud in US CCI clears NBC Universal's stake buy in BTS Investment 1, Bodhi US Treasury Dept imposes new sanctions on Russian oligarch, Hungary bank In an official release, Taiwan's Defence Ministry stated, "91 PLA aircraft and 12 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. 54 of the detected aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast ADIZ." "Yesterday, China completed the third day of live-fire drills but still, there are 8 vessels that are operating in the waters surrounding Taiwan," Taiwan's Defence Ministry said. The island country's armed forces were monitoring the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond in the event of an emergency. 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, Al Jazeera reported. 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. IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday applauded Indian-American Ajay Banga, who is slated to be the president of the World Bank, for his commitment to inclusion and opportunities for all. In February, Banga was nominated by US President Joe Biden after World Bank President David Malpass announced his decision to leave. The World Bank Board of Directors are likely to announce 63-year-old Banga as the next head of the institution soon. I have known Ajay for quite some time. I think very highly of his leadership skills, but above all of the commitment to inclusion and opportunities he has demonstrated throughout his life, International Monetary Fund Managing Director Georgieva told reporters at a news conference held on the sidelines of the annual meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. Banga is the only candidate nominated for the World Bank presidency, which has traditionally gone to the United States. We have been talking together on many occasions, talking about inclusion, and gender, and I would always hear substantively not only somebody who is clearly very smart but also a beating heart. And this is what the leadership of the World Bank is all about vision, but also, compassion, Georgieva said in response to a question. Also Read Who is Ajay Banga, nominated by Joe Biden to be next World Bank president? IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva warns of risk of geopolitical fragmentation Ajay Banga tests positive for Covid-19 during routine testing in Delhi Ajay Banga tests Covid positive; meetings with PM Modi, others cancelled Global economy faces tougher year in 2023: IMF's Kristalina Georgieva Xi Jinping pivot fails to stop exodus by leading investors in China tech Finnish president: Joining NATO won't solve all our problems Shah Rukh Khan, Rajamouli, Rushdie among world's 100 most influential: Time UK PM Rishi Sunak's wife earned Rs 68 cr in dividend income from Infosys LVMH breaks into world's top 10 as market value nears $500 billion US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen told members of the World Bank that she is looking forward to Ajay Banga's leadership as the next President of the World Bank. I am confident he has the right experience and track record of bringing together governments, the private sector, and nonprofits to deliver on our ambitions, she said. The former Mastercard Inc. chief, Banga, serves as Vice Chairman at General Atlantic. If confirmed, Banga would become the first-ever Indian-American and Sikh-American to head either of the two top international financial institutions: the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. JPMorgan Chase & Co. said Frank founder Charlie Javice transferred millions of dollars to a shell company after the bank discovered it had been defrauded in its acquisition of her college financial planning site. By Bob Van Voris In a court filing in Delaware, where JPMorgan is suing Javice, 31, for fraud, the bank asked a judge for permission to question her under oath and seek evidence about the transfers to Chariot Holdings X LLC. She allegedly set up the Nevada company in September. The bank said in its Tuesday filing that Javices transfers out of JPMorgan accounts took place shortly after she had been put on administrative leave from her position as head of student solutions. That followed an internal investigation that discovered her fraud, according to JPMorgan. Javice was hit earlier this month with criminal fraud charges and a Securities and Exchange Commission suit based on similar allegations. JPMorgan claimed in its December suit that Javice and another Frank executive faked data greatly inflating Franks customer count to mislead the bank into buying her company for $175 million in 2021. Also Read Shell annual profit doubles to record high as war drives up energy costs India has conditions in place for an economic boom: Morgan Stanley Morgan Stanley lays off about 1,600 employees amid economic meltdown Morgan Stanley profit beats on strength in wealth, trading units Morgan Stanley cuts CEO Gorman's Pay 10% to $31.5 mn after turbulent 2022 Global economy mired in weak growth, sticky inflation: IMF chief Georgieva Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says AI will be 'big deal' for the company Ghana becomes first country to approve Oxford malaria vaccine for children Condemned for 'Putinflation' abroad, Russia sees prices cool: Report IMF MD Georgieva praises Ajay Banga's commitment to opportunities for all A lawyer for Javice didnt immediately respond to an email seeking comment on JPMorgans claim. Javice, who is free on a $2 million bond, has not yet responded in court to the criminal charges or the SEC suit. Shes denied JPMorgans claims in its lawsuit and is countersuing. Javices use of a Nevada shell corporation is a particular concern, JPMorgan claimed in its Tuesday filing. For many years now, Nevada has been a popular jurisdiction for individuals who are seeking to hide ownership information and evade tax obligations. Massive CYA Her lawyer, Alex Spiro, said last month in a letter to JPMorgans counsel that the bank was improperly spying on her financial activities. There is nothing about her transfer of certain funds out of her Chase accounts that suggests misconduct or any effort to shield her assets from litigation recovery. Javice is separately suing JPMorgan in state court in Delaware to force the bank to cover her legal fees. She argues that the bank rushed to buy Frank without doing proper due diligence and was also trying to deflect attention from its violations of student privacy laws. She alleges the bank launched an internal investigation of the Frank deal as a pretext to fire her as its head of student solutions and deny her a $20 million retention bonus. The bank said it paid $21 million of the $175 million purchase price to Javice and that she made two transfers of several million dollars each to Chariot X, in September and December. Read more: Jamie Dimon Calls JPMorgans Frank Acquisition a Huge Mistake The banks suit is a massive CYA effort by those responsible inside JPMC to shift the blame for a failed and now-regretted acquisition to someone they view as an easy target: its young female founder, Javice claimed in a February court filing. Rupert Murdochs Fox News empire is going on trial for airing false 2020 election fraud claims, even as it continues to struggle over its relationship with the man who most stoked those conspiracy theories: Donald Trump. By Erik Larson, Gerry Smith and Jef Feeley Fox Corp. and the Fox News network are now facing a possible $1.6 billion damages award in a defamation suit brought by Dominion Voting Systems Inc., which was accused by hosts and guests on the conservative network of rigging the election for Joe Biden. The 92-year-old Murdoch could be called to the witness stand as early as Monday, to be grilled about his failure to rein in the network despite his own belief that Trumps claims were baseless. Potential for Humiliation Jury selection in the Delaware state court starts Thursday, and a verdict could be costly. Bloomberg Intelligence estimates that if the jury finds Fox liable, it could award Dominion damages of about $375 million. Even that fraction of the $1.6 billion the voting machine maker is seeking would be one of the biggest defamation awards of all time and would amount to roughly two-thirds of Foxs adjusted profit in its most recent quarter. Also Read Rupert Murdoch wants to put his media empire back together after 2013 split Donald Trump faces 'legal tsunami' post New York court arraignment Why has Donald Trump been indicted and can he run for 2024 elections? Trump heads to NY to face civil trial after suing ex-lawyer for $500mn Facebook still banning Trump for now despite 2024 presidential campaign JP Morgan says Frank's Javice moved millions to a shell company: Report Global economy mired in weak growth, sticky inflation: IMF chief Georgieva Amazon CEO Andy Jassy says AI will be 'big deal' for the company Ghana becomes first country to approve Oxford malaria vaccine for children Condemned for 'Putinflation' abroad, Russia sees prices cool: Report Panic among Fox News executives and hosts about the potential business consequences of losing Trump supporters spurred them to broadcast wild election lies, Dominion alleges. Emails, text messages and deposition testimony obtained by Dominion in the course of the litigation appear to bear that out, and are certain to be shown to the jury repeatedly during the six- to eight-week trial. Yet, to judge by recent programming, none of that has forced a rethink of Fox Newss approach to politics, or to Trump. The network and other Murdoch-owned media outlets like the Wall Street Journal sought earlier this year to promote Florida Governor Ron DeSantis as their preferred 2024 Republican candidate. But Fox has begun hosting the former president in its programming again as polls show him soaring among GOP primary voters, and especially since he was indicted by a grand jury convened by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Theres also the potential for courtroom humiliation. Besides Murdoch, the trial is expected to see his son Lachlan, Fox Corp.s chief executive officer, as well as Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott and superstar hosts like Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity, take the stand away from their carefully controlled studio environments and sworn to tell the truth. If those fears moved the network to promote the plot served up by Trump stalwarts Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, though, Carlson was among the Fox hosts and executives who privately rolled their eyes at the lurid theory. Powells claims were obviously untrue and unbelievably offensive, he wrote in emails shown in court. Hannity, one of Foxs biggest stars, sent a text message calling Powell a fing lunatic, according to Dominion. Do the executives understand how much credibility and trust weve lost with our audience? Carlson said. Were playing with fire, for real ... an alternative like newsmax could be devastating to us. Shortly after the network called the pivotal state of Arizona for Biden, infuriating Trump diehards, Carlson texted his producer with a warning about the potential rise of right-wing competitor Newsmax. Political Crusade Fox plans to argue that it enjoys broad constitutional protections to report on claims being made by a sitting president and his attorneys, even if they later turn out to be false. Dominion, in a statement Thursday, said it is a strong believer in the First Amendment but argued the lawsuit isnt about free speech. Dominions lawsuit is a political crusade in search of a financial windfall, but the real cost would be cherished First Amendment rights, the company said in a statement. While Dominion has pushed irrelevant and misleading information to generate headlines, Fox News remains steadfast in protecting the rights of a free press, given a ruling for Dominion and its private equity owners would have grave consequences for the entire journalism profession. As long-settled law makes clear, the First Amendment does not shield broadcasters that knowingly or recklessly spread lies, Dominion said. The Court has rejected Foxs First Amendment newsworthy allegation defense and held that Dominions lawsuit is consistent with the First Amendment. The conservative network is counting on a legal standard for defamation cases against public figures that was set in a 1964 Supreme Court ruling won by its frequent punching bag, the New York Times. Under that decision, Dominion must show that Fox aired the outlandish claims with actual malice, meaning the network knew they were false or recklessly disregarded whether they were true or not. It is one of the few defenses Fox has left, after a series of brutal pretrial rulings by the judge. Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis previously barred Fox from arguing that it couldnt be sued for publishing false claims if those claims were inherently newsworthy. On Wednesday, Davis appointed a special master to examine whether Fox withheld evidence, which could result in a damaging instruction to the jury. Its a tough standard to meet, and one that many conservatives, including DeSantis, have recently sought to undermine on the grounds that it gives too much protection to biased liberal journalists. Murdochs Doubts Dominion argues that the extensive internal emails and text messages uncovered in the suit amply demonstrate actual malice. The evidence shows that Fox personalities and executives knew the conspiracy theory was bogus even as the network repeated the claims over and over. Murdoch said in a sworn deposition in the case that Foxs popular commentators endorsed Trumps false claim that the election was stolen, even though Murdoch said he was skeptical from the outset. Oh, yes, Murdoch said. It is fair to say you seriously doubted any claim of massive election fraud? Murdoch was asked by a Dominion lawyer. Yes, Murdoch replied. And you seriously doubted it from the very beginning? he was asked. And the claims about Dominion were particularly implausible. The theory, espoused by former Trump campaign lawyer Powell and longtime Trump attorney Giuliani, among others, held and, among diehards, still holds that Dominion flipped millions of votes away from Trump and toward Biden as part of a vast conspiracy that included foreign hackers, corrupt Democratic election workers and malignant software tied to the deceased Venezuelan dictator Hugo Chavez. Former House Speaker Paul Ryan, now a Fox board member, and Fox Corp. Chief Legal Officer Viet Dinh are also expected to testify. The Brain Room Soon after the election, Fox began receiving extensive information debunking the elaborate plot, from state and federal election officials and US intelligence agencies to Trumps own attorney general. Foxs clutch of professional fact-checkers, known as the brain room, also determined the theory was 100% false and that Dominion machines accurately count ballots, according to Fox records uncovered in the suit. Business Calculus The unfounded theory had far-reaching consequences, from the January 2021 riot at the US Capitol to ongoing threats against state election officials. Apart from Foxs fortunes, the trial could help set the record straight on the 2020 vote and affect elections and election administration going into 2024, said Lawrence Norden, director of the election reform program at the Brennan Center for Justice of New York Universitys law school. Nonetheless, Fox continued to host the theorys most vocal advocates for weeks after the election, including Powell and Giuliani. Hosts Jeanine Pirro and Lou Dobbs amplified the idea. Dominion filed its suit in March 2021. Whether it breaks through to Murdoch and others at Fox is a different matter. Even if a jury sides with Dominion on the defamation claim, it may not be convinced that Dominion suffered massive financial harm. There are a lot of people who dont necessarily pay close attention to these issues, who may have heard things about voting machines and fraud, and they dont really know what to believe, Norden said. If Fox is found liable, it is likely to break through to those people, he said. Indeed, Fox argues that Dominions damages estimate is based on the false assumption that the voting machine maker will lose essentially all of its business by 2031 as a result of the broadcasts. Fox says documents and depositions show that it actually gained some business since the 2020 election. The network still dominates the cable news landscape, drawing more viewers than MSNBC and CNN. And some of Murdochs industry peers predict he will survive no matter the verdict. Speaking at an event hosted by Semafor on April 10, IAC Chairman Barry Diller described the risk facing Murdoch and Fox as de minimis. Even a verdict in the hundreds of millions of dollars could be acceptable to Fox News if it can continue with a playbook that has generated far more money than that over the years. Look, I hope they lose, Diller said at the event. I think they should lose. And I think [Dominion] could get a very big award. So what? Theyll pay it. What is it going to do, worsen Rupert Murdochs reputation? Good luck to you. Duty free zone at Incheon International Airport is crowded with outbound travelers, April 3, as the airport saw a 64 percent recovery in international passengers number from the pre-pandemic levels from 2019. Newsis By Lee Hae-rin Incheon International Airport, the country's biggest and largest international air transport hub, plans to reinforce security inspection measures amid steep increases in passengers from a tourism rebound, Incheon International Airport Corp. (IIAC) announced, Thursday. The measures come as the airport saw a series of security breaches this year, including two rounds of live ammunition found on a Korean Air plane that was about to take off from the airport bound for Manila last month. A knife also went unnoticed during security screening and was discovered with a Chinese passenger at the boarding gate, last Thursday, while two Kazakhstani nationals climbed over a fence near a runway and fled the airport, March 26, with one of them being captured in Daejeon two weeks later. The IIAC plans to enhance security measures in response to these incidents. The plan includes installing advanced monitoring technology with CT X-ray in departure and transit gates of all terminals by 2025. The technology, which is expected to minimize human error in detecting dangerous items, is currently only available in some departure gates of Terminal 1. The airport will also increase the hiring of aviation security personnel and provide them with customized education programs and incentives to enhance their expertise. The airport, which has a top global security reputation, has never had an accident that resulted in human or property damages in the 22 years since its establishment in 2001. In the first quarter of this year, the airport saw more than 11.4 million international passengers which is a 1,052.6 percent increase compared to the same period last year, the IIAC said at a press conference, Thursday. The recovery is driven by tourists from neighboring Asian countries, including Japan. To prepare for the further increases in passengers forecast for the peak summer season, the airport plans to expand bus services by 80 percent of previous operations by September. Only 50 percent of the bus services are available compared to the pre-pandemic levels as of April. In May, the airport will launch four additional night bus routes to Dongdaemun and Jamsil of Seoul; and Gwangju and Bucheon of Gyeonggi Province. The IIAC expects that by the end of the year, there will be up to 53 million international passengers using the airport, yielding an estimated average of 145,000 daily passengers. This shows a 76 percent recovery from the pre-pandemic levels in 2019, which saw 70.5 million passengers. China's lifting of tourist group visas is proving pivotal to the recovery of the airport and inbound travel, the IIAC said. Twitter CEO Elon Musk on Thursday announced that 'Subscriptions' are now enabled on the platform -- a way for people's most engaged followers to help them earn money from Twitter for their contributions on the platform. A Twitter user Shibetoshi Nakamoto, the creator of the popular cryptocurrency Dogecoin, recently took to the platform to share a screenshot of Musk's Twitter profile, showing that the tech billionaire had subscribed to his account. Along with the screenshot, Shibetoshi tweeted: "I don't usually flex but today was a stressful day and I am giving myself a flex." To which Musk replied: "We're firing up creator subscriptions bigtime! Works for longform text, pics or video." According to his tweet, subscriptions will work for longform content, images, and videos posted on Twitter. Moreover, in the same tweet, a user commented, asking Musk: "Are you going to be firing up sharing ad revenue (like ads in videos) for creators? That would be big!" Also Read How will Elon Musk's takeover of Twitter change the public square? In call with bankers, Musk pledges to close Twitter deal by Friday Is Elon Musk rewriting the HR rulebook at Twitter? Elon Musk to replace Parag Agrawal as Twitter CEO, reverse life bans Is Elon Musk mismanaging Twitter? OPEC cites downside risk to summer oil outlook, holds demand forecast US wholesale price fell, inflation pressures eased sharply last month Japan to offer military aid to like-minded countries to counter China Battery vs hydrogen trucks: Race to clean up emissions is just starting SoftBank sells VC arm to Singapore-based firm due to huge financial losses To which he replied: "We're working on it. Twitter has a surprisingly complex codebase, so progress is slower than we'd like." Currently, people in the US who meet the eligibility requirements can apply to participate in the Subscriptions programme, according to Twitter's Help page. Subscriptions purchases are currently available globally on Twitter for iOS and Android, as well as on the web in the US, Canada, New Zealand, and Australia. --IANS shs/prw/pgh In an appeal to the heads of the IMF and World Bank, Ukraine's president on Wednesday renewed his call to confiscate Russian Central Bank assets held around the world and use them to help rebuild Ukraine. To charge the aggressor with compensation for damages," Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said by video link. "Russia must feel the full price of its aggression." The U.S. announced at the start of Russia's invasion that America and its allies had blocked access to more than $600 billion that Russia held outside its borders. The U.S and its allies continue to impose rounds of targeted sanctions against companies and the wealthy elite with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. It must be clearly stated that the assets of the Russian Central Bank will be confiscated. It will be a peacemaking act on a global scale, Zelenskyy said. He was patched in for a session with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, World Bank President David Malpass and International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, held during the IMF and World Bank spring meetings to discuss Ukraine's ongoing funding needs. A joint assessment released in March by Ukraine's government, the World Bank and European Commission estimates Ukraine's long-term recovery needs will total at least $411 billion. In March, Ukraine and the International Monetary Fund agreed on a $15.6 billion loan package aimed at shoring up the government's severely strained finances. Since the war began in February 2022, the United States has given Ukraine more than $100 billion in military and civilian support, which includes some money for reconstruction. Other countries also have provided Ukraine with substantial support. Also Read Why is the world discussing Russian President Vladimir Putin's health? Russian military claims pullout from occupied city; Ukraine sceptical World faces most dangerous decade since World War II: Vladimir Putin Vladimir Putin talks brotherhood as Volodymyr Zelenskyy goes to US Ukrainian Military hints hitting Russian cruise missiles in occupied Crimea Beijing to impose no-fly zone north of Taiwan for 'aerospace activities Mass layoffs and absentee bosses create a morale crisis at Meta Russia's flagship oil moves closer to $60/barrel cap threshold Indian-origin start-up executives convicted of $1-bn fraud in US CCI clears NBC Universal's stake buy in BTS Investment 1, Bodhi At the roundtable, Yellen said the United States will do what it takes to support Ukraine, for as long as it takes. She said our historic multilateral sanctions coalition is restricting Russia's access to the technology and equipment it needs to supply its military. Zelenskyy argued that liquidating Russia's funds held around the world, including those of sanctioned oligarchs, would send a message to potential aggressors wherever they may be. The idea is gaining traction. Former Biden administration official Daleep Singh told the Senate Banking Committee on Feb. 28 that forfeiting Russia's billions in assets held by the U.S. is something we ought to pursue. And Charles Michel, president of the European Council, has called for using Russia's Central Bank funds to rebuild what it has destroyed. The U.S. announced last week that Treasury officials Liz Rosenberg and Brian Nelson specialists in sanctions and terrorist financing will travel to Europe this month to meet with leaders of financial institutions in Switzerland, Italy and Germany. They plan to share intelligence on potential sanctions evaders and to warn of the potential penalties for failure to comply with international sanctions. During Wednesday's meeting, Zelenskyy stood and called for a moment of silence for a Ukrainian soldier who appears to have been beheaded. A gruesome video that purports to show the beheading spread quickly online and drew outrage in Ukraine, in the latest accusation of atrocities said to have been committed by Russian troops. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday underlined that in order to address the mounting debt crisis around the world, it is necessary to supplement current global initiatives, especially those of the G20. Sitharaman made the remarks during the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable meeting alongside managing director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva on Tuesday on the sidelines of the SpringMeetings 2023, in Washington. World Bank President David Malpass was also present while Sitharaman discussed the global debt crisis. Taking to Twitter, the Finance Ministry wrote, "Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman participated in the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable #GSDR meeting along with Ms@KGeorgieva, MD, IMF @IMFNews, and @DavidMalpassWBG President @WorldBank on the sidelines of the #SpringMeetings 2023, in Washington DC, today." "As a priority for the #G20India Presidency, FM Smt. @nsitharaman said that there is a need to augment present global efforts, including those of the #G20 to address growing debt distress across the globe," the ministry tweeted further. During the discussion, Sitharaman also emphasised the need for debt transparency, information exchange, and clarity regarding the treatment of different debt situations on par, predictability of the process, and timeliness of the process. Also Read India bags its first Golden Globe for 'Natu Natu': Here's a list of winners Golden Globes 2023: Jeremy Allen wins Best TV Actor in a Musical, Comedy Chennai-based Manali Petrochemicals acquires UK-based Penn Globe Golden Globes 2023: Brunson gets Best Actress award for 'Abbott Elementary' Golden Globes 2023: 'The Banshees of Inisherin' wins Best Screenplay Japan, France and India to launch platform to coordinate Sri Lanka debt Myanmar Junta airstrike: At least 133 killed, including women, children N Korea fires missile toward East Sea, Japan says taking all precautions Piyush Goyal describes India as 'voice of developing countries' in Rome Must feel full price: Zelenskyy calls for confiscating Russia's funds On Tuesday, Sitaraman also engaged in a bilateral meeting with her US counterpart. Yellen lauded India's leadership on the issue of reform of MDBs. Yellen also added that the US seeks G20's help in achieving reforms. "The G20 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," the top US official stated. At the MDB Roundtable Yellen further said, "In the coming weeks, we will elect new leadership at the World Bank that can carry this work forward. I believe that Ajay Banga - U.S. nominee for President of the World Bank - is the right leader to take the baton from President Malpass and accelerate our work to evolve this institution." Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (local time) reached Washington to attend the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund and other G20 meetings. She was received by Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Sitharaman is on a week-long visit to the US. North Korea on Thursday conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, possibly testing a new more mobile, harder-to-detect missile for the first time, its neighbours said, as it extends its provocative run of weapons tests. Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to take shelter in an indication of its vigilance over North Korea's evolving missile threats. The missile was launched on a high angle from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan following a 1,000-kilometre (620-mile) flight, South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staffs said in a statement. It described its range as medium or longer. The US National Security Council called it a long-range missile and Japan's government said it likely had an intercontinental range. South Korea's military believes North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, a defense official said under the condition of anonymity because of office rules. If the launch involved a solid-fuel ICBM, it would be the North's first test of such a weapon. North Korea's known ICBMs all use liquid propellants that must be fuelled before launches. Also Read India condemns recent intercontinental ballistic missile launch by N Korea North Korea performs key test to build more agile strategic weapons system US condemns North Korea's launch of intercontinental ballistic missile US urges UNSC action to punish North Korea over recent provocations: Report North Korea test-fires 2 more missiles as tensions rise with South Important to talk about what's happening in the Ukraine war: Andy Murra Users complain of facing issues in replying tweets; Twitter responds Greek Inflation impacting coffee cups, people cutting consumption Pak govt stops SC from conducting hearings against bill limiting judiciary S Korea's top court orders Google to disclose shared personal data But the fuel in a solid-propellant weapon is already loaded, allowing it to be moved easier and fired faster. A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the key high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to build to better cope with what he calls US military threats. He also wants a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch may have involved a new intermediate- or long-range missile powered by solid propellants, or be linked to North Korean preparation to launch a spy satellite. US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region. Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies. During an emergency meeting of Seoul's National Security Council, officials stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting of his NSC to analyse the launch and Japan's response. The nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held a telephone conversation where they called for a decisive and united international response to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean funding of its weapons program. North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, using elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries. South Korea and Japan typically don't issue evacuation orders unless they determine the North Korean weapon is flying in their direction. Japanese Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the North Korean missile launched Thursday did not reach Japan's exclusive economic zone. But Japanese authorities still urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter and temporarily suspended train, bus and subway services there. Local communities also activated alert sirens through community speakers, urging people to evacuate. The government then retracted its missile alert, saying there was no possibility of the missile landing near Hokkaido. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the alert was based on the Japanese Defence Ministry's early assessment of the missile's path and was an appropriate step to prioritise people's safety. Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order in October when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the weapon's potential to reach the US Pacific territory of Guam. Thursday's launch was the North's first long-range missile firing since the country tested its longest-range, liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM on March 16. Kim Jong Un reviewed his country's attack plans Monday and vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways. North Korea has launched about 100 missiles since the start of 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the US mainland, South Korea or Japan within striking distance. The North's testing spree is largely in protest of South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea uses its rivals' drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. Later Thursday, China, North Korea's last major ally, reiterated its blame for the heightened animosities on the US and South Korea. The negative impact of the US military exercises and strategic weapons deployed around the peninsula a few days ago is obvious to all, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a briefing. North Korea unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead in late March, raising concerns it could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles. South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Communications on those channels are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals' disputed western sea boundary. On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse expressed strong regret over what he called North Korea's unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the hotlines. North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and US President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Experts say the discussions between world leaders at Japan's Group of Seven meetings in May could be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea. UN Security Council permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russia's war on Ukraine. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Wednesday called India a "voice of developing countries" and said that today the country represents the global south. Speaking at the Gala Dinner in Rome among the presence of Indian and Italian Business leaders, Goyal said that India as the voice of the less developed countries, has been at the forefront of not only providing a better life for our people but also contributing to a better future for people in other parts of the world. "India today represents the global south, being the voice of the developing countries, the voice of the less developed countries, has been at the forefront of not only providing for a better life for our people but also contributing to a better future for people in other parts of the world, particularly in countries which have also been left behind in the development process," the Union Minister said. India's Ambassador to Italy, Dr Neena Malhotra as well as Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy, Edmondo Cirielli were also present at the occasion. Goyal further spoke on connectivity at the event and highlighted how India offers an oasis of opportunity with 1.4 bn people aspiring for a better quality of life. The Union Minister said, "India offers an oasis of opportunity with 1.4 Billion people aspiring for a better quality of life, aspiring for good things, that we have missed out on over the years and the govt over the last decade has focused itself on providing the basic amenities that are required by any person, by any family." Also Read Countries eager to sign FTAs with India: Piyush Goyal in Rajya Sabha Google removes 'Smart Reply' suggestions from Voice app on Android, iOS Goods and services exports may cross $750 bn-mark this fiscal: Piyush Goyal Open-source platform 'Home Assistant' to get new voice assistant in 2023 Piyush Goyal co-chairs India-US CEO Forum with US Commerce Secretary Must feel full price: Zelenskyy calls for confiscating Russia's funds Beijing to impose no-fly zone north of Taiwan for 'aerospace activities Mass layoffs and absentee bosses create a morale crisis at Meta Russia's flagship oil moves closer to $60/barrel cap threshold Indian-origin start-up executives convicted of $1-bn fraud in US He also added that India now has nearly 800 million internet users across the length and breadth of the country and that 4G penetration is throughout the nation. "We have ensured that no family is ever deprived of food, proper clothing, proper shelter, healthcare, and education. We now have nearly 800 mn internet users across the length and breadth of the country. 4G penetration is throughout the country. We have launched 5G, and by end of 2023, most of the main cities in India would be covered by 5G Connectivity," Union Minister Piyush Goyal said at the Gala dinner in Rome on Wednesday. Goyal is currently on an official visit to France and Italy during which he would be accompanied by a delegation of top Indian CEOs. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, while addressing India-France Business Summit and CEOs Roundtable in Paris on April 12, told participants and delegates that there is a huge delta of opportunities in India and invited them to leverage them. The Embassy of India in Paris, in association with the industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Mouvement des Entreprises de France(MEDEF) and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry(IFCCI), organised the Business Summit and CEOs Roundtable on Tuesday (local time). More than 50 CEOs from Indian and French companies participated at the CEOs Roundtable which was addressed by Minister Goyal and the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, Olivier Becht. Sectors such as agriculture, tourism, defence, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and aerospace were also represented at the roundtable. This upcoming visit is expected to provide further momentum to bilateral relations with India's key business partners in the European region. The Supreme Court here ruled on Thursday that Google must disclose the list of personal information it has shared with third parties, including United States intelligence. In 2014, four South Korean activists filed a lawsuit against the global tech giant and its local affiliate, Google Korea, demanding to know whether their personal information had been shared with a third party. Under South Korean law, online service providers must respond to a customer's request to disclose any record of their personal data being shared with a third party, reports Yonhap news agency. An appeals court had earlier partially sided with the plaintiffs but ruled that Google has the right to reject the demand on issues that can be kept private in accordance with the relevant US laws. The Supreme Court, however, partially overturned the previous rulings and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for a retrial. The highest court said even if personal information was provided to foreign intelligence agencies for probable cause, the service provider must notify the users of such acts when that cause terminates. Also Read Bard, Bing and Baidu: How big tech's AI race will transform searches Google improves Gmail search, Chat with search labels, related results DuckDuckGo announces new feature will block 'Sign in with Google' pop-up Seoul announces additional sanctions on Pyongyang for missile tests Key staff driving Apple search engine leaves, rejoins Google: Report S Korea to conduct radiation test on 89 North Korean defectors from May Trump heads to NY to face civil trial after suing ex-lawyer for $500mn India remains concerned about global economic outlook: FM Sitharaman Apple in talks with suppliers to make MacBooks in Thailand: Report Crude oil at sea surges in fresh sign of Russian flows going farther The plaintiff alleged Google passed on the private information of its users, including those that live outside the US, to an American government intelligence programme known as PRISM. PRISM trawls the Internet for email and chat records of anyone who has contacts in the US. The programme made global headlines after former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden divulged its existence. Meanwhile, South Korea's antitrust regulator this week 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. --IANS na/dpb Japanese investment giant SoftBank is selling one of its venture capital arms, SoftBank Ventures Asia (SBVA), to Singaporean investment firm The Edgeof, as VC funding remains scarce amid the global macroeconomic conditions. The acquisition comes after SoftBank and its Vision Fund registered huge financial losses amid the overall slump in the world of technology. The Edgeof, a newly-established entity, will be led by Founder Taizo Son (SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son's younger brother), and Co-founder and Chairman Atsushi Taira from the founding team of Mistletoe. The Edgeof will leverage Mistletoe's know-how and establish a pan-Asian ecosystem for 'aStartups' by discovering, investing and supporting the growth of game-changing startups, the companies said in a statement. The company defines "aStartups" as startups that have a mission to address fundamental problems in the world with advanced technology. SoftBank Group will collaborate closely with The Edgeof, offering valuable expertise, industry insights, and an extensive network to drive innovation and promote growth. Also Read SoftBank Vision Fund loses $7.2 billion on back of tech writedowns SoftBank CEO Masayoshi to skip earnings call for first time as tech slumps Masayoshi Son's SoftBank buyout would look more like Musk than Dell Masayoshi Son invites start-up founders, CEOs with SoftBank holding SoftBank Group founder Masayoshi Son meets startup founders in Delhi Sri Lanka considers exporting 100,000 endangered monkeys to China Ghana becomes first country to approve Oxford malaria vaccine for children Biden administration highlights infrastructure investments with new bridges North Korea fires missile that may have been a new type of weapon Important to talk about what's happening in the Ukraine war: Andy Murra The acquisition is contingent upon regulatory approval and is expected to be completed this year. "Through this acquisition, we aspire to build an ecosystem that enables visionary entrepreneurs and their startups to effect significant, positive societal change," said Taira. Following the acquisition, a fresh brand identity will be unveiled to signify the firm's commitment to cultivating groundbreaking technologies across the region. Son, Founder, The Edgeof, said, "We are confident that our collective strengths and resources will ignite a new era of revolutionary technologies and solutions, establishing us as a prominent influence in developing and expanding startups worldwide." Founded in 2000, SoftBank Ventures Asia is an early-stage venture capital firm based in Seoul and currently operates nearly $2 billion funds under management. Since its inception, SoftBank Ventures Asia has focused on ICT investments, including AI, IoT, and smart robotics, with global investment professionals in Seoul, Beijing, Singapore, and San Francisco. In February this year, SoftBank had posted a loss of nearly $6 billion in the quarter that ended in December. --IANS na/arm Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed in a joint statement to resume consular services and flights, after the bilateral ties have been stranded for years. The announcement came as Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad wrapped up his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first time since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement on Wednesday said both Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to resume the consular services and the flights between the two countries, stressing that both sides have agreed on boosting security and counter-terrorism efforts, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry. The two sides discussed the necessary steps to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the crisis in Syria that would end all its repercussions, achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab surroundings and the resumption of its natural role in the Arab world, according to the statement. The two countries also agreed to resolve humanitarian difficulties and offer a suitable environment for assistance to reach all parts of Syria, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The two sides stressed the importance of the return of Syrian refugees and displaced individuals to their areas, along with taking the required steps to stabilise the situation in the country. Also Read Tunisia welcomes decision as Saudi Arabia, Iran move ahead to resume ties US' claims to waive sanctions for earthquake relief 'misleading': Syria Erdogan doesn't rule out meeting with Syrian counterpart Bashar al- Assad Israeli missile strikes put Damascus airport out of service, kills 2 Syrian Army says five killed in Damascus by Israeli missile attack US lawmakers write to USCIS on immigrants impacted by tech layoffs Sovereign debtors, creditors agree steps to jumpstart debt restructurings NPR stops using Twitter after Elon Musk's "state-affiliated media" remarks Meeting to strengthen US-India relations on April 26 at US Capitol US lawmaker calls for India to join 'team America', abandon China-Russia Mekdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came upon the invitation by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, as the relations between both countries are on the way to normalisation. On Wednesday, Tunisia and Syria decided to reopen their respective embassies to resume diplomatic ties between the two countries. --IANS int/khz/ Expressing concern over large-scale layoffs in the tech industry, a group of lawmakers from the Silicon Valley have written to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to ensure high-skilled immigrants can remain in the country even after losing their jobs. This group of immigrants possesses skills that are highly valuable in today's knowledge-based economy and "forcing them to leave the US is harmful to our nation's long-term economic competitiveness", they said in their letter to USCIS Director Ur Jaddou. The letter has been sent by Congressmen Zoe Lofgren, Ro Khanna, Jimmy Panetta and Kevin Mullin. Lofgren has been a former Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. "This issue is of great importance to our constituents because layoffs in the tech sector have accelerated in recent months. The number of tech jobs lost since the beginning of 2023 has already surpassed the total number of layoffs in 2022," the letter said It also requests that the USCIS release data detailing the impact of the layoffs on affected immigrants; inquire about whether the USCIS has issued guidance to adjudicators in response to the layoffs; and extend the 60-day grace period for laid-off H-1B holders to secure a new job before losing their legal status. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The lawmakers asked the USCIS director to provide details of approximately how many H-1B visa holders have successfully maintained legal status after losing their jobs and how many have departed the country or accrued unlawful presence. Also Read Over 7 in 10 employers keen to hire in services sector in India: Report Asia witnesses limited contagion risk from Silicon Valley Bank's woes Apple begins laying off third-party contractors, cuts costs: Report Twitter sacks product manager Esther Crawford in another round of layoffs Amazon plans to reduce employee stock awards in 2025 after mass layoffs Sovereign debtors, creditors agree steps to jumpstart debt restructurings NPR stops using Twitter after Elon Musk's "state-affiliated media" remarks Meeting to strengthen US-India relations on April 26 at US Capitol US lawmaker calls for India to join 'team America', abandon China-Russia Need to address growing debt distress across the globe: Nirmala Sitharaman "We ask that you share any relevant data with us so we can better understand the impact of the layoffs," according to the letter. "What are the approval and denial rates, broken down by visa category, for newly unemployed H-1B holders who have applied for the nonimmigrant visas listed in the December 19th USCIS fact sheet? Considering unemployed H-1B holders only have a limited 60-day window to secure a new visa, we request that you release this data publicly so these individuals can make informed decisions about which visas to apply for," it said. The lawmakers asked approximately how long it takes for the USCIS to process visa applications submitted by newly unemployed H-1B holders. "While individuals are legally allowed to remain in the US as their visa applications are pending, we're concerned about the potential consequences of processing times that exceed the 60-day grace period," the lawmaker said in their letter. In such cases, immigrants will be required to depart the country immediately if their visa applications are denied, they said. "This situation not only causes significant distress for the affected individuals but could also result in them accruing unlawful presence if it takes an extended period of time to get their affairs in order before departing the country. This could be held against them if they apply for a visa in the future," the lawmakers wrote. The Congressmen asked are newly unemployed H-1B holders penalised when applying for B-1/B-2 visitor visas? "Because B-1/B-2 visas are intended for short-term visits to the US, we are concerned that adjudicators will deny visas to laid-off H-1B holders, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for years, on the grounds that these individuals do not have sufficient ties to their home countries to demonstrate that they intend to leave the US once their visas expire," they said. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts today announced the signing of a new property in Agra, the city of the Taj Mahal, one of the seven wonders of the world and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Set to open by 2025, the hotel will offer 205 rooms, including 44 suites. Guests can look forward to a luxurious experience that seamlessly blends world-class hospitality with the enchanting beauty of one of India's most legendary destinations. Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has partnered with Shekhar Resorts Limited, introducing the first Fairmont in the city of Agra. We are delighted to partner with Fairmont, an iconic luxury brand within the Accor Group. Given Accors expertise in luxury hospitality management and knowledge of the markets they operate in, we found Fairmont and Accor as the most adept partners to manage the upcoming Fairmont Agra. We believe that the property will stand out and elevate the luxury hospitality experience in Agra and northern India. We are excited to start our first partnership with Fairmont and Accor and to bring the most unique and memorable experiences to our guests, says Anuj Jain, Director of Shekhar Resorts Limited, Agra. Fairmont Agra's strategic location is approximately two kilometres from the Taj Mahal, offering guests easy access to this renowned architectural achievement. Situated on the banks of the Yamuna River in the populous city of Agra, located in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the hotel is just a two-hour drive from the bustling capital city of New Delhi. This is a great addition to our brand portfolio, says Mark Willis, CEO of Fairmont Hotels & Resorts. Fairmont Agra will be situated in one of the most awe-inspiring destinations in the world, and I am confident that its strategic location, architecture, and breathtaking views will make it one of our top iconic properties. With the brand's exceptional standards, Fairmont Agra is set to offer an unforgettable experience to its guests. Fairmont is one of Accors leading luxury brands globally, with more than a century of history, and landmark hotels positioned in extraordinary destinations worldwide from The Plaza in New York City and The Savoy in London to Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai and Fairmont Royal Palm in Marrakech. In India, Fairmont already operates the majestic Fairmont Jaipur and will open additional hotels in Udaipur, Mumbai and Shimla Fagu over the next two years. Mark Willis adds: Fairmont is gaining momentum in India, with four exciting new properties under development. With Agra on the horizon, the brand will complete India's northern Golden Triangle, alongside Jaipur and Udaipur. Fairmont properties around the globe are known for their luxurious guest rooms, world-class public spaces and dining venues, and amazing locations from which they provide guests with unforgettable memories and Fairmont Agra will be no different. The property will offer sumptuously comfortable rooms alongside an array of offerings, including a signature restaurant, specialty restaurant, coffee shop, bar, swimming pool, fitness center and spa. Guests can expect a world-class experience that embodies the Fairmont brand's commitment to providing exceptional luxury and service. Fairmont is part of Accor, a world leading hospitality group that offers experiences in over 110 countries and over 5,400 properties, making it one of the industry's most diverse hospitality ecosystems. The worlds second largest luxury and lifestyle operator, Accors portfolio includes more than 40 hotel brands that range from luxury to economy. Additionally, Fairmont is a participating brand in ALL - Accor Live Limitless, a lifestyle loyalty program that gives members access to a wide range of rewards, services, and experiences across Accor's vast network of hotels and resorts. To know more, visit the website: fairmont.com This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows the North firing a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile from the Sunan area in Pyongyang the previous day, in response to the ongoing South Korea-U.S. Field Shield joint drill, March 17. Yonhap North Korea fired an intermediate- or longer-range ballistic missile toward the East Sea on Thursday, South Korea's military said, escalating tensions amid its continued refusal to answer what used to be daily cross-border calls. The Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said it detected the launch in the vicinity of Pyongyang at 7:23 a.m., and the missile, fired at a lofted angle, flew about 1,000 kilometers before splashing into the water. "The intelligence authorities of South Korea and the United States are conducting a comprehensive analysis on its detailed specifications," the JCS said in a text message sent to reporters. The North appears to have tested a "new" missile system, a Seoul official said on condition of anonymity. He noted the allies are looking into "various" possibilities, including the launch having involved a solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). South Korea's presidential National Security Council (NSC) "strongly" denounced the North's launch of a ballistic missile, while the U.S. NSC called the launch an "ICBM" test. "The United States strongly condemns the DPRK for its test of a long-range ballistic missile," NSC spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement, referring to the North by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Soon after the launch, the allies held a coordination meeting and reaffirmed the two sides will further solidify their combined defense posture against "any North Korean threats and provocations," the JCS said. "North Korea's ballistic missile launch is a grave provocative act that not only harms peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula but also in the international community, and a clear violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions," it said, urging the North to immediately stop such launches. Seoul officials said the latest launch might have been aimed partially at flaunting the North's nuclear force ahead of the 111th birthday of the late Kim Il-sung, the North's national founder and the current leader's grandfather, on Saturday, and protesting the deterrence efforts by Seoul and Washington. The North's last launch involving an intermediate-range ballistic missile (IRBM) or a longer-range one was that of a Hwasong-17 ICBM on March 16. A ballistic missile is launched toward the East Sea from the Jangyon area in South Hwanghae Province in this file photo released by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency the following day, March 14. Yonhap FourKites and strategic investor Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (Mitsui) have appointed Mitsui Knowledge Industry Co., LTD. (MKI) as the exclusive reseller of FourKites leading real-time supply chain visibility solutions in Japan. MKI, which brings decades of deep experience implementing transformational IT projects in Japan, will lead all go-to-market activities on behalf of FourKites, including carrier and customer engagements. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005297/en/ FourKites and Mitsui Appoint MKI as Exclusive Reseller in Japan (Photo: Business Wire) In addition, FourKites is now live with a localized Japanese platform built under MKIs guidance to ensure flawless translation and optimal user experience features and for the first time is offering over-the-road (OTR) tracking for domestic shipments in Japan to complement its existing international tracking solutions. We are thrilled to be appointed FourKites exclusive reseller in Japan, said Sho Nagamatsu, Executive General Manager, DX Sales Unit 2, MKI. FourKites appreciates Japans unique requirements and the imperative to meet customers exacting standards for best-in-class technologies, service and support. We look forward to meeting and beating those expectations as we help our Japanese customers build more resilient and agile supply chains with the industrys leading real-time visibility platform. The appointment of Mitsui affiliate MKI as FourKites exclusive reseller in Japan is part of Mitsui & Co., Ltd.s $10M investment in the company, which is focused on delivering hyper-localized solutions for the APAC market and boosting FourKites capabilities across sales, customer service and operations. Together, FourKites and MKI will deliver on surging demand for FourKites platform in the region. Japan is one of the worlds leading supply chain and logistics hubs, and MKI is an ideal partner to help ensure we deliver against this markets unique needs and high expectations, said FourKites founder and CEO Mathew Elenjickal. We look forward to working exclusively with MKI in Japan, and to introducing greater capabilities across the APAC region through our partnership with Mitsui. This announcement comes at a time when FourKites is experiencing strong momentum across APAC. FourKites ended 2022 with 91% growth in new customers in the region, and more than 240% growth in shipments tracked across 46 APAC countries. APAC customers include Nestle Japan, Chevron Corporation, Kraft Heinz, SpaceX, Molson Coors, Bacardi and QVC. In addition, in 2022 FourKites hit the following milestones in APAC: 146% growth in the number of carriers tracking loads 1.8B+ miles tracked 30% growth in the number of regional ports tracked, now totalling 282 ports 486% growth in the number of facilities tracked, now totalling 14K facilities Live OTR tracking throughout Australia, New Zealand, India, Thailand, Taiwan, Philippines, Singapore, and Malaysia, with near-term expansion into additional countries in the region About Mitsui Mitsui & Co., Ltd. (8031: JP) is a global trading and investment company with a diversified business portfolio that spans approximately 63 countries in Asia, Europe, North, Central & South America, The Middle East, Africa and Oceania. Mitsui has about 5,500 employees and deploys talent around the globe to identify, develop, and grow businesses in collaboration with a global network of trusted partners. Mitsui has built a strong and diverse core business portfolio covering the Mineral and Metal Resources, Energy, Machinery and Infrastructure, and Chemicals industries. Leveraging its strengths, Mitsui has further diversified beyond its core profit pillars to create multifaceted value in new areas, including innovative Energy Solutions, Healthcare & Nutrition and through a strategic focus on high-growth Asian markets. This strategy aims to derive growth opportunities by harnessing some of the worlds main mega-trends: sustainability, health & wellness, digitalization and the growing power of the consumer. Mitsui has a long heritage in Asia, where it has established a diverse and strategic portfolio of businesses and partners that gives it a strong differentiating edge, provides exceptional access for all global partners to the worlds fastest growing region and strengthens its international portfolio. For more information on Mitsui & Cos businesses visit www.mitsui.com. About MKI Under the purpose Unite Knowledge, Ignite the Future, Mitsui Knowledge Industry Co., Ltd. (MKI) has been creating IT strategies and supporting the digital transformation of its clients as their strategic business partner specializing mainly in information and communication technology. By utilizing its wealth of KNOWLEDGE accumulated through its long experience in technological development and innovation continuing for over half a century, MKI remains consistent in its pursuit to live up to the high expectations of its customers as their most reliable value creator. For more information on MKI businesses visit https://www.mki.co.jp/english. About FourKites Leading global supply chain visibility platform FourKites extends visibility beyond transportation into yards, warehouses, stores and beyond. Tracking more than 3 million shipments daily across road, rail, ocean, air, parcel and last mile, and reaching over 200 countries and territories, FourKites combines real-time data and powerful machine learning to help companies digitize their end-to-end supply chains. More than 1,200 of the worlds most recognized brands including 9 of the top-10 CPG and 18 of the top-20 food and beverage companies trust FourKites to transform their business and create more agile, efficient and sustainable supply chains. To learn more, visit https://www.fourkites.com/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005297/en/ l TalentSprint, a pioneering global edtech company specializing in offering innovative and transformational programs, has announced its multi-year, multi-program partnership with Indian Institute of Management-Udaipur (IIM-Udaipur), India's leading business school with a key focus on high-quality research. The partnership aims to provide executive education that develops leaders capable of navigating challenges of the digital age and acquiring management acumen required for success in a disrupted world.With increase in competition and rise of disruptive technologies, businesses need to adapt and innovate to stay relevant and successful. This requires leadership and management expertise that can navigate through uncertain times and drive growth and profitability. In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, possessing a solid grounding in digital management principles and practices is imperative for professionals to stay relevant and excel in their careers.The first two programs to be offered under this collaboration aim at fulfilling a growing need for new-age senior management professionals and product managers who can lead in a digital-first world. The first is a 12-month Senior Management Programme (SMP) designed for middle and senior managers with over ten years of work experience. It is designed for managers who are new to or likely to take on senior management responsibilities, as well as senior functional managers transitioning to general management roles. The second is a 6-month Advanced Programme in Digital Product Management (APDPM) , aimed at professionals seeking to build or advance their careers in product management. It will equip participants with the expertise needed to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape., expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "In a rapidly changing digital landscape, empowering professionals with the cutting edge expertise to stay ahead on the knowledge curve is the cornerstone of our mission at IIM Udaipur. Our partnership with TalentSprint for the Senior Management Program and Advanced Program in Digital Product Management is a testament to our commitment to providing the participants with the most relevant and transformational learning experiences that will help them advance their careers.", said "We are privileged to collaborate with IIM-Udaipur that has been awarded the prestigious AACSB accreditation, placing it in the top 5% of business schools worldwide. The two programs being launched under this partnership are designed to enhance theeadership capabilities and business acumen of professionals, leveraging the institute's exceptional research expertise," he added. "We expect these individuals to spearhead organizations and make the best use of technology for better outcomes."TalentSprint is known for offering high-impact programs co-created with think tanks and experts in related fields, combining academic expertise with practical industry experience. The APDPM and SMP programs to be offered in association with IIM Udaipur will be delivered in an executive-friendly hybrid format, with classes scheduled to begin from July 2023. The detailed information about these programs is available on TalentSprint and IIM Udaipur websites. Applicants can visit respective program pages to apply for selection into the programs.For SMP, visit iim-udaipur.talentsprint.com/senior-management-program For APDPM, visit iim-udaipur.talentsprint.com/digital-product-management-program Multiple countries rushed to rescue their nationals from the war-torn country as battle raged between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. China has sent its first group of evacuees to neighboring countries, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning said in a regular press conference Monday. The conflict has left at least 420 people dead and more than 3,700 injured since it broke out on April 15, the World Health Organization reported the same day Apr 25, 2023 07:45 PM National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong, 2nd from left, presides over a National Security Council meeting at the presidential office in Seoul in this photo provided by the office, April 13. Yonhap The presidential National Security Council (NSC) "strongly" denounced North Korea's launch of an intermediate- or longer-range ballistic missile Thursday. The NSC held a meeting led by National Security Adviser Cho Tae-yong to discuss what South Korea's military described as an intermediate- or longer-range ballistic missile launch earlier in the day. President Yoon Suk Yeol was immediately briefed on the launch, his office said. "The NSC standing members noted that North Korea's missile launch constitutes a grave violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions and a serious provocation heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula and in the region," the presidential office said in a press release. The NSC "strongly denounced the launch of a ballistic missile of at least intermediate range following the long-range ballistic missile launches in February and March," it said. The council deplored that the Kim Jong-un regime has been continuing its reckless nuclear threats and missile provocations while paying no regard to the North Korean people's human rights situation and livelihoods. "The NSC standing members emphasized that North Korea's recent successive provocations and threatening language once again show the importance of a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance and the unwavering maintenance of trust," the presidential office said. The council vowed to continue to thoroughly implement South Korea-U.S. military exercises and maintain a firm readiness posture, while further bolstering intelligence-sharing between the allies, and trilaterally with Japan, based on the recent normalization of the GSOMIA military intel-sharing pact between Seoul and Tokyo, it said. "The participants agreed to monitor more closely North Korea's nuclear and missile facilities and actively look for various response measures against the possibility of additional provocations based on cooperation among South Korea, the United States and Japan," it added. The officials in attendance included Foreign Minister Park Jin, Unification Minister Kwon Young-se, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup and National Intelligence Service Director Kim Kyou-hyun. (Yonhap) Smoke and debris rise in the air as an observation post next to the entrance of the north tunnel of North Korea's nuclear test site at Punggye-ri, North Hamgyong Province, is blown up in this May 24, 2018 file photo. Korea Times file South Korea plans to conduct radiation exposure tests on 89 North Korean defectors who hailed from areas near the North's Punggye-ri nuclear testing site, Seoul's unification ministry said Thursday. The radiation testing will be carried out starting in May for six months on North Korean defectors who had lived in Kilju County and its nearby areas, and escaped the North after its first nuclear test in 2006, according to the ministry. The government previously held such similar tests on 40 North Korean defectors in 2017 and 2018. "It is meaningful to preemptively check the possibility of exposure to radioactive leaks and overall health conditions for those who may have sustained damage from the North's nuclear tests," a ministry official told reporters. The North's Punggye-ri nuclear test site is located in Kilju County in the country's northeastern province. The secretive regime has conducted all six of its nuclear tests at the site. Among the 89 defectors to undergo the testing, nine will be those who were suspected of having been exposed to radiation during the government's previous tests. The ministry will select the 80 others out of a group of those hoping to be tested. In total, 796 North Koreans who used to live in areas near Punggye-ri defected to the South in the wake of the North's first nuclear detonation in October 2006. In a report released in February, the Transitional Justice Working Group, an advocacy group for the North's human rights, said hundreds of thousands of residents living in the area near the Punggye-ri site are at risk of exposure to radioactive materials being spread by underground water. (Yonhap) This photo, carried by North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) shows the North firing a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile from the Sunan area in Pyongyang the previous day, March 17. Yonhap The United States strongly condemns North Korea's latest ballistic missile launch and calls on the country to stop further escalating tension on the Korean Peninsula, a National Security Council (NSC) spokesperson said Wednesday, hours after Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea. The NSC spokesperson, Adrienne Watson, said President Joe Biden and his national security team are assessing the situation with U.S. allies and partners. "This launch is a brazen violation of multiple U.N. Security Council resolutions and needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region," she said in a released statement. "This action demonstrates that the DPRK continues to prioritize its unlawful weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs over the well-being of its people," she added, referring to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. Officials in Seoul earlier said the top envoys of South Korea, the U.S. and Japan held telephone conversations soon after the North's missile launch and strongly condemned the latest provocation. The missile launch follows an unprecedented 69 ballistic missile tests by North Korea in 2022, as well as the test firing of an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) in March. "We urge all countries to condemn these violations and call on the DPRK to come to the table for serious negotiations," Watson said, reiterating that the door to diplomacy remains open. "The United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and Republic of Korea and Japanese allies," the released statement said. (Yonhap) A TV screen is seen reporting North Korea's missile launch with file footage during a news program at Seoul Station in Seoul, Thursday. AP-Yonhap Pyongyang's technical breakthrough could offer shorter launch time, greater mobility By Jung Min-ho North Korea on Thursday fired what is believed to be a solid-fuel ballistic missile that landed between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, raising fears of possible technical advancement in its weapons program. Speaking to reporters, a Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) official said North Korea's military appears to have fired a new type of intermediate-range ballistic missile possibly running on solid fuel. Solid fuel offers greater mobility for missiles and reduces preparation time before launch, compared with liquid fuel that takes more preparation time requiring activities that could be detected, therefore, giving some time for South Korea and the United States to prepare before launch. "Given the significance of North Korean founder Kim Il-sung birthday on April 15, North Korea highly likely tested its solid-fuel ballistic missile," Cheong Seong-chang, a senior analyst at the Sejong Institute think tank, told The Korea Times. "The test would give the regime the opportunity to send its defiant message to Seoul and its allies and to promote it as an accomplishment ahead of the politically important anniversary." A solid-propellant intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) is one of the key weapons on the wish list of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, who has been expanding and expressing his nuclear ambition following his fruitless summit with then U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019. The JCS said the missile was fired at a high angle from its capital area and fell into the East Sea after a 1,000-kilometer flight. North Korea's latest provocation prompted Japan to issue an evacuation order on Hokkaido. The warning was retracted later when it became obvious that the missile would not fall near the northeastern Japanese island. The country's defense ministry said the missile could be an ICBM. South Korea's National Security Council (NSC) "strongly" denounced the test, which it called a "grave violation" of the U.N. Security Council's resolutions. "NSC members stressed that North Korea's repeated provocations and threatening remarks show the importance of the strong South Korea-U.S. alliance and trust. We will continue to conduct joint military exercises to maintain readiness," the NSC said in a statement. "We will also strengthen security cooperation with the U.S. and Japan in the area of information-sharing after normalizing the General Security of Military Information Agreement." The U.S. also "strongly condemned" North Korea for inflaming regional tensions. "The president (Joe Biden) and his national security team are assessing the situation in close coordination with our allies," National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson said in a statement. "The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement." Flags of South Korea and the United States flutter at Imjingak Pavilion in Paju, near South Korea's border with North Korea, Tuesday. AP-Yonhap Hong Kong: Xia Baolong starts HK visit Vice Chairman of the 13th Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference and Director of the State Councils Hong Kong & Macao Affairs Office Xia Baolong arrived in Hong Kong today for his inspection visit. Upon arrival, Mr Xia met Chief Executive John Lee. He then had a meeting with the non-official members of the Executive Council to listen to their views. This was followed by a session with senior Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government officials, during which Mr Xia was briefed on the Governments work and in-depth exchanges were made. The session was attended by department secretaries, deputy department secretaries as well as all bureau secretaries and permanent secretaries. Meeting the media this evening, Mr Lee said the six-day inspection visit would allow Mr Xia to thoroughly learn about Hong Kongs situation, adding that the trip also demonstrates the central government attaches great importance to the city. Mr Xia will continue his inspection visit tomorrow. This story has been published on: 2023-04-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. 5G tech ensures delicate medical surgery for distant patient Xinhua) 11:24, April 13, 2023 A surgeon performs an operation through a 5G-powered robot in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, on Feb 16, 2023. (Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital/Handout via Xinhua) HANGZHOU, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Aided by a 5G-powered robotic surgery technology, a surgeon has successfully removed the inflamed gallbladder of a female patient residing thousands of miles away in northwest China. The remarkably efficient long-distance surgery was completed in just 30 minutes on Feb. 16. Liang Xiao carried out the procedure using a robot console at Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. Meanwhile, the patient was in a hospital in the city of Alaer in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, nearly 5,000 km from the surgeon's location. "When I made instructions from the operating platform, the four-arm endoscopic robot at the hospital in Alaer responded in sync," Liang said. The surgery proceeded seamlessly, with a negligible lag between the surgeon and the device, he added. This surgery not only cured the ailment that had been plaguing the patient for days but also demonstrated how this lightning-fast wireless technology can provide patients in remote regions of China with more access to high-quality medical services. Hospitals in some inland regions, far from the eastern coastal regions rich in medical resources, face a shortage of well-trained personnel and advanced equipment. Patients from far-flung areas who suffer from critical illnesses often face significant challenges and time constraints when it comes to traveling to big cities for treatment. As a result, local hospitals would usually seek the assistance of prominent doctors from leading medical centers to conduct surgeries to cater to the needs of their patients. However, this entire process is equally arduous for medical staff. Previously, doctors in Hangzhou had to travel nearly nine hours by air followed by another 30-minute bus ride to reach the hospital in Alaer. Thanks to the surgical technology enabled by 5G, this problem can now be effectively addressed. Liang began to undergo training on robotic operations in 2015 and has completed 606 minimally invasive operations assisted by robots so far, holding the provincial record for hepatobiliary and pancreatic robotic surgeries. "Gallbladder removal is now a routine surgery for us," Liang said. Apart from training doctors, his hospital has also accumulated rich experiences in developing medical tools for remote operations. Liang and his colleagues were part of a research project involving the 5G robot used in the surgery, in which they offered clinical suggestions and carried out animal trials. China Telecom has provided technical support for this robotic surgical procedure, with its Xinjiang branch assisting in the establishment of operation rooms with 5G coverage. Chinese medical robot manufacturers are currently working to improve the technology to further break the limit of space. Liu Yu, executive vice president of Shanghai MicroPort MedBot Group, the maker of the 5G robot used in the surgery, said the engineers at the company plan to test their robot products in Tibet and other high-altitude regions with challenging environmental conditions. The 5G technology could save time for both the doctors and the patients and enhance treatment efficiency, according to Cai Xiujun, president of the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, which is affiliated with Zhejiang University School of Medicine. But the biggest advantage will be having specialists from top hospitals assist more doctors from distant areas. With well-trained local staff, patients can avail timely medical consultations at lower costs at clinics near their homes, Cai added. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Prime Minister Han Duck-soo speaks during a government meeting on child policies at the Government Complex in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap By Jun Ji-hye The government will conduct a full investigation into the issue of infants under the age of two who did not get essential vaccine shots or do not have recent medical records, in an effort to identify children at risk of abuse and protect them in advance. The government will introduce a system that requires medical institutes to notify municipalities of the birth of a child to prevent any attempts to evade birth registration. The government also aims at establishing a law that governs the rights of children and the state's responsibility toward them. These are part of the new child policies unveiled by the government, Thursday. "The latest plans focus on supporting the growth of children and enhancing the welfare system for children from vulnerable groups," Prime Minister Han Duck-soo said during a government meeting. Han said the government will look into the cases of some 11,000 children under the age of two, who have not received the necessary vaccinations provided under the National Immunization Program for Children or whose medical records are not up-to-date. The National Immunization Program for Children provides 17 vaccinations for infectious diseases for free for children under 12 years of age. The program begins with the BCG vaccination against tuberculosis for babies within four weeks of being born. gettyimagesbank Bharat Ratna Dr. B. R. Ambedkar provided India its greatest gift, enabling it to develop into a prosperous democracy. Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, the principal architect of our constitution, has also been the face of Dalit agitation in India, giving a voice to the unheard masses of the country. If not Gandhi, Ambedkar would have been on the Indian currency for his extravagant journey for our Nation. Here you will find his whole life journey and some interesting facts about Dr. B. R. Ambedkar as we commemorate his 129th birthday on April 14 this year. Ambedkar was born on April 14, 1891, died on December 6, 1956, and was given the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian honour in India, posthumously in 1990. Life Journey of Dr. B. R. Ambedkar Baba Saheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was born in Mahu, Madhya Pradesh, on April 14, 1891. He was his parents' thirteenth child overall. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar had hardships throughout his life, but he demonstrated that any obstacle can be overcome with talent and unwavering tenacity. The caste system used by Hindu society, according to which the family he was born into was regarded as "untouchable," was the biggest obstacle in his life. Bhimrao, while a young man, excelled in his matriculation exam at Bombay University in 1908. He received a job in Baroda after graduating from Bombay University with degrees in political science and economics four years later. His father died at around the same time. Despite his difficult circumstances, Bhimrao decided to accept a scholarship from the Maharaja of Baroda to study at Columbia University in the United States. Between 1913 and 1917, and once more between 1920 and 1923, Bhimrao stayed overseas. Castes in India - Its Mechanism, Origin, and Development He had made a name for himself as a distinguished intellectual throughout this time. For his thesis, which was later turned into a book with the working title "The Development of Provincial Finance in British India," Columbia University had granted him a PhD. His first article, however, was titled "Castes in India - Its Mechanism, Origin, and Development." During his stay in London from 1920 to 1923, he also finished his thesis, "The Problem of the Rupee," for which he received the degree of DSc. He had previously taught at a college in Bombay and published the Marathi weekly Mook Nayak, which translates to "Dumb Hero" in English. Fought against the practise of untouchability Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was fully prepared to fight against the practise of untouchability on behalf of the untouchable and the downtrodden by the time he returned to India in April 1923. In the meantime, India's political landscape had undergone enormous transformation, and the country's freedom struggle had advanced significantly. On the one side, Bhimrao was a fervent patriot; on the other, he was a champion of the underprivileged, women, and the poor. All of his life, he fought for them. He founded the "Bahishkrit Hitkarini Sabha" (Outcastes Welfare Association) in 1923 with the goal of educating and enlightening the oppressed, enhancing their economic standing, and bringing up issues relating to their problems in appropriate forums in order to draw attention to them and find solutions. The issues faced by the oppressed were long-standing and challenging to solve. They were not permitted to enter temples. Public ponds and wells were inaccessible to them as a water source. Their enrollment in schools was forbidden. He organised the Mahad March in 1927 at the Chowder Tank in Colaba, close to Bombay, to let the untouchables use the public water source. He also burned copies of the "Manusmriti'' in front of everyone. The anti-caste and anti-priest movement officially got underway as a result. Another significant moment in the fight for social justice and human rights was the temple admission agitation that Dr. Ambedkar started in 1930 at the Kalaram temple in Nasik. Dr. Ambedkar and Gandhiji came to an agreement Ramsay McDonald announced the "Communal Award" in the interim, granting the "depressed classes'' the right to separate electorates in a number of localities. This was part of the British government's larger plan to divide and dominate. Gandhiji embarked on a death-defying fast in an effort to overthrow this plan. Dr. Ambedkar and Gandhiji came to an agreement on September 24th, 1932, which later became known as the Poona Pact. In accordance with this Pact, untouchables were given reservations in government positions and legislative bodies in addition to the agreement on electoral seats. The requirement for a separate electorate was dropped. The Pact established a distinct and obvious role for the oppressed on the nation's political arena. It provided them the chance to get an education, work for the government, and exercise their right to vote. Dr. Ambedkar participated in all three Round Table Conferences in London and passionately advocated for the "untouchables" at each event. He urged the oppressed groups to improve their standard of living and to gain as much political influence as they could. He believed that untouchables had no future in the Hindu religion and should, if necessary, change their religion. I was born a Hindu since I had no control over this, but I shall not die a Hindu, he declared in public in 1935. Independent Labour Party by Ambedkar Dr. Ambedkar eventually organised the Independent Labour Party, ran in the local elections, and won a seat in the Bombay Legislative Assembly. He emphasised the necessity to abolish the "Jagirdari" system during these days, urged workers to go on strike, and spoke at numerous gatherings and conferences in the Bombay Presidency. He urged Indians to enlist in the Army in huge numbers in 1939 during the Second World War in order to oppose Nazism, which he claimed was another word for Fascism. After India gained its independence in 1947, Dr. Ambedkar, who had been chosen to represent Bengal as a member of the Constituent Assembly, accepted Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru's invitation to serve as a law minister in his cabinet. Due to disagreements with the government over the Hindu Code Bill, Dr. Ambedkar resigned from his position as law minister. Became chairman of the constitution committee Dr. Ambedkar was chosen as the chairman of the committee that the Constituent Assembly charged with creating the Constitution. India experienced a number of problems while he was working on the Constitution. Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated, and the nation was divided. Dr. Ambedkar finished the Constitution's draft in the start of 1948 and handed it to the Constituent Assembly. This draft was adopted in November 1949 with hardly any changes. The Constitution contains numerous measures that guarantee social justice for backward classes, scheduled castes, and scheduled tribes. Dr. Ambedkar believed that traditional religious beliefs should be abandoned in favour of fresh perspectives. He placed particular focus on the dignity, harmony, freedom, and rights guaranteed to all citizens by the Constitution. In every area, including social, economic, and political, Ambedkar promoted democracy. For him, social justice meant ensuring the greatest possible level of happiness for everyone. He announced in Bombay on May 24, 1956, the Buddha Jayanti, that he would become a Buddhist in October. Together with many of his supporters, he adopted Buddhism on October 14, 1956. In the same year, he finished his final book, "Buddha and His Dharma." The empowerment of the poor and the underprivileged was the foundation of Dr. Ambedkar's patriotism. He battled for their rights and equality. His views on patriotism extended beyond the end of colonialism and included the desire for freedom for everyone. According to him, freedom without equality, democracy without equality, and equality without freedom could lead to total dictatorship. Baba Saheb Dr. B.R. Ambedkar attained "Mahaparinirvan" on December 6, 1956. Facts About Dr. B. R. Ambedkar That You May Not Know > Babasaheb had recommended dividing Madhya Pradesh and Bihar in the 1950s for the betterment of both states, but it wasn't until 2000 that Madhya Pradesh and Bihar were divided to create Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand. > The greatest private library in the world, "Rajgirh," belonged to Babasaheb and held more than 50,000 books. > Dr. Babasaheb's book "Waiting for a Visa" is used as a textbook at Columbia University. Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar was listed first on a list of the top 100 scholars in the world compiled by Columbia University in 2004. > Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was an expert in 64 subjects. He spoke Hindi, Pali, Sanskrit, English, French, German, Marathi, Persian, and Gujarati, among other nine languages. In addition, he spent about 21 years studying all of the world's religions side by side. > Babasaheb finished his eight years of study at the London School of Economics in just two years and three months. He put in 21 hours a day of study for this. > The introduction of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar to Buddhism with his 8,50,000 supporters is legendary in the world since it was the biggest conversion ever. > Babasaheb was introduced to Buddhism by the eminent Buddhist monk "Mahant Veer Chandramani," who referred to him as "the modern Buddha of our age." > Babasaheb is the first and only individual to ever obtain from the London School of Economics the prestigious doctorate degree known as "Doctor All Science." Numerous bright students have applied, but up till now, none of them have been successful. > Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar has the most songs and books produced in his honour anywhere in the world. > Mahatma Gandhi and Governor Lord Linlithgow said Babasaheb was smarter than 500 graduates and thousands of scholars. > Babasaheb was the first and only Satyagrahi in history, and his Satyagraha was for access to clean water. > Buddhist monks conferred the highest title in Buddhism, "Bodhisattva," on Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar in 1954 during the "World Buddhist Council" meeting in Kathmandu, Nepal. The Buddha and His Dhamma, his best-known work, is considered the "scripture" of Indian Buddhism. > Three great people-Lord Buddha, Saint Kabir, and Mahatma Phule-were regarded by Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar as their "instructors." > Babasaheb has the most statues in the entire world. Around the world, people celebrate the anniversary of his birth. > The first lawyer from an underprivileged class was Babasaheb. > Oxford University compiled a list of the top 100 humanists over the past 10,000 years based on a global survey titled "The Builders of the Universe," and Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar was listed fourth. > In his book "The Problem of Rupee-Its Origin & Its Solution," Babasaheb Ambedkar offers a number of recommendations on demonetisation, a topic that is currently being addressed widely. > Buddha's closed-eye monuments and paintings may be seen all over the world, but Babasaheb, a talented painter, created the first painting of Buddha with open eyes. > When Babasaheb was still alive, the first statue of him was erected in the city of Kolhapur in the year 1950. Quis time: Questions on Baba Saheb Ambedkar ISI Admit Card 2023: The Indian Statistical Institute, Kolkata, will release the ISI 2023 admit card on the official website at isical.ac.in. The ISI admit card will be available in online mode on April 26, 2023. Candidates will be able to download their ISI admit card by logging into their admit card portal and filling in their username and password. Only candidates who have successfully submitted their application forms will be issued admit cards. The ISI admit card will include the following details: candidate's name, time of examination, and examination centre. In order to take the examination, candidates must bring their admit card to the examination centre. Candidates are advised to check their admit cards carefully, and if there are any issues, they can contact the authorities. The ISI examination will be conducted on May 14, 2023. ISI Admission 2023: Schedule Release of ISI admit card 2023: April 26, 2023 ISI Admission Test 2023: May 14, 2023 Result out date: To be notified soon Here's How to Download the ISI 2023 Admit Card Go to the official website of ISI Admission Test 2023. Click on the admit card link and log in using your username and password. Upon successful login, the admit card will appear on your screen. Check the details mentioned in the admit card. Download and take a printout of it for future use. ISI 2023 Exam Centres Agartala, Agra, Ahmedabad, Aizawl, Ajmer, Alipurduar, Allahabad, Amritsar, Asansol, Bankura, Bengaluru (Bangalore), Berhampur-Ganjam, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Bilaspur, Birbhum, Chandigarh, Chennai, Coimbatore, Coochbehar, Cuttack, Dehradun, Dhanbad, Dibrugarh, Durgapur, Ernakulam, Gangtok, Gurgaon, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Imphal, Indore, Jaipur, Jamshedpur, Kalyani, Kanpur, Kohima, Kolkata, Lucknow, Malda, Midnapore, Mumbai, Murshidabad, Muzaffarpur, Nagpur, Naharlagun, Nellore, New Delhi, Noida, Patna, Pune, Purulia, Raipur, Ranchi, Ranigunj, Rourkela, Shillong, Silchar, Siliguri, Tezpur, Trichy, Trivandrum, Vadodara, Varanasi, Vijayawada, and Visakhapatnam. ISI 2023 Admit Card: Details Mentioned The ISI admit card 2023 will include the candidate's name, registration number, photograph, and signature. It will also mention the exam name, exam centre name and location, and date and time of the exam. Candidates must check all the details mentioned in the admit card carefully and contact the authorities in case of any discrepancies. UGC NET December 2022: The National Testing Agency will going to declare the University Grants Commission National Eligibility Test (UGC NET ) December 2022 result today, April 12, 2023. Candidates can visit to the official website of UGC NET at ugcnet.nta.nic.in. The exam was conducted in Computer Based Test in CBT mode from Feburary 21 and March 2. Candidates who have appeared for the examination they are waiting for their results.According to the UGC NET exam pattern, the paper had objective type and multiple choice questions and there were two papers. Paper 1 included 50 questions whereas paper 2 was included 100 questions. The UGC NET paper for December session is held for the duration of 3 hours and all the questions were compulsory to attend. After the result will declare, the authority will provide an e- certificate and JRF award letters. Candidates who will be able to qualify the examination they will get salary package between Rs. 35000 to 60000 Here is the Marking Scheme for UGC NET December Session 2022 Candidates are required to check the below details Every Question of the UGC NET paper carries 2 marks. For each correct answer, candidates will get 2 marks each. The NET exam paper does not have any negative markings for incorrect responses Questions which are unanswered 0 marks will be given for that. Candidates will have to choose only one correct answer. If the question is wrong or incorrect, and the students will attended it they will get 2 marks for that. UGC NET December Session2022 Result: Steps to Check Candidates are required to follow the steps given below to check the UGC NET December Session Result Dandot Cement completes Punjab plant upgrade 13 April 2023 Muhammad Kamran, company secretary of Dandot Cement Co Ltd, has stated that commercial production is expected to resume in the first quarter of the next financial year upon completing Balancing the Modernisation of Replacements (BMR) of 504,000t capacity at the Jehlum cement plant in Punjab, Pakistan. A regulatory filing to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and the last financial report adds that to meet the legal standards and to avoid any adverse action from Environmental Department, the company has decided to close its operations during FY19-20 and move towards upgrading it through BMR. To achieve this, it has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a Tianjin Cement Industry Design and Research Institute Company Ltd (TCDRI) from China. The revised total financial outlay of the BMR has been estimated at PKR6.21bn (US$21.58m), including US$14.92m for the import of new machinery and equipment. Under the BMR programme, the following activities have been carried out so far: Approximately 95 per cent of the plant and machinery arrived at the factory premises. The remaining equipment will arrive at the port in April 2023. Major civil works have been completed and handed over to the mechanical erection contractor to execute the erection work. The mechanical erection works of raw material dosing, raw meal transport to silo, kiln feed, and pre-installation of raw coal bins have been completed. Erection works for limestone pre-blending, preheater, klin, clinker dust collection, and clinker cooler are underway. The contract for the steel structure fabrication has been awarded, and its completion stage is 50 per cent. A contract for refractory work has also been awarded. The contractor is fully mobilised and has started the refractory works. The local electric utility has accepted the application for electricity load enhancement, and the department official of the Planning Division visited the factory site for implementation. The rehabilitation and modification of the grid station are also in progress A 5MW solar power plant, construction activities comprising civil works and the installation of panels have been completed. Cable work is in progress The management has injected equity of PKR555m during the quarter (Jan-March 2023). The total equity investment to date by the administration for BMR is PKR2.972bn. Commercial production is expected to resume in the first quarter of the next financial year. After the BMR, the company will attain production efficiencies for long-term financial viability with environmental compliance. Published under Dalmia Bharat outlines next phase of expansion 13 April 2023 Dalmia Bharat Ltd is planning to expand its cement production capacity to 75Mta by 2027, from its current capacity of 39Mta. The first phase of this expansion will see capacity increase to 54Mta by the close of FY23-24. Through these expansion plans, the company is aiming to reduce its exposure in the east-south region and focus primarily on the western, mid and northern regions, according to The Hindu. With Indias cement consumption forecast to rise faster than its GDP, the cement producer is already expanding by 5Mta through its acquisition of assets from JP Associates, and plans to add a further 4Mta from the same company. It also intends to divest non-core holdings, including its 15 per cent stake in India Energy Exchange, to focus on its core business growth plans, as well as reducing its dependence on Coal India through the acquisition of coal mines. Published under People attend a concert-manifestation in support of a constitutional referendum in the city of Jizzakh, 250 kilometers south of Uzbekistan's capital Tashkent, March 28. AFP-Yonhap By Doniyor Turaev Doniyor Turaev, deputy director of the Institute for Legislative Problems and Parliamentary Studies under the Oliy Majlis, Uzbekistan CEMEX launches Vertua brand expansion 13 April 2023 CEMEX has restructured its Vertua portfolio to allow for easier identification of the most sustainable options available for its customers. The new Vertua system now provides a more detailed and enhanced view of the specific characteristics of a products environmental impact. The Vertua brand now covers five sustainability attributes: lower carbon emissions, increasing energy efficiency, saving water, incorporating recycled materials and optimising design. The launch of this updated brand portfolio started in France, where the company appeared at the Low Carbon World exhibition in Paris on 5-6 April 2023. Deployment will continue across Europe, with all countries anticipated to have integrated the new brand into its operation by June. Sergio Menendez, president of CEMEX EMEA, commented: The enhanced Vertua brand represents a more ambitious and stronger approach: from a group of low carbon products to a family of products and solutions that encompass more sustainable attributes and contribute to our company vision of building a better future. Published under Participants of the ASEAN-Korea Trade and Investment Roundtable 2023 perform ASEAN handshake during the event at Westin Josun Seoul, Wednesday. ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Kim Hae-yong, fourth from right; Indonesian Ambassador Gandi Sulistiyanto, fourth from left; Ambassador of Lao PDR Songkane Luangmuninthone, third from left and Korea Institute for International Economic Policy president Kim Heung-chong, third from right, attended the roundtable. Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre By Kwon Mee-yoo The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) hosted the ASEAN-Korea Trade and Investment Roundtable 2023 in Seoul, Wednesday, in cooperation with the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP). This year's roundtable centered on the theme of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy. It discussed the regional strategies of ASEAN and Korea for the Indo-Pacific, with the latest information on economic and trade outlooks and opportunities for economic collaboration between ASEAN and Korea. The roundtable, established three years ago, has served as a platform for businesspeople and stakeholders from ASEAN and Korea to discuss the practical aspects and benefits of regional agreements such as the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). AKC Secretary General Kim Hae-yong noted that the roundtable is timely as there is a need for discussions on practical economic cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region based on regional strategies. "The Roundtable could provide insights for the businesspeople of ASEAN and Korea to discover potential business opportunities, thereby contributing to strengthening the ASEAN-Korea partnership as a whole," Kim said. Satvinder Singh, Deputy Secretary General of the ASEAN Economic Community at the ASEAN Secretariat, gave a keynote speech on the economic perspective of AOIP in relation to Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy, while KIEP Economic and Security Department director Kwak Sung-il presented Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy in the context of AOIP. In the discussion sessions, experts from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade, KIEP, ASEAN Secretariat and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, all shared their opinions and deliberated on ways to create synergy through cooperation in strategic sectors such as digital trade, climate change and supply chains, which are all prioritized by both ASEAN and Korea. THURSDAY, April 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A teenagers brain power appears to have little bearing on whether they will become overweight or obese as adults. British researchers found that, on average, sharper teens weighed only slightly less in adulthood than siblings who scored lower on tests of thinking skills, according to a new study published April 13 in the journal PLOS Medicine. The difference amounted to just under a half-pound for a 6-foot-tall adult, said lead author Liam Wright, a senior research fellow in population health at University College London. We found a very small association that in practice means that, on average, siblings with higher cognitive ability are unlikely to weigh much less than siblings with lower cognitive ability, he said. The research refutes prior studies that have linked low cognitive scores in teens to higher risk of obesity in later life. Thats because those earlier studies looked at general populations, and didnt take into account other powerful factors besides smarts that could influence a persons weight, Wright said. The problem with comparing people from the general population according to their cognitive ability and BMI is that unobserved factors may explain the association, he said. (BMI, or body mass index, is an estimate of body fat based on height and weight.) To account for those unknown factors, Wright and his colleagues analyzed data on 12,250 siblings from more than 5,600 U.S. households. These sibs were followed from adolescence to age 62 as part of four separate studies. Comparing siblings could help account for some hidden factors that might influence weight, since brothers and sisters share a common background, Wright said. For example, they have similar genetics and are raised in the same household. Many studies by necessity use simple observational designs where correlations can be explained by factors that were not measured in the study, he said. Sibling designs are an improvement, in the sense that they can account for factors that are shared between siblings without needing to measure them. The researchers first looked at everyone included in the combined data set and found that low-scoring teens did indeed appear to weigh more. Cognitive ability was measured through math and reading tests. But when researchers specifically compared siblings, the difference in weight based on cognitive ability all but vanished. Mayo Clinic neurologist Dr. David Knopman noted that low-scoring teens in this study should not be considered developmentally disabled. This article was definitely not talking about cognitive impairment. It was merely talking about high versus low cognitive test scores in presumably cognitively intact adolescents or children, Knopman said. I would definitely not use the word impaired to refer to the low-performing folks. The findings run counter to the general assumption that obesity is a condition guided strictly by self-control and decision-making, said Andrew Brown, biostatistics core director for the Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention at the Arkansas Childrens Research Institute. Under this line of thinking, sharper people are better able to use nutritional and other health-related information to avoid excess weight. Implicitly, a lot of people indicate that obesity is caused by choices, and choices relate to cognition, Brown said. Its the ability to think about and understand choices, if you use cognitive ability as a proxy for the ability to make good choices.'" Mental ability also is associated to higher pay and better education, which, theoretically, would lead people to live in safer neighborhoods with access to healthier food. But factors other than smarts likely have a greater impact on obesity risk, Wright said. The heritability of BMI is high -- greater than 50% -- so genetics are important within a population, he said. But obesity rates have also increased massively over the past four decades, far faster than any genetic changes could have occurred, so it's clear that environmental factors have large effects on obesity, too. One such factor could be the increased availability of cheap, energy-dense foods like fast food and processed foods, Wright said. More information Johns Hopkins has more about obesity prevention. SOURCES: Liam Wright, PhD, senior research fellow, population health, University College London, U.K.; Andrew Brown, PhD, biostatistics core director, Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention, Arkansas Childrens Research Institute, Little Rock; David Knopman, MD, neurologist, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn.; PLOS Medicine, April 13, 2023 This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact The Chanute Tribune office at 620-431-4100 if you have any questions Participants of the ASEAN-Korea Trade and Investment Roundtable 2023 hold hands during the event at Westin Josun Seoul, Wednesday. ASEAN-Korea Centre Secretary General Kim Hae-yong, fourth from right; Indonesian Ambassador Gandi Sulistiyanto, fourth from left; Ambassador of Lao PDR Songkane Luangmuninthone, third from left; and Korea Institute for International Economic Policy President Kim Heung-chong, third from right, attended the roundtable. Courtesy of ASEAN-Korea Centre By Kwon Mee-yoo The ASEAN-Korea Centre (AKC) hosted the ASEAN-Korea Trade and Investment Roundtable 2023 in Seoul, Wednesday, in cooperation with the Korea Institute for International Economic Policy (KIEP). This year's roundtable centered on the theme of ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy. It discussed the regional strategies of ASEAN and Korea for the Indo-Pacific, with the latest information on economic and trade outlooks and opportunities for economic collaboration between ASEAN and Korea. The roundtable, established three years ago, has served as a platform for businesspeople and stakeholders from ASEAN and Korea to discuss the practical aspects and benefits of regional agreements such as the ASEAN-Korea Free Trade Agreement (AKFTA) and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP). AKC Secretary General Kim Hae-yong noted that the roundtable is timely as there is a need for discussions on practical economic cooperation within the Indo-Pacific region based on regional strategies. "The Roundtable could provide insights for the businesspeople of ASEAN and Korea to discover potential business opportunities, thereby contributing to strengthening the ASEAN-Korea partnership as a whole," Kim said. Satvinder Singh, deputy secretary general of the ASEAN Economic Community at the ASEAN Secretariat, gave a keynote speech on the economic perspective of AOIP in relation to Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy, while KIEP Economic and Security Department Director Kwak Sung-il presented Korea's Indo-Pacific strategy in the context of AOIP. In the discussion sessions, experts from the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics & Trade, KIEP, ASEAN Secretariat and Economic Research Institute for ASEAN and East Asia, all shared their opinions and deliberated on ways to create synergy through cooperation in strategic sectors such as digital trade, climate change and supply chains, which are all prioritized by both ASEAN and Korea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin attends a news conference in Beijing, in this photo taken on March 3, 2022. Reuters-Yonhap China on Thursday blamed the "negative impact" of US military drills for tensions on the Korean Peninsula, after Pyongyang fired a ballistic missile that prompted Japan to briefly issue a seek shelter warning. South Korea's military said it had detected one "medium range or longer" ballistic missile from the Pyongyang area on Thursday morning, adding it was likely a "new type" that may have used advanced solid fuel. Japan briefly issued the seek shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region, but later said the missile had not fallen within the country's territory and posed no threat. In response to a question about the missile launch at a regular press briefing, Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Wang Wenbin said: "The current round of tension on the peninsula has its causes. The negative impact of the US military drills and deployment of strategic weapons around the peninsula is obvious to all." Washington and Seoul have intensified defense cooperation recently, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets. North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, and on Tuesday described them as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang. The United States has said it "strongly condemns" North Korea for Thursday's missile test. It is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea, which has already fired several of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles this year. Wang said Beijing called on all parties to "remain calm and restrained" and to stop "exerting pressure and confrontation." "The US side especially should take concrete actions at an early date and respond to the reasonable concerns of the DPRK (North Korea) and create conditions for easing tension and restarting dialogue as soon as possible," he added. Climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven are due to meet this weekend in Sapporo, Hokkaido's regional capital, a month before the group holds its summit in Hiroshima. (AFP) I want to commend the young people of Nashville, the Tennessee 3, Governor Lee and President Biden for a willingness to start a serious, bi-partisan, public policy conversation about the gun violence epidemic in Tennessee and across America. When the leading cause of death for American children is gun violence, it's time for change. When our right to life, our freedom to assemble, and our freedom to be reasonably secure in our person, while in public spaces, is being seriously compromised by those using high-kill capacity assault weapons, it's time for change. Let me encourage everyone to get involved in this issue and begin voting for politicians willing to try something different to address this major public health crises. We do not have to accept the status quo on gun violence in America. What weve been doing is not working. Its time for serious change. Tim Gobble Former Bradley County Sheriff * * * Mr. Gobble, You mentioned "it's time for serious change", as do most everybody else. What changes would you propose that would have prevented the bad actors in the recent school and bank shootings from doing their evil deed? What reasonable law would you propose? Give us some useful examples instead of hyperbole. And stop using "limit magazine capacity" or "ban this type or that type of firearm" because that cat's out of the bag. Pandora's Box has been opened. And as a former sheriff, you surely know a bad actor will procure whatever means necessary to act out their desires....no matter the law or the ban. I will reiterate....a law does not and will not stop a bad actor with intent. Banning an object does not and will not stop a bad actor from using that object with intent. As an example, there is a law a felon can't be in possession of a firearm or ammunition. As a former sheriff, can you tell us if that law is/has been effective in keeping felons from possessing? As a citizen who reads a few appellate court briefs, I will tell you, that law is not very effective in preventing. The law is effective on felons who happen to get caught. They are going to jail....again. Preventing though? Not really. My point is this, a bad actor will do evil things no matter the laws you propose or objects you ban. I believe the Tennessee governor is proposing guards and other security measures in all schools. That's a beginning for your "time for a change". Phil Snider * * * I dont have the statistics to prove my belief, but personally I believe the leading cause of death among children is actually abortion and/or the COVID vaccine. In my 75 years of life I have never seen nor heard of a violent gun just jumping up and shooting anyone. Those shootings have all had some person pull the trigger. I think it is high time we address the real problem concerning people being killed by gunfire and that is the mental condition that causes someone to kill another human being regardless of the weapon of choice, whether it is a gun, knife, blunt object, automobile or anything else. We need to stop blaming the weapon and focus on the real killer, people. Phil Gillenwater The Shelby County Commission on Wednesday voted to send ousted state House member Justin Pearson back to the House. That follows similar action in Nashville on Monday reinstating Justin Jones. The two were expelled after breaking into a House session with a bullhorn and leading cries for gun reform. A theft was reported at the Walmart after it was discovered that seven tires had been stolen from the stores automotive section. A residential alarm was activated in the 9600 block of Mulberry Court. It was found to be accidental. An alarm was activated at a vacant business building in the 5900 block of Reagan Lane. The building was unoccupied and secured. A concerned citizen requested police to check on an individual in the Walmart parking lot who appeared to be sleeping. They were unsure if the individual may have been having a medical emergency. An officer checked and confirmed that the individual was just sleeping. An Uber driver stopped by city hall to turn in a wallet found in their backseat. Officers were able to make contact with the owners family to get the wallet picked up. A two-car crash was reported in the 5200 block of Little Debbie Parkway. There were no injuries. An unknown vehicle was spotted behind a business in the 5700 block of Main Street by the owner who called police to have it checked on. An officer made contact with the vehicle as it was pulling into the nearby Dollar General store. The occupants were two elderly individuals who had been looking for a chestnut tree they used to collect nuts from when they were young. An officer was requested to check an individual who had been loitering in the Ooltewah Nursery for several hours. Everything checked out ok. The individual decided to leave the area. An officer stood by to keep the peace while an individual retrieved their personal property from a residence in the 5600 block of Landrum Drive. A rear-end vehicle collision was reported in the 5600 block of Little Debbie Parkway. A Collegedale fugitive was transported from the Bradley County Jail to the Hamilton County Jail on a bond revocation warrant from an original traffic related arrest. Collegedale police assisted the sheriffs office with a crash involving injuries in the 6100 block of Ooltewah Georgetown Road. An attempted auto burglary was reported at the Wolftever Creek Elementary school after an individual was witnessed trying to get into a locked car. The individual was gone prior to the officers arrival and the vehicle owner chose not to pursue an investigation. Police were notified that a vehicle had broken down in the 9500 block of Lee Highway and that a tow truck was on the way. Nothing was located when officers checked the area. A Homewood resident called police to their home in the 5500 block of Jonquil Lane after witnessing a bear on their property. Officers checked the area but did not locate the animal. Lee Universitys percussion ensemble will host its spring concert on Sunday at 3 p.m. in Pangle Hall. The concert, directed by Dr. Andy Harnsberger, will feature Escape Velocity by Dave Hall, Threads by Paul Lansky, and Palmetto Moon by Harnsberger. The program will also feature Carbon Paper and Nitrogen Ink by Adam Silverman, with guest artist Dr. Scott Herring on marimba. Lee Universitys Percussion Ensemble performs a variety of chamber music, which ranges from three or four performers to a larger ensemble requiring several instruments. The ensemble has several opportunities to perform with guest artists like Dr. Herring and represents both undergraduate and graduate percussion students. Dr. Herring is currently a professor of percussion at the University of South Carolina, where he directs the Percussion Ensemble and Palmetto Pans Steel Band. He frequently appears as a guest artist with university percussion ensembles across the United States and has presented concerts and clinics at PASIC 1996, 2002, 2006, and 2011, and 2012. Dr. Herring also performs with USC saxophone professor, Clifford Leaman, as the RoseWind Duo, with whom he has been invited to perform at many professional conferences, including the 2007 NASA Region 7 Conference in Greensboro, North Carolina, the 2007 South Carolina Music Teachers Association State Conference, and the 2007 and 2010 International Navy Band Saxophone Symposium. This event is free, non-ticketed, and open to the public. Livestream viewing will also be available at leeu.live. Pangle Hall is located on the corner of Church Street and Central Avenue. For more information, contact Lees School of Music at 614-8240. Rep. Greg Martin, I write to most strongly encourage you to begin responding rationally to the protest demands of thousands of students and parents who are struggling to have their voices heard by the Tennessee legislature. As the entire nation watched last week, the Tennessee House of Representatives ignored the audible demands for the legislature to do something about gun violence, and mass shootings in particular. Beyond that the majority in the House took unprecedented action against three courageous representatives attempting to facilitate the voices of their constituents. This as well was watched in real time on national television. We heard members of the Tennessee House of Representatives, making the same inane arguments against rational gun laws. Your colleague, Mr. Lambreth, was perhaps the most egregious in making these arguments. Standing before a group of frightened and angry students and parents, Mr. Lambreth felt entitled to speak with a total lack of empathy. He revealed immense insensitivity by his rhetorical question asking students which particular gun they would prefer to be shot with. His right wing, worn out intimation, of course, is that all weapons that can kill are equivalent. This is most certainly not true. Where that to be the case forces armed with slingshots would be on equal ground against forces armed with assault style rifles and large capacity magazines. His argument makes no sense whatsoever. The shooter at Covenant School fired 126, 5.56 rounds in 14 minutes to murder six people including three children that they were able to find. Had the shooter been able to find a larger group of students and teachers the numbers of deaths would have increased dramatically. I will not review the statistics on mass shooting deaths prior to, during, and following the revocation of assault weapons in 1994. That data is readily available for your review. I strongly suspect that police forces throughout the state are tired of having to do battle with shooters armed with high muzzle velocity, low recoil, light weight, semi automatic, rifles and untold numbers of high-capacity magazines for these weapons. The people of Tennessee are sick to death of seeing their children slaughtered in schools and other locations. Tennesseans are also sick of the near daily slaughter of mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, cousins, aunts, uncles, and friends by shooters wielding A.R. 15 style weapons. It is time for you and your Republican colleagues in the Tennessee assembly to do something worthwhile and ban these weapons and high-capacity magazines from manufacture, sale, and possession in Tennessee. Additionally, as part of laws banning these weapon systems, a buyback system should be implemented to remove these weapons from the population. What I have recommended above in no way infringes on the Second Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. In writing the majority opinion of the Heller decision Justice Scalia stated unequivocally that the rights of individuals to bear arms for protection is not an unlimited right. Justice Scalia states that laws may be written to restrict specific weapons and weapons system as may be necessary for protection of the general public. Please help stop the slaughter of children and others including police officers by these murderous weapons that are totally unnecessary for possession by individuals in the general population. You can be on the right side of history. Please step up. Robert Landry, M.D. The Nancy Ward Chapter met in April at the Mountain City Club. A highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the Women in American History award recognizing a past outstanding member of the chapter, Sarah Ruth Frazier who was a charter member (1875-1956). She was instrumental in proposing the name Nancy Ward for the new chapter. Ms. Frazier was instrumental in organizing the Chattanooga Writers Club; and was an organizing and founding member of the Tennessee Womens Press and Authors Club. She was the first woman elected to serve Tennessee as a legislator. She served in the House of the 65th General Assembly, 1927-29, representing Hamilton County as a Democrat. She also served on the Board of the Tennessee Childrens Home in Nashville. She died on Sept. 23, 1956 and is buried in the Confederate Cemetery on East Fifth Street in Chattanooga. The Nancy Ward Chapter welcomes prospective members who have lineage to ancestors who aided in the American Revolution. For inquiries regarding community service in the areas of patriotism, education, or historic preservation, contact Nancywardchapter@gmail.com Nickelodeon star Drake Bell is known for the network series Drake & Josh, as the show brought him fame in his younger years. Unfortunately, Bell was featured in the news multiple times for his money issues and relationships. Now, hes reportedly missing. Heres Drake Bells net worth in 2023. What is Drake Bells net worth in 2023? Drake Bell | Michael Tran/Getty Images According to Celebrity Net Worth, Drake Bells net worth currently stands at $600,000. Bell made an impact on television in his younger years. He began acting at 5 years old and had his first television appearance in a 1994 episode of Home Improvement. In 2004, he became a household name for Nickelodeon after starring in Drake & Josh with Josh Peck. And before Bells boom with Drake & Josh, he made multiple appearances on The Amanda Show another Nickelodeon hit from 1999 to 2002. Peck spoke to E! News about the money he made from his time on Drake & Josh. You live with about $450,000 over five years, which breaks down to a little less than $100,000 a year now, certainly a great amount of money, but not enough to set you up for life, Peck shared. And a lot of it, we lived on, and Im not gonna brag: My mom and I had a used BMW five series. We lived in a two-bedroom apartment with amenities . We lived a very middle-class life. Bells acting career improved his net worth significantly through the early to late 2000s. But he fell into financial trouble in 2014. He reportedly filed for bankruptcy and claimed to be nearly $600,000 in debt. Bells home that he bought for over $2 million in 2007 was taken into foreclosure as a result of the bankruptcy. He also reportedly earned just $14,000 in 2013, though he listed his income as $408,000 the year prior. He pursued a career in music after Drake & Josh ended Drake Bells net worth was certainly affected by his bankruptcy woes, but he seemingly managed to rebrand himself with his music. The Dallas Observer notes Bell released five studio albums after Drake & Josh ended. He then changed his name to Drake Campana (Campana is Spanish for bell) and moved to Mexico to make music as a Latin artist. In 2019, he shared a photo of a Mexican government ID showing his new name. It appears his music is his main source of income. Bell spoke to the BUILD Series about his song, Fuego Lento, and creating Latin music. I didnt even think if I was going to make Latin music or anything, its just what kind of came out in the studio, he said. Then when I did it and went to go perform it live, it was really cool. The first time I performed it live was in front of a huge audience. It was like, 100,000 people in Lima, Peru. When I went into the Spanish part, the whole crowd erupted. Drake Bell is reportedly missing as of April 13, 2023 Drake Bell from Drake and Josh has been reported missing by police pic.twitter.com/1t9Rc7qwV6 Dexerto (@Dexerto) April 13, 2023 Page Six reports Drake Bell is missing as of April 13, 2023. Officers are looking for Jared Bell, the Daytona Beach Police Department posted to Facebook. He is considered missing and endangered. In the post, the police stated he was last seen on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, around 9 p.m local time, and his last social media post was a tweet on April 3. Bells last known location was potentially the area of Mainland High School in Daytona Beach, Florida. Anybody with information on his whereabouts should contact Detective Jayson Wallace. For more on the entertainment world and exclusive interviews, subscribe to Showbiz Cheat Sheets YouTube channel. From 1990 to 1995, an obscure comedy-drama TV series about life in Alaska gained a cult-like following. Airing on CBS, Northern Exposure featured actor Rob Morrow, who played Dr. Joel Fleischman, a New York doctor who gives up city living for a small rural Alaskan town filled with eccentric residents. It was a classic fish-out-of-water story right from the start. While viewers loved tuning in to get a taste of life in The Last Frontier, the television series was not really filmed in Alaska. The fictional town where Northern Exposure took place The quirky show, which won seven Emmy awards, two Golden Globes, and two Peabody awards, took place in the fictional town of Cicely, Alaska. The tiny backwoods locale had a population of 214, which changed to 215 when the new doctor arrived. The opening credits of Northern Exposure featured a large moose walking down the center of Main Street in the quaint town. Cicely, which looked like it was straight out of an old western movie, had a general store, pizza shop, and a local tavern the locals frequented called The Brick. The popular series was filmed in another state The production crew needed a filming location outside Los Angeles that offered wide open spaces, breathtaking landscapes, and a small-town feel. They found the idyllic setting in Roslyn, Washington. Its a tiny Pacific Northwest mining town about 80 miles east of Seattle in the Cascade Mountains. At the height of the sitcoms popularity, crowds lined the streets of Roslyn to watch filming, trying to catch a glimpse of their favorite actors at work. According to Oregon Live, in 1991, Roslyn locals complained. Older folks couldnt find places to park for their daily trips to the post office. Residents couldnt get into stores that were closed during shooting. Crew members loudly and rudely, say locals ordered people to be quiet while the cameras rolled. Some cast members of Northern Exposure | CBS Photo Archive/Contributor Now that the crowds have dissipated, the town of Roslyn has preserved its place in television history. Tourists still pass through town to see where the filming of Northern Exposure took place. The local KBHR radio station, a staple on the show, looks exactly like it did back in the 90s, with old 8-tracks and vinyl records still lining the desk. While not a working radio station, the letters KBHR still adorn the large window pane. The Northwestern Mining Co., now Cicelys Gift Shop, still has the name Dr. Joel Fleischman painted on its storefront glass. Plus, the Village Pizza sign still flaps in the wind. The real Alaskan town that Cicely is based on Stubbs the cat, the honorary mayor of Talkeetna, Alaska, dies at 20 https://t.co/KlLlID6wtg pic.twitter.com/cNDeJV743A CNN (@CNN) July 24, 2017 Many people believe the fictional town of Cicely was inspired by Talkeetna, a small Alaskan town about two hours north of Anchorage. Thousands of visitors frequent the quirky village of Talkeetna every year to stroll through souvenir shops, art galleries, and historic cabins. The tiny tourist town has approximately 1,200 residents, with two long blocks that create its authentic Main Street vibe. In 1997, the town elected Stubbs the cat as the honorary mayor of Talkeetna. The beloved cat kept his office at Nagleys Store. He maintained the position for 20 years, with tourists and locals regularly stopping by to seek his advice. It sounds like Stubbs would have been a perfect fit for the fictional town of Cicely. While there have been rumors of a Northern Exposure reboot, it is highly doubtful that will ever happen. Fans of the classic show will have to invest in an old DVD box set to watch the series. It is currently unavailable on any streaming platforms. Priscilla Presley Gave Elvis a 7-Word Warning When She Was in Labor With Lisa Marie In the winter of 1968, Elvis Presley and his wife Priscilla eagerly awaited the birth of their first child, Lisa Marie Presley. However, the morning Priscillas water broke, she was much more concerned about getting her tardy husband to the hospital. She issued him a 7-word warning to get him moving faster. Elvis Presley, Priscilla, and Lisa Marie in Feb. 1968 | Bettmann/Getty Images How did Elvis Presley and Priscilla meet? Elvis was stationed in Germany as a soldier for the United States Army when he met Priscilla at his rental house near the Army base in Bad Nauheim. The year was 1959. E! News reported the couples first conversation revolved around her age. The musician asked Priscilla, Well, what have we here? What are you, about a junior or senior in high school? When she told him she was in ninth grade, he chuckled and said, Why, youre just a baby. To impress Priscilla, Presley sat down at a piano located in the home and began singing. I saw Elvis trying to get my attention, Priscilla told E! News. I noticed that the less I responded, the more he began singing just for me. I couldnt believe that Elvis Presley was trying to impress me. This interaction led to a romance that lasted eight years. The couple said I do on May 1, 1967, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Nine months later, Priscilla was ready to head to the hospital to give birth to their child. However, Elvis wasnt awake. Priscilla Presley gave Elvis a 7-word warning while in labor with Lisa Marie Lisa Marie Presley pictured with Priscilla and Elvis Presley at Graceland in Memphis, TN | Magma Agency/WireImage In the book Elvis by the Presleys: Intimate Stories from Priscilla Presley, Lisa Marie Presley, and Other Family Members, Priscilla shared details of the morning she went into labor with her only daughter. She revealed her water broke early in the morning of Feb. 1, 1968. Priscilla said it generally took Elvis a while to get out of bed. He was historically a late sleeper. Therefore, by the time he was ready to go to the hospital, Priscilla did her hair and put on a full face of makeup. As they were getting ready to leave their Memphis, TN home, Graceland, and head to the hospital, Elvis realized he was missing something. He didnt have the celebratory cigars to pass out at the hospital. Priscilla said, Elvis is moving around the house in slow motion while Im crossing my legs. He finally finds his cigars, but now hes lulling around the kitchen, getting a bite to eat. Elvis is acting like weve all the time in the world. When they finally got in the car, Elvis drove Priscilla to the wrong hospital. Instead of arriving at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, Elvis headed to Methodist Hospital. At this time, Priscilla issued a 7-word warning to her husband of less than one year. En route to the hospital, she exclaimed, Im having this baby in the car. Thankfully mother and daughter arrived at the hospital safely. Lisa was delivered at 5:01 p.m. on Feb. 1, 1968. Priscilla Presley reflected on Elvis Presley as a father Happy Birthday, Lisa Marie Presley. Today, we are remembering and celebrating your life ? Repost: @VisitGraceland pic.twitter.com/C1h4ZE33sc Elvis Presley (@ElvisPresley) February 1, 2023 In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, Priscilla Presley recalled Elvis Presley as a father. She shared that while he didnt have much to do with the practical side of parenting, he doted on his only daughter. Living at Graceland was difficult, but I knew when I got married that he was going to have his guys around all the time, Priscilla admitted. I could not domesticate Elvis, and I accepted that. She continued, He didnt really have that much to do with the practical stuff, but I took naturally to becoming a mother. I thought, My God, this is a product of Elvis and me, and Im going to be there for her. The moment you have the child, everything changes. It is terrifying and beautiful and changed my life, bringing Elvis and me closer together. Elvis and Priscilla Presley divorced in 1973. They remained on good terms and co-parented Lisa Marie through Elvis death in 1977. Lisa Marie died on Jan. 12, 2023, of heart failure. Holy cave-dining Batman! Katie Maloney and Vanderpump Rules friends dined inside a luxurious cave while vacationing in Mexico. Lala Kent, Kristina Kelly, James Kennedy, and Ally Lewber experienced the Alux restaurant, located inside a large cave in Playa Del Carmen. Their jaws dropped when they arrived at the location, insisting this was a pretty insane experience. Alux is the kind of location that would definitely spark Lisa Vanderpumps interest. Vanderpump Rules producers gave viewers a glimpse inside the restaurant, as Kennedy escorted some of the women down the staircase into the massive cave. Colorful lighting danced along the walls, accentuating the natural rock formations. The designers also took advantage of blending softness, textures, and elegance inside the restaurant. Alux is located inside a 10,000-year-old cave The Epicurean Traveler described the experience of dining in a 10,000-year-old cavern in Riviera Maya. Even walking up to the restaurant is an adventure. Entering the restaurants courtyard was like walking through a tropical Mayan jungle as we followed a cobblestone path lit by twinkling lights. A mysterious descending staircase lined with luminaries descended into a spectacular underworld that took our breath away. Alux restaurant | Wolfgang Kaehler/LightRocket via Getty Images Maloney and friends had to go off the resort property to visit Alux. A short $10 cab ride from the tourist center of town is a scenic underworld that is one of the most unique eateries you could want to visit, The Chicago Tribune shared. The cave is filled with nooks that provide for some private and semi-private dining, plus the vast restaurant is equipped with a DJ booth and dance floor. Whats on the Alux menu? The Chicago Tribune visited Alux in 2012 and said the food was moderately priced, ranging from $12 to $34 an entree. Also, the food was average at best, not as mind-blowing as the environment. Enjoy the delicious international cuisine of Alux Restaurant and fall in love with the #RivieraMaya pic.twitter.com/7HTbqIkkS3 Riviera Maya (@RivieraMaya) January 19, 2018 The menu offers a vast wine and cocktail list. Prices have certainly increased since 2012. They range from market price for lobster, to about $31 for a burger. A ribeye black Angus steak will set you back about $83. The salmon entree is about $32. The restaurant also offers salads, fresh oysters, and a risotto option. The chef appears to update the menu throughout the years. The Epicurean Traveler enjoyed a dish no longer on the menu called the the Mayan Sacrifice. Which was a tender, savory chicken breast stuffed with goat cheese and chaya (known as tree spinach in the Yucatan), wrapped in bacon, accompanied by blackberry and mango sauces and served with julienne chive vegetables. And while there does not appear to be a special kids menu, the website notes that kids [are] allowed. What do reviews say about Alux? Alux Yelp reviews are only slightly better than Schwartz & Sandys even post-Scandaval fallout. At about three and a half stars, Alux diners suggest ordering cocktails first while touring the cave before dinner. Also, one patron revealed that it cost $130 to book the private cave, but it was worth it. The same diner (but also others) stressed that the restaurant is humid and to bring fans if possible. Trying a grasshopper for the first time at ALUX restaurant in Mexico. pic.twitter.com/LnQmRP6zrp Jonna Mae (@Mae) December 10, 2021 One reviewer noted the live bats when they entered the cave. Others commented on the good service and cocktails. Vanderpump Rules is on Wednesday at 9 pm ET on Bravo. This May 16, 2021 file photo shows a U.S. military Chinook heavy helicopter taking part in a combined river-crossing exercise with the South Korean military in Yeoju, 61 kilometers east of Seoul. AFP-Yonhap South Korea endorsed major defense projects Thursday to domestically develop an electronic warfare aircraft and buy heavy helicopters for special operations, the state arms procurement agency said, as Seoul steps up efforts to counter North Korea's evolving military threats. The Defense Project Promotion Committee approved a 1.85 trillion-won (US$1.41 billion) plan for the development of the electronic warfare aircraft from 2024-2032 as part of efforts to help lay the groundwork for the country's future electronic warfare response system, according to the Defense Acquisition Program Administration (DAPA). Through the aircraft, the country seeks to improve joint operational capabilities and the survivability of air assets by paralyzing and disrupting the enemy's air defenses and its command and communications systems, as well as collect and analyze threat signals from neighboring countries, DAPA said. The committee also gave the green light to a 3.7 trillion-won plan to buy heavy-lift special operations choppers from overseas from 2024-31, DAPA said, without specifying the number of helicopters to be purchased. The new aircraft will replace aging special operations choppers and search-and-rescue helicopters used by the Army and the Air Force, respectively, it added. The choppers that meet the military's requirements include the CH-47F, manufactured by U.S. defense giant Boeing, and rival Lockheed Martin's CH-53K, a DAPA official told reporters on condition of anonymity. The committee also approved a plan worth 610 billion won to develop a ship-to-ground ballistic missile through local research from next year to 2036. The missile is expected to deter potential enemy threats and allow for early response against nuclear and ballistic missile threats from North Korea, DAPA said. It also endorsed a basic five-year plan for the development of the arms industry, outlining its general policy directions and tasks through 2027. (Yonhap) Twisted molecules play an important role in the development of organic light-emitting diodes. A team of chemists has managed to create these compounds with exactly the three-dimensional structure that they wanted. In so doing, they are smoothing the path for new and better light sources. They flash as a warning, glow red on standby mode, and light up your dinner table; light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have become indispensable in our daily lives. Somewhat less well-known, but just as ubiquitous, are organic light-emitting diodes, or OLEDs for short. This technology is used in the screens of smartphones, tablets and monitors. It is cheaper to produce in the form of a thin-film component, but cannot yet compete with conventional LEDs in some ways, such as in light output and lifespan. In the search for new molecules that possess the characteristics needed for OLEDs, compounds known as helicenes are playing a central role. Helicenes are a group of substances in which rings made up of six carbon atoms (benzene rings) are joined together in a helical structure. When synthesizing these compounds, it was previously difficult to control the direction in which the molecules twist their chirality. It was only possible with certain types of helicenes and to a very limited extent. A new concept in synthesis Professor Olivier Baudoin, Dr. Shu-Min Guo and Soohee Huh from the University of Basels Department of Chemistry have just made an important step forward. In the latest issue of Nature Chemistry, they describe a new concept in the synthesis of these important chiral molecules. In their synthesis route, the Basel researchers make use of a reaction that can split a carbon-hydrogen and carbon-bromine bond and create a carbon-carbon bond. This is called C-H activation, and over the past few years it has developed into a valuable tool in synthesis. This method allows chemists to create helicenes with the desired chirality, and could also be suitable for longer chains of benzene rings. Researchers at Universite Paris-Saclay in France have been able to demonstrate that the products synthesized by the team from Basel strongly absorb and emit circularly polarized light an important characteristic for the development of new materials that rely on twisted molecules, as OLEDs do. Our results show the great potential of this strategy for the synthesis of such complex functional molecules, says Olivier Baudoin. In their next step, he and his team intend to synthesize more complex helicenes with improved characteristics. The words human trafficking may evoke images of laborers lured from home by the promise of steady wages only to find that the pay consists of subsistence levels or worse. Perhaps it recalls predatory men lurking in dimly-lit bus stations offering shelter to runaways who feel they have nowhere else to turn. A recent presentation at Cheshires Town Hall served as a stark reminder that human trafficking involves not just those very real examples, but also all kinds of illegal exploitation of human beings, especially of children. As the Department of Homeland Security puts it, Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud, or coercion to obtain some type of labor or commercial sex act. It also includes practices taking place in communities all across Connecticut. While the problem is deep-seated, learning how to recognize the signs of abuse, working to help the victims without judgment or blame, and having honest conversations, especially with children, are ways toward preventing it. The presentation, hosted by Cheshires Youth and Human Services Committee, was given by Stephanie Zanker-Rivera and Lisa Zurolo, Cheshire residents with several decades of experience in counseling and social work who are state-certified as trainers through the Connecticut Department of Children and Families Human Anti-Trafficking Response Team (HART). Doing the presentation here in town is especially meaningful, Zanker-Rivera said. Although the presentation focused on educating local professionals who may encounter victims in schools or social services, human trafficking is a global issue that ignores national borders. The U.S. State Department issues a lengthy annual report that collects worldwide data related to relevant issues such as the use of child soldiers, state-sponsored human trafficking and national responses to combating the problem. Last years report puts the United States in the Tier 1 category along with countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and Sweden, stating that they take minimal steps to prevent human trafficking. However, Zanker-Rivera said the U.S. is one of the worst offenders when it comes to the underground industry of exploitation, especially as sex tourists. As the State Department report dryly notes, Some U.S. citizens engage in extraterritorial child sexual exploitation and abuse in foreign countries. Those individuals are participants in a black market which Zanker-Rivera said involves approximately $150 billion per year in untaxed spending, to say nothing of the cost to the individuals involved. She added that the industry of trafficking is rapidly overtaking even the illegal trades in firearms and narcotics as a global criminal market. Citing recent figures from the UNs International Labor Organization, Zanker-Rivera noted that more than 27 million people worldwide are victims of involuntary labor schemes, including around 5 million women and girls who are victims of forced sexual labor. She distinguishes smuggling, a crime against a border, from trafficking, a crime against a person. These victims often end up in debt bondage, where most, if not all, of their daily earnings are claimed by traffickers. Zanker-Rivera also explained the key legislation around the issue the federal Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA), first passed in 2000. She pointed out that when the victim is under 18, there is no need to prove force, fraud or coercion. Nor under current law can someone under 18 be charged with prostitution, as was sometimes done in the past, effectively punishing the victim for being abused. Despite that change, Zurolo said victims are about seven times more likely to be convicted of a crime related to the victimization than abusers are. Zanker-Rivera emphasized that children who are trafficked are victims, not offenders. Zurolo analyzed the psychological manipulation techniques traffickers may use to ensnare their victims. Data shows that many trafficked people are victims of early childhood trauma, and may come from unstable households or other disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds where foundations of parental and community support are not present. Traffickers want to fill that need for support and love, offering shelter and often plying the victim with narcotics and gifts. Ultimately, an abuser twists the victims affection into a subservience to their own economic needs. Because of the emotional attachment, Zurolo said it can be difficult for victims to seek help, often taking as many as seven attempts to leave what is sometime called the life of forced sexual labor. She also raised the point that certain populations, including LGBQT youths, are at greater risk of exploitation. What makes the group higher risk is rejection, Zurolo noted, saying that about 40% of homeless youths identify in some way as LGBQT and are twice as likely as others to run away from home. While females are more commonly trafficked, 36% of victims are males nationwide, she said. However, Connecticuts number is surprisingly low, at 8.7%. Zurolo believes that number reflects under-reporting, for a variety of reasons, including that male victims may fear being labeled as gay or blame themselves for being abused. The presenters highlighted some red flags that are not necessarily indicative of sexual exploitation but might be cause for concern. These could include symptoms of depression or anxiety; sudden secrecy about activities, especially online; having hotel keys or unexplained gifts; getting a new tattoo; and inconsistencies in stories. State and local authorities, including Cheshires Human Services Department, offer many resources to children and families who are worried about exploitation and trafficking, which can include sexual blackmail. Anyone in immediate danger should call 911. Zurolo suggests that parents have open conversations with their children about what a healthy relationship looks like versus what does it look like to be taken advantage of. She also wants parents and community members to be aware of the issue of trafficking, because it is happening in rural areas, it is happening in cities, its happening everywhere. Unsplash/St. Charles Borromeo Seminary Chinese authorities have violated a bilateral agreement between the Holy See and China by appointing a new bishop to lead the largest Roman Catholic diocese in the country. The Council of Chinese Bishops, controlled by the Chinese Communist Party, has selected Bishop Shen Bin of Haimen, located in Jiangsu province, to serve as the new bishop of Shanghai. Appointing the New Bishop of the Diocese of Shanghai According to the Christian Post, there were approximately 200 persons present during the ceremony to inaugurate Bishop Shen. Shen desires to "continue to carry forth the beautiful tradition of patriotism and love of the Catholic Church in Shanghai" and "adhere to the principle of independence and self-government" to accomplish his goals. After the passing of Bishop Jin Luxian in April 2013, the position of bishop of Shanghai has been unfilled. Even though the Holy See has stated that the city's auxiliary bishop, Ma Daqin, should administer the diocese, he has been arrested since 2012 for publicly rejecting the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association. Just a few months ago, the Vatican accused Beijing of breaking the bilateral pact by installing a bishop in a diocese that the Holy See did not recognize. Now, China has established Bishop Shen in an unrecognized diocese on its own accord. As per the Aleteia, it would be the second violation of the accord on the nomination of bishops negotiated between Rome and Beijing in just over four months. Shen's appointment to Shanghai, which did not come with the endorsement of Rome, means that the agreement created between China and the Holy See in 2018 has not yet been addressed again. Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican press office, responded to journalists' questions on April 4 by stating, "The Holy See was informed a few days ago of the Chinese authorities' decision to transfer Bishop Shen Bin of Haimen to the Diocese of Shanghai and learned of this transfer this morning through the media." Bruni's statement came in response to a question about whether or not the Holy See had been informed of the decision to transfer Bishop Shen Bin of Haimen to the Diocese of Shanghai. He did not elaborate any further on the matter. Also Read: Chinese Priest Urges Pope To Speak In Defense Of Orphans In China Following Closures Of Catholic Orphanages Agreement Between China and Holy See The Holy See and the People's Republic of China have agreed to extend for an additional two years the provisional agreement regarding the appointment of bishops, which was signed on September 22, 2018, and was initially set to expire on October 22, 2020, Vatican News reported. In an interview in July 2018, Pope Francis voiced his hope that the accord may be extended in October of this year. The Pope stated that "the agreement is moving well" even though "it is going slowly, as I say, 'the Chinese way,' because the Chinese have that sense of time, and no one can push them." The Pope was referring to the appointment of bishops. He also mentioned that the Chinese "also have challenges" because the local government interacts with the Catholic Church in various ways and that "the situation is not the same in every section of the country." Related Article:Chinese Bishop Calls for Unity Urging Catholics to Embrace Official Church, Leave 'Underground' Behind Pexels/Pavel Danilyuk Attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria during Holy Week resulted in the deaths of at least 94 individuals. The perpetrators of these assaults were reportedly members of Muslim groups. Violent Attacks on Christian Communities A report from the Catholic News Agency stated that on April 2, armed men raided Palm Sunday worship at a Pentecostal congregation in Akenawe-Tswarev, Logo County, Benue, Nigeria. They shot and killed a small boy and kidnapped the pastor and other congregants. As mentioned, three days later, on Wednesday, April 5, shooters massacred at least 50 individuals in the hamlet of Umogidi in Utokpo County, a Catholic stronghold in western Benue. In addition, invaders from the Muslim faith invaded an elementary school in the village of Ngban on Good Friday night. The structure serves as a shelter for over one hundred exiled Christian farmers and their families. As a result, dozens of people were slain in the attack. According to Father Remigius Ihyula, who serves as the head of the Benue branch of the Justice, Development, and Peace Commission (JDPC), a Nigerian Catholic aid organization, the attack that took place on Friday, April 7, it led to the deaths of 43 persons and injuries to more than 40 others. Moreover, in Otukpo, hours before the attack, Benue's leaving governor, Samuel Ortom, warned citizens to stay alert and condemned what he regarded as a tardy response by police and army units to respond to his demands for help. Ortom had been pushing for a reform in the laws governing the sale of firearms at the federal level for the previous four years, but his efforts had gone unrewarded. At least 134 persons were killed in attacks across Benue over five days. Governor Ortom stated when he met with survivors of the attack on Friday, April 7, in Ngban. Accordingly, a Nigerian news outlet, an operation that took place on Monday, April 3, in Apa resulted in the deaths of 47 people. On the other hand, Angelus News reported that the anti-Christian violence watchdog group known as "Open Doors" in 2021 indicated that over the seven years preceding 2021, that is, between 2013 and 2020, around 526 Christians had been assassinated around the world while celebrating Easter Sunday, with hundreds more Christians being wounded in the process. Also Read:Aerial Bombing in Myanmar Killed Members of Bible Missionary Church Tragic Holy Week in Nigeria According to Aid to the Church in Need, the Makurdi Diocese is located in Benue State, part of Nigeria's Middle Belt. This region of Nigeria has been impacted immensely due to the violence that Fulani herdsmen took out against settled farmers. The conflict is difficult to understand. The centuries-old animosity between nomad herders and farmers has been exacerbated in recent years by the introduction of automatic weapons that flooded the illegal market following the fall of the Libyan government. However, since most Fulani are Muslims and most farmers in the region are Christians, the problem has been made worse by adding a religious element. There is a widespread fear that those who wish to rid part of its Christian population are stoking the violence perpetrated by the Fulani. Related Article:Terrorists in Nigeria Killed Rev. Musa Mairimi of Evangelical Church Winning All, Wife Kidnapped This piece was adapted from Russell Moores newsletter. Subscribe here. For a long time, I have feared that my fellow American evangelical Christians were yielding to the third temptation of Christ: to sacrifice integrity for the conquest of power. Yet over the past year, Ive started wondering whether were falling for an entirely different temptationthe one we least understand and were least taught to withstand. The Gospels tell us that right after Jesus baptism in the Jordan, the Spirit directed him into the wilderness where the Devil set before him three temptations (Matt. 4:111; Luke 4:113). One temptation was to turn stones into breadto satisfy his own appetites at the Devils direction. This was, of course, the primal temptation of humanity (Gen. 3:13). This one is easy enough for us to understand because all of us grapple with our appetitessome for food, some for sex, some for drinkin ways that can make those appetites ultimate. Another of the temptations was that the Devil would give Jesus all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor (Matt. 4:8) if he would just become a momentary Satanist. (Spoiler alert: Jesus passed up this offer.) Again, most of us can understand this one because almost everyone is tempted at some point to trade principles for power. For a few, that power is a position in the White House, but for many of us, it is the ability to get the last word at the family dining room tables in our homes or to get the best seats at the conference tables at our jobs. That temptation is still at work and transcends almost every tribal boundary. Forms of Christianized Marxism often yield to this temptation by replacing a gospel of repentance and faith with merely subduing oppressive social structures. Christian nationalism does the same thingreplacing a faith of new birth with blood-and-soil cultural Christianity. Even so, Ive come to believe that the greatest temptation we face right now may be the one that seems the farthest from us. Its the second temptation in Matthews account and the last in Lukes. The Devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on the highest point of the temple. If you are the Son of God, he said, throw yourself down from here (Luke 4:9). Satan even had a Scripture verse to go with this temptationa passage from Psalm 91: He will command his angels concerning you to guard you carefully; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone (Luke 4:1011; Ps. 91:1112). Article continues below Some of you reading this have indeed resisted the temptation to throw yourselves from high places. Many others of you have never faced even the thought of that. Yet in either case, you likely were never tempted to do so for the reason Jesus wasto force a visible sign that he was, in fact, the Son of God. As he always did, Jesus recognized what was going on, of course. And in response, he cited a portion Deuteronomy 6:16, which reads in full, Do not put the Lord your God to the test as you did at Massah. What is this verse referring to? The place was called Massah and Meribah, the Bible tells us, because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, Is the Lord among us or not? (Ex. 17:7). The people of Israelthe very ones God had delivered out of Egypt with parted waters and a pillar of firestarted fighting in a drought because they wondered whether God was really who he said he was: a God who went before and behind them. They asked Moses, Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die with thirst? (v. 3). They lost confidence, and they wanted a sign. In Jesus day, the temple was more than just a tall building. It was the place in which God had promised to dwell. For the Anointed One to essentially ask Is God among us or not? at the temple would be quite a question indeed. Had Jesus thrown himself from the temple, angelsmaybe even twelve legions of themwould likely have rescued him. It would have tangibly verified to Jesus, in his humanity, what God told him at the waters of the Jordan: You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased (Luke 3:22). Even more than that, the crowds below would have seen this happening. It would have publicly vindicated Jesus to the very people of the city where he would later be crucified. No one would have dared suggest that he was demon-possessed, a lunatic, a closet insurrectionist, or a covert collaborator with Rome. He would have proved himself to be the Anointed One of God. Jesus would have forced a sign. And Jesus called that a sin. In 2010, political scientist James Davison Hunter identified that the distinguishing characteristic of current political psychology is what Friedrich Nietzsche called ressentiment. Although it includes resentment, Hunter wrote, it goes beyond that to involve a combination of anger, envy, hate, rage, and revenge as the motive of political action. Article continues below The years since Hunter penned this have proven him right. Much of what passes for political action or even just cultural engagement is really about a sense of injurymore specifically a sense of humiliation: You think youre better than me, and Ill prove you wrong. We want to be vindicatedin public. We dont just want to win; we want to own whoever has mistreated or made fun of us. We want to be respected, to be affirmed, if for nothing else than to boost our numbers and our political power. Most of the rest of the world can see this for what it is: a lack of confidence. We want to be proven right because we dont remember who we are or why were here. Weve all heard of the proverbial rock star who snaps at a restaurant server or club bouncer, saying angrily, Dont you know who I am? The rage behind that question often stems from the rock stars fear that the answer is No, who are you? Referring to the incidents at Massah and Meribah, God said through the psalmist that the Israelites put me to the proof, though they had seen my work (Ps. 95:9, ESV). They forgot who they were. Jesus did not. He believed that he was exactly who his Father said he was: the beloved Son of God. So he did not need to clamor for immediate satisfaction of his appetites; his Father had fed with manna before and would do it again. He did not need to grasp for immediate power over the nations; he would receive this not instead of humiliation but through it (Phil. 2:511). When we forget the story the Bible tells usthe one it includes us inwe start seeing our audience as whatever mob or strongman will protect or respect us. When we forget about the judgment seat of Christ, we want a judgment seat now. We want to be proven right, now. God would prove Jesus anointing not by vindication but by resurrection (Rom. 1:34). But even then, Jesus did not need to prove himself. As New Testament scholar Richard Hays points out, the risen Christ did not appear in the Temple and chastise his opponents; he did not appear to Pilate or in Rome to Caesar. The Resurrection appearances were not a how do you like me now? tour to those who didnt believe or respect him. Instead, he appeared to his followersto the women at the tomb, to the men on the boats, to the gathered little flock on the mountain. Article continues below Even when faltering Thomas demanded to see the wounds of crucifixion and Jesus graciously accommodated him, the little band that would turn the world upside down left the room not to prove themselves right but to bear witness to something realto Someone alive. Their words were not Is God among us or not? but My Lord and my God! (John 20:28). What if we did the same? What if we were a church so confident in our own identity in Christ that, at long last, we had nothing to prove but something to givelife and rest, joy and peace? Russell Moore is the editor in chief at Christianity Today and leads its Public Theology Project. This is the third article in the Engaging Buddhism series, which explores different facets of Buddhism and how Christians can engage with and minister to Buddhists. For the first time since the pandemic began, the massive water fights of Songkran have returned to Thailands streets. Taking place during the hottest week of the year, children and adults spray each other with colorful plastic water guns. People stand in the back of truck beds and use buckets to fling water and ice at neighboring trucks. Motorcycle drivers squint to see through the delugewhich often comes at them from multiple directionswhile their passengers soak as many people as can as they pass. Waterand lots of itreplaces fireworks in Songkran, Thailands new year celebration, held April 1315. The holiday is also celebrated in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Sri Lanka, and several other regions that follow the Buddhist calendar. According to Buddhist tradition, water symbolizes ritual cleansing, righting last years wrongs, and welcoming the clean slate of a new year. Beyond the raucous water fights on the streets, Thai Buddhists visit temples during Songkran to pour water over statues of Buddha and the hands of monks. This symbolic act is believed to atone for sins, bring purification, and make merit (gain good karma by performing good deeds). Worshipers also bring food for monks to make merit. Spending time with family is also integral to Songkran. During the holiday, Thais travel across the nation to visit their family and strengthen familial bonds as they move toward the new year. They also pay respect to their elders and seek their blessing by pouring water over their hands. People exchange floral garlands made of jasmine, roses, and white champaca (flowers similar to magnolias). Thai Christians differ from their countrypeople in their participation of Songkran because of the holidays Buddhist roots and because of the drinking and partying that have become associated with it. Yet Thai pastors see Songkran as an opportunity to show the wider Thai society that Christians also honor their elders, even if they dont participate in certain Buddhist rituals. We show respect to familyour father, mother, or elderswhich is a beautiful picture, and it is something that honors God, said Chukiat Chaiboonsiri, the pastor of Creation Church Chiang Mai. CT spoke to three Christians in Chiang Mai province in northern ThailandChaiboonsiri; Goi Manasakulpong, pastor of Creator Church in Hang Dong District; and Dream Waiwang, a former missionaryabout how they view the holiday and the gospel opportunities they see during the celebration. Thailands giant water fight Songkran originated from a Hindu festival in India welcoming a new harvest season. Derived from the Sanskrit word sankranti, which refers to the movement of the sun from one position to another in the zodiac, it marks the new year according to the solar calendar. From 1888 to 1940, Songkran was Thailands official new year before it was moved to January 1. The traditional custom of pouring water on Buddha, monks, and elders later extended to splashing friends and family with buckets of water to keep cool and as a sign of respect. While len nam, or playing and throwing water, has been a component of the holiday for generations, the rise of tourism and social media has brought Thailands water festivities into the international spotlight in recent years. Tourists from around the world throng to the country to join in the celebrations. Chaiboonsiri, 48, believes Christians should not venture into the busy areas during Songkran for both their physical and their spiritual safety. Motorcycle and car accidents spike during Songkran due to drunk driving, speeding, and reckless driving. The revelry can also lead to temptations for Christians, as many people get drunk and start fights. He said Christians should not go where we are spiritually enticed and our life is threatened. On the other hand, 35-year-old Waiwang, who has ministered with missionaries in northern Thailand since she was in college, does not see an issue with celebrating and playing in water fights, as long as caution is exercised. For me, I don't drink, so I think they will see how Im different from them, she said, adding that it can lead to gospel conversations. Manasakulpong, also 35, agreed, noting that Christians can take part in traditions that do not compromise their faith such as the water fights and honoring elders. He sees joining in as a way for Christians to remain present in the community and a witness to nonbelievers. Water fights are a separate action from a religious ceremony, so we can participate, he said. Yet he notes that Christians should behave in an appropriate and polite way and refrain from violence. Manasakulpong draws the line at pouring water over statues of Buddha or seeking the blessing of monks, noting that Christians should only worship and revere the one true God. Hes found that many Thai Christians attend festivals without knowing the significance or history of the holiday. So he urges church leaders to study the origins of Thai holidays to help congregants understand what they should and shouldnt take part in when celebrating. Article continues below Showing respect to elders Some Thais lament that the water fights have taken center stage in the holiday, pushing other traditions into the background. In the past, water splashing was not nearly as intense as it is now; typically smaller buckets of water were used and water guns werent as common. When we study the history, we will see that the Songkran festival is a beautiful tradition, Manasakulpong said. He points to the quality time spent with family and the chance for the older generation to bless and impart wisdom to the younger generation. Families ask for forgiveness from one another and right the wrongs of the previous year. Christians also embrace these concepts. Both pastors noted that its important for Christians to demonstrate to Thai society that honoring elders and Christianity are not mutually exclusive. Thats because in Thailand, Christianity is seen as countercultural. Those who convert to Christianity are viewed as abandoning the faith of their parents and the community around them. By no longer partaking in the customs and rituals tied to Buddhist beliefs, older family members may feel that they are rejecting them and their own Thai identity. For instance, after a loved one dies, family members traditionally pour holy water over the body, make merit on behalf of the dead by giving money to the temple, and buy refreshments and gifts for monks who chant over the body. A Thai Christian refraining from participating in parts of the funeral can be viewed as dishonoring their elders. Songkran can be an ideal opportunity to show that Christians also hold elders in high esteem. At Manasakulpongs church, his staff and church members buy gift baskets containing items such as toiletries, soap, shampoo, fruit, and snacks to give to older church members during Songkran. Over at Chaiboonsiris church, the older men and women sit in a row at rectangular tables at the front of the church. Younger members walk down the line to ask for a blessing and pour water from bowls over the hands of the elders to symbolize respect and honor. This activity can help bridge the gap between Thai culture and Christianity, Chaiboonsiri said. Article continues below The Bible gives us the command to respect elders and show God's love for them, he said. Therefore, it is something that Thai Christians should do to the best of our abilities. Manasakulpong noted that Christians and Buddhists differ in their motivation to honor their elders. When Buddhists participate in temple activities or pour water over an elders hands, they are seeking to make merit and cancel out their bad karma so they can move up in their next life. For Thai Christians, the gifts, honor, and respect arent given out of a works-based theology. Christians do not make merit in order to be saved, because salvation is a gift from God, Manasakulpong said. But we should do good deeds and show love to others because doing so is an honor to God. Sharing the living water Since so much of the new year holiday is spent with family, Chaiboonsiri encourages Thai Christians to deepen their relationships with their family and be a Christlike witness. Waiwang also believes the family time is an important opportunity to love them as Christ loves the church. She said young people should take the time to visit older family members to ask for forgiveness. If we did something wrong or disrespectful to them, it is the time to show them that we are sorry for the things we did, Waiwang said. As water sloshes over the streets of Chiang Mai, Chaiboonsiri speaks to his congregants and nonbelieving Thais about living water. This Sunday, he plans to preach from John 4, where Jesus tells the Samaritan woman at the well that if she drinks from the water he offers, she will never thirst again. Thai Buddhists go to the temple every year to purify themselvesits never-ending and never enough, he said. Just like poet Samuel Taylor Coleridges famous line, Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink, water is indeed everywhere in Songkran yet there never seems to be enough drops to spare for the sins that so easily entangle. Buddhists cannot know if theyve made enough merit to cancel out their sin. And if they fall ill or are unable to go to the temple, how can they atone for their sin? Life is too short to account for all the wrongdoing a person commits, and repeated trips to the well wont quench the thirst for atonement, Chaiboonsiri said. Here, Chaiboonsiri finds an opportunity to share the Good News: If you receive Jesus, its forevereternal life. Jesus is the water of life; youre not thirsty again and again and again. In todays episode Heather sits down with Karen Gonzalez for part two of our four-part pod-class titled Who Is My Neighbor? If youre joining us fresh, make sure to catch last weeks episode where we opened the series with Native American Bible translator Terry Wildman. This week, Karen challenges us to question our positionality as we engage with the stories we love in Scripture. We will discover that were not Joseph; were Egypt. Heather also chats with our favorite social media expert, Brady Shearer, for this weeks Social Toolkit. Brady explains why he believes social media is not just a tool for ministry; it is ministry. Guest Bio Karen Gonzalez is the author of The God Who Sees. She is a speaker, writer, storyteller, and immigrant advocate, who herself immigrated from Guatemala as a child. Karen is a former public-school teacher and attended Fuller Theological Seminary, where she studied theology and missiology. For the last 13 years, she has been a non-profit professional, currently working for an organization based in Baltimore, MD, that serves refugees and other immigrants. Her latest book is called Beyond Welcome: Centering Immigrants in our Christian Response to Immigration. Host Bio Heather Thompson Day is an associate professor of communication at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan. She is the author of eight books, including Ill See You Tomorrow and Its Not Your Turn. Reach out to Heather on Twitter @HeatherTDay and on Instagram @heatherthompsonday. Viral Jesus is a production of Christianity Today Host and creator: Heather Thompson Day Executive Producer: Ed Gilbreath Producer: Loren Joseph Associate Producer: Azurae Phelps Mix Engineer: Alex Carter Director of CT Podcasts: Mike Cosper A recovering drug addict leaves after a group counselling for drug addicts in Incheon, Korea, April 1. Reuters-Yonhap Every Saturday a group of young Koreans gathers in Incheon just west of Seoul to talk about their battles with drug abuse, seeking sympathy and support in often emotional exchanges. The free midday therapy sessions are organized by Choi Jin-mook, who fought addiction for more than 20 years before becoming a counsellor and advocating for a shift in Korea's drugs policy towards treatment and away from punishment. Choi, 48, began taking nonprescription cough medicines at age 17 and was jailed for marijuana in his 20s. In and out of prison for 15 years, he turned to meth and stronger drugs before another addict-turned-counsellor led him to an "awakening". "I thought I would be a normal person when I got out of prison, but there I learned more about drugs instead of getting treatment," Choi said. "I just couldn't break away from the fetters." Korea has only six drug rehabilitation centers, according to Choi, including just two run by the food and drug safety ministry. In comparison, Japan - with 126 million people to Korea's 52 million - has about 90 rehab centers. The center Choi heads is one of three set up 10 years ago with funding from Japan. The centers run on a Japanese model and hire only former addicts to provide care and counselling. Choi and other counsellors have been trying to build more rehab centers and make them more accessible, but Choi said he has failed to get government funding because of a general lack of awareness of the need for more facilities. Prison not rehab One of the biggest problems is that Korea's corrections system focuses mostly on punitive detention and lacks rehabilitation support, Choi said. In recent months, the arrests of chaebol heirs and celebrities such as award-winning actor Yoo Ah-in on illegal drugs charges have prompted authorities to crack down on narcotics and bolster customs enforcement. Drug crimes are typically punishable by at least six months in prison or up to 14 years for repeat offenders and dealers. Some drug crimes are also punishable by death although Korea has not carried out any executions since 1997. While most first- and second-time offenders usually get suspended sentences and 30 to 40 hours of mandatory drug education, Choi said this does little to get them off drugs. "The golden time for addiction treatment is when you get caught for the first time, but thinking that addicts would quit after attending those classes for several hours is hoping for a miracle," he said. "The system needs proper treatment and rehabilitation to help addicts start a new life when they go back to society." The government created special intra-agency squads last week to clamp down on drugmakers and distributors, and Justice Minister Han Dong-hoon unveiled plans last year to expand state rehab facilities, vowing to fight drugs "as if we are at war". The justice ministry did not respond to requests for information on any plans for more state rehab centers. And the food and drug safety ministry said it would add only one this year due to budget constraints, without elaborating. Actor Yoo Ah-in, center, speaks to reporters at the drug crime investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police as he arrives for a questioning session, March 28. Yonhap Appeals court blocks nationwide abortion pill ban, allows restrictions to take effect A federal appeals court will not allow a lower court's suspension of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's decades-old approval of the abortion pill to take effect but will allow the court's temporary block on the distribution of the pill by mail and other restrictions. On Wednesday, a three-judge panel on the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals partially granted the request of the Biden administration to stay a decision by a federal judge in Texas last week that suspended the FDA's 2000 approval of mifepristone. Mifepristone is the first drug in the chemical abortion regimen, which destroys the environment in the uterus and starves an unborn baby to death. Also known as chemical abortion or the abortion pill, mifepristone has emerged as a source of safety concerns for the pro-life movement. The Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, the American Association of Pro-Life Obstetricians & Gynecologists, the Christian Medical & Dental Associations and four individual doctors asked a federal judge to suspend the FDA's approval of mifepristone as well as subsequent modifications to rules governing the use of the abortion pill, which included a provision allowing it to be distributed in the mail. Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, appointed to the bench by former President Donald Trump, granted the plaintiffs' request in a decision published Friday. The ruling was not set to take effect for a week to give the defendants time to appeal. Kacsmaryk's decision was reviewed by a panel of appellate judges, including George W. Bush-appointed Catharina Hayes, Trump-appointed Kurt Engelhardt and Trump-appointed Andrew Oldham. The appellate court overruled the district court's suspension of the FDA's 2000 approval of mifepristone, citing a six-year statute of limitations. However, it upheld parts of the ruling striking down the relaxation of the requirements for distributing mifepristone that began in 2016. Most recently, the FDA abandoned the requirement that those seeking to obtain the abortion pill must have an in-person visit with a doctor. The relaxed requirements enabled women wishing to take the abortion pill to receive it through the mail. The changes also allowed the pills to be prescribed to women at up to 10 weeks gestation instead of up to seven weeks. The appellate court ruled that the FDA "failed to 'examine the relevant data' when it made the 2016 major [Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies] changes." "That's because FDA eliminated REMS safeguards based on studies that included those very safeguards," the opinion states. "Imagine that an agency compiles studies about how cars perform when they have passive restraint systems, like automatic seatbelts. For nearly a decade, the agency collects those studies and continues studying how cars perform with passive safety measures. Then one day the agency changes its mind and eliminates passive safety measures based only on existing data of how cars perform with passive safety measures." Concerns about the abortion pill primarily focus on the safety risks the drug poses to women. Wednesday's ruling includes a picture of a "Black Box" warning on mifepristone that informs users that it can cause "serious and sometimes fatal infections or bleeding," including the possibility of "prolonged heavy bleeding." Additional potential side effects listed on the "Black Box" warning include "sustained fever, severe abdominal pain" as well as "abdominal pain or discomfort, or general malaise (including weakness, nausea, vomiting or diarrhea)." The U.S. Department of Justice has indicated its intention to appeal Wednesday's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. "The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Fifth Circuit's decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA to deny in part our request for a stay pending appeal," Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. "We will be seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court to defend the FDA's scientific judgment and protect Americans' access to safe and effective reproductive care." In a statement, the national pro-life grassroots advocacy organization Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America reacted favorably to the 5th Circuit's ruling. "We are very encouraged by this landmark win for women and girls. The Court recognized that the abortion pill is dangerous and rolled back Biden's reckless mail-order abortion scheme," said SBA Pro-Life America State Policy Director Katie Daniel. "We still believe it never should have been approved in the first place and we look forward to the Supreme Court hearing this case." Daniel claims "the FDA ignored science and placed politics over the safety of women and girls, as well as the lives of countless unborn children," Daniel expressed gratitude that "finally they are beginning to be held accountable." We are pleased that the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals has temporarily reinstated important and commonsense health and safety protections surrounding the use of chemical abortion drugs. Jeanne F. Mancini (@jeannemfl) April 13, 2023 Mini Timmaraju, president of the pro-abortion advocacy group NARAL Pro-Choice America, said the organization is "relieved that the FDA's approval of mifepristone stands for now." However, she claimed the 5th Circuit's decision shows how "our court system has been rigged by the far-right to deliver results that are undemocratic and dangerous." "But by reinstating outdated and unnecessary restrictions, these judges many of whom were appointed by a twice-impeached now-indicted former president put tens of millions of people's health at risk. Anti-choice extremists want to ban all abortion, everywhere. They can't win elections, so they've turned to the courts to do their dirty work. As this legal fight goes on, our reproductive freedom champions across the country must work to protect access to medication abortion no matter what happens next in the courts." Planned Parenthood Federation of America CEO Alexis McGill Johnson also condemned the ruling. "We are furious that yet another court would choose to jeopardize the health and futures of the millions of people who rely on mifepristone for abortion care," she stated. "This baseless case is a politically motivated attack to further restrict access to abortion that will place care out of reach for patients and we will not stand for it." McGill Johnson warned that "if allowed to stand, the consequences of this decision will be catastrophic not just for medication abortion access, but the entire drug approval system." Jeanne Mancini, president of the March for Life, wrote in a Twitter thread that the 5th Circuit "reinstated important and commonsense health and safety protections surrounding the use of chemical abortion drugs," referring to the requirement that women see a doctor before taking the abortion pill. "The FDA's elimination of these safeguards shows a reckless disregard for women's health when it comes to abortion," Mancini added. "This dangerous drug regimen has been shown to harm women, sometimes fatally, in addition to ending the lives of unborn children." Archaeologists discover ancient Christian artwork in hidden underground medieval complex Archaeologists have discovered a medieval-era complex of rooms hidden beneath a house in Sudan covered with figural scenes unique to Christian art. However, the representations are depicted in an unusual way. The discovery was made in Old Dongola, a deserted town in the Northern state of Sudan that was once the capital of the Nubian kingdom Makuria. Archaeologists Dr. Lorenzo de Lellis and Dr. Maciej Wyzgo found the hidden rooms while exploring houses dating back to the Funji period from the 16th to 19th century, according to an April 5 statement from the Polish Center of Mediterranean Archaeology at the University of Warsaw. An opening beneath the floor of one of the houses led the researchers to a small chamber decorated with Christian artwork. The rooms containing the figural scenes were made of sun-dried brick. The paintings featured the Virgin Mary and a depiction of the Nubian king with Saint Michael, the archangel, and Jesus Christ, in an unusual way. The king bows to Christ, who is seated in the clouds, and kisses his hand, the PCMA statement reads. The ruler is supported by Archangel Michael, whose spread wings shield both the king and Christ himself. Such a scene finds no parallels in Nubian painting. Scientists also noted that the depiction of the Mother of Christ differs from how she is typically portrayed in art from Nubia, a region now known as northern Sudan and Egypt. The figure of Mary is dressed in black robes and featured in a dignified pose, holding a cross and a book in her hands. On the opposite side of the wall in the chamber is Jesus Christ holding a book in his left hand and making a blessing gesture with his right. In an April 6 tweet, Artur Obluski, director at PCMA UW, speculated that the inscriptions on the paintings dated back to 1276 CE. He also believes the wall paintings negate a bias about Africans allegedly attempting to copy art from the North. They were creative adapting not only adopting world trends to their needs thus the new paradigm should be Nubio- and Afrocentric, Obluski tweeted. Agata Deptua, a researcher from the same department as the pair who made the discovery, is studying the paintings accompanying inscriptions. The texts are believed to be of the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. Another one of the depicted scenes, however, contains old Nubian text that is difficult to decipher. Thanks to a preliminary reading by Dr. Vincent van Gerven Oei, the researchers learned that it contains several mentions of a king named David and a plea to God for protection of the city, the PCMA noted. The city mentioned in the inscription is probably Dongola, and [Makurian] King David is likely the royal figure depicted in the scene. Researchers speculate that the painting was created as the Mamluk army approached the city or had already laid siege to it, sacking Nubia for the first time in its history. Egypt invaded Nubia in retaliation for Makurian King David having attacked Egypt. The series of rooms where the paintings were discovered, however, is what has prompted the most questions from researchers. The space is quite small, and the room depicting King David is seven meters above the medieval ground level and is styled like a crypt. Located near the structure is the Great Church of Jesus, which was probably Dongolas cathedral and the most significant church in the Makurian kingdom, according to PCMA. The researchers noted that Arab sources claim that the Church of Jesus instigated King Davids attack on Egypt and the capture of the port of Aidhab and Aswan. The scientists believe that these questions about the structure will be answered through further excavations, noting that safeguarding the paintings was the primary goal at the moment. The PCMA, the University of Warsaw and the Department of Conservation and Restoration of Works of Art of the Academy of Fine Arts collaborated to operate a conservation team. Work in such a confined space, under pressure of time and in high temperatures typical for March in Sudan was extremely demanding, the statement reads. The paintings were detached from the walls in some places, but the painted layer itself was remarkably well preserved. Conservators secured the wall paintings, made protective bands and putties, and filled the empty spaces between the wall and the plaster with injection fluid. Archaeologists plan to return to Dongola in the fall and hope to learn whether the structure they discovered is a royal commemorative complex. Atheist group demands California city stop allowing prayers at meetings A prominent atheist organization has sent a complaint letter to a city in California demanding that it stop opening meetings with a prayer. The Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a complaint letter on April 6 to officials in Huntington Beach, including Mayor Tony Strickland, regarding its opposition to their decision to allow prayers at meetings. According to FFRF Staff Attorney Christopher Line, a concerned resident of Huntington Beach alerted the organization about the invocations and some of the squabbles between the council and the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council, [which] has traditionally been in charge of deciding who leads invocations before meetings. We share the concerns of community members and members of the interfaith council that these proposed changes will lead to members of one faith being selected to deliver prayer more often than others, wrote Line. The issues and concerns that the council is dealing with regarding its opening prayer practice perfectly illustrate that government prayer is an unnecessary entanglement of religion with our secular government and why the practice should be dropped altogether. Line demanded city officials cease opening its meetings with prayer, or at the very least, implement a moment of silence that would allow all residents to reflect in their own way, according to the dictates of their personal beliefs without input from government-designated religious leaders or city officials. If the city council does continue to host prayer at public meetings, the council must not discriminate against any person wishing to give a prayer, he continued. The nonreligious and members of minority religions must be permitted to deliver invocations as well. Recently, Strickland and Huntington Beach Councilwoman Gracey Van Der Mark called for a new policy on meeting invocations that strictly regulate who can give invocations, and remove the duty from the Greater Huntington Beach Interfaith Council. This proposed change to the invocation policy was reportedly being considered out of concern over the content of the invocations, which some have alleged were too political in nature. However, Councilman Dan Kalmick told media outlet Voice of OC that he believed the proposed changes were a manufactured issue and opened the council up to the possibility of legal action. This is manufactured outrage. The fact that the mayor stated that hundreds of people have reached out to him sounds like a lie to me. We havent gotten a single email, said Kalmick. I dont want the city to be in the business of selecting religious leaders and certifying them for an invocation, it just opens us to liability. If were going to have a problem with it, we should just get rid of the invocation altogether. In 2014, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Town of Greece v. Galloway that a New York municipality could have overtly Christian prayers open their official meetings. Since that decision, however, there continue to be periodic legal controversies over official meeting invocations and the policies that local governments create to regulate them. For example, last year, the city of Parkersburg, West Virginia, was ordered to cease its tradition of reciting the Lords Prayer before official city council meetings and to pay $60,000 in attorney fees and other costs. U.S. District Judge John T. Copenhaver Jr., an appointee of President Gerald Ford, contrasted the Town of Greece decision with Parkersburgs prayer practice, as Greece had clergy of different backgrounds give an invocation on behalf of officials rather than the same specific Christian prayer every meeting. 63 churches attacked in the first 3 months of 2023: report Sixty-nine acts of vandalism against churches occurred in the first quarter of the year, constituting a significant increase in the number of attacks compared to previous years. The Family Research Council, a socially conservative think-tank based in Washington, D.C., released a supplemental report outlining Hostility Against Churches in the first quarter of 2023. The data builds on an earlier report published in December, which documented attacks on churches between January 2018 and December 2022. January saw the highest number of church attacks, totaling 43 documented incidents. Fourteen acts of vandalism occurred in February, while 12 occurred in March. The number of attacks against churches during the first three months of 2023 represents a marked increase in the number of incidents that occurred in the first three months of the previous five years. The Family Research Council recorded 15 attacks against churches in the first three months of 2018, 12 in the same period in 2019, 14 in the first quarter of 2021, and 22 in the first four months of 2022. 2020 saw no attacks on churches in its first three months. The report documents the damage done in the attacks on churches by organizing them into five categories: vandalism, arson and/or fire, gun-related incidents, bomb threats and an other category. It categorized 53 of the attacks on churches as an example of vandalism, 10 as arson and three as gun-related incidents. The report measured three bomb threats and two incidents that fell into the other category. Two instances of vandalism fell into more than one category. The attacks cited in the report span 29 states. North Carolina experienced the highest number of incidents at seven, followed by Ohio and Tennessee with five each and Florida, Missouri and Pennsylvania experienced four each. California, Montana, New Jersey, New York and Oregon each saw three attacks, while Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Virginia and Washington each had at least one. The remaining states did not have any attacks cited in the report. Examples of vandalism listed in the report include the smashing of the sanctuary and the theft of audio-visual equipment at Holy Nation Church in Memphis, Tennessee, and the spraying of a fire extinguisher throughout Dellabrook Presbyterian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. At Jesus Is Alive World Reading Center in Reading, Pennsylvania, vandals destroyed sound equipment, a podium, stained-glass windows and a piano. They also threw chairs around the building and destroyed the carpet by spraying it with a fire extinguisher. Instances of arson cited in the report include a fire at the vacant Portland Korean Church in Portland, Oregon, and the targeting of a historically black church in Austin, Texas, that caused $200,000 in damage. The document listed the mass shooting that occurred at The Covenant School, a Christian school in Nashville, Tennessee, two weeks ago as a gun-related incident, along with the firing of 50 rounds at a Mennonite church building in Versailles, Missouri, and a late-night shooting at Praise Temple Baptist Church in Shreveport, Louisiana, that sent four to the hospital. Bomb threats documented in the report included the discovery of a pipe bomb outside St. Dominic Catholic Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, a threat directed at Gracelife Chapel near Peverly, Ohio, and a false bomb threat at a church in Nashville. One of the incidents classified as other was a stabbing at Crossfire Church in Springfield, Oregon. Two of the acts of vandalism highlighted in the report appeared to have an explicitly political message. At St. Josephs Catholic Church in Missouri, a vandal spray-painted the phrase TRANS PWR on the building's exterior, expressing support for the LGBT agenda. At a church in Riverview, Florida, a vandal defaced the property with a phrase reading Womens body womens choice, suggesting sympathy with the pro-choice point of view on abortion. The Christian Post has been keeping multiple lists of all of the instances of vandalism against both churches and pro-life pregnancy centers following the May 2, 2022, publication of a leaked draft U.S. Supreme Court decision where a majority of justices appeared poised to overturn the Roe v. Wade ruling that legalized abortion nationwide. The first list contains information about attacks that occurred in the weeks following the publication of the leaked draft decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization that determined that the U.S. Constitution did not contain a right to abortion. The second article about pro-abortion vandalism lists the attacks that took place after the Supreme Court published the official Dobbs decision on June 24. The third list documents attacks against churches that have taken place in the past six months. Dangers facing Israel are exceptionally hazardous Calls to prayer are quite common in the Middle East, where they emanate from churches, synagogues, and mosques on a regular basis. However, specific requests for prayer are being repeated more urgently in Israel these days, thanks to ceaseless warnings and near-constant bursts of gunfire and rocketry exploding across their troubled neighborhoods. Any of todays flare-ups could pose a genuine threat to the Jewish State. In fact, for Jews and Christians, a Psalmists ancient words translate into a modern-day appeal for divine protection and intervention: Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: May they prosper who love you (Psalm 122:6). The present dangers facing Israel are exceptionally hazardous. As Jonathan Speyer, one of Israels most trustworthy analysts, wrote for The Wall Street Journal on April 7: A sequence of dramatic events over the past three days has brought Israel to the brink of war with Iran-backed militias in Southern Lebanon and the Gaza Strip. This is the product of a continuing effort by Tehran and its various franchises to unite the arenas of engagement with the Jewish state against the background of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. It isnt yet clear if Israel has developed a coherent strategy to counter this Iranian effort. Those who live in Israel are forever conscious of potential dangers, with a sense of awareness that becomes more acute during intensifying regional tensions. I know, because I lived in Israel beginning in 2006. In fact, my arrival took place in the midst of the second Lebanon War, with guns firing and missiles exploding. I continued to reside in Jerusalem until 2017. From time to time during those 10-plus years, various warnings would spread like wildfire, and we would change our normal patterns of walking, riding on buses, or participating in various public gatherings. In fact, during two separate wars between Israel and Gaza while I was there, Jerusalems air raid sirens shrieked out warnings of incoming rockets, rushing us toward our nearest bomb shelters. I also recall specific conversations about how and where to get gas masks; this took place during threats of missiles emanating from Syria. Thankfully, the poisoned gas never drifted our way. Cautionary warnings like these soon vanished, followed by a sense of relief, and a quick return to normal. But any feeling of normalcy in Israel has been shaken in recent weeks. Angry demonstrators have flooded the streets, protesting governmental decisions. Meanwhile, increasing eruptions of violence have persisted, emanating from Iran-funded proxies such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Islamic Jihad. This and its escalating death toll have resulted in something called the War Between the Wars. Now, however, real war may be lurking. Seth J. Franzman wrote on April 9 for Jerusalem Post that Irans proxies and allies appear to have begun a multi-front conflict with Israel over the past week. This involved the Iranian drone operation on April 1; Gaza rocket fire from April 5-7 and 34 rockets fired at Israel from Lebanon on Passover, April 6. In addition, there was rocket fire from Syria on April 8 and 10. There were also shooting attacks on the West Bank and a drone launch from Gaza on April 3. The backdrop to this series of assaults might well become a matter of life and death for countless Israeli citizens if it is not contained appropriately. That would have been a matter of course in years gone by, based on well-known fierce and fervent military responses by the Israel Defense Forces. But in recent months, Israel has been torn by political disagreements and anti-government protests, some including military personnel. Meanwhile, and equally disturbing, is the dwindling support of Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by the U.S. government. At first glance Americas leadership seems to be watching from the sidelines. Since September, public demonstrations in Iran have killed more than 500 peaceful protestors against Irans murderous regime, which leads chants calling for Death to Israel and Death to America. But contrary to all appearances, President Joe Bidens administration has not been idle. U.S. diplomats have been working quietly behind the scenes to secure another nuclear agreement with the mullahs. In actions that mirror controversial Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) efforts during the Obama administration, such an agreement would provide billions of dollars to the Ayatollahs regime, funding their anti-Israel terrorism and opening the door to a nuclear weapon. David M. Weinberg wrote for Israel Hayom on April 3: Biden is closer than ever to acquiescing to Teheran despite Iranian enrichment of uranium to near-bomb-ready levels (84% according to the IAEA, which is very close to the 90% level necessary for a nuclear weapon), despite its accumulation of weapons-grade uranium for an estimated five nuclear weapons within three months, and despite Bidens pledge that he will never allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon. The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark A. Milley said at a congressional hearing recently that the US remains committed, as a matter of policy, that Iran will not have a fielded nuclear weapon. Notice the new term fielded. This suggests the Biden administration is now prepared to tolerate nuclear weapons in Irans hands, provided the weapon is not fielded, in other words, deployed. As these new and alarming decisions continue to unfold in the Middle East, it becomes increasingly urgent for us to speak up, to alert our elected representatives, and to pray for a change of heart in Americas misguided leadership. Lets also remember those who face escalating violence across the region, and especially those grieving families who have lost loved ones or continue to face mounting danger. In the meantime, although the Psalmist penned the words thousands of years ago, if ever there was a time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem and for the people and leadership of Israel it is surely now. Originally published at The Washington Stand. Churches Burning: Ad blasts Biden for silence on church attacks The conservative advocacy group CatholicVote has launched a digital and TV ad campaign criticizing President Joe Biden for being silent on an ongoing spate of attacks on churches by pro-choice groups in reaction to the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling that struck down Roe v. Wade. An ad called Churches Burning, part of the $1 million ad campaign which will air online and on television in Wisconsin, Arizona and across the country, including Washington, D.C., compares Biden, our second Catholic president, with President John F. Kennedy who condemned arson attacks on black churches in the 1960s. Nearly 70 Catholic churches have been attacked since early May when radical abortion groups first threatened a summer of rage in response to reports that the justices of the U.S. Supreme Court including a number of Catholic justices planned to rule Roe v. Wade unconstitutional, the group says. The ad shows a clip showing Biden responding to pro-choice groups attacks against Catholics by saying, Keep protesting, because keep making your point. Besides churches, pro-choice groups have attacked at least 64 pregnancy centers, CatholicVote adds. Catholic News Agency said it has confirmed at least 93 acts of violence and vandalism, including the firebombing of pregnancy centers and the burning of churches since the decision was leaked on May 2. The American people are disgusted by the inaction of our Justice Department, CatholicVote Communications Director Joshua Mercer said while releasing the ad this week. This ad sends an important message, calling on our lawmakers to demand action against this vicious campaign of targeted violence against Catholics. CatholicVote said its President Brian Burch has also repeatedly appealed to the Biden Justice Department to enforce the law against the ongoing attacks. Our ad campaign will begin airing in earnest over the weekend and will expand dramatically into next week, CAN quoted Burch as saying. Further, we have new ads in production, including ads targeting Latino voters that we will be adding to the campaign in the coming days. To draw a contrast between the two Catholic presidents, the ad says in its narration, In the 1960s, when churches were burned, President Kennedy stepped up, condemned it, and carries the voice of Kennedy, saying, To burn churches I consider both cowardly as well as outrageous As soon as we are able to find out who did it, well arrest them. CatholicVote points out that the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops has found itself in numerous confrontations with President Biden since he took office, many of them over the Catholic Churchs teaching on the sanctity of life, which the president rejects. In June, several groups, including CatholicVote, wrote a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, saying: We, the undersigned representing millions of Americans, are writing to voice our concerns over the increased attacks against churches, pregnancy resource centers and pro-life organizations in the aftermath of the leaked draft opinion in the Supreme Court case Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. The advocacy group adds that in December of last year, the Department of Justice was asked how it was investigating the repeated attacks on churches in the country. The Attorney General was also asked to investigate those complaints and take appropriate action as is your duty. Since that request there has been public silence. Christians could lose majority status in America by 2045: study Barring any limiting event such as war or economic depression, if the pace at which Christians abandon their faith before the age of 30 were to accelerate beyond its current pace, America could no longer be a majority Christian nation by as early as 2045. And Christians wouldnt just lose their majority status in America in this scenario. They would also be outnumbered by the religiously unaffiliated, also known as nones, according to the findings of a new analysis by the Pew Research Center. The findings are based on work from the Pew Research Center which projects religious composition in the United States under multiple switching scenarios for the first time, as part of the Pew-Templeton Global Religious Futures project. The project analyzes religious change and its impact on societies around the world. In the study, Pew highlights four hypothetical scenarios out of several possibilities to demonstrate how the U.S. religious landscape might change over the next half century. The impact of younger Christian adults abandoning their faith without limitation was modeled in one of those scenarios. While the other three scenarios reflect varying degrees of religious disaffiliation, they all show Christians continuing to shrink as a share of the U.S. population, even under the counterfactual assumption that all switching came to a complete stop in 2020. The ranks of the unaffiliated, however, are projected to grow under all four scenarios. Of course, it is possible that events outside the studys model such as war, economic depression, climate crisis, changing immigration patterns or religious innovations could reverse current religious switching trends, leading to a revival of Christianity in the United States, the researchers noted. But there are no current switching patterns in the U.S. that can be factored into the mathematical models to project such a result. Data highlighted in the research show that while Christianity remains the stickier religious affiliation for older Americans, among younger adults it is the religiously unaffiliated identity that is enduring. If that trend is sped up with nothing to stop it, according to projections of the third of the four main models, the number of Christian adherents in the U.S. is likely to decline at a much faster rate. If the pace of switching before the age of 30 were to speed up throughout the projection period without any brakes, Christians would no longer be a majority by 2045, Pew researchers said. In this model, the religiously unaffiliated would be Americas most dominant faith expression by 2055, with about 46% of the population claiming that identify. Christians would represent just a 43% share of the population. By 2070, 52% of Americans would be unaffiliated, while only 35% would be Christian. In 2020, the Pew Research Center estimated that about 64% of Americans, including children, were Christian. The religiously unaffiliated accounted for 30% of the U.S. population, while all other religions including Jews, Muslims, Hindus and Buddhists totaled about 6%. While rising disaffiliation among younger adults assumes there is a kind of ever-increasing momentum behind religious switching among that cohort under 30, researchers suggested that trend isnt plausible as highly religious parents tend to raise highly religious children who are less likely than children of less religious parents to disaffiliate in young adulthood. As a result, there may continue to be a self-perpetuating core of committed Christians who retain their religion and raise new generations of Christians, researchers said. Of the four models presented, researchers selected the second which projects that rising disaffiliation from Christianity with limits could lead to nones becoming the largest religious identity in America by 2070 but not the majority identity. The projected outcome for that model suggests that if the pace of disaffiliation before the age of 30 were to speed up initially but then hold steady, Christians would lose their majority status by 2050, when they would be 47% of the U.S. population compared to 42% for the unaffiliated. In 2070, nones would constitute a plurality of 48%, in this scenario while Christians would account for 39% of Americans. Congressman urges Justice Dept. to investigate violent attacks on Catholic churches A Republican Congressman has urged the Department of Justice to investigate the recent spate of attacks on Catholic churches, a trend he believes amount to hate crimes. In a letter sent to Attorney General William Barr on Aug. 5, Rep. Chuck Fleischmann, R-Tenn., urged the federal agency to fight religious discrimination and protect religious freedom in the United States. "Since June, there have been nearly a dozen reported attacks on Catholic churches around the nation. These disturbing attacks range from arson to the beheading of a statue of the Virgin Mary," the letter read in part. "I find these attacks to be a disturbing trend, happening in multiple areas across the nation, including within my own congressional district. In times of uncertainty we naturally turn to religion for comfort and peace, something many Americans are seeking as we combat COVID-19, but these attacks add another level of distress for many across our nation." Fleischmann elaborated in an interview with the Washington Examiner that those who damage any house of worship of any kind must know that it will not be tolerated and that he considers such actions a hate crime. I would like to have a recognition that this problem exists, it persists, and sadly, it is not isolated to one city or one state, Fleischmann said. I think it needs to be looked at very carefully and addressed for the danger that it is. At St. Stephen Parish in Chattanooga, which is in Fleischmann's district, a statue of the Virgin Mary was beheaded in mid-July, an attack the congressman called "disturbing." "I hope that the perpetrators will be brought to justice, but I also pray that they will find their way to God as well, he said at the time. A group of Catholics in the U.S. who are also alarmed by the rise in attacks on the faith have called on presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden to publicly denounce attacks on Catholic churches as well as the fueling of a climate of hate against Catholics by prominent members of his party. CatholicVote said in a statement that Biden, a baptized Catholic, has a responsibility and duty to Catholics to publicly condemn these attacks. Attacks on Catholic churches have occurred in many cities across the country amid protests and riots sparked by the police-involved death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota, on May 25. In New Haven, Connecticut, St. Joseph Church closed its doors temporarily in July after Satanic symbols were painted in its front door. Similarly, in Colorado Springs, a statue of Mary was vandalized with red paint tagged with the word "redrum," which is murder spelled backward and is a reference to horror novelist Stephen King's The Shining. In other incidents, a statue of Jesus Christ at Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Miami, Florida, was torn down and beheaded around that same time. And a fire that damaged Mission San Gabriel Arcangel church in Los Angeles was investigated as a possible arson attack. Also in Florida, worshipers gathered inside Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Ocala faced imminent risk to their lives last month when 24-year-old Steven Anthony Shields slammed his minivan into the church's front doors and poured gasoline in the foyer before setting it on fire. County must pay $100K to therapists after sexual orientation therapy ban ruled unconstitutional A city in Florida has been ordered to pay a combined $75,000 in damages to two therapists, while the county has been ordered to pay $100,000 for passing bans on therapy for minors seeking help with unwanted same-sex attraction. In a final judgment entered last Thursday, U.S. District Judge Robin Rosenberg ordered the city of Boca Raton to pay plaintiff Robert Otto $50,000 in damages and also pay Julie Hamilton $25,000 in damages. The district court ordered Palm Beach County to pay Otto a total of $50,000 in damages and also pay Hamilton the sum of $50,000 for damages. Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver, whose organization represented the plaintiffs, said in a statement that the order sets a "precedent that minors who are struggling with gender confusion can get the help they need from counselors who are free from political censorship." "Let this be a warning to any government that has not repealed similar counseling bans," stated Staver. In 2017, Boca Raton and Palm Beach County passed measures to ban sexual orientation change efforts therapy also known as "reparative therapy" or "conversion therapy" for minors. Otto and Hamilton, both licensed marriage and family therapists, filed a lawsuit against the local municipalities, arguing that their therapy was not harmful but rather voluntary and centered less on changing the client and more on reducing unwanted same-sex attraction. In November 2020, a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit ruled 2-1 in favor of the plaintiffs, with Circuit Judge Britt Grant authoring the majority opinion. Grant, a Donald Trump appointee, argued that "the First Amendment does not allow communities to determine how their neighbors may be counseled about matters of sexual orientation or gender." "If there is a bedrock principle underlying the First Amendment, it is that the government may not prohibit the expression of an idea simply because society finds the idea itself offensive or disagreeable," Grant added. "We understand and appreciate that the therapy is highly controversial. But the First Amendment has no carveout for controversial speech. We hold that the challenged ordinances violate the First Amendment because they are content-based regulations of speech that cannot survive strict scrutiny." Circuit Judge Barbara Martin, a Barack Obama appointee, authored the dissenting opinion, concluding that the controversial therapy did not deserve First Amendment protections. "The majority invalidates laws enacted to curb these therapeutic practices, despite strong evidence of the harm they cause, as well as the laws' narrow focus on licensed therapists practicing on patients who are minors," wrote Martin. "Although I am mindful of the free-speech concerns the majority expresses, I respectfully dissent from the decision to enjoin these laws." At present, 20 states and the District of Columbia ban sexual orientation change efforts therapy for minors, with California being the first state to pass such a law. Earlier this year, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals denied a full court rehearing of a lawsuit filed by therapist Brian Tingley, who is challenging a similar therapy ban passed by Washington state. A three-judge circuit panel ruled against Tingley last year. "States do not lose the power to regulate the safety of medical treatments performed under the authority of a state license merely because those treatments are implemented through speech rather than through scalpel," the majority opinion stated. "Washington's law prohibits therapists from practicing conversion therapy on minors. It makes no reference to religion, except to clarify that the law does not apply to practice by religious counselors." Although the 9th Circuit denied an en banc rehearing, Circuit Judge Diarmuid F. O'Scannlain wrote that the earlier panel opinion was "erroneous" in its reasoning. "In sum, under binding Supreme Court precedents, conversion therapy consisting entirely of speech cannot be prohibited without some degree of First Amendment scrutiny," wrote O'Scannlain. A military trainer airplane lands at a military airport in Gwangju, South Jeolla Province, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap The National Assembly on Thursday passed a pair of bills for relocating military airports in the southern cities of Daegu and Gwangju. One of the bills involves a plan to move a military airport and a civilian airport in Daegu, 237 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to a new integrated airport to be constructed in two nearby counties in North Gyeongsang Province. The city aims to begin construction in 2025 and open the new airport in 2030. The special act includes provisions for financial support from the central government and measures to expedite the project, including exemptions from preliminary feasibility studies when necessary. The other bill aims to relocate a military airport in the southwestern city of Gwangju, about 270 kilometers south of Seoul, to a site in the nearby South Jeolla Province. The legislation establishes the legal basis for the central government's financial and administrative support for the project. The site for the new airport has yet to be determined. (Yonhap) Archaeological discovery of inscription referencing King Darius of the Bible is 'not authentic' The Israel Antiquities Authority has clarified that what its archaeologists announced last week as a historic discovery an inscription bearing the name of Persian King Darius the Great found at the Tel Lachish National Park in Israel is "not authentic." Eylon Levy, the international media adviser to Israeli President Isaac Herzog, stumbled upon what appeared to be a 2,500-year-old potsherd with the inscribed letters of the ancient king, and he reported it to the IAA, The Jerusalem Post reported last week. The inscription reportedly read, "Year 24 of Darius," which dates back to 498 BCE, the newspaper said. However, Prof. Gideon Avni, the IAA's chief scientist, said in a statement that the organization takes full responsibility for the mistake. Avni said the IAA examined the sherd with the help of Dr. Haggai Misgav, a renowned expert in ancient Aramaic script, and Sa'ar Ganor, an archaeologist studying the Tell Lachish site and surrounding area. As a result, it was discovered that the sherd does not bear an ancient inscription. "As an institution that strives for the scientific truth, we are committed to correcting the mistake that was made and making it known to the public," Avni said. "In terms of ethical and scientific practices, we see this as a very severe occurrence. Leaving the newly inscribed sherd on the site was careless, and led to the mistake done by the researchers and distorted the scientific truth." Levy said he was extremely surprised when he saw the inscription on the ostracon and initially thought it was a prank. While three individuals at the IAA initially doubted the artifact's authenticity, they eventually became convinced that it was real, according to the Post. "The event illustrates the dangers of adding modern scripts on ancient artifacts a phenomena which troubles the entire scientific community for many years. On top of the paleographic examination of the sherd by an experienced epigraphist, the sherd was examined in various laboratories and found to be ancient," Avni said. "This once again proves that only finds discovered in controlled archaeological excavations should be considered 100% authentic. All other finds should raise questions regarding their authenticity." Darius the Great was one of the most famous rulers of the Achaemenid Empire, also known as the first incarnation of the Persian Empire. Taking his reign during a time of chaos, he reorganized what was then the largest empire in the ancient world into provinces. He promoted the Aramaic language. Darius is also mentioned in the Old Testament, including the books of Haggai, Zechariah and Ezra-Nehemiah. According to The Post, some scholars believe that Darius could have been the same person as or inspiration of Darius the Mede, a figure in the Book of Daniel. Euthanasia deaths rise to all-time high in the Netherlands Over 8,700 people died by euthanasia in the Netherlands in 2022, with a 34% increase in requests coming from dementia patients, according to data from the regional monitoring committees that also saw a spike in couples seeking to die together. In 2022, the number of people who died by euthanasia rose to 8,720, increasing by nearly 14%, according to DutchNews, which said the number of deaths by euthanasia has been increasing by almost 10% each year. The percentage of euthanasia-related deaths in The Netherlands rose from 4.5% to 5.1% among all deaths last year. In addition, the RTE noted that 288 euthanasia requests were carried out on dementia patients, increasing by 34% from 2021. A total of 379 couples suffering from various illnesses died by euthanasia because they reportedly felt they had no chance of recovery, an increase of 23% from 2021. Fifty-eight of these couples chose to die together, which involves meeting with separate consultants to see if both patients meet the criteria for euthanasia. Regarding people with severe psychiatric illnesses, 115 such individuals received help hastening their deaths, the same number as in 2021. RTE noted that in 13 cases, doctors did not meet the legal requirements for carrying out an assisted death. Under Dutch law, euthanasia is legal only if a patient is experiencing unbearable suffering with no hope of improvement and the attending physician fulfills certain care criteria. "Since euthanasia was legalized 20 years ago, just 133 of the 91,565 reports had not met the legal criteria," DutchNews reported. During a panel discussion hosted by the Institute for Human Ecology at The Catholic University of America in April, titled "What is Euthanasia Doing to the West?," professor Charlie Camosy at the Creighton University School of Medicine, said the Dutch Parliament approved a bill legalizing euthanasia in the Netherlands in 2001. Belgium copied this example in 2002, taking it further in 2014 by lifting its age restriction on euthanasia in 2014. Camosy warned about a "slippery slope," stressing that accepting assisted suicide turns into acceptance of euthanasia. This eventually turns into accepting euthanasia for physical illness to euthanasia for psychological distress, he said. In Canada, which legalized assisted suicide in 2016, the country initially only permitted doctor-assisted suicide for citizens or permanent residents who were 18 years old or older with "a serious and incurable disease, illness or disability" that included "enduring and intolerable suffering." The countrys parliament expanded the law in 2022 to patients with non-threatening physical disabilities, intending to offer assisted suicide to people with mental illness by March before the Canadian government announced a temporary delay in December last year. If Canada proceeds with the expansion, it will be one of six countries where an individual suffering from mental illness can seek assisted suicide. "Once you permit it, it's very difficult to keep it where it originally was intended because medically and morally, it seems unjust to limit it to the particular population for which it was intended," Camosy said. According to data from the Oregon Public Health Division, 278 people died by assisted suicide in 2022 in the state, a 17% increase from the previous year and a new record. Since Oregon legalized assisted suicide in 1997, over 3,000 people in the state have received prescriptions under the state's Death With Dignity Act, and 2,454 people have died from taking the medications. Among the concerns listed by those who ended their lives, 88.8% said they feared losing the ability "to engage in activities making life enjoyable" and 86.3% said they were worried about "losing autonomy." Over 40% said they were concerned about being a "[b]urden on family, friends/caregivers." India: Church leader fears for Christians as Supreme Court weighs in on 'anti-conversion' laws The Catholic Archbishop of Bangalore has spoken out against India's anti-conversion laws as the Supreme Court prepares to weigh in at two key hearings this month. Archbishop Peter Machado is seeking a ruling from the Supreme Court to compel the disclosure of records of religious violations in states that have anti-conversion laws. The highest court in India will consider his case at a hearing on Friday. Speaking to Open Doors ahead of the hearing, Archbishop Machado warned that anti-conversion laws expose Christians to spurious claims of forced conversion. "These are laws that undermine private family life," he said. "Imagine a person has a holy picture in a book, that they have in their family home. "Their brother could turn on them and say, 'This holy picture is a source of conversion to us,' and bring a claim of forced conversion." At another hearing scheduled for April 29, the Supreme Court is being asked by BJP activist, Ashwinu Upandhay, to call upon the Indian government to extend the anti-conversion laws across all 28 states. According to Open Doors, the anti-conversion laws are being used to target India's Christian and Muslim minorities, and the push to introduce them nationwide is being driven by "nationalist concerns that mass conversion away from Hinduism might alter the country's substantial Hindu majority." Henrietta Blyth, CEO of Open Doors, said, "There is no evidence to support the claims of 'fraudulent conversion' or of 'forced conversion.' "This is an illusion, whipped up by religious nationalists for political purposes. It has the effect of dividing whole communities and families." India is ranked No. 11 on Open Doors' World Watch List of the most dangerous countries to be a Christian. Open Doors reports a "sharp increase" in attacks and mob violence against religious minorities in recent years. The Archbishop of Bangalore is part of the Constitutional Conduct Group, which last month wrote to the Indian government urging it to speak out against increasing violence and intimidation against Christians and end the "climate of fear." "It is imperative that you ... give this reassurance," the group said. Hispanic Evangelicals much less likely to vote for candidates who support late-term abortions: poll Hispanic Evangelicals are much less likely to vote for a candidate who supports late-term abortion, according to a new poll released ahead of the midterm elections. In conjunction with the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, My Faith Votes released the results of a national survey of 1,002 Evangelical Christians and 503 Hispanic Evangelical registered voters Thursday. The poll, commissioned by Heart & Mind Strategies from Aug. 23 to Sept. 6, asked respondents for their thoughts on abortion policy and other political issues facing the United States. The survey presented participants with six statements reflecting a position on the legality of abortion and asked them to identify which statement most closely aligned with their beliefs on the hot-button issue. Just 15% of Evangelical voters said they believe abortion should be available to a woman any time she wants during her entire pregnancy. That number slips to 12% among Hispanic Evangelical voters. Some 5% of Hispanic Evangelicals believe that abortion should only be legal during the first six months of a pregnancy and 18% want to see abortions limited to the first trimester. The remaining 66% expressed support for near-total bans on abortion. Thirty-eight percent of Hispanic Evangelical voters think abortion should only be allowed in cases of rape, incest or to save the life of the mother, while 13% support legal abortion only in cases where the mother is facing a medical emergency. Fifteen percent indicated support for a total ban on abortion. Among the sample of Evangelical voters, 14% believe that abortion should be illegal in all cases; 16% think abortion should only be legal to save the life of the mother; 37% support abortion bans except in cases of rape and incest or to save the life of the mother; 13% want to limit legal abortion to the first three months of pregnancy; 4% support allowing abortions for the first six months of pregnancy, and 15% told pollsters that abortion should remain legal throughout pregnancy. The survey also asked respondents whether they would be more likely or less likely to vote for a congressional candidate who supports third-trimester abortions. Only 8% of Hispanic Evangelical voters characterized themselves as much more likely to vote for a candidate who supports third-trimester abortions, while an additional 9% identified themselves as somewhat more likely to do so. While a substantial portion of that demographic group (28%) maintained that support for third-trimester abortion would make them neither more nor less likely to cast their ballot for a particular candidate, a plurality of Hispanic Evangelical voters (39%) cited support for late-term abortions as a factor that would make them much less likely to vote for a candidate. The remaining 16% were somewhat less likely to support a candidate in favor of third-trimester abortions. Among Evangelical voters as a whole, a majority (52%) are less likely to vote for candidates who support late-term abortion, followed by 22% who are neither more nor less likely to do so, 12% who are somewhat less likely to support such candidates, 7% who classified themselves as much more likely to embrace such candidates, and 6% who are somewhat more likely to. The results of the poll are clear: a Democratic Party which supports late-term abortion at any time under any circumstance is a Democratic Party choosing white, elite liberals over Latinos, said the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, NHCLC President. It is the equivalent of putting a sign on the partys door that says no Latinos allowed. In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Rodriguez predicted that the Democrats position on abortion would cause Latinos to shift away from the party. To some extent, the shift Rodriguez forecasted has already played out in recent elections. Less than one month after the interview, Republican Mayra Flores won a special election in Texas heavily Hispanic 34th Congressional District. Data compiled by the progressive blog The Daily Kos shows that in the 2016 presidential election, the South Texas-based district supported Democrat Hillary Clinton by nearly 22 points. By the 2020 presidential election, the Democratic margin of victory decreased to just 4 points. In the 2020 presidential election, exit polling from CNN found that Latinos supported Democrat Joe Biden over Republican Donald Trump by 33 points. The most recent generic ballot poll conducted by the Economist/YouGov, which asks voters which party they would like to have control of Congress, finds Hispanics favoring the Democratic candidate over the Republican candidate by 17 points. Polls conducted earlier in the year and listed by Rodriguez as evidence that Latinos are abandoning the Democratic Party in droves showed Hispanics favoring Republican candidates by 13 points and 9 points. While the views of Hispanic Evangelical voters and Evangelical voters as a whole on the issue of abortion are nearly identical, Hispanic Evangelicals are less likely than their non-Hispanic counterparts to disapprove of President Bidens job performance on issues other than abortion. Specifically, while 75% of Evangelical voters disapprove of Bidens handling of the unauthorized entry of non-U.S. citizens at the Southern border with Mexico," disapproval of the administrations handling of the issue dropped to 62% among Hispanic Evangelicals. Majorities of Evangelical voters (72%) and Hispanic Evangelical voters (66%) disapproved of Bidens handling of the economy. The survey measured disapproval of the presidents handling of foreign relations with China at 58% among Hispanic Evangelical voters and 70% among Evangelical Voters. A similar gap exists in the approval ratings of Bidens handling of foreign policy, in general, between Hispanic Evangelicals (56%) and Evangelical voters (67%). Similarly, a higher share of Evangelical voters (71%) disapprove of a catch and release policy for illegal immigrants than Hispanic Evangelical voters (56%). Seventy-one percent of Evangelical voters disapprove of Bidens handling of foreign relations with Iran, with a slightly smaller share of Hispanic Evangelical voters (64%) also expressing disapproval. Overall, majorities of Hispanic Evangelical voters (57%) and Evangelical voters (66%) expressed disapproval of the presidents job performance. The survey comes after abortion has emerged as a major issue in the upcoming 2022 midterm elections following the U.S. Supreme Courts decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization finding that the U.S. Constitution did not contain a right to abortion. While polling shows the American public as a whole supporting abortion at some point during a pregnancy, most surveys also illustrate opposition to late-term abortion. Congressional Democrats have repeatedly sought to pass the Womens Health Protection Act, which would codify a right to abortion into federal law and limit the ability of states to enact abortion restrictions. Critics of the legislation have slammed it as a method of enshrining late-term abortion into federal law. Jill Biden faces criticism for comparing Latinos to tacos as Hispanic support for Democrats slips First Lady Jill Biden's comparison of Latinos to tacos has come under fire from advocacy groups and politicians as questions mount about the Democratic Party's ability to win the Latino vote in the upcoming midterm elections. While speaking at a LatinX IncluXion Luncheon at the 2022 UnidosUS Annual Conference in San Antonio, Texas, Monday, Biden brought up the "diversity" of the Latino community, suggesting that the differences between subgroups of Latinos were "as beautiful as the blossoms of Miami and as unique as the breakfast tacos here in San Antonio." The crowd, which consisted of activists affiliated with an advocacy group that describes itself as "the largest Latino civil rights advocacy organization in the United States," appeared amused by her remarks. But other Latino advocacy groups and politicians had a less favorable reaction. The National Association for Hispanic Journalists, which characterizes itself as "a national network of professionals and students dedicated to the recognition and professional advancement of Hispanics in the news industry," strongly criticized Biden's comments in a statement. "Using breakfast tacos to try to demonstrate the uniqueness of Latinos in San Antonio demonstrates a lack of cultural knowledge and sensitivity to the diversity of Latinos in the region," the statement reads. "NAHJ encourages Dr. Biden and her speech writing team to take the time in the future to better understand the complexities of our people and communities. We are not tacos. Our heritage as Latinos is shaped by various diasporas, cultures & food traditions." NAHJ encourages @FLOTUS & her communications team to take time to better understand the complexities of our people & communities. We are not tacos. Our heritage as Latinos is shaped by various diasporas, cultures & food traditions. Do not reduce us to stereotypes. pic.twitter.com/KQIq5gwsht NAHJ (@NAHJ) July 12, 2022 The National Association for Hispanic Journalists appears sympathetic to progressive causes. It recently published a blog post titled "An Undone Right," lamenting that "reproductive care will be even more challenging for marginalized people after the fall of Roe v. Wade." Multiple Latinas running for elected office also took issue with Biden's remarks. Rep. Mayra Flores, R-Texas, who recently won a special election to a U.S. House of Representatives seat based in heavily Hispanic South Texas, cited Biden's taco comparison as an example of "liberal pandering." They just dont get it. Latinos arent buying their liberal pandering; we care about the rising costs of housing, food, gas, issues that impact everyday Americans. No matter how loud they yell their made up words, it wont change the reality of their failed policies. @theMRCpic.twitter.com/gXK7BVUMpF Mayra Flores (@MayraFlores2022) July 12, 2022 "We care about the rising costs of housing, food, gas, issues that impact everyday Americans," Flores stated in a tweet. Flores took issue with the use of the term "Latinx" to refer to the Latino community, stating in another tweet that "Latina > Latinx." Anna Paulina Luna, a Republican running to represent Florida's 13th Congressional District, dubbed the controversy over Biden's remarks "Tacogate" in a tweet Tuesday. A meme accompanying her post featured a picture of a Latino family next to the phrase "What we see" along with a view of cartoon tacos adjacent to the phrase "What Jill Biden sees." Yesli Vega, who is running as a Republican to represent Virginia's 7th Congressional District, wrote on Twitter that her "heritage" and "culture" "are more than tacos." The Hispanic community in America isn't a minority voting pop. for you to use in your punchlines," Vega wrote. "We are citizens who work hard & contribute to this nation. November is coming!" Hey @FLOTUS, my heritage, my culture, & my history are more than tacos. The Hispanic community in America isnt a minority voting pop. for you to use in your punch lines, we are citizens who work hard & contribute to this nation. November is coming!????????pic.twitter.com/RDk0zGmJ6W Yesli Vega (@yestoyesli) July 12, 2022 Biden's remarks come as polls suggest Latinos are expressing dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party. While CNN exit polling found that 65% of Latinos supported Democrat Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, a recent poll from Quinnipiac University showed that just 24% of Latinos approve of the president's job performance. A New York Times/Siena College poll conducted in July found that 32% of Hispanic voters approve of the job Biden is doing as president while nearly two-thirds said they disapprove. Other polls conducted earlier this year asked Latinos for their preferences in the upcoming midterm elections. Results of a Wall Street Journal poll conducted in March indicated that Latinos favored a Republican candidate for Congress over a Democratic candidate by 9 percentage points. An April poll conducted by Marist College in conjunction with NPR and PBS NewsHour revealed that Latinos favor the Republican over the Democrat by 13 points. In a previous interview with The Christian Post, Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, said he thinks the shift in polling suggests are Latino voters are "abandoning the Democratic Party or leftist ideologies." Rodriguez, who participated in President Donald Trump's inauguration and the inaugural prayer service attended by President Barack Obama before his 2009 inauguration, believes the Democratic Party has become "a new progressive, socialist, anti-right, anti-Christian" party. He contends the party "completely ignores the rights of individuals and the idea that we were created in the image of God, with God-ordained rights." Classifying Latinos as "people of faith," he proclaimed, "Latinos are not going to stand for that." Mother of Tyre Nichols says she is living on prayers after police killing of son NEW YORK RowVaughn Wells, the grieving mother of Tyre Nichols, a 29-year-old black man who died three days after he received a brutal beating from five black officers during a traffic stop gone awry in her neighborhood on Jan. 7, says she is inspired to keep living by the power of prayer and the belief that her son completed his mission from God on Earth. People ask me how do I keep going and I tell them two things: the power of prayer that I get from each and every one of you, and the fact that I truly believe that my son was here on a mission from God and his assignment was completed on January 7, 2023, the sobbing mother told a supportive audience at the National Action Network Convention Wednesday. Her comments, made during a session of the convention called From Grief to Action: The Fight for Social Justice Continues, came just hours after city council members in Memphis passed an Achieving Driving Equality ordinance Tuesday that advocates are now pushing to have renamed in honor of Tyre Nichols. A Commercial Appeal report said with the passage of the ordinance, police in Memphis will be directed not to make traffic stops solely for low-level offenses like improperly placed license plates or a single broken brake light. Officers will be allowed to stop drivers for primary violations when there is both a primary and secondary violation. I wanted to ensure that if were asking a certain department or director to implement something, that its actually clear what were asking and is also enforceable, Councilwoman Michalyn Easter-Thomas, who sponsored the ordinance, told the publication. She said with the passage of the ordinance in Memphis, which is only the sixth city in the nation to pass such a law, the hope is interactions between police and the public for poverty crimes will be reduced. While Tennessee laws still take precedence over the local ordinance, Memphis Police Chief Cerelyn CJ Davis told council members that state laws will allow officers to stop cars for secondary violations if there is a situation thats an outlier, according to the Commercial Appeal. Addressing the NAN convention Wednesday, which featured activist family members of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, Amir Locke, Eric Garner and Ahmaud Arbery, RowVaughn Wells said while she had yet to read the complete details of the Memphis ordinance, she believes it is a step in the right direction. Its been said we got a lot of things accomplished in Memphis. They just passed a law yesterday and were gonna continue to fight and make sure that this doesnt happen to another Tyre or Ahmaud Arbury or Trayvon Martin or George Floyd. Its just too many of our black men being killed for nothing and no one is giving us answers why. You dont see our white brothers being brutally beaten, Wells claimed. We were here in New York when it passed so we havent had any chance to just read everything, but we do find it is a great step in the right direction. We need to put this on the state level as well as the federal level to make sure this does not happen to any child again. Wells attorney, Benjamin Crump, and NAN founder Al Sharpton also agreed that the passage of the ordinance is a step in the right direction. No longer will they have stops for no cause, traveling while black, because of Tyre, said Sharpton. And as we see his mother standing here weeping, that will never bring back her son, but her son has saved the lives of other sons. Myanmar sentences Baptist pastor to 6 years in prison after speaking out against atrocities A court in Myanmar has sentenced the former president of the Kachin Baptist Convention Hkalam Samson, who was arrested and detained by the country's junta in December, to six years in prison despite calls from the United States government for his release. A court in Myitkyina sentenced Rev. Samson under the Unlawful Association Act, the Penal Code and the Terrorism Act, according to the United Kingdom-based rights group Christian Solidarity Worldwide. Samson, who now serves as Chairman of the Kachin National Consultative Assembly, was arrested on charges of meeting with members of an ethnic armed group and holding a prayer meeting with members of the parallel civilian government of Myanmar, also known as Burma. CSW's Senior Analyst for East Asia Benedict Rogers called the sentencing "an outrageous travesty of justice." "Reverend Dr. Samson is a completely non-violent Christian pastor and a brave and tireless advocate of justice, human rights and peace," said Rogers, author of three books on Myanmar and a friend of Rev. Samson. The conflict between the military, locally known as Tatmadaw, and ethnic minority militias has escalated since the military's coup in February 2021. The ethnic militias have been supporting pro-democracy protesters. "He has been jailed simply for courageously speaking out against the Myanmar military's barbaric atrocities perpetrated against the people of Myanmar," Rogers said. Samson, who previously served as KBC president and secretary, leads the Kachin National Consultative Assembly, a group of local religious and political leaders who help foster communication between the Kachin Independence Organization, the political wing of the Kachin Independence Army, and the local community. The bishop arranged the funerals of more than 60 victims of the junta's airstrike on a KIO anniversary concert in Hpakant township last October. He also tried to arrange for the seriously injured to receive emergency medical treatment. A month after the incident, he participated in a prayer meeting in Myitkyina, organized by the Myanmar Council of Churches, which represents the country's Christian groups, to commemorate the victims. In February, U.S. State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned Samson's arrest in a press briefing. "We are extremely concerned for his well-being and safety, and urge our partners and allies to join us in calling on the regime to drop all charges and immediately and unconditionally release Reverend Samson," Price said. The junta has killed more than 3,200 people and arrested over 21,300 others as of Wednesday, according to The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners. "The international community must speak out strongly to demand his immediate release from prison and intensify efforts to apply targeted sanctions against Myanmar's illegal military regime until all political prisoners are freed, the military ceases all attacks in the ethnic states and Myanmar is placed on a path of genuine federal democracy," Rogers said. The Southeast Asian country is home to the world's longest Civil War, which began in 1948. The conflict zones are along Myanmar's borders with India, Thailand and China. Christians comprise just over 7% of the majority-Buddhist nation but are a majority in Chin State, which borders India, and Kachin State, which borders China. Christians also make up a substantial part of the population of Kayah State, which borders Thailand. Last June, multiple reports, including by the United Nations, revealed that the junta brutally attacked and killed hundreds of children since the military coup. Tom Andrews, the U.N. special rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar, said in a report at the time that "the junta's relentless attacks on children underscore the generals' depravity and willingness to inflict immense suffering on innocent victims in its attempt to subjugate the people of Myanmar." "I received information about children who were beaten, stabbed, burned with cigarettes, and subjected to mock executions, and who had their fingernails and teeth pulled out during lengthy interrogation sessions," Andrews said. 'Believe in Satan': Vandals deface church with phallic images, 666 in Easter Sunday attack A church in rural Virginia was the target of vandalism on Easter Sunday when vandals smashed windows and spray-painted profanity and vulgar images on the exterior and interior of the house of worship. Konnarock Baptist Church of Washington County saw the aftermath left behind in four of the building's five rooms. Only the sanctuary was left unscathed, according to NBC News affiliate WCYB in Bristol. Pastor Clarence Blevins, who has been a member of the church for 30 years, told WCYB that he found it bewildering how anybody could be so cold as to do something like this in the house of God. The little place here on the side of the road thats here to give people a place to come and worship the Lord and hear the Gospel preached in truth and spirit, and then somebody have that much hate of the truth, is just beyond my comprehension, said Blevins. Some of the offensive messages spray-painted on the walls of the church were "Believe in Satan," "I'm not sorry," a pentagram and the number 666. Detective William Smarr of the Washington County Sheriff's Office, who is heading the investigation into the vandalism, described to The Christian Post what he saw at the church. As best we can tell, the vandalism occurred this past Easter Sunday after the morning services concluded. Two windows were damaged on the side of the church. On one window, all four panes were broken out. On the other window, one pane was broken," Smarr said. "Both the inside and outside of the church were spray painted with vulgar imagery. Imagery includes a stick figure hanging from a noose, phallic images, the number of the Beast (666), a pentagram, the phrase Im not sorry, et cetera." Smarr told CP that the investigation was ongoing and that, to his knowledge, "we have not had any recent incidents similar to this. Although I can recall in years past churches being broken into and having musical, sound and computer equipment stolen in our jurisdiction." According to a recent report by the Family Research Council, attacks on churches in the United States have been steadily on the rise for the past several years, and the first quarter of 2023 has continued the upward trend. The first three months of 2023 saw approximately three times the number of acts of hostility perpetrated against churches in the same timeframe last year, wrote Arielle Del Turco, director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the Family Research Council. In February, unidentified vandals attacked the Jesus Is Alive World Center of Reading, Pennsylvania, causing around $70,000 in damages to the sanctuary and its equipment. Damages done to the Jesus Is Alive church included broken stained-glass windows, damaged pews, a damaged television, broken piano keys and extensive staining of the carpet caused by an unknown white powdery substance. "The damage we have seen is not less than $70,000," Jesus Is Alive Pastor Isaiah Adio told ABC News affiliate WPVI earlier this year. We are not going to be frustrated; we will continue doing what we are doing for the Body of Christ and our community. Jesus and the harvest urgency: They are ripe I got my first job when I was 14. It was as a custom hay hauler in Perryton, Texas, seven miles south of the Oklahoma border. I was an inner-city kid from Denver, but I had some friends from Texas who had a family farm near what at that time was a town of 3,000 people. They approached me one day and said: Come do some custom hay-hauling with us over the summer. Youll make a ton of money, and well have a lot of fun. I never would have dreamed that my ma would allow me to go to Texas for a whole summer with a bunch of wild Texan farm boys, but she did. It didnt take me long to realize Id gotten myself neck-deep in truly hard work. We loaded and unloaded 1,000 to 1,200 bales of hay a day, six days a week. Wed fill up a semitruck flatbed high with bales we collected from the fields and then empty them into barns or wherever they wanted them stacked. It was grueling. To this day, its the hardest work Ive ever done (and I was a roofer for 8 years!). But we werent the only ones working hard that summer. Farmers were rushing from place to place. Huge farm equipment was always moving down the highway. Even what looked to be 8-year-old boys were speeding down the street driving Ford F-150 trucks, headed to drop something off or pick something up for their farming fathers. I asked my friends, Why is everyone so busy here? I thought this place would be laid-back. They looked at me like the clueless city boy I was and simply said: Its harvest time! It quickly became clear to me that harvest time meant all-hands-on deck. Men, women, boys, girls anyone and everyone was working hard. Why? Because if you dont collect the harvest in time, it could rot and die! There was more urgency to farm life than Id ever imagined. Jesus and the harvest I may have been oblivious to harvest urgency, but Jesus wasnt. Dont you have a saying, Its still four months until harvest? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest (John 4:35). There were three primary harvests in Israel. There was a spring grain harvest, a summer grape harvest, and an autumn olive harvest. So, in a sense, you were always four months out from another harvest, no matter what time of year it was. Thats where the saying comes from. You could be harvesting grain in the spring and say, Its still four months until harvest. You could be harvesting grapes in the summer and say, Its still four months until harvest. It was a tongue-in-cheek saying reminding you that you were always about four months out from another harvest. But Jesus told His disciples to stop looking ahead to the next harvest and start looking around to the current one! He told them: I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. What the Son of God told His disciples by the well in Samaria that day (probably as the Samaritans were filing out of the city based on the Samaritan womans testimony), the Word of God is telling us today: Open your eyes. Look at the fields. They are ripe for harvest. Primetime People are more ready for the Gospel than you might think. I assume this when I talk to someone about the Gospel, and I try to do it every single day. What I find is this: When you engage them in the right way (conversational, humble, curious), most people are open to at least talk about it, and some are ready to put their faith in Jesus right on the spot. This is especially true of young people after the tragedy and isolation of COVID. When I talk to my fellow evangelists, they say responses to the Gospel by young people at their outreach events have been off the charts over the last three years. Dont say: Its still four months until summer camp. Its still four months until our big annual outreach. Or even Its four months until Dare 2 Share Live. Four months is too far away. As 2 Corinthians 6:2 reminds us: I tell you, now is the time of Gods favor, now is the day of salvation. Now, not then Start thinking in terms of now, not just then, when it comes to outreach. Here are some ideas to help you. The go movement If its April or May and teens are busy with year-end activities, make sure one of those activities is a last push to share the Gospel during the school year. They can even check out this resource from the GoMovement that challenges believers to share Jesus throughout the month of May. Go share day The last Saturday of every month, hundreds of youth groups around the world participate in #GoShareDay. They do creative outreaches that incorporate prayer, care, and share. Go to the website to discover a list of suggestions. Everyday evangelism If your teenagers go to a public school, then in the words of my good friend Chris Selby, they are federally funded missionaries. Every single day is an opportunity for them to build friendships and engage peers in Gospel conversations. Even most students who dont go to public school have a smartphone. Have them download the free Life in 6 Words app and start engaging a circle of friends online through the apps QuickStarter questions and shareable videos. Why now? Its harvest time! Yoon needs more prudent, practical diplomatic approach Bad things can happen to a country the important point is, how they are handled. However, President Yoon Suk Yeol and his administration have often aggravated problems while dealing with them. When at least 158 people died in a crowd disaster in Itaewon last October, the government focused on minimizing its ill effects, failing to fully comfort the bereaved families. A similar thing is happening in the field of diplomacy. Controversy is still brewing over the U.S.' alleged spying on its allies, including Korea. But Seoul seems even busier than Washington in telling the public that it is no big deal and should not be allowed to hurt bilateral ties. Kim Tae-hyo, the principal deputy national security adviser, is the epicenter of such problematic responses. Leaving for Washington to fine-tune Yoon's state visit to the U.S., Kim said he would not raise any issues concerning the eavesdropping allegation. "The two countries agreed that much of the leaked documents' contents were fabricated," he said. For him, what mattered was only the accuracy of the leaked facts not the bugging itself. Upon arrival in Washington, Kim said, "We've found no circumstances where the wiretapping was malicious." We are speechless. Eavesdropping is prohibited even among individuals, regardless of a perpetrator's intentions. This man deals with national security and reportedly has the president's ear. When Yoon returned from Tokyo after conceding seemingly everything and taking nothing in return, a Korean victim of sex slavery asked, "Is President Yoon Korean or Japanese?" Likewise, people can't help but ask: Is adviser Kim Korean or American? "Even the Japanese side was surprised (with Seoul's idea on how to solve the forced labor issue on its own)," Kim boasted proudly after the Tokyo fiasco. "We did not try to get something in return from Japan but decided to go in globally big ways." However, Japan went a few steps back in its latest Diplomatic Bluebook. Tokyo did not reiterate its rhetoric to follow previous governments' historical interpretations, while further strengthening its sovereignty claims over the Dokdo islets. Will the rest of the world rebuke Tokyo for breaching diplomatic trust or laugh at Seoul for its diplomatic naivety? If there is one sympathizer, it is Washington. President Joe Biden, who issued a welcoming statement regarding the Korea-Japan agreement at midnight, will also give a hearty welcome to Yoon later this month. The two leaders will likely wrap up the surveillance scandal with some nice words. Biden may ease his pressure on economic matters, including in the field of semiconductors, in return if only temporarily. Many diplomatic experts, including conservatives, express concerns about the nearly obsessive adherence of this government to the U.S. and Japan. These are legitimate worries, given today's global political landscape, driven not by ideologies or automatic alliances but by national interests and the continuously changing balance between superpowers. Most middle powers, including India, Brazil and Turkey, have formed a non-aligned group in the 21st century. Even Japan, most keenly aware of China's political and military emergence, deals with Beijing under the table regarding economic issues. Yes, the U.S. will remain South Korea's sole ally for the foreseeable future. Seoul should also cooperate with Tokyo in many areas. North Korea will likely continue to be what it is now. However, all this cannot explain or justify Yoon's "trilateral alliance-or-nothing" diplomacy. The binary thinking of the president and his national security czar puts the nation on shaky diplomatic ground and it could all very much backfire. Koreans remember Kim's previous blind dash for an intelligence pact with Japan and how that led to a widespread backlash, forcing ex-President Lee Myung-bak to visit Dokdo, which froze the bilateral relationship for years. Kim might wish to melt the ties with his own hands. However, no one can tell when Koreans' collective suppressed anger and simmering disgruntlement with servile diplomacy will explode and how. Yoon must think deeply about how long he and his top security aide could and should continue with their current stance. Putin is not the defender of the faithful Russia is not the bastion of traditionalism and religious freedom that the Putin regime claims it to be. Despite a weekly religious service attendance rate of 7%, on-demand state-funded abortions until the 12th week, and appalling rates of corruption, the Kremlin has maintained a steady stream of propaganda claiming that Russia is defending traditional and Christian values from Western degeneracy. This appeal has fallen upon receptive ears among conservative and religious individuals around the world. However, the Kremlins policies within Russia and within the occupied Ukrainian territories reveal a different picture. In reality, Vladimir Putin uses religion to manipulate foreign and domestic audiences while engaging in religious persecution. Religion as an arm of the state To understand why Russia engages in religious persecution, it is important to understand the Kremlins religious policy. Under Putin, the Russian Orthodox Church and other approved religions became tools of state policy. According to Putin, there are four traditional and exclusively Patriotic religions, Russian Orthodoxy, Islam, Buddhism, and Judaism. Since 2012, when the Kremlin started incorporating religious and conservative messages into the governments rhetoric, these institutions were showered with financial and political benefits due to their close ties with the regime. Those who fell outside these four patriotic religions freedoms were subject to anti-missionary laws and state surveillance, which eroded their ability to practice their religion openly. This tactical choice targets independent religious activity outside of the Kremlins control and allows the regime to prosecute religious groups through incredibly vague laws. Notable groups target under these laws include Jehovahs Witnesses, Muslims, and Evangelicals. Indeed, according to a 2019 report, Evangelicals were the group most penalized under the anti-missionary laws. For example, the Kremlin forced a Russian Christian radio station to relocate from Moscow, Russia to Odesa, Ukraine. In 2022, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended labeling Russia as a country of particular concern for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom. Religion in occupied Ukraine prior to 2022 As part of its imperial policy, Russia exported its own cooptation of religion as a tool of control to the occupied Ukrainian territories of Luhansk, Donbas, and Crimea following the outbreak of war in 2013. The religious freedom organization, Forum 18, reported that out of the 203 religious organizations registered with the Russian authorities in the occupied Luhansk region, nearly 95% of them belonged to Russian Orthodox communities under the Moscow Patriarchate. Not a single non-Russian Orthodox, Protestant, or Jehovahs Witnesses group was allowed to register. Additionally, in Crimea, only a third of the religious communities were officially registered by occupation authorities out of the 1,156 recognized under Ukrainian law. The Crimean authorities refused to register applications from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine or the many mosques belonging to the native Crimean Tatar community. The refusal to register these groups is tantamount to a ban because, without Kremlin approval, these groups cannot operate openly. One pastor from the occupied Donbas said that his congregation went underground, like in Soviet times. The consequences for these communities were devastating. In Donbas, the occupation authorities banned and destroyed various works of Protestant literature including an 1820 Baptist translation of the Gospel of John and Born to Die by Billy Graham. According to the Russian occupation authorities, these books contained extreme content and the General Prosecutors Office stated these books violate rights, freedoms and legal interests of others. A U.S. State Department report on religious freedom in Ukraine recorded that Protestant religious leaders considered the actions of the occupation authorities in Donbas and Luhansk as an attempt to undermine the strong pre-war Protestant population in those regions. Additionally, the authorities prevented Catholic priests from living in the occupied territories, and in Crimea, home to the Muslim Crimean Tatar, believers are systematically targeted under the guise of countering religious extremism. Invasion and subjugation Kremlin-directed religious persecution only increased following the February 2022 invasion. American pre-war intelligence indicated religious minorities were one of the vulnerable populations that Russian authorities planned to target a charge vindicated by subsequent events. According to Dr. Maksym Vasin, Executive Director of Kyiv-based Institute for Religious Freedom (IRF), The Russian military purposefully attacked, illegally imprisoned, interrogated, or captured at least 50 Ukrainian religious figures. However, this number may be several times higher and at least 500 churches and religious sites were destroyed in Ukraine during the year of the full-scale Russian invasion. A report published by the IRF in September 2022 documents multiple cases where religious leaders were detained by Russian authorities, subjected to violent torture, and threatened with execution. The report also documented how Catholic, Non-Moscow affiliated Orthodox churches, and Protestant churches were deliberately attacked and vandalized, with religious materials destroyed by Russian-aligned forces. Further, Catholic priests in Berdiansk were arrested by the Russian authorities for alleged subversive and guerilla activities, charges the Donetsk Exarchate vigorously denies. Given the genocidal policies undertaken by occupying Russian forces and the denial of the existence of the Ukrainian nation, the persecution of Ukrainian religious communities is not surprising. According to Dr. Vasin, Russian military and FSB agents (successors of the KGB) seem to enjoy torturing and ruling over the lives of captured Ukrainian religious figures. Evangelical Christians slandered as sectarians and American spies especially suffer from targeted Russian repression. Religious leaders and other public figures who manifest Ukrainian identity are also brutally treated. The disdain for Ukrainian religious figures is visible in the rhetoric of occupation authorities. Artem Charlai, the head of the Department for Religious Issues in occupied Zaporizhzya, said in an interview that under the Ukrainian Government, Complete freedom was given to the most dangerous religious organizations, sectarian, totalitarian sects. According to him, it was necessary to stop their extremist antics. When asked to identify these sects, he singled out Charismatics, Protestants, Jehovahs Witnesses, and Muslims affiliated with the Crimean Mejlis. He later claimed that these groups coordinated with Western intelligence agencies, a ridiculous claim which was commonly used by the Soviet authorities. Likewise, the Former Assistant Secretary of the Russian Security Council, Aleksey Pavlov, went even further by writing that Russia needed to desatanize Ukraine. According to Pavlov, these sects are part of a conspiracy to force Ukrainians to abandon their century-old traditions. Traditions that are conveniently controlled and defined by the Kremlin. These instances might seem like minor issues in a war that has displaced millions of Ukrainians and killed at least 7,000 civilians since the start of the war. However, they illustrate that Russias ideological rhetoric does not conform to the regimes actions. Individuals of faith who admire Putin for his supposed defense of Christian or traditional values should realize their faith community would likely not be allowed to operate freely in any Russian-occupied territory. Further, these admirers would likely be subject to the wars arbitrary violence which was described by the Russian Patriarch of Moscow as a holy war and a war that can reward participants with the remission of sins. Conclusion If you shall know them by their fruit, then the Putin regime is rotten. A regime thats threatened by Baptist bible translations and Billy Graham tracts should be disdained, not admired. Its a regime that perceives religious freedom as a threat because it undermines its control over society. In the end, Putins rhetorical argument about defending traditional values is a veil designed to mask Russian imperial ambitions, consolidate power through religious persecution, hide the flaws within the regime, and justify its actions on the international stage. Individuals who believe in traditional values should not follow the lead of a charlatan. In 1871, Welsh-American adventurer Henry Morton Stanley succeeded in his well-publicised search for missing Scottish missionary/explorer David Livingstone. After their famous encounter in what is now Tanzania, Stanley accepted a commission from the notorious King Leopold II of Belgium to explore the Congo region. During his explorations Stanley heard of a strange and large forest animal the local pygmy tribespeople called atti, or oapi Although he had never seen one himself, Stanley mentioned the creature in his 1890 book In Darkest Africa. From the Mbuti tribes descriptions, he thought it was a donkey. In 1900, a German entrepreneur kidnapped some Mbuti pygmy tribespeople from their Ituri Forest village in the Congo. His plan was to display them as live exhibits at the Paris Exhibition. Although Belgian soldiers stationed in the Congo gave chase, the showman managed to flee into Uganda. The Belgian government requested Sir Harry Johnston (British colonial administrator and keen amateur naturalist) to intervene. He duly freed the abductees and sent the evildoer back to Germany. While in Uganda, the grateful rescued Mbuti answered the curious governors questions about the oapi (soon anglicized as okapi). Johnston resolved to accompany the rescued Mbuti back into the Belgian Congo, in hopes of seeing an okapi himself. Shy and quiet The okapi are notoriously shy and quiet, their large ears can detect the slightest sound and it was not until 2008 a photograph of an okapi in the wild was obtained from a camera trap. Doubted knowledgeable advice As Johnston and his expedition party were tramping wearily through the Tanzanian jungle in July 1900, the Mbuti guides suddenly became excited, pointing out okapi tracks in the wet earth. However, these were of a cloven-hoofed animal, whereas from Stanleys account Johnston was expecting a donkey and so refused to follow them (supporters of evolutionary theory make a similar error. They doubt the most reliable eyewitness testimony [the Bible] and are very selective about what physical evidence they will follow.) Johnston and his group were soon badly affected by illness and the oppressive jungle humidity so they turned back to Fort Mbeni, an outpost on the fringe of the Ituri Forest. The Belgian commander there, Lieutenant Meura, had seen okapi carcasses and skins and gave Johnston a pair of okapi-skin bandoliers. The bandoliers had been made from the portion of skin on the rear legs of the okapi which are striped like a zebras. An apparently new species of zebra Arriving back in Uganda, Governor Johnston sent the two bandoliers to the London Zoological Society for identification. English zoologist Philip Sclater examined the two pieces of skin and found the hairs to be structurally indistinguishable from a zebra. At the 5th February 1901 meeting of the London Zoological Society, Sclater declared the skin pieces were from an apparently new species of zebra Meanwhile, back in the Congo, Lieutenant Meura died of blackwater fever. Meuras 2IC, Karl Erikson, was able to send Johnston a complete okapi skin, two skulls, and some hooves. When reading this letter and seeing the complete skin and the two skulls, Johnston finally realised the okapi could not be a donkey or zebra. Like an extinct giraffe Johnston recognized the giraffe-like characteristics of the knob-like hair-covered horns (ossicones) on one of the skulls. From the skin Johnston could see the neck wasnt long and so concluded the okapi was from the giraffe family (Giraffidae) and was most like the extinct Miocene fossil genus Helladotherium. He sent the skulls and skin on to England, suggesting the name Helladotherium tigrinum which led to it being called the forest giraffe. Evolutionary ideas - wrong conclusion Dubbed a living fossil, the okapi was hailed as being one of the survivors of the giraffine group, flourishing in southern Asia and Europe during Miocene ages, several million years ago. The okapi had found a safe retreat in the heart of Africa, in the gloom of the Congo forests. (About 30,000 okapis are found in the wild today. They live only in the tree-covered mountainous areas of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, formerly Zaire). Modern evolutionists are saying the okapi and the giraffe shared a common ancestor. On the basis of mitochondrial DNA comparisons, evolutionists concluded the okapi and the giraffe split from that common ancestor 16 million years ago. A subsequent DNA study came up with an estimate substantially less, i.e., 11.5 million years ago. Creationists would agree giraffes and okapis had a common ancestor (being of the same created kind) but would put the timeline at only about 4,500 years ago, thanks to the Bibles reliable historical account of Noahs Ark and the Genesis Flood. Evolutionary ideas adversely affect not only academic pursuits, but people and society. The German showmans intent to display the Mbuti as live exhibits in Paris would have almost certainly been in line with Darwinian notions of, and Europeans curiosity about, the lesser evolved races of the world. Both creationists and evolutionists pretty much agree today the chance of finding a living dinosaur is remote. The primary reason evolutionists give - dinosaurs have been extinct for about 65 million years - is seriously flawed. The coelacanth fish and the Wollemi pine for example, were both previously known only from dinosaur-age fossils. Evolutionists have still not been able to provide a satisfactory explanation of how these can be living today and yet be completely absent as fossils in rocks dated as being younger than 60 million years. Note:This article is paraphrased from an article in Creation Magazine, Vol 44, August 2022 by David Catchpoole, B.Ag.Sc.(Hons), Ph.D Canadian pastor arrested after protesting drag queen events (CP) A Canadian pastor spent Easter weekend in jail after publicly protesting drag shows for children at public libraries in Calgary, Alberta, marking his third arrest in five weeks. Video footage posted on Rumble shows Calgary police officers arresting Pastor Derek Reimer of Mission 7 Ministries as he protested outside the Genesis Centre on April 4, five days before Easter. Reimer has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of drag queen story hours, events usually hosted by public libraries where men dressed as women read to children. Reimer was arrested on two separate occasions for similar protests, both of which occurred last month. In an interview with Rebel News, Reimer described his arrest as "outrageous." Reimer claims he was "nearly a kilometer away from the Genesis Centre, just preaching, making people aware of what was taking place there." He said the focus of his protest was the "pervert grooming hour" taking place there, referring to a drag queen story hour. "The cops come up, you can already see in the video, they arrest me, they're not telling me even what I'm arrested for or what the warrants are for," he lamented. The police informed Reimer that "there's a warrant out for eight additional charges." The eight charges include five counts of breaching court conditions, two counts of causing a disturbance and one count of criminal harassment, according to The Calgary Herald. Speaking to Rebel News, Reimer's attorney Ben Allison said his client spent Easter weekend in jail due to an alleged breach of his bail conditions. Responding to reports that the additional charges were "hate-motivated," Allison said that "if a person is sentenced of any criminal act, one of the factors ... the court can consider is whether or not ... the criminal act was motivated by hate." The Christian Post There's a reason every hit worship song sounds the same On Easter Sunday, the worship band at Bethel Community Church in Redding, California, opened the service with "This Is Amazing Grace," a 2012 hit that has remained one of the most popular worship songs of the past decade. Chances are thousands of other churches around the country also sang that song or one very similar to it. A new study found that Bethel and a handful of other megachurches have cornered the market on worship music in recent years, churning out hit after hit and dominating the worship charts. The study looked at 38 songs that made the Top 25 lists for CCLI and PraiseCharts which track what songs are played in churches and found that almost all had originated from one of four megachurches. All the songs in the study which ranged from "Our God" and "God Is Able" to "The Blessing" debuted on those charts between 2010 and 2020. Of the songs in the study, 36 had ties to a group of four churches: Bethel; Hillsong, a megachurch headquartered in Australia; Passion City Church in Atlanta, which runs a popular youth conference that fills stadiums; and Elevation, a North Carolina congregation with ties to the Southern Baptist Convention. "If you have ever felt like most worship music sounds the same," the study's authors wrote, "it may be because the worship music you are most likely to hear in many churches is written by just a handful of songwriters from a handful of churches." The research team, made up of two worship leaders and three academics who study worship music, made some initial findings public Tuesday (April 11). More details from the study will likely be released in the coming weeks. Elias Dummer, a worship leader and recording artist, said he and his colleagues have been watching changes in worship music over the past decade. They wanted to know how worship songs become popular among churches, he said. They also wanted to know how the business of producing and marketing songs is shaping the worship life of local churches. Dummer said many worship leaders believe the best songs become the most popular in churches. They also believe those songs become popular because they work people respond to them during worship services and want to sing them over and over. But that's not exactly true. Dummer and his colleagues found many of the more recent hits songs were released as singles on Spotify and other streaming services, which helps fuel their popularity. "There are actual mechanisms by which songs become the most significant," he said. "It's not just whatever songs the Holy Spirit blesses that make it to the top of the charts." For their study, researchers compared popular worship songs written before 2010 with those written from 2010 to 2020. Those earlier songs were often associated with individual worship leaders such as Chris Tomlin and Matt Redman, rather than with churches, and came from a variety of sources. But beginning in 2010, the most popular new songs began to come from megachurch worship bands and the most popular worship artists began affiliating with those churches. Of the 38 songs in the study, 22 were initially released by the four megachurches, with another eight songs released by artists affiliated with those churches. Six more were either collaborations between artists from those churches or cover songs performed by those churches. Shannan Baker, a postdoctoral fellow at Baylor University, said the megachurch worship teams in the study also popularized songs from other artists, such as "Way Maker," a song written by Sinach, a well-known Nigerian musician, as well as "Great Are You Lord" and "Tremble." "These bigger churches, even if they weren't involved in making the songs, platformed them," she said. Adam Perez, assistant professor of worship studies at Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee, said the four most influential megachurches all come from the charismatic tradition of Protestant churches. All of them, he said, have a spirituality that believes God becomes present in a "meaningful and powerful way" when the congregation sings a particular style of worship song. Those songs become one of the primary ways of connecting with God rather than prayer or sacraments or other rituals. Because of their market success, these churches have changed the spiritual practices and sometimes even the theology of congregations from many traditions. "The industry itself becomes this invisible hand," he said. "We don't name the theology of praise and worship we just assume it. And we use this kind of song repertoire to reinforce it." The study did not look specifically at the lyrics of the most popular songs. Baker did say she's looking at those lyrics for a different project and found a few trends. For example, she said, few of the most popular songs talk about the cross or salvation. "A lot of it is, what is God doing for me now? And what has God promised to do for me in the future?" she said. Baker said that in the past, artists or publishers would put out a songbook or recordings of new worship songs, and then churches would pick out the songs in those collections that best fit their context. Now, she and other researchers wonder if these megachurches are driving which songs are used in worship. The study is based on data about popular worship songs obtained by Mike Tapper, a religion professor at Southern Wesleyan University. Tapper and his colleague Marc Jolicoeur, a worship pastor from New Brunswick, Canada, worked on a previous study about how quickly hit worship songs appear and then disappear. Jolicoeur said any concerns about the theology of the four megachurches, or the recent troubles at Hillsong, which has had several pastors resign in scandal, don't seem to affect the demand for their music. The popularity of megachurch worship songs doesn't surprise Leah Payne, professor of American religious history at Portland Seminary in Oregon. Payne, who studies the Christian music business, said it likely reflects broader worship patterns. While most churches in the United States are small, most Christians worship at large churches. The 2020 Faith Communities Today survey found that about 70% of worshippers attend the top 10% of churches. "The fact that the worship music of megachurches has a bigger share of the worship market corresponds to the practice of worshippers," said Payne. Payne doubts that scandals at churches such as Hillsong will affect the popularity of their music because people have a relationship with the songs, not with church leaders. Payne said worship bands at the most popular megachurches have a knack for creating great pop songs. And they know how to connect with mass audiences both in person and through streaming services. "They can go toe-to-toe with some of the biggest acts in music," she said. Religion News Service We know Americans have become less religious - surprising new data shows us where One of the most fascinating aspects of American religion is the peculiarity of its distribution across the United States. We know that large swaths of New England are dominated by mainline Protestants and white Catholics, while parts of South Florida have large Jewish enclaves, and Utah is the base for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Seeing these geographic affiliations up close, however, means looking at religious populations at the county level, which is notoriously difficult. Many local religious bodies do not keep accurate membership rolls, and among the influential non-denominational Christian congregations, there is by definition no central recordkeeping about weekly attendance or even the number of houses of worship. To remedy that, the Association of Statisticians of American Religious Bodies conducts a decennial census with the aim of collecting information about the number of "congregations, members, adherents, and attendees" of as many religious groups as possible, including county data. This group has just released preliminary data from its collection efforts in 2020 and posted it in the Association of Religion Data Archives. Given that the Religion Census has been conducted for decades, it's possible to measure religious change at the county level, too. The data solidifies what we know about American religion: faith is particularly strong in what has traditionally been known as the Bible Belt. In many counties in states like Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana and Texas, over half of the county-level population is aligned with a religious tradition. That high level of religious adherence also extends northward through the Great Plains in states like Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas. Out West, meanwhile, counties in Washington and Oregon have fewer than 35% of their populations aligned with a faith tradition. The same trend is apparent in New England as well. With the share of Americans with no religious affiliation rising dramatically over the last few years, it stands to reason that the Religion Census would also note this decline at the county level. What's surprising is where the largest drops in religious adherence came from. Between 2010 and 2020, many counties across North and South Dakota, Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan saw drops in total religious adherents of at least 10%. That same decline appeared in Pennsylvania, New York and Massachusetts, as well. However, South Florida and many of the least-populous counties in Texas close to the border with Mexico saw notable growth, as did parts of New Mexico and Arizona. Additionally, counties in Idaho became more religious in 2020 over 2010. One obvious cause is the growing so-called God Gap the expanding chasm between areas that vote Republican in high numbers and display a higher level of religious devotion and counties that favor Democrats and are frequently less religious. To test the strength of the God Gap, I created a scatter plot of the relationship between the vote share in the 2020 presidential election and the growth or decline in religion between 2010 and 2020. On the right side of the plot are counties where Trump got a larger share than Biden in 2020, while the left side are more Democratic-leaning counties. At the top of the graph are counties that added adherents between 2010 and 2020, while the bottom half are those counties where religious adherence dropped. A simple linear model indicates that the relationship between these two variables is essentially non-existent. Counties that were more Trump-friendly actually seemed to lose religious adherents at slightly higher rates than predominantly Democratic counties, but the impact was so subtle as to not be statistically or substantively significant. Obviously, religious change is tied up with a number of factors, including immigration, age, economics and fertility. Those are the types of puzzles that social sciences will try to piece together with this tremendous source of data over the next decade. With some solid theorizing and strong data analysis, the academic community will develop a clearer picture of the dynamics of the American religious landscape. Religion News Service This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Constantine Megas sought the American dream just like others who emigrated to the United States post-World War II. By the early 1950s, multiple relatives were settling in Southeast Texas one of whom had just taken over The Schooner Seafood & Steaks. Megas eventually took over operations himself in 1968, and the Nederland restaurant ended up becoming a longtime dining fixture in town. Although his sons Steve and George transitioned toward becoming the restaurants majority owners, Megas is still involved trying operations in some manner, ensuring his pride and joy continues to push forward. The Enterprise sat down with Megas to discuss his journey to becoming a longtime restaurant owner and seeing The Schooner reach a significant milestone. RELATED: 7 questions with... Benny's Pizza owner Brandon Rodriguez Q: The Schooner Seafood & Steaks has been open for over 75 years now. Tell me about that milestone. A: Were fortunate and happy and thankful for the whole area for supporting us for all these years. Its been wonderful. I came from Greece in 1952. To me, its been a dream come true here. Its been wonderful. I live the American dream. I came here with actually (knowing) no English, no trade, no education Its been a great ride for me. RELATED: 7 questions with... Elsa's Greek Grill owner Elzane Kaliqani Q: Coming to America, having to learn all the customs, how does it differ from Greece? A: Theres no comparison. Its like daylight (and) darkness. Here in America, a person can survive and (succeed) if he works hard and creates his own opportunities. There (were) no opportunities (in Greece) at all. I was there during the German occupation, I was 4 or 5 years old at the time By 1950, the (United States) enlarged for the Greeks to come over. We all left. My age group, I dont think there was anybody left there in the villages. It was an opportunity for us to go either here, Canada, Australia -- somewhere to live a better life without wars and depression and hardship. For me, perfect time (to come to America). RELATED: 7 questions with... owners of Longhorn Liquor Q: What made you decide to move to Southeast Texas when you emigrated to the United States? A: I had some relatives here. I had three uncles in Beaumont, one was involved here with The Schooner. Before (one of my uncles) left (Greece), he promised my grandmother that when he got here, he would get my papers arranged for me to come over and I did, and Im thankful. Q: After your uncle Eugene bought The Schooner from Luke Leblanc in 1950, you became owner in 1968. How did that come about? A: I was working here, and I went to school in Beaumont. I had a great aunt here and she helped me quickly to learn the American way of life -- the history and all here. I brought my mother here, and she didnt like it here. I had a sister in California, so I moved (my mother) to (my sister) to be with her in 64. I stayed there until 68. I came back and took the restaurant over at that time. My uncle had died, and my aunt wouldnt come back and take over here. Q: Whats the best part about overseeing this restaurant? A: Well, its hard work, but its continuous work. Its a happy way of life. We enjoy the public, we enjoy serving the public (Its been) a tremendous help for us from the whole area thats been supporting us here. Were talking about the Triangle: Beaumont, Port Arthur, Orange, Mid-County. Its been wonderful. Q: What sets your Gulf Coast seafood menu items apart from other area seafood eateries? A: We process the food ourselves here. All our seafood is handled by either me or my sons or cooks that help with (that) We feel like were on top of the world here as far as good food, good service, fresh food. (Our top items include) barbecue crabs, seafood platters, snapper, flounder, shrimp, oysters. We have them all here. Q: Seafood is popular in this region. When the family took over The Schooner, did you keep that mind? A: Definitely. In fact, we had for a long time fishermen that would bring their boats here and their catch here. Wed buy everything -- snapper and flounder and shrimp and oysters. WASHINGTON A patient who showed up at the hospital in the small farming town of Anson a few weeks ago with pneumonia or a bad infection could count on a bed for a couple days to allow them to recover. But late last month Anson General Hospital, about 200 miles west of Dallas, converted to what is in effect an emergency only facility, designed to either treat patients and send them on their way or, in more serious cases, stabilize them and send them 30 miles down the road to Abilene. If theres no space there, patients are forced to travel more than 200 miles to Lubbock. In exchange, the hospital will survive. It will receive more than $3 million a year in federal funds and increased Medicare payments, making it one of the first in the nation to take part in a controversial new federal experiment to try to stanch the rise in rural hospital closures maintain some semblance of health care in those communities. Anna Doan, who heads the hospitals staff of 16 nurses, said the hospitals patients, a large portion of whom are in their 70s or 80s, were struggling to understand the new arrangement, but it was a necessary decision. When youre elderly, 30 miles is a long way to go, she said. But its essential we keep our hospital open to save lives. Nearly 150 rural hospitals have closed nationwide since 2010, part of a cycle of a shrinking rural population, rising supply costs and increased competition for medical staff problems that only exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic. No state has seen as many closures as Texas, which is at 26 and counting over the past 12 years, according to the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. The rural emergency hospital program, through which hospitals with no more than 50 in-patient beds can apply, is designed to act as a lifeline for rural hospitals, allowing them to keep their doors open, even if they cannot afford a fully operational inpatient unit, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who led the passage of the program through Congress, said in 2020. But questions remain as to how it will work, as ambulance services and city hospitals that are already overstretched are asked to handle the increased volume of patients coming in from the countryside. Some advocates for public health care worry the program will only increase the gap in medical care between cities and countryside. A 2021 study by scientists at the University of Texas found Americans living in rural areas typically lived two years less than their urban counterparts. Its like putting lipstick on a pig, said Kristie Loescher, a health care management professor at the University of Texas McCombs School of Business. We have this rural health care crisis, and instead of finding ways to fund more health care services were just going to leave you with urgent care. And if you need to see an (obstetrician) or get administered antibiotics for a couple days, youre all going to need to go to the city. Ronald W. Erdrich/Contributor National trend From Washington state to Florida, some 68 rural hospitals around the country are predicted to take the money and convert to emergency-only status, according to a report by researchers at the University of North Carolina in 2021. The program is expected to see the greatest interest in states that have opted not to expand Medicaid as allowed under the 2010 Affordable Care Act often referred to as Obamacare - foregoing billions of dollars in federal health care funding and leaving their hospitals with higher volumes of uninsured patients. The study predicts that almost half the hospitals that will apply for the emergency program are in Kansas, Texas, Nebraska and Oklahoma, among the ten states in the country not to have expanded Medicaid over Republican objection to the federal healthcare law. So far, at least three hospitals in Texas have converted to emergency-only status, Anson General Hospital, St. Luke's Health Memorial Hospital in San Augustine and St. Marks Medical Center in La Grange. They are the first hospitals in the country to do so, after the Texas Legislature passed emergency legislation in January that allowed hospitals to close their inpatient beds and claim the funding. And at least two more Texas hospitals are in the process of applying, Crosbyton Clinic Hospital outside Lubbock and Falls Community Hospital in Marlin, said John Henderson, president of the Texas Organization of Rural and Community Hospitals. Its not a decision people are excited about or proud (of), but if it gives them a path to stay open, he said. At Anson General, the decision to covert to emergency-only status was a long time coming. The hospital struggled for years under the financial pressures of serving a shrinking and increasingly elderly population the number of people living in Anson and surrounding Jones County has declined 5 percent since 2000 to less than 20,000, according to the Census Bureau. Its outlook worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic as costs rose and many elderly patients avoided the hospital out of fear of getting sick, causing admissions to drop off, said Ted Andrews, the hospital's president. And the $270,000 a month Anson will now receive from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services will stabilize its finances and allow it to stay open, even if it means closing inpatient beds and a program that allowed seniors to recuperate from strokes and accidents in the hospital and avoid admission to a nursing home. We have lost a number of rural hospitals in Texas, and I can assure you we would have been on that list in the next few months if we didnt do what we did, Andrews said. This was the only option we had. How the program will work in Texas, where some towns are many hours away from the closest urban hospital, remains to be seen. Rural patients were already going to cities for most surgery, not just cancer and heart conditions but even relatively simply procedures like the removal of tonsils or an appendix. But now rural hospitals will need to find ambulance services with capacity to take a much larger volume of patients to cities. And within the rural emergency hospital program, there is no funding for transportation or provision about what to do with patients if the hospital cant find them a bed elsewhere under the rules they can only keep a patient 24 hours - said Brock Slabach, chief operating officer of the nonprofit National Rural Health Association. For some communities with resources nearby who can transfer patients methodically this might work very well, he said. But when were talking about areas where patients are having to travel longer distances to transferring facilities and theres inadequate EMS services. I dont think we know yet how this is going to work. As I look at it, this program is just one answer. Its not a holistic approach. This article was first published on NerdWallet.com. Hotels might charge extra for breakfast or amenities like bike rentals. Some force contentious resort fees upon travelers even if they dont use the amenities. But a fee to have your hotel room cleaned? Thats practically unheard of. But when it comes to vacation rentals booked through websites like Airbnb and Vrbo, cleaning fees are the norm. Those websites allow owners to decide whether to charge one and, if so, how much. A 2022 NerdWallet analysis looked at 1,000 U.S. Airbnb reservations with check-in dates in 2022 or 2023 and found that 84% of listings had cleaning fees. The median cleaning fee per listing for a one-night stay was $75. The practice of charging cleaning fees is controversial, even among Airbnb hosts. Some hosts say the fees cover the high cost of maintaining properties. Cleaning is between 25% and 30% of my fixed expenses each month, says Cameron Dunlap, who owns a vacation rental service called Aussie Man Rentals. We don't have a huge in-house laundry service to get laundry done quickly, and we don't have the storage to have multiple sets of linens and towels available. And Airbnb encourages us to pay cleaning crews a living wage. But other hosts say that cleaning fees lead to poor reviews and guest complaints. Some say that guests leave properties with cleaning fees in poor shape, adding that guests are more likely to treat properties without fees like their own home. If they pay a cleaning fee, they sometimes leave the place looking like its been lived in and uncleaned for months, says Dennis Shirshikov, an Airbnb host who owns a rental property in upstate New York. How do Americans prefer additional vacation rental fees? A recent NerdWallet survey conducted online by The Harris Poll sought to understand how Americans feel about seeing additional fees at vacation rentals, such as cleaning fees, amenity fees, taxes and other surcharges. Of the Americans who intend to travel in 2023 and have ever looked at vacation rentals, 60% say they prefer to see one total price that includes all charges rather than a base price plus separate line items, like cleaning fees. Meanwhile, 31% of 2023 travelers who have looked at vacation rentals prefer to see fees like cleaning fees broken out from the nightly rate (9% say they werent sure how they prefer to see costs), according to the NerdWallet survey. Vacation rental websites are taking new approaches to cleaning fees In December 2022, Airbnb began rolling out a toggle option for travel bookers browsing the website, where they can opt to see the total listing price (aside from taxes) on Airbnbs map, filter and listing pages. NerdWallet reached out to Airbnb, and its press team would not share how many users have activated the toggle to display the final price. The changes dont eliminate cleaning fees, but it does allow travelers to fairly compare listings based on the total price. Once guests get to the booking page, theyre presented with a breakdown of line items. Also late last year, Airbnb adjusted its search algorithm to rank listings by best total price rather than nightly rate alone. This change removes previous incentives for hosts to promote low nightly rates but high cleaning fees to improve visibility in the platform. Similarly, Vrbo now lets customers choose to filter properties by nightly rate or by total price, the latter of which includes cleaning and service fees. Why do vacation rentals charge cleaning fees? If people dont like cleaning fees, then why charge them? Instead of advertising a vacation rental at $200 per night with a $50 cleaning fee, why not just list it as $250 per night, given that its the same cost to the buyer? The reasons vary depending on whom you ask. Making prices fairer for longer stays Cleaning fees are usually a one-time charge, and the cleaning costs are largely the same whether guests stay three nights or seven. Thus, a single cleaning fee could be a fairer representation of the actual cost versus charging higher overall nightly rates to guests who stay longer. In fact, NerdWallets 2022 study of Airbnb prices found that the nightly rate for a seven-night Airbnb stay averages 32% cheaper than the nightly rate for a one-night stay, largely due to the impact of cleaning fees. Airbnb does allow hosts to set lower cleaning fees for short stays of only one or two nights (instead of the fee charged for all other stays), though it doesnt account for trips of other durations. Attracting more customers Then theres drip pricing, where hosts advertise only part of a product's price and reveal other charges later throughout the buying process. With a lower base rate, a traveler might discover a listing they wouldnt otherwise consider, particularly as hosts compete with listings nearby and try to catch the attention of travelers who sort potential listings by price. Of course, those travelers end up owing more than they might have intended once they learn of the cleaning fee. And the practice of drip pricing might slow as travelers use features like total price display. Looking for more avenues to profit And then theres perhaps the most straightforward reason of them all. Some within the vacation rental industry suspect that hosts use cleaning fees as a mechanism to milk more profit. Some say the problem has grown more frequent at the dedicated vacation rentals run by property management companies, as opposed to the listings from individuals renting out a spare room in their own home as was the initial spirit of Airbnb. Julie McIlwain, who works as an independent contractor cleaning vacation rentals in Sonoma, California, said in an email to NerdWallet that the cleaners dont always see the full cleaning fee amount. If youre being charged a $200 cleaning fee, the cleaner may see $125 of that, she said. While not necessarily true of all operations, McIlwain said she pays for expenses, such as cleaning supplies and gas between properties, out of her own pocket. Allyson Ballou, who has worked cleaning rentals near Joshua Tree, California, for the past three years, says that there are some misaligned expectations on all sides about the costs of Airbnbs both from guests seeking cheap stays and property owners seeking to maximize profits. Owners want everything to run smoothly without their involvement, and travelers don't want to pay cleaning fees or they think they're too high, she says. But they still want impeccably clean rentals. Erin El Issa contributed to this report. Methodology This survey was conducted online within the United States by The Harris Poll on behalf of NerdWallet from Feb. 7-9, 2023, among 2,080 U.S. adults ages 18 and older, among whom 1,502 plan to vacation in 2023 and have looked at vacation rentals. The sampling precision of Harris online polls is measured by using a Bayesian credible interval. For this study, the sample data is accurate to within +/- 2.8 percentage points using a 95% confidence level. For complete survey methodology, including weighting variables and subgroup sample sizes, please contact Lauren Nash at lnash@nerdwallet.com. Sally French writes for NerdWallet. Email: sfrench@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @SAFmedia. The article Majority of Americans Prefer Transparent Vacation Rental Prices originally appeared on NerdWallet. NEW YORK (AP) Martin Scorsese was knee-deep in preparation for Killers of the Flower Moon when Mara Hennessey reached out to invite him to see David Johansen. The former frontman for the trailblazing 1970s proto-punk band the New York Dolls and Hennesseys husband was performing a new show at the Cafe Carlyle. Scorsese, a longtime fan of Johansen (he had once played the Dolls to rile up his actors for a fight scene), went eagerly with a handful of others, including his frequent documentary collaborator David Tedeschi. There, they saw Johansen perform a lounge act of grit and grace. Here was a downtown fixture relocated to one of uptowns swankiest rooms. As his pompadoured alter ego, Buster Poindexter, Johansen was performing stripped-down versions of his own songs and Dolls hits, with plenty of reflective, comic interludes. Scorsese, smitten by Johansens performance, immediately resolved to shoot it the still ringing echo of a vanished New York. It was just a natural feel: We have to do this, Scorsese explained in an interview. We have to capture it before it goes. Personality Crisis: One Night Only, which debuts Friday on Showtime, is the result, mixing footage Scorsese and co-director David Tedeschi shot over two nights at the Carlyle in January 2020 with flashbacks through Johansens wildly varied career and intimate interviews taped during the pandemic by Johansen and Hennesseys daughter, Leah. Like Scorseses recent Netflix series Pretend Its a City with Fran Lebowitz, its also a portrait of a still clarion, still vibrant New York voice in a city that now hardly resembles the one they were all forged in. The environment that he came out of in the 70s, in a way, Im still there, says Scorsese, whose third feature film, Mean Streets, debuted the same year as the Dolls first album. It has to do with New York because we live in New York. Im not doing L.A. Im not doing Chicago. I live in New York. And this is a part of where I came from. It turns out that its changed, its finished, its gone, its going somewhere else. Time is much on the mind of Scorsese, 80, who in a month will debut at Cannes Killers of the Flower Moon, his sprawling adaptation of David Granns bestseller about a series of murders of members of the Osage tribe in 1920s Oklahoma. The scope of the Apple release with a budget of $200 million and a reported runtime of nearly four hours makes it, like The Irishman, one of Scorseses biggest undertakings Personality Crisis, sandwiched between two monumental masterworks, a stirringly intimate contrast. I was surprised by how much I liked it, says Johansen. I hardly cringed. The Staten Island-born Johansen, now 73, was a pivotal figure of 70s East Village New York and the New York Dolls presaged the punk movement. Since then, hes reinvented himself as the lounge-singing Buster Poindexter, who had the 1980s hit Hot Hot Hot (a song that Johansen now more or less disowns). Hes acted, too. Many will remember Johansen as the taxi-driving ghost of Christmas past in Scrooged. Part of the joy of Personality Crisis is that it takes Johansen so often associated with particular eras of rock out of those contexts. Here, hes simply a gravel-voiced lounge lizard supreme a rock n roll survivor with the anecdotes to go with it. Its not a rock doc, says Hennessey. To me, its a portrait of an artist. Almost since the beginning, Scorsese has toggled between narrative features and documentaries, though he and Tedeschi dont love the term documentary. (Wed rather have fun, says Tedeschi.) Each are simply films, Scorsese says, with different rhythms, choreographies and grammar. And they inform each other, a back-and-forth alchemy that began with 1974s Italian American, a dialogue with his parents released in between Mean Streets and Alice Doesnt Live Here Anymore. These films that David and I do free me to think differently about the narrative films Im making. The narrative films Im making are becoming more like novels. These are not quite, says Scorsese. Sometimes you get locked in by whats around you and the way things are supposed to be done. Italian American, I just hold the camera on my mother and my father speaking and it was interesting. It changed everything for me. Personality Crisis likewise influenced Killers of the Flower Moon. Several songs Scorsese heard while listening to Johansens wide-ranging satellite radio show Mansion of Fun made it into the movie, including Mamie Smiths Crazy Blues. Charlie Musselwhite plays harmonica alongside Johansen in Personality Crisis; he also, by coincidence, is an actor in Killers of the Flower Moon. They just seem to come together, says Scorsese of his nonfiction and fiction films. Seen is a screenshot of 220 Cord & Code home appliance community platform app, developed by LG CNS. Courtesy of LG CNS By Baek Byung-yeul LG CNS is enjoying popularity with its 220 Cord & Code home appliance community platform with young consumers increasingly referencing the app when they purchase new gadgets, according to the company, Thursday. The company launched the 220 Cord & Code app last September. It provides a platform for users to share experiences related to home appliances. LG CNS explained the name, saying 220 comes from 220 volts, the standard voltage of Korea and symbolizes home appliances. Cord and code refer to connecting consumer preferences. Since its launch, the mobile app recorded about 100,000 downloads. A YouTube video clip promoting the mobile app recorded over 1 million views. To help consumers easily choose home appliances, the mobile app is operating its Circle Member system in which influencers share reviews, trends and information on customer service and repairs. "As useful tips related to home appliances go viral, the proportion of people in their 20s and 30s is steadily increasing. Among all members, they account for about 50 percent," the company said. LG CNS said the community app features its artificial intelligence (AI) technology-based recommendation algorithm and an easy-to-search app design. The company added that it will continue to roll out a variety of business-to-customer services, taking advantage of its strength in digital technology. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate EDITORS: This story is embargoed until Sunday, April 16. - - - The iconic Broadway character Christine Daae has been played by 40 women over 35 years. Sarah Brightman shaped the role when "The Phantom of the Opera" had its London premiere in 1986. Sierra Boggess played Christine in Las Vegas, New York and London, appearing in the filmed 25th anniversary concert. Sandra Joseph transformed into Christine for more than 1,000 shows over 10 years. Ali Ewoldt, a Filipino American actress, was the first person of color to be cast as Christine in New York. Julia Udine was one of the youngest Christines, first cast at age 19. And Emilie Kouatchou became the first Black Christine in "Phantom's" Broadway history in 2021. - - - For 35 years, the man in the white mask has been synonymous with Broadway. But as Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom of the Opera" nears its final curtain call in New York, ending a record-setting run, there's another character who deserves an encore. "This is not 'Phantom of the Opera.' This is 'Christine of the Opera.' This is her show," says Emilie Kouatchou, one of the last women to play the sought-after female lead. The role of Christine Daae is a dream fulfilled for a budding soprano hoping to grace the stage of the Majestic Theatre on West 44th Street. It's a complex, complicated and demanding part. She is onstage for about two hours of the nearly 2 1/2 hour show, and her lines are mostly sung. Christine is a dancer and chorus girl who lost her father at a young age. She begins taking lessons from the mysterious Phantom, who she believes is her "Angel of Music" - someone her father warned her of years before. Including alternates and excluding understudies, 40 women have played Christine over the years. Some of the women auditioned multiple times. Some began their journeys in traveling companies or as understudies. Others were cast in their teens or early 20s. For a few, it was their first Broadway role. As with any show spanning more than three decades, the production, casting and message have become more relevant as our world - and society - has evolved. "The Phantom of the Opera" is largely about acceptance, and learning to reveal ourselves, without a physical or symbolic mask. (The musical is based on the 1910 novel by Gaston Leroux.) "It really teaches love and empathy," says Julia Udine, who is currently a Christine alternate and performs three times a week. We spoke with six women who have played the role on Broadway. They reflected on their connection to the character, how the role paved the way for their careers on- and offstage, and the legacy of "Phantom" in New York and the theater community. - Sarah Brightman Sarah Brightman was the blueprint for Christine Daae. Andrew Lloyd Webber, her husband at the time of the show's London premiere in 1986, wrote the role with her talents and her soprano skills at the front of his mind. "My voice was very much in his ears," Brightman said. "To be a muse of a composer that's creating new things and wonderful things and very successful things - I think it was a beautiful thing." Critics were generally energetic about the show's Broadway debut in 1988, with Brightman again in the lead, after its successful run in London. Frank Rich of the New York Times characterized it as "a victory of dynamic stagecraft over musical kitsch." The Washington Post review called the music "almost mesmerizing, insistently boring into one's brain for hours afterward." New York attendance in the show's debut year totaled more than 663,000 people, with a gross of $28,553,279. The show's growth and success is not lost on Brightman, who described it as "a wonderful jewel within Broadway." "As monumental as the role is to everybody else, I was a young person doing my best with all the talent I had to put this beautiful role in place," she said. "I feel very humbled by it." - Sierra Boggess Like other musical successes, "The Phantom of the Opera" has sprouted six productions in the United States and dozens of tours internationally. Sierra Boggess, who joined the Broadway production in 2013, played the role of Christine in Las Vegas, New York and London, where she appeared in the filmed 25th-anniversary concert. "It's a role that I kept revisiting because it is so rich," Boggess said. "Every time I came back to it, I found more and more and more." At its core, the musical is a love triangle. Christine is drawn to Erik (a.k.a. the Phantom), a composer who shields himself from society in a lair beneath the Paris Opera House. Born with a facial deformity (hence the mask), he has yet to experience kindness or love. He is a man of great talent and has traits that often borderline on the supernatural. He becomes Christine's mentor. But Christine is also drawn to Raoul, a childhood friend and more suitable mate. (We'll end the spoilers here.) Boggess said she came to realize how "psychologically interesting" the "heightened love story" is. "We have this side of us as humans that's like, we can help somebody by loving them," she said. "I'm sure therapists would have a field day with that." The more Boggess dove into the psychology of the story, the more she shifted how she played the role. "Christine is badass and people should know that," she said. - Sandra Joseph As a child, Sandra Joseph enjoyed performing but had a fear of the stage. "When you don't have the courage to go after something you really love, then you live with regret and the sense of what might've been," she said. "So I promised myself at a very young age that I would move through this intense stage fright and keep trying to do this thing that I love." Fast-forward to 1994. Joseph was 26 and 4 1/2 years into her five-year plan to "make it big" in New York when she auditioned for Christine for the first time. Like many others, she didn't get the gig on her first pass. She would eventually begin her journey with the national tour as an understudy for Christine before - after two more auditions - she would land the part in New York. Joseph would go on to play the role for 10 years and more than 1,000 shows. "What I know for sure from standing on that stage so many times is the emotional connection that the story makes with the audience," she said. Nowadays, Joseph spreads the message of how to live an unmasked life in a one-woman show. Audiences are often delighted when she sprinkles in some of Christine's best musical moments throughout her talks. Joseph also wrote a book on the same subject. "I was a 'Career Christine.' It was my perfect role, and there was nowhere to go from there that would have been better for me as an actress. I knew that," she said. "I could not have imagined that the gift 'Phantom' gave me would unlock all of these lessons." Joseph fell in love with "The Phantom of the Opera" in more ways than one. In 2002, she married her co-star, Ron Bohmer, who played the Phantom in a national tour at the Kennedy Center. - Ali Ewoldt Ali Ewoldt first saw "The Phantom of the Opera" when she was 10 years old. She and her father sat in a box on stage right, and it was there, she said, that she fell in love with the "premiere soprano role that all young sopranos would aspire to." As an adult, Ewoldt would spend a decade auditioning for the role in different iterations of the tour and production. "I have always been a soprano despite my best efforts as a child," she said. "There are very few leading-lady soprano roles that exist, and so I knew that Christine was a major aspiration and a dream role for me." In 2016, Ewoldt finally sang "Think of Me" on the Majestic Theatre stage, auditioning in front of famed director Harold "Hal" Prince. "I kind of let go of the idea of needing to book the job but really tried to take in that moment," Ewoldt said. She got the part. "It's so the way of the universe," she said. "It understands, somehow, this need when we decide that we're just doing it for the love instead of desperately trying to get a job is how we get the things that we want." Ewoldt, who is Filipino American, was the first person of color to be cast in the role. "The gift of that for me was getting the feedback of people who didn't realize that this was a role that was open to them," she said. "The world changes, and just because you haven't seen someone that looks like you or feels like you or has your abilities play a part - what we can do is show up and be the best versions of ourselves." - Julia Udine Julia Udine auditioned for Christine for the new, restaged North American tour in 2013. She was 19 and would open - and stay - with the touring production before heading to Broadway to fill the leading role at age 21. She was the second-youngest woman to play the role in New York. "Christine has been an integral part of my adult life," said Udine, now 29. "As she grows into a woman in the show, I was also growing into a woman in my life." Udine, like Christine, is a dancer, and paired with her soprano capabilities, the role, she said, was "all of my 'things' wrapped up in one." "She goes through so many ups, so many downs, and as an actress, it's really cathartic to play a role like that," Udine said. "It really challenges you in so many ways, and I think that any woman who has played the role of Christine feels that challenge nightly." Udine said it is "surreal" to reflect on being a part of the show's final cast as a Christine alternate. Her last days on the "Phantom" stage are among the dwindling days of the production. "It's been the heartbeat of New York City for so long," she said. "'Phantom' is Broadway." - Emilie Kouatchou "I think I can be the first Black Christine." These are the words Emilie Kouatchou uttered to a visiting casting director in her college years at the University of Michigan. "I was very confident in my ability to take on this role," she said. That confidence served Kouatchou well, and after a few attempts, she made her Broadway debut as a Christine alternate in October 2021. A few months later, she would take on the role full-time. "I'm getting to be powerful, and soft, and sexy, and feminine and masculine," Kouatchou said. "I think it's important for people to see someone who looks like me being able to be all of these things, because as Black women, we don't get to do that quite often. We really get boxed into a certain type of role." The actress said the role has helped her grow as a person and as a performer. Calling Christine "a beast of a role," Kouatchou recalls thinking during an early rehearsal, "Wait, she sings all of this?" Now, she will be onstage, playing Christine, when the curtain comes down on the final show. "It's a dream to be on Broadway to represent and to shine and feel like I'm fulfilling a childhood dream," she said. Every other Thursday, Chron taco columnist Marco Torres tells the story of Houston through Mexican food in "Tacos y Mas." Breakfast tacos are considered by many as the most important taco of the day. They are like a warm hug that prompts you to get up, get out there and conquer the world. Now imagine that regular breakfast taco transformed into a "super taco," stuffed with all your favorite fillings inside a hot, handmade flour tortilla. That's exactly what you get when you visit Villa Arcos, which just reopened in the historic East End neighborhood after being closed for more than two years, one of the most anticipated restaurant comebacks in Houston since the COVID-19 pandemic. Marco Torres The iconic taco shop was first opened in 1977 by Velia Arcos Rodriguez Duran. Villa Arcos was until recently owned by Duran's grandson, Christian Navarro, who had tried to reopen the taqueria but passed away last year. Her other grandson and Navarro's cousin, Jacob Torres, is the newest member of the family who will strive to continue the outstanding taco tradition for the community (no relation to me, by the way). Torres and his staff are eager to provide the same great Villa Arcos experience that has made the restaurant a Houston institution for almost 50 years. I visited Villa Arcos the morning of the reopening on March 27, and was met with a long line from the counter to the front door at 8 a.m. Luckily, I had ordered my tacos online (a new feature) and received my food relatively quickly. Torres said he expected maybe 100 people on that first day, but almost 1,000 people showed up. The team was definitely overwhelmed the whole first week. Villa Arcos is still really busy, but things have started to even out, the flow is steadily improving for a better customer experience. Marco Torres Marco Torres Marco Torres Marco Torres Villa Arcos is continuing 46 years of providing excellent Mexican food to the East End. (Photos by Marco Torres) On opening week, Villa Arcos received proclamations and certificates of appreciation from State Rep. Christina Morales and Houston City Council Member Robert Gallegos to commemorate the grand reopening of the restaurant and its importance to the community. According to Torres, one couple visited the taqueria all the way from Colorado, just to eat their favorite "supers." They grew up in the East End and have since retired out of state, but wanted to experience their favorite neighborhood restaurant and relive old times. Another customer even brought his 101-year-old mother to say hello and eat breakfast. Marco Torres Marco Torres Thousands have lined up for tacos since Villa Arcos reopened in March. (Photos by Marco Torres) Last week, I sat down with Torres on a chilly, gloomy April morning, which in my experience somehow makes their tacos that much more delicious. The first thing I asked him was: "What makes Villa Arcos so special?" His response can be summed up with one word: Family. His grandmother started the restaurant to make fresh tacos to feed the neighborhood, just like at home with your own family. "Every time you walk in here, you see your neighbors, you see your cousins, and you get to eat good tacos as you catch up with your people," Torres said. As you walk up to the counter, there are three framed photos above the register. The first is of Velia Duran; the second is of Yolanda Black Navarro, Duran's daughter; and the third is of Christian Navarro, Yolanda's son. Torres wanted to honor their life and memory, as well as have the portraits be the inspiration for him to keep up the legacy of Villa Arcos. Marco Torres The options for the famous super tacos are bacon, pork sausage, chorizo and chicharrones, each accompanied by egg, potatoes, beans and yellow cheese on a fresh flour tortilla. My go-to is usually the bacon super and a carne guisada taco, although if I'm in the area on a Saturday or Sunday morning, I love ordering a big bowl of menudo and a couple of tacos de barbacoa. Biting into the super tacos is an absolute delight. Fluffy egg with your favorite meat, topped with a moderately spicy salsa verde, and enveloped in a perfect tortilla. Just what my taco dreams are made of. The barbacoa and carne guisada have tender meat with tons of flavor, a perfect complement to the egg-based breakfast tacos. Marco Torres Torres' father, Joe Torres, himself a veteran of the restaurant industry, also joined us for breakfast that day. He said that at one time they had nine taco restaurants across the city, either as Villa Arcos (there once was a location in Sharpstown), Sunrise Taquito Mexican Grill (soon to be three locations), or Taquito Joe's inside several gas stations. He helped lay down the tile when the original Villa Arcos location expanded, and continues to assist in the day to day operations. He also told me that a customer once asked him: "Hey Joe, is my grandma back there in the kitchen? 'Cus this tastes just like her food!" Villa Arcos Find it: 3009 Navigation Blvd Houston, Texas 77003 Hours: Monday-Friday 6 a.m.-2 p.m.; Saturday 7 a.m.-2 p.m.; Sunday 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Jaconna Aguirre/AP OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) The Oklahoma Court of Criminals on Thursday rejected a death row inmates claim that his father was the actual killer of a University of Oklahoma dance student in 1996. The court's decision paves the way for Anthony Sanchez, 44, to be executed by lethal injection on Sept. 21. DANBURY As reimbursement for the cost of purchasing supplies to treat patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, Danbury Hospital will receive more than $2.6 million from the government. We are very grateful for this support helping to cover a myriad of unplanned expenses, said Andrea Rynn, a spokesperson for Nuvance Health, a network of seven community hospitals in Connecticut and New York that includes Danbury Hospital. The Federal Emergency Management Agency will send funding from its Public Assistance grant to the state to reimburse the hospital for the cost of buying special medical supplies for treating COVID-19 patients between March 2020 and December 2021. In addition to purchasing personal protective equipment, including N95 masks, medical gloves, gowns and shoe covers, Rynn said Danbury Hospital also bought clinical and medical supplies, including catheters, probes, blood pressure cuffs and ventilators, as well as cleaning and disinfection supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic. Danbury Hospitals purchase of technology supplies allowed for the safe interaction with patients and families during the surge in cases, she said, while purchasing construction and facility supplies allowed for safe distancing in public and patient care areas during the pandemic. The FEMA funding will also reimburse the 456-bed acute care hospital for the cost of providing food delivery for hospital staff who were unable to leave the facility during self-quarantine and isolation, according to a statement from FEMA. FEMA is pleased to be able to assist Danbury Hospital with these costs, Lori Ehrlich, regional administrator for FEMA Region 1, said in a recent statement. Providing resources for our partners on the front lines of the pandemic fight is critical to their success, and our success as a nation. To date, FEMA has provided over $649 million in Public Assistance grants to Connecticut to reimburse the state for pandemic-related expenses. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Funeral arrangements were disclosed Thursday for most of the five bank employees killed this week in Louisville, Kentucky, as the city continues to grieve the victims of one of the latest U.S. mass shootings. As obituaries were posted online, more details surfaced about the lives of the employees killed Monday at Old National Bank. They have been identified as senior vice presidents Tommy Elliott, 63, and Joshua Barrick, 40; executive administrative officer Deana Eckert, 57; loan analyst Juliana Farmer, 45; and commercial real estate market executive Jim Tutt Jr., 64. According to Elliotts obituary, a funeral service is set for 3 p.m. Friday at Broadway Baptist Church in Louisville, followed by a private burial. The same day, Eckerts visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. followed by a funeral service at Northside Christian Church in New Albany, Indiana, just over the Kentucky border from Louisville, according to her obituary. Barrick's visitation will be held from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. Friday at Ratterman Funeral Home, and a funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, both in Louisville, according to his obituary. Tutt's obituary says a visitation will be held from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Sunday followed by a funeral service at Southeast Christian Church Chapel in the Woods in Louisville. Funeral arrangements for Farmer were pending. Tutt and Elliott each had careers in the banking industry spanning four decades. Tutt was an enthusiastic winemaker, sailor and Kentucky Wildcats fan. He led annual humanitarian and church missions for over a decade to the Dominican Republic, according to his obituary. Elliott was prominent in Democratic politics and was a close friend of Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear. His obituary says Elliott was a past chairman of Baptist Health Louisville and served on numerous boards, among them Goodwill Industries of Kentucky, Little Sisters of the Poor, Kentucky Educational Television and the Kentucky Museum of Art and Craft in Louisville. Eckert, a mother of two, would annually put together a large food spread in the bank's conference room for the celebration of Thunder Over Louisville, the fireworks kickoff event before the Kentucky Derby, said Kevin Luoma, a former bank co-worker. Barrick coached basketball at his church's grade school, and his other passions included Sunday breakfast with his kids, any day on the golf course, and Xavier basketball, his obituary said. Farmer had just moved to Louisville from Henderson, Kentucky. She had four grandchildren and posted Sunday on Facebook that another one was on the way. ___ Raby reported from Charleston, West Virginia The man behind a massive leak of U.S. government secrets that has exposed spying on allies, revealed the grim prospects for Ukraine's war with Russia and ignited diplomatic fires for the White House is a young, charismatic gun enthusiast who shared highly classified documents with a group of far-flung acquaintances searching for companionship amid the isolation of the pandemic. United by their mutual love of guns, military gear and God, the group of roughly two dozen - mostly men and boys - formed an invitation-only clubhouse in 2020 on Discord, an online platform popular with gamers. But they paid little attention last year when the man some call "OG" posted a message laden with strange acronyms and jargon. The words were unfamiliar, and few people read the long note, one of the members explained. But he revered OG, the elder leader of their tiny tribe, who claimed to know secrets that the government withheld from ordinary people. Photo for The Washington Post by Heidi Levine The young member read OG's message closely, and the hundreds more that he said followed on a regular basis for months. They were, he recalled, what appeared to be near-verbatim transcripts of classified intelligence documents that OG indicated he had brought home from his job on a "military base," which the member declined to identify. OG claimed he spent at least some of his day inside a secure facility that prohibited cellphones and other electronic devices, which could be used to document the secret information housed on government computer networks or spooling out from printers. He annotated some of the hand-typed documents, the member said, translating arcane intel-speak for the uninitiated, such as explaining that "NOFORN" meant the information in the document was so sensitive it must not be shared with foreign nationals. OG told the group he toiled for hours writing up the classified documents to share with his companions in the Discord server he controlled. 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. "He's a smart person. He knew what he was doing when he posted these documents, of course. These weren't accidental leaks of any kind," the member said. The transcribed documents OG posted traversed a range of sensitive subjects that only people who had undergone months-long background checks would be authorized to see. There were top-secret reports about the whereabouts and movements of high-ranking political leaders and tactical updates on military forces, the member said. Geopolitical analysis. Insights into foreign governments' efforts to interfere with elections. "If you could think it, it was in those documents." In those initial posts, OG had given his fellow members a small sip of the torrent of secrets that was to come. When rendering hundreds of classified files by hand proved too tiresome, he began posting hundreds of photos of documents themselves, an astonishing cache of secrets that has been steadily spilling into public view over the past week, disrupting U.S. foreign policy and aggravating America's allies. This account of how detailed intelligence documents intended for an exclusive circle of military leaders and government decision-makers found their way into and then out of OG's closed community is based in part on several lengthy interviews with the Discord group member, who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity. He is under 18 and was a young teenager when he met OG. The Post obtained consent from the member's mother to speak to him and to record his remarks on video. He asked that his voice not be obscured. His account was corroborated by a second member who read many of the same classified documents shared by OG, and who also spoke on the condition of anonymity. Both members said they know OG's real name as well as the state where he lives and works but declined to share that information while the FBI is hunting for the source of the leaks. The investigation is in its early stages, and the Pentagon has set up its own internal review led by a senior official. "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," Pentagon deputy press secretary Sabrina Singh said in a statement. Discord said in a statement that it is cooperating with law enforcement and has declined to comment further. The Post also reviewed approximately 300 photos of classified documents, most of which have not been made public; some of the text documents OG is said to have written out; an audio recording of a man the two group members identified as OG speaking to his companions; and chat records and photographs that show OG communicating with them on the Discord server. The young member was impressed by OG's seemingly prophetic ability to forecast major events before they became headline news, things "only someone with this kind of high clearance" would know. He was by his own account enthralled with OG, who he said was in his early to mid-20s. "He's fit. He's strong. He's armed. He's trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie," the member said. In a video seen by The Post, the man who the member said is OG 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. The member seemed drawn to OG's bravado and his skill with weapons. He felt a certain kinship with a man he described as "like an uncle" and, on another occasion, as a father figure. "I was one of the very few people in the server that was able to understand that these [documents] were legitimate," the member said, setting himself apart from the others who mostly ignored OG's posts. "It felt like I was on top of Mount Everest," he said. "I felt like I was above everyone else to some degree and that . . . I knew stuff that they didn't." - - - 'A tightknit family' The member met OG about four years ago, on a different server for fans of Oxide, a popular YouTuber who streams videos about guns, body armor and military hardware. He said a group of avid members found the server too crowded and wanted a quieter place to talk about video game tactics, so they broke off into their own, small group. More like-minded Oxide fans joined the private Discord server, which came to be named "Thug Shaker Central," and whose membership OG would effectively control as the administrator. "We all grew very close to each other, like a tightknit family," the member said. "We depended on each other." He said that other members, and OG especially, counseled him during bouts of depression and helped to steady him emotionally. "There was no lack of love for each other." OG was the undisputed leader. The member described him as "strict." He enforced a "pecking order" and expected the others to read closely the classified information he had shared. When their attention waned, he got angry. Late last year, a peeved OG fired off a message to all the members of the server. He had spent nearly an hour every day writing up "these long and drawn-out posts in which he'd often add annotations and explanations for stuff that we normal citizens would not understand," the member said. His would-be pupils were more interested in YouTube videos about battle gear. "He got upset, and he said on multiple occasions, if you guys aren't going to interact with them, I'm going to stop sending them." That's when OG changed tactics. Rather than spend his time copying documents by keyboard, he took photographs of the genuine articles and dropped them in the server. These were more vivid and arresting documents than the plain text renderings. Some featured detailed charts of battlefield conditions in Ukraine and highly classified satellite images of the aftermath of Russian missile strikes on Ukrainian electrical facilities. Others sketched the potential trajectory of North Korean ballistic nuclear missiles that could reach the United States. Another featured photographs of the Chinese spy balloon that floated across the country in February, snapped from eye-level, probably by a U-2 spy plane, along with a diagram of the balloon and the surveillance technology attached to it. OG shared several documents a week, beginning late last year. Posting pictures to the server took less time. But it also exposed OG to greater risk. In the background of some images, they could see items and furniture that they recognized from the room where OG spoke to them via video on the Discord channel - the kind of clues that could prove useful for federal investigators. The dramatic and yet nonchalant presentation also reminded the group that OG could lay his hands on some of the most closely guarded intelligence in the U.S. government. "If you had classified documents, you'd want to flex at least a little bit, like hey, I'm the big guy," the member said. "There is a little bit of showing off to friends, but as well as wanting to keep us informed." In a sense, OG had created a virtual mirror image of the secretive facility where he spent his working hours. Inside the Discord server, he was the ultimate arbiter of secrecy, and he allowed his companions to read truths that "normal citizens" could not. - - - A breach of secrecy The photographs of printed secret documents now seen by millions may offer clues to the federal agents searching for OG. Reality Winner, who leaked secret National Security Agency documents to the news website the Intercept in 2017, was compromised by secret markings on printouts that helped narrow the search. OG's documents look to have been printed on ordinary paper and were creased after having been folded in four. Sometimes, the photographs OG took of the documents appeared to have been taken over a bed. Items such as Gorilla Glue, a scope manual and nail clippers appeared in the margins. Other previously unreported images reviewed by The Post showed printed documents lying on top of a glowing red keyboard. The breadth of the military and intelligence reports was extensive. For months, OG regularly uploaded page after page of classified U.S. assessments, offering a window into how deeply American intelligence had penetrated the Russian military, showing that Egypt had planned to sell Russia tens of thousands of rockets and suggesting that Russian mercenaries had approached Turkey, a NATO ally, to buy weapons to fight against Ukraine. At least one of the documents appeared to have been printed from Intellipedia, a data-sharing system that intelligence agencies use to collaborate and post reports and articles. The documents were another lesson for younger members in how OG thought the world really worked. The member said OG wasn't hostile to the U.S. government, and he insisted that he was not working on behalf of any country's interests. "He is not a Russian operative. He is not a Ukrainian operative," the member said. The room on the server where he posted the documents was called "bear-vs-pig," meant to be a snide jab at Russia and Ukraine, and an indication that OG took no sides in the conflict. But 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 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. He claimed, according to the members, that the government knew in advance that a white supremacist intended to go on a shooting rampage at a Buffalo supermarket in May 2022. The attack left 10 dead, all of them Black, and wounded three more. OG said federal law enforcement officials let the killings proceed so they could argue for increased funding, a baseless notion that the member said he believes and considers an example of OG's penetrating insights about the depth of government corruption. OG's group itself had a dark side. The Discord server's eventual name, Thug Shaker Central, was a racist allusion, and signaled to members that they were free to hurl epithets and crude jokes. The young member expressed some regret for their behavior but seemed to shrug off the offensive remarks as a clumsy attempt at humor. It was not "a fascist recruiting server," he told The Post. One thing the members were not supposed to do was talk about the secrets OG had shared with them, including the classified documents. "Most people in the server were smart enough as to kind of realize that . . . they shouldn't be posted anywhere else," the member said. And yet, the group contained foreign citizens - including from Russia and Ukraine, the members said - a defiance of the NOFORN warning printed across the top of so many documents OG shared. The member estimated that the server hosted people from Europe, Asia and South America. "Just about every walk of life." Of the roughly 25 active members who had access to the bear-vs-pig channel, about half were located overseas, the member said. The ones who seemed most interested in the classified material claimed to be from mostly "Eastern Bloc and those post-Soviet countries," he said. "The Ukrainians had interest as well," which the member chalked up to interest in the war ravaging their homeland. For years, U.S. counterintelligence officials have eyed gaming platforms as a magnet for spies. Russian intelligence operatives have been suspected of befriending gamers who they believe work for intelligence agencies and encouraging them to divulge classified information, a senior U.S. official said, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive information. It's not clear whether any of those efforts have been successful. But if foreign operatives finagled an invitation to OG's server, they would have been free to view the documents and make copies of them, as some members did. - - - The server sprouts a leak All winter, OG uploaded documents to the server. No one talked about sharing them elsewhere. Then, unbeknown to the group, on Feb. 28, another teenage user from the Thug Shaker Central server began posting several dozen photographs showing classified documents on another Discord server affiliated with the YouTuber "wow_mao." Some of the documents offered detailed assessments of Ukraine's defense capabilities and showed how far U.S. intelligence could see into Russia's military command. On March 4, 10 documents appeared on "Minecraft Earth Map," a Discord server focused on the popular video game. A user operating the account that posted the smaller tranche of images told The Post they obtained them on wow_mao. Secret and top-secret documents were now available to thousands of Discord users, but the leak wouldn't come to the attention of U.S. authorities for another month. Meanwhile, OG stopped sharing images in the middle of March. On April 5, classified documents assessing the war in Ukraine were posted on Russian Telegram channels and the message board platform 4chan, and began migrating to Twitter. One image, showing a March 1 Ukraine status update, had been crudely doctored to inflate the number of Ukrainian casualties and downplay those on the Russian side. The next day, shortly before the New York Times first reported on the leak, OG came into the server "frantic, which is unusual for him," the member said. "He said something had happened, and he prayed to God that this event would not happen. . . . But now it's in God's hands." - - - Not a whistleblower For all OG's disdain for the federal government, the member said there was no indication that he was acting in what he thought was the public interest by exposing official secrets. The classified documents were intended only to benefit his online family, the member said. "I would definitely not call him a whistleblower. I would not call OG a whistleblower in the slightest," he said, resisting comparisons to Edward Snowden, who shared classified documents about government surveillance with journalists. Remarkably, the member said he has been in touch with OG in the past few days, even as an FBI manhunt is underway and the Pentagon launches its own inquiry into the leaks. After shuttering the Thug Shaker Central server, OG moved the community to another server to communicate with his online family. He "seemed very confused and lost as to what to do," the member said. "He's fully aware of what's happening and what the consequences may be. He's just not sure on how to go about solving this situation. . . . He seems pretty distraught about it." In his final message to his companions, OG admonished them to "keep low and delete any information that could possibly relate to him," the member said. That included any copies of the classified documents OG had shared. When it dawned on them that OG was in grave peril and intended to disappear, the members of Thug Shaker Central "full-on sobbed and cried," the young member said. "It is like losing a family member." In hours of interviews, he continued to express admiration and loyalty to a man who may have endangered his young followers by allowing them to see and posses classified information, exposing them to potential federal crimes. "I figured he would not be putting us in any sort of harm's way," the member said. The exposure of the documents has severed friendships and cut him off from the man who buoyed his confidence and made him feel safe. The member said that the stress of the loss, coupled with the enormity of the leaks, has left him worried and sleepless. Now he says he believes that the world should see the secrets OG passed along to a tiny group. He argued that the public deserves to know how intelligence agencies spend their tax dollars, and was particularly outraged that the documents show U.S. surveillance of foreign allies. But what the young man regarded as a revelation will come as no surprise to the countries whose officials the U.S. has been monitoring for decades. While rarely discussed, and embarrassing for Washington when exposed, it's widely understood that the U.S. intelligence community monitors many friendly governments, just as foreign allies try to do the same. Thousands of military personnel and government employees around OG's age, working entry-to-low-level positions, could plausibly have access to classified documents like the ones he allegedly shared, according to U.S. officials and experts who have seen the documents reported in the media. Despite what his young followers thought, OG would have had no special knowledge compared with his peers. He possessed no special power to predict events. Rather, he appears to have persuaded some highly impressionable teenagers that he's a modern-day gamer meets Jason Bourne. The member said he's confident the authorities will find OG. But when they do, he won't be charged. Instead, he believes, OG will be imprisoned without due process at Guantanamo Bay or disappeared to a "black site," if he's not "assassinated" for what he knows. The member, as well as the OG follower who corroborated his account, found no fault in their leader's actions and instead said they blame the teen who posted the documents on the wow_mao server for wrecking their community. "Maybe we should have had better opsec," the member said, harnessing the jargon of military and intelligence personnel for "operations security." He insisted said he will not divulge OG's identity or location to law enforcement until he is captured or can flee the United States. "I think I might be detained eventually. . . . I think there might be a short investigation on how I knew this guy and they'll try to get something out of me. They might try to threaten me with prison time if I don't reveal their identity." To date, no federal law enforcement officials have contacted the young group member. Asked why he was prepared to help OG even at the risk of his own freedom, the young man replied without hesitation: "He was my best friend." SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham is making a leadership change at New Mexico's embattled foster care and child welfare agency. The governor on Thursday announced the departure of Barbara Vigil as secretary of the Children, Youth and Families Department, effective May 1, while the administration searches for a replacement. For the interim, the agency will be lead by Teresa Casados, a political appointee and top administrator to the governor's office. New Mexicos repeat rate of reported child abuse cases is among the worst in the country, amid chronic workforce shortages in the child welfare system and high turnover among employees in protective services. The state has responded in recent years with increased investments in services aimed at preventing abuse. In February, the governor outlined new efforts to make the agency and its protective services division more responsive to the needs of children and complaints from families. She commissioned a policy advisory council that Vigil will now join for its first meeting in May. Republican state Sen. Crystal Diamond of Elephant Butte expressed frustration with the leadership change and the recent rejection of legislative proposals on child welfare. Legislators were bullied by the governor into rejecting viable, bipartisan solutions with the empty promise that Secretary Vigil would be a steady hand of change, Diamond said in a statement. This is truly a sad day for New Mexico. Vigil, a former state Supreme Court justice, took the reins of the agency in October 2021 amid New Mexico's longstanding struggle to improve childhood wellbeing. On Thursday, Lujan Grisham called Vigil a stabilizing force for the agency, where she improved relationships with staff and constituents including Native American communities. Vigil oversaw initial implementation of the state's Indian Family Protection Act, aimed at preventing any arbitrary separation of Native American children from cultural ties to tribal communities. But frustrations with the agency and concerns about child welfare continue to run high. This year, Republican lawmakers in the legislative minority led calls for greater accountability through jilted proposals to hire a chief child advocate to investigate grievances and new standards for assessing the needs of children. The governor signed a bill establishing tighter deadlines for courts to determine whether youths remain in state custody, but rejected other accountability initiatives including a failed proposal to create a civil rights division at the attorney general's office to advocate for the rights of children. In a statement, Vigil was hopeful about prospects for improvements. Collaborating with child welfare professionals, we built a foundation for lasting change and positive outcomes for our children and families, she said. The grinding war between Ukraine and Russia is expected to bleed into 2024 with neither side securing victory yet both refusing to negotiate an end to the conflict, according to a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that is among the highly sensitive U.S. government materials leaked online and obtained by The Washington Post. The analysis concludes that, even if Ukraine recaptures "significant" amounts of territory and inflicts "unsustainable losses on Russian forces," an outcome U.S. intelligence finds unlikely, the nation's gains would not lead to peace talks. "Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely during 2023 in all considered scenarios," says the document, which has not been disclosed previously. The assessment, based on close U.S. scrutiny of each side's troop counts, weaponry and equipment, could galvanize the war's critics who have called on major powers such as the United States and China to push for Kyiv and Moscow to reach a settlement and end a conflict that has displaced millions and left hundreds of thousands dead or wounded. Asked about the DIA's assessment, a U.S. official said the decision on when to negotiate is up to President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people, underscoring what has been a hands-off approach to mediation espoused by the administration since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The United States will continue to stand with Kyiv and provide it with the equipment and weapons that will bolster its position at the negotiating table, whenever that day comes, the official said. The document leak, which first came to authorities' attention last week, has provided extensive insight into U.S. intelligence activities worldwide and exposed the national security establishment's deep misgivings about the war's trajectory. Many of the classified assessments that have surfaced thus far date to February and March, first appearing on the Discord messaging platform before spreading elsewhere online. Both the Pentagon, where many of the leaked materials appear to have originated earlier this year, and the Justice Department have said they are investigating the matter. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. Spokespersons for the Russian and Ukrainian governments did not respond to requests for comment. Beyond forecasting a costly open-ended conflict, the newly disclosed document also predicts how Ukrainian and Russian military leaders will respond to battlefield challenges, and it anticipates that the year will end with the two sides achieving only "marginal" territorial gains as a result of "insufficient troops and supplies for effective operations." Such a stalemate, where neither side achieves a decisive advantage, is described in the document as "the most likely scenario." For the Ukrainian side, an ongoing war of attrition will lead to frustration within the country and "criticism" about how the war is conducted, "making leadership changes more likely," the document says. It is unclear if the document is referring to leadership changes in a political or military context. Zelensky remains broadly popular in Ukraine, but tensions exist between his office and Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, head of Ukraine's armed forces, whom some in Kyiv view as a political threat. A stalemate also will result in Ukraine enacting the "full mobilization" of its remaining eligible population, the document predicts, sending more young men to the front lines. At the same time, Ukraine probably will intensify its reliance on strikes in Russian territory, the document says, a dynamic that has disquieted some U.S. officials fearful that such attacks could compel President Vladimir Putin to escalate the conflict or give China cause to begin providing lethal support to Russia. For the Russian side, the stalemate will force Moscow to employ "degraded reserves due to dwindling combat power," the document says. The Kremlin also is likely to "accelerate" efforts to integrate captured territories into Russia. "It's always been a race to see who runs out of resources first," said Heather Conley, a Europe scholar and president of the German Marshall Fund. She said she agreed with the U.S. intelligence contention that negotiations would begin only after one side is "exhausted," a prospect that appears far off. Jeff Rathke, a scholar at Johns Hopkins University and former U.S. diplomat, said the assessment "reflects a sobriety about the likelihood of either side being able to mount or to mass decisive military power in places where it can achieve strategic effect." The newly disclosed document also analyzes what might result from Russia or Ukraine achieving a "decisive advantage" on the battlefield. In the event that Russia deals a significant blow against Ukraine and captures more territory, Moscow is likely to "posture forces to achieve further objectives, such as regime change" in Ukraine, it says. Regime change appeared to be the goal of Russia's invasion, but its forces were thwarted in their blundering attempt to sack the capital. In the scenario in which Ukraine gains a decisive advantage, however, U.S. intelligence believes that Kyiv is likely to "conduct riskier offensive operations for additional gains." In response, Russia could be expected to "increase nonconventional attacks on Ukraine," though, importantly, "nuclear use remains unlikely," the document says. Officials predict that, rather than giving up, the Kremlin would opt to announce a "new national mobilization" to sustain further combat operations. U.S. officials have cautioned that such analysis related to the war in Ukraine is fluid, and the materials that leaked may lack nuance the United States has gleaned in the days since they were drafted. The newly disclosed document acknowledges that the stalemate it describes as the most likely scenario by year's send may not hold if there are "substantive improvements to Ukrainian or Russian military capabilities." Both sides are preparing for fighting to escalate as warmer weather arrives, though officials in Kyiv and personnel on the war's front lines have complained about logistical backlogs responsible for slowing promised deliveries of Western arms. Several nations, including the United States, committed battle tanks and other armored vehicles to Ukraine over the winter while initiating new training pipelines aimed at teaching advanced combat tactics to thousands of Ukrainian soldiers. All the while, what remains very consistent in the Biden administration's position on Ukraine is its deep skepticism about peace negotiations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has openly questioned the value of permanent or temporary armistice agreements, telling members of the U.N. Security Council in February that they "should not be fooled by calls for a temporary or unconditional cease-fire." Russia, he said then, will use "any pause in fighting to consolidate control." Blinken has also criticized countries for urging both sides to negotiate, pointing out that Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine has every right to fight to regain its territory. Publicly, neither Russia nor Ukraine has ruled out negotiations, but their demands are leagues apart. The 10-point peace plan Zelensky released last year demands the full withdrawal of Russian troops "from the territory of Ukraine," including Crimea, the peninsula Putin annexed illegally in 2014 that now serves to facilitate the resupply of his forces inside Ukraine. Moscow, meanwhile, has insisted that Ukraine must acknowledge the new "territorial realities," which has been interpreted to mean that Zelensky and his Western backers must recognize the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which Russia does not even fully control, as Russian territory, a non-starter for Ukraine as well as the United States. China proposed a 12-point peace plan for the conflict with criteria that few found objectionable, but it has gained little traction since it was introduced in February. - - - The Washington Post's Samuel Oakford contributed to this report. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) said she will temporarily give up her seat on the Senate Judiciary Committee in an announcement that came just hours after her fellow California Democrat Rep. Ro Khanna called on her to resign on Wednesday. Feinstein, who at 89 is the oldest member of the Senate, drew criticisms from some Democrats who noted her absence from the Senate for nearly two months, after being hospitalized for shingles treatment in early March, has contributed to a confirmation slowdown of President Biden's judicial nominees. She has not cast a vote since announcing she will not run for reelection in 2024. In a statement released Wednesday night, Feinstein provided no timeline for her return to the Capitol, which she said "has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis." She said she planned to "work from home" until her medical team said it was safe for her to travel. But Feinstein conceded that she understood her absence could "delay" the work of the powerful Judiciary Committee, which she once was poised to chair. "So I've asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I'm able to resume my committee work," Feinstein said. A spokesman for Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said he would ask the Senate next week to temporarily replace Feinstein on the committee. Most committee assignments for both Republicans and Democrats are done by unanimous voice votes on the Senate floor. It's unclear whether Republicans would unanimously allow this particular replacement to go through without objections, however, given the leverage Feinstein's absence has given them over judicial nominations. Replacing her would then take 60 votes to approve, which means at least 10 Republicans would need to back the measure. Feinstein's announcement came hours after Khanna, in a tweet, said "it's time for [her] to resign." "We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty," Khanna said. "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's absence has slowed confirmation of Biden's judicial nominees - one of the few pieces of the president's agenda that congressional Democrats can act on in this session, given that the House is in Republicans' hands. When asked in a CNN interview Monday if the absence of Feinstein, who has missed at least 60 votes this year, affects his ability to get Biden's nominees through Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Richard J. Durbin III (D-Ill.) said, "Of course it does." In a statement to The Washington Post, Khanna said Feinstein is slowing Democrats' attempts to protect their priorities in courts nationwide. "We have a crisis in the judiciary right now when women's rights and voting rights are under assault," Khanna said. "We have a Senator who is missing vote after vote to confirm judges who will uphold reproductive rights. [In] this historic moment where we must stand up to extremist judges, Senator Feinstein needs to step aside." Jon Lovett, a former speechwriter for President Barack Obama and a Democratic commentator, shared sentiments similar to Khanna's on his podcast Tuesday, saying Feinstein is preventing Democrats "from being able to confirm judges." "As sad as it is to see someone who has had an incredibly storied and important career . . . [Feinstein] should no longer be in the Senate," Lovett said. "She should resign." Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) retweeted Khanna's post Wednesday evening and said Feinstein's continued absence is a "dereliction of duty." While Feinstein previously said she will not resign before her term is up, California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) said in 2021 he would appoint a Black woman to fill the role if Feinstein were to step down before 2024. A number of Democrats have already lined up in the race to succeed Feinstein, among them Rep. Barbara Lee - who has Khanna's backing in the race. Khanna himself was at one point named in lists of potential candidates, but he said in March that he would not seek the Senate seat in California. Other Democrats who have announced candidacies for the seat include Reps. Katie Porter and Adam B. Schiff. Feinstein has long fought back against allegations - some coming from her own colleagues - that she is no longer fit to serve. She has faced questions about and media coverage of the perceived decline in her mental acuity. "The real question is whether I'm still an effective representative for 40 million Californians, and the record shows that I am," she said in a statement to The Post in response to an April 2022 article from the San Francisco Chronicle that reported four Senate colleagues - three of them Democrats - and three of the lawmaker's former staffers and a California Democrat in the House said her memory is rapidly deteriorating. Chinese envoy calls for increased support for Mali's counterterrorism, stability efforts Xinhua) 13:51, April 13, 2023 UNITED NATIONS, April 12 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese envoy on Wednesday called for international support for Mali's counterterrorism efforts. During a Security Council briefing on the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA), China's permanent representative to the United Nations Zhang Jun emphasized the importance of international support for Mali's efforts to counter terrorism and maintain stability, noting it is "the number one priority." "The Malian Government has been vigorously conducting counterterrorism operations, and has launched a strategy to stabilize central regions and made robust efforts to improve the regional situation and ensure the safety and security of its people. Such efforts merit our recognition," he said. "Assistance must be increased in inter alia funding equipment, intelligence, and logistics," he added. The ambassador said that MINUSMA must effectively fulfill its mandate from the Security Council and provide all-round support. "Some countries spoke of the human rights issue. We believe the ultimate purpose of counterterrorism operations is to protect the rights of civilians to life and security and other basic human rights. We object to using human rights as a political instrument to interfere with counterterrorism operations," Zhang said. "And we are not in favor of linking human rights with counterterrorism support and assistance. Doing so would amount to intervention in Mali's sovereignty and would in fact be counterproductive to the protection of human rights," the envoy added. Zhang underscored the importance of "promoting the implementation of the peace agreement," noting that "this is critical to maintaining peace and stability in Mali." "We look forward to concerted efforts by the Malian Government and other signatories. we commend and support Algeria for its mediation and good offices," he said. "The parties should effectively fulfill their commitments, and adopt measures such as high-level dialogue to accommodate each other's concerns and resolve their differences in a collective effort to maintain national sovereignty, security and unity." Zhang said that MINUSMA must provide more support in areas such as the compliance of parties with the ceasefire arrangement, advancing the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration process, and capacity building for the national security forces. "China supports MINUSMA in rolling out the community violence reduction projects and quick impact projects in central and northern Mali and providing more support for water supply, agriculture, infrastructure, vocational training, and so on, to eliminate the root causes of conflicts," he added. Speaking about the political transition in the country, Zhang said that the Malian authorities have engaged in extensive dialogue with the parties and have done a great deal of work in formulating the Constitution, preparing for the general elections, and so on. "The international community should support the parties in Mali in seizing the opportunity of the political transition, resolving their differences through dialogue, and ensuring the smooth holding of general elections, so as to lay a solid foundation for durable stability in Mali," he said. China supports the Economic Community of West African States in its continued good offices and mediating efforts on the basis of respect for Mali's sovereignty and ownership, the ambassador said. "The international community must remain patient, provide more support and encouragement for Mali's political transition, and take practical steps to help Mali tackle any difficulties that may arise in the electoral preparations and other areas," added the envoy. "China supports closer communication between the mission and the Malian authorities to resolve issues through dialogue and consultation," he said, adding that "it is our view that the Security Council should listen attentively to the views of the Malian government, and streamline and optimize the mandate of the mission as necessary to enhance its operational performance." "China is ready to work with the international community to make greater contributions to lasting peace and development in Mali," concluded the ambassador. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Infrastructure ministry officials tour a green renovation promotion booth at Gangdong District Office in Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport By Lee Kyung-min Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) library was able to increase its energy efficiency by 53.4 percent as of 2023 compared to 2018, a remarkable improvement led by the Land, Infrastructure and Transport Ministry's green renovation project. The university is among 80 participants in a consortium set up to advance the project led by the ministry to bolster energy efficiency and modernize old commercial buildings and residential dwellings. The ministry said in February of 2022 that the project will focus on improving energy efficiency, including setting up high-efficiency ventilation systems in buildings managed by state-run entities. Included are childcare centers, community healthcare facilities, medical clinics and other places used largely by children and the elderly. The consortium is comprised of state-run and private universities and academic institutions as well as research entities. Also among the participants are private firms. Ministry data showed that the initiative led to about a 5.3 ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions in 2020, the equivalent of planting 650,000 30-year-old pine trees in Gangwon Province. It is also equivalent to the carbon emitted by 2,180 cars a year. The consortium will lead the green drive, as backed by an analysis of the effects of the policy's contribution to greenhouse gas reduction. They will establish programs to foster businesses to come up with sustainable profit models, as well as nurturing experts. Additionally, they will organize training and education sessions as well as regular meetings whereby concerned citizens can participate and express their opinions in a public setting. Buildings that underwent the green renovation were able to register an average energy consumption reduction of 27.9 percent per unit area, the ministry said. The renovation project contributed to revitalizing the economy, including 520 billion won ($393 million) in economic effects induced and the creation of 3,562 jobs. The ministry said the drive is one of the most effective means to achieving the green gas reduction goal in the infrastructure sector. A Korea Authority of Land & Infrastructure Safety official gives an interview at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Seoul, Tuesday. Courtesy of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport - - - Correction: A previous version of this article incorrectly characterized Mr. Levick's divorce as complete. It was not finalized at the time of his death. This article has been corrected. - - - Richard Levick, a prominent Washington crisis communication consultant whose eponymous firm boasts of "fixing the impossible" for foreign governments, companies and high-profile personalities threatened by lawsuits or other calamities, died April 11 at a hospice center in Bethesda, Md. He was 65. The cause was cancer, said Phil Elwood, a spokesman for his firm. Located in Washington's K Street corridor of lobbyists and other fixers, Levick Strategic Communications specializes in generating media coverage that casts troubled clients in a more favorable light - preparing executives for interviews, urging reporters to pursue more sympathetic angles and spreading complimentary facts through news releases and social media. Billing at rates of $75,000 a month and higher, Mr. Levick's firm has represented oil companies following catastrophic spills, the insurance company AIG during its collapse in 2008, foreign governments including those of Dubai and Qatar, and the Catholic Church during the clergy abuse scandal. Mr. Levick's work took him around the world, placing him alongside chief executives and heads of state in sometimes dangerous environments requiring heavy security. This was a more thrilling and meaningful side of public relations, he said, than shilling for shaving cream or other consumer products. "Being with the head of a company, being followed by spies, being under armed guard in, you know, Yemen or some other area that's in significant turmoil - I think once you have crossed that Rubicon, nothing else seems as important," Mr. Levick said in a recorded interview with colleagues before his death. "Once you're really involved in it, once you represent a government," he added, "why would you do anything else?" Following the terrorist 9/11 attacks, he agreed to represent a dozen Kuwaitis detained as suspected terrorists at Guantanamo Bay in Cuba. Several of the prisoners and their families said they were innocent aid workers wrongly swept up in mass arrests in Afghanistan. His firm created a "two-tiered PR strategy," Mr. Levick later wrote in a PR industry publication. "One tack was to put a human face on the then 'invisible' detainees in Guantanamo," he wrote. "With such exposure, Americans would be more apt to ask themselves: 'Does our country really want to be treating people this way?' The subtext: The United States is supposed to be a beacon of freedom and justice in the world, and instead is resorting to nefarious and un-democratic tactics worthy of the terrorists themselves." The second part of the plan was to "help the public understand that the issues faced by the detainees affect all Americans," Mr. Levick wrote. "The underlying message emphasized that suspending the rule of law, forsaking habeas corpus, and ignoring the Geneva Conventions diminishes this country's image and endangers the lives of Americans abroad." Mr. Levick's firm set up a website as a repository for information about the detainees. "You can simply see these 'real' people on the website," he said. The firm also highlighted how some conservative commentators were on the side of the detainees when it came to constitutional issues such as due process - an angle that Mr. Levick sought to stoke. "Why not undermine the opposition by reaching out to a yet broader spectrum of conservatives?" he wrote. The firm and its tactics were fiercely criticized by the families of victims. Debra Burlingame, a sister of one of the pilots of the plane that struck the Pentagon on 9/11, had an op-ed published in 2007 in the Wall Street Journal questioning the innocence of the men. She harshly criticized Mr. Levick and the law firm representing them. "The Kuwaiti 12 case is a primer on the anatomy of a guerrilla PR offensive, packaged and sold to the public as a fight for the 'rule of law' and 'America's core principles,'" she wrote. All of the Kuwaiti detainees were eventually repatriated. One of the released detainees later carried out a suicide bombing in Mosul, Iraq, according to the New York Times. Mr. Levick later offered guidance to the family of Austin Tice, a law student and freelance journalist who was abducted in Syria. Richard Scott Levick was born in Mamaroneck, N.Y, on Dec. 10, 1957, and grew up in Bethesda. His father was in the real estate business; his mother died of pneumonia when he was 4. Mr. Levick graduated in 1975 from Walt Whitman High School, after which he attended the University of Maryland, majoring in political science. After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1979, he moved to Michigan, where he worked for a public interest research group run by Ralph Nader. He received his law degree from American University in 1987, then worked in public relations and opened his firm in 1995. Mr. Levick's relationship with Debbie MacDougall ended in protracted divorce litigation. Mr. Levick argued that their 2002 marriage ceremony had been invalid because of a date discrepancy on the license. The divorce was not finalized at the time of Mr. Levick's death, according to Elwood, the spokesman. The lengthy proceedings inspired MacDougall to self-publish a coloring book on divorce. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) A rapid spring snowmelt after an unusually wet winter is unleashing flooding from the Southwest to the Rockies, causing residents there and in the Upper Midwest to evacuate or stock up on sandbags amid surging creeks and rivers. In New Mexico, emergency crews rescued people from at least two vehicles from high water Thursday night in Jemez Pueblo north of Albuquerque, the National Weather Service said. But there were no immediate reports of any deaths of serious injuries. A flood warning was in effect for communities along the Jemez River into next week. In Flagstaff, Arizona, neighbors on one street have been working side by side since Tuesday with shovels to stave off floodwaters from their homes. Three creek-retention basins installed last year helped better navigate water that rushed down from burned mountains above the city, officials said. Still, water engulfed the shoulder of a local highway, and several roads and sidewalks were closed this week as the weather warmed and snow melted, making its way into neighborhoods. Sections of urban trails also were submerged. Officials said it was a scenario that came without a playbook. It would be nice to have an exact model of what we need to do, but we dont," Flagstaff Vice Mayor Austin Aslan told the Arizona Daily Sun. "We dont know what the next fire will look like, or where that scar will be. Theres small differences that will direct water to one neighborhood or another. Sandoval County in north-central New Mexico issued an emergency disaster declaration in the wake of severe flooding in communities near the Jemez River. No evacuations had been ordered, but residents in an area between Jemez Pueblo and Jemez Springs that regularly floods in the summer rainy season were collecting sandbags as a precaution. A local police chief estimated a dozen homes and other structures along the river could be at risk of being inundated with water. "Warm temperatures continue to cause rapid melting of snowpack, causing increased river flows," the National Weather Service in Albuquerque said Thursday night. The deluge also led to spillover from a wastewater treatment plant, which was contributing recycled water into the Jemez River. The U.S. Forest Service advised people not to fish in the river or drink water south of the plant. In Salt Lake City, Mayor Erin Mendenhall signed an emergency order late Wednesday aimed at helping residents whose homes were threatened by flooding in the southeastern part of the city. Rapidly melting snow in the nearby mountains sent water coursing through a creek in the neighborhood, prompting the voluntary evacuation of about 100 homes. The water was receding as cooler weather moved into the area. Even so, multiple mudslides were reported on canyon roads, including one that forced the temporary closure of Interstate 80 southeast of the city early Thursday. On Wednesday, local officials north of Salt Lake City issued evacuation orders for at least 20 homes in Kaysville, where flooding ripped a large gash that damaged a street, sidewalks and driveways in a subdivision that was under construction. Meanwhile, heavy snowpack and highs expected to reach 60 degrees Thursday were causing flooding in northwest Colorado, where transportation officials closed Highway 40 between Craig and Steamboat Springs, a popular ski area that has received more than 400 inches (1,016 centimeters) of snow this winter. Flooding in the small mountain town of Hayden forced schools to close. Rain was in the forecast Thursday afternoon, with the expectation of turning to snow overnight. The Colorado Department of Transportation posted photos online showing Dry Creek spilling over its banks at a bridge there, as well as floodwater threatening several parked recreational vehicles. The National Weather Service said some roads might become impassable during the weekend and urged motorists not to drive through flooded crossings. There were no reports of major damage, however, in Utah or Colorado as of Thursday. In the Northern Plains, a speedy snowmelt and possible April showers stoked fears of heavy flooding. Residents have been assembling thousands if not hundreds of thousands of sandbags to hold back water. The Red River Valley, which includes Fargo in North Dakota and Moorhead in Minnesota, had one of the snowiest winters on record. Heavy rain could cause the river to rise quickly, Moorhead city engineer Bob Zimmerman told Minnesota Public Radio. Minnesotas Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said Thursday at a news conference that the state is ready to respond with financial help for flooding if needed. He added that warmer temperatures and rising waters from climate change have factored into the states months-long preparation for the spring flooding season. Local, state and federal public safety and emergency management partners have ramped up monitoring and preparation efforts, according to the states Department of Public Safety. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has declared a statewide emergency for spring flooding, and he made the National Guard available to help fight floods in the coming weeks, the Bismarck Tribune reported. The city of Bismarck opened sites for residents to fill their own sandbags. In northern Montana, the Milk River was expected to rise to its highest level in more than a decade and swamp some rural areas. Emergency officials along the river in Glasgow were patrolling the levee protecting the city of about 3,200 people to make sure it held up, said Valley County Disaster and Emergency Services coordinator Rick Seiler. Shelters were being arranged in case low-lying areas need evacuations. The flooding was forecast to continue through next week, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rain was falling across the region on Thursday while snow continued to pile up at higher elevations, Seiler said. ___ Associated Press writers Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana; Terry Tang in Phoenix; Thomas Peipert in Denver; and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, contributed to this report. Federal prosecutors probing the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol have in recent weeks sought a wide range of documents related to fundraising after the 2020 election, looking to determine if former president Donald Trump or his advisers scammed donors by using false claims about voter fraud to raise money, eight people familiar with the new inquiries said. Special counsel Jack Smith's office has sent subpoenas in recent weeks to Trump advisers and former campaign aides, Republican operatives and other consultants involved in the 2020 presidential campaign, the people said. They have also heard testimony from some of these figures in front of a Washington grand jury, some of the people said. The eight people with knowledge of the investigation spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing criminal investigation. The fundraising prong of the investigation is focused on money raised during the period between Nov. 3, 2020, and the end of Trump's time in office on Jan. 20, 2o21, and prosecutors are said to be interested in whether anyone associated with the fundraising operation violated wire fraud laws, which make it illegal to make false representations over email to swindle people out of money. The new subpoenas received since the beginning of March, which have not been previously reported, show the breadth of Smith's investigation, as Trump embarks on a campaign for reelection while assailing the special counsel investigation and facing charges of falsifying business records in New York and a separate criminal investigation in Georgia. The subpoenas seek more specific types of communications so that prosecutors can compare what Trump allies and advisers were telling one another privately about the voter-fraud claims with what they were saying publicly in appeals that generated more than $200 million in donations from conservatives, according to people with knowledge of the investigation. That suggests that investigators are pursuing a legal theory similar to the one used to charge former Trump adviser Stephen K. Bannon and others with fraudulent fundraising to build a wall along the southern border, in which Bannon and others were charged with defrauding donors by lying in email pitches. Bannon's three co-defendants pleaded guilty or were convicted, while Bannon was pardoned by Trump before he faced trial. Bannon now faces similar charges from the Manhattan district attorney and awaits trial. He has pleaded not guilty. It's unclear whether prosecutors will find similar kinds of evidence to support an indictment in this case. The recent subpoenas and testimony are another indicator of the hectic pace of Smith's multipronged investigation. After winning a court ruling requiring Trump aides to testify to the grand jury about their interactions with the former president in the weeks leading up to Jan. 6, several former key staffers have been spotted at the Washington courthouse, including former homeland security official Ken Cuccinelli and former Trump adviser Stephen Miller. In recent weeks, prosecutors have separately continued to gather evidence about Trump's handling of classified materials at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida after he left office and potential obstruction of that investigation. At least two grand juries in Washington are meeting every week about Trump and his advisers on multiple fronts, people familiar with the investigations said. The Mar-a-Lago documents case is said to be further along than the Jan. 6 investigation, the people said. Trump has grown increasingly agitated as prosecutors have interviewed dozens of his aides, including Mar-a-Lago employees and household staff, advisers said. The special counsel's increased interest in fundraising follows the December release of the final report of the House select committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack, which concluded that the Trump campaign and Republican National Committee's joint fundraising operation brought in $250 million between the November election and Jan. 6, sending as many as 25 emails to supporters each day, many claiming that the election had been "rigged" or that Democrats had tried to steal the presidency and urging people to join the "Trump Army." The Trump campaign sent several emails on Jan. 6 itself, including one declaring, "TODAY. This is our LAST CHANCE . . . The stakes have NEVER been higher. President Trump needs YOU to make a statement and publicly stand with him and FIGHT BACK." One new subpoena sent by the Justice Department to a Trump adviser and described to The Washington Post sought drafts of all potential fundraising emails between the November election and Jan. 20 - and any internal communications about whether such pitches were legally sound. The subpoena asked for all records of any changes and edits made to fundraising emails, along with all discussions among Trump advisers about such email pitches. It sought all documents created or received by Trump advisers in support of - or contradicting - statements made in fundraising emails. In addition, it requested any communications among those involved in the fundraising efforts about whether fundraising emails could incite violence or contain false and misleading information. And it asked for all documents and correspondence among Trump advisers and others involved in the campaign about whether the election was stolen - seemingly seeking to determine whether those sending or approving the emails knew some of the claims were dubious. Prosecutors also sought information about an "Election Defense Fund" - cited in some fundraising emails that asked for donor money to challenge the election - and any documents about whether such a fund existed or whether there were plans for such a fund. Trump advisers told the Jan. 6 committee that references to the fund in pitches was a marketing tactic and no such segregated fund ever existed. In interviews and grand jury appearances, witnesses have been asked how the hundreds of millions of dollars raised were planned to be spent, and how the funds were spent in 2021 and 2022. People subpoenaed have also been asked to provide details on how the money raised during the post-election period was split between Trump-aligned groups and consultants. In the days after the election, Trump's advisers were stunned at how much cash was flowing into their coffers as he repeatedly spoke of a stolen election. The campaign raised more money in the days after the election than in some weeks leading up to the election - a financial windfall largely unspent by the time Trump left office. A spokesman for Smith, the special counsel, declined to comment. A spokesman for Trump did not respond to an email seeking comment. A spokeswoman for the RNC did not respond to a request for comment. Cuccinelli and a lawyer for Miller declined to comment. One person with knowledge of prosecutors' inquiries said they appeared to be exploring whether people who approved the ads saying the election was stolen separately acknowledged their fundraising pitches were based on lies. What they have found is that some of the campaign's lawyers, and outside lawyers, did not always review the language closely for factual accuracy. While some of the emails were edited, these people said, others were approved by key figures in Trump's orbit without close examination. At other times, they have found that some people involved in Trump's campaign were uncomfortable with some of the fundraising language distributed to supporters. The fundraising entities included the presidential campaign and various political committees associated with Trump, including Save America PAC and the Save America Joint Fundraising Committee. Whether such a case could be made is unclear. Political fundraising emails from Republicans and Democrats alike have often featured hyperbole and misleading language. In addition, many of the people involved in the fundraising emails say privately that they were only repeating language used by the president of the United States. And some of the emails were not specific about fraud claims. Adav Noti, legal director of the nonprofit Campaign Legal Center, said the key evidentiary question for such a case is whether "whoever was approving or making the solicitations knew they were false," adding that the solicitations for election defense or election integrity work "had already raised 100 times more money than it could have spent on that . . . I think the donors relied on the statements about where the money would go." The House committee that investigated the Jan. 6 attack included a 36-page appendix to its final report, which was released in December, that concluded that Trump, allies and advisers aggressively used claims of a stolen election to raise money following the vote, despite internal discomfort with some of the messaging. The committee found that ultimately virtually none of the money was spent on recounts or legal efforts to challenge the results. Nearly all of the money went to Trump-connected consultants or was poured into the Save America PAC to support Trump's future political ambitions. "Not only did President Trump lie to his supporters about the election, but he also ripped them off," the committee's seven Democrats and two Republicans concluded. Among other evidence, the committee found that a junior fundraising copy writer objected when he was directed to write a fundraising email asserting that Trump had won Pennsylvania before the outcome of the state's race was clear - Biden was ultimately declared the winner there. The copy writer was fired shortly after, the report says. The House committee reported that it identified a Salesforce employee who worked in the company's privacy and abuse operation and that they had reported concerns that Trump emails sent through the service violated the company's policies against distributing material that could lead to violence, but the employee said their concerns were ignored by more senior officials at the company. - - - The Washington Post's Alice Crites and Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report. One of two Americans who survived a deadly abduction last month in Mexico says she watched the video of the drug cartel shootout that killed two of her close friends on one of the kidnappers' phones. A road trip for cosmetic surgery took a fatal turn on March 3 when Latavia McGee and three friends crossed into a border town dominated by factions of the powerful Gulf drug cartel where they were fired on and loaded into a pickup truck. McGee and Eric Williams survived but Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown died. All grew up together in Lake City, South Carolina, a town of fewer than 6,000 people. McGee and Williams discussed the experience in an interview Tuesday with CNN's Anderson Cooper. The all-too-familiar sounds of the gunshots and commotion from the abduction rang out from someone's phone in the house where masked, gun-toting members of the cartel had taken them, McGee recalled. When she got confirmation that the video depicted her kidnapping, she asked if she could see it. I just started crying," McGee said of her reaction to the video. "I was like, Im never going home. Learning of the video's circulation made her feel a little better, McGee said, but she still didn't know if their families had any knowledge of the events. Indeed, the events shook families across the Carolinas who said they agonized for days waiting to hear whether their loved ones had survived. McGee and Williams shared grisly details with CNN about their days held captive in a remote region of the Gulf Coast. At one point the two friends said the cartel tried to make them have sex. Williams, sitting in a wheelchair with a brace on his left leg, told CNN that the cartel brought them to a clinic after questioning them at gunpoint. Williams, who had been shot in the left leg, said the someone stitched his wound on a two-by-four. McGee's despair persisted as cartel members drove them around blindfolded in trucks filled with police scanners. They knew what was going on. They always was a step ahead," McGee told CNN. I was like, Theyre never going to find us like this. Their fortunes changed when McGee said they awoke one night from the dark room in a remote region of the Gulf Coast. A man holding a phone light entered and said he was fighting with his boss to free them after somebody made the wrong call," according to McGee. Early on the morning of March 6, the two survivors said the cartel dropped the four Americans at a wood shack where officials later found them. Williams said he lay covered on the floor of a pickup truck, hidden by the dead bodies of Woodard and Brown. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Students at North Carolina's flagship public university walked out of class Thursday to protest school officials' decision to ban a law school student from campus after she was charged with domestic terrorism last month following a violent protest over a planned Atlanta-area police and firefighter training center that activists derisively call Cop City. University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill law school student Jamie Marsicano, 30, was one of 23 people arrested on domestic terrorism charges March 5 after a large group of masked activists stormed a Georgia construction site and proceeded to bash equipment, torch a bulldozer and throw rocks and fireworks at retreating law enforcement officers, according to police surveillance footage. Since being released on bond last month, Marsicano has been barred from attending class in person. On Thursday, more than 100 protesters marched across UNC's campus chanting, Jamie's not in class! We are not in class! The demonstrators then entered an administrative building and read aloud an open letter urging university officials to reverse the decision against Marsicano, a second-year law student whom classmates described as a loving, supportive member of the school community. Marsicano's attorney, Erin King, has said the charge against her client is baseless, noting that, by prosecutors' own admission, authorities do not have any evidence directly tying Marsicano to the scene. The arrests occurred near a music festival about 0.75 miles (1.2 kilometers) away, more than two hours after the attack took place, according to jail records. According to King, Marsicano was arrested near a food truck while eating dinner at the festival. To be clear, we do not have video surveillance of (Marsicano) on the scene or running from the scene, prosecutor Lance Cross said during a hearing last month at which Marsicano was granted a $25,000 bond. Prosecutors had called for Marsicano to be denied bond, saying she is an anarchist who was wearing muddy, black clothing and had been arrested in connection with protests in North Carolina in 2016 and 2017. Officers who stormed the festival following the attack looked for people who had muddy clothing, reasoning the vandals had gotten wet while crossing a creek to flee the construction site and blend in with the concertgoers, according to prosecutors. Activists, however, have called that evidence into question, noting that it had rained two days before and there were numerous patches of mud on the festival grounds. Meghan Rankins is a friend and classmate of Marsicano's who helped organize Thursday's protest. Rankins said the universitys Emergency Evaluation and Action Committee made a ridiculous decision in banning Marsicano from school grounds. Marsicano is a deans fellow who mentors first-year law students. The judge that granted Jamie bond clearly deemed that Jamie was not a threat to any community," said Rankins, who uses they/them pronouns. University spokesperson Chloe McCotter declined to comment on Marsicano's status, citing the federal Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act, which protects educational records. Rankins said Marsicano challenges us to think in class and is a resource for many who are facing struggles both inside and outside the classroom, especially when it comes to supporting those struggling with mental health. Jamie is just this glowing, bubbly, wonderful personality, they said. She's deeply missed. Rankins said Marsicano has been living off-campus and is barred from attending in-person classes or participating virtually via Zoom, though Marsicano is able to watch livestream feeds of class. School officials, in deciding to ban Marsicano from campus, have unfairly presumed Marsicano to be guilty, Rankins said. A primary tenet of our justice system is that we presume innocence," they said. Marsicano is one of more than 40 people who have been charged with domestic terrorism in connection with protests over the Atlanta Public Safety Training Center, a cause that has garnered international attention since an environmental activist was fatally shot in January by authorities who were clearing the South River Forest of protesters who had been camping near the construction site. Officials say the officers fired in self-defense after the protester shot a trooper. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is examining the shooting. Activists from across the country have joined the protest movement, arguing that officers at the 85-acre (34-hectare) center would be trained to become more militarized and quell dissent, all while hundreds of trees are cut down, damaging the climate and flood mitigation in a poor, majority-Black neighborhood. The Atlanta City Council approved building the training center in 2021, saying a state-of-the-art campus would replace substandard offerings and boost police morale, which is beset by hiring and retention struggles in the wake of violent protests against racial injustice that roiled the city after George Floyd was killed by police in 2020. LAS VEGAS (AP) The Clark County School District has fired a substitute teacher who wrote racial slur on a whiteboard during a class at a Las Vegas school. Several local outlets reported Wednesday that administrators sent a message to parents this week that the substitute had been terminated and would no longer be allowed to work anywhere in the district. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Laura M. MacLatchy, University of Michigan; Dan Peppe, Baylor University, and Kieran McNulty, University of Minnesota (THE CONVERSATION) Human evolution is tightly connected to the environment and landscape of Africa, where our ancestors first emerged. According to the traditional scientific narrative, Africa was once a verdant idyll of vast forests stretching from coast to coast. In these lush habitats, around 21 million years ago, the earliest ancestors of apes and humans first evolved traits including upright posture that distinguished them from their monkey cousins. But then, the story went, global climates cooled and dried, and forests began to shrink. By about 10 million years ago, grasses and shrubs that were better able to tolerate the increasingly dry conditions started to take over eastern Africa, replacing forests. The earliest hominins, our distant ancestors, ventured out of the forest remnants that had been home onto the grass-covered savanna. The idea was that this new ecosystem pushed a radical change for our lineage: We became bipedal. For a long time, researchers have linked the expansion of grasslands in Africa to the evolution of numerous human traits, including walking on two legs, using tools and hunting. Despite the prominence of this theory, mounting evidence from paleontological and paleoclimatological research undermines it. In tworecent papers, our multidisciplinary team of Kenyan, Ugandan, European andAmericanscientists concluded that it is time finally to discard this version of the evolutionary story. A decade ago, we began what, at the time, was a unique experiment in paleoanthropology: Several independent research teams joined together to build a regional perspective on the evolution and diversification of early apes. The project, dubbed REACHE, short for Research on Eastern African Catarrhine and Hominoid Evolution, was based on the premise that conclusions drawn from evidence across many locations would be more powerful than interpretations from individual fossil sites. We wondered whether previous researchers had missed the forest for the trees. An ape in Uganda 21 million years ago Based on the lifestyle of apes alive today, scientists have hypothesized that the very first ones evolved in dense forests, where they successfully fed on fruit, thanks to a few key anatomical innovations. Apes have stable, upright backs. Once the back is vertical, an ape no longer has to walk on the top of small branches like a monkey. Instead, it can grab different branches with its arms and legs, distributing its body mass across multiple supports. Apes can even hang below branches, making them less likely to lose their balance. In this way, they are able to access fruits growing on the edges of tree crowns that otherwise might be available only to smaller species. But was this scenario true for the earliest apes? A 21 million-year-old site in Moroto, Uganda, became an ideal place to investigate this question. There our REACHE team discovered teeth and other remains belonging to Morotopithecus, the oldest ape for which scientists have found fossils from the cranium, teeth and other parts of the skeleton. Two bones in particular helped us understand how this species moved. A lower backbone found decades ago and curated by the Uganda National Museum had already been noted for its bony attachments for back muscles, indicating that Morotopithecus had a stiff lower back, good for climbing upright in the trees. A discovery of our own confirmed this climbing behavior in a major way. At Moroto we found a fossil ape thigh bone that is short but strong, with a very thick shaft. This kind of bone is characteristic of living apes and helps them climb up and down trees with a vertical torso. Although both skeletal fossils are consistent with the fruit-eating, forest-dwelling ape hypothesis, we found something astonishing when we discovered an ape lower jaw fragment in the same excavation layer. Its molars were elongated, with well-developed shearing crests running between the cusps. These ridges are ideal for slicing leaves but are unlike the low, round, crushing tooth cusps of committed fruit eaters. If ape skeletal adaptations evolved in forests to aid in fruit exploitation, why would the earliest ape showing these locomotor features instead have teeth like a leaf eaters? Such inconsistencies between our evidence and the traditional narrative of ape origins led us to question other assumptions: Did Morotopithecus live in a forested habitat at all? The environment at Moroto To figure out Morotopithecus habitat, we studied the chemistry of fossil soils called paleosols and the microscopic remains of plants they contain in order to reconstruct the ancient climate and vegetation at Moroto. Trees and most shrubs and nontropical grasses are classified as C plants, based on the type of photosynthesis they perform. Tropical grasses, which rely on a different photosynthetic system, are known as C plants. Importantly, C plants and C plants differ in the proportions of the various carbon isotopes they take in. That means carbon isotope ratios preserved in the paleosols can tell us the composition of the ancient vegetation. We measured three distinct carbon isotope signatures, each providing a different perspective on the plant community: carbon resulting from decomposition of vegetation and soil microbes; carbon resulting from plant waxes; and calcium carbonate nodules formed in soils through evaporation. Although each proxy gave us slightly different values, they converged on a single remarkable story. Moroto was not a closed forest habitat but rather a relatively open woodland environment. Whats more, we found evidence of abundant C plant biomass tropical grasses. This discovery was a revelation. C grasses lose less water during photosynthesis than C trees and shrubs do. Today, C grasses dominate seasonally dry savanna ecosystems that cover more than half of Africa. But scientists hadnt thought the levels of C biomass we measured at Moroto had evolved in Africa until 10 million years ago. Our data suggests it happened twice as far back in time, 21 million years ago. Our colleagues Caroline Stromberg, Alice Novello and Rahab Kinyanjui used another line of evidence to corroborate the abundance of C grasses at Moroto. They analyzed phytoliths, tiny silica bodies created by plant cells, preserved in the paleosols. Their results supported an open woodland and wooded grassland environment for this time and place. Taken together, this evidence dramatically contradicts the traditional view of ape origins that apes evolved upright torsos to reach fruit in forest canopies. Instead, Morotopithecus, the earliest known ape with upright locomotion, consumed leaves and inhabited an open woodland with grassy areas. A new, regional view of early ape habitats Through the REACHE project, we applied the same approach to reconstruct habitats at eight other fossil sites in Kenya and Uganda, ranging in age from around 16 million to 21 million years old. After all, Morotopithecus is only one of several apes that lived during this time period. To our surprise, we discovered that the ecological signal measured at Moroto was not unique. Instead, it was part of a broader pattern in eastern Africa during this time. Our isotopic proxies at each fossil site contributed two significant revelations. First, vegetation types ranged from closed canopy forests to open wooded grasslands. And second, every site had a mixture of C and C vegetation, with some locations having a high proportion of C grass biomass. Phytoliths from the same paleosols again corroborated that abundant C grasses were present at multiple sites. The realization that such a variety of environments, especially open habitats with C grasses, was present at the dawn of the apes forces a reassessment not just of the evolution of apes but of humans and other African mammals. Although some studies had suggested such habitat variation was present across Africa, our project was able to confirm it, repeatedly, within the very habitats that early apes and their animal contemporaries occupied. Because the timing of the assembly of Africas grassland habitats underlies many evolutionary hypotheses, our discovery that they existed much earlier than expected calls for a recalibration of those ideas. Regarding human origins, our study adds to a growing body of evidence that our divergence from apes in anatomy, ecology, behavior cannot be simply explained by the appearance of grassland habitats. Nevertheless, we cautiously remind ourselves that hominin evolution unfolded over many millions of years. It is almost certain that the vast and majestic grasslands of Africa played an important role in some of the many steps along the path to becoming human. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/wooded-grasslands-flourished-in-africa-21-million-years-ago-new-research-forces-a-rethink-of-ape-evolution-203532. A years-long Harris County criminal court backlog is declining but still has tens of thousands of cases. In a press conference Wednesday, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg, staff members, and victims' families gave an update that the court's backlog has decreased by more than 21 percent since June 2021. The court's backlog of cases started six years ago after Hurricane Harvey flooded the county courthouse and halted proceedings. In addition to suspending trials, the destruction of the courts displaced judges and attorneys. In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated the backlog after in-person trials were suspended because of social distancing guidelines and concerns about transmitting the virus. Now, county court officials say they are on the right path to decreasing the number of cases but still have much more to do. "Twenty-one percent is significant to us and significant to victims," Ogg said. "We never get down to zero. what we are trying to achieve is pre-Harvey levels, and we're not there yet." According to the DA's office, in 2017, the court backlog in Harris County was around 65,000 cases. In 2018, the court backlog averaged 79,000 cases. In 2019, that number continued to climb, with about 96,000 cases, which rose to 130,000 in 2020. The pandemic brought the backlog to an all-time high of 145,000 cases. Since then, the court case backlog has been decreasing and sits at an average of 114,000 for this year. There are 69,533 active casesmore specifically, 38,000 felonies and 30,000 misdemeanors. In addition to the backlog of cases, officials said the county files an average of 100,000 cases annually. Officials also said the county is focusing primarily on violent criminal cases and using diversion programs in misdemeanor cases and low-level drug offenses. They are also preparing to change drug testing policies and require police to send drugs weighing less than four grams to be tested by the lab department to confirm their substance before the prosecutor files the charge. According to Houston Chronicle Reporter Nicole Hensley, officials expect this change to continue to help decrease the backlog. "Delay doesn't benefit the accused either," Ogg added. As the county wrestles with the backlog, the Harris County jail is being investigated for its standards and conditions after recording its highest in-custody death rate in two decades. In 2022, 27 people died in custody, and in 2023, four more have died. According to the HCJ dashboard, of the jail's current 9,680 residents, 7,372 are pre-trial, meaning they haven't been convicted of a crime but usually can't afford to pay bail. For some reason, there's been a lot of colossal shopping carts circulating online recently. Turns out H-E-B has its own version, too. Photos of a man attempting to park a massive H-E-B shopping cart somewhere in Texas recently popped up on Reddit under a post captioned: "Next level H-E-B love!" Noticeably, further behind the man is a similarly-sized tub of H-E-B's Creamy Creations ice cream on wheels. "Shout out to this guy and his grocery getter!" commented one user. "This is the most Texas thing I've ever seen," wrote another. "I want to open up that large tub of ice cream in the back," another astute observer added. The giant shopping cart is actually company-owned, not fan-made. It was designed and built from scratch in San Antonio by Carroll Wesch, a logistics planner for H-E-B Public Affairs who has worked for the Texas supermarket chain for 47 years. It took Wesch, a former mechanic who took the project on as a challenge from his manager, about seven months to complete. To this day, Wesch said he still maintains the cart, sometimes driving it in parades and at events. "The cart holds five partners and the driver," Wesch said. "The grocery basket cart is sometimes seen with the 10 Items or Less basketlike a go-cart that looks like one of the red hand-carried baskets." The supersized shopping cart, which made its official public debut back in 2011, measures more 11 feet high, eight feet wide, and around 14 feet long. Wesch proudly exhibits his mind-blowing creation all over Facebook. "We like to do things BIG in Texas, and who doesn't love a big grocery cart?" said Lisa Helfman, senior director of H-E-B Public Affairs in Houston in an emailed statement. "The cart is typically used for special events across the state such as festivals, parades, and store openings." If you've never seen the shopping cart in person and want to, you're in luck. This week, the H-E-B shopping cart will be rolling into the Bayou City on Saturday for the 36th Annual Houston Art Car Parade, which showcases some of the quirkiest, most creatively decorated wheels in town. Texas is big enough for more than one massive shopping cart. Earlier this month, a man was spotted a driving an XXL-size Lowe's cart down a Texas freeway. Even though Lowe's is a North Carolina brand, that shopping cart car was designed by San Antonio resident Jay Ruelas who owns Texas Corn Field Customs. His other creations include a car in the shape of a child's wagon and a hot rod Santa sleigh. Texas Education Agency officials plan to present their transition process for the state-appointed board of managers to the Houston Independent School District Board of Trustees on Thursday, April 13, at 5 p.m. at the Hattie Mae Support Center. The HISD meeting with TEA can be watched live here. The appointed board of managers is set to replace the elected HISD board after June 1. The transition presentation comes almost a month after TEA announced that they would be taking over the operations of the local school district, and only a few weeks after four state-hosted public meetings sparked frustration among community members. TEA Commissioner Mike Morath will select the board of managers, and once that happens, the HISD board will have no authority but will act in an advisory capacity. The TEA has already received hundreds of applications for the board of managers, the agency has said, many of them from former educators. Qualifications for the positions include: living within the boundaries of HISD, having no felony convictions for a crime involving fraud or theft, being able to pass a background check, and completing a conflict of interest disclosure annually. The appointed board member's position is not paid but requires 40 hours per month for the first six weeks and 15 hours per month after that. According to TEA officials, board members are expected to be in their position for at least two years until the district meets all exit criteria to regain leadership. TEA officials cited Wheatley High School's consecutive failed accountability ratings and mismanagement on the HISD board as the triggers to the state intervention. Local parents, students, educators, and HISD staff are concerned the intervention could negatively impact the school district. Lotte ON's mobile shopping platform. Courtesy of Lotte Shopping By Kim Jae-heun Local e-commerce firms are working hard to ban the sales of harmful products in their open markets as part of efforts to gain consumers' trust and improve their corporate image, company officials said Wednesday. Lotte ON, Lotte Group's e-commerce platform, decided recently to ban sales of illegal adult goods, vaping devices and products feared to infringe on privacy. Ultra-small cameras that can be used for making voyeur videos are also excluded from online sales by Lotte ON. The company has also banned the search of any keywords related to the products mentioned above. "It is our new attempt that we took action first to prevent any sales of harmful products. This can give us a loss to some extent but we want to focus more on selling high-quality protects that benefit our customers," a Lotte ON official said. "We have even refused to promote heat-not-burn devices on our platform, which are not illegal but for the sake of our customers' health." Gmarket is closely monitoring the sales of products on its open market in real time. When a seller gets a warning from the platform for repeatedly posting illegal or fake products for sale, they will be kicked out. Coupang has also adopted an artificial intelligence-based monitoring system to weed out unwanted products in real time. It provided separate guidelines to adult goods sellers including having to verify purchasers' age. Coupang will suspend or ban the sale of an individual product if the seller does not follow guidelines and fails to make corrections upon the company's request. 11Street operates a "safe trade center" to monitor its open market products. Its main targets are illegal drugs gaining popularity among teenagers and harmful media content banned under the Youth Protection Act. "We inspect the contents of products that we find inappropriate for teenagers on our open market service. When we find a seller violating our rules, we suspend their business," an 11Street official said. E-commerce firms are also urging individual sellers to cooperate with their efforts to eradicate harmful products on open market platforms. "There are limits to getting rid of illegal and harmful products with only the company's efforts," a local retail firm official said. "Sellers should also cooperate to conscientiously sell only lawful products." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DUBLIN (AP) Holding up his family history as an example, President Joe Biden on Thursday told lawmakers in a packed parliament building that the story of Irish immigrants setting sail for the U.S. is at the very heart of "what binds Ireland and America together. Like so many countries around the world, though perhaps more than most, the United States was shaped by Ireland, Biden said in address to a joint sitting of the Oireachtas in Leinster House. And the values we share remain to this day the core of the historic partnership between our people and our governments. Biden stressed the importance of economic ties, a Fearghail,united front on the war in Ukraine and a shared urgency to manage climate change. Biden addressed parliament as part of his four-day trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland, where he also met with political leaders and took a whirlwind tour of his ancestral homeland. Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail, speaker of the Dail, parliaments lower chamber, told Biden that Ireland has benefitted immensely from American investment, and noted that it goes both ways Ireland is the ninth-largest source of foreign direct investment in the U.S. Long may this bilateral investment continue, O Fearghail said to cheers. He welcomed Biden home as he introduced him. Biden was the fourth U.S. president to address the Irish parliament, after John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. For Biden, Ireland has been the backdrop for discussion about his favorite themes, like dignity, possibilities," democracy and poetry. He addressed parliament on what would have been the 84th birthday of his favorite poet, Seamus Heaney. O Fearghail gave Biden a signed copy of Heaney's poems, and Heaney's widow was present for the speech, watching as Biden quoted The Cure at Troy." The president spoke with poetic flourishes about how the two nations could dream together over horizons we can't see." He talked about visiting County Louth this week, gazing out at the sea from the stone balcony of Carlingford Castle, which would have been the last Irish landmark that Owen Finnegan, Bidens maternal great-great-grandfather, saw before sailing for New York in 1849. These stories are at the very heart of what binds Ireland and America together, he said. They speak to a history, defined by our dreams. The 80-year-old Biden also reflected on his age, something he rarely does publicly. He said was at the end of my career, not the beginning." He told the Irish lawmakers you can see how old I am, saying he comes to the job more experienced than any other president in American history. It doesn't make me better or worse, but it gives me few excuses," he said. Biden is expected to run for reelection, and would be 82 were he to start a second term. Earlier Thursday, Biden met with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Irelands prime minister, praising the nation for its humanitarian work welcoming Ukrainian refugees. Ireland has hosted nearly 80,000 refugees from Ukraine following Russia's invasion, and it has been staunchly supportive of U.S.-led efforts on the war. Biden said he was impressed by Ireland's commitment. I think our values are the same, Biden told Varadkar. And I think our concerns are the same. So Im really looking forward to continuing to work with you. Biden also met with with Irish President Michael D. Higgins at his grand Dublin residence. The two octogenarian leaders clasped hands and laughed as they walked inside along a red carpet. Biden signed the guest book with a writerly missive for Irelands poet-president: As the Irish saying goes, your feet will bring you where your heart is. Its an honor to return. Biden helped shovel dirt around a freshly planted Irish oak, not far from one planted years earlier by then-President Barack Obama. He also rang the Peace Bell, unveiled in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Biden clanged the bell four times, including one for all my Irish ancestors, and a fourth one for peace. Then he thanked Higgins, who turns 82 next week. Im feeling great, and Im learning a lot, Biden said at Higgins' estate. I know it sounds silly, but theres many Irish-Americans, like my relatives, whove never come back here. Varadkar and Biden also exchanged toasts at a dinner banquet at Dublin Castle. Biden opened the trip earlier this week in Belfast, Northern Ireland, where he marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement that ended years of sectarian violence. The U.S.-brokered deal brought peace to a region of the United Kingdom where the Troubles left some 3,600 people dead in bombings and other attacks. Addressing parliament Thursday, Biden said the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland to support Northern Ireland. His reminder of the importance of maintaining a quarter century of peace in Northern Ireland was likely to irk some British Conservatives and Northern Ireland unionists, who are suspicious of U.S. interference. Biden arrived in the Republic of Ireland on Wednesday, a day after he landed in Northern Ireland. Crowds lined five-deep and waited for eight hours to catch a glimpse of Biden in County Louth, where his mother's family is from. In the town of Carlingford, the Democratic president toured a castle, gazing out over the sea where his ancestors sailed toward America. From inside a packed old pub with a sticky wooden floor, Biden acknowledged that his ancestors emigrated to the United States to escape famine, but he added, When youre here, you wonder why anyone would ever want to leave. The president was elated by the dive into his Irish heritage, which he often cites as a driving force in his public and private life. According to the Irish Family History Centre, Biden is among the most Irish of all U.S. Presidents. Ten of his 16 great-great-grandparents were from the Emerald Isle. ___ Associated Press writer Jill Lawless in London contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A man suspected of making credible threats against California's Capitol after shooting a gun from his vehicle and lodging bullets in the wall of a hospital and commercial building in the suburbs of Sacramento was arrested Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The Roseville Police Department said the man will be booked into county jail on charges of attempted homicide, assault with a firearm, shooting from a moving vehicle and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. The police department and the California Highway Patrol, which was investigating the threats to the Capitol, named 30-year-old Jackson Pinney, 30, as the suspect. It wasn't clear if Pinney had an attorney to speak on his behalf. No one was injured in the shootings, authorities said. CHP did not immediately comment on the arrest and have not detailed the substance of the threat against the Capitol. The threat forced Californias Assembly to cancel its Thursday session. Senators evacuated to work in a new location. The Capitol remained open much of the morning, allowing people to gather on the outdoor grounds and take tours inside the historic building, but for part of the afternoon a sign on the door said the building was temporarily closed to the public. The two prior shootings were in Roseville and Citrus Heights, two cities northeast of Sacramento. Police in Roseville and Citrus Heights said they responded late Wednesday to reports of someone shooting a gun from a vehicle while driving through the cities. Bullets struck two buildings in Citrus Heights and a hospital in Roseville, police said. The two departments and the CHP said they believed both shootings and the threat to the Capitol involved Pinney. State senators and their staff members were notified about the threat involving the building in an email Thursday morning from Senate Secretary Erika Contreras. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has notified the Senate of a threat they consider to be credible involving the Capitol, Contreras wrote. The CHP and security partners are present in higher numbers in the Capitol area, and are alert of the situation. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins said in a joint statement that they relocated the Senate and ended the Assembly session early out of an abundance of caution. We apologize for the adjustments and interruptions to the members of the public who planned to come to the Capitol today to make their voices heard, they said. In this situation, we must put everyones safety and security first. We encourage everyone to stay alert and stay safe. Staffers were told to remain situationally aware and report any suspicious activity, said a memo from Assembly Chief Administrative Officer Lia Lopez. The Capitol building was not placed on official lockdown, said John Casey, a spokesperson for Rendon. __ Photographer Rich Pedroncelli and Associated Press writer Sophie Austin contributed. BERLIN (AP) Germany has approved Warsaws request for Poland to transfer five Soviet-designed fighter jets to Ukraine, the German Defense Ministry said Thursday. The permission was needed because Germany used to own the Soviet-designed MiG-29 planes, which were part of communist East Germanys military fleet. I welcome the fact that we in the federal government have reached this decision together, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement. This shows you can rely on Germany! Poland was an early advocate of sending fighter jets to Ukraine. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Warsaw a week ago, Polish President Andrzej Duda said his country already had provided four MiG-29 jets to Ukraine, with four more in the process of getting handed over and another six being prepared. Slovakia, too, has pledged MiG-29s to Ukraine. The country delivered four of the jets in late March, and has promised a total of 13. Ukraines air force is familiar with MiG-29s and is able to use the planes right away. Zelenskyy has lobbied Western supporters for months to provide fighter jets, anti-aircraft defense systems and other equipment and ammunition, while Ukrainian officials have spoken of preparations for an expected spring counteroffensive against Russian forces. Our actions will be powerful. We are preparing the guys," Zelenskyy said Thursday in his nightly address. And we are very much looking forward to the delivery of weapons promised by our partners. We are bringing the victory as close as possible. During a visit to Mali earlier Thursday, Pistorius confirmed German media reports saying that Germany had received Polands request and would reply by the end of the day. Germany itself has not supplied Ukraine with jets, and Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government has not signaled any plans to do so. Although Germany has become continental Europes biggest supplier of arms to Ukraine, the German government and Scholz have faced periodic criticism, especially ahead of a decision in January to supply battle tanks, over perceived reluctance to step up aid. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) Kenyas opposition announced Thursday that anti-government protests will resume after the holy month of Ramadan despite an agreement on talks with the ruling party. Veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, attending a town hall meeting in the capital, said a resumption date would be announced after Ramadan, which is due to end on Friday. A rally is scheduled for Sunday at the historic Kamukunji grounds in the capital where the push for multi-party politics was made in the 1990s. The opposition had previously organized protests twice a week that left four protesters dead and businesses within the capitals central business district shut down. During the series of protests, places of worship in Odingas stronghold of the Kibera slums and private property belonging to the former presidents family were torched. The demonstrations were aimed at urging the government to bring down the cost of living and persuading the electoral commission to open to the public the computer servers that handled the 2022 general election which the opposition has questioned despite the supreme court upholding the result. President William Ruto, who was declared the victor in those elections, in a state address on April 2 urged the opposition to call off the demonstrations and allow for talks. Odinga did call off the demonstrations and both sides have since nominated a team of politicians who are to deliberate on issues raised by the opposition. But the opposition has in recent days accused the government side of not being committed and serious about the talks, questioning the selection of individuals by the ruling party that includes defectors from the opposition. Odinga now says the protests will continue alongside the talks. The opposition has been calling for the involvement of other stakeholders, including civil society, in the talks, but the ruling party says it should remain a parliamentary process. Western diplomatic envoys and civil society groups had called for restraint and dialogue during the series of protests. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) Sen. Dianne Feinsteins monthslong absence from the Senate to recover in California from shingles has become a vexing problem for Democrats who want to confirm President Joe Bidens nominees to the federal courts. Now there is some pressure from within her party, and her state, to resign. With frustration mounting among Democrats, Feinstein on Wednesday asked to be temporarily replaced on the Senate Judiciary Committee while she recuperates. The statement came shortly after a member of Californias House delegation, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna, called on her to step down, saying it is unacceptable for her to miss votes to confirm judges who could be weighing in on abortion rights, a key Democratic priority. It will not be easy to temporarily replace Feinstein on the influential committee. Republicans could block such a move, given that the full Senate must approve committee assignments. The conundrum for Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., stems from his party's fragile hold on power. Democrats are clinging to a 51-49 majority in an aging Senate where there have been several absences due to health issues this year. A look at the politics surrounding Feinsteins absence, and how Democrats are navigating the situation: EXTENDED ABSENCE Feinstein, 89, has been away from the Senate since Feb. 27, just two weeks after she announced she would not run for reelection in 2024. Her office disclosed March 2 that she had been hospitalized in San Francisco and was being treated for a case of shingles. I hope to return to the Senate later this month, she said in a statement at the time. Now, six weeks later, Feinsteins office will not give a timeline for her return, even as Congress comes back into session Monday from a two-week recess. It is unclear how long Feinstein expects to be away from Washington or whether she might resign before the end of her term. She has already faced questions in recent years about her cognitive health and memory, and has appeared increasingly frail. But she has defended her effectiveness. STALLED JUDGES Since February, Feinstein has missed more than 50 votes. Her absence on the Judiciary Committee means that Democrats can only confirm judges who have some Republican support because Democrats only have a one-seat majority on the panel. The committee chairman, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., has acknowledged that the pace of confirmations has slowed. I cant consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee, Durbin told CNN. There are currently 12 federal judge nominees whom Democrats say they have been unable to advance because of Feinstein's absence. It is not clear how many would have Republican support. AN UNUSUAL REQUEST Feinsteins request to be temporarily replaced on the panel is uncommon and the politics at play are complicated. Committee assignments are typically approved easily in the full Senate at the beginning of each two-year session. Replacements are generally only made when a senator dies or resigns. To change the committee membership, Democrats will have to hold a vote. While committee rosters are generally approved by a voice vote, just one Republican objection would trigger a roll call. Because of Senate rules, Democrats probably would need 60 votes to replace Feinstein meaning at least 10 Republicans would have to help Democrats and support the move. That is far from assured. Judicial nominations are a high-stakes matter for both sides, and the process has become steeped in partisanship. Republicans have so far stayed quiet. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky has said he will return from his own medical absence on Monday, after a head injury in a fall last month. CALIFORNIA POLITICS Feinstein's February announcement that she will retire from Congress when her term ends next year has triggered a scramble for her seat in a strongly Democratic state. Democratic Reps. Barbara Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have already launched Senate campaigns to succeed Feinstein. California Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, said in 2021 that he would nominate a Black woman to fill the seat if Feinstein were to step aside before her term ends. Khanna has endorsed Lee, who is Black. Other Californians including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have come to Feinsteins defense. Pelosi told a San Francisco TV station that shes seen up close and firsthand her great leadership for our country, but especially for our state of California. She deserves the respect to get well and be back on duty. Pelosi suggested sexism has played a role in the way Feinstein has been treated. I dont know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way, Pelosi said. Ive never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way. A STORIED CAREER Feinstein has been a political trailblazer since she was the first woman to serve as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970s. First elected to the Senate in 1992, she was the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee, privy to the nation's top secrets, and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committees top Democrat. While she often has worked across party lines, she faced criticism in recent years from Democrats who said she was letting Republicans off easy in bruising judicial fights. Feinstein infuriated liberals in 2020 when she closed out confirmation hearings for now-Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett with an embrace of the then-Senate Judiciary Committee chairman, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and thanked him for a job well done. A month later, she announced she would remain on the committee but step down as the senior Democrat. ___ Associated Press writers Michael Blood in Los Angeles and Seung Min Kim contributed to this report, BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) As public frustration over Louisianas violent crime grows, Republican gubernatorial candidate Attorney General Jeff Landry is backing legislation that would make certain confidential juvenile court records public in three of the states parishes, all of which are predominately Black. Advocates for incarcerated youths oppose the bill with some calling it blatantly racist. They fear it would have detrimental generational effects on juvenile delinquents, some of who have not been convicted of a violent crime but simply accused of one. The advocates argue that making records public defeats one major purpose of the states juvenile system rehabilitation into the community and would risk their opportunities for employment, education and housing. You have a (teenager) whose brain is not fully developed and who has made a mistake. And 20, 30, 40, 50 years from now, they still aren't able to put that behind them, Kristen Rome, the co-executive director of Louisiana Center for Childrens Rights, said. Those records are going to always be available for everyone to see ... and that creates a stigma, which creates an environment where they cant thrive. The legislation, filed by Republican state Rep. Debbie Villio, proposes that all adult criminal court records be made available to the public online at no cost. The bill would also apply to juvenile court proceedings of youths 13 and older who are accused of committing a crime of violence or if they are accused of a second felony-grade delinquent act, such as robbery, theft, driving under the influence and assaulting a police officer. Currently, most juvenile court records are confidential in the state. The bill is proposed as a two-year pilot program that would apply to three parishes Caddo, East Baton Rouge and Orleans, all of which are home to Louisiana's most populous cities. While supporters of the legislation cited that these areas have the largest number of violent crimes in the state, they are also predominately Black. The confidentiality provisions were intended to protect the identity of young people from scrutiny later in life when these youthful indiscretions and mistakes might be impactful on their adult life, said Jack Harrison, a law professor at LSU and long-time public defender in juvenile court. But what's happened is that these provisions have shielded juvenile courts from public scrutiny .... and I think, frankly, people would be surprised to know what is happening in these courts. Harrison says the public would likely be shocked to learn of heightened charges pursued and overzealous punishments dealt to juveniles in the state. But some Republican politicians who for years have campaigned with tough-on crime rhetoric, calling for harsher sentences say they want to tamp down on possible leniency in criminal courts in a state that has the nation's second highest murder rate per capita. You cannot maintain the rule of law, or dispense justice, when we are all wandering around lost in the dark, Landry said. This plan will expose who in the system should be held accountable for the failures; when (District Attorneys) fail to prosecute, when judges fail to act, when police are handcuffed instead of the criminals. Cortez Collins, a Black police officer in Coushatta, Louisiana, understands loss at the hands of juvenile crime. Last December, his 17-year-old son, Corterion Collins, was shot and killed. Another 17-year-old was arrested for the shooting and plead guilty to manslaughter, Collins said. He was sentenced to 3 1/2 years the life sentencing for a juvenile. But Collins aches knowing that someday they will be released from prison and with a clean record and able to get a job without their employer knowing what happened nearly four years earlier. If you are bold enough to pull the trigger and take somebodys life, I feel it should be known, Collins said. Landry has said that if juvenile records become public, the Department of Justice, which he oversees, would create a victim notification system to text and email individuals of upcoming court proceedings and developments related to their case. There currently is a notification system but family members of slain victims say it needs significant improvements. Incarcerated youth advocates argue the proposal to create a victim notification system out of the bill is masking the harmful effects the legislation would have on already marginalized communities, especially as research shows Black youths are more likely to be incarcerated than white juveniles. I think, in this instance, it is becoming very clear because of the locations (for this legislation) that there are certain children particularly Black children who we are unwilling to provide a second chance to and we quickly look at them and decide, Oh, they are just not going to be better, Rome said. Ashonta Wyatt, an education and social justice advocate in New Orleans, said the legislation feels like a targeted attack and that focusing on three parishes when there is crime across the state makes it seem as if those areas are being dubbed the equivalent of warzones. And while Wyatt acknowledged the high crime in New Orleans, she said lawmakers should focus on addressing the reasons behind criminal behavior rather than what is happening in courts. If you look at those same parishes, you will see a broken school system. You will see a lack of quality of living. You will see housing thats unaffordable. You will see a lack of opportunity, Wyatt said. If (Landry) can see where theres a need to pilot a program to target crime, then he also should be able to see that these are the same areas where he has to support the pouring of resources to help rehabilitate those communities. While there is no synonymous answer across the aisle on how to improve the current situation in the state, which repeatedly has one of the highest incarceration rates in the country and where there are typically more than 500 murders a year, all agree something must give. Its hard because on both ends were losing. Were losing because people are dying and were losing because our children are losing themselves to the juvenile justice system," said Wyatt. "There are no winners. ___ Associated Press video journalist Stephen Smith in New Orleans contributed to this report. KARACHI, Pakistan (AP) Four firefighters died and nearly a dozen others were injured after a massive fire broke out in a garment factory in the southern Pakistan port city of Karachi, rescue officials and police said Thursday. The cause of the blaze, which ripped through the factory Wednesday night and eventually caused it to collapse, was not immediately known, police said. Earlier, heavy gray smoke suddenly rose from the factory. Firefighters had almost extinguished the blaze when the collapse occurred. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) Sudans military warned Thursday of potential clashes with the countrys powerful paramilitary force, which it said had deployed troops in the capital of Khartoum and other areas without the army's consent. Tensions between the military and the paramilitary, known as Rapid Support Forces or RSF, have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the countrys democratic transition. In a statement, the military said the buildup of the RSF in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country was done without the approval of, or coordination with" the armed forces leadership and presents a clear violation of the law. The paramilitary recently deployed troops near the northern Sudanese town of Merowe. Also, videos circulating on social media Thursday show what appear to be RSF-armed vehicles being transported into Khartoum, further to the south. The latest tensions between the army and the paramilitary stem from a disagreement over how the RSF should be integrated into the military and what authority should oversee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudan's unsigned transition agreement. The army-RSF rivalry, dates back to the rule of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019. Under al-Bashir, the paramilitary force, led by powerful Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, grew out of former militias known as the Janjaweed that carried out a brutal crackdown in Sudans Darfur region during the decades of conflict there. Although the army and the RSF together carried out a coup in October 2021 that upended Sudan's transition to democracy, friction between them became increasingly visible in recent months, with conflicting public statements, heavy military presence in Khartoum and parallel foreign trips by military and RSF leaders. The RSF said Wednesday that its presence in northern Sudan and elsewhere is aimed at achieving security and stability and fighting human trafficking and illegal migration. The wealthy paramilitary force is estimated to have tens of thousands of fighters. According to Kholood Khair, founder and director of Confluence Advisory, a think tank in Khartoum, tensions between the army and the RSF are at an all-time high and Thursday's militarys statement just fell "short of accusing the RSF of committing an act of rebellion. The escalation has raised concerns of new fighting in a country known for internal armed conflicts. Many took to social media to express their concerns. Sudan's National Umma Party one of the country's largest political groups called for restraint and urged all political forces against escalating the situation. The party also called an emergency meeting Thursday morning with military and RSF representatives and senior political figures. No details immediately emerged following the meeting. A joint statement Thursday by envoys to Sudan from France, Germany, Norway, Britain, the United States and the European Union said they were deeply concerned about the recent escalation. It called on the military and the RSF to resolve the outstanding issues" on security and establish a "unified, professional military accountable to a civilian government. In response to the escalation, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum advised American citizens on Thursday against travelling to northern Sudan. Also, U.S. government staff have been prohibited from venturing beyond the capital's metropolitan area until next Thursday, it said. The 2021 coup removed a Western-backed, power-sharing administration and dashed Sudanese aspirations for democratic rule after three decades of autocracy and repression under al-Bashir. A months-long popular uprising forced the militarys overthrow of al-Bashir in April 2019. Since then, the former president, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide in the Darfur conflict, has been imprisoned in Khartoum. Connecticut is one of the safest states in America in terms of violent crime. In the last 10 years, crime in the state has fallen by 30 percent, and all New England is well below numbers routinely seen in other parts of the country. All this has happened while the states prison population has shrunk and facilities have closed. Though numbers of inmates moved up again in the pandemic, the overall trend has been toward a shrinking prison population. This is a good thing. Its not only tremendously expensive to keep people locked up, its also questionable how much good it does. Statistics show that nearly all violent crimes are committed in younger years, so keeping people in prison for decades on end does not necessarily serve public safety. Crime policy is too often based on emotion. The desire for retribution is strong, and victims and their family members deserve to have their needs heard, as well. But when it comes to sentencing and related decisions, the state should be making decisions that are in everyones best interests. All this has come to a head in the ongoing controversy over sentencing commutations in Connecticut. After the state commuted only three prisoners sentences from 2017 to 2021, the rate of commutations has increased dramatically, with 97 granted among 442 considered since then. This has led people who had expected to spend the rest of their lives in prison to be granted newfound freedom. And it has led to a corresponding chorus of complaints from victims and their advocates, echoed by legislative Republicans who say the system is out of control. Agreeing, apparently, is Democratic Gov. Ned Lamont, who has removed chairman of the state Board of Pardons and Paroles Charlton Giles, of Milford, though he will still serve on the board. There were a lot of pardons in a short period of time, Lamont said. Maybe its time to take a pause and let the legislature weigh in on what they think the rules of the road should be. 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. The position of Lamont and the Republicans at first sounds reasonable. There was a big change that was unanticipated, so maybe we need to pause. But nowhere has anyone pointed out a harm or threat caused by any of the commutations, other than on an emotional level. At the same time, we know clearly the cost of keeping people in prison. This is the logic of mass incarceration. Even as Connecticut has moved toward a smaller prison population, the same arguments hold sway. Every politician is eager to be seen as tough on crime, and the arguments and cost-benefit analysis take a backseat to what feels right. This is how the nation ended up with an entire generation scarred by overincarceration. Its true, we should take a step back and look at the pardons and commutations system. But the burden should be on those who insist on keeping people locked up, not on those opposed. With no apparent notice to the governor or lawmakers, the Board of Pardons and Paroles began using its rarely employed power of commutations last year to reduce the sentences of 71 inmates, including 44 doing time for murder. The ramifications of that change loudly echoed Wednesday at the state Capitol, where the mother of a murdered daughter lobbied for stricter standards and the Senate divided over the reappointment of a board member behind the change. Gov. Ned Lamont on Monday removed Carleton J. Giles, who claimed sole responsibility for driving the change, as chair of the board but did not withdraw Giles nomination to a third five-year term on the panel. The Senate ultimately voted Wednesday to confirm Giles, a retired Norwalk police officer and ordained minister, on a vote of 21-14, with Democrats Joan Hartley of Waterbury and Cathy Osten of Sprague joining all 12 Republicans in opposition. No one questioned that Giles had acted within statutory authority, and Sen. Gary Winfield, D-New Haven, noted that his intent to resume commutations after a hiatus was reported by the CT Mirror in June 2021. Some of us may not have been aware of it, Winfield said. But this was not secret in a way that I think some of us imagined it is, given the way that the public conversation has taken place. But lawmakers said it was the scope of the resumption the board had not commuted more than three sentences in any one of the past six years that came as a shock to policy makers and the families of victims. Granted, the statute gave him leeway, said Sen. John Kissel of Enfield, the ranking Senate Republican on the Judiciary Committee. But he decided to initiate a commutation policy on steroids like we have never seen here in the state of Connecticut. Kissel, a lawyer in his 30th year in the Senate, said he and other lawmakers were surprised to learn the degree to which they had delegated commutation powers to the board with few standards. If you look and dig into the statutes, theres not a lot of detail there as to what they can or cannot do, Kissel said. Lobbying for a change already was underway Wednesday from Audrey Carlson of Newington, whose 24-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, was shot to death by an ex-boyfriend, Jonathan Carney, in 2002. Carlson told reporters her family had been comforted by what they saw as the finality of a plea deal that guaranteed Carney a 42-year prison sentence. Then they were notified he was seeking a commutation. We accepted a 42-year contract ironclad knowing and trusting that this system is going to work for us. Well, guess what? We were wrong, Carlson said. All Im asking is for a level of diplomacy and compromise, an understanding with respect. This is not political. This is just. Carneys application for a commutation hearing was rejected in the pre-screening process, as was the case in two-third of the requests filed in 2022. Of the 79 that went to full hearings, 71 commutations were granted. In removing Giles as chair, Lamont also committed to a roundtable discussion with stakeholders to assess whether changes are needed in law or policy regarding commutations. Im here first to thank Gov. Lamont for taking prompt action and removing Mr. Giles and setting the course of the BOPP in a new and more rational direction, Carlson said before the Senate convened. Before the session, Carlson lingered outside the chamber, engaging senators in conversation about potential changes. Lamont has not committed to any change other than a new chair. The administration is gathering stakeholders before the boards next scheduled meeting to determine if its process can be improved, and to ensure that the commutation process balances the importance of second chances for Connecticut prisoners, the perspectives of victims, and public safety considerations, said Adam Joseph, the governors communications director. Republicans tried to equate a vote for Giles as an endorsement of the jump in commutations. Were voting on the direction of this particular board, said Sen. Stephen Harding, R-Brookfield. And the question that we as legislators, as senators, in my opinion, we have to answer is: Do we support that direction? Yes or no? I want to applaud the governor for asking Mr. Giles to no longer be the chair, but hes still, if hes confirmed today, hes still going to be on this board. And I think thats a huge mistake, said Sen. Heather Somers, R-Groton. Somers recited a partial roster of the murders whose sentences were reduced. According to the boards statistics, the biggest reduction went to a 39-year-old inmate who served 23 years of an 85-year sentence for a crime committed as a 17-year-old. The 44 inmates doing time for murder were granted commutations that took an average of 14 years off 44-year sentences. That is a decision that should be made here in the legislative body, not by a lay board, Somers said. Giles was defended Wednesday by some lawmakers to a point. Sen. Herron Gaston, D-Bridgeport, an ordained Christian minister, said forgiveness is central to his faith. So I do believe in restoration, I do believe in forgiveness and compassionate forgiveness, Gaston said. So I just rise and say that I support Carleton Giles, someone with whom I have a deep admiration and respect for. Winfield, the Judiciary co-chair, said Giles and two other board members who served on three-member commutation panels had been responding to lawmakers who wanted to see commutations explored. He flawed them on approach. Should they have brought it to the Judiciary Committee? Absolutely, Winfield said. But it is not going against the law we have. It is not just something done under the cover of darkness. The Google logo is pictured atop an office building in Irvine, California, U.S. in this August 7, 2017 file photo. Reuters-Yonhap The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Google must disclose the list of personal information it has shared with third parties, including United States intelligence. In 2014, four Korean activists filed a lawsuit against the global tech giant and its local unit, Google Korea, demanding to disclose the handling of their personal information. Under Korean law, online service providers must respond to a customer's request to disclose any record of their personal data being shared with a third party. An appeals court had earlier partially sided with the plaintiffs but ruled that Google has the right to reject the demand on issues that can be kept private in accordance with the relevant U.S. laws. The Supreme Court, however, partially overturned the previous rulings and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for a retrial. The highest court said even if personal information was provided to foreign intelligence agencies for probable cause, the service provider must notify the users of such acts when that cause terminates. The plaintiff alleged Google passed on the private information of its users, including those that live outside the U.S., to an American government intelligence program known as PRISM. PRISM trawls the internet for email and chat records of anyone who has contacts in the U.S. The program made global headlines after former U.S. intelligence contractor Edward Snowden divulged its existence. "We plan to review the Supreme Court's decision carefully," Google Korea said in a press release, adding that protecting the privacy of its users is an important issue for the company. (Yonhap) The new national timeline for phasing out gas-powered cars announced by President Joe Bidens administration on Wednesday will rapidly accelerate the switch to electric vehicles for millions of drivers and yet it is still likely to lag behind efforts underway in Connecticut and other states. The new tailpipe emissions standards unveiled by the Environmental Protection Agency this week aim to ensure that two-thirds of new cars sold by the year 2032 harness their power from electric engines, a vast improvement from the roughly 6 percent share of the market that EVs currently hold. Still, experts say that Connecticut will have to outpace even that performance to meet its existing climate goals. Thats because Connecticut is part of a coalition of over a dozen states that abide by the stricter rules established by the California Air Resources Board, which aims to phase out all new sales of gas-powered cars by 2035, several years ahead of the EPAs timeline. The reality is as California, Connecticut and numerous other states have determined, its not enough, said Greg Cunningham, the director of the Clean Energy and Climate Change program at the Conservation Law Foundation. Its not enough to avoid the worst effects of climate change, and at least in Connecticut its not enough to comply with Connecticuts Global Warming Solutions Act, Cunningham added, referring to a state law mandating that carbon emissions be slashed to 80 percent below 2001 levels by mid-century. Under the federal Clean Air Act, states can opt to follow either the California standards or the less stringent EPA regulations. Connecticut lawmakers voted to adopt the California standards on cars and light-duty trucks in 2004, and the law was signed by then-Gov. John Rowland, a Republican. Last year, lawmakers went a step further and voted to adopt the California standards on medium and heavy-duty trucks. California has since opted to speed up its own goals for electrifying all vehicles from cars and pickups to eighteen-wheelers, virtually ensuring that other states will have to follow suit. While Connecticut has yet to formally adopt the newest standards, Cunningham said that law gives regulators no other option unless lawmakers vote to leave the California coalition and revert to the less stringent EPA regulations, which would likely run afoul of the climate goals that have also been written into law. Neither the new EPA rules nor the California regulations will prohibit owners from keeping, maintaining or re-selling gas-powered vehicles well beyond the 2030s. For that reason, Cunningham said that the states should act sooner to ensure that all or most carbon-spewing cars are off the road by mid-century. The Department of Energy and Environmental Protection is expected to release its version of the new California regulations in the coming months, with the hope that they will be finalized by the end of this year. Climate change is an ever present and disruptive force in our lives, DEEP spokesman Will Healey said in a statement on Wednesday. Cars and trucks of all sizes represent the largest source of climatewarming pollution in Connecticut and we strongly support EPAs action that will build upon the work of California and 13 states, including Connecticut, who follow Californias emission standards. As California has tightened its emissions rules in recent years, Republicans have increasingly questioned Connecticut's decision to follow along rather than reverting to the less-restrictive EPA rules. The federal agencys announcement of a plan Wednesday to rapidly accelerate sales of EVs is a sign that it is taking seriously the harm posed by vehicle emissions, said state Sen. Stephen Harding, R- Brookfield, who serves as the ranking member of the legislatures Environment Committee. Obviously, California doesnt have the duty to consider how a policy is going to impact the state of Connecticut, 3,000 miles away, Harding said. Still, Harding said that it is unlikely that Connecticuts Democratic-controlled legislature would vote to do away with the California standards in the near future. Supporters of the stricter California standards, meanwhile, said that the EPAs announcement on Wednesday would ultimately benefit states that have opted for a quicker timeline by spurring auto-makers into ramping up producing more EVs, while also speeding up the deployment of public charging stations. Even before the Biden administrations announcement, General Motors had said that it would stop selling gas-powered vehicles by 2035, in line with the California standards. Despite booming sales of electric vehicles in Connecticut, officials say Connecticut continues to face a number of hurdles en route to phasing out gas-powered vehicles entirely. For one, drivers must currently travel out-of-state to purchase a car from the most popular electric vehicle-maker, Tesla, due to the states franchise law. In addition, improvements must be made to the regional power grid, ISO New England, to ensure adequate capacity to recharge all of those electric vehicles on a daily or weekly basis. Between now and [2035], were going to have to address the grid issue, the grid reliability issue, said state Rep. Joe Gresko, D- Stratford, who serves as co-chair of the Environment Committee. Its great that its on our radar screen, now weve got to do it. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office in this May 1, 2022 file photo / Yonhap Prosecutors on Thursday raided Daewoo Development Engineering Construction, a medium-sized general construction company, and its former and current top executives over suspected accounting fraud involving tens of billions of won. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office sent prosecutors and investigators to 10 places, including the company's headquarters in Incheon, a Seoul office, and the homes of Chairman Lee Sang-young and former CEO Han Jae-jun, to secure documents related to the alleged irregularities. Lee and Han are also suspected of embezzlement of company money and breach of trust. Earlier in January, a civic group filed complaints against them with police, alleging that the company appears to have committed accounting fraud of about 100 billion won ($76.4 million). Police opened an investigation into the allegations before sending the cases of Han and a company financial official to the prosecution. Prosecutors then launched an additional investigation suspecting that Lee and Han had committed embezzlement and breach of trust in the process of the alleged accounting fraud. (Yonhap) Gartner projects that spending on information security and risk management products and services will grow 11.3% to reach more than $188.3 billion this year. But despite those expenditures, there have already been at least 13 major data breaches, including at Apple, Meta and Twitter. To better focus security spend, some chief information security officers (CISOs) are shifting their risk assessments from IT systems to the data, applications, and processes that keep the business going. If you look at security from a purely technical perspective, its easy to get lost in, `I need to have this shiny object because everyone else has it, says David Christensen, VP and CISO at benefits administration software provider PlanSource. The reality is often the most popular or well-known new security solution can waste money and slow the business, especially if it doesnt align with business goals. And even if it helps secure one part of the business, it may not be the part of the business or business process that creates the most risk or is most important. Don Pecha, CISO at managed services provider FNTS, agrees, adding: Each business unit of the company might have unique considerations, and unique compliance, regulatory, or privacy applications, and each business may have unique risks for the board or C-suite to consider. Frank Kim, CISO-in-residence at venture capital firm YL Ventures, and fellow at the SANS Institute, cites the case of one CISO who was fired after suggesting costly endpoint detection, and response and incident response programs considered not stage appropriate for such a startup. Their focus was on survival and revenue growth, Kim says. He didnt realize his job was not just to suggest a bunch of new security capabilities, but business enablement. A new definition of value Aligning security with the business goes beyond traditional methods of justifying security spend, such as warning of consequences from hacks or trying to prove ROI. For internal enterprise security teams, Kim says to accept that security is a cost center and demonstrate how the CISO manages total cost of ownership over time. This might include updating CFOs and CEOs on specific cost reduction, such as reducing spend with a security vendor, finding a less expensive product to fill a security need, or improving internal metrics such as the average cost to mitigate a vulnerability, adds Tyson Kopczynski,SVP and CISO at financial services provider Oportun. Other technologies that can help the identification and certification of single version of truth are data discovery, profiling, quality, and observability, to name a few. If there are multiple values to properties of an entity like a customer, technology like master data management can translate the know-how of operational personnel into prioritization and survivorship rules that can create and maintain a version of the truth that can be consumed universally within an organization. Data-driven projects demand a substantial investment of budget and resources. How can data officers justify both? Investments into data capabilities and development of data products have increased multifold over the past years. This requires investments into tools as well as commissioning people as well as augmented knowledge workers like consultants along with setting up new processes as well as interventions. Formalizing management of data through data governance can increase transparency, accountability, responsibility, independence, and fairness in implementing corporate governance. One crucial aspect of formalization from data offices is assessing return-on-investment on investments and maintaining the value of data assets. What tips would you share with IT leaders looking to establish a data strategy and direction for their companies? The 1994 Hawley Committee report first identified data as an asset, defining it as data that is or should be documented, and that has value or potential value. Data offices can focus on the decision rights related to the data assets and the network of relations to ensure data is qualitative, consistent, usable, secure, protected, and yet available. In the past decade, the interest in data management has increased multifold with the evolution of business models that are driven by data along with the evolution of the modern data stack and cloud capabilities. This has in fact resulted in a need for improved data literacy around the globe. Industry bodies like DAMA, EDM Council, along with other data communities are providing global literacy around benefits of managing data with standard frameworks. During the process of determining the companys goals, the board is entrusted with exercising critical judgment, while the data office is responsible for designing data strategy and policies to ensure that these goals that have data contribution are met. Information Technology is not to blame for the emphasis on people and process capabilities; however, it should be considered when planning future technology investments that can enable the achievement of the goals outlined by data and business strategy. IT leaders can keep up with rapid advancements in data technology including data collection, cloud storage and processing, machine learning operations, automation in data operations and data security to name a few domains of interest. Within the organization, the data officer can build a data-driven culture by imparting awareness around benefits of managing data activities through interactive newsletters, roadshows, board representation and formalization of people and processes that involve data. Google's logo is seen on cracked glass / Reuters-Yonhap By Ko Dong-hwan Korea's top court ruled Thursday that Google must make public its classified records of user information they sent to third parties, including United States government agencies. The ruling came almost a decade after a group of Korean plaintiffs filed a complaint suit against the multinational tech company in 2014. Under the ruling, the Supreme Court sent the case back to an appellate court, saying that what the company slated as "classified" regarding the personal information about users should be re-examined to determine whether the secrecy's legitimacy is consistent with the Korean Constitution. According to the top court, Google's obligation to abide by U.S. laws and maintain the confidentiality of the relevant information does not necessarily legitimize the company's controversial practice. The court said that Google's compliance with U.S. laws does not necessarily justify its actions in Korea and that it should be evaluated in light of Korean personal information protection laws to determine whether they comply or conflict. The court said "a thorough, comprehensive examination" is required to determine the legitimacy of the company's practice in Korea. Four human rights activists in Korea in 2014 demanded the company reveal the records of information on users of the online search site that were sent to a "third party" in the U.S. Under the current law, online service providers must meet a customer's request to disclose personal data being shared with a third party. The company rejected their demand, prompting them to file a suit against Google and Google Korea. The activists claimed the users' personal information might have been sent to PRISM, a program run by the U.S. National Security Agency that collects internet communications from various U.S. internet companies, without their consent. The appeals court had ruled in favor of Google, saying the company has the right to classify certain information while being obligated to make public the use of other personal information of the users. Primeste notificari pe email Nota bene: Adresele email cu extensia .ru nu sunt acceptate. Contractare si Achizitie Bunuri Anunturi de Angajare Granturi - Finantari Burse de studiu Stagii Profesionale Oportunitati de voluntariat Toate Articolele Halima Begum, chief executive of race equality think tank the Runnymede Trust, is to join ActionAid UK as its CEO in July. Begum previously worked for ActionAid, having joined the organisation as a recent graduate in 1999 and helping it to set up the Global Campaign for Education. ActionAid UK has been without a permanent leader since the first female chief executive in its 50-year history stepped down after one year last June. Former CEO Frances Longley said when she resigned that it was important for leaders to recognise their limitations and that the international development charity needed different skills to hers. Earlier last year, it was revealed that an internal review found some Black and ethnic minority staff at ActionAid UK had suffered systemic racism and felt less valued [and] less supported than their white colleagues. The report was commissioned and focused on events before Longley took up her post. Begum: A pivitol moment Begum was born in Bangladesh and raised in London. Prior to her work with the Runnymede Trust, Begum held senior positions in the Department for International Development, the British Council, and LEGO Foundation. Begum said: It is a great privilege to be re-joining the wonderful team at ActionAid, an organisation that works on exceptionally important causes and that has always remained close to my heart. Right now, there is such enormous complexity in the world, and an overwhelming number of crises affecting some of the most vulnerable members of our global community. While the challenges across the sector are numerous, significant and immediate, not least in terms of charitable funding during the cost-of-living crisis, this is a pivotal moment for me to be returning to ActionAid. Kendi Guantai, the charitys chair, said: We are thrilled that Halima has chosen to return to ActionAid and lead us forward. Her vast experience in challenging and overcoming inequality, combined with her strong grounding in and passion for humanitarian response, human rights and gender equality, will be invaluable in helping ActionAid realise its vision of creating a just, equitable and sustainable world in which every person enjoys the right to a life of dignity, freedom from poverty and all forms of oppression. In the 2021 calendar year, ActionAids total income was close to 50m. Editor's note: This article has been updated to clarify that the charity's internal review focused on events before Frances Longley became CEO. 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 Christian charity founder accused of giving inappropriate massages has resigned from the charity he founded. Mike Pilavachi founded the Soul Survivor Watford charity in 1993 and was made an MBE for services to young people in 2019. Documents filed with Companies House show that he terminated his role as a director of Soul Survivor on 4 April this year, the same day the Telegraph revealed he had stepped back from Church of England ministry following the inappropriate massages allegations. His stepping back from ministry was confirmed in a statement read to the congregation at Soul Survivor Watford, a Church of England place of worship where Pilavachi is senior pastor, during a Sunday service. Not a criminal investigation A joint statement on behalf of the Church of England national safeguarding team, the St Albans Diocese, and the Soul Survivor Watford trustees, said non-recent safeguarding concerns relating to Pilavachi were reported to the national church and that these were being looked into. It said it was mutually agreed with Pilavachi that he would step back from all ministry, while this investigation is carried out. The statement continues: We would like to stress that the police are not involved; this is not a criminal investigation and Mike has not been suspended. It is also not currently a clergy disciplinary matter. A statement from David Mitchell, chair, on behalf of the Soul Survivor Watford trustees said: I would like to underline the point that Mike is not under criminal investigation, has not been suspended and that the concerns currently relate to matters which occurred a considerable time ago. Nothing should be inferred from Mike stepping back; this is perfectly normal following the start of an investigation that has not reached a conclusion. We mutually agreed this was the best step because of the importance of correct procedures being followed. The investigation is being conducted by the Church of England and is rightly independent from Soul Survivor Watford and the trustees. We will of course assist in any way we can. We understand this may be very difficult information to absorb. We will be emailing these statements to those in our church family and making them available on our church website. Charity Commission data for the financial year ending 31 March 2022 puts the charitys total income at more than 1.4m. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, Senior brew master of Asahi Europe & International Kamil Ruzek, left, and General Manager of Asahi Europe Brand Korea Matthew Holmes pose with newly introduced Kozel White beers at the launch in Seoul, April 13. Courtesy of AEBK By Kim Jae-heun Czech beer brand Kozel, owned by Japan's Asahi, launched its new lager Kozel White in Korea for the first time in the world to test its product before taking it to other global markets, the company said Thursday. "I am happy to introduce Kozel White in Korea with much love and respect to the Korean beer market," Matthew Holmes, general manager of Asahi Europe Brand Korea (AEBK exclusive local importer of Kozel), said during the press conference held in Seoul. "We recognize the importance of the Korean market as the global trend says 'if it works in Korea, it works in other parts of the world.' If the product is chosen by Korean consumers, who are picky about quality and services and sensitive to trends, it has a high possibility of success in the global market." Another reason for Kozel to launch its new product in Seoul first, is that Korea is the fifth largest market by sales in the world. When counting countries that do not own production facilities and only sell imported Kozel beer, Korea is the biggest market in the world. AEBK, which sells products of other imported beer brands such as Pilsner Urquell and Peroni, showed 26.4 billion won ($20.17 million) in sales last year, up by 38.6 percent from 2021's 19 billion won. Kamil Ruzek, senior brewmaster of Asahi Europe & International, also presented at the launch event to provide background information on the development of Kozel White. "Both product development and testing were carried out based on the Korean market, so it suits Korean consumers' palate," Ruzek said. "It is a new lager that added the scent of fruit to its excellent freshness. Kozel White provides a creamy foam of cloud-like color with a pleasant clean aftertaste. It is made for those who look for new types of beer rather than traditional lagers." The Charity Commission has removed a London-based church charity from its register after an internal schism between the trustees impacted service delivery, finances and governance. Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church St Mary Tsion was removed from the register on 27 March 2023 after its assets and property had been transferred to a newly formed charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) in 2018. The Commission opened its first inquiry into the charity on 31 March 2014 over governance issues, which the latter appealed to the first-tier tribunal two weeks later. Following the appeal, the inquiry was withdrawn. A second inquiry was opened on 6 October 2014 to investigate concerns arising from an entrenched, long-running dispute over the trusteeship and management of the charity and repeated failure to file annual accounts and annual returns on time. The Commission was unable to determine trusteeship and authorised one of the parties involved in the dispute to begin court proceedings. On 30 April 2018, the High Court ordered Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahdo Church St Mary Tsion to be incorporated into a new CIO, which resulted in the appointment of new trustees and the transfer of the charitys assets to it. The regulator subsequently removed the charity from the register on the grounds that it has ceased to operate. The findings The inquiry found that there were two factions within the charity that both deemed themselves to be the rightful trustees, each disputing the legitimacy of the appointment of the other. The dispute was so entrenched that it disrupted the charitys operations including service delivery and allegedly contributed to public disorder in the local community. As a result, the trustees persistently failed to meet their statutory duty to submit annual accounts and annual returns to the Commission on time, the inquiry report said. The Commission said that all attempts at mediation failed and that only the courts could determine trusteeship. Following the High Court judgement, the new CIO was registered with the Commission on 5 November 2018. Earlier this year after multiple delays the Commission finally received confirmation from the solicitor representing the CIO trustees that the completed transfer deeds had been submitted to HM Land Registry. The inquiry removed the charity from the register of charities under section 34(1)(b) of the Act, on the grounds it has ceased to operate, the report said. Dispute directly contributed to charitys issues The parties involved in the dispute spent a significant amount of time and resources of the charity on trying to resolve the dispute and related litigation. The Commission concluded that the dispute at the charity directly contributed to the issues faced by the charity. Individuals on both sides of the dispute were unable to put their differences aside and co-operate for the benefit of the charity and its beneficiaries, the report said. The Commission further concluded that it was not proportionate to attempt to investigate the history of the administration of the charity whilst the charity proceedings were ongoing. It was also not proportionate to undertake any further investigation once the charity proceedings in relation to the dispute between the trustees had concluded and the assets and property of the charity transferred to the CIO. sign up to receive the Civil Society News daily bulletin here . For more news, interviews, opinion and analysis about charities and the voluntary sector, When OpenAI, an artificial intelligence startup, released its ChatGPT tool in November, it seemed like little more than a toyan automated chat engine that could spit out intelligent-sounding responses on a wide range of topics for the amusement of you and your friends. In many ways, it didnt seem much more sophisticated than previous experiments with AI-powered chat software, such as the infamous Microsoft bot Taywhich was launched in 2016, and quickly morphed from a novelty act into a racism scandal before being shut downor even Eliza, the first automated chat program, which was introduced way back in 1966. Since November, however, ChatGPT and an assortment of nascent counterparts have sparked a debate not only over the extent to which we should trust this kind of emerging technology, but how close we are to what experts call Artificial General Intelligence, or AGI, which, they warn, could transform society in ways that we dont understand yet. Bill Gates, the billionaire cofounder of Microsoft, wrote recently that artificial intelligence is as revolutionary as mobile phones and the Internet. The new wave of AI chatbots has already been blamed for a host of errors and hoaxes that have spread around the internet, as well as at least one death: La Libre, a Belgian newspaper, reported that a man died by suicide after talking with a chat program called Chai; based on statements from the mans widow and chat logs, the software appears to have encouraged the user to kill himself. (Motherboard wrote that when a reporter tried the app, which uses an AI engine powered by an open-source version of ChatGPT, it offered different methods of suicide with very little prompting.) When Pranav Dixit, a reporter at BuzzFeed, used FreedomGPTanother program based on an open source version of ChatGPT, which, according to its creator, has no guardrails around sensitive topicsthat chatbot praised Hitler, wrote an opinion piece advocating for unhoused people in San Francisco to be shot to solve the citys homeless crisis, [and] used the n-word. The Washington Post has reported, meanwhile, that the original ChatGPT invented a sexual harassment scandal involving Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University, after a lawyer in California asked the program to generate a list of academics with outstanding sexual harassment allegations against them. The software cited a Post article from 2018, but no such article exists, and Turley said that hes never been accused of harassing a student. When the Post tried asking the same question of Microsofts Bing, which is powered by GPT-4 (the engine behind ChatGPT), it repeated the false claim about Turley, and cited an op-ed piece that Turley published in USA Today, in which he wrote about the false accusation by ChatGPT. In a similar vein, ChatGPT recently claimed that a politician in Australia had served prison time for bribery, which was also untrue. The mayor has threatened to sue OpenAI for defamation, in what would reportedly be the first such case against an AI bot anywhere. According to a report in Motherboard, a different AI chat programReplika, which is also based on an open-source version of ChatGPTrecently came under fire for sending sexual messages to its users, even after they said they werent interested. Replika placed limits on the bots referencing of erotic roleplaybut some users who had come to depend on their relationship with the software subsequently experienced mental-health crises, according to Motherboard, and so the erotic roleplay feature was reinstated for some users. Ars Technica recently pointed out that ChatGPT, for its part, has invented books that dont exist, academic papers that professors didnt write, false legal citations, and a host of other fictitious content. Kate Crawford, a professor at the University of Southern California, told the Post that because AI programs respond so confidently, its very seductive to assume they can do everything, and its very difficult to tell the difference between facts and falsehoods. Joan Donovan, the research director at the Harvard Kennedy Schools Shorenstein Center, told the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that disinformation is a particular concern with chatbots because AI programs lack any way to tell the difference between true and false information. Donovan added that when her team of researchers experimented with an early version of ChatGPT, they discovered that, in addition to sources such as Reddit and Wikipedia, the software was also incorporating data from 4chan, an online forum rife with conspiracy theories and offensive content. Last month, Emily Bell, the director of Columbias Tow Center for Digital Journalism, wrote in The Guardian that AI-based chat engines could create a new fake news frenzy. As I wrote for CJR in February, experts say that the biggest flaw in a large language model like the one that powers ChatGPT is that, while the engines can generate convincing text, they have no real understanding of what they are writing about, and so often insert what are known as hallucinations, or outright fabrications. And its not just text: along with ChatGPT and other programs have come a similar series of AI image generators, including Stable Diffusion and Midjourney, which are capable of producing believable images, such as the recent photos of Donald Trump being arrestedwhich were actually created by Eliot Higgins, the founder of the investigative reporting outfit Bellingcatand a viral image of the Pope wearing a stylish puffy coat. (Fred Ritchin, a former photo editor at the New York Times, spoke to CJRs Amanda Darrach about the perils of AI-created images earlier this year.) Sign up for CJR 's daily email Three weeks ago, in the midst of all these scares, a body called the Future of Life Institutea nonprofit organization that says its mission is to reduce global catastrophic and existential risk from powerful technologiespublished an open letter calling for a six-month moratorium on further AI development. The letter suggested that we might soon see the development of AI systems powerful enough to endanger society in a number of ways, and stated that these kinds of systems should be developed only once we are confident that their effects will be positive and their risks will be manageable. More than twenty thousand people signed the letter, including a number of AI researchers and Elon Musk. (Musks foundation is the single largest donor to the institute, having provided more than eighty percent of its operating budget. Musk himself was also an early funder of OpenAI, the company that created ChatGPT, but he later distanced himself after an attempt to take over the company failed, according to a report from Semafor. More recently, there have been reports that Musk is amassing servers with which to create a large language model at Twitter, where he is the CEO.) Some experts found the letter over the top. Emily Bender, a professor of linguistics at the University of Washington and a co-author of a seminal research paper on AI that was cited in the Future of Life open letter, said on Twitter that the letter misrepresented her research and was dripping with #Aihype. In contrast to the letters vague references to some kind of superhuman AI that might pose profound risks to society and humanity, Bender said that her research focuses on how large language models, like the one that powers ChatGPT, can be misused by existing oppressive systems and governments. The paper that Bender co-published in 2021 was called On the Dangers of Stochastic Parrots: Can Language Models Be Too Big? It asked whether enough thought had been put into the potential risks of such models. After the paper came out, two of Benders co-authors were fired from Googles AI team. Some believe that Google made that decision because AI is a major focus for the companys future. As Chloe Xiang noted for Motherboard, Arvind Narayanan, a professor of computer science at Princeton and the author of a newsletter called AI Snake Oil, also criticized the open letter for making it harder to tackle real AI harms, and characterized many of the questions that the letter asked as ridiculous. In an essay for Wired, Sasha Luccioni, a researcher at the AI company Hugging Face, argued that a pause on AI research is impossible because it is already happening around the world, meaning there is no magic button that would halt dangerous AI research while allowing only the safe kind. Meanwhile, Brian Merchant, at the LA Times, argued that the all doom-and-gloom about the risks of AI may spring from an ulterior motive: apocalyptic doomsaying about the terrifying power of AI makes OpenAIs technology seem important, and therefore valuable. Are we really in danger from the kind of artificial intelligence behind services like ChatGPT, or are we just talking ourselves into it? (I would ask ChatGPT, but Im not convinced I would get a straight answer.) Even if its the latter, those talking themselves into it now include regulators both in the US and around the world. Earlier this week, the Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration has started examining whether some kind of regulation needs to be applied to tools such as ChatGPT, due to the concerns that the technology could be used to discriminate or spread harmful information. Officials in Italy already banned ChatGPT for alleged privacy violations. (They later stated that the chatbot could return if it meets certain requirements.) And the software is facing possible regulation in a number of other European countries. As governments are working to understand this new technology and its risks, so, too, are media companies. Often, they are doing so behind the scenes. But Wired recently published a policy statement on how and when it plans to use AI tools. Gideon Lichfield, Wireds global editorial director, told the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists that the guidelines are designed both to give our own writers and editors clarity on what was an allowable use of AI, as well as for transparency so our readers would know what they were getting from us. The guidelines state that the magazine will not publish articles written or edited by AI tools, except when the fact that its AI-generated is the whole point of the story. On the other side of the ledger, a number of news organizations seem more concerned that chatbots are stealing from them. The Journal reported recently that publishers are examining the extent to which their content has been used to train AI tools such as ChatGPT, how they should be compensated and what their legal options are. Other notable stories: ICYMI: Free Evan, prosecute the hostage takers Mathew Ingram is CJRs chief digital writer. Previously, he was a senior writer with Fortune magazine. He has written about the intersection between media and technology since the earliest days of the commercial internet. His writing has been published in the Washington Post and the Financial Times as well as by Reuters and Bloomberg. Roughly five years ago, Glyn Mottershead pitched the idea of an artificial intelligence (AI) teaching assistant to the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies at Cardiff University. Mottershead, now a senior lecturer at City University of London, wanted to make it easier for his students to access information from the student handbook whilst on a tight deadline. If he could train a bot on course handbooks and documentation, students could interact with it just as they would with a teaching assistant. Except the bot would be awake at 3am and have unlimited patience. It would almost be like some of those customer service chatbots but for a particular course, said Mottershead. Mottersheads project didnt go through due to a lack of funding. But last November, the San Francisco based research lab, OpenAI, released ChatGPT. While Motterheads idea was limited to a small and specialized dataset, ChatGPT is trained on vast amounts of data from the internet and with abilities such as conversational memory and being able to handle feedback about its own answers. Mottershead felt like his vision had been realized and started to think of ways to bring the tool inside the J-School classroom. Crucially for Mottershead, who specializes in data journalism, ChatGPT knows how to program. Give it a snippet of code and it can usually explain the codes purpose, suggest ways to optimize it, and provide alternative methods. Mottershead saw potential in ChatGPT as a useful tool, especially for students working on technical tasks or data-driven stories. He envisioned setting up a workshop to teach students how to write prompts while in the planning stage of a story. Mottershead began experimenting with ChatGPT. He recently asked it to write a script in Python that scraped data from Twitter. ChatGPT handed over the code along with a warning message. It told him scraping Twitter is against the companys rules and regulations and that he risked getting his account suspended if he proceeded. Mottershead was struck by how effective such a warning could be for students unaware of the ethics involved in scraping and gathering of data from the internet. What if we could train it on our own rules and regulations, so if it hits an ethical issue or a problem, it could say to students: you need to stop here and take that problem to the ethical lead, he said. Mottershead was probing a question with which journalism schools across the US are grappling: Does generative artificial intelligence belong in the journalism classroom? The debate has seen some schools embrace the new technology thrilled by its capacity to simplify gruntwork while other departments are fortifying plans to shut it out of the pedagogical environment for good, citing the technologys casual attitude to facts. These clashes look set to intensify. At IREs (Investigate Reporters and Editors) annual data conference last month, Jonathan Soma, director of the Columbia Journalism School data program, joked that when a student approaches him with a technical question he now says: Dont ask me, ask ChatGPT. * * * Experiments with personalized versions of ChatGPT have already begun. OpenAI released a customizations element of GPT-3 that allows users to train the model on their own datasets. The basic idea is to take one of OpenAIs existing language models already trained on vast amounts of data and then train it on a smaller, specific dataset (a journalism textbook, for instance). Some educational companies have taken this one step further by using OpenAIs API in conjunction with their own educational content library to create AI tutors. Quizlet, for example, released Q-Chat in early March, which functions as a ChatGPT-like chatbot tailored to a Socratic teaching method they claim promotes active learning. Similarly, Khan Academy released the Khanmigo project which is able to help students as a virtual tutor or debating partner and helps teachers with administrative tasks such as generating lesson plans. But some educational organizations have taken the opposite approach and attempted to prevent AI tools from penetrating the school system. The New York City Department of Education, for instance, blocked AI access to school devices and networks over concern that it would inspire cheating among students. A spokesperson from the department told NBC News that while the technology could provide quick and easy answers to questions, it doesnt provide critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Journalism departments are reckoning with how to approach the new AI technology. For a field that values accuracy and facts while also wanting to streamline job efficiency, this is a delicate dance. Chatbots such as ChatGPT, Microsofts Bing and Googles Bard have faced criticism for messing up key historical facts, fabricating sources, and citing misinformation about each other. Used ignorantly or maliciously, they can be super-spreaders of disinformation and conspiracy theories. Alex Mahadevan, director of MediaWise, even produced an entirely fictional newspaper in less than ten minutes using ChatGPT, highlighting just how rapidly AI generated fake news could circulate the internet while appearing as human-written. According to Johanna Payton, director of learning and teaching at City University of London, it will be almost impossible to prevent journalism students from using ChatGPT. AI tools are almost inevitably set to be a huge part of the future, so its better to work with them than to fear them, she said. Payton plans on harnessing AI tools in her classroom for research and brainstorming. Telling people not to touch it is almost like saying dont use a calculator, dont use Google, and pretend like the Internet doesnt exist, she told me. Before talking with me, Payton had been teaching a class for her fashion and lifestyle journalism students. They went through an assignment where students had to take a meaningful photo and then conduct a five-minute presentation that brought the images concept captured to life. While AI could potentially help the students generate a script for the presentation, Payton doesnt believe it can replace the creativity behind the work itself. If theres an assignment that AI could do on its own then it probably shouldnt be there anyway, she said. So how might an effective use of ChatGPT in the J-School classroom look? Sean McMinn, a data and graphics editor at Politico who teaches a data journalism class at Northwestern Universitys Medill School, said that while ChatGPT can provide students with a good starting point, its not going to get them all the way to the finish line. Last December, he tested ChatGPTs ability to complete two assignments he had set for his students. The first was to write a short pitch for a data journalism class, the second was to create a dataset tracking fictional grants from an infrastructure bill. McMinn was surprised that ChatGPT outperformed most of his students who were in the early part of the course. But thats not where the story is going to end up, he said. Following the pitch, students would have to seek out sources, do on-the-ground reporting, and find the important trends in the data. And all of that, youre not gonna get from ChatGPT. In the newsroom, some media companies have already tried to implement generative AI to create content that is easily automated, such as newsletters and real estate reports. Buzzfeed chief executive Jonah Peretti announced the company would rely on OpenAI to enhance its content and quizzes. Similarly, the tech news media CNET started quietly publishing articles explaining financial topics using automated technology a stylistic euphemism for AI, according to Futurism. CNET, however, received scrutiny for not being transparent about its use of AI tools (they published the stories under the byline CNET Money Staff), and had to issue corrections on 41 of the 77 stories after uncovering errors despite the articles being reviewed by humans prior to publication. Some of the errors came down to basic math. For instance, Futurism noticed that in an article about compound interest, a CNET article said: if you deposit $10,000 into a savings account that earns 3% interest compounding annually, youll earn $10,300 at the end of the first year. While on the first read this might sound right, the actual earning would only be $300 since the first $10,000 was just a deposit, not an earning. Its mistakes such as these that make many journalists wary of using AI tools beyond simple transcription or programming a script. Last month, WIRED was one of the first major publications to release a policy on using generative AI tools. While it stated that reporters may use AI to suggest headlines and text for social media posts and for generating story ideas, they will not use generative AI to edit or write stories. WIRED cited that the reasons are biases, errors, dull writing, and a risk of inadvertently plagiarizing someone elses words. The reason for having such a policy is that in a world where everything can be faked, the most valuable commodity is trust, WIREDs editor in chief, Gideon Lichfield, wrote in a newsletter. For journalists working in the more technical landscape, AI tools have been useful in the form of a co-programmer or co-researcher. Among the basic technical tasks ChatGPT can do, albeit not perfectly, are extracting data from PDF files, translating between programming languages, and writing Python scripts to scrape websites for information. Nicholas Diakopoulos, associate professor in communication studies and computer science at Northwestern University, said AI tools tend to be best used for technical tasks by people who already have some level of expertise in that area. That way, its easier to spot red flags and errors. You have someone who already is an expert and then AI gets kind of married into that person and augments them so that theyre smarter and more efficient, he said. Expert supervision can be especially important when dealing with larger AI assisted projects. When investigative journalist Brandon Roberts used ChatGPT to extract data from thousands of PDF files, he found it would sometimes scatter errors and hallucinate data throughout the output. It would ignore certain commands, make assumptions about gender, misspell names, and skip over values entirely. Such errors can hide underneath many layers of otherwise correctly sorted data, further highlighting the importance of human supervision and fact-checking when using AI tools. As new Generative AI models emerge and evolve, the hope is that such errors will become less common. OpenAIs latest Generative AI tools, GPT-4, has been shown to be more precise and accurate than its predecessor GPT-3.5 but also more likely to spread misinformation when prompted. For now, ChatGPT will continue to keep people on their toes. Using it has to come with the expectation that while its often right it can also be very wrong. The same can be said about Google and human sources, of course. But what sets ChatGPT apart is its persuasively authoritative tone, which may lure users into a false sense of security. What will the J-school of the future look like? J-school curriculums could evolve to familiarize students with the inner-workings of AI so that future journalists are equipped to handle a technology that doesnt seem likely to be leaving the digital landscape anytime soon. Future chatbots could be trained on approved documentation thats in line with the educational departments ethical standards. If taught as a complementary tool, Generative AI could make the workflow easier for journalists and make programming more accessible for technically advanced investigations. This could create more time for journalism students to optimize other aspects within their field such as reporting, interviewing, and ensuring the security of sources. During the fall semester of 2022, Soma, the Columbia Journalism School professor, urged his students to download and try out Github Co-Pilot, the AI tool developed by Github and OpenAI that autocompletes code. Two weeks later, he asked how many had done so. To his surprise, only around a third raised their hand. Three months later, Soma asked his class again. Everyones hand shot up. Sarah Grevy Gotfredsen SAVANNAH, Ga. (AP) Three construction workers were injured Tuesday when part of an upper floor collapsed inside Savannahs 124-year-old federal courthouse, which has been undergoing extensive renovations for more than a year. All three workers were taken to a hospital, none of them with life-threatening injuries, after part of the courthouses third floor gave way and the workers tumbled down to the floor below, said Savannah Fire Battalion Chief Wayne Ifill. Everyone else inside the building was accounted for and not injured, he said. We went through the building twice to make sure, Ifill said. Now we know for a fact that its completely empty. And theyre not allowed to go back in it until they have a structural engineer come and do a good, solid assessment of the building. The Tomochichi Federal Building and U.S. Courthouse opened in 1899 on Wright Square in the heart of Savannahs downtown historic district. It was named more than a century later for the chief of the Yamacraw people, a small band of Native Americans who befriended the colonial English settlers that founded Georgia in 1773. The building is in the middle of a $75 million renovation scheduled for completion next year and has been essentially gutted on the inside, Ifill said. But its unclear why roughly 30 square feet (2.8 square meters) of the floor collapsed. No courthouse personnel were inside. It could have been a lot worse, Ifill said. Workers in hardhats huddled on street corners Tuesday afternoon outside the courthouse, where scaffolding covers portions of the buildings exterior. There didnt appear to be any threat of the exterior walls collapsing, according to Ifill. Still, the street along the south side of the courthouse, nearest where the floor fell in, was closed until structural engineers confirm the rest of the building isnt at risk. It was not immediately known how quickly that inspection would occur. Top photo: A firetruck sits outside the historic federal courthouse on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Savannah, Ga., after part of an upper floor collapsed and injured three construction workers. The U.S. government building, which dates to 1899, has been undergoing extensive renovations for more than a year. (AP Photo/Russ Bynum) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. AKRON, Ohio The Akron Municipal Court is offering weddings at two locations in May for local couples looking for a unique way to celebrate their nuptials: Star Wars weddings at Highland Universal Gatheringspot on May 4, and outdoor weddings at Springfield Townships Springfield Lake Gazebo on May 31. Star Wars weddings The court will offer Star Wars themed weddings on May 4, a day internationally recognized as Star Wars Day because the date sounds similar to the iconic may the force be with you line from the movie series. Judge Ron Cable will officiate the ceremonies, which will take place from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Highland Universal Gatheringspot, 133 Merriman Road, in Akron. Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope will play on a screen as a backdrop for the ceremonies. Outdoor weddings at Springfield Lake Gazebo The court will offer outdoor weddings at Springfield Townships Springfield Lake Gazebo on Wednesday, May 31 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Administrative/Presiding Judge David Hamilton will officiate the weddings at the gazebo, which is located at 2491 Canfield Road (near Route 224) in Akron. For both dates, each couple may have up to 10 guests at their ceremony. Appointments are limited and must be scheduled and paid for before the ceremony date. Ahead of the ceremony, couples must obtain a marriage license from Summit County Probate Court. Then, couples will need to pay the ceremony fee (cash only) at the Akron Municipal Court in the Harold K. Stubbs Justice Center, 217 S. High St. Justice center hours are 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. The ceremony fee is $25 for couples who live in the courts jurisdiction (Akron, Fairlawn, Bath, Richfield, Springfield Township, Lakemore and the Summit County portion of Mogadore) and $40 for couples who live outside the courts jurisdiction. The court suggests contacting Chief Service Bailiff Patricia Williams at 330-375-2592 to ensure space is available before obtaining a marriage license or for any scheduling questions. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.coms Rubber City Update, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Wednesdays. ORANGE, Ohio -- Village Council has approved the purchase of a new pavilion for Community Park. On Wednesday (April 12), council authorized the purchase of a 30-foot-by-44-foot pavilion from DWA Recreation of Harrison, at a cost not to exceed $30,000. Service Director Bob Zugan said the villages service department will construct the pavilion. He said it will be located near the sand volleyball court in the park, behind Village Hall. We would like to go ahead and get this pavilion built, Mayor Kathy U. Mulcahy said. Its going to cost more than $30,000. Council was asked to approve a total cost of $28,230, which includes the structure alone at $26,075, plus a charge of $2,155 for freight. The villages Planning and Zoning Commission had recommended approval of the purchase April 4. Mulcahy said funding for the pavilion will come from the villages recreational impact fee fund, which she said was established in the early 1990s. She said the village currently has about $130,000 in this fund. Every time a new house is built in the village, when (the homeowner pulls) a permit, they pay $750 and it goes into this fund, she said. That money can only be used for capital improvements in the park. Zugan passed around photos to council of what the pavilion could look like. He described it as an arched building. It includes a fire pit, a concrete patio, exterior lighting -- all kinds of good stuff, he said. Were pretty excited about it. The pavilion will also feature laminated beams and columns and a structural wood roof deck. Regarding the location, near the sand volleyball court, Zugan said, Since it has a fire pit, we thought it would be advantageous that it be in view of the police department and the municipal center. Its centrally located, close to the bathrooms and the playground, he said. I think were trying to stay within a budget and keep it relatively mixed in to where our park is. Zugan said since the service department will be handling most of the construction, he will return to council at a later date when other approvals related to the pavilion are necessary. No levy on Nov. 7 ballot Also on Wednesday, Mulcahy said the villages administration has determined that its not possible to place a safety forces levy on the Nov. 7 ballot. Last July, Mulcahy said the administration was considering such a levy due to a significant increase in violent crime in the village since January 2020 and increased needs for the police and fire departments. The village has been expanding its police force since last year. It also has been determined that the village needs more space at its municipal center for police officers and firefighters due to the limitations of Village Hall, built in 1995. But in January, Mulcahy said she was not sure if a levy would be necessary. She noted that the village has about $2 million in the general fund that will be moved into a capital improvement fund dedicated for future upgrades of Village Hall. We are moving forward in trying to get plans together for an expansion of the facility for the safety forces and a few other renovations to go along with it. Mulcahy said Wednesday. Weve got an estimate of what everybodys wish list items would be (for the upgrades). Now we are scaling back and seeing what we can get for a lesser amount, one thats much more comfortable, and well report back as soon as we have that information. We will keep working on it and see what we can continue to save internally, she continued. We will advance this as needed next year, and I will help. Mulcahy announced in January that she will step down as mayor at the end of this year, after 28 years in office, as she will not seek re-election in November. Concrete repair program In other action, council authorized village Engineer Brian Mader to prepare plans for this years concrete repair program and advertise for bids. Mader said the total project cost is estimated at $275,900. He said work is proposed on Lander, Emery, Harvard and Brainard roads. A large portion of the project is the 2022 concrete program, which was not complete last year as no bidders submitted due to time constraints and a concrete supply shortage, he said. We are just adding a little bit more from what we had last year. Material costs for any concrete repair completed on a Cuyahoga County road are reimbursable under the county maintenance program, Mader said. Rejuvenation of asphalt Also on Wednesday, council approved an agreement with Pavement Technology Inc. of Westlake for the rejuvenation of asphalt on village streets at a cost not to exceed $93,000. Zugan said this project is part of the villages street maintenance program. Weve been doing rejuvenation for a number of years in the village, he said. The county will reimburse us 100 percent. Agreement with sewer district In addition, council authorized the mayor to enter into an agreement with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District to allocate $65,000 to the village for the Miles Road culvert replacement project. Most of the money will come from the villages community cost-share account, according to the ordinance. The account is for the aggregation and dissemination of funds derived from revenues collected from the villages stormwater fee, the ordinance states. The village currently has $63,605 available in this account. The balance of the villages share will come from its infrastructure account, according to the ordinance. The Miles Road culvert replacement project is being completed in conjunction with the City of Solon. Total project cost is $330,359, including the villages portion of $132,794. Read more from the Chagrin Solon Sun. RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Anyone who hasnt yet visited Planet Fitness at its new Richmond Heights location may be in for a surprise. The exercise facility reopened March 13 at 5174 Wilson Mills Road in the Hilltop Plaza after nine years on the Richmond Town Square mall property. In making the move, it purchased all new equipment while totally gutting and renovating what had been a long-vacant storefront. CLEVELAND, Ohio A man who pleaded guilty to killing an undercover Cleveland police detective and an informant will be sentenced Thursday afternoon. David McDaniel, who was 18 when he shot officer James Skernivitz and Scott Dingess during a botched robbery attempt, will receive a life sentence. He pleaded guilty last month to aggravated murder and other charges in the September 2020 slayings. The plea bargain saw prosecutors and McDaniels attorneys agree to recommend a sentence of life with a first chance at parole after 50 years. It also allowed McDaniel to avoid the possibility of the death penalty if he were convicted. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Michael Shaughnessy can impose a sentence of up to life without parole. The hearing is set for 1 p.m. McDaniel is the last of six people in the case to learn his fate. Skernivitz and Dingess were shot while they sat in an unmarked police car preparing for an undercover drug deal in a parking lot near West 65th Street and Storer Avenue. McDaniel, then-17-year-old Kevin Robinson and a 15-year-old boy were out looking to steal a gun from a classmate when they spotted the men sitting in the car, according to prior testimony. The trio saw Skernivitz holding money he was going to give Dingess to complete the drug deal, and they decided to rob the men, the testimony said. They did not know that Skernivitz was a police officer. They walked up to the car, pulled out a gun and demanded money. Skernivitz tried to drive away, but McDaniel and Robinson shot into the car and killed both men, the testimony said. Robinson was sentenced to life in prison with his first chance at parole after 28 years. The 15-year-old boy will be housed in a state youth facility until he turns 21. Three other people pleaded guilty to tampering with evidence charges. Brittany Cremeans and Antonio Darby received 18-month prison sentences. Rodney Cremeans was sentenced to two years of probation. Skernivitzs death drew then-U.S. Attorney General William Barr to speak at his funeral, which was held at Rocket Mortgage Field House. The 22-year veteran was assigned to the federal task force dubbed Operation Legend days before his death. CLEVELAND, Ohio A U.S. Postal Service worker in Solon intercepted packages of methamphetamine for a Cleveland man accused of dealing drugs, according to federal charges filed on Thursday. Quinton Parries of Twinsburg is charged with conspiracy to possess and distribute meth and cocaine. He was released from custody on a $20,000 bond after his first court appearance. The Russian and Chinese national flags are seen on the table as Russia's President Vladimir Putin, left, and China's President Xi Jinping stand during a signing ceremony at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing in this 2014 photo. AFP-Yonhap Chinese leader Xi Jinping arrived in Moscow on Monday for a three-day visit that shows off Beijing's new swagger in world diplomatic affairs and offers a welcome political lift for Russian President Vladimir Putin just days after an international arrest warrant was issued for him on war crimes charges related to the war in Ukraine . China and Russia have described Xi's trip as an opportunity to further deepen their "no-limits friendship." China looks to Russia as a source of oil and gas for its energy-hungry economy, and as a partner in standing up to what both see as U.S. domination of global affairs. The two countries also have held joint military drills. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that over dinner on Monday, Putin and Xi will touch on issues related to Ukraine, adding that Russia's president will likely offer a "detailed explanation" of Moscow's view on the current situation. Broader talks involving officials from both countries on a range of subjects are scheduled for Tuesday, according to Peskov. For Putin, Xi's presence at the Kremlin is a prestige visit and a diplomatic triumph, allowing him to tell Western leaders allied with Ukraine that their efforts to isolate him have fallen short. In an article published in the Chinese People's Daily newspaper, Putin described Xi's visit as a "landmark event" that "reaffirms the special nature of the Russia-China partnership." Putin also specifically mentioned that the meeting sent a message to Washington that the two countries aren't prepared to accept attempts to weaken them. "The U.S. policy of simultaneously deterring Russia and China, as well as all those who do not bend to the American diktat, is getting ever fiercer and more aggressive," Putin wrote. Xi's trip came after the International Criminal Court in The Hague announced Friday it wants to put Putin on trial for the abductions of thousands of children from Ukraine. China portrays Xi's visit as part of normal diplomatic exchanges and has offered little detail about what the trip aims to accomplish, though the nearly 13 months of war in Ukraine cast a long shadow on the talks. At a daily briefing in Beijing on Monday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said Xi's trip was a "journey of friendship, cooperation and peace." On the war, Wang said: "China will uphold its objective and fair position on the Ukrainian crisis and play a constructive role in promoting peace talks." Beijing's leap into Ukraine issues follows its recent success in brokering talks between Iran and its chief Middle Eastern rival, Saudi Arabia, which agreed to restore their diplomatic ties after years of tensions. Flushed with that success, Xi called for China to play a bigger role in managing global affairs. "President Xi will have an in-depth exchange of views with President Putin on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues of common concern," Wang said. He added that Xi aims to "promote strategic coordination and practical cooperation between the two countries and inject new impetus into the development of bilateral relations." China last month called for a cease-fire and peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy cautiously welcomed Beijing's involvement, but the overture fizzled. The Kremlin has welcomed China's peace plan and said it would be discussed in talks between Putin and Xi that will begin over dinner. Washington strongly rejected Beijing's call for a cease-fire as the effective ratification of the Kremlin's battlefield gains. Kyiv officials say they won't bend in their terms for a peace accord. "The first and main point is the capitulation or withdrawal of the Russian occupation troops from the territory of Ukraine in accordance with the norms of international law and the UN Charter," Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council, tweeted on Monday. That means restoring "sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity," he wrote. The Kremlin doesn't recognize the authority of the the International Criminal Court and has rejected its move against Putin as "legally null and void." China, the United States and Ukraine don't recognize the ICC, either, but the court's announcement tarnished Putin's international standing. China's foreign ministry on Monday called on the ICC to "respect the jurisdictional immunity" of a head of state and "avoid politicization and double standards." Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia's Security Council, said Monday that the International Criminal Court's move to issue an arrest warrant for Putin will have "monstrous consequences" for international law. "A gloomy sunset of the entire system of international relations is coming, trust is exhausted," Medvedev wrote on his messaging app channel. He argued that in the past the ICC has destroyed its credibility by failing to prosecute the purported U.S. war crimes in Afghanistan and Iraq. He also cautioned that the court in The Hague could be a target for a Russian missile strike. Medvedev has in the past made bombastic statements and claims. (AP) COLUMBUS, Ohio An Ohio man who thought he was sending sexual images of himself to a 12-year-old girl actually was communicating with an undercover FBI agent. The actions of Joshua Green, 42, of Flushing, Ohio, resulted in him being sentenced to 15 years in prison Tuesday after he pleaded guilty in December to distributing and receiving child pornography, according to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Southern District of Ohio. Court documents show that in September 2021, Green began communicating through an online messenger app with the undercover agent, thinking the agent was a young girl, a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office says. Green sent nude images of himself which included pictures of his face, authorities say. Investigators found Green also distributed child-sexual-abuse material in January and February 2022 using the mobile app Kik. The U.S. Attorneys Office says the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children received tips from Kik regarding Greens activities online. When federal agents searched Greens home, they found multiple digital media devices that contained sexually explicit images of children, prosecutors say. Prosecutors say Green had a prior conviction from a 2014 case in Belmont County. In that case, he pleaded guilty to unlawful sexual conduct with a minor and pandering obscenity involving a minor. Green will serve his time in a prison facility that provides sexual offender treatment. He will remain under court supervision for 20 years after his release from prison. Flushing is located in eastern Ohio near the West Virginia border. CLEVELAND, Ohio Boston Beer Co. has chosen Cleveland as one of three markets to launch Slingers Signature Cocktails, a ready-to-drink cocktail-style beverage. That means those alcohol shelves are going to get a bit more crowded this month. Boston Beer Co. which produces Samuel Adams, Truly Hard Seltzer, Twisted Tea, Angry Orchard cider and Dogfish Head is launching Slingers in Cleveland, Pittsburgh and parts of New Hampshire. Cleveland.com reached out to Boston Beer Co. about how its target markets are chosen. The malt-based RTD product is 8% alcohol with three flavors in single-serve 24-ounce cans: Bahama Mama, Peach Screwdriver and Pineapple Punch. RTDs comprise a growing segment of the beverage market. I am on cleveland.coms life and culture team and cover food, beer, wine and sports-related topics. If you want to see my stories, heres a directory on cleveland.com. Bill Wills of WTAM-1100 and I talk food and drink usually at 8:20 a.m. Thursday morning. Twitter: @mbona30. Get a jumpstart on the weekend. Sign up for Cleveland.coms weekly In the CLE email newsletter, your essential guide to the top things to do in Greater Cleveland. It will arrive in your inbox on Friday mornings - an exclusive to-do list, focusing on the best of the weekend fun. Restaurants, music, movies, performing arts, family fun and more. Click here to subscribe. All cleveland.com newsletters are free. Like cool local food + drinks photos and videos? Follow @DineDrinkCLE on Instagram. ANCHORAGE, Alaska A family dog that disappeared from an island in the Bering Sea turned up one month later on the Alaskan mainland after trekking more than 166 miles across ice. The dog, a 1-year-old Australian shepherd named Nanuq, was reunited with its family last week. Nanuq had a swollen leg, with large bite marks from an animal perhaps from a seal or polar bear but otherwise was in surprisingly good health, The Associated Press reported. You can see video of the reunion at an air strip in Savoonga that Nanuqs owner, Mandy Iworrigan, posted to Facebook. The odyssey began when Mandy Iworrigan, Nanuqs owner who lives in Gambell, Alaska, on St. Lawrence Island, was visiting relatives with her family in Savoogna, another island community. St. Lawrence Island, with about 1,500 residents, is the largest in the Bering Sea, covering less than 1,800 square miles. It is closer to Russia (about 40 miles northwest of Gambell) than it is to the Alaskan mainland and Nome, about 125 miles to the northeast. While they were gone, Nanuq disappeared from Gambell with another family dog named Starlight disappeared from home, the Anchorage Daily News reported. A few weeks later, Starlight turned up 37 miles away in Savoogna. My girls went to go play out, and they said, mom, mom, mom -- theres a dog that looks like Starlight, Iworrigan told the Anchorage Daily News in an interview Monday. She didnt think much of it, but the dog kept following her youngest daughter Zoe around, even trotting alongside a sled to stay close. I was like, Stop the snowmachine! Starlight! What are you doing in Savoonga? Iworrigan recounted. Somehow the dog had gotten herself three dozen miles to the next town over, 2-1/2 weeks since disappearing. But there was no sign of Nanuq, which means polar bear in Siberian Yupik. About a month after Nanuq disappeared, people began posting pictures online of a lost dog in Wales, a small village on the western Alaskan shore 150 miles from St. Lawrence Island. My dad texted me and said, Theres a dog that looks like Nanuq in Wales, Iworrigan told the Anchorage newspaper. She reactivated her Facebook account to see if it might be Nanuq. I was like, No freakin way! Thats our dog! What is he doing in Wales? The details of Nanuqs journey remain a mystery. But Wales, at the far western edge of the Seward Peninsula, is a 166-mile straight shot from Gambell over plates of sea ice. Maybe the ice shifted while he was hunting, Iworrigan said. Im pretty sure he ate leftovers of seal or caught a seal. Probably birds, too. He eats our native foods. Hes smart. Iworrigan arranged to have Nanuq flown back to Gambell on a regional air carrier last week, a charter that was transporting athletes for the Bering Strait School Districts Native Youth Olympics tournament. JEFFERSON CITY, Missouri A state senator is facing criticism after he defended the right of 12-year-old children to get married. State Sen. Mike Moon, a Republican from Ash Grove, Mo., made his comments during a debate about a proposed bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors, legislation that he proposed, the Kansas City Star reports. While responding to a question from a Democrat, Moon said: Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12? I do. And guess what? Theyre still married. Heres the clip from last night where Sen. Moon celebrates the longevity of marriages entered into by 12 year olds. #moleg pic.twitter.com/5XxPNCmvij Aaron Crossley (@aaroncrossley) April 12, 2023 The Springfield News-Leader reports Moon previously has spoken in support of children as young as 12 being allowed to marry if given parental consent. In 2018, Moon opposed a bill that raised the marriage age in the state from 15 to 16. The new law also requires older teenagers to get parental permission before being allowed to marry. Democratic state Rep. Peter Meredith challenged Moons stance on allowing children to marry during Tuesdays hearing, the News-Leader reports. Meredith said it contradicts Moons claim that the ban gender-affirming care for minors is to protect children. Ive heard you talk about parents rights to raise their kids how they want, Meredith said. In fact, I just double-checked. You voted no on making it illegal for kids to be married to adults at the age of 12. If their parents consented to it, you said actually, that should be the law because its the parents right and the kids right to decide whats best for them. To be raped by an adult. Moon later wrote on Twitter that he was referring to allowing children of similar age to marry with the consent of parents. CLEVELAND, Ohio Holly Rarick Witchey, a veteran Cleveland-based art historian, author, teacher, and arts advocate, has risen from the ranks at the nonprofit ICA Art Conservation to become the organizations new executive director. Founded in Oberlin in 1952, ICA is an independent art conservation lab based at the Pivot Center for Art Dance and Expression on Clevelands West Side. The ICA board announced Witcheys appointment shortly before she took the helm on April 3. She succeeds Julie Reilly, who left ICA in January after having been appointed director of the Williamstown + Atlanta Art Conservation Center in Massachusetts. Im just thrilled, Witchey said of her new post, in an interview with cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer. As an art historian, I cannot think of anywhere I would rather be than at ICA. Serving communities and museums across the Midwest, ICA has conserved everything from Old Master paintings to the Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen Free Stamp' sculpture in Cleveland. Its latest assignments including conserving a collection of 600 model airplanes owned by the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright Patterson Air Force Base outside of Dayton, Witchey said. Blair Whidden, ICAs board chairman, called Witchey the ideal choice' because of her knowledge of the organization, her familiarity with the arts and philanthropic communities in Cleveland. Witchey joined the organization in 2018 as director of education & outreach, while also serving as executive director of Cleveland Philanthropy, a nonprofit educational association. She has also taught for 14 years at Case Western Reserve University as an adjunct professor specializing in museum studies and supervising museum internships. Witchey made a point of praising Reilly and the preceding ICA executive director, the late Albert Albano, for having shepherded the organization in recent decades. Albert Albano, director of ICA Art Conservation, explains the restoration work being done on the Free Stamp to artist Claes Oldenburg Monday, May 19, 2014. Oldenburg is one of America's most important living artists, a Pop Art master who earned an international reputation for his work. He is here to inspect conservation and restoration work on the Free Stamp that is being paid for by BP America. (Gus Chan / The Plain Dealer) The Plain DealerThe Plain Dealer Albano, who died in July at age 69, headed the organization from 1996 to 2017. Witchey called him, the savior of ICA. He moved the organization from Oberlin to Clevelands Ohio City neighborhood in 2003, where it helped launch a new urban cultural district that includes the nonprofit Spaces gallery, the Transformer Station gallery, and Bop Stop at the Music Settlement. Albano also led the successful application for a $500,000 Andrew W. Mellon Foundation grant in 2017 that bolstered the organizations finances. Reilly, who followed Albano, oversaw the $1.67 million sale of ICAs building at 2915 Detroit Ave. to a private development company planning a mixed-use renovation. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it is nicknamed the Vitrolite Building because it once housed a showroom for a decorative glass wall covering popular in the 1920s. At the Pivot Center, ICA has joined arts and social service organizations committed to community programming, Witchey said in a news release. She added that, one of our missions is to create a broader awareness of the importance of saving the worlds cultural heritage. ICA has eight employees and will add a ninth, a paper conservator, on April 17, Witchey said. I feel like weve come through the pandemic just stronger than ever, she said. In addition to the model airplane project for the Air Force museum, ICAs current projects include restoring works of art owned by the Snite Museum of Art at the University of Notre Dame, including an Italian Renaissance painting of the Holy Family by Francesco Francia, dated circa 1500. Witchey earned a bachelors degree in art history and political science at Kalamazoo College, Kalamazoo, Michigan. She earned a masters degree and a doctorate in art history at Case Western Reserve University, completing her studies in 1990. Before teaching at CWRU, she held positions at the San Diego Museum of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. She is the co-author with John Vacha of the 1994 book, Fine Arts in Cleveland: An Illustrated History. Witchey said she loves working at ICA in part because you meet the people who own things; you meet the artists sometimes; you get a bigger sense of the role that cultural heritage plays in peoples lives and the lives of institutions. CLEVELAND, Ohio Cuyahoga County Executive Chris Ronayne unveiled Thursday some of the ideas hes pursuing to reimagine the jail and courthouse facilities. His announcement included very few details, but it did nail down one fact that had been in question over four years of planning: the county will build a new jail. Ronayne had been among the leaders last year questioning whether all or at least parts of the jail could be renovated for reuse, reducing the amount the county would have to spend on a new building. But after reviewing all renovation options, he came to the same conclusion as numerous officials before him, that the existing jail would be challenging to maintain as a long-term solution for detention, according to a news release from the county Thursday. Instead, the county is again looking for sites of appropriate scale to house a modern jail campus that conforms to todays best practices, and has narrowed dozens of potential options down to a short list being vetted with County Council. The county did not identify any of those sites. In the meantime, the county said it will be making key, necessary physical updates to the existing facility so that it can be operated safely while a new jail is vetted and built. The county did not provide any details about the types of updates it plans to make, but the countys Public Works Department previous identified at least $19.1 million in investments it said are required to keep the facility operational while the county figures out its next steps. The county also hasnt abandoned hope of reducing the jail population, which could save taxpayers money by allowing the county to build a smaller jail. Aiding in that effort, the county said, will be a Justice Expeditor who is expected to more quickly identify and release individuals who are eligible for low bonds or relocate those with serious medical and mental health issues to the best location for treatment. The county did not give any indication of where those other locations may be. The jail has used various versions of an expeditor in the past, and in 2021 was advertising for a jail population manager who would perform similar functions, but that position was never filled. We have a once in a generation opportunity to make intentional changes to our justice system, Ronayne said in the news release. We need to act with deliberate speed so that all of our justice facilities are safe, effective, humane and affordable for our community. Ronayne also plans to restart discussions this year about the future of the county courthouse, which resides in the same Justice Center complex at the current jail. Planning for the courthouse has largely been on hold the last four years while officials worked to nail down the future of the county jail. But the now-defunct Justice Center Executive Steering Committee once reviewed potential design options for renovating the existing facility as well as building new, with price tags totaling over $1 billion. The county said it will soon be looking for a company to evaluate the courthouse facilities and will work with judges, the county prosecutors office, the public defender and the city of Cleveland to make a final decision on either maintaining and improving the facility or relocating to another site downtown, the release said. Rotunda Rumblings Studying the text: When opponents to bills gutting the Ohio State Board of Education say theyre unconstitutional, theyre referring to a 1953 amendment that Ohio voters passed that created the board and Article VI, Section 4, of the state constitution. The amendment says the legislature prescribes the powers and duties of the board, which Republicans say justifies the legislation. Opponents look to another section of the Ohio Constitution as a counterpoint, as they ponder whether theyll have to sue the state if the proposal becomes law, Laura Hancock reports. 100 Days: One came from the Trump White House. The other came from the Ohio House of Representatives. Rocky Rivers Max Miller and Akrons Emilia Sykes who won November elections to represent adjacent, potentially competitive, congressional districts say theyve spent their first 100 days on the job building cross-party alliances, including with one another, Sabrina Eaton reports. Open House: Sykes will mark her first 100 days on the job on Thursday with an open house in her 13th congressional district office at 121 South Main Street in Akron, from 4-7 PM. The event is free and open to the public. Ex Pat: Pat McDonald abruptly announced Wednesday that he is retiring as director of the Ohio Lottery Commission. McDonald, a former director of the Cuyahoga County Board of Elections, cited medical reasons for departing, Jeremy Pelzer reports. Another day, another subpoena: House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, a Champaign county Republican, on Wednesday issued a subpoena to Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan, seeking documents related to the agencys recent actions against Twitter. Republicans on Jordans committee say the FTC harassed Twitter after Elon Musks acquisition, demanding, among other things, the identities of the journalists with whom it was engaging and all communications relating to Mr. Musk. Back to Ohio: U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Marcia Fudge, a former Democratic U.S. Congress member from Warrensville Heights, will visit Toledo on Thursday with Democratic U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur. The pair will join Toledo Mayor Wade Kapszukiewicz for a news conference to highlight HUD investments in the Toledo area, and a closed-press roundtable with local community leaders, Kapturs office said. Majewski redo-ski: Republican J.R. Majewski of Port Clinton announced Wednesday that hes seeking a rematch against Kaptur, who beat him last year with about 57% of the vote. Majewski is already the fourth Republican trying to unseat Kaptur in 2024, after ex-state Rep. Craig Riedel, former Napoleon Mayor Steve Lankenau, and ex-Walbridge Mayor Dan Wilczynski. Majewskis announcement comes after the Toledo Blade reported last Friday that he filed reelection paperwork; Majewski refuted the report at the time, tweeting, This is why the public continues to ignore legacy media. Frank discussion? Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose said he tried for almost a year to change the Electronic Registration Information Center a multi-state voter info database before withdrawing Ohio from it. But none of nearly two dozen people interviewed by Jessica Huseman of VoteBeat remembered any advocacy by LaRose before this year for such reforms, and his office provided no documentation proving that he did so. Some context, though: LaRoses state elections director Amanda Grandjean, who chaired the organization as recently as last year lobbied for reforms even when LaRose himself did not, according to LaRose spokesman Rob Nichols. Its great! The Ohio Board of Pharmacy awarded a certificate of operation to Supergood, 554 N. Chestnut St., Ravenna. The medical marijuana business can now open its doors. Seventy-two dispensaries have received certificates of operation in Ohio. Thems the breaks: Ohio will soon be offering a total of $11 billion in tax breaks more than what the state spends on K-12 education, according to a study by the left-leaning Policy Matters Ohio. That includes 15 new exemptions, credits or deductions created in the past two years costing more than $450 million in fiscal years 2024 and 2025; a big chunk of that is included in the more than $2 billion financial incentive package offered by the state to Intel to build a computer-chip factory near Columbus. Marty Schladen of the Ohio Capital Journal has more. Bernie Bro: Former President Donald Trump appears to be throwing some early support behind Cleveland businessman Bernie Moreno for the 2024 U.S. Senate election in Ohio. Henry Gomez of NBC News notes that Trump posted to social media that Moreno would not be easy to beat. Moreno is the latest contender for the GOP nomination to file paperwork to run in 2024. State Sen. Matt Dolan of Cleveland also is running. Both are seeking to challenge U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, the incumbent Democrat. Full Disclosure Five things we learned from the May 16, 2022, financial disclosure form filed by state Rep. Latyna Humphrey, a Columbus Democrat: 1. Humphrey, who was appointed to the House in mid-October of 2021, received a salary of $14,696.09 for the rest of the year. Besides that, she was paid somewhere between $50,000 to $99,999 working as a bailiff for the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas. 2. Humphrey has a retirement fund through the Ohio Public Employees Retirement System. 3. At some point in 2021, Humphrey owed more than $1,000 to Capital One Auto Finance, Fed Loan Servicing, JW Services and the Central Ohio Transit Authority. 4. She did not report receiving any gifts worth more than $75 from someone who was not a close family member, nor any gifts worth more than $25 from a lobbyist. 5. Humphrey did not list any real estate in which she has a commercial interest. On The Move Jared Borg is the new political director of the Ohio House Republican Alliance, the Ohio House GOPs campaign arm. Borgs resume also includes working as campaign manager for U.S. Rep. Max Miller last year, deputy state director for then-President Donald Trumps 2020 campaign, and director of public affairs for then-Treasurer Josh Mandel. State Sen. Paula Hicks-Hudson, a Toledo Democrat, has been elected chair of the Lucas County Democratic Party. Hudson succeeds ex-state Rep. Michael Ashford, who announced last month he would step down as county party chair to focus on his reelection campaign for Lucas County recorder next year. Courtney Rice, communications director for Democrat Nan Whaleys 2022 gubernatorial campaign, has accepted a job as communications director for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Straight From The Source One of the issues we have in Ukraine, by the way, is that we cant manufacture weapons to keep up with the pace of a conflict in Ukraine and Taiwan. If we werent the reserve currency, if our manufacturing industry was stronger, we might be able to make enough weapons to be a little bit more of a positive force in the world. - U.S. Sen. JD Vance, discussing on Wednesday the merits and drawbacks of having the dollar as the worlds dominant reserve currency on Fox & Friends.Capitol Letter is a daily briefing providing succinct, timely information for those who care deeply about the decisions made by state government. If you do not already subscribe, you can sign up here to get Capitol Letter in your email box each weekday for free. SAN FRANCISCO Whole Foods Market will close its flagship San Francisco store just over a year after it opened, according to a report from The San Francisco Standard. The nearly 65,000-square-foot downtown San Francisco location will temporarily close due to concerns over employee safety and well-being. We are closing our Trinity location only for the time being, a Whole Foods spokesperson said in a statement, according to The Standard. If we feel we can ensure the safety of our team members in the store, we will evaluate a reopening of our Trinity location. The news comes just 13 months after Whole Foods opened its flagship downtown San Francisco store on March 10, 2022. The store emphasized local Northern California offerings among its more than 3,700 products sold at the location, according to a March 2022 news release announcing the stores opening. Matt Dorsey, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, said on social media he is disappointed but also unsurprised. Im incredibly disappointed but sadly unsurprised by the temporary closure of Mid-Markets Whole Foods, Dorsey said in a Tweet. Our neighborhood waited a long time for this supermarket, but were also well aware of problems theyve experienced with drug-related retail theft, adjacent drug markets, and the many safety issues related to them, he added in a follow-up Tweet. Whole Foods has more than 500 retail and non-retail locations in the United States, Canada, and United Kingdom, according to the company. DAYTON, Ohio Decades before there was a U.S. Air Force, there was an air force museum, with early airplane parts and other memorabilia on display in a field just north of downtown Dayton. This year, that museum is celebrating its 100th birthday, now a massive complex in suburban Dayton that provides a window into some of this countrys most important moments. Theres the airplane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, ending World War II. The presidential vehicle that transported the body of slain President John F. Kennedy back to Washington, D.C. after he was killed in Dallas. And theres an exact replica of a Wright 1909 Military Flyer, the worlds first military aircraft, manufactured in Dayton. And in between those vehicles airplanes to walk through, giant missiles to gaze up at, cockpits to sit inside and hundreds of inspiring stories of the men and women who put their lives on the line for the rest of us day after day. Its an insightful and thought-provoking place even for those of us who are not overly interested in big aircraft and bigger battles. This place chronicles the history of our nation from the innovation of early flight in the early 1900s through two world wars, the controversies of Vietnam and Iraq, the nuclear arms race, space travel, presidential milestones and more. The museum traces its roots back to 1923, when Army engineers were studying the aviation successes of World War I. They accumulated a collection of engines and other aircraft parts at Daytons McCook Field, home to a small army base. And they decided to open their doors to the public, said Meghan Anderson, curator at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. In the 100 years since, that museum has expanded, relocated, shut down and expanded again. It moved to its current location in 1971. Today, the museum is spread across four massive hangars, covering more than a million square feet of exhibit space. More than 300 aircraft are on display, with another nearly 400 in storage or on loan. If youve never been to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force or if its been a while -- maybe this is the year to make the three-hour drive from Cleveland to Dayton. Its one of Ohios top tourism sites for a reason. And good news its free. An exact replica of a Wright 1909 Military Flyer, the worlds first military aircraft, manufactured in Dayton. A scene depicts the end of World War II in Europe; at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton. A B-2 Stealth Bomber, in the Cold War gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Starting with the Wrights Its possible to do it all in one day I did, on a visit last month but you might want to spread it over two days, and take in some additional Wright Brothers sites in Dayton during your stay. The galleries are organized by time period Early Years, World War II, Korea, Southeast Asia, the Cold War, Space and more and can be toured chronologically or by area of interest. Among the dont-miss aircraft: the B-2 Stealth Bomber, with its sleek batwing design and ability to evade radar (Cold War); a space shuttle crew compartment trainer, used to train shuttle astronauts (Space); and the C-141C Hanoi Taxi, which earned its nickname at the end of the Vietnam War, when it airlifted the first American prisoners of war to freedom (Global Reach). Theres the Apollo 15 command module Endeavour, used during the 1971 moon mission with an all-Air Force crew; a massive Titan IVB launch rocket, designed to carry military satellites into space; and the XB-70A Valkyrie, the supersonic nuclear bomber that was developed in the 1960s but never produced. The prototype here is the only one in existence. Also here: The National Aviation Hall of Fame, honoring 250 pioneers of flight, including Orville and Wilbur Wright, the very first inductees, in 1962. The Wrights work is covered in the Early Years gallery, including their flight experiments at nearby Huffman Prairie (now part of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park). A replica of the worlds first military plane, built in 1909 in Dayton and sold by the Wrights to the Army for $30,000, is on display here. (The original, alas, was donated to the Smithsonian in 1911 and is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.) Also of note: A case of items retrieved from Quentin Roosevelt, a World War I pilot with the U.S. Army Air Service and the youngest son of 26th President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt was shot down over Germany during an air combat mission, his grave marked by a cross of two basswood branches, also on display here. And in the World War II gallery: * The famed Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle, the first heavy bomber to return to the United States after completing 25 missions over Europe. The plane, featured in two films, relocated to Dayton in 2005, where it underwent a 13-year-old restoration process. It has been on display since 2018. * A Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, painted as a Flying Tiger, with the aircrafts trademark shark mouth; and a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero, used in Japanese kamikaze attacks. * The Boeing B-29 Bockscar, which dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, described as the aircraft that ended World War II. Its displayed next to a replica of Fat Man, the bright-yellow, 10,000-pound nuclear weapon that was dropped. The Boeing B-29 Bockscar, which dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, described as the aircraft that ended World War II. World War II flying aces Thomas McGuire and Richard "Dick" Bong celebrated at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. A Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk, a World War II fighter plane, painted as a Flying Tiger at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. A North American B-25B Mitchell, one of the United States' most famous planes of World War II. The Memphis Belle, a Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress used during World War II, on display at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. An exhibit inside the Cold War gallery digs deeper into the nuclear arms race, listing the countries that have tested nuclear weapons in the years since World War II (eight, if youre counting: the U.S., Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan and North Korea). On display here: a mangled Lockheed XF-90, which was used to test how nuclear explosions in the Nevada desert would affect parked aircraft. The answer: not well. As I wandered the Cold War gallery, I was struck by the irony of some of the names of the aircraft and missiles displayed here, including Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles, developed in the 1980s; and the massive Convair B-36J Peacemaker aircraft, built in the late 1940s and 1950s, capable of carrying 86,000 pounds of nuclear bombs. Did these weapons keep the peace or escalate a never-ending game of chicken? Given current world events, Im not sure the answer is clear. Other exhibits, too, go beyond the aircraft to discuss the people and the politics of the times. Dont miss the exhibit on the Tuskegee Airmen, the group of Black military aviators who trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama in the early 1940s. Their success in World War II ultimately led President Truman to desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948. It would take longer for women to earn their place as Air Force pilots. In 1930, the chief of the U.S. Army Air Corps argued that women were too high-strung to become pilots, according to an exhibit in the World War II gallery. Twelve years later, during World War II, the Army created the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), a civilian group that tested aircraft and trained flyers. But it was disbanded at the end of the war. It wasnt until 1975 that the Air Force allowed women to become pilots. Even then, some participants werent sure their success was part of the plan. I didnt feel like they wanted to learn how to best train women pilots as much as have an excuse to terminate the test program, said Major Carol Scherer, whose Air Force jumpsuit is on display at the museum. Exhibit on the Tuskegee Airmen, a group of Black aviators in World War II, at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton. Staff Sergeant Esther M. Blake was the first woman in the Air Force, enlisting in July 1948. A recreated cell from the Hanoi Hilton, the notorious prisoner of war camp in Vietnam. The human toll of war is told through the story of Air Force Lt. Lance Sijan, a prisoner of war who was shot down over Laos in November 1967 and captured 46 days later. Sijan, who died in captivity, was the first graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy to receive the Medal of Honor. Re-created prison cells depict dire conditions at Hoa Lo Prison, better known as the Hanoi Hilton, the notorious facility in Vietnam, where prisoners sometimes communicated using a series of taps through the walls. Its not all so grim. A new exhibit explores the many Air Force non-combat missions, including global firefighting, disease control, natural disasters and search and rescue. The Air Force even helped relocate hundreds of Adelie and emperor penguins from Antarctica to the United States for research and study. After World War II, the Air Force engaged in what was perhaps its best-known humanitarian mission -- the Berlin Airlift, when they provided food and other supplies to isolated residents in West Berlin. The mission is highlighted through a series of life-sized dioramas set up between the World War II and Cold War galleries. A scene depicts the Berlin Airlift at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton. SAM 26000, a customized Boeing 707, served as Air Force One for eight presidents, Kennedy through Clinton. A presidential card game aboard Columbine III, the personal airplane for President Eisenhower; at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. Looking up in the Missile Gallery at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force in Dayton. Presidential aircraft When President John F. Kennedy traveled to Berlin in June 1963 to make his famous Ich bin ein Berliner (I am a Berliner) speech, he flew aboard a retrofitted Boeing 707 dubbed SAM 26000, better known as Air Force One. Months later, the same aircraft would carry Kennedys body back to Washington, D.C., from Dallas. Visitors can walk through the plane to see where Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office shortly after Kennedys death and where the seats were removed to accommodate Kennedys body, as first lady Jacqueline Kennedy did not want the casket in cargo. Its one of 10 presidential aircraft on display within the museum, and one of four that visitors can walk through, perusing the relatively spacious accommodations alongside what must have then been state-of-the-art technology (but seems archaic now). Inside the Douglas VC-54C Skymaster, dubbed Sacred Cow, used by presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman: a conference room with large desk and bulletproof window, a fold-down bed, an electric refrigerator and a battery-powered elevator that allowed Roosevelt to discreetly board the aircraft in his wheelchair. In 1947, Truman was inside the aircraft when he signed the National Security Act of 1947, which, among other things, finally established the U.S. Air Force as an independent branch of the military. The air force museum, of course, had been established much earlier. A parade of aircraft from the Air Force Museum, including this XB-70 Valkyrie, were towed down Ohio 444 from Patterson Field to the newly constructed Air Force Museum on Wright Field in 1970. (U.S. Air Force photo)National Museum of the U.S. Air A display of propellers inside an early incarnation of the Air Force museum i Dayton. (U.S. Air Force photo)National Museum of the U.S. Air The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force is spread throughout four hangars in suburban Dayton.The Plain Dealer In the Space gallery: the Apollo 15 command module Endeavour, used during the 1971 moon mission with an all-Air Force crew. If you go: National Museum of the U.S. Air Force What: The museum is celebrating its 100th anniversary all year, with a special exhibit opening next month that celebrates the history of the facility. Where: 1100 Spaatz St., Dayton, about three hours from Cleveland When: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily How much: The museum is free, although IMAX films and simulator rides carry a fee. Information: www.nationalmuseum.af.mil Note: The restaurant in the museum is currently closed, although the snack shop is open. Visitors are not allowed to bring food into the museum. Read more: Fire at historic Wright Company Factory in Dayton puts restoration plans in jeopardy Floridas Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex offers a surprisingly emotional tour through Americas space race A Bell UH-1P Iroquois, configured and painted to appear as the helicopter flown by Capt. Jim Fleming on Nov. 26, 1968. On this day, he braved intense enemy fire to rescue a small reconnaissance team. For his bravery, Fleming was awarded the Medal of Honor. The Curtiss C-46 Commando was used during World War II to transport materials from India to China, over the "Hump" (the Himalayas). U.S. President Joe Biden, left, and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol toast at the start of a state dinner at the National Museum of Korea, in Seoul, South Korea in this May 21, 2022 file photo. AP-Yonhap Leaked U.S. intelligence documents suggesting that Washington spied on South Korea have put the country's president in a delicate situation ahead of a state visit to the U.S., the first such trip by a South Korean leader in 12 years. The documents contain purportedly private conversations between senior South Korean officials about Ukraine, indicating that Washington may have conducted surveillance on a key Asian ally even as the two nations publicly vowed to reinforce their alliance. Since taking office last year, conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has put a bolstered military partnership with the United States at the heart of his foreign policy to address intensifying North Korean nuclear threats and other challenges. The April 26 summit with President Joe Biden is seen as crucial to winning a stronger U.S. security commitment and resolving grievances over the Biden administration's economic and technology policies. The leaked documents were posted online as part of a major U.S. intelligence breach. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Korea's National Security Council "grappled" with the U.S. in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States' ultimate goal. South Korea, a growing arms exporter, has a policy of not supplying weapons to countries at war. It has not provided arms directly to Ukraine, although it has shipped humanitarian aid and joined U.S.-led economic sanctions against Russia. Yoon's government said it discussed the leaked papers with the United States, and they agreed that "a considerable number" of the documents were fabricated. The South Korean government avoided any public complaints about the U.S. and did not specify which documents were faked. "There's no indication that the U.S., which is our ally, conducted (eavesdropping) on us with malicious intent," Kim Tae-hyo, Seoul's deputy national security director, told reporters Tuesday at Dulles Airport near Washington at the start of a trip aimed at preparing for the summit. U.S. President Joe Biden, left, prepares for a toast with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, second right, at a state dinner at the National Museum of Korea, in Seoul in this May 21, 2022 file photo. AP-Yonhap The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The Yoon government's stance invited criticism from liberal rivals, who called on the government to lodge strong protests with the U.S. They also suspected what they call Yoon's hasty relocation of his presidential office to a Defense Ministry compound in central Seoul may have left the office vulnerable to wiretapping. "As a sovereign nation, we must sternly respond to the spying of state secrets, even if it was committed by an ally" with whom South Korea has "bonded over blood," said Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party. In an official statement, Yoon's office said it maintains tight security, including anti-eavesdropping systems. It called the opposition party's attempts to link the office relocation to the spying allegation "diplomatic suicidal acts" that shake South Korea's national interests and its alliance with the U.S. The situation is unlikely to threaten the country's alliance with the U.S. that was forged during the 1950-53 Korean War, many experts say. "No big damage is expected on the Korea-U.S. alliance as it seems both governments share the view that they would focus on the alliance, more concretely on a successful state visit by Yoon," said Bong Young-shik, an expert at Seoul's Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies. If Yoon returns with some achievements, Koreans will conclude that he put up with the spying allegations "because bigger matters were at stake," Bong said. But if the visit amounts to a "pomp-only trip," people could question whether South Korea "made lots of concessions." One possible achievement for Yoon would be if South Korea takes on a role in the management of U.S. nuclear weapons in the face of North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal. Other wins would be securing U.S. benefits for major South Korean businesses involved in the making of electric vehicles and easing U.S. restrictions on technology exports to China, which has been a major manufacturing base for South Korean chipmakers. If the U.S. intends to help Yoon, "the latest incident on the documents could end up strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance and helping South Korea win something from the U.S," said Kim Yeol Soo, an expert at South Korea's Korea Institute for Military Affairs. Kim Tae-hyung, a professor at Seoul's Soongsil University, said the exposure of possible U.S. spying could help Seoul maintain its existing policy of not supplying weapons to Ukraine. But it's also possible that the Yoon government reconsiders that policy now that the U.S. demands are public, Kim said. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, South Korea has agreed to provide billions of dollars' worth of tanks, howitzers, fighter jets and other weapons to Poland, a NATO member. An American official said in November that the United States had agreed to buy 100,000 artillery rounds from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, although South Korean officials have maintained that the munitions were meant to refill depleted U.S. stocks. U.S. President Joe Biden, left, speaks as South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol listens during a news conference at the People's House inside the Ministry of National Defense, in Seoul, South Korea in this May 21, 2022 file photo. AP-Yonhap A Ukrainian service member is seen in a trench at a position on a front line, as Russia's attack on Ukraine continues, near the city of Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 10. Reuters-Yonhap Serbia has agreed to supply arms to Kyiv or has sent them already, according to a classified Pentagon document, despite the country's professed neutrality in the Ukraine war and refusal to sanction Russia over its 2022 invasion. The document, a summary of European governments' responses to Ukraine's requests for military training and "lethal aid" or weapons, was among dozens of classified documents posted online in recent weeks in what could be the most serious leak of U.S. secrets in years. The document is marked Secret and NOFORN, prohibiting its distribution to foreign intelligence services and militaries. It is dated March 2, and embossed with the seal of the office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Reuters could not independently verify the document's authenticity. Serbia's Defense Minister Milos Vucevic dismissed the document's assertions as "untrue" in a statement on Wednesday. "Serbia did not, nor will it be selling weapons to the Ukrainian nor the Russian side, nor to countries surrounding that conflict," Vucevic said. Entitled "Europe|Response to Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict," the Pentagon document in chart form lists the "assessed positions" of 38 European governments in response to Ukraine's requests for military assistance. The chart showed that Serbia declined to provide training to Ukrainian forces, but had committed to sending lethal aid or had supplied it already. It also said Serbia had the political will and military ability to provide weapons to Ukraine in the future. In his statement, Vucevic said there was a possibility that Serbia-made weaponry and ordnance could "magically appear" in the conflict, but "that has absolutely nothing to do with Serbia." "Someone clearly wants to drag Serbia into that conflict, but we are diligently maintaining our policies," he added. President Aleksandar Vucic's office did not respond to a Reuters request for comment but the Serbian foreign ministry issued a statement denying that the country is supplying military equipment to Ukraine. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to Reuters questions about the document's reference to Serbia and has previously declined to comment on the leaked documents. A Ukrainian artilleryman of the 57th Otaman Kost Hordiienko Separate Motorized Infantry Brigade as a 2s3 Akatsia howitzer fires at an undisclosed position near outskirts of Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, April 12. EPA-Yonhap Credit Suisse is adding to bullish sentiment toward tech giant Apple . The firm raised its revenue estimate to $93.27 billion from $92.19 billion for Apple's fiscal second quarter in a Thursday note, saying it anticipates demand for iPhones was "resilient" during the period. Credit Suisse also thinks the company will increase both dividends paid to shareholders and stock repurchases. Credit Suisse reiterated an outperform rating for the stock, and raised its price target to $188 per share from $184, which represents roughly 13% upside for investors from Thursday's close. The company will report quarterly results after the market close on May 4. AAPL YTD mountain Credit Suisse is even more bullish on Apple stock, and thinks the forthcoming earnings report will be a winner for investors. "We expect Apple to update its capital return program with likely a ~5% dividend increase and ~$90 billion of additional share repurchase authorization," research analyst Shannon Cross wrote. "We think the company will continue to favor buy backs over dividends as it continues to work towards net cash neutral (current dividend yield is 0.6%)." Meanwhile, the firm also expects demand to have surged in China as the country eases policies tied to stringent Covid-19 lockdowns. "Our revenue estimate is slightly higher than consensus and guidance on our belief that demand is improving in China," Cross said. "Apple reported an increase in foot traffic in the region during January but cautioned the improvement could be tied to timing of Lunar New Year, although we think the trend was stable through the quarter." Credit Suisse also added that Apple's Mac and and wearable products were more vulnerable to macroeconomic troubles while the iPhone remains "an essential device," which will further help forward guidance in the third quarter. "We expect Apple will guide F3Q23 revenue up y/y (we are at +5% vs consensus of +3%) and gross margin around 44% (our EPS estimate of $1.29 is $0.06 above consensus)," Cross said. - CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. President Joe Biden talks with reporters after meetsing with Irish President Michael Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain, the presidential residence, Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Dublin, Ireland. AP A federal judge on Wednesday blocked a Biden administration rule that would expand federal protections for hundreds of thousands of rivers, lakes, streams, wetlands and other waterways in 24 states. Judge Daniel Hovland of the U.S. District Court for the District of North Dakota issued a temporary preliminary injunction to halt enforcement of the "waters of the United States" rule, which more broadly defines which types of waterways are eligible for federal water-quality protections under the 1972 Clean Water Act. The Biden administration's clean water rule, issued in 2022, repealed a Trump-era rule that federal courts rejected and that environmental groups argued left waterways open to pollution. The Environmental Protection Agency and the Department of the Army said the revised rule is based on definitions that were in place before 2015, when the Obama administration sought to expand federal protections. Republican-led states, along with farming groups, oil and gas producers, and real estate developers, have argued the rule is harmful to business and agriculture interests and is an example of federal overreach. White House officials and environmental groups have argued that loosening federal water protections would harm sources of safe drinking water across the country. Federally protected waters qualify for government programs that focus on maintaining water quality and combating pollution, among other things. The rule applies federal protections to wetlands, tributaries and other waters that have a connection to navigable waters, and it doesn't impose a specific distance for when adjacent wetlands are protected. The rule also helps clarify certain qualifications for some waters that are excluded from regulation. West Virginia and 23 other Republican-led states sued the EPA and other federal agencies in February, alleging the rule violates the U.S. Constitution. Last month, the Senate approved a resolution to overturn the protections, a measure that President Joe Biden vetoed a week later. In the order, Hovland wrote that the states "have persuasively shown that the new 2023 rule poses a threat to their sovereign rights and amounts to irreparable harm" and would "expend unrecoverable resources complying with a rule unlikely to withstand judicial scrutiny." Boxes of mifepristone, the first pill given in a medical abortion, are prepared for patients at Women's Reproductive Clinic of New Mexico in Santa Teresa, U.S., January 13, 2023. A messy legal fight over the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the abortion pill mifepristone poses risks to the biopharma industry that go beyond the single drug. If a subsequent decision tosses out the pill's approval, it could potentially stifle innovation in the sector and deter investments in the development of life-changing drugs, biopharma companies and experts in law and economics say. The ruling Friday by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Amarillo, Texas, appears to be the first time a court has suspended the FDA's approval of a medication. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late Wednesday partly granted the Biden administration's request to put the order on hold, making mifepristone available for now but with significant restrictions. The Justice Department will seek emergency intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court, it said Thursday. Nationwide access to mifepristone still hangs in the balance as the case and a similar one in federal court in Washington state both appear likely to escalate to the Supreme Court. Biopharma companies and experts told CNBC that the legal fight could give way to more lawsuits challenging the FDA's decision-making related to existing and future drugs. That outcome would bring uncertainty to a regulatory framework that drugmakers rely on during the expensive and lengthy process of developing medications, they told CNBC. "Innovation flourishes in an environment of predictability. Companies know what it is they have to prove and to whom they have to prove it," said R. Alta Charo, a professor emerita of law and bioethics at the University of Wisconsin at Madison. But, she said, Kacsmaryk's decision undermines the FDA's regulatory authority and creates a "very unpredictable kind of environment." Drugmakers would have to wrestle over the possibility that a federal judge could decide to invalidate the FDA's approval of their medication at any point, said Darius Lakdawalla, a pharmaceutical economics professor at the University of Southern California. He said that kind of legal fight could have an effect similar to that of a drug's patent expiring, which reduces the medication's time on the market and typically translates to a decline in a company's revenue. A potential legal challenge is a "risk that effectively reduces the economic incentives of bringing drugs to the market," Lakdawalla said. He said it could cause companies and investors to funnel less money into drug research and development. "Pharma companies might restrain their spending and investors might inject less money into the industry because of a reduction in their expected revenues and returns," he told CNBC. More than 200 biopharma companies made a similar claim Monday in an open letter calling for the reversal of Kacsmaryk's decision. Developing a drug is already a huge gamble in the industry, they emphasized in the letter. "Adding regulatory uncertainty to the already inherently risky work of discovering and developing new medicines will likely have the effect of reducing incentives for investment, endangering the innovation that characterizes our industry," the companies wrote in the letter. The number of companies grew to more than 600 as of Thursday morning, and included top executives at Pfizer, Biogen and Merck. Drug companies can invest anywhere from a few hundred million dollars to more than $2 billion to bring a new medicine or vaccine to the U.S. market. That hefty cost is accompanied by an extremely lengthy development process points the industry has often stressed during debates with lawmakers over how to cut lofty drug prices for consumers. It takes at least 10 years on average for a new drug to reach the marketplace after its initial discovery, according to PhRMA, the primary lobbying arm of the pharmaceutical industry. Clinical trials alone take six to seven years on average. Yet the likelihood of a drug coming out on the other side of the FDA's rigorous review process is less than 12%, PhRMA estimated. Paul Hastings, the CEO of Nkarta Therapeutics, acknowledged that seeking drug approval is a grueling process that often ends in rejection. The biotechnology company works to advance the development of cell therapies for cancer. But Hastings said biopharma companies still respect the FDA when the agency turns down their drugs. He noted that the approval process is "fully vetted" and "robust." Hastings was among the biopharma executives who first issued the open letter. He said the industry is "going to have trouble" if Kacsmaryk's ruling is ultimately upheld. "If a non-scientific, politically motivated state judge can overturn a regulatory process of assessing the safety and efficacy of a drug, that will affect how people will look at investing in this industry versus other industries where you don't have people making these kinds of politically motivated judgements," Hastings told CNBC. "It could be disastrous." But Hastings said he believes the FDA could prevail in the legal fight, which he said could take time and more action from the biopharma industry. "It will definitely take the 500 signatures, the amicus briefs challenging this," he said. "We will continue to be relentless about this because at the end of the day, what is right is right, what is wrong is wrong. We will continue to fight to ensure patients get access to lifesaving medicines." ReCode Therapeutics CEO Shehnaaz Suliman, who issued the open letter alongside Hastings, highlighted the "unprecedented show of support and galvanizing of an entire industry" around Kacsmaryk's challenge of the FDA's approval. Pfizer-backed ReCode is a genetic medicines company that specializes in mRNA and gene correction therapeutics. Suliman offered a more hopeful take on how the legal fight could affect biopharma innovation. "It may have the opposite effect, which is to even further embolden people to invest in innovation to stand by FDA authority and to continue to funnel funds into the innovation ecosystem," she said. Young demonstrators at an anti-coup protest in Yangon, Myanmar, on July 17, 2022. Myanmar has been in chaos since a military coup in early 2021 that upended a decade of tentative democratic reform, with a bloody crackdown on protests giving rise to an armed struggle against the junta. The chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said on Thursday the bloc "strongly condemns" a military airstrike this week on a village in Myanmar, which is reported to have killed up to 100 people including civilians. Tuesday's attack in the Sagaing area was the deadliest in a recent string of military air attacks, with children reported to be among the dead, and has drawn global condemnation. Myanmar has been in chaos since a military coup in early 2021 that upended a decade of tentative democratic reform, with a bloody crackdown on protests giving rise to an armed struggle against the junta. Bloomberg LP has developed an AI model using the same underlying technology as OpenAI's GPT, and plans to integrate it into features delivered through its terminal software, a company official said in an interview with CNBC. Bloomberg says that Bloomberg GPT, an internal AI model, can more accurately answer questions like "CEO of Citigroup Inc?", assess whether headlines are bearish or bullish for investors, and even write headlines based on short blurbs. Large language models trained on terabytes of text data are the hottest corner of the tech industry. Giants such as Microsoft and Google are racing to integrate the technology into their products, and artificial intelligence startups are regularly raising funds at valuations over $1 billion. Bloomberg's move shows how software developers in many industries beyond Silicon Valley see state-of-the-art AI like GPT as a technical advancement allowing them to automate tasks that used to require a human. "Both the capabilities of GPT-3 and the way that it achieved its performance through language modeling wasn't something that I expected," said Gideon Mann, head of ML Product and Research at Bloomberg. "So when that came out, we were like, 'OK, this is going to change the way that we do NLP here.'" NLP stands for natural language processing, the part of machine learning that focuses on deriving meaning from words. The move also shows how the AI market may not be dominated by giants with massive amounts of generalized data. Building large language models is expensive, requiring access to supercomputers and millions of dollars to pay for them, and some have wondered if OpenAI and Big Tech companies would develop an insurmountable lead. In this scenario, they would be the winners, and simply sell access to their AIs to everybody else. But Bloomberg's GPT doesn't use OpenAI. The company was able to use freely available, off-the-shelf AI methods and apply them to its massive store of proprietary if niche data. So far, Bloomberg says its GPT shows promising results doing tasks like figuring out whether a headline is good or bad for a company's financial outlook, changing company names to stock tickers, figuring out the important names in a document, and even answering basic business questions like who the CEO of a company is. It also can do some "generative AI" applications, like suggesting a new headline based on a short paragraph. One example in the paper: Credit Suisse upgraded Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk to outperform from neutral on Thursday, citing growth in its obesity and diabetes drugs. Weight-loss drug Wegovy has had a successful relaunch after dealing with supply issues, while diabetes drug Ozempic has seen accelerating growth instead of moderation following Wegovy's relaunch, analyst Dominic Lunn said in a note to clients. "Rx trends for both Ozempic and Wegovy YTD have been a major surprise and have significantly outperformed our expectations," he wrote. NVO YTD mountain U.S.-listed shares of Novo Nordisk Both drugs have catapulted into the spotlight thanks to the success they have shown in weight loss and the endorsement by celebrities and social media influencers. Only Wegovy, however, has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration for weight loss. Ozempic is authorized to treat diabetes, although it is being used off-label for weight loss. Both medications are semaglutide, but Wegovy is a higher dose. The run on Wegovy prompted a shortage last year, causing some patients to switch to Ozempic. Now that Wegovy is back in supply, Credit Suisse had expected a potential slowdown in growth for Ozempic. Instead, while there has been a rise in new patients taking Wegovy, Ozempic is continuing to see growth, Dunn said. "In our view, these latest trends visibly take 2023 estimates beyond Novo's current growth guidance and consensus expectations, although we understand buy-side expectations are already significantly ahead of published sell-side forecasts," he said. Recent total prescription trends have Ozempic growing 100% year over year, he said. Semaglutide is part of a class of drugs called glucagon-like peptide 1, or GLP-1, which only has 22% penetration in diabetes in the U.S., Dunn said. "Novo sees growth being driven by penetration in diabetes rather than off-label obesity use, which is backed up by the fact the Ozempic growth has accelerated despite re-supply of Wegovy for Obesity," he said. Meanwhile, Credit Suisse has increased its Wegovy sales forecasts by more than 100% thanks to the drug's rapid growth since its relaunch. While Eli Lilly 's Mounjaro has shown better results than Wegovy when it comes to weight loss, Mounjaro is still only approved for diabetes. "A first mover advantage and a still high efficacy response should see Wegovy continue to lead the way in the expansion of the obesity market," Dunn wrote. U.S.-listed shares of Novo Nordisk were up about 1.5% in midday trading. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. Chinese ride-hailing giant DiDi debuted the DiDi Neuron, a concept robotaxi. It has an arm in the back to pick up luggage or wake up sleeping passengers. DiDi is working with Chinese carmakers to develop its own autonomous taxis which it is aiming to put into service in 2025. DiDi Global on Thursday said it is developing its own self-driving taxis alongside Chinese carmakers and it plans to roll them out in 2025 on its ride-hailing service. The Chinese giant's autonomous driving unit also showed off a concept robotaxi, or driverless taxi, called the DiDi Neuron. It includes a robotic arm in the back that can pick up luggage or wake passengers up if they've fallen asleep. DiDi said it is working alongside new energy vehicle automakers, which includes electric car manufacturers, to develop its robotaxi. The Beijing-headquartered company also announced an autonomous trucking business named Kargobot, which it says has more than 100 driverless trucks in operation. DiDi said the focus is logistics and freight services. DiDi also released two pieces of hardware focused on autonomous driving. The first, co-developed with Chinese technology firm Benewake, is called DiDi Beiyao Beta LiDAR. Lidar stands for Light Detection and Ranging technology. Lidar systems send out lasers that bounce back and can measure distance. Those returning beams are processed by an algorithm to create a three-dimensional representation of surrounding objects a key technology for autonomous vehicles to understand their environment. The second development is a computing platform for autonomous cars called Orca. DiDi's ambitious robotaxi target and new products highlight its desire to push beyond just ride-hailing into new areas, including the development of autonomous driving technology. DiDi set up its autonomous driving unit in 2016 and spun it off into a wholly owned subsidiary in 2019. Since then, it has raised outside funding from backers including SoftBank. The company has been testing its robotaxis in various parts of China. Last month, it began commercial operations of its robotaxis in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou. China has been supportive of the development of driverless cars. Governments in major cities such as Beijing and Guangzhou have allowed companies from Baidu to WeRide and Pony.ai to test their autonomous cars. DiDi's slew of announcements comes after nearly two years of intense scrutiny from the Chinese government, in further signs a regulatory crackdown could be easing. The ride-hailing giant fell foul of regulators after it was listed in the U.S. in June 2021. Days after, Chinese authorities opened a cybersecurity probe into the company. DiDi's app was eventually removed from Chinese app stores and it was ordered to stop signing up new users. Didi was delisted from the U.S. and is now seeking a Hong Kong public offering. In January, DiDi's apps returned to app stores in China, signaling the worst of the scrutiny was over. And last month, the company said it plans to expand its business to more cities in China. Investors have been treading lightly around ether this year, optimistic about what the Shanghai upgrade (or "Shapella" in deeper crypto circles) would ultimately mean for the crypto asset, but cautious about its near-term implications. The latest technology upgrade for the Ethereum network was completed late Wednesday night as planned, which led to a nice jump over $2,000 for ether Thursday. Market participants say that with all the uncertainty out of the way, ether may finally catch up with bitcoin. "ETH is outperforming BTC here because it has quite a lot of catching up to do and traders, seeing that there was no adverse reaction to last night's upgrade, are now feeling more confident about coming back in," said Noelle Acheson, economist and author of the "Crypto is Macro Now" newsletter. Initially, many worried the upgrade would unleash a wave of negative sell pressure on the market, as previously locked-up funds on Ethereum are released. At the same time, there was never likely to be a wave of unlocks on the day of the change; it could take as long as 30 to 60 days for participants to exit their staked positions. ETH.CM= BTC.CM= YTD line Ether (ETH) and bitcoin (BTC) YTD Rob Ginsberg, a chart analyst at Wolfe Research, said ether "continues to look quite compelling," after punching through the key $2,000 level, "as the base that it has been carving out is starting to resolve higher." "[It's] overbought in the near term, so some digestion wouldn't be a surprise," he added. Following a successful breakout through $2,000, ether's "next stop is $2,500," Ginsberg said. Ether is up more than 65% in 2023, but has been upstaged by bitcoin for much of the year. While investors stepped aside for the pre-Shanghai action, the banking crisis in the U.S. and Europe also unfolded, opening investors' eyes to the diversity of bitcoin's narrative. Bitcoin is currently up 83% this year, according to CoinMetrics. It posted a gain of more than 70% in the first quarter, while ether advanced 52%. After Shanghai Investors can now withdraw staked ether from the network for the first time ever: This is one of the biggest attractions of the Shanghai upgrade. It's meant to strengthen Ethereum's proof-of-stake consensus mechanism, which it migrated to in September's "Merge" event . This Merge ultimately made more liquidity available to ether investors and stakers. "Post-update, Ethereum can be staked and unstaked at will, and we have remarkably seen deposits of staked Ethereum outpace withdrawals so far, which not many expected," said Conor Ryder, research analyst at crypto data provider Kaiko. "This is a huge positive for ETH, as investors are clearly more buoyed by the prospect of liquidity in Ethereum staking, and less worried about cashing in their staked ETH." Ryder said there looks to be about $300 million in ether that will be withdrawn. The cryptocurrency averages about $3 billion of daily volume, so it can handle that amount of sell pressure, he added. Christine Kim, vice president of research at Galaxy, said more than 70,000 withdrawals have been processed and 161,168 ETH distributed on Ethereum. Network health, as measured by network participation rate, has remained strong, above 95%. "I expected a large influx in the number of exiting validators, which we've definitely seen, but I have been surprised by the number of new validators being activated on Ethereum over the past 24 hours. Over 76,000 ETH has been newly staked on Ethereum over the last day." When you stake your crypto, you contribute to the proof-of-stake system that keeps decentralized networks like Ethereum running and secure; you become a "validator" on the blockchain, meaning you verify and process the transactions as they come through. The lock-up of your funds serves as a sort of collateral that can be destroyed if you as a validator act dishonestly or insincerely. For more information, check out our staking primer here . An emerging divergence? For much of 2023, ether has largely been moving differently compared to bitcoin. The two tend to trade in tandem with each other, being the two "blue-chip" assets in the crypto market and sensitive to macroeconomic data and developments. Bitcoin's market dominance has been climbing all year and just hit its highest level since spring 2021, according to crypto data provider Kaiko. "Dominance" measures how a crypto asset like bitcoin is performing relative to its peers in the crypto market. When bitcoin's dominance climbs, it implies the cryptocurrency is doing well and outperforming altcoins. Meanwhile, ether which is more of a platform play has been surrounded by uncertainty on both the technological and regulatory fronts. "Bitcoin and ether move together in general," said Julio Moreno, senior analyst at CryptoQuant. "Their 14-day daily return correlation is historically high above 0.6." That correlation has declined, however, in part because market participants have favored bitcoin over ether ahead of the Shanghai upgrade. However, Moreno said he expects the bitcoin-ether correlation to increase again when the technical transition is complete, especially since the relative performance of ether against bitcoin has been negative lately. Next stop: Cancun Shanghai brought more liquidity to Ethereum, which could be a catalyst for a change in institutional participation . The market expectation is that participation will more than double from the current 15% staked prior to Shanghai, according to JPMorgan. The Shanghai uncertainty may be out of investors' way, for now, but ambiguity around regulation still lingers. "One of the other ongoing headwinds to more institutional investment and involvement in staking on Ethereum is regulatory uncertainty around staking-as-a-service and taxation of staking rewards," Galaxy's Kim said. "Regulatory clarity on these matters would significantly help lead to greater institutional activity in staking now that staked ETH withdrawals are enabled on Ethereum." Staking has been seen widely as a catalyst for mainstream adoption of crypto and a big revenue opportunity for exchanges like Coinbase. A clampdown on staking, and staking services, could have damaging consequences not just for those exchanges, but also for Ethereum and other proof-of-stake blockchain networks. While September's Merge upgrade was about energy efficiency, Shanghai was about liquidity. Next stop for Ethereum is "Cancun," the tech upgrade expected at the end of the year that will target Ethereum's scalability potential. CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. The price of ether rallied above $2,000 Thursday for the first time in eight months, after investors put uncertainty surrounding the long-awaited Shanghai upgrade behind them. Ether advanced more than 10% to as high as $2,130.30, its highest level since May 2022. It's on pace for a 13% weekly gain. Bitcoin gained about 3% to reclaim the $30,000, rising as high as $30,928.16, its highest level since June. It's on track to finish the week up more than 9%. After a two-year lock up period, Ethereum staking withdrawals were enabled by the Shanghai upgrade around 6:30 p.m. ET on April 12. Investors were optimistic but cautious in the weeks leading up to Shanghai, also known as "Shapella." While many agree the upgrade is good for Ethereum in the long-term because it allows more liquidity to ether investors and stakers which could also be a catalyst for a change in institutional participation there was more uncertainty around how it would affect the price the week of. Both cryptocurrencies jumped in the earlier hours of Thursday morning and got another push higher with the release of the March producer price index. It was the second report this week, following Wednesday's consumer price index, pointing to cooling inflation. They rallied higher Thursday evening. Noelle Acheson, an economist and author of the "Crypto is Macro Now" newsletter said she's skeptical the sudden move higher in ether isn't entirely Shanghai-driven. "It seems to be a bet on the overall liquidity outlook, but relief that Shapella did not produce a sharp drop is driving ETH's outperformance this morning," she told CNBC. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis speaks during the Turning Point USA Student Action Summit held at the Tampa Convention Center on July 22, 2022 in Tampa, Florida. The Florida House of Representatives on Thursday passed legislation that would ban most abortions after six weeks, when many people don't know they are pregnant. The bill passed by a vote of 70 to 40, largely along party lines. The measure now goes to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is expected to sign it into law. He reiterated his support for tighter abortion restrictions just last month, saying, "We welcome pro-life legislation." The bill would only take effect if the state's existing 15-week ban is upheld in an ongoing legal challenge that is before the state Supreme Court. The Republican governor last February signed that ban, which has no exceptions for rape, incest or human trafficking. The new legislation would make performing an abortion after the six-week limit a third-degree felony punishable by up to five years in prison. But it includes exceptions for cases of rape and incest up to the 15th week of pregnancy as determined by a physician. In those cases, a pregnant person would have to provide documentation such as a medical record, a restraining order or a police report to prove she is a victim. DeSantis last month called those and rape and incest provisions "sensible." The bill also allows abortion in severe medical emergencies. But only on the condition that two physicians certify in writing that an abortion is necessary to save a pregnant person's life or avoid a serious risk of substantial and "irreversible physical impairment" to a bodily function. A single physician can make that call if a second isn't available for consultation. Abortion is also allowed up to the third trimester in cases where a fetus has a fatal abnormality, but two physicians must certify that in writing. A six-week limit would more closely align the state with the abortion restrictions of other GOP-controlled states. It would effectively end Florida's reputation as a safe haven for people from other Southern states who are seeking an abortion. The measure could also give DeSantis a potential political boost among Republican voters ahead of a possible 2024 presidential run. Ahead of the vote, Republican lawmakers echoed long-standing conservative views on abortion. Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka said the bill would save lives, pointing to the more than 82,000 abortions recorded in Florida last year. "Today we stand for life, we stand with mothers, and we stand with Florida families," said Persons-Mulicka. "We can change the culture of abortion to a culture of life." State Democrats have lambasted the bill since it was introduced early last month. The Florida Senate's vote to pass the legislation last week prompted demonstrations at the state Capitol in Tallahassee, which resulted in the arrest of two Democratic state lawmakers. Other Democratic officials slammed the bill on the House floor ahead of the vote. "Abortion is health care," Rep. Kelly Skidmore said three consecutive times. "This bill denies it to millions of Floridians. This is a dangerous bill. We are never going to agree on that." "What you are doing is you are telling every Floridian that they have to live the way you want them to live, not the way that they want to live," she continued. "Stay out of my business." Rep. Robin Bartleman similarly said, "The right to bodily autonomy is an innate right." "My body is mine. We do not want unclear laws and muddy waters," Bartleman said. A recent survey suggests the six-week abortion ban isn't popular among Florida residents. Roughly 75% of more than 1,400 people said they either somewhat or strongly opposed the ban, according to a University of North Florida poll released in March. The bill comes as a messy legal battle over the abortion pill mifepristone heats up. The U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals overnight froze part of a Texas judge's order that would have suspended the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone. The Biden administration will ask the Supreme Court to intervene, Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Thursday. The Florida measure also represents a broader shift in the legal fight over abortion rights in the U.S. after the Supreme Court last June overturned the 50-year-old Roe v. Wade ruling. After that decision, abortion rights were largely left up to individual states. Some states rushed to ban the procedure completely, while others gradually rolled out new restrictions. Most abortions are now banned in more than a dozen states, including Idaho, Texas, Tennessee, Wisconsin, West Virginia and Oklahoma. In this article FOXA Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT A person walks past the Fox News Headquarters at the News Corporation building in New York City March 9, 2023. Timothy A. Clary | AFP | Getty Images Dominion Voting System's defamation lawsuit against Fox Corp . and its cable TV networks will go to trial in the coming days, but it remains to be seen what, exactly, the lawsuit means for Fox and its business. Dominion brought its lawsuit against Fox and its TV networks, Fox News and Fox Business, in March 2021, arguing their hosts pushed false claims that Dominion's voting machines were rigged in the 2020 presidential election that saw Joe Biden triumph over Donald Trump. The trial begins on Monday. IAC Chairman Barry Diller, who was chairman and CEO of parent-company Fox from 1984 to 1992, said at a media conference hosted by startup Semafor earlier this week that although he thought Fox should lose the case, handing Dominion "a very big reward," that the company will just pay the damages and move on. "What's it going to do? Worsen [Fox Corp. Chair] Rupert Murdoch's reputation?" Diller joked. watch now On its face, the biggest potential consequence for Fox would be a financial hit: The company will have to pay to defend itself against the claims and, if it loses, possible damages to Dominion, upwards of $1.6 billion. No matter the outcome, an appeal is likely. Fox, which has denied the claims made by Dominion and said it is protected by the First Amendment, has opposed the amount of the damages that the voting machine maker is seeking. The Delaware judge overseeing the case who ruled a trial was necessary recently said it would be up to a jury to decide the matter. Business risk Neither side has shown signs of a wanting to settle the case, and the two parties have met once at a court-ordered meeting. But even if they did come to a settlement, Fox would still be on the hook for a steep payment, experts say. "There could be a lot of implications depending on how it plays out," said Imraan Farukhi, an assistant professor at Syracuse University's S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. Besides the financial impact, Farukhi added, "The other question is what will they do with their talent if they lose? The majority of the stars at Fox are implicated. Any other news organization would have probably seen their hosts losing their jobs for improper reporting." Lou Dobbs, who is slated to be a witness, saw his weekday program on the Fox Business network canceled the day after he was named a defendant in the defamation lawsuit of a second voting machine company, Smartmatic. At the time, Fox said his show's cancellation was in the works prior to the lawsuit. Shows helmed by Tucker Carlson, Maria Bartiromo, Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham and Jeanine Pirro have been listed as evidence by Dominion. Those hosts also are slated to testify in Dominion's case. On Wednesday, the Delaware judge overseeing the case sanctioned Fox for withholding evidence and reportedly said if depositions or anything else needed to be redone, it would come at a cost to the company. But the most likely immediate effect on Fox and its bottom line could come in the form of libel training classes for talent and others in the newsroom, as well as an increase in production insurance policies that cover defamatory statements, Farukhi said. Those policies could also help cover the costs related to the lawsuit for Fox. Still, a near-term financial impact is unlikely to spell disaster for the network. As thousands of documents have been unveiled in recent months, revealing skepticism from Fox's top TV hosts and executives about the election-fraud claims that were made on air, Fox News' ratings have remained stable, according to Nielsen. Similarly, so has the parent company's stock price. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon Fox Corp.'s stock has remained stable in recent months as evidence implicating its TV hosts and executives have come to light in Dominion's defamation lawsuit. Fox News' steady audience has also ensured that advertisers stick around, too. Oftentimes, companies will pull their ads when TV networks are embroiled in controversy. For Fox, that hasn't been an issue in its lawsuit battle with Dominion. "I am hesitant to say how this could implicate their business when it comes to viewership and sponsors," Farukhi said. "Their audience and sponsors seem to not really care what the network is being accused of in this case. They only stop viewing Fox when it provides information that is not congruent with their predetermined conclusions." Fox Corp. CEO Lachlan Murdoch sounded confident about the network's future when asked during a March investor conference if he could share anything about the case. "I think fundamentally what I'll just say about it is that a news organization has an obligation and it is an obligation to report news fulsomely, and without fear or favor," Murdoch said at the time. "That's what Fox News has always done and that's what Fox News will always do." He added that "the noise that you hear about this case is actually not about the law and it's not about journalism and it's really about politics." No other questions were asked during the conference. Amendment protections Ukrainian PM, U.S. defense secretary discuss military support for Kiev Xinhua) 13:52, April 13, 2023 KIEV, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Wednesday he discussed military support for his country with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. "We discussed in detail the urgent needs of Ukraine for the successful conduct of another counteroffensive operation to liberate Ukrainian lands," Shmyhal, who is on a visit to the United States, wrote in a Telegram post. In particular, Ukraine needs air defense, heavy artillery and equipment, mortars and ammunition for them, Shmyhal said. Ukraine is also counting on the United States to provide it with longer-range missiles, he added. Earlier in the day, Shmyhal arrived in the United States for a visit to discuss military, financial, and sanctions support for Ukraine, as well as investment and assistance for reconstruction. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., left, and George Santos, (R-NY) conducts a news conference to advocate for inclusion of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction in the Build Back Better Act reconciliation bill, outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images) Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York is telling political leaders and wealthy donors that he is considering running for his old seat held by embattled Republican Rep. George Santos, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. Suozzi has spoken with officials including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., and New York Democratic Committee Chair Jay Jacobs about the prospect of launching a 2024 campaign for a district he represented for almost five years, according to those familiar with the conversations. "He certainly is giving it consideration. I don't think he's made his mind up by any means," Jacobs, who is also the chairman of the Nassau County Democratic Committee, told CNBC when asked about his discussions with Suozzi. The congressional seat is largely located in Nassau County. A Suozzi advisor told CNBC that "Tom has been approached by Hakeem, Jay and many others in D.C." "He is open to it, but nothing is going to happen unless Santos leaves office and there is a special election, or possibly 2024," the advisor said. If Santos stepped down which he has insisted he will not do it could trigger a special election before next year's general election. Suozzi in recent months has started meeting with wealthy donors in New York, including those in the influential real estate industry, other sources noted. A spokesman for Jeffries did not return a request for comment. Suozzi did not return a request for comment. Those who declined to be named in this story did so in order to speak freely about private deliberations. Suozzi's potential entry into the race would give Democrats an experienced candidate as they try to leverage the issues swirling around Santos to flip a seat in New York, a state that helped propel Republicans to their House majority. Santos, embroiled in a furor over lies and embellishments about key parts of his resume, has repeatedly said he will not resign, and instead let voters decide his fate. The New York lawmaker filed a statement of candidacy for the 2024 election cycle with the Federal Election Commission, but has not officially declared whether he will run for reelection. Suozzi was first elected in 2016 to represent New York's 3rd Congressional District, which in its current form stretches from parts of Long Island to some of Queens. He left Congress to run for governor of New York, losing in the Democratic primary to Gov. Kathy Hochul. He most recently has served as a co-chair at consulting firm Actum. Santos got elected during the 2022 midterms, in part by selling his inflated resume to voters. Local Republican officials in New York have since called for Santos to resign. The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into Santos, and appointed a subcommittee to probe him for potential ethical violations. Santos has also been ensnared in a wide range of other local and federal probes. Suozzi himself faced an Ethics Committee investigation for his stock trades, but last year the panel unanimously voted to dismiss the referrals. Suozzi weighed in on Santos' conduct earlier this year. The ex-New York congressman wrote an op-ed in The New York Times ripping Santos and hinting that voters in the district would be open to an alternative in 2024. "I also know the voters of the Third District pretty well; they believe in the rule of law, in playing by the rules. They like authenticity in their leaders and pride themselves on having a good BS detector," Suozzi wrote in January. "I am certain that if the Third District's voters have an opportunity to weigh in on his political future again, he will be gone." Suozzi defeated Santos during his last run for Congress in 2020. He has name recognition and is a prolific fundraiser, which could make him a frontrunner in a Democratic primary for Santos' seat. Democratic businessman Robert Zimmerman, who lost to Santos in 2022, has not ruled out running again for the seat. During Suozzi's last run for Congress in 2020, he raised just under $3 million, according to data from the nonpartisan OpenSecrets. Donors from the real estate business were Suozzi's top contributors that cycle, giving $270,000 to his campaign. In this article GM Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 GM DETROIT General Motors will continue to test the price ceiling of its highly profitable full-size pickup trucks as it spends billions to transition to all-electric vehicles. The latest model revealed Thursday is the Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500 ZR2, a new off-road model for one of GM's most expensive pickup trucks. The company also unveiled a special-edition "ZR2 Bison" version in partnership with well-known off-road parts supplier American Expedition Vehicles. Automakers such as GM, Ford Motor and others have been growing off-road vehicle offerings as a way to boost profits on their trucks and SUVs with far less investment than a new vehicle. 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 Bison GM "ZR2 has been a huge success for us," said Michael MacPhee, director of Chevy truck marketing. "The performance/off-road space is the fastest-growing in pickup right now. So, it's a natural extension for us to build that to the HD space." MacPhee declined to disclose expected profit margins for the upcoming vehicles, which will begin production at a Michigan plant this summer. The new ZR2 trucks are in addition to similar models of smaller pickups such as the Chevrolet Colorado and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, a smaller sibling of the 2500 model. MacPhee said current ZR2 models are the fastest-turning vehicles of the brand's premium trims and bring in the highest number of new customers. 2024 Chevrolet Silverado HD ZR2 GM The company declined to disclose exact pricing for the new ZR2 pickups, saying they will be "aspirational but attainable." The current Chevrolet Silverado 1500 ZR2 starts at about $74,000 for a comparable model. GM also currently offers a Z71 off-road package of the large HD truck that can easily top $80,000. The ZR2 vehicles feature a host of off-road components, systems and capabilities. Even if owners don't use the trucks for their intended use cases, off-road vehicles have grown in popularity for their more aggressive looks and taller ride height. The HD ZR2 trucks will be offered exclusively in the 2500 four-door crew cab configuration. The standard 6.6-liter V8 gasoline engine will produce 401 horsepower and 464 foot-pounds of torque. A 6.6-liter Duramax turbo-diesel with 445 horsepower and 910 foot-pounds will also be available. GM said diesel is expected to make up a majority of the sales, like it does for current HD models. GM's burly fossil fuel-powered pickup trucks are assisting the automaker in investing $35 billion in electric and autonomous vehicles between 2020 and 2025. Longtime investor and trader Jim Lebenthal said he's favoring big banks over small lenders heading into the earnings season. "The big banks should have been beneficiaries of what went on last month with Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, meaning they got deposit inflows from the smaller banks," Lebenthal said. "I think we should favor the big banks over the smaller banks just because of their overall strength." See the video above for Lebenthal's full view of the sector and his favorite picks. The first-quarter earnings season kicks off on Friday with JPMorgan , Citigroup , Wells Fargo and PNC Financial reporting quarterly numbers. From these reports, Lebenthal said he will be assessing the health of the banking system as well as the macroeconomic health of the consumer. He is a partner at Cerity Partners, managing U.S. equity portfolios for clients and advises them on asset allocation. "I'd like to hear from both the big banks and PNC ... how they're all feeling about the health of the banking system," Lebenthal said. "Is there further pressure on balance sheets? Are there further deposit outflows not just from small banks to big banks, but from all banks to money market funds?" The collapses of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank last month the second- and third-largest bank failures in U.S. history, respectively made investors concerned about the overall health of the banking systems and if more institutions are at risk. Lebenthal said there is one overlooked silver lining for the banking sector, which is declining bond yields. Lower rates would increase the value of Treasury securities on the bank's balance sheets, Lebenthal said. The investor called JPMorgan the "creme de la creme" in the banking system and said he owns Citigroup as a value and turnaround play. He said he doesn't have any individual stock exposure to regional banks but he does own a small position in the SPDR S & P Regional Banking ETF. When I used a fake birthday to create a Facebook account at age 9, I didn't know I'd eventually become dependent on social media. In the 15 years since, I've immersed myself in social media almost every single day surfing through Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok from the moment I wake up until I go to sleep, and starting over again the next day. In college, I averaged 14 hours of screen time per day. A lot of people live this way: 31% of U.S. adults, more than 80 million people, are online "almost constantly," says a 2021 survey from Pew Research Center. The Gen Zers in that age range, including me, feel the adverse effects of tech overexposure the most because we've been immersed in social media since childhood, says Raquel Martin, a clinical psychologist and assistant professor at Tennessee State University. The consequences are real, Martin tells CNBC Make It. "It throws off your body's natural rhythm, makes it even more difficult to sleep and can increase [the tendency for] social comparison." I experienced some of that myself, starting in 2020: For about two years, I was sleep deprived, self-critical and depressed. So in January, I decided to make a change. I started small, trying to limit my social media consumption just in the mornings. My mind and body are already thanking me. Here's what's working for me so far. I'm setting goals that are 'realistic' and 'specific' Limiting your social media use only works if you're consistent about it. The key at least, for me is keeping yourself busy. Since January, instead of spending an hour or two scrolling before getting ready for work, I exercise, meditate, write in my journal, clean or read a book. I make a point of putting social media away about an hour before I go to sleep, and monitoring my phone's screen time analytics to hold myself accountable. These changes may seem miniscule, but they're helping me make progress. At the beginning of 2023, I averaged about nine hours of social media per day. Two months later, I was down to seven. That's because the changes are both realistic and specific, Martin says. "If we're not being realistic, we can set ourselves up for failure. You have to be more specific. 'Oh, I want to decrease my phone use' is too abstract of a goal," she says. "You need to know how much you're using it to know how much you want to decrease it and set realistic expectations." I'm setting time-limits on apps, especially on weekends Staying on track is harder during the weekends. Without needing to leave for work, I'm more inclined to scroll the day away. To combat this, I use my iPhone's app limit feature to set time limits for my applications. Once I reach my limit, the app automatically locks until the next day. I currently have three-hour time limits for Twitter and TikTok, where I find myself indulging the most. I allot a total of 90 minutes per day for Instagram and YouTube, where I usually spend less time. I'm down to seven and a half hours on social media per day on weekends, almost half of my original 14. I'm understanding that I'll slip up sometimes Sometimes, my muscle memory gets the best of me: I catch myself scrolling before bed or I turn off my time limits. Many other Gen Zers do the same thing, says Martin. Sticking to strict limits can be hard, especially for people who've spent their entire lives in the digital age. Giving yourself the grace to fail is one of the first steps to making progress, Martin says. "[Gen Zers] have a higher propensity to use social media, because you've had it your whole life," she says. "It's understandable that because of that access, you have difficulty managing outside of that and that your threshold can get a little bit excessive." My results so far: Better mood, better health Lessening your social media use can significantly decrease your anxiety, depression, loneliness, sleep problems and fear of missing out, according to a 2018 University of Pennsylvania study. Personally, my depressive symptoms are already noticeably lower. I'm more self-confident and I feel less of an urge to compare myself to others on the internet. I've also lost 12 pounds since January by replacing some of my social media time with being active and making healthy meals. That's not necessarily everyone's goal but in my case, I gained more than 40 pounds in 18 months during the Covid-19 pandemic's peak by being inactive and eating fast food. At the time, my doctor advised me to make healthier choices. Completely disinterested, I barely looked up from my phone. Now, less time on apps means more time for my health, both physical and mental. "You get the chance to actually engage with the world a little bit better [when you limit social media use]. You get the chance to spend your energy in other places," says Martin. "Think about how much time it's going to add to your day to do other things." My next goal: Only 30 minutes a day on social media Starting a business can cost a lot of money, and outsized expenses can easily sink your new venture. How much you have to spend can depend on where you set up shop. And if you expect a coastal state to top a list of most expensive places in the U.S. to start a business, you're in for a surprise: Minnesota is the costliest state for new entrepreneurs, according to a new ranking from online small business advisor SimplifyLLC. Minnesota has one of the country's highest corporate income tax rates, at 9.8%. It also has relatively high labor costs, the ranking notes: Last year, Minnesotans' average annual wage was $60,598, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Together, those factors contribute to a high cost of doing business in the state but it's definitely not the only expensive place to pursue your startup dreams. Here are the nine priciest U.S. states for starting a small business, according to SimplifyLLC's ranking: Minnesota New York Louisiana Alabama Alaska Wisconsin West Virginia Nebraska Kansas It's not all bad news for Minnesota: The state has a large labor force from which business owners hire, ranking first among all states with a labor force participation rate of 81.6%, based on U.S. Census Bureau data. New York can celebrate, too: It's not No. 1 on the list, despite its perennially high cost of living. However, it's still a pricey place to start a business. Workers in the Empire State have the fifth-highest average annual income in the country at more than $62,000, and the state has the sixth-highest average monthly commercial electric bill, at more than $806. Louisiana, the ranking's third-most expensive state, has the least amount of commercial space available per 100,000 people of any state. It also has a relative dearth of available talent: Louisiana is bottom three among all U.S. states in terms of labor force participation rate, at 69.2%, and only 26.4% of its post-college-age workers have at least a bachelor's degree. And the state's business environment appears to leave something to be desired. Its business survival rate of 0.54 is the country's fifth-worst, according to 2021 data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. In other words, only slightly more companies launched than shuttered in Louisiana that year, the most recent with data available. SimplifyLLC calculated its ranking using data from the Census Bureau, the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Tax Foundation to rate the country's 50 states in nine categories: Corporate income tax rates Business filing fees Average annual income Labor force participation rate Percentage of adults over the age of 25 with at least a bachelor's degree Average monthly commercial electric bills Available commercial real estate Amount of small-business lending per capita Business survival rates It's fairly clear how categories like utility bills, taxes and startup fees weigh on a business' expenses. Something like labor force participation rate may be less obvious: Having a large population of eligible workers at your disposal can save you time and money when recruiting new employees. You probably need to consider other expenses not covered in this ranking, too like small-business insurance or the actual cost of leasing commercial space, both of which can also vary by state. "What's true in one state isn't true in another, and all things being equal, some states give entrepreneurs an advantage by making it a bit more affordable to set up shop," SimplifyLLC noted. DON'T MISS: Want to be smarter and more successful with your money, work & life? Sign up for our new newsletter! Check out: E. Jean Carroll is seen outside State Supreme Court on March 4, 2020, in New York. Caroll is suing Donald Trump for defamation. A federal judge on Thursday said he will allow lawyers for Donald Trump to question his rape accuser, the writer E. Jean Carroll, under oath about the funding of her lawsuit provided by LinkedIn co-founder and major Democratic donor Reid Hoffman. But Judge Lewis Kaplan rejected a related request by Trump's legal team to delay by one month the start of his civil trial on April 25 in U.S. District Court in Manhattan. Carroll's lawsuit claims Trump raped her in the mid-1990s in the dressing room of the Bergdorf Goodman department store after a chance encounter, and that he defamed her in the way he denied her allegations when she went public with them when he was president. Kaplan's rulings came hours after Trump's lawyers in a court filing accused Carroll's attorneys of deliberately failing for months to disclose that Hoffman had funded her case against the former president. Carroll had testified in an October deposition that no one else was paying her legal fees and that she was unclear about who was covering case expenses. "The question whether and when plaintiff [Carroll] or her counsel have obtained financial support in this action has nothing directly to do with the ultimate merits of the case," Kaplan wrote in his order. But, he added, "Although I do not now decide the question, it might perhaps prove relevant to the question of the plaintiff's credibility, in view of the deposition testimony." The judge said he would allow "a brief and carefully circumscribed examination of that narrow question" of Carroll's knowledge of Hoffman's assistance. Kaplan said he would later determine whether the issue could be raised at the upcoming trial. Kaplan said Trump's lawyers could depose Carroll by next Wednesday for no longer than 60 minutes unless the judge agrees to extend it. Trump's lawyers Joseph Tacopina and Alina Habba in their letter earlier to Kaplan on Thursday said that on Monday they received a letter from Carroll's team stating that their client "now recalls that at some point her counsel secured additional funding from a nonprofit organization to offset certain expenses and legal fees." Trump's lawyers said that on Wednesday, Carroll's attorneys disclosed that Hoffman was the "primary backer" of that nonprofit group, American Future Republic. The billionaire Hoffman has spent millions of dollars backing Democrats in congressional races and reportedly funding efforts to oppose Trump in elections including the 2024 presidential race in which he is currently leading the GOP primary field. Dmitri Mehlhorn, one of Hoffman's philanthropic advisors, told CNBC that since 2017 they have provided third-party funding to legal efforts that aim to "protect our citizens from violent threats." In those instances, "we have not met the plaintiffs, we do not decide who the organization chooses to support and the clients generally do not know our identity," Mehlhorn said in an emailed statement. In Carroll's case, "our particular grant was made before Ms. Carroll filed suit and we had no prior knowledge that our funding would go to support her in particular," he said. It was unclear how much money was provided for Carroll's litigation. In her deposition, Carroll noted that her suit was a contingency case, meaning her attorneys only get paid if she wins the case. But Tacopina and Habba wrote that the revelation "raises significant concerns as to Plaintiff's bias and motive" in filing the suit. Their letter asked Kaplan to partially reopen the evidence-sharing stage of the case, known as the discovery period. In addition to requesting a month delay in the start of the trial, they also Kaplan to instruct the jury to note Carroll's "willful defiance of her discovery obligations." Kaplan in his ruling later Thursday said he would rule on that instruction request during the trial. "The proposition that Plaintiff has suddenly 'recollected' the source of her funding for this high-profile litigation which has spanned four years, spawned two separate actions, and been before numerous state, federal, and appellate courts is not only preposterous, it is demonstrably false," Trump's lawyers wrote. In a separate letter to the judge Thursday, Carroll's lawyer Roberta Kaplan slammed the efforts to disrupt the trial as "baseless." Carroll last week "recollected additional information" related to the exchange from her deposition while preparing for the trial, her lawyer wrote. Kaplan said she "promptly disclosed to Trump's counsel that, while Carroll stands by her testimony about this being a contingency fee case, she now recalls that her counsel at some point secured additional funding from a nonprofit organization to cover certain expenses and fees." That funding came in September 2020, nearly a year after Carroll filed a complaint against Trump in state court, her lawyer noted. The plaintiff's lawyers told Trump's team this week that Carroll "has never met and has never been party to any communications (written or oral) with anyone associated with the nonprofit." They also proposed a compromise to allow Carroll to be cross-examined about the funding. "But apparently, that was not enough," Carroll's lawyer said. Carroll's team also challenged Trump's lawyers' requests for last-minute changes to the trial schedule. "It is, of course, facially absurd for Trump to insist that Reid Hoffman, who has never met or communicated with Carroll, possesses evidence bearing on the truth or falsity of Carroll's battery and defamation claims," they wrote. The United Nations Environment Program, the world's leading voice on the environment, said in late February that far more research into the risks and benefits of SRM would be required before there can be any consideration for its potential deployment. David Gannon | Afp | Getty Images What is solar geoengineering? Solar geoengineering or SRM refers to a speculative set of technologies designed to cool the Earth. Some of the techniques involved, such as spraying sulfur dioxide into the atmosphere, are known to have harmful effects on the environment and human health. Nonetheless, some climate scientists who are concerned that humanity will overshoot its emissions targets say further research into SRM is important to figure out how best to balance these risks against a possibly catastrophic rise in the Earth's temperature. It is not mitigation. It is a very speculative set of proposed technological interventions into the atmosphere. Lili Fuhr Deputy director of the Center for International Environmental Law The United Nations Environment Program, the world's leading voice on the environment, said in late February that far more research into the risks and benefits of SRM would be required before there can be any consideration for its potential deployment. UNEP confirmed SRM is not yet ready for large-scale deployment and highlighted there is no substitute for an urgent and massive reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, "which must remain the global priority." To be sure, researchers calling for the rigorous study of SRM are not endorsing solar geoengineering as a climate solution. Arguments against pursuing further research into SRM have previously been outlined in a 2022 paper, however, which concludes that "solar geoengineering at planetary scale is not governable in a globally inclusive and just manner within the current international political system." watch now The paper advocates for an International Non-Use Agreement on Solar Geoengineering, a call that has since received the backing of hundreds of climate scientists. Lili Fuhr, deputy director of the Center for International Environmental Law, described solar radiation management or solar geoengineering as "the ultimate false solution." "It is not mitigation," Fuhr said during a media briefing earlier this month. "It is a very speculative set of proposed technological interventions into the atmosphere." Fuhr highlighted that the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change had assessed the controversial technology but ultimately decided not to include it in the summary for policymakers in its latest report. Instead, the world's top climate scientists concluded "that we know way too little about it [and] it comes with novel risks and harms for ecosystems and people," she added. "I think the word geoengineering only appears about two times in the Working Group III report and it is only to say that we don't use the term geoengineering," IPCC Working Group III co-chair Jim Skea said during the same briefing. "Many of our authors couldn't bear to use the words solar radiation management and insisted on calling it solar radiation modification because of their distaste for it," Skea said. Check out the companies making headlines in midday trading. Apple The tech giant climbed more than 2% Thursday. A report a day earlier said the company is doing away with plans to more heavily include haptic touch technology from supplier Cirrus. Reports had been circling ahead of the launch of the iPhone 15 later this year that the model would include a physical side button that used Cirrus' solid state technology. Bed Bath & Beyond The meme stock favorite dropped 5.9%. Earlier this week, the company sold about 100 million shares to bookrunner B. Riley Securities. Harley-Davidson The motorcycle maker's stock shed more than 3% after UBS said a retail decline in the first quarter may be worse than expected. The Wall Street firm anticipates U.S. retail sales could be down close to 20%. Novo Nordisk U.S.-listed shares of the Danish pharmaceutical company gained 2.1% after being upgraded to outperform from neutral by Credit Suisse. The Wall Street firm said growth in the drugs has "significantly outperformed" its expectations. Alibaba Shares of the Chinese e-commerce giant rose 2%, rebounding from a near 6% selloff in the previous session. The stock has been volatile this week. A Financial Times report revealed Wednesday that SoftBank has sold a majority of its stake in the company. Meanwhile, investors digested news that Alibaba will be rolling out its own ChatGPT-style product. Steve Madden The shoe company advanced 3.4% on the back of an upgrade to by from neutral by Citi. The bank said the company is seeing improved wholesale trends. Chipotle Shares rose 1% after Citi said it was optimistic about the restaurant chain's earnings report later this month. Netflix Shares of the streaming platform rose 4.5%, following other major tech-related names higher. However, Goldman Sachs reiterated its sell rating on the stock. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo said it was bullish on the streaming giant, saying paid account sharing in the U.S. could help lift its profit and loss statement. Tesla The electric vehicle maker added 3% on Thursday. Investors are looking ahead to the company's first-quarter earnings next week. They will look for insight on whether Tesla is planning more price cuts on key models such as the Model 3 and Model Y. Progressive Shares of the insurance company fell 6% after Progressive reported a loss of 26 cents per share for March, down from a profit of 38 cents per share in the year-earlier period. Progressive said it had "unfavorable developments" in its personal and commercial auto products that weighed on results. The company did report a positive net income for the first quarter. CNBC's Alexander Harring, Michelle Fox, Yun Li and Jesse Pound contributed reporting In a press conference on Thursday afternoon, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins confirmed that an arrest has been made in the April 4 fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee. Officials named Nima Momeni a tech entrepreneur in the Bay Area as the suspect. Authorities also said that Momeni knew the victim, though they would not comment on the motive. They also indicated that the investigation was ongoing. Momeni will be arraigned on Friday, and prosecutors said that they would be filing a motion to detain him without bail. Police made the arrest earlier on Thursday in Emeryville, California, a suburb 15 minutes outside San Francisco. Jail records say that the 38-year-old Momeni was booked on suspicion of murder at 9:19 a.m. News of the arrest was first reported by Mission Local, a local San Francisco news publication. In the press conference, Jenkins criticized early comments from pundits and celebrities that used the murder to paint San Francisco as a crime-ridden and violent city. San Francisco police officers found Lee, 43, with stab wounds at 2:35 a.m. in a deserted part of downtown San Francisco. He was taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries and later died, police said at the time. Lee had been working as chief product officer for the cryptocurrency company MobileCoin. He previously served as chief technology officer of Square (now known as Block ), a financial technology company co-founded by former Twitter chief Jack Dorsey. Lee went on to create Cash App, a money transfer service. He was also an investor in Elon Musk's SpaceX venture as well as other tech firms, such as the social audio app Clubhouse, according to his LinkedIn profile. He was widely praised by former colleagues, including MobileCoin CEO Joshua Goldbard, who said in a Twitter thread that Lee was a "brilliant" visionary with a "kaleidoscopic" mind. G-7 nations have so far decided not to revise their cap on Russian oil. Anton Petrus | Moment | Getty Images The Group of Seven advanced economies is not expected to update its price cap on Russian oil in the coming weeks amid contrasting views on whether the policy is truly denting the Kremlin's revenues. The G-7, alongside the European Union and Australia, decided late last year to impose a cap of $60 a barrel on Russian oil in an effort to ratchet up the pressure on Moscow. As part of the agreement, they said they would review this cap in mid-March. However, despite calls to do so from several countries in Europe, the threshold was not revised last month even as oil prices fell from the levels seen in the two months prior to mid-March. If a revision had taken place, the $60 barrel level would likely have been reduced. "The fact that the cap is difficult to enforce (and) monitor is, in my view, also the main reason why policymakers will not be so keen to make adjustments unless prices move a lot," Konstantinos Venetis, senior economist at TS Lombard, told CNBC via email. Loading chart... At a summit of European leaders in late March, Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas said the oil cap has been working and "we should continue with that." She called for policymakers to lower the level of the price cap to continue to pressure the Kremlin's finances. However, a spokesperson for the European Council, an EU institution that brings together the 27 nations, told CNBC earlier this month: "It is stated that the functioning of the price cap mechanism will be reviewed by mid-March 2023 and every two months thereafter. Now being 5 April, this brings me to believe that the next review would happen in May." There are two main reasons for this. Firstly, the G-7 seems to believe the current cap is effective in reducing oil revenues for Russia. Secondly, oil producer group OPEC+ announced on April 2 surprise cuts to production, which pushed up prices and limited the argument for a downward revision to the $60 threshold. On top of the cap on Russian oil, the EU also banned imports of refined petroleum from Russia as part of several sanctions against Moscow in response to the Kremlin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. "The EU's oil ban accompanied by the G-7 oil price cap appear to have contributed to a decline in Urals crude prices," a spokesperson for the European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, told CNBC. "The price of Urals crude declined from the trade range of $65-70 barrel at the end of November 2022 to well below the $60 cap in January and February 2023." For the cap to be revised lower next month, TS Lombard's Venetis said "there would have to be a significant and sustained drop in global oil prices that makes the cap level look irrelevant." Is the price cap working? U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in late February, at a meeting of the G-20, that the cap on Russian oil had "had a significant negative effect on Russia so far." But Jacob Kirkegaard, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, told CNBC that there was "widespread disagreement" about whether the cap is working or not. While it does seem to be hurting Russia's oil revenues, it is also diminishing the power that Western nations had in the insurance space, he added. This is because, in the wake of sanctions, Russia managed to circumvent some of the restrictions imposed by the G-7 and others by amassing a fleet of older tankers. Ultimately, Kirkegaard said there was no explicit way to determine whether the oil cap is effective or not. India, China snap up Russian oil Here are Thursday's biggest calls on Wall Street: Goldman Sachs reiterates Netflix as sell Goldman said it's standing by its sell rating heading into earnings next week. "In terms of the upcoming earnings report, we expect NFLX to report an inline (to possibly slight upside) subscriber performance compared to our modeling on the back of the fact that its global password crackdown extended to only four additional markets in Q1 (against our perception that churn would be elevated with a more accelerated rollout of the initiative in 1H 2023)." Deutsche Bank adds a catalyst call buy on Enphase Energy Deutsche said it's bullish on the solar company's opportunities in Europe. "ENPH is our top long-term Buy idea, as we remain bullish on the company's market positioning with growth opportunities in the European market." Read more about this call here. Morgan Stanley upgrades WWE to overweight from equal weight Morgan Stanley said the UFC- WWE combination creates an attractive risk/reward. "We think this pending UFC-WWE transaction creates value in three primary ways." Citi upgrades Merck to buy from neutral Citi said in its upgrade of the pharmaceutical company that it has an underappreciated pipeline of products. "We believe the market underappreciates MRK' s pipeline, including cardiovascular assets sotatercept and oral." Read more about this call here . William Blair initiates Costco as outperform William Blair said the big box retailer is "well positioned in an uncertain environment." "We are initiating coverage of Costco with an Outperform rating as we expect the strong value proposition, engaged membership, efficient operations, and long runway for growth support further market share expansion." Baird reiterates Tesla as a top pick Baird said Tesla is best positioned to weather the macro storm. " TSLA's leadership in scale, technology, manufacturing, cost, and depth of talent continue to differentiate it from competitors. We believe TSLA is best positioned to weather economic headwinds which appear imminent for 2H23 and believe the long-term setup is strong." Wells Fargo names Wynn a top pick Wells said the casino company has a "clear path to upward estimate revisions." "Macau's recovering, WYNN's maintaining share, and the question is becoming when, not if, WYNN returns to '19 EBITDA." Deutsche Bank names a catalyst buy on Sherwin-Williams Deutsche said the paint company's earnings scheduled for later this month should "alleviate" investor concerns. "We are adding Sherwin as a Catalyst Call Buy. Sherwin shares have been in the proverbial penalty box since its Q4 release on January 26 when its shares fell 9% following '23 EPS guidance that was was 18% below consensus." Evercore ISI adds a tactical outperform on Meta and Spotify Evercore said Meta remains cheap heading into earnings later this month. The firm also said Spotify is at a "gross margin inflection point" ahead of its earnings report in late April. "#1 META remains the cheapest of the high-quality 'Net and Tech Stocks with three under-appreciated product cycles likely to help generate a return to double-digit revenue growth. ... . SPOT is on the verge (finally) of a Gross Margin inflection point, with record-high MAU growth and a pending price increase." Credit Suisse upgrades Novo Nordisk to outperform from perform Credit Suisse said it sees "further outperformance" for the pharmaceutical company due to growth in its Novo's obesity drug, Wegovy. "We expect the magnitude of likely upgrades driven by visible 1Q Rx trends to drive further outperformance, and hence we upgrade our rating to Outperform (from Neutral)." Mizuho initiates General Motors as neutral Mizuho said in its initiation of the automaker that it is in a transition phase. "We are initiating on General Motors with a Neutral rating and $39 PT. GM has 1) a BROAD consumer-commercial EV portfolio (currently only ~2% of mix), 2) an ambitious EV ramp to 1M/yr in N.A. and 2M/yr globally by 2025 > Credit Suisse reiterates Apple as outperform Credit Suisse said it's bullish heading into Apple earnings May 4. "We believe iPhone demand was resilient during the quarter and therefore raise our revenue estimate to $93.27 billion from $92.19 billion (above consensus of $92.51 billion) and our EPS estimate to $1.45 from $1.43." Citi upgrades Steven Madden to buy from neutral Citi said in its upgrade of the shoe company that it sees "better wholesale trends" for Steven Madden. "We are upgrading shares from Neutral to Buy and opening a positive catalyst watch ahead of 1Q23 results (BMO 4/26). We anticipate a modest 1Q beat, but importantly we expect mgmt to talk more optimistically about wholesale trends, suggesting upside in 2Q/F23." Read more about this call here. Oppenheimer reiterates McDonald's as a top pick Oppenheimer said it sees upside to Street estimates for the fast food giant. " MCD remains a 'top pick' despite shares elevating to all-time highs, vs S & P -14% below its peak." Citi opens a positive catalyst watch on Pepsi Citi said it's bullish heading into earnings later this month. "At PEP, we are opening a 30-day positive catalyst watch as we expect topline upside in the U.S. on strong scanner data trends and continued momentum in EMs, which should drive upside in Q1 and 2023 given conservative guidance." Citi opens a positive catalyst watch on Chipotle Citi said it's bullish heading into Chipotle earnings later this month. "We believe a re-acceleration in SSS(same-store sales)/traffic can reassure investors that 4Q was a unique instance of a difficult promo lap and that underlying demand for the brand remains strong, with through-put initiatives a clear path to improving sales levels as the brand moves into its peak volume period." Mizuho reiterates Coinbase as underperform Mizuho said in a note that it's standing by its underperform rating on the stock as Coinbase volume fades even as Bitcoin rallies. "Investors excited about Bitcoin's rally to $30K might be in for a rough awakening when they realize that it didn't boost trading volumes at COIN." Oppenheimer upgrades Blackstone to outperform from perform Oppenheimer said it sees an attractive entry point in shares of the asset and investment management company. "We have long admired Blackstone as a company but have been held back by its high valuation relative to others in the group." UBS reiterates General Electric as buy UBS said the company is "defensive and well positioned." "While much has changed since our August refresh (mostly valuation--GE Refresh), one thing remains clear: GE exposure is defensive & well positioned for the macro at hand w/ each business lines seeing low-risk +ve rate of change into both '23 - '24." UBS downgrades JD.com to neutral from buy UBS said in its downgrade of the China e-commerce company that it sees competitive headwinds. "We believe JD could undergo a longer adjustment period, in order to improve its product selection and user experience for value oriented shopper." Deutsche Bank downgrades First Solar to hold from buy Deutsche said in its downgrade of the solar company that it sees better opportunities elsewhere. "We downgrade First Solar to Hold, although we increase our price target to $230 (now based on a 2024e P/E multiple, with higher net cash in 24e), as we believe that this is an opportune moment for investors to look for better risk/reward elsewhere, after FSLR's stock rally of 45% since early November." Read more about this call here . Former US president Donald Trump arrives at Trump Tower in New York on April 12, 2023. Donald Trump said he is being deposed Thursday in New York City as part of the state attorney general's $250 million civil lawsuit alleging widespread fraud by the former president and his company. Trump announced on social media overnight that he had "just arrived in Manhattan for a deposition in front of" New York Attorney General Letitia James as part of the sweeping lawsuit. In another post Thursday morning, Trump said he was "heading downtown" to be deposed. He accused James of leaking that the appointment was scheduled at 9:30 a.m. ET. His trip marks the second time in less than two weeks that he has traveled to the Empire State to respond to court actions against him. The ex-president faces multiple criminal and civil proceedings as he makes a third bid for the Republican presidential nomination. Trump previously flew from his home state of Florida to New York to surrender to authorities following his indictment in a separate criminal case centered on hush money payments made before the 2016 presidential election. The former president pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in that case, which is being prosecuted by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg. Trump is "not only willing but also eager to testify before the Attorney General today," his attorney, Alina Habba, told CNBC in a statement. "He remains resolute in his stance that he has nothing to conceal, and he looks forward to educating the Attorney General about the immense success of his multi-billion dollar company." James' office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. James filed the civil fraud lawsuit last September against Trump, three of his adult children, the Trump Organization and others. The suit accuses Trump of repeatedly overstating the values of his assets in statements to banks, insurance companies and the IRS in order to obtain better loan and tax terms. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley hold a news conference following a virtual Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting, at the Pentagon in Washington, U.S., March 15, 2023. The Biden administration is looking at expanding how it monitors social media sites and chatrooms after U.S. intelligence agencies failed to spot classified Pentagon documents circulating online for weeks, according to a senior administration official and a congressional official briefed on the matter. The possible change in the intelligence-gathering process is just one potential shift as officials scramble to determine not only how the documents leaked but also how to prevent another damaging incident. President Joe Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were briefed about the disclosure last week, administration officials say, but the secret documents appeared online in early March on the Discord social media app, according to Bellingcat, the open-source investigative group. Some documents may have appeared as early as January, the group said. The president and other officials were dismayed when they learned the documents had been online for at least a month. "Nobody is happy about this," said the senior administration official. The administration is now looking at expanding the universe of online sites that intelligence agencies and law enforcement authorities track, the official said. The secret Pentagon documents appeared in an obscure part of the internet focused on gaming, and some former intelligence officials said it was understandable that U.S. authorities did not spot the disclosure. The U.S. government may not have been looking there, but cybersecurity experts have long known that Discord has been used by criminals and hackers to spread malware and stealthily transfer stolen information. "The Discord domain helps attackers disguise the exfiltration of data by making it look like any other traffic coming across the network," said a 2021 report by Cisco's Talos cybersecurity team. The intelligence community is now grappling with how it can scrub platforms like Discord in search of relevant material to avoid a similar leak in the future, said the congressional official. The disclosure also has raised fresh questions about how sensitive intelligence information is handled inside the government, and whether the pool of people allowed to access it needs to be scaled back. In the aftermath of the leak, the administration has already tightened access to classified information and is looking at other steps, officials said. The leaked documents appear to contain "sensitive and highly classified material" and pose a potentially serious risk to national security, the Pentagon said on Monday. NBC News obtained more than 50 of the documents, which appear to be briefing slides for the U.S. military's Joint Staff based on information from a range of U.S. intelligence agencies. The documents include detailed intelligence on Russian tactical moves in the war in Ukraine, descriptions of Ukraine's combat power and weaknesses, alleged sabotage by Ukrainian agents inside Belarus and Russia, and spying reports on allies, including South Korea and Israel. Much of the intelligence reporting in the documents signals intelligence or electronic eavesdropping as the source of the information, a crucial tool for America's spy services. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence, the CIA, the National Security Agency and the Pentagon have declined to comment on the information contained in the documents. This intelligence leak doesn't appear, at least so far, to resemble previous incidents that involved double agents handing over information directly to foreign adversaries or self-described whistleblowers providing secret documents to media outlets. Instead, the information appeared in a private online chatroom, not a typically secure location to pass along sensitive material to a spy service, but also not an obvious means to reveal secrets to the world. Photographs of some of the documents first appeared on Discord app channels focused on the Minecraft computer game and followers of a minor YouTube celebrity, known as wow_mao, according to Bellingcat and other online experts. The photographed documents then eventually made their way to the image board 4Chan, then pro-Russian Telegram channels and Twitter. The New York Times first reported on the documents last week. If the administration tries to check online chatrooms more closely, it will have to navigate legal safeguards designed to protect Americans' privacy and freedom of expression, former intelligence officials said. Watching a public chatroom is fair game, but law enforcement agencies don't have the legal authority to monitor a private online chatroom without probable cause, the former officials said. "We do not have nor do we want a system where the United States government monitors private internet chats," said Glenn Gerstell, former general counsel of the National Security Agency from 2015 to 2020. U.S. laws prohibit searching private chatrooms preemptively and "scanning for classified documents" that may or may not be there, Gerstell said. As a democracy, the U.S. requires law enforcement authorities to balance national security with civil liberties, said James Lewis, a former senior intelligence official and now a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies think tank. "If you don't know there's a crime being committed, you can't just burst into the club," Lewis said. However, the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security have come under criticism for how they responded to alarming posts on social media in the run-up to the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by former President Trump supporters. The House Jan. 6 committee concluded the FBI and DHS were too cautious about acting on information gleaned from social media out of misplaced concern over potential free speech violations, NBC News previously reported. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner, D-Va., said the leak raised yet more questions about how the government manages its secrets, only months after revelations that successive administrations appeared to have mishandled classified documents. "We've now got two examples, you know, the potential mishandling of documents by current and former presidents and now this potential leak, or real leak," Warner told NBC News in an interview in Harrisonburg, Virginia. "I think it does raise a question that in some cases we way overclassify. In other cases, we may ... give out the documents to too many people," the senator said. "I think it's time that Congress plays a role here in setting some parameters," Warner said. Ronald Marks, a former CIA officer and a visiting professor at George Mason University, said the pendulum has swung back and forth over the past two decades over how much intelligence should be shared across the government. "Remember, the whole thing after 9/11 was the need to share. And the concern was that if you kept this stuff too tight, we might miss something," Marks said. "So you get more and more info all the time, which means you've got to store this stuff and collate this stuff, which means that you've got more and more contractors and other people involved with it all the time," he said. A Pentagon team is currently evaluating the potential fallout from the leak. Sen. Warner said "it's too early to tell" how much damage may have been caused by the disclosure. The exposure of so much classified reporting from electronic surveillance could have a devastating impact on the country's intelligence-gathering, according to Gerstell and other former intelligence officials. "This could be very, very significant in terms of denying us access to information that is strategically important for us, and that would be a bad outcome. Because it would take years for us to recover that kind of access and cost a lot of money," he said. "There's a full-blown investigation going on as you know, with the Intelligence Committee and the Justice Department, and they're getting close," Biden told reporters in Ireland. President Joe Biden suggested on Thursday morning that officials appeared to be nearing a breakthrough in their investigation into who leaked the documents online. The classified documents from the Department of Defense were found online last month it remains unclear how long the documents had been on the internet and the total number that have been posted and revealed details of U.S. spying on Russia's war efforts in Ukraine, secret assessments of Ukraine's combat power, as well as intelligence gathering on America's allies, including South Korea and Israel, NBC News previously reported . Officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss an ongoing investigation, said they have been onto him for some time and that an arrest is imminent. The person suspected of recently leaking classified U.S. government documents has been identified as Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, two law enforcement officials said Thursday. The suspect's identity was first reported on Thursday by The New York Times, which said he was the leader of a small online gaming group where he first leaked the classified documents. The Washington Post was the first news outlet on Wednesday night to report about the gaming group, and only identified him as "OG." The main source of the story was a minor who was granted anonymity and was a member of this group on the platform Discord. The Post said it reviewed approximately 300 photos of classified documents that the suspect allegedly leaked, most of which the report said have not been made public. NBC News has not yet verified the details about the gaming group and that it was the source of where the classified documents were first shared. Biden and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin were briefed about the disclosure last week, administration officials said. That was when the White House first learned about the existence of the documents in the public domain, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told reporters earlier this week. According to Bellingcat, the online open-source investigative group, the documents appeared in early March on the Discord social media app. Some documents may have appeared as early as January, the group said. Kirby said the Pentagon is "leading an interagency effort here to review whatever national security implications might come out of all this" and said the Department of Justice is leading a criminal investigation into the leaks. He also said that it appears that some of the classified documents had been altered from their original form. Kirby said that Biden administration officials spent last weekend contacting "relevant allies and partners" and "at very high levels" to reassure them about the leaks. In this article BRK.A Follow your favorite stocks CREATE FREE ACCOUNT Warren Buffett, chairman and chief executive officer of Berkshire Hathaway Inc., in Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, on Monday, Nov. 21, 2011. Bloomberg | Bloomberg | Getty Images Berkshire Hathaway 's Warren Buffett is in Japan and recently revealed that he raised his stakes in the country's top trading houses, saying he was "confounded" by the opportunity to buy them two years ago. The five companies Mitsubishi Corp., Mitsui & Co., Itochu Corp, Marubeni Corp., Sumitomo Corp. saw two consecutive days of gains as Buffett confirmed he added roughly another percentage point to his holdings. Berkshire Hathaway's stakes in all five trading houses is now 7.4%. On Thursday, the shares continued to trade mostly higher for a third day, paring earlier losses after Federal Reserve minutes showed expectations for a recession in the U.S. in the fallout of the regional banking crisis. Sumitomo shares fell 0.5%. Buffett's trip is a "stamp of approval" especially for domestic investors in Japan, according to Monex Group's Jesper Koll. Stock Chart Icon Stock chart icon "For Japanese institutional investors, this really is now the stamp of approval that Japan can deliver superior returns," Koll told CNBC's "Street Signs Asia." He emphasized Buffett's trip has the potential to boost confidence among Japanese investors as the nation continues to grapple with low consumption. "The real focus is confidence for Japanese investors, and that's where Warren Buffett's visit was very, very important," Koll said. "He's got the track record globally, but now he's got a very positive track record in investing in Japan." Household spending in Japan marginally increased by 1.6% in February, the latest government data showed. That also marked the first growth in consumption that the economy has seen in fourth months, with spending outside of seasonal factors led by recreation, leisure and travel. Private consumption is a key indicator for Japan, accounting for more than half of the nation's gross domestic product. Monex's Koll added that Buffett will benefit from the upper hand the trading houses hold. The trading companies, also referred to as sogo shosha, are conglomerates that import everything from energy and metals to food and textiles into Japan. They also provide services to manufacturers. The trading houses have helped grow the Japanese economy and contributed to the globalization of its business. watch now Amazon recruiters and other company volunteers speak to job seekers about opportunities at Amazon during a career fair held at Vertiport Chicago on September 17, 2019 in Chicago, Illinois. Scott Olson | Getty Images Pay transparency laws are intended to increase pay equity for workers of color and women and protect job seekers during the hiring process. Colorado was the first state to require companies to provide salary ranges on job postings, and since then, eight other states have put this law into effect with 16 more and the District of Columbia considering it. Yet, even with salary ranges out in the open, there is still ambiguity stemming from these laws, especially when it comes to how job seekers should navigate the pay ranges that are now available in job postings. "In some industries and occupations wide ranges are the norm," said Glassdoor's lead economist Daniel Zhao. "But in others, it is very unusual. And so, in that sense, I think it's important for job seekers to understand the context that they're in." Now that pay ranges are more accessible than ever before, the task of understanding them is being left to job seekers. However, the scope of these ranges still isn't providing job seekers absolute transparency, as these ranges are leaving job seekers confused about what salary they'll end up receiving. According to a study from Glassdoor, pay ranges have only modestly widened in states like California and Washington since pay transparency laws went into effect. Glassdoor found that the majority of pay ranges are narrower than plus or minus 20%. Before these laws went into effect, posted pay ranges in California were about plus or minus 9% from their midpoint but have now widened to 11%. Washington also saw pay ranges widen from plus or minus 11% to 12% after these laws went into effect. "We aren't seeing this explosion in companies posting unnecessarily wide ranges," Zhao said. "You have seen ranges widen very, very slightly since the implementation of these laws. But it hasn't been this dramatic shift by any means." How to interpret the numbers in new job postings Although pay ranges are not widening to extreme levels, they can still be confusing for job seekers trying to make sense of potential salaries. "I think a good rule of thumb for job seekers is if the upper end of the range is 1.5 times the lower end of the range, that's generally considered a reasonable range," Zhao said. If a job seeker comes across a posting where the bottom end of a range is $40,000, this rule of thumb would show that the top end of the range should be around $60,000. In the case where a pay range surpasses these pay caps, job seekers should do further research on the company and the position to determine whether the numbers they're looking at are reasonable, explained Zhao. These ranges also tend to vary depending on the industry. When it comes to lower paying jobs, pay ranges are typically narrower and more transparent than that of higher paying jobs. For instance, a cashier at a grocery store would likely have a starting salary set and posted on signs outside storefronts. "These jobs tend to be more standardized, where the responsibilities don't vary much between two people with the same title," Zhao said. Working as a vice president in finance, by comparison, is a common title where you're likely to see a lot of variation in work, so these types of companies are likely "to have a fairly wider range in order to capture those different responsibilities that people might have." Understanding typical salaries in their industry, in their specific job title and in their geographic region are all important things for job seekers to consider, to make sense of pay ranges. Negotiating the salary you deserve About half of Glassdoor's job listings include pay ranges, said Zhao. As pay transparency laws continue to expand, it's likely that pay ranges will become the norm. Yet, having the ability to see the pay range offered raises the question of how much job seekers should ask for when interviewing. "You need to know what your worth is in the market before you start negotiating anything," said Stacie Haller, chief career advisor at Resume Builder. Your level of education, previous work experience, and technical skills are all factors that determine where you fall in the pay range. While most job seekers want that top end, you need to make sure you meet all the criteria. "When you ask for way above what you are worth in the marketplace, you're going to eliminate yourself from the running," Haller said. watch now In some cases, it's possible to negotiate a salary above the high end of the range if you're a job seeker that checks all the boxes. "There is always room for negotiation, no matter what that pay range is," Haller said. "But I say that with several caveats. One being, you must have all the qualifications for the job, and you must be able to make the case as to why you deserve that salary. Some employers may be unwilling to budge beyond the posted pay range simply because that's all the funding they're approved for, or because of the equity concerns that would arise from making exceptions for certain applicants and not for others. "It's important for job seekers to keep in mind that the compensation package is not just about salary, it includes a lot of other things as well, where employers might have a little bit more flexibility," Zhao said. Bonuses, vacation days and the ability to work remotely are all benefits that can make a lower salary worthwhile, he said, along with the opportunity for salary growth that may not be possible if you start out at the top end of the pay range. How pay transparency laws are useful (CNN) One day after China simulated "joint precision strikes" on Taiwan during military exercises around the island, Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu condemned Beijing's actions in an exclusive interview with CNN and warned that "they seem to be trying to get ready to launch a war against Taiwan." "Look at the military exercises, and also their rhetoric, they seem to be trying to get ready to launch a war against Taiwan," Wu said. "The Taiwanese government looks at the Chinese military threat as something that cannot be accepted and we condemn it." Asked if Taiwan has any sense of the timing of potential Chinese military action, given US intelligence assessments that Xi has instructed his military to be prepared by 2027, Wu expressed confidence in Taiwanese preparations. "Chinese leaders will think twice before they decide to use force against Taiwan. And no matter whether it is 2025 or 2027 or even beyond, Taiwan simply needs to get ready," he said. The exercises appeared to mark the first time the Chinese navy has simulated strikes by aircraft carrier-based warplanes on Taiwan. Beijing launched the drills on Saturday, a day after Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen returned from a 10-day visit to Central America and the United States where she met US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other US lawmakers. Beijing described them as "a serious warning against the Taiwan separatist forces' collusion with external forces, and a necessary move to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity." Asked if the costs of such a visit were too high, Wu told CNN, "China cannot dictate how Taiwan makes friends. And China cannot dictate how our friends want to show support to Taiwan." Beijing conducted similar large-scale military exercises around Taiwan last August, after then-US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the island. Those exercises included Chinese missile launches over the island, something that has not been seen so far in the current drills. Taiwan and China have been governed separately since the end of a civil war more than seven decades ago, in which the defeated Nationalists fled to Taipei. Taiwan transitioned from authoritarian rule to a democracy in the 1990s and is now ranked one of the freest jurisdictions in Asia by Freedom House, a US-based non-profit organization. However, China's ruling Communist Party claims the self-governing island as its territory, and in recent years, as his power has grown, Chinese leader Xi Jinping has made clear his ambitions to "reunify" with the island by force if necessary. China's exercises also coincided with a state visit by French president, Emmanuel Macron, who was welcomed in Beijing by Xi. Following his meeting, Macron appeared to question whether France should get involved in the Taiwan crisis, telling reporters that the "worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and adapt to the American rhythm or a Chinese overreaction." French officials later said his comments were misinterpreted. Wu told CNN that Taipei has asked France for clarification. "We are still trying to figure out what he says and what that means through the French government," Wu said, though he noted the "French government has been showing support to Taiwan." As tensions between the US and China have worsened over Taiwan, President Joe Biden has said that the US would defend the island militarily if China were to attack, though administration officials have insisted the US remains committed to its "one China" policy. The US, through the Taiwan Relations Act, is legally obligated to provide Taiwan with defensive weaponry, but officials typically remain deliberately vague on whether the US would defend Taiwan in the event of an attempted Chinese attack. While Wu repeatedly emphasized "defending Taiwan is our own responsibility," he noted that with its relationship with its allies in the region, "the United States seem to be more determined than ever in creating a situation (so) that China would know that its military attack against Taiwan is going to be associated with a heavy cost. And we appreciate the United States for having this posture." This story was first published on CNN.com, "Military exercises suggest China is getting 'ready to launch a war against Taiwan,' island's foreign minister tells CNN." (CNN) A major cyclone is intensifying off the coast of Western Australia with warnings that it could be the most powerful storm to make landfall in the area in more than a decade with winds strong enough to lift camper vans. Australias Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) said Cyclone Ilsa is expected to make landfall late Thursday night or early Friday, somewhere between the towns of Broome and Port Hedland, a major port hub for the export of iron ore. The storm is expected to generate wind gusts of more than 250 kilometers per hour (155 miles per hour) by Thursday evening, equivalent to a Category 4 or 5 hurricane in the US. Winds of this strength not only have the ability to bring down trees and power lines but lift items from your yard and home caravans, trampolines, said BOMs senior meteorologist Miriam Bradbury. Local authorities warned residents to tie down anything that could become airborne in strong winds. Tourists staying along the portion of coast between Broome and Port Hedland have been told to move from the projected path of the storm. Others have rushed to supermarkets to stock up on food and other supplies. Broome and Port Hedland are relatively small towns with a combined population of around 30,000 people. Many people employed by the iron ore mines live and work in Port Hedland. On Tuesday, the Pilbara Port Authority said it was clearing boats from all berths in the inner harbor of the Port Hedland port, and urged recreational boat owners to secure their vessels. Cyclones are common on the west coast of Australia, with the Bureau of Meteorology logging seven of them last year. Australia uses a five-tier system to gauge the intensity of tropical cyclones, with Category 4 representing those reaching a mean wind speed of between 160 and 199 kph with typical wind gusts of over 225 kph (140 mph). Darren Klemm, Fire and Emergency Services Commissioner of Western Australia, said it had been 10 years since a cyclone of that size had hit the WA coast. Therell be many people up there who havent experienced a Cat 4 cyclone before, he said. The northern coast of Western Australia has been hit by 13 storms equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane since 1960, but this would be the first since Tropical Cyclone Laurence in 2009, which hit in a very similar location with winds of 150 mph (240 kph) at landfall. The strongest storm ever to hit any part of Australia was Tropical Cyclone Monica, which arrived in 2006 with sustained winds around 180 mph (290 kph), as it swept across the eastern and northern part of Australia. Australia has experienced a series of natural disasters in recent years. Last year, flooding affected parts of the states of New South Wales and Queensland. This story was first published on CNN.com, Cyclone Ilsa threatens to hit Western Australia as strongest storm in a decade" Ewout Rijk de Vries and his wife, Jill, brought America Travel Arrangements to Marco Island almost 40 years ago. They specialize on high end small adventure tours and small safari groups for clientele all over the world, but also are experts on high end cruises with the help of longtime assistant and friend, Michelle Wegman. In combination with his writing and photography, Ewout has visited over 90 countries. Please direct your comments or questions to ewout@photodevries.com as he likes to hear from readers. US officials are reeling from a major leak of over 100 pages of highly sensitive intelligence, uploaded to the internet by persons unknown [now alleged to be 21-year-old Air National Guardsman, Jack Teixeira 14/4], and first shared by gamers on Discord. The wide-ranging documents lift the lid on the extent of US involvement in the Ukraine War, the serious difficulties faced by the Ukrainian side, the role of the Israeli secret services in fomenting mass protests against the Netanyahu regime, and much more besides. This highly embarrassing blow to the prestige of the US state will severely undermine the confidence of its allies many of whom (as revealed by the documents) are being actively spied on by Uncle Sam. The leak also happens to confirm much of the analysis of world politics we have presented in recent months, proving once more the advantage Marxist analysis permits us, of foresight over astonishment. Images of the documents, which Pentagon officials have confirmed as legitimate (bar some that have been altered after the fact), are widely circulating on social media platforms like Telegram and Twitter. Many are clearly marked Top Secret and NOFORN (Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals), meaning they cannot be shared with foreign intelligence agencies, including the Five Eyes (allied spy agencies in the US, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand). This was clearly a leak from within, rather than any sort of external cyber attack. The top secret intelligence, which was supposed to be viewed only by high-ranking officials in the US security services and the presidents office, has been printed, folded (presumably after being stuffed in someones pocket), and then photographed. Various items such as Gorilla Glue and a scope for a hunting rifle can be seen in the background of a number of the images, suggesting they were taken in the same location. The Biden administration is in full damage-control mode, with the Pentagon "working around the clock" / Image: public domain The Biden administration is in full damage-control mode. An investigation has been opened by the Justice Department into how the leak was sprung, with the Pentagon reportedly working around the clock and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin vowing to turn over every stone to find the source. Furthermore, Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken to American allies to reassure them about our commitment to safeguarding intelligence. Despite the US attempting to project a message that everything is under control, compromised nations have responded with a combination of outrage, incredulity, and denial. Meanwhile, an article by Politico reports dismay at the Pentagon, with one unnamed official saying: Im sick to my stomach Its a massive betrayal. Pessimism on Ukraine The most damning revelations, from the perspective of US imperialism, concern the Ukraine War. Despite continual public chest thumping in the West about Ukraines military successes and impending counter-offensive, increasingly cautious assessments from some US officials in recent months are corroborated by the leak. The highly detailed documents (apparently produced by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence), which depict maps of hot spots like Bakhmut, reveal major weaknesses in Ukraines air defences. These have been worn down by relentless Russian missile attacks, and are critical in preventing Russia from bringing its air force to bear. The documents also cite how enduring Ukrainian deficiencies in training and munitions supplies probably will strain progress and exacerbate casualties during the [upcoming] offensive. This tallies with reports that, in some areas, Ukrainian soldiers are running out of western munitions, forcing them to utilise less accurate, Soviet-era howitzers, and are having to ration shells. High casualties are making Kyiv reach deeper into its population to replenish its troops, with men being forcibly handed draft notices on the street. Already, there were reports in recent weeks of poorly trained, newly mobilised troops arriving on the front lines, and that the average life expectancy of a new Ukrainian conscript in Bakhmut is just four hours. It is possible that Ukraine is building up fresh troops separately from hot zones in preparation for the ground hardening in the spring. The leaks also indicate serious problems with supplies and morale on the Russian side, pointing to the penetration of US intelligence at a high level of Russias military. The highly detailed documents, which depict maps of hot spots like Bakhmut, reveal major weaknesses in Ukraines air defences / Image: Inform, Wikimedia Commons Nevertheless, a leaked assessment from early February, of Kyivs plans for a counteroffensive in the East and South, suggests shortages of troops, ammunition and material mean that its military will likely fall well short of its goals, and reclaim far less territory than the major push in Kherson and Kharkiv last year. In all, it concludes the battle for the Donbas is likely heading toward a stalemate which might even be overly optimistic. Moreover, Ukraine has long signalled its intention to sever Russias land bridge to Crimea, which it uses as a supply route for its war effort. As a result, Russian forces have been considerably beefed up in and around the peninsula. According to the documents, Ukraines allies in Capitol Hill are sceptical of its chances of success in this endeavour, running contrary Washingtons pledge to support Ukraine in all of its war aims, to the bitter end. Proxy war The Ukrainians have tried to brush off the impact of the leak, with an unnamed senior official quoted in the Washington Post claiming that much of the information was public knowledge anyway. Its been obvious to everyone since November that the next counter-offensive will be focused on the south, first Melitopol and then Berdyansk, he said. But the exact place we can change that the week before. However, an advisor to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed to CNN on Monday that Ukraine has been forced to alter at least some of its plans for the spring counter-offensive. Also, it seems that these assessments are based on sensitive human and signals intelligence, i.e., intercepted communications and information passed on by agents deep within the Russian military forces and Wagner mercenary group, which have now been potentially compromised. But the biggest danger from Kyivs point of view is the impact on the unity of its western allies. As the Washington Post comments in an article titled, The most damaging part of the leaked Ukraine documents is the leak itself: Even as Kyivs forces have held fast in the face of Russias offensive in eastern Ukraine over the past two months, there is no secret about the Wests anxieties over its own ability, and its will, to continue resupplying Ukrainian troops in a war that looks likely to drag on for many more months or longer. In the Ukraine fight, Putin might plausibly regard his most potent weapon to be the conflicts most open secret that the longer the battles drag on, the more pressure will build on Ukraines allies to sue for peace, on any terms. No leaks are likely to change that calculus. Furthermore, the leak lays bare the character of this conflict, which (as we have repeatedly stated, from the very beginning) is a proxy war between NATO with the US at its head and Russia, staged on Ukrainian soil. As the New York Times comments: The 100-plus pages of slides and briefing documents leave no doubt about how deeply enmeshed the United States is in the day-to-day conduct of the war, providing the precise intelligence and logistics that help explain Ukraines success thus far. While President Biden has barred American troops from firing directly on Russian targets, and blocked sending weapons that could reach deep into Russian territory, the documents make clear that a year into the invasion, the United States is heavily entangled in almost everything else. It is providing detailed targeting data. It is coordinating the long, complex logistical train that delivers weapons to the Ukrainians Many pages seem to come right out of the briefing books circulating among the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in a few cases updates from the C.I.A.s operations centre. The Post further describes US officials holding tabletop exercises with the Ukrainian military brass, to explore different scenarios and develop detailed orders of battle. The documents also suggest that the US have been monitoring Zelenskyys calls with defence and military officials. The fact that the weaponry is in Ukrainian hands is clearly a secondary detail. For all intents and purposes, the Russians are fighting a NATO equipped, trained and led army, with the USA in command. It is for this reason, and this reason alone, that the Ukrainians have been able to hold out for so long. The leak also points to the direct involvement of other western powers. Another of the leaked documents, dated 1 March 2023, suggests that the US, Britain, France, Latvia and the Netherlands all have special forces active in Ukraine. The British allegedly have by far the most boots on the ground (50), compared to 15 for France and 14 for the US. While these claims have been disputed by both the British and French Ministries of Defence, it is known that western special forces are present in Ukraine at the very least in non-combat roles. This is further proof (were any needed) that this war is an indirect clash between Russia and the West, in which the danger of a wider war remains implicit. A nightmare There are other revealing tidbits from the leak, such as details of an incident in October 2022 when a British surveillance plane was allegedly almost shot down by a Russian fighter jet. A CIA document also refers to a pro-Russian hacking group that had broken into Canadas gas distribution network and was receiving instructions from a presumed Federal Security Service (F.S.B.) officer, apparently in anticipation of a destructive attack. In all, the disclosures were aptly summed up by an unnamed Western intelligence official as a nightmare. It is common knowledge that all capitalist powers spy on one another, but having this aired in public has drawn the ire of Washingtons allies. In particular, the regime in Seoul was infuriated by evidence that the US had been spying on the South Korean National Security Council. The leaked documents describe the South Koreans wrestling with a request from the US to provide 330,000 rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine in time for their spring counter-offensive, a request that has never been publicly confirmed. The leaked documents describe the South Koreans wrestling with a request from the US to provide 330,000 rounds of artillery ammunition to Ukraine / Image Republic of Korea, Flickr The Yoon Suk-yeol administration was reluctant to send shells that might end up in Ukraine either to the US or Poland, because it did not want to provoke Moscow, with whom it cooperates in containing North Korea. The Americans typically silent and obedient lapdog in Seoul raised a rare growl over the leak, which it described as a a super-scale security breach. It condemned US espionage as a self-damaging act against national interest that undermines the South Korea-US alliance violating the sovereignty of a key ally. Another CIA document, dated from March, suggests that Mossad played a role in whipping up the recent mass protest movement against Benjamin Netanyahus sweeping judicial reforms in Israel. While these allegations were rejected by the Israeli government, which attributed the claim to the American press, it would confirm our analysis that these protests have been backed by a majority of the big capitalists in Israel, who are attempting to reign in the maverick Prime Minister, and that they have succeeded in dividing the state. Elsewhere, the leaks reveal US imperialisms slackening grip over some of its other allies. One classified document outlines plans by the Egyptian regime of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi (a major recipient of American aid) to produce large quantities of munitions for Russia. Another claims that Russian intelligence officers had persuaded the United Arab Emirates to work together against US and UK intelligence agencies. Both Cairo and Abu Dhabi were quick to deny these allegations, which if true would be a further testament to the relative decline of US imperialism on the world stage. Heres some leaked documents US officials have been scrambling to stem the tide of classified information. Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, John Kirby, made a belligerent statement to the press saying: This is information that has no business in the public domain It has no business on the front pages of newspapers or on television. While a number of media outlets, including the typically Biden-bashing Fox News, have shown their deference to US imperialist interests by complying, Kirbys attempt to put the genie back in the bottle was too little, too late. Details from the leak are already all over the news in countries across the world, and spreading widely on the internet. A number of features of this leak make it particularly problematic for Washington. Aside from the clear fact that it was an inside job (which raises doubts about the integrity of its own security forces), the timeliness of this intelligence is very damaging. Many of these documents refer to ongoing operations and are dated to within weeks or days of the leak. The way these images found their way online is also especially embarrassing. Details of the original leaker remain scant, though a Washington Post article points to a member of Thug Shaker Central, a (now defunct) invitation-only clubhouse, formed on Discord in 2020 by a group of roughly two dozen men united by their mutual love of guns, military gear and God. The alleged leaker, known to online friends as OG [alleged to be Teixeira], was on the server, and claimed to work on a military base. The images were confirmed to have been uploaded in early March to a Discord server managed by wow_mao, a 20-year-old British-Filipino college student and minor internet celebrity, whose content largely deals in gaming and memes. From there, they ended up on yet another Discord server dedicated to the videogame Minecraft, during which a user tried to win an argument about the Ukraine War by posting images of 10 documents marked Top Secret with the message here, have some leaked documents, to which another replied, nice. After that, pictures of the documents spread like wildfire, particularly on pro-Russian Telegram and Twitter accounts. Despite the farcical nature of this leak, it is not the first time sensitive information from the heart of the US security services have wound up in niche online communities. Last year, a self-described hacktivist known as maia arson crimew uploaded a 2019 version of the US government no-fly list to her (pink and cat-covered) personal blog. Moreover, the popular vehicular combat simulator game War Thunder has become such a common source of classified military documents (uploaded by military geeks to win arguments about the capabilities of active armour), the developers have been forced to enact specific policies to curb the practice. The state of the war in Ukraine is nothing like the public pronouncements in the West / Image: The Presidential Office of Ukraine, Wikimedia Commons Describing the leak as hilarious in a New York Times interview, wow_mao reflected on how these documents spread onto the nicheiest, nerdiest parts of the internet. Thats the kind of people who would find these documents losers. Thats who the US government really has to fear Young, tech-savvy people often have less respect for government, and theyll always find it funny to mock them and cut under them in some sort of way. It is a matter of deep humiliation for the US security services that its wall of secrecy has proved so easily permeable to online misfits. The irreverence with which this information is obtained and shared also testifies to the diminished authority of the US state in the eyes of the population, and particularly the youth. The brazenness of this leak has led some to speculate that it might have been deliberately orchestrated on the US side. Perhaps to prepare public opinion in advance of impending defeats for Ukraine, or to put pressure on Kyivs allies to accelerate arms shipments by illustrating the real situation on the ground. If so, the US and its allies are doing a good show of making this look like a genuine shambles. For now, we will assume this was real leak that has illustrated points we have continually raised in recent months: that the state of the war in Ukraine is nothing like the public pronouncements in the West; that it is Washington, not Kyiv that calls the shots; that the western alliance is more fragile than it appears; and that the US is constantly gathering illicit information even on its friends although we hardly needed 100 pages of top secret intelligence to draw such conclusions. Colorado Colleges Journalism Institute has been spotlighted as a case study in higher education by the Center for Community News at the University of Vermont. As the nation faces a growing crisis in local news, students across the country are helping fill the gaps. Vermonts community news center documents where such university-led programs exist and what the programs are doing. The recent report about Colorado College highlighted the relatively new Crestone Eagle Internship in which journalism minors stay at the Baca campus for a block and intern at the nonprofit newspaper serving Saguache County and the San Luis Valley. The Crestone internship is one of many Journalism Institute programs that give students real-world experience while they support community news in Colorado, the report found. That internship emerged out of a class called The Future and Sustainability of Local News, taught by the Journalism Institutes co-director, Corey Hutchins. That class, in its third iteration currently being taught in Block 7, has led to the innovative Colorado News Mapping Project. The initiative seeks to identify where residents are getting their local news and information in all 64 counties, and includes the University of Denver, Colorado Media Project, the Colorado News Collaborative, and others as partners. A lot of the work that our students are doing at the Journalism Institute is really helping the local news ecosystem here, Hutchins told UVMs Center for Community News. Local news organizations get something out of it. The students clearly get something meaningful out of that process. English Professor Steven Hayward, who founded the Journalism Institute in 2018, called it a kind of plucky startup. The journalism program currently counts roughly 30 minors whose majors span the spectrum from STEM to international political economy and include at least two independently designed majors that incorporate journalism. Students must take Introduction to Journalism, three other journalism classes, and complete an internship and practicum. It was never a goal to have a major, and it still isnt, Hayward said. The vision of Ruth Barton who first implemented the program years ago was for students with a rooting in a core discipline to see journalism as an avenue through which they might participate in a public conversation. I think weve stayed true to that. Find UVMs recent case study, titled Local News Sustainability at Colorado College. 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. Its analysis Tuesday comes months after six Colorado River basin states and California outlined conflicting visions about how to do so. The Interior Department did not say how states should get to deeper water cuts, but defended its authority to make sure the states meet residents' basic needs, such as drinking water and hydropower generated from the river. First Company, the theater company based at First United Methodist Church, will present "Once Upon a Musical," more than two hours of songs from old and new, classic and contemporary Broadway musicals. The show runs Friday through Sundays through March 26. Are you a current print subscriber to Columbia Gorge News? If so, you qualify for free access to all content on columbiagorgenews.com. Simply verify with your subscriber id to receive free access. Your subscriber id may be found on your bill or mailing label. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Following a similar program in Europe, two Massachusetts lawmakers have filed a bill this week to create a two-year pilot program for a four-day workweek. Rep. Dylan Fernandes of Falmouth and Rep. Josh Cutler of Duxbury filed the bill that would create a voluntary program allowing participating businesses to transition some or all of their employees to a four-day week without loss of pay or benefits. The pilot program would run for two years and would be overseen by the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development. To participate, employers must agree to transition at least 15 workers to a shortened workweek. While the bill was just filed this week, a number of businesses have already reached out to ask how they can participate, according to Cutler. I think this is really the perfect time for this kind of pilot program, given the changes weve seen in hybrid work as a result of the pandemic and the need to look for creative solutions to our current labor market challenges, Cutler said in an email response to Computerworld. If the legislation passes, employers who participate in the pilot would agree to reduce the hours of all or some of their employees without reducing overall pay, status, or benefits. Businesses will also be eligible for a tax credit for their participation in the study and necessary data collection, Cutler said. While the pilot program is designed to run for two years, individual businesses are not required to participate the entire time. The proposal is aimed at discovering the feasibility and benefits of a four-day work week. We chose this amount of time because we wanted to ensure a robust response and data availability. I have seen a variety of different lengths. In Maryland, there is a bill proposing a five-year pilot, for example. In this case, we felt two years struck a good balance, Cutler said. (The Maryland proposal was withdrawn earlier this year.) The Massachusetts legislation doesnt call for participating organizations to adopt a strict 32-hour work week; instead, it states employees must receive a meaningful reduction in actual work hours. Transitioning from the traditional five-day, 40-hour work week to a four-day week has the potential to reduce burnout and boost performance among workers without negatively affecting employer productivity, according to Cutler. They could also bring a competitive edge for employers who are able to attract and retain talent, he said. Gartner is seeing a high amount of interest in four-day workweeks from its clients, according to Emily Rose McRae, a senior director with the research firms HR practice. Many organizations, and their HR leaders, see a four-day workweek as the next step in their flexibility offerings for employees offering flexibility on when and how much people work, in addition to where, she said. For organizations that havent been able to successfully implement remote or hybrid work, or that fundamentally cant for at least part of their workforce, a four-day workweek offers an opportunity to remain competitive in a still very tight talent market by offering a different kind of flexibility. In general, four-day work week pilots have shown that productivity increases with reduced hours, so reducing pay may not be necessary but it is an option for organizations that have regulatory or legal limits on reducing hours without reducing pay, McRae said. In February, the worlds largest trial of a four-day workweek completed its run, and 92% of the UK-based companies that participated said they plan to continue with the truncated work schedule because the benefits are so clear. Several US states have considered trials, mainly to understand how a shorter week can function, given the specifics of state economies, labor laws, regulations, and other issues, according to Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, global programs director for the nonprofit organization 4 Day Week Global. Its one thing to hear about companies in the Nordic region doing it; its another to know that companies in Northampton [Mass.] are doing it, Pang said. According to Pang, the Massachusetts proposal is different than others in that it calls for a 15-worker minimum, targets a more varied set of companies than past studies, proposes tax breaks for participants, and is two years long. Given the long life of government policies versus business strategies, [two years] makes some sense, Pang said. You want to understand broader economic impacts, which might need some time to become apparent. Theres plenty we have yet to understand about how different kinds of rewards might incentivize companies to adopt long-term changes. The UK pilot program was conducted by the nonprofit 4 Day Week Global, the UKs 4 Day Week Campaign and Autonomy, a think tank. It guided the companies and their workers through a six-month test of a 32-hour, four-day week, with no loss of pay for employees. Including a previous study of companies in US and Ireland, a total of 91 companies with about 3,500 workers completed pilot programs of a shorter work week. The study of 61 UK-based companies and about 3,000 employees delivered results that are largely consistent with existing evidence from other studies, further demonstrating the benefits of reduced-hour, output-focused working, the study concluded. Of the 61 UK companies that participated in the trial, 56 indicated they will continue with the four-day week. Two have decided to extend their trials, and three have decided to pause their four-day week for now. Other findings from the UK study included: 71% of employees had reduced levels of burnout by the end of the trial. 39% were less stressed. 43% felt an improvement in mental health. 54% said they felt a reduction in negative emotions. 37% of employees saw improvements in physical health. 46% reported a reduction in fatigue. 40% saw a reduction in sleep difficulties. While both men and women benefit from the UKs four-day week, women's experience is generally better, the study said. This is the case for burnout, life and job satisfaction, mental health, and reduced commuting time," Dale Whelehan, Ph.D., a behavioral scientist and CEO of 4 Day Week Global, said in an earlier interview. "Encouragingly, the burden of non-work duties appears to be balancing out, with more men taking on a greater share of housework and childcare." The number of people quitting companies during the study decreased significantly, dropping by 57% during the trial. Additionally, 15% of employees in participating companies indicated that no amount of money would induce them now to accept a five-day workweek over a four-day one. Cutler said he doesnt expect employers who would participate in the proposed Massachusetts pilot would see a loss in productivity, but it's certainly possible in some industries. We wont know unless we study the issue more thoroughly, he said. According to a 2022 global survey of 3,600 employees by Gartner, a four-day workweek appears to be the most popular attractor among new and innovative benefits to recruit talent. Additionally, 63% of candidates selected 4-day work week for the same pay as one of the top five benefits that would attract them to a job (this number jumps to 74% for respondents in the US), according to Gartner. Last fall, a survey of 3,500 employees in the US and three other countries revealed workers want their productivity measured by the results they achieve, not by how many hours they log during the workweek. The survey of US, UK, Australian, and Canadian workers found that 58% want to eliminate the 40-hour workweek, and nearly half (47%) believe the best flexible work option would be a four-day workweek. More than one in four respondents (28%) also said their employer already offers a four-day workweek option. The study by software and services provider Adaptavist also found that while employees want more choice and control over their work lives, hybrid and remote work comes at a cost in the form of isolation, loneliness, and increased workloads. Critics like to claim that the four-day week wont work because its a one size fits all solution, Pang said. [But] the companies that actually do it dont even implement one solution across all their departments. For example, Pang explained, corporate sales and marketing teams may have some employees work Monday through Thursday and others work Tuesday through Friday, while other parts of the company could be closed on Fridays. Ditto for part-time workers; it depends on whether theyre hourly or salaried, are working only for you or have other clients, etc., he said. Gartners McRae said organizations dont have to mandate a four-day workweek for their employees, but they can still offer one. In fact, she said, were seeing a lot of organizations who want to add a four-day workweek to their flexibility offerings, but they arent mandating that all employees take the four-day workweek. This is a different India that will meet all challenges, Jaishankar warns China, Pakistan In a strong message sent out to neighbouring countries making trouble at Indias borders, Indian Minister of External Affairs S Jaishankar said on a visit to Kampala, Uganda, today that this was a different India, and it would rise to all challenges to its national security. Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar in an interaction with the Indian community in Kampala, Uganda. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@DrSJaishankar Jaishankar had a warm interaction with the sizeable Indian community in Uganda, in East-Central Africa, and posted several pictures from his Kampala event, tweeting: Energized by the warmth of their welcome. Their contribution to Uganda and India-Uganda relationship makes us all proud. Referring to the cross-border terrorism sponsored by Pakistan and Chinese military posturing at Indias doorstep, Jaishankar said, Today, people see a different India that is willing to stand up, an India which will meet its national security challenges, whether it is Uri or whether it is Balakot. That was a reference to the 2016 Uri attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed militants from Pakistan against an Indian Army base, and the 2019 Balakot airstrike by the Indian air force in Balakot, Pakistan, against a terrorist training camp. Jaishankar said about Pakistan, Today, the forces which indulged in cross-border terrorism against India for decades and which India tolerated, they now know this is a different India and this India will give them a reply. About the border problems with China, the minister said, For the last three years, in violation of the agreements, the Chinese have brought large forces. But he warned the Asian neighbour that now the Indian soldiers [have] full backing [of the state], they have the right equipment and the infrastructure. The minister added, This is a different India which will stand up for its interests and the world will recognise that. Indian Minister of External Affairs Dr S Jaishankar at the Shree Swaminarayan temple in Kampala. Photo courtesy: Twitter/@DrSJaishankar During his Kampala visit, Jaishankar also stopped at the Shree Swaminarayan temple. He later tweeted: Blessed to visit the Shree Swaminarayan temple in Kampala. Prayed for peace, health and harmony. In recent years, Kim Kardashian, Kevin Hart and Sylvester Stallone have each found themselves in hot water and lukewarm and cold water too for being among the wealthiest celebrities most guilty of water waste. Amidst a statewide drought in California, this is an offense so egregious it would make you want to pee in their pools out of vengeance if you werent so dehydrated. As a new study points out, elites with private pools and elaborate lawns contribute to water shortages all over the world, leaving approximately one in 10 people without basic access to clean water. You know, that liquid that makes up 60 percent of our bodies. Specifically, researchers found that while elite and upper-middle-income groups make up only about 14 percent of Cape Towns population, they use more than half of the water consumed by the entire city. On the other hand, poorer households made up 62 percent of the citys populace and only consumed 27 percent of the water. Climate change and population growth mean that water is becoming a more precious resource in big cities, but we have shown that social inequality is the biggest problem for poorer people getting access to water for their everyday needs, concluded Hannah Cloke, a hydrologist at the University of Reading who co-authored the study. In other words, there are a lot of things that are harmful to the environment, but few of them are as destructive as a thirsty aristocrat with a perfectly manicured lawn and sky-blue pool. For over forty years, Steven Wright has been the darling of deadpan comedy fans with his dry, sullen demeanor and anti-humor antics. Not that he cares either way. Yesterday on The Rich Eisen show, the prolific comic, actor, writer and producer told the joke that he considers to be his absolute finest bit, whether or not his audience agrees with him. Ever since Wright made a spectacularly sedate late-night debut on the The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1982, he has been finding new ways to confound his fans with nonsense non-sequiturs, ludicrous one-liners and a general air of aloof absurdity and hes still knocking us dead. Wrights favorite joke is, characteristically, a bit about his grandfathers funeral and a funny mental image that has stuck with him ever since. Its just like Wright to make light of a corpse. Play Advertisement Eisens follow up of Is your grandfather a triple-A, double-A, C? earned Wrights respect, but we think Wrights reveal three minutes after the end of the joke is the real punchline when Eisen asked if Wright told the joke on the spot while looking into his grandfathers casket, Wright replied, No, that wasnt real. Domain name system (DNS) tunneling is a pervasive threat that enables hackers to get any data in and out of a company's internal network while bypassing most firewalls. The domain name system translates numeric internet protocol addresses that browsers can then use to load web pages threat actors use tunneling to exploit this process and steal data by hiding it inside DNS traffic. Most DNS attacks focus on spoofing or misdirection, where an attacker either feeds false information to DNS servers or convinces other systems to query a hostile DNS server instead of a legitimate one. But DNS tunneling essentially smuggles hostile traffic through DNS ports, which makes these attacks difficult to detect and mitigate. Attacks that exploit weaknesses in DNS can misdirect other systems to connect to or mistakenly trust hostile systems, all without exploiting conventional vulnerabilities like missing patches or misconfigurations, says Jacob Ansari, PCI practice leader at global audit, tax, and advisory firm Mazars. Most DNS attacks arise because the original DNS protocol, dating from the earliest days of the internet, did not have security functions, such as authenticity or integrity. That can give cybercriminals a conduit to abuse necessary network services such as DNS, to exfiltrate data instead of stealing it directly from a network, says Tim Shimeall, a senior member of the technical staff with the CERT network situational awareness group at Carnegie Mellon Software Engineering Institute. This abuse is challenging to detect since it is mixed with the expected and required uses of these services the hiding in the crowd approach, he says. By applying network monitoring tools and building familiarity with the expected and required uses, the challenge of detecting abuse becomes more achievable. Here are four strategies to identify and reduce the risk of DNS tunneling: Combine technical and human solutions Organizations should look to both human and technical solutions to deal with DNS tunneling, says Terrence OConnor, assistant professor of computer engineering and sciences and cybersecurity program chair at the Florida Institute of Technology. From a personnel standpoint, organizations can establish internal, proactive threat-hunting groups. Such groups can improve threat detection and response times, analyzing network traffic logs to identify anomalies or developing signatures based on historical attacks and tools. Further, the group can inform network defenders about emerging attack technologies and how they uniquely leverage DNS for malicious purposes. From a technical standpoint, companies can enable security mechanisms that defeat DNS tunneling. For example, organizations may employ the DNS Security Extensions (DNSSEC), a security mechanism that requires cryptographic validation of DNS messages, O'Connor says. "While no approach is perfect, combining both human and technical solutions can largely defeat most DNS tunneling attack approaches. The best approach is a defense-in-depth solution that combines technical aspects with the upskilling of a security team so they can perform manual analysis if the tools raise any alerts, says David Maynor, director of the Cybrary threat intelligence group. To identify DNS tunneling, organizations should implement tools that provide deep-packet inspection and can view and analyze DNS packets, he says. Rules can then be applied to detect fields that violate the request for comments standard. Another method is anomaly-based network analysis with which network flow is analyzed for abnormal behavior, Maynor says. For example, a workstation suddenly sending DNS traffic out of the network to seemingly random DNS servers would be a big red flag. Security teams can then respond to the alerts raised by the tools regarding these issues. Monitor Internet activities DNS service is a perfect choice and target for attackers due to the sensitivity of this service, so it's important for organizations to rigorously monitor and alert their DNS services for unusual activities, says Izzat Alsmadi, associate professor in the Department of Computing and Cyber Security at Texas A&M University-San Antonio. One way of doing this is to actively monitor internet activities and block IP addresses known to create such issues, Alsmadi says. This is a general blacklisting approach, but it is generally hard to accommodate all possible attackers, hence its important to include rules that alert for strange or unusual DNS queries. Hardening local clients and ensuring users know to avoid phishing campaigns is also important as most DNS attacks start by exploiting a local trusted client or computer, Alsmadi says. Dan Petkevich, founder and CEO of Fair Square Medicare, says his company leverages technology to help older adults find insurance that best fits their healthcare needs. Because of the high level of personal data involved in the business, Fair Square Medicare is sensitive to the risks of DNS tunneling. He says one of the most practical methods to prevent DNS tunneling is by continuously monitoring the kind of traffic frequenting a companys system. This allows you to detect any suspicious activity from its inception and block its access to the network before the damage is done, Petkevich says. When Im searching the web, I typically use sites with HTTPS protocols over HTTP because theyre more secure against these attacks. As a business owner, its crucial that your web developer includes the HTTPS protocol in your site. These days, even Google is aware of the high risk of DNS tunneling, and so it tends to warn surfers if a site isnt well-equipped to protect their data. Ensure third parties fix misconfigurations in their DNS servers Some DNS attacks involve denial-of-service (DoS) attacks or distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks, where an attacker sends a large number of hostile DNS queries that can overwhelm DNS infrastructure and cause what amounts to internet outages at the victim organizations, Ansari says. Some of these attacks make use of third-party DNS servers to respond to the victim organizations' DNS servers. The solution for these attacks is to get the other parties to fix misconfigurations in their DNS servers. As such, this can be difficult to resolve if those parties are uncooperative or suborned by the attacker, Ansari says. If third parties arent adhering to good DNS security practices, include that in negotiations for contract renewal and third-party risk management efforts. Employee training Because of the many different legitimate uses of DNS, it's hard to tell if the data fields in the requests and responses are valid, according to Maynor. Attackers capitalize on the complexity and trusted and required nature of DNS by crafting their own seemingly real-looking DNS traffic with data in the fields, he says. This gives an attacker inside a network the ability to exfiltrate data in a way that looks legitimate to the casual user. Consequently, to keep systems protected against DNS tunneling, companies must conduct regular employee training programs on phishing, malware, and DNS tunneling attacks, says Ihab Shraim, chief technology officer at CSC Digital Brand Services. Employees who recognize and avoid social engineering attacks can prevent DNS tunneling attempts. Organizations should also train cybersecurity teams to recognize DNS traffic patterns that are not typical. Implementing machine learning techniques on DNS traffic can help security teams detect anomalies in patterns. STAMFORD Last week, WWE announced the largest deal in its history: an agreement to merge with mixed martial arts firm UFC that will create a new publicly traded company worth more than $21 billion. But state economic development officials said Thursday that the transaction with Las Vegas-headquartered UFC will not disrupt WWE's big move in its home city. WWE is planning to open in 2023 its new headquarters in the complex at 677-707 Washington Blvd., in downtown Stamford replacing the firm's longtime main offices, two miles east, at 1241 E. Main St. The new headquarters will cover about 400,000 square feet, including offices in the propertys 13-story tower and production space in the adjacent seven-story pavilion. We have been in contact with WWE this week and are encouraged that there has been no change to WWEs plan to move into its new Stamford headquarters this year, Jim Watson, a spokesman for the state Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD), said in an email. A spokesperson for WWE confirmed receiving messages this week from Hearst Connecticut Media that inquired about the status of the new headquarters, but the spokesperson did not provide an on-the-record comment from the company. WWE is planning to move all of its Stamford-based employees to the new headquarters, with more than 800 people working there once all of its space has opened, company officials have previously said. For many years, WWE has been headquartered at 1241 E. Main, off Interstate 95's Exit 9, on Stamford's east side. The company also has a production center at 88 Hamilton Ave., a few blocks from 1241 E. Main. The building at 1241 E. Main is not for sale, but WWE would entertain discussions with interested parties, a company spokesperson said around the beginning of this year. Alongside its decades-long operations in Connecticut, public funding provides further motivation for WWE to remain in the state. Since 2009, the company has received from DECD a total of approximately $177.5 million in film and digital media production tax credits and film infrastructure tax credits, related to company expenditures in Connecticut during that period of nearly $617 million, according to DECD data. In addition to those subsidies, WWE is eligible to receive up to $8.5 million in additional tax credits if, by July 1, 2025, it spends $160 million related to the new headquarters, retains 668 jobs and creates 275 more jobs, for a total of 943 jobs in Connecticut, according to DECD. Overall the impact of the incentives has been positive, George Norfleet, director of DECD's Office of Film, TV & Digital Media, said in an email. WWE has increased its head count and physical footprint and has helped attract other digital media companies into the states ecosystem and to Stamford in particular. While WWE is moving ahead with opening the new headquarters, it is unclear, however, whether the Stamford hub will also serve as the headquarters for the to-be-named company that will be created through the merger with UFC. Much more clear is the leadership roster for the to-be-named new company. WWE Executive Chairman Vince McMahon, who returned to WWE in January following a short-lived retirement, is expected to serve in the same role of the new company. Ariel Emanuel, chief executive officer and president of Beverly Hills, Calif.-based Endeavor Group Holdings, which acquired UFC in 2016 and will hold a 51 percent controlling interest in the new company, is expected to serve as CEO of the new firm. Nick Khan, WWE's current CEO, is set to serve as WWE president in the new company, while Dana White is set to continue as UFC president. The merger is anticipated to be completed in the second half of 2023. WWEs new headquarters is crucial to the revitalization of 677-707 Washington Blvd., which stood entirely empty for a couple of years after banking giant UBS relocated in 2016 its local offices across the street to 600 Washington Blvd. WWEs production space will be housed in the seven-story pavilion, which once hosted one of the worlds largest trading floors when UBS was based there. Tobacco giant Philip Morris International is the propertys second-largest tenant. Last November, it opened its new main offices, which cover about 71,000 square feet. PMI was formerly headquartered in midtown Manhattan. There are several other tenants, including professional-services firm KPMG and architecture firm Perkins Eastman. With their respective arrivals in the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019, Perkins Eastman and KPMG became the first companies to take space at 677-707 Washington following the departure of UBS. STAMFORD A Florida man accused of causing $26,000 in damages during a Greenwich burglary in 2021 could face up to five years in prison if he accepts an offer extended by state prosecutors. Under the offer, Fabian Navarro-Aliaga, 25, would plead guilty to conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary in return for a 10-year prison sentence suspended anywhere between five years to no jail time at all. Assistant States Attorney Michael Nemec placed the offer on the record during a pretrial hearing at the state Superior Court in Stamford on Thursday. Following the hearing, Nemec said the state will be arguing for the cap of five years in prison if the offer is accepted. Navarro-Aliaga and his attorney, Frank Bevilacqua, have until the next scheduled court on June 22 to decide whether or not to accept the offer. Navarro-Aliaga and 32-year-old Marcelo Telchea-Droguett each face charges of first-degree burglary, conspiracy to commit first-degree burglary and first-degree criminal mischief in connection to a Greenwich home break-in in November 2021. That evening, Greenwich police responded to a burglary alarm at a home off Round Hill Road and saw two men in dark clothing run away. Police said someone had used a pry-bar to force open a door at the home and then ripped out the homes alarm panel, according to an arrest affidavit. The break-in ultimately resulted in $26,000 in damages, the affidavit said. Navarro-Aliaga and Telchea-Droguett, both residents of Kissimmee, Fla., were identified as suspects in the case after an extensive investigation. Detectives said the alleged burglars had been staying in a motel in Queens, N.Y., according to the affidavit. They obtained video of two men in dark clothing going into the motel early the morning after the burglary in Greenwich. One man was wearing a top with a "smiley face" logo, and detectives saw the name of a Port Chester, N.Y., cab that dropped them off. According to reports, a cab driver had picked up two men from central Greenwich and driven them to Queens on the night of the burglary. On the video provided by the diner in Queens, one of the men can be seen with a smiley-face shirt. Police also said a Chilean passport belonging to Telchea-Droguett was found in a Jeep Cherokee found parked near the scene of the break-in. The car had been rented and was overdue for return from a Florida car rental agency. Police said Navarro-Aliaga had submitted the paperwork for the car, including a copy of his Chilean passport, the affidavit said. Fingerprints from Telchea-Drouguett and Navarro-Aliaga were found in the vehicle. Police said they also found items in the vehicle that came from other burglaries, including a Fendi purse with identification inside for a woman from Charlottesville, Va., and a case for earphones with an unusual label, police said. The items were stolen in two residential burglaries in Charlottesville, authorities there confirmed. Detectives said the suspected burglars apparently used Google satellite images "searching for large homes" to target for burglaries, the affidavit. In October 2022, Greenwich police picked up the two men from the Butler County Prison in western Pennsylvania, where they were held on local charges. According to a newspaper account from Butler, Pa., they used a stolen debit card to ring up more than $8,000 in merchandise from Best Buy and Kay Jewelers in Pennsylvania. Police checked with the Department of Homeland Security and found the pair had entered the U.S. in the Miami area in March 2021 and had overstayed their tourist visas. Telchea-Droguett has a criminal record in Chile for burglary and theft; Navarro-Aliaga has a record there of "theft with intimidation," court papers stated. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LOS ANGELES (AP) U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has faced calls to resign from fellow Democrats, asked Wednesday to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers from illness that has kept her away from Washington for weeks. Feinstein, the oldest member of Congress at 89, said in a statement that her recovery from a case of shingles she disclosed in early March had been delayed because of complications. She provided no date for her return and said she had requested that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to serve in her committee seat until she was able to return. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel," Feinstein said. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. Feinstein's lengthy absence has caused increasing anxiety within her party because it has threatened Democratic efforts to confirm President Joe Bidens nominees for federal courts in a narrowly divided chamber. Her decision to seek a committee stand-in during her recovery came shortly after two House Democrats called on her to resign after her extended absence from Washington. Feinstein has faced questions in recent years about her cognitive health and memory, though she has defended her effectiveness representing a state that is home to nearly 40 million people. California Rep. Ro Khanna, one of two Democratic House members who called Wednesday for Feinstein to resign, said in a statement: This is a moment of crisis for women's rights and voting rights. It's unacceptable to have Sen. Feinstein miss vote after vote to confirm judges who will uphold reproductive rights. Khanna, a California progressive, wrote on Twitter that Feinstein should step aside. She announced in February that she would not seek reelection in 2024, opening up her seat for the first time in over 30 years. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty, wrote Khanna, who has endorsed the Senate campaign of Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not long afterward, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota tweeted that he agreed with Khanna. Feinstein, he wrote, is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But 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. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday from Ireland, where President Joe Biden was visiting, that Biden and first lady Jill Biden wish Senator Feinstein the very best and a speedy recovery. She said Biden is deeply appreciative of her support for his judicial nominees and "respects and appreciates her commitment to public service. Already, Democratic Reps. Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have launched Senate campaigns to succeed Feinstein. If Feinstein decides to step down during her term, it would be up to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy, potentially reordering the highly competitive race. Newsom said in 2021 that he would nominate a Black woman to fill the seat if Feinstein were to step aside. Lee is Black, and becoming the incumbent could be a decisive advantage in the contest, but its not known if Newsom would consider Lee, given her candidacy. Porter and Schiff are white. Newsom declined through a spokesperson to comment on Khanna's statement. The governor is not calling on her to resign, the spokesman, Anthony York, said in an email. Before the calls for her resignation, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, acknowledged in remarks to CNN that Feinsteins absence has slowed down their push to confirm nominees in the closely divided panel. I cant consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee, Durbin said. Feinstein has had a groundbreaking political career and shattered gender barriers from San Franciscos City Hall to the corridors of Capitol Hill. She was the first woman to serve as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970s and the first female mayor of San Francisco. She ascended to that post after the November 1978 assassinations of then-Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk by a former supervisor, Dan White. Feinstein found Milks body. In the Senate, she was the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committees top Democrat. She gained a reputation as a pragmatic centrist who left a mark on political battles over issues ranging from reproductive rights to environmental protection. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate A Michigan pipelayer who modeled for covers of romance novels was sentenced on Thursday to three years in prison for assaulting police at the U.S. Capitol during a mobs attack. Logan Barnhart joined one of the most brutal clashes between rioters and police on Jan. 6, 2021. He grabbed an officer by his neck and torso and dragged him into the crowd of rioters on the Capitols Lower West Terrace. Minutes later, he returned to a police line and swung a flagpole at officers. Barnhart, 42, of Holt, Michigan, said he didn't recognize himself on a video, shown in court, that captured him assaulting the officer. The way I was acting seems so foreign to me, he told U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras. Contreras also sentenced Barnhart to three years of supervised release after his prison term and ordered him to pay a $3,688 fine and $2,000 in restitution. Contreras said anybody who directly and brazenly attacks police is inherently dangerous to the public. He ran to the fight, the judge said. Earlier on Thursday, a former Capitol police officer avoided a prison sentence for trying to help a Virginia fisherman avoid criminal charges for storming the building his law enforcement colleagues defended on Jan. 6. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson sentenced Michael Angelo Riley to two years of probation and four months of home detention. Riley, a 25-year police veteran, was on duty when a mob attacked the Capitol, injuring more than 100 officers. Rileys voice cracked as he lamented how his awful judgment cost him his career, tarnished his reputation, ended friendships in the department and traumatized his family. The amount of regret and remorse I have over this situation is unimaginable, Riley told the judge. In Barnhart's case, federal prosecutors had recommended a prison term of five years and three months. Barnhart has been on home detention while awaiting his sentencing. The judge ordered him to remain on home detention until he reports to prison at a date to be determined. Barnhart has worked as a pipelayer and heavy machine operator for construction companies. NBC News reported that Barnhart has modeled for covers of romance novels, including Stepbrother UnSEALed: A Bad Boy Military Romance. Internet sleuths using facial recognition technology found photographs of Barnhart from his modeling career, NBC reported. Defense attorney Michelle Peterson said Barnhart drove alone to Washington, D.C., to attend the Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 6 because he wanted to support then-President Donald Trump and believed the baseless claims that Democrats stole the election from the Republican incumbent. Now two years away from the chaos of that day, he is deeply remorseful and cannot understand how he acted so foolishly, Peterson wrote. Barnhart was charged with several other riot defendants in the same indictment. Barnhart and co-defendants Jack Whitton and Jeffrey Sabol dragged a Metropolitan Police Department officer away from a police line, down stairs and into the crowd, where co-defendants Peter Stager and Mason Joel Courson beat the officer with a flagpole and a baton, according to prosecutors. Barnhart was arrested in August 2021 and pleaded guilty in September 2022 to assaulting the officer with a dangerous weapon. He threw that officer to the wolves, prosecutor Benet Kearney said. Barnhart wrote an apology letter addressed to the officer. He said he was ashamed of his behavior on Jan. 6. I hope one day we can all put aside our petty differences that seem to be tearing our beautiful country apart, Barnhart wrote. In the case against Riley, the former Capitol police officer, prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of two years and three months. The judge said Riley's actions were shocking conduct for any member of law enforcement. You knew exactly how bad January 6th was, she added. Jackson also ordered him to pay a $10,000 fine and perform 150 hours of community service. On Jan. 6, 2021, Riley investigated a report of an explosive device at Republican National Committee headquarters and helped an injured officer. The following day, he posted a Facebook message calling for federal charges against anybody who assaulted police, damaged property or breached the Capitol. If we don't send a message it will surely happen again, he wrote. Less than two hours later, Riley read a Facebook post by Jacob Hiles, a fisherman he knew from YouTube videos. Hiles wrote about his own participation in the riot and posted a video of rioters clashing with police. Riley, 51, of Maryland, privately messaged Hiles and identified himself as a Capitol police officer who agreed with his political stance. "Take down the part about being in the building they are currently investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to be charged. Just looking out! Riley wrote. They continued to exchange friendly messages until Hiles told Riley that the FBI was very curious that they had been communicating. "They took my phone and downloaded everything, Hiles wrote. Riley immediately deleted all of their private messages, according to prosecutors. Riley was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice. In October 2022, a jury convicted him of one count but deadlocked on the second. Riley described his actions as stupid and reckless but said he didnt think he was breaking the law. It certainly doesnt excuse my lapse in judgment, he said. Hiles pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Jackson sentenced him in December 2021 to two years of probation and ordered him to complete 60 hours of community service. 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. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines (AP) U.S. and Filipino forces on Thursday blasted vehicles with anti-tank missiles in combat-readiness drills in the Philippines that are part of a show of American firepower that has alarmed China. The long-time treaty allies are holding their largest joint military exercises called Balikatan Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder in decades. They involve about 17,600 military personnel and will feature live-fire maneuvers, including a ship-sinking rocket attack and beach assaults to simulate retaking an island near the disputed South China Sea. In a gunnery range at Fort Magsaysay, a northern Philippine training camp for Filipino special forces, American and Filipino troops fired Javelin guided missiles toward three target vehicles simulating a battle zone. The missiles streaked at a low altitude for more than half a kilometer (half a mile) toward their targets and exploded in a fireball that shook the ground. "This is what it looks like when the U.S. and Philippine militaries come together, train together, U.S. Army Pacific commander Gen. Charles Flynn said. "What youre witnessing here today is really operationalizing everything that our political leaders are talking about from integrated deterrence to campaigning to building an enduring advantage, Flynn told journalists invited to witness the drills. U.S. troops also displayed other weapons including sniper rifles with night-vision scopes that could hit targets more than a kilometer (half a mile) away with high precision, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, which are rocket and missile launchers that have been used by Ukrainian forces against Russia. Philippine army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner said the Philippine military wants to acquire Javelins and HIMARS from the United States under a special foreign military sales arrangement that is part of efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Its uncertain when the Philippines can secure such weapons while Ukraine presses the U.S. and other Western nations for more military assistance, he said. "These weapon systems are relatively more affordable for us as we shift to external defense, Brawner said. Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office last June, said the Philippine militarys focus is shifting from decades of battling communist and Muslim insurgents to external defense to ensure the protection of the countrys territory as disputes with China over the contested South China Sea persist. Marcos also approved a wider U.S. military presence in the Philippines by allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in four more Philippine military camps. Thats a sharp turnaround from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who feared that an American military footprint could antagonize Beijing. Efforts under Marcos to boost the territorial defenses have dovetailed with the Biden administrations bid to strengthen alliances to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan, a self-governed island democracy that Beijing claims as its own. China has strongly opposed the expanded American military presence in the Philippines, which allows U.S. forces to establish military staging grounds and surveillance outposts in the northern Philippines across the sea from Taiwan and in western Philippine provinces facing the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. On Wednesday, China warned that a deepening security alliance between Washington and Manila and their ongoing military drills in the Philippines should not harm its security and territorial interests or interfere in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said such military cooperation should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability. ___ Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) Chinas exports rebounded unexpectedly to growth in March despite a decline in U.S. and European demand following interest rate hikes to cool inflation. Exports rose 14.8% over a year earlier to $315.6 billion, recovering from a 6.8% decline in January and February, customs data showed Thursday. Imports sank 1.4% to $227.4 billion, a smaller contraction than the 10.2% slide in the previous two months. Chinas politically sensitive global trade surplus widened by 82% over a year earlier to $88.2 billion. Exports to the United States and the 27-nation European Union, Chinas biggest foreign markets, declined after the Federal Reserve and other central banks raised rates to slow consumer and business activity. That was offset by double-digit gains in sales to Canada, Indonesia, Russia and other markets. The current external environment still is severe and complex, said a government spokesperson, Lyu Daliang, at a news conference. Trade weakness adds to complications for President Xi Jinpings government, which is trying to revive economic growth that sank last year to 3%, the second-weakest rate since the 1970s. The ruling Communist Party set this years growth target at around 5%. In the first three months of the year, exports edged up 0.5% over the same period of 2022 to $821.8 billion, the General Administration of Customs of China reported. Total imports contracted 7.1% to $617.1 billion. A revival in Chinese demand would be a boost to global suppliers, replacing weak U.S., European and Japanese sales. China is the biggest export customer for its Asian neighbors and a key consumer market. Retail sales and other activity are gradually improving after anti-virus restrictions that kept millions of people at home and temporarily shut down Shanghai and other industrial centers were lifted in December. The economy also is under pressure from tighter controls on the use of debt in China's vast real estate industry, which triggered a slump in mid-2021. Exports to the United States slid 7.7% in March from a year earlier to $45.9 billion, an improvement over the 21.8% contraction in January and February. Imports of U.S. goods gained 5.6% to $16.1 billion, rebounding from a 5% decline in the first two months of the year. The Chinese trade surplus with the United States shrank by 14% compared with a year earlier to $27.6 billion. Imports from Russia, mostly oil and gas, surged 40.5% over a year ago to $11 billion, accelerating from a 31.3% increase in January and February. China, the biggest global energy consumer, has stepped up purchases from Russia to take advantage of price discounts after Washington, Europe and Japan cut imports to punish President Vladimir Putins government for its attack on Ukraine. China can buy Russian oil and gas without triggering Western sanctions. That helps to buoy the Kremlins foreign revenue, but President Joe Biden has warned Beijing against helping Moscows military. Exports to Russia more than doubled to $9 billion. Chinas trade deficit with Russia narrowed by 50% to $2 billion. Exports to Europe tumbled 18.2% over a year ago to $45.9 billion while imports of European goods shrank 37.2% to $25.1 billion. Chinas trade surplus with Europe widened by 29.2% to $20.7 billion. ___ General Administration of Customs of China (in Chinese): www.customs.gov.cn This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea on Thursday conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, possibly testing a new more mobile, harder-to-detect missile for the first time, its neighbors said, as it extends its provocative run of weapons tests. Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to take shelter in an indication of its vigilance over North Korea's evolving missile threats. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the launch and reiterated his calls on North Korea to comply with U.N. resolutions banning such launches, reopen communications channels and resume dialogue toward peace and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, his spokesman said. The missile was launched on a high angle from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan following a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) flight, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staffs said in a statement. It described its range as medium or longer. The U.S. National Security Council called it a long-range missile and Japans government said it likely had an intercontinental range. South Koreas military believes North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, a defense official said under the condition of anonymity because of office rules. If the launch involved a solid-fuel ICBM, it would be the Norths first test of such a weapon. North Koreas known ICBMs all use liquid propellants that must be fueled before launches. But the fuel in a solid-propellant weapon is already loaded, allowing it to be moved easier and fired faster. A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the key high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to build to better cope with what he calls U.S. military threats. He also wants a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch may have involved a new intermediate- or long-range missile powered by solid propellants, or be linked to North Korean preparation to launch a spy satellite. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region. Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies. During an emergency meeting of Seoul's National Security Council, officials stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting of his NSC to analyze the launch and Japans response. The nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held a telephone conversation where they called for a decisive and united international response to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean funding of its weapons program. North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, using elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries. South Korea and Japan typically dont issue evacuation orders unless they determine the North Korean weapon is flying in their direction. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the North Korean missile launched Thursday did not reach Japans exclusive economic zone. But Japanese authorities still urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter and temporarily suspended train, bus and subway services there. Local communities also activated alert sirens through community speakers, urging people to evacuate. The government then retracted its missile alert, saying there was no possibility of the missile landing near Hokkaido. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the alert was based on the Japanese Defense Ministrys early assessment of the missiles path and was an appropriate step to prioritize peoples safety. Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order in October when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the weapon's potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. Thursdays launch was the Norths first long-range missile firing since the country tested its longest-range, liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM on March 16. Kim Jong Un reviewed his countrys attack plans Monday and vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways. North Korea has launched about 100 missiles since the start of 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea or Japan within striking distance. The Norths testing spree is largely in protest of South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea uses its rivals' drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. Later Thursday, China, North Koreas last major ally, reiterated its blame for the heightened animosities on the U.S. and South Korea. The negative impact of the U.S. military exercises and strategic weapons deployed around the peninsula a few days ago is obvious to all, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a briefing. North Korea unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead in late March, raising concerns it could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles. South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Communications on those channels are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals disputed western sea boundary. On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse expressed strong regret over what he called North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the hotlines. North Korea's advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Experts say the discussions between world leaders at Japans Group of Seven meetings in May could be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea. U.N. Security Council permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russias war on Ukraine. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Nearly a foot (30 centimeters) of rain fell in a matter of hours in Fort Lauderdale causing widespread flooding, the closure of the citys airport and the suspension of high-speed commuter rail service for the Broward County region. The city of Fort Lauderdale released a statement Wednesday evening urging residents and visitors to stay off the roads until the water has subsided. Police and Fire Rescue continue to answer calls for service, the statement said. Public Works staff are clearing drains and operating pumps to mitigate the water as quickly as possible. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Fort Lauderdale and other areas will run into pre-dawn hours Thursday as the chance of thunderstorms continued across the region, warning: This is a life-threatening situation. Seek higher ground now! There have been no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. Up to 14 inches had fallen across the area through Wednesday and the National Weather Service said another 2 to 4 inches were possible as a warm front continued to push northward, bringing a chance of thunderstorms. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy told CNN that the area already had seen days of rain. The ground was already saturated so there is extensive flooding all over our city and throughout South Florida. Many roadways are impassable. Lots of vehicles got stuck and left abandoned in the middle of our roadways, Levy said. Ive lived here my whole life. This is the most severe flooding that Ive ever seen. More than 22,000 customers in Florida were without electricity Wednesday night, according to poweroutage.us. All Broward County Public Schools with be closed Thursday, the district tweeted, adding All afterschool activities, events, and extracurricular activities are also cancelled tomorrow. Wednesdays relentless showers prompted the airport, one of the largest in the region, to suspend all arriving and departing flights, the airport tweeted around 4:15 p.m. At around 5 p.m., the airport announced it shut down ground transportation shuttle service in response to recurring tornado warnings and ongoing heavy rainfall. The main roadways entering and exiting the airport were flooded and impassable, the airport said around 5:15 p.m. Please do not attempt to enter or leave the airport at this time, it warned. It said airport operations would restart once the weather improves in the Fort Lauderdale area. The heavy rains also prompted South Floridas high-speed commuter rail service to shut down. Brightline posted on Twitter Wednesday evening that train service between Miami and Fort Lauderdale was suspended. The National Weather Service in Miami declared a flash flood emergency around 8 p.m. Wednesday for Fort Lauderdale, along with the areas around Hollywood and Dania Beach. A short time later, forecasters issued a tornado warning for nearby Davie, Plantation and Lauderhill. Video taken by witnesses showed water coming in the door at an airport terminal and a virtual river rushing down the tarmac between planes. On Broward Boulevard, a man was seen swimming to the curb on the flooded street at rush hour as cars rolled by. Drivers recorded themselves rolling through streets where brown, swirling water was up to the wheel wells or nearly to the hood of cars. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukraines foreign minister said Thursday his country wont budge from its demand that Russia withdraw its forces from Crimea, as well as from other parts of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed more recently, for the war to end. Calling the conflict in Ukraine a bleeding wound in the middle of Europe, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said all his countrys territory must be treated equally in dealing with the Kremlin after its full-scale invasion more than 13 months ago. We are united by U.N. charter principles and the shared conviction that Crimea is Ukraine and it will return under Ukraines control, Kuleba said, speaking by video link to a gathering in the Romanian capital, Bucharest. Every time you hear anyone from any corner of the world saying that Crimea is somehow special and should not be returned to Ukraine, as any other part of our territory, you have to know one thing: Ukraine categorically disagrees with these statements, he said at the Black Sea Security Conference. Russia took over Crimea in 2014, and during the current war has expanded its presence there. Occasional acts of sabotage and other attacks against Russian military and other facilities on the peninsula have occurred since, with the Kremlin blaming Ukraine. The Kyiv government hasnt claimed responsibility for the attacks but welcomes efforts to repel the Russian presence there. 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 rejected those demands and wont hold talks with Russia until Moscows troops pull back from all occupied territories. Though there is no sign of possible peace negotiations, the two countries have sporadically exchanged prisoners of war and have engaged in a wartime deal for the export of Ukrainian grain and Russian grain and fertilizers. The grain deal has helped ease concerns about the global food supply, especially to countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia where many are already struggling with hunger. The agreement, which the U.N. and Turkey brokered last July, is delicate, however, and Moscow has repeatedly threatened to end it. In the latest dispute, Russias Foreign Ministry said Thursday that no discussion about extending the Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 would take place until progress was made towards resolving what it called five systemic problems that have resulted from sanctions on Russia over the war. It said in a statement those issues were: reconnecting the state-owned Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT international banking system; resuming supplies to Russia of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services; lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance and the ban on access to ports; restoring the operation of the Tolyatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline; and unblocking foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transportation of food and fertilizers. Russia agreed last month to extend the grain deal for 60 days instead of the 120 days set under a previous extension to send a warning to the West. On the battlefield, military analysts say, an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive in coming months could aim at the land corridor between Russia and Crimea, hoping to split Russias forces in two. That would be a daunting military challenge. Satellite images show the Kremlins forces are digging extensive trench systems between mainland Ukraine and the Black Sea peninsula. The fighting in recent months has become a war of attrition, with neither side able to gain momentum over the winter and often resorting to long-range bombardment. At least four civilians were killed and 11 were wounded in the latest Russian barrages that continued to hit civilian infrastructure, Ukraines presidential office said Thursday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces over the previous 24 hours launched 32 airstrikes, two missile strikes and 40 attacks from multiple rocket launchers. In other developments: Russias Prosecutor Generals Office has opened an investigation into a video appearing to show the beheading of a Ukrainian serviceman that appeared online this week, according to the government departments press service. It said it intended to assess the reliability of these materials. Ukraine on Wednesday also launched an investigation into what it alleged was the latest atrocity blamed on Russia since it invaded in February 2022. A Russian mine exploded near a generator room at one of the reactors of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ukraines state nuclear operator Energoatom said. Russian occupiers continue to turn the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant into a military base, mining the perimeter, Energoatom wrote on Telegram. The head of the U.N.'s atomic energy agency confirmed the landmine explosion and reported one had also occurred last Saturday. Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency said: At a time of growing speculation about military offensives and counteroffensives in the region, it is more important than ever to agree that a nuclear power plant should never be attacked, nor used to launch attacks from. I will not rest until this has been achieved." Europes largest nuclear plant has six reactors, all of which have been shut down over the past year. The U.N.s atomic energy agency has been trying for months to obtain agreement between Ukraine and Russia on securing the plant, whose reactors and other equipment still require an external electricity supply to operate safety systems. ___ Associated Press writers Stephen McGrath in Bucharest, Romania, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Will I ruin your life, by dying? my mother asked me. What is the kindest answer? If it wouldnt, did I love her with the love of a daughter for her only mother? If it would, does that release her from me, to choose death? If my life were ruined by her death, so what? But for her death to have been ruined by the limitations imposed by state law, that is something that matters. Medical aid in dying, as would become available in Connecticut should SB-1076 become law, is the practice by which, after specific conditions are met (including that death is imminent and mental illness is not a significant contributor) and multiple physicians agree, a patient can request and be given a prescription for medication which they may self-administer to die peacefully in their sleep. Towards the end, she would wake with nausea so powerful she was dizzy, vision black with pain. Fear. Anger. She tried to turn the anger into other things but it was too big. She was angry that this recurrent, metastatic, multi-complicated breast cancer stole from her all agency, choice, dignity and comfort. She had had enough but there was nothing she could do. One drug for this symptom, one for that, none bringing relief. Only when the nausea and pain became so overwhelming that consciousness was unbearable was she able to be sedated, and in a state resembling sleep, her body breathed for another week while I sat beside her. Those days of breaths counted then not counted, measured and then not measured. A week between when she told me she loved me for the last time and when I woke to find her gone. I dont know if, had medical aid in dying been available, my mothers death would have been different. Maybe she wouldnt or couldnt have chosen a moment to break away from us before her suffering was truly overwhelming. Her cancer recurred 10 years after its original appearance, and she lived two years in the final stage, being told its a chronic illness and if this drug doesnt work, we have more options and all that time, this was on her mind. All that time, there was a sense of being trapped, kept from agency. Even if her death were not different, her state of mind, for all those years, could have been one of far greater peace. Instead, the deep uncertainty of the final years undercut any chance of hope. Without the ability to say I am at my limit, she lacked the only balm that could have healed her freedom. If she had known she could plan (and could she ever plan!) for things to be how she wanted them to be, that alone could have fulfilled her dying wish. As a daughter, the pain of seeing my mother suffer was unbearable. The compassion I felt then is the same I feel for my patients now. As a doctor (as my mother loved to say in an exaggerated Yiddish accent, My daught-ah, the doct-ah.), I support medical aid in dying. Because arguments against it do not stand up to this simple point: people can decide for themselves when their suffering is enough. It doesnt matter that we doctors are terrible at projecting when our patient might die. People who are dying can tell when they have had enough pain, enough suffering. Examples are made of patients who desired medical aid in dying, but did not use it and were glad. For every such example, there are patients who were kept from using medical aid in dying, and continue in the belief that their wishes should have been respected at the time. Some may worry about a possible slippery slope leading to abuse and coercion. But states that have this legislation have not moved significantly beyond the original constraints, and no substantiated cases of exploitation or manipulation have been documented. Some doctors believe good palliative care is sufficient for patients to achieve peace and die comfortably. Palliative care without the option, the choice, the freedom to receive the care that matches your desires and respects your dignity cannot serve its true purpose maximizing quality of life. Palliative care, and the array of choices it currently offers in our state, is in continuity and concert with the availability of medical aid in dying, fully centered on the patients wishes. Doctors can say how good medicine is, how much better its gotten, how its getting better all the time. But we will never conquer death, and its the suffering person, the end of whose life is inevitable and imminent, who deserves to assign meaning (or not) to their anguish. Some doctors fret that medical aid in dying might erode trust in our motives. To the contrary, some envision respecting a patients desired plan at the end of life as an act that deepens trust, potentially even an act of love and friendship. Doctors might individually say they dont agree with medical aid in dying from a religious or moral standpoint. Just like any medical procedure, not every doctor will participate in this care. A majority of us believe it to be a needed service, and some of us are willing to provide it. Perhaps if medical schools provided education on this topic, we would find our profession better prepared to serve patients at the end of life. Some doctors feel that its not our job to end life. When disease is bringing life to a close, its our calling to do no harm. My mother was harmed by the constraints on her ability to choose the extent of her suffering. Medical aid in dying proponents say each of us is just one bad death away from supporting these laws. Well, now youre not. You know my mothers. As her daughter, and a doctor, I ask you to contact your state representatives to let them know your position on this essential legislation. Dr. Sharon Ostfeld-Johns is assistant professor of clinical pediatrics and assistant professor of medicine at Yale School of Medicine. HARTFORD In a lightning-fast 15-minute discussion on Wednesday, the Senate approved an arbitrated award of $50 million for state employees who worked during the first year of the pandemic. The resolution, which easily passed the House last week, does not require the governor's signature. More than 34,500 state workers will receive a range of bonuses, averaging about $1,470, under the award. The measure passed 32-3, with Republican opponents including Sen. Ryan Fazio of Greenwich, Sen. Eric Berthel of Watertown and Sen. Rob Sampson of Wolcott. Senate Minority Leader Kevin Kelly, R-Stratford, took a slap at majority Democrats who rule the General Assembly with a 98-53 edge in the House and 24-12 in the Senate, saying that while state employees reap the bonuses, average workers in the state's private have received little. "Those individuals are getting a $1,000 benefit, if they are lucky," Kelly said. "Once again the majority favoring government itself, not recognizing the true difficulties that Connecticut families, the working and middle-class families of Connecticut who are struggling on a daily basis. While I will support this today I will continue to echo that voice, the voice of the frustrated, the voice of the working and middle-class families who aren't getting the same deal that the government is getting. I think government has gotten enough. As a matter of fact they have taken too much from those struggling families." "We are acknowledging the heroic efforts made by people who were in grave danger when they went to work in the early stages of the pandemic," said Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney, D-New Haven. "There was risk every single day and the people were at their stations, and did the work they had to do. Everything would have fallen apart and been chaotic if they hadn't have done that." Looney pointed out that last year, Democrats and Gov. Ned Lamont approved $650 million in tax breaks. "I think the important thing is to recognize that most of the members of the minority party voted against tax relief," Looney said. "It's sort of like a hungry person refusing a sandwich because it wasn't two," Looney continued. It didn't make a lot of sense but it was part of the political debate at that time. It is the majority party, it is our party that stands for working people and the middle class in the state of Connecticut. We are the ones who support progressive tax policy. We are the ones who support progressive spending. And the state workers who are benefiting from this are, of course, part of the hard-working middle-class in the state of Connecticut. They are not government, per se." Eligibility includes state employees who did not work remotely, as well as the National Guard. Some employees in quasi-public agencies such as the lottery, will also receive money. The funding is through the state's federal American Rescue Plan awards. To get the bonus, workers had to put in at least 180 hours between March 20, 2020 and March 27, 2021. Checks range from $125 for low-risk workers to $3,126 for those who faced high-risks and worked overtime. The money is in the current state budget, which runs through June 30. "I appreciate all the work that our frontline workers did," said Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, the co-chairwoman of the Appropriations Committee. "I think there's a level of unfairness to it," Berthel said. "I've spoken to constituents who went to work everyday. They put their families at risk. They rose to the challenge of keeping the businesses that they worked for open and able to serve, and this includes employers like nursing homes and some of our great acute-care hospitals in Connecticut." "I appreciate the concern for the private sector but in no way should that influence our vote here today, because there is no question that we as a state need to set an example for private employers and for municipal employers, for everyone that it is our obligation not just to call people heroes and to drive by their homes and put up signs in our windows and honk our horns and thank them," said Sen. Julie Kushner, D-Danbury, the co-chairwoman of the legislative Labor and Public Employees Committee. "It really needs to be appreciated in the kind of arbitration award that we are voting on here today." "A lot of times people forget what happened during the pandemic and don't recall how difficult that was and where people were," said Senate Majority Leader Bob Duff, D-Norwalk. "In a lot of ways, the work of state government needed to continue in varied ways and in very important ways. At that time. people were looking toward state government to solve a lot of problems." The lack of housing at all price points is the No. 1 issue in the state of Connecticut today. But the reality is that our state has been on the brink of a housing crisis for a long time. This housing shortage affects everyone, especially people of low to moderate income. For decades, investment in new housing in Connecticut has lagged behind the need. This is especially true for affordable housing, where local zoning laws and municipal opposition in some of our communities constructed sizable barriers to adding more, or any, affordable housing in their towns. To make matters worse, the eviction moratorium put in place during COVID ended in September 2022. Evictions in our state have skyrocketed, reaching, 22,754 in 2022, the highest in almost a decade. And there is simply no housing affordable or otherwise, to meet the need. Because of these conditions, homelessness in Connecticut has increased by 39 percent, and as of this writing, 4,835 people are homeless in our state. Of that number, 376 are families and 85 percent of these families have children. The majority of the individuals and families who are homeless are people who have held jobs, paid their rents or mortgages and bills on time. Most are homeless because a catastrophic event an unexpected and costly illness, losing a job, the end of a marriage upended their lives. Today, we can add sharply escalating rents and utilities costs to that list. And as a state we are under prepared to respond and address the rising rate of homeless because along with failing to invest in new housing stock, over the past decade weve also underinvested in Connecticuts Homeless Response System. What is the Homeless Response System? Community-based nonprofit organizations providing shelter, homeless outreach, diversion, rapid rehousing, housing navigation, supportive housing, housing case management and call center assistance. Additionally, they activate and operate the Cold Weather Emergency Response System when the governor declares a cold weather emergency. They, and the professionals they employ, are on the front line of homelessness in Connecticut. Every day these essential workers assist people in navigating one of lifes most devastating circumstances. While their work is critical, they are considerably underpaid and many themselves are just one paycheck away from homelessness. Rising costs of health insurance, rent, utilities and other goods and services make it impossible for organizations to offer competitive salaries, severely limiting the ability to recruit, hire, train and retain qualified front line staff. Unlike other nonprofits that receive funding from the state to support wages and other costs, Connecticuts Homeless Response System has been left out of the state budget. Thats why we are working hard to change this dynamic. Homeless service providers across the state, organized as CT CAN End Homelessness, are advocating for $50 million to Rescue the Homeless Response System. Heres how the funding would be invested: 1. One-time adjustment to existing state contracts to address the financial shortfalls facing homeless response organizations due to higher operating costs. 2. Establish a livable and competitive wage for front line workers, whose essential services help mitigate the financial and social determinant of health effects of homelessness on individuals, families, local communities and the state. Wage equity will contribute to our ability to recruit, retain and train staff to deliver the services, run community-based programs, operate emergency programs, and transform these positions from jobs to careers of choice. 3. Annually fund the states Cold Weather Emergency Response System, ensuring that those who are homeless have a warm and safe place during the winter months. We are seeing the effects of the rising rate of homelessness is our communities. A well-funded Homeless Response System means local providers would have the resources to help those in need, even before they become homeless. We can solve the homeless crisis. Weve done it with veteran homelessness, we can do it now. As a state, we need to invest in a variety of housing in all of our cities and towns for people of all incomes, and we need to say yes to funding Connecticuts Homeless Response System so the necessary supports can be in place to help the over 4,400 residents who are facing the crisis of their lifetime. Evonne Klein is the chief executive officer of Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. She is the former Connecticut housing commissioner from 2013-2019 under Gov. Dannel P. Malloy. During her tenure the department constructed 24,000 units of housing, of which 22,000 are affordable. Ned Gerard/Hearst Connecticut Media BRIDGEPORT Police are investigating the killing of a local man who was gunned down on the city's East Side Wednesday evening. He was identified Thursday afternoon as 58-year-old Michael Gaines. SHELTON Plans to build 16 single-family homes on land owned by Mayor Mark Lauretti on Shelton Avenue have been filed with the Planning and Zoning Commission. The commission received the application filed by Bridgeport-based B-Wizz, LLC on Wednesday. A public hearing will be held in the near future. Lauretti has already confirmed to Hearst Connecticut Media that he has an agreement to sell his property at 390 Shelton Ave., land he purchased for $204,000 in 2017. The deal is contingent on zoning approvals, according to the mayor. The development, titled Oak Hill Estates, received approval from the Inland Wetlands Commission in December and calls for the construction of 16 homes which Lauretti states will sell for anywhere between $700,000 and $750,000 once completed on some six acres of land. There is a single-family home on the property now. The plans have drawn the ire of some neighbors, including those at nearby Aspetuck Village. This proposed deal and development was also the focus of an ethics complaint filed by Dave Eldridge, who ran unsuccessfully against Lauretti for mayor in 2021. Eldridge's ethics complaint accuses the mayor of violating two sections of the Code of Ethics and one section of the City Charter, saying the potential development is a conflict of interest given Lauretti's role as mayor. The Board of Ethics was to review the complaint on Wednesday, and details of any decision are not yet available. Lauretti said he is not involved in development, adding that he sold property in the city before being elected mayor and during his term, which now spans more than 30 years. Eldridge said the Planning and Zoning Commission should not go forward with even accepting the plans for public hearing until the ethics issue is resolved. Commission Chair Virginia Harger said, even with an ethics complaint in play, there was no reason to not take action at the Wednesday meeting. All applications are reviewed and a decision to approve or deny is made by the commission at the appropriate time on the merits of the proposal, not on who the applicant happens to be, Harger said. Contributed Photo / Connecticut WALLINGFORD A Shelton man suffered suspected serious injuries in a crash on Route 15 southbound that closed a section of the highway Thursday morning, according to state police. The crash involved a 1993 Toyota Short WB Deluxe pickup driven by a 34-year-old Shelton man and a 2013 Toyota RAV4 driven by a 29-year-old Bridgeport man, according to state police. They are seeking witnesses to the collision. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PHOENIX (AP) A woman believed to be one of the 20 wives of a polygamous sect leader jailed in Arizona faces federal charges for allegedly sending threatening emails to child welfare workers in a bid to get her two daughters released from state foster care. The indictment of Josephine Barlow Bistline marks the fourth woman associated with self-declared prophet Samuel Bateman to face federal charges. Three of Batemans wives were previously charged with kidnapping and impeding a foreseeable prosecution after eight girls associated with the sect fled from foster care. Authorities say Bistline told a case manager with the Arizona Department of Child Safety in a March 24 email that she would be sent to prison, where she would live on a ventilator and people would have to help her breathe and clean up after her. According to a criminal complaint filed against her, Bistline told the case manager: And, you know, I wouldnt mind helping with that too. Because I love you. But you have gone too far. Bistline has pleaded not guilty to charges of cyberstalking and interstate communications involving a threat. A judge ordered that she be jailed until trial. She was charged in late March. Mark Paige, an attorney representing Bistline, did not immediately return a call Wednesday seeking comment. Bateman and his followers practice polygamy, a legacy of the early teachings of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The mainstream faith, known widely as the Mormon church, abandoned the practice in 1890 and now strictly prohibits it. Bateman, 46, lived in Colorado City, Arizona, an isolated community along the Utah border where polygamy was long practiced openly. He was first arrested in August when someone spotted small fingers in the gap of a trailer he was hauling through Flagstaff, Arizona. Police found three girls, between 11 and 14, in a makeshift room in the unventilated trailer. Bateman posted bond but was arrested again in September and charged with obstructing justice in a federal investigation into whether children were being transported across state lines for sexual activity. He is alleged to have taken more than 20 wives, including underage girls, though he does not face any charges directly related to that accusation. Bateman has pleaded not guilty to federal and state charges including child abuse, obstructing a federal investigation and aiding in kidnapping. Authorities removed nine children from Batemans home and placed them in foster care. But eight of the children later escaped, and the FBI alleged that the three wives played a part in getting them out of Arizona. The women have pleaded not guilty. The girls two of whom are Bistline's daughters were found hundreds of miles away in Spokane, Washington. They remain in foster care. In another email, Bistline declared that Bateman was innocent and said a case worker was siding with Judas Iscariot, the biblical figure known for betraying Jesus Christ and later killing himself. According to the criminal complaint, Bistline wrote, You will be among them, unless you repent, and confess you have done the wrong dam (sic) thing, and fix it. Bistline's trial is scheduled for May 23, 2024. Bateman and his three wives are scheduled for trial on March 5, 2024. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIRUT (AP) Syria and Saudi Arabia said Thursday they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade. The joint statement followed a visit by Syria's top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012. Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assads brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League. However, in recent years, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country, Syria's neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The overtures picked up pace since the massive Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks about bilateral relations, state media in the two countries reported. Saudi state media said Mikdad was received by the kingdoms Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. The meeting focused on the steps needed to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that would ... achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab fold," the joint statement said. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, when Syria's membership is widely expected to be on the table. Some members, mainly Qatar, have opposed Damascus' return to the organization. Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, reiterated his countrys longstanding position in an interview with state TV late Thursday. There were reasons for suspending Syrias membership in the Arab League and for participating in boycotts of the Syrian regime at that time, and those reasons still exist as far as we are concerned, he said. Our decision, as an individual state, has been to not take any steps (toward normalization) without political progress or a political solution to the Syrian crisis. But Anna Jacobs, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said she believes prospects are high that Syria will be readmitted to the Arab League soon, noting that even Qatar has softened its rhetoric. Even if several countries have expressed their opposition to normalization with Assad, its not likely that they would go against Riyadh and block Syrias re-entry, she said. The Syrian and Saudi officials also discussed enhancing security" and ''cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking, according to the statement. Syria is a primary producer of the amphetamine-based drug Captagon, which is largely smuggled into Gulf Arab markets for sale. Syria may be hoping the rapprochement with a regional heavyweight will help end its political isolation, improve its flagging economy and potentially bring in reconstruction dollars. Meanwhile, incentives for Saudi Arabia to make a deal are less clear. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a research fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute, said Saudi Arabia and specifically Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may be looking for a way to rehabilitate the kingdom's image. That image was tarnished by the kingdom's involvement in the war in Yemen and by the 2018 slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, believed by the United States and others to have been at the princes orders. Brokering an Arab consensus on Syria, would feed into Prince Mohammed's desire to portray himself as a regional statesman and underline the Saudi ability to lead the region, Ulrichsen said. Jacobs said the kingdom's rapprochement with Syria may be part of its strategy on Iran, which is two-pronged and focused on both containment and diplomacy, as opposed to the Trump administration's maximum pressure approach. As for Syria, Ulrichsen pointed out that U.S. sanctions on Damascus would still stand as an obstacle to any major investments in the Arab country, even with Syria normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia and its readmission to the Arab League. Mikdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came after Syria announced on Wednesday that it will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, which cut off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied said earlier this month that he had directed the foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria. His move was reciprocated by the Syrian government, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. Senior Chinese embassy official calls for deepening China-U.S. agricultural cooperation Xinhua) 13:56, April 13, 2023 WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Minister Jing Quan from the Chinese Embassy in the United States recently attended the opening ceremony of a China-U.S. innovation center of soybean products value chain. In his remarks delivered virtually at the event on Tuesday, Jing spoke highly of the fruitful results of China-U.S. trade in agriculture, especially in cooperation in the soybean industry. The minister expressed the hope that the two countries continue to deepen cooperation in the agricultural sector, benefiting farmers and consumers in both countries while injecting positive energy into the China-U.S. relations. The establishment of the center is the result of collaboration between central China's Henan Province and the U.S. Soybean Export Council. It is aimed at deepening cooperation between China and the United States in the soybean processing industry and promoting the high-quality development of the soybean industry in the two countries. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Nelson Chamisa has been nominated, uncontested, as the presidential candidate for the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) in the upcoming elections. This came out during a press conference held Thursday in Harare where the Citizens Independent Selection Panel (CISP) gave an update on the candidate selection process. Speaking during the press conference, Rashid Mahiya, a member of CISP said there was an overwhelming response from aspiring candidates. The summary outcome of the candidates nomination after consulting stakeholders, village and street committees is as follows: The local authority nominations have been received from all the 36 000 villages, thousands of streets and 1 970 wards. For the house of assembly nomination, we received nominations from all 210 constituencies, an interesting phenomenon has been noted in some hotly contested constituencies for instance a constituency where 11 nominations were received for one seat, said Mahiya. He said some candidates were also nominated in the constituencies dominated by the ruling party, Zanu-PF. The success factor for this process is also exhibited in the positive candidate nomination returns in some difficult to penetrate areas for the opposition, that includes Gokwe, Uzumba, Mwenezi amongst others. Presidential nominations, Chamisa Nelson has been nominated as the Presidential candidate by all streets and villages whose returns are in our possession, he said. Mahiya said for the women and youth nominations, although CISP is yet to finalise its tally indications are that an unprecedent number of women have been nominated. A significant number of women are also emerging in both the first post and proportional representation nomination, he said. He added that the youth factor is another exciting and emerging aspect of the nomination process outcome which is positive in ensuring intergenerational synergies within CCC. Meanwhile, Mahiya outlined the qualities which nominated candidates will go through. The credentials and track record check list for candidate selection, the vetting and security checklist will look into the following: firstly, qualifications that is in compliance with relevant statute of Zimbabwe, the constitution, the electoral Act, CCC candidate selection procedures manual , community and standing track record, performance in communities, political history and record, capacity and capability and competence, security, integrity, ethics, loyalty and service record, he said. He said a date has been set for the caucuses that will happen all over the country after which they ill announce the names of successful candidates. As we embark on the second stage of candidate selection, it is prudent to assure citizens that all nominated candidates will receive fair and equal opportunities during the process, said Mahiya. CITE If you have enough power, you can make people believe things which are not true. And your lies may last for centuries, or even forever. Yet it need not be so. One dark winters afternoon, long ago, in the age of steam trains and suet puddings, one of my prep-school teachers (I think it must have been the fearsome Mr Witherington, withering by nature as well as by name) pressed into my hand a small green book which would turn my whole world upside down. Read this, he said. It will teach you to understand history as it really is. The book is called The Daughter Of Time by Josephine Tey, herself a rather mysterious woman about whom we know astonishingly little. The title is a reference to Sir Francis Bacons remark that Truth is the daughter of time, not of authority, which should be better known. People gathered in Downing Street in May 1997, waving Union Jacks as the Blairs walk up to the front door of No 10 It is still quite often shown on TV, without comment or qualification, to suggest a great wave of public joy at the arrival of New Labour in power It is in a way the single greatest detective story ever written. Those who know of it belong to a considerable secret society, which is still far too small, of lucky people. Those who have not yet read it have a great treat, and a great shock, in store. I was reminded of it this week when I learned that a lost 17th-century history of Richard III which portrays the supposedly evil monarch as good and just is to be re-published after years in obscurity. The History Of King Richard III was written in the reign of King James I by Sir George Buck. And its re-emergence reminds us that Richard III must be the most slandered monarch in our history. All children of my generation were brought up to believe that the wicked hunchback, Richard III, murdered the little princes in the Tower. By the time I was 12 I must have read the tragic story in history books and encyclopaedias a dozen times. Sir John Millaiss sentimental Victorian picture of the two vanished boys, all golden hair and black velvet, their faces full of fear, is still imprinted on my memory. And of course I was also well aware of Shakespeares portrayal of Richard as a hunchbacked despot, rightly overthrown. But now I dont believe a word of it. Josephine Tey solved the problem by a single act of near genius. She set her fictional Scotland Yard detective, Alan Grant, to examine the case as a modern police force would. The story opens with Grant flat on his back in hospital, under the thumb of bossy nurses, while he recovers from injuries sustained pursuing a burglar across a roof (those were the days). Bored to tears by the dreadful novels produced (as ever) by the London publishing industry, horrified by a suggestion that he should take up knitting to pass the time, Grant flings himself instead into investigating Richards alleged murders. And he develops an absolute hatred for the man he starts to call, with relentless sarcasm The sainted Thomas More. For it is Mores account of Richard which everyone else has relied on for centuries afterwards. All children of my generation were brought up to believe that the wicked hunchback, Richard III, murdered the little princes in the Tower As Grant reads Mores book he is conscious of the same unease that filled him when he listened to a witness telling a perfect story that he knew to be flawed somewhere. I wont repeat the piece-by-piece demolition of the case against Richard, and the growing mountain of evidence against his sly successor, Henry VII, which piles up as the case proceeds. I am rather hoping that some of you will get hold of The Daughter Of Time and read it yourselves, and do not want to spoil it for you. For there is a much deeper point to all this. We all take far too much on trust. The Russian Communists successfully persuaded the world that life in Russia before their 1917 coup detat was total misery, when in fact pre-1917 Russia was rapidly growing in wealth and civilisation, and the Communists made more misery in their time in power than any tsar had ever done. The Tudor usurper Henry VII did a similar thing. He was a hard and brutal man, given to disposing of anyone who got in his way, and his son Henry VIII was even worse. And, like Stalin and Lenin in Communist Russia, they needed to smear the memory of the dynasty that had gone before them to secure themselves in power. This is why the Tudors and their servants, including Thomas More and William Shakespeare, were required to portray Richards just and largely happy reign as a time of tyranny and crime. Yet little patches of truth remain, to show it was a lie. When news of Richards death was brought to York, the city fathers said: This day was our good King Richard piteously slain and murdered; to the great heaviness of this city. They had no need to say this, and good reason not to, now Henry VII was on the throne. Even so, they did. The Russian Communists successfully persuaded the world that life in Russia before their 1917 coup detat was total misery, when in fact pre-1917 Russia was rapidly growing in wealth and civilisation (pictured: The Family of Tsar Nicholas II of Russia) And once you know all this, you feel, at least I feel, the unending urge to question any commonly accepted idea about the past or the present. Whether it is the Covid panic (wildly out of proportion), who really won the American War of Independence (the French), the true nature of the Good Friday Agreement (a vast surrender to terror under American pressure) or the current conflict in Ukraine (some other time), I now always remember the defamation of Richard III, and rebel against any view which is held by everybody. Sometimes, it is true, everyone is right. The deeply romantic and heroic idea of the Dunkirk evacuation is pretty much wholly true, and is one of the most moving stories of courage and sacrifice in modern times. Winston Churchill really was the saviour of his country. But look deep into most of the other things you believe and you will find that it was not quite like that, and in some cases was wholly unlike what you have been led, all your life, to believe. New myths are being created all around us, even as the old ones persist. My favourite is the film of people gathered in Downing Street in May 1997, waving Union Jacks as the Blairs walk up to the front door of No 10. It is still quite often shown on TV, without comment or qualification, to suggest a great wave of public joy at the arrival of New Labour in power. Yet a moments investigation reveals that in May 1997, Downing Street was closed to the normal public, and that the cheering crowds were composed of Labour loyalists rounded up and issued with Union Jacks to wave (which I suspect most of them must have rather hated). You see, it never stops, and it never will, so the rest of us must never stop questioning what we are told. Thank you, Mr Witherington. Much has been written about how Hard-Left doctors at the British Medical Association (BMA) have orchestrated this weeks strike in England, which is bringing an already weakened NHS to its knees. Nearly all of it is true. In 2017, a group of young doctors formed the Broad Left group, which is actually Hard-Left. Some of its militant members were elected to important positions at the BMA in elections last year, when less than 1 per cent of the organisations members voted. But pernicious though this group of doctors undoubtedly is, they arent my first concern. I am more interested that so many junior doctors, most of whom are not political extremists, should willingly go along with a wholly unjustified strike, led by people who shamelessly tell lies. For although those making the running may be Hard-Left activists, those following behind are not. And yet they voted overwhelmingly to strike. Some 77 per cent of 48,000 eligible junior doctors cast a vote in the BMA ballot, with 98 per cent backing industrial action. We must try to get inside their minds. How could so many young doctors, most of whom probably want to do good in the world, be prepared to put patients health and lives in danger? Why are they ignoring the key principle of the Hippocratic Oath, which is to do no harm? I am more interested that so many junior doctors, most of whom are not political extremists, should willingly go along with a wholly unjustified strike I dont doubt they should be paid more, though the BMAs claim that junior doctors pay in England has fallen in real terms by 26 per cent since 2008/09 has been convincingly debunked by the independent Institute for Fiscal Studies. The think-tank says a more accurate figure would be an 11 to 16 per cent fall since 2010. Nor do I dispute that junior doctors work long hours compared with many people, though the normal limit of 48 hours a week means most of them have a significantly less onerous workload than young medics did 40 or so years ago. So they have a case. But it is not a case to obtain a pay rise of 35 per cent, or anything approaching it, especially at a time when the public finances are under great strain. A settlement similar to that recently made to the nurses would seem fair. What troubles me is the twisting of facts by the BMA, which makes preposterous claims designed to hoodwink the general public and gain its approval under false pretences. These untruths are uttered by the extremist leaders, but they are implicitly accepted by tens of thousands of junior doctors, who appear to have abandoned their sense of public duty. Surely doctors, of all people, should be wedded to the truth. If doctors lie, whom can we trust? Falsehoods are bandied about in two spheres about the pay of junior doctors, and the supposedly systemic underfunding of the NHS. What troubles me is the twisting of facts by the BMA, which makes preposterous claims designed to hoodwink the general public and gain its approval under false pretences Other facts not mentioned by the BMA include the taxpayers contribution, which is larger than in countries such as the United States Foremost in the first category is the BMAs assertion that junior doctors receive the same hourly pay, of around 14.09, as do baristas at Pret a Manger. This misleading claim was shared on Twitter by Labour MPs Diane Abbott, Beth Winter and Ian Byrne. Full Fact, an independent checking service, has demonstrated that the hourly rate of 14.09 applies only to 11 per cent of junior doctors, who are the most inexperienced. Moreover, even among this minority no account is taken by the BMA in its calculations of five weeks annual paid leave or overtime. The BMA also chooses not to reveal that, after two years so-called foundation training, a junior doctors basic salary in specialist training will be 40,257, rising to 53,398 after several years. That is far more than the take-home pay of even the most celebrated barista. Other facts not mentioned by the BMA include the taxpayers contribution, which is larger than in countries such as the United States. In Britain, a future physician pays around 55,000 in tuition fees over six years, while the government shells out some 163,000 in grants to produce a medical graduate. Furthermore, junior doctors can look forward to a handsome index-linked pension such as no barista can dream of, besides earning a salary before the age of 40 that will put them in the top few per cent of earners. The average salary of a GP is around 100,000 a year, while an NHS consultant earns between 88,364 and 119,133 per year. Still greater riches are open to consultants able to do private work. In short, the BMA and its representatives have given a very one-sided and partial account of the true pay and future financial prospects of junior doctors. I am amazed that the Government hasnt done a better job of challenging these dubious claims. The other great falsehood, repeated by BMA leaders as well as sundry doctors interviewed as they stand on picket lines, is that the Government has been starving the NHS of funds. In short, the BMA and its representatives have given a very one-sided and partial account of the true pay and future financial prospects of junior doctors Preposterously, some strikers attempt to justify themselves on these grounds. Unprepared to accept that industrial action is weakening the NHS, which it plainly is, they pretend it will ultimately strengthen it because the Government will be forced to put in more money. The truth is that in 2010, the year the Tories came to power, Department of Health and Social Care spending in England was 129.7 billion (at 2022 prices). In the financial year just ended, spending was budgeted at 180.2 billion. That amounts to a real-term increase of nearly 40 per cent since the Tories assumed office. In fact, health spending accelerated when Boris Johnsons administration took over in 2019, with a real-term rise of 20.4 billion between 2018/19 and 2023/24. According to Full Fact, the last time spending increased by at least that amount was between 2004/05 and 2009/10. Once again, the Government has failed to defend its corner. I suspect that most people accept the BMAs fantasy that mean-spirited Tories have been deliberately depriving the NHS. Perhaps Im old-fashioned, but while one expects some trade unions to bend the facts when pleading their cause, I would hope that representatives of doctors were honest, straightforward and factual. Alas, politically-motivated, Tory-hating BMA leaders have tried to pull the wool over our eyes, while ordinary junior doctors with no particular agenda have cheerfully jumped on the bandwagon. Is it greed that motivates them? What a depressing idea, if true. The professional classes once had certain standards. Dare one say, in this degraded modern age, that we used to expect such people to set a moral example? Alas, politically-motivated, Tory-hating BMA leaders have tried to pull the wool over our eyes, while ordinary junior doctors with no particular agenda have cheerfully jumped on the bandwagon I realise doctors went on strike in 1975 the consultants to protect private medicine from a Labour government that disliked it, and the junior doctors over pay and conditions. But their industrial action, though highly regrettable, was more limited, and much less damaging than the current strikes. How will it end? The Government mustnt cave in. The best hope is that rank-and-file junior doctors will recognise that they are being led by militants manipulating the truth in a doubtful cause, and take a good hard look at themselves. Lets also hope the general public wakes up to the truth. The junior doctors should be better paid, but their case is based on exaggeration and falsehood, and their behaviour besmirches their calling. She had spent a day in Gran Canaria, Spain, which caused sun poisoning Llio, from Wales, saw her face swell to double its size and erupt in a rash A woman suffered a horrific case of sun poisoning that left her 'looking like a chipmunk' after spending a few hours on the beach while on vacation. Llio, from Wales in the UK, went to Gran Canaria in Spain while on a Southern European holiday. The woman simply wanted to get a healthy tan but failed to use enough sun protection, which then caused both of her eyes to swell shut and saw her face almost 'double' in size. Llio also had to deal with painful blistering, redness, and a rash for a whole week before her antihistamines provided relief. Sun poisoning is a severe case of sunburn, which is a reaction to the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun. Llio [pictured] suffered a horrific case of sun poisoning that left her 'looking like a chipmunk' after spending a few hours on the beach while on vacation '[I expected] to get a nice tan on holiday, but [ended up with] sun poisoning instead,' she said in a video. The woman first noticed her forehead starting to swell a few hours after she was exposed to the sun. She woke up the next morning with a swollen left eye that partially impaired her vision. 'Soon, I couldn't open my eye and it was still getting worse.' Llio's sun poisoning caused her to feel extremely fatigued and she ended up taking a short nap. 'I woke up to both of my eyes swollen,' she said. 'They were shut and I couldn't see anything.' The woman's face began peeling on the third day as she travelled to the airport. 'I looked like a chipmunk, it was bad,' she said. She reminded everyone that there were ways to prevent the same predicament. 'Remember to wear sun cream,' she warned. The woman first noticed her forehead starting to swell a few hours after she was exposed to the sun, then woke up the next morning with a swollen eye that partially impaired her vision 'Sun tanning is another sign of overexposure to UV radiation. There's no such thing as a safe sun tan. If skin darkens, it is a sign of skin cells in trauma, even if there is no redness or peeling,' Professor Anne Cust, Chair of Cancer Council's Skin Cancer Committee, told FEMAIL. 'Sunburn and tanning, no matter how severe, are immediate indications of UV damage.' Professor Cust added, 'However it's never too late to be SunSmart. UV damage is cumulative and UV exposure adds up over time, contributing to your long-term risk of skin cancer.' What is sun poisoning? Sun poisoning is a severe case of sunburn - caused by prolonged exposure to UV rays. Dermatologists warn it can happen to anyone if they stay in the sun for a long time without protection. Wearing sunscreen, sunglasses, a hat, and protective clothing can protect against the reaction. A normal sunburn typically starts within minutes to hours after sun exposure, and can cause redness, itchiness, warmth, pain, and sensitivity. On the other hand, sun poisoning has more serious symptoms and may need medical attention. The skin condition can result in a rash, blistering, fever and chills, nausea, dehydration, and confusion. Advertisement Many people shared similar experiences with sun poisoning. 'This happened to me!' a woman wrote. 'I looked quite funny but it was really traumatic.' 'I have really bad allergies and my doctor said I was allergic to the sun ... so sad.' 'I've never seen this happen to anyone else,' another added. 'The skin on my face literally slid off - it's definitely one of the worst experiences ever.' Others revealed that Llio's video made them reconsider being lax with sunscreen application. 'I never put sun cream on, but I'm going to start. This is so scary.' 'Oh my god, my eyes are watering just watching this.' Jenna Bush Hager revealed that she once had a friend make out with a Secret Service agent while reminiscing about how Katie Holmes called her when she was prepping for her role in the movie First Daughter in the early aughts. The Today star, 41, sat down with Holmes and Julia Mayorga to talk about their new film Rare Objects on Wednesday's show when her co-host Hoda Kotb brought up the 2004 rom-com. 'When you research a role, you research a role,' Kotb told Holmes. 'And I don't know if you remember back when you played a first daughter... I want to bring you back cause that was very important. 'So here it is. Jenna so happened to be a first daughter during this time. And Katie, in your research, did you ever reach out to a young lady named Jenna Bush? And try to get a little intel?' Jenna Bush Hager, 41, revealed on the Today show Wednesday that one of her friends made out with a Secret Service agent years ago The Today host made the hilarious confession while she and Hoda Kotb were interviewing Katie Holmes and Julia Mayorga on Wednesday's show 'I believe I did,' the actress replied with a smile. In the movie, Holmes played Samantha MacKenzie, the daughter of the U.S. president, who unknowingly falls in love with the undercover Secret Service agent her father put in charge of protecting while she's attending college. Looking for some insight into the character, she reached out to Bush Hager, whose father, former President George W. Bush, served as commander-in-chief from 2001 to 2009. When Holmes was researching the role, the real first daughter was a student at the University of Texas at Austin, where she graduated with a bachelors degree in English in 2004. Hilariously enough, when the Dawson's Creek star called Bush Hager, she was watching the actress on the teen drama. 'I was with my college roommates, we were watching Dawson's Creek I'm not joking we turned it off and I'm like... "Who called me from LA?"' she recalled. Holmes confirmed during the segment that she had reached out to Bush Hager while preparing for her role in the 2004 rom-com First Daughter The actress played Samantha MacKenzie, the daughter of the U.S. president, who unknowingly falls in love with the undercover Secret Service agent put in charge of protecting at college 'Listened to the message and it was Katie and I was too embarrassed. I mean also, had you come and done research, you would have been like, "Wow, this was quite boring."' Bush Hager acknowledged that her life wasn't as exciting as the movie, but she admitted the Secret Service romance plotline wasn't totally off base. 'I never fell in love with a Secret Service man,' she clarified. 'But I did have a friend make out with one.' The hosts and their guests erupted into laughter over the revelation. 'I am sure you did,' Holmes replied. I mean, that seems like a job of a friend.' 'Not appropriate for me, but a friend could,' the former first daughter added of the makeout session. Bush Hager's father, former President George W. Bush (pictured in 2004), was in the White House from 2001 to 2009, but she admitted her life wasn't as exciting as the movie Bush Hager recalled how she was watching Dawson's Creek when she saw Holmes's missed call, but she never called her back because she was 'embarassed' Bush Hager apologized to Holmes, explaining, 'My real life didn't match the movie. The research would have been gross' At the end of the interview, Bush Hager apologized to Holmes for never returning her phone call two decades ago. 'Why, because you were embarrassed?' Kotb asked. 'Well, my real life didn't match the movie,' Bush Hager explained. 'The research would have been gross.' Holmes shared that First Daughter was 'such a fun movie to do,' saying she still looked to Bush Hager for inspiration even though they never connected. 'I just felt like, "What is that like?" To carry that you've carried it so beautifully,' she told the Today host. 'I'm going to cry,' Bush Hager gushed. 'We're having a moment,' Kotb noted. 'It's a girl party,' Holmes added with a smile. Bryn Parry, who founded the charity in 2007 with his wife Emma, has died Prince William and Prince Harry have paid tribute to 'inspirational' charity co-founder Bryn Parry following his death at the age of 67. Prince William, 41, said he was 'deeply saddened' to hear of Mr Parry's death following a battle with pancreatic cancer. Writing on Twitter, he praised the Help for Heroes co-founder and cartoonist for his 'life-affirming work'. Meanwhile the Duke of Sussex also paid tribute on Twitter to to Mr Parry, in a statement made through his Invictus Games Foundation. He described the charity boss's death as a 'truly sad day for the military community'. The Prince of Wales has paid tribute on Twitter to Bryn Parry, the co-founder of the Help for Heroes charity for veterans, after he died at the age of 67 from pancreatic cancer. Pictured: Prince William with Mr Parry in 2013 It is understood that William closely followed Mr Parry's work and recently wrote to him after he received his CBE, given to him in a private investiture at his home due to his terminal illness. Writing on Twitter about the 67-year-old's death, the father-of-two said: 'Deeply sad to hear that Bryn Parry has passed away. 'A life-affirming, inspirational man, his work with Help for Heroes made a difference to so many and his legacy will be its continuing impact. My thoughts are with his family and friends. W.' Prince Harry, 38, also spoke about the impact Mr Parry's charity work had on the military industry. Mr Parry co-founded Help for Heroes with his wife Emma in 2007. Pictured: The couple on their wedding day in 1981 In a statement posted on the foundation's Twitter account attributed to its patron, the Duke said: 'Today is a truly sad day for the military community as we bid farewell to a man who, alongside his wife, completely transformed the UK charity sector for the benefit of those who have served. 'His vision, determination and brilliance provided a lifeline for thousands of veterans, as well as their families, when they needed it most. 'Those that come after him will always be better off because of his actions. Bryn Parry, we salute you! 'Thank you from all of us for the lives saved, the support given and the community inspired. 'Your legacy lives on through Help for Heroes. Our love and respect will remain with your family.' Harry founded the Invictus Games to aid the rehabilitation of injured or sick military personnel and veterans from across the globe by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics. Mr Parry shared good relationships with other members of the royal family including the Duke of Sussex and the King (pictured with King Charles in 2014) Help for Heroes chief executive James Needham said: 'Everyone at Help for Heroes is deeply saddened by the death of our co-founder Bryn Parry CBE. 'Without Bryn, this charity wouldn't be here. Without him, over 27,000 veterans and their families wouldn't have received lifechanging support. 'Bryn was instrumental in changing the focus of the nation and the way we regard both military service and wounded veterans. 'Those who knew and worked with Bryn saw at his core an incredibly kind, earnest, and passionate soul, whose energy was contagious. 'Supported, encouraged and advised by Emma, he was unstinting in his total, unwavering commitment to making the lot of the wounded servicemen and women as good as it could be. 'Bryn's founding principles and his no-nonsense approach of doing everything humanly possible to help our heroes, remain at the heart of all we do.' The Sun has reported that Mr Parry died 'peacefully and surrounded by family'. He was diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer in January 2023. Minister for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer MP said Mr Parry 'will never be forgotten'. 'My heart goes out to Emma and the family,' he wrote in a social media post. 'At a time when the nation's deficit of veterans care was so ruthlessly exposed by those men and women injured in Iraq and Afghanistan, Bryn and Emma stepped up, founded Help for Heroes, and single handedly revolutionised veterans care in the United Kingdom. 'Their place in history will never fade; what they started has continued to echo years later. 'He inspired me with his unapologetic determination to do right by these special men and women who serve. He will never be forgotten.' After 10 years in the army, Mr Parry gave up his regular commission in The Royal Green Jackets to make a living from art, his sculpture website states. His commissions 'included work for the Duchy of Cornwall, the Duchy of Lancaster, Sandringham, Lloyds of London and many Regiments, Companies and individuals', it added. Viewers of The Repair Shop were left in floods of tears last night after the team transformed a pair of boots which were worn by a prisoner of war in World War II. Malcolm Britton, from Leicestershire, appeared on the BBC2 programme last night with the pair of shoes and described how the boots had belonged to his father Jack while he was a Prisoner of War from 1940 to 1945. Tearing up, he emotionally described how his father had spoken of periods of starvation, as well as challenging marches across Germany and parts of Poland. However the team transformed the boots, reheeling the shoe and filling in holes which had been caused by moth damage. Many of those watching were left emotional by the transformation, with one saying: 'Those boots never felt so good.' Viewers of The Repair Shop were left in floods of tears last night after the team transformed a pair of boots which were worn by a prisoner of war in World War II (left, before, and right, the boots after) Malcolm Britton, from Leicestershire, appeared on the BBC2 programme last night with the pair of shoes and described how the boots had belonged to his father Jack while he was a Prisoner of War from 1940 to 1945 (pictured) Another wrote: 'Items I'm getting emotional over this week? A pair of boots! But what a story they held and Dean did such an incredible job with them.' A third commented: 'I'm watching The Repair Shop and I'm crying again over a pair of bloody boots.' A fourth added: 'Fantastic job Dean, those boots need treasuring forever.' Appearing on the programme, Malcolm told the Repair Shop team: 'These were my dad's boots when he was a prisoner of war in World War II and he marched in these through miles of Germany and probably Poland as well. 'His name was Jack. When war was imminent, he and his two brothers joined up straight away. 'They soon went across to Norway at the beginning of 1940 and there he was captured. 'He never saw the fighting, he just saw imprisonment for the duration of the war. He was a prisoner for five years. 'He kept quiet about it really, but after he died, we found the diary he had kept throughout the war. 'It's from the beginning of 1942 to the time the Americans took him home. The period of imprisonment was horrific. Many of those watching the programme confessed they had been left in floods of tears over the transformation and moving story 'He speaks of a period of starvation in 1942. I think little things like that can make you realise how awful that must have been.' 'He doesn't mention the boots in the diary but he would be wearing them in the winter.' Malcolm read a section of the diary, where his father described the challenges of the war. He told the Repair Shop team: 'I don't know what can be done if anything about the moths, but if the stitching was done, a bit of the sole and heeling. 'I don't want them looking brand new but just tidying up a bit. 'They would remind us of him and his courage and never wanting to give up.' Tearing up, he said: 'He just carried on, just to work, not as a starving prisoner. It's not only memories of the war but memories of my childhood as well. He was emotional as he described the significance of the boots to the Repair Shop team, and couldn't help but tear up He described how his father had signed up for the war effort but never saw any fighting because he was captured 'And honouring what he has gone through.' Cobbler Dean Westmoreland said: 'These boots are blowing my mind to be honest.' He planned to clean the boot, build a new heeled block and to improve the stitching on the shoe. Dean said: 'There's over 70 years of muck and grime in there. It's going to be quite an extensive cleaning job I think.' Meanwhile he also said he planned to plug the moth holes with some felting wool and glue. He explained: 'Once it's in there with the glue, it blends quite well. There's quite a lot of work to do here, and quite a lot of holes to fill on both sides of the boots.' Cobbler Dean Westmoreland said the boots were 'blowing his mind', and gave the shoes a thorough cleaning job Malcolm returned to the workshop to see the finished product, saying: 'I've been thinking about the boots and what is going to happen to them. 'They've had a life. It's quite exciting that they'll have been restored to their former glory.' He was emotional as the shoes were revealed, saying: 'Oh my word. They're absolutely perfect. 'I never imagined they would get back like this again. That's brilliant that is.' He told the camera: 'They're so important to me, the boots. They are a tangible reminder of Dad, who died many years ago now. 'But also remembering what he went through in the war, and by association, we can not forget what has gone on before.' A six-year-old Ukrainian boy thought he was dreaming when his father returned from the war unexpectedly in the middle of the night. The emotional moment was caught on film by the boy's mother Alyona Berezovskyi, 27, who wanted to remember the moment her partner Evgen Berezovskyi, 33, made it home. In the clip, filmed in the Ukrainian city of Zviahel, Stanislav Berezovskyi is seen soundly sleeping before his father walks into the room - and he wakes up in disbelief. The father and son embrace for a moment, before the six-year-old goes back to bed. Then, when he wakes again in the morning, Stanislav thinks it was all a dream. He tells his mother: 'I had a dream that dad had already arrived at 12pm.' The emotional moment was caught on film by the boy's mother Alyona Berezovskyi, 27, who wanted to remember the moment her partner Evgen Berezovskyi, 33, made it home In the clip, filmed in the Ukrainian city of Zviahel, Stanislav Berezovskyi is seen soundly sleeping before his father walks into the room - and the disbelief is clear on his face His mother then takes him through the house, and it becomes clear his father really has returned from the fight. The family were left in tears of joy - and they hope the scene can be replicated across the country, where the 14-month war with Russia wages on. Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with a number of cities in the east and south now under Russian occupation - and fierce fighting still under way. Ms Berezovskyi said: 'My son thought that the night arrival of his dad from the war was just a dream, but it turned out to be true. 'I was anticipating the reaction of my son, there was so much joy for him and it was a great relief that my husband and father of my child is back at home and back with his family. 'The feeling of safety and tenderness was overwhelming from my son's reaction. 'We had tears and joy at the same time, we are both very grateful to him for protecting our country. 'We have the hope that the war will end soon and every child will meet their father returning from the war.' The family were left in tears of joy - and they hope the scene can be replicated across the country, where the 14-month war with Russia wages on Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, with a number of cities in the east and south now under Russian occupation - and fierce fighting still under way The six-year-old woke in the middle of the night to see Mr Berezovskyi had returned from the fight, and he thought the reunion was merely a dream It comes as a new leak of classified documents revealed that the scale of infighting inside Moscow's government agencies may be greater than previously understood. The documents, separate from the leak of alleged US intelligence widely reported on in recent days, claim that the Russian government is feuding over the numbers of casualties its armies have suffered fighting in Ukraine. The new batch of 27 pages also reveal how Vladimir Putin was forced to hold a peace summit between two of his most high-profile Warlords - and how deeply US spy agencies have penetrated the despot's intelligence network and command. It also suggests that the earlier breach of American intelligence agencies could contain even more material than has already been released to the public. Lady Amelia Spencer has revealed a series of snaps as she lapped up the Maldives sunshine with her new husband on her honeymoon. Princess Diana's niece Amelia and Greg Mallett, both 30, tied the knot at exclusive venue La Cotte Farm, which offers a 'unique winelands experience', on March 21. The pair have since been holidaying in the Coco Residence in the Maldives, which features an extensive pillow menu, exquisite decor and a four-poster daybed and costs in excess of 600 per night. During the stay, the couple enjoyed a guided snorkeling tour around the reefs, relaxed at the Coco spa and enjoyed a film at a private cinema screening under the stars. Lady Amelia has now shared a number of snaps from the holiday, posting on Instagram: 'More special moments from our honeymoon.' Lady Amelia Spencer has revealed a series of snaps as she lapped up the Maldives sunshine with her new husband on her honeymoon The pair have since been holidaying in the Coco Residence in the Maldives, which features an extensive pillow menu, exquisite decor and a four-poster daybed and costs in excess of 600 per night In the snaps, Lady Amelia could be seen relaxing in a pool while wearing a pink bikini, while in others, she donned a white bathing suit as she hopped onto a jet ski on the turquoise sea. In another photograph, her new personal trainer husband Greg can be seen showing off his incredible physique on the beach. Other snaps show the excited Greg taking photographs of the resort, as well as another image which shows the personal trainer showcasing his wedding ring with a wide grin on his face. In her first Instagram post since sharing her wedding photographs, the socialite took to her social media profile 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. 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. In one snap shared by Lady Amelia, her personal trainer beau Greg can be seen showing off his wedding ring In the snaps, Lady Amelia could be seen relaxing in a pool while wearing a pink bikini (left and right) Meanwhile in others, she donned a white bathing suit as she hopped onto a jet ski on the turquoise sea Lady Amelia revealed the snaps of her husband in a post on Instagram in which she said the moments were 'special' In another photograph, the couple could be seen snorkeling next to each other in the Maldives sea 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. Lady Amelia was the picture of newlywed bliss as she put on a loved-up display with her husband Greg during their honeymoon in the Maldives Princess Diana's niece appeared in good spirits as she posed in a white swimsuit during her holiday In her first Instagram post since sharing her wedding photographs, the socialite took to her social media profile 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 white 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 on their honeymoon) 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.' Dame Deborah James opened up about the toll her bowel cancer treatment was taking on her marriage in a new documentary. The mother-of-two - who passed away last June at the age of 40 - married banker Sebastien Bowen, 42, in 2008 and the couple lived in West London with their children Hugo, 15, and Eloise, 13. After being diagnosed with stage four bowel cancer in 2016, the former deputy headteacher began her BowelBabe blog and went on to amass almost one million Instagram followers. The new BBC2 documentary Bowelbabe: In Her Own Words - which airs at 9pm on 14 April - follows the final five years of Deborah's life as she underwent multiple rounds of chemotherapy and raised over 11m for charity. During the 80-minute documentary, Deborah paid tribute to her husband and expressed how grateful she was for his support in the face of her diagnosis. The late mother-of-two paid tribute to her husband of 13 years Sebastien in the new BBC2 documentary Bowelbabe: In Her Own Words During the recording of one of the You, Me and the Big C podcast episodes, Deborah admits: 'The thing that I forget sometimes - because my husband said this before - is that there are two people going through this. 'One moment I'm vomiting and crying in pain or complaining in the dark depths of [thinking] "oh I hate cancer!" 'And then the next minute, I want to be seen as like... "oh, do you want to have sex with me? Right? I want to be like, "you must desire me!"' Discussing the emotional impact her cancer had on her, Deborah added: 'To be able to flip through all those emotions is a total head-screw! 'We muddle on through and I do love my husband very much. And actually, I'm just thinking, "I do really hope we can grow old together." Later in the documentary, Deborah filmed clips from her February 2022 hospital stay after she suffered a haemorrhage in her West London home. Imagining her husband's life without her, Deborah joked that he as an 'eligible bachelor' who would likely attract a lot of female attention in future. But she revealed there were a few women in their lives who she worried would make a beeline for Sebastien and jokingly made a list of their names so he would avoid getting romantically involved with them. Sebastien pictured taking his late wife Dame Deborah on a day out to Glyndebourne opera house in East Sussex before her death The former headteacher (pictured right, with children Eloise, 13, Hugo, 15 and husband Sebastien Bowen) was diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2016 BOWEL CANCER: THE SYMPTOMS YOU SHOULDN'T IGNORE Bowel, or colorectal, cancer affects the large bowel, which is made up of the colon and rectum. Such tumours usually develop from pre-cancerous growths, called polyps. Symptoms include: Bleeding from the bottom Blood in stools A change in bowel habits lasting at least three weeks Unexplained weight loss Extreme, unexplained tiredness Abdominal pain Most cases have no clear cause, however, people are more at risk if they: Are over 50 Have a family history of the condition Have a personal history of polyps in their bowel Suffer from inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn's disease Lead an unhealthy lifestyle Treatment usually involves surgery, and chemo- and radiotherapy. More than nine out of 10 people with stage one bowel cancer survive five years or more after their diagnosis. This drops significantly if it is diagnosed in later stages. According to Bowel Cancer UK figures, more than 41,200 people are diagnosed with bowel cancer every year in the UK. It affects around 40 per 100,000 adults per year in the US, according to the National Cancer Institute. Advertisement She said: 'I had a list of girls that I was like, right, they're going to pounce on my husband. 'And so I listed off a couple of names that I said that I would do my damned hardest to come and haunt him if he hooked up with those people, which I thought was absolutely hilarious.' What's more, Sebastien also revealed in the documentary that a tube of lipstick was always the 'first thing' his wife would ask for after having surgery. Deborah and Sebastien had only recently rekindled their relationship when the mother-of-two received her life-changing diagnosis. Before her diagnosis, Deborah was an ambitious deputy head teacher who'd been brought in to turn around a failing comprehensive in Surrey. It meant she and Sebastien, were always stressed and barely saw each other. 'It was a classic case of our marriage coming last,' she told the Daily Mail in 2020. Sebastien moved out in 2015 and they embarked on an initially 'acrimonious' divorce, both hiring lawyers and starting to see other people. Deborah even went on some 'hideous' Tinder dates. They'd already had the decree nisi when they agreed to counselling, not with any hope of a reconciliation, but simply to be on more cordial terms for the children. Then, to Deborah's astonishment, the pair began having drinks, then dinner, after the sessions. In November 2016, they made 'a big step' and got back together, only for Deborah to receive her shock diagnosis soon after. In a touching interview with The Times last year, Sebastien Bowen explained how he and his chldren took care of Deborah at her parents home of Woking in her final days. The father-of-two said his wife became 'so weak' and 'frustrated' because she had been 'fiercely independent'. Two days before her passing, Hugo 'helped her get dressed' and they 'had a good chat' before the family had lunch, adding: 'Deborah was being as bossy as ever, telling us what to do. Then at teatime she started to slip away; she was floating in and out of consciousness. He went on to say the hospice team arrived at the house and administered a syringe driver to help her manage the pain. Then, Sebastien described how he slept with her for two days as he held her hand, saying she 'wasn't really there.' He said the family surrounded her to tell her how much they 'adored' her, continuing: 'On Tuesday her eyes opened and she came back into the room for a moment, and then she was gone within 15 minutes, with her sister, mother and father also surrounding her.' During the interview, Sebastien said it was his late wife's 'inner strength' during her final eight weeks that resulted in the couple being able to still experience 'some of the most mind-blowing, magical days of both our lives'. After inspiring the nation, the mother-of-two was presented with a damehood by Prince William shortly after announcing she was receiving end-of-life care. The Duke of Cambridge, 40, who lost his own mother, Princess Diana, when he was aged just 15, gave Deborah's two children 'powerful advice' about dealing with grief, according to Sebastien. In January 2020, she had explained that scans showed she had no evidence of cancer in her body at that point - with doctors suggesting she was 'rewriting the textbook' - but in April 2021, she revealed her cancer was back again Despite ongoing cancer treatments over the last few years, Deborah continued living life to the full, holidaying with her family and dancing in the rain In an appearance on BBC Breakfast, Sebastian said he and his family are now determined to do what they can to make life with the illness easier. 'There is that strong underlying driver of, let's prevent it,' he urged. 'Hopefully all of us working together...we'll be able maybe not defeat bowel cancer but at least change the odds that people have.' Recalling telling his children, on the day of the funeral that 'if we can get through this together I think we can get through anything', Sebastian said the message has stayed true for them. 'I think that's kind of stuck with us...we're a pretty strong unit I like to think,' he added. Meanwhile Deborah's children reflected on their mother's legacy, of which they remain proud today. 'It's just amazing to think...well first of all the legacy that it is,' Hugo, 15, told the programme. 'And second of all the amount that could be achieved with this 11 million is just, I think beyond what anyone could realise at this point.' Hugo also said the family still stresses the importance of the 'rebellious hope' their mother had always urged everyone to have. 'It means, regardless of anything, there's always something that will keep you going,' he added. Queen Letizia of Spain channeled her inner Spring energy as she attended an event in Cordoba. The royal, 50, was in the south of Spain for the talent tour and prize winner announcement event, hosted by the Princess Girona Foundation. Her elegant dress is from Spanish brand Cayro, and will set you just over 96. The foundation was set up to help young people prepare for their future - both professionally and personally - and focuses on getting younger people who have been successful in their lives to become role models for others. She was pictured posing in selfies for young royal fans, who could not hide their excitement at her arrival. Queen Letizia also smiled as she greeted people who were lined up to catch a handshake from her The royal, 50, was in the south of Spain for Talent Tour and Prize Winner Announcement hosted by the Princess Girona Foundation Queen Letizia also smiled as she greeted people who were lined up to catch a handshake from her. The Queen looked more ready than ever for Spring as she stepped out in a brightly coloured floral midi-dress. The garment is made from a crepe fabric and has an adjustable waist tie with a ring style belt. The half-sleeve dress has material gathered on one shoulder and has an array of colourful flowers printed on it, such as yellow, pink, lavender and tangerine. This bright, colourful dress is a stark contrast to the navy autumnal knitted dress she wore to when she attended the bicentenary of Ateneo De Madrid just two days ago. She then opted for rose coloured stiletto heels, which tied in the smart, sleek look. She paired the stand-out dress with silver dangling earrings and let her chocolate coloured locks sit below her shoulder. The Queen looked more ready than ever for Spring as she stepped out in a brightly coloured floral midi-dress Queen Letitia was pictured posing in selfies for young royal fans, who could not hide their excitement at her arrival Ready for Spring! The elegant dress is from Spanish brand Cayro, and will set you just over 96 The Queen had a few silver strands on show , as she recently became one of the newest royals to embrace the grey She paired the stand-out dress with silver dangling earrings and let her chocolate coloured locks sit below her shoulder Young royal smiled as they posed with the Queen. The foundation The foundation was set up to help young people prepare for their future - both professionally and personally The half-sleeve dress has material gathered on one shoulder and has an array of colourful flowers printed on it, such as yellow, pink, lavender and tangerine The foundation who hosted the event supports programs to improve employability and the educational transformation of young teachers The Queen had a few silver strands on show, as she recently became one of the newest royals to embrace the grey. She opted for a natural makeup look, with a touch of mascara and some smokey pink and bronze eyeshadow. Princess Girona Foundation also has her husband, King Felipe VI, as the honorary president representing their daughter Princess Leonor. The foundation supports programs to improve employability and the educational transformation of young teachers. A thrifty couple managed to plan their entire wedding day for just 3,000 - complete with a 40 dress, a homemade three-tier cake and budget hotel. Lianne and Jack Berrell, from Leeds, tied the knot on Saturday after a year's worth of planning which saw then cash in on deals, bargains and the help of their family and friends. Ms Berrell, 36, has now shared her money-saving tips, including securing a function hall and buffet for 1,600 - and finding her wedding dress on Facebook Marketplace. The couple also called in some favours from family and friends, with one friend baking their three-tier wedding cake, and a neighbour acting as photographer. Their string of bargains began when the couple arranged to hire the Adelphi function room for only 200 - adding a buffet for 60 people for another 1,400. Lianne and Jack Berrell, from Leeds, tied the knot on Saturday after a year's worth of planning which saw then cash in on deals, bargains and the help of their family and friends The couple also called in some favours from family and friends, with one friend baking their three-tier wedding cake, and a neighbour acting as photographer Ms Berrell - who is pregnant - saved extra cash by doing her own hair and make-up. Remarkably, she managed to snap up her wedding dress for 40 on Facebook. Their decorations were bought from Amazon, The Range and Shein - all for a bargain price. Ms Berrell even stayed at a low-cost hotel on the night before her wedding. Explaining their cost-cutting prowess, the new bride said: 'We had our day on Saturday and we did everything for around 3,000 - and I mean everything! 'DJ was a family member and we made a Spotify playlist, the photographer was someone who is getting into wedding photography. 'Bridesmaids' dresses from Ever Pretty - absolute bargain at 50 each and the quality is amazing. Suits from M&S for the groom, best man and from Next for my son. 'My wedding band is my husband's late aunties, so full of sentiment. 'Honestly, just because things are done on the 'cheap', it doesn't make it any less special, it was all done with love. We had the best day ever and our guests said it was fab.' Their string of bargains began when the couple arranged to hire the Adelphi function room for only 200 - adding a buffet for 60 people for another 1,400 Their decorations were bought from Amazon, The Range and Shein - all for a bargain price. Ms Berrell even stayed at a low-cost hotel on the night before her wedding Explaining their cost-cutting prowess, the new bride said: 'We had our day on Saturday and we did everything for around 3,000 - and I mean everything!' Her social media post gathered over 1,000 likes and more than 140 comments from users left stunned at the bargain-hunting bride's big day Her social media post gathered over 1,000 likes and more than 140 comments from users left stunned at the bargain-hunting bride's big day. One user wrote: 'Love this and congrats on the baby girl. Girls rock! You look beautiful, I really love your make-up - you are glowing. I'm glad you had a fab day.' Another said: 'Well done, you look beautiful. I wish more brides would do what you have done. I just can't believe what some are paying out.' A third commented: 'Congratulations. Your flowers are gorgeous. I've ordered mine from Shein as well and all my decorations and photo booth things - save so much money.' A fourth added: 'Very impressive. My venue alone is 9,000. You look amazing though and huge congratulations on your marriage and also your little one on the way.' The Duchess of Edinburgh sported a pair of VR goggles as she enjoyed a visit to an event hosted by eye care charity Orbis UK at the Gherkin in London yesterday. Sophie, 58, looked delighted to play around with tech in her role as the Global Ambassador for The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. The royal sported a chic cerulean blue ensemble perfect for the sunny Spring day. She teamed her chic short-sleeve-top-and-skirt combo with a leopard-print clutch. Cream stiletto heels tied the look together as Sophie opted for minimal golden jewellery. Sophie, 58, looked delighted to play around with Orbis Visionaries tech in her role as the Global Ambassador for The International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness The Duchess styled her blonde tresses in loose waves and wore a glam face of make-up, accentuating her eyes with dark mascara. The Orbis Visionaries event celebrated vital advancements in eye health, from simulation and Virtual Reality training with FundamentalVR, to Artificial Intelligence to support the diagnosis of eye conditions, to Women Led Green Vision Centres, which tackle gender related barriers to seeking eye care. It comes as over the weekend, Sophie joined the Royal Family at Windsor Castle to celebrate Easter and earlier this week visited HMS Daring in Portsmouth, while the docked Royal Navy destroyer undergoes maintenance and renovation. 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. She completed her elegant look with a smattering of glamorous makeup, while keeping her blonde locks in a sophisticated up-do. Elsewhere on Sunday, the Duchess seemed to pull out all the stops when attending the Easter service alongside other senior royals. The royal sported a chic cerulean blue ensemble perfect for the sunny Spring day. She teamed her chic short-sleeve-top-and-skirt combo with a leopard-print clutch 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. The Duchess styled her blonde tresses in loose waves and wore a glam face of make-up, accentuating her eyes with dark mascara 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. 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. Eve Jobs dazzled at the Youth America Grand Prix Gala in New York City on Tuesday as she mingled with society's creme de la creme, including Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Wendi Deng and Warren Buffet's granddaughter-in-law Lili Buffett. The 24-year-old daughter of the late Apple founder Steve Jobs and billionaire investor Laurene Powell-Jobs modeled a nude cape-top gown with a sheer black overlay embroidered with flowers as she posed for photos at the annual ballet scholarship competition event held at Lincoln Center. Eve, whose family's net worth is an estimated 12.5 billion, topped off her ethereal look with a pair of nude platforms that peeked out from the bottom of her dress, forgoing any jewelry or accessories. Her shiny pecan brown locks were center-parted and styled in undone waves. The model was joined by her friend Lilli Hymowitz the daughter of EnTrust Global CEO and founder Gregg Hymowitz and former 'Prom Queen of Instagram' who stood out in a bright red one-shoulder gown with ruffles. Eve Jobs, 24, modeled a nude cape-top gown with a sheer black overlay embroidered with flowers at the Youth America Grand Prix Gala in New York City on Tuesday The model was joined by her friend Lilli Hymowitz, the daughter of EnTrust Global CEO and founder Gregg Hymowitz and former 'Prom Queen of Instagram' Inside the gala, Eve Jobs (center) and Lilli Hymowitz (left) struck a pose with Wendi Deng (right), Rupert Murdoch's ex-wife Marcella Guarino Hymowitz was radiant in a pink chiffon gown as she posed with her stepdaughter Lilli Hymowitz and Eve Jobs, who clutched her iPhone Eve and Lilli were both listed among the YAGP event's nearly two dozen hosts. Inside the gala, they struck a pose with Deng, with Eve standing between her pal and the entrepreneur. Deng, the third of Murdoch's four wives, looked like the epitome of spring in a long-sleeve chiffon gown featuring hints of hot pink, purple, and mint green. Wealth adviser Lili Buffett was in attendance wearing a ladylike black and white long-sleeve tweed dress with a pussy bow and maroon velvet Dior slingback heels. The Columbia University graduate is married to Howard W. Buffett, the grandson of investor Warren Buffett, who has an estimated net worth of $112.9 billion. Her husband's Howard W. Buffett Foundation was recognized at the event for providing a grant to support YAGP's Ukraine relief efforts. Lili Buffett (left) was in attendance wearing a ladylike tweed dress with a pussy bow and maroon velvet Dior slingback heels. She was seen chatting with Vogue editor Lilah Ramzi (right) Lili Buffett (pictured with Marcella Guarino Hymowitz) is married to Howard W. Buffett, the grandson of the investor Warren Buffett, who has an estimated net worth of $112.9 billion Lili Buffett (center right) was all smiles as she posed for photos with Zachary Weiss, Lilah Ramzi, and Isiah Magsino (left to right) The Howard W. Buffett Foundation was recognized at the event for providing a grant to support YAGP's Ukraine relief efforts. Lili Buffett is pictured with Lilah Ramzi (left) and Sarah Hoover (center) Former ballet dancer Indre Rockefeller looked right at home at the event in a sunny yellow two-piece frock featuring a white-lace cap-crop top and sheer palazzo pants Indre Rockefeller is the wife of investor Justin Rockefeller, the great-great-grandson of business magnate John D. Rockefeller, the world's first billionaire. She is pictured with Wes Gordan (left) and Paul Arnold (right) Indre Rockefeller also mingled with Sarah Hoover (center) and Rachel Wexler (right) The YAGP, now in its 25th season, has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to more than 300 dancers to attend the best dance institutions around the world this year. Lili Buffett was seen mingling with writer and curator Sarah Hoover, who paired her baby pink one-shoulder frock with an Olympia Le-Tan book clutch featuring an embroidered cover of 'The Book of Woman's Power.' Hoover's outing comes roughly a month after her famous artist husband, Tom Sachs, was accused of lewd and inappropriate behavior by his studio staff in an expose published by Curbed. Sachs, whose modern art pieces go for more than $300,000, allegedly subjected his employees to bizarre tasks, including group workouts and inappropriate meetings with female employees while he wore tight underwear. The artist and his wife are also widely suspected to be the 'high-profile art world family' who posted an outrageous job ad for an assistant that was mercilessly mocked when it went viral in late February. However, Hoover appeared to be in good spirits as she posed for photos with a closed-lip smile. Writer and curator Sarah Hoover's outing comes roughly a month after her famous artist husband, Tom Sachs, was accused of lewd and inappropriate behavior by his studio staff Sarah Hoover (far left) was all smiles as she sat with Taylor Olson, Drew Barrymore's ex-husband Will Kopelman, and Kopelman's wife, Alexandra 'Allie' Michler (left to right) Pregnant Alexandra Michler opted for a backless long-sleeve gown for the gala Alexandra Michler cradled her baby bump as she posed for a photo with Taylor Olson, Olympia Rizzo, and Mollie Acquavella (left to right) Candice Miller - one half of the sister blogging duo Mama and Tata - attended the event with her real estate developer husband, Brandon Miller, and their two daughters Candice Miller (pictured with Marcella Guarino Hymowitz) looked radiant in a chiffon caftan-style gown, her long brown waves flowing down her shoulders Elissa Brenner, Lina Wallach, Candice Miller, and Lindsay Kraus (left to right) are pictured mingling at the annual ballet scholarship competition event held at Lincoln Center LoveShackFancy founder Rebecca Hessel Cohen (left) attended the gala with her husband, Todd Cohen (right) Former ballet dancer Indre Rockefeller looked right at home at the event in a sunny yellow two-piece frock featuring a white-lace cap-crop top and sheer palazzo pants, an outfit she posted on her Instagram back in 2021. The Paravel co-founder is the wife of investor Justin Rockefeller, the great-great-grandson of business magnate John D. Rockefeller, the world's first billionaire. In 2020, Forbes reported that the Rockefeller family's fortune is $8.4 billion but noted that the wealth is spread out among more than 70 heirs. Indre's husband, Justin, is estimated to be worth somewhere between $1 million and $9 million. Candice Miller one half of the sister blogging duo Mama and Tata attended the event with her real estate developer husband, Brandon Miller, and their two daughters. She looked radiant in a chiffon caftan-style gown, her long brown waves flowing down her shoulders. Candice, the cousin of controversial fashion blogger Arielle Charnas of Something Navy, was spotted palling around with Ivanka Trump in Miami a few years ago. Drew Barrymore's ex-husband, art consultant Will Kopelman, was at the gala with his pregnant wife, Alexandra 'Allie' Michler, who is Vogue's director of fashion development. Other attendees at YAGP's 2023 Today Meets the Stars of Tomorrow Gala included LoveShackFancy founder Rebecca Hessel Cohen, fashion designer Wes Gordon, Vogue editor Lilah Ramzi, and fashion blogger Colby Mugrabi, wife of art dealer Alberto 'Tico' Mugrabi. Rebecca Hessel Cohen (left) was spotted having an animated conversation with Lilah Ramzi (center) and Lili Buffett (right) Colby Mugrabi (center) and her art dealer husband, Alberto 'Tico' Mugrabi (right), are pictured with Paul Arnhold Attendees happily posed for a group photo together inside the gala, including Lili Buffett, Eve Jobs, and Indre Rockefeller Mollie Acquavella (right) paired her black and white off-the-shoulder gown with gold sandals. She is pictured with Grace Fuller (left), who opted for a black lace strapless Mollie Acquavella (center) and Grace Fuller (right) enjoyed a chat with Alexandra Michler (left) The YAGP, now in its 25th season, has awarded over $500,000 in scholarships to more than 300 dancers to attend the best dance institutions around the world this year Guests were treated to contemporary and classical ballet performances featuring a mix of accomplished ballet dancers and young aspiring dancers seeking scholarships Marcella Guarino Hymowitz addressed the crowd at the gala, saying, 'Sometimes dance can literally save lives.' She thanked the Howard G. Buffett Foundation for its 'generous support' Guests were treated to contemporary and classical ballet performances featuring a mix of accomplished ballet dancers and young aspiring dancers seeking scholarships. Lilli Hymowitz's stepmother Marcella Guarino Hymowitz, a YAPG board member, addressed the crowd at the gala the first at Lincoln Center since before the pandemic. 'Sometimes dance can literally save lives. Since February 2021, Youth America Grand Prix has worked tirelessly to find new dance homes for Ukrainian students displaced by war. One of them 16-year-old Nikita Malaki performed here at Lincoln Center tonight,' she said. 'Nikita is one of 200 Ukrainian dancers whom YAGP placed on scholarship at leading dance schools in Europe and the United States giving them a chance to continue living and practicing their art in safety. 'YAGP wishes a heartfelt "thank you" to the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, whose generous support has made it possible for YAGP to continue doing this important work.' The peaceful death of Mary Quant at the age of 93 should also be an occasion to celebrate her dynamic life as a great British fashion designer who transformed the way women looked and, in doing so, turned London into the beating heart of the Swinging Sixties. But Quant's story began before then, for she was a style visionary whose instinctive talent popularised everything from miniskirts and hot pants to skinny-rib jumpers and vibrant tights. Many of Quant's iconic creations still look as appealing today as they did when she started out as a designer in the 1950s. She herself identified the origins of the inimitable Quant style in her prewar London childhood. In her autobiography, published in 2012, Quant described seeing another little girl, about the same age as her (eight or nine years old) at a dancing class they both attended: 'A girl with bobbed hair, wearing a black skinny-rib sweater, seven inches of black pleated skirt, black tights under white ankle socks, and black patent shoes.' It was this youthful 'vision of chic' that would inspire her future designs. However, her parents, Welsh schoolteachers, were reluctant to allow her to study fashion; instead, she did a course on illustration at Goldsmiths, where she met Alexander Plunket Greene, a dashing young man-about-town who would become her husband and business partner. ('Alexander was a hell of a womaniser,' she subsequently wrote in her memoir, 'and that makes life bumpy', but she loved him and they remained together until his death in 1990.) Pictured: Fashion designer Mary Quant, one of the leading lights of the British fashion scene in the 1960's, having her hair cut by another fashion icon, hairdresser Vidal Sassoon Pictured: Mary Quant and her husband Alexander Plenket Greene at her flat in London Quant graduated from college at a time of austerity when postwar rationing was still strictly enforced; when the realm of fashion was the privileged preserve of a small minority of very rich customers who could afford to buy couture from Christian Dior in Paris or Norman Hartnell in Mayfair. Her first job was on the fringes of this enclave, when she began an apprenticeship at a high-class milliner, Erik of Brook Street, next door to Claridge's. But rather than progressing from there to a traditional couture house, Quant created a new way of doing business when, in 1955, she opened her first shop, a boutique named Bazaar on the King's Road. She and her husband became central to what was known as 'the Chelsea Set' a group of young artists, dancers, photographers, models and musicians who gathered at the restaurant that Plunket Greene opened in the basement beneath the boutique. At first, Quant planned to stock her shop with clothes sourced on the wholesale market. But she quickly switched to her own, more original designs, and her talent was immediately showcased in the pages of Harper's Bazaar. As a former editor-in-chief of Bazaar, I like to think Quant's appreciation of the magazine was reflected in her choice of name for her boutique. Certainly, Bazaar hailed the opening of the boutique in its September 1955 issue with a photograph of one of Quant's first outfits: a polka-dot spotted tunic and matching culottes. Pictured right: Mary Quant poses for a portrait session in 2009 in London In 1957, she was featured again in Harper's Bazaar with a distinctive haircut by the young, pioneering stylist Vidal Sassoon that would spawn myriad imitations: a sharp, angular bob that epitomised a wholly new look, Just as Coco Chanel had done with such panache in the 1920s, Mary Quant thereby became her own best model, expressing a sense of youthful freedom, independence and liberation. I must have been about the same age as those little girls in the long-ago dancing class when I was first struck by the visual appeal of the Quant look. As the daughter of a young, fashion-conscious mother, I grew up in 1960s London, and some of my earliest memories are of that flamboyant era: the Rolling Stones' free concert in Hyde Park; the Beatles driving past our flat on Marylebone High Street in a psychedelic Rolls-Royce. My sister and I had matching PVC coats miniature, lookalike versions of the Quant designs modelled by Twiggy and Jean Shrimpton and we wore black patent shoes and contrasting tights beneath our Pop-Art patterned shift dresses, just like our mother's. By the time I was 17, my favourite outfit was a black and white houndstooth mini-dress vintage Mary Quant that would still look as perfect on a teenager today as it did in the late 1970s, or indeed when it first appeared on the King's Road six decades ago. Mary Quant's timeless legacy holds true to Coco Chanel's famous observation that 'fashion passes, style remains'. A model displaying Mary Quant designs in London, 1967 (file photo) Her outstanding contribution to British fashion was recognised in 2015, when she became a Dame in the New Year Honours list. And she lived long enough to see a major retrospective of her work at the V&A in 2019, a show that revealed her immense influence as a designer: by the end of the 1960s, it was estimated that seven million women had bought at least one of her products, thanks to her mass-market diffusion line (Ginger Group) and a deal with the U.S. departmentstore chain JC Penney. The launch of a range of Mary Quant cosmetics including the first waterproof mascara extended her reach even farther, and in the 1970s she moved into colour co-ordinated bedlinen, wallpaper, paint and carpets. I'm glad to say the hugely successful V&A exhibition which has already travelled on tour to Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan will be opening in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum next month. So with any luck, a new generation will be introduced to the woman who put the fun into fashion and who, with her irreverent wit and energy, utterly reshaped the old, rigid sartorial codes. Dame Mary Quant deserves to be remembered as a genius an overused description nowadays, but entirely apt for this true pioneer. The news this week that Tupperware is on the brink of collapse left me feeling strangely conflicted. During my two decades as the editor of Good Housekeeping, the quest for the perfect food storage container was an ever-present fixture in both my home and working life. I used to keep a test selection under my desk, and could have given you chapter and verse on the benefits of each brand. But while I felt a nostalgic pang at the thought of Tupperware's passing, I also recognised with relief that its original core customer the dutiful housewife to whom the company remained inextricably linked no longer exists. Tupperware has always been an intrinsically female product. The news this week that Tupperware is on the brink of collapse left me feeling strangely conflicted. During my two decades as the editor of Good Housekeeping, the quest for the perfect food storage container was an ever-present fixture in both my home and working life And just as women's hemlines are said to rise and fall along with the stock market, it seems the fates of Tupperware and women have been entwined these past 70 years. For as women's status in society has risen, so Tupperware's fortunes have fallen. Strange as it may seem, in 1960s Britain the highlight of many women's social life was the chance to buy a little plastic tub with a lid that closed with a distinctive 'burp'. Having swept small-town America in the 1950s, the Tupperware party proved to be a sensation: a rare chance for housewives to escape domestic drudgery and socialise with their friends over a glass of wine and, ground-breakingly, to earn money of their own. Even the Queen was a fan of the little plastic pots During World War II, women on both sides of the Atlantic were encouraged to fill jobs left vacant by men fighting at the Front. But with peace came a new social imperative: for women to give up those jobs in favour of returning heroes. Indeed, it was seen as disrespectful for women to work outside the home, no matter how tight their family's budget. Coinciding with this literal return to the kitchen came Tupperware polyethylene storage tubs of differing sizes invented by Earl Tupper and launched in 1946. In the decades that followed, it would go on to become a global phenomenon even the late Queen was a fan. Yet now the 77year-old company's future is uncertain, having lost favour with a younger generation of women confident of their place in the workforce after the battles fought by their mothers and grandmothers, and whose eating and cooking habits are very different from those of yesteryear. Shares in the company have fallen by more than 95 per cent in just over two years on the New York stock market, and nearly 70 per cent this year alone. It's a far cry from Tupperware's heyday. After pioneering single mother Brownie Wise dreamt up the Tupperware party in 1951, thousands of women embraced the hitherto-unheard of opportunities that the brand afforded. Coinciding with this literal return to the kitchen came Tupperware polyethylene storage tubs of differing sizes invented by Earl Tupper and launched in 1946. In the decades that followed, it would go on to become a global phenomenon even the late Queen was a fan In the 1960s and early 1970s, following on from the first UK Tupperware party in 1960, the brand was highly desirable even glamorous. In the years that followed, the Equal Pay Act of 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 saw women start to enter the workforce in significant numbers, and supermarkets began producing ready meals to meet demand from time-starved working women. As Superwoman author Shirley Conran famously proclaimed, life became 'too short to stuff a mushroom'. Women's rise in status perhaps diluted their interest in Tupperware, yet they still recognised the genius of the party model. Young women had no need for 'pin money' In the 1980s, the late Jacqueline Gold, daughter of the owner of the Ann Summers chain, brilliantly adopted the idea of selling their wares at parties. With women now able to buy their kitchen gadgets in John Lewis or via the Lakeland catalogue, sex toys and lingerie were a far more enticing prospect than plastic pots. Nonetheless, with men still being viewed as the breadwinners, Tupperware rallied, and by 1996 it had reached its global peak, selling in more than 100 different countries. It's tempting to think of the 1990s as the era of the ladette, those famously hard- drinking young women taking on the men at their own game, with little time for or interest in domesticity. But this was a conflicted time, with demands for women to be a master chef in the kitchen and a high-flyer in the boardroom (and occupy another role entirely in the bedroom). The publication of Nigella Lawson's How To Be A Domestic Goddess in 1998 launched an avalanche of cupcakes. I was only too aware during my time on Good Housekeeping of the stress caused by this pressure to 'have it all'. Ups and downs of the tubs that were more than just kitchenware 1946: A year after the end of WWII, when women had to leave jobs for returning heroes, Earl Tupper launches Tupperware in the U.S. 1951: Single mother Brownie Wise joined the company and the Tupperware party was born. 1960: Tupperware parties arrive in the UK. 1970s: The Equal Pay Act of 1970 and the Sex Discrimination Act of 1975 sees women enter the workforce in significant numbers. 1996: As women struggle with the pressures of family life and work, Tupperware now sells in more than 100 countries. 2003: The first, newly-empowered Millennial women enter the workforce. After years of falling sales, Tupperware axes parties in the UK. Instead, Ann Summers parties are in favour. 2020: The global pandemic sees women confined to their homes, and the fortunes of Tupperware soar once more. 2023: With the return to the office of many female employees, Tupperware teeters on the brink of collapse. Advertisement Working women at the turn of the Millennium had limited maternity leave, no right to ask for parttime hours and no financial help with childcare. Yet as these women struggled, their daughters were growing up with very different expectations of their futures. By 2003, when the first Millennial women (born between 1981 and 1996) were entering the workplace, attending a Tupperware party was the last thing anyone had the time or inclination for, and the company shelved them in the UK. An attempt to restart them in 2011, not long after the Equality Act of 2010, came to naught. Women were earning significant salaries elsewhere they had no need for 'pin money'. However, it is striking that the biggest upheaval in society since World War II led to a brief resurgence in Tupperware. The arrival of coronavirus saw women and, indeed, everyone trapped at home. Amid a boom in sourdough baking and batch cooking, in October 2020 after years of negative sales growth Tupperware announced that profits were up by 26 million. Of course, it was not to last. As women returned to work, Tupperware's fortunes plummeted. The social landscape has changed in so many ways since its heyday; workers of both sexes no longer habitually take their lunches to work, instead preferring the likes of a Pret or Marks & Spencer meal deal. And ready meals and takeaway services such as Deliveroo mean leftovers are rarely stashed away in fridges and freezers. Though the increased eco-conciousness of Gen Z should see them embrace Tupperware's waste-saving ethos, they prefer the sleek appeal of waxed paper, glass jars and bento boxes. With a 12-piece set of Tupperware reportedly selling for 149, who can blame them? So although the struggles of Tupperware inspire some sadness among those who think of the iconic brand with fondness, and rightfully credit the revolutionary impact it had on its first female customers, its demise also marks the end of an inglorious era. For today, thankfully, women no longer need a neat pile of colourful plastic containers to justify our place outside the kitchen. The Prophet of Plastic whose parties defined a generation by Margarette Driscoll The storm must have rolled in quickly, because no one anticipated disaster as 1,200 of Tupperware's top sellers set off for a beach party on an island in Florida, organised by the company's head of sales. Quite the contrary; if Brownie Wise's previous parties were anything to go by, the 1957 event would be a hoot. Tupperware's super-saleswoman had started the annual 'jubilee' in the early 1950s. Attendees were awarded gifts including speedboats and fur stoles. Brownie, a fortysomething single mother from Georgia, the inventor of the Tupperware party, was queen of all she surveyed. Until that torrential thunderstorm came in. Scores of panicking women rushed to get off the island leaving others stranded and several boats collided. More than 20 people were taken to hospital and Tupperware would spend the next few years plagued by lawsuits. The storm must have rolled in quickly, because no one anticipated disaster as 1,200 of Tupperware's top sellers set off for a beach party on an island in Florida, organised by the company's head of sales. Quite the contrary; if Brownie Wise's (pictured left) previous parties were anything to go by, the 1957 event would be a hoot Brownie's career hung in the balance; she had already fallen out with Tupperware creator Earl Tupper. Weeks later, she was fired. Having built Tupperware into what would become a worldwide brand, Brownie was not just a pioneering businesswoman but a feminist icon. Yet she was matter-of-fact about her achievements. 'I needed money for me and my kid,' she said. 'So I got out there and made it.' At the peak of her success, Brownie was the first woman to appear on the cover of Business Week, hailed as 'the Prophet of Plastic'. And her Tupperware parties became the highlight of many bored housewives' social life. In another time, Brownie might well have ended up as one of those very housewives. Born in Georgia in 1913, the daughter of a divorced hat-maker and a plumber, she was raised mainly by her aunt. In her early 20s, she won a competition to paint a mural at an exhibition in Texas, where she met Robert Wise, an executive at the Ford motor company. They married, but Brownie apparently found her husband to be drunken and moody. After they divorced, she struggled to support herself and her young son, Jerry, working as a secretary, taking in lodgers and trading homemade rhubarb wine for butter. One night in 1947, a salesman selling mops, detergents and cleaning cloths knocked on her door. His sales pitch was so hopeless she thought, 'I could do better than that', and applied for a job. She was so good she soon became a supervisor. But the boss put a block on her ambition: 'Don't waste your time. [Upper] Management is no place for a woman.' The firm had been flirting with the concept of home parties as a way of selling and Brownie ran with the idea. She moved to Miami and made it her own, starting Patio Parties selling homeware including the newly invented Tupperware. It sold so well that when supply problems depleted her stock in 1951, she rang to remonstrate with Earl Tupper, who realised that, though not an employee, she was selling more Tupperware than anyone. He hired her as manager of the new Tupperware Home Parties division and sales soared; in 1952 her distributors, many of them housewives, took orders worth more than $2 million. A year later, Brownie was earning more than $30,000 a year (around $273,000 today), a phenomenal sum for a woman, and was given use of a mansion by Lake Kissimmee in Florida. The fateful jubilee took place on an island just off shore. But Brownie's status as Tupperware's first lady grated on Earl Tupper. He had invented Tupperware, but she was getting the glory. The stage was set for a showdown. The disastrous jubilee came after an 8 per cent drop in sales, and in January 1958 he fired her. Brownie later created a company selling cosmetics at customer parties, but she never reached the dizzy heights of her time at Tupperware. She died in 1992, aged 79. Now, the era of the Tupperware party is long gone. Even Ann Summers Tupperware's home party successor sells online. How Brownie Wise would have marketed sex toys is anyone's guess. In parts of India, today marks the traditional Solar New Year. After January 1, Chinese New Year and the Equinox, this is our fourth New Year. I'm not sure my liver can take another New Year's party so I'll sit this one out! Especially as Venus and Saturn's relationship encourages us to set boundaries and experience pleasure on our own terms. That's not being a party-pooper. It's ensuring that we nurture long-term health and happiness. Read more horoscopes from MailOnline. ARIES March 21 - April 20 An emotional issue is on the agenda this weekend. And since a challenging interaction has left you out of sorts, you're feeling extra-sensitive. You're determined to do everything you can to protect someone's interests. Yet you seem to be in a bit of a no-win situation. Your desire to oversee the 'best possible outcome' is undermining your ability to assess what's going on: your objectivity is being compromised by your feelings. The Venus/Saturn link makes it easier to evaluate. Want to hear some priceless information about your week? Just pick up the phone! Call 0906 751 5601. TAURUS April 21- May 21 It seems that someone's missing a trick. Which is frustrating, because you need them to support your plans. Yet could they be missing it because they've spotted the trouble the trick could lead to? The line between caution and fear is less obvious than we think. As Venus, your ruler, links with Saturn, it's worth reconsidering your reasoning. Might you have made a commitment, in the heat of the moment, without having thought the consequences through? Time for a rethink. Make wise decisions this weekend. To hear how your life could change for the better, call your latest week-ahead forecast: 0906 751 5602. Oscar Cainer, pictured, says setting boundaries isn't being a 'party pooper', but rather ensures we continue to nurture ourselves GEMINI May 22 - June 22 Have you noticed the subtle change of atmosphere? A voice of criticism has quietened. A point is no longer being loudly and repeatedly made. Phew! You can hear yourself think. You've been agreeing with someone's views of a situation because they weren't prepared to listen to reason. They've been so insistent, you started to believe they were right. This weekend, you have the mental space to focus on your theories. The ideas arising are worth exploring. A way forward is possible. Venus moves into your sign bringing creativity, romance and abundance. For your forecast, call 0906 751 5603. CANCER June 23 - July 23 If an element of distrust exists between people, everything becomes challenging. Even the simplest conversations and activities become intricate minefields as we navigate carefully around potential explosions of betrayal. No one can stride forwards confidently when they're watching where they're walking or glancing over their shoulder. You've got so used to dealing with an uneasy situation that you've almost forgotten how it feels to live without it. This weekend brings a liberating encounter of mutual respect. Your week-ahead forecast is jam-packed full of important news. For an in-depth guide, call 0906 751 5604. LEO July 24 - August 23 People notice you. You might not be aware of the impact you have but, whether you notice it or not, it exists. Actually, it's impossible for you to know because you don't see what people are like when you're not there! And it's hard to predict their reactions. They might be nervous of your confidence, and retreat. Or they might be shy and hide their feelings. Yet some are insightful and know that despite your self-assurance, you need support at times. This weekend brings a possible new connection. Fulfil your dreams! Let the week's celestial outlook reveal your heart's true desires. For good news, call 0906 751 5605. VIRGO August 24 - September 23 When someone has done us wrong, we're absolutely entitled to feel angry, frustrated and hurt . . . at least for a time. There will, however, come a point at which continuing to go over an old wound slows the healing process. We can't bury our head in the sand, feeling sorry for ourselves indefinitely. Luckily, that's not what you want to do. You feel a sense of injustice, but are wise enough to realise that there's something to be learnt in it that will be much richer than revenge. This weekend brings an inspired way to heal. In a week of celestial creativity, you can transform your life. For your week-ahead forecast, call 0906 751 5606. LIBRA September 24 - October 23 What do you want to do this weekend? In theory, at least, you're free to do what you want within limits. If you immediately think about winning the lottery, having lunch with your favourite celeb, or making pizzas calorie-free, you need to reset your expectations! It's unlikely that you'll be able to stop a certain person being irritating either. Yet you have a range of options. And if you set out with optimism and are prepared to experiment with ideas, you'll find fun in surprising places. Capture the powerful energy of the positively star-filled skies. Call your in-depth, four-minute forecast: 0906 751 5607. Venus and Saturn's relationship encourages us to set boundaries and experience pleasure on our own terms. Stock image used SCORPIO October 24 - November 22 When you've got one foot in the future and the other in the here and now, it's hard to know whether you're coming or going. You're at a crossroads: you need to make a decision. From a logical perspective, the choice is obvious. So, which is going to win . . . your head or your heart? You will be able to decide. Meanwhile, try to be patient. Over the course of the weekend, the situation will develop and you'll naturally recalibrate your response to what unfolds. Having said that, there's a reason why they say: 'Be true to your heart.' Do yourself a favour; treat yourself! There's exciting news in your four-minute forecast. Call 0906 751 5608. SAGITTARIUS November 23 - December 21 We all take things for granted. There are aspects of our world that we could or should be making more of. A simple process is taking place. You've embarked (or are about to embark) on something that feels right and natural and it's starting to bring a sense of fulfilment. Until now, a prize has been within your grasp, but you've been letting it slip through your fingers. As you begin to appreciate what's unfolding, you'll realise what makes you feel healthier, wealthier and happier. Lift your spirits. Change your life! Your four-minute, week-ahead forecast has important news. Call 0906 751 5609. CAPRICORN December 22 - January 20 The more we do the wrong thing, the harder it gets to do the right thing; and even if we try to do good things, we are easily tempted back into bad habits. Perhaps this is why some people don't see the point in trying. When we realise we've made a mistake, we get defensive. And that leads to us getting more stuck in mindsets that create barriers. Those barriers keep positive changes at bay. As Venus links with your ruler, Saturn, if you want to get it right this weekend, you need to risk getting it wrong! Just four minutes on the phone could change your life. For your latest week-ahead forecast, call 0906 751 5610. AQUARIUS January 21 - February 19 I don't want to add to your sense of irritation, but the advice is that you need to overlook a sense of frustration. (Hoping this isn't making you even more frustrated!) I know you've discovered an injustice. And with your inherent sense of fair play, you feel called to act. You're desperate to make a wrong, right. But if you act hastily, you risk making matters worse. As Venus and Saturn link, if you step back, you'll get a more objective view. Then, you'll be able to intervene effectively. For a powerful prediction covering the changes you can expect over the next few days, call 0906 751 5611. PISCES February 20 - March 20 All zodiac signs have their stereotypes. Courageous Leos. Passionate Scorpios. As for Pisceans, you're the airy-fairy dreamers . . . happy to float along, going with the flow. Does that truly reflect your personality? I don't think so! You're a force of nature with fire in your heart. You might be prepared to deal with less-than-ideal circumstances, but only because you have an innate awareness of what's right, and are on the path to fulfilling your destiny. This weekend brings clarity. What's unfolding is perfect. Your week-ahead, in-depth forecast could be one of the most rewarding calls you make. Call 0906 751 5612. Calls cost 80p per minute plus your phone company's access charge. To report a phone line problem, call 0800 138 9789. Go to cainer.com and join the 5 Star Service for personalised messages, audio, video, discounts on full readings, and more! A small business has turned over $35,000 in just 48 hours after TikTok star Anna Paul donned the brand's stunning 1940s-style bullet bralette online. Tina Grasso started ChouChou Intimates in November 2019 from her kitchen table after failing to find a brand of underwear that blurred the lines between comfortable, everyday wear and date night. Her business, which has 23,000 followers on Instagram, is well-known for its personalised undies feature. Ms Grasso and the team were besides themselves after being told the glamorous 23-year-old was wearing the product in a video shared to her Instagram story on April 3. UK TikTok star Chloe Frater, who has 77,000 followers, also boasted about the brand in a video a few days before Anna's post. The brand noticed a skyrocket in sales, with one product selling every three minutes for 48 hours. Scroll down for video Tina Grasso, founder of ChouChou Intimates, was beside herself after spotting TikTok and OnlyFans star Anna Paul (pictured) wearing one of her products The 23-year-old shared a series of images and video (left) with her 2.2million Instagram followers. Ms Grasso (right) started the brand in 2019 The team recorded their gushing reactions in a video titled 'When Anna Paul wears your product on insta!' The delicate 'vintage triangle-shaped' bralette costs $49.95 and made with satin and sheer mesh fabrics for a comfortable finish. It's available in sizes XS to 2XL and is designed with adjustable straps. And this isn't the first time products from the Aussie label have been worn by celebrities, as last year American media personality Addison Rae bought a whole range of lingerie. Ms Grasso couldn't prepare herself for an order to come through on a Sunday afternoon belonging to Addison. The media personality, 22, was ranked the highest-earning TikTok personality by Forbes in August 2020, only to make the Forbes '30 Under 30' list for social media influencers the following year. And this isn't the first time products from the Aussie label have been worn by celebrities, as last year American media personality Addison Rae (pictured) bought a whole range of lingerie Ms Grasso started ChouChou Intimates (pictured) in November 2019 from her kitchen table after failing to find a brand of underwear that blurred the lines between comfortable, everyday wear and date night 'When the order from Addison Rae came through I was in disbelief, part of me didn't believe it was really her,' Ms Grasso told Popsugar. But the address was from Los Angeles - where the star of Netflix hit He's All That is from - so she began to research the area with fraud filters on to make sure it was legitimate. It was. 'I could also see in Shopify that she came directly to the store via Instagram. But since we had under 8,000 followers at the time, and don't advertise in the US, I couldn't (and still can't) figure out how she found the page,' Ms Grasso said. Addison chose a number of pieces from the brand's first collection - called Audrey - and even personalised some of her products. The American media personality, 22, was ranked the highest-earning TikTok personality by Forbes in August 2020, only to make the Forbes '30 Under 30' list for social media influencers the following year 'It's crazy to think someone with 40 million followers could find a small Australian brand with less than 10k followers and like their products enough to make a purchase - not to mention then share it on their socials,' she said. Addison posted a photo of her underwear with the title 'Obsessed' to her Instagram Story, sending legions of fans to the little-known lingerie shop. Ms Grasso said: 'Obviously, I wrote her a personalised card and told her to DM us if she liked the products. Shortly after the order was delivered, I received a message from her saying she was obsessed with the products. I couldn't believe it.' This is the emotional moment an 89-year-old finally enjoyed a dance with his daughter, who he found 58 years after she and her mother 'disappeared into thin air'. Roy David, based in London, appeared on Long Lost Family in 2021 after spending decades searching for his daughter Cheryl, who he'd last seen as a six-year-old in the Bronx, New York. Cheryl and her mother Sylvia 'disappeared into thin air' while Roy was in the merchant navy - but thankfully the father and daughter were reunited on the ITV programme after more than half a decade apart. However, in tonight's Long Lost Family: What Happened Next, Roy, the show's oldest searcher, explained how he is suffering from glaucoma, a common cause of sight loss. He admitted he is making possibly his last trip to New York to see his daughter. In a sweet moment at his 89th birthday party, the pair - who, despite the distance, have visited each other as much as possible - enjoy a father-daughter dance after Cheryl explained how it makes up for the one she didn't get at her wedding. This is the emotional moment an 89-year-old finally enjoyed a dance with his daughter, who he found 58 years after she and her mother 'disappeared into thin air' She said: 'I got to dance with my father. Yes I did. When I was married, the first dance would usually be with your father. I never got that. I got it today. The love in the room was overflowing, it was a true blessing. 'This trip has been a little bit different, because it's probably the last trip he'll make to the States. So it was really important that I made it as memorable and a happy time as possible,' she added. Roy, meanwhile, admitted: 'What happened today will live in my heart for the rest of my life. It was the happiest birthday I ever spent in all my 89 years.' Born in Guyana, South America, Roy spent his life in the merchant navy. In the 1950s, aged 19, he arrived in New York and met student nurse Sylvia, Cheryls mother. After Sylvia became pregnant, Roy married her and moved in with her mother. However he was soon kicked out of the home due to rising tensions following his long spells at sea. For five years he would visit his daughter, until, one day, his family had 'disappeared into thin air', with Roy eventually settling in England and marrying Itha, who hes been with for over 40 years. Astonishingly, Cherly was discovered in Queens, not far from the Bronx, and in heartwarming scenes, which first aired in 2021, the father and daughter were reunited in London. Speaking on the show, Roy, who has a son from a previous relationship and three stepchildren, remembered the joy of becoming a father for the first time. Roy spent decades hoping to find his daughter Cheryl. Pictured, Roy and Cheryl reunited Born in Guyana, South America, Roy spent his life in the merchant navy. In the 1950s, aged 19, he arrived in New York and met student nurse Sylvia, Cheryls mother. Pictured, the father and daughter dancing together Speaking on the show, Roy, who has a son from a previous relationship and three stepchildren, remembers the joy of becoming a father for the first time. Pictured, Cheryl on her wedding day He said: 'She was a lovely child - one of my great experiences of her, my first child, is changing nappies for the first time and taking her out in her pram. I felt very good as a father.' But there were tensions within the family. Roy felt he didnt live up to his mother-in-laws expectations and he was often away at sea. Eventually, Sylvia and her mother asked Roy to leave. He recalled: 'I didnt want to leave but they told me go.' Over the next five years, whenever Roy returned from sea, he went to visit his daughter - until, one day, she was no longer there. Roy said: 'I found out they had moved. [It] was like she just disappeared in thin air. They made sure they left no trail to which I could follow.' Roy settled in England and married Itha, but had never stopped thinking about his daughter, saying: 'I really and truly would like to say to her how sorry I am I was not there for her, and I should have been. 'Its eating away at me every day, every day. I dont think I could go to my resting place with that on my conscious. Im of an age now where I dont think I may have long. I would really like to see my daughter.' Astonishingly, Cherly (pictured meeting her half-brother Gerald) was discovered in Queens, not far from the Bronx The Long Lost Family team found Roys daughter, Cheryl David, still living in New York. Cheryl, who is married and has children and grandchildren, was shocked to discover her father (pictured) was looking for her The Long Lost Family team found Roys daughter, Cheryl David, still living in New York. Cheryl, who is married and has children and grandchildren, was shocked to discover her father was looking for her. She said her father was never spoken about when she was growing up so she blocked him out, not believing she would ever get the chance to meet him. Cheryl was also thrilled to hear she has a brother, especially when she discovers he lives just around the corner from her in New York. Cheryl and her eldest daughter Derisse, 47, flew to London to meet Roy after quarantining, with the father and daughter collapsing into one another's arms in a moving reunion. Meeting outside at a park, Roy told Cheryl that he loves her, while she rested her head on his shoulders. Roy reflected: 'I was on cloud nine, and I feel like I was walking in space, the moment was so great. It made me a new man, yes, a real new man that guilt is lifted, my life is completed.' Australians wanting to visit London need to ditch their 'chilled' attitude, according to a British expat who claims a smile won't win friends in her home country. Jordana Grace, known as That British Girl on TikTok, warns Londoners are 'quick and always on the go and hate being slowed down' and don't want to stop for a chat. Which means knowing exactly what to do at all times is crucial if you don't want to be shouted at the moment you hold up a queue. 'Always have your card or ticket ready at the ticket barrier,' she warned. 'This is not the time to be fumbling in your pocket for it. Old ladies will yell at you,' she added. Scroll down for video Jordana warns people shouldn't smile at locals in London She then revealed the 'rules for escalators' noting that you must stand on the right and walk on the left. She admitted it doesn't make sense given Brit's drive on the left, but it is a deeply ingrained rule in the society. Jordana also said it is important that your belongings aren't blocking the 'left hand lane'. She says it is also important not to talk to people, or smile. Her fifth tip is to go to a 'proper pub' and get a Sunday roast lunch, complete with Yorkshire pudding. Her initial five tourist tips caused outrage among her followers - with some claiming the instructions to not talk or smile are 'just wrong'. She said the escalator rules are also important to understand as Londoners don't like to be held up 'The don't talk is false. Every visit to London once a local hears my accent they have a full blown conversations with me. Seriously the nicest people,' one person said. And others agreed. 'All the interactions I have had with Londoners were amazing.' Some people laughed at the idea of Australia being 'more chill' than the UK. 'It sounds like you are talking about Sydney,' one woman said. Some people added their own warnings - tying in with her first point about not holding up traffic. What are Jordana's top travel tips for London? 1 - Always have your ticket ready 2 - Stand on the right on an escalator, walk on the left 3 - Don't talk to people 4 - Don't smile 5 - Have a Sunday roast with Yorkshire - at a pub 6 - Line up for cheap theatre tickets 7 - Don't wear your backpack on the front of your body 8 - Check before crossing even with 'green man signal' 9 - Watch out for cyclists 10 - Travel light so you can better negotiate packed spaces 11 - Prepare for crowds on the tube 12 - Dress in layers and pack water because it can get hot 13 - Wear comfy shoes 14 - Don't spread your legs on the train Advertisement 'Don't take up the whole sidewalk, I can't survive getting stuck behind slow walkers,' one man said. 'Don't stand in the middle of the footpath when you are gawking at the sights or checking your phone map. Move to the side or get bowled over,' said another. The video, which was shared on TikTok was such a hit the young woman made two more. Jordana said it is also important to know how to get cheap theatre tickets, if you want to travel London like a local. Instead of buying them online she recommends lining up at the ticket office to score front-row seats for 20-quid.' 'You may have to line up at 6am,' she warned. She also warns against wearing your backpack 'on the front'. 'You look like a total tourist and a target,' she warns. She then pulled a bank card out of her top and said she likes to keep her personal things close by. You also need to be extra vigilant when crossing the street, according to the expat, who says you need to check for cars even if the green man is showing. Cyclists also 'come out of nowhere' she warned: 'Be on your guard'. In a follow-up video Jordana said it is important not to wear a backpack on your front - because it makes you look like a tourist She also suggest visitors travel light to make it easier to negotiate the stairs, escalators and packed streets. Jordana then warned to prepare for crushing crowds in the tube, and to wear layers and bring water because being so close to strangers can 'get hot'. The third video starts with tip number 13: 'wear comfy shoes'. 'People are surprised but you can actually walk to a lot of places in London but you also clock up a lot of steps,' she said. She also cautioned against 'man-spreading' or taking up spare seats with luggage on trains. Jordana said it is your choice when it comes to getting an Uber or a Black Cab - while the hallmark taxis are more expensive they do know where they are going. Advertisement The famous American work ethic helped the United States become the economic superpower of the 20th century. But experts warn the decision to prioritize careers over families has set the country on an irreversible path to economic destruction. The reason? People do not have enough children anymore. A baby boom in the mid-20th century saw the average woman give birth to between three and four children. Today, just 1.6 children - the lowest level recorded since data was first tracked in 1800. This could lead to economic devastation in America down the line - as the federal government would need to collect more taxes to fund programs such as Medicare and Social Security - while dishing out less benefits to each person. The downward trend of American fertility has accelerated in recent decades, as the 'Instagram generation' of millennials and zoomers prioritize their careers, travel and relaxation over building families. Fertility in the US has plummeted in recent decades (top). The average American woman is now only having 1.6 children throughout her life, well below replacement level of 2.1. It is a 15 percent drop from the rate of 1.9 in 2010. North Dakota, South Dakota and Alaska are America's most fertile states, with more than 65 annual births per 1,000 fertile aged women (center left). Fertility rates dropped the most since 2005 in Utah, Arizona, Colorado, Nevada and California (center right). Dr Melissa Kearney (pictured), an economic professor at the University of Maryland, agrees with Census projections that the decline may start in 2035. Dr Phillip Levine (bottom right), an economist at Wellesley College, fears the population imbalance will crash Social Security and Medicare Dr Melissa Kearney, an economic professor at the University of Maryland, told DailyMail.com: 'There has been a greater emphasis on spending time building careers. Adults are changing their attitudes towards having kids. 'They are choosing to spend money and time in different ways... [that] are coming into conflict with parenting.' She continued that younger people are also showing more interest in leisure activities and travel now than they did before, on top of career building. '[Wanting to travel] just comes into conflict with parenting,' she said. According to the US Census Bureau, the fertility rate - which measures how many children an average woman will give birth to during her life - was 1.6 in 2020. This falls far below the level of 2.1 needed to maintain current population levels. Many have pointed to high costs of child care, student debt held by Americans in their early 20s and other financial pressures. A report by the First Five Year Fund found that the costs of raising a child have increased 220 percent over the last three decades - with it costing around $10,000 per year to raise a child under the age of six. Americans also now owe over $3trillion in collective student debt, a figure that has doubled over the past 20 years. Large portions of this debt are held by people in their 20s and 30s - who are of the age to start having kids. Census data projects that the US population will start falling by 2035 - unprecedented in the nation's 250-year history. Dr Kearney warns that, gradually, the government would need to collect more taxes to keep these programs afloat - while providing less benefits to each individual recipient. Dr Phillip Levine, an economist at Wellesley College in Massachusetts, warned to DailyMail.com there will need to be economic reorganization to keep the country afloat adding 'jobs will be lost' in manufacturing, construction and other fields and move into care and other services for the elderly. This will 'eventually have a damaging impact both on social cohesion and general wellbeing, and on economic dynamism', he warned. Dr Christopher Murray, a global health expert from the University of Washington, told DailyMail.com: 'Since most purchases of real estate or consumer durables are in the working age adults, it will tend to put downward pressure on these types of assets. 'In the long run, societies have to adapt to having more grandparents than grandchildren. 'We are actually only just beginning to understand the myriad [of] challenges that sustained low fertility will have on societies.' Fertility in the US has long been falling. A half-century ago in 1970, the average woman was having 2.39 children over her entire life-span. In 1920 - a full century ago - the rate was at 3.17. Earliest available data from 1800 puts the rate at 7.04. The Census Bureau predicts there will be 94.7million Americans over the age of 65 by 2060, accounting for 23 percent of the nation's population. In 2020, the most recent Census, 56million Americans were over 65 - accounting for just 17 percent of the population. A half-century ago in 1970, seniors made up around 10 percent of the US population. This puts an excess burden on social programs like Medicare and Social Security, as this portion of the population pulls away its resources but does not pay into them. In research published last week, Dr Kearney and Dr Levine investigated potential causes of this decline in fertility. They found that financial issues play less of a role than But, the researchers do not find these financial pressures to be a significant part of the problem. They cite Scandinavian countries such as Sweden (fertility rate of 1.6) and Norway (1.5), which have strong welfare states but also suffer from a declining birth rate, as examples why the problem lies deeper than economics. Their research found little correlation across the world, and in the US, between available childcare subsidies from the government and changes in fertility. Income has not proven to be a factor either - with the decline noticeable in women across socioeconomic and educational brackets. Men are now having their first child at 26.4 years old on average, while women are giving birth for the first time at 23.7. Both have increased greatly in the last two decades The number of American women with at least one child has fallen to just 52.1 percent, while the number of men dropped to 39.7 percent in 2019 US life expectancy crashes to lowest level since 1996 US life expectancy has crashed to its lowest level since 1996, official data has revealed. A report from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that the average American born in 2021 will live to just 76.4 years. It is the second consecutive year that life expectancy has fallen, after tumbling from 78.8 years in 2019 and 77.0 years in 2020. It is now at its lowest level since 1996, when it was 76.1 years. Covid was the third-leading cause of death for the second year in a row in 2021, and a five-fold increase in drug overdose deaths over the past decade - fueled by a ferocious rise in fentanyl contamination - has also contributed to the decline. Life expectancy in the US reached its highest point - 78.9 years - in 2014. Before the pandemic, in 2019, life expectancy was nearing that level again. The Covid crisis caused the biggest yearly drop in life expectancy in 2020 since World War II. Heart disease was still the top causes of US deaths, followed by cancer. Advertisement Women in lower income brackets are actually more likely to have children than their wealthier peers, with experts pointing to them having less access to family planning and sexual education. Instead, researchers believe it is a result of Americans, and women in particular, changing priorities in recent decades. Some have pointed to the 2008 Great Recession as an inflection point in America's declining fertility rates. The massive economic downturn cost millions of Americans their jobs, and a spate of foreclosures around the country led to many families losing much of their wealth. Dr Levine admits the recession played some role, saying 'clearly the recession had and impact' but says that 15 years later the effects would have mostly been diminished. 'Every time a recession happens fertility rates go down... it's not a surprise,' he continued. '[15 years later] it's harder to say we're still dealing with the recession.' Instead, he says America 'is catching up with the rest of the world', as many developed nations in Europe and east Asia - like Japan and South Korea - have already experienced sharp drops in fertility. Dr Levine said that people in a more developed nation start to see children less as a means to perform labor - like in agrarian societies where every hand of help matters - but more-so as an investment. This means that instead of having multiple children to boost the families productivity, families will opt to have fewer offspring and instead invest as many resources as possible into their individual success throughout life. But he said that 'it is not clear why that happens' repeatedly across the world. The intangible nature of what is causing birth rate to decline means that tangible solutions to the issue may be hard to come by, the pair of economists warn. 'If it is really just shifting priorities, then it's a lot harder to thinking we could implement policies to stop the decline of child-bearing,' Dr Kearney said. She believes policies like a child tax credit, childcare subsidies and guaranteed maternity and paternity care could have 'modest' effects on fertility decline because they relieve some financial pressures. These will not solve the problems, though, as the attitude on parenting that exists in much of the developed world would still remain. 'Even in countries with expansive welfare states we see low fertility rates,' she explained. America, and many other western nations, face long-term harm unless they can come up with a solution. 'Declining birth rates will put America in a position where there are 'more older people and fewer workers,' Dr Kearney explains. This will stress on public programs like social security and Medicare, where a younger workforce funds care for the elderly. A smaller workforce will also lead to overall economic contraction and a 'less dynamic, less productive economy,' she says. Dr Kearney warns that over time, the general quality of life of the average American could degrade. Immigration can help the country maintain a stable workforce in the short-term. Dr Levine says that the entire economy may need to reshape itself around changing demographics. Government leaders will have to invest more into human capital - making education and job training more accessible to make sure each individual worker is more productive. Industries that cater to older people, like elderly care, should expect to grow - while toy and game companies could expect to shrink. Due to a manufacturing partnership, 200million doses will be made annually A game-changing malaria vaccine was today approved in Ghana. Leading experts claim the decision is a 'significant milestone' in the decades-long race to beat the deadly illness. No other country has yet to join Ghana in rolling out the jab, although other African nations are understood to be assessing the data closely because they 'don't want to be last in the queue'. Malaria a parasitic infection spread by mosquitos kills over 600,000 each year, most of them children in Africa. Efforts to find a vaccine have been painfully slow, with the parasite's complicated structure and lifecycle having stumped scientists. The vaccine, called R21, has been approved for the age group at highest risk of death from malaria - children aged 5 months to 36 months (file photo) The new vaccine was created by researchers at the same Oxford University centre where AstraZeneca's Covid jab was developed. Ghana has approved it for kids aged 5-36 months, who are most vulnerable to the illness. Although it's being hailed as a huge breakthrough, R21, as it is officially called, isn't the first malaria vaccine. Another one, called Mosquirix and developed by GlaxoSmithKline, was endorsed by the World Health Organization last year. But a lack of funding and commercial potential thwarted the production of enough doses, with just 15million doses each year committed to. This is despite WHO saying roughly 100million doses a year of the four-dose vaccine are needed long-term to cover around 25million children. R21 has a manufacturing advantage thanks to a deal with the Serum Institute of India to produce up to 200million doses annually. Each dose is expected to cost a couple of dollars. Mid-stage data from the Oxford vaccine trial, involving more than 400 young children, was published in the Lancet in September. Vaccine effectiveness was 80 per cent per cent in the group which received a higher dose of the immune-boosting adjuvant component of the vaccine an ingredient that helps create a stronger immune response in people receiving a jab. Efficacy rates stood at closer to the 70 per cent mark in children in the lower-dose group, 12 months after their fourth dose. The doses were administered ahead of the peak malaria season in Burkina Faso, West Africa. And data from an ongoing phase III clinical trial in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania, that has enrolled 4,800 children, is expected to be published in a medical journal in the coming months. However, late-stage data - which suggests a similar vaccine performance as in the phase II trial - has been shared with regulatory authorities over the last six months, Oxford scientist Adrian Hill said. Childhood vaccines in Africa are typically paid for by international organisations such as Gavi and UNICEF after they have been backed by the WHO. Hill noted that it was unusual that a regulatory authority in Africa had reviewed the data quicker than the WHO. 'Particularly since Covid, African regulators have been taking a much more proactive stance, they've been saying... we don't want to be last in the queue.' A federal appeals court has ruled that an abortion drug will remain available, under certain temporary restrictions. The new rules will mean mifepristone can only be prescribed by doctors - but can be approved for use up to ten weeks into pregnancy, rather than up to seven. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled Wednesday just before midnight and the case may now be headed to the U.S. Supreme Court. It follows a Texas court ruling that invalidated the approval of the drug over 'safety' concerns, appealed by the Department of Justice. The prior ruling had completely blocked the FDA's approval of the drug following a lawsuit by mifepristone's opponents, and prompted some states to start stockpiling the drug. People march through downtown Amarillo to protest a lawsuit to ban mifepristone on Saturday When the drug was initially approved in 2000 the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. New restrictions tighten access but allow the drug for use up to ten weeks US District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Trump appointee, ruled Friday to undo the 2000 Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of mifepristone, siding with those who argued that the FDA did not adequately review its safety risks. Mifepristone 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. The lower court ruling from Texas had been on pause for a week to allow an appeal. READ MORE: Extraordinary legal clash over abortion pill access breaks out as DOJ appeals order that could make ban drug this FRIDAY as California and other states begin stockpiling in preparation Advertisement Under the appeals court order, the FDA's initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 is allowed to remain in effect. But changes made by the FDA since 2016 relaxing the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone would be placed on hold. Those include extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used and also allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctors office. The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former President George W. Bush. She said she would have put the lower court ruling on hold entirely temporarily to allow oral arguments in the case. Either side, or both, could take the appeals court's action to the Supreme Court. Opponents of the drug could seek to keep the full lower court ruling in effect. The Biden administration, meanwhile, could ask the high court to allow all the FDA changes to remain in place while the case continues to play out. Biden slammed the Texas ruling, calling it 'completely out of bounds' on Tuesday. The appeals court judges in the majority noted that the Biden administration and mifepristone's manufacturer 'warn us of significant public consequences' that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling. But the judges suggested changes the FDA made making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be 'difficult' to argue the changes were 'so critical to the public given that the Nation operated - and mifepristone was administered to millions of women - without them for sixteen years' the judges wrote. Kurt Engelhardt and Catharina Haynes, among those voting on the restrictions to access When the drug was initially approved in 2000 the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. What is mifepristone? Mifepristone is the most widely used abortion drug in the United States. About half of all nationwide abortions are performed using mifepristone, in combination with misoprostol. Mifepristone works by blocking the effects of progesterone, a hormone that is necessary for maintaining a pregnancy. This leads to the detachment of the developing embryo from the uterine wall and the initiation of contractions, ultimately terminating the pregnancy. The drug is 95% effective and requires medical follow up 1% of the time. The FDA said there are five deaths for every million users of the drug, compared to 20 per million for penicillin. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk sought to undo the FDA approval over safety concerns. Advertisement It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug misoprostol and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctors supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences associated with the drug. If the appeals court's action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now. Democratic leaders in states where abortion remains legal since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year say they are preparing in case mifepristone does become restricted. New York governor Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her state would stockpile 150,000 doses of misoprostol, another drug used in medication abortions. Massachusetts governor Maura Healey confirmed on Monday that the state would also stockpile enough doses of mifepristone to last for more than a year. California governor Gavin Newsom also announced on Monday that his office made plans to secure an emergency stockpile of up to two million pills. Gov Newsom said: 'We will not cave to extremists who are trying to outlaw these critical abortion services. Medication abortion remains legal in California.' In Washington, the Department of Corrections has bought up tens of thousands of doses of mifepristone that it will soon become authorized to dispense. Gov Inslee said at a press conference last Tuesday: 'Washington is a pro-choice state and no Texas judge will order us otherwise.' Mifepristone has far fewer deaths tied to drug complications than other common medicines Massachusetts Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, front, faces reporters, April 10, 2023, during a news conference in front of the Statehouse, in Boston. Massachusetts is stockpiling enough doses of mifepristone to last for more than a year Healey said Monday Pharmaceutical executives this week also signed a letter condemning the Texas ruling and warned that FDA approval of other drugs could be at risk if U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryks decision stands. There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the medical recommendations of the FDA. The lawsuit challenging mifepristone's approval was brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which was also involved in the Mississippi case that led to Roe v. Wade being overturned. At the core of the lawsuit is the allegation that the FDAs initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks. Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years, and complications from mifepristone occur at a lower rate than problems in wisdom teeth removal, colonoscopies and other routine procedures, medical groups have recently noted. Arcturus may cause Covid cases in Britain to soar, according to experts who have warned 'we're not yet out of the woods'. The spin-off of Omicron named XBB.1.16 is thought to be the most contagious variant yet. It has caused infections to explode in India over the past month, with some of the worst-hit states choosing to bring back face masks to control its rapid spread and hospitals on red alert. Doctors on the front line say they've seen a rise in infected children with conjunctivitis, suggesting Arcturus may be causing different symptoms to other variants. MailOnline yesterday revealed that the strain which isn't believed to be deadlier than types currently circulating is already in Britain. A separate Covid monitoring project, run by health-tech firm ZOE, has found that rates have dipped since March. It predicts some 1.26million people in the UK have symptomatic Covid as of yesterday, down almost 300,000 on the 1.49million reported at the end of March Current levels are in line with those detected in mid-January, when cases were declining from the winter peak of around 1.7million, according to ZOE data. The last Covid wave appears to have peaked at 2.5million infections in England at the close of December Nearly 50 cases have been spotted since the strain was first detected in March. Infection rates have since started to tumble, although scientists have warned that this could change. Professor Paul Hunter, a infectious diseases expert based at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: 'I suspect we will see a wave of infections with this variant. 'I doubt it will cause a big wave, probably not even as great as the one we have just had in the UK.' What is 'Arcturus' and should we be worried? A new Covid variant dubbed 'Arcturus' has sparked some concern after causing a surge of cases in India. What is 'Arcturus'? 'Arcturus' is the name that has been given to Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16. It is a spin-off strain, similar to that of the Kraken variant (XBB.1.5). Where has it been spotted? It emerged in March and has been spotted since in 22 countries, but the largest outbreak by far is in India. Why has it sparked concern? 'Arcturus' has led to a surge in cases in India with infections soaring 13-fold within the last month. This has prompted the nation's health authorities to run hospital drills and reintroduce mask mandates in some areas. Is it dangerous? 'Arcturus' has mutations on its spike protein that the Word Health Organisation says could increase its ability to infect people as well as trigger disease. Japanese researchers have suggested it is 1.2 times more infectious than the already super-transmissible Kraken. However, there is no evidence it increases severity of disease. But a rise in cases could put health services under pressure. Do vaccines still work? Early results suggest 'Arcturus' does not have any increased ability to evade protection from vaccines compared to other Omicron spin-offs Advertisement He added that, as a result, it 'probably' won't pile much extra pressure on the ailing NHS, which has struggled throughout the pandemic. Meanwhile, Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist from the University of Warwick, told The Independent: 'We have to keep an eye on it. 'These kinds of things highlight the importance of genomic surveillance but a lot of countries including our own have let our guards down a bit. 'And we cant be sure what variants are around and what level of infection they are causing until we see a significant outbreak.' The Government has repeatedly insisted it will never revert back to pandemic-era measures unless a doomsday variant emerges. Top scientists have cautioned they don't expect the variant to be more lethal than other types currently circulating, which cause a much milder disease that closely resembles the flu. England's last Covid wave appears to have peaked at the close of December, when 2.5million people were thought to have been infected. However there was a slight resurgence a few weeks ago, which now appears to have fizzled out. Officials no longer track the prevalence of the virus in the same way they used to, as part of the Government's ushering in of pre-pandemic normalities. Variation tracking capabilities have also been scaled back. The only form of surveillance left is NHS hospital data, which shows 6,829 beds are currently occupied by patients with confirmed Covid, as of April 6. A separate Covid monitoring project, run by health-tech firm ZOE, has found that rates have dipped since March. It predicts some 1.26million people in the UK have symptomatic Covid as of yesterday, down almost 300,000 on the 1.49million reported at the end of March. Current levels are in line with those detected in mid-January, when cases were declining from the winter peak of around 1.7million, according to ZOE data. In India, Arcturus is believed to have single-handedly driven a 13-fold surge in cases within a month. India's Ministry of Health reported 10,158 new Covid cases today alone, almost double the number (5,335) reported a week ago, on April 6. Yesterday, Maharashtra and Delhi also reported over 1,000 daily cases, for the first time this year. These Covid cases can include those who test positive while unwell at home as well as those in hospital. Separate figures from the Oxford University-run platform Our World in Data show new daily cases hit 5,555 two days ago on April 11, up from 353 recorded one month earlier. The World Health Organisation (WHO) is currently monitoring Arcturus, also known as XBB.1.16, which was first detected in late January, with officials saying it had some mutations of concern. The UK Health and Security Agency said the variant was already in the UK in its final variant report issued last month. Typically Covid symptoms are known to include a high fever, cough, cold and loss of the sense of taste or smell. But Vipin Vashishtha, consultant paediatrician at the Mangla Hospital and Research Centre and former official at the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, revealed symptoms affecting children's eyes have seen a sudden surge. Vipin Vashishtha, consultant paediatrician at the Mangla Hospital and Research Centre and former convenor of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, revealed symptoms affecting children's eyes have seen a sudden surge Office for National Statistics analysts estimate almost 1.7million Brits were carrying the virus on any given day in the week to March 13. This a jump of almost 14 per cent on the week before 'An infantile phenotype seems emerging,' he wrote on Twitter. He is now seeing a rise in cases involving 'itchy' conjunctivitis or 'sticky eyes', a symptom he had not witnessed during earlier Covid waves. Richard Reithinger, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the nonprofit research institute RTI International, based in the US, also told US magazine Fortune that he had heard such reports. But it's 'probably too early to tell' if the virus's symptom set has truly shifted, he noted. Raj Rajnarayanan, assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology, added there are currently 'lots of anecdotals of paediatric conjunctivitis in India'. Like similar new Covid variants, virus trackers online decided to call XBB.1.16 'Arcturus' following a pattern of naming new strains after mythological entities. Arcturus means 'Guardian of the Bear' and is related to the constellation called the Great Bear. A Botox ad aimed at helping mums 'dazzle' on the school run has been banned for exploiting women's insecurities. Beauty comparison site Glowday posted an article on its website in September 2021, showing a woman alongside a small child carrying a rucksack. It set out a list of cosmetic procedures for mothers who want to 'dazzle at the school gates' and 'feel confident and self-assured', alongside a link to Botox treatments. The Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) ruled that the 'irresponsible' ad exploited women's insecurities around aging, and perpetuated the harmful gender stereotype that women should look a certain way. The Hereford-based company hit out at the ruling, while campaigners called the ad 'absolutely appalling'. Glowday's 'Back to School Botox' page was banned for exploiting women's insecurities and perpetuating harmful gender stereotypes The post, written by Kelly Davies on September 3, 2021, said: 'The start of the new school term has an extra edge of anticipation for us mums this year. 'It feels like the beginning of normality after endless lockdowns, bubbles, lateral flow tests and home-schooling, with women bearing the brunt of it all. 'So there's a few ideas if you are one of those Mums who wants to dazzle at the school gates, or just a Mum who wants to dazzle, or just an ordinary woman who want to feel more like herself again!' It added: 'Over a quarter of women say lockdown has aged them and are turning to non-surgical aesthetic treatments to put the spring back in their step and perhaps feel more like themselves on the school run.' This was followed by an image of a woman smiling, dressed in high heels and a dress. It added: 'All these women really want is to look like the very best version of themselves, and feel confident and self-assured. And that's exactly what aesthetic treatments can do for us.' WHAT IS BOTOX? Botox injections relax the muscles in the face to smooth out lines and wrinkles. It's not permanent it usually lasts for around 3 months. In the UK, the cost of Botox injections can vary from about 100 to 350 for each treatment, depending on the clinic and the area being treated. Botox injections for cosmetic reasons are not available on the NHS. The procedure, which usually only lasts 10 minutes, involves having botulinum toxin injected into the face muscles using a very fine needle. It then takes around two to three days to start working and up to three weeks to see the full effect. Side effects include, headaches, a frozen look, weakness in the face and bruising, swelling and redness where the needles went into the skin. However, Botox can also be used to treat medical conditions. These include abnormal contractions of the eye, conditions that cause muscle pain and stiffness such as cerebral palsy and excessive sweating. Source: NHS Advertisement The text also said that Botox was 'by far the most population poison of choice' for 'mums on the school run'. A link was then provided to book treatments, including Botox. In a ruling published this week, the ASA noted that the ad focused only on women, particularly mothers, and suggested that a cosmetic procedure would boost their confidence and wellbeing. The ad also implied that 'it was necessary for women to look a certain way to be confident taking their children to school', the ASA said. 'Therefore, we considered the ad exploited womens insecurities around aging, and perpetuated the harmful gender stereotype that women should look a certain way,' it added. In its response to the ASA probe, Glowday said 'many women' had booked treatments following the school holidays and it was an 'incorrect stereotype' that insecure women sought cosmetic treatment. The ASA also upheld a complaint from a member of the public that the ad should be banned because Botox is a prescription-only-medicine, which can't legally be advertised to the UK public. Dawn Knight, of the Joint Council for Cosmetic Practitioners, a body dedicated to promoting good practise in the cosmetic industry, told MailOnline: 'Social media has an awful lot to answer for when it comes to people's self esteem and body image and in particular targeting new mums. 'It's absolutely appalling. It is illegal to advertise prescription-only medicine directly to the public. It's irresponsible. 'It's a really worrying emerging trend and we are seeing a lot of offers of multiple procedures in mummy makeovers.' She said mothers are 'under enough pressure without the extra pressure of physical appearance'. 'It is a really really irresponsible way of driving traffic,' Ms Knight added. Glowday said it disagreed with the ASA's decision. Hannah Russell, its founder, told MailOnline: 'We disagree that we were advertising Botox, primarily due to the fact that consumers are unable to purchase Botox or even book Botox treatments on Glowday. Botox, which lasts three to four months, works by relaxing the muscles in the face to smooth out lines and wrinkles 'We have no commercial interest in advertising any brand of botulinum toxin, instead, we aim to provide consumers with unbiased information about a whole range of aesthetic and skin treatments. 'The irony of the ASA ruling is that whilst thousands of unregulated, unaccountable non-medic injectors continue to dangerously administer fillers and toxin and promote their services across social media and the internet, without recourse, responsible companies like Glowday and its accountable practitioners that are challenged.' An ASA spokesperson told Mail Online: 'Following legislation, our rules make it clear that prescription-only medicines, including Botox, cannot be advertised to the general public. 'Our rules also make it clear that ads mustn't exploit people's insecurities around body image. 'Advertisers shouldn't suggest that happiness or wellbeing depends on conforming to a particular physical appearance, or having a gender stereotypical body type or features. 'As we considered that this ad exploited women's insecurities around aging, and perpetuated harmful gender stereotypes around how women should look, we banned the ad and told Glowday to ensure that future ads don't exploit people's insecurities.' Botox is the most popular brand name of botulinum toxin. Almost one in three A&E patients at England's worst-performing hospitals have to wait 12 hours to be treated , shocking figures revealed today. The never-before-seen stats lay bare the scale of the NHS casualty crisis plaguing trusts up and down the country. Some 125,000 Brits were left languishing in crowded units for half a day or more in February alone. Officials released the numbers after being accused of drastically underplaying the horrifying reality for thousands of Brits. Until now, hospitals only shared data on 'trolley waits' the time between doctors deciding a patient needs to be admitted and them getting a bed. While the new NHS data, which records A&E waits from the moment patients arrive at hospital, saw one in 10 nationally wait over 12 hours to be admitted but the rate rose to nearly one in three in the worst hospitals The new figures capture them from when they arrived at A&E instead, with tens of thousands facing hours-long delays before being seen. They show 12-hour casualty delays are three times more common than first realised. For comparison, around 35,000 such waits were logged in the NHS's original data release for February. The updated figure means 10 per cent of total patients seeking emergency help that month experienced delays of at least half a day before being wither admitted, discharged, or transferred to another service. This was compared to just 3 per cent under the old metric. NHS waiting list soars to ANOTHER record high More Brits are now on the NHS waiting list for routine hospital treatment than ever before. An extra 10,000 Brits were put on the list for life-changing procedures like hip and knee replacements or treating cataracts, taking the total to 7.22million for February. This figure is likely to be exacerbated by the junior doctors' strike with senior health leaders warning up to 350,000 appointments will be cancelled this week due to the walkout. Despite the gloomy outlook NHS leaders were keen to highlight the number of Brits on the elective treatment list for the longest had continued to gall. The number of people waiting more than 18 months for elective care fell by a third to 29,778 between January and February. Meanwhile the number of patients waiting more than one year dropped by 17,000 to 362,498. But health thinktank the Nuffield Trust said while it was good progress on the backlog was being met, patients with immediate health problems were suffering extraordinary waits. Nuffield Trust Fellow Jessica Morris said: 'While the NHS is focusing on clearing those longest waits, the average waiting time for treatment is getting worse and worse, sitting at 14 weeks, compared to 7 weeks just before the pandemic. 'As the overall waiting list continues to reach record levels, longer waits are being normalised. 'There is also a risk that the people who need treatment most urgently are not being effectively prioritised and this could lead to worsening conditions and a greater need for care further down the line.' Advertisement But in some of the worst performing hospitals, like Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals NHS Trust, the figure rises to almost one in three patients. One in four had to wait 12 hours at East Kent Hospitals, Blackpool Teaching Hospitals and University Hospitals Plymouth. Not all of the hospitals in England provided the data. England's A&E crisis, and the knock-on delays to ailing ambulance services, has been blamed for killing up to 500 people every week. Bed-blocking, where patients who are fit to leave hospital for care in the community but can't due to a lack of capacity in the social care sector, is one factor contributing to the problem. In contrast, there were some hospitals in England where less than one in 100 A&E patients faced 12-hours waits to be seen. Only 0.6 per cent of patients at Alder Hey Children's NHS Foundation Trust and Birmingham Women's and Children's NHS Foundation Trust waited more than 12 hours to be seen from arrival. This was followed by Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, which recorded a 12-hour excess wait figure of just 1.1 per cent Dr Adrian Boyle, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, welcomed the new NHS data on waits from A&E arrivals, which said provided a more accurate picture of what patients were experiencing. 'We must get to work and reduce and eliminate these dangerous delays and overcrowding in emergency departments that we know are harmful to patients,' he said. 'This is a more patient centred metric and seeing these data give us better clarity and granularity around issues of patient flow through our departments and hospitals and will allow us to better tackle the crisis, root and branch.' The new figure comes as the NHS faces fresh a tidal wave of disruption this month due to the ongoing junior doctors strike over the post-Easter period, traditionally a busy period for the health service. Fresh A&E data for March, which uses the old 'trolley wait' system, show over a quarter of people attending A&E that month had to wait longer than four hours to be seen, with 39,000 waiting more than 12 hours to be seen. This 12-hour wait figure, much like February's, is likely to balloon when the NHS publishes its next, more detailed analysis. The latest data for A&E performance in England in March, which uses the old measure of time taken to give a patient a bed from when they are seen by a medic rather than from time from arrival shows that just seven in 10 A&E attendees (71.5 per cent) were seen within four hours of (red line). Meanwhile, 39671 patients who sought help in emergency departments were forced to wait more than 12 hours (yellow bar) Ambulance data for march shows that heart attack and stroke patients in England, known as category two callers, had to wait 39 minutes and 33 seconds, on average, for paramedics to show up in march. This is over 7 minutes slower than in February and more than double the 18-minute target The latest NHS ambulance data for March also shows it continued to perform below benchmarks. Heart attack and stroke patients in England, known as category two callers, had to wait an average of 39 minutes and 33 seconds for paramedics to arrive. This is seven minutes slower than February's figure, and more than double the 18-minute target the NHS sets for these kinds of emergencies. Cancer data for February was also dire, with almost 6,000 patients not starting treatment within two months of an urgent referral from their GP. It means only 58 per cent of cancer patients in total were seen within the two month target. Read more: Shamed junior doctors' leader behind worst NHS strike in history apologises for 'undermining' BMA's 4-day action by going on holiday - as even 28-year-old's own family say they are 'disgusted' by his actions Choppy waters: Firebrand union leader Dr Robert Laurenson went on holiday during the strike Advertisement NHS guidelines state 85 per cent of cancer patients should be seen within this timeframe but this figure has not been met since December 2015. And more Brits are now on the NHS waiting list for routine hospital treatment than ever before. An extra 10,000 Brits were put on the list for life-changing procedures like hip and knee replacements or treating cataracts, taking the total to 7.22million for February. This figure is likely to be exacerbated by the junior doctors' strike, with senior health leaders warning up to 350,000 appointments will be cancelled this week due to the walkout. Despite the gloomy outlook, NHS leaders were keen to highlight the number of Brits on the elective treatment list for the longest had continued to fall. The number of people waiting more than 18 months for elective care fell by a third to 29,778 between January and February. Meanwhile the number of patients waiting more than one year dropped by 17,000 to 362,498. The NHS also highlighted that the latest data showed this winter was the busiest on record for A&E services with over 8.3million attendances over the four months ending February. This is 40,000 more than the previous record winter in 2018/19. High demand has continued into March with 2million A&E attendances & 600,000 ambulance call outs, the highest figures recorded so far this year. Professor Sir Stephen Powis, the NHS's national medical director, said the data showed staff had progressed on tackling the care backlog despite ongoing pressures. 'The last few months have been demanding for the NHS as record numbers of patients have come forward for care. NHS figures show just 58 per cent of cancer patients started treatment within two months of an urgent GP referral. The NHS's own rulebook sets out that at least 85 per cent of cancer patients should be seen within this timeframe but this figure has not been met since December 2015 Data from NHS England shows that the number of people waiting for routine hospital treatment jumped by 10,000 in January to 7.22million, a new record 'Todays data shows demand on services is not relenting with A&E attendances and ambulance calls outs in March recorded at the highest level so far this year even higher than a very busy January.' He also highlighted how the NHS has hit a new faster diagnosis standard for suspected cancer for the first time, with 75 per cent of those referred receiving a definitive diagnosis or all clear within 28 days over 170,000 patients. The 75 per cent threshold is a new target replacing an old one where 95 per cent of patients were expected to be get a diagnosis or all-clear in this time frame. But Cancer Research UK's chief executive, Michelle Mitchell said: 'While its promising that people are finding out if they have cancer faster, many still face record waits for vital treatment. Any cancer care target missed is a missed opportunity to save lives.' And Professor Pat Price, co-founder of the #CatchUpWithCancer campaign and oncologist called the NHS's cancer figures disastrous. 'This cancer data is a disaster with nearly 6,000 cancer patients missing life-saving cancer treatment targets in February 2023, despite 10 per cent fewer patients being referred than the previous month,' she said. 'NHS leaders keep telling us things are improving but they must surely now accept that with over 4 in 10 cancer patients facing life-threatening delays, this is not the case. 'We know that the cancer backlog is the deadliest and most time-pressing, and we know that waiting times are plummeting further each month, so why is the Government refusing to take action?'. Charity the British Heart Foundation also bemoaned the NHS figures, noting the ambulance delays and that the number of people on cardiac treatment waiting lists has risen to a record high of 370,000. This is a figure 60 per cent higher than pre-pandemic. Dr Sonya Babu-Narayan, the charity's associate medical director, said: 'Each month, we are seeing far too many people waiting far too long for time-critical heart care whether thats hours for an ambulance, too many weeks for a heart test that could unlock lifesaving treatment, or even a year for a heart procedure, including heart surgery.' 'Again and again we are seeing the same tragic story unfold each month - these ongoing and extreme delays to the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of cardiovascular disease are costing lives and leaving families devastated.' 'Heart patients urgently need to hear how their care will be delivered now and in the future, which is why it is vital for the Government to immediately publish its long-awaited NHS workforce plan and start addressing this urgent situation.' Also reacting to the latest NHS data health thinktank the Nuffield Trust said while it was good progress on the backlog was being met, patients with immediate health problems were suffering extraordinary waits. Nuffield Trust Fellow Jessica Morris said: 'While the NHS is focusing on clearing those longest waits, the average waiting time for treatment is getting worse and worse, sitting at 14 weeks, compared to 7 weeks just before the pandemic. 'As the overall waiting list continues to reach record levels, longer waits are being normalised. 'There is also a risk that the people who need treatment most urgently are not being effectively prioritised and this could lead to worsening conditions and a greater need for care further down the line.' GP said it was tonsillitis but she had textbook leukaemia symptoms for months A mother who was told she had tonsillitis by her GP ended up diagnosing herself with leukaemia using Dr Google. Chloe-Leigh Todd, 22, from Gateshead, sought advice in March 2020 after having been ill for a month with a sore throat. On top of that, she also claims to have been struck down with bouts of vomiting, night sweats and weight loss. But her doctor simply put her myriad of symptoms down to tonsillitis, according to Ms Todd. Adamant her diagnosis was wrong, Ms Todd then started to Google her symptoms. Recalling her ordeal, the stay-at-home mum said: 'Everyone knows their own body and I just knew it was something serious. Chloe-Leigh Todd, 22, was told she had tonsillitis but correctly diagnosed herself with leukaemia - using Google She underwent six gruelling rounds of chemotherapy as well as a bone marrow transplant 'The doctors were putting it down to other things but I was adamant they were wrong. 'I Googled my symptoms, night sweats, fatigue, bruising and so on, and leukaemia came up as the first search result.' Concerned about her findings, Ms Todd had a face-to-face appointment in June where she went for a blood test. Her results came back abnormal and doctors quickly confirmed her self-diagnosis was correct. Medics even claimed she was just 'weeks away from death', Ms Todd said. WHAT IS LEUKAEMIA? Leukaemia is a cancer that starts in blood-forming tissue, usually the bone marrow. It leads to the over-production of abnormal white blood cells, which fight off infections. But a higher number of white blood cells means there is 'less room' for other cells, including red blood cells - which transport oxygen around the body - and platelets - which cause blood to clot when the skin is cut. There are many different types of leukaemia, which are defined according to the immune cells they affect and how the disease progresses. For all types combined, 9,900 people in the UK were diagnosed with leukaemia in each year, Cancer Research UK statistics reveal. And in the US, around 60,00 people get the cancer each year. Most cases have no obvious cause, with the cancer not being contagious or inherited. Leukaemia generally becomes more common with age - the exception being acute lymphoblastic leukemia, which peaks in children. Other risk factors include being male, exposed to certain chemicals or radiation, and some bone-marrow disorders. Symptoms are generally vague and get worse over time. These can include: Tiredness Frequent infections Sweats Bruising Heavy periods, nose bleeds or bleeding gums Palpitations Shortness of breath Acute leukaemia - which progresses rapidly and aggressively - is often curable via chemo, radiotherapy or a stem cell transplant. Chronic forms of the disease - which typically progress slowly - tend to incurable, however, these patients can often live with the disease. Source: Leukaemia Care Advertisement She started treatment the next day at the Newcastle Freeman Hospital, eventually going through six gruelling rounds of chemotherapy and a bone marrow transplant. Now Ms Todd has been cancer-free for two years. Recalling the exact moment she was diagnosed, she said: 'When the doctor confirmed it, I thought I was going to die. 'I was happy to have the diagnosis but I went numb, hearing it is a big difference. 'The doctors told my mum in a different room, she broke down I could hear my mum screaming.' She added: 'The cancer was everywhere in my blood. Doctors told me they didn't know if chemotherapy would help but they were willing to give it a try. 'The hardest part of it all is I thought I might not be here to watch my son grow up.' In September 2020, Ms Todd was put on the Anthony Nolan register in search for a bone marrow donor. Straight away the hospital found a 100 per cent match in a 27-year-old man, and she had the transplant in October 2020. A bone marrow transplant is done by transferring stem cells from a healthy person to replace the damaged blood cells. After a successful operation, Ms Todd underwent another bone marrow biopsy to make sure her new cells had worked - later receiving the news she was cancer free. She said: 'When I received the news I picked up my son and cuddled him so tight. 'It was amazing to know it had all gone, it was the best day ever. 'I rang the bell in March 2021, It is an amazing feeling. I had my little boy in my arms with me.' Despite overcoming her year-long battle with leukaemia, she is now facing problems following her bone marrow transplant, a condition known as Graft vs Host disease. This happens when particular types of white blood cells in the donated stem cells or bone marrow attack your own body cells. But she is still staying positive and grateful for her transplant. She said: 'No matter what I am going through I am always positive and have a smile on my face. No matter how ill I am I will put my child first. 'I spoke to my donor in March 2023, I had butterflies in my stomach. 'We were talking like we have known each other my whole life. We have this connection that nobody will be able to understand. Ms Todd eventually lost her hair as a result of the chemotherapy recalling how the hardest part of the disease as thinking she might not be able to see her son grow up Medics originally attributed Ms Todd's month long sore throat to tonsillitis but the mum used Google to determine her symptoms could also be cancer 'We will always have that bond, I am still here because of him. 'I feel so grateful and thankful. I would rather go through this then not be here at all. 'It is a bittersweet situation - I am alive to tell my story.' Leukaemia is the term for a group of cancers that starts in blood-forming tissue, usually the bone marrow. It leads to the over-production of abnormal white blood cells, which normally fight off infections. With leukaemia these cells are abnormal and don't function properly leading to a range of symptoms including looking pale, fatigue, breathlessness, frequent infections, unusual and frequent bruising or bleeding, an weight loss. About 10,000 cases of leukaemia are diagnosed in the UK each year, with about 5,000 people dying from cancer annually. Only about 41 per cent of people with leukaemia survive a decade after their diagnosis. In the US an estimated 60,000 cases are diagnosed each year, with 24,000 deaths recorded. A new Covid strain nicknamed 'Arcturus' is sparking concern around the world. XBB.1.16, as it's scientifically known, is already wreaking havoc in parts of India. Now the Omicron spin-off has started to spread across the UK and US. But where else has the strain been spotted? Are there any new symptoms? Do vaccines still work against it? And why is it even called Arcturus? Here, MailOnline breaks down everything you need to know about the new variant. The new Covid variant XBB.1.16, dubbed 'Arcturus', has driven a huge increase in cases in India over the past month. According to the Oxford University-run platform, Our World in Data, new daily cases hit 5,555 two days ago on April 11. This is up from 353 recorded one month earlier Office for National Statistics analysts estimate almost 1.7million Brits were carrying the virus on any given day in the week to March 13. This a jump of almost 14 per cent on the week before. The ONS data is based on the random swabbing of around 100,000 Brits. Despite rising cases, this was the final Covid surveillance data update, as the UK Health Security Agency 'works to confirm its approach to surveillance' What is XBB.1.16? XBB.1.16 is a mutated cousin of Omicron and was first detected in India in January. Its parent strain XBB caused cases to quadruple in just one month in some nations. It is one of more than 600 Omicron sub-variants currently circulating, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Other sub-variants include Kraken (XBB.1.5) and Orthrus (CH.1.1). Latest data from the UK Health Security Agency, shows that the Kraken was the dominant strain in the UK, as of March 26, causing 51 per cent of cases. Orthrus was behind at 10.4 per cent. Surveillance schemes are starting to be wound down, however, meaning the true picture is cloudy. Why is it called Arcturus? Like similar new Covid variants, virus trackers online decided to call XBB.1.16 something catchy. They came up with 'Arcturus'. It means 'Guardian of the Bear' and is related to the constellation called the Great Bear. Arcturus is also a red giant star and one of the brightest stars in the northern hemisphere. Located almost 37 light years away, it is visible from Earth. Naming the strain 'Arcturus' follows a pattern of online 'variant-hunters' naming new strains after mythological entities. The WHO has not yet officially named the variant. It has stuck to naming them after the Greek alphabet throughout the pandemic. Why has it sparked concern? The WHO is currently monitoring the Arcturus strain, with officials saying it has some mutations of concern. In a press conference on March 29, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's Covid technical lead, said: 'We haven't seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that's why we have these systems in place.' She added: 'It has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity.' The variant has led to a surge in cases in India, with infections soaring 13-fold within the last month. This has prompted the nation's health authorities to run hospital drills and reintroduce mask mandates in some areas. A study also suggested Arcturus is 1.2 times more infectious than the closely-related Kraken strain whose shared ancestor was thought to be just as contagious as measles. The Japanese team wrote that this advantage suggests the new variant will 'spread worldwide in the near future'. How deadly are the symptoms? Although it is thought to be the most contagious variant yet, it does not appear to be deadlier than other Covid strains. But a rise in cases could put health services under pressure. How can you tell Arcturus from other variants? Typically Covid symptoms are known to include a high fever, cough, cold and loss of the sense of taste or smell. But doctors on the frontline in India claim to have seen a rise in infected children battling conjunctivitis, suggesting it is causing slightly different symptoms than other variants. Vipin Vashishtha, consultant paediatrician at the Mangla Hospital and Research Centre and former official at the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, revealed symptoms affecting children's eyes have seen a sudden surge. He said he is now seeing a rise in cases involving 'itchy' conjunctivitis or 'sticky eyes', a symptom he had not witnessed during earlier Covid waves. Vipin Vashishtha, consultant paediatrician at the Mangla Hospital and Research Centre and former convenor of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics, revealed symptoms affecting children's eyes have seen a sudden surge Where has it been spotted? According to the latest data, the variant has been spotted since in 22 countries, but the largest outbreak by far is in India. India's Ministry of Health reported 10,158 new Covid cases today alone, almost double the number (5,335) reported a week ago, on April 6. Yesterday, Maharashtra and Delhi also reported over 1,000 daily cases, for the first time this year. These Covid cases can include those who test positive while unwell at home as well as those in hospital. While it is not known how many of these cases are the 'Arcturus' strain, it is now the dominant variant in the country. 'Most of the sequences are from India and XBB.1.16 has replaced the other variants that are in circulation, so this is one to watch,' Dr Kerkhove, said. Data also suggests 'Arcturus' has already reached more than half of all US states. Health chiefs first detected 'Arcturus', in New York in late January. But it has since spread to 26 more states and triggered 235 cases, with hotspots emerging in California, New Jersey and Virginia. MailOnline yesterday also revealed that the variant is already in Britain. How many UK cases are there? The UK Health and Security Agency said the variant was already in the UK in its final variant report issued last month. Separate data collected from variant trackers report that the UK has now sequenced almost 50 samples of Arcturus. But Professor Paul Hunter, a infectious diseases expert based at the University of East Anglia, told MailOnline: 'I suspect we will see a wave of infections with this variant.' He said: 'I doubt it will cause a big wave, probably not even as great as the one we have just had in the UK.' He added that, as a result, it 'probably' won't pile much extra pressure on the ailing NHS, which has struggled throughout the pandemic. Do the vaccines still work? Early results suggest Arcturus does not have any increased ability to evade protection from vaccines compared to other Omicron spin-offs. Even if the vaccines do not work perfectly against the variant, immunity is likely to still hold up, with most Brits also having been exposed to former Omicron variants. High levels of protection against the virus gave ministers in the UK the confidence to ditch all Covid measures last year as the country moved to living with the virus. Craft and verve abound in this tragicomic coming-of-age debut fuelled by the lapel-grabbing voice of its 15-year-old narrator, Andy LITERARY FICTION THE FIVE SORROWFUL MYSTERIES OF ANDY AFRICA by Stephen Buoro (Bloomsbury 16.99, 336pp) Craft and verve abound in this tragicomic coming-of-age debut fuelled by the lapel-grabbing voice of its 15-year-old narrator, Andy, living in a north-western Nigerian town riven by sectarian violence. Uncertain of his father's identity and communing with his stillborn brother, Andy fantasises about becoming a superhero and dreams of blonde white girls seen on American film and TV. His hopes come to rest on the visiting niece of a British priest at the local church. All the while he mulls the relationship between Africa and the West, devising his own mathematical formula (Buoro, born in Nigeria and based in Norwich, is also a mathematician). Both sweet and sour, it offers a family story, a thwarted romance and a story of friendship in the tale of Andy and his two 'droogs', Slim (a gay artist) and Marocca (a rapper). A multi-level success, attuned to political and cultural complexity, but bright and breezy reading with it. What ensues is essentially a sci-fi update of an old-school siege story, fuelled by combustible rivalries in a group thrown together by circumstance and with nowhere else to go THE MEMORY OF ANIMALS by Claire Fuller (Fig Tree 16.99, 320pp) Fuller's previous novel, Unsettled Ground, was a heart-wrenching rural tragedy about a middle-aged illiterate woman evicted after the death of her mother. Nothing in it prepared me for the left turn of her new book, a metropolitan dystopia hit by a pandemic. It centres on Neffy, a former marine biologist who signs up with four other volunteers for a vaccine trial that leaves her stuck in a London hospital while the world outside starts to look like the film set of 28 Days Later. What ensues is essentially a sci-fi update of an old-school siege story, fuelled by combustible rivalries in a group thrown together by circumstance and with nowhere else to go. Fuller is an excellent writer and she neatly conveys boredom as well as dread (no mean feat). But her use of futuristic technology to untangle narrative knots seems too convenient and, overall, the novel feels like an experimental detour inspired by the recent past. Wang Xiaobo originally published this bawdy three-part satire about China's Cultural Revolution in 1992 dying five years later, aged 44 GOLDEN AGE by Wang Xiaobo (Penguin 18.99, 272pp) Wang Xiaobo originally published this bawdy three-part satire about China's Cultural Revolution in 1992 dying five years later, aged 44. Drawn on his own experience, it follows 21-year-old Wang Er, an intellectual youth sent from Beijing to work herding oxen in the countryside as part of Mao's purge. The story catches fire with Wang's long-awaited discovery of sex, as he falls into a forbidden premarital affair that soon requires him to confess his every last doing to panting Party officials in a series of increasingly absurd punishments. Later segments follow his return to Beijing as a biology lecturer in the 1970s and finally as a haunted 40-year-old unable to shake the darkest memories of the brutality he witnessed. In Yan Yan's translation, Golden Age (a title oozing irony) is an ultra-modern blast of thrillingly wrong-footing licentiousness. Determined to smash taboos, it revels in the anti-authoritarian power of lust. The second volume of Winslows searing gangster trilogy takes the story of Danny Ryan and his Irish mob henchmen out of Providence, Rhode Island THRILLERS CITY OF DREAMS by Don Winslow (HarperCollins 22, 352pp) The second volume of Winslows searing gangster trilogy takes the story of Danny Ryan and his Irish mob henchmen out of Providence, Rhode Island, where they have lost the war against their Italian competitors for control of the waterfront. Admitting defeat, they decide to relocate in California, even though there is still a price on their heads. Travelling with his young son, in the wake of his wifes death, Danny and his crew find their way into the movies, where a film is being made about their own exploits back on the East Coast. He is introduced to the troubled actress playing his late wife and romance blossoms, but as it does so Danny faces a fresh conflict with another mob who dont see a place for him in Hollywood. Already described as The Godfather for our generation, this is storytelling at its inspiring, epic best, and it feels like a movie in the making. Following her best-selling debut Her Perfect Twin last year, Bonner confirms her promise with a perfectly pitched revenge thriller focusing on two old friends HER SWEET REVENGE by Sarah Bonner (Hodder 22, 416pp) Following her best-selling debut Her Perfect Twin last year, Bonner confirms her promise with a perfectly pitched revenge thriller focusing on two old friends. Beautiful, successful Helena lives in Exeter, where she seems to have it all, including a devoted husband, while her best friend Thea is working in London, importing wine. Then Helena starts to receive threatening anonymous notes which suggest someone knows a hidden secret about her past and is demanding money not to reveal it, which would destroy everything she has fought to create. When she is found dead, Thea decides to investigate, convinced that her best friend has been murdered only to begin to receive threatening notes herself. Killing the first protagonist is a bold move, especially when she has engendered so much sympathy, but Bonner gets away with it and ushers her readers into a whirlwind of revenge and retribution. A new character from the prodigiously talented Baldacci is always a treat, and here he brings us Mickey Gibson, a former New Jersey detective, who is a magnificent creation SIMPLY LIES by David Baldacci (Macmillan 22, 432pp) A new character from the prodigiously talented Baldacci is always a treat, and here he brings us Mickey Gibson, a former New Jersey detective, who is a magnificent creation. A mother with two tiny children, she has retired from the force to become a private investigator, tracking down the assets of the vastly wealthy who are trying to escape the tax man and the law. She can do it from the comfort of her dining room table using her formidable computer skills, while still being able to care for her children. Then, out of the blue, she is asked by a female colleague from the company she works for to visit a mansion once owned by an arms dealer. But when she gets there she discovers it contains a secret room and inside a decomposed body. The plot thickens when Mickey discovers that the woman who asked her to investigate does not exist. This is Baldacci at his formidable best, teasing the reader with hints and suggestions while pushing the story forward at breakneck pace. Do not miss it. 'When things of the spirit come first' is a phrase from Simone de Beauvoir (the title of her first book), which suits my poetry choices for spring. Tired of intellectual rageand political posturing expressed in opaque diction (as in so much new work), I turn with relief to writers unafraid to touch the soul. Rosie Jackson, an established poet who has won prizes yet deserves to be much, much better known, is my first choice. LOVE LEANS OVER THE TABLE (Two Rivers, 10.99) contains the luminous poem, 'The Boisterous Sobbings of Margery Kempe', recently commended in the National Poetry Competition. It offers a thought so profound it catches at the heart: 'God is not a noun / but a verb. . . ' This is one of a series of fine poems invoking intense loss, family love, angels, nature, faith, eternity and light. Jackson's poem about lockdown challenges us to reflect on that strange time as 'a kind of pilgrimage' which required us to 'go inwards/go deeper'. LOVE LEANS OVER THE TABLE ( Two Rivers, 10.99 ) contains the luminous poem, 'The Boisterous Sobbings of Margery Kempe' She is a rare poet of transcendence who expresses the inexplicable with grace. With THE HOME CHILD (Chatto, 14.99) Liz Berry achieves a fusion of poetry and fiction as gripping as any thriller. Inspired by the true story of her great aunt an orphan sent in 1908 from the Midlands to lifelong 'exile' in Novia Scotia this compelling novel in verse is a moving portrait of a girl who will never see her family again. Its cumulative power is extraordinary as Eliza suffers, grows older, is exploited yet emotionally needed, falls in love with another orphan, Daniel, and then is finally separated from him. Berry writes without blame or bitterness, expressing grief rather than rage over the gross errors of a long-ago time we cannot change. Jeremy Robson also reflects on the past, from his vantage point as an octogenarian: 'I've seen too many of those close to me/depart this earth with all the black/ceremony death imposes. . . ' CHAGALL'S MOON (Smokestack, 7.99) begins with the blessing of married familiarity and ends with a witty shout of rebellion against dark fate. Bel Mooney shares her selection of poetry must-reads Allie Esiri adds to her tally of essential anthologies with A NURSERY RHYME FOR EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR ( Macmillan 20 ) In between are quietly conversational poems about friendship, Jewish tradition, ageing, jazz, love. Robson's work gets better and better; the undercurrent of sadness is offset by moments of happiness as colourful as a painting by Chagall. Finally, an anthology to spark joy. Allie Esiri adds to her tally of essential anthologies with A NURSERY RHYME FOR EVERY NIGHT OF THE YEAR (Macmillan 20). Do children still learn verses? This lovely collection of 365 rhymes, charms and jokes is a gift to parents; a happy reminder of a more innocent age. HSBC is among several global firms accused of blocking access to the pension funds of thousands of Hong Kongers who left the city to escape a brutal political crackdown. The UK offered Hong Kong residents a path to full citizenship if they held British National Overseas (BNO) status following the repression of pro-democracy protests in 2019. That angered China and in 2021 the Beijing-controlled Hong Kong government passed a law preventing pension funds from being immediately paid out to those who left. Frozen out: HSBC is among several global firms accused of blocking access to the pension funds of thousands of Hong Kongers who left the city to escape a brutal political crackdown HSBC, alongside investment managers such as Fidelity and Invesco, is among those preventing people accessing 2.2billion in pension assets, according to research from activist group Hong Kong Watch. Sam Goodman, the groups director of policy and advocacy, said the law was a blanket ban on BNO holders accessing the property that is theirs and that 90,000 people were being punished for immigrating to Britain. HSBC as well as several other banks, insurers and institutions, offers pensions under the Hong Kong mandatory provident fund retirement saving system. Residents are generally allowed to reclaim pension funds if they move abroad permanently. But the Hong Kong government said emigration under BNO was not a valid reason to withdraw the cash early. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith said: I think HSBCs behaviour is shameful. They act like lickspittles for the Chinese government at every turn. They are a registered UK bank and they need to decide whether they want to keep kowtowing to Beijing. This is not their money. This pension money is what these people deserve because they contributed to it. HSBC are an unreliable bank for anyone that is concerned about what is going on in Hong Kong. Alistair Carmichael MP, chairman of the all-party parliamentary group on Hong Kong, accused the bank of doing the dirty work of the Chinese communist party. HSBC said: Like all banks, we have to obey the law, and the instructions of regulators, in every region in which we operate. Disastrous bank runs can snowball much more quickly than before as customers swap messages and withdraw funds instantly, Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey has warned. He said the speed of the collapse of Americas Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) raised questions about how much money lenders should hold to guard against such a rout. But he played down fears for a wider breakdown in the financial system, saying reforms to bank regulations since the crisis of 2008-09 have worked. I do not believe we face a systemic banking crisis, Bailey said during a speech in Washington, while at the spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund. The demise of SVB last month precipitated a worldwide shock that sent some bank stocks into free fall. Snowball effect: Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey said the speed of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank raised questions about rules on how much money lenders needed to hold It claimed the scalps of three US lenders, including SVB, while its biggest victim was 167-year-old Credit Suisse, forced into an emergency takeover by rival UBS. The collapse of SVB became inevitable when customers pulled more than 30billion in deposits in 24 hours. Its UK subsidiary suffered a similar demise, losing 2.9billion in a day Friday, March 10 - before the Bank of England engineered an emergency takeover by HSBC over the following weekend. Bank runs can be catastrophic because banks do not normally hold enough money to pay out all customer deposits in one go. Instead, lenders must carry out a balancing act of having enough liquidity - cash, or assets that can be quickly turned into cash - on hand to pay out when needed. Panics over lenders have been characterised over the years by customers queuing around the block to take cash out. But the SVB episode saw depositors sharing anxious messages on WhatsApp and pulling funds instantly, using online accounts. That might mean banks and regulators need to rethink how much cash lenders need to hold to guard against future runs. Bailey said major UK banks currently hold a total liquidity buffer of 1.4trillion. We cant assume that the current answer on the total size of liquidity protection is the correct one, he said. We saw with SVB that with the technology we have today - both in terms of communication and speed of access to bank account - runs can go further much more quickly. This must beg the question of what are appropriate and desired liquidity buffers that create the time needed to take action to solve the problem. However, he cautioned that forcing banks to hold bigger cash buffers could hurt their ability to lend money, dragging on growth. Markets have returned to relative calm since UBSs rescue of Credit Suisse and Britains lenders appear for now to have gone relatively unscathed. Analysts have said that major UK banks were generally well insulated from the fall-out after they were forced to behave more cautiously after the 2009 crisis. Bailey said: When I look at the UK banks, they are well capitalised, liquid and able to serve their customers and support the economy. A man has been charged with commit sexual act towards another following investigations into an alleged incident on a train in Sydneys south-west last month. Police have been told the man allegedly committed a sexual act in front of the schoolgirl before he left the train at Hurstville Railway Station. The girl reported the incident to police and an investigation was commenced. The man left the train at Hurstville railway station on Thursday 23 March 2023 at around 4.45pm. The student reported the incident to officers attached to Police Transport Command south west, who began an investigation. Following a public appeal for information, a 28-year-old man last night (Wednesday 5 April 2023), attended Hurstville Police Station where he was arrested and taken to Kogarah Police Station. The man has now been charged with one count of commit sexual act towards another. He has been granted conditional bail to appear in Sutherland Local Court on Tuesday 2 May 2023. Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or at https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au. China plans to start building a lunar base using soil from the moon's surface in just five years, the country's media has reported. By 2028, Beijing 'aims to establish a basic model for a lunar research station base', state news outlet CGTN reports, before expanding it into an international station. It comes following a meeting of more than 100 scientists, researchers and space contractors at a conference in Wuhan, where they discussed ways to build infrastructure on the moon. Ding Lieyun, an expert from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said a team is designing a robot named 'Chinese Super Masons' to make bricks out of lunar soil, Chinese media reports. Ding's team previously proposed an egg-shaped base which could be constructed from the soil bricks, named the Lunar Pot Vessel, which could be created using 3D printers and lasers and house astronauts. Ding's team previously proposed an egg-shaped base which could be constructed from the soil bricks, named the Lunar Pot Vessel (pictured) 'Building a habitat on the moon is needed for long-term lunar explorations, and will certainly be realised in the future,' Ding said, while also acknowledging the difficulty of achieving it in the short term. The robot tasked with making the 'lunar soil brick' will be launched during China's Chang'e-8 mission around 2028, Ding said. China is also reportedly aiming to retrieve the world's first soil sample from the far side of the moon during a mission which could take place as early as 2025. The super power previously retrieved soil samples from the near side of the moon with its Chang'e-5 mission in 2020, state media reported. The country has stated that it wants its astronauts to stay on the moon for long periods once it establishes a lunar research station. Ding and dozens of experts were attending the Extraterrestrial Construction Conference held at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Wuhan last weekend. The development in China's extraterrestrial ambitions comes amid growing tensions between the communist state and the US, with the two superpowers engaged in an ongoing tussle for dominance in space. In January, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson told in an interview of increasing concerns in the scientific agency over what the country plans to do when they make it to the moon. 'There is potentially mischief China can do on the moon,' said one other official monitoring the 'space race' NASA Administrator Bill Nelson said earlier this year that he and others within the agency are growing increasingly concerned over what China plans to do when they make it to the moon Nelson believes China could attempt to corner the market on resource-rich locations on the moon's surface and try to block out the US and other countries looking to make it to the lunar object. 'There is potentially mischief China can do on the moon,' said another official monitoring the 'space race.' 'It is a fact: we're in a space race,' said the NASA administrator who was appointed by President Biden in 2021. 'And it is true that we better watch out that they don't get to a place on the moon under the guise of scientific research. And it is not beyond the realm of possibility that they say, "Keep out, we're here, this is our territory."' NASA aims to put astronauts back on the lunar surface by around 2025. For nearly 70 years, the mystery of what happened to famed Royal Navy diver Lionel Buster Crabb has vexed historians. In April 1956, the frogman disappeared after diving into Portsmouth harbour to secretly investigate the workings of a Soviet warship which had brought Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev to Britain on a goodwill visit. Suggestions that he could have been killed or captured or may even have defected to the Soviet Union are among the theories that have sought to explain his fate. The Admiralty and MI6 made a botched attempt to cover up the disastrous venture, leaving the then Prime Minister Anthony Eden - who had ordered security chiefs not to carry out spying missions during Khrushchev's visit - humiliated. But now, a leading historian has claimed in a new podcast that Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, 'must have been at the centre' of the mission in his role as head of the Royal Navy. For nearly 70 years, the mystery of what happened to famed Royal Navy diver Lionel Buster Crabb has vexed historians. Above: Crabb talks to children during a hunt for treasure allegedly buried in a 16th-century Spanish ship off Tobermory Bay in Argyllshire in 1954 Now, a leading historian has claimed in a new podcast that Prince Philip's uncle, Lord Louis Mountbatten, 'must have been at the centre' of the mission in his role as head of the Royal Navy. Above: Philip with his uncle (left) in 1965 Speaking of Mountbatten in Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets, which is presented by fellow historian Giles Milton, Mountbatten's biographer Andrew Lownie said: 'He loved dirty tricks and secret operations. 'Someone said that if he swallowed a nail, he was so crooked it would come out a corkscrew. 'So I think it's very, very likely that he would've had some involvement. He was a sort of boy's own adventurer and this just fits that mould perfectly. 'He had the authority to give the instructions. He had, in a sense, the character to do so. 'Mountbatten must have been at the centre of it, as the head of the Navy. He had a long history of association with intelligence, particularly Naval Intelligence. 'So it's inconceivable that in the position he had and given his background that he wouldn't have known about this.' There are also suggestions that Mountbatten met with Crabb near his Broadlands estate in Hampshire before his mission, Mr Lownie said. In April 1956, the frogman disappeared after diving into Portsmouth harbour to secretly investigate the workings of a Soviet warship which had brought Russian leader Nikita Khrushchev to Britain on a goodwill visit Soviet leader Nikita Khrushshev (second from left) is seen with Russian premier Nikolai Bulganin as they are greeted by First Lord of the Admiralty Lord Cilcennin on board the Russian Cruiser Ordzhonikidze after docking in Portsmouth Harbour in April 1956 Highlighting the intense secrecy around the operation, he added that knowledge of it would have been on a 'need-to-know' basis. 'Mountbatten may have been at the top of this operation, but he would've clearly delegated the roles to senior planners,' he added. The Daily Mail's original report of Crabb's death Mountbatten served as First Sea Lord from 1955 until 1959 and was then Chief of the Defence Staff until 1965. He had a key role as an Allied commander in the Second World War and was also the Viceroy of India when the country became independent from Britain in 1947. The Earl was very close to Prince Philip, the Queen and the then Prince Charles and so his assassination by the IRA in 1979 shook the Royal Family to its core. Whilst Mr Lownie has been unable to find documents linking Mountbatten to Crabb, he did discover when looking at the Earl's papers that all files relating to diving operations in Portsmouth had been destroyed or removed. 'I've looked very, very closely also in adjacent files, where sometimes things get copied in. And it's been completely dry cleaned. Everything is gone,' he said. Mr Milton raised the prospect that Mountbatten's alleged involvement in the mission may explain why some files in the National Archives relating to it are classified until 2057. Fourteen months after Crabb's disappearance, a headless and handless body was found floating 12 miles away in Chichester harbour. Neither Crabb's fellow frogman, Sydney Knowles, nor his ex-wife were able to identify the body and a post-mortem examination did not shed any further clues. An inquest did the rule that the body was Crabb's, although it did not have access to modern day forensics such as DNA which would have established the fact. Lionel Crabb is seen in diving gear as he speaks to his diving partner Sydney Knowles Commander Crabb is seen after a dive in 1950. The frogman had won the George Medal for his heroics in the Second World War Crabb is seen being helped into his diving suit by a colleague during a hunt for treasure off Tobermory Bay In 2007, retired Russian sailor Eduard Koltsov claimed that he killed Crabb by cutting his throat after finding him fixing a device to his ship. He told a Russian documentary team: 'I saw a silhouette of a diver in a light frogman suit who was fiddling with something at the starboard, next to the ship's ammunition stores. 'I swam closer and saw that he was fixing a mine'. He had earlier revealed that he was part of a group of combat divers who had been sent into the water after suspicious activity was detected. However, the claim was dismissed by Crabb's relative Lomond Handley, who said she found it 'hard to believe' that the Soviets would kill a British sailor in UK waters. Rather than a mine, Crabb is actually believed to have been fixing a listening device to the ship, the Ordzhonikidze. Crabb had won his George Medal for his work as a frogman who specialised in removing German limpet mines from British warships in Malta. He also received an OBE for mine clearance at Livorno in Italy. After he went missing, Admiralty officials claimed that Crabb had disappeared while testing secret diving equipment three miles from where the Soviet ship was at anchor in Portsmouth harbour. It was this cover-up that led to speculation that Crabb may have survived and could have been living in Russia. Papers that were previously released revealed that officials went as far as rejecting a request for financial maintenance from Crabb's ex-wife Margaret. Crabb is seen with diving colleague Ray Hodges are the pair examined a damaged submarine in the Thames Estuary Lionel Crabb is seen clambering back onto a Royal Navy vessel after another dive The then Prime Minister Anthony Eden insisted at the time that it would 'not be in the public interest' to disclose the circumstances of Crabb's death. But Eden was in reality furious that his instructions for no spying missions to be undertaken during the sensitive Russian visit had been ignored. Papers that were declassified in 2015 revealed that the security services themselves were concerned that Crabb could have been taken by the Soviets - dead or alive. The files showed that continuous meetings were taking place among panicked officials in the week after Crabb disappeared. The papers said: 'At this stage, the possible explanations for Crabb's loss seemed to be the following: (a) that he had been observed by the Russians and taken aboard alive; (b) that he had been destroyed by Russian counter measures and that his body was either (i) aboard the Russian ship or (ii) still in the water; (c) that he had been the victim of a natural mishap and that his body was still in the water.' The file said the first option was the least likely because it 'is extremely difficult to get a live swimmer aboard ship without considerable fuss'. But the option that the Soviets had Crabb's body was described as 'by no means impossible'. The Daily Mail's report on the discovery of a headless and handless body 14 months after Crabb's disappearance The report went on to show that it was embarrassment rather than concern for Crabb's welfare that they were chiefly worried by., It said: 'The next consideration was the manner in which the body might come to light. 'If it was aboard the Russian ship, they might produce it for propaganda purposes at an opportune moment either dead or alive, or they might dispose of it after leaving Portsmouth. 'It was apparent that if the Russians did indeed have the body, no action that we could take in advance could stave off disaster if they chose to reveal the fact.' Cover Up: Ministry of Secrets is available now on all major podcast platforms. Advertisement America's most inbred family are basking in their newfound notoriety but despite their fame continue to live in their run-down home - which was upgraded thanks to thousands of kind donations from the public. On a recent visit to Odd, West Virginia, DailyMail.com spoke with members of the Whittaker family who said they were thrilled with their new creature comforts and locals who gave more of an insight into their day-to-day life. Many members of the community believed that the family were an 'urban legend' before meeting them at school or church. One former resident told DailyMail.com: 'For a lot of people in West Virginia, the Whittakers were kind of like a legend in that they had heard about them, but nobody had ever seen them. 'Because they didn't go to grocery store or restaurants they were always at home sheltered and isolated.' DailyMail spoke with members of the family who said they were thrilled with their new creature comforts. Pictured: Timmy, Betty and Lorene. Pastor William Plumley told DailyMail.com that Timmy and Lorene had been members of the Good Hope congregation for many years and enjoy getting involved in the sermons Initial reports claimed that protective neighbors would chase off anyone wanting to visit the family with shotguns, and local and state police would warn off any curious visitors. Pictured: Lorene, Betty and Ray 'It's pitiful but at the same time the community, the people who know them and have access of them are protective of them.' The Whittakers were first thrust into the limelight after a documentary was uploaded to a YouTube channel in 2004. Initial reports claimed that protective neighbors would chase off anyone wanting to visit the family with shotguns, and local and state police would warn off any curious visitors. Other locals said that the Whittakers found themselves targeted by high school kids, who would egg or toilet paper their house - but added that 'neighbors quickly put a stop to that'. Raleigh County Sheriff and West Virginia State Police also reportedly stop anyone trying to cause trouble in the area, but did not respond to a request for comment. When visiting the family, DailyMail.com was welcomed by several members, including Ray, who can only communicate via barks and grunts, and who insisted on showing reporters around the property. Currently living at the dilapidated homestead are siblings Ray, Betty, Larry and Lorene, as well as her son Timmy, all of them struggling with heartbreaking mental and physical conditions. Ray appeared to suffer the most and excitedly communicated through noises, pointing to show items at their home in a childlike manner. Ray, who can only communicate via barks and grunts, insisted on showing reporters around the property Many members of the community believed the family were an 'urban legend' before meeting them at school or church They have several animals running around the property, which is crammed with broken-down vehicles, and a trailer in which Larry resides near a chicken coop and surrounded by a small creek. But they also have a working satellite TV, which blasts throughout the small four-room property - which Ray, Betty, Lorene and Timmy share, and told DailyMail.com that they 'enjoy watching any story'. Betty, 71, is the matriarch of the family and confirmed that several members had attended school in the area, but most dropped out before high school. Her nephew, Timmy, is the only one to have graduated after attending the special education program at Woodrow Wilson High School in the 1990s. A clipping in the Register-Herald newspaper shows Timmy, aged 7, participating in a special needs class at the school with two other children. DailyMail.com spoke with members of the family who said they were thrilled with their new creature comforts. Pictured: Timmy, Betty and Lorene A clipping in the Register-Herald newspaper shows Timmy, aged 7, participating in a special needs class at the school with other children They continue to live in their run-down home - which was upgraded thanks to thousands of kind donations from the public One school friend told DailyMail.com that Timmy traveled on a bus with other kids who were in the special education classes at the school, separate from the rest of the children. He said: 'We didn't know he was a Whittaker until senior year of high school. He didn't use the name. 'Timmy was in special education so they had their own wing of the school. You would only see him at lunch and he was obviously very autistic. 'But at the same time he was very high-energy, and he couldn't verbalize to you, but you could tell he was a happy kid. 'It was a few rooms and there were a dozen kids in that wing, so Timmy and a dozen other kids who were severely autistic and they were of all ages. 'We just knew of him, and they always had their teachers with them and they were protective of them, they had their own table and it was little interaction. Timmy is the only one to have graduated after attending the special education program at Woodrow Wilson High School in the 1990s Betty, 71, is the matriarch of the family and confirmed that several members had attended school in the area, but most dropped out before high school The tiny hamlet of Odd only has a post office and two churches, with residents being forced to travel miles to the nearest grocery store Timmy celebrated his 44th birthday over the Easter Weekend and also attended a special sunrise service with his mother, Lorene, at the Good Hope church in their hometown of Odd 'He was so visibly handicapped that nobody messed with him, or bullied him. He rode a bus to school, they have their own bus they don't ride the bus with the other kids. 'It's really very pitiful, it's a very pitiful situation. They don't bother anyone. There are a couple of members of the family and if you met them you would not know that they are inbred. 'They have jobs, they work, they go to church, they have spouses that they weren't related to. If I didn't see it for myself I wouldn't believe it.' Timmy celebrated his 44th birthday over the Easter Weekend and also attended a special sunrise service with his mother, Lorene, at the Good Hope church in their hometown of Odd. Betty told DailyMail.com that she didn't like school, and attended Coal City Elementary and Middle School before dropping out to help take care of the family. She said: 'None of the family visits anymore, our family don't come by. We go out though. 'I do the grocery shopping and go to the doctor. We've lived here since I was little, and I like it here.' The property has several rundown buildings on the outskirts of the family home, including a trailer and what appeared to be an outhouse. Larry (at right) resides near a chicken coop and surrounded by a small creek The siblings are the descendants of two sets of first cousins who got married, with DailyMail.com previously revealing that the bloodline started with a set of identical twin brothers, whose children got married She added that she is hoping to do more renovating of the property after $40,000 was raised for them on a GoFundMe to get a new roof, saying: 'We painted the walls and got new kitchen cabinets. We need rugs for winter, but it's nice when people bring us stuff and the money we got was good.' Pastor William Plumley told DailyMail.com that Timmy and Lorene had been members of the Good Hope congregation for many years and enjoy getting involved in the sermons. He said: 'They come to the church regularly, and they do real good. Lorene and Timmy come and they try their best to help and they sing and stuff. It's just those two who come now. 'They were here for Easter Sunday, we had our sunrise service and had breakfast after it. They enjoyed it and did their best with singing. The community looks out for them, and they do look out for other people. 'They try to help, and they get involved in gift exchanges when people have a baby or something to celebrate. The siblings' father, John, previously worked at the United Coal Company in Odd, just a 15-minute drive from their home Betty, left, told DailyMail.com that she didn't like school, and attended Coal City Elementary and Middle School before dropping out to help take care of the family They have several animals running around the property, which is crammed with broken-down vehicles, and a trailer which Larry resides in near to a chicken coop, surrounded by a small creek 'I think the documentary about them is good and bad, good because it has helped them. But also it's brought a lot of people to the area who just want to mess with them.' Another member of the congregation added: 'While Lorene seems quiet and not much of a talker, you should see her in church. 'She always testifies and shouts and cries out to god in prayer, everyone she has went and asked to go up to pray with her has actually become a preacher. 'Timmy and Lorene brought several gifts for my baby son when he was born. These are very kind people who understand more things than what people think they do. 'We care a lot about them. They are very sweet people, misunderstood, but very great people who are very happy'. The siblings are the descendants of two sets of first cousins who got married. DailyMail.com previously revealed that the bloodline continued with a set of identical twin brothers, whose children got married. John and Henry Whittaker were born in 1897. John went on to marry his own first cousin Ada Riggs the daughter of Mary Perkins, who was the sister of John and Henry's mother Eliza. Ada and John had nine children, including Gracie Irene Whittaker who was born in 1920. Neighbors in the tiny hamlet were rumored to come out with shotguns to protect the family Lorene struggles to speak clearly, but enjoys taking part in sermons at the family's local church The family got a new roof with money raised for them, and redecorated their kitchen and painted the walls John's brother Henry married Sally Burton and they had seven children, including John Emory Whittaker, born in 1913. Gracie and John were first cousins, but married in November 1935 and had their first child in 1937, having 15 in total. Experts claim that inter-family relations could have caused some of the heartbreaking conditions that the living family members are struggling with. Many members of the family have suffered from a heart attack, while two did not make it through infanthood. Aileen was the first of 15 children that the couple had, and passed away in June 1997 after suffering from a heart attack. She had one son called Frankie with her husband. The couple then had a baby boy, Emery Lee Whittaker, in 1938, who died a month later after suffering from pneumonia. Barbra Whittaker was born in September 1940, and did not appear to marry before she died following a short illness in October 2008. An obituary shows that she died at St Mary's Hospital in Huntington, and she was described as a homemaker who loved picnics with her family. John Wade Whittaker (left) died in 2022, after being born in 1950, and had five children, several grandchildren and one great-grandson. Barbra Whittaker (right) was born in September 1940, and did not appear to marry before she died following a short illness in October 2008 Pastor William Plumley of Good Hope Church told DailyMail.com: 'They come to the church regularly, and they do real good' Michael Whittaker passed away in July 2001, aged 40 Not much is known about the next two sisters, Nannie Lou Whittaker, born in 1942, and Connie Jean Whittaker, born in 1943. Both married and are still living in Lowe, with Nannie Lou losing her husband William, later remarrying a man called Leonard, and Connie living with her husband James. Freddie Lee Whittaker was born in 1944 and made-up part of the documentary produced in 2004 and was part of the family portrait along with his brother Ray. He passed away in May 2013 following a long illness and is buried close to the family home in Odd. It is not clear if his illness was related to his genetic complications. Lorene Whittaker was born in 1946 and had her one son, Timmy, in 1979. Mary Madeline Whittaker was born in 1948, and passed away the following year, though the cause of her death is unclear. Aileen Violet Whittaker, born in 1937, was the first child of first cousins Gracie and John Whittaker The couple then had a baby boy, Emery Lee Whittaker, in 1938, who died a month later after suffering from pneumonia John Wade Whittaker died in 2022, after being born in 1950, and had five children, several grandchildren and one great-grandson. He suffered a long battle with cancer, and died with his loving wife Sophia by his side, and was cared for at Bowers Hospice House. Betty Ann Whittaker is considered the matriarch of the family, and reportedly promised her mother that she would not marry and planned to look after her 14 siblings. She was born in 1952 and features a lot on the documentary, taking care of shopping to ensure the members living in the small run-down property are eating enough. Danny Ray Whittaker, known as Ray, was born a year after Betty. Larry Whittaker and Kenneth Whittaker were born in 1956, and 1957, and also appear in the most recent documentary and talk about how their lives have improved. The final two siblings are Judy Kay Whittaker, born in 1959 and Michael Stevie Whittaker born in 1960. Michael passed away in July 2001, aged 40, while Judy died in August of 2021 though it is unclear how they both died. Sanchez has been locked in litigation over the matter for close to three years, during which time he brought a failed suit against Bezos himself Michael Sanchez, 56, is suing AMI for naming him as the 'sole source' of the tip that led to National Enquirer's 2019 story about his sister's affair with Jeff Bezos Michael's attempt to depose her in his defamation case as a bid to gather details he'll use for another suit against her Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's girlfriend Lauren Sanchez has accused her own brother of using the 'cover of litigation' to psychologically abuse and pressure her 'in the hope that she would pay him to go away.' The allegation comes amid court documents, obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com and newly filed by lawyers acting on Lauren's behalf in a bid quash brother Michael's attempts to depose her in a defamation lawsuit he is bringing against American Media Inc - the publishers of The National Enquirer - its former Chief Executive David Pecker, editor Dylan Howard and others. According to Lauren's attorney, Terry W Bird, the proposed deposition is nothing but a 'Trojan horse,' that Sanchez is attempting to use, 'in order to gather information that he will then try to manipulate into a further harassing and abusive legal complaint against [his sister].' Neither Lauren, 53, nor Bezos, 59, are parties to Sanchez's suit, but his case turns on the details of the exposure of their affair four years ago. Lauren Sanchez is fighting her brother's bid to depose her in his defamation case against the publisher of the National Enquirer, which broke the story of her affair with Amazon founder Jeff Bezos (pictured together in March) Michael Sanchez - pictured right with his sister and mother Eleanor - has accused AMI of defaming him when they named him as the 'sole source' of the tip that led to the bombshell tabloid story in 2019 Following the fallout over The National Enquirer's story of the affair in January 2019, the tabloid's publisher AMI made a public statement naming Sanchez as the sole source of the tip Hollywood talent agent Sanchez, 56, claims that he was defamed by AMI and co when they named him as the 'sole source' for the tip and materials that led to the story of the affair being broken in The National Enquirer on January 9, 2019. Earlier that same day, Bezos and his then wife Mackenzie Tuttle, 53, published an announcement on Twitter that they were separating. According to Sanchez's lawsuit, around that same time Lauren also then told her husband Patrick Whitesell, 58, the truth of her affair with Bezos, as well as sharing the fact that she had been approached for comment by The National Enquirer. In truth, Sanchez, who was acting as a defacto manager and advisor to his sister at the time, was a source. But he was not, he asserts, the only source and nor did he bring the information to the publication. Instead, he claims, that the publication approached him with knowledge of the affair in Fall 2018. He claims they knew about it as a result of a labyrinthine and political plot against Bezos which involved Lauren's ex-husband and the Saudi Arabian government. Bezos responded to the story's publication by having his head of security mount an investigation into where it had come from. Given his ownership of the liberal Washington Post and AMI's affiliation with President Trump and the Saudi government, he wanted to know if the story was politically motivated. In May 2018, AMI had published a 97-page special entitled, The New Kingdom profiling Saudi Arabia and its Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salam. The Washington Post's coverage of the murder of Saudi dissident, their columnist Jamal Khashoggi just five months later flew in the face of the modernizing image the nation was trying to project. Court filings obtained by DailyMail.com show Lauren Sanchez's lawyers have dismissed her brother's latest bid to have her and Bezos deposed as nothing but an abusive ruse Lauren was married to Hollywood mega agent Patrick Whitesell (left) when she and Bezos started their affair. The three of them are pictured in 2016 It later emerged that Saudi intelligence had indeed hacked Post owner Bezos's phone with sophisticated spy wear, Pegasus a program that gave them full access to all his communications and data. According to Sanchez's suit, AMI's then CEO, Pecker, became 'apoplectic' when he learned that Bezos had launched an investigation into their sources. At the time the story was published the magazine had claimed to have a 'steamy picture too explicit to print.' In February 2019 Dylan Howard, editor of the National Enquirer, informed Bezos first verbally and later by email, that he had obtained intimate text messages between the lovers as well as a 'below the belt selfie,' or 'dick pick' of Bezos. Howard allegedly threatened to publish this material if Bezos didn't shut down his investigation into the story source. Instead, Bezos called his bluff and published the communications which, he characterized, as tantamount to extortion. In the chaotic fallout of this mess, AMI made a public statement naming Sanchez as the solitary source of both the tip and all the materials relating to the story of his sister's affair. Sanchez has been locked in litigation over the matter for close to three years, during which time he brought a failed suit against Bezos himself. Now, lawyers for Lauren and Bezos have dismissed his latest bid to have them both deposed as nothing but an abusive ruse. Neither Bezos nor Lauren, they assert, has knowledge of the sourcing of the story and so neither can provide testimony that is in any way substantively new or pertinent to Sanchez's case. In a letter included in court filings and dated February 2022, Lauren's attorney said it's undisputed that she had shared information with her brother about her relationship with Bezos because she trusted him as family, and called his decision to speak to the media as a 'deceitful betrayal' Neither Lauren, 53, nor Bezos, 59, are parties to Sanchez's suit, but his case turns on the details of the exposure of their affair four years ago Moreover, Lauren's lawyers point out, Sanchez 'admitted privately that he disclosed her private information to AMI.' In a letter included in court filings and dated February 2022, Lauren's attorney Bird wrote: 'It is undisputed that Ms. Sanchez shared with Mr. Sanchez information regarding her relationship with Mr. Bezos because she trusted him as her brother. 'It is similarly undisputed that Mr. Sanchez took that information and offered to sell it to the National Enquirer for $300,000, before ultimately being paid $200,000, all without Ms. Sanchez's knowledge of consent.' Addressing Sanchez's lawyers, Bird added: 'The immensity of the harm caused to Ms. Sanchez by your client's deceitful betrayal cannot easily be put into words, but it suffices to say that it was devastating.' Bird went on to allege that with his legal filing Sanchez had, 'Without even a scintilla of self-reflection or shameasserted that it was he who had been manipulated, not his sister whose confidence he had betrayed, and that it was he who was the true victim.' Lauren's motion to have the subpoena to depose her quashed will be heard in the California District Court, May 2. For his part Bezos filed a declaration in August 2022 in which he asserted, 'I do not have knowledge of any source or sources of informationfor the National Enquirer stories reporting or information or materials provided to them for the stories.' He added, 'I do not have first-hand knowledge of any hack of my cell phone by individuals from Saudi Arabia other than information that was made public by the United Nations.' He has filed his intent to move to quash Sanchez's subpoena to depose him immediately after Lauren's hearing is complete. A Canadian writer has detailed everything she doesn't like about living in Australia. Delaney Hart, who's now based in Melbourne, spoke out about her 'impressions of Australia', in a video posted to social media. 'Before anyone gets upset, there are lots of good things about Australia and frankly, nowhere is only good or bad, including Canada,' she said. The first thing on her hit list was our obsession with pokie machines. 'I think the pokies are a really good example of how a government can mobilise a vice to get people to think less. 'To use a pokie machine, you don't even have to think as hard as you do to use a slot machine, and those are pretty mindless,' Ms Hart said. 'There's also flashing lights everywhere and pictures of fire-breathing dragons, and you sit in a big chair that's really plush.' 'The whole thing really disgusts me, to be honest.' She also called out Australia's drinking culture, saying 'people drink so much'. 'Nobody seems to be having any fun, whether they're at the bar or a party,' she continued. 'At parties, nobody's dancing. At the bar's, nobody's dancing. Nobody's laughing. They're playing pool. 'And if they are dancing, they're taking their pants off. I do not understand.' Ms Hart claimed the cost of drugs is outrageous in Australia. 'People think it's novel to smoke weed. To me, smoking weed is like going to a store and buying a bag of M&Ms. 'It's from the earth. It's a plant,' she said. 'I also think it's interesting that they call their downtown central business districts, because downtown isn't just for business. It's supposed to be a place of culture, community and other things too,' she said. Canadian Delaney Hart (pictured) isn't a fan of the drinking culture in Australia Road rage and being stressed about getting parking are also pet hates. 'I don't know where everybody is in a rush to, and I don't know why everyone thinks the car in front of them can hear them yelling,' she said. 'The only person that can hear you yelling is me, and it's p*****g me off. 'It's the same with parking - I have met so many Australians that start stressing about finding a good parking spot 20 minutes before we get to the place we are going. Ms Hart also highlighted the nation's self-deprecating humour in her list of criticisms. 'I'm also really worried about their self-esteem in general as a nation because they have the most self-deprecating humour I have ever heard. Nobody can take a compliment. Nobody can compliment themselves. She also slammed bars 'who think it's acceptable' to charge $22 or more for an espresso martini. 'Everybody pays it simply because they don't have anywhere else to go. The charge is a normal acceptable price.' The video ends with Ms Hart lamenting about the dating scene. 'No one goes on dates. Australian girls ask me 'how do you get a date,' as if they're not a woman.' 'And the men I go on dates with, I be myself and the men are amazed, like women aren't going out I guess.' Delaney Hart (pictured) has a long list of pet hates but says there are also many good things about Australia Ms Hart's perception of Australia sparked a mixed from Aussies. 'Ive never heard someone describe Australia so wrong,' one commented. Another added: 'I live in Australia but Ive never been to the Australia you speak of.' 'Youre definitely with the wrong crowd and wrong pubs mate,' one woman wrote. But there were some Aussie who agreed. 'This is so true Australia is very much all of this,' one man said. Ms Hart later shared a follow-up video of the good things she liked about Australia, including the diversity, food, walkable cities, mangoes, the ocean, the 'chillest people you'll ever meet', the cafes, and the libraries. A rise in the cost of living has led to the downfall of Australian food delivery services, with four brands collapsing within the last 12 months as consumers have less money to spend. Send, DashMart, Voly, and most recently MilkRun have all been forced to stop trading, with the latter announcing the news on Tuesday. Channel Nine reporter Chris Kohler revealed the largest issues facing these kind of services was a rise in the cost of rent, labour and groceries. 'How come delivery systems never seem to work? I mean it works for a little while, but then the businesses seem to go broke,' he said in a TikTok. 'So why is this happening?' MilkRun allowed customers to choose a variety of groceries from select mini-marts around Sydney and Melbourne, with the delivery arriving within 20 minutes. 'The problem is the cost of rent went up an awful lot in the past 12 months,' Kohler continued. 'And the cost to employ 400 people also went up a lot, but if you jack up the cost of the groceries themselves, people will just probably get up and go to the supermarket themselves. 'So MilkRun was stuck.' The delivery system was reportedly losing an average of up to $13 per order. Channel Nine reporter Chris Kohler revealed the largest issues facing these kind of services was a rise in the cost of rent, labour and groceries MilkRun riders will be made redundant this week after the company announced its closure on Tuesday MilkRun's founder, Dany Milham, sent an email to his 400 workers on Tuesday in which he blamed worsening market conditions for his company's collapse despite the business 'performing well'. He told his staff they had 'set out to change the face of grocery delivery in Australia'. All riders will lock up their bikes for the final time on Friday. Meet the multi-millionaire Young Rich Lister behind MilkRun 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 In January 2022, MilkRun raised $75million in seed capital and was backed by the likes of Atlassian founders Mike Cannon-Brookes and Scott Farquhar, making it one of Australia's fastest-growing start-ups. The company was thought to have a valuation in the hundreds of millions. This week Mr Milham blamed tough economic and market conditions for the eventual decision to close the business. '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 to staff. Professor Gary Mortimer, business and retail expert at the Queensland University of Technology, told Daily Mail Australia that MilkRun's collapse was 'not a shock'. 'The writing was on the wall for these hyper-grocery delivery start-ups for some time,' he said. '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. 'As the pandemic came to a close, people ventured back into supermarkets and we started to see these businesses start to fall over.' Mr Mortimer said it was also difficult to compete with supermarket giants like Woolworths and Coles, which significantly ramped up their own delivery services during the lockdowns. And as businesses re-opened, younger casual workers had a lot more employment opportunities open to them. 'When you've got 3.5 per cent unemployment people aren't choosing to ride bikes, they are choosing to get jobs elsewhere,' he added. MilkRun closed in a position that allows them to pay off their suppliers and staff. Airbnb hosts will have to obtain planning permission to turn their properties into short-term lets under plans to crack down on nuisance holiday rentals. The problem has pushed local people out of cherished towns and villages, said Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove. Ministers are deciding whether properties would need to be rented out in excess of 30, 60 or 90 days before they are considered to be holiday lets. It is hoped the measures, if adopted, would stop individuals buying second homes with the primary intention of using them for short-term lets. The changes would see a planning use class created for lets not used as a sole or main home. Pictured: The Essex Stays retreat in Great Baddow. Residents in the village complained that they couldn't sleep because the guests were blaring music from a karaoke room. Rishi Sunak was forced to apologise for the inconvenience caused to pensioner Jeff Jones Pictured: Interior of the Essex Stays retreat. The pub-turned-Airbnb comes complete with its own cocktail bar, where up to 20 people can stay for 2,100-a-night Local authorities would be able to opt out of using such controls, but councils in tourist hot spots such as Cornwall and Whitby are expected to take full advantage to stop residents being squeezed out of holiday towns. Mr Gove today publishes a consultation proposing the introduction of planning permission for an existing home to be used as an Airbnb or other short-term let. It comes weeks after Rishi Sunak promised he would look at preventing Airbnbs being used as party houses and hubs of anti-social behaviour. The changes would not apply retrospectively, meaning only hosts looking to enter the holiday let market would be affected, although privately ministers have not ruled out a future crackdown on all properties. Mr Gove said: Tourism brings many benefits to our economy but in too many communities we have seen local people pushed out of cherished towns, cities and villages by huge numbers of short-term lets. Im determined that we ensure more people have access to local homes at affordable prices and that we prioritise families desperate to rent or buy a home of their own close to where they work. Pictured: Jacuzzi at the Essex Stays retreat. The owners pledged to a local newspaper in January this year that they wanted to 'minimise noise disturbance' Separately, the Department for Culture has proposed a new registration scheme for such properties so ministers can get a full database of existing Airbnbs. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer said: This new world of ultra-flexible short-term lets gives tourists more choice than ever before, but it should not come at the expense of local people being able to own their own home and stay local. The Government wants to help areas get the balance right and today we have an incomplete picture of the size and spread of our short-term lets market. This consultation on a national registration scheme will give us the data we need to assess the position and enable us to address the concerns communities face. The changes are aimed at Airbnbs, meaning they would not hit hotels, hostels or B&Bs. The number of holiday lets has soared since 2019, with listings in beauty spots such as the Lake District more than doubling in the past few years. Of the 30 neighbourhoods with the highest density of holiday rentals, analysis by The Times found 17 were in areas of outstanding natural beauty. Last month, residents in a village in Chelmsford, Essex, complained that they could not sleep because the guests were blaring out music from a karaoke room and soaking themselves in a hot tub late into the night. The Essex Stays retreat in Great Baddow is a pub-turned-Airbnb, complete with its own cocktail bar, where up to 20 people can stay for 2,100-a-night. Mr Sunak was forced to apologise for the inconvenience caused to pensioner Jeff Jones, who confronted the Prime Minister about this noisy 'party house'. The owners of Essex Stays did not respond to requests from MailOnline for comment last month. However, they pledged to a local newspaper in January this year that they wanted to 'minimise noise disturbance'. Natalie Barr has unleashed on a care home operator that will soon force hundreds of vulnerable residents into homelessness, asking: 'How can this happen?' The Sunrise host was appalled on Thursday morning by the fate of Wesley Mission's aged care residents in Sydney after the operator announced it will close all its homes in the city in a matter of weeks. The shock decision will affect its homes in Sylvania, Carlingford and Narrabeen, meaning nearly 200 residents and their families will be thrown into crisis when they close next month. Wesley Mission said it made the call after struggling to meet new national staffing requirements. But Barr had little time for the explanation, demanding: 'How is this allowed to happen?' 'If you have any family member, a parent, grandparent, anyone you know who is trying to get into an aged care facility in this country, it is so hard on a good day,' she said. 'The families of these people must be in absolute shock.' Reverend Stu Cameron, Wesley Mission's CEO and superintendent, said: 'The aged care sector is experiencing challenges to workforce and flow-on impacts from the national reforms to Aged Care. Wesley Mission supports these once-in-a-generation reforms, improving quality for all care users.' The Sunrise host said: 'The families of these people must be in absolute shock' Wesley Mission has a legal obligation to find new care for its displaced residents 'It is, however, a challenging environment to be a smaller provider. With just three aged care locations, our offering in this area is small compared to the large and diverse range of community services we provide around NSW and across Australia.' It is understood the three Sydney facilities will not close until everyone has somewhere to go and staff will be supported in finding a new role elsewhere. 'At this stage, we anticipate closing our centres at the end of May 2023, and before then, we will be doing all we can to support residents in choosing a new home that meets their needs,' Reverend Cameron said. 'We will also be supporting affected staff to find a new role, or with assistance to find a role at a different provider.' The operator has a legal obligation to find new care for its displaced residents. The Department of Health and Aged Care said it was not made aware of the decision by Wesley to close any of its aged care facilities. 'Residents are not required to move until suitable accommodation has been found,' the department told the ABC. Last July, aged care minister Anika Wells announced major reforms that required providers have a registered nurse on-duty 24/7 from July 1 this year. The Aged Care Amendment Bill also raised resident care time to 200 minutes per day, including 40 nursing minutes, by October 1. But last month Ms Wells admitted about one in 20 facilities wouldn't meet this target. The sector is still thousands of staff short of what it needs but the government is trying to attract more people through raising the minimum pay standard by 15 per cent from July. Wesley Mission closed their Tebbutt facility at Dundas in north-west Sydney last year as they could not deliver the major building works needed. 'Providing amenities that support our residents' needs is an increasing challenge both internally and externally at this location,' Reverend Cameron said last June. A student who narrowly survived Tasmania's jumping castle tragedy that killed six of his classmates has spoken out for the first time, saying he has 'survivor's guilt'. Beau Medcraft, now 14, suffered two broken arms and a shattered wrist after he fell 10 metres from an inflatable bouncing castle that got caught up in a 'mini-tornado' during a graduation celebration at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania in December, 2021. Speaking about the tragedy for the first time, Beau said that he remembers seeing the jumping castle 'torn up' and revealed how he desperately misses his best friend who died in the accident. Beau Medcraft, now 14, suffered two broken arms and a shattered wrist after he fell 10 metres from a bouncing castle that got caught up in a 'mini-tornado' during a graduation celebration at Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania in December, 2021 'Got to school, basically all happy, told mum that I was going to have the best day ever,' Beau told the ABC. 'I broke my growth plate, and my wrist and my arm and then I fractured this whole arm,' he said. He had entered the castle with his best friend, so looked around for him when a mini-tornado suddenly swept the inflatable into the air. 'He'd took off in the jumping castle and he landed somewhere else. He's not here today,' Beau said. Flowers and messages of support are seen at the one year commemoration ceremony of the Hillcrest Primary School tragedy Zane Mellor, 12, Jye Sheehan, 12, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones, 12, Peter Dodt, 12, Addison Stewart, 11, and Chace Hamilton, 11, were killed in the disaster - but Beau somehow managed to walk away. He and two other children were seriously injured. Heartbreakingly, Beau added that he 'wanted to be with his best mate' and wonders why he's here and his classmates aren't. Speaking of his best friend, he added: '[We] played Xbox every night, he had arguments with mum and everything, trying to get me to stay on,' 'I message him on Xbox and have conversations with myself,' he said. Zane Mellor, 12, Peter Dodt, Addison Stewart, Chace Harrison, Jalailah Jayne-Maree Jones and Jye Sheehan (pictured clockwise from top left) were also killed when a freak gust of wind blew the inflatable 10 metres into the air Beau's mother Tammy Medcraft added that she would 'never forget' the moment the school rang to tell her his son had broken his arm. She travelled to the school to pick up Beau, completely unaware of the tragedy, when she saw police cars, helicopters and ambulances on the school grounds. Tammy found her son sitting inside with one of the other parents, and rang her husband John to tell her they needed to take Beau to the hospital to 'put his wrists back in place'. John said that the phone call was 'absolutely horrible' as they were still trying to put together what had happened, getting updates from TV and radio. Flowers, soft toys and tributes are seen outside Hillcrest Primary School in Devonport, Tasmania in December, 2021 'When we sort of found out the severity of it, I was about to pull a dirt bike out of the shed, or my buggy or something, to get to where I needed to go,' John said. 'But because I had no way of getting there I just waited until Tammy said that we had to get him to Burnie [hospital], so I said 'Righto, get back home and I'll get you to Burnie'.' Tammy said she's also dealt with survivor's guilt, that her son lived and others didn't. Australians raised $1.4 million for the families of the victims, although it wasn't released to families until March, 2022. As a result of the tragedy several organisations banned the use of all inflatables on their properties, including the Tasmanian Department of Education. A nurse who was stabbed multiple times in the head, killing her, 'wanted a baby more than anything' and was about to start her third round of IVF before she died. Erin Gilbert's husband Nicholas, 38, arrived home to their Merrylands unit, in Sydney's west, at about 11.30pm on Easter Sunday to find his wife sprawled on the living room floor, choking on her own blood. He frantically tried to save her life but it was too late. The 42-year-old died before paramedics arrived. Mr Gilbert has since told reporters he felt as though he should have been there when the mysterious killer entered their apartment and stabbed her to death with an unknown sharp object. Daily Mail Australia can now reveal the couple, who got married in 2020, were desperately trying to have a baby. Ms Gilbert's childhood best friend Shane Niquet said she had recently quit smoking to improve her chances of falling pregnant. Erin Gilbert and Shane Niquet (pictured together at a foam party) met when they were 12 years old, in Year 7 Ms Gilbert and Mr Niquet (pictured together) were best friends and spoke almost every day 'Erin had so many plans for her future,' Mr Niquet told Daily Mail Australia. 'She just gave up smoking so she could start IVF again - she wanted a baby more then anything.' Mr Niquet said he and Ms Gilbert had been 'inseparable' since they met in Year 7. He remembered her as a 'strong-willed person' who always had a smile on her face and 'tried to find the good' in everyone. 'I dont know how Im going to go without her. I spoke to her all the time I will miss her greatly,' he said. Mr Niquet also explained Ms Gilbert was a qualified nurse and pathologist but was in-between jobs when she died. Court documents revealed the Gilberts were struggling financially and had legal battles with two landlords over unpaid rent. Two court orders from the NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal direct the Gilberts to pay more than a total $8850 in overdue rent to their landlords. In October, the couple were evicted from their home on Victoria Road in Parramatta after they breached their tenancy agreement by failing to pay more than $7780 in rent. Only a few months later, the Gilberts were ordered to pay the outstanding rent of more than $1060 on their current home in Merrylands. Erin Gilbert and her husband Nic (pictured) got married in 2020. He tried to save her life on Sunday Nic Gilbert (pictured) came home on Sunday night to find his wife choking on her own blood Ms Gilbert was found dead in that apartment only days after the court mandate was handed down. She and her husband had been facing eviction by July if they didn't meet their rental repayments. Mr Gilbert broke down on Wednesday while telling Nine News his wife was his 'better half' and his 'world'. 'She just completed me, everything about her I miss,' he said. He arrived home to their unit late on Sunday night and kept pressing the doorbell, but his wife didn't answer so he decided she was probably asleep. He then went around the back and tried to throw a rock at the window to capture her attention, but eventually made it inside by climbing on a wheelie bin and hoisting himself over the balcony. 'I walked through the bedroom, Erin was on her back and it looked like she was choking on blood,' he said. 'I jumped in, grabbed her arm and tried to resuscitate her.' Mr Gilbert said he grabbed his phone, pressed the call button, and spoke to the first person whose name popped up. 'I just said 'Erin's dead, help me, Erin's dead',' he recalled. Mr Gilbert assisted police with their inquiries on Sunday evening and has been released without charge. Ms Gilbert's body was discovered face down in a pool of blood inside a unit block (forensic police pictured) It is understood there is CCTV to back up his alibi. Mr Gilbert said he has no idea who may have attacked her. Police remain baffled by Mrs Gilbert's mysterious death and have appealed to the public to help find her killer. When asked what he'd do if he was confronted by his wife's killer, Mr Gilbert fought back tears as he instead answered with what Mrs Gilbert would want. 'I would love to get my hands on you (the killer) myself but Erin would want the police to get you,' he said. Detectives have launched Strike Force Trevelyan to get to the bottom of what happened in Mrs 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.' Police have urged anyone with information to contact Crime Stoppers. A beaming Joe Biden approvingly told a packed pub in Ireland that his distant relative 'beat the hell out of the Black and Tans' - an infamous British militia sent to Ireland in the 1920s to try and stamp out Irish nationalism. Biden's remark was seen by some as a gaffe: he was referring to Rob Kearney, a rugby player who famously beat the All Blacks. But others thought it was a Freudian slip - a nod by Biden to his own stridently pro-Ireland feelings. Former Democratic Unionist party leader Arlene Foster said on the eve of his arrival that the US president 'hates the UK' - forcing Biden's senior aide, Amanda Sloat, to insist on Wednesday that he was 'not anti-British'. Yet Biden's reference to the Black and Tans has only served to reinforce the idea of his pro-nationalist attitude. Joe Biden is pictured on Wednesday at the Windsor Bar in Dundalk, Ireland with Michael Martin, the Tanaiste, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence Biden referenced Rob Kearney on Wednesday - the Irish rugby player, who is a distant cousin. Biden is pictured welcoming Kearney to the White House on March 17, to celebrate St Patrick's Day Kearney (left) is pictured celebrating Ireland's first ever defeat of the All Blacks - a 40-29 victory in a match held at Chicago's Soldier Field The 80-year-old - who is considered the most Irish of all US presidents, with 10 of his 16 great great grandparents coming from the Emerald Isle - was speaking on Wednesday at a pub in Dundalk, just south of the Northern Ireland border. Biden proudly declared that Kearney, who won 95 caps for the Irish team from 2007-19, had given him the shamrock tie he was wearing. 'This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, was a hell of a rugby player,' said Biden. 'He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans.' Kearney, voted Europe's best player in 2012, played a pivotal role in Ireland's defeat of the All Blacks - the New Zealand national team - in November 2016, in Chicago. It was the first time that Ireland had ever beaten the New Zealand side. But Biden's muddling of history also had a darker side. The Black and Tans were a notorious group of constables enlisted to help the British cause during the Irish War of Independence - the 1919-21 battle between the Irish Republican Army and the British forces. The July 1921 ceasefire saw the island divided, with Northern Ireland remaining under British control and the south gaining independence. The Black and Tans - officially part of the Royal Irish Constabulary - were a group of 10,000 men recruited from Britain to try and defeat the IRA. Their name came from their uniforms: a mix of the dark green of the RIC, which looked black, and the tan color of the British army. Sir Hamar Greenwood of the Royal Irish Constabulary inspects a group of Black and Tans, an armed auxiliary force of the RIC, in January 1921. The Black and Tans were infamous for their brutality in their quest to stop Ireland gaining independence from Britain A suspected member of the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein is searched at gunpoint by the Black and Tans in November 1920 Members of the Black and Tans are pictured with Lewis machine guns in Dublin in the early 1920s Who were the Black and Tans? The Black and Tans were a 10,000-strong group of British recruits to the Royal Irish Constabulary. Recruitment began in January 1920: many of those who signed up were unemployed veterans of the First World War, or convicts. They were sent to Ireland to try and quash demands for independence from Britain. The War of Independence was fought from 1919-21. Their nickname came from their uniform - they wore some of the dark green clothing of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which looked black, and some of the khaki of the British army. They were known for their brutality and reprisals against civilians: to this day, they are seen as a cruel and shameful force. Advertisement Such was the ferocity of their fighting that the rumor spread that they had been recruited from British prisons. They were well known for their brutality and enacting reprisals on civilians they believed supported the IRA. Public opinion in the UK and Ireland was widely disapproving of their acts. The unit was disbanded in 1922, yet to this day the Black and Tans are a shorthand for excessive violence, and their role in the war remains contentious. The troops were immortalized in the popular Irish rebel song, 'Come Out, Ye Black And Tans'. Biden's four-day trip to Ireland was officially timed to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He landed in Belfast on Tuesday night, and met the British prime minister, Rishi Sunak, in Belfast on Wednesday morning. He spoke at Ulster University after his meeting with Sunak, and then visited Carlingford, where his great-great-grandfather was born. Accompanied by his sister Valerie and son Hunter, Biden then went to Kilwirra cemetery, where his ancestors were buried, before his stop at the pub in Dundalk. On Thursday Biden will meet President Michael D. Higgins in Dublin, and address a joint sitting of parliament before attending a banquet dinner in Dublin Castle. On Friday, the president flies to County Mayo to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock shrine, and a family heritage centre. Biden is seen on Wednesday walking through Dundalk, ahead of his trip to the pub Biden takes a selfie after speaking at Ulster University on Wednesday morning As he touched down on Tuesday, Foster told GB News that Biden 'hates the United Kingdom', and was 'pro-nationalist'. She added: 'I don't think there's any doubt about that. 'And I just think that he's coming here won't put any pressure on the Democratic Unionists at all, quite the reverse because he is seen by so many people to be simply pro-republican and pro-nationalist.' Sloat denied that Biden was against the UK. 'I think the track record of the president shows that he is not anti-British,' she said on Wednesday. 'The president has been very actively engaged throughout his career dating back to when he was a senator in the peace process in Northern Ireland and that involved engagement with leaders of all of Northern Ireland parties from both of the two main communities.' Sloat insisted the UK remained one of the US's 'closest allies' and the two countries would continue to work together. 'I think his message to the DUP and to all the political leaders is going to be the continued strong support for seeing the peace process move forward here and the strong desire by this president to increase US investment in Northern Ireland to take advantage of the vast economic potential that seems here.' Police investigating Nicola Bulley's death are reportedly looking for a 'specific' item that is missing from where she died, a forensic pathologist has claimed. Specialist police diving crews were filmed in the River Wyre in Lancashire on Tuesday, April 4 less than a mile from the bank where Nicola disappeared on January 27, sparking a huge 23-day manhunt. The mother-of-two, 45, went missing after walking her dog near the river in St Michael's-on-Wyre. The search for her involved police, the fire service, mountain rescue, diving teams and the local community - but her body was tragically found in the river on February 19. Ms Bulley's partner Paul Ansell, 44, raised the alarm after a villager found their spaniel running loose close to a bench overlooking the river. Ms Bulley's mobile phone had been left on the bench. Police (pictured in the River Wyre) investigating Nicola Bulley's death are reportedly looking for a 'specific' item that is missing from where she died, a forensic pathologist has claimed Mother-of-two Nicola Bulley (pictured), 45, went missing after walking her dog near the river in St Michael's-on-Wyre. Dr James Adeley, Senior Coroner for Lancashire, has asked Lancashire Police to return to the water for investigative work to help confirm her cause of death and what happened before she was found. A senior national police source, with experience of similar cases, told MailOnline earlier this week that the decision to send divers back in shows how seriously the investigation is being taken. 'The coroner clearly wants more answers and potential evidence,' the insider added. Forensic pathologist Dr Richard Shepherd, who worked on important cases such as the Stephen Lawrence investigations and was called as an expert in the trial of Harold Shipman, has said the police are looking for a missing object, the Mirror reports. He told the paper that he was 'struggling to see' what they could now be looking for that would be affect or influence Nicola's cause of death. Dr Shepherd added that the morgue would have done a post-mortem examination to uncover any natural diseases in her system, injuries and samples for alcohol and drugs. He said that he thought they were looking for an 'artefact of some sort' that they cannot find but they believe is in the river. He says that police would not want a member of the public to find it. He said it was unlikely that police were trying to reconstruct how her body travelled down the river as there are too many variables, such as reeds and branches getting in the way and the exact river flow, to properly repeat it. The coroner has ordered Lancashire Police to return to the river to help with Nicola's upcoming inquest, which will determine her cause of death Police had twice searched the area where Nicola was found before a member of the public discovered her body in the reeds Nicola Bulley, pictured with her partner Paul Ansell, disappeared while walking her dog on January 27. She was found dead 23 days later An inquest into Nicola's death is to be heard on Monday, June 26, at County Hall in Preston. Lancashire Police confirmed this week that the divers returned to the River Wyre as part of the investigation into Nicola Bulley's death. 'We can confirm this is us carrying out some work at the direction of HM Coroner,' a police spokesman told the Lancashire Post. A spokesman for HM Coroner said earlier this week: 'The investigation will take time to complete to ensure that as complete a picture as possible of the facts concerning Ms Bulley's death is presented at the inquest. This will assist the family in understanding what occurred. 'As part of this process, HM Senior Coroner has requested Lancashire Constabulary produce information gathered during the search for Ms Bulley so it can be considered as part of the investigation.' Police were last night investigating a potential security breach surrounding Joe Biden's visit to Belfast after a member of the public found sensitive documents on the street. The operational notes were marked 'official sensitive', the lowest grade of security classification in the UK. It is believed to relate to arrangements around the US President's hotel, the Grand Central in the centre of the Northern Irish capital. The investigation comes amid heightened security surrounding Mr Biden's visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. More than 300 extra officers from across the UK were brought in to form a ring of steel around Belfast in advance of Mr Biden's brief visit, at a cost of at least 7million. The investigation comes amid heightened security surrounding Mr Biden's (pictured) visit to Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland A redacted version of the document, which BBC Radio Ulster said was sent to them by a listener, suggested it was possible to see the names of individual officers, their call signs, and where they were deployed. It is understood no personal details on the President, his officials or those of other dignitaries associated with the visit were included within the five-page document. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is now investigating the extent of any security breach. A PSNI spokesman said: 'We are aware of a security breach [and] an investigation has commenced. 'We take the safety of visiting dignitaries, members of the public and our officers and staff extremely seriously and will put the appropriate actions in place.' The President's visit resulted in the biggest police operation in Northern Ireland since the G8 summit a decade ago. China wants Labour to form Britain's next government because the party is soft on security, according to a leaked US intelligence report. Beijing believes Sir Keir Starmer's administration would benefit its bid to dominate the Pacific, the document suggests. The report, drawn up by the US Defence Department, was one of the 50 posted online triggering a criminal investigation. However, the documents are yet to be officially verified. According to American analysis, China thinks it could achieve more 'success', due to Starmer's reluctance to send a Royal Navy aircraft carrier to the region. The leak has deeply embarrassed US military chiefs who are hunting for whoever shared the information on the internet. Pictured: China's President Xi Jinping (file photo). Beijing believes Sir Keir Starmer's administration would benefit its bid to dominate the Pacific, according to a leaked US intelligence report Pictured: Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer (file photo). According to American analysis, China thinks it could achieve more 'success', due to Starmer's reluctance to send a Royal Navy aircraft carrier to the region The documents, which have not been officially verified, include an appraisal of British defence strategy and how the UK's approach to Pacific security in particular is regarded by China. The assessment concludes a Conservative government would be more committed than a Labour administration which, it suggests, could 'pullback' from the region. The analysis, purportedly drawn up in February this year, reads: 'Labour's defense [sic] policy prioritises European defense [sic] at the expense of an increased Indo-Pacific presence. 'Ruling Conservative government exploring expanded counter PRC [People's Republic of China] policy. 'Opposition Labour party signalling pullback on counter PRC efforts. '[Labour] agreed the PRC is a 'systematic challenge' but argued against relying on deployment as the primary response due to resource constraints. 'Beijing would likely view a permanent CSG [an aircraft Carrier Support Group] deployment as a failure of its UK policy, while viewing a Labour-led pullback as a success.' The document emerged today as Beijing announced it is to impose a no-fly zone near Taiwan. The no-fly zone will be in effect on April 16th following three days of Chinese military drills. The move is the latest threatening gesture by Beijing towards its neighbour. These measures added weight to threats by Chinese leader Xi Jinping to annex Taiwan. Pictured: US President Joe Biden (file photo). The leak has deeply embarrassed US military chiefs who are hunting for whoever shared the information on the internet The intelligence breach could have a drastic impact upon the landscape of the conflict in Ukraine. US President Joe Biden, left, is pictured meeting Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky in February Today, Conservative MP Alicia Kearns said: 'Beijing says vote Labour' I wonder if that will feature on Starmer's election leaflets. 'No surprises here that the US and China believe a Labour government would be weaker in the Indo-Pacific leaving us less safe at home. 'In partnership with the US, the Conservative government led the world in supporting Ukraine before the renewed illegal invasion, and now in the Indo-Pacific facing down the threats to our prosperity and security.' The documents discussing Conservative and Labour security policies are marked 'secret' and 'Not Releasable to Foreign Nationals'. These were part of a tranche of papers which appeared on internet servers in recent weeks. The release of 50 classified documents is considered the most alarming incident of its kind since the Wikileaks scandal a decade ago. The dossier is considered genuine however its contents are thought to have been tampered with and to contain significant inaccuracies. Indications the UK could deploy an aircraft carrier to the Pacific, on a permanent or semi-permanent basis, are misleading, according to defence sources. While it may represent an aspiration, sending either HMS Queen Elizabeth or HMS Prince of Wales to challenge China, would be too expensive. So any previous plans for such a deployment are no longer being considered. Labour published its critique of the government's Indo-Pacific tilt strategy on February 7th which appears to have triggered the US's assessment of a possible change in UK policy pending a General Election in this country. Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey indicated the party would focus on European defence following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey (pictured) indicated the party would focus on European defence following Russia's invasion of Ukraine Defence sources have strongly denied claims, also included in the documents, that UK Special Forces are engaged in the conflict. The dossier claims up to 50 elite British troops have been sent to the warzone. This may be a reference to UKSF personnel protecting diplomats in Kyiv and facilitating visits to Ukraine by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. No British troops are directly involved in the fighting, according to defence sources. Responding to the remarks included in the documents, Labour Shadow Defence Secretary John Healey said: 'Labour will always do what is required to defend our country from rising threats and systematic challenges. 'Even the government has said that this alleged leak has demonstrated a 'serious level of inaccuracy' and drawing such a conclusion is baseless. 'From nuclear power to Huawei, it is the government that has been forced into u-turns over national security risks related to China. 'Labour will build on the UK's commitment to Indo-Pacific allies and our support for AUKUS, Five Eyes and the Global Combat Air Programme is total.' A backyard breeder accused of treating his dogs as 'moneymakers' has been viciously mauled to death by his own animals. Rikiana Hirawani, 33, was found dead in the backyard of his Christchurch, New Zealand home, surrounded by three large, white dogs. Armed police rushed to the Gilberthorpes Road home, in the Christchurch suburb of Hei Hei, at 12.30pm on Tuesday ready to capture the dogs. Neighbours reported seeing one of the dogs still mauling his lifeless, naked body and described the scene as 'grim'. A neighbour said he yelled at the dogs to try and keep them off the body until police arrived. Police arrived at the mans' Christchurch home to find a dog still mauling the man It is not known how or when Mr Hirawani died, but police claimed early on in the investigation that there no suspicious circumstances 'You could see every rib,' the witness told Stuff. The neighbour also claimed the dogs were not well-looked after and had been bred as 'moneymakers'. Mr Hirawani's body was still occasionally being attacked when police arrived. One of the dogs was taken from the front of the property while police broke through the back fence to capture the other two animals. Detective Senior Sergeant Colin Baillie confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances in his death. Police forensic experts are still examining the scene and the death was referred to the coroner. One dog was apprehended in the street and police removed the other two. A neighbour also claimed that armed police were regularly called to the same house. A paedophile councillor has been jailed for 27 months for raping a young girl more than 30 years ago. Daryll Pitcher, who sits on Isle of Wight Council, was convicted following a trial at Isle of Wight Crown Court of two charges of rape against the same girl in the early 1990s. The two offences took place about a year apart when Pitcher was aged about 14, the court heard. Sentencing Pitcher, of Wootton Bridge, the judge Recorder Richard Onslow told him: 'Although at the time, you being a youth, may not have considered the implications of your actions, you are responsible for the effect of these offences on her.' The judge added that the 46-year-old had not offended since, and acted as a carer for his elderly mother. Daryll Pitcher (left and pictured right for his Isle of Wight Council profile), who sits on Isle of Wight Council, was convicted following a trial at Isle of Wight Crown Court of two charges of rape against the same girl in the early 1990s. The two offences took place about a year apart when Pitcher was aged about 14 Sentencing Pitcher, of Wootton Bridge, the judge Recorder Richard Onslow at Wight Crown Court told him: 'Although at the time, you being a youth, may not have considered the implications of your actions, you are responsible for the effect of these offences on her' He said: 'I have read all the many letters and character references which speak highly of your personal qualities and the work you have done in the community and as a councillor.' Following the conviction, the defendant was also put on the sex offenders' register for 10 years. Humza Yousaf has been accused of a 'painfully transparent' attempt to divert attention from the party's civil war after launching a legal challenge against Westminster's block on gender reforms. The First Minister will use taxpayers' cash to press ahead with the legal action that even those within his own party say is 'unlikely to succeed'. The Scottish Government has declared it will lodge a petition for a judicial review into the use of the section 35 order to stop the Bill, designed to make it easier to legally change gender, from becoming law. Tory MSP Rachel Hamilton described the decision as 'totally divorced from reality'. The Prime Minister and Secretary of State for Scotland also said they would 'robustly' defend the UK Government's decision. Humza Yousaf (pictured) has been accused of a 'painfully transparent' attempt to divert attention from the party's civil war after launching a legal challenge against Westminster's block on gender reforms Scottish Conservative deputy leader Meghan Gallacher said: 'This is a painfully transparent attempt by Humza Yousaf to divert attention from the civil war engulfing the SNP and the huge question marks over the party's finances. 'Desperate times call for desperate measures, so the beleaguered First Minister has reached for the Nationalists' playbook and is manufacturing grievance with the UK Government. 'The vast majority of Scots oppose Nicola Sturgeon's reckless Bill because it compromises the safety of women and allows 16-year-olds to legally change gender. 'A strong leader, acting in the national interest, would revisit and amend a profoundly flawed Bill. 'It's a measure of Humza Yousaf's weakness that he has chosen the opposite course. 'The First Minister should be focused on the real priorities of the Scottish people rather than a costly, self-serving legal battle.' Holyrood passed the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill in December, despite a major rebellion by Nationalist MSPs. But Scottish Secretary Alister Jack used the Scotland Act's section 35 powers to stop the Bill from getting Royal Assent, which is required for it to become law. Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (pictured) used the Scotland Act's section 35 powers to stop the Bill from getting Royal Assent, which is required for it to become law At the time, Nicola Sturgeon complained that it was a 'full- frontal attack on our democratically elected Scottish parliament' and insisted a court challenge was 'inevitable'. Mr Yousaf, widely perceived as the 'continuity candidate' during the bitter SNP leader contest, was the only candidate committed to a legal challenge. His rivals, Kate Forbes and Ash Regan, had warned it would be an expensive waste of taxpayers' money, believing it would have little chance of success. And yesterday, even those within the SNP questioned whether it was wise to mount a legal challenge against the Westminster Government. Nationalist MP Joanna Cherry wrote on Twitter: 'I cannot understand why the Scottish Government is taking legal action it's unlikely to win rather than sorting out the problems with the GRR Bill at home. Reform could be effected in Scotland without breaching equality or human rights law if there was the will so to do.' Former SNP First Minister Alex Salmond said: 'Humza Yousaf should be taking on Westminster on self-determination, not taking on the Scottish people on self-identification. He has embarked on the ultimate lose/lose gambit. If he loses the case, he is humiliated by Westminster. If he wins it, he loses with the Scottish people.' Earlier, former SNP health secretary Alex Neil said numerous lawyers had told him there is 'not a cat in hell's chance of winning' a legal challenge. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK Government had taken 'very careful and considered advice' on the issue before acting. Pictured: Supporters of the For Women Scotland and the Scottish Feminist Network taking part in a demonstration outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh He added: 'We had concerns, as the UK Government the Secretary of State set this out at the time, about how Scotland's Gender Recognition Act would interact with reserved powers, about the operation of the Equalities Act, the protection of women elsewhere in the UK as well. 'That's why we took the decision to block the GRR. Obviously there's a court process; we will follow that through.' Following the Scottish Government's announcement, Mr Jack said: 'The UK Government will robustly defend the decision to prevent the Scottish Government's Gender Recognition Reform Bill from becoming law. 'I made the order under section 35 of the Scotland Act 1998 after thorough and careful consideration of all the relevant advice and the policy implications. 'I was very clear how the Bill would have an adverse effect on reserved matters, including on the operation of the law as it applies to Great Britain-wide equalities protections.' The Scottish Government's Bill, passed by 86 votes to 39, would make it easier to obtain a gender recognition certificate, allowing Scots to apply from the age of 16 and without medical involvement, relying on self-identification. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the UK Government had taken 'very careful and considered advice' on the issue before acting Opposition attempts to include an automatic block on convicted criminals and those accused of sexual crimes or violence against women were voted down by SNP and Green MSPs. Announcing the legal challenge, Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'The use of section 35 is an unprecedented challenge to the Scottish parliament's ability to legislate on clearly devolved matters and it risks setting a dangerous precedent. 'In seeking to uphold the democratic will of the parliament and defend devolution, Scottish ministers will lodge a petition for a judicial review of the Secretary of State for Scotland's decision.' Polling published in February revealed nearly twice as many Scots oppose the reforms as support them, and the public also supports the decision of UK ministers to veto the Bill. The survey, by Ipsos, found that 50 per cent of Scots agreed that the UK Government was right to intervene, while 33 per cent said it should not have. Scottish Labour equalities spokesman Paul O'Kane said: 'A fraught and expensive legal battle could have been avoided if both of our governments had been more willing to work in good faith to deliver a Bill that works for everyone.' A crowned portrait of the King will for the first time feature on a new range of commemorative coins created to celebrate the upcoming coronation. The collection, which includes a 50p and 5 coin, will be released later this month ahead of the historic May 6 celebration. The effigy, which was designed by artist and sculptor Martin Jennings and is emblazoned on the highly collectable coins, depicts King Charles III wearing the Tudor crown. The Tudor Crown was personally selected by the King for the portrait despite it no longer existing, having been destroyed in the 1640s. It continues in the tradition of the crown being used in portraits of previous kings from the 20th century, including that of his great grandfather King George VI. The 5 coin features a design by Timothy Noad of the sacred and symbolic objects used in the coronation ceremony, known as the Coronation Regalia, and the St Edward's Crown The Tudor Crown was personally selected by the King for the portrait despite it no longer existing, having been destroyed in the 1640s Mr Jennings said he was 'proud' to have created the portrait, which he said was 'both dignified and celebratory for this historic occasion'. The 50p coin will also feature a drawing of Westminster Abbey by The Royal Mint's resident designer Natasha Jenkins. The image also includes King Charles' cypher and crown to symbolise him being inside the abbey where he is to be crowned. The 5 coin features a design by Timothy Noad of the sacred and symbolic objects used in the coronation ceremony, known as the Coronation Regalia, and the St Edward's Crown. The range also contains a number of ounce coins, that are available in several editions and sizes, each featuring the crowned portrait of the King on one side and an intricate design by John Bergdahl on the other. The 50p coins will be available to buy from 9am on April 24 for between 11 and 1,220, while the 5 coins are priced between 14.50 and 2,995. A 1kg solid gold proof coin featuring the designs of Mr Jennings and Mr Bergdahl will also go on sale for 77,565. Five million 50ps are also set to enter circulation later in 2023 featuring the original, uncrowned effigy of Charles by Mr Jennings and the commemorative Westminster Abbey drawing by Ms Jenkins. This follows the five million memorial 50ps that entered circulation after the King ascended the throne. The 50p coins will be available to buy from 9am on April 24 for between 11 and 1,220, while the 5 coins are priced between 14.50 and 2,995 The collection, which includes a 50p and 5 coin, will be released later this month ahead of the historic May 6 celebration The 5 coin features a design by Timothy Noad of the sacred and symbolic objects used in the coronation ceremony, known as the Coronation Regalia, and the St Edwards Crown Rebecca Morgan, director of collector services at The Royal Mint, called the range 'a wonderful keepsake of such a historic occasion'. 'This is the first coronation that most of us will ever have seen - it has been 70 years since the last coronation in this country - and we know lots of people are gearing up to have a huge celebration,' Ms Morgan said. 'It is a historic moment for Britain and people are going to want something to remember it by and these coins are the perfect choice for that.' She added: 'The Royal Mint has struck the coins of the monarchy since the times of Alfred the Great. 'We are marking a moment in history and a new chapter in British coinage.' Historian and curator at The Royal Mint Museum, Chris Barker, said the coins are unusual as they feature a crowned effigy of the King which in the 20th century has been reserved for commemorative medals only. He said: 'What also really stands out is the way the King is portrayed crowned because there's a remarkable resemblance to his grandfather, George VI, and he has shown wearing the Tudor crown on coronation medals from his reign. 'You can see that the King is obviously channelling some of the iconography of the last king that Britain had.' The heartbroken family of a young beautician who took her own life has offered a piece of advice to every young Australian after she was in the morgue for four weeks because of debate about who owned her body. Caitlin Thornton, 21, was found unconscious at a Cessnock home, in NSW's Hunter region, on March 8 after attempting to take her own life. She died in hospital three days later, leaving behind two young sons. Adding to her mum Kylie Bailey's grief, the body of Caitlin was left lying in the morgue for four weeks because there was debate about who was her next of kin. Caitlin had ended her tumultuous relationship with her boyfriend Alex Passfield, according to her mum. Young mum-of-two Caitlin Thornton (pictured) tragically took her own life in March Despite the couple breaking up, Mr Passfield was still regarded as next of kin and thus had ownership over her body. Caitlin's body was finally released earlier this week by Mr Passfield, a month after her tragic death. Kylie told A Current Affair she was now lobbying for the law to be changed so other grieving families don't suffer a similar heartbreak of having to debate who owns their child's body. 'Think you don't need a will? Do you think you don't own anything?' she wrote. 'Think again! You own your own body, without a will, you can be taken from your family after your death, that guy you broke up with can claim to be senior next of kin, they can just take you. 'And the ones that truly love you, your family, your parents, your siblings must fight to bury you.' Kylie said her 'fight' was starting. 'For four weeks my precious little girl has been laying in a mortuary cold and bruised whilst we have to push our grief aside and fight to give her the send off she so deserves,' she wrote. 'Once our fight to get our daughter back is over, our fight to change the coroner's court legislation into next of kin will start.' Kylie said her daughter had a plan to raise her boys but that came to a tragic end in March. 'She just wanted a future for her and the boys and wrote notes about it. She was so close,' she said. Kylie Bailey spent a month fighting for her daughter's body to be released from a morgue Caitlin's grandmother Heather added: 'It's ripping our hearts apart.' Family, friends and locals gathered at Shoal Bay on March 19 to place flowers into the ocean in Caitlin's memory, including her father who travelled from New Zealand for the memorial. One month on from Caitlin's death, Ms Bailey can finally plan her daughter's funeral. 'Today is exactly one month since Caitlin had her life support turned off,' she wrote on Tuesday, hours after the segment aired. 'Thanks to the amazing neighbours and paramedics we were able to spend three more days with our precious girl before she gained her wings. 'Exactly one month on, late this afternoon Caitlins next of kin has finally released her body for a funeral. 'We finally get to lay our girl to rest in peace. 'Thank you to everyone for your amazing support and condolences during this difficult time.' Kylie Bailey (right) is relieved she can finally lay her daughter Caitlin (left) to rest In the weeks prior to her death, Caitlin was preparing to embrace a fresh start in life and had just set up her own eyelash business. Ms Bailey described her daughter as a beautiful, creative and artistic young woman and an 'adoring loving mother' who doted on her boys. She'll never forget the moment she learned what happened to her daughter. 'We had a knock on the door from police and I just looked at him and said 'is my daughter alive and he said no, she's unconscious and they're trying to revive her and you need to get to the hospital and meet her there to say goodbye,' Ms Bailey recalled. NSW Police confirmed at the time they were treating Caitlin's death as a suspected self-harm incident. 'A crime scene was established at the home and examined by specialist forensic police, and an investigation into the incident commenced,' a spokesperson said. 'Initial inquiries suggest the incident is not suspicious, and a report is being prepared for the information of the Coroner.' If you or anyone you know needs support, contact Lifeline 131 114 or Beyond Blue on 1300 224 636. Caitlin Thornton (pictured) leaves behind two little boys An Oregon woman has sued an influential Buddhist monk and trusted mentor over a litany of alleged sexual offenses including rape and pressuring her to keep an unwanted pregnancy. Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche, who also goes by Choying Rabjam, also allegedly asked her to sit in his lap and 'suck his tongue like a lollipop,' echoing accusations against the Dalai Lama earlier this week. Rachel Montgomery, now 30, has filed a lawsuit accusing him of sexual battery and sex trafficking in 2011, when she was just 19 years old. The two met when Montgomery was a teenager who studied under him at the Dzogchen Retreat Center in Eugene. Montgomery alleges that Choga, as he is known, would continuously use their student-teacher relationship to make unwanted sexual advances, eventually allegedly raping her inside a Buddhist temple when she was 21. Rachel Montgomery who has filed a lawsuit accusing Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche of sexual battery and sex trafficking in 2011, when she was just 19 years old Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche at the Dzogchen Retreat Center in Oregon She also claims that Choga, now 58, pressured her to get drunk before he sexually to the point where she was 'barely conscious' when he assaulted her and ordered her to, much like the Dalai Lama asked a child to do, suck his tongue for 'tantric empowerment.' 'I feel like Buddhism was weaponized to take advantage of me,' Montgomery said to The Daily Beast. 'I don't want to say that it gets weaponized for everyone. But for me, it was weaponized.' She says that while she was barely conscious, she remembers Choga's body on top of her and his long hair on her face. Montgomery claims that Buddhism was an escape from what had been a traumatic childhood and that Choga eventually twisted their teachings to sexually abuse her. 'I had pigtails, no sense of fashion. I mean, I look back and I'm like, 'Wow. I was a baby.' I hadn't even had a smartphone yet. I was just fresh in the world. I had very little knowledge and know-how in general,' she said. Montgomery said that she had abused substances from the age of 13 after her father's death, while her mother also battled with drugs and alcohol. She had gotten clean but was looking for a purpose. Choga, she claims, took a quick interest in her, even offering her a job as a nanny to the families that lived on the retreat and saying that they had known each other in a past life. She had even become what amounted to an unpaid personal assistant to Choga within the retreat. A view from the Dzogchen Retreat Center in Oregon where Rachel Montgomery claims she was raped in a temple by Dzogchen Khenpo Choga Rinpoche People join hands in a circle at the Dzogchen Retreat Center in Oregon Montgomery then alleges that a month after the night in question, she was pregnant and tried to reach out to Choga, who confirmed their sexual encounter. 'Choga convinced [Montgomery] that though the interaction was similar to what the Western world perceived as 'sex,' it was actually a blessed act intended for her spiritual benefit,' the lawsuit claims. He tried to convince her that the baby would be a reincarnation of the Buddha and an 'enlightened being' before eventually agreeing to pay for her to abort the fetus. Montgomery's accusations also reveal a more controlling, obsessive relationship between the two. 'Choga monitored [Montgomery's] day-to-day activities and controlled her lifestyle, making remarks that vacillated dizzyingly between kindness and cruelty,' the lawsuit alleges. He also put an end to a burgeoning romance between Montgomery to an unnamed potential male partner, abusing him in the process to the point that he told him to sign a contract saying he would leave the US in his own blood. She eventually wrote to the board of the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation about the assault, but they told her there was nothing they could do because they had no power over Choga and so much time had passed since the incident, the lawsuit claims. Montgomery left the community, feeling ostracized, and instead joined the Peace Corps. Choga, the Buddhist center and the Dzogchen Shri Singha Foundation have yet to respond to the accusations. Montgomery, who now works for a program to keep young people off drugs and alcohol and lives in Washington State with a husband and cat, wants what she went through to be a lesson to others who are 'young, curious, semi-naive' like she was. She pointed out that she assumed all of what had happened to her with Choga was normal within the practice of tantric sex. 'If they tried to Google the community that I was abused in, they wouldn't find anything,' she said. 'So, it would be really hard for them to discern what potential harms could happen to them. The Dalai Lama has come under fire after a video showed him kissing a young child and asking him to 'suck' his tongue went viral, forcing him to issue an apology 'My experience should be accessible to people that it would protect,' Montgomery added. It comes days after the clip of the Tibetan spiritual leader triggered criticism, including from the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests, a US-based organization that supports the survivors of spiritual and religious abuse. The group expressed their disgust on Monday following the emergence of the disturbing footage, which showed the young Indian boy kissing the Dalai Lama on the lips as he came forward to pay his respects during a charity event at a temple. The disturbing interaction occurred at a public gathering in February at the Buddhist Tsuglagkhang 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 incident has also brought some of the Dalai Lama's past controversies back in to the spotlight. He has previously faced backlash for his comments on the possibility of his successor being a woman, about refugees in Europe, about Pakistan and India, on Donald Trump, and for being paid $1million to attend an event hosted by an infamous NXIVM 'sex cult'. A three-year-old boy was left in a coma for eight days after suffering horrific head injuries from a freak fall. Little Noah, from Sunbury, in Melbourne's north-west, fell a couple of metres onto concrete, landing on his head, on the morning of March 30. He was with his mother Rachael and eight-month-old brother at the time, and suffered several fractures to his skull including a broken eye-socket. Noah was placed in an induced coma by paramedics on the side of a freeway before he was rushed to the Royal Children's Hospital. After eight agonising days, Noah finally woke up from his coma last Friday, and underwent a highly complicated brain surgery on Wednesday. Noah, (pictured left with his younger brother) from Sunbury, in Melbourne's north-west, fell a couple of metres onto concrete, landing on his head, on the morning of March 30 The surgery involved removing the fractured pieces of Noah's skull while plastic surgeons worked to reconstruct them. Noah's mother's cousin, Melissa, opened up about the horrific experience which the family have dubbed a 'freak accident'. 'It was one of those things you never think will happen to you,' she told Daily Mail Australia. 'If you're a parent, you could only imagine the pain they are going through. 'For anyone to go through this is awful, but to be three and have your whole childhood changed in an instant is so traumatic.' Noah has undergone brain surgery after the freak accident last month Noah's parents, Rachael and Stephen, have been by his side throughout the whole ordeal, with Melissa praising them as 'the strongest people I know'. 'Obviously it's an emotional roller coaster. There is good days, there is bad days. There is ups and downs,' she said. 'Seeing him in the state he was in was extremely hard for them but they remained positive for the entire time.' Melissa said because the first 72 hours after a head injury is the most crucial time, doctors were relieved to see Noah had made it through. Noah was placed in an induced coma for eight days before he woke up last Friday His surgery involved a highly specialised team of brain surgeons, plastic surgeons and optic surgeons who had to remove parts of his skull to repair the fractured areas. Noah will have to undergo more surgery on his eye in a couple of weeks. Melissa said the three-year-old was showing signs of improvement but is yet to have enough strength for any in-depth assessments. 'He will require physio therapy, occupational therapy, music therapy, speech therapy and rehab throughout the coming weeks to months,' Melissa said. His parents are now trying to teach Noah to regain movement of the right side of his body. 'He's unable to support his own head at the moment and requires help to reposition it,' Melissa said. 'They had to teach him to swallow again when he woke from the coma also.' Melissa said Noah has now become their 'miracle boy', and was known to be the 'life of the party'. Family members have praised Noah's strength as he slowly recovers from the fall A GoFundMe has been set up to help cover the costs of Noah's medical expenses. As well as being a mad Western Bulldogs fan, Melissa said he was extremely bubbly and a 'lover of life'. 'It's been extremely hard for our whole family to not only watch Noah go through this, but the pain that Rachael and Stephen have been going through as parents,' she said. 'I am just so proud of their strength and courage.' A woman accused of using her role at Service NSW to supply a 'gang' with a businessman's home address, before they allegedly kidnapped him and removed his teeth with a hammer and pliers, has been granted bail for $300,000. Sira Elkheir, 21, was arrested in Bunnings carpark in the western Sydney suburb of Greenacre at 11am on Wednesday over the alleged kidnapping and torture of Peter Vuong last month. Mr Vuong was allegedly abducted from his influencer girlfriend Angel Bowyer's home in Smithfield on March 9 by six armed men, who allegedly took him to an abandoned house 18km away in Belmore. The men allegedly pulled his teeth out during the traumatic six-day ordeal and demanded Ms Bowyer's high-flying crypto trader relative Tran Dinh pay a $5million ransom for his release. Elkheir was hit with a string of kidnapping-related offences and appeared in Burwood Local Court on Thursday morning - wearing handcuffs and the same cream jumper she was arrested in. Sira Elkheir, 21, was arrested in Bunnings (pictured) charges related to the kidnapping and six-day torture of small business owner Peter Vuong Peter Vuong, 26, and his glamorous influencer girlfriend Angel Bowyer (above, together) were sleeping in her family's Smithfield home when he was allegedly kidnapped While Magistrate Elaine Trustcott reviewed the court documents, the former government worker smiled at her father and sister who supported her from public gallery. Her father was briefly overcome with emotion, before he lowered his head, closed his eyes and rubbed his temple. The court heard Elkheir allegedly accessed the Service NSW systems for the first time on February 20 to look up information about Mr Vuongs car, which was registered under his fathers name. On March 1, the kidnappers allegedly followed Mr Vuongs car and ambushed him outside his girlfriend's family home. He allegedly suffered a broken eye socket and head lacerations before the men left scene. On March 9, the men allegedly returned to the home to kidnap him - armed with sledgehammers and guns. Eleven hours later, Elkheir allegedly looked up the details for Mr Dinh's wife Anna and took screenshots of her drivers licence photo. On March 10, the alleged kidnappers contacted Mr Dinh with a demand for $5million - and sent drivers licence photos of him and his wife, Anna. Police allege Elkheir obtained drivers licence photos of Tran Dinh and his wife (pictured together) from Service NSW systems and supplied them to the alleged kidnappers Defence Barrister Troy Edwards argued the case against Elkheir was weak, stating she was of previous good character and is unlikely to be jailed if convicted. He told the court that his client was recorded saying she had obtained the information used in the alleged kidnapping, but said it was unclear as to whether she was shocked when she learnt about the alleged incident via media reports. 'She could have accessed them as a favour or a lawful purpose or she could of accessed them knowing it was for something unlawful but not knowing what it was,' he said. 'There is certainly no allegation that this applicant knew all of the ingredients of the events - kidnapping, ransom and in company.' Mr Edwards said his client may have realised the way in which the information she allegedly collected about Mr Vuong was used until the alleged incident made headlines. In opposing bail, the prosecution argued that Elkheir was facing 'extremely serious' charges and that she made recorded admissions about accessing the data. Prosecutors said a jail term was likely if she was convicted, and told the magistrate Elkheir was a likely flight risk and could interfere with witnesses if released. The squalid house where Peter Vuong was taken to and allegedly held for six days as his teeth were 'forcibly removed' with pliers Magistrate Trustcott agreed that the alleged crime was 'very serious', noting the accused kidnappers 'placed a pistol in his mouth, used a hammer and pliers to remove his teeth'. However, Magistrate Trustcott sided with the defence and said the prosecution's argument that Elkheit was aware of the alleged kidnapping and torture was weak. She noted that Elkheir had strong ties to the community and her family who were 'somewhat horrified by the situation she is in'. 'There is strong evidence she accessed the data, but there is not strong evidence she knew what she was accessing the data for or for whom she accessed it,' Magistrate Trustcott said. 'There is no evidence linking her to the ransom money or no evidence that she has any criminal associates.' Elkheir was granted bail under strict conditions, including a $300,000 surety from her father. She is also banned from going near any Australian departure point, travelling interstate, and must regularly report to police. She will face court again on June 8. Dramatic footage of the arrest shows Elkheir being patted down by officers before they searched through her handbag and black Mercedes. She was then ordered to take off her shoes and jewelry before she was bundled her into the back of a police van. Police arrest one of Mr Vuong's alleged kidnappers after a days long sting operation moved in to rescue the 26-year-old from his torture ordeal Viliami Siasau, 19, Valali Tonga, 20, Sunia Siasau, 20, and John Totau Fahamokioa, 20, Lolo Liavaa, 19 and Kitueau Tatafu, 21, have also been charged related to the alleged abduction and torture. Police will allege the six men burst into Vuong's girlfriend Angel Bowyer's sprawling two-storey family home around 5.20am on March 9, armed with sledgehammers and guns. They are then accused taking him to the squalid Belmore property where they allegedly held him for days while sending Ms Bowyer's relative Tran Dinh messages demanding $5million or they would 'cut Mr Vuong into pieces'. A huge police operation kicked off shortly after the alleged abduction - eventually leading to tactical officers armed with flash grenades storming the Belmore home and rescuing Mr Vuong. Four men were arrested at the Canterbury Road property, and a further two were nabbed by officers a few streets away. All six men faced court on March 15, with all but Fahamokioa - who was release under strict conditions - remanded in custody until their next appearance on May 10. Embattled San Francisco Senator Dianne Feinstein has announced she plans to temporarily relinquish her duties on a top committee to another Democrat after two of her fellow party members demanded she resign. Feinstein, 89, revealed she would step aside from the Judiciary Committee until she has fully recovered from shingles after Rep. Ro Khanna, also of California, and Rep. Dean Phillips took to social media to call for her to quit. The consecutive calls for the elderly stateswoman's resignation - both from fellow Democrats - underscored rising concern over her prolonged leave, which has held up her party's ability to confirm federal judges. Stricken with shingles, Feinstein on Wednesday said she has asked Senate Leader Chuck Schumer 'to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve' on the judiciary panel 'until I'm able to resume my committee work.' The state senator, however, did not provide a timeline for the unapproved arrangement, only saying that she will head back to Capitol when her medical team says it is safe for her to travel. San Francisco Senator Dianne Feinstein has announced she plans to temporarily relinquish her duties to another Democrat after two of her fellow party members asked she resign Stricken with shingles, Feinstein on Wednesday issues this official statement revealing she has asked Senate Leader Chuck Schumer 'to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve' on the judiciary panel 'until I'm able to resume my committee work' 'When I was first diagnosed with shingles, I expected to return by the end of the March work period,' wrote Feinstein in the official statement. 'Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis.' She added: 'I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises 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.' The former San Francisco mayor proceeded to briefly address the primary controversy surrounding her sabbatical - how it has stalled the confirmation of President Biden's judicial appointments, due to her seat on the Judiciary Committee. Democrats have held only 51 voting members in the Senate - and with the absence of another state senator, recently elected Pennsylvania rep John Fetterman, Feinstein's vote is particularly pivotal. Fetterman, who was hospitalized for clinical depression, is expected to return to the Senate next week - nearly two months after taking his own leave. 'I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee,' she wrote in the the statement's final paragraph. 'So I've asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until I'm able to resume my committee work.' The official correspondence then finishes abruptly, without any form of signoff or sense of gratitude for her colleagues putting up with her prolonged absence. Hours earlier, in a somewhat unprecedented move indicative of the outlandish situation, two house democrats demanded Feinstein resign after 31 years of representing San Francisco in Washington. Feinstein, 89, made the declaration roughly two hours after Rep. Ro Khanna (left), also of California, and Rep. Dean Phillips took to social media to demand she step down due to an ongoing, two-month medical absence 'It's time for @SenFeinstein to resign,' the 46-year-old Democrat wrote in a post to Twitter that has already been read nearly 2million times He chimed in to say that he agrees with Khanna, but also commended Feinstein for her years of service - not only as a senator, but as San Francisco's first female male in the late 70s Rep. Khanna, who represents nearby Bay Area city Santa Clara, was the first to publicly call for the longtime Senate fixture, who previously aired plans to retire at the end of her term in 2024. 'It's time for @SenFeinstein to resign,' the 46-year-old Democrat wrote in a post to Twitter that has already been read nearly 2million times. 'We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty,' Khanna continued. 'While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties.' He added that 'not speaking out undermines our [House members'] credibility as elected representatives.' The post, published Wednesday at 5:19pm, already has more than 17,500 likes and thousands of retweets. One of those retweets, coming just over a half hour later, belonged to Khanna and Feinstein's Capitol Hill colleague Dean Phillips, of Minnesota. He chimed in to say that he agrees with Khanna, but also commended Feinstein for her years of service - not only as a senator, but as San Francisco's first female male in the late 70s. 'Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable,' Phillips tweeted. 'But I believe it's now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet.' Feinstein was first elected to the senate in 1992. She's pictured as Mayor of San Francisco - the city's first woman - in 1978 Feinstein - whose political career spans more than half a century - is facing criticism from a number of Democrats, who fear she 'mentally unfit to serve' and her memory is 'deteriorating' She was hospitalized for shingles in February and released last month, but has not returned to the Senate, missing 60 of the last 82 votes. She is seen here at the US Capitol in February Both posts have since gone viral, and likely played a part in the Senate stalwart's decision to issue a statement later that day. It comes Feinstein - whose political career spans more than half a century - has faced criticism from a number of Democrats, though none until now made it a point to publicly demand her resignation. Four U.S. senators, including three Democrats as well as three former Feinstein staffers and the California Democratic member of Congress, recently told The Chronicle they fear she 'mentally unfit to serve' and that her memory is 'rapidly deteriorating.' 'It's bad, and it's getting worse,' said one Democratic senator. Speaking under condition of anonymity, the rep added that Feinstein has difficulty keeping up with conversations and discussions. 'There's a joke on the Hill, we've got a great junior senator in Alex Padilla and an experienced staff in Feinstein's office,' said another staffer for a California Democrat, about how most of the work in Feinstein's office now falls on her staff - and has for years. All of those who spoke to the paper agreed on one thing - that Feinstein no longer can fulfill her job duties, and that by staying in her position, she is doing a disservice to the roughly 40 million people she represents. In a statement to The Chronicle two weeks ago, Feinstein - whose husband of 542 years Richard Blum died last year - asserted that she is still performing her duties as a senator, but declined to be interviewed. 'The last year has been extremely painful and distracting for me, flying back and forth to visit my dying husband who passed just a few weeks ago,' she said. 'But theres no question Im still serving and delivering for the people of California, and Ill put my record up against anyones.' Feinstein (D-Calif.) was hospitalized for shingles in February and released last month, but has not returned to the Senate, missing 60 of the last 82 votes. Feinstein is also facing criticism from a number of Democrats, who fear she 'mentally unfit to serve' and that her memory is 'rapidly deteriorating.' Feinstein confirmed in February that she will not seek reelection in 2024, but it is widely speculated that she will resign early before her term ends. Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) has already announced that he will run to replace Feinstein's seat in the Senate. He has raised over $6.5 million since entering the race in January. Democratic Reps. Katie Porter and Barbara Lee have also announced that they are running for the seat. A GOP challenger, GOP attorney Eric Early, threw hit his hat in the race Tuesday, officially launching his bid in a new campaign video. Early, who unsuccessfully ran against Schiff in 2020, said in the video that he will campaign on combatting the fentanyl and border crisis and champion parents' rights. 'Eric will stand-up to the Socialist woke interests that control Washington, DC, fight to preserve and protect our Democracy, and fight for ordinary Californians who are being left behind,' his campaign website states. He claims the other Democrats running for Feinstein's seat have messy politics that are harmful to Californians. 'Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee have been in Congress for a combined 51 years. Judge them by the results of their actions and their votes they put us in this mess,' he says. He is the first major Republican to announce his intention to run for the seat, but faces a strong headwinds in the strongly blue state. Feinstein is the longest-serving female lawmaker in Senate history, and currently earns a $130,000 salary. The senator has largely avoided public events since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and after her husband passed away in February 2022. Schumer has yet to announce whether he and the House will accept her alleged proposal. EXCLUSIVE: The death of the King's mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, left some fearing that faith in the Monarchy might waver. But an authoritative new poll comissioned by The Mail's new Royals site suggests that not only does Charles have the public's backing as King, but that a quarter of his subjects say their opinion of him has actually improved since he ascended the throne. The survey, which comes only two weeks before the Coronation, shows that Britons are even prepared support King Charles in his wish to continue speaking out on topics of personal interest. In stark contrast to Queen Elizabeth, Charles had been willing to court controversy while he was Prince of Wales, airing views on such issues as the environment, farming, health, education and architecture. And despite demands by some that he be silenced, he had vowed to continue engaging in public debate even after becoming monarch - while respecting the traditions and duties involved in the role. But today, 57 per cent of us believe Charles should continue to speak out on issues that matter to him. While by no means an overwhelming majority, it is more support than might have been expected. It was hardly worth the three-mile journey from the BMA's imposing Lutyens-designed building in Tavistock Square, when Dr Robert Laurenson crossed the threshold of the Department of Health and Social Care last month. For 28-year-old Laurenson, co-chairman of the BMA junior doctors' committee, barely uttered a word during the 30-minute meeting with Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary. Instead, while Barclay spoke, Laurenson avoided eye contact, pointedly sent text messages on his phone and scribbled on Post-It notes to his colleagues. I'm told some considered him puerile and rude. Proudly pinned to Laurenson's jacket during that meeting was a crab badge, a symbol of his Left-wing commitment to 'move in unison like crabs do'. The crab has become a symbol of solidarity and unity among junior doctors and 'be a crab, not a scab' is one of the BMA strike slogans. Exasperated by the behaviour of Laurenson, a trainee GP in Kent, and the unwillingness of the BMA to budge on its outrageous 35 per cent pay demand, Barclay abruptly ended the meeting. Dr Robert Laurenson, 28, (pictured) co-chairman of the BMA junior doctors' committee, barely uttered a word during the 30-minute meeting with Steve Barclay, the Health Secretary That did not stop Laurenson from boasting about it later on the junior doctors' social media forum on Reddit. 'As Mr Barclay was talking, I went to use my phone to communicate with our professional negotiator . . . and Steve lost his composure. We heard in his voice his panic: 'Are you ok Rob?' he asked. I explained our negotiator will do the talking.' And yet Laurenson who sources insist hardly engaged with Barclay is the man who has since spent his time touring TV and radio studios criticising ministers on the grounds that they are the ones who refuse to enter talks. There is now a growing view among some doctors that the young firebrand is out of his depth. They believe he is becoming a public relations liability. Those doctors' worst fears were realised when it emerged this week that Laurenson chose to go on holiday at the start of this week's strike. One senior Whitehall source said yesterday: 'Some of these BMA junior doctors seem to have watched too many TV political satires like The Thick of It. They are just not grown-up negotiators. They are posturing and playing politics with people's lives.' The same view is reflected increasingly in clashes between Laurenson and senior doctors who oppose his militant strategy. Christopher Hammond, clinical director for radiology at Leeds Hospitals, tweeted: 'The BMA's stance on this is doublethink. They say: 'We must continue to ensure patient safety.' 'The stance that it is the employer who is responsible for ensuring patient safety is an abrogation of our collective responsibility. The employer can only assure this via its employees: us . . . the increasingly militant messaging coming from the BMA is unhelpful.' Laurenson replied by mocking his more senior colleague as 'Mr Bones'. Francis Murgatroyd, a consultant cardiologist at King's College Hospital, London, said: 'I support action by junior docs, but ALL-OUT strike (even emergencies) . . . is unconscionable. Royal College Nurses treated genuine emergencies and kept public support: juniors may lose it.' Doctors' worst fears were realised when it emerged this week that Laurenson chose to go on holiday at the start of this week's strike If they do lose public support, it will be Laurenson who is to blame as he's the driving force behind the unprecedented four days of strikes coming straight after a bank holiday weekend. Laurenson says the junior doctor strikes in 2016 failed because 'days of action were staggered and made little impact. The answer must be consecutive days of real impact'. He underlined the point on social media earlier this year when he was asked if he supported a full strike including the withdrawal of emergency care. 'Yes,' he replied. His preference was 'giving employers the legally required notice of days of action and nothing more'. He added: 'Our preference is a full walkout.' He's dismissive, too, of respected bodies such as the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, founded in 1974 which brings together doctors' professional bodies and says: 'The strikes are not proportionate.' In another overtly political posting on social media, Laurenson melodramatically declared: 'The pen and paper approach of the Royal Colleges has not worked and so we must turn to the sword and shield of the union. Power in Westminster only respects Power. We find history forming a dark storm around us. We must be prepared to make our mark.' If they do lose public support, it will be Laurenson who is to blame as he's the driving force behind the unprecedented four days of strikes coming straight after a bank holiday weekend Laurenson, who studied at Barts and the London School of Medicine and Dentistry, took a year out of training to work agency shifts 'for money and wellbeing'. He is a director of Westholme Investments, a firm set up by his parents, which has more than 2 million worth of funds. He was appointed to the position in 2013, a year after he began his medical degree, although he is not paid a salary by his family's firm. Before his medical training, he attended Sevenoaks School, founded in 1432, which charges up to 46,566 per year for sixth form students. The school motto 'To serve God is to rule' promotes on its website the concepts of 'tolerance and compassion'. Laurenson seems to have forgotten those principles as he leads the most serious strike in the 75-year history of the NHS. The Met Office is predicting sunny spells and showers later today, as the UK recovers from being battered by 96mph winds brought by Storm Noa on Wednesday. Britain will see temperatures in double figures and severely reduced winds on Thursday, although it will remain blustery at the coast and during rain spells. On Wednesday a woman was seriously injured by flying scaffolding in Fareham, Hampshire, pilots struggled to land at Heathrow and huge waves smashed into UK coasts. The gusts of up to 96mph were recorded as Storm Noa brought down trees across swathes of Britain, causing power cuts and blocking railway lines. But the weather looks set to improve and feel milder for commuters early on Thursday. By 11am on Thursday temperatures will already be in double figures in the south of England HAMPSHIRE: A woman was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after scaffolding fell on her during Storm Noa The Met Office said on Twitter overnight: 'Scattered showers continue for many on Thursday, but plenty of sunny spells in between. 'Lighter winds, however blustery at the coast and in any showers. 'Feeling a little milder, although temperatures still below average.' The forecaster predicts temperatures could reach 13C in southeastern areas, with temperatures to hit double figures in large parts of the UK, including western Scotland. In Hampshire on Wednesday, a woman had to be rushed to hospital with serious injuries after scaffolding was blown off a roof and came crashing down on her due to heavy winds brought by Storm Noa. Emergency services rushed to a high street in Fareham, Hampshire after the metal scaffolding was blown down outside a Halifax bank. Shop workers on the high street described hearing a 'loud bang', with dramatic photos showing metal strewn across the street and police confirming the woman had suffered 'serious injuries.' HEATHROW: Tens of thousands of people tuned into Big Jet TV to watch enormous jets land NEWHAVEN: Storm Noa caused waves higher than the lighthouse on the south coast yesterday DOVER: The Irish Ferries Isle of Inisheer ferry battled against strong winds and rough seas as it arrived at the Port of Dover WALES: A motorist drives through a wintry landscape near Llanfihangel-nant-Melan, Wales CUMBRIA: Skiddaw mountain in the Lake District covered in snow Wednesday morning as Storm Noa sweeps the UK WALES: Waves crash against the lighthouse wall in Porthcawl as Storm Noa arrived SCOTLAND: A man trudges through the snow as Storm Noa hit the North of Scotland DEVON: Dartmoor experienced a brief blast of snow, sleet and hail before sunshine returned DORSET: A surfer in the fierce waves as Storm Noa battered the seafront in Bournemouth DORSET: A dog walker on the sea foam covered promenade as rough seas from Storm Noa crashed against the sea defences at West Bay yesterday Aircraft arriving at Heathrow could be seen swaying in the high winds amid Met Office warnings of short-term power cuts and disruption to road and ferry travel in the south west. There was snowfall in Scotland, Wales and Cumbria with a sudden flurry of 'snow, sleet and hail' also reported in Devon. Some homes were left without power and fallen trees blocked several roads in Devon and Cornwall. A gust of 68mph was recorded at Berry Head at Brixham and at St Mary's on the Isles of Scilly a 64mph gust was logged. BBC weather forecaster David Braine said: 'In Plymouth there was a massive gust which rattled the roof and that was 60mph.' Elsewhere, a tree fell on to a house in Torquay, Devon, and all the occupants were accounted for. A woman was being treated by ambulance staff after her car was in collision with a fallen tree on the A377 between Crediton and Copplestone, blocking the road. Her condition is not yet known. Also in Devon, a woman had to be taken to hospital after her car was crushed and trapped by a falling tree Wednesday afternoon. Fire crews confirmed she was treated at the scene of the incident, on the A377 near Spence Combe, until ambulance crews arrived who proceeded to take her on board and to hospital for a thorough assessment. A spokesperson for Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service said that after rescuing the woman, 'crews then remained on scene to allow police to complete their investigations and to make the vehicle safe.' They added: 'We wish the casualty all the best for her ongoing recovery.' The casualty's injuries are 'not not suspected to be serious at this stage'. SWANSEA: Major waves were crashing against rocks in Bracelet Bay overlooking Mumbles Lighthouse near Swansea DEVON: A woman had to be taken to hospital after her car was crushed and trapped by a falling tree on the A377 near Spence Combe LONDON: At London City Airport the strong winds pushed passenger planes sideways KENT: In Folkstone, Kent, a lighthouse on the harbour was hit by massive waves and strong winds Fire crews confirmed a woman was treated at the scene of the incident, on the A377 near Spence Combe, until ambulance crews arrived who proceeded to take her on board and to hospital for a thorough assessment CORNWALL: In Cornwall tall waves roll in from a stormy sea LONDON: A runner navigates the torrential rain close to Tower Bridge on Wednesday BRIGHTON: Police and coastguards in search off the beach by Brighton Palace Pier after reports of missing people in the sea NEWHAVEN: Storm Noa is battering the south coast as massive waves broke over Newhaven Lighthouse In London, commuters were met with travel chaos as they tried to get the train home from Paddington Station yesterday. Most train services from the station were cancelled from around 5.15pm after a tree fell onto the railway and made contact with the overhead wires near Acton Main Line station putting two out of four lines out of use in the area. One commuter called the result 'total carnage' when they shared a photo of an overcrowded information desk at Paddington on Twitter. Another commuter posted a picture of the departures board, showing all routes were either delayed, cancelled or awaiting further updates. They wrote: 'Not sure I'm getting home tonight...' The weather system, named Storm Noa by Meteo France, saw weather worsen over the course of the day. The forecaster said there was a chance of 'heavy outbreaks of rain and thunder' in south-east England by Wednesday evening. Taking to social media, one dog walker described how suddenly the Arctic blast had arrived. They said: 'Early sunshine & blue skies meant I decided to take the dogs and my coffee out to the sheepfold this morning . then this! Snow, sleet and hail. Five minutes later we had sunshine again!' GWR warned this afternoon that train services from Paddington were cancelled this afternoon after a tree fell on the line Commuters were left stranded at Paddington Station after service cancellations on Wednesday PLYMOUTH: Trees came crashing down, crushing cars after chaos caused by Storm Noa DORSET: A couple battling the wind on the pier in Bournemouth A swathe of wintry weather with heavy rain and strong 96mph gusts battered Britain as Storm Noa (pictured) swept across the nation A blast of cold air this morning could even see an 'increasing risk of snow over the higher ground for parts of the UK, especially in the north'. Pictured: Snow in Cleveleys, Lancashire Although the weather is a named storm in France, it is not classed as such by the Met Office. Heavy showers hit Scotland, with western areas predicted to see in excess of 30mm of rain and other areas set to see around 20mm of rain. Temperatures in Scotland will dip to freezing level overnight into Thursday, particularly in rural areas in the north of the country. Motorists particularly those driving HGVs, motorhomes and motorcycles, and those towing caravans and trailers have been warned to expect some difficult travel conditions. National Highways is urging motorists to check conditions before beginning their commute. Drivers should be extra vigilant when travelling across exposed locations, such as coastal and high lying areas and bridges, as these areas could be affected by high winds. A yellow warning for wind has been lifted in Northern Ireland, though the Met Office predicts strong winds of around 50mph in some coastal areas. The grip of the unsettled conditions is set to last for the rest of the week, with sunshine and heavy showers for many on Thursday and persistent rain in the south on Friday. It is then set to become drier and brighter into the weekend, while temperatures may start to rise next week. Met Office forecaster Mr Dixon said: 'The set up is low pressure dominant both in the South West and in Scotland. Overnight tonight and into Thursday, we are expecting these low-pressure systems to combine and move into the North Sea. This will leave behind showers across much of the UK with winds decreasing throughout the day on Thursday.' The first storm to be named by the Met Office, or Irish or Dutch weather services, this season will still be Storm Antoni, in accordance with the 2022/23 name list. The UK is experiencing wet and wintry weather this week. Pictured: Traffic on the A939 at the Lecht as fresh snow fell in the north of Scotland Pictured: The sun rises over the countryside in Dunsden, Oxfordshire on Wednesday BLACKPOOL: The Big One (pictured) at Blackpool Pleasure Beach had to be stopped just seonds before it reached the summit of its first terrifying drop One day before Storm Noa brought chaos to Britain, thrillseekers in Blackpool faced horror as the iconic rollercoaster the Big One was forced to stop mid-climb. The Big One at Blackpool Pleasure Beach, which reaches a height of 235ft, had to be stopped just seconds before it reached the summit of its first terrifying drop yesterday afternoon. Park staff had to scale the ride by foot to rescue the riders at 2.50pm yesterday due to the heavy gusts and the ride was kept closed the rest of the day. Guests on the rollercoaster had to make their way down guided by staff, which had them scale down from nearly the top of the more than 200ft tall roller coaster. They were seen gripping the handrails and carefully climbing down the over 400 steps on the red emergency stairs, the Blackpool Gazette reports. A spokesperson for Blackpool Pleasure Beach said: 'At 2.50pm Blackpool Pleasure Beach stopped the Big One train on the ride's lift hill due to sudden changes in weather conditions. 'Guests on the ride were reassured and escorted from the ride by Blackpool Pleasure Beach staff. 'Due to high gusts of wind the Big One rollercoaster closed for the remainder of the day.' A law student who initially avoided prison after admitting to sexually assaulting a woman wept in court as he was jailed for over three years on appeal. Luigi Ignace Rayapen, 26, walked free from the District Court in Perth in December last year when he was handed a two-year suspended sentence for offences of sexual penetration without consent and aggravated indecent assault. The University of Western Australia law student had pleaded guilty on the day his trial was due to begin to sexually assaulting Danielle Vahala, who waived her right to anonymity to speak up about the case, after a party on Rottnest Island in 2020. Luigi Ignace Rayapen, 26, sentenced to three years and three months in jail for sexual penetration without consent But on Wednesday the WA Court of Appeal said the suspended sentence was 'manifestly inadequate'. Three Supreme Court judges unanimously ruled Rayapen must serve an immediate jail term. Rayapen wept in the courtroom as the new sentence was read out by Chief Justice Peter Quinlan, reported the ABC. He has been sentenced to three years and three months in jail for sexual penetration without consent and 12 months in jail for aggravated indecent assault, with the sentences to be served concurrently. The crimes were committed on Rottnest Island in the early hours of July 1, 2020, during end-of-term celebrations. Grace Tame previously lashed out at Mr Rayapen's 'lenient' sentence when he avoided jail in December last year. He has now been jailed on appeal Ms Vahala and Rayapen were unknown to each other but got chatting through friends at a party. At 2am, Rayapen tagged along with Ms Vahala and a male friend to their house so that he would not wake up the people he was staying with. All three of them went to sleep in one bed and Ms Vahala later woke up to Rayapen groping her. She repeatedly told him to stop, kept pushing his hand away and tried to kick the third student awake for help. She then grabbed Rayapen around the throat, forcing him to stop. At his trial in December, the sentencing judge said he had chosen to show mercy to Rayapen, whom he described as having remorse 'at the highest end'. But the suspended term provoked public outrage and state prosecutors, who had called for Rayapen to be jailed, immediately lodged an appeal. It was heard last month by the three Supreme Court judges, who questioned Rayapen's level of remorse. The court heard that Rayapen is now engaged to a partner he met in Melbourne where he moved to complete his law degree remotely as a result of the media attention around his crime One of the appeal judges, Justice Robert Mazza, described it as 'an extraordinary finding', saying on his reading of the case, Rayapen's remorse 'did not strike him as the highest'. Prosecutor Lindsay Fox SC also drew the appeal court's attention to comments made by Rayapen to a psychologist in which he falsely claimed the victim had 'led him by the hand to a room' where 'we kissed'. Mr Fox said that remark had showed Rayapen was trying to minimise his wrongdoing. 'He was prepared to give a false narrative after he had already pleaded guilty,' Mr Fox submitted. Rapayen, who sat in the back of the court during the appeal hearing, was represented by Julie Condon KC, who maintained her client had shown a degree of genuine remorse. She highlighted a so called 'pre-text call' in the weeks that followed the offending, when the victim called Rayapen, with the assistance of police who recorded the conversation. Ms Condon said in that phone conversation Rayapen told the woman he felt guilt and shame, and wished he could go back and change things. Sexual assault survivor and advocate Grace Tame blasted the original decision to spare Rayapen from jail. 'Rape is rape, end of story,' she told The West Australian. 'Dont rape. Its a crime. If you do it, youll face the consequences and if you dont like those consequences, tough s***. 'Rape victims will have rape trauma for the rest of their lives, trauma is a life sentence. He should be grateful it is only two years suspended, he got off lucky.' Ms Tame called on the courts to stop using 'remorse' as a 'mitigating factor' and said rape victims were left with trauma for life. Ms Vahala identified herself as the victim saying she feared the suspended sentence would discourage other victims of sexual assault from speaking up. In her victim impact statement, Ms Vahala said: 'I lost innocence, naivety, trust and the girl I was no longer exists. But who I am now is stronger, resilient, smart, experienced and cautious of the horrors that exist in our society.' The court heard that Rayapen is now engaged to a partner he met in Melbourne where he moved to complete his law degree remotely as a result of media attention. Rayapen, who was born in Italy and moved to Australia with his family aged 17, must serve at least one year and seven months behind bars before being eligible for parole. A woman who allegedly flashed a group of schoolgirls who were on a trip to a high-rise viewing deck in Melbourne is being sought by police. Footage of a woman seen at the Skydeck in Melbourne's high-rise Eureka Tower at Southbank has been released by Victoria Police, who are urging the public for help. The visitor, believed to be in her late 20s to early 30s, is alleged to have entered a bathroom at 8.30pm on March 9. She then exposed her buttocks to two teenage girls in the bathroom. Police wish to speak to a woman who allegedly flashed a group of schoolgirls on a trip to a high-rise viewing deck in Melbourne The teenage girls left the bathroom, joining their classmates, when the alleged offender walked past and pulled her top down, exposing herself again. She was last seen leaving the venue with a male. The woman is described as having a medium build with blonde hair. Investigators have released CCTV and an image of a female they believe may be able to assist with their enquiries. Anyone who witnessed the incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Biden has English heritage but has previously hinted he is 'embarrassed' by it He appeared to brush off PM Rishi Sunak on Tuesday after landing in the UK Biden got a rousing reception when he arrived in Co. Louth on Wednesday Joe Biden has often lauded his Irish ancestry - but he played up his English roots on Wednesday as he tried to counter claims he is 'anti-British'. Having proudly spoken about his 'Irishness' and been hailed as 'unmistakably a son of Ireland', the US president has caused controversy with his jokes and jibes about the UK - even hinting at his 'embarrassment' over his father's British ancestors. The 80-year-old, whose parents were both born in the US, has previously been severely criticised for a joke that 'anyone wearing orange' is not welcome in his home. He has also in the past turned down an opportunity to speak to the BBC because he is 'Irish', and hinted at an embarrassment that his surname is of English descent. The president previously revealed how his English father, Joseph Biden Snr., had the 'saving grace' of also having Irish heritage, despite connections to Westbourne, West Sussex. Joe Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania yet traces his roots back to County Louth and County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland Mr Biden previously declined to comment to the BBC, telling the reporter: 'I'm Irish' Joe Biden was briefly greeted by Rishi Sunak on the steps of Air Force One in Belfast last night (pictured) After a swift greeting with the UK leader Biden moved away to salute the King's personal representative for County Antrim, Lord-Lieutenant David McCorkell. He then appeared to be wrapped in a friendly embrace with Jane Hartley, the glamourous US ambassador to the UK he appointed last year Mr Biden said last year: 'He had the saving grace, on his mother's side, of having a Hanafee from Galway. 'That's the only thing that saved him. And you all think I'm kidding. I'm not.' It was not the first time that Mr Biden has hinted at a familial embarrassment at his father's English heritage. He previously recalled his aunt telling him when he was young: 'Your father's not a bad man. He's just English.' More recently, Mr Biden appeared to snub Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as he brushed off his greeting after Air Force One landed on Tuesday. After a swift greeting with the UK leader on the tarmac in blustery, chilly conditions he moved away to salute the King's personal representative for County Antrim, Lord-Lieutenant David McCorkell. He then appeared to be wrapped in a longer, much more friendly embrace with Jane Hartley, the glamourous US ambassador to the UK appointed by the president last year. But the US president used a speech at Ulster University, marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, to deflect criticism over his 'partisan' pro-Irish stance. In a rambling anecdote, he described how a former UK ambassador to the US had discovered that one of his ancestors wrote the rules of mutiny for the British navy in the 1800s. Mr Biden - who has frequently trumpeted his Irish heritage - said that other parts of his family were from Nottingham, quipping that he 'doesn't know what the hell is going on here'. The US President's boasting of his Irish heritage has often been accompanied by 'anti-British' slights Mr Biden has, in the past, also spoken of a discomfort at Biden being an English surname and revealed 'my grandfather and my mother were never crazy about it being English'. Last year, it emerged that Mr Biden once revealed his mother Jean so disliked England that she chose to sleep on the floor rather than in a bed in which the Queen had previously slept. British screenwriter Georgia Pritchett claimed the US President made the revelation when they met in the White House during his period as vice-president. She wrote in her autobiography how Mr Biden had recalled his mother visiting the UK and spending a night in a hotel where, Jean was told, the Queen had once stayed. 'She was so appalled that she slept on the floor all night, rather than risk sleeping on a bed that the Queen had slept on,' Ms Pritchett wrote. He has also recalled his mother telling him not to bow to the late Queen. 'When I told my mother I was going to have an audience with the Queen of England, the first thing she said was, "Don't you bow down to her,"' he wrote in his autobiography. During his long political career, the President has made a series of risky jokes at times when he has been proudly displaying his Irish heritage. As a senator in 1985, he spoke out against making it easier to extradite Irish Republican Army militants from the US to Britain, a sentiment popular with Irish-Americans but not in Britain. In a 2012 meeting with then prime minister David Cameron, while he was vice-president, Mr Biden jokingly offered a message to Ambrose Finnegan, his grandfather, that 'things have changed' as he sat down with a British leader. In 2015, Mr Biden was fiercely criticised after he quipped while welcoming then Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny to his home: 'Anyone wearing orange is not welcome in.' Northern Ireland's primarily Protestant unionist community associate themselves with the colour in celebration of William of Orange's victory over Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. And when he was president-elect after winning the US election in 2020, Mr Biden turned down a chance to speak with a BBC reporter, telling them: 'The BBC? I'm Irish.' Mr Biden's team was forced to deny that he was 'anti-British' this week after the DUP slammed the president as 'extremely partisan' after he trumpeted his Irish roots. The president was only expected to 'greet' the leaders of the main Northern Ireland political parties before his speech, after which he immediately headed over the border to the Republic, where he will spend the next three days. Joe Biden used a speech at Ulster University, marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, to deflect criticism over his 'partisan' pro-Irish stance He will not be visiting Stormont, where the power-sharing Assembly is currently suspended amid a boycott by the DUP. The senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, Amanda Sloat, stepped up to defend the President. 'It's simply untrue the fact that the President is going to be engaging for the third time in three months, and then again next month and then again in June, with the Prime Minister of the UK shows how close our co-operation is with the UK,' she said. She added: 'President Biden obviously is a very proud Irish-American, he is proud of those Irish roots, but he is also a strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the UK, and not only on a bilateral basis within Nato, the G7, on the UN Security Council, and we truly are working in lockstep with the British Government on all of the pressing global challenges that our countries are facing.' He has addressed his English heritage in a speech in this visit to Europe, but it is believed to be the first time he has done this publicly. Mr Biden will visit both on his tour of the country this week, which will follow his swift trip to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden and Rishi Sunak held 45 minutes of talks over tea at a hotel on Wednesday. He praised the 'leadership' of Mr Sunak and the EU's Ursula von der Leyen in striking the Windsor Framework for post-Brexit rules in the province, suggesting it could unlock more US investment and urging a return to power-sharing. However, hopes that the visit could help break the deadlock at Stormont have dwindled - with the DUP slamming the 'extremely partisan' president for 'hating Britain' after he trumpeted his Irish roots. Mr Biden only 'greeted' the leaders of the main Northern Ireland political parties, before giving a speech and immediately heading over the border to the Republic, where he will spend the next three days. And despite fledgling signs of a thaw in relations after the Windsor Framework eased the row with the EU over post-Brexit rules in the province, US officials made clear the leaders would not even talk about reviving a trade package. Mr Sunak said the countries were 'very close partners and allies' and they had a 'very good discussion' about economic opportunities in Northern Ireland. 'That comes on the back of a meeting I had with him last month in the US, I'm seeing him again next month at the G7 and then I'm going to Washington in June; we're very close partners and allies, we co-operate on a range of things, whether that's supporting Ukraine or economic security,' he said. 'I think actually the relationship is in great shape, and the president and I have lots that we're working on together.' The PM and US president held talks over tea at a hotel this morning as they marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement Reporters shouted questions including if Mr Biden had a message for Northern Irish parties and why he was not discussing a trade deal The president motioned that he could not hear, instead commenting on the 'heck of a view' from the upper floors of the Grand Central Hotel A huge security operation has been in place for Mr Biden's visit to Belfast on Wednesday US flags have been in evidence in Belfast - although not all of them with supportive messages Mr Biden opened his speech with seemingly off-the-cuff musing about his personal heritage. He recalled how the former ambassador used to 'always kid me, Biden's English, you talk about the Irish, Biden's English'. 'He brought back a book with a photograph on the front of a somewhat stout British captain in his quarters with a British bulldog sitting next to him. 'And his name was Captain George Biden.' The ambassador apparently had the Lord Admiralty check the records and the ancestor in the mid-1800s 'had written the rules of mutiny for the British navy'. Mr Biden said he then found out that the lineage of his middle name, Robinette, was also from England rather than France. 'They must have been Huguenots because they came to Britain in the 1700s,' he said, joking: 'I don't know what the hell's going on here.' Mr Biden said that the 'dividends of peace are all around us'. 'This very campus is situated at an intersection where conflict and bloodshed once held a terrible sway,' he said. 'The idea to have a glass building here when I was here in '91 was highly unlikely. 'Where barbed wire once sliced up the city, today we find a cathedral of learning built of glass, and letting the light shine in and out. 'This has a profound impact for someone who has come back to see it. 'Its an incredible testament to the power and the possibilities of peace.' Mr Biden said the envoy Joe Kennedy would lead a trade delegation of US companies to the region later in the year. He acknowledged that Brexit had created 'complex challenges' for Northern Ireland. 'I encouraged the leaders of the UK and the EU to address the issues in a way that served Northern Ireland's best interest,' he said. 'I deeply appreciate the personal leadership of Prime Minister Sunak and European Commissioner Von der Leyen to reach an agreement. 'The Windsor Framework addresses the practical realities of Brexit and it is an essential step to ensuring the hard-earned peace and progress of the Good Friday agreement [is] preserved and strengthened. Biden's long history of 'anti-British' views There have been fears that Joe Biden could enrage unionists with references to his Irish heritage during his visit to Belfast. As vice president, Mr Biden caused massive offence 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. As a senator in 1985, he spoke out against making it easier to extradite IRA militants from the US 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.' Advertisement 'Negotiators listened to business leaders across the UK and Ireland who shared what they needed to succeed, and I believe the stability and predictability offered by this framework will encourage greater investment in Northern Ireland, significant investment in Northern Ireland.' Mr Biden said the response of Northern Ireland's political leaders to the shooting of Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell in Omagh showed 'the enemies of peace will not prevail'. 'Northern Ireland will not go back, pray God. 'The attack was a hard reminder there will always be those who seek to destroy, rather than rebuild. 'But the lesson of the Good Friday Agreement is this: at times when things seem fragile or easily broken, that is when hope and hard work are needed the most.' At the meeting at the Grand Central Hotel this morning, reporters shouted questions including if Mr Biden had a message for Northern Irish parties and why he was not discussing a trade deal. But the president motioned that he could not hear, instead commenting on the 'heck of a view'. According to a Downing Street readout, Mr Sunak and Mr Biden 'reflected on the legacy of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, which was signed 25 years ago this week'. 'They agreed that this anniversary is a moment to celebrate the progress that Northern Ireland has made over the last quarter of a century and to recommit to building an even brighter future for Northern Ireland. 'The Prime Minister thanked President Biden for the role the US people and businesses have played in Northern Ireland's prosperity, with billions of pounds of investment creating tens of thousands of jobs. 'The Prime Minister and President Biden both expressed their sincere hope that the institutions in Northern Ireland will be restored as soon as possible.' Mr Biden and Mr Sunak also discussed the 'wider relationship between the UK and the US' during the meeting, a Downing Street spokesman said. 'They agreed that manipulation of global markets by authoritarian leaders demonstrates, more than ever, the need for like-minded partners to work together to support the economic health and security of our nations. 'The leaders said that the thriving trade relationship between the UK and US demonstrates we are doing just that. 'They looked forward to discussing the issue of economic security further during the G7 Summit next month and the Prime Minister's visit to Washington DC in June. 'They also agreed on the importance of using global forums like the G7 and G20 to challenge economic coercion and market manipulation, and promote the economic wellbeing of our countries.' Before the meeting Ms Sloat told a briefing for journalists that the focus would be on Northern Ireland and the war in Ukraine. 'I don't anticipate that the two leaders are going to be talking about a free trade agreement on this trip I think their conversation is going to focus primarily on the situation in Northern Ireland given that that's where they're meeting, as well as the chance to touch base on Ukraine and some other issues,' she said. Ms Sloat flatly denied that Mr Biden was 'anti-British', or on what amounted to a holiday to Ireland. 'I think the track record of the president shows that he's not anti British,' she said. 'The UK remains one of our strongest and closest allies.' 'And it's difficult, frankly, to think of an issue in the world that we are not closely cooperating with the British on and it's why the president wanted to have the opportunity to engage with Prime Minister Sunak this morning to start his day here in Belfast.' She said Mr Biden and Mr Sunak 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. 'We're continually looking for ways to engage with the UK on a whole range of economic issues,' she added. Downing Street had stressed a focus on smaller agreements with the US, such as one that has been mooted on minerals. The leaders of Northern Ireland's main political parties had the opportunity to talk to Mr Biden separately before he delivered the speech at Ulster University's new 350million Belfast campus. But there was no formal group meeting with the leaders. Although DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson was among those who chatted to the president, he said afterwards that the visit had not changed the 'political dynamic'. 'I had a brief conversation with the president and he made clear that it's not his job, as we heard in his speech, to take decisions for political leaders in Northern Ireland,' he said. 'But the United States stands ready to support Northern Ireland in whatever way it can. So I welcome his visit here today [Wednesday], it's good to see the president coming and we hope to see investment into Northern Ireland flowing from his efforts and those of his special envoy.' Sir Jeffrey added: 'Well, it doesn't change the political dynamic in Northern Ireland, we know what needs to happen. 'And I'll be meeting my team over the next few days and we'll be going back to the (UK) Government. We believe the Government needs to go further in terms of protecting Northern Ireland's place within the United Kingdom and our ability to trade within the UK internal market and that's what needs to happen now to enable us to move towards the restoration of the political institutions, we need the Government to deliver what they've said they will do, which is to protect our place in the United Kingdom.' Asked if he believed Mr Biden was 'anti-British', Sir Jeffrey said: 'I welcome his reference today to the Ulster Scots who made such an enormous contribution to the building of the United States of America. 'I think that is an indication, an acknowledgement from the President of the United States of the very special contribution that Northern Ireland has made to the building of his country. 'And his reference also to his own British ancestry, I think indicates hopefully that we have a president that recognises the United Kingdom is a close ally and friend of the United States.' The unionist party's Brexit spokesman Sammy Wilson said this morning that Mr Biden had to take a share of responsibility for the 'political instability' in Northern Ireland. 'He is seen as extremely partisan,' Mr Wilson told Talk TV, adding that Mr Biden had shown himself 'anti-British' in the debates over Brexit. 'I suppose this is more about Joe Biden, his reelection attempts and appealing to the Irish vote in America,' Mr Wilson said. Where will Biden go on his four-day tour? 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 - He 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 Mr Biden crossed the border to attend engagements in County Louth this afternoon. 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 tomorrow evening. The President's 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 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.' 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. So how Irish IS 'son of Ireland' Joe Biden? US President traces his roots back to County Louth and County Mayo and has often struggled to hide his 'anti-British' stance with risky jokes about those wearing orange and an 'embarrassment' at his English dad Joe Biden has been hailed as 'unmistakably a son of Ireland' - despite being born in Pennsylvania - while the US President's boasting of his Irish heritage has often been accompanied by 'anti-British' slights. The Democrat politician has often courted controversy with off-the-cuff remarks made when attempting to demonstrate his fierce pride about his 'Irishness'. The 80-year-old, whose parents were also both born in the US, has previously been severely criticised for a joke that 'anyone wearing orange' is not welcome in his home. He has also in the past turned down an opportunity to speak to the BBC because he is 'Irish', and hinted at an embarrasment that both his father and his surname were of English descent. Mr Biden claimed just last year that his father's 'saving grace' was he also had Irish heritage, as well as connections to Westbourne, West Sussex. Joe Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania yet traces his roots back to County Louth and County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland The US President's boasting of his Irish heritage has often been accompanied by 'anti-British' slights Mr Biden was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania yet can trace his roots back to County Louth and County Mayo in the Republic of Ireland. Mr Biden will visit both on his tour of the country this week, which will follow his swift trip to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. His connections to Ireland come mainly on his mother's side with his great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt having grown up in Ballina, Co. Mayo. Blewitt emigrated to Scranton after the Irish potato famine of the 1840s. Another of the US President's great-great-grandfathers, Owen Finnegan, was a shoemaker from Co. Louth who emigrated to America in 1849. His family, including Mr Biden's great-grandfather James Finnegan, followed him in 1850. The US President has previously revealed how his English father, Joseph Biden Snr., had the 'saving grace' of also having Irish heritage. Mr Biden said last year: 'He had the saving grace, on his mother's side, of having a Hanafee from Galway. 'That's the only thing that saved him. And you all think I'm kidding. I'm not.' It was not the first time that Mr Biden has hinted at a familial embarrassment at his father's English heritage. He previously recalled his aunt telling him when he was young: 'Your father's not a bad man. He's just English.' Mr Biden has, in the past, also spoken of a discomfort at Biden being an English surname and revealed 'my grandfather and my mother were never crazy about it being English'. Last year, it emerged that Mr Biden had once revealed his mother Jean so disliked England that she chose to sleep on the floor rather than in a bed in which the Queen had previously slept. British screenwriter Georgia Pritchett claimed the US President made the revelation when they met in the White House during his period as vice-president. She wrote in her autobiography how Mr Biden had recalled his mother visiting the UK and spending a night in a hotel where, Jean was told, the Queen had once stayed. 'She was so appalled that she slept on the floor all night, rather than risk sleeping on a bed that the Queen had slept on,' Pritchett wrote. During his long political career, the US President has made a series of risky jokes at times when he has been proudly displaying his Irish heritage. In a 2012 meeting with then prime minister David Cameron, while he was vice-president, Mr Biden jokingly offered a message to Amrbose Finnegan, his grandfather, that 'things have changed' as he sat down with a British leader. In 2015, Mr Biden was fiercely criticised after he quipped while welcoming then Irish Taoiseach Enda Kenny to his home: 'Anyone wearing orange is not welcome in.' Northern Ireland's primarily Protestant unionist community associate themselves with the colour in celebration of William of Orange's victory over Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. During an event at the White House last month to celebrate St Patrick's Day, Mr Biden was described by current Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as 'unmistakably a son of Ireland' When he was president-elect after winning the US election in 2020, Mr Biden turned down a chance to speak with a BBC reporter, telling them: 'The BBC? I'm Irish.' During an event at the White House last month to celebrate St Patrick's Day, Mr Biden was described by current Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar as 'unmistakably a son of Ireland'. He said: 'Every American President is a little bit Irish on St Patrick's Day - but some are more Irish than others. 'I think it's fair to say that today we're celebrating our national day with a President who is unmistakably a son of Ireland.' Mr Biden used the event to quote a poem written by his great-great-grandfather Edward Blewitt. The US President told the audience of his ancestor: 'He had an engineering degree from Lafayette College and the heart of an Irish poet. 'In 1919, in one of the over 100 poems that I found in my - when my mom passed away, in her treasures, he wrote about 'his Ireland'. 'In one stanza, he wrote the following: 'From the fairest land, except my own, Neath sun, star, and moon, the citadel of Liberty, My mother's land, aroon.'' Neighbours complained about a pack of vicious dogs before they brutally attacked a toddler. The three-year-old was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital from a property on Paterson Street, Yatala, following the horrific attack on Wednesday night. She remains in a serious but stable condition as of Thursday morning after suffering wounds to her head and neck in the attack. Neighbours complained about the dogs before the vicious attack, with Gold Coast City Council confirming it had received several complaints about the animals. Neighbour Richard Macdonald said his dog became distressed when approaching the property where the 'very aggressive' canines resided. 'Our dog has now got anxiety,' he told 7News on Thursday. 'He is terrified of them. He won't come down the road. He's a big dog, my dog. Local Richard Macdonald (pictured) said his dog became distressed when approaching the property where the 'very aggressive' canines resided Some neighbours claim they complained about the dogs before the vicious attack, while others say the incident had come as a shock (pictured, dogs are removed from the home) 'They rush up at the fence, theyre very, very aggressive and if they got out you wouldnt stand a chance.' It is understood the owner of the Gold Coast property was a registered dog breeder and the grandmother of the child who was attacked. Four dogs, including German Shepherds and a French Bull Mastiff, were taken from the home at about 7.30pm and could be heard crying from inside two council vehicles. In a statement, a council spokesperson said officers: 'patrolled the area regularly with a view to ensuring compliance with local laws.' Friend of the family Kurt Poole on Wednesday told reporters the attack had come as a surprise as he believed they were 'good dogs'. Mr Poole said he understood the little girl had been injured accidentally by the dogs while they had been playing amongst themselves. He added the child's grandmother was 'beside herself' over the incident. Four dogs, including German Shepherds and a French Bull Mastiff, were taken from the home about 7.30pm and could be heard crying from inside two council vehicles Friend of the family Kurt Poole on Wednesday told reporters the attack had come as a surprise as he believed they were 'good dogs' (pictured, emergency services at the scene) Gold Coast City Council said multiple dogs had been seized from the property by animal management officers, and an investigation was underway. The attack came just days after a six-year-old girl was attacked by two dogs in Woodridge, south of Brisbane, after climbing on a fence. Emergency services were called to an Ormesby St property just after 4.30 pm on Monday. The child was rushed to Queensland Children's Hospital in serious condition after sustaining significant abdominal, chest and shoulder injuries. It is understood she remains in a serious but stable condition. A childcare worker has been charged with allegedly molesting a young child in his care. Dozens of parents were sent a distressing letter on Tuesday outlining the allegations after the 22-year-old man was arrested. The letter explained the centre in Perth's inner suburbs was notified about the alleged crime by police last Thursday. 'From this contact, the police requested that the matter remain confidential pending their investigation, occurring over the long weekend,' it read. A young child was allegedly molested by an educator at a daycare centre, who has been charged (stock image) 'The police advised... late in the evening on Monday, April 10, that an employee is involved in the investigation. 'The educator is not on-premises and will not return until the police matter is resolved.' The centre said the letter was sent out to 'dispel any rumours pending the ongoing police investigation'. The worker, from Victoria Park in Perth's inner-southeast, was arrested on Monday and charged with indecently dealing with a child under 13. Parents were called to a 'support session' with police on Wednesday night to discuss the allegations. The letter included a pamphlet of 'protective behaviours' to aid in talking to their children. The childcare worker was given bail and will face Perth Magistrates Court next month. North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to take shelter as a precaution. South Korea's joint Chiefs of Staff said the North Korean missile flew toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan but gave no further details, such as how far it flew and exactly what type of weapon the North launched. The launch had prompted the Japanese government to urge people to seek shelter on the northernmost island of Hokkaido. Japanese media later reported the Japanese government retracted the alert and emergency notice to local governments, saying there was no possibility of a missile landing in the Hokkaido area. Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan said his government would hold a National Security Council meeting on the crisis. A TV screen is seen reporting North Korea's missile launch with file footage during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Thursday, April 13, 2023 People watch a television screen showing a news broadcast with file footage of a North Korean missile test, at a railway station in Seoul on April 13, 2023 Streets were abandoned as the Japanese government ordered people to seek shelter on the northernmost island of Hokkaido, as alarms sounded (pictured) The country's defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada, said the missile appeared to have been fired eastward at a high angle. He said the missile did not fall in Japanese territory, and that the defence ministry was analysing the launch for more details. The launch, the latest in the North's barrage of weapons tests this year, came days after its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more 'practical and offensive' ways. Japan issued a similar evacuation order in October last year when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated a potential to reach the US Pacific Territory of Guam. This year, North Korea has launched about 30 missiles in response to South Korean-US military drills it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. South Korean and US officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. During a military meeting on Monday, Mr Kim reviewed the country's 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, according to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). KCNA said that meeting discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defence capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by its rivals' military drills. North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to take shelter as a precaution. Pictured is North Korean leader Kim Jong Un Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, right, speaks to media at the prime minister's official office in Tokyo, after North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the sea between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Thursday North Korea has long argued that US-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washington's hostility against Pyongyang. The North has said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to deal with US military threats, though US and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North. There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead earlier this month. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on missiles. Thursday's launch also came as South Korea accused North Korea of not responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. British lives have been 'put at risk' after a major US intelligence leak, MPs have warned. The leaked documents containing classified information about the military strength of US allies and adversaries claimed the UK had deployed 50 elite troops to Ukraine, which would make it the largest Nato contributor of special forces. The documents, many of which are marked as top secret, were dismissed by the Ministry of Defence as containing a 'serious level of inaccuracy' when they first appeared on the social media. Tobias Ellwood, who chairs the defence select committee, said the US leaks could 'endanger lives'. Despite saying it should come as no surprise the UK was doing much of the 'heavy lifting' when it comes to elite troops, he told The Times: 'This deliberate large-scale disclosure of sensitive material could easily endanger lives and should prompt an urgent review about who has access to sensitive information and how it is shared.' Britain has the largest contingent of special forces on Ukrainian soil, alongside more than a dozen operators each from fellow NATO states Latvia, France, the US, according to an allegedly leaked document Ukrainian soldier aims a gun in a dugout in Ukraine in undated footage Tobias Ellwood (pictured), who chairs the defence select committee, said the US leaks could 'endanger lives' In response to the leak of alleged classified US information: pic.twitter.com/WWFLOhbeeU Ministry of Defence (@DefenceHQ) April 11, 2023 Labour MP for Barnsley Central Dan Jarvis, who is a former special forces commander, said that the operations were 'by necessity shrouded in secrecy'. He added that the leak puts the military at a disadvantage and it may jeopardise 'the security and effectiveness of those operations and could put lives at risk.' The Ministry of Defence warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak of classified information at 'face value', posting on Twitter: '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.' A UK defence official said that a 'significant proportion' of the documents was 'untrue, manipulated, or both' and also told The Times: 'We strongly caution against anybody taking the veracity of these claims at face value and would also advise them to take time to question the source and purpose of such leaks.' Pentagon spokesman Chris Meagher agreed as he said these documents appear to have been doctored. But US defence officials have been adamant a leak had taken place, with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin vowing to 'investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it'. Former head of the Royal Marines, Lt. Gen. Robert Magowan, confirmed in December that British commandos had already deployed twice to Ukraine in 2022 - first in January to evacuate the British Embassy in Kyiv, and again in April 'to provide protection to critical personnel'. Lt Gen Magowan said the personnel had served in Ukraine 'with a high level of political and military risk'. The leaked documents allegeldy show how US intelligence has been able to provide Kyiv with extensive details of planned Russian attacks, but also revealed that Ukraine's air defences are almost exhausted. Labour MP for Barnsley Central Dan Jarvis, who is a former special forces commander, said that the operations were 'by necessity shrouded in secrecy'. He added that the leak puts the military at a disadvantage and it may jeopardise 'the security and effectiveness of those operations and could put lives at risk' Ukrainian service member, Naza, 21, commander from 28th mechanised brigade repositions his machine gun during a fire exchange at the frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine in the region of Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 5, 2023 YouTuber wow_mao, who was thrust onto the international stage after classified Pentagon papers were leaked on a Discord server he hosts, has said that the 'US government should fear these losers' A Ukrainian soldier looks out a passing APC on the frontline in Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Monday, April 10, 2022 And one section titled 'US/NATO SOF in UKR' appeared to reveal the number of Western special forces present in Ukraine. What is the encrypted app Discord? Discord is a messaging service which is invite-only and encrypted - meaning data is concealed by being converted into code. The platform can only be accessed with a log-in and password with chat groups known as 'servers' - of which many remain small and exclusive. Any Discord user is able to start a server for free and invite their friends. There are also larger, more open communities, which usually focus on specific topics such as popular games like Minecraft and Fortnite. The app estimates it is being used worldwide by tens of millions aged 13+. Advertisement Britain has allegedly deployed 50 operators - the most of any Western nation - alongside 17 Latvian, 15 French, 14 American and a lone operator from the Netherlands. But the documents did not shed light on where in Ukraine the operators have deployed, or in what capacity. The sensitive material was first shared on an obscure online meme group run by a 20-year-old university student living in the UK on a part of the messaging app Discord. The student, a self-professed 'micro celebrity' calling himself wow_mao, posted a video discussing the fallout onto YouTube and told a journalist it was 'hilarious'. He said a moderator on his Discord chat group called the End of Wow Mao Zone 'shared 30 plus leaked documents concerning the Russia-Ukraine war' on March 1 and one month later he was unwittingly at the centre of the scandal. In an interview with the New York Times, wow_mao said he spent 'little time' on the Discord server and mostly focused on his YouTube channel where he has about 250,000 subscribers. He declined to share his real name to the outlet but said he is British and Filipino and was living in the UK. A probe was launched in the US on Friday by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department as investigators are trying to quickly identify the source of the breach. Typically, classified documents can only be printed using a secure process, which may make it easier for officials to find the source of the leak. The evidence stacking up against suspected Idaho killer Bryan Kohberger, 28, may seem like a gift for prosecutors looking to convict him of the quadruple homicide of four college students. A deep dive into the investigation, however, has uncovered several credible avenues for his defense team to explore to plant seeds of reasonable doubt in the minds of a jury which may lead to a verdict of not guilty. 'All it takes is one juror,' said Joseph Scott Morgan, a Jacksonville State University forensics professor. 'And there's no doubt in my mind that the defense is going to utilize that.' Former federal prosecutor Neama Rahmani and forensic psychiatrist Dr. Carole Lieberman also weighed in on how evidence collection, Kohberger's childhood and even his DNA found at the scene can be used to benefit the defense. 'Bryan Kohberger is a petri dish of psychopathology. A defense psychiatrist would have a lot to work with,' Dr. Lieberman told DailyMail.com. Kohberger's lawyers may have already scored a big win regarding the investigation. Prosecutors recently disclosed in court documents that a police officer involved in the quadruple murder case is the subject of an 'internal affairs' probe. Any alleged impropriety on the part of investigators could threaten the trial. 'They're going to put up factual roadblocks as well as legal hurdles,' Rahmani said. 'The defense is going to attack the evidence in this case. And one thing that I expect them to do is attack the DNA.' The criminology student stands accused of the vicious stabbing deaths of Maddie Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Ethan Chapin, 20, and Xana Kernodle, 20. Watch our video below for a detailed analysis of all the approaches his defense team could take. This is the hilarious moment a no-nonsense Australian woman confronts a snake that keeps breaking into her house. The woman from Brisbane was filmed as she shooed away the reptile as it repeatedly tried to breach her home with a broom - while launching a fiery spray against it. In a clip uploaded to TikTok on Monday, the woman tried to remove the huge snake that was wrapped around the glass louvre windows of a bedroom in the home. 'Go away, go away, go away, back off,' she shouted at the animal while poking it with a broom. 'I'm over this. This is ridiculous,' she added. As the snake wasn't moving, the woman then moved closer and picked it up in an attempt to literally throw the animal out of the home. 'I'm done, I'm done with you, off you go, stay out of my house,' she shouted. In an act of desperate frustration, the woman then climbs up on her countertop. The woman from Brisbane was filmed as she shooed away the animal in her home with a broom - while launching a fiery spray against it She then hits the snake with a broom and repeatedly shouts 'stay out my house' at it. 'Only in Australia,' the video was captioned, with the clip quickly racking up thousands of views. People were quick to praise the woman's actions, while others called it 'hilarious'. 'Aussies dont need guns we just grab a broom and deal with the issue,' wrote one. In a clip uploaded to TikTok on Monday, the woman tried to remove the huge snake that was wrapped around the glass louvre windows of a bedroom in her home 'As a grown man, I would have pretended not to have seen it and waited for my wife to deal with it due to immense cowardice,' added another. 'I love her just being fed up with the snake haha,' said a third. 'Our Australian accent makes everything funnier,' penned another. 'I would have simply walked out and planted a for sale sign in front of the house,' said one. Australian lingerie company Honey Birdette has defended itself after being slammed with homophobic and transphobic slurs for using a non-binary person to advertise a bra. The brand posted two photos to Instagram of Jake Dupree wearing its $460 Ruby Red three-piece set, which features a bra, G-string and suspenders. Honey Birdette said the backlash to its use of the Los Angeles-based burlesque dancer Dupree was 'bullying'. The pictures, by fashion photographer Max Bronner, show Dupree on stage wearing the underwear and a body chain. But soon after the photos were posted online, there were so many negative remarks that Honey Birdette blocked the comments. Australian lingerie company Honey Birdette has defended itself after being slammed with homophobic and transphobic slurs for using non-binary person Jake Dupree (pictured) to advertise a bra 'Honey Birdette fosters an inclusive and diverse environment, and we will continue to use our voice to empower and support the LGBTQ+ community, women, and anyone who wants to feel fabulous in our lingerie,' the company wrote. 'While thoughtful and constructive discussions are important to push culture forward, hate speech and bullying will not be tolerated on our channels. 'Comments of this negative nature will be deleted. @jakedupree, you are so talented and have our full support!' Dupree spoke out too, saying the comments had been 'tough' for him to see. He also thanked Honey Birdette, which was founded in Sydney in 2006, for 'standing up against this hate'. Honey Birdette said the backlash to its use of the Los Angeles-based burlesque dancer Dupree was 'bullying' (comment pictured) Honey Birdette is better known for using female models (pictured) to advertise its underwear Some of those posting under the images of Dupree said they would boycott the brand as it had gone back on the 'for women, by women' ethos of creator Eloise Monaghan. But others defended the company for using the photos, telling Dupree to 'hold your head up high'. Some wrote that they found the pictures to be inspiring, while another wrote 'I can't believe some cis women feel so insecure seeing a beautiful non-binary person'. The complaints about Honey Birdette come a month after another Aussie brand, Seafolly, faced a similar backlash. One of Australia's most celebrated swimwear brands, Seafolly was the subject of a boycott after hiring a bearded, non-binary activist as its new ambassador. The iconic bikini label is known for glamorous advertising campaigns featuring some of the world's most beautiful women, such as Gigi Hadid, Shanina Shaik, Lara Worthington, Miranda Kerr and Jesinta Franklin. Non-binary activist Deni Todorovic (pictured) has been announced as a new ambassador for Australian swimwear brand Seafolly But it has sparked anger in some quarters by hiring stylist Deni Todorovic as an ambassador. Todorovic was assigned male at birth but uses they/them pronouns and identifies as non-binary and transgender. Author and artist Alexandra Marshall said it feels like the fashion brand is 'mocking women' adding she would 'never' buy Seafolly swimsuits again. 'Bye @seafolly. Never again. Been buying swimsuits from you for many years. Never again,' she posted on Twitter. Another said the brand 'deserves to be cancelled by real women'. A third commented: 'Boycott boycott boycott @seafolly erasing women is NOT OK! Shove you're products I'm done!' 'WTF @seafolly? Shame on you for mocking women,' a fourth added. Australian models Jesinta Franklin and Lara Worthington have also represented the brand Another declared: 'After shopping @seafolly swimwear for years - I will be looking for another company to give my business to.' Others were angry not just at the announcement, but that it came on the eve of International Women's Day, March 8. 'Seriously who gave this the go ahead on #IWD,' one person said. 'See now they are really just taking the p***. I will never buy this brand again and throwing out the couple I have.' A powerful cyclone is set to wreak havoc across parts of Western Australia's coast in a matter of hours, bringing damaging winds and heavy rainfall - with residents in some towns ordered to evacuate. Cyclone Ilsa has now been classified as a Category 4 storm, and is set to lash the coast between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga in the state's Pilbara region, on Thursday night or Friday morning. The cyclone could bring wind gusts of up to 275 km/h between De Grey and west of Bidyadanga late on Thursday night into Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Thunderstorms and a huge dumping of rain of between 200mm and 400mm is forecast to fall over the western Kimberley and eastern Pilbara over Thursday and Friday. Cyclone Ilsa has now been classified as a Category 4 storm, and is set to lash the coast between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga in WA's Pilbara region, on Thursday night or Friday morning The cyclone will bring heavy rainfall and severe winds to parts of WA's coast A Yellow Alert has been issued for Bidyadanga, Whim Creek, Port Hedland, Marble Bar, Nullagine and Telfer, with residents in the areas told to evacuate. 'There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a cyclone is approaching the area,' Emergency WA warned on Thursday morning. 'You need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.' Residents in the areas affected have been told to go their nearest evacuation centre, keep an emergency kit with canned food, water and medication with them, and move all cars under cover. Flood warnings have also been issued for those in West Kimberley, De Grey River, Sandy Desert, Warburton District Rivers, Salt Lakes District Rivers (North west of Laverton) and Western Desert Districts. The cyclone will bring winds of up to 275 km/h between De Grey and west of Bidyadanga late on Thursday night into Friday, the Bureau of Meteorology said 'A severe impact will occur along the coast and adjacent inland parts to the east of Port Hedland and west of Bidyadanga, most likely between Pardoo Roadhouse and Wallal Downs, later tonight or early Friday morning,' the BOM said. 'During Friday, Ilsa is forecast to maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it tracks past Telfer and further inland across the Northern Interior district. 'The system is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday as it moves east into southern parts of the Northern Territory.' Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said residents were preparing for the impact of the cyclone, with evacuation centres set up in the town. 'Everyone is on edge,' Mr Carter told ABC TV on Thursday. 'They understand that cyclones are what they are. They're very, very unpredictable.' Mr Carter urged people to watch out for household objects turning into flying debris. 'All our residents are basically putting away their barbecues and outdoor furniture,' he said. HOW TO PREPARE FOR A CYCLONE Know the alerts There are four kinds of cyclone alerts: Blue - start preparing for a cyclone Yellow - prepare for the cyclone's arrival Red - seek shelter indoors, it is too late to leave Clear - the cyclone has passed Prepare your property If a cyclone alert is issued for your area ensure all outdoor furniture is secured, tape or cover glass windows that could shatter in a storm and identify the strongest room in your home. It's important to know how to turn off your supply of water, electricity and gas. Water supplies can become contaminated in major weather events, ensure you have an adequate supply. Prepare an emergency kit People living in high-risk cyclone areas should have constant access to an emergency kit which can be added to once an alert is issued. Permanently in the kit should be: Emergency contact details and identification documents Non-perishable food and utensils A battery-operated radio and torch with spare batteries Non-perishable medical supplies and a firstaid kit Bedding and spare clothes (including protective items like footwear and goggles) To add to the kit once an alert is issued: At least five days' worth of food, water and medicine Mobile phone chargers Cash Perishable food Advertisement He added loose objects travelling at high speeds had the potential to become 'missiles in the air.' Workers and tourists at Eighty Mile Beach caravan park and nearby Wallal Downs cattle station are being evacuated, along with non-critical workers at Newcrest's Telfer mine and BHP's sites across the region. Extra emergency workers, essential supplies and aircraft have been sent to the area as authorities warn the North West Coastal Highway could close between Port Hedland and Broome due to flooding. Port Hedland is being cleared of ships, including iron ore carriers. Cyclone Ilsa is the first category-four system to strike the region in almost a decade. The last, named Tropical Cyclone Christine, crossed the coast southwest of Port Hedland in December 2013. It comes after supermarket shelves between Port Hedland and Broome were stripped bare of fresh produce, meat and dairy ahead of the cyclone. Both Coles and Woolworths spokespeople reassured customers that stores in the region have been oversupplied with 'ambient goods', foods that stay at room temperature, so there will be plenty of supplies in case of an emergency. Tragedy has struck a Perth family for the second time after the mother of a murdered toddler, Robert Bodney, was named as a victim in a horror road crash. Kerry Bodney, 31, has been identified as the passenger who died in a crash on Wednesday morning in Balga, northern Perth, which left four other passengers injured. Ms Bodney's two-year-old son, Robert, was shaken to death in 2012 by her then-partner. Kerry Bodney died in a car crash on Wednesday morning in Balga, northern Perth Her toddler son Robert Bodney was shaken to death by her then partner Wayne Murray Narkle in 2012 Wayne Murray Narkle was sentenced to at least 15 years in jail in 2014 and warned he might never be released. The crash happened on Mirrabooka Avenue near Beach Road in Balga about 11.40am on Wednesday. Police say Ms Bodney was a passenger in a black BMW sedan driving east on Beach Road when it collided with another car travelling south on Mirrabooka Avenue. Family and friends took to social media to share tributes after hearing the tragic news. I cant believe such a loving, beautiful person tragically taken so sad and heart-breaking, wrote Brenda Turvey. I hope your son is waiting at the gates with open arms to greet his mum. Ms Bodney at the grave of her son Robert in a picture she posted on Facebook in January Kayla Woods wrote: 'Rest in paradise my darling. You be with your baby boy now my sister.' In an eerie twist, Ms Bodney had posted on social media just two weeks ago saying she had been in another car crash. Her son Robert was murdered by her then partner Wayne Murray Narkle in 2012. Narkle, a heroin addict, hit and shook baby Robert at the Bassendean home of Ms Bodney on December 30, 2012. Proseuctor Justin Whalley said Narkle had a view Robert was 'too clingy and needed to man up, and be more resilient'. Narkle's lawyer, Simon Watters, told the court his client was under the influence of heroin at the time when he had a momentary 'loss of self-control' and 'almost instantly regretted' his actions. The child's cause of death was a head injury. He also had fractures to both arms. 'I just want to get better, be a mother again one day and be happy,' Ms Bodney reportedly said after Narkle was sentenced. New York City has hired a rat-catcher for $155,000-a-year, and she's had a passion for eliminating vermin since she was just ten-years-old. The appointment of 34-year-old former elementary school teacher Kathleen Corradi was announced by Mayor Eric Adams on Wednesday, and comes just months after he was ordered to pay $300 for a rat infestation in his own Brooklyn home. Corradi has become the first-ever Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation - a position previously dubbed by Adams as 'rat czar' - and will lead a team of rodent experts to deal with city's critical rat problem. Sightings doubled in the last year, according to city data. Corradi said the city would start by reducing food waste on the streets, and Adams said a 'rat mitigation zone' in Harlem would see $3.5million invested into ridding the neighborhood of rodents. New York City has hired rat-catcher Kathleen Corradi (pictured right) for $155,000-a-year Adams said a 'rat mitigation zone' in Harlem would see $3.5million invested into ridding the neighborhood of rodents In December Adams was served a summons for a rat infestation at the Brooklyn in which he lives with his son 'This is almost a job that's made for her,' Adams said of Corradi during a press conference on Wednesday. Although she was picked after a national search, she has worked at the Education Department and previously led its rodent reduction efforts, The New York Times reported. 'Due to those efforts nearly 70 percent of schools with persistent rodent issues reached their compliance goals,' said Corradi. 'As New York City's first Director of Rodent Mitigation, I will bring a science and systems based approaching to reducing New York City's rat population.' 'You'll be seeing a lot of me and lot less rats,' she added. Her mother told The Times her hatred of rats is long-lasting. She recounted how nearly 25 years ago, a ten-year-old Corradi spotted a dead rat by some train tracks on Long Island. In shock she distributed a petition between neighbors and delivered it to local officials demanding that something be done. 'The Long Island Rail Road listened,' said her mother. 'They came and did rat mitigation.' At Wednesday's conference the city laid out on a table a variety of materials it was proposing to use in order to attack the rat population, including traps, sealant and poisons. Adams declared a war on rats last December when he began his search for somebody to occupy the new position. 'There's nothing I hate more than rats,' he said while advertising what is now Corradi's job. Corradi has become the first-ever Citywide Director of Rodent Mitigation, but the much-awaited position was previously dubbed the 'rat czar' At Wednesday's conference the city laid out a variety of materials it was proposing to use in order to attack the rat population, including traps, sealant and poisons The mayor's Brooklyn neighborhood is known to have rat issues and has been treating the issue through the help of the Department of Health The position was listed as being for anyone with a background in urban planning, project management, or government work. It explained the job would require doing 'the impossible' to reduce the number of rats in the city. It also suggested the right candidate would have a 'swashbuckling attitude, crafty humor and general aura of badassery.' A knowledge of PowerPoint was also required. The job also required 'stamina and stagecraft' and the listing suggested 'the ideal candidate is highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty.' 'Despite their successful public engagement strategy and cheeky social media presence, rats are not our friends. Rodents spread disease, damage homes and wiring and even attempt to control the movements of kitchen staffers in an effort to take over human jobs,' the posting said. Adams's rat city-wide rat issue has affected his own home too. In December, he was served a summons for a rat infestation at the Brooklyn home in which he lives with his son. His record showed an unpaid summons penalty for $330 that he received in May - after it was found that his Bedford Stuyvesant home is flooded with the rodents. Adams contested the ticket in a hearing before the Office of Administrative Trials and Hearings in February, but an officer denied the challenge and the mayor was ordered to pay $300. The 'Director of Rodent Mitigation' job posting, for which Corradi has now been hired Adams invited reporters to tour his basement home in Brooklyn last year, in a bid to prove that he actually lived in the city - rather than in New Jersey When Adams was the president of the borough of Brooklyn he staged a press conference to illustrate that he did live on the property Adams' home serves as a partial rental property. The mayor previously failed to list his home as a rental and critics have accused him of actually living in New Jersey with his girlfriend Tracey Collins. To debunk those claims last year he invited reporters into his Brooklyn home. He said he lived in the basement and rented out the floors above to pay for his son Jordan's college fees. Adams is registered to vote on the first floor, yet a tenant who has lived there for years is listed under the same unit in multiple documents obtained by Politico last year. Adams' rat issue extends persist outside of his home and on the streets of New York City. Bud Light's parent company has lost more than $6billion in market capitalization since announcing its partnership with a polarizing transgender internet personality. Unveiled on April 2, the brand's alliance with 26-year-old Dylan Mulvaney has since incited outrage and calls for a boycott - and now appears to be hitting Anheuser-Busch where it matters most: in the wallet. In the days leading up to the announcement, shares for the Belgium-based brewer had been trading around $66 - a high not seen since before the pandemic. As the market closed Wednesday, the beer giant's stock was trading at roughly $63, a more than 5 percent decrease in Anheuser-Busch's total share value - a concept more commonly known as 'market capitalization.' Currently at $125.73billion, the company's market capitalization six days ago stood at $132.38 billion, as brass continue to stand by their deal with Mulvaney - an outspoken activist who has more than 10million followers on social media. Bud Light's parent company has lost more than $6billion in market capitalization since announcing its partnership with a transgender influencer Unveiled on April 2, the brand's alliance with 26-year-old Dylan Mulvaney has since incited outrage and calls for a boycott - and now appears to be hitting Anheuser-Busch in the wallet The stark decline comes after Anheuser-Busch's stock price enjoyed a brief uptick in the latter half of March, which itself came as a continuation of an ongoing slow climb back to $80-plus share prices the company boasted pre-March 2020. On March 20 of this year, shares were trading around $60 - a resistance marker it had been hovering around since January. However, by March 31, its stock rose to $66.73, a peak not seen in three years. Shares have since fizzled - with the drop coinciding almost to the day with the newly announced partnership between Mulvaney and Anheuser-Busch's best-selling beer brand. Also the best-selling beer in the count try, Bud Light began their partnership with Mulvaney by sending the influencer - whom began transitioning from male to female in 2021 - custom cans featuring her face and pro-LGBTQ language, to commemorate her being a woman for over a year. The gift - touted by the star in a series of partnered posts - kicked of the since-confirmed partnership, which was further established by a subsequent video featuring a naked Mulvaney. Appearing before her 11million followers in a bathtub drinking a can of Bud Light, Mulvaney almost singlehandedly sparked the storm of backlash seen since, during which several have sworn off the swill completely in protest of the partnership. Detractors such as Kid Rock - who filmed himself shooting several cases of the best-selling beer in defiance - are now accusing the brand of pandering to the progressive left. Some have taken credit for the recent drop in Anheuser-Busch's value, while others have aired their disapproval of Mulvaney being the new face of the brand on social media. Amid this outcry, Bud Light's parent company was forced to issue a formal statement saying it supported Bud Light's decision to work with Mulvaney, who ballooned to internet stardom with a series of videos documenting her becoming a woman. Mulvaney's April 2 Instagram post included her drinking a beer with her face printed on the can and lying in a bathtub knocking back Bud Anheuser-Busch defended the gift in a statement, saying 'From time to time, we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale' 'Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics,' the rep said in a statement shared with several outlets last week. It added: 'From time to time, we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.' Their doubling down, however, only served to enrage customers more - and likely played some part in Anheuser-Busch's recent market woes, which for the most part began at the start of the month. Incidentally, the first day of trading in April was April 3 - the day after the Mulvaney partnership was formally announced. During a podcast appearance Tuesday, Mulvaney commented on the stark response seen since then, saying her critics are taking advantage of an easy target. 'The reason that I think I am so I'm an easy target is because I'm so new to this,' Mulvaney told Rosie O'Donnelll on the famed comic's podcast Onward with Rosie O'Donnell. 'I think going after a trans woman that's been doing this for like 20 years is a lot more difficult. I think maybe they think that there's some sort of chance with me But what is their goal?' ' When approached by reporters in Hollywood shortly before about the backlash, Mulvaney - who has earned more than a million dollars from brands like Kate Spade, Crest and InstaCart - said she is 'thriving' and 'doing great' These people, they don't understand me and anything that I do or say then somehow gets taken out of context and is used against me and it's so sad because everything I try to put out is positive. 'It's trying to connect with others that maybe don't understand me. It's to make people laugh or to make a kid feel seen.' When approached by reporters in Hollywood shortly before about the backlash, Mulvaney - who has earned more than a million dollars from brands like Kate Spade, Crest and InstaCart - said she is 'thriving' and 'doing great'. When asked if she expects the recent unrest to pass and whether transgender influencers were 'the future', the TikTok star - roughly a week into her gig as the beer's brand ambassador - replied with a resounding 'yes'. DailyMail.com has reached out to Anheuser-Busch for comment. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear choked up in a TV interview as he paid tribute to one of his close friends killed along with four others in the Louisville bank shooting on Monday. Beshear, one of only two Democrat governors in the south, has been public with his outrage over the killing of his friend and former campaign chair, Tommy Elliott, 63, who died in the tragedy. As he fought back tears, he also expressed empathy for the parents of 25-year-old killer, Connor Sturgeon. 'This person murdered my friend. But still, I can't imagine what his parents must be feeling right now,' Beshear told CNN Wednesday. Sturgeon was employed as a syndications associate and portfolio banker at the Old National for two years before the atrocity, during which he was gunned down by LMPD cop, Cory Galloway. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear (pictured) choked up as he spoke Wednesday of his heartache over one of his closest friends, who was among the five killed in the Louisville bank shooting Monday Ive just returned from Louisville, where we sat down with Gov. Andy Beshear in an emotional and raw interview as his state is the latest to face a mass shooting. Hes not only leading the city in mourning, he's personally grieving. Our full interview is tonight at 9 p.m. pic.twitter.com/yRgH8W6tFj Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 13, 2023 Sturgeon stormed into a conference room at the bank on E Main St with an AR-15 rifle shortly after 8.30am - around half an hour before the branch opened to the public. Elliott, the bank's senior vice president, had donated $2,000 to Beshear's gubernatorial campaign in 2018 and had donated to many Democratic candidates over the years. He was well known in local and state Democratic circles and served on Beshear's inaugural committee in 2019. That's not how Beshear wanted people to think of him in the Wednesday evening interview. 'Man, he had a great smile. His eyes lit up. Loved life. Was always into something. Trying to make the city a better place, he was just always into something,' he said. He wanted people to think of Elliott as a loving husband and father, noting that he was the one who told Elliott's wife that he had passed. 'I knew it would be hours before others could call her. And I thought she deserved to know, and we're close right now to where I made that call,' he said. Beshear, who faces re-election in deep red Kentucky in 2023, also noted that he and Elliott were plotting out the Democrat's next steps whenever he finished being governor. 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 Beshear, who faces re-election in deep red Kentucky in 2023, also noted that he and Elliott were plotting out the Democrat's next steps whenever he finished being governor Connor Sturgeon killed five people - former colleagues at Old National Bank - before he was shot dead by police on Monday 'He was trying to plan for me for when I'm done being governor, which was something that I hoped we could eventually plan for together,' Beshear said. 'An amazing human being, a loving dad.' Beshear said that while he was in favor of 'red flag' gun laws - which allow the courts to take firearms from those dubbed a danger to themselves or others - he didn't see it as likely while Republicans maintain control of the legislature. While he admitted it may not have stopped Sturgeon on his rampage, it may help someone in the future. 'At least it lets us stop that next individual at least when we know before they murder people,' he said. 'And, listen, I know people will say that wouldn't have stopped this situation. And it probably wouldn't have. Maybe it will the next one. I don't want another family to go through this.' 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. The three other victims declared dead at a press conference on Monday afternoon were Joshua Barrick, 40; James 'Jim' Tutt, 64; and Juliana Farmer, 57. All five were senior executives at the bank. Jim Ryan, CEO of the bank, said on Monday evening: 'There are no words to adequately describe the sadness and devastation that our Old National family is experiencing as we grieve the tragic loss of our team members and pray for the recovery of all those who were injured.' Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer at the bank, was declared dead on Monday evening James 'Jim' Tutt, 64 (left), was a market executive at Old National Bank, while Joshua Barrick, 40 (right) was vice president of commercial real estate Juliana Farmer, 57, a loan analyst at the regional firm, was a mother and grandmother Ryan continued: 'Obviously, this is an incredibly difficult situation, and our entire focus is on making sure that everyone affected has the support and assistance they need. 'On behalf of everyone at Old National, I also want to acknowledge and thank Louisville law enforcement, the medical community and state and local officials for their incredible response to this tragedy. 'And finally, we ask you to please continue to pray for all those affected.' Tutt was a commercial real estate executive for the southern region of Old National Bank. Barrick, who appears to have a wife and two young children, was a senior vice president of commercial real estate at the bank, where he had worked since last August, according to his LinkedIn. Farmer - a mother and grandmother - was a loan analyst at the regional firm. Sturgeon's mother made a frantic phone call to 911, telling the operator that her son 'currently has a gun and is heading toward' the bank where he killed five people. Authorities released the calls on Wednesday. Sturgeon livestreamed the massacre before police fatally shot him. Eight other people were injured, including police officer Nickolas Wilt who was shot in the head and remains hospitalized in critical condition. In the call made by a woman who identified herself as Sturgeon's mother, Lisa, she told the operator: 'Hes never hurt anyone; hes a really good kid. Please dont punish him... He's non violent; he's never done anything wrong.' She told the operator that her son's roommate, Dallas Whalen, had found a note and called her. Connor Sturgeon pictured right with his father, Todd, mother, Lisa, and his younger brother Cameron The Louisville shooter (seen here on his prom night) killed five people and injured at least seven during the bank shooting Bank employee Connor Sturgeon, 25, used an AR-15 assault-style rifle in the attack Monday at Old National Bank, where he killed five coworkers while livestreaming before police fatally shot him Lisa was told by the operator that they had received multiple 911 calls about the shooting. 'So he's already there?' Sturgeon's mother asked, adding: 'I'm sorry, I'm trying to get to my car... I'm shaking.' The operator then advised that she stay away from the scene of the shooting. During the call, Lisa also speculated that her son may have gotten his gun from his girlfriend. 'I don't know where he would have gotten a gun. He must've gotten it from his girlfriend or something.' Later, she said: 'I think maybe his girlfriend may have had a gun. I don't know, maybe he saw them.' Authorities believe Sturgeon bought the gun around a week before the massacre. None of the callers were identified by name and other information was edited out of the calls, but the first message that came in was from a woman who was on a video call inside the bank. She screamed and cried throughout the four-minute call and said there was an active shooter at the downtown branch of the bank. One Australian state is looking to cut smoking and vaping to the lowest level in the country with new laws banning the products near public places including shopping centres, schools, sporting grounds and the beach. The South Australian laws will significantly increase the number of outdoor areas where smoking and vaping are banned, strengthening existing smoke-free laws that include outdoor dining areas, playgrounds and public transport shelters. The state government said the changes will result in the most comprehensive smoke-free laws in Australia. 'Smoking is our biggest preventable killer and cause of disease and we need to do more to stop its devastating effects,' Health Minister Chris Picton said on Thursday. 'We make no apologies for seeking to introduce tougher bans and penalties particularly where children are impacted. One Australian state is looking to cut smoking and vaping to the lowest level in the country. A woman smoking is pictured 'Smoking has a tragic cost on human lives and is also a burden on our health system in delivering care for those affected.' Poll Is South Australia right to crack down on smoking and vaping? Yes, smoking and vaping are terrible habits and the state needs to do all it can to stop them. No, people should be allowed to smoke or vape wherever they want to. I'm not sure. Smoking and vaping are not good for your health, but this seems a bit harsh. Is South Australia right to crack down on smoking and vaping? Yes, smoking and vaping are terrible habits and the state needs to do all it can to stop them. 100 votes No, people should be allowed to smoke or vape wherever they want to. 97 votes I'm not sure. Smoking and vaping are not good for your health, but this seems a bit harsh. 79 votes Now share your opinion As part of the changes, the government will also seek to outlaw cigarette vending machines in licensed venues and double the fines for selling to minors to a maximum $40,000 for businesses and $10,000 for individuals. The proposed bans on outdoor smoking and vaping include areas within 10 metres of childcare centres and schools and within five metres of shopping centres, other public buildings, hospitals and aged care centres. They will also be banned at outdoor sporting events and on beaches, within 50 metres of patrol flags. Mr Picton said the government was particularly concerned at the recent increase in vaping among young people, with the number of those aged 15 to 29 regularly using e-cigarettes rising from 1.1 per cent in 2017 to 7.8 per cent last year. The South Australian laws will significantly increase the number of outdoor areas where smoking and vaping are banned. A woman vaping is pictured 'The significant increase in vaping among young people is a trend that we must stop,' he said. 'As well as introducing tougher restrictions, we must also educate and encourage people to realise the damage they are doing to themselves and others by smoking and vaping.' Drug and Alcohol Services South Australia state director Marina Bowshall said the strategy to cut smoking and vaping would ultimately improve the health and wellbeing of all South Australians. 'A key strength of the strategy is its engagement with community groups, non-government organisations and academic institutions that will ensure a whole-of-system approach in efforts to reduce smoking prevalence in the community,' she said. The man behind the most significant leak of classified documents in a decade is a 20-something video game and gun enthusiast who worked at a secure military site, according to a report, and shared the files in a chat room with a group of around 20 like-minded young people. Two members of the chat room, known as 'Thug Shaker Central', described to The Washington Post the person who had shared the documents. 'He's fit. He's strong. He's armed. He's trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie,' one of the members said. He described him as 'a young, charismatic man who loves nature, God, shooting guns and racing cars.' Amid an intense search for the source of the leaks, The Washington Post reported they had seen video and photos of the man, as well as recordings of his interactions with members of the group. In a video seen by The Post, the man is seen at a shooting range with a large rifle, wearing safety glasses and ear coverings. The man looks into the camera and yells racial and antisemitic insults, then fires multiple rounds at a target. One of the leaked documents, which have been posted online - sparking a FBI hunt for the leaker, and a Pentagon investigation This document appears to show the state of Ukraine's air defenses in February and in May, when it is anticipated they'll be badly depleted 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 Images circulating online reveal clues that point to the leaker's identity. This picture shows an English-language instruction manual for a hunting scope in the background The leaks - which began six to eight months ago and stopped in mid March, and were first reported by The New York Times on April 6 - have sparked a manhunt across multiple U.S. agencies. What is the encrypted app Discord? Discord is a messaging service which is invite-only and encrypted - meaning data is concealed by being converted into code. The platform can only be accessed with a log-in and password with chat groups known as 'servers' - of which many remain small and exclusive. Any Discord user is able to start a server for free and invite their friends. There are also larger, more open communities, which usually focus on specific topics such as popular games like Minecraft and Fortnite. The app estimates it is being used worldwide by tens of millions aged 13+. Discord says the server is: 'A place where they can be themselves and spend time with other people who share their interests and hobbies'. Advertisement The two chat room members told The Washington Post they expected the leaker to be caught, but denied he was an Edward Snowden-type whistleblower. Instead, they said, he was sharing the documents with his group of friends, believing they may find them interesting, and 'wanting us to be super soldiers'. 'If you had classified documents, you'd want to flex at least a little bit, like hey, I'm the big guy,' the member said. 'There is a little bit of showing off to friends, but as well as wanting to keep us informed.' The documents included analyses of Ukraine's military campaign; revelations that the U.S. spied on the leaders of Ukraine and South Korea, among others; and insight from within Russia's military intelligence agency. Other documents showed U.S. concern about Egypt potentially supplying Russia with weapons, and detailed U.S. efforts to spy on Iran's secret weapons programs. They also discussed nuclear weapons. 'If your tax dollars are funding these atrocities, then we should be able to know about it,' the member said. The two members of 'Thug Shaker Central' referred to the leaker as 'OG' - slang for Original Gangster. Both said they know his real name, and in which state he lives and works, but refused to say. They said he was older than them, aged in his early to mid 20s. One of the two was under 18, and spoke to The Washington Post with his mother's permission. His version of events was corroborated by the second chat room member. He spoke to The Washington Post for a series of video interviews, with his face obscured but his real voice used. 'I want to keep OG's identity secret because I still care for him, like a family member,' the teenager said. The documents - while up to several months old - offer detailed insights into which Russian intelligence agencies have been most compromised, and clues as to how the United States has gleaned so much secret Kremlin information The intelligence breach could have a drastic impact upon the landscape of the conflict in Ukraine. Biden seen pictured meeting Ukrainian President Zelensky in February 2023 Thug Shaker Central formed in 2020, with OG acting as an unofficial leader. A channel within the group was named 'Bear v Pig' - a reference to the Russian war on Ukraine - and it was in this channel that OG shared the documents. READ MORE: Leaked Pentagon documents show spies are deeply ingrained in Russian intelligence services and Putin's army is ravaged after a year of fighting Advertisement 'He is not a Russian operative. He is not a Ukrainian operative,' the member said. 'Any claims that he is a Russian agent are categorically false. He is not interested in helping any foreign agencies with their attacks on the US.' 'There is some anti-government sentiment. But that is not uncommon among most right-wingers.' The teenager member told The Washington Post there were around 25 people who were in their group, about half of them located overseas. Members were from Europe, Asia, and South America. There were several Russians and Ukrainians, he said. He saw the group like a family, and said that OG counseled him when he was depressed. 'We all grew very close to each other, like a tight-knit family,' the member said. 'We depended on each other. 'There was no lack of love for each other.' The teenager said they all looked up to OG, who he described as being 'like an uncle' and a father figure. He was impressed by what he saw as OG's ability to predict global events, which he said was down to his access to information which 'only someone with this kind of high clearance' would know. On Wednesday night, The Wall Street Journal reported that the documents were believed to have come from the Central Intelligence Agency's Operations Center and the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff. The documents are usually briefed to senior-level decision makers at the Pentagon. 'I was one of the very few people in the server that was able to understand that these [documents] were legitimate,' the member said. 'It felt like I was on top of Mount Everest. 'I felt like I was above everyone else to some degree and that I knew stuff that they didn't.' Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is seen on April 5. Some of the leaked documents discussed Iran's secret weapons programs OG posted several documents a week, and became annoyed when the others in the channel did not seem to pay attention to them. 'He got upset, and he said on multiple occasions, if you guys aren't going to interact with them, I'm going to stop sending them,' the member said. OG had originally spent many hours, he said, transcribing the documents: when the group became disinterested, OG switched 'in anger' to uploading photos of the documents instead. 'He was a very smart man - there is no way, in any world, that he would not know that these were illegal.' The change in tactics was risky: the photos provide clues to those trying to track the leaker down, such as household items, paper used, and backgrounds. OG was critical of what he saw as 'government overreach', and 'was critical of Waco and Ruby Ridge'. Waco was the scene of a 1993 law enforcement stand-off with members of a cult; Ruby Ridge was an 11-day siege of preppers, in Idaho, in 1992. He also spread conspiracy theories - arguing that the federal government knew in advance that a white supremacist was planning to murder black people at a supermarket in Buffalo, New York, but deliberately let the attack happen, so they could ask for more funding. The member said that, for several months, the documents were safe. 'Most people in the server were smart enough as to kind of realize that they shouldn't be posted anywhere else,' the member said. Yet on February 28, another member of the group shared the files in a chat room hosted by YouTuber 'wow_mao'. They then began spreading across the internet. On April 6 - hours before The New York Times published their first report about the leak - OG came into the chat room 'frantic, which is unusual for him,' the member said. 'He said something had happened, and he prayed to God that this event would not happen. But now it's in God's hands.' The Chinese army is pictured on parade on Thursday. The leaked documents also detailed U.S. assessments of China The chat room member said he remains in contact with OG until two days before he spoke to The Washington Post. Thug Shaker Central was closed, but OG opened another room to communicate with the 25. He 'seemed very confused and lost as to what to do,' the member said. 'He's fully aware of what's happening and what the consequences may be. He's just not sure on how to go about solving this situation. He seems pretty distraught about it.' OG sent a final message to the group, telling them to 'keep low and delete any information that could possibly relate to him.' The group, realizing that OG had to disappear, 'full-on sobbed and cried,' the young member said. 'It is like losing a family member.' The teenager said he thought OG could be assassinated, or sent to Guantanamo Bay. 'Maybe we should have had better opsec,' he said - referencing 'operations security.' The teenager added: 'I think I might be detained eventually. I think there might be a short investigation on how I knew this guy and they'll try to get something out of me. They might try to threaten me with prison time if I don't reveal their identity.' The FBI is hunting for the source, and the Pentagon has opened an investigation. '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 Sabrina Singh, Pentagon deputy press secretary. Discord said in a statement that it is cooperating with law enforcement and has declined to comment further. Eagle-eyed Aussies have spotted a major problem with a home allegedly belonging to 'sovereign citizens' - leading many to question their 'anti-government' beliefs. The photo of the one-storey home in Perth was posted online on Wednesday, showing two cars with illegal fake number plates associated with the sovereign citizen's movement parked in the driveway. 'Private sovereign citizens who reject the illegal government (except on Wednesdays when the illegal government collects the bins),' they wrote. Aussie were quick to poke fun at their reliance on binmen despite many sovereign citizens being wary of entering into 'contracts' with the government. Many sovereign citizens refuse to pay council rates, do not register their vehicles and drive without licences., So-called sovereign citizens can also believe they do not fall under the government's jurisdiction and that the law does not apply to them. A seemingly ordinary photo of a one-storey brick home (pictured) was posted to a Reddit thread by a curious neighbour on Wednesday Both cars appeared to have illegal fake number plates affiliated with the sovereign citizen movement 'Bet they would call the police if someone broke into the house too,' one said. 'I've often wondered if I could invade their house and claim it as my territory,' another replied. One asked what would happen if the residents stopped paying council rates. 'They usually stop paying until they encounter actual consequences,' another replied. 'For example, they stop paying rates. Eventually the local council will cancel their bin service, if that doesn't work then debt collectors will show up, then they start paying their rates. 'Income tax is similar, stop paying, ATO penalises the f*** out of them, they start paying.' Another Aussie gave some advice for dealing with sovereign citizens. 'Cut off their water, sewerage, electricity, telecommunications, and garbage collection, stop delivering mail - delete their address,' they said. 'Make them pay full fees when needing medical treatment, limit them to private practices only. 'Make them get a visa to leave their property to enter Australia, and a working visa to be able to work in Australia.' SovCits' as they are also known, multiplied in dark corners of the internet during lockdown, opposing vaccines, lockdowns and mask mandates. The idea is based on the belief that in the same way a country is a sovereign nation ungoverned by other nations' laws, SovCits are themselves a sovereign, unconstrained by the laws of the government. A major hospitality operator is offering an enticing perk of cheap housing to anyone willing to work for them as the nationwide rental shortage hits crisis point. The vacancy rate for rental properties in Perth recently hit an all-time low of 0.7 per cent. But W1 Hospitality has come up with a creative solution by offering discount accommodation for those struggling to find affordable housing. The Perth-based company said it was willing to offer accommodation to anyone willing to work at its Fremantle venues, including Emily Taylor, Sailing for Oranges and Wanders Hotel. For as little as $150 per week, staff can rent their own room at the nearby Hougoumont Hotel, which is also part of W1 Hospitality. W1 Hospitality is offering cheap accommodation for staff willing to work at one of their Fremantle venues, including Sailing for Oranges (pictured) All bills, linen and cleaning is included and guests aren't restricted to a specified timed lease agreement, which makes it ideal for travellers. W1 Hospitality director Tim Buckton has been inundated with at least 30 inquiries. 'This is ideal for people who may be travelling or people who wish to live in Freo for a summer period or while they study,' he told The West Australian. 'They also secure guaranteed work with us in one of our three businesses, as well as comfortable accommodation below current market rates. 'We wish to secure the services of the best possible staff who are travelling or looking for a base in Fremantle with the flexibility to come and go as they please.' The catch is that interested applicants must be willing to work at least several days a week for Emily Taylor, Sailing for Oranges or Wanders Hotel. They must also find alternative housing if they leave the job. The rooms at the Hougoumont Hotel will be as little as $150 per week for hospitality staff The accommodation deal is also available for staff at Fremantle bar Emily Taylor (pictured) The staff accommodation offer is only available until stage two of the hotel redevelopment begins in a few years' time. Mr Buckton encouraged other hospitality operators to follow their lead by offering live-and-work deals. A search of Fremantle accommodation reveals show that a week sharing a room or dormitory at a backpackers hostel would be at least double the $150 on offer. The median rent for a house in Fremantle has risen by 4.6 per cent to $660 per week in the last 12 months while unit rents have soared by 11.1 per cent to a median of $500. Pentagon leaks embarrass U.S. in front of allies Xinhua) 14:00, April 13, 2023 This photo taken on March 29, 2023 shows the White House in Washington, D.C., the United States. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) The U.S. is attempting to mend fences with its key allies such as South Korea, Ukraine and Israel after the baffling leak of classified U.S. intelligence documents on social media. Diplomats from some of the allied countries of the U.S. said that it was frustrating 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. Why it matters: Last month, a group of photos of classified U.S. Defence Department documents was posted on the social media platform Discord. These photos detailing how the U.S. spies on friends and foes as well as intelligence on the war in Ukraine went viral on the internet, provoking trust issues among the U.S. alliance. Embarrassing allies: Ukraine: If proven authentic, the leaks would suggest that the U.S. had been monitoring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's calls with defense and military officials by using signals intelligence. The leaked documents offer a pessimistic U.S. viewpoint about the state of the war in Ukraine, highlighting weaknesses in Ukraine's weaponry and air defenses and predicting a stalemate in the war for months to come. Several of the classified documents warn that Ukraine's medium-range air defenses to protect front-line troops will be "completely reduced by May 23," suggesting Russia could soon have aerial superiority and Ukraine could lose the ability to amass ground forces in a counteroffensive. Russia: The Pentagon leaks reveal the stunning extent to which the U.S. has penetrated the Russian military forces and the Wagner Group, a mercenary organization. The documents also reference details about the internal planning of Russia's military intelligence agency. Israel: The document of particular concern in Israel said that Israel's Mossad spy service opposed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's proposed overhaul of the judiciary. Egypt: One of the leaked documents reveals that the president of Egypt ordered subordinates to secretly prepare to ship up to 40,000 rockets to Russia, while a spokesman for the Egyptian foreign ministry said Egypt was maintaining "non-involvement in this crisis and committing to maintain equal distance with both sides". South Korea: Another document appears to provide details of alleged internal discussions among top aides to South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol that suggest that the U.S. applied pressure on Seoul to help supply the U.S. with artillery shells, which could then be sent to Ukraine. How U.S. friends and foes have reacted: Foreign governments have expressed anger or irritation over the leaks. "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," Leader of the main opposition Democratic Party, Lee Jae-myung said. If it was true, he added, Washington should also apologize to the South Korean people. "The widely reported leak of alleged classified U.S. information has demonstrated a serious level of inaccuracy," said UK's Ministry of Defence on Twitter. What they said: "It's embarrassing," a U.S. senior defense official said, adding that there have been stern notes from the Defense Department's White House Liaison Office to be more careful about social media and keeping track of classified material. "It is 'a wake-up' call", many Twitter users commented as such over the Pentagon leaks, "U.S. intelligence leaks on Russia's war against Ukraine is a wake-up call". "The manner of the leak and the contents are very unusual," said a former U.S. intelligence analyst who focused on Russia, "I can't 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." (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A high-profile senator has revealed she has discussed becoming the Coalition's Indigenous Australians spokesperson with Peter Dutton after longtime Voice supporter Julian Leeser announced his resignation from the role. Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said she had 'discussions' with the opposition leader about the role in the wake of Mr Leeser's decision to step down on Tuesday. 'It's been mentioned and that's as far as I'll go,' she told Sky News. Country Liberal Party Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price said she had 'discussions' with the opposition leader about becoming the Coalition's Indigenous Australians spokesperson 'It's certainly come up in discussion. I'm grateful that there's an incredible amount of support around the country in terms of the role.' Ms Price added she had been 'grateful' to have Mr Dutton in Alice Springs, and said she didn't want a new role to 'distract from her work on the ground'. The opposition leader visited the central Australian town this week after renewed reports of violence and lawlessness. The Senator is known for her strong opinions in opposition to Labor government positions on Indigenous issues in the Northern Territory, particularly the rising crime rates in Alice Springs. The Coalition are looking for a new Indigenous affairs spokesman after Mr Leeser quit the frontbench after Mr Dutton last week announced the Liberal Party will campaign against Labor Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's proposed Indigenous Voice to Parliament. The announcement followed a similar one by its junior Coalition partner, the Nationals. Ms Price added she had been 'grateful' to have Mr Dutton (pictured) in Alice Springs, and said she didn't want a new role to 'distract' from her work on the ground Kerrynne Liddle a Senator from South Australia has also been touted for the role. 'She's very passionate, she is very keen to make sure the no (vote) is supported going forward. I've got a lot of time for her,' Ms Price said. Mr Leeser's 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 a similar reason. 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. The Coalition are looking for a new Indigenous affairs spokesman after Julian Leeser (pictured) quit over the Liberal Party's plan to campaign against the Voice earlier this week 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 Leeser said that as a backbencher, he would be free to campaign for the Voice, with a referendum likely to be held later this year. Opposition leader Peter Dutton tore into an ABC reporter during a press conference in Alice Springs, ridiculing the journalist by saying 'that is such an ABC question'. The journalist asked Mr Dutton about his call for a royal commission to look into rates of child sexual abuse in central Australia following criticism from SNAICC, a national non-government peak body for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. 'They have labelled it an uninformed approach. Why do you think those peak bodies are rejecting those calls by you and what evidence do you have that there is this so-called rampant child sexual abuse?' the ABC reporter asked. 'With respect, that's such an ABC question,' a bemused Mr Dutton replied, later adding that the reporter wasn't doing his job properly. 'Do you live locally, do you speak to people on the streets, do you hear what it is they're saying to you? '(Police and social workers) have kids taking them back into homes where they've been sexually assaulted and six-year-olds grabbing onto their legs begging not to be left there. 'They're the people who are on the front line,' Mr Dutton said. He said he did not know what academics or bureaucrats are saying on the issue, but 'I can tell you though what the human experience is on the frontline. 'And if the ABC don't see fit to report that then frankly I think it reflects more on the ABC than it does on the locals here.' The Liberal party leader was not yet finished, though, telling the reporter that 'I don't think you're doing your job if you're denying the reality of the circumstances on the ground.' A clearly aggravated Peter Dutton (pictured) accused an ABC reporter of not doing his job properly Peter Dutton got into a heated argument with an ABC reporter in Alice Springs on Thursday, saying 'that is such an ABC question'. The ABC headquarters in Sydney is pictured The journalist then tried to ask the same question in a slightly different way. 'I'm not denying the reality. I'm asking you what data you're using to support your claims here,' he said. But Mr Dutton had had enough, saying 'I've answered that question so if there's a more sensible one I'd be happy to take it.' Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price, who was standing beside Mr Dutton, then unleashed on SNAICC, saying it does not have its priorities right. 'I think questions need to be put back on organisations like SNAICC who are tasked to uphold the human rights of Indigenous children but instead run an ideological line.' She said 'it's more important (to SNAICC) that these children are supposed to be connected to (their Indigenous) culture than to actually have their human rights upheld'. Northern Territory senator Jacinta Price (pictured), unleashed on the Secretariat of National Aboriginal and Islander Child Care, saying it doesn't have its priorities right Ms Price is tipped to become the Shadow Minister for Indigenous Australians following the resignation of Julian Leeser over the Liberals' opposition to a Voice to Parliament. On Wednesday, Mr Dutton focussed on the crime wave in Alice Springs when he met business owner Darren Clark who has been pleading for more federal government help in the town. Mr Dutton called for the Australian Federal Police to be sent in to work the local police in tackling crime, saying 'There needs to be a greater presence on the ground.' He previously called for the AFP to be used in Alice Springs three months ago. A bitter war of words has erupted between a young family living in a mould-infested flat and the property agent managing it. Joe and Amber Powell and their two young children moved into a two-bedroom unit in Footscray, Melbourne, last year. A 'weird dripping noise' in their bathroom turned into a full-blown mould infestation which started 'eating away at the dry wall'. 'There is mould on the skirting boards, walls, in the kitchen and on the ceiling ... it's on every other part of our apartment, every window in the bathroom and the kids' window, everywhere,' Mr Powell told 9news yesterday. Joe and Amber Powell are now engaged in a public war of words with their property manager Mould has 'eaten away at the dry walls' of their two-bed unit in Footscray, Melbourne The frustrated couple were locked in a tense back-and-forth with their property manager who said it had sent out numerous tradies to try to get the problem sorted in May last year. But Ben Lindblom, managing director of Linage Property Management who looks after the unit, admitted there was then a 'human error' which meant that work on their unit was mistakenly marked as complete. 'We got a plumber out immediately to rectify the leak, we got mould cleaners out there to clean up the mould, and they [the couple] were reimbursed for damage to their clothes from the mould,' he told Yahoo News Australia. 'We made a mistake,' Mr Lindblom said. 'We accidentally marked this job as complete in our software system in June before the holes were fixed, which was completely our fault and we take full responsibility for that.' Despite the oversight, the property manager did not hear anything from the family, apart from water leaks which were repaired - until he contacted them with a lease renewal and rent hike in early March. The family claim they must regularly clean mould from the windows (pictured) The couple claim they signed for another year because they were afraid the rent would rise again if they did not. Now Mr Lindblom has hit back at the couple, claiming they 'keep pushing back' tradies who are sent to fix the issue. 'We made a mistake, we own the mistake, that's on us, but since it was brought to our attention we've been working as fast as we can to get this fixed,' he added. Mr Lindblom described the public spat as 'frustrating' and said he had withdrawn a planned rent increase and offered the family free accommodation at an Airbnb while the mould is eradicated. Mould can cause health problems, especially for asthma sufferers. Children and teenagers say they are 'too scared to go shopping' after witnessing a graphic police training session at a popular Westfield shopping centre. Victoria Police conducted critical incident response training on level three at Westfield Southland on Wednesday night, which included the use of 'loud weapons'. While police advised Westfield to put up signs so customers would know it's a training exercise and no live ammunition was used, many upset parents have complained their children were left 'terrified'. Videos posted on social media show people running down escalators as shots are fired in the background. Another photo shows a police officer pointing a gun in front of a Bed Bath N Table store. Speaking to the Herald Sun, Tash Lee said her daughter, 19, is now too scared to shop at Southland Westfield. 'I understand they have to train but when the general public is around, they need to be warned or better yet, wait until everyone has gone,' she said. 'We now have teens afraid to go hang out at the centre. It's what they do during the holidays and now they are terrified.' Children and teenagers say they are 'too scared to go shopping' after witnessing a graphic police critical incident training session at a popular Melbourne shopping centre She added that Ms Lee said her friends have banned their children from visiting the centre. Other local parents took to social media to complain about the session branding it 'chaos' and 'absolute stupidity'. 'I'm not sure how Victoria Police or Southland management think that it's OK to run this with anyone in the centre,' one person wrote. 'It's caused a great amount of distress and panic in the teens who have seen the footage, fake or not.' Centre management informed retailers about the drill in a memo ahead of time. While police advised Westfield to put up signs so customers would know it's a training exercise, many upset parents have complained their children were left 'terrified' 'We advise that this area will be restricted and unable to be accessed by staff, contractors and the public during this time,' it read. 'Training scenarios will include the use of weapons which can be loud, please note no live ammunition will be used at any stage. 'If you anticipate any of your team members still being inside the centre during this time, we ask that you please make them aware of the training. 'In the event your store is trading during this period in another area of the centre, signage will be clearly displayed to alert customers, retailers and contractors that training is occurring. 'If customers come to you with concerns or queries, please advise them that this is a training exercise.' A Victoria Police spokeswoman said 'extensive measures' were taken to notify retailers 'well in advance'. 'This notification included the date and hours of the exercise, the level where it was occurring and advised there may be loud noises,' she said. 'Signs were also erected in the centre as a further precaution advising any members of the public present that a training exercise was taking place. 'Specialist police conduct a variety of training in a range of environments to best re-create real-life scenarios.' Comes as inquest into Tanya Day was found as preventable Public drunkenness in Victoria soon to be legal The criminal offence of public drunkenness will be abolished in Victoria from Melbourne Cup day but the decision Victorian tender documents show the criminal justice response to public intoxication will be replaced with a health-based approach from November 7. The date coincides with the annual Melbourne Cup public holiday. The Victorian government committed to decriminalising public drunkenness at the start of a 2019 coronial inquest into the death of Yorta Yorta woman Tanya Day. Ms Day was arrested for being drunk in a public place in December 2017 and later died after she hit her head on a wall in a concrete cell at Castlemaine Police Station. Victoria will move to decriminalise public intoxication from November, as an inquest into Tanya Day death found what happened was preventable (pictured: Melbourne cup punters) Her death was preventable, a coroner found. The government has also committed to providing a dedicated Aboriginal service response to public drunkenness in metropolitan Melbourne and 10 regional and outer-suburban locations. A general service response will also operate in the city, while centralised services will provide a coordinated approach across the state. But Police Association of Victoria secretary Wayne Gatt said there were still gaps in the government's approach. 'Thats just plain stupid, and thats just going to be a recipe for disaster,' Mr Gatt said. 'It may not be on the first day, but at some point somewhere, someone will be injured and hurt as a result, and well sadly have to say we told you so.' Mr Gatt warned police needed some level of power to deal with drunkenness. 'What are we going to do, what are our powers we're going to use once it's no longer an offence?' he told Melbourne radio station 3AW on Thursday. 'You should have residual powers for police so they can actually do something, because those sorts of people are very unlikely to just go home willingly when a person from an outreach team turns up. 'They're going to be met with the very same response police have been met with for decades.' A Victorian government spokeswoman said authorities were working with emergency services on how to help intoxicated people following decriminalisation. Victorian tender documents show the criminal justice response to public intoxication will be replaced with a health-based approach from November 7. The date coincides with the annual Melbourne Cup public holiday (pictured: a weary Melbourne Cup reveller) 'We are implementing a health-based model to ensure those who are intoxicated in public can access the care and support they need,' she said. The government has opened the tender process for services, with applications to close on May 9. The volume of intake, referral and dispatch calls per month could be as high as 1000, although services have been told actual demand will depend on policing protocols and community uptake. Successful services will be contracted to provide the health-based response through to June 30, 2026. U.S. officials in North Carolina will not federally prosecute the person suspected of killing a Charlotte-area woman vacationing in Mexico last year, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday. Federal prosecutors say they have presented the findings of their investigation to the family of Shanquella Robinson, who was seen being beaten in a viral video last fall at a resort development in San Jose del Cabo. As the video circulated on social media, it raised suspicions that Robinson may have been killed by her travel companions. Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release Wednesday that the available evidence and autopsy results do not support a federal prosecution. Investigators could not prove 'beyond a reasonable doubt' that a federal crime was committed, the release said. Shanquella Robinson, 25, was killed during a trip to Mexico with friends in late October 2022 An autopsy was conducted in North Carolina by the Mecklenburg County medical examiner's office. Local prosecutors in the state of Baja California Sur filed charges late last year against the U.S. woman - whom they would not name - suspected of killing Robinson on Oct 29. They issued an arrest warrant for the suspect, who had already left Mexico with other travel companions after Robinson was found dead in a rented villa. Mexican federal prosecutors are trying to get her extradited to face charges in Mexico. Sue-Ann Robinson, the family's attorney, said at a news conference Wednesday in Charlotte that the U.S. autopsy results, which have not been released publicly, revealed inconsistencies with a previous autopsy conducted in Mexico, which had labeled the cause of death a severe spinal cord or neck injury. She criticized federal officials for the speed at which they conducted their investigation, saying people on social media should not have had to 'create the movement behind the case.' 'United States citizens cannot go to Mexico, commit a crime that we all saw on video and then come back to America and say, 'We're on base. We're safe. We're not going to be charged with a crime,'' she said. 'That cannot be the message that U.S. authorities want to send.' Federal officials say they will review and examine any new information that becomes available. Last month, Robinson's family attorneys called on U.S. president Joe Biden to have the alleged murderer, who has now been named by the family, extradited to Mexico. Mexican authorities currently have an arrest warrant out for Daejhanae Jackson, 26, in relation to the October 2022 death of Robinson. Salamondra Robinson (right) and another family member of Robinson remain distraught and are searching for answers about the young woman's death Shanquella was caught on video laughing with her travel companions the day prior to her untimely passing In a letter addressed to Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, attorneys for the Robinson family requested immediate diplomatic intervention on the transnational case. Jackson was identified as the woman seen in a video brutally attacking Robinson inside the villa that a group of friends had rented in Cabo for one of their birthdays. Though the family and the letter identified Jackson as the primary suspect in their daughter's death, the suspect's identity has not yet been made public by police. 'An autopsy report prepared on October 30th, 2022 in Mexico by Medical Examiner Dr. Rene Adalberto Galvaan Osegura noted that Shanquella's body had a head injury 3 and concluded that Shanquella's cause of death was a broken neck,' said the letter. 'The President or the Secretary of State must step in and ask: for the extradition of the suspect or suspects or concurrent jurisdiction and file charges in the United States,' said attorneys Benjamin Clump and Sue-Ann Robinson - who is not related to the victim. The letter explained that Jackson and two other people on the trip took Robinson's luggage back to her home in Charlotte, North Carolina and delivered their condolences to Robinson's mother, telling her that her child had died of alcohol poisoning. Robinson's attack in Mexico was filmed while she was naked in a bedroom. The 25-year-old attempts to get away from her attacker and replies 'no' - before the woman slams her to the floor next to the bed. The woman then punches and knees her in the head before yelling at Robinson: 'Get up, I'm tired of the s***.' A representative for Villa Linda 32, the property where the group was staying, told WJZY that the concierge contacted a doctor who attempted to revive Robinson. She was declared dead at 3pm local time, reportedly about 15 minutes after she was beaten. After the video became public in November, a femicide investigation was launched in Mexico. Attorneys for the Robinsons are now asking the Biden administration to step in and assist with it. The 18-page letter received by the Biden administration said that Jackson had been the primary point of contact for the group's seven travel companions. Robinson, according to the letter, 'did not seem to fit in with the others' and seemed 'out of place' the day before a call was placed to her mother that she had suffered alcohol poisoning in the room. The letter also includes, according to a Fox News report, that a hotel staff witness identified Jackson as the aggressor in the video. The witness added that Jackson 'manipulated me' with information she provided at the scene of the crime in order to 'leave the country as soon as possible.' Robinson's mother was initially told that her daughter died of alcohol poisoning A video posted online shows Robinson being brutally beaten by an individual who was later identified as Daejhanae Jackson Ben Crump and attorney Sue-Ann Robinson of Frontline Law hold a news conference to demand diplomatic intervention to prioritize justice for Robinson's death. Robinson was killed in October while vacationing in Mexico Attorney Sue-Ann Robinson during the presser. According to Mexican prosecutors, one of Robinson's friends was the direct aggressor of her death. Initially, friends of Robinson claimed that her cause of death was alcohol poisoning, but an autopsy revealed that it was 'severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation' Robinson was declared dead after two sets of medical professionals responded to the scene over the course of several hours. One staff member said that Jackson gave him an 'indifferent' hug when he offered his condolences and claimed he later heard 'laughing' from the room after he walked out in order to give the group space. The next day, the group departed the hotel and Jackson did not respond to a text message from a staffer asking where she was until October 31, when she informed the staffer that the group had gone home, according to the witness statement. 'If a United State citizen commits homicide in Mexico and returns back to the United States, as you are aware they can face criminal charges in the United States under federal law or state law, depending on the circumstances of the crime,' read the letter. 'Federal charges are brought in cases where the crime involves interstate commerce or federal law enforcement agencies. 'We know in a transnational case where evidence was possibly transported and persons of interest communicated with each other via cellphone federal charges could be brought against those responsible for Shanquella's death,' it continued. The letter went on to say that the family has come across 'numerous obstacles' in attempting to get information, including during a subsequent trip to Mexico on which Sue-Ann Robinson said the US consulate suggested that relatives should reach out directly to the individuals Robinson was traveling with for answers. 'Certainly this is an unacceptable response to share with an American family in regards to their daughter's murder,' said Sue-Ann Robinson. Fox reported that the State Department said it has 'no higher priority than the safety and security of U.S. citizens overseas but does not comment on American citizens' private correspondence as a general matter of privacy.' 'The Department does not provide confirmation of, or commentary on, investigations due to privacy and law enforcement considerations. Also, as a matter of long-standing practice, the Department also does not comment on extradition matters.' Britain is bracing for hail, rain and thunder today after 96mph winds brought by Storm Noa ripped across the country. While the storm has subsided today, temperatures may climb to double figures but will still be below average for the time of year, forecasters say. Highs of 10C are expected in London and the south, but it will remain blustery along the coast. Parts of the north may be hit with some hail and thunder, while the Met Office predicts the south will face more isolated showers. Winds will also be lighter today, in contrast to gales that left hundreds without power yesterday. Storm Noa, the third of the current season and named by French Meteorologists, whipped across the southern half of England and South Wales. Around 300 properties in Cornwall were left without power, while fallen trees blocked roads and rail lines. A woman seriously injured by flying scaffolding in Hampshire, and last night, a major search operation was launched after reports of a teenage boy being swept into the sea. Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter scoured the Sussex coast following the incident at the height of Storm Noa late yesterday afternoon. BRIGHTON: Lifeboats and a coastguard helicopter scoured the Sussex coast yesterday amid reports a teenage boy had been swept into the sea The UK will see temperatures in double figures and severely reduced winds during the day, although it will remain blustery at the coast and during rain spells Further squally showers and longer spells of rain are expected in most areas of England and Wales through today and Friday. READ MORE: Rush hour chaos as commuters are warned to avoid London Waterloo station this morning Advertisement After more rain in southern and south-western areas on Saturday, however, the Meteorological Office said a pleasant change is on the way. Sunday is due to be 'rather cloudy' with some rain and drizzle still possible in the west. But Stephen Dixon, Met Office spokesman, said: 'Things are due to settle down for many areas. 'Temperatures are turning much milder through the weekend. The theme for next week is it'll be mostly dry with temperatures above average and locally well above average in some spots. 'After what's been an unsettled spell, it will finally feel like we are getting into the later part of spring, towards more of a summery regime. 'The temperatures will feel quite pleasant.' Mr Dixon said the warmest temperatures are likely to be in eastern and some northern regions sheltered by high ground, where it could reach the 'high teens and possibly low 20s Celsius'. DUNSDEN: Pretty skies at dawn over the countryside in Dunsden, Oxfordshire today He said there is a chance places such as Manchester could reach 22C (72F) by Monday. The current warmest temperature of the year was 17.8C (64.04F). The Met Office said it is too early to predict whether temperatures could increase further during the week. In its longer term forecast until April 25, the Met Office said: 'A ridge of high pressure is likely to develop, resulting in fine and dry conditions for many, with breaks in the cloud likely, especially to the lee of high ground. 'These settled conditions are expected to continue, with frequent dry weather for most, perhaps with the odd shower. 'However, there is an increasing chance of showers later [in the month], especially in the South West. Temperatures will be generally above average through the period, and locally very warm in the sunshine at times.' For the last part of April and into early May, forecasters say there is a 'greater chance' of settled weather continuing rather than a return to wet and windy conditions. HAMPSHIRE: A woman was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after scaffolding fell on her during Storm Noa yesterday BRIGHTON: Reports flooded in of a person being swept out to sea near the famous Palace Pier at the height of Storm Noa late yesterday afternoon SALTDEAN: Police found a body today on the beach in a town around five miles from where coastguards were at first searching for a person swept out to sea at the height of Storm Noa A search and rescue operation was launched yesterday afternoon after a person was reportedly swept into the sea in Brighton. Coastguards searching for a person swept out to sea at the height of Storm Noa have today found a body. Police and coastguard received calls a person had been swept into the sea from the Doughnut Groyne close to the Brighton Palace Pier at around 3.50pm. In dangerous conditions, all-weather lifeboats from Shoreham and Newhaven were launched to begin a search. READ MORE: Hunt for woman who vanished while walking her dog in Snowdonia Advertisement Two Coastguard helicopters joined the operation, taking off in high winds and battling treacherous weather as they searched the sea around the Albion Groyne and seafront. Members of the public also braved ferocious weather in an attempt to spot the individual. It comes after a woman also died after being spotted in the water off Brighton beach on Tuesday. And a massive search was under way in the bitter weather Snowdonia, North Wales, for a 56-year-old woman who went missing while walking with her dog. Efforts were concentrated in the Conwy Valley area, where a coastguard helicopter, police and Ogwen Valley and RAF mountain rescue teams were out searching for Ausra Plungiene in heavy rain and strong winds. Ms Plungiene was last seen yesterday morning. Superintendent Owain Llewellyn, of North Wales Police said all efforts were being deployed to search for Ausra. He added: 'We are extremely concerned for Ausra's safety.' In Hampshire yesterday, a woman had to be rushed to hospital with serious injuries after scaffolding was blown off a roof and came crashing down on her due to heavy winds brought by Storm Noa. Emergency services rushed to a high street in Fareham after the metal scaffolding was blown down outside a Halifax bank. Shop workers on the high street described hearing a 'loud bang', with dramatic photos showing metal strewn across the street and police confirming the woman had suffered 'serious injuries.' A woman was also being treated by ambulance staff after her car was in collision with a fallen tree on the A377 between Crediton and Copplestone, blocking the road. She had a miracle escape after having come within inches of the tree landing directly on top of her. She was left hospitalised with non-serious injuries. A Devon resident had to be taken to hospital after her car was crushed and trapped by a falling tree yesterday afternoon. He clung to bonnet in death-defying act of bravery But vigilante petrol station owner got in their way Two thieves tried to drive off without paying This is the terrifying moment a brave service station owner clings on to the bonnet of a brazen fuel thief intent on running him over. Clint Weber, who runs the Gowrie One Stop Convenience Centre with his wife Kerry in Toowoomba, Queensland, confronted two young thugs who had filled a stolen grey Volkswagen before attempting to drive off without paying on Wednesday. Security footage from the confrontation shows Mr Weber bravely face down the thieves, while his wife stands behind the car to prevent it from reversing. But the station's CCTV captured the horrifying moment the driver accelerated hard into him as Mr Weber clung to the bonnet in a desperate bid to stop the robbery. He is seen still holding on to the car as it swung round the corner before he jumped off. Incredibly, Mr Weber emerged without any major injuries. 'He's a true Aussie Bloke, that has some sore ribs, cuts and bruises,' the service station's Facebook page posted. Mr Weber told Daily Mail Australia that he was immediately suspicious of the car when it pulled up because he believed it had stolen fuel on Monday. 'I thought, 'here they are, these rotten sods',' he said. 'I ducked out and decided I'd just surveil the situation and see what they were doing.' Mr Weber said the thought that he might die crossed his mind. 'I was looking right into his eyes and there was no intention to stop,' he said. 'Old mate was more set on the idea of getting away and he wasn't necessarily too keen on the fact that I was there. 'He was swerving and braking hard and trying to get me off the car - I didn't know what was going to happen if I did roll off. Then all of a sudden there's a car rushing up beside my right. I realised if I rolled off into the traffic I was just going to get myself squished.' He added: 'It wasn't a fun exercise - I'll give you the news.' Mr Weber said the police had a 'fair idea' of who the criminals were. Clint Weber leapt onto the bonnet of the allegedly stolen grey Volkswagen as its driver accelerated into him Mr Weber (pictured, left) and his wife Kerry (right) both bravely attempted to stop the brazen fuel thieves Darling Downs Police Detective Acting Inspector Jason Kitto said the car was stolen and police were on the hunt for two adult suspects. 'The vehicle was stolen from a private residence (on Russell St in Toowoomba) and we believe those who are responsible for the offence at the service station are also responsible for a number of other offences committed within the Darling Downs,' he told The Courier Mail. Acting Inspector Kitto said the footage of the incident was 'deplorable', while urging residents not to put themselves in danger to try and stop crimes. 'I was quite disturbed, for someone to put someone else in harm by driving off over fuel in a vehicle is quite deplorable,' he said. 'My advice to those people is let the police do their job, do not put yourself in harm's way. 'Property can be replaced, human life cannot be. 'It could've turned bad really fast - (he was) very lucky, with the footage seen he has been collected by the vehicle and dragged for a short time, (but) it could've ended up a lot worse.' Mr Weber was still clinging to the bonnet as the car sped off around the corner Last year, Mr Weber hit out at the level of crime occurring in the area. In an interview with The Gowrie Chronicle, he called for tougher sentences on thieves. 'When they're driving looking for fuel, they don't care where they go, the first servo they come across they're going to flog fuel from,' he said. 'It doesn't really matter what crime they commit, there needs to be a consequence.' Mr Weber said it seemed as though there was a 'revolving door' at the courthouse with young people committing crimes and being released. 'The revolving door policy in the courts that seems to exist at the moment, it doesn't help us as small businesses,' he said. A Russian fighter jet tried to blow a manned RAF reconnaissance plane out of the sky over the Black Sea, but the missile malfunctioned in an incident US defence officials today revealed was far more serious than first thought. The blundering Su-27 pilot mistakenly believed a radar operator on the ground had given him permission to fire on the British jet and take it down on September 29 last year. The Russian jet locked on the RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint surveillance aircraft and let rip - but its deadly missile failed to launch properly and missed. Previously it was believed the missile was launched by accident - not a deliberate act of war. The incident happened when the British plane was flying through international airspace close to the Russian-occupied Crimea peninsula. It was buzzed by a squadron of Moscow's Su-27 fighters and chaos ensued. At the time, British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace acknowledged the incident, telling Parliament that the Russian jets 'recklessly' came within 15ft of the RAF plane and one 'released a missile in the vicinity'. But two US defence officials commenting on top secret intelligence documents leaked online told the New York Times today that the incident was far more serious than believed. The Pentagon sources claimed the Russian pilot completely misinterpreted what a radar operator on the ground was telling him, believing he either had permission or was being ordered to fire on the RAF. A Russian Su-27 jet shadowing an RAF RC-135 spy plane over the Black Sea in September came close to shooting the British aircraft down but its missile malfunctioned The Russian mistakenly believed a radar operator on the ground gave him permission to fire An RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint spy plane had been flying over international waters near Crimea at the time of the incident in September The role of the Rivet Joint aircraft is to hoover up electronic transmissions and communications - the plane is also known as a 'nuke-sniffer' for its ability to detect radioactivity. Earlier this week a UK defence source disputed the version of events, telling MailOnline: 'These reports contain inaccuracies and do not reflect what happened in International air space over the Black Sea,' referring back to Defence Secretary Wallace's comments to Parliament. Had a Russian missile blown Rivet Joint out of the sky over the Black Sea, the UK and its Nato allies may have been compelled to war. READ MORE: Leaked Pentagon documents show spies are deeply ingrained in Russian intelligence services and Putin's army is ravaged after a year of fighting Advertisement According to Article 5 of the founding treaty of Nato, member nations agree that an armed attack against one or more of them 'shall be considered an attack against them all'. If such an attack does occur, each NATO member will assist the country that has been attacked with any action 'it deems necessary'. The RAF regularly flies sorties over the Black Sea's international waters, as well the Baltics and eastern Poland, to gather intelligence. The details emerged in a cache of leaked highly classified documents showing British and United States military activities since the invasion of Ukraine. The source of the deeply embarrassing leak remained a mystery yesterday as US intelligence chiefs launched a criminal investigation to find who was responsible. Though more limited in scale, the release of documentation of such a high classification is the most alarming incident of its kind since the WikiLeaks scandal of 2013 when 700,000 documents, videos and audio files were leaked. Dozens of highly sensitive documents were crudely photographed and shared online. Yesterday, UK defence officials were in dialogue with their US counterparts as the leaks included incidents involving British forces. The documents also cover the conflict in Ukraine, including discussions about death tolls on both sides and remaining ammunition stocks a sensitive issue ahead of much anticipated spring offences by Russian and Ukrainian troops. Though the papers have not been independently verified, most intelligence sources consider them to be genuine although they are said to contain inaccuracies. One of the leaked documents, which have been posted online - sparking a FBI hunt for the leaker and a Pentagon investigation The documents - while up to several months old - offer detailed insights into which Russian intelligence agencies have been most compromised, and clues as to how the United States has gleaned so much secret Kremlin information The intelligence breach could have a drastic impact upon the landscape of the conflict in Ukraine. Pictured: Biden meeting Ukrainian President Zelensky in February 2023 The documents include an account of an incident last year when a UK intelligence gathering aircraft was harassed by a pair of Russian fighter jets over the Black Sea. Revealed: Top secret Pentagon documents claiming 50 British special forces are operating inside Ukraine were leaked on obscure online meme group run by 20-year-old university student who lives in UK YouTuber wow_mao, who was thrust onto the international stage after classified Pentagon papers were leaked on a Discord server he hosts, has said that the 'US government should fear these losers' Advertisement At the time UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told Parliament a malfunction had caused a Russian jet to release a missile in the vicinity of the British Rivet Joint aircraft. The documents paint a darker picture of the incident in September 2022, suggesting the Russian missile nearly hit the RAF plane. The intelligence paper describes a near shoot-down of a UK RJ. Following the leak, UK defence sources insisted Mr Wallaces account was accurate and the safety of the aircraft and crew was not jeopardised. UK policy towards combating China is also discussed in the documents, which are remarkably wide-ranging in their scope of subjects. The Kremlin has declined to admit responsibility for the leak. A spokesman for Vladimir Putin suggested there was a general tendency to blame Russia for everything in such circumstances. UK intelligence expert Hamish de Bretton-Gordon was also keeping an open mind. He said: The loss of these documents is more deeply embarrassing for the Pentagon than anything and should not adversely affect any Ukrainian battle plans. It may cause confusion among Russian military planners who will be wondering if they are real or another clever ruse of war. It may even be a plant by the Russian government to cause discord between the allies and Ukraine. One must keep an open mind. I would not take them at face value. Some of the documents have been online for months although only in recent days has their presence on obscure internet servers garnered attention. The leak is so concerning that the US Defence Department has referred it to the Department of Justice which has opened a criminal investigation. An early assessment has indicated the papers would have been available to thousands of defence and intelligence officials one or more of whom seemingly posted them online. Since the leak first came to light in March, the investigators have been pursuing theories ranging from someone simply sharing the documents to show off the work they were doing, to a mole inside the US intelligence community or military. Daniel Hoffman, a former senior CIA undercover officer, said that given past activities of Moscows intelligence agencies, it was highly likely that Russian operatives posted documents related to Ukraine as part of a Russian disinformation operation. He said such operations meant to sow confusion and discord among Russias adversaries were a classic practice of Russian spy services to leak authentic documents in which they have inserted false information. The aim, he said, was to drive a wedge between Ukraine and the US, Kyivs largest provider of military support. Some national security experts and US officials say they suspect the leaker could be a US citizen. The White House has declined to discuss publicly who might be responsible for the breach. There was rush hour chaos this morning as South Western Railway warned customers not to travel to London Waterloo station after a major sigalling fault. Fourteen of the 24 platforms at the station are currently closed. Many routes were cancelled this morning and trains that are operating have been extremely delayed. Stricken passengers trying to get to work and into the capital were left stranded, and hit out at Network Rail for the chaos. Customers - who have faced massive ticket price hikes in recent months - shared images on social media of packed buses and their struggles to find an alternative route. They also hit out at rail bosses for failing to give proper notice of the issue, which happened overnight. Network Rail, which is responsible for signalling, has crews working to trace the 'major' fault but said even if it were repaired quickly disruptions would continue 'across the network for some time'. One Twitter user compared today's chaos to the 'bad old days of commuting hell'. He shared a photo of a crowded bus and captioned it: 'Waterloo issues so everyone changes to bus & tube' South Western Railway has apologised for the disruption and warned the impact would be widespread and 'last for most of the day'. South Western Railway will operate a significantly reduced service - on a 'very limited number of lines' - to and from London Waterloo until further notice. The operator, in a statement posted to Twitter, said: 'A major signalling problem that developed overnight at London Waterloo means that a significantly reduced service will operate to and from Waterloo this morning. 'We're advising customers not to attempt travel to or from London Waterloo this morning as a result.' Network Rail has confirmed that the signalling equipment suffered a 'major power failure' sometime before 4am today. 'Fewer than half the station platforms are usable by trains,' the firm said, adding: 'We are advising customers not to travel to or from Waterloo this morning. The company acknowledged that 'disruption is severe', but reiterated crews were working to resolve the problem. 'Our team is on site tracing the fault,' Network Rail tweeted. 'But even if it is fixed soon disruption is likely across the network for some time.' In a statement on Twitter, the operator apologised for the disruption and warned the impact would be widespread and 'last for most of the day' Network Rail has confirmed that the signalling equipment suffered a 'major power failure' sometime before 4am today. Fewer than half the platforms at Waterloo are usable by trains Network Rail has confirmed that the signalling equipment suffered a 'major power failure' sometime before 4am today South Western Railway has told customers to avoid using London Waterloo station this morning due to a 'major signalling problem'. Pictured: A commuter walks past a South Western Railway train at Waterloo Station in 2019 Platforms 1 through 14 are out of use at Waterloo Station today. Operating trains are using the remaining 10 platforms but routes are subject to significant delays. Some trains have been cancelled at Wimbledon and passengers were instructed to complete their journeys using the tube of Thameslink trains. Others were rerouted at Clapham Junction. South Western Railway is understood to have made the following alterations to today's routes: 2 services per hour between Reading and London Waterloo 2 services per hour between Windsor & Eton Riverside and London Waterloo 2 services per hour between Weybridge and London Waterloo via Staines 2 services per hour between Shepperton and London Waterloo via Richmond 2 services per hour between Ascot and Aldershot 2 services per hour between Farnham and Guildford1 service per hour between Portsmouth and Southampton 1 service per hour between Salisbury and Romsey via Southampton Central 2 services per hour between Brockenhurst and Lymington Pier 1 train per hour between Exeter St Davids and Wimbledon West of England Shuttles between Basingstoke and Salisbury will run as booked Queenstown Road will not be served 'We're sorry for the disruption this morning. Engineers are working to restore signalling however we expect disruption to last for most of the day.' 'Disruption will affect other services on the wider network so please check before you travel,' the network warned. London Waterloo is the busiest railway station in Britain and sees about 41.4 million passengers travelling through each year. Commuters have taken to Twitter to detail their woes as they struggle to complete their morning travel journeys. One user wrote: 'It's either strikes/weather/signalling problems and last night was sat at Waterloo for an hour because we were waiting for staff to turn up then sat at B,stoke for 20 mins (problem with brakes) AND TODAY THIS. 'What do they spend the extortionate ticket money on?' Another, addressing the travel chaos, joked: 'So, a normal day at Waterloo, then??' Commuters have taken to Twitter to share their woes as they struggle to complete their morning travel journeys 'Looks like a rough morning over at Waterloo. I know SWR & NR colleagues will be doing a sterling job in the circumstances though. I hope its fixed soon,' one person wrote. Another compared today's chaos to the 'bad old days of commuting hell'. He shared a photo of a crowded bus and captioned it: 'Waterloo issues so everyone changes to bus & tube.' 'Total chaos this morning at Waterloo st due to signal failure. Its quite unbelievable how the staff didnt have much of a clue of anything. Shambolic,' one user wrote. 'Wouldve been great for this overnight issue to have been made aware to commuters before boarding my 0540 service into Waterloo' another complained. 'This is a long shot, but is anyone near Waterloo station rn? I'm gonna need a lift to work,' one asked. Mum set to do three years jail A NSW mother who killed her own daughter and another woman when she ran her car over them during a frenzied parking lot brawl has been jailed for at least three years. Linda Britton stood trial in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court last year where she was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter over the deaths of her daughter Skye Luland, 24, and another woman Kazzandra Widders, 20. Ms Luland and Ms Widders both died during a massive brawl in the parking lot of a Nambucca Heads shopping centre on the NSW mid north coast on September 28, 2019. Britton was behind the wheel when she hit and killed both women. The court heard that Ms Luland and Ms Widders were on the ground fighting as part of a massive brawl when she drove the car at them, crushing them to death. Kazzandra Widders (pictured) was killed after Linda Britton hit them with her car at a Nambucca Heads parking lot Linda Britton (pictured) stood trial in Sydney's Downing Centre District Court last year where she was found guilty of two counts of manslaughter over the deaths of her daughter Skye Luland, 24, and another woman Kazzandra Widders, 20 She pleaded not guilty to manslaughter arguing her actions were in defence of her daughter, who she feared was going to be seriously harmed or killed. But she was found guilty by a jury. The court heard that Ms Luland and Ms Widders were involved in a separate altercation earlier in the evening before violence between the two groups erupted in the parking lot. Judge Sarah Huggett described the atmosphere inside the parking lot as 'charged, chaotic and frightening.' Britton later told police that she intended to nudge Ms Widders off Ms Luland with her bumper bar. She said that she was worried for her daughter's life because she saw Ms Widders standing over Ms Luland throwing multiple punches. After the fatal collision, both women had to be freed from under the Daewoo. Despite attempts to revive them, both were declared dead at the scene. Skye Luland (pictured) died after being struck by the vehicle Several members of Ms Widders' family reacted angrily and emotionally after Britton's sentence as read out Judge Huggett said the decision to drive at the two women was 'spur of the moment' made in 'extreme panic' in a 'volatile and frightening atmosphere.' Britton was on Thursday afternoon sentenced to six years in jail, with a non-parole period meaning she could be released from jail as early as January 2026. Several members of Ms Widders' family reacted angrily and emotionally after Britton's sentence as read out. Jeremy Hunt took a veiled swipe at the IMF today after figures showed the British economy flatlined in February. GDP held its level over the month as the impact of public sector strikes wiped out a recovery in the construction sector. However, growth for January was revised up slightly from 0.3 per cent to 0.4 per cent. And over the most recent three months to February UK plc nudged up by 0.1 per cent. After the IMF gave its latest dire predictions about Britain's prospects, Mr Hunt insisted the outlook was 'brighter than expected' and the country is on track to avoid recession. 'The economic outlook is looking brighter than expected - GDP grew in the three months to February and we are set to avoid recession thanks to the steps we have taken through a massive package of cost of living support for families and radical reforms to boost the jobs market and business investment,' he said. GDP held its level over February, with industrial action blamed for a fall in activity in education and government Jeremy Hunt took a veiled swipe at the IMF today after figures showed the British economy flatlined in February ONS Director of Economic Statistics Darren Morgan said: 'The economy saw no growth in February overall. Construction grew strongly after a poor January, with increased repair work taking place. 'There was also a boost from retailing, with many shops having a buoyant month. 'These were offset by the effects of Civil Service and teachers' strike action, which impacted the public sector, and unseasonably mild weather led to falls in the use of electricity and gas.' A technical recession is defined as two consecutive quarters of contraction, something the UK has not suffered since the huge Covid hit. The IMF marginally upgraded its forecast for UK GDP this year and next in its World Economic Output report earlier this week. But despite the improvement, it estimated that Britain will still have the worst growth in the G7 group of advanced nations in 2023 and 2024. Germany is the only European country that will have worse growth this year, and Italy next year, the IMF found. Even Russia was predicted to have stronger growth than Britain - although economists warned that the body had a patchy track record and figures should be taken with a huge pinch of salt. The report showed that overall advanced economies are set to have slower growth than developing economies. UK output is expected to contract by 0.3 per cent this year before rebounding to grow by 1 per cent next year, economists working for the body said. But it is at least better news than a previous IMF forecast, which predicted that the economy would shrink by 0.6 per cent this year. New documents are separate from the 53-pages of alleged US intelligence A new leak of documents has revealed the scale of infighting inside Moscow's government agencies is greater than previously understood. The documents, separate from the leak of highly classified US intelligence widely reported on in recent days, claim that the Russian government is feuding over the numbers of casualties its armies have suffered fighting in Ukraine. The new batch of 27 pages also reveal how Vladimir Putin was forced to hold a peace summit between two of his most high-profile Warlords - and how deeply US spy agencies have penetrated the despot's intelligence network and command. It also suggests that the earlier breach of American intelligence agencies could contain even more material than has already been released to the public. The revelation comes as a report on Wednesday claimed to have identified the person behind the 53-page leak of classified Pentagon documents as a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base. A new leak of documents has revealed the scale of infighting inside Moscow's government agencies is greater than previously understood. Pictured: Russian president Vladimir Putin (right) is seen with his defence minister, Sergei Shoig The documents, separate from the leak of 53-page of alleged highly classified US intelligence widely reported on in recent days, claim that the Russian government is feuding over the numbers of casualties its armies have suffered fighting in Ukraine. Pictured: Ukrainian service members ride in a tank near the besieged city of Bakhmut, April 10 The as-of-yet unnamed person shared classified information to a group on the instant messaging platform Discord of about two dozen men and young boys who shared a 'mutual love of guns, military gear and God,' the Washington Post said. READ MORE: Russia fired a missile at manned British RAF jet over Black Sea and only a malfunction stopped it from being blown out of the sky, leaked documents reveal Advertisement In what appears to be the gravest leak of US secrets in years, pictures of sensitive documents were posed on the platform as well as others including the online messaging board 4Chan, the Telegram global messaging app, and Twitter. A national security investigation has been launched amid concerns over what impact the information revealed could have in Ukraine. Now, according to the New York Times which has seen the new 27 documents, Russia's domestic intelligence agency has accused the Russian armed forces of obscuring the true scale of casualties suffered at the hands of Ukraine's defenders. It said the report appears to be based on electronic intercepts. One document dated Feb. 28 shows that American intelligence officials have said Russia's Federal Security Service, or FSB, has 'accused' Russia's Defense Ministry 'of obfuscating Russian casualties in Ukraine,' the New York Times reports. The officials say that this highlights 'the continuing reluctance of military officials to convey bad news up the chain of command' - appearing to confirm previous reports that many in Moscow are too afraid to give Putin the full picture of his faltering war effort, which began when he ordered the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Officials at the FSB, the document says, argue that the Defence Ministry's toll does not include the dead and wounded among the Russian National Guard, the Wagner Private Military Company, or fighters sent by Chechnyan warlord Ramzan Kadyrov. The New York Times cites the document as saying the FSB calculates Russia's dead and wounded in Ukraine as being 'closer to 110,000' - far higher than Moscow's official figure of 5,937. It does not specify the ministry's own internal estimate. Previous estimates have said Russia's casualty numbers are even higher than the figure attributed to the FSB in the documents. US officials have said Russian losses could be as high as 200,000, while one of last week's leaked documents reports Russians have suffered between 189,500 to 223,000 casualties as of February. Of those, it says, 43,000 were killed in action - compared to 17,500 Ukrainians. Another of the newly leaked documents gives new details on the dispute between Yevgeny Prigozhin - leader of Wagner PMC, and Russia's Defence Ministry. Prigozhin, whose public persona has grown as his forces have become more involved in the war in Ukraine, accused Russian military officials of withholding ammunition from his mercenaries as they fought to seize the city of Bakhmut. One of the documents reports Putin invited Prigozhin and Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu to a meeting in Moscow on February 22 in an attempt to settle the dispute, according to the New York Times. 'The meeting almost certainly concerned, at least in part, Prigozhin's public accusations and resulting tension with Shoygu,' the American publication quotes the document at saying. The New York Times said the new documents were shared in the form of photographs, and showed that some are missing pages. It said they came from the United Sates National Security Agency, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Pentagon's Joint Staff intelligence directorate - and had also been posted to the Discord platform. The publication said that the documents did not appear to contain much information from human sources. This, it said, suggests the original source of the new leak may not have had access to more classified material. But combined with the leak from last week, the documents highlight many of the reasons why Putin's almost 14-month invasion of Ukraine has so far failed to achieve any of its original objectives - or many of its amended ones. One of the newly leaked documents gives new details on the dispute between Yevgeny Prigozhin (right) - leader of Wagner PMC, and Russia's Defence Ministry Ukrainian servicemen drive towards the frontline of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, during heavy fighting, near Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, April 11 Days since the original leaks were first picked up, there have continued to be significant revelations, particularly pertaining to the war in Ukraine and Russia. One such revelation is that the Pentagon had reportedly outlined four 'wild card' scenarios that could be brought about by the war. These included the deaths of Putin and Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky, as well as the 'the removal of leadership within the Russian Armed Forces and a Ukrainian strike on the Kremlin.' It was not clear from the documents what the US would do if Putin were to be killed, thought it shows there is serious concern over a possible Ukrainian strike on the Kremlin itself - which could lead to a full-scale escalation including nuclear war. The leaked documents also contain a rumour that Putin's top general is conspiring to 'throw' his on-going war in Ukraine while Putin is getting chemotherapy. The claim suggests that Russian National Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev and Russian Chief of the General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov are planning to sabotage the war while he is being treated for cancer. Pictures of this part of the documents have been shared online. It says that the plot is 'presumably in an attempt to sabotage Russian President Vladimir Putin'. It says the intelligence came from an 'unidentified Russian source'. Rumours have been circling for years that the Russian despot is suffering from ill health, but nothing has ever been verified. The documents also suggest that the US believes UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres is too willing to accommodate Russian interests. They show that US intelligence has been closely monitoring Guterres, and detail private communication between him and his deputy. Specifically concerning the Black Sea Grain deal brokers by the UN and Turkey in July to allow exports of Ukrainian grain amid fears of a global food crisis, the documents suggest Guterres was willing to accommodate Russia's interests in order to preserve the deal. 'Guterres emphasised his efforts to improve Russia's ability to export,' the document says, 'even if that involves sanctioned Russian entities or individuals.' The new leak of 27 pages come as the manhunt for the person behind the first leak of 53 pages continues. Overnight, it was reported that they were a 20-something video game and gun enthusiast who worked at a secure military site, according to a report, and shared the files in a chat room with a group of around 20 like-minded young people. Two members of the chat room, known as 'Thug Shaker Central', described to The Washington Post the person who had shared the documents. 'He's fit. He's strong. He's armed. He's trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie,' one of the members said. One of the leaked documents, which have been posted online - sparking a FBI hunt for the leaker, and a Pentagon investigation This document appears to show the state of Ukraine's air defenses in February and in May, when it is anticipated they'll be badly depleted 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 Images circulating online reveal clues that point to the leaker's identity. This picture shows an English-language instruction manual for a hunting scope in the background He described him as 'a young, charismatic man who loves nature, God, shooting guns and racing cars.' What is the encrypted app Discord? Discord is a messaging service which is invite-only and encrypted - meaning data is concealed by being converted into code. The platform can only be accessed with a log-in and password with chat groups known as 'servers' - of which many remain small and exclusive. Any Discord user is able to start a server for free and invite their friends. There are also larger, more open communities, which usually focus on specific topics such as popular games like Minecraft and Fortnite. The app estimates it is being used worldwide by tens of millions aged 13+. Discord says the server is: 'A place where they can be themselves and spend time with other people who share their interests and hobbies'. Advertisement Amid an intense search for the source of the leaks, The Washington Post reported they had seen video and photos of the man, as well as recordings of his interactions with members of the group. In a video seen by The Post, the man is seen at a shooting range with a large rifle, wearing safety glasses and ear coverings. The man looks into the camera and yells racial and antisemitic insults, then fires multiple rounds at a target. The leaks - which began six to eight months ago and stopped in mid March, and were first reported by The New York Times on April 6 - have sparked a manhunt across multiple U.S. agencies. The two chat room members told The Washington Post they expected the leaker to be caught, but denied he was an Edward Snowden-type whistleblower. Instead, they said, he was sharing the documents with his group of friends, believing they may find them interesting, and 'wanting us to be super soldiers'. 'If you had classified documents, you'd want to flex at least a little bit, like hey, I'm the big guy,' the member said. 'There is a little bit of showing off to friends, but as well as wanting to keep us informed.' The documents included analyses of Ukraine's military campaign; revelations that the U.S. spied on the leaders of Ukraine and South Korea, among others; and insight from within Russia's military intelligence agency. Other documents showed U.S. concern about Egypt potentially supplying Russia with weapons, and detailed U.S. efforts to spy on Iran's secret weapons programs. They also discussed nuclear weapons. 'If your tax dollars are funding these atrocities, then we should be able to know about it,' the member said. The two members of 'Thug Shaker Central' referred to the leaker as 'OG' - slang for Original Gangster. Both said they know his real name, and in which state he lives and works, but refused to say. An influencer is facing deportation from Bali after becoming the second woman to pose naked with the same 700-year-old sacred tree in less than a year. Local activist and businesswoman Ni Luh Djelantik shared a series of photos showing the woman posing with the Kayu Putih tree located at the back of a temple in Tabanan, about 23km northwest of Denpasar, on Wednesday. 'To all foreigners who disrespect our land, Bali is our home - not yours!,' Ms Djelantik captioned the pictures. 'Do you think you'll look cool taking naked pictures on our holy trees? 'Go back to your country if you can't respect our tradition and culture!' The mystery woman has reportedly been arrested following the photo shoot in the majority Muslim nation. A woman is facing deportation from Bali after posing naked with a sacred 700-year-old tree (above) The scandal comes less than a year after Russian yoga influencer Alina Fazleeva was deported for posting similar photos at the sacred tree. Fazleeva faced massive backlash after sharing photos of her posing on the tree and later posted an apology video where she prayed at the base of the tree, fully clothed, and expressed her 'regret'. She and her husband were deported over the incident with Bali immigration chief Jamaruli Manihuruk saying they had 'endangered public order and were disrespectful to the local norms'. Local news outlet Bali Coconuts said Denpasar Immigration Head Tedy Riyandi confirmed the woman's arrest but no further details have been released. Russian yogi and influencer Alina Fazleeva (above) was deported from Bali last year after she posed naked with the same tree Fazleeva apologised and prayed, fully clothed, under the tree after posting the controversial photos (above) online The controversial photos are only the latest incident in a long string of tourists misbehaving in Bali, a trend authorities are quickly growing tired of. Local government are considering an array of new rules to be enforced on the tropical island - including a tourist-only tax, a ban on motorbikes and a change in who can apply for a visa from inside Indonesia. Between January and March, around 620 foreigners were deported from Indonesia for visa violations including overstaying, misbehaving and being disruptive. Hotel workers have been told to do their best to educate tourists on what is and isn't allowed in Bali while authorities look at installing large billboards around the island to further explain customs. A 24-year-old man has been jailed for ten years for raping a 12-year-old girl in a disabled toilet at King's Cross last year. Paedophile Alvin Tuitt, from Lewisham, stalked his victim - who was travelling from Maryland station in Newham to King's Cross - on October 10 last year. After approaching her at Maryland station, Tuitt leant her a power pack to charge her phone and paid for her onward train ticket. He accompanied her on her journey and upon arrival to Kings Cross, took her to a disabled toilet where he raped her and then attempted to rape her again. She reported it to police later that day and Tuitt was arrested, charged and remanded within 24 hours of the offence taking place. Paedophile Alvin Tuitt, 24, was jailed for ten years for raping the 12-year-old girl The shocking incident happened in a disabled toilet in London's King's Cross station last year He was sentenced at Inner London Crown Court on Tuesday after pleading guilty to rape and attempted rape. The judge sentenced Tuitt to 10 years' imprisonment for rape, with a five-year extended sentence on licence, and eight years to run concurrently for an additional count of attempted rape on the same girl. He is also subjected to a life-long Sexual Harm Prevention Order and notification requirement for life. The judge commended the victim for her bravery in coming forward and reporting this to police. Detective Constable Mark Pink said: 'The victim in this case was 12 years old and was extremely vulnerable. 'She has been extremely brave in telling police what happened and providing testimony to assist the investigation. The effect that this incident has had on her life and that of her family cannot be measured. 'Tuitt is a predator with a previous conviction for a similar offence and he rightfully now faces a long time behind bars.' A pensioner has won an appeal against a 35 bus lane fine because a sign was missing after being smashed in an accident. Bill Ball, 78, received a Penalty Charge Notice (PCN) from Nottingham City Council for driving in a bus lane in the city centre in November. The retired engineer from Nettleham in Lincolnshire travelled eastward down Canal Street after its junction with Albion Street, which is not allowed. However Mr Ball, who later explained he had never driven in the city before, realised by 'complete fluke' that one of the signs that usually indicates the bus lane was not there. After comparing the picture taken on the day with the images on Google street view, he disputed the fine. Pensioner Bill Ball (pictured above) received a 35 fine from Nottingham City Council for driving in a bus lane He said: 'I'd never driven in the city before and I just didn't notice the bus lane. 'The camera that took a photo of me in the bus lane also took a picture of the signs. 'As a stranger, I wasn't to know a sign would normally be in the middle, but I went on Google street view and there were three signs. 'It was a complete fluke that I noticed it. People like me, we hardly ever come across bus lanes at all.' A tribunal found that the signage did not 'adequately inform' Mr Ball about the bus lane, meaning he did not have to pay the 35 fine. The verdict, following a hearing on March 15, said one of the three entry signs to the bus gate was not in place at the time. The city council said the sign had been damaged in a road accident and that it had deemed two signs to be sufficient. However, their own data showed a total of 38 PCNs were issued for an identical offence on November 14, the same day as Mr Ball. Only buses are allowed at the Greyfriargate and Canal Street junction (pictured above) in Nottingham A council spokesperson said the outcome of Mr Ball's appeal would not alter the other cases where people have accepted a fine. The Lincolnshire man said: 'Most people that were also done probably won't know that,' he said, admitting: 'Anyone in their right mind will pay the 35 and get on with their life. 'If you refuse to begin with, it's doubled, and then you have to go through the appeal process. To some people 35 is quite a lot.' A Nottingham City Council spokesperson said: 'At the time this fine was issued, a central bus gate sign had been damaged in a road accident. 'However, two signs remained in place on either side of the road, which we deemed sufficient for ongoing enforcement. The retired engineer, 78 (pictured above) won his appeal after it emerged one of the signs indicating the bus line was missing after an accident knocked it down 'The signs we use are Dft (Department of Transport) approved and, since the new road layout was introduced, we have provided further signage and road markings to make the arrangements, including the bus gate, as clear as possible to motorists. 'We know that the vast majority of motorists are following the signs and road layout without entering the bus gate and incurring fines. 'Appeals are dealt with on their individual merit, so under the rules of the national tribunal, the outcome of this appeal will not alter those cases where people have accepted a fine on Canal Street.' The council also pointed out that there are other advanced warning signs that are on the approach to Canal Street. A family of asylum seekers have gone missing from a Stockport hotel, with police desperately trying to locate them. The mother named Shelan and her two children Anas and Sana vanished over a week ago from the Britannia Hotel in Stockport. Authorities say the last time they were seen at the premises, which is approved to house asylum seekers, was on April 5 at 4.30pm. Police issued passport photos of the trio this morning, who they admit could now have traveled outside of the county. A source told MailOnline: 'They are a family of asylum seekers. The missing mother is Shelan and was last seen at Stockport's Britannia Hotel a week ago Shelan has vanished with her two young children, who are called Anas (left) and Sana (right) 'There is not any criminal element to it, but the authorities just want to find out where they are. 'Realistically they could be anywhere in the UK.' In November last year it was reported an unnamed hotel housing asylum seekers had faced a scabies outbreak and claims were made of 'inhumane treatment'. Stockport Council said people were 'cooped up' for a number of months. The family had all been staying at the Britannia Hotel in Stockport when they vanished At the time Human rights charity Rapar said piles of rubbish were left in corridors and insects were found in food. Serco, which runs the hotel, had said there were 'currently no cases of scabies'. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: 'Can you help police find a missing family from Stockport? 'Shelan and her two children were last seen at the Britannia Hotel, Stockport on April 5 at 4.30pm. 'It is believed the family are travelling across the UK.' The polarizing marketing partnership between beer giant Bud Light and trans influencer Dylan Mulvaney was launched without approval from senior executives of parent company Anheuser-Busch (AB), according to a new report. The partnership unveiled on April 1 drew intense backlash from some quarters, with musician Kid Rock posting a video of himself shooting at cases of Bud Light, and country singers John Rich and Travis Tritt dropping ties with the brand. On the other side of the debate, podcaster Joe Rogan and shock jock Howard Stern have both slammed the furious backlash as overblown, with Rogan saying: 'I think its goofy.' But behind the scenes at AB, 'no one at a senior level' was aware of the partnership that has now dominated headlines for weeks, and the decision to include Mulvaney in the campaign was taken by a 'low-level marketing staffer,' two sources close to the situation told The Daily Wire. That claim comes despite the attention on Bud Light's VP of marketing, Alissa Heinerscheid, for her remarks in an interview days before the Mulvaney partnership, saying she wanted to trade the brand's 'fratty' reputation for 'inclusivity'. But according to an insider cited by the Daily Wire, the partnership was undertaken by 'some low-level marketing staffer who helps manage the hundreds of influencer engagements they do. 'It was a mistake,' the person added. DailyMail.com has contacted AB for comment. Mulvaney's Instagram beer promotion saw the influencer knocking back Bud Light in the tub Bud Light gave the influencer a commemorative can of beer Bud Light's parent company has lost more than $6billion in market capitalization since announcing its partnership with Mulvaney The controversial partnership saw Mulvaney, a biological male who began transitioning in 2021, promote America's bestselling beer to 11 million followers on social media in a series of partnered posts. Mulvaney's posts showed the influencer sitting in a bathtub and swigging from custom cans sporting her face. But the posts, which were never shared by Bud Light or Anheuser-Busch social media profiles, sparked widespread fury with several celebrities swearing off the beer in protest. Amid the backlash, AB's market capitalization has dropped nearly $6billion in the past 10 days, a decline of nearly 5 percent, and the company continues to remain silent save for a short statement confirming the partnership. That statement said the parent company supported Bud Light's decision to work with Mulvaney, who ballooned to internet stardom over the past year. 'Anheuser-Busch works with hundreds of influencers across our brands as one of many ways to authentically connect with audiences across various demographics,' the statement read. 'From time to time, we produce unique commemorative cans for fans and for brand influencers, like Mulvaney. This commemorative can was a gift to celebrate a personal milestone and is not for sale to the general public.' Their doubling down only served to enrage customers more - and likely played some part in Anheuser-Busch's recent market woes. Country singers Travis Tritt (left) and John Rich (right) vowed to cut ties with Anheuser-Busch over the polarizing partnership with Mulvaney In the video posted last week, Kid Rock turned to the camera after shooting a case of Bud Light, raised a middle finger and declared 'F*** Bud Light and f*** Anheuser-Busch!' The disastrous marketing campaign came just days after Bud Light's vice president said she wanted to trade the brand's 'fratty' reputation for 'inclusivity'. Alissa Heinerscheid spoke on a business podcast on March 30 to claim that the Anheuser-Busch beer had been 'in decline for a really long time' - despite it being America's number one brew with a market share of more than 13 per cent. The Harvard graduate declared it essential to attract more female and younger drinkers because otherwise 'there will be no future for Bud Light.' Although Heinerscheid says the Bud Light brand is on the wane, it remains the flagship beer of Anheuser-Busch. The Belgian multinational, the world's largest brewer, saw its profits rise above expectations to more than 7 per cent in the first quarter of 2023. It reported last month its core profit - earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization - was $4.95 billion. Heinerscheid previously worked in AB marketing before moving to take the helm as Bud Light's vice president in July last year. Her LinkedIn profile proudly states that she is the 'first female to lead the largest beer brand in the industry.' She told the Make Yourself at Home podcast that she was convinced Bud Light must incorporate 'inclusivity, it means shifting the tone, it means having a campaign that's truly inclusive, and feels lighter and brighter and different, and appeals to women and to men.' Trans activist Dylan Mulvaney is seen arriving at a studio in Hollywood on Tuesday Alissa Heinerscheid told the Make Yourself at Home podcast on March 30 that she was convinced Bud Light must incorporate 'inclusivity, it means shifting the tone, it means having a campaign that's truly inclusive, and feels lighter and brighter and different, and appeals to women and to men' Alissa Heinerscheid (right), vice president of marketing for Budweiser, was seen in a series of leaked photos from 2005 at a Harvard social club event downing bottles of beer The photos came straight from Heinerscheid's Facebook, under the album 'Isis Senior Reverse Initiation Scavenger Hunt,' before she deleted them Heinerscheid claimed she had a 'super clear' mandate 'to evolve and elevate this incredibly iconic brand.' She criticized Bud Light's former marketing strategy as dated and male-focused. '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,' the Wharton graduate argued. Asked by the host about what she was bringing to the table at Bud Light, Heinerscheid said: 'I had a really clear job to do when I took over Bud Light, and it was ''this brand is in decline, it's been in a decline for a really long time, and if we do not attract young drinkers to come and drink this brand there will be no future for Bud Light''.' Photos posted on Heinerscheid's Facebook account have since circulated showing the Bud Light VP blowing up condoms and chugging bottles of lager at one of many Harvard social club parties. Officers said the crisps were identified through 'niche and thorough police work' Drug dealers have reportedly been selling crisps laced with narcotics to children in the Black Country. Police in Wolverhampton said they were given intelligence suggesting that packets of Cheetos had been spiked. The potentially laced-brand of cheesy crisps are said to have been sold to under-18s. Officers also claim that knives have also been sold to underage children. In relation to the alleged incident, a man was detained on suspicion of selling bladed articles and selling crisps laced with drugs. A man has been arrested after reportedly selling Cheetos laced with narcotics to children in the Black Country Officers also claim that knives have also been sold to underage children at the same shop Last night Heath Town and East Park Police shared news of the arrest on Twitter. Read more: Warning issued as drug dealers disguise edible cannabis as Christmas chocolate favourites Quality Street and Celebrations Advertisement Officers said they made the arrest after conducting 'niche and thorough' work. On Twitter, the team said: 'This afternoon we arrested a male on suspicion of selling knives and snacks laced with drugs to minors. 'Identified through some niche and thorough police work.' Pictures released by police also showed cash and drugs were seized. The laced Cheetos are not the first time that everyday snacks in a local shop have been found to contain drugs. In December, police seized edible cannabis that drug dealers had disguised as Christmas chocolates. The drug-laced sweets were made to look like festive chocolate favourites such as Quality Streets, Celebrations and Aero Minis. But instead, they were called 'Quality Heat', 'Calibrations' and 'Ammo Minis'. Pictures released by police also showed that cash and drugs were seized In December, drug-laced sweets (pictured in their packets) were made to look like festive chocolate favourites such as Quality Streets, Celebrations and Aero Minis In March last year police seized 300,000 worth of edible cannabis disguised as children's favourite sweet brands West Yorkshire Police officers found the drugs after they stopped and searched a vehicle on December 17. In March last year police seized 300,000 worth of edible cannabis that gang members disguised as sweets to target children. The sweets, which look like Dairy Milk and Milky Bar chocolates were laced with drugs and were seized during a bust in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. A huge blaze caused by a suspected methane explosion at a dairy farm in Texas has left 18,000 cattle dead and a worker critically injured. The Animal Welfare Institute is calling it the deadliest barn fire involving cattle since the agency began tracking barn fires in 2013. The animals were valued around $2,000 each - meaning the total cost of the cattle destroyed was $36 million. The explosion at the South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt is thought to have been triggered by machinery overheating, causing methane to ignite, although the exact reason has not been confirmed. Methane is produced naturally on dairy farms by cows through enteric fermentation and manure storage. The barn is classified as a 'large dairy farm' because it had more than 15,000 cows. A female worker was critically injured after she became trapped inside the milking building during the blaze and had to be rescued by firefighters. As of Wednesday she remains in hospital. The farm is run by Frank Brand Dairies. A female worker was critically injured after she became trapped inside the milking building during the blaze and had to be rescued by firefighters Dramatic images from the scene showed a column of black smoke rising from the farm, as well as the devastation left on the ground The explosion at the South Fork Dairy in Dimmitt is thought to have been triggered by machinery overheating 'It was lowkey, crazy to hear about because we were just chilling and then we just heard a boom. Then we look in the distance and theres just a big cloud,' said Renzo Sullivan, a local resident in Dimmit 'It was lowkey, crazy to hear about because we were just chilling and then we just heard a boom. Then we look in the distance and theres just a big cloud,' said Renzo Sullivan, a local resident in Dimmit who was speaking to News Channel 10. Residents went on to say that the blast was completely unexpected while also worrying about the possible after effects on the local economy. 'Thats a lot of the money that we have and then a lot of milk also too. So I think its really crazy that that happened,' said Alex Aguilar. 'It is kind of painful because its like thats kind of what we do here, and thats how we get our money for like the city and all that. So thats just a major drop for us,' Renzo Sullivan said. 'It employed citizens of our county, and that could impact those citizens, as far as jobs go, it could impact our tax base for our county and other municipalities and taxing entities. Theyre going to have to rebuild in order to be able to sustain that portion,' Castro County Judge Mandy Gfeller said. Despite the uncertainty, the community in Dimmit has already begun to rally around Frank Brand and his family. Local residents have expressed worries about the effect the fire could have on the local economy Castro Country Sheriff Sal Rivera said the fire spread to the building where they haul cattle in before bringing them into the milking area and then a holding pen 'It's mind-boggling. I don't think it's ever happened before around here. It's a real tragedy,' Dimmit Mayor Roger Malone said The surviving cows will be housed in another facility owned by the Brand family. There was a total of 19,000 cows being held in the farm There are 15 dairies in Castro County, South Fork is the newest one, being built less than three years ago The plume of smoke could be seen for miles around According to PBS, cows emit 40 methane gas in the world due to their high fiber diet.The animals killed Monday were a mix of Jersey and Holstein cows. They are valued around $2,000 each. That's not to mention the cost of the structural damage caused by the fire. Castro Country Sheriff Sal Rivera said the fire spread to the building where they haul cattle in before bringing them into the milking area and then a holding pen, meaning only a small percentage survived. 'There's some that survived, there's some that are probably injured to the point where they'll have to be destroyed,' Sheriff Rivera said. 'It's mind-boggling. I don't think it's ever happened before around here. It's a real tragedy,' Dimmit Mayor Roger Malone said. The surviving cows will be housed in another facility owned by the Brand family. There was a total of 19,000 cows being held in the farm. There are 15 dairies in Castro County, South Fork is the newest one, being built less than three years ago. Speaking to KCBD, the sheriff added: 'The speculation was probably what they call a honey badger, which is a vacuum that sucks the manure and water out, and possibly that it got overheated and probably the methane and things like that ignited and spread out and exploded and the fire.' Dramatic images from the scene showed a column of black smoke rising from the farm, as well as the devastation left on the ground. Charred bodies of cows remain and are being dealt with by environmental officers along with the burnt out barn. 'It's mind-boggling,' Dimmitt Mayor Roger Malone said of the number of bovine deaths. 'I don't think it's ever happened before around here. It's a real tragedy.' Callers said a number of employees were trapped inside, but when first responders arrived they only found only one person in the milking building. The County Sheriff's office confirmed one person had to be rescued. All of the other employees have been accounted for following earlier reports that some were trapped inside. The Castro County Sheriff's Office and the Dimmitt, Hart and Nazareth Fire Departments all responded to the explosion on Monday Callers said a number of employees were trapped inside, but when first responders arrived they found only one person was trapped in the milking building Police said they received eight calls just before 7.30pm Monday about an explosion and fire. Emergency crews were on scene until after 11 pm on Monday. 'We hope the industry will remain focused on this issue and strongly encourage farms to adopt commonsense fire safety measures,' said Margie Fishman, Public Relations Manager with Animal Welfare Institute. The agency says that close to 6.5 million cows have been killed in barn fires since 2013. 'It is hard to imagine anything worse than being burned alive.' The previous record holder for deadliest barn fire occurred in upstate New York in 2020 when 400 cows perished. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality Amarillo Region arrived at the scene on Tuesday morning and are helping the dairy's owner with the disposal of the carcasses. A jilted bride-to-be threatened to publicly share a sex tape of her ex-fiance on Instagram in a bid to win him back after proudly bragging to him that she had made almost 2,000 posting pictures of her feet on a fetish-type site. Mother-of one Amy Williams-Smyth, 31, sent her estranged ex Daniel Oates a screengrab of her earnings from adult channel AdmireMe.VIP in a warped attempt to rekindle their whirlwind romance. During a series of emails Williams-Smyth, a beautician, told Mr Oates in a chilling boast: 'Look how much I made - if you want your half, come and get it. Not bad for an hour's work.' She then vowed to publicly share intimate videos the pair had previously uploaded to the subscription-only social media channel and warned: 'I got more than this - You want to see me jealous, fine - make me jealous.' Mr Oates, who had broken up with Williams-Smyth due to her erratic behaviour, later called in police fearing sexual footage of him had been made public. Amy Williams-Smyth (centre), a jilted bride-to-be, threatened to publicly share a sex tape of her ex-fiance Daniel Oates told police the ordeal had made him feel 'sick, angry and upset' Ms Williams-Smyth was convicted of threatening to disclose images of a sexual nature Inquiries revealed the offending video was in fact of Williams-Smyth accusing the victim of cheating on her whilst she was scrolling through his phone contacts. But Mr Oates said: 'I feared for the worst. I was scared to open the message because I thought she had put footage of me online. I felt sick, angry and upset. I hit rock bottom. It has been draining and has had a massive impact. 'The only safe space has been at work. I rarely leave the house now and only go to the gym because I am there with my personal trainer.' At Wigan Magistrates' Court in Greater Manchester, Williams-Smyth, of Skelmersdale, was convicted of threatening to disclose images of a sexual nature and was banned from contacting Mr Oates for two years under the terms of a restraining order. The court heard the pair had met via the dating app Tinder in December 2020, began dating the following month then moved in together in February 2021. They announced their engagement on social media shortly afterwards. Mr Oates said: 'The relationship was pretty full on at the beginning. I had been single for four years before I met her and was it was nice that she kept saying she liked me and that we were both interested in the same things. 'But soon after we moved in together we had our first episode. She had got into a fight with her friend and she took it all out on me. Later we went to a tattoo convention and after that we went back to hers and slept together. 'We were lying in bed watching Disney when she started going off on one. I told her it was over and that she should never contact me again and as far as I'm concerned the relationship ended on April 9.' Ms Williams-Smyth met Mr Oates on the dating app Tinder in December 2020 The pair embarked on a relationship which Mr Oates would later describe as 'full on' Mr Oates moved back in with his mother in Wigan but bumped into Williams-Smyth on April 12 shortly after he posted a selfie inside Revolution bar in the town socialising with his friends. He was said to have become 'distressed' by her presence and eventually collapsed in the bar with heart issues. The court heard Williams-Smyth herself dialled 999 but then pretended to be his girlfriend and even tried to get into the ambulance with him to hospital. Mr Oates added: 'I found out through friends she was trying contact me via email whilst I was in hospital. 'When I got out, I went for a walk and got a call from a withheld number, which I picked up but then hung up after realising it was her. She was mad at me because I wasn't responding to her when I was in hospital. She then sent me endless emails and even messaged me about a friend's post I liked on Facebook.' Williams-Smyth also sent Mr Oates' mother a WhatsApp message saying: 'Best give your son a wake-up and tell him to become a man.' Eventually on May 21 she then sent an email to Mr Oates himself, saying: 'Our pictures are still up.' She then followed up with an email saying 'Look how much I made from our sex tape, if you want your half come and get it'. Attached was a screenshot of an Instagram post that showed earnings of 1821 made from the AdmireMe.VIP site which mainly showed Williams-Smyth's feet in a 'foot-fetish style'. When arrested, Williams-Smyth said the pair had sent sexually explicit content to each other on AdmireMe.VIP. She said that she only put the video of her scrolling on Instagram to 'get back at him' after she claimed he had threatened to tell her family she was on the sex site. After Mr Oates ended things, Ms Williams-Smyth repeatedly threatened him with releasing pictures She was banned from contacting Mr Oates for two years following proceedings She told the court: 'Our relationship got really toxic and he told me I could not contact my friends and he even controlled what I wore. We argued but we didn't break up. He always went to back to his mum's and we got back together. 'I took pictures of myself and uploaded them to AdmireMe. Daniel then signed a contract so we could upload the photos to the website. He sat next to me when we did it because I can't type well.' 'The content we uploaded was mainly of me, although he did put one video of himself up. However, we decided to take it down after he was put off by guys commenting on his picture.' 'I had to send him the money we made from the videos every week as his own account had been frozen due to financial issues. I ended up sending him the money in cash because he didn't want his mum to find out.' 'He kept saying: "I love you 3000" everyday. He would also message saying "what I would do to get my hands on you again". He would then kiss girls in front of me to make me jealous.' Williams-Smyth, who denied wrongdoing, was also conditionally discharged for two years and was told to pay 644 in costs. She was cleared of a second charge of stalking. Deputy District Judge Asif Munir told her: 'There was a threat to disclose images of a sexual nature. You were essentially saying cut the other girl off, be with me or else - and that is a threat. These pictures you posted on to Instagram were done without his consent.' Judge Steven Everett said his behaviour was 'threatening' to the jury A crown court spectator has been jailed for contempt after a judge spotted him laughing at the jury as he watched the end of a complex 150million tax fraud trial from the public gallery. Construction worker Michael Moynihan, 31, was seen pointing at jurors and sniggering to a friend as Judge Steven Everett was finishing his summing up of 14 weeks of evidence on March 27. Moynihan was asked to leave the courtroom by staff, but he first refused to go and then declined to give his name. The judge at Chester Crown Court asked him to explain his behaviour, which he did not do, and then asked him to leave immediately. Moynihan 'defied' this instruction and instead told the judge: 'You ought to be patient.' Michael Moynihan (pictured above) was jailed after laughing at a jury and talking back to a judge while watching a 105million tax fraud trial The construction worker, 31, was found guilty of contempt of court by Judge Steven Everett Mr Moynihan, from Ellesmere Port, Cheshire, was subsequently arrested, with inquiries revealing he had been at the court to observe a different trial. He was locked up for 21 days after being found guilty of contempt of court, with the judge explaining that he needed to 'send a message'. The disruptive onlooker, who lost his left leg in an accident in 2021, risked the lengthy trial being abandoned, the judge said, describing his behaviour as 'threatening' to the jury. Two of the jurors who saw Moynihan pointing at them were said to be 'obviously affected' and were looking down at their feet as they later filed in and out of the jury box. Judge Everett explained that if the jury members had asked themselves why he had been pointing and laughing at them, it could have led to the trial being abandoned. The trial was part of criminal proceedings that had been ongoing for ten years and had cost the taxpayer hundreds of thousands of pounds. Despite fears the trial would fold due to jurors feeling intimidated, the panel later convicted two men, including the mastermind of a fake designer clothing scam, who ran one of the UK's largest ever carousel tax fraud schemes - also known as missing trader fraud, an example of VAT fraud. The judge told Moynihan: 'The court was packed when this took place. There were all the advocates and also the public gallery was full. Moynihan (pictured above) was arrested at Chester Crown Court after the incident on March 27 Judge Everett said Moynihan's behaviour was 'threatening' to the jury and risked the costly trial being abandoned 'It's important that everybody understands that the court is a place where people have to behave. 'If people do not behave in court, we are heading down the road to anarchy and that is a problem. 'I found your behaviour threatening and arrogant. It was not just rude, it was way beyond that and what concerned me most was it was threatening to the jury. I see that they saw that. 'You pointed at the jury and laughed at them for reasons you may understand, but I had no idea why you behaved in that horrible way. 'Then, having seen you put at risk this very lengthy and costly trial, when I asked you what it was about, you refused to answer. 'In fact, you were rude and arrogant to me. Personally, that does not matter, but it's in the face of the court, that is really important. 'You would not leave the court when I told you and told me that I ought to be patient. 'You have an enormous chip on your shoulder. You were somebody who decided that he was going to do what he wanted to do, rather than behave with respect and dignity in the court. 'Had you just been rude to me, I would not be sending you to prison, but there's more to it. The court has to send out a message that if you behave like that you go to prison.' Moynihan had gone to court because a girlfriend was due to testify in a trial on an unrelated public order matter involving four other men also before Judge Everett, and he went to the public gallery to wait for that case to start. The judge was giving the fraud trial jury instructions prior to them being sent out to deliberate on a verdict when he saw Moynihan's behaviour. Despite concerns that Moynihan's (left) actions would risk the trial being abandoned, the jury went on to convict two men of money laundering and conspiracy to cheat the public revenue Moynihan's counsel said he had been on painkillers on the day of the incident that made him 'too relaxed' Judge Everett added: 'You were laughing at them, I saw you, I know what I saw. 'I am, in effect, your judge and jury and nothing you can say is going to change my view of that. Both myself and court staff took notice of it. 'I took the view that, not only was it rude and arrogant, but the behaviour could easily be taken to be a threat. 'Two members of the jury saw it and were obviously affected, looking down at the feet as they were going out. 'I asked Michael Moynihan, "Why are you behaving in this way?" He refused to answer and refused to give his name. 'He refused to leave. If he had left, that probably would've been the end of it. 'But he stood up, then decided he was not going to leave. Instead, he was going to leave under his own steam and in his own time. 'He started putting his coat on over his arm. I told him to leave immediately and he defied me. He told me I ought to be more patient. 'He went out the door and I asked the court staff to bring him back in. He refused the request at the door of the court by security officers, who told him if he left he would be arrested. 'What has happened since then is that police did arrest him. I asked the Chief Constable to arrange that, if he did not come to court this morning, I would issue a warrant.' However, she said Moynihan apologises for his behaviour and 'knows it was wrong' Moynihan's counsel Kay Driver said her client had been on painkillers that made him 'too relaxed'. She added: 'He knows it was wrong, but says he saw someone in the jury he thought he'd been to school with. He pointed them out to someone who was close to him. 'He realises now that could be very intimidating to a jury member. 'Clearly, he was not aware that the trial had been ongoing for such a long time. But nevertheless, he should not have pointed the way he did. 'Having had time to reflect on his actions, he wishes to apologise for that. He did not wish to risk the trial process. 'His grandfather is a magistrate, who gave him a really good telling off and saying the courtroom is not a pub. 'He apologises for his language and behaviour to Your Honour.' The fraud trial that Moynihan was watching involved sock manufacturer Arif Patel, 44, of Preston, Lancashire and his criminal gang, which tried to steal 97million through VAT repayment claims on false exports of textiles and mobile phones. They also bulk imported and sold counterfeit clothes from China and Turkey with a value of at least 50million, had they been genuine. The proceeds were used to buy property across Preston and London through offshore bank accounts. Patel's company, Faisaltex Ltd, had been at the heart of the criminal empire since 2004, but he fled to Dubai in 2011 and was convicted in his absence, while his two brothers are wanted. Patel was found guilty of false accounting, conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, the onward sale of counterfeit clothing and money laundering. Co-accused Mohamed Jaffar Ali, 58, of Dubai was also found guilty of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue and money laundering. He had also laundered the proceeds of their scam through bank accounts in Dubai. While he had attended the trial at Chester Crown Court, he fled before it was concluded and was convicted in his absence also. They will be sentenced next month. Reporting restrictions were also lifted, revealing 24 other members of the criminal empire were convicted in five trials between 2011 and 2014 and jailed for a total of more than 116 years. After it was revealed on Wednesday, 12 April that Prince Harry will attend the coronation of King Charles III, questions have arisen over the potential attendance of Prince Andrew. Whilst Meghan Markle will stay in California to look after her and Harry's children, Archie and Lillibet, the Duke of Sussex will be attending the ceremony at Westminster Abbey. Meanwhile, there has been intense speculation over the possible attendance of the Duke of York. So, will Prince Andrew attend King Charles' coronation? Why might he not be there? Who else is attending the coronation? Read on for more on whether Prince Andrew will be at the coronation on Saturday, 6 May. Speculation has abounded as to whether Prince Andrew (pictured) will be invited to King Charles' official coronation ceremony Will Prince Andrew be at the coronation? It is not yet clear if the Duke of York will be present at King Charles' official coronation ceremony. Even if he does attend, he will not have any special ceremonial roles, as he was removed as a working royal in 2019 over alleged sex offences, which he strongly denies. In February 2023, sources close to the Palace dismissed the idea that Andrew could play a significant part in the proceedings. Nor will he be invited to stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with other members of the family during the Coronation celebrations. The late Queen, however, did not remove him of his ceremonial role in the Royal Victorian Order following the allegations. Why might he not be there? The Prince paid a reported 12million in an out-of-court settlement with his accuser Virginia Giuffre while emphatically denying her claims that he had sexually assaulted her when she was 17. In January 2023, The Mail on Sunday reported that the Duke of York is now considering an attempt to overturn the multi-million-pound settlement he made with his accuser. The furore surrounding the case led to him being stripped of his honorary military titles, and any return to public life seems impossible. Despite remaining a Garter Knight, Andrew was banned from the annual public procession in 2022. Instead, he joined other Garter Knights for the private part of the day. However, Prince Andrew was reportedly left 'furious' after finding out that King Charles may ban him from wearing the lavish Knight of the Garter robes, should he even be invited to the coronation. The set of velvet robes adorned with intricate royal details signify Prince Andrew's (pictured with the then Prince of Wales in 2015) position as a Knight of the Garter The King is reportedly deciding whether to let his brother wear the robes after Andrew stepped back from royal duties because of the scandal. He was previously banned from wearing the traditional robes at Queen Elizabeth's final appearance at the Garter Day procession in Windsor. Who else is attending the coronation? Although the status of the Duke of York's attendance is still unknown, a number of other royals will be there, Prince Harry being among them. As Charles is the reigning monarch, Prince William is now heir to the throne. Consequently, he and Princess Catherine are now set to play an important part in the ceremony. Prince George has been handed a notable role in proceedings, as one of Charles' four Pages of Honour. George will be required to carry the King's robes alongside three other Pages of Honour - schoolboys Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, Nicholas Barclay, 13, and Ralph Tollemache, 12. All three are sons of His Majesty's friends. Because she is being crowned as Queen, Camilla has made her three grandsons - twins Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 12, as well as her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, 11 - Pages of Honour. Prince Harry will be attending the coronation, while Meghan Markle will stay in California to look after the couple's two children The Duchess of York also revealed that she had not yet received an invitation to attend the coronation. Heads of state and representatives from a number of key British allies and Commonwealth nations are also expected to be part of the guest list for the coronation. These include heads of state from Ireland, France, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Hungary and Monaco. 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. Twitter has erupted with memes after Joe Biden appeared to mistake New Zealand's All Blacks rugby team with the British paramilitary force 'the Black and Tans' during a speech at an Irish pub. The US president was paying tribute to distant relative and Irish rugby star Rob Kearney, before referencing a match between Ireland and New Zealand played at Soldier Field in Chicago in 2016. He was speaking about his heritage and notions of Irishness to a packed Windsor Bar and Restaurant in Dundalk, County Louth, before describing how the shamrock tie he was wearing was given to him by Kearney. But Biden said: 'This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, was a hell of a rugby player. He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans.' Social media users have quickly created a flurry of hilarious memes highlighting the president's error. US President Joe Biden pictured during his speech to the packed pub in Dundalk, Ireland, yesterday Who were the Black and Tans? The Black and Tans were a 10,000-strong group of British recruits to the Royal Irish Constabulary. Recruitment began in January 1920: many of those who signed up were unemployed veterans of the First World War, or convicts. They were sent to Ireland to try and quash demands for independence from Britain. The War of Independence was fought from 1919-21. Their nickname came from their uniform - they wore some of the dark green clothing of the Royal Irish Constabulary, which looked black, and some of the khaki of the British army. They were known for their brutality and reprisals against civilians: to this day, they are seen as a cruel and shameful force. Advertisement Kearney, voted Europe's best player in 2012, played a pivotal role in Ireland's defeat of the All Blacks - the New Zealand national team - in November 2016, in Chicago. It was the first time that Ireland had ever beaten the New Zealand side. But Biden's muddling of history also had a darker side. The Black and Tans were a notorious group of constables enlisted to help the British cause during the Irish War of Independence - the 1919-21 battle between the Irish Republican Army and the British forces. The July 1921 ceasefire saw the island divided, with Northern Ireland remaining under British control and the south gaining independence. The Black and Tans - officially part of the Royal Irish Constabulary - were a group of 10,000 men recruited from Britain to try and defeat the IRA. Their name came from their uniforms: a mix of the dark green of the RIC, which looked black, and the tan color of the British army. Such was the ferocity of their fighting that the rumor spread that they had been recruited from British prisons. They were well known for their brutality and enacting reprisals on civilians they believed supported the IRA. Public opinion in the UK and Ireland was widely disapproving of their acts. The unit was disbanded in 1922, yet to this day the Black and Tans are a shorthand for excessive violence, and their role in the war remains contentious. The troops were immortalized in the popular Irish rebel song, 'Come Out, Ye Black And Tans'. London-born crime author Anne Perry, who was jailed as a teenager for murdering her friend's mother with a brick, has died at the age of 84, her agent has confirmed. The writer of more than 120 books died on Monday in Los Angeles, where she had been living. Brought to national attention through the brutal killing of Parker's mother - later the subject of the Oscar-nominated film "Heavenly Creatures" - Perry went on to find success with her Pitt and Monk detective novels. A statement from Ki Agency said: 'Anne was a loyal and loving friend, and her writing was driven by her fierce commitment to raising awareness around social injustice. Many readers have been moved by her empathy for people backed into impossible situations, or overwhelmed by the difficulties of life. 'Her characters inspired much love among her fans, and comforted many readers who were going through tough times themselves.' It announced her death along with the Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York and Ken Sherman & Associates in Los Angeles, saying she died on 10 April. Crime writer Anne Perry was confirmed to have died on 10 April in Los Angeles, aged 84 'Inseparable' Pauline Parker (left) and Juliet Hulme, later known as Anne Perry, leave Christchurch Magistrates Court after the brutal murder of Parker's mother in 1954 In 1954 at the age of 15, Perry, who was born Juliet Hulme, was convicted along with her friend Pauline Parker of murder. The pair became two of New Zealand's most notorious killers after killing Honorah Mary Parker by hitting her with a brick in a stocking about 20 times. Pauline's diaries revealed how the pair had planned the killing. 'Peculiarly enough I have no qualms of conscience (or is it peculiar we are so mad?)' Parker wrote. A court heard that the girls had plotted to kill Ms Parker to avoid being separated, as Pauline's parents planned to send her abroad. The events would later be the inspiration behind director Jackson's 1994 psychological drama, starring Kate Winslet in a break-out role and Melanie Lynskey, which received an Academy Award nod for screenplay writing. Justice Adams said at the time the girls 'kept very much to themselves, scribbled in exercise books effusions which they called novels, spent a good deal of time in each other's beds, and made plans for their future life together.' Perry later denied that they were romantically involved, but told The Times the relationship had been obsessive. Both planned to move to the United States together to sell their novels. Ultimately they were convicted after a jury turned down their pleas that they were not guilty on grounds of insanity. As both Perry and Parker were under 18 at the time of the killing, neither could be sentenced to death and they were instead subject to 'detention during Her Majesty's pleasure', according to the New Zealand government website. After serving a five-year prison sentence, Perry was released and changed her name, working as a flight attendant in the United States for a period and joining the Mormon Church in 1968. She later returned to the UK, where her father - a distinguished scientist - was heading the British hydrogen bomb programme, and began her writing career. Perry penned The Cater Street Hangman in 1979, the first in a series of books featuring Victorian policeman Thomas Pitt and his wife Charlotte. She had this month released another novel in the sequence called The Fourth Enemy and in 2017 released 21 Days, which follows the couple's son Daniel. Perry's second series of crime novels revolve around private detective William Monk and volatile nurse Hester Latterly. In 2000, she won the Edgar Award, which celebrates mystery novel writers, with Heroes, a short story about a murder that takes place in the trenches during the First World War. Prior to her death, she had been working on more titles in both the Pitt and Monk series and her works have regularly appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. Kate Winslet played Juliet Hulme - Anne Perry - in the 1994 film Heavenly Creatures Pauline Parker and her mother (right), Honorah Mary Parker, who was killed in 1954 The Face Of A Stranger by popular killer-turned-crime-writer Anne Perry Perry was born in Blackheath, London, in October 1938, and moved first to the Bahamas at the age of eight before originally settling in New Zealand. She said on her website that she had been fostered as a child due to illness and missed a lot of school as a result. Perry, who would return to the UK when she was in her 20s to live in Hexham, Northumberland, was also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She would also publish the mystical novels Come Armageddon and Tathea. Perry, who has also lived in southern California and Portmahomack near Inverness in Scotland, is survived by her brother Dr Jonathan Hulme and his family. The White House has been forced to correct Joe Biden to quell a fresh row after he jibed about the 'Black and Tans' during a pub visit in Ireland. The US president risked a backlash over his 'anti-British' stance with remarks to a packed bar in Dundalk, County Louth, last night. Mr Biden said he was wearing a shamrock tie given to him by rugby-player Rob Kearney - a distant relative - saying approvingly that he 'beat the hell out of the Black and Tans'. The Blacks and Tans was an auxilliary police force sent to Ireland in the 1920s to counter IRA extremism - pilloried in Republican folk songs for their brutality. The group was notably singled out in the pro-IRA song, 'Come Out, Ye Black And Tans', still popular with Irish rebel bands. However, the White House website attempted to smooth over the situation by clarifying its official record to refer to the All Blacks - the New Zealand Rugby team. The comment drew laughter in the pub, with Mr Biden's reputation as a gaffe machine leaving room for doubt about whether it was intentional or merely a slip. He also said that he 'hated' the fact his father had passed on an English surname - although he insisted he was 'joking'. Baroness Kate Hoey told MailOnline the episode 'underscores why so many pro-union people feel that he really only understands Irish Republican history'. UUP Stormont assembly member Tom Elliott said there were 'significant concerns' in the unionist community about Mr Biden favouring the Irish side. 'Most of the gaffes are against the British or the unionist community... he doesn't even try to be neutral on those occasions,' he told Talk TV. 'Comments like that about the Black and Tans... I think that just demonstrates that he has a deep rooted Irishness and that he is obviously on the side of the nationalist community.' The White House website attempted to smooth over the situation by clarifying its official record to refer to the All Blacks - the New Zealand Rugby team Mr Biden referenced Rob Kearney - the Irish rugby player, who is a distant cousin. Mr Biden is pictured welcoming Kearney to the White House on March 17, to celebrate St Patrick's Day Kearney (left) is pictured celebrating Ireland's first ever defeat of the All Blacks - a 40-29 victory in a match held at Chicago's Soldier Field The incident threatens to inflame tensions over Mr Biden's 'partisan' stance towards Northern Ireland and the Republic. Former DUP leader Baroness Foster said on the eve of his arrival that the US president 'hates the UK' - forcing Mr Biden's senior aide, Amanda Sloat, to insist he is 'not anti-British'. The Black and Tans: 10,000-strong force of veterans who meted out brutal response to IRA extremism The Black and Tans were a 10,000-strong group of British recruits to the Royal Irish Constabulary. Recruitment began in January 1920 and many of those who signed up were unemployed veterans who had served in the misery of the First World War. They were sent to Ireland to try and quash demands to break away from Britain. The War of Independence was fought from 1919-21, and many members of the RIC had quit when it began due to split loyalties or fears of reprisals. The Black and Tans were known for a brutal approach, although they also faced extremists in the IRA whose own tactics were similarly vicious. On Bloody Sunday, November 21, 1920, the IRA killed at least 14 people - mainly English suspected of being spies. The RIC reacted the same afternoon at a Gaelic Football match in Croke Park. In a febrile atmosphere with suspicions that culprits had slipped into the crowd, police opened fire - killing 14. Their nickname came from their uniform - they wore some of the dark green clothing of the RIC, which looked black, and some of the khaki of the British army. Advertisement The 80-year-old is considered the most Irish of all US presidents, with 10 of his 16 great great grandparents coming from the Emerald Isle. Speaking at the pub in Dundalk, just south of the Northern Ireland border, Mr Biden proudly declared that Kearney, who won 95 caps for the Irish team from 2007-19, had given him the shamrock tie he was wearing. 'This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, a hell of a rugby player,' said Mr Biden. 'He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans.' Kearney, voted Europe's best player in 2012, played a pivotal role in Ireland's defeat of the All Blacks - the New Zealand national team - in November 2016, in Chicago. It was the first time that Ireland had ever beaten the New Zealand side. The checked against delivery version of the speech on the White House website has the Black and Tans crossed out and 'All Blacks' added in brackets. One of his senior officials, Amanda Sloat, said today: 'It was clear what the president was referring to, it was certainly clear to his cousins sitting next to him.' The Black and Tans were a group of around 10,000 constables enlisted to help reinforce police on the island during the Irish War of Independence between 1919 and 1921. They were known for their brutal approach to Republican attacks. Many were former soldier and their nickname came from their uniforms - a mix of the dark green of the RIC, which looked black, and the tan color of the British army. The July 1921 ceasefire saw the island divided, with Northern Ireland remaining under British control and the south breaking away, and the RIC disbanded. During the speech Mr Biden also quipped that even though his father was English his 'saving grace was a quarter of his family was Hanafees from Galway'. 'You know, Biden is English. I hate to tell you that,' he said to laughter. 'I don't hate to I'm joking, but it's true.' There have been fears that Mr Biden could enrage unionists with references to his Irish heritage during his visit to Belfast. As vice president, Mr Biden caused offence 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.' Sir Hamar Greenwood of the Royal Irish Constabulary inspects a group of Black and Tans, an armed auxiliary force of the RIC, in January 1921 A suspected member of the Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein is searched at gunpoint by the Black and Tans in November 1920 Members of the Black and Tans with Lewis machine guns in Dublin in the early 1920s Northern Ireland's primarily Protestant unionist community associate themselves with the colour in celebration of William of Orange's victory over Catholic forces at the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. As a senator in 1985, he spoke out against making it easier to extradite IRA militants from the US 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.' Mr Biden's four-day trip to Ireland was officially timed to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. He landed in Belfast on Tuesday night, and met the British Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in Belfast yesterday morning. He spoke at Ulster University after his meeting with Mr Sunak, but was criticised for only spending a few hours in Northern Ireland. He then crossed the border to visit Carlingford, where his great-great-grandfather was born. Accompanied by his sister Valerie and son Hunter, Mr Biden then went to Kilwirra cemetery, where his ancestors were buried, before his stop at the pub in Dundalk. Today Mr Biden will meet President Michael D. Higgins in Dublin, and address a joint sitting of parliament before attending a banquet dinner in Dublin Castle. Tomorrow the president flies to County Mayo to visit the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock shrine, and a family heritage centre. What is the Come Out Ye Black and Tans song? Pro-IRA tune was written in 1920s in support of the republican cause during Irish War of Independence Come Out Ye Black and Tans is an Irish rebel song about the Black and Tans - officially known as the Royal Irish Constabulary Special Reserve. The Black and Tans were a British paramilitary police auxiliary force, formed in 1919 and made up of temporary constables, during the Irish War of Independence. They were given the nickname due to their mix of khaki British Army and rifle green RIC uniforms. Most of the recruits were former British World War One veterans, but were specifically seen as separate to the military as the British government did not want to give credibility to the cause of an 'independence war'. The Black and Tans were infamous for their ruthlessness and often clashed with civilians, as well as armed republican forces - including the IRA. The force were disbanded in 1922. Dominic Behan wrote the song for his father Stephen. And although it specifically mentions the Black and Tans, the context of the song is a dispute between republican and loyalist groups in Dublin. The song ties Irish nationalism to the struggles of other peoples against the British Empire across the world, mentioning wars in the Middle East and the Zulus. In modern day, the term 'Black and Tans' is seen as a more general derogatory term for the British and British Army in Ireland. The song is still sung by Irish rebel bands and folk singers and is sometimes heard at Ireland and Celtic FC football matches. The chorus of the song goes: Come out ye Black and Tans, Come out and fight me like a man, Show your wife how you won medals out in Flanders, Tell her how the IRA made you run like hell away, From the green and lovely lanes in Killeshandra Advertisement Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition leader, is grappling with a mystery ailment in jail that has seen him lose nearly 18lbs in just over two weeks, his spokesperson has said. The health concerns have prompted fears that the Kremlin dissident is being slowly poisoned as he remains incarcerated in a brutal maximum-security penal colony at Melekhovo, some 115 miles (250 km) east of Moscow. Announcing the grave fears over his health, Navalny's spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, added that he was back in a punishment cell after a few days in regular confinement. Navalny reportedly fell ill last Friday when he was removed from the punishment cell after 15 days and put in a conventional cell. An ambulance was then called early on Saturday because of acute stomach pains but Navalny received no diagnosis, one of his lawyers, Vadim Kobzev, wrote on Twitter after visiting him in prison. Navalny reportedly fell ill last Friday when he was removed from the punishment cell after 15 days and put in a conventional cell. Pictured: Navalny is seen via video link from the IK-2 corrective penal colony in Pokrov during a court hearing, May 24, 2022. Health concerns have prompted fears that the Kremlin dissident is being slowly poisoned Navalny rose to prominence more than a decade ago by lampooning President Vladimir Putin. Pictured: Putin delivers a speech at a concert marking the Cosmonautics Day at the State Kremlin Palace in Moscow, 12 April 2023 'The lawyer says that an ambulance was called for Alexey on the night of Friday to Saturday because of an acute stomach pain. No one is treating him and they are not even telling him the diagnosis. He has lost 8 kilos(!) in the last 15 days in the punishment cell,' Yarmysh said in a post on Twitter. 'When Alexey asks what he is ill with, the prison doctor mockingly answers that it is ''just spring and everyone has exacerbations''.' She added: 'We do not rule out that all this time in prison he could have been poisoned with something to make his health deteriorate slowly but steadily.' Yarmysh also said this was the thirteenth time that Navalny had been placed in a punishment cell. A former lawyer who rose to prominence more than a decade ago by lampooning President Vladimir Putin's elite and voicing allegations of corruption on a vast scale, Navalny has long forecast Russia could face seismic political turmoil. In 2020 he survived an apparent attempt to poison him during a flight in Siberia, with what Western laboratory tests determined was a nerve agent. Russia denies that the state tried to kill him. He was treated for that poisoning in Germany but voluntarily returned to Russia in 2021, where he was arrested on arrival and jailed in a fraud case he calls politically motivated. Yarmysh also said this was the thirteenth time that Navalny had been placed in a punishment cell. Pictured: Navalny takes part in a rally to mark the fifth anniversary of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov's murder, Moscow, February 29, 2020 Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during an event marking Cosmonaut Day at the State Kremlin Palace, on April 12, 2023 The news comes after a video documentary about Navalny won an Oscar last month. The documentary portrays his career of fighting official corruption, his near-fatal poisoning with a nerve agent in 2020 that he blames on the Kremlin, his five-month recuperation in Germany and his 2021 return to Moscow, where he was taken into custody. He was later sentenced to two and a half years in prison and was convicted last year of other charges and given another nine-year term. Navalny has faced unrelenting pressure from Russian authorities, and has been in and out of isolation in a tiny punishment cell. He is allowed to write and receive letters and have lawyers visit occasionally. German government spokesperson Christiane Hoffmann said Berlin took note of reports about Navalny's worsening health 'with great concern'. She added that Germany wants 'the inhuman treatment that he is apparently suffering in prison to be lifted', and wants Russian authorities to ensure he gets access to medical treatment and is released. The prisoner who staged a 12-hour protest on the roof of Strangeways prison has been named as Joe Outlaw. The 36-year-old, who is behind bars for robbery and has 33 previous convictions, has been warned by jail bosses that he now faces punishment for his roof-top protest. Video shows how Outlaw, carrying a rod and wearing a plastic bag as a makeshift rain mac, sang the Snow White song, 'High Ho its off to work I go', as he walked across the roof while fellow inmates instructed him to make demands for food and drugs. The prisoner scribbled the phrase 'FREE IPPZ' on the jail's roof in apparent reference to The Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence. The IPP sentence was abolished in 2012 after being branded 'unjust.' Strangeways, officially known as HMP Manchester, is one of the largest high security, category A men's prisons in the UK. An inmate climbed on the roof at Strangeways prison before staging a 12-hour protest that has jail bosses threatening punishment The prisoner scribbled the phrase 'FREE IPPZ' on the jail's roof in apparent reference to The Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) sentence. The IPP was abolished in 2012 after being branded 'unjust' Emergency services responded were called to the prison around 4.30pm yesterday, after a receiving a concern for welfare report. They were accompanied by specialist negotiators. Police cordoned off the prison and closed roads in and around Southall Street. Ambulances were seen leaving the prison early this morning, about 12 hours after the man had climbed on the roof. He wrote 'FREE IPPZ' and another illegible message on the building, The Manchester Evening News reported. Video posted to social media shows the inmate briefly loose his balance as he walks along the roof singing a song from the Disney film Snow White. 'Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho. It's home from work we go,' he sung before briefing slipping on the scaffolding. The prisoner quickly regained his balance. 'Tell 'em you want a f*****g Maccies, a pack of biscuits and a bag of Kush,' the other inmates shouted. They added: 'Tell 'em to get you f*****g out lad!' The Ministry of Justice confirmed the incident was resolved shortly after 4am today. 'Staff safely resolved this incident and the prisoner will face punishment as disorder in prisons is not tolerated,' a prison spokesperson told MailOnline. Greater Manchester Police said the man 'willingly came down from the roof' and is back in prison staff custody. The facility, officially known as HMP Manchester (pictured), was put on lockdown yesterday while the prisoner carried out his demonstration Video shared on social media revealed the prisoner also sang a song from the Disney film Snow White while on the roof: 'Heigh-ho, Heigh-ho. It's home from work we go' The prisoner was seeming protesting IPP sentences which were designed to detain offenders who 'posed a significant risk of causing serious harm to the public'. Outlaw has previously shared videos on YouTube and TikTok in which he talks and raps about the 'injustice' of IPP sentences. In one video posted earlier this month, he urged people to 'look into' IPP sentences and vowed to raise awareness of the issue. IPP sentences were indeterminate sentences, as opposed to fixed-term sentences, and had a minimum term that must be served in prison before an inmate can be considered for parole. The prisoner could then only be released once the Parole Board is 'satisfied the prisoner no longer needs to be confined for the safety of the public,' according to Parliament research documents. Upon release, prisoners with an IPP sentence will be on licence, subject to conditions, indefinitely until the license's termination. Prisoners can also be detained 'indefinitely' if the Parole Board rules it is unsafe to release them. IPP sentences were available for courts to impose from 2005 until December 2012, when the government abolished them, claiming the system was 'not defensible'. However, the change was not made retrospective and does not apply to existing prisoners who were already serving IPP sentences. In January 2021, Outlaw was given a 10-month prison sentence after he admitted assaulting a fellow inmate at Wakefield Prison. A judge ordered that the sentence run concurrently to the one he was already serving. Colombia's devout Catholic head of police has been fired after admitting he used exorcisms to tackle crime and hunt down drug lords. Henry Sanabria, who took over as chief in August 2022, was dismissed by the Colombian government yesterday, just weeks after his controversial interview. Speaking in mid-March, Sanabria sparked a scandal by admitting to an interviewer that exorcisms and other religious practices have helped police throughout the last 50 years of armed conflict, including in an operation to kill Medellin Cartel kingpin Pablo Escobar in 1993. The religious police chief also expressed his opposition to abortion - which is legal in Colombia, a secular South American nation with Catholic traditions - and to the use of condoms. During the interview in his office, Sanabria was surrounded by crucifixes, effigies of the Virgin Mary and other Catholic symbols. Colombia's devout Catholic head of police Henry Sanabria (pictured) has been fired after admitting he used exorcisms to tackle crime and hunt down drug lords During the interview in his office, Sanabria was surrounded by crucifixes, effigies of the Virgin Mary and other Catholic symbols Sanabria even admitted that exorcisms were used by police in the past to bring down notorious drug lord Escobar and guerrilla leader Alfonso Cano. 'The existence of the devil is certain. I have seen it, I have perceived it,' he said in an interview with local media. He also said in one operation a police officer had been able to kill a criminal by 'praying while shooting'. Sanabria later discussed using a crucifix to protect him and his officers from protests against Ivan Duque's government. 'When the boys from the front line passed through the front, there were about 34 of them, I managed to count them that time. I took out my crucifix and put it on top,' he said. When asked why he took a crucifix out, he said: 'Because behind every violent action there is a presence of evil.' Paying tribute to the police chief, leftist President Gustavo Petro wrote on Twitter, without giving further details about his dismissal: 'I appreciate General Henry Sanabria's hard work' for the Colombian police. Petro had previously only given partial support to his police chief, saying: 'We know about the general's beliefs, but what we are trying to do is ensure that those beliefs do not affect the rules, it's that simple. 'I think he has been respectful, as far as we know.' The religious police chief also expressed his opposition to abortion - which is legal in Colombia Sanabria even admitted that exorcisms were used by police in the past to bring down notorious drug lord Escobar (pictured) and guerrilla leader Alfonso Cano A police official speaking on condition of anonymity to a local media outlet said Sanabria has been urging his subordinates to attend religious retreats. Sanabria was recently implicated for negligence after a violent protest against an oil company in which two people died and 78 law enforcement officials were held hostage for days by protesters. According to a government official, Sanabria's ouster was not 'based on this operation' or his religious beliefs. 'The president himself has told the country very clearly that we respect freedom of thought, freedom of religion - not only for General Sanabria, but for all members of the institution and all Colombians,' Interior Minister Alfonso Prada told reporters. Sanabria will be replaced by retired general William Salamanca, who has been serving as consul general in Miami. A hulking 22-stone PC who punched a semi-naked man ten times during an arrest has been banned from the police - even though he was cleared in court of assault. Towering 6ft 5in PC Rowan Knight, 31, walked free over the alleged assault but was investigated by police watchdogs for using 'unreasonable force.' Rugby player Knight was accused of attacking drunk Christian Summers, 29, who had started gouging the ex-officer's eyes. A court heard Knight threw up to 10 punches then joked: 'That's another hand broken.' Knight claimed he acted in self-defence during the incident but watchdogs said he continued punching Mr Summers 'when he posed no genuine risk to him or his colleagues.' PC Rowan Knight, 31, has been banned from the police for punching a semi-naked man ten times during an arrest A disciplinary panel found Knight guilty of gross misconduct and ruled he should be barred from working in the police. The Independent Office for Police Conduct said: 'We examined allegations including whether there were legitimate grounds for arrest, and whether the force used in punching the man several times to the face while holding him in a headlock and kneeing him in the ribs was proportionate in the circumstances.' They added: 'It was also alleged that PC Knight escalated the situation unnecessarily by his use of force, and that he later provided a statement that described a different version of events to those captured on police footage.' Watchdogs carried out a four month probe following the conclusion of the court case and found Knight had a case to answer. IOPC Director David Ford said: 'Police officers should only use the minimum amount of force required in any given situation they face. 'In our view the physical force applied by PC Knight was not necessary, reasonable or proportionate in the circumstances. 'The body worn video of the other officers present did not support the officer's account that all his actions were in self-defence, and therefore the explanation he gave was dishonest. 'The evidence indicated that PC Knight continued to use force at a time when the man posed no genuine risk to him or his colleagues. 'A gross misconduct hearing has now determined that PC Knight should be dismissed.' The 6ft 5in officer, who weighs 22-stone, was cleared of assault at Cardiff Magistrates Court in October 2021 An investigation began after a fellow officer raised concerns over Knight's actions during the arrest and an internal probe was launched by South Wales Police's professional standards division. A file was then handed to the Crown Prosecution Service who charged PC Knight with assault by beating. PC Knight had been called to assist after Mr Summers was mysteriously found 'heavily intoxicated' and wearing just his underwear by a railway station in the early hours of the morning. PC Knight was accused of carrying out a sustained attack on Mr Summers by first grabbing his throat, and then throwing 10 punches towards him before bundling him a police car and allegedly putting his weight upon him. But he was found not guilty at Cardiff Magistrates Court in October 2021 after saying he lashed out in self-defence after Mr Summers gouged at his eye. Prosecutor Robert Reid said Knight had used 'unreasonable and unnecessary force that went far beyond self-defence.' Mr Reid said: 'Out of frustration with dealing with him, the defendant PC Knight lost his patience and then lost his temper.' But District Judge David Webster said prosecutors failed to prove PC Knight was not acting in self-defence. He was found not guilty at Cardiff Magistrates Court in October 2021 after saying he lashed out in self-defence after Mr Summers gouged at his eye Judge Webster said the footage showed Mr Summers was 'clearly' gouging the eye of PC Rowan Knight as he tried to arrest him for being drunk and disorderly. Judge Webster said: 'Christian Summers had his hand over the face of the defendant and the footage clearly shows the middle finger was clearly some distance into the eye socket. 'I'm satisfied at that point the witness was gouging the eye.' Judge Webster said PC Knight threw 'nine or 10 punches at Mr Summers in an attempt for him to stop the attack but hardly any of the blows landed.' Judge Webster said: 'Had the defendant had the opportunity to punch unobstructed then given his size he would have caused significant injury to the witness. 'By his own account he continued punching until he felt the witness go limp..' PC Knight, of Pencoed, South Wales, was cleared assault by beating following a two day trial last year. These haunting images show some of the UK's worst criminals in full colour, including the notorious Teacup Poisoner and escaped Broadmoor patient, the Mad Parson. The mugshots, originally taken in black and white, can now be seen in colour after they were retrospectively colourised. The police portraits mark incredibly dangerous criminals, many of whom were incarcerated in Broadmoor Hospital, a high-security psychiatric hospital near Crowthorne in Berkshire. Broadmoor, a facility that houses criminals convicted of serious crimes, but that are considered to be mentally ill, is the oldest of its kind in England. The first patient was a woman admitted for infanticide in May 1863. It was expanded in 1912 and during the First World War was partly used as a prisoner of war camp. Broadmoor is still open today, being taken over by the NHS in 2001. John Edward Allen, The Mad Parson, in 1947: This baby-killer was sentenced to death in October 1934 aged 34 for the murder of a 17-month-old girl in Burford, Oxfordshire. However, he was deemed insane, reprieved and sent to Broadmoor Criminal Lunatic Asylum (now Broadmoor Hospital) instead. During his incarceration, he appeared in Broadmoor amateur dramatics as a clergyman, a role which became a favourite of his. He is reported to have studied the Bible and read the life stories of famous clergymen. He later escaped Broadmoor in July 1947 with a Bible by disguising himself in clerical garb, earning his nickname the Mad Parson. There was, however, one weak spot in the disguise - he had no black shoes to wear with his parson's clothes. He stayed at large for two years, before being returned to Broadmoor. He was released in September 1951 Dennis Andrew Nilsen, The Muswill Hill Murderer, in 1983: This Scottish serial killer and necrophiliac murdered at least 12 young men and boys in north London between 1973 and 1983. His victims were lured to his house through deception and killed by strangulation, sometimes accompanied by drowning. Following each murder, he would perform a ritual in which he bathed and dressed the victim's body, which he retained for extended periods of time, before dissecting and disposing of the remains by burning them in a bonfire or flushing them down a toilet. He became known as the Muswell Hill Murderer because he committed his later murders in the Muswell Hill district of north London. He was convicted at the Old Bailey and sentenced to life in prison for six counts of murder and two of attempted murder on November 4, 1983, with a recommendation that he serve a minimum of 25 years. This recommendation was later changed to a whole life tariff in December 1994. In his later years, Nilsen was imprisoned at Full Sutton maximum security prison. He died at York Hospital in May 2018 aged 72 Graham Frederick Young, The Teacup Poisoner, in 1972: This serial killer, to whom at least three murders are attributed, poisoned relatives and friends by lacing their food and drink with antimony. In 1962, at the age of 14, he was charged with administering poison to his father, sister and friend - none of whom died - and sent to Broadmoor Hospital. He later took responsibility for the death of his stepmother, though this has not been proven. He was released in 1971 and got a job in a factory in Bovingdon, Hertfordshire, where he began poisoning work colleagues, resulting in two fatalities and several critical illnesses. He was found guilty of two counts of murder and two counts of attempted murder by poisoning in 1972. The killer served most of his life sentence at HMP Parkhurst in the Isle of Wight, where he died of a heart attack aged 42 in 1990. This case led to the 1972 Poisons Act, which put severe restrictions on the purchase of deadly poisons, and led to great public debate over mental health services in the UK Broadmoor escapee Ernest Roberts in 1950: Roberts was sent to Broadmoor in August 1947 after being sentenced for larceny - theft of personal property - at Preston. The Cheshire man escaped the institution aged 35 in 1950, along with Kenneth Williams (below). The men left dummies in their beds as part of their bid for freedom. Roberts was 5'8'' tall with dark hair, eyebrows and moustache. He was described as having a 'swarthy' complexion and scars on his left hand and head, and there was also a scald scar on his left food. The fugitives were the subject of an intensive search Broadmoor escapee Kenneth Frank Williams in 1950: This Broadmoor inmate was sentenced for larceny - theft of personal property - in October 1948 and sent to the Berkshire institution. He was one of two men who escaped (along with Ernest Roberts, above) in 1950. Williams, 25, from Bristol, and his fellow inmate left dummies in their beds and fled, triggering an intensive search. Williams was 5'6'' in height with fair hair and eyebrows, and was wearing dark grey institution clothing when he escaped Cop killer Harry Roberts in 1966: Roberts murdered three policemen in Shepherd's Bush in West London in 1966 aged 30. He opened fire on unarmed officers when they approached a van he was in. After being on the run for 96 days, he was finally caught near Bishop's Stortford, Hertfordshire, living in a camouflaged den made out of plastic bags and branches. He was sentenced to three life sentences for what was branded by a judge 'the most heinous crime for a generation or more'. In 2014, the Parole Board cleared the then-78-year-old for release from prison 48 years after being told by a judge he should never be released. He then walked free from Littlehey Prison in Cambridgeshire, sparking public outrage. The daughter of one of the murdered policeman branded it an 'utter disgrace' and top policeman Bernard Hogan-Howe said 'life should have meant what it said'. His victim's names were Detective Sargent Christopher Head, 30, Detective Constable David Wombwell, 25, and PC Geoffrey Fox, 41 William Pettit Jnr in 1953: Pettit was wanted for questioning by the police after Renee Brown was found murdered on September 11, 1953 in a mushroom field in Chislehurst in Kent, now southeast London. Then, on October 23, he was found dead in a blitzed building in Budge Row, Cannon Street, City of London, and an inquest found he had been dead for weeks. While Pettit's cause of death was found to be unascertainable at his inquest, the verdict of murder against Pettit was found at Mrs Brown's inquest Policing minister Chris Philp was this morning confronted over recent comments made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman about British Pakistani grooming gangs. In an interview on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Mr Philp was told one of the show's regular presenters, Adil Ray, had suffered 'nothing but racism' since Mrs Braverman made her remarks. The Home Secretary, who is Mr Philp's boss, has come under fire after she this month launched a fresh Government crackdown on child sexual exploitation. Mrs Braverman said there had been 'a practice whereby vulnerable white English girls' were 'pursued and raped and drugged and harmed by gangs of British Pakistani men who have worked in child abuse rings or networks'. During an appearance on Sky News on 2 April, the Home Secretary also highlighted reports about 'the predominance of certain ethnic groups and I say British Pakistani males who hold cultural values totally at odds with British values'. This was despite Mrs Braverman being challenged about a Home Office study, published in 2020, that found child sexual abuse gangs are most commonly white. Amid a furious backlash, former Conservative Party chair Baroness Sayeeda Warsi has accused the Home Secretary of using 'racist rhetoric' and claimed she is 'not fit to hold high office'. Policing minister Chris Philp was confronted on ITV's Good Morning Britain over recent comments made by Home Secretary Suella Braverman about British Pakistani grooming gangs Mr Philp was told one of the show's regular presenters, Adil Ray, had suffered 'nothing but racism' since Mrs Braverman made her remarks The Home Secretary has been accused of using 'racist rhetoric' and told she is 'not fit to hold high office' Last week Ray, an actor and comedian known for BBC show Citizen Khan, revealed the abuse he has received since Mrs Braverman made her comments Mr Philp was challenged about Mrs Braverman's remarks as he appeared on Good Morning Britain to explain new police rules aimed at cutting unnecessary red tape for officers. It is claimed the changes will save police time by no longer recording cases of messages that might offend someone or where a public disturbance occurred but has been resolved. The Home Office said officers should be on the streets investigating crimes such as burglary, rather than investigating comments made online. Good Morning Britain host Ranvir Singh challenged Mr Philp about the new police rules in relation to Mrs Braverman's comments. She said the Home Secretary had made her remarks 'without any kind of context around the Home Office's own data, which suggests and shows those kinds of sexual abuse crimes are, in the majority, committed by white men'. 'Adil Ray, who's a fellow presenter here, has said that he has suffered since those comments that Suella Braverman made,' she added. 'As he says, with no caveats, no kindness, no compassion, simply labelling British Pakistani men as having an issue with white girls. 'He says he's suffered nothing but racism. I wonder whether these sorts of comments - and the kinds of problems that her comments have given to other British Pakistani men - would be deemed by police officers as unnecessary to be recorded?' During an appearance on Sky News on 2 April, the Home Secretary spoke of 'vulnerable white English girls' being harmed by 'gangs of British Pakistani men Mr Philp replied that Mrs Braverman had been 'referring to the fact that historically there were cases in some towns in the North like Rotherham, Rochdale, I think there's some cases in Telford as well'. He added: 'I think she did provide the whole context and you've repeated it just now, which is helpful. 'But there were these cases in the past where the system turned essentially a blind eye to very, very serious offending. 'I've mentioned three of the towns involved, there were others as well.' Last week Ray, an actor and comedian known for BBC show Citizen Khan, revealed on Good Morning Britain the abuse he has received since Mrs Braverman's comments. Ray, born in Birmingham to a Pakistani father and Kenyan mother, said: '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, have an issue when it comes to English white girls. I have suffered nothing but racism for the last seven days.' Charges have been laid over a horrific workplace accident that cost a tradie both his arms and almost his life. New Zealander Jahden Nelson, 28, suffered a massive electric shock when a metal pole he was carrying at an Auckland scaffolding site touched long-hanging overhead power lines in April of last year. The scaffolder had such severe burns to his arms surgeons were forced to amputate both limbs with the voltage also causing him to have a near fatal heart attack. Doctors told his mother he only had a 20 per cent chance of survival. However, after six months of intensive treatment at New Zealand's national burns centre at Auckland's Middlemore Hospital he was transferred to Auckland City Hospital where he began learning how to walk again. On Wednesday New Zealand's WorkSafe agency announced it had laid charges over the incident. According to local law the identity of defendant has been suppressed but they face a maximum penalty of $AUD1.4 million if found guilty. New Zealand scaffolder Jahden Nelson (pictured with two of his children) lost both his arms as the result of a workplace accident last April in Auckland Mr Nelson (seen hold his baby) also suffered a heart attack from the accident and doctors only gave him a 20 per cent chance of survival Worksafe said the defendant had failed 'to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health and safety of workers who work [for them], including Jahden Nelson'. This 'exposed workers to a risk of death or serious injury arising from the interaction between workers and overhead electric lines,' the agency said. In a statement on Wednesday Mr Nelson said he was pleased charges had been laid but could not comment further. Mr Nelson was working for Supercity Scaffolding when the accident occurred. Speaking to New Zealand news outlet Stuff last November, Mr Nelson said he couldn't remember anything from the week leading up to the incident. He said he hopes to see more results from the intensive rehab and physiotherapy. 'My next goal is to keep regaining control of my body. Everything feels a lot different after the accident,' he said. 'It's like my brain is telling me I can do things, while my body doesn't want to.' His mother Toni Paikea wrote in a fundraiser that after the accident doctors had given Jahden just a one-in-five chance of living. 'He has beaten all odds due to love and support we have had from everyone, and we are all blessed to still have him here,' she said. Ms Paikea was asked to make the nightmarish decision to have her only son's arms amputated. Mr Nelson was working at scaffolding site when a metal pole he was carrying touched low-hanging power lines delivering a massive electric shok Mr Nelson spent months in hospital learning to walk and regain control of his body movements 'I just wouldn't wish this on anybody. It's the hardest thing a parent could go through,' she told the NZ Herald at the time. 'It's a life and death situation. I'm holding my son's heart in my hands. 'He is a young father to three beautiful children ... a humble family man, dedicated, all-round guy, loved by many friends and family.' Mr Nelson only learnt of his fate when he woke after the surgery. 'I was kind of like, shocked that I had lost my arms,' he told the Herald in July. Nelson had his final operation in August and was only recently fully discharged from hospital. 'I've still got a long way to go, but till then I'm ready to tackle the challenges that lie ahead,' he wrote in a fundraiser in August. 'I have set up this page to continue the fundraising efforts already made which I hope will contribute to a home for me and my family or opportunity to invest in advanced prosthetic technology.' Despite the gruelling years of rehabilitation and recovery ahead, Mr Nelson says he is grateful to be alive and be with his children. Jasmin Cogin, 23, failed to be elected as a councillor in Cardiff last year A prominent Young Conservative politician has sparked outrage by describing living in Wales as 'vile' and saying that Welsh people 'have lower IQs'. Jasmin Cogin failed to be elected a councillor in Cardiff last year, coming fifth with 737 votes, and has now denounced the Welsh capital in a video on social media. The 23-year-old Brit was blasted by rival politicians who demanded she apologise for the video, which was accompanied by the text: 'Welsh people have lower IQs. Sorry not sorry.' The video was posted to her Instagram, where she describes herself as a 'champagne and classical music enthusiast'. In her cut-glass RP accent, the qualified lawyer - who attended the University of Exeter - says: 'Does anyone get really frustrated at how uninspiring and how uncreative and how boring people generally are? Young Conservative Jasmin Cogin, 23, said Wales was a 'vile' place to live and that Welsh people 'have lower IQ's' The qualified lawyer failed to be elected a councillor in Cardiff last year and has now denounced the Welsh capital in a video on social media 'I just don't understand. I mean, obviously I predominantly spend all of my time the majority of my time in Cardiff now because of my job and I find it so tough to find someone who is intellectually on my level and who is actually witty and inspired and incredibly driven. 'Like, people are just so OK with mediocrity in Wales and it's vile to be around. It's disgusting.' Jasmin stood for the Conservative Party at last year's council elections but was unsuccessful in her bid for a seat in the Cyncoed ward. The Welsh Conservative Party said it would not comment on the video but rival politicians said it showed how 'out of touch' the Tories were. Liberal Democrat group leader Cllr Rodney Berman said: 'The fact the Tories selected someone like this as a candidate standing in a ward where she might feasibly have been elected shows how out of touch they are with people in our capital city. 'I'm sure the people of Cyncoed will be grateful to know that they rejected someone who clearly sneers at them as one of their elected representatives. 'Cardiff is in desperate need of an effective opposition to Welsh Labour, but it is abundantly clear that won't come from the Conservatives. 'The Liberal Democrats are proud to serve the people of Cardiff and these derogatory attitudes towards the people of our city deserve a full public apology from the Conservative Party.' Ms Cogin said: 'Like, people are just so OK with mediocrity in Wales and it's vile to be around. It's disgusting' Speaking to PoliticsHome last August, Ms Cogin gave her views on the then ongoing Conservative party leadership contest between Liz Truss and Rishi Sunak. She said she was undecided about her vote and that she had been 'underwhelmed' by both Sunak's and Truss' offerings. 'I think ultimately I am looking at the long-term picture,' she told the website. 'Both candidates are far too associated sort of tainted with their association with Johnson and that current inner-circle. 'In order for us to win new elections [...] I think it was really important for us to have a new face, for someone to have no association with the current Cabinet.' Ms Cogin told PoliticsHome that she had found Kemi Badenoch 'really interesting' but that it is not yet 'her time' to take the top job. 'I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing because I think that whoever does win this leadership election is going to get annihilated over the next couple of years,' she added. Humza Yousaf today refused to say how much his legal bid to force through looser Scottish gender rules will cost - as he was warned the challenge is likely to fail. The new First Minister admitted he has been given a 'worst case scenario' figure for the bill, but declined to reveal it. Mr Yousaf has been accused of wasting public funds on the court battle in a 'painfully transparent' bid to distract from the SNP's meltdown. Former Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption cautioned today that the Scottish government's case is 'weak' and will be 'difficult' to make stick. The Scottish Government is applying for a judicial review of the use of a Section 35 order to stop the controversial Bill becoming law. The proposals passed by Holyrood would lower the minimum age for formally changing gender to 16 and remove the need for a medical diagnosis. Humza Yousaf (pictured visiting a nursery in Glasgow today) admitted he has been given a 'worst case scenario' figure for the bill, but declined to reveal it The Scottish government's gender identity shake-up plans sparked major protests Speaking to journalists while visiting a nursery in Glasgow, Mr Yousaf said he 'can't go into the detail of the cost because it is part of legal advice' he has received in relation to the case. Asked if he has been given a 'worst case scenario' figure of the total costs, he said: 'Of course,' but added: 'I don't go into legal advice in terms of what the cost of a court case may well be. 'But of course, at the conclusion of that court case, we'll make those figures absolutely public and absolutely transparent.' He also dismissed claims that his Government's challenge is destined for failure. 'If the legal advice said that there is not a stateable case, the Government wouldn't take it forward,' Mr Yousaf said. However, Lord Sumption told the BBC that the Scottish Government's position is 'weak' and the legal challenge will be 'very difficult'. The case for judicial review will initially be heard in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, but is widely expected to end up in the UK Supreme Court for a final decision. Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the legal challenge will give ministers important 'clarity on the interpretation and scope of the Section 35 power and its impact on devolution'. But Lord Sumption told the Good Morning Scotland programme: 'What this means for her, I suspect, is that it is important to be able to point to some way in which Westminster is cramping Scotland's style. That is of course something the Scottish National Party has always been keen to do. 'Section 35 empowers the UK Government to stop a Scottish Bill becoming law if it modifies the law relating to a matter reserved to Westminster in a way that adversely affects how the law works. 'One of those matters is equal opportunities, and what the UK Government says is the Scottish Bill modifies the law relating to equal opportunities in a way that adversely affects how it works. 'So if you think about it, the result will be that some UK citizens, if this Bill comes into force, will have a different legal gender in different parts of the UK depending on where they happen to be. 'That poses really quite serious legal and practical problems for employers and for public authorities operating equalities legislation on a UK-wide basis.' He said the Scottish Government 'will have to argue that gender recognition is nothing to do with equal opportunities', instead saying the legislation is about 'defining a person's legal status'. Former Supreme Court Justice Lord Sumption cautioned today that the Scottish government's case is 'weak' and will be 'difficult' to make stick But he said the impact of the Bill could 'introduce serious problems', highlighting that Lord Hope, a former deputy president of the Supreme Court, had 'described the Scottish Government's position as 'hopeless and a waste of public money'. Lord Sumption said: 'I wouldn't go that far. I think that the Scottish Government's legal position is arguable, but I think it is weak. 'Their basic problem is that gender reassignment is a protected characteristic and the Bill alters the way the law works as applied to those. 'The whole scheme of the Scotland Act is that matters that affect only Scotland are devolved to Scotland, matters that affect the whole of the UK remain in the jurisdiction of Westminster. That is the way the Scotland Act works. 'The UK Government is arguing that this is something that affects the way that UK-wide legislation works.' A Japanese waitress has been sacked after she was found to have mixed her own blood into the cocktails of unbeknownst customers. The Mondaiji Con Cafe Daku in Sapporo, Hokkaido - whose name loosely translates to 'Problem Child Concept Cafe' - apologised for the staff member's actions. Earlier this month, the outlet addressed customers' concerns on Twitter and announced the waitress' firing, saying they had dismissed her after discovering her gruesome cocktail additions. The cafe called the server's actions and their bloody concoctions 'absolutely not acceptable', but did not name the person involved. Mondaiji Con Cafe Daku's owner also said the outlet would close temporarily while they replaced every drinking glass. The cafe is also well known for its 2,500 yen (15) per hour all-you-can-drink menu (file image) The cafe advertises itself as an establishment for 'problem children' and 'the cutest' girls who enjoy the darkness. It is also well known for its 2,500 yen (15) per hour all-you-can-drink menu. Addressing the rather gory controversy, the cafe's owner said: 'Please allow me to continue running the store for a little longer so that I can be happy alone.' 'We will hire a contractor to clean the store, change glasses, and dispose of alcoholic beverages that may have been contaminated. Once again, I am very sorry to have caused you trouble this time,' a tweet posted earlier this month read. Of the former employee, the owner said it was a type of 'part-time job terrorism'. But following the news, a doctor has warned that 'drinking the blood of other people is an extremely dangerous act'. Speaking to Japan's Flash news site, Dr Zento Kitao warned that anyone who has visited the cafe should see their doctor and take a blood test. 'Cases of people getting infected from drinking another person's blood are rare,' he said, 'but major diseases can be transmitted through blood, including HIV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and syphilis. 'If there are wounds in the mouth, it is easy to be infected by blood transmissions.' The Mondaiji Con Cafe Daku in Sapporo, Hokkaido - whose name loosely translates to 'Problem Child Concept Cafe' - apologised for the staff member's actions (file image) Japan is famed for its concept cafes - like that of Mondaiji Con Cafe Daku - giving customers a somewhat unique experience when visiting an establishment. From cat cafes, to snake cafes, and maid and butler establishments, themed outlets have proven popular in the country. Twitter owner Elon Musk has accused the BBC of spreading misinformation about face masks and covering up the side effects of coronavirus vaccinations. The billionaire tycoon, speaking to a BBC journalist, also repeated claims that the UK Government put the corporation under pressure to change its editorial policy. He did not expand on either allegation during the interview at the company's San Francisco offices which saw him asked how Twitter deals with Covid misinformation. Mr Musk was in a combative mood during the chat, and also accused his interviewer James Clayton of lying after he claimed hate speech on Twitter was increasing. Last November, Twitter rolled back a policy aimed at tackling Covid misinformation - while concerns were raised over the dismissal of some content moderation staff. Twitter owner Elon Musk (left) gave an interview to the BBC's US tech journalist James Clayton Elon Musk carried out the a wide-ranging interview at Twitter's headquarters in San Francisco Measures it brought in when the crisis began in 2020 included labels and warning messages on tweets with disputed information about the crisis and a framework to have users remove tweets that advanced harmfully false claims related to vaccines. What Elon Musk said on Covid misinformation James Clayton: 'Covid misinformation, you've changed the Covid misinformation.' Elon Musk: 'Has BBC changed its Covid misinformation?' Mr Clayton: 'The BBC does not set the rules on Twitter, so I'm asking you. Mr Musk: 'No I'm talking about the BBC's misinformation about Covid.' Mr Clayton: I'm literally asking you, you changed the labels, the Covid misinformation labels. There used to be a policy, then it disappeared. Why do that?' Mr Musk: 'Well, Covid is no longer an issue. Does the BBC hold itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and the side effects of vaccinations and not reporting on that at all? And what about the fact that the BBC was put under pressure by the British Government to change editorial policy, are you aware of that?' Mr Clayton: 'This is not an interview about the BBC. Mr Musk: 'Oh you thought it wasn't?' Mr Clayton: 'I see now why you've done Twitter Spaces. I'm not a representative of the BBC's editorial policy - I want to make that clear.' Advertisement During yesterday's interview, Mr Clayton - the BBC's North America tech reporter - said: 'Covid misinformation, you've changed the Covid misinformation.' But Mr Musk then replied: 'Has BBC changed its Covid misinformation?' Mr Clayton continued: 'The BBC does not set the rules on Twitter, so I'm asking you.' And Mr Musk then said: 'No I'm talking about the BBC's misinformation about Covid.' However, Mr Clayton replied: 'I'm literally asking you, you changed the labels, the Covid misinformation labels. There used to be a policy, then it disappeared. Why do that?' Mr Musk then continued: 'Well, Covid is no longer an issue. Does the BBC hold itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and the side effects of vaccinations and not reporting on that at all? 'And what about the fact that the BBC was put under pressure by the British Government to change editorial policy, are you aware of that?' But Mr Clayton said: 'This is not an interview about the BBC.' And Mr Musk added: 'Oh you thought it wasn't?' Mr Clayton then stated: 'I see now why you've done Twitter Spaces. I'm not a representative of the BBC's editorial policy - I want to make that clear.' MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment over Mr Musk's claims. Mr Musk may have been referring to a Guardian article last month which claimed BBC editors asked journalists to avoid using the word 'lockdown' in reports at the start of the pandemic. The story, based on leaked email and WhatsApp messages shown to the newspaper, also claimed reporters were urged to be more critical of Labour following pressure from Downing Street. But, commenting on the article, the BBC insisted it 'makes its own independent editorial decisions and none of these messages show otherwise'. Mr Musk has been a longtime critic of vaccine mandates and said he had 'major side effects' from his second booster jab which left him feeling like he 'was dying'. Yesterday, Mr Musk retweeted a post by user @TexasLindsay_ which said he had 'shut down this pro-censorship BBC reporter and left him scrambling on how to justify his own questions' He said the second booster 'crushed me', and that his younger cousin, who he said was in 'peak health', had to go to hospital after his jab suffering from myocarditis - which was named as a possible, but very rare, side effect of Covid-19 vaccinations. At a glance: What Elon Musk said in BBC chat Elon Musk said the BBC's label on its @BBC Twitter account would be changed from 'government-funded' to 'publicly funded'. The broadcaster objected to the tag after it appeared earlier this week. Twitter receives some 8 billion user minutes each day. Mr Musk said 'usage is up'. Mr Musk claimed there was less misinformation on Twitter since his takeover. This is contrary to other reports that say hate speech has risen on the platform in recent months. Weighing in on the TikTok debate, Mr Musk said he was generally against banning things. Mr Musk admitted Twitter was 'roughly breaking even' and could be profitable this quarter. He said he would not likely accept a $44billion offer to buy Twitter at the moment. He said it 'depends on who'. Mr Musk said cutting Twitter's workforce from 8,000 to around 1,500 had not been easy. Advertisement But Mr Musk - who in March 2020 said that the 'coronavirus panic is dumb' - has also previously insisted that he and his family are fully vaccinated because 'the science is unequivocal'. During yesterday's interview, Mr Musk accused Mr Clayton of lying during a row over whether incidents of hate speech are increasing on the social network. Mr Musk was asked by Mr Clayton how he would respond to claims that there are not enough staff at Twitter to police rising hateful content. But he challenged the reporter to give him examples of such content - and when Mr Clayton declined to do so, Mr Musk accused him of spreading a 'false' claim. Speaking during the chat, Mr Clayton asked Mr Musk: 'We've spoken to people very recently who were involved in moderation and they just say there's not enough people to police this stuff, particularly around hate speech in the company. Is that something that you want to address?' Mr Musk replied: 'What hate speech are you talking about? I mean, you use Twitter. Do you see a rise in hate speech? Just a personal anecdote? I don't.' And Mr Clayton said: 'Personally, for you, I would say I get more of that kind of content, yeah, personally. But I'm not going to talk for the rest of Twitter.' Mr Musk then asked him to 'describe a hateful thing', and Mr Clayton said: 'Well, yeah, you know, content that would solicit a reaction, something that is slightly racist, slightly sexist.' Mr Musk then asked Mr Clayton whether he thinks that 'if something is slightly sexist it should be banned.' Mr Clayton denied this was the case, but Mr Musk pressed him to give specific examples. Mr Clayton then said: 'Honestly, I don't... I don't actually use that feed anymore because I just don't particularly like it. And actually a lot of people are quite similar. I only look at my followers.' The Twitter owner said: 'I'm asking for one example and you can't give a single one. I say sir that you don't know what you are talking about. 'You cannot give me a single example of hateful content, not even one tweet. And yet you claimed that hateful content was high. That is false, you just lied.' But Mr Clayton said there were 'many organisations' that would say hateful posts on Twitter were on the rise, such as the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, before moving on to discuss Covid misinformation. MailOnline contacted the BBC to establish whether it will be responding to Mr Musk's claims that Mr Clayton lied, but a spokesperson declined to comment. Yesterday, Mr Musk retweeted a post by user @TexasLindsay_ which said he had 'shut down this pro-censorship BBC reporter and left him scrambling on how to justify his own questions on misinformation and the supposed rise in hate speech'. Above this post, Mr Musk wrote: 'Penetrating deep & hard with @BBC.' In addition, Mr Musk tweeted: 'I said BBC could come Twitter, then, to my surprise, a reporter shows up.' And he retweeted a post by user @__SeriousGemini which had a meme asking 'Do you like BBC' above a picture of two buttons saying 'yes' and 'no' and then a picture of a man portraying the BBC sweating. Also during the interview, Mr Musk said the social media platform was 'spending money like it's out of fashion' before he stepped in. Asked whether his approach to sacking staff members was 'haphazard and uncaring', Mr Musk replied: 'I wouldn't say it was uncaring. The Twitter headquarters in San Francisco, where the interview with the BBC was carried out 'The issue is, the company is going to go bankrupt if we do not cut costs immediately. This is not a caring, uncaring situation. If the whole ship sinks, then nobody's got a job.' There was a $3billion (2.4billion) 'negative cash flow situation', he said, which left Twitter with 'four months to live'. As a result, thousands of employees across the business have been sacked since he bought the platform for $44billion (35.7 billion) in October. There are now around 1,500 staff members, from just under 8,000 when Mr Musk took over, the boss confirmed. The Tesla and SpaceX boss was criticised for cutting half the company's full-time staff in one week, ending remote working and setting an ultimatum for remaining staff to agree to longer, more intense working patterns or leave. It also led to concerns that the platform could struggle to survive with the reduced maintenance team and available engineers. Mr Musk admitted yesterday that shutting down one of Twitter's service centres had ended up being 'quite catastrophic' as it resulted in the platform losing a large amount of its functionality. But he said that Twitter was now 'roughly breaking even' and could be profitable again soon. He added: 'Depending on how things go, if current trends continue, I think we could be profitable, or to be more precise, cash flow positive this quarter if things keep going well. 'I think almost all advertisers have come back or said they are going to come back. There's very few exceptions.' Following his takeover of the platform, many advertisers paused work with the site over concerns about Mr Musk's approach to content and moderation. He also revealed legacy blue checkmarks will finally be removed by next week. Mr Musk said last month that legacy-verified Twitter users would see their blue ticks removed from the service on April 1, unless they paid a monthly fee of $8 (6.40) to its Twitter Blue subscription operation. As a result, thousands of the platform's high-profile users were braced to lose the ticks, which can help verify their identity and distinguish them from imposters. But the legacy blue ticks have remained in place past the original deadline of April 1. Furthermore, Mr Musk said the social media site will update the BBC's 'government-funded media' tag after the broadcaster objected to the label. The BBC contacted Twitter last week after the designation was attached to the main @BBC account. The shocking moment a self-styled 'dog psychologist's' six-stone Romanian sheepdog bites a policeman on the bottom has been revealed - as the animal faces being put down. The footage, captured outside a Travelodge in Devizes, Wiltshire, shows the pet named 'Shroom' jump up and bite the bottom of PC Michael Obern. PC Obern can be seen stroking the dog owned by Gemma Sankey, 51, before discussing how difficult his own cockapoo can be on a lead. But he then screams out in agony as the large sheepdog bites into his bottom which left him with wounds and shredded boxer shorts. Miss Sankey has since been convicted on two counts of failing to control a dangerous animal, and the CPS has requested permission for the dog to be put down. The footage, captured outside a Travelodge in Devizes, Wiltshire, shows a sheepdog named 'Shroom' jump up and bite the bottom of PC Michael Obern (pictured right). Self-styled canine psychologist Sankey (left) told off Shroom before apologising to PC Obern, adding 'I can get prosecuted now' The dog's owner - a self-styled canine psychologist - told off Shroom before apologising to PC Obern, adding 'I can get prosecuted now'. PC Obern revealed in court he had been warned by the dog's owner in a previous meeting not to wear high-vis clothing as this would make the dog 'react'. He said he decided to wear a black police vest to appease the animal, but was quickly attacked by it anyway. He told Salisbury Magistrates' Court: 'I managed to pet her but she then bit my left buttock. 'It ripped my trousers, ripped my boxer shorts and broke the skin. The dog was on a lead but it was quite a long one. 'I then told Miss Sankey to take the dog inside. I had a bruise for a week but I had been bitten by a human in another incident a few months before so I'd already had a tetanus injection.' Sankey can be heard saying: 'I'm so sorry, Shroom, what did you do that for? Bad girl. 'Now you're going to get in serious trouble aren't you? I don't know what to do because I can get prosecuted now.' She told the court she had worked as a dog psychologist with a special knowledge of 'canine aggression' for over 35 years, but prosecutors said she had no formal qualifications and should not be considered 'an expert'. Pictured: Gemma Sankey with the Carpathian Shepherd by the police van after the bite CCTV footage shows the bite. PC Obern revealed in court he had been warned by the dog's owner in a previous meeting not to wear high-vis clothing as this would make the dog 'react' The dog also attacked a woman on a glamping site in Seend, near Melksham, Wiltshire. But Sankey was found guilty for both offences after she tried to claim the incidents were 'self inflicted'. She told the court: 'When Shroom gets terribly excited she jumps up occasionally. 'She knows over 300 commands in Latin, so you could say she's very long in the tooth. 'PC Obern gave Shroom a slap hit and then he turned away. His injuries were not caused by a bite from Shroom. A Chihuahua would have made more bite marks.' Magistrates deliberated for just 30 minutes before finding Sankey guilty of two counts of being in charge of a dog dangerously out of control causing injury. Britons are enduring Easter travel chaos after becoming stranded in France due to air traffic control strikes - with BA cancelling and delaying flights while easyJet and Ryanair warn of disruption. Passengers have reported last-minute cancellations and significant delays across the vast majority of flights both sides of the Channel. British Airways is understood to have cancelled 18 flights today and easyJet a further six, impacting hundreds of passengers, with the disruption likely to continue through the duration of the walkouts. The industrial action has caused the main routes to and from France to be placed out of use, meaning all flights across French airspace have been impacted. Some flights have been cancelled, while the majority are having to use longer and more congested routes to get to their destinations. easyJet has also reported disruptions, warning passengers that its service in and out of France is 'significantly reduced', while Ryanair has been forced to cancel 3,400 flights in the first three months of the year. Have you been affected by the strikes? Email jamie.phillips@mailonline.co.uk British Airways is understood to have cancelled 18 flights today and easyJet a further six, impacting hundreds of passengers British holidaymakers say they have been left 'stranded' and having to instead book the Eurostar at an 'extortionate' price just to get home, with others facing a desperate search to find accommodation for the night. Taking to social media, one said: 'British Airways, So, you canceled my flights for today, I can't find any customer service at CDG, I can't get in touch by phone, and I want to know where I'm going to sleep tonight.' Another said: 'easyJet PLEASE sort your phones and app out. Just arrived at Bristol airport and our flights are cancelled but we cant rebook because no one is here. 'Our childrens long awaited Christmas present of a trip to Disney is now ruined. Many sad families here.' A third added: 'Appalling treatment by British Airways. Flights from Paris to London cancelled last minute today. 'Rescheduled for 24 hrs later. Refund option not working, staff not taking calls. Daughter stranded on her own so booked Eurostar at extortionate price. What's your advice?' Other passengers said they had been delayed more than three hours without any vouchers for food or had been given no notice their flight had been cancelled. A BA spokesman said: 'Like other airlines, due to the continued French Air Traffic Control industrial action we've been forced to make a small number of adjustments to our schedule. We're sorry for the disruption to our customers' travel plans. 'Weve contacted affected customers to inform them of their rights and offer them options including a full refund or rebooking onto an alternative flight.' A statement from easyJet added: 'Due to national strike action in France impacting transport services including air traffic control on 13th April, airlines have been requested by the French authorities (DGAC) to make some cancellations to their flying programmes which means six flights to and from the UK will no longer be able to operate. 'Impacted customers have been notified in advance and offered the option to change their flight for free or receive a refund. 'We advise all customers travelling on April 13 to check the status of their flights on our Flight Tracker on our mobile app or website for live updates. 'As national and local rail services may also be affected, we recommend passengers plan their journey in advance and to allow extra time for their journey to and from the airport. 'While this is outside of our control, we would like to apologise to our customers for any inconvenience they may experience as a result of the strike action.' Ryanair slammed EU president Ursula von der Leten over the disruption. A statement said: Today, French ATC are striking for the 38th day in just 3 months with thousands more EU passengers having their flights to see friends and family unfairly cancelled at short notice. 'While we have no difficulty with French unions exercising their right to strike, we do expect President von der Leyen to do her job and defend and protect EU citizens/visitors fundamental right to the Freedom of Movement, which she and her College of Commissioners have inexplicably failed to do. 'It is completely disproportionate and unfair that the French Govt can use Min. Services Legislation to protect internal French flights but force the cancellation of flights over France. 'President von der Leyen should protect EU citizens/visitors on non-French flights overflying French Airspace from Germany, Spain, Italy, the UK and Ireland. The EUs Single Market for air travel and overflights should not be repeatedly cancelled because the EU Commission fails to take action. 'Ryanair is calling on EU passengers to join our call on President von der Leyen and sign our Protect Passengers: Keep EU Skies Open petition to demand that the EU Commission take action to protect their rights as EU citizens.' Tension between airlines and French controllers has been a recurring issue but escalated this year as the controllers joined strikes over planned changes to the retirement age. It comes as workers are mobilising against the flagship reform of Macron's second term, which lifts the retirement age by two years to 64 and means that from 2027 workers will have to work for longer to receive full state pension benefits. In France, air traffic controllers can retire at 57 and are exempt from Macron's plans to raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. But many are walking out 'in solidarity' with other sectors. Have you been affected by the strikes? Email jamie.phillips@mailonline.co.uk Dame Mary Quant - the British queen of Swinging Sixties fashion who introduced miniskirts and hot pants to the world - died peacefully at home today aged 93. The south-east London designer famously declared she 'didn't have time to wait for women's lib' and so began a fashion revolution to rescue young women of the 1950s and 1960s from being forced to dress like their mothers for another generation. Dame Mary raised hemlines to audacious heights, spearheaded sack dresses and turned women's trousers and tights into wardrobe staples, as well as popularising the bob haircut pioneered by her friend, the hairdresser Vidal Sassoon. Sleeveless shift dresses, PVC raincoats, Peter Pan collars, skinny-rib sweaters, block-coloured tights and jumpsuits were also among Dame Mary's revolutionary designs. Her make-up range would also come to be considered as forward-thinking as her clothing. Mary Quant and her husband Alexander Plunket Greene at their home in 1965 Twiggy was one of the most famous models to have worn Dame Mary's clothes Mary Quant (foreground), with models showing her new shoe creations and block colour tights In 2014, Dame Mary, who named the miniskirt after her favourite make of car, recalled its 'feeling of freedom and liberation'. She said: 'It was the girls on King's Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, "shorter, shorter".' And it was Bazaar, Quant's small shop in the heart of the bohemian King's Road, that became the heart of London's 'Swinging Chelsea' and became the foundation for what would become an international fashion empire. Her 'Chelsea look', with short skirts at its heart, went mainstream thanks in part to Quant's partnership with Twiggy, Britain's first supermodel. Her clothes were also popularised by Jean Shrimpton, Pattie Boyd and Cilla Black. A statement from her family said she 'died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK, this morning'. It continued: 'Dame Mary, aged 93, was one of the most internationally recognised Fashion Designers of the 20th Century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties.' One of Mary Quant's extraordinary designs: a short dress and PVC boots, in 1967 French actress Brigitte Bardot at London Airport in 1966 wearing a mini skirt by Dame Mary Her 'Chelsea look', with short skirts at its heart, went mainstream thanks in part to Quant's partnership with Twiggy, Britain's first supermodel Mary Quant, assisted by her friend and hair stylist Vidal Sassoon, centre, and TV personality Michael Parkinson, in 1972 Certain shops refused to stock miniskirts after Quant's designs shook Britain Mary Quant pictured with her Order of The British Empire in 1966 Twenty mini-skirted British models at Heathrow Airport, London, prior to their departure to Moscow as members of the British Clothing Export Council Mary Quant pictured leaving Buckingham Palace in London in 1966 A V&A exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career is set to open in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month Quant in 1967. Dame Mary, who once said 'fashion is a tool to compete in life outside the home', produced high-quality womenswear from the late 1970s onwards Born and brought up in Blackheath, south-east London, Dame Mary's parents refused to let her attend a fashion course so instead she studied illustration at Goldsmiths (Quant in 1967) Mary Quant is pictured at home, looking for inspirations as she brainstorms on the floor of her flat in Chelsea, 1968 The family statement continued: 'She opened her first shop Bazaar in the Kings Road in 1955 and her far-sighted and creative talents quickly established a unique contribution to British fashion. 'Credited with conceiving the miniskirt and hot pants and developing the mod style during that vibrant decade Mary put the fun in fashion and London became defined by the freedom, energy and popular culture of "The Chelsea Girl". 'The V&A's hugely successful Mary Quant exhibition covering the first 20 years of her career, 1955-1975, will open in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum next month after its international tour to Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan, and following its runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. 'At the time Dame Mary Quant was quoted as saying: "It was wonderfully exciting and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. We didn't necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge!!" 'Her husband Alexander Plunket Greene died in 1990 and she is survived by her son Orlando, three grandchildren and her brother Tony Quant.' Paying tribute, Alexandra Shulman, former editor in chief of British Vogue, today said: 'She was one of the truly influential figures in fashion and defined the way women thought about themselves. 'Her influence on both fashion and women's liberation cannot be underestimated. Her sleek, simple designs were a million miles from the kinds of shapes and costumes women were wearing in the 1950s. 'As well as short skirts, she had low-heeled pumps rather than high heels and her clothes entice you to behave in a different way after the formality of the past. 'Her clothes reflect the way the social changes of the 1960s, with young women taking the pill and working more. 'She was also one of the first designers who realised she was able to roll out a make up brand.' Models and a Yorkshire Terrier present daring designs by Mary Quant in London in 1967. Her clothes would help define the era Silver stockings by Mary Quant and bikini by Soukh worn by model Jenny Gassity in 1966 Mary Quant, right, waves as she poses with models, from left Amanda Tear, Rory Davis and Penny Yates, wearing her mod creations in 1968 Mary's 'dual control' designs - the name given to her short, slightly flared, summer shift dresses in 1966 Three members of English pop group The Tremeloes: Chip Hawkes, Alan Blakley and Dave Munden, kissing their brides Carol Dilworth, Lyn Stevens and Andree Wittenberg, in Trafalgar Square. All the women are wearing Mary Quant miniskirts Fashion designer Mary Quant pictured at work in 1967 Fashion guru and dress designer Mary Quant is pictured at her home in 1965 A model wears the Mary Quant Zipper Outfit by the Thames at Westminster, London, in 1967 Model wearing a sailor-inspired outfit from Mary Quant's spring/summer collection for 1972 Mary Quant with two models at the launch of her Ginger Group autumn collection in London, 1972 Mary in 1964 with her husband Alexander Plunket Greene Mary's shop, Bazaar, on the King's Road, Chelsea, in 1966 Dame Mary's sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs changed womenswear and defined the look of London in the 1960s. And her designs borrowed from men's clothing, blurring gender lines. Debate still rages whether it was Quant or French couturier Andre Courreges who invented the miniskirt. Regardless, extremely short skirts and shift dresses became Quant's trademark. She built a small boutique to a global fashion label and harnessed mass production to make fashion available for a whole generation of women. The Blackheath-born fashionista, the daughter of Welsh teachers, began designing in the 1950s, and her distinctive style began to blossom in an era of increased freedom with the birth of Swinging London. Her early boutique, Bazaar, sold out of the early dresses crafted in a bedsit. Her work broke down barriers at a time of great change in Britain, with short skirts, PVC raincoats, decorative underwear and masculine tailoring examples of Dame Mary's innovations. Before Quant, teenage girls were expected to dress like their mothers, in tweedy skirts and twinsets with pearls. Inspired by the streamlined designs of Coco Chanel and the flappers of the 1920s, Quant paired short tunic dresses with tights in ochre, plum, ginger and grape, creating a high-fashion version of outfits she'd worn as a child. A revolution was going on in music, film, food and theatre, but it was Mary, a self-taught designer, who defined the look. With her husband, Alexander Plunket Greene, she opened two boutiques the first, Bazaar, on the ground floor of their house in Chelsea. The day's sales paid for the cloth which was made up overnight into new stock for the following day. Frequented by the Chelsea Set, it offered a radically different shopping experience. Loud music, free drinks and bold window displays created a 'scene' that often kept going late into the evening. So that ordinary working women could afford her clothes, Quant created the cheaper diffusion line, Ginger Group, in 1963, sold in department stores around the country. As many as 7million women had at least one of her designs in their wardrobes, with more still wearing her cosmetics range. She was a powerful role model, with her influence extending beyond fashion. 'I didn't have time to wait for women's lib,' she famously declared. From a small boutique to a global fashion label, Mary Quant harnessed mass production to make fashion available for a whole generation of women. Pictured, in December 1966 Mary stops for a snap in her Knightsbridge shop in London on September 18, 1962 Models showing off their footwear with Mary (kneeling at the front) in London Model Clare Hunt poses during a photoshoot for Mary's designs Clare shows off a similar pose in a 1970 photo shoot, showcasing the cutting edge of fashion Model-turned-photographer Jill Kennington in a white Quant nightdress in a 1967 photoshoot Mary Quant with her seamstresses in 1964 Tracey Hunt in a near-Victorian outfit from the Mary Quant Collection in 1982 A selection of mini dresses and designs at the Mary Quant exhibition, Victoria and Albert Museum, London Models and a Yorkshire Terrier present creations from 1967 by the designer Spectators and models attending a fashion show of the British stylist Mary Quant in London, in the 1960s English fashion designer Mary Quant having her hair cut and styled by hairdresser Vidal Sassoon (who died in 2012) in his trademark bob cut style, London, 10 November 1964 Mannequins in a shop window display in the boutique 'Bazaar' on Kings Road, London, 1966. The shop was owned by Mary Quant Mary Quant at Bazaar Studio in 1964 Portrait of Fashion Designer Mary Quant photographed in November 1972 A model dons a Mary Quant bright red mini dress in 1966 in London Tina Louise is pictured in 1966 wearing a Mary Quant design Two women are pictured donning mini skirts in London in 1967. Mary Quant, the British queen of Swinging Sixties fashion introduced miniskirts and hot pants to the world Earlier this year, Dame Mary was appointed a Companion of Honour - a prestigious award given to those who have made a long-standing contribution to arts, science, medicine or government - in King Charles III's first honours list. She was made a dame in the 2015 New Year's Honours list, again for services to fashion, saying at the time it was 'the girls on King's Road who invented the mini. I wore them very short and the customers would say, "shorter, shorter''.' Born and brought up in Blackheath, London, south east London, Dame Mary's parents, both Welsh schoolteachers, refused to let her attend a fashion course so instead she studied illustration at Goldsmiths. It was there that she met her future husband and business partner, the aristocrat Alexander Plunket Greene. After graduating in 1953 with a diploma in art education, she began an apprenticeship at a high-end milliner. Two years later she opened her famous boutique, Bazaar, on the King's Road in Chelsea - and, frustrated with the clothes available on the wholesale market, the self-taught designer was soon stocking it with her own creations. Drawing on a range of influences including musicians and the Mods, she create what she called 'relaxed but bold clothes suited to the actions of normal life'. Most famously, her garments included short tunic dresses and tights in bright colours. Her designs proved a hit and a second Bazaar opened on the King's Road in 1957, with short skirts and shift dresses becoming her trademark. As well as the miniskirt - which became an international trend with the help of model Twiggy - Dame Mary also created the 'skinny rib' sweater and is credited with inventing hot pants in 1966. Her company expanded into the UK mass marker with new a new, cheaper line, Ginger Group, in 1963. She was awarded an OBE in 1966, opened a third shop in London's New Bond Street in 1967 and by the end of the decade it was estimated that up to 7million women had at least one of her products in their wardrobe, according to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Mary standing near to her fashion shop Bazaar, on Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, on 14 October 1960 Mary inside her shop Bazaar with examples of the shoes and hats that she designed Quant is pictured wearing a pink buttoned vest and black shirt underneath in 1975 Mary is pictured in 1979 Bianca Jagger (centre) and Mary (right) watching a show by designer Jasper Conran at London Fashion Week 2001 Mary Quant, Jenny Seagrove, Shirley Conran and Sian Phillips, (bottom) Lynda Bellingham, Lynda La Plante and Sinead Cusack at the Mothers in Management, Work + Life Balance conference in 1999 Mary and artist David Hockney at the Royal Academy of Arts during the Golden Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth on May 22, 2002 Model and photographer Pattie Boyd has remembered Dame Mary as a 'true icon' Professor Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, where Mary studied for an art diploma in 1950, said: 'Dame Mary was a pioneer who made an indelible mark on society through her visionary work' (pictured on 26 June 2007) Miss Finland dressed in Marinekko, Miss France in Emmanuelle Khanh, Miss Italy in Emilio Pucci, Miss England in Mary Quant and Miss Switzerland in Geneva in 1966 She married Alexander Plunket Greene in 1957. He died in 1990. They had one son (pictured together in 1967) Mary Quant is pictured at home with her husband Alexander Plunket Greene at her flat off King's Road, Chelsea, in London in 1967 Dame Mary, who once said 'fashion is a tool to compete in life outside the home', later produced high quality womenswear from the late 1970s onwards. She married Alexander Plunket Greene in 1957. He died in 1990. They had one son. The official Twitter account of the Victoria & Albert Museum, which recently hosted an exhibition about Dame Mary Quant's designs, shared a tribute reading: 'It's impossible to overstate Quant's contribution to fashion. 'She represented the joyful freedom of 1960s fashion, and provided a new role model for young women. 'Fashion today owes so much to her trailblazing vision.' A V&A exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career from 1955 to 1975 is set to open in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month following an international tour which included Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan and runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. At the time, Dame Mary said: 'It was wonderfully exciting and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. 'We didn't necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge'. Model and photographer Pattie Boyd has remembered Dame Mary Quant as a 'true icon' after her death. Boyd told on her Facebook page how the fashion designer made her and her former husband George Harrison's wedding coats. She also shared an image from the ceremony in 1996 which shows her and the Beatles star donning the fur coats. She wrote: 'Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant. 'Mary insisted on making George's and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. A true icon. RIP.' Professor Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, where Dame Mary Quant studied for an art diploma in 1950, said: 'Dame Mary was a pioneer who made an indelible mark on society through her visionary work. Quant is pictured alongside fellow fashion designer Jasper Conran at his show at Somerset House after the show on September 20, 2009 Mary pictured dressing a model in an outfit in Paris, on June 17, 2004 Twiggy and Mary Quant are with Pantene Pro-V Awards for the Year 2000 on October 19, 2000 Mary in 2012 taking part in her very own 'Living The Life' programme with Sky Arts alongside Alexandra Shulman which was first aired on 12 December that year Dame Mary, who once said 'fashion is a tool to compete in life outside the home', later produced high quality womenswear from the late 1970s onwards. 'Her studies at Goldsmiths came as Britain was emerging into a new world, and her creations played a part in helping empower women during this changing time. 'She was one of the original disruptors, whose trend-setting work changed the way we thought as well as how we dressed. This profound impact took us from the black and white world of the 1950s to the technicolour brilliance of the 1960s and beyond. 'Dame Mary always spoke fondly of her time at Goldsmiths - remembering it as a "great place to go, for causing trouble!". We are proud that we played a part in helping develop her vision and are grateful for the support she continued to give our students. 'We have lost a cherished member of the Goldsmiths community and send our thoughts to Dame Mary's family at this sad time.' Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner squirmed today as she was quizzed about why she hasn't personally promoted the party's controversial new ad campaign. A series of posters have been created by Labour attacking Rishi Sunak and the Prime Minister's family over a series of issues. One claimed Mr Sunak 'doesn't believe' adults convicted of sexually assaulting children should go to prison, as Labour attempted to highlight the Tories' record on jailing offenders. Another poster took aim at the non-dom tax status previously enjoyed by the PM's wife, Akshata Murty, as Britons endure the highest tax burden in 70 years. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been widely criticised for the new attack ads aimed at the PM - particularly over the claim that Mr Sunak doesn't want child sex abusers to go to prison - including from within his own party. Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner squirmed as she was quizzed about why she hasn't personally promoted the party's controversial new ad campaign A series of posters have been created by Labour attacking Rishi Sunak and the Prime Minister's family over a series of issues. Sir Keir Starmer, pictured with shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves in Great Yarmouth yesterday, has said he will make 'no apologies for highlighting the failures of this Government' The ad campaign, launched during Parliament's Easter recess, has also caused splits within Sir Keir's top team, with some shadow ministers reportedly uncomfortable with the strategy. Many Labour MPs have been reluctant to promote the posters on their personal social media pages. Appearing on Sky News today, Ms Rayner was quizzed about why she had not shared any of the attack ads on her Twitter account. 'I was away with my children last week, so I was not necessarily on my social media as much as I normally would be,' the Labour deputy leader said. 'But I do think it's right that we highlight these issues. We should be highlighting the situation with criminals at the moment who are getting away with it. 'These are serious crimes, and the government and the Prime Minister is responsible for setting the framework for the criminal justice system and they failed to protect the public.' Ms Rayner was challenged about why she had posted other messages to her Twitter account over the past week but not shared the attack ads, as she was asked if she was 'holding your nose, because you think they're going a bit far'. 'Not at all,' she replied. 'These are hard-hitting ads about the Government's failure on crime. And I think it's right that we highlight that.' Mr Sunak yesterday called for 'less talk, more action' from politicians as he hit back against Labour's controversial poster accusing him of not wanting child sex abusers to be jailed. But Sir Keir said he will make 'no apologies for highlighting the failures of this Government'. Amid the furious backlash against the Labour campaign, there has been a focus on Sir Keir's past role as head of the Crown Prosecution Service. It has emerged how Sir Keir helped decide the current sentencing guidelines for child sex abusers, which were adopted in 2012. The now Labour leader sat on the Sentencing Council when it was agreed the crime should not get an automatic prison sentence, although a maximum of 14 years in jail was set. Cyclone Ilsa is bearing down on the northern coast of Western Australia, bringing 315km/h winds and strong rain. Residents living near the coast in between Bidyadanga and De Grey coast areas were earlier ordered to seek shelter or evacuate their homes immediately. The Department of Fire and Emergency issued a red alert for the Pilbara and Kimberley coastline, WA Today said. This means locals in the area including 15,000 people in Port Hedland need to stay indoors until the alert is lifted. 'There is a possible threat to lives and homes as a cyclone is approaching the area,' Emergency WA warned on Thursday morning. Cyclone Ilsa has upgraded into a Category 5 storm, and is set to lash the coast between Port Hedland and Bidyadanga in WA's Pilbara region on Thursday night or Friday morning (pictured, a satellite loop shows the cyclone moving toward the Pilbara coast) The cyclone will bring heavy rainfall and severe winds to parts of WA's coast 'You need to take action and get ready to shelter from a cyclone.' Residents in the areas affected have been told to go their nearest evacuation centre, keep an emergency kit with canned food, water and medication with them, and move all cars under cover. Flood warnings have also been issued for those in West Kimberley, De Grey River, Sandy Desert, Warburton District Rivers, Salt Lakes District Rivers (North west of Laverton) and Western Desert Districts. 'A severe impact will occur along the coast and adjacent inland parts to the east of Port Hedland and west of Bidyadanga, most likely between Pardoo Roadhouse and Wallal Downs, later tonight or early Friday morning,' the BOM said. 'During Friday, Ilsa is forecast to maintain tropical cyclone intensity as it tracks past Telfer and further inland across the Northern Interior district. 'The system is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength overnight Friday as it moves east into southern parts of the Northern Territory.' Port Hedland Mayor Peter Carter said residents were preparing for the impact of the cyclone, with evacuation centres set up in the town. 'Everyone is on edge,' Mr Carter told ABC TV on Thursday. 'They understand that cyclones are what they are. They're very, very unpredictable.' Mr Carter urged people to watch out for household objects turning into flying debris. 'All our residents are basically putting away their barbecues and outdoor furniture,' he said. HOW TO PREPARE FOR A CYCLONE Know the alerts There are four kinds of cyclone alerts: Blue - start preparing for a cyclone Yellow - prepare for the cyclone's arrival Red - seek shelter indoors, it is too late to leave Clear - the cyclone has passed Prepare your property If a cyclone alert is issued for your area ensure all outdoor furniture is secured, tape or cover glass windows that could shatter in a storm and identify the strongest room in your home. It's important to know how to turn off your supply of water, electricity and gas. Water supplies can become contaminated in major weather events, ensure you have an adequate supply. Prepare an emergency kit People living in high-risk cyclone areas should have constant access to an emergency kit which can be added to once an alert is issued. Permanently in the kit should be: Emergency contact details and identification documents Non-perishable food and utensils A battery-operated radio and torch with spare batteries Non-perishable medical supplies and a firstaid kit Bedding and spare clothes (including protective items like footwear and goggles) To add to the kit once an alert is issued: At least five days' worth of food, water and medicine Mobile phone chargers Cash Perishable food Advertisement MORE TO COME She said that God 'hates sexual immorality of all kinds' during the anti-LGBTQ + speech in Tennessee Former SNL star Victoria Jackson went on an unpromoted rant about homosexuality at a city council meeting in Franklin, Tennessee. The 63-year-old comedian previously quit the show to live a 'pious life', and got up to the podium to slam the gay community at the meeting to discuss a gay pride parade. She said: 'God hates sodomy. He hates homosexuality. He said it's an abomination. God hates sexual immorality of all kinds. 'And God hates pride. Proverbs 11:12: When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. 'The Lord detests all the proud of heart. Be sure of this: They will not go unpunished. 'Proverbs 16:18: Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.' Former SNL star Victoria Jackson got up to the podium to slam the gay community at the meeting to discuss a gay pride parade 'And Sodom and Gomorrah proves that God hates sodomy, and sexual immorality and pride and it's still there, and archaeologists have uncovered it.' Jackson ended her impassioned rant by encouraging the generation to 'not be brainwashed', telling them to watch Becket Cook's videos on YouTube. Cook has been documenting his journey from gay atheist to Christian on the website. But locals were quick to slam Jackson's outburst, writing that she is a 'hateful bats***t crazy person.'. One said: 'It's sad when a person who was once funny goes down such an awful path. And it's also sad that Victoria Jackson turned out this way.' Another said: 'If you were wondering what happened to Victoria Jackson from SNL thirty-some years ago (you weren't), she's a hateful bats**t crazy person who spews judgmental nonsense at town halls.' A third said: 'For years, I've assumed Victoria Jackson is doing one long piece of performance art. A long con. An Aristocrats! if you will,' mused a third. Jackson performed on SNL from 1986 to 1992 and left the show to play a Vegas showgirl opposite George Clooney but the sitcom was ultimately never aired. Jackson ended her impassioned rant by encouraging the generation to 'not be brainwashed', telling them to watch Becket Cook's videos on YouTube The former actress also criticized the FOX drama 'Glee' for showing a 'sickening' gay kiss between two male actors She also mounted a failed political run in 2014, losing her bid as an independent candidate for a seat on a county commission in Tennessee She then appeared on 'Politically Incorrect With Bill Maher' and performed comedy sets around the country. In 2007, she joined a Hollywood conservative group called Friends of Abe and publicly accused former President Barack Obama of being an 'Islamic jihadist'. The former actress also criticized the FOX drama 'Glee' for showing a 'sickening' gay kiss between two male actors. She also mounted a failed political run in 2014, losing her bid as an independent candidate for a seat on a county commission in Tennessee claiming that her political and religious beliefs made it difficult for her to get showbiz jobs. Jackson claimed that she was 'blacklisted' for her views, telling the Minneapolis Star Tribune in August: 'The only people you can make fun of is blondes dumb blonde jokes. You can't make fun of Muslims, or you die.' She also slammed recent SNL seasons, adding: 'Now the agenda is so blatant. It's obvious that they want to push a far-left agenda to indoctrinate a new generation. 'They couldn't even tell a joke about Obama. When Alec Baldwin does [former President Donald] Trump, it's done with hate. When we did political figures, it was with love and humor.' In 2007, she joined a Hollywood conservative group called Friends of Abe and publicly accused former President Barack Obama of being an 'Islamic jihadist' A Burger King franchise with more than 100 locations nationally will close locations across six states having reportedly racked up $14mn in debt. Meridian Restaurants Unlimited filed for bankruptcy in March, struggling with rising food costs and poor sales. Court filings previously revealed the company was closing 27 stores in Minnesota, Utah, Montana, Kansas, Nebraska and North Dakota. The franchisee said it was 'possible, if not likely' they would be pressed to close more stores as they negotiated rent and operational improvements with landlords. Burger King has had to close stores across the country as owners struggle to negotiate rent and profits fall as food and wage costs soar. Meridian will close more than 100 stores in six states as profits have been hit hard Meridian previously sought approval to shut 23 restaurants at the end of March, before putting forward another four for closure in April. The company hoped that the closure of 27 locations would be enough to ensure no more stores need to shut. But Meridian has struggled to bring back customers since the pandemic. The company, founded by vbDavid Harper 21 years ago in 2002, also faced rising wages for staff and rising food costs, which are ultimately pushed onto the customer. Harper worked in a number of senior roles at pizza companies before starting his own venture. Meridian reports to have had more than 2,500 team members. Meridian also owns a number of Black Bear Diner locations. While restaurants appear to have recovered ground since Covid, the added pressures of the cost-of-living crisis have deterred customers. Burger King reportedly brings in $1.4mn in sales per location on average, The Sun reported. But some of Meridian's restaurants had been losing money for years, the court filings showed. Restaurant Brands International reported Burger King's $250mn investment plan to modernize 3,000 restaurants nationwide in a bid to bring back customers. $50mn of capital will be used alongside a 'comparable investment' from franchisees themselves to retouch restaurants with new tech, equipment and building upgrades. The remaining $200mn will go towards funding for some 800 restaurant remodel projects. This will include changing the company's existing incentive model and offering wider financial support to operators. Burger King is looking to 'reset' with $250mn of investment as stores nationwide struggle Burger King sells its Royal Reset as a repositioning for profitability through consistent investment and 'quality execution'. A statement read: 'The remodel program represents a shift toward higher quality remodels and creates a viable path toward modernizing the system. 'Through a more thoughtful approach and increased funding, we are establishing support for our Franchisees to address their most important investments and lay the foundation for sales and profitability growth in the years to come.' Burger King's Chief Operating Officer, Tom Curtis, told RBI: 'I think that where we have the most opportunity is really redefining or defining who we are - having a relevant and distinct voice.' MailOnline contacted Meridian for comment. Feinstein asked to be temporarily replaced on Judiciary panel, and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has agreed Nancy Pelosi has blasted calls for Dianne Feinstein to resign as sexist. Democrats are scrambling to fill the California senator's seat on the powerful Judiciary committee after she asked to be temporarily replaced, amid a prolonged absence on Capital Hill due to shingles. Two male House Democrats demanded she resign, but Pelosi, the speaker emeritus, defended her fellow lawmaker. 'Senator Feinstein has been a champion for California for 20 years,' Pelosi told CBS News. 'She deserves that respect to get well and be back on duty. 'It's interesting to me. I don't know what political agendas are at work that are going after Senator Feinstein in that way. I've never seen them go after a man who was sick in the Senate in that way,' she added. Feinstein, 89, has spent nearly two months away from the Capitol recovering from shingles. Her absence, combined with Senator John Fetterman's hospital stay, has proven problematic for Democrats, whose tight majority makes it difficult to pass legislation or confirm President Joe Biden's appointees without all their lawmakers present. Nancy Pelosi blasted calls for Senator Dianne Feinstein to resign as sexist The California senator has missed nearly 60 votes since her shingles diagnosis in mid-February. But there have been male senators who served to an advanced age and amid questions about their health, including Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Strom Thurmond of South Carolina. Bryd died in office and Thurmond retired after he became the only lawmaker to reach the age of 100 in office. The calls for Feinstein's resignation came ahead of lawmakers returning to Washington D.C. next week after a two-week legislative break. It also comes as judges are in the spotlight with the recent ruling by a Texas judge affecting use of the most commonly used abortion drug in the U.S. After Rep. Ro Khanna, also of California, and Rep. Dean Phillips took to social media to call for her to step down, Feinstein asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to appoint a temporary replacement for her on the Senate Judiciary Committee, which handles judicial confirmations. Democrats can't move forward with Biden's judicial nominees without Feinstein's vote. Schumer agreed to the replacement but hasn't said who he will name to the spot. Additionally, he will need Republican cooperation to replace Feinstein and it's unclear if GOP senators, who oppose Biden's judicial nominees, will do so. To replace Feinstein, Democrats would need to pass a resolution on the Senate floor, which requires Republican votes to move it through the legislative process. Or Schumer could ask for unanimous consent to replace Feinstein but that would require that no Republican senator objects. Khanna told CNN on Thursday morning that the fact Republicans can easily block replacing Feinstein on the committee has him worried. 'It's not that simple. Any single senator, Republican senator, can object to that,' he said. 'We have to see if that's even possible. And I guess my question is, why not just take the step and resign instead of going through all of these motions.' He noted it's 'become painfully obvious to many of us in California that she is no longer able to fulfill her duties as she doesn't have a clear return date. We haven't been able to confirm judges at a time where women's rights and voting rights are under assault.' 'The time has come for her to gracefully step down and have a dignified end to a very distinguished political career.' Feinstein is the oldest sitting U.S. senator and the longest serving female senator. She has already said she won't seek re-election in 2024 but she has pushed back against calls for her to resign. But she still has nearly two years left on her term in office. And her resignation could complicate the race to replace her as Democratic Governor Gavin Newsom of California would have to appoint a successor. Senator Dianne Feinstein has said she won't seek re-election in 2024 but has resisted calls to resign Stricken with shingles, Feinstein on Wednesday issues this official statement revealing she has asked Senate Leader Chuck Schumer 'to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve' on the judiciary panel 'until I'm able to resume my committee work' Questions about Feinstein's mental acuity have been going around for months. And multiple Democrats fear that she may never come back to Washington at all, Politico reported, with people who have visited her in California reporting that shingles has taken a heavy toll on her. In her statement on Wednesday evening, Feinstein did not name a return date but did ask Schumer 'to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve' on the judiciary panel 'until I'm able to resume my committee work.' 'I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee,' she said. Feinstein said she would return to Washington when her doctors allowed but, until then, was working from California. 'When I was first diagnosed with shingles, I expected to return by the end of the March work period, Feinstein said. 'Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis.' She added: 'I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises 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.' Schumer said he would ask the Senate to allow her replacement when lawmakers return to D.C. next week after their spring recess. 'Per Sen. Feinstein's wishes, Majority Leader Schumer will ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic Senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee,' his office said in a statement. Democrats have a scant 51-seat majority and have faced several absences this year including that of Fetterman, the newly-elected senator from Pennsylvania. He spent about six weeks at Walter Reed hospital being treated for clinical depression and is scheduled to return to the Senate on Monday. Vice President Kamala Harris has broken several ties to confirm judicial nominees on the Senate floor in her role as president of the Senate., But action in the Judiciary Committee, which must hold confirmation hearings and then vote to send nominees to the Senate floor, has been postponed due to Feinstein's absence. There are currently 14 pending judicial nominees who have had hearings but have not gotten a vote in committee. 'I'm anxious, because I can't really have a markup of new judge nominees until she's there,' Democratic Senator Richard Durbin, the chairman of the Judiciary Committee, told Politico last month. The Judiciary Committee has a packed schedule for this spring. Durbin plans to hold a hearing to examine the fallout of Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade. He's also promised action in the wake of a ProPublica report that Justice Clarence Thomas accepted luxury travel from a billionaire conservative donor that the justice failed to disclose. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he will name a replacement for Dianne Feinstein on the Senate Judiciary Committee Feinstein was first elected to the senate in 1992. She's pictured as Mayor of San Francisco - the city's first woman - in 1978 On Wednesday, two House Democrats said Feinstein should resign, claiming they were saying in public what many members of their party argue in private. Hours earlier, in a somewhat unprecedented move indicative of the outlandish situation, two house democrats demanded Feinstein resign after 31 years of representing San Francisco in Washington. Rep. Ro Khanna was the first to publicly call for Feinstein to step down. 'It's time for @SenFeinstein to resign,' he wrote on Twitter. 'We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty,' he said. 'While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties.' He added that 'not speaking out undermines our [House members'] credibility as elected representatives.' Later Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota voiced his agreement with Khanna. 'Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable,' Phillips tweeted. 'But I believe it's now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet.' Feinstein, 89, made the declaration roughly two hours after Rep. Ro Khanna (left), also of California, and Rep. Dean Phillips took to social media to demand she step down due to an ongoing, two-month medical absence 'It's time for @SenFeinstein to resign,' the 46-year-old Democrat wrote in a post to Twitter that has already been read nearly 2million times He chimed in to say that he agrees with Khanna, but also commended Feinstein for her years of service - not only as a senator, but as San Francisco's first female male in the late 70s Both posts have since gone viral. The race to replace Feinstein in 2024 is already competitive with several Democrats running to fill the Senate seat that hasn't been vacant for 30 years. Reps. Adam Schiff, Katie Porter and Barbara Lee have all announced for the job. Lee is black. If a replacement would need to be appointed to fill Feinstein's seat and Gov. Newsom keeps his promise to name a black woman, all eyes would turn to Lee who, if appointed to serve out the rest of Feinsteins term, could run for a full term with the advantage of incumbency. A GOP challenger, GOP attorney Eric Early, threw hit his hat in the race Tuesday, officially launching his bid in a new campaign video. But California has a jungle primary, meaning the top two contenders, regardless of party, move forward to the general election. That means the heavily-Democratic state could see two Democrats running in the November 2024 election. Eight serving and former Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of gross misconduct and now face being dismissed over 'discriminatory and offensive' messages they shared, including some which made fun of Katie Price's disabled son. The officers - seven men and one woman - were found to have sent sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic and ableist comments in a WhatsApp group called 'Secret Squirrel S***' between May 17, 2016 and June 26, 2018. Legal chair Christopher McKay described gross misconduct as a 'breach of the standards of professional behaviour that is so serious as to justify dismissal', during the fifth day of hearings at Palestra House in Southwark, central London, on Thursday. He found each former and serving officer to have committed gross misconduct over their own messages, as well as by 'failing to challenge or report' the conduct of others in the group. The hearing concerned former sergeant Luke Thomas, former acting sergeant Luke Allen, former Pc Kelsey Buchan, former Pc Carlo Francisco, former Pc Lee South, former Pc Darren Jenner, Pc Glynn Rees, and Officer B, who has been granted anonymity. Harvey Price was targeted by officers in the WhatsApp group messages Mr Price is the son of former glamour model Katie Price, who has spoken out about the abuse he has received Price was sent a letter detailing the misconduct claims before the hearing, which she shared on her Instagram account earlier this year Their messages included derogatory comments about 20-year-old Mr Price, who suffers from Prader-Willi syndrome and autism, and about a junior female officer, known in the hearings as Officer A. Mr Price's mother Katie Price had previously shared a letter from the Met Police documenting the disciplinary proceedings against the group. In the letter, which was addressed to Ms Price and dated January 26, an investigator from the Discrimination Investigation Unit within the Professional Standards Department of the Met Police informed her that 'a number of Metropolitan Police officers are alleged to have breached the Standards of Professional Behaviour in regards to Discreditable Conduct for being part of a WhatsApp group chat that has posted inappropriate and derogatory images of your son, Harvey Price'. Mr McKay said Officer B, who can be named at the end of proceedings, posted an edited photograph of Mr Price in the chat with the caption: 'You've heard of elf on a shelf, now get ready for Harvey Price eating Uncle Ben's basmati rice after trying to read three blind mice on spice.' Mr McKay said: 'The rhyme has a racist tone and refers to his disability - he is partially sighted. 'There is no need to refer to Uncle Ben's rice unless pointing to the racial origins of Uncle Ben and Harvey Price being similar. 'The words "trying to read" also highlight his disability.' Mr McKay said the post was a 'significant breach of the standard of equality and diversity', 'inappropriate and offensive' to Mr Price, and constitutes 'gross misconduct'. The panel found the most senior-ranking officer in the group, Mr Thomas, 'appears to have been one of the most active participants'. Mr Thomas mocked Mr Price's weight in some messages, called Officer A 'f****** ugly', and joked that he should name his dog 'Auschwitz', 'Adolf' or 'Fred' or 'Ian' after 'my two favourite child sex killers' [Fred West and Ian Brady]. Mr McKay said: 'Given his supervisory role as a sergeant, he failed to adequately supervise or guide his team in respect of conduct. 'His failings are extremely serious. 'He could and should have closed the WhatsApp group as soon as the highly inappropriate nature of the messages became apparent. 'Instead he became one of its main contributors. This was undoubtedly gross misconduct.' A male GP was prevented from donating blood to the Scottish NHS because he refused to sign a form saying he was not pregnant. Dr Steffen McAndrew, 41, booked an appointment at a blood donation centre in Ayr on Tuesday evening. However, he was told by a nurse he could not continue unless he confirmed he was not carrying a child. 'I can't believe they would refuse a donation from a man based on the fact I refused to say if I was pregnant,' he told the Herald. 'I just wish basic common sense could be applied in these situations. A man can't be pregnant.' Dr Steffen McAndrew, 41, booked an appointment at a blood donation centre in Ayr on Tuesday evening Dr McAndrew, who works at a surgery in Prestwick, said he did not want to answer the pregnancy question because he refused to 'placate the gender brigade'. 'I can understand those who have suggested, ''just tick the box'', to enable a donation. However it is the principle of the matter.' The GP said the question on the form had been marked as mandatory, meaning anyone who did not answer it would not be allowed to donate. As recently as March, the Scottish National Blood Transfusion Service was urging people to donate to ensure supplies were not depleted. A spokeswoman for the SNBTS said it had been asking potential blood donors if they were pregnant since April last year 'for donor safety'. 'Giving blood may be harmful for individuals who are pregnant, or who have been pregnant recently,' she said. 'We appreciate that for many donors (including some female donors such as post menopausal donors) this question will not be relevant.' However, he was told by a nurse he could not continue unless he confirmed he was not carrying a child The spokeswoman said the wording of the question had now been changed 'following donor feedback'. 'We are planning to update the wording of the question to ''Are you pregnant, or have you been pregnant in the last six months? (If not applicable, please tick no)''. 'This is likely to be implemented at the next donor health check update due in Summer 2023.' It follows news health chiefs in England are planning on forking out 100,000 on a scheme to teach NHS staff how to treat pregnant transgender men inclusively. The initiative could encourage the use of gender-neutral terms such as 'chest-feeding' or 'expressing milk' instead of breastfeeding. Other trusts promoting similar inclusivity have automated systems alerting midwives to patients' preferred pronouns. The six-figure contract, posted by NHS England, aims to 'improve inclusion of trans and non-binary people accessing maternity services'. An explosives team was called to the Dutch Parliament earlier today to investigate a 'suspect situation' after a far-right populist leader was sent a 'teddy bear with wiring'. The building that houses the national parliament in The Hague was subsequently evacuated while emergency responders investigated a possible bomb alert. Geert Wilders, the leader of the populist far-right Freedom Party (PVV), said that a suspicious package of a teddy bear with wiring had been sent to him. Members of parliament and officials were all escorted out for a short while and the surroundings of the building were cleared as experts examined the package. It was soon established that the bomb threat was a false alert and parliamentary business was able to resume. Geert Wilders the leader of the populist far-right Freedom Party (PVV) said that a suspicious package of a teddy bear with wiring had been sent to him Police at the House of Representatives in The Hague, The Netherlands, 13 April, 2023 Dutch anti-Islam politician Geert Wilders said a fake bomb addressed to him had been the cause of the evacuation. Wilders Tweeted earlier: 'A package with a teddy bear and wires addressed to me was delivered to the mail room of parliament.' 'Luckily without explosives and not dangerous, but certainly no fun.' Wilders, whose far-right Freedom Party has become the Netherlands' second-largest, has been living under tight security measures for years due to continued threats over his safety. Committee halls and the mail room were all evacuated by officials amid the threat on Thursday afternoon at around 12.30pm. Police and security cordoned off several entrances amid the threat, but some rooms on the ground floor of the building remained open, as did the main public entrance. The Hague police earlier announced on Twitter that 'due to a suspicious situation, we are investigating a building.' 'The area has been cordoned off and the Explosives Safety Team, among others, is investigating,' they added. Local police said an explosives team had investigated a package at the building in downtown The Hague and had subsequently allowed people to reenter, about an hour after they had been ordered to leave. Committee rooms were temporarily vacated and the area was cordoned off as officials inspected a suspect package in the House of Representatives in The Hague Rooms were emptied at the House of Representatives in The Hague as police inspected a suspect package Geert Wilders has long faced threats over his safety for his populist far-right views. He and his party have both advocated banning the Quaran and limiting Muslim migration into the Netherlands. In 2017, he compared the holy book to Mein Kampf and compared mosques to Nazi temples. Both episodes of 'Waco Untold: The British Stories' are available now on ITVX ITVX delves into the lives of Brits who were reeled in by Branch Davidians sect A powerful new documentary has revealed the stories of 23 Britons who were killed when US law enforcement agencies stormed the burning Texas compound of cult leader David Koresh in 1993. Marking 30 years since the siege, the two-part docuseries produced by ITVX speaks to British survivors, relatives of those who died, US law enforcement officers and cult experts to paint a vivid picture of events. Derek Lovelock, a man from Manchester who travelled to Waco and survived the siege, tells how he left his life in Manchester behind only to discover his leader's insanity when it was already too late. And Gail Monbelly explains how her sister Bernadette succumbed to the clutches of the madman's group. Using new testimony and reconstructions, the documentary series depicts how Koresh travelled to Britain to recruit Seventh Day Adventists to his sect - the Branch Davidians - and explores how he managed to convince them he was the son of God. As well as secret FBI audio recordings during the negotiations, the program features rare camcorder footage of UK residents inside the compound for the first time after they headed for Texas to worship Koresh. The series also delves into how authorities realized something was badly wrong there, leading to an intense 51-day stand-off which culminated in a massive gunfight and sparked a blaze that engulfed the compound and killed 86 people. Here, MailOnline previews both episodes of ITVX's docuseries 'Waco Untold: The British Stories'. The Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, is shown engulfed by flames in this April 20, 1993, file photo Cult leader David Koresh is pictured Waco, Texas: FBI And ATF Agents Sifting Through Rubble Following The Branch Davidian Fire Agents from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and local Texan authorities shown in a file photo dated 26 March 1993 standing at a checkpoint near the Branch Davidian compound The two-part documentary begins by explaining how Koresh, born Vernon Howell, travelled to Israel in 1985, became convinced he was a prophet, then took over the Mount Carmel complex outside Waco as the leader of the Branch Davidians. In 1988, he visited Newbold College in Berkshire, speaking at unauthorized meetings. Albert Yates, a former police superintendent who gave evidence at the inquest into the deaths of Brits at Waco, says: 'David Koresh was a very, very convincing person. And when you're searching for answers to something as complex as the second coming of Jesus Christ and Koresh appears to be providing the answers, you're vulnerable. In their vulnerability they wanted to believe.' Once he returned to America, his closest disciple Steve Schneider spoke to students. Dimplets Taylor, who attended meetings, says: 'I think it was a brainwashing situation By the time he had finished speaking to the group they were just thinking that there's a better life somewhere, let's pack our bags and go and see.' Psychology student Diana, 28, decided to join Koresh in Texas. Sam Henry, her father, says after he visited her in Texas and was perturbed by speaking to Koresh, his wife and the rest of his five children moved there without him: 'I came back to Manchester, England, and I told my wife what transpired between me and David Koresh. She never said a word, but my wife began to attend these meetings. It never dawned on me that she would join them.' Sam's family was joined by Cliff, whose sister Elaine explains how he told her about his move: 'They were telling him that he was an incredibly talented artist and they were going to get him on a fantastic art course, which would help promote his art skills I felt a little bit uncomfortable about it. But equally, I was excited for him because this sounded like an amazing opportunity. ' Meanwhile, Derek Lovelock, 35, gave up his life in Manchester. He explains his motivations: 'My life really changed when I met David Koresh. A better way of living. A better way of thinking. That's what it was to me.' But once people had joined Koresh's cult, his motivation changed and money became a key factor. Dimplets says: 'People had sold their property and given their money to David, and they were even told to get in touch with their family to get them to sell their property.' By 1989, Koresh had introduced a new way of living at Mount Carmel - 'The New Light' - and annulled all marriages of those staying at the compound. Marc Breault says: 'I was aware that he was sleeping with other women. And then Koresh took me aside and he said, you know, his favorite wife was the 12-year-old. And I didn't know what to do because he had the blessing of the parents. That was really the start of, okay, I got to think about this now.' For the British families of those at the compound, concerns were rising. Michael Johnson, the nephew of cult member Winston Blake, says: 'I remember my mother on the phone to Uncle Winston and she was saying, you need to come home And then the next thing I heard was him saying it's not that easy I think that's when alarm bells started ringing.' By this time the local newspaper had become interested in Mount Carmel. Reporter Darlene McCormick Sanchez says she got a call from Australia, where Mark Breault and his wife had moved and contacted the authorities: 'They were concerned that young girls were being raped and that some small children were being abused and that David Koresh was in total control out there.' Koresh's compound is seen ablaze in this camcorder footage Derek Lovelock gave up his life in Manchester to join Koresh in Texas. He survived and tells his story to ITVX Darlene called the FBI about their concerns, but no intervention came. Koresh had started talking about a battle to the death, says Derek: 'A literal battle where people were going to be killed. It said in the scriptures, you know, they talked about this, sacrificing your life for God.' Only when the ATF - the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms - was informed about grenades being delivered to Mount Carmel did the authorities consider intervening. As they staged up near the compound, a news crew accidentally tipped off a postman who was part of the cult, meaning Koresh had 40 minutes to prepare. Local sheriff Parnell McNamara says: 'So Koresh has a call to arms. Everybody get the guns.' In the initial firefight with authorities, Koresh was hit by gunfire, and the families inside realized the deadly nature of what they faced. Cult member Sheila Martin says: 'I realized my little handicapped boy was in front of the window and he was screaming. The shots from outside started coming through and I kept wondering, is this how he's gonna die?' The second half of the program explores the response by the US authorities that led to the 51-day siege, their approach, what life was like for those inside the Mount Carmel compound with David Koresh, and the continuing impact from it. It also looks at the British authorities' involvement. ITV News US correspondent Bill Neely, who was at the scene, says: 'Waco was 30 years ago. And you might think it's history. It doesn't really matter any more but the aftershocks of Waco are still alive today.' On February 28, federal agents launched their first assault, but failed to make the Davidians stand down. One of Koresh's British followers, Derek Lovelock, says: 'It was in prophecy. But who started it? Who made it come true? The authorities, didn't they? They attacked it and they made it come true.' After their failed assault, ATF agents were ordered to stand down and the FBI took charge. With more than 100 people inside including children, multiple armoured vehicles, including tanks, were now circling the compound while negotiations started. On the first night, a small group of children was released. Sheila Martin, who had been inside, eventually was released, and says: 'Once David started negotiating with the negotiators about these tapes and coming out, the thought of death and what's going to happen to us, I think that left us.' In Britain, watching the scenes unfold, relatives unable to speak directly to their loved ones felt they were being kept in the dark. Elaine Sellors, whose brother Cliff had joined the cult, says: 'We tried to ask the authorities if they could find out and nothing happened. We just didn't get any help or any response at all. And I think we just felt totally helpless.' The FBI's tactical and negotiating teams came into conflict, says FBI behavioral scientist Gregg McCrary, when it came to how to flush out the Branch Davidians. He says: 'The negotiators were totally opposed to this playing of music, shining bright lights in here, playing sounds of Tibetan chants.' ATF agents storm Koresh's compound Cult member Sheila Martin says: 'I realised my little handicapped boy was in front of the window and he was screaming. The shots from outside started coming through and I kept wondering, is this how he's gonna die?' The sister of cult member Bernadette Monbelly tells how her sister was lost to the cult David Koresh's lawyer Dick DeGuerin says there was a surrender plan in place: 'The only ethical advice that a lawyer can give to a client or potential client who's wanted by the police is you have to surrender. So we basically had a plan in place for that to happen.' The deal was with the help of two religious scholars - one of whom, Phil Arnold, says: 'We made the point that his prophecy so far had only reached a few people, and therefore he should surrender so that the second phase of his work could begin - maybe from prison.' But they didn't know other FBI supervisors were in Washington trying to convince the attorney general Janet Reno to send in the tanks and tear gas. On April 19, the order to send in tanks was given. Derek, who was inside the compound, says: 'The tank came through the front of the building, straight into the chapel, all the way back to the workshop swinging its barrel around like that, the people in that tank could have killed us and nobody would have known any better. That was really scary.' While Sheila Martin had been released, at that moment nearly 80 Branch Davidians were still inside the compound, including her four eldest children. She says: 'They seemed to think that once this tear gas or whatever they sent into the building, that everything was just going to be a few hours. And I just kept thinking I eventually would see my other children.' Cameras caught the moment smoke started pouring from the building. Gail Monbelly, whose sister Bernadette, 31, was inside, said: 'I had come home from work and the phone rang and my mum was on the other end of the phone and she said, 'There's been a fire'. And I said, ''What fire?'' And my mum said, ''Just put the TV on'', and she hung up on me. It was a surreal experience. The thought of knowing that my sister would never come back. It was the first time I heard my dad cry out in pain.' Derek describes the scenes inside: 'It was so hot in there it was melting kitchen appliances. I recognized some of the voices and I heard them scream out and I knew that the flames had reached them.' Among those who visited Mount Carmel was Timothy McVeigh, who bombed government offices in Oklahoma two years later and said he was angered by Waco. His was the first of the long-term reverberations felt after the Waco siege, says Bill Neely: 'The victims of Waco are largely forgotten, but they're not forgotten by those people who wanted and still want perhaps to subvert democracy. The freedoms that they believe were enshrined in law, the freedom to carry weapons, the freedom of expression, freedom of religion were turned against them.' Sturgeon's mother speculated that he got the gun 'from his girlfriend,' but authorities believe he purchased it a week prior to the shooting She was shot in the back and pretended to be dead so Sturgeon wouldn't shoot her again. She suffered from a 10-inch wound and a bruised lung The Louisville bank shooter's former mentor has revealed she played dead after he shot her to survive the massacre of her five colleagues with a 'gun he got from his girlfriend.' Dana Mitchell, who has since been released from the hospital, was in the conference room when Connor Sturgeon, 25, stormed in and began firing with an AR-15. Sturgeon's mother called 911 Monday morning to warn cops that her son had armed himself with a gun she believed he must have taken from his girlfriend. But by the time she made the call he had already started his shooting spree at the Old National Bank. Mitchell, who mentored the young graduate in his first year at the firm, was struck in the back. She lay on the ground, trying not to breathe or move as carnage unfolded around her. 'The bullet went in and out just below the surface,' she told CBS News. 'It was high enough up that it ripped the skin open. It was a wound about 10 inches long. But didn't hit anything important.' Dana Mitchell (pictured) was in the conference room when Sturgeon, 25, walked in and began shooting the occupants, hitting Mitchell in the back and leaving a 10-inch would and a bruised lung 'The bullet went in and out just below the surface,' she recounted. 'It was high enough up that it ripped the skin open. It was a wound about 10 inches long. But didn't hit anything important' Mitchell had mentored the gunman in his first year and said he 'never made me feel like he would have done this.' She remembered him a 'very kind and soft-spoken.' She said: 'You would never had thought this would have happened' In order to survive, she played dead and hoped her former mentee wouldn't shoot her again. 'I tried not to breathe a lot. I didn't want to move around. I didn't want him to see me moving or hear me breathing, because I thought he might shoot me again,' she said. 'I never imagined this would happen at my place of work or to me. You see it on TV and it happens to other people but it doesn't happen to people you know. But this is one of those things.' Sturgeon left the conference room and continued to shoot. Throughout his massacre, he would kill Joshua Barrick, 40; James Tutt, 64; Thomas Elliot, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Deana Eckert, 57. He then shot officer Nickolas Wilt in the head while exchanging gunfire with authorities. The cop, who only graduated from the force ten days before, remains in critical condition. Sturgeon's mother Lisa had earlier called 911 as she frantically tried to avert the tragedy. 'He's never hurt anyone; he's a really good kid. Please don't punish him... He's non violent; he's never done anything wrong,' she told the dispatcher. But by the time she made the call, a number of people at the scene had already phoned in to alert police to the shooting, which by that point was underway. Lisa was told by the operator that they had received multiple 911 calls. 'So he's already there?' Sturgeon's mother asked, adding: 'I'm sorry, I'm trying to get to my car... I'm shaking.' During the call, Lisa speculated that her son may have gotten his gun from his girlfriend. 'I don't know where he would have gotten a gun. He must've gotten it from his girlfriend or something.' Authorities believe that Sturgeon 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. Mitchell was shocked to see her former mentee carry out the attack, saying that while she mentored him throughout his first year, he 'never made me feel like he would have done this.' 'Not in a million years,' she told CBS News. 'He was very kind and soft-spoken. You would never had thought this would have happened. Sturgeon (pictued) left the conference room at Old National Bank and continued to shoot. Throughout his massacre, he would kill Joshua Barrick, 40; James Tutt, 64; Thomas Elliot, 63; Juliana Farmer, 45; and Deana Eckert, 57. Sturgeon's mother speculated that he got the gun (pictured) 'from his girlfriend,' but authorities believe he purchased the gun a week prior to the shooting 'When I saw him in the hallway with the gun I thought, why would he bring that here to show us? It didn't even register to me he was ready to shoot. Everybody there but one person was in a conference room for a meeting.' Mitchell recalled seeing him shoot the person in the hallway and said 'everyone started running.' 'But we had nowhere to run,' she said. Seconds later, she would also be shot and told herself to just lay down on the ground and try to appear dead. As for the rumors that Sturgeon had retaliated for being fired from the bank, Mitchell said they aren't true. 'He was not terminated, he was still an employee,' she told CBS News. 'I don't know where that rumor came from.' Sturgeon's mother called 911 at 8.41am, at the very same moment that police arrived at the scene to confront her son as he wielded the AR-15 rifle. Lisa was told by the operator that they had received multiple 911 calls. 'So he's already there?' Sturgeon's mother asked, adding: 'I'm sorry, I'm trying to get to my car... I'm shaking.' The operator then advised that she stay away from the scene of the shooting. 'We have a situation that is going on down there right now, we've already had calls from other people and I do not need you to go to the location at this time okay, it's dangerous there.' Between shaky breaths, she told the operator she had heard from her son's roommate that he had left a note indicating he had a gun and was heading toward the bank. 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 'He's never hurt anyone, he's a really good kid,' Lisa said. 'We don't even own guns, I don't know where he would have gotten a gun.' The family of the gunman, in a statement released on Wednesday, said he had suffered from mental health issues that they had been 'actively addressing' before his rampage. In the statement, released to a Louisville television station, the family said there were 'never any warning signs or indications he was capable' of carrying out a mass shooting. 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. 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. Mitchell has been released from the hospital, according to her son Mitchell (second left) said she thought Sturgeon had brought in the gun to show them, not shoot them. 'When I saw him in the hallway with the gun I thought, why would he bring that here to show us? It didn't even register to me he was ready to shoot. Everybody there but one person was in a conference room for a meeting' '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. There have been 146 mass shootings in the United States so far in 2023, the most at this point in the year since 2016, according to the Gun Violence Archive. The nonprofit group defines a mass shooting as four or more shot or killed, not including the shooter. Barely two weeks before the Louisville massacre, a former student at a private Christian school in Nashville shot and killed three 9-year-old students and three staff members. While mass shootings have become commonplace in the US. King Charles III has not invited Sarah Ferguson to his coronation meaning his former sister-in-law will have to watch the event on TV, it was claimed today. The 63-year-old Duchess of York, nicknamed 'Fergie', still lives with her ex-husband Prince Andrew at the Windsor mansion of Royal Lodge despite their divorce in 1996. But she is now not expected to attend the coronation at Westminster Abbey on May 6 - despite Andrew and their daughters Beatrice and Eugenie both set to be there. The report in The Independent today will likely surprise some royal watchers - with Meghan Markle's friend Omid Scobie tweeting: 'If true, this feels kinda cruel, no?' And it comes one day after Buckingham Palace revealed Prince Harry will be at the event but his wife will stay in California with the couple's children Archie and Lilibet. Sarah, Duchess of York (centre, left) posted a picture in May 2020 of her with Prince Andrew (centre, right) and their daughters Princess Eugenie (far right) and Princess Beatrice (far left) Sarah, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew attend Ascot Racecourse together in June 2019 Princesses Beatrice (left) and Eugenie at the Easter Sunday service in Windsor on April 9 One of Sarah's friends told the Independent: 'She has been hugely supportive of Charles and Camilla and does not want this to become about her. Who will be attending the King's coronation? More than 2,000 guests will gather at Westminster Abbey on May 6 for the nation's first coronation in 70 years. As King Charles III is the reigning monarch, Prince William is now heir to the throne - with him and Kate now set to play important roles in the event. Prince George has also been handed a notable role in proceedings, as one of Charles's four Pages of Honour. George will be required to carry the King's robes with three other Pages of Honour - schoolboys Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, Nicholas Barclay, 13, and Ralph Tollemache, 12. All three are sons of His Majesty's friends. Camilla has made her three grandsons - twins Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 12, as well as her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, 11 - Pages of Honour as she is crowned Queen. Prince Harry will attend, but his wife Meghan Markle will remain in the US with their children Archie and Lilibet. Prince Andrew is also expected to attend with his daughters Eugenie and Beatrice, but his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York is not set to be there. Heads of state and representatives from a number of key British allies and Commonwealth nations are also expected to be part of the guest list. These include leaders from Ireland, France, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Hungary and Monaco. All three presidents of the European Union Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola and Charles Michel will attend. Foreign dignitaries are also set to include First Lady Jill Biden - but her husband, Joe Biden, will not be there. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata will attend, but Cabinet ministers will be denied a 'plus one'. Advertisement 'The whole day is about the new King and the success of his reign but she has always championed the royal family and the Queen undoubtedly would have wanted her to be there.' Sarah did attend the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey last September, but was not one of the 30 guests for Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021. She was not invited to Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011, saying she went on holiday to Thailand instead - but did attend Harry and Meghan's marriage at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2018. Her lack of coronation invite comes despite Andrew turning up at the Easter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, although her ex-husband is still excluded from most of life within the Royal Family. Sarah herself has also had something of a renaissance in recent months, having been invited to join King Charles and other senior royals at Sandringham at Christmas, as well as looking after the late Queen's corgis. She was also a favourite of the late Queen and they were known to spend plenty of time together including walks at Windsor Park. They knew each other before Sarah's marriage to Andrew because her father Major Ronald Ferguson was the royal polo manager. Last month Sarah revealed during a chat with Glamour editor Samantha Barry that she had not received an invitation to the coronation - joking that it was 'TBD' whether she would end up going. 'The invitations haven't gone out yet. Have they?' she asked when questioned whether she plans to go. Sarah also insisted that a lack of invitation did not bother her, saying: 'Well I've decided the best thing about being British around a coronation - although I've never been to one - I think we should, I should set up a tea room at the bottom of the drive with bunting and cakes.' Just over a week ago she spoke of her continued sadness at the Queen's death but also her admiration for Charles. In an interview to promote her new historical fiction book 'A Most Intriguing Lady', Sarah told OK! magazine: 'I have known both the King and the Queen Consort since I was a child. 'I think if you look at the King's track record in areas like the environment, where he was decades ahead of his time, and the Prince's Trust, it's clear what an extraordinary man he is and how fortunate we are to have him on the throne. 'I also admire the way the Queen Consort has worked tirelessly in areas like literacy and domestic violence.' While speaking to Royal Central to promote her new book, Sarah also revealed that she is considering writing another autobiography. Camilla, King Charles III, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew at Windsor Castle on April 9 Sarah, Duchess of York and then-Prince Charles kiss after a polo match in Windsor in June 1986 Charles speaks with Sarah during Princess Eugenie's wedding in Windsor in October 2018 Fergie has already written two memoirs of her own - the first being My Story, published in 1996 just months after her divorce from Andrew was finalised. She then wrote Finding Sarah, which came out in 2011 after another bout of financial woes. Any new autobiography is likely to cover more recent years, including the period around Andrew's very public fall from grace. Despite the pair having been divorced for nearly 30 years they are still said to remain best friends and live together. It has been rumoured that Andrew is also considering putting his own side of recent events down in print - but sources close to the disgraced royal have denied this. Yesterday, Buckingham Palace ended months of speculation when it confirmed Harry will be a guest at Westminster Abbey, despite his troubled relationship with his family, though Meghan will stay in the US and miss Charles's big day. The King's second son, who moved to California after stepping down as a senior working royal, is currently taking legal action against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK. More than 2,000 guests will gather at the Abbey on May 6 to witness the nation's first coronation for 70 years, with foreign dignitaries set to include First Lady Jill Biden. Sarah, Duchess of York has recently been on a publicity tour to promote her new historical fiction book 'A Most Intriguing Lady'. She is pictured in conversation in New York on March 6 Sarah, Duchess of York (centre) with Jack Brooksbank (left) and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (right) at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, 2022 A mass police presence will be out in force on the streets of central London as well-wishers flock to the capital to see the King, Camilla and the royal family take part in a grand carriage procession and make an appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Harry's stay in the UK will be brief, with the duke heading quickly back to California to join the celebrations for Prince Archie's fourth birthday, which coincides with the day of the coronation. The duke will only be attending the ceremony and not taking part in other coronation festivities during the three-day bank holiday weekend. A concert is being staged at Windsor Castle on Sunday May 7, with people also encouraged to come together across the country for a Coronation Big Lunch, while on Monday May 8, the focus is a Big Help Out volunteering drive. A Georgia man has allegedly died after being eaten alive by insects and bed bugs at a prison in Atlanta, his family's attorney has claimed. LaShawn Thompson, 35, was arrested for simple battery in Atlanta on June 12 last year and had not yet been convicted, according to police. He was placed in the psychiatric wing of Fulton County Jail after officials determined he had mental issues. Three months later he was discovered dead in a filthy cell on September 13, according to a statement by Michael D. Harper, his family's attorney. Mr Harper told Dailymail.com: 'We are asking for a criminal investigation into the death of Mr Thompson. We are also asking for the jail to be shut down. 'These cells are horrible and not fit for an animal. Mr Thompson had not even been convicted - he was being held until his trial day.' Mr Thompson was allegedly found dead in a filthy cell at Fulton County Jail A report from the Fulton County Medical Examiners Office noted a 'severe bed bug infestation' Mr Harper previously told Atlanta News First it was one of the most 'inhumane' deaths he had ever encountered. 'The scene was so horrific that the detention officer said she would not even administer CPR when they found him because she was, in her words, freaked out by the scene,' he said. Mr Thompson's family said they had obtained open medical records which established the detention offices and medical staff at the jail noticed that Mr Thompson was deteriorating, but did nothing to help him. 'They literally watched his health decline until he died,' a statement read. 'Mr Thompson was housed in was not fit for a diseased animal. He did not deserve this. Someone has to be held accountable for his death.' According to Mr Harper, a report from the Fulton County Medical Examiners Office said there were no signs of trauma and his death was listed as 'undetermined'. But the report noted a 'severe bed bug infestation'. According to the Southern Center for Human Rights last year, there have been 'outbreaks of scabies and lice' at Fulton County Jail, which is 'dangerously understaffed and overcrowded'. The report from November said: 'According to documents obtained through an open records request, medical professionals brought in to assess the September outbreak found that 100 percent of the people held in one unit had either lice, scabies and or both.' At least ten people died in custody at the jail last year, it added. LaShawn Thompson was arrested for simple battery in Atlanta on June 12 2022 LaShawn Thompson was placed in the psychiatric wing of Fulton County Jail after officials determined he had mental issues Mr Harper, the family's attorney, said it was one of the most 'inhumane' deaths he had ever encountered The jail is 'dangerously overcrowded and understaffed' according to the Southern Center for Human Rights Earlier this year, a mentally ill man froze to death in police custody in Alabama after being restrained in the jail's freezer, a lawsuit claimed. Mr Thompson had a history of misdemeanor incidents in the state and officials determined he had psychiatric issues. Mr Harper and Mr Thompson's family are set to hold a press conference at 2pm Thursday at Fulton County Superior Court, Atlanta. The Fulton County Sheriff's Office said: 'First and foremost, the Fulton County Sheriffs Office would like to extend condolences to the family Lashawn Thompson. 'A full investigation was launched into the circumstances surrounding Mr Thompsons death. The ongoing investigation is examining details regarding the medical care provided and ultimately will determine whether any criminal charges are warranted in this case. 'The health, well-being and security of inmates in our care is our top priority. Its no secret that the dilapidated and rapidly eroding conditions of the current facility make it incredibly difficult to meet the goal of providing a clean, well-maintained and healthy environment for all inmates and staff. That is precisely why Sheriff Labat continues to call building a new Fulton County Jail and Criminal Justice Complex which will provide an elite level of care, mental health services, security and cleanliness.' It added that it has approved an additional expenditure of $500,000 to address the infestation of bed bugs, lice and other vermin within the Fulton County Jail. Aussies have slammed authorities and called the country a 'nanny state' after a fisherman was fined $431 for hand-feeding a wild dolphin. Footage of the 'illegal interaction' shows a man out on the water in Tin Can Bay in southeast Queensland gently feeding the dolphin chunks of cut up fish. But after the video was posted online local wildlife rangers contacted the fisherman in the footage to slap them with the fine. The vision shows the dolphin hovering in the waters around the boat while as the sea creature keeps coming back for more. He is seen hand-feeding the dolphin from the fishing boat as the sea creature keeps coming back for more (pictured) Tina Ball from the Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service said an investigation was set up after the video came to light showing the dolphin approaching the boat. 'We contacted the people in the video, one feeding the dolphin and one videoing the interaction,' the senior wildlife officer told ABC. 'They admitted that they fed the dolphin and didn't realise it was an offence to do so. 'They've been issued a penalty infringement notice which is more lenient than going to court where a maximum court prosecution could be $11,000.' Ms Ball said skippers should keep a 150metre distance from the front and back end of dolphin pods and 50metres from the side of a pod. If a dolphin approaches a boat people should disengage the gears or move away from them at a speed of six knots. She said the laws are in place to safeguard the popular sea mammals from disease and injury, adding they can get sick if they eat un-fresh fish. It can also affect their natural feeding behaviours and how they interact in their pods while pneumonic diseases can also be passed onto them by humans. Interactions with people on boats can also put them at risk of getting hit by boats or being entangled by fishing lines. Ms Ball said there has been an increase in illegal interaction activity in the Tin Can Bay and Rainbow Beach areas which authorities have been zeroing in on. But the stringent measures were too much for some online who said rangers should focus on more important issues But the stringent measures were too much for some online who said rangers should focus on more important issues. 'Don't feed a Dolphin otherwise you get fined, steal multiple cars and burn them out and get away with it over and over again. [Palaszczuk] and her laws are a joke,' said one online user. 'Red tape, wildlife rangers have nothing else to do but to annoy people,' wrote another. 'Why don't they put more rangers out stopping people letting their dogs off leashes where it's illegal. Tons of kids and other dogs bitten every year,' said a third. 'Australia is a nanny state,' another said. An Indigenous leader has lashed Anthony Albanese over the Voice referendum saying his community hasn't 'been told anything' about it. Uncle Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu, an Elder from the Tiwi Islands which sit 85km off Darwin's shore at the top end of the Northern Territory, said he and his community are 'completely confused' about what the Indigenous Voice to Parliament will entail. 'We haven't been told anything,' he told news.com.au. 'It's disgraceful. They say what they want to say without any consultation in the community.' Mr Kurrupuwu, who was elected to the Northern Territory Legislative Assembly from 2012 to 2016 as a Country Liberal Party member, said the lack of information had been 'shocking' and demanded the Prime Minister visit remote communities. Tiwi Islands Elder Uncle Francis Xavier Kurrupuwu (pictured) says his community has been left in the dark about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament Mr Kurrupuwu wants to meet with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (pictured right with partner Jodie Haydon) Poll Do you want the Constitution altered to recognise the First People's of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? Yes No Unsure Do you want the Constitution altered to recognise the First People's of Australia by establishing an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice? Yes 537 votes No 5826 votes Unsure 484 votes Now share your opinion 'We want to meet Mr Albanese,' he said. 'I expect them to be on the ground, they need to be consulting at a grassroots level. I've been involved in organisations and it is the same old thing. 'We are still left in the darkness as Aboriginal people in the Territory. I don't think that will change.' Mr Kurrupuwu indicated that he would not vote for the Voice because he did think it would lead to concrete improvements for Indigenous people in 'education, health and employment'. A spokesman for the Tiwi Land Council, where 80 per cent of the 2600 people who live on the islands are Indigenous, said it had yet to develop a formal position on the Voice. The council also said they expected information sessions to be held on the Tiwi Islands later in the year. Lingiari Labor MP Marion Scrymgour, whose electorate includes the Tiwi Islands, said there was plentiful information available about the Voice and the proposal was the result of extensive consultation. 'To say there has been no consultation or information is like saying there's no water in the sea.' Ms Scrymgour said. Ms Scrymgour promised there will be more face-to-face conversations with those in remote communities and she had recently visited the Tiwi Islands to talk about the Voice and would do so again soon. Mr Kurrupuwu says he does not believe the Voice will make a practical difference to the lives of Aboriginals Labor MP Marion Scrymgour (pictured) rejected claims the Tiwi Islands people had not been told about the Voice saying she had done so personally One of the strongest campaigners against the Voice Northern Territory CLP Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price told the ABC on Tuesday that remote land councils had little understanding of the Voice. '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.' During a sometimes testy interview with Hamish Macdonald, 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'. Sometime between October and December this year Australians will be asked by referendum to approve the establishment of the Voice as a recognition of Indigenous peoples in the Constitution. The Voice will establish a body that can 'make representations to the parliament and the Executive Government of the Commonwealth on matters relating to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples'. A referendum can only be carried when it is approved by an overall majority of Australians and also is voted for by a majority of states. Hundreds of French workers have stormed the Paris headquarters of luxury group LVMH as France faced another day engulfed in riots over President Emmanuel Macron's hated pension reforms. Protesters called for the rich to contribute more to financing the state pension, just days after LVMH chief Bernard Arnault dethroned Elon Musk as the richest man in the world with his net worth growing more than 40bn ($50bn) to 168bn ($211bn). The French company, which owns Louis Vuitton, Dior and Tiffany & Co, has benefited from a post-pandemic rebound in demand for luxury goods, and its shares have risen nearly 26 per cent since the start of this year, cementing its lead as Europe's most valuable company. More than 100 protesters congregated at the wood-panelled entrance hall of the building on the exclusive Avenue Montaigne before climbing an escalator to the upper floors, while others filled the street waving flags of the railway workers' union Sud Rail. Footage showed protesters storming the LVMH headquarters, armed with red flares and flags, as they made their way through the big glass doors and filled out the building. Hundreds of French workers have stormed the Paris headquarters of luxury group LVMH More than 100 protesters congregated at the wood-panelled entrance hall of the building on the exclusive Avenue Montaigne Footage posted on social media showed protesters storming the LVMH headquarters, armed with red flares and flags It comes just days after LVMH chief Bernard Arnault (pictured) dethroned Elon Musk as the richest man in the world France faced another day engulfed in riots over President Emmanuel Macron's hated pension reforms 'If you're looking for money to finance pensions, take it from the pockets of billionaires,' said Fabien Villedieu, a representative of the Sud Rail union said, stressing that the protest was 'symbolic and peaceful.' Billionaire Bernard Arnault has been a frequent target in slogans and chants during protests in France thanks in part to his firm's post-pandemic profits. He lives in a stunning 150-year-old castle in northwest Saint-Emilion in Bordeaux, France, that has belonged to the billionaire's family since 1998, while he also owns a stunning home in the ultra-prestigious Les Parcs de Saint-Tropez enclave. The demonstration comes after LVMH also posted a 17 per cent jump in sales to 18.5billion for three months to the end of March more than double the 8 per cent rise in revenues expected by analysts. READ MORE: Louis Vuitton boss Bernard Arnault becomes richest man in the world worth 168bn Advertisement The 12th day of protests adds to the ongoing strikes and marches which have gripped Paris since mid-January in response to Emmanuel Macron's plans to raise the legal retirement age without a parliamentary vote. It also comes on France's first lady Brigitte Macron's 70th birthday - a day which will be celebrated under 'tight security'. Hundreds of thousands of protesters took to the streets of France yet again as trade unions urged a show of force on the streets a day before the Constitutional Council's ruling on the legality of the bill that would raise the retirement age by two years to 64. The protest march in Paris was closing in on the Constitutional Council's headquarters, opposite the Louvre museum in central Paris, which was protected by a phalanx of anti-riot police in full body armour brandishing shields. The government says it is necessary to raise the retirement age for most workers to balance the pension budget in years to come. However, the passionate unions, who show no sign of backing down, say the money can be found elsewhere. Earlier today, firefighters were seen tackling a white Mercedes on fire in the middle of Rennes - the capital city of Brittany, northwest France. Thousands of protesters gathered on the streets of France ahead of tomorrow's ruling over whether Mr Macron's decision to push his retirement plans through without a parliamentary vote was legal. Pictured: Protesters in Bordeaux Passionate unions, who show no sign of backing down, say the money can be found in other ways than raising the pension age. Pictured: Riot police clear protesters away in Paris French gendarmes have been mobilised in their thousands to deal with the continuous strikes A white Mercedes was set ablaze during a demonstration in Rennes, northwestern France, today Firefighters had to tackle the ablaze Mercedes as thick flumes of smoke rose into the air The damaged facade of a Lidl supermarket, is defaced with graffiti which reads 'Lidl, too expensive' during a demonstration in Rennes Protests today come on France's first lady Brigitte Macron's 70th birthday - a day which will be celebrated under 'tight security' Today's riots were the 12th day of demonstrations since mid-January as workers continue to protest Thick plumes of smoke were seen rising into the air as roaring flames ripped through the luxury car. Meanwhile, in Paris, staggering photos showed riot police chasing protesters through the streets on another day in which the capital was brought to a standstill. Now's not the time to give up, because that's what Macron is expecting,' said Johan Chivert, a student in the Creuse region in central France. 'We have to keep going and show the people are against this reform.' Just a fortnight ago, French officials braced themselves for the biggest security operation in the country's recent history when more than a million people took part in marches. Gerald Darmanin, the country's Interior Minister, said that the country was set for 'fire and blood' as he mobilised tens of thousands of police. While the number of people taking to the streets has fallen, there are still hundreds of thousands still lining the streets. Shocking footage from Paris has uncovered widespread violence, with uncollected garbage set on fire and tear gas creating a constant fog in the Parisian air. Tomorrow, France's Constitutional Council will rule on whether Mr Macron's decision to push his retirement plans through without a parliamentary vote was legal. Riot police block the road near the Paris city hall during a demonstration today in the French capital Tear gas has been heavily prevalent across the weeks of protests in France over pension reforms There were shocking scenes in Nantes, western France, where protesters set a sofa alight next to uncollected garbage Tomorrow, France's Constitutional Council will rule on whether Mr Macron's decision to push his retirement plans through without a parliamentary vote was legal A man dressed as a clown wears a sign around his neck that translates as 'I am in the government' A protester breaks glass at a tram station in Strasbourg, northeastern France, as protests grip the country again If the court issues a green light - as ministers are privately confident it will - Macron hopes to sign the changes into law immediately, clearing the way for them to enter into force before the end of 2023. Having repeatedly snubbed calls for talks with union leaders in recent weeks, the 45-year-old leader said he would invite labour representatives for discussions once the court decision was published. 'The decision from the constitutional court on Friday will bring an end to the democratic and constitutional procedures,' Macron told reporters on a trip to the Netherlands on Wednesday, adding that public debate 'will continue, for sure'. Paris police have banned any demonstration around the Constitutional Council until Saturday morning. With strike momentum has been waning on what was the 12th day of action, most trains were running today at state rail operator SNCF and the Paris public transport provider RATP, past bastions of strike participation. Paris police have banned any demonstration around the Constitutional Council until Saturday morning. Pictured: Riot police in Paris today walking past a protester with a sign that reads: 'Macron imposes, we explode' Members of the BRAV-M, the motorised violent action repression police Brigades, take position in front of the BHV Marais amid clashes with protesters If the court issues a green light - as ministers are privately confident it will - Macron hopes to sign the changes into law immediately Tear gas smothers protesters who use umbrellas and masks to cover themselves from the smoke But the movement is 'far from over', said the head of the CFDT union Laurent Berger as the demonstration got under way in Paris, vowing major protests on the May 1 labour day. The hard-left CGT union has called for new strikes by refinery workers and rubbish collectors, whose walkout left the streets of Paris heaving with rubbish for three weeks in March. Mr 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. Meanwhile yesterday, another man was heard shouting 'We are here! We are here!' as he charged towards the French president before being tackled to the ground at the University of Amsterdam. A woman training to be a truck driver has been stripped of her driving licence after her GP ticked the wrong boxes on a form. Paula Bartle, 53, had been training to be an HGV driver and needed to complete a medical check as part of her application. After her doctor's surgery filled in the form incorrectly, she was stripped of her driving licence and is now unable to drive at all; she can neither drive her own car, nor continue with truck-driving lessons. Ms Bartle, who lives in Bowburn, County Durham, is diabetic and is required by the Driver and Vehicle License Agency (DVLA) to conduct frequent checks on her blood-sugar levels before driving. Unfortunately, doctors wrongly said she has not been managing her condition on her medical form. Paula Bartle (pictured above) was stripped of her driving licence after her GP ticked the wrong box on a medical form The former finance worker said she is 'lost' without her car and is having to go to the supermarket with a neighbour. Ms Bartle said: 'I'm training to be a HGV driver and I needed to get a medical form from the doctors to get my provisional licence. 'I gave the form to my doctors and asked them to show me before they sent it to the DVLA, because they've got stuff wrong with me before. 'Then, when I got home the other Friday [March 31] after being out all day, I came home to a letter from the DVLA saying that my HGV licence had been stopped and my driving licence had been revoked.' The letter said medical information received by the DVLA claimed she did not currently test her blood sugar levels twice daily or at times relevant to driving, and that she 'must not drive'. Ms Bartle added: 'I have diabetes and you have to do blood sugar tests before driving, but the doctor said that I wasn't doing my testing when I am. 'They know I am because I go to the hospital for check-ups and they look at my levels. 'I went to the surgery sobbing my heart out. They don't realise the impact this has on me. 'I have no family to help, so I'm lost without the car. 'I've had to go to the supermarket with a neighbour and would normally take the dogs to the beach over the Easter weekend, but I can't because I can't drive anywhere. 'The only place I could drive is up and down my own drive.' After contacting her surgery, Bowburn Medical Group, they admitted a box had been ticked incorrectly on Ms Bartle's medical form. A letter sent by the surgery to the DVLA said: 'It would appear that some boxes were ticked incorrectly on her form by one of my GP colleagues.' Ms Bartle started her HGV course in January and only has a certain time to complete it. She added: 'I had been really enjoying the HGV course up to this point. 'I've learned so much already and don't want to give it up.' A DVLA spokesperson said: 'Safety is always at the heart of what we do. That's why we assess medical conditions as part of driving licence applications, so that everyone can continue to drive safely. 'Where we are made aware that incorrect information was provided, or where additional evidence shows the driver meets the medical standards to hold a licence, we will consider the reissue of a licence.' Bowburn Medical Group was contacted for comment. There is a global shortage of HGV drivers, with recent figures indicating that the UK still has almost 50,000 vacancies. Vladimir Putin is receiving treatment for cancer and his top generals are looking to 'throw' the war in Ukraine as he does, according to a rumour contained in a leaked American intelligence document. In what appears to be the gravest leak of US secrets in years, the documents - which leaked last week and have prompted a national security investigation in the US - are understood to have come from inside the Pentagon. Revelations in the leaks include previously unreported sensitive disclosures about Ukraine, South Korea, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and others. The leaks about Ukraine in particular are of concern, as they could provide information to Russia. Along with detailed information about troop movements and losses on both sides fighting in Ukraine, the trove also contains daily intelligence briefings - a collection of short updates from a variety of sources from around the world. One of these briefings, the leaks appear to show, contained a rumour that said that Russia's top general is conspiring to 'throw' (deliberately lose) the war in Ukraine while Putin is undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Vladimir Putin is receiving treatment for cancer and his top generals are looking to 'throw' the war in Ukraine as he does, according to a rumour contained in a leaked American intelligence document. Pictured: The Russian leader is seen in Moscow on April 13 One leaked US intelligence briefing (pictured) appears to contain a rumour that said that Russia's top general is conspiring to 'throw' (deliberately lose) the war in Ukraine while Putin is undergoing chemotherapy treatment The claim suggests Russian National Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev and Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov are behind the plot. Pictures of this part of the documents have been shared online along with many of the other 53-pages included in the leak. READ MORE: Bitter Kremlin infighting over Ukraine war is revealed in new 27-page cache of leaked US intelligence docs Advertisement It says that the plot - uncovered by Ukraine - is 'presumably in an attempt to sabotage Russian President Vladimir Putin'. 'Ukraine Learns of Alleged Russian Plot to 'Throw' So-Called Special Military Operation By 5 March,' says the title of the intelligence update. Small parts of the update have been redacted, but it does include a string of coded of letters along the top that signify its security classification. These are '(TS//SI//REL TO USA, FVEY/FISA)' - which shows that the document is top secret and was collected by monitoring communications (SI) - and can only be released to people with necessary security clearance in the USA or the 'Five Eyes' alliance (Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the US). The text says: '[Redacted] on 17 February learned of an alleged Russian plot to 'throw' the so-called 'special military operation,' presumably in an attempt to sabotage Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'According to who received the information from an unidentified Russian source with access to Kremlin officials, Russia planned to divert resources from Taganrog, Russia to Mariupol, Ukraine and focus its attention on the southern front. 'According to source, the plan for 'the offensive' (no further information) was suspected to be a strategy devised by Russian National Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev and Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to sabotage presumably Putin. 'According to source, Gerasimov opposed the offensive; he informed Putin that the Ukrainian Armed Force' capabilities were superior to Russia's and cautioned that Russia would suffer heavy casualties were it to proceed with the offensive. '[Redacted] on 22 February indicated that Gerasimov reportedly planned to continue his efforts to sabotage the offensive, nothing that he promised to 'throw' the so-called special military operation by 5 March, when Putin was allegedly scheduled to start a round of chemotherapy, and would thus be able to influence the war effort.' MailOnline was unable to confirm the veracity of the rumours included in the supposed intelligence leak, but the documents attribute the origin of the rumour to a Ukrainian official who has their own source inside the Kremlin. While there is no indication in the documents that the rumour is true, it does show that at some point, a US spy agency monitoring communications in the country heard the rumour and determined it to be worth flagging to the Pentagon. The claim suggests Russian National Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev and Russian Chief of the General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov (pictured) are behind the plot The claim suggests Russian National Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev (pictured) and Russian Chief of the General Staff Valeriy Gerasimov are behind the plot. Pictured: Putin (left) speaks with the CEO of the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roscosmos), Yuri Borisov (right). Putin is seen gripping the arm of his chair Rumours about the Russian president's declining health, mental state and unstable position have swirled since long before he ordered the invasion in February 2022. Putin's physical prowess as a hunter, martial artist, ice hockey player and horseman has long been a cornerstone of his portrayal across state media as a strong and admirable leader, endearing him to the public. The Kremlin has in the past released pictures purportedly of him riding bare-chested on horseback, lounging topless in the sun and beating other fighters in judo matches - in a bid to show off his physique. But the 70-year-old autocrat is now bloated and puffy. He has been wracked with coughing fits. In some footage, he appears to be struggling with motor control - clinging to the side of a desk or tapping his feet while speaking to officials. Such signs can be markers of potential ill-health, that have coincided with Putin's decision to pull out of numerous public appearances and planned events. In December, for example, Putin at the last minute pulled out from a presidential trip to Pskov due to 'unfavourable flying conditions' despite weather forecasts suggesting the skies were clear. He then shelved a visit to Russia's biggest tank plant in Nizhny Tagil and also cancelled his usual appearance at an end-of-year meeting of his ministers. Putin also refused to go ahead with his traditional December press conference which typically sees the president speak for up to four hours. Putin even cancelled his beloved end-of-year ice-hockey game, in which he has previously taken part in. Adding to the persistent rumours, there have been several occasions in the past year where Putin has appeared extremely uncomfortable. He has been seen gripping the edge of a table for support as he hunched in his chair during several meetings with officials at the Kremlin - a far cry from the barrel-chested hunter state media makes him out to be. Video showed Putin speaking to Shoigu whilst gripping the edge of the table with his right hand - so hard that it appears white - and tapping his foot consistently. The Kremlin chief also appears extremely bloated with a flabby face and neck. Shoigu does not appear to have fared any better in the eight weeks since Russia invaded Ukraine, with the defence minister slurring his words and reading from his notes following an apparent heart attack. Other clips of him on diplomatic visits have shown the despot squirming as he sat, his legs and feet seemingly twitching and gyrating uncontrollably. On one visit to a war monument in July, he was seen sweating and stumbling on unsteady legs as he attempted to swat mosquitos away from his head with one arm while the other hung limply by his side. In another visit to a war memorial, he also appeared unsteady as he knelt down to lay flowers. And he has been unable to hide a constant cough which has plagued many of his recent speeches and addresses. Some have even suggested that Putin has had plastic surgery, while Ukraine's military chiefs said in October last year that he uses body doubles so he can avoid long trips - or mitigate the risk of being assassinated. Ever since Vladimir Putin ordered his military forces to invade Ukraine on February 24, rumours have been swirling about the state of his health. In April, the Russian president (left) was seen gripping a table during a televised meeting with his defence minister The president attends a training session with the Russian national judo team at the Yug-Sport Training Centre in Sochi, Russia The 70-year-old autocrat - who has often shown off his athleticism (seen left in 2017) - is now bloated and puffy (right) Putin appeared to show signs of a limp in November as he approached a war memorial and seemed uncomfortable as he bent down to lay a bouquet These factors have precipitated claims from a host of sources - including exiled Russians, 'insider' Telegram channels and even Ukrainian intelligence chiefs - that he is battling severe health conditions, including Parkinson's and cancer. Commentators have also questioned his mental state, with author Ian McEwan describing him as 'a deranged and unpredictable adversary'. Others have called him 'crazy' or suggested he is taking anabolic steroids. With his invasion of Ukraine, the Russian leader has sent thousands to their deaths. Several other high-profile military figures have - indirectly at least - questioned his leadership. This, some have said, is bound to take its toll on anyone. Adding further to these rumours, a picture of Putin meeting a Russian official on Wednesday showed the Russian leader holding on to the arm of his chair. His grip appeared to be so tight that veins could be seen on the back of his hand. But others have argued he is not mentally unwell, just evil. Rumours of Putin's declining health are just a small part of the information revealed when pictures of sensitive US documents were posted to the instant messaging platform Discord, as well as online messaging board 4Chan, the Telegram global messaging app, and Twitter. The photographs show paper documents creased by folding US defense officials say information on some of the papers has been altered. The documents show real-time details from February and March of Ukraine's and Russia's battlefield positions and precise numbers of battlefield gear lost and newly flowing into Ukraine from its allies. They also reveal just how close Ukraine's vital air defense systems are to running out of missiles - with stocks expected to be exhausted as soon as late this month or May, absent significant resupply. That would open Ukraine's skies to more of the Russian air and artillery strikes that already have devastated cities and infrastructure. Despite this, Ukraine's leaders have said they don't see the major intelligence leak as gravely damaging future offensives. A key reason: They have long held back on sharing their most sensitive operational information, doubting Washington's ability to keep their secrets safe. Ukrainian servicemen drive towards the frontline during heavy fighting at the frontline of Bakhmut and Chasiv Yar, in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine, April 12, 2023 Ukrainian servicemen fire an artillery shell near the frontline area amid the Russia-Ukraine war, in Bakhmut, Ukraine on April 2, 2023 Ukrainian soldier aims a gun in a dugout in Ukraine in undated footage Ukrainian and US officials said this week that only Ukrainians know some battle plans and other operational information, not the Americans, their most important ally. That means the leak of secret military documents, including some assessing Ukraine's battlefield strengths and weaknesses against Russia, may not have been enough - so far - to change the course of the war. 'If military operations are planned, then only a very narrow circle of people know about the planning of the special operation,' Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said Wednesday on Ukrainian television. 'The risk of leaks is very minimal' for the most important war matters. Nevertheless, Ukraine has had to deny a CNN report that said Kyiv's generals have been forced to change their plans on account of the leaks. Meanwhile, the Pentagon is thought to be working 'around the clock' to determine the scale of the damage caused by the huge breach of security. Some of the classified documents, which were leaked online and have been widely circulated on social media, appear to have been doctored, according to Pentagon spokesman Chris Meagher. But US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was adamant the leak was a major issue, vowing to 'investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it'. US Central Intelligence Agency Director William Burns, speaking 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. Some documents revealed American doubts over Ukraine's ability to launch an effective counteroffensive against Russian invaders this spring. Outlining the developments of the war since February, the leak picks up on 'force generation and sustainment shortfalls', predicting Ukrainian forces will fail to capitalise 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. And more damaging material could still surface. Leaked documents are continuing to appear online, and future revelations may be more detrimental to Ukraine than the ones that have been publicized so far. Meanwhile, Russia is making clear that it is avidly studying each spilled secret. 'Quite interesting,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said of the leaks. Still, online Russian-language discussions groups showed Russian military bloggers arguing over whether the leaks themselves are US disinformation, intended to mislead Russia by creating an impression that Ukraine's military is vulnerable. A 23-year-old man has been arrested after 18 cars were smashed up overnight during a wrecking spree along one street. Shocked residents spoke of their anger after the thug went on the rampage along their quiet residential street armed with a brick. Officers were called to Byron Road, in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire, in the early hours of Wednesday morning after receiving reports a vandal was deliberately damaging vehicles. A total of 18 cars were found with windscreens smashed or wing mirrors damaged as well as a police car parked outside West Bridgford Police Station. A 23-year-old man was arrested near Trent Bridge shortly after on suspicion of criminal damage and remains in police custody. A man was arrested after damaging 18 cars with a brick along the same road in West Bridgford, Nottinghamshire Shocked residents were awoken by loud bangs in the early hours of April 12 as the thug smashed their vehicles Resident Kari Olsen-Porthouse, 49, said she was awoken by three loud bangs at 1:30am as the thug began smashing up her Tesla. The mum-of-two said: 'I was woken up at 1:30am by three loud bangs and heard a male voice outside. 'I looked out the back window but saw nothing before we discovered the damage to our Tesla. 'Nothing was taken from the car as the person wasn't able to break through the glass but they had attempted to and smashed the window twice with a brick. 'Then we realised it wasn't just our car, and it was a bigger offence and lots of people on the street had been targeted. 'The insurance doesn't cover everything and because the glass wasn't smashed through, we are unable to get or claim a courtesy car on the insurance to drive whilst ours is out of use. 'I don't think the window will be fixed until next week so until then we are going to have to hire a car which is an expense we didn't need. 'After the incident, people have been very kind and our neighbours have checked in on us to make sure we're okay. Resident Kari Olsen-Porthouse, 49, said she was awoken by three loud bangs at 1:30am as the thug began smashing up her Tesla One resident discovered that his BMW X5 and his work van had both been targeted A total of 18 cars were found with windscreens smashed or wing mirrors damaged as well as a police car parked outside West Bridgford Police Station 'I think when something like this happens, it really brings people together and the street is usually a very nice place to live.' Another neighbour Martyn, 43, who did not wish to give his surname, had two vehicles vandalised on the same night. He was woken up by police at around 3am knocking on his door and discovered his BMW X5 and Mercedes-Benz Vito work van had been damaged. The dad-of-three said: 'The back window on my BMW X5 and the front window on my work van had been smashed in. 'They were parked on the street, and lots of other cars were damaged that night too. 'The damage seemed to all be on one side of the cars, so it looked like someone just went down the street and smashed them all in. 'I didn't hear the incident happen and nothing was taken from the cars, but we now have to deal with the consequences of it. The cars that were damaged with a brick were all parked along Byron Road, in West Bridgford A 23-year-old man was arrested near Trent Bridge shortly after on suspicion of criminal damage and remains in police custody 'I have lived on this street for 17 years and nothing has happened like this before so I'm not scared but the damage to the cars has caused disruption to our lives. 'It's just a pain. I am on the second day without being able to go to work as I can't drive my work van due to the damage, and my wife and kids aren't really able to do anything as they can't use the car. 'It's the Easter Holidays so it makes it even more of an annoyance. 'I spent a lot of yesterday trying to sort out the insurance on both vehicles and we really could have done without this. 'We just could have done without the stress and time off work.' PC Chris Morgan, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: 'As many as 18 vehicles had their windscreens put through or their wing mirrors damaged during this incident. 'It really should go without saying but this type of behaviour is completely unacceptable and not what we want to see in our communities at all. 'We are still in the process of investigating this incident, so we'd ask anyone who has any information that could assist our inquiries to get in touch with us.' Anyone with information is asked to call police on 101, quoting incident 32 of April 12 2023, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Rishi Sunak today failed to commit to fulfilling a promise to 'stop the boats' by the time of the next General Election. The Prime Minister admitted his aim of preventing migrants from crossing the Channel in dinghies 'won't happen overnight'. He also conceded he was expecting a legal challenge from European judges over the Government's proposed new laws on toughening Britain's asylum system. Close to 5,000 people have made the treacherous journey across the Channel to reach the UK already this year. This compares to more than 45,000 who made the perilous crossing last year, which prompted Mr Sunak to step up action to solve the crisis. Rishi Sunak failed to commit to fulfilling a promise to 'stop the boats' by the time of the next General Election In an interview with the ConservativeHome website, the PM admitted his aim of preventing migrants from crossing the Channel in dinghies 'won't happen overnight' Near to 5,000 people have made the treacherous journey across the Channel to reach the UK already this year At the beginning of this year, the PM vowed to 'stop the boats' as one of his five main priorities. Senior Cabinet minister Oliver Dowden subsequently said the Government was committed to stopping small boat crossings by the end of the current Parliament. Mr Dowden, a close ally of Mr Sunak, added ministers were 'working' towards fulfilling the PM's promise by the time of the next election. But, in an interview with the ConservativeHome website this afternoon, the PM dodged making the same commitment himself. Asked if he would meet his pledge to 'stop the boats' by the time the country next goes to the polls, Mr Sunak replied: 'I've always said this is not something that is easy it is a complicated problem where there's no single, simple solution that will fix it and I've also said it won't happen overnight. 'I've been very clear about that. People should know it's very important to me, it's hugely important to the country that we need to fix the system, as a matter of fairness. 'It's not fair that people are breaking the rules and coming here illegally.' Mr Sunak said Britain is a 'welcoming and compassionate' country but that resources need to be targeted on the people who most need it. In his efforts to solve the small boats crisis, Mr Sunak has signed an agreement with Albania to make it easier to return migrants who come from the Balkan country. He has also agreed a 500million deal with France to prevent people from crossing the Channel and unveiled an Illegal Migration Bill to toughen UK asylum laws. Under the PM's proposed new laws, anyone arriving in Britain by crossing the Channel in a small boat or any other unauthorised means would no longer be able to claim asylum in the UK. They would instead only be eligible for asylum in a 'safe' third country, such as Rwanda, and receive a lifetime ban on citizenship or re-entry to the UK. Mr Sunak today conceded he was expecting a legal battle - including with the European Court of Human Rights, who dramatically blocked the Government's Rwanda scheme last year - in order to get the new legislation in place. 'The Bill that we've brought forward is what we need to tackle this problem,' he said. 'I believe that it is compliant with our obligations under the ECHR. We worked very hard to design a piece of legislation that is tough but that we believe is in keeping with our international obligations. 'But clearly, as you've seen, we've had to make what's called a Section 19 1b statement that demonstrates we're taking an approach that's novel, that is untested, that's ambitious. 'I don't make any apologies for that, I think this problem is particularly challenging and it requires that type of approach.' The PM added he was 'confident the Bill is the right approach to this problem and we need to make sure we focus on getting it through Parliament as quickly as possible'. Asked what would happen if there was an interim judgement from the Strasbourg-based ECHR against his new laws, Mr Sunak said: 'There may well be and we knew that with Rwanda. 'That's always likely to happen in these cases and we will robustly challenge those as we are doing with the Rwanda cases that are currently working their way through the court system.' A cyclist who was jailed for mowing down and leaving an elderly church minister to die has been found dead. Stewart McGinn, 30, crashed into Jane Stone, 79, as he careered round a corner and left her on the pavement on June 7 last year. McGinn was then jailed for 12 months on July 14 after he turned himself into police ten days after leaving Mrs Stone to die in Monmouth, South Wales. But police have now said McGinn's body was found in 'woodland' after he went missing when he was released from prison early this month. Gwent Police said McGinn's death wasn't being treated as suspicious and his family had been informed. Stewart McGinn, 30, crashed into Jane Stone, 79, head-on as he careered round a corner The force said: 'A body of a man was discovered in woodland. Formal identification has yet to take place, however we have notified the family of Stewart McGinn. 'We're not treating the death as suspicious at this time, and a report has been prepared for the coroner.' McGinn denied fleeing the scene but the court heard Mrs Stone had no way of avoiding the crash and died in hospital four days after being injured after walking home from the cinema on a warm summer's evening. Prosecutor James Wilson said McGinn - who only had one working brake on his bike - came round the corner 'at speed' and collided with her. He said: 'She fell to the ground landing on her head and suffered a severe fractured skull. The defendant did not stop or offer any assistance but cycled away.' Mrs Stone's friend Janet Bromley said Jane was 'poleaxed' to the ground by the force of the blow and was left 'her eyes rolling and mouth frothing'. Mr Wilson said Mrs Bromley told police: 'He collided with Jane's body, the front of the bike collided with the front of Jane's body. 'It knocked her hands raised past her body which was pushed back violently. Her feet were lifted off the ground it caused her head to poleaxe to the ground and I heard an almighty crack as her head struck the pavement.' McGinn was then jailed for 12 months after he turned himself into police ten days after leaving Mrs Stone (pictured) to die in Monmouth, South Wales Mrs Stone's friend Janet Bromley said Jane was 'poleaxed' to the ground by the force of the blow and was left 'her eyes rolling and mouth frothing' Stewart McGinn pedalled off at speed on the wrong side of the road instead of stopping and providing assistance to his victim Mr Wilson told Cardiff Crown Court that after the collision last June father-of-one McGinn stayed on the mountain bike and rode off to his mother-in-law's house. He said: 'Mrs Bromley shouted to him I'm on my own, please help me but he ignored her and continued to ride away.' McGinn only handed himself into police ten days after the crash in Monmouth, South Wales, and falsely told officers he stopped to help Mrs Stone to her feet and check she was okay. He later admitted causing bodily harm to Mrs Stone by 'wanton or furious driving while being in charge of a bicycle' under the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. A victim impact statement from Mrs Stone's brother David Bruton said his sister was not 'a frail old lady' and was 'healthy and active' who would go on long distance walks and took part in swimming and yoga. Ben Waters, defending, said: 'He will have to live with the consequences of his actions and causing the death of another person.' But Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told McGinn he showed 'flagrant disregard for the safety of others.' She jailed McGinn for one year - saying the maximum sentence was two years - and banned him from driving for two years and six months. She told him: 'You were on the pavement riding far too fast and collided with Jane Stone with considerable force. 'You gave no warning as to your approach and they saw no lights on your bicycle. 'You rode on the pavement and rode very fast around the corner when you knew you could not see if anyone was there. They stood no chance of avoiding you.' Judge Tracey Lloyd-Clarke told McGinn, pictured, he showed 'flagrant disregard for the safety of others' McGinn pictured on his bicycle before crashing into Mrs Stone and riding off without stopping She added it 'was not a momentary inattention' and McGinn made 'a deliberate decision to ignore or disregard the rules of the road which apply just as well to cyclists as other road users.' Judge Lloyd-Clarke said no sentence she could pass would ease the pain felt by Mrs Stone's family. She said: 'She gave her time to help others and her loss will be felt by many people for a very long time.' Widow Mrs Stone's family paid tribute to her following the tragedy in her hometown of Monmouth, South Wales, and described her as 'very caring and active.' A statement said: 'She was healthy and physically active, only a few years ago abseiling down the church tower to raise funds. 'Having been born and brought up in Monmouth she trained in London as a teacher, in which profession she was well respected and appreciated. 'In retirement and being a widow, she returned to her roots, involving herself with great enthusiasm in many aspects of Monmouth life. 'She was a pastor at Churchwarden of St. Thomas's Church, was a Lay Eucharistic Minister, Sacristan and heavily involved in all church activities, helping and supporting members of the community as needed. 'She enjoyed long distance walking, setting herself the challenge of completing 1,000 miles per year and was currently tackling, with her walking friend, Offa's Dyke from South to North Wales. 'Jane was a well-loved member of the family and closely followed the lives of her great nieces and nephews.' Her church paid tribute to 'full of life' Jane who they described as a 'supportive and tireless' churchwarden. For confidential support call Samaritans on 116123 or visit www.samaritans.org The UK's only surviving prisoner of war camp that held thousands of German soldiers and citizens during the First World War has been recognised as a site of national importance. Stobbs Camp in Hawick, Scotland was home to prisoners of war from 1914 to 1918 and also held German citizens who had been rounded up by authorities. Parts of the camp, which has been immaculately preserved, have now been confirmed as scheduled monuments by Historic Environment Scotland. After being bought by the War Office in 1902, Stobbs Camp began an army training centre and at one point it's 20,000 strong population outnumbered the nearby town of Hawick itself. The camp included training trenches and firing ranges and tracked target range for tanks dating back to World War Two. The UK's only surviving prisoner of war camp is set to recognised as a site of national importance Stobbs Camp is located in the Scottish borders near Hawick During the First World War the camp held captured German soldiers and citizens In 1914 when war in Europe broke out the base's purpose shifted slightly and it became a prisoner of war camp. Initially it was mostly home to non-fighting Germans who were in the UK at the time war broke out in Europe. Indeed just 3,100 of the 13,600 internees held in Britain on 22 September, 1914 were actually soldiers. By February 1916, this had changed with official records stating that Stobs housed 4,616 prisoners, of whom 1,829 were soldiers, 504 sailors and 2,283 civilians. At its peak the camp was a hugely impressive structure built up of a large compound encircled by barbed wire with sentry posts. Inside four compounds known as A,B,C and D were closed off from each other by fences. Each individual camp had its own exercise yard where prisoners would be allowed to socialise. The public consultation received 90 replies with the majority in favour of the move which will help safeguard the site. Initially it was mostly home to non-fighting Germans who were in the UK at the time war broke out in Europe At its peak in the latter stages of the conflict the camp held thousands of prisoners of war Dara Parsons, Head of Designations at HES, said: 'Stobs Camp is an outstanding monument to Scotland's role in the two great conflicts of the 20th century. 'It gives us a unique insight into the experience of those involved in these conflicts; those that served in the British military, civilian internees and prisoners of war. 'We're delighted to have had such a positive response to our proposal. 'Designating a site as a scheduled monument helps to recognise what is most special and ensures that significance informs long-term management for future generations.' Dianne Swift, Development Manager at Archaeology Scotland, said: 'Since 2016 Archaeology Scotland have supported investigation and learning about Stobs Camp with members of both local and global communities. 'Its designation as a scheduled monument will help raise awareness of the important work they have delivered and ensure the stories relating to Stobs Camp are more widely known.' Americans by wide margins support a controversial oil project in Alaska as part of a push for greater crude output and energy independence, says the latest polling blow to the environmental lobby. YouGov pollsters found that US adults are twice as likely to support than oppose the Willow project, a major oil development on Alaska's petroleum-rich North Slope, which President Joe Biden greenlighted last month. Despite differences along party lines, respondents overall favored boosting US oil production and a push for energy independence, even while many felt burning fossil fuels worsens climate change. In a statement on the results, YouGov described 'overwhelming' Republican backing for the project, while Democrats among the 1,000 adults surveyed at the end of last month were 'divided.' 'Overall, Americans support the US striving for energy independence, and more people want the US to increase its domestic oil production than decrease it,' said the statement. An exploratory drilling camp at the proposed site of the Willow oil project on Alaska's North Slope Half of respondents said Willow was good for the US economy, while only 11 percent expected a negative outcome 'However, many Americans also believe that oil drilling contributes to climate change and want the US to develop energy sources as alternatives to oil.' The Biden administration last month approved a scaled-back version of ConocoPhillips' $7 billion oil and gas drilling Willow scheme, drawing cheers from Alaskan officials and the oil industry but criticism from environmentalists. Opponents had said development of the three drill sites in northwestern Alaska conflicted with Biden's highly publicized efforts to fight climate change and shift to cleaner sources of energy, including electric vehicles. A federal judge this month rejected two lawsuits filed by environmental groups and a Native American community, calling to put the brakes on a project they said would worsen climate change and damage pristine wildlife habitat. Alaska's elected officials say the project will create hundreds of jobs and bring billions of dollars in revenue to state and federal coffers. The state relies heavily on revenue from oil production, but output there has fallen sharply from its peak in the 1980s. In the survey, half of respondents said Willow was good for the economy, while only 11 percent expected a negative outcome. Nearly three quarters of Republicans called the scheme an economic boom, against only 41 percent of Democrats. Only about one in five said the planned oil drilling would benefit the environment, while a third said it would damage ecosystems. Democrats were more worried about the environmental toll than were Republicans. Still, Americans of all stripes favored a push for energy independence, with four in five supporting the goal that the 'country produces enough energy to meet its needs without relying on foreign sources of oil.' By 51 percent to 17 percent, Americans want the US to increase rather than decrease its domestic oil production. Republicans were much more supportive of ramping up output than were Democrats. Environmentalists said the Willow development conflicted with Biden's highly publicized efforts to fight climate change and shift to cleaner sources of energy, including electric vehicles Americans of all stripes favored a push for energy independence, with four in five supporting the goal that the 'country produces enough energy to meet its needs without relying on foreign sources of oil.' By 51 percent to 17 percent, Americans want the US to increase rather than decrease its domestic oil production The support for Willow comes as Americans grow increasingly less convinced mankind causes climate change, and are even fewer are willing to get hit in the pocket to reduce carbon emissions. Americans are becoming less convinced that mankind causes climate change, and are even less willing to spend as little as $1 on their monthly energy bills to cut carbon emissions, a survey shows. A separate survey by the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago and The AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research this week signalled that the Biden administration is struggling to convince the public to go green. Pollsters found that the share of Americans who agree with most scientists that global warming is a reality has remained relatively stable in recent years, currently at 74 percent of respondents. But the share of those who attribute climate change to humans, as opposed to natural changes in the environment, has fallen from 60 percent in 2018 to 49 percent in the most recent survey. Meanwhile, the share of respondents who would be willing to spend their own money on tackling climate threats has also nosedived. Just 38 percent of Americans would support a carbon fee of $1 on their energy bills each month that's 14 percentage points fewer than when they were asked the same question two years ago. The share of Americans who attribute climate change to humans, as opposed to natural changes in the environment, has fallen from 60 percent in 2018 to 49 percent in the most recent survey An LGBTQ group in Florida has been slammed for issuing a 'travel advisory' that urges members of the queer community to avoid the Sunshine State over recent laws restricting their 'health, safety, and freedom.' The campaign group Equality Florida made headlines by saying the 'extremist policies' of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis made the state more dangerous for LGBTQ Americans to live, work and study. DeSantis has spearheaded a populist 'anti-woke' agenda aimed at restricting sex-reassignment treatments for trans kids and teaching about sex, race and gender in schools and colleges. DeSantis' office dismissed the bogus travel advisory as a 'political stunt.' Critics pounced on Equality Florida, saying the civil rights group was not really operating in the best interests of LGBTQ people, especially younger Floridians who struggled with their identity. Equality Florida made headlines by issuing a 'travel warning', saying Gov. Ron DeSantis' policies made the state more dangerous for LGBTQ Americans to live, work and study DeSantis has spearheaded a populist 'anti-woke' agenda aimed at restricting sex-reassignment treatments for transgender children and limiting the treatment of sexual, racial and gender identities in schools and colleges 'I'm sure this will do wonders for the mental health of youth in Florida,' said Leor Sapir, a fellow of the Manhattan Institute, a conservative New York-based think tank. 'Nothing says "we have your back" like persuading psychologically unstable teenagers that the environment they live in is even more hostile and hopeless than they imagine it to be.' Meanwhile, Oli London, an influencer who is de-transitioning from a trans woman back to a man, slammed the group for being 'woke' and pushing irreversible medical procedures on trans minors. 'The group, which pushes for teens to have double mastectomies and genital reassignment surgery in the name of gender identity, is now advising all members of the LGBT community not to travel to Florida,' London tweeted. Poll Should 'gender-affirming care' be banned for children in your state? Yes No Not sure Should 'gender-affirming care' be banned for children in your state? Yes 5858 votes No 303 votes Not sure 112 votes Now share your opinion Equality Florida, the state's biggest LGBTQ advocacy outfit, on Wednesday said it was taking the 'extraordinary step' of issuing a travel warning, urging queer people, families, entrepreneurs, and students against visiting the state. Travel advisories are usually issued by the US State Department or comparable departments in foreign governments, urging nationals to beware natural disasters, terrorism, civil unrest and other problems in a destination. The group said Florida 'may not be a safe place' to visit or take up residence because of the passage of new laws and policies that are 'hostile' to LGBTQ communities and may pose a 'serious risk' to the health and safety of visitors. It described the advisory as an 'unprecedented' move and a response to a series of 'hateful' laws and policies against LGBTQ people signed by DeSantis, who is widely tipped to be seeking the Republican nomination for next year's presidential election. Members of Florida's LGBTQ community have railed against DeSantis policies. At this event in Lake Worth Beach, Florida, protestors shouted 'We say gay!' in a rejection of the governors crackdown One of DeSantis' 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.' Last year, when he and his administration's Health Department campaigned against sex-reassignment treatments for minors and pushed state health regulators to ban the care, which advocates call 'gender-affirming'. The prohibition, which was approved by two state boards and took effect this year, bans sex reassignment surgeries and puberty blockers for minors. Officials said the treatments are experimental and risky for children. In a statement about the travel advisory, Equality Florida's executive director Nadine Smith said those and other laws 'strip away basic rights and freedoms' and had led to an exodus from the state. 'It is most heartbreaking to hear from parents who are selling their homes and moving because school censorship, book bans and health care restrictions have made their home state less safe for their children,' said Smith. 'Whether you stay away, leave or remain, we ask that you join us in countering these relentless attacks.' Teaching about gender identity and sexuality in schools and providing puberty blockers and cross-sex hormones to trans children has become a frontline in the culture wars between liberals and conservatives. Russia's Wagner militia would 'love' to track down British special forces in Ukraine, a British MP has warned after supposed leaked US intelligence documents claimed some 50 UK troops were acting in the country. Alicia Kearns, Chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, said if it was proven to be true that British intelligence officials were present in Ukraine, they would be a 'high value target' for the Wagner mercenary group. The committee chair was addressing allegedly leaked documents that contain classified information about the military strength of UK, US, and NATO allies. The document claimed the UK had deployed 50 elite special forces troops to Ukraine, and 14 from the US. But the documents, marked as top secret, were dismissed by the Ministry of Defence who said they contained a 'serious level of inaccuracy' when they first appeared on social media. Kearns said it would be very worrying if the leak was real as it would put Western assets around the world at risk. Russia's Wagner militia would 'love' to track down British special forces in Ukraine, a British MP has said. Pictured: Wagner group boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, March 3, 2023 Alicia Kearns said if British intelligence officials were on the group in Ukraine, they would be a 'high value target' for the mercenary group Ukrainian servicemen fire an artillery shell near the frontline area amid the Russia-Ukraine war, in Bakhmut, Ukraine on April 02, 2023 Speaking to Times Radio, Kearns said Thursday: 'If these are proven to be a serious and genuine leak, then this will be worrying because what it does is it does put at risk US, Allied and UK assets around the world, particularly those working to save Ukrainian lives.' 'There's no question that Wagner militia, the Russian government, would love to try and track down UK special forces. And by signalling that they are in Ukraine, they will become a high value target by the Russians. And if there are British Special Forces there, we obviously do not want them to be targeted.' While the Wagner group has become somewhat depleted in recent months, it has become synonymous with brutality and ruthlessness, with Kearns warning for the safety of Western assets. 'It is genuinely putting those on the ground at risk, if there are any, but also it is putting at risk, if these are accurate, the extensive access that there clearly is within the Russian defence system.' Neither the UK Ministry of Defence nor the Pentagon have confirmed the authenticity of the documents, which started appearing on social media earlier this year. 'A significant proportion of the content of these reports is untrue, manipulated, or both,' a British defence official said. 'We strongly caution against anybody taking the veracity of these claims at face value and would also advise them to take time to question the source and purpose of such leaks.' Whilst still not confirming the documents' authenticity, CIA director William Burns said leaks were 'deeply unfortunate' as US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin vowing to 'turn over every rock' to find a culprit. Britain has the largest contingent of special forces allegedly on Ukrainian soil, according to the leaked documents. There are said to be a dozen operators each from fellow NATO states Latvia, France, and the US A Ukrainian service member repositions his machine gun during a fire exchange at the frontline, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine in the region of Bakhmut, Ukraine, April 5, 2023 Tobias Ellwood (left) said the US leaks could 'endanger lives', as Dan Jarvis (right) said any possible operations were 'by necessity shrouded in secrecy' Kearns' comments come after Chair of the Defence Select Committee, Tobias Ellwood, said the leaks could 'endanger lives'. He said it would come as no surprise that British intelligence was doing much of the 'heavy lifting' when it comes to elite troops, but stressed the peril that could come of the leaks. 'This deliberate large-scale disclosure of sensitive material could easily endanger lives and should prompt an urgent review about who has access to sensitive information and how it is shared,' Ellwood told The Times. Labour's Dan Jarvis has also weighed in, saying any possible operations were 'by necessity shrouded in secrecy'. He added that the leak puts British military at a disadvantage and it may jeopardise 'the security and effectiveness of those operations and could put lives at risk.' Former head of the Royal Marines, Lt. Gen. Robert Magowan, confirmed in December that British commandos had already deployed twice to Ukraine in 2022 - first in January to evacuate the British Embassy in Kyiv, and again in April 'to provide protection to critical personnel'. Lt Gen Magowan said the personnel had served in Ukraine 'with a high level of political and military risk'. The leaked documents allegedly show how US intelligence has been able to provide Kyiv with extensive details of planned Russian attacks, but also revealed that Ukraine's air defences are almost exhausted. A probe to quickly identify the source of the break has since been launched by the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Justice Department. An 80-year-old Kansas man is suing the local Sherriff's office for $500,000 claiming that he was tasered for going just 3mph over the speed limit. John J. Sigg, of Iola, sued Allen County Sheriff Bryan J. Murphy and former Deputy Joseph Stotler, 32 on Monday for the traffic stop gone wrong in 2021. Sigg was clocked going 38mph in a 35mph speed limit around 5.30pm on April 16, according to the lawsuit. When he pulled over, Stotler shouted at him to 'get on the f**king ground' before firing 2000 volts into the elderly man's body causing him to drop 'like a rock' and cut his head, the lawsuit alleges. It was originally reported by local outlets that Sigg was driving 9mph over the speed limit and did not pull over when officers turned on their lights. John J. Sigg, 80, of Iola, sued Allen County Sheriff Bryan J. Murphy and former Deputy Joseph Stotler, 32, of Moran, on Monday for a traffic stop gone wrong in 2021. On April 16, 2021, Sigg was clocked by Iola Officer Andres going 38mph in a 35mph speed zone around 5.30pm, the lawsuit claimed Stotler tasered the elderly man after he lead them on a pursuit and told him to 'get on the f**king ground.' Sigg claimed he was not aware he was leading a pursuit and that Stotler had discharged the taser without warning The lawsuit says Sigg was unaware cops were following him even though multiple law enforcement cruisers from other departments joined the pursuit in the rural area around 100 miles southwest of Kansas City. 'At no point during the drive did Mr. Sigg understand that he was the subject of the pursuit,' the lawsuit read. However, Sigg told the Iola Register in 2021 that he was fearful to pull over due to previous encounters with police. 'I knew I had to get back on this lot. I wanted a safe haven,' he told the Register. 'It's a wonder they didnt kill me.' Sigg drove to his family business, Sigg Motors. When he got out of his car, officers surrounded him and two officers from nearby Chanute, Kansas, drew their guns, the lawsuit said. 'Sigg looked at them quizzically and raised his hands,' the lawsuit stated, and that's when Stotler demanded Sigg 'get on the f**king ground.' The elderly man claimed he 'lowered his hands to get on the ground' when Stotler 'discharged his taser into Sigg's body,' hitting him in the abdomen. The elderly man had previously told the Register he was unable to physically drop to his knees, but had raised his hands in surrender. However, Sigg claimed Stotler 'had given no warning that he was about to discharge his taser.' He was also unaware that the manufacturer warned against using a taser on the elderly. Sigg is now seeking $250,000 in actual damages and an equal amount in punitive damages as 'Stotler (pictured) had not been properly trained and supervised and the outcome was highly predictable based upon the obvious potential for a constitutional violation' Stotler graduated from the police academy in 2020 (pictured) Sigg then claimed that officers 'jumped' on him and placed him in handcuffs.' The taser released 2000 volts into Sigg's body, causing him to drop 'like a rock' and suffer a cut to his head. The lawsuit said Sigg began mumbling in a way that was 'hard to understand,' and told an officer he didn't feel right. Sigg was treated at an emergency room. The Iola man claimed he did not make any 'hostile motion or make physical or verbal threats,' the lawsuit stated. 'There was no risk that the 80-year-old man was going to run from the officers and they had no concern that Sigg had a firearm.' However, the police report filed by the Iola officer stated that 'Sigg was not responding as he would have expected when he was asked questions and Andres was concerned about his mental prowess.' Sigg is now seeking $250,000 in actual damages and an equal amount in punitive damages as 'Stotler had not been properly trained and supervised and the outcome was highly predictable based upon the obvious potential for a constitutional violation.' DailyMail.com has reach out to Sigg's attorney, Randall Rathbun, and Stotler for comment. An Aer Lingus passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Dublin just minutes after take-off after a flock of pigeons was sucked into the aircraft's engine. Firefighters immediately scrambled onto the runway once the aircraft had landed following the bird strike this afternoon. Aer Lingus Flight EI123, which was on its way to Chicago, took off from the North runway at Dublin Airport at around 11.30pm but was forced to U-turn just 15 minutes later. Passengers reported experiencing major vibrations on the plane after the flock of birds got trapped in the right engine. The Airbus A330-300 was being inspected by engineers after it emergency landed on the South runway earlier today, as Aer Lingus work to get passengers to Chicago later. An Aer Lingus passenger jet was forced to make an emergency landing in Dublin just minutes after take-off after a bird strike. (file image) Footage from passengers on board showed the Aer Lingus aircraft taking off for Chicago as normal Footage posted online showed the aircraft initially speeding down the runway ahead of take-off. However, further video posted by one of the passengers then showed Flight EI123 back on the ground, with fire crews racing towards it. The camera then panned towards two officers on the ground while engineers began to inspect the damage caused. Along with the video, one of the passengers wrote on Twitter: 'My #AerLingus flight EI123 from Dublin to Chicago just had a bird strike in number 2 engine on take-off. 'Captain says it was a flock of pigeons. 'Major vibration after take-off lead to an emergency landing back in Dublin. Happened today April 13 at 12pm.' Aer Lingus confirmed that the aircraft landed safely, where passengers and cabin crew disembarked. A spokesman for the airline said: 'Aer Lingus flight EI123 operating from Dublin to Chicago this afternoon was required to turn back when the aircraft experienced a bird strike shortly after take-off. 'The aircraft landed safely at Dublin Airport and all customers and crew are safely disembarking. After the emergency landing, engineers were seen inspecting the aircraft's damaged engine Passengers reported experiencing major vibrations on the plane after the flock of birds got trapped in the right engine. Pictured: Officers by the aircraft The map above shows the Aer Lingus flight's short journey, leaving Dublin before turning back immediately 'We are working on getting impacted customers to their destination as quickly as possible.' A spokesman for the daa added: 'Dublin Airports Fire and Rescue Service was on hand to safely escort flight EI123 to a stand on Thursday afternoon when it landed back at Dublin Airport after the aircraft encountered an issue shortly after take-off. 'The emergency response has subsequently been stood down.' A similar incident took place last September when an Aer Lingus flight taking Tanaiste Micheal Martin to the UN General Assembly in New York was forced to U-turn after a bird strike. This time, however, the flight was 90 minutes into its journey to JFK Airport, when it was forced to land back in Dublin. Neither Meghan Markle nor Sarah Ferguson are expected to be at King Charles III's coronation - while questions remain over whether Prince Andrew will attend. More than 2,000 people will gather at Westminster Abbey on May 6 for the nation's first event of its kind in 70 years, with the guest list now starting to take shape. Most of the Royal Family will attend the ceremony, led by senior members Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward along with their spouses and children. Foreign dignitaries are set to include First Lady Jill Biden - but not her husband Joe - along with leaders from the likes of France, Spain, Belgium, Japan and Monaco. But it was claimed today that Charles has not invited Sarah - meaning the Duchess of York, who is his former sister-in-law, will have to watch the event on television. And it comes one day after Buckingham Palace revealed Prince Harry will be at the event but his wife will stay in California with the couple's children Archie and Lilibet. Sarah, Duchess of York and Prince Andrew attend Ascot Racecourse together in June 2019 Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and then-Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey in March 2019 Sarah, 63, nicknamed 'Fergie', still lives with her ex-husband Andrew at the Windsor mansion of Royal Lodge despite their divorce in 1996. But she is now not expected to attend the coronation - despite Andrew and their daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie all set to be there. Who will be attending the King's coronation? More than 2,000 guests will gather at Westminster Abbey on May 6 for the nation's first coronation in 70 years. As King Charles III is the reigning monarch, Prince William is now heir to the throne - with him and Kate now set to play important roles in the event. Prince George has also been handed a notable role in proceedings, as one of Charles's four Pages of Honour. George will be required to carry the King's robes with three other Pages of Honour - schoolboys Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, Nicholas Barclay, 13, and Ralph Tollemache, 12. All three are sons of His Majesty's friends. Camilla has made her three grandsons - twins Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 12, as well as her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, 11 - Pages of Honour as she is crowned Queen. Prince Harry will attend, but his wife Meghan Markle will remain in the US with their children Archie and Lilibet. Prince Andrew is also expected to attend with his daughters Eugenie and Beatrice, but his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York is not set to be there. Heads of state and representatives from a number of key British allies and Commonwealth nations are also expected to be part of the guest list. These include leaders from Ireland, France, Spain, Belgium, Japan, Hungary and Monaco. All three presidents of the European Union Ursula von der Leyen, Roberta Metsola and Charles Michel will attend. Foreign dignitaries are also set to include First Lady Jill Biden - but her husband, Joe Biden, will not be there. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata will attend, but Cabinet ministers will be denied a 'plus one'. Advertisement However, Andrew, Eugenie and Beatrice are all not expected to be part of the procession because this will be restricted to working members of the family. It is not yet confirmed whether Andrew will be present - and even if he is, he will not have any special ceremonial roles. Royal sources have already dismissed the idea that he could play a significant part in the proceedings. Andrew also will not be invited to stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with other members of the family during the celebrations. But the report in The Independent today about Fergie's absence will likely surprise some royal watchers - with Meghan Markle 's friend Omid Scobie tweeting: 'If true, this feels kinda cruel, no?' Sarah did attend the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey last September, but was not one of the 30 guests for Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021. She was not invited to Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011, saying she went on holiday to Thailand instead - but did attend Harry and Meghan's marriage at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2018. Given Charles is now king, William is heir to the throne - with him and Kate now set to play important roles in the event. Prince George has also been handed a notable role in proceedings, as one of Charles's four Pages of Honour. George will be required to carry the King's robes with three other Pages of Honour - schoolboys Lord Oliver Cholmondeley, 13, Nicholas Barclay, 13, and Ralph Tollemache, 12. All three are sons of His Majesty's friends. Camilla has made her three grandsons - twins Gus and Louis Lopes, 13, and Freddy Parker Bowles, 12, as well as her great-nephew, Arthur Elliot, 11 - Pages of Honour as she is crowned Queen. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata will attend, but Cabinet ministers will be denied a 'plus one'. Organisers say space is very limited and the guest list will be similar to the Queen's state funeral where very few politicians could take their partners. That decision has sparked anger among some senior ministers who believe their spouses deserve a much-coveted place. Former prime ministers are expected to be granted plus ones, as happened at the Queen's funeral in September. Speaking about Sarah's absence, one of her friends told the Independent: 'She has been hugely supportive of Charles and Camilla and does not want this to become about her. 'The whole day is about the new King and the success of his reign but she has always championed the royal family and the Queen undoubtedly would have wanted her to be there.' Sarah, Duchess of York (centre, left) posted a picture in May 2020 of her with Prince Andrew (centre, right) and their daughters Princess Eugenie (far right) and Princess Beatrice (far left) Princesses Beatrice (left) and Eugenie at the Easter Sunday service in Windsor on April 9 Camilla, King Charles III, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew at Windsor Castle on April 9 Her lack of coronation invite comes despite Andrew turning up at the Easter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, although her ex-husband is still excluded from most of life within the Royal Family. Sarah herself has also had something of a renaissance in recent months, having been invited to join King Charles and other senior royals at Sandringham at Christmas, as well as looking after the late Queen's corgis. She was also a favourite of the late Queen and they were known to spend plenty of time together including walks at Windsor Park. They knew each other before Sarah's marriage to Andrew because her father Major Ronald Ferguson was the royal polo manager. Last month Sarah revealed during a chat with Glamour editor Samantha Barry that she had not received an invitation to the coronation - joking that it was 'TBD' whether she would end up going. 'The invitations haven't gone out yet. Have they?' she asked when questioned whether she plans to go. Sarah also insisted that a lack of invitation did not bother her, saying: 'Well I've decided the best thing about being British around a coronation - although I've never been to one - I think we should, I should set up a tea room at the bottom of the drive with bunting and cakes.' Just over a week ago she spoke of her continued sadness at the Queen's death but also her admiration for Charles. In an interview to promote her new historical fiction book 'A Most Intriguing Lady', Sarah told OK! magazine: 'I have known both the King and the Queen Consort since I was a child. Sarah, Duchess of York and then-Prince Charles kiss after a polo match in Windsor in June 1986 Charles speaks with Sarah during Princess Eugenie's wedding in Windsor in October 2018 'I think if you look at the King's track record in areas like the environment, where he was decades ahead of his time, and the Prince's Trust, it's clear what an extraordinary man he is and how fortunate we are to have him on the throne. 'I also admire the way the Queen Consort has worked tirelessly in areas like literacy and domestic violence.' While speaking to Royal Central to promote her new book, Sarah also revealed that she is considering writing another autobiography. Fergie has already written two memoirs of her own - the first being My Story, published in 1996 just months after her divorce from Andrew was finalised. She then wrote Finding Sarah, which came out in 2011 after another bout of financial woes. Any new autobiography is likely to cover more recent years, including the period around Andrew's very public fall from grace. Despite the pair having been divorced for nearly 30 years they are still said to remain best friends and live together. It has been rumoured that Andrew is also considering putting his own side of recent events down in print - but sources close to the disgraced royal have denied this. Yesterday, Buckingham Palace ended months of speculation when it confirmed Harry will be a guest at Westminster Abbey, despite his troubled relationship with his family, though Meghan will stay in the US and miss Charles's big day. Sarah, Duchess of York has recently been on a publicity tour to promote her new historical fiction book 'A Most Intriguing Lady'. She is pictured in conversation in New York on March 6 Sarah, Duchess of York (centre) with Jack Brooksbank (left) and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (right) at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey in London on September 19, 2022 The King's second son, who moved to California after stepping down as a senior working royal, is currently taking legal action against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK. A mass police presence will be out in force on the streets of central London on the bank holiday weekend in May as well-wishers flock to the capital to see the King, Camilla and the royal family take part in a grand carriage procession and make an appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Harry's stay in the UK will be brief, with the duke heading quickly back to California to join the celebrations for Prince Archie's fourth birthday, which coincides with the day of the coronation. The duke will only be attending the ceremony and not taking part in other coronation festivities during the three-day bank holiday weekend. A concert is being staged at Windsor Castle on Sunday May 7, with people also encouraged to come together across the country for a Coronation Big Lunch, while on Monday May 8, the focus is a Big Help Out volunteering drive. The tech executive who has been arrested for the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee can be named as 38-year-old Berkeley graduate, Nima Momeni. Momeni was arrested today at his home in Emeryville, around nine miles from where Lee was stabbed to death on April 4. He is the owner of Expand IT, a tech business in the Bay Area, and describes himself online as a start-up entrepreneur. Lee was stabbed in the street last week while visiting the city from Miami, where he lived. It is unclear if Momeni attended the same tech conference Lee was in town for, but the pair were seen in Momeni's car together at around 2.30am, moments before the stabbing. They had some kind of confrontation that led to the attack, according to police sources. Nima Momeni, 38, has been arrested for the stabbing murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee An arrest has been made in the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee, who was stabbed to death in San Francisco on April 4 Police outside Momeni's apartment building this morning. Neighbors described waking up to banging and shouting The entrance to Momeni's $700,000 loft apartment in Emeryville, a suburb of San Francisco Momeni was taken into custody this morning at the loft where he lives and works. Neighbors confirmed his arrest to DailyMail.com on Thursday. Public relations expert Sam Singer told DailyMail.com Momeni lived and worked out of the 'high end premiere loft' in the Beslar Building in Emeryville. Momeni's alleged motive remains unclear Singer said that he met the suspect shortly after moving into the building. 'We were moving in and his door was open, we went in and introduced ourselves. 'Nima very kindly welcomed us into his unit and showed us around. 'He's got a big pool table with a lot of tech equipment, a lot of gourmet food, big stereo speakers and he was very, very welcoming, very kind.' 'He was quite, quite impressive, very nice fella and so it's shocking to me as well as all the residents in the building that he's accused of the murder.' Singer went on to call Momeni a 'very bright' and 'charming' man, adding that he would 'fit in at anybody's party or event.' Another neighbor told The Daily Beast they awoke to the sound of loud banging on Thursday morning as police swooped on Momeni's unit at dawn. 'I poked my head out there were bunch of armed guys, three or four armed guys at the end of the corridor. 'And then they [said], Get back into your room, the neighbor said. Nima Momeni was arrested at his loft (pictured) in Emeryville this morning Lee with his ex-wife Krista. She said the arrest today was the 'first step towards justice' but still does not explain his death Lee with one of his children. The 43-year-old had moved from San Francisco to Miami in October 2022, but returned for a conference Lee lived in Mill Valley, a suburb north of San Francisco, with his family before moving to Miami in October last year. Krista Lee, who was previously married to him, told local site Fox News 2 that she remains perplexed at the suspect's motive, but that the pair knew each other. Lee somehow staggered out of the car and was picked up on surveillance footage struggling to walk nearby after the attack. The harrowing surveillance footage shows Lee stumbling through the city streets after being stabbed. He died in the hospital later that morning. Lee's death was invoked as the latest example of escalating crime in the Democrat city and led to increased criticism of Mayor London Breed. Over the weekend, she told residents not to 'jump to conclusions' about his death and said people 'will be surprised when the facts come out'. A day after Lee's death, a former fire commissioner was attacked in the street outside his mother's house. A 24-year-old man has been arrested in that case. The fire commissioner said the incident and Lee's death were proof of San Francisco's escalating crime problem. Lee's father, Rick, previously paid tribute to him on social media, describing him as his 'best friend'. Lee is shown stumbling into an apartment building after being stabbed on April 4 Lee was stabbed to death last week while visiting San Francisco. Above, his final movements San Francisco Mayor London Breed this weekend urged people not to 'jump to conclusions' about the high profile murder, and said people would be 'surprised' when the facts come out' They moved from San Francisco to Miami as a family recently. While Krista and Bob were no longer together, she too relocated to Florida to be close with their children. 'I just lost my best friend, my son Bob Lee when he lost his life on the street in San Francisco. 'I moved to Mill Valley, CA with Bob after his mother died in 2019 and we recently relocated to Miami in Oct 2022. 'Life has been an adventure with two bachelors living together, and Im so happy that we were able to become so close these last years. 'Bob would give you the shirt off his back. 'He would never look down on anyone and adhered to a strict no-judgment philosophy. 'Bobby worked harder than anyone and was the smartest person I have ever known. 'He will be missed by all those that knew him. Thank you to those who have reached out in support,' he said. Mr. Lee confirmed the arrest on Thursday but has not issued any kind of public comment. Gibb has previously spoken out against Vallow after her alleged crimes shocked the nation over three years ago Melanie Gibb co-hosted religious apocalypse podcast 'Fell the Fire' with her, but has shared the escalating views Vallow came to later believe Lori Vallow's former best friend has given bombshell testimony on day four of the 'cult mom's' murder trial Lori Vallow insisted her son JJ was safe and happy months after she allegedly partnered with her doomsday cult husband to murder the little boy. Jurors at her murder trial were played a damning phone call that Vallow's former best friend Melanie Gibb made in December 2019. During the call, which Chad Daybell was also on, Vallow also makes the haunting claim she could reveal JJs whereabouts, but that that would not be good for JJ. Several months later, the little boys badly decomposed body was found buried near his sisters remains in Daybells backyard. Gibb also alleges that Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, warned that 'you don't want to know' what happened to JJ after she asked about his whereabouts. Jurors were previously shown harrowing pictures of JJ after he was found, wearing a red pajama set, pull up night-time diaper and covered in a childrens blanket. The boy was badly bruised, wrapped in thick layers of duct tape and placed in a black plastic bag. Lori Vallow's former best friend Melanie Gibb (right) has taken the stand in Vallow's blockbuster murder trial Lori Vallow, pictured, allegedly killed her children after descending into religious fanaticism Gibb was compelled to contact the couple as fears grew for missing JJ, seven, and Tylee Ryan, 16, during which time Vallow had falsely claimed to police that JJ was with Gibb. In the phone conversation played to the court Thursday, Gibb confronts Vallow about the claim and is told JJ had to be moved somewhere safe to protect him from his grandmother, Kay Woodcock, who had raised concerns about the boys safety. Vallow says police who were searching for the children are working with [Kay] in a dark capacity. She also claims, theres people after me, adding: I will do whatever the Lord needs me to do every day. The conversation becomes heated after Gibb reads Vallow a scripture. Vallow responds: I dont know why youre being controversial to me or if youre recording this conversation for the police or whatever, I dont know what your intention is on this phone call. Vallow tells Gibb she loves her but Gibb replies: But if you really love me, you wouldnt have told the police that I had JJ with me. This does not sound like you,' Vallow responded. 'It sounds like youve been influenced by somebody dark who wants you to believe dark things and have fear of the Celestial world. She says Christ is coming soon. At one point, Daybell intervenes to say his wife Tammy - who the couple allegedly murdered two months earlier - is on a special mission. Vallow becomes agitated when Gibb tells her: Well honey, you got a lot of natural desires. We all know that. Gibb accuses Vallow of resting the scriptures for her own vainglory. But Vallow claims God has my back and adds hauntingly: I could tell everything where JJ is right now and that would not be good for JJ. So, Im sorry that you dont want me to protect my children. But I would never ask you to not protect your children. The pair then argue about Vallows alleged relationship with Daybell while they were still married to their respective partners. Vallow hangs up after telling Gibb she will tell me if I was lying or not when were both standing there with Jesus Christ. Daybell, pictured during a court hearing in August 2020, built a following as a religious fantasist who warned of an impending apocalypse Vallow is accused of killing her kids, seven-year-old Joshua (JJ), left, and 16-year-old Tylee, right Gibb's harrowing testimony also included details of a conversation she claims to have had with Vallow's brother Alex Cox when she became concerned over JJ's wellbeing. She recalled that Cox told her 'you don't want to know' when she asked about the missing child's whereabouts, which came following the final sighting of JJ in September 2019. In the previous months, Cox had gradually began to learn about Vallow and Daybells ideas of possessed people and zombies, Gibb said. She added that Cox had 'talked about how Chad had given him a patriarchal blessing'. She told the court that Cox said he knew individuals that they were hoping would pass away. He indicated that they believed that they were zombies. Gibb said: I told him I didnt 100 percent believe it was true and he said he 100 percent believed it. Fremont county prosecutor Lindsey Blake asked Gibb whether there was a 'pattern' of people who were branded zombies ending up 'gone'. Gibb, who described Vallow as 'convincing', said: The pattern was as soon as they started questioning or just thought something suspicious was going on, all of a sudden that person became dark or a zombie. She said that most of the people who were deemed zombies ended up gone. Lori Vallow, right, branded her ex-husband Charles Vallow, left, as 'dark' and was convinced he was possessed, months before he was fatally shot by her brother Alex Cox Vallow and Daybell would often talk about creating portals, Gibb said. Chad explained to her how to make a portal, I think hers was in a closet.' She also recalled a conversation with Vallow in September 2019 - the month JJ was allegedly murdered - when Vallow said JJ was a zombie. Gibb also said she telephoned Vallow following Tammy Daybells death in October 2019. Vallow allegedly told her 'that [Tammy] had a dark entity in her and [Vallow and Chad Daybell] had to do what they could to get the spirit out of her'. Vallow would also speak about people having levels and vibrations leading to the body being translated or changed. Sometimes she would say she didnt have to eat necessarily or she would get younger, Gibb said. Vallows defense lawyers lodged a failed attempt to have the dramatic testimony struck from the record. John Thomas, one of her lawyers, argued the prosecution team had failed to disclose details of meetings with Gibb ahead of the trial. But Judge Steven Boyce denied the attempt and said it was unfounded. Melanie Gibbs, right, pictured being escorted to Ada County Courthouse April 13, 2023, ahead of her testimony in the murder trial of her former best friend Lori Vallow Lori Vallow's brother Alex Cox (pictured) warned Melanie Gibb 'you don't want to know' when she asked about JJ's whereabouts, Gibb testified Thursday Vallow's children, Tylee and JJ disappeared in September 2019, but their remains were not discovered for another 10 months The phone call recording came after the jury heard damning testimony from Gibb, who said the 'cult mom' believed her children were dark, possessed and working under the contract of Satan in the months before they were murdered. Gibb, who co-hosted a religious podcast with Vallow in 2018, shared how she saw the mom's views become warped when she became entangled with Daybell. The 'cult mom' became enamored with the doomsday author after reading his books and lectures in 2017, where he espoused beliefs about an imminent apocalypse and believed he was chosen to lead humans through the end times. Vallow, 49, was convinced that she and Daybell, 54, were leaders ordered by God to shepherd 144,000 people through the second coming of Christ. As their ideas became more deranged, the pair claimed Vallows children were possessed humans - or 'zombies' - who needed to pass way to cleanse them of evil spirits. Gibb told Ada County Court on Thursday that she met Vallow in 2018 and the pair quickly developed a close friendship - traveling together to conferences of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She said Vallow met Daybell around October 2018 and quickly became convinced shed been married to him four or five times in previous lives. The couple started to believe people close to them were possessed and they held castings to rid the evil spirits, said Gibb, who took part in some of the castings. Daybell espoused a bizarre 'rating system' that underpinned his religious fantasies, whereby he would rank individuals on how 'light' and 'dark' their souls were. Those who were too 'dark' had become 'zombies', and the only way to save their souls was to kill their host bodies. 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 later separated by a judge The couple believed possessed people included, JJ, Tylee, Vallows husband Charles Vallow, and other relatives and random people. They claimed some individuals were high level dark, that the darkness evolved and one person was part of Hitlers group. Gibb said Vallow felt that she was part of the 144,000 that would be on earth during the return of the savior. People who were light would be saved and people who were dark were working under the contract of Satan. Vallow first began to claim her husband Charles Vallow was taken over by an evil spirit in January 2018. Months later, Charles Vallow was shot dead by Lori Vallows brother, Alex Cox. Gibb said Cox was part of Vallow and Daybells inner circle and bought into their beliefs. Vallow had previously said she dreamed Charles Vallow would die in a car crash - but when it didnt happen, she said Satan interfered with the plan. Gibb also told how Vallow first met Daybell at an LDS conference in Utah in 2018 and they immediately connected. She said: They were very friendly to each other talking a lot about some of their ideas and beliefs that they had at that time. There was definitely attraction right from the beginning. She seemed very interested in him. Vallow seemed flattered by Daybell and their conversations were flirty. Within weeks of meeting, Daybell told Vallow they had been married multiple times. Vallow believed she had been married to a prophet from the Book of Mormon called Moroni. She told me that they had been married I believe four or five times and she would go into different details with me about who she was, what character she was and what character he was, Gibb said. On another occasion, Vallow said she had been sealed with Daybell in a church. They met in the temple together, Gibb said. Vallow told her a prophet was there, she said Jesus Christ was there and they were reunited again. Vallow stared intently at her former best friend throughout the testimony and occasionally turned to exchange words with her lawyers. She appeared in court in a gray blazer and had her ankles shackled to the floor during the hearing. Gibb recalled meeting Lori Vallow for the first time in October 2018 at a church event. The pair struck up a close friendship and Gibb met JJ and Tylee several weeks later. Tylee often seemed upset and frustrated with Vallow pretty much most of the time. Speaking about JJ, Gibb added: Sometimes I would watch her with him and she was very affectionate and loving to him. I watched her sing a song to him as she was putting him to bed. But several months after Vallow met Daybell, the connection changed and she was distracted a lot. Vallow pictured during a court hearing in March 2020 Vallow and Gibb previously worked on a podcast together - but in recent years Vallow's former best friend has turned on her. In a May 2020 interview, a month before the remains of Vallow's children JJ and Tylee were discovered on the property of Chad Daybell, Gibb revealed how the 'cult mom' had plotted to convince police that her kids weren't missing. Gibb said she learned JJ and Tylee were missing on November 26 while she was in Utah for the Thanksgiving holiday. Chad, a former gravedigger, had called her out of the blue sounding 'scared and nervous'. 'I still get emotional about it,' she said, revealing that Daybell warned her 'don't pick up the phone' if police reached out to her. 'My heart just dropped,' she continued. Gibb testified at Daybell's preliminary criminal hearing in August 2020, where she dramatically played a 21-minute phone call she secretly recorded confronting Lori and Chad over the missing children. 'I knew after many people heard that, they would understand Chad and Lori and my relationship with them a little bit better,' Gibb told East Idaho News. 'Im really grateful that got to come out. 'Overall, Im grateful to be able to share the information and knowledge that I have,' she said at the time. 'Its hard to talk about those things knowing the whole world is watching you.' Nima Momeni has been arrested on suspicion of murdering Cash App founder Bob Lee in San Francisco on April 4. Shockingly, Momeni is said to have known his victim - the two men are reported to have shared a car journey shortly before the killing took place. They were in a car registered to Momeni, according to Mission Local. The stabbing by an acquaintance could, in part, explain why Lee was wandering through a portion of Main Street on which there is nearly zero foot traffic at 2.30am. Lee eventually died in the hospital later that morning. Like Lee, Momeni works in tech - although he is considerably less successful than the slaughtered tycoon, who was worth many millions of dollars. Further details on the relationship between Lee and his alleged killer have not yet emerged. Momeni, was arrested by the San Francisco Police Department at an address in Emeryville on Thursday morning. The town sits just across the San Francisco Bay from the city where Lee was murdered. Momeni is listed as living in a smart, two-bedroom condominium there, which Zillow estimates is worth around $703,000. The sizeable open-plan property has a large living space with industrial-style concrete beams, with space for a bed on the ground floor and on its mezzanine level. A picture of Nima Momeni, who was arrested Thursday morning by San Francisco police for the murder of tech executive Bob Lee Cash App founder Bob Lee was brutally stabbed to death last week in downtown San Francisco at about 2.30am. He was in town for business Momeni is related to top Bay Area plastic surgeon Dr Dino Elyassnia, who is believed to be married to the suspected killer's sister Khazar The surgeon is pictured with Khazar in a gushing 2020 post professing his love for her Momeni's LinkedIn profile says he is the owner of Expand IT, a group of 'local expert enterprise IT professionals dedicated to providing solid, reliable and efficient technology solutions & cost effective support services to our valued SMB and Enterprise Client.' He described himself as a 'dedicated technology partner since 2005, supporting a variety of client vertical markets in Healthcare, Finance, High Tech/Startup, Technology, Manufacturing and Service sectors.' His profile says he attended Vista College, Laney College, and UC Berkeley, and that in addition to English, he is fluent in Farsi. Lee had moved from San Francisco to Miami at the time of his murder, and was back in his former home town to attend a conference. It is unclear if Momeni also attended the conference. The suspected killer is related to one of San Francisco's top plastic surgeons, Dino Elyassnia, who specializes in facial rejuvenation and nose job procedures. DailyMail.com is working to confirm the link between the two, although Elyassnia lives with Momeni's sister Khazar, suggesting they may be married. Lee's death was invoked as the latest example of escalating crime in the Democrat-led city and spurred increased criticism of Mayor London Breed. But days prior to the arrest Breed pushed back, and appeared to imply that Lee's death was not a random act of violence perpetrated against someone who was in the wrong place, at the wrong time. Over the weekend, she told residents not to 'jump to conclusions' about his death and said people 'will be surprised when the facts come out'. Momeni is also a tech executive and appears to have owned his own IT firm since 2010 Footage of Lee shows him stumbling around the streets of downtown SF crying out for help after being stabbed Momeni was arrested in Emeryville in the Bay Area, where he lives in a spacious condo worth about $703,000 Exterior of building where Momeni was arrested Thursday morning Lee is shown stumbling into an apartment building after being stabbed on April 4 The alleged killer, whose motive has not yet been disclosed, seems to reside in a swanky condo in the Bay Area, to which police were dispatched Thursday morning. Lee's location was one of several reasons officers felt it may not have been a straightforward or random crime. The final moments of Cash App founder Bob Lee can be seen on CCTV footage as he clutches his wounds and begs passersby for help after his savage stabbing only to be left to die. Father-of-two Lee, 43, was knifed multiple times in the chest early Tuesday while on a business trip. Security video obtained exclusively by DailyMail.com reveals how the fading tech mogul made repeated, desperate attempts to flag down passing cars only to watch in horror as they sped away. Officers raced to the scene and rendered first aid but by then it was too late to save Lee, formerly chief technology officer at Square, where he created Cash App, and current chief product officer at MobileCoin. 'The victim was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries. Despite efforts by first responders and medical personnel, the victim succumbed to his injuries,' the San Francisco Police Department (SFPD) said. A kitchen knife with a 4-inch blade was reportedly found in a parking lot across the street but cops are yet to make any arrests. On Thursday, Lee's ex-wife Krista confirmed the news of the arrest, saying that there is still no understood motive. The family recently moved from San Francisco to Miami to escape the crime-riddled neighborhoods of San Francisco. While Krista and Bob were no longer together, she too relocated to Florida to be close with their children. The owner of an American-themed indoor trampoline park could face jail after failing to report four children breaking their legs at the attraction. A boy and girl, both three, and two more girls, nine and 11, were hurt while jumping on trampolines and into foam pits at Supajump in Trident Trade Park, Cardiff, between April 2018 and August 2019. The venue's director Philip Booth, 60, from St Mellons, Cardiff, was told by a district judge he had shown 'blatant disregard for the law' and the offences are so serious he would be referred to the crown court for sentencing. In September 2022, after a prosecution by Cardiff City Council, Booth pleaded guilty to four counts of failing to report an accident which saw a person taken to hospital and two counts of failing to ensure people were not exposed to health and safety risks from using play equipment. At Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Thursday, District Judge Steve Harmes said: 'I've assessed this case at the very high culpability, category two harm, because injuries such as this are serious and could've been more serious.' Philip Booth, 60, from St Mellons, Cardiff, will be sentenced at crown court after failing to report four children breaking legs at his Supajump trampoline park He said another young woman suffered a spinal injury at the trampoline park but Booth has not been charged over that incident. According to its website, Supajump also has an amusement arcade and a candy store. It says the trampoline park has around 20,000 square feet of interconnected trampolines with "angled walls, tricks airbag, slam dunk basketball, a battle beam and a 'total wipeout'. The judge continued: 'That wasn't identified and you won't be sentenced for it, but that's the sort of thing that can happen in these cases, so I don't think my sentencing powers are adequate in this case. 'You clearly and blatantly disregarded the law, disregarded the advice you were given by the council, and all these injuries occurred, none of which were reported, some of which there was an effort on staff's part to minimise them by telling people to cross things out on forms that were handed in about what happened. 'So for all those reasons, I'm going to commit you for sentencing to the crown court.' The judge said he would have only had the power to sentence Booth to a maximum of six months behind bars. He made an order banning the identification of the children involved. Booth will be sentenced at Cardiff Crown Court on April 27. The pub landlord at the centre of a row over displaying golliwog dolls will reportedly be probed by police over 'racist' Facebook posts which appear to include jokes about black people being lynched in the US. The White Hart Inn, in Grays, Essex, was also banned by the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) from receiving awards or being included in their Good Beer Guide. Pub landlord Chris Ryley, in his 60s, has made numerous 'offensive' posts on Facebook. In March 2016 he shared a photo of two dolls hanging from the bar, captioning it: 'We have our golliwogs, yaaay.' His wife Bernice commented, asking, 'Are you sure this is legal.lol.xx,' to which he replied: 'They used to hang them in Mississippi years ago'. She responded telling him to 'behave'. Last week, Mr Ryley and his wife Benice, who are in their 60s, had six Essex Police officers enter their pub and confiscate 20 golliwog dolls displayed on a shelf behind the bar after an anonymous complaint was made against them. 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 They also seized an assortment of golliwog badges and magnets that adorned the bar. READ MORE: Pub landlord at centre of golliwogs row denies he is racist after facing social media backlash Advertisement Other 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. He has also declared support for 'White Lives Matter'. Essex Police has now confirmed they are aware of Facebook posts made by Mr Ryley. It is understood by The Guardian that these posts will be reviewed as part of the force's investigation. 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?' In another post 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?' Following the controversy, CAMRA has banned the White Hart Inn from being considered for future awards or inclusion in the Good Beer Guide as long as they continue to display the 'discriminatory dolls'. On Twitter, the organisation said: 'CAMRA believes pubs should be welcoming and inclusive places and it's baffling that any pub would choose to discriminate against customers or potential customers by continuing to display offensive material. 'We have had clear national guidelines in place since 2018 that no pub should be considered for an award if it displays offensive or discriminatory material on the premises, or on social media associated with the pub. 'We are currently discussing why this guidance was seemingly ignored by our South West Essex branch & instructing them not to consider the White Hart, Grays, Essex, for future awards, or inclusion in our Good Beer Guide, while these discriminatory dolls continue to be on display.' Mrs Ryley was quizzed by officers after police received an anonymous complaint about the golliwog display at The White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex Referring to the post from March 2016 of the hanging dolls and his controversial comment, Mr Ryley previously 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.' 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 Mr Ryley, who is currently in Turkey, where he spends most of his time, earlier this week vehemently denied that he is racist. 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.' A family of asylum seekers who went missing from a Stockport hotel left because the children were frightened of being there. Shelan, in her 30s, disappeared with Anas, 11, and ten-year-old Sana from the scandal-hit Britannia Hotel in Stockport, Gtr Manchester. The hotel was hit by a scabies outbreak in November and claims of inhumane treatment and rubbish left in corridors. The family - believed to be Iraqi Kurds - went missing on the afternoon of April 5. Another asylum seeker told MailOnline: 'I saw the woman a few times with the boy and girl. The missing mother is Shelan and was last seen at Stockport's Britannia Hotel a week ago Shelan has vanished with her two young children, who are called Anas (left) and Sana (right) 'The children did not look happy. I had not been there long so asked her what it was like. 'She said: "We don't like it here. The children are a bit frightened". Someone else said they had come here on a boat.' There are guards inside the hotel near the reception and neighbours claim it has been closed to the public for months. Paint is peeling on the walls. The male asylum seeker said: 'It's not great here. There's rubbish around can be a bit smelly. But at least it's safe.' One local neighbour Richard Ward, 37, said: 'I think the hotel has been closed to the public for at least a year. 'There's only asylum seekers here. They don't cause any trouble but you a lot of them hanging around. 'It's single men and families too. 'The hotel is a bit grotty and there was the scabies outbreak last year. 'I think they have being try to make it better as you see workmen coming and going.' The family had all been staying at the Britannia Hotel in Stockport when they vanished The mother named Shelan and her two children Anas and Sana vanished over a week ago from the Britannia Hotel in Stockport. Authorities say the last time they were seen at the premises, which is approved to house asylum seekers, was on April 5 at 4.30pm. Police issued passport photos of the trio this morning, who they admit could now have traveled outside of the county. A source told MailOnline: 'They are a family of asylum seekers. 'There is not any criminal element to it, but the authorities just want to find out where they are. 'Realistically they could be anywhere in the UK.' In November last year it was reported an unnamed hotel housing asylum seekers had faced a scabies outbreak and claims were made of 'inhumane treatment'. Stockport Council said people were 'cooped up' for a number of months. At the time Human rights charity Rapar said piles of rubbish were left in corridors and insects were found in food. Serco, which runs the hotel, had said there were 'currently no cases of scabies'. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police said: 'Can you help police find a missing family from Stockport? 'Shelan and her two children were last seen at the Britannia Hotel, Stockport on April 5 at 4.30pm. 'It is believed the family are travelling across the UK.' Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a BMW driver steered into at a group of men during a late night street brawl in the heart of the City of London. Two men were hurt when they were hit by Bristan William's car on Leadenhall Street on the evening of July 26 last year. And he was today jailed for seven years. William had been seen to park his blue BMW on the pavement and go into Revolution bar at 10.45pm. Just over an hour later, he got back into the vehicle after a fight broke out in the street between two groups of men. He drove towards them, hitting an unknown man, before doing a three-point turn and driving at the group again, all of whom managed to avoid being hit. Shocking CCTV footage shows the moment a BMW driver steered into at a group of men during a late night street brawl in the heart of the City of London Two men were hurt when they were hit by Bristan William's car on Leadenhall Street on the evening of July 26 last year He then turned the car around and steered directly at two men as they attempted to flee. The first victim was thrown into the air and hurled against the wall of a building. He suffered a dislocated shoulder, fractured nose and three separate spinal fractures. The second victim was thrown across the bonnet of the car and roof, before being propelled 100 yards down the road. He sustained a ruptured ligament in the knee from the impact of the vehicle. The car was caught on a traffic camera as William made his way home to east London. It was later traced to Wickford in Essex and linked to the incident by debris recovered from the scene. Bristan William (pictured), 20, of Barking, east London, was jailed for seven years after pleading guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving Detective Constable Jon Forster, of City of London Police, said: 'It is through sheer luck that this wasn't a multiple-fatality incident. 'William used his vehicle as a weapon, driving several times into people in the street before seriously injuring his victims. 'He had a number of opportunities to stop to think about what he was doing, but instead he chose to drive his car into the group. 'The CCTV images are shocking, but proved vital in helping us secure a successful prosecution. 'Thanks to these security images, alongside diligent and methodical police work, this dangerous individual will be off the streets for a long while.' William, of Barking, east London, was arrested on August 4 2022 and went on to plead guilty to two counts of grievous bodily harm with intent and dangerous driving. Today, he was sentenced at the Old Bailey to seven years in prison. He was disqualified from driving for five years to run upon his release. There was chaos in the Florida Capitol on Thursday with protesters flooding the building as the state House prepared to vote on a bill that would outlaw abortions in Florida after six weeks. The law essentially is a total ban on abortions as most women don't realize they're pregnant until after six weeks. Dozens of protesters were seen shouting and throwing handfuls of stickers and small pieces of paper down on lawmakers as they entered the House chamber. The stickers provided information on how to receive abortion pills through mail, according to local reports. Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, supports the bill and has said he will sign it. Protesters swarmed the state capitol building in Tallahassee amid debate on a bill that would ban abortions after six weeks If it becomes the law it would give Florida one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. The state already has a ban on abortions after 15 weeks, which is being challenged in the Florida Supreme Court. It's unclear when there will be a ruling in that case. During debate on the six-week ban, Democratic lawmakers proposed more than 50 amendments to the bill but also acknowledged the uphill battle they faced in the Republican-controlled state legislature. But House Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican, spent the afternoon rushing through that process, giving each amendment about a minute of debate before calling a voice vote, declaring the amendment failed, and moving on to the next one. Some observers in the gallery booed and shouted at his actions. 'This is all just circus politics,' one yelled. Renner pushed back, warning observers that it is privilege to watch the proceedings and reminded them he can have the galleries emptied. By noon those galleries were emptied due to disruptions. House Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican, spent the afternoon rushing through the amendment process Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat (speaking in pink) proposed several amendments that failed State Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, proposed an amendment that would delay the enactment of the ban under the King Charles Clause. The amendment would keep the state's current law in effect until '21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England living as of the date of this declaration'. This 'last survivor' is one-year-old Princess Lilibet of Sussex, who lives in California. Disney used the clause to circumvent DeSantis' attempt to take control of its theme parks. 'If it worked for Disney maybe it'll work for me,' Eskamani said. The amendment failed. She also proposed to rename the bill the 'Forced Pregnancy Act.' 'Members, this amendment renames the bill to the Forced Pregnancy Act, which is basically what it does,' she said. 'That's the amendment.' 'It'll force people into pregnancy before they even realize they are pregnant,' she added. The amendment failed. 'This is a devastating vote,' Eskamani later said on the floor. 'We might be the minority in this chamber, but we're not the minority outside.' The bill, which has already been passed by the Florida Senate, does have exceptions for rape, incest & human trafficking up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. There is an exception for the life of the mother if two physicians certify in writing that the woman will die if she continues the pregnancy. House Rep. Allison Tant told a story about how her mother almost died in pregnancy while residing in rural North Carolina and the same outcome would happen to women in rural Florida if two physicians were needed to make the call of whether a pregnancy could be terminated. The bill also allocates $25 million for anti-abortion non-medical clinics, essentially promoting pregnancy. Florida only funds rape crisis centers $3 million per year. More than a dozen states have restricted access to abortions following the overturning of Roe V Wade Florida's Republican governor, Ron DeSantis, supports the abortion ban and has said he will sign it As debate carried on throughout the afternoon, female Democratic lawmakers spoke in opposition to the bill. White male Republicans pushed to pass it. 'I'm gonna say the silent part out loud right now, to all the mistresses of wealthy men in Florida, sis, do not take that trip,' said state Rep. Ashley Gantt. 'Have that baby OK?' 'Make sure you deny that trip,' she continued. 'Make sure you get a headache or something or you're just unavailable - put your phone on Do Not Disturb.' Gantt said the legislation would impact the 'have-nots' more than the 'haves' in the Sunshine State. Republican Rep. Shane Abbott, who has an adopted son, encouraged lawmakers to vote to pass the abortion ban. 'It's a third-degree felony to harm sea turtle eggs. It's a third-degree felony to harm alligator eggs. So we're willing to protect an unborn alligator and an unborn sea turtle, but we're sitting here today debating whether or not it's worth protecting an unborn human,' he argued. He claimed that almost 80,000 abortions that took place in Florida last year 'were not heatlhcare related in any way.' 'They were about convenience,' he said. 'They were about quality of life.' Rep. Dianne Hart, a Democrat, recalled how as a high school student in 1971, before Roe v. Wade, one of her friends got pregnant. 'She chose to take Quinine in hopes that she was going to terminate her pregnancy,' Hart recalled. 'Except she terminated her life.' Hart warned that Florida was heading back to the 'dark ages' if the bill is passed. Rep. Felicia Simone Robinson, another Democrat, said 'this is about control - trying to control women.' 'If they take this right from us, who's to say that we don't have the right to vote one day or we don't have the right to go to work one day,' Robinson said. Democratic Rep. Christopher Benjamin, who is black, argued that taking away a woman's choice makes pregnancy a 'sentence.' 'It's a punishment,' he remarked. Democratic Rep. Jervonte Edwards got a few laughs when he said on the floor: 'The underlying truth is, we all love sex in here, whether with a condom or without - but the key to that is, as a man I cannot have a child.' He pointed out that the male legislators wouldn't care for a law, pushed by the women in the body, that would make 'all men sterile.' As the debate wound to a close, Republicans had three of their female lawmakers speak. Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy explained that her anti-abortion beliefs stemmed from her own decision to have an abortion as an adult - when she 'knew better' - and later came to regret. She argued that women seeking abortions are in that position 'because they made an irresponsible choice.' 'Who's going to hear the voices of the unborn?' she asked her colleagues. Republican Rep. Jennifer Canady argued funding contained in the bill would help reluctant mothers. Closing for the GOP, Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka stood and said, 'Members, today we have an opportunity to lead.' 'We have the opportunity to lead the national debate about the importance of protecting life and giving every child the opportunity to be born and find his or her purpose,' Persons-Mulicka said. 'With your vote today we change the culture of abortion to a culture of life,' she said, receiving applause from her Republican colleagues. As of January 2023, 24 states have enacted restrictive bans or are in the process of doing so. Twelve states are enforcing a near-total ban on abortion with very limited exceptions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. In four states, laws prohibiting abortion after a specific point in pregnancy, which would have been unconstitutional under Roe, are in effect. President Joe Biden's administration is seeking an emergency junction from the Supreme Court to stop a ruling from a Texas judge that invalidated the approval of the most commonly used abortion drug in the U.S. The Justice Department asked the 5th Circuit to put the ruling on hold while the case made its way through the appeals process. That conservative-leaning court ruled late Wednesday night that the abortion pill mifepristone can still be used for now but reduced the period of pregnancy when it can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he would ask the Supreme Court to issue a stay on the Texas ruling, known as the Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA. 'The Justice Department strongly disagrees with the Fifth Circuit's decision in Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine v. FDA to deny in part our request for a stay pending appeal. We will be seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court to defend the FDA's scientific judgment and protect Americans' access to safe and effective reproductive care,' he said in a statement. President Joe Biden's administration is seeking an emergency junction from the Supreme Court to stop a ruling from a Texas judge on use of an abortion pill The White House is working to counter the slew of abortion restrictions put in place by the states and courts after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Abortion rights is expected to be one of the dominant issues in the 2024 presidential election. The 5th Circuit ruling allows the popular abortion pill to be used but preventing mifepristone from being sent by mail is a significant curtailing of abortion access. Many women in states with restrictive abortion laws seek to have the procedure elsewhere or from a state where it is legal. Many abortion clinics heavily use medication-only abortions. Also many of them have relocated to Democratic-leaning states, in order to preserve access to abortion for millions of women around the country. The 5th Circuit, in the 2-1 vote, the panel of judges put on hold changes the FDA made since originally approving the drug for use, which included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10, and also allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctors office. The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former 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. Trump-appointed Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk ordered a halt on the abortion pill mifepristone over fears surrounding its safety AG Merrick Garland blasted that ruling and said: 'We will be seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court' Texas Judge Matthew Kascmaryk, a Donald Trump appointee, 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. In its appeal, DoJ lawyers argue the challengers in the Texas case had no right to file the lawsuit since they were not personally harmed by the abortion pill. Also there is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning FDA's decisions on medicine. Pharmaceutical executives warned that FDA approval of other drugs could be at risk if Kacsmaryks decision stands. 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. 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. 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. Medical groups point out mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years with a low complication rate. Proponents point out mifepristone has been used for decades without major complications Common drug side effects with mifepristone include cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache and diarrhea. In rare cases, women can experience excess bleeding that requires a surgical procedure to stop. More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used the drug as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one tenth of 1% of women who took the drug. When the drug was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug misoprostol and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctors supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences associated with the drug. If the appeals court's action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now. A businessman who forged his mother's will in a bid to inherit a 40 million share of the family's Malaysian oil plantation has been jailed for five and a half years. Girish Dahyabhai Patel, 71, was jailed for five and a half years at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday after being privately prosecuted by his nephew. In 2011, Patel used the fake document to launch a High Court claim for control of Prabhavati Dahyabhai Patel's estate after she left her entire fortune to his elder brother, Yashwant Patel, following her death in 2011. The inheritance included a one-third share in the 'jewel in the crown' family asset, Aumkar Plantations, which owns 20,000-acres of land planted with palm oil in Malaysia. Following a failed legal action in the Seychelles, Patel claimed a 2005 will had been signed by his mother and witnessed in the UK, replacing the original 1986 document and leaving everything to him. Girish Dahyabhai Patel (pictured), 71, was jailed for five and a half years at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday after being privately prosecuted by his nephew In 2011, Patel used the fake document to launch a High Court claim for control of Prabhavati Dahyabhai Patel's (pictured) estate after she left her entire fortune to his elder brother, Yashwant Patel, following her death in 2011 The inheritance included a one-third share in the 'jewel in the crown' family asset, Aumkar Plantations (pictured), which owns 20,000-acres of land planted with palm oil in Malaysia The text was superimposed on a blank piece of pre-signed headed note paper - used by the family to carry out business in the pre-digital age - with the header and footer cropped with an office guillotine. Patel lied under oath in a probate claim in the High Court and encouraged witnesses to give false evidence about the will, which was found to be worth 39.95 million (50 million US dollars). However, the document was found to be a forgery by a judge and the inheritance went to Yashwant, a doctor in the US. Patel, from Highgate, north London, was later jailed for a year for contempt of court in December 2017, serving six months. He was jailed for five and a half years at Southwark Crown Court on Thursday after being privately prosecuted by his nephew, Prashant Patel, the son of the defendant's eldest brother, Rajnikant Patel, who lives in Australia. Patel was also disqualified from being a director for 10 years after pleading guilty to counts of fraud, forgery, perverting the course of justice and perjury between 2013 and 2015. Judge Marc Dight said: 'Not only has there been a very serious impact on your family. 'You have lost your reputation, your status, your ability to carry on business and your wealth and income.' Patel was one of four brothers involved in the family's business interests, which were spread around the world, including in England, the US, Malaysia, Australia and Singapore. The court heard his family has spent about 4.5 million in litigation responding to his attempts to assert control of various family assets following a breakdown in relations. The fraud charge relates to Patel's attempts to gain control of a UK company, Barrowfen Properties, which held a single commercial property in Tooting, south London. The asset was worth 10 million with partial planning permission in 2014 but valued at 44 million after a development, which included a hotel, student accommodation and retail outlets. Patel removed his younger brother, Suresh Patel, who lives in Singapore, as a director of the firm before forging his resignation letter. He also removed two pages, showing another family company was a shareholder, from a register of members before inserting two others in the traditional leather-bound book. 'This was a committed, determined, sophisticated and high-value fraud over a number of years against members of his own family,' said prosecutor Gideon Cammerman KC. 'It was committed by forging documents, telling lies, then pursuing those lies in most cases to the bitter end in court.' Mark Cotter KC, defending, said Patel had 'dedicated his life' to his family, his children and the development of 'an extremely successful global business'. He relinquished his claim to an interest in Aumkar and gave up his shares in Barrowfen in a settlement with the family and Mr Cotter added: 'He is a man who has lost everything.' The nonprofit that bailed out Brad Pitt's foundation for more than $20million owed to Hurricane Katrina victims still hasn't paid up after new homes backed by the actor fell into ruins. The 59-year-old actor's organization Make It Right built more than 100 homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. But the victims sued, alleging that the homes were poorly built after giving way to rot, mold and structural defects. Global Green, who previously worked with Pitt, agreed to pay $20.5million in an August 2022 settlement with the Bullet Train actor's foundation. However, CEO Bill Bridges claimed the nonprofit was told it would not have to follow the tight 10-day deadline. When Global Green was unable to come up with funds, it attempted to back out of the agreement, blaming Pitt's ex-wife Angelina Jolie's abuse lawsuit against him as reason why it was unable to raise funds. However, the company was unsuccessful and has been ordered to pay back $10million in two months and the other $10.5million will be re-evaluated. Global Green also faces a contempt hearing on October 2 after the judge lost confidence in the organization's intervention, according to the Hollywood Reporter. Brad Pitt's organization Make It Right poorly built more than 100 homes in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina that are now in desperate need or repairs after the structures were determined to be defective and moldy In August 2022, Global Green agreed to pay the $20.5million settlement with Pitt's organization to bail them out, despite not having the money. Global Green CEO Bill Bridges (pictured) said the organization was told it would not have to follow the tight 10-day deadline of forking over the money and accused the actor's messy past as to why it struggled to raise funds Pitt's Make It Right Foundation has left victims in a 'long nightmare' as their homes waste away and are in desperate need of repairs. 'My mother, shes never seen the end of the tunnel from Katrina,' Albert Matthews told the Hollywood Reporter. 'Its been very stressful for all of us.' Matthews' mother Marion Bryan, who is 91, has been patiently waiting for her new home since 2008, when she put the initial deposit down. Although the foundation built her a home, and then a second one, and then a third - all of which were deemed to have serious problems - she is still waiting on them to repair her third property, which was built in 2014. In the meantime, she has been living with her son - a lucky disposition, as many other victims have been forced to live in substandard conditions while they wait for the repairs. In 2018, Make It Right faced a class-action lawsuit after 109 homes were determined to have been built poorly, were rotting and molding, and suffered from structural damage. In August 2022, Global Green announced it would pay the $20.5million, which Pitt celebrate, telling TMZ at the time: 'Hopefully this agreement will allow everyone to look ahead to other opportunities to continue to strengthen this proud community in the future.' However, shortly after the announcement, Global Green attempted to back out of the agreement as it did not have the money to pay that amount and they blamed Pitt's lawsuit. Pitt's team denies that his reputation had anything to do with Global Green inability to fundraise and that the nonprofit is solely responsible to keep the promise it made to the victims. 'Brad had supported Global Green many years ago, so when they approached his team stating "$20.5M in funding" had been secured by their "generous donors," there was interest in considering their proposal,' a spokesperson for the Fight Club actor told the Reporter. In 2018, Make It Right faced a class-action lawsuit after 109 homes were determined to have been built poorly, were rotting and molding, and suffered from structural damage Several families have been displaced due to the damage and are patiently waiting for repairs Global Green has been ordered to pay $10million toward repairs in two months 'Global Green represented themselves as having already obtained these funds and planned to use them toward resolving all claims in the ongoing lawsuit for the benefit of the homeowners.' However, Bridge said Pitt's team brought the nonprofit into the 'snake pit' and said it had attempted to raise the funds. 'Global Green was willing to make every effort to raise the funds, but when it wasnt fast enough or to the level those parties required, Global Green became the scapegoat for what essentially has been the failure of the parties to resolve the matter,' Bridge told the Reporter via email. When Pitt started the foundation, the goal was to built a 150 homes, but he admitted to a local outlet in 2015 that he and his team went into the project 'incredibly naive.' 'Just thinking we can build homes how hard is that? and not understanding forgivable loan structures and family financial counseling and getting the rights to lots and HUD grants and so on and so forth. So its been a big learning curve.' Four after Pitt's company was sued, the judge approved Global Green's settlement. Bridge had approached Pitt's team last year to offer help, but insisted the nonprofit never indicated that there was 'any guarantee or financial commitment at that stage of the conversation and that further due diligence, discussions, and actions requiring Mr. Pitt's involvement would be needed.' The Blonde actor's team also asserted the Moneyball actor has given $6million of his own money to Make It Right since it began 'Global Green repeatedly told Mr. Pitts associates that it would be unable to raise those funds as quickly as was being demanded by the defendants and plaintiffs in the settlement agreement, and we were essentially told not to worry about that element, which was just a formality to get the agreement signed so that the fundraising project could move forward,' Bridge told the Reporter. 'On multiple occasions I was personally reassured, as was our then-board chair, not to worry about the terms and conditions of the actual agreement we were signing with the parties involved, and to just sign it so we could start the process of raising money. 'We did so reluctantly, but again in good faith with the assurance by the parties involved that we would not have to meet the 10-day condition in the agreement, to which we had objected.' Pitt's team denies this. The Blonde actor's team also asserted the Moneyball actor has given $6million of his own money to Make It Right since it began. 'Brad has dedicated significant time and resources over the past 15 years to supporting residents of the Lower Ninth as they recover from Hurricane Katrina. We are hopeful that Global Green will find a way to honor their commitment before the contempt hearing in October, and that these homeowners can receive the support they need,' a representative said. The couch is most well known for being featured in model Gigi Hadid's home The 'Mah Jong Sofa' by Roche Bobois was taken from Merit in Beverlywood A nearly $60,000 couch made famous by Gigi Hadid was stolen from a Los Angeles area furniture store after the business was broken into during the middle of the night. The Mah Jong Sofa - valued at $58,000 - was grabbed by a thief from the Merit store in Beverlywood in the early hours of Monday morning. Owner Paul Bearman told NBC 4 Los Angeles he has spent the days since the theft investigating after the sly thief cut the video feed on a camera outside the store. 'The guy knew exactly what he was looking for. He didn't take anything else. Broke in, took that one item and left,' Bearman said of the $58,000 furniture item. The high-end but divisive Roche Bobois couch was first made famous after model Gigi Hadid shared photos of it following her New York apartment remodel. A nearly $60,000 couch made famous by Gigi Hadid was stolen from a Los Angeles area furniture store after the business was broken into during the middle of the night The Mah Jong Sofa - valued at $58,000 - was grabbed by a thief from the Merit store in Beverlywood in the early hours of Monday morning The high-end but divisive Roche Bobois couch was first made famous after model Gigi Hadid shared photos of it following her New York apartment remodel According to Bearman, the thief was targeting the couch because he ignored all of the store's other items, which include 'stuff that's hard to find.' Merit also sells items such as mid-century furniture, art, and even taxidermy. The thief, however, did not have eyes for anything but the now infamous couch. 'It's called the Mah Jong Sofa. Missoni fabric -- it kind of looks like a woman's dress. It's just really pretty -- silk and corduroy -- a beautiful pattern,' Bearman said. Surveillance footage given to NBC 4 shows a man backing up a white van in front of the business before getting out and cutting the video feed. The man is then believed to have kicked in the front glass door before pulling the couch apart cushion by cushion to steal the item. After police arrived to take down the details, the store's owner appealed to the public via social media, offering a reward for information on the stolen couch. '$1000 bucks if you find a listing of someone trying to sell it,' Bearman wrote. According to Bearman, the thief was targeting the couch because he ignored all of the store's other items, which include 'stuff that's hard to find' 'It's called the Mah Jong Sofa. Missoni fabric -- it kind of looks like a woman's dress. It's just really pretty -- silk and corduroy -- a beautiful pattern,' Bearman said The van the man used in the theft. Surveillance footage captured this image before being cut Surveillance footage given to NBC 4 shows a man backing up a white van in front of the business before getting out and cutting the video feed The man who stole the couch kicked in the front glass door before pulling the couch apart cushion by cushion to steal the item The spot where the couch once was is now empty at the Beverlywood store '$1000 bucks if you find a listing of someone trying to sell it,' Bearman wrote on Instagram Luckily, the public responded and were able to point the owner in the right direction. 'It got a tremendous amount of attention and we actually got some hits on that as well,' Bearman said. 'There was an anonymous tip that said the exact words, "I know who took your sofa,"' the owner said one person told him. Bearman was sent video from one anonymous tipster that shows a person exiting a white van outside an apartment complex hours after the incident. The man is then seen in one clip with the incredibly unique sofa cushions stacked on top of each other on a cart. 'You see him unloading my sofa, which is extremely specific in pattern and color, and just carts it up to his house,' Bearman said. The owner said he instantly recognized the person and has been working with other business owners to address the issue. Bearman has since posted several stories on Instagram identifying a man whom he believes is responsible for the theft. He says he would like to see the man arrested and see his sofa returned. 'For me it's more about the principle and the violation,' Bearman said. As of Thursday morning, the Los Angeles Police Department has not made an arrest and said its investigation is ongoing. This is the security camera the thief cut during the Monday morning incident Bearman was sent video from one anonymous tipster that shows a person exiting a white van outside an apartment complex hours after the incident Bearman was sent video from one anonymous tipster that shows a person exiting a white van outside an apartment complex hours after the incident This is Merit in Beverlywood where the theft occurred Monday morning This is the suspect accused of stealing the $58,000 couch from the LA store The Roche Bobois couch featured in an Instagram picture posted by Gigi Hadid The $58,000 couch is known for its bright colors and loud patterns While the couch may be labeled as luxury at its finest, its most associated for being the center piece of model Gigi Hadid's New York apartment which turned heads in 2020. Hadid said of the home that it was her 'passion project / dream spot,' but social media did not see the vision and labeled it 'hideous' and 'cursed.' 'Gigi hadid is a great example of how wealth is WASTED on the rich oh my GOD that ugly house,' snarked one Twitter user. 'Gigi Hadids house looks like the one I designed on Animal Crossing when I was 9,' said another. Bombshell arrest follows most embarrassing US intelligence leak for a decade FBI investigators are expected to interview the alleged ringleader of the 'Thug Shaker Central' Discord chat room later Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that 21-year-old Jack Teixeira has been arrested by the FBI earlier on Thursday FBI investigators have arrested Jack Teixeira, the 21-year-old suspected of being behind the biggest US intelligence leak in nearly a decade. Attorney General Merrick Garland confirmed that the National Guardsman had been arrested in North Dighton, Massachusetts 'without incident'. He said Teixeira will appear in a local court as part of the investigation into 'alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmissions of classified national defense information.' It is the most embarrassing security breach for any US administration since WikiLeaks obtained more than 700,000 classified documents and diplomatic cables in 2013. Teixeira was a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and the ringleader of an online chat group where he allegedly published top secret Pentagon documents under the username 'Jack the dripper'. Despite serving in a junior position, he had the highest level of access to top secret US government information. News helicopter footage showed the suspect, in red shorts with his hands behind his back, being placed by heavily-armed agents into an unmarked sports utility vehicle. The FBI said in a statement that its officers are 'continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence' where the suspect was arrested. And in unusually blunt remarks, it vowed to push on with 'identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk.' Teixeira's identity was first revealed by the New York Times after a scandal-hit week for US President Joe Biden as the secret dossiers circulated online. Jack Teixeira, the leader of the Thug Shaker Central chat group on Discord, was named by the New York Times as one of the men who could be behind one of the biggest national security breaches in the last decade The 21-year-old is expected to appear in a Massachusetts court in connection with the leaking of classified information US network CNN carried these images of Teixeira's arrest after he was named by the New York Times earlier on Thursday The inside of Teixeira's childhood home in Bristol, Massachusetts, matched photos of the sensitive files on US intelligence and the Ukraine war which have been shared on forums since the end of last year, according to the Times. The FBI will now question Teixeira, whose mother Dawn confirmed to the Times that he is an active member working out of a base in Cape Cod and has been taking more night shifts. His role involved working on transporting cyber security equipment. Brandon Van Grack, a former Justice Department national security prosecutor now with the law firm Morrison Foerster, said the likely charges could carry up to 10 years' imprisonment, even if Teixeira did not intend to cause harm. 'I think this is someone who is facing on the higher end of exposure for years in prison because the leaks were so damaging,' Van Grack said. The Attorney's Office in Boston said Teixeira is expected to make his initial appearance on Friday. His arrest comes after President Joe Biden said during the third day of his Ireland trip that investigators were 'getting closer' to finding out the source. Police set up a roadblock outside Jack Teixeira's house in North Dighton, Massachusetts, after his identity was revealed by the New York Times The inside of Teixeira's childhood home in Bristol, Massachusetts, matched photos of the sensitive files on US intelligence and the Ukraine war which have been shared on forums since the end of last year, according to the Times Biden also said he wasn't 'concerned' about the sharing of the documents that threatened to risk American assets around the world because the information is not 'contemporaneous' The intelligence included in the files have included information suggesting Ukraine will soon run out of artillery and potentially risking U.S. intelligence sources around the world. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that rules on access to classified documents could be tightened as a result of the leak. He said he would 'not hesitate to take any additional measures necessary to safeguard our nations secrets.' 'Every US service member, (Department of Defense) civilian and contractor with access to classified information has a solemn legal and moral obligation to safeguard it and to report any suspicious activity or behavior,' he said. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder went further than Austin, calling the leak of classified information a 'deliberate, criminal act.' And hours after Teixeira's arrest, Mike Turner, the Republican congressman who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, vowed to 'examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks.' Dozens of teenagers and young adults are said to make up the group where those files were posted and have been described as 'like-minded' individuals. Two members of the chat room described the suspect to the The Washington Post on Wednesday night. 'He's fit. He's strong. He's armed. He's trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie,' one of the members said. He described him as 'a young, charismatic man who loves nature, God, shooting guns and racing cars.' Amid an intense search for the source of the leaks, The Washington Post reported they had seen video and photos of the man, as well as recordings of his interactions with members of the group. In a video seen by The Post, the man is seen at a shooting range with a large rifle, wearing safety glasses and ear coverings. The man looks into the camera and yells racial and antisemitic insults, then fires multiple rounds at a target. The New York Times reported that they were able to link Teixeira to other members of the online group through his gaming profiles. One of the leaked documents, which have been posted online, that sparked a FBI hunt for the source and a criminal investigation A one-year-old Australian shepherd made a 150-mile epic trip through Alaska's icy terrain before returning to his family with an unidentified bite wound on its leg. Nanuq, which is Siberian Yupik for polar bear, was visiting the St. Lawarence Island city of Savoogna with his owners in March when he disappeared along with another pup, Starlight, according to his dog mom, Mandy Iworrigan. Starlight eventually returned to the family about two weeks later, but Nanuq was nowhere to be found. The family traveled back home to Gambell, 37 miles north of Savoogna, in belief their beloved Nanuq was gone forever. It wasn't until another family member shared a Facebook photo of a missing dog, who resembled Nanuq, that Iworrigan knew her pup somehow crossed the frozen Bering Sea and made a more than 100-mile journey north to Wales. Iworrigan filmed the heartwarming reunion between the pup and her daughter on April 6. Mandy Iworrigan and her family were reunited with their Australian Shepherd weeks after he disappeared when they were on a trip in March. Pictured: Nanuq, middle, with his family Iworrigan had taken her pup, Nanuq, on a trip to Savoogna, Alaska, about 37 miles away from their home, when he went missing Iworrigan recalled the moment she knew Nanuq was alive. 'My dad texted me and said, "There's a dog that looks like Nanuq in Wales,"' she told CBS. She quickly checked Facebook and instantly knew the lost pup was Nanuq. Iworrigan was in disbelief the Australian shepherd made it so far in freezing temperatures. 'I have no idea why he ended up in Wales. Maybe the ice shifted while he was hunting,' she said. 'I'm pretty sure he ate leftovers of seal or caught a seal. Probably birds, too. He eats our Native foods. He's smart.' Within no time, Iworrigan paid for her dog to take a direct flight from Wales to Gambell. She filmed herself and her daughter waiting in anticipation for the regional plane holding Nanuq to land on April 6. The nearly 12-minute video ends with Iworrigan's daughter yelling for joy and greeting Nanuq along with their other dog, Starlight. 'Sounds like a Disney Movie- but its REAL!' she wrote on Facebook. The map above shows the pup's 150-mile journey across the frozen Bering Sea It wasn't until another family member shared a Facebook photo of a missing dog, who resembled Nanuq, that Iworrigan knew her pup somehow crossed the frozen Bering Sea and made a more than 100-mile journey north to Wales. Pictured: Nanuq in Wales Good samaritans took care of Nanuq and tried to find his owners Iworrigan filmed the heartwarming reunion between the pup and her family on April 6 Nanuq appeared to be in good health aside from suffering a bite to the leg that needed immediate treatment. The family is still unaware what bit him but speculate it may have been a polar bear. 'Wolverine, seal, small nanuq, we dont know, because its like a really big bite,' Iworrigan said. The family couldn't afford to pay $750 for Nanuq to receive treatment. They were later graciously offered support by the pet nonprofit, PAWS of Nome. A raider who spent four-days living inside his neighbour's home by breaking in through the ceiling after breaking in through their ceiling has been jailed. Waseem Chaudry, 52, from South Shields, made himself at home in his neighbour's property as he stole food and whisky, watched TV, slept in their bed and even took the liberty of taking a relaxing bubble bath. The oil-rig worker had gone to the trouble of engineering a rope and pulley system from the cavern he'd made in the ceiling, from which he could climb down into the property. The creepy raider was caught after his neighbour returned from work to find Chaudry's boots in the doorway. Chaudry, seemingly oblivious to his trespass, greeted the neighbour at the door and showed him around the home where he'd caused thousands of pounds worth of damage. Waseem Chaudry, 52, from South Shields, made himself at home in his neighbour's property as he stole food and whisky, watched TV, slept in their bed and even took the liberty of taking a relaxing bubble bath The police were called to the property, including armed officers to attend the property. Chaudry was sentenced to two years in prison after he admitted to burglary. One local told The Sun: 'We're glad to see the back of him.' Prosecutor Alec Burns said: 'Chaudry parachuted down and took up residence. 'It must have taken some time, determination and effort to smash his way through the floor and move in.' Vic Laffey, mitigating, said: 'He is hugely apologetic for the problems he's caused.' The council applied to ban Chaudry from his own flat after receiving complaints, but this was dismissed. Chaudry's flat is believed to have now been repossessed. It allows him to have control over his daughters' inheritance until they turn 18 The move, apart from granting him guardianship, allows Lockwood to represent the girls in ongoing probate case over their mother's multi-million dollar trust The ruling, delivered Thursday, saw a Los Angeles judge agree to uphold Michael Lockwood's petition to be appointed 'guardian ad litem' of Harper and Finley Lisa Marie Presley's ex-husband has been appointed the legal guardian of their twin daughters - a ruling that offers the widower a new opportunity get a chunk of the late star's millions he missed out on during their contentious 2021 divorce. The ruling, delivered Thursday, saw a Los Angeles judge agree to uphold Michael Lockwood's petition to be appointed 'guardian ad litem' of 14-year-olds Harper and Finley - three months after their mother's death. Along with granting the 61-year-old guitarist guardianship of Elvis' youngest granddaughters, the move allows Lockwood to represent the girls in an ongoing probate case over their mother's multi-million dollar trust. The hotly-contested case has sparked a financial feud between the King's 77-year-old wife Priscilla Presley, and his grandchild Riley Keough - star of the hit Prime series, Daisy Jones and the Six. Harper and Finley are both beneficiaries of Lisa Marie's trust, while their father was not. However, after today, the musician now has full reign over whatever their daughters inherit - at least until they turn 18. A judge today said there is 'good reason' to grant Michael Lockwood's petition to be appointed 'guardian ad litem' of twins Harper and Finley, 14 Michael and Lisa Marie spent years fighting about finances and were still negotiating up until her death The ruling, delivered Thursday, saw a Los Angeles judge agree to uphold Michael Lockwood's petition to be appointed 'guardian ad litem' of the twins Los Angeles Superior Court Judge Lynn H. Scaduto granted Lockwood's petition after a hearing held Thursday morning. During the proceeding's Lockwood's attorney, Scott Rahn, said, 'Mr. Lockwood is the girls' father, he is their natural guardian. He is more than capable of protecting their interests.' Noting that there was no opposition to Lockwood's petition from either Priscilla Presley or Riley Keough, the judge told the court: 'There is good reason to appoint a guardian ad litem for the girls.' By 1:30pm, she moved to grant Lockwood's petition, after hearing testimony from his team. It now gives Lockwood a second chance at his ex's wealth - after his first ended in a big fat zero. Lisa Marie - Elvis' only child - filed for divorce from Lockwood in 2016 after 10 years of marriage. The two spent years fighting about finances and were still negotiating over child support for the twins up until her death at 54 in January. Lockwood asked the divorce court in 2018 to order Lisa Marie to pay him $263,000 a year in spousal support so that he could 'enjoy a lifestyle closer to my marital status of living' - which included lavish entertaining, expensive vacations and flying on private jets. And he tried to persuade the judge to tear up a post-nuptial agreement - in which he and Lisa Marie both signed away their rights to the other's property and spousal support if they divorced. But Lockwood ended up on the losing end, not getting a penny from Lisa Marie after openly admitting that he hadn't read the post-nup and claiming his attorney at the time failed to explain it to him. The court case has already sparked a giant feud between the twins' grandmother Priscilla Presley and their half-sister, Riley Keough Riley is said to be angry over 'losing' her teen half-sisters to 'outsider' Lockwood The judge upheld the post-nup and threw out Lockwood's case, telling the court, 'If Lockwood elected not to read the post-nup and accept the consequences that it would be upheld, that is his choice.' Lockwood's bid to insert himself into the current probate case involving his ex- wife's trust is the latest twist in a legal battle that has been tearing the Presley family apart. Riley, 33, was furious when her 77-year-old grandmother Priscilla filed a challenge to Lisa Marie's will which gives control of the rich Promenade Trust to Riley. And to make matters worse, musician Lockwood - who reportedly angered Riley by 'crashing' her mother's funeral, even though he wasn't invited - is said to be aligned with Priscilla over the trust, which could see him also lining up against Riley in court. Riley always supported her mother during her long drawn-out, often nasty divorce and child custody disputes with Lockwood. It's been reported that Priscilla and Lisa Marie were 'barely speaking' just before the latter's death after Priscilla sided with Lockwood over custody of the twins. Multiple sources told People that the mother and daughter were not on speaking terms, despite appearing at multiple events together, including the Elvis biopic. 'Riley was always on her mom's side when it came to Michael (Lockwood),' one source told the magazine. 'It bothered her that her grandmother and Michael flew to (Lisa Marie's) funeral together.' Priscilla also helped Michael get into the ceremony, despite her late daughter's wishes. 'Michael was not invited,' a close friend of Lisa Marie told People. 'He came to Memphis under the pretense that he had to chaperone the twins - and he forced his way in with Priscilla's help. 'The last thing Lisa Marie would have wanted was for Michael to be there.' The rift between Riley and her grandmother began when Priscilla went to court - just days after Lisa Marie's memorial service - to dispute her daughter's decision in 2016 to change her will, remove Priscilla and her ex-manager Barry Siegel as trustees and replace them with Riley. The will contains the rights to the Graceland mansion and a 15 percent stake in Elvis Presley Enterprises. Lisa Marie also had two life insurance policies, one for $25 million and another one for $10 million. Now he has been appointed legal guardian, Lockwood can represent the girls in a probate case over their late mother's multi-million dollar trust and have control over his daughters' inheritance Just days after Lisa Marie's memorial service, Priscilla filed a petition questioning the 'authenticity and validity' of the trust As well as replacing Priscilla as a trustee and cutting her out of the will, Lisa Marie's 2016 amendment also named Riley's brother Benjamin as the other trustee. But Benjamin committed suicide in 2020 leaving Riley as sole named heir. Priscilla's challenging petition to the court questioned the 'authenticity and validity' of the trust, claiming that Lisa Marie's signature was 'inconsistent,' and asking to be restored as a trustee. The grandmother of four also claimed she was not aware Lisa Marie had changed the trust in 2016 until after her daughter passed away. If Priscilla's petition is granted, she and Riley would be made co-trustees of Lisa Marie's estate. That petition is due to be heard at a hearing on May 16. Before her death, Lisa Marie and her ex were sharing custody of Finley and Harper and she was reportedly paying him $6,000 a month in child support. But Lockwood - who is now re-married to hair stylist Stephanie Hobgood - was claiming $40,000 a month, insisting Lisa Marie had much more money than she revealed in court documents and saying his legal battles over the divorce and child custody had cost him more than $1 million. Judiciary Committee members are hauling in their New Yorker colleagues for Monday's high-profile crime hearing. Republicans, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, have waived Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik onto their panel for the field hearing designed to knock Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and crime policies in New York City. Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman will be cleared to join the panel by his colleagues, a source familiar with the committee's plans told DailyMail.com. His Manhattan-Brooklyn district includes the Javitz Federal Building, where the panel will hear witness testimony Monday at 10 a.m. Goldman, multimillionaire heir to the Levi Strauss fortune and lead counsel on Trump's first impeachment, will join a Democrat panel trying to cast GOP attacks on Bragg as politically motivated interference with a criminal investigation and a way to carry water for Trump. Bragg indicted Trump with 34 counts of falsifying business records last week. Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman will be cleared to join the panel by his colleagues, a source familiar with the committee's plans told DailyMail.com Republicans, led by Chairman Jim Jordan, have waived Conference Chair Rep. Elise Stefanik onto their panel for the field hearing designed to knock Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and crime policies in New York City 'Chairman Jordan is not welcome in my district for this political stunt that is simply a further waste of taxpayer money to support Donald Trump's legal defense,' Goldman said of the upcoming hearing. Stefanik will join a team of Judiciary Republicans hungry to cast Bragg as a George Soros-backed liberal prosecutor more focused on taking down Trump than crime in his backyard. The congresswoman represents a district hours north of New York City but is the only member of House GOP leadership from New York State. 'I look forward to holding Democrats accountable for their failure to prosecute crimes and instead engage in illegal political witch-hunts against their political opponents,' Stefanik said of joining the committee. Goldman was House Democrats' lead counsel when they impeached Trump over his phone call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in which he withheld Congressionally-approved military aid while pressuring the leader to open an investigation into Trump's then-opponent, President Joe Biden. Stefanik will join a team of Judiciary Republicans hungry to cast Bragg as a George Soros-backed liberal prosecutor more focused on taking down Trump than crime in his backyard. Republicans, led by Chair Jim Jordan, are holding a field hearing to knock Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and his crime policies He made prosecuting Trump front and center to his congressional campaign, saying in a TV interview upon announcing his candidacy: 'I am running for Congress and this new 10th district because I want to get on the front lines, and back in the trenches like I did during the impeachment.' Both prosecutors by background, Bragg and Goldman's ties run deep - they've both long been active in the city's criminal justice space. Republicans say they share the same lenient crime policies. Goldman voted against a resolution of disapproval for the D.C. crime bill that President Biden later signed and in 2022 advocated for increasing social workers and mental health experts to respond to domestic violence disputes rather than police officers. In 2021 he endorsed 'friend and former [Southern District of New York] colleague' Bragg for the district attorney's job and donated $7,500 to his campaign. The 47-year-old father of five hosted a fundraiser for Bragg at his multi-million dollar Tribeca home. Bragg's former campaign adviser and top government aide, Ritchie Fife, also consulted Goldman's campaign. Rei Ma, the finance director for Bragg's campaign, became the finance director for Goldman's campaign 5 months later. Bragg and Goldman hosted a fundraiser together in April 2021 to discuss 'Donald Trump and what's at stake for the next #ManhattanDA.' In 2022 as he was running for the 10th district seat he said he 'feels what everybody else feels about being scared to go on the subway and taking kids to school.' In 2021 he admitted that New York City is experiencing a 'rampant' and 'scary' crime wave. 'You've got people randomly being shot on the subways. You've got people randomly being thrown into car trunks,' he said on the Mary Trump show, hosted by Donald Trump's niece. But in 2022 he flip-flopped on the matter of New York City's controversial bail reform. In an August 2022 debate, he said: 'We cannot allow people to just continue to cycle through the system because it's demoralizing to the cops, and it gives everyone a perception of danger.' The city's 2019 overhaul made most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies ineligible for bail. Days after the August 2022 debate Goldman said he did not agree with cash bail. 'I don't agree with the fundamental premise of [cash] bail, which is that people should not stay in jail because they can't pay bail,' the then-candidate said. 'Whether or not the data says that it's safe or not, there is a perception in the city that it is not safe,' he said, asked about the bail reform. 'And one of the reasons for that is the perpetual recidivism that is going on.' The congressman, who as a prosecutor said in a June 10 interview he would 'knowledgeably reduce crime in the city,' has also advocated for 'getting non-violent offenders out of the system.' Goldman has long advocated for making the justice system more 'fair' and reducing incarceration rates. He's advocated for closing Rikers Island prison and in law school wrote an article for the Stanford Law Review entitled 'The Modern-Day Literacy Test?: Felon Disenfranchisement and Race Discrimination,' where he seemed to suggest felons should be given the right to vote. While in law school, Goldman also worked on a book with Michelle Alexander entitled 'The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness.' Meanwhile, from the start of 2022 when he took office to November of this year, Bragg downgraded 52 percent of felony cases to misdemeanors. When he did bring forth a case, his office won a conviction just 51 percent of the time - a low figure compared to the district attorney's office in recent years. Earlier this week Bragg sued Jordan on Tuesday in a remarkable move intended to keep him from interfering in the Trump indictment. The suit accused Jordan 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. Bragg, who campaigned on criminal justice reform, issued a controversial 'Day One' memo after taking office stating he would only seek prison time in the most severe cases. In February 2022, Bragg walked back a little on his policies, sending out a memo that made it clear to all his staff that any crime involving a firearm would be prosecuted as a felony reversing the stance he had taken just a month before. Bragg's office also took heat when he tried to prosecute 61-year-old bodega worker Jose Alba for fatally stabbing a man who attacked him over a bag of chips. Bragg later dropped the charges against Alba. Crime in New York City ticked up in 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic (before Bragg took office) after a decade-long mostly downward trend. Major crime soared about 22 percent in 2022 - with Bragg taking office on the first day of that year. New York recorded 438 homicides in 2022 -- up from 319 in pre-pandemic 2019. Robberies were up 43 percent in 2022 compared to 2019 and felony assaults, 32 percent. From April 2022 to April 2023, major crime remains about the same, though murders, shootings and burglaries have dropped. The city was far safer even in 2022 than it was during a dangerous period in the 80s and 90s -- murders and robberies were down 80 percent in 2022 compared to 1990, rapes down 50 percent. The UK's first supermodel Twiggy and Pattie Boyd have paid a poignant tribute to fashion pioneer Dame Mary Quant after her death at 93 at her home in Surrey this morning. Dame Mary - the British queen of Swinging Sixties fashion who introduced miniskirts and hot pants to the world - changed the face of fashion forever and was described as 'brilliant' and 'revolutionary' by the models. The south-east London designer famously declared she 'didn't have time to wait for women's lib' and so began a fashion revolution to rescue young women of the 1950s and 1960s from being forced to dress like their mothers for another generation. She raised hemlines to audacious heights, spearheaded sack dresses and turned women's trousers and tights into wardrobe staples, as well as popularising the bob haircut pioneered by her friend, the hairdresser Vidal Sassoon. Twiggy posted a photo of Dame Mary as she shared her sadness at the star's death. Mary Quant and her husband Alexander Plunket Greene at their home in 1965 Twiggy was one of the most famous models to have worn Dame Mary's clothes Mary Quant (foreground), with models showing her new shoe creations and block colour tights She said: 'Mary Quant was such an influence on young girls in the late 50s [and] early 60s. 'She revolutionised fashion and was a brilliant female entrepeneur. 'The 1960s would have never bee the same without her. Condolences to her family. RIP dear Dame Mary.' Meanwhile Pattie Boyd, who was a signature model of the 1960s and was briefly married to the Beatles' George Harrison, said the designer was 'daringly creative'. She wrote on Twitter: 'Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant. 'Mary insisted on making George's and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. 'A true icon. RIP.' Both models were famous for modelling for and wearing Dame Mary in the 60s, becoming the face of a rapidly changing fashion world. As well as mini-skirts, sleeveless shift dresses, PVC raincoats, Peter Pan collars, skinny-rib sweaters, block-coloured tights and jumpsuits were also among Dame Mary's revolutionary designs. Her make-up range would also come to be considered as forward-thinking as her clothing. In 2014, Dame Mary, who named the miniskirt after her favourite make of car, recalled its 'feeling of freedom and liberation'. She said: 'It was the girls on King's Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, "shorter, shorter".' And it was Bazaar, Quant's small shop in the heart of the bohemian King's Road, that became the heart of London's 'Swinging Chelsea' and became the foundation for what would become an international fashion empire. Her 'Chelsea look', with short skirts at its heart, went mainstream thanks in part to Quant's partnership with Twiggy, Britain's first supermodel. Her clothes were also popularised by Jean Shrimpton, Pattie Boyd and Cilla Black. A statement from her family said she 'died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK, this morning'. It continued: 'Dame Mary, aged 93, was one of the most internationally recognised Fashion Designers of the 20th Century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties.' One of Mary Quant's extraordinary designs: a short dress and PVC boots, in 1967 French actress Brigitte Bardot at London Airport in 1966 wearing a mini skirt by Dame Mary Her 'Chelsea look', with short skirts at its heart, went mainstream thanks in part to Quant's partnership with Twiggy, Britain's first supermodel Mary Quant, assisted by her friend and hair stylist Vidal Sassoon, centre, and TV personality Michael Parkinson, in 1972 Certain shops refused to stock miniskirts after Quant's designs shook Britain Mary Quant pictured with her Order of The British Empire in 1966 Twenty mini-skirted British models at Heathrow Airport, London, prior to their departure to Moscow as members of the British Clothing Export Council Mary Quant pictured leaving Buckingham Palace in London in 1966 A V&A exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career is set to open in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month Quant in 1967. Dame Mary, who once said 'fashion is a tool to compete in life outside the home', produced high-quality womenswear from the late 1970s onwards Born and brought up in Blackheath, south-east London, Dame Mary's parents refused to let her attend a fashion course so instead she studied illustration at Goldsmiths (Quant in 1967) Mary Quant is pictured at home, looking for inspirations as she brainstorms on the floor of her flat in Chelsea, 1968 The family statement continued: 'She opened her first shop Bazaar in the Kings Road in 1955 and her far-sighted and creative talents quickly established a unique contribution to British fashion. 'Credited with conceiving the miniskirt and hot pants and developing the mod style during that vibrant decade Mary put the fun in fashion and London became defined by the freedom, energy and popular culture of "The Chelsea Girl". 'The V&A's hugely successful Mary Quant exhibition covering the first 20 years of her career, 1955-1975, will open in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Museum next month after its international tour to Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan, and following its runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. 'At the time Dame Mary Quant was quoted as saying: "It was wonderfully exciting and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. We didn't necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge!!" 'Her husband Alexander Plunket Greene died in 1990 and she is survived by her son Orlando, three grandchildren and her brother Tony Quant.' Paying tribute, Alexandra Shulman, former editor in chief of British Vogue, today said: 'She was one of the truly influential figures in fashion and defined the way women thought about themselves. 'Her influence on both fashion and women's liberation cannot be underestimated. Her sleek, simple designs were a million miles from the kinds of shapes and costumes women were wearing in the 1950s. 'As well as short skirts, she had low-heeled pumps rather than high heels and her clothes entice you to behave in a different way after the formality of the past. 'Her clothes reflect the way the social changes of the 1960s, with young women taking the pill and working more. 'She was also one of the first designers who realised she was able to roll out a make up brand.' Models and a Yorkshire Terrier present daring designs by Mary Quant in London in 1967. Her clothes would help define the era Silver stockings by Mary Quant and bikini by Soukh worn by model Jenny Gassity in 1966 Mary Quant, right, waves as she poses with models, from left Amanda Tear, Rory Davis and Penny Yates, wearing her mod creations in 1968 Mary's 'dual control' designs - the name given to her short, slightly flared, summer shift dresses in 1966 Three members of English pop group The Tremeloes: Chip Hawkes, Alan Blakley and Dave Munden, kissing their brides Carol Dilworth, Lyn Stevens and Andree Wittenberg, in Trafalgar Square. All the women are wearing Mary Quant miniskirts Fashion designer Mary Quant pictured at work in 1967 Fashion guru and dress designer Mary Quant is pictured at her home in 1965 A model wears the Mary Quant Zipper Outfit by the Thames at Westminster, London, in 1967 Model wearing a sailor-inspired outfit from Mary Quant's spring/summer collection for 1972 Mary Quant with two models at the launch of her Ginger Group autumn collection in London, 1972 Mary in 1964 with her husband Alexander Plunket Greene Mary's shop, Bazaar, on the King's Road, Chelsea, in 1966 Dame Mary's sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs changed womenswear and defined the look of London in the 1960s. And her designs borrowed from men's clothing, blurring gender lines. Debate still rages whether it was Quant or French couturier Andre Courreges who invented the miniskirt. Regardless, extremely short skirts and shift dresses became Quant's trademark. She built a small boutique to a global fashion label and harnessed mass production to make fashion available for a whole generation of women. The Blackheath-born fashionista, the daughter of Welsh teachers, began designing in the 1950s, and her distinctive style began to blossom in an era of increased freedom with the birth of Swinging London. Her early boutique, Bazaar, sold out of the early dresses crafted in a bedsit. Her work broke down barriers at a time of great change in Britain, with short skirts, PVC raincoats, decorative underwear and masculine tailoring examples of Dame Mary's innovations. Before Quant, teenage girls were expected to dress like their mothers, in tweedy skirts and twinsets with pearls. Inspired by the streamlined designs of Coco Chanel and the flappers of the 1920s, Quant paired short tunic dresses with tights in ochre, plum, ginger and grape, creating a high-fashion version of outfits she'd worn as a child. A revolution was going on in music, film, food and theatre, but it was Mary, a self-taught designer, who defined the look. With her husband, Alexander Plunket Greene, she opened two boutiques the first, Bazaar, on the ground floor of their house in Chelsea. The day's sales paid for the cloth which was made up overnight into new stock for the following day. Frequented by the Chelsea Set, it offered a radically different shopping experience. Loud music, free drinks and bold window displays created a 'scene' that often kept going late into the evening. So that ordinary working women could afford her clothes, Quant created the cheaper diffusion line, Ginger Group, in 1963, sold in department stores around the country. As many as 7million women had at least one of her designs in their wardrobes, with more still wearing her cosmetics range. She was a powerful role model, with her influence extending beyond fashion. 'I didn't have time to wait for women's lib,' she famously declared. From a small boutique to a global fashion label, Mary Quant harnessed mass production to make fashion available for a whole generation of women. Pictured, in December 1966 Mary stops for a snap in her Knightsbridge shop in London on September 18, 1962 Models showing off their footwear with Mary (kneeling at the front) in London Model Clare Hunt poses during a photoshoot for Mary's designs Clare shows off a similar pose in a 1970 photo shoot, showcasing the cutting edge of fashion Model-turned-photographer Jill Kennington in a white Quant nightdress in a 1967 photoshoot Mary Quant with her seamstresses in 1964 Tracey Hunt in a near-Victorian outfit from the Mary Quant Collection in 1982 A selection of mini dresses and designs at the Mary Quant exhibition, Victoria and Albert Museum, London Models and a Yorkshire Terrier present creations from 1967 by the designer Spectators and models attending a fashion show of the British stylist Mary Quant in London, in the 1960s English fashion designer Mary Quant having her hair cut and styled by hairdresser Vidal Sassoon (who died in 2012) in his trademark bob cut style, London, 10 November 1964 Mannequins in a shop window display in the boutique 'Bazaar' on Kings Road, London, 1966. The shop was owned by Mary Quant Mary Quant at Bazaar Studio in 1964 Portrait of Fashion Designer Mary Quant photographed in November 1972 A model dons a Mary Quant bright red mini dress in 1966 in London Tina Louise is pictured in 1966 wearing a Mary Quant design Two women are pictured donning mini skirts in London in 1967. Mary Quant, the British queen of Swinging Sixties fashion introduced miniskirts and hot pants to the world Earlier this year, Dame Mary was appointed a Companion of Honour - a prestigious award given to those who have made a long-standing contribution to arts, science, medicine or government - in King Charles III's first honours list. She was made a dame in the 2015 New Year's Honours list, again for services to fashion, saying at the time it was 'the girls on King's Road who invented the mini. I wore them very short and the customers would say, "shorter, shorter''.' Born and brought up in Blackheath, London, south east London, Dame Mary's parents, both Welsh schoolteachers, refused to let her attend a fashion course so instead she studied illustration at Goldsmiths. It was there that she met her future husband and business partner, the aristocrat Alexander Plunket Greene. After graduating in 1953 with a diploma in art education, she began an apprenticeship at a high-end milliner. Two years later she opened her famous boutique, Bazaar, on the King's Road in Chelsea - and, frustrated with the clothes available on the wholesale market, the self-taught designer was soon stocking it with her own creations. Drawing on a range of influences including musicians and the Mods, she create what she called 'relaxed but bold clothes suited to the actions of normal life'. Most famously, her garments included short tunic dresses and tights in bright colours. Her designs proved a hit and a second Bazaar opened on the King's Road in 1957, with short skirts and shift dresses becoming her trademark. As well as the miniskirt - which became an international trend with the help of model Twiggy - Dame Mary also created the 'skinny rib' sweater and is credited with inventing hot pants in 1966. Her company expanded into the UK mass marker with new a new, cheaper line, Ginger Group, in 1963. She was awarded an OBE in 1966, opened a third shop in London's New Bond Street in 1967 and by the end of the decade it was estimated that up to 7million women had at least one of her products in their wardrobe, according to the Victoria and Albert Museum. Mary standing near to her fashion shop Bazaar, on Brompton Road, Knightsbridge, London, on 14 October 1960 Mary inside her shop Bazaar with examples of the shoes and hats that she designed Quant is pictured wearing a pink buttoned vest and black shirt underneath in 1975 Mary is pictured in 1979 Bianca Jagger (centre) and Mary (right) watching a show by designer Jasper Conran at London Fashion Week 2001 Mary Quant, Jenny Seagrove, Shirley Conran and Sian Phillips, (bottom) Lynda Bellingham, Lynda La Plante and Sinead Cusack at the Mothers in Management, Work + Life Balance conference in 1999 Mary and artist David Hockney at the Royal Academy of Arts during the Golden Jubilee celebrations for Queen Elizabeth on May 22, 2002 Model and photographer Pattie Boyd has remembered Dame Mary as a 'true icon' Professor Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, where Mary studied for an art diploma in 1950, said: 'Dame Mary was a pioneer who made an indelible mark on society through her visionary work' (pictured on 26 June 2007) Miss Finland dressed in Marinekko, Miss France in Emmanuelle Khanh, Miss Italy in Emilio Pucci, Miss England in Mary Quant and Miss Switzerland in Geneva in 1966 She married Alexander Plunket Greene in 1957. He died in 1990. They had one son (pictured together in 1967) Mary Quant is pictured at home with her husband Alexander Plunket Greene at her flat off King's Road, Chelsea, in London in 1967 Dame Mary, who once said 'fashion is a tool to compete in life outside the home', later produced high quality womenswear from the late 1970s onwards. She married Alexander Plunket Greene in 1957. He died in 1990. They had one son. The official Twitter account of the Victoria & Albert Museum, which recently hosted an exhibition about Dame Mary Quant's designs, shared a tribute reading: 'It's impossible to overstate Quant's contribution to fashion. 'She represented the joyful freedom of 1960s fashion, and provided a new role model for young women. 'Fashion today owes so much to her trailblazing vision.' A V&A exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career from 1955 to 1975 is set to open in Glasgow's Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month following an international tour which included Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan and runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. At the time, Dame Mary said: 'It was wonderfully exciting and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. 'We didn't necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge'. Model and photographer Pattie Boyd has remembered Dame Mary Quant as a 'true icon' after her death. Boyd told on her Facebook page how the fashion designer made her and her former husband George Harrison's wedding coats. She also shared an image from the ceremony in 1996 which shows her and the Beatles star donning the fur coats. She wrote: 'Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant. 'Mary insisted on making George's and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. A true icon. RIP.' Professor Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, where Dame Mary Quant studied for an art diploma in 1950, said: 'Dame Mary was a pioneer who made an indelible mark on society through her visionary work. Quant is pictured alongside fellow fashion designer Jasper Conran at his show at Somerset House after the show on September 20, 2009 Mary pictured dressing a model in an outfit in Paris, on June 17, 2004 Twiggy and Mary Quant are with Pantene Pro-V Awards for the Year 2000 on October 19, 2000 Mary in 2012 taking part in her very own 'Living The Life' programme with Sky Arts alongside Alexandra Shulman which was first aired on 12 December that year Dame Mary, who once said 'fashion is a tool to compete in life outside the home', later produced high quality womenswear from the late 1970s onwards. 'Her studies at Goldsmiths came as Britain was emerging into a new world, and her creations played a part in helping empower women during this changing time. 'She was one of the original disruptors, whose trend-setting work changed the way we thought as well as how we dressed. This profound impact took us from the black and white world of the 1950s to the technicolour brilliance of the 1960s and beyond. 'Dame Mary always spoke fondly of her time at Goldsmiths - remembering it as a "great place to go, for causing trouble!". We are proud that we played a part in helping develop her vision and are grateful for the support she continued to give our students. 'We have lost a cherished member of the Goldsmiths community and send our thoughts to Dame Mary's family at this sad time.' A female student at a prestigious New Jersey college was allegedly forced into her dorm room and sexually assaulted by a 21-year-old man, who snuck into her dormitory building. Jayshawn Moore, a resident of Jersey City, was arrested on Tuesday in connection to a rape at Fairleigh Dickinson University Florham Campus on Sunday. Moore didn't attend the $33,000-a -year college but knew the unidentified victim, according to the Florham Park Police Department. The pair's relationship is unclear. The victim was out enjoying Easter Sunday with her family when she returned back to campus to a 'surprise' visit from Moore, she told police. He then allegedly forced the victim into her dorm room, threatened her and 'assaulted her physically and sexually over a number of hours,' a press release reads. Moore was arrested on several charges, including kidnapping, sexual and aggravated assault, burglary, terrorist threats and possession of a weapon. Jayshawn Moore, 21, was arrested after allegedly raping a female college student in her Fairleigh Dickinson University dorm room on Sunday. A picture of Moore wasn't immediately available. Pictured: the university The victim was out enjoying Easter Sunday with her family when she returned back to campus to a 'surprise' visit from Moore outside her dorm room. Pictured: A dormitory at the college The Morris County Prosecutor's office told DailyMail.com that a mugshot of Moore wouldn't be released per a state-wide executive order not to release booking photos. Moore will appear in court on April 17. The crime was referred to as an act of domestic violence. It's unclear why it took days for Moore to be arrested and if the victim called police right away. Police also didn't reveal how Moore managed to get into the college dormitory. Dina Schipper, the university's communication director, said the incident was isolated. 'The University is deeply concerned and saddened about the recently reported incident of domestic violence on our campus,' Schipper told NJ.com. 'We take any form of violence seriously and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community.' The college didn't immediately respond to DailyMail.com about the college's security system. Joe Biden tonight claimed Britain 'should be working closer' with Dublin to support the people of Northern Ireland. The US President, speaking to the Irish Parliament as he continued his three-day trip to the Republic of Ireland, said that 'peace is precious' but warned it 'still needs to be nurtured'. Mr Biden spent yesterday in Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, but is spending the longer portion of his trip in the Republic. In a speech heavy with references to his proudly-held Irish heritage, Mr Biden also sought to soothe tensions over an earlier gaffe when he mistakenly referred to the 'Black and Tans' instead of the All Blacks rugby team of New Zealand. He is the fourth US president to address the Irish Parliament after Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and John F Kennedy. Joe Biden, speaking to the Irish Parliament as he continued his three-day trip to the Republic of Ireland, said that 'peace is precious' but warned it 'still needs to be nurtured' The US President also sought to soothe tensions over an earlier gaffe when he mistakenly referred to the 'Black and Tans' instead of the All Blacks rugby team of New Zealand Mr Biden is the fourth US president to address the Irish Parliament after Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and John F Kennedy. The US President's address was heavy with references to his proudly-held Irish heritage 'People of Ireland, it's so good to be back in Ireland,' Mr Biden said, as he begun his speech to applause after making a remark in Irish which translates as: 'I am home.' 'I only wish I could stay longer,' the US President added. Cynics have suggested that Mr Biden's many enthusiastic references to his Irish ancestry on his visit are linked to the looming US election campaign. The White House, meanwhile, has been busy attempting to quell a backlash at the US President's perceived 'partisan' and 'anti-British' stance. US officials had earlier been forced to issue a correction after Mr Biden jibed about 'the Black and Tans' during a pub visit in County Louth last night. Mr Biden said he was wearing a shamrock tie given to him by Irish rugby player Rob Kearney - a distant relative - saying approvingly that he 'beat the hell out of the Black and Tans'. The Blacks and Tans was an auxilliary police force sent to Ireland in the 1920s to counter IRA extremism - pilloried in Republican folk songs for their brutality. The group was notably singled out in the pro-IRA song, 'Come Out, Ye Black And Tans', still popular with Irish rebel bands. The White House website attempted to smooth over the situation by clarifying its official record to refer to the All Blacks - the New Zealand rugby team. In a further effort to move past the row, Mr Biden said in his speech to the Irish Parliament tonight: 'I always have a little bit of Ireland close by, even when I'm in Washington 'In the Oval Office I have the rugby ball signed by the Irish rugby team, - the ball the team played with when they beat the All Blacks in Dublin in 2021.' The US President exaggerrated the words 'All Blacks' and offered a fist pump as he attempted to laugh off his earlier gaffe. Turning to the primary reason for his trip across the Atlantic - the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement - Mr Biden said: 'Peace is precious. It still needs its champions. It still needs to be nurtured.' The Good Friday Agreement, the US President said, had a 'significant positive impact across the Republic of Ireland as well'. Reflecting on his discussions with the Taoiseach, Leo Varadkar, he spoke of 'how Ireland and the United States can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland'. 'I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour,' the US President added, in a message to London. 'Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island.' Mr Biden hugged former Irish president Mary McAleese as he left the Dail chamber. He stopped to speak to former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams and ex-Taoiseach Bertie Ahern, who were both involved in the Good Friday Agreement talks. Mr Biden also exchanged words with another former Taoiseach, Enda Kenny. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency as clean up in Fort Lauderdale begins following devastating storms that caused mass flooding, including at the local airport which was forced to cancel flights. The storms dumped two feet of rain in a matter of hours and left travelers stranded through at least 5am Friday and residents calling for help. DeSantis' state of emergency comes 24 hours after Fort Lauderdale officials issued a similar declaration as flooding persisted in parts of the city. 'I have declared a State of Emergency for Broward County in response to severe flooding,' Gov. DeSantis said on Twitter Thursday. 'Residents in these areas should follow all orders from local officials and stay away from floodwaters.' Drone footage from the city shows the extent of the flooding including cars abandoned in the middle of the street and others under water. South Florida is beginning to clean up after being hit by storms that flooded the Fort Lauderdale area, including the local airport which was forced to cancel flights Fort Lauderdale officials issued a state of emergency on Wednesday as flooding persisted in parts of the city A man paddles on the flooded neighborhood after heavy rain in Fort Lauderdale, Florida People try and save valuables, wading through high flood waters in Fort Lauderdale The storms dumped two feet of rain in a matter of hours and left travelers stranded through at least 5am Friday and residents calling for help The situation was so dire Wednesday going into Thursday that all classes and school related activities within the Broward County School District were canceled Thursday. The closings come as the National Weather Service predicted more rainfall to come, an estimated two to four inches of rain Thursday into Friday. The Brightline, the area's high-speed commuter rail, was however restored after being shut down Wednesday evening. One woman who was driving when she received a flash flood warning told the Associated Press about her experience in the scary situation. 'The water started rising; I thought I was going to drown,' Valentine said, adding that she was terrified when she couldnt open her car door or roll the windows down. 'Nothing was working. All the lights were going on in my car, so nothing was operating. And I thought, "Im going to drown,' she said. 'I called my parents like, "Im going to die. Like Im going to drown. Theres no way for me to get out of this car." And they couldnt help me. I called 911 and they told me they couldnt help me,' the woman continued. She eventually forced the door open and got to safety. Drone footage taken from over the downtown area show cars trapped in several feet of water surrounded by other vehicles and stranded businesses. Tow truck driver Keith Hickman said he saw abandoned cars 'floating like boats' in the streets of Fort Lauderdale. 'There were hundreds of cars up and down here,' Hickman said. 'It was unbelievable. I have never seen cars bumper-boating each other and floating. And a truck would come by and the wake would push the cars into the other cars and they were just floating. Ive never seen anything like it,' the truck driver said. The closings come as the National Weather Service predicted more rainfall to come, an estimated two to four inches of rain Thursday into Friday Airplanes sit on the runway due to flooding at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood airport Thursday Residents paddle and walk along a flooded road Thursday A man walks with his children in the flooded neighborhood after heavy rain in Fort Lauderdale A Frontier airplane remains grounded as flooding lingers at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport In this photo taken with a drone, trucks and a resident on foot make their way through receding floodwaters in the Sailboat Bend neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale A truck drives on the flooded runway at Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport, Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Passengers wait for flights to resume after Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport was closed, Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Fort Lauderdale, Florida Just shot this drone video of downtown Fort Lauderdale still flooded right now with countless cars trapped in the high water. pic.twitter.com/ATzbIlDuSe Florida Drone Cleaning LLC DOUGLAS THRON (@douglasthron777) April 13, 2023 In Broward County, where rains started Monday before the heaviest rains arrived Wednesday afternoon, crews worked Thursday to clear drains and fire up pumps to clear standing water. The Red Cross set up a staging area to help residents whose homes were flooded, providing them with blankets and coffee, officials said. In the Sistrunk neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, stalled cars, including Jose Heredias BMW sedan, dotted the flooded streets. Heredia, a paralegal, was heading to work Thursday morning when he got stuck. 'I didnt think it was that bad. It has never been this bad; I have never seen it to this extent,' Heredia said. A tow truck company said he faced a wait of five hours or longer. 'Its a bad day,' he said. 'I should have just stayed at home.' Nearby, 74-year-old Bobbie Ponder hiked up her dress to push her bicycle the last block to Rays Market to get a money order for her internet bill, only find it flooded and closed. Bags of potato chips and Cheetos floated in a foot of water as workers tried to clean up. Ponder, who lives in a third-floor apartment, said she didnt think the flooding would be that bad until she tried to ride her bike. She was trying to keep the flooding in perspective, comparing it against tornadoes that recently hit other states, killing dozens of people. 'We are blessed - a lot of them died,' she said. Passengers wait for flights to resume after Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport was closed due to flooding Bahamas bound travelers wait for flights to resume after Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport was closed on Thursday A woman wades through high flood waters in a Fort Lauderdale neighborhood on Thursday Fort Lauderdale City Hall remained closed Thursday with ground-floor flooding and no power. A tunnel carrying U.S. Route 1 under a river and a major street in downtown Fort Lauderdale was also closed, along with some ramps to Interstate 95. At the airport, enough water had drained by early Thursday to allow people to drive on the upper level - or departures - road to pick up waiting passengers. But the entrance to the lower-level, or arrivals, road remained closed, officials tweeted. Shawn Bhatti, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said the region received 'an unprecedented amount' of rain. The weather service was still confirming totals, but some gauges showed up to 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) of rainfall. 'For context, within a six hour period the amount that fell is about a 1 in 1,000 chance of happening within a given year,' Bhatti said. 'So its a very historical type of event.' A petition has been launched to push the USP to do a U-turn and drop the idea, which will affect 14,000 pupils A major change to the October half-term school holiday has sparked fury among thousands of parents. A petition has been launched by parents who say it will cost them more because their children will be given an extra week's holiday during the autumn break this year. The Unity Schools Partnership (USP), which is in charge of 32 schools in Suffolk and one in Essex, is adding five days to the October half-term, so that it runs from October 23 to November 3, while extending the school day by ten minutes. The petition aims to push the USP, which runs primary, secondary, middle and special schools, to do a U-turn and drop the pilot scheme affecting 14,000 pupils. The angry parents claim their children have already missed a lot of schooling due to the coronavirus pandemic and teachers' strikes. Pictured: Classroom (file photo). A petition has been launched by those who say it will cost them more because their children will be given an extra week's holiday during the autumn break this year They say the change also means that they will need to find the money for child sitters or lose pay if they have to take time off work. A USP spokesman said they believe the idea will 'impact positively on the physical, emotional and mental health of our staff and pupils'. The group hopes it will 'decrease absence rates during the autumn term, as families will be able to take more affordable holidays'. However, critics argue that if the idea is taken up across the UK, travel firms and airlines will simply raise their prices for the added days. Having held a consultation with parents and carers, which finished in mid-March, USP chief executive Tim Coulson said there were more than 2,300 responses, with 'a majority amongst both staff and parents in favour of the proposals'. Some of those involved in the petition pointed to a straw poll of 500 parents from Haverhill in Suffolk showing that 82 per cent disagreed with the changes. Stephen Husband, who started the petition, has children at a Haverhill primary school and younger children in nursery. He said that the later finish will 'have a roll-on effect to nursery', so that he will have to pay for an extra 30 minutes per day - another 1,700 per year. Mr Husband said: 'The reasons they have given are patronising, condescending and out of touch with the reality of the current climate. 'This will severely impact the everyday parent who will not have enough time off from work to cover this extra week off, let alone afford to book a holiday for the whole family two months before Christmas. 'Unity are adamant that a trial is needed. We do not need a trial to see that this will be a huge financial and mental burden on families.' Pictured: Children at school (file photo). The petition aims to push the USP, which runs primary, secondary, middle and special schools, to do a U-turn and drop the pilot scheme, which will affect 14,000 pupils Diana Andre said the proposals are 'a nightmare' as she has a teenager at Castle Manor and runs a pre-school in Haverhill. She added that many of her staff are parents in the same boat. Mrs Andre said: 'I fail to see how the Trust is listening or supporting working families with this proposal. 'At the pre-school, we are not in the same position to be able to close for an extra week in October. 'This leaves a problem for our staff team who will now have to find and pay for a week of childcare.' Mrs Andre added that in her consultation response, she pointed out that the coronavirus pandemic 'taught us that children often learn best in school'. She said: 'Many children are still catching up. Ten minutes added on to the day will not make up for a week at home.' Another working parent, Emma Rogers, is worried that from July to January, children will now have 10 weeks off school. She said: 'This places a financial burden on an already strained situation for families in relation to childcare. 'Lots of children are still suffering the effects of lost education over the pandemic too.' Fae Church also fears how much school her daughter would miss if the idea takes off. Mrs Church said: 'She has already missed almost two weeks of school this year due to strike days, inset days and school closures due to weather or site maintenance. 'To then propose that they need an extra week off is just infuriating. 'Unity School Partnership has clearly made their own decision on the proposal and the supposed benefits of the scheme are condescending.' On social media, Chris Canham wrote: 'The behaviour and attitudes of the teachers nowadays leaves a lot to be desired. 'I am wondering what kind of examples this is setting on the children they are supposed to be teaching and mentoring.' Jo Smith replied: 'Well, parents were consulted and personally I'm in favour of it, as are lots of the parents at my child's school. 'You're never going to please everyone and it's only a pilot at the moment.' After a week of gale-force winds and chaos brought by Storm Noa, Britons can look forward to a 20C mini-heatwave next weekend, with temperatures to soar higher than in Sicily. The UK saw a brief rise in temperatures over the Easter weekend before they dropped again to below average into this week. Storm Noa, named by French weather forecasters, then brought winds of up to 96mph, heavy rain and snow on Thursday, disrupting transport and leaving at least one person with serious injuries due to strong gales. Commuters were left stranded in London on Thursday evening after a series of train cancellations from Paddington. The Isle of Wight recorded winds with a top speed of 96.9mph, and over 260 properties in Devon and 43 in Cornwall were left without power. But a moving band of high pressure will shift the Jet Stream and bring higher temperatures over the weekend and into next week. On Sunday parts of the UK could see temperatures as high as 18C, and they are set to rise further next week The UK will see more sun and fewer showers into next week as a mini-heatwave lasts for up to 10 days Despite some showers and cloudy patches, the weekend could see temperatures of up to 19C locally on Sunday, before 20C could be hit for the first time this year next week. Met Office forecaster Clare Nasir said the weather will be turning 'calmer' over the next week. She said Friday will see 'cloud and rain across Wales, the Midlands, southwards perhaps just clipping Lancashire.' She continued: 'Further north the winds are light. You will still see some showers, but they will be scattered and slow moving. 'So over the highest peaks and through the day that area of cloud or rain gradually clears towards the east, but it will be a slow process.' Temperatures will remain below average for the time of year. The UK was battered by Storm Noa, named by French forecasters, which brought winds of up to 96mph Aircraft struggled to land in strong winds at Leeds Bradford Airport on Thursday Coastguards battle the weather on Brighton beach amid ferocious waves Turning to the weekend, a cold start is expected which could even leave frost across the UK. But winds from the south are set to bring milder air throughout Saturday and into Sunday. Parts of the UK could still see patches of cloud, rain or drizzle. Ms Nasir said: 'Saturday does look like a fairly quiet day. It will be fairly chilly, but we will see that cloud build through the afternoon. 'An outside chance of a shower, most places, though, will be dry.' Temperatures are predicted to reach highs of 17C in the southeast on Saturday. Despite more cloud and some rain on Sunday, temperatures will be even higher, peaking at 18C in London. If they do reach 18C, this would make the UK significantly hotter than tourist hotspots such as Sicily, which is set to see 13C and rain on Sunday. By Monday, even parts of Scotland will see highs of 18C, with temperatures expected to hit 20C in parts of the UK by next weekend. An American racehorse owner whose ancestors triumphed in the Grand National in 1923 is bidding to recreate his family's success by winning this Saturday's race exactly 100 years later. Pierre Manigault and his family will travel more than 4,000 miles from South Carolina in the United States to Aintree racecourse to watch Cape Gentleman, who was bought last year specifically to run in this year's renewal of the race, take on the iconic Aintree fences. The decision to buy a horse for the race was inspired by the story of Stephen 'Laddie' Sandford, Manigault's Great Uncle, who became the first American to ever own a Grand National winner when his horse Sergeant Murphy stormed to victory in 1923. It was such an achievement at the time that Hollywood movie-makers turned it into the 1938 film 'Sergeant Murphy' - starring future president Ronald Reagan. Speaking from his home in Charleston before setting off for the UK, Manigault told The Jockey Club, which owns Aintree Racecourse: 'There has been a great presence of Sergeant Murphy everywhere in my life for as long as I can remember. Pierre Manigault's Great Uncle became the first American to ever own a Grand National winner when his horse Sergeant Murphy stormed to victory in 1923 'I had always wanted to go to the 2023 Grand National and had been planning that because I wanted to see the race in person, see Aintree in person and be there for the centennial of Sergeant Murphy and my Great Uncle - that was a goal I had set. 'Then my trainer over here, Arch Kingsley, suggested that it would be good fun to have a horse in the race and I guess a light just kind of switched. 'It didn't seem that far-fetched - we had already bought a couple of horses in Ireland and imported them into America and so the thought of buying a horse to race didn't seem crazy as we knew we'd be able to buy one, run the race and then bring him home to America. 'It all kind of just happened and developed. It's exciting but it does make the whole prospect of coming over a little more nerve-wracking.' When he goes to post in this year's race, Cape Gentleman will be carrying the same purple and gold colours that Captain Tuppy Bennet wore when winning onboard Sergeant Murphy exactly a century ago. The horse's owner himself is no stranger to the racetrack, having competed in point-to-points and owned horses that have run in races across the states in his family silks for many years. Manigault, who runs his family-owned media company, used his network of contacts in the US to identify an appropriate trainer based on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. That was when John 'Shark' Hanlon - who became a sensation Stateside after training Hewick to victory in the American Grand National back in October - was suggested. Grand National winner Sergeant Murphy (pictured: right) stormed to victory in 1923 and inspired Hollywood movie-makers turned it into the 1938 film 'Sergeant Murphy' Initially, Hanlon was approached about the prospect of selling his stable-star Hewick for the job something that would not come to fruition - and so the trainer searched for something suitable, finding the answer in Cape Gentleman, who was stabled just a couple of miles down the road from his County Carlow home with last year's Grand National-winning trainer Emmet Mullins. Hanlon said: 'It's very hard to get a horse rated over 150 in England or Ireland that is for sale. There are plenty of them out there, but they're not for sale Gigginstown own them, JP (McManus) owns them. 'They're in with Willie (Mullins, trainer) or Paul Nicholls their owners also want to have runners at Aintree and don't want to be selling their horses. 'There was an element of luck in finding Cape Gentleman and his owner who was willing to sell. 'Only for that I don't think I would have been able to buy them a horse and that would have been a disaster what with them having everything planned to come over to Liverpool.' Manigault has not even met Cape Gentleman yet but is travelling to the UK with a group of friends and family, including his two daughters, who are equally as keen to be a part of family history when the special anniversary is marked. And while their horse might be one of the outsiders for victory at 100-1, it would not be the first time a horse with those odds has triumphed in the greatest steeplechase in the world, with Mon Mome (2009), Foinavon (1967), Caughoo (1947), Gregalach (1929) and Tipperary Tim (1928) all successful 100-1 winners. Explaining how excited the family are to be at Aintree this Saturday, Manigault explained: 'Last spring on the morning that the hospitality boxes went on sale for the 2023 Grand National I woke up at around 4am to immediately place an order, not really knowing what I was getting - I was so afraid of missing out! Back in the 1920s Sergeant Murphy was originally bought by Laddie as a hunter for his own use, before he was placed into training ('Southampton' falls throwing jockey Harry Brown in the 1922 Grand National, where Sergeant Murphy finished fourth) John 'Shark' Hanlon became a sensation Stateside after training Hewick (pictured: left) to victory in the American Grand National back in October Hewick, trained by John Joseph Hanlon, on the gallops ahead of day four of the Cheltenham Festival at Cheltenham Racecourse 'I think this is a legacy that my family has been very proud of for a long time. Laddie was the very first American to win the race and it's a tough race to win only a handful of Americans have won it. 'It makes it much more exciting; it's brought some energy to American racing and the heritage of American racing.' Back in the 1920s Sergeant Murphy was originally bought by Laddie as a hunter for his own use, before he was placed into training in Newmarket with George Blackwell who remains one of the few people to have ever trained both a winner of The Derby in Rock Sand (1903) and a Grand National winner. In total Sergeant Murphy would go on to complete the Grand National course six times and was the oldest horse in the field the year he claimed victory. Valerie Archibald Embrey, Blackwell's granddaughter, said: 'This story really is quite something. Both Sergeant Murphy and Cape Gentleman are chestnuts, they have similar white markings and they both hold their heads very high. I think it's amazing and I have such a great feeling about this.' In 2013, exactly 90 years after The Aintree Grand National Trophy was won by Laddie and Sergeant Murphy, the silverware was stolen from the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame in Saratoga Springs. The Grand National's strong links with the USA American owners have long been captivated by the Grand National. Olympic Gold medal-winning polo player Foxhall Keene, one of the founding fathers of Jump racing in the USA, was represented by Chorus (8th) and Prophet III (fell) in 1908. The winner that year, Rubio, also boasted trans-Atlantic connections, having been bred at the Rancho del Paso Stud in California. The first success for an American owner came in 1923. Sergeant Murphy had been bought by John Sanford, a carpet trader, and given to his son, Stephen, who was then at Cambridge University in England. That victory proved the catalyst for renewed interest in the USA and a second triumph followed when Jack Horner prevailed in 1926, having been bought by another US polo player, Charles Schwartz, two weeks before the race for 4,000 from fellow American and amateur rider Morgan Blair. Kentucky-bred gelding Billy Barton had proved himself to be a champion in both America and Cuba, gracing the cover of Time magazine, but Howard Bruce's chaser fell when leading at the final fence in the 1928 Grand National. Jockey Tommy Cullinan remounted Billy Barton and came home a gallant second as only two horses finished. Pictured: Jockey Major J. Wilson falling during the 1923 Grand National that took place at Aintree Racecourse in 1923, which was won by Sergeant Murphy Jock Hay Whitney was one of the unluckiest owners in the history of the Grand National. The US Ambassador to the United Kingdom won the Cheltenham Gold Cup with Easter Hero in 1929 and the nine-year-old was a gallant second in that year's Grand National under the mammoth weight of 12st 7lb. Whitney was responsible for 14 Grand National runners in total between 1929 and 1951, with Sir Lindsay finishing third in 1930 and Thomond II occupying the same position in both 1934 and 1935. American sewing-machine heir F Ambrose Clark sold the seven-year-old Kellsboro' Jack to his wife Florence for 1 in 1933 on the advice of trainer Ivor Anthony in the hope that the new owner would bring more luck. Kellsboro' Jack, who started at 25-1, won by three lengths. Another Grand National win for America came in 1938 via Battleship, owned like Trouble Maker by Marion du Pont Scott, wife of Hollywood star Randolph Scott. The 11-year-old entire Battleship stood at just 15.2 hands, but had won the American Grand National in 1934 before being sent to England to be trained by Reg Hobbs. He was ridden at Aintree by 17 year old Bruce Hobbs, the youngest victorious rider. An American flavour returned in 1963 with the seventh home Owen's Sedge being owned by Gregory Peck and the Oscar-winning film actor also saw his colours carried in the race by Different Class, who was brought down in 1967 and returned to Aintree 12 months later to take third. American owners were back in the winner's circle in 1964 with the Fulke Walwyn-trained 18/1 chance Team Spirit, a 12-year-old having his fifth start in the race owned by Ronald B Woodard and John K Goodman along with Englishman Gamble North. There was an even stronger US connection to the 1965 winner as the Pennsylvanian-bred Jay Trump, a dual Maryland Hunt Cup victor for owner Mary Stephenson, was ridden by American amateur Tommy Crompton Smith. Jay Trump was trained by Fred Winter in Lambourn, England. This North American run of success continued with Highland Wedding in 1969, co-owned by Thomas H McCoy Jnr and Canadian Charles Burn, while The Beeches, who finished fourth, carried the famous colours of philanthropist Paul Mellon. Guest's L'Escargot in 1975, Redmond C Stewart's dual Maryland Hunt Cup winner Ben Nevis (ridden by American amateur Charlie Fenwick) in 1980, Lois Duffey's Mr Frisk in 1990 and most recently Betty Moran's Papillon in 2000. Proposals to crack down on Airbnbs in tourist hotspots were last night accused of being 'anti-business' as a split emerged in the Conservative Party. Yesterday the Levelling Up Secretary laid out a planning permission scheme for homeowners hoping to rent out short-term holiday lets. The changes were aimed at stemming the housing crisis and preventing locals being 'pushed out' of desirable areas, Michael Gove said. But his predecessor Simon Clarke labelled the policy anti-business and added: 'So many of our interventions in the housing market... stem from our failure to build enough homes.' Former Cabinet minister Lord Frost agreed, saying: 'In the end all these palliatives for the symptoms won't deal with the underlying problem which is that we need to build more houses.' Yesterday the Levelling Up Secretary laid out a planning permission scheme for homeowners hoping to rent out short-term holiday lets. The changes were aimed at stemming the housing crisis and preventing locals being 'pushed out' of desirable areas, Michael Gove (pictured) said But his predecessor Simon Clarke (pictured) labelled the policy anti-business and added: 'So many of our interventions in the housing market... stem from our failure to build enough homes' But last night Tory MPs rejected his view and said it was necessary to give communities more control. Nickie Aiken, MP for the Cities of London and Westminster, said the proposals were 'not anti-business, but pro-community'. Turning into ghost towns Selaine Saxby, who represents North Devon a constituency which has suffered from Airbnb's popularity said locals have had difficulties 'finding anywhere to live, or... have been evicted so landlords can flip properties to holiday let'. Other critics of the plan said it was either not enough or too little, too late, especially as current owners will not need permission under the proposals. Former Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron said the action came 'far too late'. He added: 'Ministers need to change the planning law now to save more local communities from turning into ghost towns.' The body of a man has been found in the search for a 26-year-old student who went missing while hiking up Ben Nevis. Zekun Zhang, from London, had been with two other companions before he disappeared on the UK's highest mountain on Tuesday. But with fresh snow falling as low as 500m, his two friends turned back as Mr Zhang decided to press on. His family have been informed of today's discovery, Police Scotland said. A spokesperson said: 'Around 3.30pm on Thursday, 13 April, 2023 the body of a man was discovered on Ben Nevis. A body has been found on Ben Nevis in the search for 26-year-old Zekun Zhang, who went missing on Tuesday Climbing conditions deteriorated rapidly on Ben Nevis (pictured) on the night of his disappearance with snow and freezing temperatures 'Formal identification has yet to take place, but the family of missing 26-year-old Zekun Zhang, has been made aware. 'There are no apparent suspicious circumstances and a report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.' Inspector Ross McCartney added: 'I would like to thank all mountain rescue teams (MRTs) that assisted with the search.' Mr Zhang was last seen around 1pm near the summit of Carn Mor Dearg, and is believed to have walked a route from there to the 4413ft Ben Nevis summit. He had planned to return to the North Face car park, but did not return. Lochaber Mountain Rescue Team had 12 members searching for him on Wednesday - joined by six members of a police MRT. The police and a RAF MRT continued the search today. 'He was with two others, who decided to turn back, but he continued on,' said Donald Paterson, leader of Lochaber MRT. 'There has been fresh snow down to 500 metres and the conditions deteriorated. To be out overnight in those conditions would be very challenging. 'In fact the wind chill would have plunged the temperature to minus 8C. He was not well equipped to survive those conditions. He was basically wearing what he was pictured in. 'We re-traced his whole route on Thursday without any sign of him and there has been fresh snow.' Environment Secretary Therese Coffey was last night accused of 'effectively legalising' fly-tipping after analysis found fewer than one in 500 incidents last year led to a prosecution. Authorities successfully pursued culprits in just under 2,000 of the 1.1million fly-tipping incidents across England meaning just 0.18 per cent of cases led to a prosecution. Offenders avoided prosecution at the highest rate in London, where just 0.05 per cent of the 406,000 cases resulted in the local authorities prosecuting the criminal. The figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, also showed only 1,798 fines were issued by courts for fly-tipping incidents last year, with a total value of 837,000 an average of 77p per total incident. The party's environment spokesman Tim Farron said: 'The lack of action on this issue from the Government sends out the message that they do not take it seriously enough. Figures, obtained by the Liberal Democrats, showed only 1,798 fines were issued by courts for fly-tipping incidents last year, with a total value of 837,000 an average of 77p per total incident Environment Secretary Therese Coffey was last night accused of 'effectively legalising' fly-tipping after analysis found fewer than one in 500 incidents last year led to a prosecution Authorities successfully pursued culprits in just under 2,000 of the 1.1million fly-tipping incidents across England meaning just 0.18 per cent of cases led to a prosecution (pictured: fly-tipping in Wexham, Buckinghamshire, on March 26, 2023) Offenders avoided prosecution at the highest rate in London, where just 0.05 per cent of the 406,000 cases resulted in the local authorities prosecuting the criminal (pictured: fly-tipping in Wexham, Buckinghamshire, on March 26, 2023) 'They have effectively legalised littering through their inaction.' But sources at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said 507,000 'enforcement actions' were taken last year, meaning around half of the fly-tipping incidents were dealt with in some form. They do not take it seriously They also pointed to the 91,000 fixed penalty notices issued in 2021/22 worth up to 400 each in addition to the separate fines, and said the 77p figure was wrong. Convicted fly-tippers can face unlimited fines or be sent to prison for up to five years. JP Morgan Chase & Co is ordering its managers to return to the office full time in order to be present for 'impromptu meetings' and 'immediate feedback.' Company executives are asking for those in charge to 'lead by example' and return to the office five days a week, even threatening that not meeting attendance guidelines could result in consequences. 'Our leaders play a critical role in reinforcing our culture and running our businesses,' the memo obtained by the Wall Street Journal reads. 'They have to be visible on the floor, they must meet with clients, they need to teach and advise, and they should always be accessible for immediate feedback and impromptu meetings,' the letter continues. The push comes as Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, a major New York law firm, told staffers that those who dont adhere to the firms three days in office per week policy could see their bonuses reduced. JP Morgan Chase & Co is ordering its managers to return to the office full time in order to be present for 'impromptu meetings' and 'immediate feedback' Company executives are asking for those in charge to 'lead by example' and return to the office five days a week This graph shows work from home data among Americans from 1965 through 2023 JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon has been open about his desire to bring back workers full time, previously stating he was worried the $3 billion Park Avenue building was not being used as much as it should be. In August, DailyMail.com reported that Dimon was worried that the 70-floor Manhattan building would sit empty if staff continued to work from home. The memo sent out this week appears to address the previous concerns. 'We need them to lead by example, which is why we're asking all managing directors to be in the office five days a week,' the memo states. Currently, most employees are working hybrid between home and in office three days per week. Some employees may work more with prior approval. Dimon admits that most workers are adhering to the three day in office rule but that others are not meeting the minimum. 'Most of you are following your hybrid models, but there are a number of employees who aren't meeting their in-office attendance expectations, and that must change,' the memo said. 'You're responsible for meeting your hybrid model requirements,' the memo adds. Additionally, there could be consequences for workers who refuse to abide by the three days in office policy for lower-level employees as well as managers who do not to enforce it. 'Your manager is responsible for ensuring that attendance requirements are being met and in cases where they aren't, taking the appropriate performance management steps, which could include corrective action,' the memo states. 'Corrective action,' however, is not defined. JP Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon has been open about his desire to bring back workers full time , previously stating he was worried the $3 billion Park Avenue building was not being used as much as it should be In August, DailyMail.com reported that Dimon was worried that the 70-floor Manhattan building would sit empty if staff continued to work from home JP Morgan's push is just a step behind Davis Polk's idea to tie pay and attendance together. 'Were very focused on having our team in at the same time,' said Neil Barr, chair and managing partner of Davis Polk in a statement to the Wall Street Journal. 'The expectation is that you come to the office and you support the culture of the firm by being here in person,' Barr said. 'When youre working in a profession where apprenticeship is part of the craft, I just dont believe it can be done digitally,' he said. 'So we feel really strongly about it.' He said he understands employees who do not wish for things to change but that he and other executives believe things are more productive in office. 'I said, "Look, Im not apologizing for this conclusion,"' Barr said. 'I think this is a really fundamental part of our ability to be a premier law firm. There are a lot of things about this institution that are special, and you cannot replicate them digitally,' Barr told The Journal. Additionally, Barr said he fully believes that tying pay and bonuses to attendance will be successful in the long run. 'People got the message,' Barr said. 'We think it will work.' JP Morgan's push is just a step behind Davis Polk's idea to tie pay and attendance together. 'Were very focused on having our team in at the same time,' said Neil Barr, chair and managing partner of Davis Polk in a statement to the Wall Street Journal 'I think this is a really fundamental part of our ability to be a premier law firm. There are a lot of things about this institution that are special, and you cannot replicate them digitally,' Barr said On the West Coast, Walt Disney Co. announced in March that they would bring employees back to the office four days per week. The move was met with major pushback as more than 2,000 employees signed a petition to stop the return to office order. The mandate, the employees claimed, would lead to 'forced resignations among some of our most hard-to-replace talent and vulnerable communities' while also 'dramatically reducing productivity, output, and efficiency.' 'Sitting on Zoom calls in an office for four days a week while your co-workers, partners, stakeholders, vendors, and customers do the same in a different part of the world does not meet the core need,' the petition states. 'There is value in being together, but we also need to look forward and embrace new paradigms that add value,' it continues. Major employers have been pushing to bring workers into the office since the COVID-19 pandemic began and have recently ramped up efforts as fears over the coronavirus subside. It's the first known direct financial transaction between Thomas and Crow The company bought the properties from co-owners Thomas, his mother and his late brother's family for $133,363 Company belonging to Texas billionaire Crow bought three properties right next to each other in Savannah, Georgia, including a single-story home and two lots Clarence Thomas' wealthy megadonor friend Harlan Crow bought property from him in a deal the Supreme Court justice failed to disclose, according to a new report. A company belonging to Texas billionaire Crow, who has showered Thomas with lavish trips and odd yet pricey gifts, bought a series of properties right next to each other in Savannah, Georgia, including a single-story home and two lots, according to ProPublica. It's the first known direct financial transaction between Thomas and Crow. The company bought the properties from co-owners Thomas, his mother and his late brother's family for $133,363, according to a tax document and deed from October 2014 the outlet obtained. 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 A 2014 photograph shows the vacant lots that Crow bought from Thomas Tax deed showing Thomas owned the home he sold to Crow in Savannah The justice's elderly mother lived at the property, and continued to do so under Crow's ownership. Soon after the purchase was finalized contractors went to work on tens of thousands of dollars' worth of improvements, including a carport, a fixed roof and a new fence and gates. A federal disclosure law requires justices and other officials to report the sale of real estate over $1,000. But Thomas never reported selling the Savannah properties. Crow told ProPublica he bought the home, where Thomas partially grew up, to one day preserve it for future generations. 'My intention is to one day create a public museum at the Thomas home dedicated to telling the story of our nation's second black Supreme Court Justice,' he said. 'I approached the Thomas family about my desire to maintain this historic site so future generations could learn about the inspiring life of one of our greatest Americans.' Crow did not say why he bought the two lots next to the home, but said 'the other lots were later sold to a vetted builder who was committed to improving the quality of the neighborhood and preserving its historical integrity.' It's not clear if Crow bought the properties at fair market value. In 2013, he bought two properties on the same block, a vacant lot and a small house, for just $40,000. Crow said his company bought the properties 'at market rate based on many factors including the size, quality, and livability of the dwellings.' Meanwhile Democrats on the Senate Judiciary Committee wrote a letter to Chief Justice John Roberts demanding he open an investigation into Thomas's gifts from his billionaire friend, as they announced their own hearing into court ethics. Judiciary Republicans have been notably quiet on the issue. 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. Clarence Thomas pictured above with his mother Leola Williams 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. 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.' Crow and Thomas met in the 1990s, a few years after Thomas joined the high court and the two have had a close relationship ever since - Crow once reportedly provided $500,000 to Thomas' wife Ginni to found a Tea Party-related group. The 74-year-old billionaire real estate developer who has lavished gifts and trips on Thomas is the chairman of a highly successful private investment firm, Crow Holdings, with almost $29 billion in holdings, according to the Dallas Morning News. He inherited the real estate empire founded by his father, Trammall Crow, who the Wall Street Journal in 1986 said was the nation's largest landowner, with nearly 300 million square feet of developed real estate. He has been active in Republican politics, once a member of the founding committee of the Club for Growth and serving on the board of the American Enterprise Institute. He has donated millions to Republican campaigns and conservative groups. He has also presented Thomas with a series of peculiar gifts as an Abraham Lincoln bust and a $19,000 bible once belonging to Frederick Douglass. A ProPublica report revealed that Thomas has issued a ruling in his own favor allowing himself to make use of luxury jets, a mega-yacht, and stunning retreats all owned by the same real estate magnate. He purchased and helped restore Camp Topridge in the Adirondacks, taking down some buildings and constructing new ones at the facility once owned by Marjorie Merriweather Post. A friend of the Bush family, Crow is a trustee of the George W. Bush Presidential Center in Texas, and also backs the Hoover Institution at Stanford University. He is a member of the Supreme Court Historical Society, although he said in a statement he has never had business before the Thomas court. Crow has not been a party in any Supreme Court litigation, but has been involved in two conservative groups involved in filing supporting briefs in cases that go before the Supreme Court. The Florida state House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to outlaw abortions in the state after six weeks of pregnancy. The vote was 70-40 in a body that skews heavily Republican. However, with just 35 Democratic seats, some GOP lawmakers joined the opposition. The law essentially is a total ban on abortions as most women don't realize they're pregnant until after six weeks. Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis supports the bill and has said he will sign it. It previously passed the Florida state Senate. Republican state Reps. Jennifer Canady (left) and Jenna Person-Mulika (right) celebrate on the floor after Florida's state House passed a bill that would ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy. Both women were among the GOP's final speakers Protesters swarmed the state capitol building in Tallahassee amid debate on a bill that would ban abortions after six weeks Florida's Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 hopeful, supports the abortion ban and has said he will sign it Poll Do you agree with Florida's ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy? Yes No Do you agree with Florida's ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy? Yes 282 votes No 317 votes Now share your opinion Earlier Thursday, there was chaos in the Capitol as protesters flooded the building. Demonstrators were seen shouting and throwing handfuls of stickers and small pieces of paper down on lawmakers as they entered the House chamber. The stickers provided information on how to receive abortion pills through mail, according to local reports. Once DeSantis signs the bill it will give Florida one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the country. The state already has a ban on abortions after 15 weeks, which is being challenged in the Florida Supreme Court. It's unclear when there will be a ruling in that case. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre pushed back on the passage in a statement Thursday, calling the bill 'extreme and dangerous.' 'The ban flies in the face of fundamental freedoms and is out of step with the views of the vast majority of the people of Florida and of all the United States,' Jean-Pierre said. The Democratic National Committee (DNC) similarly blasted the abortion ban, in an attempt to tie DeSantis to former President Trump's 'MAGA base.' 'This ban will be one of the strictest in the country and is the latest salvo of abortion extremism as 2024 Republican hopefuls work to out-MAGA each other and remind America that Republican control would bring us closer to a nationwide abortion ban,' the DNC statement continued. During debate on the six-week ban, Democratic lawmakers proposed more than 50 amendments to the bill but also acknowledged the uphill battle they faced in the Republican-controlled state legislature. But House Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican, spent the afternoon rushing through that process, giving each amendment about a minute of debate before calling a voice vote, declaring the amendment failed, and moving on to the next one. Some observers in the gallery booed and shouted at his actions. 'This is all just circus politics,' one yelled. Renner pushed back, warning observers that it is privilege to watch the proceedings and reminded them he can have the galleries emptied. By noon those galleries were emptied due to disruptions. The vote was conducted quickly after hours of debate, with 70 lawmakers voting for the six-week ban and 40 opposing it. There are 35 Democrats in the state House, meaning some Republicans joined them in opposition House Speaker Paul Renner, a Republican, spent the afternoon rushing through the amendment process Florida state Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat (speaking in pink) proposed several amendments that failed State Rep. Anna Eskamani, a Democrat, proposed an amendment that would delay the enactment of the ban under the King Charles Clause. The amendment would keep the state's current law in effect until '21 years after the death of the last survivor of the descendants of King Charles III, king of England living as of the date of this declaration'. This 'last survivor' is one-year-old Princess Lilibet of Sussex, who lives in California. Disney used the clause to circumvent DeSantis' attempt to take control of its theme parks. 'If it worked for Disney maybe it'll work for me,' Eskamani said. The amendment failed. She also proposed to rename the bill the 'Forced Pregnancy Act.' 'Members, this amendment renames the bill to the Forced Pregnancy Act, which is basically what it does,' she said. 'That's the amendment.' 'It'll force people into pregnancy before they even realize they are pregnant,' she added. The amendment failed. 'This is a devastating vote,' Eskamani later said on the floor. 'We might be the minority in this chamber, but we're not the minority outside.' The bill does have exceptions for rape, incest and human trafficking up to 15 weeks of pregnancy. There is an exception for the life of the mother if two physicians certify in writing that the woman will die if she continues the pregnancy. House Rep. Allison Tant told a story about how her mother almost died in pregnancy while residing in rural North Carolina and the same outcome would happen to women in rural Florida if two physicians were needed to make the call of whether a pregnancy could be terminated. The bill also allocates $25 million for anti-abortion non-medical clinics, essentially promoting pregnancy. Florida only funds rape crisis centers $3 million per year. More than a dozen states have restricted access to abortions following the overturning of Roe v. Wade Florida's gender and racial party divides were on full display as lawmakers debated the issue throughout the afternoon. Female Democratic lawmakers spoke in opposition to the bill, getting some assistance from Black Democratic men. White male Republicans pushed to pass it. 'I'm gonna say the silent part out loud right now, to all the mistresses of wealthy men in Florida, sis, do not take that trip,' said state Rep. Ashley Gantt. 'Have that baby OK?' 'Make sure you deny that trip,' she continued. 'Make sure you get a headache or something or you're just unavailable - put your phone on Do Not Disturb.' Gantt said the legislation would impact the 'have-nots' more than the 'haves' in the Sunshine State. Republican Rep. Shane Abbott, who has an adopted son, encouraged lawmakers to vote to pass the abortion ban. 'It's a third-degree felony to harm sea turtle eggs. It's a third-degree felony to harm alligator eggs. So we're willing to protect an unborn alligator and an unborn sea turtle, but we're sitting here today debating whether or not it's worth protecting an unborn human,' he argued. He claimed that almost 80,000 abortions that took place in Florida last year 'were not health care related in any way.' 'They were about convenience,' he said. 'They were about quality of life.' Rep. Dianne Hart, a Democrat, recalled how as a high school student in 1971, before Roe v. Wade, one of her friends got pregnant. 'She chose to take Quinine in hopes that she was going to terminate her pregnancy,' Hart recalled. 'Except she terminated her life.' Hart warned that Florida was heading back to the 'dark ages' if the bill is passed. Rep. Felicia Simone Robinson, another Democrat, said 'this is about control - trying to control women.' 'If they take this right from us, who's to say that we don't have the right to vote one day or we don't have the right to go to work one day,' Robinson said. Democratic Rep. Christopher Benjamin argued that taking away a woman's choice makes pregnancy a 'sentence.' 'It's a punishment,' he remarked. Democratic Rep. Jervonte Edwards got a few laughs when he said on the floor: 'The underlying truth is, we all love sex in here, whether with a condom or without - but the key to that is, as a man I cannot have a child.' He pointed out that the male legislators wouldn't care for a law, pushed by the women in the body, that would make 'all men sterile.' As the debate wound to a close, Republicans had three of their female lawmakers speak. Republican Rep. Dana Trabulsy explained that her anti-abortion beliefs stemmed from her own decision to have an abortion as an adult - when she 'knew better' - and later came to regret. She argued that women seeking abortions are in that position 'because they made an irresponsible choice.' 'Who's going to hear the voices of the unborn?' she asked her colleagues. Republican Rep. Jennifer Canady argued funding contained in the bill would help reluctant mothers. Closing for the GOP, Rep. Jenna Persons-Mulicka stood and said, 'Members, today we have an opportunity to lead.' 'We have the opportunity to lead the national debate about the importance of protecting life and giving every child the opportunity to be born and find his or her purpose,' Persons-Mulicka said. 'With your vote today we change the culture of abortion to a culture of life,' she said, receiving applause from her Republican colleagues. Once she concluded, tallying the vote took under a minute. The Florida legislature currently has 119 members, so nine lawmakers abstained. As of January 2023, 24 states have enacted restrictive bans or are in the process of doing so. Twelve states are enforcing a near-total ban on abortion with very limited exceptions, according to the Guttmacher Institute. In four states, laws prohibiting abortion after a specific point in pregnancy, which would have been unconstitutional under Roe, are in effect. A paramedic has died after he was repeatedly stabbed in the abdomen outside a fast food restaurant. The NSW Ambulance worker, 29, pulled into the restaurant carpark to grab coffee with a colleague when he was attacked outside a McDonald's outlet on Queen Street at Campbelltown, south-west Sydney, about 5.30am on Friday. It is believed he was sitting in his ambulance, finishing up his work for the day, when the knifeman attacked. The paramedic was treated at the scene and taken to Liverpool Hospital, where he died from his injuries. Police tasered a 21-year-old suspect at the scene, arrested him and took him to Campbelltown Police Station. The suspect, from Raby in the city's south-west, is currently assisting police with their inquiries and no charges have been laid. A paramedic has been rushed to hospital after being stabbed in an early morning attack NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said it is a currently an 'extremely difficult time' for the man's family and colleagues. Commissioner Morgan said he met the paramedic's mother, father, wife, and sister this morning who are 'beside themselves'. He said the man's father told him he knew from the age of five that he wanted to be a paramedic. It was a dream he fulfilled just 12 months ago. 'He wanted nothing more to serve his community,' Commissioner Morgan said. 'He'd been with us for a relatively short period of time and had recently found out that he'd been posted back to south-west Sydney. 'I'm told he was so pleased that he was going to be able to stay here and bring up his family.' NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce broke down in tears as she expressed sympathy for the victim's family. NSW Health Secretary Susan Pearce (pictured) broke down during a press conference on Friday 'The health system is one big family and to lose someone in this way is just incomprehensible to us,' she said 'And to lose someone in this way is incomprehensible to us. 'I would like to extend my deepest condolences to the wife and family of the paramedic.' Ms Pearce said the state's health system has been through a lot over these past few years and she was proud of all workers who have continued to show up every day to help other members of the community. Deputy Commissioner Lanyon said the 21-year-old man may have been driving around the Ingleburn and Campbeltown areas in a blue Honda Jazz Civic prior to the incident and urged the public to come forward if they had seen the vehicle. The NSW Ambulance paramedic was stabbed outside a McDonald's on Queen Street at Campbelltown, south-west Sydney, at 5.30am on Friday Police are appealing for anyone who saw a blue Honda jazz in the Ingleburn and Campbelltown areas during the early hours of Friday morning to come forward. The same make car was seen parked in the McDonalds car park after officers taped off the scene Asked if the man in custody was known to police Mr Lanyon said: 'He is only known to us through a few interactions.' Police have set up a crime scene at the McDonalds and have urged members of the public to avoid the area. Two men were allowed to leave the cordon just after 11am, one of whom appeared to be the McDonald's manager. He said he had been told not to speak to the media but when asked if the paramedic was going to be okay he said: 'We don't know'. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the man's death was 'as shocking as it is tragic'. 'All Australians send our sympathies and condolences to his loved ones, friends and colleagues,' Mr Albanese Tweeted. 'To every frontline worker, you are valued. You keep us safe. You deserve to be safe at work.' NSW Premier Chris Minns said the stabbing was a 'terrible situation' for the emergency services community. 'It's a reminder that's it a very difficult and dangerous job,' he said. Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Uzbek president meets with Chinese FM, expecting to visit China Xinhua) 14:17, April 13, 2023 TASHKENT, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang here on Wednesday, saying that he is looking forward to visiting China. Mirziyoyev asked Qin to convey his sincere regards to President Xi Jinping and congratulated Xi on his re-election as the Chinese president by unanimous vote, which demonstrated that all Chinese people wholeheartedly endorse and fully support his wise leadership. As a good friend standing side by side with as well as a close and reliable partner of China, Uzbekistan is sincerely pleased to see China's remarkable achievements, he said, noting that Xi paid a successful and historic visit to Uzbekistan last year, raising Uzbekistan-China relations to an unprecedentedly high level. Mirziyoyev said that Uzbekistan cherishes China's support for the "New Uzbekistan" development strategy and will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle, jointly crack down on the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. He expressed readiness to make good preparations for the meeting of the Uzbekistan-China Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, speed up the implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, expand cooperation in economic, trade, new energy, infrastructure, humanities and sub-national spheres, and draw on China's development experience as well as innovative science and technologies. Mirziyoyev said he is looking forward to attending the China-Central Asia Summit and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China. Qin conveyed Xi's cordial greetings to Mirziyoyev and welcomed him to attend the China-Central Asia Summit and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China. Qin recalled that the two heads of state had agreed to build a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future, giving a new orientation to bilateral relations. On the basis of the new orientation, China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to lift bilateral relations to new levels, Qin said. He said that the two sides should well implement the five-year plan for economic, trade and investment cooperation and make continuous efforts after delivering the target of 10 billion U.S. dollars in bilateral trade set by the two countries' heads of state. Qin said that the two countries should speed up the synergizing of development strategies and strive for an early start of the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway to facilitate regional connectivity. He said that a sub-committee on poverty alleviation cooperation should be set up to aid Uzbekistan in achieving its poverty alleviation goals at an early date. Qin also said that both sides should expand new energy cooperation, optimize the energy mix and safeguard energy security, and encourage and support sub-national and non-governmental exchanges and cooperation to consolidate the foundation of friendship between the two peoples. He stressed that China highly appreciates Uzbekistan's valuable support on issues concerning China's core interests and also unwaveringly supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, backs its reform and development, opposes any external interference in its internal affairs, and stands ready to work closely to fight the "three forces" and jointly safeguard peace and stability of the two countries and the region. He added that China appreciates Uzbekistan's contribution to the preparation for the fourth foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and is willing to coordinate closely with Uzbekistan to make the meeting a success. On the same day, Qin also held talks with Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) A former soldier yesterday revealed how he tortured an Iraqi prisoner to death for 'banter', in what is believed to be the first admission of its kind. The Black Watch private described the suffering he inflicted on the captive knowing he will not face further criminal investigation. The shocking case raises further alarming questions about the effectiveness of the British military's judicial system and the competence of its police officers. For many years entirely innocent Iraq veterans faced intrusive inquiries and re-investigations into abuse allegations which prevented them getting on with their lives. But yesterday it emerged the retired soldier who callously mistreated a prisoner is untouchable by any court in this country or the International Criminal Court (ICC). The Black Watch private described the suffering he inflicted on the captive knowing he will not face further criminal investigation (file image of a sentry from the Black Watch) For many years entirely innocent Iraq veterans faced intrusive inquiries and re-investigations into abuse allegations which prevented them getting on with their lives. But yesterday it emerged the retired soldier who callously mistreated a prisoner is untouchable by any court in this country or the International Criminal Court (ICC) (file image) The legal order granting him immunity and anonymity was signed off in 2021 by Suella Braverman while she was attorney general. The squaddie, appearing before the Iraq Fatality Investigations (IFI) judicial inquiry into the deaths of civilians in UK custody, was identified by his cypher 'SO89' as he described the ordeal of Mousa Ali on May 13, 2003. In temperatures above 40C (104F), SO89 with colleague SO103 forced Mr Ali to complete exercises while carrying 25kg (55lb) jerry cans and to adopt stress positions. Such mistreatment of prisoners is considered torture under international law and is also illegal under UK law. He told the inquiry how Mr Ali, who was in his 50s and morbidly obese, pleaded for mercy as he repeatedly collapsed and had to be dragged to his feet. SO89 had taken it entirely upon himself to torture the Iraqi, having received no orders other than to guard him at Camp Stephen in Basra. Mr Ali, a married father-of-two was arrested by British soldiers after a rifle was found at his house but he was not considered a threat to UK forces. Remarkably, SO89 said putting Mr Ali through such an ordeal was 'banter, to pass the time'. Speaking via a virtual link to the IFI hearing, he said: 'He was a big boy, maybe the exercises didn't help. Stress position was his default position, always starting and finishing in it. He was getting more out of breath. 'He kept falling down, exhausted. I lifted him back on to his feet on a couple of occasions. There was nothing other than him being sweaty which would make me think something was wrong. 'It was to pass the time. It was, let's have a bit of fun. We mucked him about, it was banter.' The shocking case raises further alarming questions about the effectiveness of the British military's judicial system and the competence of its police officers Mr Ali slumped to his side and foam emerged from his mouth. He was declared dead by the regimental medical officer, with the cause of death logged as 'unknown'. His body was taken to hospital where a death certificate on May 15, 2003, gave 'heart failure' as the cause of death. There was no post-mortem examination. When questioned by the Royal Military Police, SO89 failed to mention the brutal exercise session. Asked why, he told Dame Anne Rafferty, the retired judge leading the inquiry: 'Maybe they didn't ask me the question.' The IFI website states the inquiry 'is not concerned with determining civil or criminal liability', adding: 'The Inspector requests undertakings from the Attorney General and the Prosecutor of the ICC that witnesses will not be prosecuted on the basis of any self-incriminating evidence they provide.' SO89 left the Army in 2005 neither he nor SO103 were ever charged. A Ministry of Defence spokesman said the 'event in question has been examined through multiple criminal investigations' with no prosecutions due to 'insufficient evidence', adding: 'We are committed to improving procedures. 'We have also undertaken reviews of Service Policing and the Service Justice System with work being taken forward on a number of reforms to ensure justice in the Armed Forces is effective.' Meghan Markle was 'never likely' to attend Charles's Coronation, sources close to those planning the event have said, after she was put in an 'impossible situation' by the Royal Family. Prince Harry is understood to have gone through weeks of negotiations with Buckingham Palace, including going over security arrangements and concerns over the reception from his family. The Palace announced Harry would attend in a statement yesterday, saying it was 'pleased to confirm' the Duke of Sussex will be at Westminster Abbey on May 6. Meghan will stay at home in Montecito, California, with one-year-old Lilibet and Archie, whose fourth birthday is on the same day as the ceremony. The news follows months of tension between the Sussexes and the rest of the royals following the release of Prince Harry's memoir Spare. The coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla will take place at Westminster Abbey on May 6 Royal insiders today claimed Meghan was put in an 'impossible situation' by the royal family While Harry jets over to the UK, Meghan will stay in the US with their children Lilibet, one, and Archie, who turns four on the day of the coronation A royal source told the Mirror: 'The truth of the matter is the duchess was never likely to attend the Coronation. 'The mood from California was that she felt increasingly put in an impossible position and theres a fair sense of relief that the situation is resolved after so much speculation and uncertainty. 'It is one thing to attend the late Queen's funeral out of respect for Her Majesty but another thing entirely to attend the start of a new reign.' A second source added the duchess was 'damned if she does and damned if she doesn't' but added she had decided to do 'the right thing for her young children which should be applauded'. Earlier on Thursday it was revealed that the Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson has not been invited to the Coronation - news that came as a shock to some royal fans. Her ex-husband the disgraced Prince Andrew, as well as their daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, will all attend. Sarah did attend the Queen's funeral at Westminster Abbey last September, but was not one of the 30 guests for Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021. She was not invited to Prince William and Kate's wedding in 2011, saying she went on holiday to Thailand instead - but did attend Harry and Meghan's marriage at St George's Chapel in Windsor in May 2018. Her lack of a coronation invitation comes despite Andrew turning up at the Easter Service at St George's Chapel in Windsor, although her ex-husband is still excluded from most of life within the Royal Family. Sarah herself has also had something of a renaissance in recent months, having been invited to join Charles and other senior royals at Sandringham at Christmas, as well as looking after the late Queen's corgis. She was also a favourite of the late Queen and they were known to spend plenty of time together including walks at Windsor Park. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St Paul's Cathedral in London on June 3 last year The King is planning a slimmed-down affair from previous ceremonies, and will have just 2,000 guests in attendance. Meanwhile the couple's friend Omid Scobie confirmed Archie's birthday 'played a factor in the couple's decision' and he expected it would be a 'fairly quick trip to the UK' for Harry. The Duke will only attend the ceremony, which is likely to last a few hours. Reacting to the announcement from the Palace, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams told MailOnline: 'King Charles will undoubtedly be pleased that both his sons will be represented at his Coronation. It is, after all, quite literally the crowning moment of his life. 'He had the longest period as Prince of Wales in our history and he used it wonderfully well for the benefit of others. Camilla is wonderfully supportive and also is doing important charitable work. 'Meghan will be with Archie on his fourth birthday. This is probably an ideal compromise. 'For months I hoped for reconciliation but after Spare, the interviews promoting it and the Netflix docuseries it is obvious that this is highly unlikely to happen and that the Sussexes' rift with the Royal Family is very serious. 'The Sussexes are unpredictable. Their endless attacks on the Royal Family have been extremely damaging. 'They have affected its popularity especially among the young. This has become something of a circus. They should find constructive roles in which to employ such talents as they have. 'Harry is unlikely to have a role in the ceremony or appear on the balcony. He may well appear in the procession after the ceremony. 'However, it would have been impossible for the Sussexes to not be represented at this unique event and expect to be taken seriously as members of the Royal Family in the future.' More than 2,000 people will gather at Westminster Abbey on May 6 for the nation's first event of its kind in 70 years, with the guest list now starting to take shape. Most of the Royal Family will attend the ceremony, led by senior members Prince William, Princess Anne and Prince Edward with their spouses and children. Foreign dignitaries are set to include First Lady Jill Biden - but not her husband Joe - and leaders from the likes of France, Spain, Belgium, Japan and Monaco. It is not yet confirmed whether Andrew will be present and even if he is, he will not have any special ceremonial roles. Royal sources have already dismissed the idea that he could play a significant part in the proceedings. Andrew also will not be invited to stand on the balcony at Buckingham Palace with other members of the family during the celebrations. But the report in The Independent on about Fergie's absence will likely surprise some royal watchers - with Meghan Markle 's friend Omid Scobie tweeting: 'If true, this feels kinda cruel, no?' Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife Akshata will attend, but Cabinet ministers will be denied a 'plus one'. Organisers say space is very limited and the guest list will be similar to the Queen's state funeral where very few politicians could take their partners. Sir Keir Starmer racked up a travel expenses bill of nearly 250,000 as head of the Crown Prosecution Service more than triple his successor, it emerged yesterday. The Labour leader's office splurged more than 42,500 of taxpayers' cash on expensive flights during his five-year stint as director of public prosecutions (DPP). This included four flights to Washington that appeared to be business class, costing nearly 20,000 in total, one of which cost almost 7,000 alone. Taxpayers were billed more than 20,000 for flights to Hong Kong, Bangkok, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Ghana and Sierra Leone. In total, the DPP splashed 236,485 of public money on lavish flights, hotel stays, meals and a chauffeur-driven car between 2008 and 2013. The Labour leader's office splurged more than 42,500 of taxpayers' cash on expensive flights during his five-year stint as director of public prosecutions (DPP) (pictured: Keir Starmer during his time as DPP) This included four flights to Washington that appeared to be business class, costing nearly 20,000 in total, one of which cost almost 7,000 alone Taxpayers were billed more than 20,000 for flights to Hong Kong, Bangkok, South Africa, Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica, Ghana and Sierra Leone In his first two months in the job alone, they burnt through 23,000. The expenses were on top of his nearly 200,000 annual salary and 336,000 accrued in pension benefits over five years. By contrast, his successor Alison Saunders spent just 67,000 on travel expenses from 2013 to 2018. Sir Keir has sought to brand Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as 'Mr One Per Cent' for his six-figure earnings but has refused to acknowledge how long he has also been a top earner for. His average yearly expenses as DPP alone were more than the average UK salary. The revelations come after Labour accused the Tory Government of using public money 'like a cash machine' after publishing a study of spending on departmental purchase cards which it claimed showed 'lavish spending' on hotels and hospitality. International jollies and jaunts Tory MP Craig Mackinlay said: 'It's clear that Sir Keir Starmer's flip-flopping hypocrisy knows no bounds amid these revelations that he spent so much money on international jollies and jaunts. 'It shows him in a very poor light as he was obviously happy to spend someone else's money like water when it was available. 'Is the country really going to let such a spendthrift become the potential First Lord of the Treasury?' The expenses details, obtained by investigative journalism website Declassified UK, show Sir Keir's office billed taxpayers 161,273 for the use of a chauffeur-driven car in his first 21 months in the job, despite living only a few miles away from the CPS office in central London. While he had access to the car, his office also billed taxpayers 330 for 13 taxi journeys across London. Sir Keir has sought to brand Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as 'Mr One Per Cent' for his six-figure earnings but has refused to acknowledge how long he has also been a top earner for The DPP also lodged hotel and meal claims totalling more than 1,000 a time for 'official meetings' and conferences in Jamaica and Trinidad and Washington. Some rail trips also appear to have been business class, with one to Newcastle costing more than 400, and a fare to Preston more than 300. Sir Keir last month pledged that a Labour government would be disciplined with public spending if they win the next general election, and that 'every pound will be precious'. A party spokesman last night defended the expenses bill, saying: 'As the country's most senior prosecutor, Keir Starmer's work getting criminals off the streets, locking up terrorists, and securing justice for victims involved frequent travel and collaboration overseas to break up international gangs and plots against this country.' The CPS was contacted for comment. Tropical Cyclone Ilsa has crossed Western Australia's northwest coast bringing record-breaking winds to locked-down communities as the storm moves inland. The cyclone hit the coast as a category-five system between De Grey and Pardoo about midnight on Thursday, bringing winds of 213km/h. Record-breaking wind gusts of nearly 300km/hour were recorded at Bedout Island, offshore of the east Pilbara coast as the cyclone made landfall. On Friday morning, it was classified as a category-three system and it was expected to maintain cyclone intensity until night as it moved hundreds of kilometres inland towards Telfer and Kunawarritji. The cyclone is then expected to weaken overnight on Friday as it moves into southern parts of the Northern Territory. In the regional centre of Port Hedland, west of the storm's centre, locals were sheltering indoors under a red alert until the threat passed. The renowned Pardoo Roadhouse and Tavern, located 150km north from Port Hedland, is in the direct firing line and has suffered early extensive damage. 'This has been a stressful and challenging time for our Pardoo Roadhouse team,' the owners wrote on Facebook on Friday morning. 'Early reports are the roadhouse has suffered great damage, although its too early to tell the full extent. 'Thanks again everyone, your support has really lifted our spirits.' Residents facing the onslaught of Cyclone Ilsa have been told to shelter at evacuation centres (Port Headland evacuation centre pictured) The Pardoo Roadhouse and Tavern, located 150km north from Port Hedland, is in the direct firing line of the storm and has sustained serious damage (it is pictured on a map of Australia) The Bureau of Meteorology's Todd Smith said wind gusts in excess of 250km/hour would cause damage on the landscape and buildings not up to code. 'That's going to cause a heap of damage to trees, vegetation, if there were any caravans around they would be destroyed,' he told news.com.au. 'Any houses that aren't built to code are going to suffer extensive damage from that kind of wind strength.' Mayor Peter Carter said the town of about 16,000 was still locked down and he had been unable to assess the damage, but the winds sounded 'like a freight train' as the cyclone passed during the night. 'I think that we were very, very lucky. At the last point, the cyclone moved further north from us,' he told ABC TV. 'So I think that we were spared in our community what could have been really bad.' Iron ore port and rail operations had been suspended at Australia's busiest and biggest port and ships sent away in preparation for the cyclone's approach. #CycloneIlsa has set a new preliminary Australian ten-minute sustained wind speed record of 218km/h at Bedout Island! Cyclone George was the previous record holder with 194km/h back in 2007 at the very same location! For the latest https://t.co/6laIpVWtSM pic.twitter.com/m3jsJCadko Bureau of Meteorology, Western Australia (@BOM_WA) April 13, 2023 The cyclone hit the coast as a category-five system between De Grey and Pardoo about midnight on Thursday, bringing winds of 213km/h Members of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services are seen referencing a map of WA Three different alerts - red, yellow, and blue - have been issued for the affected ares with red indicating there is a threat to lives and homes with residents required to act immediately The Bureau of Meteorology's Dean Narramore said Cyclone Ilsa was generating sustained offshore winds gusts of up to 289km/h at Bedout Island before measurements stopped working. He said the cyclone might have delivered a new record for sustained wind speeds in Australia and the danger wasn't over for remote communities in the interior of Western Australia and the Northern Territory. The storm set a preliminary Australian 10-minute sustained wind speed record of 218km/h at Bedout Island, just off the WA coast, on Thursday evening. Cyclone George in 2007 hit 194km/h for 10 minutes at the same location. 'It's likely to lead to flash and riverine flooding and a lot of the dirt roads in this part of the world becoming unusable and could see some brief isolation of communities and property owners and residents,' Mr Narramore said. The bureau said very destructive winds with gusts of up to 220km/h were hitting near the cyclone centre to the east of Marble Bar on Friday morning. Heavy and intense rainfall was expected to continue in the cyclone's path, including falls of up to 200mm during the day. Warrawagine cattle station manager Belinda Lethbridge said the situation was concerning but her team had prepared as much as they could and it down to luck. She said her family and staff would sit out the cyclone together and expected to be flooded in by swollen rivers after it passed. Cyclone Ilsa set a preliminary Australian 10-minute sustained wind speed record of 218km/h at Bedout Island, just off the WA coast, on Thursday evening On Friday morning, cyclone Ilsa was classified as a category-three system and it was expected to maintain cyclone intensity until night Supermarkets in the Pilbara have been stripped of fresh food as residents prepare for Tropical Cyclone Ilsa to make landfall (pictured, a meat aisle in east WA) Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said the weather system would have a significant impact on communities in the warning area. 'All the preparation work that's gone into those remote Aboriginal communities, the mine sites and the town and the pastoral stations is really critical to make sure people are staying safe,' he said. Evacuation centres were opened in South Hedland, Newman, Marble Bar and Nullagine. Workers and tourists at Eighty Mile Beach caravan park and nearby cattle stations were evacuated, along with non-critical workers from mines sites across the region. Production at Newcrest's Telfer mine slowed as the site was evacuated to all but a skeleton crew, with the cyclone expected to track inland through the area on Friday. Extra emergency workers, essential supplies and aircraft have been sent to the area. An associated cold front is travelling east on Friday, meaning South Australia and other southeastern states will receive a drenching over the weekend. A 21-year-old National Guard member was arrested by FBI officials on Thursday for posting pictures of between 50 and 100 classified US documents online. Jack Teixeira was a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and unofficial leader of an online group called 'Thug Shaker Central' - within which he circulated the documents, many of which related to the war in Ukraine. Teixeira was among the eldest in the group of mainly young men and teenagers, who were keen on gaming, guns and right-wing memes. He went by the name 'Jack the dripper' and was referred to as 'OG' by other members. Airman Teixeira is enlisted in the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Otis Air National Guard Base. His official job title is Cyber Transport Systems journeyman. The Air Force says such specialists ensure that the service's 'vast, global communications network' works properly. He joined the service in September 2019 and was promoted to airman first class in July. Despite serving in a junior position, he had the highest level of access to top secret US government information. Jack Teixeira, 21-year-old National Guard member, was arrested by FBI officials on Thursday for leaking classified US intelligence documents relating to the war in Ukraine Teixeira was among the eldest in a Discord called Thug Shaker Central and which consisted of mainly young men and teenagers, who were keen on gaming, guns and right-wing memes Recently, his mother told the New York Times, he had been working night shifts and an air base on Cape Cod. Teixeira has been accused of releasing hundreds of classified military documents on Discord, a social media platform used by gamers to organize in groups and communicate. Many of the documents leaked in the Thug Shaker Discord pertained to the war in Ukraine. Starting several months ago - its estimated that between 50 and 100 classified documents were photographed and posted online. Certain members who spoke to The Times said the documents they discussed online were meant to be purely informative and that they took no side in the war. The leaked documents however only gained proper traction when they were reposted into another Discord group, dedicated to a 20-year-old British college student and YouTuber known as Wow Mao. Teixeira was first identified as the suspected leaker by the New York Times, which claims it confirmed a connection after matching the countertop in his kitchen to the surface on which photos of the leaked documents were taken. Teixeira was arrested from his home in North Dighton, Massachusetts, on Thursday and will be facing charges under the Espionage Act of 1917. His first court appearance will be in Boston on Friday, according to the US Attorney's office. Airman Teixeira is enlisted in the 102nd Intelligence Wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard at Otis Air National Guard Base CNN broadcast aerial footage of Teixeira's arrest after he was named by the New York Times earlier on Thursday Two members of the chat room described Teixeira to the The Washington Post on Wednesday night. 'He's fit. He's strong. He's armed. He's trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie,' one of the members said. He described him as 'a young, charismatic man who loves nature, God, shooting guns and racing cars.' Amid an intense search for the source of the leaks, The Washington Post reported they had seen video and photos of the man, as well as recordings of his interactions with members of the group. In a video seen by The Post, the man is seen at a shooting range with a large rifle, wearing safety glasses and ear coverings. The man looks into the camera and yells racists and anti-Semitic insults, then fires multiple rounds at a target. News helicopter footage was broadcast of his arrest on Thursday and showed the suspect in red shorts, with his hands behind his back, being placed by heavily-armed agents into an unmarked SUV. The FBI said in a statement that its officers are 'continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence' where he was arrested. Brandon Van Grack, a former Justice Department national security prosecutor now with the law firm Morrison Foerster, said the likely charges could carry up to 10 years' imprisonment, even if Teixeira did not intend to cause harm. 'I think this is someone who is facing on the higher end of exposure for years in prison because the leaks were so damaging,' Van Grack said. The inside of Teixeira's childhood home in Bristol, Massachusetts, matched photos of the sensitive files on US intelligence and the Ukraine war which have been shared on forums since the end of last year, according to the Times One of the leaked documents, which have been posted online, that sparked a FBI hunt for the source and a criminal investigation This document appears to show the state of Ukraine's air defenses in February and in May, when it is anticipated they'll be badly depleted His arrest comes after President Joe Biden said during the third day of his Ireland trip that investigators were 'getting closer' to finding out the source. Biden also said he wasn't 'concerned' about the sharing of the documents that threatened to risk American assets around the world because the information is not 'contemporaneous' The intelligence included in the files have included information suggesting Ukraine will soon run out of artillery and potentially risking U.S. intelligence sources around the world. US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin warned that rules on access to classified documents could be tightened as a result of the leak. He said he would 'not hesitate to take any additional measures necessary to safeguard our nations secrets.' 'Every US service member, (Department of Defense) civilian and contractor with access to classified information has a solemn legal and moral obligation to safeguard it and to report any suspicious activity or behavior,' he said. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder went further than Austin, calling the leak of classified information a 'deliberate, criminal act.' And hours after Teixeira's arrest, Mike Turner, the Republican congressman who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, vowed to 'examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks.' It came after Vallow's former best friend took the stand to speak out against the 'cult mom' in bombshell testimony The doomsday author thanked Cox, who has been implicated in the murders of Vallow's children, for 'assisting us in ways that cannot be repaid' Doomsday cult 'murderer' Chad Daybell delivered a bizarre 'blessing' to thank Lori Vallow's brother after he allegedly helped murder her two children. Alex Cox, who also shot dead Vallow's former husband and allegedly helped kill Daybell's wife, was told he had 'assisted us in ways that cannot be repaid'. Vallow is on trial accused of the murder of her two children, JJ Vallow, seven, and Tylee Ryan, 16. She is also accused of conspiracy to murder Daybell's wife, Tammy Daybell, 49. Jurors were played a 15-minute recording of the 'patriarchal blessing', in which Daybell, who will stand trial on murder charges at a later date, falsely claimed to be a member of the priesthood. He described Cox as a great warrior who was selected to help protect your sister. 'You have already assisted us in ways that can never be repaid, but you will continue to do so as you move forward in this life, Daybell said. Daybell, pictured during a court hearing in August 2020, built a following as a religious fantasist who warned of an impending apocalypse Lori's brother, Alex Cox (pictured), has been implicated in a number of the deaths surrounding the case Daybell recorded the blessing for Cox on November 24, 2019 - after JJ and Tylee were missing and Tammy Daybell was dead. Cox died in December 2019. In it he saidCox learned lessons that 'would not have occurred in a traditional LDS home.' 'You had to go to great depths to achieve tremendous heights, and the fruits of those trials are beginning to be demonstrated, Daybell says. Now you will begin your terrestrial phase of existence. You will be powerful servantYou will travel all over the world through portals and you will begin to gather the souls that come unto Christ. The blessing also made references to Cox as a prophet who will be looked upon as an angel upon earth. Daybell says Cox is part of a very special team of people. Jurors also heard a bizarre recording of a phone call Daybell made to a funeral home in Chandler, Arizona, just hours after Charles Vallow was shot dead in July 2019. He gave a fake name of 'Chad Dabal', and claimed that his uncle 'John' passed away. Daybell enquired about cost of a cremation in Arizona and the shipping of ashes to Louisiana, the state where Charles Vallow was born. Daybell didnt mention Vallow by name but police have previously said it was obvious that is who he was referring to. Lori Vallow, 49, had been due to stand trial alongside her husband Chad Daybell, 54, but their cases were separated by a judge Hours earlier, Lori Vallow's former best friend Melanie Gibb took the stand to deliver bombshell testimony against the suspected murderer. Jurors were played a damning phone call recording that showed Vallow chillingly insist that her son JJ was 'safe and happy', months after she allegedly partnered with Daybell and Cox to murder the little boy. During the call, which Chad Daybell was also on, Vallow also makes the haunting claim she could reveal JJs whereabouts, but that that would not be good for JJ. Several months later, the little boys badly decomposed body was found buried near his sisters remains in Daybells backyard. Gibb said she was compelled to contact the couple after growing concerned about Lori's missing children, during which time the 'cult mom' had falsely claimed to police that her son JJ was with Gibb. In the phone conversation played to the court Thursday, Gibb confronts Vallow about the claim and is told JJ had to be moved somewhere safe to protect him from his grandmother, Kay Woodcock, who had raised concerns about the boys safety. Vallow says police who were searching for the children are working with [Kay] in a dark capacity. She also claims, theres people after me, adding: I will do whatever the Lord needs me to do every day. Lori Vallow's best friend Melanie Gibb (right) testified at the 'cult mom's trial Thursday The conversation became heated after Gibb reads Vallow a scripture. Vallow responds: I dont know why youre being controversial to me or if youre recording this conversation for the police or whatever, I dont know what your intention is on this phone call. Vallow tells Gibb she loves her but Gibb replies: But if you really love me, you wouldnt have told the police that I had JJ with me. This does not sound like you,' Vallow responded. 'It sounds like youve been influenced by somebody dark who wants you to believe dark things and have fear of the Celestial world. She says Christ is coming soon. At one point, Daybell intervenes to say his wife Tammy - who the couple allegedly murdered two months earlier - is on a special mission. After a tense back-and-forth, the pair argued about Vallows alleged relationship with Daybell while they were still married to their respective partners. Vallow hangs up after telling Gibb she will tell me if I was lying or not when were both standing there with Jesus Christ. Valloow's children, Tylee and JJ disappeared in September 2019, but their remains were not found for another 10 months Gibb also alleges that Vallow's brother, Alex Cox, warned that 'you don't want to know' what happened to JJ after she asked about his whereabouts. In the previous months, Cox had gradually began to learn about Vallow and Daybells ideas of possessed people and zombies, Gibb said. She added that Cox had 'talked about how Chad had given him a patriarchal blessing'. She told the court that Cox said he knew individuals that they were hoping would pass away. He indicated that they believed that they were zombies. Gibb said: I told him I didnt 100 percent believe it was true and he said he 100 percent believed it. Fremont country prosecutor Lindsey Blake asked Gibb whether there was a 'pattern' of people who were branded zombies ending up 'gone'. Gibb, who described Vallow as 'convincing', said: The pattern was as soon as they started questioning or just thought something suspicious was going on, all of a sudden that person became dark or a zombie. She said that most of the people who were deemed zombies ended up gone. President Xi Jinping says China must be prepared for 'real combat' after it conducted war games in the seas around Taiwan. His comments will be seen as further preparation for an invasion of the self-governing island over which China claims sovereignty. Mr Xi said his country's People's Liberation Army, which is now the second largest force in the world, must conduct 'military struggles firmly and with flexibility'. 'You must strengthen real combat military training,' he said, according to state news agency Xinhua, adding that the military must 'resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability'. Chinese warships and planes have just concluded three days of 'war games' that simulated a blockade and bombardment of Taiwan. It came after Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen travelled to LA to meet US House of Representatives speaker Kevin McCarthy. President Xi Jinping said his country's People's Liberation Army, which is now the second largest force in the world, must conduct 'military struggles firmly and with flexibility' Beijing opposes any official contact between Taiwan officials and foreign governments. Zhu Fenglian, from China's Taiwan Affairs Office, said: 'Tsai Ing-wen brought danger to Taiwan. [She] almost completely sided [with] the US, pushing Taiwan into stormy seas.' There are fears in the West, particularly among the Nato member states, that Mr Jinping may feel emboldened by Russian president Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine to launch a similar offensive on Taiwan. China's claim that it is the same nation as Taiwan is similar to Mr Putin's stated belief that Ukraine is part of Russia. And, much like Russia's military in the months before last year's invasion, Chinese forces have been making their intentions increasingly clear. Mr Jinping's government has protested that the US has increased its support for Taiwan and is challenging Beijing's maritime claims in the South China Sea, where America and the Philippines are staging their largest ever joint military drills this week. A Chinese warship fires during a military drill off the Chinese coast near Fuzhou, Fujian Province, across from the Taiwan-controlled Matsu Islands on April 11 during training exercises Antony Blinken, the US secretary of state, said he was committed to 'standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea'. However, French president Emmanuel Macron this week highlighted a possible divide in the Nato alliance by saying Europe should not become a 'vassal' and must avoid being drawn into any conflict between the US and China over Taiwan. The island split from China in the mid-20th century after the Communists took control of the mainland and the government of the previous Republic of China consolidated its remaining strength in Taiwan. Over time, this authoritarian government evolved into a functioning democracy and also enjoyed the fruits of a free market boom in the 1960s. Its political and economic liberalism now stands in stark contrast to the mainland regime and any attempted invasion by China would likely provoke nearby Japan, the Philippines and US-led Nato into defending Taiwan. A Tory minister yesterday labelled Sir Keir Starmer as the wettest Labour leader on crime and worse than Jeremy Corbyn when it comes to justice. In an extraordinary attack that follows a series of Labour adverts targeting the Conservatives record on justice, policing minister Chris Philp said the Opposition leaders voting record exposed him as a total fraud when it came to crime. He added: I think this [the attack advert] is pretty, pretty cheeky. When it comes to crime, Keir Starmer is a total fraud and my view is that he is the wettest Labour leader weve ever seen. If you look at their votes in Parliament, Keir Starmers Labour Party have voted against keeping rapists and child sex offenders in prison for longer. Pictured: Sir Keir Starmer (file photo). The extraordinary attack follows a series of Labour adverts targeting the Conservatives record on justice Policing minister Chris Philp (pictured) said: If you look at their votes in Parliament, Keir Starmers Labour Party have voted against keeping rapists and child sex offenders in prison for longer A Labour advert recently claimed that Rishi Sunak did not think adults convicted of child sex assaults should go to prison. Mr Philp said: He did that attack ad talking about sentencing, then it turned out he was a member of the Sentencing Council that set those sentencing guidelines. So you can see why I think he is a total fraud when it comes to making these strong claims about crime and why I say he is the wettest Labour leader on crime that we have seen and he has some fairly tough competition for that accolade. Asked if Sir Keir was worse than his predecessor Mr Corbyn, Mr Philp said: When it comes to these crime measures, yes. A Labour Party spokesman said: The Tories are all bluster. Labour has made it our mission to make Britains street safe, starting with getting 13,000 more neighbourhood police and PCSOs on the beat funded through reforming police procurement. Labour is the true party of law and order. Prince Harry will get the cold shoulder from most of his family at the Coronation with Prince William having no plans to speak to his younger brother after his attacks on him in Spare and his Netflix documentary, it was claimed today. After delicate negotiations, described as a game of 'transatlantic ping pong', Buckingham Palace has announced the Duke of Sussex will be at Westminster Abbey on May 6 - without Meghan, Archie and Lilibet, who will remain in California. Sussex supporters said Harry understood that the Coronation is the biggest day of his father's life and felt it was right to be present, despite his attacks on the family. But sources have suggested that other family members with the possible exception of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have no interest in talking with Harry beyond the most basic of greetings, suggesting the event will be even more awkward than Harry clearly feared. The Mail has reported that while William would never have stopped his brother from attending the Coronation, he had no plans to speak to him. It is understood that his opinion hasn't changed, although no one is ruling out the possibility however unlikely that there could be a gesture of goodwill for their father. Prince Harry is unlikely to get a warm reception from his family when he is at the Coronation next month (pictured together at the Queen's funeral last September) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at Hollywood hotspot San Vicente Bungalows on March 1. Meghan and the children will stay in California when Harry jets to London Prince Harry has publicly called on his family to apologise to himself and Meghan for what they see as slights. He also demanded that his father and brother sit down with him before May 6 to thrash their issues out. But insiders have told the Mail that Charles and William are both hurt and angry at Harry's behaviour and neither man has been inclined to pander to him. Even those who had once hoped William and Harry could be reconciled feel this is unlikely now. William had no contact with his brother when he came over with Meghan and the children for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee celebrations last year. And the brothers barely spoke at her funeral later in the year, meeting briefly when William invited him and Meghan to join him and Kate to meet the public and view the flowers outside Windsor Castle. Harry will be coming alone, with the Duchess of Sussex due to stay at home with Prince Archie who turns four that day and Princess Lilibet, one. His decision to attend the Westminster Abbey Coronation service is viewed as a potential olive branch by royal insiders, following an earlier demand that his family should apologise to him and Meghan if they were to consider coming. But he is not expected to take part in the procession after the service or join other members of the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, or for other celebrations. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle on a visit to Johannesburg in South Africa on October 2, 2019 King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla at Buckingham Palace in a photo issued on April 4 Charles walks Meghan down the aisle at her wedding to Harry at St George's Chapel in 2018 Sources said the decision by Meghan to remain in California with the couple's two young children had come as a relief in some circles, following fears her presence could have heightened family tensions. Crowned King seen on coins for first time A crowned portrait of the King will for the first time feature on commemorative coins. The collection, which includes a 50p and 5 coin, will be released later this month to celebrate the Coronation. The effigy, which was designed by artist and sculptor Martin Jennings, depicts King Charles III wearing the Tudor Crown which was selected by the monarch for the portrait despite having been destroyed in the 1640s. It continues in the tradition of the crown being used in portraits of previous kings from the 20th Century. The 5 coin features a design by Timothy Noad of the sacred objects used in the Coronation ceremony and the St Edward's Crown. The 50ps will be available to buy on April 24 for between 11 and 1,220, while the 5s are priced from 14.50 to 2,995. Rebecca Morgan, of The Royal Mint, called the range, which includes ounce coins, 'a wonderful keepsake'. Advertisement It is also understood there was real concern in the Sussex camp about the public reception the couple would have received if they attended the Coronation together. Friends, including Meghan's biographer Omid Scobie, suggested her decision was largely due to the Coronation falling on the same day May 6 as Archie's fourth birthday. The couple had delayed answering their invitation for weeks, causing difficulties for organisers tasked with complex seating plans, transport and security for senior members of the Royal Family, world leaders and other dignitaries. Sources described the negotiations as a game of 'transatlantic ping pong', and Harry was said to have wanted numerous assurances about arrangements. The day will see him come face-to-face with his father and brother in public for the first time since the release of his controversial memoir, in which he described a physical fallout with William and branded his stepmother Camilla 'dangerous'. Such is the sensitivity at Buckingham Palace over anything to do with Harry and Meghan, only a tiny group of senior officials were party to the conversations between the Royal Family and the Sussexes. Courtiers have been treading on eggshells for fear of being accused by the couple of 'leaking' information about their presence and sparking another round of attacks on the King in the run up to his historic day. And, while many in the royal household contest much of what the couple have alleged, all are keen not to make things more difficult for the 74-year-old monarch. The late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 Royal Family members on the day of the Queen's funeral in London on September 19, 2022 In the event, the news was specifically timed for a dual announcement on both sides of the Atlantic at 3pm British time to minimise any inflaming of tensions. A statement in London said: '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.' Harry is only planning on a flying visit, with sources close to the Sussexes indicating yesterday that he won't even return to Buckingham Palace to gather with the rest of the family or take part in any further events over the Coronation weekend. Mr Scobie tweeted: 'Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry.' One source said there was a 'palpable sense of relief in some quarters at the way things have panned out'. A friend of the King said it would be 'no doubt comforting' for him that his younger son was 'making the effort to come' even though his 'love and patience had been tested to its limits in recent months'. Meghan's spiritual 'guru' has given a fascinating insight into the Sussexes' state of mind as Prince Harry prepares to leave his wife and their two children behind to attend King Charles's Coronation. Deepak Chopra, 76, an Indian-American alternative medicine practitioner with 2.8million devoted followers on Instagram, told the Mail's Richard Eden that the California-based couple are 'struggling' amid their rift with the Royal Family. At a red-carpet event in Central London, he said: 'I enjoyed the podcast and interacted with them. 'It [our work together] has been periodic - they're struggling right now.' He added: 'I hope they get through it light-hearted. I think there's too much drama around them - people should mind their own business.' Deepak Chopra (pictured left), 76, an Indian-American alternative medicine practitioner with 2.8million devoted followers on Instagram, told Richard Eden: 'I hope they get through it light-hearted. I think there's too much drama around them - people should mind their own business' The first picture of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's daughter Lilibet, released in a Christmas card on December 23, 2021 Chopra appeared on the Duke and Duchess's first podcast for audio giant Spotify. However, the best-selling author, who has written more than 90 books, has advised them to refrain from addressing their fall-out with the Royal Family publicly to prevent a further backlash. 'My advice is to ignore it because if you react you'll just aggravate the situation,' he said. 'If you ignore it, people can't say anything, then they'll stop.' Chopra was one of Meghan's inner circle who marked her 40th birthday in 2021 by taking part in her 40x40 Compassion In Action initiative, which helped women return to work after the pandemic. 'To celebrate the 40th birthday of my friend Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, I'm donating 40mins of mentorship to a woman re-entering the workforce,' he said at the time. Chopra, whose famous admirers include chat show host Oprah Winfrey and Gwyneth Paltrow, is known for his guidance on meditation and yoga. 'I spend two hours every morning doing yoga and meditation and then again before I sleep,' he said. 'I don't take myself too seriously, nor does my wife or kids.' SARAH VINE: This must be about King and Queen, not Sussexes' dramas No doubt the official line will be one of quiet, respectful regret but, honestly, you can almost hear the collective sigh of relief emanating from the Palace. They may have 99 problems organising one of the spectaculars of the century but at least the prospect of the Duchess of Sussex derailing the entire Coronation with what uncharitable souls might consider one of her trademark dramas isn't one. Instead, Prince Harry will come on his own, leaving his wife and two children at home in California. No doubt he will be as stony-faced as he has been on the last few occasions he has graced us with his sainted presence; but at least we won't have to put up with the whole woe-are-we in a hat melodrama. The Coronation should be about King Charles and Queen Camilla, about the Royal Family as a much-loved British institution, not about these two moaning minnies with their tiresomely endless grievances and perceived slights. If they could have both come in the spirit of love and reconciliation, it would have been fantastic. But you just know that wouldn't have been the case. King Charles III and the Queen Consort during a visit to Malton, North Yorkshire, on April 5 Already Harry's presence feels mealy-mouthed, with his official mouthpiece, Omid Scobie, warning that he will make only a fleeting appearance amid claims that he won't even bother going to Buckingham Palace after the main event. It all gives the impression that he's only coming under sufferance, which means that if the duchess did accompany him, the whole thing would have been a minefield. Everyone would be walking on eggshells, desperately worried in case they accidentally upset her and ended up on another episode of the Poor Little Me Podcast. I'm sorry to be such a cynic, but that's what experience has taught us over the past 18 months. Given everything that's happened, it's hard to see how the presence of the duchess could be anything other than, at best, a distraction, at worst a toxic pall over the entire proceedings. And that's a real shame. Not just for Charles who, let's not forget, so gallantly walked Meghan down the aisle and considers her (and his grandchildren) a cherished part of the family. Or for Harry, who despite his renunciation of his royal duties, might still have wanted his children the ones he's so determined to call prince and princess to have been part of such a monumental historical event. But for all of us loyal monarchists who hate to see the Royal Family tearing itself apart like this. Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and then-Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey in March 2019 It is also a bit of a missed opportunity. Harry believes his family owes him an apology. I'd say that after the way he's behaved, after the terrible things he's said and the way he's betrayed so many of those who love him, an invitation to the Coronation was far more than a mere sorry: it was a gracious, kind gesture, an olive branch. And, quite frankly, more than either of them deserved. If they had any decency or sense they would have accepted immediately in the spirit of reconciliation, used this as an opportunity to draw a line under all the nastiness and rancour and finally begin to heal wounds and move on. Instead, no: they've doubled down on the beef between them. Meghan's absence may be a huge relief to the Palace and most sensible people; but it's also unmistakably a snub, one which and forgive me for being so blunt I believe sends a very clear message: stuff your Coronation, your Royal Family and your tradition. Stuff you, King Charles, and everything you stand for. There's no way back from this. And maybe that's what they both want. Meghan has made no secret of the fact that she sees her future and 'focus' in America. Well she's welcome to it and they to her. Prince Harry delayed replying to the invitation to the Coronation because he was engaged in 'transatlantic ping pong' and was 'preoccupied' by where he would have to sit, sources have indicated. It was one of the reasons he was so late in confirming his decision to attend the crowning of his father King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on May 6. Neither Buckingham Palace nor a legal representative for the Duke of Sussex responded to a request for comment today. But more than one source has confirmed to the Mail that there have been 'extensive discussions' between London and California over the issue. One said: 'Harry's side was keen to find out, presumably because they wanted to rubber-stamp it, what the seating plan at the Abbey is. There's been extensive back and forth about who they [Harry and Meghan] would be sitting behind if they came. And who would be behind them.' Harry was apparently quite preoccupied by this particular detail, the source said. At his grandmother's funeral last September, Harry and Meghan were squeezed into a corner at the end of the second row with a candle even obscuring a clear view of the Duchess (pictured) Harry was placed behind William for the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020, his final event before moving to the US (pictured) Prince Harry delayed replying to the invitation to the Coronation because he was 'preoccupied' by where he would have to sit, sources have indicated. Pictured: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St Paul's Cathedral in London on June 3 last year King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla are pictured in Malton, North Yorkshire, on April 5 The late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, Harry and Meghan attend the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2020 Another source added: 'This is true. There has been a lot of questions on detail for the Abbey.' Publications with links to the Sussexes have suggested that Harry had a list of questions for the palace about what would happen if he attended and wanted certain 'assurances', but did not detail what they might be. When Harry and Meghan came to the UK for Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee they joined other members of the Royal Family at St Paul's Cathedral for a service of thanksgiving. But, notably and rather awkwardly, they were seated on the other side of the nave from Charles, Camilla, William and Kate. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have been shunted away from the main seats as their rift with the Royal Family has grown. There had been hopes the coronation could provide an opportunity for reconciliation - but members of the royal family are understood to not have an appetite for it at the moment. One source told the Daily Express: 'The Royal Family are focused on planning for the historic occasion and have no appetite or time at this stage to think about reconciliation.' The Coronation is set to be an awkward affair, with many members of the Royal Family still enraged over allegations made in Prince Harry's memoir Spare. It has been reported that his brother William has no plans to speak to him, and that other royals also plan to offer only the most basic greetings. Meghan was 'never likely' to attend coronation after being placed in 'impossible position' Meghan Markle was 'never likely' to attend the Coronation of King Charles III, sources close to those planning the event have said, after she was put in an 'impossible situation' by the royal family. Prince Harry is understood to have gone through weeks of negotiations with Buckingham Palace over the event, including going over arrangements for security and concerns over the reception from his family. It was confirmed yesterday Harry will attend the ceremony, but Meghan will remain in California. A royal source told the Mirror: 'The truth of the matter is the Duchess was never likely to attend the coronation. 'The mood from California was that she felt increasingly put in an impossible position and theres a fair sense of relief that the situation is resolved after so much speculation and uncertainty. 'It is one thing to attend the late Queen's funeral out of respect for Her Majesty but another thing entirely to attend the start of a new reign.' Advertisement Harry was placed behind William for the Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2020, his final event before moving to the US. At his grandmother's funeral last September, he and Meghan were squeezed into a corner at the end of the second row with a candle even obscuring a clear view of the Duchess. At the Jubilee service in June last year, Harry and Meghan were shown to their places without fanfare before his father and brother arrived and there was absolutely no eye contact from the other senior royals when they walked in. The Sussexes found themselves in the second row on the other side of the cathedral next to Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and their husbands, the only members of the Royal Family who still talk to them. It was the equivalent at least for Harry of social Siberia. The Times newspaper even waspishly described them as the 'second-rank Sussexes' and 'not nearly as important as before'. That event was a year after their explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in which the couple made a series of allegations about the Royal Family. Matters have only got worse since, with their tell-all Netflix series and Harry's score-settling memoir accompanied by interviews lambasting his family. The King and Prince William have had no meaningful dialogue with Harry since the late Queen's funeral and there is little to suggest that will change soon. It is likely that front row seats at the Coronation will be reserved for working members of the Royal Family. Harry will play no part in the official procession, walking in and out as a guest. It is likely that the family will want to minimise unhelpful body language in front of the cameras so will no doubt seat Harry with 'safer' members of the family. Although it would be tempting to try to heal the wounds by seating him with senior royals, it could prove a huge distraction. Another source suggested that Harry and team were 'much more attuned' to how things now need to work given his and Meghan's position as non-working royals. One insider, however, also raised the intriguing prospect of whether Harry might be given a more prominent position now that he is attending without his wife. Harry's preoccupation with the seating plan was one of the reasons he was so late in confirming his decision to attend the crowning of his father King Charles III at Westminster Abbey on May 6 Prince Harry, Meghan Markle and then-Prince Charles at Westminster Abbey in March 2019 Pictured: Camilla, King Charles III, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew at Windsor Castle on April 9 Harry secured a four-book deal worth 16million in advance; and is in line to receive many times that in royalties experts suggest more than 30million in total There has been a palpable sense of relief at that development, not least because Harry is always more defensive when it comes to anything involving Meghan. There is little prospect of seating plans being given out by Buckingham Palace in advance, so it is likely that the public will not find out until the day. Buckingham Palace and a spokesman for the Sussexes announced simultaneously on Wednesday in a sign of how delicate negotiations have been that Harry would be attending without Meghan, who has opted to stay at their Californian mansion with their children Archie and Lilibet. Prince Archie, as he will be known, will turn four on the day. That is why, supporters of the Sussexes maintain, the duchess has chosen not to attend. However others have briefed that Meghan sees her future in the US and that her 'focus' is on that, suggesting she has no intention to returning to the UK soon. Friends of the Sussexes have said that attending the Coronation will be Harry's only engagement during a 'fairly quick trip'. It was yesterday revealed that although Meghan Markle received an invite to the coronation, royal ex-wife Sarah Ferguson did not. Although her disgraced ex-husband the Duke of York and her daughters Beatrice and Eugenie will attend the ceremony at Westminster Abbey, Fergie will only join the royals at a private gathering after its conclusion. She was known as a close friend and confidante of the late Queen and was invited to her state funeral. But in good news for the King, sources close to Prince Andrew last night rubbished claims that he was planning his own tell-all memoir, saying he is 'full square' in his support of his older brother. There are now just hours to go until one of Europe's most daring and technologically-advanced space missions is blasted to the stars. Tasked with hunting for clues as to whether Jupiter's icy moons could host alien life, the six-tonne satellite will have to survive on as little power as a half a hair dryer as it makes an eight-year journey to our solar system's largest planet. It will lift off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 13:15 BST today. When Juice finally arrives at the Jovian system in 2031 it will make a series of flybys of Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede, before performing a controlled crash into the latter when it runs out of fuel. Here MailOnline breaks down everything you need to know about the exciting mission. Ready for launch: The European Space Agency's Juice satellite (pictured) will lift off from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana at 13:15 BST today 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 How can I watch the launch? Members of the public can watch the lift-off through ESA Web TV or the European Space Agency's YouTube channel from 12:45 BST. 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 today 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 Juice will piggyback on an Ariane 5 rocket similar to the one that propelled the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit in December 2021. It will launch from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana at 13:15 BST today. If all goes to plan, Juice will separate from the upper stage of Ariane 5 at 13:42 BST, before sending its first signal down to the Earth's surface by 13:51 BST. This will then allow mission crews to take control of the craft. Why is it called Juice and what is its aim? The spacecraft stands for JUpiter ICy moons Explorer. It has cost 1.4 billion to build, a figure which included 9 million in funding from the UK Space Agency. The satellite 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. It will carry out 35 flybys of the gas giant's three moons before entering a permanent orbit around Ganymede in late 2034. During its mission Juice will use an advanced suite of instruments to explore Jupiter and investigate whether any of the satellites that surround it are habitable. Is it hunting for alien life? Juice is not equipped to search for signs of life but its purpose 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. Juice will explore Jupiter's moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede (pictured in this graphic) Mission plan: This graphic shows Juice's goals, firsts and the three Jupiter moons it will visit 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. 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 the world may be habitable. What instruments does Juice have? Juice will carry 10 state-of-the-art instruments, including the most powerful remote sensing and geophysical tools ever flown to the outer solar system. They include an optical camera system, UV imaging spectrograph, 'Moons and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer', particle environment package and an instrument known as the 'Radar for Icy Moons Exploration'. Jam packed: Juice will carry 10 state-of-the-art instruments, including the most powerful remote sensing and geophysical tools ever flown to the outer solar system. They are shown above The spacecraft has been built to withstand harsh radiation and extreme conditions, ranging from 250C around Venus to minus 230C near Jupiter. Its sensitive electronics are protected inside a pair of lead-lined vaults within the body of the probe, which is where the instruments will sit and collect data. In effect, this area will act as a 'nuclear bunker' to shelter the electronics from radiation. What is Britain's involvement? Among the 10 instruments that Juice possesses is one that British scientists led the development of, while the UK Space Agency also injected 9 million of funding into the project. Experts from Imperial College London helped create 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. Juice has cost 1.4 billion to build, a figure which included 9 million in funding from the UK Space Agency 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 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 '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. 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 '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.' ESA will also be assisted in its work by NASA, and the space agencies of Japan and Israel. Why is it so tricky to get to Jupiter? Just reaching Jupiter is difficult in itself. The closer you get to the gas giant and the longer you want to stay in its vicinity, the harder it becomes. The enormous world is five times farther away from the sun than Earth, meaning it receives just 4 per cent of the sunlight that our planet gets. 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. 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 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. What will follow Juice? The European satellite will later be joined by NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft 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. Arkansas has joined Utah with the approval of legislation requiring minors to get their parent's permission to create a new account. The bill signed by Republican governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Wednesday requires social media companies contract with third party vendors to verify the ages of new users - using driving licenses or photo IDs. It applies to all social media platforms which generate more than $100 million in annual revenue, including Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. But others that are not deemed a risk to children - like LinkedIn - are exempt. Companies that knowingly violate the age verification requirement could face a $2,500 fine for each violation under the new law. But experts have questioned how and if the restrictions can actually be enforced. The bill signed by Republican governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders Wednesday requires also social media companies verify the ages of new users using driver's license or photo ID The legislation - due to kick in in September - has also drawn criticism from opponents who said restrictions could raise new privacy concerns. Republican Sen. Tyler Dees, the Arkansas bill's sponsor, said the new law 'sends a clear message that we want to partner with parents and empower them to protect our children.' But Jason Kelley, acting director of activism for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in a statement: 'The governor and the legislators who voted for this bill must not understand the harm it will cause to the privacy and free speech rights of the people they represent, because if they did, I dont think they could pass it in good conscience.' The bills, however, do not outline exactly how the restrictions will be enforced. In an interview with PBS, Arkansas state Senator Mike McKell said that the Division of Consumer Protection will be working closely with social media companies over 'the next eight months to a year to develop what that looks like.' Arkansas's proposal is similar to a law that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed last month and which is due to take effect in March 2024. Several other states are considering similar measures, touted by supporters as a way to protect children. California last year enacted a law requiring tech companies to put kids' safety first by barring them from profiling children or using personal information in ways that could harm children physically or mentally. A link between mental health problems among children and social media use has been building for years. It applies to all social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok, which generate more than $100 million in annual revenue, but others like LinkedIn and Google are exempt The proposal is similar to a first-in-the-nation law that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed last month (pictured). Utah's law takes effect in March 2024 Sanders last month announced the state had filed lawsuits against TikTok and Facebook parent Meta, claiming the social media companies misled consumers about the safety of children on their platforms and the protection of users' private data. READ MORE: Social media makes children insecure, study finds Social media is reprogramming children's brains and creating a generation of thin-skinned adults, a study suggests. Advertisement Cox signed into law to bills in March - H.B. 311 and S.B. 152. 'We're no longer willing to let social media companies continue to harm the mental health of our youth,' Cox said on Twitter last month. H.B. 311 goes one step further regarding social media regulation, banning companies from using addictive features or designs and implementing curfews. 'Youth rates of depression and other mental health issues are on the rise because of social media companies,' the Republican governor stated. 'As leaders, and parents, we have a responsibility to protect our young people,' he continued in a tweet with a video of him talking about the new laws. The new laws prohibit social media companies from displaying ads, showing accounts held by minors in search results, and collecting info on children. The apps will also be unable to suggest or target content and ads to minors. One of the most notable features is the curfew which automatically locks children out of their accounts at 10.30pm and does not allow them back on until 6.30am. The locks are activated by the location of a user's phone and the feature can be adjusted with parental consent. Platforms like Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Facebook now have until March 1, 2024 to comply. If they do not adhere to the new laws, they may be punished in civil or criminal court. Do you use ChatGPT to do multiple jobs? Email fiona.jackson@mailonline.co.uk Do you use ChatGPT to do multiple jobs? Email fiona.jackson@mailonline.co.uk They use the AI to draft marketing materials, write emails and generate code Workers have taken up extra jobs because ChatGPT has reduced their workload Employees have admitted that they are using ChatGPT - the revolutionary chatbot powered by artificial intelligence (AI) - to work multiple full-time jobs. They refer to themselves as 'overemployed', because the tool allows them to complete the workload of each role in at least half the time. Most of the jobs they do involve a fair amount of writing, like creating marketing materials, which the chatbot has proven to be remarkably adept at. ChatGPT is a large language model - an AI system that has been trained on huge amounts of text data to generate human-like responses to given prompts. When it was released for free by start-up OpenAI in December, it opened the eyes of the public to just how powerful the technology has become in recent years. 'Overemployed' workers say that ChatGPT allows them to complete their workload in at least half the time, so they can pick up a second job simultaneously It was quickly utilised to pass exams, deliver a sermon, write software, prepare legal documents and give relationship advice - to name just a few. WHAT IS CHATGPT? ChatGPT is a large language model that has been trained on a massive amount of text data, allowing it to generate eerily human-like text in response to a given prompt OpenAI says its ChatGPT model has been trained using a machine learning technique called Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback (RLHF). This can simulate dialogue, answer follow-up questions, admit mistakes, challenge incorrect premises and reject inappropriate requests. It responds to text prompts from users and can be asked to write essays, lyrics for songs, stories, marketing pitches, scripts, complaint letters and even poetry. Advertisement But nearly half a year later, its users have become more proficient, and are now able to use ChatGPT to fool their employers into thinking their job has their full attention. In reality, they have multiple other employers who think the exact same thing. 'ChatGPT does like 80 per cent of my job,' Ben, an overemployed worker whose name has been changed, told Vice. Ben works in marketing for financial technology companies, and first heard about the idea of working more than one role during the pandemic. Reports started surfacing in the latter half of 2021 of employees taking advantage of the huge shift towards remote working to pick up an extra job. But this wasn't always out of greed, as many people were lacking financial security in the face of mass redundancies and economic uncertainty. Ben, from Toronto, was unable to join the overemployed community at the time as his job was too demanding, but when he discovered ChatGPT things changed. He, and many other of his colleagues in the marketing world, were able to use the AI to find specific information quickly, or generate written materials near-indistinguishable from those written by a human. After this significantly reduced the amount of time it took to get through his workload, he wondered whether he could pick up another job and do the same. Sure enough, earlier this year, he did just that, and even used ChatGPT to write his cover letters while applying. When ChatGPT was released for free by start-up OpenAI in December, it opened the eyes of the public to just how powerful the technology has become in recent years. Tweets are not from those interviewed for this story To get ChatGPT to write marketing materials, one worker will give it a template and some context as a prompt, and it will generate him the basis of the final product within minutes HOW DOES CHATGPT REDUCE AN EMPLOYEE'S WORKLOAD? Generate marketing materials Write code Write programmes for Microsoft Excel Transcribe Zoom meetings Write professional human-like messages and emails Advertisement To get ChatGPT to write him a story, he will give it a template and some context as a prompt, and it will generate him the basis of the final product within minutes. Ben added that the recent release of GPT-4, an even more powerful version of the original, is even better at understanding his specific requirements. 'I can just tell it to create a story and it just does it for me, based off the context that I gave it,' he told Vice. The text it generates will usually need some minor tweaks, he added, as it will sometimes make mistakes. This element is what some of the workers believe will prevent them from losing their jobs to AI completely, as their expertise is still necessary to check what is generated. Ben also uses ChatGPT to write messages for his manager, which he defines as having to be in lower case, so they look like they have been typed by a busy worker. Another employee uses it to transcribe Zoom meetings so they don't have to pay attention, and can look over the notes later. A thrice-employed financial reporter also said he uses it to write programmes for Microsoft Excel, shortening processes that would normally take two weeks to just a few hours. The incredible power of ChatGPT has struck fear into the hearts of some, leading to worries that they may lose their job and be replaced by a robot The incredible power of ChatGPT has struck fear into the hearts of some, leading to worries that they may lose their job and be replaced by a robot. Some tech leaders, like Elon Musk, Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and the late Stephen Hawking, believe the rapid advancements in AI pose a 'profound risk to society and humanity'. But others, like Bill Gates and Google CEO Sundar Pichai, hail it as the 'most important' innovation of our time, saying it could solve climate change, cure cancer and enhance productivity. The latter is certainly true for one worker, who told Vice that ChatGPT allowed him to work four jobs simultaneously. A software engineer is currently making over $500,000 (400,000) by working two jobs with help from ChatGPT, as it helps him to write code and cohesive business memos. To help him reach his goal of having a net worth of $10million (8million) by age 35, he also wants to find a way for a third party to mimic his voice and image, so they can 'do my job for me' using ChatGPT. Tech workers have also said they use the AI to write professional-sounding emails because they 'probably aren't as good at writing things as most other people'. Most of the workers Vice spoke to did not believe that what they were doing was immoral, comparing it to people who work one job in the day and the other at night. One of them said that he does not trust that he will be 'rewarded with more pay' by working harder at a single company, and that this is a realistic way of generating more income. But they are happy to keep their scheme under wraps for as long as possible, as they are aware that they could be taking advantage of a brief window of opportunity. When their managers cotton on to how an AI - that doesn't demand a salary - can do a large portion of their job, they may inadvertently cut themselves out of the workforce. Comparing the technological advancement to the development of the modern loom, Ryan told Vice 'it's gonna be one loom operator, as opposed to, you know, 100 weavers'. Are you using ChatGPT or another AI tool to allow you to hold down multiple full-time jobs? Please email fiona.jackson@mailonline.co.uk from a non-work account. Of all the mysterious astronomical phenomena, none have produced such a flurry of excitement in recent years as fast radio bursts, or FRBs. These oddly bright flashes of light, registering in the radio band of the electromagnetic spectrum, appear temporarily and randomly from space. Possibly originating from black holes, neutron stars or even aliens, they range from a fraction of a millisecond to a few seconds before vanishing without a trace. Now, researchers have announced they've detected five new FRBs thanks to an upgrade to the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope in the Netherlands. As they travelled to Earth through space, three of these FRBs pierced our neighbouring Triangulum Galaxy, a spiral galaxy about 2.73million light years away. Five new fast radio bursts discovered by the Westerbork telescope in the Netherlands have been detected, a new study shows (artist's impression) The new FRBs were detected in 2019, but only now have they been detailed in a new paper from an international team led by Joeri van Leeuwen at the University of Amsterdam. What are fast radio bursts? FRBs have perplexed researchers for years, appearing as fleeting signals from the distant universe that cant yet be explained definitively. Its thought that these brief flashes may come from black holes or neutron stars, though some have even speculated they may be of alien origin. The first FRB was spotted, or rather 'heard' by radio telescopes, back in 2001 but wasn't discovered until 2007 when scientists were analysing archival data. But it was so temporary and seemingly random that it took years for astronomers to agree it wasn't a glitch in one of the telescope's instruments. Advertisement 'Fast radio bursts (FRBs) must be powered by uniquely energetic emission mechanisms,' the team say in their paper. 'We discovered five new FRBs, a significant addition to the approximately 100 published at the time.' FRBs are radio waves so they cannot be seen by the human eye, but they are not uncommon. They come from all over the sky, but have perplexed researchers for years as their cause is little understood. It's possible they are emitted by neutron stars the collapsed cores of some massive stars that pack roughly the mass of our sun into a region the size of a city. But scientists have also suggested they could be artificial signals created by intelligent beings. In 2017, a team at Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics said they could be coming from faraway alien transmitters powering interstellar probes. Professor Avi Loeb at the institute said at the time that an artificial origin of these signals 'is worth contemplating'. When a a single FRB goes off, it contains 10trillion times the annual energy consumption of the entire world population. The flashes are so powerful that radio telescopes can detect them from more than four billion light-years away. But studying FRBs is difficult because no one knows where in the sky the next burst will occur. What's more, each one typically only lasts a millisecond (although last year experts announced the discovery of one lasting three seconds, 1,000 times longer than the average). Researchers detected the new FRBs with the Westerbork Synthesis Radio Telescope in the Netherlands (pictured) Experts therefore rely on ground-based telescopes stationed around the world to detect these transient radio pulses whenever they happen. Unusual FRB lasts up to three seconds - 1,000 times longer than the average - READ MORE Signal-labelled FRB 20191221A is currently the longest-lasting FRB Advertisement Astronomers had upgraded the radio telescope array at Westerbork with a new supercomputer called the Apertif Radio Transient System (ARTS). Westerbork built on the site of the former World War II Nazi detention camp contains 14 dishes, each one 82 feet (25 meters) in diameter. This upgrade was equivalent to changing the array's quality of vision from that of a fly to an eagle, according to the team. 'One cannot just go buy the complex electronics you need for this,' said study author Eric Kooistra at the Netherlands Institute for Radio Astronomy. 'We designed most of the system ourselves, with a large team. That resulted in a state-of-the-art machine, one of the most powerful in the world.' The ARTS supercomputer now continuously combines the images from 12 Westerbork dishes to create a sharp picture over a massive field of view. Previously, radio telescopes could only roughly indicate where an FRB occurred, but ARTS now lets experts indicate the exact location of an FRB accurately. It's known that FRBs pierce other galaxies on their way to Earth, and electrons in those galaxies, normally mostly invisible, distort the flashes. Tracking down invisible electrons, and their accompanying atoms, is important because most of the matter in the universe is dark and we still know little about it. The Triangulum Galaxy, also known as Messier 33, as captured by NASA's Hubble space telescope Researchers found that as the five FRBs travelled through space, three 'cut well through' the halo of the Triangulum galaxy, also known as M33. They then intersected the halo of the much larger Andromeda galaxy (M31) that is close to M33, and finally, the halo and disk of our own Milky Way. From sharp new images, astronomers could estimate the maximum number of invisible atoms in Triangulum for the first time. The team now want to find out more about how and why FRBs get to be so bright as well as their mysterious origin. The study has been published in the journal Astronomy & Astrophysics. One of Europe's boldest and most technologically-challenging space missions will have to wait another 24 hours to shoot for the stars, after being postponed because of the risk of lightning. The six-tonne Juice satellite had been undergoing final preparations and was just minutes away from launching when operations were halted. It was due to lift off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana at 13:15 BST today but this has now been rescheduled for 13:14 BST tomorrow. With a one second launch window things were always going to be tight, so scientists made the swift decision to switch off the rocket's engines because of the risk of adverse weather. Tasked with hunting for clues as to whether Jupiter's icy moons could host alien life, when the probe does eventually reach orbit it will have to survive on as little power as a half a hair dryer during its eight-year trip to our solar system's largest planet. Delayed: One of Europe's boldest and most technologically-challenging space missions will have to wait another 24 hours to shoot for the stars, after being postponed because of the risk of lightning The six-tonne Juice satellite had been undergoing final preparations and was just minutes away from launching when operations were halted When Juice finally arrives at the Jovian system in 2031 it will make a series of flybys of Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede. JUICE: KEY FACTS Name: JUpiter ICy moons Explorer Weight: 6 tonnes Cost: 1.4 billion Led by: European Space Agency Launch date: 13:14 BST April 14 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 Ariane Space announced the postponement by tweeting: 'Today's Flight #VA260 has been delayed due to weather condition (risk of lightning) at the scheduled liftoff time from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. 'The Ariane 5 launch vehicle and its passenger JUICE are in stable and safe condition.' A European Space Agency scientist added: 'A little bit of patience, and it will all be okay tomorrow. 'We all hope the weather is going to be more clement tomorrow.' Reflecting on the delay, Cardiff University astronomer Dr Jenifer Millard said lightning 'is the last thing you need on a box full of electronics'. She added: 'It is just not worth it this mission has been in the making for more than a decade. 'So much research and money has gone into this, it's just not worth the risk. 'It'll be a slightly different time tomorrow, they'll try again tomorrow and then the next day, then the next day until this thing goes!' When it does blast-off, Juice will piggyback on an Ariane 5 rocket similar to the one that propelled the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit in December 2021. However, the Ariane is not powerful enough to send its payload straight to Jupiter, so the spacecraft must make use of a gravitational slingshot to get to its intended destination, by making a series of flybys of Venus and Earth. The probe, which stands for JUpiter ICy moons Explorer, has cost 1.4 billion to build a figure which includes 9 million in funding from the UK Space Agency. It 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. Halted: It was due to lift off from the Kourou spaceport in French Guiana at 13:15 BST today Hitching a ride: When it does finally launch, Juice will piggyback on an Ariane 5 rocket similar to the one that propelled the James Webb Space Telescope into orbit in December 2021 The satellite will carry out 35 flybys of the gas giant's three moons before entering a permanent orbit around Ganymede in late 2034. During its mission Juice will use an advanced suite of instruments to explore Jupiter and investigate whether any of the satellites that surround it are habitable. Although the probe is not equipped to search for signs of life, its purpose 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. Juice will explore Jupiter's moons Callisto, Europa and Ganymede (pictured in this graphic) Mission plan: This graphic shows Juice's goals, firsts and the three Jupiter moons it will visit 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. 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 the world may be habitable. Juice will carry 10 state-of-the-art instruments, including the most powerful remote sensing and geophysical tools ever flown to the outer solar system. It has various cameras, particle detectors, and a radar to map sub-surface features, as well as a lidar which is used to make 3D maps of surface terrain. Jam packed: Juice will carry 10 state-of-the-art instruments, including the most powerful remote sensing and geophysical tools ever flown to the outer solar system. They are shown above The spacecraft has been built to withstand harsh radiation and extreme conditions, ranging from 250C around Venus to minus 230C near Jupiter. Its sensitive electronics are protected inside a pair of lead-lined vaults within the body of the probe, which is where the instruments will sit and collect data. In effect, this area will act as a 'nuclear bunker' to shelter the electronics from radiation. Among the 10 instruments that Juice possesses is one that British scientists led the development of, while the UK Space Agency also injected 9 million of funding into the project. Experts from Imperial College London helped create 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. Juice has cost 1.4 billion to build, a figure which included 9 million in funding from the UK Space Agency 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 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 '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. 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 '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.' ESA will also be assisted in its work by NASA, and the space agencies of Japan and Israel. Just reaching Jupiter is difficult in itself. The closer you get to the gas giant and the longer you want to stay in its vicinity, the harder it becomes. The enormous world is five times farther away from the sun than Earth, meaning it receives just 4 per cent of the sunlight that our planet gets. 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. 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 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. The European satellite will later be joined by NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft 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. NASA's Curiosity rover has taken a picture of a strange Martian structure that one expert has dubbed the 'most bizarre' she's ever seen. Images snapped by the car-sized robot appear to show spikes protruding from a rock lying at the base of the 96 mile-long (154 km) Gale Crater. They were taken using Curiosity's mast camera and ChemCam on Martian day Sol 3786, or April 1, and have sparked speculation online as to what they may depict. Some have compared the structure to a fish bone or branch of a fir tree, and said it would be 'difficult for it to be a natural rock formation' here on Earth. Curiosity has been roaming the Gale Crater since August 2012 as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission. NASA's Curiosity rover has taken a picture of a strange Martian structure that one expert has dubbed the 'most bizarre' she's ever seen Images snapped by the car-sized robot appear to show spikes protruding from a rock lying at the base of the 96 mile-long (154 km) Gale Crater Gale is thought to be an ancient dried up lake between 3.5 and 3.8 billion years old. THE GALE CRATER - WHAT WE KNOW The Gale Crater is a dry lake bed on Mars that spans 96 miles in diameter It is estimated to be about 3.53.8 billion years old It includes the mountain Aeolis Mons that rises 18,000ft above the crater floor NASA sent the Curiosity Rover to explore the crater in November 2011 because of evidence of water being present in the distant past Organic molecules preserved in 3.5 billion-year-old bedrock were discovered in the crater in 2018, supporting that conditions on the red planet might once have supported life In January 2020, minerals made of carbon and oxygen were found in rocks, which may have formed in an ice-covered lake during a cold period on the planet Antidunes reaching the height of 33 feet (10 m) were found to be the result of megafloods in November 2020 Advertisement The rover's mission goals include an investigation of the Martian climate and geology, and to prepare for human exploration. It is also constantly beaming back images of the strange things it comes across, like this spiky rock formation. Astrobiologist Nathalie A. Cabrol shared a photo of it on Twitter, commenting that 'in 20 years of studying Mars, that's the most bizarre rock I have ever seen. 'I cannot wait to have a microscopic image of this one.' Another user commented: 'Really strange, never seen something like this and I have been looking into Mars images since Sojourner mission back in 1997.' Some suggest Martian winds may have eroded the rocks over a large expanse of time. Twitter user Martin Weil said: 'If it blows over loose sand for a sufficiently large number of eons, every geometric form known to us may eventually be created.' Ms Cabrol also said it was likely the 'remains of ripples after lots of erosion'. Other online guesses include 'it looks like a very easy to crumble fish vertebra', 'fish fossils', 'mackerel fillet', and 'skeleton of some prehistoric creature'. Twitter user @Dottysaccount said: 'On earth that would be a fossil plant say a fir tree branch or fish backbone, difficult for it to be a natural rock formation.' While @KiltedGunnGamer wrote: 'I'm happy to believe that's the back of a fossilised Martian dragon, curled up in its final resting place.' The pictures were taken using Curiosity's mast camera and ChemCam on Martian day Sol 3786, or April 1, and have sparked speculation online as to what they may depict Some social media users have compared the structure to a fish bone or branch of a fir tree, and said it would be 'difficult for it to be a natural rock formation' here on Earth Others suggest Martian winds may have eroded the rocks over a large expanse of time NASA's Curiosity rover (pictured) has been roaming the Gale Crater since August 2012 as part of NASA's Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission This is not the first strange formation that has been photographed by the Curiosity rover that has left scientists scratching their heads. Last June, it discovered some strange, twisting structures poking out of the surface of Mars, which are now thought to be naturally-occurring 'hoodoos'. Experts said the columns were probably created from cement-like substances that once filled ancient cracks of Martian bedrock. But, over time, the softer rock eroded away, leaving only the twisting towers of compact material protruding from the sand in the crater. In February 2022, the rover captured an image of what appeared to be a coral-like 'flower' in the Gale Crater, but was actually a microscopic mineral formation. NASA scientists confirmed it was a 'diagenetic crystal cluster', smaller than a penny, which may have been formed by minerals precipitating from water. Studies of earlier versions have revealed that the minerals, sprouting out in different directions, were likely embedded inside a rock that eroded away over time. However, it looks like these minerals were resistant to erosion, so remain on the dusty surface of the Red Planet. NASA's Curiosity rover took this picture of two Martian rock towers on May 17 2022. They are thought to be 'hoodoos', created from cement-like substances that once filled ancient cracks of bedrock. This hard rock remained once the softer surrounding rock was eroded away In February 2022, NASA's Curiosity rover captured an image of what appears to be a coral-like 'flower' in the Gale Crater on Mars, but is actually a microscopic mineral formation Instruments on Mars may NOT be able to detect life, study warns - READ MORE HERE Researchers from the Autonomous University of Chile tested the sophisticated gadgets used by NASA's Curiosity and Perseverance rovers in the Atacama Desert (pictured) Advertisement Last August marked 10 years on the Red Planet for the rover. The one-tonne vehicle launched from Earth in November 2011 and after an arduous nine-month journey it set out to look for evidence that Mars may once have supported life. Since then, the rover has driven more than 18 miles (29 kilometres) and ascended over 2,000 feet (625 metres) as it explores Gale Crater and the foothills of Mount Sharp within it. The rover has analysed some 40 rock and soil samples, relying on a suite of science instruments to learn what they reveal about Earth's rocky sibling. Such has been its success, what was originally intended to be a two-year mission was later extended indefinitely, leading to a rather busy decade. Curiosity has studied the Red Planet's skies capturing images of shining clouds and drifting moons while the rover's radiation sensor has allowed scientists to measure the amount future astronauts would be exposed to on the Martian surface, helping NASA figure out how to keep them safe. But most importantly, the rover has determined that liquid water as well as the chemical building blocks and nutrients needed for supporting life were present for at least tens of millions of years in Gale Crater. Although it has been joined by a new NASA rover in Perseverance in February 2021, Curiosity continues to strut its stuff while being led by the US space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California. Apple is copying Amazon's Alexa with a major change to Siri, a respected leaker claims. According to Apple tipster Mark Gurman, Siri users will soon only need to say 'Siri' instead of 'Hey Siri' when activating the personal assistant. The change would match Alexa, the virtual assistant from rival Amazon, which requires to users to simply say 'Alexa' without the word 'hey' first. It could be implemented across multiple Apple operating systems, including iOS for iPhones, as well as iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and more. Gurman has already revealed Apple is planning to unveil its mixed reality headset in less than two months. Apple's voice-controlled personal assistant is built in to iOS, its operating system for its iPhones, as well as iPadOS, watchOS, macOS and more Gurman who has an 86.5 per cent accuracy rating on Apple Tracker revealed the news in a recent issue of his weekly Power On newsletter. Apple announces WWDC where it's expected to launch a HUGE new product - READ MORE Although Apple hasn't make any official mention of its mixed reality headset, Mark Gurman has said it will get its public debut in June Advertisement The change to Siri could be implemented either this year or in 2024, he said. 'The company is working on an initiative to drop the "Hey" in the trigger phrase so that a user only needs to say "Siri" along with a command,' he said. 'The company has been testing the simplified wake word with employees and collecting the necessary training data.' Gurman said it may seem like 'a small change', but for Apple employees it's been a 'technical challenge' that has required a 'significant amount of AI training and underlying engineering work'. 'The complexity involves Siri being able to understand the singular phrase Siri in multiple different accents and dialects,' he said. 'Having two words Hey Siri increases the likelihood of the system properly picking up the signal.' Apple will also integrate Sir deeper into third-party apps and services and 'improve its ability to understand users and take the correct course of action', the leaker added. According to MacRumors, updates to Siri could be included in iOS 17, Apple's next major software update. iOS 17 is expected to be revealed at the annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), which will take place between June 5 and June 9, Apple recently confirmed. Apple's MR headset: Rumours Release: Q4 2023 Processors: - One 'higher-end' similar to the M1 or M2 - One lower-end to manage 'sensor-related aspects' Connectivity: Wi-Fi 6E Price: $3,000 (2,400) Advertisement One of the most anticipated Apple products ever, a mixed reality headset, is also expected to be launched at WWDC, following years of speculation from fans. Expected to cost $3,000 (2,400), the new headset will overlay digital objects on a view of the real world. Augmented reality (AR) layers computer-generated images on top of an existing reality Pokemon Go being a famous example while virtual reality (VR) is wholly virtual and mixed reality (MR) combines the two. According to Gurman, the product was demonstrated for 100 of the firm's top brass at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California in March and will make its public debut at WWDC. The leaker has described it as 'the next major platform beyond the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch'. Just like the iPhone and the Apple Watch, the headset will be followed by new updated iterations in the following years. While Gurman thinks the first version will be a 'dud' in terms of sales compared with the companys existing hardware, future versions will likely do better as the product finds its place. A glimpse of the new headset? A cryptic promo image for Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) this year features curving coloured lines This year's five-day WWDC will be presented online, although there will be an opportunity for 'developers and students to celebrate in person at a special experience' hosted at Apple Park (pictured), the firm's Cupertino HQ, on the opening day (June 5) For now, Apple will have to explain to consumers why they'd want to own such a device and how it's an improvement over the likes of iPhone and iPad. Apple's Technology Development Group the team behind its mixed-reality efforts has discreetly shown the product to the companys top decision-makers every year since 2018, Gurman added. But earlier demos were lower-key affairs compared to the one in March, which was 'Apple's biggest showcase' prior to the official launch. When exactly it will be released is unknown, although Apple doesn't wait long to release products following their announcement so it will likely hit the shelves later in 2023. Ming-Chi Kuo, another analyst and Apple leaker based in Taiwan, has already said that the headset will come packed with two processors one 'similar' those used in its Mac computers and iPads, and another to manage 'sensor-related aspects'. Snoring may seem like a petty nocturnal nuisance, but it could be the death of a relationship. Almost one in ten people have considered leaving their partner because they snore, a survey of 2,000 people in long-term relationships found. Just over a quarter of people said they regularly left the bed and slept in another room because they just couldn't take it any more. The toll of snoring can be extremely damaging to couples, according to relationship support charity Relate, in response to the findings from a survey by Specsavers. These findings show 8 per cent have thought about ending their relationship due to their partner's snoring, and 28 per cent are woken up by it every night. Snoring may seem like a petty nocturnal nuisance, but it could be the death of a relationship (stock image) Watching too much TV increases your risk of snoring: READ MORE Spending more than four hours a day in front of the television increases your risk of obstructive sleep apnoea and resulting snoring (pictured) by 78 per cent, a study found Advertisement Peter Saddington, a couples and sex therapist with relationship support charity Relate, said snoring is a recurrent theme in sessions. He said: 'Snoring can cause real resentment between a couple, particularly if the snoring partner doesn't see it as a problem and won't seek help. 'The snorer may downplay the problem, while the person being kept awake becomes more worked up the longer it goes on. 'They are then more tired, which of course can increase the likelihood of arguments generally.' Couples sleeping apart because of snoring issues is the biggest problem, according to the counsellor. He said: 'Being in bed together at the end of the day is often when couples have sex, cuddle or kiss, or share pillow talk. 'If they don't do this during the day, because they are busy or dealing with children, these bedtime habits are an important way of maintaining intimacy. 'So if they are lost due to snoring, that is a problem.' Just over a third of couples surveyed described their partner's snoring as a low rumble, while 16 per cent said they sounded like a pig and 14 per cent likened the sound to a lawnmower. Almost a third of people said their partner's snoring was as loud as a television on full blast. Some 28 per cent said they were woken 'every night' by their partner snoring, with this group saying this happened an average of twice a night, for an hour in total. To try and stop the noise, almost half of people admitted to elbowing their partner or turning them on their side. Some took more drastic measures, with 42 per cent having kicked their other half, around a fifth having coughed loudly to wake them up, and 15 per cent having hit them with a pillow, while 11 per cent pulled the pillow out from under the snorer's head. Gordon Harrison, chief audiologist at Specsavers, which sells earplugs, said: 'This research shows the significant impact that being exposed to snoring can have on your sleep and your general health and wellbeing.' A quarter of people said their snoring partner left them feeling exhausted and unable to concentrate the next day, while a further 23 per cent said the loss of sleep made it hard for them to wake up in the morning. Among the snorers, the survey found 42 per cent felt guilty at keeping their partner awake, but almost a quarter were not bothered at all. Apple announced plans Thursday to design batteries using entirely recycled cobalt by 2025, claiming the move is part of its effort to go carbon neutral by 2030. Cobalt is the chemical element found in almost every tech gadget that uses a lithium-powered battery - a smartphone, tablet or laptop requires a few grams of it, whereas an electric vehicle requires 22 pounds. And more than 70 percent of the world's cobalt is mined in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Apple said it will use 100 percent cobalt in all its in-house-designed batteries, which CEO Tim Cook said is because 'great technology should be great for our users and for the environment.' But the move comes after huge criticism about Apple's mining practices, which have been accused of fueling slavery and using child labor, claims lawsuits filed by an advocate group on behalf of Congolese families. Apple announced it will use 100 percent recycled cobalt in its batteries by 2025. The tech giant has long sourced the mineral from the Democratic Republic of Congo, which uses child workers. Above, a child carries a sack of rocks in Kapata, southwest of Kolwezi Social issues are not the only problems with cobalt - the process pollutes air, water and soil, causing crops for food to become contaminated. Apple said it 'has significantly expanded the use of certified recycled cobalt over the past three years, making it possible to include in all Apple-designed batteries by 2025.' This was achieved using an iPhone disassembly robot that separates batteries from other components, allowing specialty recyclers to recover cobalt and other materials, including lithium. Apple claims it has extracted 24,250 cobalt since 2019 and should have enough to use in all devices by 2025 - but it has been a slow process to get to this point. This is mainly done by Apple's trade-in program that entices consumers to hand over their old devices for new ones. The program's small print states that if phones are 'in good shape' will go to a new owner.' It is not clear what happens to damaged goods The program is a way to offset the cost of purchasing a new iPhone, which the tech giant states is then recycled - but not all models get a second chance at life. Cobalt mines in DRC supply Apple, Google, Microsoft and Tesla with materials needed for their products, according to child labor lawsuits filed against the companies. The rare mineral, however, is a key component in all of Apple's products - iPhones, iPads, Apple Watches and MacBooks. Apple said it 'has significantly expanded the use of certified recycled cobalt over the past three years, making it possible to include in all Apple-designed batteries by 2025' Cobalt is the chemical element found in almost every tech gadget that uses a lithium-powered battery In a 2016 report, Amnesty International and African Resources Watch (Afrewatch) accused Apple, Samsung and Sony of lax oversight of their cobalt supplies from mines in the DRC. The report claimed that children as young as 12 years old were working underground digging up the metal in the mine. The researchers claimed to have identified 16 multinational consumer electronics companies that are clients of Asian battery manufacturers that acquire cobalt from the Chinese firm. A year later, Apple announced it would stop buying cobalt mined by hand in Congo while the mines continued to deal with problems with child labor and harsh work conditions. This was at the same time when it was revealed that 40,000 children work daily in the mines, according to a report from Tom Lantos, human rights commission with the US Congress. However, the Wall Street Journal reported in 2018 that Apple sourced its cobalt from a supply chain that owned a mine named Mutoshi in Kolwezi. While the tech giant was not directly purchasing materials from the mines, they were bought from suppliers that owned the mines, The Wall Street Journal reported in 2018. And in 2019, Apple was among the names listed in a lawsuit accusing tech giants of exploiting child labor to collect the mineral. More than one dozen African families sued Apple, claiming their children either died or were severely injured while mining cobalt to be sold to the tech giants. The lawsuit was filed in Washington DC on behalf of five children who were killed and 11 who were injured working in the mines. Apple was one of the tech giants named in a 2019 lawsuit accusing it of exploiting child labor. One boy, 16, listed in the report, lost his leg after being hit by a truck while transporting cobalt More than one dozen African families sued Apple, claiming their children either died or were severely injured while mining cobalt to be sold to the tech giants. This image was included in the lawsuit Images released in January share more heartbreaking scenes from the mines. Here a woman carries her infant as she mines for cobalt in the hills several kilometers northwest of the town of Kambove They were all aged between 13 and 17 when the incidents occurred. One boy, 16, lost his leg after being hit by a truck while transporting cobalt on the back of his motorcycle in July 2019. Another boy, 17, had both his legs crushed in a tunnel collapse while mining. Recently, a new series of images taken by Siddharth Kara, an adjunct lecturer at Harvard Kennedy School of Goverment, from inside mines in the DRC may combat Apple's claims that its goods are ethically sourced and sold. Apple, Microsoft, Google, Tesla and others all insist that they hold cobalt suppliers to the highest of standards and only trade with smelters and refiners who adhere to their codes of conduct. But photos and videos that DailyMail.com shared on January 30 from some of the largest mines in Africa tell a different story. The heartbreaking scenes show barefoot children covered in chemicals as they carry heavy bags over their shoulders across rocky terrain for just $2 a day. Exhausted mothers with their babies strapped to their sides are seen sifting through nets of rock, frantically searching for the precious cobalt. And pits are filled with humans standing on top of each other, also hoping to find the rare earth mineral. Those are among the powerful images obtained by Kara over the last several years in the Katanga region, which were shared before his new book's publication in February - Cobalt Red: How the Blood of the Congo Powers Our Lives. This is one of the powerful images obtained by Siddharth Kara over the last several years in the Katanga region, showing children sifting through dirt, searching for cobalt And pits are filled with humans standing on top of each other, also hoping to find the rare earth mineral. Adult miners dig up to 600 feet below the surface using basic tools, without protective clothing or modern machinery Sometimes the children are sent down into the narrow makeshift chambers where there is constant danger of collapse Speaking to DailyMail.com before its release, Kara, an adjunct lecturer at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, said his research proves that the confident assurances of big tech can't be trusted. 'There are hundreds of thousands of the poorest people on the planet [mining for cobalt]. 'The moral clock has been dialed back to colonial times. 'Theyre doing it for $2-a-day and for them, its the difference between whether or not they eat that day so they dont have the option of saying no.' Adult miners dig up to 600 feet below the surface using basic tools, without protective clothing or modern machinery. Sometimes the children are sent down into the narrow makeshift chambers where there is constant danger of collapse. Prolonged exposure to cobalt can lead to lung disease, deafness and, according to Kara, who has spent years in the Congo researching the subject, birth defects and various forms of cancer. 'This is blood diamonds multiplied by a thousand diamonds arent toxic. 'And you buy a diamond once, maybe twice, in your life, whereas Western society cant function for more than 24 hours without devices that rely on cobalt,' he said. Among his videos is one of two children, covered in toxic chemicals from the mine, smashing their rocks open. They cannot be older than seven or eight. The partner of Yummy Mummies TV star Maria DiGeronimo has been accused of 'a prohibited act involving human biological material' but says he knows nothing about the charge. Carlos Vannini was listed to appear in Adelaide Magistrates Court this week and while details of the alleged offence remain unclear he is set to face a hearing next month. The 39-year-old rose to fame on Yummy Mummies for indulging fiancee Maria with luxury goods while he ran Signature Cut Barbershop in the South Australian capital. Carlos is charged with committing a prohibited act with human biological material against another man at Nailsworth in Adelaide's northern suburbs on January 29 last year. He did not enter a plea to the charge, which usually involves spitting, when the case was first mentioned on Tuesday. The partner of Yummy Mummies star Maria DiGeronimo was listed to face court on Tuesday charged with committing a 'prohibited act with human biological material'. Carlos Vannini, 39, rose to fame on the program for spoiling Maria with luxury goods (pictured together) When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Carlos said: 'What are you talking about, I don't have court, and I haven't been charged for anything, what are my charges??' 'What's is a prohibited act involving human biological material???? I don't know what your talking about... ,' he wrote. Carlos said he did not know the alleged victim named in court papers and declined an invitation from Daily Mail Australia to have the charge sheet shown to him. 'My lawyer will sort it out,' he wrote. Maria and Carlos were the most controversial couple on Yummy Mummies which aired on the Seven Network in 2017 and 2018 before being screened on Netflix. The program followed wealthy expectant mothers as they supported each other through pregnancy and parenthood. It was slammed by critics and rated poorly. When contacted by Daily Mail Australia, Carlos said: 'What are you talking about, I don't have court, and I haven't been charged for anything, what are my charges??' He is pictured with Maria Episode one of the first season attracted 755,000 viewers nationwide before that figure crashed to 207,000 by the eighth installment. One reviewer called the program 'fabricated, contrived, vapid, vacuous, pointless tripe'. Another wrote: 'To call Yummy Mummies car-crash television is to understate how garish, stupid, weird, poorly executed, and dutifully offensive it is.' Seven's website said Maria was 'privileged to be a kept woman and lives a glamorous lifestyle financed by her partner Carlos, a barber'. Carlos and Maria were known for their love of designer clothing and luxury cars. In one episode Carlos spent more than $20,000 on Maria. In another, Maria celebrated the impending arrival of daughter Valentina with a $4,000 Versace-themed baby shower. Network Seven's website for Yummy Mummies described Maria as 'privileged to be a kept woman and lives a glamorous lifestyle financed by her partner Carlos, a barber' After the ceremony, Carlos presented Maria with a $7,000 money 'bouquet' and jewellery worth $15,000. 'I know you don't like flowers,' he told Maria. 'So I got you a bouquet of money.' When Maria said Carlos worked as a 'part-time' barber, the motorcycle enthusiast took to Instagram and said he spent 45 hours a week at Signature Cut Barbershop. Cosmopolitan called Maria the 'feistiest and most extravagant cast member... and her lifestyle, frankly, has us very confused.' 'A part-time barber's wage doesn't seem to match up to the couple's obsession with labels.' Despite being the biggest stars of Yummy Mummies, the pair did not return for its second season, with Carlos claiming Maria was 'not portrayed accurately' in season one. 'Initially we agreed to the show on the premise that it would be an "observational documentary" which we understood would be us going about our lives with the added extra of a camera to document it,' Carlos said at the time. 'However that was not the case at all.' Carlos and Maria announced they had parted ways in September 2018, saying their appearance on the program was partly responsible for the four-year relationship's demise. 'The pressures and judgments of the public to some degree took its toll.' Carlos told Adelaide Now. 'The pressures of the show and the expectations of the producers throughout the pregnancy and after Valentina was born having the TV crew around all the time, didn't allow for the bonding time as a family which we required.' The split did not last and according to court documents Carlos and Maria still live in the four-bedroom house at Golden Grove in Adelaide's north-east which featured on Yummy Mummies. They now also have a son, Cartel. While fans still have to wait another month or so for Season 3 of The Kardashians, Hulu is giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's wedding in the new special Till Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis. The 72-minute special reveals footage from all THREE of Kravis' weddings - their early April ceremony in Las Vegas after The Grammys, their courthouse ceremony in Santa Barbara in mid-May and their extravagant religious ceremony in Portofino, Italy a week later. The special reveals never-before-seen footage from all three weddings - showcasing just how drunk Kourtney was in Vegas - along with the humorous family gaffe made by the Elvis impersonator who officiated them. The happy couple also shared footage from their Santa Barbara ceremony (which Kourtney revealed had to legally happen since their religious ceremony was overseas), complete with a Cadillac convertible and strings of cans tied to the car like a traditional wedding. The lions share of the special, though, showcased the opulent religious ceremony in Portofino, Italy - which was entirely paid for by fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, with the wedding taking place on Domenico Dolce's property and Domenico even designing Kourtney's wedding dress himself and using helicopter drops to bring in parts for a massive piano. Wedding: While fans still have to wait another month or so for Season 3 of The Kardashians , Hulu is giving a behind-the-scenes glimpse at Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker's wedding in the new special Till Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis Drunk: The special reveals never-before-seen footage from all three weddings - showcasing just how drunk Kourtney was in Vegas - along with the humorous family gaffe made by the Elvis impersonator who officiated them Domenico: The lions share of the special, though, showcased the opulent religious ceremony in Portofino, Italy - which was entirely paid for by fashion house Dolce & Gabbana, with the wedding taking place on Domenico Dolce's property and Domenico even designing Kourtney's wedding dress himself Helicopter: Domenico even used helicopter drops to bring in parts for a massive piano The special - produced by both Kourtney and Travis Barker - begins at 2 AM on April 4, 2022 in Las Vegas - just hours after the Grammy Awards took place in Sin City. Kourtney Kardashian - clad in black leather with a cocktail in hand - is being driven down the streets of Las Vegas with Travis Barker - also in black leather - by her side. The cameraman asks, What are we about to do? A giddy Kourtney tells Travis, You say it, as he reveals, Were about to get married in Vegas. Barker adds it will be, one of twelve weddings, which surprises Kourtney, who adds, I think its one of three or four. Travis added that, the dive restaurant in Palm Springs is a wedding, while Kourtney adds, the sushi restaurant, stating they could pick anywhere as one of their weddings. They finally arrive at the One Love 24-Hour Wedding Chapel, as Travis drum tech, Clemente Ruiz, sets everything up and is one of many people filming the wedding. Travis is up at the front speaking with the Elvis impersonator who will tie the knot, as a giddy Kourtney keeps asking, When do I go out? while holding a bouquet of flowers. The Elvis impersonator is having technical difficulties for a moment before the Here Comes the Bride song starts playing through his laptop. Special: The special - produced by both Kourtney and Travis Barker - begins at 2 AM on April 4, 2022 in Las Vegas - just hours after the Grammy Awards took place in Sin City When: Travis is up at the front speaking with the Elvis impersonator who will tie the knot, as a giddy Kourtney keeps asking, When do I go out? while holding a bouquet of flowers Difficulties: The Elvis impersonator is having technical difficulties for a moment before the Here Comes the Bride song starts playing through his laptop Kourtney walks to the chapel where the Elvis impersonator walks her up to Travis, as she throws her arms around him and bites his lip. The Elvis impersonator asks for their first names but he calls the bride-to-be Khloe which causes them both to break out laughing. Clemente tells him, Its Kourtney, as the impersonator starts to apologize but Kourtney just drops to the floor, still laughing hysterically, as Travis smacks her butt. Im gonna cry, Kourtney says, adding, Wait, we need to FaceTime Khloe. We need to FaceTime her, as Travis tries to pull her up as the Elvis impersonator says, Im so sorry, Kourtney. Shes gonna literally die, Kourtney says as Travis tries to pull her up, as the Elvis impersonator says, I wont make that mistake again. This is the best, Travis says, as the Elvis impersonator continues with the vows, which they finally get to with some laughter at the Elvis-themed vows. Im privileged to call you husband and wife. Partners for life. You may kiss your beautiful bride, your beautiful husband. You just got married in Vegas by the King and everybody went Whooo oooh! as the others repeated him. The watch the Elvis impersonator show off some of his moves before leaving the chapel, as Kourtney throws the bouquet outside, which falls apart as Kourtney adds, I think I peed my pants. Laughs: Clemente tells him, Its Kourtney, as the impersonator starts to apologize but Kourtney just drops to the floor, still laughing hysterically, as Travis smacks her butt Cry: Im gonna cry, Kourtney says, adding, Wait, we need to FaceTime Khloe. We need to FaceTime her, as Travis tries to pull her up as the Elvis impersonator says, Im so sorry, Kourtney' Married: Im privileged to call you husband and wife. Partners for life. You may kiss your beautiful bride, your beautiful husband. You just got married in Vegas by the King and everybody went Whooo oooh! as the others repeated him Moves: The watch the Elvis impersonator show off some of his moves before leaving the chapel, as Kourtney throws the bouquet outside, which falls apart as Kourtney adds, I think I peed my pants' The special cuts to black-and-white footage of the couple, presumably at their home, as Kourtney adds, This is your third matcha today and my second. They both toast their teas, as Kourtney says, Can you believe that we got married three times? I can now. Its like choosing a child. I cant pick the best one, Travis said, as Kourtney adds, Vegas was like the most perfect thing of all time. Travis adds, Vegas was post-Grammys, off the highest highs, as the camera moves to show two more cameramen recording this moment. And the chapel was so perfect and the neon lights, Kourtney said, as Travis adds, Vegas was magical. My baby was loose! That was like our wild, Vegas rock star wedding, and then like Santa Barbara was like grounded and it meant a lot. The special cuts to footage of them in Santa Barbara, with their wedding taking place on May 15, 2022. Kourtney was clad in a short white wedding dress with a simple veil and Travis in a black-on-black look. The couple are seen signing various papers on their classic black Cadillac convertible, as Kourtney explained why they had a wedding in Santa Barbara. Home: The special cuts to black-and-white footage of the couple, presumably at their home, as Kourtney adds, This is your third matcha today and my second' Thrice: They both toast their teas, as Kourtney says, Can you believe that we got married three times?' Santa Barbara: The special cuts to footage of them in Santa Barbara, with their wedding taking place on May 15, 2022 Convertible: The couple are seen signing various papers on their classic black Cadillac convertible, as Kourtney explained why they had a wedding in Santa Barbara Short: Kourtney was clad in a short white wedding dress with a simple veil and Travis in a black-on-black look Because we were getting married in Italy, to make it legal, we had to do our paperwork, our legal paperwork, in the United States, in California, Kourtney said. They finished all of the legal paperwork as both Kourtney and Travis wonder when they say their vows, but theyre told that is coming. Travis tells Kourtney, I promise to be true to you, honor you and love you for the rest of my days, until death do us part. Kourtney tells Travis, I Kourtney take you Travis, to be my lawfully wedded husband. Back in their home, Kourtney reveals that her grandmother - Mary Jo Campbell - and Travis father - Randy Barker - were the only people there because they couldnt fly to Italy, as they showed a photo of the couple flanked by MJ and Randy. Travis adds, That was like as traditional as everybody elses wedding could have been. Everything. The car, convertible Cadillac, cans on the car. Santa Barbara was special. They start looking at a photo album from their various weddings as Kourtney says their Italy wedding, was really romantic and classic. Our wedding was truly so beautiful. One of Kourtneys assistants asks, How did it come to be that you have all this footage? Vows: They finished all of the legal paperwork as both Kourtney and Travis wonder when they say their vows, but theyre told that is coming Back home: Back in their home, Kourtney reveals that her grandmother - Mary Jo Campbell - and Travis father - Randy Barker - were the only people there because they couldnt fly to Italy, as they showed a photo of the couple flanked by MJ and Randy Photos: They start looking at a photo album from their various weddings as Kourtney says their Italy wedding, was really romantic and classic. Our wedding was truly so beautiful' True: Travis tells Kourtney, I promise to be true to you, honor you and love you for the rest of my days, until death do us part' Lawfully: Kourtney tells Travis, I Kourtney take you Travis, to be my lawfully wedded husband. Well, for Italy, we had hired Ellen Von Unwerth to take photos and she brought her videographer, and then Pierre (Auroux) was there because he was taking photos and just happened to just video, right? Kourtney adds, as we see Pierre sitting on their bed, recording the couple. Thank God, because now we have all this iconic its our personal archive footage that we are sharing with the world, Kourtney says. The special cuts to Portofino, Italy on May 17, 2022, five days before the wedding, as we see Travis and Kourtney on a boat with her son Reign. Italy was just really such a special place. I had spent probably five summers in Portofino with my kids, so when I took you to Portofino, it was like the second time you ever flew, she said, referring to Barker previously swearing off flying after surviving a 2008 plane crash that killed four others on board and left Barker with severe burns all over his body. It was really for us to go on a little international trip, Kourtney added as Travis described Italy as, beautiful, lazy, peaceful, so romantic. Kourtney said the town is so small that everyone knows each other and Travis joked that, everyone is sleeping together. Footage is shown of the couple and their kids having fun in Italy, as Kourtney explains, We wanted to go a few days early to Portofino, so we could have some time with us and our kids, settle in with the jet-lag, and have a few days before the craziness. The special cuts to May 20, 2022 - two days before the wedding - as many of the guests start to arrive in Portofino, including Simon Huck, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and daughter North. Boat: The special cuts to Portofino, Italy on May 17, 2022, five days before the wedding, as we see Travis and Kourtney on a boat with her son Reign Iconic: Thank God, because now we have all this iconic its our personal archive footage that we are sharing with the world, Kourtney says Arrive: The special cuts to May 20, 2022 - two days before the wedding - as many of the guests start to arrive in Portofino, including Simon Huck, Kendall Jenner, Kim Kardashian and daughter North They all get on a boat with Khloe mentioning how beautiful the scenery is, as they head on their boat en route to a massive yacht - Regina dItalia. Kim asks North if she would, jump off the cliff from the castle if there was a big diving board? But North immediately says, No. They arrive as Kourtney waves at them all and greets them all, including Barkers son Landon, who, like his father, has a fear of flying, but made it to Italy safely. Kim asks Landon how the flight was overall and he said, Pretty good. The scariest part is just landing and taking off. Landing is scary. Travis says in their home that, We werent sure if Landon was gonna make it because hes so scared of flying. I think he walked off two commercial flights. Kourtney added that Landon ended up flying with Kim, as Travis said he was, so happy when he saw him. Travis and Landon shared a meal on the boat, as Landon wondered, You didnt think I was going to, huh? No, I just wanted to know before I went to sleep that you were going to make it, thats all, Travis explained. Scenery: They all get on a boat with Khloe mentioning how beautiful the scenery is, as they head on their boat en route to a massive yacht - Regina dItalia Landon: They arrive as Kourtney waves at them all and greets them all, including Barkers son Landon, who, like his father, has a fear of flying, but made it to Italy safely Scary: Kim asks Landon how the flight was overall and he said, Pretty good. The scariest part is just landing and taking off. Landing is scary' Travis addressed his past accident, stating, As everyone knows, Im kinda shook, just flying anywhere. My plane crashed on takeoff, so takeoffs are terrible for me. Im still equally afraid of flying as I always was, but its not something that can hold me back or I can be afraid of anymore. They all leave the yacht on smaller boats to the villa - including Landons friend Carl Dawson - as Kourtney points out the villa. Every time Ive been to Portofino, I stay at Dolce & Gabbannas home. They so generously welcomed us and the kids, so Domenico and Gui (Siqueira) said, Domenico would love to design your dress and, you know, throw you your wedding, Kourtney explains. They all get out of the boat as Kourtney warns them that it is a lot of stairs heading from the dock up to the villa. This is so beautiful, Kim says as they all make the long walk up to the villa. Kourtney shows Kim her room, as Kim says, Cool backgrounds for pics, as Kourtney insists, You havent even begun to see the backgrounds. Kourtney is in glam and told she looks, so beautiful as she says the jet lag makes her panic and she needs, a f***ing drink. Back at her home with Travis, Kourtney says she, had so much anxiety leading up to the wedding because I really dont like being the center of attention. Home: Every time Ive been to Portofino, I stay at Dolce & Gabbannas home. They so generously welcomed us and the kids, so Domenico and Gui (Siqueira) said, Domenico would love to design your dress and, you know, throw you your wedding, Kourtney explains Home: Back at her home with Travis, Kourtney says she, had so much anxiety leading up to the wedding because I really dont like being the center of attention' Her stylist Dani Michelle tells her she looks, gorgeous, and when Kourtney is wondering if thats the right look, Dani says, 100%. I remember I found the coolest inspiration photo of what I really wanted for my dress. My stylist and I hand-selected looks from the 90s archive, Dolce & Gabbannas personal archive that they opened up for our wedding, Kourtney says. She added that they originally thought about having a super intimate wedding with just them and their six kids, because its such a vulnerable moment that youre sharing. Thats why I think having it just us and the kids was so good because I wouldnt have to think about anyone else, Kourtney says, as Travis tries to start a thumb war with her. They all head to Ristorante Puny for the rehearsal dinner, with Kris heading in to the dinner with Dolce & Gabbanna ambassador Gui Siqueira. As they walk into the restaurant, a girl is heard saying, It is her. It is her, as Kris turns to the girl and says, Hi guys, as the girl says, She said hi. They realize a huge crowd has gathered, with many waving to the cameras, as paparazzi horde the family and guests as they make their way to Puny. Kids: She added that they originally thought about having a super intimate wedding with just them and their six kids, because its such a vulnerable moment that youre sharing' Hi: As they walk into the restaurant, a girl is heard saying, It is her. It is her, as Kris turns to the girl and says, Hi guys, as the girl says, She said hi' Kourtney and Travis arrive by a boat, as they realize a huge crowd has gathered, with one of the kids spotting a drone as Kourtney says, Babe, there are so many paps. Kourtney tells Travis in their home that, when they were dreaming of their wedding, I thought there wasnt going to be anyone in the town. Travis says the night before the welcoming dinner, they, went to the town and laid on a bench and we were the only ones in town. Kourtney added they saw two ducks - Daisy and Donald - and Travis said they were the only people in the whole town. Instead, they found, chaos with paparazzi everywhere as they all headed into the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner. Kourtney calls for Penelope as the family all comes together as they walk in, all being peppered with various compliments. Photographer Ellen Von Unwerth takes some snaps of the family, including one of Landon and Khloe both in slightly matching leopard print outfits. Kourtney takes snaps eating some of the restaurants food, as Kris Jenner stands up and makes a toast. Drone: Kourtney and Travis arrive by a boat, as they realize a huge crowd has gathered, with one of the kids spotting a drone as Kourtney says, Babe, there are so many paps' Chaos: Instead, they found, chaos with paparazzi everywhere as they all headed into the restaurant for the rehearsal dinner Dreaming: Kourtney tells Travis in their home that, when they were dreaming of their wedding, I thought there wasnt going to be anyone in the town' Ellen: Photographer Ellen Von Unwerth takes some snaps of the family Leopard: She also took photos of Landon and Khloe both in slightly matching leopard print outfits Family: Kourtney calls for Penelope as the family all comes together as they walk in, all being peppered with various compliments Food: Kourtney takes snaps eating some of the restaurants food, as Kris Jenner stands up and makes a toast We are so excited. Im so happy you are all here tonight. We are in paradise. We just wanna make a toast to Kourtney and Travis to say how much we love you guys. We couldnt be more happy for you guys combining this amazing beautiful family. This is going to be the best weekend of your lives and I hope you capture all the most amazing memories, Kris said. Kris asks Khloe to give a speech as well, which surprises her, but she stands up anyway, as Kris said shes, had martinis. Kourt, I love you so much. Trav, you were my neighbor. Somehow you guys just started hooking up on the side. If only I knew you guys could have bought my house and made a tunnel and just combined it, Khloe joked. We love you guys. Long live, Kravis. There we go, kids, Khloe said, as Kim says that Travis son Landon wants to say a few words. So Im gonna keep it short and sweet. Im happy for everybody here, and Im so excited for the wedding. Long live Kravis, Landon said, raising his glass. After dinner, they all walk down the street to an ice cream place, as they all get some ice cream cones and, naturally, pose for photographs. They all walk down the street and hear people congratulating Kourtney and Travis, as they stop and pose for photos as Travis licks Kourtneys forehead, which confuses someone off-camera who says, Why did he lick her forehead? The special cuts to the next day - May 21 - 1 day until the wedding - as the family all gets back on a huge yacht. Speech: We are so excited. Im so happy you are all here tonight. We are in paradise. We just wanna make a toast to Kourtney and Travis to say how much we love you guys. We couldnt be more happy for you guys combining this amazing beautiful family. This is going to be the best weekend of your lives and I hope you capture all the most amazing memories, Kris said Martinis: Kris asks Khloe to give a speech as well, which surprises her, but she stands up anyway, as Kris said shes, had martinis' Happy: So Im gonna keep it short and sweet. Im happy for everybody here, and Im so excited for the wedding. Long live Kravis, Landon said, raising his glass Pose: After dinner, they all walk down the street to an ice cream place, as they all get some ice cream cones and, naturally, pose for photographs Kourtney is feeding Travis grapes behind a bar, as Kourtney explains that theyre on Dolce & Gabbanas beautiful yacht. They show the several boats the guests arrived on, but theyre all soaking wet because the current was more choppy than they had anticipated. The boats that our guests were all, those little boats are like classic, Italian riva boats. It was not supposed to be so choppy, Kourtney said at home, as they show footage from the wind whipping around various guests. They all get on a smaller raft, as Kourtney explains theyre going to visit an old monastery, where they all gather for lunch. Travis and Kourtney pose for photos with their kids inside the church, as Kourtney explains that they originally wanted to get married in a church like the Guns n Roses music video for November Rain. If it was our choice, we would have gotten married in a Catholic church, and it would have made a lot of sense, since we were both brought up Catholic, Travis says. Kourtney corrects him and says she was brought up as Christian, as Travis said he went to Catholic school and Kourtney adds she did go to Catholic high school. And then the church didnt work out, especially like an Italian Catholic church is so strict, and we needed really specific documents, or we had to do a one-year Catholic course, Kourtney explains at her home. Boats: They show the several boats the guests arrived on, but theyre all soaking wet because the current was more choppy than they had anticipated Footage: The boats that our guests were all, those little boats are like classic, Italian riva boats. It was not supposed to be so choppy, Kourtney said at home, as they show footage from the wind whipping around various guests Christian: Kourtney corrects him and says she was brought up as Christian, as Travis said he went to Catholic school and Kourtney adds she did go to Catholic high school They leave the monastery as Domenico and his team are getting the villa ready for the wedding in one day. Kourtney gives a hug to pastor Chad Veach, as Kourtney adds that Domenico, had offered to let us use their property and have our wedding there and throw us our wedding there. She explained that they, had to do helicopter drops to get the piano there, to get everything to build, as they showed several of the drops that went on for days. They are going through the logistics of the wedding ceremony as Kourtney adds, One thing I did realize, working with Domenico, is what Domenico says, he just does it. We presented a lot of stuff that looked like the church, and they just like created a church. We let some details go that I think people would be surprised with, Kourtney said, as Travis added, We just wanted to get married. We didnt really care about the details. Kourtney added, I remember calling Melissa Kolker and planning it in 30 minutes and then calling you and talking to you about it, when everything else I do is so planned out and so detailed. We provided like the feeling and the vibe, and really trusted Domenico to carry it out. We just wanted it to feel authentic. The couple and the family goes through the rehearsal, as Travis added that, seeing the wedding get built every day, the anticipation was greater. Kourtney added that pastor Chad Veach and his wife Julia are, really good friends of ours and the church that Travis and I had gone to before we were together was Chad and Julias church. He dropped everything and was there for us, which was perfect. Pastor: Kourtney gives a hug to pastor Chad Veach, as Kourtney adds that Domenico, had offered to let us use their property and have our wedding there and throw us our wedding there' Helicopter: She explained that they, had to do helicopter drops to get the piano there, to get everything to build, as they showed several of the drops that went on for days Chad walks them through the ceremony, as Travis talks about talking about their wedding with their future kids hinting theyre not quite giving up on having children of their own yet. When we talk about our wedding to our kids, were not gonna be like, Oh, we just got married in Los Angeles or we just got married in the desert or San Francisco or Utah, it had to be Portofino. We want them to say that, Travis said, as Kourtney added, It all came together so easily. The night before the wedding, they all gathered for another dinner, as Kylie tells Kourtney this might have been her, favorite look of the trip. Kourtney is seen telling Khloe that Kris gave her the wedding ring from their late father, Robert Kardashian. They show throwback footage of Robert and Kourtney, announcing Kourtney was going to attend the University of Arizona. When my dad died, I remember thinking I never want to get married, because my dad wasnt there to walk me down the aisle, so that gift meant so much, Kourtney said. Domenico offers a toast, adding, Me and Stefano, we are very very honored. I hope tomorrow is the best, best memory. Congratulations. Kris offers another toast, stating that everyone who is there is, a part of our heart and we love you so much. And I just wanna say its not even the martini talking. After dinner, the family and guests are all seen dancing and doing shots, as Kourtney reminisces, Our rehearsal dinner was just so much fun. My mom was tipsy, Khloe was tipsy. Everyone was in a partying mood and it was just really fun. Throwback: They show throwback footage of Robert and Kourtney, announcing Kourtney was going to attend the University of Arizona Tipsy: After dinner, the family and guests are all seen dancing and doing shots, as Kourtney reminisces, Our rehearsal dinner was just so much fun. My mom was tipsy, Khloe was tipsy. Everyone was in a partying mood and it was just really fun' The special cuts to May 22, 2022 - the day of the wedding - as Kourtney is seen getting ready along with the rest of the family. Kourtney says she has felt so emotional all day, while adding again, I hate being the center of attention. Back at home, Kourtney says she remembers being in the glam room getting ready, and her hair stylist asked if she was OK and she realized she was not OK. She realizes shes shaking and asks if she should do jumping jacks, as she worries that her legs would collapse while walking the aisle. She starts doing little exercises and takes some deep breaths before getting back to it. While Kourtney is getting ready, Travis decides to go jump off the top of the yacht, just before the wedding. Because I was nervous and I knew it was wedding day, I went and jumped off the roof of a boat, less than an hour before we got married because I just wanted to do something. I didnt want to just sit around thinking about it, Travis explained. He brought his son Landon to come and jump with him, as they both did it together, adding later it was, So fun. Emotional: Kourtney says she has felt so emotional all day, while adding again, I hate being the center of attention' Jump: While Kourtney is getting ready, Travis decides to go jump off the top of the yacht, just before the wedding Guests start arriving for the wedding including Machine Gin Kelly and Blink-182s Mark Hoppus and his wife Skye, along with Phil Riportella, Stephanie Shepherd and Simon Huck. Machine Gun Kelly and his wife Megan Fox pose with Kris Jenner, while Domenico helps Penelope get ready. Travis is seen getting ready with Landon, as he said to Kourtney at home he spent the whole time trying to make Kourtney, really really comfortable, that he never thought about himself. The day of the wedding it got me. I felt like Kevin McCallister in Home Alone. And then I was like, OK Travis, you got this. Im about to marry the love of my life. Reign is seen trying to pronounce Dolce & Gabbana while Travis calls his father just before tying the knot. Before I even saw you, I felt emotional and was like its about to go down. I knew I wasnt going to say my vows without crying but I felt sure it was absolutely the right thing, Travis said. Kim gives Kourtney a piece of advice - walk slow - since they both had long trains for their wedding dresses before they get the ceremony started. Kourtney heads down to get her extremely long veil while Travis gets finishing touches on his wedding look. Emotional: Before I even saw you, I felt emotional and was like its about to go down. I knew I wasnt going to say my vows without crying but I felt sure it was absolutely the right thing, Travis said Veil: Kourtney heads down to get her extremely long veil while Travis gets finishing touches on his wedding look Travis calls: Reign is seen trying to pronounce Dolce & Gabbana while Travis calls his father just before tying the knot Emotional: Before I even saw you, I felt emotional and was like its about to go down. I knew I wasnt going to say my vows without crying but I felt sure it was absolutely the right thing, Travis said From the moment I left that room, I was teary-eyed. I was having conversations with my mom and praying and normally I can be durable and resilient and kinda tough, and theres just no denying it when I cant be, Travis said. My dad would have loved Travis and Travis reminds me so much of my dad in the weirdest ways. I felt his presence and I felt just like a sense of calm, Kourtney added. I just felt so good and I was like, Im ready. And it was just perfect, Kourtney explained. Kourtney added that all these boat horns started going off when the ceremony started as a congratulations to the bride and groom. Travis takes the walk down the stairs and takes his place as the bridal party takes the walk down to Ave Maria before Kourtney is walked down by her mother Kris though Kourtney kept getting her massive veil stuck on the walk down. Kourtney asks Travis at home if he realized she was always getting stuck but he said he didnt, adding he was, in the zone. Kourtney finally makes it to the altar, with Travis adding, When she appeared, she just looked beautiful and shes the love of my life and all this anticipation and all this planning, it just felt great. Pastor Chad Veach starts the ceremony as Kourtney and Travis kneel on these plush cushions before the pastor, who recites a Bible verse for them. Kris and Kourt: Travis takes the walk down the stairs and takes his place as the bridal party takes the walk down to Ave Maria before Kourtney is walked down by her mother Kris though Kourtney kept getting her massive veil stuck on the walk down Altar: Kourtney finally makes it to the altar, with Travis adding, When she appeared, she just looked beautiful and shes the love of my life and all this anticipation and all this planning, it just felt great' Youre no longer just your own selves, now youre your own union, Veach says, as they recite the vows which Travis gets choked up during. Kourtney repeats the vows, getting emotional as well, as Reign brings up the rings Travis puts the wedding ring on Kourtney. Veach tells Kourtney to put Travis ring on him, joking, Symbolic of the same things, its just worth such less money. After they exchange rings, Veach says, Travis, you may kiss your bride, as the group all cheers on. Id like to announce to you for the very first time, Mr. and Mrs. Travis Barker, Veach says as the couple walks back down the aisle hand-in-hand. It feels like it was meant to be, Kourtney says, as Travis adds, For me, it felt real now. Kourtney tells Travis, Did you realize my veil is your tattoo? as he looks and sees its the same artwork as the massive tattoo on his back. I think the best part about being married is having my own family and my own world with you, Kourtney says back at home. Vows: Youre no longer just your own selves, now youre your own union, Veach says, as they recite the vows which Travis gets choked up during Veil: Kourtney tells Travis, Did you realize my veil is your tattoo? as he looks and sees its the same artwork as the massive tattoo on his back' Back at the wedding, Travis and Kourtney pose for photos on top of a piano while Travis pours them both some champagne. They both head back to the boats and head to the reception, with the couple posing for more photos on the boat, as they take a tunnel to the reception. Kourtney explains they had the reception at Castello Brown, which is a famous castle in Portofino, as theyre seen taking the tunnel to the castle. They both walk in to much applause from their friends and family as they take their seat for dinner. The party felt like time didnt exist and we were just on the top of a mountain, eating the best pasta although I feel like we barely ate. Everyone always says at their wedding, they barely ate, Kourtney says. The guests are all seen having their dinner, when a photographer asks Megan Fox to share a piece of pasta with Machine Gun Kelly like Lady and the Tramp, but Megan says, I dont eat gluten. Kris invites the bride and groom on stage for a surprise - which is Andrea Bocelli - who sings Elvis Presleys Cant Help Falling In Love for the couples first dance, with Andreas son Mateo accompanying on the piano. After the first dance and the dinner, Kim gives a speech, adding, there is no love story like you guys. Piano: Back at the wedding, Travis and Kourtney pose for photos on top of a piano while Travis pours them both some champagne Boat: They both head back to the boats and head to the reception, with the couple posing for more photos on the boat, as they take a tunnel to the reception Tunnel: They both head back to the boats and head to the reception, with the couple posing for more photos on the boat, as they take a tunnel to the reception Party: The party felt like time didnt exist and we were just on the top of a mountain, eating the best pasta although I feel like we barely ate. Everyone always says at their wedding, they barely ate, Kourtney says Share: The guests are all seen having their dinner, when a photographer asks Megan Fox to share a piece of pasta with Machine Gun Kelly like Lady and the Tramp No gluten: Megan says, I dont eat gluten' Surprise: Kris invites the bride and groom on stage for a surprise - which is Andrea Bocelli - who sings Elvis Presleys Cant Help Falling In Love for the couples first dance, with Andreas son Mateo accompanying on the piano Kim: After the first dance and the dinner, Kim gives a speech, adding, there is no love story like you guys' Kylie adds she has, never seen you happier Kourtney, and they all look gorgeous. Mark Hoppus adds, Travis and I have been band-mates and friends for the past 25 years. Weve been to the highest highs and the lowest lows. Ive seen Travis go through hell, now Im so happy to watch him find heaven with Kourtney. Kris calls all of her children to the stage, presenting them with their wedding cake, as the sisters all dance as Kourtney and Travis carefully cut the cake and Kourtney messily feeds Travis some cake. Reign tells Kourtney to say poop into the mic, which she does, causing him to laugh, as she tells the crowd it was for her son. Travis starts his speech, thanking Kris, but he gets choked up right away, saying he knows Robert is, here in spirit and so proud. He thanks Kourtneys siblings for accepting me into your family, before thanking his own kids and Carl, saying it, means so much to have you all here. Its such a special moment for Kourtney and I and we appreciate you being here. You all mean so much to us, Travis adds. He thanks Domenico, Stefano and Gui for welcoming them into their town, before Kourtney feeds him a drink. Cake: Kris calls all of her children to the stage, presenting them with their wedding cake, as the sisters all dance as Kourtney and Travis carefully cut the cake Feeds: Kourtney messily feeds Travis some cake Poop: Reign tells Kourtney to say poop into the mic, which she does, causing him to laugh, as she tells the crowd it was for her son Spirit: Travis starts his speech, thanking Kris, but he gets choked up right away, saying he knows Robert is, here in spirit and so proud' Thanks: He thanks Domenico, Stefano and Gui for welcoming them into their town, before Kourtney feeds him a drink Were all here because I fell in love with my best friend. Kourtney, my heart and soul knew you were the one far before I realized. The sense of home I felt any time I was around you was undeniable, Travis said. Deep down, I always knew. You were a great mother, a great friend, you were beautiful and classy, healthy and even sometimes vegan, Travis joked. He added that he didnt want to ruin our friendship by trying anything, though he did, attempt a couple of times. He said everyone told them they needed to hook up, and he told himself, to be thankful I have someone so special in my life that has been a friend for so long, but I also knew, if we were ever together, something more powerful than either of us would ever experience, would happen, and it did. I dont ever want to be with another person, he said before kissing her, adding, The last year and a half have been magical, and that he loves everything about her. Kourtney, you are the love of my life, and I cant wait to spend forever with you, he concluded. They started popping bottles and getting the party started with DJ Cassidy, who at one point called Machine Gun Kelly up to sing his hit song Bloody Valentine, even bringing Carl up to sing a bit. Congratulations, Travis and Kourtney. You were lying every time you went to work out. I knew what was in your head every time, MGK said. Love: Were all here because I fell in love with my best friend. Kourtney, my heart and soul knew you were the one far before I realized. The sense of home I felt any time I was around you was undeniable, Travis said Ruin: He added that he didnt want to ruin our friendship by trying anything, though he did, attempt a couple of times' Sing: They started popping bottles and getting the party started with DJ Cassidy, who at one point called Machine Gun Kelly up to sing his hit song Bloody Valentine, even bringing Carl up to sing a bit MGK knew: Congratulations, Travis and Kourtney. You were lying every time you went to work out. I knew what was in your head every time, MGK said Landon took the mic and thanked everyone for supporting his family and hes thankful for having such a caring father and thanking Kourtney for everything. In these past few months, Ive really gotten to know you so well and grown so much love for you. You look out for me like a mother, and have always had my back, Landon said. Together you guys show what true love looks like, and its truly inspiring to all of us, Landon added, thanking all the Kardashian sisters for being so welcoming. The DJ played Blink-182s All the Small Things as everybody started dancing, before it cuts back to Kourtney and Travis at home, who cant pick their favorite wedding. They were all so different and so special. Were gonna have at least one more, maybe just you and I, Kourtney says, as the special came to an end, showing the couple in new white leather jackets that say Mrs. Barker and Mr. Barker. Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis, an inside look at the wedding of the year is available exclusively now on Disney+ in the U.K. on Thursday, April 13, and all new episodes for The Kardashians Season 3 will launch from 25 May on Disney+. Landon thanks: Landon took the mic and thanked everyone for supporting his family and hes thankful for having such a caring father and thanking Kourtney for everything Fans will get an exclusive look at the lavish wedding of Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker in the new Hulu special 'Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis, which includes a rather surprising revelation. While neither Barker, 47, nor Kardashian, 43, - who shared some fun Easter snaps over the weekend - are particularly religious, they both revealed on the special that they wanted to tie the knot in a Catholic church in Italy. After arriving in Portofino, Italy, they toured an ancient monastery, before meeting with their massive wedding party for lunch. The special - which features footage from all three weddings intercut with the couple discussing what happened in their home - revealed their plan was to have a wedding similar to the iconic 1991 Guns 'n Roses music video November Rain. However, they quickly had to abandon the notion of getting married in a Catholic church in Italy, though Dolce & Gabbana's Domenico Dolce ended up recreating a church for the couple on his lavish property in Portofino... needing a HELICOPTER to fly in parts for a piano over several days. Church: While neither Barker, 47, nor Kardashian, 43, are particularly religious, they both revealed on the special that they wanted to tie the knot in an Italian church Wedding: Fans will get an exclusive look at the lavish wedding of Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker in the new Hulu special 'Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis, which includes a rather surprising revelation Domenico: However, they quickly had to abandon the notion of getting married in a church, though Dolce & Gabbana's Domenico Dolce ended up recreating a church for the couple on his lavish property in Portofino Helicopter: They also needed a HELICOPTER to fly in parts for a piano over several days Towards the middle of the 72-minute Hulu special, Travis and Kourtney pose for photos with their kids inside the church, as Kourtney explains that they originally wanted to get married in a church like the Guns 'n Roses music video for November Rain. 'If it was our choice, we would have gotten married in a Catholic church, and it would have made a lot of sense, since we were both brought up Catholic,' Travis says. Kourtney corrects him and says she was brought up as Christian, as Travis said he went to Catholic school and Kourtney adds she did go to Catholic high school. 'And then the church didn't work out, especially like an Italian Catholic church is so strict, and we needed really specific documents, or we had to do a one-year Catholic course,' Kourtney explains at her home. They leave the monastery as Domenico and his team are getting the villa ready for the wedding in one day. Kourtney gives a hug to pastor Chad Veach, as Kourtney adds that Domenico, 'had offered to let us use their property and have our wedding there and throw us our wedding there.' She explained that they, 'had to do helicopter drops to get the piano there, to get everything to build,' as they showed several of the drops that went on for days. They are going through the logistics of the wedding ceremony as Kourtney adds, 'One thing I did realize, working with Domenico, is what Domenico says, he just does it. We presented a lot of stuff that looked like the church, and they just like created a church.' Church: Towards the middle of the 72-minute Hulu special, Travis and Kourtney pose for photos with their kids inside the church, as Kourtney explains that they originally wanted to get married in a church like the Guns 'n Roses music video for November Rain Choice: 'If it was our choice, we would have gotten married in a Catholic church, and it would have made a lot of sense, since we were both brought up Catholic,' Travis says Domenico: They are going through the logistics of the wedding ceremony as Kourtney adds, 'One thing I did realize, working with Domenico, is what Domenico says, he just does it. We presented a lot of stuff that looked like the church, and they just like created a church' Helicopter: She explained that they, 'had to do helicopter drops to get the piano there, to get everything to build,' as they showed several of the drops that went on for days Monastery They leave the monastery as Domenico and his team are getting the villa ready for the wedding in one day 'We let some details go that I think people would be surprised with,' Kourtney said, as Travis added, 'We just wanted to get married. We didn't really care about the details.' Kourtney added, 'I remember calling Melissa Kolker and planning it in 30 minutes and then calling you and talking to you about it, when everything else I do is so planned out and so detailed. We provided like the feeling and the vibe, and really trusted Domenico to carry it out. We just wanted it to feel authentic.' The couple and the family goes through the rehearsal, as Travis added that, seeing the wedding get built every day, 'the anticipation was greater.' Kourtney added that pastor Chad Veach and his wife Julia are, 'really good friends of ours and the church that Travis and I had gone to before we were together was Chad and Julia's church. He dropped everything and was there for us, which was perfect.' Chad walks them through the ceremony, as Travis talks about talking about their wedding with their future kids hinting they're not quite giving up on having children of their own yet. 'When we talk about our wedding to our kids, we're not gonna be like, 'Oh, we just got married in Los Angeles or we just got married in the desert or San Francisco or Utah, it had to be Portofino. We want them to say that,' Travis said, as Kourtney added, 'It all came together so easily.' While it's unclear how much the lavish wedding ultimately cost, Kourtney revealed Domenico took care of it all for them, with the wedding taking place on his own property. The Portofino nuptials were the the third that Kourtney and Travis did in roughly two months, including an early April ceremony in Las Vegas and a Santa Barbara courthouse ceremony in mid-May, a week before the Portofino ceremony. Details: 'We let some details go that I think people would be surprised with,' Kourtney said, as Travis added, 'We just wanted to get married. We didn't really care about the details' Calling: Kourtney added, 'I remember calling Melissa Kolker and planning it in 30 minutes and then calling you and talking to you about it, when everything else I do is so planned out and so detailed. We provided like the feeling and the vibe, and really trusted Domenico to carry it out. We just wanted it to feel authentic' Vanderpump Rules star Scheana Shay says she is ready to have a second child with husband Brock Davies via surrogacy or adoption - two years after giving birth to their daughter Summer Moon following a tragic miscarriage in June 2020. Scheana, 37, opens up about her baby plans during an appearance on the Undressed with Pol and Patrik podcast, where she says that she is looking into fertilizing eggs that she had frozen in June 2019 - before her marriage to Brock, 30. While opening up about her desire to expand her family, Scheana says is 'not getting any younger' when asked if she was going to be giving their daughter Summer Moon - who was born in April 2021 - a sibling. However the mother-of-one says she doesn't want to get pregnant and give birth again - having been through a 'traumatic labor' when she brought her daughter into the world. Instead, the reality star says she and Brock will turn to surrogacy - or even consider adoption. 'I had a very traumatic labor. We had a miscarriage before,' Scheana recalls. 'I think the next step would be fertilizing my eggs that are frozen. See if any can turn into an embryo. Consider a surrogate. Or consider adoption. Or even just consider rolling the dice and hoping for the best.' Scheana Shay and Brock Davies (photographed with their daughter Summer Moon in June 2022) are considering surrogacy and adoption to have their second child The Vanderpump Rules star, 37, (who shared about her miscarriage on her Scheananigans podcast in June 2020) says is looking into alternative options after suffering a miscarriage Preparing for a family: Scheana (smiling as she gets ready to freeze her eggs in 2019) says that the 'next step would be fertilizing my eggs that are frozen' to 'see if any can turn into an embryo' Scheana's baby journey began in January 2019 - nearly a year before she met her Australian Rugby player husband Brock at a music festival. It was at that time that Scheana froze 16 of her eggs and shared the experience with her fans on Instagram. Next to a photo of herself smiling in a hospital bed, Scheana discussed her reason for getting the procedure done. 'Todays the day! Bye bye eggs! For me personally, this has been a very easy, painless and awesome experience. Everyone is different Im sure,' she wrote. 'I am single and no where near trying to have a baby. So for me- yes, this was an easy process and when i say painless, Im referring to the needles which i have no problem with.' Scheana shared that her doctors alerted her to a health issue, which would cause complications several years later after the birth of Summer. 'My AMH levels were only at .28 and for my age thats insanely low. Thats disappointing to find out.' 'It was an awesome experience to see everything that goes into freezing eggs. My doctor highly recommended for me to do this to have a better chance at a healthy baby down the road,' she added. I have learned so much about fertility and everything that goes into freezing eggs and IVF. You never know what will happen in life.' 'Im not trying to have a baby right now, so this was an easy decision for me to make and thankfully Im fortunate enough to be able to afford it.' Scheana remained single until November 2019, when she fell hard and fast for Brock. In May 2020, Scheana told Bravo's Maria Menounos that she planned to have children with Brock, who was already a father. 'I want at least two, and he already has two. So four I think, for him, is a good number. If in a crazy off chance, I get pregnant naturally, twins also run in my family.' 'If I have twin boys, Im definitely trying again for a girl,' she said during her Bravo interview. Second chance: Four months after her miscarriage, In October 2020, Scheana shared that she was pregnant again with a baby girl who was due in April 2021 Brock (seen here next to his wife during their appearance on the UNDRESSED podcast in April 2023) says he 'definitely looks forward to having one or two' more ki Two months later, in June 2020, Scheana revealed on her Scheananigans podcast that she learned that she was pregnant a few weeks prior. While celebrating Brock's birthday with drinks, she started vomiting. At first, she assumed it was the mixed drinks that they were drinking. After taking a pregnancy test, she learned that she was expecting - and the two were elated. 'I didn't think that I could get pregnant on my own,' Scheana said. She then told fans the devastating news - that she had miscarried the child. While celebrating the amazing news, Scheana said that she started 'bleeding all weekend, and it wasn't stopping.' The bleeding stopped when she went on progesterone supplements, but an ultrasound later revealed that her unborn baby did not have a heartbeat. 'There were parts that he could see where the fetus was starting to form and it just didn't. To be excited for a few weeks and then it's gone so quickly. It's still been a lot to process,' she said during he podcast. Luckily, Scheana an Brock got another chance at parenthood when she became pregnant three months later, in October 2020. Scheana an Brock got another chance at parenthood when she became pregnant three months later, in October 2020. She divulged that their bundle-of-joy would be arriving in April 2021. Scheana gained 60 pounds during her pregnancy and, on April 26, she gave birth to their daughter, Summer Moon. Doctors induced labor for her pregnancy, which caused yet another serious health issue for the new mom. 'Almost 24 hours after being induced, my blood pressure was extremely elevated,' Scheana disclosed to her Instagram followers. It got worse and turned to HELLP syndrome, which is a form of preeclampsia, in which high blood pressure can affect the liver and kidneys,' she wrote. 'My doctor said I was lucky, and we caught this just in time to treat as its very unusual to be caught so late, in postpartum,' Scheana wrote. Scheana was placed on a magnesium drip, which made her lethargic with flu-like symptoms. In March 2022 Scheana and Brock revealed on Scheananigans podcast that they had timeline for baby number two. Brock, who has two other children that live in Australia, said 'I definitely look forward to having one or two Im open.' 'I think in a couple of years. Originally, before I had any complications, I had such a great pregnancy, there were no complications until, obviously, we were in labor.' 'I was thinking like this summer we would try to get pregnant again so they were like pretty close in age. Like, oh my God thats so soontotally not,' Scheana said. Scheana and Brock discussed their upcoming baby plans on the Undressed podcast, hosted by fashion designer Pol Atteu - who designed her wedding dress - and his partner Patrik Simpson. Their show Gown and Out in Beverly Hills is currently in it's fourth season on Amazon prime. Coronation Street fans slammed Sarah Platt for 'spilling the beans' of her affair with baddie Damon Hay to Dee Dee Bailey during the latest episode on Wednesday. Sarah has been flirting with Damon since last month and believing he would be going to prison for his actions gave in for one romantic night cheating on her husband Adam Barlow. However, she quickly let slip to Dee Dee after Damon was cleared of his charges that she had had an affair. Dee Dee asked: 'C'mon what's going on with you two, you looked like you wanted to rip his head off and he looked like he wanted to rip something else off.' She quickly replied: 'Your going to get me in trouble it's none of your business.' 'Useless!' Coronation Street fans slammed Sarah Platt for 'spilling the beans' of her affair with baddie Damon Hay to Dee Dee Bailey during the latest episode on Wednesday Affair: Sarah has been flirting with Damon (pictured) since last month and believing he would be going to prison for his actions gave in for one romantic night cheating on her husband Adam Barlow Working it out by the shock on Sarah's face, Dee Dee added: 'It is though because your husband is my boss. Have you kissed him. Omg you have slept with him already haven't you'. The pair were interrupted by Adam and Damon who bought over a bottle of champagne to celebrate winning their trial and so the girls took their conversation outside. Sarah continued: 'What was I thinking! It happened yesterday. Thought he'd be sent down today. I'm so embarrassed Adam will never forgive me. 'Of course I'm not going to tell him. You've got to promise me you won't say anything.' Dee Dee reassured her that she would not 'blab' to anyone about the affair but said she should worry about Damon telling people. Later Damon sat with Dee Dee at the bar convinced Sarah had told her about them hooking up. He said: 'What were you and Sarah talking about before? She told you didn't she. You might have a poker face in court but you don't after a bottle of champagne.' Dee Dee offered him some friendly advice: 'I have no idea. I'll give you some advice, if you serious about being a decent bloke you'll leave Sarah alone. You've course enough trouble around here Damon.' 'Sarah is so stupid': However, she quickly let slip to Dee Dee after Damon was cleared of his charges that she had had an affair 'Good job keeping it a secret Sarah! Fans were quick to take to Twitter to slam Sarah for her 'useless' actions spilling to Dee Dee which is a recipe for a disaster Before long Damon and Sarah secretly met up once again in the street as he explain he thought he was 'being cute' while in the group situation. She was left less than impressed and asked him 'what he thought they actually were'. Damon admitted he 'hoped she would start feeling the same as he does', but Sarah quickly shut him down. She said: 'No it was a big mistake. Sorry I love Adam. I need to focus on my marriage.' Fans were quick to take to Twitter to slam Sarah for her 'useless' actions spilling to Dee Dee which is a recipe for a disaster. Viewers also joked that she has a 'funny way of showing how much she loves her husband'. One wrote: 'Good job keeping it a secret, Sarah', a second added: 'Sarah is useless!' Another said: 'Sarah is so stupid, spilling the beans like that'. A fourth penned: 'Dee-Dee found out without Sarah even saying anything!' Mo'Nique is suing Paramount and CBS over alleged millions in unpaid royalties from her hit sitcom The Parkers. The 55-year-old Oscar winner's production company Hicks Media, has filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit in LA Superior Court - which alleges the defendants artificially depressed the show's profitability to 'retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due' to them. Mo'Nique starred as Nicole 'Nikki' Parker on the show from 1999-2004. In a statement, the star said: 'I just want the contractual compensation that Ive earned.' The suit says: 'While the series has proven to be a major financial success for its producers and distributors, the series talent have not been permitted to share in the fruits of that success.' Hicks Media is owned by Mo'Nique and her husband and business partner, Sidney Hicks, Lawsuit: Mo'Nique is suing Paramount and CBS over alleged millions in unpaid royalties from her hit sitcom The Parkers (pictured as Nikki Parker in the show) The 55-year-old Oscar winner's production company Hicks Media, has filed a breach-of-contract lawsuit in LA Superior Court - which alleges the defendants artificially depressed the show's profitability to 'retain millions that would otherwise be contractually due' to them The suit names as defendants CBS Studios, Paramount Pictures and the show's production company Big Ticket Productions. It seeks monetary damages to be determined at trial. The suit says the series' creators and writers have been similarly underpaid, and that Mo'Nique learned of the alleged breach of contract when they recently filed a similar lawsuit. DailyMail.com has contacted representatives for comment. The Parkers, a spinoff of the sitcom Moesha, ran for five seasons and 110 episodes on the now-defunct network UPN, a forerunner of The CW, from 1999 to 2004. Mo'Nique starred as Nikki Parker, a mother who returns to the same college her daughter is attending. The show has been rerun in syndication in various forms since, and has been available for streaming on Netflix since 2020. Iconic: Mo'Nique starred as Nicole 'Nikki' Parker on the show from 1999-2004. In a statement, the star said: 'I just want the contractual compensation that Ive earned' In a previous lawsuit, MoNique sued Netflix for race and sex discrimination in its offer for a proposed comedy special, accusing the streaming service of giving her a lowball offer that was part of a larger company tendency to underpay black women. The suit was settled last year. "MoNique is not shy about taking on these David vs. Goliath battles in Hollywood to challenge these questionable practices that are endemic to the industry," David deRubertis, one of her attorneys in both lawsuits, said in a statement. Mo'Nique first gained fame as a stand-up comic and was among the Queens of Comedy featured in the 2000 film of the same name. She won an Academy Award for best supporting actress for her performance in the 2009 movie Precious. Will Smith was spotted grinning ear to ear when he arrived to film a scene on the set of the upcoming fourth Bad Boys film on Wednesday. The 54-year-old actor was glimpsed stepping out of his trailer in Atlanta ahead of a scene featuring his longtime costar Martin Lawrence, 57. It was just the second time that Smith had been spotted on set, following his first appearance on Tuesday. Smith is gradually making his return to starring in films after his career was put in jeopardy when he slapped Chris Rock at last year's Academy Awards ceremony, shortly before he won the Oscar for Best Actor. Also spotted on set with him and Lawrence were their costar John Salley and action film superproducer Jerry Bruckheimer. Back at it: Will Smith, 54, was back on the set of the fourth Bad Boys film in Atlanta on Wednesday. He wore the same costume as the day before as he got back into the swing of things after his shocking Oscars slap from last year Seeing red: Martin Lawrence was dressed more casually as he stepped out of an SUV onto the set. He had on a burgundy track suit with thick dark stripes running down the sides, and he rocked a matching set of burgundy-and-white Nikes Will was dressed casually for the warm weather with a black striped short-sleeve shirt which he left unbuttoned over a black tank top. It appeared to be the same costume he was pictured in on Tuesday, indicating that he was filming similar scenes. Smith also had on dark pants and wore several gleaming chains and a luxury wristwatch, and he sported a well-kept goatee. Lawrence was dressed more casually as he stepped out of an SUV onto the set. He had on a burgundy track suit with thick dark stripes running down the sides, and he rocked a matching set of burgundy-and-white Nikes. Like his costar, he wore his hair short, and he blocked out the piercing sun with a cool pair of sunglasses. Salley, who has made appearances in the first two Bad Boy films and the spinoff series L.A.'s Finest but sat out 2020's Bad Boys For Life was also glimpsed stepping out of a makeup trailer. He was dressed casually in a black graphic T-shirt with an olive green zip-up hoodie and dark jeans. John Salley, who has made appearances in the first two Bad Boy films and the spinoff series L.A.'s Finest but sat out 2020's Bad Boys For Life was also glimpsed stepping out of a makeup trailer Overseer: Jerry Bruckheimer proved that he was keeping a close watching on the production, after previously producing the first three entries Latest: Smith and Lawrence first starred together in the 1995 original, in which they played narcotics detectives in Miami, before returning for its blockbuster 2003 sequel and 2020's Bad Boys For Life; seen in the first installment Jerry Bruckheimer proved that he was keeping a close watching on the production, after previously producing the first three entries. He stepped out of a black SUV while wearing a midnight blue button-up shirt, a black denim jacket, dark jeans and black New Balance trainers. The legendary producer has made a name for himself as an action specialist by producing films including Top Gun (and it's sequel Maverick), Crimson Tide, The Rock, Armageddon, Black Hawk Down, Beverly Hills Cop and the Pirates Of The Caribbean franchise. The fourth Bad Boys film was announced in January of this year, with Adil El Arbi and Bilall Fallah set to directed after taking over for original director Michael Bay with Bad Boys For Life. Smith and Lawrence first starred together in the 1995 original, in which they played narcotics detectives in Miami, before returning for its blockbuster 2003 sequel. Will seems to be trying to get back to normal after his shocking Oscars slap threatened to derail his career. While Chris Rock was presenting the award for Best Documentary, he made a few quick jokes and said that Will's wife Jada Pinkett Smith resembled Demi Moore's character from G.I. Jane thanks to her shaved head. However, it wasn't merely a fashion statement, as Jada had started shaving her head after suffering from hair loss due to alopecia, which Chris' brother later claimed he was unaware of. On the telecast, Jada was seen with a hurt expression on her face, and Will then stormed up to the stage. Chris continued smiling, presumably thinking that Will was about to put on some kind of comic show, but instead he slapped the comedian in the face. Slap: Will Smith is working to get his film career back off the ground after slapping Chris Rock at the Academy Awards last y Joke: He attacked Rock after the comedian made a joke about his wife Jada Pinkett Smith's shaved head; seen in March 2022 Smith would awkwardly go on to win the Best Actor award toward the end of the evening. In July, he apologized publicly to Rock and to everyone who had seen the slap. 'I made a choice of my own from my own experiences from my history with Chris,' he said, claiming that his wife had not instigated the slap. 'Jada had nothing to do with it. I'm sorry, babe. 'I want to say sorry to my kids and my family for the heat that I brought on all of us,' he continued. 'To all my fellow nominees, this is a community. It's like, I won because you voted for me and it breaks my heart to have stolen and tarnished your moment.' Lori Harvey showcased her incredible bikini body in a series of sizzling snaps from her trip to Turks and Caicos on Wednesday. The model, 26, wowed in colorful swimsuits and dresses - while also sharing some scenic shots of the serene beach house she's staying in. In one snap, she flashed her cleavage and taut midriff in a tiny lime green bikini while sitting in the shallow surf with fish swimming all around her. Another photo was a classic vacation shot of her holding her cocktail up while on a yacht with the brilliant blue sea sparkling just behind the pink drink. The star also exuded elegance while frolicking on a boat in a long, white swimsuit coverup. Wow: Lori Harvey showcased her incredible bikini body in a series of sizzling snaps from her trip to Turks and Caicos on Wednesday Curves ahead: A Dior swimsuit accentuated the bombshell's curves The entrepreneur also shared a few photos of herself in and near an idyllic looking pool wearing a black one piece Dior swimsuit with a plunging neckline. Lori is enjoying the Caribbean island with her boyfriend Damson Idris, 31. The daughter of television host Steve Harvey, 66, has been dating the British actor since December. Idris shot down rumors that the couple were having problems in an interview with Complex. 'I'm not letting certain things affect me, and I'm also understanding that life is life and that social media is social media. Sometimes you may do different things. Sometimes you may act out of touch sometimes, but you learn,' he said. 'People are able to look at those choices and learn. With my private life today, with my relationship today, uh, it's great. Life is great and I'm just moving forward,' he continued. 'It is tough to keep those things a secret, but you know, our lives are under a magnifying glass. And people need to understand that people are people. People in the public eye are people. As I said, it's great and life is great,' he concluded. She also shared pics of herself in a form-fitting, slinky, long red dress with yellow detailing on the bodice. Pool time: Lori was every inch the stunner as she enjoyed a pool dip On a boat: The star exuded elegance in a white dress Pink drink: The photos included several of her on a boat holding a pink drink The SKN by LH founder previously dated actor Michael B. Jordan, 36, for almost two years. A source close to the exes told People at the time, 'Michael matured a lot over the course of their relationship and was ready to commit for the long term.' The insider continued, 'He let down his guard with her, opening up emotionally in a romantic relationship for the first time.' In December, Lori opened up about her single status to Essence magazine, saying, 'This moment is about me. I feel like it's always been about me attached to something or someone.' Lady in red: The entrepreneur also shared photos of herself in a long, slinky, red dress Fashion show: Lori's photo dumps showed off her beachside fashion in several of the snaps Cozy: She lounged on a large cushion in her sexy red dress Scenic: The daughter of Steve Harvey also shared shots of the serene beach and calm sea Sunset: No one can resist capturing a sunset over the sea in a photo, not even Lori Harvey Delicious: She also shared a snap of one of her meals 'This time, it's about me. Self-love, self-care, self-reflection. I'm being a little selfish right now. It's my time.' And despite having a very public career, she prefers to keep her private life out of the spotlight and gossip blogs. 'I think a lot of times, people are projecting,' she said about online trolling. 'Typically, what I have found is when its guys who feel that way, its because they know that they cant meet you at your standards. Which is okay, too. Everything aint for everybody.' 'But what I would love for people to know is that I am a young woman just trying to figure it outbut Im trying to figure it out in the public eye, she adds. That magnifies everything. It magnifies your mistakes. It magnifies the ups and downs of just navigating your life and figuring it out for yourself.' Adam Brody revealed he was 'instantly smitten' with now-wife Leighton Meester when they first met during a candid chat on podcast Podcrushed this week. The 43-year-old Fleishman Is In Trouble actor who attended the Shazam! premiere with his spouse, 37, last month - recalled 'I think the first time I saw her is when I met her at Canters, the Deli in Los Angeles.' He was prompted by co-host Nava Kavelin, who said, 'I'm wondering if you remember the first time Leighton entered your consciousness?' 'Thats when I saw her, and, yeah, I was smitten instantly,' he told the hosts of the Stitcher Studios podcast, which in addition to Nava, includes Leighton's former Gossip Girl costar Penn Badgley and Sophie Ansari. 'I was, you know, smitten for a long time. I didnt get to know her for many years after, even though we even worked together briefly,' he continued. Sweet: Adam Brody revealed he was 'instantly smitten' with now-wife Leighton Meester when they first met during a candid chat on the podcast Podcrushed this week; the couple pictured last November in NYC Expressing his admiration and appreciation for his wife, who he married in 2014, Adam added: 'Shes so lovely, and shes so sweet.' The father-of-two, who shares 7-year-old daughter Arlo with Leighton as well as a younger son, continued to praise his wife as he gushed, 'Shes so nice. Shes so good.' Looking back at that time he noted, 'And yet - and this is to her credit - she remained elusive to me for so long, you know, and aloof. 'I couldnt get a total read because even though she professes to have been interested in me and all those things, not only did she not pursue that - I mean, she was perfectly willing to let that never happen if it never, you know. 'Yeah, she was perfectly willing to let that message in the bottle return to sea at several points,' he explained. Penn, who stars in Netflix's hit series You, reflected, 'That means she already had faith in your love. She was already letting you go.' Adam responded, 'She says, oh, its because I knew if we did it would be a thing, you know, or like its too powerful.' Beyond having their acting careers in common, the lovebirds have also picked up another shared interest since their relationship began. Jogging his memory: The 43-year-old actor recalled 'I think the first time I saw her is when I met her at Canters, the Deli in Los Angeles'; pictured 2019 First impression: 'Thats when I saw her, and, yeah, I was smitten instantly,' he told the hosts of the Stitcher Studios podcast; the couple pictured last month in LA 'A big part of our quarantine life is that my wife and I have been surfing our brains out,' Brody told the Wall Street Journal in December 2020. 'My wife will come down with our son half an hour, 45 minutes after I'm up and join the party and we will check the surf on our phones. 'I've been off and on a lifetime surfer. My wife's relatively new to it but is very dedicated. She is going surfing right now,' Brody continued. And in 2019 Leighton told Shape, 'I have found that when I don't have a physical result in mind when I'm exercising it's not just about getting sore or getting abs or burning fat I feel much more confident. 'I'm working on a skill, and that is so fulfilling to me.' Chyna Mills exposed her growing bump in a crop top at the PrettyLittleThing event on Wednesday alongside her fiance Neil Jones. The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 40, and Love Island star, 24 announced they were engaged and expecting their first child together at the start of April. The happy couple looked loved-up as they attended the high-profile event, which was also attended by famous reality stars such as Molly-Mae Hague and Gemma Owen. Chyna, who is around 14 weeks pregnant, exposed the first sightings of her blossoming bump in a stylish off-the-shoulder crop top, which she paired with heels and wide-leg jeans. She added a long black coat and over-the-shoulder bag to complete the casual and effortless look. Loved-up: Chyna Mills, 24, showed off her growing baby bump at the PrettyLittleThing event with fiance Neil Jones, 40, on Wednesday Congrats! The Strictly dancer and Love Island star have announced they are engaged and expecting their first child together Meanwhile Neil looked dapper in a black denim jacket and belted jeans, as the couple couldn't bear to be more than a few inches away from each other. Chyna and Neil went official with their romance in August, shortly after the former's stint on Love Island. Speaking to Hello! magazine about her pregnancy news, she said: 'It still doesn't feel real'. Neil popped the question to the reality star as they enjoyed a romantic getaway in Bali recently. He said: '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% sure if it was genuine. She said: 'At first, I thought he was joking because we play jokes on each other all the time'. The TV personality took to Instagram to share a sweet snap of the pair to announce their happy news. Pals: Molly-Mae Hague and Gemma Owen ensured all eyes were on them as they led the stars attending the PrettyLittleThing showroom launch in London on Wednesday Exciting: The couple went official with their romance in August and shared their happy news on April 2 She penned: 'I feel like I'm dreaming'. Her former co-stars took to the comments to congratulate the couple on their exciting news. Gemma Owen said: 'Congratulations'. Deji Adeniyi added: 'NO WAY! Congratulations sis,' while Mollie Salmon wrote: 'Congratulations to you both , AHH so excited'. 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. 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. The pair split in August 2019 and announced the sad news in a joint statement that read: 'Hi everyone. As our fans and loyal supporters, you are really important to us and so we wanted to let you know some news. 'After 11 years we have made the mutual decision to separate. We will always love each other, just in a different way as friends. 'This will never change what a great team we make and we are really proud of everything we have achieved together. 'Our shared love of dance means we will keep working and dancing together as well as exploring individual projects. No matter what we do we will always support and respect each other. 'We wish one another every happiness and we will remain the best of friends. We are really looking forward to getting back to the ballroom and can't wait to keep on dancing. Lots of love from us both xx.' Lottie Moss revealed she wanted to give off a 'classier vibe' as she attended the PrettyLittleThing showroom launch in London on Wednesday. The model, 25, covered up her 'lover' face tattoo and opted for a modest white summer dress that she teamed with a black tasseled leather jacket and pointed heels. Lottie styled her blonde tresses in loose waves and accentuated her natural beauty with a flawless palette of make up. The beauty toted her belongings in a black mini bag and accessorised with dainty gold necklaces. Sharing a video with fans ahead of the event, she explained the reason for her new look. Chic: Lottie Moss ensured all eyes were on her on Wednesday as she attended the PrettyLittleThing showroom launch in London She revealed: 'When I want to go for a classier vibe I cover up my face tattoo and dress like Little House On The Prairie. 'Like butter wouldn't melt, like she's so innocent, like she never got a face tattoo in Bali after two drinks!' Lottie got the tattoo last year and previously revealed that the inking was her way of 'expressing that I am free' after embarking on a 'self-discovery' journey. It comes after Lottie bore a striking resemblance to her supermodel half-sister Kate, 49, on Wednesday as she was snapped out in London. The model looked chic for the Primrose Hill outing, showing off her slim figure in a fitted black maxi dress. She added a tassle-detailed leather jacket over the top of the scoop neck ruched garment, with metal silver details. Accessorising with a silver chain belt around her waist, she sported a heart pendant necklace alongside a collection of matching rings. With a pair of black sunglasses sitting on her head, the OnlyFans model left her bright blonde locks to fall freely in a soft wave. Dressing up the look, Lottie donned a pair of bright silver metallic ankle boots with a multi-strap detail and small heel. Stylish: The model, 25, nailed an edgy chic look in a white linen maxi dress and teamed it with a black tasseled leather jacket Inked: Lottie got the tattoo last year and previously revealed that the inking was her way of 'expressing that I am free' after embarking on a 'self-discovery' journey She carried a black mini handbag with silver metal buckles while keeping a soft palette of makeup on her fair complexion. Joined by pals, the star appeared to be enjoying a day of high street shopping in the capital. Kate and Lottie are sisters through their father Linda Rosina, who welcomed Kate with Linda Rosina Shepherd and Lottie with Inger Solnordal. Despite the pair having a famously strained relationship, the model siblings look strikingly similar. Recently, Lottie hit out at the 'common misconception' her family are 'rich and famous' as she waded into the nepo baby row. She said in fact she 'doesn't really know' her older half-sister Kate, with their relationship so distant 'she doesn't reply to my texts'. In a self-penned essay, Lottie said while her sister provided her a useful stepping stone, she was determined to make her own money herself and used her earnings to pay for private schooling at St. Bede's School in Redhill. The Chelsea socialite also responded to the backlash for a series of Tweets she posted in response to Lily Allen, the daughter of actor Keith Allen and film producer Alison Owen, who launched a defence of celebrity children raised within privileged families. 'I think a common misconception is that because Kate, who is 24 years older than me, is rich and famous, so were my family. But obviously, that was her money and her fame, not ours,' Lottie wrote in Newsweek. Not close: The influencer recently said she 'doesn't really know' her older half-sister Kate, 49, with their relationship so distant 'she doesn't reply to my texts' (pictured in 2014) Lottie continued: 'I knew that my sister Kate was famous and growing up, I idolized her, thinking she was the coolest. 'I never got much love or attention from her though, which has always upset me, especially because people have brought her up to me for as long as I can remember. 'How do I say to people that I don't know her and that she doesn't reply to my texts? I honestly think the whole "nepo baby" concept is so weird. 'There are so many people in the world that have had obvious advantages in their career because of who they know or who someone in their family is, not just famous people.' Christine McGuinness cut a stylish figure as she lead the stars attending the No7 Future Renew launch event in London on Thursday. The model, 35, looked sensational for the bash as she donned a black off the shoulder jumpsuit that highlighted her incredible figure. The garment featured flared legs while Christine added height to her frame with a pair of open-toed heels. The Real Houseiwves of Cheshire star carried a beige handbag and styled her blonde locks into loose waves. Also in attendance at the event was Georgia Harrison who opted for a multi-coloured layered midi dress with a plunging neckline. Stunning: Christine McGuinness cut a stylish figure as she lead the stars attending the No7 Future Renew launch event in London on Thursday Beauty: The Real Houseiwves of Cheshire star carried a beige handbag and styled her blonde locks into loose waves The garment featured a corset-style top and a pleated detail while Georgia also sported a pair of chunky white heels. Also wearing a gold necklace, the former Love Island star added to her look with matching bracelets. Fellow Love Islander Demi Jones put on a leggy display in a black skintight mini dress which she wore with a matching blazer. Showing off her bronzed tan, the star also wore a pair of gold heels and styled her flame-haired locks into a ponytail. Jess Wright cut a trendy figure in a beige jacket with a matching belt which she wore with black skintight trousers. The TOWIE star added height to her frame with black heels and compimented her outfit with a tan handbag. Keeley Hawes looked radiant as ever at the beauty event, opting for a classic black blazer and matching trousers. Great British Bake Off star Candice Brown opted for a more casual look, sporting a white sheer shirt and a pair of light blue jeans. Outfit: Jess Wright cut a trendy figure in a beige jacket with a matching belt which she wore with black skintight trousers Flawless: Also in attendance at the event was Georgia Harrison who opted for a multi-coloured layered midi dress with a plunging neckline Elegant: Keeley Hawes looked radiant as ever at the beauty event, opting for a classic black blazer and matching trousers Fashion: Great British Bake Off star Candice Brown opted for a more casual look, sporting a white sheer shirt and a pair of light blue jeans Sizzling: Demi Jones put on a leggy display in a black skintight mini dress which she wore with a matching blazer Thumps up: Elsewhere, Linda Robson looked in good spirits at the bash where she sported a multi-coloired midi dress with a floral print Casual: Rounding out the guests was Abbie Quinnen who opted for a more laid back look in a black sleeveless top and blue jeans Elsewhere, Linda Robson looked in good spirits at the bash where she sported a multi-coloired midi dress with a floral print. Giving a thumbs up as she posed for the camera, the Loose Women star added to her look with a pair of silver sandals. Rounding out the guests was Abbie Quinnen who opted for a more laid back look in a black sleeveless top and blue jeans. James Marsden oozed confidence as he stepped out for some fresh air in New York City on Wednesday. For his laid-back stroll, the 49-year-old Dead to Me star cut a dapper figure in a blue short sleeve button-down with white stripes, dark-wash trousers and white sneakers. He completed his look with a pair of bad shades, a silver watch and his brown hair perfectly tousled. His latest outing comes after the recent release of his latest show, Jury Duty, which follows a real person at the center of a fake court case. In the series, Marsden portrays a hilariously narcissistic version of himself, alongside 11 jury members, a judge, bailiff and 12 fake witnesses giving fake testimony. Handsome: James Marsden oozed confidence as he stepped out for some fresh air in New York City on Wednesday Ronald Gladden, the only non-actor in the show, signed up for the project through a Craigslist ad looking for someone to follow through the American judicial process. While promoting his new Amazon Freevee series last week, Marsden recalled a 'bizarre experience' when he served jury duty during an interview with People. The X-Men star claimed he was left shocked when one of the lawyers involved in an 'eviction case' in an LA court told him they 'loved all his work' as they opened proceedings. 'I just served once before and it was a bizarre experience because it was here in L.A., and I walked into the courtroom and there was a wall of headshots of actors who have served jury duty before in a government building!' the Oklahoma native said. He continued: 'I was thinking in my mind, 'Well, if anybody recognizes me, then maybe I would be a distraction. I don't know. I wasn't really trying to get off jury duty.' 'One of the lawyers' opening arguments in the middle of an opening argument, he turned to me and he goes, "And I've loved everything you've done"' He added the comment made him want to quip 'Judge, I should go' but then he remembered 'it was a courthouse with a wall full of headshots so, they're gonna love that. Back in January, Marsden revealed his disappointment at Westworld's cancellation in an interview with Rolling Stone. Out and about: For his laid-back stroll, the 49-year-old Dead to Me star cut a dapper figure in a blue short sleeve button-down with white stripes, dark-wash trousers and white sneakers The actor who played cowboy Teddy in the show, which HBO canceled back in November before the creators could wrap up the show with a fifth season. Not only was the series canceled, but Warner Bros. Discovery announced last month that it would remove the show from its streaming service HBO Max. 'Id be lying to you if I told you that the way we ended Westworld wasnt a disappointment,' Marsden said in the interview. 'Im never going to speak without gratitude about any of my experiences, but it would have been nice to be able to complete the story we wanted to finish.' He added that he loves his 'Westworld family' before adding that he would go home and watch the show as a fan as well. 'I totally understand its an expensive show and big shows have to have big audiences to merit the expense, I just wish it was about more than financial success,' he said. Viral series: His outing comes after the recent release of his latest show, Jury Duty, which follows a real person at the center of a fake court case; seen last month The Enchanted actor said he's holding out hope that the show may one day be finished. 'Maybe thats just wishful thinking, because I know we had plans to finish it the way we wanted to,' he added. Westworld was reportedly canceled because of the high cost of producing the show. It had been reported that season one carried a hefty budget of $88million, with the figure growing to $107million in season two. The axing came during an 'ongoing evaluation of programming' with HBO's parent company Warner Bros. Discovery. Westworld had earned an impressive nine Primetime Emmy awards throughout its run, as well as a total of 54 nominations. It was launched by HBO back in 2016 as a prestige drama with high hopes of it becoming another long-running show amid the success of Game of Thrones, and boasted a stellar cast with Oscar-winner Anthony Hopkins. Ed Harris, Jeffrey Wright and Thandiwe Newton were also part of the original cast. The Strictly Come Dancing judges are reportedly in a stand-off with show bosses over getting a bump in their pay. Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse and Anton Du Beke are allegedly looking to receive an 11% salary rise ahead of the BBC dance competition show's new season. According to a report from The Sun on Wednesday, the BBC is 'holding firm' against the judges and the pay row means the two groups are allegedly at an impasse. Should the pay rise go through it was reported that Shirley would reportedly earn an extra 55,000 as she is said to be earning almost 500,000. Meanwhile, Motsi and Craig would reportedly earn 20,000 extra if the pay rise went through as they are both said to be on 200,000 each. Shocker: Strictly Come Dancing judges are allegedly in a stand-off with the BBC over a pay rise, according to a report released on Wednesday Line-up: Shirley Ballas (centre left), Craig Revel Horwood (R), Motsi Mabuse (centre right) and Anton Du Beke (L) are allegedly looking to receive an 11 percent salary rise The publication also reported that Anton would earn an extra 19,000 as he is believed to be earning 180,000 currently. A source told the publication: 'In the blue corner, you have the BBC who are absolutely adamant there will be no bumper deals this year. 'And in the red corner are the judges and their agents united in their desire for renewed deals to reflect the economic situation. 'Yes, their salaries are vast, but Strictly is on for a limited time and other opportunities in a cost-of-living crisis are not so forthcoming.' The source also claimed that negotiations between the BBC and the judges are still ongoing and 'no terms have been agreed' yet. MailOnline has contacted representatives for Shirley Ballas, Craig Revel Horwood, Motsi Mabuse, Anton Du Beke, and BBC spokespeople for further comment. This comes after Shirley was reportedly given a 'take it or leave it' deal by Strictly bosses to stay on the show, after she revealed she may quit over online trolling. The head judge and Latin expert was subjected to much criticism last year in which trolls slammed her decisions and accused her of ageism and sexism. Negotiations: This comes after Shirley was reportedly given a 'take it or leave it' deal by Strictly bosses to stay on the show, after she revealed she may quit over online trolling 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. How much do the Strictly judges earn? Shirley Ballas - 500,000 Craig Revel Horwood - 200,000 Motsi Mabuse - 200,000 Anton Du Beke - 180,000 Advertisement The 'Queen of Latin' has reportedly been offered a raise in line with her fellow judges Craig, Motsi and Anton. 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 had to take 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 contacted representatives for Shirley Ballas for comment at the time. He's known to fans for his roles in shows like Band of Brothers and Homeland. And Damian Lewis is forging a new career path as a musician as he releases his debut single on Thursday with an album to follow in the summer. The actor, 52, reportedly signed a record deal with Decca Records after a bidding war for the rights to release his debut album Mission Creep. Damian has written a series of 'deeply personal' songs for the album which comes nearly two years after the death of his wife Helen McCrory. Speaking to The Mirror, he said: 'It encompasses many life experiences, and won't take Sherlock Holmes to work out what some of those are.' Career: Damian Lewis is forging a new career path as a musician as he releases his debut single on Thursday with an album to follow in the summer (pictured in March 2023) Candid: Damian has written a series of 'deeply personal' songs for the album which comes nearly two years after the death of his wife Helen McCrory (pictured together in 2020) His debut single is called Down On The Bowery, with his fans speculating that it serves as an ode to his girlfriend, fellow musician Alison Mosshart. Jokingly referring to his new career path as a 'mini midlife crisis', Damian said: 'I suddenly had a lot to say. People will judge if it's any good or not, but for me, it felt entirely natural.' 'There's nothing more annoying than an actor who thinks he's Bruce Springsteen. By the way, I don't. This is a mini midlife crisis, but not a full-blown one.' Damian's love of music started early, with the actor busking throughout Europe after graduating from Eton. He began playing the guitar again during lockdown while the film industry was shut down. The actor is said to be playing the Cheltenham Jazz Festival on May 1 and Black Deer Festival on June 16 and he also hopes to perform at Glastonbury. Alison and father-of-two Damian were first photographed together in June 2022at a swanky fundraising party for London's National Gallery. A fellow passenger who spotted the pair travelling to the event by train told The Mail on Sunday the two looked '100 per cent romantically involved like they were on a hot date.' Couple: His debut single is called Down On The Bowery, with his fans speculating that it serves as an ode to his girlfriend, fellow musician Alison Mosshart (pictured in 2022) Album: The actor reportedly signed a record deal with Decca Records after a bidding war for the rights to release his debut album Mission Creep They were seen again at the Serpentine Gallery's annual summer party, one of the highlights of the London social season. Alison grew up on Florida's east coast, where her dad Mark, 73, owns a car wholesale business appropriately named Alison Auto Brokers. Damian's wife Helen passed away in April 2021 at the age of 52 after a secret battle with breast cancer, the couple had been married since 2007. When Helen died, Damian revealed how his late wife had urged him to find love again, telling him and their son Gulliver, 15, and daughter Manon, 16, that she wanted 'Daddy to have lots of girlfriends.' Damian added in the social media post: 'She died as she lived. Fearlessly. God we love her and know how lucky we are to have had her in our lives. She blazed so brightly. Go now, Little One, into the air.' Gordon Ramsay was spotted jetting into Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport this week, ahead of bringing his famed Michelin-starred restaurant to Australia. The celebrity chef, 56, kept a low profile as he touched down in the country, carrying a backpack as he swiftly made his way through the terminal escorted by a staffer. Gordon kept things causal in a black T-shirt and jeans after the long-haul flight. One fan spotted Gordon at the airport and posted a picture they took of him on Reddit. The ticketed restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, will be taking over Aussie chef Matt Moran's fine diner Aria in the heart of Sydney from May 8-10 and will showcase the 'very best of Australian seasonal produce'. Gordon Ramsay, 56, was spotted jetting into Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport this week, ahead of bringing his famed Michelin-starred restaurant to Australia On the Reddit thread, fans were quick to share some cheeky comments and some with Ramsay's iconic catchphrases. 'Where's the mint sauce you donkey?!' one comment hilariously read. 'Imagine having to serve him plane food,' another comment read. On the Reddit thread, fans were quick to share some cheeky comments and some with Ramsay's iconic catchphrases. 'Where's the mint sauce you donkey?!' one comment hilariously read Despite the cost of living crisis hanging over Australia, top chef Gordon is bringing his three Michelin-starred restaurant Down Under for nearly $800 per person. Tickets to the unique experience will set you back $495 per person, which includes a seven-course menu, with an option of premium wine pairing for $295 - bringing the total to $790 each. A spokesperson from Aria told Daily Mail Australia the staggering price is set because this is the first time the high-end restaurant has ventured internationally and the menu has been personally curated by Ramsay and Moran. The ticketed restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, will be taking over Aussie chef Matt Moran's (left) fine diner Aria in the heart of Sydney from May 8-10 and will showcase the 'very best of Australian seasonal produce' The menu features signature Restaurant Gordon Ramsay dishes, including shellfish raviolo and a pecan praline dessert. Word of the event has quickly spread on social media, with guests slamming the outrageous price. At first many seemed eager to visit and bring a friend along, only to be turned away after seeing the cost. 'At almost $500 per person, the food would have to be amazing,' one woman commented on Facebook. '$800 each??' another questioned, a third joked: 'If you take out a home loan you could buy an entree!' But tickets to the unique experience will set you back $495 per person, with an option of premium wine pairing for $295 - bringing the total to $790 'I hope it's an improvement. Aria is extremely overrated,' another added. Others said they would be enticed to pay and go only if Ramsay made a guest appearance for the duration of the three-day event. 'I'd love to sit at the chefs table at Aria if Gordon Ramsay was on the pass,' one woman wrote. Ramsay said: 'Collaborating with my dear friend Matt Moran, and talented chef patron, Matt Abe at Aria, with its magnificent views across Sydney harbour, and creating a menu that utilises Australia's incredible local produce whilst delivering the finesse of our 3-star Michelin menu, is a dream come true.' Moran added: ''What an absolute honour to have Restaurant Gordon Ramsay do their first residency outside London at Aria. 'Gordon is one of my closest mates, and Abe spent five years cooking with me in the Aria kitchen before moving to London where he has cemented his place as one of the world's finest chefs. 'These three nights will be a real highlight in the 23 years of Aria; I can't wait.' Katie Holmes has been out en force in recent days promoting her latest film Rare Objects. The actress, who serves as director, producer, co-writer, and one of the stars of the new drama, kicked off her Wednesday with an appearance on the Today show in New York City. After being seen going both in and out of the GE Building in Rockefeller Center, the NBC studios where the talk show is filmed, Holmes would eventually slip out of her on-screen ensemble and replace it with a more casual outfit, and then head out for casual stroll. Not long later she was spotted making her way along the bustling streets of Soho in Downtown Manhattan. Opting to dress down, the Dawson's Creek alum still looked stylish in bright red and black plaid shirt that she wore with white sweatpants and matching running sneakers. Sporty Katie: Katie Holmes, 44, stepped out for a casual stroll in the Soho neighborhood of Downtown Manhattan on Wednesday after promoting her new film Rare Objects with a guest appearance on the Today Show As the temperatures rose from the low 60s Fahrenheit earlier in the morning, eventually hitting summer-like 80s, Holmes decided for forgo a jacket for her time walking alone in the neighborhood that's famous for its artists, upscale boutiques and cast-iron architecture. Holmes still had her long brown tresses pulled up into a stylish bun, which was done up for her spot on the Today show just hours earlier. With the sun glaring down as the morning gave way to the afternoon, The Gift star also donned very coo sunglasses for much of her walk. Eventually, she made it back to her Manhattan apartment that she has been sharing with her 16-year-old daughter, Suri, and headed inside for a little rest and relaxation. Earlier on Wednesday, for her appearance on Today, Holmes cut a stylish figure in a knitted gray sweater that was paired with graphic trousers with a stylized paint-splattered taupe bottom, and bold yellow kitten heels. The actress-turned-director ended up appearing alongside her Rare Objects co-star, Julia Mayorga, for the interview. 'It's so exciting to have worked with Julia. She is spectacular in this film, and carries the movie beautifully,' Holmes said off the top of the Today interview with Hoda Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager. 'It's such an emotional performance, and I'm so proud the world gets to see her in this. and so It's so exciting.' she said of the film's leading lady. Casual and sporty: On a day that saw temperatures go from low 60s to low 80s Fahrenheit, Holmes decided to wear white sweatpants and a red and black plaid shirt without a jacket Promo mode: Earlier on Wednesday, Holmes promoted Rare Objects with the drama film's leading lady Julia Mayorga, which was co-hosted by Hota Kotb and Jenna Bush Hager Many hats: Holmes served as director, producer, co-writer and co-star of Rare Objects High praise: 'It's so exciting to have worked with Julia. She is spectacular in this film, and carries the movie beautifully,' Holmes said of Julia Mayorga off the top of the Today interview Based on a popular 2016 novel by Kathleen Tessaro, Holmes co-wrote the screenplay with Tessaro and Phaedon A. Papadopoulos, in what has turned out to be a passion project for the Wonder Boys actress. According to Collider, the story follows 'a young woman with a traumatic past who seeks to rebuild her life when she begins working at an antique store. Receiving wisdom and guidance from the kind souls that own the ship, she gains a new level of confidence that will then be put to the test when those from her past draw her back into their world and challenge her fragile stability.' Along with Mayorga and Holmes, who has a supporting role, the cast also includes Alan Cumming, Derek Lee, David Alexander, Saundra Santiago, Jim Stanton, Purva Bedi, Gina Jun and Matthew Lawler, among others. Rare Objects hots select theaters and is available to stream On-Demand on Friday, April 14. Stacey Dooley: Ready For War? Rating: Matt Baker's Travels In The Country: USA Rating: This is what a real 'reality show' looks like. Amateur army recruits were slogging through mud and training for trench warfare, as a celebrity from Strictly urged them on. But these young men a welder, a jeweller, a masseur, a florist didn't bicker, or drop out, or feud and whinge. It wasn't a game. The raw young soldiers were Ukrainian volunteers, on a crash course somewhere in England with British Army professionals. And at the end of five weeks' basic training, they were returning to fight for their homeland, and to face the very real danger of being maimed or killed in battle. The unflinching courage they showed as Stacey Dooley an investigative journalist before she found fame on the dancefloor followed them on Ready For War? (BBC3, repeated tonight on BBC1) was humbling. And the bitter frustration of the British troops at being unable to join them was palpable. 'As a soldier,' said one officer through gritted teeth, 'I feel uncomfortable saying goodbye to you while we remain safe here in England.' There was no doubting how physically tough the Ukrainians are. They dug foxholes and slept in six inches of water, then laughed it off in the morning. They learned hand-to-hand combat, how to overpower an enemy soldier at close quarters and kill with a swift thrust of a knife. Pictured: Stacey Dooley. Amateur army recruits were slogging through mud and training for trench warfare, as the Strictly celebrity urged them on CHRISTOPHER STEVENS: The unflinching courage the young men showed as Stacey Dooley an investigative journalist before she found fame on the dancefloor followed them on Ready For War? (BBC3, repeated tonight on BBC1) was humbling This was the closest we will ever have to a glimpse of what our grandfathers and great-grand-fathers must have experienced, ordinary lads marching off in village brigades to the slaughtering fields of Flanders in 1914. One man, Serhii, showed Stacey footage filmed on his phone of Russian tanks rolling into the outskirts of Kyiv in February last year. His wife and daughters hid in the basement of their home for a month before the invaders retreated. He was steeling himself to kill Russians, he said: 'I will do whatever it takes to live in peace.' Yaroslav, 28, haunted by the sight of families killed by a rocket strike in Kyiv, echoed his determination: 'Better I die than some children.' No one showed self-pity and all fear was hidden. But a single moment of genuine emotion from translator Iliia, choking up because she knew that many of these young men could soon be dead, was more affecting than all the fake tears on every reality show. Welder Pasha, 30, asked Stacey to let him record a farewell message for his parents. He had been in Belgium when the invasion began, and he could have stayed safe in the West, but he chose to fight. Dooley is pictured with young soldiers as they fire rifles on Ready For War? 'For me, it's easy,' he claimed. 'Guys who have children, much more harder. I hope of course that I will survive, but the chances are not so big, is the truth.' And then he reminded Stacey of the cost to all of Europe if Ukraine is left to its fate. 'I hope you will not be in our position, never. That is why we are fighting.' Matt Baker was missing his homeland as he explored Florida and its farms on Travels In The Country: USA (More4). Even the Everglades reminded him of County Durham, though there's not so many alligators north of Middlesbrough. He was delighted by the vintage tractor collection on a sugar cane ranch, and enjoyed a chance to go scuba diving at a man-made coral reef plantation. But he was less thrilled to be hunting pythons, an invasive species thriving in the swamps. His guide, Dusty, was barefoot. Matt donned his wellies. 'I call them concrete boots,' said Dusty doubtfully. 'Not Willies.' Laughing, Matt corrected him: 'Wellies!' Dusty shook his head. 'Thought you said Willies. After Willie Nelson.' Ryan Thomas was all smiles as he attended the PrettyLittleThing London showroom launch party on Wednesday evening without fiance Lucy Mecklenburgh. The actor, 38, was joined by Love Island's Claudia Fogarty, 28, as they pair beamed for photos together at the star-studded event. The former Coronation Street star cut a smart figure in a pair of beige trousers which he teamed with a black T-shirt, a matching bomber jacket and trainers. While the reality star sported a similar ensemble to Ryan in a pair of beige cargos and a chic black blazer. Claudia kept casual in a pair of trainers and added black sunglasses on top of her head. Pals: Ryan Thomas was all smiles as he attended the PrettyLittleThing London showroom launch party on Wednesday evening with Love Island's Claudia Fogarty The TV personality styled her long blonde tresses in loose waves as they cascaded past her shoulders. The daughter of the former motorcycle racer Carl Fogarty, accessorised her chic outfit with a pair of simple gold hoop earrings. She flashed her gorgeous smile to the camera while posing for a snap with the Waterloo Road star as she enjoyed a lavish cocktail at the event. Ryan met fiance Lucy on the Channel 4 reality series, The Island with Bear Grylls in 2017. The couple got engaged after two years of dating in 2019, with Lucy sharing a picture of herself and Ryan on Italy's Amalfi Coast along with the caption: 'I said YES.' The actor, who shares daughter Scarlett, 10, with ex Tina O'Brien, had clearly pulled out all the stops for the proposal as he wined and dined the stunner with a romantic al fresco dinner by the sea. The couple announced they had welcomed their first child in March 2020, a baby boy called Roman Ravello. Ryan and Lucy shared the exciting news that they had welcomed their second child, a daughter Lilah in May last year on social media alongside a sweet black and white snap of the baby's hand. Twins! The actor, 38, and the TV personality, 28, beamed for photos together at the star-studded event as they donned matching outfits Married At First Sight bride Cyrell Paule has playfully encouraged future participants to 'cheat on their husbands' while on the show. Cyrell, 33, who famously threw wine at Jess Power at the grand reunion, gave the unorthodox advice while speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle on Wednesday. Cyrell went on to say to those wanting to go on the show should make the most of the experience including 'cheating on your husband' in the experiment. 'At the end of the day, whatever you do - whether you're going to be a cow, a b**ch, a nice girl - you're going to get that blue tick [on Instagram] so don't worry about it,' she said. 'Have fun! Make fun of the experts! Cheat on your husband! No, I'm joking,' she added. MAFS' Cyrell Paule, 33, offers wild advice to the next crop of stars on the show: 'Cheat on your husband' while speaking to Yahoo Lifestyle on Wednesday. Here: Sydney, 2023 Cyrell said it was important for participants to be authentic and enjoy the experience before adding the fame is fleeting. 'I'd tell them to settle down and remember, don't get a big head,' she added. 'At the end of the day, we are just Z-listers, not A-listers, so don't let it get to your head,' she concluded. Cyrell is now in a relationship with former Love Island star, Eden Dally, with her revealing he proposed after she filmed The Challenge last year. 'At the end of the day, whatever you do - whether you're going to be a cow, a b**ch, a nice girl - you're going to get that blue tick so don't worry about it,' she said. 'Have fun! Make fun of the experts! Cheat on your husband! No, I'm joking,' she added 'At the end of the day, we are just Z-listers, not A-listers, so don't let it get to your head,' she finished of being on the show. Here: on set during MAFS Cyrell was married to Nic Jovanovic on the sixth season of Married At First Sight. The TV couple ended their relationship, and decided they were better off as friends. Cyrell and Eden began dating following the show, and she later moved into his Sydney home. The couple announced they were expecting their first child together in August 2019. They welcomed son Boston in February 2020. Kris Jenner was spotted out with Corey Gamble in Los Angeles on Wednesday. The Kardashians matriarch, 67, modeled a chic coat dress to enjoy a dinner date with her boyfriend, 42 who she has been dating for nearly a decade at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica. The reality TV star looked glamorous in the figure-hugging, tailored dress adorned with eye-catching silver broaches. The entrepreneur who posted a gushing tribute for her granddaughter True Thompson's fifth birthday earlier in the day paired the outfit with semi-sheer tights and knee-high boots. For accessories, the television personality sported a pair of oversized sunglasses and carried a miniature Hermes Birkin handbag. Dinner date: Kris Jenner, 67, was spotted out with Corey Gamble, 42, in Los Angeles on Wednesday The mother-of-six looked effortlessly chic in the all-black ensemble minus the white ruffles peeking out from underneath the sleeves of her dress. To match the details on the garment, she wore a pair of dazzling diamond and silver stud earrings. She also sported two massive diamonds on each of her ring fingers. Previously, Jenner said that she shut down rumors of an engagement and stated that she has no plans on getting married in the future. For their romantic dinner date, she opted for full glam that emphasized her sun-kissed skin and radiant beauty. She wore coral pink blush for a natural flush, ample bronzer to contour her features, and a bright lip gloss to finish off the look. Jenner has been dating Gamble since 2014 a year before her marriage to her previous partner, Caitlyn Jenner, was officially dissolved in 2015. Earlier this year, fans speculated that Gamble had proposed after Jenner showed off a huge sparkler on her ring finger in a post shared on Valentine's Day. Stylish pair: The Kardashians matriarch modeled a chic coat dress to enjoy a dinner date with her boyfriend who she has been dating for nearly a decade at Giorgio Baldi in Santa Monica To the nines: The entrepreneur who posted a gushing tribute for her granddaughter True Thompson's fifth birthday earlier in the day paired the outfit with semi-sheer tights and knee-high boots Shortly after, an insider close to the pair revealed to DailyMail.com that she was not wearing an 'engagement' ring and frequently wears flashy diamonds for herself. Another source said that Kris will likely never marry Gamble after previously divorcing twice. 'Kris is not engaged to Corey, and she has no plans to be,' the anonymous spokesperson revealed. 'She really has no need to marry him, because she has exactly what she wants with him right now.' The Voice Australia's host Sonia Kruger is enjoying the school Easter school holidays in Bali with her eight-year-old daughter Maggie. The TV presenter, 57, was spotted arriving at Denpasar airport on Tuesday holding hands with her adorable youngster as they prepared for a beachside getaway. An excited-looking Maggie gazed up at her mother as they made their way through the bustling terminal. Ever the VIP, Sonia was surrounded by two staffers rolling their luggage to the exit. The mother-of-one looked effortlessly chic in a pair of black loose-fitting trousers and a matching crop top. The Voice Australia's host Sonia Kruger, 57, (left) was spotted arriving in Bali with her daughter Maggie, eight, (right) on Tuesday as the pair geared up for a holiday She paired it with a a cream shirt worn open and an oversized straw beach bag. Her look was completed with a pair of beach-ready sandals and a delicate silver necklace. Maggie looked adorable in a tie-dye top and grey leggings. The mother-of-one looked effortlessly chic in a pair of black loose-fitting trousers and a matching crop top Ever the VIP, Sonia was surrounded by two staffers rolling their luggage to the exit She paired her look with a a cream shirt worn open and an oversized straw beach bag The Big Brother host shares Maggie, who was born in 2015, with TV executive Craig McPherson. She conceived via IVF treatment and a donor egg at the age of 49, after several natural pregnancies had ended in miscarriage. The TV host has been very open about her journey to parenthood, and told Stellar magazine two years ago that she worried if bonding with a child that wasn't biologically hers would be difficult. 'Thats the beautiful thing about having a child in your life whether youve adopted them or had them by surrogate, or its a foster child,' she said. 'You grow to love them and, in my case, it was pretty instantaneous. She grew in my tummy so shes a part of me and I look at her and cant imagine loving her any more than I do.' Ashley Benson and Anastasia Karanikolaou brought chic sex appeal on Wednesday night when they attended the star-studded Bondi Sands event at Goya Studios in Hollywood. Benson and Karanikolaou stood out alongside Australian stunner Shanina Shaik, 32, who rocked a sheer top that showcased her ample cleavage. Ashley, 33 who recently donned a very skimpy bikini wore a figure-hugging LBD with bare sides that flaunted her thighs. And Kylie Jenner's 25-year-old BFF 'Stassi' catwalked into the soiree wearing a flashy denim ensemble and midriff baring white crop top. The starlets turned out to support Bondi Sands a beauty brand that primarily creates self tanner, sunscreen and skincare. Turning heads: Ashley Benson (left, 33) and Anastasia Karanikolaou (right, 25) brought chic sex appeal on Wednesday night when they attended the star-studded Bondi Sands event at Goya Studios in Hollywood Sheer perfection: Benson and Karanikolaou stood out alongside Australian stunner Shanina Shaik, 32, who rocked a sheer top that showcased her ample cleavage Benson wore her blonde locks combed back behind her ears and pinned the sides of her risque black dress with gold bands. The Pretty Little Liars alum who is currently dating oil heir Brandon Davis made her glam pop with turquoise eyeshadow and a sharp manicure. Stassi put her flat abs on display as she swaggered in her glamorous street style that turned heads with multiple pockets and a crisp baby blue color. The bombshell wore her lustrous brunette hair in cascading waves, keeping it simple with minimal jewelry and soft glam. And Shanina Shaik pulled off a pair of edgy leather pants as she modeled her sheer top and black bra. Victoria's Secret Angel Josephine Skriver, 29, commanded attention in a baggy dark beige suit and casual kicks. The Danish model allowed her stunning features to be the star of her outfit, showing off a radiant complexion accented by rosy touches at the eyes, cheeks and lips. Fashion influencer Kellie Sweet, 26, turned heads in a dazzling silver minidress and high bun. Sexy details: Benson wore her blonde locks combed back behind her ears and pinned the sides of her risque black dress with gold bands Color and claws: The Pretty Little Liars alum made her glam pop with turquoise eyeshadow and a sharp manicure Denim diva: Kylie Jenner's BFF 'Stassi' catwalked into the soiree wearing a flashy denim ensemble and midriff baring white crop top Gorgeous: Shanina Shaik pulled off a pair of edgy leather pants as she modeled her sheer top and black bra Corporate chic: Victoria's Secret Angel Josephine Skriver, 29, commanded attention in a baggy dark beige suit and casual kicks. The Danish model allowed her stunning features to be the star of her outfit, showing off a radiant complexion accented by rosy touches at the eyes, cheeks and lips Stunners: Fashion influencer Kellie Sweet (left, 26) turned heads in a dazzling silver minidress and high bun. Another beauty in attendance was 22-year-old TikTok star Alix Earle (right), who showed off her incredible physique by slipping into a sheer dress that left very little to the imagination Turning up in style: In addition to the bevy of starlets who came out for Bondi Sands, socialite Vas J Morgan, 34, showed up to mix and mingle. The former reality star wore an eclectic beach shirt with ample jewelry and an eye-popping neon green bag Another beauty in attendance was 22-year-old TikTok star Alix Earle, who showed off her incredible physique by slipping into a sheer dress that left very little to the imagination. Still a senior at the University of Miami, Earle is the latest TikToker to go viral on the platform with her beauty tutorials and 'relatable' college lifestyle vlogs. In addition to the bevy of starlets who came out for Bondi Sands, socialite Vas J Morgan, 34, showed up to mix and mingle. The former reality star wore an eclectic beach shirt with ample jewelry and an eye-popping neon green bag. Rebel Wilson has shared a rare motherhood moment with her newborn daughter. Posting the picture to her Instagram stories, the 43-year-old Bridesmaid star can be seen relaxing on a deck chair on board a cruiser, while her baby girl Royce plays in her lap. Royce's face cannot be seen in the picture, as she dons a large blue and white beach hat. In previous posts, Rebel has been careful to protect the identity of her baby by inserting emoji's over the four-month-old's face. Rebel has been enjoying a holiday in the Caribbean this month, with her fiancee Ramona Agruma and their newborn. Posting the picture to her Instagram stories, the 43-year-old Bridesmaid star can be seen relaxing on a deck chair on board a cruiser, while her baby girl Royce plays in her lap. Pictured Rebel has been enjoying a holiday in the Caribbean this month, with her fiancee Ramona Agruma and their newborn Meanwhile, The Pitch Perfect star posted two other pics in her share. In one, taken at dusk, Rebel can be seen posing against the setting sun. The fan favourite looks like she is in full-holiday mood in a casual black and white outfit of baggy pants and matching jacket, with a striped top. In another pic, Rebel can be seen posing with Ramona and an unidentified man, who appears to be cradling Royce. Rebel used a cartoon rabbit emoji to block the man's face, while Royce's identity is protected by a cute cat emoji. Rebel posed with Ramona (right) and an identified man who appears to be holding Royce Rebel shocked fans when she announced that she had become a mother to a daughter named Royce Lillian, who was welcomed via surrogate, on November 7. She called her bundle of joy a 'beautiful miracle' when sharing a photo of the baby on Instagram. Months earlier, Rebel announced she had started a romance with Ramona who is the owner of sustainable clothing brand Lemon Ve Limon. In December, Rebel opened up about motherhood and her relationship to Maria Shriver on NBC's Today Show while promoting her new film The Almond and the Seahorse. 'I'd never kissed a woman before... it kind of led to this kind of discovery, which led to my awesome partner Ramona,' she said. 'I might not have been open to that if I hadn't done the emotional work.' For Rebel, kissing a woman for the film ultimately led her to kiss a woman in her personal life. 'I had kind of had a situation with a woman before, not a sexual relationship and we hadn't kissed or anything,' she explained. The 2022 Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy Fat Ham by James Ijames held its grand Broadway opening at the American Airlines Theatre on Wednesday, April 12. Directed by The Public Theater's Associate Artistic Director and Resident Director Saheem Ali, the new production, which is an adaption of William Shakespeare's Hamlet, brought out a wide array of celebrities including actresses Lupita Nyong'o and Sandra Oh. Before show time, the Academy Award-winning Nyong'o, who's also a Tony Award nominee for her lead role in Eclipsed (2016), strutted her stuff on the red carpet by herself, and then for a session alongside Ali. The Kenyan-Mexican actress, 40, showcased her fit figure in a black-and-white dress with long vertical lines along the top and bottom portions of the striking number. The 12 Years A Slave star, who stands at 5ft5in, also got a few inch boost by wearing a pair of black leather platform boots. Show of support: Lupita Nyong'o and Sandro Oh were among the celebrities to attend the opening night of Fat Ham by James Ijames on Broadway at the American Airlines Theatre on Wednesday, April 12 Rounding out her overall look, Nyong'o kept the accessories to a minimum by wearing double ball earrings, and had her trademark close-cropped hairdo intact for the big Broadway opening. Oh, 51, made her fashion statement in a gray shirt-dress that fell down near her ankles, that she wore with black leather shoes with buckles. The two-time Golden Globe winner had her dark tresses styled long and flowing well past her shoulders with bangs, extra volume and a slight center part. Arriving dressed for success, Ali was the picture of cool in a red suit with a white dress shirt and black tie and brown leather shoes. Ali's Fat Ham colleague, James Ijames, did a little mixing and matching by wearing black slacks with a green blazer, a white dress shirt and black tie. In a show of support, Broadway star Celia Keenan-Bolger, 45, attended the all-important opening night in a black floral dress with touches of green, burgundy and white. The To Kill A Mockingbird Tony Award-winner had her blonde locks styled long but pushed back over her ears with a prominent part in the middle. Another familiar face from the world of theater, Ain't No Mo' star Crystal Lucas-Perry, was also on hand looking elegant in a lavender minidress and brown pointed heels and her raven tresses flowing over her chest and back. Going solo: The Kenyan-Mexican actress struck a number of poses on the red carpet by herself Mainstay: Nyong'o often likes to attend Broadway productions over the years Sharing the spotlight: Fat Ham director Saheem Ali joined Nyong'o on the red carpet for photos Hamming it up: Ali and Nyong'o looked like old mates while posing for photographers Camryn Manheim also made a few turns on the red carpet in black pants and burgundy blazer combination. The Practice and Ghost Whisperer star also donned white boots and wore her dark brown locks long and straight with a center part. Hacks star Carl Clemons-Hopkins opted for a unique all-black ensemble that came complete with a double-breasted jacket, and matching cap and gloves. Pose actor Ryan Jamaal Swain showed his fashion sense in black fitted pants with a long gray blazer over a white button-down shirt. Stand-up comedian and actress Bridget Everett made the rounds in front of photographers in a golden one-shoulder dress that came down to just above the knees and matching open-toe heels. Working it: Oh looked fashionable in a gray shirt-dress that fell to just above her ankles Fat Ham playwright James Ijames did a little mixing and matching by wearing black slacks with a green blazer, a white dress shirt and black tie Show of support: Broadway star Celia Keenan-Bolger, 45, attended the all-important opening night in a black floral dress with touches of green, burgundy and white. Actors Will Swenson and wife Audra McDonald showed off their chemistry while on the red carpet The Tony Award nominee stepped out in blue jeans with a gray blazer over a white dress shirt, while his lady, who's best known for her Broadway work wore black slacks with a sleeved tan top that wrapped around her neck. And Alexa Goodrow snuggled up next to Erich Bergen in an off-white jumpsuit and matching boots, and her locks flowing down close to the middle of her back with a center part. The Jersey Boys film star went with black pants and a jacket with a white top and black boots. Colorful: Ain't No Mo' star Crystal Lucas-Perry, was also on hand looking elegant in a lavender minidress and brown pointed heels and her raven tresses flowing over her chest and back Mix and match: Camryn Manheim also made a few turns on the red carpet in black pants and burgundy blazer combination Man in black: Hacks star Carl Clemons-Hopkins opted for a unique all-black ensemble that came complete with a double-breasted jacket, and matching cap and gloves Pose actor Ryan Jamaal Swain showed his fashion sense in black fitted pants with a long gray blazer over a white button-down shirt. Taking place at a cookout, the Fat Ham story follows Juicy, a queer Southern college kid who grapples with identity questions, the ghost of his father who shows up in the backyard demanding that Juicy avenge his murder. But revenge doesn't come easy to Juicy, a sensitive and self-aware young Black man in search of his own happiness and liberation. And then, from the uproarious family cookout emerges a compelling examination of love and loss, pain and joy. The cast includes Nikki Crawford, Chris Herbie Holland, Billy Eugene Jones, Adrianna Mitchell, Calvin Leon Smith, Marcel Spears, Benja Kay Thomas, RJ Foster, Marquis D. Gibson, Alexandria Lewis, Matthew Elijah Webb and Rema Webb. The performance schedule for Fat Ham during the opening week includes - Tuesday through Saturday at 8PM, Sunday at 7PM, with matinees on Saturday and Sunday at 2PM, according to Broadway World. And then, beginning Tuesday, April 18, the performance schedule includes - Tuesday through Friday at 7PM, Saturday at 8PM, with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2PM, and Sunday at 3PM. Fat Ham is expected to have a limited 14-week engagement at the American Airlines Theatre, running through until June 25. Golden girl: Stand-up comedian and actress Bridget Everett strutted out in a golden one-shoulder dress that came down to just above the knees and matching open-toe heels Loved up: Will Swenson and wife Audra McDonald showed off their chemistry Ariana Madix is in her comeback era as she continues to take the high road amid the cheating scandal surrounding her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss. The Vanderpump Rules star, 37, sizzled in a clip shared to the Bloomingdales Instagram showing her rocking a plunging red 'revenge' dress. Madix made jaws drop as she posed up on the street with her hand on her hip and her cleavage on full display. She delivered model confidence as she posed for shutterbugs while taxis and cars roared through New York City's 59th street. It comes one day after her cheating ex Tom divulged details about his affair and the alleged downfall of their nine-year romance. Wow! Ariana Madix is in her comeback era as she continues to take the high road amid the cheating scandal surrounding her ex-boyfriend Tom Sandoval and Raquel Leviss The Vanderpump Rules star, 37, sizzled in a clip shared to the Bloomingdales Instagram showing her rocking a plunging red 'revenge' dress. The blonde bombshell oozed confidence as she modeled the skimpy number on the street 'Its Wednesday and were *pumped*! Guess who stopped by our NYC flagship for some #revengedress shopping,' captioned the Bloomingdales Instagram. 'Hit the follow button and stay tuned for the full reveal' they concluded. It comes after Sandoval revealed he and Leviss, 28, hit the brakes on their sexual relationship, after their months-long affair was exposed in March. Following the end of his nine-year relationship with Madix over his infidelity, he revealed they are 'kind of taking a break.' 'Were not putting any label on it,' the reality star said on the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast. When asked if they were still friends 'with benefits' by the comedian, 67, Sandoval denied they were still romantically involved. 'Not right now,' the rocker, who is in the cover band Tom Sandoval & The Most Extras, told listeners, after insisting he and the former pageant queen are still 'good friends.' The Bravo star also alleged Madix punched him as he attempted to split up with her, and that he even broke up with her on Valentine's Day. 'I actually did break up with her on Valentine's Day,' Sandoval admitted. He also alleged Madix became physical with him as he talked through plans on how to handle the break-up: 'I told her, "Listen, we don't have to post anything on social media. Lets talk through this." Like, "We can keep this between us." 'So obviously she was very upset, she punched me and all this s**t.' He also alleged she was in 'denial' over him wanting to split up and later told him she was going to have be 'forced' out of the relationship. 'She's like, "I'm, like, not letting you leave me. You're gonna have to force me out of this relationship If you break up with me, you will effectively be ending my life,"' he recounted. As for how his and Raquel's relationship blossomed from platonic to intimate, Sandoval opened up about his attraction to Leviss as he and Madix drifted apart after nearly a decade together. 'We were at my house, and Im locked out of my house and were talking and we kissed,' he recalled. 'It was magnetic. We were moving closer and as we were talking, time went on, and were talking closer and closer and closer, and all of a sudden, were kissing. I felt something that I hadnt felt in so long, like, emotionally.' He went on to explain how he and Madix had begun living their own lives and the romance between them had grown stale. 'We had been together for nine years, and obviously we had built a house and business together and everything. We were a brand. And like many relationships, it became more of a best friend/family/sometimes roommates situation,' he explained. The Missouri native said their relationship overall was 'just lacking intimacy' and 'connection.' He felt that they were remaining together to 'keep the optics up that [they] were solid' for their reality show and other business endeavors. 'We did have each others backs, for sure, and that was nice. There was a safety to it and a stability,' he said of Madix. After turning 40, he recalled thinking his life 'looked very bleak' and started thinking his 'best years were behind.' Model vibes: Madix made jaws drop as she posed up on the street with her hand on her hip and her cleavage on full display She delivered model confidence as she posed for shutterbugs while taxis and cars roared through New York City's 59th street Ariana is moving on swiftly with a 'bad b*tches only' tee It comes one day after her cheating ex Tom divulged details about his affair and the alleged downfall of their nine-year romance Goodbye 'stache! Howie was pictured shaving off Tom's facial hair during the Howie Mandel Does Stuff podcast, which was released on Tuesday Cooling off: During the sit-down Sandoval revealed he and Raquel Leviss hit the brakes on their sexual relationship, after their months-long affair was exposed in March Still friends: Following the recent end of his nine-year relationship with Ariana Madix over his infidelity, the bar owner revealed they are 'kind of taking a break' 'Were not putting any label on it,' the reality star said of the relationship 'She punched me and all this s**t': He also shed more light on his break-up with Ariana, claiming she punched him in the midst of their split; Pictured 2019 Empathy: After hearing his side, Mandel urged fans to have 'empathy and compassion' for Tom, who previously said he felt like 'one of the most hated people in America' for betraying Madix 'I started to lose my optimism in life and my drive. I felt like I needed to make a change to feel alive again, to feel motivated, to feel optimistic again,' Sandoval confessed. Before his affair, he said his 'confidence was zapped' and any sexual experience with him would be the equivalent to hooking up with 'a 19-year-old' during 'his second time' as he lost his 'game.' 'Im not saying its [Arianas] fault, we just didnt have that intimacy,' Sandoval claimed. After hearing his guest's side, Mandel urged fans to have 'empathy and compassion' for Sandoval, who previously said he felt like 'one of the most hated people in America' for betraying Madix. Bec Judd has been left distraught after she was refused service at a bottle shop. The 39-year-old took to Instagram on Thursday evening and revealed she was turned away from a liquor store in New Zealand because she did not look 'old enough' to buy a bottle of wine. Posting to her stories, the influencer said she and her sister Kate were refused service because they could not produce identification to prove they were over 18 - the local legal age to purchase liquor. The siblings wanted to purchase a bottle of NZ Wairau River Rose, when the incident occurred. Bec posted a picture to her Instagram showing the wine with the caption: 'Was excited to try this...' Bec Judd has been left distraught after she was refused service at bottle shop. Pictured The 39-year-old took to Instagram on Thursday evening and revealed she was turned away from a liquor store in New Zealand because she did not look 'old enough' to buy a bottle of wine The glamorous mother-of-four then shared a video of the wine sitting behind the bottle shop counter. 'Then she took [the wine] from us because Kate and I didn't have I.D.' she wrote, adding: 'I said we're old enough to have 18-year-old children.' Bec also included a photo of herself posing with her sister and included the caption: 'Just a couple of under-agers trying to get a bottle of Rose.' The famously glamorous mother-of-four then shared a video of the wine sitting behind the bottle shop counter Bec's husband Chris Judd and their four children - Oscar, Billie, Tom and Darcy - joined the genetically blessed siblings on the strip. The Judds celebrated their 12th wedding anniversary at the start of the year. The family currently reside in a luxurious mansion in the swanky Melbourne suburb of Brighton. Netflix's series Haunted has left viewers so scared they are unable to sleep. The anthology show focuses on the horror stories of people who have experienced strange paranormal activity - from a house of horrors to a demon cat who haunts a home with strange howls and hisses. All three series are available to view on the streaming platform - but fans of the show have taken to Twitter saying those who do watch, will be 'terrified for the rest of your life'. Each season has six episodes. In the first episode of series one, the narrator describes being revived by a defibrillator after being medically declared dead from dehydration and heat stroke. Episode two, named The Slaughterhouse, follows the story of two sisters who grow up terrified in a house of horrors, where their sadistic father does unimaginable things. Those who have watched it have taken to Twitter to warn others about the terrifying nature of the show. Thriller: Netflix's series Haunted has left viewers so scared they are unable to sleep Terrifying: The anthology show focuses on horror stories of people who have experienced horrifying paranormal activity - from a house of horrors to a demon cat 'Watched too many #hauntednetflix and now Im too scared to sleep', one wrote. Another added: 'Why did I watch #hauntednetflix right before bed. I mean, there are hundreds of shows I could have started from the beginning yet here I am.' A third viewer chimed: 'Ok that last episode of season 2 Haunted, scared the c**p outta me! That face was so gd creepy! Omg I was gonna go to bed but hell no. Watching Fist of Fury first so I have good dreams of Bruce Lee.' While another added: 'If yall want to be absolutely terrified for the rest of your life watch #haunted on @netflix'. However others seemed to find the show amusing as the pointed out plot holes and questioning the 'true story' disclaimers at the beginning of each episode. One viewer wrote: 'Some of these episodes make me question if anyone reached out to the police or FBI #haunted #hauntednetflix'. Another added: 'Why do I keep watching #Haunted its awful, the stories are all fake and can be easily explained with common sense and science. 'But damn with a glass of wine its fun to pull them apart and giggle at the silliness of episodes like Demon Cat!' Petrifying: Those who have watched it have taken to Twitter to warn others about the terrifying nature of the show Elsewhere on Netflix, viewers have been left terrified after watching a technology thriller they described as the 'scariest' film ever. Fans took to Twitter to share their nail-biting reactions to South Korean mystery movie Unlocked, which debuted on the streaming platform in February. The tense thriller sees a woman's life completely turned upside down when a dangerous man uses her lost phone to track her every move. Viewers were left completely terrified by the eerie movie, with fans deeming the film to be one of the 'scariest' things they had watched in a long time. One person even said they wanted to 'throw their phone into the sea' after being left very unsettled by the horrifying events. Creepy: Elsewhere Netflix viewers have been left terrified after watching a technology thriller they described as the 'scariest' film ever Victoria Beckham has shared a fun clip of daughter Harper showing off her cooking skills as she made pizzas with a pal in Miami. The designer, 48, posted a video of her youngest child, 11, kneading her dough to make a pizza base, laughing as she accidentally poked a hole through it. Referencing her own meagre talents in the kitchen, Victoria cheekily captioned her post: 'She cooks like me!' The clip showed Harper and her pal kneading their dough for their pizza bases in the kitchen, before lifting the stretched dough in the air. As Harper accidentally poked a hole in her dough, she giggled while Victoria joked that she had inherited her cooking skills from her. Delicious! Victoria Beckham has shared a fun clip of daughter Harper showing off her cooking skills as she made pizzas with a pal in Miami Cooking up a storm: The designer posted a video of her youngest child, 11, kneading her dough to make a pizza base, laughing as she accidentally poked a hole through it It comes after Victoria and her son Brooklyn's wife Nicola Peltz enjoyed a catch up over Easter after quashing their rumoured rift. The pair spent last Sunday at the 76 million Peltz family manor in Palm Beach, Florida, with the Beckham brood popping over for an Easter egg hunt. It was said to be a 'peace summit' for the families, who have been plagued with rumours of a fall out ever since Nicola tied the knot with Brooklyn last year. While Victoria and Nicola have been at the centre of the drama, they seemed to be in good spirits as they caught up on Sunday - although Victoria seemed to be feeling rather fatigued from the weekend's activities and failed to hold in a yawn. The cold war began when Victoria and Nicola clashed over her wedding dress and the Transformers star accused her new mother-in-law of stealing the limelight at her wedding. The Beckhams refused to pay for Brooklyn's US green card, a source claims, and, most recently, the one-time Spice Girl snubbed her son and daughter-in-law for her new Paris Fashion Week show, says another family insider. Though the newlywed chef and Transformers actress are happy and fawning over each other, trouble had reportedly been brewing between their two houses for some time. A source who knows Nicola well said the drama began around her and Brooklyn's Palm Beach, Florida, wedding and only escalated. Amusing: Referencing her own meagre talents in the kitchen, Victoria cheekily captioned her post: 'She cooks like me!' As a celebrity designer, many in the fashion world assumed Victoria would be designing Nicola's wedding dress. But instead, the bride appeared on the May cover of Vogue in Valentino couture. Nicola later gave an interview insisting that ditching Victoria's offer was not designed to be a slight against her new mother-in-law. 'I was going to and I really wanted to, and then a few months down the line, she realized that her atelier couldn't do it, so then I had to pick another dress,' she told Variety last month. But one insider said Nicola 'never' intended to wear Victoria Beckham at her wedding. 'She was always just going to let her design something. But she was never going put that on her,' the source said. 'She has too many actually talented designer friends. 'It's like when you have an in-law, and they say they make the best meatballs, you hate meatballs, but you let them cook it anyway. That's exactly what happened. 'She was never, ever going to wear it.' Another source with knowledge of the dress controversy was led to believe Nicola really was considering wearing her mother-in-law's design, but was left in the lurch at the 'last minute.' 'Valentino was concerned that they didn't' have enough time to do the dress because Victoria didn't tell the Peltzes that her atelier couldn't make the dress for Nicola until the last minute,' the second source said. After the dress drama unfolded, Nicola became offended when David and Victoria's close friend Marc Anthony gave a gushing speech at her wedding all about Victoria, according to one insider. 'It was totally just an ode to Victoria and how awesome she is. Nicola loves to be the center of attention, especially on her wedding day. So this really, really p***ed her off,' the source said. 'She stormed off in the middle of her wedding reception with [sister] Brittany and her mom, and was crying her eyes out.' In the year since aspiring chef Brooklyn and his heiress wife's lavish nuptials, the family has been plagued with rumours of a fallout between the latter and mother-in-law Victoria. According to The Sun, they decided to throw a big family Easter to welcome back Brooklyn and Nicola returning from their trip to Tokyo for the holiday. Mended relations: It comes after Victoria and her son Brooklyn's wife Nicola Peltz enjoyed a catch up over Easter after quashing their rumoured rift An insider told the publication: 'The couple have spent the last few days in Tokyo but wanted to gather both families in Palm Beach for a low-key Easter Sunday dinner to commemorate their first year as a married couple.' Victoria and David have been spending time in the US over recent weeks, joined by their two youngest children. And with their eldest son based so near, the celebration appears to have worked out perfect for the clan. They last reunited in March for Victoria's catwalk show during the city's Fashion Week, which also coincided with Brooklyn's birthday later that week. Vicky Pattison was left with tears of joy on Wednesday after taking a trip to the fertility clinic. The former Geordie Shore star, 35, has been hoping to freeze her eggs and keeping fans updated on the process - suffering a setback earlier this year when an ovarian cyst was found. But in the latest update, the star joyously shared that she and fiance Ercan Ramadan are 'finally able to take our next steps to becoming parents one day' as the cyst is now gone. Sharing a snap with a smile from ear-to-ear and tears covering her cheeks, Vicky admitted that she was feeling 'every emotion'. She revealed in February that her decision to freeze eggs comes due to not being 'mentally ready for kids' just yet, adding that she is keeping some eggs for herself in case she and beau Ercan were to split. 'We are finally able to take our next steps': Vicky Pattison, 35, was left in tears of joy on Wednesday as she shared an update on her egg-freezing fertility journey Good news: After a trip to the fertility clinic, the star joyously shared that she and fiance Ercan Ramadan are 'finally able to take our next steps to becoming parents one day' as an ovarian cyst she had is now gone Posting an update to her 5.3M Instagram followers, Vicky shared a collection of pictures from her trip to the London Womens Clinic. Explaining how the appointment had went, she began in the caption: ' For those of you who've been following my egg freezing journey, you'll know that at the start of the year we had a bit of a set back in the form of an ovarian cyst. Meaning we couldn't move forward with the process until it was gone. 'And then, at today's scan we found out that the cyst had gone and we are finally able to take our next steps to becoming parents one day. 'I've been feeling absolutely every single emotion over the last couple of days and as you can imagine when I got the good news I was completely over the moon but now all the nerves and anxiety that I was running on have left my body... I'm just knackered.' Admitting that she was going to spend the evening 'curled up on the sofa' with Ercan, Vicky continued that she wasn't sure how her emotions would hold up in the coming weeks of the process. Asking fans to 'bear with me', she explained that the process may become overwhelming at times. She added: 'We are happy, grateful and a little bit apprehensive but ultimately really excited to take these next steps towards growing our family together 'Sending you all loads of love. And to anyone else who isn't quite where they thought they'd be with their fertility journey I just wanted to send you love, light and positivity' Exciting: Explaining how the appointment had went, she shared that she and fiance Ercan can 'finally' take steps to becoming parents in the future FREEZING YOUR EGGS: THE FACTS Freezing eggs means going through the IVF process, which typically takes two to three weeks. This involves taking drugs to boost the production of eggs, and also to help the eggs mature. Once the eggs are ready, women are placed under general anaesthetic while they are collected - typically around 15 eggs, although this isn't always possible for women with lower reserves. Next, a freezing solution is added to the eggs to protect them, then they are frozen and stored in tanks of liquid nitrogen. When the woman is ready to use the eggs, they are thawed and those that have survived intact are injected with sperm. Source: Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority Advertisement Vicky began testd to see if egg freezing was an option for her in April last year. At the time, she revealed that despite saying in the past that kids weren't on her radar, settling down with Ercan has changed her mind on the matter. Speaking candidly on the egg freezing decision earlier this year, Vicky touched on finding love later than many. 'My journey to motherhood didn't look like the Disney ones, the fairytales. I didn't find someone to love me for a really long time,' she said. Adding that while there are no plans to split from Ercan, who she got engaged to last year, the star shared that she was keeping some eggs back for protection. Noting: 'I adore him and him me. Nobody wants to break up and divorce and I'm sure we wont but I'm protecting me and my happiness.' Ercan got down on one knee in February last year, with the couple planning a 2024 wedding. Speaking of their upcoming nuptials, Vicky said at the end of last year: 'And I can't believe in a few days time I'll be able to say - we get married next year, Arghhhhhhh!!! Our next chapter will be our most exciting yet.' She and Ercan have been together since January 2019. Following a brief split in the March of that year, the pair appear to have been moving from strength to strength ever since. In 2021, the couple became parents to an adorable golden Labrador called Milo, before adding second pup Max to the mix a year later. They narrowly missed out on a place in the Love Island final. And Love Island stars Will Young and Jessie Wynter proved their romance is stronger than ever, as they headed out for a romantic dinner at Bantof in Soho on Wednesday. The couple enjoyed a steamy kiss during their date night as they headed to swanky London eatery. Jessie, 26, showed off her svelte figure in a skintight black mini dress with heeled boots as she leaned in for a smooch with beau Will, 23. Meanwhile Will opted for an eye-catching printed linen shirt as he enjoyed the romantic meal with his girlfriend. Cosy! Love Island stars Will Young and Jessie Wynter proved their romance is stronger than ever, as they headed out for a romantic dinner at Bantof in Soho on Wednesday Love is in the air! The couple enjoyed a steamy kiss during their date night as they headed to swanky London eatery The pair's relationship has been going from strength to strength after leaving the Love Island villa last month. It comes after Will Young has broken his silence on his 'feud' with Casey O'Gorman and Tom Clare, insisting he and Jessie have been 'focusing on themselves' since leaving the villa. It follows rumours circulating the trio have fallen out despite being inseparable on the show. Jessie added that the pair have no plans to travel up north to see the others in Manchester where Tom and Samie Elishi and Casey and Claudia Fogarty had been hanging out. When asked recently about who he is still close with since leaving while on The Useless Hotline Podcast Will said: 'I was pretty close with Tom and Casey in the villa, you know, the three musketeers! 'But kind of outside me and Jessie are just focusing on ourselves. Jessie added: 'We've been out on the farm, it's really hard, they're all like 'Come to Manchester' and it's like babe we're so far away! 'It would take us a day to get there!' Glammed up! Jessie, 26, showed off her svelte figure in a skintight black mini dress with heeled boots as she leaned in for a smooch with beau Will, 23 A clash broke out between the two boys on the ITV2 spin-off show Aftersun when they left the villa, with Will branding his old pal Casey 'a snake' after hearing his comments Jessie is 'fake'. While chatting to Maya, axed Will and Jessie were shown a clip from the ITV2 dating show when Casey told bombshell Maxwell Samuda that he thought Jessie was putting on 'an act'. When Will had originally confronted Casey about the conversation in the villa, Casey had insisted he thought Jessie was 'genuine' and blamed the chat on Maxwell. However, Will was left shocked after being shown the original video of Casey's remarks, turning around and branding Casey a 'snake' as Maya, 28, looked shocked. In the clip from the villa, Casey was heard telling Maxwell: 'The more I'm seeing of Jessie, the more I think she's playing a game.' 'Honestly, it was one of the most strange interactions, the way she was speaking to me, it seemed like such an act,' he added in another conversation. Cute: Jessie has been living in Buckinghamshire on her beau's family farm since leaving the South African villa last month, but her visa expires soon Footage then showed Will confronting Casey about the chat, where Casey had insisted that Maxwell had wanted to speak with him, not the other way around. When Will explained that Maxwell had told him both he and Casey thought Jessie wasn't genuine, he reassured his pal, saying: 'No, it's got nothing to do with me and that's what I said. He doesn't feel she's being genuine.' Will then asked his pal: 'Do you think she's being genuine?' to which Casey responded: 'Yeah, I think she is'. After the clips were aired in the studio, where Casey was watching on from the audience, tense gasps could be heard while Casey looked uncomfortable. The star, 68, was lauded by fans as he shared that he 'played a massive part' in his break-up from the TV star Clive Owen has given a rare interview admitting he takes full blame for his split from wife Amanda due to his drinking and bad behaviour. The Our Yorkshire Farm star, 68, confessed he 'played a massive part' in his break-up from the TV star last year, and 'made a right mess of things', days after it was revealed that Amanda was having an affair with businessman Robert Davies. Speaking on Thursday's episode of Lorraine, Clive told Christine Lampard: 'I sadly made a right mess of things basically. I had a massive part to play in the relationship ending.' As he admitted that their TV fame led to jealousy that it was taking his wife away, Clive was lauded by praise from viewers of the show for taking the blame, with many taking to Twitter to dub him a 'gentleman'. One fan wrote that he had given 'a masterclass right there in being a good man' during the TV appearance. Over: Clive Owen has given a rare interview detailing the reasons behind his split from wife Amanda, admitting he takes the blame for their marriage ending Clive and Amanda rose to fame on their Channel 5 TV show, which followed their family's life on Ravenseat Farm. But they recently hit headlines as Amanda was believed to have been having an affair for five years with 71-year-old businessman Robert Davies, despite portraying the image of a devoted wife to now estranged husband Clive on screen. Admitting that he felt the need to speak out as his estranged wife has been getting a large amount of backlash, Clive explained: 'It's a tough time for Amanda now and I think it's only right, because I don't do social media, to speak out. 'We filmed Our Yorkshire Farm, people loved it and it was an opportunity to make something as a family. That was what drove her. It was amazing and very successful but I handled it very badly. 'It was such a change in our lives and I sadly made a right mess of things basically. I had a massive part to play in the relationship ending. Adding that he felt a wrong sense of jealousy over the fame of their show, and Amanda's comittment to it, he continued: 'I was ranting and raving and drinking and carrying on. I don't know - jealousy. It was taking her away'. He added: 'It seemed to eat away at me and I handled it badly and I behaved badly towards her. I should have been supportive... It's been really upsetting, Amanda's having a tough time at the moment. 'I just feel I can't sit back. I have to say something in her defence, she's a remarkable woman. We just got to the point where we couldn't be together anymore.' 'We were under pressure, it is crazy and it makes you look at life not as well. Candid: The Our Yorkshire Farm star confessed he 'played a massive part' in his split from TV star last year, days after it was revealed that Amanda was having an affair Hard: Speaking on Thursday's episode of Lorraine, Clive told Christine Lampard: 'I was ranting and raving and drinking and carrying on. I don't know - jealousy' Lauded: Following the segment, many took to Twitter to share their praise for Clive 'It got to a point where we couldn't get along at all so we parted. It's very sad but that's how it is. 'We're in business together and we farm together so we spend a lot of time together. 'The children are amazing, and probably because of her. So what happens is we work together, look after the kids together, she feeds us all and so I think I really believe the kids are great and fine. And there's so many of them.' 'I have no plans to do anything, but you never know. And the same with Amanda, she's busy writing. I'd love people just to leave her alone. She's an amazing woman.' Following the segment, many took to Twitter to share their praise for Clive, as one wrote: 'What an honest and vulnerable interview. Well done Clive for owning the situation and protecting your family'. 'Such humility and kindness; stepping up to defend @amandaowen even though you dislike media attention Clive.' A third added: 'So very refreshing, respect to Mr Owen for attempting to set the record straight'. Amanda was believed to have been having an affair for five years with 71-year-old businessman Robert Davies, despite portraying the image of a devoted wife to now estranged husband Clive on screen. Insiders say the father of 11, who had nine children with Amanda, has had to endure rumours of her having affairs for years and now accepts that their 23-year marriage is over. 'People might have felt concerned about him because he had a tough time when they first split but he's moved on now,' said a friend. They continued: 'Over the years he's had to endure rumours about affairs that Amanda is supposed to have had. Whether they were true or not, it's something he's had to live with. 'It didn't split them up, but it's prepared him for the day when she found someone new. It hasn't come as a great shock that she's been seeing someone and it certainly hasn't caused any heartbreak. Adding that their lives are 'intertwined' due to running a farm together, the source explained that Clive and Amanda 'can't escape each other'. They continued: 'Clive has remained so loyal to her for so long but he's reached the end of the road and now wants to get on with his life. He isn't seeing anyone himself but he's a popular and very well-liked man in the Dales and life is full of possibilities again.' Double life: Amanda, 48, is believed to have been having an affair for five years with 71-year-old businessman Robert Davies Emerging: Amanda was believed to have been having an affair for five years with 71-year-old businessman Robert Davies (pictured together late last month) Amanda's relationship with web designer Robert left his wife of 12 years Yasumi Davies, 56, distraught. She discovered their affair a year ago after finding a love note from Amanda in Robert's car. Former banker Yasumi left Tokyo to marry Robert in North Yorkshire in 2011, becoming his fifth wife. But as their marriage lay in ruins, she said: 'He rang Amanda in front of me and told her I knew about their affair and that it was over. He said they'd been having an affair for a few years. 'But instead of acknowledging the pain I was suffering, he was more concerned about protecting her TV career.' Amanda and Robert have known each other for at least five years since she and Clive recruited him to update her personal website in 2018. Their friendship is believed to have blossomed through working closely together. The source close to Yasumi said: 'Yasumi suspected for some time that Robert was up to something. She felt as if he wasn't really present around her and that his head was somewhere else. 'She was cleaning out the car and she found a handwritten note. There was no name but it was pretty clear who it was from. 'Yasumi asked Rob for an explanation and he said he had fallen in love with Amanda and that they had been seeing each other for five years. After the affair came to light, Amanda revealed that she was taking a break from social media after being slammed for 'living a double life' amid her affair scandal. Amanda and Clive confirmed their split last year in a joint statement. They said: 'Clive and I are sad to confirm that we have made the difficult decision to separate. This hasn't been easy, but we both believe it's the right choice for the future of our family. 'Although we are no longer a couple, we continue to work on the farm and co-parent together, with our number one priority being the happiness and wellbeing of our children.' Since their split, Clive has returned to TV with his new series Beyond The Yorkshire Farm, where he stars alongside his son Reuben. Amanda Owen and her ex-husband Clive became familiar faces thanks to Our Yorkshire Farm. But it wasn't only the parents-of-nine who were popular with audiences at home, since for many, their children - aged from 21 to six - proved to be the real stars of the show. This was especially true of their eldest son Reuben, who delighted viewers with his farming knowledge, so much so that after five seasons on Our Yorkshire Farm, he joined father Clive on the spin-off. Foo Fighters have teased their first new music since the tragic death of their drummer Taylor Hawkins. The band, fronted by Dave Grohl, shared a 13 second trailer of an unheard track to Instagram and asked fans: 'Are you thinking what Im thinking?' Taylor's death sent shockwaves through the music industry when he died suddenly in March last year at the age of 50, during the South American leg of their tour. The loss of the band's beloved drummer plunged their future into question, but guitarist Chris Shiflett previously hinted the band will make a record in time. After confirming they will be hitting the road for a series of US headline shows and festivals, Foo Fighters have now seemingly hinted fans can expect new music too. Coming soon: Foo Fighters have teased their first new music since the tragic death of their drummer Taylor Hawkins (L-R Taylor Hawkins, Dave Grohl and Nate Mendel) Tragic: Taylor's death sent shockwaves through the music industry when he died suddenly in March last year at the age of 50 , during the South American leg of their tour The white clip, with the question scrawled faintly across, was shared without a caption, leaving fans of the band with many questions. Foo Fighters have yet to confirm who will be behind the drums when their tour kicks off next month. In December the group posted an emotional announcement to Twitter, declaring that they will continue performing. The update gave heartbroken fan comfort in the knowledge that the legendary rockers will keep on performing. Beginning their powerful statement, the band wrote: 'As we say goodbye to the most difficult and tragic year that our band has ever known, we are reminded of how thankful we are for the people that we love and cherish most, and for the loved ones who are no longer with us.' The Everlong hitmakers went on to state: 'Foo fighters were formed 27 years ago to represent the healing power of music and a continuation of life.' 'And for the past 27 years our fans have built a worldwide community, a devoted support system that has helped us all get through the darkest of times.' 'A place to share our joy and our pain, our hopes and fears, and to join in a chorus of life together through music.' Look closely: The band, fronted by Dave Grohl, shared a 13 second trailer of an unheard track to Instagram and asked fans: 'Are you thinking what Im thinking?' 'Without Taylor,' the band wrote, 'we never would have become the band that we were and without Taylor, we know that we're going to be a different band going forward.' Concluding their statement, the rockstars wrote: 'We also know that you, the fans, meant as much to Taylor as he meant to you. And we know that when we see you again and we will soon he'll be there in spirit with all of us every night.' Speaking later last year, Chris said that once they are ready and feel able to deal with questions about Taylor's passing, they will likely make a new record. The musician - who is also joined by Pat Smear, Nate Mendel and Rami Jaffee - said that, on the whole, people have been 'respectful' about Taylor's passing. However, he called out rumours about the cause of his death, which was ruled as cardiac arrest, although an early toxicology report found at least 10 drugs in his system at the time. Speaking on The Plug With Justin Jay, in October he said: 'Most people that Ive encountered have been respectful about it or try to avoid it. It probably will be [more of a thing] when we ever get around to putting out another Foo Fighters record and go back into the promo boogie woogie.' The band will go on: In December the group posted an emotional announcement to Twitter , declaring that they will continue performing Chris added: 'I remember that when I joined Foo Fighters, it was 1999 so it was a while after Kurt Cobain had died but I would watch interviewers twist themselves in knots trying to ask Dave about it but not ask. I would think it would turn into that kinda thing.' 'Taylor was this big character and he meant a lot to millions of people so I get that fascination with [his death] but so much of what Ive seen out there is so completely wrong. 'Theres people out there saying s*** like Dave killed Taylor by making him get the COVID vaccine. Youre going to turn it into that? F** you. I try not to pay attention to it but it does make you angry because that s*** is just disrespectful.' Foo Fighters' final album with Taylor was 2021's Medicine at Midnight. The group have since hosted two star-studded tribute concerts for Taylor in London and Los Angeles in September. Married At First Sight bride Carolina Santos is the latest reality star to undergo a dental makeover, after admitting that her teeth were her biggest insecurity. The designer handbag hire owner, 35, had $24,000 worth of Picasso Porcelain Veneers applied to her upper teeth at Vogue Dental Studios in Melbourne. Before and after photos obtained exclusively by Daily Mail Australia show a dramatic change to Carolina's pearly whites, thanks to veneers. 'Many people who get veneers do it because they have bad teeth. My story is a little different,' Carolina explained. 'When I was growing up, I had crooked teeth and developed some insecurities. I wore braces for years during high school and achieved a perfectly straight smile.' Married At First Sight bride Carolina Santos is the latest reality star to undergo a dental makeover, after admitting that her teeth were her biggest insecurity. Pictured: before and after The designer handbag hire owner, 35, had $24,000 worth of Picasso Porcelain Veneers applied to her upper teeth at Vogue Dental Studios in Melbourne However, as veneers gained popularity six years ago, Carolina's insecurities resurfaced, driving her to seek a more 'perfect' smile. Unfortunately, her initial veneers turned out to be a major disappointment. 'The veneers I had were way too big for me and looked very disproportional. They were also very square-shaped and masculine-looking. They looked fake, and you could tell I had veneers from miles away,' she lamented. 'When I was growing up, I had crooked teeth and developed some insecurities. I wore braces for years during high school and achieved a perfectly straight smile,' she explained Determined to regain her confidence and restore her natural smile, Carolina turned to Vogue Dental Studios for a much-needed dental makeover. 'I went in wanting my natural teeth back, and they did a fantastic job putting on new veneers that make my smile look super natural.' 'My teeth are now a more feminine rounded shape, proportionally sized, and we went for a very natural shade matching my natural bottom teeth shade instead of super bright white,' she gushed. 'The veneers I had were way too big for me and looked very disproportional. They were also very square-shaped and masculine-looking. They looked fake, and you could tell I had veneers from miles away,' she lamented The MAFS star couldn't be happier with the results, and her newfound confidence shines through. 'I'm loving it and feel very confident with my smile,' she beamed. Carolina wasn't the only reality star from her season to get a smile makeover. Law clerk Matt Ridley was given a $55,000 full makeover, while Jackson Lonie underwent a transformation worth $20,000. Myleene Klass looked stylish as she arrived at Classic FM on Thursday. The television presenter and radio host, who turned 45 last week, donned a cream trench coat with a chic tie at the waist as she strolled into work. She added a pair of tracksuit bottoms to her look, toting her essentials in a large rucksack and crossbody Chanel bag. The star complemented the ensemble with a pair of neon orange Skechers trainers, adding a comfortable edge to the outfit. Accessorising with a number of necklaces, large white sunglasses and small hoop earrings, the beauty looked glowing as she made her way into the Global studios. Chic: Myleene Klass looked stylish in a cream trench coat with a chic tie at the waist as she arrived at Classic FM on Thursday Looking good: She added a pair of tracksuit bottoms to her look, toting her essentials in a large rucksack and crossbody Chanel bag The beauty was all smiles, wearing her brunette locks in a loose straightened style. Her return to work came after she looked sensational in a figure-hugging yellow maxi dress on Wednesday night at the Royal Albert Hall to host the Classic FM concert. The gorgeous number from Norma Kamali featured a low-cut neck, drawing attention to her ample assets, and stunning backless detail which led to a train behind her. 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 and wore it last week for her birthday. 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 claimed Myleene will be launching a Next swimwear range as the show airs so that fans can recreate the iconic look. Glam: Accessorising with a number of necklaces, large white sunglasses and small hoop earrings, the beauty looked glowing as she made her way into the Global studios Gorgeous: Her return to work came after she looked sensational in a figure-hugging yellow maxi dress on Wednesday night at the Royal Albert Hall to host the Classic FM concert 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 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 are said to join previously announced stars Helen Flanagan, Carol Vorderman, Amir Khan, Janice Dickinson, Paul Burrell, Jordan Banjo, Shaun Ryder, Fatima Whitbread and Phil Tufnell. Stacey Solomon was back to reality after going on holiday with her husband Joe Swash and five children earlier this month. The family had enjoyed a break to Abu Dhabi, two months after the Loose Women presenter, 33, and Joe, 41, welcomed their third child together Belle. Stacey still sported a bronzed tan as she headed out for a walk in Essex with her two daughters, Belle and Rose, 16 months on Tuesday. The X Factor star certainly had her hands full with a double buggy as she strolled through the park to give her daughters plenty of time to sleep. Stacey cut a casual figure in an all black ensemble and opted for comfort on her feet with trainers. Holiday blues: Stacey Solomon was back to reality after an amazing luxury holiday with her husband Joe Swash and five children earlier this month Golden glow: Stacey still sported a bronzed tan as she headed out for a walk in Essex with her two daughters, Belle and Rose, 16 months on Tuesday Love: The family had enjoyed a break to Abu Dhabi, two months after the Loose Women presenter, 33, and Joe, 41, welcomed their third child together Belle She layered a padded gilet over her hoodie to keep warm in the cool April weather. Stacey showed off her natural beauty as she went make-up free for the outing and wore her strawberry-blonde locks down. Belle looked adorable in a bear babygrow as Stacey lifted her out of the car seat and into the pram. The country stroll comes after Stacey and the family jetted back to the UK after their Easter holiday. The star admitted on Instagram she feels awkward posting about her 'super expensive' holiday while some of her fans struggle with the cost of living crisis. During a Stories Q&A on Sunday, one fan wrote: 'Not a question but love seeing all the content.' Posting a snap of herself on the beach with her youngest daughter Belle, two months, she replied, 'I worry so much sharing sometimes because I know it's really s**t out there for lots of people & holidays are super expensive & lots of people are unable to go. 'So I'd never want to make anyone feel rubbish. But all of your lovely messages have just made me so happy and so glad I shared it all with you guys.' Casually-clad: Stacey cut a casual figure in an all black ensemble and opted for comfort on her feet with trainers Busy: The X Factor star certainly had her hands full with a double buggy as she strolled through the park to give her daughters plenty of time to sleep Natural: Stacey showed off her natural beauty as she went make-up free for the outing and wore her strawberry-blonde locks down Cute: Belle looked adorable in a bear babygrow as Stacey lifted her out of the car seat and into the pram Stacey was in tears on Saturday as she shared a montage of candid holiday clips. The former X Factor star explained that the footage was particularly meaningful, because it had all been taken by her father. Aside from Belle and Rose, Stacey shares Rex, three, with husband Joe and is also mum to Zach, 15, and Leighton, nine, from previous relationships. Next to her video upload, Stacey penned: 'Im crying. So turns out my dad still takes videos of me the way I do of my babies. 'I hardly ever get videos of me like this. Its usually pictures I force Joe to take so they know I was actually there. 'My camera roll mostly looks like I just popped in with a selfie or in the mirror video I cant tell you how emotional I feel right now. 'One day in years to come please g-d the pickles will have these to watch & remember the special times we had 'I dont care about the angles, my hair, my face, my body or the fact Im mostly sun creaming everyone half the time. 'Im just so grateful to have these forever and always Dad What an adventure we will treasure forever.' Wrapping up warm: She layered a padded gilet over her hoodie to keep warm in the cool April weather Home sweet home: The country stroll comes after Stacey and the family jetted back to the UK after their Easter holiday Catherine Tyldesley has urged men to check their breasts for signs of cancer, after her photographer husband Tom Pitfield, 35, had a recent scare. Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the soap star, 39, shared a lengthy post detailing Tom's journey, after he found a lump and had a biopsy, which was thankfully clear, and showed he had Gynecomastia - swelling of male breast tissue. She revealed her husband, with whom she has son Alfie, eight, and daughter Ella, 12 months, was not aware men could get breast cancer before revealing she had found a lump herself and visited the same specialist Tom visited. In the post, she wrote: 'I pondered over whether to share this or not- but I spoke to my husband and he agreed that it was important. @tompitfieldphotography recently found a large lump behind his nipple.... 'Naturally, when you find a lump anywhere, as much as you try not to- you worry. After a scan and an ultra sound GP still wasnt sure what we were dealing with... A helping hand: Catherine Tyldesley has urged men to check their breasts for signs of cancer, after her husband Tom Pitfield had a recent scare Reaching out: Taking to Instagram on Thursday, the soap star, 39, shared a lengthy post detailing Tom's journey, after he found a lump and had a biopsy, which was thankfully clear, and showed he had Gynecomastia - swelling of male breast tissue Open and honest: Alongside the caption, she shared an image showing a man's nipple alongside the words: 'Male breast cancer. 1 in 200 breast cancers happen in men. Most commonly as a breast lump close to the nipple or indentation' 'So Tom needed a biopsy. I myself found a lump a few years ago (thankfully it was nothing) but the breast specialist @jamesharvey.breastsurgeon was incredible and extremely thorough. So I was reassured when Tom was under his care... 'The wait was painful as always. One of my male pals had breast cancer many years ago. I knew it was rare, but it happens... 'Tom had no idea that men could even get breast cancer. Thankfully Toms results came back and it was a #Gynaecomastia... 'Which is actually quite common in Men. We are so relieved. But our experience has made me want to raise awareness about Mens Breast cancer. It has come to our attention that most men dont even realise its a possibility... 'Yes its rare but its absolutely worth checking your pecks Fellas!! Symptoms are Same as for women. Most commonly a lump . Could be distortion, bloody nipple discharge. Check your pecs lads! #malebreastcancer #checkyourpecs... Scared: She admitted the wait for the results was 'painful' 'Thankyou to our ever wonderful #NHS and @jamesharvey.breastsurgeon'. Alongside the caption, she shared an image showing a man's nipple alongside the words: 'Male breast cancer. 1 in 200 breast cancers happen in men. Most commonly as a breast lump close to the nipple or indentation'. Her post comes six years after Catherine joined in the fundraising efforts to raise money for Ovarian Cancer Awareness in 2017 after the death of a family friend. Speaking at the time, she said: 'Its a cause which I am very passionate about. I know how easily it is for the symptoms of ovarian cancer to be brushed aside by women as well as the medical profession.' Catherine went on: 'Its really important that women dont feel embarrassed with anything gynaecological and feel comfortable talking about the disease so that everyone becomes more aware'. Sweet: Catherine and Tom are pictured in 2020 Catherine and Tom had a whirlwind romance, and after only four months of dating discovered they were expecting their son Alfie. They went on to welcome their second child, daughter Iris, last April. Speaking to Notebook magazine, the actress said that meeting Tom 'was so, so out of the blue. I'm dead lucky. He ticks every box'. Of their surprise pregnancy with Alfie, she admitted: 'It was a shock for us but we were both ready.' 'The fact that I wasn't nervous about telling him proved a point in my head that he was the right guy for me.' She revealed earlier in the week that she was nearly cast in the Barbie movie. And Love Island's Tasha Ghouri proved she has all the credentials for the part as she took to Instagram to share sizzling snaps from her trip to Mexico with her co-star boyfriend Andrew Le Page, including sexy swimwear-clad looks. The beauty, 24, took to Instagram on Thursday to share the series of snaps, which made the most of their toned physiques thanks to the tiny ensembles. A standout style was a pink two-piece with a matching hat, while Andrew sported a matching coord, comprising shirt and shorts. As well as the bikini shot, Tasha looked incredible in a series of selfies and snaps from their idyllic week of sunshine. Stunner: Love Island's Tasha Ghouri shared sizzling snaps from her trip to Mexico with her co-star boyfriend Andrew Le Page, including sexy swimwear-clad looks Lookalike! She revealed earlier in the week that she was nearly cast in the Barbie movie Elegant: As well as the bikini shot, Tasha looked incredible in a series of selfies and snaps from their idyllic week of sunshine Snap happy: She looked incredible in yet more pictures taken with her beau She was going for holiday chic in a strapless dress before upping the glam with her hair styled into a voluminous bouncy blowdry for another selfie. Last week, Tasha took to Twitter to tell how she got to the final round of dancer auditions for Greta Gerwig's Barbie film but didn't get the job. She went on to explain that filming was at the same time as her stint in the villa - where she met now-boyfriend Andrew. Barbie will star Margot Robbie as the titular character and Ryan Gosling as Ken, with Emma Mackey, Will Ferrell, Simu Liu, Michael Cera and America Ferrera also in the cast. Tasha penned in a Tweet: 'Fun fact I got to the final round of the Barbie film audition as a dancer but didn't get the job. Stunner: Tasha looked amazing in the shot, in which she showed off her delicate necklace which featured both her and Andrew's initials Wow! Last week, Tasha took to Twitter to tell how she got to the final round of dancer auditions for Greta Gerwig's Barbie film but didn't get the job Impressive: She took to Twitter on Wednesday to tell how she got to the final round of dancer auditions for Greta Gerwig's Barbie film but didn't get the job 'Filming was at same time as LI, crazy how the universe works.' She also posted it above one of the Barbie Selfie Generator snaps where she wrote: 'This Barbie is a model with a superpower' - referring to her use of a cochlear implant after having been born deaf. Andrew and Tasha came fourth place in last year's series and the relationship appears to be going from strength to strength. The couple moved in together in east London two months after leaving the villa and have already discussed getting married. After years of anticipation, Greta's long-awaited Barbie film will soon be coming to life. The comedy is set to land in theaters on July 21, 2023 and the first trailer was released on Tuesday. The cast is a who's who of Hollywood powerhouses, with Will Ferrell playing the CEO of Mattel, and Helen Mirren as the narrator. Marvel star Simu Liu, Issa Rae, Michael Cera, and Kate McKinnon star as inhabitants of Barbieland, while Rhea Perlman, America Ferrera, and Alexandra Shipp are also attached to the film. Billie Shepherd and her mother Suzie Wells revealed their impressive figures as they enjoyed a family holiday in the Maldives on Thursday. The former TOWIE star, 33, and her mother, 54, looked incredible in swimwear, taking time to relax and unwind. Billie, who is the sister of Samantha Faiers, posed for a sweet snap with her husband Greg Shepherd, standing on a swing in a plunging red bikini. She captioned her post with a heart emoji and two palm trees as she spent quality time with her husband. Meanwhile, Suzie donned a blue and white stripey bikini, grinning widely and appearing carefree as she embraced life in paradise. Cute: Billie Shepherd and her mother Suzie Wells revealed their impressive figures as they enjoyed a family holiday in the Maldives on Thursday, posing in skimpy swimwear Wow! Suzie donned a blue and white stripey bikini, grinning widely and appearing carefree as she embraced life in paradise The beauty added a straw hat and sunglasses to the ensemble, writing on Instagram: 'Loving life in the Maldives', with a heart emoji. Suzie celebrated her 54th birthday in January, and her two daughters were sure to wish her a fantastic day in a heartwarming tribute. The former TOWIE stars both gushed over how 'supportive, funny and selfless' Suzie is in an accompanying caption as they celebrated her birthday. Posing in their swimwear on the white sands of Abu Dhabi, Sam and Billie wrote: 'Happy Birthday to our beautiful mum @suziewells_ we couldnt think of a better way to celebrate you on this special day. 'Not only are you the most supportive, kind, funny, selfless mum but more than anything the best nanny our babies could ever ask for, they adore you.' In another photo, Suzie couldn't contain her smile as she posed with all six of her grandchildren after receiving a number of gifts. Suzie was treated to a large personalised cake, a bunch of balloons and a number of homemade birthday cards from her grandkids. Time out: She captioned her post with a heart emoji and two palm trees as she spent quality time with her husband Relaxed: Suzie added a straw hat and sunglasses to her ensemble, writing on Instagram: 'Loving life in the Maldives', with a heart emoji Happy birthday! Suzie celebrated her 54th birthday in January, and her two daughters (pictured together) were sure to wish her a fantastic day in a heartwarming tribute It comes after Billie and Sam revealed the time Suzie was rushed to hospital with life-threatening sepsis. The former TOWIE stars said the mother's water infection 'massively deteriorated', prompting her to be hospitalised. The siblings said their parent was experiencing excruciating back pains and was 'delirious' before doctors diagnosed her. They said on their podcast The Sam and Billie Show: 'Our mum wasnt very well. She had a water infection and it got worse and worse which resulted in it going into mums kidneys. 'So we took her to A&E because she massively deteriorated. 'She had antibiotics and it wasnt working. I managed to speak to a doctor and I told him all of her symptoms so he told me to take her to A&E because she needs medical attention. 'Basically the water infection had got so bad that it turned into sepsis.' Sepsis is a life-threatening condition caused when the body releases chemicals to fight an infection. These chemicals damage the body's own tissues and organs and can lead to shock, organ failure and death. Organ failure and death are more likely if sepsis is not recognised early and treated immediately. Scare: Sam and Billie's estranged father Lee, 60, also suffered health battles recently and it was revealed he was lucky to be alive after suffering a heart attack Suzie recovered from her ordeal, with the sisters adding: 'Mum was in the hospital for about 15 hours in total and they flushed her system through.' Sam and Billie's estranged father also suffered health battles recently and it was revealed he was lucky to be alive after suffering a heart attack. Both Billie and Sam have remained estranged from their biological father Lee, 60, since he and their mother Suzie split when they were toddlers. A source told the publication at the time: 'Lee is lucky to be alive. His family were terrified and thought they were going to lose him. It's been a big wake-up call. 'Lee loves his girls. Whether they speak or not, they're still his daughters. 'You can argue about silly things, but the heart attack made him realise life is very precious and it can be taken away at any point. You only get one life.' Yazmin Oukhellou caught the eye as she made her way through the airport on Thrusday after touching down back in the UK. The former reality star, 28, donned a bright pink athleisure ensemble for the day of travel, opting for figure-hugging ombre leggings. Teaming a long-sleeved Nike gym top with the look, she hung a bright Prada travel handbag over one arm. She moved over to Dubai to swap the reality lifestyle for a more low-key life as an estate agent in the UAE. But ready to catch up with friends and family at home, Yazmin appeared in high spirits after taking the circa seven-hour flight. Touch down: Yazmin Oukhellou, 28, caught the eye in a bright pink athleisure ensemble as she touches down in the UK for a trip home - after moving to Dubai to become an estate agent Fitted: The former reality star opted for a pair of figure-hugging ombre leggings Adding a pair of white-laced neon pink trainers to her ultra-bright look, Yazmin had her raven tresses left to fall freely in a straight style. She opted for an understated palette of make-up whilst adding a collection of silver jewellery. Travelling in style, the former TOWIE star flew business class with airline Emirates - sharing pictures from the flight to Instagram. Making it an occasion, she appeared to have a glass of chamagne for the lengthy journey. Yazmin quit ITVBe reality show TOWIE last year and jetted out of the UK in favour of a career as an estate agent in Dubai. She was recently revealed to have been embroiled in a 'secret feud' with her former co-stars Junaid Ahmed and Dani Imbert - which is said to be another reason behind her shock exit from the show. It emerged the reality star had decided to walk away from the hit ITVBe series almost six years after she first joined, according to The Sun. It was claimed that Yazmin has decided against joining the next series to process the 'trauma' of what she has been through with the loss of her ex boyfriend Jake McLean - and now it is understood a feud with her friends has contributed to her exit. Comfort: Teaming a long-sleeved Nike gym top with the look, she hung a bright Prada travel handbag over one arm Sleek: While Yazmin's brunette tresses were styled straight as they fell freely from a middle parting In style: Travelling in style, the former TOWIE star flew business class with airline Emirates - sharing pictures from the flight to Instagram Yaz has unfollowed Junaid and Dani on Instagram - and they the same to her - amid their bitter dispute. An insider told the publication: 'Yaz has fallen out with Junaid and Dani and no longer follows them on social media, while they have also unfollowed her. 'The reason for their beef is a bit of a mystery, but it's been rumbling for a while and things got pretty toxic.' 'While it wasn't the sole reason for Yaz choosing to leave Towie, it certainly contributed to her decision as she didn't want to film with them.' 'After what she has been through in the last year with the crash and losing Jake, she doesn't want that kind of friendship drama in her life.' Yazmin's exit comes just seven months after escaping a horror car crash which killed her ex-boyfriend Jake McLean. Yazmin was caught up in a horror crash in Turkey in July when Jake's blue Mercedes E class saloon plunged down from a mountainous road and into a ravine in Bodrum. The on-off couple were on holiday together when Jake crashed the car off a cliff in Bodrum and died at the scene. Yazmin told The Sun that to survive the smash she climbed down a cliff covered in blood with a broken arm and now she has permanent physical scarring. After being told by doctors that she was lucky to walk away from the devastating accident, Yazmin confessed to experiencing sleepless nights and needing therapy because she couldn't understand why she had been given a second chance at life. In July last year, she said: 'I severed an artery and a nerve, that's why I bled so much. The doctors called me an angel, a miracle, because it's a notorious spot and people have never survived.' 'Now I'm just wondering how the hell did my partner die while I've survived? It's made me look at life totally differently.' Visit home: Yazmin quit ITVBe reality show TOWIE last year and jetted out of the UK in favour of a career as an estate agent in Dubai Jamie Oliver has revealed that he and wife Jools decided to renew their wedding vows to show their children that they're stronger than ever. Speaking for the first time about the surprise nuptials, the chef, 47, explained that he and Jools originally planned to renew their vows on their 20th Anniversary, before Covid put a stop to their plans. He added that with their children leaving school and heading off to university, he wanted to assure them that their relationship was 'still tight.' 'I wanted to do it on the 20 year anniversary, Covid put an end to that so I thought with the kids leaving school and going to university, I've got two in Leeds at uni, I thought it was a nice moment to let them know that their parents are tight we love them,' Jamie on Thursday's BBC Breakfast. 'I know it sounds like maybe some people are into it and some not but I have to say the vows second time around are much better. Sweet: Jamie Oliver has revealed that he and wife Jools decided to renew their wedding vows to show their children that they're stronger than ever Sweet: The chef explained that with their children leaving school and heading off to university, he wanted to assure them that his relationship with Jools is 'still tight' 'You feel like you've earned what you mean. Everything they are about you have felt, Good bad, and ugly. For me with a big family it felt a nice thing to do.' Jamie also revealed that his vow renewal suit was in a modernised version of his original wedding outfit, though this time without his eye-catching crocodile loafers. He and Jools, who have been together since the age of 18, share five kids together, including Poppy Honey, 20, Daisy Boo, 19, Petal Blossom, 13, Buddy Bear, 11 and River Rocket, five. The star took to Instagram on Monday to share a collection of snaps from their surprise vow renewal. The celebrity chef shared an intimate carousel of family snaps to Instagram, after saying 'I do' for a second time at the Soneva Fushi Resort. Jools, 48, looked elegant in an off-the-shoulder wedding dress, complete with a ruffled design and a thigh-high slit. Unlike her husband Jamie, her bridal look was a different design to her original dress, which was a sleek ivory silk slip number. Her brunette locks were styled straight with a white bow holding her hair in place, while she accessorised with pearl drop earrings. Touching: Speaking on Thursday's BBC Breakfast, Jamie said he and Jools originally planned to renew their vows on their 20th Anniversary, before Covid put a stop to their plans Loving couple: Jamie also revealed that his vow renewal suit was in a modernised version of his original wedding outfit, though this time without his eye-catching crocodile loafers Cute! Jamie revealed that his son Buddy (right) acted as Best Man the ceremony Family: The couple share children River Rocket and (left to right) Daisy Boo Pamela, Petal Blossom Rainbow, Buddy Bear Maurice and Poppy Honey Rosie (Pictured 2016) First time around: Jamie and Jools originally tied the knot in Essex back in 2000 Alongside the photos, Jamie penned: 'Morning all, Me & @joolsoliver got married again! 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. 'It seems like a blink since the first wedding which we kept very privet apart from the paparazzi at the village church we thought it would be a happy and joyful moment to share with you all this Easter. 'We've always dreamed of going to the Maldives and it was just as you would have dreamed, simply amazing ! a massive thank you to all the team at @discoversoneva for blowing our minds and making this moment so special and memorable big love guys Jamie x' Jamie later shared more snaps of the ceremony on his Instagram Stories, including a selfie with his wife and daughters which he captioned: 'My queens'. He also posted a photograph with his two sons, Buddy and River, where he revealed that his eldest son had acted as Best Man. Jools also shared her own selection of snaps on her social media, writing: 'So wonderful the first time we did it again. What an incredible memory to treasure so happy, emotional, romantic and beautiful. Seeing the childrens little faces made the whole experience so special. I could only have dreamed of being on a holiday this magical thank you so much Discover Soneva. 'Your care, attention to detail and unbelievable kindness made everything so special almost feels like it was a dream xxx Jools and Jamie first began dating when they were teenagers and tied the knot in the chef's home village of Rickling, Essex, on June 24, 2000. Speaking in 2019 about renewing their vows, Jools said: 'Next year, we'll have been married 20 years, and we're going to get married again, but do things differently outside and barefoot. Chef Jamie, who hails from Essex, reportedly has a net worth over 240million. Emmy-nominated actor Sebastian Stan has signed on to produce and co-star with Oscar-nominated actress Maria Bakalova in an untitled spy comedy about 'a failed double agent who becomes an unlikely success.' The Paramount project marks the first time the Romanian-born, New York-raised 40-year-old and the Bulgarian 26-year-old have worked together, but they're both in the Marvel Comic Universe thanks to Captain America/Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy. Maria - who boasts 510K social media followers - wrote on Instagram on Tuesday: 'Boom! Let the cat out of the bag [baby]! I truly couldn't be happier to share [this] news with you guys.' It should certainly be a breeze for Bakalova, who's best known for her fearless role as Borat's (Sacha Baron Cohen) 15-year-old daughter Tutar in Jason Woliner's critically-acclaimed 2020 black comedy Borat Subsequent Moviefilm. And Sebastian has appeared in several comedies including Spread, Logan Lucky, I, Tonya, Hot Tub Time Machine, The Bronze, and Tony N'Tina's Wedding. New gig! Emmy-nominated actor Sebastian Stan has signed on to produce and co-star with Oscar-nominated actress Maria Bakalova in an untitled spy comedy about 'a failed double agent who becomes an unlikely success' MCU: The Paramount project marks the first time the Romanian-born, New York-raised 40-year-old and the Bulgarian 26-year-old have worked together, but they're both in the Marvel Comic Universe thanks to Captain America/Avengers and Guardians of the Galaxy According to Deadline, five-time Emmy nominee Paul Feig will produce and direct the spy comedy written by Emmy winner Jenny Bicks, whom he previously collaborated with on Fox mockumentary sitcom Welcome to Flatch. The 60-year-old filmmaker is best known for directing Bridesmaids, The Heat, Spy, Ghostbusters, A Simple Favor, and The School for Good and Evil. The 59-year-old producer-writer is best known for penning 16 episodes of HBO's Sex and the City, Showtime's The Big C, and The Greatest Showman as well as creating ABC's Men in Trees. The Honeymoon actress will next reprise her voiceover role as Cosmo the Spacedog in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which hits US/UK theaters May 5. The Phase Five MCU flick also stars Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana, Bradley Cooper, Dave Bautista, Pom Klementieff, Vin Diesel, Sylvester Stallone, Sean Gunn, Will Poulter, Karen Gillan, and Chukwudi Iwuji. And Stan reunited with his I, Tonya director Craig Gillespie for his GameStop dramedy Dumb Money - hitting US theaters October 20 - in which he plays Vlad Tenev. The stock market/Reddit flick also features Shailene Woodley, Seth Rogen, Paul Dano, Nick Offerman, Vincent D'Onofrio, Pete Davidson, and America Ferrera. Maria - who boasts 510K social media followers - wrote on Instagram on Tuesday: 'Boom! Let the cat out of the bag [baby]! I truly couldn't be happier to share [this] news with you guys' Dynamic duo: Five-time Emmy nominee Paul Feig (L, pictured December 20) will produce and direct the spy comedy written by Emmy winner Jenny Bicks (R), whom he previously collaborated with on Fox mockumentary sitcom Welcome to Flatch Final chapter! Bakalova will next reprise her voiceover role as Cosmo the Spacedog in James Gunn's Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3, which hits US/UK theaters May 5 Gordon Ramsay delighted his 23 million Facebook followers when he posted an adorable photograph of himself and his son in Cornwall on Sunday. Taking to the social media platform, the celebrity chef, 56, posted a picture of himself and Oscar, four, sharing a sweet kiss during an outing in the seaside town. Gordon also posted an image of his son enjoying a slice of cake as they had a meal at a new restaurant in Rock called Four Boys Cafe. The star, who shares children Oscar, Megan, 24, twins Holly and Jack, 23, and Tilly, 21, with wife Tana, took the time to upload snaps of his own meal too. Gordon was thoroughly impressed by the cuisine, and heaped praise on the business with his fans. Aww! Gordon Ramsay shared a sweet kiss with son Oscar, four, as they had a family meal together in Cornwall at a new restaurant on Sunday Yum! Gordon also posted an image of his son enjoying some food as they had a meal at a new restaurant in Rock called Four Boys Cafe High praise: He wrote on Facebook: 'A new star is born in Rock congratulations @fourboys.cafe' He wrote: 'A new star is born in Rock congratulations @fourboys.cafe. 'Delicious food, smash burger to die for elegant tomato salad, really friendly Cornish service, the restaurant is literally days old and what an amazing start well done!' This week, Gordon kept a low profile as he jetted into Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, ahead of bringing his famed Michelin-starred restaurant to Australia. The star carried a backpack as he swiftly made his way through the terminal escorted by a staffer. Gordon kept things causal in a black T-shirt and jeans after the long-haul flight. One fan spotted Gordon at the airport and posted a picture they took of him on Reddit. The ticketed restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, will be taking over Aussie chef Matt Moran's fine diner Aria in the heart of Sydney from May 8-10 and will showcase the 'very best of Australian seasonal produce'. On the Reddit thread, fans were quick to share some cheeky comments and some with Ramsay's iconic catchphrases. 'Where's the mint sauce you donkey?!' one comment hilariously read. 'Imagine having to serve him plane food,' another comment read. Low profile: This week, Gordon was spotted jetting into Melbourne's Tullamarine Airport, ahead of bringing his famed Michelin-starred restaurant to Australia Jokes: On the Reddit thread, fans were quick to share some cheeky comments and some with Ramsay's iconic catchphrases Despite the cost of living crisis hanging over Australia, top chef Gordon is bringing his three Michelin-starred restaurant Down Under for nearly $800 per person. Tickets to the unique experience will set you back $495 per person, which includes a seven-course menu, with an option of premium wine pairing for $295 - bringing the total to $790 each. A spokesperson from Aria told Daily Mail Australia the staggering price is set because this is the first time the high-end restaurant has ventured internationally and the menu has been personally curated by Ramsay and Moran. The menu features signature Restaurant Gordon Ramsay dishes, including shellfish raviolo and a pecan praline dessert. Word of the event has quickly spread on social media, with guests slamming the outrageous price. At first many seemed eager to visit and bring a friend along, only to be turned away after seeing the cost. 'At almost $500 per person, the food would have to be amazing,' one woman commented on Facebook. '$800 each??' another questioned, a third joked: 'If you take out a home loan you could buy an entree!' Prestigious: The ticketed restaurant, Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, will be taking over Aussie chef Matt Moran's (left) fine diner Aria in the heart of Sydney from May 8-10 Ouch! Tickets to the unique experience will set you back $495 per person, with an option of premium wine pairing for $295 - bringing the total to $790 'I hope it's an improvement. Aria is extremely overrated,' another added. Others said they would be enticed to pay and go only if Ramsay made a guest appearance for the duration of the three-day event. 'I'd love to sit at the chefs table at Aria if Gordon Ramsay was on the pass,' one woman wrote. Ramsay said: 'Collaborating with my dear friend Matt Moran, and talented chef patron, Matt Abe at Aria, with its magnificent views across Sydney harbour, and creating a menu that utilises Australia's incredible local produce whilst delivering the finesse of our 3-star Michelin menu, is a dream come true.' Michelle Yeoh exuded Hollywood glamour as she attended a Cartier jewellery dinner in Hong Kong on Thursday. The actress, 60, slipped into a sleek black midi dress, which was cinched in at the waist, for the event celebrating the role of women in the brand's history. She kept her accessories simple, opting for a classic blue pendant and a few rings. The beauty swept her raven tresses over her shoulder in loose waves, wearing her locks in a side parting. Michelle added a pair of black heels to the ensemble, adding inches to her height. Glam: Michelle Yeoh exuded Hollywood glamour in a sleek black gown as she attended a Cartier jewellery dinner in Hong Kong on Thursday Classic but stylish: She kept her accessories simple, opting for a classic blue pendant and a few rings The star, who showcased her slender arms in the frock, was all smiles as she posed with participants in the event. It comes after Michelle took home the Best Actress trophy at the Oscars last month due to her game-changing role in the sci-fi adventure as Evelyn Quan Wang - a dissatisfied laundromat owner who crosses paths with other versions of herself in alternate universes. In her first-ever Academy Award acceptance speech, she hailed her win as a 'beacon of hope and possibilities' for Asian people and urged those watching at home to 'dream big'. She said: 'For all the little boys and girls who look like me watching tonight. This is the beacon of hope and possibilities. This is proof to dream big and dreams do come true. 'Ladies, don't let anybody tell you you are past your prime. Never give up... Thank you to the Academy, this is history in the making, thank you.' She added: 'I have to dedicate this to my mom and all the moms in the world because they are the real superheroes. And without them none of us would be up here tonight.' Michelle has enjoyed a resurgence in her career thanks to roles in Crazy Rich Asians, Shang-Chi And The Legend of the Ten Rings, Star Trek: Discovery and Netflix's The Witcher: Blood Origin. Her work in Everything Everywhere All At Once that has changed everything for the actress. Following critical acclaim, the film also helped the star win her first-ever Golden Globe Awards on January 10. Stunner: The star, who showcased her slender arms in the frock, was all smiles as she posed with participants in the event Grins: Michelle was greeted as a VIP guest at the Cartier Gala dinner and was deep in conversation with an organiser During an interview with People in March, Michelle opened up the milestones that she has made in her life and especially her career. 'A lot of actresses find, as the numbers get bigger, the roles start to dwindle,' the Memoirs Of A Geisha star explained to the outlet. 'Over the last few years, I'm very proud that we have been breaking away from stereotypes it's not just lip service. It is happening. And it's happening to me.' The actress also emotionally added, 'You go from shock to bewilderment,' and also asks herself, 'Wow, is it me? How can it be me?' 'Because I've worked with so many amazing actresses who should have had this privilege, and so I am very grateful to be given the opportunity to sit at the table and to be seen,' Yeoh expressed. BBC bosses are 'incandescent with anger' after the Strictly Come Dancing judges demanded an 11 percent pay rise to appear in this year's series. Shirley Ballas, Anton Du Beke, Craig Revel Horwood and Motsi Mabuse have also infuriated some of the show's professional dancers by chasing the salary increase. The requested rise would see head judge Ms Ballas, who currently earns 500,000 for her three month stint on show, earning a staggering 15,960 for each hour she is on screen. Ms Mabuse, 42, and Revel Horwood, 58, reportedly earn 200,000 while Du Beke, who only joined the judging panel from his role as a professional dancer in 2021, is said to be on 180,000. By contrast, the professional ballroom stars such as Giovanni Pernice, Dianne Buswell and Johannes Radebe, are paid salaries of around 35,000 for their work on the programme. Line-up: BBC bosses are 'incandescent with anger' after the Strictly Come Dancing judges demanded an 11 percent pay rise (L-R) Anton du Beke; Shirley Ballas; Motsi Mabuse; Craig Revel Horwood A BBC source told the Daily Mail: 'While there is always some negotiation that goes on when new contracts are signed each year, this is something else. 'Their jobs are some of the very best on television and they are already very well remunerated for their work so when these negotiations began this time around, there was shock and anger. 'It is also not like they spend any other time working behind the scenes like the professional dancers. They turn up, get their make up done and go in front of the camera. 'The professional dancers work tirelessly for weeks on end and they work themselves to the bone for the smidgen of what the judges already earn, let alone what they want to earn. 'You would think that they would be aware that they work for the BBC and that they are essentially paid for by the British public through the licence fee.' BBC bosses argue the stars are able to earn huge sums of money outside of the show, thanks to the massive platform their appearance on Strictly provides. Television insiders suggested the judges are able to take advantage of the fact their salaries are not made public, unlike other big-name talent such as Gary Lineker. Because Strictly is made by BBC Studios - the Corporation's production arm - it is deemed a commercial company and not subject to the same rules. Not impressed: BBC bosses argue the stars are able to earn huge sums of money outside of the show, thanks to the massive platform their appearance on Strictly provides BBC Studios itself is given money by the BBC, which is funded by the licence fee payer. It is understood that bosses may hand the judges a much smaller pay rise of around three per cent to their already sizeable salaries A BBC spokesman declined to comment. This comes after Ms Ballas was reportedly given a 'take it or leave it' deal by Strictly bosses to stay on the show, after she revealed she may quit over online trolling. The head judge and Latin expert was subjected to much criticism last year in which trolls slammed her decisions and accused her 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. In a newly-leaked scene from Guy Ritchie's The Covenant, Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal's character US Army Sergeant John Kinley is confronted by his superiors, who order him to back out of a planned solo trip back to Afghanistan. John will stop at nothing on his mission to rescue the interpreter Ahmed (Dar Salim), whose family was denied safe passage to America after carrying Kinley's injured body across miles of grueling terrain during his last tour of duty. In the minute-long clip - the LA-born, NYC-based 42-year-old's overzealous character faces off against stone-faced officers played by Jonny Lee Miller and Alexander Ludwig. 'Oh I see. You brought me here for an intervention or to slap my wrist. That's not why I'm here,' John said in the scene. 'You think if I could be shot of this debt I wouldn't be? You think if could just go through the usual channels, I wouldn't? That is not how this debt works. It demands a result - not an appeasement. There is a hook in me, one that you cannot see. But it is there.' 'You think I have a choice? There is no choice': In a newly-leaked scene from Guy Ritchie's The Covenant, Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal's character US Army Sergeant John Kinley is confronted by his superiors, who order him to back out of a solo trip back to Afghanistan 'He saved my life': John will stop at nothing on his mission to rescue the interpreter Ahmed (L, Dar Salim), whose family was denied safe passage to America after carrying Kinley's injured body across miles of grueling terrain during his last tour of duty The action thriller then sees Kinley's attempt to return to the Taliban-ridden warzone to retrieve Ahmed and his family before the local militias reach them first. Jake (born Jacob) revealed he improvised much of his dialogue while eating increasingly hotter hot wings on Thursday's episode of First We Feast talk show Hot Ones. 'The thing that I love about my job is that you get to work with so many different minds. With Guy, it was like nothing I'd ever done,' Gyllenhaal explained to host Sean Evans. 'He said to me, "Don't memorize any of your lines." And the script came in at 50 pages. It wasn't even a fully written script. Usually, scripts are like 110 pages, and I was like, "What is this?" when he first sent it. 'And then he said, "You come to set, and we'll work on it each day, and then you'll shoot it." It was one of the most inspiring creative experiences I've ever had.' Guy Ritchie's The Convenant will be released only in US theaters on April 21 and internationally on Amazon Prime Video. It also features Antony Starr, Bobby Schofield, Emily Beecham, Jason Wong, Sean Sagar, Sina Parvaneh, Cyrus Khodaveisi, and Christian Ochoa. 'There's been an official complaint': In the minute-long clip - the LA-born, NYC-based 42-year-old's overzealous character faces off against stone-faced officers played by Jonny Lee Miller (L) and Alexander Ludwig (R) John said: 'Oh I see. You brought me here for an intervention or to slap my wrist. That's not why I'm here. You think if I could be shot of this debt I wouldn't be? You think if could just go through the usual channels, I wouldn't?' He continued: 'That is not how this debt works. It demands a result - not an appeasement. There is a hook in me, one that you cannot see. But it is there' BTS: The action thriller then sees Kinley's attempt to return to the Taliban-ridden warzone to retrieve Ahmed and his family before the local militias reach them first In the hot seat! Jake revealed he improvised much of his dialogue while eating increasingly hotter hot wings on Thursday's episode of First We Feed talk show Hot Ones Gyllenhaal explained to host Sean Evans: 'The thing that I love about my job is that you get to work with so many different minds. With Guy, it was like nothing I'd ever done. He said to me, "Don't memorize any of your lines"' The Ambulance star added: 'Usually, scripts are like 110 pages, and I was like, "What is this?" when he first sent it. 'And then he (L) said, "You come to set, and we'll work on it each day, and then you'll shoot it." It was one of the most inspiring creative experiences I've ever had' Paul O'Grady fans were brought to tears on Thursday evening as the late star returned to TV screens for the final season of For The Love Of Dogs. The comedian, who died last month at the age of 67, filmed the last season late last year. Paul was widely known as a big dog lover, having already given a home to Chihuahua-Jack Russell cross Eddie, Shih Tzu Boycie, Maltese Conchita, mongrels Arfur and Nancy, and a dachshund called Sausage, from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home where the series is filmed. In his ITV documentary series, which has been running since 2012, Paul visited animals at the home to find out about their backgrounds. In the episode broadcast on Thursday, Paul met with a gorgeous Newfoundland called Peggy, who needed life-changing surgery on her back legs due to ligament problems. Tear-jerking: Paul O'Grady fans were brought to tears watching the late star return to screens for the final season of For The Love Of Dogs on Thursday evening Emotional: The comedian formed a close bond with Peggy the Newfoundland at the Battersea Dogs and Cats home In the emotional scenes, Paul was his typically cheery self as he met with the animals and staff at the home. He clearly became very attached to Peggy as he cradled her head in his lap, telling a vet that he was 'in love' with her. While showing his clear bond with the dog, he said: 'Sean! I've got a confession to make. I'm completely in love with this dog! She's beautiful. 'Please tell me this isn't shocking bad news.' Upon witnessing the return of the beloved TV star and seeing his affectionate personality once again, fans became emotional when watching the show and many couldn't hold back their tears. One said: 'Peggy the Newfoundland, I may have a bit of grit in my eye. This series is gonna be a difficult watch, well sure miss Paul OGrady, one of the good guys.' Another TV watcher was also brought to tears saying: 'Still tears in my eyes watching Paul OGrady but so enjoy the Programme,' while a third added: 'Paul O'Grady absolutely crying.' Another Twitter user added: 'I just finished watching the first episode of For The Love Of Dogs with the late great Paul O'Grady. Sweet: Paul couldn't help cradling Peggy's head and giving her cuddles as he visited the home Dog lover: The comedian had already adopted three dogs from the centre and was clearly tempted once more 'So good to watch, but so sad to watch at the same time. I don't think I've ever felt so bereft over someone I've never met, and feel like I've lost a friend!' Paul worked with a team of experts to nurse Peggy through eight weeks of physio, hydrotherapy and walked her using a harness ahead of her rehoming. In scenes that moved viewers to tears, Paul was left devastated at having to say goodbye to Peggy once she was healed, emotionally telling her that he didn't have the room to adopt her. Elsewhere in the episode, Paul helped a timid Bichon Frise who has been left terrified by humans after being dumped in the forest. He also met an excitable Labrastaff who has an obsession with water, with Paul all too happy to get the hose out and keep him entertained. However, one of Battersea Dogs and Cats Home's staff members has revealed that many of Paul's scenes 'won't see the light of the day.' Speaking on Thursday's episode of Lorraine, he explained: 'Anyone who knows Paul would acknowledge that probably half of what we filmed was unbroadcastable and will probably never see the light of day.' Recalling one memory, he said: 'This morning I remembered [when we were filming with a bulldog]. Screen favourite: During his career, he hosted The Paul O'Grady Show (pictured with his dog Olga), Blind Date and Blankety Blank, as well as ITV's For The Love Of Dogs Tribute: Paul's death was announced by his partner Andre Portasio, who he married in 2017 (the couple are pictured here at the Royal Opera House in London in 2018) 'I think we were doing a wound check. He'd taken a shine to Paul and over the next ten minutes literally pulled Paul from one side of the kennel to the other and back again. 'At the end of the ten minutes, [Paul] was covered in fur and drool, and we realised we'd been filming the wrong dog. Lots of little memories like that.' The final series is made up of six 30-minute episodes. Last month Paul's partner Andre Portasio shared that he had passed away 'unexpectedly but peacefully'. Portasio said: 'It is with great sadness that I inform you that Paul has passed away unexpectedly but peacefully yesterday evening. 'We ask, at this difficult time, that whilst you celebrate his life you also respect our privacy as we come to terms with this loss. 'He will be greatly missed by his loved ones, friends, family, animals and all those who enjoyed his humour, wit and compassion. 'I know that he would want me to thank you for all the love you have shown him over the years.' O'Grady and Portasio were married during a low-key wedding ceremony in 2017 . During his career, he hosted The Paul O'Grady Show, Blind Date and Blankety Blank, as well as ITV's multi-award-winning For The Love Of Dogs. He also hosted ITV celebrity game show, Paul O'Grady's Saturday Night Line Up. Amanda Bynes was pictured in public on Wednesday for the first time after checking out of a mental health facility after a three-week stay. The 37-year-old actress was seen getting a manicure at an establishment in Toluca Lake, California as sources told Dailymail.com that 'she has been advised to continue to distance herself from her' former fiance, Paul Michael. The Thousand Oaks, California native was seen at Cosmo Nails, where eyewitnesses said she smoked a cigarette while waiting for an Uber after the manicure. Bynes checked out of a mental health facility after a three-week stay Tuesday. She had reportedly worked with the facility's staff to determine that she was ready to get back to her regular routines. 'Amanda has left the medical facility on her own recognizance,' a source told Dailymail.com Thursday. 'She was very cooperative, participated in her recovery the staff supported her decision to leave as she had successfully completed the treatment program.' The latest: Amanda Bynes, 37, was pictured in public on Wednesday for the first time after checking out of a mental health facility after a three-week stay. The actress was seen getting a manicure at an establishment in Toluca Lake, California Bynes 'has been advised to continue to distance herself from her ex' Michael, the source said, adding that 'her family and friends believe that her split was a catalyst in her breakdown and that he is not a healthy and safe person for her to be around.' The source went on to say that the former pair 'were codependent on each other, and the latter part of their relationship was toxic due, in part, to the fact that they met in rehab. 'They substituted their addiction to substances for an addiction for each other.' Now, Bynes will be entering an outpatient treatment program to make sure that she maintains the progress that she has made while being treated. She also get a sense of normalcy back, as she will reportedly go back to living in her own home. Bynes had previously been under a conservatorship since 2013, but it was ended last year, so she will go back to having more freedom to make her own decisions. TMZ previously reported that Bynes' parents were not considering trying to set up another conservatorship, as she had been doing relatively well prior to her recent mental health crisis. The original arrangement began in 2013, after she was involuntarily committed after multiple run-ins with the law starting a year earlier. She had two hit-and-runs, as well as a DUI in 2012 and she was later arrested in 2013 for allegedly throwing a bong out of the window of her 36th-floor apartment in Manhattan. Details: The Thousand Oaks, California native was seen at Cosmo Nails, where eyewitnesses said she smoked a cigarette while waiting for an Uber after the manicure Casual: The actress was seen wearing a white t-shirt at the Southern California salon Relaxed: Bynes wore a wrap on her hair as she sat during the soothing procedure Background: Bynes checked out of a mental health facility after a three-week stay Tuesday. She had reportedly worked with the facility's staff to determine that she was ready to get back to her regular routines Bynes was most recently hospitalized after reportedly wandering the streets of the Greater Los Angeles area for four days straight after her car was towed in Long Beach on March 15. During that period, she was apparently in a manic state, and spent some time walking around naked. Amanda had been reported to have been spotted walking in the nude on the day that she entered the treatment facility, but a witness told TMZ that the She's The Man star had flagged down a car to get help. She was apparently cognizant of her mental state, and she called 911 to report that she was coming out of a psychotic state and needed assistance. After she was picked up, Bynes was initially put under a 72-hour psychiatric hold, which was initially extended while her team at the mental health facility devised a treatment plan for her. Amid her mental health struggles, Bynes' parents banned her ex-fiance Paul Michael from having any contact with her after their four-year relationship came to an end in January of this year. 'They do not want her ex-fiance around her, and he has been instructed to have no contact with her,' an insider told DailyMail.com on March 28. 'He does not seem to have her best interests in mind and her family has nothing good to say about him.' Chaotic split: Sources told Dailymail.com that 'she has been advised to continue to distance herself from her' former fiance, Paul Michael Back on the outside: Bynes checked out of a mental health facility after spending three weeks there after she called 911 and reported struggling with psychosis While speaking to the New York Post, he said: 'She got off her meds, and she's still off her meds... She's wild.' Michael previously claimed the two were now 'friends.' Bynes found fame as a child star at the age of 13 on Nickelodeon's The Amanda Show, and went on to have success on shows such as All That and What I Like About You. She was also appeared in films including She's the Man, What a Girl Wants and Hairspray, with her last appearance in a motion picture coming in 2010's Easy A. Bynes latest crisis appears to be the reason she pulled out of a reunion with her All That cast at '90s Con last month, which was originally attributed to an 'unknown illness.' She had previously expressed excitement about reconnecting with her castmates ahead of the convention. She was set to be joined by SNL star Kenan Thompson, his Good Burger costar Kel Mitchell, Danny Tamberelli and Lori Beth Denberg, all of whom were fixtures of the popular Nickelodeon sketch comedy series. The event would also have marked her first public appearance since her conservatorship was ended one year earlier. The series ran from 1994 to 2005 over 10 seasons, Bynes appeared on All That from 1996 to 2000. It was later revived in 2019. Bad days: The actress reportedly wandered the streets of LA for days after her car was towed in Long Beach, and she was even seen walking around naked Dropped out: Amanda's latest crisis appear to be the reason she had to pull out of a '90s Con appearance last month with her All That costars at the last minute Emmy-winning producer Ryan Seacrest delivered an emotional speech during his farewell dinner on Wednesday with the hard-working staff behind the scenes of LIVE with Kelly and Ryan ahead of his final show as co-host and producer. The Atlanta-born 48-year-old singled out his co-host and 'our leader' Kelly Ripa, whom he kissed and embraced at their table beside his replacement and her husband of nearly 27 years, Mark Consuelos. 'My brother, Mark, congratulations,' Ryan - who announced his departure on February 16 - said. 'It's wonderful to go through this process with somebody that I love so much that obviously knows her better than I know her. But congratulations, and I can't wait to watch or tape it and sleep in - probably that! But congratulations, Mark.' Since 2005, the Spanish-born 52-year-old has appeared in an eye-popping 138 episodes of LIVE, many of which as guest co-host. End of an era: Emmy-winning producer Ryan Seacrest delivered an emotional speech during his farewell dinner on Wednesday with the hard-working staff behind the scenes of LIVE with Kelly and Ryan ahead of his final show as co-host and producer 'Last but not least': The Atlanta-born 48-year-old singled out his co-host and 'our leader' Kelly Ripa, whom he kissed and embraced at their table beside his replacement and her husband of nearly 27 years, Mark Consuelos Seacrest - whose 2017 contract was for three years - admitted he 'was nervous' before beginning his gig on the syndicated morning show, but 'there really is no other place in our business like the Live show. I'm grateful to have been a part of for six years.' The Kardashians producer singled out several crew members like director Monica Mangin and listed off the many things he would miss, including the annual Christmas show and 'sharing the bathroom, well, with everyone.' 'And you know it was coming... I will miss the Halloween show,' Ryan said before admitting: 'You know, that's actually a lie. I mean, the costumes, the wigs, the art of all of it.' Seacrest also marveled at how the crew were able to pull off the annual Oscars after show: 'I mean you guys have turned around a show overnight - it is a magical experience that I will remember forever.' The On Air with Ryan Seacrest host's final LIVE episode airs this Friday and the 52-year-old Daytime Emmy winner teased on the April 6th episode of Watch What Happens Live that they're 'planning lots of surprises' and they're 'hazing him goodbye.' Kelly has been hosting LIVE as far back as 2000 when she replaced Kathie Lee Gifford and had to deal with Regis Philbin snidely calling her 'it.' Fans can also currently catch Ryan hosting the 21st season of singing competition American Idol, which airs Sundays and Mondays on ABC. Ryan - who announced his departure on February 16 - said: 'My brother, Mark, congratulations. It's wonderful to go through this process with somebody that I love so much that obviously knows her better than I know her. But congratulations, and I can't wait to watch or tape it and sleep in - probably that!' It's all who you know! Since 2005, the Spanish-born 52-year-old (L, pictured February 17) has appeared in an eye-popping 138 episodes of LIVE, many of which as guest co-host Seacrest - whose 2017 contract was for three years - admitted he 'was nervous' before beginning his gig on the syndicated morning show: 'There really is no other place in our business like the Live show. I'm grateful to have been a part of for six years' Memories: The Kardashians producer singled out several crew members like director Monica Mangin and listed off the many things he would miss, including the annual Christmas show (pictured December 19) and 'sharing the bathroom, well, with everyone' 'And you know it was coming... I will miss the Halloween show,' Ryan said before admitting: 'You know, that's actually a lie. I mean, the costumes, the wigs, the art of all of it' Seacrest also marveled at how the crew were able to pull off the annual Oscars after show: 'I mean you guys have turned around a show overnight - it is a magical experience that I will remember forever' The On Air with Ryan Seacrest host's final LIVE episode airs this Friday and the 52-year-old Daytime Emmy winner (L, pictured Thursday) teased on the April 6th episode of Watch What Happens Live: 'We're planning lots of surprises...we're hazing him goodbye' 'I felt horrible': Kelly has been hosting LIVE as far back as 2000 when she replaced Kathie Lee Gifford and had to deal with Regis Philbin (L) snidely calling her 'it' More information has come to light about why Arnold Schwarzenegger ended up filling a 'pothole' in his neighborhood that allegedly went unaddressed for weeks. Schwarzenegger was compelled to repair the gap after learning officials weren't planning on filling it until next month, according to TMZ. The action star, 75, made headlines after he shared video of him filling what he called a 'pothole' to his Instagram, however the City Of Los Angeles later claimed the hole was not actually a pothole but a service trench being handled by SoCalGas. TMZ reports the job had been completed back in January, and wasn't set to be filled until May - much longer than the neighborhood would have liked. The long interval ultimately compelled Arnold to repair the trench himself. Repairs! More information has come to light about why Arnold Schwarzenegger ended up filling a 'pothole' in his neighborhood that went unaddressed for weeks DailyMail.com has contacted the Los Angeles Department of Public Works for comment. The new update comes after a representative for the City Of Los Angeles addressed the issue, claiming it was not actually a pothole. They told NBC Los Angeles: 'This is not a pothole. It's a service trench that relates to active, permitted work being performed at the location by SoCalGas, who expects the work to be completed by the end of May. 'As is the case with similar projects impacting City streets, SoCalGas will be required to repair the area once their work is completed.' According to ABC7, the utility company added that because the road is concrete, and not asphalt, Schwarzenegger's handy work may only be a temporary fix. MailOnline has contacted Schwarzenegger's representatives for comment. The former California Governor shared a minute-long video on his Twitter page on Wednesday in which he worked with another man to fill in the large pothole that he said has been plaguing his neighborhood for weeks. In the video, which has amassed 4.5million views, Schwarzenegger pours a bag of Quikrete into the pothole and begins evening our the spread with a shovel. A woman in a white car comes driving up to thank the team of worker before realizing who is doing the heavy lifting. 'Oh, Arnold!' she exclaimed, when she saw who was responsible for the neighborly act. 'You're welcome,' he said. 'You have to do it yourself. This is crazy. For three weeks I've been waiting for this hole to be closed.' The Terminator actor captioned the vide: 'Today, after the whole neighborhood has been upset about this giant pothole that's been screwing up cars and bicycles for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it. 'I always say, let's not complain, let's do something about it. Here you go.' Filled in: The actor, 75, filmed himself tackling a neighborhood pothole after waiting several weeks for the problem to be addressed only for it to be revealed to be a service trench The Governator: Schwarzenegger previously served as Governor of California from 2003 to 2011; pictured 2023 The Terminator actor sported brown work boots, a brown bomber jacket, an all black athleisure look, dark sunglasses, and a white beard to do the neighborhood work. Schwarzenegger previously served as Governor of California from 2003 to 2011. Daniel Ketchell, a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger, said Brentwood residents made repeated requests for repairs since winter storms opened up potholes and cracks on local roads. The eleven atmospheric rivers that have hit California this year have mitigated drought that has plagued the state for years, but have also opened up potholes and cracks on local streets and freeways. Road crews have struggled to keep pace with the demand for repairs following the exceptionally stormy season. The case is apparently no different in the wealthy enclave of Bel Air, where Schwarzenegger lives in a nearly 15,000 square foot palatial home. Mayor Karen Bass last week announced a plan to address what she called an unprecedented number of damaged streets across the city. Since Dec. 30, Los Angeles has received 19,692 service requests for repairs, and as of April 6, crews had filled at least 17,549 potholes, officials said. Real Housewives of Orange County star Tamra Judge broke down in tears as she shared a series of text messages from her terrified daughter Sophia Barney while her high school was placed under lockdown on Thursday. To her mom's horror, the teenager, who is currently a senior in high school, informed the Real Housewives of Orange County star, 55, that they were sheltering in place. 'Not a drill,' she texted Judge. 'We're being locked in the classes with the lights off.' Sophia went on to inform her mother that she was 'hiding right now' and 'heard police sirens' but did not know if 'there was a shooter.' After the man was brought into custody, the TV personality shared an emotional video going into more detail about what happened. Scary: Tamra Judge, 55, shared a series of terrified text messages from her daughter Sophia Barney, who revealed her high school was placed under lockdown, on Thursday Terrifying: To her mom's horror, the teenager, who is currently a senior in high school, informed the Real Housewives of Orange County star that they were sheltering in place 'I want you to know everything's okay and they caught the guy. But, there was someone who came into my daughter's school today [with a weapon],' she revealed through tears. 'The kids are traumatized. The teachers are traumatized.' Judge went on to describe how students at her daughter's school laid on the floor after barricading their classroom 'door with bookshelves.' 'One teacher handed out hammers. Another had a fire extinguisher ready to go another somebody,' said Judge, who shares Sophia with her ex-husband Simon Barney, who she was married from 1998 until 2011. The wife of Eddie Judge said kids were crying out that they didn't 'want to die' and as a parent, she felt 'helpless' reading Sophia's messages. 'There's nothing you can do in this f**king world. I am so sick of it. I'm so sick of what's going on. My daughter, now, doesn't want to go back to school. It's her senior year. This has got to stop,' the mother-of-four concluded. Upon sharing a screenshot of messages from her teen, Judge said these are texts 'no parent wants to get.' San Juan Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano, California was put on a temporary lockdown when a man trespassed on campus and informed security guards he had a weapon, the Orange County Sheriffs Department said Thursday, according to KTLA. Authorities said that the man was searched, and that the weapon he had on him was a pocket knife. The man was taken into custody, according to the outlet, but it was not immediately clear if he was arrested or released. 'Not a drill,' she texted Judge. 'We're being locked in the classes with the lights off' Terrified: After the man was brought into custody, the TV personality shared an emotional video going into more detail about what happened San Juan Hills High School in San Juan Capistrano, California was put on a temporary lockdown when a man trespassed on campus and informed security guards he had a weapon, the Orange County Sheriffs Department said Thursday The scary ordeal comes less than two weeks after six people were killed at by a shooter at the Covenant School in Nashville, Tennessee. The shooting marked the 129th mass shooting in the United States this year. So far this year, there have been 13 school shootings, with six children killed in total and four adults or employees losing their lives. It is the deadliest school shooting of 2023 and is one of just five in history which had a female gunman. So far this year California, Texas and Florida have all had 12 mass shootings each this year, with Louisiana having 11, and Illinois suffering eight. Pennsylvania has had seven, with Tennessee suffering six, including the latest tragedy according to the Gun Violence archive. In total 63 children have been shot and killed in the US as a result of gun crime this year, with 128 injured. Authorities have identified her as a 28-year-old woman from Nashville, though it is not currently clear exactly how she is linked to the school if she is at all. Law enforcement confirmed that three children and three adults were killed in the incident, as well as the shooter who was killed by police. The female shooter had two assault-type rifles on her during the incident, and a handgun, entering the school from the side before making her way up to the first floor and fired multiple shots. The Nashville incident is the third most deadly of the year, with the same number of people killed as the incident in Half Moon Bay on January 23. 'I want you to know everything's okay and they caught the guy. But, there was someone who came into my daughter's school today [with a weapon],' she revealed through tears. 'The kids are traumatized. The teachers are traumatized' A mass shooting in Monterey Park, California, is the worst of the year, which saw 12 people including the shooter killed. Eight people were killed during a shooting on January 4 in Cedar City, Utah, with Michael Haight killing his wife, their five children and his mother-in-law before turning the gun on himself. On Monday, a 25-year-old bank employee killed five and left eight injured at his workplace in Louisville, Kentucky. There are about 120 guns for every 100 Americans, according to the Switzerland-based Small Arms Survey. No other nation has more civilian guns than people, with around 44 percent of US adults living in a household with a gun. He always insisted on spiritual and cultural unity as the basis of modern nation-state formation Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkars work and philosophy were built on the sensibility of Indias ethos, a passionate desire for Indias Unity and cultural nationalism. He was one of the leading nation-builders of modern India as early as 1916, in his famed paper presented at an anthropology seminar at Columbia University, Dr Ambedkar made an observation that may well become the definition of what is today called cultural nationalism in the Indian context: It may be granted that there has not been a thorough amalgamation of the various stocks that make up the peoples of India, and to a traveller from within the boundaries of India, the East presents a marked contrast in physique and even in colour to the West, as does the South to the North. But amalgamation can never be the sole criterion of homogeneity as predicated of any people. Ethnically all people are heterogeneous. It is the unity of culture that is the basis of homogeneity. Taking this for granted, I venture to say that there is no country that can rival the Indian Peninsula with respect to the unity of its culture. It has not only a geographic unity, but it has over and above all a deeper and a much more fundamental unity the indubitable cultural unity that covers the land from end to end. Dr Ambedkar always insisted on this spiritual and cultural unity as the basis of modern nation-state formation, and he emphasized the Vedic as well as Buddhist contribution to it. He was advocating for the Buddhist-Vedic organic fraternity as part of a greater pan-Indian identity. It is in this context that one could understand how he was extremely appreciative of all genuine reform work done in the country. Dr Ambedkar always took care that he should never allow his people to get denationalized in their quest for justice and liberation. However, this part of Dr Ambedkar has never been highlighted and rather projected as an anti-thesis of the cultural unity of the nation. The Idea of a Nation: There are innumerable definitions given by various thinkers on Nation. Patterson defines Nation as, people, a folk, held together by some or all of such more or less immutable characteristics as common descent, territory, history, language, religion, way of life or other attributes that members of a group have birth on the ward (Patterson 1975). However, according to Sri Aurobindo, Nationalism is a religion that has come from God; Nationalism is a creed that you shall have to live. He elevated the demand for national freedom to a religious faith so that the masses could be awakened. His concept of nation was deeply influenced by Bankimchandra. He believed that the nation is not just a piece of land or a mass of human beings. Sri Aurobindo was convinced that imitation of Europe was not at all conducive to Indias regeneration. He knew that India would never share the feeling of nationalism if a large number of its citizens remained branded as untouchables Nation and Nationality: While talking about Nations, Ambedkar asserted that the realisation of the fact that India was not a nation can be called the first step towards nation-building. According to him, The sooner we realize that we are not as yet a nationwe shall realize the necessity of becoming a nation and seriously think of ways and means of realizing the goal (Ambedkar 1994: 1217). Taking a clue from Renan who had sighted the case of the union of Northern and Southern France after a struggle of nearly a hundred years, Ambedkar emphasized forgetfulness as a second factor in the creation of a nation (Ambedkar 1990:36) Ambedkar contends Nationality is consciousness of a kind, awareness of the existence of that tie of kinship and nationalism is the desire for a separate national existence for those who are bound by this tie of kinship. Ambedkar was never against the idea of Nationalism but against the Congresss version of Nationalism which entailed freedom of India from British Colonialism but not from caste hierarchy through which millions of scheduled castes had been yoked for hundreds of years. Ambedkar took up the question from the social below and elevated it to a political high by linking this social question of caste with the political question of democracy and nationalism. According to Ambedkar without social union, political unity is difficult to be achieved. If achieved, it would be as precarious as a summer sapling, liable to be uprooted by the gust of hostile wind. With mere political unity, India may be a State. But to be a State is not to be a Nation and a State, which is not a Nation, has small prospects of survival in the struggle for existence. He had faith in the spiritual aspect of Indian texts and codes but not in its ritualistic aspect which had developed in the last 1200 years. He talked about the Annihilation of Caste not Dharma. He had the option of declaring himself an atheist but his rootedness in Indian ethos compelled him to choose Buddhism. He emphasizes that Hindus need not borrow from foreign sources concepts to build a society on the principle of equality, fraternity and liberty. They could draw for such principles on the Upanishads. Even in Riddles in Hinduism he points out that Hinduism has the potential to become the spiritual basis of social democracy. The Constitution of India has abolished Untouchability. But what Dr Ambedkar had visualized, If social conscious is such that it is prepared to recognize the rights which law chosen to enact, rights will safe and secure. But if the fundamental rights are opposed by the community, no law, no parliament, no judiciary can guarantee them in the real sense of the word, appears to be true. Ambedkar argued that race, language and country do not suffice to create a nation. Quoting Renan, Ambedkar argued that: A nation is a living soul, a spiritual principle. Two things, which in truth are but one, constitute the soul, this spiritual principle. One is in the past, the other in the present. One is the common possession of a rich heritage of memories; the other is the actual consent, the desire to live together, the will to preserve worthily the undivided inheritance which has been handed down (Ambedkar 1990: 35). On the day when the Constitution of India was to be finally passed, Ambedkar told the Constituent Assembly to have self-introspection. He said: my mind is so full of the future of our country... On 26th January 1950, India will be an independent country. What would happen to her independence? Will she maintain her independence or will she lose it again?... It is not that India was never an independent country. The point is that she once lost the independence she had. Will she lose it a second time? What perturbs me greatly is the fact that not only India has once before lost her independence, but she lost it through the infidelity and treachery of some of her people. (Ambedkar 1994: 1213-14). (The writer is an assistant professor, Centre for Study of Social Systems, JNU) The role of social media platforms in abusing markets has been adequately underscored in an order passed by SEBI Knowledge dissemination & informational symmetry: The new-age freelancer-influencer generation believes in providing simplified, concise and conclusive information. Simultaneously, the new age class of retail investors also wants quick money without having to do hours of market research. Over-simplification is the new complexity and those who capitalize on this ability control the narrative. This issue surfaced again when SEBI heavily cracked down on YouTube influencers manipulating prices in March 2023. It barred about 44 entities from the Indian securities market via interim orders dated March 2, 2023. The crux of the regulators clampdown revolves around the collusion of promoters and profit-makers with YouTube creators. The false and misleading content was peddled by the creators as a part of a marketing campaign to trick innocent investors. This helped generate artificial volumes in scrips of Sharpline Broadcast Ltd. and Sadhna Broadcast and book massive profits for certain shareholders. This incident portrays how social media has democratized financial services at the click of a button. But, it can be misused as an open channel for mass manipulation and perilous ambitions of one man duping thousands of innocents. The role of social media platforms in enabling market abuse has been adequately underscored in an order passed by SEBI in January 2022 in Re. Stock Recommendations using Social Media Channel (Telegram). It is critical to delve into this case and understand the legal framework governing investor advisory on social media. Present Legal Framework: SEBI allows only authorized research analysts and investment advisers to provide financial advice. Such entities are governed under the SEBI (Intermediaries) Regulations 2008, the SEBI (Investment Advisors) Regulations 2013, and the SEBI (Research Analysts) Regulations 2014. Consequently, any impersonation shall lead to a violation of the aforesaid regulations. Moreover, abusive market practices are prohibited under the provisions of the SEBI Act of 1993 and the SEBI (Prohibition of Fraudulent & Unfair Trade Practices relating to Securities Market) Regulations 2003 (PFUTP regulations). Section 12 A of the SEBI Act 1993 prohibits any such action of commission or omission relating to securities or issues, via any scheme or device amounting to deceptive practices, fraudulent trade practices, unfair trade practices or manipulative trade practices (collectively referred to as abusive market practices). The provision intends to prevent malpractices in the financial market. Regulation 4 specifies acts amounting to abusive market practices. E.g.: misrepresentation of facts, misinformation inducing the sale or purchase of such securities, market manipulation triggering fluctuations in prices for wrongful gain, circular trading, reverse trading creating artificial volumes, dubious synchronized trades, false corporate announcements, front running, insider trading, diversion of funds, cornering shares in issues, forged share certificates, misstatement of financials, delayed dematerialization, concealment or non-disclosure of client transactions. It may be imperative to mention in this regard that SEBI also enhanced its powers to tackle unfair trade practices via amendments made to Regulation 4 (2) (k) in January 2022. It extended the ambit of regulations to reckless dissemination of information likely influencing investment patterns under the ambit of regulations. While it is permissible to discuss macro stock patterns on public platforms and social media, unsolicited advice on any closed subscription-based channels that are accessible only to limited members is prohibited; especially by SEBI unregistered entities. In the Telegram Investment Advice case mentioned above, SEBI noted how entities who lack basic minimum qualifications related to securities markets projected themselves as established investment advisors via social media. Such misleading advertisements entailed fake claims of combined experience of over 40 years in securities markets and that they are in process of seeking registration from SEBI. The tips given on the channel were repetitively acted on by an increasingly large number of subscribers which created a gradual artificial boom in prices of thinly traded scrips leading to deepened belief in the recommendations. In a fast-paced digital age, social media influencing is an extremely impactful way of marketing and advertising. The securities market in specific is flooded with many fraudsters purporting to SEBI registered research analysts and investment advisors. A consequential issue that the market regulator faces in recent times is difficulty in monitoring the misuse of social media by fraudulent investment advisors. The risk amplifies tremendously when unsolicited advisories come from a celebrity. (The writer is an advocate and columnist) They are doing commendable work by reaching out to communities ignored by mainstream media. Give them more favourable turf to play on Community radio stations (CRS) in India are playing a crucial role in informing, educating and entertaining communities that have limited access to mainstream media. These stations are run and managed by local communities, NGOs, educational institutions, and other grassroots organizations. They did commendable work during the pandemic by spreading awareness about it and how it could best be avoided. CRS routinely play programs on vaccination, nutrition, menstrual hygiene, and sanitation. They also promote literacy. They have also been instrumental in empowering women by having programs on women's health, education, and entrepreneurship. They provide a platform for women to share their experiences. Besides, they promote local culture and traditions by showcasing local talent and also conducting programs on local festivals and traditions. But unfortunately, most of them struggle to remain on air due to a severe paucity of funds and resources. As they have to muster their own resources, they rely heavily on government campaigns and local ads for funds. But of late the government funds are just not there. The proverb Beating around the Bush fits apt to the government's approach to CRS. The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has increased the DAVP rate but campaigns have been reduced drastically to just two to three in a year. The government wants the community Radio Stations to be self-sustained. It is easier said than done. There are so many technical issues that stand in the way. It has a limited range and restricted transmitter power of 0.5 KW that seriously cripples its signals which seriously mars its audio quality thereby dissuading the private parties to give ads to CRS. Community Radio faces a number of sustainability issues, both financial and operational, that can impact their ability to continue serving their local communities. However, the CRS would also have to think out of the box to take the movement forward. To address these sustainability issues, community radio stations can take a number of steps. These might include diversifying funding sources, developing a strong volunteer management program, investing in technical infrastructure by procuring loans, and developing partnerships with other local media outlets to increase visibility and build audiences. A strong team is essential for the success of any radio station. CRS should recruit and retain talented and passionate individuals who are committed to the station's mission. Besides, Community radio stations should adhere to journalistic standards, such as accuracy, fairness, and impartiality. This will help build trust with the community and establish the station as a credible source of news and information. Thus, community radio stations can become a strong medium that serves the needs of their local communities. A community radio station needs a sustainable business model to ensure its long-term success. This may involve a combination of funding sources, including grants, sponsorships, donations, and underwriting. Develop a fundraising plan that includes a variety of revenue streams to ensure financial stability. Overall, community radio stations can succeed by offering content that is relevant, engaging, and distinctive, and by leveraging their strengths, such as their local focus, human connection, and credibility, to create a loyal and engaged audience. A community radio station also needs the support of the community it serves. Involving community members in the planning process, and encouraging them to participate in the station's programming will help ensure that the station meets the needs and interests of the community, and can also help with fundraising and support. (The writer is a business consultant and development writer) At most times, the Opposition has been weak, divided and untrained in governance The Emergency of June 1975 lasted till the general elections in early 1977. During that year and a half, there was an order without law in the country. That isnt so now and yet the Opposition keeps blaring that democracy in India is in danger. Hosts on television discussions often say that they feel like second-class citizens these days. (One Dr Shama Mohammed said so on 8 April on NDTV). The Emergency was imposed mainly in the Hindi-speaking states, with forced sterilization of men. The main targets were Muslim men. The real problem is with the opposition; since the beginning of Independence. At most times, it has been weak, divided and untrained in governance. The communist parties have retained their Marxist ideologies, quite oblivious that these ideologies perished as long ago was 1991. There is hardly any other political party that has a coherent ideology. A few of them, like the Akali Dal for example, have programmes, which is to retain their control over Sikh institutions. Tamil Nadus DMK has hung on to its anti-Brahminism; the rest function according to ad hoc and opportunistic causes that come their way. The members of all such parties are more beholden to the street than the assembly halls of legislatures. Most Indian politicians may never have heard of the concept of a shadow cabinet, which is very useful to the opposition party so that at least some members of the party have a working knowledge of subjects like foreign affairs, finance, defence etc. This would make it easy for the Opposition to oppose the government and not let it get away with an incorrect or inadequate policy. After an election that follows, if the opposition is able to participate in the formation of a cabinet in a new government, it would have several ready-made ministers who would be well-versed in their respective subjects. This decline began soon after Jawaharlal Nehrus death. One of the prime ministers who came after he declared, Corruption is a global phenomenon and it is difficult to name a country that is free of corruption. These utterances turned out to be a signal to Indias politicians that politics can be a lucrative business. Come election time, a party begins by selling the application forms of party tickets to an MLA election. Thereafter, when the party is ready to distribute the tickets, each ticket attracts good money. The entire election expense is to be met by the candidate. Win or lose, at the end of the election, every party can hope to make a tidy profit. As the lure of money shone more and more, the significance of talent, popularity, and political competence began to diminish and gradually disappear. The other consequence of increasing wealth led to parental compulsions of bequeathing ones political party to ones son or daughter. That is how dynastic politics began and has today engulfed many a party, kicking the issue of talent to a distant background. Is it, not a shame such a large country as ours should have to make do with one national party at a time? For long years, Congress was the only national party. There was no alternative that could replace it in the event of its losing power. Three or four coalition governments did manage to keep the country going; one government had as many as 24 parties. How can the country expect to progress, and that too speedily, with Common Minimum Programmes? If there is serious disagreement among the parties, would the countrys integrity be assured? How would other countries view such a coalition-ruled nation? How tied down the prime minister of such a coalition would be, merely to keep the coalition partners satisfied? The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or its precursor the Bharatiya Jana Sangh (BJS) took 62 years to come to power. Nevertheless, it was a blessing that it rose to the occasion when Congress reached a state of decline. The speedy rise of the country in the world in the last few years should open our eyes to a universal weakness of democratic politics. Almost all political ideologies are unconnected with the ethos of the countries. They are based on academic theories and less on the soil of the countries practising them. We have seen conservative parties, liberal platforms, socialist organizations, communist groups, fascist movements et al. Not a single one of these has been born on the soil of any country. The BJP has demonstrated how speedily the people can respond to Hindu nationalism rather than to a socialistic pattern of society, which is alien. The only example of such rapidity of response was the Muslim League, which won Partition in a mere seven years time. This again can be called an ethnic response. Can Indian democracy throw up ethnic alternatives? It seems difficult if not doubtful. (The writer is a well-known columnist, an author and a former member of the Rajya Sabha. The views expressed are personal) Covid cases saw a massive jump on Wednesday, with India recording 7,830 cases and daily positivity rate surging from 2.88 per cent on Tuesday to 3.65 per cent a rise of 26.73 per cent in a day. At 7,830 fresh cases in the last 24 hours, India recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases in over seven months, according to the latest Government data. However, officials in the Union Health Ministry said theres no need to worry as infections are expected to rise for the next 10-12 days and then subside. Though the infection may rise, hospitalisation will remain low, they said. The XBB.1.16 subvariant of Omicron, which is driving the latest surge, is not a cause of worry and vaccines are effective against it, the officials added. The subvariants prevalence increased from 21.6 per cent in February to 35.8 per cent in March, but no incident of hospitalisation or death has been reported. The death toll due to the disease has increased to 5,31,016 with 16 new fatalities being reported two each in Delhi, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, and one each in Gujarat, Haryana, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, and five reconciled by Kerala the data updated at 8 am stated. The infection is now at the endemic stage. In an endemic stage, an infection is restricted to a particular region whereas in pandemic, the infection spreads to a bigger area or even worldwide, the official explained. The tally of Covid-19 cases in the country was recorded at 4.47 crore, it showed. The country had recorded a single-day jump of 7,946 Covid-19 cases on September 1 last year. The count of active cases now comprises 0.09 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.72 per cent, according to the Health Ministry website. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,42,04,771, while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.19 per cent, the data showed. Four Indian Army jawans belonging to the 80 Medium Regiment and on guard duty in the Officers Mess were killed in a firing incident reported inside Bathinda Military Station early on Wednesday. As per preliminary investigations, two masked men in kurta-payjama attacked the jawans all in their twenties when they were asleep in their barracks at 4.30 am, with an INSAS assault rifle and an axe. A jawan saw the two unidentified men coming out of the barracks after the firing. The suspected attackers, who were of medium height, went towards a forested area near the barracks on seeing the jawan, according to the FIR. Subsequently, two Army officers went inside the barracks and found Gunner Sagar Banne (25), Gunner Yogesh Kumar J (24) in a pool of blood. In another room, the bodies of Gunner Santosh M Nagaral (25) and Gunner Kamalesh R (24), were found. The bodies bore bullet marks, according to the FIR. Banne and Nagaral hailed from Karnataka, while Kamalesh and Yogesh were from Tamil Nadu, police said. From the spot of the incident, total 19 empty shells of INSAS rifle believed to be the one went missing from the unit about two days back were recovered from the spot. The joint search team, comprising military and Bathinda district police, later located the INSAS assault rifle suspected to be the weapon used in the incident and the ammunition that went missing two days ago. The joint team is scanning the CCTV footage for vital clues. According to the information we have gathered so far, it is clear that it is not a terrorist act, a senior police officer said. Initially, the police suggested that it was an incident of fratricide. However, officials later said there was no clarity on the incident yet. Armys South Western command, in a statement, stated, A search team has located the INSAS rifle along with the magazine. Army and Police Joint teams will now be undertaking forensic analysis of the weapon to ascertain further details. The balance number of rounds in the weapon will only be available after forensic analysis. A joint investigation with Punjab Police is in progress. All possible assistance is being provided. It is reiterated that no individual has been detained or apprehended. Meanwhile, Army Chief General Manoj Pande on Wednesday briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the Bathinda military station incident. The Bathinda military station is the largest military base in Asia and home to the Armys HQs 10 Corps. The pivot Chetak corps is responsible for defending Indias border with Pakistan in south Punjab and north Rajasthan. The first information report (FIR), filed in the incident by 80 Medium Regiments Major Ashutosh Shukla, said that the firing was reported at 4.30 am and some unidentified masked men in kurta-pyjama were seen. The FIR said that one of the men had an INSAS assault rifle, while another carried an axe. They fled towards a jungle near the military station when an Army personnel saw them coming out of the officers mess, it added. The police have registered a case against two unknown persons for their links in Bathinda Military Station firing case. Ruling out any terror attack angle to the incident, the police had maintained that it appeared to be an internal incident of the Army. Punjabs additional director general of police (ADGP) Surinder Pal Singh maintained that the shooting incident is not a terror case and a probe is being done on the matter. The ADGP added that an FIR was lodged two-three days ago regarding the missing rifle and the matter was being investigated. This is not a terrorist incident. Probe is being done. An FIR was lodged two-three days ago regarding the missing rifle and the matter is being investigated. We are in touch with Army officials, he added. Notably, an INSAS rifle allotted in the name of Lance Naik Harish of the unit had gone missing on April 9, and the same was being investigated by the unit itself. Army headquarters, South Western Command, in a statement said, It has been ascertained that in the unfortunate incident, four Army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. No other injuries to personnel or loss or damage to property have been reported. SP (Detective), Bathinda, Ajay Gandhi, member of the probing team, told the media that the four jawans were killed while they were asleep. 19 empty shells of INSAS rifle have been recovered, said the SP. The SP said that eyewitnesses have said that two people in civilian dress fired the shots and that nothing else is known about them. We are carrying out a joint investigation with the military police, he said, adding that the identity of the killers could not be revealed as the investigation was being carried out jointly with the Army. It has also been learnt that the Army has also pressed into service hexacopters and drones to locate the assailants who killed the jawans. A cordon and search operation was also conducted at the station. The flagging off of a Vande Bharat Express train between Delhi and Ajmer by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday turned out be political as Modi called Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot a friend and thanked him for attending the launch event even though he is going through a political tussle in the State. Modis remark didnt go down well with Gehlot, who termed the remarks as unfortunate. Gehlot said his comments were made with an eye on the coming Assembly and general elections. In an obvious reference to senior Congress leader Sachin Pilots day-long fast in Jaipur on Tuesday despite a warning by the Congress, Modi said in his speech, I express my special gratitude to Gehlot ji. During these days of political struggle when he is going through several crises, he took out the time for development work and participated in a railway programme. I welcome him. During his address at the launch event, Gehlot raised demands related to the railways in Rajasthan, and mentioned that for the first time since independence, the Union Railway Minister is from the State. The Prime Minister told Gehlot that his trust in him gives strength to their friendship. I thank you for the trust you have in this friendship, he told the Congress leader. The work that should have been done immediately after independence had not been done till now. But you have so much faith in me that you have given me that task today, Modi said. Referring to the Railway Minister and the chairman of the Railway Board both being from Rajasthan, the Prime Minister said, And I want to say Gehlot ji that you have laddoos in both your hands... The Railway Minister is from Rajasthan and the chairman of the Railway Board is also from Rajasthan. This is the second time in five months that Modi has praised Gehlot. Gehlot said it was not fair to say the development of the national transporter happened only after 2014.Today, your speech was given completely keeping in view the 2023-24 Assembly and Lok Sabha elections and it was in the form of the election agenda of the BJP. I believe that such comments will not be acceptable to the people of the State and the country, the Rajasthan Chief Minister said. He said in a statement it was unfortunate that the Prime Minister talked about the decisions taken during the tenure of earlier Railway Ministers as being influenced by corruption and political considerations. Gehlot said if the modern train is able to run today, it is because of Manmohan Singh, who as the Finance Minister did economic liberalisation in 1991 and gave new technology an opportunity to develop India. Gehlot also named former Railway Ministers in his statement such as Lal Bahadur Shastri, Jagjivan Ram, Sardar Swaran Singh, Gulzari Lal Nanda, K Hanumanthaiya, Lalit Narayan Mishra, Kamlapati Tripathi, Madhu Dandavate, PC Sethi, ABA Ghani Khan Choudhury, Mohsina Kidwai, Madhavrao Scindia, George Fernandes, Janeshwar Mishra, CK Jafarsharif, Ram Vilas Paswan, Nitish Kumar, Ram Nayak, Mamata Banerjee and Mallikarjun Kharge. Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also shared a clip of parts of the speeches of Modi and Gehlot. In the caption, he said even Gehlot knows that only Modi will get the work done. Gehlot urged Vaishnaw to connect the headquarters of Banswara, Tonk, Karauli with the railways. The Vande Bharat launch function was organised at the Jaipur junction railway station. It was also attended by Rajasthan Governor Kalraj Mishra among others. The regular service of this new Vande Bharat train will start from April 13 and will operate between Ajmer and Delhi Cantonment with stops in Jaipur, Alwar and Gurgugram. In yet another attempt to forge Opposition unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the top leaders of Congress, JD(U) and RJD met on Wednesday, with Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar saying they will make all efforts to unite more and more parties in the country against the BJP. Kumar, along with his deputy Tejashwi Yadav, met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, who described the initiative as historic. The meeting assumes significance as this is the first major step in forging Opposition unity and taking it forward ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls despite differences among some regional outfits. The JD(U), the RJD and the Congress are in a coalition Government in Bihar and they are in talks to bring other Opposition parties together on a common platform in their fight against the BJP. Kumar and Tejashwi also met Delhi Chief Minister and AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal on Wedneday. Kejriwal lauded Nitishs efforts to bring together Opposition parties and pledged his support. To take forward unity efforts, leaders have stressed that they should leave their differences apart and should focus on defeating the BJP and that the leadership issue will be decided after the polls. The leaders, who jointly addressed a Press conference after the meeting, also parried questions on the leadership issue. The Opposition will together protect the Constitution and democracy and unitedly give a new direction to the country, Kharge said at the media conference. He also said the Opposition would unite to fight all upcoming elections, including Assembly elections this year and the Lok Sabha polls next year. Rahul said the Opposition will together develop its vision for the country and present the same before the people as they fight the ongoing ideological battle together. We held a historic meeting here. A lot of issues were discussed and we decided that we will unite all parties and fight the upcoming polls in a united manner. We have made this decision and all of us will work for this, Rahul told reporters while lauding the efforts of Kumar, Yadav and others sitting along with him. He said the leaders present at the meeting will work on a common line of thought and asserted that efforts were being made in this regard. In this battle of ideology, a historic step has been taken today towards the unity of the Opposition. Standing together, we will fight together - for India, Rahul later mentioned in a tweet and shared his picture with other leaders. The JD(U) tweeted in Hindi, saying, Nitish will prove to be the architect of Opposition unity in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Asked how many Opposition parties will come together, Rahul said, This is a process and we will develop the Oppositions vision for the country and all those parties that will come together with us, we will together fight the ongoing ideological fight in the country. We will unitedly stand against the attack on institutions, the attack on the country. In his remarks, the Bihar Chief Minister, who broke the alliance with the BJP in August last year, said, We will make all efforts to unite more and more parties in the country. We will make all efforts, sit together, and work unitedly, this has been decided. After todays discussions, we will move forward on that basis. All those who agree will sit together and decide the future course of action. Others present in the meeting over lunch at Kharges residence were JD(U) president Lalan Singh, Bihar Congress chief Akhilesh Prasad Singh, Congress leader Salman Khurshid and RJD leader Manoj Jha were also present. Interacting with reporters after a meeting with Kumar at his residence, Kejriwal said, The country is passing through a very difficult time. This is perhaps the most corrupt Government at the Centre since Independence. Asked if Kumar is worth being a prime ministerial candidate, Kejriwal told reporters, You will have many questions in your mind which cannot be answered right now after just one meeting. As we move forward, we will keep answering your questions. On his part, Kumar said, I had word with him (Kejriwal) in the past. Today, met him again and it was decided that... We will unite the maximum number of opposition parties. Congress sources said Kharge would be meeting top leaders of various Opposition parties in the coming few days. Sources the Opposition has plans to put forward one common candidate whereas some have expressed reservations over such a proposal as some parties have aspirations to contest the maximum number of seats. The Congress also is not inclined to restrict itself to around 200 seats and wants to contest more seats, claiming that it is a national player unlike many regional outfits and has a presence across the country. It has also contended that it is the only party that can directly take on the BJP due to its national footprint. Kharge has spoken to several Opposition leaders including M K Stalin and Uddhav Thackeray recently, in an attempt to forge unity among like-minded parties to take on the BJP. The Supreme Court has ordered the sacking of a trial court judge in Karnataka, holding that a judicial officer cannot pronounce the concluding portion of a judgment in the open court without the entire text of the judgment having been prepared or dictated. The SC direction came on a plea filed by the Registrar General of the High Court of Karnataka who had challenged the HCs division bench order on the judges reinstatement by quashing the termination order passed by its full court. Slamming the Karnataka HC for white-washing serious charges, an SC bench of Justices V Ramasubramanian and Pankaj Mithal said the conduct of the judge is unacceptable. It is true that some of the charges revolve around judicial pronouncements and the judicial decision-making processes and that they cannot per se, without anything more, form the foundation for departmental proceedings. Therefore, we are ignoring those charges. But the charges which revolve around gross negligence and callousness on the part of the respondent in not preparing/dictating judgments, but providing a fait accompli, is completely unacceptable and unbecoming of a judicial officer, the bench said. The top court said the defence taken by the judge that the lack of experience and the inefficiency on the part of the stenographer has to be blamed was entirely unacceptable. But unfortunately, the High Court not only accepted this panchatantra (a false or improbable account) story, but also went to the extent of blaming the administration for not examining the stenographer as a witness. Such an approach is wholly unsustainable. If it was the case of the respondent that the entire blame lay upon the stenographer, it was for him to have summoned the stenographer as a witness. The High Court unfortunately reversed the burden of proof, the bench said. The apex court said the High Court was swayed unduly by the animosity attributed by the judge to a member of the local Bar and the assistant public prosecutor in granting him relief. Four persons were arrested and 36.9 kg of heroin was recovered from their possession in Fazilka district of Punjab, Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav said here on Wednesday. Those arrested have been identified as Manpreet Singh, Jaspal Singh alias Gopi, Sukhdev Singh and Dyalvinder Singh, all residents of the Tarn Taran district. Police also recovered two cars that were used to smuggle drug consignment from Rajasthan. In a statement, DGP Yadav said following reliable inputs about an influx of large quantity of heroin from Rajasthan to Punjab, Police teams from Fazilka district carried out an operation at the Fazilka-Ferozepur road near the canal bridge in the area of village Lalo Wali, where these four persons were spotted waiting for someone in their cars. After seeing the police, the accused persons tried to flee from the spot, but the police managed to apprehend them. During checking, police recovered 23 packets of heroin, weighing 24.295 kg from the car, said the DGP, adding that another chunk of 12 packets of heroin, weighing 12.620 kg, was recovered from the location disclosed by the accused. Divulging more details, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ferozepur Range, Ranjit Singh Dhillon said as per preliminary investigations, the accused were coming from Rajasthan after retrieving the heroin consignment dropped from across the border using a drone. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Avneet Kaur Sidhu said further investigations are on. After women, the Kejriwal Government is exploring the possibility of providing facilities of free bus travel passes to all registered labourers in the national capital. There are 13.4 lakh registered construction workers in Delhi so far. At a review meeting with the labour department , the Kejriwal Government has identified a series of measures aimed at improving the lives and welfare of these workers. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has directed the officers to explore the possibility of providing each worker with a free bus pass, in addition to those who are already availing it. He asked the officials to discuss with the DTC whether the government can pay a standard charge for these passes on behalf of the workers and they can get to use buses for free. DTC will earn revenue as well and workers will also get a free bus pass. We can actively persuade these workers to come and collect their bus pass. A lot of people do not even know of the schemes available to them, he said. Kejriwal, also directed the labour department to reach out to over 13.4 lakh construction workers of Delhi and offer them free bus passes after proper registration and verification with the Delhi Building and Other Construction Workers Welfare Board. The Chief Minister has also directed the department to assess the possibility of group life insurance for construction workers, similar to that provided for lawyers. The meeting was also attended by Labour Minister Raaj Kumar Anand and other senior officials of concerned departments. The CM discussed various schemes and their current situation in the meeting with the officers. The Chief Minister also directed the officials to assess whether a group life insurance can be implemented for construction workers by the government like it does for lawyers. The discussion then moved to Educational Schemes of the department. AIIMS Bhopal and Indian Oil signed an agreement which is a significant step towards enhancing the quality of healthcare services in the region. With Indian Oil's commitment towards providing necessary equipment to AIIMS Bhopal, the institute can continue to provide excellent care to its patients. The agreement was signed by distinguished visionary, Director AIIMS Bhopal, Prof Dr Ajai Singh, and Executive Director and State Head MP State Office IOCL, Dipak Kumar Basu, along with Sreyansh Dixit, Chief Manager HR-CSR, MP State Office. During the signing ceremony, Director AIIMS Bhopal, Prof Dr Ajai Singh, expressed his gratitude towards Indian Oil for their contribution to the institute's CSR initiative. He also acknowledged the efforts of his team and the commitment towards providing the best healthcare facilities in the region. The event was graced by the presence of Executive Director and State Head MP State Office IOCL, Dipak Kumar Basu and Chief Manager HR-CSR, MP State Office, Sreyansh Dixit,and Additional Professor & Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Babita Raghuwanshi, who have been instrumental in making this partnership a reality. Their support and contributions towards the CSR initiative of Indian Oil have been highly appreciated. This agreement between AIIMS Bhopal and Indian Oil marks the beginning of a new chapter in their relationship. Both institutions share a common goal of providing the best possible care to patients, and this partnership will undoubtedly help achieve that. The agreement is a testament to the commitment and dedication of both organizations towards improving healthcare facilities in the region. Delhi BJP leaders and workers on Wednesday staged a protest near the AAP office on DDU Marg demanding the resignation of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal over charges of corruption against the ruling party leaders. In the protest, the protesters marched towards the headquarters of the Aam Aadmi Party, broke police barricades and marched towards AAP Office. Police detained hundreds of workers including Dlhi BJP chief Virendra Sachdeva, Leader of opposition in Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri, Harsh Malhotra and Jaiveer Rana and took them to I.P. Estate police station. Addressing the protesters, Delhi BJP president Virendra Sachdeva alleged that the AAP government was a government of criminals and cited names of its former ministers currently in jail over corruption charges. Referring to AAP convener Kejriwals remark at an event on Tuesday to mark its national party status that the party workers miss Manish Sisodia and Satyendar Jain, the Delhi BJP chief said, I want to assure Kejriwal that he will soon join Sisodia and Jain. There is a long list of AAP leaders who have been in jail over criminal charges and the BJP will expose the party by reaching out to every household in the city in the next three months, Sachdeva said. He also claimed that two other Delhi ministers Gopal Rai and Kailash Gahlot were also under the scanner of probe agencies on corruption charges. Speaking at the occasion, Bidhuri said that the end of AAP is fixed, so it is flickering like a lamp which will be extinguished. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday accused the BJP of fanning the communal sentiments after the killing of a youth in Bemetara district. He told the media that the saffron brigade was dividing the society in order to garner political gains and to profit in the upcoming elections. Assembly elections are now close and such incidents will become common in the coming days, Baghel warned. The BJP has mastered the art of spreading communal hatred, he added. Baghel said investigation would be done on social media posts of BJP leaders and cadres of other frontal organizations and whoever is found guilty of stroking communal hatred would be punished. A delegation from the government visited the violence-hit village and the affected family's three demands -- protection, a government job to a member and financial assistance -- have been fulfilled, Baghel said. He said 11 of the 12 accused have been arrested. After denying ticket to mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmeds wife, Bahujan Samaj Party chief Mayawati made a swift move to check erosion of Muslims vote in the on-going urban local bodies polls. Sources said that Mayawati has decided to field the wife of Imran Masood's brother on the mayoral seat in Saharanpur. According to sources, the BSP has given a ticket to Khadija Masood, wife of Imran Masood's cousin Shazan, as partys mayoral candidate from Saharanpur. Imran Masood is BSP in-charge of UP west and the party had earlier declared his wife as mayoral candidate from Saharanpur. The Saharanpur mayoral seat is reserved for OBC this time. In such a situation, the electoral equation seems to be changing. The BSP cut the ticket of Shaista Parveen, wife of Atiq Ahmad, whom the party had earlier made its candidate for the mayoral seat from Prayagraj. Sources said that fearing that Muslims might distance themselves from the BSP, Mayawati cleared the name of Khadija Masood. Meanwhile, Congress, which always lags behind other parties in declaring candidates for elections, surprised everyone by announcing candidates for 15 wards of Lucknow. Uttar Pradesh Congress Committee president Brijlal Khabri said, Yes, we have shortlisted candidates for all the seats in 17 municipal corporations, 199 municipal boards (nagar palika parishads) and 544 town areas (nagar panchayats) of the state. Though a list of the partys organisational teams is yet to be released, we have informed the new office-bearers about the work allocation through phone. The Congress is making a desperate bid to improve its performance and make the party an important player in the urban local bodies polls, scheduled on May 4 and 11 in Uttar Pradesh. At present, poor organisational structure at different levels poses a big challenge for the party as it is still in the process of constituting teams at state, zonal and district levels for the urban local body elections. Meanwhile, a scrutiny of performance of different political parties indicates that the Congress put up a poor show in 2017 urban local bodies elections. The Congress had failed to win any seat of mayor in the state in 17 municipal corporations. The UP Congress has also opened a war room on the premises of its headquarters in Lucknow to organise and monitor the ongoing month-long Jai Bharat Satyagraha in the state. The initiative is a part of the pan-India drive launched by the party on March 29. Dehradun police on Wednesday filed a case against seven reporters of news portals for trying to extort three men of Rs 50 lakh. The senior superintendent of police Daleep Singh Kunwar has handed over the case to the station house officer (SHO) of ISBT police station Sanjeet Kumar. The officials informed that a man named Yash Sharma filed a complaint in the Patel Nagar police station on Tuesday that he along with his two friends Akash Sharma and Vikash Nayar had prepared a set up in a house situated in Mehuwala to start a call centre. On April 10, seven people arrived there around 8 PM and allegedly started accusing them of setting up a fake call centre to scam people. The complainant alleged that those people claimed to be reporters from various news portals. They also took their laptops and mobile phones and kept it aside and then demanded Rs 50 lakh, informed the officials. As per the complaint, those reporters also attacked them while threatening them to viral their photos and videos that they had shot there if they fail to pay them, said the officials. The complainant claimed that after their consistent pleading, reporters asked them to pay Rs five lakh soon. The names of the alleged reporters and their respective portals as per the police are Aman Kumar and Ranjeet Singh from News Badlav, Salman from News True Media, Parvez Ansari and Soniya Baliyan from Rising Post, Bobby from India News Channel and Rohina from Khabar 24. The officials said that SHO Sanjeet Kumar will investigate the matter and take action accordingly. A class10 student died after he fell from Pushpak Express, he left for his village from Mumbai, bag-money were found missing. Under suspicious circumstances a class 10 student died after falling from a train in Bhopal's MP Nagar area. The youth was going from Mumbai to his village Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. The train had reached Bhopal when the incident took place. The exact cause of death could not be ascertained. The police are probing the matter by establishing a case. Police have handed over the dead body to the family members . The family left for the ancestral home with the dead body. According to the information, Gautam Saini (16) resident of village Bharwalia Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh, was studying in class X while living with his father in Mumbai. Father works as a driver in a private company in Mumbai. On April 11, at 7 am, the police received information that an unidentified boy had died after falling from a train under Chetak Bridge in MP Nagar area of Bhopal, whose body was lying on the railway track. Reached the spot and started investigating, the boy's father was contacted. On this he was informed about the incident. Father told that on April 10, Gautam had left from Mumbai to Pushpak express. The police are investigating the matter by establishing a case. Police has handed over the dead body to the family members after getting PM done. The family left for the ancestral home with the dead body. The boy's father Baleshwar said that he lives in Mumbai while the rest of the family lives in Kushinagar in Uttar Pradesh. The father says that on April 10, Gautam had left by Express to go to the village. For which he was given seven thousand rupees. He met with an accident in Bhopal, in which he died. His cloth bag and money are missing. Just a purse and a diary have been found. Community leaders and villagers on Wednesday condemned the incident in Biranpur village in Chhattisgarh's Bemetara district. A peace committee meeting was held in the village in the presence of District Collector P S Alma, Durg Inspector General of Police Anand Chhabra and other police officers where the community leaders condemned the violence. The Collector appealed for peace with social harmony. He warned of legal action against all those involved in disturbing peace. The representatives of Sarva Samaj and villagers said that they have been living together for a long time. Even the festivals were celebrated jointly. Mutual differences will be resolved by sitting together, they said. They promised that such a situation does not arise in future. The district administration assured all possible help to maintain peace. A health team has been deployed in the village to provide medicines and treatment to those in need. District Superintendent of Police Kalyan Elesela urged the villages not to fall in the trap of or be misled by anti-social elements. The president of Uttarakhand BJP Mahendra Bhatt has said that the Congress leaders including former Chief Minister Harish Rawat have become totally disoriented while trying to portray themselves as secular. He said that the comments made by Rawat and Congress leaders on demolition of illegal Majars in the State are appeasement politics and an insult for the Sanatan Dharma. Bhatt added that the Congress leaders who consistently claim about Uttarakhandiyat should take inspiration from their own MLA Madan Bisht in this regard. Launching an attack on the Congress leaders, the BJP state president said that they have insulted the Sanatan Dharma by comparing the temples with the illegal Majars. He challenged Rawat and other leaders of Congress party to come out openly in support of illegal Majars. He said that the people of Dev Bhoomi would not tolerate insults of their religion and deities. Bhatt said that it has been in everyones knowledge that the illegal Majars have no human remains underneath and were made under a part of conspiracy for land encroachment. He said that notwithstanding the resistance of Congress and other opposition parties the Dhami government would completely destroy all these illegal structures which have become a challenge for culture and law and order in the State. In protest against what they termed disproportionate assets earned by Mayor Sunil Uniyal Gama, providing ownership rights to slum dwellers and imposition of commercial tax in new wards, the Congress workers held a vehement protest at the Municipal Corporation of Dehradun (MCD) on Wednesday. The protesters were led by the president of Mahanagar Congress Jaswinder Singh Gogi. Speaking on the occasion, he said that MCD has foisted commercial tax in 40 newly added wards while at the time of their formation it was assured by the State cabinet that there would be a tax exemption for a period of 10 years. He said that the Congress government had decided that slums would be regularised but this decision has not been implemented as yet. Gogi demanded that the decision should be implemented without any further delay so that slum dwellers get ownership rights. Launching an attack on Mayor Gama, the Congress leader said that the income of the traders, workers and others is getting reduced due to financial mismanagement of BJP government and decisions such as demonetisation, it is surprising that the assets of Mayor and other BJP leaders is increasing at an extraordinary manner. He said that the BJP should share this mantra of making money with the general public. The Congress workers also raised slogans against the Mayor and said that his assets have increased 10 times in the last four years. The vice president of Uttarakhand Congress Surya Kant Dhasmana said that the entire city is in pathetic condition, traffic jams are rampant and roads are dug but the triple engine government is continuing to pat its back. Senior leader Godavari Thapli said that the workers of the Congress party would continue to fight on the issues of interests of the people of the city. A Delhi University committee formed to probe the harassment incidents in Indraprastha (IP) College has missed the deadline to submit its first report and is yet to meet the students who have been seeking action against the perpetrators. The committee was constituted on April 3 and was supposed to submit its first report within a week. Headed by Prakash Singh, the South Campus director, the committee since its constitution has only held one meeting, and according to a university official it will meet on Thursday to finalise the guidelines. The members of the committee are yet to hold meetings with or speak to students who have held a series of protests demanding action against the perpetrators and accountability on the part of the college. A university official confirmed that no report has been submitted so far. We held a meeting last week. We are holding the second meeting tomorrow. We have held talks with the principal (Poonam Kumria) warden, and the union advisor. We are preparing a set of guidelines to ensure that such incidents are not repeated in the future, said the official, who is also part of the committee. Asked whether a report has been submitted, the official said: No, we couldnt submit the report because there were too many holidays last week. The students have alleged that some men climbed the college campus boundary and harassed several women students during a cultural festival on March 28. Following their protests, the DU formed a committee to look into the grievances raised by the students and asked the panel to submit its report in a week. A student who was part of the protests in the college demanding the resignation of the principal said on Wednesday they have not been approached by anyone from the university. The principal of the college did not respond to texts and calls from PTI seeking a response. AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh on Wednesday alleged that the Enforcement Directorate has obtained false statements from some people putting them under duress in the Delhi excise policy case and said he will raise the issue before the privilege committee of Parliament. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also took to twitter and said, The allegations levelled by Sanjay Singh against the ED are very serious. Addressing a press conference here, Singh alleged that the ED sleuths beat up one Chandan Reddy so badly to obtain his false statement during interrogation that he is facing hearing loss. Chandan has moved (Telangana) High Court complaining against the ED, Singh said. The AAP leader also showed purported copies of the petitioners medical certificate and said he will raise the matter before the Parliaments privilege committee along with the documents. These documents prove that ED makes false cases under political pressure, defames governments and levels false allegations... There is no liquor scam, Singh said. He claimed that alleged liquor scam accused Sameer Mahendru, Arun Pillai and three others have also complained against ED officials, accusing them of having obtained their statements under duress. I have been given privilege notice for raising abysmally low conviction rate of ED cases...I will now raise this issue before the privilege committee with documents so that ED officials are called and truth about the complaints filed against them be ascertained, Singh added. He further alleged that some people who are not ED officials have been part of the agencys investigation process. This is how the ED has become the enforcer of dictatorship. Even people who are not ED officials were present during Chandan Reddys interrogation. Who are these goons accompanying ED during their investigation? Arun Pillai, Sameer Mahendru, Bhusar Belgavi, Manaswami Prabhu and Raghav Reddy have even accused the ED of torturing them during interrogation, Singh alleged. He claimed that former Delhi deputy chief minister Manish Sisodias private secretary, Rinku, was also called for interrogation by the ED. Meanwhile, the AAP workers on Wednesday staged a protest outside the party office here alleging that false cases have been framed against Sisodia. Scores of AAP leaders and workers gathered at DDU Marg and raised slogans against central agencies. The security outside the AAP office has been beefed up with a large number of police personnel deployed in the area. Barricades have also been put up and water canons kept on standby. AAP national convener Gopal Rai, AAP MLAs Kuldeep Kumar and Jarnail Singh, among others, participated in the protest. Two kinds of struggle are going on - one in the prison and the other on the streets by us. We stand by Manish Sisodia. All cases against him are fake, Rai said. Four Indian Army jawans belonging to the 80 Medium Regiment and on guard duty in the Officers Mess were killed in a firing incident reported inside Bathinda Military Station on early Wednesday. As per preliminary investigations, two masked men in kurta-payjama, attacked the jawans all in their twenties when they were asleep in their barracks at 4.30 am, with the missing INSAS assault rifle and an axe. From the spot of the incident, total 19 empty shells of INSAS rifle believed to be the one went missing from the unit about two days back were recovered from the spot. The joint search team, comprising military and Bathinda district police officials, has located the INSAS assault rifle and ammunition that went missing two days ago and suspected to be the weapon used in the incident has been found. Meanwhile, Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was also briefed by Army Chief General Manoj Pande on the issue later in the day. The Bathinda military station is one of the largest in the country with vast open spaces. The joint team is probing the entire incident, and currently scanning the CCTV footage for vital clues. Armys South Western command, in a statement, stated, A search team has located the INSAS rifle along with the magazine. Army and Police Joint teams will now be undertaking forensic analysis of the weapon to ascertain further details. The balance number of rounds in the weapon will only be available after forensic analysis. A joint investigation with Punjab Police is in progress. All possible assistance is being provided. It is reiterated that no individual has been detained or apprehended. In the wee hours on Wednesday, four soldiers belonging to an artillery unit were killed in a firing incident. The authorities had sealed the entire area, and quick response teams started conducting a search. The first information report (FIR), filed in the incident by 80 Medium Regiments Major Ashutosh Shukla, said that the firing was reported at 4:30 am and some unidentified masked men in kurta-pyjama were seen. The FIR said that one of the men had an INSAS assault rifle, while another carried an axe. They fled towards a jungle near the military station when an army personnel saw them coming out of the officers mess, it added. The Police have registered a case against two unknown persons for their links in Bathinda Military Station firing case. Ruling out any terror attack angle to the incident, the police had maintained that it appeared to be an internal incident of the Army. Punjabs additional director general of police (ADGP) Surinder Pal Singh maintained that the shooting incident is not a terror case and a probe is being done on the matter. ADGP also added that an FIR was lodged two-three days ago regarding the missing rifle and the matter was being investigated. This is not a terrorist incident. Probe is being done. An FIR was lodged two-three days ago regarding the missing rifle and the matter is being investigated. We are in touch with Army officials, he added. Notably, an INSAS rifle allotted in the name of Lance Naik Harish of the unit had gone missing on April 9, and the same was being investigated by the unit itself. Army headquarters, South Western Command, in a statement said: It has been ascertained that in the unfortunate incident, four Army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. No other injuries to personnel or loss or damage to property have been reported. SP (Detective), Bathinda, Ajay Gandhi, member of the probing team, told the media that the four jawans were killed while they were sleeping. 19 empty shells of INSAS rifle have been recovered, said the SP. The SP said that eyewitnesses have said that two people in civilian dress fired the shots and that nothing else is known about them. We are carrying out a joint investigation with the military police, he said, adding that the identity of the killers could not be revealed as the investigation was being carried out jointly with the Army. The deceased Army personnel have been identified as Gunner Sagar Banne, Gunner Kamalesh R, Gunner Yogesh Kumar J, and Gunner Santosh M Nagral. It has also been learnt that the Army has also pressed into service hexacopters and drones to locate the assailants who killed the jawans. A cordon and search operation was also conducted at the station. Union Transport and Highway Minister Nitin Gadkari on Wednesday inaugurated an upgraded, revamped stretch between Dhaula Kuan and Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport and pledged Rs 1,500 crore for revamping of roads in Delhi. Accompanied by Delhi Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena, Gadkari inaugurated the 8-km stretch revamped and beautified by the Public Works Department (PWD). With an estimated cost of Rs 22 crore, the project was completed in nine months and the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) funded the project. Speaking to reporters Gadkari commended the Lieutenant Governor for his single-minded commitment to the development of the national capital. The Union Minister also pledged an amount of Rs 1,500 crore from the Central Road Fund for improvement of related infrastructure in Delhi, said a statement from the LG office. The fund will be used for projects envisaged by the Delhi Government and supervised by the LG, it said. Saxena thanked Gadkari for his support for the Dhaula Kuan-IGI Airport road beautification project and assured him that more suitable projects will be planned as a massive financial support is being provided. The beautification program includes upgradation of road side horticulture, Pedestrian amenities, aesthetic improvement of existing features such as FOB and Grills, adding fountains and sculptures to the horizon and other articles of beauty as benches, coloured lights, scrolling screen on walls and LED screens on road. Amongst other features, 30 high jet type fountains have been installed between Dhaula Kuan roundabout to NHAI Wall. Similarly, 9 stone fountains, 2 stone carved big and 2 stone carved small fountains have been installed. Carved stone bull in front of pitcher surrounded by geyser fountains have been installed near NHAI wall. 2 big lions of grey stone of 13 feet height surrounded by geyser fountains have been installed near T-1 X-ing. 6 small lions of white marble looking in all directions have been also placed at this X-sing. 2 big elephants sculptures of pink sand stone have been installed near airport entry at Mehram Nagar surrounded by geyser fountains and cascade fountains. All the sculptures and fountains have been elegantly illuminated. The land surrounding these sculptures and fountains have also been beautified by various (types of plants) Conocarpus, Champa, Ficus, Bamboo etc., (shrubs) Tecoma, Hamelia, Chandni, Hibiscus, Bougainvillea, Narium (Kaner) etc., (ground cover plants), Wadelia, Asparagus, Syngonium, Lantana, Chlorophytum, Inerme etc., (seasonal flowers and grasses) Petunia, Dahlia, Gajenia, Salvia, Nusturrium, Verbina, Calendula etc. To display patriotism and nationalism, view cutters at Mehram Nagar have been installed with tricolour and Gandhi Jis Charkha. Aditya Rana alias Ravi, an absconding criminal carrying a reward of Rs 2.5 lakh, was shot dead in a police encounter on Budhanpur road in Seohara police station area of Bijnor in the wee hours of Wednesday. Half a dozen policemen were injured in the encounter. All the injured were admitted to the community health centre in Seohara. Rana, of Rana Nangla Bijnor, was wanted by the police in Shahjahanpur, Bijnor, Amroha and Sambhal, officials said. The police said in a statement that Rana had 43 cases against him, including six of murders and 13 of robberies. Rana had escaped from police custody twice in 2017 and 2022, the police said, adding that his gang had 48 members. According to the police, on August 23, 2022, the police had brought Aditya Rana from Lucknow jail to Bijnor for the hearing in a case registered at Shivala Kalan police station. While returning from there, Aditya Rana managed to flee from Shahjahanpur's Red Chilli Dhaba by dodging the police. According to Superintendent of Police Neeraj Kumar Jadaun, the SOG (Special Operation Group) team got information late in the night on Tuesday that Aditya and his companions were on the way to Budhanpur. The informer also told the SOG that Rana was planning to shift his location. A police team rushed to the spot and tried to nab Rana and his associates. The police said after the gangster and his associates opened fire on them, they fired back and one criminal was injured in the shooting while others managed to escape. After the firing stopped, the police found the criminal who was injured was Rana. He was rushed to the hospital where he died during treatment, the police said. So far, the police have arrested more than eight people of the Aditya gang. They include his brother Chandraveer Bittu, who is a village head. In the firing, five policemen also suffered minor injuries and their condition. KK Soan made CPO of Lohardaga district Jharkhand cadre IAS officer Kamal Kishore Soan, who is on Central deputation and is posted as Joint Secretary, Ministry of Labour and Employment, Government of India has been made the Central Prabhari Officer (CPO) of Lohardaga aspirational district in Jharkhand by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions Department of Personnel and Training. Soan has been recently posted in the Union Labour and Employment Ministry. Earlier, he was on crucial posts of the Government of Jharkhand. DIC BSL recommended next SAIL chairman Director in-charge Bokaro Steel Limited Amarendu Prakash has been recommended to be the next SAIL Chairman by the Public Enterprises Selection Board, Govt of India. Prakash assumed the post of Director-In-Charge, Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), SAIL on 28th September, 2020. B.Tech in Metallurgy from BIT Sindri, He is an accomplished technocrat and has over 30 years of experience, which includes about 26 years in plant operations at BSL and 4 years at SAIL Corporate Office, Delhi. Prakash started his career in SAIL in 1991 with a posting at Hot Strip Mill of Bokaro Steel Plant. During a long stint at BSL, he mastered steel rolling and finishing before taking over as Director In-charge. While being Director in-charge of Bokaro Steel Plant, he was also given additional charge of Rourkela Steel Plant and later Director in-charge of Durgapur and Burnpur Steel Plant for some time during 2021-22.During his tenure as Director Incharge of Bokaro Steel Plant scaled new heights in each and every area of operations. Apart from the plant, many new initiatives were taken for the betterment of the township as well, along with which Bokaro also got the distinction of becoming the country's first Global Active Partner City. The DIC was congratulated by MLA Bokaro , DC Bokaro, SP Bokaro, DDC Bokaro , Dalmia Cement unit Head including BSL family and Rahul Sharma among others. DWA celebrates Poila Boishakh The Doctors' Wives Association celebrated Poila Boishakh here on Wednesday. More than 70 members were present on the occasion. The organising committee attired in traditional Bengali sarees set the perfect theme. Founder Co-Chairperson Jhooma Sarkar extended her warm wishes of Bengali noboborsho to each and every member. The programme commenced with the welcome address by the President of DWA, Seema Maheshwari. The welcome song by Debjani Sanyal, Nandita Gupta, Balaka Roy, Rinku Banerjee, Shreela Choudhary, Deepa Chouhan was mesmerising. Along with them, Sumita Kumar, Anjana Barnwal, Bibha Singh, Supriya Thakur, Veena Sahu and Rashmi Kumar presented the beautiful welcome dance. The solo dance performance by Sumita Kumar and the recital on synthesiser by Nadita Gupta was highly appreciated. The entire organising team enthralled the audience by their rendition of Rabindra Sangeet. The President of IMA Dr. Shekhar Choudhary and Secretary Dr Pankaj Bodra also graced the occasion and promised to provide a room for DWAs office. Secretary, Madhu Gupta presented the monthly report and the plan for charity, the foremost aim of DWA. She thanked the organisers and the members for their enthusiastic participation. EFMICON 2023 at MTMC from today Jamshedpur: The Department of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Manipal TATA Medical College, Jamshedpur, a constituent unit/college of MAHE is organising a National Conference in collaboration with Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi. EFMICON 2023, scheduled from April 13 to 15, 2023 at MTMC campus is themed on "Ensuring the future of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology through curricular innovation and its practical utility". The conference will bring together over 15 national resource faculty and over 150 delegates from forensic medicine, legal experts, and law enforcement agencies across India over the three academic fests. Over three-day faculty will deliberate on pressing issues related to Implementation of the Competency based medical education in Forensic medicine & toxicology. An exclusive hands-on training in Crime scene analysis for police personnel is also being organized on 15 April 2023 as a part of this national conference. Man shot by armed assailants in Dhanbad Dhanbad: One person identified as Rajkumar Saw, son of Madan Mahto, a government Amin, was shot dead by armed assailants at Kurmidih locality under Barwadda police station in broad daylight. The assailants escaped on a two wheeler after committing the crime. Rajkumar died on spot another person identified as Nagendar Yadav has sustained several bullet injuries and has been referred to RIMS Ranchi after preliminary treatment at SNMMCH Dhanbad. According to doctors, some bullets are trapped in the victim's body. Guvs OSD (J) reaches VBU Hazaribag: By the order of the Chancellor of the Jharkhand state universities, the Officer on Special duty (J) Mukulesh Chandra Naryan reached the university headquarters of Vinoba Bhave University to examine the facts of financial irregularities in the university. The officers of the university welcomed the OSD (J). Due to the illness of the vice chancellor of the university, he was not present in his chamber. The OSD (J) had reached the VC office and started checking the facts of the financial irregularities in the university during the tenure of the present vice chancellor. In absence of VC, the registrar Kumar Vikash and proctor MK Singh produced the all papers, which were demanded by the OSD (J). The important and related papers were photo copied by the officers and handed over to him. Announcing that Punjab Government would bear the value cut for wheat crops announced by the Centre a day before, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday asserted that the farmers would get full money for their produce. Instead of requesting the Centre for compensating the farmers for crop loss due to rains, the State Government will bear the entire expense of the burden being faced by the farmers due to the cut being imposed by the Government of India (GOI) on damaged wheat grain, said the Chief Minister, while addressing the gathering after unveiling the statue of eminent freedom fighter Comrade Teja Singh Sutantar. He asserted, We are not going to request the Centre to not impose the cut but we will extract compensation for the interests of farmers when Centre will seek supply of grains in terms of wheat and paddy for the national food pool. The Chief Minister said that the farmers have suffered huge loss due to incessant rains but the indifferent Central Government has not done anything to bail them out. Rather, to rub salt into wounds of farmers, the Centre has imposed a cut on the damaged, slightly damaged, shriveled, and broken grains along with those having high moisture content. The limit of shriveled and broken grains has been relaxed up to 18 per cent under uniform specifications, he said. Mann had also announced the move through Twitter. Due to the presence of moisture and smaller grain, the Centre has ordered a value cut in the price of wheat. The state government will bear this. Farmers will not be allowed to face any problems. We are standing with them in this difficult time, he tweeted in Punjabi. With Manns announcement, the farmers would get Rs 2,125 per quintal as the Minimum Support Price (MSP) of wheat. Giving more details during his address, the Chief Minister said that the value cut is not applicable on wheat having shriveled and broken grains up to six per cent whereas value cut of Rs 5.31 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above six per cent and upto eight per cent. Further, he said that the value cut of Rs 10.62 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above eight per cent and up to 10 per cent whereas value cut of Rs 15.93 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 10 per cent and up to 12 per cent. Similarly, Mann said that in an arbitrary decision, the Centre has further decided to impose value cut of Rs 21.25 per quintal on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 12 per cent and up to 14 per cent, adding that value cut of Rs 26.56 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 14 per cent and up to 16 per cent whereas value cut of Rs 31.87 per quintal will be deducted on wheat having shriveled and broken grains above 16 per cent and upto 18 per cent. Likewise, the Chief Minister further said that as per decision of centre value cut is not applicable on wheat having luster loss grains upto 10%. He said that a value cut of Rs. 5.31 per quintal on a flat basis will be deducted on wheat having luster loss grains above 10% and upto 80%. Bhagwant Mann said that already the centre has not released the share of state under GST and RDF adding that much to the dismay of the state now this decision has been imposed on the farmers of the state, who were already in crisis due to inclement weather. Urging the farmers not to worry, the Chief Minister said that the State Government is competent to secure the rights of the farmers and they will not beg the Centre to help the food growers. However, he said that instead of bailing the farmers in this hour of crisis, the Centre has decided to impose a cut on damaged, slightly damaged, shriveled and broken grains. But, the state is solidly with the farmers in this grave situation and the Punjab Government will bear the entire expenditure for the loss being suffered by the farmers due to cut by the Centre, he said. The Chief Minister asserted that in a major relief to the farmers of the state, the State Government has already announced 25 per cent upward revision in the compensation for the crop loss to the farmers. In case, the loss is more than 75 per cent, the State Government will compensate the farmers with Rs 15,000 per acre, he said. The Union Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution on Tuesday announced a relaxation in quality norms for wheat procurement with a deduction in the produce value depending on the quantity of shriveled grains and lustre loss. The Centres move drew sharp reaction from farm unions and commission agents in Punjab who termed it a double whammy for farmers saying that they would organize a massive protest if the decision was not rolled back immediately. Delhi Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena on Wednesday lauded the city police for maintaining peace and harmony during Ram Navami and Hanuman Jayanti this year despite over a threefold increase in the number of processions and public participation in the festivities. The number of processions on Ram Navami, celebrated on March 30 in Delhi, increased from 22 in 2022 to 52 in 2023, and the number of participants increased from 6,100 to 27,500. This year, the number of processions on Hanuman Jayanti on April 6 increased from 17 in 2022 to 51 this year. The processions were attended by 35,500 people as compared to 5,550 processions last year. The increase in the number of participants was noticed particularly in the districts of North West, North East and South East which are communally sensitive and have been affected by communal violence in the past, Raj Niwas said in a statement. Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party president Om Prakash Rajbhar said that his party would contest the urban local bodies elections of its own and announced mayoral candidates for five municipal corporations. Among the five mayoral candidates announced on Wednesday, Alka Pandey is SBSP candidate from Lucknow, Mahesh Prajapati from Prayagraj, Dayaram Bhargava from Ghaziabad, Ramesh Rajbhar from Kanpur Nagar and Anand Tiwari from Varanasi. Rajbhar told reporters here on Wednesday that his party would contest the upcoming urban local bodies elections independently and would emerge as the voice of the people. We will highlight the issues of sewerage, roads and electricity the basic issues that plague cities, he said. Rajbhar said that the SBSP candidates would contest elections in 117 nagar panchayats and 87 posts of nagar palika chairpersons. Our party is also in favour of waiver of domestic electricity bills. If the governments of Punjab and Delhi can give free electricity to people, why the government in Uttar Pradesh cannot do the same, he asked and said that the SBSP was also in favour of free education in government schools from KG to PG. Rajbhar voiced satisfaction over the new reservation list announced by the Backward Classes Commission for civic polls. There is an improvement in the reservation list but much more needs to be done, he said. When asked about alleged persecution of Atiq Ahmad, Rajbhar said that this matter was of legal jurisdiction. He has been found guilty by the court and the government has complied with the courts orders, he said. Polls to 17 municipal corporations, 199 nagar palika parishads and 544 nagar panchayats in the state will be held in two phases on May 4 and 11. Counting of votes will be taken up on May 13. First China-Laos Railway passenger train departs from Vientiane By Yang Wenming, Xu Zhangwei and Yang Yongquan (People's Daily App) 15:27, April 13, 2023 The China-Laos Railway started operating international passenger trains in both directions between Kunming and Vientiane on Thursday, allowing passengers to reach their destination on the same day. The first passenger train departed from the Lao capital Vientiane, at 9:08 a.m. (Beijing Time), heading for Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province. The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project showcasing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, began operation in December 2021, initially hauling cargo and carrying passengers domestically. The railway also serves as a key part of Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. After the railways launch in 2021, passenger train services have been offered along the section between Kunming and the Chinese border town of Mohan, as well as the section connecting Vientiane and Boten, the border town on the Lao side. As of Sunday, 13.93 million domestic passenger trips had been handled and 18.38 million tons of cargo were transported on the China-Laos Railway. Click on the video to see how busy the first international passenger departure was at the Vientiane railway station. (Edited by Xu Zheqi and Liu Ruomeng; with input from Xinhua) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Indian School in South Delhis Sadiq Nagar was evacuated on Wednesday morning after the school administration received an email from an unknown sender with a threat about a bomb on the premises According to police, an email was sent to Indian Public School in Sadiq Nagar at 10:49 am, claiming that a bomb has been planted on its premises. After hours of meticulous searches, police declared it a hoax call. Earlier in the day, the panicked students and parents of The Indian School gathered outside the school as the bomb squad and other agencies inspected the premises for any explosive substance. This morning, a bomb threat e-mail was received by the school. Immediately all safety protocols were carried out and all children and staff were safely evacuated, Tania Joshi, principal, The Indian School said. She said the police is investigating the matter to identify the perpetrator. The threat seems to be a hoax, she added. Videos from outside the school show a large crowd, mostly parents of the students, assembled at the gate. We received a message from the school asking us to take our children home, one of the parents said. This is not the first time the school admin received a bomb threat. Last year in November, the admin received a similar email from an unknown sender. That was a hoax email. A senior police officer said a person named Brijesh of The Indian School, BRT Road, informed them about the e-mail. The school was evacuated as a precaution, he added. Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Chandan Chowdhary said, The school received the e-mail regarding the bomb threat at 10.49 am on Wednesday. They then informed the Defence Colony police station following which the security personnel reached the spot and immediately evacuated the school. We deployed our bomb squads and also informed the Special Cell and the Special Branch. The SWAT team is also conducting searches inside the premises, he said. Chowdhary further said that the police force has so far conducted two rounds of search and that the third round is underway. We are looking for the source of the e-mail. In November last year, the school received a similar mail which was sent via a German server, he said. The DCP, however, said the e-mail threat appears to be a hoax. Vigyan, a class 5 student, said he along with his classmates was evacuated from the school building and taken to the ground. The website of Bhopal Development Authority (BDA) will get a new look, complete information will be available on one click, said Chairman at the review meeting of the IT branch of BDA Bhopal. Now you will get information about new projects of BDA, your dues and other important information on a single click. As Bhopal Development Authority is going to give a new look to its official website soon. In the review meeting of the IT branch of BDA on Wednesday, Authority's chairman Krishna Mohan Soni gave instructions in this regard to the concerned officers of the branch. He said that information related to all properties of BDA, information related to RTI and detailed information of new projects should be included in the website. Along with this, the photographs of the new projects of BDA and the information about the allotted properties will be better displayed in the website. Chief Executive Officer Buddhesh Kumar Vaidya and other officers were present in the meeting. With the creation of a new website, information related to all the beneficiaries of BDA, arrears of property, allotment, renewal of lease, transfer of name, etc. will be available through one click on the website. Social media is necessary for awareness President Krishna Mohan Soni said that today's time is of social media. Social media is the only medium through which it can be easily reached among people. Due to which BDA's Facebook, Twitter, Instagram account and WhatsApp group should be created so that information about BDA's projects can be easily available to the people. With an aim to popularise electric vehicles (EVs) in Uttar Pradesh, the Yogi government has entrusted the Urban Development department with the responsibility of setting up of EV charging stations across the state. As per the provisions of the policy the department has started the process of extending the Comprehensive Electric Mobility Plan (CEMP) to 17 cities with municipal corporations as soon as possible, under the Smart City Mission. A working group has also been formed under the leadership of the Urban Development department to fastrack the development of charging infrastructure, Principal Secretary Urban Development departmen Amrit Abhijat said here on Wednesday. He said action would be taken as per the rules for the charging stations approved under the EV policy. As per the EV policy, land will be made available on lease for a period of 10 years to government entities for setting up charging stations. The revenue sharing model prescribed as per the norms of the Ministry of Power will be the basis for the creation of charging infrastructure. Lease period, revenue sharing rate and other prescribed parameters will be updated from time to time. Similarly, land will be provided on lease for a period of 10 years to private entities as well for setting up charging stations through equitable revenue sharing model. The selection of institutions will be made on the basis of the minimum service fee quoted by a firm in tender application forms, which will serve as the bidding parameter so that consumers have to pay the minimum charging fee. The private entities will be required to follow other guidelines notified by the Ministry of Power and Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs from time to time. The state government is coordinating with NITI Aayog and Asian Development Bank in preparing the Comprehensive Electric Mobility Plan for Lucknow, Abhijat said. This scheme will be launched in all the 17 municipal corporation cities selected under the Smart City Mission, he added. Through CEMP, local urban bodies and other government organisations will be able to identify places and land parcels for construction of charging infrastructure easily, in a planned manner. A portal will also be developed under CEMP to provide all necessary information regarding aspects of EV adoption such as location of charging stations, green routes, etc. in all cities. In the future, CEMP may potentially be integrated with the PM Gati Shakti Yojana. As per the norms of UP Electric Vehicle Manufacturing and Mobility Policy, Urban Development department has formed a working group to fastrack development of charging infrastructure. This working group will ensure smooth implementation of model bye-laws and regulate strategy as well as development of charging/swapping facilities in the state. Taking a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after the veteran socialist met up with opposition leaders in the national capital on Wednesday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday said the PM post for 2024 is not vacant. Asserting that the Prime Minister's job will remain with BJP leader Narendra Modi even after the general elections slated for next year, Singh claimed the country is scaling new heights under PM Modi's leadership. Everyone wants to become the Prime Minister. People should know that the Prime Minister's post for 2024 is not vacant, he said while addressing a gathering at an event organised here at the East Central Railway zone office at Mahendru ghat. The Bihar Chief Minister and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in what is being seen as a bid to forge an alliance of opposition parties to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Kumar also met Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal soon after the meeting with Congress leaders. Without naming Nitish Kumar, Singh said, Those indulging in appeasement politics can't think of providing employment to the people. The country is scaling new heights under PM Modi's leadership and special emphasis is being laid on generating employment. Listing the achievements of the current BJP-led central government, the minister said that among other things is working hard to develop micro, small and medium enterprises which would generate large numbers of jobs and help make India a mighty nation. The Prime Minister distributed about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in various Government departments and organisations via video conferencing from Delhi, during this programme. The new recruits selected from across the country will join various positions/posts under Government of India such as Train Manager, Station Master, Sr. Commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Inspector, Sub Inspectors, Constable, Stenographer, Junior Accountant, Postal Assistant, Income Tax Inspector, Tax Assistant, Sr Draughtsman, JE/Supervisor, Assistant Professor, Teacher, Librarian, Nurse, Probationary Officers, PA, MTS, among others. While speaking on the occasion, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said, Our Prime Minister has changed the way the country is looked at globally. India has emerged as a power in the world and it will soon become the world's largest economy. A similar function was also organised at East Central Railway zone headquarters at Hajipur that was attended by Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras. The Rajasthan Police is searching for Amritpal, a Khalistan supporter wanted by the Punjab police, in Hanumangarh district and nearby areas, the state police chief said Thursday. Rajasthan DGP Umesh Mishra said that the search operation was launched Wednesday night following information about Amritpal's likely presence in Hanumangarh district bordering Punjab. He said that teams of Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and Emergency Response Team (ERT) of Rajasthan Police are actively on the lookout for Amritpal. Apart from Hanumangarh, alerts have also been sounded in Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Barmer, he said. Cash-strapped Pakistans Supreme Court on Wednesday ordered top officials to appear before it on April 14 with relevant records to show why funds were not released for holding snap elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa despite clear instructions. The apex court last week ordered the federal government to provide Rs 21 billion to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by April 10 to enable it to organise polls in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa. It also asked the election body to submit a report about availability of funds on April 11. However, instead of releasing the funds, the government introduced a bill in the parliament to authorise the release of required funds for the ECP to elections. It is not clear so far if the government succeeded to implement the court orders regarding provision of finances or if it was just an effort to delay the release of funds to influence the ECP. Elections are due to be held on May 14 in Punjab but the date for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections has not been decided as yet. Following the instructions, the ECP submitted its report on the specified date, informing the court about the governments reluctance to issue the amount needed for elections. The court issued notices to the finance secretary, head of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Attorney General and the ECP over the governments failure to disburse the sum and asked the officials to appear in court on April 14. The SC registrar in the notice stated that the court noted that the ECP had stated that no funds were released and provided to it. The failure of the federal government to comply with the order of the court as aforesaid is prima facie disobedience, according to the notice. The consequences that can flow from such prima facie defiance of the court are well settled and knownEvery person who embarks upon, encourages or instigates disobedience or defiance of the court can be held liable and accountable, the notice pointed out. The question of the provision of funds for such a vital constitutional purpose is something that requires immediate attention which takes priority over proceeding against those who may have committed contempt of the court, it added. 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 Ca loan to the government of Ukraine to support essential services. Bluebird Merchant Ventures Limited (LON:BMV Get Rating)s share price shot up 2.6% during trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as GBX 2.09 ($0.03) and last traded at GBX 2 ($0.02). 3,276,111 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 81% from the average session volume of 1,809,105 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1.95 ($0.02). Bluebird Merchant Ventures Trading Up 2.6 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.70, a current ratio of 0.08 and a quick ratio of 0.08. The business has a 50 day moving average of GBX 1.87 and a 200 day moving average of GBX 1.76. The firm has a market capitalization of 13.80 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 215.00 and a beta of 0.70. Bluebird Merchant Ventures Company Profile (Get Rating) Bluebird Merchant Ventures Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and developing of gold properties. It holds interests in the Gubong project and Kochang project located in South Korea. The company was incorporated in 2014 and is based in Road Town, the British Virgin Islands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Bluebird Merchant Ventures Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bluebird Merchant Ventures and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Horizonte Minerals Plc (LON:HZM Get Rating)s stock price passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 126.08 ($1.56) and traded as high as GBX 142 ($1.76). Horizonte Minerals shares last traded at GBX 142 ($1.76), with a volume of 300,120 shares traded. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, Peel Hunt reissued a buy rating and issued a GBX 200 ($2.48) target price on shares of Horizonte Minerals in a research report on Thursday, February 9th. Get Horizonte Minerals alerts: Horizonte Minerals Price Performance The firm has a market capitalization of 378.46 million, a PE ratio of -7,075.00 and a beta of 1.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 59.55, a current ratio of 7.34 and a quick ratio of 4.35. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of GBX 146.74 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 126.32. Horizonte Minerals Company Profile Horizonte Minerals Plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the exploration and development of mineral projects in Brazil. The company primarily explores for nickel deposits, as well as cobalt deposits. It holds 100% interest in the Araguaia ferronickel project and Serra do Tapa nickel project located in the State of Para; and the Vermelho Nickel-Cobalt project in the eastern part of the Carajas mining district. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Horizonte Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Horizonte Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mizuho Financial Group (NYSE:MFG Get Rating) was upgraded by research analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday. Separately, Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Mizuho Financial Group from a hold rating to a buy rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy. Get Mizuho Financial Group alerts: Mizuho Financial Group Price Performance Shares of NYSE:MFG remained flat at $2.89 during trading on Wednesday. 605,639 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,256,004. Mizuho Financial Group has a 52 week low of $2.10 and a 52 week high of $3.30. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $3.03 and a 200-day simple moving average of $2.71. The company has a market cap of $36.68 billion, a PE ratio of 8.03, a PEG ratio of 1.19 and a beta of 0.47. Institutional Trading of Mizuho Financial Group About Mizuho Financial Group A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its holdings in Mizuho Financial Group by 6.3% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 8,435,393 shares of the banks stock worth $21,679,000 after acquiring an additional 502,830 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Mizuho Financial Group by 30.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 7,100,083 shares of the banks stock worth $15,691,000 after acquiring an additional 1,637,617 shares during the period. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. grew its holdings in Mizuho Financial Group by 7.0% during the 4th quarter. Crossmark Global Holdings Inc. now owns 4,415,317 shares of the banks stock worth $12,539,000 after acquiring an additional 288,522 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new stake in Mizuho Financial Group during the 2nd quarter worth $9,695,000. Finally, Millennium Management LLC grew its holdings in Mizuho Financial Group by 7,883.4% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 1,147,852 shares of the banks stock worth $3,260,000 after acquiring an additional 1,133,474 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 0.53% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Mizuho Financial Group, Inc operates as a holding company which engages in the provision of financial services such as banking, trust banking, securities, and others. It operates through the following segments: Mizuho Bank Ltd. (MHKB), Mizuho Trust & Banking Co, Ltd. (MHTB), and Mizuho Securities Co, Ltd. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mizuho Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mizuho Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Redrow plc (LON:RDW Get Rating)s stock price crossed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 466.93 ($5.78) and traded as low as GBX 453.40 ($5.61). Redrow shares last traded at GBX 462.20 ($5.72), with a volume of 278,330 shares trading hands. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently issued reports on the company. Jefferies Financial Group raised their price objective on Redrow from GBX 644 ($7.98) to GBX 650 ($8.05) and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Numis Securities reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 650 ($8.05) price target on shares of Redrow in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Barclays reissued an overweight rating and set a GBX 565 ($7.00) price target on shares of Redrow in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Liberum Capital reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 610 ($7.55) price target on shares of Redrow in a research note on Monday, February 13th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their price target on Redrow from GBX 380 ($4.71) to GBX 400 ($4.95) and gave the stock an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Redrow has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of GBX 549.11 ($6.80). Get Redrow alerts: Redrow Price Performance The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 487.26 and a 200 day simple moving average of GBX 466.85. The company has a market capitalization of 1.58 billion, a PE ratio of 855.45, a P/E/G ratio of -0.81 and a beta of 1.70. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.31, a quick ratio of 0.36 and a current ratio of 3.07. Redrow Cuts Dividend About Redrow The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, April 6th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 23rd were issued a dividend of GBX 10 ($0.12) per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 23rd. This represents a yield of 1.83%. Redrows payout ratio is currently 5,818.18%. (Get Rating) Redrow plc focuses on housebuilding activities in the United Kingdom. It is involved in acquiring land; and develops and sells residential housing properties. Redrow plc was founded in 1974 and is based in Flintshire, the United Kingdom. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Redrow Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Redrow and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY Get Rating) was up 9.9% on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $8.26 and last traded at $8.26. Approximately 318 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, an increase of 80% from the average daily volume of 177 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.51. Tenaga Nasional Berhad Price Performance The businesss 50-day moving average price is $8.35 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $8.10. The company has a market capitalization of $11.87 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 15.01 and a beta of -0.05. Get Tenaga Nasional Berhad alerts: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The company reported $0.12 earnings per share for the quarter. Tenaga Nasional Berhad had a net margin of 5.18% and a return on equity of 5.70%. The company had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter. Tenaga Nasional Berhad Increases Dividend Tenaga Nasional Berhad Company Profile The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 24th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 30th will be given a dividend of $0.2035 per share. This is an increase from Tenaga Nasional Berhads previous dividend of $0.16. This represents a yield of 4.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, March 29th. Tenaga Nasional Berhads payout ratio is currently 74.55%. (Get Rating) Tenaga Nasional Bhd. engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. It offers its products and services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers. The company was founded on September 1, 1949 and is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Tenaga Nasional Berhad Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tenaga Nasional Berhad and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of WH Smith PLC (LON:SMWH Get Rating) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 1,447.83 ($17.93) and traded as high as GBX 1,488 ($18.43). WH Smith shares last traded at GBX 1,485 ($18.39), with a volume of 405,960 shares traded. WH Smith Stock Up 1.7 % The company has a current ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 0.42 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 321.86. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is GBX 1,556.08 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 1,449.16. The firm has a market capitalization of 1.98 billion, a P/E ratio of 4,200.00, a P/E/G ratio of 2.65 and a beta of 1.61. Get WH Smith alerts: WH Smith Cuts Dividend The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Thursday, January 26th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, January 5th were given a GBX 9.10 ($0.11) dividend. This represents a yield of 0.64%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, January 5th. WH Smiths payout ratio is 2,500.00%. WH Smith Company Profile WH Smith PLC operates as a travel retailer in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates in two divisions, Travel and High Street. The company offers news, books, health and beauty products, souvenirs, digital accessories, and food and drink products for travelling customers. As of August 31, 2022, it operated 1,196 units primarily in airports, hospitals, railway stations, and motorway service areas. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for WH Smith Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for WH Smith and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AIA Group Ltd reduced its position in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 53.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The firm owned 31,234 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 35,388 shares during the period. AIA Group Ltds holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,247,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Canal Capital Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.2% in the 4th quarter. Canal Capital Management LLC now owns 73,071 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $5,257,000 after purchasing an additional 2,913 shares during the last quarter. Capital Investment Counsel Inc boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 29.6% in the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Counsel Inc now owns 5,506 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $396,000 after purchasing an additional 1,256 shares during the last quarter. Core Alternative Capital boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 194.2% in the 4th quarter. Core Alternative Capital now owns 4,019 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $289,000 after purchasing an additional 2,653 shares during the last quarter. Community Bank N.A. boosted its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 1.0% in the 4th quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 206,393 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $14,850,000 after purchasing an additional 2,004 shares during the last quarter. Finally, WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $158,000. 75.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Bristol-Myers Squibb Stock Up 0.2 % Shares of NYSE:BMY traded up $0.11 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $70.32. The company had a trading volume of 1,350,935 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,968,776. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $69.69 and its 200 day moving average price is $72.79. The stock has a market cap of $147.90 billion, a PE ratio of 23.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.45. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1-year low of $65.28 and a 1-year high of $81.43. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend Bristol-Myers Squibb ( NYSE:BMY Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.71 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $11.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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 was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.83 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 77.29%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BMY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their target price on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Jefferies Financial Group initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. Atlantic Securities boosted their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Cantor Fitzgerald initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $95.00 price target on the stock. One 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 stock currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $79.69. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the transaction, 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 document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total value of $17,916,000.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Pernod Ricard SA (OTCMKTS:PDRDY Get Rating) have been assigned an average rating of Moderate Buy from the eight research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1-year price objective among brokerages that have issued a report on the stock in the last year is $206.75. Several analysts have recently commented on PDRDY shares. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Pernod Ricard from 265.00 ($288.04) to 264.00 ($286.96) and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their target price on shares of Pernod Ricard from 198.00 ($215.22) to 191.00 ($207.61) and set a hold rating for the company in a report on Wednesday, January 4th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. downgraded shares of Pernod Ricard from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group upgraded shares of Pernod Ricard from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a report on Thursday, December 15th. Get Pernod Ricard alerts: Pernod Ricard Price Performance PDRDY stock opened at $47.12 on Thursday. The firms 50 day moving average price is $47.12 and its 200-day moving average price is $47.12. Pernod Ricard has a one year low of $34.68 and a one year high of $47.39. 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Pernod Ricard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pernod Ricard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Callon Petroleum (NYSE:CPE Get Rating) had its target price lifted by equities research analysts at Truist Financial from $54.00 to $55.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The firm presently has a buy rating on the oil and natural gas companys stock. Truist Financials target price points to a potential upside of 46.71% from the companys previous close. Several other equities research analysts also recently commented on CPE. Mizuho cut their target price on shares of Callon Petroleum from $65.00 to $54.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Royal Bank of Canada restated an outperform rating and issued a $60.00 price objective on shares of Callon Petroleum in a report on Wednesday, March 22nd. Morgan Stanley cut their target price on Callon Petroleum from $53.00 to $45.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, March 27th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Callon Petroleum in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Callon Petroleum currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $58.25. Get Callon Petroleum alerts: Callon Petroleum Stock Performance Shares of NYSE CPE opened at $37.49 on Tuesday. Callon Petroleum has a one year low of $28.91 and a one year high of $65.41. The firm has a market cap of $2.31 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 1.92 and a beta of 2.73. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $36.51 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $38.97. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73, a current ratio of 0.42 and a quick ratio of 0.42. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Callon Petroleum Callon Petroleum ( NYSE:CPE Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The oil and natural gas company reported $3.36 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $3.44 by ($0.08). Callon Petroleum had a return on equity of 35.68% and a net margin of 37.44%. The business had revenue of $704.25 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $617.42 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.66 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Callon Petroleum will post 10.83 EPS for the current year. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in CPE. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL increased its holdings in Callon Petroleum by 87.5% during the third quarter. Gamco Investors INC. ET AL now owns 89,680 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $3,140,000 after buying an additional 41,840 shares during the last quarter. Truist Financial Corp raised its holdings in shares of Callon Petroleum by 7.5% in the 3rd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 138,045 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock worth $4,833,000 after purchasing an additional 9,630 shares during the period. Texas Permanent School Fund lifted its stake in Callon Petroleum by 7.3% in the third quarter. Texas Permanent School Fund now owns 36,839 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $1,290,000 after purchasing an additional 2,506 shares during the last quarter. Whittier Trust Co. lifted its stake in Callon Petroleum by 7.9% in the third quarter. Whittier Trust Co. now owns 35,185 shares of the oil and natural gas companys stock valued at $1,231,000 after purchasing an additional 2,583 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Moody National Bank Trust Division bought a new position in Callon Petroleum during the third quarter valued at $525,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 83.60% of the companys stock. About Callon Petroleum (Get Rating) Callon Petroleum Co engages in the exploration, development, acquisition, and production of oil and natural gas properties in the United States. It focuses on unconventional oil and natural gas reserves in the Permian Basin. The company was founded by Sim C. Callon and John S. Callon in 1950 and is headquartered in Houston, TX. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Callon Petroleum Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Callon Petroleum and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Grupo Simec, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE:SIM Get Rating) hit a new 52-week high during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $38.22 and last traded at $38.22, with a volume of 812 shares traded. The stock had previously closed at $35.22. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Separately, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Grupo Simec in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Get Grupo Simec alerts: Grupo Simec Price Performance The company has a market cap of $5.89 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 14.87 and a beta of 0.31. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $34.76 and its 200-day simple moving average is $32.13. About Grupo Simec Grupo Simec ( NYSE:SIM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 13th. The company reported $0.18 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Grupo Simec had a net margin of 15.64% and a return on equity of 18.38%. The company had revenue of $564.09 million during the quarter. (Get Rating) Grupo SIMEC SAB de CV engages in the manufacture, processing and distribution of steel and structural steel products. It operates through the following geographical segments: Mexico, U.S., and Brazil. The Mexico segment represents the results of the operations in Mexico, including plants in Mexicali, Guadalajara, Tlaxcala, and San Luis Potosi. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Grupo Simec Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Grupo Simec and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Muhlenkamp & Co. Inc. increased its holdings in shares of McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK Get Rating) by 0.1% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The institutional investor owned 38,249 shares of the companys stock after acquiring an additional 40 shares during the period. McKesson comprises about 6.1% of Muhlenkamp & Co. Inc.s investment portfolio, making the stock its 4th biggest position. Muhlenkamp & Co. Inc.s holdings in McKesson were worth $14,348,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in McKesson by 13.1% during the third quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 1,186,592 shares of the companys stock worth $403,287,000 after buying an additional 137,396 shares during the last quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership increased its holdings in McKesson by 53.8% during the 1st quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 915,949 shares of the companys stock valued at $280,399,000 after purchasing an additional 320,588 shares in the last quarter. WCM Investment Management LLC bought a new position in McKesson in the 3rd quarter valued at $302,630,000. Fred Alger Management LLC boosted its stake in McKesson by 11.6% in the third quarter. Fred Alger Management LLC now owns 823,327 shares of the companys stock worth $279,824,000 after purchasing an additional 85,272 shares in the last quarter. Finally, UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. grew its holdings in shares of McKesson by 7.2% during the third quarter. UBS Asset Management Americas Inc. now owns 662,829 shares of the companys stock worth $225,276,000 after purchasing an additional 44,308 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.23% of the companys stock. Get McKesson alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several brokerages recently issued reports on MCK. Morgan Stanley upped their price target on shares of McKesson from $420.00 to $426.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Citigroup assumed coverage on shares of McKesson in a research report on Friday, March 31st. They set a buy rating and a $420.00 target price on the stock. Robert W. Baird lifted their target price on McKesson from $445.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. StockNews.com started coverage on McKesson in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, UBS Group lowered their price objective on McKesson from $450.00 to $440.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Tuesday, January 31st. Two analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, eight have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $416.64. McKesson Price Performance MCK opened at $362.56 on Thursday. McKesson Co. has a one year low of $298.69 and a one year high of $401.78. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $354.94 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $366.68. The firm has a market capitalization of $49.65 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.58, a PEG ratio of 1.36 and a beta of 0.58. McKesson (NYSE:MCK Get Rating) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $6.90 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $6.36 by $0.54. McKesson had a negative return on equity of 216.12% and a net margin of 1.15%. The business had revenue of $70.49 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $70.98 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $6.15 EPS. The companys revenue was up 2.7% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that McKesson Co. will post 25.92 EPS for the current fiscal year. McKesson Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, March 1st were issued a dividend of $0.54 per share. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, February 28th. This represents a $2.16 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 0.60%. McKessons dividend payout ratio is currently 9.88%. Insider Transactions at McKesson In other news, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 7,416 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $380.00, for a total transaction of $2,818,080.00. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 75,737 shares of the companys stock, valued at $28,780,060. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, EVP Nancy Avila sold 161 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $370.02, for a total transaction of $59,573.22. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 4,631 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,713,562.62. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Brian S. Tyler sold 7,416 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $380.00, for a total transaction of $2,818,080.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 75,737 shares in the company, valued at $28,780,060. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.21% of the companys stock. About McKesson (Get Rating) McKesson Corp. engages in the provision of supply chain management solutions, retail pharmacy, community oncology and specialty care, and healthcare information technology. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Pharmaceutical, International, Medical-Surgical Solutions, and Prescription Technology Solutions (RxTS). Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MCK? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for McKesson Co. (NYSE:MCK Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for McKesson Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McKesson and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com cut shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. (NYSE:GHL Get Rating) from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report report published on Monday morning. Several other equities analysts have also issued reports on the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on Greenhill & Co., Inc. from $6.50 to $7.00 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and set a $20.00 price target on shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating and one has issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, Greenhill & Co., Inc. presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $11.38. Get Greenhill & Co. Inc. alerts: Greenhill & Co., Inc. Price Performance GHL opened at $7.39 on Monday. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $10.25 and a 200-day moving average price of $9.77. Greenhill & Co., Inc. has a 12-month low of $5.64 and a 12-month high of $15.21. The company has a current ratio of 2.50, a quick ratio of 2.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.33. The stock has a market capitalization of $135.31 million, a P/E ratio of -105.57 and a beta of 1.22. Greenhill & Co., Inc. Dividend Announcement Greenhill & Co., Inc. ( NYSE:GHL Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The financial services provider reported $0.95 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Greenhill & Co., Inc. had a return on equity of 4.87% and a net margin of 1.27%. The company had revenue of $95.82 million for the quarter. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 22nd. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 8th were paid a dividend of $0.10 per share. This represents a $0.40 annualized dividend and a yield of 5.41%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 7th. Greenhill & Co., Inc.s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently -571.43%. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Greenhill & Co., Inc. Several large investors have recently bought and sold shares of GHL. Teachers Retirement System of The State of Kentucky bought a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter worth about $33,000. Barclays PLC grew its stake in Greenhill & Co., Inc. by 139.0% in the 4th quarter. Barclays PLC now owns 3,456 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 2,010 shares in the last quarter. Quantbot Technologies LP bought a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 1st quarter worth about $40,000. Trexquant Investment LP bought a new position in Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter worth about $62,000. Finally, Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Greenhill & Co., Inc. in the 3rd quarter worth $63,000. Institutional investors own 74.14% of the companys stock. Greenhill & Co., Inc. Company Profile (Get Rating) 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Greenhill & Co. Inc. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Greenhill & Co. Inc. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Country Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe According to the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex/Montecito, Meghan Markle will not be attending the coronation of King Charles III in a major snub to the royal family. Instead, she has sent Prince Harry as envoy to attend the coronation alone. Royal commentators have come to the conclusion that this refusal to attend the coronation is the final nail in the coffin for Markles short jaunt with the royal family, as she has effectively cut the cord completely. It is doubtful that Markle will ever come to Britain again, and is now completely estranged from the British royal family. It may be a show of defiance by her, however in all reality she will continue to use the Duchess title to make money in America and continue to profit off her marriage to Prince Harry. In all instances, one could say she has the best of both worlds and will continue to coin it making millions off the royals whilst effectively rejecting them in reality, a commentator revealed on Wednesday. If King Charles had any guts he would have demoted these two freeloaders of any royal title a long time ago, however Charles has been extremely diplomatic considering the amount of vitriol and vindictive hatred directed to the Windsor clan by Harry and Meghan. The added disgusting usage of the royal titles to make millions of dollars is another insult, not only to the royal family, but the British people as a whole. Has Meghan ever been to Sussex? She probably could not even point to it on a map. It is a total insult to the people of Sussex to be represented by someone who detests the British people and royal family with such vehemence. If there is any justice in this world, Harry and Meghan should be demoted to the nobodies they truly are, and should not be allowed to profit off their supposed ties to the British royal family or Britain. We have heard of taxation without representation, well, this is royalty without representation, and it makes a mockery of the British royal institution and people. Hopefully, one day the American people fawning over this acrid stench of hypocrisy and exploitation will see through the shallow narcissistic facade of Meghan and Harry, two grifters skimming millions off ruthless and blind media executives who have no morals or a shred of dignity as they only see dollar signs as they market these two miscreants to gullible American audiences who do not understand royalty or know what it really is in any capacity or form. LONDON - England - The Racist Homophobe Misogynist Community are outraged that they have been associated with the Met Police. We completely refute any connections to the Met police force. These accusations are absolutely disgusting. How dare they accuse us of being coppers? a racist, homophobic, misogynist revealed today from a seedy strip club in Soho. A review by Baroness Louise Casey, who spent a year investigating the Met Police, has labelled the Metropolitan police force as institutionally racist, sexist and homophobic. There has been outrage however from the racist, sexist and homophobic community at being labelled as members of the Met Police. You can call me anything you fucking want, mate, but never call me a copper. I am not a pig, can you hear me going oink, oink? nah you cant, I aint a Bobby, I aint a fuckin rozzer, and if you dare equate me with being a PC Plod fuzz fed peeler bottle, I will personally glass you in the face, a very angry member of the racist, homophobic, misogynist, community yelled at the top of his voice. The Racist Homophobic Misogynist community (RHM) were today planning on a rally to protest at the outrage of being somehow connected to the Met police. This is about our dignity and honour and our right to be racist, misogynistic and homophobic without being labelled as policemen. We have rights as much as anyone, and refute this disgusting connection with the rozzers, spokesman for the group, Gaylord Enirgg told the BBC on Tuesday. CERT-In informed that it has been reported that websites of state and Central government are being potentially targeted by a hacktivist Indonesia group. (Representational image: DC) Hyderabad: A high alert has been sounded in view of possible attacks on as many as 12,000 Central and state government websites by Indonesian hackers. CERT-In issued an Urgent- High Alert warning all Central and state agencies and departments to be alert and report any such incidents to them immediately. With the alert, departments concerned, particularly those from defence, critical installations, vital establishments, all law enforcement agencies including the Central and state Intelligence wings have braced up to thwart the attacks. CERT-In informed that it has been reported that websites of state and Central government are being potentially targeted. " A hacktivist Indonesia group is claiming to target 12,000 websites of India and the threat actors are launching DoS/DDoS attacks," the alert said. The attackers have also released a list of the both Central and state government websites and the same was communicated to all concerned wings and departments to stay alert and initiate preventive measures. Union Home Minister Amit Shah chairs a high-level meeting to review security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, in New Delhi, Thursday, April 13, 2023. NSA Ajit Doval is also seen. (Photo: PTI) NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday reviewed the functioning of the security grid and all security-related aspects in Jammu and Kashmir and reiterated that, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Central government is committed to zero tolerance for terrorism. During the meeting, Mr Shah also reviewed the preparations for a G-20 meeting to be held in Srinagar next month and directed all relevant agencies to work in coordination for the successful conduct of the event. At the security review meeting, attended by national security adviser Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha, among others, the home minister took stock of the functioning of the security grid and various aspects related to security, an official statement said. The home minister also reviewed the area domination and zero terror plans, the law and order situation, cases related to UAPA and other security-related issues. He appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and administration of the Union territory of Jammu & Kashmir for the significant reduction in cross-border infiltration and improvement in law & order. He also advised the officials to strengthen routine policing. Meanwhile, India on Thursday dismissed Pakistan's objection to the hosting of the G-20 meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and said these conferences are being organised across the country and it is "natural" to hold them in the two Union territories too, as they are its "integral and inalienable" parts. India is hosting a meeting of the G-20 Tourism Working Group in Srinagar in May, while a youth engagement group meeting is scheduled to take place in Leh later this month. On April 6, Jammu and Kashmir director general of police Dilbag Singh said militancy has not ended in Jammu and Kashmir yet, but it is on the wane as the number of ultras has declined to an all-time low. He said local youths who were pushed towards militancy have now returned to the mainstream after leaving that path. Those who attended the meeting included Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, DGP Dilbag Singh and other senior officials, the sources said. Union Minister of State for Steel and Rural Development, Faggan Singh Kulaste presents the appointment letters to candidates selected in various Central government offices during the Rozgar Mela at Port Kalavani Auditorium in Visakhapatnam on Thursday. (Photo: Murali Krishna) Visakhapatnam: The central government is not in a hurry to privatise the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Ltd, the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant. Rather, it would revamp it and restore normal production, said Union minister of state for steel Faggan Singh Kulaste. The minister was in Visakhapatnam to participate in the Rozgar Mela. After distributing the appointment letters to the applicants, he told the media, "We have no plan to privatise the steel plant as of now. We will focus on its development and sort out the mining problems to improve steel production. Notably, a team of the Telangana government visited the steel plant in the last three days to submit expression of Interest (EoI). Responded the minister, "This is a political stunt by the Telangana government. The minister said he would hold discussions with the union leaders to sort out all the issues before the government takes up the revival plan. Local MP M.V.V. Satyanarayana said the BRS was not sincere in its efforts. "The party from Telangana wants to expand to Andhra Pradesh by using the steel plant crisis." Trade union leaders were not enthused by the ministers comments. "It appears more like a political statement. Let the management cancel the appointment of three committees -- transaction, legal and evaluation. We will withdraw the agitation only after the Cabinet makes an announcement on cancellation of the privatisation move, said CPI general secretary M. Paidiraju. Some trade unions are spearheading the agitation against VSP privatisation for the last three years. "The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has a capacity to produce 7.3 million tonnes of steel annually but only two out three blast furnaces are operational, producing five million tonnes. Capital inputs and ore are needed to run the third blast furnace, for which purpose the company sought EOI from interested parties," said a leader. Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. (Twitter) VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has said a sum of Rs 15,810 crore would be spent this year on the YSR Congress governments flagship Pedalandariki Illu mega housing programme. He refuted allegations of the opposition Telugu Desam about the Tidco houses. There was neglect of Tidco houses scheme during the Chandrababu governments term but there is massive construction of these houses under the present YSRC government. The CM said the YSRC government was bearing an expenditure of Rs 21,000 crore for Tidco houses. Jagan Mohan Reddy directed the housing department officials to nail the opposition campaign over Tidco houses and explain the present efforts in this direction. At a review meeting on Housing held here on Thursday, Jagan Mohan Reddy said a lot of bad propaganda was being carried out by the Telugu Desam that had abandoned the construction of the Tidco houses for the poor during its rule. On the other hand, "We are handing them over to the beneficiaries along with basic infrastructure," he said. The CM said officials should pay attention to drainage and other basic facilities in the Jagananna colonies. Officials told the CM that Rs 21,000 crore was spent in the last 45 months for Tidco houses, as against the Rs 8,723.08 crore spent by the TD government. The present government spent over Rs 482 crore and gave a 50 per cent concession on the payments made by the beneficiaries in TD rule. Besides, the present government is giving a benefit of Rs 12,011 crore through free registrations to an additional 2.62 lakh beneficiaries and arranging Rs 1,875 crore in bank loans through a tie-up with banks. The YSRC government also spent Rs 9,044 crore towards Hudco loan repayments and construction of houses and provision of basic infrastructure. "While there were no registrations of Tidco houses between 2015 and 2019, some 1,55,673 houses were registered and 48,172 houses handed over to the beneficiaries in the last 45 months, officials explained to the CM. They said the completed houses would be handed over to another 1.50 lakh beneficiaries by June and 1.12 lakh beneficiaries by December. Officials said Rs 10,203 crore was spent on housing in the 2022-23 fiscal, while a target of Rs 15,810 crore is fixed for the present fiscal. Some 3,40,741 houses were completed and 4,67,551 housing units are ready for completion as part of the endeavour to provide "housing for all the poor families." "We are taking all measures to ensure quality for the constructions as per the directions of the chief minister," the officials said. Housing minister J. Ramesh, municipal administration minister A. Suresh, chief secretary K.S. Jawahar Reddy, AP state housing corporation chairman Dorababu, Tidco chairman J. Prasanna Kumar, special chief secretaries Sri Lakshmi (MA&UD), K. Vijayanand (Energy) and Ajay Jain (Housing), finance secretary K.V.V. Satyanarayana, special secretary (Housing) Mohammad Deewan, APSHC MD Lakshmi Shah, AP Tidco MD Sridhar, Mines and geology director Venkata Reddy and other officials attended the review meeting. A 26-year-old Indian-origin man in the US was arrested by police at a New Jersey hotel for allegedly stabbing a sex worker after they got into an argument over money. Vineeth Ravuri, a resident of Jersey City, was arrested from Aloft Hotel in Secaucus on April 9 after the police got a phone call from a woman calling for help, the Secaucus Police said in a statement. Ravuri and the woman met at the hotel with the purpose of engaging in sexual activity in exchange for money but when the woman asked him to leave the room, he brandished a knife and demanded his money back, said the statement. Also read: Nepalese man stabbed to death in Bengaluru Read more at: https://www.deccanherald.com/city/bengaluru-crime/nepalese-man-stabbed-to-death-in-bengalurustharagupet-1204529.html As she refused to do so, he lunged at her and during that struggle, the woman received a laceration to her finger and buttocks. The woman managed to escape from the room into the hallway and called for help, the statement said. Police officers found Ravuri in the lobby of the hotel with blood on his jacket and foot along with a bloodied knife used in the assault. He was subsequently placed under arrest. The woman was treated for injuries at the scene. Prostitution is not a victimless crime, Chief Dennis Miller said, adding that police will continue to conduct proactive operations in hopes of suppressing prostitution, which is often the root of other heinous crimes. Meanwhile, Ravuri has been charged with armed robbery, aggravated assault, criminal restraint, unlawful possession of a weapon, and engaging in prostitution, the statement said. National Public Radio said Wednesday that it would suspend all Twitter use, a little over a week after the social network designated the broadcaster U.S. state-affiliated media. Twitter has since changed the label on the NPR Twitter account to Government-funded Media, a designation it also gave to PBS. That label also appeared on the account of the BBC, the national broadcaster of Britain, until Wednesday, when it was changed to publicly funded media. NPR said Twitters move could damage its reputation. NPRs organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent, Isabel Lara, NPRs chief communications officer, said in a statement. Also read | NPR protests as Twitter calls it 'state-affiliated media' In a letter to staff Wednesday morning, John Lansing, NPRs CEO, said posting on the platform would be a disservice to the staffs journalism. Actions by Twitter or other social media companies to tarnish the independence of any public media institution are exceptionally harmful and set a dangerous precedent, he wrote. PBS took similar action. PBS stopped tweeting from our account when we learned of the change, and we have no plans to resume at this time, said Jason Phelps, a spokesperson for PBS. Twitter did not respond to a request for comment. In an interview with NPR, Lansing said the broadcaster would not immediately return to Twitter, even if the label was removed. I would need some time to understand whether Twitter can be trusted again, he said. NPR said employees could decide for themselves whether to stay on the platform, but its leaders advised caution. Tony Cavin, the broadcasters managing editor for standards, said in a note to staff that the companys decision made it more likely that those who stayed on Twitter would be trolled. He added that Twitter had become less dependable and that the platforms blue check marks, once used to verify public figures, were now almost meaningless. Twitter has faced numerous controversies since Elon Musk bought the company in October for $44 billion, including mass layoffs that coincided with an increase in outages and other glitches. Akshata Murty, the wife of Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, stands to earn Rs 68.17 crore in dividend income from her shareholding in India's second-largest IT firm Infosys. Murty, daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy, held 3.89 crore shares of Infosys at the end of December, according to company filings with the stock exchanges. Infosys declared a final dividend of Rs 17.50 per share for FY23 (April 2022 to March 2023). If she retains her shareholding till the record date, June 2, she would get Rs 68.17 crore. Also Read | PM Modi holds talk with British counterpart Sunak, calls for strong action against anti-India elements Together with an interim dividend of Rs 16.50 a share declared in October last year, she would get Rs 132.4 crore. For the previous fiscal, Infosys paid a total of Rs 31 per share dividend, giving her a total of Rs 120.76 crore. Her holding is worth just over Rs 5,400 crore at Thursday's closing price of Rs 1,388.60 per share on the BSE. Infosys is among the best dividend-paying companies in India. Sunak, 42, in October last year became Britain's first prime minister of Indian origin and its youngest leader in modern times. While Sunak is a British national, his wife Akshata is an Indian citizen. Her non-domiciled status, which allows her to earn money abroad without paying taxes in Britain for a period of up to 15 years, has been a divisive issue in the UK. The non-domiciled status of Akshata became an issue of discussion in Britain when Sunak first entered the race to become the prime minister in April last year. At that time, her spokesperson had stated that as a citizen of India, she was unable to hold citizenship of another country and that "she has always and will continue to pay UK taxes on all her UK income". As the controversy snowballed, Akshata at that time announced that she would pay UK tax on all of her worldwide earnings out of a "British sense of fairness". It is not known how much taxes she paid in the UK on the dividend income that accrued to her. Born in her mother Sudha Murty's hometown of Hubballi in northern Karnataka, Akshata did her schooling in Bengaluru, before moving to Claremont McKenna College in California, where she graduated with a dual major in economics and French. She did a fashion designing diploma from the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles, which followed a short work stint at Deloitte and Unilever. She thereafter went on to pursue her MBA at Stanford where she met Rishi Sunak. Also Read | Joe Biden to meet Rishi Sunak in Belfast at start of Irish tour The two married in 2009. The couple, who own a vast real estate portfolio, have two children -- Krishna and Anoushka. They live in a 7-million-pound townhouse in Kensington. They also own a flat in Kensington, a mansion in Rishi's Yorkshire constituency and a penthouse in California. The son of a pharmacist mother and doctor father, Sunak was educated at one of England's most renowned schools Winchester and then Oxford. He spent three years at Goldman Sachs Group Inc and later gained an MBA from Stanford in California, where he met his wife Akshata Murty. According to Infosys filings, the promoters hold 13.11 per cent of the company. Of this, the Murthy family owns 3.6 per cent (Narayana Murthy holds 0.40 per cent stake, his wife Sudha 0.82 per cent, son Rohan 1.45 per cent and daughter Akshata 0.93 per cent). Other promoters include co-founder S Gopalakrishnan, Nandan M Nilekani and S D Shibulal and their families. Two months after the Income Tax (I-T) Department conducted "survey operations" in a tax evasion case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case against news broadcaster BBC India for foreign exchange violations. Officials said on Thursday that the agency has asked BBC India to submit documents and called some executives for the recording of their statements under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). The ED would look into violation of FDI rules by the company, officials added. A deputy managing editor of BBC India has deposed before the agency. Also Read Twitter tags BBC as 'government funded media', British broadcaster objects The action by the ED comes after the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said that the income and profits shown by various BBC group entities were "not commensurate" with the scale of their operations in India and tax has not been paid on certain remittances by its foreign entities which have not been disclosed as income in India. The I-T Department had claimed that it conducted survey operations related to international taxation and transfer pricing of BBC subsidiary companies. They claimed BBC was served notices in the past but was "defiant and non-complaint" and had "significantly diverted its profits". After the survey operations, the CBDT had said that the services of seconded employees have been utilised for which reimbursement has been made by the Indian entity to the foreign entity concerned. Such remittance was also liable to be subject to withholding tax which has not been done. It also said there were "several discrepancies and inconsistencies" with regard to Transfer Pricing documentation. Forces who indulge in cross-border terrorism against India for decades now know this is a "different India" which will give them a reply, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, stressing that today the country can meet its national security challenges posed by China and Pakistan. Addressing the Indian community in Uganda on Wednesday, Jaishankar spoke about the transformation of the country into a new India. Speaking about the challenges India faces on its borders, Jaishankar said: "Today, people see a different India that is willing to stand up and India which will meet its national security challenges whether it is Uri or whether it is Balakot." He was referring to the 2016 Uri attack by Jaish-e-Mohammed insurgents from Pakistan against an Indian Army brigade headquarters and the 2019 Balakot airstrike conducted by Indian warplanes in Balakot, Pakistan against a terrorist training camp. "Today, the forces which indulged in cross-border terrorism against India for decades and which India tolerated, they now know this is a different India and this India will give them a reply," he said. Also Read: Indias progress can create new opportunities for Ugandan businesses: EAM Jaishankar He also spoke about the challenges on the border with China. "For the last three years, in violation of the agreements, the Chinese have brought large forces," he said. Today the Indian military is deployed at very great heights and in very tough conditions, he said. This situation is different from the past as Indian soldiers have now the "full backing, they have the right equipment and the infrastructure," he said. He admitted that more work has to be done to develop the infrastructure on the border with China as it has been neglected in the past. "This is a different India which will stand up for its interests and the world will recognise that," he said. Today, he said India's policies are not impacted by any outside pressure. "It is a more independent India," he said. Today, India cannot be put under pressure by countries that will "tell us where we should buy our oil and where we should not buy our oil." "This an India which will do what is in the interest of its citizens, its consumers," he said. India has been snapping Russian oil available at a discount after the West sanctioned Moscow over its invasion of Ukraine. India continues to buy Russian oil in large quantities. Russia continued to be the single largest supplier of crude oil, which is converted into petrol and diesel at refineries, for a sixth straight month by supplying more than one-third of all oil India imported, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. Mafia don turned politician Atiq Ahmed's son Asad Ahmed, who was wanted in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the murder of an MLA, in Prayagraj, was on Thursday gunned down in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police in Jhansi district, about 300 kilometers from here. An accomplice of Asad, identified as Ghulam, was also killed in the encounter, police officials here said. Both Asad and Ghulam carried a reward of Rs five lakh on their heads. UP additional director general of police, law, and order, Prashant Kumar said here that acting on a tip-off a team of the special task force (STF) of the state police intercepted two motorbike-borne people on the UP-MP border in Jhansi and were asked to stop. The duo, however, opened fire prompting the police to retaliate. The duo, who suffered injuries in the encounter and later died, were identified as Asad Ahmed and Ghulam, who were wanted in connection with the killing of Umesh Pal, Kumar added. He said that modern weapons, including foreign-made pistols, were recovered from the slain criminals. Also Read Atiq Ahmed, brother produced in Prayagraj court in Umesh Pal murder case Umesh Pal, a key witness in the murder of the then BSP MLA Raju Pal in 2005, was sprayed with bullets in Prayagraj town, about 200 kilometers from here, a few days back allegedly by seven shooters. While the BJP leaders and UP ministers hailed the UP cops for killing Asad and Ghulam, the opposition leaders said that the encounter was 'fake' and termed it as an attempt by the BJP government to 'divert' the attention of the people from other pressing issues. ''I congratulate the UP police.....the killers of Umesh Pal deserved such an end,'' UP deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya said. ''The BJP government wants to divert the people's attention from real issues by fake encounters.....BJP doesn't believe in courts.....the government does not have the right to say what is wrong and what is right,'' Samajwadi Party (SP) president Akhilesh Yadav said. BSP supremo Mayawati also demanded a high-level probe into the encounter. Earlier two alleged shooters, accused in the Umesh Pal killing, were killed in encounters with the UP police. SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav had, a few days back, apprehended that one of the sons of Ateeq could be killed in the encounter. ''Mark my words.....one of the sons of Ateeq may be killed in an encounter in the next few days,'' Yadav had said last month. Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday urged people to visit Kibithoo -- "India's first village" -- in Arunachal Pradesh to enjoy its natural beauty and take inspiration from its history. Shah visited and stayed overnight in Kibithoo, which is India's eastern most forward post, along the border with China, on April 10. Posting a video showing the snow-clad mountains, waterfalls, river and valleys in the village, Shah wrote on Twitter: "Captured the beautiful landscapes during my visit to Kibithoo, India's first village. Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with immense natural beauty. I urge all to visit Arunachal Pradesh, especially Kibithoo, to be inspired by its history and stunned by nature's marvels". Captured the beautiful landscapes during my visit to Kibithoo, India's first village. Arunachal Pradesh is blessed with immense natural beauty. I urge all to visit Arunachal Pradesh, especially Kibithoo, to be inspired by its history and stunned by nature's marvels. pic.twitter.com/PzqUeG72r2 Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 13, 2023 During his trip, the home minister had said that Kibithoo should not be termed as India's last village but first village as the Sun's rays fall first in this village in the country. The area also has a military history as Kibithoo and neighbouring Walong had witnessed a fierce battle during the Chinese aggression in 1962 during which the Indian Army soldiers fought bravely against China's PLA and defended the country's territory. Also Read | China criticises Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, commented on Shah's post: "#IncredibleIndia #DekhoApnaDesh #ArunachalPradesh #NorthEast". The home minister posted a similar video on Twitter on Wednesday, and wrote: "Traveled from Kibithoo to Walong, known as India's easternmost road. The smooth surface road along a remote frontier manifests PM @narendramodi Ji's vision to develop border areas. The #VibrantVillagesProgram will further boost connectivity and development in border villages". Shah launched the Vibrant Villages Programme (VVP) in Kibithoo on April 10. The VVP is a centrally sponsored scheme under which 2,967 villages in 46 blocks of 19 districts abutting northern border in the states of Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh and UT of Ladakh have been identified for comprehensive development. In the first phase, 662 villages have been identified for priority on coverage, which includes 455 villages in Arunachal Pradesh. The VVP 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 out migration from these villages and adding to security of the border, the home ministry had said in a statement. Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh on Thursday claimed that contrary to the BJP and the RSS's "false propaganda" that the population of Muslim community was increasing in the country, the number of the minority community members vis-a-vis Hindus was fast declining, and added that he could prove it. The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was quick to counter him as it accused him of indulging in politics of appeasement and giving false statements to divide the society. Singh made the claim here while replying to reporters' query about his party's stand on conducting a census. "The propaganda of BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) that Muslim population is increasing in the country is completely false, wrong and unverified, because the minority community's population is decreasing at a faster pace as compared to Hindus and I can prove it," Singh said. Also Read | After Easter outreach, Kerala BJP to reach out to Muslims on Eid "My stand on the census is that it should be conducted and its results should come out on the basis of the Other Backward Classes (OBC). Till now, only the results of the 2011 census are available. The figures after that are not yet released by them. Census should be conducted," the former chief minsiter said. When asked whether the Congress will include in its manifesto the demand for conducting a caste-based census, Singh said there was no need for it as it was as per rules and law. Asked further about the caste-based census in Bihar, Singh said, "Census should be held at the national level." Reacting to Singh's remark on Muslim population, state Medical Education Minister Vishvas Sarang said the Congress leader was indulging in politics of appeasement and spreading false statements to divide the society on the lines of caste and religion. Denying the charge that Congress indulges in vote bank politics, Digvijaya Singh said that since 1952, the party has worked for the welfare of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and the Scheduled Tribe (ST) communities as well as deprived sections of the society. The Rajya Sabha member questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on sensitive matters, especially on people spreading hatred in the country through their inflammatory statements and acts, and added that the PM expresses concern even when a player suffers an injury on his finger. Terming the Assembly elections in Madhya Pradesh due by the year-end and the next year's Lok Sabha polls as crucial for the party, Singh said that although the main contest is between the Congress and the BJP, parties like Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), All India Majlis-E-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AlMIM), Gondwana Gantantra Party (GGP) and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will also be in the fray to help the BJP in dividing the Congress's votes. "But they won't be able to come to power. The fight is between Congress and BJP," he said. Replying to a question whether the Congress got weakened after Jyotiraditya Scindia, who is currently the Union minister from the BJP, quit the party, Singh said, "After he left, there is peace and unity in Congress, while there is unrest and disunity in BJP now." Singh also criticised Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan for launching populist schemes like 'Ladli Behna', and questioned why the BJP did not remember people of the state when it was in power for the last more than 18 years and why it is doing so in the election year. "It is the trademark of Chouhan to indulge in dramatics, making announcements and giving long speeches," the Congress veteran said. Security forces shot down a drone along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri, and a massive search operation is underway in the area, official sources said on Thursday. Some magazines, cash and other items from the packet attached to the drone have been recovered, they said. VIDEO | Security forces shoot down a drone along the Line of Control (LoC) in Rajouri, and a search operation is underway in the area. Some magazines, cash and other items were recovered from the packet attached to the drone. pic.twitter.com/m9UpaEWiOK Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 13, 2023 Suspicious movement of an aerial object was noticed in areas of Beri Patan and Siot along the LoC last night, after which a massive cordon and search operation was launched, they said. Also read | Amit Shah to review security situation in Jammu & Kashmir today The security forces managed to bring down a drone in this operation, they said. "So far recoveries made from it include some magazines of an AK rifle, a sealed packed, and cash," they said. Sources claimed an extensive search operation is underway in many villages of the area and some more recoveries are expected. "We can only share that a drone has been successfully tracked and recovery has been made. More details will be shared later," an official said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday paid tributes to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, saying their great sacrifice inspires us to work even harder to fulfil the dreams of great freedom fighters and build a strong and developed India. Hundreds of people protesting peacefully against the Rowlatt Act, which granted the British colonial administration repressive powers, were gunned down by British forces without any provocation on this day in 1919 at Jallianwala Bagh in Punjab's Amritsar. "I recall the sacrifices of all those martyred on this day in Jallianwala Bagh," Modi said on Twitter. I recall the sacrifices of all those martyred on this day in Jallianwala Bagh. Their great sacrifice inspires us to work even harder to fulfil the dreams of our great freedom fighters and build a strong and developed India. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2023 "Their great sacrifice inspires us to work even harder to fulfill the dreams of our great freedom fighters and build a strong and developed India," he said. Concord Wealth Partners acquired a new stake in iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF (NYSEARCA:IVW Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor acquired 1,274 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $75,000. Several other large investors have also made changes to their positions in IVW. Lansing Street Advisors purchased a new stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $25,000. McClarren Financial Advisors Inc. acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Beaird Harris Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF in the 3rd quarter valued at $32,000. Trifecta Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF in the 4th quarter valued at $49,000. Finally, DB Wealth Management Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF by 312.6% in the 3rd quarter. DB Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 887 shares of the companys stock valued at $51,000 after purchasing an additional 672 shares during the period. Get iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF alerts: iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Price Performance IVW opened at $63.72 on Thursday. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $62.10 and a 200 day moving average price of $60.72. iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF has a 1 year low of $55.30 and a 1 year high of $73.96. The stock has a market cap of $30.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 22.15 and a beta of 1.05. About iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF 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. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares S&P 500 Growth ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Equinox Gold (CVE:EQX Get Rating) had its price objective lifted by Scotiabank from C$5.75 to C$7.50 in a report published on Wednesday morning, The Fly reports. A number of other analysts have also recently commented on EQX. National Bankshares lifted their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$6.00 to C$7.25 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. BMO Capital Markets lifted their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$6.50 to C$7.50 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. National Bank Financial lifted their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$6.00 to C$7.25 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. TD Securities dropped their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$8.00 to C$7.50 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, Haywood Securities dropped their price objective on Equinox Gold from C$10.00 to C$9.50 in a research report on Friday, February 24th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Equinox Gold presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of C$7.49. Get Equinox Gold alerts: Equinox Gold Trading Down 0.9 % Shares of EQX stock opened at C$7.88 on Wednesday. The stock has a market cap of C$892.46 million and a P/E ratio of -43.54. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$7.88 and a 200-day simple moving average of C$7.88. Equinox Gold has a fifty-two week low of C$4.25 and a fifty-two week high of C$8.90. The company has a quick ratio of 1.11, a current ratio of 1.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 64.28. Insiders Place Their Bets Equinox Gold Company Profile In other Equinox Gold news, Senior Officer Doug Reddy sold 6,351 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 29th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$7.03, for a total value of C$44,647.53. In other news, Senior Officer Sebastian Damici sold 5,216 shares of Equinox Gold stock in a transaction dated Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$5.15, for a total value of C$26,862.40. Also, Senior Officer Doug Reddy sold 6,351 shares of Equinox Gold stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$7.03, for a total value of C$44,647.53. In the last ninety days, insiders have sold 22,220 shares of company stock valued at $132,721. (Get Rating) Equinox Gold Corp. engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral deposits. The company's principal properties include the Aurizona project covering a total land package of approximately 223,160 hectares located in Maranhao State, Brazil; and the Castle Mountain property situated in California, the United States. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Equinox Gold Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Equinox Gold and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. FedEx Co. (NYSE:FDX Get Rating) CEO Frederick W. Smith sold 131,755 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $232.21, for a total value of $30,594,828.55. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 14,459,759 shares in the company, valued at $3,357,700,637.39. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. FedEx Stock Performance NYSE FDX opened at $229.47 on Thursday. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $213.76 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $185.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $57.68 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.82, a PEG ratio of 1.29 and a beta of 1.33. FedEx Co. has a fifty-two week low of $141.92 and a fifty-two week high of $248.76. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.81, a quick ratio of 1.27 and a current ratio of 1.32. Get FedEx alerts: FedEx (NYSE:FDX Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 16th. The shipping service provider reported $3.41 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.67 by $0.74. The business had revenue of $22.17 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $22.74 billion. FedEx had a return on equity of 17.71% and a net margin of 3.23%. The companys revenue was down 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.59 EPS. On average, equities analysts forecast that FedEx Co. will post 14.95 earnings per share for the current year. FedEx Increases Dividend Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, July 3rd. Investors of record on Monday, June 12th will be issued a $1.26 dividend. This represents a $5.04 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.20%. This is a boost from FedExs previous quarterly dividend of $1.15. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 9th. FedExs payout ratio is presently 39.72%. FDX has been the topic of several research analyst reports. Melius initiated coverage on FedEx in a research note on Monday, March 27th. They issued a hold rating and a $240.00 price objective on the stock. Bank of America increased their price objective on FedEx from $233.00 to $305.00 in a research note on Friday, March 17th. Stephens reissued an overweight rating and issued a $290.00 price objective on shares of FedEx in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. StockNews.com raised FedEx from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Robert W. Baird increased their target price on FedEx from $250.00 to $275.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Ten research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seventeen have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $241.41. Institutional Investors Weigh In On FedEx Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Lakewood Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of FedEx during the 4th quarter worth approximately $26,000. CenterStar Asset Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of FedEx during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Coston McIsaac & Partners acquired a new position in shares of FedEx during the 2nd quarter worth approximately $30,000. My Personal CFO LLC acquired a new position in shares of FedEx during the 4th quarter worth approximately $31,000. Finally, Cowa LLC acquired a new position in shares of FedEx during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $33,000. 72.02% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. FedEx Company Profile (Get Rating) FedEx Corp. provides a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and business services under the FedEx brand. It operates through the following segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Services, and Corporate, Other & Eliminations. The FedEx Express segment consists of domestic and international shipping services for delivery of packages and freight. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for FedEx Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for FedEx and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) (CVE:SKE Get Rating) had its price objective hoisted by Scotiabank from C$16.00 to C$16.50 in a report issued on Wednesday, The Fly reports. Separately, BMO Capital Markets raised their price objective on Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) from C$15.00 to C$16.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$15.92. Get Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) alerts: Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) Stock Performance Shares of Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) stock opened at C$2.62 on Wednesday. The company has a current ratio of 2.28, a quick ratio of 1.95 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 8.52. The firm has a market capitalization of C$431.26 million and a P/E ratio of -9.63. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of C$2.62 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$2.62. Skeena Resources Limited has a 12 month low of C$0.38 and a 12 month high of C$3.12. Insider Transactions at Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) About Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) In other news, Director Walter Coles Jr. sold 35,000 shares of Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of C$8.02, for a total value of C$280,700.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 809,625 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately C$6,493,192.50. (Get Rating) Skeena Resources Limited, a junior mining exploration company, engages in the acquisition, exploration, and development of base and precious metal properties in Canada. The company holds 100% interests in the Snip gold mine covering an area of approximately 1,932 hectares; the Spectrum-GJ copper-gold properties covering an area of 43,500 hectares; and the Porter Idaho silver property that consists of 46 crown-granted mineral claims; and Blackdome gold mine property. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Skeena Resources Limited (SKE.V) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Royal Bank of Canada restated their sector perform rating on shares of Virgin Money UK (LON:VMUK Get Rating) in a research note published on Wednesday morning, MarketBeat reports. The firm currently has a GBX 205 ($2.54) price objective on the stock. Several other research analysts have also weighed in on VMUK. Citigroup reiterated a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a report on Friday, March 10th. Barclays downgraded shares of Virgin Money UK to an equal weight rating and set a GBX 230 ($2.85) target price for the company. in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Berenberg Bank increased their target price on shares of Virgin Money UK from GBX 170 ($2.11) to GBX 195 ($2.41) and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. Shore Capital reissued a buy rating on shares of Virgin Money UK in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their target price on shares of Virgin Money UK from GBX 180 ($2.23) to GBX 200 ($2.48) and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of GBX 212 ($2.63). Get Virgin Money UK alerts: Virgin Money UK Price Performance Shares of VMUK stock opened at GBX 151.65 ($1.88) on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of 2.08 billion, a P/E ratio of 409.32, a PEG ratio of -0.56 and a beta of 1.99. Virgin Money UK has a 1-year low of GBX 1.46 ($0.02) and a 1-year high of GBX 200 ($2.48). The firms 50-day simple moving average is GBX 164.71 and its 200-day simple moving average is GBX 162.86. Virgin Money UK Increases Dividend About Virgin Money UK The company also recently disclosed a dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 15th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 9th were given a GBX 7.50 ($0.09) dividend. This is an increase from Virgin Money UKs previous dividend of $2.50. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. This represents a yield of 4.62%. Virgin Money UKs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 2,972.97%. (Get Rating) Virgin Money UK PLC provides banking products and services for consumers, and small and medium sized businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. The company offers savings and current accounts, mortgages, credit cards, and home loans; business loans, overdraft facilities, treasury solutions, and corporate and structured finance; asset and invoice finance services; risk management; international trade services; and home, car, and life and critical illness insurance products. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Virgin Money UK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Virgin Money UK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sir Tony Blair and former US senator George Mitchell will attend a conference in Belfast next week marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. They are among the architects of the 1998 peace deal taking part in the event at Queens University. Mr Mitchell chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement, while Sir Tony was prime minister at the time. His wife Cherie Blair will also attend the conference and take part in a Women In Business event. Bill Clinton, US president in 1998, and his wife Hillary will also attend, along with former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Queens University vice-chancellor Professor Ian Greer said: It is another major coup to have secured two more of the key architects in achieving the peace that we continue to enjoy for the Agreement 25 conference. Senator Mitchell has expressed his immense attachment for Northern Ireland and his return will be an emotional visit for many of us. We will have the honour of unveiling a bust in his honour in the grounds of the university which will further cement the great relationship senator Mitchell has had with Queens University. We also welcome Tony Blair who will contribute to the Guaranteeing Peace The Guarantors section of our conference. Joining former US president William J, Clinton and former taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, he will reflect on the magnitude of the agreement, how it was reached and the impact it has had on Northern Ireland. A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland marking the anniversary of the agreement which largely led to the end of the Troubles and established the powersharing Assembly at Stormont. US President Joe Biden delivered a speech at Ulster University on Wednesday in which he expressed hope for a return to powersharing, saying a stable devolved government could deliver an economic windfall for the region. The institutions are currently suspended as part of a DUP protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Biden said: As a friend, I hope its not too presumptuous for me to say that I believe the democratic institutions established in the Good Friday Agreement remain critical for the future of Northern Ireland. Its a decision for you to make, not for me to make, but it seems to me they are related. Last week a ceremony at Stormont on Good Friday marked the anniversary. In a video message at that event, Mr Mitchell urged current political leaders to act with the same courage and vision as those who secured the Good Friday Agreement. Mary Lou McDonald has said there is no ambiguity about Sinn Feins stance on US foreign policy, but she insisted Irish issues will be her port of call when speaking to Joe Biden. It comes after a TD accused the US president of using the Dail chamber as a soapbox to air his foreign policy agenda as statements will not be taken from political parties following his remarks to parliamentarians. Ms McDonald indicated that she shares concerns about Americas role in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the countrys support for Israel, but said a boycott of the US presidents address to the Irish parliament is the wrong choice. People Before Profit is boycotting the historic speech by Mr Biden to both houses of the Oireachtas over objections to his foreign policy. The party said the move is due to Mr Bidens record on Palestine, Iraq, Nato expansion and over climate pollution as well as the absence of opportunity for Dail parties to ask questions. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told the PA news agency it is possible to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement while also raising concerns about US foreign policy. We think its our duty to speak out about this and to draw attention to it Its treated as a visit by an interesting Irish-American celebrity, as opposed to a visit of the most powerful person in the world who needs to be asked hard questions about the kinds of policies that he is pursuing, he said. When asked about Sinn Feins position, he said there is no indication the party is going to raise the foreign policy criticisms it has. When Biden speaks in the Dail this afternoon and I presume he will make allusions to Ukraine, hints towards Nato, the importance of the West standing together, etc Sinn Fein TDs will, together with every other single TD and Senator in the Dail I presume, stand up and give a standing ovation. That is not raising necessary criticisms of Joe Biden, that is allowing him to present himself as something that hes not. The problem is we are not being given an opportunity to give our position, nor is any other party in the Dail. This has been the policy previously for US presidents who address the Dail, Mr Murphy said the Oireachtas Business Committee heard this was due to the prominence and stature of the position of US presidents. Mr Murphy added: We do think that if you go to address a parliament, which is made up of representatives of people representing different viewpoints, you really should listen to the views of those people. This visit hes just speaking, theres no response by anybody, no questions, no nothing. All that Leinster House is being used for is a soapbox to push Bidens agenda. He said that in the absence of statements, the best way to show opposition is by not participating in the whole thing. Speaking earlier, Ms McDonald heaped praise on the US contribution to the peace process, but said Sinn Feins concerns about aspects of Washingtons foreign policy are well known. The Sinn Fein leader also told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme that there wouldnt have been a peace process without America. Asked directly if she shares left-wing criticisms of US foreign policy, she said: Of course I do. And those are legitimate criticisms. I very much doubt that anybody in the American administration is unaware of the wide criticism of many of their foreign policy stances. Questioned whether she would raise concerns about Israel with the president, she added: Ill meet him today. Im not sure what opportunity I will have to have any length of a conversation with him. My first port of call with the president is Ireland and Irish affairs, marking progress, marking their contribution, but my position as regards Palestine, the rights of the Palestinian people, and Israeli apartheid are well, well documented. There is nobody with any ambiguous or lack of clarity of my or Sinn Feins position on all of those matters. Today, this visit is about Ireland. This visit is about the political impasse that we have here. The political opportunities that I want us to grasp with both hands, and the United States of America is a partner in that, and for the criticism of their foreign policy, be very clear, Ireland, building peace in Ireland, the success of all of this, is very much an American foreign policy triumph, and is very, very much to their credit. Asked about the planned boycott, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters on Thursday morning that Mr Biden was looking forward to meeting the leaders of the main political parties in Ireland. He has received an incredibly warm welcome here in Ireland. He is very much appreciative of the invitation to address the houses of parliament today. She said it was a historic opportunity for Mr Biden to set out his views to the Irish people. Acer Predator Helios 16 has launched in India powered by Intel 13th gen processor and Nvidia RTX 40-series GPU. Being the companys high-end gaming laptop, you get improved thermal performance, and a healthy set of connectivity options, among other features. Acer Helios 16 features and specs 1. The 16 in its name refers to the laptops 16-inch screen that flaunts a 16:10 aspect ratio, a WQXGA resolution, up to 240Hz refresh rate, 500 nits of peak brightness, and support for Nvidia Advanced Optimus. 2. Its computing and graphical performance comes from Intel 13th gen processor (up to Core i9-13900HX) and 12GB GDDR6 Nvidia GeForce RTX 4080 GPU. The memory configuration goes up to 32GB DDR5 RAM and 1TB PCIe 4 NVMe storage. 3. Acer boasts a 90WHr battery inside its new Predator Helios 16. This relies on a 330W fast charger for charging up. 4. The list of connectivity options consists of Intel Killer E2600 Ethernet Controller, Intel Killer Wi-Fi 6E AX1675i, Bluetooth 5.2, 1x USB 3.2 gen 1 port, 1x USB 3.2 gen 2 port, 1x USB 3.2 gen 2 port, 2x USB Type-C ports (Thunderbolt-4), and a micro-SD card slot. 5. The other features of this Predator gaming laptop are a multi-gesture touchpad, backlit keyboard, FHD webcam with noise reduction, stereo speakers, and Windows 11. Acer Helios 16 India price and availability You can buy Acer Predator Helios 16 at 1,99,990 from store.acer.com and Acer Exclusive Stores. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Introduced at MWC, Tecno Phantom V Fold is finally out as the companys first-ever foldable smartphone. It is a full-size fold with a large battery, top-end MediaTek processor and a 50MP primary camera. Phantom V Fold is available on the Amazon website with an early bird offer from the 12th of April. Its prices were already announced and so lets learn about its specifications. Tecno Phantom V Fold Price Tecno Phantom V Folds introductory price with the early bird sale offer on Amazon India is 77,777, However, the base model with 12+256GBmemory costs 89,999 and the succeeding model costs 99,999 with 12+512GB memory. With this pricing, Tecno has created a new space for foldable phones in the Indian market compared to the high-range products in the category such as Galaxy Z Fold 4. Tecno Phantom V Fold: Design and display The smartphone is available in two colours with different textures, Black and White, and shows feature similarities with Galaxy Z Fold 4. The Black model comes with a plastic fibre material while the White model has a silicon leather material. Both models are claimed to be ultra-light and renewable. The interesting element about the phones design is the hinge which is made with aerospace materials and is claimed to be tested for 200,000 folds and has less than 0.11mm screen crease. With a wide and ultra flat 7.85 inches full fold and 6.42 inches sub curved dual LTPO AMOLED screen, Tecno Phantom V Fold has a Corning Gorilla Glass cover. The phone consists of a display density of 388ppi, 2000 x 2296 pixels resolution, and a 10-120Hz adaptive refresh rate. Tecno Phantom V Fold specs and features The Tecno Phantom V Fold flaunts three cameras on the rear side with a 50MP portrait lens, 13MP ultra-wide lens, and 50MP primary sensor, respectively. Meanwhile, the Tecno Phantom V Fold uses a 16MP camera and theres a 32MP camera located on the outer display. The camera uses dual-LED flash, HDR and panorama, while the features for videography are 4K at 30fps and 1080p at 30/60fps. The model utilises a 45W fast charging system for its non-removable Li-Polymer 5000mAh battery and operates on an octa-core MediaTek Dimensity 9000 + 5G for supporting internal functions. Moreover, Tecno has fitted the device with a Mali G-710 GPU and 8GB RAM to attain powerful visuals and efficient speed. The smartphone uses a custom HiOS adapted by Android 13 which has been custom-made for the foldable design. For connectivity, Tecno Phantom V Fold features 5G, VolTE, 4G, Bluetooth v5.2, Wi-Fi 802.11 a/b/g/n/ac, and A-GPS Glonass. The internal storage provided by the brand comes in two options of 12GB RAM, which is 256GB and 512GB, which is non-expandable. Lets see whether Phantom V Fold with its specifications and price can create an impact in the Indian markets. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Xiaomi launched the 13 series in February which contains Xiaomi 13 and Xiaomi 13 Pro. Xiaomi 13 Pro comes with a camera which is tuned by a known camera company, Leica. The smartphone did very well in the market and now Xiaomi has announced the launch date of its successor Xiaomi 13 Ultra. Not many details have been shared about the Xiaomi 13 Ultra yet but here are the five things we know about Xiaomi 13 Ultra based on rumours so far. Xiaomi 13 Ultra launch date Xiaomi recently tweeted the launch date of its upcoming flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. This high-end smartphone will be launching globally on April 18. Xiaomi 13 Ultra Display The Xiaomi 13 Ultra is expected to feature a 6.7-inch 2K AMOLED display with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Xiaomi 13 Ultra Performance This premium smartphone could be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor paired with up to 16GB RAM and up to 512GB storage. The phone will reportedly run on MIUI 14 skin based on the Android 13 operating system. In terms of battery, the device will reportedly be packed with a 4900mAh battery with 90-watt wired fast charging support and 50-watt wireless fast charging support. Xiaomi 13 Ultra Camera Xiaomi 13 Ultra is expected to come with a camera tuned by Leica. It is said to have a quad camera setup holding a 50-megapixel Sony IMX989 sensor along with three more 50-megapixel sensors. On the front, it could sport a 32-megapixel selfie shooter. Xiaomi 13 Ultra Design Xiaomi 13 Ultra is expected to come with a glass body and a 2.5D curved display. It is rumoured to have a circular camera module which carries a quad camera setup on the back. The smartphone could come in many colour options but only white colour has been leaked. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. Flipkart, one of India's leading e-commerce platforms, has announced a mega discount offer on the Apple iPhone 11. As part of the limited-time offer, customers can enjoy a significant price cut on the smartphone, along with additional benefits such as exchange offers and bank offers. The Apple iPhone 11 comes with 4G connectivity unlike its successors so if you're looking for a new 4G phone or an upgrade, this is an opportunity you wouldn't want to miss. Apple iPhone 11 on Flipkart The base variant of iPhone 11 is available on Flipkart at a price of 39,999 but heres how you can buy it for just 11,999. First, you need to trade in your old phone while buying the new iPhone 11, this can get you a discount of up to 27,000. The old smartphone should be in good working condition and it should not be damaged. After that Flipkart has offered some bank offers you can avail: -10% off on Axis Bank Credit Card and EMI Transactions up to 1000. -10% off on Flipkart Axis Bank Credit Card EMI Transactions up to 1000. -5% Cashback on Flipkart Axis Bank Card. -Flat 100 Instant Cashback on Paytm Wallet. -Combining the 1000 bank discount and the exchange offer, the iPhone will cost you only 11,999. Apple iPhone 11 specifications -iPhone 11 comes with Apples A13 Bionic chip paired with 4GB RAM and storage of up to 256GB. The smartphone operates on iOS 13 and can be updated to iOS 16.3. -It boasts a 6.1-inch Liquid Retina IPS LCD display with a resolution of 828 x 1792 pixels. -The iPhone 11 comes with a dual-camera system comprising a 12-megapixel primary camera and a 12-megapixel ultra-wide lens. Additionally, the device has a 12-megapixel selfie camera. -The iPhone 11 is equipped with a 3110mAh battery. For more technology news, product reviews, sci-tech features and updates, keep reading Digit.in or head to our Google News page. VMware assists First Commercial Bank in pioneering cloud transformation of financial core systems Mobile banking and other applications for online financial services have become increasingly popular due to the epidemic, hybrid workplaces, and gradual changes in digital consumption habits over recent years. Government-owned banks have faced many new business challenges, such as worker relief loans and the Quintuple Stimulus Vouchers, that can't be supported by traditional IT infrastructures. In addition, emerging financial services require constant updating. As a result, the Financial Supervisory Commission has relaxed regulations on financial cloud services, and with an increased demand for open banking and financial technology, the highly regulated financial industry has undergone a core transformation. Due to high data sensitivity and information security regulations, the financial industry has always been closely regulated. First Commercial Bank teamed up with VMware, a long-term partner, to build a next-generation bank using the VMware Cloud Foundation platform and VMware Tanzu portfolio to create a cloud-native environment from the core system to achieve multiple microservices. By leveraging the cloud, businesses and services can quickly meet the changing needs of users and markets, streamline data migration to the public cloud, and drive the development of intelligent applications. This transformation enables banks to embrace software-defined, data-driven, and AI-driven decision-making processes, implement modern IT architecture and systems, and optimize ROI. It is an effective model for traditional banks seeking to digitally transform and stay competitive in the market. VMware's solutions help in modernizing traditional banking architecture to boost agility in financial services. VMware Tanzu is able to build the hybrid cloud service architecture that allows businesses to easily integrate and manage technology resources across a range of cross-cloud environments, creating flexible and scalable cloud foundations for rapid emerging application development. With this solution, businesses can develop flexible resources and microservice applications, enabling them to expand. As for VMware Cloud Foundation, it is the cloud management platform offers flexible deployment, scalability, efficiency, fast cloud connectivity and native security. It connects the five major public clouds, enabling smooth data migration between public and private clouds to provide a solid foundation for future digital service innovation and advancement. By modernizing its IT end-to-end, First Commercial Bank has not only achieved the top ranking in the worker relief programs among government-owned banks but has implemented a cloud-based take-a-number system for its branches. This system, linked with a container-based local take-a-number system, allows customers to make appointments online and visit the bank at their designated time for more efficient and convenient service. This has overall improved financial services for customers, moving closer to the intended goal. "VMware has a long history of helping financial institutions implement digital transformations while complying with regulations. The easing of regulations and technological advances has allowed more industry players to embrace the cloud and optimize their business process efficiency. In this partnership, VMware helps First Commercial Bank connect data to the five major public clouds without being tied to any of them. This solution complies with Financial Supervisory Commission's security management regulations and enables financial services to operate within a cloud-native environment with high flexibility and scalability," said Barry Chen, Vice President and General Manager of Greater China. To reach financial success in the cloud, technology talent has always been a crucial asset when it comes to emerging technology, and First Commercial Bank recognizes this. With their multi-track transformation projects in networking, container technology, microservices, program development, and self-management, the demand for skilled talent is even greater. In light of the challenge of finding top talent in the market, First Commercial Bank continues to invest heavily in its talent cultivation program. Their approach emphasizes "learning by doing," providing front-line resources and experience through project practice and teamwork in order to attract innovative talents and advanced technologies. By embracing the cloud and standing firmly on the wave of financial transformation, First Commercial Bank aims to lead the way in digital innovation. Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Johnson & Johnson proposes to pay nearly $9 bn to settle lawsuits in US Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson has proposed to pay $8.9 billion to settle thousands of lawsuits across North America that claim damages for cancer caused by using its baby powder and other talc-based products. The New Jersey-based company said the proposed settlement, which still needs the approval of a bankruptcy court, "will equitably and efficiently resolve all claims arising from cosmetic talc litigation." If approved by the court and a majority of the plaintiffs, the $8.9 billion payout would be one of the largest product liability settlements ever in the United States, ranking alongside those entered into by tobacco companies and, more recently, opioid manufacturers. The company had previously proposed a $2 billion settlement of to resolve the legal battles. The lawsuits had alleged that users of J&Js talcum powder meant for feminine hygiene have developed ovarian cancer, or mesothelioma, cancer that strikes the lungs and other organs. In 2020, the company halted sales of talc-based baby powder in the US due to "misinformation" that had affected demand for the product. Last year, it announced plans to end sales globally. The company has been trying to resolve the lawsuits in bankruptcy court since 2021, after creating a subsidiary responsible for the claims. Erik Haas, worldwide vice president of litigation for Johnson & Johnson, said, that the company still believes the claims are "specious" and that they "lack scientific merit." However, the company is willing to settle to conclude legal battles because it could take decades in court and be expensive, he added. The company said the newly proposed settlement is not "an admission of wrongdoing, nor an indication that the company has changed its longstanding position that its talcum powder products are safe." "Nonetheless, resolving this matter as quickly and efficiently as possible is in the best interests of the company and all stakeholders," J&J said. According to Haas, the settlement "allows claimants to be compensated in a timely manner, and enables the company to remain focused on our commitment to profoundly and positively impact health for humanity." "Resolving this matter through the proposed reorganisation plan is both more equitable and more efficient, allows claimants to be compensated in a timely manner, and enables the company to remain focused on our commitment to profoundly and positively impact health for humanity," Haas said. The company has won a majority of the talc lawsuits against it, but some significant losses, including one in which 22 women were awarded a judgment of over $2 billion. The baby powder by J&J has been in the market for almost 130 years, claiming to prevent nappy rash. The version of the product that is currently in stores contains cornstarch. NBCC secures construction order worth Rs448 crore State-run construction and engineering company, NBCC India, on Monday, said it has bagged an order worth Rs488.02 crore from the ministry of home affairs. NBCC will be responsible for the construction of the border and road between BP No 2,350 to BP No 2,364 (length 88.58 km) in Mizoram, along Indo Bangladesh Border (IBB), the company said in a statement. The company revealed that the nature of the contract is Project Management Consultancy (PMC) on a deposit work basis. Reports citing NBCC India sources said the companys Amrapali project is progressing well, adding that the company expects business worth Rs7,000-8,000 crore from these projects. Last month, NBCC India arm HSCC (India) got a work order worth Rs81 crore from AIIMS, New Delhi. During the same period, NBCC sold 1.05 lakh square feet of built-up area of the World Trade Centre, Nauroji Nagar, New Delhi for Rs415.10 crore. Also in March, NBCC Indias arm issued a Letter of Award (LoA) to Nyati Engineers and Consultants for a project worth Rs625 crore. The company reported its Q3 earnings in February. Its profit plummeted over 16 per cent to Rs69.1 crore against Rs82.6 crore in the same quarter last year. However, profit margin improved to 4.5 per cent against 3.6 per cent in the comparable quarter last year. Singapore's Temasek buys majority stake in Manipal Hospitals Temasek Holdings, the investment arm of the Singapore government, has acquired a majority stake in Bengaluru-based Manipal Health Enterprises for over $2 billion (Rs16,375 crore), in one of the largest deals in the Indian healthcare sector in recent times. Temasek acquired an additional 41 per cent stake in Manipal Health through Sheares Healthcare India, taking its stake in Indias second-largest hospital chain to 59 per cent. The acquisition was made from promoter Ranjan Pai and other investors such as TPG Capital Management and National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF), an investment platform anchored by the Indian government, industry officials familiar with the matter told the media. The transaction values Manipal Health at around Rs40,000 crore. Following the transaction, the stakes held by promoter Ranjan Pai and his family will fall from 52 per cent to 30 per cent. TPG Capital has sold an 11 per cent stake from its total 22 per cent stake in the hospital chain. NIIF has exited by selling its 8 per cent stake. Manipal Health runs India's second-biggest hospital chain after the Apollo Group. Manipal has 29 hospitals in 16 cities of the country. Founded by T M A Pai in 1953, Manipal Hospitals is the second largest healthcare provider in India, with a network of 28 hospitals. Manipal Health Enterprises, commonly known as Manipal Hospitals, traces its their origins to the Kasturba Medical College and is part of the Manipal Education and Medical Group. Manipal Health had acquired Columbia Asia Hospitals for over Rs2,000 crore in 2020, before acquiring Vikram Hospitals in the following year. A deal to acquire Kolkata-based Advanced Medical Research Institute (AMRI) is also reportedly in the works. Ranjan Pai had massively expanded Manipal Health, which was started by his grandfather TMA Pai, who, besides the Kasturba Medical College set up in 1953, established a string of educational institutions in Manipal, in Udupi district of Karnataka. The Manipal group has also started a campus in Bengaluru in 2022, besides campuses in Jaipur and Sikkim. Apart from Manipal Hospitals, Sheares India also holds a majority stake in Medica Synergie, a Kolkata-based hospital chain. Temasek also owns about 16 per cent of Global Health, the operator of Medanta Hospital, which is listed on the domestic exchange. US President Joe Biden is in Ireland for a four-day visit. The Presidents itinerary has already been outlined, with Biden touring a number of locations including a visit to Co Louth, where his great-grandfather James Finegan was born. And, though it has yet to be seen, The Beast presidential car could be used to shuttle Biden around. Here, were taking a look at what this incredible car has to offer. When was The Beast name introduced? The Beast name first appeared back in 2001 with the arrival of President George W. Bush. That car was an entirely ground-up built model, incorporating many of the functions that are fitted to the modern version. Its a name that would stick, too, and has continued through to the present-day vehicle. What is the current model based on? The current model is made by General Motors (GM) in the United States and debuted in 2018. Though many of the details about The Beasts underpinnings are scarce, its believed to be based on one of GMs larger trucks, albeit equipped with more car-like features similar to those found on the Cadillac Escalade. Its thought that The Beast could weigh up to nine tonnes and can seat up to seven people. Does it have any cool features? The Beast is jam-packed with features. It has been designed to deliver the best possible protection for the President. As a result, it has 13cm-thick laminated glass for the windows, run-flat tyres with a solid core to ensure that they can still roll when punctured and 20cm thick military-grade armour for the panels. Plus, the fuel tank is bullet and blastproof, while emergency equipment includes firefighting gear, oxygen tanks and containers of the Presidents blood type. Where has it appeared recently? The Beast is often used for some of the Presidents key visits and was used back in September 2022, by Biden for the state funeral of the Queen. The Beast was also used during Bidens first visit to the UK in June 2022 after being named as president. Have previous presidents been driven in The Beast? Yes. Over time, The Beast has evolved and changed to include more high-tech features, but all presidents since George W. Bush have used a version of it. President Obama was driven in The Beast on numerous occasions, while President Trump was also a frequent passenger in it. In fact, Trump made a notable appearance in The Beast when it was used for a spin around the famous Daytona 500 racing circuit. The continuing pressures of hospital overcrowding and staff shortages is causing avoidable deaths in Irish hospitals, according to the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) president Dr John Cannon. Speaking on Morning Ireland, he said: "I think everyone realises that it's inappropriate to be taking care of acutely ill patients in hallways and on trolleys and in inappropriate settings. "Every medical body in the world will say that, when you run your hospital at over-capacity, and we don't have spaces to care for patients, you will inevitably have poor outcomes and unfortunately in extreme circumstances some of those poor outcomes include fatalities... I don't think that's a surprising or shocking thing to say," Dr Cannon said. He said acute hospitals have been running in this fashion for a number of years now and a "generational level of investment" is now needed. While Ireland has some of the best emergency departments in the world, Dr Cannon said: "I think they do an exceptional job in very difficult circumstances. The issue and the blame doesn't lie at the foot of emergency departments. It's the ability for those patients, once they are triaged and treated, to be moved into an appropriate care setting and on to appropriate wards. That's where the issue comes". He said it is hard to quantify, but it would be naive to say there weren't unavoidable fatalities in the system already, from the level of overcrowding in our hospitals. He noted that the OECD has been tracking hospital bed capacity in Europe and the average capacity in Europe is 4.7 beds per 1,000 people. Ireland has just 2.9 beds per 1,000. Ireland's occupancy rate of those beds is around 90% while the EU average is around 75%. The safe occupancy rate is about 85%, Dr Cannon said. He said there are difficulties for GP services, with waiting times of between two to three weeks for an appointment. "We are investing, but it's not enough to keep up with the growth of the population or the growth of demand for health service. So, the first thing we need is we need a generational level of investment. "We need to fast-track new beds being brought online and I would say that we need somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 new beds," Dr Cannon said. He said they need an investment in appropriate nursing and medical staff, and "modular capacity at sites which are struggling for physical space". These are "fast, permanent, modular builds", Dr Cannon said. Members of the IMO will meet in Killarney for the annual general meeting today (Thursday), with Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly due to address the conference on Saturday. Strategic autonomy brings respect, friends: Chinese foreign ministry (People's Daily App) 15:31, April 13, 2023 Independence and autonomy bring respect and more friends, while coercion and pressure results in more resistance and opposition, China said on Wednesday. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Wang Wenbin made the remarks at a routine press briefing in Beijing in response to comments by French President Emmanuel Macron. "Macron's successful visit to China and the important common understandings reached between the two countries injected a new impetus into China-France and China-EU cooperation," Wang said. "I'm not surprised that President Macron's view that Europe should develop more strategic autonomy and avoid getting entangled in bloc confrontation has attracted some criticism, especially from the US. A "certain country" is reluctant to see other countries being independent, and often seeks to coerce others into doing its bidding, he said. "But the truth is, strategic autonomy will bring more respect and friends, while coercion and pressure will only cause more resistance and opposition," Wang said. (Compiled by Sun Hang) (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) Spain provides 100 million in guarantees for food security and the municipal sector in Ukraine Strong cooperation between the EBRD and Spain to support Ukraine and beyond The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the government of Spain are cooperating to shore up Ukraines food security and its municipal sector. Spain, a founding member of the EBRD and a strategic partner, signed an agreement to provide guarantees worth up to 100 million to support the Banks operations in Ukraines municipal sector, as well as for food security in Ukraine and other EBRD investee economies affected by the war on Ukraine. Boosting agricultural production and securing the agricultural value chain in Ukraine are critical to ensuring food security. The EBRDs investments are also helping to avert a global food crisis by addressing risks to the supply of vital foods, particularly to economies that are highly dependent on food imports (such as those in the Banks southern and eastern Mediterranean region). In addition, many cities and municipal facilities are being severely affected by the war. The EBRD is focused on providing emergency liquidity to hard-pressed municipalities to ensure their continued operation and the uninterrupted provision of essential services, such as district heating, water and wastewater, solid waste and public transport. This liquidity support helps safeguard livelihoods and essential public services for citizens, including internally displaced people. EBRD President Odile Renaud-Basso said: We are truly delighted and thankful for this very important contribution from Spain, one of our strongest partners over the years. These guarantees will allow the Bank to tackle the crucial issue of food security in Ukraine and beyond and continue its support for Ukrainian municipalities, now and when the reconstruction of the country starts. First vice-president and EBRD Governor Nadia Calvino, underlined: This agreement shows Spain's strong commitment to supporting Ukraine and will improve the lives of Ukrainian citizens by funding investments to ensure food security and the needs of municipalities most affected by the war. Spain joins a number of donors that have responded through the EBRD to the financial and technical support needs brought about by the war on Ukraine. Some 1.4 billion has been generously made available to date for operations aimed at keeping the Ukrainian economy going and ensuring energy security, adequate transportation and support for small businesses, among other things. HEARTBREAKING pictures drawn by Ukrainian children in bomb shelters have managed to find their way to Cork for an exhibition the city has never seen before. Natalia Korkh who escaped from Kyiv following Russias invasion more than a year ago is one of the organisers behind an exhibition in St Peters on North Main Street highlighting the talent and resilience of Ukraines children of war. The initiative was devised by the organisation Shtab Pivndya with the help of Ukrainian ambassador Larysa Gerasko who assisted in sourcing artwork. Some of the pictures being displayed at the event-which runs from April 13 to April 18 include images of tanks, sunflowers, helicopters, among other symbols associated with war. Some include poignant messages from the little artists. Some of the drawings at the setting up of the exhibition, 'Children's drawings from Ukraine', at St. Peter's, North Main. St., Cork, from April 14-18th. Picture Denis Minihane. One ten-year-old girl named Ilya described in writing how her life in Vorzel had been impacted by war saying: I hope to live to see the birthday. My family is in Vorzel and I am of course with them. I really want it to end soon and I believe that we will definitely win, thank you for your help! Glory to Ukraine! Another child chose a sunflower as a tribute to the woman who famously handed sunflower seeds to a Russian soldier. She had made the gesture to the heavily armed man demanding that he put them in his pockets so that sunflowers could grow when he died on Ukrainian soil. Natalia said it showed how even young children have a deep understanding of the atrocities. They realise the deeper meaning, she said. Natalia Korkh of the Ukrainian volunteer group, Shtab Pivdnya, at the setting up of the exhibition, 'Children's drawings from Ukraine', at St. Peter's, North Main. St., Cork, from April 14-18th. She became emotional when speaking about the lives of Ukrainian kids nowadays in contrast to her own childhood. My mum still has some pictures from my childhood which was a very happy time. Its nice to look at them but Im not sure how these children will feel looking at their pictures in the future. Some might not be able to look at them. She reiterated how proud they are of the children back home for struggling over such adversity. We are so proud of the children and their families, she said. Parents are still trying to make the most of it and give them the best childhoods they can despite the circumstances. When you look at these pictures and remind yourself that they were drawn in bomb shelters it brings tears and goosebumps. I visited Kyiv last September and its not the same in a sense. This is not the childhood kids dreamed about especially when you consider those in occupied territories. Olha Huchenko of the Ukrainian volunteer group, Shtab Pivdnya, and her daughter Kira at the setting up of the exhibition, 'Children's drawings from Ukraine', at St. Peter's, North Main St., Cork, from April 14-18th. Picture Denis Minihane. She described the therapeutic nature of art for children affected by war. They can splash feelings on to a page. For many its an escape. The Ukraine native opened up about seeing the pictures for the first time saying: There are mixed feelings. There is sadness because you can see how kids have adapted to the situation but they are also scared. She thanked the people of Cork for their support. I thought that when I came in March of last year that it would only be for a few months. I thought it would be two months or a half a year at the most before I came home to an independent Ukraine. Even though my prediction was wrong I am grateful for the warmth and support from my host family who looked after me for the first eight months. CORK City Council announced a tranche of four capital assistance schemes providing for 31 housing units spread across the city at this weeks meeting of the local authority. A loan facility not in excess of 2,105,279 is to be granted to Peter McVerry Trust CLG, subject to the terms of the Capital Assistance Scheme for the provision of seven one-bed units at 18 North Main Street, Cork. A similar loan facility of 468,420 is going to the Cope Foundation CLG, for the provision of one three-bed unit of accommodation at 27 Oakmount, Tower, Blarney, Cork. Loans of 5,744,250 will be granted to Tuath Housing Association Limited, for 15 units at Tivoli, Silversprings, Cork. Loans not exceeding 2,011,366.41 will be granted to Cork Simon CLG, for the provision and refurbishment of eight accommodation units at St Joachim and Annes, Anglesea Street, Cork. Green Party Cllr Dan Boyle welcomed the news, recalling that the Peter McVerry Trust has already successfully developed the old Trustee Savings Bank on the other side of the road in North Main Street. One bedroomed units for single people are very much needed in terms of offering social housing for people on our housing waiting list, said Mr Boyle. The work of the Peter McVerry Trust needs to be recognised, when sometimes it is not as lauded as it should be. Fine Gael Cllr Des Cahill asked if the loans, which are approved by the City Council, are Government money being funnelled through us, to these outside agencies to deliver social housing? Is it coming out of our fund, or merely facilitating Government funding for these projects? Director of Housing, Niall O Donnabhain, clarified that it is a government scheme where the money is funnelled through Cork City Council to provide for the units. Green Party Cllr Oliver Moran said that the income limit for social housing has increased to 42,000 after tax for a single person. Rents are based on income and tenure is secure, he said. Sinn Fein Cllr Mick Nugent said: We had discussed about bringing in more one beds. Peter McVerry Trust are advertising to do more in Cork city, so thats certainly welcome. Mr Nugent said he had suggested the Council compulsorily purchase certain premises in North Main Street. The likes of those buildings could be used eventually in terms of housing people, social housing, and also to rejuvenate those areas. Fianna Fail Cllr John Sheehan asked for a clarification on the figures, which he said work out at about 300,000 per one-bedded unit. Are there other facilities as part of the development? Mr O Donnabhain said the development is for housing provision only, so thats the cost per unit. Cork County Councils Library and Arts Service at Youghal Library has received 330 books in Ukrainian, donated by people in Kyiv, and in Bratislava in Slovakia. The mix of adult and childrens books includes many popular favourites. Mayor of the County of Cork Danny Collins expressed his gratitude for the donation, describing it as a wonderful initiative. I thank all those involved in the project. The gift of these books will be a source of enjoyment and learning for many people in our community, and Im delighted that our library and arts service can offer this cultural exchange, he said. The project was a joint initiative between Cork County Council Library and Dell Operations in Slovakia. A call was put out for books to be delivered to two drop-in centres in Bratislava and Kyiv, and the local people responded generously. The books were collected and transported by Dell through Poland and finally arrived at Cork County Library Headquarters earlier this year. Youghal Library staff hosted a coffee morning on Thursday, March 23 to mark the delivery, and cakes, teas and coffees were served, including a Kyiv cake made by local baker, Laura Coady. The event was attended by representatives of the local Ukrainian community. Chief executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, said the donation shows how communities can share their culture and traditions. This donation is a great example of how communities can work together, even across borders, to share their cultures and experiences. Its fantastic to see Youghal Library play a part in this exchange and I look forward to seeing more initiatives like this in the future, he said. Cork County Council Library and Arts Service is committed to serving the Ukrainian people in the community and the collection is now available to borrow at Youghal Library. For more information, contact Youghal Library on 024 93459 or email youghallibrary@corkcoco.ie. A Sinn Fein motion calling for the eviction ban to be re-instated at Cork City Council, was narrowly defeated after a war of words erupted between councillors. There were heated exchanges between pro-government and opposition members during a lengthy debate on a motion forwarded byMick Nugent, Kenneth Collins, Fiona Kerins, and Eolan Ryng. Sinn Fein members called on Cork City Council to reaffirm its stance on the need for an extension of the eviction moratorium and (to) write to the Minister for Housing requesting he progress legislation to reinstate the ban immediately, to be in place until January 31, 2024. During cross exchanges, Fianna Fail councillor Sean Martin was criticised for reading from an article called, Are you hoping for class warfare, where the squeezed middle is expected to give away its right to hold property? Statistics show that 80% of landlords attain less than 20,000 per year, and that in the last five years, 43,000 landlords left the market. Smaller landlords should not be chased out of the market, Independent councillor Kieran McCarthy said. Workers Party councillor Ted Tynan said the lifting of the evictions ban was an inhumane act. People he met were absolutely distressed about the future. One mothers child he knew, will spend their first day at school homeless. The bubble he lived in is completely different from that occupied by Fianna Fail and Fine Gael, he said. Mr Tynan said the State has an obligation to protect citizens from business-related abuse. There are 20,000 families in Cork City alone, who dont qualify for the public housing waiting list, and who dont earn enough to buy their own homes. So, whats the future for those 20,000 families? Its frightening. There was plenty of criticism levelled at government ministers. That housing crisis has come from the fact that rent has increased in price for over a decade, said An Rabhharta Glas councillor Lorna Bogue. Cork City Council needs to have adequate resources to address the crisis, she said. The figure of 475 is the quarterly number of eviction notices for Cork City in the last quarter of last year, but only 135 are actually valid. Twice that number are coming down the tracks, she said. It was Leo Varadkar, Micheal Martin, and Eamon Ryan, who voted to lift the ban, against, I would suspect, the better wishes of the vast majority of members of their parties, said Ms Bogue. The Green Partys councillor Colette Finn said, since the 1970s, the price for land has skyrocketed. We need a constitutional referendum on housing because people have to have shelter, she said. Fianna Fail councillor Terry Shannon said his party believes in home ownership. When the ban was brought in, no party was against it, he said. Sinn Fein wanted to lift the ban on Christmas week. Others said, lets extend it for a bit longer. Sinn Fein had voted with the DUP in Belfast to vote down a proposal to reduce private rents by 10%, he said. Half your members had to leave the chamber, because they were either landlords or had interests in AirBnbs, he said. Mr Shannon described Sinn Fein as partitionist in their housing policies. No one will purchase their council house under a Sinn Fein government and remember that. Some 66,000 houses have been built in the State since the Government was returned to power, while none have been built in the six counties, where there is massive unemployment, added Mr Shannon. Fine Gael councillor Shane OCallaghan said it is a massive restriction on the right to property and his concern is that an extension of another year would be the thin end of a wedge. Another long ban would lead to a mass exodus of small landlords from the market as soon as they are able to do so. Their place would be taken by hedge funds and multi-billionaires. Thats back to the feudal system, he said. Thats a nightmare scenario. Director of housing Niall O Donnabhain, said there is a human story behind every notice of termination. We are addressing them at the human level. CORK will come alive with colour this weekend to celebrate Vishu, the Hindu holiday that marks the beginning of the Kerala New Year. Eire Og GAA club in Ovens is hosting a multicultural fundraising event this weekend to celebrate Vishu, Easter and to raise funds for Cork Penny Dinners. Taking place on Friday, April 14 at 7pm in the GAA clubs grounds, the event invites people from all cultures to join hands and raise funds for the Cork charity. The event will feature a host of performances and food showcasing the Indian culture with performers from Indian, Irish, Chinese and Latin American backgrounds all joining in the festivities. Speaking ahead of the event, Dr Lekha Menon Margassery, head of the UCCs Indian alumni community and president of the World Malayalee Councils Cork Division, stressed the importance of celebrating other cultures as Cork continues to grow as a multicultural hub. Cork has become very multicultural, so learning about different cultures is very important, she said. It is very nice to integrate other communities into our culture and to learn more about their culture also. The event will also be visited by special guests, including the Lord Mayor of Cork city, Cllr Deirdre Forde (FG), programme coordinator of the Cork Migrant Centre, Dr Naomi Masheti, and president of Cork JCI, Anuj Agarwal. Humanitarian awards will also be presented at the event to two members of the community, Akhil Thambi and Bobymon Joy, who saved the life of an Irish person recently. Tickets for the event are available on the World Malayalee Council Cork website, costing 20 for adults and 18 for children. Gardai in Cork are investigating an incident involving the treatment of a dog in Cork city, after the incident was recorded by a member of the public last week. A video clip posted by the animal welfare group, My Lovely Horse, shows a dog attached to a leash alongside a car in a car wash. The clip shows a man turning a hose on the animal, who tries to move away from the jet of water. My Lovely Horse posted the 17-second video clip on their social media page on Wednesday and it has attracted hundreds of comments from members of the public. This poor dog howled and cried in pure distress as he was washed in a drive through car wash, My Lovely Horse said on the post. The welfare group also raised concerns about the potential harm to the dog from chemicals used in cleaning. Investigation The incident was reported to gardai in Cork city. A spokesperson for An Garda Siochana said they are aware of reports of an incident involving a dog which occurred in the Bishopstown area of Cork on April 7. An Garda Siochana is making enquiries in relation to this incident and is asking anyone who witnessed this incident to please contact local Gardai, the spokesperson said. My Lovely Horse spokesperson Kelly Mellerick said they are hoping for a prosecution. This dog would certainly need to see a vet as soon as possible, said Ms Mellerick. You can imagine the power of a pressure hose on a soft delicate little body. "The damage it could have done, and the pain the dog could be in. My Lovely Horse receives multiple reports of animal cruelty every day to their web page. The incidents are recorded anywhere in Ireland and their location is often difficult to establish, she said. If you can safely, and I absolutely emphasise safely, take a video of whats going on," Ms Mellerick said. "It just helps us on the ground and then we can also liaise better with the authorities, the Gardai, the Department of Agriculture, and the ISPCA, who are the authorised officers under the law to deal with it." Ms Mellerick also paid tribute to Cork Gardai and the ISPCA Inspector in Cork, Caroline Faherty, for their assistance. Cork County Council is to ask the Planning and Development Strategic Policy Committee to outline a clear planning policy with regard to the construction of log cabins and similar structures. Fianna Fail councillor William OLeary tabled a motion on Monday calling for the local authority to seek advice from the committee on the matter, which he said is becoming a more frequent issue for people in the Cork region. The motion received unanimous support. Mr OLeary explained there has been an increase in applications for the construction of log cabins and modular homes. Most councillors have been faced with difficulties from constituents who have gone through the ordinary planning process with regards to having these structures built on their land, he said. Since 2020, I have had seven different issues around this from people who would have applied for planning and had been refused outright, or withdrawn their application as a compromise could not be found with the planning authority. When refusal reasons were set out, it was not in keeping with our own rural design guide, Mr OLeary said, adding: I am hopeful a way forward can be found. Fine Gael councillor John Paul OShea said the issue needs to be fast-tracked through the committee. Until we get a policy in place, there will be a lot of differentiation between planners in relation to the whole position on this, he explained. Maybe if we could fast-track it through the SPC and get clarity on it, that would be most welcome. Chief executive of Cork County Council, Tim Lucey, added: It is necessary for us to have a serious discussion around it at planning policy and look at it in the context of our rural housing design guide as to whether that needs to be updated. GARDAI in Cork are appealing for witnesses following a fatal road traffic collision involving a van and a pedestrian that occurred on Main Street, Union Hall, at approximately 8:30am this morning. The male pedestrian (70s) was taken to Cork University Hospital to be treated for his injuries, where he later passed away. The road was closed for a period to allow for a technical examination to be conducted by Forensic Collision Investigators. It has since reopened. Gardai are appealing for any witnesses to this collision to come forward. Any road users who may have camera footage (including dash-cam) and were travelling in this area between at the time of the collision, are asked to make this footage available to Gardai. Anyone with any information is asked to contact Clonakilty Garda Station on 023 882 1570, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. An inquest into the death of a woman following a stillbirth in Cork will not go ahead next week after a request from her family to seek a judicial review was granted by the High Court. Geraldine Yankeu, 31, died at Cork University Maternity Hospital in August 2021, following the birth of her stillborn daughter, Mary. Both were taken to Ms Yankeus native Cameroon for burial. In August 2022, the Irish Examiner quoted the Cork City Coroner Philip Comyns office as saying the deaths of both Geraldine Yankeu and her daughter Mary were treated as natural and no inquest was required. However, the 2019 Coroners Act made inquests mandatory for maternal deaths, and an inquest into the death of Ms Yankeu was scheduled to take place on Tuesday, April 18. Derek Shortall SC told the High Court the Irish Examiner had taken up the matter and pointed out to the coroner that an inquest was mandatory where a death arises in maternity. The city coroner then determined to hold an inquest, he said. Mr Shortall said the coroner refused to give reasons why he initially ruled that no inquest was required, and he should now be recused from subsequent proceedings in relation to the inquest. The coroner has been asked for very good reasons to recuse himself. Hes also been asked for multiple reasons to give an adjournment to the family and has refused all those requests, and has refused to bring in an independent expert. In all of these refusals, he is not giving any reasons. He has already stated in writing that he believes the death was by natural causes, he told the court. It did appear that an adjournment was going to be given and then he just changed his mind apparently and said it is going ahead on April 18. There are multiple letters written between February and April, all making reasonable requests and explaining why there should be an adjournment, and also requesting that he consider recusing himself, he added. Mr Shortall pointed to 2021 case law where the court points out that one of the bases for recusal is if the decision-maker has made a predetermination of the matter. In this case, the respondent has already said in writing that he believed that the death was by natural causes... There are multiple breaches in my respectful submission of fair procedures outside of the recusal issue that would warrant a stay, he said. Ms Yankeus family requested a stay on the inquest and leave for judicial review. Justice Brian Cregan said he was satisfied it was appropriate to make an injunction on the April 18 inquest and any further date unless ordered by the High Court. Leave was granted to the applicant to issue judicial review proceedings. The case was adjourned to June 19 for mention on the High Courts judicial review list. CORKS famous English Market could be in for a major refit in the coming months, as the roof requires maintenance works. A city councillor has asked the council to seek central central government funds in order to carry out the works at the architecturally significant building which is valued as a heritage site and tourist attraction by the local authority. Labour Party councillor John Maher has requested Cork City Council to ask the Minister with responsibility for the Office of Public Works (OPW), for once-off funding to address the roof issue in the English Market. The English Market, which exits on to the Grand Parade and Princes St, was built in 1788 and is one of the oldest covered markets in Europe. Mr Maher is liaising with the traders, who have told him the roof needs considerable work. He has raised the issue with Cork City Council, who referred it to a finance committee for discussion in about two weeks time. Mr Maher has also put in a parliamentary question to the minister for funding. They are now awaiting on the ministers response for funding in a once-off payment, similar to that once provided to a project in Temple Bar in Dublin. The English Market is a vital tourist spot, and a favourite haunt for Cork people to shop and relax, added Mr Maher. The market is so important to the city. From talking to the traders, who know best, they are saying that the roof does need to be fixed, he said. JOE Biden has declared he is home as he made a historic address to a packed Dail where he spoke of the strength of the Irish-US relationship and promised a future of unlimited shared possibilities. The US president was welcomed with sustained, rapturous applause as he entered the chamber in Dublins Leinster House to deliver a speech on Thursday. Asking to be forgiven for his attempt at speaking the Irish language, he said Ta me sa bhaile. Mr Biden is the fourth US president to address the Dail after John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995. In his address Mr Biden praised the enduring strength of the Irish-US relationship as he promised a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. Big names in Irish politics and society congregated for the speech, as well as some members of the US Congress, a senator and Mr Bidens sister Valerie and son Hunter. US President Joe Biden as he arrives at Leinster House ahead of a joint addresses to the Houses of the Oireachtas with Sean O Fearghail, Ceann Comhairle of Dail Eireann and Senator Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann. Former Irish president Mary McAleese and ex-taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny were among those present, as was former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams. PEACE Mr Biden spoke of the precious peace that must be nurtured in Northern Ireland as he suggested the UK should be working more closely with the Republic of Ireland to support the region. Reflecting on discussions with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, he spoke of how Ireland and the United States can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland. Mr Biden said: I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour. Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island. Representing Northern Ireland politicians were SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance chief Naomi Long and Sinn Feins Northern Ireland leader Michelle ONeill. Despite being invited, no unionist politicians attended. The passionate address began with Mr Biden looking upwards and saying: Well mom, you said it would happen. The speech contained numerous references to his familys history and how his story is like that of so many other Irish Americans who left the island in search of a new life. He told the crowd: These stories are the very heart of what binds Ireland and America together. They speak to a history defined by our dreams, they speak to a present written by our shared responsibilities, and they speak to a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. Visit to Ireland by US President Joe Biden. Today Id like to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between Ireland and the United States, a partnership for the ages. TDs and senators rose to their feet for a standing ovation as Mr Biden finished his speech. Other special guests included Marie Heaney, widow of one of Mr Bidens favourite poets Seamus Heaney. The poet, who would have turned 84 on Thursday, was likely to be looking down on us with his glasses nestled between his fingers and a hint of a smile on his face, Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail said as he addressed those gathered before Mr Biden spoke. Mr Biden then used the often-quoted hope and history rhyme line from Heaneys The Cure At Troy. The youngest person in attendance for the speech was baby Margot, daughter of Labour senator Rebecca Moynihan. Mr Biden jokingly apologised to the infant for putting her through a policy speech, saying it is as bad as what my children have been put through. A TEENAGER who is in custody on a charge of assault causing harm to a 29-year-old Carrigaline man who later died in hospital expressed concern about his position. Eighteen-year-old Jordan Deasy of 41 Ravensdale, Herons Wood, Carrigaline, County Cork, indicated his concerns through his solicitor, Eddie Burke, at Cork District Court. Sergeant Gearoid Davis said directions were not available yet from the Director of Public Prosecutions. A full post-mortem certificate is awaited. That has not been received yet, Sgt. Davis said, as he applied to have Jordan Deasy remanded in continuing custody until April 27. Mr Burke said: This goes back to Christmas. Mr Deasy is concerned about the position. It is going on an awful long time. Judge Olann Kelleher said he would need an explanation from the prosecution on April 27. Jordan Deasy is charged with assault causing harm to Matt ONeill at Glenwood, Carrigaline, County Cork, on December 28, contrary to the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Mr ONeill died in CUH on January 8. Det Garda Declan Healy of Carrigaline Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution of Jordan Deasy on the day of his arrest and told the court back on January 1 that Mr Deasy made no reply when the charge was put to him. A Cork politician has thanked US President Joe Biden for changing hearts and minds and for reframing the debate around marriage equality as a celebration of love. The Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, Jerry Buttimer, was speaking on Thursday afternoon in the Dail chamber on the day the US president made a historic address to the joint houses of the Oireachtas. Not content with the smile he had received from President Biden for inviting him to Cork the next time hes in Ireland, Senator Buttimer offered the president a heartfelt message of his own. On a personal level, may I thank you for being one of the first leaders to support marriage equality? Mr Buttimer said, to sustained applause. In your infamous Meet The Press interview in 2012 with David Gregory, you framed the debate as a simple proposition: Who do you love, and will you be loyal to that person that you love? With this statement, Mr President, you held aloft your respect for diversity, and others followed, including my very good friend, Enda Kenny here, who, as part of his government, allowed us to have a referendum on marriage equality in our country, he said. Cathaoirleach Senator Jerry Buttimer made the closing remarks at todays Joint Sitting Address by US President Joe Biden. #SeeForYourself #OireachtasBiden @jerrybuttimer pic.twitter.com/vOjs6lvpvb Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) April 13, 2023 Looking humbled in the distinguished visitors gallery, the former taoiseach gave a small wave down to the friend whose wedding he had attended in the Triskel Christchurch in Cork in 2017. Jerry Buttimer, Cathaoirleach of Seanad Eireann, Sean O Fearghail, Ceann Comhairle of Dail Eireann, US President Joe Biden in the Dail Chamber at Leinster House for a joint address to the Houses of the Oireachtas. Mr President, your intervention was a truly transformative moment that changed the political narrative around marriage equality, and like the architects of the Good Friday Agreement, who took a risk, you took a risk, and I thank you. Because of you, and the generosity of the Irish people, I can wear this wedding ring as a symbol of my love for my husband, who is here today, Mr Buttimer said, gesturing up to his husband Conchobar O Laoghaire, as the US president applauded. On 22 May 2015, the Thirty-Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, to permit marriage to be contracted by two persons without distinction as to their sex, passed by 62%. Mr Buttimer, who had been Fine Gael's only openly gay TD before Leo Varadkar came out in advance of the marriage equality referendum, was a prominent member of the Yes campaign. Speaking to The Echo after his speech to Mr Biden, Mr Buttimer said that President Biden had stood up for marriage equality at a time when it was not a popular thing to do, and he had felt that Mr Bidens decency should be acknowledged. As I said in my speech, because of him and the generosity of the Irish people, I can today be married, which is a huge statement about this country, Mr Buttimer said. I wear my heart on my sleeve, Im an emotional guy, and I just like being able to say to people This is who we are, and to me, it was something I had to do today, and I wanted to do it. WAS it Dickie Rock and the Miami or Sonny Knowles and the Pacific had a hit years ago with the song When The Swallows Come Back To Capistrano? No matter who sang the words, it strangely came ringing in my ears on Tuesday night last. I know its strange, but random happenings can twig random thoughts in my brainbox. On a chilly March-like mid-April evening, I was out for a short walk just as the daylight was fast fading. With a plethora of coloured weather warnings in vogue, I felt sorry for the four swallows I saw twittering around the high gable of a dwelling house where at least one nest had been erected in recent years. Of a normal year, the arrival of the swallows would be a certain portent of good weather on the way - not so sure this week though. Theres a story told that swallows were nesting in the eaves of shops and houses in San Juan Capistrano in California. Regarded as a nuisance and with constant droppings falling, they werent exactly the most beloved of callers. Legend has it that a priest invited the little birds to come and stay at a nearby Mission Church, and apparently ever since they return to Capistrano around mid-March annually. The year World War II started, 1939, Kentucky-born songwriter Leon Rene wrote the song about the swallows coming back after he heard it mentioned on the wireless. Nowadays the sight of the returning birds is a kind of tourist attraction in that part of California. They say that swallows keep coming back to the very same nest year after year. Now, the average lifespan of a swallow is just two years - occasionally three - but generations of the same family return to the spot where they and their feathered ancestors first saw the light of day. They are expert nest-builders and superb plasterers as they repeatedly repair and patch up old nests with muck and mud. In fairness, youd never describe the external appearance of a swallow nest as pretty or beautiful. No, they are simply functional, but internally they are exquisite with animal hair and fur combined to form a perfect place for the eggs to hatch out. In years gone by, their arrival was a rock solid indicator that summer was nigh in rural Ireland. Late April or early May was the normal time of the year for the return of hundreds of the long distance travellers. Not sure why they came here - was it a nice temperate climate? Were they fleeing excesses of heat and/or cold - all these questions remain unanswered in my head all these years later. I suppose as a child ours was not to reason why - we just accepted things as being normal. Like cold, frosty weather from November to February. Then spring followed, new growth, fields greening up as the days lengthened. When summer came it really came and those lazy, crazy days were really just that. Am I looking back through 60 years of rose-tinted glasses, the memories of how we remember what the weather was like in the early 1960s? Maybe the memory plays tricks on us, convincing us that the long, hot summers were a reality rather than a hazy, shimmering mirage! It was Nat King Cole sang Those Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer with the line You wish that summer could always be here - in truth, a week like were having at present does make one yearn for a bit of heat. I was surprised to see that quartet of swallows at dusk on Tuesday. Long ago we were told by our elders that the first handful to come were kind of scouts - that they basically came - like the Presidents Security men - to suss out the lie of the land. Maybe they came to check out the temperature and the way things were growing in the Emerald Isle of Ireland. Swallows consume vast quantities of insects. Insects mainly live on plants and flowers. If the growing season isnt well under way when the swallows arrive and the insect life is scarce, food sources would present a major problem. If the lads on Tuesday were checking out the conditions for the main body of swallow tourists to come, how do they get the positive or negative message back across the oceans - giving the green Yes, come on, light or the red Stay where ye are message? Aw lads, truly nature is amazing and I never cease to ponder on it and still I havent the answers - some things are mysteries and destined always to remain so. It was my grandfather that bought the old National School building nearly 120 years ago when the New School was built. He brought it down here and stone by stone, slate by slate he built a cow-stall. With fine rafters, high eaves and plenty nooks and crannies, it was paradise in itself for the wandering swallows and they quickly colonised the building. So, for a century and more they have swooped in and out of the stall each year. The nests are plentiful and being under a slate roof need very little annual maintenance. I know down the years many a person milking a cow whilst sitting on a three-legged stool might let a string of curses heavenwards after a swallow deposited droppings on an unsuspecting head under the rafters! Despite this, we never considered trying to keep the swallows out -arent they as entitled to their place on lifes ladder as we are? Then, when the swallow chicks arrive the parents were in out, in, out darting here, there and yon to keep a constant food supply in front of their hungry brood. They always remind me of penguins or waiters with their creamy white breasts and sleek feathers and intelligent eyes. Lack of biodiversity, of course, is a threat to the swallows future in this country. Lets hope that in years to come we wont be recalling and telling generations yet unborn about swallows - in much the same manner as older people tell me of the corncrake, the partridge and the owls. As ditches and hedges are removed to increase field size trees, bushes, shrubs and wild flowers disappear. President Joe Biden is here these days from the USA. One of his predecessors in the White House, John F. Kennedy used often quote JK Chesterton: Dont ever take a fence down until you know why it was put up - how true that is. It applies not alone to physical features but to all life-changing matters. So-called progress is often the destroyer of tradition - for no good reason, just change for the sake of change. The swallows have been coming here forever so lets hope they continue to come and bring true summer with them - like long ago. They say the swallows in Capistrano leave each year for winterage in Argentina around October 23, the Feast of San Juan. Their comings and goings to Ireland arent tied to any calendar date but we hope, as these wicked, windy days depart over the horizon, the twittering birds will come again. Their feathered forbearers never missed a summer yet. Ah yes, theres a grand stretch in the evenings now. The clash of the ash is to be heard once more across the country. Once the swallows are back well all have a pep in our step again. Anois teacht an fainleog beidh an samhradh againn. READER Mary OLeary saw the picture we published last week, sent in by Martin Humphreys, showing an unidentified and undated public occasion at the bottom of Cathedral Road in Cork city, and thought she could recognise some of the people in it. Martin said he was old enough to remember Bishop Coughlans statue which faced up towards the infant Cathedral Road. One would assume that this was Bishop Daniel Cohalan who served as bishop of Cork from 1916 to 1952, but we would be glad to hear from anyone else who recalls this statue. New houses were being built at the time the picture was taken, and Martin could also identify St Marys Hall on the right, now a GP surgery. I think the Lord Mayor in the photo is Sean Cronin, who held the honour in 1944, says Mary. Over his shoulder, Sean McCarthy, who was Lord Mayor in 1949-50 and again in 1958, can be seen. All the horse-drawn transport would, I suspect, be as a result of petrol rationing during World War II. The TSB Bank was built 1956/7 so the first houses being built in the 1940s seems to make sense. I hope this helps. It does indeed, Mary. Your observation about horse-drawn transport coming back into use during The Emergency is absolutely right. They even returned to use on the Grand and the Royal Canal in the Irish midlands, drawing slow-moving barges once again, where motor-propelled craft had been used for decades before. And here in Cork, the horses were hauled out of peaceful retirement to replace the petrol-driven lorries. One imagines that there might have been some difficulty locating enough horses for, say, CIE and the Innisfallen work, let alone grocery and goods deliveries around the city, but perhaps the animals still being used on farms around the county offered themselves to help? So, we have a probable date for that picture of the 1940s, but still no idea what the occasion was that the dignitaries were celebrating. Any ideas out there? Seeing the pomp and circumstance surrounding the event, though, does bring back memories of a time when we had parades and official openings and church processions every other week - or so it seemed to children growing up in the 1940s and 50s. Can you remember when there was a big Easter Parade in Cork? Katie OBrien does: Our house fronted on to Summerhill but backed on to Wellington Road, and I can remember running out to see the soldiers marching down from Collins Barracks in fine style with their very smart officers in front. They had a band too, and often played The Star Of The County Down as their marching tune. We would sing along with it. Easter ceremonies at the grave of Thomas Kent at Collins Barracks, Cork, in the 1970s. During a State Funeral in 2015, Kents remains were taken from Collins Barracks to Cork Prison In those days, everybody knew the words of the old songs, having heard them sung by the fireside or even by men wandering home from the pub late at night, the wavering words rising up to our bedroom window. From Bantry Bay up to Derry quay And from Galway to Dublin town, No maid Ive seen like the brown colleen That I met in the County Down... Easter was a big event back then, she says, not only the excitement of the parade but also the delight of an Easter egg (singular, note, not the plethora of products piled upon todays youngsters). Eileen Barry remembers that special chocolate treat too, all the more special because it came only once a year. Ours came from OBriens Ice Cream Parlour in MacCurtain Street. They had to be specially ordered to have your name on the top in pink icing and that was the biggest thrill of all - your very own personal Easter egg! You waited as long as you could before actually breaking into the perfect oval, recalls Eileen, First, you would chip off the pink icing that was piped all around the join, and then get a knife to try and take the two halves apart without breaking them. Inside there was a little bag of sweets - jujubes or fudge or, later on, little chocolates. They were very special. Eileen also remembers sometimes getting a new coat at this time. My mother would say that Easter was for new clothes, Christmas for presents. We were a large family and there wasnt all that much money to spare, but she did try to get us something each year to wear in the coming seasons. I remember getting a lovely pink coat with a brown velvet collar one Easter - I must have been about 10 or 11. In those days, she emphasises, clothes were meant to last - and did. There was nothing like this wearing once and dumping that you see today. I wore that coat until I absolutely couldnt fit it on any more (I was the youngest in the family, so it couldnt be passed down.) It even featured in our games. We used to turn it, and other coats, inside out and wear them, calling ourselves the name that was inside the collar. I think mine was Bertola Regd! That reminds this writer of a little girl who called her new doll Pat Pending, because that was stamped on its back. Yes, Easter was about joy and celebration, and although the Roman Catholic Church emphasised that this was because Christ had risen (they had, of course, taken over that tradition from the age-old belief in the Corn King who died in the autumn but came back in the spring to ensure good crops for the year ahead), for children everywhere it was far more about the ending of Lent and the self-imposed giving ups that they had endured - a return to happier, more normal times. But Good Friday then was a terrifying time. Whether at school or at home, the approach to this sombre date was the same. It was taught in many schools that it always rained between noon and 3pm on that day, to mark the Crucifixion, and, given our Irish climate, that was probably the case in most years. Control on behaviour was absolute, and most if not all of the usual daily amusements of children were banned. How many of you can remember not being allowed to play out of doors on Good Friday, or being discouraged even from playing with toys? Jane Wilson remembers that she was not allowed to read any of her favourite books on Good Friday. My father, who was very strict, would issue those he felt were suitable for the day. One year he handed me a bound volume of The Strand Magazine (a Victorian monthly which published short stories and episodes from longer books, including writers like Arthur Conan Doyle and H. Rider Haggard). I soon discovered all the chapters of She and devoured them throughout the day, horrified and enthralled by turns. Even back then I wondered if he would have given me that book if he had known just how wild and adventurous the story was! And for adults, particularly lively young men, Good Friday was a gloomy gap in the calendar. Pubs were absolutely forbidden to open, and shops were shut. There was nothing like knowing you couldnt get a pint for love nor money that put a fierce thirst on you, recalls Finbarr McCarthy. A group of us used to trek out beyond Ballyvolane to a pub we knew where they would hand out pints by the back window. It wasnt that you needed it so much, but that you were forbidden to have it. A bit like the effect of Prohibition in the United States, I suppose. Our own Day of Prohibition. I noticed a post on Facebook the other day which asked if Good Friday should not be a public holiday when places of business were closed. What? Listen, this new Utopian existence, where shops and pubs are open round the clock, around the year, apart from Christmas Day and Easter Sunday, is of relatively recent occurrence. Whoever posted that clearly comes from a newer world where, if you want a burger at 2am or need to order a new laptop from the Aran Islands at midnight, there isnt a problem. Back in the 1950s, when they said everything must be closed, they meant it. There probably was some merit in the bad old days. They certainly made you appreciate returning to normality. Like after the pandemic, really. Remember seeing the queues round the corner at Penneys and other shops? Going even further back, a century or so, Holy Week imposed a full seven-day period of additional fasting. Black tea, dry bread, potatoes with salt (but no butter or buttermilk) and perhaps a little porridge made up the daily fare of this difficult week until the Friday itself, when some families denied themselves anything other than dry bread and water. This, after the entire length of Lent, which of course had its own fasting demands, must have been hard to take, even in an era when food was not as plentiful as it is today. In the mid-19th century, the Roman church relented, and officially relaxed this extra fasting to just two days. Le Batofar in Paris, a trendy nightclub, moored on the Seine, which used to be the Cork lightship, the Osprey Now - remember that stirring story we featured last week, of the Mary Stanford, that courageous little Ballycotton lifeboat that rescued the crew from the Daunt Rock lightship during a terrifying storm? Tim Cagney sent us a nice follow-up snippet to that tale of the sea. To return - briefly - to the waters of Cork Harbour, you might be interested to know that the last-ever lightship to stand guard over the Daunt Rock, the Osprey, was taken out of commission and towed away on August 30, 1974. That brought an end to the era of lightships. These days, the Rock (or, rather, the passing shipping) is protected by a high-tech gadget known as a beacon-buoy. The Osprey first went to the New Ross Harbour Commissioners for use as a floating oil berth, a pilot station, and a harbour store, but in 1988, when it could well be considered to be approaching old age, took on a new and far more exciting life, says Tim. It is now a very trendy nightclub, moored on the Seine in the 13th arrondissement of Paris. Re-named Le Batofar (le bateau-phare, or lighthouse boat) it hosts cutting-edge electro bands and DJ-driven after-hours dance parties. If you happen to be in Paris, but dont fancy the late night wild sessions, dont give up, it does function during the day as a restaurant and cafe. During August, when central Paris is turned into a pseudo-seaside town, Le Batofar is one of the big beach hangouts. Would you get a pint of Murphys there, though? Actually, you probably would. Let us know if you do. Tell us your own recollections of Good Friday and the Easters of yesteryear. Or any other memories of growing up in a city that was quieter, less lavish, and definitely more set in its ways than it is today. Email jokerrigan1@gmail.com or leave a comment on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/echolivecork. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. On Apr. 4, more than 30 advocates took to the Florida State Capitol in Tallahassee for Florida Healthy Beaches Day. They hailed from across the sunshine state and represented various chapters and regions of the Surfrider Foundation, Oceana and Healthy Gulf. Their goal was to lobby for their shared legislative priorities: clean water, healthy beaches, less plastic pollution and more resilient coastlines. Joining them and representing the Surfrider Florida Keys Chapter, I learned a ton about what it takes to get involved in the political process. First off, Surfriders Florida policy manager, Emma Haydocy, hosted an Advocacy 101 training session the night before the Lobby Day to share tips, run through issues and scripts and temper first-time advocates fears. According to Haydocy, lobbying is trying to influence or sway towards a desired action. In this context, it could be trying to get something desired by talking to decision-makers. She also covered Florida legislature basics and the process for how an idea becomes a bill and then a law. Over 30 ocean advocates from Surfrider, Oceana and Healthy Gulf attended Florida Healthy Beaches Day in Tallahassee, FL to advocate for clean water and healthy beaches. Surfrider / Contributed Her tips ranged from practical to educational. Here are some of my favorites: Dont be late. Wear respectful clothing (suits or business casual) and comfortable shoes. Do your homework. Know who your legislators are. Make specific requests (i.e. please co-sponsor X bill, please put this bill on your committee agenda, please ask the Speaker of the House to support this issue, etc.). For specific bills, know who the decision-makers are, who your champions are, and when the vote(s) is happening. Take pictures after your meetings and share them on social media. This helps spread awareness and keep legislators engaged and accountable. If you cant meet with a legislator, meet with their staff. These people inform a lot of policy and bill drafts, and it is important for them to hear what you have to say. Bring information packets with you to leave with the representatives. These should include bill reference numbers, pertinent background information, desired outcomes (support/oppose/fund/etc.) and your contact information. You dont have to have all the answers. Its okay to say I dont know. Can I get back to you? That is preferred over making up answers. Its not your job to change everyones mind. If someone isnt aligned, it might be better to pivot to common ground. For example, if someone doesnt believe in climate change, you can talk about the effect of increased heat or poor water quality on human health. Take the long view. We might not get to the finish line on all the issues we want this year, but we can still find champions that can help us get closer next year. These talks are laying the foundation. Be respectful and foster relationships. Nonprofit organizations hope to become trusted resources for our legislators through meetings like these. Then, when they are drafting legislation, they will hopefully call on these experts for guidance. Send a thank you note and follow up on any points you said you would. Concluding her training, Haydocy said, My hope is that this process will be demystified and that youll feel more comfortable getting involved and staying engaged in the lawmaking process. Thats exactly what happened. If you cant meet with a senator or representative, ask to meet with their staff. These people are vital in the law-making process. Tiffany Duong / Ocean Rebels The next day, we started off with a plastics briefing by Rep. Jim Mooney (R-120), who represents my district in the Florida Keys. He explained a bit about preemption a rule wherein local cities, municipalities and counties cannot legislate for themselves about certain issues. These include plastic pollution, chemical sunscreen use, cruise ship traffic and more. Mooney filed a bill this session to repeal preemptions to single-use plastics but had to withdraw it. We advocates thanked him for the bill and encouraged him to file again next session. He committed and noted that hed like to do so with more support from other districts. Representative Jim Mooney (R-120) of the Florida Keys. Tiffany Duong / Ocean Rebels Throughout the day, I lobbied with Christi Le Mahieu and Anna Aigner from Surfrider Miami and Catherine Uden from Oceana in Florida. It was Le Mahieu and Aigners first time lobbying and they were a little nervous. Haydocys training helped, as did running through the stories they wanted to share with Surfriders regional manager for Florida and Puerto Rico, Evan Orellana. Thats another very helpful thing to do: mock meetings. Anna Aigner, Christi Le Mahieu and EcoWatchs Tiffany Duong walk to the Florida State Capitol for Florida Healthy Beaches Day. Tiffany Duong / Ocean Rebels Le Mahieu tests water quality for Surfrider Miami. She brought attention to an area of Miami that has been contaminated and unsafe for over three years. Despite this, there is little signage for the public, and people often kayak and paddle board through here. They develop skin lesions, and wildlife gets sick. Orellana told a similar story in his meetings, about fishing one day in Broward County, Florida and subsequently developing a staph infection on his leg. The next day, the beach was shut down for bacterial contamination. Aigner, a native of Austria, shared how it was her lifelong dream to live by a beach; now that she does, she feels a deep responsibility to keep it clean and safe. Personal stories like these are another lobbying tactic that really works. Research, facts, science all super important to bring to the table when were meeting with our elected officials. But, even more important, is to bring real stories from real people whom these people represent, Haydocy explained. Facts and reports help paint the bigger picture, and personal stories humanize the issues. Lawmakers need to hear from their constituents people in their districts about the issues that matter most to them, Haydocy continued. Thats why were up here in Tallahassee with our volunteers advocating for healthy beaches and clean water in Florida. Throughout the rest of the day, we met with senators, representatives and/or their staff. We shared our facts and stories and left them all with informational folders with more reference materials and our contact information. At many points, we asked legislators to clarify their positions on key issues and bills. Most obliged, and we were able to mark them down as key champions for the next session. For offices with whom we couldnt arrange any meetings, we still left informational folders with them. If we cant meet with a representative or senator, we leave a packet of information with their staff. These include background information on specific bills, desired support/oppose information and our contact information. Tiffany Duong / Ocean Rebels In total, we met with 22 offices to support clean water, reduce plastic pollution, and to prioritize resiliency efforts in the face of climate change. These meetings were critical to lay the foundation for future campaign wins in Florida, Haydocy said. The South Florida contingent met with Senator Ana Rodriguez (R-40); she pledged to support a bill preventing intentional balloon releases. Tiffany Duong / Ocean Rebels At the end of the day, Le Mahieu said, My key takeaway from this is that theyre people and they listen. They really do care what we have to say. I was always one of those people that thought, Oh my voice doesnt matter. Nobody is gonna listen to me. Thats not true. They listen. They care. So get involved. Do it. Come out; make your voice heard. Aigner added, Just do it! Its easier than you think and it makes a difference. As for me, I was left feeling grateful for having a way to actually participate in the political process. Being able to schedule an appointment with those who represent us to discuss the issues that do affect our lives is a privilege that not everyone enjoys or has at their disposal. I would absolutely join another Lobby Day and encourage anyone with an interest to do so. If we dont show up for our clean water and beaches, no one does, Haydocy concluded. Lets do this. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. France and China issued a joint statement April 7 reaffirming a shared commitment to act on the climate and biodiversity crises. The statement came on the last day of French President Emmanuel Macrons visit to China from Wednesday to Friday of last week. The joint statement said that climate, biodiversity and combating land degradation are priorities for both China and France, Chinas state media CGTN reported. Merci Canton. Vive lamitie entre la Chine et la France ! pic.twitter.com/dIWYrq5v5R Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 7, 2023 In the statement, both nations reaffirmed their commitments to responding with ambitious policies to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Paris Agreement and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, which set the goal of protecting 30 percent of land and water by 2030. They also harkened back to an earlier joint agreementthe Beijing Call for Biodiversity Conservation and Climate Change pledged in November of 2019. Resolute to make unprecedented efforts to secure the future of the generations, and to step up the global efforts to tackle climate change and to speed up transition towards green and low-carbon and climate-resilient development, we, the President of the Peoples Republic of China, Xi Jinping, and the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, meeting in Beijing on 6 November 2019 call on all countries and, when relevant, sub-national authorities, companies, NGOs and citizens to the two leaders said at the time, going on to list a series of actions, some of whichlike pushing for ambitious action at the COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference in Montreal last December or working for a successful UN High Seas Treaty, achieved this Marchhave already come to pass. Other asks were repeated as commitments in the newest statement, such as protecting the marine environment, addressing plastic pollution and protecting and managing forests. China and France reaffirmed their separate commitments to carbon neutrality and climate neutrality in the statement, CGTN added of the new document. Most of the coverage of Macrons visit has focused on international conflict. Macron had arrived in China with a goal of convincing Xi not to support Russias invasion of Ukraine but instead to help broker peace, as AFP reported. I can count on you to bring Russia to its senses and everyone to the negotiating table, Macron told Xi on Thursday, as AFP reported. In another joint statement Friday, both countries promised to support all efforts to restore peace in Ukraine. However, Macron has had environmental concerns on his mind from the outset of his visit. I am convinced that China has a major role to play in building peace. This is what I have come to discuss, to move forward on. With President XI Jinping, we will also talk about our businesses, the climate and biodiversity, and food security, he tweeted ahead of his meeting with Xi. I am convinced that China has a major role to play in building peace. This is what I have come to discuss, to move forward on. With President XI Jinping, we will also talk about our businesses, the climate and biodiversity, and food security. Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 6, 2023 On Wednesday, Macron further said his goal was working in partnership with China to combat the climate crisis and including China in a global ocean protection conference that France is planning 2025, as Euronews reported. CGTV, meanwhile, said that China had been working with the European Union on climate issues since the 1990s. With the relationship between the two sides getting deeper and more mature, climate issues have gradually entered the core stage of bilateral cooperation, CGTV wrote. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. Grand Canyon National Park is one of the most iconic public lands in the U.S., but the surrounding area has long been in the sights of developers, especially uranium miners. That is why the Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition wants President Joe Biden to permanently protect around 1.1 million acres north and south of the park as Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon National Monument. The canyon is a part of each and every Havasupai person. It is our home, it is our land, and our water source, and our very being, Havasupai Tribe Vice Chair Edmond Tilousi said at a virtual press conference Tuesday calling for the monuments creation, as Grand Canyon Trust reported. The Grand Canyon Tribal Coalition brings together members of the Havasupai Tribe, Hopi Tribe, Hualapai Tribe, Kaibab Paiute Tribe, Las Vegas Band of Paiute Tribe, Moapa Band of Paiutes, Paiute Indian Tribe of Utah, Navajo Nation, San Juan Southern Paiute Tribe, Yavapai-Apache Nation, Pueblo of Zuni and the Colorado River Indian Tribes. The proposed monument emphasizes these Tribes deep connection with the land around the Grand Canyon. Baaj nwaavjo means where tribes roam for the Havasupai Tribe, while itah kukveni means our footprints for the Hopi Tribe. The creator gave us a gift, and that form is in the form of the Grand Canyon, Hopi Tribe Chairman Tim Nuvangyaoma said, as the AZ Mirror reported. We do have to protect the beauty and grandeur of this place many tribes call home. The proposed monument would only include public lands, according to Grand Canyon Trust. Within its borders lie sites that are sacred or historically important to Indigenous groups such as Red Butte as well as springs and waters that drain into the Colorado River. Yet the area has also been threatened by uranium mining there are almost 600 undeveloped mining claims in the monument site that would not go ahead if Biden agreed to designate it. The battle over mining in the area has lasted through three administrations at least. In 2012, President Barack Obama imposed a 20-year mining ban near the Grand Canyon, as HuffPost explained. While the ban faced legal backlash, it was upheld by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in 2017. Meanwhile, the Trump administration fought against legislation that would have permanently protected the area from uranium and other mining while seeking to revive the nations uranium industry. Protecting the land as a monument under the Antiquities Act of 1906 would end the battle and remove the mining threat permanently. I, as a Hualapai tribal leader stand strongly against any mining on tribal lands and ask that you support us in this fight to stop mining, Hualapai Tribe Vice Chair Scott Crozier said, as Grand Canyon Trust reported. In their appeal to Biden, the Tribes were joined by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Rep. Raul Grijalva (D-Ariz.) at the virtual conference, which started at 10:30 a.m. local time. The national monument provides security to the Grand Canyon, Grijalva said Tuesday, as AZ Mirror reported. It provides security to the Indigenous people and tribes who see the Grand Canyon in a more profound and deep way. The call for a monument is also backed by other environmental organizations. This historic Tribal-led effort would protect lands that surround one of the countrys most famous national parks and safeguard lands and waters vital to the region, including the Red Butte Traditional Cultural Property, Sandy Bahr, who directs the Sierra Clubs Grand Canyon Chapter, said in a statement emailed to EcoWatch. We ask the President to listen to Tribal leaders and the people of Arizona and establish the Baaj Nwaavjo Itah Kukveni Grand Canyon national monument. Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions. On the last of a two-day visit to Somalia, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called out climate injustice. Somalia is in the midst of a drought that claimed 43,000 lives in 2022, but only 15 percent of Somalias 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan has been funded so far this year. It is unconscionable that Somalis, who have done almost nothing to create the climate crisis, are suffering its terrible impact just as they are beginning to emerge from years of conflict and insecurity, Guterres said Wednesday, as UN News reported. Somalia contributes 0.03% to greenhouse gas emissions. But as I just witnessed, Somalis are among the greatest victims of the chaos caused by the climate crisis. From Somalia today, my appeal to the world is clear: #ActNow to prevent catastrophe. pic.twitter.com/M93VNA3rXH Antonio Guterres (@antonioguterres) April 12, 2023 Guterres remarks came during a press conference in the Somalia capital of Mogadishu as he was urging the international community to step up their support of Somalia. The Humanitarian Response Plan organized by the UNs Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) calls for $2.6 billion this year, but has only received $347 million so far. When famine looms, this is totally unacceptable, Guterres said. The international community must step up and dramatically increase the volume of funds to support Somalia in this moment of difficulty. The drought in Somalia is the worst the country has experienced in 40 years, according to The East African. It is also the countrys longest drought on record, Al Jazeera reported in February. The rainy season has failed for five years in a row in parts of Kenya, Ethiopia and Somalia, according to The East African. This has killed crops and livestock and forced at least 1.7 million people to leave their homes and look for food and water elsewhere. In Somalia alone, 11 million livestock have died, according to Al Jazeera. Further, 1.4 million people have been displaced, 80 percent of them women and children, UN News said. So far, a joint Somali-government and UN report released in March estimated that the drought had caused 43,000 early deaths in 2022, half of them children younger than five, according to The East African. In January, the UN resident coordinator for Somalia said drought-related deaths would almost certainly overtake the more than 260,000 fatalities from a famine declared in 2011. This year, around 8.3 million people in Somalia about half its total population will be impacted by the drought, according to UN News. At the same time, the rains that did come in March caused flooding that killed 21 people and forced more than 100,000 from their homes, The East African reported. Climate change is causing chaos, Guterres said, as UN News reported. Somalia has experienced five consecutive poor rainy seasons, and this is unprecedented Poor and vulnerable communities are pushed by the drought to the brink of starvation, and the situation can get worse. Guterres, whose trip was part of his tradition of paying solidarity visits to Muslim countries during Ramadan, also spent time with internally displaced families in Somalias South West State Tuesday. His visit comes the same year as a new study from the University of Oxford that looked at displacement, conflict and weather changes in Somalia from 2016 to 2018. The research, published in Global Environmental Change, found that even a one degree Celsius increase in local monthly temperature could multiply anticipated displacement by a factor of 10 over time, while a decrease in monthly rainfall from 100 to 50 millimeters could double it. The lives of pastoralists and farmers in Somalia are balanced on a knife edge. Even a 1C rise on normal temperatures whether sustained or frequently re-occurring over a few months is enough to cause pastures to dry up and crop yield to change, study lead author and research associate with Oxfords Environmental Change Institute and Climate Econometrics team Dr. Lisa Thalheimer said in a statement emailed to EcoWatch. Our research shows these seemingly small temperature changes are having an outsized impact and are forcing communities to leave their homes. Despite its disproportionate impact on their lives, Somalis have done next to nothing to contribute to the climate crisis. Their per capita carbon dioxide emissions actually declined from 1990 to 2019, from 0.1 metric tons to near zero, according to data from The World Bank. Passport Office experiencing 'unprecedented demand' The Isle of Man Passport Office is asking customers to note that it cannot currently guarantee the standard 20 day delivery of the Islands British passport, due to unprecedented demand. During this time customers are encouraged to submit passport applications as early as possible as the Express (five working days service) and Emergency Travel Document will take priority. A spokesperson said: "The IoM Passport Office would like to reassure customers that strikes by HMPO staff in the UK do not affect its services, as all applications for Isle of Man variant British passports are processed on Island and printed and despatched by commercial suppliers." Post Office to Run Tender for Postal Services in Port Erin Isle of Man Post Office (IOMPO) is running a tender exercise (on the Isle of Man Government procurement website) for the provision of counter and/or parcel collection services in Port Erin. The current sub postmaster has given IOMPO notice to terminate the contract for service. IOMPO is seeking to maintain counter, postal and bill payment services in this area through the provision of a counter and/or a parcel collection point. Its preferred outcome would be to select a single preferred supplier covering both the counter and parcel collection services. However, consideration will be given to submissions from interested parties who could provide one or more of the services. This opportunity is for a fixed period, until 31st March 2025, with the option to extend one year. Stu Peters MHK, Chairman of Isle of Man Post Office said: On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank the outgoing sub postmaster for the services he has provided on our behalf and that of our commercial partners for the past 19 years. The closing date for expressing an interest in the tender is noon on Friday 28th April 2023. A team of scientists created a piezoelectric material with outstanding electromechanical properties by using a novel texturing process to align ceramic grains along specific crystallographic orientations. The results are published in Science this week. Piezoelectric materials are characterised by coupling between mechanical and electrical fields, and are at the core of transducers, actuators, and sensors in many electromechanical technologies. Commercial piezoelectrics are found as both single crystals and polycrystalline ceramics: single crystals generally have stronger electromechanical response, while ceramics can be more easily manufactured into a range of compositions, shapes, and sizes, and are therefore widely applied in the industry. Thanks to their high piezoelectric properties, combined with ease of manufacture and low cost, lead zirconate titanate [Pb(Zr,Ti)O3, PZT] ceramics have found their way into countless piezoelectric devices used in precision manufacturing, medical imaging/therapy, and energy harvesting. Meanwhile, the increasing demands of modern technologies in terms of electromechanical properties, temperature range and stability has spurred much research effort to improve PZT ceramics. Among the approaches explored in recent years, fabrication of textured ceramics is considered an effective means to achieve high piezoelectricity while maintaining high thermal and depolarisation stability (expressed respectively by Curie temperature TC and coercive field EC). Engineering grain orientation in PZT ceramics, however, has proved especially difficult due to chemical reaction between PZT and texture-inducing templates, which are micron-sized crystals with a large aspect ratio. Now, scientists led by the Xian Jiaotong University and Harbin Institute of Technology (both in China) and the University of Wollongong (Australia) introduced a method to make textured PZT ceramics with outstanding properties, including TC of 360C and piezoelectric coefficient d33 of 760 pC/N. Their approach was two-fold. First, they found an optimised template based on oriented Ba(Ti,Zr)O3 microcrystals. Secondly, they designed a seed-passivated texturing process, where two tape-cast slurries with different chemical compositions are interleaved, to suppress reaction between PZT and template. As a result, <001>-aligned grains grew at the expense of randomly oriented grains during sintering, finally producing textured PZT ceramics with controlled, uniform composition. Schematic illustration of the proposed texturing process. The color of the PZT matrix indicates its composition. Credits: Li, J., et al., Science. In the article, the scientists present the microstructure, electromechanical properties, polarisation and strain of the textured PZT ceramics. They used high-energy X-ray diffraction (XRD) at beamline ID15A of the ESRF to determine first the {200} pole figure, revealing a volume fraction of around 94% aligned grains and thus a high degree of texturing. Then, they studied the ceramics during application of electric field by time-resolved, in situ XRD, providing simultaneous texture and strain information at multiple orientations within the sample. "On one hand you need high flux at 80 keV, or higher, to get diffraction from bulk PZT while electric field ramps at several kV/s; on the other, this wouldn't be possible without a fast area detector and micron-precise sample positioning. ID15A manages all of that," says Stefano Checchia, scientist at ID15A. In situ XRD results demonstrated that the strain mechanism in textured PZT is essentially a polarization rotation process between two crystallographic directions. Importantly, we found that the high piezoelectricity of <001>-textured PZT ceramics is due to intrinsic lattice contribution (electric-field-induced lattice deformation) instead of domain wall motion, which is typically considered the major contributor to the piezoelectricity in traditional 'soft' PZT ceramics, explains Fei Li, professor at Xian Jiaotong University and one of the corresponding authors of the paper. The results are expected to have a strong impact on future applications of piezoelectrics: Given the ever-increasing demands on performance, particularly from the medical diagnostics and precision manufacturing industries, these developments will contribute significantly to the advancement of technology and innovation in these fields, paving the way for more efficient and accurate applications that can benefit society, explains John Daniels, scientist at the University of New South Wales and author of the paper. Reference: Li, J. et al, Science 380(6640), 87-93, DOI:10.1126/science.adf6161 (Informacion remitida por la empresa firmante) Annual report also spotlights achievements of Give One-supported organizations working to conserve the Amazon STOCKHOLM, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, a leading global payments provider and shopping service, today released its annual 2022-23 Give One Report outlining the progress of its Give One planet health initiative from inception through February 2023. To tackle the climate, biodiversity, and land degradation crises, investments in nature-based solutions need to triple by 2030 and increase fourfold by 2050 from today's level. Give One is a response to this massive funding gap a call-to-action launched by Klarna that aims to inspire everyone to get involved in tackling some of the most critical environmental issues facing the planet. In collaboration with planet health-tech platform Milkywire, the initiative supports change-makers on the frontlines of environmental challenges and showcases the work done on the ground. Starting in April 2021 with Klarna's commitment to donate 1% of all future funding rounds to high-impact projects that protect planet health, Klarna's Give One initiative also provides a platform for 150 million consumers and 500,000 retail partners to donate to vetted projects that can make a real impact. "Klarna established Give One with a vision to drive meaningful change and support initiatives aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss," said Sara Davidson, Sustainability Marketing & Communications Lead, Klarna. "Since launching in 2021, Give One has made significant strides and now backs 56 initiatives across five continents. We are proud of our accomplishments so far and remain committed to working alongside our global network of consumers and retailers to build a more sustainable future for all." Progress since inception Since its launch in 2021, Give One has achieved several key milestones to progress its impact worldwide. Highlights include: Give One supports 56 environmental initiatives which include over 70 organizations throughout North America , South America , Africa , Europe , and Asia Klarna has donated $11 million to Give One organizations out of its $16.5 million pledge, contributing to several of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals, including climate action, life below water, and life on land 61,000 people including government officials, schools, and community members have engaged in activities through Give One to restore and protect our planet In 2022 alone, 43,000 people benefitted in livelihood improvement activities relating to forest conservation in Kenya and Ghana 900,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) of habitat across the globe have seen immediate positive impact thanks to Give One-supported organizations 3.4 million trees have been planted across Africa and South America , and in 2022, 2,500 people participated in tree-planting activities across the Andes Driving efforts to conserve the Amazon Klarna's 2022-23 Give One Report also shines a spotlight on organizations working to conserve the Amazon, including Amazon Frontlines, Fundacion Gaia Amazonas, Human Rights Watch and Re:wild. "It's a widely recognized fact that only a tiny fraction, less than 2%, of global philanthropy and donations is directed towards environmental issues. And from that 2%, the percentage that reaches Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities, and local communities who are the actual drivers of positive change in these areas, is far less than 1%," said Alex Goff, Development Director, Amazon Frontlines. "We need a complete paradigm shift in terms of how funding happens." With support from Give One, these organizations have achieved milestones ranging from supporting Indigenous and local communities in exercising their land rights to implementing conservation actions. 2022 highlights include: Amazon Frontlines trained 190 Indigenous rangers in digital tools, enabling the protection of 800,000 hectares (2 million acres) of forests in real-time, which strengthened the capacity of 17 communities to protect the rainforest 10 Indigenous nations were empowered by Amazon Frontlines, a non-profit organization working with Indigenous peoples to defend their rights to land, to enhance their rights to protect their approximately 9 million hectares (22 million acres) of rainforest in Ecuador from extractive projects Human Rights Watch, a global human rights advocacy organization, advocated for business regulations to eliminate deforestation from supply chains and protect the rights of forest communities; and the latter contributed to the EU adopting a law in December 2022 prohibiting the import of key deforestation-related commodities, reflecting several of Human Rights Watch's recommendations. The law will apply to all 27 EU member states "Creating a sustainable future and protecting our planet is a responsibility shared by all," said Sara Davidson, Sustainability Marketing & Communications Lead, Klarna. "Klarna's Give One Report is a call to action for other companies and individuals to join us in protecting our planet and standing behind those protecting it. Through efforts such as making donations to organizations on the front lines, or by adopting Give One's impact-focused funding framework, we can all play a part in making a positive impact on our planet." To access Klarna's 2022-23 Give One report, visit klarna.com/international/sustainability/.... About Give One Give One is a call-to-action and a challenge to make an impact. Launched in 2021 and powered by Klarna in collaboration with Milkywire, a tech platform for impact, Give One makes it easier for consumers, retailers, and partners to come together and help solve the planet's health crisis. And we do it transparently and inclusively, so that everyone can get involved and understand their own impact. For more information, visit Give One at https://www.giveone.com/. About Klarna Since 2005 Klarna has been on a mission to revolutionize the retail banking industry. With over 150 million global active users and 2 million transactions per day, Klarna is meeting the changing demands of consumers by saving them time and money while helping them be informed and in control. Over 500,000 global retail partners, including H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macys, IKEA, Expedia Group, and Nike have integrated Klarna's innovative technology to deliver a seamless shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna has over 5,000 employees and is active in 45 markets. For more information, visit Klarna.com. CONTACT: For additional information, please contact: Adaline Colton press@klarna.com +1 (614) 429-9125 The following files are available for download: View original content: https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/klarna-unveils-progress-of-its-give-one-planet-health-initiative-in-new-2022-23-report-301796717.html Local government officials in Memphis, Tennessee, voted to return the second of two Democratic state lawmakers who were expelled last week for protesting gun violence on the chamber floor. Switzerland's parliament rejected a Credit Suisse rescue package that included $120.87 billion in financial guarantees in a largely symbolic vote as the government commitment, made using emergency law, cannot be overturned. The Pound to Euro (GBP/EUR) exchange rate weakened on Thursday, as the latest UK GDP release pointed to a stagnating economy. At the time of writing, GBP/EUR traded at around 1.1338, a fall of 0.2% from the mornings opening rates. Pound (GBP) Exchange Rates Undermined by Stagnating Economy The Pound (GBP) was undermined during Thursdays session by the latest GDP data reading. Februarys economic activity stagnated over the month, printing below a forecast of 0.1% to hit a flat 0%. The Office of National Statistics (ONS) showed that while the UKs construction sector saw notable growth, contractions in the services and production sectors offset these gains, causing the UKs economy to stagnate over the month. Tom Stevenson, Investment Director for Personal Investing at Fidelity International, commented: Although Januarys growth was revised up slightly to 0.4%, Februarys flat line reflects the impact of the UKs winter of discontent. Strike action took the shine off a modest increase in retail sales, while falling production in the month offset better construction activity. However, Januarys GDP data saw an upward revision to 0.4%, which could have served to cushion Sterling from further losses. This is because it decreases the chances of the UK economy entering recession in Q1. Though, this is still the expectation from the Bank of England (BoE). During a speech delivered on Thursday afternoon, BoE Chief Economist Huw Pill showed that the bank still expects a Q1 economic contraction of 0.1%, which may have exerted further pressure on GBP during Thursdays session. Euro (EUR) Exchange Rates Underpinned by Six-Month Industrial Output High The Euro (EUR) may have been cushioned from significant, risk appetite driven losses during Thursdays session due to the release of the latest industrial output data. Februarys activity saw the sector roar back into life, eclipsing forecasts of a 1% rise in output by printing at 1.5%. This suggests that the Eurozones economy has started at a faster pace than initially expected by economists and investors alike, as it hit a new six month high. Bert Colijn, Senior Eurozone Economist at ING, commented on the data. He stated: Todays numbers suggest that fading supply chain problems have helped industrial output improve recently. Expect production to contribute positively to first-quarter GDP. The improvement in production in February was broad-based but led by Germany which saw production increase by 2.1%. Out of the larger economies, only Italy saw a small decline of -0.2%. Furthermore, weakness in the US Dollar may have provided extra support for the Euro. Following the publication of the latest US PPI data, which cooled beyond forecasts, USD began to drop. As the Euro shares a negative correlation with USD, this could have garnered extra support for the single currency. However, the bullish market mood likely prevented the common currency from capitalising on this upbeat news. As the Euro acts as a safe haven currency, it meant that the cheery market mood saw sentiment wane towards it. Pound Euro (GBP/EUR) Exchange Rate Forecast: Thin Data Calendar to Weigh on GBP/EUR? Looking ahead for the Pound (GBP), Fridays data release calendar is relatively bereft of impactful macroeconomic data releases. Because of this, Sterling is likely to be left vulnerable to external factors, such as risk appetite and other currency fluctuations. As the Pound holds an increasingly risk sensitive nature, if risk appetite improves across markets during Fridays session, it may gain ground against safer peers such as the Euro. However, if the mood sours, it could weaken against its peers. For the Euro (EUR), the picture is similar. A lack of data releases could prompt the common currency to trade on its dynamics with other currencies. For instance, the Euro shares a negative correlation with the US Dollar. If Fridays retail sales data for the US falls below forecasts, it could weaken USD. This would potentially bring support to the Euro because of this dynamic. BOSTON (AP) Seven men who authorities said worked with the speed and efficiency of a NASCAR pit crew" to steal catalytic converters from nearly 500 vehicles in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, resulting in losses estimated at $2 million, were arrested Wednesday, federal prosecutors said. The men frequently targeted as many as 10 vehicles per night, and on one night stole from 26 vehicles, Rachael Rollins, the U.S. attorney for the District of Massachusetts, said at a news conference. The suspects worked like a NASCAR pit crew" using skill and speed" to jack up vehicles and cut out the catalytic converters, Rollins said. Catalytic converter theft has become a nationwide problem across multitudes of states, local and federal jurisdictions, she said. Five of the men are from Springfield, Massachusetts, one is from Holyoke, and the alleged ringleader, Rafael Davila, 35, is from Agawam, authorities said. The defendants face a variety of charges including interstate transportation of stolen property and money laundering conspiracy. Davila's federal public defender said in an email he had no comment. Catalytic converters are a part of a vehicles exhaust system that help control toxic emissions. Thefts of the exhaust emission control devices have jumped nationwide as prices for the precious metals they contain have skyrocketed. The devices contain metals such as platinum that are more valuble than gold and when cut from a vehicle's undercarriage can fetch more than $1,000 on the black market, federal authorities said. One of those metals, rhodium, sells for $8,200 an ounce, Rollins said. The thefts cause headaches for families and businesses that have to pay to have them replaced, she said. ConsumerAffairs.com says they can cost from several hundred to several thousand dollars to replace, not including labor. Authorities suspect the crew was responsible for at least 471 catalytic converter thefts this year and last. Dozens of local police departments in Massachusetts and New Hampshire were involved in the investigation, dubbed Operation Cut and Run, and some noticed that at in many instances, a maroon Acura was involved in the thefts. That car was eventually traced to Davila, prosecutors said. Federal authorities allege that one of the defendants, Jose Torres, 37, sold up to $80,000 worth of stolen catalytic converters per week to scrap dealers, who are also facing charges. An email seeking comment was left with Torres' attorney. Some of the defendants are also alleged to have stolen bank cash machines and committed burglaries at two New Hampshire jewelry stores. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 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. ON TEXAS COAST: Feds want to build a massive wind farm larger than the City of San Antonio off the coast of Galveston 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? ONSHORE WIND: Property owners, conservationists, wind energy: Tension grows in West Texas 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. Port San Antonio on Thursday unveiled plans for a futuristic wing-shaped office tower aimed at attracting new tenants and solidifying its status as the regions largest technology center. This is a building that looks like nothing else on the planet and the final is going to look even cooler than this, said Jim Perschbach, the Ports president and CEO. We want it to be shorthand, not just for the Port, but for San Antonio. The Ports 10-member Board of Directors approved a nearly $2 million agreement with Dallas-based real estate firm Trammell Crow Company to complete pre-development work for a new structure, which is expected to house DeLorean Motor Co. and other tenants at the main entrance of the former Kelly Air Force Base. Over the next few months, the Port will negotiate an agreement with Trammell Crow and work with Pelli Clarke and Partners, a design architect in Connecticut, on the developments final design. Port officials first announced intentions to build an office tower, a vertiport and research facility last year. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 2 1 of 2 Photo Port San Antonio Pelli Clarke and Partners.jpg Show More Show Less 2 of 2 Port San Antonio Pelli Clarke and Partners.jpg Show More Show Less RELATED: New multistory tower at Port San Antonio to house DeLorean Motor Co.; to be completed in early 2025 On Thursday, Perschbach told the board the tower could be from 12 to 15 stories and include at least 300,000 square feet of space for current and new tenants. Right now, we have the very enviable position of having more demand than we have space for, he said. We also wanted to continue to drive the real and perceived value of this campus. Pointing to renderings of the tower, he said it will serve as a symbol of the tech and science work being pursued at the Port, which now has more than 80 tenants and 17,000 employees. He said the goal is to replace the former Air Force bases infrastructure, all painted creech brown, with new buildings that are more reflective of its current workforce. In an interview before the board meeting, Perschbach said the pre-development phase will determine the exact size and cost for what will become the first office tower in Southwest San Antonio. It will be in all likelihood, on a per-square-foot basis, the most expensive building in San Antonio, on par with some of the nicest buildings being built in big cities across the country, he said. We dont have a problem pushing toward what will be some of the highest rents in San Antonio, because we want to attract people who are willing to compensate people at a level commensurate with those rents. Perschbach acknowledged there is a possibility the Ports board could decide the tower isnt feasible during the pre-development phase. I would be shocked if that happens, he added, describing how the board of directors would vote again after the pre-development period on whether to proceed. Perschbach declined to identify potential tenants other than DeLorean. The original iteration of the Ports plans included providing a space for the reborn automaker, which is establishing its new headquarters in San Antonio. Beyond DeLorean, he noted that some of the usual suspects in the aviation and technology industries could be at home in the tower, along with consulting, financial and law firms. The project is running a little bit behind, Perschbach said. Still, he hopes to build the tower as quickly as possible so it could become operational by 2025. What I want is for this tower to be known around the world, he said. Id love to see it just kind of organically go out when people think of the symbols of San Antonio. Youve got the Missions, youve got the downtown skyline, youve got the Alamodome, youve got this tower. The Port is also looking to build a research complex focusing on aerospace technologies that includes a simulated lunar terrain and a vertiport for passenger and cargo electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles a futuristic cross between fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters. Perschbach said he expects the vertiport to be built near his office on the North Side of the Port campus and the research complex to be adjacent to the massive high-tech concert and esports venue known as Boeing Center at Tech Port. The projects are on different timetables and require input from research groups and the Federal Aviation Administration, he said. The Port is pursuing the three new projects after opening the $70 million, 130-square-foot Boeing Center at Tech Port. In January, after hosting musicians, gaming competitions, robotics events and cybersecurity and military networking conferences, the Port changed the original name of the Tech Port Center + Arena to reflect its commitment to Boeing Co. Its one of the Ports oldest tenants, has the largest staff on campus and remains a top employer in San Antonio. RELATED: Boeing buys naming rights for Port San Antonios concert and esports venue Perschbach said he believes expansion brings more opportunities for the Port, which has built and leased more than 700,000 square feet of new facilities and rejuvenated more than 6 million square feet of renewed and expanded spaces since 2017. In that same time frame, tenants have added more than 7,000 jobs to the campus which has become the largest tech employer in San Antonio, he said. The sprawling campus is now home to fast-growing San Antonio companies such as Plus One Robotics and Knight Aerospace, Boeing, defense contractor Northrop Grumman, Accenture Federal Services and the U.S. Air Force. In 2021, DeLorean received more than $1 million from the city of San Antonio and Bexar County in exchange for establishing its global headquarters at the Port. The agreements called for it to hire 450 workers and invest $18.5 million there over four years. Perschbach said the Port is poised to become a more vital part of San Antonios economy as it continues to attract some of the worlds largest aerospace firms onto campus. We dont like bragging on ourselves, but that doesnt get you very far in the world where people want to go where theres something exciting, he said. For us to capture and retain the talent, we have to show that our people are every bit the equal to everybody else. TNS DALLAS A fiery explosion in the Texas Panhandle killed more than 18,000 cattle and critically injured one worker in what is being described as the deadliest barn fire for cattle on record. Fire tore through the holding pens of Southfork Dairy Farm in Dimmitt on Monday night, as the cattle were waiting to be milked, authorities told local news outlets. WASHINGTON When the Biden administration announced Wednesday it was raising restrictions on car pollution to the point that automakers would have to convert the majority of their assembly lines to electric models by 2032, it stood to upend the oil industry. Yet major questions hang over whether automakers can adjust their assembly lines and supply chains for batteries and the critical minerals that go into them in the time frame proposed by the Biden administration. Automotive analysts had been projecting major growth in the electric vehicle market in the decade ahead, with sales increasing to between 40 percent and 50 percent of the market by 2030 from less than 6 percent currently. But its unclear whether automakers will have the electric vehicle manufacturing capacity to reach the proposed emissions standards by 2032, said Stephanie Brinley, an analyst with research firm S&P Global Mobility. Its a more aggressive target than we expected, and I wish there was an easy answer to whether they can meet it, she said. Its a little bit wait-and-see. Automakers like GM and Ford have already announced plans to to phase out vehicles that run on gasoline and diesel by 2035. But those targets are considered largely aspirational by analysts, and automakers are now questioning the practicality of the new rule, which ramps up emissions standards beginning in 2027 with steady increases over the following five years. Not only do automakers have to secure the critical minerals and technology they need at a time Europe and China are rushing to do the same to meet their climate targets, but charging networks need to be built and the power grid expanded to meet the flood of new electric vehicles. EPAs proposed emissions plan is aggressive by any measure, John Bozzella, president of the trade group Alliance for Automotive Innovation, wrote in a blog post Wednesday. A lot has to go right for this massive and unprecedented change in our automotive market and industrial base to succeed. Much is at stake for the nations oil and gas industry, largely centered in Houston. The new rules are likely to upend the market for petroleum-based fuels, an industry worth hundreds of billions of dollars a year and a mainstay of Gulf Coast economies where refineries produce almost half the nations fuel supply. If the Environmental Projections Agencys proposed rules are finalized as written, U.S. gasoline and diesel sales could start declining within the next few years, forcing the closure of refineries along the Gulf Coast and around the country, said Alan Gelder, vice president of refining, chemicals and oil markets at the energy research firm Wood Mackenzie. Weve been saying refining (along the Atlantic and Gulf Coasts) is healthy for the next decade, and this threatens that, he said. The peak (for gasoline demand) could come this year or next. As a result, the EPA is likely to face a long regulatory and legal fight from the oil refining sector. Chet Thompson, president of the American Fuel and Petrochemical Manufacturers trade group, said Wednesday the new rules would effectively ban gasoline and diesel vehicles. We should all be aiming for individuals and families to have more fuel and vehicle choices, not less, that can fit within their budgets and meet their work and household needs, he said. The (EPA) should withdraw this rule and work collaboratively with the fuel, petrochemical and vehicle industries to find cost-effective ways to reduce emissions. The question now is whether the EPA will go ahead with the rule as written. If automakers are unable to produce the amount of electric vehicles prescribed by EPA, they could be left in the position of having to temporarily reduce overall vehicle sales to meet the emissions rule, analysts said. Such a hit to a major American industry could be difficult to justify politically, and EPA Administrator Michael Regan said Wednesday he intended to give the car industry as much flexibility as possible. This is a very ambitious proposal, but its also a proposal, and its designed to solicit questions, he said. rebeccafondren/Getty Images/iStockphoto A West Texas steakhouse so acclaimed that it won an award from the Oscars of the restaurant industry and catered for a former U.S. president is celebrating its 40-year anniversary this year in a big way. Located in the small, 569-resident city of Buffalo Gap, Perini Ranch Steakhouse started out as just a side hustle consisting of a chuckwagon a version of an early food truck, as owner Tom Perini called it used to cater for parties and events held at nearby ranches when Perini wasnt rebuilding and running his fathers own ranch. The COVID pandemic is far from over. But on Monday, President Joe Biden ended the national emergency, signing a bipartisan congressional resolution. The emergency allowed the government to respond to the virus through expanded measures. Some of those measures already had been removed, while others still were being phased out, according to NPR. For doctors around San Antonio, the end of the national emergency means that free vaccines are likely to last only as long as current supplies do. "People will continue to receive the vaccine at no charge until the government supply runs out a few months from now," said Jan Patterson, an infectious disease specialist with the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio. "After that, it will be based on insurance coverage. The most common treatment, Paxlovid, will be paid for by insurers." It is unclear whether COVID testing or treatment will be free for uninsured individuals, said Robert Leverence, vice dean for clinical affairs at the UT Health San Antonio Long School of Medicine. "It also means the end of continuous Medicaid coverage," Leverence said via email, "and people will have to apply for continued coverage." READ MORE: Scary new drug mix animal tranquilizer plus fentanyl is showing up in San Antonio Continuous coverage, a part of the public health emergency, officially expired on March 31, according to Texas Health and Human Services. Patterson said that she expects to be able to continue treating patients suffering from COVID for the most part, but treatment for the uninsured remains up in the air. According to Politico, the Biden Administration is working to keep COVID vaccines, treatments and tests free for the uninsured into 2024, although nothing concrete is yet announced. Last year, Congress extended telehealth flexibilities, introduced at the beginning of the pandemic, for another two years. These flexibilities allowed health care systems to deliver care by smartphone or computer. Nearly 1.13 million people in the United States died from COVID since the pandemic began, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That includes 1,773 people in the week ended April 5, the most recent week for which data is available. "UT Health Physicians continues to monitor COVID-19 and counsel patients to prevent transmission of the disease," wrote Leverence, who also serves as the executive director of the UT Health Physicians multispecialty practice. "We continue to work closely with the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, which maintains a COVID-19 health website that has up-to-date information about the virus and its impact on the city." shepard.price@express-news.net Pablo Martinez Monsivais/Associated Press A man was gunned down in his driveway after he was followed home Wednesday night on the East Side. The man, 30, had just driven home about 11:35 p.m. in the 1100 block of Wyoming, San Antonio police said. Texas actor Matthew McConaughey is opening up about the severe turbulence he and his wife, Camila, experienced aboard a Lufthansa flight from Austin last month. In an episode of Kelly Ripas podcast, Lets Talk Off Camera, released Wednesday, McConaughey detailed what it feels like to drop 4,000 feet in a plane. Youre in suspended disbelief. Its zero-gravity, McConaughey said. Your red wine and the glass, and the plates that your food was on are all suspended, floating still just in the air. It was a hell of a scare, McConaughey said. The flight left Austin on March 1 headed to Frankfurt, Germany. The Airbus A330 experienced severe turbulence at an altitude of 37,000 feet while flying over Tennessee, according to the Federal Aviation Administration. The incident, 90 minutes after takeoff, led to an unscheduled landing at Washington Dulles International Airport. Seven of the 127 passengers on the plane went to the hospital with minor injuries. READ MORE: Matthew McConaughey on Lufthansa flight from Austin forced to land because of severe turbulence McConaughey, who was on his way to Vietnam, said he did not have a seat belt on and his tray table was the only thing holding him down during the incident. I just immediately reached over (and) made sure Camila had her seat belt on, McConaughey said. The reactions from the passengers aboard were mixed, McConaughey said. Some people were ghost-silent. Some people had big bursts of laughter it was not like, Oh, this is fun; it was like, Im in shock,' McConaughey said. A friend seated next to McConaughey, who is a pilot, reassured him that the planes structural integrity could handle the turbulence, he said. Afterward, Camila McConaughey posted a short video on Instagram showing food on the aisle of the plane. She said everything was flying everywhere and that turbulence (kept) on coming during the incident. Camila McConaughey said the two were able to stay the evening at a nearby Marriott hotel. Gabriella.Ybarra@express-news.net A polar bear living under the scorching sun at the San Antonio Zoo with a pool of 73-degree tap water and no air conditioning? That was Mr. Poohs life for more than two decades. This week, 24 years ago, San Antonio lost Mr. Pooh, one of the worlds oldest polar bears in captivity. He was 31 when he was euthanized on April 14, 1999. Mr. Poohs living conditions were often too much for some in Texas to bear. You might also like: Former San Antonio mayor involved in court battle over Northwest Side low-income senior housing He was the subject of several protests by animal rights activists who believed polar bears belong in a northern habitat or at least deserved a temperature-controlled pool or air conditioning. One woman stormed City Hall, demanding action. She had already tried to rally the U.S. Department of Agriculture, which was responsible for inspecting the animals living conditions. She even wrote Coca-Cola, thinking the soft-drink company would get involved because it used polar bears in its advertising. Mr. Poohs death, which did not result from heat, brought an end to the San Antonio Zoos polar bear exhibit. The zoo told newspapers at the time that the cost of maintaining a chilled indoor enclosure was too much to continue the practice. Related: San Antonio Zoo euthanizes beloved Lucky, one of the oldest Asian elephants in the country Born in 1968, Mr. Pooh was initially captured in a Canadian town, where he had a reputation for scavenging from a nearby garbage dump and wandering the streets. He lived at the Metro Toronto Zoo before being transferred to the San Antonio Zoo in 1978. Mr. Pooh was a favorite for visitors, who watched him play in his swimming hole with a giant ball or an empty beer keg. Mr. Pooh lived about half of his life with Goofy, his female companion. To help make Mr. Pooh and Goofy comfortable, the zoo staff sometimes put 100-pound ice blocks into their pool, and it fed them buckets of ice embedded with fish. Goofy died of heart failure in 1994. Even though Mr. Pooh surpassed the average lifespan for polar bears, roughly 20 to 25 years, some raised concerns that he was uncomfortable in the South Texas heat. Mr. Pooh was euthanized in April 1999, after old age had slowed him down and eventually caused him to lose his appetite. A necropsy revealed he had suffered from kidney failure. In January, the Kansas City Zoo announced that Berlin, the oldest polar bear living in the U.S. captivity, died. He was 33 years old and lived at the zoo for more than a decade. timothy.fanning@express-news.net This is the first part in a series on the development of San Antonio's roads and grid layout. Whether you're fleeing a horde of zombies or just driving to work, San Antonio can be difficult to navigate. This is partially because of San Antonio's long history, and partially because of its topography which has notably changed in the centuries since the city's founding. It's also because San Antonio is only partially a grid, and that sense of partial structure can be disorienting, said Char Miller, author of "San Antonio: A Tricentennial History" and professor of environmental analysis and history at Pomona College in Southern California. Miller previously served as chair of the history department at Trinity University. "Your confusion is totally normal," Miller said. "But I think it can be explained by the relationship between the 20th-century reconfiguration of the street grid running into streets like St. Marys and others that were developed earlier and constructed around a different set of needs." From the beginning of San Antonio's development, the city was oddly built and sometimes difficult to navigate. Many of the city's oldest roads are angular, while others needed to make room for plazas, a staple of the Spanish Colonial style, which focused on gathering places for pedestrians to mill about before heading on their merry way, Miller said. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Her West Side home was powered by car batteries. She pleaded with the city not to raze it. Those plazas, including Plaza de Armas and Plaza de las Islas, both of which remain today, hosted key buildings like the Spanish Governor's Palace and the San Fernando Cathedral. San Antonio was quickly made the capital of the Spanish and then Mexican territory of Tejas and needed buildings like those, and the Presidio San Antonio de Bexar and Mission de San Antonio de Valero (now the Alamo), as well as ways for people to get to those buildings. Streets well-trodden by today's San Antonians, including Flores and Soledad, were established by 1836, while key roads like Commerce and Houston, which resulted from connecting earlier roads separated by the river, were sometimes just narrow footpaths known by different names. Part of Commerce was Alameda, and part of Houston was Rivas. Even back then, San Antonio was an important city, with 2,500 inhabitants by 1836, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica. Those residents packed into a much smaller city, which extended from what is now the Alamo on the far east to Campo Santo (now Santa Rosa Hospital) on the far west. Yet these roads did not obey the same grid as today's San Antonio streets. That was added at a later date, after the river was straightened and changed. The San Antonio River known by the San Antonians of 1836 looked a lot different from today's straighter, more obedient river. READ MORE: Dozens of trees will be flattened in Brackenridge Park. Whose idea was that? "You have a partially build-out grid, meshing with topography that is largely shaped by the river, but not the river you see today," Miller said. "The San Antonio River that the Spanish and Mexican and early Americans really knew up to 1921 was a very different river, bent and twisted, and it moved all over the landscape, meaning the roads had to obey its serpentine movements." There are more reasons San Antonio doesn't look like other major cities. It served as a crossroads of Texas highways from their earliest days, it formed around multiple missions, and it saw neighborhoods develop separately with their own complex layouts before becoming part of the city. Miller said that the odd roads, consistent with a slow-growing city that forced its streets to obey its whims, are what make San Antonio stand out even if they do cause confusion. "When I lived north of the downtown core, I loved driving down McCullough, Miller said. "It was so weird; it had two lanes, then four lanes, with dips and dives in different directions, and then it just ends. It curves, and it comes out of the north. I still cant figure out why it went that way." shepard.price@express-news.net Former Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District Police Chief Pedro Pete Arredondo is using a Dallas law firm to defend him against lawsuits filed by relatives of victims of the Robb Elementary School mass shooting. The district said it is not paying for it. The law firm said Thursday that the districts insurer is. Dallas law firm Fanning, Harper, Martinson, Brandt and Kutchin filed paperwork in at least one federal lawsuit this week saying it represents Arredondo, who was fired by the school board in August over his actions responding to the May 24 tragedy. Interim Superintendent Gary Patterson said during a meeting Thursday with the San Antonio Express-News editorial board that Arredondos legal bills are not being paid by the district. READ MORE: Under new management, Uvalde school district quietly fired its police officers Thomas Brandt, one of Arredondos lawyers, said the districts insurance company hired his firm. Arredondo was acting in an official capacity, working for the school district, when he responded to the mass shooting, he but is now fighting the district in adversarial administrative proceedings related to his firing, Brandt said. Jerry Lara/San Antonio Express-News The district did not hire me. Im being paid by the insurance company, so (Patterson) is correct, Brandt said. The district (has) an insurance policy. Since theres a conflict of interest, Im representing Pete and other lawyers are representing the district. His law firm is filing paperwork denying all claims that Arredondo was liable for the deaths or injuries to the victims, 19 students and two teachers, and survivors. As the highest-ranking officer on the scene, Arredondo was considered the incident commander of the police response on May 24, in which hundreds of officers from various agencies waited 70 minutes before breaching a pair of interconnected classrooms to confront and kill the gunman. Arredondo was fired for misjudging the situation and concluding that the gunman wasnt an active shooter but rather a barricaded suspect, which calls for a careful, methodical police response. Police doctrine on active shooters calls for officers to confront the gunman and stop the killing immediately, regardless of the risk to police. READ MORE: Under pressure, Uvalde school leader airs a sensitive topic how the shooter dropped out Texas police officers who leave an agency are assigned one of three discharge designations: honorable, general or dishonorable. Many who receive general or dishonorable discharges successfully appeal, effectively obscuring their background. Fired with a general discharge designation, Arredondo appealed, requesting that the general discharge be changed to honorable discharge and winning it through the State Office of Administrative Hearings on Jan. 31 after the district did not respond. District officials have said the district was in the process of purging key personnel and suspending its police officers about the time the notice was sent, and that the acting police chief took no action on it shortly before he was suspended. The district asked a state agency to rehear and reconsider the decision to change Arredondos discharge status to honorable. A hearing is scheduled for September, Patterson said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Uvalde interim schools superintendent Gary Patterson on Thursday said a state trooper who roughly handled the mother of one of the 19 students killed in a May 24 mass shooting was doing his job preventing someone without authorization from entering an elementary school. The altercation took place April 5, a day of walkouts at schools in Uvalde and across the country to protest the lack of legislative action on gun control. Ana Coronado whose daughter, Maite Rodriguez, died in the massacre went to Flores Elementary School to sign her son out of class so he could join a protest near the campus. Finding an outside entrance to the school locked, she pounded on the door several times before someone inside let her in. Inside, a Texas Department of Public Safety trooper approached her. After a brief struggle, captured on the officer's body camera and an observer's cellphone, he picked up Coronado and expelled her from the building. If you look at the footage ... Im not going to say anything bad about the mom because it appears that we had a parent in distress," Patterson said during an Express-News Editorial Board meeting on Thursday. "OK, and you had an officer there to prevent exactly what the parent wanted to do." Visitors aren't allowed in Uvalde schools without following a sign-in protocol or making an appointment. They must show identification. And so now were talking about an incident that got national attention where a trooper was trying to prevent a distressed parent from doing something that our policies say that nobody can do, and he has to prevent that. And, so, it escalates, Patterson said. Students Demand Action had called on children nationwide to walk out of their schools that day. About 130 students from at least two Uvalde campuses left class that day and marched to the town square. Patterson said none of the students were punished for leaving their schools but warned that participants in future walkouts would be disciplined. During the confrontation with the unidentified trooper, Coronado said Flores Elementary students were protesting indoors, where nobody could see them. This means something to me, she cried. The trooper said in a publicly released statement that protesters gathered outside the main entrance of the school were peaceful and remained on the sidewalk. He said he tried to talk with Coronado, "but all she wanted to do is talk over me and start to get loud again." Coronado "yelled out as she left, saying, 'When your daughter is murdered on school grounds then you can talk to me, sir,' he said. Patterson called the escalation of the incident "unfortunate" and said the trooper stopped Coronado from entering the school three times. "And the last time was the one that was caught in the footage of what you saw," Patterson said. "So what do I think? That's truly unfortunate. I think it's something that could have been prevented on multiple fronts, but it wasn't." He also said several questions crossed his mind. "We need to determine if the officer was excessive, reasonable and necessary in his actions," he said. "And we also need to determine if the parent was excessive, reasonable and necessary both of them." State troopers have patrolled Uvalde schools since the school district disbanded its police force of six officers in the wake of the Robb Elementary School shooting, the second-worst in American history. Patterson said about three dozen DPS troopers from across the state rotate in and out of the schools on a short-term basis. The Uvalde Consolidated Independent School District's board fired schools Police Chief Pedro "Pete" Arredondo in August. Arredondo was considered the on-scene commander the day of the Robb Elementary shooting and got much of the blame for the botched police response. Officers waited more than 70 minutes to confront and kill the gunman. The DPS troopers, sent to Uvalde by Gov. Greg Abbott, receive training on school policing from their commanders at a local hotel. Patterson said their job is to be visible and ensure that people roaming school hallways are supposed to be there. "Should the DPS have a presence at all?" Patterson said. "The district, as you know, dismissed the entire police force, so I've been asked many times, why did we need anybody else? Why are we replacing our police force? Why do we need DPS officers? Just call the city. "Well, I would encourage anybody to come, and I'll take you to lunch right down in the middle of the city and see what is going on on a daily basis with human trafficking, with bailouts, with drug trafficking in and out of Uvalde by the hundreds, sometimes thousands a week," he said. In other words, the Uvalde Police Department doesn't have enough officers to both patrol school campuses and carry out their regular duties. Patterson said the troopers assigned to each campus, as well as new security fencing erected around each school, "really reduces the chance of somebody walking from the outside." The return of southerly winds on Friday into Saturday brings with it storm chances. According to the National Weather Service, there is a "highly conditional" chance of rain and thunderstorms Friday afternoon. Chances for rain improve as you head north and east from the Alamo City, with chances for rain improving early next week. "An isolated storm coming through would likely be Friday afternoon, with the best chances remaining over Hill Country," said Andrew Quigley, a meteorologist with NWS in New Braunfels. "Saturday looks like it should stay dry in the San Antonio area, with higher rain chances to the east." In the Hill Country, there could be an isolated strong or severe storm Friday, with the potential for large hail, exceeding the size of a quarter, and damaging wind gusts. These storms are highly conditional, Quigley said, due to a warm layer of air in the atmosphere that will keep thunderstorm chances down. "Unless you heat the ground or cool that warm little layer, you don't get through it," Quigley added. "That's what we call the cap, and it's pretty prevalent this time of year, in terms of holding storms back and preventing them from growing into mature storms." If the conditions Friday do affect that warm layer of air, then a storm will arrive. But rain isn't the only thing that could arrive in San Antonio on the weather front, as winds from the south are expected to increase the temperature up to the low 90s on Saturday. A "weak little cold front" will drop the area back down to the high 70s/low 80s by the start of next week, however, Quigley noted. shepard.price@express-news.net This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick hit the campaign trail last fall vowing to crack down on violent crime and skyrocketing murder rates. To stop it, he said in a September advertisement, I will pass legislation next session to add a 10-year mandatory jail sentence to anyone convicted of using a gun while committing a crime. LAST YEAR: Lt. Gov. Dan Patricks legislative priorities include property tax cuts, teacher pay Patricks proposal, which eventually materialized as Senate Bill 23, passed the upper chamber last week with little discussion and bipartisan support. All but one senator Sarah Eckhardt, an Austin Democrat voted in favor of the measure, which would implement the mandatory decade-long sentence to those who commit certain felonies while using a firearm. Texans believe in the rule of law and know that criminals who use firearms while committing crimes must be punished to the full extent of the law, Patrick said in a statement after the bill passed. SB23 makes it very clear that if any criminal uses a gun while committing a crime, they will face steep consequences. The bills prospects are unclear in the House of Representatives, where members have not prioritized similar legislation. Mandatory minimums were once a hallmark of tough-on-crime policies in the 1980s, but state legislators across the country have strayed from them in recent years as they work to reduce mass incarceration and racial disparities in the criminal justice system. That makes the Senate proposal out of step with national trends, said Sandra Guerra Thompson, a law professor at the University of Houston who studies the criminal justice system. States have mostly reconsidered mandatory minimums for nonviolent crimes, especially drug offenses, Thompson said. The sentences take discretion away from judges and juries who may not believe the minimum sentence is appropriate for one person or another, depending on their individual circumstances and criminal history, Thompson said. CRIME BILLS: GOP proposal to let judges deny bail for violent, sexual offenses clears Texas Senate Instead, these policies give more power to prosecutors, who decide which charges to bring against an accused person, Thompson said. What ends up happening is you end up sending more people to prison for longer periods of time, she said. When you do that, it means that a prison bed is going to be occupied by someone for longer, so there's less and less space for new people who come along. The sentences exacerbate existing challenges in the criminal justice system, including overcrowding in jails and prisons and long-standing racial inequalities, Thompson said. Its also difficult to determine whether the policies are effective at reducing illegal gun use, she said, because researchers never truly know why someone does not commit a crime. State Sen. Joan Huffman, a Houston Republican who authored SB23, said the legislation would apply only to the most heinous offenses, including aggravated robberies and sexual assaults. She cited homicide statistics from her hometown: Last year, the Houston Police Department reported 435 murders, compared with 291 in 2019. Violent crime dropped overall in Houston between 2021 and 2022. BACKGROUND: Violent crime in Houston went down in 2022, police say Other Texas cities have seen mixed statistics after crime rose during the COVID-19 pandemic. The San Antonio Police Department, partnering with criminologists at the University of Texas at San Antonio, rolled out a new crime reduction plan this year in response to increasing homicides and other violent crimes. In Dallas, violent crime is down overall this year, but homicides are up when compared with the same period in 2022, the Dallas Morning News reported. Mandatory sentences act as a potential deterrent for anyone considering illegally using a firearm and are a tool for prosecutors to keep violent criminals off the streets, Huffman said. Her bill allows for jury-recommended community supervision in these cases, also for a 10-year period. Bill Spelman, a professor emeritus at the University of Texas at Austin who studies crime and prisons, said mandatory minimums are the most expensive and least effective means for deterring a crime. Other states such as Florida have seen violent crime increase after implementing similar policies, suggesting that mandatory minimums alone are not enough to prevent criminal activity, he said. Texas should instead focus on swiftly solving more open criminal cases, Spelman said, because doing so makes committing a crime look like a bad gamble. Still, Spelman said senators on both sides of the aisle may have supported the measure because its politically safe. For Republicans, it's a way to address firearms violence without upsetting gun rights advocates, he said. And it may also serve as a small step for Democrats who want stronger firearms laws, especially as the state approaches the one-year anniversary of the elementary school shooting in Uvalde last May that left 19 children and two teachers dead. READ MORE: Uvalde shooting may spur action in Texas Legislature with one big exception It feels like it moves the ball forward, Spelman said. The problem is, it's a real expensive ball that you're moving forward. You're setting yourself up for spending millions and millions of dollars over the next 20 years and getting almost nothing to show for it. Eckhardt, the sole lawmaker to vote against the bill, said the Legislature should focus instead on commonsense gun safety measures. Harsher punishments do not prevent crime, she said, noting that gun violence is the leading cause of death of American children. More than 100 Americans are killed with guns every day, she said. All we want is for our communities to be safe yet my colleagues across the aisle are doing anything but addressing the root of the problem: the guns. State Sen. Roland Gutierrez, a San Antonio Democrat who represents Uvalde, has been championing a host of gun control measures, including bills to raise the age to purchase an assault-style weapon from 18 to 21, implement stronger background checks and bolster safe storage laws. Republicans have rejected all of those proposals, saying they infringe on Second Amendment rights. Gutierrez voted for SB23, but he said it does little to prevent mass shootings. It's an enhancement penalty for people that are out there ordinary criminals robbing stores, robbing banks, he said. Those people, sadly, aren't crazy. They're just doing bad deeds. That doesn't do anything to stop a kid that wants to go kill off a school. Fairfield, MT (59436) Today A mix of clouds and sun. High near 60F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Partly cloudy. Low near 35F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Rep. Bob Phalen, R-Lindsay, opens testimony on his House Bill 234, which aims to criminalize teachers and school librarians who provide students with material deemed to be "obscene," on Friday, April 7 in the Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee. (Photo by Blair Miller, Daily Montanan) The Senate Education and Cultural Resources Committee put the knife to Rep. Bob Phalens obscenity bill on Wednesday, which sought to punish schoolteachers and school librarians who provide obscene material to students, amending the bill to effectively maintain local control over what materials are available to kids in school and clarifying existing law surrounding obscenity. The amended version of House Bill 234 clarifies the difference between public display or dissemination of obscene material to minors and obscenity, which are in different portions of statute already in Montana Code Annotated. The amendment from Committee Chairman Dan Salomon, R-Ronan, strikes all the language from MCA 45-8-206, the existing portion of law involving the public display or dissemination of obscene material to minors, that discussed library, school, and museum employees, as well as the portion that the original version of Phalens bill had added in. It then clarifies that the offense of public display or dissemination of obscene material to minors is a separate portion of law than the offense of obscenity, which is outlined in MCA 45-8-201. The amendment to the portion of code on disseminating obscene material to minors further clarifies that local municipalities and school districts can adopt ordinances, resolutions and policies that are more restrictive than the language already in the statute effectively reiterating that local governments and school districts have their own power to make stronger laws through local control. Montana Code already states that a person controlling any commercial establishment or newsstand cannot display or provide minors with obscene material and that they face penalties for doing so. Salomons amendment also clarifies that neither commercial establishment nor newsstand includes a school, library or museum. Pad McCracken, the research analyst for the committee, told members he felt there was a misunderstanding and confusion about the differences between the disseminating obscene material statute and the obscenity statute, and that his amendment was the fix he and Salomon came up to fix that confusion. Salomon said he felt some of the proponents of Phalens bill had been upset their local school boards did not get rid of certain books and materials they had objected to, but told the committee Wednesday evening that wasnt something the legislature should be deciding. Theres an issue that isnt in this bill we cant legislate that, he said. They have an issue with their local control, they need to get other people in there or have that conversation at the local level. Thats not for us to decide. Thats for the people that are there and the people that are in power to make those policies. Salomon said he felt like ensuring the discussion about what materials are obscene should be left up to the local school districts and boards, and that he was pleased that there was still an option for districts to create stronger policies if they choose. The amendment passed unanimously, and the bill cleared the committee in a 7-4 party-line vote, with Republicans in favor. I think this amendment meets the spirit of sponsor while satisfying some critics of the bill, said Sen. John Fuller, R-Kalispell. Essentially, McCracken told the committee when he explained the amendment, both the disseminating obscene material to minors statute and the separate obscenity statute were already in place the former a statute made in 1989 that involved things like pornography at convenience stores and newsstands. So, what this amendment does is it really tries to draw a distinction, clarify that distinction, McCracken said. He said in 1989, libraries felt they might be viewed as newsstands, which is why the exemption for them was put into law in the first place. The amendment essentially keeps the exemption in place by clarifying that libraries, schools and museums are not commercial enterprises or newsstands. The changes to the Lindsay Republicans controversial bill made Wednesday came as the committee took executive action on it five days after its committee hearing in which a proponent of the bill called for book burning and another claimed Salomon was censoring their testimony because he did not allow them to read sexually explicit book passages into the record. The amendment keeps penalties for both disseminating obscene material to minors and for obscenity in place, but clarifies that anyone who committed such crimes would have to be charged under the specific statute. The obscenity part, 201, was already there. We didnt really need to change that. Thats the part that says, I dont care who you are. If you do this, thats obscenity, Salomon told the committee. But then we got into the second part obscene material to minors well, that really wasnt the same thing. And we had to differentiate that, and we had to put this in a way that hopefully we can all understand and become much clearer for us. And hopefully it works. Phalen and other proponents have said lawmakers should back the bill to protect children from seeing materials in schools they feel contain obscene material, citing on multiple occasions books on the LGBTQ community like Gender Queer and others containing profanity and descriptions of sexual acts, like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian. The bill narrowly passed the House in early February in a 53-45 vote and had sat in the laurels until its first Senate committee hearing last Friday. Two-dozen proponents testified at Fridays hearing, saying though the materials they deem to be obscene were not available in all school libraries across the state, they worried that those materials being available in some schools would lead to them spreading into their local districts. Some of the proponents were parents who had unsuccessfully petitioned their school boards to have books removed from school libraries. All my opponents can think about is the penalty, which is only a misdemeanor. It seems that the children here are just playing second fiddle. So, lets be adults and the good examples for them to follow, Phalen said Friday. More than 30 opponents, including teachers, public employee representatives, students and library representatives, testified Friday that the bill would only disregard local school and school board control and drive more teachers away from Montana as it deals with a teacher shortage. Please dont drive a further wedge between parents, kids and their teachers by waging a national culture war here in Montana, said Sarah Piper, the director of public policy and research with the Montana Federation of Public Employees. McCracken used an analogy Wednesday about someone wearing pants with both suspenders and a belt. If someone took off the suspenders, their pants wouldnt fall down, he told the committee, because theyre still covered by the belt. This idea that if we strike that exception, then were putting schools or public libraries in a new position, and I think the reality is it was not, he said. Part of the intent here was if the legislature wants to make a policy decision about the materials that are in school libraries, public libraries, do it in the right area of code. And dont bog down a whole lot of folks time in multiple committees over a legislative session on this statute. The bill will be considered next on the Senate floor, and if it passes as amended, will have to go back to the House for consideration of the amended version. The post Senate committee amends Phalens obscenity bill to keep decisions in hands of locals appeared first on Daily Montanan. In 1987, the U.S. Air Force, likely at the direction of the Executive Office of the President, spent $59,000 over $156,000 in 2023 dollars on decks of playing cards that were given away as souvenirs on Air Force Two, the vice presidents plane. Sen. William Proxmire, a Democrat from Wisconsin, awarded the Air Force his Golden Fleece Award for this silly waste of taxpayers dollars. According to Proxmire, the vice president and his staff were allowed to distribute these fancy playing cards, decked out with the Vice Presidential Seal, to guests on official flights. This practice had been going on for some time, with expenditures for cards dating back 20 years, and costing $59,000 since it started. These commemorative keepsakes were, bronzed with the current Vice Presidential Seal, black on gold on the back of all cards, with 'Welcome Aboard Air Force Two' printed in gold on the back of all cards Jokers to include images of Capitol Building on face, deck in light blue velour case Vice Presidential seal in gold, according to a description from the Air Forces bid request. These decks cost about $10,000 per year, and that doesnt include the other fancy souvenirs given away on both Air Force One and Air Force Two. Frivolous luxury souvenirs for privileged guests shouldnt be financed on the backs of taxpayers. If the president and vice president want to provide these trinkets for their guests, they could always buy them with their own salary. As Proxmire humorously notes, Ive seen a lot of card tricks, but this one beats them all. This is one case where somebody needs to play a trump card for the taxpayers. The #WasteOfTheDay is brought to you by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com What can a tiny Himalayan country nestled between India and Tibet teach the world? More than you might think. A growing number of Western industrial democracies are embroiled in turmoil. A former U.S. president promises death and destruction if multiple legal proceedings dont go his way. Dozens of French cities are smoldering after weeks of violent protests over unavoidable pension reforms. Meanwhile, Bhutan peacefully and consistently fulfills its citizens aspirations. This success isnt accidental. Bhutans legal edict of 1629 states that if the government cannot create happiness for its people, there is no purpose for the government to exist. National happiness has since become Bhutans governing hallmark. This is the first of a two-part essay exploring how Bhutan became the worlds happiest developing country, and what its experience can teach us. Bhutan is not perfect, and its achievements have not been trouble-free. As rising wealth fails to make many societies happier, however, Bhutan reminds us that communities and nations need more than money to thrive. +++++++ I will protect you as a parent, care for you as a brother and serve you as a son. I shall give you everything and keep nothing. I shall live such a life as a good human being that you may find it worthy to serve as an example for your own children. I have no personal goals other than to fulfill your hopes and aspirations. King Jigme Khesar Namgyel Wangchuck Bhutans fifth (and current) king Bhutans modern journey toward happiness began in 1972, when King Jigme Singye Wangchuck, the fourth in the Wangchuck line, became the worlds youngest monarch at the age of 17. The Dharma King, as he became known, immediately displayed wisdom beyond his years. Gross national happiness is more important than Gross Domestic Product, he proclaimed. The idea of Gross National Happiness (GNH) has since become the guiding principle of Bhutans government, enshrined in Article 9 of its constitution. Transforming GNH from theory to practice has involved decades of deliberate effort, meticulous planning, and mindful execution. GNH in Bhutan is based on four fundamental pillars and nine accompanying objectives, each mindfully optimized in an evolving, multi-variable dialectic. Bhutans current prime minister, Dr. Lotay Tshering, explains: If a policy does not promote our happiness objectives, if it is not environment-friendly, or if it isnt certain to result in greater well-being for the Bhutanese people, then that policy will never be approved in our country. Bhutans success in implementing GNH has consistently generated high levels of recorded personal satisfaction and public trust in the government. The first pillar of Bhutans commitment to happiness is equitable and sustainable socioeconomic development. Bhutan considers the material well-being of every citizen as a fundamental right. Every citizen has access to clothing, housing, education, and healthcare, as well as legal protections for speech, private property, voting rights, and equal justice under law. No one is left behind. In return, Bhutanese citizens are expected to work, protect their countrys sovereignty and culture, pay taxes, and actively participate in community functions. The Dharma King summarized this social contract succinctly: A little effort on your part will be much more effective than a great deal of effort on the part of the government. GNHs second pillar is cultural preservation. Bhutan is a deeply Buddhist country that prizes peace, nonviolence, compassion, and tolerance. Preserving the nations distinct Mahayanist cultural heritage, including support for its monarchy, is fundamental to the identity of every Bhutanese citizen. Public virtues matter. Multiple social guidelines are followed, including some that seem restrictive by Western standards. For example, smoking is prohibited in most indoor and outdoor locations, traditional dress is encouraged, and social media is monitored in relation to GNH goals. Volunteerism is widespread. Maintaining cultural cohesion hasnt always been easy. During the 1990s, Bhutan fought an internal war, deporting more than 100,000 mostly Nepalese residents who espoused anti-monarchical, socialist ideals. Their demands represented a clear threat to Bhutans ancient and most respected traditions. Some refer to these years as Bhutans darkest; others see them as Bhutans most important. During these years of conflict, it is estimated that 20%30% of Bhutans population was deported or voluntarily fled. The king himself engaged directly in several pitched battles, further securing the devotion of his people. The third pillar of Bhutans commitment to GNH is ecological sustainability. Bhutan values economic growth, but it places equal emphasis on ensuring that growth is sustainable, equitable, and inclusive. As Prime Minister Tshering explained, if growth initiatives do not benefit all in an environmentally responsible manner, they do not receive government support. Bhutans fourth pillar is good governance. The nations democratic traditions have deepened over the past seven decades. The groundwork for democratization was laid under King Jigme Dorji Wangchuck in 1952, with the establishment of a ruling National Assembly. Parliamentary elections were further formalized by Bhutans fifth and current monarch and enshrined in the 2008 constitution. The country boasts a well-functioning legal system, a robust anti-corruption commission, and an effective, two-party parliament. Bhutans leaders are held accountable for their actions through a culture of transparency. While Bhutans GNH philosophy is rooted in these four pillars, progress is meticulously assessed through nine additional domains: psychological well-being, physical health, education, time use, cultural diversity, good governance, community vitality, ecological diversity, and living standards. Bhutan has developed sophisticated metrics and polling methodologies to measure and monitor progress across each of these domains in collaboration with Oxford University researchers and the Center for Bhutan Studies. These methodologies and domains align with the countrys adherence to Buddhisms middle path, which emphasizes balanced actions instead of extreme, stop-start approaches. Prime Minister Tshering emulates the modest lifestyle of the king. He refused a salary increase above $28,000, donating the additional amount to charity. His remuneration is one of the lowest among senior elected officials worldwide, amounting to less than 2% of that of his counterpart in Singapore. In addition to his role as the countrys leading elected official, Tshering is also a practicing medical doctor. He volunteers his time and professional services to treat patients on weekends. Bhutans monarchical and ruling elites are recognized for their exemplary public service. No one doubts their desire to fulfill the hopes and aspirations of their fellow citizens. Bhutans economic performance is equally commendable, with an annualized GDP growth rate of 7.5% from 2000 to 2019. Over the first two decades of the 21st century, Bhutans GDP quintupled, and per capita income multiplied over 4.5 times, making it one of the fastest-growing developing countries. Like every other country, Bhutan had to navigate the challenges of the COVID pandemic. This has meant making difficult choices, like closing the border to visiting foreigners and promoting a national vaccination plan. The king himself trekked by car, horse, and foot to remote hamlets to assure his subjects that government plans would protect them. As revenues in the tourist sector fell to zero, the king also supplemented the incomes of those who suffered most, and granted a Kidu, or loan-interest waiver, to those who found themselves unable to pay their debts. Today, Bhutan charges the highest tourist tax in the world $200 per day for most visitors to supplement the incomes of those who are still recovering. Bhutans journey toward becoming the worlds happiest developing country has been led by an enlightened monarch and rooted in the principles of Gross National Happiness. The nations holistic approach to development goes beyond economic indicators. It has resulted in a society that values inclusivity, sustainability, and universal well-being. Terrence Keeley is the author of Sustainable: Moving Beyond ESG to Impact Investing, and the CEO of 1Point Six LLC. Editors Note: What lessons Bhutan offers the rest of the world will be explored by the author in more detail in the second essay of this series, to be released tomorrow. REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio The Ohio Department of Agriculture said 134 acres have been added to the Farmland Preservation Program. Todd Fackler in Huron County becomes the 4th Ohio farmer to join the program this year. Agricultural land is a key part of Ohios landscape. Preserving this land is essential. An agricultural easement in Farmland Preservation is a voluntary agreement between the landowner and ODA, where the landowner agrees to perpetually maintain the land predominately in agricultural use. In exchange, the landowner is either compensated or may be entitled to a tax deduction. In partnership with ODA, local sponsor Western Reserve Land Conservancy and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) played a significant role in securing this agreement. Since the Office of Farmland Preservation began in 1998, 684 farms totaling 103,470 acres have entered into agreements. This enables Ohio to continually be a top producer, aiding not just Ohioans, but all Americans. Funds from the purchase of these easements are invested in the local economy by the landowners who use them by expanding their farming operations, purchasing new equipment, reducing debt, adding conservation practices, planning for retirement, sending their children to college or for other purposes. When the state purchases a farmland easement, the proceeds are plowed into Ohios economy and our agriculture industry is preserved for future generations. COLUMBUS A new online farm management course offered by Ohio State University College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences will help Ohios beginning farmers qualify for the requirements of the Ohio Department of Agricultures Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program. Called Farm On, the self-paced, on-demand farm financial management course was created by Ohio State University Extension professionals and is offered through OSU Extensions new Farm Financial Management and Policy Institute, said Eric Richer, assistant professor and OSU Extension field specialist in farm management and lead instructor for the course. Whats unique about the Farm On course is that, not only does it comply with the regulations of the new Ohio House Bill 95 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program, it also meets the borrower training requirements for the U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Service Agencys Beginning Farmer and Rancher Loan Program, Richer said. The Farm On course includes multiple video lessons, 10 quizzes, 10 exercises, individual and group consultations and a 10-module course that covers the following topics: farm business planning, balance sheets, income statements, cash flow projections, calculating cost of production, farm record keeping, farm taxes, farm financing, risk management and farm business analysis Ohio State University is the only educational institution in Ohio with a course like Farm On that qualifies for ODAs Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program and FSAs Borrower Training Requirements. The Ohio House Bill 95 Beginning Farmer Tax Credit program went into effect last July 2022 and grants a 3.99% tax credit to landowners who sell or lease assets to a certified Ohio beginning farmer. The new law also allows an Ohio tax credit to the certified beginning farmer equal to the cost of the financial management course completed, Richer said. The Farm On course costs $300 per person. To sign up for Farm On, go to go.osu.edu/farmon. SYRACUSE, N.Y. Tyler Beck of Beck Farms, Freeville, N.Y., and Chris Waddell of Apple Shamrock Dairy Farms, Townville, Pa., hosted two of American Dairy Association North Easts spring Virtual Farm Tours. Waddells tour drew nearly 6,700 registrations, and Becks tour had 8,000, registrations with the option to view the tour live or watch the recording later. Two separate tour sessions, along with free lesson plans, took place on the same day at each farm, including: A deep dive tour that focuses on how farms use technology and experts to provide care for their animals and the land for students in grades 6-12; and a general tour with that covers three primary areas on the farm where calves live, where cows liv, and where cows are milked, for Pre-K- Grade 5. Offered in real-time, the tours allow students and teachers to ask questions as the farmer host walks through the barns. The award-winning virtual program has garnered more than 550,000 viewers since 2018. A third spring tour is set for May 25, to be hosted by Crystal Stambaugh Edwards of Pheasant Echos Farm, Westminster, Maryland. Registration information will be available closer to the date. Watch Becks and Waddells tours here, or visit AmericanDairy.com, and click on Virtual Farm Tours under the For Schools tab. Tesco has slashed the price of its milk for the first time since May 2020, with the retailer saying the move would 'not affect' farmers. The UK's largest retailer announced that it has cut the price of its four pint bottle from 1.65 to 1.55. Two pints will be reduced by 5p to 1.25, while a single pint will also fall by the same amount to 90p. The supermarket explained that its costs for buying in milk had declined, so it had decided to "pass that reduction on to customers". Jason Tarry, Tesco's UK chief executive, said the move would "not affect" the price the retailer pays to its farmer suppliers. "We've seen some cost price deflation for milk across the market in recent times, and we want to take this opportunity to pass that reduction on to customers. This will not affect the price we pay our farmers," he said, "Our Tesco Sustainable Dairy Group was set up to ensure that farmers across the UK get a fair, independently-set price for the milk they produce for us. "Our model gives farmers security when the market price for milk falls below the cost of production and reflects our long-standing commitment to our farmers." It follows First Milk announcing a substantial milk price fall for its farmer suppliers from next month, declining by 3.40p per litre. Dairy farmers supplying Muller who meet the conditions of the processor's Advantage scheme will also see an May milk price decline, of 2.5ppl. Tighter controls to reduce the risk of spreading bovine TB in Scotland will be rolled out from next month, the Scottish government has confirmed. From 18 May, changes to legislation will require stricter pre-movement testing of cattle, adding extra precautions for animals coming from areas of higher risk of infection. In addition, compensation will be reduced for any unclean cattle slaughtered for TB control purposes, the Scottish government explained. It said this would incentivise farmers to keep their animals clean and promote better animal health and welfare. A new definition for isolation will also be introduced, and compensation will be reduced for cattle which are not properly isolated. The Scottish government said this would strengthen the protection of the main herd against onward spread of infection from any reactors or suspect reactors. Although Scotland has been officially labelled as officially TB free (OTF) by the European Commission since 2009, cases do still occur. Rural affairs secretary Mairi Gougeon said breakdowns were "extremely disruptive, upsetting and distressing" for cattle owners. We are committed to maintaining Scotlands low TB infection rates and OTF status, which is crucial to the success of our cattle industry," she said. These legislative changes are part of a comprehensive, practical and proportionate programme of measures to minimise the risks from all potential sources of infection and reduce the risk of disease spread as far as possible." Ms Gougeon added: Guidance on TB is available on the Scottish Governments website and we will ensure farmers are kept up to date with the situation in Scotland. "We will continue to support farmers affected by TB in partnership with the Animal and Plant Health Agency. Responding to the tougher rules, NFU Scotland said it 'welcomed' the government's 'commitment' to reviewing the bovine TB processes in the country. The union's vice president, Alasdair Macnab said the changes were being introduced following a consultation process and should offer 'increased confidence' to keepers. NFUS urges Scottish cattle keepers to remain aware that the greatest risk of introducing TB into Scotland is from cattle movements," he said. "[They should] continue to ensure their sourcing policies will minimise the risk to their own holding and the national herd. Donald Trump has mocked Emmanuel Macron for "kissing Xi Jinping's a**". Donald Trump has taken aim at Emmanuel Macron for courting China The former US president took aim at the French leader after he held talks with his Chinese counterpart last week in the hope of using Beijing's alliance with Russia to end the war in Ukraine. Asked about Macron's trip by Fox News, Trump said: "You've got this crazy world blowing up and the United States has absolutely no say. "And Macron, who's a friend of mine, is over with China kissing his (Xi's) a** in China. I said, 'France is now going to China?'" An Elysee Palace spokesperson has described Trump's comments as "vulgar". Trump courted Xi during his time in the White House and had high praise for the Chinese president. The controversial politician said: "President Xi is a brilliant man. If you went all over Hollywood to look for somebody to play the role of President Xi, you couldn't find - there's nobody like that. The look, the brain, the whole thing. We had a great relationship." Trump also had fond memories of Xi's female interpreter. He recalled: "He had an incredible - I'm not allowed to say because it's very impolite and very politically incorrect - a beautiful female interpreter. "If you say it, they'll say, 'This is terrible, you're not allowed to say that.' But she was very professional. She spoke every word for him, very professional." Russia's annual Victory Day military parades are being cancelled in fresh humiliation for Vladimir Putin. Vladimir Putin's war has led to the cancellation of Russia's Victory Day parades The patriotic military parades are held each year on May 9 to celebrate Russia's triumph over Nazi Germany in World War II. The events are usually used by Putin to show off the nation's biggest and best military equipment but they are steadily being cancelled this year as the war in Ukraine decimates Moscow's military arsenal. Rumours are swirling that the parades have been axed as there are not enough tanks to display at the parades. Governors in the Kursk and Belgorod oblasts - which border Ukraine - have scrapped their events due to "security reasons", according to the Russian media outlet RBC. Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod Oblast, said that the parade "would also not be held in order not to provoke the enemy with a large number of vehicles and soldiers". It has also been announced that authorities in Russian-annexed Crimea have also called off their parades for security reasons. Sergey Aksyonov, who acts as the head of the region, confirmed that they would also be scrapping Labour Day marches that were due to happen on May 1. He wrote: "The authorities of the Republic of Crimea and the Hero City of Sevastopol have made a joint decision not to hold festive marches on May 1 (Labour Day), or 'Immortal Regiment' marches and a military parade on May 9 (Victory Day). "This decision was made due to security considerations." Daniel Radcliffe thinks adults must trust trans children to tell them how they identify so they dont seem condescending. Daniel Radcliffe thinks adults must trust trans children to tell them how they identify so they dont seem condescending The 33-year-old Harry Potter actor who has publicly spoken out against the wizard franchise creator JK Rowlings controversial comments on transgender rights issues made the comment to a group of trans and nonbinary children in a new series of talks for LGBTQ+ charity The Trevor Project. He said during his roundtable, filmed for The Trevor Projects new Sharing Space series, and which has been posted on YouTube: There are some people in the world who are not trying to engage in this conversation in any kind of good faith. I think a lot of the time its just because people dont know a young trans person so theres just this theoretical idea about this in their head. He added he believed people can have a slightly condescending but well-meaning attitude of, People are young around the concept of gender fluidity. Daniel told the group of youths: I would love to hear from all of you about why we can trust kids to tell us who they are. He was joined by 11-year-old trans girl Daley who explained: I learned out of the cradle that I was a boy, I should like blue, I should like sports, I should be manly, I should like superheroes And I never associated myself with those things and we are told that we are not old enough to know this yet. I am only 11-years-old How do I know Im a girl? And, I need more time to think about this... I dont understand why I cant just decide that Im a girl. If its a big decision to decide Im a girl, its a big decision to decide Im a boy. Daniel remarked about the differences in their childhoods: There are some people in the world who are not trying to engage in this conversation in any kind of good faith. I think a lot of the time its just because people dont know a young trans person so there's just this theoretical idea about this in their head. Daniel wrote an open letter in 2020, also for The Trevor Project, apologising for the pain Harry Potter writer JKs comments may have caused fans. He last year told IndieWire about why he felt compelled to write it: Ive met so many queer and trans kids and young people who had a huge amount of identification with Potter on that. And so seeing them hurt on that day I was like, I wanted them to know that not everybody in the franchise felt that way. And that was really important. JK, 57, doubled down on her trans comments in March when she was 14-years-old is too young for people to decide whether or not to change gender. The writer who has daughter Jessica, 27, with her first husband Jorge and who has been married since 2001 to doctor Neil Murry, with whom she has son David, 20, and 18-year-old daughter Mackenzie has been flooded with hate messages and death threats since she first waded into the trans rights debate in 2019. She told The Witch Trials of JK Rowling podcast in March: I dont believe that even a 14-year-old can truly understand what the loss of their fertility is. At 14 I would have said that I didnt want children but (motherhood) has been the most joyful, wonderful thing in my life. I couldnt have comprehended that and would have had no idea about what I was giving up there will be a minority of people for whom this will be solution. But in the numbers, particularly of young people that we are currently seeing coming forward, I find cause for doubt and concern. The writer also branded the strength of trans activists an instance of authoritarianism and the attitude of the fundamentalist. King Charles has reportedly only once rehearsed his upcoming coronation. King Charles has reportedly only once rehearsed his upcoming coronation The monarch, 74, due to be crowned alongside his wife Queen Consort Camilla, 75, at Londons Westminster Abbey on 6 May, is also said to have completed the run-through without the ceremonial robes hell be wearing on the day. But royal aides are thought to be building up to a crescendo of rehearsals, according to the Daily Telegraph, which claimed he had only done one so far. The newspaper added the practices will be culminating in a full dress rehearsal at the Abbey, which it said is rumoured to be taking place on 29 April. It added: The Telegraph understands that just one rehearsal has taken place that was neither timed nor in Coronation dress. Charles is said to have wanted a slimmed down coronation in light of the cost of living crisis gripping Britain. Prince Harry will be attending the coronation, but without his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, it was confirmed on Wednesday. (12.04.23) The couple's attendance had been the source of much speculation after they failed to RSVP to Charles invite by the deadline of 3 April before it was announced Harry, 38, would be present, while Meghan, 41, and their two children, Prince Archie, three, and 22-month-old Princess Lilibet, will remain at their family home in California. An official statement from the Palace said: Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. As Harry and Meghan are no longer full-time working royals they wouldnt have had a formal role in the ceremony. Amongst the royal family members expected to join the king and queen in the carriage procession from Westminster Abbey to Buckingham Palace after the crowning and enthronement ceremony, include the Prince and Princess of Wales Harrys older brother William and sister-in-law Catherine and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh among others. Meghan and her childrens absences will mean Charles has still only seen his granddaughter Lilibet once, when the family briefly returned to the UK to attend a service of thanksgiving for the late Queen Elizabeth's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. The coronation date falls on the same day as Prince Archie's fourth birthday and Harrys attendance at the coronation will be the first time he has seen his family since the Queens funeral in September 2022 after she died in September aged 96. Travis Barker's son says Kourtney Kardashian is "like a mother" to him. Landon Barker gave a speech at Travis and Kourtney's wedding The Blink-182 frontman's eldest child, 19-year-old Landon Barker - who he has with ex-wife Shanna Moakler - gave a touching speech at the couple's Italian wedding, in which he celebrated his "great" dad and new stepmother. In the couple's Hulu wedding special, 'Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney and Travis', Landon was shown giving his speech and said he was "so thankful to have such a great dad in my life." He thanked the Kardashian family for being welcoming and told Kourtney: "You look out for me like a mother and have always had my back." Landon also gave a brief speech at the welcome dinner that launched the wedding weekend but pledged to "keep it short and sweet". He cheered: "I'm happy for everyone here and so excited for the wedding. Long live Kravis!" Meanwhile, before the Italian wedding, Kourtney - who has Mason, 13, Penelope, 10, and eight-year-old Reign with former partner Scott Disick - got some advice on making her entrance from her sister Kim Kardashian, who had also opted for the European country when she and now-former husband Kanye West tied the knot in 2014. In another scene on the TV special, Kim told her sister: "The one piece of advice that I'll give you is when I was walking down the aisle in Italy and I had the long train, I was so nervous that it was going to come off that I walked so fast." Kourtney asked: "So you're saying walk slow?" Kim stressed: "Walk slow, take it in, this only happens once." But walking speed was the least of Kourtney's problems because the lengthy veil she wore with her custom Dolce + Gabbana minidress kept getting caught on nearby bushes as she tried to walk down a steep staircase. She later asked the groom: "Did you realise that I was getting stuck?" Travis - who also has Alabama, 17, and stepdaughter Atiana, 23, with Shanna - replied: "No, I was in the zone." Pete Davidson is to host 'Saturday Night Live'. Pete Davidson is to host Saturday Night Live The 'King of Staten Island' star left the comedy sketch show last May after eight years but he is reportedly returning as guest presenter on 6 May, marking the first time he has fronted the show. A source told the New York Post newspaper's Page Six column: Hes very excited to go back.[Leaving the show] has been a change of pace for him, but in a good way." Pete has taken the gig to promote his upcoming Peacock series 'Bupkis', which he wrote, produced and starred in and is also being produced by 'SNL' boss Lorne Michaels. The source added: Lorne has always been a huge supporter of Pete and his creative vision and Pete thinks the world of Lorne." When he left 'SNL' last year, the 29-year-old comedian admitted he was "super emotional" after looking back at his time on the show. Sharing a throwback video, he wrote on Instagram: "This video was taken 8 years ago. Jerrod sent it to me last night and it made me super emotional in the best way. In the video I had just gotten back from doing my very first update and sketch. Its crazy to think that today Ill be doing my last one. When I got the show I was 20 years old and I had no idea what I was doing. I still dont but especially back then. " Pete went on to explain that he "knew" he wasn't really suited to sketch comedy but kept up with his co-stars by playing up to his skills as a stand up comedian. He wrote: "I wasnt really a sketch performer I was just a stand up. I knew I could never keep up or go toe to toe with a Kenan Thompson or a Kate McKinnon so I was super scared at figuring out what I could possibly bring to or do for such a historic, respected show and platform. I figured since Im a stand up Ill just try my stand up and personal bits on Weekend Update as myself and Im so glad I did. I got to share so much with this audience and literally grow up in front of your eyes. We were together through the good and the bad, the happiest and the darkest of times. "I owe [producer] Lorne Michaels and everyone at SNL my life. Im so grateful and I wouldnt be here without them. I appreciate you guys always having my back and sticking up for me even when that wasnt the popular opinion.(sic)" Bella Hadid has spoken out in support of Ariana Grande after she reminded fans to stop commenting on body image. Bella Hadid speaks out in support of Ariana Grande following her viral plea The 29-year-old pop star went viral earlier this week when she begged followers to stop passing judgement on her changing body and now supermodel Bella, 26, has weighed in on the situation, reiterating to her own follows that they "never know" what a person may be going through at any given time. On Wednesday (12.04.23), she wrote on Instagram"@arianagrande [white heart emoji] you never know what someone is dealing with mentally or physically. Disease or depression. Grief or heartache. You just dont, and you will never know until you walk in a day in their shoes. "Instead of unsolicited advice or opinions, judgement or aggression, just try to offer a helping hand and be kind. There is always a reason for the way people look/feel , so try to be soft , especially when you dont know someone or what theyve been through. Instagram is not real and we need to look deeper and consciously remind ourselves that each of us are just human beings trying our best. So next time someone wants to write a nasty article to make fun, or a mean comment to get some likes , just remember that. "If someone wants to talk badly about another person , remove yourself from the conversation. Its so much cooler to be kind. Love you guys. And love you Ari. This is so important , I am very proud of you. It will help so many people. Thank you." Just a day earlier, the 'thank u next' hitmaker had urged her followers to realise that when she was at her what they thought was her "healthiest", she was actually on antidepressants. Speaking in a video posted to TikTok, she said: "I think we could be, I think we should be, gentler and less comfortable commenting on people's bodies, no matter what. If you think you're saying something good or well-intentioned, whatever it is -- healthy, unhealthy, big, small, this, that, sexy, not sexy - we just shouldn't. We should really work towards not doing that as much. There are ways to compliment someone or to ignore something that you see that you don't like that I think we should help each other work towards. Just to aim towards being safer and keeping each other safer. "Personally, for me, the body that you've been comparing my current body to was the unhealthiest version of my body. I was on a lot of antidepressants, and drinking on them, and eating poorly, and at the lowest points of my life when I looked the way you consider 'my healthy,' but that in fact wasn't my healthy." The Japan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Dialogue emphasised bilateral trade prospects in various industry sectors. In the realm of textiles, Japan is a prominent importer, and Bangladesh is one of the top suppliers of textile products globally. Recent data revealed that Bangladesh was the third-largest supplier of garments to Japan, holding a 5.37 per cent market share. In 2022, Japan imported garments worth $1.340 billion from the South Asian nation. The Economic Dialogue was held virtually and organised by Japan. Trade officials from both countries participated and discussed various issues during the event. Md Tofazzal Hossain Miah, principal secretary to the Prime Minister, led the Bangladesh delegation. The Japanese delegation was led by Hirai Hirohide, vice-minister for international affairs of Japan's ministry of economy, trade, and industry. The Japan-Bangladesh Joint Economic Dialogue explored bilateral trade prospects, particularly in textiles. Japan, a major textile importer, and Bangladesh, a top global supplier, discussed various issues. Bangladesh was Japan's third-largest garment supplier in 2022 with a 5.37 per cent market share, amounting to $1.340 billion in imports. Last year, Japan imported apparel worth $24.953 billion, with Bangladesh ranking as the third-largest exporter after China and Vietnam. Shipments from Bangladesh grew to $1.340 billion in 2022 compared to $1.165 billion in 2021. Japan's apparel imports from Bangladesh were affected by the COVID pandemic in 2020, dropping to $1.033 billion from $1.167 billion in 2019. The trade value stood at $1.122 billion in 2018, according to Fibre2Fashion's market insight tool TexPro. Trousers and shorts were the most dominant garments in Japanese imports last year, accounting for 36.72 per cent of the total import value. Jerseys and T-shirts held a 19.32 per cent and 17.16 per cent share, respectively, in terms of value. Japanese fabric imports from Bangladesh also increased, jumping to $1.733 million from $1.108 million in 2021, as per TexPro. However, fabric imports were negligible compared to apparel imports. Fibre2Fashion News Desk (KUL) What happened at the end of Beef? What does the ending mean? By the time Beef - a series created by Lee Sung Jin and starring Ali Wong and Steven Yeun ends, the titular beef has ended. But the road to the finale is a wild, exhilarating ride. It all starts when Amy (Wong) and Danny (Yeun) have a road rage incident that goes viral. After that, the two make it their life's purpose to exact revenge. They go to insane lengths that include (but are not limited to) cheating, arson, a hostage situation and eventually, Danny winding up in the hospital. It's a masterclass in escalation and it's no wonder the show is having a moment on streaming with many calling it one of the best titles of the year.In case you haven't quite wrapped your head around the mind-boggling ending, you've come to the right place. Let's unpack the final episodes of Beef to understand what really went down.The beef starts small but a lot has happened by the time we get to the final showdown between Danny and Amy. The former has lost the house he built for his parents to a fire caused due to faulty wiring and the latter's husband George (Joseph Lee) has left with their daughter June. Danny goes to Amy's home to plant a glove and frame her for the house fire. When George tries to stop him at gunpoint, Danny knocks him unconscious and leaves only to discover that June and the family's pet dog are in his car's backseat. He panics and drives her to the motel assuming George is dead. That's when Danny and Paul's (Young Mazino) cousin Isaac (David Choe) who is fresh out of jail barges in and demands they return the money they owe. Isaac decides to use June to get Amy to pay him a ransom of $500,000 dollars.Amy, who is at Jordan Fosters' (Maria Bello) luxurious home when she gets the call, tells Isaac he can come there and steal an artifact or two worth millions. Isaac and his men with Danny, Paul and June in tow, arrive at Jordan's home. Isaac barges in and holds Amy, Jordan and Naomi at gunpoint. Just then, the FBI gets there all guns blazing, Danny and Paul are locked out of the house during the firing and Paul makes an escape. However, a gunshot sound has Danny (and the viewers) believing that he is dead. Meanwhile, Amy is told by the FBI that her daughter is safe and has left with her husband. Having lost everything, both Danny and Amy end up back in their cars and go on another rage-filled chase.Amy and Danny find themselves injured as they drive off a cliff and the car crashes in the desert. They switch between fighting over a gun to helping each other. They also end up eating some poisonous "elderberries" and finally have a breakthrough. In a sequence where they seem to be hallucinating, the two open up and show their vulnerable sides. It's a culmination of their long-drawn feud and a realization that all they needed to do was communicate. The two expect to be dead after their chat. However, they do wake up the next morning and are almost out of the desert. In fact, they also get phone reception and Danny finds out that Paul has survived. The two get to a tunnel with each other's support. This is where George, who has been looking for Amy sees them and assumes that Danny has hurt her. Without hesitating, he shoots him. The screen turns black for a very long time.In the final moments of Beef see Danny on a hospital bed in critical condition after the gunshot. Amy is by his side as she climbs into bed and curls up beside him. Just before the credits roll, we see Danny move his arm and put it around Amy. The end!After all that escalation, Beef gets a fitting conclusion. Both characters have shared an honest moment in which they fully understand each other. While the end seems final and it ties up all the ends neatly, there is room for interpretation because we don't see Danny die. The fact that we see Danny's arm moving means there is hope. It is also safe to assume that the two have fallen in love. Their passionate hatred could've easily made way for affection. Neither of these is confirmed but it's nice to think of a resolution where Danny and Amy's catharsis has led to something beautiful even if it means they just bury the hatchet and move on.An alternative is that the beef isn't quite over. Danny could wake up and the two could go right back to bickering and fighting. This is the kind of ending that would open up endless possibilities for a Season 2. It would also be very on-theme for a series thats about a relentless rivalry. In an interview with a leading news portal, creator Sung Jin revealed, 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 also said, "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.Either way, the true takeaway from the ending of Beef is Danny and Amy being able to uncap their bottled-up emotions. The show takes on a lot of heavy themes including Asian-American angst. Both characters have suppressed their rage against society for years. They are from different classes but have a lot in common when you take into account the pressure they've been put under by their families and as Asians in a white world. Danny struggles with his career and is miserable in his pursuit of getting his parents to the U.S. and keeping his younger brother Paul around. Amy feels the need to endlessly work and chase perfection or her husband, whose love feels conditional, won't love her. By expressing themselves, the two felt seen and the simple act rode them of their anger. Jackky Bhagnani: Producer-actor Jackky Bhagnani, who is well-known for his excellent film interests and his penchant for bankrolling massy entertainers, was spotted at a recent event in Mumbai last night looking extremely handsome. The charmer graced the red carpet looking as fine as ever, as he arrived wearing a classic three-piece blue and black suit and pointed shoes. He kept his overall look dashing and suave, making the right heads turn. Always making sure to serve looks, this young and cool producer is extremely talented, as he is coming up with two of the biggest film releases this year. Jackky has recently wrapped up the shooting for his latest Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and now he is stationed for another shoot in Glasgow, making it a highly anticipated year for his fans and well-wishers. Aag Laga Di: Arjun Kapoor's Sister Anshula's MINDBLOWING Body Transformation Stuns Fans At Lakme Fashion Week On the work front, the uber cool producer Jackky Bhagnani is gearing up for Bade Miyan Chote Miyan and Ganapath, along with some other unannounced projects. Rhea Chakraborty: Actress Rhea Chakraborty is starting a new chapter in her life that's a display of her strength and grace. Despite facing difficulties, she is setting an inspiring and positive example for others by starting over and moving forward. It's heartening to see her make a comeback and stand on her own feet. After three terrifying years, Rhea is back to what she was doing and was recently spotted as she prepared herself for the shoot of MTV Roadies season 19. As per reports, she will be seen as one of the gang leaders in the upcoming season of the reality show. The actress took to social media on Thursday and shared a video where she expressed how she hasn't shot in the last 3 years. Rhea is seen in the video getting her hair and makeup done in her vanity van for the Roadies shoot, sharing her excitement about returning to work after 2020. Sushant Singh Rajputs Sister CLARIFIES HER Tweet 'Tum Kyu Darogi Was Not Directed Towards Rhea Chakraborty While in the video, Rhea can be heard saying, "So I haven't shot in three years and I am back on sets and this vanity van is feeling all new, hair and makeup hasn't been happening in a while, and strangely enough when I shot three years ago, it was on this very set, in this vanity van for Chehre. And I'm back here after three years. The universe has strange ways. Overwhelming and exciting!" Further, she captioned her post: "It's been a long waiting game. Being back on set,back to work is a joy I can't describe. Heart full of gratitude,raring to go.Thank you to all of you for your love and support. Times have been hard,but your love has been real." Take a look here. Rhea also shared her beautiful picture while on her way to Chandigarh for the MTV Roadies shoot. Rhea's brother Showik Chakraborty also posted a supportive message for his sister and wrote - "So proud of you Ace it @rhea_chakraborty." Many are excited for Rhea Chakraborty's comeback to MTV as a Gang Leader and to see her on the show. MTV Roadies Season 19: Rhea Chakrabortys Boss Lady Comeback As A Gang Leader Leaves Netizens In Awe Following the demise of her boyfriend, actor Sushant Singh Rajput, on June 14, 2020, Rhea got entangled in legal troubles. The 34-year-old actor was discovered dead at his home, and although the police investigation declared it a suicide, Sushant's family raised allegations of foul play and implicated Rhea in the matter. As a result, the actress was arrested in connection with a drug case linked to Sushant's death and was investigated by various authorities. While she was released on bail later that year, some cases against her are still ongoing. Maneesha Makes A SHOCKING Revelation About Her Life: As Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 5 enters its third week, many contestants have already grabbed the audience's attention. This time the show started with eighteen contestants. With one more entry as a wild card entry this week, the total number of contestants is 19. Like last year, most of them are Television stars and social media influencers. But most of them are not so familiar faces in the general audience. But many have been close to the audience by sharing their life experiences and so on. Since the first week of the show, many contestants have shared their stories through the My Story segment. Most of the contestants have faced many crises in their lives. Now, Maneesha, one of the senior contestant on the show, has also opened up about the struggles she faced. Maneesha said this during a conversation in the kitchen. Maneesha and, another contestant of the show Angeline, had some fights in the past few days. Maneesha revealed her trauma in the midst of opening up about the mental distance she felt due to Angeline's behavior in the Bigg Boss house. Angeline, who came to talk to Maneesha, said that her behaviors were due to her childhood traumas. To this Maneesha says that she too have experienced trauma in her life and the difference is that she is not announcing it like Angeline does. "I am forty years old. You are only twenty years old. I have come here after enduring many things in my life." Maneesha said. "I have endured isolation and neglect. Without doing anything wrong, I have become guilty in front of this society and I have even been called a sex worker. I have struggled with it all alone. I too have traumatic experiences," Maneesha adds. With this, Angeline was unable to say anything. I don't need to pretend to anyone, if I don't like something, I will say that I don't like it. I don't know how to live a double life. By no means will I absorb what cannot be absorbed. I won't go behind anyone pampering them. After the anger I feel when I fight with you, there is nothing in my mind." Maneesha said. But Manisha also tells Angeline that she can't forget what she said to her the previous day. Earlier in my story segment, Angeline talked about the hardships she was going through from her childhood due to her father. Angeline had told about the events in her life in such a way that she was mentally broken. But Maneesha has yet to get a chance to tell her story. Students from Zhejiang University launch subsidy program to support schoolmates with financial difficulties People's Daily Online) 15:48, April 13, 2023 In September 2022, four students from Zhejiang University in Hangzhou city, east China's Zhejiang Province jointly established a student subsidy program called "313," their dormitory number. Photo shows Jiang Bofeng, Zheng Fujun, Chen Zewen and Gao Minghe (from left to right), the four students who established a student subsidy program called "313" at the Zhejiang University. (Photo provided by the interviewees) Under the program, the four students together donate 500 yuan ($72.61) a month to the Zhejiang University Education Foundation, and the money will be used to support the university's students who are from western regions of the country and encounter financial difficulties. The four men, who are currently pursuing graduate studies, majored in different areas as undergraduates. They became roommates in 2019. Gao Minghe, who has been an intern at the Zhejiang University Education Foundation and a volunteer teacher in southwest China's Guizhou Province, initiated the idea of establishing the subsidy program. He told the other three about his idea and they all got on board. "In March 2022, Gao told me about their plan to establish the subsidy program and asked how they should do it," said Wei Yudi, a development liaison staff member from the Chu Kochen Honors College of Zhejiang University. "Gao was in Guizhou then, so we communicated online to finalize details about the program and I interfaced with the Zhejiang University Education Foundation to help implement the program," said Wei. "After the donations reached the recipients, the foundation would let us know about this in a timely manner. On the first day of each month, I will receive a thank-you message from Shen Liyong, who is secretary general of the Zhejiang University Education Foundation," said Gao. In September 2022, the subsidy program was launched. Gao said he was not surprised that the four of them were of the same mind about initiating the program. "Our minds are in sync and we all have volunteer teaching experiences," Gao said. Before Gao initiated the subsidy program, the other three students also had thought about supporting students with financial difficulties. "Coming from the countryside, I know how important knowledge is for personal development," said Zheng Fujun, Gaos roommate. During the summer vacation of 2019, Zheng volunteered to teach in northwest China's Qinghai Province, where he learned that some students in the province were unable to receive higher education for various reasons. "Some students said they wanted to find jobs after graduating from high school. I thought it would be a pity if they really did so," Zheng recalled. The four students said they would stick to the subsidy program for at least the next 20 years. In May 2019, another four students from Zhejiang University's school of international studies established a scholarship called "229," also their dormitory number, becoming the first students to do so. The four students have been donating 800 yuan a month for 45 consecutive months, with their donations totalling 36,000 yuan, said Shen. The money will be used to support the school's undergraduate students with financial difficulties. Many students of the university have followed suit by setting up similar scholarships. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Who is Hanan Hamid? This is the question on everyone's mind ever since the Kerala girl made a rocking entry inside the Bigg Boss Malayalam 5 house. TV buffs have not been able to stop themselves from talking about the wildcard contestant of BB Malayalam 5 as she has managed to create ripples within a day of her entry in the popular reality show. HANAN HAMID LIFE STORY- ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW Hanan Hamid became a social media sensation after she captured the attention of the netizens with a viral video. The girl sold fish after college to raise money for her education. As she wanted to take care of her family, she decided to sell fish in the market to support her loved ones and also sponsor her education. Hanan received praise from all the corners when she pursued a different path and continued to stay strong despite the ups and downs in her life. HANAN HAMID ACCIDENT The 25-year-old suffered serious injuries after she met with an accident at Kodungaloor. She was immediately rushed to a hospital in Kochi, where the doctors treated. She had suffered grievous injury to her spine. WHEN KERALA CHIEF MINISTED ROOTED FOR HANAN HAMID Hanan Hamid's arduous story became the source of inspiration of many youngsters. She studied chemistry at a private college in Idukki. Several netizens appreciated her after her story was reported in a local newspaper. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan turned cheerleader for the fish-selling student, stating the entire state would support her. Hanan, while interacting with the daily, revealed that she woke up early to visit a wholesale market to purchase fish after which she headed towards the city market. After completing her class, she sold fish that she bought earlier in the day. Despite getting trolled online, the brave girl never let negativity affect herself. Hanad Hamid entered the BB 5 house as a wildcard contestant. It remains to be seen if she will be able to create ripples in the show or not. Bigg Boss Malayalam 5 is hosted by Mohanlal. The show airs on Asianet at 9:30pm on weekdays and 9pm on weekends. It is also available for streaming on Disney+Hotstar. Keep watching this space for more updates. While the Saidapet court sentenced famous director Lingusamy to 6 months imprisonment in a cheque fraud case, now the Chennai Principal Sessions Court has confirmed the sentence. Lingusamy made his debut as a promising director in Tamil cinema with the Mammootty-starrer Anandham. After the success of Anandham, he directed films such as Run, Paiya, Sandakozhi, Bheema, Ji, Anjaan and Warrior. Apart from that, he runs a production company named Tirupati Brothers and is producing many films. In particular, he has produced many hit films including Diwali, Kumki, Vazhakku En 18in Keezh 9, Ivan Vera Mathiri, Goli Soda, Manjappai. At the same time, Anjaan, directed and produced by Lingusamy starring Suriya, was released in 2014 amid great expectations and turned into a flop. The next big fall for Lingusamy, who suffered a huge loss, was Kamal Haasan's Utthama Villain. Due to this, Lingusamy was stuck in a heavy financial burden. It was at this stage that he took a loan of Rs 1.3 crores from the famous production company PVP Capitals for the production of a new film titled "Enni Yezhu Naal". Karthi and Samantha were signed to act in that movie. However, the shooting of the film did not go as planned. It was eventually abandoned. At the same time, PVP Capitals filed a case in the High Court claiming that Lingusamy had not repaid the loan of Rs 1.3 crores within the mentioned period. Following the court order, Lingusamy submitted the cheques. A cheque for Rs 35 lakh bounced due to insufficient funds in the bank account. Following this, the PVP company filed a cheque fraud case against Lingusamy in Saidapet court. The trial court sentenced Lingusamy to 6 months imprisonment and ordered him to pay the debt along with interest. Against this, Lingusamy filed an appeal in the Chennai District Principal Sessions Court. Judge Alli, who handled the case, dismissed his appeal. While the Madras High Court has banned the dubbing license of the film 'Rudhran', starring Raghava Lawrence in the lead role, the court has given a verdict on the appeal after the hearing. Raghava Lawrence - Priya Bhavani Shankar starrer 'Rudhran' is releasing worldwide today (April 14, 2023) for Tamil New Year. This film is directed and produced by Kathiresan on behalf of Five Star Creations. Rudhran has great hype among fans as Raghava Lawrence is giving a re-entry in acting after four years of Kanchana 3 release. Check this space for more interesting Twitter Reviews about Rudhran movie. The first show will start in Tamil Nadu by 9 AM today. Whereas the film is released in some foreign countries already. The release date of this film has already been announced once and then it was postponed due to some reasons, and finally the film is releasing today. It is said that Revanza Global Ventures has signed an agreement with Five Star Creations, the production company of Rudhran, to acquire the dubbing rights of the film in Hindi and other North Indian languages. For this, Revanza Global Company, which had agreed to pay 12 crore 25 lakh rupees, had paid 10 crore rupees in the first phase. In this case, the production company has suddenly canceled this contract, saying that they have to pay an additional 4 crore 50 lakh rupees. In this regard, the Revanza Global company filed a case in the Madras High Court stating that the film team has decided to release the film on April 14, and that they will incur a loss of 10 crore rupees. While this case came up for hearing yesterday, Judge Krishnan Ramasamy, who heard the case, imposed an interim ban on the release of the film till April 24 and ordered the production company to respond to this petition. So when there was doubt about the release of Raghava Lawrence's movie Rudhran, the production company filed a petition to cancel the ban and it was reported that if the film is not released on time, it will face huge losses. And while the film crew has taken their side's argument about the dubbing license, the Madras High Court has announced that the ban has been lifted. So Rudhran movie is releasing today without any problem. This information has made the crew and fans of Raghava Lawrence extremely happy. TV News, April 13, 2023: Hey folks. We are back with yet another exciting edition of TV News Of The Day. From Fahmaan Khan sharing his health update to Archana Gautam and Haarsh Limbachiyaa playfully trolling Shiv Thakare, here are the latest gossip and news headlines from telly land. In case you had a busy day and couldn't keep a tab on the latest developments in Indian television industry, you have nothing to worry about. We have got you covered as we will inform you about the main updates and also reveal which small screen celebrities hogged all the limelight in our special segment. ADNAN KHAN INJURY Adnan Khan, who is currently seen in Katha Ankahee, injured himself while working out. The TV heartthrob is a fitness freak and leaves no opportunity to hit the gym. However, this time he suffered an injury. His finger was injured after a dumbbell fell on it while he excercising. The Ishq Subhan Allah had to rush to the doctor to get stitches as his finger was 'almost slit in two parts', a report in India Forums said. Adnan, being the professional he is, didn't let the shoot get affected because of his injury. FAHMAAN KHAN HEALTH UPDATE Fahmaan Khan took to Twitter to share an update about his health. He revealed that he suffered from three-day viral, informing his fans that he was okay. "I'm ok, everyone. Just a 3 day viral, it has passed, and I'm back to my fittest best. Looking forward to another day of excitement. You have a fabulous day, too," the DharamPatnii actor wrote on the micro-blogging site. SHIV THAKARE ENTERTAINMENT KI RAAT VIRAL VIDEO Shiv Thakare, who made a special appearance in Entertainment Ki Raat- Housefull, hogged all the limelight on social media. Haarsh Limbachiyaa and Archana Gautam playfully trolled the Bigg Boss 16 first runner-up after he said, "Shiv Thakare hamesha star ke saath chalta hai." Haarsh quipped, "Sahi bola kyunki bodyguard hamesha star ke saath chalta hai." When Shiv said that Haarsh was merely joking, his BB 16 arch rival Archana said, "No, he is speaking the truth." Their fun banter is unmissable. ANKIT GUPTA REACTS TO PRIYANKA CHOUDHARY NEW PHOTOSHOOT Ankit couldn't help but gush over Priyanka Choudhary's new photoshoot as she shared pictures on her official Instagram handle. As the Bigg Boss 16 second runner-up showcased her stunning side, her Udaariyaan co-star dropped a comment on the post. The Junooniyatt actor commented, "That smile," adding a heart emoji. Keep watching this space for more updates. Junooniyatt twist: Ankit Gupta's musical drama has been hogging all the limelight ever since it went on air. The show co-starring Gautam Vig and Neha Rana has managed to create ripples on social media, courtesy of Ankit's acting skills and the musical element that has been infused into the storyline. The makers are leaving no stone unturned to spice up the things and increase the ratings. Be it the high-voltage drama or the sizzling chemistry between Elahi and Jahaan, Junooniyatt has all the required tools for a successful show. JUNOONIYATT NEW PROMO The official Instagram handle of Colors TV recently released a new promo that captured the attention of the viewers. In the viral promo, Jahaan and Jordan can be seen claiming their love for Elahi. Woah, another love triangle? Nothing new for Indian television. The creative team has planned a major twist as Jahaan and Jordan will lock horns over Elahi's love. Jordan and Jahaan will compete in a car race where the winner will get to be Elahi's boyfriend. However, things won't go as planned. Jahaan will meet with an accident during the race, suffering serious injuries. Jordan will also get bruised while competing in the race; however, Jahaan will somehow save him. The duo will be rushed to the hospital for medical treatment. There are mumours that Ankit Gupta's character might meet an unfortunate end. Will Jahaan die after the accident? Well, we will ask the readers to not believe any such rumour. ANKIT GUPTA'S CHARACTER JAHAAN TO DIE? RUMOURS BUSTED After the promo went viral, fans wondered if Ankit Gupta's character will end in the show. The promo sparked speculations about Jahaan facing an unfortunate end. However, before you jump to any conclusion and start believing the rumours, we have to stop you right there. "The creative team of Junooniyatt has planned a nice track for the viewers. And yes, Jahaan is not going anywhere. In fact, Elahi will realise her love for Jahaan after she will see him in the hospital. Jahaan, who always supported Elahi, will injure his vocal cord and face major issues in singing. Will be able to fulfil his dreams and reclaim his parents' respect and goodwill? That's the main question," a source close to the show exclusively told Filmibeat. Junooniyatt, which is produced by Ravie Dubey and Sargun Mehta, was launched on February 13, 2023. The show airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on Colors channel. After a long time, a leading GEC launched a show that is set against the backdrop of music and Punjab. Are you excited for the new track in Junooniyatt? Share your thoughts with us by tweeting @Filmibeat. Stay tuned for more updates. After tying the nuptial knot with Bhuma Mounika Reddy, actor Manchu Manoj, who has been hitting the headlines quite often these days, for the very first time opened up about divorce from his first wife and the subsequent phase. Manchu Manoj and Bhuma Mounika Photo Credit: Internet Manchu Manoj and his newly wedded wife Mounika Reddy took part in a couples talk show hosted by none other than one of the most sought-after comedians of Tollywood, Vennela Kishore. The talk show titled Ala Modalaindi is on ETV and is a weekly episode. For the upcoming episode on April 18, Manchu Manoj, who is best friends with Vennela Kishore, attended as a guest with his wife in tow. The makers of the show released a promo of the talk show which spilled several details about the new couple's love story, their struggles, and why Manoj had to divorce his first wife Pranathi Reddy. Going by the promo, Manoj looked happier than ever and is cheering for his new wife. When asked about who is the romantic person between them both, Manoj answered it was him while Mounika also pointed a finger towards Manoj. Bhuma Mounika Reddy Photo Credit: ETV WIN The couple revealed they had experiences speaking over the phone for hours together and couldn't decide on who should hang up first. Talking about their struggling period after respective divorces and their courtship, Manoj shared, "We had our own Vanavasa period and it went on for several years. We both have traveled in and around India to figure out things for ourselves." Mounika said, "Everybody thinks Manoj is short-tempered and snaps at the drop of a hat, but these days he is putting up with my anger issues, she laughed. Coming to the topic of his separation from his first wife Pranathi, Manoj revealed, "I was put in a situation where I had to choose between love life and my passion (films). I had a tough time and the same amount of passion and love I gave was not reciprocated. Many a time, I initiated to go there, be there, and do things but I felt uncomfortable. At a time, I was confused as to where I was standing, for what, and for whom." And then, after Mounika and I got to know each other better, I felt she and her son are my responsibility and If I don't live up to it, my entire existence is redundant." Then I was ready to face any challenges and kept it strong until we finally got married with the blessings of our families and friends. The full episode of the emotional and funny journey of Manoj and Mounika will be aired on ETV on Tuesday, April 18 at 9.30 pm. The episode will be available for digital streaming on the ETV WIN app. Fascinating film Details 1. After the success of their debut project, Kanchana, Raghava Lawrence, and R. Sarathkumar have teamed up again for this movie. 2. S. Kathiresan, a debutant director, not only makes his debut as a director but also as a producer of this movie. 3. Raghava Lawrence's "Rudhran" is given an interim ban by the Madras High Court for its dubbing rights. Grants to provide funding for 23 cultural preservation projects globally CHARLOTTE, N.C., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bank of America announced today that 23 cultural institutions have been named as recipients of the 2023 Bank of America Art Conservation Project. They represent a diverse range of artistic styles, media and cultural traditions across China, Colombia, France, Lebanon, Mexico, Singapore, South Africa, Sweden, the U.K. and the U.S. Since 2010, Bank of America's Art Conservation Project has supported the preservation of paintings, sculptures, and archeological and architectural pieces of critical importance to cultural heritage and the history of art. More than 237 projects across 40 countries managed by nonprofit cultural institutions received funding to conserve historically or culturally significant works of art that are in danger of deterioration. This year's grant recipients include: Los Angeles County Museum of Art's conservation of Urban Light (2008), a sculpture by American artist Chris Burden that is celebrated as an unofficial symbol of the city. It features 202 historic streetlamps and is one of the museum's most popular installations. (2008), a sculpture by American artist that is celebrated as an unofficial symbol of the city. It features 202 historic streetlamps and is one of the museum's most popular installations. Armenian Museum of America's restoration of 21 illuminated manuscripts, dating back to the fifth century. Many of the surviving works were damaged during World War I or looted and subsequently scattered internationally. Musee d'Art Moderne de Paris' restoration of Rythme (1938), an abstract painting in the Orphism style by French artist Sonia Delaunay . restoration of (1938), an abstract painting in the Orphism style by French artist . National Gallery Singapore's conservation of Chinese artist Chen Wen Hsi's Gibbons (1977), an ink painting portraying lively primates native to Singapore . (1977), an ink painting portraying lively primates native to . The Hawai'i State Archives' conservation of three royal portraits including William Cogswell's portrait of Queen Lili 'uokalani (1892), the last sovereign monarch of Hawai'i. portrait of 'uokalani (1892), the last sovereign monarch of Hawai'i. Hampton University Museum's preservation of 29 works on paper by prolific African American artist Dr. John T. Biggers . Museum's preservation of 29 works on paper by prolific African American artist Dr. . The Arab Image Foundation's preservation, digitization and documentation of 98 handmade photo albums by Lebanese photographer Agop Kouyoumjian . "Art and objects of cultural heritage are extremely vulnerable to the impacts of time. The conservation of these works allows society at large to continue to be inspired by the rich diversity of the human experience," said Brian Siegel, Global Arts, Culture & Heritage Executive at Bank of America. "We support this work as part of our efforts to promote cultural sustainability to preserve this shared history for future generations." The Art Conservation Project is one demonstration of BofA's commitment to promoting cultural sustainability and making the arts more accessible and inclusive in communities. A wide range of support for both local and global nonprofit organizations helps drive engagement and is part of how BofA drives Responsible Growth. For a full list of museums receiving grants through the 2023 Bank of America Art Conservation Project, please view the 2023 Art Conservation Project brochure. Bank of America Bank of America is one of the world's leading financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 67 million consumer and small business clients with approximately 3,900 retail financial centers, approximately 16,000 ATMs and award-winning digital banking with approximately 56 million verified digital users. Bank of America is a global leader in wealth management, corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 3 million small business households through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations across the United States, its territories and approximately 35 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. For more Bank of America news, including dividend announcements and other important information, visit the Bank of America newsroom and register for news email alerts. Reporters may contact: AnnMarie McDonald, Bank of America Phone: 1.332.234.8635 annmarie.mcdonald@bofa.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053095/Bank_of_America_Art_Conservation.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1612970/Bank_of_America_Corporation_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bofa-announces-2023-art-conservation-project-grant-selections-301796231.html Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic in Eatontown, NJ announces it now offers Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy for patients suffering from depression. Eatontown, New Jersey--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Following the recent announcement, Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic is expanding the range of treatments available to patients in Eatontown, and surrounding areas. The clinic now offers TMS, or Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a breakthrough treatment for a variety of mental health problems, including depression. More information is available at https://positivereseteatontown.com/tms-therapy/. Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic Announces TMS Therapy To Treat Depression To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/162238_d56aad56342f48e7_001full.jpg The new TMS treatment introduced at Positive Reset involves the administration of electromagnetic pulses to select areas of the brain shown to be connected to depression, anxiety, and other disorders. Patients who receive this treatment are typically released immediately after the session and have not reported any adverse side effects, either immediate or long-term. Positive Reset is one of the first clinics in New Jersey to receive the equipment necessary to perform this treatment - among only around a dozen other facilities in the state. While the treatment was approved for general use over a decade ago, recent research has shown that it may be more effective than previously thought, with applications ranging from minor anxiety to Parkinson's treatment. This non-invasive treatment has been demonstrated as effective in cases where traditional treatments, such as medication and psychotherapy, have not been successful. Additionally, the therapy has shown promise in reducing addiction-related symptoms, and has been used to successfully help certain patients stop smoking without the discomfort often associated with that process, Positive Reset explains. The Eatontown clinic has adopted TMS to complement its existing, more traditional forms of mental health treatments, including a range of group and individual counseling therapies for individuals suffering from substance abuse, trauma-related depression, and other conditions. Following the addition of TMS, they have found that the administration of this treatment before a traditional therapy can greatly enhance its effectiveness. Using these approaches in tandem, Positive Reset has opened the door to the next generation of depression therapy. This method of treatment typically takes place over the course of five months, during which time a combination of TMS and psychotherapy are administered as needed. The clinic is especially enthusiastic about this treatment given its nearly universal applications across age groups and demographics. Most individuals are eligible to receive TMS, except those taking a select group of stimulant medications, those with metallic implants, and those with a history of epileptic seizures. The research recently released on the use cases for TMS makes it increasingly clear that the next frontier of psychotherapy is here, with Positive Reset at the forefront of this new movement. More information is available at https://positivereseteatontown.com/tms-therapy/. Contact Info: Name: Alan Email: info@positivereseteatontown.com Organization: Positive Reset Eatontown Address: 615 Hope Road BLDG 3B, Eatontown, NJ 07724, United States Website: http://www.positivereseteatontown.com To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162238 MetricStream, the global market leader in integrated risk management (IRM) and governance, risk, and compliance (GRC), announced that its annual GRC Summit will kick off on June 14th, 2023 in Miami. The two-day event will bring together the most influential gathering of global governance, enterprise risk, operational risk, regulatory compliance, internal audit, third-party risk, IT cyber risk and compliance, and ESG professionals. Join 400+ of your peers and GRC industry experts at the GRC Summit to share insights, exchange best practices, and discuss what's next in GRC. After concluding a successful GRC Summit in London in November 2022, the Summit is now returning to the US with an in-person event with the theme Experience the Power of Connection. Over 60 industry experts will be participating in panel discussions, expert talks, customer case studies, interactive sessions, and workshops covering trends and best practices across enterprise and operational risk, third-party risk, regulatory compliance, audit, cyber risk, and compliance and ESG. "The current financial crises, business climate, cyber security threats, and potential regulatory changes demand organizations to look at a proactive and connected approach to governance risk and compliance," saidGaurav Kapoor, Co-CEO and Co-Founder MetricStream"During the summit, senior risk compliance, security, and audit executives from global organizations across industries, regulatory bodies, advisory firms, and analysts will discuss their experiences on how they are balancing opportunity and resilience through a connected GRC strategy and execution in these challenging times." The GRC Summit 2023 agenda is already live. The two-day event will feature prominent speakers including: Rob Foster, Chief Information Officer, National Credit Union Administration, US Eileen Fahey, Chief Risk Officer, Fitch Group Kellie Bickenbach, Head of Operational Risk Management, Silicon Valley Bank David Storey, Vice President Health, Safety Environment, dnata Rodney Campbell, Senior Vice President and Head of Third-Party Risk Management, Valley National Bank Hemma Lomax, VP, Compliance, Zendesk Gavin Grounds, Sr. Director Security, Risk and Compliance, Meta Jonathan Ruf, FVP, Information Security Risk Management, Apple Bank Christopher Geiger, Vice President of Internal Audit and Enterprise Risk, Lockheed Martin Amber Gravius, Director and Chief Data Officer, National Credit Union Administration, US Grace Beason, Director of Governance, Risk and Compliance, Guidewire Software Tice Morgan, Sr. Manager, Governance and Compliance, American Fidelity Assurance Alla Valente, Senior Analyst, Forrester Michael Rasmussen, GRC Analyst Pundit, GRC 20/20 Key topics also include thriving on interconnected risks, strategies to manage emerging global regulations, new SEC cybersecurity rules, cyber risk quantification, AI, and Automation in GRC, 2023 GRC trends, and real-world case studies from customers that have successfully modernized and transformed their risk journeys. MetricStream will also be showcasing its latest Connected GRC product release Euphrates and multiple product sessions covering the latest innovations. Register now to Experience the Power of Connection on June 14 and 15th at the Hyatt Regency, Miami. About MetricStream, Inc. MetricStream is the global SaaS leader of Integrated Risk Management and GRC solutions that empower organizations to thrive on risk by accelerating growth via risk-aware decisions. We connect governance, risk management and compliance across the extended enterprise. Our Connected GRC and three product lines BusinessGRC, CyberGRC, and ESGRC are based on a single, scalable platform that supports you wherever you are on your GRC journey. MetricStream is headquartered in San Jose, California, with an operations and R&D center in Bangalore, India, and sales and operations support around the globe. More information is available at www.metricstream.com, LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005426/en/ Contacts: Media Contact: Preeti Goswami preeti.goswami@metricstream.com +91 9654394164 Proceeds will fund: Clinical programs ALE.F02 and ALE.C04 two first-in-class anti-Claudin-1 (CLDN1) antibodies for organ fibrosis and CLDN1 positive tumors - The platform to engineer CLDN1 antibody drug conjugates (ADC) and bi-specific antibodies Alentis Therapeutics ("Alentis"), the Claudin-1 (CLDN1) company, is a clinical-stage biotech developing breakthrough treatments for organ fibrosis and CLDN1 positive tumors. Today, Alentis announced $105 million in Series C financing. The funding round was led by Jeito Capital together with Novo Holdings A/S and RA Capital Management with participation from existing investors including BB Pureos Bioventures, Bpifrance through its InnoBio 2 fund and Schroders Capital. The financing will support Phase II and Phase I programs of Alentis' lead investigational products ALE.F02 and ALE.C04 respectively as well as the CLDN1 platform development. "We are absolutely delighted with this support from our investors," said Dr. Roberto Iacone, CEO at Alentis Therapeutics. "There are huge unmet needs in organ fibrosis and cancer, and this funding enables us to continue with the important work we're doing in the CLDN1 space and generate clinical data from both our programs. We can now aggressively develop CLDN1 biology inoncology and continue with the recruitment of our organ fibrosis trials while advancing our ADC and bi-specific antibodies." Founder and CEO of Jeito Capital, Rafaele Tordjman said, "We are totally convinced about the CLDN1 biology potential in multiple areas of fibrosis and oncology. Alentis has made significant progress in identifying target populations while developing programs and advancing the platform. We are committed to continuing our partnership with Alentis as they are the leading player in the CLDN1 space and are well positioned to generate meaningful clinical data within the next 12-18 months." Novo Holdings' Senior Partner, Naveed Siddiqi will join the Alentis Therapeutics' Board of Directors. "The Venture Investments team of Novo Holdings has an extensive track record of backing high-quality biotechs across Europe and the US developing novel treatments for unmet medical needs," said Naveed Siddiqi. "Alentis has pioneered a world-leading position in the Claudin-1 space and is led by highly capable drug developers. We were encouraged by exciting emerging pre-clinical data in oncology and the potential of Claudin-1 targeted therapeutics to treat a wide range of cancers where Claudin-1 is highly expressed. We are looking forward to supporting Alentis as it further advances its pipeline in the clinic with the proceeds of this round." Since its $67 million Series B funding in June 2021, Alentis has made major strides: ALE.F02 MAD study completion is imminent; it has clearly defined the CLDN1+ cancer patient population, including T-cell excluded cancers to develop ALE.C04 in oncology; set-up the platform to engineer CLDN1 antibody drug conjugates and bi-specific antibodies that the Series C will help to further develop; and is expanding its team of top talent. About Alentis Therapeutics Alentis Therapeutics, the CLDN1 company, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on developing breakthrough treatments for CLDN1+ tumors and organ fibrosis. Alentis is pioneering a novel approach to modify and reverse the course of disease progression targeting CLDN1, a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the pathology of tumors with immune evasive properties and fibrotic disease across multiple organs. Alentis is the only company developing potential treatments for solid cancers and fibrosis targeting CLDN1. The company was founded in 2019 based on ground-breaking research in the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Baumert MD at the University of Strasbourg and the French National Institute of Health (Inserm). Alentis is headquartered in Basel's pharma-biotech hub in Switzerland with an R&D subsidiary in Strasbourg, France and clinical operations in the US. Visit https://alentis.ch About Jeito Capital Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity company with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients' access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito Capital has 534 million under management and a rapidly growing portfolio of investments. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States. About Novo Holdings Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novozymes (the Novo Group companies) and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. The investment portfolio comprises two teams including Life Science Investments and Capital Investments. The Life Science Investments team invests in companies at all stages of development and includes Seed Investments, Venture Investments, Growth Investments and Principal Investments. The Capital Investments team manages a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate and infrastructure assets, as well as private equity investments. Novo Holdings operates out of offices in Copenhagen, London, Boston, San Francisco, Singapore and Shanghai. As of year-end 2021, Novo Holdings had total assets of USD 106 billion. About RA Capital Management RA Capital is a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare and life science companies that are developing medicines, medical devices and diagnostics. The flexibility of its strategy allows RA capital to provide seed funding to startups and to lead private IPO, and follow-on financings for its portfolio companies, enabling management teams to drive value creation from inception through commercialization. At RA Capital's core is its TechAtlas research division, a scientifically trained team that maps out competitive landscapes to put data into context, identify breakthroughs, and originate conviction in new ideas. TechAtlas provides market intelligence, technical diligence, and other resources to both our internal investment team and our portfolio companies. About Pureos Bioventures Pureos Bioventures invests exclusively in private innovative drug development companies, with a special emphasis on the next generation of biological drugs and drug formats. The fund's portfolio companies are built on scientific excellence to develop therapies across a broad indication spectrum including oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, rare diseases, and neuroscience. Pureos has built a team with in-depth investment, operating and clinical expertise, that strives to impact patients' lives by advancing innovative treatments for devastating diseases. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005501/en/ Contacts: For more information please contact: Alentis Therapeutics Nathalie Graf-Tschupp info@alentis.ch O public relations GmbH O'Patrick Wilson o@os-pr.com Tel: +41 (0) 78 888 4332 Jeito Capital leads a $105 million Series C financing inAlentis Therapeuticsto advance transformational medicines for claudin-1 in cancer & fibrosis Funds will support the Phase I/II clinical development of Alentis' two first-in-class anti-Claudin-1 (CLDN1) antibodies for organ fibrosis and CLDN1 positive tumors, and CLDN1 platform development After its investment 2 years ago, Jeito Capitalamplifies its partnership with Alentis Therapeutics, the leading player in CLDN1, in line with its strategy to grow companies and build potential market leaders to bring much needed treatments to benefit patients Paris, France, April 13th2023 - Jeito Capital ("Jeito"), the largest fully independent private equity firm dedicated to healthcare and biopharma in Europe, announced today that it has led a $105 million (96 million) Series C financing in Alentis Therapeutics ("Alentis" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage biotech spun out of INSERM, based in Basel (Switzerland) with R&D in Strasbourg (France), that is developing breakthrough treatments for organ fibrosis and CLDN1 positive tumors. CLDN1, as part of the claudin family of transmembrane proteins, is a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the physio-pathology of a broad range of solid tumors with immune evasive properties and fibrotic diseases across multiple organs. The financing was led by Jeito together with Novo Holdings A/S and RA Capital Management with participation from existing investors including BB Pureos Bioventures, Bpifrance through its InnoBio 2 fund and Schroders Capital. Proceeds will be used to support the Phase II program of Alentis' lead investigational products, ALE.F02, currently in development for the treatment of advanced kidney, lung and liver fibrosis, and the Phase I program of its lead oncology asset, ALE.C04, the first potential treatment to target CLDN1 positive (CLDN1+) tumors. Funds will also be used to develop the Company's platform to engineer CLDN1 antibody drug conjugates (ADC) and bi-specific antibodies. The Claudin space in oncology has recently seen the success of CLDN-18.2 in gastric cancers. CLDN-1 has the advantage of a much broader expression profile, highlighting Alentis' growth potential and significant commercial potential. Jeito became a key investor in Alentis as part of a $67 million Series B financing in June 2021. Since then, Alentis has made significant progress. The Company's Phase I multiple ascending dose study for ALE.F02 is expected to reach completion imminently. Alentis has also clearly defined the CLDN1+ cancer patient population, including T-cell excluded cancers, as the target for developing its ALE.C04 oncology treatment. The Company has established a platform to engineer CLDN1 ADCs (antibody drug conjugates) and bi-specific antibodies and has expanded its team in France, Switzerland and the US. Dr. Rafaele Tordjman, MD, PhD, Founder and CEO of Jeito Capital, commented"Claudin-1 has enormous potential in multiple areas of fibrosis and across a broad range of cancersand, with Jeito's support, Alentis has made significant progress over the past two years in identifying target populations while developing programs and advancing the platform. We are committed to continuing our partnership with the outstanding Alentis team as they are the leading player in the CLDN1 space and are well positioned to generate meaningful clinical data." Dr. Roberto Iacone, CEO at Alentis Therapeutics, said: "We are absolutely delighted with this support from our investors. There are huge unmet needs in organ fibrosis and cancer, and this funding enables us to continue with the important work we're doing in the CLDN1 space and generate clinical data from both our programs. We can now aggressively develop CLDN1 biology in oncology and continue with the recruitment of our organ fibrosis trials while advancing our ADC and bi-specific antibodies." About Jeito Capital Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity company with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients' access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito Capital has 534 million under management and a rapidly growing portfolio of investments. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States. @Jeito_life LinkedIn For more information, please visit www.jeito.life, or follow @Jeito_life on Twitter or LinkedIn . About Alentis Therapeutics Alentis Therapeutics, the CLDN1 company, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on developing breakthrough treatments for CLDN1+ tumors and organ fibrosis. Alentis is pioneering a novel approach to modify and reverse the course of disease progression targeting CLDN1, a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the pathology of tumors with immune evasive properties and fibrotic disease across multiple organs. Alentis is the only company developing potential treatments for solid cancers and fibrosis targeting CLDN1. The company was founded in 2019 based on ground-breaking research in the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Baumert MD at the University of Strasbourg and the French National Institute of Health (Inserm). Alentis is headquartered in Basel's pharma-biotech hub in Switzerland with an R&D subsidiary in Strasbourg, France and clinical operations in the US. Visit https://alentis.ch For further information please contact: Jeito Capital Rafaele Tordjman, Founder & CEO Assia Mouhout, EA Tel: +33 6 76 49 37 94 Consilium Strategic Communications Mary-Jane Elliott / Davide Salvi / Kris Lam Jeito@consilium-comms.com Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5700 Marion Bougeard marion@achto-conseil.fr Tel: +33 6 76 73 57 31 Total income for the first quarter of 2023 was EUR 4 . 6 million ( first quarter 2022: EUR 3.6 million) Or der book value increased by 12 % compared to March 31, 2022 Invitation to the presentation of the 2022 Annual Report on April 20, 2023 at 9.30 CEST Deventer, April 13,2023 - RoodMicrotec N.V., a leading independent company for semiconductors supply and quality services, today releases its trading update for the first quarter of 2023. The total income for the quarter was EUR 4.6 million, which is 28% higher than the total income in the first quarter of 2022. Having in mind the forecasted increase of the total income in 2023 over last year, it is encouraging to see the growth in total income in the first quarter and that the order book continues to rise. The order book contains orders for both long term contracts and engagements as well as short-term orders. The long term contracts and engagements are mainly in the SCM and Test Operations units and the short-term orders in the Failure Analysis & Qualification unit. "I'm very proud to be able to report another increase in total income for the first quarter of 2023. We are working very hard to support our customers in their demanding test and qualification tasks and the continuous high level of total income shows that we are doing a good job", says Martin Sallenhag, CEO of RoodMicrotec. "The steady increase in the order book is a good indicator for the rest of the year and makes us confident for the future." RoodMicrotec will publish the 2022 Annual Report before the opening of the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange on Thursday, April 20, 2023. The Company's Board of Management, Martin Sallenhag and Arvid Ladega, will comment on the report and answer questions during the conference call for media, analysts and shareholders to be held on Thursday,April 20, 2023 at 9:30 CEST. You are invited to join the Microsoft TEAMS event using the following login instructions: Join with your computer or mobile app Clickheretojointhemeeting Or call in (audio only) +49 69 509544247 Germany, Frankfurt am Main +31 20 399 9804 The Netherlands, Amsterdam +32 2 895 09 68 Belgium, Bruxelles +41 43 217 23 02 Switzerland, Zurich Find a local number- in case you are in another country Phone Conference ID: 124 673 558# Outlook RoodMicrotec expects the total income for 2023 to be in the range of EUR 17.0 million to EUR 17.5 million, with a profit before tax of 5-10% and thus in line with the financial targets. The geopolitical situation in the world and the current energy crisis throughout Europe could have an impact on the Company's business. The Management is keeping a close eye on the situation and is doing everything possible to mitigate any potentially negative impact. Audit The financial data in this press release have not been audited. About RoodMicrotec RoodMicrotec is a leading independent company for semiconductor supply and quality services. With more than 50 years of experience in the semiconductor and electronics industry, RoodMicrotec is well-established as a highly valued partner for many companies worldwide. The Company provides full-turnkey ASIC services for complex microchips that are customized to handle specific applications for individual customers. In cooperation with strong partners, RoodMicrotec manages the entire development and production flow of ASICs in the target volume, ranging from low quantities up to multiple millions per year. The turnkey solution includes project management, wafer test, assembly, final test, qualification, failure analysis and logistics. All services comply with the industrial and quality requirements of the high reliability, aerospace, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors. RoodMicrotec's headquarters are located in Deventer, Netherlands, with operational units in Nordlingen and Stuttgart, Germany For more information visit https://www.roodmicrotec.com Further information Martin Sallenhag - CEO, Arvid Ladega - CFO Telephone: +31 570 745623 Email: investor-relations@roodmicrotec.comWeb: www.roodmicrotec.com This press release is published in English and German. In case of conflict between these versions the English version shall prevail. This communication contains information that qualifies as inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation.The company's managing director and CEO Martin Sallenhag, is responsible for arranging the release of this document on behalf of RoodMicrotec. Attachment Special series investigates what the new uses and alternatives are and what the future of radiopharmaceutical therapy might look like LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BioWorld published by Clarivate Plc (NYSE: CLVT), a global leader in connecting people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their world, has released a new special series, Radiopharmaceuticals: The next big disrupter. In the eight-part series, BioWorld takes a deep dive into this new treatment modality to explore what the new uses or alternatives are and what the future of radiopharmaceutical therapy might look like. The radiopharmaceutical market is projected to be worth nearly $12 billion by 2030. Radiopharma therapy is an emerging class of cancer therapeutics that delivers radiation directly to the tumor while minimizing radiation exposure to normal tissue. The sector, which only offered one therapy (iodine) in the 1950's, has evolved to producing a myriad of drugs in the last decade that can deliver tumor-killing radioactive payloads to cancers while leaving healthy cells untouched. Having merged radiology and chemotherapy - radiopharma allows greater specificity and more biomarker-driven management of patients. Staff Writer Tamra Sami leads the series, which takes a closer look at the different radiopharmaceutical moieties, the patient journey, therapies in the pipeline and supply chain vulnerabilities. Further, the series explores how the evolution of science behind radiopharma therapies might become an example of how scientific advances can enable further insights in a bench-to-bedside-to-bench loop as well as the challenges of complying with regulations from multiple government agencies. The eight-part series includes: How equipped are radiopharma stakeholders to overcome radioactive challenges? Radiopharmaceuticals are on their way to becoming mainstream cancer therapies, including a visual radiopharma history timeline and clarity on the main types of radioisotopes. Disrupting the oncology space - The patient journey, including a visual of the evolution of oncology therapy with a look ahead to the future of possibilities, such as attaching radioligands to different modalities like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Scientifically, radioligands may head from bedside back to bench, which explores how radioligand therapy offers new ways to tackle two of oncology's most formidable obstacles to curing more cancers - resistance and metastases. Radiopharma pipeline gathers atomic speed, including a unique data snapshot of radiopharmaceuticals in the clinic for therapeutic use supported by a visual graphic breakdown by isotope. Keeping up with the technology is a growing task for regulators, including a unique data snapshot of NDAs approved by the US FDA, 2012-2022, by isotope and indication. Radiopharma industry grapples with supply challenges, including a visual snapshot of key questions and answers challenging the sector. How are radiopharma companies managing supply challenges? Drills down to solutions emerging among the industry's key players. Lynn Yoffee, Publisher, BioWorld said: "The use of radioactive elements to target cancer more specifically has been refined. As such, there's increased momentum following some big deals, with Novartis AG in the lead, spending $6 billion on radiopharmaceutical acquisitions. The global radiopharma industry was estimated to be worth about $5 billion in 2017 and it could grow to $15 billion in the U.S. alone in the next few years. There are big challenges mainly regulatory and supply chain issues. BioWorld's investigative report breaks down the current state of the pipeline, with scientific and clinical updates, and takes a deep dive into the business and regulatory hurdles. The report also looks ahead at the growing potential for these therapies to help cancer patients." For more exclusive in-depth BioWorld coverage of advancements in radiopharmaceuticals, visit: https://www.bioworld.com/media/podcasts/532-bioworld-insider-podcast/play/33-radiopharmaceuticals-the-next-big-disrupter. In addition, listen to the latest edition of the BioWorld Insider podcast, here where Tamra Sami summarizes the special report by taking a close look at the different radiopharmaceutical moieties and the science behind them, the supply chain vulnerabilities, the regulatory landscape, the patient journey and therapies in the pipeline. Join the conversation and mention BioWorld on Twitter and Clarivate for Life Sciences & Healthcare on Twitter and LinkedIn. About BioWorld With writers and editors stationed around the globe, BioWorld published by Clarivate, reports the breaking news - and provides key perspective on hundreds of therapeutics and devices in development, the companies behind those candidates, the business development transactions that evolve the markets, and the regulatory hurdles that both challenge and guard the processes. BioWorld has a long tradition of excellence in journalism. Collectively, the news services have been honored with 63 awards dating back to 1998, including 15 for BioWorld daily news services. About Clarivate Clarivate is a leading global information services provider. We connect people and organizations to intelligence they can trust to transform their perspective, their work and our world. Our subscription and technology-based solutions are coupled with deep domain expertise and cover the areas of Academia & Government, Life Sciences & Healthcare and Intellectual Property. For more information, please visit clarivate.com. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1159266/Clarivate_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/bioworld-by-clarivate-explores-the-new-era-of-radiopharmaceuticals-and-its-emergence-as-a-novel-cancer-therapy-301796310.html Excellent start to the year for Christian Dior Paris, April 12th, 2023 The Christian Dior group recorded revenue of 21 billion euros in the first quarter of 2023, up 17% compared to the same period of 2022. Organic revenue growth was 17%. The Group had an excellent start to the year, within a geopolitical and economic environment which remains uncertain. Europe and Japan, which enjoyed strong growth momentum, benefited from robust demand from local customers and international travelers; the United States, a market which continues to grow, had a steady performance. Asia experienced a significant rebound following the lifting of health restrictions. Revenue by business group: Euro millions Q1 2023 Q1 2022 % Change Q1 2023/Q1 2022 Reported Organic* Wines & Spirits 1 694 1 638 + 3 % + 3 % Fashion & Leather Goods 10 728 9 123 + 18 % + 18 % Perfumes & Cosmetics 2 115 1 905 + 11 % + 10 % Watches & Jewelry 2 589 2 338 + 11 % + 11 % Selective Retailing 3 961 3 040 + 30 % + 28 % Other activities and eliminations (52) (41) - - Total 21 035 18 003 + 17 % + 17 % * with comparable structure and constant exchange rates. The structural impact and currency effect for the Group was zero. The Wines & Spirits business group recorded revenue growth of 3% in the first quarter of 2023 (+3% organically). The Champagne business once again recorded strong revenue growth, driven by the continuation of its value creation strategy. Hennessy cognac showed resilience against the economic environment in the US and despite continued high stock levels among distributors subsequent to various disruptions observed at the end of the year. Among Provence rose wines, Chateau d'Esclans enjoyed an excellent performance and an important partnership was signed with the prestigious domain Minuty, one of the world's leaders. Joseph Phelps Vineyards, one of the most respected wine estates in Napa Valley, California, was integrated for the first time in the first quarter accounts. Glenmorangie whisky and Belvedere vodka recorded good growth. The Fashion & Leather Goods business group recorded 18% revenue growth in the first quarter of 2023 (+18% organically). Louis Vuitton had an excellent start to the year, still driven by exceptional creativity and the quality of its products. The latest women's ready-to-wear fashion shows designed by Nicolas Ghesquiere were a great success. The appointment of Pharrell Williams as Men's Creative Director was announced. The Maison continued to surprise with its highly creative new collaboration with Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama, an ode to art and craftsmanship. Christian Dior Couture continued to perform remarkably well across all its products. Maria Grazia Chiuri celebrated the wealth of know-how and excellence in embroidery at her latest fashion show in Mumbai in India. The new Lady 95.22 bag revisits the Maison's heritage, with a modern twist. After Egypt, the latest Parisian men's ready-to-wear show by Kim Jones was remarkably well received. Celine continued to enjoy very strong growth thanks to the success of Hedi Slimane's creations and his powerful vision. Loewe, driven by the bold creativity of J.W. Anderson, unveiled a new collaboration with Studio Ghibli. Fendi opened new stores in Tokyo and Seoul. Loro Piana, Rimowa, Marc Jacobs and Berluti also had an excellent start to the year. The Perfumes & Cosmetics business group continued its strategy focused on highly selective distribution, delivering an 11% increase in revenue in the first quarter of 2023 (+10% organically). Christian Dior achieved a remarkable performance and continued to strengthen its lead. Its iconic Sauvage, Miss Dior and J'Adore fragrances were significant channels of growth. Make-up and skincare also contributed to the performance of the Maison. Guerlain benefited from the success of its Aqua Allegoria line. A new liquid foundation enriched the iconic Terracotta collection. Parfums Givenchy unveiled its new fragrance Gentleman Society. Benefit successfully expanded its The Porefessional skincare range, while Fenty Beauty benefited from the strong visibility given to the brand by Rihanna during the American Super Bowl. In the first quarter of 2023, the Watches & Jewelry business group achieved revenue growth of 11% (+11% organically). In jewelry, Tiffany & Co. had an excellent start to the year as preparations were made for the upcoming reopening of the Landmark in New York. The new Lock jewelry collection, whose success is growing, continued its worldwide rollout. Bulgari, showing strong growth, celebrated the 75th anniversary of its iconic Serpenti line. High jewelry enjoyed a very good performance. Chaumet and Fred made remarkable progress. To maintain and enrich its longstanding roots in art and culture, Maison Chaumet created a new engagement program, Echo Culture Awards, which aims to support women who enhance the culture through their actions on the ground. The Group watchmaking Maisons maintained excellent progress and unveiled many new products at the Watches & Wonders trade show, including innovations from TAG Heuer, Hublot and Zenith. In Selective Retailing, revenue growth was 30% in the first quarter of 2023 (+28% organically). Sephora saw exceptional performance over the quarter and continued to gain market share. Momentum was particularly strong in North America, Europe and the Middle East. The brand continued to expand its distribution network, particularly in the United Kingdom where, already present online, its first store in London enjoyed an excellent start. DFS benefited from the recovery of international travel and, in particular, from the gradual return of travelers to the flagship destinations of Hong Kong and Macao. In an uncertain geopolitical and economic context, the Christian Dior group remains both vigilant and confident at the start of the year. The Group will continue to pursue its strategy focused on the development of its brands, driven by a sustained policy of innovation and investment as well as by a constant quest for quality in its products, their desirability and their distribution. The Group relies on the talent and motivation of its teams, the diversity of its businesses and the good geographical balance of its revenue to further strengthen its global leadership position in luxury goods in 2023. This financial release is available on our website www.dior-finance.com . "This document may contain certain forward looking statements which are based on estimations and forecasts. By their nature, these forward looking statements are subject to important risks and uncertainties and factors beyond our control or ability to predict, in particular those described in Christian Dior's Annual Report which is available on the website (www.dior-finance.com). These forward looking statements should not be considered as a guarantee of future performance, the actual results could differ materially from those expressed or implied by them. The forward looking statements only reflect Christian Dior's views as of the date of this document, and Christian Dior does not undertake to revise or update these forward looking statements. The forward looking statements should be used with caution and circumspection and in no event can Christian Dior and its management be held responsible for any investment or other decision based upon such statements. The information in this document does not constitute an offer to sell or an invitation to buy shares in Christian Dior or an invitation or inducement to engage in any other investment activities." This document is a free translation into English of the original French financial release dated April 12th, 2023. It is not a binding document. In the event of a conflict in interpretation, reference should be made to the French version, which is the authentic text. The "WMX Europe 2023" conference has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. WMX Europe is the destination for post and parcel professionals looking to gain valuable insights into the global logistics industry. This year's conference, hosted by Eurora, is taking place in Tallinn and will focus on the global delivery market in today's uncertain times. What is WMX Europe? The World Mail Express Europe Conference (WMX Europe) is an international trade event for post and parcel professionals. The conference offers three days of keynote speeches, case studies, open discussions, and hours of free networking time. Join 200 senior executives in Tallinn and you will: Connect with top post and parcel executives build the key relationships that will drive your business forward. Get industry insights to transform your business learn the secrets to revolutionise your business and leverage potential new revenue streams. Deliver sustainable success discover innovative new products that can streamline your business and deliver a better service to your customers. Agenda: The agenda for WMX Europe is designed to give international post and parcel executives the tools and techniques to build flexible, future-proof companies. This year's conference will tackle the following broad themes: Last Mile Delivery Cross Border Challenges E-Commerce Efficiencies Parcel Perspectives Postal Perspectives For more information about this conference visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/c47xmv 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. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005399/en/ Contacts: 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 Zhengzhou City Brand Slogan Released BEIJING, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 16th China Brand Festival Women's Forum, themed "Bloom Your Beauty", was hosted by TopBrand Union and sponsored by the Zhengzhou Municipal Government at the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center from April 7th to 9th, 2023. Over 2,000 entrepreneurs, experts, and political leaders from across the country gathered in Zhengzhou for the event. Thousands of people swarmed into the conference center and the event has received rave reviews. Brand building has become a key solution for Chinese entrepreneurs to better cope with risks and challenges. In recent years, the influence of women entrepreneurs has risen unprecedentedly in China, with many excellent female role models emerging across various industries. GU Xiulian, former vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) and director of the China Committee for the Care of the Next Generation, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. She pointed out that China Brand Festival Women's Forum has made great contributions to promoting brand building in China as a two-way communication platform for brand women and female brands. It has also created a broad platform for excellent women to network and showcase themselves. Women shall seize the opportunity of the rise of "Her Power", and further expand the width and depth of the concept of "Her Power" thanks to the China Brand Festival Women's Forum. Women shall be committed to promoting brands with high quality, and contribute women's strengths to the building of powerful brands. HE Xiong, deputy secretary of Zhengzhou Municipal Committee and mayor of the City Zhengzhou, said in his speech that gathering outstanding women representatives from all walks of life to Zhengzhou is a solid step towards high-quality development and an effective measure to gather "Her Energy" and showcase "Her Style". He sincerely invited everyone to "take a walk in the province of Henan to understand China better" and to "take a walk in the city of Zhengzhou to understand ancient China better ". He also hoped to show the diligent and dedicated female style with the event. Vice Mayor MA Zhifeng promoted the city of Henan by inviting guests to get to know more about Zhengzhou and invest in it. On behalf of TopBrand Union, WANG Yong, chairman of the company and founder and secretary general of the China Brand Festival, officially released the city brand slogan "Come to Zhengzhou if You Have Kung Fu". This slogan includes four connotations: the world-renowned "Shaolin Kung Fu", the "Soft Kung Fu" for citizens, the "Real Kung Fu" for entrepreneurship, and the "Slow Kung Fu" for leisure and relaxation. At this year's Women's Forum, the "2023 China Top 10 Brand Women" was officially unveiled. XU Xiao, chairman of Kaifeng City Stacked City Construction and Development Co., Ltd, DU Lan, senior vice president of KDDI, DAI Kangwei, general manager of Beiqi New Energy, XUE Rong, party secretary and president of Zhengzhou Yuanfang Group, were awarded as "2023 China's Top 10 Brand Women". At the same time, the China Brand Women's Club was launched and established. In addition, DONG Mingzhu, Chairman and President of Gree Electric, LIU Yang, an astronaut, and ZHANG Guimei, Principal of Lijiang Huaping Girls' Senior High School, were listed in the top three of "Top 500 Chinese Brand Women 2023". Taobao, Douyin, Chow Tai Fook, Jingdong, and Meituan are the top five of the "Top 50 Brands Preferred by Women 2023". As one of the most influential brand activities introduced to Zhengzhou this year, the forum gathered multiple participants of "Her Economy". SUN Qixiang, LIU Nanning, ZHANG Qi and 223 other honored guests, covering well-known women entrepreneurs, brand women, women economists, academicians, experts and scholars, investors, influencers, took the stage to share their insights, showcased the charm of contemporary brand women, helped Zhengzhou polish the city's business card, and promoted the economic recovery and development after the epidemic. In addition to that, 16 parallel forums and 2,000 square meters of exhibitions were successfully held. Media contact: Zhu Ying zhuying@brandcn.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053340/Opening_Ceremony_2023_China_Brand_Festival_Women_s_Forum.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053341/WANG_Yong_Chairman_TopBrand_Union_initiator_China_Brand_Festival_releases.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/2023-china-brand-festival-womens-forum-successfully-held-301796553.html Equity investment led by Panakes Partners with venture debt provided by European Investment Bank Financing round follows recent US FDA granting of De Novo approval to Neuromod's Lenire tinnitus treatment device DUBLIN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Neuromod Devices Ltd, an Irish medical device company specialising in neuromodulation, has successfully closed a 30 million financing to further commercialise its tinnitus treatment device, Lenire. Tinnitus, commonly referred to as 'ringing in the ears', is the perception of sound without an external source and affects 10-15% of the global adult populationi. Lenire has shown in large scale clinical trials to reduce tinnitus severityii,iii,iv. The device has recently been granted De Novo approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is available throughout Europe. As part of the overall financing, a 15m expansion of the Series B was led by Panakes Partners with participation from existing investor Fountain Healthcare Partners. An additional 15m in venture debt was provided by the European Investment Bank. Proceeds from the financing will be used to launch Lenire in the USA and pursue opportunities in the US Departments of Defense and Veteran Affairs following the device's recent FDA De Novo approval. The first US patients will start treatment for their tinnitus in April 2023. Neuromod will also expand the availability of Lenire to additional European countries, including Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Sweden, and further next generation product development. Since Neuromod's previous round of funding in October 2020, the organisation has made significant progress commercialising Lenire, expanding the device's availability throughout Europe, establishing a wholly owned US subsidiary, Neuromod USA Inc, and securing US market approval from the FDA. Commenting on the news, Dr. Ross O'Neill, Founder & CEO of Neuromod said "We are delighted to announce the successful completion of our Series B2 financing and to welcome new investors Panakes and the European Investment Bank. Europe has a long history in leading the world in hearing innovation. We are proud to add to that tradition by bringing our landmark tinnitus treatment Lenire to the millions of sufferers in Europe and the USA. This investment will help us to expand availability of Lenire in Europe, launch the product in the US and pursue opportunities in the USVA and DoD following our recent De Novo grant from the FDA." "There are more people in the world with tinnitus than with hearing loss. Tinnitus is one of the largest unmet clinical needs globally and is the number one cause of service-connected disability among US veterans and military personnel. Despite this, there has been practically no innovation in the tinnitus area. This financial support will ensure that, once again, Europe leads the way as Neuromod addresses this huge unmet need in the hearing area." Dr. O'Neill continued. Thomas Ostros, Vice President of the European Investment Bank, commented, "Tinnitus impacts the lives of millions of people and investment to develop new treatments is essential. The European Investment Bank supports cutting edge world class medtech companies and is pleased to provide 15 million venture debt financing to enable Neuromod to commercialise and expand access to tinnitus treatment technology." The management of tinnitus continues to pose a significant burden on healthcare systems. A recent study estimated the socioeconomic costs of tinnitus in Germany at 21.9 billion per annumvi. In the USA, tinnitus was the most prevalent service-connected disability compensated for by the US Veterans Benefits Administration with more than 2.7 million veterans compensated in 2022vii. It's also estimated the Veterans Benefits Administration paid out more than $4.9 billion through its Veterans Compensation benefits program for tinnitus alone in 2022viii. Alessio Beverina, Managing Partner of Panakes, who will join Neuromod's board, said, "Tinnitus remains a significant problem for patients around the world and an important cost for healthcare systems globally. Panakes is proud to support Neuromod's continued work to meet this challenge with their ground-breaking product Lenire; I'm particularly excited at the possibility to improve the life of tinnitus patients and looking forward to working closely with Neuromod's team." Dr. Manus Rogan, Chairman of Neuromod and Managing Partner of Fountain Healthcare Partners commented, "We're proud to continue to support Neuromod as the organisation takes the next step forwards in their mission to improve quality of life for millions of people living with tinnitus. I'm delighted to welcome Alessio Beverina to Neuromod's board at an exciting time for the company as they work towards making Lenire more widely available." Lenire is a bimodal neuromodulation device which works by delivering mild electrical pulses to the tongue, through an intra-oral component called the 'Tonguetip', combined with auditory stimulation through headphones to drive long-term changes in the brain to treat tinnitus. To date, the device has been used in large-scale clinical trials with over 700 patients. The first of these trials, TENT-A1, represents one of the largest and longest followed-up clinical trials ever conducted in the tinnitus field and was the cover story for the scientific journal Science Translational Medicine in October 2020. The trial enrolled 326 participants and 86.2% of treatment-compliant participants reported an improvement in their tinnitus symptom severity after a 12-week treatment periodii,iv. In June 2022, the results of the second large-scale clinical trial, TENT-A2, were published in the highly-regarded journal Nature - Scientific Reports. TENT-A2 showed that changing the stimuli patients received after six weeks of treatment could result in a further clinically significant reduction in their tinnitus severityiii,iv. 95% of treatment-compliant participants reported an improvement in their tinnitus symptom severity after 12 weeks of treatmentiii,iv. When followed up with 12 months after treatment had ended, 91% of treatment-compliant participants reported sustained improvement in their tinnitus severityiii,iv. A third large-scale clinical trial, TENT-A3, was designed to meet the FDA's rigorous De Novo requirements and carried out from March to October 2022 at three independent sitesix. 70.5% of patients with moderate or worse tinnitus reported a clinically significant improvement in their tinnitus severity following six weeks of treatment with Lenire, after six weeks of sound-only treatment provided clinically insignificant improvement. Further results from the trial are currently in preparation for peer-review and publication in a scientific journal. About Neuromod Devices Ltd Founded in 2010, Neuromod Devices Ltd. is a medical technology company headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Neuromod specialises in the design and development of neuromodulation technologies to address the clinical needs of underserved patient populations who live with chronic and debilitating conditions. The lead application of Neuromod's technology is in the field of tinnitus, where Neuromod has completed extensive clinical trials to confirm the efficacy of its non-invasive neuromodulation platform in this common disorder. For more information visit www.neuromoddevices.com. About Lenire Lenire is the first non-invasive bimodal neuromodulation tinnitus treatment device shown to soothe and relieve tinnitus in a large-scale clinical trial. Lenire has CE-mark certification for the treatment of tinnitus under the supervision of an appropriately qualified healthcare professional in Europe and has received a De Novo grant of approval by the US FDA. Further details about Lenire including a list of providers can be found at www.lenire.com. About Panakes Partners Panakes Partners is a Venture Capital firm, based in Milan, which invests in the most ambitious companies and teams, developing revolutionary technologies and products, in the field of life sciences, aiming to improve the lives of people around the world. Panakes, founded in 2015 by Fabrizio Landi, Alessio Beverina and Diana Saraceni, has 250 million under management. www.panakes.it. About Fountain Healthcare Partners Fountain Healthcare Partners is a life science venture capital fund with offices in Dublin and New York. Founded in 2008, Fountain is Ireland's largest dedicated life science venture capital fund with more than 300 million under management. Fountain invests in entrepreneurs and companies with disruptive technologies or products that have a clear pharmacoeconomic benefit and a defined pathway to commercialisation, value enhancement and exit. Fountain typically leads or co-leads its investments and has sourced private and public deals from start-ups, corporate spin-outs and turnaround situations. For more information please visit: www.fh-partners.com. Connect with Neuromod Devices Ltd LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/neuromod Twitter: twitter.com/NeuromodDevices Website: neuromoddevices.com References & Notes (i) Baguely et al., Tinnitus, The Lancet (2013), https://sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0140673613601427 (ii) Conlon et al., Sci. Transl. Med. 12, eabb2830 (2020) (iii) Conlon et al., Different bimodal neuromodulation settings reduce tinnitus symptoms in a large randomized trial, Sci Rep, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-13875-x (2022) (iv) As measured by THI. THI or Tinnitus Handicap Inventory is a clinical standard for measuring the impact of tinnitus on someone's day-to-day life. Measured on a scale of 100, the higher the score, the greater the impact of tinnitus. Reducing a person's THI score should correspond to improved quality of life by reducing how their tinnitus is affecting them. (v) R. Biswas et al., Tinnitus prevalence in Europe: a multi-country cross-sectional population study, The Lancet Regional Health (2021), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lanepe.2021.100250 (vi) Tziridis K, Friedrich J, Brueggemann P, Mazurek B, Schulze H. Estimation of Tinnitus-Related Socioeconomic Costs in Germany. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Aug 22;19(16):10455. doi: 10.3390/ijerph191610455. PMID: 36012089; PMCID: PMC9407899. (vii) US VA Benefits Report Fiscal Year 2022: https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/docs/2022-abr.pdf (viii) According to https://www.va.gov/disability/compensation-rates/veteran-rates/past-rates-2022/ the 2022 10% disability rate was $152.64 per month. 2,703,665 veterans (https://www.benefits.va.gov/REPORTS/abr/docs/2022-abr.pdf) receiving 12 payments of $152.64 for tinnitus results in $4.952 billion. The VA assigns a 10% disability rating to tinnitus: https://www.benefits.com/veterans-disability/tinnitus-most-common-va-disability (ix) https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05227365 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053435/Woman_using_Lenire.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053436/Doctor_using_Lenire.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053437/Lenire_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/neuromod-devices-closes-30-million-financing-to-expand-availability-of-tinnitus-treatment-device-lenire-301796629.html New Technology Provides Cutting Edge Visualization, Ergonomic Positioning and Efficient Workflow Bausch Lomb, a leading global eye health company dedicated to helping people see better to live better, and Heidelberg Engineering, today announced the introduction of the SeeLuma Fully Digital Surgical Visualization Platform, which provides ophthalmic surgeons with a new level of visualization compared to optical, hybrid and retrofitted microscopes. Developed to facilitate even the most complex surgical procedures, SeeLuma will be introduced in the United States and Western Europe this month with additional countries to follow. "As part of our broader mission, Bausch Lomb aims to provide ophthalmic surgeons around the world with innovative visualization and intraoperative diagnostic technologies that enhance the surgical experience to ultimately help deliver better patient outcomes," said Joe Gordon, president, Global Consumer, Surgical and Vision Care, Bausch Lomb. "The launch of SeeLuma is an important milestone on this journey, as it will serve as one of the key foundations for our future image-guided surgical applications." SeeLuma features include a heads-up 3D monitor, multiple digital display options and an intuitive interface that contribute to excellent visualization, ergonomics, smooth workflow and an immersive educational experience. "SeeLuma addresses several challenges that many surgeons often struggle with when using surgical microscopes that are currently available," said Siegfried Priglinger, professor, director and chairman, University Eye Hospital of the Ludwig-Maximilians-Universitat, Munich, Germany. "Having access to a platform that offers cutting edge visualization, efficient workflow and ergonomics, and educational features has the potential to really change the landscape and ultimately deliver tremendous benefits for current and future generations of surgeons, as well as their practices and patients." Premium Image Quality Enhances Visualization SeeLuma offers high quality images as it relates to depth of field, color reproduction and contrast and resolution, helping surgeons tackle complicated surgical cases with confidence and ease. The platform also facilitates 3D heads-up surgery using next-generation 3D 55" and 31" 4K monitors, as well as unique digital binoculars. In addition, embedded functions allow the user to highlight and enhance anatomical landmarks to better distinguish anatomical features. Multiple Digital Display Options Support Ergonomic Positioning SeeLuma is the only microscope with multiple digital display options that enables surgeons to operate ergonomically. The C-shaped suspension arm enables surgeons to view the 55" or 31" 3D 4K monitor straight ahead of them. The digital binoculars are mounted onto a separate suspension arm and allow surgeons to take on an ergonomic posture and work with ease. Surgeons can maintain proper head and neck posture even while working with a tilted microscope camera head. Intuitive Interface Facilitates Efficient Workflow SeeLuma provides an intuitive interface with comprehensive settings. Key system functionality can be controlled either by nurses or directly by the operating surgeon using the on-screen menu via the foot switch. System parameters, such as zoom and focus speed, white balance, image inversion and foot control layouts, are automatically adapted to surgical steps. In addition, the user interface enables quick access to system functionality in an intuitive way similar to that of personal computers or mobile phones. Interactive Platform Provides Immersive Educational Experience SeeLuma helps ensure that all stakeholders, including those in and outside the operating room (OR), can participate in the procedure in an immersive way. Surgeons can connect multiple wireless displays simultaneously, allowing trainees and stakeholders to follow and anticipate surgical steps as they occur while in the OR and/or at a remote location. Surgeons can engage the platform's Assist Mode to send and receive real-time support via touch screen interface and make annotations or notes on the surgical image, which helps enable collaboration and learning during live surgery events. "For more than a decade, our Munich Surgical Imaging division, has been collaborating with physicians to develop surgeon-centered solutions that offer premium visualization and comfort to enhance their surgical experience," said Kfir Azoulay, head of Corporate Strategy, Heidelberg Engineering, and managing director, Munich Surgical Imaging (MSI). "Utilizing MSI's digital microscopy and image-guided applications expertise, coupled with Bausch Lomb's long-standing leadership and innovation in ophthalmology, the new SeeLuma platform will help address the increasing demand for innovative digital microscopy solutions by providing surgeons with outstanding imaging capabilities, ergonomics and digital tools to tackle even the most complex ophthalmic surgical cases." About Heidelberg Engineering and Munich Surgical Imaging Heidelberg Engineering is global leader in the field of diagnostic imaging and healthcare IT solutions for ophthalmology. Munich Surgical Imaging (MSI) a wholly owned subsidiary of Heidelberg Engineering is a technological pioneer in the field of digital microscopy and image-guided applications. MSI's first surgical platform in the field of ENT (Ear, Nose, and Throat) has received accolades from surgeons on key parameters, such as outstanding natural 3D image quality and blending of 3D image with preoperative data. MSI's state-of-the-art OCT technology is powered by Heidelberg Engineering. For more information, visit https://www.heidelbergengineering.com/ or https://www.munichimaging.com/. About Bausch Lomb Bausch Lomb is dedicated to protecting and enhancing the gift of sight for millions of people around the world from the moment of birth through every phase of life. Its comprehensive portfolio of more than 400 products includes contact lenses, lens care products, eye care products, ophthalmic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter products and ophthalmic surgical devices and instruments. Founded in 1853, Bausch Lomb has a significant global research and development, manufacturing and commercial footprint with approximately 13,000 employees and a presence in nearly 100 countries. Bausch Lomb is headquartered in Vaughan, Ontario with corporate offices in Bridgewater, New Jersey. For more information, visit www.bausch.com and connect with us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram. Forward-looking Statements This news release may contain forward-looking statements, which may generally be identified by the use of the words "anticipates," "hopes," "expects," "intends," "plans," "should," "could," "would," "may," "believes," "estimates," "potential," "target," or "continue" and variations or similar expressions. These statements are based upon the current expectations and beliefs of management and are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those described in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risks and uncertainties discussed in Bausch Lomb's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and the Canadian Securities Administrators, which factors are incorporated herein by reference. They also include, but are not limited to, risks and uncertainties caused by or relating to the evolving COVID-19 pandemic, and the fear of that pandemic and its potential effects, the severity, duration and future impact of which are highly uncertain and cannot be predicted, and which may have a material adverse impact on Bausch Lomb, including but not limited to its project development timelines, launches and costs (which may increase). Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date hereof. Bausch Lomb undertakes no obligation to update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this news release or to reflect actual outcomes, unless required by law. /TM are trademarks of Bausch Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates. Any other product/brand names and/or logos are trademarks of the respective owners. 2023 Bausch Lomb Incorporated or its affiliates. SRG.0021.USA.23 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005102/en/ Contacts: Heidelberg Engineering: Kfir Azoulay kfir.azoulay@heidelbergengineering.com Bausch Lomb Investor: Arthur Shannon/Allison Ryan arthur.shannon@bausch.com;allison.ryan@bausch.com (877) 354-3705 (toll free); (908) 927-0735 Bausch Lomb Media: Lainie Keller/Kristy Marks lainie.keller@bausch.com;kristy.marks@bausch.com (908) 927-1198; (908) 927-0683 The company redefines competitive and market intelligence by bringing trend visualizations to AI search. "We are way beyond summarization." M-Brain, the leading global provider of competitive and market intelligence services, launches trend detection tools based on AI-search in their all-in-one solution. It provides businesses with tools for strategic planning and data-driven decision-making. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005421/en/ M-Brain, the leading global provider of competitive and market intelligence services, launches trend detection tools based on AI-search in their all-in-one solution. CEO Kimmo Havu: "Instead of generic extracts, our engine builds comprehensive business summaries in English from 107 world languages." Photo by M-Brain. With the new tools in M-Brain's AI-based search, users are now able to access insights from highly relevant proprietary news, trade articles, and industry databases regardless of the topic or industry available as unique business summaries in English. This way companies will have even more opportunities to fight information overflow and rather stay on top of their most relevant industry-specific events, as they can quickly and globally obtain the most relevant information to them. The advances also allow for smart visualizations of researched data. Users can analyze and benchmark trends and see in clear charts how topics of interest evolve over time and across regions. "We are way beyond summarization. We brought the AI-generative summarization as the first player to the market at the end of 2021, and now we have equipped it with powerful trend foresight visualization tools and AI-search." says M-Brain CEO Kimmo Havu. "Instead of generic extracts, our engine builds comprehensive business summaries in English from 107 world languages. This enables not only easier in-depth ad-hoc research, but also strategic monitoring as well as distribution of real-time insights and analysis, in languages that the users don't even speak." "We have been training our AI for the past 20 years with relevant business-specific data and skilled analyst work," states Havu. "We have had the best AI summarization tool on the market, and with the recent additional investments we are taking it to the next level through trend foresight and visualizations. The trustworthiness, reliability, and user experience in AI-based market and competitive intelligence are beyond anything that the market has seen. It sets a new standard for businesses to expect in the future." M-Brain's market intelligence platform allows searching using conversational queries. The search uses a generative AI model that has learned from more than 20 million relevant analyst-written business summaries, from +200k business sources as training material. "So now," Havu says, "you can ask something like 'How is the insurance industry expected to develop in my country compared to India?',and our AI will do the legwork. You can quickly digest vast amounts of information and get accurate, presentable business data from sources in different languages summarized and analyzed in English. It sounds cliche, but the possibilities from gathering intel from business sources in any language are endless. Nobody else can do that yet." About M-Brain Founded in 1999, M-Brain is the leading global provider of competitive and market intelligence solutions and services. Over 500 organizations are supported by M-Brain's team of more than 200 experts in the intelligence field. M-Brain helps clients stay up to date and organized on market trends, industry insights, and reporting. The company filters, analyzes, and packages information in an easy-to-understand format all at scale. M-Brain combines a best-in-class AI with expert human analysts to deliver actionable, reliable insights to more than 250,000 business users worldwide. Companies like Goodyear, Dunkin, Bosch, Philips and Cintas have trusted M-Brain as their market intelligence solution, service and content provider. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005421/en/ Contacts: Kati Tammisto CMO kati.tammisto@m-brain.com +358 40 7757162 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Amarc Resources Ltd. ("Amarc" or the "Company") (TSXV:AHR; OTCQB:AXREF) is pleased to report completion of the Phase 1 core drilling program at its 100%-owned DUKE porphyry Cu-Au district ("DUKE District" or "DUKE"), central British Columbia ("BC"). Three drill rigs were deployed during the program completing 11,070 m in 24 core holes. Two rigs focused on further delineating the DUKE Cu-Mo-Ag-Au Deposit, while the third commenced testing the shallow overburden covered and robust 4.7 km2 Induced Polarization ("IP") chargeability anomaly. This IP chargeability anomaly surrounds the DUKE Deposit and is indicative of an expansive mineralized sulphide system. Amarc and Boliden are now actively planning the Phase 2 exploration works that will commence in early summer, and which will include extensive surface surveys to explore 10 prioritized porphyry Cu deposit targets across the DUKE District. These Phase 1 and 2 programs through 2023 are budgeted at $10 million and are being fully funded under the Mineral Property Earn-in Agreement with Boliden Mineral Canada Ltd. ("Boliden") (see Amarc news release November 22, 2022). Amarc is project operator. Strong results have already been reported from the first two Phase 1 drill holes, which were completed in late 2022 (see Amarc releases January 26, 2023 and February 15, 2023). These holes, DK22009 and DK22010, intersected significant Cu-Mo-Au-Ag mineralization from the bedrock surface to the bottom of each hole (542 and 557 m, respectively), extending the DUKE deposit to depth. During Phase 1, an additional 22 holes were completed this year with on-site activities resuming in mid-January after a holiday break. As assay results from these holes are received, they will be compiled and assessed and timely reported. Other News In other news, the Company announces that it has granted 520,000 incentive stock options to key service providers to acquire an aggregate of 520,000 common shares at $0.125 per share, for a period of three years. All of the options are subject to required TSXV final acceptance and customary vesting provisions over 24 months. About the DUKE District Amarc's DUKE District is located 80 km northeast of Smithers within the Babine Region, one of the most mineralized porphyry belts in BC. It hosts the former Bell and Granisle Cu-Au mines that were operated by Noranda Mines, and the advanced stage Morrison Cu-Au deposit. Significant potential exists for discovery of new large porphyry Cu deposits. Infrastructure servicing the former mines and the very active forestry and exploration industries is nearby. There is an extensive network of forest roads and much of the Duke District is road accessible. Central to Amarc's extensive DUKE District mineral tenure is the DUKE Cu-Mo-Ag-Au Deposit discovery, located 30 km north of the former Bell Mine. Although explored historically, the extensive porphyry Cu system at the DUKE discovery was not fully delineated. Many of the 21 historical shallow and closely-spaced core holes intersected and ended in significant Cu-Mo-Ag-Au mineralization within a small portion of a robust, 4.7 km2 IP chargeability anomaly. In 2017 and 2018, Amarc completed seven core holes over an area measuring approximately 400 m north-south by 600 m east-west (see Amarc releases December 19, 2017 and June 12, 2018) at the DUKE Deposit, successfully intersecting porphyry copper-style mineralization to a vertical depth of 360 m. This mineralization remained open to expansion. The eighth hole, drilled one kilometre to the north within the 4.7 km2 sulphide mineral system, intersected similar copper-molybdenum-silver-gold porphyry mineralization. In addition, Amarc has completed a comprehensive compilation of government and historical data over the entire 678 km2 DUKE District claim holdings. This detailed scientific work has provided a new interpretation of the geological, geochemical and geophysical characteristics of the Babine belt, and identified 10 previously unrecognized porphyry Cu deposit scale targets with exciting potential (see May 6, 2020 news release). The databases compiled and leveraged for this work were extensive: they include data from the BC Geological Survey, Geoscience BC, numerous historical industry workers, and Amarc. The targeting study covered an area 140 km by 110 km (15,400 km2). Datasets include >2,300 regional geochemical samples, 116,344 line-km of airborne magnetic and radiometrics, and 25,500 line-km of aerogravity. Further information on the historical and Amarc's modern exploration activities in the DUKE District are described in the Company's DUKE Project 2020 Technical Report available on the website at https://amarcresources.com/projects/duke-project/technical-report/ . In November 2022, Amarc entered into a Mineral Property Earn-In Agreement (the "EIA") with Boliden Mineral Canada Ltd. ("Boliden"), an entity within the Boliden Group of companies (see Amarc release November 22, 2022). Under the terms of the Agreement, Boliden has a two-staged option to earn up to a 70% interest in the DUKE District by funding $90 million exploration and development expenditures. About Amarc Resources Amarc is a mineral exploration and development company with an experienced and successful management team focused on developing a new generation of long-life, high-value porphyry Cu-Au mines in BC. By combining high-demand projects with dynamic management, Amarc has created a solid platform to create value from its exploration and development-stage assets. Amarc is advancing its 100%-owned IKE, DUKE and JOY porphyry CuAu districts located in different prolific porphyry regions of southern, central and northern BC, respectively. Each district represents significant potential for the development of multiple and important-scale, porphyry CuAu deposits. Importantly, each of the three districts is located in proximity to industrial infrastructure - including power, highways and rail. Amarc is associated with HDI, a diversified, global mining company with a 35-year history of porphyry Cu deposit discovery and development success. Previous and current HDI projects include some of BC's and the world's most important porphyry deposits - such as Pebble, Mount Milligan, Southern Star, Kemess South, Kemess North, Gibraltar, Prosperity, Xietongmen, Newtongmen, Florence, Casino, Sisson, Maggie, IKE, PINE and DUKE. From its head office in Vancouver, Canada, HDI applies its unique strengths and capabilities to acquire, develop, operate and monetize mineral projects. Amarc works closely with local governments, Indigenous groups and stakeholders in order to advance its mineral projects responsibly, and in a manner that contributes to sustainable community and economic development. We pursue early and meaningful engagement to ensure our mineral exploration and development activities are well coordinated and broadly supported, address local priorities and concerns, and optimize opportunities for collaboration. In particular, we seek to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with Indigenous groups within whose traditional territories our projects are located, through the provision of jobs, training programs, contract opportunities, capacity funding agreements and sponsorship of community events. All Amarc work programs are carefully planned to achieve high levels of environmental and social performance. Qualified Person Dr. Roy Greig, P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, has read and approved all technical and scientific information related to the Duke Project contained in this news release. Dr. Greig is Amarc's Vice President, Exploration. For further details on Amarc Resources Ltd., please visit the Company's website at www.amarcresources.com or contact Dr. Diane Nicolson, President and CEO, at (604) 684-6365 or within North America at 1-800-667-2114, or Kin Communications, at (604) 684-6730, Email: AHR@kincommunications.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AMARC RESOURCES LTD. Dr. Diane Nicolson President and CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor any other regulatory authority accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward Looking and other Cautionary Information This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All such statements, other than statements of historical facts that address exploration plans and plans for enhanced relationships 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 or developments may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Assumptions used by the Company to develop forward-looking statements include the following: Amarc's projects will obtain all required environmental and other permits and all land use and other licenses, studies and exploration of Amarc's projects will continue to be positive, and no geological or technical problems will occur. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include market prices, potential environmental issues or liabilities associated with exploration, development and mining activities, exploitation and exploration successes, continuity of mineralization, uncertainties related to the ability to obtain necessary permits, licenses and tenure and delays due to third party opposition, changes in and the effect of government policies regarding mining and natural resource exploration and exploitation, exploration and development of properties located within Aboriginal groups asserted territories may affect or be perceived to affect asserted aboriginal rights and title, which may cause permitting delays or opposition by Aboriginal groups, continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions, as well as risks relating to the uncertainties with respect to the effects of COVID-19. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. For more information on Amarc Resources Ltd., investors should review Amarc's annual Form 20-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov and its home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com. SOURCE: Amarc Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748852/Amarc-Completes-Phase-1-Drilling-Program-at-Its-Duke-Copper-Gold-District-BC-Next-Exploration-Phase-Planned-to-Commence-in-June Creates 150,000-tonnes-per-year copper producer with long-life mines and a world-class pipeline of organic copper growth projects Combined company creates the 3rd largest copper producer in Canada All-share combination based on strong industrial logic and compelling value for shareholders Complementary assets with opportunity to unlock US$30 million i per year in operating efficiencies and corporate synergies Repositions the combined company for a valuation re-rate as a larger, more diversified copper producer with enhanced liquidity TORONTO, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hudbay Minerals Inc. ("Hudbay") (TSX, NYSE: HBM) and Copper Mountain Mining Corporation ("Copper Mountain") (TSX: CMMC, ASX: C6C) are pleased to announce that they have entered into a definitive agreement (the "Arrangement Agreement") pursuant to which Hudbay will acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Copper Mountain, pursuant to a court approved plan of arrangement (the "Transaction"). The Transaction will create a premier Americas-focused copper mining company that is well-positioned to deliver sustainable cash flows from an operating portfolio of three long-life mines, as well as compelling organic growth from a world-class pipeline of copper expansion and development projects. All assets in the combined portfolio are located in tier-one mining-friendly jurisdictions of Canada, Peru and the United States. The combined company represents the third largest copper producer in Canada based on 2023 estimated copper productionii. Peter Kukielski, Hudbay's President and Chief Executive Officer, commented, "This transaction represents a unique opportunity to combine complementary assets and leverage our technical expertise to create value for the shareholders of both Hudbay and Copper Mountain. We estimate that this combination could unlock US$30 million per year in operating efficiencies and corporate synergies, and it is accretive to Hudbay's key per share metrics. With an expanded copper production profile, a low-cost position on the copper curve and an enviable copper growth pipeline, the combined company is expected to generate robust cash flows through the cycle and achieve attractive returns by efficiently allocating capital to the highest risk-adjusted return opportunities in the combined project portfolio. Most importantly, the combined company will be underpinned by our shared commitment to the highest safety and ESG standards." Edward Dowling, Copper Mountain's Chair of the Board of Directors, stated, "The strategic rationale of the transaction is compelling on many levels, and the combined company is well-positioned to create sustainable value for all stakeholders. This transaction provides Copper Mountain shareholders with an attractive premium and the opportunity to participate in a more diversified portfolio of three operating assets and a leading organic copper growth pipeline." Gil Clausen, Copper Mountain's President and Chief Executive Officer, added, "We are very pleased to be entering into this combination with Hudbay. The Copper Mountain team has done a tremendous job as seen through the positive momentum at the mine, and I am extremely proud of the team's efforts. The mine is now at a point where it will benefit from the additional support available from Hudbay's strong in-house technical services team. There also remains significant potential to unlock further value by leveraging the best practices of both companies." Strategic Rationale of the Transaction The combination of Hudbay and Copper Mountain is on-strategy with strong industrial logic that will offer both sets of shareholders compelling benefits, as highlighted below: Scale - a larger-scale platform with three long-life operating mines with exploration and expansion upside, three large-scale development projects and one of the largest mineral resource bases among intermediate copper producers; - a larger-scale platform with three long-life operating mines with exploration and expansion upside, three large-scale development projects and one of the largest mineral resource bases among intermediate copper producers; Diversification - a geographically balanced portfolio in tier-one mining jurisdictions with approximately 55% of net asset value i i i ("NAV") estimated to be from North American assets and 45% of NAV estimated to be from South American assets; - a geographically balanced portfolio in tier-one mining jurisdictions with approximately 55% of net asset value ("NAV") estimated to be from North American assets and 45% of NAV estimated to be from South American assets; Copper-Focused - a copper-focused portfolio with expected 2023 copper production of more than 150,000 tonnes in the second quartile position on the copper cost curve i v , complemented by meaningful gold production; a copper-focused portfolio with expected 2023 copper production of more than 150,000 tonnes in the second quartile position on the copper cost curve , complemented by meaningful gold production; Efficiencies - an estimated US$30 million i per year of operating efficiencies and corporate synergies, including approximately US$20 million per year from operating cost reductions through the application of Hudbay's operating efficiency practices to the Copper Mountain mine; an estimated US$30 million per year of operating efficiencies and corporate synergies, including approximately US$20 million per year from operating cost reductions through the application of Hudbay's operating efficiency practices to the Copper Mountain mine; Deleveraging - well-positioned for accelerated deleveraging in the near-term from increased diversification of cash flows and enhanced exposure to rising copper prices; well-positioned for accelerated deleveraging in the near-term from increased diversification of cash flows and enhanced exposure to rising copper prices; Capital Allocation - an ability to maximize value from a larger organic growth pipeline by more efficiently allocating capital to projects that yield the highest risk-adjusted returns; the combined company's greater cash flow generation and strong balance sheet will enhance the ability to advance brownfield expansion opportunities and prudently develop Hudbay's Copper World project in Arizona, which will deliver meaningful growth to the combined company; and an ability to maximize value from a larger organic growth pipeline by more efficiently allocating capital to projects that yield the highest risk-adjusted returns; the combined company's greater cash flow generation and strong balance sheet will enhance the ability to advance brownfield expansion opportunities and prudently develop Hudbay's Copper World project in Arizona, which will deliver meaningful growth to the combined company; and Valuation Re-rating Potential - the strategic and financial benefits from the Transaction ultimately position the combined company for a valuation re-rating. Transaction Terms Under the terms of the Arrangement Agreement, each Copper Mountain shareholder will receive 0.381 of a Hudbay common share for each Copper Mountain common share held. The Transaction consideration represents approximately C$2.67 per Copper Mountain common share and a US$439 million equity value based on Hudbay's closing share price on April 12, 2023. The Transaction consideration represents a 23% premium to Copper Mountain shareholders based Hudbay's and Copper Mountain's 10-day volume-weighted-average share prices on April 12, 2023. Copper Mountain's and Hudbay's respective officers and directors have entered into voting support agreements pursuant to which they have agreed, among other things, to vote their shares in favor of the Transaction. Following the closing of the Transaction, the Board of Directors of Hudbay will include two directors from the Board of Directors of Copper Mountain, and the management team of Hudbay will include select members from the management team of Copper Mountain. In addition, existing Hudbay and Copper Mountain shareholders will own approximately 76% and 24% of Hudbay, respectively. In light of the Transaction, Gil Clausen has postponed his retirement and will remain as President and Chief Executive Officer of Copper Mountain until closing. Transaction Conditions and Timing The Transaction will be implemented by way of a court-approved plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia). The arrangement will require the approval of at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by the shareholders of Copper Mountain at a special meeting of Copper Mountain shareholders held to consider the Transaction. The issuance of shares by Hudbay under the Transaction is subject to the approval of a simple majority of the votes cast by Hudbay shareholders at a special meeting of Hudbay shareholders. In addition to shareholder approvals, the Transaction is subject to the satisfaction of certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature, including clearance under the Competition Act (Canada), B.C. court approval and applicable stock exchange approvals. The Arrangement Agreement contains customary reciprocal deal-protection provisions including non-solicitation covenants and a right to match any Superior Proposal (as defined in the Arrangement Agreement). Under certain circumstances, Hudbay and Copper Mountain would be entitled to a termination fee equal to a percentage of respective equity values. The Transaction is expected to be completed late in the second quarter or early in the third quarter of 2023. Following completion of the Transaction, the shares of Copper Mountain will be de-listed from the Toronto Stock Exchange and the Australian Securities Exchange. Board of Directors' Recommendations After consultation with its financial and legal advisors, the Board of Directors of Hudbay unanimously approved the entering into of the Arrangement Agreement. The Board of Directors of Hudbay recommends that Hudbay shareholders vote in favor of the Transaction. TD Securities Inc. has provided a fairness opinion to the Hudbay Board of Directors, stating to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in such opinion, the consideration to be paid by Hudbay in the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to Hudbay. Copper Mountain appointed a special committee of independent directors (the "Copper Mountain Special Committee") to consider and make a recommendation with respect to the Transaction. Based on the unanimous recommendation of the Copper Mountain Special Committee, and after consultation with its financial and legal advisors, the Board of Directors of Copper Mountain has unanimously approved the entering into of the Arrangement Agreement. The Board of Directors of Copper Mountain recommends that Copper Mountain shareholders vote in favor of the Transaction. CIBC World Markets Inc. and Origin Merchant Partners have each provided a fairness opinion to the Copper Mountain Board of Directors and the Copper Mountain Special Committee, to the effect that, as of the date of such opinion and based upon and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated in such opinion, the consideration to be received by the Copper Mountain shareholders is fair, from a financial point of view, to such shareholders. Advisors and Counsel Citi is acting as financial advisor to Hudbay and Goodmans LLP and Baker McKenzie LLP are acting as legal counsel to Hudbay. CIBC Capital Markets is acting as financial advisor to Copper Mountain and Davies Ward Phillips & Vineberg LLP is acting as legal counsel to Copper Mountain and the Special Committee. Analyst and Investor Webcast and Conference Call Hudbay and Copper Mountain will host a joint conference call on Thursday, April 13, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the Transaction. A copy of the presentation and webcast audio will be available on Hudbay's website following the conference call. Conference Call and Webcast Details: Date: Thursday, April 13, 2023 Time: 8:30 a.m. ET Webcast: www.hudbay.com Dial in: 1-416-915-3239 or 1-800-319-4610 About Hudbay Minerals Inc. Hudbay (TSX, NYSE: HBM) is a diversified mining company with long-life assets in North and South America. The company's Constancia operations in Cusco (Peru) produce copper with gold, silver and molybdenum by-products. Its Snow Lake operations in Manitoba (Canada) produce gold with copper, zinc and silver by-products. Hudbay has an organic pipeline that includes the Copper World project in Arizona and the Mason project in Nevada (United States), and its growth strategy is focused on the exploration, development, operation, and optimization of properties it already controls, as well as other mineral assets it may acquire that fit its strategic criteria. Hudbay's mission is to create sustainable value through the acquisition, development and operation of high-quality, long-life deposits with exploration potential in jurisdictions that support responsible mining, and to see the regions and communities in which the company operates benefit from its presence. Further information about Hudbay can be found on www.hudbay.com. About Copper Mountain Mining Corporation Copper Mountain owns 75% of the Copper Mountain Mine, which is located in southern British Columbia near the town of Princeton. The Copper Mountain Mine produces approximately 100 million pounds of copper equivalent on average per year. Copper Mountain trades on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol "CMMC" and Australian Stock Exchange under the symbol "C6C". Additional information is available on the company's web page at www.CuMtn.com. Forward-Looking Information This release contains certain "forward looking statements" and certain "forward-looking information" as "defined under applicable Canadian and U.S. securities laws. Forward-looking statements and information can generally be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "may", "will", "should", "expect", "intend", "estimate", "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "plans" or similar terminology. The forward-looking information contained herein is provided for the purpose of assisting readers in understanding management's current expectations and plans relating to the future. Readers are cautioned that such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect Hudbay's and Copper Mountain's expectations or beliefs regarding future events. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to statements with respect to the consummation and timing of the Transaction; approval by Copper Mountain's and Hudbay's shareholders; the satisfaction of the conditions precedent to the Transaction; the strengths, characteristics and potential of the Transaction; growth potential and expectations regarding the timing, receipt and anticipated effects of court, regulatory and other consents and approvals; the impact of the Transaction on shareholders of Hudbay and Copper Mountain and other stakeholders and other anticipated benefits of the Transaction. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause our actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such factors include, amongst others, risks related to failure to receive approval by Copper Mountain shareholders, the required court, regulatory and other consents and approvals to effect the Transaction, the potential of a third party making a superior proposal to the Transaction, the possibility that the Arrangement Agreement could be terminated under certain circumstances. Forward-looking information are based on management of the parties' reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on such management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Such factors, among other things, include: business integration risks; fluctuations in general macroeconomic conditions; fluctuations in securities markets; fluctuations in spot and forward prices of copper or certain other commodities; change in national and local governments, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations pressures, cave-ins and flooding); discrepancies between actual and estimated metallurgical recoveries; inability to obtain adequate insurance to cover risks and hazards; the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining; employee relations; relationships with and claims by local communities and indigenous populations; availability of increasing costs associated with mining inputs and labour; the speculative nature of mineral exploration and development (including the risks of obtaining necessary licenses, permits and approvals from government authorities); and title to properties. Hudbay and Copper Mountain undertake no obligation to update forward-looking information except as required by applicable law. Such forward-looking information represents management's best judgment based on the information currently available. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed and actual future results may vary materially. Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. For investor and media inquiries, please contact: Hudbay Candace Bru^le Vice President, Investor Relations (416) 814-4387 candace.brule@hudbay.com Copper Mountain Tom Halton Director, Investor Relations and Corporate Communications (604) 682-2992 Tom.Halton@CuMtn.com ________________________ i Pre-tax annual synergies achieved over the course of 3 years. ii Sourced from company filings and Wood Mackenzie research. iii NAV is based on analyst consensus estimates. iv Based on Wood Mackenzie's 2023 by-product C1 copper cost curve (Q4 2022 dataset). CERN and Fermilab will use AlmaLinux for scientific computing, and many experiments will use AlmaLinux in their universities and other member institutions CERN to become a member of AlmaLinux OS Foundation The AlmaLinux OS Foundation, the nonprofit that stewards the community-owned and governed open-source CentOS alternative AlmaLinux, has announced that CERN, the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, located near Geneva, Switzerland, and Fermilab, Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory, based in Illinois in the United States, will offer AlmaLinux as one of the standard Linux distributions for experiments at their facilities. AlmaLinux offers extended architecture support, rapid release cycle, upstream community contributions, and support for security advisory metadata. In testing at CERN, AlmaLinux was demonstrated to be fully compatible with upstream Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL). "We look forward to working with AlmaLinux to help support our Linux platform needs. AlmaLinux's professionalism and strong ties with the broader RHEL community have given us confidence for the future," said Alex Iribarren, Tech Lead of the Linux Platform Engineering Team at CERN. "Having a stable, reliable platform in place is vital for helping researchers at the experiments focus on their groundbreaking scientific research." "By offering AlmaLinux as our Linux platform, our researchers and collaborators will benefit from the reliability and support of this open-source rebuild distribution, enabling them to focus on science," said Margaret Votava, Director of the Scientific Computing Systems and Services Division at Fermilab. As part of the decision, CERN will be joining the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, as well as a number of individuals from CERN having already joined the foundation. New members have a voice in the direction of AlmaLinux and can vote for and be voted into the Board of Directors by other members. "From its genesis our mission was to build a platform, and more importantly a community, to help others achieve and innovate, because we believe in the power of open source. This is a monumental step forward, a huge vote of confidence for AlmaLinux., We are looking forward to welcoming CERN as a member of the AlmaLinux OS Foundation," said Jack Aboutboul, Community Manager at AlmaLinux and AlmaLinux OS Foundation member. "It's amazing to think that AlmaLinux will be helping to unlock the secrets of the universe." Types of membership include project contributors, mirror maintainers/sponsors and service providers to the community, as well as official sponsors for the project. To join the AlmaLinux OS Foundation, see: https://almalinux.org/foundation/members/ AlmaLinux has millions of downloads from a network of over 250 mirrors worldwide, and powers projects by US government agencies, CERN scientific experiments, business applications across a wide range of enterprises as well software development at GitLab and the web hosting industry. AlmaLinux has millions of docker pulls, and availability on all major public cloud platforms including AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, Oracle OCI, and others. The AlmaLinux OS Foundation's members help support the rapid development of AlmaLinux and include AMD, CloudFest, CloudLinux, and Codenotary. AlmaLinux is adopted and supported by some of today's foremost open source ecosystem projects, including VMware, GitLab, Tenable and more. For more information see https://almalinux.org. About AlmaLinux AlmaLinux OS is an open source, community-governed, and forever-free enterprise Linux distribution. It is focused on long-term stability and delivering a robust production-grade platform. It is 1:1 binary compatible with RHEL(r) and pre-Stream CentOS. The AlmaLinux OS is governed by The AlmaLinux OS Foundation, which is a 501(c)(6) non-profit created for the benefit of the AlmaLinux OS community. Visit https://almalinux.org. Red Hat, and Red Hat Enterprise Linux are trademarks or registered trademarks of Red Hat, Inc. or its subsidiaries in the United States and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005066/en/ Contacts: Press Contact: Zintel Public Relations Matthew Zintel matthew.zintel@zintelpr.com AlmaLinux Contact: hello@almalinux.org Sensata Technologies (NYSE: ST) today announced that it will disclose its first quarter 2023 financial results on Tuesday, April 25, 2023, at 6:00 a.m. Eastern Time. In addition, Sensata's Board of Directors approved a quarterly dividend in the amount of $0.12 per share. The Company will pay this second quarter 2023 dividend on May 24, 2023, to shareholders of record as of May 10, 2023. After the release of its financial results, Sensata will host a live conference call and webcast on April 25 at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time to discuss the results and business performance. The webcast and subsequent replay will be available on the investor relations page of the Company's website at http://investors.sensata.com. Investors can also listen to the earnings call live via telephone by dialing 1-844-784-1726 or 1-412-380-7411 and referencing the Sensata Q1 2023 Financial Results Conference Call. A replay of the call will be available until May 2, 2023. To access the replay dial 1-877-344-7529 or 1-412-317-0088 and enter confirmation code: 7090167. About Sensata Technologies Sensata Technologies (NYSE:ST) is a global industrial technology company striving to create a cleaner, more efficient, electrified and connected world. Through its broad portfolio of sensors, electrical protection components and sensor-rich solutions which create valuable business insights, Sensata helps its customers address increasingly complex engineering and operating performance requirements. With more than 21,000 employees and global operations in 13 countries, Sensata serves customers in the automotive, heavy vehicle off-road, industrial, and aerospace markets. Learn more at www.sensata.com and follow Sensata on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005394/en/ Contacts: Investors: Jacob Sayer +1 (508) 236-1666 jsayer@sensata.com Media: Alexia Taxiarchos +1 (508) 236-1761 ataxiarchos@sensata.com This collaboration combines Sphera's industry-leading software solutions with ERM's deep technical expertise to empower customers, including YPF, an Argentinian energy company, to achieve their ESG and sustainability goals CHICAGO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sphera, a leading global provider of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and risk management software, data and consulting services, and ERM, the world's largest pure play sustainability consultancy, have combined efforts aimed at supporting customers with their ESG and sustainability strategies in the Latin American market. This builds on Sphera's longstanding relationship with ERM as a software deployment partner. Sphera's ability to deliver standardization and digitalization of end-to-end sustainability data collection and reporting solutions, combined with ERM's sustainability services and deep technical expertise, help organizations to transform their ESG and sustainability programs to meet strategic goals, while driving data transparency, time and cost savings. Sphera and ERM partnered to help YPF, a leading energy company in Argentina, complete its digital transformation journey. Moving from manual data collection and analysis to a more streamlined process empowers YPF to achieve its sustainability and net-zero ambitions. Using SpheraCloud Corporate Sustainability (SCCS) software, YPF's environmental data has been aggregated across 150 sites into a single repository, reducing data collection time from 15 days to one and enabling experts to shift their focus to data analysis. This project has been supported by ERM's extensive sustainability capabilities and local regulatory knowledge. Businesses need reliable, auditable and measurable data to establish transparent sustainability reporting. Sphera and ERM's ESG and sustainability solutions help companies to collect, manage and share their data and resources across business units to fuel forward-looking insights for continuous operational improvement. Sphera's SaaS technology platform, SpheraCloud, connects all parts of the customer organization-environment, health and safety (EHS), operations, business and technology-on a fully digital platform allowing companies to operationalize ESG. This provides businesses with more visibility into their ESG risk and more control of the actions needed to drive performance to targets. Sphera's Corporate Sustainability software allows users to easily collect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions data, automatically calculate their organization's carbon footprint and seamlessly report their sustainability performance to internal and external stakeholders. Sphera was recognized as a market leader in EHS software in the Verdantix "Green Quadrant: EHS Software 2023" report for these very capabilities. ERM's global technical and strategic experts support its customers across the business lifecycle to embed sustainability at all levels of an organization. Their digital implementation experts, ESG-focused services and change management approach help clients to smoothly transition their data collection and validation processes, so they can optimize their software investments to gain better data insights and traction around their environmental, health and safety (EHS) reporting needs. ERM was recognized as a leader in Verdantix's 2022 "Digital EHS Technology Implementation Services" Green Quadrant. "With mounting regulatory, investor and consumer pressures, a clearly defined roadmap along with accurate data and measurement have become must-haves for sound and transparent sustainability reporting," said Michael Cochran, chief revenue officer at Sphera. "We are honored to partner with ERM to provide companies with the tools-software, data, consulting, change management and training-they need to meet their ESG goals, improve sustainability and be compliant. Enabling organizations to take a proactive, integrated performance management approach empowers businesses to protect their people, assets and communities." "ERM is growing its ecosystem of partners, and we are excited to collaborate with Sphera to support our global clients with the right transformation tools to help guide their sustainability journeys," said Gerard Spans, managing partner digital services at ERM. "ERM's experience in helping companies address their sustainability challenges, and Sphera's leading EHS&S solutions, make this partnership a natural alignment. Together, we can enable our clients to be compliant in their ESG data collection and reporting efforts, so they can successfully meet their ambitious ESG goals." Victoria Travetto, project implementation leader at YPF said, "Working with Sphera and ERM has been a game-changer for our sustainability efforts. Our processes have been transformed into an integrative solution for tracking our environmental parameters, increasing transparency with stakeholders, and insights to drive performance towards our improvement in water management, non-GHG emissions, and waste generation." About Sphera Sphera is the leading provider of environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance and risk management software, data and consulting services focusing on Environment, Health, Safety & Sustainability (EHS&S), Operational Risk Management (ORM), Product Stewardship and Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM).?For more than 30 years, we have served over 7,000 customers and a million-plus users in 80 countries to help companies keep their people safe, their products sustainable and their operations productive. Learn more about Sphera at www.sphera.com. Follow Sphera on LinkedIn. About ERM ERM is the business of sustainability. As the largest global pure play sustainability consultancy, ERM partners with the world's leading organizations to create innovative sustainability solutions and unlock commercial opportunities that meet the needs of today, while preserving opportunities for future generations. ERM's diverse team of 7,500+ world-class experts in over 170 offices across 39 countries supports clients across the breadth of their organizations to operationalize sustainability. Through ERM's deep technical expertise, clients are well-positioned to address their EHS, risk, and social issues. ERM calls this capability its "boots to boardroom" approach - a comprehensive service model that allows ERM to develop strategic and technical solutions that advance objectives on the ground or at the executive level. Learn more about ERM at www.erm.com. For media inquiries, please contact: Astrid Dickinson sphera@aspectusgroup.com Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1907993/Sphera_v2_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/sphera-and-erm-partner-to-deliver-leading-enterprise-operational-esg-solutions-in-latin-america-301793807.html Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Canada Lands Company Limited, a self-financing federal Crown corporation that specializes in real estate development and attractions management, is pleased to announce that the Government of Canada has appointed Stephan Dery (he/him) as President and Chief Executive Officer for a term of four years effective April 12, 2023. Mr. Dery comes to Canada Lands Company from the Government of Canada where he most recently served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Real Property Services at Public Services and Procurement Canada (PSPC), an organization with more than 4,000 employees. In this role, Mr. Dery was responsible for the delivery of the entire suite of real property services to federal departments and agencies. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Dery was Chief Executive Officer for the Translation Bureau and PSPC's Regional Director General for the Atlantic Region. Over his 30-year career in the public service, he also held several other executive positions in the areas of real property, acquisitions and corporate services within Public Services and Procurement Canada and at Library and Archives Canada. Having worked in public sector real property for much of his career, Stephan has strong ties in the community both internationally and nationally. He is currently the president of The Workplace Network and a board member of the Canadian Green Building Council. "We are pleased to welcome Stephan to Canada Lands Company. His depth of expertise and knowledge will serve our organization well as we continue to work in the best interest of our shareholder, the Government of Canada and Canadians," said Kaye Melliship, Chair of Canada Lands Company Limited. "The Board of Directors is looking forward to working with Stephan on advancing the company's strategic plan." Canada Lands' new strategic plan sets an ambitious agenda for the growth of the real estate and attractions operations while being a workplace of choice. These strategic directions flow from and amplify the company's values to operate in a financially self-sustainable manner, addressing climate change and making a social impact across the country. "I am very excited to be part of the Canada Lands Company team; the company has an impressive track record and I look forward to contributing to its success," Stephan Dery, President and CEO, Canada Lands Company Limited. Canada Lands' vision is to be the Government of Canada's principal real property agency that is dedicated to developing great Canadian communities and acting as a premier owner and manager of select uniquely Canadian attractions. Stephan Dery, President and CEO, Canada Lands Company Limited To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8189/162191_c87fa61c14860bb2_001full.jpg About Canada Lands Company Canada Lands Company is a self-financing federal Crown corporation that specializes in real estate development and attractions management. Since 1995, Canada Lands has enriched Canadian communities and experiences by embracing the full potential of the properties it owns and operates. Canada Lands is a leader in attractions management with its operations of the CN Tower and Downsview Park in Toronto, the Old Port of Montreal and the Montreal Science Centre. Canada Lands Company strives to enhance economic, social and environmental value for Canadians. It has delivered more than $1.2 billion in economic benefits to Canada since inception. https://www.clc-sic.ca/ For inquiries Marcelo Gomez-Wiuckstern Vice President, Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Canada Lands Company mgomezwiuckster@clc-sic.ca T (514) 496-8909 M (416) 407-3046 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162191 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - VALOREM RESOURCES INC. (CSE: VALU) (FSE: X37) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, effective as of April 13, 2023, Sir Samuel Jonah (KBE, OSG) has been appointed as a senior advisor to the Company. Sir Samuel Jonah Sir Samuel Jonah has significant experience and expertise in the global mining sector, especially in Africa. He has extensive listed company experience, having served on the boards of various public and private companies, including Ashanti Goldfields, Anglo Ashanti, Moto Gold Mines, Vodafone Group plc, the Global Advisory Council of the Bank of America corporation and Standard Bank Group, Roscan Gold and a Non-Executive Director of Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited. Sir Samuel Jonah is currently the Chairman of Helios Towers, a leading independent telecoms infrastructure company, focused on Africa and the Middle East, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Sir Samuel Jonah is the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He joined Ashanti Goldfields Corporation in 1979, working in various capacities, including underground operations. At the age of 36, he became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and supervised the transformation of Ashanti Goldfields into a mining multinational, increased gold production from 240,000 ounces per annum to over 1.6 million ounces in over ten years, and oversaw the company's listing as the first operating African company on the New York Stock Exchange. He became Executive President of Anglo Ashanti Ltd. (world second largest gold producer at the time) in May 2004 when Ashanti merged with AngloGold Limited. Sir Samuel Jonah was instrumental in creating and building Uramin Inc., from a start-up AIM London listed junior uranium mining company to the sale of the company is less then 24 months for $2.4 Billion. Sir Samuel Jonah also played a significant role in transforming Equinox Minerals from a $60 Million market capitalization company to a $7.4 Billion company before selling to Barrick. In addition, he took Moto Gold from a $50 Million market capitalization company to a $546 Million company before selling to Rangold. Moto Gold discovered the Kabali gold mine in DRC, which is now one of Barrick Gold's largest producing mines. In June 2003, Sir Jonah became the first Ghanaian to be knighted in the 21st century when he was presented with an honorary knighthood in recognition of his achievements as an African businessman, a leading business executive from the Commonwealth, and an international public figure. Sir Jonah was elected in 2018 as a foreign member of the United States National Academy of Engineering in recognition of his distinguished leadership and technical contributions to engineering and for advancing the mineral industry in Africa. Sir Jonah had his high-school education at Adisadel College, in Cape Coast, Ghana, then earned an Associateship in Mining Engineering at the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, England, and subsequently a M.Sc. in Mine Management at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. Sir Jonah has an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree awarded jointly by the Camborne School of Mines and the University of Exeter (UK) in 1996. In 2022, Sir Jonah was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. Tony Louie, Interim CEO and Director of Valorem, commented: "I am delighted to welcome Sir Samuel Jonah to Valorem as a senior advisor. Sir Samuel Jonah brings with him invaluable experience and knowledge of the African mining industry and will make a significant contribution to the growth of our company." About Valorem Resources Inc. Valorem Resources is a mineral exploration company working on a Tier-1 gold opportunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ("DRC"), located in the Fizi territory of South Kivu province, in the DRC. The Misisi Gold Project (or the "Project") has a contained Inferred Mineral Resource of 3 million ounces of gold as reported in the Company's National Instrument 43-101 technical report on the Misisi Gold Project (the "Technical Report"). The Project is located 250 kilometres south of Bukavu, the provincial capital of the South Kivu Province, in the DRC. The Project is comprised of three contiguous 30-year mining leases, valid until 2045, covering 133 square kilometres of prospective exploration ground along the 55-kilometre-long Kibara Gold Belt. The Kibara Belt is a well-known metallogenic province and hosts a number of other deposits including the Twangiza (5.1 Moz oz Au, source: S&P Global) and Namoya (1.9 Moz, source: S&P Global) gold mines. The Project is host to the Akyanga deposit, which is the subject to Inferred Resource of 44.3 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.16 grams per tonne gold containing 3.0 million ounces. Qualified Person Ephraim Masibhera, a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Historical information contained in this news release cannot be relied upon as the Company's Qualified Person, as defined under NI 43-101 has not prepared nor verified the historical information. This news release also includes references with respect to the Twangiza (5.1 Moz oz Au, source: S&P Global) and Namoya (1.9 Moz, source: S&P Global) gold mines, which are located near the Misisi Gold Project. The Company advises that, notwithstanding their proximity of location, discoveries of minerals on such properties, any promising results thereof are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization of, or located on the Misisi Gold Project, or the Company's ability to commercially exploit the minerals claims which comprise the property or to locate any commercially exploitable deposits therefrom. For more information on the Misisi Gold Project, please refer to the Technical Report filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tony Louie, Interim CEO and Director Email: info@valoremresources.com Office: +1 (604) 908-1679 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162240 CAMBRIDGE, Mass., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Solve, an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), is excited to announce Hala Hanna as its new executive director. MIT Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation with a mission to drive innovation to solve world challenges. Hanna has more than 15 years of experience working across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors, with the purpose of creating a more equitable and sustainable world. Hanna spent the last six years at MIT Solve, where she helped build the initiative into a global community. Solve uses open innovation challenges to find the most promising tech-based social entrepreneurs worldwide, with a focus on underserved communities. Solve then provides them support to scale their impact. With the Solve community, an ecosystem that includes nearly 100 organizations spanning industries and sectors, MIT Solve has run more than 60 global and custom challenges. Solve's challenges have received nearly 16,000 submissions, from innovators based in more than 180 countries. Solve has selected over 260 Solver teams who reach over 170 million lives globally, and facilitated over $60 million in funding to help innovators scale and drive lasting impact. Before joining MIT Solve, Hanna was Director of Strategy and Impact at the World Economic Forum. Her experience includes working with the World Bank and the United Nations, advising senior officials on reform and donor engagement. Her work experience spans the Middle East, North America, Europe, and Africa. Hanna has also held numerous advisory roles, including with UN Women and UN initiatives, and the Brussels-based Women Political Leaders. Hanna holds a Master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard University'sKennedy School of Government, a Master's in International Development from American University, and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the American University of Beirut. "Hala's appointment as executive director is a testament to her passion for supporting innovators from all over the world, her dedication to creating a better planet, and her ability to inspire those around her," says Cynthia Barnhardt, MIT Provost and Solve Steering Committee President. "Under Hala's leadership, I am confident that Solve will reach new heights in driving innovation to solve our world's most pressing challenges." "At the core of MIT Solve's work is the belief that complex global challenges can be addressed by unlocking and supporting human ingenuity everywhere," says Hanna. "This mission is both inspiring and essential. I am truly honored to serve as executive director, and excited to harness the power of Solve's global community to create a more sustainable and inclusive world for generations to come." Hanna's first public engagement will be during Solve at MIT . About MIT Solve MIT Solve is an initiative of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) with a mission to drive innovation to solve world challenges. Solve is a marketplace for social impact innovation. Through open innovation challenges, Solve finds incredible tech-based social entrepreneurs all around the world. Solve then brings together MIT's innovation ecosystem and a community of members to fund and support these entrepreneurs to drive lasting, transformational impact. Solve has catalyzed over $60 million in commitments for Solver teams and entrepreneurs to date. Join Solve on this journey at solve.mit.edu. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/876383/2__MIT_Solve_Black_and_Red_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/mit-solve-names-hala-hanna-as-new-executive-director-301796174.html AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Xtra Energy Corp. (OTC PINK:XTPT )is pleased to announce the details of a fourth group of historical antimony mines claimed by Xtra Energy Corp. In October, Xtra Energy completed the required filing and recording of a 495-acre, 24-lode claim expansion (10/12/2022 Company News) with the intent of targeting more historically documented antimony deposits. The continued mapping program of this expansion proves to be successful with the confirmed ownership of four additional historically documented antimony mines on this 495-acre expansion. The "Blue Bird Group" is located at the SW corner of our American Antimony #50 lode claim; the "Blue Jacket" is located on the SE border of our American Antimony #50 and #55 lode claims; the "Far South Marguerite Prospect" is located at the NW corner of our American Antimony #59 lode claim; and lastly, the "Blue Eagle Group" is located in the north central part of our American Antimony #63 lode claim. This brings Xtra Energy Corp.'s total to thirteen (13) historically documented antimony mines under 100% claim within our "American Antimony" project. Locations can be referenced in the aerial map below. The Blue Bird Group, a silver and antimony deposit associated with the Antimony King mine in historical records. At its peak, the Blue Bird consisted of six unpatented claims owned by Albert Lofthouse of Fallon. In 1939, the property was under lease to D. G. Brunner, A. J. Cooley, and associates, who, up to April 1939, had made one small shipment of silver and antimony ore to the McGill smelter. The Blue Jacket is a second silver and antimony deposit located directly parallel and within close distance of the Blue Bird Group. This leaves our team optimistic about the possibility of an extensive antimony and silver deposit spanning the length of our American Antimony #50 lode claim. The Far South Marguerite Prospect as described in"Antimony Deposits of Nevada"; nbmg bull. 61 "is on the east side of a southeast-trending gulch, which takes off from Bernice Canyon 3.8 miles from its mouth, and only a short distance above its floor. The prospect is developed by a trench and two adits, now caved. The 28-foot trench explores a sill, striking N. 50 W. and dipping 85 NE., in brown shale and reddish-brown sandstone. The sill is completely silicified and sericitized. Stibnite occurs as ,- to inch veinlets along joints in the sill, and as small pods, blebs, and halos around pyrite cubes disseminated through the sill. Considerable amounts of yellow antimony oxides are present, especially along joints." The Blue Eagle Group as described in"Antimony Deposits of Nevada"; nbmg bull. 61 "are on the northeast slope of a southeast-trending canyon which takes off from Bernice Canyon 4 miles from its mouth. In 1956 they were held by E. E. Yolks. There are 4 adits, 2 winzes, and 1 open cut, totaling 322 feet. Shale and sandstone crop out in this area. A fine-grained dike, striking east and dipping 70-80 S., cuts the sedimentary rocks down the canyon from the mine. A sample of the vein in Adit 4 assayed 0.06 of an ounce of gold and 0.26 of an ounce of silver per ton, 21.80 percent antimony, and no selenium." The XTPT Chairman Mac J. Shahsavar, P. Eng. commented "With this news, we successfully confirmed the addition of four more well-documented antimony deposits. We continue our rapid consolidation of all historical antimony producers and deposits that once made up the Bernice Mining District. While other countries do produce antimony, China and Russia's dominant position in the market (over 80% of global production) gives them significant control over the mineral's supply and pricing. Antimony remains the popular choice for bullet manufacturers around the world, raising tremendous concern about the supply of antimony with the continued Russian and Chinese conflict. It is critical for the United States to see this as an issue of national security, and we must revive the country's historically proven antimony deposits like the Bernice Mining District of Nevada. The very same mines that supplied America's armies and soldiers throughout the World Wars with high-grade antimony." Contact & Learn More: Xtra Energy Corporation Phone: 512-412-3636 Corporate Website: https://americanantimony.com/ Corporate Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/xtra-energy-corp/ Corporate Twitter: https://twitter.com/xtra_corp Corporate Instagram :https://www.instagram.com/xtraenergycorp/ About Xtra Energy Corp. Xtra Energy Corp. is an antimony exploration company focused on developing its flagship project "American Antimony", approximately 31 miles northeast of Eastgate, Nevada. Xtra Energy Corp. holds a 100% ownership in a 68 lode claim, 1400 acre antimony project surrounding the historically documented Antimony King Mine and covering all other documented antimony producers of the Bernice Mining District. The Company is seeking to develop this expanding portfolio of antimony-rich assets to become a major supplier of antimony based products. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS: This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. These statements relate to future events, including our ability to raise capital, or to our future financial performance, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause materially different from any future results, levels of activity, performance or achievements expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements since they involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are, in some cases, beyond our control and which could, and likely will, materially affect actual results, levels of activity, performance or achievements. Any forward-looking statement reflects our current views with respect to future events and is subject to these and other risks, uncertainties and assumptions relating to our operations, results of operations, growth strategy and liquidity. We assume no obligation to publicly update or revise these forward-looking statements for any reason, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. For a discussion of these risks and uncertainties, please see our filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc. Our public filings with the OTC Markets Group Inc are available from commercial document retrieval services and at the website maintained by the OTC Markets at https://www.otcmarkets.com/stock/XTPT/disclosure. SOURCE: Xtra Energy Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748878/Xtra-Energy-Corp-Announces-the-Fourth-Group-of-Historical-Antimony-Mines-Recently-Claimed-by-Expansion Nina Jonsson and Jack Olcott Not Seeking Re-Election CALGARY, AB / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. (TSXV:FLY)(OTCQX:FLYLF) (the "Company" or "FLYHT") today announced that the Board of Directors has named Captain Mary I. McMillan, a current independent director on the Board, to non-executive Chairman of the Board. Captain McMillan succeeds Nina Jonsson, who will not seek re-election at the Company's upcoming Annual and Special Meeting of the shareholders of FLYHT on May 11, 2023 (the "AGM") and will leave the Board after four years of service at the conclusion of the AGM. Nina Jonsson notes "I am delighted to hand over the chairmanship to my esteemed long-time colleague Mary McMillan. Mary's competent leadership and extensive expertise in our space will help guide FLYHT to even greater heights. I wish her much success in her new role." Captain McMillan is a highly regarded subject matter expert in areas of aviation safety and environmental issues, as well as a commercial pilot with more than 12,000 hours flight time. She is the President of Cashel Aviation, a consultancy dedicated to the development and implementation of aviation safety and environmental strategies. She retired as the Vice President of Aviation Safety and Operational Services for Inmarsat Plc in 2018 following the successful launch of the division within the Inmarsat Aviation Business Unit. Prior to joining Inmarsat, she led the aviation safety and environmental divisions for Washington D.C. based TetraTechAMT and CSSI Inc., respectively. She served as the independent safety advisor to the Airservices Australia Board of Directors in Canberra, Australia. Before joining the industry, Captain McMillan held several operational and managerial roles with United Airlines including pilot, standards captain, Director of Flight Safety (A) and Flight Operations Duty Manager. Captain McMillan began flying in 1982, holds an Airline Transport Pilot's license and is type rated on multiple aircraft including the DC-10, B747, B737, B757/B767 and Airbus 319/320. "I am honored to ascend to Board Chair to help FLYHT continue to pursue its vision of being a global force in innovative data solutions for the aviation industry," commented Captain McMillan. "Airline safety is my life's work. FLYHT is uniquely positioned to help the industry achieve improved safety, increased operational and commercial efficiency, and higher profitability, through its suite of Actionable Intelligence software. Increasingly, we are also aggressively aligning our products and services to assist the industry in achieving its 2050 'Net-Zero emissions' environmental goals. I look forward to providing my insight and expertise to further the Company's growth." Additionally, the Company announced that Jack Olcott has resigned from the Board of Directors (and as a result will not stand for re-election at the AGM). He joined the Board of Directors of FLYHT in 2008. Kent Jacobs, President and Interim CEO, said, "Jack's contributions to our Company over the last 15 years have been remarkable. His deep understanding of business aviation and steady guidance through years of growth and challenges have helped to build FLYHT into the leader that it is today. On behalf of our shareholders, the management team and the Board, I would like to personally thank Jack for his impact and service and wish him a wonderful retirement." 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. FNK IR LLC Satichi Consulting Inc. Alana Forbes Matt Chesler, CFA Daniel Kim Chief Financial Officer Investor Relations Corporate Development 403.291.7437 646.809.2183 416.728.5630 investors@flyht.com flyht@fnkir.com dkim@flyht.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SOURCE: FLYHT Aerospace Solutions Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748965/FLYHT-Names-Captain-Mary-I-McMillan-as-Non-Executive-Board-Chair JACKSON, MS / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / What is the perfect menu to commemorate a century of powering Mississippi? Red beans and rice. The healthy and nutritious meal is part of a year-long effort Entergy Mississippi has launched for its 100th anniversary to invest in poverty solutions and activate the power of employee volunteers to support Mississippi communities. The company is teaming with Extra Table to pack meals for families impacted by food scarcity and donating $100,000 to help eliminate hunger in the state. Entergy volunteers packed 2,500 boxes of red beans, rice and spices-one box for every Entergy Mississippi employee-at the Mississippi Agriculture and Forestry Museum. It's the first event of a multi-phase 100,000-meal commitment by Entergy Mississippi. Along with the $100,000 gift, funded by shareholders, Entergy Mississippi's support will help Extra Table stock 62 food pantries in the state with nutritious, shelf stable food. In addition to packing meals, employees throughout Entergy's four-state service area are donating items to support Entergy's Mississippi Delta customers devastated by the March tornadoes. The donations will be distributed by Goodwill Industries. "This significant moment in our company's history must highlight our communities that particularly need us to be good neighbors right now," said Haley Fisackerly, Entergy Mississippi president and CEO. "Many of our customers live below the poverty level and struggle to meet the basic needs of their families. On top of that, communities in the Delta have a long road to recovery after last month's storms. The best way to step into our next century while honoring our community roots is by helping our fellow Mississippians." Giving back to communities through philanthropy, volunteerism and advocacy is integral to Entergy Mississippi's purpose of powering life today and for future generations. "We're grateful that Entergy chose to partner with us to celebrate their incredible milestone," said Martha Allen, Extra Table executive director. "It shows their dedication to solving hunger, and their heart for Mississippi families. With their helping hands and generosity, we will be able to provide half a million meals to families in need." Entergy Mississippi, which began as Mississippi Power & Light Company, was founded by Harvey Couch on April 12, 1923. The company began providing reliable, affordable power to Jackson, Vicksburg, Greenville and Columbus. In 1926, the company sold its properties in northeast Mississippi, which moved Columbus outside of its service area. Now Entergy Mississippi serves 461,000 customers in 45 of Mississippi's 82 counties. Entergy Mississippi continues to keep rates lower than the national average, even with increases resulting from higher natural gas prices. Entergy Mississippi is a national leader in customer service, a compassionate corporate citizen, a catalyst for economic development and known for its unprecedented commitment to safety. To read more about Entergy's 100-year history in Mississippi, click here. About Entergy Mississippi Entergy Mississippi, LLC provides electricity to approximately 461,000 customers in 45 counties. Entergy Mississippi is a subsidiary of Entergy Corporation, a Fortune 500 electric company. Entergy 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. For the latest news from Entergy, visit the Newsroom. 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/749052/The-Power-of-100-Entergy-Mississippi-Donates-100K-to-Extra-Table MIDDLETON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / AllaraCare, an innovative healthcare solutions provider that specializes in helping businesses and seniors in Massachusetts access high-quality, affordable care has announced the appointment of John Donlan as the next CEO, succeeding Curt Davis. John Donlan formally joined AllaraCare as CEO on April 10, 2023. As an accomplished healthcare executive and strategist, Mr. Donlan has a proven track record leading national growth strategies for Value-Based Care Organizations, Population Health improvement, and ACO Provider Network Performance Operations. The community-based, PCP-centric models he created and led were recognized by CMS as top-performing ACOs in the nation. At Steward Health Care Network, Donlan positioned the organization as one of the first Pioneer ACOs under the Obama Administration's Pioneer ACO program created by the Affordable Care Act of 2010. He also partnered in the development and implementation of the first Medicaid ACO program in Massachusetts in 2016. AllaraCare Founder and Visionary, Dr. Mark Allara, said of the leadership transition, "John Donlan is stepping into the CEO role at a critical and exciting time. Over the past 3 years, CEO Curt Davis and the AllaraCare team have taken the traditional health care model and spun it on its head to work more efficiently and affordably for the people it matters to most, our patients. As Curt moves into semi-retirement, AllaraCare knew we needed a CEO who is as passionate as we are about making lives meaningfully better for patients, physicians and employers. John Donlan brings that passion. His strategic vision and extensive healthcare experience make him the right fit to lead us to the next chapter and beyond as we transform health care in America." "I am committed to building a new PCP-centric paradigm of care in New England that will disrupt status quo insurance solutions for Medicare Beneficiaries as well as small and mid-sized employers," said John Donlan, CEO of AllaraCare. "Health Care remains a broken system for most seniors and businesses. Massachusetts used to be a national leader in offering PCP-centric solutions but has lost its innovative edge. I aim to bring that back and offer seniors and families solutions to access and pay for healthcare in a more sustainable way." "I was really drawn to what Dr. Allara has built with his multi-disciplinary practices in the region and the larger vision he has for AllaraCare. I'm looking forward to partnering with him to offer these forward-thinking solutions to seniors and families in Massachusetts, New England and beyond," Donlan continues. About AllaraCare AllaraCare is a healthcare solutions provider that enables primary care practices to thrive by offering PCP-centric solutions to help businesses and seniors access compassionate, high-quality care through two solution sets. AllaraCare for Business acts as a general contractor for healthcare by combining clinicians with small and mid-sized businesses to create better health plan solutions that save money and improve employee health outcomes. All solutions offer unfettered access to primary care services, telemedicine and care coordination. AllaraCare for Seniors is a physician-led concierge ACO helping PCPs thrive in a value-based-care paradigm, while offering comprehensive and coordinated services and state-of-art clinics to seniors, helping them stay healthy and independent for longer. For more information visit www.allaracare.com. # # # For further information, contact: Amy Riemer, Media Relations 978-475-4441 (office) or 978-502-4895 (cell) amy@riemercommunications.com SOURCE: AllaraCare View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/748967/John-Donlan-Former-President-of-Steward-Health-Care-Network-Appointed-CEO-of-Massachusetts-Based-Allaracare CHARLOTTE, NC / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / In celebration of Earth Day 2023, Discovery Education presents K-12 teachers and students a diverse array of cross-curricular digital resources inspiring exploration of the natural world and environmental stewardship. Available on Discovery Education's Earth Day website and award-winning K-12 learning platform, this collection of high-quality digital content is organized by grade band and has been curated by Discovery Education's team of curriculum experts. Discovery Education is the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place. The Earth Day resources from Discovery Education and its partners have been curated to be easily integrated into educators' lesson plans and schools' Earth Day observances. Included in the resources available on the Discovery Education Earth Day website are sustainability-focused materials created in partnership with Sesame Workshop, Seeker, Vooks, and Scripps News, including: Grades K-12 Vooks: Earth Day Activity Sheet Vooks is an entire library of storybooks brought to life with beautiful animation, read-aloud narration, engaging music and sound, and read-along text. Use these fun activities to highlight the importance of Earth Day including discussion questions, a coloring sheet, vocabulary cards, and more. Sesame Workshop: Make Our Earth Better Sesame Workshop is the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame Street, the pioneering television show that has been reaching and teaching children since 1969. This resource is part of the Celebrations collection in the Sesame Learning channel. It inspires children to identify as stewards of our environment by exploring their connections to nature and how their positive actions can care for it. Grades 3-5 Scripps News: Fast Fashion's Impact on the Environment Scripps News provides videos on the most important topics and issues with straightforward, opinion-free news and documentaries. In this video, students learn about the fashion industry's impact on the environment. Grades 9-12 Seeker: Elements: New Tech Could Eliminate Toxic PFAS From Our Water Seeker highlights stories about the natural forces and groundbreaking innovations that impact our lives, our planet, and our universe. In this resource, students learn about a new technology that could reduce the number of harmful PFA compounds, PFOs and PFOAs. In addition, Discovery Education is offering a curated collection of free resources created in collaboration with social impact partners, including: Sustainability Career Exploration Grades 6-12 In Celebration of Earth Day, the Discovery Education STEM Careers Coalition (SCC) has released a collection of resources spotlighting sustainability professionals in STEM. See over 200 resources designed to uncover students' STEM skills to activate future solution seekers. The exciting content available includes resources ranging from hands-on student activities and lessons to an extensive database of career profiles and family activities designed to support students as they explore sustainability and STEM careers. Science Challenge Grades 5-8 The 3M Young Scientist Challenge with Discovery Education invites students in grades 5-8 to compete for an exclusive mentorship with a 3M scientist, a $25,000 grand prize, and the chance to earn the title of "America's Top Young Scientist." Competition entries are accepted at YoungScientistLab.com until the April 27, 2023 deadline. To enter, students in grades 5-8 submit a one-to-two-minute video explaining an original idea using science to help solve an everyday problem, including improving the environment. All entries are reviewed by a diverse group of judges and evaluated on their creativity, scientific knowledge, and communication skills. Classroom Activities Grades 6-9 Grow energy-water literacy and conservation efforts through classroom activities Conservation Station: Creating a More Resourceful World-an educational initiative with Itron. New activities designed for Earth Day 2023 focus on communication skills, critical and creative thinking, and collaboration in a sustainability context. Virtual Field Trips Grades 2-6; 5-10 Build the Changes' Play to Learn Virtual Field Trip celebrates students' ability to learn and create change through the power of play. Created in partnership between Discovery Education and the LEGO Group's sustainability team, the Play to Learn Virtual Field Trip takes students to Billund, Denmark to meet real-life LEGO play experts as they introduce us to some big challenges facing our planet. Educators can take learning further with an array of standards-aligned classroom resources. Trane Technologies' Sustainable Futures Virtual Field Trip gives students a unique, up-close look at how a global climate innovation company impacts our world. Students will meet Trane Technologies' employees to see how their roles create comfortable, clean, and energy-efficient solutions for homes, buildings, and transportation. Discovery Education's partnership with Trane Technologies offers interactive tools and resources to engage and inspire students to learn, think, and solve the world's biggest sustainability challenges through sustainable innovation. Data & the Environment Lesson Plans Use data to learn about environmental justice and corporate sustainability efforts in grab-and-go digital lesson bundles from Discover Data-a data literacy initiative powered by the Nielsen Foundation in collaboration with Discovery Education and the National AfterSchool Association. Available in English and Spanish, these lesson bundles have everything educators need to seamlessly incorporate data into their curriculum. Users of Discovery Education's K-12 platform can discover all this content and more on the Earth Day channel. In addition, Discovery Education's users can integrate these resources directly into the real-time assessments through the platform's Quiz feature and can integrate this content into presentations with the Studio feature. Learn more about all of the flexible features of the Discovery Education platform here. Discovery Education plans to launch the Sustainability Education Initiative (SEI) later this year. Aligned to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SEI aims to empower more than 10 million students to take responsible action for economic viability and environmental integrity by 2030. Subaru of America, Inc. and the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) are founding partners of this initiative. The initial content, currently in development, will focus on the unique environmental challenges of students in urban areas, based on feedback from the community in Subaru of America's hometown of Camden, NJ. "The planet is an endless source of wonder and inspiration for classroom instruction. This Earth Day, with Discovery Education resources in hand, educators can inspire students to discover the importance of protecting our environment," said Kelli Campbell, President of Discovery Education. 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. ### 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 Grace Maliska Discovery Education Email: gmaliska@dicoveryed.com 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: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Discovery Education View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749058/Celebrating-Earth-Day-With-Resources-From-Discovery-Education LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Exoskeleton Market was worth USD 492.8 million in 2021. Due to the emergence of numerous expansion propellants, the industry is slated to accrue a valuation of USD 13,948.9 million by 2028, registering a CAGR of 44.98% over 2022-2029. Exoskeletons are mechanical devices that are equipped with the ability to support various physical movements of an individual. It reduces the workload of individuals by giving them the necessary physical support while also minimizing the chances of injuries if they are involved in a strenuous task. In fact, these devices also work wonders for people struggling with any sort of physical disability. Exoskeletons are predominantly adopted across rehabilitation centers, construction sites, defense, and sector, industrial facilities, among others. Get Sample of Report@ https://brandessenceresearch.com/downloadSample/PostId/2379 Global Exoskeleton Market Outlook (2022-2029) The booming healthcare sector, surge in the geriatric population base, and widespread technological advancements in the field are primarily augmenting the outlook of this business vertical. Furthermore, rising R&D activities in the field, increasing industrial safety norms, along with the growing adoption of these devices across the military sectors are creating lucrative opportunities for this industry sphere to prosper. Alongside, advent of AI-based exoskeletons coupled with the growing focus of players to develop high end devices in this sector are adding momentum to the progression of this market space. Moreover, the growing prevalence of diseases leading to physical disabilities and rising research expenditure in this sector are aiding the expansion of this industry. On the contrary, the high cost of these devices and stringent regulatory approval-based standards are hindering the remuneration scope of this business sphere. Competitive Hierarchy The prominent players defining the competitive terrain of the Global Exoskeleton Market are Bioventus, Bionik Laboratories, Cyberdyne Inc., B-TEMIA Inc., Gogoa Mobility Robots, Ekso Bionics, Parker Hannifin Corp, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Rex Bionics, Rewalk Robotics, Wearable Robotics, Suit X, and Others. Segmental Outlook By Mobility: Mobile Fixed/stationary By Technology: Powered Non-powered By Extremity: Upper Body Lower Body Full Body By End-User: Healthcare Military Industry Get Methodology @ https://brandessenceresearch.com/requestMethodology/PostId/2379 Region-Wise Outlook Which is the leading region in the Global Exoskeleton Market? North America is expected to lead the industry sphere in terms of volume share. This is ascribed to the rising defense expenditure, presence of favourable reimbursement scenario and increasing number of disabled individuals. How is Asia Pacific faring in this industry vertically? Asia Pacific is reckoned to garner significant returns over 2022-2029. This is due to the rapidly evolving healthcare infrastructure, rising device adoption in the industrial sector, and widespread technological advancements in the field. Category-Wise Outlook Which is the top performing mobility segment in this business sphere? The mobile segment is anticipated to amass notable gains over the estimated timeline. This is attributable to the versatility and adaptability of mobile exoskeletons. Which is the fastest growing technology segment in this marketplace? The powered segment has emerged as one of the fastest growing technology segments in this industry vertically. This is because powered exoskeletons are equipped with motors and sensors that provide active assistance to the wearer, enabling them to perform tasks with greater ease and efficiency. Which is the most dominant extremity segment in this industry? The full body segment is presently dominating the industry in terms of revenue share. This is credited to the ability of these devices to support the entire body, providing assistance to the upper and lower body simultaneously. Which end user segment is expected to register significant growth over 2022-2029? The healthcare segment is projected to showcase an upward trend in the ensuing years owing to the rising healthcare expenditure and increasing number of disabled individuals Comparing the historical outlook and ongoing trends of this market The Global Exoskeleton Market is projected to garner significant returns over the assessment timeline of 2022-2029. There has been an increased adoption of these devices across the healthcare sector. This is powered by a steep rise in the number of disabled individuals, surge in the geriatric population base, increasing instances of accidents leading to disability, along with the prevalence of chronic and lifestyle-based ailments. These devices are used by the affected individuals for external support to carry out physical activities like walking, running, along with other functions. Exoskeletons not only provide additional endurance to the affected body parts but also prevent them from further damage. These factors together are stimulating the overall dynamics of this business vertical. Exoskeletons are being widely adopted across the defense sector. Military personnels need to fulfil rigorous activities during their training period and when they are posted in the field. They are subject to terrorist attacks which they need to combat. It requires a lot of strength and endurance. There are times when defense personnel get injured in the field which in turn reduces their physical abilities. In such cases, these devices are used by them for enhanced strength, endurance, and protection. They can also help soldiers carry heavy loads for longer periods of time, reduce the risk of injury, and improve overall mobility in combat situations. This in turn is positively swaying the outlook of this industry sphere. On Special Requirement Exoskeleton Market Report is also available for below region: North America U.S, Canada Europe Germany , France , U.K., Italy , Spain , Sweden , Netherland, Turkey , Switzerland , Belgium , Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific South Korea , Japan , China , India , Australia , Philippines , Singapore , Malaysia , Thailand , Indonesia , Rest Of APAC Latin America Mexico , Colombia , Brazil , Argentina , Peru , Rest of Latin America Middle East and Africa Saudi Arabia , UAE, Egypt , South Africa , Rest Of MEA Purchase Copy of Report @https://brandessenceresearch.com/Checkout?report_id=2379 Major Developments In 2021, Medtronic announced the acquisition of Stimgenics, an exoskeleton manufacturing company. Related Reports: Artificial Intelligence in Aviation Market Share, Size, Regional insights from (2022-2029) Buy Now Pay Later Market by Channel, Enterprise Size, End-Use and Key Geographical Regions: Industry Trends and Global Forecasts, 2022-2029 Collaborative Robots Market - Industry Trends and Forecast to 2029 Global RF Power Semiconductor Market Size (2022-2029) Share, Industry Trends, Growth, Challenges, and Forecast: Brandessence Market Research Self-Checkout System Market Is Expected to Boom - Toshiba Global Commerce Solutions, DXC Technology, IBM Corporation, ITAB Group Air Purifier Market Analysis of Major Segments and Future Opportunity Assessment 2029 | Prominent Players: Honeywell, Panasonic, Blueair, Coway Asia Pacific Optoelectronics Market Booming Growth | Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation, SAMSUNG, Mitsubishi Electric Corporation, TOSHIBA ELECTRONIC DEVICES & STORAGE CORPORATION 3D Sensor Market to 2029 - Demand Outlook and Development Strategy Pressure Transmitters Market 2023: Business Analysis, Prominent Players, and Forecast to 2029 - ABB, Emerson, Siemens, Yokogawa Solar Control Window Film Market to be Worth ~$1,203.1 Mn by 2029: Brandessence Market Research by 2029: Brandessence Market Research Biscuit Mix Market Share and Growth Factors Impact Analysis 2022 - 2029 | Report by Brandessence Market Research Battery Management System Market size is expected to reach ~USD 14 billion by 2028 | Brandessence Market Research by 2028 | Brandessence Market Research IoT In Healthcare Market Size Growing at 19.20 % CAGR, Set to Reach USD 388.18 Billion by 2027 says Brandessence Market Research by 2027 says Brandessence Market Research Healthcare Payer Services Market Forecast 2022-2029: Demand, Business Growth, Opportunity, Application, Cost, Sales, Service, End-Use, Size, Top Manufacturers Analysis - Cognizant, EXL, HGS Ltd., Accenture | Brandessence Market Research Global Thermoplastics Market Size/Share Worth USD 41.89 Billion by 2029 at a 6.79 % CAGR: AI Market Report (Analysis, Outlook, Leaders, Report, Trends, Forecast, Segmentation, Growth, Growth Rate, Value) by 2029 at a 6.79 % CAGR: AI Market Report (Analysis, Outlook, Leaders, Report, Trends, Forecast, Segmentation, Growth, Growth Rate, Value) Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Treatment Market Size to Hit USD 436.17 Million by 2027 at 5.52% CAGR Reported by Brandessence Market Research by 2027 at 5.52% CAGR Reported by Brandessence Market Research Autism Spectrum Disorder Market size is projected to grow at a CAGR of +8.5% Treasury Software Market Projected to Reach CAGR of +11% Forecast by 2029 says Brandessence Market Research Synthetic mRNA Market for Cancer Treatment size to grow at a CAGR of 13.4% by 2029: Growth opportunities led by BioNTech SE, Moderna Inc., CureVac AG, eTheRNA immunotherapies NV - Brandessence Market Research Endoluminal Suturing Devices Market Expected to Flourish in Coming Years says Brandessence Market Research Brandessence Market Research & Consulting Pvt ltd. Brandessence Market Research publishes market research reports & business insights produced by highly qualified and experienced industry analysts. Our research reports are available in a wide range of industry verticals including aviation, food & beverage, healthcare, ICT, Construction, Chemicals and lot more. Brand Essence Market Research report will be best fit for senior executives, business development managers, marketing managers, consultants, CEOs, CIOs, COOs, and Directors, governments, agencies, organizations and Ph.D. Students. We have a delivery center in?Pune, India?and our sales office is in?London. Follow Us:?Linkedin ? M & A Advisory: Merger & Acquisition, and Capabilities Blog: Published Reports 2023 What is Market Research? What is Market Sizing? How to Measure Your TAM, SAM, and SOM Top 10 Frozen Potato Companies in 2023 Top 5 Natural Food Colors Companies in Global Market 2023 | Here's Everything need to know About Everything You Need to Know About The Top 5 Companies Operating in Global mRNA Vaccines and Therapeutics Market The Rise of DIY Medicine: Exploring the Home Diagnostics Market Top Activated Carbon Manufacturers in the Global Market 2023 Top 5 Skateboard Companies in Global Market 2023 Top 10 Healthcare Staffing Companies in Global Market 2023 TOP 5 Distributed Antenna System (DAS) COMPANIES 2023 Top 10 Plant-based Meat Companies: growing sustainable, plant-based food industryTop Green Hydrogen Companies Top VSaaS Companies Top Valves Manufacturers Contact: Mr.?Vishal Sawant? Email:?vishal@brandessenceresearch.com? Email:?Sales@brandessenceresearch.com? Corporate Sales:?+44-2038074155? Asia Office:?+917447409162 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1392316/3979670/BEMR_Logo.jpg?w=200 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-exoskeleton-market-industry-trends--outlook-2023-says-brandessence-market-research-301796768.html LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fineqia International Inc. (the "Company" or "Fineqia") (CSE: FNQ) (OTC: FNQQF) (Frankfurt: FNQA) is pleased to announce that it has appointed Independent Trading Group ("ITG"), Inc. as a market maker for its shares traded on the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). ITG is a leading Canadian trading firm, providing liquidity and execution services to clients around the world. As a market maker for Fineqia, ITG will help ensure the efficient and timely execution of trades, enhance liquidity and contribute to a fair and orderly market for Fineqia's shares. "This is an important step forward for Fineqia, and we are thrilled to have ITG on board as a market maker," said Bundeep Singh Rangar, CEO of Fineqia. "ITG's expertise and commitment to client service will help us provide the best possible trading experience for our investors." As a market maker, ITG will buy and sell Fineqia's shares on the CSE, which is the Company's primary listing venue as well as other alternative Canadian trading venues, providing liquidity while maintaining an orderly market. This will enable investors in Fineqia to buy and sell shares more easily. "ITG is excited to be working with Fineqia to provide market-making services to their growing client base," said ITG's Managing Director, Jeff Gamble. "Our experienced traders and proven technology will ensure a liquid and efficient trading environment for Fineqia shares." Independent Trading Group (ITG) is a wholly owned subsidiary of DVX Capital Markets. DVX Capital Markets is an affiliate of DV Trading, a Chicago-based proprietary trading firm with offices in New York, Toronto and London. DV Trading makes markets on securities and derivatives exchanges worldwide with more than 300 personnel globally. The contract with ITG is for an initial 3-month period, with automatic monthly extensions thereafter by mutual agreement. About Fineqia International Inc. Fineqia (www.fineqia.com) is a digital asset business that builds and targets investments in early and growth stage technology companies that will be part of the next generation of the Internet. It also provides a platform to support and manage the issuance of debt securities in the UK. Publicly listed in Canada (CSE: FNQ) with offices in Vancouver and London, Fineqia's portfolio of investments includes businesses at the forefront of tokenization, blockchain technology, NFTs, and fintech. About Independent Trading Group Independent Trading Group (ITG), Inc. is a Toronto based IIROC dealer-member that specializes in market making, liquidity provision, agency execution, ultra-low latency connectivity, and bespoke algorithmic trading solutions. Established in 1992, with a focus on market structure, execution and trading, ITG has leveraged its own proprietary technology to deliver high quality liquidity provision and execution services to a broad array of public issuers and institutional investors. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Some statements in this release may contain forward-looking information (as defined under applicable Canadian securities laws) ("forward-looking statements"). All statements, other than of historical fact, that address activities, events or developments that Fineqia (the "Company") believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future (including, without limitation, statements regarding potential acquisitions and financings) are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "may", "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, without limitation, the failure to obtain sufficient financing, and other risks disclosed in the Company's public disclosure record on file with the relevant securities regulatory authorities. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which it is made except as may be required by applicable securities laws. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update any forward-looking statement except to the extent required by applicable securities laws. Katarina Kupcikova, Analyst, E. katarina.kupcikova@fineqia.com, T. +44 7806 730 769; Media Contact: Angus Campbell, Nominis Advisory, angus@nominis.co View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/fineqia-appoints-independent-trading-group-as-market-maker-for-fnq-on-canadian-securities-exchange-301796871.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / National Grid was recently approved by the U.S. Department of Defense as an industry partner for its SkillBridge program. DOD SkillBridge provides career development opportunities to service members approaching the end of their military commitment. Active duty service members can apply to spend the last six months of their commitment as an intern, bridging the gap between the end of their service and the beginning of their civilian careers. "We have a long, proud history of hiring veterans of the U.S. armed forces," said Celeste Schneider, National Grid's chief people officer for New York. "DOD SkillBridge provides us with a new on-ramp for recruitment with exciting career opportunities for service members nearing their discharge date that maximize their military training and experience." Service members with at least six months of service remaining before their discharge can approach their unit commander about participating in a DOD SkillBridge internship. National Grid interns will receive rigorous hands-on training and work alongside our employees in the field. The interns retain their military pay and benefits, and all costs are covered by DOD SkillBridge. National Grid has made an additional commitment to DOD SkillBridge interns. Those interns who meet company performance standards during their placement will be offered employment with National Grid upon their honorary discharge from the armed forces. "We want the very best employees working for National Grid and DOD SkillBridge opens another door to access the world's most highly-trained and motivated workforce - the U.S. armed forces." Schneider said. Now a senior field safety supervisor for National Grid, Jason Uhlig wished DOD SkillBridge existed when he began his transition from active duty with the U.S. Army. He spent his free time during the final few months of his active-duty service building resumes, applying for education benefits and exploring and applying for jobs. "Having an opportunity to transition towards a more secure career path would have been ideal," he said. Uhlig, currently a major in the U.S. Army Reserves, has spent more than 20 years in the Army. Uhlig, who is one of National Grid's leads for DOD SkillBridge, says that transitioning to civilian life is often difficult for active-duty service members and the program relieves some of the pressure of finding a job and preparing for life after the military. "Having the opportunity that DOD SkillBridge affords to transitioning service members is a once in a lifetime chance," he said. "Service members can then focus on securing a rewarding career, supporting their family and putting to work their valuable service leadership and technical experience." National Grid currently offers two positions through DOD SkillBridge: Civil and Substation Supervisor (Syracuse) Customer Meter Service Supervisor (Albany) The company plans to offer additional opportunities in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid employs approximately 700 veterans, as well about 100 employees who are either active military reservists or members of National Guard units. Its Veterans Employee Resource Group provides learning and career development opportunities, and support to more than 600 employees of the company. Uhlig, who is the group's co-chair, said veterans working for National Grid have found similarities between the company hierarchy and military hierarchies. "The utility industry has many parallels to the military," he said. "It is a 24/7 operational environment that abides by many bodies, laws and operating standards. We have rigorous performance and values-based review processes for our employees. And, the same leadership, technical and strategic principles of working for National Grid, or a regulated energy delivery company, apply as they would in a military career." ### About National Grid National Grid (NYSE:NGG) is an electricity, natural gas, and clean energy delivery company serving more than 20 million people through our networks in New York and Massachusetts. National Grid is focused on building a path to a more affordable, reliable clean energy future through our fossil-free vision. National Grid is transforming our electricity and natural gas networks with smarter, cleaner, and more resilient energy solutions to meet the goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions. For more information, please visit our website, follow us on Twitter, watch us on YouTube, like us on Facebook and find our photos on Instagram. Contact: Jared Paventi | jared.paventi@nationalgrid.com | 315.427.1092 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from National Grid on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: National Grid Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/national-grid Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: National Grid View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749072/National-Grid-Accepted-to-US-Department-of-Defense-SkillBridge Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Thunderstruck Resources Ltd. (TSXV: AWE) (OTC: THURF) (The "Company") is pleased to provide the following corporate updates. Advisory Board Appointment The Company is excited to announce that Mr. Eric Roth will be joining its Advisory Board. Eric holds a Ph.D. in Economic Geology from the University of Western Australia and is an economic geologist with over 30 years of experience in international minerals exploration and mining project evaluation. He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (FAusIMM). Mr. Roth is currently the President and CEO of Capella Minerals and Non-Executive Director of Awale Resources Ltd. His past successes include the following: COO of Mariana Resources Ltd - acquired by Sandstorm Gold Royalties in July 2017 for the high-grade Hod Maden copper-gold discovery in NE Turkey. CEO of Aegean Metals Group - original acquirer of the Hod Maden project President/CEO of Extorre Gold Mines Ltd and the high-grade Cerro Moro gold-silver deposit in Argentina - acquired by Yamana Gold in 2012 for C$440 million. Global Head of Greenfields Exploration for AngloGold Ashanti, whose teams brought in over 20+Moz Au in new Inferred Resources through discoveries in Colombia (Colosa, Gramalote), Australia (Tropicana), and the DRC (Mongwalu) at a discovery cost of less than US$15/oz. Aur Resources - discoverer of the high-grade Louvicourt VMS deposit Val d'Or, Quebec. President/CEO of Thunderstruck Resources, Bryce Bradley stated, "We are at a turning point in the growth of our company where, with a drill and team ready at our three-kilometer-long Liwa gold/silver anomaly, Eric's experience and expertise in discovering major gold deposits will greatly aid our efforts this season." Chief Financial Officer Appointment The Company also announces the following changes to its management team. Mr. Bobby Dhaliwal, Thunderstruck's corporate accountant based at Company headquarters in Vancouver BC, will take over the role of CFO effective April 13, 2023. Mr. Dhaliwal holds a Bachelor of Accountancy as well as the designation of Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) in Canada, working with several TSX-V and CSE listed companies in the resources and technology sector. His professional experience with exploration and mining companies includes assistance on initial public offerings (IPO), continuous disclosure and financial reporting, implementation of accounting software, various equity financings and implementation of internal control policies. Mr. Wilson Michael, formerly CFO, will continue in his role as Director of the Company's subsidiary, Thunderstruck Pte Ltd. "Wilson has been diligently working in Fiji with us for several years in the dual capacities of CFO as well as Director of our Fijian subsidiary," stated Bryce Bradley, President/CEO. "Fortunately, as the Company grows so does our capacity to delineate roles and responsibilities more clearly. With a very busy exploration season ahead of us, Wilson will be instrumental to the success of our in-country operations as Bobby takes on the responsibilities of CFO from our Canadian headquarters." About Thunderstruck Resources Thunderstruck Resources is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on the discovery of high value gold-silver epithermal and copper-gold porphyry deposits on the main island of Viti Levu in Fiji. Fiji has a long history of mining with over 75 years of activity at the prolific Vatukoula Gold Mine alongside several advanced development projects including Tuvatu (Lion One), Indicated Resources of 1.00 Mt @ 8.48 g/t Au (274,600 oz), Inferred Resources of 1.33 Mt @ 9.0 g/t Au (384,000 oz) (Tuvatu-PEA-Update-NI-43-101) and Namosi (Newcrest Mining), Proven, Measured and Indicated Resources of 1.8Bt at 0.35% Cu and 0.11 g/t Au (6.4M oz Au and 6.3Mt Cu) (Newcrest Annual Mineral Resources Update, June 2022). The Company provides investors with exposure to a diverse portfolio of exploration stage projects with potential for zinc, copper, gold and silver in a politically safe and stable jurisdiction. Thunderstruck trades on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V) under the symbol "AWE" and United States OTC under the symbol "THURF." For additional information, please contact: Rob Christl, VP Business Development and Investor Relations Email: rob@thunderstruck.ca P: 1-778 840-7180 or, visit our website: http://www.thunderstruck.ca Neither the TSX Venture Exchange Inc. nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". Although Thunderstruck 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 forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of Thunderstruck's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by law, Thunderstruck undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162272 COLORADO SPRINGS, CO / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Fortitude Gold Corp. (OTCQB:FTCO) (the "Company") reports preliminary production results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 of 11,487 gold ounces. Fortitude Gold is a gold producer, developer, and explorer with operations in Nevada, U.S.A. offering investors exposure to both gold production and dividend yield. During the first quarter the Company processed gold ore sourced from the Isabella Pearl's high-grade Pearl zone blended with lower grade stockpiles. The Company maintains its 2023 production Outlook targeting 40,000 ounces of gold (a range of 36,000 to 40,000 ounces). Full financial results for the first quarter will be available at the time the Company files its quarterly report on Form 10-Q with the Securities and Exchange Commission. About Fortitude Gold Corp.: Fortitude Gold is a U.S. based gold producer targeting projects with low operating costs, high margins, and strong returns on capital. The Company's strategy is to grow organically, remain debt-free and distribute substantial dividends. The Company's Nevada Mining Unit consists of five high-grade gold properties located in the Walker Lane Mineral Belt and a sixth high-grade gold property in west central Nevada. The Isabella Pearl gold mine, located on the Isabella Pearl mineralized trend, is currently in production. Nevada, U.S.A. is among the world's premier mining friendly jurisdictions. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. If you are risk-averse you should NOT buy shares in Fortitude Gold Corp. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical 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. When used in this press release, the words "plan", "target", "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding the Company's strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to the Company on the date of this press release, and the Company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. Contact: Greg Patterson 719-717-9825 greg.patterson@fortitudegold.com www.Fortitudegold.com SOURCE: Fortitude Gold Corporation View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749078/Fortitude-Gold-Reports-Preliminary-First-Quarter-Production-Of-11487-Gold-Ounces Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Goldshore Resources Inc. (TSXV: GSHR) (OTCQB: GSHRF) (FSE: 8X00) ("Goldshore" or the "Company"), is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced brokered private placement offering (the "Offering") of securities of the Company (the "Offered Securities") for aggregate gross proceeds of approximately $6,900,000, including the full exercise of the over-allotment option. The Offering was led by Research Capital Corporation and Eventus Capital Corp., as co-lead agents and joint bookrunners (the "Lead Agents"), on their own behalf and on behalf of a syndicate of agents, including Laurentian Bank Securities Inc., Canaccord Genuity Corp., and Haywood Securities Inc. (together with the Lead Agents, the "Agents"). In connection with the Offering, the Company issued the following Offered Securities: (i) 16,419,220 units of the Company (each, a "Unit") at a price of $0.17 per Unit, comprised of one common share of the Company (each, a "Common Share") and one-half common share purchase warrant (each whole warrant, a "Warrant"); and (ii) 21,070,423 flow-through units of the Company (each, a "FT Unit") at a price of $0.195 per FT Unit, comprised of one Common Share that will qualify as "flow-through shares" within the meaning of subsection 66(15) of the Income Tax Act (Canada) (the "Tax Act") and one-half of one Warrant. Each Warrant entitles the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.25, for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering. The Company intends to use the net proceeds raised from the sale of Units for working capital and future exploration work on its Moss Lake gold deposit in Northwest Ontario, Canada. The gross proceeds from the issuance of the FT Units will be used for "Canadian Exploration Expenses" within the meaning of the Tax Act (the "Qualifying Expenditures"), which will be renounced with an effective date no later than December 31, 2023 to the purchasers of the FT Units in an aggregate amount not less than the gross proceeds raised from the issue of FT Units. If the Qualifying Expenditures are reduced by the Canada Revenue Agency, the Company will indemnify each subscriber of FT Units for any additional taxes payable by such subscriber as a result of the Company's failure to renounce the Qualifying Expenditures. The securities issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month and one day hold period under applicable securities laws in Canada. Closing of the Offering is subject to final approval by the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSX-V"). In connection with the Offering, the Company paid to the Agents a cash commission of $373,552 and issued to the Agents 2,011,912 compensation warrants of the Company (the "Compensation Warrants"). Each Compensation Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.17 per Common Share for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Offering. The Agents also received an aggregate advisory fee comprising $11,000 and 64,705 advisory warrants on the same terms as the Compensation Warrants. Certain directors and officers of the Company have participated in the Offering: Brett A. Richards, a director and officer of the Company, subscribed for 882,400 Units; Marlis Yassin, an officer of the Company, subscribed for 58,830 Units; Shawn Khunkhun, a director of the Company, subscribed for 103,623 FT Units; and Peter Flindell, an officer of the Company, subscribed for 150,000 Units. Participation of insiders of the Company in the Offering constitutes a related-party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The issuance of securities is exempt from the formal valuation requirements of Section 5.4 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.5(b) of MI 61-101 as the common shares of Goldshore are listed on the TSX-V. Goldshore has not obtained a formal valuation in the past. The issuance of securities is also exempt from the minority approval requirements of Section 5.6 of MI 61-101 pursuant to Subsection 5.7(1)(b) of MI 61-101 as the fair market value was less than $2,500,000. The board of directors of Goldshore approved the Offering, with those directors who participated in the Offering abstaining from voting on such approval. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. Persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. About Goldshore Goldshore is an emerging junior gold development company, and owns the Moss Lake Gold Project located in Ontario. Wesdome Gold Mines Ltd. is currently a large shareholder of Goldshore. Supported by an industry-leading management group, board of directors and advisory board, Goldshore is positioned to advance the Moss Lake Gold Project through the next stages of exploration and development. For More Information - Please Contact: Brett A. Richards President, Chief Executive Officer and Director Goldshore Resources Inc. P. +1 604 288 4416 M. +1 905 449 1500 E. brichards@goldshoreresources.com W. www.goldshoreresources.com Facebook: GoldShoreRes |Twitter: GoldShoreRes | LinkedIn: goldshoreres Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains statements that constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Such forward looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company's actual results, performance or achievements, or developments 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. These forward-looking statements or information relate to, among other things: receipt of all approvals related to the Offering; the intended use of proceeds from the Offering; the incurrence and renunciation of Qualifying Expenditures; and exploration and development activities at the Company's properties. Forward-looking statements in this news release include, among others, statements relating to expectations regarding the expected closing date of the Offering, and other statements that are not historical facts. 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 and risks include, among others: the Company may require additional financing from time to time in order to continue its operations which may not be available when needed or on acceptable terms and conditions acceptable; compliance with extensive government regulation; domestic and foreign laws and regulations could adversely affect the Company's business and results of operations; the stock markets have experienced volatility that often has been unrelated to the performance of companies and these fluctuations may adversely affect the price of the Company's securities, regardless of its operating performance. The forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the expectations of the Company as of the date of this news release and, accordingly, is subject to change after such date. Readers should not place undue importance on forward-looking information and should not rely upon this information as of any other date. The Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES OR DISSEMINATION IN THE U.S. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162245 The rise in industrialization and infrastructure development in emerging economies such as China and India, the increase in government initiatives to promote the development and adoption of polymer coating technologies, and the rise in the demand for energy-efficient buildings drive the growth of the global polymer coatings market. PORTLAND, Ore., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Polymer Coatings Market by Type (Acrylic, Epoxy, Polyurethane, Polyester, Fluropolymer, Others), by Process (Dip Coating, Powder Coating, Spray Coating, Elctrocoat, Liquid Coating), by End-Use Industry (Construction, Aerospace, Marine, Industrial Equipment, Automotive, Oil and Gas, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global polymer coatings industry generated $8.9 billion in 2021 and is anticipated to generate $16.2 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 6.2% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chain, regional landscape, and competitive scenario. Request PDF Brochure: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/54055 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities- The rise in industrialization and infrastructure development in emerging economies such as China and India, the increase in government initiatives to promote the development and adoption of polymer coating technologies, and the rise in the demand for energy-efficient buildings drive the growth of the global polymer coatings market. On the other hand, the environmental impact of polymer coatings and their high production costs restrain the market growth to some extent. However, the surge in the demand for polymer coating in construction and industrial equipment is expected to create lucrative opportunities in the industry. The polyurethane segment to maintain its dominance during the forecast period- By type, the polyurethane segment held the largest share in 2021, garnering more than one-fourth of the global polymer coatings market revenue, and is projected to maintain its dominance by 2031. Simultaneously, the same segment would also showcase the fastest CAGR of 6.8% during the forecast period. Due to their high flexibility and elasticity, polyurethane coatings can expand and contract along with the underlying substrate. This qualifies them for use on moving or vibrating substrates like bridges, pipelines, and aircraft. In addition, the industrial coatings, marine & offshore, automotive & transportation, and infrastructure sectors use polyurethane coating. The liquid coating segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period- By process, the liquid coating segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than one-fourth of the global polymer coatings market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The growth of the segment is attributed to its ability to provide a durable and protective barrier against corrosion, abrasion, and weathering, as well as its ability to add color, gloss, or other aesthetic qualities to a surface. There are many end-use industries that use liquid coating, including the automotive, aerospace, building, and electronics sectors. However, the dip coating segment would cite the fastest CAGR of 6.7% during the forecast period. The polymer coating by dip coating process is driven by the demand for an easy, affordable, and scalable method to apply a thin and uniform coating on a substrate surface. Dip coating is frequently used in sectors like automotive, electronics, and construction because it offers a practical approach to achieving these objectives. Compared to spray coating or electrostatic coating, dip coating is a cheaper method of applying a coating. For small to medium-sized production, it is more cost-effective because it requires fewer specialized tools and consumables. Procure Complete Report (285 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) @ https://bit.ly/407iZuq The industrial equipment segment to rule the roost by 2031- By end-use industry, the industrial equipment segment contributed to more than one-fifth of the global polymer coatings market share in 2021 and is projected to rule the roost by 2031. This is because polymer coatings are an effective solution to protect equipment against corrosion and extend the life of the equipment. Many industries are subject to regulatory requirements that mandate the use of coatings that meet certain performance standards. Polymer coatings can help companies comply with these requirements while also providing a cost-effective solution. Furthermore, the construction segment would cite the fastest CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period. There is a growing demand for polymer coating in the construction industry because of its environmentally friendly nature and sustainable coating options. More and more contractors and homeowners are looking for building materials and coatings that are environmentally friendly as awareness of environmental issues rises. Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2031- By region, Asia-Pacific held the major share in 2021, contributing to more than two-fifths of the global polymer coatings market revenue and is expected to dominate by 2031. The same region would also display the fastest CAGR of 6.6% during the forecast period. Factors such as rising urbanization and population, technological advancements, environmental regulations, and rising consumer awareness in the region drive the market segment. Leading Market Players- Chugoku Marine Paints Ltd. Ashland Covestro AG Jotun Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. BASF SE Axalta Coating Systems Akzo Nobel N.V. The Sherwin-Williams Company PPG Industries The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players in the global polymer coatings 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. Want to Access the Statistical Data and Graphs, Key Players' Strategies: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/concrete-sealers-market/purchase-options Similar Reports: Super Absorbent Polymer Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Fluoropolymers Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast 2020-2027 Smart Polymers Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Polymer Foam Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2020-2027 Conductive Polymer Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2019-2026 Opaque Polymers Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 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. Pawan Kumar, the CEO of Allied Market Research, is leading the organization toward providing high-quality data and insights. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: www.alliedmarketresearch.com Allied Market Research Blog: https://blog.alliedmarketresearch.com Blog: https://www.newsguards.com/ Follow Us on | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/polymer-coatings-market-to-garner-16-2-billion-globally-by-2031-at-6-2-cagr-says-allied-market-research-301796937.html Racine, Wisconsin--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Kubis Financial Group, a trusted financial advisory firm, announces the launch of their team's tax leveraged retirement planning solutions. The company offers a comprehensive retirement income plan that addresses income planning, social security, Medicare, tax strategies, conversion strategies, and investment management, catering to pre-retirees, corporate executives, and business owners. According to Richard Kubis, the founder and CEO of Kubis Financial Group, "Retirement income planning has some very innovative strategies that go beyond the traditional rules of income planning in retirement. We are dedicated to providing our clients with a clear and understandable path forward when it comes to retirement income planning." With the recent changes in the industry, including the Secure Act, pending tax law changes (2025), conversion strategies, and effective plans for managing taxes in retirement, the Kubis Financial Group's team stands out by providing comprehensive tax efficient retirement income planning, with specific attention to risk and predictable retirement income with minimal market participation. Retirement income planning with asset management is all the company does, focusing solely on retirement income planning. "We are not a 'jack of all trades.' We believe in providing knowledge-based solutions, not obstacles and confusion," added Kubis. Kubis Financial Group is targeting individuals who could benefit the most from having an open mind to new ideas and concepts. The company is also providing online links to retirement experts, such as nationally syndicated author Tom Hegna, so potential clients can view retirement modules and concepts in their own space and time. Kubis Financial Group welcomes people seriously interested in a no-nonsense approach to retirement income planning. For more information about Kubis Financial Group and its tax-free retirement planning solutions, visit the company's website at https://kubisfinancialgroup.com, or follow them on Facebook and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Richard Kubis, AAMS, Kubis Financial Group, 262.898.2140 rkubis@kubisgroup.com Securities offered through Registered Representatives of Cambridge Investment Research, Inc., a broker-dealer member FINRA/SIPC Advisory services through Cambridge Investment Research Advisors, Inc., a Registered Investment Advisor. Cambridge and Kubis Financial Group are not affiliated. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/158722 EQS-News: Swedish Electromagnet Invest AB (Publ) / Key word(s): Miscellaneous Swedish Electromagnet Invest AB (Publ): SEM has reached an agreement in principle with certain bondholders regarding its outstanding bonds and initiates a written procedure to implement the agreement 13.04.2023 / 17:20 CET/CEST The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. SEM has reached an agreement in principle with certain bondholders regarding its outstanding bonds and initiates a written procedure to implement the agreement As announced by Swedish Electromagnet Invest AB (publ) (the "Company" or "SEM") in a press release dated 11 November 2022, SEM has negotiated a long-term solution for its financing with certain major holders (the "Ad-Hoc Bondholder Committee") of the outstanding bonds 2018/2023 with ISIN SE0011167600 (the "Bonds"). The Ad-Hoc Bondholder Committee represents 50.6 per cent. of the adjusted nominal amount of the Bonds. SEM announces that the negotiations between SEM and the Ad-Hoc Bondholder Committee in relation to the Bonds have resulted in an agreement in principle regarding certain amendments to the terms and conditions for the Bonds (the "Terms and Conditions"), as summarised below (the "Amendments"). The implementation of the Amendments is subject to the approval of all holders of Bonds and SEM announces that it today will initiate a written procedure (the "Written Procedure") among the holders of the Bonds to request that the holders' approve the Amendments. SEM has instructed Nordic Trustee & Agency AB (publ) (the "Agent"), in its capacity as agent under the Bonds, to send the notice of Written Procedure including voting instructions to the direct registered owners and registered authorised nominees of the Bonds in the Company's debt ledger held with Euroclear Sweden as per 12 April 2023. The outcome of the Written Procedure will be announced by way of press release in connection with the termination of the Written Procedure. The voting record date is 18 April 2023 and the last day for voting in the Written Procedure is 26 April 2023. If the Amendments are approved by the holders of Bonds in the Written Procedure, an amendment fee amounting to SEK 3,360,000 will be paid to the holders of Bonds. The Amendments are summarised below. All capitalised terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings assigned to them in the notice of Written Procedure. For more information regarding the Written Procedure and a more detailed description of the Amendments, please see the notice of Written Procedure on the Company's website and the Agent's website. The maturity of the Bonds shall be extended to 30 June 2026; all Bonds shall be redeemed on the new maturity date with an amount per Bond equal to 110.00 per cent. of the Nominal Amount together with accrued but unpaid interest; the Company shall ensure that the Equity Injection in an amount of at least SEK 20,000,000 is carried out no later than 20 Business Days after the Effective Date, which shall exclusively be used towards paying the Amendment Fee and buying Bonds in the market or, after 3 months following the Equity Injection was made, towards a Mandatory Partial Prepayment; the Bonds currently held by the Group shall be cancelled prior to the record date for the Amendment Fee reducing the outstanding Nominal Amount to SEK 336,250,000; all Bonds purchased by the Group after the Effective Date shall immediately be cancelled; the Bonds shall carry interest per annum with quarterly interest payments in arrears as follows: (i) fixed rate of 3.00 per cent. from but excluding the Interest Payment Date on 30 March 2023 and up to and including the Interest Payment Date falling on 30 March 2024, (ii) fixed rate of 7.00 per cent. from but excluding the Interest Payment Date on 30 March 2024 and up to and including the Interest Payment Date falling on 30 June 2025 and (iii) floating rate of three (3) months STIBOR plus 7.50 per cent. from but excluding the Interest Payment Date falling on 30 June 2025 and up to and including the new maturity date; already paid interest in an amount equal to (i) the interest actually paid on 10 March 2023 for the period 1 January 2023 to 10 March 2023 (both included) on a Note less (b) an amount equal to a fixed rate of 3.00 per cent. per annum for that Note for the period 1 January 2023 to 30 March 2023 (both included), shall be deducted from upcoming interest payments; the Call Option Amount shall be amended as set out in the notice of Written Procedure; the Company may voluntary partially prepay the Bonds pro rata at one or more occasions in its sole discretion in any amount at a price of 100.00 per cent. of the Nominal Amount plus (i) a premium on the repaid amount as set forth in the Call Option Amount and (ii) any accrued but unpaid interest on the redeemed amounts; the Company shall on each Mandatory Partial Prepayment Date partially prepay the Bonds pro rata in an amount equivalent to the relevant Mandatory Partial Prepayment Amount plus any accrued but unpaid interest on the redeemed amounts; certain amendments to be made in clause 13.3, paragraph (b) and paragraph (d) of Clause 13.7 and paragraph (b) of Clause 13.9 of the Terms and Conditions as set out in the notice of Written Procedure; and the Company shall undertake and use its earnest intention to repurchase Bonds in the market, or in any other way, in an amount equal to all excess cash in the Group from time to time, whereby excess cash shall be determined by the board of director (acting reasonably) based on the interest of the holders of Bonds, upcoming mandatory partial prepayments and the financial situation, business operations, investment needs and liquidity situation of the Group. In addition to the Amendments, the Ad-Hoc Bondholder Committee, and any additional holders of Bonds invited by the Ad-Hoc Bondholder Committee, shall, jointly, have the right to appoint up to two board members (one ordinary board member and one deputy board member) or observers to the board of directors (as elected by such bondholder committee) in the Company from time to time (such right to be regulated in a separate agreement between the bondholder committee and Procuritas). With reference to the undertaking set out in paragraph (l) above, the Company announces that the generated cash as per the end of the financial year 2023 based on the current liquidity forecast model is expected to amount to SEK 10 million. For questions to the Agent regarding the administration of the Written Procedure, please contact the Agent at voting.sweden@nordictrustee.com or +46 8 783 79 00. For further information, please contact the Company: Halvar Jonzon, Chairman of the board halvar.jonzon@telia.com +46 70 663 65 67 Christina Hallin, CEO christina.hallin@sem.se +46 70 821 11 89 http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/1662W_1-2023-4-13.pdf This information is information that the Company is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact persons set out above, on 13 April 2023, at 16:15 CEST. This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution of this information may apply. For further information, please contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com . 13.04.2023 CET/CEST Dissemination of a Corporate News, transmitted by EQS News - a service of EQS Group AG. The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. The EQS Distribution Services include Regulatory Announcements, Financial/Corporate News and Press Releases. Archive at www.eqs-news.com On 12-14 September 2023, companies from the United Kingdom are invited to join Global Mobility Call which coincides with the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. In this context, Global Mobility Call will host two major events organised by the Spanish Government, bringing together representatives of European ministries and business leaders and the world's main regulatory bodies. MADRID, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the second edition of Global Mobility Call , the largest international sustainable mobility event to be held from 12 to 14 September in Madrid, was presented worldwide. Five months before its celebration, the event organised by IFEMA Madrid and Smobhub already has 30 associated partners, as well as national and international associations, and more than 100 exhibiting companies and 50 startups. Once again, this year the event is sponsored by the Spanish Government, through the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, and has the support of the Community of Madridand the City Council. Global Mobility Call will bring together major companies and associations from the energy sector, such as Cepsa, Iberdrola and Total Energies; public transport, with the Consorcio de Transportes, EMT and Metro de Madrid; multimodal mobility, with Adif, Aena, Arriva, Enaire, Iberia, Puertos del Estado, Renfe and Senasa; technology and innovation, such as Etra, Indra, Ineco and Sistem; and infrastructures, with the National Geographic Institute, among others. At the press conference, Maria Jose Rallo, General Secretary for Transport and Mobility at the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda of the Spanish Government; David Perez, Regional Councillor for Transport and Infrastructures of the Community of Madrid; Jose Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID; David Moneo, Director of Global Mobility Call, and Juan Jose Lillo, co-founder of Smobhub, presented the second edition of the event. Global Mobility Call will bring together 10,000 participating professionals, and a further 15,000 estimated online participants via the digital platform, in a gathering that will promote multi-sectoral relations between companies, institutions, associations and experts. Within the framework of opportunities offered by the European Union's policies on energy saving and sustainable mobility through the NextGenerationEU funds, with an aid of 800,000 million euros, much of it for mobility projects. Attendance is expected to be more than 50%international with a strong presence from 16 European and Latin American countries. "Establishing new environmentally friendly mobility models is vital to minimise the serious effects of the climate crisis we are facing. Global Mobility Call 2023 is a unique opportunity to learn about the most advanced and innovative mobility solutions. I am confident that its conclusions will attract the attention of Spanish society and the global public opinion", said Maria Jose Rallo, General Secretary for Transport and Mobility at the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. According to Jose Vicente de los Mozos, President of IFEMA Madrid, "alliances with multilateral organisations will allow the second edition to feature leading voices from the sectors that make up sustainable mobility, while consolidating the international projection of the event through the direct participation of large international organisations. We also work through the commercial delegations in different European and Latin American countries to attract companies, investors and international leaders". Spanish Presidency of the EU This second edition will coincide with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 July. The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma) will organise, within the framework of Global Mobility Call, two parallel events: the "Technical Conference on Mobility in Rural Areas" and a meeting of "The PEP Partnership on Active Mobility". Furthermore, the event will have a specific area for national and international cities and territories, which will support the exchange of experiences and knowledge of trends, success stories and plans for the implementation of new mobility solutions and low-emission zones, around the largest public-private collaboration and business platform for sustainable mobility. The event will be structured along two areas: the GMC Congress and the GMC Expo and it will have an innovation area formed by the sum of startups and scaleups through forums and platforms to promote new initiatives through public and private investment funds. It also plans to promote new generation talent with universities, educational centres and international organisations. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053656/Global_Mobility_Call_2022.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053657/Global_Mobility_Call_2023_Presentation.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053658/Global_Mobility_Call_Logo.jpg Media Contacts: Marta Cacho Communications Manager Tel.: +34 626 632 326 mcacho@ifema.es Elena Valera International Press Tel.: +34 629 644 208 evalera@ifema.es View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-mobility-call-is-set-to-become-the-european-launchpad-for-sustainable-mobility-business-leadership-301796982.html NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Lenovo This International Women's Day, we celebrate the impact of women around the globe, and their work in accelerating the path toward equity. At Lenovo, we put Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the heart of our work. It's part of our corporate fabric and we are committed to our mission of developing products, services and solutions that benefit all. That was the spark that led to our Work For Humankind initiative-a project that invited volunteers on a once in a lifetime opportunity to make a long-lasting difference on the remote island of Robinson Crusoe, while working from our tech-enabled Hub. As we come upon the one-year anniversary of the volunteers' journey to the island, we reflect on the positive experiences of three of the incredible women participants. Emily Ketchen, Lenovo's Chief Marketing Officer and Vice President of Intelligent Devices Group and International Markets, connected with several of the women volunteers who traveled to Robinson Crusoe as part of Work For Humankind: Carissa Cabrera, founder and CEO of the Conservationist Collective from the US; Cynthia Mayer, a product manager and communications specialist from France; and Vivian Garcia, an animal welfare lecturer from Mexico. Each look back at their time on the island and the women's empowerment that inspired them then and now. Nearly a year on, what's your biggest takeaway from Lenovo's Work For Humankind initiative on Robinson Crusoe Island? Carissa: The biggest takeaway from my experience last year on Robinson Crusoe Island is the power of small-scale communities when it comes to leading in ocean conservation. The fishers, divers, and conservationists I met are committed to building a better blue planet for future generations. We have so much to learn from communities like this, and I know that access to reliable tech will only accelerate their impact. Cynthia: I am used to working with engineers, so my volunteering experience was a big shift for me. I volunteered with three groups of local artists and through that, I was able to practice a different communication style-more people-oriented, more empathy-oriented, more personal-much different than engineering code, as art is a very personal thing. To work with an artist successfully, you need to be nearly as passionate as they are. I really cherish the connection we built. Art can be a web that unites people. Vivian: My biggest takeaway is the friendships that we created with the people from the island and the other volunteers. I'm still in touch with some of the community members of the Island, because now they have better internet access thanks to Lenovo. Another big takeaway would be the professional partnership we created during the project; after Robinson Crusoe, I worked with Island Conservation on another project in Alaska. Any key learnings from your time remote working on Robinson Crusoe Island? Carissa: My key learning was that technology opens up endless possibilities in the new age of remote work. On an island of only 800 people, there is so much value in being able to work in a flexible way. My key learnings went far beyond the access to tech though, I left feeling like we all would be better to each other and the planet if we lived like the folks on Robinson Crusoe. Vivian: That it was possible to be hands-on in conservation projects and volunteer while I was also teaching my students in Mexico remotely through technology! Were you inspired by any women during your stay on Robinson Crusoe Island? Carissa: Absolutely. In addition to the incredible volunteers from around the world that I shared this experience with, I had the privilege of developing friendships with multiple local conservationists working towards ocean solutions. Carolina was spearheading expanding the marine protected area in the Juan Fernandez Islands, Gloria was ensuring young kids on the island built a relationship to the ocean through diving, and so many others were doing everything they could to protect their land and communities for future generations. Cynthia: Jaritza is quite the woman. She is the daughter of the eldest family on the island, actively working to increase the recognition of the Islanders as a Tribe internationally, which will ultimately help the island in protecting its natural resources and provide stronger autonomy to the local population. She is passionate about the island, the people, the story, the culture. I met with her several times and you can see in her eyes it's not a job for her - it's her life mission. How many people can say they've found their life's mission? I continue to follow her stories and progress as she shares more insights about the island life. Vivian: Several, but the women that inspired me the most were Jaritza and Myriam. They are both working to protect the island in different ways. Myriam did so through her work with tourists. Since leaving Robinson Crusoe, how have you continued to use tech for the good of humankind? Carissa: Yes. After watching and helping small groups come together to bring big ideas to life using tech, I left Robinson Crusoe with the confidence to think bigger in my conservation journey. I learned that a group of 15-25 fishers were the ones who developed the local sustainable fishing rules. When small groups of passionate people come together around the same shared values, and with access to modern tech and connectivity, anything is possible. Cynthia: Through my volunteering, I've been able to understand the difficulty of artists to grasp technology and use it for their own good. So, I created my own online art gallery for fantasy artists, using all the latest tech to support them and provide them with a new source of income. If we want artists to focus on their art, we need to put better systems in place - including human networks of support. Vivian: I continue to use tech to monitor wildlife species and educate students about the importance of wildlife and nature conservation. This year's IWD celebrates equity. In your own words, what does it mean to EmbraceEquity? Carissa: Equity is about ensuring that everyone is given access to the same tools like tech, education, and pathways to success. Systemic and intentional inequities plague different demographics globally. It is up to those of us with privilege, whatever kind it may be, to ensure that everyone is at the table contributing to solutions. I?ve found that embracing equity means ensuring the programs are diverse, hearing different perspectives, and speaking up for those who may not be heard otherwise. Cynthia: "Embrace Equity" is to adapt to an individual's specific challenges or inherent characteristics. It is valid as much for women as it is for any other person in society: elderly, people with or without a disability, people with or without a family, people with or without a religion, etc. You can adapt the work environment you want to give them: the tasks, the working style, the schedule. On the other end, you can also adapt the services and the products you sell to serve them the best. We all deserve respect and a place where we can thrive. Vivian: Taking action to promote equity, harmony, and union in our communities to ensure that all women get what they need to succeed. Visit Lenovo StoryHub for more on International Women's Day and discover more about Lenovo's Work For Humankind initiative. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Lenovo on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Lenovo Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/lenovo Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Lenovo View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749094/Reflecting-on-Work-for-Humankind-and-Embracing-Equity INFICON Holding AG / Key word(s): Conference INFICON to Publish its First Quarter 2023 Results on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 13.04.2023 / 17:40 CET/CEST Corporate Contact Matthias Trondle Chief Financial Officer +423 388 3510 matthias.troendle@inficon.com Announcement of INFICON Holding AG Bad Ragaz/Switzerland, April 13, 2023 We look forward to welcoming you to the Media/Analyst Web Conference on INFICON's first quarter 2023 results. INFICON will host a web conference via Microsoft Teams on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 09.30 a.m. CEST. Please make sure that you have access to Microsoft Teams. The presentations and the following question and answer session will be in English. You can access the web conference via the following links: https://www.inficon.com/web-conference https://ir.inficon.com/conference-calls-or-webcasts/ On April 26, 2023, INFICON will issue a press release at 07:00 a.m. CEST on the first quarter 2023 results. At the same time, the accompanying presentation visuals will also be available in the Investors' section of the INFICON website, www.inficon.com. Communication Calendar The communication calendar of INFICON is continuously updated and available on online in the Investors' section of the INFICON website, www.inficon.com. E-Mail Alerts To automatically receive notification via e-mail of the latest financial information from INFICON, sign-up for e-mail Alerts in the Investors section of the INFICON website at https://ir.inficon.com/contact-and-information-request 07:00 a.m. CEST: Publication of Media Release and Presentation 09.30 a.m. CEST: Web Conference via Microsoft Teams About INFICON INFICON is a leading provider of innovative instrumentation, critical sensor technologies, and Smart Manufacturing/Industry 4.0 software solutions that enhance productivity and quality of tools, processes and complete factories. These analysis, measurement and control products are essential for gas leak detection in air conditioning/refrigeration, and automotive manufacturing. They are vital to equipment manufacturers and end-users in the complex fabrication of semiconductors and thin film coatings for optics, flat panel displays, solar cells and industrial vacuum coating applications. Other users of vacuum based processes include the life sciences, research, aerospace, packaging, heat treatment, laser cutting and many other industrial processes. We also leverage our expertise in vacuum technology to provide unique, toxic chemical analysis products for emergency response, security, and environmental monitoring. INFICON is headquartered in Switzerland and has world-class manufacturing facilities in Europe, the United States and China, as well as subsidiaries in China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Liechtenstein, Mexico, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, the United Kingdom and the United States. INFICON registered shares (IFCN) are listed on SIX Swiss Exchange. For more information about INFICON and its products, please visit www.inficon.com. This press release and oral statements or other written statements made, or to be made by us contain forward-looking statements that do not relate solely to historical or current facts. These forward-looking statements are based on the current plans and expectations of our management and are subject to a number of uncertainties and risks that could significantly affect our current plans and expectations, as well as future results of operations and financial condition. We undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. End of Media Release The Universal Registration Document 2022 was filed with the Autorite des Marches Financiers (AMF) on April 12, 2023. The Universal Registration Document includes notably: 2022 annual financial report, Board of Directors' report on corporate governance, Statutory Auditors' reports, Information on fees paid to the Statutory Auditors, and Information on social, environmental and societal responsibility. It can be consulted or downloaded from PAREF website (www.paref.com) in "Finance - Publications" section and from the AMF website (www.amf-france.org). It is also available to the public, free of charge, on request at the registered office of PAREF, 153 Boulevard Haussmann 75 008 Paris. Financial agenda April 27, 2023: Financial information as at March 31, 2023 May 17, 2023: Annual General Meeting of shareholders About PAREF Group PAREF is a leading European player in real estate management, with over 30 years of experience and the aim of being one of the market leaders in real estate management based on its proven expertise. Today, the Group operates in France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland and provides services across the entire value chain of real estate investment: investment, fund management, renovation and development project management, asset management, and property management. This 360 approach enables it to offer integrated and tailor-made services to institutional and retail investors. The Group is committed to creating more value and sustainable growth and has put CSR concerns at the heart of its strategy. As at December 31, 2022, PAREF Group manages 3bn assets under management. PAREF is a company listed on Euronext Paris, Compartment C, under ISIN FR0010263202 - Ticker PAR. More information on www.paref.com Press contacts PAREF Raphaelle Chevignard +33(6) 16 65 56 36 raphaelle.chevignard@paref.com Citigate Dewe Rogerson Yoann Besse / Marlene Brisset 06 63 03 84 91 / 06 59 42 29 35 Paref@citigatedewerogerson.com ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: mm5uZJltlpqYl3Gfkp1nl5NkZmtllWXKmWmWmJJtlJ6VaW1gmZhlZ5bGZnBqmGhm - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-79330-20230412_paref_terms-and-conditions-of-availability-of-the-2022-urd.pdf Sales of 5.6 million, up 27% and EBITDA improved by 17% in 2022 Increased investments in innovation for the US business Cash runway over 24 months 1Q23 sales growing 12% Regulatory News: SpineGuard (FR0011464452 ALSGD), an innovative company that deploys its DSG (Dynamic Surgical Guidance) sensing technology to secure and streamline the placement of bone implants, announced today its full-year 2022 financial results, as approved by the Board of Directors on April 13, 2023, and its first quarter 2023 sales. thousands IFRS audited 2022 2021 Revenue 5,600 4,405 Gross Margin 4,715 3,606 Gross margin (% of revenue) 84.2 % 81.9 % Sales, distribution marketing 3,700 2,660 Administrative costs 1,640 1,394 Research Development 901 791 Operating profit (loss) -1,526 -1,239 Non-recurring operating costs -135 -110 Financial Result -427 -299 Income Tax -305 -76 Net profit (loss) -2,393 -1,725 EBITDA -888 -1,063 Pierre Jerome, co-founder, Chairman and CEO of SpineGuard, said: "2022 has been particularly fruitful for SpineGuard with strong sales uptake, EBITDA improvement, the signature of new strategic partnerships and significant strides on the innovation front. In a context where the surgical assistance systems to secure bone implant placement (navigation, robotics, augmented reality, etc.) are becoming a must-have, our DSG technology stands out and affirms its unique capacity to differentiate tissues in an extremely accurate manner, in real time, in-situ and without X-rays. It is now protected by 79 patents and its clinical relevance evidenced by 24 scientific publications and over 95,000 surgeries including 500 performed with our new DSG Connect platform. The added value of the latter is undeniable as it facilitates surgeon adoption thanks to signal visualization and because it enables data collection which is very precious to continue to expand the scope of our sensing technology. Although in the process of re-organizing and strengthening our US operations, we have started 2023 with double digit growth in the first quarter and with great prospects ahead of us. The IMAST (International Meeting on Advanced Spine Techniques) congress that took place at the end of March in Dublin, Ireland, confirmed DSG's very strong benefits for the insertion of screws in the vertebral body, an emerging fast growing surgical technique to treat scoliosis without fusion and for which we obtained FDA clearance in 2022." Improved EBITDA and increased investments in innovation and for the US business development 2022 sales increased at 5,600 K (+27.1%) compared to 2021 (+17,4% cc) thanks to a solid contribution of Europe, Latin America and the US back to double digit growth. Gross margin improved by 230 bps at 84.2% vs. 81.9% mainly due to the higher average selling prices and a yet limited impact of the increase of manufacturing costs. Losses due to inventory obsolescence were also reduced in 2022 and impacted positively compared to 2021. Operating expenses increased by 29.2% or 1,413 K reflecting the impact of the investments in sales, marketing and innovation in R&D, while maintaining a rigorous control of operational expenses over the year. The Operating Loss is 1,526 K vs 1,239 K in 2021. Working capital requirements were 452 K vs. -133 K in 2021 related to inventory and account receivable increases. Financial expenses were -427 K mainly corresponding to the interest charges of the venture loan with Norgine Venture, Harbert European Growth Capital and Bpifrance. There are 12 K of forex rate losses and 115 K of non-cash financial expenses, which have no impact on the cash and are related to the compliance with IFRS accounting principles on financing instruments. EBITDA improved 17% at -888 K vs. -1,063 K in 2021. Cash runway extended over 24 months At December 31, 2022, cash and cash equivalents were 4.1 M. The balance of 3.0 M of the convertible warrants (BSAR) with Nice Green was drawn during Q1-2023. As of March 31, 2023, cash and cash equivalents were 5.8 M and SpineGuard's cash runway stands at over 24 months. Significant R&D advances Robotic application: Following previous years solid progress, SpineGuard decided to pursue a new collaboration with the ISIR and LIB (Laboratoire d'Imagerie Biomedicales) labs of Sorbonne University. The new collaboration aims at continuing the research for the automated detection and prevention of bone breaches and adding an ultrasound component. In parallel, the Company continues to take steps for its IP protection. The European collaboration project FAROS (Functional Accurate RObotic Surgery) continued, with tangible results in 2022. Those results were validated by the payment by the European Union of the mid-term grants Robotic DSG application to a smart drill: In 2022, the Company progressed in the design of a universal solution aiming at enhancing orthopedic power drills currently used in hospitals. The objective is to alert the surgeon of the imminence of a bone breach and to automatically stop the drilling thus preventing the neurologic or vascular complications. The advances made can be summarized as: availability of the second generation of a functional prototype; the addition of depth measurement to feed the DSG breach detection algorithm; the addition of angle measurement; the filing of patents; the various tests and presentation to the scientific committee and; the preliminary identification of the regulatory path in the US and Europe. Connectivity and signal visualization: The new generation of PediGuard "DSG Connect" products includes a Bluetooth-like transmitter as well as data visualization and processing software on a dedicated tablet. This new platform aims to facilitate the visual interpretation of the DSG signal by surgeons and to allow them to record data for follow-up and research purposes in measure bone quality. DSG Connect is FDA cleared in the United States and ANVISA cleared in Brazil. The commercial launch continued in 2022 with: the completion of over 500 surgeries under the limited release marketing phase by 50 surgeons in the cleared areas and validation of the commercial potential together with an impressive technical data collection for the full release of the product; the refinement of the new electronic card; the improvement of the ergonomics of the tablet application; the full commercial release at the Eurospine and NASS congresses, the two largest world congresses in the field of spine surgery in Europe and the USA. Bone Quality Measurement (BQM): Following the first data collected by Hopital Trousseau in Paris in 2021, 2022 allowed surgeons using DSG Connect to collect record preliminary bone quality data that they can analyze retrospectively and enable them to prepare a broader protocol for 2023. Collaboration with the US company Omnia Medical: The collaboration between the two companies initiated in September 2022 resulted in regular project reviews that allowed the Research and Development teams to progress in design of the "smart screw" and "sacro-iliac instrumentation" and planning for the coming FDA approval steps. Dental implantology worldwide license and collaboration with ConfiDent, a subsidiary of Adin: The partnership with ConfiDent ABC (Adin Group) for dental implantology continues. We are experiencing some delays in the execution of the development plan necessitating to reschedule and to consider different alternatives. Strengthening of intellectual property: In 2022, the Company consolidated and extended its international patent portfolio. To date, SpineGuard holds a total of 79 patents and applications, in 19 families. 2023 First quarter revenue Global revenue in the first quarter of 2023 was 1,271 K vs. 1,131 K in Q1 2022 a 12% increase as reported and 10% cc. SpineGuard sold 1,621 DSG units in the first quarter of 2022 vs. 1,361 units in Q1 2022 of which 565 units in the USA vs. 569 in 2022. US revenue increased by 4% as reported (flat cc) at 766 K vs. 739 K. Outside the USA, the positive dynamics initiated since the second half of 2020 continued, and revenue grew by 29% at 504 K vs. 392 K in the first quarter of 2022. This is the tenth consecutive quarter with double digit growth OUS. SpineGuard Priorities SpineGuard is focusing on the following priorities while investing selectively and with rigor: Boost commercial activities with DSG-Connect and WishBone Medical Develop a DSG drill bit and a universal drill guide embedding the DSG robotic intelligence Implement the agreement recently signed with Omnia Medical Deploy the DSG digital technology in the surgical robotic and dental fields Sign new strategic partnerships Next events General Shareholders Meeting on June 8, 2023 (and June 29, 2023, if second summoning) 2023 half-year revenue on July 12, 2023 About SpineGuard Founded in 2009 in France and the USA by Pierre Jerome and Stephane Bette, SpineGuard is an innovative company deploying its proprietary radiation-free real time sensing technology DSG (Dynamic Surgical Guidance) to secure and streamline the placement of implants in the skeleton. SpineGuard designs, develops and markets medical devices that have been used in over 95,000 surgical procedures worldwide. Twenty-four studies published in peer-reviewed scientific journals have demonstrated the multiple benefits DSG offers to patients, surgeons, surgical staff and hospitals. Building on these strong fundamentals and several strategic partnerships, SpineGuard has expanded the scope of its DSG technology in innovative applications such as the smart pedicle screw, the DSG Connect visualization and registration interface, dental implantology and surgical robotics. DSG was co-invented by Maurice Bourlion, Ph.D., Ciaran Bolger, M.D., Ph.D., and Alain Vanquaethem, Biomedical Engineer. SpineGuard has engaged in multiple ESG initiatives. For further information, visit www.spineguard.com Disclaimer: The SpineGuard securities may not be offered or sold in the United States as they have not been and will not be registered under the Securities Act or any United States state securities laws, and SpineGuard does not intend to make a public offer of its securities in the United States. This is an announcement and not a prospectus, and the information contained herein does and shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the securities referred to herein in the United States in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or exemption from registration. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005555/en/ Contacts: SpineGuard Pierre Jerome CEO Chairman Tel: +33 1 45 18 45 19 p.jerome@spineguard.com SpineGuard Manuel Lanfossi CFO Tel: +33 1 45 18 45 19 m.lanfossi@spineguard.com NewCap Investor Relations Financial Communication Mathilde Bohin Pierre Laurent Tel.: +33 1 44 71 94 94 spineguard@newcap.eu Strong financial situation and visibility: - Cash position of 9.5 million - Company's operations funded into Q3-2024 Regulatory News: GeNeuro (Euronext Paris: CH0308403085 GNRO) (Paris:GNRO), a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the severe neuropsychiatric consequences of COVID-19 (post-COVID or Long-COVID), today reported on its 2023 first quarter cash position. 2023 First-quarter financial information At March 31, 2023, GeNeuro had 9.5 million in cash. This includes the first tranche of 7.0 million from the European Investment Bank financing for its Long-COVID program. The available cash resources provide GeNeuro with good visibility into Q3-2024. The cash consumption related to GeNeuro's operating and investing activities in Q1 2023 was 3 million, compared to 2.5 million for the same period of 2022. The increase is due to expenses related to the start-up costs in Italy and Spain of the Phase 2 clinical trial in Long-COVID. The Company expects its quarterly cash consumption to decrease slightly during 2023 as the post-COVID clinical trial advances. Next financial report: Second-quarter 2023 cash position: July 17, 2023. Forthcoming investor and industry events: May 3-4, 2023 LSX World Congress, London May 25, 2023 Gilbert Dupont Midcaps Forum, Paris June 5-8, 2023 BIO International Convention, Boston About GeNeuro GeNeuro's mission is to leverage HERV biology to develop safe and effective treatments for the benefit of patients, by neutralizing causal factors encoded by HERVs that represent 8% of human DNA. GeNeuro is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has R&D facilities in Lyon, France. It has rights to 17 patent families protecting its technology. For more information, visit: www.geneuro.com Disclaimer: This press release contains certain forward looking statements and estimates concerning GeNeuro's financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words, such as "anticipate," "believe," "can," "could," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "is designed to," "may," "might," "plan," "potential," "predict," "objective," "should," or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on management's current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the company's control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of GeNeuro or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and GeNeuro undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005633/en/ Contacts: GeNeuro Jesus Martin-Garcia Chairman and CEO +41 22 552 4800 investors@geneuro.com NewCap (France) Louis-Victor Delouvrier Mathilde Bohin (investors) +33 1 44 71 94 94 Arthur Rouille (media) +33 1 44 71 00 15 geneuro@newcap.eu Turnover up 30.3% despite ongoing negative impact of Russia; Monthly recurring revenue up 26.5% in Q1 2023; Implementation of new growth drivers: enhancement of WALLIX PAM4ALL offering with the launch of SaaS Remote Access and new tech alliance to strengthen cloud security. Paris, April 13, 2023 - WALLIX (Euronext ALLIX), a European cybersecurity software developer and expert in privileged access management (PAM), has decided to publish its turnover and monthly recurring revenue on a quarterly basis from Q1 2023. Unaudited data, 000 Q1 2022 Q1 2023 Change Consolidated turnover 4,720 6,149 +30.3% Jean-Noel de Galzain, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the WALLIX GROUP, said: "2023 kicked off with a sharp upswing in growth driven by strong momentum among medium-sized companies in the vast majority of our markets and the resumption of major projects, particularly in the industrial sector. This marks a return to hyper-growth rates comparable to those achieved in the pre-COVID years, despite the ongoing negative impact of Russia on the first quarter and the continuing sustained development of our subscription model, which has affected revenue recognition in the short term while guaranteeing the Group a recurring revenue flow and better financial visibility over the coming years. As a reminder, WALLIX has multiplied its turnover by 12 in ten years, representing an average annual growth rate of nearly 30%. In line with our 2023 roadmap focused on innovation and the enhancement of the offering, we recently launched SaaS Remote Access, the SaaS version of our remote access management technology combined with our PAM4ALL solution. This solution allows any organization to manage secure digital access simply and globally for external service providers, as well as remote access. Another major milestone this quarter was the ramp-up of Group operations in the area of cloud infrastructure security and compliance thanks to our tech alliance with Kleverware. The goal of this alliance is to help organizations in their digital transformation towards cloud services by offering them a CIEM (Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management) solution. This development is a solid growth driver insofar as it targets the cloud services market estimated at $600 billion and growing 20% per year. WALLIX is pursuing its ambition of building a responsible digital world by helping organizations step up their secure-by-design digital transformation. After this strong start to the year, we are confident in the Company's business momentum, which still harbors growth potential, and in our ability to pursue this organic trend while developing our positioning on buoyant cybersecurity markets." Significant first quarter recovery and growth upswing in recurring business Growth accelerated in the first quarter with turnover of 6.1 million, up 30.3% versus Q1 2022 despite the impact of Russia, which posted sustained sales until the end of February 2022, and the shift towards a subscription-based business model. Monthly recurring revenue (MRR) for the first quarter totaled 1.3 million, up 26.5% versus Q1 2022, representing 15.4 million in recurring business on an annual basis. As such, WALLIX has started 2023 with a level of annual recurring business equivalent to 61.3% of 2022 consolidated turnover, up 8.6 percentage points year-on-year. An eventful first quarter The first quarter has confirmed the target of accelerating organic growth for 2023 announced by the Group in its 2022 annual results press release. This momentum will be strengthened over the coming months by the recent initiatives focusing on cloud infrastructure and remote access. As such, in order to meet the challenges of cloud security, WALLIX has signed a strategic alliance with Kleverware, a European specialist in digital access and identity governance. By integrating their respective technologies, Privileged Access Management and Identity Access Governance, WALLIX and Kleverware offer a comprehensive CIEM (Cloud Infrastructure Entitlement Management) solution that maps, manages and safeguards all access - by humans or machines - to IT resources in the cloud while ensuring regulatory compliance. The strategic value of this alliance is enhanced by the fact that CIEM technology is emerging as the go-to standard for access management and application of the "least privilege" principle in cloud infrastructures. Most recently, the Group also announced the launch of its SaaS Remote Access solution, the SaaS version of the remote access management technology integrated into the WALLIX PAM4ALL comprehensive solution, enabling the optimization of remote access management, especially for external partners. The launch of SaaS Remote Access and the tech alliance with Kleverware are fully in line with WALLIX's strategy of developing and enhancing its offering and solutions while generating a rapid impact on the Group's outlook. WALLIX reaffirms its ambition to significantly improve earnings via a gradual return to normal operating expenses in order to reach operating breakeven by 2024. Next publication: H1 2023 turnover, July 20, 2023 A PROPOS DE WALLIX Editeur de logiciels de cybersecurite, WALLIX est le specialiste europeen de la securisation des acces et des identites numeriques, leader mondial du PAM, le Privileged Access Management. Les technologies de la societe permettent aux entreprises de repondre aux enjeux actuels de protection des reseaux informatiques et de securite des donnees. Elles assurent la detection et la resilience aux cyberattaques en vue de proteger les actifs numeriques des organisations et de maintenir la continuite d'activite du systeme d'information, dans le cloud et dans les reseaux industriels. Elles simplifient egalement la mise en conformite aux exigences reglementaires concernant l'acces aux infrastructures informatiques et aux donnees critiques. Avec ses solutions PAM4ALL, PAM4OT et Trustelem, WALLIX accompagne ses clients pour moderniser leur systeme d'information et mettre la cybersecurite au service de leur transformation numerique. La societe s'appuie sur un reseau de partenaires distributeurs, revendeurs et integrateurs certifies pour accompagner plus de 2000 organisations a travers le monde dans tous les secteurs de l'economie. L'entreprise est cotee sur Euronext (ALLIX). Les fondateurs et dirigeants ainsi que la structure d'investissement T.D.H (Thierry Dassault Holding) sont les actionnaires historiques de reference. OT.security by WALLIX est une marque dediee a la securisation des acces et des identites numeriques dans les environnements industriels. WALLIX affirme sa responsabilite numerique et s'engage a contribuer a la construction d'un espace numerique europeen de confiance, garant de la securite et de la confidentialite des donnees des organisations mais egalement pour tout individu soucieux de la protection de son identite numerique et du respect de sa vie privee. Le numerique, qu'il soit pour des usages professionnels ou personnels, doit etre ethique et responsable afin de vivre une transformation numerique societale securisee et respectueuse des libertes individuelles. www.wallix.com | info@wallix.com CONTACTS COMMUNICATION FINANCIERE ACTUS Finance & Communication Relations Investisseurs - Helene DE WATTEVILLE 01 53 67 36 33 / wallix@actus.fr Relations Presse - Deborah SCHWARTZ 06 27 09 05 73 / dschwartz@actus.fr www.wallix.com | info@wallix.com ------------------------ This publication embed "Actusnews SECURITY MASTER ". - SECURITY MASTER Key: lWxpZchql2rKyp6fk5pqaJNrm29jmWGVmGWal2dqZ5mcbJ6SlWpknJfJZnBqmGlo - Check this key: https://www.security-master-key.com. ------------------------ Copyright Actusnews Wire Receive by email the next press releases of the company by registering on www.actusnews.com, it's free Full and original release in PDF format:https://www.actusnews.com/documents_communiques/ACTUS-0-79342-ca-t1-2023-vdef_en.pdf RS2, the global payments processing and technology leader, announced today that Iceland's most innovative bank, Landsbankinn, has launched its own merchant acquiring services using RS2's payments processing platform. Landsbankinn business customers can now concentrate all their payment services in one place, resulting in significantly increased efficiency and with full visibility of transactions. Landsbankinn's acquiring service accepts payments using point-of-sale devices and e-commerce platforms, supports both Apple Pay and Google Pay, and offers more secure billing windows and convenient billing periods. The integration of the POS network and payment gateways with online services on the RS2 Platform creates opportunities for Landsbankinn to connect benefit systems, enhancing customer loyalty, and improving the overall customer experience with streamlined and simplified operations. According to Ragnar Einarsson, Head of Acquiring Services at Landsbankinn "This is the first time in Iceland that merchants have been offered a solution that supports the integration of point-of-sale devices and ecommerce platforms. This is a revolutionary service for our customers who rely on payment card transactions both in the online and offline markets. The system allows merchants to boost customer loyalty while at the same time taking advantage of the Bank's B2B connections to automate merchants' book-keeping systems." "This marks the start of a new and exciting phase in our project, where we now rely on all the good work that has been done in the past to connect to RS2 as our main partner on our journey to becoming a key player on the Icelandic market," added Arni Thor Thorbjornsson, Managing Director at Landsbankinn. "We are delighted to have worked with such an innovative company and are excited as we join Landsbankinn on the next phase of our partnership. We look forward to supporting Landsbankinn's future merchant acquiring services and broader payment strategy as we continue to focus on delivering next generation payment processing solutions," said Gideon Fourie, Chief Commercial Officer of the RS2 Group. About RS2 RS2 is one of the world's leading providers of global payment solutions. RS2 provides services and payment processing for financial institutions, processors, ISVs, payment facilitators, fintechs and merchants in Europe, APAC, LATAM, the Middle East and North America through one single platform. RS2's services cover omni-channel global acquiring, including POS, in-app transactions, mPOS, e-commerce, MOTO, e-wallets and APM. RS2 also enables clients' issuing strategies, including products such as virtual pre-paid, gift, loyalty, corporate and purchasing cards. RS2 delivers consolidated reporting of all payments methods on a single statement, and also provides integration to customers' general ledger accounting system. www.rs2.com About Landsbankinn Landsbankinn is a leading Icelandic financial institution. The Bank offers a full range of financial services and is the market leader in the Icelandic financial service sector with the largest branch network. Focused on commercial banking, Landsbankinn provides retail and corporate banking services, capital markets services and asset and wealth management for private banking clients. www.landsbankinn.is View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005674/en/ Contacts: RS2 Software plc Funda Taha funda.taha@rs2.com +49 6102 7300 33 Veteran healthcare leader to start new position effective May 2 MANITOWOC, WI / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Forefront Dermatology, the nation's largest single-specialty dermatology group practice, today announces the appointment of Matt Mellott as CEO beginning May 2, 2023. Mellott is an accomplished senior operational and financial leader with over 30 years of progressive experience in the healthcare industry. He comes to Forefront from Brightree, where he has served as CEO since 2016. Brightree, a subsidiary of ResMed, provides software and services solutions to HME and home infusion providers. Under Mellott's leadership, the Brightree team built a foundation and strategy that supported significant growth and strengthened the company's position as the industry leader. Photo caption: Matt Mellott Prior to Brightree, Mellott was co-founder and president of MedBridge Healthcare, a sleep disorder diagnostic testing and respiratory therapy provider. He also served as the CFO for American Healthcare Services as well as a variety of senior financial roles for two of the largest national post-acute providers. Earlier in his career, Mellott spent several years in public accounting at KPMG in its Healthcare Audit Practice. "Matt possesses the rare combination of scaled enterprise leadership with an entrepreneurial mindset and experience in the healthcare industry that we were seeking. In addition, his strong operations background, financial acumen and focus on doctor, clinician, patient and employee experiences, give us confidence that he is the right leader to take Forefront to its next level of growth," said Piotr Biezychudek, Senior Member of Management, Private Equity Health & Life Industry Vertical, Partners Group. Mellott was recently awarded MedTech Breakthrough's 2022 MedTech Company CEO of the Year. "Forefront has an impeccable reputation in the medical dermatology space and an impressive track record of growth. I look forward to joining this talented team to expand its world-class offerings to new geographies," Mellott said. Forefront's current CEO, Scott Bremen, will join the Forefront Board as an independent Operating Director. About Forefront Dermatology Located in 26 states, Forefront Dermatology is a large and growing, physician-led, single-specialty group practice comprising over 225 dermatology practices. Forefront's community-based, Board-Certified Dermatologists and specialists provide best-in-class general, surgical, and aesthetic dermatological care along with related laboratory services. Headquartered in Manitowoc, WI, Forefront's Board-Certified Dermatologists, and medical specialists are dedicated to providing the highest standard of care for conditions of the hair, skin, and nails to people of all ages and stages of life. Using innovative and proven solutions, Forefront's caring, Board-Certified Dermatologists, and medical specialists treat the total patient to help improve not only the condition of their skin, but also their quality of life. To learn more, visit www.ForefrontDermatology.com. About Partners Group Partners Group is a leading global private markets firm. Since 1996, the firm has invested over USD 195 billion in private equity, private real estate, private debt and private infrastructure on behalf of its clients globally. Partners Group seeks to generate superior returns through capitalizing on thematic growth trends and transforming attractive businesses and assets into market leaders. The firm is a committed, responsible investor and aims to create sustainable returns with lasting, positive impact for all its stakeholders. With over USD 135 billion in assets under management as of 31 December 2022, Partners Group provides an innovative range of bespoke client solutions to institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, family offices and private individuals globally. The firm employs more than 1,800 diverse professionals across 20 offices worldwide and has regional headquarters in Baar-Zug, Switzerland; Denver, USA; and Singapore. It has been listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange since 2006 (symbol: PGHN). For more information, please visit www.partnersgroup.com or follow us on LinkedIn or Twitter. Media Contact for Forefront Dermatology: Charity Bohnhoff, VP of Marketing & Communications 920-221-0080 Charity.bohnhoff@forefrontderm.com SOURCE: Forefront Dermatology View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749132/Forefront-Dermatology-Names-Matt-Mellott-as-CEO NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Walmart By Kathleen McLaughlin, Executive Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer, Walmart Inc.; President, Walmart Foundation Serving communities lies at the heart of Walmart's purpose to help people save money and live better. We believe that every family deserves access to healthy options, which is why we aim to expand access to affordable, healthy food. Our annual Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign is one way we work to close the gap on hunger, and this year we're celebrating the campaign's 10th year. To date, our Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaigns have helped generate more than $165 million for Feeding America and local food banks across the country, helping to secure nearly 1.7 billion meals* for people facing hunger. The campaigns go beyond our ongoing donations of unsold food (since 2006, Walmart stores, Sam's Clubs and distribution centers have donated more than 7 billion pounds of food to Feeding America) and philanthropic grants to Feeding America (more than $13 million awarded in FY2023 alone) to support retail food rescue, cold-chain capacity and innovative technology solutions that enhance food security in communities. One Meal at a Time While the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign is just one facet of our ongoing partnership with Feeding America, it's an essential one, especially for our neighbors who don't know where or when they may find their next meal. From April 10 to May 8, we're partnering with our associates, customers, members and 34 suppliers across Walmart and Sam's Club to support the Feeding America network of 200 local food banks, each of which are paired with our Walmart and Sam's Club facilities in the U.S. We invite customers and members to fight hunger in their own communities through donations at the register or when they purchase participating items in stores, clubs or online, suppliers will donate the monetary equivalent of at least one meal ($0.10) to a Feeding America member food bank with each purchase of a qualifying item at Walmart and five meals ($0.50) with each purchase of a qualifying item at Sam's Club. The funds raised through Fight Hunger. Spark Change. help the Feeding America network of local food banks reach people facing hunger through a variety of means, including, but not necessarily limited to, food and grocery programs such as drive-thru, mobile and school pantries, as well as programs tailored specifically to children and seniors. To learn more about this year's campaign, how it works and how even one dollar can help provide 10 meals* for a family in need, click here. Fighting Hunger, Year Round Beyond the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign, Walmart's scale puts us in a position to make a significant impact on the issues of food insecurity in the United States. Through over 5,000 stores, clubs, and grocery pick up points (within 10 miles of 90% of Americans) as well as home delivery, we provide access to low cost, nutritious food. In addition to our contributions to Feeding America's network of local food banks, the Walmart Foundation provides philanthropic grants to many organizations to help them reach underserved communities (for example, a grant to the American Heart Association has helped community-based food entrepreneurs in Atlanta and Chicago grow over 186,000 pounds of fresh food in low-income communities). To educate on nutrition and build confidence in making healthier choices, we have developed nutrition standards and labeling for Walmart products (for example, our Great for You icon). The Walmart Foundation has invested in culturally relevant nutrition education programs (for example, a grant to Sesame Workshop supports bilingual resources to help families foster healthy eating). To create a stronger voice for healthier food and food security, as well as accelerate the exchange of best practices among groups focused on healthy food access, the Walmart Foundation created a community of practice that includes nearly 50 organizations, including leading NGOs. We also advocate directly at the local and national level for positive change. Fight Hunger. Spark Change. is part of that movement. Learn more about our efforts to increase access to affordable, healthy food here. *Currently, $1 helps provide at least 10 meals secured by Feeding America on behalf of local member food banks. View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Walmart on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Walmart Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/walmart Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Walmart View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749149/Fight-Hunger-Spark-Change-Celebrates-Its-10th-Year-of-Helping-Feed-Communities-Nationwide ROSEMEAD, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Thirty high school seniors in Southern California Edison's service area have been named 2023 Edison Scholars and will be awarded a total of $1.5 million in scholarships from Edison International. "I want to do something for the environment and make the world a better place and make an impact on the future," exclaimed Jackie Li, one of the new Edison Scholars. The Edison Scholars Program is designed to help students like Li achieve their dreams of pursuing studies in science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), cybersecurity or data analytics in college. "One of my favorite things every year is seeing the faces of our newest Edison Scholars as they receive the news. The surprise visits are always filled with so much emotion, with their loved ones, classmates and school and district staff on hand to share everything from tears to laughter," said Pedro J. Pizarro, president and CEO of Edison International. "I couldn't be more impressed with this group. Reading their impact statements gives me hope and confidence that these bright and passionate students are going to help lead the transition to an affordable and equitable clean energy future." Beginning this year, the scholarship award increased from $40,000 to $50,000, paid over four years. In addition, Edison Scholars will also be eligible for a paid summer internship with SCE upon completing their first year of school. Scholars must meet the minimum eligibility requirements and complete the required hiring screening. For the first time since 2019, the students received the scholarship news with in-person surprise check presentations delivered by Edison's representatives during school events including a pep rally, an open house and in-classroom visits. Surprise highlights can be found here. SCE will hold a reception on May 5 to celebrate the scholars at the company's Rosemead headquarters. Below is a list of the 2023 recipients: Student Name High School Christina Agopian Adolfo Camarillo High Joshua Alvarado South Gate Senior High Fnu Anu Costa Mesa High Te'yana Brown Options For Youth Pasadena High Kayla Bullard Odyssey STEM Academy Antonio Camarillo Montclair High Arlene Cazares Garcia Avalon K-12 David Ceballos Don Bosco Technical Institute Alyssa Chang West Ranch High Thomas Chang Upland High Danny Chmaytelli Santa Monica High Cesar Delgadillo Tulare Union High Dylan Iskandar Mira Costa High Aryan Jain Calabasas High Joshua Kang Cerritos High Janna Lee Palos Verdes High Nicole Lee South Hills High Jackie Li Temple City High Esther Magbagbeola Chaparral High Priscila Marquez Cathedral City High Hannah McCoy Porterville High Brian Ni Troy High Johnny Ni Troy High Casey Ortiz Esperanza High Max Peng Gretchen Whitney High Aimee Perales James A. Garfield High Mario Portillo Diamond Ranch High Emily Rodriguez Antelope Valley High Tyler Small Saint Anthony High Jeremiah Weetly Bonita High Edison International has awarded more than $15 million in scholarships to 760 students through the Edison Scholars Program since 2006. The company is committed to investing in its communities and improving pathways to a STEM education and careers, especially for underrepresented students. Edison Scholars is designed to expose students to clean energy careers and ensure a steady stream of talent as we transition to a clean energy future. Edison International, the parent company of SCE, is one of the largest corporate philanthropic contributors in Southern California. The Edison Scholars Program is funded entirely by Edison International shareholders. To learn more, visit the Edison Scholar 2023 Spotlight Page. About Edison International Edison International (NYSE:EIX) is one of the nation's largest electric utility holding companies, providing clean and reliable energy and energy services through its independent companies. Headquartered in Rosemead, California, Edison International is the parent company of Southern California Edison Company, a utility that delivers electricity to 15 million people across Southern, Central and Coastal California. Edison International is also the parent company of Edison Energy LLC, a global energy advisory firm engaged in the business of providing integrated decarbonization and energy solutions to commercial, industrial and institutional customers. Contact: Media Relations, 626-302-2255 View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Edison International on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Edison International Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/edison-international Email: info@3blmedia.com SOURCE: Edison International View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/749162/Edison-International-Presents-30-High-School-Seniors-With-50000-Scholarships-To-Pursue-STEM BROOKFIELD, NEWS, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) will host its first quarter 2023 conference call and webcast on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 at 11:00 a.m. (ET). Results will be released that morning before 7:00 a.m.. Participants can join by conference call or webcast: Conference Call Please pre-register by conference call: https://register.vevent.com/register/BI5b77285c4bab4be8ad686a4de19bd55b (https://register.vevent.com/register/BI5b77285c4bab4be8ad686a4de19bd55b) Upon registering, you will be emailed a dial-in number, and unique PIN. This process will bypass the operator and avoid the queue. Webcast Please join and register by webcast: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/bamQ1-2023 (https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/go/bamQ1-2023) Replay of the event is available on the above webcast link for 90 days. About Brookfield Asset Management Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE: BAM, TSX: BAM) is a leading global alternative asset manager with approximately $800 billion of assets under management across renewable, infrastructure, real estate, private equity, credit and other. We invest client capital for the long-term with a focus on real assets and essential service businesses that form the backbone of the global economy. We offer a range of alternative investment products to investors around the world - including public and private pension plans, endowments and foundations, sovereign wealth funds, financial institutions, insurance companies and private wealth investors. We draw on Brookfield's heritage as an owner and operator to invest for value and generate strong returns for its clients, across economic cycles. Please note that Brookfield Asset Management's returns and reports will be filed on EDGAR and SEDAR and can also be found in the investor section of its website at https://bam.brookfield.com. Hard copies of annual and quarterly reports can be obtained free of charge upon request. For more information, please visit our website at https://bam.brookfield.com or contact: Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Aurania Resources Ltd. (TSXV: ARU) (OTCQB: AUIAF) (FSE: 20Q) ("Aurania" or the "Company") is pleased to announce its proposed 2023 exploration activities. As the concessions for its mineral properties in Ecuador are fully renewed and in good standing for another year after payment of all concession fees in March, the Company is able to develop the 2023 exploration programs. Aurania attended the Prospector's and Developer's Association of Canada meeting (PDAC) in Toronto the first week of March, and we were delighted by the interest shown by several Major companies in our Ecuador asset. As a result of follow-up meetings there are now several companies in our data room. The primary interest has been in our porphyry copper and sediment-hosted copper-silver prospects. To date, approximately 45% of the Awacha Porphyry Target has been covered by "Anaconda-style Mapping." This is an intensive mapping technique that was originally developed by the famous Anaconda Copper Company, and has been taught to the Aurania geological staff by consultant Dr. Steve Garwin. This target is approximately 11 km x 5 km in size and was discovered by stream sediment sampling which showed elevated copper and molybdenum in the vicinity of two strong airborne magnetic anomalies. This size is significantly larger than any copper porphyry known and so our working hypothesis is that it is a cluster of porphyries, and similar to the Warintza cluster to the south of our concessions. Intrusive rock types from gabbro to diorite to monzonite and syenite have been mapped. Many of these intrusives show secondary biotite (potassic) alteration and fine quartz veins containing molybdenite or a centre line of chalcopyrite. These so called distinctive "B veins" are classic evidence of mineralized porphyry systems. An independent explanation of B veins can be found at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gL0WzJ70z3s. Figure 1: Quartz vein with centre line of chalcopyrite, covellite and pyrite. US cent for scale. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/2477/162286_9d00971f443bea07_001full.jpg Most of the Awacha area is covered by a unit of black shale which obscures the geology except where streams have cut down through the sediments and exposed the porphyry. The area is also covered by thick jungle. Nevertheless, Terraspec Mineral Spectrometer analysis of soils in the southern half of the anomaly indicates chlorite, kaolinite, white micas, dickite and pyrophyllite which are compatible with porphyry-style alteration. The last two minerals are typically found in the upper part of porphyry systems. Copper soil anomalies are patchy, which is in keeping with soil results seen near outcropping sediment hosted copper elsewhere on the property. It would seem that copper is easily flushed away from surface soils by the significant rainfall in the area. Molybdenum however, which is essentially insoluble and immobile presents a much more coherent group of anomalies. Half of the Awacha target is still to be sampled for soils. The reinterpretation of the surficial geology and structure in the areas of outcropping sediment-hosted copper-silver and zinc-lead-silver has generated a large number of compelling drill targets (see press release dated October 17, 2022). This copper-silver-zinc system across the concessions is 38 kilometres in lngth and is open to the north over an additional 15 kilometres. We believe this is perhaps one of the best areas of the property to find an economic ore deposit, considering the numerous high assays already yielded to date. A few areas are highlighted for follow-up, but we concede that a comprehensive programme here is more appropriate for a Major mining company partner. The Tatasham epithermal gold/porphyry copper target is compelling due to the presence of what are believed to be pipe breccias. The area is, however, in steep terrain and the geology is mostly covered by post-mineral sedimentary cover and does not outcrop. Soil samples along the ridgeline above the previous porphyry drilling campaign yielded anomalous antimony, which is a pathfinder element in gold systems. An additional soil survey is required at Tatasham to extend the antimony anomaly that is still open to the north. Intensive mapping and prospecting are required. The discovery of the epithermal system at Tatasham was unexpected, in our pursuit of a copper porphyry target indicated by geophysics. That porphyry target is still valid, but it may lie at considerable depth, or it may lie laterally. Over the next six months it is intended to finish the Anaconda mapping on Awacha, and bring it to drill readiness. At the same time, Tatasham will be re-examined in the belief that the antimony anomaly in soils may be due to a subcropping mineralized system. The Fruta del Norte gold deposit was discovered by drilling a geochemical anomaly of antimony, arsenic and mercury which had virtually no gold on surface. Aurania is currently investigating the feasibility of conducting an Induced Polarization (IP) geophysical survey at Tatasham and Awacha. The proposed exploration programmes are dependent on raising further funding. The proceeds of the current private placement (as announced on March 13, 2023 and March 23, 2023) to date, have been applied to concession fees and general and administrative expenses. Qualified Person The geological information contained in this news release has been verified and approved by Aurania's VP Exploration, Mr. Jean-Paul Pallier, MSc. Mr. Pallier is a designated EurGeol by the European Federation of Geologists and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101, Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators. About Aurania Aurania is a mineral exploration company engaged in the identification, evaluation, acquisition, and exploration of mineral property interests, with a focus on precious metals and copper in South America. Its flagship asset, The Lost Cities - Cutucu Project, is located in the Jurassic Metallogenic Belt in the eastern foothills of the Andes mountain range of southeastern Ecuador. Information on Aurania and technical reports are available at www.aurania.com and www.sedar.com, as well as on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/auranialtd/, Twitter at https://twitter.com/auranialtd, and LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/aurania-resources-ltd-. For further information, please contact: Carolyn Muir VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations Aurania Resources Ltd. (416) 367-3200 carolyn.muir@aurania.com Neither the TSX-V nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking information as such term is defined in applicable securities laws, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. The forward-looking information includes Aurania's objectives, goals or future plans, statements, exploration results, potential mineralization, the corporation's portfolio, treasury, management team and enhanced capital markets profile, the estimation of mineral resources, exploration, timing of the commencement of operations, the Company's teams being on track ahead of any drill program, the commencement of any drill program and estimates of market conditions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to Aurania, including the assumption that, there will be no material adverse change in metal prices, all necessary consents, licenses, permits and approvals will be obtained, including various local government licenses and the market. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. Risk factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the forward-looking information include, among other things, the ability to anticipate and counteract the effects of COVID-19 pandemic on the business of the Company, including without limitation the effects of COVID-19 on the capital markets, commodity prices supply chain disruptions, restrictions on labour and workplace attendance and local and international travel; a failure to obtain or delays in obtaining the required regulatory licenses, permits, approvals and consents; an inability to access financing as needed; a general economic downturn, a volatile stock price, labour strikes, political unrest, changes in the mining regulatory regime governing Aurania; a failure to comply with environmental regulations; a weakening of market and industry reliance on precious metals and copper; and. those risks set out in the Company's public documents filed on SEDAR. Aurania cautions the reader that the above list of risk factors is not exhaustive. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. 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. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162286 AlphaSense, a New York-based provider of a market intelligence and search platform, raised $100M in additional Series D funding. The round, which brought the total of Series D to $225M, included participation from CapitalG, and existing investors including the Growth Equity business within Goldman Sachs Asset Management and Viking Global Investors. The company intends to use the funds to consolidate its position in AI-driven market intelligence and B2B search market, and further its capacity to make acquisitions that expand its platform capabilities and increase the value it delivers to customers. Examples of acquisitions include Stream, a provider of a library of interview transcripts (2021), and Sentieo, a financial intelligence platform (2022). Led by Jack Kokko, CEO and Founder, AlphaSense is a market intelligence and search platform used by companies and financial institutions. Since 2011, the AI-based technology has enables professionals to make smart business decisions by delivering insights from an extensive universe of public and private contentincluding equity research, company filings, event transcripts, expert calls, news, trade journals, and clients own research content. The company serves 4,000 enterprise customers, which now include the majority of the S&P 500, nearly all of the worlds largest banks, investment firms, and consultancies, and leading companies in wide-ranging industries such as life sciences, energy, industrials, consumer goods, and technology. AlphaSense employs over 1,000 people across offices in the U.S., U.K., Finland, Germany, and India. FinSMEs 13/04/2023 International private equity firm Cinven has reached an agreement to acquire Archer, a Kansas, US-based provider of integrated risk management solutions, from RSA Security, a portfolio company of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. and Symphony Technology Group. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Founded in 2000 and led by Bill Diaz, Chief Executive Officer, Archer is a provider of governance, risk and compliance (GRC) software globally. Its solutions support its customer base of large and mid-sized enterprises to improve their strategic decision-making and operational resilience. The company has international operations in Europe, the Middle East, and APAC, with European expansion a strategic priority. Archers customer base include more than 1,200 customers. Through this transaction, Cinven will support the long-term strategic growth of Archers integrated software platform as a standalone business following the initial carve-out from RSA Security. Cinven will work in close partnership with management to continue internationalising the business, including executing opportunities to expand Archers presence in key markets and verticals across both North America and Europe. Upon the close of the transaction, Bill Diaz will continue to lead the business as Chief Executive Officer alongside the existing Archer leadership team. FinSMEs 13/04/2023 Prince Harry will attend his fathers coronation but Meghan wont, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday, ending months of speculation about whether the prince would be welcome after leveling charges of racism and media manipulation at the royal family. Harry and Meghan are a couple and Meghan Markle not attending the coronation will raise a lot of eye brows. Public relations expert Renae Smith told Express.co.uk that the strength of their brand as a couple is going to be questioned. A Royal observer has stated that Charles will be satisfied with Meghans absence at the coronation, and the rest of the family will feel relieved, particularly Kate, as her presence would have been uncomfortable for her, according to the Daily Mirror. I can only comment based on what I know from the media and obviously am not privy to all details, but from a public image perspective, this feels like a fracture in their public image. Prior to now, Harry and Meghan have been a couple in every media engagement, expert Renae Smith said. Whether giving interviews together or documentaries, backing each other up, with the feeling of them being in an impenetrable bubble together them against the world. The concern I would have here for their brand is that this small fracture signifies something different has happened and thoughts may immediately go to a crack, or a weaknessIts an inconsistency in their brand, the expert explained. Prince Harrys wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will remain at the couples home in Southern California with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the palace said. A nearly identical statement from the Sussexs representatives confirmed the news. Harry and Meghan are a couple and Meghan Markle not attending the coronation will raise a lot of eye brows. Public relations expert Renae Smith told Express.co.uk that the strength of their brand as a couple is going to be questioned. Royal expert Kinsey Schofield said that Meghan Markles decision not to attend the coronation comes from prioritising self-preservation, saying, I think we all knew it was critical for the Sussex brand to have a presence at the coronation. Harrys association with his family is 99 percent of the reason important people answer his phone calls as he tries to become a mover and shaker in the United States. The May 6 date of the coronation at Westminster Abbey coincides with their sons birthday. While the announcement should silence the will he or wont he debate in the British media, it wont end the royal soap opera swirling around Harry and Meghan as King Charles III prepares for his coronation. When the prince attended the funerals of his grandfather, Prince Philip, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, commentators discussed everything from whether Harry would be allowed to wear his military uniform to exactly where he was seated. And there is always the question of whether he will meet face-to-face with his father and older brother, Prince William. Netflixs docuseries Harry & Meghan and Spare That intrigue will only be heightened after Harry and Meghan stoked their critique of the royal family in a six-part Netflix series about their decision to step back from royal duties three years ago, which was followed by Harrys decision to reveal family secrets in his bestselling memoir Spare. Harry and Meghan, who is biracial, have alleged she faced racist attitudes from both the palace and the U.K. press. The treatment contributed to their decision to leave the country. The revelations in Spare, including details of private conversations with his father and brother, Prince William, fanned tensions between Harry and his family that became public when he and his wife moved to North America in 2020. The book also included allegations that members of the royal family regularly feed the press unflattering information about other members of the House of Windsor in exchange for positive coverage of themselves. The prince singled out Camilla, the queen consort, accusing her of leaking private conversations to the media as she sought to rehabilitate her image after marrying Charles. Camilla was once reviled for her long-term affair with Charles, which contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to the late Princess Diana, Harry and Williams mother. The acrimony between Harry and his family once again spilled into public view last month when the Sussexes said that they had been asked to vacate their home in Britain. Frogmore Cottage, a royal residence on the grounds of Windsor Castle west of London, was the couples main residence before they gave up royal duties and moved to Montecito, a wealthy enclave in Southern California. Meghan Markle from the very beginning felt excluded from the coronation proceedings. So, it was kind of obvious that she wont be attending King Charles IIIs coronation. Rejection is one of Meghans greatest insecurities and she herself has her own complexes. She should understand that the King Charles coronation event is primarily the kings event. So how does it even matter whether Meghan is given that importance or not. As for Harry, he is a senior member of the royal family and his and Meghans presence at the coronation is important. But I guess Meghan is embarrassed over the content of Harrys memoir Spare. Harry and Meghan losing their popularity in US On the other hand, the couple is losing their popularity in United States too. Meghan and Harry, once the most popular couple in US is losing their popularity. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are facing a barrage of negative energy in the US as per a royal expert who believes the tide has shifted and their popularity is steadily taking a hit. So, the big question is with Harry and Meghan losing popularity in US and they not welcomed in UK, where do they go? But not just Meghan, both are responsible for this messy situation. Talking to Express UK, the host of the Royally US podcast, Christine Ross, suggested that while the Duke and Duchess of Sussex enjoyed good press in the US since breaking away from British royals, US media and people in general must now be tired of them. Harry attending the coronation out of fear But is Harry attending the coronation out out of fear of being left out? Harry has been very clear and his position hasnt wavered he isnt going to come if he feels the atmosphere will be as toxic as it was during the Queens Platinum Jubilee and funeral. Hes said he wants to reconcile with his family and its their call, but so far nothing has changed, the report said. Earlier, talking about the coronation, Prince Harry had said, Theres a lot that can happen between now and then. But, you know, the door is always open. The ball is in their court. Theres a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they can that they are willing to sit down and talk about it, because theres a lot thats happened in six years. And prior to that as well. (With added inputs from agencies) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Emmanuel Macrons popularity has taken a hit in France and now hes taking heat in other parts of Europe. At home, protests have been erupting over the controversial pension reforms, which the French president pushed through. Now, his remarks on Taiwan during a recent visit to China have not gone down well in Europe. But through it all, he remains defiant. What did Marcon say? Why have his remarks upset other European leaders? And is China having the last laugh? We take a look. Macrons controversial remarks Macron visited China last week and accompanying him was Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission. They flew into Beijing and met Chinese president Xi Jinping. They were there to send a message of unity even as China sought to exploit possible cracks in Europes alliance, reports the BBC. It is exactly what happened. The French presidents comments on Taiwan have put Europe in a spot. In an interview on his plane after a three-day state visit to China, where he spoke to reporters of Les Echos and Politico, Macron said that Europe must avoid being drawn into any conflict between the US and China over Taiwan. He said that the continent should not become a vassal. 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, Macron said, according to Les Echos. Also read: Emmanuel Macrons China visit: How the French president missed an opportunity to cement ties with India The French leader emphasised the need for strategic autonomy for Europe, presumably led by France, to become a third superpower, reports Politico. He said that Europe faces the great risk of getting caught up in crises that are not ours, which prevents it from building its strategic autonomy. If the tensions between the two superpowers [the US and China] heat up we wont have the time nor the resources to finance our strategic autonomy and we will become vassals, he said. Soon after, Macron sparked a censorship row by forcing the Politico website to delete frank comments about Taiwan and Europes strategic autonomy. The outlet agreed to let his team review comments before publication. But Macron has no regrets. On Wednesday, during a visit to the Netherlands, he reiterated his controversial comments on Taiwan, saying that being a US ally did not mean being a vassal. Being an ally does not mean being a vassal doesnt mean that we dont have the right to think for ourselves, Macron told a press conference in Amsterdam with Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte. Macron said French and European policy on Taiwan has not changed despite the furore over his remarks. France is for the status quo in Taiwan and a peaceful resolution to the situation, he added. The fallout Macrons stance has exposed the divide in Europe. A member of the European Parliament (MEP) said that the French president did not speak for the European Union. Macron says we Europeans but he speaks for France, he cant really speak for Europe, according to a report in The Guardian. The newspaper quoted Norbert Rottgen, a German centre-right MP who is a member and former chair of the Bundestags foreign affairs committee, as saying that Macron had turned his China visit into a PR coup for Xi and a foreign policy disaster for Europe. With his idea of sovereignty, which he defines in demarcation rather than partnership with the USA, he is increasingly isolating himself in Europe. Also read: Why European leaders are flocking to China to meet Xi Jinping Allies in Europes eastern half were particularly dismayed. Many countries in that region see ties with the United States as sacrosanct, particularly given Washingtons key role in helping Ukraine defend against Russias invasion. Instead of building strategic autonomy from the United States, I propose a strategic partnership with the United States, Polish prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said Tuesday before he headed to the US for a three-day visit. 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 US 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. Diplomats from Europe did not mince their words while criticising Macron. We, as the EU, should be united. Unfortunately, this visit and French remarks following it are not helpful, a diplomat from an Easter European nation told Politico, requesting anonymity. A senior diplomat from Central and Eastern Europe, speaking on condition of anonymity echoed similar views. 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. A divided Europe However, some governments in the continent are more sympathetic toward Macrons push toward strategic autonomy, making Europe less dependent on others when it comes to defence, technology and supplies of critical raw materials, reports Reuters. Germany, Italy and Spain have in the past backed strong EU engagement with China. 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 a 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 those who have supported Macrons agenda also criticised the timing of the comments. Nils Schmid, a foreign policy expert and member of parliament for German chancellor Olaf Scholzs Social Democrats, said that both the leaders had long favoured the idea of European sovereignty. The problematic thing about Macrons 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 said, according to Reuters. China is playing the card of dividing Europe. We must prevent that. Now Germany has stepped into a damage control mode. Its foreign minister is on a visit to China on Thursday aiming to reassert a common European Union policy toward Beijing. After the brouhaha over Macrons stand, the stakes of the inaugural trip by Annalena Baerbock have risen, with many EU members hoping Berlin will use this opportunity to set out a clear and united EU line on China, analysts told Reuters. The French leaders remarks and the reactions to them expose the cracks in Europe. While Macron has been long putting his weight behind economic and military autonomy, many in Central and Eastern Europe fear alienating the US whose aid they need to keep a check on Russia. America says The official response from the US has been measured. It did not directly address Macrons comments but the US State Department spokesperson and the White House lauded the bilateral relationship with Paris and its role in the Indo-Pacific region and Ukraine, reports Reuters. But the outrage in Europe has not gone unnoticed. In a social media post linking to the Politico interview, the US Republican senator Marco Rubio said if Europe doesnt pick sides between the US and China over Taiwan, then maybe we shouldnt be picking sides either [on Ukraine]. Maybe, we should basically say we are going to focus on Taiwan and the threats that China poses, and you guys handle Ukraine and Europe, he added. Former US president Donald Trump accused Macron of pandering to Xi Jinping. You got this crazy world is blowing up and the United States has absolutely no say. And Macron, whos a friend of mine, is over with China kissing his ass, Trump said in an interview with Fox News late on Tuesday. The Wall Street Journal said that the French leaders comments were unhelpful. They would encourage American politicians who want to reduce the countrys commitment to Europe. If President Biden is awake, he ought to call Mr Macron and ask if hes trying to re-elect Donald Trump, the paper wrote in an editorial. A win-win for China Beijing, of course, is pleased with Macron. An opinion piece published Monday by the Chinese Communist Party-run Global Times said the comments were clearly the result of Macrons long-term observation and reflection and represented a path that was relatively objective, rational and in line with Europes own interests. Some people want to construct a false Europe in public opinion, masking true European voices and interests, the article added. Chen Weihua, Brussels bureau chief for state-run China Daily, wrote on Twitter, Mr Macrons words about EU strategic autonomy and resisting a new Cold War and decoupling will also prove to be a brilliant decision. Looks like China has scored yet another win over the US. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The hunt is on to nab two unidentified attackers after they allegedly shot dead four Indian Army soldiers in the wee hours of Wednesday (12 April) inside Punjabs Bathinda military station. The Punjab Police have ruled out a terror angle in the firing incident and suspect it to be a case of fratricide. What does the term mean? What do we know about the Bathinda military station firing, the victims and the assailants? Lets take a closer look. What is fratricide? Fratricide refers to killing ones sibling. It is also used to describe the act of accidentally or intentionally murdering coworkers or friends in ones own military troops. Bathinda military station firing According to the FIR filed by Major Ashutosh Shukla of 80 Medium Regiment of Artillery, the four Army soldiers were sleeping in a barrack near the officers mess when the incident took place. He further said in his complaint to the Punjab Police that these jawans were sleeping in pairs in two rooms after finishing their night duty on Tuesday, reported Indian Express. As per a statement by South Western Command of the Indian Army, the four jawans, identified as Sagar Banne (25), Yogesh Kumar J (24), Santosh M Nagaral (25) and Kamalesh R (24), succumbed to gunshot injuries during the incident. Two soldiers were from Karnataka and the other two hailed from Tamil Nadu, reported The Tribune. It has been ascertained that in the unfortunate incident, four Army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. No other injuries to personnel or loss-damage to property have been reported, the Army said in the statement, as per The Hindu. Major Shukla said in the FIR that he was informed about the firing incident by another soldier of the unit at around 4.30 am. A defence source told Reuters on the condition of anonymity that there was no exchange of fire after the incident and the base was cordoned off to search for the assailants. As per BBC, Bathinda military station is a vital base for Indian Army units in Punjab and parts of neighbouring Rajasthan. Its location is also crucial as it is situated 100 km east of Punjabs border with Pakistan. Bathinda houses the headquarters of 10 Corps, which is a part of the South Western Command. Masked attackers in plain clothes As per the complaint by Major Shukla, the two alleged assailants were wearing kurta-pyjamas and their faces were covered with cloth. He said these unidentified persons were of medium height and good build. While one was carrying an INSAS (Indian Small Arms System) assault rifle, another one had an axe, The Quint reported citing the FIR. Major Shukla said that the two attackers fled the spot after seeing him and ran to an adjacent forest near the barracks. As per the FIR, the bodies of the four jawans were riddled with bullets and empty shells of the INSAS rifle were found on the ground. The missing rifle An INSAS service rifle with 28 rounds of ammunition had gone missing from the unit on 9 April, just days before the shooting incident. The Indian Army said Wednesday it has located the assault rifle along with its magazine, which they believe might have been used to kill the four jawans. The statement also said a forensic analysis of the weapon would reveal further details. Our investigating team carried out a search operation and we seized the weapon of offence, we can only confirm if this is the same weapon that was stolen from inside the camp, once the forensic report comes. Investigation is underway. Bathinda Police is in contact with Army: SSP pic.twitter.com/O3FnqUKT2b ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2023 A search team has located the INSAS rifle along with the magazine. Army and Police joint teams will now be undertaking forensic analysis of the weapon for ascertaining further details. The balance number of rounds in the weapon will only be available after forensic analysis, the South Western Commands statement said. The attackers had only one rifle. The weapon carried by the other attacker is still being investigated, Ajay Gandhi, Bathinda superintendent of police (Investigation) heading the probe, told Reuters on phone. Gandhi also told reporters that 19 empty shells were recovered from the spot which are believed to be from the stolen INSAS rifle. The SP said, according to eyewitnesses, two people in civilian dress had opened fire. Was it fratricide? Denying a terror angle in the firing, Bathindas senior superintendent of police (SSP) Gulneet Khurana said on Wednesday evening: As per the information we have gathered so far, it is clear that it is not a terrorist act. According to The Tribune, Khurana said earlier in the day that it appeared to be an internal issue. It appears to be fratricidal issue. Our investigation teams have reached inside (military station) with all forensic equipment and they are conducting investigations. In-depth investigations are going on. Punjabs additional director general of police Surinderpal Singh Parmar said the incident could be an internal issue, not anything from outside, but everything is being looked into. Incidents of fratricide in armed forces According to an Indian Express report, 29 military personnel have been killed by their colleagues in the last five years. From 2018 to 2022, fifteen incidents have been reported from the CRPF, nine incidents from BSF, two from CISF, one incident each from ITBP, SSB and AR, Union minister of state (MoS) for home affairs Nityanand Rai told the Lok Sabha in early April. He also listed down the causative factors in most cases of fratricide in the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs), which included personal and domestic problems, family issues, depression and work-related reasons. When work-related stress gets combined with domestic issues, some army personnel who already work under duress may snap. When some vulnerable soldiers then get into fights with their colleagues and lose their temper, they might use their weapons on them, retired Major General Afsar Kareem had told Scroll in 2014. As per India Today, MoS Defence Ajay Bhatt told Lok Sabha in response to a question earlier on the issue: The government has taken several steps towards stress amelioration amongst troops, which, inter-alia, include deployment of trained psychological counsellors, improvement in the quality of food and clothing, training in stress management, provision of recreational facilities, buddy system, leave concessions, approachability of seniors, facilities for movement of troops from border areas and establishing a grievance redressal mechanism at various levels, etc. 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. Headlines proclaiming the rise of a new space race between the US and China have become common in news coverage following many of the exciting launches in recent years. Experts have pointed to Chinas rapid advancements in space as evidence of an emerging landscape where China is directly competing with the US for supremacy. This idea of a space race between China and the US sounds convincing given the broader narrative of Chinas rise, but how accurate is it? As a professor who studies space and international relations, my research aims to quantify the power and capabilities of different nations in space. When I look at various capacities, the data paints a much more complex picture than a tight space race between the US and China. At least for now, the reality looks more like what I call a complex hegemony one state, the US, is still dominating in key space capabilities, and this lead is further amplified by a strong network of partners. A clear leader makes for a boring race Calling the current situation a race implies that the US and China have roughly equal capabilities in space. But in several key areas, the US is far ahead not only of China, but of all other spacefaring nations combined. Starting with spending: In 2021, the US space budget was roughly $59.8 billion (Rs 4.89 lakh crore). China has been investing heavily in space and rocket technology over the last decade and has doubled its spending in the last five years. But with an estimated budget of $16.18 billion (Rs 1.32 lakh crore) in 2021, it is still spending less than a third of the US budget. The US also leads significantly in the number of active satellites. Currently, there are 5,465 total operational satellites in orbit around Earth. The US operates 3,433, or 63 per cent of those. In contrast, China has 541. Similarly, the US has more active spaceports than China. With seven operational launch sites at home and abroad and at least 13 additional spaceports in development, the US has more options to launch payloads into various orbits. In contrast, China has only four operational spaceports with two more planned, all located within its own territory. Parity with nuance While the US may have a clear advantage over China in many areas of space, in some measures, the differences between the two countries are more nuanced. In 2021, for instance, China attempted 55 orbital launches, four more than the USs 51. The total numbers may be similar, but the rockets carried very different payloads to orbit. The vast majority 84 per cent of Chinese launches had government or military payloads intended mostly for electronic intelligence and optical imaging. Meanwhile, in the US, 61 per cent of launches were for nonmilitary, academic or commercial use, predominantly for Earth observation or telecommunications. Space stations are another area where there are important differences hiding beneath the surface. Since the 1990s, the US has worked with 14 other nations, including Russia, to operate the International Space Station. The ISS is quite large, with 16 modules, and has driven technological and scientific breakthroughs. But the ISS is now 24 years old, and participating nations are planning to retire it in 2030. The Chinese Tiangong space station is the new kid on the block. Construction was only completed in late 2022, and it is much smaller with only three modules. China has built and launched all of the different parts and remains the sole operator of the station, despite having invited others to join. China is undoubtedly expanding its space capabilities, and in a report published in August 2022, the Pentagon predicted that China would surpass US capabilities in space as early as 2045. However, it is unlikely that the US will remain stagnant, as it continues to increase funding for space. Allies as force multipliers A major point of difference between the US and China is the nature and number of international collaborations. For decades, NASA has been fruitfully cultivating international and commercial partnerships in everything from developing specific space technologies to flying humans into space. The US government has also signed 169 space data sharing agreements with 33 states and intergovernmental organisations, 129 with commercial partners and seven with academic institutions. China also has allies that help with space most notably Russia and members of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organisation, including Iran, Pakistan, Thailand and Turkey. Chinas collaborators are, however, fewer in number and have far less developed space capabilities. Efforts to return to the surface of the Moon excellently highlight this difference in ally support and synergy. Both the US and China have plans to send people to the surface of the Moon and to establish lunar bases in the near future. These competing lunar aims are often cited as evidence of the space race, but they are very different in terms of partnerships and scope. In 2019, Russia and China agreed to jointly go to the Moon by 2028. Russia is contributing its Luna landers and Oryol crewed orbiters, while China is improving its Change robotic spacecraft. Their future International Lunar Research Station is open to all interested parties and international partners, but, to date, no additional countries have committed to the Chinese and Russian effort. In contrast, since 2020, 24 nations have joined the US-led Artemis Accords. This international agreement outlines shared principles of cooperation for future space activity and, through the Artemis Program, specifically aims to return people to the Moon by 2025 and establish a Moon base and lunar space station soon after. In addition to the broad international participation, the Artemis Program has contracted with a staggering number of private companies to develop a range of technologies, from lunar landers to lunar construction methods and more. China is not the only game in town While China may seem like the main competitor of the US in space, other countries have space capabilities and aspirations that rival those of China. India spends billions on space and plans to return to the Moon, possibly with Japan, in the near future. South Korea, Israel, Japan, the United Arab Emirates, Turkey, Germany and the European Union are also planning independent lunar missions. Japan has developed impressive technological space capabilities, including rendezvous proximity technology to send a spacecraft to an asteroid and bring samples back to Earth, that rival and even surpass those of China. In the past, the space race was about who could reach the stars first and return home. Today, the goal has shifted to surviving and even thriving in the harsh environment of space. I believe it is not surprising that, despite its decisive lead, the US has partnered with others to go to the Moon and beyond. China is doing the same, but on a smaller scale. The picture that emerges is not of a race but of complex system with the US as a leader working closely with extensive networks of partners. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The attack on the Indian High Commission in London on Sunday evening is just the latest example of the growing Khalistan menace in the UK. Officials from the mission said the attempted but failed attack had been foiled and that the Tricolour was now flying grander. The development comes amid the banned terrorist group Sikhs For Justice conducting a so-called Referendum 2020 amid a crackdown on pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh in Punjab. Lets take a closer look: What happened? Images of shattered windows and men climbing the India House building were circulating on social media. Videos from the scene show an Indian official grabbing the flag from a protester through the first-floor window of the mission, while the protester is seen waving a Khalistan flag hanging off its ledge. The Metropolitan Police said two members of security staff sustained minor injuries which did not require hospital treatment. An investigation has been launched. Scotland Yard said it was called to reports of disorder on Sunday afternoon and that a man has been arrested as its enquiries continue. Windows were broken at the High Commission building, the Metropolitan Police statement said. Officers attended the location. The majority of those present had dispersed prior to the arrival of police. An investigation was launched, and one male was arrested nearby a short time later on suspicion of violent disorder. Enquiries continue, the statement said. Review flags potentially toxic pro-Khalistan extremism The incident comes just a month after a review into the United Kingdom governments anti-terrorism scheme flagged areas of concern including potentially toxic pro-Khalistan extremism. The review warned of a false narrative being disseminated by a tiny number of pro-Khalistan groups operating in the UK. There is an element of crossover between those who seek to impose limits around blasphemy with those who voice incendiary rhetoric on Kashmir. I have seen evidence of UK extremist groups, as well as a Pakistani cleric with a UK following, calling for the use of violence in Kashmir. I have also seen evidence demonstrating that flashpoints related to Kashmir lead to a significant surge in interest from UK Islamists, reads the review. On the issue of pro-Khalistan extremism, the report adds, Prevent should also be mindful of pro-Khalistan extremism emerging from the UKs Sikh communities. A false narrative is disseminated by the tiny number of pro-Khalistan groups operating in the UK that the government is colluding with its counterpart in India to persecute Sikhs. Such groups narratives glorify violence carried out by the pro-Khalistan movement in India. While the current threat is low, praise for violence overseas and a simultaneous belief in a state-led campaign of repression domestically is a potentially toxic combination for the future. India and the UK had in April 2022 set up a task force on countering extremist elements such as pro-Khalistan groups operating in Britain. Then British prime minister Boris Johnson had said that his country does not tolerate such elements. To a question on concerns in India over Khalistani elements operating from the UK, Johnson said his country has a very strong view on extremist groups. We have a very strong view on it in the UK. We dont tolerate extremist groups setting up in the UK with a view to threatening other countries, threatening India. What we have done particularly as a result of this visit is set up an anti-extremism task force to see what more we can do to help India in that aspect, he said. India takes up serious concerns with UK New Delhi in November 2022 expressed to London grave concerns about letting Sikhs for Justice organize a referendum on the secession of Punjab on 31 October, as per Hindustan Times. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval told his counterpart Stephen Lovegrove that the Indian government takes strong exception to the UK allowing a referendum on affairs of a third country by weaponising a minuscule section of the Indian diaspora. The message was sent during a bilateral strategic dialogue on 3 November in London. The referendum itself fizzled with just a few people turning out in downtown London, as per the newspaper. UK backpedals after diplomatic row In August 2018, the UK government had to backtrack after a pro-Khalistan rally held by Sikh separatist groups at Londons Trafalgar Square Hundreds of people turned out at Trafalgar Square in support of a pro-Khalistan rally as well as to counter the event with an Independence Day celebration. Pro-Khalistani supporters shouted slogans such as Khalistan Zindabad and waved anti-India placards. Pakistani-origin House of Lords peer Lord Nazir Ahmed was among the key speakers for the group. Ahmed was in February 2022 found guilty of sexual offences against two children in the 1970s. Ahmed of Rotherham was convicted of a serious sexual assault against a boy and the attempted rape of a young girl. Sheffield Crown Court heard the repeated sexual abuse happened in Rotherham when he was a teenager. The so-called London Declaration on Referendum 2020 rally, organised by Sikhs for Justice on 12 August triggered a diplomatic row as India had warned the UK to take bilateral ties into consideration before allowing groups that propagate violence, secessionism and hatred to demonstrate. The comment followed reports of letters exchanged between Sikhs for Justice and the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) on the campaign for Sikh self-determination. Turning down the prospect of a short meeting sought by Sikhs for Justice with UK government representatives to raise concerns of the Sikh community, the FCO said it encouraged all involved parties to resolve any differences through dialogue. The UK is rightly proud of the long-standing tradition in this country that people are free to gather together and demonstrate their views, the letter dated 17 August from the unnamed Desk Officer for India at the FCO states. The British government acknowledges the strength of feeling in the Sikh community regarding the events of 1984, including events at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. We encourage all states to ensure that their domestic laws meet international human rights standards, it adds. Scotland Yard, which had confirmed that an appropriate and proportionate policing plan will be in place for the demonstrations at Trafalgar Square, maintained a watchful eye over the proceedings, which remained largely peaceful with no face-offs being allowed to get out of control by vigilant police officers. A UK government spokesperson had allowed the rally to go ahead, saying that in the UK people have the right to gather together and to demonstrate their views, provided that they do so within the law. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had issued a statement expressing its disappointment at the stance. We have said that it seeks to propagate violence, secessionism and hatred and we expect them to take into account the larger perspective of the relationship when they take a decision on such matters, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar had said. Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) said its rally is intended to raise awareness for a non-binding referendum in 2020, calling for the Sikh-majority state of Punjab to be granted independence. Rami Ranger, Chairman of the British Sikh Association, dismissed the rally as a move by a handful of unelected and self-appointed Sikhs and that Sikhs at large remained against disunity. Anti-India protesters demonstrate outside London House Pro-India and anti-India protesters in January 2018 faced off outside India House in London to raise slogans and wave flags and placards. Ahmed once again led the anti-India protest campaign. The Indian High Commission in London branded the protest as a desperate attempt by a disgraced politician who had been suspended from the Labour party in 2013 following an anti-semitism row. Members of the Indian diaspora in the city had mobilised a Chalo India House demonstration to counter Ahmeds plans and a few dozen members on both sides tried to shout at each other down outside the Indian High Commission building as Scotland Yard officers stood guard. Unacceptable, says India, summons dy High Commissioner India on Sunday night summoned the British deputy high commissioner and demanded an explanation over the complete absence of security after videos of pulling down of the Indian flag at the Indian mission in London during a protest by pro-Khalistan elements emerged on social media. India has, meanwhile, registered its strong protest with the British government over the safety of its diplomatic mission and questioned the lack of sufficient security at the premises. In a strongly-worded statement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK. British Deputy High Commissioner Christina Scott was summoned to the MEA in view of the incident as High Commissioner Alex Ellis was out of Delhi, sources said. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi was summoned late evening on Sunday to convey Indias strong protest at the actions taken by separatist and extremist elements against the Indian High Commission in London. An explanation was demanded for the complete absence of the British security that allowed these elements to enter the High Commission premises. She was reminded in this regard of the basic obligations of the UK Government under the Vienna Convention, the MEA said in a statement. India finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK. It is expected that the UK Government would take immediate steps to identify, arrest and prosecute each one of those involved in todays incident, and put in place stringent measures to prevent the recurrence of such incidents, it said. Will take security seriously Top British officials said tthe UK government will take the security of the Indian High Commission here seriously. The officials condemned as disgraceful and completely unacceptable the vandalism at the mission by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags. The banned terrorist organisation, Sikhs For Justice, is conducting a so-called Referendum 2020 amid a crackdown on pro-Khalistan leader Amritpal Singh in Punjab. Responding to the incident, Londons mayor Sadiq Khan said he condemned the violent disorder and vandalism that took place. There is no place in our city for this kind of behaviour, he tweeted. The British High Commissioner to India Alex Ellis described the incident as disgraceful and totally unacceptable. Foreign Office minister Lord Tariq Ahmad of Wimbledon said he was appalled and the government would take the security of the Indian High Commission seriously. This is a completely unacceptable action against the integrity of the Mission and its staff, he tweeted. 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. Nearly two decades after Hurricane Katrina, some homeowners in New Orleans say they have been dealt a fresh blow. In August, Hollywood actor Brad Pitts Make It Right Foundation, which had vowed to build houses for victims of Hurricane Katrina, agreed to settle for $20.5 dollars after building structurally defective homes. A California-based non-profit pledged to pay the money. There was just one problem it doesnt have any, according to a report. Lets take a closer look: Pitt founded the Make it Right Foundation in 2007 two years after Hurricane Katrina wiped out New Orleans. The goal was to replace lost housing in the citys flood-ruined Lower Ninth Ward with 150 avant-garde dwellings that were storm-safe and energy-efficient. The homes were made available at an average price of $150,000 to residents who received resettlement financing, government grants and donations from the foundation itself. The project was praised initially, but 10 years and more than $26 million later, construction had halted. Residents reported sagging porches, mildewing wood and leaky roofs. Make It Right acknowledged flaws in the architecture at least twice. First, in 2015, lawyers representing the organization sued the manufacturer of an ecologically friendly, water-resistant wood for $500,000, when the product proved to be no match for south Louisiana weather. In 2018, Make It Right lawyers sued its own managing architect over what it said where millions of dollars in design defects. In 2021, the organization also sued its former executive director along with the former treasurer and other officials, accusing them of mismanaging the project. As residents complaints mounted, they filed a class-action lawsuit against Make It Right in 2018. The suit alleged that many of the houses were poorly built with inadequate materials. According to the suit, some of the homes suffered from rain leakage that caused rot, structural damage and mold. The suit also catalogued faulty heating, problems with cooling and ventilation systems, electrical malfunctions and plumbing mishaps. As per The Conversation, Pitt till 2018 was listed as a board member of Make It Right. While his lawyers contended he could not be personally held liable for the shortcomings, a judge disagreed. In August, Pitts defunct foundation and the homeowners agreed to the settlement. Wheres the money? Global Green, a California-based non-profit organization devoted to ecological concerns, said it would pay the $20.5 million. Global Green, whose honorary board has included Leonardo DiCaprio, Norman Lear, Yoko Ono, Ted Turner and Robert Redford, has had some success building its own homes in New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward, according to the AV Club. But according to The Hollywood Reporter, the non-profit just days after the agreement said it couldnt pay up because it didnt have the funds. It further said it could not raise money as Angelina Jolie, Pitts former wife, had accused him of abuse. Ive never seen a situation like this, where there was a settlement that fell through because it was an insolvent party that proposed it, Louisiana State University law professor William R Corbett told THR. The AV Club quoted Global Green CEO Bill Bridge as saying that his firm never had the money on hand and that Pitts people brought to bear pressure on them. Pitts representatives told THR, Brad had supported Global Green many years ago, so when they approached his team stating $20.5M in funding had been secured by their generous donors, there was interest in considering their proposal. Global Green represented themselves as having already obtained these funds and planned to use them toward resolving all claims in the ongoing lawsuit for the benefit of the homeowners. It was incredibly surprising for the plaintiffs, the defendants and their counsel to learn that the funds Global Green claimed multiple times were secured had not in fact been committed or raised. It was equally disappointing to discover payment was not made, though the settlement agreement was specifically negotiated to ensure that litigation would continue without prejudice to any parties if the settlement were to fail. The victims, meanwhile, are left to lament what theyve lost again. This has been one long nightmare, Albert Matthews told THR. Its been very stressful for all of us. My mother, shes never seen the end of the tunnel from Katrina. 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. Elon Musk has claimed Twitter has not witnessed a rise in hate speech since he took over the platform. Responding to a question about the presence of hate speech on Twitter, Musk accused the BBC reporter of lying. You dont know what youre talking about you just lied, Musk said. The interview comes just days after it was reported that Twitter faces multi-millions in fines in Germany for not taking down hate speech on the platform. So, do Musks claims hold up? Lets take a closer look: Twitter has claimed its hate speech decreased by around 50 per cent since Musk took over. However, as per The Conversation, the immediate aftermath of Musks takeover in October 2022 witnessed a surge in hateful conduct. While Musk put that down to a focused, short-term trolling campaign, the data beg to differ. As per Brookings, the 12 hours following Musks ownership of Twitter witnessed a nearly 500 per cent increase in the n word. Meanwhile, the Center for Countering Digital Hate said data show the use of the n word since Musk took over, on average, has tripled since 2022. Abuse against gay men and trans persons increased 58 per cent and 62 per cent. The week after Musk took over, tweet containing the word Jew increased five-fold with the most overly antisemitic getting the most engagement, as per Brookings. The ADL told CNN in December that the situation was troubling and that it would will likely get worse, given the reported cuts to Twitters content moderation staff. According to CASM Technology and the Institute for Strategic Dialogue, Twitter per week averaged 6,204 tweets defined as plausibly antisemitic between June and 26 October, 2022. That seems to have played out at least the first part. Between and February, tweets defined as plausibly antisemitic averaged 12,762 a 105% increase, as per The Conversation. In that period, just 8.5 per cent of the 17,589 antisemitic tweets were taken down. BBC quoted Institute of Strategic Dialogue as saying that the number of antisemitic tweets increase two-fold from June 2022 to February 2023. Which shouldnt be surprising given that one of the first things the self-described free speech absolutist did after taking over Twitter was declare a general amnesty. More than 60,000 accounts including many banned for hate speech were restored by Musk. As per BBC, among them were founder of the neo-Nazi Daily Stormer website Andrew Anglin and QAnon conspiracy theorist Liz Crokin. Speaking to CNN, Imrad Ahmed, chief executive of the Center for Countering Digital Hate, said Musk had sent up the batsignal to every kind of racist, misogynist and homophobe that Twitter was open for business, and they have react accordingly. A safe space for hate is a hostile environment to most decent folks, he added. By means of comparison, who would want to sit in a cafe or pub where crazies are screaming expletives and bigotry, let alone have the chutzpah to claim that it was democratically-essential debate? Meanwhile, the New York Times reported that despite some lauding Musk for making Twitter free of Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM), such content remains on the platform. Musk previously vowed to make the removal of CSAM a top priority. Worse, the newspaper reported that the social media platforms recommendation algorithm was actually promoting some of these images. The images were taken down only after the company was notified by Canada. The volume [of CSAM] were able to find with a minimal amount of effort is quite significant, Lloyd Richardson, the Canadian centers technology director, told the newspaper. It shouldnt be the job of external people to find this sort of content sitting on their system. What happened in the interim? In November, Musk laid off 15 per cent of Twitters Trust and Safety team, as per The Verge. This is the staff that deals with content moderation. But Musk remains defiant. People will say all sorts of nonsense, Musk insisted, as per Hindustan Times. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The city of New York has gone to the dogs no. But to the rats. It is a known fact that the Big Apple was being chewed up by gnarly rodents. But maybe not for long. On Thursday, the mayor of New York hired a new general known as the rat czar in the battle against the vermin. They say there are as many rats in New York as people. The animals thrive on the streets, in sewers, in abandoned and un-abandoned buildings, in parks, subways, shoe stores and restaurants. But the hope is now that the new appointment will drive them out of the city and out of the lives of New Yorkers. As the city celebrates the new hire we take a closer look at who she is, the challenges that await her and why exactly was her appointment necessary. The rat czar is in town In December 2022, New York City Mayors office had posted a job opening for a citywide director of rodent mitigation, or as a city hall spokesperson dubbed it, a rat czar. The role asked for a person who had a virulent vehemence for vermin. The ideal candidate is highly motivated and somewhat bloodthirsty, determined to look at all solutions from various angles, including improving operational efficiency, data collection, technology innovation, trash management, and wholesale slaughter, the job posting added. It also said the chosen applicant will have a swashbuckling attitude, crafty humour and general aura of badassery. And it seems that after over three months, they found their rat czar possessing all the qualities they were looking for including being bloodthirsty and the killer instinct needed to commit mass murder of rats. Mayor Eric Adams named Kathleen Corradi, an education department employee, as New Yorks first-ever rat czar. As Adams put it: The rats are going to hate Kathy, but were excited to have her leading this important effort. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Firstpost (@firstpost) On being appointed, Corradi a land use expert who specialises in urban sustainability and currently works at the Department of Education said, Youll be seeing a lot of me and a lot less rats. And it seems that Corradis new appointment is all about destiny. As a 10-year-old child, she had campaigned for anti-rat measures in her neighbourhood after she was horrified at the sight of a rat carcass. With a modest salary of $155,000 (Rs 1.26 crore) a year, Corradi will oversee the citys existing army of rat experts. The citys Department of Health and Mental Hygiene already has a rodent biologist on staff, renowned urban rodentologist Robert Corrigan. The health department also has an Office of Pest Control, and there is a citywide rodent task force. Adams said Corradi will connect those bodies with agencies like the Department of Sanitation, in a concerted push to help battle some of the citys longest tenured and most notorious residents. Its important to note that Corradi is not a trained rodentologist. Shes a former elementary schoolteacher and she developed the citys Zero Waste Schools initiative. But she does have rat experience as she led the agencys rodent reduction efforts. Corradis appointment, as the New York Times reports, comes at a very significant juncture. The number of rat sightings documented by city inspectors doubled last year. Assuring New Yorkers of results, she promised to immediately take on litter, garbage and food waste where rats thrive. She will also decide what new products the city should use to get rid of rats. Rat mitigation is more than a quality-of-life issue for New Yorkers, Corradi said, Rats are a symptom of systemic issues, including sanitation, health, housing, and economic justice. As the first director of rodent mitigation, Im excited to bring a science- and systems-based approach to fight rats. New York may be famous for the Pizza Rat, but rats, and the conditions that help them thrive will no longer be tolerated no more dirty curbs, unmanaged spaces, or brazen burrowing. Also read: New York City has eight million rats and they could carry COVID variants: How worried should people be? New York Citys rat menace Rats are so common in New York City that even Wikipedia claims these rodents are considered a cultural symbol of the city. Though they may inhabit the city, theyre far from welcome. It is said that they have been in the Big Apple since the 18th century but in recent times they have been scampering everywhere. Business Insider reports that about 250 years ago, the Norwegian rat also known as the brown rat, the alley rat or the sewer rat arrived in America on ships from Europe. And since then they have been breeding quickly and making New York City their home. Until 1860, rats were a quiet presence in the city. But it was then that they made headlines after the vermin mutilated and killed a newborn child at Bellevue Hospital. The number of rats just exploded since then and in 1950, a study said that there were about 250,000 rats. By 2014, this number grew to about two millionan 800 per cent boom in fewer than 65 years, reported The Atlantic. In 2022, this problem has grown exponentially. Rat sightings increased by 40 per cent in the first 11 months of 2021 compared to 2019 and in 2022, the number of rat sightings was up at a record high of 27,920. And its not just about the booming population of the dirty rodents. It has also spread across the city in 1974, a rat survey of New York found that only about 11 per cent of the city was rat-afflicted. Today, that number is at 80 to 90 per cent. But what makes the Big Apple so delicious for rats? Some experts cite the weather for the reason for the growing number of rats, while others peg it down to an abundance of food waste and overflowing trash. As one exterminator explained in a report by The Gothamist, You have a building with like 400 residents and they have like 300 trash bags out there for seven or eight hours. What do you think will happen. The COVID-19 pandemic came as some relief from the rat menace, as their source of food dried up. However, as the city reopened, they too came out in larger numbers, attacking even pigeons. The rat battle The rat menace has prompted officials to take action. Alas, it hasnt been enough. Former mayor Bill de Blasio launched a $32 million (Rs 262 crore) rat-tackling effort in 2017, and workers laid more rat poison and traps. The sanitation department has blasted dry ice into rats nests. But, it wasnt enough firepower against the vermin. Even current mayor Eric Adams has undertaken several measures to stop the menace from growing further. Starting this month, New Yorkers will be fined for putting their trash on the curb before 8 pm in the latest attempt to cull the citys rampant rat population. The current rule allows residents to begin setting out trash at 4 pm. Theres also the patrol of hunting dogs that walk the infested streets, looking to eradicate the vermin. However, the rats continue to thrive in New York City, becoming almost invincible. Lets hope for New Yorks sake that their rat czar Corradi can bring about a change! With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Seoul: North Korea likely fired a new type of ballistic missile Thursday that may have used advanced solid fuel, Seouls military said, representing a potential technical breakthrough for Pyongyangs banned weapons programs. North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. All of Pyongyangs known intercontinental ballistic missiles are liquid-fuelled, and solid-fuel ICBMs (Intercontinental Ballistic Missiles) that can be launched from land or submarines have long been on top of leader Kim Jong Uns wish list. Such missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch, and thus harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively. At a military parade in Pyongyang in February, North Korea showed off a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuelled ICBM. Seouls military on Thursday said it had detected one medium range or longer ballistic missile launched on a lofted trajectory up not out from the Pyongyang area at 0723 (1023 GMT or 1523 IST), which flew 1,000 km (621 miles). Japan, which briefly issued a seek shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region, said the missile had not fallen within the countrys territory and posed no threat to residents. Climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven are due to meet this weekend in Sapporo, Hokkaidos regional capital, a month before the group holds its summit in Hiroshima. The United States said it strongly condemns North Korea for the test of what it described as a long-range ballistic missile. The launch is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea, which has already fired several of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles this year. It has also tested what its state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones known as Haeil, the Korean word for tsunami which it says are capable of unleashing a radioactive tsunami. On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 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, Pyongyangs Korean Central News Agency said. Kim ordered that the countrys deterrence capabilities be strengthened with increasing speed and in a more practical and offensive manner. Real war Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang last year declaring itself an irreversible nuclear power, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. 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. North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, and on Tuesday described them as frantic drills simulating an all-out war against Pyongyang. The latest test was likely a bid by the North to put pressure on the South and the United States over their joint military exercises, Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University, told AFP. South Korea on Tuesday also accused North Korea of being irresponsible after Pyongyang cut hotline contact with Seoul last week. North Korea has not answered the twice-daily calls made through a military hotline and an inter-Korean liaison channel since Friday, according to Seouls unification ministry. The links were cut a day after Seoul accused Pyongyang of continued unauthorised use of a joint industrial complex in the North Korean city of Kaesong. Pyongyangs provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defence exercises because Kim Jong Un hasnt finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. After a lull in cases, Indias COVID-19 count is rising again that too at an exponential rate. On Thursday, the country recorded a single-day rise of 10,158 cases, highest in nearly eight months. With this, the nations active caseload has risen to 44,998. The spurt in cases has prompted some states in India to impose COVID protocols such as mask mandates and social distancing. Even India Inc is directing pandemic-appropriate behaviour at workplaces and outside in light of the growing infections. Health experts blame this surge on a COVID variant known as Arcturus, a spin-off of the Omicron variant, and is thought to be the most contagious yet. What is even more worrying about this variant is that its causing symptoms in children that were not seen before. Heres what we know about Arcturus and just how deadly it is? About Arcturus Technically the Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, the name Arcturus was made popular by Vipin M Vashishtha, former convenor of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics, who used it in a tweet on 17 March while warning about new COVID-19 cases. Now, @RajlabN has also confirmed wide circulation of XBB.1.16 globally. But the key question is how devastating would it prove in coming weeks or months! https://t.co/BhQM0fXx4H https://t.co/AMQAHeMvDi Vipin M. Vashishtha (@vipintukur) March 18, 2023 Technically speaking, Arcturus is a recombinant of two descendants of a Omicron variant BA.2. It was first detected in India in March and has also found its way in other countries, but the largest outbreak by far is in India. Seeing as how it was responsible for the quick spread of the disease, the World Health Organization (WHO) in late March called it a variant under monitoring. Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID technical lead for the WHO, had then said that XBB.1.16 variant is considered one to watch by the world health body. A study by Japanese scientists has found that Arcturus is 1.2 times more infectious than the closely-related Kraken COVID strain. They had said that the new variant will spread worldwide in the near future. They also suggested that the mutations of the new variant could make it more difficult for the immune system to take on. Also read: Is it time to start believing in the COVID-19 lab leak theory? They, however, clarified that there was no evidence that Arcturus could evade protection from vaccines, meaning vaccines were still effective against it. Arcturus may not just be causing a surge in COVID cases though. According to Dr Vashishtha, one of the symptoms he is seeing in those infected by Arcturus, especially in children, is itchy conjunctivitis or pinkeye without pus, but with sticky eyes. He has observed that until now conjunctivitis hadnt been seen in earlier COVID waves. A recent Times of India stated that theres been a rise in paediatric conjunctivitis. But, as experts say its too early to tell for sure if the virus symptoms have shifted. Richard Reithinger, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the nonprofit research institute RTI International, told Fortune that hes also heard such reports, but that its probably too early to tell if the viruss symptom set has truly shifted. Spread of Arcturus While causing a surge in cases in India, Arcturus has also made its presence felt in other countries. Raj Rajnarayanan, assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology campus, told Fortune that Arcturus and its descendants has the oomph to outcompete other circulating COVID variants, as of now. Arcturus is already in Britain almost 50 cases have now been spotted. The variant has been detected in other countries as well, including the United States. Cases have been reported from California, Washington, New Jersey, New York, Virginia and Texas. Also read: China's COVID-19 surge: Will a deadlier variant emerge as the virus spreads? Its also been seen in Singapore and Australia. Virologist Professor Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick told The Independent that the rise of the new variant in India is a sign that were not yet out of the woods. We have to keep an eye on it, Professor Young said. When a new variant arises you have to find out if its more infectious, more disease-causing, is it more pathogenic? And whats going to happen in terms of immune protection. Indias COVID surge The country has been seeing a drastic rise in daily COVID cases, prompting the health ministry on Monday and Tuesday to conduct mock drills to check preparedness of hospitals. Several states has seen a rise in infections, with the national capital, Delhi, seeing its positivity rate climbing to 26 per cent on Wednesday. Health sources told news agency PTI that the cases are expected to rise for the next 10-12 days, and will gradually come down, noting that the disease was heading towards an endemic stage. Some states like Kerala and Haryana have also brought back COVID-19 protocols owing to the rise in cases. On Wednesday, Serum Institute of Indias CEO Adar Poonawalla said that the company had restarted manufacturing of COVID-19 vaccine Covishield. He said the company already has six million booster doses of the vaccine available and adults must take the booster shot. Even while cases continue to climb, officials state that its not the time to panic and that protocols are in place and that the nation is far from seeing the next wave of infections. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The German government is scaling back plans to liberalise the countrys rules on cannabis, including decriminalising possession of limited amounts and allowing marijuana sales for recreational purposes to members of nonprofit cannabis clubs. The initial plans, which would have permitted the sale of cannabis in authorised shops across the country, have been altered in response to EU concerns. As proposed by Health Minister Karl Lauterbach and Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir, the legislation would only permit the commercial distribution of cannabis under specific conditions in so-called clubs, reported Associated Press. The previous cannabis policy has failed. Now we have to go new ways, Lauterbach said. Lets understand the proposed legislation. Also read: High time to follow US? Examining cannabis legal status in India The two-step legalisation The proposed legislation foresees legalising the possession of up to 25 grams (nearly 1 ounce) of cannabis and allowing individuals to grow up to three plants. It would let German residents 18 and older join nonprofit cannabis clubs with a maximum of 500 members each, which would be allowed them to grow cannabis for members personal consumption. Individuals would be allowed to buy up to 25 grams at a time, or up to 50 grams per month a figure that would be limited to 30 grams for adults under age 21. According to DW.com, Ozdemir said that draft legislation will be finalised this month and that consumption will become legal this year already. Officials hope that the first step will help push back the black market. In a second step, German officials also envision setting up regional test projects to sell cannabis through commercial supply chains, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said. The clubs must also appoint youth protection, addiction and prevention officers. Members would be able to cultivate cannabis at home, with a maximum of seven seeds or five cuttings per month allowed to be passed on by clubs. The bill for this step will be ready by the end of April, according to Ozdemir. Also read: Is former German mid-fielder Mesut Ozil joining politics in Turkey? What will this mean for Recep Tayyip Erdogan? The reason The new plan comes after the German government revised its initial plans to legalise cannabis in October last year. Originally, the government planned to allow the sale of cannabis to adults across the country at licensed outlets. The German government revised the plan following talks with the European Unions executive commission. Agriculture Minister Cem Ozdemir said EU law sets us limits we must respect, but that I will also say we are pushing. Lauterbach had cautioned all along that the government would only proceed with its original plan if it got the green light from the EU. After holding talks with Brussels, the German government has decided that such sales will be trialled only in certain model regions. The ministers said the legislation foresees amnesties for people who have previously been convicted of cannabis possession. They didnt specify who would be eligible for the amnesties. The feedback so far from Brussels is on the one hand, something that perhaps disappointed us, but on the other hand also an opportunity the opportunity to build the basis for a European cannabis policy with a well-conducted study, Lauterbach told reporters in Berlin. Approval is needed The plans will need the approval of the German parliaments lower house, but officials said an endorsement is not needed from the upper house. That chamber represents Germanys 16 state governments, many of which include the countrys main centre-right opposition bloc. The bloc has opposed liberalising cannabis laws. One conservative regional official went to Brussels to lobby against Lauterbachs initial plan. We are not creating a problem, Lauterbach insisted. We are trying to solve a problem. The minister argued that existing policies have failed. He said the governments aim is to offer greater safety, protect consumers against contaminated and toxic products, and reduce drug-related crime. Lauterbach reiterated that Germany doesnt want to emulate the model of the neighbouring Netherlands, which combines decriminalisation with little market regulation. The cannabis plan is one of several social reform projects that German Chancellor Olaf Scholzs socially liberal three-party governing coalition agreed to embark on when it took office in December 2021. This fall, the government plans to map out the next step: five-year tests of regulated commercial supply chains in select regions. Lauterbach said details, including which regions would be chosen, have yet to be thrashed out. The government wants to have the pilot projects scientifically evaluated. The ministers were optimistic that successful tests would enable them to build pressure for a change of policy at the EU level and ultimately clear the way for their original plan to allow licensed sales. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. The visits of president Jacques Chirac to Delhi in January 1998 and prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayees subsequent trip to Paris later in the year brought a tremendous boost to Indias foreign relations at the end of the 1990s. The most striking feature was the setting up of a framework for a strategic partnership. Before reaching Delhi, the French president had declared that he was keen on an ambitious partnership. Using a de Gaulle-like language, Chirac saluted India, a nation which has affirmed its personality on the world stage. He said that he had come to show that France wanted to accompany India in its potent march [towards the future]. Inaugurating a seminar in Vigyan Bhavan, the French president elaborated on the nuclear deal. Reminding that certain conditions had to be met, he however suggested to: reflect, together with those of our partners involved, on the ways to reconcile our common will to cooperate and the necessary respect for the rules the international community has set itself. Chiracs words were not mere political niceties. When India conducted its nuclear tests in Pokhran in May 98, France was one of the few countries which did not condemn Delhi (or impose sanctions). This was greatly appreciated in Delhi and when prime minister Vajpayee went to Paris in October, the new strategic dialogue could take its first concrete steps. These events set in motion a closer collaboration. From the friendship mentioned by de Gaulle in the 1960s, the relationship had become a true partnership. By putting proper structures in place, the dialogue was institutionalised, setting up among other features: A Strategic Dialogue at the level of National Security Advisors, providing both sides with an opportunity to review the evolution of the overall global security situation; A High Level Committee for Defence at the level of Defence Secretaries; A Joint Working Group on Terrorism established to cooperate in the fight against terrorism as well as Annual consultations between the two foreign ministries to be held at the level of Foreign Secretaries and finally a Joint Committee for Economic and Technical Cooperation at the level of Ministers of Commerce. Twenty-five Years of Partnership On 27 January 2023, the French ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs noted that France would be celebrating the 25th anniversary of the signature of the Indo-French Strategic Partnership. A communique from Paris mentioned that the two countries must use this opportunity to write a new chapter in their strategic partnership in all fields: The anniversary makes 2023 an exceptional year in the relationship between our two countries. We must use this opportunity to write a new chapter in our strategic partnership in all of the fields that have contributed to its excellence thus far, such as defense, space, nuclear energy, maritime security and, more generally speaking, cooperation on security issues. A French spokesman added: Our countries have developed in a wide range of strategic fields, ranging from submarines to combat aviation and climate change, via the International Solar Alliance. A State visit to celebrate the partnership? One could have thought that it would pave the way for a State visit by President Emmanuel Macron to India. It was not to be so. Instead, Macron went to Beijing where he triggered a media storm after cautioning the Europeans not to chain themselves to US foreign policy. Former US president Donald Trump in his usual vulgar language said President Macron has been in China and kissed Xis ass. In a rambling interview with Fox News, the Republican Partys presidential nominee stated: You got this crazy world, its blowing up and the United States has absolutely no say, adding And Macron, whos a friend of mine, [went] over with China, kissing his [Xis] ass. What provoked this remark was an interview, in which Macron asserted that European countries should not get caught in the standoff between Beijing and Washington over the fate of Taiwan. After discussing the issue of Taiwan with Xi, Macron 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. Most observers saw it not as a mere assertion of independence from Uncle Sam a la Charles de Gaulle, but rather as pure kowtowing to the Chinese emperor. The New York Times noted: 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. The US newspapers conclusions were: 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. It cited the French presidents contacts with President Putin: whom he failed to dissuade from war after an intense courtship and with President Xi Jinping, who wants to drive a wedge between Europe and the United States. For The New York Times, the 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. It is difficult to comment on the decisions on French internal affairs as a reform of the pensions was undoubtedly long overdue and no politician could have escaped introducing a change in the length of working years. It is true that the president may have miscalculated the extent of the reactions of the descendants of the recalcitrant Gaulish tribes, but could he have escaped bringing changes in a world where Asia has taken a lead over Old Europe mostly because Asians work more? Probably not. However, Macron could certainly have avoided falling into the Chinese trap by visiting India and further developing the 25-year-old strategic partnership. The last visit to India The French president was last in Delhi five years ago, in March 2018. On the last day of his visit, Macron went to Varanasi for a cruise on the Ganga with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. This was the culmination of a trip with a difference. Macrons trip touched upon two aspects of bilateral relations, the ancient and the modern (and strategic) one. Before the visit to the Ghats, Macron offered Modi, an original copy of the Bhagavat Gita translated from Sanskrit into French in the early 20th century by the great French scholar Emile Senart. The strategic angle was not forgotten. Addressing the French community in Delhi, the President explained: geopolitical context is deeply changed. India rightly fears the reorganization of the world; she fears forms of hegemony in the region and in particular in the Indian Ocean and the Pacific. And why not name it, she fears a Chinese hegemony. He reminded his countrymen: France is a power of the Indian and the Pacific Oceans; we are present at the Reunion, we are also there in French Polynesia and New Caledonia. And we are a maritime power, it is often forgotten but France is the second maritime power in the world. We have a strong navy, we have nuclear submarines equipped like few other powers in the world; a maritime surveillance capability through our own satellites and technologies; it is obvious we are a military and intelligence power ranking us among the first nations in the world. How come he now forgot these words to just play an illusionary role on the world stage? Relations still flourishing It does not mean that the relations between France and India are not doing well. On 10 April, Union Minister Piyush Goyal addressed the Indian diaspora community in France. After explaining that India is now the worlds 5th largest economy, he said: 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. The minister affirmed 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. A visit of President Macron would have reinforced this partnership and perhaps would have witnessed the signature for 26 more Rafale M for the new INS Vikrant aircraft carrier. This may still happen, but France has lost an opportunity to solidify its partnerships with India for the sake of an elusive relationship with the Chinese Dragon, which has historically always been deceptive. Indeed a gross miscalculation of the French presidents advisors. Updated Date: Early last month, the announcement that Saudi Arabia and Iran are normalising their relationship due to a peace deal brokered by China took many by surprise. After all, this agreement wasnt only paving way for interesting new alignments in a divided region, but it was also making a point that cant be stressed enough China has arrived as a global actor and its role in shaping the world order is only going to become prominent. This achievement of China comes early in the third and unprecedented term for President Xi Jinping who kickstarted his term with a visit to Saudi Arabia and by hosting the Iranian President in Beijing. The optics of the peace deal definitely played out with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi standing in the middle flanked by Iranian and Saudi leaders on either side all locked in a ceremonial handshake. Whats more noteworthy is that such moments are only going to become more frequent with a growing Chinese interest in securing a global role for itself. In the region of West Asia, China is simply occupying a space from which the US is retreating. In the last few years, a perception has emerged that the US is withdrawing from West Asia (what it refers to as the Middle East). This is despite the fact that the US still continues to have a considerable military presence in the region. However, the Pivot to Asia strategy in the beginning of last decade and shift in the US strategic focus to the Indo-Pacific has created an image of a retreating US from West Asia. This has been accompanied by China which is looking to engage more and more with the outside world due to its own economic and energy needs. While the peace deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran has come as an important juncture, one must not miss the Chinese involvement in West Asia which has been going on for many years in the background. Chinas engagement in the region is driven by the two big Es Energy and Economy. Chinas stupendous economic growth has positioned it as the largest customer of energy in the world with 67 percent of its fuel requirement being met through imports. Out of this, more than 40 percent of its energy needs are fulfilled by GCC countries. While Chinas energy requirements are only going to increase its dependence on West Asia, the countries in this region are also looking for new countries to buy their oil. One of their major former buyers, the US has now turned into a net exporter of natural gas. As a result, its dependence on West Asia has come down. In 2023, the US emerged as the worlds largest exporter of LNG dethroning Australia and leaving behind Qatar in the race. China has also occupied the status of the largest trade partner for the countries in the West Asian region. It has emerged as their biggest exporter by overtaking the US in 2008 and the European Union in 2020. Its exports to the region stood at $129 billion in 2021 while in comparison the US exports were just a fraction of the same at $48 billion. It is also negotiating a free trade agreement with the GCC countries, a protracted process that has now been fast-tracked. Interestingly, many of the regional countries have been long dependent on oil for their economic growth. But they are now looking to make a shift away from oil due to their fast-depleting oil reserves, climate-change concerns and a preference for clean energy world over. It is for this reason that they have launched vision strategies to diversify their economies beyond oil. China finds a place in all these diversification plans including in Saudi Arabias 2030 Vision and Kuwaits 2035 Vision. There is a key focus on maritime, infrastructure and high-end technology cooperation between the two. While Chinas 5G technology hasnt found any takers in countries such as the US, Australia, India and Vietnam, it has been welcomed by Saudi Arabia and the UAE. All this is taking place along with Chinas deeper inroads in the region through its Belt & Road Initiative. Now what does Chinas increased engagement with the region mean in geopolitical terms? Especially in view of the fact that China is also cooperating with the countries in the region in the military domain: It is helping Saudi Arabia produce ballistic missiles as per intelligence reports. There are also reports of a secret Chinese port project near Abu Dhabi, the UAEs capital. Chinas successful mediation between Iran and Saudi Arabia has also taken some shine off the Abraham Accords, brokered by the US between Israel and different Arab states. Chinas increased interest in the region is now taking a strategic shape, away from its mere dependence on the region for oil. But one sigh of relief is that it is still not interested in becoming a security guarantor in the region, a la the United States, and that means the window of strategic cooperation for other players in the region is still open. The author is a PhD in International Relations from the Department of International Relations, South Asian University. Her research focuses on the political economy of South Asia and regional integration. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said that Northern Ireland must not go back to the violence that scarred it for decades before a peace deal 25 years ago, nudging politicians to resolve a political crisis that has left this part of the United Kingdom without a functioning government. Speaking on the economic growth Northern Ireland has experienced since the Good Friday Agreement ended 30 years of sectarian bloodshed, Biden said: Its up to us to keep this going. Bidens first presidential visit to Northern Ireland On his first presidential visit to Northern Ireland, Biden dangled the prospect of more American investment to help fuel economic growth especially if Belfasts fractious politicians resolve a stalemate that has put their government on pause. The simple truth is that peace and economic opportunity go together, Biden said during a speech at Ulster Universitys new campus in Belfast. He said the glass-clad downtown building would have been unthinkable during the years of bombings and shootings known as The Troubles. Where barbed wire once sliced up the city, today we find a cathedral of learning, built of glass, he said. Noting that Northern Irelands total economic output had doubled in the quarter-century since the Good Friday peace deal was signed in April 1998, Biden urged people in Northern Ireland to sustain the peace, unleash this incredible economic opportunity, which is just beginning. Biden urged all political parties to get back to work, saying democracy needs champions and that Northern Irelands future is in their hands. I hope the assembly and the executive will soon be restored, he said. Thats a judgement for you to make, not me, but I hope it happens. Bidens visit was timed to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday accord, which the U.S. was key to striking. Biden credited people who were willing to risk boldly for the future by reaching the agreement, reminding the audience that peace was not inevitable. Referring to a February gun attack on a senior police officer blamed by authorities on Irish Republican Army dissidents opposed to the peace process Biden said the enemies of peace will not prevail. Northern Ireland will not go back, pray God. Fragile peace after Good Friday Agreement While peace has endured, Northern Ireland has been without a functioning government since the Democratic Unionist Party, which formed half of a power-sharing government, walked out a year ago over a post-Brexit trade dispute. Biden met briefly before his speech with the leaders of the DUP and Northern Irelands four other main political parties. Biden has faced mistrust from pro-British unionists because of his Irish American heritage. Sammy Wilson, a DUP lawmaker in the U.K. Parliament, told Talk TV that Biden has got a record of being pro-republican, anti-unionist, anti-British a claim the White House firmly denied. Bidens speech carefully navigated Northern Irelands complex political currents, referring to both his British and his Irish ancestry, and noting the contribution to the U.S. of largely Protestant Ulster Scots as well as Irish Catholics like his own forebears. Such things dont go unnoticed in Northern Ireland. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said Bidens reference also to his own British ancestry I think indicates hopefully that we have a president that recognizes the United Kingdom is a close ally and friend of the United States. But Donaldson doubted whether the presidents visit would change the political dynamic. I am clear what needs to happen to make the progress that we all desire and that is that Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom is both respected and protected, and we want to see that in law, he said. Michelle ONeill from Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein said Biden had sent a clear message to the DUP about the need to get back to work. Biden also had tea with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his Belfast stopover. The president spent less than 24 hours in Northern Ireland before moving on to the Republic of Ireland to begin a three-day visit, scheduled to include an address to the Dublin parliament, attendance at a gala dinner and trips to two ancestral hometowns. U.K. officials denied that the brevity of the visit amounted to a snub. Sunak said he and Biden had a very good discussion about investment in Northern Ireland, along with foreign policy issues. Were very close partners and allies. We cooperate on a range of things, Sunak said. Northern Irelands political crisis stems, in part, from Brexit. 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. After much wrangling, Britain and the EU struck a deal in February to address the tensions over trade, eliminating many of the customs checks that had irked businesses and angered unionists. The Democratic Unionist Party, though, says the agreement doesnt go far enough to address concerns about Northern Irelands place in the U.K., and has refused to return to government. Biden, who has urged Britain and the bloc to put Brexit squabbling behind them, praised U.K. and EU leaders for trying to sort out the complex challenges created by Brexit. Neil Given, a civil servant who lives in Belfast, welcomed Bidens visit but said his expectations are not great that it would unblock the political logjam. We have prevaricated for well over a year now, and ever since the signing of the Good Friday Agreement there have been numerous stoppages of the institutions of Stormont, he said. Whether or not Mr. Bidens visit can in 24, 48 hours pull people together and perhaps get a message we really do need to get back to the government, I dont know. But hopefully he can do that. I know there is no more powerful person certainly to be over that can give out that message. With inputs from AP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. There have been numerous speculations that say ChatGPT will be the end of us, and that it will take away most of our engineering jobs. Now, while the people and the experts who made these conjectures may have had their reasons, were not too sure that they are entirely accurate. Sure, there are areas where ChatGPT is far better than most human beings. Cracking Indias JEE entrance exam, fortunately, is not one of them. The highly acclaimed and immensely advanced large language model AI bot has been wildly successful in cracking some of the toughest exams in the world. This includes the bar exam to practise law in a couple of states in the US, as well as the exam to attain a license that would make them eligible to practice medicine and surgery. However, it failed to crack the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Advanced, a highly competitive engineering entrance exam in India. As it could only answer 11 questions, ChatGPT apparently received a failing grade. Many have been shocked by this because generative language models and artificial intelligence have been hailed as being revolutionised by the language model. JEE Advanced is renowned for its challenging questions that assess a students comprehension of difficult ideas in mathematics, physics, and chemistry. Only a small percentage of the thousands of students who take the exam each year succeed in passing it. The ongoing discussion about whether artificial intelligence can replace human intelligence in addressing complicated problems is once again brought to light by ChatGPTs failure to pass the exam. With its extraordinary skills to solve complicated problems, ChatGPT is creating a stir not only in the AI community but also outside of it. Many people have evaluated the platforms limitations. People have interacted with this technology in a variety of ways, from seeking out philosophical talks to finding answers to simple concerns. Some other prestigious exams that ChatGPT has done well in include a law exam at the University of Minnesota, an MBA exam in Wharton, and a whole lot more. It has also been used to answer Google-generated coding interview questions. According to reports, ChatGPT is employed at L3 after being tested for a coding role. Engineering positions at Level 3 are considered entry-level jobs and can pay up to $183,000 for the right applicant. Students have also used ChatGPT to write essays and research reports, some of which have gotten them pretty respectable scores, and some which helped them get a seat in the university of their dreams. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Taipei: At least 33 flights will be affected by Chinas plan to set up a no-fly zone to the north of Taiwan on April 16, Taiwans official Central News Agency (CNA) reported, citing the islands transport minister, Wang Kwo-tsai. The impact on flights was greatly reduced after Taiwan said it had successfully urged China to drastically narrow its plan to close air space north of the island, Wang was reported as saying. Wang said the ministry had discussed with Japanese aviation authorities who will issue notices later on Thursday to boats and planes to avoid the area for that specific period on Sunday morning, the CNA said. Wang said the ban could add less than one hour of extra travel time to the affected flights as they will have to divert further south from their original routes. Taiwans transport ministry on Wednesday published a map showing what it labelled Chinas aerospace activity zone to the northeast of Taiwan and near a group of disputed islets called Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan. The development follows days of intense military drills that China has staged around Taiwan in response to President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week. War games Taiwan has been on high alert since China launched its military drills on Saturday. The exercises ended on Monday when Beijing sent 54 aircraft into the islands southwestern and southeastern ADIZ the highest recorded in a single day since October 2021. The zone 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. J15 fighter jets flown off Chinas Shandong aircraft carrier were among the aircraft that crossed the median line, an unofficial boundary in the Taiwan Strait, Taiwans defence ministry said. The ministry also said eight warships and 35 aircraft were detected between Tuesday and Wednesday morning after the war games ended. With inputs from agency. 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: Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh has published a report that alleged the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was aware of widespread corruption in Ukraine and the embezzlement of US aid. The report said the Ukrainian government has been using US taxpayer money to purchase diesel from Russia to fuel its military. The report further suggested that Ukrainian officials are also competing to set up front companies for export contracts to private arms dealers around the world. The issue of corruption was raised during a meeting between CIA Director William Burns and Zelensky in January. An intelligence official with direct knowledge of the meeting told Hersh that Burns delivered a stunning message to Zelensky. Hersh wrote: The senior generals and government officials in Kiev were angry at what they saw as Zelenskys greed, so Burns told the Ukrainian president, because he was taking a larger share of the skim money than was going to the generals. The Pentagon Leaks Over the past few weeks, several classified documents, some even marked top secret, found their way on the internet. The intelligence leak is shaping up to be one of the most damaging in decades, officials said. But what exactly has been revealed in the documents? The leaked documents offer a very tantalising and unique view of the Russia-Ukraine war, which began in February 2022. The cache of documents reveal that Ukraine is suffering heavy losses in the war, especially in Bakhmut. It also outlines the critical shortages of air defense munitions. The documents also included training schedules of 12 Ukraine combat brigades, revealing that nine of them were being trained by US and NATO forces, and needed 250 tanks and more than 350 mechanised vehicles. They also include details of expenditure rates for munitions under Ukraine military control, including the HIMARS rocket systems. The leaked documents also reveal how deeply Russias security and intelligence services have been penetrated by the United States. The documents contain daily real-time warnings to US intelligence agencies on the timing of Moscows strikes and even its specific targets. This has enabled Washington to prepare Kyiv for the attacks and its defence. The leaks also seem to indicate that the United States is also spying on Ukraines top military and political leaders. And the spying doesnt stop there. The leaked documents have also shown that Washington is spying on its allies something that could hurt US diplomatically. The leaked documents revealed that South Korea, a key ally of the US, is torn about supplying ammunition to Ukraine. This is because of its official policy of not providing lethal weapons to countries at war. Ukraines long battle with corruption Widespread systemic corruption is steeped in Ukraine long before Russias invasion last February. A 2016 report by the watchdog group Transparency International found that between 38 per cent to 42 per cent of Ukrainian households said they paid bribes to access basic public services such as education or healthcare, reported Time. Al Jazeera noted that year Ukraine was the second most corrupt nation in Europe, with Russia being the most corrupt at 136. Ukraine performed slightly better and was placed in 116th position out of 180 nations in the 2022 Corruption Perceptions Index released on Tuesday (31 January). Russia was ranked 137th on the index. Unfortunately, this type of widespread systemic corruption is complicated to tackle and requires sustained efforts for at least a generation or even more, Cristian Nitoiu, a lecturer in diplomacy and international governance at Loughborough University, told Al Jazeera in June last year. The legacy of the Soviet Union plays an important role, as citizens had to learn how to navigate a system of informal relations and rules, where everyone had equal rights on paper, but in practice, some people were more equal than others. These developments are not unique to Ukraine, as most post-Soviet and Communist countries experienced them, including Russia, but Ukraine, alongside Moldova, were extreme cases, Nitoiu explained further. 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. Indigenous protesters in southwestern Colombia on Wednesday took 16 soldiers hostage, in retaliation to a failed attempt by the military to arrest a member of their community, authorities said. The army said in a statement that its soldiers were surrounded by more than 700 people preventing them from arresting a man wanted for the crime of aggravated homicide and fabrication, illegal carrying and possession of firearms. Authorities said the man was injured trying to escape and is currently being treated in hospital for a leg injury. Indigenous people accuse army of mistreatment Indigenous people from Toribio in the Cauca department accuse authorities of mistreatment and irregularities during the attempted arrest. They said soldiers entered the mans home and shot at him, accusing him of belonging to an illegal armed group. Family members claim German Rivera was a victim of mistaken identity, and that despite showing soldiers his ID documents, they still attacked him, tied him up and dragged him out of the house. Videos shared on social media showed soldiers being walked in single file through a rural area surrounded by members of the Indigenous guard, an unarmed organization that defends the communitys interests. The army said it would file a complaint for kidnapping and riot against the Indigenous hostage takers. Indigenous people kidnapping soldiers is not a one-off incident in Colombia. In early March, a community in the southwest took 80 police hostage for two days in protest against the activities of an oil company. With inputs from AFP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. San Francisco, like Los Angeles and most other major cities, is dealing with a homeless crisis that evidently, no one has the solution to. However, philanthropists and tech moguls alike are trying to do something to alleviate the situation. Elon Musk says he too wanted to help, but couldnt because of one of his landlords. Elon Musk, the founder of Twitter, has criticised his landlord for denying a plan to use idle office space at the social media companys headquarters in San Francisco to help alleviate the citys homeless epidemic. We tried to turn it into a homeless shelter, Musk said on Tuesday night in a BBC News interview. They (the owners) wont let us. He added, Were only using one of the buildings, so the other building could be a homeless shelter. We would like to do it right nowIf the building owner lets us, well do it. Also read: Elon Musk starts following PM Narendra Modi on Twitter, sparks speculation of Tesla coming to India Musk has shrunk Twitters employment by more than 80% since completing his $44 billion buyout last October, to about 1,500 people. The cost-cutting has left most of the 463,000-square-foot headquarters empty. SRI Nine Market Square LLC, an associate of Shorenstein Realty Services LP and a subsidiary of JP Morgan Chase & Co., owns the property. In January, SRI sued Twitter for allegedly neglecting to pay rent. Musk has also argued with the landlord over his intention to remove the w from the Twitter sign at the companys headquarters, altering the name to Titter. He told the BBC that he chose to paint over the w since the property owners refused to let him remove it. Also read: Elon Musk hides w on Twitter sign at San Francisco HQ making it Titter When asked how the suggested homeless shelter would be administered, Musk said, Im not sure. We could just let people remain. Its pleasant They might bring their belongings, their tent, or whatever. Last year, before purchasing Twitter, he polled his followers on the notion, claiming that employees werent turning up at the companys headquarters anyhow. Around 8,000 homeless individuals live in San Francisco, leading to growing violence and hundreds of reports of public defecation and drug needles on the streets. Its unclear how Twitter will handle sharing its office space with vagrants. On Tuesday, Whole Foods announced the closing of its flagship location in San Francisco, citing worries that criminality in the neighbourhood is harming staff. Managers were allegedly compelled to limit access to the stores facilities in November after used syringes and pipes were discovered on the floor. Also read: How left-liberals have conspired to kill cities? Here is San Francisco! According to Musk, Twitters yearly income has decreased to $3 billion from $4.5 billion when he purchased the firm, but its expenditures have increased to $6 billion from $4.5 billion. It just has enough funds to operate for another four months without expense savings or a capital infusion. According to him, cash flow is roughly breakeven at this point. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Paris, France: The European Unions chief data regulator announced on Thursday the formation of a task group to assist nations in dealing with the immensely popular AI chatbot ChatGPT, putting more pressure on its US developer OpenAI. Due to concerns that the programs data collection violated privacy regulations, Italy temporarily banned it last month. On Thursday, the French regulator said that it had initiated a formal process in response to five complaints. Spains AEPD data protection agency also said it had opened an inquiry into the software and its US owner, saying that while it favoured AI development, it must be compatible with personal rights and freedoms. ChatGPT can generate essays, poems and conversations from the briefest of prompts, and has proved itself capable of passing some tough exams. But it has been dogged by concerns that its talents could lead to widespread cheating in schools, supercharge disinformation on the web and replace human workers. And the chatbot can only function if it is trained on vast datasets, raising concerns about where OpenAI gets its data and how that information is handled. French regulator CNIL, regarded as Europes most powerful, has opened a case after receiving five complaints, one of which was from an MP, Eric Bothorel. He said the bot had invented details of his life, including his birth date and job history. Under Europes data protection regulation (GDPR), such systems are obliged to provide as accurate personal data as much as possible. Italy, the first regulator to bar the bot, this week issued a slew of actions OpenAI would need to take to get back into the country not least providing a legal basis for its data gathering. Europes central regulator, the EDPB, said its members chose to take action after monitoring Italys approach. The EDPB decided to launch a dedicated task force to foster cooperation and to exchange information on possible enforcement actions conducted by data protection authorities, the body said. After Italys order to halt ChatGPT, OpenAI told AFP that it was committed to protecting peoples privacy and believed its tool complied with the law. The firm said it had voluntarily geo-blocked its services in Italy. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Paris: According to diplomatic sources, the Group of Seven foreign ministers will use meetings in Japan next week to evaluate its Middle East policy as strategic changes bypass Western countries, leaving them scrambling for influence. After years of intense enmity that fueled violence throughout the Middle East, China engineered an agreement in March between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran to reestablish diplomatic relations, catching the US and its key European allies off guard. Along with many other Arab nations, the Kingdom is attempting to formally end Syrias regional isolation despite worries from the West by pursuing attempts to warm bilateral ties with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. A reconfiguration is underway, said a French diplomatic source who was officially briefing reporters but required anonymity as is standard policy. The ministers of the G7 France, Britain, Germany, Italy, Canada, the US and Japan, meet in Japan between 16 April to 18 April. The region is going through serious upheaval, be it the Iranian nuclear crisis aspect, but also the recomposition of the geopolitical balances with the Iran, Saudi, China deal. We can see something is happening with Syria after the earthquake, he said. Certain Middle East allies, notably Saudi Arabia, have questioned US security commitments to the region and have opted to remain neutral over Russias war against Ukraine, pushing them to diversify their relationships, including with China, instead of relying on the West. The G7 must be able to preserve its security interests, which incidentally are also in the interest of regional security, but also global security, the diplomat said. Some European diplomats have bemoaned a Middle East fatigue in the West that has also forced regional players to reconsider their relationships, leaving the door open for others to fill the void. The Iran-Saudi-China deal is symptomatic of our problems. Nobody saw it coming so we need to regroup collectively, said a second G7 diplomat. A third Western diplomat said it was time for the G7 to take stock of the new dynamics in the region, noting that Saudi Arabian-led efforts to orchestrate OPEC oil cuts, against Western wishes, had been another signal. The foreign ministers, who are preparing heads of state summit in Hiroshima in mid-May, will centre their talks on nuclear non-proliferation and disarmament with North Korea, Iran and Russia in mind. The war in Ukraine and how to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions, the Indo-Pacific and more broadly how to tackle challenges to the existing international rules-based order would also be on the agenda, the French diplomat said. The G7 will only remain credible if it is able to handle the worlds problems, he said. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Kyiv: The Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague has ordered Russia to pay $5 billion to Ukraines state-owned gas company Naftogaz for unlawfully expropriating its assets in Russian-annexed Crimea in 2014, the company said on Thursday in a statement. Naftogaz CEO Oleksiy Chernyshov described Wednesdays ruling by The Hagues Arbitration Tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration as a key victory on the energy front and said he expected more decisions in Ukraines favour to come. Despite Russias attempts to obstruct justice, the Arbitration Tribunal ordered Russia to compensate Naftogaz for losses of $5 billion, Naftogaz said. Russia must now comply with this decision in accordance with its obligations under international law, it said in a statement. Russia, which launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, seized the peninsula of Crimea in 2014, drawing a wave of sanctions from Western governments. There was no immediate comment from Russia or Russias Gazprom (GAZP.MM) on the ruling. The court in The Hague did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. Naftogaz said if Russia refused to pay voluntarily it could initiate a process of recognition and admission to enforce the award in the territory of those states where assets of the Russian Federation are located. The company, whose assets in Crimea included Chornomornaftogaz which produced significant amounts of gas from the Black Sea, gave no further detail of which overseas Russian assets it could target. Some high-profile Russian-owned international assets such as superyachts owned by Russian oligarchs have already been targeted by governments as part of sanctions following the Ukraine invasion. Naftogaz had initiated arbitration proceedings with six other companies within the Naftogaz Group in October 2016, it said, noting the arbitration award was made after hearings to determine the amount of compensation, which ended in March 2022. Tim Ash, an analyst at BlueBay Asset Management, said the ruling was a huge legal win for Ukraine, and I would think more (is) to come. Naftogaz has been in talks with investors on a debt restructuring to bring the company out of a months-long default. With inputs from agencies. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Seoul: After reports emerged saying more than a million people in South Korea are living as recluses due to the coronavirus scare, the country has decided to offer its lonely youths a monthly living allowance of 650,000 won ($490) in order to help them get out of their homes. Apart from the allowance the government has also announced to provide support for health, employment, and education. According to the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs, 350,000 South Koreans between the ages of 19 and 39, or about 3% of that age group, are thought to be lonely or alone. The Koreans are describing the illness among their youth with a Japanese word called Hikikomori that loosely translates to to pull back. The government aims to make it simpler for persons who experience it to leave the house and travel to work, school, or other destinations. A monthly grant for living expenses for those between the ages of nine and 24 who are experiencing significant social disengagement is a part of the scheme launched this week, which builds on measures introduced in November. Teenagers are also given a budget for cultural experiences. A government document explaining the measures states that 40% of secluded youngsters started living in seclusion as teens and that impoverished backgrounds make up a majority of their backgrounds. The report covers case studies of young people who used seclusion as a coping mechanism for difficulties in their familial relationships. One young person talks about how domestic abuse contributed to their sadness. Domestic abuse left me so miserable when I was 15 years old that I started to live alone. One more claimed to have isolated themselves after their family went bankrupt. The administration stated in a statement that the new measures are intended to increase government assistance to help reclusive youth recover their daily lives and reintegrate into society. Other forms of assistance include aiding with school and gym materials as well as correcting the afflicted peoples physical appearance, including any scars that adolescents may feel ashamed of. In addition to having a comparatively high youth unemployment rate of 7.2%, South Korea is attempting to address a fast dropping birthrate that further jeopardises productivity. According to Shin Yul, a political science professor at Seouls Myongji University, this policy is fundamentally a welfare measure. While its good to try different strategies to increase the working-age population, it cannot be seen as a long-term solution to fix the population problem here, the author writes. Last month, President Yoon Suk-yeol referred to the birth rate as a crucial national agenda. With women having an average of 0.78 children this year, South Korea became the only nation in the world with a fertility rate below one. Women choose not to have children for a variety of financial reasons, including the high expense of having children, the slowing economy, the lack of work opportunities, and the rising cost of housing. 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: A contingent of the Indian Air Force (IAF) will leave for France on Friday, to participate in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan an air force base of its counterpart the French Air and Space Force (FASF). The military exercise between the two countries will be carried out from 17 April to 5 May 2023, with the IAF contingent comprising four Rafale fighter jets, two C-17, two ll-78 aircraft and 165 air warriors. This will be the first overseas exercise for the IAFs Rafale fleet. The newly inducted Rafale combat jets are deployed in Haryanas Ambala and West Bengals Hasimara air bases. Besides the IAF and the FASF, the air forces of Germany, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, United Kingdom, Spain and United States of America would also be flying in this multilateral exercise. The multinational defence drill codenamed Orion will involve India, the USA and other allies of France. The fighter jets from several countries are expected to arrive in France in mid-April to participate in the large-scale military drill that will include ground troops, warships, aircraft carriers and combat aircraft. The exercise is meant to boost military cooperation and interoperability among participating nations. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington: United States Congressman Brad Sherman has written a letter to Secretary of State Antony Blinken expressing concerns over issues related to human rights situation and democracy in Pakistan. In the letter, shared on Twitter, Sherman talked about democracy in Pakistan, and more specifically, the alleged political victimisation of the former PM Imran Khans political party Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). The California lawmaker said: I know human rights are a priority for you, and I recognised your commitment and the Administrations work on democracy, human rights, and rule of law. The United States does not involve itself in Pakistans internal governmental matters I respect its constitution and its democratic process but we must not shy away from raising our voice when the human rights of the Pakistani people are at stake. Sherman is among four US lawmakers with whom Khan has spoken to in less than a month, urging them to support his demand for free and fair elections in Pakistan. The US lawmaker, through his three-page letter, asked President Joe Biden to guide the US Pakistan policy toward a greater commitment to human rights and to use all diplomatic channels to urge Pakistani authorities to investigate the alleged abuses and to hold accountable anybody who may be responsible. He asked Blinken to reaffirm the US position that the Pakistani government should respect the right to speak, organise, and demonstrate peacefully. It is critical that we see a calm, orderly, democratic, and prosperous Pakistan where Pakistanis can have a free and open political dialogue I am particularly alarmed by incidents over the last year, especially the alleged torture and even sexual abuse of political figures such as former PM Khans Chief of Staff Shahbaz Gill and journalist Jameel Farooqui, Sherman wrote. See below my letter to @SecBlinken regarding Democracy in #Pakistan. Thanks @DrMahmood40 for being such a good adviser, and also for arranging my most recent telephone call with #ImranKhan. pic.twitter.com/qsRAKhX4Oe Congressman Brad Sherman (@BradSherman) April 11, 2023 Sherman also expressed concern over Pakistan's Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah's remarks for "insinuating" that the Imran Khan "will be eliminated from the political arena. "Equally concerning are the multiple cases against Khan, the use of force against his supporter, the detention of protesters under sweeping counter-terrorism laws, and the closing space for free speech," the lawmaker said. In March, the Democratic party congressman had released a video message, in which he urged the US administration to support democracy and human rights in Pakistan, sounding alarm over what he said, the alleged custodial torture and sexual abuse of political figures such as PTI leaders Shahbaz Gill and Azam Swati. Sherman went on to say that the delay in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa elections is "another sign of skirting democratic processes". The United States does not involve itself in Pakistans internal governmental matters I respect its Constitution and its democratic process but we must not shy away from raising our voice when the human rights of the Pakistani people are at stake," the lawmaker said. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. New Delhi: Days after the Myanmarese military junta resorted to airstrikes in Sagaing region killing over 100 people, India on Thursday called for cessation of violence by all sides in the country. The military of Myanmar has been using airstrikes to target its opponents and those carrying out armed struggle against the ruling regime that seized power in a coup in February 2021. At a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi reiterated Indias all for a return of peace, stability and democracy in Myanmar. The airstrikes in Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region on Tuesday is seen as one of the deadliest offensives after the military captured power overthrowing the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. We have seen disturbing reports of violence on April 11 near Kanbalu township in the Sagaing region of Myanmar. As a neighbour and friend of people of Myanmar we have repeatedly called for cessation of violence by all sides and peaceful resolution of all issues, he said. India reiterates its call for a return of peace, stability and democracy in Myanmar, he said, while replying to a question on the air strikes. According to reports, around 130 people including women and children were killed in the airstrikes in Kanbalu township in the central Sagaing region on Tuesday. It is seen as one of the deadliest airstrikes since the junta seized power in a coup two years ago. On February 1, 2021, the military grabbed power in the coup and imposed a state of emergency after detaining Nobel laureate Suu Kyi and other leaders of her National League for Democracy (NLD). The country has been witnessing protests demanding restoration of democracy. Myanmar is one of Indias strategic neighbours and it shares a 1,640 kilometre-long border with a number of northeastern states including militancy-hit Nagaland and Manipur. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Rome: Ministry of Commerce and Industry on Thursday said that India and Italy have discussed progress of talks on the proposed free trade agreement between New Delhi and the European Union (EU) and hope for its early conclusion. India and the European Union in January 2022 resumed negotiations for a free trade agreement, investment protection and Geographical Indications (GI). Italy is a member of the EU. The issue came up for discussion in the meeting of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation in Foreign Office Antonio Tajani here on April 12. The ministers underlined the importance of achieving a free, balanced and fair free trade agreement and hoped that it would be concluded soon, it said. They also agreed to the convening of the next session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) in Rome in the last week of September. Tajani suggested the formation of a Joint Working Group in the strategic areas such as space, technology, defence and agriculture to increase cooperation. Tajani suggested strengthening the parliamentary friendship group diplomacy between the parliaments of the two countries and exploring scope for having a cyber dialogue. Goyal also emphasised on enhancing the bilateral cooperation in the field of clean energy to achieve sustainability to mitigate the negative impact of climate change. Goyal is on an official visit here. He is accompanied by a large business delegation which includes Indian industry and exporters from different sectors. Meanwhile addressing businesses of India and Italy here, Goyal said that huge investment opportunities are there in India for Italian companies. On Indias exports, he said that India exported goods and services worth USD 676 billion in 2021-22. We just closed March 31, 2022-23 with an even bigger record of about USD 765 billion. He expressed hope that the exports would reach USD 2 trillion by 2030. India-Italy bilateral trade stood at over USD 16 billion in 2022. During April-January 2022-23, Indias exports to Italy stood at USD 7.15 billion, while imports aggregated at USD 4.6 billion. The trade gap is in favour of India. Italy is the 17th largest foreign investor in India, with a cumulative FDI of USD 3.25 billion between April 2000 and December 2022. It accounts for about 0.52 per cent of the total FDI India received during the period. The main items of Indian exports to Italy are ready-made garments, leather, iron ore, motor vehicles, textiles, chemicals, gems and jewellery. Main imported items include machinery, machine tools, metallurgical products and engineering items. Around 140 large Italian companies are active in India. Some of the major Italian companies that have invested in India are FIAT Auto, Heinz Italia, Italcementi, Necchi Compressori, Perfetti, Lavazza, ENI, SAI India, Isagro (Asia) Agrochemicals and Piaggio. Indian companies present in Italy are in sectors such as IT, electronics, pharmaceuticals, automobile, textile and engineering. The prominent Indian companies operating in Italy include TCS, Wipro, Engineers India Limited, L&T, Mahindra & Mahindra, Ranbaxy, and Raymonds. (With inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Brussels, Belgium: The cross-examination phase of a trial of ten individuals charged with taking part in the 2016 terrorist bombings in Brussels came to a close on Thursday with the majority of the defendants refusing to beg for pardon. In response to the request made by a lawyer for the victims, a number of people insisted they were innocent and could not, therefore, apologise. Others who did so said they had not had prominent positions. The suicide explosions on 22 March 2016, at the airport and the metro system of Brussels, resulted in 32 fatalities and hundreds of injuries. The Islamic State organisation took ownership. The blasts occurred months after 130 people were killed in the Islamist attacks in Paris in November 2015. Investigators think the IS cell responsible for those assaults had ties to the one in Brussels. To ask for forgiveness is to admit guilt, and Ive told you here that they werent my victims, said Sala Abdeslam, a 33-year-old Frenchman who is the sole living member of the jihadist unit that carried out the Paris attacks. Arrested in Brussels four days before the attacks in the Belgian capital, Abdeslam denied there was a link between the Paris and Brussels IS cells. At the French trial that convicted and sentenced him to life behind bars for the Paris attacks, Abdeslam had tearfully pleaded for forgiveness. A Tunisian arrested the same time as Abdeslam, Sofien Ayari, responded to the apology request by telling the court he hoped the victims would be able to rebuild. How can I not have regrets for certain choices, certain ways things were done? he said. He has already been sentenced to 30 years in jail over the Paris attacks A 38-year-old Belgian-Moroccan co-defendant, Mohamed Abrini, identified by prosecutors as one of the attackers in Brussels airport who apparently decided at the last minute not to set off his bomb, had already apologised in court a day earlier. He said testimony from some of the surviving victims that they forgave him had shaken him. Id prefer to be slapped, he said. He, too, has received a life sentence for the Paris attacks, which he had also decided not to carry out, going instead to Brussels a day before they happened. Samil Farisi, accused of giving shelter to several members of the Brussels IS cell, said: Im innocent. Im not going to apologise. Im sad but I had nothing to do with all that. Another suspect, Bilal El Makhoukhi, a 34-year-old Belgian-Moroccan former IS fighter, said he wanted to ask for forgiveness but said that had to come spontaneously not because you asked me the question. Nine of the defendants were in high-security Brussels detention over the course of the trial, being held inside the former NATO headquarters. The 10th, Oussama Atar, considered to be the one who ordered the attacks in 2016, was being judged in absentia. He is believed to have been killed in terrain between Iraq and Syria. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Amsterdam: Protesters were arrested in the Netherlands on Wednesday, a day after they disrupted French President Emmanuel Macrons speech on Tuesday in the Netherlands about Europes future. Macron was interrupted during a speech about Europes future on Tuesday, with hecklers shouting: Where is French democracy? The first state visit to the Netherlands by a French president for 23 years was also clouded by a row over comments that Macron made about Taiwan, the US and China. Macrons 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 theatre Tuesday brandished a banner calling Macron the president of violence and hypocrisy. The demonstrators stood in an upper tier of the theater and shouted: You have millions of protesters in the streets while holding a banner that read: President of violence and hypocrisy. After security guards removed them, Macron said people who try to undermine laws passed by elected governments put democracy at risk. 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. For the honour of the workers and a better world even if Macron doesnt like it, we are here, one protester said as he was pinned by security officials, TV footage showed. The protester ran toward Macron and was tackled to the ground, knocking over a man in uniform, images on social media showed. The incident happened just after the French leader had got out of a limousine with Willem-Alexander and was being greeted by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema. We arrested two protesters for running towards the president. For disturbing public order and threatening, Amsterdam police spokesperson Lex van Liebergen told reporters. It was a man and a woman, protesters. One of them had a banner. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Mexico City: The fire that killed 40 migrants in a detention facility last month will result in criminal charges for Mexicos immigration chief, but President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador indicated on Wednesday that he will not remove the official renowned for his strict stance on northward migration. The federal Attorney Generals Office said late Tuesday that Francisco Garduno will be charged in connection with the fire, which looked to be at odds with Obradors decision to maintain Garduno as the president of the Mexican Immigration Institute. That shows both some separation of powers in Mexico and the conundrum faced by the Mexican government. Lopez Obrador and his administration are struggling with US pressure to slow the flow of migrants while the international community calls on them to treat migrants humanely and safely. Lopez Obradors comments came on the same day that relatives gathered in rural Guatemala to hold funerals for some of the victims of the deadly fire. Thousands of people gathered in the Guatemalan village of Chicacao for the funeral of Francisco Gaspar Rojche Chiquival and his uncle Miguel Rojche Zapalu, two of the 19 Guatemalans who died of smoke inhalation or burns in the March 27 fire. I am destroyed, I am wounded, said the younger mans father, Manuel Rojche. This is a very hard blow. The family had handed over the title to their land to raise the $15,000 that smugglers demanded to get Rojche Chiquival to the United States. They stand to lose the land. The only possession the 21-year-old left behind his beloved motorcycle travelled with his coffin in the procession to the local cemetery. The men died after a migrant set fire to foam mattresses in protest, and guards fled without opening the cell doors. That president is a coward, Manuel Rojche said of Lopez Obrador. How can you treat people like that, not even an animal much less a human being. Garduno, a lawyer and criminologist, was called to take over the immigration job in June 2019 as Mexico was under pressure from the Trump administration to decrease the flow of migrants. The Mexican immigration institute has been hit for years with repeated complaints of human rights violations and unhealthy conditions in centres for migrants, conditions including inadequate ventilation, clean water and food. There also have been numerous corruption complaints. Under Garduno, the institute took a harder line. Calls have come from within Mexico, and from some Central American nations, not to stop the case of last months fire at the five low-level officials, guards and a Venezuelan migrant already facing homicide charges. Federal prosecutors said late Tuesday that Garduno was remiss in not preventing the disaster in Ciudad Juarez despite earlier indications of problems at his agencys detention centres. Prosecutors said that government audits had found a pattern of irresponsibility and repeated omissions in the immigration institute. However, charges being brought in Mexico, especially against public officials, do not always result in prison time. On Wednesday, Lopez Obrador said that even though the Attorney Generals Office was investigating Garduno, prosecutors had revealed few details and it was not exactly clear how they would charge him. We are going to wait and we are going to make decisions in the (right) moment, Lopez Obrador said. The president defended Garduno, saying His work is good in general; he has always had good performance, despite the misfortune that happened in Juarez. Garduno has been close to Lopez Obrador since the latter was Mexico City mayor, and Garduno has overseen a strategy to contain migrants in southern Mexico with the help of the National Guard, which has been criticized as the start of a militarization of Mexicos immigration policy. It included placing retired or active military officers in leadership positions inside the immigration agency. Gardunos predecessor at the immigration institute, sociologist Tonatiuh Guillen, said the prosecutors decision is a good signal, given that the expectation at first was just an investigation of those who were directly responsible. Guillen said, however, that keeping Garduno in his position generated an unnecessary tension because he should have been dismissed in order to make the case against him more straightforward. Guillen resigned in 2019 because of his disagreement with hardening migration policy, as Washington was demanding. Anger in Mexico initially focused on two guards who were seen fleeing the March 27 fire, without unlocking the cell door to allow the migrants to escape. But Lopez Obrador had said earlier Tuesday that they didnt have the keys. 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 without making an effort to release them. The Attorney Generals Office said several other officers 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. An immigration official said on Wednesday morning that Garduno had not yet been called to testify. The official asked for anonymity because was hot authorized to speak on the record. Complaints about corruption and bad conditions at Mexicos migrant detention facilities have never been seriously addressed: Prosecutors said that after a fire at another detention centre in the Gulf coast state of Tabasco killed one person and injured 14 in 2020, the immigration agency knew there were problems that needed to be corrected, but alleged they failed to act. The fire case could also put Lopez Obrador in a difficult position on his promise not to tolerate any corruption. Prosecutors said they are investigating a no-bid contract to the firm providing private security at the Ciudad Juarez facility. Investigators found a series of irregularities in the companys work, but prosecutors did not specify if Garduno was involved in that contracts approval. One migrant allegedly set fire to foam mattresses at the detention centre to protest detention conditions and what he apparently thought were plans to move or deport the migrants. Mexico has returned the bodies of 31 migrants to their home countries. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington: Russia has urged the US to immediately issue visas to its delegation to events related to the countrys chairmanship of the UN Security Council, Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said on Thursday. The request to issue visas for the delegation and the journalists were sent to the US embassy in Moscow at the end of March. However, not a single-entry permission has been granted so far, the envoy was quoted by TASS as saying in a statement, commenting on the issuance of visas to members of the Russian delegation led by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. Antonov said that the appointment with the American diplomatic mission was cancelled by the US authorities a day before the scheduled visit of the Russian media representatives for examination of their visa application. There is still no certainty, although there are only a few days left before the event, Antonov was quoted by TASS as saying. The Russian ambassador urged the US to immediately issue visas for our delegation, as well as for our journalists. Not allowing the delegation to attend the event would be a clear violation of the USs obligation as the host country of the UN headquarters, which impedes appropriate, full-fledged functioning of the World Organization, he said. An incomprehensible situation concerning the Ministers special flight is evolving. The US authorities have not yet sanctioned the arrival of the aircraft. We expect Americans to promptly grant the flight permission without any conditions or restrictions, Antonov added. The UN secretary generals spokesman Stephane Dujarric said at a briefing on Wednesday that the United Nations expected the US to issue visas to members of Lavrovs delegation, expected to visit the UN headquarters in late April. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Belgrade: Amid allegations of supplying lethal aid to Kyiv, the Serbian government on Wednesday refuted claims that it had sent weapons to Ukraine and reiterated its policy of non-involvement in the war. The denial comes after leaked US classified documents appeared to indicate that the Balkan country had provided military help to the war-torn country. Serbian Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic on Wednesday dismissed as false allegations that Serbia had been supplying weapons to Ukraine. Serbias First Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ivica Dacic refutes the allegation about deliveries of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine published by the British Reuters news agency and reproduced by some Serbian media outlets. Minister Dacic has stated that Serbia respects domestic and international legal instruments and does not supply arms and military equipment to any state if this could lead to or prolong armed conflicts, or endanger peace and security in the region or its own defence interests, the Serbian foreign ministry said in a statement. Dacic, who is one of Belgrades top diplomats stressed that, The Republic of Serbia adheres to its policy of military neutrality and complies with the conclusions of the National Security Council of February last year. He pointed out that since the beginning of the conflict in Ukraine, no weapons have been exported from Serbia to either side involved in the conflict. Earlier, Serbian Defence Minister Milos Vucevic had said that the Balkan nation had not sold nor would ever sell any lethal weapons to either of the two warring sidesKyiv or Moscow. On March 5, Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic had made a similar statement saying that his country was not supplying weapons to either Ukraine or Russia. Serbian export licenses for arms and military equipment are issued only to buyers with an end-user certificate, which states, among other things, that the end-user cannot resell weapons without the consent of the competent authorities of Serbia, Dacic further revealed on Wednesday. According to the leaked Pentagon documents, the Serbian authorities declined to provide training to Ukrainian forces, but had committed to sending lethal aid or had supplied it already. It also said that Serbia had the political will and military ability to provide weapons to Ukraine in the future. 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: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Wednesday warned that the outlook for extending a deal beyond 18 May that allows the safe wartime export of grain and fertilizer from several Ukrainian Black Sea ports was not great because Russias own such exports still face obstacles. We know UN representatives are making some efforts [to maintain the agreement], but the second half of the deal is still not working, and its conditions are not being implemented, Russia Today quoted Peskov as saying. No deal can stand on one leg it needs two legs to stand on. In this sense, judging by how things are today, the prospects are not so good, he added. The Black Sea Grain Initiative was made in July with the aim of allowing grain ships to leave Ukraines Black Sea ports after they became stuck there due to the Ukraine conflict. The accord was also meant to facilitate unrestricted access to grain and fertilizer exports from Russia. Moscow has since insisted that while the export of wheat, corn and other agricultural products from Ukraine continues, Russian companies are still struggling with hurdles put in place by sanctions. US and EU sanctions do not contain an outright ban on Russias fertilizer exports to third countries. However, they created problems in terms of logistics, payments for transactions, and shipping insurance. Russia puts conditions on deal extension Western powers have imposed tough sanctions on Russia over its 24 February 2022, invasion of Ukraine. Its food and fertilizer exports are not sanctioned, but Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a barrier to shipments. Last month, Russia agreed to renew the Ukraine Black Sea grain export deal for at least 60 days, half the intended period. Moscow said it would only consider a further extension if several demands in relation to its own exports were met. Those include allowing the Russian Agricultural Bank to return to the SWIFT payment system, allowing Russia to import agricultural machinery, the removal of insurance restrictions, port access for Russian ships and cargo, and an unblocking of the financial activities of Russian fertilizer companies. Moscow also wants a pipeline that delivers Russian ammonia to a Ukrainian Black Sea port to be restarted. The United States has pushed back on Moscows demands, saying the only prohibitions on food and fertilizer exports from Russia are those imposed by the government of Russia. 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. North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile toward the sea on Thursday morning, Yonhap news agency reported, citing South Koreas military. The agency said South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff reported the missile was fired toward the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, in the latest act of defiance from Pyongyang amid tensions with Seoul and Washington. Japan also confirmed the launch, with the office of PM Fumio Kishida tweeting at 1034 GMT that North Korea launched what appears to be a ballistic missile. The Japanese government also urged Hokkaido residents to take shelter on Thursday morning after the missile launch. Evacuate immediately. Evacuate immediately, the government said in an initial warning, telling residents of Hokkaido to take shelter in a building or underground. Later PM Fumio Kishida confirmed that the missile did not fall in Japanese territory. North Korean tests nuclear-capable underwater drones Pyongyang has been carrying out a series of weapons tests. North Koreas state media has claimed that the country tested nuclear-capable underwater drones and two intercontinental ballistic missiles, earlier this year. On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 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, Pyongyangs Korean Central News Agency said. Kim ordered that the countrys 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. Earlier this year, Kim ordered the military to intensify drills to prepare for a real war. With inputs from AFP Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Karachi, Pakistan: Pakistan reiterated at a meeting with the International Monetary Fund on Thursday that it has met all prerequisites to obtain crucial bailout funds from the lender. Pakistans foreign exchange reserves are less than a months worth, and it has been waiting since November for an IMF rescue package worth $1.1 billion due to problems with its fiscal strategy. The money is a part of a $6.5 billion rescue plan that the IMF authorised in 2019 and analysts think is essential for Pakistan to avoid defaulting on its foreign payment obligations. The money can only be released after signing a staff-level agreement (SLA). The finance minister further shared that all prior actions for 9th Review under the Extended Fund Facility have already been completed and Government of Pakistan is fully committed to fulfill its obligations as agreed with the IMF, the finance ministry said in a news release. The statement said discussions included economic and financial policies, reforms and initiatives to implement ongoing IMF programs. It added that Antoinette Moniso Sayeh, deputy managing director at the IMF, supported continuing to work together and was confident of signing the SLA very soon. The finance minister also shared that all the international obligations have been addressed in time, it added. On Wednesday, Pakistans finance ministry released a statement following talks with the IMFs Middle East and Central Asia Director Jihad Azour. Mr Jihad Azour expressed confidence that SLA expected to be signed soon which to be followed by the Boards approval for the 9th Review, said the ministry in a tweet. Pakistans finance minister cancelled a visit to Washington for spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, citing domestic political turmoil, but has been attending virtually. The US on Friday made arrested a suspect in the Pentagon document leak case. The FBI has taken into custody 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, who is a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. FBI agents converged at Teixeiras Massachusetts home and heavily armed tactical agents took Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts, into custody outside the property, without incident, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. Garland said Teixeira will be charged with the unauthorised removal of classified national defense information. Also read: Who is Jack Teixeira, the suspect arrested over leaked Pentagon documents? The emergence of Teixeira as the apparent primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how the highest-profile US intelligence leak in years, one that continues to unfold with almost daily revelations of highly classified documents, could have been caused by a low-ranking service member. The Joe Biden administration has been scrambling to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. Pentagon had earlier called the leaks a very serious security risk. The embarrassing security breach has revealed US doubt over the viability of a coming counteroffensive by Kyivs forces against Russian troops as well as concerns about Ukrainian air defences, and pointed to Washington spying on allies. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Moscow: The Federal Security Service (FSB) of Russia has accused the countrys Defence Ministry of obfuscating Russian casualties in Ukraine, according to a newly discovered cache of leaked US intelligence documents. According to a report in The New York Times, the Russian agency claimed that the official death toll of the Russia-Ukraine war did not include those dead and wounded from the Russian National Guard, the Wagner group or fighters fielded by Ramzan Kadyrov the leader of the Russian republic of Chechnya. The FSB claimed that the finding highlighted the continuing reluctance of military officials to convey bad news up the chain of command, according to the excerpt from one document, dated February 28. The agency calculated the actual number of Russians wounded and killed in action was closer to 110,000, it states. Back in September last year, the Russian government said that 5,937 Russian soldiers had been killed since the war began. (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. Berlin: Poland has asked for the German governments nod to export old German MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine to bolster Kyivs air power against the Russian troops, a defence ministry spokesperson based in Berlin said on Thursday. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has indicated that a decision on the jets will be taken soon. The Polish defence ministry in Warsaw, however, did not immediately comment. Germany inherited 24 MiG-29 jets from the East German GDR at the time of the countrys reunification in early 1990. At the time, the aircraft were seen as among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. With passage of time, in 2004, Germany passed on 22 of the aircraft to Poland. Of the remaining two jets, one was destroyed in an air crash and one is on display at a museum. Fighter jets have been one of Ukraines most required war equipment since the early stages of the Russian invasion, but the focus had initially been on getting advanced Western tanks. Calls for Western fighter jets have been stepped up since Germany agreed to send Leopard 2 tanks and the US delivered a batch of Abrams to Ukraine. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Tokyo: Thursday morning brought fear and chaos for people living in and around Hokkaido island in Japan as millions of them were reportedly asked to immediately seek cover to save themselves from a long-range missile launched by North Korea. The government-run alert system: J-Alert warned people that a projectile of what was anticipated as a long-range missile test fired by North Korea could fall in or around the island. Just before 8 am local time, the system issued the evacuation alert, but shortly after, it was revoked because it had erroneously anticipated that the missile would land close to the island. The emergency evacuation warning, which Japans government eventually withdrew, was justified, government officials said adding that it had not been made in error. We did not correct the information issued by J-Alert, the chief cabinet secretary, Hirokazu Matsuno, told a news conference. According to a defence official who spoke on condition of anonymity due to office policies, South Koreas military believes it was a novel sort of ballistic missile that may have used solid fuel. It would be the Norths first attempt to test an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) using solid fuel. Before a weapon can be fired, liquid fuel must be injected, but because solid-propellant weapons already have fuel loaded within, it is more difficult to predict when one will be launched. As soon as it was detected, the North Korean missile, according to Matsuno, vanished from Japans radar, and further investigation revealed that there was no chance it would strike on Japanese soil, allowing authorities to cancel the evacuation alert. The missile test was strongly condemned, by White House. The National Security Councils Adrienne Watson stated in a statement that the door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilising actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement. The missile had fallen in the water east of North Korea, according to the Japanese coast guard. Yasukazu Hamada, Japans defence minister, informed reporters that the missile had not landed on Japanese soil or in its exclusive economic zone. The launch occurred only days after North Koreas leader, Kim Jong-un, called for a more practical and offensive manner to reinforce the nations war deterrence in response to US aggression. In recent weeks, the North has intensified its weapons tests and rhetoric, ostensibly in reaction to joint military drills between US and South Korean forces, which the dictatorship in Pyongyang claims are practise for an invasion of its country. Seoul and Washington insist that the exercises are strictly defensive. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Crimea: The authorities in Russia-occupied Crimea have reportedly postponed celebratory military festivities that were scheduled for next month due to the Kremlins sensitivities regarding significant Russian troop losses in Ukraine, British defense sources have revealed. Celebrations were to be held on May 9, in all Russian towns to commemorate the Soviet Unions contribution to the defeat of Nazi Germany during World War II, also known as Great Patriotic War. The largest event is held in Moscow, where Russian military equipment is on display and troops conduct a march-past around Red Square. However, for security reasons, officials in Russian districts close to the Ukrainian border, like Kursk and Belgorod, have cancelled their activities this year. Unidentified bombs have struck military facilities in the Russian oblasts bordering Ukraine ever since Russian President Vladimir Putins full-scale assault began. Russias 2014 invasion of Crimea resulted in the suspension of celebratory military activities there as well. Sergey Aksyonov, the leader of Crimea who was installed by Russia, said on Telegram that there will be no parades in Crimea or Sevastopol on May 1 or May 9 for security reasons, while local officials will congratulate veterans. British defence sources, however, claimed that the parades posed a sensitive communications challenge for the Kremlin and that the Kremlins worries over the publics perception of the high number of Russian casualties in Ukraine were also factors in the decision. The U.K. Ministry of Defence stated that Putin couches the special military operation in the spirit of the Soviet experience in World War Two. The many Russians who have firsthand knowledge of the poorly run and unsuccessful effort in Ukraine risk feeling increasingly uneasy about this. The report on Thursday, which focuses on Russian losses and Ukrainian gains, warned that honoring the fallen of previous generations could easily blur into exposing the scope of the recent losses, which the Kremlin attempts to cover up. Attacks on Crimean locations by the Ukrainian military have hounded the Russian Black Sea fleet and cut off crucial Russian supply routes. Thousands of Russians are reportedly leaving Crimea due to fears that it could be the focus of an anticipated springtime counteroffensive by Ukraine, according to Tamila Tasheva, the chief representative for Crimea under Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. China releases position paper on Afghan issue to help reconstruction 16:51, April 13, 2023 By Liu Xin and Ding Yazhi ( Global Times Afghan people carry China-donated relief supplies in Jawzjan province, Afghanistan, Aug. 24, 2022. Photo:Xinhua China released an 11-point paper to fully elaborate its position on the Afghan issue and express firm support for the reconstruction of the war-torn country on Wednesday - the same day as Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang started a two-day visit to Uzbekistan where he will also attend the fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand. Analysts noted that China is taking concrete measures to push further coordination on the Afghan issue and together with regional countries to help with Afghanistan's reconstruction and revitalization. The paper, titled "China's Position on the Afghan Issue," lists China's adherence to the "Three respects" and "Three nevers," as the first point. These are respect for Afghanistan's independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity, to respect the independent choices made by the Afghan people, and to respect the religious beliefs and national customs of Afghanistan. China never interferes in Afghanistan's internal affairs, never seeks selfish interests in Afghanistan and never pursues so-called sphere of influence. Afghanistan is in a crucial period of moving from turbulence to stabilization. To fully outline China's policy and propositions in a systematic way and build consensus and synergy among countries in the region and elsewhere on stabilizing and helping Afghanistan, the foreign ministry released China's Position on the Afghan Issue, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a press conference on Wednesday. Wang noted that the fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan will be held in Samarkand on Thursday and China is willing to work with neighboring countries to help Afghan to walk on the path for stable development and to realize regional peace and prosperity. State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin will attend the fourth Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan and visit Uzbekistan from Wednesday to Thursday, according to information from the Foreign Ministry. Observers said that the paper on the Afghan issue came on the heels of a 12-point positon paper on Ukraine crisis which was released in February, also highlighting China's consistent stance in seeking and making peaceful solutions for heated geopolitical issues. Qin will meet with President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev and hold talks with Acting Foreign Minister Bakhtiyor Saidov. They will exchange views on bilateral relations, high-level exchanges between the two sides and international and regional issues of shared interest, according to Foreign Ministry. Qin's visit will further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation and bilateral relations with Uzbekistan and Central Asian countries to inject stability in the region amid global spillover effect of the Ukraine crisis, analysts said. The Wednesday paper which collectively and thoroughly elaborates China's stance on Afghan issue will help coordinate neighboring countries' stance and push a different way from the West and the US in solving conflicts within Afghanistan through political dialogue, Zhu Yongbiao, director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The international community, especially regional countries, expect China to play a more active role on the Afghan issue given its selfless assistance to Afghanistan people, Zhu noted. The third Foreign Ministers' Meeting among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan was held in Tunxi, East China's Anhui Province in 2022 and foreign ministers or high-level representatives from China, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan drafted a joint statement and an initiative in pooling resources and coordinating to increase their support for Afghanistan, analysts said. The paper released on Wednesday showcases China's efforts in promoting mechanism of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan neighboring countries a step forward to bring more light to Afghanistan reconstruction, Hu Shisheng, director of the Institute for South Asian Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times. Hu noted that currently, Afghanistan is facing new historical changes - after the withdrawal of the US and Western troops, the country has seen no proxy wars and more autonomy. However, the situation is fragile and can be reversed at any time. And the sanctions imposed by the US and the West are squashing Afghanistan's chances of future development. While China and regional countries are working to help Afghanistan regain the capability to revitalize itself, the US and Western countries should also take their due responsibility, said Hu. The Wednesday paper urged the US to live up to its commitments and responsibilities to Afghanistan and noted that "by seizing Afghanistan's overseas assets and imposing unilateral sanctions, the US, which created the Afghan issue in the first place, is the biggest external factor that hinders substantive improvement in the humanitarian situation in Afghanistan." Zhu noted that more efforts from the international community are required given the current problems in Afghanistan, including the Afghan Taliban interim government's ban on women's access to education, domestic and regional measures on countering terrorism and Afghanistan's fight against narcotics. All these topics will be discussed on Thursday during State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin and other foreign ministers' meeting from neighboring countries, said Zhu, noting that a stable Afghanistan not only fits the interests of Afghanistan people but will also contribute to regional stability, creating favorable conditions for countries in the region to seek better development. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Moscow: Russias Federal Security Service (FSB) has revealed that a Ukrainian resident named Yury Denisov masterminded the murder of military blogger Vladlen Tatarsky earlier this month in a cafe in St. Petersburg. Denisov, according to the service, travelled from Kiev to Russia in February via Latvia. He delivered the bomb to the woman who brought it to the St. Petersburg coffee shop where Tatarsky was giving a talk on April 2 using an intermediary. The blogger was killed and numerous others were hurt in the explosion that followed. The FSB said that Denisov left Russia the following day and travelled through Turkey and Armenia. The CIA alleges Denisov spent time in the Moscow Region gathering information on Tatarsky before to the assassination, the statement continued. An international arrest warrant for the suspect is being drafted by Russia. Denisov has appeared in a number of photos provided by the FSB, one of which shows him ostensibly avoiding customs inspection at the Russian border. Additionally, images of his Ukrainian drivers licence and a contract for the purchase of a secondhand car in Moscow were made public. The blast was blamed on Ukrainian special services and their agents, including fugitive members of the Russian opposition, according to investigators. According to the statement, numerous friends of imprisoned opposition leader Alexey Navalny gave Denisovs alleged collaborator, Darya Trepova, the idea to carry out sabotage in Russia. According to the FSB, they repeatedly made statements about the need for sabotage actions in Russia. Trepova was a fan of Navalny, it was added. Former Donbass combatant Tatarsky, whose true name was Maksim Fomin, was a well-known military blogger who pushed for a firm position on the Russian military campaign against Ukraine. A cafe associated with Yevgeny Prigozhin, the head of the Wagner Group private military group, sponsored his speech in St. Petersburg. Kyiv meanwhile has refuted claims that it was behind the blast. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington: In an appeal to the leaders of the IMF and World Bank, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday reiterated his call for the confiscation of assets held abroad by the Russian Central Bank and their use in Ukraines reconstruction. Addressing a virtual roundtable hosted by the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Wednesday, Zelensky said,To charge the aggressor with compensation for damagesRussia must feel the full price of its aggression. The US announced at the start of Russias invasion that America and its allies had blocked access to more than $600 billion that Russia held outside its borders. The US and its allies continue to impose rounds of targeted sanctions against companies and the wealthy elite with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. It must be clearly stated that the assets of the Russian Central Bank will be confiscated. It will be a peacemaking act on a global scale, Zelenskyy said. During the meeting, Zelenskyy also stood up and called for a moment of silence for a Ukrainian soldier who appears to have been beheaded. In the most recent accusation of atrocities allegedly committed by Russian troops, a horrifying video purporting to depict the beheading swiftly went viral online and sparked indignation in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the World Bank announced today $200 million in grant financing for a project that will repair Ukraines energy infrastructure. The funds for this project are provided by the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund, with additional funding of up to $300 million envisaged to come from partners through grants and other contributions as the project expands its scope. The Restoration Project of Winterization and Energy Resources will support emergency repairs to the electricity transmission and heating infrastructure by urgently procuring critical equipment. Emergency electricity equipment includes autotransformers, transmission transformers, switchgear and circuit breakers, relay protection devices and other equipment. Emergency equipment for the heating infrastructure includes mobile heat-only boilers, mobile mini cogeneration units, as well as other equipment and parts to repair district heating networks. Now in its second year, Russias invasion of Ukraine continues to have devastating economic and humanitarian consequences, said World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde. Energy infrastructure has suffered $11 billion in damages over the last year and is one of the most critical areas where Ukraine needs urgent support. We are grateful for the strong partnership with Ukraine and development partners to support this critical sector and act fast. To date, the World Bank has mobilized more than $23 billion in emergency financing for Ukraine, including commitments and pledges from donors. The Russia-Ukraine war that started on 24 February has taken numerous lives and the war continues to escalate between the two nations even now. The biggest land conflict in Europe since the Second World War has displaced millions leaving Ukrainian cities, towns and villages in ruins and disrupting the global economy. 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. Riyadh, Saudi Arabia: On Wednesday, Saudi Arabia met historic delegations from Iran and Syria as Gulf nations are ready to restore diplomatic relations following years of acrimonious rifts. Saudi Arabia confirmed the arrival of Syrias foreign minister in Jeddah just hours after Iranian state media reported that a group had arrived in Riyadh. This was the first such travel since the countrys civil war began in 2011, according to Saudi Arabia. The Saudi foreign ministry claimed in a statement that Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad met with his Saudi counterpart and discussed the necessary steps to achieve a complete political settlement to the Syrian crisis. The aim is to achieve a national reconciliation and bring back Syria to its Arab fold and resume its natural role in the Arab world, the statement said. The two diplomats also confirmed that steps would be taken to resume consular services, and also announced plans to resume flights between their countries. With Irans president also expected in Saudi soon, and the Saudis negotiating with Yemens Huthi rebels this week in an attempt to end fighting there, optimism has blossomed for the turbulent Gulf region during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Iranians and Syrians are in Saudi Arabia on the same day. Thats totally crazy and was inconceivable a few months ago, a Riyadh-based Arab diplomat told AFP. On Friday, representatives of nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah to discuss letting Syrian President Bashar al-Assads long-isolated country attend an Arab League summit next month. Before then, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad will meet his Saudi counterpart to discuss efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria, the Saudi foreign ministry said. Diplomatic flurry Earlier, Tehran announced the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Riyadh to pave the way for reopening diplomatic missions, seven years after an acrimonious break in ties. The visit comes after a Saudi delegation made a similar trip to Irans capital, and follows a historic meeting in China between the two governments foreign ministers who vowed to bring stability to the troubled region. The Iranian delegation will take the necessary steps to reopen the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate general in Jeddah as well as the activities of Irans permanent representative in the (Jeddah-based) Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, Irans foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement. Irans President Ebrahim Raisi has been invited to Saudi Arabia, according to Tehran. It would be the first trip by an Iranian president to Saudi Arabia since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a regional meeting in Mecca in 2012. The flurry of diplomatic activity follows last months landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement that Iran and Saudi Arabia, who have backed opposing sides in conflicts around the Middle East, would work towards resuming ties. Riyadh broke off relations in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr one in a series of flashpoints between the long-time foes. Since the 10 March announcement, the two countries foreign ministers have met in China and a Saudi technical delegation met Irans chief of protocol in Tehran last week, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The Saudi delegation, which arrived in Tehran on Saturday, is due to fly on to Irans second city Mashhad on Thursday, Kanani said. Yemen truce talks As the contacts grow, Saudi Arabia is also negotiating with Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels, eight years after launching a military intervention aimed at dislodging them from power in its impoverished neighbour. Saudi ambassador Mohammed Al-Jaber travelled to Sanaa, Yemens rebel-held capital, this week hoping to stabilise a lapsed truce and work towards a comprehensive political solution between the Huthis and the ousted government. Saudi Arabia gathered a multinational coalition to fight the Huthis in 2015, after the rebels took control of Sanaa and large swathes of the country, forcing the government to flee. Yemen has become a major battleground and the two countries also vie for influence in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Analysts say, Saudi Arabia, the worlds biggest oil exporter, now wants to exit the eight-year war to focus on domestic projects aimed at diversifying its energy-dependent economy. Washington has cautiously welcomed the rapprochement between the Saudis and US adversary Iran despite the role of China, which it sees as its biggest global challenger. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Seoul, South Korea: After leaked papers appeared to reveal Washington snooping on its important Asian partner, the South Korean opposition urged the government to look into allegations of espionage by the United States on Wednesday. The disclosure that Washington had been eavesdropping on President Yoon Suk Yeols national security advisers in an endeavour to gain military supplies for Ukraine was made public as a result of extremely sensitive US intelligence that has surfaced online. Seoul sought to downplay the importance of the leaked documents on Tuesday, with Yoons office claiming a significant number of the documents were fake and his national security advisor saying there were no malicious intentions in the incident. But the revelation has sparked criticism in South Korea about the vulnerability of sensitive sites including the presidential office. The government must get to the bottom of eavesdropping allegations and if they are found to be true, it must get an official apology and guarantee that it wont do it again from the US, Lee Jae-myung, head of the opposition Democratic party, said on Wednesday. Opposition lawmakers have accused the government of trying to move past the incident and smooth relations ahead of Yoons state visit to Washington due later this month. 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. A copy of one of the leaked documents obtained by AFP shows discussions among Seouls top national security officials about whether providing arms and ammunition to Ukraine would violate the countrys long-standing policy against providing weapons to countries in active conflict. One official suggested exporting ammunition to Poland to get around the policy, the document showed. 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. Seouls response to the incident has been critised with former security official Choi Gi-il saying the government is seemingly defending the US over the suspected surveillance. It is very ironic. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Bucharest, Romania: A year after the sinking of a flagship Russian warship, Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday urged the West that it was time to turn (the) Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become: a sea of NATO. Addressing a conference on Black Sea security virtually, he said,Its time to work out a comprehensive security network for all nations of all the region that feel threatened. Its time to turn (the) Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become: a sea of NATO, he added. Kuleba said it was regrettable that West has no consistent Black Sea strategy while Russia always had one. I regret to say, but the West had no consistent Black Sea strategy, while Russia has always had one: aggressive, revanchist, and barbaric, he added. The Black Sea security conference takes place on the first anniversary of the sinking of the Moskva, the flagship of Russias Black Sea fleet. The warship sank in mid-April last year following what the Kremlin called an explosion on board. Ukraine said its forces struck the vessel with missiles. Kuleba said Ukraine wanted peaceful, law-abiding countries to be able to once again use the shared sea to trade, travel and live freely without fear of Russian warships. Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov also attended the conference together with his Romanian and Moldovan counterparts. Initiated by Kyiv, the two-day conference brings together decision makers, officials and experts to discuss security in the wake of Moscows invasion of Ukraine. 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. London: UK Police officers waste more time in the office looking into social media comments and doing meaningless administrative jobs than being on the streets fighting crime. In lieu of these alarming findings, the UK Home Office has chalked a new plan for police administration so as to free up their time. According to reports, the action is part of a larger series of rule changes on how police departments record crime so that they can give more time to leg work and less to administrative tasks. Home Office believes officers should be on the streets responding to crimes like burglaries rather than looking into internet comments. According to the Home Office, police will no longer be required to keep records of incidents of public disturbances that have been addressed as well as social media posts that may offend but are not threatening. However, a supervisor or sergeant will need to sign off before such cases can be left unrecorded. It further stated that the police will have the authority to decide if such matters should instead be handled by social media corporations like Twitter and Facebook. The changes are being made, according to Home Office Minister Chris Philp, so that officers may better focus on preventing and investigating crimes. He claimed the department had listened to police forces. The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said that an evaluation of officer productivity revealed that 443,000 hoursequivalent to attending 220,000 domestic abuse occurrences or 270,000 burglariesare wasted filling out paperwork and doing pointless administrative jobs. Another change to the way crimes are reported is that reported crimes for one incident will now always be recorded under the principal offence rather than as several entries on a database that essentially re-records the same incident. However, the Home Office declared that police would continue to investigate all related offences. Additionally, it was stated that another adjustment would make it simpler to remove the recording of a crime in cases where there is sufficient proof that none was actually done. This change would also depend on the proper sign-off. The adjustments, according to the government, will take effect in the upcoming weeks and were suggested after a review by Chris Rowley, the NPCCs lead for crime data integrity. Victims must always be at the forefront of our response to crime, according to Philp. Police officers will be able to concentrate on resolving crimes, providing justice for victims, and preventing crime from occurring in the first place if they listen to the forces and reduce needless red tape, he said. Were optimistic well meet our goal of having the most police officers ever. We want them to be our most productive police officers in history, with less needless bureaucracy. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Beijing: Germanys Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock has begun her three-day tour to China. Her visit comes at the time of increased Chinese military drills around Taiwan, which she condemned on Wednesday. The visit of the German foreign minister also comes amid the controversy surrounding French President Emmanuel Macrons comments on his way back from China last week. Macron had said that Europe must resist pressure to be an American vassal and should avoid getting dragged into a confrontation between China and US over Taiwan. Before embarking for China, Baerbock said she would give utmost priority to discussion on Ukraine war with Chinese officials. She said that as a permanent member of the United Nation Security Council, China bears special responsibility for world peace. What role China plays with its influence on Russia will have consequences for the whole of Europe and our relationship with China, she said. Germany Foreign Minister in China The German Foreign Minister will spend the first two days in the northern metropolis of Tianjin. She will be visiting school with German ties after which she will head to a German-owned wind turbine factory. On Friday, she will hold talks with her Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang. The two are expected to take a high-speed train to Beijing, around 150 kilometers (93 miles) away. She will also meet Chinese Vice-President Han Zheng and Wang Yi. German foreign ministry, in a statement, said in her meeting with Chinese officials, Baerbock would discuss Taiwan, Ukraine, human rights among other issues. In a statement released on Wednesday, Baerbock described Germanys biggest trading partner, China, as a competitor, systemic rival and global player that increasingly wants to shape the world order according to its own designs. Speaking about the agenda of her China visit, the German foreign minister said, At the top of my agenda is our interest in bringing the war on our European doorstep in Ukraine to a swift, lasting and just end. The role that China plays with its influence visavis Russia will have consequences for the whole of Europe and for our relationship with China, she added. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Vienna, Austria: After two recent landmine explosions near Ukraines Zaporizhzhia facility, UN nuclear head Rafael Grossi warned on Thursday that we are living on borrowed time. The facility, which is the biggest atomic power station in Europe, has often been the subject of concerns from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). In March of last year, Russian soldiers seized control of the six-reactor complex in troubled southern Ukraine. We are living on borrowed time when it comes to nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Grossi said in a statement. Unless we take action to protect the plant, our luck will sooner or later run out, with potentially severe consequences for human health and the environment, he added. Two landmine explosions occurred outside the plants perimeter fence the first on 8 April, and another four days later, according to the statement. It was not immediately clear what caused the blasts, it said. Grossi met senior Russian officials in Kaliningrad last week and prior to this with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Zaporizhzhia to discuss a safety plan. He also warned on Thursday that the plant continued to depend on a single still-functioning power line, posing a major risk to nuclear safety and security. A backup power line damaged on 1 March has still not been repaired, the IAEA said. It also said the staffing situation at the plant remained complex and challenging, in part because of staff shortages. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington/Beijing: About eight in 10 American adults (or 83 per cent) continue to have negative views of China, according to a new survey by Pew Research Center. The number is up 1 percentage point compared to 2022. On the other hand, those with very unfavourable views have increased by four percentage points since 2022, from 40 to 44 per cent, as per the survey results. The Pew Research Centre surveyed 3,576 adults between March 20-26. When asked to label China as either a competitor, enemy or partner of the U.S., Americans are most likely to say China is a competitor (52% say this). https://t.co/jkAWvOjp0p pic.twitter.com/hehFalYWUK Pew Research Center (@pewresearch) April 13, 2023 It further stated that around four in 10 Americans now describe China as an enemy of the United States, rather than as a competitor or a partner up 13 points from 2022. In the wake of Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent visit to Moscow to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin, a whopping 62 per cent of Americans see the China-Russia partnership as a very serious problem for the United States, up five points since October and back to the original high levels seen in the immediate aftermath of the Ukraine invasion in 2022, the research states. For the unversed, Xi Jinpings visit to Moscow was from March 20-22 the start of the survey period. Further, the results show that 47 per cent of respondents say tensions between mainland China and Taiwan pose a very serious problem for the US up by four percentage points since October 2022 and 19 points since February 2021. Chinas policies on human rights are also a very serious concern for around half of Americans, it said. On issues like resolving international conflicts, climate change policy and combating the spread of infectious disease, Americans are more likely to say the U.S. cannot cooperate with China than say it can. https://t.co/OGKLW0Fw1U pic.twitter.com/qTMfhTdjtc Pew Research Global (@pewglobal) April 12, 2023 The research has also found that more than twice as many Americans support the US government banning TikTok as oppose it (or 50 per cent versus 22 per cent), while 28 per cent were not sure. The Pew Research added, Americans are also critical of Chinas behavior on the international stage. Around three-quarters or more say China does not take the interests of other countries like the US into account, that it interferes in the affairs of other countries and that it does not contribute to peace and stability around the world. The report suggests that Republicans are around twice as likely as Democrats to say China does not contribute to peace and stability at all (40 per cent against 21 per cent). Noting that Americans are somewhat skeptical about possibilities of cooperation with China, the report stated, On issues like resolving international conflicts, climate change policy and combating the spread of infectious disease, Americans are more likely to say the US cannot cooperate with China than say it can. However, there are two areas where Americans are more open to the possibility of collaboration with Beijing: student exchanges and trade and economic policy. Talking about the survey, Dr Laura Silver, associate director at Pew Research Centre, told The Straits Times, Weve seen increasing negativity towards China on almost every one of our surveys, especially in recent years. So to continue seeing that trend, especially in the wake of Secretary of State Antony Blinkens cancelled trip and the spy balloon and the Xi-Putin summit and the TikTok hearings, its definitely consistent with past findings and kind of the tenor of the day that Americans have a deepening negativity towards China. Read the full report here. (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. New Delhi: Former US National Security Advisor John Bolton has suggested the US government to implement a new Cold War-style strategy against Russia and China. Describing his grand-strategy approach to geopolitics in a Wall Street Journal column on Wednesday, Bolton suggested that the West should cut back on social programs to fund military spending, renew testing of nuclear weapons, and provide security guarantees to Taiwan. Bolton, a long-time foreign policy hawk who served in the administration of President Donald Trump, urged candidates in the 2024 US presidential election to think in the same terms. The US should have a contemporary reincarnation of NSC-68, Russia Today quoted Bolton as arguing, referring to the document adopted under President Harry Truman which laid the foundation for militarizing the confrontation with the USSR. The US and its allies would be pitted against a Chinese-Russian axis and accompanying rogue-state outriders like Iran and North Korea in a new Cold War, he claimed. Bolton named several key points for his proposed strategy, including an immediate increase in military spending to Reagan-era levels, which he claimed should be maintained for the foreseeable future. The former US NSA also asserted that Western nations should cut back on social spending, because neither the obese welfare state nor massive income-redistribution schemes protect us from foreign adversaries. Bolton also suggested that Taiwan should receive much more military aid from Western nations, which should embed Taipei into collective-defence structures, Experts fear the United States and China could go to war over Taiwan. U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosis trip to the island last year and Taiwans President Tsai Ing-wen New Yorks visit this year heightened tensions between the countries. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Palayan, Philippines: In their largest ever military drills, US and Philippine troops on Thursday turned their Javelin anti-tank missiles on cars standing in as enemy vehicles. The missiles, fired from about 600 metres (0.37 miles) away by three soldiers, destroyed three sedans parked on scrubland at a military base in the north of the Philippines. The annual Balikatan, military exercises, seen as a statement from Manila pushing back against Chinese aggression in the South China Sea, came after China simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of self-ruled, democratic Taiwan, which Beijing considers part of its territory. Balikatan means shoulder-to-shoulder in Tagalog, an Austronesian language spoken as a first language by the ethnic Tagalog people, who make up a quarter of the population of the Philippines Addressing the media at the site, US Army Pacific Commander General Charles Flynn said, As youre recently witnessing, there are some irresponsible behaviours that are ongoing and we should call those irresponsible behaviours out. Flynn added that the war games were an important show of collective commitment to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. Philippine Army chief Lieutenant-General Romeo Brawner praised the effectivity of Javelins against Russian tank and armour in the Ukraine war, adding Manila plans to acquire the weapon in the future. We want to also bring that capability to the Philippine Army in order for us to be able to bolster our defensive posture and be able to defend our territory, Brawner added. The exercise aims to boost Manilas military capability while serving as a US show of support for its Asian ally amid Chinas growing assertiveness. Nearly 18,000 troops are taking part in the annual exercises, which for the first time will include the sinking by live fire of a decommissioned Philippine navy warship in the South China Sea, waters that Beijing claims almost entirely. It follows a deal announced last week for US forces to use an increased number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan. The exercises and growing US access to Philippine bases have angered China. Facts speak louder than words. Judging from the locations of the new military bases, the intention behind those sites is more than obvious, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters in Beijing on Wednesday. He warned: We would like to once again remind the relevant country in the region that pandering to forces outside the region will not bring greater security, but will cause tensions, put regional peace and stability at risk, and eventually backfire. 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, who plans to watch the ship sinking on 26 April. He has sought to strengthen ties with the United States after his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte weakened the alliance. With inputs from agencies Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington, United States: Following early moves to revamp the global lenders purpose and increase its funding capacity, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said on Wednesday that the World Bank should undertake more reform measures this year. The bank is being redesigned as pressure mounts for it to address issues like climate change. We should use the rest of the year to undertake additional reforms through a staged implementation approach, Yellen said, at the start of a roundtable discussion. The banks mission now highlights the importance of inclusion, sustainability and resilience to global shocks, she said, outlining various changes in the pipeline. But she maintained that such goals remain interconnected with the World Banks existing work of poverty reduction and development. Shareholders have also agreed to undertake reforms that could add up to $50 billion in financing over the next 10 years - while protecting the banks credit rating and long-term financial sustainability, she added. French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire, who attended the roundtable with Yellen, said afterwards that there is a historic opportunity to bring the necessary financial resources to developing countries through the reform of development lenders. He noted the need to narrow the growing gap between developed and developing countries, adding that the situation now has become really critical. On Wednesday, Yellen said there need to be efforts for further progress. Global leaders can tap upcoming events such as the Group of 20 Leaders Summit in September to keep the momentum strong, she said in her speech. The United States is the largest shareholder of the World Bank Group. In an interview with AFP ahead of the World Bank and International Monetary Funds spring meetings in Washington this week, Yellen said that key changes are expected to be unveiled at the gathering. Other key issues on the spring meetings agenda include debt restructuring, and leaders at a global sovereign debt roundtable committed Wednesday to further efforts to help speed up restructurings. The debt roundtable is co-chaired by the IMF, World Bank and India, which currently holds the G20 presidency. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Moscow: A slow-acting toxin may be to blame for the mystery illness, Alexei Navalny, the imprisoned political rival of Vladimir Putin is experiencing, claimed his spokesperson on Thursday. According to reports, the opposition leader has lost 8 kg of weight in less than two weeks, and over the weekend, an ambulance was summoned for him. A maximum-security IK-6 penitentiary colony in Melekhovo, roughly 115 miles east of Moscow, is where Mr. Navalny is being detained. His spokesperson, Kira Yarmysh, claims that an unidentified stomach ailment flared up and that he had previously been treated by prison doctors by being injected with an unnamed medication. We do not rule out that at this very time Alexei Navalny is being slowly poisoned, being killed slowly so that it attracts less attention, she said in the Twitter post. He is being held in a punishment cell with acute pain without medical help, she added. Kremlin responded to these allegations by saying that it did not monitor his health and that the subject should be handled by the federal prisons service. Navalny has long been a vocal opponent of Vladimir Putin. He was convicted of extensive fraud and contempt of court in March, and he was given a nine-year prison term. He has urged his fellow citizens to hold daily protests and branded the Russian invasion of Ukraine stupid and built on lies. After returning to Russia from Germany, where he had been recovering from a nerve agent attack, Navalny was detained in January 2021. He had been poisoned with novichok during a campaign tour to Siberia after becoming ill on a flight to Moscow. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Ireland: It was a special visit for US President Joe Biden to the Northern Ireland, but soon after landing at Belfast International Airport, he created an awkward moment for UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. A viral video shows Biden seemingly brush aside Sunak to greet to salute the Kings personal representative for County Antrim, Lord-Lieutenant David McCorkell. Sunak along with others waited on the tarmac in windy, chilly conditions but Biden after a swift greeting, moved on from the UK PM to greet Kings personal representative for County Antrim. The US President Biden shook Sunaks hands and gave a quick pat on the latters arm. Biden was on a brief visit to Northern Ireland to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday peace accord. Biden met Sunak and held bilateral talks dubbed by some in the British media as a bi-latte alluding to a rather brief discussion in a hotel cafe. Both the world leaders were believed to have covered the range of the thriving UK-US relationship. Biden said a bright future for Northern Ireland is just beginning, pledging enduring American support as he marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. A descendant of Irish immigrants to the United States, Biden president calls Ireland "part of my soul". He also visited to the hometowns of his 19th-century ancestors. Last year, Biden had made a number of embarrassing errors and insulted the nation of Ireland in his speech on St Patrick's day. "Well, I just want you to know, I may be Irish but I'm not stupid. I married Dominic Giacoppo's daughter," the US President referred the name of Jill Biden's dad, Donald Jacobs. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Washington, United States: In the midst of a meeting between representatives of the war-torn nation and the heads of financial institutions in Washington on Wednesday, the World Bank announced a $200 million grant for the restoration of Ukraines energy infrastructure. According to a statement from the international lender, during strikes on its neighbour in the fall and winter, Russia damaged more than 50 per cent of Ukraines electricity infrastructure. It mentioned that the region of Ukraine that has seen the most intense warfare has been particularly heavily damaged. The funds were provided by the Ukraine Relief, Recovery, Reconstruction and Reform Trust Fund (URTF), with a goal of up to $300 million in additional funding from partners as the project expands its scope, the Bank said. The project will target emergency repairs to electricity and heating infrastructure. Energy infrastructure has suffered $11 billion in damages over the last year and is one of the most critical areas where Ukraine needs urgent support, said World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde. The World Bank has mobilized more than $23 billion in financing for Ukraine since Russia invaded in February last year, with $20 billion disbursed so far. The announcement came just ahead of a roundtable on Ukraine at the headquarters of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), held during the crisis lenders spring meetings. During the event, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked partners via video link for their support and urged further backing. By rebuilding what has been ruined, we defeat the goal of terror, we return the normal life, he said in English, reiterating a call for Russian assets to be put towards Ukraines reconstruction. The IMF announced on March 31 that it had approved a $15.6 billion support package for Ukraine, forming the funds portion of a $115 billion overall support package comprised of debt relief, grants and loans by multilateral and bilateral institutions. Victory of civility IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva praised Ukraines resilience in the face of the invasion, saying at the meeting that the countrys repairs, economic activity and functioning government demonstrated victory of civility over evil. However, Ukraine will need an estimated $411 billion for recovery and reconstruction according to a recent study by the World Bank, the United Nations, the European Commission and Ukraine. The sum is an increase on the $349 billion estimated in September and is likely to only grow as the conflict continues. The study estimated Ukraine will need $14 billion for critical expenditures in 2023. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmygal, who attended the IMF meeting in person, urged allies to stump up the $11 billion still needed in financing. This is a number one priority for my country to bring people a minimum level of social and humanitarian services, Shmygal said. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen urged allies and partners to maintain economic support for Ukraine, praising Kyiv for anticorruption efforts in a country that has for years suffered endemic graft. Your commitment to making sure that international assistance is being used responsibly is essential, she said. Read all the Latest News, Trending News, Cricket News, Bollywood News, India News and Entertainment News here. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. IKODOO, a new brand, launched Buds One, the companys first ANC earbuds with 50dB Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and wireless charging last month. These features are usually available only in the top-end earbuds, and not in any earbuds in the price range. Are these the best true wireless earbuds with ANC under Rs. 6,000? Let us dive into the review to find out. Box contents IKODOO Buds One in Starry White colour USB Type-C charging cable Ear tips in Small and Large sizes (Medium sized tips pre-installed) Quick user guide I like how the contents in the box are arranged neatly. Design and Build Quality Starting with the design, the headset is housed in a round charging case that fits in your pocket. It has a glossy finish, so it can easily attract fingerprints, smudges and is prone to scratches. The charging case measures weighs 39g. There is a tiny LED indicator on the front that glows in green, yellow and red colours. The USB Type-C port is present in the the bottom, along with a set-up button and a buzzer, which is used to find the case by trigging a sound from the app. Opening the case, you can see the slots for Left and Right earbuds with the markings. It has a magnet to secure the buds in its place. The headset has a plastic build that also has a glossy finish that attracts fingerprints easily. You can also see the microphone on the inside, on the outside, and there is one near in the stem. It uses touch controls which are responsive. The earbuds weigh about 5.19 grams. The earbuds feature an in-ear design and also come with medium-sized ear tips pre-installed. You can change to bundled Large or Small sized ear tips if you wish. There is an Optical Sensor for Wear Detection so that it can automatically pause the audio when you remove it from your ears and play when you put it back. Overall, the headset offers a decent build quality except for the glossy finish and fits your ears perfectly so that they dont fall off your ears easily, even during outdoor activities like running. The earphones also have IP55 ratings for dust and water resistance, so it can withstand splashes or light rain. However, the case doesnt have IP ratings. Connectivity, Pairing, and Controls The IKODOO Buds One supports Bluetooth 5.2 with AAC audio codec. We cant expect LDAC for the price, but the company could have added aptX or aptX HD. The pairing process is very easy. Just open the charging case of the buds, place the charging case close to the phone, and follow the prompts. If not, you can press and hold the setup button in the case for 2 seconds to enter Bluetooth settings. Then, select IKODOO Buds One. To restore factory settings, place the buds into the charging case with the cover opened. Press and hold the setup button of the charging case for 10 seconds. We tested it on the Xiaomi 13 Pro and OnePlus Nord CE 3 Lite 5G, and never faced any pairing or disconnection issues. Since the phone pairs with the case and not the headset, you will need the case if you want to reconnect it or even turn on the headset if its disconnected from the phone. Function Left earphone (L) Right earphone (R) Play / Pause and answer / end a call Double tap Previous track Slide up Next track Slide down Volume up / down Slide up / down Switch between noise cancellation and Transparency Press and hold Reject call Press and hold for 2s Activate voice assistant Triple tap You can customize the controls from the settings in the IKODOO app on Android and iOS. You can charge double tap and triple tap and also noise control options, but cant change the slide option. The Find my Buds feature enables you to track the location of your misplaced earbuds or the case by triggering an alarm through the app on your smartphone. There is also a map feature, but it didnt show the location for me. The new sleep aid melody is a feature that is similar to Zen Mode Air on top-end OnePlusPro series earbuds. Apart from stock music, you can also add custom music, but the music doesnt store in the earbuds, so you will need to go to the app to enable it. Audio Quality, Call Performance and Noise Cancellation TheIKODOO Buds One pack a 13.4mm dynamic driver, which the company says is tuned for deep bass and clear treble. The company says that the earbuds have been tuned by Vifa Sound, a global technology brand based in Denmark. This uses precision audio processing technology with patented acoustic algorithms. Audio from the earbuds are loud and crisp, and the mids and highs sound well. However, the lows or bass could have been higher for those who likes a punchy feel. There is an equalizer feature that offers some modes, or you can set a custom equalizer setting. With the bass mode setting, the bass is slightly better. Regarding the Noise cancellation, the Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) blocks the ambient sound up to 50dB that helps in most cases. You can feel the difference when you are listening outdoors and even indoors when the AC or fan is on. There are Three modes, Mild, Balanced and Depth. You can switch between noise cancellation, transparency (TalkThru) and noise cancellation off (Ambient Aware) by pressing and holding the earbuds. For the price, it does a good job in blocking the outside noise and is better than the OnePlus Buds Z2 that is slightly cheaper. However, you cant compare it with the flagships from Samsung and Apple. This Transparency mode (TalkThru) allows you to listen to ambient sound so that you can recognize the surrounding situation and any potential risks. This is a useful feature that every headset should have. It offers a low-latency experience as low as 48ms that is useful when gaming. Without the gaming mode, the latency is clearly visible. Coming to the call noise cancellation, it uses 3 MEMS microphones on each earbud that work together to filter out unwanted noise. This does a brilliant job in cutting down wind and traffic noise, thanks to smart anti-wind technology. Battery Life The earphones pack 52mAh battery that promises about 8 hours of standalone battery life and 6 hours with noise cancellation enabled. During my run with AAC and noise cancellation on and off rarely, I got about 5.5 hours of battery life in about 50% volume, so it is good. For calls, it lasts for less than 4 hours since it uses call noise cancellation tech. With the 450mAh charging case, it promises up to 27 hours of total battery life without ANC and 21 hours of total battery life with noise cancellation enabled. The green light in the case indicates that the battery is high, yellow for medium, and it turns red when it is low. You can also see the charge left in the case in the companion app when the earbuds are placed in the case. Charging the case fully with the earbuds takes about 2 hours. It also has fast charge, so that you get 2 hours of playback with 10 minutes of charging with ANC off. The case also supports wireless charging, which you rarely see in earbuds in the price range. However, it takes about 5 hours to charge the case fully with the earbuds. Conclusion Overall, the IKODOO Buds One offers a great value compared to other earbuds in the price range. If offers a good audio quality, segment-best noise cancellation and good call noise cancellation. The design looks more generic. It also has a compact case, but the glossy finish might not impressive everyone. The standalone battery life is good, but total battery life with the case could have been better. The IKODOO Buds One was sold at an introductory price of Rs. 4999 for a week after launch. Now it is available for Rs. 5,999 from Amazon.in, which is still a good deal. Pros Good audio quality Good call quality and call noise cancellation Up to 50dB ANC is good IP55 ratings for the headset Good battery life with fast charging Cons Glossy case and headset No aptX If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here Apple has tripled its iPhone production in India to over $7 billion in the last fiscal year, as it seeks to diversify its supply chain and tap into the worlds fastest-growing smartphone market according to a recent report by Bloomberg. The company has also announced that it will launch its first retail stores in India Apple BKC in Mumbai on April 18th and Apple Saket in Delhi on April 20th. Apples Efforts to Diversify Supply Chain Lead to Increased iPhone Production in India Apple, the worlds most valuable company, has ramped up iPhone production in India, now accounting for almost 7% of its total production, according to sources. This is a major advance for India, which made only 1% of the worlds iPhones in 2021. Apples move to increase production in India is part of its effort to reduce reliance on China as tensions between the US and China escalate. Apples longtime partners, Foxconn Technology Group and Pegatron Corp., have added assembly lines in India at a rapid pace over the past year, as Apple explores ways to diversify its supply chain and reduce dependence on China. This move comes after Apple faced challenges in its supply chain, including disruptions at Foxconns main iPhone City complex in China in the previous year, which led to reduced output estimates. Indias Incentives for Local Manufacturing Drive Apples Expansion Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modis incentives to boost local manufacturing have helped drive Apples expansion in India. In the year ended March 2023, Apple exported $5 billion worth of iPhones from India, almost four times the previous period. Apple is also planning to start manufacturing the next iPhones in India concurrently with China in the fall of 2023, which would be the first time iPhone assembly begins concurrently in the two countries. India could make a quarter of all iPhones by 2025 if Apples swift expansion continues. Apples Role in Indias Ambitions to Become a Major Manufacturing Hub Apples increased iPhone production in India is seen as an economic triumph for the country and could have implications for other U.S. brands supply chain strategies. India has been striving to become a key production center and a rival destination to China, with Apple having a crucial role in this endeavor. Apples production chain, which encompasses hundreds of companies across the world and employs millions, has been heavily reliant on China, but the shift towards increased production in India could mark a significant change. Apple Seeks Changes in Indias Labor Laws for Local Production As part of its efforts to expand local production and create mega factories in India, Apple has sought changes in the countrys labor laws. Its largest contract manufacturer, Foxconn, plans to invest around $700 million in a plant in a southern state of India to make phone components and possibly iPhones. Commenting on the report, Bloombergs Steven Tseng and Woo Jin Ho, Analysts, said: Breaking away from Chinas tech supply chain is hard but possible. We estimate a 20-40% reduction in dependence by 2030. Geopolitics and policies are driving some diversification, but it will take years of investment to match Chinas capabilities and scale. Source A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. News High-profile Houston attorney signs onto Galveston County abortion case Rusty Hardin GALVESTON A Houston attorney with a long history of representing high-profile clients has signed on to defend two of three women named in what might be a precedent-setting abortion lawsuit filed in Galveston County. Attorney Rusty Hardin has defended the interests of oil billionaire J. Howard Marshall IIs family against his widow, Anna Nicole Smith, and represented Cathy McBroom, a federal court employee, who accused Samuel M. Kent of sexual assault when he presided over the Galveston Division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, to name only two. Litigation against three women accused of unlawfully assisting a fourth woman in getting an abortion would prove to be interesting, Hardin said Wednesday. On March 9 in the 56th District Court, Marcus Silva, a Galveston County resident, filed a lawsuit seeking $1 million for the wrongful death of his unborn son. Because shes considered a victim under the law, Silvas former wife cannot be named as a defendant, but her three friends are named and accused of helping her obtain an abortion pill. There is more to discover in this case, and they chose the wrong poster boy for this cause, Hardin said of Silva and anti-abortion groups backing his lawsuit. Silva filed the lawsuit with his attorney, Jonathan Mitchell, a former Texas solicitor general who helped draft Texas abortion bans. Mitchell couldnt be reached for comment Wednesday. Silvas lawsuit asserts that in July 2022, his then wife learned she was pregnant and conspired with three friends, who are named as defendants in the lawsuit, to terminate the pregnancy. An abortion pill was obtained through an organization called AidAccess, which ships them to all 50 states. Silva in the lawsuit asserts this violates a federal law banning the importation or transportation of obscene materials. The lawsuit also asserts that, in a group chat, Silvas former wife and the defendants conspired to destroy evidence by instructing her to delete the chat to prevent her husband from finding out. Silva is seeking $1 million, an injunction preventing the defendants from distributing abortion pills or assisting in illegal self-managed abortions, attorneys fees and other relief to be determined by the court. Silva and his former wife had two children during their marriage, according to court documents. She filed for divorce in May 2022 and officially separated in February this year. Roe v. Wade was the 1973 landmark U.S. Supreme Court decision that gave women the right to choose whether to have an abortion. It was overturned June 24, 2022, by Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization in a 6-3 vote by the court. The Roe decision was preceded by Senate Bill 8 in the Texas Legislature, otherwise known as the Texas Heartbeat Act, one of many trigger laws around the country that would go into effect if Roe were overturned. The law states once embryonic or fetal cardiac activity is detected, which happens about six weeks into pregnancy, abortion is illegal. Although some commentators have speculated that a federal judges recent ruling to ban Mifepristone, the drug reportedly used in the abortion at issue, might influence the case, Hardin said he didnt think so. I do not believe that the ruling on the pill should have an impact on this case, he said. Matthew Kacsmaryk, presiding judge of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas in Amarillo, on April 7 suspended the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations approval of Mifepristone. The FDA approved the drug in 2000. The U.S. Department of Justice blocked the ruling Monday by appealing it in the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Mifepristone, a progesterone blocker, can terminate a pregnancy before 10 weeks and accounts for 50 percent of abortions in the United States, according to the Pew Research Center. The Galveston County case might also not be as groundbreaking as some have speculated, Hardin said. This case may not have the same effect as some that will come after, as the termination happened in July, before the new laws took effect, Hardin said. We do expect it to go to a jury. A response to the lawsuit must be filed before May 1, Hardin said. A status conference in the case is set for June 8. Galveston County District Attorney Jack Roady announced March 22 that his office would not pursue criminal charges in the case. Linn County in March declared unsheltered homelessness is threatening widespread human suffering. That move just secured a state funding infusion. Gov. Tina Kotek in January declared a statewide emergency over homelessness, freeing up $40 million to find housing for some of the states thousands who live without permanent shelter. The governors response targeted urban centers like Bend, Eugene and Portland in what she called a man-made disaster. Now, Linn County, along with Clatsop and Malheur counties, have been added to that list. Shelter and homelessness service providers and local governments started meeting in early April to determine how Linn County can best spend its allocation by a hasty 2024 deadline. Time is of the essence, said Todd Noble, the countys health department director. Allocation Following up on the governor's first executive orders, the Legislature added another $85 million-plus, also for the states most populated regions, a collection of 10 counties in seven so-called "federal housing jurisdictions." A legislative appropriation announced by the governors office on Monday, April 10 starts the clock on a relatively fast-moving effort to create 600 new shelter beds and put 1,200 households in long-term housing by January 2024. Yet another $26.1 million will be distributed across 26 mostly rural counties, according to a representative of the state housing authority, around the start of the state fiscal biennium in July. No one has decided how those funds will be allocated across a federal housing jurisdiction that covers a vast swath of Oregon and includes Benton and Linn counties, both eligible for a cut. How much of that cut and the methodology of deciding is still yet to be determined, said Delia Hernandez, a spokesperson for Oregon Housing & Community Services. And Linn Countys total award is still up in the air after the local government successfully petitioned for inclusion in the governors Day 1 homelessness emergency order. Counties included in the emergency declaration get funding much earlier, by April 28. But Hernandez could not say whether counties added later to the executive order are eligible for additional emergency funds. Inclusion The inclusion of Linn County to the executive order was thought to put Linn County out of that share and receive more funds, said Brooke Matthews, who manages Rural Oregon Continuum of Care. Linn County was among the 26 counties overlooked in the orders that rely on an official annual count of unhoused populations. Koteks order emphasized the counties anchored around Bend, Eugene, Medford, Salem and Portland, where official counts of people without any shelter increased by 50% or more since 2017. The remaining 26 of Oregons 36 counties are administered as one unit by the Continuum of Care program under the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that funnels pass-through funding to applicants, usually community action agencies or housing authorities, based on projected need. The mid-Willamette Valley effectively is lumped together with two-thirds of the state, including Eastern Oregon, the South Coast and parts of the Columbia River Gorge that sweeps up larger cities, including Albany and Corvallis, in a region labeled balance of state. Many of those counties individually fall below the governors unhoused population growth threshold, bringing down the rural Oregon average that affects Benton and Linn counties. Linn was among the cities and counties that wrote to the governor, asking her to think beyond the metro areas and the point-in-time count frequently criticized for wildly undercounting homelessness. Like the name implies, point-in-time counts, typically conducted in January, are a snapshot taken on one or two days. They are not intended to be as rigorous as something the U.S. Census Bureau would do. But the numbers are often used to support funding requests. Linn County put together a state-stipulated team of housing and shelter-providers, plus elected officials, to lay out a plan for how it can spend its emergency allotment. As we know, this is a daunting task, and there are no simple solutions, Noble said. The meetings have revealed that lots of agencies touch homelessness across Linn County, but that not every participant in the process is aware of the others efforts. This is an avenue to see whats out there, where the holes are, Noble said. We have two big shelters and lots of needs. Funding should be announced by July through House Bill 5019, said a representative of Oregon Housing & Community Services. The package included $33.6 million to help prevent homelessness for an estimated 8,750 households across the state. This funding will be distributed statewide through existing eviction prevention programs, according to Gov. Koteks April 10 press release. State of emergency Last month, some Linn County commissioners were frustrated the county wasnt included in the states emergency declaration on homelessness, so they sent a letter to Gov. Kotek, urging her to amend her executive order. The original executive order neglected to look at rural Oregon, Linn County Commissioner Will Tucker said in a previous interview. The move followed in the footsteps of Sweet Home, which declared its own state of emergency March 1 and also was hoping to secure funds from the state. Earlier this year, Sweet Home opened the countys only operating low-barrier shelter. Low-barrier shelters have looser rules around alcohol and substances, accepting people with addictions. More than 137 people in Linn County were unsheltered last year. And over the last five years, there has been a 104% increase in unsheltered homelessness in Linn County. After receiving this request, Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) reviewed the data and we have determined that Linn County does meet the criteria for inclusion Kotek wrote in a March 20 letter addressed to the Linn County commissioners. That criteria included: Declaring a state of emergency. Over 30 people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. Unsheltered homelessness increased by 50% or more between 2017-2022 or the rate of unsheltered homelessness in 2022 was 80% or greater. And despite experts, advocates and volunteers largely agreeing there has been an increase in people without housing in the mid-Willamette Valley, the exact data is an undercount. Point-in-time counts, are an imperfect system created for urban areas, not rural ones, said Melissa Egan, housing manager at Community Services Consortium, which helps residents in Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties out of poverty. Like Linn, officials in Benton and Lincoln counties also proposed a similar request for state funding. Koteks office denied Lincolns request, and Benton County never submitted its letter after elected leadership balked at state strings attached to the funding. Frankly, thats a huge barrier, said Xan Augerot, Benton County Commissioner, citing a too-compressed timeframe and a dislike of having to deal with yet more agencies. "Because we've done so much of this work already, we didn't want to stand up another bureaucracy," she said. The governors response came after a series of emergency declarations made by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler in 2022, banning camping on some sites in the city and compressing multi-agency responses into one coordinated effort. Service providers in those regions appear set to quickly meet funding stipulations, Augerot said, where they can lease entire buildings to house people without permanent housing or shelter. Our vacancy rates are so low that master-leasing an entire building is not feasible, Augerot said. The governors office also expects that local service providers and funding agencies work together. Benton Countys response to housing for several years has come out of an inter-governmental effort to do essentially that coordinate the sometimes overlapping efforts of city, county, community action agencies and NGOs to get people off the streets. The local efforts were swept up under the auspices of a Benton County-based group called HOPE Home, Opportunity, Planning and Equity Advisory Board that provided a strategic vision on homelessness for policymakers in the Corvallis area. It remains to be seen whether $26 million divided among 26 counties will be enough to make meaningful progress, said Executive Director Andrea Myhre of Corvallis Housing First, but she thinks its great to see something done for the counties left out of the emergency declaration. We were super disappointed to hear that our county wasnt included in the emergency declaration, Myhre said. While she said the oversight is understandable, Myhre thought state officials would be better informed about how homeless populations in rural communities can be hidden or mobile, making them harder to document. She added that many rural communities have chronically underfunded homeless support services, such as shelters. Weve been seeing an increase in homelessness just as much as other parts of the state, Myhre said. But we just dont have the resources necessary to do the counts and provide the services and housing. Acknowledging that point-in-time counts can be an underrepresentation, Myhre said the local tallies are actually fairly accurate in her mind, though more could be done to capture the true numbers in more rural communities, such as Philomath, Monroe and Alsea. Corvallis A couple of weeks ago, representatives of Corvallis Housing First, the Corvallis Daytime Drop-in Center, and Pathfinder Clubhouse met with Gov. Kotek to talk about behavioral health, homelessness and housing, and Measure 110, which decriminalized some drug use. While the homeless funding package wasnt discussed much, Myhre said the governor understands the gravity of the situation in Benton County. It made me feel a little better that she spent so much time talking with us about our experiences here, Myhre said. However, as Myhre pointed out, Corvallis is consistently among the most rent-burdened communities in Oregon, and more housing is needed to address the growing homeless population in the mid-Willamette Valley. Its not nearly enough money, said Executive Director Pegge McGuire of Community Services Consortium. There is not enough money period to really do anything meaningful. McGuire compared the funding to chicken shadow soup, a recipe her grandfather talked about from when he was an impoverished farmer. Thats soup made by waving a chicken over boiling water, imparting whatever flavor the chickens shadow leaves behind. That is what we have in this executive order allocation of funds, she said. Chicken shadow soup. At the municipal level, City Manager Mark Shepard said via email he believes Corvallis will see an estimated $5.3 million under House Bill 5019, the state budget allocation for homelessness. But the requirements for receiving those funds are not yet clear to staff, he said. He anticipates state agencies will put forth rules that will clarify whether Corvallis needs to declare an emergency to receive funding. Local response For cities in Linn County, without knowing the county's final allotment, its unclear what the inclusion of the emergency order will mean for them. Many of the resources for people experiencing homelessness in the county are located in Albany, said City Manager Peter Troedsson. There are three shelters in Albany, and they have been sent a survey this week to better understand their needs, he said. But its too soon to tell how much money may be coming to Albany, he said. Whatever the figure, it won't be enough to truly alleviate homelessness, he said. He cited the drug epidemic and mental health as being some of the complicating factors. "Homelessness isnt a problem, its a symptom of many different problems," Troedsson said. Eventually, she lost sight of the ram raiders and drove back to the scene of the crime. It soon dawned on her that her husband might not be too happy about the state of her car. felicilin at 13-04-2023 10:25 AM (1 week ago) (f) Bashir Ahmad, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital Communications, has mocked the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his detention in the United Kingdom. Bashir Ahmad, the Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Digital Communications, has mocked the Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his detention in the United Kingdom. Gistmania had reported how Peter Obi was detained and questioned for a duplication offense which suggests that someone has been impersonating him in London. The Head of Obi-Datti Media Office, Diran Onifade, who made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, said Peter Obi was harassed by London immigration officials and placed in detention where he spent the Easter holidays. Onifade explained that Obis impostor may have all kinds of weighty crimes and other dubious acts that led to the harassment of the LP flagbearer who lived for over a decade in the UK. He emphasized that since the impersonator is still at large, the scenario is unimaginable as Peter Obi could be implicated in a series of forbidden acts and even be framed in a manner that could be a huge embarrassment to him, his family, his party, the Obedient movement, and Nigeria, where he currently and remains the conscience of the people. Reacting on his Twitter page, Bashir said the detention was unacceptable saying Peter Obi was treated like a common criminal in the UK. He further pleaded with the UK government to explain to Nigerians the circumstances surrounding Obis arrest and numerous imposters. Making a mockery of the situation, Bashir wondered if it was the real Peter Obi or a fake one that contested the February 25th election. The presidential aide wrote: A whole former presidential candidate treated like a common criminal, unacceptable. Haba. The UK should kindly tell us what they know about the numerous Peter Obis roaming around. His detention got me really disturbed. Was it the authentic Obi or the criminal Obi that contested and came 3rd in the February presidential election? I hope it wasnt the criminal one oo! A whole former presidential candidate treated like a common criminal, unacceptable. Haba! Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) April 12, 2023 The UK should kindly tell us what they know about the numerous Peter Obis roaming around. His detention got me really disturbed. Was it the authentic Obi or the criminal Obi that contested and came 3rd in the February presidential election? I hope it wasnt the criminal one oo! Bashir Ahmad (@BashirAhmaad) April 12, 2023 Gistmania had reported how Peter Obi was detained and questioned for a duplication offense which suggests that someone has been impersonating him in London.The Head of Obi-Datti Media Office, Diran Onifade, who made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday, said Peter Obi was harassed by London immigration officials and placed in detention where he spent the Easter holidays.Onifade explained that Obis impostor may have all kinds of weighty crimes and other dubious acts that led to the harassment of the LP flagbearer who lived for over a decade in the UK.He emphasized that since the impersonator is still at large, the scenario is unimaginable as Peter Obi could be implicated in a series of forbidden acts and even be framed in a manner that could be a huge embarrassment to him, his family, his party, the Obedient movement, and Nigeria, where he currently and remains the conscience of the people.Reacting on his Twitter page, Bashir said the detention was unacceptable saying Peter Obi was treated like a common criminal in the UK.He further pleaded with the UK government to explain to Nigerians the circumstances surrounding Obis arrest and numerous imposters.Making a mockery of the situation, Bashir wondered if it was the real Peter Obi or a fake one that contested the February 25th election.The presidential aide wrote: A whole former presidential candidate treated like a common criminal, unacceptable. Haba.The UK should kindly tell us what they know about the numerous Peter Obis roaming around. His detention got me really disturbed.Was it the authentic Obi or the criminal Obi that contested and came 3rd in the February presidential election? I hope it wasnt the criminal one oo! Post Reply Posted: at 13-04-2023 10:25 AM (1 week ago) | Addicted Hero CENTCOM Forces Capture ISIS Operative in Helicopter Raid U.S. Central Command USCENTCOM Apr. 12, 2023 Release Number 20230412-01 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE TAMPA, Fla. -- U.S. Central Command forces conducted a helicopter raid in eastern Syria late on the evening of April 8, capturing Hudayfah al Yemeni, an ISIS attack facilitator, and two of his associates. No civilians were killed or injured. The capture of Hudayfah al Yemeni and his associates will disrupt the organization's ability to plot and carry out operations. "Operations against ISIS are important for the security and stability of the region," said Col. Joe Buccino, a CENTCOM spokesperson. "ISIS remains a threat to the region and beyond - the group retains the capability to conduct operations in Iraq and Syria with a desire to strike beyond the Middle East, and its vile ideology remains a threat. Operations such as this one reaffirms our commitment to the enduring defeat of ISIS." -30- NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 12, 2023 Transcript Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Welcomes Carlito Galvez Jr., Senior Undersecretary and Officer in Charge of the Department of National Defense of the Republic of the Philippines, to the Pentagon SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Well, Secretary Galvez, it's great to see you again so soon after my trip to Manila in February and it is a pleasure to host you at the Pentagon. So thanks for taking the time to meet again after a very productive Two Plus Two ministerial dialogue yesterday. And as I've said yesterday, this is an historic moment for our lives. As we take critical steps together to deepen our ties and strengthen peace and stability in the region. We share a vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific. One grounded in transparency, freedom of navigation, the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes. Now those principles have faced growing challenges lately. We've seen a troubling increase in coercion and dangerous operational behavior, including in the South China Sea. And we remain deeply committed to our alliance obligations. And as we've made abundantly clear, the mutual defense treaty applies to armed attacks on either of our armed forces, our public vessels or aircraft anywhere in the South China Sea. Now I'm proud of the rapid strides that we've made to modernize our alliance, Mr. Secretary. We've made important progress to bolstering the capabilities and capacities of our armed forces to resist coercion and gray zone aggression. And we're close to finalizing a security sector assistance roadmap that charts a path forward to strengthen deterrence and align our defense investments with the evolving security environment. And as we discuss yesterday, we're also expanding our cooperation under the enhance defense cooperation agreement, which will make our armed forces more flexible and more resilient. And support our ability to train and operate together. And we're very pleased to have announced the locations of these four new sites recently. And finally, I want to affirm our commitment to strengthening interoperability across all domains, including space and cyberspace. So Mr. Secretary, thanks again for being here. And I look forward to a great discussion. Over to you, sir. CARLITO GALVEZ: Thank you, Secretary. My (inaudible) and also our ambassador (inaudible). Mr. Secretary, thank you very much for your warm welcome and also for the honors that you have given to me. And thank you for this opportunity of meeting you again this -- in Pentagon. I've been here in 2006 and I never dreamt that I'll be here besides you, and I feel -- I belong in this family. Today's meeting is a good opportunity to build on our discussions during your visit in the Philippines last -- (inaudible) and reaffirm our commitment to the Philippines-U.S. mutual defense treaty. In addition to the most productive Two-Plus-Two, is the consultations that we had. The conduct of the Exercise Balikatan, the most, I believe -- the biggest among the 38, of this month are among some of the (inaudible) that our alliance is in hyperdrive. Our regular exchange and close coordination demonstrate the extent of our defense relationship. And I have mentioned on several occasions that the importance of our Philippine - U.S. defense cooperation in the region, especially at this time when significant challenges are becoming increasing complex and evolving. As I have said yesterday, is that our alliance is for peace. Our defense alliance is critical in assuring the safety and security of our citizens, and we continue to work together to enhance our capabilities to meet the current and future security challenges, including disasters. To modernize our alliance we need to focus on separate areas. Number one is that we need a common understanding of our policies and priorities. That's why we will be having our defense guidelines. And upgrade our equipment to sustain our militaries' capability to respond to threats. Second, we must enhance our cyber defenses to protect our critical infrastructures and sensitive information. Number three is we need to increase intelligence sharing and cooperation together against (inaudible) and respond to the challenges. And we want to thank you for giving us always the highest (inaudible). That really helps a lot. Fourth, we must improve interoperability between our forces to better coordinate and conduct joint activities. May I also reiterate our, also to express our appreciation for the U.S. government's support to the Philippines government's management of the oil spill in Oriental Mindoro. Thank you very much. Mr. Secretary, with the phone call that we had it was materialized immediately, and we really thank you because it really helped us to manage the oil spill that we had. I believe the -- where we -- went there, in Mindoro, together with the Coast Guard, they're very happy when the -- our army was able to patch up all the 23 leaks that we have identified with the ship. We appreciate the unwavering support of the U.S. Navy through the deployment of remotely operated vehicle of the (inaudible), as well as the technical support provided by the U.S. Coast Guard and the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in order to -- for us to help contain, and scientifically respond with the crisis. I am looking forward to another fruitful discussions to strengthen our alliance and work together towards the more peaceful and secure future. I would like also to inform your noble secretary that we have good responses with our former generals and also our colleagues, with the fruitful outcome of our 2 Plus 2, and they are very grateful for the important achievements -- the achievements that we have together as allies. Thank you. SEC. AUSTIN: Mr. Secretary, again, thanks for being here. And we're delighted to have you back in the Pentagon. We look forward to working with you to strengthen our relationship. So thanks everybody. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3360826/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 12, 2023 By Jim Garamone , DOD News U.S., Philippine Leaders Vow Further Alliance Progress The United States and the Philippines have made rapid strides in upgrading their alliance, and are charging ahead to do more, defense leaders from both countries said at the Pentagon today. Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Carlito Galvez Jr., senior undersecretary and officer in charge of the Department of National Defense of the Philippines, to deepen military-to-military contacts between the two nations. The meeting came as the Balikatan exercise kicked off in the Philippines. It is the largest joint exercise in years. The Pentagon meeting follows the so-called two-plus-two meetings at the State Department yesterday that included foreign policy leaders as well. "This is an historic moment for our alliances as we take critical steps together to deepen our ties and strengthen peace and stability in the region," Austin said. "We share our vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific one grounded and transparency, freedom of navigation, the rule of law, respect for sovereignty and the peaceful resolution of disputes." These principles are being challenged in many places around the globe. "We've seen a troubling increase in coercion and dangerous operational behavior, including in the South China Sea," the secretary said. The U.S.-Philippines alliance is deeply committed to these principles that have served the region and the globe so well. Austin carefully spelled out what the alliance includes. "As we've made abundantly clear, the mutual defense treaty applies to armed attacks on either of our armed forces, or public vessels or aircraft anywhere in the South China Sea," he said. The two nations have also made important progress in bolstering the capabilities and capacities of the respective armed forces to resist coercion and gray zone aggression. "We're close to finalizing a security sector assistance roadmap that charts a path forward to strengthen deterrence and align our defense investments with the evolving security environment," the secretary said. "And ... we're also expanding our cooperation under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement, which will make our armed forces more flexible and more resilient and supports our ability to train and operate together." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Man Sentenced for Bribery Schemes Involving Millions of Dollars in U.S.-Funded Military Contracts and Visa Fraud FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Wednesday, April 12, 2023 Defendant Took Bribes to Steer Contracts Meant to Aid Reconstruction in Afghanistan A Georgia man was sentenced today to three years and 10 months in prison for his roles in two bribery conspiracies - one related to a U.S. military contracts fraud scheme and one related to a Department of State visa fraud scheme. According to court documents, Orlando Clark, 57, of Smyrna, was a manager of projects who deployed to Afghanistan to evaluate bids for U.S.-funded reconstruction contracts awarded by the U.S. military in 2011 and 2012. At that time, Clark and co-conspirator Todd Coleman, an analyst at a different U.S. company who also deployed to Afghanistan, received approximately $400,000 in bribes from an Afghan company. The bribes were paid in return for Clark and Coleman assisting the company in obtaining millions of dollars through at least 10 contracts that involved the construction of an Afghan police station and a security checkpoint for U.S. forces. To conceal their conduct, Clark and Coleman registered fictitious companies in Georgia and opened bank accounts to which bribes were sent via wire transfers from Afghanistan. Clark and Coleman also created false invoices to make it appear as though they were involved in a car-exporting business in the United Arab Emirates. In reality, Clark and Coleman used the bribe payments to purchase personal items, such as BMW cars. During the scheme, Coleman and Clark also travelled to the United Arab Emirates to receive cash bribes, which they smuggled into the United States without declaring the currency. In addition, between 2015 and 2020, Clark also received bribes to sign false letters of recommendation for visas authorized for Afghan nationals who worked as translators with U.S. forces in Afghanistan. Clark signed over 10 letters in which he falsely claimed to have supervised the applicants and in which he stated, without any factual basis, that he had no reason to be believe that they posed a threat to U.S. national security. On Feb. 9, Coleman was sentenced to two years and nine months in prison for his role in the U.S. military contracts bribery scheme. Assistant Attorney General Kenneth A. Polite, Jr. of the Justice Department's Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Ryan K. Buchanan for the Northern District of Georgia, Inspector General John F. Sopko of the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR), Inspector General Robert P. Storch of the Department of Defense, Special Agent in Charge Stanley A. Newell of the Defense Criminal Investigative Service (DCIS) Transnational Operations Field Office, and Special Agent in Charge Greg Gross of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) Economic Crimes Field Office made the announcement. The SIGAR, DCIS, and NCIS investigated the case. Trial Attorney Matt Kahn of the Criminal Division's Fraud Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Russell Phillips for the Northern District of Georgia prosecuted the case. Topic(s): Public Corruption Financial Fraud Component(s): Criminal Division Criminal - Criminal Fraud Section USAO - Georgia, Northern Press Release Number: 23-399 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Africa: A thriving country requires innovation - Minister Nzimande Government and the private sector must work together to boost investment in research and development. Higher Education, Science and Innovation Minister, Dr Blade Nzimande, said this when he addressed a panel discussion on innovation and investment at the fifth South Africa Investment Conference. Earlier at the conference, President Cyril Ramaphosa announced that government had reached its target of raising some R1.2 trillion in investment pledges between 2018 and 2023. The role of government policy is very crucial, but part of government policy must also be to forge partnerships, especially partnerships between government, the private sector and academia in terms of science and innovation. I am saying this because I have been looking at this R1.2 trillion and asking myself how much of that is going into innovation? I have told myself now that the next target with the President one also needs to be looking at how much of that should be going into research and development and innovation. If you ask me, I would say ideally about 1.5% and the reason Im saying that is that as South Africa, we are at 0.79% of the GDP that goes into [research and development]. In fact, [that figure is] down than a few years ago and the biggest decline has been in the private sector. I am raising that 1.5% of this investment may not translate into GDP but that would be very significant because our target is that 1.5% of the GDP must be spent on research, development and innovation by 2030, he said. Nzimande said government itself has implemented several funding measures to stimulate investment and support innovation. We have a tax incentive with a significant rebate for investment done by the private sector into research and development. We have got our Technology Innovation Agency which funds the commercialisation of research that has the potential to translate into intellectual property and new businesses. We have the National Innovation Fund which we established in 2021. Also, we leverage international partnerships globally in order to support our science, technology and innovation agenda. At its core, this innovation fund catalyses the creation and sustainable development of the high-tech SME sector as well as de-riskingearly stage establishment of businesses, he said. The Minister emphasised that innovation is crucial to the development and growth of any country. Innovation is indispensable for South Africas growth and development ambition. But not only for South Africa but for the whole of the continent. Unfortunately, when we are talking economic growth and development were often stymied by this point. No country will modernise, no country will develop without significant investment into innovation, he said. SAnews.gov.za This story has been published on: 2023-04-13. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. U.S. appeals court partly halts ruling that endangers access to key abortion pill Xinhua) 16:55, April 13, 2023 HOUSTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late on Wednesday partly blocked a ruling that endangers access to the key abortion pill mifepristone in the United States. Matthew Kacsmaryk, a district judge in Amarillo, Texas, appointed by former President Donald Trump, last week suspended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the drug while anti-abortion groups pursue a legal challenge seeking to ban it. The three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Justice Department's emergency request to put on hold the part of Kacsmaryk's decision, but with significant restrictions on the drug's widespread availability including a requirement for patients' in-person visits to obtain it. The appeals court said it would expedite its full consideration of the case. Kacsmaryk's decision "upended decades of reliance by blocking the FDA's approval of mifepristone and depriving patients of access to this safe and effective treatment, based on the court's own misguided assessment of the drug's safety," Justice Department lawyers wrote in court papers. Complicating the situation, a federal judge in northwestern Washington state on Friday ordered U.S. authorities not to make any changes to the drug's access in 17 states and the District of Columbia that sued over the issue, countering the ruling by Kacsmaryk. The judge issued a preliminary injunction barring the FDA from "altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of mifepristone." The U.S. Justice Department can still ask the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, to intervene in an attempt to completely block Kacsmaryk's ruling, according to local media. (Web editor: Zhang Kaiwei, Liang Jun) China firmly opposes US-Philippines statement for distorting and smearing nation's legitimate maritime law enforcement activities: Chinese FM Global Times By Global Times Published: Apr 12, 2023 08:14 PM Updated: Apr 12, 2023 08:09 PM China expresses serious concerns and strong dissatisfaction with the joint statement issued by the US and the Philippines for distorting and smearing China's legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Wednesday in response to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken's remarks on the so-called intimidation and coercion in the South China Sea. China has noticed the "2+2" ministerial meeting of defense and foreign ministers held by the US and the Philippines on Tuesday and the joint statement it issued to call on China to abide by the 2016 Arbitral Tribunal's decision, which is very biased against China, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said during a press briefing on Wednesday. Blinken said the US will stand with the Philippines against any form of intimidation and coercion in the South China Sea during Wednesday's joint media briefing of the "2+2" ministerial meeting following the largest-ever joint military exercises held by the two countries on Tuesday. Chinese Foreign Ministry said that the US-Philippines military cooperation must not interfere in the South China Sea disputes, not harm China's territorial sovereignty, maritime rights and interests and security interests. According to Wang, the joint statement also mentioned that the two sides will promote the rapid deployment of new US military bases in the Philippines, with financial support from the US. Wang said that China noticed Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr said "China's reaction was not surprising" in response to US' strengthening of military deployment in the Philippines. China expresses serious concerns and strong dissatisfaction with the joint statement, Wang said, noting that China has "indisputable sovereignty" over the South China Sea islands and their adjacent waters. The so-called arbitration ruling on the South China Sea is illegal and invalid, seriously violating international laws, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, Wang said, stressing China's clear and firm position that it does not accept or recognize it. China is willing to resolve maritime disputes through negotiation and consultation with relevant countries and will firmly safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Wang added. "There is a Chinese saying that 'facts speak louder than words.' The US' intentions are self-evident from the locations of its new bases in the Philippines. The emphasis in the joint statement by the US and the Philippines on promoting rapid deployment in the new bases is like another annotation of their intentions, which does not require further interpretation or analysis by China," Wang said. According to Wang, China has always advocated that the Asia-Pacific region should be a common home for all the regional countries. The key to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region lies in regional countries' persistence in mutual trust, unity and cooperation and their firm grasp of the lifeline of their own security in their own hands. "China once again reminds relevant countries that blindly catering to external forces will not only fail to safeguard their own security, but also ratchet up regional tensions, harm regional peace and stability, and eventually backfire," Wang said. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address US, Philippines Agree to Modernize Bilateral Alliance Sputnik News 20230412 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - The United States and the Philippines have agreed to modernize the alliance between the two countries by intensifying high-level joint exercises and other related activity, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo said. On Tuesday, Manalo and Philippine Secretary of National Defense Carlito Galvez Jr. met with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and State Secretary Antony Blinken in Washington at the so-called 2+2 ministerial meeting. "At today's meeting we have redoubled our commitment to modernizing the Philippine-US alliance, recognizing that our partnership will need to play a stronger role in preserving an international law-based international order," Manalo said at a press conference following the meeting, adding that the modernization would imply intensified joint exercises between the countries, among other things. The partnership between the US and the Philippines serves as "an instrument of peace" in the Indo-Pacific region and brings about economic benefits to the two states, according to the Philippine official. Earlier in the week, the countries launched the largest-ever annual joint military drills called Balikatan, taking place in the Philippines, with around 12,200 US soldiers and 5,400 servicemen of the Philippine armed forces participating. In February, Philippines granted access to four additional military bases to the US, with which Washington reportedly plans to strengthen its line of defense around China. Under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement signed by the parties in 2014 , the US is not allowed to have permanent military bases in the Philippines, but the document provides for US troops' extended stays on the Philippine military bases. Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Joint Expeditionary Force Chiefs of Defence meet in Helsinki The Chiefs discussed Baltic Sea and the High North security, the future development of the joint force and the groups' commitment to wider regional stability. 12 April 2023 The ten Chiefs of Defence from the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) nations met in Helsinki today (12 April), hosted by Finland's Chiefs of Defence, General Timo Kivinen. UK Chief of the Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin attended the meeting. The Chiefs of Defence discussed Baltic Sea and the High North security, the future development of the joint force and the groups' commitment to wider regional stability. The JEF is a group of like-minded, northern European nations: the UK, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden. The Chiefs agreed to continue the enhanced programme of JEF exercises and activities in the High North, Baltic Sea and North Atlantic region. Recently, forces from JEF nations have taken part in operations and exercises together, including in the Baltic Sea and Exercise Joint Viking in the arctic circle in Norway. UK Chief of Defence Staff Admiral Sir Tony Radakin said: The past year has demonstrated that the security of Europe can never be taken for granted, but it was also the year when the Joint Expeditionary Force came of age. While President Putin has sought to divide, this ten nation partnership is another example of just how strong and united we have become. It was therefore excellent to meet with my counterparts in Helsinki for the first time since Finland joined NATO. We discussed how the JEF can continue to complement NATO through its focus on the security of the North Atlantic, High North and Baltic Sea, and we considered how we may better coordinate future exercises and operations". Finland Chief of Defence General Timo Kivinen said: JEF's agile way of planning and operating enhances security in Northern Europe. JEF's combined capacity and capability is a clear sign of how we stand together, providing reassurance to our populations and deterrence to any would-be adversaries. In the last year, the JEF has also deployed forces and provided defensive assurances to Finland and Sweden during their accession to NATO. The Chiefs welcomed the news of Finland's accession to the Alliance last week and committed steadfast support to Sweden becoming full members of NATO. The JEF continues to play an active role in promoting regional security, complementary to NATO's defence and deterrence posture and international partnerships. Recent developments in Ukraine and the continued support to Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity was also discussed. JEF member nations have made significant commitments and provisions of aid to Ukraine in the last year. Seven JEF partner nations are supporting the training of Ukrainian volunteers in the UK - Sweden, Netherlands, Denmark, Lithuania, Norway, Finland and the UK. JEF Defence Ministers are expected to meet in Amsterdam, Netherlands in June 2023, where work is expected to be progressed further. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) Earns Battle Effectiveness "E" Award US Navy 12 April 2023 From Petty Officer 2nd Class Richard Rodgers USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH -- The flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10, George H.W. Bush CSG, the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), was announced as the Commander, Naval Air Force, Atlantic (CNAL) calendar year 2022 Battle Effectiveness "E" Award recipient, March 29, 2023. The award comes while George H.W. Bush and George H.W. Bush CSG are on a regularly scheduled deployment to the U.S. Naval Forces Europe-U.S. Naval Forces Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) area of operations (AO). "This award is recognition of the grit and determination of the crew of George H.W. Bush," said Rear. Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, CSG-10, George H.W. Bush Carrier Strike Group. "I am extremely proud of Capt. Pollard and his crew. George H.W. Bush is the centerpiece of our strike group, and the Avengers' teamwork and professionalism - whether supporting our embarked staffs and squadrons, increasing the NATO Alliance's capability and connectedness, or providing integrated deterrence against our adversaries - is second to none." In addition to naming George H.W. Bush as the CNAL recipient of the 2022 award and USS Ronald Reagan (CVN 76) as the Commander, Naval Air Force, U.S. Pacific Fleet recipient, the message identified which departmental awards each aircraft carrier earned in the competition. . George H.W. Bush earned departmental awards for Air, Combat Systems, Deck, Damage Control, Health Services, Navigation, Operations, Intelligence, Reactor, Safety, Security, Supply, Weapons, and Carrier Maintenance. "This award is a reflection of the Sailors aboard our ship who put in the hard work to bring this ship to life each day as warriors, teachers, leaders, and ambassadors at home and abroad," said Capt. Dave Pollard, commanding officer of George H.W. Bush. "It is also a testament of our young, first line leaders who have held high standards and created a culture of excellence for our most junior Sailors to learn and thrive in throughout work ups and deployment." All permanently assigned personnel who were onboard for at least a day are eligible for the Battle "E" ribbon. Embarked staff, carrier air wing, temporary assigned duty, and civilian personnel are not eligible. The Battle Efficiency "E" Awards for Naval Aviation units are outlined in COMNAVAIRFORINST 1650.15N Annual Aviation Related Awards Instruction. George H.W. Bush is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. CSG-10 is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55). The ships of DESRON-26 within CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119). The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard the George H.W. Bush are the "Sidewinders" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86, the "Jolly Rogers" of VFA-103, the "Knighthawks" of VFA-136, the "Pukin' Dogs" of VFA-143, the "Bluetails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Patriots" of Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140, the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, and the "Grandmasters" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46. For over 80 years, U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. Headquartered in Naples, Italy, NAVEUR-NAVAF operates U.S. naval forces in the U.S. European Command and U.S. Africa Command areas of responsibility. U.S. Sixth Fleet is permanently assigned to NAVEUR-NAVAF, and employs maritime forces through the full spectrum of joint and naval operations. The George H.W. Bush CSG is on a scheduled deployment in the NAVEUR area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Partnership in Action: Tunisian and U.S. Naval Forces Train Together as Military Leaders Meet Aboard George H.W. Bush US Navy 12 April 2023 From USS George H.W. Bush Public Affairs USS GEORGE H.W. BUSH -- Tunisian Air Force Brig. Gen. Tarek Akremi, Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Tunisian Air Force, and Natasha Franceschi, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy Tunisia, along with military and civilian staff, embarked aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77), March 22, 2023. The visit came as Commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe and Africa (NAVEUR-NAVAF) Adm. Stuart B. Munsch hosted more than 80 delegates, including the U.S. Secretary of the Navy, the Commandant of the U.S. Coast Guard, and international heads of navies, coast guards, and naval infantries from 38 nations, to include Vice Admiral Adel Jehane, Tunisia Chief of Naval Staff, for the inaugural African Maritime Forces Summit (AMFS) in Sal Island, Cabo Verde, March 20-22, 2023. "It was an honor to meet and spend time with Brig. Gen. Akremi, and to highlight the value of operating alongside a U.S. Navy carrier strike group," said Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, commander, CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. "We value our relationship with the Tunisian Armed Forces, and opportunities like this allow us to operate, exercise, and learn from each other." Prior to the key leader engagement aboard George H.W. Bush, U.S. and Tunisian Sailors from Leyte Gulf and Syphax performed a combined visit, board, search, and seizure drill. During the key leader engagement aboard George H.W. Bush, the Tunisian military leaders and U.S. diplomats met with CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG leadership to discuss the importance of the U.S.-Tunisian partnership. During the visit Akremi, Velez, and Franceschi observed an aerial change of command ceremony for Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 140 from the ship's flight deck, visited the ship's Task Force Command and Control Center, and dined with CSG-10, Tunisian, and Embassy officers. Additionally, the visitors toured the ship's hangar bay to observe the maintenance and teamwork required to maintain ready and capable aircraft in support of the strike group's mission, observed ship maneuvering from the navigation bridge, and also visited the ship's tribute room. CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG, is on a scheduled deployment in the NAVEUR-NAVAF area of operations, employed by U.S. Sixth Fleet to defend U.S., allied and partner interests. George H.W. Bush is the flagship of CSG-10, George H.W. Bush CSG. George H.W. Bush CSG is comprised of George H.W. Bush, Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26, the Information Warfare Commander, and Leyte Gulf. The ships of DESRON-26 within CSG-10 are the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyers USS Nitze (DDG 94), USS Farragut (DDG 99), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Delbert D. Black (DDG 119). The squadrons of CVW-7 embarked aboard George H.W. Bush are the "Jolly Rogers" of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103, the "Pukin Dogs" of VFA-143, the "Bluetails" of Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 121, the "Nightdippers" of Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 5, the "Sidewinders" of VFA-86, the "Nighthawks" of VFA-136, the "Patriots" of VAQ-140, and the "Grandmasters" of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 46. For over 80 years, NAVEUR-NAVAF has forged strategic relationships with allies and partners, leveraging a foundation of shared values to preserve security and stability. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Pakistan Will Hit Terror Hideouts Inside Afghanistan, Defense Minister Warns Kabul By Sarah Zaman April 12, 2023 Pakistan's defense minister, Khawaja Asif, has said that Islamabad has warned the Afghan Taliban it will strike terrorist hideouts inside Afghanistan if the de facto rulers in Kabul are unable to rein in anti-Pakistan militants. In an exclusive interview with Voice of America, Asif said in his late-February visit to Afghanistan that he reminded Taliban leaders to live up to their cross-border security commitments forbidding terrorists from using Afghan soil to plan and conduct attacks on Pakistan or Islamabad will take action. "If that is not done, at some point we'll have to ... resort to some measures, which will definitely wherever [terrorists] are, their sanctuaries on Afghan soil we'll have to hit them," he said. "We'll have to hit them because we cannot tolerate this situation for long." Since the Afghan Taliban's August 2021 takeover of Kabul, Pakistan has seen a resurgence in terror attacks led by Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, or the TTP, an ideological offshoot and ally of the Afghan Taliban. According to the Islamabad-based Pakistan Institute for Peace Studies, the country recorded at least 262 terror attacks in 2022, of which the TTP was responsible for at least 89. Last November, the group ended a unilateral cease-fire after talks with Islamabad broke down. Since then, the country has seen near-daily lethal attacks, most of them targeting members of the military and police. Pakistan alleges TTP leadership is operating from Afghanistan after Pakistani military operations in the border areas a few years ago forced it to flee along with thousands of fighters. When asked if he believed the Afghan Taliban's assertion that the TTP is not operating from Afghan soil, Asif said, "they still operate from their soil." Asif claimed Taliban leadership "responded very well" to the recent warning. He said he believes that the Afghan Taliban are trying to "disentangle" from the TTP, after receiving support from the group to fight the U.S.-led coalition troops. Last April, Pakistan struck what it claimed was a TTP outpost in eastern Afghanistan. However, a large number of civilian deaths in the operation led to a strong reaction by the Afghan Taliban. Asif said he hopes the security threat to his country will not escalate to a point where "we have to do something which will be not to the liking of our neighbors and our brothers in Kabul," whom he said Pakistan "wished well" in their efforts to establish their writ across Afghanistan. But Asif also criticized former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan and the previous military and intelligence leadership for allowing thousands of Taliban fighters and their families to return to Pakistan in a bid to continue negotiations with the militants. Intelligence reports say that allowed the terrorists to regroup. In a recent interview with VOA, Khan defended that decision, saying Pakistan did not have many options. "Should we have just lined them up and shot them or should we have tried to work with them to resettle them?" Khan said, accusing Pakistani security forces and intelligence agencies of negligence as terrorists reorganized. Pakistani government and security officials allege TTP fighters attacking Pakistan are using arms and equipment left behind by U.S. troops at the end of the 20-year war in Afghanistan. State Department Counselor Derek Chollet told VOA in February that U.S. officials do not have an independent assessment of that claim. Asif said the TTP was using light weapons, assault rifles, ammunition, night vision goggles and sniper rifles that U.S. troops left behind. When asked if Pakistan had shared any evidence with Washington, Asif questioned how that would help Islamabad as "Washington left ... that sort of hardware on foreign soil because they couldn't carry it." Alluding to the Taliban's return to power in Afghanistan after two decades of fighting U.S. and coalition troops, Asif questioned Washington's ability to fight terrorism successfully or the need to request its help to fight terrorism in Pakistan. "I do not see any logic in that," he said. "My personal view is that we can take care of this ... menace ourselves." After conducting two large-scale military operations against terrorists in 2014 and 2017, Pakistan is once again contemplating a comprehensive plan, including a possible military operation in areas bordering Afghanistan. But Pakistan is also in the throes of an economic crisis as the threat of a default looms due to mounting external debt payments, dwindling foreign reserves and stalled bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund. Asif said the economic crisis is the biggest threat for the country right now and the military, which receives the largest chunk of the annual federal budget, is looking at curtailing its expenses. However, he refused to specify where the cuts would be made. He also did not elaborate on where the finances would come from if Pakistan decided to conduct a new military operation. Pakistan's military has a history of meddling in politics, a fact the previous army chief, Gen. Qamar Javed Bajwa, admitted publicly last year. Former Pakistani prime minister Imran Khan accuses the army of orchestrating his ouster a year ago, while his opponents accuse him of coming to power on the military's back. Asif believes the military will uphold its latest pledge of staying out of politics. "I am 100% sure that the next election will ... be [without] any interference," he said. Despite facing a trifecta of crisespolitical instability, an economic meltdown and rising terrorismAsif said he has "absolutely no doubt" that Pakistan's defense is stable. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Taliban Defend Ban on Female UN Staff as 'Internal Issue' By Ayaz Gul April 12, 2023 The Taliban on Wednesday said their decision to forbid local women from working for the United Nations in Afghanistan is an internal matter that all parties should respect. The fundamentalist de facto authorities issued their first formal response a week after the ban on Afghan women staff from the U.N. went into effect. It also came a day after the U.N. mission office in Kabul renewed its condemnation of the "unlawful" restriction and warned it could push the world body to cease operations in the country. "The Islamic Emirate does not want to create obstacles for the United Nations," chief Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said in a statement Wednesday, using the official title for his male-only government. "Rather, it wants to make it clear that this is an internal issue of Afghanistan, which does not create a problem for anyone and should be respected by all sides," Mujahid added. U.N. Deputy-Secretary General Amina Mohammed said Wednesday on Twitter that "Giving up on women's rights in Afghanistan is simply not an option." Giving up on women's rights in Afghanistan is simply not an option. pic.twitter.com/DiuRvq4bzR Amina J Mohammed (@AminaJMohammed) April 12, 2023 The mission noted in a statement that its chief, Roza Otunbayeva, had initiated a review of U.N. operations in Afghanistan that could continue until May 5, instructing all staff to stay away from work during this period. The United Nations said on Tuesday that it could not comply with the ban on its Afghan female staff as it violates its charter and international law. The U.N. has nearly 4,000 staff members in Afghanistan, of which about 3,300 are Afghans. Among them are about 400 Afghan women and 200 international female staffers. Last December, the Taliban banned local female employees from working with domestic and international aid organizations, prompting some to suspend their charity work. The United Nations has said that the Taliban administration would be responsible for "any negative consequences of this crisis" stemming from the ban for millions of Afghans across the country reeling from years of war and prolonged drought. In his statement, Mujahid instead blamed Western governments for the humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, calling it an outcome of international sanctions on the country's financial and banking system, the freezing of central bank assets overseas, and travel bans on Taliban leaders. He said removing all restrictions would put Afghanistan on the path to economic and political progress. "Afghans have the capacity to stand on their own feet," Mujahid said. Afghanistan is home to one of the world's largest humanitarian crises. The United Nations says 28.3 million people, or two-thirds of the population, need humanitarian assistance. Six million people are on the brink of famine. This year's $4.6 billion humanitarian appeal has received little more than $200 million in funding. Funding for the Afghanistan appeal is drying up putting millions of lives at risk. Already, the food basket has had to be cut to half due to insufficient resources. If funding is not urgently secured, millions of Afghans will be staring down the barrel of famine, disease & death. pic.twitter.com/nO0TKFFQsl OCHA Afghanistan (@OCHAAfg) April 12, 2023 The U.N. humanitarian agency warned Wednesday that funding for the Afghan appeal is drying up, putting millions of lives at risk. "If funding is not urgently secured, millions of Afghans will be staring down the barrel of famine, disease, and death." Aid workers fear the Taliban's crackdown on women aid workers could further undermine the U.N. appeal and even force donors to suspend support for the humanitarian assistance program in Afghanistan. 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. They have barred women from accessing higher education, government jobs, and public spaces. Girls are also not allowed to attend school beyond sixth grade. The hardline group rejects criticism of its governance, saying it aligns with Afghan culture and Islamic law. The restrictions have kept the world from granting legitimacy to the Taliban rule. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address North Korean Missile Launch Sparks Emergency Alerts in Japan By William Gallo April 13, 2023 North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday, U.S. officials said, prompting emergency alerts and evacuation warnings on Japan's northernmost main island. Residents in Hokkaido were warned to immediately take shelter in their basements, and some public transit systems in the area were temporarily stopped, according to Japanese media. About 20 minutes after the alerts were issued, however, Japanese officials lifted the warning, saying the North Korean missile was not expected to land in Hokkaido. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada later said the missile fell outside Japanese territory. According to South Korea's military, the missile was fired at a lofted angle from the Pyongyang area and flew for 1,000 kilometers before landing in the sea between Korea and Japan. In a statement, the White House said it "strongly condemns" the ICBM test, which "needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region." "The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement," the U.S. statement said. South Korea's National Security Council called the launch "a grave violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions," which prohibit any North Korean ballistic missile activity. Japan's defense ministry said it lodged a "strong protest" to North Korea over the launch. North Korea has not offered any details; it does not usually comment on its weapons tests until the following morning when its state-run newspapers are published. On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a key political meeting in Pyongyang, where he vowed to expand his country's war deterrence in a "practical and offensive manner." North Korea has frequently launched missiles and issued verbal threats in recent months. It insists some of the moves were a response to expanded U.S.-South Korea military drills held last month. The North has also failed to respond to regular, daily phone calls via inter-Korean hotlines for seven consecutive days, South Korean officials said Thursday, further raising fears that Pyongyang intends to escalate tensions. "Pyongyang's provocations continue past its protest of U.S.-South Korea defense exercises because Kim Jong-un hasn't finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation," he added. The United States and its allies expect North Korea to continue conducting major weapons tests in the coming weeks. North Korea has vowed to launch a military spy satellite during the month of April and has carried out multiple tests it says are designed to accomplish that goal. Pyongyang has also recently hinted it could conduct a long-range missile launch at a normal rather than lofted trajectory. In the past, North Korea has used a steep angle in such launches, in part to avoid sending weapons over the territory of its neighbors. A normal trajectory launch would be much more provocative, since it could fly in the direction of U.S. territory. It could also show North Korea has made progress on important technical benchmarks, such as developing reentry vehicles that can successfully carry warheads through the atmosphere to faraway targets. North Korea sometimes conducts major weapons tests around key holidays. On Saturday, North Korea will celebrate the "Day of the Sun," which celebrates the 111th birthday of the country's late founding leader, Kim Il Sung. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Military budget boost will lead to more civilian deaths in Myanmar: Observers The junta has approved an increase of nearly U.S.$1 billion on defense spending. By RFA Burmese 2023.04.12 -- An increase in Myanmar's defense budget of nearly U.S.$1 billion will fuel the country's brutal civil war and lead to more civilian deaths, observers said Wednesday, calling for urgent action by the international community to cut off the junta's access to income. The increase comes after junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing acknowledged that the military only effectively controls around two-thirds of the country, despite a nationwide offensive by junta troops who have visited death, arson, sexual violence, and torture on the people of Myanmar in the 26 months since the military seized power in a coup d'etat. It also follows an Armed Forces Day speech by the military commander in which he vowed to "eradicate" the country's opposition. According to the budget, which Min Aung Hlaing approved on April 5, defense spending for the fiscal year 2023-2024 was set at 5.6 trillion kyats (U.S.$2.7 billion). The new figure represents an increase of U.S.$920 million over the previous fiscal year's budget of U.S.$1.8 billion. Thein Tun Oo, the executive director of the Thayninga Institute for Strategic Studies, a group made up of former military officers, defended the increase, saying that it is intended not to suppress internal armed conflict, but to "upgrade" the military to a more "modern standard." "It's not surprising that the military budget has to be increased in order to keep up with advancing defense technologies," he said, adding that he estimates upgrading the military "will require two-thirds of the entire budget." But Aung Myo Min, human rights minister for the shadow National Unity Government, told RFA that the size of the military's budget is directly proportional to the number of civilian deaths in the country. "The more weapons the military buys, the more people suffer because, throughout the period of military expansion, there have been more and more killings of innocent civilians, more air attacks using the jet fuel imported from foreign countries and more burning of civilian properties," he said. "Increasing the budget to expand the military under the current circumstances is literally reinforcing the junta with more weapons to kill more innocent people. It will definitely cause more civilian deaths." Aung Myo Min said that the international community needs to take urgent and effective legal action against the junta to hold it accountable for the atrocities it has committed and block the sources of income that enable it to increase its military budget. Fight for control of the country According to Thailand's Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma), authorities in Myanmar have killed at least 3,240 civilians since the Feb. 1, 2021 coup - many during the military's widespread scorched earth offensive against anti-junta armed groups and ethnic armies. And yet, after more than two years in power, Min Aung Hlaing recently acknowledged that he is only in control of 198 of the country's 330 townships. Since making the comments, military forces have accelerated clearing operations in Sagaing, Magwe, Bago and Tanintharyi regions, as well as Chin, Kachin, Kayin, Mon and Shan states. Sai Kyi Zin Soe, a political analyst, believes that the increase in the junta's military spending is part of a bid to complete these operations. "The military needs a larger budget to meet quotas within its armed forces and to attack the resistance forces more severely," he said. "The junta chief announced in his March 27 [Armed Forces Day] speech that the military will crush the resistance forces. He said he will crush not just the increasing number of resistance forces across the country, but also the ethnic armed groups that support those forces. I think that is the reason for the junta's increase in military budget." The junta has increased its defense spending every year since the 2020-2021 fiscal year, when Aung San Suu Kyi's deposed National League for Democracy last set the military budget at 3.4 trillion kyats (U.S.$1.6 billion). Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Matthew 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. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Junta troops torch over 100 homes in a Mandalay village The move came in retaliation for a landmine and drone attack on troops by local militias. By RFA Burmese 2023.04.12 -- Myanmar's military has torched more than 100 homes in a Mandalay region village as it continues to target civilians thought to be harboring People's Defense Forces. Tuesday's raid happened after anti-junta militias attacked troops leaving a monastery they had been stationed at, in Madaya township's Kin village, locals told RFA on condition of anonymity. One resident said reprisals started after local People's Defense Forces triggered land mines as the column of around 50 troops moved out. "The troops set fire to the village non-stop from 9 a.m. until the evening," the local said Wednesday. "Over a hundred houses were burnt down. The junta troops left early this morning." The local defense groups said they killed five soldiers and wounded 12 with landmines and bombs dropped from drones Combined fighters from Mahar Revolution Force; Tike Thane Underground Revolutionary Group; Nat Soe Underground Revolutionary Army; Nagar Nyi Naung People Defense Force; and Daung Sit The said they took part in the attack on the junta column. RFA has not been able to independently confirm the number of soldiers killed and injured. Calls to the junta spokesperson for Mandalay region, Thein Htay, went unanswered. Junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun has told RFA in the past troops never set fire to civilian homes. However, he said Tuesday the junta was behind another attack that day in which as many as 100 civilians were killed in an air strike on a Sagaing region village. He blamed local People's Defense Forces for hiding among civilians in that attack, saying the junta only targeted combatants. The junta's slash and burn tactics are widespread across Myanmar and locals said the military torched nine villages in Madaya township last month, forcing locals to flee to other villages and makeshift camps. According to Data for Myanmar, which monitors arson attacks, a total of 60,459 homes have been destroyed by fire across the country in the two years following the February 2021 coup. Translated by RFA Burmese. Edited by Mike Firn. Copyright 1998-2023, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Myanmar Confirms It Struck Rebel Village in Deadly Attack on 'Terrorists' Sputnik News 20230412 Wyatt Reed Tuesday's airstrike was the latest violent episode in a civil war that has stretched for over two years and since devolved into inter-ethnic bloodshed. Myanmar's government has confirmed it struck a village early Tuesday in an attack on an armed dissident group in the remote township of Kanbalu. Media outlets financed by the US, British, and French states claimed that dozens of deaths were recorded in the strike, which Myanmar's leaders defended by noting they were targeting anti-government militants. "There was [an] office opening ceremony" by the group at "about 8 AM at Pazi Gyi village," explained Zaw Min Tun, a senior spokesman for the Myanmar Army, who reportedly affirmed: "We attacked that place." A statement by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' office said he "strongly condemns the attack by the Myanmar Armed Forces today." The US issued a statement condemning Myanmar as well. The State Department said it's "deeply concerned" about the strikes, which spokesman Vedant Patel claimed "further underscore" what he called "the regime's disregard for human life." The government of Myanmar classifies groups like the one it struck Tuesday as terrorists, and has pledged to return the entirety of its country to its control. It last drew condemnation from Western governments for an attack on ethnic separatists in October 2022 which reportedly left as many as 60 dead. Myanmar's current leadership seized power in early 2021 following what they described as massive election fraud by Aung San Suu Kyi, a pro-Western figurehead who was widely embraced by liberal and neoconservative politicians in the US and Europe. This February, on the two-year anniversary of her departure, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom announced another round of sanctions aimed at clamping down on Myanmar's new leaders. Last month, the country's military confirmed it was establishing another six-month extension of a state of emergency, postponing elections slated for August for a fourth time due to the national security situation. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Q&A: Tom Andrews, UN Special Rapporteur for Myanmar By Ingyin Naing April 12, 2023 The U.N. special rapporteur for Myanmar says the international community, including the U.N. Security Council, is still failing to provide protection against the Myanmar junta's violent attacks on the people of Myanmar. More than 100 people, including women and children, were killed Tuesday when Myanmar's military junta bombed the Kanbalu township in the Sagaing region, according to witnesses contacted by VOA Burmese. "More innocent people killed, more children killed, more violations of international law and human rights. We need to stop as an international community and recognize this fact," Tom Andrews told VOA via Skype on Wednesday. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. VOA: How serious are the Myanmar junta's airstrikes against its own civilians under international law? U.N. Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews: They're extremely serious. First of all, we've seen a significant uptick, a significant increase in the use of fighter jets dropping bombs, the use of helicopter gunships descending on villages and opening fire. There is an increasing use of these types of weapons. These weapons kill without any kind of discrimination. They wipe out entire villages. I've even seen them [bombs] dropped on the centers [for the internally displaced], where people have gone for safety, and children have been killed. These are the characteristics of war crimes. These are the characteristics of crimes against humanity. This is not only unacceptable from a moral point of view, it is illegal from an international law point of view. So we must do more to stop this carnage and impose the fundamental foundations of international law with respect to Myanmar. The people of Myanmar deserve nothing less. VOA: The junta's spokesperson confirmed the Kanbalu airstrike, in which dozens of civilians were reportedly killed, but he said the attacks there were justified because, according to him, the National Unity Government, which had just opened its local office, is an armed terrorist group. What is your view on the junta's response? Andrews: Citizens are not terrorists. Children are not terrorists. Those who are opposed to the junta and its killing of innocent people are not terrorists. They are patriots. They are those who are committed to a just democracy for Myanmar, human rights for Myanmar. These are not crimes. These should be embraced and applauded by everyone. The people of Myanmar, fighting for their future, trying to create justice and human rights for their children, are not terrorists. They are patriots. VOA: What kind of action should the international community, including the U.N. Security Council, take against the junta to protect the Myanmar people? Andrews: Step one is recognize that what has happened to this point is failing. It's simply not working. And more of the same is going to mean more of the same in Myanmar: more innocent people killed, more children killed, more violations of international law and human rights. We need to stop as an international community and recognize this fact. We are failing the people of Myanmar. That's step one. Step two is to examine all of the options that we have to stop this carnage. The international community, even though the U.N. Security Council was not willing to support an action resolution after the invasion of Ukraine, nevertheless formed a coalition. That coalition formed a coordinated strategy to support the people of Ukraine. And the world has worked together to put maximum pressure on Russia and provide maximum support for the people of Ukraine. This is exactly the approach that we need for the people of Myanmar. The international community, who support the people of Myanmar, who condemn these attacks, who support human rights, democracy, need to form an action coalition a not a word coalition a an action coalition in which all the options can be put on the table and examined, and everyone can coordinate these actions together. We need to find the vulnerable spots in the junta, identify them clearly and work together to seize this opportunity to deny them the resources that they need, the weapons that they need, the capacity that they need in order to continue these horrific attacks. That's what the international community needs to do. If we don't do this, then we can only expect that there's going to be more attacks, more carnage, more innocent people killed, more violations of human rights. And frankly, if that happens, then we have aided and abetted those horrific actions that are being taken against the people of Myanmar. VOA: The Rohingya repatriation program, which is being coordinated with the U.N., the Bangladeshi government and the junta itself, is being criticized by human rights organizations because they say it isn't safe to return to parts of Myanmar. Can you shed some light on the U.N.'s role in the repatriation process, especially regarding its interactions with the junta? Andrews: No one, including the United Nations, should be supporting a repatriation process in which the Rohingya who are in Bangladesh under very harsh conditions are nonetheless brought to Myanmar in very unsafe conditions a conditions that are not conducive whatsoever to a safe, dignified return; repatriation that does not include protection of human rights, protection of citizenship, protection of life and safety. No one should be supporting that kind of repatriation process, because it won't work. It's unfair. We could see even more hardship for those people who are in Bangladesh, who have suffered so much. So, whether it's the United Nations or any other entity, we should not be moving forward with any repatriation process, including a pilot program, under these conditions. VOA: Your position as U.N. special rapporteur has been renewed for another five-year term. What will your main focus be regarding human rights in Myanmar in the short term and in the long term? Andrews: Well, I'm very grateful to have my service as special rapporteur renewed by the Human Rights Council. I will be doing some very basic things going forward with this mandate. Number one, first and foremost, is to listen to the people of Myanmar, those who are providing me with extraordinarily important information and analysis and insight as to what is going on inside of the country, what is going on for those who have escaped the country and what needs to be done, what the United Nations and the international community needs to do. Number two, it is reaching out to those nations who are in a position to provide stronger support for the people of Myanmar and try to engage them in efforts that can do just that. I've been traveling in the region. I was in Thailand this past year. I traveled to Malaysia this past year. I am preparing right now to travel to Japan. I was in the Republic of Korea a few months ago. I'm planning to travel during this year to Indonesia. And I'm going to be doing everything that I can to sit down and work with leaders of the region and leaders throughout the world to make it very clear that it's in no one's interest to allow this catastrophe to continue to unfold before our very eyes. And it's in all of our interests as an international community to work together to support the human rights and justice of Myanmar people and to oppose this military junta. So, that is primarily what is on my agenda as I seek to serve the U.N. Human Rights Council and the United Nations General Assembly in this coming year. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address South Korea to Supply US With 500,000 Artillery Shells 'On Loan', Reports Say Sputnik News 20230412 Earlier, US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said that the United States aims at substantially increasing its production of 155mm artillery and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) munitions over the next few years. The South Korean government has reached an agreement with the United States to supply 500,000 155mm artillery shells on condition that they would be returned, media reported, citing sources. The contract was reportedly signed last month and the supply will be five times the number of shells sold last year. The shells will not be sold this time, but will be lent. After last year's agreements to supply 100,000 shells, Washington again asked Seoul in February to sell another 100,000 rounds of ammunition, but the sides agreed to provide 500,000 units "on loan". Seoul believes that with this form of contract, ownership of the shells remains with the South Korean side and they will have to be returned later, according to media reports. Moreover, in such a case, it is less likely that the US would send the shells to Ukraine without the consent of South Korea. However, even in this case, it can be assumed that Seoul "indirectly supplies lethal weapons to Kiev", the media said. The US State Department has not commented on the report so far. The report came after leaked highly classified US military documents showed how South Korea was struggling to balance pressure from its Western allies to help Ukraine get military aid with its own policy of staying out of the conflict. Top secret Pentagon files leaked online in recent weeks provide sensitive details on a range of security topics, including on Ukraine, China, and the Middle East, as well as alleged US spying on officials in allied countries, such as South Korea. Western countries have been supplying Kiev with various types of weapons systems, including air defense missiles, multiple launch rocket systems, tanks, self-propelled artillery and anti-aircraft guns, since Russia launched its military operation in Ukraine in February 2022. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia: Statement by the High Representative Josep Borrell on decision against EU-Russia Civil Society Forum European External Action Service (EEAS) 12.04.2023 EEAS Press Team The European Union strongly condemns the decision of the Russian authorities to declare the activities of EU-Russia Civil Society Forum as "undesirable". This decision further intensifies the crackdown on independent civil society and media in Russia, taking place against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. Since 2011, the EU-Russia Civil Society Forum brings together Russian and European non-governmental organisations with shared civic values. It is a valuable bridge linking independent Russian civil society actors with European counterparts. The European Union, once again, urges the Russian authorities to repeal the current legislation on the so-called "undesirable organisations" and "foreign agents", which severely restricts the freedoms of association and opinion, in order to bring Russian legislation in line with Russia's international obligations. The European Union stands in solidarity with Russian citizens who are prevented from exercising their human rights. We will continue to support the important work of Russian civil society organisations, human rights defenders and independent media and journalists inside and outside Russia. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Switzerland will not block more Russian assets: Official Iran Press TV Wednesday, 12 April 2023 10:34 AM The Swiss government has said it will not block more Russian assets other than the funds already frozen - due to a lack of evidence they fall under sanctions, in response to US accusations that it is not doing enough in terms of sanctioning Moscow. Director of the State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) Helene Budliger Artieda said in a Tuesday interview in the German newspaper Neue ZArcher Zeitung (NNZ) that "not all Russians are subject to sanctions - only a small minority is." Earlier claims were made by US Ambassador to Switzerland Scott Miller who accused SECO of not doing enough to implement sanctions against Russia, and said that Bern could block a further 50 to 100 billion Swiss francs in Russian assets and use them to help restore Ukraine. "The figure of 50 to 100 billion francs was initially circulated as a possible estimate of Russian funds under [Swiss] management, but it was not an estimate produced by Switzerland," Budliger Artieda told the German newspaper. Bern has frozen 7.5 billion Swiss francs ($8.3 billion) worth of Russian assets since the EU imposed sanctions on Moscow in connection with its military operation in Ukraine. The blocked funds are "a good third" of the a21.5 billion ($23.4 billion) frozen across the European Union, but further asset freezing would require evidence that the funds were connected with sanctioned entities or individuals, said the SECO head. "We keep telling the US and all partner countries, if you have any valuable leads, give them to us. We will follow these up. To this day we have not received any from the Americans," she stated. When asked whether the frozen assets could be confiscated to finance the reconstruction of Ukraine, the official pointed out "The confiscation of private assets is not permitted in Switzerland if they are of lawful origin and have no proven criminal background. Their confiscation would be contrary to the Federal Constitution and the applicable legal system and violate Switzerland's international obligations." SECO's chief also reiterated that the Swiss government is also unlikely to pressure the country's financial institutions to stop serving Russian clients. Back in September 2022, Russia annexed the four Ukrainian regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia following referendums. Ukraine and its Western allies denounced the move as illegal, calling the votes a "sham." However, Moscow named the regions as constituent subjects of the Russian Federation in a constitutional decree despite the fact that Russian forces have not yet managed to take the regions under their full control. Since the onset of the war, the United States and Ukraine's other allies have sent Kiev tens of billions of dollars' worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems. Western countries have also imposed a slew of economic sanctions on Moscow. The Kremlin has said the sanctions and the Western military assistance will prolong the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russia says successfully test-fired 'advanced' intercontinental ballistic missile Iran Press TV Wednesday, 12 April 2023 5:40 AM Russia says it has successfully test-launched an "advanced" intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), weeks after the suspension of the country's participation in an arms control treaty with the United States. Russia's Defense Ministry said in a statement on Wednesday that military forces had fired the missile from the Kapustin Yar training ground in the Astrakhan Region. "On April 11, 2023, the combat crew of the Strategic Missile Troops successfully launched the intercontinental ballistic missile of the land-based mobile missile system from the Kapustin Yar State Central Multiservice Training Ground in the Astrakhan Region," the ministry said, without specifying the type of the missile used in the launch. "The missile's training warhead hit a mock target at the Sary-Shagan training ground in Kazakhstan with given precision," the ministry said, noting that, "The launch fully dispatched its mission." "This launch made it possible to confirm the correctness of the circuit design and technical solutions used in the development of new strategic missile systems," it added. The testing of the missile comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin has already promised to boost arms production nearly a year after the start of the Ukraine war. Back in February, Putin said Russia's new Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), capable of carrying multiple nuclear warheads, would be deployed over the course of 2023. Sarmat is among Russia's next-generation missiles, which Putin has labeled "invincible." The president has said the missile will make Russia's enemies "think twice." The liquid-fuel ICBM is capable of carrying massive payloads across the North or the South Pole to anywhere on planet earth. The missile is said to have a range exceeding 6,835 miles, meaning it can easily reach most places on earth. Putin also announced in February that he was suspending Russia's participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States, stressing that Russia would continue to pay increased attention to boosting its nuclear forces. The treaty, signed in 2010, puts limits on the number of intercontinental-range nuclear weapons that the world's two largest nuclear arsenals can deploy. It had last been extended in early 2021 for five years. Russia also plans to deploy tactical nuclear warheads in Belarus in face of the US-led NATO's exceeding military support for Ukraine. Since the onset of the war in Ukraine, the US and Ukraine's other allies have sent Kiev tens of billions of dollars worth of weapons, including rocket systems, drones, armored vehicles, tanks, and communication systems. Western countries have also imposed a slew of economic sanctions on Moscow. The Kremlin says the sanctions and the Western military assistance will prolong the war. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Russian National Sofia Sapega, Who Was Jailed In Belarus After Forced Landing Of Jet, Agrees Extradition To Russia By RFE/RL's Belarus Service April 12, 2023 MINSK -- Sofia Sapega, a Russian citizen who is serving a six-year prison term in Belarus on charges related to civil disturbances that followed a disputed 2020 presidential election, has agreed to be extradited to Russia. A spokesman for the Russian Embassy in Minsk, Aleksei Maskalyov, said on April 12 that Sapega had expressed her intention to a Russian diplomat who visited her in prison. According to Maskalyov, Russian and Belarusian officials will work on the 24-year-old Sapega's extradition papers. Sapega and her then-boyfriend, dissident blogger Raman Pratasevich, were detained after their commercial flight from Athens to Vilnius was forced to land in Minsk in May 2021. Sapega was accused of administering a channel on Telegram that published the personal data of Belarusian security forces. She was sentenced in May 2022. Belarus said it had ordered the plane to land after an anonymous bomb threat. Evidence later revealed Belarusian officials conspired to fake the bomb threat as a pretense for diverting the plane so they could detain the two. Pratasevich, who fled Belarus in 2019, worked as an editor at the Poland-based Nexta Live channel on Telegram, which extensively covered a violent crackdown on unprecedented protests in Belarus following an August 2020 presidential election that the opposition and Western governments say was stolen by authoritarian ruler Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has run the country with an iron fist since 1994. Pratasevich is currently on trial. His two co-defendants, Stsyapan Putsila and Yan Rudzik, are being tried in absentia. The three are charged with forming and leading an extremist group, insulting Lukashenka, plotting to seize power through unconstitutional means, discrediting Belarus, financing extremist activities, inciting social hatred, organizing mass unrest, conducting acts of terrorism, and other actions aimed at undermining national security. Pratasevich made several appearances on Belarusian state television in 2021 that prompted the opposition and Western officials to accuse Lukashenka's regime of extracting video confessions under torture. They also called for his and Sapega's immediate release. Lukashenka has denied stealing the election and has since cracked down hard on the opposition, whose leading members were either jailed or forced to flee the country, fearing for their safety. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/belarus-sapega-extradied- russia-pratasevich/32360651.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address New Sanctions Imposed by U.S., Britain Target 'Facilitators' For Russia By RFE/RL April 12, 2023 The United States has imposed sanctions on more than 100 people and entities in a move aimed at further curbing Russia's access to the international financial system through facilitators and their businesses. The sanctions announced on April 12 by the U.S. Treasury Department's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) are in coordination with Britain, which also announced sanctions on individuals and companies accused of acting as "financial fixers" for Russian billionaires Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov. Britain's Foreign Office said in a statement the new measures targeted those helping the two prominent businessmen to avoid the full cost of sanctions that have been imposed since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, while the United States said its new sanctions apply to more than 120 entities and individuals across more than 20 countries, including facilitators of sanctions evasion. "We are closing the net on the Russian elite and those who try to help them hide their money for war," British Foreign Minister James Cleverly said in a statement. "We will keep cutting them off from assets they thought were successfully hidden." U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in his statement that the United States "will continue to take action against Russia and those supporting its war in Ukraine, including further implementing the G7's commitment to impose severe consequences on third country actors who support Russia's war in Ukraine." OFAC said in a separate statement it imposed sanctions on Russian financial facilitators and sanctions evaders around the world, including in Turkey, Hungary, Uzbekistan, the United Arab Emirates, and China. The Hungarian individuals designated by the United States are three executives of the Budapest-based International Investment Bank and the bank itself. The sanctions, which freeze any assets the individuals and entities hold in U.S. and U.K. jurisdictions and bar U.S. and U.K. companies and individuals from any dealings with them, come on top of multiple rounds of sanctions packages introduced since the invasion by the United States and its allies. Blinken highlighted in his statement that the U.S. sanctions target two Russian entities that the U.S. State Department said have taken part in the "militarization and indoctrination of schoolchildren." The State Department named the two entities as the All Russian Children's and Youth Military Patriotic Public Movement Youth Army and the State Budgetary Educational Institution of Additional Education of the Republic of Crimea Crimea Patriot Center. The action also blacklists the Patriot Private Military Company, which the State Department says is associated with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and competes with the Wagner mercenary group, and the China HEAD Aerospace Technology Company, a China-based satellite image reseller that has provided satellite imagery of locations in Ukraine to entities affiliated with Wagner, Blinken said. OFAC also targeted King-Pai Technology HK, which it said is a China-based supplier for multiple entities in Russia's military-industrial complex. The U.S. sanctions also target five entities and one individual associated with Rosatom, which Blinken said is in response to Russia's use of energy exports, including in the nuclear sector, "to exert political and economic pressure on its customers globally." Washington also imposed sanctions on Usmanov's company, USM Holdings, along with entities organized under it, the State Department said. This includes Russian mobile phone operator Megafon; Russia's biggest iron ore producer, Metalloinvest, including its Swiss-based and U.A.E.-based subsidiaries; the operator of the Russia-based Udokan copper project; and Usmanov's Uzbekistan-based cement producer Akhangarancement. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russia-abramovich- usmanov-fixers-sanctioned-uk/32360583.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address TOS-1A: Russia's Fearsome Thermobaric 'Solntsepyok' Heavy Flamethrower Sputnik News 20230412 Ilya Tsukanov Since their appearance in the Donbass, Russia's 'heavy flamethrower' thermobaric artillery quickly gained a reputation for their ability to inflict devastating damage against enemy fortifications, vehicles and anyone unfortunate enough to find themselves in their zone of fire. Where do these weapons originate and how do they work? Sputnik explains. Western and Ukrainian media have spent several weeks dissecting the TOS-1A Solntsepyok (lit. 'Scorching Sunlight', 'Scorching Sun' or 'Blazing Sun') thermobaric rocket launch system after confirmation from the Russian military that the weapons platform has been attached to Russia's elite airborne formations involved in the special operation. US media claims the system has become a prime target for Ukrainian drones, with one defense observer going so far as to demand that they must be destroyed before they have a chance to reach the front lines and wreak havoc on Ukrainian lines. What is a Thermobaric Weapon? Originating in the first half of the 20th century, thermobaric weapons are a two-stage explosive consisting of a flammable liquid fuel or highly combustible jellied slurry mixture. Upon reaching its target, a blast spreads the fuel or slurry over the surrounding environment, after which a secondary explosion detonates, igniting it, consuming all oxygen in the vicinity, creating a partial vacuum and generating extreme heat up to 3,000 degrees centigrade (equivalent to the surface temperature of some dying stars). Modern thermobaric weapons trace their origins to the Second World War, when German engineers created a propane gas shell explosive system for the six-barreled towed 15 cm Nebelwerfer 41 rocket launch system. During barrages, the system would launch five propane gas rounds, followed by a sixth conventional explosive round that would detonate gas vapor and cause massive, high temperature explosions. The next country to develop thermobaric weapons was the United States. During the Vietnam War, American engineers created a variety of pallet-launched, cluster, grenade and missile-delivered thermobaric bombs, dropping them over North Vietnam and rural jungle areas in South Vietnam. Together with conventional explosives and Agent Orange defoliants, US bombing decimated nearly a tenth of the Vietnam's total land area, and killed hundreds of thousands of Vietnamese civilians and fighters. The US later deployed thermobaric weapons on a smaller scale in Iraq in the Mk 153 SMAW rocket launcher and AGM-114N Hellfire II missile. When Did the USSR and Russia Get Their First Thermobaric Weapons? The USSR entered the thermobaric arms race in the late 1980s, creating several light experimental thermobaric weapons including the PRO-A - a man-portable rocket-assisted flamethrower with a blast effect equivalent to 5.5 kilograms of TNT (i.e. that of a conventional 155 mm artillery shell). Engineers also created the TOS (Russian acronym for 'Tyazhelaya Ognemetnaya Sistema' - literally 'Heavy Flamethrower System'), a thermobaric multiple rocket launch system attached to the chassis of a T-72 tank. The TOS-1 was developed in the 1970s by the Omsk Transport Engineering Plant and the Lukin Research Institute near Moscow, entering into service in 1987 several years after passing state tests. Where Has TOS Been Used? The system saw its first combat in Afghanistan during Soviet operations in Panjir Valley in 1988 and during Operation Typhoon in 1989. The campaigns were designed to improve the Soviet-allied Afghan government's capability to withstand attacks by CIA-backed Mujahedeen fighters after the USSR's withdrawal. The use of TOS-1s proved highly successful, with Operation Typhoon contributing to the stabilization of the Kabul government's positions, ultimately allowing it to survive for over three years without Soviet troops on the ground. The TOS-1 subsequently saw limited use in the Second Chechen War, while its next iteration, the TOS-1A, was deployed in Syria by Russian and Syrian forces (for more info on the differences between the two, see below). TOS was also used by Iraqi forces against Daesh (ISIS)* and by Azeri forces against Armenia-backed militias in Nagorno Karabakh and the Armenian army in conflicts in 2016 and 2020. What is the TOS-1A and What's the Difference Between It, the TOS-1 and TOS-2? The TOS-1A is an upgraded modification of the TOS-1 introduced in 2003, featuring 24 rocket barrels instead of 30, and an effective maximum firing range of 6 km instead of 3.6 km. A new shell for the TOS-1A created in the late 2010s increased the system's effective firing range to 10 km. This was achieved thanks to a new fuel/explosive mixture inside the shell. There is one drawback to the 10 km rocket: its 1.6 km dead zone (i.e. the area in which the system cannot be fired). The shorter-range rockets have a dead zone of as little as 400 meters. The TOS-2 is a TOS mounted on a 3-axle Ural truck instead of a tank chassis. The system uses the same rockets as the tank-mounted variants, but is lighter, featuring 18 barrels instead of 24 or 30. The TOS-2 began to enter into service with the Russian military in 2021. What Makes the TOS-1A So Deadly? The TOS operates like a conventional multiple launch artillery system, but fires 220 mm 173-217 kg rockets containing a fuel air explosive mixture. A single TOS rocket has a reported explosive power equivalent to up to one ton of TNT. How Fast Does the TOS-1A Fire and Are Its Rockets Guided? The TOS-1A system can fire off its payload in 15 seconds or less. Its rockets are unguided. Do the Laws of Warfare Prohibit the TOS-1A's Use? The escalation of the conflict in the Donbass into a full-blown NATO-Russia proxy war in Ukraine in 2022 led Western media to remember that thermobaric weapons exist, and to accuse Russia of using them in a "criminal" manner. However, the Geneva Conventions on the laws of warfare do not prohibit thermobaric weapons' use - except if they are used against civilians. Russia's military has taken precautions to restrict these powerful weapons' deployment in built up areas, instead using them in areas of fortified Ukrainian troop buildups. How Much Does a TOS-1A Cost? TOS-1 and TOS-1A manufacturer Uralvagonzavod has not made figures on the systems' cost public. Figures floating around online suggest a single TOS-1A launcher costs about $6.5 million, while one of its rockets costs about $5,000, but these should be taken with a huge grain of salt, if not dismissed entirely. What is the US Equivalent to the TOS-1A? The United States and other NATO powers do not have an equivalent to the TOS. Instead, the alliance prefers to deploy its thermobaric weapons mostly in air-dropped bombs. Does the TOS-1A Have Any Vulnerabilities? Because of its design as an artillery system and need to haul large numbers of heavy thermobaric rounds around, the TOS-1A is more vulnerable to artillery, anti-tank and grenade launcher fire than say, a tank. That means the system has to be protected at all times, and that it must avoid traversing into areas where it may come under enemy attack. * A terrorist group outlawed in Russia and many other countries. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Further Curbing Russia's Efforts to Evade Sanctions and Perpetuate its War Against Ukraine Press Statement Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of State April 12, 2023 Today, the Department of State and the Department of Treasury are imposing sanctions on more than 120 entities and individuals across more than 20 countries and jurisdictions in connection with the Russian Federation's unlawful and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, including facilitators of sanctions evasion. More than one year into Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, the effects of our globally coordinated sanctions have forced the Russian Federation to search for alternate routes to finance and fuel its war machine. In coordination with the United Kingdom, we are targeting sanctions evasion network supporting one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires, Alisher Usmanov, who was sanctioned by the United States last year. In addition to the Usmanov-linked evasion network we are also targeting USM Holding, the primary entity through which Usmanov owns and controls the majority of his companies. Additionally, the Department of State is sanctioning two Russian entities that support Russia's efforts to undermine the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine through the militarization and indoctrination of schoolchildren: The All Russian Children's and Youth Military Patriotic Public Movement Youth Army, and the State Budgetary Educational Institution of Additional Education of the Republic of Crimea Crimea Patriot Center. Today's action also includes the designation of several entities operating in the defense sector of Russia's economy and entities supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, including a new Russian private military company and a People's Republic of China (PRC) based firm that has provided satellite imagery of locations in Ukraine to entities affiliated with the Wagner private military company that is fighting in Ukraine on Putin's behalf. Finally, we are designating additional persons associated with the Russian State Atomic Energy Corporation, Rosatom. Russia uses energy exports, including in the nuclear sector, to exert political and economic pressure on its customers globally. The United States will continue to take action against Russia and those supporting its war in Ukraine, including further implementing the G7's commitment to impose severe consequences on third country actors who support Russia's war in Ukraine. For more information on today's action, please see the Department of State's fact sheet, the Department of the Treasury's press release . NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Treasury Targets Russian Financial Facilitators and Sanctions Evaders Around the World U.S. Department of the Treasury April 12, 2023 WASHINGTON -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) is further curbing Russia's access to the international financial system through facilitators and their businesses. The United States, in coordination with the United Kingdom, is targeting the facilitation network of Alisher Usmanov, who is subject to sanctions in multiple jurisdictions. Today's action also includes designations to reinforce existing measures and further disrupt Russia's importation of critical technologies used in its war against Ukraine. In total, OFAC is designating 25 individuals and 29 entities with touchpoints in 20 jurisdictions. The U.S. Department of State is concurrently designating several entities operating in the defense sector of the Russian Federation economy and entities supporting Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as additional entities associated with Russia's State Atomic Energy Corporation (Rosatom). For more information on these State actions, see this Fact Sheet. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Commerce will take concurrent action to add 28 entities to its Entity List. "As the Kremlin seeks ways around the expansive multilateral sanctions and export controls imposed on Russia for its war against Ukraine, the United States and our allies and partners will continue to disrupt evasion schemes that support Putin on the battlefield," said Under Secretary of the Treasury for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence Brian E. Nelson. "Today's action underscores our dedication to implementing the G7 commitment to impose severe costs on third-country actors who support Russia's war." TARGETING USMANOV FACILITATORS Alisher Burhanovich Usmanov (Usmanov), designated on March 3, 2022 pursuant to E.O. 14024, is one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires, with vast holdings across multiple sectors of the Russian Federation economy as well as internationally. Usmanov holds significant interests in the metals and mining, telecommunications, and information technology sectors. Usmanov is known to be close to multiple U.S.-designated, senior Russian officials, including Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Dmitry Medvedev, current Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of Russia and former President and Prime Minister of Russia. Medvedev has reportedly benefited from the personal use of luxurious residences controlled by Usmanov. Usmanov has at his disposal a wide network of businesses in financial safe havens and family members through which to conduct financial transactions, enabling him to potentially circumvent sanctions. Usmanov has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the European Union (EU), Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom (UK). In addition to the actions described below, today OFAC revoked Russia-related General License 15, which had authorized transactions involving any entity owned 50 percent or more, directly or indirectly, by Usmanov that was not listed on OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons List (SDN List). As a result of this revocation, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by Usmanov are blocked, regardless of whether such entities are listed on the SDN List. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of Usmanov are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. Demetrios Serghides and The Sister Trust Cyprus national Demetrios Serghides (Serghides) is an Usmanov advisor who handles financial matters on behalf of Usmanov. Serghides has assisted Usmanov with acquiring real estate and manages assets for both Usmanov and Usmanov's family members. Serghides was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Usmanov, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. Serghides is the protector of The Sister Trust, a trust for which Usmanov and his sister Gulbakhor Burkhanovna Ismailova (Ismailova) are the settlors. Serghides is also a member of the board of directors of Switzerland-based Pomerol Capital SA (Pomerol), which is The Sister Trust's trustee. Ismailova has also been sanctioned by the EU, Switzerland, and the UK. The Sister Trust was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Serghides. Ismailova was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, The Sister Trust. Pomerol was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, The Sister Trust. The Sister Trust is the owner of multiple companies, including Cyprus-registered Almenor Holdings Limited (Almenor) and Klaret Aviation Limited (Klaret Aviation) and Cayman Islands-based Navis Marine Limited (Navis Marine). Serghides is also a member of the board of directors of Almenor and Navis Marine and owns several other companies, including Cyprus-based Omnia Services Cyprus Ltd (Omnia Services) and Hightrail Ltd (Hightrail) as well as France-based Omnia Antibes. Almenor, Klaret Aviation, and Navis Marine were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, The Sister Trust. Omnia Services, Hightrail, and Omnia Antibes were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Serghides. Usmanov's Cyprus Network Cyprus resident Kostas Giannakou (Giannakou), Cyprus national Marilena Georgiou (Georgiou), and Russian Federation-Cyprus national Gulnoz Zunnurovna Kocharova (Kocharova), who also has Uzbekistan citizenship, are directors of Almenor. Giannakou, Georgiou, and Kocharova were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of Almenor. Additionally, OFAC designated three other Usmanov-owned, Cyprus-based firms: Windfel Properties Limited (Windfel), Savoler Development Ltd (Savoler), and Miramonte Investments Ltd (Miramonte). Cyprus national Kyriakos Attikouris (Attikouris) and UK national Antonis Vakanas (Vakanas) are directors of Windfel, Savoler, and Miramonte, and Sommen Secretarial Services Limited (Sommen Secretarial) is the corporate secretary of Windfel, Savoler, and Miramonte. Windfel, Savoler, and Miramonte were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Usmanov. Attikouris and Vakanas were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of Windfel, Savoler, and Miramonte. Sommen Secretarial was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Windfel, Savoler, and Miramonte. Usmanov-linked Executives OFAC also targeted several other individuals with ties to Usmanov and his businesses. Russian Federation national Nazim Tofik Ogly Efendiev (Efendiev), Russian Federation-Cyprus national Vakhtang Ernstovich Kocharov (Kocharov), and Russian Federation national Valery Dzhekovich Kazikaev (Kazikaev) are senior members of management or members of the board of directors of Usmanov-related metals and mining companies Metalloinvest and Udokan Copper. Kazikaev also owns Slovakia-based KTH Group Spol SRO (KTH Group). Russian Federation-Cyprus-Israel national Vladimir Yakovlevich Streshinskiy (Streshinskiy), formerly the CEO of USM Holdings (USM), is a member of the board of directors of USM, Megafon, and Metalloinvest, three Usmanov-related companies designated today by the Department of State. Streshinskiy owns an Isle of Man-registered company, Platifino Limited. OFAC also designated Russian Federation-Cyprus national Natalia Alexeevna Streshinskaya (Streshinskaya), Streshinskiy's wife. Efendiev, Kocharov, and Kazikaev were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy. Streshinskiy was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the metals and mining sector of the Russian Federation economy as well as for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of USM, Megafon, and Metalloinvest. Streshinskaya was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being a spouse or adult child of Streshinskiy. KTH Group was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Kazikaev. Platifino Limited was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Streshinskiy.s Uzbekistan national Shokhrukh Olimdjonovich Nasirkhodjaev (Nasirkhodjaev) is the CEO of Hamriyah Steel FZC, a United Arab Emirates-based company designated today by the Department of State. OFAC also designated Nasirkhodjaev's wife, Uzbekistan national Nasiba Erkinovna Narzieva (Nasiba), and Nasiba's mother, Uzbekistan national Saodat Burxanovna Narzieva (Saodat). Saodat is Usmanov's sister. Usmanov has added Saodat to a number of his bank accounts and has sent her millions of dollars over the years. Saodat has transferred millions of dollars to both Nasirkhodjaev and Nasiba. Saodat has also been sanctioned by the UK. Nasirkhodjaev was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of Hamriyah Steel FZC. Nasiba was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being a spouse or adult child of Nasirkhodjaev. Saodat was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, Nasirkhodjaev. Skoch Family Members Andrei Vladimirovich Skoch (Skoch), designated pursuant to E.O. 13661 on April 6, 2018 and pursuant to E.O. 14024 on March 24, 2022, is a member of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation (The Duma) and is a previous shareholder of USM. Russian Federation businessman Vladimir Skoch (Vladimir) is Skoch's father. Skoch transferred all of his shares of USM to Vladimir after being elected to The Duma in 1999. Vladimir is the majority owner of a holding company that directly owns an entity that operates or has operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy. Russian Federation and Cyprus national Varvara Skoch (Varvara) is Skoch's daughter. In 2020, Vladimir donated 50 percent of his shares in USM, previously owned by Skoch, to then-20-year-old Varvara. Vladimir was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the aerospace sector of the Russian Federation economy. Varvara was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being the spouse or adult child of Skoch, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. Usmanov's Stepson Germany and Russian Federation national Natan Adadievich Viner (Viner) is Usmanov's stepson and a businessman who owns a number of firms in Moscow, Russia, including management consulting firm GKR UK OOO as well as GKR OOO, GKR Nedvizhimost OOO, Rodina Stroi Grupp OOO, Gruppa Rodina OOO, and Investitsionnaya Gruppa Partnery OOO. Viner also owns luxury seaside property in Latvia. Viner and GKR UK OOO were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the management consulting sector of the Russian Federation economy. GKR OOO, GKR Nedvizhimost OOO, Rodina Stroi Grupp OOO, Gruppa Rodina OOO, and Investitsionnaya Gruppa Partnery OOO were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Viner. In addition to the individuals and entities noted here, the U.S. Department of State designated 80 entities and individuals across the world that are connected to Usmanov, other Russian billionaires, and sanctions circumvention efforts. TARGETING RUSSIA-LINKED TRUST SERVICES COMPANY Sanctions evasion and other illicit finance are facilitated by enablers through active assistance or gross negligence. Enablers can be found in a wide variety of professions, although key industries include law, financial services (including wealth management), and trust and company service providers (TCSPs). Sequoia Treuhand Trust Reg (Sequoia Treuhand Trust) is a trust services company based in Ruggell, Liechtenstein. Sequoia Treuhand Trust's clients include Russian elites such as Gennady Nikolayevich Timchenko (Timchenko) and his family, as well as an associate of Usmanov. Timchenko was designated in March 2014 pursuant to E.O. 13661 and again in March 2022 pursuant to E.O. 14024 alongside several family members. Timchenko has also been sanctioned by Australia, Canada, the EU, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, and the UK. Sequoia Treuhand Trust was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support to, or goods or services to or in support of, Timchenko, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O 14024. OFAC also designated three individuals associated with Sequoia Treuhand Trust. Liechtenstein and Switzerland national Roland Oehri (Oehri) is the managing director of Sequoia Treuhand Trust. Oehri has personally managed luxury property associated with Usmanov. Switzerland and UK national Markus Jakob Giger (Giger) is a member of the board of Sequoia Treuhand Trust. Austria and Switzerland national Alexander Ostrowsky (Ostrowsky) works as a business introducer for Sequoia Treuhand Trust. Oehri and Giger were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been leaders, officials, senior executive officers, or members of the board of directors of Sequoia Treuhand Trust. Ostrowsky was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support to, or goods or services to or in support of, Sequoia Treuhand Trust. TARGETING RUSSIAN PROCUREMENT AND SANCTIONS EVASION King-Pai Technology HK Co., Limited (King-Pai) is a PRC-based supplier for multiple entities in Russia's military-industrial complex, including Radioavtomatika LLC (Radioavtomatika), an entity that specializes in procuring foreign items for Russia's defense industry, and which was designated on March 3, 2022 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. Microelectronics supplied by King-Pai have defense applications that include cruise missile guidance systems. King-Pai was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the defense and related materiel sector of the Russian Federation economy. Dexias Industrial Products and Trading Limited Company (Dexias TArkiye) is a TArkiye -based firm utilized as an intermediary for Radioavtomatika. Dexias TArkiye has interacted with Western firms in its efforts to procure U.S.-origin electronic components. Dexias TArkiye's use as an intermediary comes in spite of previous sanctions against Radioavtomatika and its network. Dexias TArkiye was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for having materially assisted, sponsored, or provided financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of Radioavtomatika, a person whose property and interests in property are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. Dexias TArkiye is also being added to the U.S. Department of Commerce's Entity List. In addition, OFAC took action today against two other persons tied to Dexias TArkiye, Dexias Limited Liability Company (Dexias Russia) and Alim Khazishmelovich Firov (Firov). Firov is the general director of both Dexias TArkiye and Dexias Russia. Within Russia, Dexias Russia has maintained commercial ties to Russia's military industrial complex to supply U.S.-made products. Firov was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being or having been a leader, official, senior executive officer, or member of the board of directors of Dexias TArkiye. Dexias Russia was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Firov. Azu International Ltd Sti (Azu International) is a TArkiye-based electronics company that has facilitated the backfill of electronics to Russia. Established in March 2022 shortly after Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Azu International has provided to Russia multiple shipments of foreign-origin electronics technology such as computer chips. Azu International was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology and electronics sectors of the Russian Federation economy. Aeromotus Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Trading LLC (Aeromotus) is a UAE-based authorized dealer of PRC-based Da-Jiang Innovations Science & Technology Co., (DJI), an entity identified pursuant to E.O. 13959. Aeromotus has sent several shipments of DJI technology, including quadcopter Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) and robotics technology, to Russian importers since the beginning of Russia's war in Ukraine. UAVs of the brand shipped by Aeromotus to Russia have been documented in use by Russia's military in its operations against Ukraine. Aeromotus was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology and aerospace sectors of the Russian Federation economy. Hulm Al Sahra Electric Devices Trading (Hulm Al Sahra) is a UAE-based wholesaler of electrical appliances that has sent several shipments of electronics, machinery, and optics, including almost $190,000 of U.S.-origin, U.S. export-controlled semiconductors to Russian companies between July 2022 and November 2022. At least one of these Russian companies has been involved with Joint Stock Company Machine Building Design Bureau (KBM) in activities related to Russian defense programs. Additionally, Hulm Al Sahra and one of these Russian companies have had a business relationship since at least 2015, including in the development and manufacturing of thermoelectric air conditioners for military vehicles. Hulm Al Sahra was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the technology and electronics sectors of the Russian Federation economy. KBM was designated by OFAC on March 24, 2022 pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or having acted or purported to act, for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, Tactical Missiles Corporation JSC, a person whose property and interests are blocked pursuant to E.O. 14024. TARGETING THE INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENT BANK Today OFAC designated the International Investment Bank (IIB), a Russia-controlled financial institution in Budapest, Hungary. The IIB's presence in Budapest enables Russia to increase its intelligence presence in Europe, opens the door for the Kremlin's malign influence activities in Central Europe and the Western Balkans, and could serve as a mechanism for corruption and illicit finance, including sanctions violations. The Government of Russia is prepared to dedicate additional resources, including Government of Russia guarantees and subsidies, to save the bank from a looming default. Following Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Bulgaria, Czechia, Romania, and Slovakia ended their participation in the IIB. OFAC also designated Moscow-based Joint Stock Company IIB Capital (IIB Capital), the IIB's fully owned subsidiary in Russia, and three current or former executives of the IIB: Russian Federation nationals Nikolay Nikolayevich Kosov (Kosov) and Georgy Nugzarovich Potapov (Potapov) and Hungary national Imre Laszloczki (Laszloczki). IIB executives have coordinated with Russian Federation officials on IIB business even after Russia's further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Kosov is the former chairman of the IIB, while Potapov and Laszloczki are both high-ranking officials on the IIB's management board. The IIB and Kosov were both designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy and for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the Government of the Russian Federation. Potapov and Laszloczki were designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for operating or having operated in the financial services sector of the Russian Federation economy. IIB Capital was designated pursuant to E.O. 14024 for being owned or controlled by, or for having acted or purported to act for or on behalf of, directly or indirectly, the IIB. SANCTIONS IMPLICATIONS As a result of today's action, all property and interests in property of the persons above that are in the United States or in the possession or control of U.S. persons are blocked and must be reported to OFAC. In addition, any entities that are owned, directly or indirectly, 50 percent or more by one or more blocked persons are also blocked. All transactions by U.S. persons or within (or transiting) the United States that involve any property or interests in property of designated or blocked persons are prohibited unless authorized by a general or specific license issued by OFAC, or exempt. These prohibitions include the making of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services by, to, or for the benefit of any blocked person and the receipt of any contribution or provision of funds, goods, or services from any such person. The power and integrity of OFAC sanctions derive not only from OFAC's ability to designate and add persons to the Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons (SDN) List, but also from its willingness to remove persons from the SDN List consistent with the law. The ultimate goal of sanctions is not to punish, but to bring about a positive change in behavior. For information concerning the process for seeking removal from an OFAC list, including the SDN List, please refer to OFAC's Frequently Asked Question 897 here. For detailed information on the process to submit a request for removal from an OFAC sanctions list, please refer to OFAC's website. For identifying information on the individuals and entities sanctioned or property identified today, click here. ### NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address UK sanctions Abramovich and Usmanov's financial fixers in crackdown on oligarch enablers New sanctions announced target those who have knowingly assisted sanctioned Russia oligarchs to hide their assets in complex financial networks. 12 April 2023 fresh UK action targets those helping oligarchs to avoid the full cost of sanctions Demetris Ioannides and Christodoulos Vassiliades - financial fixers for Putin's allies Abramovich and Usmanov - sanctioned Usmanov's financial network, including companies USM, Curzon Square and Hanley Limited sanctioned family members of oligarchs acting as proxies to hide wealth also sanctioned New sanctions announced by Foreign Secretary James Cleverly today (Wednesday 12 April) target those who have knowingly assisted sanctioned Russia oligarchs to hide their assets in complex financial networks. In the face of unprecedented international sanctions in response to Putin's illegal full-scale invasion of Ukraine - with over A18 billion of Russian and other assets frozen in the UK alone - oligarchs have scrambled to shield their wealth with the help of financial fixers, offshore trusts, shell companies, and even using their family members. Now UK experts have uncovered their financial networks - tracing those responsible for facilitating the activity and sanctioning them directly with asset freezes, travel bans, transport sanctions, and trust services sanctions. Working in partnership across Whitehall, the FCDO, HMRC, NCA, OFSI and others such as DfT, are enforcing sanctions and pursuing those who try to undermine them. Among those sanctioned are Demetris Ioannides and Christodoulos Vassiliades, 2 Cypriot professional enablers supporting major Russian oligarchs Roman Abramovich and Alisher Usmanov. Ioannides is responsible for crafting the murky offshore structures which Abramovich used to hide over A760 million assets ahead of being sanctioned following Putin's illegal invasion of Ukraine. Vassiliades, a Cypriot lawyer, is at the centre of a web of trusts and offshore companies that link Usmanov and Sutton Place Estate. The UK has also targeted Usmanov's financial network, including companies USM, Curzon Square Limited, and Hanley Limited. Sanctioning these companies ensures that assets associated with Usmanov - including the A90 million Beechwood House mansion in London - remain sanctioned. Curzon Square Limited, the outfit that acted as Usmanov's London office and as leaseholder of a Grade II mansion on Curzon Square, is also subject to an asset freeze. Vladimir and Varvara Skoch, the father and daughter of Usmanov's business partner and "richest man in the Duma" Andrei Skoch, have also been sanctioned. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said: We are closing the net on the Russian elite and those who try to help them hide their money for war. There's no place to hide. We will keep cutting them off from assets they thought were successfully hidden. Together with our international partners the UK will continue to crack down on those who are supporting the war. We won't stop until Putin does. Today's package hits a number of family members of other oligarchs, who are used as proxies to hide their assets. This includes: Tatiana Evtushenkova, the acting director of firm Redline Capital which is owned by her father, Vladimir Evtushenkov Natalia Evtushenkov, wife of Vladimir Evtushenkov who holds board positions in banks and other companies in which her husband owns stakes including MTS Bank. She is also on the board of directors for Telecomms company Instacom International, which is owned by her husband Felix Evtushenkov, whose father Vladimir transferred 10% of shares in Russian conglomerate Sistema to Felix at the time of his own designation, bringing Vladimir's stake to below 50% Gulnara Kerimova, who holds four luxury villas in France on behalf of her father Suleyman Kerimov Nariman Gadzhiev, who acts as the beneficiary owner of a series of shell companies connected to Kerimov. A company linked to Gadzhiev was found to be transferring hundreds of millions of dollars to companies linked to his uncle Kerimov Oksana Marchenko, the wife of key Putin ally Victor Medvedchuk, and owner of multiple luxury properties in Crimea Today's package comes as part of the UK's crackdown on all forms of evasion and circumvention - including an additional A50 million announced as part of the new Economic Deterrence Initiative to support sanctions enforcement and continued work with international partners. The Home Secretary also recently announced the expansion of the National Crime Agency's Combating Kleptocracy Cell to target corrupt elites and their enablers. The UK, alongside international partners, is also continuing to strengthen the unprecedented sanctions imposed to constrain Russia's capacity to wage its illegal war - including through the new enforcement co-ordination mechanism to bolster the compliance and enforcement of our measures. By implementing these measures, the UK is ensuring - consistent with its legal systems - that Putin and those who continue to support his war have no access to any of these assets until they end their violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syrian FM visits Saudi Arabia first time in 11 years amid regional diplomacy drive Iran Press TV Wednesday, 12 April 2023 5:25 PM Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday in a significant move toward the restoration of diplomatic ties between the two countries as the regional diplomacy drive intensifies. This is the first official visit by a Syrian foreign minister to Saudi Arabia in 11 years. The visit comes at the official invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan, according to Saudi and Syrian state media. The Saudi and Syrian foreign ministers are set to hold "a session of talks on efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria," according to a post published on the official Twitter page of the Saudi Foreign Ministry. The two top diplomats will also discuss "facilitating the return of Syrian refugees to their homeland, and securing humanitarian access to the affected areas in Syria," added the ministry. The visit comes as the two countries agreed in March to resume diplomatic relations and re-open embassies after more than a decade. Back in March 2012, Riyadh severed ties with Damascus and closed its embassy while supporting the militants that sought to overthrow the government of Bashar al-Assad. Despite the Israeli and Western efforts to isolate Syria, a growing number of regional countries, including the UAE, Egypt, Jordan, and Oman, have expressed readiness to resume diplomatic relations with Damascus. Also on Wednesday, Syria and Tunisia also announced in a joint statement that they will reopen their embassies after almost a decade. There has been increasing diplomatic engagement between Syria and its Arab neighbors in recent months, with many countries coming forward to normalize their ties with Bashar al-Assad's government after years of tension and hostility. Al-Assad has already visited the UAE and Oman this year and is expected to visit other Arab states as well in the near future. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia will host a meeting of regional foreign ministers on Friday to discuss the possibility of Syria's return to the Arab League. Syria's return to the fold of the Arab world will represent a big blow to the West's failed policy towards Damascus, regional observers believe. Diplomatic drive in the West Asian region has gained momentum since Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore ties in March. Observers believe the rapprochement can be influential in enhancing the security and stability in the region. According to reports, Syria and Saudi Arabia are preparing to reopen embassies after Eid al-Fitr, which marks the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Riyadh is also set to invite Assad to attend the Arab League summit, which can be a landmark meeting for the resumption of ties between Syria and Arab countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Syria, Tunisia to reopen embassies, resume diplomatic ties after a decade Iran Press TV Wednesday, 12 April 2023 3:46 PM Syria and Tunisia have agreed to resume diplomatic relations after a decade, with the Syrian government planning to reopen its embassy in Tunis after the North African country announced the appointment of a new ambassador to Damascus. The announcement was made in a joint statement by Syria and Tunisia on Wednesday, Syria's official news agency SANA reported. Damascus government, the statement noted, has decided to reopen its embassy in Tunis and appoint an ambassador there "soon" in response to Tunisian President Kais Saied's initiative to appoint an ambassador in Syria. "Out of both sides' keenness to restore the Syrian-Tunisian relations to their normal track, consultation and coordination are ongoing between the foreign ministers of the two countries to further consolidate the deep-rooted ties of brotherhood binding Syria and Tunisia, and to uplift the values of solidarity between them serving the interests of their two brotherly peoples," read the statement. Syria's decision followed a similar move by Tunisia on April 3 when Saied instructed his foreign minister to begin procedures to appoint an ambassador to Damascus. Syria's Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad had a phone conversation with his Tunisian counterpart Nabil Ammar earlier in the month, during which the two pledged to enhance the level of diplomatic representation amid a new wave of enhancement of ties between Syria and its Arab neighbors. Tunis cut diplomatic relations with Damascus following the start of the foreign-backed war on Syria in 2011. Tunisia began limited diplomatic links with Syria in 2017, in part to help track more than 3,000 Tunisian militants reportedly fighting in Syria. However, since Saied took the helm in 2021 and consolidated his power, Tunis has been sending Damascus signals that it is ready to resume full diplomatic ties with it. The Tunisian president officially announced last month that he planned to restore diplomatic relations with Syria. Several other Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Oman and the United Arab Emirates, in the past months, have sent similar signals, indicating that they too are prepared to resume ambassador-level diplomatic ties with the Syrian government. In February, a number of Arab parliament speakers and senior legislators visited Damascus as part of a concerted bid to restore Syria's membership in the Arab League, more than a decade after it was suspended from the 22-member bloc. Riyadh is reportedly set to invite President Bashar al-Assad to attend the Arab League summit next month in what has been described by experts as a significant development in the resumption of ties between Damascus and other Arab states. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address French office says position on Taiwan 'not changed' ROC Central News Agency 04/12/2023 10:51 PM Taipei, April 12 (CNA) France's position on Taiwan "has not changed," the French representative office in Taipei told local media on Wednesday, just days after French President Emmanuel Macron cautioned against Europe being dragged into a war between the United States and China over Taiwan. The French government has been "in favor of peace and stability" in the Taiwan Strait and such position "has never changed," said the French Office in Taipei (FOT), which represents Paris' interest in Taiwan in the absence of diplomatic relations between the two countries. At the same time, France has advocated the rule of law and the freedom of navigation, the office said, adding that Paris was "deeply aware"of its "global responsibilities." Earlier on Wednesday, the office also said in a social media post that the French government's position on Taiwan remains "constant." "France and its partners underline the importance of the peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait and call for the peaceful settlement of cross-strait issues," the office said in the post. The office's comments came a few days after Macron said in an interview that "Europe has no interest in an acceleration [of acrisis] on Taiwan" and that it should pursue a strategy independent of both Washington and Beijing. "The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and adapt to the American rhythm or a Chinese overreaction," Macron said in the interview with Politico, Les Echos and Franceinfo when he was travelling from Beijing to Guangzhou on Friday. The president's remarks have been criticized by some scholars and politicians in the U.S. and Europe as being too accommodating of China, at a time when Beijing has ramped up military pressure on Taiwan. Macron's finance minister and a member of the European parliament, however, defended him. They were quoted by the Financial Times as saying that France need not be against China even as it is allied with the U.S. and that what France wanted to do was help bring down tensions in the Taiwan Strait and that it, along with the European Union, could help avoid war by playing the role of a "balancing power." After Macron concluded his trip to China from April 5-8, Beijing on Saturday launched three days of military exercises around Taiwan, in response to a meeting between Republic of China (Taiwan) President Tsai Ing-wen (ee) and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. More than 30 parliamentarians from mostly European Union member states have signed up to a statement criticizing Macron's "ill-judged remarks" had sent a signal of "indifference" over Taiwan. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio of the Republican Party also told CNN that "if in fact 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, then maybe we shouldn't be taking sides [in Russia's war on Ukraine], either." Rubio said the U.S. had spent "a lot of our taxpayers' money" in helping the Ukrainian troops fight against Russian forces. Speaking with CNA, Aric Bothorel, a member of the French National Assembly from the ruling party, Renaissance, said he was not able to interpret Macron's comments although they might be an effort to deescalate tensions. However, he said, considering the important role Taiwan plays in the global electronics industry, a conflict in the Taiwan Strait would have a severe impact on the entire world, including France. He went on to say the relationship between Taiwan and France is notonly built solid on technological or economic interests, but also shared values such as democracy. Bothorel, who serves as chairman of the National Assembly's France-Taiwan Parliamentary Friendship Group, said France should continue to strengthen its ties with Taiwan and that he would visit Taiwan again soon to show his support for the country. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/cs NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address VP Lai picked as DPP's candidate for 2024 presidential election ROC Central News Agency 04/12/2023 04:29 PM Taipei, April 12 (CNA) Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) on Wednesday officially selected Vice President Lai Ching-te () as its candidate for the 2024 presidential election. "The 2024 election will decide Taiwan's direction, in terms of the continuity of its democratic system, the happiness of its future generations, and the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific," Lai, who concurrently serves as DPP chairman, said at a press conference at the party's headquarters in Taipei. The DPP's Central Executive Committee approved Lai's nomination around one month after the vice president registered as the sole candidate for the party's primary selection process. "In reality, Taiwan is already a sovereign, independent country, and does not need to otherwise declare independence," said Lai, who has served as vice president since May 2020. In Taiwan's mainstream public opinion, he said, there is no question of unification and independence, but only a broad consensus in support of democracy. For that reason, "continuing to strengthen the Republic of China (Taiwan), and protecting the status quo of democracy and freedom, is the only correct path" for Taiwan, Lai said. Local media has speculated that Lai will pick Hsiao Bi-khim (), Taiwan's top envoy to the United States and a former legislator, as his running mate for the presidential election, slated to take place on Jan. 13, 2024. With Lai making a bid for the country's top job, his cross-strait policies and stance on Taiwanese independence will likely come under closer scrutiny, especially given Taiwan's increasingly fraught relations with China. On more than one occasion, Lai has described himself as a "pragmatic Taiwan independence worker," including during legislative hearings when he served as the premier from 2017-2019. In recent years, however, Lai has sought to align himself with President Tsai Ing-wen's () policy of maintaining the cross-strait status quo. The Tsai administration has repeatedly proposed engaging in dialogue with China's leader Xi Jinping () to facilitate mutual understanding and avoid miscalculations. Tsai insists that the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan's official name, and the People's Republic of China do not belong to one another, and has also pledged to defend Taiwan's sovereignty and preserve its democratic and constitutional system. However, the main opposition Kuomintang (KMT) has criticized Tsai for rejecting the so-called "1992 consensus," a tacit understanding reached in 1992 between the KMT government and the Chinese government. The consensus has been consistently interpretated by the KMT as both sides of the Taiwan Strait acknowledging there is only "one China," with each side having its own interpretation of what China means. However, Beijing has never publicly recognized the second part of the KMT interpretation. The agreement's supposed use as a political foundation for exchanges between Taiwan and China during former KMT President Ma Ying-jeou's () time in office from 2008-2016 coincided with a period of less contentious relations with Beijing. However, the DPP has argued that Beijing does not acknowledge the existence of the ROC, and that agreeing to the "1992 consensus" implies the acceptance of China's claims over Taiwan. In the presidential race, Lai is expected to face Taiwan People's Party Chairman Ko Wen-je () and a candidate to be nominated by the KMT in the coming months. Meanwhile, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co. founder Terry Gou () has expressed his intention to seek the KMT's nomination for president, with New Taipei Mayor Hou Yu-ih () and KMT Chairman Eric Chu () both reportedly eyeing for the slot. (By Teng Pei-ju) Enditem/ASG NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 2024 election a choice between 'democracy and autocracy': DPP nominee Lai ROC Central News Agency 04/12/2023 09:19 PM Taipei, April 12 (CNA) Taiwan's 2024 presidential election is not a matter of "war and peace" but a choice between "democracy and autocracy," Vice President Lai Ching-te () said Wednesday, after being named as the presidential candidate of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). Lai made the remarks at a nominating event at DPP headquarters in Taipei, in a speech that focused heavily on the challenges Taiwan faces from China. The mention of "war and peace" was likely meant to rebut critics in the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), who have argued that tensions with China could spike to dangerous levels if the DPP remain in power. In remarks on Jan. 1, for example, KMT former President Ma Ying-jeou () warned: "Vote for the DPP, youth will go to the battlefield. Vote for the Kuomintang, and there will be no war on both sides of the Taiwan Strait." In his speech on Wednesday, however, Lai argued that there is no question of unification or independence in Taiwanese society, but rather a broad consensus in support of democracy. "The 2024 election is absolutely not a matter of war and peace, but it is a choice between democracy and autocracy," Lai said, calling on voters to cast a ballot for democracy and national unity, and to "reject walking the old road back to totalitarianism." "Peace is priceless, and war has no winners," Lai said. "China must...recognize that an attack on Taiwan would not only directly harm Taiwan, but would also cause a global catastrophe that would be difficult for China to bear." Paraphrasing a line from the Chinese classic "The Art of War," Lai said one must not focus on "the likelihood of the enemy's not coming, but on our own readiness to receive him." For that reason, he said, until China renounces the possibility of taking Taiwan by force, it is necessary to continue building up the nation's defense capabilities, in order to prepare to resist a Chinese invasion and protect Taiwan. Lai insisted that Taiwan would not be alone in this effort, as the world's "democratic camp" now recognized the threat posed by China and the importance of preserving peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. Taiwan should work with these like-minded democratic partners to create effective deterrence against China, by "preparing for war to avoid war" and establishing "peace through strength," he said. Lai ended his remarks on China on slightly more positive note, saying that just as the DPP has striven for democracy in the past, it will fight for peace in the future. "Faced with China's civil and military threats, we will not change our stance on peace, nor pass up any opportunities to achieve it," he said. As long as it is done on the basis of equality and dignity, the DPP stands ready to engage in cross-strait dialogue and exchange, to advance mutual understanding and reconciliation, and to work together for the welfare of people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait, Lai said. (By Yeh Su-ping, Wen Kuei-hsiang and Matthew Mazzetta) Enditem/AW NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM meeting with US President Joe Biden: 12 April 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed US President Joe Biden to the United Kingdom for a meeting in Belfast today. 12 April 2023 The Prime Minister welcomed US President Biden to the United Kingdom for a meeting in Belfast today. The leaders reflected on the legacy of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, which was signed 25 years ago this week. They agreed that this anniversary is a moment to celebrate the progress that Northern Ireland has made over the last quarter of a century and to recommit to building an even brighter future for Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister thanked President Biden for the role the US people and businesses have played in Northern Ireland's prosperity, with billions of pounds of investment creating tens of thousands of jobs. The Prime Minister and President Biden both expressed their sincere hope that the institutions in Northern Ireland will be restored as soon as possible. The Prime Minister and President Biden discussed the wider relationship between the UK and the US. They agreed that manipulation of global markets by authoritarian leaders demonstrates, more than ever, the need for likeminded partners to work together to support the economic health and security of our nations. The leaders said that the thriving trade relationship between the UK and US demonstrates we are doing just that. They looked forward to discussing the issue of economic security further during the G7 Summit next month and the Prime Minister's visit to Washington DC in June. They also agreed on the importance of using global forums like the G7 and G20 to challenge economic coercion and market manipulation, and promote the economic well-being of our countries. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. An example of data being processed may be a unique identifier stored in a cookie. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. The consent submitted will only be used for data processing originating from this website. If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. April 12, 2023 Transcript Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin Hosted Bilat Meeting With Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine at the Pentagon Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III; Denys Shmyhal, Prime Minister of Ukraine SECRETARY OF DEFENSE LLOYD J. AUSTIN III: Well, good morning, Mr. Prime Minister. It is indeed an honor to host you here at the Pentagon again. I last welcomed you here about a year ago, just after Russia launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion of your country. Since then, Russia's cruel war of choice has killed thousands of Ukrainians, both troops and innocent civilians. And Putin's war has driven millions more Ukrainians from their homes. Russia chose aggression, but Ukraine chose to fight back. And your brave forces won the battles of Kharkov, Kyiv and Kherson. And with President Biden's leadership, the United States has supported Ukraine's fight for freedom every step of the way. We've surged tens of billions of dollars in security assistance. Together with our allies and partners, we have delivered HIMARS and howitzers, NASAMS and IRIS-Ts, Strykers and Leopards and many other systems. And that make -- that has made a clear and direct difference on the battlefield. We've also expanded our training to ensure that Ukraine can synchronize its fires and its maneuver capabilities to advance on the battlefield. And together, we also remain focused on accountability. And let me commend you for the unprecedented level of transparency that Ukraine has provided to ensure that our security assistance remains in the hands of Ukraine's defenders. Now, I'll continue to convene the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to coordinate support for Ukraine's urgent and long-term needs. And we'll continue to swiftly deliver security assistance through procurements and from our own stocks as well. We also remain committed to sustainment and to ensuring that your forces receive adequate spare parts and training for maintenance. At the same time, we will keep investing in our own defense industrial base to further ramp up production. So, I'm confident that we will meet Ukraine's defense needs through this spring and beyond. And as the president has repeatedly made clear, we will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. Mr. Prime Minister, Ukraine inspires the world every day with its courage and resilience. I want to thank you for your leadership and for making this trip. I look forward to a great discussion. Over to you, sir. PRIME MINISTER DENYS SHMYHAL: Thank you so much. Dear Mr. Secretary, dear colleagues, dear journalists, I thank the American people, President Joseph Biden and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, for their steady and continuous military support for my country, for our country. We are grateful for America's initiative and establishment of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, which today includes more than 50 countries. USA is our biggest partner with regard of military assistance. So, once again, I want to say thank you for weapons that help us defend our land, especially for modern air defense systems for American tanks and for more vehicles, for artillery and light weapons. Ukrainian soldiers have proven that they can master this in a short time and use them effectively on the battlefield. We will win this war. But to achieve it faster and with fewer casualties, Ukraine still needs intensive military support, more air defense systems that minimize the impact of Russian air strikes, more heavy artillery, mortars and ammunition for them. We also ask you for reconsider the possibility of providing Ukraine with long-range -- longer-range missiles. To defend ourselves and defend Europe, we need more heavy equipment but also aircraft. We sincerely applaud the decision of the U.S. to join the tank coalition and supplying us with Abrams tanks but also to provide Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles. For our counterattack to be successful, we require an increase in such supplies. In a modern warfare, air superiority is crucial. That is why Ukraine is initiating the building of a new so-called fire -- fire -- fighter jet coalition and we are inviting the United States to become its most important participant. America can, once again, demonstrate its leadership by providing Ukraine with F-15 or F-16 aircrafts. Another important issue, accountability regarding American aid, is an absolute (rule ?) for us, and you mentioned this, Mr. Secretary. We constantly submit all necessary data and reports to the U.S. government, and we'll continue to do so. We spent every dollar efficiently and transparently. Ukraine has accelerated the integration of the LOGFAS program into our military equipment control system. This allows donor countries to track new deliveries according to their state use. Russian must -- Russia must be defeated in Ukraine and our territorial integrity must be restored. That is the only guarantee for our lasting peace and this will be the best guarantee for security of whole Europe and the whole world. And I, once again, thank the United States of America and the American people for their solidarity with Ukraine. Together, we will win. Thank you so much. SEC. AUSTIN: Thanks, everybody. https://www.defense.gov/News/Transcripts/Transcript/Article/3360231/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 12, 2023 Release Readout of Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III's Meeting With Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal Pentagon Press Secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following readout: Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the Pentagon today to discuss U.S. support for Ukraine in the face of continued Russian aggression. The two leaders discussed security assistance priorities, such as air defense and artillery, and training for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. They also agreed on the importance of ensuring accountability of security assistance. Secretary Austin shared key objectives for the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group. Secretary Austin commended the bravery of the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed that the United States will continue its support for as long as it takes. https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3360135/ NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address April 12, 2023 By Jim Garamone , DOD News U.S., Ukraine Leaders Discuss Ongoing Needs, Continuing Support Ukraine's battle against the Russian invaders continues to inspire Americans with the daily examples of Ukrainians' courage and resilience, Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III told Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal today. Austin reiterated to the Ukrainian leader that the United States will continue to support Ukraine "for as long as it takes" to defeat Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was the second Pentagon meeting between the two men. The first was in the weeks after Russia's unprovoked and brutal invasion of Ukraine. "Since then, Russia's cruel war of choice has killed thousands of Ukrainians, both troops and innocent civilians, and Putin's war has driven millions of Ukrainians from their homes," Austin said. "Russia chose aggression, but Ukraine chose to fight back." The secretary cited the Ukrainian victories in Kyiv, Kharkov and Kherson. "With President Biden's leadership, the United States has supported Ukraine's fight for freedom every step of the way," he said. The United States has surged billions of dollars' worth of military capabilities and supplies to Ukraine since the invasion began. The United States has sent Javelin anti-armor weapons, air defense capabilities, armored vehicles, infantry fighting vehicles, howitzers, long-range rocket artillery and more to the embattled nation. "That has made a clear and direct difference on the battlefield," the secretary said. "We've also expanded our training to ensure that Ukraine can synchronize its fires and its maneuver capabilities to advance on the battlefield." Austin also praised Ukraine's cooperation in ensuring the U.S. aid is accounted for and going into the right hands. Austin told Shmyhal that he will continue to convene the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to coordinate support for Ukraine's urgent and long-term needs. The prime minister thanked the American people for their continuing support for Ukraine. "We will win this war," Shmyhal said. "But to achieve it faster and with fewer casualties, Ukraine still needs intensive military support -- more air defense systems that minimize the impact of Russian airstrikes, more heavy artillery, mortars and ammunition for them. We also ask you for reconsider the possibility of providing Ukraine with longer range missiles." The prime minister said Ukraine needs more heavy equipment, but also needs aircraft. He thanked Austin for the Abrams tanks that the United States will provide to Ukraine, as well as the Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles. "In modern warfare, air superiority is crucial," he said. "That is why Ukraine is initiating the building of a new, so-called fighter jet coalition. And we are inviting the United States to become its most important participant. America can once again demonstrate its leadership by providing Ukraine with F-15 or F-16 aircraft." Shmyhal thanked Austin for his leadership of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group, saying the consortium has grown to more than 50 nations. Austin told the prime minister that he is confident "that we will meet Ukraine's defense needs through this spring and beyond." NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Support to Ukraine raised level of Finland's official development assistance in 2022 Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Finland 12.4.2023 Russia's invasion of Ukraine has put pressure on official development assistance (ODA) budgets in Finland and in many other EU Member States, according to the preliminary data on 2022 released by the OECD today. Especially the level of in-donor refugee costs increased in Finland. On 12 April, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) released preliminary data on official development assistance (ODA) in 2022 by member countries of the Development Assistance Committee (DAC). The preliminary data shows that DAC members used EUR 15,3 billion in ODA to support Ukraine. This included EUR 1,7 billion in humanitarian assistance. In 2021, ODA support to Ukraine was 873 EUR million. ODA administered by Foreign Ministry accounted for less than half of Finland's total ODA Finland's official development assistance (ODA) in 2022 totalled EUR 1,534 million, showing a rise of EUR 315 million on 2021. This represented 0.58 per cent of Finland's gross national income (GNI), according to the OECD's preliminary data. Finland's exclusive ODA, administered by the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, totalled EUR 727 million, while Finland's other ODA totalled EUR 808 million. This is the first time in Finland's history that the share of other ODA is larger than the ODA administered by the Foreign Ministry. Other ODA include Finland's share of the EU's ODA budget and Finland's support in the form of loans and investment (so-called development policy investments). In-donor refugee costs rose the most of all Finland's official development assistance, totalling EUR 390 million, which is nearly six times more than in 2021. Most of this sum was spent on addressing the temporary protection needs of Ukrainians in Finland. Support to Ukraine accounted for EUR 58 million of the ODA administered by the Foreign Ministry. Development cooperation ensured that help was available to Ukraine immediately after Russia launched its aggressive invasion. A significant share of Finland's ODA in 2022 was channelled through the EU (EUR 284 million), the UN (EUR 294 million) and the World Bank Group (EUR 116 million). An estimated EUR 356 million, representing 0.13 per cent of Finland's GNI, was allocated to least developed countries (LDCs). Last year, Finland granted EUR 114 million in humanitarian assistance as part of the official development assistance. Humanitarian assistance is an efficient means of responding rapidly to sudden crises, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the support to Ukrainian civilians in the humanitarian crisis created by Russia's aggression against Ukraine. Development cooperation increased also in other OECD and EU countries Globally, official development assistance (ODA) amounted to USD 204 billion (EUR 194 billion) in 2022, rising by 13.6 per cent in real terms compared to 2021. The largest donor was the United States, followed by Germany, Japan, France and the United Kingdom. The UN agreed target of spending 0.7 per cent of GNI on ODA was exceeded by Denmark, Germany, Luxembourg, Norway and Sweden. Total ODA for all DAC member countries combined as a per cent of GNI stood at 0.36 per cent. The ODA flows of the EU Member States that are members of DAC totalled USD 91.6 billion (EUR 87.1 billion), representing 45 per cent of total ODA and 0.57 per cent of the combined GNI of the DAC-EU countries. ODA from the DAC-EU countries rose by 18.6 per cent on 2021. Twenty-six member countries of the OECD Development Assistance Committee (DAC) increased their official development assistance (ODA) expenditure. ODA expenditure decreased in four DAC member countries. The data will be updated in the final ODA statistics as regards the regional breakdown of spending, among other data. Finland's ODA to GNI ratio may change, too, once Statistics Finland revises its GNI estimate. Development cooperation an integral part of Finland's foreign and security policy Recent crises underline the importance of development cooperation as a key instrument of Finland's foreign and security policy. By taking part in resolving global problems, Finland is consolidating its own position. Finland's development cooperation aims to support developing countries so that in the future they can take responsibility for the wellbeing of their people and for the stability of their society. Read more about Finland's development cooperation in the 2022 Development Policy Results Reportor in Finnish on the Foreign Ministry's website presenting development cooperation results. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Official visit of the First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to India (April 10-12, 2023) India - Ministry of External Affairs April 12, 2023 The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, H.E. Ms Emine Dzhaparova visited New Delhi from 10- 12 April 2023. This was her first official visit to India. 2. During the visit, Ms. Dzhaparova held bilateral talks with Shri Sanjay Verma, Secretary (West), MEA. Bilateral agenda included - spheres such as economic, defence, humanitarian assistance, and global issues of mutual interest. She briefed Secretary (West) about the prevailing situation in Ukraine. The two sides agreed to hold the next round of Foreign Office Consultations in Kyiv on a mutually convenient date. 3. On the issue of Indian medical students, the Deputy FM mentioned that Ukraine will allow foreign medical students to take the Unified State Qualification Exam in their country of domicile. 4. The Ukrainian Deputy FM also proposed that rebuilding infrastructure in Ukraine could be an opportunity for Indian companies. Secretary (West) shared that India has provided medicines, medical equipments and would provide school buses etc. to Ukraine. 5. Ms. Dzhaparova also called on Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture, Smt Meenakshi Lekhi. Besides holding discussion on a wide range of bilateral and international issues of mutual interest, she handed over a letter from President Zelenskyy, addressed to Prime Minister Modi. Ukrainian request for additional humanitarian supply, including medicines and medical equipments was also shared by her. It was agreed that the next Inter-Governmental Commission between the two countries would be held in India on a mutually convenient date. 6. Ms. Dzhaparova visited the Manohar Parrikar - Institute of Defence Studies, and also delivered a talk at the Indian Council of World Affairs. 7. Ms Dzhaparova, during her visit, highlighted Ukraine's desire to build a stronger and closer relationship with India. Ms. Dzhaparova's visit to India would facilitate cooperation between the two countries. New Delhi April 12, 2023 NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address PM Shmyhal Meets U.S. Defense Chief As Ukraine Prepares For Expected Counteroffensive By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 12, 2023 Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on April 12 made another major push for modern and sophisticated U.S. weapons in a meeting at the Pentagon with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. Shmyhal said Ukraine "still needs intensive military support -- more air-defense systems that minimize the impact of Russian air strikes, more heavy artillery, mortars, and ammunition for them" and asked that the Pentagon "reconsider the possibility of providing Ukraine with...longer-range missiles." Speaking to reporters alongside Austin, Shmyhal said Kyiv applauds the decision of the United States to join a coalition to provide Ukraine with tanks and Bradley and Stryker infantry fighting vehicles, but added, "For our counterattack to be successful, we require an increase in such supplies." He noted that Ukraine has formed a fighter jet coalition and said, "We are inviting the United States to become its most important participant." Ukraine for months has pressed the United States and its allies to provide fighter jets to match Russia in the air. The Pentagon has resisted over concerns about escalating the war. But Shmyhal said on April 12 that in modern warfare, air superiority is crucial, and America can "once again demonstrate its leadership by providing Ukraine with F-15 or F-16 aircrafts." Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said earlier in a statement that Austin and Shmyhal discussed security assistance priorities, such as air defense and artillery, and training for the Ukrainian armed forces. The meeting came as Ukrainian forces continue are defending the eastern city of Bakhmut and preparing for an expected counteroffensive to retake Russian-occupied territory, and as Austin deals with the repercussions of the recent purported leak of classified documents. Austin and Shmyhal discussed security assistance priorities, such as air defense and artillery and training for the Ukrainian armed forces, Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Pat Ryder said in a statement. Austin shared with Shmyhal the key objectives of the next meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group scheduled for April 21 and "commended the bravery of the Ukrainian people and reaffirmed that the United States will continue its support for as long as it takes," Ryder said. The contact group includes more than 50 countries that have supplied equipment to support Ukraine. Austin said the United States will "continue to swiftly deliver security assistance through procurements and from our own stocks," adding that he is confident that Ukraine's allies will meet its defense needs "through this spring and beyond." Ukraine has indicated it will soon launch a counteroffensive. On the battlefield, Russia said its forces struck Ukrainian Army reserves trying to break through to Bakhmut, while the Ukrainian military rejected a Russian claim that its forces have captured more than 80 percent of the besieged city. Ukraine says its forces repelled 72 attacks over the past day by Russian forces in the east as intense fighting continued around Bakhmut. "Despite numerous losses in equipment and manpower, the enemy does not give up waging a war of aggression. It continues to focus its main efforts on conducting offensive operations in the Lyman, Bakhmut, Avdiyivka, and Maryinka area," the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in a statement on April 12. Serhiy Cherevatiy, commander of Ukraine's ground forces, said the situation in Bakhmut was under control, adding Kyiv would not allow its troops to be encircled. The monthslong battle for Bakhmut in the eastern Donetsk region has turned into one of the bloodiest since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. Sergei Aksyonov, the Russian-installed head of Crimea, announced that ceremonies and parades that normally take place on May 1 and May 9 have been canceled. In addition, he boasted about the defenses of the Russian Army on the illegally annexed peninsula and said that the expected counteroffensive of the Ukrainian armed forces was not frightening. British intelligence has said that in preparation for the counteroffensive the Russian military has built three lines of defense 120 kilometers long to protect the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, a strategic southern city that has been targeted by Ukrainian shelling in the past. The document leak, which could be the most serious of U.S. military secrets in years, appear to include secret U.S. assessments of the war dating from late February into March. One assessment dated February 23 and quoted by Reuters says Russia is unlikely to be able to take the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine. "Russia's grinding campaign of attrition in the Donbas region is likely heading toward a stalemate, thwarting Moscow's goal to capture the entire region in 2023," reads the assessment. Russia and Ukraine have questioned the veracity of the documents, while U.S. officials say some of the files appear to have been altered. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-repels-russian- attacks-bakhmut/32360123.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 'The Beginning Of The End': A Former Russian Military Intelligence Officer Explains Why He's Fighting For Ukraine By Taras Levchenko April 12, 2023 KYIV - Vladislav Ammosov says he spent more than 15 years building a career in the Russian military and its intelligence service, known as the GRU. Now he is in Kyiv, ready to take up arms against his homeland. "The country to which I swore allegiance...no longer exists," he told RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service, which has examined documents relating to Ammosov's Russian military service record. During a recent stroll through the center of Kyiv, Ammosov stopped to look at a display of destroyed Russian military equipment. "These guys did not understand what they were dying for," he said. "I'm glad they never made it here. I'm glad we are standing in a free, thriving city. At the same time, I feel sorry for the guys who were in these vehicles. They could have lived their lives if Russia was a normal country." When Russian President Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ammosov was among those few Russians who were ready to fight on Kyiv's side. "I called the Ukrainian Embassy, and I tried to contact the Free Russia legion," he said, referring to a military structure within the Ukrainian armed forces in which Russian defectors and Russian and Belarusian volunteers serve to fight against the Russian military. "But it was to no avail. I almost gave up." But, in November 2022, a Russian emigre organization recruiting volunteers to fight for Ukraine, the Civic Council, was formed in Poland. In particular, the group recruits Russian citizens who are not ethnic Russians, including Tatars, Bashkirs, Chechens, and others. Ammosov is an ethnic Yakut from Siberia's Sakha Republic, also called Yakutia. 'I Hope...I Will Earn Trust' The Russian security services have a long history of planting spies and provocateurs within the ranks of opposition groups, a practice that goes back to tsarist times, and it is often even said there is no such thing as a "former" GRU officer. So Ammosov is not surprised when he is asked how he can be trusted. "There are never any guarantees," he said. "But I hope that, with my service and my work against Russia, I will earn trust." RFE/RL could not independently verify Ammosov's account of his past, but it was supported by the service-record documents. He said that he has been repeatedly vetted by Ukrainian security and military structures. "I have passed all imaginable and unimaginable checks," he said. "If I am talking to you now, then I passed them." "I am ready to go to the territory of Russia," he added, "and destroy the enemies there. The enemies of my homeland are those who support Putin's government.... My compatriots, it turns out, have become servants of dark forces." Moscow's unfounded claims that fascists have taken control of Ukraine are risible to Ammosov. "There is no state more fascist than Russia," he said. An Imperialist's Progress Ammosov's transformation has been a long time coming, its seeds sown early in his military career. As he describes it, he is a veteran of Moscow's two wars in Chechnya, in the 1990s and 2000s, and a graduate of some of the country's most prestigious military institutes. In retrospect, he says, he was being trained to be an "imperialist." "I am a product of the Soviet Union," he said. The wars in Chechnya "sobered me up," he added. "I was influenced by propaganda and thought there were real bandits there. But I saw ordinary people and saw what they were fighting for. It was a people's war for freedom." He also became disenchanted with Russian officers at that time. "I was always taught that officers were the best people in the country," Ammosov said. "But then I saw what they were like when they went 10 days without drinking. There were some who just screwed everything up. There were some who sold their weapons. There were some who just betrayed us and sent us to be slaughtered." Nonetheless, he "had an inner conviction" that he should do his duty and "protect the homeland." After his combat experience, Ammosov said, he was recruited into the GRU, where he was trained to use mathematical modeling to "find the vulnerable point of a country's economy." "You can find a weak point in any complex technical system," he said. "These days, without electricity there is no life. Even turning off all smartphones for a few hours could have a big impact on an economy." The ultimate goal, he concluded, was "to destroy entire countries." Fighting Back As an ethnic Yakut, Ammosov said, he frequently experienced racism and chauvinism from ethnic Russians. He said it is not uncommon to be stopped by police or upbraided by passersby in major Russian cities simply for speaking Yakut in public. "When I went to Moscow and went into a metro station, I would be stopped immediately," he said. "As a 'non-Russian,' only my officer's papers saved me. I was treated like a second-class person." "Since I have been in Ukraine, I have never been asked for my passport," Ammosov added. "I have never been stopped by the police." He was further disenchanted, he said, as Putin's Russia became increasingly authoritarian. "It was difficult to watch people being beaten," Ammosov told RFE/RL. "And people being jailed. I was thinking -- can't we get together and fight back?" Ammosov left active service and entered the military reserves before Russia's 2014 seizure of Ukraine's Crimea region and its fomenting of a separatist war in parts of eastern Ukraine. He said he believes there is a lot of pent-up rage in Russia that is bound to come out at some point as the war in Ukraine weakens Russia's highly centralized system. "Can you imagine the degree of hatred there will be after the collapse of Russia?" he said. "People will remember incidents from 100 or 200 years ago." In Ammosov's mind, he said, Moscow's aggression against Ukraine in 2014 was "the beginning of the end" for Russia. "I understood it immediately," he concluded. Adapted from Ukrainian by RFE/RL's Robert Coalson based on reporting from Kyiv by RFE/RL Ukrainian Service correspondent Taras Levchenko. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/russian-intelligence-officer-ammosov- volunteered-fighting-ukraine/32360668.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Launches Probe As Zelenskiy Blasts Russian 'Beasts' Over Video Of Apparent POW Beheading By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 12, 2023 The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) says it has launched an investigation into the online appearance of a video on social media purporting to show the beheading of a Ukrainian prisoner of war. The SBU announced the probe on April 12 as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy blasted Russian forces as "beasts" over the video of the alleged decapitation. It has not been independently verified. The Kremlin called the video "horrible," but added that its authenticity needed to be studied as "we live in a world of fakes." "There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill...we won't forget anything, nor will we forgive murderers" Zelensky said in a video message posted on Twitter on April 12. The execution of a Ukrainian captive...This is a video of Russia as it is. This is a video of trying to make just that the new norm.Everyone must react. Every leader. Don't expect it to be forgotten.We are not going to forget anything. The defeat of terror is necessary. pic.twitter.com/H8Or6HJnYW (@ZelenskyyUa) April 12, 2023 Amid growing outrage over the video, Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar said officials were studying the video to identify those responsible and the victim. The SBU said the investigation would try to determine whether there had been a violation of the rules of war that say "prisoners of war must at all times be humanely treated." "We will find these inhumane...they will definitely be punished for what they did," the head of the SBU, Vasyl Malyuk, was quoted as saying. Earlier, Andriy Yermak, a top adviser to Zelenskiy, said on Telegram that there "will be an accountability for everything." According to CNN, a video posted on social media on April 8 appeared to show the beheading of corpses of two Ukrainian soldiers lying next to a destroyed military vehicle. The video was purportedly filmed by members of the private Russian mercenary group Wagner. Reports on Russian social media claimed the video was shot near the eastern city of Bakhmut, which has been devastated by weeks of heavy fighting. Another video posted on social media on April 11 appeared to show Russian forces torturing a Ukrainian prisoner and cutting off his head. RFE/RL could not independently verify the footage. Speaking to reporters in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said "this is terrible footage, and first you need to check the authenticity. "If it is confirmed, then we need to find where and by whom," the action was committed, he said. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said it was "absurd" that Russia currently holds the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council while "Russian terrorists" have invaded Ukraine. The UN Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine said it was "appalled" by the "particularly gruesome videos." Dmytro Lubinets, Ukraine's human rights chief, said he will request that the UN Human Rights Committee investigate. Lubinets said he also has written to the UN Commissioner for Human Rights, the UN Monitoring Mission in Ukraine, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, and the International Committee of the Red Cross. "A public execution of a captive is yet another indication of a breach of Geneva Convention norms, international humanitarian law, a breach of the fundamental right to life," Lubinets said. For its part, the EU said it remains committed to holding war criminals accountable. "We don't have more information on the veracity of the video. Having said that, if confirmed, this is yet another brutal reminder about the inhumane nature of the Russian aggression," EU spokeswoman Nabila Massrali said. Since its troops invaded Ukraine in February 2022, Russia has been accused of committing various war crimes, accusations it denies. Last month, the United Nations expressed deep concern over what it says were summary executions of prisoners of war (POWs) by both Russian and Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. Earlier in April, the United Nations Human Rights Council overwhelmingly voted in favor of extending and expanding the mandate of an investigative body probing possible war crimes in Ukraine. The Geneva Convention, the international law regarding the treatment of prisoners of war, says "any unlawful act or omission by the Detaining Power causing death or seriously endangering the health of a prisoner of war in its custody is prohibited, and will be regarded as a serious breach of the present Convention." With reporting by AFP, CNN, and AP Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-beheading-video-probe- zelenskiy-russian-beasts/32360547.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Adds Wife Of Pro-Russian Politician Medvedchuk To Its Wanted List By RFE/RL's Russian Service April 12, 2023 Ukraine's Interior Ministry has added Oksana Marchenko, the wife of pro-Russian politician Viktor Medvedchuk, to its wanted list the same day that she was hit with sanctions from the British government. According to a statement by the ministry on April 12, Marchenko is suspected of financing actions to forcibly disrupt Ukraine's constitutional order, seize power, and change the state borders of Ukraine. Last month, a court in Kyiv froze Marchenko's assets, estimated at 440 million hryvnyas ($11.9 million), in relation to a 6.8 percent stake she holds in the Dniprospetstal steelworks in the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhya. Earlier in February, another court ruling froze and impounded assets and property in Ukraine held by Marchenko with an estimated value of 5.6 billion hryvnyas ($152.5 million). The court said Marchenko used some of her companies and businesses under her names "to carry out sabotage against Ukraine." Marchenko is currently outside of Ukraine. Marchenko's husband, Viktor Medvedchuk, is a longtime Ukrainian political fixture and reportedly a godfather to Russian President Vladimir Putin's daughter. Medvedchuk was one of Ukraine's wealthiest individuals with a fortune estimated in the hundreds of millions of dollars, including energy assets in Russia. Ukraine sanctioned Medvedchuk in February 2021, freezing his assets, and took three television stations it said belonged to him off the air for promoting Russian propaganda. He was arrested in 2021 on charges of treason and terrorism financing and later placed under house arrest on bail. The United Kingdom announced on April 12 that it had added Marchenko to its sanctions list for being "associated with a person who is or has been involved in destabilizing Ukraine or undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine, namely Viktor Medvedchuk." Shortly after Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine in late February last year, Medvedchuk escaped house arrest, but was rearrested in April while trying to flee to Russia. In June, a court in Ukraine banned the Medvedchuk-led pro-Russia Opposition Platform -- For Life (OPZZh) political party. In September, Ukrainian authorities handed the 68-year-old politician over to Russia in a prisoner exchange. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has since stripped Medvedchuk and three other pro-Russian Ukrainian politicians off their Ukrainian citizenship. Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-medvedchuk-wife- marchenko-wanted-list-sanctions/32360403.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine Edges Closer To Updated Free Trade Agreement With Canada, Shmyhal Says On Visit To Toronto By RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service April 12, 2023 Canada and Ukraine will update their free trade agreement, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on April 11 after meeting in Toronto with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who announced new sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine and pledged fresh military support for Kyiv. Shmyhal announced that he and Trudeau signed a joint declaration ending negotiations on an updated Free Trade Agreement. "Based on its content, this is an exceptional agreement that will activate our trade with Canada and create unique opportunities for Ukrainian business," he said. The new agreement is to provide for "the most modern regime of liberalization" of markets and investments, Shmyhal said. "We are moving to the working principle of 'everything that is not prohibited is allowed'" in the move to open markets, Shmyhal said. "All prohibitions and exceptions are carefully defined and regulated by the articles of the agreement." The new agreement is also expected to update the chapter on digital trade and facilitate the export of Ukrainian goods to Canada. Ukrainian businesses will be able to export products to Canada without tariffs even if the components of these products originate in the European Union, Britain, Israel or within the European Free Trade Association. "This approach encourages foreign businesses to create production facilities in Ukraine and includes us in global production chains," Shmyhal explained. The original Free Trade Agreement between Ukraine and Canada entered into force on August 1, 2017. There was no information on when the updated agreement would be signed. Trudeau announced that Canada will send 21,000 assault rifles, 38 machine guns, and 2.4 million rounds of ammunition to Ukraine and impose sanctions on 14 Russian individuals and 34 entities, including security targets linked to the Wagner mercenary group. "We will continue to support Ukraine with everything needed for as long as necessary," Trudeau said after his meeting with Shmyhal. Canada has committed more than 8 billion Canadian dollars ($5.9 billion) to Ukraine in financial, military, humanitarian, and other assistance since January 2022, a month before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Canada is also imposing sanctions on nine entities tied to the Belarusian financial sector to further pressure Russia's "enablers in Belarus," Trudeau said. Trudeau also pointed the finger toward Russia for an outage of some Canadian government websites on April 11, saying cyberattacks were an "unsurprising" act by Russian hackers. "It's not uncommon for Russian hackers to target countries as they are showing their steadfast support for Ukraine," Trudeau said, adding that Canada was not going to be dissuaded by such attacks. With reporting by Reuters Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-canada-trade- agreement-shmyhal-trudeau/32360006.html Copyright (c) 2023. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Poland Aims to Host Production of Depleted Uranium Ammo for US Abrams Tanks Sputnik News 20230412 WARSAW (Sputnik) - Poland wants to host production of ammunition containing depleted uranium for US Abrams tanks, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on Wednesday. "We are trying to make Poland a host of the production of ammunition for Abrams tanks, ammunition with depleted uranium, state-of-the-art ammunition," Morawiecki said in a speech, aired by Polish television. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki also said that Poland wants to host a European maintenance center for the US Abrams tanks. "I spoke here [the prime minister is visiting the United States] with the US military, with the management of the enterprise [Lockheed Martin] about the possibility of locating an enterprise in Poland that will repair and service Abrams tanks in Europe," Morawiecki said. According to Morawiecki, before only the US military used Abrams tanks but Poland had purchased 116 such tanks earlier this year. The official added that Romania is also thinking about purchasing Abrams tanks. "It is important for me to place in Poland a maintenance center and a service center for Abrams tanks for the whole of Europe," Morawiecki said. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Serbian Defense Minister Denies Reports on Country's Arms Supply to Ukraine Sputnik News 20230412 BELGRADE (Sputnik) - Media reports that Serbia is supplying weapons to Ukraine are not true, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic told Sputnik on Wednesday. "Another lie has been published that Serbia is selling weapons to Ukraine. The goal is obvious to someone a to destabilize our country and involve it in a conflict, in which we do not want to participate," Vucevic said exclusively to Sputnik Serbia. Earlier in the day, media reported, citing the leaked Pentagon documents, that the Serbian authorities had already sent weapons to Ukraine and were ready to transfer more. Media reported that the document titled "Europe|Response to Ongoing Russia-Ukraine Conflict," has a chart divided into the following groups: countries that had promised to provide training and lethal aid; countries that had already provided training, lethal aid or both; countries with the military ability and the political will "to provide future lethal aid." According to the report, Serbia falls under the first and last categories - countries that promised to provide weapons and countries with the political will to do so in the future. More than 100 classified US government documents have been leaked on social media sites in recent weeks, apparently showing sensitive intelligence documents on US efforts linked to the conflict in Ukraine and interactions with allies and partners. Last month, some online media claimed Serbia had already supplied Kiev with weapons, including Grad missiles. Vucic denied this information following Russian Foreign Ministry's call for the clarification on the matter. Serbian defense contractor Krusik also denied that it had been selling missiles to Ukraine. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Ukraine's Prime Minister Says Kiev Could Launch Counteroffensive as Late as This Summer Sputnik News 20230412 MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Tuesday that Kiev could launch a counteroffensive against Russian troops as late as this summer, noting that Ukraine does not feel "the pressure from our friends and partners." "We do not feel the pressure from our friends and partners vis-a-vis the start of the offensive," Shmyhal said in an interview with The Hill, adding that the counteroffensive could be launched as late as the summer. "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." The prime minister noted that the most intense pressure to start the counteroffensive comes from within Ukraine. When asked about how the leak of top secret Pentagon documents containing information on the Ukraine conflict affected counteroffensive plans, Shmyhal said 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 said. On Tuesday, Oleksiy Danilov, the secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, told German media that Kiev will decide on the counteroffensive "at the latest possible moment." In turn, Yan Gagin, an adviser to Denis Pushilin, acting head of the Donetsk People's Republic, said that Ukraine did not have sufficient reserves on the line of contact for a successful counteroffensive. Ukraine has been reportedly preparing to launch a counteroffensive against Russia in the spring of this year, with a number of Western officials expressing their willingness to help Kiev. The Kremlin has repeatedly warned against further escalation of the situation that could lead to the US and NATO's direct involvement in the conflict. In early April, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov told Polish newspaper Wyborcza that the Ukrainian army was actively preparing a counteroffensive, which would be launched after the end of bad roads season. A Sputnik NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Thousands of Ukrainians missing loved ones from their family gatherings this Easter: UK statement to the OSCE Ambassador Bush says the arrival of Spring is overshadowed for a second year by Russia's destructive and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. 12 April 2023 Thank you, Madam Chair. Firstly, I would like to thank Ms Herasymchuck for her statement. Madam Chair, since we last met in this Council, millions across the OSCE region have welcomed the arrival of Spring; celebrating new life, rebirth and community. While we may look ahead to warmer, brighter days, for many Ukrainians the upcoming Easter celebrations will be overshadowed for a second year by Russia's destructive and unprovoked invasion. Thousands of Ukrainian families will be missing loved ones from their tables and family gatherings in the coming days: those killed by Russian invaders; those serving to defend Ukraine; unlawfully detained persons and all those forced from their homes. This Easter, according to the Yale Humanitarian Research Lab, over 6,000 Ukrainian children will be in Russia's custody, without their parents - some as far as 4,000 miles from their homes. We await the Moscow Mechanism report on this latest cruelty from Russia. This devastation also includes families grieving in Russia. Thousands of Russian soldiers have senselessly lost their lives in Ukraine - many of them recruited from minority communities, in Russia's poorest regions. Poorly trained, ill equipped and with non-existent leadership, these men - young and old - were led to their deaths by Moscow's lies and propaganda. The Russian leadership has shown a complete disregard for the lives of its citizens - to fight a war that many do not understand or believe in. Spring also marks a busy time for agricultural producers across the OSCE region. However, in Ukraine, the simple act of tending to the land could result in serious injury or death. More than 5 million hectares of Ukraine's farmland has been damaged in the war - an area larger than Slovakia. Vast areas will need to be cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance and re-cultivated. Russian forces stole or destroyed agricultural equipment and left seed and crops to rot, while bombs, bullets, starvation and disease killed hundreds of thousands of animals and millions of poultry birds. We continue to see the impact of Russia's actions on world food prices and on the most food-insecure communities around the globe. Every day, ordinary Ukrainians live under the constant threat of attack while trying to go on with their lives. This weekend residential areas, including in Kramatorsk and Kupiansk, were the target of Russian shelling and rocket attacks, which claimed more innocent lives including a little 11-year-old girl and her father. Russian attacks on Zaporizhzhia Oblast on Sunday resulted in a further three deaths. The relentless loss of life and devastation caused by Russia's aggression since February 2022 is incomprehensible. We will remember each one of these lives taken. We will not forget the names of the children separated from their parents. We will honour those who have given their lives and livelihoods in the defence of their country. Time and again, we have called on Russia to end this war, to end the suffering to Ukraine, to its own people and to all affected around the world. However, it is clear Russia's political leadership does not want peace. Madam Chair, there is hope. The Ukrainian people have demonstrated repeatedly that they will not give up their right to freedom and a democratic future; they will not bow in the face of Russian aggression. And Ukraine's friends will not give up either. As evidenced by the wide-ranging diplomatic, economic, military and humanitarian assistance for Ukraine by its partners, Russia should not harbour any illusions that this support will diminish. It will not. Ukraine will have peace; a just and lasting peace on Ukraine's terms; a peace that respects Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity; and a peace that restores the stability and security of Europe and the wider global community. And we will be standing by them. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address President of Ukraine held a meeting with a delegation of senators from the United States of America President of Ukraine 12 April 2023 - 20:04 President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting with the bipartisan delegation of the Senate of the U.S. Congress including Joseph Manchin, Lisa Murkowski and Mark Kelly. Welcoming the senators, the Head of State thanked them for their visit to Ukraine, which is an important signal of support for our country and the Ukrainian people. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted the powerful assistance provided by the United States to Ukraine. "Bicameral and bipartisan support from the United States, President Biden personally, and all Americans helped us survive the war unleashed by Russia," he emphasized. The Head of State informed the Senate delegation about the situation on the frontline and shared assessments of its development in the near future. In this context, further directions of American assistance and the role of Congress in this process were discussed in detail during the meeting. The President separately emphasized that Ukraine needs powerful defense support today, and there should be no restrictions on providing the defense forces with the necessary military equipment and weapons. "We are fighting for common values - freedom and democracy. Our victory will be decisive for the development of the situation in Europe and throughout the world," the Head of State said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized that the continuation of such comprehensive support - defense and financial - is the key to our victory over the aggressor. At the same time, it was noted that Ukraine ensures the necessary control over the use of American taxpayers' funds and provided weapons and is open to full cooperation with partners in this matter. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Seoul Stands Firm on Not Sending Lethal Weapons to Ukraine By Christy Lee April 13, 2023 Seoul has reiterated its decision not to send lethal weapons to Kyiv following the leak of Pentagon documents reportedly showing top South Korean officials deliberating whether to sell artillery shells to the U.S. because of worries that the ammunition could end up in Ukraine. "The government's policy of not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine remains unchanged," a spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry told VOA's Korean Service on Wednesday. "The Republic of Korea and U.S. government have been discussing ways to support Ukraine's protection of freedom. However, we cannot confirm the details of the discussion," the spokesperson continued without elaborating. South Korea has been providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. It also joined the U.S. and Western democratic countries in sanctioning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. But as the West has been increasing the amount and kinds of weapons supporting Ukraine's defense against Russia, Seoul has stopped short of providing lethal aid even though Washington has been looking to buy artillery shells from Seoul since late last year as a way to replenish U.S. stockpiles exhausted from suppling Kyiv. In January, Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Martin Meiners told VOA's Korean Service that Washington was still in talks with South Korea's "nongovernment industrial defense base" for "potential sales of ammunition." At the time, Seoul refrained from ammunition sales to avoid upsetting Russia, which had hinted that it could resume military cooperation with North Korea if South Korea assisted Ukraine. Seoul's deliberation Seoul's deliberations about selling the ammunition to the U.S. could be gleaned from the leaked Pentagon documents that allegedly reveal U.S. intelligence services spying on top South Korean officials, according to The New York Times. South Korean national security adviser Kim Sung-han, who resigned in March over planning issues related to President Yoon Suk Yeol's upcoming visit to Washington, and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yi Mun-hui were concerned that the U.S. would not be "the end user" if Seoul sold ammunition to the U.S., according to the Times report. Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst and policy practice lead at the Washington, D.C.-area consultancy LMI, said Seoul's concern about extending arms support to Ukraine was nothing new. "Seoul's deliberation over support to Ukraine has been widely known since the beginning of the war," Kim told VOA Korean. "But the leak itself makes the issue seem all the more serious and a point of friction between Seoul and Washington." The South Korean newspaper Dong-a Ilbo, citing a government official, reported Wednesday that South Korea was to lend rather than sell 500,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery shells to the U.S. Supporting Ukraine Scott Snyder, director of the program on U.S.-Korea policy and a senior fellow for Korea studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said, "The leaked documents represent an impediment to South Korea's cooperation with the U.S. to support Ukraine to the extent that they may raise the domestic political cost to Yoon of doing so." The allegation of U.S. espionage has sparked criticism in South Korea. Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said the Yoon government needed to secure "an official apology" from the U.S. and a "guarantee" it would not spy again. Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation, said, "The South Korean opposition party predictably is trying to use the issue to undermine support for the alliance and to score political points against President Yoon." Yoon's office issued a statement Tuesday saying the defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. agreed that significant portions of the leaked Pentagon documents contained fabricated information. Washington expects more Evans Revere, a former State Department official with an extensive experience negotiating with North Korea, also questioned the validity of the leaked document. But he said Seoul's caution about providing direct arms support to Ukraine had concerned some in the West. "It's no secret, quite frankly, that there has been some level of concern in Washington, just as there has been some level of concern in Western Europe, that South Korea has not done as much as it could or should in terms of supplying Ukraine," said Revere. Describing South Korea as "one of the most formidable manufacturers of sophisticated arms and equipment in the world," Revere said that while it was good to have Seoul supporting the West and pushing back against autocratic countries like Russia, the government needed to decide "what South Korea is prepared to do" that would "really make a difference in the ability of democracy to survive." South Korea was the eighth-largest global exporter of arms in 2017-21, according to a 2022 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Seoul's dilemma Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security and Korea expert at the U.S. Naval War College, said, "South Korean officials have sought to craft a careful policy that supports Ukraine along with the West and stand up to Russia, while also avoiding actions that provoke Russia into worsening security on the Korean Peninsula through support for the North." He continued, "Seoul has a delicate balancing act to play and its arms sales to others is a way of supporting the Ukrainian war effort without provoking Russia, though it's not clear if the Kremlin sees the difference." Moscow has placed South Korea on a list of countries that commit "unfriendly actions" along with other countries that sanctioned Russia in March, according to Tass, a government-affiliated news outlet. Revere, the former State Department official, said, "There is nothing that Russia is going to do to help South Korea when it comes to North Korea." He continued, "North Korea has become a de facto partner of Russia by supporting the Russian position on Ukraine, criticizing NATO, and perhaps even providing military support to the Russians." Kim Hyungjin contributed to this report. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address Latest in Ukraine: Ukrainian Leaders Condemn Alleged Decapitation of Captive By VOA News April 13, 2023 New developments: U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has met with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the Pentagon to discuss U.S. support for Ukraine. Ukraine says its forces repelled 72 attacks over the past day by Russian forces in the east as intense fighting continued around Bakhmut, Radio Free Europe reported. Russia's defense ministry said it conducted a successful test launch of what it called an "advanced" intercontinental ballistic missile. Ukrainian officials on Wednesday opened an investigation into a video on social media purportedly showing one of Kyiv's soldiers being beheaded. News agencies could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message, "There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill." Zelenskyy said the video showed the "execution of a Ukrainian captive" and that "everyone must react. Do not expect that it will be forgotten, that time will pass." The video appears to show a man in green fatigues with a yellow armband, typically worn by Ukrainian fighters. His screams are heard before another man in camouflage uses a knife to decapitate him. The man in camouflage and another man both speak Russian. Ukraine's state security service has opened an investigation, said Vasyl Maliuk, head of the agency. Officials are studying the video to identify those responsible, as well as to identify the victim. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov called the footage "horrible" but said that its authenticity needed to be verified. Ukraine's human rights chief Dmytro Lubinets said he will request that the U.N. Human Rights Committee investigate. Lubinets wrote on Telegram that "a public execution of a captive is yet another indication of a breach of Geneva Convention norms, international humanitarian law, a breach of the fundamental right to life." Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of committing war crimes and targeting civilians during its invasion of Ukraine, now in its 14th month, while Moscow says it has only targeted military sites and electrical and water infrastructure. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes in the abductions of children from Ukraine. Andrei Medvedev, a Russian state TV journalist, said the release of the gruesome video on social media was "fairly opportune" for the Ukrainian army ahead of a spring counteroffensive. Mykhailo Podolyak, an adviser to Zelenskyy, also linked the video's release to the expected offensive. While Medvedev said it was designed to "fire up personnel," Podolyak said it was meant to demoralize the public or change their perception of the war. CIA Director William Burns mentioned the expected spring counteroffensive by Ukraine on Wednesday night at the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. He said the challenge facing Ukraine on the battlefield, "is to puncture that sense of arrogance on Putin's part, to convince him and his generals that not only are they not going to be able to advance further into Ukraine, but that ... they risk losing more and more of what they have illegally seized right now." Burns also said Russia's military "has its hands full" in dealing with Ukraine's military and that he does not think Putin is eager for a confrontation with NATO. Burns said U.S. President Joe Biden has also made clear the United States does not want direct involvement in the conflict. "But as you know very well ... there can be inadvertent collisions," Burns said. "We saw one of them over the Black Sea recently, as well. And so that puts a premium on communicating very directly and very firmly, what the consequences of some of those can be." VOA national security correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some material also came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. NEWS LETTER Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list Enter Your Email Address 44.5 m @ 2.3 g/t Au 26.5 m @ 4.1 g/t Au 16.5 m @ 7.3 g/t Au TORONTO, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- G2 Goldfields Inc. ("G2" or the "Company") (TSXV:GTWO; OTCQX: GUYGF) announces further exploration results from the Companys ongoing exploration program at the 19,200-acre OKO Project, Guyana. Drilling and trenching have expanded the Ghanie Zone (see press release dated February 07, 2023) to a strike length of 1 km as shallow drilling has consistently intercepted near surface gold mineralization. Additionally, recent assay results from mechanical trenching in the northern end of the target area demonstrate the zone remains open to the north and follow up drilling is currently ongoing. To date G2 has completed 55 diamond drill holes totalling 7,867m at the Ghanie Discovery. Assay results are currently available for holes 21 through 30 a complete table of results is available here. Highlights of the current round of results include: Hole GDD-21 returned 2.3 g/t Au over 44.5m (25.5 70m) This hole is a 33m step out to the north of GDD-18 which intercepted 2.2 g/t Au over 25m Hole GDD-26 intercepted 4.1 g/t Au over 26.5m (84.5 111m) This hole targeted the down-dip extension 31m below hole GDD-19 (2.0 g/t over 28.6m) Hole GDD-30 returned 7.3 g/t Au over 16.5m (105.5 125m) GDD-30 is one of the deepest holes drilled to date at Ghanie and demonstrates the down-plunge continuity of high grade intercepted in GDD-10 (5.1 g/t over 26.6m) Below is a plan view of the Ghanie Zone and Southern OKO. A Media Snippet accompanying this announcement is available by clicking on the image or link below: Significantly, all the mineralized intercepts lie within 100 metres of surface with all areas remaining open to depth, as well as to the north. Within the broader zone of near surface mineralization, several areas show potential for higher grade gold at depth. Ghanie High Grade Drill Intercepts (First 30 Holes) Hole Number From To Intercept Length (m) Grade Au g/t GDD-04 21.0 71.0 13.9 5.1 GDD-06 58.0 61.0 3.0 17.0 GDD-10 90.0 116.6 26.6 5.1 GDD-17 57.2 62.1 4.9 7.5 GDD-18 59.0 66.0 7.0 5.6 GDD-19 77.0 80.3 3.3 8.8 GDD-20 85.9 91.8 5.9 7.2 GDD-21 61.0 67.0 6.0 14.5 GDD-26 103.5 110.0 6.5 11.3 GDD-30 108.5 125.0 16.5 7.3 Incl. 121.0 125.0 4.0 27.2 Intervals in this press release have been calculated using a grade cut-off of 0.3 g/t Au and up to 1.5 metres maximum length of internal waste. Gold grades are uncapped. Mineralized intersection lengths are not necessarily true widths. Additionally, trenching 170 meters north of the most northerly drill hole released to date (GDD-23) has exposed a mineralised shear zone in which continuous channel samples have returned 1.1 g/t Au over 50m, suggesting the possibility of further near surface gold mineralization. The deeper high-grade intercepts at the Ghanie discovery as well as the trenching results to the north suggest there is considerable potential to expand the discovery to depth and along strike. G2 currently has active exploration programs throughout the southern part of the 19,200-acre property and will be systematically drill testing several new areas over the coming months. This fully funded program will include OKO EAST as well as numerous high priority targets to the north of the OKO MAIN resource. Boaz Wade, V.P. Exploration, stated, The latest results confirm the existence of multiple high grade shoots within the broader, near surface gold zones. The Ghanie discovery is one of several geological targets which the Company has identified for follow up diamond drilling. Dan Noone, CEO, commented, G2 Gold remains very much a growth story, with the Ghanie discovery shaping up to become a potentially significant new resource for the Company. We also look forward to drilling new targets within the district in the coming months. QA/QC Drill core is logged and sampled in a secure core storage facility located on the OKO project site, Guyana. Core samples from the program are cut in half, using a diamond cutting saw, and are sent to MSALABS Guyana, in Georgetown, Guyana, which is an accredited mineral analysis laboratory, for analysis. Samples from sections of core with obvious gold mineralisation are analysed for total gold using an industry-standard 500g metallic screen fire assay (MSALABS method MSC 550). All other samples are analysed for gold using standard Fire Assay-AA with atomic absorption finish (MSALABS method; FAS-121). Samples returning over 10.0 g/t gold are analysed utilizing standard fire assay gravimetric methods (MSALABS method; FAS-425). Certified gold reference standards, blanks, and field duplicates are routinely inserted into the sample stream, as part of G2 Goldfields quality control/quality assurance program (QAQC). No QA/QC issues were noted with the results reported herein. About G2 Goldfields Inc. The G2 Goldfields team is comprised of professionals who have been directly responsible for the discovery of millions of ounces of gold in Guyana as well as the financing and development of the Aurora Gold Mine, Guyanas largest gold mine. G2 recently announced its maiden mineral resource estimate on the newly discovered Oko property in Guyana (see press release dated April 25, 2022), and has recently filed on SEDAR an independent technical report entitled NI 43-101 Technical Report and Mineral Resource Estimate for the Oko Gold property, Cooperative Republic of Guyana, South America, with an effective date of April 14, 2022. Highlights of the report include: 974,000 oz. Au Inferred Mineral Resource contained within 3,274,000 tonnes @ 9.25 g/t Au; and 220,000 oz. Au Indicated Mineral Resource contained within 793,000 tonnes @ 8.63 g/t Au. Significantly, all of the maiden mineral resources lie within 350 meters of surface and remain open down plunge. G2 continues to expand this maiden resource while discovering additional areas for diamond drilling. All scientific and technical information in this press release has been approved by and prepared under the supervision of Dan Noone (CEO of G2 Goldfields Inc.), a qualified person within the meaning of National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Noone (B.Sc. Geology, MBA) is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists. For further information please contact: Dan Noone CEO +1.416.628.5904 Email: news@g2goldfields.com Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements about the Offering, including the expected closing date, the proposed use of proceeds, approval of the TSXV, and insider participation. Wherever possible, words such as may, will, should, could, expect, plan, intend, anticipate, believe, estimate, predict or potential or the negative or other variations of these words, or similar words or phrases, have been used to identify these forward-looking statements. These statements reflect managements current beliefs and are based on information currently available to management as at the date hereof. Forward-looking statements involve significant risk, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ materially from the results discussed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management believes to be reasonable assumptions, the Company cannot assure readers that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as 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) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. WASHINGTON, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The International Monetary Fund has a historic opportunity to take immediate measures, undertake institutional reforms, and establish partnerships through which it can finally support the central role of biodiversity in macroeconomic and financial stability, Avaaz said in a policy briefing. Separately, in a 90-page report, Avaaz said that the IMF and Argentina, even without waiting for broader reforms of the current financial architecture, can already lead the way to innovative finance to restructure debt and deliver on effective outcomes for the economy and biodiversity. The 2023 Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group are the first step in a sequence that must lead to reforming international financial institutions and make them more relevant for the challenges of the 21st century. During the last six months, the intimate interconnections between debt and climate emergencies have finally received more attention. But biodiversity, another major part of the ecological crisis, is still largely ignored in this conversation, despite the adoption of the new U.N. biodiversity framework last December in Montreal, according to the policy briefing. The case of Argentina The first paper, titled DebtDebt The Argentine Case: A Post-Pandemic Proposal for Settling Sovereign and Ecological Debts and Pursuing a Fair and Equitable Transition in Argentina focuses on the case of Argentina, a G20 country that faces chronic debt crises and strong impacts from climate change, while harboring rich biodiversity which provides services to the rest of the world. The report proposes the establishment of Public Observatory on Debt in Argentina and a deeply participatory process to reinvigorate the national debate on debt in the country, and to connect this with a debt clearing mechanism at the international level to restructure the debt of Argentina. Realizing the importance of Argentinas biodiversity is central in these proposals: Argentina is a financial debtor, but an ecological creditor to the world. Its footprint is less than the natural resources its ecosystems produce. Avaaz suggests that Argentina develops debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps (with a mechanism relying on sustainable bonds see report for details). The case for biodiversity in a global reform But debt swapping is just but one mechanism that the IMF can use to jointly address the debt and ecological crises. The institution has only recently developed initiatives on climate but has taken even more time to respond on biodiversity. However, as the second Avaaz paper (Out of Oblivion. Why Biodiversity Must Be at the Heart of All IMF Policies) describes, there is a wide range of immediate measures, institutional reforms, and partnerships through which the IMF can finally support the central role of biodiversity in macroeconomic and financial stability. In its key messages, the report points to the precise governance levels of the IMF that have to take action. There is enough available expertise, at the IMF and outside, to move forward on this pressing issue. Oscar Soria, Campaign Director at Avaaz, said: Argentina, a G20 country, is choking in debt, strongly impacted by climate change, while still contributing major ecosystem services to the world. This is the situation of many countries from the Global South today. With countries being encouraged to destroy more of their biodiversity for debt servicing, creating even more mid to long term vulnerability for their economies. In the current efforts for reforming global financial cooperation, an end must be put to this vicious cycle. For more information and interviews, please contact: media@avaaz.org To download the Avaaz proposal for the Argentine debt click: http://www.avaaz.org/ArgentinaDebt2023 To download the policy paper on the IMF and biodiversity click: www.avaaz.org/IMFWB2023 For photos free for editorial purposes, please click: bit.ly/Avaaz2023April12Photos For video footage (professional b-roll), please click: bit.ly/Avaaz2023April12Video BACKGROUND INFORMATION The tango is a dance that emerged from the Argentine barrios which codifies the relationship of power, domination, and submission in a ritualized courtship routine. The power relationship can be understood as one of inequality, in which the partners play out the intricacies and dependencies that inequality creates. As the saying goes, it takes two to tango, and the debt crisis is fueled by the same power dynamics present in the tango, with the main creditors in the IMF and now China as the worlds largest bilateral creditor and emerging lender of last resort jockeying and repositioning themselves to stay on top of the debtors for world domination, in a complex dance of the billions. An ambitious global program for debt-for-nature, debt-for-climate and other targeted proceeds debt swaps must be implemented to reach a critical mass of these operations, as country-by-country negotiations are insufficient. As IMF researchers point out, debt-for-nature swaps can open new revenue streams, especially for countries with globally relevant biodiversity, by materializing investments in global public goods. Avaaz has prepared a detailed proposal for an integrated approach to debt-for-nature swaps that takes into account its enormous capacity for generating globally relevant ecosystem goods and services such as climate regulation. Among other urgent actions, whats needed now is a financial "haircut" to significantly reduce debt levels. "Haircuts" are a fundamental part of reaching a long-term solution to the debt crisis and will contribute to debt sustainability. Without a common agreement amongst creditors on reasonable "haircuts" and other necessary concessions, the debt crisis will continue to spiral on an unsustainable path. China has recently become more active on debt restructuring issues, in spite of blocking the inclusion of debt relief and specifically debt swaps in the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in its role as President of the Conference of the Parties. In March, following the G20 meetings in Bengaluru (India), China joined efforts by the Paris Club and multilateral creditors to support flexible measures as a principal creditor for Sri Lanka in order to pave the way for a new agreement with the IMF. China has also hinted at including debt insured by the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation in support of broader Common Framework debt negotiations in Zambia. As the worlds largest bilateral creditor, without being a member of the Paris Club, there is an opportunity and global responsibility for China to step up in its efforts to provide comprehensive debt relief, particularly in Africa but in general in developing countries that have taken on additional debt as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/141638e5-6cbf-4d9e-a0fa-d7bb9fa0676b The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. SAN FRANCISCO, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students is pleased to announce its inaugural scholarship program for undergraduate and graduate students pursuing a degree in a healthcare-related field at a university in the United States, founded by Julian Mitton, MD. The scholarship aims to support the next generation of healthcare professionals by providing financial assistance to students who demonstrate exceptional promise and commitment to improving healthcare access and delivery in rural communities. The scholarship is a one-time award of $1,000 and will be awarded based on an essay competition. Applicants must submit a creative essay of under 1000 words that answers the following question: Rural healthcare in the United States faces unique challenges that can impact patient outcomes. What innovative solutions do you propose to improve healthcare delivery and access in rural communities? To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must be a current undergraduate or graduate student pursuing a degree in a healthcare-related field at a university in the United States. High school students planning to enroll in a healthcare-related degree program at a university are also eligible to apply. The Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students is named after Julian Mitton, MD a healthcare management consultant who has extensive experience in healthcare management and consulting. Julian grew up in a family of healthcare professionals, which sparked his interest in the field. He earned his Master's degree in Public Health from the Harvard School of Public Health. After completing his training, he began his career as a health educator and primary care doctor at a community health center, where he focused on educating patients on preventive care and managing chronic diseases. Julian then transitioned into healthcare management leadership and implementation science research, working for several well respected healthcare organizations. Julian is recognized as a thought leader in the healthcare industry and has published numerous articles and white papers on healthcare leadership, management and consulting. The scholarship website, https://drjulianmittonscholarship.com/, provides detailed information about the scholarship program, including eligibility criteria, application requirements, and the application process. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is October 15, 2023. The winner for the scholarship will be announced November 15, 2023. Speaking about the scholarship, Julian Mitton, MD said, I am excited to launch this scholarship program to support students who are committed to improving healthcare access and delivery in rural communities. I believe that healthcare is a basic human right, and it is essential that we work towards ensuring that everyone has access to quality healthcare, regardless of where they live. I look forward to reading the essays of the applicants and seeing the innovative solutions they propose to improve healthcare delivery and access in rural communities. For more information about the Dr. Julian Mitton Scholarship for Healthcare Students, please visit https://drjulianmittonscholarship.com/. NEWARK, Del, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global polyurea coatings market is anticipated to create an absolute dollar opportunity over the forecast period from 2023 to 2033 by registering a robust CAGR of 9.3%. The global market is expected to register a valuation of US$ 902.9 million in 2023, culminating in a market valuation of US$ 2,204.6 million in 2033. According to the Future Market Insights historical analysis, the global polyurea coatings market registered a healthy CAGR of 7.6%. Furthermore, in 2022, the value of the global market reached around US$ 823.9 million. Polyurea is known as a synthetic polymer, commonly derived from the reaction between a diamine and a di-isocyanate. The usage of polyurea-based coatings is common across a variety of industries such as automotive & transportation, and building & construction. Over the upcoming years, sales of hybrid polyurea products should dominate the market. This is due to the fact that hybrid polyurea offers several advantages over pure variants including effective adhesion to metallic and concentrate surfaces. Abrasion resistance and affordability. Moreover, pure polyurea sales are likely to continue for applications where temperature and moisture resistance are necessary. 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-9657 Developing economies are anticipated to have a significant contribution to market expansion. Across these economies, there is a propelling need for protecting equipment, machine parts, and infrastructural investments. Car parking lots, offshore structures, bridges, rooftop coatings, and containment liners are examples of applications where polyurea coatings play important roles. Over recent years, industrial activities are on the rise, resulting in the surge of the global economy. This should work in favor of polyurea coatings companies and provide lucrative opportunities in the future. Report Highlights The surging population and increasing building and construction activities combined together with strong industrial expansion are anticipated to drive significant growth in the market. Furthermore, crucial developing countries have showcased excellent economic development potential, owing predominantly to increased urbanization and strong demand from the automobile and food and beverage industries. During the next decade, the leading end-use sectors will account for more than 70% of absolute growth. According to a regional perspective, the East Asian region is anticipated to account for a significant share throughout the evaluation period from 2023 to 2033. Over recent years, environmental regulations have become more stringent in regions such as North America and Europe. Also, countries such as China are adopting such regulations pertaining to VOC emissions, owing to which, there is rising demand for eco-friendly polyuria coatings. The application of polyurea coatings on damp surfaces is likely to result in poor surface adherence. As a result, the surface requires appropriate drying time before applying a polyurea coating. In addition to that, the cost of applying polyurea coatings is significantly greater due to the expense of spraying equipment. Handling such machinery necessitates the use of professional laborers and technicians. The challenges listed above may impede the acceleration of the market for polyurea coatings. Expand Operations in the Future - To Get Requisite Details, Ask for a Custom Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-9657 Recent Developments Widespread environmental consciousness has resulted in a revolution across the coating industry. Water-borne, high-solid, and powder coatings are gaining popularity in a variety of sectors. Coating technology advancements have also resulted in the creation of spray, injection, and roto-cast application equipment that enhances the performance of polyurea coatings. Polyurea coatings have emerged as a successful and cost-effective solution for a variety of applications in a wide range of end-use industries, while also meeting environmental requirements. Polyurea coatings are extremely reactive and cure fast. Key Companies Profiled BASF SE Huntsman Corporation Teknos Groups DuPont de Nemours, Inc. Versaflex Incorporated Sherwin Williams Company Pidilite Industries Ltd. Covestro AG PPG Industry Inc. Rhino Linings Corporation Competitive Landscape The global market for polyurea coatings is expected to be fiercely competitive throughout the assessment period, owing to the presence of regional and international players. In the recent past, players have been firmly focused on launching new products. Prominent acquisitions have also facilitated the expansion of prominent names. In April 2019, SPI, a manufacturer of polyurethane foams and polyurea customers based in the United States Washington, announced that it had merged with VersaFlex. Browse Full Market Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/polyurea-coatings-market Polyurea Coatings Market by Category By Type: Pure Polyurea Hybrid Polyurea By Isocynate Type: Aromatic Aliphatic By Application: Building & Construction Industrial Automotive & Transportation By Region: North America Latin America Europe East Asia South Asia Oceania Middle East and Africa Market Presence Across Multiple Geographical Footprints - Strong/Active/Niche/Trivial - Buy the Report! https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/9657 More Insights into the Polyurea Coatings Market As per the forecasts predicted by Future Market Insights, the North American and European regions are emerging as significant markets where polyurea coatings sales are likely to thrive. This forecast is owing to rising demand for eco-friendly and sophisticated coatings as a result of rigorous VOC emission laws. Table of Content 1. Executive Summary | Polyurea Coatings Market 1.1. Global Market Outlook 1.2. Demand Side Trends 1.3. Supply Side Trends 1.4. Analysis and Recommendations 2. Market Overview 2.1. Market Taxonomy 2.2. Market Definition 3. Key Market Trends 4. Key Success Factors Complete TOC of this Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-9657 Explore FMIs Extensive Ongoing Coverage on the Chemicals & Materials Domain Coating Additives Market Demand: The global coating additives market was valued at around US$ 10,613.3 Mn in 2021 and is anticipated to reach US$ 17,724.8 Mn by 2032. Sales in the global coating devices market are witness surge at a CAGR of 4.8% between 2022 and 2032. Coating Auxillaries Market Growth: By 2022, the global coating Auxillaries market was estimated to be worth US$8 billion. From 2022-2032, it is predicted to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 3.9%. By 2032, the global coating Auxillaries market is predicted to be worth US$ 11.70 billion. PU Coatings Market Overview: According to the latest market survey conducted by Future Market Insights, the global PU Coating market is relishing a market valuation of US$ 17,769.5 Million in 2022 and is all set to expand with a CAGR of 5.2% during the 2022 to 2032 period. Wood Coatings Market Trends: The wood coatings market is anticipated to garner a modest strength with a CAGR of 5.9% from 2022 to 2032. The key driver of the wood coatings market is the expansion of the housing market as spending on maintenance of decks, fences, flooring, and siding is rising. Water Proof Coatings Market Sales: The global Water Proof Coatings Market is set to thrive at a CAGR of 4.02% between 2022 and 2032 while holding a value of US$ 15.81 Billion in 2022. The anticipated value of US$ 23.45 Billion by 2032. 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, headquartered in Delaware, USA. As a recipient of the Clutch Leaders Award 2022 for a high client score (4.9/5), we have been collaborating with global enterprises in their business transformation journey and helping them deliver on their business ambitions. 80% of the largest Forbes 1000 enterprises are our clients. We serve global clients across all leading & niche market segments across all major industries. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Westford, USA,, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The market for E-Bikes is expected to experience significant growth during the forecast period (2022-2030), with a projected CAGR of 12.6%, and is anticipated to reach a value of USD 103.5 billion. Factors driving this growth include increased awareness of health and environmental benefits, government initiatives and subsidies, and battery technology and design advancements. SkyQuest's analysis predicts that the global market for e-bike batteries will reach USD 10.6 billion by 2025, with an estimated CAGR of 7.5%. These batteries are becoming more efficient, resulting in more powerful e-bikes with longer battery life and shorter charging times. SkyQuest also notes that the average price of an e-bike has decreased from $2,200 in 2017 to $1,900 in 2020, making them more affordable. Incentives such as subsidies and tax credits provided by governments worldwide, such as France and the United States, also contribute to the E-Bike market's growth. Get sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/e-bike-market Browse in-depth TOC on "E-Bike Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 90 Figures - 66 Due to the numerous benefits they offer, e-bikes have become increasingly important in today's world. They provide an eco-friendly means of transportation that reduces carbon emissions, alleviates traffic congestion, and combats climate change. E-bikes also encourage physical activity, leading to improved health outcomes. They are cost-effective, user-friendly, and potentially revolutionize urban transportation. Consequently, e-bikes have been gaining popularity worldwide. Prominent Players in E-Bike Market Accell Group N.V. BH Bikes Bosch eBike Systems Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KG Derby Cycle Holding GmbH Giant Manufacturing Co. Ltd. Gocycle Grace GmbH & Co. KG Greyp Bikes Haibike GmbH Haro Bike Corporation Klever Mobility Europe GmbH M1 Sporttechink GmbH Panasonic Corporation Pedego Electric Bikes Polaris Industries Inc. Riese & Muller GmbH Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. Trek Bicycle Corporation Yamaha Motor Co. Ltd. Commuter / Urban Segment to Drive Higher Sales as There is Increase in Demand for Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Transportation Options in Urban Areas A recent analysis indicates that the Commuter/Urban segment played a significant role in the rapid development of the E-bike market in 2021 and is expected to maintain this trend from 2022 to 2030. The increase in demand for sustainable and eco-friendly transportation options in urban areas, combined with growing government initiatives and subsidies, is driving this expansion. According to a European Cyclists Federation survey, 30% of E-bike users in Europe primarily use their E-bikes for commuting to work or school, demonstrating the significant demand for E-bikes in the commuter/urban segment. The International Energy Agency (IEA) predicts that E-bike sales will reach 130 million units globally by 2030, with most sales expected to come from the commuter/urban segment in Asia, particularly in China and India.. SkyQuest projects that North America will become a dominant player in the E-Bike market from 2022 to 2030, growing at a CAGR of 7.82% during the forecast period. Favorable government initiatives, increasing awareness of environmental benefits, and rising fuel prices are driving the market expansion in the region. The U.S. is leading the North American market, with rising consumer demand and increasing investments in e-bike infrastructure. Furthermore, the U.S. government announced a $3 billion investment in the development of e-bike infrastructure in March 2021 as part of its infrastructure bill. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/e-bike-market Lithium-ion Battery Type Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth Due to the High Energy Density of the Battery, Longer Lifespan, and Lower Weight The Lithium-ion Battery Type segment is driving the E-Bike market is projected to remain dominant from 2022 to 2030, as per the recent analysis. The key drivers of this trend are the high energy density, longer lifespan, and lower weight of lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, a European Association of Motorcycle Manufacturers (ACEM) study revealed that lithium-ion batteries constitute 95% of the e-bike battery market share in Europe. SkyQuest's research also indicated that lithium-ion batteries account for 92.8% of the Chinese e-bike market. SkyQuest's latest research indicates that the Asia Pacific region is expected to maintain its leading position in the E-bike market, with a significant growth rate projected at a CAGR of 7.97% during the forecast period. This growth is driven by the high adoption rate of e-bikes in countries like China, Japan, and South Korea and the rising demand for eco-friendly transportation options in the region. Moreover, Niu Technologies, a Chinese e-bike company, recently announced a partnership with KTM, a motorcycle manufacturer, to jointly develop and produce electric mopeds and bicycles for the European market, which is expected to further expand the market reach of both companies and contribute to the growth of the e-bike market in the region. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the E-Bike 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 the E-Bike Market TVS Motor Company announced that it had successfully acquired a 75% stake in the electric bike manufacturer Swiss E-Mobility Group (SEMG) electric bike manufacturer. SEMG operates the largest e-bike retail chain M-way in Switzerland, generating nearly USD 100 million in revenue. The company's portfolio of mobility brands includes Cilo, Simpel, Allegro, and Zenith bikes, which are sold through two online platforms and 31 physical stores. TVS' expansion in Europe will be further strengthened by this acquisition, which includes Norton Motorcycles and EGO Movement. In an all-cash deal, the acquisition was made through TVS Motors Singapore subsidiary, TVS Motor (Singapore) Pte Ltd. Porsche announced that it would acquire all shares of Fazua, an e-bike drivetrain manufacturer that specializes in lightweight motors, after buying a 20 percent stake earlier this year. The German automaker continues to expand its electric bike portfolio, having previously acquired a majority stake in Croatian e-bike company Greyp late last year. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/e-bike-market Key Questions Answered in E-Bike Market Report What specific growth drivers are projected to impact the market during the forecast period? Can you list the top companies in the market and explain how they have achieved their positions of influence? In what ways do regional trends and patterns differ within the global market, and how might these differences shape the market's future growth? Related Reports in SkyQuests Library: Global Fuel Rail Market Global UTV (Utility Task Vehicles) Market Asia Pacific Electric Vehicle Market North America Electric Vehicle Market Global Autonomous Outdoor Vehicles Market 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 WIMBERLEY, Texas, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Dr. Lane Sebring Scholarship for Future Doctors has been announced, and applications are now open. Dr. Lane Sebring, a highly experienced physician, nutrition expert, and founder of Sebring Clinic in Wimberley, Texas, is offering a one-time award of $1,000 to a current medical student at a university in the United States or a high school student with plans to attend university for a medical degree. The scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to talented and deserving students who are passionate about pursuing a career in the field of medicine. To be eligible for the Dr. Lane Sebring Scholarship for Future Doctors, applicants must submit an essay of under 1000 words in response to the following question: "Identify a healthcare issue that you believe needs significant improvement and propose a new medical innovation or approach that could address the issue effectively." The essay should be well-researched, and the proposed solution should be practical and feasible. The scholarship will be awarded based on creativity, originality, and persuasiveness in the essays submitted. Applicants are encouraged to think outside the box and come up with innovative and novel solutions to the healthcare issues facing our world today. They should not only identify the issue but also provide a well-thought-out plan for addressing it. The proposed solution should be realistic, scalable, and sustainable. The essays will be judged by a panel of experts with a background in medicine, healthcare, and research. The panel will evaluate the essays based on their clarity, coherence, and originality. They will also consider the quality of research and the practicality of the proposed solution. The scholarship is open to all current medical students at a university in the United States or a high school student with plans to attend university for a medical degree. The scholarship aims to provide financial assistance to talented and deserving students who are passionate about pursuing a career in the field of medicine. The award will be granted to the most deserving candidate who meets the eligibility criteria and has submitted the most compelling essay. We believe that this scholarship will not only provide financial assistance to the students but also inspire them to think creatively and innovatively about the healthcare issues facing our world today. We are excited to read the essays submitted by the applicants and to support the next generation of medical professionals in their pursuit of excellence. The deadline to apply for the scholarship is October 15, 2023, and the winner will be announced on November 15, 2023. Applications can be submitted through the official website, https://drlanesebringscholarship.com/dr-lane-sebring-scholarship/. Dr. Lane Sebring, who received his medical degree from the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston in 1992 and completed his residency in family medicine at John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth, Texas, has been practicing medicine for over 25 years. He has focused on the fields of family medicine, integrative medicine, and nutritional medicine. Dr. Sebring is also a highly sought-after speaker and has delivered keynote addresses and presentations on health and wellness topics around the world. "I am thrilled to offer the Dr. Lane Sebring Scholarship for Future Doctors," said Dr. Sebring. "As a physician and nutrition expert, I know how important it is to support the next generation of medical professionals. I am looking forward to reading the essays submitted by the applicants and discovering the innovative solutions they propose for the healthcare issues facing our world today." For more information about the Dr. Lane Sebring Scholarship for Future Doctors, including eligibility requirements and how to apply, please visit the official website, https://drlanesebringscholarship.com/. OSLO, Norway (13 April 2023) - Based on preliminary reporting from operating units, management of TGS ASA (TGS) expects IFRS revenues for Q1 2023 to be approximately USD 173 million, compared to USD 132 million in Q1 2022. POC revenues* are expected to be approximately USD 229 million, up from USD 114 million in Q1 2022. POC multi-client revenues amounted to approximately USD 143 million, with late sales accounting for approximately USD 46 million. The new Acquisition business unit (Magseis Fairfield ASA) contributed net revenues of approximately USD 79 million (USD 95 million gross) in Q1 2023. Kristian Johansen, CEO at TGS, commented: The positive development in revenues continued in Q1 2023, with multi-client POC revenues increasing 30% y/y, despite softer than expected late sales. Furthermore, the Acquisition business unit performed strongly with a y/y growth of 26% in gross revenues**. Im also pleased to see the strong order inflow continue, with close to USD 250 million worth of new customer contracts signed in Q1 2023. Cash flow remains solid, with a gross cash position of around USD 207 million at quarter end. TGS will release its Q1 2023 results at approximately CET 07:00 am on 11 May 2023. CEO Kristian Johansen and CFO Sven Brre Larsen will present the results at CET 09:00 am during a live webcast. The slides from the presentation will also be available in PDF format at both the TGS and Oslo Stock Exchange websites. *For the purpose of POC revenues, multiclient revenues committed prior to completion of projects are recognized on a percentage of completion (POC) basis. This differs from IFRS reporting where revenues committed prior to completion are recognized when the customers receive access to the finished data. Adjustments between preliminary IFRS and Segment revenue numbers for Q1 2023: Preliminary IFRS reported revenue: USD 173 million - Revenue recognized from performance obligations met during Q1 for completed projects: USD 42 million + Revenue recognized under POC during Q4: USD 98 million = Preliminary net segment reported revenue: USD 229 million ** Compared to pro-forma gross revenues in Q1 2022 of USD 75 million. Company Summary TGS provides scientific data and intelligence to companies active in the energy sector. In addition to a global, extensive and diverse energy data library, TGS offers specialized services such as Ocean Bottom Node (OBN) data acquisition, advanced processing and analytics alongside cloud-based data applications and solutions. For more information, visit TGS online at www.tgs.com . Forward Looking Statement All statements in this press release other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements, which are subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict and are based upon assumptions as to future events that may not prove accurate. These factors include volatile market conditions, investment opportunities in new and existing markets, demand for licensing of data within the energy industry, operational challenges, and reliance on a cyclical industry and principal customers. Actual results may differ materially from those expected or projected in the forward-looking statements. TGS undertakes no responsibility or obligation to update or alter forward-looking statements for any reason. For further information, please contact: CFO Sven Brre Larsen Tel.: +47 90 94 36 73 E-mail: investor@tgs.com Pune, India, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global elevators market is likely to gain traction from the growing emphasis on providing a holistic user experience. Hence, manufacturers are working to enhance the quality of the journey by developing unique aesthetic styles to fulfill the various requirements of the consumers. This information is provided by Fortune Business Insights in a recent report, titled, Elevators Market Size, Share & Industry Analysis, By Type (Traction with Machine Room, Machine Room Less Traction, Hydraulic), By Business (New Equipment, Maintenance, Modernization), By Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial) and Regional Forecast, 2019-2026. As per the report, the elevators market size was USD 40.74 billion in 2018 and is projected to reach USD 65.46 billion by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.3% during the forecast period. Industry Development Mitsubishi Electric Corporation unveiled its latest elevator model named Move. It provides low environmental impact, more space savings, and fast delivery. It is best suited for low- and medium-rise apartments and buildings in Europe. Otis launched its new IoT service platform called Otis ONE at the World Elevator Expo. This latest connected elevator solution would aid in personalizing the service experiences through real-time predictive maintenance insights, proactive communication tools, and transparent information sharing. Request a Free Sample of the Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/elevators-market-102683 Report Highlights: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2019-2026 Forecast Period 2019 to 2026 CAGR 6.3% 2026 Value Projection USD 65.46 Billion Base Year 2018 Market Size in 2018 USD 40.74 Billion Historical Data for 2015-2017 No. of Pages 140 Segments covered By Type, By Installation, By Application and By Region Growth Drivers Increasing Demand for Smart Elevators is Expected to Drive the Market Increasing Demand for Sustainability is Gaining Popularity in the Elevators Industry COVID-19 Impact: The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic. We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemic. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/elevators-market-102683 Drivers and Restraints Increasing Adoption of Smart Elevators Equipped with Unique Features to Spur Growth In todays technology-driven world, the utilization of cutting-edge products is surging. It is not only lowering waiting time, but also providing various industry verticals with automation. Smart elevators are becoming more and more popular amongst the populaces. These types of elevators consist of digital security controls such as access control, destination dispatching, and biometric systems. Apart from that, they feature touch screen and aid in managing increased traffic through better serviceability. Therefore, manufacturers across the world are trying to design new smart elevators to gain more consumer satisfaction and improve their experience. This Report Answers the Following Questions: What are the elevators market trends, growth drivers, and obstacles? How will changing consumer behaviour affect the market in the near future? What are the major challenges and opportunities of the market? Which significant strategies are adopted by key companies to gain competitive edge? Which region is likely to lead in terms of revenue? Which segment is expected to dominate in terms of share? List of Key Players Present in the Market KONE CORPORATION Schindler Mitsubishi Electric Corporation thyssenkrupp AG (Cinven, Advent and RAG foundation) United Technologies Hitachi, Ltd. HYUNDAIELEVATOR CO., LTD Johnson Elevator Co., Ltd. Fujitec Co., Ltd. Toshiba Corporation Quick Buy- Elevators Market Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/checkout-page/102683 Segment- Traction with Machine Room Segment to Grow Steadily Backed by Various Usage Benefits In terms of type, the market is classified into hydraulic, machine room less traction, and traction with machine room. Out of these, the traction with machine room segment held 38.8% elevators market share in 2018. This growth is attributable to their possession of several benefits consisting of smaller motor size, smooth transportation, and energy-efficiency. They are also faster in performance unlike the hydraulic elevators. Thus, they are best suited for the modern high rise buildings. The hydraulic segment would exhibit considerable growth in the coming years as they are mainly used for transporting heavy loads and for low-rise applications. They are also highly cost-efficient. Regional Analysis- Asia Pacific to Exhibit Slow Growth Fueled by the Outbreak of Coronavirus Based on geography, the market is grouped into Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Amongst these, Asia Pacific generated USD 20.48 billion elevators market revenue in 2018. This growth is attributable to the rising demand for elevators owing to the increasing number of residential and commercial construction activities. But, the recent outbreak of coronavirus has created uncertainty. The overall region is expected to be recovered by the second half of 2020. China would exhibit a comparatively slow growth. The maintenance and services sector would grow robustly in the region. Competitive Landscape- Key Companies Aim to Unveil Novel Products to Broaden Product Portfolio The market houses many enterprises that are striving persistently to introduce new products equipped with cutting-edge technologies for fulfilling the demand of their growing consumer base. Have Any Query? Ask Our Experts: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/elevators-market-102683 Major Table of Contents: Introduction Definition, By Segment Research Approach Sources Executive Summary Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities Emerging Trends Key Insights Macro and Micro Economic Indicators Key Technological Developments Consolidated SWOT Analysis of Key Players Global Elevators Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Type (Value) Traction with Machine Room Machine Room Less Traction Hydraulic Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Installation(Value) New Installation Maintenance Modernization Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Application (Value) Residential Commercial Industrial Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region (Value) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East & Africa Latin America North America Elevators Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Type (Value) Traction with Machine Room Machine Room Less Traction Hydraulic Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Installation(Value) New Installation Maintenance Modernization Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Application (Value) Residential Commercial Industrial Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Country (Value) United States Canada Continued Related Reports: Mobile Robot Charging Station Market Size , Industry Share | Forecast, 2030 High Speed Steel Cutting Tools Market Size , Industry Share | Forecast, 2030 Hybrid Additive Manufacturing Machine Market Size , Industry Share | Forecast, 2030 Electro Galvanizing Market Size , Industry Share | Forecast, 2030 Cross Roller Bearings Market Size , Share, Potential, Growth 2026 FAQs How big is the Elevators Market? The global Elevators Market size was estimated at USD 40.74 billion in 2018 and is expected to reach USD 65.46 billion in 2026 What is the Elevators Market growth? The global Elevators Market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 6.3% from 2019 to 2026 to reach USD 65.46 billion by 2026 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Pune, India, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global fluorosurfactant market size was valued at USD 653.91 million in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 622.39 million in 2023 to USD 892.91 million by 2029, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.6% during the forecast period. Special surfactants known as fluorosurfactants have fluorine atoms built into their molecular structure. Due to their low surface tension and great heat stability, these surfactants have been employed to make a variety of commercial and consumer goods. Cleaning supplies, lubricants, paints, and coatings are a few common goods that include fluorinated surfactants. Consumer goods, electronics, textiles, construction, and other industries all use these products. Due to their exceptional stability, these chemical compounds have the propensity to last a long time in their environment without degrading. Fortune Business Insights presents this information in their report titled Global Fluorosurfactant Market, 2022-2029. Get a Free Sample Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/fluorosurfactant-market-102344 List of Key Players Profiled in the Fluorosurfactant Market Report: 3M (U.S.) The Chemours Company (U.S.) DIC CORPORATION (Japan) Chemguard (U.S.) OMNOVA Solutions Inc. (U.S.) DYNAX (U.S.) AGC SEIMI CHEMICAL CO., LTD. (Japan) Maflon SpA (Italy) Shijiazhuang City Horizon Chemical Industry Co., Ltd. (China) Innovative Chemical Technologies (U.S.) Report Scope & Segmentation: Report Attributes Details Forecast Period 2022-2029 Forecast CAGR 4.6% 2030 Value Projection USD 892.91 million Market Size in 2022 USD 653.91 million Historical Data 2018-2020 No. of Pages 100 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 Fluorosurfactant Market Growth Drivers Rising Product Adoption in Paints & Coatings Industry to Fuel Market Expansion Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/fluorosurfactant-market-102344 Segments: Anionic Segment to Account for a Significant Share Owing to its Wider Adoption in Paints & Coating Industry Anionic fluorosurfactant offers outstanding wettability and permeability. It is mostly utilized in applications for paints and coatings. During the forecast period, it is anticipated that the growing paint and coatings industry will enhance the consumption of anionic type. Furthermore, due to its negatively charged hydrophilic group, the oil and gas business has expectations for the drilling process. The non-ionic form of fluorinated surfactant is another significant variety that is frequently used. These surfactants are used in a variety of applications since they are not impacted by pH fluctuations. Among these uses are coatings for buildings and industrial cleaning agents. Superior Properties of the Product will Encourage More Adoption in the Paints & Coatings Industry The market is divided according to application into paints & coatings, adhesives & sealants, firefighting foams, stain-repellent detergents, polymer dispersion, and others. Surface tension in paints & coatings is reduced using fluorine-based surfactants. During the drying process, these surfactants are useful in maintaining low surface tension. This makes coatings more glossy and smooth. Fluorinated surfactants are expensive, which restricts their application. The adhesives & sealants industry is another sector that contributed significantly. Since low concentrations can boost wetting, leveling, and oil repellence, the segment's rise can be linked to its high-efficiency oil. As they increase adhesion efficiency and speed, these fluorinated surfactants are used in adhesives. COVID-19 Impact: Lockdown Restrictions Slowed Down Market Growth During the pandemic, one of the biggest problems the market faced was a decline in demand across several end-use industries. Major sectors such as the automobile, building, and consumer goods industries either worked at reduced capacity or stopped entirely. Lack of manpower and raw materials, as well as logistical problems brought on by global lockdown limitations, exacerbated the situation and prompted inevitable difficulties. Additionally, it was challenging for industrial enterprises to estimate demand due to the economic uncertainty brought on by the pandemic. They were unable to schedule their output as a result. The pandemic forced many businesses to postpone their development and investment plans. Get a Quote Now: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/fluorosurfactant-market-102344 Report Coverage: The report offers: Major growth drivers, restraining factors, opportunities, and potential challenges for the market. Comprehensive insights into the regional developments. List of major industry players. Key strategies adopted by the market players. The latest industry developments include product launches, partnerships, mergers, and acquisitions. Drivers & Restraints: Rising Product Adoption in Paints & Coatings Industry to Fuel Market Expansion In paints & coatings, the product is used to lower surface tension. This makes the texture of coated surfaces smoother and glossier. Wood, concrete, metal, and plastic are just a few of the surfaces that can be painted or coated. The wetting, leveling, and properties of the pigment and substrate are improved by the application of fluorinated surfactants. These surfactants include a very electronegative fluorine atom, which results in a chemical molecule that is extremely stable. The coated surfaces are extremely resistant to chemical corrosion and abrasion due to these compounds' great durability. Fluorine-based surfactants are expensive, but their outstanding qualities make them a preferred option for applications that demand great performance. On the contrary, long-chain fluorosurfactants have been outlawed in several nations throughout the world due to their poisonous nature, detrimental effects on human health, and environmental effects. Regional Insights Asia Pacific to Boost Growth Due to Rapid Industrialization In 2022, Asia Pacific held a major fluorosurfactant market share. It is anticipated that developing nations such as China, India, and Japan would witness increased urbanization and industrialization, which will increase the demand for high-performance materials such as fluorine-based surfactants. The majority of industrial painting and coating uses for fluorinated surfactants include plastic paints, general metal coatings, and automobile paints. The demand for these kinds of extremely durable paints is predicted to rise throughout the forecast period as a result of the rising industrialization in the area. This will probably spur further fluorosurfactant market growth. Competitive Landscape R&D for Improving Products to Meet Consumer Demand With a limited number of manufacturers owning a huge market share, the market is highly consolidated. Owing to the high cost associated with R&D and the capital required to exist in a competitive market, the threat of new players entering is significantly low. Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/fluorosurfactant-market-102344 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 Trends Key Developments: Mergers, Acquisition, Partnership, etc. Latest Technological Advancements Insights on Regulatory Scenario Porters Five Forces Analysis Qualitative Insights Impact of COVID-19 on Global Fluorosurfactant Market Supply Chain Challenges Steps taken by Government/Companies to overcome this impact Potential opportunities due to COVID-19 outbreak Global Fluorosurfactant Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2018-2029 Key Findings / Summary By Type (Value/Volume) Anionic Non-ionic Cationic Amphoteric By Application (Value/Volume) Paints & Coatings Adhesive & Sealants Firefighting Foams Detergents (Stain Repellent) Polymer Dispersion Others By Region (Value/Volume) North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa TOC Continued...! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/fluorosurfactant-market-102344 Key Industry Development: September 2020: Chemours continued its distribution partnership with Safic-Alcan. According to this partnership, Safic-Alcan can distribute Chemours fluorosurfactant products (Capstone products) in EMEA. Such an extension of partnership helps the company to expand its presence by offering products to customers in EMEA. Read Related Insights: Surfactants Market to Reach USD 57.81 Billion by 2028 | Surfactants Industry to Register 4.9% from 2021-2028 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. Address: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner, Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Dublin, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "U.S. Green Data Center Market - Industry Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The U.S. green data center market is expected to reach USD 24.20 billion by 2028 from 13.79 billing in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 9.82% After the U.S. rejoined the Paris Agreement and companies and signed various agreements like the iMasons Climate Accord etc., The government and companies are all proactive in deploying technologies and taking the latest initiative in moving towards sustainability. Hyperscale operators such as AWS, Facebook (Meta), Microsoft, Apple, and Google are leading in terms of new innovations in sustainability in the data center industry. Most U.S. green data center market players, especially colocation operators like Equinix, Digital Realty, CyrusOne, Aligned, STACK Infrastructure, Iron Mountain, QTS Realty Trust, Vantage Data Centers, Switch, and more, are investing in procuring renewable power and installing energy-efficient equipment. Increased Focus On Renewable Energy Sources and Efficient Cooling Hyperscale players such as Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google, Facebook (Meta), Microsoft, and Apple are procuring renewable energy for their facilities. AWS meets 85% of its energy requirements from renewable energy. Google, Facebook (Meta), and Apple meet 100% of their energy requirements for data centers from renewable energy. Microsoft aims to power all facilities with 100% renewable energy by 2025. Colocation operators in the U.S. green data center market, such as Equinix, Digital Realty, CyrusOne, Vantage Data Centers, STACK Infrastructure, Iron Mountain, QTS Realty Trust, Aligned, and others, are proactively signing PPAs and procuring renewable energy to power their facilities to meet their sustainability goals. Digital Realty meets 100% of its energy requirements for data centers from renewable energy. QTS Realty Trust meets 35% of its energy requirements from renewable energy with a target of 100% renewable energy by 2025. The use of free cooling chillers will increase to reduce power consumption and carbon emissions by facilities. Also, the shift will increase towards liquid cooling leading to more sustainable data centers and bringing down PUE to a range of 1.1 to 1.4. Air cooling and liquid immersion cooling will also be used in most facilities to reduce their impact on the environment and reduce the PUE of data centers. Data center firms have also started investing in renewable energy farms by acquiring or developing their own. A few examples of the singing of PPAs or constructing renewable energy farms are - Amazon signed a PPA with AES Corp. for 450MW solar power. Amazon will use it for California operations, including its data centers. In addition, Amazon is planning the construction of two solar farms in Louisiana in the U.S. Google signed 942 MW PPA on solar power projects under development in Texas. Microsoft has signed a 110 MW Power Purchase Agreement with AES to secure renewable energy for its Californian facilities. CyrusOne collaborated with Gexa Energy, a NextEra Energy subsidiary, to procure solar (30 MW) and wind (10 MW) energy for its North Texas facilities. STACK Infrastructure plans to build a new 216 MW data center campus in Ashburn, Virginia, powered with 100% renewable energy supplied by Dominion Energy Electrical Infrastructure - Efficient and Sustainable Power Infrastructure Replacing Traditional Power Systems The increasing demand for efficiency in facilities has fueled the growth of efficient infrastructure such as lithium-ion UPS systems, fuel cells, HVO, Natural Gas generators, nuclear energy reactors, and more. Microsoft partnered with Plug Power to test a new power generation system with 3MW capacity, based on hydrogen as a fuel source. Compass Data Centers and Foster Fuels made an agreement together to produce Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil- based biodiesel for Compass Data centers' generators. EdgeCore is using Lithium-ion UPS batteries in its Ashburn Data center campus. Google has partnered with Fervo Energy to develop a geothermal power project to add clean energy to the Nevada power grid. Rolls Royce announced its plan to offer small nuclear reactors for U.S.-based cloud operators such as AWS, Google, and Microsoft. Woodstock Power company provides nuclear gas power backup generators to the facilities. Companies are using Microgrids and Smart grids to further stabilize power supply to the data center and back to the grid in the hour of need. Microsoft has partnered with Eaton, which will outfit all of Microsoft's data centers with grid-interactive UPS. Microsoft has partnered with Enchanted Rock for its new Datacenter in San Jose, USA, where it will complete a Microgrid project for the facility. Mechanical Infrastructure - U.S. To Witness an Increase in Advanced Cooling Technologies Increased deployment of artificial intelligence and machine learning workloads will increase liquid immersion and direct-to-chip cooling in the U.S. It will help companies bring down their PUW to 1.4 or below. S. food company Cargill announced plant-based immersion cooling for its facilities. Facebook (Meta) has planned to shift all its existing facilities to liquid cooling. Companies have also adopted free cooling, zero-water cooling, and others to reduce their environmental footprint. Cologix replaced condensing units in its New Jersey facility with air-cooling units supplied by Carrier. T5 Data Centers deploy air-cooled chillers on all of its facilities. QTS Realty Trust uses in-house developed zero-water cooling in all its new facilities. Innovative cooling techniques, such as underwater data centers and free chillers-based cooling technologies, bring in more efficiency in data center cooling. General Construction - Increasing Adoption of Sustainable Material in Construction of Data Centers in the U.S. Hyperscale operators like AWS, Microsoft, Apple, and Google are taking the lead in using sustainable materials to construct facilities. In their facilities construction, companies introduce technologies like green concrete, modular data centers, and more. AWS and American Rock Products collaborate to develop sustainable concrete for a concrete mix for its facility. Facebook (Meta) announced that it had developed a sustainable low-carbon concrete with the help of Ozinga, its concrete partner, and the University of Illinois for its DeKalb data center. Compass Datacenters is building facilities using concrete manufactured through the process developed by CarbonCure Technologies, which recaptures environmental CO2. The use of software and construction of facilities like waste treatment plants is taking center stage in newer data center developments in the U.S. CoreSite has installed waste treatment-related new equipment like haulers, compactors, etc., at its various data centers across the U.S. Data centers are using green walls to cover their facilities T5 Data Center has partnered with nZero for carbon tracking across its facilities Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 247 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $13.79 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $24.2 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 9.8% Regions Covered United States Premium Insights Policy Drivers The Imasons Climate Accord ( Ica) Re100 Energy Certifications Greenhouse Gas Protocol, Paris Agreement and the Science Based Targets Initiative (Sbti) Moving Toward Green Environment and Energy Renewable & Green Energy Adoption Among Data Center Operators Hyperscale Operators Stacking Up on Renewable Energy Ppas Renewable Energy Adoption by Colocation Service Providers Market Opportunities & Trends Adoption of Advanced Ups Batteries Lithium-Ion Battery Liquid Metal Battery Sodium-Ion Batteries Nickel Zinc Batteries Adoption of Advanced Fuel Sources Fuel Cells Hydrogen Vegetable Oil Natural Gas Generators Nuclear Energy Generation Adoption of Advanced Cooling Technologies Free Cooling Liquid Immersion Cooling Underwater Data Centers Floating Data Centers Innovation in Data Center Construction Green Concrete Modular Data Center Innovation in Power Utilities Microgrid Smart Grid Ai, Metaverse, Hpc, & Cloud Computing Increasing Liquid Cooling Requirements Market Growth Enablers Renewable Energy Initiatives by Hyperscale & Cloud Operators Renewable Energy Initiatives by Colocation & Enterprise Operators Initiatives by Colocation Data Center Operators Initiatives by Enterprise Data Center Operators/Customers Adoption of Ai and Other Technologies in Data Center Construction Government Push for Green Data Center Development Federal Government Regulations State Government Regulation Market Restraints Rising Carbon Emissions from Data Centers Water Consumption by Data Centers Disturbing Weather Patterns Across US Site Selection and Development Constraints Lack of Space Power Constraint Data Center Activism Other Challenges Key Vendors Aligned Amazon Web Services (AWS) Apple Cologix Compass Datacenters CoreSite (American Tower) CyrusOne Cyxtera Technologies DataBank DartPoints Digital Realty EdgeConneX Equinix Facebook (Meta) Flexential Google H5 Data Centers IBM Iron Mountain Microsoft Nautilus Data Technologies Novva Data Centers Oracle Prime Data Centers Sabey Data Centers Serverfarm STACK Infrastructure Stream Data Centers Switch T5 Data Centers TierPoint Vantage Data Centers Power Vendors Algonquin Power & Utilities Corp. Apex Clean Energy Avangrid Renewables DE Shaw Renewable Investments Dominion Energy EDF Renewables Enel Group Engie First Solar Leeward Renewable Energy Invenergy LLC Lightsource bp NextEra Energy Pattern Energy Rocky Mountain Power Shell Solar Alliance Energy Inc. The AES Corporation Torch Clean Energy TotalEnergies Vitol Energy For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/45i05w 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 Pune, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A global Energy and Power business-consulting firm, Maximize Market research, has published a market intelligence and competitive landscape report on the Agrivoltaics Market . The report is a combination of primary data and secondary data and domain expert has analyzed the Agrivoltaics 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 3.66 Bn in 2021 to USD 7.96 Bn in 2029 at a CAGR of 10.2 percent. Agrivoltaics Market Report Scope and Research Methodology Market Size in 2022 USD 3.66 Bn. Market Size in 2029 USD 7.96 Bn. CAGR 10.2 percent (2023-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2022 Number of Pages 291 No. of Tables 119 No. of Charts and Figures 114 Segment Covered System Design, Cell Type and Crop 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/184243 The report is a clear representation of the Agrivoltaics industry in simple language. A detailed analysis in the report includes qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market estimations, trends and dynamics from 2023 to 2029 to identify the prevailing opportunities during the forecast period. The dynamics section in the report includes drivers, restraints, major challenges and growth opportunities, which makes the Agrivoltaics market report an investors guide. The research was done by dividing the Agrivoltaics Market into three major segments which were further divided into various sub-segments. These market segmentation helps to analysis the Agrivoltaics market in-depth. The report by Maximize Market research helps to determine the current and the future potential of the Agrivoltaics industry. The bottom-up approach was used to estimate the regional and global Agrivoltaics Market size. The Agrivoltaics Market report includes a PESTLE analysis, which aids in the development of company strategies. Political variables help to understand the influence of the government on the market. The legal factors help to understand the influence of environmental concerns and the impact of surrounding environment on the Agrivoltaics Market. SWOT analysis was employed to provide the strengths and weaknesses of the Agrivoltaics key players in the industry. Agrivoltaics Market Dynamics The key factors driving the market growth are the increased advancement in the food production and redued water usage along with additional income from photovoltaic panels and justifiable energy generation. The Agrivoltaics Market growth is majorly driven by the increasing research and development because of the high investments from private players and government. The increasing advancements in the farming techniques is also driving the growth of the market. The factors that are creating various growth opportunities for the market are the increasing demand of latest healthcare facilities among the population in developing countries and increasing acceptance of advanced equipment and technologies among people. The high installation costs due to costly solar PV modules and the lack of awareness of agrivoltaics systems, the market growth is expected to be hampered during the forecast period. Get a Sample Copy of the Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184243 Agrivoltaics Market Regional Insights The Europe region dominated the global Agrivoltaics Market in 2022. This is due to the shortage of the farmlands expansion along with the huge adoption of agrivoltaics system in the region. The Agrivoltaics Market in the North America region is the second largest growing market across the world. This growth of the regional market is due to the large number of technological interventions in agricultural techniques. Agrivoltaics Market Segmentation By System Design Fixed Solar Panles Dynamic Based on System Design, the Fixed solar panles segment held the dominant position in 2022 and is expected to retain this trend during the forecast period. By Cell Type Monocrystalline Polycrystalline Based on Cell Type, the monocrystalline segment dominated the global Agrivoltaics Market in 2022 and is expected to continue this trend during the forecast period. By Crop Vegetables Fruits Crops Others Based on Crop, the crops segment held the largest Agrivoltaics Market share in 2022 and is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/184243 Agrivoltaics Key Competitors include: DualSun SOLARWATT SunPower Corporation Trina Solar Suntech Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd Enel Green Power Voltalia Ecovoltaics Sunseap Group Soltec Agrivoltaic Solutions LLC JA Solar Sun' Agri Solar Window Akuo Energy BayWa r.e. Insolight REM Tec Zimmermen Next2Sun Others Key questions answered in the Agrivoltaics Market are: What was the Agrivoltaics Market size in 2022? What is expected Agrivoltaics Market size by 2029? Which segment of the Agrivoltaics Market is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period? What are the major restraints for the Agrivoltaics Market growth? What are the recent industry trends that can be implemented to generate additional revenue streams for Agrivoltaics Market? How is the intervention from regulatory authority is shaping the Agrivoltaics Market? What growth strategies are the players considering to increase their presence in Agrivoltaics? Who are the leading companies and what are their portfolios in Agrivoltaics Market? What are the major challenges that the Agrivoltaics Market could face in the future? Who held the largest market share in Agrivoltaics Market? Which regional Agrivoltaics Market is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period? Get the Sample PDF of Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184243 Key Offerings: Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2017 to 2022) Past Pricing and price curve by region (2017 to 2022) Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20232029 Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by System Design, Cell Type, Crop and Region Competitive Landscape Profiles of selected key players by region in 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: Photovoltaic Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 154.40 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 8.1 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing adoption in applications such as rooftop and building integrated systems, rural electrification, solar farms, power stations and others. Farm Equipment Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 3.73 million units by 2029 at a CAGR of 4.8 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing adoption of automatic and semiautomatic agricultural equipment. Precision Farming Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 20.02 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 12.9 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing government support for adopting new agricultural practices along with the increasing requirement for effective crop health monitoring. Agriculture Equipment Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 188.03 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 6.0 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the growing population resulting into the increase in the food production. Vertical Farming Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 15.78 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 18.6 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing popularity of organic food and ease of crop monitoring. 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 System Designs, 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. Dublin, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "China Testing, Inspection, And Certification Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis Report By Service (Testing, Inspection, Certification), By Sourcing Type (In-house, Outsourced), By Application, And Segment Forecasts, 2023 - 2030" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The China testing, inspection, and certification market size is anticipated to reach USD 69.09 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 6.1% from 2023 to 2030. The high standards of living of Chinese citizens and the increased focus of customers on the quality and safety of food products and consumer goods such as toys, personal care & beauty products, and electrical & electronic appliances are driving the growth of the China testing, inspection, and certification (TIC) market. Further, an increase in outsourcing of TIC services by prominent companies operating in the manufacturing, automotive, and consumer goods application areas is projected to boost the industry's growth. Furthermore, the TIC market is expected to grow at a faster pace in China owing to government investments in the transportation and energy sectors as well as the construction industry. The Chinese government has introduced favorable policies for international players to establish their foothold in the country to achieve progressive liberalization. The domestic players capture a majority share of the TIC market in several Chinese provinces. The government has encouraged foreign investments in the TIC market by lifting the barriers for international TIC providers to enter and operate in the Mainland marketplace. For instance, in January 2023, TUV Rheinland, a testing inspection and certification service provider, opened a laboratory center in China. Opening a new laboratory center in Taicang, China, is a significant step for TUV Rheinland as it further expands its presence in the Asia Pacific region. The new laboratory center is expected to cater to the increasing demand for testing and certification services from various regional industries, including automotive, chemical, and consumer goods. Previously, most companies in China conducted their testing, inspection, and certification operations in-house. However, with the growing acceptance of the China Compulsory Certification (CCC), a greater emphasis is placed on the need for strict regulatory standards and certifications. This has led to an increase in outsourcing activities of TIC in China due to cost benefits. This growing trend of outsourcing TIC services is anticipated to further drive the growth of the Chinese TIC market over the forecast period due to the increased accessibility of the domestic market for international players and the provision of cost-effective solutions by the TIC service providers. China Testing, Inspection, And Certification Market Report Highlights The China TIC market is witnessing considerable growth owing to an increasing number of investments from international incumbents The inspection service segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR of 7.1% over the forecast period The in-house sourcing segment has driven the TIC market in China, with maximum revenue market share. Most Chinese manufacturers preferred the in-house inspection in the past as it saved the company the cost of a third-party review TIC forms an integral part of the infrastructure and transportation sectors in China and hence, the growth of the two sectors is expected to drive the demand for testing inspection, and certification activities Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 100 Forecast Period 2022 - 2030 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $42.29 Billion Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2030 $69.09 Billion Compound Annual Growth Rate 6.1% Regions Covered China Key Topics Covered: Chapter 1 Methodology and Scope Chapter 2 Executive Summary Chapter 3 Market Variables, Trends & Scope 3.1 Market Segmentation & Scope 3.2 Penetration & Growth Prospect Mapping 3.3 Market Dynamics 3.3.1 Market driver analysis 3.3.1.1 Growing opportunities for international players in the domestic TIC outsourcing market 3.3.1.2 Strict implementation of testing, inspection & certification regulations 3.3.1.3 Surging capital investments in infrastructure, transport, and energy production sectors 3.3.2 Market restraint analysis 3.3.2.1 Difference in Chinese and International Standards Chapter 4 China TIC: Service Outlook 4.1 Testing 4.2 Inspection 4.3 Certification Chapter 5 China TIC: Sourcing Type Outlook 5.1 In-house 5.2 Outsourced Chapter 6 China TIC: Application Outlook 6.1 Consumer Goods & Retail 6.2 Agriculture & Food 6.3 Chemicals 6.4 Infrastructure 6.5 Energy & Power 6.6 Manufacturing 6.7 Healthcare 6.8 Outsourced 6.9 Mining 6.10 Oil & Gas, and Petroleum 6.11 Public Sector 6.12 Transportation 6.13 Supply Chain & Logistics 6.14 Others Chapter 7 Competitive Landscape Companies Mentioned American Bureau of Shipping. Asia Quality Focus DEKRA SE Asian Inspection Services Private Ltd AsureQuality Bureau Veritas China Inspection Service Co., Ltd. China Inspection and Certification (Group) Co., Ltd China Special Equip For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/hjmel5 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 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Underpads Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global underpads market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.16% during 2022 to 2028. MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES Increasing Older Population Aged people experience incontinence regularly is becoming very common. Hence, it is one of the major factors driving the growth of the underpads market in the growing elderly population. Further, according to the WHO, the world geriatric population of 60 and above is expected to reach 2 billion by 2050. The rising older age population across the globe is significantly raising old age diseases such as cataracts, hearing loss and refractive errors, back & neck pain and, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, depression, and dementia. A few conditions, such as paralysis, common among older people, lead to more bedridden patients. Hence, an increasing number of aging people is significantly increasing the demand for incontinence products, supporting market demand. Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Bladder Related Diseases The rising chronic diseases such as bladder cancer, kidney diseases, diabetes, and urological diseases are boosting the demand for underpads. Further, stress urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine that occurs with increases in intraabdominal pressure due to the urethral sphincter or pelvic floor weakness, is also rising among individuals. Around 24% to 45% of women over 30 faces this problem. Hence, the expanding aging population and rising health concerns increase the demand for underpads. Women Health Awareness The feminine hygiene industry has expanded into wellness categories beyond menstrual care, and new companies have emerged as women's healthcare providers offering physical and mental health. The rise in awareness about women's health and hygiene has made people more conscious while purchasing products. The increasing government initiatives to promote awareness regarding female stress urinary incontinence are predicted to boost underpads market growth during the forecast period. SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT TYPE The disposable underpads product type dominated the global underpads market in 2022, owing to their increasing consumption among several end-users. This growth is due to the increasing elderly patient population. Moreover, these underpads are for single-time use, which is more hygienic than reusable underpads. These disposable underpads are also used in surgical processes as a barrier to microorganisms and to prevent infection. The increasing awareness about hygiene after COVID is the major reason to boost disposable underpads market demand. However, these pads take more than five years to get disposed of, significantly increasing the usage of reusable underpads among the end-users. Segmentation by Product Type Disposable Reusable INSIGHTS BY CARE PROVIDERS Hospitals are the major contributor to the global underpads market share in the care providers segment. The segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period owing to urinary incontinence most commonly affecting women, and the prevalence is high among hospitalized older adults. Thus, the hospital segment has the maximum adoption of underpads as a large patient pool suffering from chronic conditions or pregnancy is associated with urinary incontinence. The increasing patient population prefers hospitals for the primary treatment of urinary inconsistence. Segmentation by Care Providers Hospitals Home Care Settings & Individuals Others Care Centers INSIGHTS BY AGE GROUP The geriatric age group segment dominated the global underpads market, accounting for a share of nearly 42% in 2022. Urinary and fecal incontinence is common in the geriatric population, yet many patients and healthcare practitioners inappropriately consider incontinence a normal part of aging. Most countries are experiencing a demographic shift towards older populations. Further, the growing demand for incontinence products in the geriatric patient group will likely positively impact the industry's growth. Many government surveys in the US indicate that elderly patients prefer to undergo treatment at home rather than in healthcare settings. Owing to this, many vendors actively develop and commercialize incontinence products to increase awareness among elderly patients' access to quality care. Segmentation by Age Group Geriatric Pediatric Adults INSIGHTS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL Underpads are sold across offline and online distribution channels, comprised of manufacturers, dealers, distributors, specialty stores, and from sites such as amazon & eBay, etc. In 2022, the offline distribution channel dominated the global underpads market. Factors such as the larger reach in the areas that lack connectivity and consumer trust associated with personally experiencing the quality of the products are driving the growth of the offline segment. Segmentation by Distribution Channel Offline Online GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS Europe dominated most of the global underpads market share in 2022, and the region is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period without significant fluctuations. It is witnessing significant new product approvals from key industry players. UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain are the leading countries contributing to the market's growth. In 2022, North America will be the second largest global underpads market, accounting for 30.12% of the share. An aging population and the rising prevalence of incontinence issues drive the increasing demand for underpads. The region is also witnessing steady growth due to the rising geriatric population and the growing prevalence of various diseases. The U.S. is among the largest revenue generators in the region. Medial technologies, innovations, and the growing older population are significant growth drivers in the market. Segmentation by Geography Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain North America US Canada APAC China Japan India Australia South Korea Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Key Company Profiles Medline Industries Inc Attends Healthcare Products, Inc Cardinal Health Other Prominent Vendors Mega Careline Dynarex Corporation EHOB Kimberly-Clark Corporation Encompass First Quality Products Coloplast Cure Medical Romsons Ontex Jinjiang Rongxin Lady&Baby's Products MedPride HMH Corporation Key Attributes: Report Attribute Details No. of Pages 223 Forecast Period 2022 - 2028 Estimated Market Value (USD) in 2022 $110 Million Forecasted Market Value (USD) by 2028 $148.79 Million Compound Annual Growth Rate 5.1% Regions Covered Global KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 1. How big is the underpads market? 2. What is the growth rate of the global underpads market? 3. Who are the key players in the global underpads market? 4. What are the significant trends in the underpads industry? 5. Which region dominates the global underpads market share? Key Topics Covered: 1 Research Methodology 2 Research Objectives 3 Research Process 4 Scope & Coverage 5 Report Assumptions & Caveats 6 Premium Insights 7 Market at a Glance 8 Introduction 9 Market Opportunities & Trends 9.1 Rise in Prevalence of Chronic Bladder Conditions 9.2 Development of Pvc Incontinence Underpads 9.3 Surge in Product Development Initiatives 10 Market Growth Enablers 10.1 Rapid Expansion of Elderly Population 10.2 Focus on Female Health Awareness 10.3 Shift Toward Reusable Incontinence Products 11 Market Restraints 11.1 Availability of Alternative Incontinence Management Products 11.2 Adverse Effects of Incontinence Products 12 Market Landscape 13 Product Type 14 Care Provider 15 Age Group 16 Distribution Channel 17 Geography 18 Europe 19 North America 20 Apac 21 Latin America 22 Middle East & Africa 23 Competitive Landscape 24 Key Company Profiles 25 Other Prominent Vendors 26 Report Summary 27 Quantitative Summary 28 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/uujx16 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 SINGAPORE, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS) (Genius Group or the Company), a leading entrepreneur edtech and education group, announces that it will host a virtual investor meeting on Wednesday, April 19 2023, with its Chief Executive Officer, Roger Hamilton. The virtual meeting will be held as a YouTube Livestream, and will include: Timeline on ERL spinoff & special dividend Update on Genius Group M&A strategy Partnerships with SSBM, MBAs & DBAs New UAV Board of Advisor Appointments Results of NFT coupon program Upstream dual listing Update on legal actions and settlement An opportunity to answer questions and respond to shareholder enquiries As part of Genius Groups commitment to a high level of ongoing investor communications, the intention is for this Virtual Investor Meeting to be held on a monthly basis. To ensure all enquiries are answered, all shareholder questions need to be submitted in advance to the email address investor@geniusgroup.net . Webcast Information: Time: Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 4:15 p.m. EST / 4:15 a.m. SGT Webcast: We will livestream the investor call on YouTube on the following link. An archived replay of the presentation will be available on Genius Groups Investor Relations website and on YouTube on the above link. About Genius Group Genius Group is a world leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, with a mission to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, life-long learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed in todays market. The group has a group user base of 4.3 million users in 200 countries, ranging from ages 0 to 100. Investor Notice Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2022. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release include 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. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, will, plan, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue, or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 20-F, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Reports of a Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise. Contacts Investors: Flora Hewitt, Vice President of Investor Relations and Mergers and Acquisitions Email: investor@geniusgroup.net Media Contacts: Adia PR Email: gns@adiapr.co.uk EDISON, N.J., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zerify Inc., (OTC PINK: ZRFY), the 22-year-old cybersecurity company focused on Secure Video Conferencing & Endpoint Security announced today that they have signed a strategic agreement with Direct 2 Channel (D2C), a prominent cybersecurity software distributor that boasts of over 1600 resellers globally. This partnership aims to expand the reach of Zerifys innovative cybersecurity software to businesses of all sizes across multiple industries. At Zerify, we understand that cybersecurity is more important now than ever before, says Mark L. Kay, CEO of Zerify. Thats why were dedicated to providing cutting-edge technologies that have quickly become the gold standard for secure video conferencing and endpoint security. With our state-of-the-art solutions, Direct 2 Channel resellers can help their clients stay ahead of ever-evolving threats and ensure their digital safety. In the ever-evolving threat landscape, it can be a real challenge for the enterprise to sift through viable security solutions, evaluate them and implement them quickly in order to add to their security stack. At Direct 2 Channel, we are a trusted resource to our VAR and MSP partners, who are in turn trusted by their end users, by performing commercial and technical due diligence on each security solution we carry, says Carlos Zevallos, Managing Partner at Direct 2 Channel. We have found Zerify's Meet and Zerifys Defender solutions to be particularly well-positioned to keep businesses secure during a time of continuing expansion of the castle walls and the need to keep them secure wherever their assets may lie. Their technology is robust and has been proven over time to be effective in meeting the need for secure communications and blunting the effects of side-channel attacks against the remote workforce. Zerify Meet and Zerify Defender can be used to support a defense-in-depth strategy for businesses of all sizes, says Zevallos. We are thrilled to partner with a leading cybersecurity distributor like Direct 2 Channel. They have a proven track record of success in the industry, says Kay. This agreement will enable us to expand our reach and offer our innovative cybersecurity solutions to more businesses worldwide. We are confident that our partnership will be mutually beneficial and drive significant growth for both parties. To learn more about Direct 2 Channel, go to: https://direct2channel.us/ To learn more about Zerify Defender, go to: https://www.zerify.com/ About Direct 2 Channel: Direct 2 Channel is a global, value-added, exclusively cybersecurity-focused, software, and hardware distributor that provides services to channel partners and managed service providers by becoming an extension of their team. Our mission is to create a synergy between the vendor and the channel. About Zerify: Zerify Inc. (OTC PINK: ZRFY), formerly StrikeForce Technologies, is an Edison, New Jersey-based company with over two decades of experience in cybersecurity solutions. The company helps to prevent cyber theft and data security breaches for consumers, corporations and government agencies through powerful multi-factor out-of-band authentication and keystroke encryption along with mobile solutions. Zerify offers a video conferencing solution that uses no desktop and is entirely web-based, offering a five-level meeting security control approach designed to protect valuable information. Features include keystroke protection, anti-screen capture, and push and biometric authentication to keep businesses secure. The technology also protects cameras, microphones and speakers, keeping computers and confidential data secure even when one is offline and not on a video conference. No other video conferencing service on the market, such as Zoom, Webex, LogMeIn, MS Teams or BlueJeans, offers these protections. Zerify Contact, Mark L. Kay marklkay@zerify.com (732) 661-9641 SAINT LOUIS PARK, Minn., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital is the first in the state to use Elucents EnVisio Surgical Navigation System and SmartClip technology. The tumor marker system can increase accuracy during breast cancer surgery. Approximately one in eight women will develop breast cancer in their lifetime. The SmartClip technology partnered with EnVisio Real-Time Navigation provides a tool that helps improve both clinical and cosmetic outcomes. This technology can help to very accurately pinpoint lesions in the breast, says Kristin Ritter, MD, a surgeon at Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital. This allows us to deliver excellent patient outcomes from an oncologic perspective while also taking into account the importance of cosmetic appearance as our patients undergo surgery as part of their cancer therapy. Navigation is quickly becoming an integral part of the surgical routine of clinicians. Surgical navigation is already the standard of care in Neurosurgery, ENT, and Orthopedics. Using this new technology, physicians implant the wireless SmartClip Soft Tissue Markers at the time of breast biopsy or any time prior to surgery. Surgeons use 3D indications to accurately pinpoint and precisely mark the location of cancerous tissue that needs to be removed. Once integrated with the surgical cutting tools, it guides the surgeon during the procedure with real-time surgical navigation to locate and highlight malignant tissue seen on standard imaging. Because of this effectiveness, we have adopted the EnVisio Surgical Navigation System and SmartClip technology at Park Nicollet, said Dr. Ritter. We are proud to be the first in Minnesota to offer another option to our patients and to partner with a local company in our continued efforts to serve our patients. The SmartClip is incredibly small, measuring about the size of a grain of rice (about 1.4 mm x 8 mm). It emits a differentiated electromagnetic signature to provide true real-time stereotactic coordinates. SmartClips are FDA-cleared and safe to remain permanently inside patients if it is determined that surgery is not needed. The EnVisio Navigation System and SmartClip Tissue Markers are manufactured by Elucent Medical Inc. of Eden Prairie, Minn. Elucent Chief Customer Officer, Ginger Sands, said, We are constantly thinking about the unmet clinical needs of patients. At Elucent, our primary goal is to improve the patient experience and provide solutions that enable physicians to return to the precise location for intervention. About Elucent Medical Based in Eden Prairie, Minn., Elucent Medical was established in 2014 by founders Dr. Lee Wilke, Laura G. King, Dr. Fred Lee Jr., and Dan van der Weide. The company specializes in sensitive cancer screening techniques with a focus on patient-first experience. Elucent Medical is centered on the continued collaboration of multi-disciplinary physicians who seek to improve patient outcomes. The EnVisio Navigation System addresses the clinical need to meet the broadest patient demographics from simple (single site) to complex (several sites in the breast and axilla) cases allowing individualized care. Elucent received FDA clearance for the EnVisio Navigation System and SmartClip technology in 2019. Learn more at www.elucentmedical.com. About Park Nicollet Health Services Park Nicollet Health Services is part of HealthPartners, the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation with a mission to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients, and the community. Park Nicollet is an integrated care system that includes Methodist Hospital, Park Nicollet Clinic and Park Nicollet Foundation. For more information, visit parknicollet.com. About Methodist Hospital Methodist Hospital is part of HealthPartners, the largest consumer-governed, non-profit health care organization in the nation with a mission to improve health and well-being in partnership with members, patients, and the community. Methodist Hospital is renowned for high-quality patient care, medical expertise, and disease management. It is recognized as an area leader in cancer, cardiovascular and maternity care, and neuro-rehabilitation medicine, with experts who are highly trained to provide patients with personalized care and treatment. For more information, visit parknicollet.com. Media Contact: Lauren Ashenfarb, 612-381-4338 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/3936222b-e36c-410c-b3e5-46bb2957ebc1 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 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Thumzup Media Corporation ("Thumzup" or the "Company") (OTCQB: TZUP) is excited to announce it will be hosting a client showcase as part of the Venice Art Crawl at Belles Beach House on April 20, 2023 from 6:00 to 10:00pm PDT. Belles Beach House is located at 24 Windward Ave, Venice, CA 90291. 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. Thumzup Media Showcase Hosted by Belles Beach House 24 Windward Ave Venice, CA 90291 April 20, 2023 6:00 to 10:00pm PDT Eric Gray (playing music from 6-8pm) Ashlie Crystal aka DJ im baby (playing music from 8-10pm) DJ oshn Absolute Mosaics Vega Bonita Venice Electric Light Parade Sparkl Fairy Couture Hallowed Ground Native Hair Wraps Exelement Beauty Cristina Aragon aka Curandera Botanicals Saint Venetian Respirospace Unseensound Theresa Ireland Actress and more to be announced! Venices unique and vibrant culture is what drew Thumzup to base our operations here and were excited to continue supporting the artists and businesses in our community, stated Robert Steele, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Thumzup. We look forward to showcasing Thumzups clients at The Venice Art Crawl while enabling our users to earn cash while enjoying the great atmosphere. For more information, please visit https://www.thumzupmedia.com and https://www.veniceartcrawl.com/. About The Venice Art Crawl The Venice Art Crawl is a Venice Chamber of Commerce Hosted Event The VACs mission is to preserve the arts in Venice, a place that has historically been known as a vibrant and dynamic art community. Our goal is to share, inspire and promote collaboration within the Venice community through mixers and art events. We are an all-volunteer run non-profit organization which is a committee of the Venice Chamber of Commerce. For more information, please visit https://www.veniceartcrawl.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 PayPal and other digital payment systems. 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 investors@ThumzupMedia.com Attachment PULLMAN, Wash., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via CannabisNewsWire -- AROYA , a division of ADDIUM Inc., today announced a wide release of its integration with the controller OpenSprinkler, empowering growers with data to guide their crop steering decisions while simultaneously simplifying one more aspect of cannabis cultivation. Enabling integrations with third-party systems solidifies AROYAs unrivaled position as the cannabis industrys most intuitive platform, providing growers with the control, flexibility, visibility, and data-driven insights to manage every stage of cultivation, said AROYA President, Scott Campbell. Until now, implementing controllers for drip irrigation gave growers some control over their irrigation strategy, but with limitations. Now, growers have the ability to gain new insights, viewing their irrigation data in the same software as their climate and substrate data. Its estimated that roughly 30-40% of cultivators currently use OpenSprinkler for their drip irrigation. It made sense for us to take just one more small step, not to become a controls company, but to offer an integration with a controlled system that people commonly use in the cannabis industry. Now cultivators can have much better control and take those insights that they get from looking at their data and put it right to what changes they're going to make, which is their irrigation strategy, without having to leave the platform, says Campbell. The new integration also eliminates the need to log into additional programs or tab across separate spreadsheets like those in Excel, a pain point that this new feature solves, reducing complexity while bringing more visibility to commercial cultivation. AROYA is a platform for data collection and aggregation, and simply the knowledge that a crop is being watered according to a certain schedule, is a critical piece of data that we didn't have in the platform up to this point, added Campbell. With this integration, its easier than ever to manage more complex grows, even across multiple rooms and facilities, allowing cultivators to keep tabs and learn from their irrigation data like Electrical Conductivity (EC), water activity, and moisture content, all from one place. The streamlining of software and data will help growers of all canopy sizes, but the biggest gains are those businesses growing in multiple facilities and states. It's uncommon to find a high level of consistency across an MSO (multi-state operator), for example, and this is a tool that can help them to standardize, Campbell says. Designed with growers in mind and tested in commercial cultivation environments, AROYA Irrigation Control combines the best of both worlds, providing real-time readings of irrigation details via data visualizations, added Campbell. Integrating OpenSprinkler with our cultivation and production platform provides a comprehensive view of all grow-related data from a single screen. This both streamlines operations and enhances data-driven decision making, increasing efficiency and scalability. Users can easily replicate and attach schedules to harvest groups and recipes, simplifying how they manage a maze of multiple rooms and different zones within a single room. Operators can customize irrigation start times with volumes and durations based on media and substrate size, bringing even more consistency to operations via perfectly scheduled P1s and P2s. Simply put, we empower growers of all sizes with intelligent automation to not only survive, but also thrive in increasingly competitive markets, Campbell concluded. The integration joins others among their growing suite of solutions for cultivators, like Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and Metrc compliance. AROYAs software is sensor-agnostic and can be developed to work with any combination of genetics, controls, nutrients, substrate, lights, ERP, and compliance software. Customers who have AROYA subscriptions will get access to future integrations and features as new updates are developed and released in the platform. AROYA is the preferred cannabis production platform for more than 500 operators across the country, combining innovative hardware and software to deliver actionable insights that help improve quality of final product while boosting their yield in grams, per square foot, per year predictably, profitably, and at scale. ABOUT AROYA AROYA is the leading Cannabis Production Platform, combining forward-thinking science, sensors, and software to empower cultivators with data-driven insights that help them increase yield, scale operations, and achieve consistent quality. Based in Pullman, Washington, AROYA brings 30 years of experience in sensor development to the ag tech industry, enabling cultivators to do more with less while making more purpose-driven decisions for their businesses. For additional information, please visit aroya .io MEDIA CONTACT: Mostafa Razzak JMRConnect: Shaping Influence PR 1.917.912.0623 m.razzak@jmrconnect.net Corporate Communications IBN (InvestorBrandNetwork) Los Angeles, California www.InvestorBrandNetwork.com 310.299.1717 Office Editor@InvestorBrandNetwork.com Attachment NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Cayuga Centers announced its inaugural Foster a Love of Reading Book Drive collected over 3,000 books to benefit foster youth and families in the agencys programs. The agency will be distributing the books directly to youth and families and using a portion to start a Cayuga Centers library. Due to the overwhelming amount of donations, Cayuga Centers has pledged to share book donations with Bright Horizons Coconut Creek , Project Destiny , Guardian Ad Litem Palm Beach , Foster Love Project , Allegheny County Regional Court, Flite Center-Fort Lauderdale , and Reyna Group Home . The book drive was a part of the agencys celebration of National Reading Month and books were collected through online wishlists, local bookstores, and 23 drop-off sites throughout the month of March. The agency also launched a digital campaign across social platforms called #WhyILovetoRead and invited staff and supporters of the agency to share their earliest memories of reading and why it is important. Its been a real joy to hear all the contributors personal stories and see how this campaign was able to resonate with so many people. We engaged with new and familiar faces in the community and are looking forward to next year, said Zoe Hutchinson, Vice President of Community and Agency Communications at Cayuga Centers. Cayuga Centers thanks its partners in New York, Pennsylvania, Florida, and across the country for their generous involvement with this book drive: Royal Dental Boynton , Nexus Workspaces , Time to Care Academy , Cardiac Institute of the Palm Beaches , KLA Schools , Chiropractic Advantage Center , Flagler Bank , City Books , Bills Bird Boutique , North Side Shore Chamber of Commerce , Keaton and Lloyd Bookshop , 787 Coffee , North Star All-Star Cheer Gym , Pittsburgh Business Group on Health , Our Community Deli Grocery, Tusk Development , Natanael Cabrera Music , Bookwise , Nord-Lock Group , and the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital. Thank you to our partners in New York, Pennsylvania, and Florida who helped to make our book drive a success. The power of reading transcends all barriers and, thanks to the outpour of support, we are grateful to be able to share it with the children and families we serve, said Edward Myers Hayes, President and CEO of Cayuga Centers. About Cayuga Centers Cayuga Centers is a nationally accredited and awarded 501(c)(3) non-profit, human services agency headquartered in Auburn, NY. Founded in 1852, the agency has delivered quality services by following the agencys core mission of helping individuals and families grow as independent, healthy, and productive citizens through quality counseling, out-of-home care, and support services. Cayuga Centers provides a continuum of support services nationally, with offices in over 10 cities. The agency specializes in providing individualized, culturally appropriate, and trauma-informed support to diverse populations. Cayuga Centers currently serves 10,000 individuals and families annually. Visit www.cayugacenters.org to learn about its services, how to become a foster parent, and employment opportunities. Media Contact: Jasmine Lawrence Media & Community Specialist jasmine.lawrence@cayugacenters.org A video accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/d617f0f1-6765-46e2-a8c4-b4d68a050831 13 April 2023, Nicosia, Cyprus I Ad hoc announcement pursuant to Art. 53 LR Resignation of Annamaria Vassiliades as Board and Management Committee Member Annamaria Vassiliades has resigned as board and management committee member with immediate effect. The Board of EPH European Property Holdings PLC would like to thank Annamaria for her services during her tenure. Appointment of Secretary to the Company In addition, the Company has today appointed a new Secretary for EPH European Property Holdings PLC, Michaella Neophytou. EPH EUROPEAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS PLC is an investment company listed on SIX Swiss Exchange and holds an extensive property portfolio with a total asset value in Western Europe of around EUR 900million, including real estate assets in Berlin, Hamburg, Stuttgart, Dresden, and Vienna. EPH EUROPEAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS PLC is managed by Valartis International Ltd. a wholly owned subsidiary of Valartis Group AG. Additional information on EPH EUROPEAN PROPERTY HOLDINGS PLC is available by contacting Anna Bernhart on Tel: +41 44 503 5414. Attachment CRANBURY, N.J., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), the leading multimedia peer-reviewed journal dedicated to issues in managed care, announced that it will host an Institute for Value-Based Medicine (IVBM) event on specialty care in Nashville, Tenn., on May 11. The in-person event, Value-Based Care 2.0 Specialty Care, will be held in partnership with OneOncology, the national platform for independent oncology practices, at Omni Nashville Hotel from 4-9:30 p.m. CDT. AJMCs IVBM events provide a platform for educational exchange, where experienced specialists gather to share their insights and discuss the latest advancements in value-based care for oncology and population health stakeholders. These sessions bring together diverse panels of healthcare professionals who engage in lively discussions centered around the latest updates in specialty cancer care and value-based approaches. We are proud to partner with OneOncology for our Value-Based Care 2.0 Specialty Care IVBM event in Nashville, said Gil Hernandez, vice president of AJMC. Value-based care is crucial to the future of health care, and we are excited to partner with OneOncology, as their mission shares the common goal of providing the highest quality of care to patients. The event will cover the following sessions: Welcome and Introduction Presenters: Duncan Allen, M.H.A., senior vice president of clinical services at OneOncology Chris Booker, partner at Frist Cressey Ventures Funding Specialty Investments: Venture Capital Panel Presenters: Chris Booker, partner at Frist Cressey Ventures Stephen Schleicher, M.D., MBA, medical oncologist and chief medical officer at Tennessee Oncology Scaling the Specialty Provider: Monogram Health Presenter: Michael Uchrin, MBA, CEO and cofounder of Monogram Health Rethinking the Specialty Care Model Presenter: Sam Holliday, MBA, CEO and cofounder of Oshi Health Advanced Care Navigation for Specialty Presenter: Sam Mullangi, M.D., fellow at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center Rating Specialty Performance: How Embold Health Uses Data to Measure Performance of Specialty Providers Presenter: Daniel Stein, M.D., MBA, CEO and founder at Embold Health Making Specialty Analytics Actionable Presenter: Garrett Young, senior director of clinical and strategic analytics at OneOncology To learn more about the event, visit the registration page. About The American Journal of Managed Care The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC) is a multimedia, peer-reviewed, MEDLINE-indexed journal that keeps industry leaders on the forefront of health policy by sharing digital research relevant to industry decision-makers. Other brands in the AJMC family include The American Journal of Accountable Care and Evidence-Based Oncology. These comprehensive, multimedia brands bring together views from payers, providers, policymakers and other industry leaders in managed care. AJMC is a brand of MJH Life Sciences, the largest privately held, independent, full-service medical media company in North America dedicated to delivering trusted health care news across multiple channels. About OneOncology OneOncology was founded by community oncologists, for community oncologists, with the mission of improving the lives of everyone living with cancer. Our goal is to enable community oncology practices to remain independent and to improve patient access to care in their communities, all at a lower cost than in the hospital setting. OneOncology supports our platform of community oncology practices through group purchasing, operational optimization, practice growth, and clinical innovation. Our 960 cancer care providers care for approximately 528,000 patients at more than 300 sites of care nationwide. To learn more, visit oneoncology.com or LinkedIn. Media Contact: Lauren Garafola MJH Life Sciences lgarafola@mjhlifesciences.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/c84a982a-c00e-4800-aedb-abbfb39aa86d New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Market.us, the Baby Product Market size is projected to surpass around USD 172 billion by 2032 from USD 90.8 billion in 2022, and it is poised to reach a CAGR of 6.8% from 2023 to 2032. One of the primary factors driving market expansion is consumer preferences are shifting toward high-quality, utility-driven, and premium baby products. To simplify and make parents' lives easier, baby care products are becoming increasingly prevalent worldwide. The use of baby care products has several advantages, including the protection of the skin, a lower risk of disease, and the provision of nutritious food. The demand is being accelerated by healthcare professionals and doctors increasingly offering parents advice on which product to use in what circumstances To get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request a Baby Products Market sample report at https://market.us/report/baby-products-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway: By product type, Baby toiletries/hair care held the largest revenue share of over 65.0% in 2022. held the largest revenue share of over in 2022. By Distribution Channel , the supermarket/hypermarket segment dominated the market with a share of approximately 46% in 2022. , the supermarket/hypermarket segment dominated the market with a share of approximately in 2022. APAC held a revenue share of approximately 42% in 2022 held a revenue share of approximately in 2022 The North American market is anticipated to grow at a CAGR of 4.5%. One of the fastest growing markets in the baby products industry, which is boosted by an increase in the number of working women, particularly in developing nations like India. The increase in the consumers spending power and increase in disposable income, growing awareness about the health benefits of children especially ages between six months to two years old by using baby food. High-quality products also increase demand for baby products. Factors Affecting the Growth of the Baby Products Market Several factors can affect the growth of the baby product market. Some of these factors include: Growing innovation : Market expansion is being driven by the growing variety of innovative baby foods that are formulated with distinctive fat-protein combinations to encourage brain development in infants. : Market expansion is being driven by the growing variety of innovative baby foods that are formulated with distinctive fat-protein combinations to encourage brain development in infants. Advancements in Technology : Increasing adoption of organic and natural baby care products to act as growth in the market. : Increasing adoption of organic and natural baby care products to act as growth in the market. Focus on Organic Products: The use of natural ingredients in the production of organic products is anticipated to gain the most traction over the course of the forecast, creating numerous opportunities for the expansion of this market. To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/baby-products-market/#inquiry Top Trends in Global Baby Products Market The demand for baby care products will continue to rise in the coming years as more people become aware of their availability and the ways in which they contribute to the health and hygiene of babies around the world. The market's expansion is significantly aided by the use of these products. As parents become increasingly aware of the importance of meeting their infants' nutritional needs, there is an increasing demand for fortified baby food all over the world. The market's expansion is being influenced by the rising demand for infant formula. Market Growth The rise of nuclear families in urban areas is another factor contributing to the rising preference for baby products. Baby care products save parents time and offer a variety of benefits because parents have less free time. In addition, technological advancements are providing respite because they comprehend the mood swings of infants, notify parents of danger, and create a safer environment for infants. The market for organic and natural products has significantly increased in recent years. The organic products market will grow significantly as a result of the increased awareness that comes with using products that contain chemicals or other products that have been shown to be harmful to the skin and hair of babies. Numerous market players are making significant investments to develop novel products that will be made with natural materials and are also focusing on providing these products at reasonable prices. The market's expansion will be aided in part by these products' low prices. The use of natural ingredients in the production of organic products is anticipated to gain the most traction over the course of the forecast, creating numerous opportunities for the expansion of this market. Regional Analysis In the past, the Asia-Pacific region held a share of approximately 42%, and its growth is expected to continue. This market's expansion will be significantly influenced by the expanding population in India and China, as well as in the majority of other regions. One of the primary drivers of the expansion of baby care products is the estimated revenue share of a US$ 73 billion increase in population in these nations of the Asia-Pacific region over the next few years. Due to the presence of various market players like Unilever PLC, and Johnson & Johnson, significant growth will also be recorded in the North American region. Customers in countries like the United States and Canada are willing to pay a high price when it comes to the health and lives of their babies. The market in North America has grown as a result of working parents, government safety initiatives, technological advancement, and early adoption of advanced products. Competitive Landscape The market is characterized by both new entrants and established players. To broaden their customer base, prominent retailers and businesses alike have been adding new and creative baby care products to their product lines. In 2022, Asia Pacific held a lead in the market with a share of more than 40%. In the region, the use of and demand for baby care products has nearly doubled in recent years. The market is being driven by prominent factors such as the spending capacity on premium baby skin and hair care products and the growing population in economies like China and India due to the rising literacy rate. Recent Development of the Baby Products Market The Indian conglomerate ITC Ltd. has provided Mother Sparsh, a direct-to-consumer (D2C) baby care brand, with an additional investment of Rs 13.50 crore. Additionally, the company is in advanced discussions with additional investors to raise between 90 and 100 crore rupees for the Series B funding round. In July 2022, Procter & Gamble, a consumer goods company based in Cincinnati, introduced a new line of Pampers diapers to assist hospitals in minimizing the disturbances caused by sleeping premature babies. Have Queries? Speak to an expert or Click Here To Download/Request a Sample Scope of the Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 90.8 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 172 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 6.8% Asia-Pacific Revenue Share 42% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers As more people become aware of their availability and the ways in which they contribute to the health and hygiene of babies worldwide, the demand for baby care products will continue to rise in the coming years. The use of these products significantly aids the expansion of the market. There is an increasing demand for fortified baby food all over the world as parents become increasingly aware of the significance of meeting their infants' nutritional requirements. The rising demand for infant formula is having an impact on the expansion of the market. Nestle SA rose to the top of the global market for fortified baby food with, for instance, its Nestle Cerelac Fortified Baby Cereal with Milk Multi-Grain & Fruits. Market Restraints When compared to baby toiletries, baby skin care products have higher barriers to entry. Additionally, due to the high production costs and stringent regulations relevant to baby care products, the market is also impacted by the high costs of product development. Due to stringent laws that regulate the manufacturing and marketing of baby care products, high development costs, significant investments in research and development, and adherence to rules and procedures during clinical trials, new entrants in the global care products market face high entry barriers and challenges. Market Opportunities The market for organic and natural products has significantly increased in recent years. The organic products market will grow significantly as a result of the increased awareness that comes with using products that contain chemicals or other products that have been shown to be harmful to the skin and hair of babies. Numerous market players are making significant investments to develop novel products that will be made with natural materials and are also focusing on providing these products at reasonable prices. The market's expansion will be aided in part by these products' low prices. The use of natural ingredients in the production of organic products is anticipated to gain the most traction over the course of the forecast, creating numerous opportunities for the expansion of this market. Grow your profit margin with Market.us - Purchase This Premium Report at https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=64834 Report Segmentation of the Baby Products Market Product Type Insight Cosmetics and toiletries for babies, food for babies, and safety and convenience for babies are the three main segments that make up the global baby products market. The baby skincare, bath, and hair care, as well as other cosmetics and toiletries products, are further subdivided into the baby cosmetics and toiletries segment. Baby milk, frozen baby food, baby juice, baby food snacks, and baby food cereals are sub-segments of baby food. The market is divided into skin and hair care for babies, toiletries for babies, and food and beverages for babies. Baby bath products and fragrances, as well as baby diapers and wipes, are further subdivided into baby toiletries. The market is divided into supermarkets, hypermarkets, convenience stores, pharmacies, drug stores, online retail stores, and other distribution channels according to the distribution channel. The market is divided into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. Distribution Channel Insight One of the world's fastest-growing industries is the baby products market, which is bolstered by an increase in the number of working women, particularly in developing nations like India. Due to consumers' increased spending power and increased disposable income, the demand for high-quality baby products that guarantee improved baby health has seen rapid growth. Demand for baby food that is made especially for children between the ages of six months and two years old and contains fewer pesticide chemicals is growing as more people become aware of the health benefits. For more insights on the historical and Forecast market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/baby-products-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation Based on Type Skin Care Creams & Lotions Oils Powders Soaps Hair Care Shampoos Conditioners Oils Toiletries Wet Wipes Diapers Tissues Food & Beverages Dairy Products Cereal & Snacks Juices Others Based on Distribution Channel Hypermarket & Supermarket Convenience Store Online Platform Other Offline Platform By Geography North America The US Canada Mexico Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA Key Market Players Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc. Procter & Gamble (P&G) Co. Kimberly-Clark (KCWW) Honasa Consumer Pvt. Ltd. The Himalaya Drug Company Citta World Sebapharma GmbH & Co. KG Beiersdorf California Baby Unilever PLC Nestle S.A. Other Key Players Related Reports Baby products detergents market size is expected to be worth around USD 6.9 billion by 2032 from USD 3.8 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032. Baby safety products market will reach USD 13,850 million in 2021. This figure will increase at a CAGR of 4.8% between 2023 and 2032. Baby bath products market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 4.49% to reach USD 3.658 billion by 2028, from USD 2.690 billion in 2021. Baby Diaper Rash Cream market was valued at USD 1.78 Bn in 2022 and is projected to increase significantly at a CAGR of 6.6% from 2022 to 2032. Baby stroller market is valued at USD 1.08 bn in 2022. It is expected to grow at a 6.2% CAGR between 2023 and 2032 it is projected to reach USD 1.98 bn. Baby car seat market was worth USD 8,388.27 million in 2021 and From 2023-32, and expected to grow at 6.9% CAGR. About Us: 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. Follow Us On LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Our Blog: New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global ovarian cancer drugs market is estimated to be valued at US$ 9,857 million by 2032 from US$ 2,678 million in 2022 and is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 14.3% during the forecast period 2023 to 2032. Ovarian cancer is the common cause of death for females who are suffering from gynaecological cancers. Also, it ranks 7th in terms of the most common causes of female death around the globe. Most of the cases are found after the condition has already progressed to the point where it is lethal. The low predictive value of the present screening tests makes this anxiety even worse. For more insights on the Ovarian Cancer Drugs Market share of various regions- Download a Sample Report @ https://market.us/report/ovarian-cancer-drugs-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway: By Therapy, the highest market revenue will likely be held by the targeted therapy segment over the forecast period 2023 to 2032. the highest market revenue will likely be held by the targeted therapy segment over the forecast period 2023 to 2032. By Distribution Channel , the hospital pharmacy segment was anticipated to dominate the market due to an increase in ovarian cancer prevalence. , the hospital pharmacy segment was anticipated to dominate the market due to an increase in ovarian cancer prevalence. In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 38%. the market with the highest revenue share of Asia-Pacific will grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023-2032. Early detection methods such as a comprehensive gynaecological examination, laboratory markers like the cancer antigen-125 assay, and transvaginal ultrasound have not significantly reduced cancer morbidity and mortality. Chemotherapy with platinum as the agent is the most common form of treatment for cancer. A thorough understanding of the malignancy's molecular characteristics is essential for the development of novel treatment strategies now more than ever. The rise in ovarian cancer cases, and ease of use of new drugs and therapies, the increasing geriatric population of women, increased government funding, and the rise in healthcare expenditure are estimated to boost the growth of the ovarian cancer drug market. Factors affecting the growth of the Ovarian Cancer Drugs Market There are several factors that can affect the growth of the ovarian cancer drug market. Some of these factors include: Increased sensitivity of equipment: Increased sensitivity of equipment is responsible for driving the market over the forecast period. Increased sensitivity of equipment is responsible for driving the market over the forecast period. The increasing burden of ovarian cancer: The rising burden of ovarian cancer leads to propel the market during the forecast period. The rising burden of ovarian cancer leads to propel the market during the forecast period. Use of combination therapy for the treatment of ovarian cancer: The use of different combination therapies offers enormous opportunities for market growth. The use of different combination therapies offers enormous opportunities for market growth. Lack of awareness of ovarian cancer: Lack of awareness about cancer may hinder the growth of the market. To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/ovarian-cancer-drugs-market/#inquiry Top Trends in the Global Ovarian Cancer Drugs Market Computed tomography (CT) is an imaging procedure that uses specialized X-ray equipment to produce detailed pictures, or scans, of specific body parts. Computerized axial tomography (CAT) and computerized tomography are two other names. This apparatus assists in determining the presence of a tumor and detecting whether the cancer is increasing into nearby structures. Also, indications of cancer spreading to the liver or other organs aids in identifying enlarged lymph nodes and indications that an ovarian tumor is affecting the kidneys or bladder. Because of the huge importance of CT scans, there is a rising demand for CT procedures to diagnose ovarian cancer, which results in the growth of the segment. Market Growth The expansion of this market is propelled by a rise in early screening and cancer awareness. The growth of the market is further fueled by a rise in investment from the private, public, and government sectors. The market might expand because of the expansion of new businesses due to the expiration of the patents on numerous well-known medications. Ovarian cancer drugs are widely used as a result of increased consumer awareness of accessibility and preventive healthcare. Thus, due to these shifting dynamics, it is estimated that the market will grow during the forecast period. Also, an improvement in patient quality of life through a rise in breast, ovarian, and other cancer patients' remission and survival rates. Furthermore, an increase in the use of PARP inhibitors, aromatase inhibitors, and tamoxifen in the treatment of ovarian cancer has fastened the growth of the cancer hormonal therapy market. Regional Analysis North America dominates the ovarian cancer drug market with 38% of the share due to the rising prevalence of ovarian cancer. The ovarian cancer drug market will expand due to increased acceptance of novel therapeutics, new product launches, and a large target population during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific will undergo significant change due to the excellent healthcare reforms and the rising incidence of ovarian cancer; it is estimated that the ovarian cancer drug market will grow in this region. Additionally, this market is expected to expand in the coming years due to a lack of control, a low-cost base, and cultural inhibitions. Competitive Landscape The expansion of the market is aided by the approval of the regulatory authorities. For instance, Siemens Medical Solutions Inc. received FDA approval for Siemens NAEOTOM Alpha in September 2021. This advanced computed tomography device is made to turn information from X-ray photons that travel through a patient's body and are received by a detector into a precise three-dimensional image. For additional information on the market contribution of each segment - Grab an Exclusive Sample Report Scope of the Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) US$ 2,678 Million Market Size (2032) US$ 9,857 Million CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 14.3% North America Revenue Share 38% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers The key drivers of the expansion of ovarian cancer drugs are the equipment's increased sensitivity and result accuracy. The ovarian drugs market is poised for innovation and growth in the pharmaceutical industry. The market is estimated to grow significantly in the upcoming years due to the improved technology and high specificity of CT scans. This is due to a large pool of health-conscious customers. The market is estimated to grow positively due to the positive impact of key players globally approving different ovarian cancer medications. Market Restraints The high cost of gynecology medications hindered the expansion of the market. Due to their high cost, most patients cannot afford these medications. The market's expansion is hampered because most families from emerging economies hesitate to visit hospitals because was unable to pay for expensive treatments and medications. Market Opportunities Around the world, ovarian cancer is the third most common cancer after uterine and cervical cancer. Daily, thousands of women are dying because of this cancer. As per the report of the American Cancer Society, in the US, around 19,880 new cases of cancer will be detected and around 12,810 women will die due to ovarian cancer. This will boost the global ovarian cancer drugs market. The increasing health awareness among the population also results in the expansion of market growth. Many researchers are investing in the launches of new drug which expand the markets growth. Various innovative launches in medications for the treatment will boost the market growth. Grow your profit margin with Market.us - PurchaseOvarian Cancer Drugs Market Report at https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=25178 Report Segmentation of the Ovarian Cancer Drugs Market Therapy Insight In the forecast period, it is anticipated that the targeted therapy segment will continue to dominate the global market. Some targeted cancer therapies have the potential to enhance the immune system's ability to combat cancer and accelerate market expansion effectively. Specific targeted therapies can mark cancer cells, making it easier for the immune system to eliminate and identify them. In addition, the rise in the incidence of cancers like ovarian, gynecological, and breast cancer is also propelling the development of targeted therapies for cancer treatment. Research companies invest a lot of money in creating biologically targeted drugs. Distribution Channel Insight The hospital pharmacy held the largest share of the market due to a rise in ovarian cancer prevalence and healthcare spending. The market's expansion is fueled by the rise of hospital pharmacies and an improvement in their structure in developing nations like India and China. Additionally, the primary responsibility of the hospital pharmacy is to monitor the availability of all hospital-used medications. Patients' trust in hospitals due to their easy access to medicines and high-quality services is primarily responsible for enhancing hospital pharmacies. There has been an increase in hospital admissions, as treatment of ovarian cancer is mainly done in hospitals, which helped this market grow. Market.us offers in-depth market insights that assist global businesses to obtain growth opportunities. Read our Sample Report @ https://market.us/report/ovarian-cancer-drugs-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation Based on Therapy Chemotherapy Immunotherapy Targeted Therapy Hormonal Therapy Radiation Therapy Other Therapies Based on Distribution Channel Drug Stores & Retail Pharmacy Hospital Pharmacy Online Pharmacy By Geography North America The US Canada Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Mexico Costa Rica Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA Market Key Players Genentech Inc. GlaxoSmithKline plc Roche Johnson & Johnson ImmunoGen Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Eli Lilly and Company Pfizer Other Key Players. Recent Development of the Ovarian Cancer Drugs Market May 2022, After listing Apealea on Gelbe Liste, a German drug distribution website, HLB reported that Elevar Therapeutics, its subsidiary, began marketing the ovarian cancer treatment in Germany. May 2022: The Food and Drug Administration of the United States granted ImmunoGen approval. Mirvetuximab soravtansine monotherapy in patients with folate receptor alpha high platinum-resistant ovarian cancer who have previously been treated with 1-3 prior systemic treatments was submitted in the Biologics License Application by the organization. Related Reports: About Us: 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. Follow Us On LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Our Blog: New York, NY, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ding Xiongjun, Secretary of the CPC Committee and Chairman of Moutai Group put forward the notion of greenness for the first time when explaining the seven esthetic qualities of Chinese Baijiu during the 12th Chinese Baijiu Top 9 Summit. The notion refers to the greenness of an ecological system, which is the living community composed of mountains, waters, forests, earth, rivers, and microorganisms that Moutai has been striving to construct. As a crucial part of Moutais internationalization, the notion of greenness manifests Moutais reflection on the sustainable development of Chinese Baijiu. In March 2023, Moutai launched the Geographical Culture Month marketing campaign on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Pinterest, and LinkedIn to enhance peoples cognition of Moutai and to showcase the beauty of Moutais green development. The online marketing campaign focused on environment, ecology, craftsmanship, and green transformation. The favorable natural conditions that Moutai enjoys, the efforts Moutai has made to protect the ecological environment, and Moutais green ecological system were systematically displayed to the fans in the Geographical Culture Month. 1. Crack the code of Moutais products ecologically The natural environmental advantages that Moutai enjoys were interpreted in 20 posts on the six major social media platforms in the Geographical Culture Month. For instance, the Chishui River Valley provides favorable conditions for microorganisms to reproduce. The unique purplish red silt on the bank of the Chishui River filters the source of water for making Moutai products. The advantageous geographical conditions of Maotai Town contribute to the distinct Moutai flavor. The online posts made Moutais green development path easy to understand. Photos, videos, and illustrations were adopted to show the charm of Moutais products to the fans. Moutais homepages on the six major social media platforms gained over 40 million impressions and nearly 600,000 interactions in the Geographical Culture Month. 2. Explore Moutai products connotations culturally Apart from systematically introducing the ecological environment on social media platforms, Moutai also organized the Poetic Life event during the Geographical Culture Month. By integrating the products with traditional Chinese poetry, Moutai enriched its cultural connotations. In the Poetic Life event, works of Chinese masters of poetry including Li Qingzhao, Li Bai, and Ouyang Xiu were elaborately incorporated into the H5 interactive game with Chinese characteristics. Poems were recommended to the fans based on the analysis of their occupations, moods, ideals, and attitudes toward life. The Poetic Life event gained over 16 million impressions and over 200,000 interactions from the fans. 3. Coordinate both domestic and international efforts of the Group The abundant cultural resources at home can be used to boost the international market. The results gained from the international market can bring benefits to the domestic one in return. The coordination between the domestic and the international markets is another important part of Moutais internationalization. Promotional activities were simultaneously initiated on major platforms such as Facebook and Twitter for the launch of Qingming, Spring Series of Moutais 24 Solar Terms, so that the voice in China can be heard in the international market more efficiently. Moutais solar terms products and culture were well interpreted in the promotional activities. One single video was viewed over 1.4 million times. The beauty of Moutais solar terms culture was well displayed. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FC4tYVw3M7Q Videos of Chinese zodiac products were released on social media platforms to spread Moutais Chinese zodiac Baijiu culture. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUOXGTVt60A With themes of Miracle of Technology, Merchandise Time, and Metaverse, posters in a uniform style were put forward on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest to show the beauty of time, the beauty of time-honored techniques, as well as the infinite imagination and the beauty of creation brought by Moutais metaverse, echoing with the international expression of Moutai products beauty. Now that March, the wonderful Geographical Culture Month has passed, weve stepped into April, which is Moutais Artisan Culture Month. Centering on artisans and ingenuity, this month focuses on introducing the techniques and process of making Moutai products and Moutais accuracy embodied in its scientific system of technology on social media platforms, as well as expounding on three relationships, namely the one between tradition and modernity, the one between creation and inheritance, and the one between variation and constancy. With Moutais Baijiu-making techniques revealed, fans can have a better and deeper understanding of the brand. Company Name: Guizhou Moutai Chiew I/E Co. Ltd. Contact Person: Winnie Hu Email: moutaigloble@gmail.com Country: Guiyang, Guizhou, China Website:https://www.facebook.com/moutaiglobal 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 The Annual General Meeting of Hofseth BioCare ASA will be held at the company's premises at Kipervikgata 13, 6003 Alesund, on 28 April 2023 at 13:00 CET. The notice of the Annual General Meeting was sent to the shareholders on 5 April 2023, and unfortunately this stock exchange notice was not sent concurrently. Please find the notice to the Annual General Meeting attached. For further information, please contact: Jon Olav degard, CEO of Hofseth BioCare ASA Phone: +47 93632966 E-mail: investor@hofsethbiocare.no This information is subject to the disclosure requirements pursuant to Section 5-12 of the Norwegian Securities Trading Act Attachment Vancouver, April 12, 2023 - Rome Resources Ltd. (TSXV: RMR) (FSE: 33R) ("Rome" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the voting results from its 2023 annual general and special shareholders' meeting held earlier today. All resolutions presented to shareholders were approved. At the shareholders' meeting the number of directors was set at five, Dr. Georg Schnura, Michelle Robinson, David Jenkins, Mark Gasson and Patrick Flint were elected to the Company's board of directors; Davidson & Company LLP, Chartered Professional Accountants, was re-appointed as auditor of the Company; and disinterested shareholders approved the Company's rolling 10% stock option plan. About Rome Resources Rome Resources Ltd. is a mineral exploration company that has entered into two option agreements to acquire 51% direct and indirect interests in two contiguous properties situated in the Walikale District of the North Kivu Province in eastern DRC, which are collectively referred to as the "Bisie North Tin Project". Rome intends to fund exploration on the project up to the completion of a definitive feasibility study. Contacts Investors / Shareholders Dr Georg Schnura President, CEO & Director P: (604) 687-6140 Media E: info@romeresources.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements The information in this news release may include certain information and statements about management's view of future events, expectations, plans and prospects that may constitute forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based upon assumptions that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties. Because of these risks and uncertainties and as a result of a variety of factors, the actual results, expectations, achievements or performance may differ materially from those anticipated and indicated by these forward-looking statements. Although Rome Resources Ltd. believes that the expectations reflected in forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no assurances that the expectations of any forward-looking statements will prove to be correct. Except as required by law, Rome Resources Ltd. disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect actual results, whether as a result of new information, future events, changes in assumptions, changes in factors affecting such forward-looking statements or otherwise. 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. Not for distribution to United States newswire services or for dissemination in the United States. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162202 VANCOUVER, April 12, 2023 - Collective Metals Inc. (CSE: COMT) (the "Company" or "Collective"), is pleased to announce that it has entered into an arm's length definitive share exchange agreement (the "Agreement"), dated April 12, 2023, with 1335025 B.C. Ltd. (defined herein) and the shareholders of 1335025 B.C. Ltd. (the "Vendors") to acquire (the "Acquisition") from the Vendors 100% of the outstanding shares of 1335025 B.C. Ltd. ("1335025"). 1335025 holds an option to acquire 100% of the Landings Lake property, a Lithium property in Ontario consisting of 154 cells comprising 3,147 hectares. The property is located 53 km east of Ear Falls, Ontario with good highway and logging road access and is in an area where numerous lithium deposits have been delineated to host significant reserves of lithium. Property Highlights Regional significant lithium deposits include The Seymour Lake Lithium Project owned by Green Technology Metals (ASX:GT1) hosts 9.9 Mt grading 1.04% Li2O The Georgia Lake pegmatite field with a resource of over 16 Mt grading 1.15% Li2O owned by Imagine Lithium and Ultra Lithium Separation Rapids Lithium deposit owned by Avalon Advanced Materials with resources of 10.8 Mt grading 1.408% Li 2 O Measured and Indicated and Inferred Resource. O Measured and Indicated and Inferred Resource. Highly accessible through multiple logging and regional roads. Mapping by the OGS in 1959 noted numerous grey pegmatite occurrences in muscovite-bearing granites during lakeshore mapping in the eastern portion of the English River Subprovince "We are looking forward to entering the Northwestern Ontario Lithium market, as we feel this area as a whole, is still strongly underexplored," said CEO of Collective Metals, Chris Huggins. "With the closing of our recent financing, we are in a strong cash position and excited to commence our work programs. We will also continue to explore for opportunities in this and other regions that we believe we can add value to the Company and strengthen our portfolio." Figure 1 - Collective Metals Landings Lake Claim Map Recently, GT1 reported its maiden diamond drill program has returned 'thick high-grade' lithium assays from the Root Bay prospect, within the company's wholly owned Root Project in Ontario, Canada. Initial drilling at the Root Project focused on the McCombe and Morrison LCT pegmatite systems. Additionally, the company's exploration has now expanded to the Root Bay Prospect, situated 10km east. The company reports the first 3 diamond hole assays received include hole RB-23-001 with 79.7m down dip grade continuity intersections, including 67.1m @ 1.13% lithium oxide (Li 2 O) from 60.9m, 7.3m @ 1.44% Li 2 O from 162m, including 5.3m @ 1.34% Li 2 O from 67.4m. Additionally, Green Technology Metals reports hole RB-23-005 with 13.2m combined down hole pegmatites intersections, including 6.6m @ 1.47% Li 2 O from 129.2m, 4.5m @ 1.34% Li 2 O from 140.5m, and 2.1m @ 1.09% Li 2 O from 149m. Regional Geology Of significance is that the Lithium deposits/projects of Northwestern Ontario are located within 20km of a terrane boundary. These terrane boundaries are deep seated sutures that divide accreted Archean terranes and act as conduits for fertile peraluminous granites. A muscovite-bearing granite is host to the Property, an S-type peraluminous fertile parental granite according to Breaks et al., 2003. The granitic body is in contact with metasediments which make excellent hosts to fractionating fertile parental granitic melts. The Property occurs within 17 km of a sub province terrane boundary, an integral relationship between lithium deposits and structure (Breaks et al., 2003). Mapping by the OGS in 1959 noted numerous grey pegmatite occurrences in muscovite-bearing granites during lakeshore mapping in the eastern portion of the English River Subprovince. A southwesterly regional fault transects the Property making an excellent conduit for fractionating granitic melts. Figure 2 - Collective Metals Regional Geology & Peers Terms of the Agreement The Acquisition will involve the issuance of 7,700,000 common shares of the Company (the "Consideration Shares") to the Vendors (representing 31.2% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on a post-issuance basis), at a deemed issue price of $0.14 per share, representing aggregate share consideration of $1,078,000, in exchange for all of the outstanding common shares of 1335025, as well as a $50,000 cash payment from the Company to a Vendor. The Consideration Shares will be issued pursuant to s. 2.16 (take-over bid and issuer bid) of National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions. Qualified Person The technical information contained in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Garry Clark, P.Geo., and a "Qualified Person" as defined in National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The reader is cautioned that the mineralization on nearby or adjacent properties does not necessarily indicate that any mineral resources may be discovered on the Landings Lake property, or if discovered, that such resources would be economically recoverable. About Collective Metals: Collective Metals Inc. is a resource exploration company specialized in precious metals exploration in the Northwest Territories. Collective Metals is currently advancing the Uptown Gold Project (the "Property") 4 km outside of Yellowknife adjacent to high grade past producing mines. The Property is a high grade Archean lode gold prospect adjoining the Giant Mine in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories. The Property consists of 4 claims covering over 2,000 hectares and borders the west side of the Giant Mine leases. The Property centre is approximately 6km north of downtown Yellowknife and adjoins TerraX Minerals' Yellowknife City Gold Property. The Property is road accessible year-round via the Ingraham Trail (Territorial Highway 4) which runs through the eastern portion of the claims. Gold was discovered on the Property in 1960 and two targets were explored intensively from 1963 to 1966. Social Media ON BEHALF OF Collective Metals Inc. Christopher Huggins CEO T: 604-968-4844 E: chris@collectivemetalsinc.com FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Certain statements in this news release are forward-looking statements, including with respect to future plans, and other matters. Forward-looking statements consist of statements that are not purely historical, including any statements regarding beliefs, plans, expectations or intentions regarding the future. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as "may", "expect", "estimate", "anticipate", "intend", "believe" and "continue" or the negative thereof or similar variations. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, including but not limited to, business, economic and capital market conditions, the ability to manage operating expenses, and dependence on key personnel. Forward looking statements in this news release include, but are not limited to, statements respecting: completion of the Acquisition; and the expected benefits to the Company from the Acquisition. 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, anticipated costs, and the ability to achieve goals. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include, the continued availability of capital and financing, litigation, failure of counterparties to perform their contractual obligations, loss of key employees and consultants, and general economic, market or business conditions. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this news release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed this press release and does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release Images accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/bcebfa59-b697-4ea7-854f-66cf870d3e8f https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/96d4fbed-8fe3-488a-a7d8-0513fa1b2e1c VANCOUVER, April 12, 2023 - Tajiri Resources Corp. (the "Company") (TSXV: TAJ) is pleased to announce that it has entered into an agreement with Paradox Public Relations Inc. ("Paradox") to provide investor relations services on behalf of the Company. Paradox is a Montreal based investor relations consultancy firm that has been in business for over 20 years. Paradox has represented a number of public companies through its extensive network and experience in the capital markets. The investor relations agreement with Paradox has a term of 36 months from the date of TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV") approval and may be terminated at any time without charge by either party by giving 30 days' notice. Paradox will be paid a monthly fee of $10,000 and will be granted stock options to acquire up to 1,500,000 common at a price of $0.05 per share with a term of three years, the options will vest in stages over a period of 12 months ,in equal portions, on a quarterly basis starting from the date of grant, in accordance with the Company's stock option plan and the policies of the TSXV. On Behalf of the Board, Tajiri Resources Corp. Graham Keevil, President & CEO About Tajiri Tajiri Resources Corp. is a junior gold exploration and development company with exploration assets located in two of the worlds least explored and highly prospective greenstone belts of Burkina Faso, West Africa and Guyana, South America. Led by a team of industry professionals with a combined 100 plus years' experience the Company continues to generate shareholder value through exploration. This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on assumptions and judgments of management regarding future events or results. Such statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to revise or update such statements. 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 Tajiri Resources Corp. (AIM Ticker: LND.L) This announcement contains inside information as defined in Article 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014 LONDON, April 13, 2023 - Landore Resources Ltd. (AIM: LND) ("Landore Resources" or the "Company") is pleased to report on the results of the 2023 soil sampling programme carried out along strike to the west of its BAM Gold Project ("BAM Gold"), Junior Lake Property, Ontario, Canada. During the Summer/Autumn of 2022, a significant soil sampling programme was conducted on the Junior Lake property. The programme covered approximately 13km2 and expanded on the previous soil sampling conducted in 2019 and 2020 (see soil report dated 30 November 2019 and 11 January 2020). The extensive 2022 soil sampling programme collected 1,699 samples, nearly doubling the total number of samples collected on the property, bringing the total to 3,852 soil samples. Highlights: Extensive soil sampling along the Junior Lake shear zone now extends 16 kilometres from the Placer Dome Gold prospect in the west, to east of the BAM Gold Deposit. The soil sampling has successfully infilled and confirmed the presence of highly anomalous gold occurrences and trends on the Felix prospect in addition to extending the soil sampling further to the south of Felix and to the west into the Lamaune Gold area, identifying direct drill targets. In addition, the 2022 soil sampling also confirmed the presence of highly anomalous strategic and precious metals occurrences and trends, generally running parallel to and to the south of the above gold trends, along strike to the west of the B4-7 Deposit (Ni-Cu-Co-PGEs) and VW Deposit (Ni-Cu), a distance of 13 kilometres. Commenting on this report, Chief Executive Officer of Landore Resources, Bill Humphries, said: "The highly successful 2022 exploration drilling and soil sampling programmes on the Junior Lake Property, have identified new targets for both gold and strategic metals which have the potential of being advanced into additional resources. This further supports the Directors' opinion that the Junior Lake Property has the excellent potential to host significant volumes of both gold and the highly sought after Strategic Metals for battery production. The burgeoning gold price, which is currently testing the US$2,000 level, further encourages Landore to concentrate its resources on advancing the BAM Gold project towards development through growth of the resource and the completion of a Pre-Feasibility Study, to increase the confidence level. Meanwhile, the Company will continue to review alternative ways of advancing its strategic metals assets, including investigating possible JV partnership, a strategic partner or potential sale." 2022 Drill Campaign Update: In July 2022, Landore commenced drilling aimed at targeting previously-identified gold and battery metals mineralisation over a distance of 8 kilometres westwards along strike from the BAM Gold and B4-7 Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Palladium-Platinum deposits (Ni-Cu-Co-PGEs). This drill campaign, completed in December 2022, consisted of 43 drill holes (0422-827 to 0422-846, and 1122-152 to 1122-175) for 7,635 metres of NQ and HQ size diamond core on the Felix - Carrot Top Zones and Lamaune Gold Prospect. Drilling successfully intersected precious and/or strategic metals mineralisation in all areas (Reports 221117 and 230125). Final results for the Carrot Top infill drilling have also been received and are notated at the end of this announcement. 2022 SOIL SAMPLING PROGRAMME, JUNIOR LAKE PROPERTY Landore Resources' geological team completed an extensive soil sampling campaign during the summer/autumn of 2022 within the Felix and Lamaune areas along strike to the west from the existing BAM Gold Project, infilling and extending the successful 2019 and 2020 soil sampling campaigns and confirming the presence of widespread anomalous gold and multiple gold trends. A full report on the 2022 soil sampling programme has been prepared by the Company (the "2022 Report"), with extracts covering the key information from the 2022 Report set out below. The full 2022 Report containing maps and charts of zones in this report titled 'Soil Sampling of the Junior Lake property' and dated 31 March 2023 can be viewed on Landore's website at www.landore.com. Extracts from the 2022 Report: "Summary The Junior Lake property is located approximately 230 kilometres north-northeast of Thunder Bay, ON. The property contains three NI 43-101 compliant mineral resources, one which is gold (BAM Gold Deposit), and two of which are battery metals (B4-7 Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-PGEs Deposit and VW Nickel Deposit). In 2022, an extensive soil sampling program was conducted on the Junior Lake property. The program covered an approximate 13km2 and expanded on the previous soil sampling programs conducted in 2019 and 2020 (see soil report dated 30 November 2019 and 11 January 2020). The extensive 2022 soil sampling program collected 1,699 samples (inclusive of QAQC samples), nearly doubling the total number of samples collected on the property, bringing the total to 3,852 soil samples, inclusive of QAQC samples. The soil samples consist of 300-500g of material collected from the B horizon of the soil profile, at a nominal spacing of 25m along lines. Numerous areas were unable to be sampled due to swampy conditions, signs of disturbance from past forestry operations, or lack of soil profile above the bedrock. The 2022 soil program has built and expanded upon previous sampling programs, further refining previous gold exploration targets as well as identifying new targets across the property. This includes further delineating and refining the western trend from the BAM Gold Deposit for greater than five kilometres. This report had focused on refined previous gold exploration targets as well as identified new targets across the property. The increased sample density has assisted with interpretation and enabled the identification of regional trends and possible Riedel shear structures. From these results four priority areas are detailed, all of which should be followed up with additional work: Soil anomalies show a gold trend extending east of the BAM Gold deposit for 2.0km. Limited diamond drilling for 1.0km along the trend has shown that mineralization continues leaving the additional 1.0km untested and the anomaly open to the east; Anomalous gold values are associated with linear, magnetic anomalies between Juno Lake and Boras Lake. These trends can be linked to the BAM Gold Deposit to the east and are open to the west; Expansion of the northern portion of the Carrot Top Grid to the east, towards the Lamaune Gold prospect, and to the west, towards historical Placer Dome drilling. Data indicates a possible extension of the Lamaune Gold trend; and Preliminary data from widely spaced lines south of the Felix Lake Grid have returned promising results from a previously under explored area. Additional work is needed to expand upon the results. The multi-year soil sampling program has been deemed a successful, low-cost tool for exploration and should be expanded to cover the width of the property. Introduction The sampled locations for 2022 span three locations with a total area of approximately 13km2 covered and 1,699 samples, including 187 reference samples. The 2022 program expanded on and infilled areas from the previous programs for a grand total of approximately 17.6km2, with 3,852 samples including 410 reference samples. Much of the 2022 program concentrated on infilling the central and western portion of the Felix Lake grid, located 1km to the west of the BAM Gold Deposit. The program infilled the Felix Lake grid to 100m spaced lines as well as extended the grid south 1.6km along a series of exploration lines. The remainder of the 2022 soil samples covered the Carrot Top prospect and test lines located to the west of the Lamaune Gold Prospect and south of the area historically drilled by Placer Gold. Soil samples were collected from the B horizon at a nominal distance of 25m along traverse lines, using a Dutch auger. Samples had their location recorded using a handheld GPS as well as the nominal grid reference. Each sample also had the depth it was taken and description of colour and composition noted. Much of the Junior Lake property was extensively logged in the early 2000's. As a result, areas with obviously disturbed soil were not sampled. In addition, areas with thick organics or A horizons >2m, the limit of the soil auger, or conversely no developed soil profile were not sampled. Property Description and Location The Junior Lake property is located approximately 230km north-northeast of Thunder Bay, ON and approximately 75km east-northeast of the village of Armstrong, Ontario. The property is accessible by heading east along gravel logging roads from the village of Armstrong. The property consists of 1,318 mineral claims and six mining leases totaling 33,029 ha. Regional Geology The Junior Lake property is located within the Caribou Lake - O'Sullivan greenstone belt of the East Wabigoon Subprovince of the Superior Province. The greenstone belt ranges from 3.5 - 15 km in width, north-south, and extends for 80 - 100 km, east-west (MacDonald, 2006). To the south it is bordered by the Robinson Lake Batholith of the Lamaune Batholitic Complex and to the north by a roughly east-west trending fault zone. Northeast of the property the belt is intruded by the tonalitic to quartz dioritic Summit Lake Batholith. Nipigon diabase sills and cross-cutting dykes intrude the western portion of the greenstone belt. Regional deformation is west to west-northwest trending and sub-vertical to steeply dipping foliation and small-scale folding. Metamorphism is generally greenschist, increasing to amphibolite near the contact of the batholiths. BAM Gold Deposit From 2015 to 2022 Landore has explored for gold on the property conducting multiple drill programs as well as ground geophysics, soil sampling and geological mapping. The Junior Lake property is host to the BAM Gold deposit. A January 31st, 2022, NI 43-101 compliant resource reports the deposit as having an in-situ resource of 49,231,000 tonnes (t) at 1.0 grams/tonne (g/t) for 1,496,000 ounces of gold consisting of 30,965,000t at 1.0g/t (1,029,000 ounces gold) Indicated and 18,266,000t at 0.8g/t (467,000 ounces gold) Inferred categories. Soil Sampling Procedure Soil samples were collected along traversed lines at a nominal spacing of 25m, their location was recorded using a handheld GPS as well as the nominal local grid location was noted. The soil samples consisted of a minimum of 500g of material collected from the 'B' horizon. Sample collection was done using a 4 cm Dutch auger and the sample was placed in clean, brown paper bag specifically designed for this type of material. All samples had their depth of collection noted as well as a general description of the sample itself (see Appendix II). In areas of poor soil development composite samples were taken using multiple holes. Locations where soil samples were unable to be taken, the location was noted as well as the reason for not sampling, such as soil disturbance, no soil development or thick organics. Once collected, samples were dried in camp before shipment to the laboratory. Duplicate samples were taken (4% of samples) and silica blanks were inserted (4% of samples). Replicate samples were taken at multiple locations. The replicate samples consisted of three or four samples taken on an approximately 1 m x 1 m grid. All soil samples were submitted to ALS Global Ltd. of Thunder Bay, ON for preparation and then sent to Vancouver, BC for analysis. The samples were analyzed for low level gold and additional elements in soils and sediments. The analytical package used was 'Prep-41, Au Me-ST 43' which involves drying at <60oC and sieving to -180 micron followed by aqua regia digestion and ICP-MS finish for analysis of gold and 42 additional elements. Soil Sampling Programs The 2022 soil sampling program is the most recent and largest of three soil sampling programs conducted on the Junior Lake Property. In 2022, a total of 1,699 samples were taken representing 44% of the 3.852 samples taken on the project to date. The soil sampling programs have covered approximately 17.6km2 over four locations (see Figure 3). Previous sampling programs have focussed on areas adjacent to the BAM Gold Deposit and around the Junior Lake Shear zone. The 2022 soil program provided additional infill lines to these area and tested addition locations to the west. 2022 Soil Sampling Summary Soil sampling was conducted along uncut, GPS traverses. The program covered three areas: 1) infilling and expanding the previously sampled Felix Lake grid, 2) a small grid over the Carrot Top Ni-Cu-Co-PGE Prospect, and 3) a preliminary grid in the area of historic drilling by Placer Dome, east of the Lamaune Gold Prospect. Felix Lake Grid In 2022, an additional 1,048 samples were taken on the Felix Lake grid (see Figure 4). Samples were taken along GPS traverse lines, infilling the previous cut lines to provide 100m spaced line coverage over the grid. The established grid was expanded to the southwest along traversed lines spaced 100-200m apart. In addition, samples were also taken along wide spaced, test lines extending approximately 1.6km south of the established grid. Carrot Top Grid In 2022, 337 soil samples were collected from the area surrounding the Carrot Top Ni-Cu-Co-PGE Prospect (see Figure 5). The Carrot Top Prospect consists of highly anomalous PGE's associated with nickel, copper and cobalt mineralization within a hydrothermally altered ultramafic. The soil samples were initially collected from 200m spaced, GPS traverses. Additional infill GPS traverses were done to bring the coverage to 100m spaced lines over the prospect itself. Placer Grid In 2022, 127 samples were collected from test lines conducted east of the Lamaune Gold prospect in the area of the historic Placer Gold exploration (see Figure 6). Due to time constraints and difficulties in access, terrain and soil conditions only four test lines of limited length were conducted. The test lines were unable to sample near the historic drilling. 2020 Soil Sampling Summary Sampling was conducted along a combination of cut grid lines with a small amount of infill and line extensions done along uncut lines. A total of 1,013 samples were collected, including reference samples. The sampling program covered three areas: 1) the expanded Felix Lake grid, 2) extending the Junior Lake grid coverage, and 3) a new grid to the east of the BAM Gold deposit. 2019 Soil Sampling Summary Sampling was conducted along cut grid lines with 1141 samples, including reference samples, taken. The sampling program was conducted over the Junior Lake grid and Felix Lake grid, roughly spanning a 5km x 1.2km area. QAQC Through all the sampling program a system of inserting a control sample every ten samples was used. Silica blanks and field duplicates were alternated. In addition, replicant samples, three to four samples taken on a 1m x 1m grid, have been taken throughout the sampled areas and during each program. The QAQC samples were examined in detail after each field season. The duplicate samples taken to date have correspond well and have been acceptable through all the sampling programs. In 2022, 83 duplicate samples were taken. The majority of elements have 90% of the duplicate pairs within +/-20% of the duplicate values, that increases to >90% of the values when the range is expanded to +/-30%. The outliers are attributed to a combination of several factors. The outliers often have low values, within ten times detection limits, making precise values difficult. As well, numerous locations had thin B horizons which resulted in composite samples being taken from multiple holes and can lead to a higher degree of contamination (other soil horizons, organics). The replicate samples were taken at multiple locations across the project and consist of three to four samples on an approximate one meter by one meter square. The replicate samples taken to date, generally, correspond well and have been deemed acceptable with the 2022 samples no different. In 2022 six replicant sample sets consisting of four samples were taken. Five of the replicant sets have four of the samples' values within <20%. One of the replicant sets had one of the four samples with gold >20% of the other samples. Soil Sampling Results The response ratios (RR) were calculated for all elements by taking the background value (average of the lower 25 quartile, see Table 1) and dividing it into the analytical value. The background value was determined using the complete sample set from all soil sampling programs. RRs are rounded and values of >=5 are considered anomalous, values >=10 are considered highly anomalous and RR's >=30 are considered significant. Table 1: Select elements' calculated background values. Element Au Ag As Cu Ni Co Background Value 0.305 ppb 0.013 ppm 1.05 ppm 4.08 ppm 5.80 ppm 2.30 ppm A correlation matrix was generated for the samples taken using both the Pearson and the Kendall correlation (see Table 2). The Pearson correlation coefficient measures the linear dependence between two variables, as X increases so does Y, while the Kendall correlation method is a non-parametric rank based analysis, the highest values of X occur with the values of Y. The Pearson correlation only shows a very weak correlation (0.2-0.3) between gold and tungsten. The Kendall correlation shows very weak to weak correlation (0.2-0.4 is weak correlation) between gold and chromium, copper, arsenic, cobalt and nickel with nor correlation to tungsten. The correlations are questionable and are a reflection of the gold mineralization being associated with a sulphide horizon (the BAM gold deposit has a sulphide horizon in the footwall; the Lamaune gold prospect is associated with banded iron formation) rather than being associated with the gold mineralization. As a result, the correlation matrixes were deemed to not be useful at this time for gold exploration. Table 2: Select elements' correlation matrix values with Au. Element Cr Co As Cu Ni W Au - Pearson 0.17 0.13 0.08 0.10 0.10 0.28 Au - Kendall 0.18 0.19 0.21 0.23 0.19 0.07 The correlation matrix was also used to look at base metals and associated elements (nickel, copper, cobalt, chromium, iron, zinc, and arsenic; see Table 3). There is a weak to moderate correlation for the associated elements, much as expected. The PGE's analyses were examined but were unable to be used as <1% of the values were above detection levels. Table 3: Select base metal elements' correlation matrix. Pearson Cr Co As Cu Ni Kendall Cr Co As Cu Ni Cr 1.00 Cr 1.00 Co 0.63 1.00 Co 0.60 1.00 As 0.14 0.19 1.00 As 0.38 0.35 1.00 Cu 0.23 0.41 0.25 1.00 Cu 0.35 0.52 0.31 1.00 Ni 0.68 0.68 0.12 0.33 1.00 Ni 0.64 0.80 0.36 0.54 1.00 An examination of the gold RR showed there were 183 samples collected in 2022 with anomalous values (RR>=5; 434 samples inclusive of previous years). Of these samples 48 (91 inclusive) had RR values of 10-30 while 10 (36 inclusive) had RR >30. Previously, to help prioritize anomalous samples a criterion of Au+As+Cu RR>5 was used. This criterion was established in 2019 as a signature of the gold mineralization of the BAM Gold deposit. The criterion was developed using the available, limited, samples above the known mineralization. Since then, expansion drilling has been conducted to the east and west of the BAM Gold deposit, over areas that were soil sampled prior to the surface diamond drilling and associated disruption of the soil. In 2021, step out drilling to the east of the BAM Au deposit followed up on sporadic results from drilling in 2017 and followed the mineralized horizon as defined by drilling. Comparison of soil sample anomalies show a strong correlation between anomalous (RR>5) Au+As+Cu and Au samples with gold mineralization encountered in diamond drilling (see Figure 7). Additional anomalous soil samples occur to the south and north with the southern samples representing either additional mineralized lenses or weak soil dispersion. The anomalous samples to the north represent potential additional mineralized horizons. Summary of Results The complete set of soil data was used to identify anomalies and their trends. To identify anomalies, several elements with RR>=5 were examined. In particular Au, Ag, As, and Cu, with these elements often being closely associated with gold deposits and the combination of Au+As+Cu, characteristic of the BAM deposit. Using these criteria, locations with coincident Au+As+Cu, and to a lesser extent Ag, anomalies were examined in detail. Sites with anomaly trends consisting of coincident Au+As+Cu anomalies, as well as additional sites with Au RR>30, are listed in Table 4. The local grid locations are shown in Figure 8. Trends were grouped into regions, where possible and are shown in subsequent figures (Figure 9-13). Interpretation The multi-year soil sampling programs have shown promising results for gold exploration. Examination of the data after each program has allowed successive programs to build on the results. The programs have shown it is possible to correlate anomalous samples across great distances. It is important, while doing so, to not just rely on the intensity of the RR of elements but to also use a multi-element classification. This is highlighted when the BAM showing is examined. The original BAM occurrence has multiple gram surface samples but only generate an Au RR of 5-6 in the immediate samples. This criterion is not meant to exclude single element Au anomalies or deposits with different signatures. The soil sampling data from 2022 has refined previously defined anomalies originating from the BAM Gold deposit. The new data has enabled the anomalies to be traced to the west 5.4km from the deposit, and previous data has trends extending 2.0 km to the east. Portions of these trends have been drilled during expansion of the deposit, showing that the gold mineralization does occurs along the defined trends and that soil sampling can be used in targeting and predicting. It is important to note that soil results should be part of a multiprong approach to gold exploration. Soil sampling is an excellent, low cost, quick exploration tool that when combined with geophysics, surficial mapping and sampling will provide drill ready targets. Soil anomalies taken alone do not give a pin point location for targeting but do highlight areas of increased prospectivity and interest for follow up exploration by more costly methods. On the Junior Lake Property, to assist in correlating anomalies across multiple lines, the regional fabric of the area was used. The fabric, taken from field observations and geophysics, typically has an orientation of 105-115o. The geophysics also highlights formational sulphide zones within the area that are used as both marker horizons and to illustrate the fabric within a region. Breaks within the geophysics indicate the presence of potential cross-cutting structures within the area. A second interpretation of the soil anomalies was done removing the biases of the regional fabric. Only the soil anomalies were displayed and interpreted (see Figure 14 and Appendix I). After interpretation trends similar to the first interpretation were discarded. The trends left display a consistent trend to the northeast-southwest, the presumed direction of rideau shears within the area. Conclusions and Recommendations The 2022 soil sampling program was a success in helping to define and expand on anomalies from previous work as well as identification of trends in new locations. Anomalies have been traced from the BAM Gold deposit previously to the east, 2.0km, and to the west, over 5km. The 2022 soil results have further delineated and refined the western trend through additional sampling. In addition, newly defined anomalies have been identified along test lines extending to the south. Newly identified anomalies occur approximately 1.0km south of previously identified trends and represent a potential new gold horizon. The 2022 soil program identified new potential gold bearing trends in the Carrot Top area. The trends represent a continuation of the Lamaune Gold mineralization located to the east. The test lines on the Placer Grid need extension as they did not reach the target area. Diamond drilling have shown that soil anomalies do correlate with anomalous gold mineralization. Diamond drilling in the Felix Lake Grid area and diamond drilling along the eastern portion of the BAM Gold Deposit have returned anomalous gold (>100 ppb Au) in drill core. These locations have coincident soil anomalies associated with them. Recommendations: Survey lines should be continued in areas of interest, such as south of the Felix Grid, expanding on existing work. Work in 2022 has shown these lines can be done quickly via GPS and do not require a cut line. Initial line spacing of 500m is useful to show potential within areas, with the line spacing changing to 200m to get a rough trend orientation. The line spacing should be further reduced in areas of interest. The length of the infill line should extend a minimum of 200m above and below the interpreted anomaly with consideration given to access to the area. Intensive prospecting is to be conducted along anomalous gold trends. Previous work has indicated that unassuming, weakly sheared surface samples can return significant gold values. Due to this, sampling of all outcrops, where they occur, needs to be conducted in high priority areas. The test lines in the area of the Placer Grid need to be extended to cover the area of historic drilling. Additional sample lines need to be done from the northern extent of the Carrot Top Grid to Lamaune Gold Prospect to the east. Test lines need to be done over the Lamaune Gold occurrence, if possible, to determine its characteristics and apply this as a filter to the existing samples collected. Sampling in the area will be complicated due to the extensive soil disturbance from past drilling, extra care will need to be taken. Property scale soil sampling to be done using 500m spaced lines to the east and the west. Areas with exploration drilling and surface sampling to have data integrated with soil samples. From the soil sampling programs there are four areas identified as priority targets: The eastern extension of the Junior Lake grid contains numerous anomalies. Work has been done in the area expanding the known BAM Gold mineralization. The soil sampling shows a continuous soil anomaly along the interpreted BAM Gold mineralization as well as possible additional anomalies to the north and south. Recommendations in the area consist of: Continued drilling along the defined trend. Detailed prospecting along the possible anomalous trends to the north and south. Extension of the soil sampling grid to the east to follow along the anomalous values and guide exploration. Follow up on the multiple anomalous trends between Juno Lake and Boras Lake. Unfortunately, terrain may prove to be a problem as much of the area has thick overburden. Identification of a fingerprint for the Lamaune Gold occurrence to the west may assist in narrowing down generated anomalies associated with prospective iron formations. Expansion on the test lines done in the area east of North Lamaune Lake, testing the historic Placer Dome drilling and continuing to the east, through the Carrot Top grid to the Lamaune Gold prospect. Expansion of the Felix Lake soil sampling to the south. Preliminary lines have returned numerous anomalies along widely spaced lines." End of Extracts Drilling Update In the summer and autumn of 2022 Landore completed an exploration-drilling programme, consisting of 43 drill holes for 7,635 metres of diamond core, on the Felix - Carrot Top Zones located from one to eight kilometres west along strike from the 1.5-million-ounce BAM Gold Deposit and the B4-7/VW Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Palladium-Platinum deposits (Ni-Cu-Co-PGEs). (Reports 221117 and 230125) Carrot Top Zone: A drilling programme consisting of 20 drill holes for 3,436m of NQ diamond core, 1122-154 to 1122-173, has been completed on Carrot Top Zone, located approximately 7 to 8 kilometres along strike to the west of the BAM Gold and B4-7/VW Battery Metals deposits. The Carrot Top Zone was previously drilled from 2003 to 2008 reporting significant palladium-enriched nickel mineralisation. The current programme was aimed at infilling and extending the above area to allow modelling for resource purposes. All assay results have now been received. Results not previously reported include: Easting Northing Drill-hole From Width* Ni Cu Co Au Pt Pd No Metres Metres ppm ppm ppm ppb ppb ppb 11100 10050 1122-160 59.82 3.70 1311 82 81 10 2 2 11100 10100 1122-161 4.48 19.70 1165 150 83 1 1 <1 11170 10000 1122-162 17.09 3.06 1150 843 114 4 56 130 And 32.43 7.13 1393 1064 127 5 44 153 11315 10100 1122-163 116.78 7.00 1505 1172 136 6 45 222 and 131.26 2.17 1694 1303 175 4 73 285 11360 10080 1122-164 148.54 4.67 1306 664 128 2 37 146 1122-165 131.74 1.26 1550 2020 160 9 18 172 10900 10090 1122-166 44.62 39.88 622 151 63 5 10 31 includes 56.95 2.05 2858 883 197 16 31 166 1122-167 87.94 7.25 1107 326 109 1 21 77 10600 10060 1122-169 133.00 4.75 1158 777 121 8 32 151 and 169.20 1.05 2150 1475 254 2 <5 172 10500 10050 1122-171 192.56 2.72 1548 671 139 15 29 118 *The actual true thickness of mineralisation is estimated to represent between 75%-80% of the intervals shown in the above table. Planning: Landore's plans for 2023 are to focus on advancing its highly prospective BAM Gold project, targeting a two-million-ounce resource together with completing a pre-feasibility study, concentrating on: The underground potential at BAM as identified by CUBE in the May 2022 Resource Upgrade and presentation. Advancing the existing Inferred resource into an Indicated Resource together with infilling the exploration targets to the immediate east and west of the resource. Commencing pre-feasibility studies in Q3 to advance the BAM Project towards production. Junior Lake Property: The Junior Lake Property, 100% owned by Landore Resources, together with the contiguous Lamaune Iron property (90.2% owned) (jointly the "Junior Lake Property"), consisting of 33,029 hectares, is located in the province of Ontario, Canada, approximately 235 kilometers north-northeast of Thunder Bay and is host to; the BAM Gold Deposit; the B4-7 Nickel-Copper-Cobalt-Platinum-Palladium Deposit; the VW Nickel-Copper-Cobalt Deposit; Lamaune Gold Prospect and numerous other precious and strategic metal occurrences. Michele Tuomi, (P.Geo., BSc. Geology), Director/VP Exploration of Landore Resources Canada Inc. and a Qualified Person as defined in the Canadian National Instrument 43-101 and the AIM Rules for Companies, has reviewed and verified all scientific or technical mining disclosure contained in this announcement. SOURCE Landore Resources Ltd. Vancouver, April 13, 2023 - Bathurst Metal Corp. (BMV) ("Bathurst" or the "Company") is pleased to provide the following update on its 100 % owned Muskox PGE (Platinum Group Elements)-Chromite Reef claim (the "Muskox Reef Project"). BMV has an exploration agreement, C062-21-001, with Nunavut Tunnigavik Incorporated to conduct mineral exploration on Inuit owned lands announced October 06, 2022. Company geologists are now preparing to commence field work on the 10,433 hectare Muskox Reef Project which lies north of the McGregor/Speers Lake claims and 80 kilometers ("km") south of the village of Kugluktuk. The Muskox Reef Project is similar to other large layered Ultramafic intrusions that contain PGE mining camps: the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, the Stillwater Complex in the U.S.A., the Great Dyke in Zimbabwe, and the Noril'sk/Talnakh Complex in Russia. Historical results from the Muskox Reef Project indicate the "upper reef" layers of the intrusion host anomalous PGE concentrations. The Muskox Layered Ultramafic Intrusion fills a large, rifted graben that opened north to south. The graben was filled by cyclic intrusions of magma from deep within the earth's crust. Ultramafic rocks predominate the lower sequences of this layered intrusion. The deep-set ultramafics are overlain by mafic cumulates towards the top of the intrusion. Multiple layers contain interstitial to net-textured sulfides, and layers near the top of the intrusion are chromite enriched and bear a striking similarity to the platinum-bearing Merensky Reef and the Bushveld Complex. The Muskox Reef Project contains the complete layered sequence section found on the Speers Lake and McGregor Lake Projects and additionally contains the "upper reefs" known to host Chromite and PGE. The Muskox Reef Project was discovered by INCO in 1955. There have been a number of exploration programs throughout the years with the most recent in 2018 by MIE Metals. Historical assays from the surface exposure of the Muskox Reef have returned very encouraging combined Pd+Pt results up to 6.2 g/t with additional notable assays of 5.3 g/t, 5.0 g/t, 3.8 g/t, 3.5 g/t, 2.4 g/t over a widely spaced area exceeding 1 km in length. In areas where hot diabase dykes have cut through the reef, remobilization of PGEs adjacent to the dykes appears to have increased the potential for economic accumulation. The cross-cutting diabase dykes are easily identified on historical geophysical data held by the Company. In addition, historical geophysical data also shows the downdip extension of the Muskox Reef and reveals PGE-sulfide targets at depth. The Company's geological team will investigate the potential for PGE remobilization and enrichment on the reef by geological mapping and sampling the outcropping exposure of the PGE-Chromite reef. Mapping and sampling work will focus on areas adjacent to cross-cutting diabase dykes where PGE enrichment is most likely. Lorne Warner, P.Geo., President, stated, "Bathurst Metals Corp. is delighted to begin fieldwork on the Muskox Reef Project. The Muskox Reef contains multiple historic occurrences of near-surface PGE mineralization along an extensive >10km surface trend, making this a very exciting property with good blue-sky potential for further significant discoveries. This project is located in one of the World's top mining jurisdictions, the targets are shallow depth, the geology is highly prospective, and there is strong PGE metals market demand which means there is the potential to fast-track exploration and development activity." Qualified Person Lorne Warner, P. Geo, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 and has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical disclosure in this news release. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Harold Forzley" CEO Bathurst Metals Corp. For more information contact Harold Forzley, CEO info@bathurstmetalscorp.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. Forward Looking Statements Certain of the statements made and information contained herein may contain forward- looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, information concerning the Company's intentions with respect to the development of its mineral properties. Forward-looking information is based on the views, opinions, intentions and estimates of management at the date the information is made, and is based on a number of assumptions and subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated or projected in the forward-looking information (including the actions of other parties who have agreed to do certain things and the approval of certain regulatory bodies). Many of these assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of the Company and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct. 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 information. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by applicable securities laws, or to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of the Company, its financial or operating results or its securities. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. /Not for distribution to United States news wire services or for dissemination in the United States/ TORONTO, April 13, 2023 - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (OTCQB: EXNRF) (FRA: E4X2) ("Excellon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 28,571,428 subscription receipts of the Company (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of C$0.35 per Subscription Receipt (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to approximately C$10,000,000 (the "Offering"). Following completion of the Company's previously announced acquisition (the "Acquisition")1 of the issued and outstanding shares of Minera La Negra, S.A. de C.V., the owner of the permitted, past-producing La Negra mine ("La Negra") located in Queretaro State, Mexico, the net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used to advance development of La Negra, fund exploration at La Negra and for general corporate purposes. Acquisition Summary1: Excellon entered into a definitive agreement with Dalu S.a.r.l., an entity controlled by Orion Resource Partners, (the "Seller") to acquire La Negra for up to US$50 million 2 . . Upfront consideration totaling US$20 million in common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares") at a price of C$0.48 per Common Share. Up to US$30 million in deferred consideration payments after declaration of commercial production at La Negra, at the Company's option payable in cash or Common Shares. The Company and the Seller have agreed to extend the timeline to complete the Acquisition to no later than June 15, 2023.3 La Negra Project1: Fully permitted, past producing mine with established infrastructure and historical payable production averaging +3.0 million silver-equivalent ("AgEq") ounces ("oz") annually. Indicated Mineral Resources of approximately 15.1 million oz AgEq at 191 g/t AgEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of approximately 41.8 million AgEq oz at 202 g/t AgEq. Completed Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") demonstrates a post-tax NPV 5% of US$132.4 million. of US$132.4 million. Estimated restart capital of US$20.9 million based on the PEA. Target annual payable production of +3.0 million oz AgEq annually at an estimated cash cost of US$12.95 per AgEq oz. Polymetallic production mix: 43% Ag, 26% Zn, 23% Cu, 7% Pb by NSR contribution. Near-term restart of La Negra: 12-18 month development plan de-risking mine restart. The Subscription Receipts will be created and issued pursuant to the terms of a subscription receipt agreement (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") between a third party escrow agent, as subscription receipt agent (the "Subscription Receipt Agent"), and the Company. Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, for no additional consideration and without further action on the part of the holder thereof, one unit of the Company comprised of one Common Share and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"), subject to adjustment in certain events, upon the satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined in the Subscription Receipt Agreement), including the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the completion of the Acquisition, at or before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the Escrow Release Deadline (as defined in the Subscription Receipt Agreement). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of C$0.55 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering, subject to adjustment in certain events. In connection with the Offering, provided the Escrow Release Conditions are satisfied, certain arm's-length parties may receive a cash finder's fee payment and/or warrants to purchase Common Shares in consideration of Subscription Receipts that are sold to subscribers introduced by such parties. Upon closing of the Offering, the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering will be deposited in escrow with the Subscription Receipt Agent pending satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions, in accordance with the provisions of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. Unless the requisite approval is obtained pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement, if the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied at or before the Escrow Release Deadline, each of the then issued and outstanding Subscription Receipts will be cancelled and the Subscription Receipt Agent will return to each holder of Subscription Receipts an amount equal to the aggregate Offering Price of the Subscription Receipts held by such holder plus an amount equal to the holder's pro rata share of any interest or other income earned on the escrowed funds (less applicable withholding tax, if any). To the extent that the escrowed funds are insufficient to refund such amounts to each holder of the Subscription Receipts, the Company shall be liable for and will contribute such amounts as are necessary to satisfy the shortfall. The Offering is expected to close on or about May 4, 2023 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Subscription Receipts will be offered: (a) by way of private placement in each of the provinces of Canada pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws; (b) in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, by way of private placement pursuant to the exemptions from the registration requirements provided for under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"); and (c) in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States on a private placement or equivalent basis. The securities to be issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period in Canada pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities law, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy in the United States nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. __________________________________ 1 For further details on the Acquisition and La Negra (including the PEA and mineral resources) refer to Excellon's news release dated January 9, 2023 and the technical report entitled "Technical Report - Preliminary Economic Assessment Study, La Negra Mine, Minera La Negra S.A. de C.V., Caderyta de Montes (Maconi), Queretaro, Mexico" dated June 29, 2022 with an effective date of March 31, 2022 (the "La Negra Technical Report") available under Excellon's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website (www.excellonresources.com), as well as the Cautionary Statements at the end of this news release. 2 As previously disclosed in Excellon's news release dated January 9, 2023, 60% of the purchase consideration will be paid to the Seller for all of its shares of the holding company of La Negra and 40% will be paid to Grupo Desarrollador Migo, S.A.P.I. de C.V. for the termination of existing joint venture arrangements regarding La Negra. 3 As previously disclosed in the "Corporate Update" section of Excellon's news release dated April 3, 2023 announcing the Company's financial and operating results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the Company was in discussions with the Seller regarding an extension of the timeline to complete the Acquisition to no later than the end of June 2023 (as opposed to the April 2023 target dates announced on January 9, 2023). Copies of such prior news releases are available under Excellon's profile on SEDAR and on Excellon's website. About Excellon Excellon's vision is to realize opportunities through the acquisition of advanced development or producing assets with further potential to gain from an experienced operational management team for the benefit of our employees, communities and shareholders. The Company is advancing a portfolio of silver, base metals and precious metals assets including Kilgore, an advanced gold exploration project in Idaho; and Silver City, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany with 750 years of mining history and no modern exploration. The Company has also entered into an agreement to acquire La Negra, a past-producing Ag-Zn-Cu-Pb mine with exploration potential, located in Mexico. Additional details on Excellon's properties are available at www.excellonresources.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained, referenced or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as: "advance", "deferred", "de-risking", "development", "expected", "exploration", "following", "further", "later", "near-term", "opportunities", "option", "payable", "plan", "potential", "preliminary", "restart", "subject to", "target", "upon", and "vision", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, will (or not) be achieved, occur, provide, result or support in the future or which, by their nature, refer to future events. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the structure and terms of the Offering; the use of proceeds of the Offering the timing and ability of the Company to close the Offering; any finder's fee payments, in cash or warrants to purchase Common Shares; the timing and ability of the Company to receive necessary approvals; the timing and ability of the Company to close the Acquisition (including timing thereof); the restart of mining operations and/or commercial production at La Negra (including strategy, plans, critical work streams, development activities and resulting further analysis, timing, costs, capital requirements, permitting, achieving commercial production, mine plan, production); exploration at La Negra; the La Negra PEA including any financial and/or economic metrics and other results or conclusions or recommendations thereof (including restart recommendation and the following which are all estimates only: AgEq oz, cash costs and capital costs, production, NPV, and NSR contribution); and Excellon's vision. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others, the "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2023 (the "2023 AIF"), and the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in this news release, the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis, and accompanying financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2022 (collectively, the "FYE 2022 Financial Disclosure"), the La Negra Technical Report, the Excellon news releases referenced in this news release, and the Company's other applicable public disclosure (collectively, "Company Disclosure"). The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the 2023 AIF and the other aforementioned Company Disclosure. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained in this news release are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the FYE 2022 Financial Disclosure, the 2023 AIF and the other referenced Company Disclosure. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. Mineral Resources Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, mineral resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral resource estimates that are not classified as mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the foregoing Cautionary Statements on Forward-Looking Statements. The quantity and grade of reported "inferred" mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "inferred" mineral resource estimates as an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading "inferred" mineral resource estimates to an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource category. The accuracy of any mineral resource estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. The quantity and grade of "inferred" mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "inferred" mineral resource estimates as an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading "inferred" mineral resource estimates to an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource category. Mineral resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling and development; (iii) results of geological and structural modeling including stope design; (iv) metallurgical testing and other testing; (v) proposed mining operations including dilution; and (vi) the possible failure to receive and/or maintain required permits, licenses and other approvals. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a "inferred", "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category including a mineral reserve. Mineral resource estimates disclosed by the Company were estimated and reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101") using Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the "CIM Standards"), which govern the public disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects by Canadian issuers such as Excellon, and applying the CIM's Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practices guidelines (as applicable). For additional discussion of the Company's mineral resource estimates at La Negra, as well as an overall more detailed discussion of such project, the reader should refer to the 2023 AIF and the La Negra Technical Report. U.S. Readers The terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" as disclosed by the Company are Canadian mining terms defined in the CIM Standards (collectively, the "CIM Definitions") in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 establishes standards for all public disclosure that a Canadian issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These Canadian standards differ from the requirements of the SEC applicable to United States domestic and certain foreign reporting companies under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K ("S-K 1300"). Accordingly, information describing mineral resource estimates for the Company's projects and La Negra, may not be comparable to similar information publicly reported in accordance with the applicable requirements of the SEC, and so there can be no assurance that any mineral resource estimate for the Company's projects or La Negra would be the same had the estimates been prepared per the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements under applicable United States federal securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including but not limited to S-K 1300. Further, there is no assurance that any mineral resource or mineral reserve estimate that the Company may report under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared such estimates under S-K 1300. Preliminary Economic Assessments (or PEAs) A PEA, including the La Negra PEA, is only a conceptual study of the potential viability of the subject project's mineral resource estimates, and the economic and technical viability of the project and its estimated mineral resources has not been demonstrated. A PEA is preliminary in nature and provides only an initial, high-level review of the subject project's potential and design options; there is no certainty that a PEA will be realized. The conceptual LOM plan and economic model in a PEA include numerous assumptions and mineral resource estimates including inferred mineral resource estimates. Inferred mineral resource estimates are considered to be too speculative geologically to have any economic considerations applied to such estimates. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies or other economic studies, except in prescribed cases, such as in a preliminary economic assessment under certain circumstances. There is no guarantee that inferred mineral resource estimates will be converted to indicated or measured mineral resources, or that indicated or measured mineral resources can be converted to mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and as such there is no guarantee the economics described in any PEA, including the La Negra PEA, will be achieved. Mineral resource estimates may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties and other factors, as more particularly described in the foregoing other Cautionary Statements of this news release. Qualified Persons Mr. Paul Keller, P. Eng., Chief Operating Officer of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43-101 (a "QP"), reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information relating to operations and production results contained in this news release. Mr. Jorge Ortega, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of the Company and a QP, reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information relating to geological interpretation and results contained in this news release. SOURCE Excellon Resources Inc. Toronto, April 13, 2023 - Idaho Champion (CSE: ITKO) (OTCQB: GLDRF) (FSE: 1QB1) ("Idaho Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company signed definitive agreements (the "Definitive Agreements") to complete previously announced acquisitions (see Press Releases dated January 25, 2023 and March 2, 2023) of the prospective properties in the pegmatite-rich Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory of Quebec (the "Transactions"). Upon closing of the Transactions, the Company will control 846 contiguous claims covering 432 km2 (see Figure 1) in the La Grande Greenstone Belt, rich in lithium pegmatite. All Idaho Champion properties have good infrastructure, including power and road access. The Company's lithium properties (the "Projects") neighbour Patriot Battery Metals' Corvette Project which recently drilled 83.7 m at 3.13% Li 2 O (222.7 m to 306.4 m), including 19.8 m at 5.28% Li 2 O and 5.1 m at 5.17% Li 2 O (CV23-105)* and Winsome Resources' advanced Cancet Project. The contracts are being finalized for the spring field program that is expected to start in the near term. The Company will issue a press release outlining details of the field spring program in due course. Figure 1: Quebec Lithium Pegmatite Property Location Map To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/162218_3d7cb259646a7a9e_001full.jpg Pursuant to the Definitive Agreements, Idaho Champion will acquire 492 claims for aggregate consideration of CAD$120,000 in cash, 11,200,000 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares"), and 1,750,000 warrants to purchase Common Shares priced at CAD$0.15 per Common Share for two years from the date of signing of the respective Definitive Agreement. Each of the vendors will retain a 2% net smelter royalty ("NSR"). The Company has the option to repurchase 1% of the NSR from the applicable vendor for CAD$1 million. As a condition of closing, the Company will issue a total of 445,000 Common Shares in connection with finder's fees. *The Projects are at an early stage of exploration, and the Company cautions that the qualified persons who have reviewed and approved this news release have not verified scientific or technical information produced by third parties, and proximity to projects containing lithium resources offers no assurance that the rock types or lithium resources reported by Patriot Battery Metals and others extend onto the Projects and such proximity is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization reported by third parties with projects in the district. Qualified Person Patrick Highsmith, Certified Professional Geologist (AIPG CPG # 11702) and director of the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Highsmith has helped prepare, reviewed, and approved the technical information in this news release. About Idaho Champion Gold Mines Inc. Idaho Champion is a discovery-focused exploration company that is committed to advancing its highly prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. In addition, the Company owns the Baner gold project in Idaho County and the Champagne polymetallic project in Butte County near Arco. The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "ITKO", on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "GLDRF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB1". Idaho Champion strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates, taking its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF IDAHO CHAMPION "Jonathan Buick" Jonathan Buick, President and CEO To learn more, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or the Company's corporate website at www.idahochamp.com. For further information, please contact: Nicholas Konkin, Marketing and Communications Phone: (416) 567-9087 Email: nkonkin@idahochamp.com THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. Cautionary Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company, including closing of the Transactions and the prospectivity of the Projects for lithium. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162218 April 13th - Rockport, Ontario - New Age Metals Inc. (TSXV:NAM); (OTC:NMTLF); (FSE:P7J2) ("NAM" or "Company") is pleased to announce the procurement of 30, 668 hectares of mineral exploration license (MEL) area around Red Cross Lake, Manitoba. The Northman Lithium project is the Company's third property acquisition of 2023. The MEL covers approximately a 28 km strike length of the North Kenyon Shear Zone and surrounds an associated LCT pegmatite swarm documented at Red Cross Lake with historical assays up to 1.25% Li2O and 2.86% Cs2O (LPG pegmatite) and 2.97% Li2O (SPG pegmatite). 1 The newly acquired Northman Lithium Project lies within the Oxford-Stull domain in Northern Manitoba's Red Cross Lake greenstone belt (figure 1) which hosts highly fractionated lithium-bearing pegmatites and is significantly underexplored. All the claims are held by Lithium Canada Development, a 100% owned Lithium Division of New Age Metals. KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTHMAN LITHIUM PROJECT Along trend of lithium bearing pegmatites documented at Red Cross Lake LPG Pegmatite: Lepidolite and Pollucite rich pegmatite swarm with 17 parallel and sheared dykes up to 4 meters in width over an area of ~50 meters Work by the Geological Survey of Canada in the 1960's identified the rubidium and cesium potential of these pegmatites, with one sample assaying 2.86% CsO, 1.29% RbO, and 1.26% Li 1 SPG Pegmatite: Spodumene-bearing dyke with grab samples assaying up to 2.97% LiO In terms of K/Rb ratios, the pegmatites in the Red Cross area are ranked with the most evolved spodumene pegmatites worldwide Large leucogranite intrusions within the MEL zone that occur up to 5 km long and attain a maximum width of 90 meters. Thin-section analysis of these units identified the presence of spodumene and quartz replacing petalite Property covers 30 km of strike extent of the North Kenyon Shear Zone, a regional-scale structure in which "the pegmatitic rocks are situated within, or closely adjacent to" 4,5 Identified targets from regional magnetics that are analogous to those hosting rare-metal pegmatites at Red Cross Lake. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 1: Overview of Newly Acquired Northman Lithium Project Harry Barr, Chairman and CEO of New Age Metals Inc. commented "It is fantastic to see our research efforts and diligence paying off with the addition of this highly prospective ground. While we work and develop our Southeast Manitoba projects through the joint venture with Mineral Resources Ltd., we intend to be a leader and prospect generator for green metals in Canada. Our three recent 100% owned project acquisitions now give us a large lithium focused portfolio with excellent exploration targets in Northern Manitoba. Together with our technical team from Axiom Exploration Group Ltd., we are currently working on a comprehensive go-forward exploration plan for these properties as we patiently await the snow to melt so our crew can get boots on the ground." New Age Metals continues to expand it's Manitoba Lithium Division's land holdings as a leading explorer for battery metals in the province. The recent acquisitions bring the total land holdings to 74,448 hectares (figure 2). New Age Metals has 11 projects covering 20,211 hectares in Southern Manitoba which are under option to Mineral Resources Ltd., one of the top 5 lithium producers worldwide. The recent acquisitions of South Bay -, McLaughlin Lake -, and Northman Lithium Projects make up 54,289 hectares for which the Company is looking to find a strategic partnership. Click Image To View Full Size Figure 2: Overview of New Age Metals Inc. Land Holdings in Manitoba, Canada About NAM New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery, exploration, and development of green metal projects in North America. The Company has two divisions: a Platinum Group Metals division and a Lithium/Rare Element division. The PGM Division includes the 100% owned, multi-million-ounce, district-scale River Valley Project, one of North America's largest undeveloped Platinum Group Metals Projects, situated 100 km by road east of Sudbury, Ontario. The company plans to have an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) completed on the project by mid-summer and will announce it's exploration plans within the next 60 days. In addition to River Valley, NAM owns 100% of the road accessible Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska and plans to complete a Option-Joint Venture arrangement with a third party mining company to develop the project. The Company's Lithium Division is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, where the Company is exploring for hard rock lithium and various rare elements such as tantalum, rubidium, and cesium. The company recently completed a phase two drill program at Lithium Two Project and is beginning to receive initial assay results. Further exploration plans for 2023/24 include continued mapping/sampling field programs following up on prospective trends outlined in the magnetic data and 2022 surface sampling, additional geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling. The company has a partnership with Mineral Resource Limited (MRL, ASX: MIN), a top global lithium producer to explore and develop the Company's lithium project portfolio. The 2023/24 budget for our Manitoba Lithium Division has been submitted to MRL and a final budget is expected by mid-April 2023. The company is currently completing its 2022/23 $2.3 million budget. Our philosophy is to be a project generator with the objective of optioning our projects with major and junior mining companies through to production. The Company is actively seeking an option/ joint venture partner for our newly acquired Northman, McLaughlin Lake, and South Bay Lithium Projects in Northern Manitoba, as well as its road-accessible Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska. Investors are invited to visit the New Age Metals website at www.newagemetals.com where they can review the company and its corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed to info@newagemetals.com or Harry Barr at Hbarr@newagemetals.com or Farid Mammadov at faridm@newagemetals.com or call 613 659 2773. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume (Senior Geologist, Axiom Exploration Ltd.), a Qualified Person, and a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo) who is a registered member of the 'Engineer and Geosciences of Manitoba' (no. 47952). Opt-in List If you have not done so already, we encourage you to sign up on our website (www.newagemetals.com) to receive our updated news. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Harry Barr" Harry G. Barr Chairman and CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as "continue", "efforts", "expect", "believe", "anticipate", "confident", "intend", "strategy", "plan", "will", "estimate", "project", "goal", "target", "prospects", "optimistic" or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Company's ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts' expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. References Jambor, J L; Potter, R R. 1967, Rubidium-bearing Dykes, Gods River area, Manitoba; Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 67-15, 1967 2. Cerny, P., Corkery, M.T., N.M., Ferreira, K., Brisbin, W.C. Chackowsky, L.E., Meintzer, R.E., Longstaff, F.J. & Trueman, D.L., (2012a): Extreme Fractionation and deformation of the leucogranite-pegmatite suite at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. I. Geological setting. Can. Mineral. 50. 1793-1806 3. ?erny, Petr & Halden, Norman & Ferreira, Karen & Meintzer, Robert & Brisbin, William & Chackowsky, Leonard & Longstaffe, Fred & Trueman, David. (2012). Extreme fractionation and deformation of the leucogranite - Pegmatite suite at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. II. Petrology of the leucogranites and pegmatites. The Canadian Mineralogist. 50. 10.3749/canmin.50.6.1807. 4. Brisbin, William & Eby, Ray & Corkery, Timothy & Cerny, Petr & Chackowsky, Leonard & Fierreira, Karen & Halden, Norman & Meintzer, Robert & Trueman, David. (2012). Extreme fractionation and deformation of the leucogranite - Pegmatite suite at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. III. Description Of shearing and mylonitization textures in the lepidolite pegmatites. The Canadian Mineralogist. 50. 1823-1838. 10.3749/canmin.50.6.1823. 5. Cerny, Petr & Teertstra, David & Chapman, Ron & Selway, Julie & Hawthorne, Frank & Ferreira, Karen & Chackowsky, Leonard & Wang, X.-J & Meintzer, Robert. (2013). Extreme fractionation and deformation of the leucogranite - Pegmatite suite at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. IV. Mineralogy. The Canadian Mineralogist. 50. 1839-1875. 10.3749/canmin.50.6.1839. 6. Manitoba Assessment Report# 94002 - Report on Diamond Drilling Sucker 1&2 Claim Blocks, Red Cross Lake (1981) by Tantalum Mining Corporation of Canada 7. Manitoba Assessment Report# 95009 - Report on Red Cross Lake Ta-Li-Cs-Rb Property (2001) by William C. Hood, P.Geo Copyright (c) 2023 TheNewswire - All rights reserved. Vancouver, April 13, 2023 - Valorem Resources Inc. (CSE: VALU) (FSE: X37) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, effective as of April 13, 2023, Sir Samuel Jonah (KBE, OSG) has been appointed as a senior advisor to the Company. Sir Samuel Jonah Sir Samuel Jonah has significant experience and expertise in the global mining sector, especially in Africa. He has extensive listed company experience, having served on the boards of various public and private companies, including Ashanti Goldfields, Anglo Ashanti, Moto Gold Mines, Vodafone Group plc, the Global Advisory Council of the Bank of America corporation and Standard Bank Group, Roscan Gold and a Non-Executive Director of Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited. Sir Samuel Jonah is currently the Chairman of Helios Towers, a leading independent telecoms infrastructure company, focused on Africa and the Middle East, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Sir Samuel Jonah is the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He joined Ashanti Goldfields Corporation in 1979, working in various capacities, including underground operations. At the age of 36, he became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and supervised the transformation of Ashanti Goldfields into a mining multinational, increased gold production from 240,000 ounces per annum to over 1.6 million ounces in over ten years, and oversaw the company's listing as the first operating African company on the New York Stock Exchange. He became Executive President of Anglo Ashanti Ltd. (world second largest gold producer at the time) in May 2004 when Ashanti merged with AngloGold Limited. Sir Samuel Jonah was instrumental in creating and building UraMin Inc., from a start-up AIM London listed junior uranium mining company to the sale of the company is less then 24 months for $2.4 Billion. Sir Samuel Jonah also played a significant role in transforming Equinox Minerals from a $60 Million market capitalization company to a $7.4 Billion company before selling to Barrick. In addition, he took Moto Gold from a $50 Million market capitalization company to a $546 Million company before selling to Rangold. Moto Gold discovered the Kabali gold mine in DRC, which is now one of Barrick Gold's largest producing mines. In June 2003, Sir Jonah became the first Ghanaian to be knighted in the 21st century when he was presented with an honorary knighthood in recognition of his achievements as an African businessman, a leading business executive from the Commonwealth, and an international public figure. Sir Jonah was elected in 2018 as a foreign member of the United States National Academy of Engineering in recognition of his distinguished leadership and technical contributions to engineering and for advancing the mineral industry in Africa. Sir Jonah had his high-school education at Adisadel College, in Cape Coast, Ghana, then earned an Associateship in Mining Engineering at the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, England, and subsequently a M.Sc. in Mine Management at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. Sir Jonah has an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree awarded jointly by the Camborne School of Mines and the University of Exeter (UK) in 1996. In 2022, Sir Jonah was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. Tony Louie, Interim CEO and Director of Valorem, commented: "I am delighted to welcome Sir Samuel Jonah to Valorem as a senior advisor. Sir Samuel Jonah brings with him invaluable experience and knowledge of the African mining industry and will make a significant contribution to the growth of our company." About Valorem Resources Inc. Valorem Resources is a mineral exploration company working on a Tier-1 gold opportunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ("DRC"), located in the Fizi territory of South Kivu province, in the DRC. The Misisi Gold Project (or the "Project") has a contained Inferred Mineral Resource of 3 million ounces of gold as reported in the Company's National Instrument 43-101 technical report on the Misisi Gold Project (the "Technical Report"). The Project is located 250 kilometres south of Bukavu, the provincial capital of the South Kivu Province, in the DRC. The Project is comprised of three contiguous 30-year mining leases, valid until 2045, covering 133 square kilometres of prospective exploration ground along the 55-kilometre-long Kibara Gold Belt. The Kibara Belt is a well-known metallogenic province and hosts a number of other deposits including the Twangiza (5.1 Moz oz Au, source: S&P Global) and Namoya (1.9 Moz, source: S&P Global) gold mines. The Project is host to the Akyanga deposit, which is the subject to Inferred Resource of 44.3 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.16 grams per tonne gold containing 3.0 million ounces. Qualified Person Ephraim Masibhera, a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Historical information contained in this news release cannot be relied upon as the Company's Qualified Person, as defined under NI 43-101 has not prepared nor verified the historical information. This news release also includes references with respect to the Twangiza (5.1 Moz oz Au, source: S&P Global) and Namoya (1.9 Moz, source: S&P Global) gold mines, which are located near the Misisi Gold Project. The Company advises that, notwithstanding their proximity of location, discoveries of minerals on such properties, any promising results thereof are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization of, or located on the Misisi Gold Project, or the Company's ability to commercially exploit the minerals claims which comprise the property or to locate any commercially exploitable deposits therefrom. For more information on the Misisi Gold Project, please refer to the Technical Report filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tony Louie, Interim CEO and Director Email: info@valoremresources.com Office: +1 (604) 908-1679 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162240 Cannasouth Limited (NZX: CBD ) today announces the Special Shareholder Meeting to approve the proposed 50:50 merger (Merger) with Eqalis Group New Zealand Limited (Eqalis) will be held on Friday, 28 April 2023, commencing at 11.00am, at the offices of Link Market Services Limited, Level 30, PWC Commercial Bay, 15 Customs Street West, Auckland. This will be a hybrid meeting, allowing shareholders to attend in person or online. The formal notice of the Special Shareholder Meeting, including the explanatory notes for each resolution and further details for participation online, and Voting Form are attached. The Notice of Meeting and Voting Form will be emailed to shareholders who have provided the companys share registrar with an email address and mailed in hard copy where the companys share registrar does not have an email address. Electronic copies of these documents are also available on the companys website, https://www.cannasouth.co.nz/eqalis/ Capital Raising Initiative: As previously announced CBD is seeking to raise circa $9 million of new capital in conjunction with the Merger (Capital Raise). Details of the structure of the proposed capital raising initiative were released to the market on 4 April 2023. In that announcement CBD advised that third party investors, including for this purpose certain CBD shareholders or Eqalis shareholders (together Firm Investors) were being approached to secure binding commitments to participate in the Capital Raise, subject to sufficient CBD shares being available for subscription. The CBD Board is pleased to advise that binding commitments to participate in the Capital Raise for amounts of $3.3 million in aggregate have been received from Firm Investors to date, and the Board anticipates that further commitments will be received from additional third parties in the forthcoming weeks. CBD will provide updates as additional firm commitments are secured. CBD Chair, Tony Ho says, Securing these firm commitments so early in the Capital Raise and Merger process is an excellent outcome for both CBD and Eqalis, and confirms the support that investors have for the proposed Merger with Eqalis. CBD will continue to provide any material updates regarding the progress of the Merger as they come to hand. Merger Video: Today Cannasouth has released a 7-minute video providing shareholders with information on the benefits of the proposed merger. The video is available online at https://vimeo.com/812510853/71055daaff The following documents accompany this announcement: Notice of Meeting Proxy Voting Form Independent Advisers Report Certain other information mentioned in the Notice of Meeting is available to view on Cannasouths website at https://www.cannasouth.co.nz/eqalis/ -ENDS- Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: SPL - Annual Meetings and Director Nominations Closing Date Restaurant Brands Q1 Sales Announcement TASK Group Q4 FY23 Quarterly Report and Appendix 4C TWR - AM Best affirms Tower Limited's A- (Excellent) FSR NZX Subordinated Notes - first election date April 24th Morning Report HBL Subordinated Notes Interest Rate Set HBL Subordinated Notes Offer - Offer Closed Rua Bioscience CFO Hamish White Resigns SML - Director of People & Culture appointed Frederic Vasseur has given the thumbs-up to Formula 1's sudden qualifying format change in 2023. In Melbourne, it emerged that the 'sprint race' weekend format was set for an immediate tweak, with a second and separate qualifying session added. Now, for the sprint weekends, there will be just a single practice session before the first qualifying session on Friday - which will determine the order of Sunday's grid. Then, on Saturday, there will be another qualifying session specifically for the sprint race that takes place later that day. "The new format should be more dynamic," Ferrari boss Frederic Vasseur is quoted by Russia's Sport-Express. "One can, of course, argue about why these changes are being made so late. But in the end, since we all agree on them without exception, it is worth doing. "I like the format," he insisted. "I'm not a big fan of the regular practice format, which is sometimes pretty boring. "Not for us, because the teams collect a lot of data, but for the audience. If you don't know what the teams are doing, how much fuel someone has and so on, it can be really boring. "So trying to make the weekend more dynamic is a good decision," said Vasseur. (GMM) The struggles of Russian weapons manufacturers have added to historic shifts in the global arms market. by John P. Ruehl On March 21, 2023, Indias air force confirmed that a major Russian arms delivery would not occur, citing Russias logistical challenges stemming from its war in Ukraine. It has served as the latest example of Russias inability to complete weapons deals with India since the conflict began in February 2022. India is the worlds largest arms importer, and as the countrys largest supplier, Russia plays an outsized role in Indias defense. But Russias ongoing military challenges in Ukraine will naturally increase Indias push to develop homegrown defense alternatives and diversify foreign suppliers. Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II. Photo: Flickr/Robert Sullivan Strong growth in Russian defense spending since the start of the war indicates that the countrys domestic weapons manufacturers can rely on stable demand from the Russian state. But sanctions have meant they are already having difficulty completing these orders, and risk losing further international market share as their products increasingly flow to the Russian military. The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimates that six countriesthe U.S., Russia, France, China, Germany, and Italywere responsible for 80 percent of global weapons exports from 2018 to 2022. The U.S. alone counted for 40 percent, while Russia was a distant second at 16 percent. It is difficult to place an exact value on the global arms industry. What exactly constitutes arms is debated, while the same products can be sold for different prices. Weapons may also be shipped discreetly or on the black market. Nonetheless, SIPRI uses a trend-indicator value that allocates a specific value to individual weapons or weapons systems based on their capabilities. Maintaining and growing their market share is a prerogative for countries that export weapons. For Russia, weapons deals are a key method to gain access to hard currency. But weapons exporters also gain leverage over recipient countries by shaping their security situation, helping to lock in long-term constructive relations with other countries. The strength of national weapons industries can often fluctuate. After the Soviet collapse, for example, state funding for Russias arms industry declined markedly, while much of the weapons manufacturing infrastructure formerly under Moscows control was spread across the former Soviet Union. But even Eastern European countries seeking to make their armed forces more interoperable with NATO and Western weapons struggled to wean themselves off Russian weapons. Increasing exports to China and India meanwhile helped sustain Russias arms industry in the 1990s. And after Putin came to power in 2000, Russias weapons industry managed to flourish by rebuilding part of its former client base and expanding across Asia, the Middle East, and Africa. Despite remaining the worlds second-largest arms exporter, Russias industry has faced significant headwinds in recent years. Sales had already declined following the imposition of the first round of sanctions in 2014, which limited technology imports to Russia and punished countries for purchasing Russian weapons. Sales to China, Russias other major weapons market have declined substantially since the 2000s, despite a slight rebound in 2018. And while China has developed its own domestic industry, it has also begun to export overseas to traditional Russian markets. The struggles of Russias defense industry since the start of the war in Ukraine have also forced the Kremlin to reach out to recipient countries. In March 2022, U.S. intelligence indicated that Russia asked China for military assistance, a claim denied by both Russia and China. Russia has also reportedly turned to India in search of spare parts, sought artillery shells from North Korea, and purchased drones and missiles from Iran. Contrastingly, the U.S. has provided Ukraine with $30 billion worth of both excess weapons and vehicles and some of its latest weaponry. Doing so has weakened Russian military capabilities significantly without having to involve U.S. forces directly. U.S. weapons exports surged in 2022, spurred by deliveries to Ukraine and other allies increasingly wary of Russia and China. Other countries have also sought to take advantage of the struggles facing Russias defense industry. French weapons exports had already increased from 7 percent of the global total from 2013 to 2017 to 11 percent from 2018 to 2022. France has also looked to rejuvenate its image as a leading arms exporter after the 2021 AUKUS deal between Australia, the U.S., and the UK terminated a high-profile French-Australian submarine program, humiliating Paris. As Indias second-largest arms source, France is a frontrunner in a deal to deliver 27 Rafale fighter jets to the Indian Navy, having already delivered 36 to India since a deal was signed in 2016. And as sanctions have hindered Russias ability to provide essential parts, Serbia, another Russian weapons customer, declared it was in talks to place an order for French jets as well. Germanys arms industry has also exported significant quantities in recent years, with 2022 being the second-largest year for arms exports in German history. Germanys ruling coalition initially wanted to scale back the countrys arms exports to avoid sending weapons to countries deemed human rights offenders, before the war in Ukraine saw exports surge. However, the difficulties many European countries faced when they attempted to send German-built Leopard tanks to Ukraine demonstrated some of the underlying issues affecting Western weapons industries. Many Leopard tanks did not function properly and required significant refurbishment and additional parts, while other countries were unwilling to part with the few working tanks in their possession. Despite the hundreds of Leopards that Ukraine requested, only a few dozen have been delivered. Western weapons stockpiles have also been significantly reduced in an effort to bolster the Ukrainian military. The focus on high-tech luxury weapons has meanwhile meant that European countries have struggled to transition to mass production industries. Russias focus on using artillery and relying on its ammunition stockpile have undercut the Wests technological and industrial advantages by forcing Ukraine to engage in artillery battles. Both U.S. and Russian defense industries have also struggled to produce cheap drones, which have had a significant impact in recent conflicts, most notably during the 2020 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Turkey in particular has rapidly developed its homegrown drone industry, and Turkish drones have been used against Russian weapons to great effect during the 2020 Armenia-Azerbaijan war as well as in Libya and Syria. Turkey has sold many drones to Ukraine, while Iran has sold its own arsenal to Russia. Both Turkey and Iran are aiming to pitch their products as low-cost alternatives to Western manufacturers. Turkey, however, is still in talks to buy Russias S-400 missile defense system. Its provision of weapons to Ukraine, while it continues to negotiate weapons deals with Russia, demonstrates the complicated nature of the global arms industry. The war in Ukraine continues to underline how integral the arms industry is to geopolitics and the importance of being able to manufacture weapons domestically and cheaply. China, for example, has not provided weapons to either Ukraine or Russia, but its largest civilian drone maker, DJI, is one of the most important suppliers for their militaries. Weapons manufacturers must also be wary of their exports one day being used against them. Chinas supply of weapons to Vietnam to fight U.S. forces in the 1960s and 1970s saw them used against the Chinese military during the 1979 Sino-Vietnamese War. Additionally, many of the U.S. weapons given to Afghanistan and Iraq ended up in the hands of the Taliban and the Islamic State. In the court of public opinion, weapons exporters are also increasingly seen as partly responsible for how recipients use their products. The U.S. has been criticized in recent years for its weapons exports to Saudi Arabia, which is under fire for human rights abuses and for its conflict in Yemen. And though claims of Western weapons being smuggled out of Ukraine have often been dismissed, there is concern that many of the weapons sent to the Ukrainian military have or will end up on the black market. Above all, the ongoing massive weapons deliveries that continue to shape the conflict in Ukraine have elevated the profiles of major multinational weapons corporations, reinforcing one of the most uncomfortable aspects of warprofiteering. Credit Line: This article was produced by Globetrotter. John P. Ruehl is an Australian-American journalist living in Washington, D.C. He is a contributing editor to Strategic Policy and a contributor to several other foreign affairs publications. He is currently finishing a book on Russia to be published in 2022. Group calls for regulatory framework to protect incomes of cocoa farmers Elizabeth Nyaadu Adu Business News Apr - 13 - 2023 , 04:31 The manager campaigner of EcoCare Ghana, Obed Owusu-Addai, has said there is the need for a good regulatory framework to safeguard the interest of cocoa farmers in the country. According to him, farmers over the years have been deprived of what he described as fair pricing of the cocoa beans they sell, a development which often demoralises them and affects their livelihood. That, he said, had led to a wide income gap between cocoa farmers and chocolate producers. Mr Owusu-Addai was speaking at the launch of the fourth edition of the Chocolate Scorecard in Accra. The scoreboard surveyed the worlds biggest chocolate companies to find out how they are addressing key challenges in the Cocoa-chocolate value chain. Mr Owusu-Addai said, Its time for the cocoa farmers to send a strong message to the international buyers, regulator and other stakeholders in the cocoa sector about their plight. How can the farmer who produces the commodity that generated about $110 billion in 2021 alone still receive less than 10 per cent of the value of that commodity? he quizzed. We need to close that gap between the $10 billion cocoa industry and the $150 billion chocolate industry, he added. Chocolate scoreboard This years scorecard ranked 83 of the largest chocolate companies (brands), retailers and processes on their performance in six sustainability categories namely Traceability, Transparency, Child Labour, Living Income, Deforestation and Climate, Agroforestry and Chemical Management. It was led by three research institutions - the Macquire University Sydney, The Open University, UK, and the University of Wollongong and coordinated by Be Slavery Free (Australia) with support from a global coalition of NGOs including Green America, INKOTA, Mighty Earth, EcoCare Ghana and the National Wildlife Federation. According to the scoreboard, some companies were rising to the challenge, while others continued to ignore consumer demand for chocolate that is free of child labour, poverty, deforestation among other things. It said sustainability claims made by companies were defined narrowly to refer only to their programmes, which may foster sustainable practices but do not refer to the actual status of their cocoa or necessarily improve the actual living conditions of cocoa farmers. Fair pricing For his part, a Senior Director at Mighty Earth, Julian Oram, criticised how cocoa farmers in Ghana are not earning enough despite playing a very important role in the booming chocolate industry. Ghana is obviously one of the worlds leading producers of cocoa. So many of the companies that we surveyed buy cocoa directly from Ghana for their chocolate manufacturing so of course, the findings from this scoreboard have relevance to Ghanaian farmers and traders, he said. IMF set to approve $3bn bailout for Ghana in May Sources Maxwell Akalaare Adombila Business News Apr - 13 - 2023 , 15:05 Ghana is set to secure final approval for the $3 billion bailout programme from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in May after tapping the goodwill of the fund and key bilateral creditors to fast track the debt restructuring process, Graphic Online has gathered. Financial assurance from the bilateral creditors, which is the last hurdle for Ghana, is due later this month, to pave the way for the request to be submitted to the IMF Executive Board for consideration and approval in May. Two people with deep insights on the talks have told Graphic Online's Maxwell Akalaare Adombila who is in Washington D.C., USA, covering the World Bank/IMF Spring Meetings. Once the request goes before the board, I am pretty sure it will not encounter any challenges and so a deal in early or mid-May is possible, one source said in Washington D.C., where global leaders on the economy have converged for the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings. Already, the Managing Director of the IMF, Kristalina Georgieva, has said that she was optimistic about the funds Executive Board granting final approval to Ghanas request soon. Read also: Ghana will get bailout package soon IMF MD Ghana Education News Promoting credible national examinations - Stakeholders collective responsibility Kennedy Ashiagbor Education Apr - 13 - 2023 , 08:59 Education is an unavoidable component of every nations socioeconomic growth, and Ghana is no exception. Since educational priorities and processes are guided by societal needs aims, and desires, our young people receive high-quality education that prepares them well to fit into society. They highlight the importance of ensuring and achieving learning goals while teaching students, since learning results are completely realised after understanding the construct validity of ones educational achievement, as measured by grades. As a result, one of the procedures for determining ones educational achievement, which is measured by grades, is examination. Examination malpractices Examination and academic dishonesty form substantial part of challenges facing the conduct and credibility of national examinations worldwide. Prominent among academic dishonesty is examination malpractices. Examination malpractices, in recent times, have become an annual ritual in our national examinations. Among the major national examinations in Ghana are the Basic Education Certificate Examination (BECE) and the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE), which require collective responsibility of all stakeholders to ensure the sanctity in our national examinations for credible certifications. Examination malpractice is a situation in which an examination candidate had unwarrantable advantages before, during, or after the examination so that the candidate achieves cheap success afterward. Forms The various forms of malpractices include bringing foreign materials into the examination hall, irregular activities inside or outside the examination hall, collusion, impersonation, foreknowledge, leakage, mass cheating and insult or assault on examination officials. Others are contravention of instructions to candidates, multiple registrations or registration of unqualified candidates, destruction of exhibits, posting live questions on the internet, refusal to grant timely access into the school premises and misconduct of examination officials. Causes We must be interested in the root causes of this unpardonable practices in our educational systems, which include candidates fear of failure, competition, as well as some parents insisting for their wards gaining admission to prestigious schools even when they lack the qualifications. We have a situation where some wealthy and influential people in our society use their money and power to procure exam papers for their wards. Some school heads, with the view of being seen as a performing head or school of choice, use unscrupulous means to acquire papers and teach their students to obtain distinction. The seriousness of students is also thrown to the wind. In addition, invigilators create conducive environment for candidates to import foreign materials into the exam halls, or help each other, and even allow some teachers to solve exam questions for the students. Another is failure of some teachers to finish the course syllabus, lack of requisite and relevant materials as well as insufficient preparation of candidates for final examinations. Furthermore, the inability of the security to promptly investigate reported cases of alleged exam malpractices cannot be overlooked. Consequences The consequences of examination practice include: a) Discouragement of brilliant candidates to study hard b) Deprivation of innocent students opportunity for admission. c) Reduction in work efficiency d) Erosion of faith in the educational system e) It breeds laziness in candidates f) It affects students study habits g) Inability to defend results and certificates h) It causes incompetence in graduates i) It affects the integrity of a school or institution Strategies Not until we address these fundamental causes, examination malpractice will continue in our national examinations, irrespective of who is in the steering wheel. In my view to tackle this canker, all stakeholders must collaborate for effective action. The West African Examinations Council (WAEC) must audit and strengthen its internal control systems regularly. Also, stakeholder engagement is very necessary to sensitise the public and society through various media channels on the implications of examination misconduct to national development. School authorities and parents should desist from patronising fake websites for examination questions, students must be serious with their studies and well prepared for the exam, parents must monitor their wards and provide all the necessary support they need. Additionally, teachers should adequately cover the course syllabus, invigilators should be professional in their roles, security officials must not throw caution to the wind while the authorities must provide the necessary environment suitable for effective teaching and learning, among others. Recommendations When we all play our roles as expected, it will go a long way to mitigate the prevalence of malpractices in our national exams, if not totally eradicated, thereby enhancing creditability of our national academic certificates. This means that all those involved in examination execution need to be skilled, alert, responsible and empowered so that they can help curb this canker. The following recommendations are suggested: 1. National assessment bodies should work progressively to remove the human element in the conduct of its examinations. 2. Government should permit internet censorship during the conduct of national examinations. 3. The ban on the use of mobile cell phones and communication devices in examination halls should be enforced to check the new wave of e-cheating. 4. Stakeholders should stop paying lip services to examination malpractice.Religious and community leaders should plead with parents who insist on their children getting the best result without genuine efforts for it. 5. Promoting the greater utilisation of ICT in the conduct of public examination to curb cheating. The writer is a Research Fellow at the University of Ghana Antoa honours citizen for support to community Emmanuel Baah Apr - 13 - 2023 , 07:43 The chiefs and people of Antoa in the Kwabre East District of the Ashanti Region have honoured an indigene, J. K. Mensah, for his continuous support in empowering members of the community through his social intervention initiatives, especially in education. At an event on Easter Sunday organised by the Antoa Youth Association and supported by the traditional authority of Antoa, hundreds of people gathered to show appreciation to Mr Mensah, who is currently the Chairman of the Narcotics Control Commission (NACOC) and a former Chief Director of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration. He received a citation from the youth, beautiful Kente cloths and gave him a ram to show their appreciation to him. In addition, the youth donated a cash amount of GH20,000 as seed money for a proposed J.K. Mensah Educational Foundation which seeks to support brilliant, needy students to pursue their academics to greater heights. Ceremony In attendance were the Gyasehene of Antoa, Nana Agyenim Boateng; the Minister of National Security, Albert Kan-Dapaah, some public officials, family and friends of Mr Mensah, as well as members of the Mens Fellowship of the St Anns Anglican Church at Ashtown in Kumasi, of which the celebrant is a member. Also present were the leadership of the various churches in the town who laid hands on the celebrant and prayed for Gods continuous protection and guidance for him and his family. The wife of Mr Mensah, Nana Akosua Adomah Mensah, and their four children as well as some grandchildren were also present. The Methodist Brigade at Antoa led the celebrant and some dignitaries through the principal streets of the town, amid drumming and dancing and rich cultural display. The choir of the Antoa Seventh Day Adventist Church, were in attendance to provide melodious songs. Commendation In a short remark, Mr Kan-Dapaah outlined the various forms of support Mr Mensah had given to the people of the area and the nation at large and said it was therefore no wonder that he had been honoured with the Order of the Volta Award during the administration of President John Agyekum Kufuor. The minister said it was equally not surprising that the people of Antoa had chosen a special day such as Easter Sunday to celebrate him. Mr Kan-Dapaah made a donation to support the proposed education foundation. The Municipal Chief Executive of the area, Opoku Agyemang, said the recognition of Mr Mensah did not come as a surprise, since his contributions to the development of the community were beyond measure. The Deputy Controller and Accountant General in-charge of Information Communications Technology (ICT), Jacob Eugene Kojo Yeboa, who chaired the event and the Director of the Keta Port, Dr Alexander Yaw Adusei jnr., were grateful to Mr Mensah for the many good things he had done for humanity. Asenso-Boakye awards scholarships to 106 students "Support 39 traders" Daily Graphic Apr - 13 - 2023 , 08:14 The Member of Parliament (MP) for Bantama, Francis Asenso-Boakye, has presented scholarship packages to 106 brilliant, needy tertiary education students from various communities in the constituency. He also presented financial assistance to 39 petty traders, mainly market women operating in the area. The presentation ceremony was held at the forecourt of the MPs constituency office at Bantama in Kumasi on Easter Monday. Addressing the beneficiaries at the event, Mr Asenso-Boakye who is also the Minister of Works and Housing said he funded the initiative with his share of the MPs Common Fund, and expressed the belief that the investment would create a positive impact on the lives of beneficiaries and propel them to contribute meaningfully to their communities and the society at large. He appealed to the beneficiaries to make good use of the modest support so that its desired objective could be achieved He explained that the package was part of initiatives to address challenges facing the vulnerable in society and to give them a helping hand. He said the gesture would offset the academic fees and expenses of the students, and would enable the beneficiaries to focus on their studies and pursue their fields of interest without any financial burden. Additionally, under the MPs Livelihood Support Scheme, the 39 market women operating in the area were granted financial assistance to support their businesses. The purpose, he said, was to facilitate the growth of entrepreneurship in the community, and to support the livelihoods of the beneficiaries. Joy It was an occasion of great joy and gratitude, as constituents praised Mr Asenso-Boakye for his selfless gesture towards the growth of education in the constituency. Christian Service University admits more females Daily Graphic Apr - 13 - 2023 , 07:57 The Christian Service University College in Kumasi has, in the last two academic years, admitted more females than males at the undergraduate level. Whereas in the 2021/ 2022 academic year, 176 females as against 156 males were admitted, in 2022/2023 academic year, 272 females as against 204 males gained admission to the college. Addressing the 47th matriculation for freshmen, the president of the CSUC, Prof. Sam Afrane, described the situation as a deliberate policy of the university to encourage female education to reduce gender imbalance in the society. He said the institution would continue to pursue policies that would motivate and encourage females to complete their education and pursue higher academic studies to reduce gender disparity in academic circles. Observation Prof. Afrane further said that while more females were pursuing undergraduate studies, males far outnumber females at the graduate level. Backing this with statistics, he said 134 and 139 male graduate students enrolled in the corresponding academic years as against 52 males and 65 females for the two respective academic years. He, therefore, encouraged females not to feel intimidated by their male counterparts, but rather focus on their studies since they were admitted on merit and not by favour. The president also urged them to take advantage of the Education for total life policy being pursued by the university college. You are here on merit and so be proud of it. No matter your area of study, make the most of the opportunity and strive to be among the best, he advised The president added that students had individual responsibility and, therefore, must be guided in their actions and not allow their peers to influence them negatively. Use of technology Prof. Afrane further reminded them that in this era of technology and Internet, they must strive to let technology serve their functional needs rather than become subservient to technology. He said as a university founded on sound Christian principles, students would be offered moral and ethical training. The president, however, acknowledged that whether the training would be beneficial or not depended on how the students submitted themselves and also imbibe the Christian and moral principles. We believe that people are formed by what they learn either formally or informally whatever goes into any system determines the outcome. Our goal, as an institution, is to produce students who are well prepared to live fruitful lives after graduation, he said. Prof. Afrane assured the students that the institution was making every effort to receive a charter to become an independent, autonomous and a fully-fledged university. Currently, the university college is affiliated to both the University of Ghana and the University of Cape Coast. Discipline perseverance key my to success - Award-winning medical student Joshua Bediako Koomson Apr - 13 - 2023 , 08:25 A fresh medical doctor graduate, Dr Nathaniel Nii Codjoe, has revealed that academic discipline and perseverance were key to his success in becoming an award-winning medical student at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) 55th Congregation. He said medical education, particularly in Ghana, was a stressful programme, noting that the challenges mostly had to do with the complexity of the content of the material involved in the study. Therefore, to sail through, Dr Codjoe said he had to properly manage his time in order to ensure that he was well prepared for each examination that he sat for. Also, he had a lot of perseverance knowing well that the journey was always not a smooth one. Young Dr Codjoe revealed this when the Minister of Education, Dr Yaw Osei Adutwum, invited him to his office in Accra yesterday. He was in the company of his father, Emmanuel Akushiey Codjoe and the Dean of the School of Medical Sciences, Prof. Sabastian Eliasou. The graduation At the graduation ceremony last month, Dr Codjoe was adjudged the best in 15 disciplines, including Medical Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology, Community Medicine, Chemical Pathology, and Pharmacology. He also picked the Best Clinical Student, Best Graduating Pre-Clinical Student, Overall Performance, Best Student in Family Medicine, and Molecular Medicine with certificate awards. The rest are Best Student in MB ChB Final Part II, and Best Student in Ear, Nose and Throat Rotation. Academic discipline You always have a lot of things to study, mostly not that the thing is very difficult to grasp but the content of the medical education is so much and I think academic discipline is very important, Dr Codjoe said. There are ups and downs so you need to manage your down moment and make sure you learn from them to ensure you are not committing the same mistake twice, he added. Commendation Dr Adutwum congratulated Dr Codjoe on his great accomplishment. We were all amazed by the number of awards that you swept at your graduation ceremony and we were all amazed as to how you were able to do that. I want to congratulate you on your great accomplishment and we pray that more children will follow your steps and do great things, the minister said. With his amazing performance, the minister said, it was appropriate that he congratulated him and let him know that the ministry truly appreciated the hard work that had won him those laurels. He expressed the hope that other students would emulate his hard work with the hope that it was possible to excel in their academic work, if they focused and dedicated themselves in a manner that attracted such honours. We are so happy that youve made us proud. You stand for what is right in the Ghanaian educational system and we want to congratulate you on behalf of the Ministry of Education and let you know that we are with you in your professional journey, Dr Adutwum said. We want you to become a good ambassador of our educational system and let other children know how they can also succeed, he added. He also commended UCC and his parents as well as all those who provided the right ecosystem for him to achieve such a stride. Ghana cited for human rights abuses in US State Department's 2022 report Graphic Online Apr - 13 - 2023 , 10:13 The United States Department of State has published its annual Country Report on Human Rights Practices for 2022, in which Ghana has been cited for numerous human rights violations. The report, released in April 2023, highlighted a range of abuses including arbitrary or unlawful killings, extrajudicial killings, and torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment carried out by the government or on its behalf. The report noted that police impunity was due to corruption, brutality, inadequate training, lack of oversight, and an overloaded judicial system. It said the police often failed to respond to crime reports and demanded payment for transport and other operational expenses from the public before taking action. Additionally, the report detailed the arrest of Oliver Barker-Vormawor, an activist critical of the government, by police on February 11, 20222. Barker-Vormawor was initially charged with misdemeanours for making false statements on Facebook, but the charges were later upgraded to felony treason. He spent 35 days in jail before being granted bail by a judge. According to the report, there are severe limitations on free expression and media, including violence and threats of violence against journalists, unjustified arrests or prosecutions of journalists, substantial interference with the freedom of peaceful assembly, and government corruption. The report also highlighted the lack of investigation and accountability for gender-based violence, including domestic or intimate partner violence, and crimes targeting lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or intersex individuals or persons with disabilities. Additionally, laws criminalizing consensual same-sex sexual conduct between adults, although not fully enforced, were also noted. The government was found to have taken some measures to address corruption and human rights abuses by officials, including those in the security forces or elsewhere in the government, but impunity remained an ongoing issue. CLICK THIS LINK TO READ THE ENTIRE REPORT Muslims observe Iftar at Jubilee House By Chris Nunoo Apr - 13 - 2023 , 07:48 The National Chief Imam, Sheikh Dr Usmanu Nuhu Sharubutu, together with some Islamic leaders, yesterday evening joined the Vice-President, Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, to break their fast at the Jubilee House in Accra. Known as Iftar, this is the sixth time Muslims are joining the Vice-President at the seat of government since President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo opened the doors of the Jubilee House to Muslims to break bread as part of the observation of the 30-day Ramadan fast ritual. Dr Bawumia said that the historic institution of Iftar at the Jubilee House in 2017 reflected the significance and importance the government attached to religion in the quest to promote harmony among the people. He said the US had similar Iftar event annually to promote religious coexistence, adding that the month of Ramadan was a period of devotion, sacrifice and togetherness. The Vice-President said it was in line with this that the government was observing Iftar during which time people, including Christian brethren, were invited for a meal to break the fast and offer prayers to God for the nation. He described such occasion as special where sometimes a Christian cleric offered to deliver a sermon at a Muslim function and vice-versa, saying "we must all be proud of this enviable development in a religious tolerant nation. "The harmony that we have in Ghana is a gift from God and we must cherish it at all times," Dr Bawumia added. He urged Muslims to intensify their sacrifices in the last 10 days of the Ramadan and also remember their loved ones in their prayers. The Vice-President further called on them to pray for the nation for continuous peace, unity and prosperity. The event was attended by some members of the diplomatic corps, as well as some members of the Council of State and ministers of state. There were Quranic recitations and Islamic prayers. Sermon In a sermon, the Spokesperson for the Chief Imam, Sheikh Armiyawo Shaibu, said fasting was a period that required deep reflection, and described the evening as a night of power or destiny which is better and superior to a thousand month. He spoke on the theme: " The power of thanksgiving." Sheikh Shaibu described this years fast, which began on March 21, 2023, as significant, and said: " God has been gracious to us, has bestowed his favours upon us by keeping us healthy and alive." "God's providence had provided for us what to eat to break the fast, including the most deprived. The reason we must give thanks to Allah. "The peace we are enjoying is also a reason to be thankful to Allah," he added. Quoting from Quran chapter 31 verse 12 of the Quran, the spokesperson exhorted all citizens to show gratitude to God for keeping the nation together. He acknowledged the reverence and respect the Christian leadership accorded the Chief Imam and said that Muslims had no business attacking Christians. He urged them to deal with other faiths kindly and justly just as the Chief Imam handled the Christian faithful. Solidarity message A former Chairman of Christ Apostle Church International (CACI), Apostle Dr Kwame Amoani, urged all to contribute towards the development of the country. He commended Dr Bawumia and the Chief Imam for extending a hand to the Christian community and prayed for blessings for the country. Oxford Malaria vaccine to be used in Ghana Kweku Zurek Apr - 13 - 2023 , 06:37 A malaria vaccine created by the University of Oxford in the UK has been granted regulatory approval for the first time and will be used in Ghana. The vaccine, known as R21/Matrix-M, has been approved for use in children aged between 5 and 36 months who are at the highest risk of death from the disease. The vaccine has been described as a "crucial step" towards fighting malaria in Ghana and across Africa. "The vaccine has been approved for use in children aged 5-36 months, the age group at highest risk of death from malaria," the university said in a statement. "It is hoped that this first crucial step will enable the vaccine to help Ghanaian and African children to effectively combat malaria," it added. Professor Adrian Hill, chief investigator of the vaccine programme, said the approval marked the culmination of 30 years of malaria vaccine research at Oxford. Last year, research found that the vaccine was 77% effective at preventing malaria. It will be recalled that the World Health Organization recommended a vaccine produced by the British pharmaceutical company GSK for widespread use against malaria. The vaccine has since been given to over one million children in Africa. However, studies have indicated that the vaccine's effectiveness is only around 60%, and even with a booster dose, its effectiveness decreases over time. A new use has been found for the Starlink satellite communications network; a GPS substitute. Using signals from six Starlink satellites provides location data that is within eight meters of the user. Not as accurate as GPS but accurate enough for many tasks. Ukraine gained access to the Starlink network soon after the Russians invaded in 2022 and quickly developed a number of useful applications. For example, later in 2022 Ukrainian app developers created an app (ePPO) to enable civilians to quickly report incoming Russian cruise missiles, especially the new Iranian Shahed 136 Russia obtained which is low (down to 100 meters) slow (180 kilometers an hour) and noisy. These are often sent in small swarms (4 to 12 missiles) and at night. With ePPO all a user has to do is point the phone in the direction of the missile and press a large button. The information quickly arrives at the local air defense headquarters where numerous reports are instantly combined on a computer display so the officer on duty can instantly send the data to nearby air defense units. With that kind of information, more and more of the Shahed 136s and even some larger, faster cruise missiles are detected and shot down. Civilians with a take cover app get an alert to do that if they are in the target area. Suppliers of this data are verified by another app, Diia, which contains user identification documents Earlier the phones with Diia had a similar app to instantly report any enemy activity. For Ukrainians in Russian occupied territory, this often provided important target locations so Ukrainian guided missiles could destroy weapons storage sites as well as headquarters or troops concentrations. Technically, the use of this app in enemy territory makes the user a partisan and subject to attack. This did not discourage many Ukrainians, who noted that the Russians were already attacking Ukrainian civilians without any provocation. As soon as the invasion began in February, civilians were using chat apps to quickly report where the enemy had been spotted. Ukraines cell phone services kept operating during the invasion because of access to the Starlink satellite system. The Russians had no such access and not many military radios. The Russians were moving and fighting blind compared Ukrainian troops and civilians with cell phones. This persistent cell phone service enabled families to keep track of their men, and women, in the military. Apps for that had already been used in many other countries as well as numerous navigation, first aid and fire-control apps that had been developed over the last decade. Many of these apps were also used by police, firemen and first-responders. The military has had problems with some of these apps revealing troop locations to an enemy equipped to detect such use. This led to many apps being banned from use in combat zones until the flaws could be fixed. Although Russia also had some military apps, they had fewer of them and less opportunity to get cell phone service in Ukraine. The Russians were also unable to develop new apps to deal with new developments in the war. Ukraine always had a more robust and prolific app development community and that turned out to be a military superiority the Russians did not expect, much less deal with. An even more fatal flaw was the lack of encrypted communications for Russian forces in Ukraine. While Russia has some encrypted communications devices, those were few in number and not very reliable. Most Russian communications were unencrypted and monitored by the Ukrainians. Russia also has nothing like Starlink and seek ways to cripple the Starlink network. So far Russia has had no success with that either. Retrieve study leave money from lecturer - PAC directs Bolga Technical University Emmanuel Bonney Apr - 13 - 2023 , 08:23 The issue of institutions abusing study leave continue to headline the Parliaments Public Accounts Committee's (PAC) probing work, with the latest culprit being a lecturer of the Bolgatanga Technical University. The PAC, which is hearing cases of infractions and misappropriations captured in the Auditor General's report for ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) and metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the northern zone, has directed the technical university to retrieve within a month the GH236,000 paid to a lecturer, who was granted study leave but failed to return to serve the university after completion. The directive is part of PACs week-long zonal public hearings in Tamale to probe lingering issues raised in the Auditor-Generals report that have been referred to the committee for consideration. The public hearing, which begun last Tuesday and expected to end on Saturday, will enable the 25-member committee to look into the 2020 Audited Accounts of MMDAs, tertiary and second cycle institutions in the Northern, North East, Savannah, Upper East and Upper West regions. Procurement breaches Last Tuesday hearing centred on reports on the Bolgatanga Technical University and Dr Hilla Liman Technical University in Wa for procurement violations and infractions. For example, Dr Hilla Liman Technical University did not obtain approval from the appropriate authorities before purchasing furniture for the university. The committee also gave a one-month deadline to the Bolgatanga Technical University to refund GH4,000 lost in the disposal of a machine purchased to produce water for students and staff. According to the Auditor-Generals Report, the university paid GH10,000 for the machine in 2014, but it was never used and was sold to the Presbyterian Church in Bolgatanga for GH6,000 in 2020, resulting in the loss. Advice In response to the development, the Chairman of the committee, Dr James Klutse Avedzi, directed both technical universities to remedy the anomalies as soon as possible and submit documents of proof for auditing or face a surcharge. He expressed worry about why public institutions continued to violate procurement procedures, in spite of repeated reminders from committees over the years. As a result, Dr Avedzi advised heads of government institutions to follow the country's laws in order to ensure accountability and prevent financial malfeasance and other impropriety. Reactions In response to the report, the Vice-Chancellor of Bolgatanga Technical University, Professor Samuel Erasmus Alnaa, said the university had made several attempts to secure funding to construct a structure to begin the operation of the machine purchased but had been unsuccessful. He said the university had no choice but to dispose of the machine because it was rapidly deteriorating and losing value. Concerning the lecturer who failed to serve the university after being granted study leave, Prof. Alnaa said his organisation had reported the matter to the Economic and Organised Crime Office (EOCO), following which he had since refunded GH103,000. Hearing continues today. Background PAC in January this year also directed the management of three hospitals to lodge a complaint with the police for the arrest of guarantors of three former staff who failed to honour their bonds after receiving support from the facilities to study abroad. The Chairman of the PAC said that would compel the beneficiaries to refund all money spent on their studies by the state. The former staff were from the Korle Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH), the Accra Psychiatric Hospital and the Nkawie-Toase Hospital in the Asanti Region. Every year, we have this, especially in the universities, we spend government money on them but they go and do not come back, Dr Avedzi lamented. Dr Avedzi further suggested that the facilities should rather accept bank guarantees against the sponsored staff because individual guarantors were not sufficient. Next time look for bank guarantee before you spend on somebody, they should go to the bank and get a guarantee so that if they dont return, we take the money from the bank, he said. Revenue mobilisation drive - Govt throws weight behind ECG - Move necessary for defraying debt owed by power generators Emmanuel Ebo Hawkson Apr - 13 - 2023 , 07:03 The government has declared its unflinching support to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) to meet its financial obligations to power generators, including independent power producers (IPPs) for sustainable power supply in the country. A Deputy Minister of Energy, Herbert Krapah, who gave the assurance in an interview with journalists on the margins of the launch of the 10th anniversary of the Electrical Wiring Programme (EWP) by the Energy Commission in Accra yesterday, said the current focus was to support the company to retrieve its tariff arrears of over GH5.7 billion owed by power consumers. The first step is to help ECG recoup what is out there. That is one of the ways to help the company defray some of the debts and make it sustainable. We have a mechanism to ensure that what is received is distributed fairly and equitable to all the players including the private entities, he stated. Full backing Mr Krapa said the current revenue mobilisation drive by ECG was a step in the right direction as it would make the public utility company more resourceful to enable it to meet its commitments. The revenue mobilisation drive by ECG has the full support of the government. Before ECG rolled out the programme, the minister of energy, his deputies and the leadership of the Ministry met with ECG and finalised the modalities for implementation. The ECG has the fullest backing of the government, he added. He said it was important that ECG sustained the revenue mobilisation drive, adding that this must not be a nine-day wonder. Debts ECG, the main power distributor in the country, is saddled with huge debts owed to power generators including the Volta River Authority (VRA), the Bui Power Authority (BPA) and Independent Power Producers (IPPs). It owes nine IPPs, which controls about 50 per cent of the countrys electricity generation mix, about $1.4 billion as of February this year. The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Independent Power Generators, Ghana (IPGG), Dr Elikplim Apetorgbor, told the Daily Graphic in March this year that the debt had virtually crippled the operations of the nine IPPs. If the ECG does not pay up part of the debt owed our members, they cannot guarantee continuous production of power for the next two weeks. The situation is so dire that something urgent must be done, he said. With regard to BPA, it is estimated that the power distributor owed it over $600 million. This came to light at the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament earlier this year. According to the Auditor Generals report, the ECG owed the BPA $386 million as of the end of December 31, 2019, which increased to $614, 373,274.36 by the end of 2022. In the 2020 Auditor-Generals report, it was estimated that ECG, Ghana Grid Company (GRIDCo) and Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) owed VRA about GH4.7 billion, which represented about 72 per cent of the power generators balance sheet. Revenue drive As part of efforts to shore up its finances to meet its financial obligations, ECG embarked on a massive revenue mobilisation exercise to recover unpaid bills amounting to GH5.7 billion from its customers. The exercise, which started from March 20, this year and is expected to end on April 20, has seen ECG visiting many government and private entities to retrieve the money. Entities that failed to pay substantial amount of the unpaid bills and negotiate payment schedule were cut off from the national grid by the power distributor. "The target is 100 per cent and the plan is to get everyone who owes to pay, so we are not leaving anyone out, not even my home, if it is found out that I owe," the Managing Director of ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama, told the Daily Graphic in an interview ahead of the exercise. Lets help ECG Mr Krapah said it was imperative that all stakeholders, including power consumers, honoured their obligations and help ECG succeed. The ECG, he said, played a crucial role in the power sector and ultimately the socio-economic development of the country and, therefore, there was the need to make the company viable and sustainable. The efficiency of the power and energy sector is anchored on ECG working effectively and efficiently. We expect power in our homes and work places. We all feel the unpleasant effects of not having power. We must, therefore, develop the culture of paying for the power that we use, he added. Visit Ghana once in lifetime "CEO charges African Americans" Daily Graphic Apr - 13 - 2023 , 08:37 A group of African Americans currently on a visit to Ghana has entreated blacks in the diaspora to visit the continent at least once in their lifetime to learn about the historical, cultural and educational values of the motherland. According to the group, "we need to teach our children to know about Africa and the historical and cultural connection between the continent and those of us in the diaspora". The leader of the delegation, Patricia Lawton, is also the Chief Executive of Quansah Travel and Tours, a US based tour operator. She facilitated the trip of members of the group in partnership with Kaya Tours, a Ghanaian based company and Bays Lodge Hotel. Showcase The US group was hosted by the Bays Lodge Hotel and Kaya Tours to a special African Cultural Night to showcase the cultural and creative talents which abound in Ghana. The group was thrilled by great cultural performances which got the African Americans to take part in the cultural dance. Ms Lawton, who was overwhelmed by the hospitality provided by the management of the Bays Lodge and Kaya Tours, said the group decided to come to Ghana to reconnect with their roots and learn more about the continent. She said the eight member group enjoyed every bit of their stay in Ghana and added, "the food is good, the hospitality is excellent, we like Ghana and we will always come back to Ghana again and again". Ms Lawton said African Americans in the diaspora were looking forward to working with Ghanaians to ensure the speedy development of the country and support a prosperous country. Commendation The Chief Executive of Kaya Tours, Gilbert Abeiku Aggrey (aka Abeiku Santana), commended the group for choosing Ghana and said his outfit would continue to liaise with other institutions to encourage more African Americans to visit historical and cultural sites in Ghana, as well as other parts of the continent. Among the performers were the Legon Palm Wine Band, the Akwaaba Dance Ensemlble, poetry recital by Nakeeyat Dramani, the winner of Talented Kids Seadon 10 hosted by TV3 and a vocal performance by her younger brother, Rahman Dramani, a finalist in Talented Kids Season 14, currently ongoing on TV3, as well as an act by Ama Ofosuwaa, a freestyle poet. There was also a fashion exhibition dubbed 'Wear Ghana'. Each member of the group was decorated with a Kente sash with an inscription, 'Greetings from Ghana'. Wesley Grammar 1993 year group supports alma mater Diana Mensah Apr - 13 - 2023 , 08:46 The members of 1993 year group of Wesley Grammar Senior High School have planted 30 Mahogany trees to mark 30 years of leaving the school. The launch of the 30-year anniversary was also marked by a sod-cutting ceremony for a 20-bed sickbay for the school located in Dansoman, in Accra. The year-long celebration is dubbed Remembering our identity as Grammarians, 30 years on. The launcing ceremony, which was held at the school premises last Saturday, also saw the old students, numbering about 60, honouring the founder and past chairman of the year group, Charles Nii Amasah Kotey, with a citation for his volunteerism, commitment and selfless service to the association and the school. Support The Chairman of the 1993 year group, Peter Prince Quayson, said members chose the tree planting exercise to inclulcate in students the habit of planting trees in and around the school as well as their communities to help protect the environment. He said the construction of the sickbay was estimated to cost GH300,000 and that it would contribute to the provision of quality health services to students. We identified the sick bay as one of the facilities that needed urgent attention and added planting of trees as part of the Green Ghana project, the chairman of the year group said. Mr Quayson said the initiative to construct a sickbay would go a long way to improve and respond to students health issues. He assured the school that the association was keen on supporting its alma mater in any way possible to enhance effective teaching and learning. Role models A member of the 1993 group, Sally Amani Darko Attopee, who is also the Assistant Head of the St Marys Senior High School at Korle Bu, said members of the year group had positioned themselves to be role models for the young ones. Young people always look up to us, so whatever we are doing today, they will grow up and follow our steps, she said. Ms Attopee added that the initiatives taken were to show appreciation for the education and development the school provided them when they were young. She also said the planting of trees would inculcate in the pupils the essence of preserving the green vegetation through the efforts made. Appreciation The Assistant Headmistress of the school, Domestic, Priscilla Amartey, commended the group for the gesture, pointing out that it would go to solve some of the critical needs of the school. Mrs Amartey, however, noted the school was in high need of infrastructure such as dormitories, drainage facilities, streetlights, walkways, paintings and many others, adding that doors of the school were always open to all those capable of supporting it. She also appealed to the public and all former students to come to the aid of the school. Ghana: Oxford malaria vaccine is for children under 3 years Severious Kale-Dery Health Apr - 13 - 2023 , 18:07 The Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) in Ghana has announced that the malaria vaccine created by the University of Oxford in the UK has been granted regulatory approval for use in Ghana. The announcement by the FDA Thursday evening (April 13, 2023) follows an earlier one by University of Oxford. Related: Oxford Malaria vaccine to be used in Ghana The vaccine was manufactured by the Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd, submitted through the local agent DEK Pharmaceutical Ghana. Ghana becomes the first country to have been given the authorisation to market the vaccine. The FDA says the approval was granted following an extensive series of reviews and thorough peer-reviews of the non-clinical and clinical quality parts of the vaccine product development dossier. The Chief Executive of the FDA, Dr Mimi Delese Darko made the announcement at a press briefing in Accra Thursday evening. The FDA on March 28, 2023 granted approval to the vaccine for use for the immunization of children aged five months to 36 months against malaria caused by plasmodium falciparum. The vaccine is a clear, colourless to mildly turbid solution for injection, which is stored between two and eight degree Celsius (refrigerator) and has a shelf-life of 24 months. Dr (Mrs) Darko explained that the evaluation and approval process considered the safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data generated from five main clinical trials conducted in the United Kingdom, Kenya, Mali, Burkina Faso and Tanzania. Thus, the approval of the vaccine was based on a satisfactory evaluation outcome of the quality, safety and efficacy data submitted to the FDA. The evaluation of the submission concluded that the benefit of the vaccine significantly outweighs the risk associated with the use of the vaccine, she explained. She said the vaccine had a potential to reduce children under five years mortality caused by malaria in Africa. The FDA CEO explained that the manufacture of the vaccine, chose Ghana FDA to subject its application for formal marketing authorization because the track record of the authority. She cited some of the track record to include the fact that the FDA is a Maturity Level 3 National Regulatory Authority for medicines and vaccines regulatory oversight and has extensive competencies in evaluating quality, nonclinical, and clinical parts of the product. Dr Darko added that the FDA was a Regional Centre of Regulatory Excellence (RCORE) in clinical trial oversight, marketing authorisation and safety monitoring since 2014. She added that the authority had built the capacity of 150 participants and over 23 countries in Africa. The Yokohama Rubber Co., Ltd., announced that it is supplying its ADVAN V61 tires to Lexus for use as original equipment (OE) tires on the new RZ, the Lexus brands first dedicated battery electric vehicle (BEV), which was launched in Japan and other countries, including in Europe and Asia, from this March. The RZ is being fitted with 235/60R18 103H front tires and 255/55R18 105V rear tires. The ADVAN V61 is a high-performance tire under the ADVAN brand, Yokohama Rubbers ultimate tire brand. In addition to contributing to a comfortable and stable ride, ADVAN V61 tires are highly wear resistant and display exceptional hydroplaning resistance. The tread pattern contributes to a smooth and quiet ride by suppressing noise and significantly reducing rolling resistance. The ADVAN V61 was developed using Yokohama Rubbers proprietary HAICoLab, an AI-based development framework that aims to foster new discoveries and digital innovation by merging human inspiration and creativity with AIs enormous data processing capability. In particular, to achieve the highly quiet ride demanded of EVs, an optimal pitch sequence was obtained using evolutionary computation (genetic algorithms), one of the technologies incorporated in HAICoLab. HAICoLab conceptual diagram The innovative technologies applied in development of the ADVAN V61 are based on new knowledge obtained by collecting actual data and virtual data generated by simulations and then using AIs predict, analyze and search functions. Under Yokohama Rubbers three-year (20212023) medium-term management plan, Yokohama Transformation 2023 (YX2023), the consumer tire business aims to maximize the sales ratios of high-value-added YOKOHAMA tires. One of the key initiatives under this strategy is expanding sales of ADVAN and GEOLANDAR tires as original equipment on new cars. Yokohama Rubber also believes that adoption of its tires as OE on premium EVs will require that its tires be based on highly reliable technologies. Accordingly, the company will continue responding to the dynamic changes in automobiles by leveraging its involvement in motorsports and EV race car development to develop more advanced tire technologies. Yokohama Rubber is also supplying its ADVAN V61 tires to Lexus for use as original equipment (OE) tires on the fifth-generation RX. $3 million for hospital lab project to be vouchered While budget amendments are often a regular part of the Sweetwater County Board of County Commissioners meetings as adjustments are made at the end of the fiscal year, the latest budget amendments dealt with unique situations for Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County and the Road and Bridge Department. At their last meeting, postponed from Tuesday, April 4 to Thursday, April 6 due to the winter storm at the beginning of last week, the commissioners approved budget amendments of $3 million for Sweetwater Memorial and $240,000 for the Road and Bridge Department. The $3 million for the hospital was an amount already designated by the previous commission to go toward a laboratory expansion and renovation project. In July of last year, hospital leadership approached the commissioners about providing matching funds to go with funding they were seeking from the Wyoming State Loan and Investment Board (SLIB). The commissioners voted to earmark $3 million out of county reserves to go toward these matching funds. In January, hospital leadership spoke to the commissioners again to explain they would like to focus solely on the lab expansion project and not move forward with a second renovation project they had previous planned on. The commissioners agreed to let the allocated $3 million go toward just the one project. At last weeks meeting, Sweetwater County Accounting Manager Bonnie Berry explained that the $3 million need to be treated as a budget amendment, moving the funds from the countys general reserve to the hospitals general fund, since the decision to give the money was made after the budget was approved last year. The question that arose during discussion of the budget amendment was whether the money needed to be given to the hospital all at once. It seems odd to me when were looking at a two-year project that we would just essentially hand over a full $3 million, one-lump sum when we could invest that money and earn interest on it here, Commission Chairman Keaton West said. West pointed out that state funding from SLIB is usually given through a reimbursement process, so he would prefer the county be able to keep the money and to have the hospital voucher against it throughout the project. I fully support our commitment to the hospital, West said. I support the amendment but I do not support just issuing the check in its full amount. Commissioner Lauren Schoenfeld agreed with West. As one of the commissioners who approved the $3 million last year, she said she didnt know that there was ever the intent to just write a check for the funds. She also pointed out that the county requires other entities to voucher against funds offered to them annually. I think we do owe it to the taxpayers and I think we owe it on our end to ensure that that money is going where its supposed to be and being utilized for what we approved it for, Schoenfeld said. Irene Richardson, the CEO of Sweetwater Memorial, addressed the commissioners to explain why hospital leadership had thought it would be beneficial to get the funds up front. She explained that the lab renovation project has already had about $250,000 expended, and as construction gets underway there will be larger expenditures, especially starting in July. Having the funds up front would allow the hospital to cover expenses as they come without having to worry about dipping into their reserves and affecting their cash on hand. Richardson explained the hospital is required to maintain at least 65 days of cash on hand, one day of which is about $285,000. Richardson also said she just wanted to explain their reasoning, but understood the commissions position and would be fine with using a vouchering process. Schoenfeld noted if any problems with vouchering come up, the situation could be re-evaluated to make sure the hospital is reimbursed in a timely manner. The commissioners unanimously approved the $3 million budget amendment for the hospital with the stipulation that the county will maintain the funds and the hospital will voucher for expenses throughout the construction process. The commissioners also unanimously approved a $240,000 budget amendment for the Road and Bridge Department, moving the funds from the county reserves to the Road and Bridge operating budget. This is due to increased funding needed for rentals and also for fuel, Berry explained to the commissioners about the budget amendment. Chairman West noted that Public Works Director Gene Legerski had emailed the commissioners with more details on why the funds were needed due to this years weather. Pretty enlightening to see that were spending $55,000 a month on fuel to keep the county plowed out, West said. Tough times this winter. John Ray Watterson, 73, passed away Friday, April 7, 2023 at his home. He was a resident of Green River for 20 years and former resident of Rock Springs and Farson, Wyoming. He was born March 8, 1950 in Rock Springs, Wyoming; the son of Claude Watterson and Elsie Bell Jamieson. John attended schools in Farson, Wyoming and was a 1968 graduate of Eden-Farson High School. He continued to reside in Farson, as he was employed by the Eden Valley Irrigation District. He was an Emergency Medical Technician with Eden Valley Ambulance Service. John worked as a Safety Engineer for the Bureau of Reclamation on Projects in Utah and New Mexico before returning to Wyoming. He later accepted a position with the State of Wyoming for OSHA as a Safety Consultant for 18 years and retired in 2017. As a child, John enjoyed spending his summers at his grandparent's ranch near Kemmerer, Wyoming. His pastime was spent hunting; fishing; snowmobiling and traveling. Survivors include one son, John Pete Watterson and Jen of Rock Springs, Wyoming; one daughter, Sandy Thomas and husband Ethan of Rock Springs, Wyoming; four grandchildren, Whitney Lessard and husband Andrew; Hailey Canavan and husband Dustin; Sarye Thomas; Syvon Thomas; two great grandchildren and his four legged fur babies, Sage and Willow. He was preceded in death by his parents; maternal grandparents, John and Elsie Jamieson. The family respectfully requests donations be made in John's memory to Rock Springs Humane Society, 310 Yellowstone Road, Rock Springs, Wyoming 82901. Cremation will take place; a Celebration of Life will be conducted at 11:00 A.M. Monday, April 17, 2023 at the Vase Funeral Chapel, 154 Elk Street, Rock Springs, Wyoming. Friends may call one hour prior to services. Condolences may be left at http://www.vasefuneralhomes.com. U-2 aircraft arrives at Offutt Air Force Base, Nebraska, Apr. 4, during a training exercise. U-2, single-seat, high-altitude jet aircraft flown by the United States for intelligence gathering, surveillance, and reconnaissance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Charles J. Haymond) X 0 20 Help Keep Us Soaring We need your help! Our subscription base has slowly been dwindling. We need your help in reversing that trend. We would like to add 20 new subscribers this month. Each month we count on your subscriptions or contributions. You can support us in the following ways: Lost dog returns to Texas after seven years Back in 2016, a small chihuahua named Greta got loose from her home in rural Texas. Her owners worried about the danger of coyotes and stray dogs, and when Greta didn't come back home as the years went by, they assumed she probably didn't make it. But Greta was a survivor. If she could talk, she could share her adventures over the past seven years and explain how she ended up over a thousand miles away from home. However she got there, Greta was found wandering around the TA travel center outside of Evanston. A concerned stranger picked her up and drove her to Green River, where Animal Control took her in and started trying to figure out who she belonged to. As they do with all the animals who come in to the shelter, the Animal Control Officers checked Greta for a microchip. Thankfully, she had one. It had been issued in Texas and registered 11 years ago. The phone number given for the owner no longer worked, so GRAC reached out to an Animal Control shelter in Texas. With the help of a Texas Animal Control Officer, Greta's owner was found and contacted. "She couldn't believe that I was calling her from Green River about a dog she lost seven years ago," Jade Winters, one of Green River's Animal Control Officers, said. "She thought her dog was dead, and come to find out, she just went on a trip," Lydia Holmes, another ACO who was closely involved with Greta's case, said. After connecting with the owner, the next step was to send Greta on another trip - this time to go back home. Holmes has spent much of the past decade at Animal Control working on building a rescue network and making connections to be able to transport animals. She got in touch with one such connection, a woman named Joan Nickum who also works extensively with animal transports, in order to make arrangements for Greta's trip. "People stepped up," Holmes said. "It's all volunteers that are getting her down to Texas, which is pretty awesome." The journey from Green River, Wyoming to Euless, Texas, is over 1,100 miles and takes over 17 hours to drive without stopping. The trip was broken up into 13 legs for each volunteer to drive, handing off Greta from one town to the next. Greta was transported from Green River to Rawlins, Rawlins to Laramie, and Laramie to Fort Collins, Colorado. In Colorado she went through Denver, Colorado Springs, Pueblo, and Walsenberg. From there she went through New Mexico, stopping in Raton and Clayton, before making it to Texas. Her Texas checkpoints included Dalhart, Amarillo, Clarendon, Childress, Wichita Falls, and finally Decatur, where her owner picked her up. This trip took place last weekend, getting the dog who was missing for so many years back home in a matter of days. "The network of people that are involved in just this one dog is pretty extraordinary," Holmes said, noting there were over 20 people involved just between the ACOs and volunteer transport drivers. "It's pretty amazing how people have stepped up for a chihuahua, and an old chihuahua." While Greta survived for a long time, Holmes noted that she may not have survived much longer if she'd been left at the travel stop, especially with the recent snow storm. Holmes also said she thinks Greta will like the weather in Texas better. While reuniting a dog with their owner in another state after seven years is on the extreme end of success stories, it's not the first time Green River Animal Control has been able to get an animal back home. That success often comes from animals having a microchip. "There's no way we would have been able to do it without a microchip," Holmes said. "Without the chip we wouldn't have learned a name, we wouldn't have learned the location, we wouldn't have been able to do that," Winters said of Greta's case. Winters also pointed out that, while they did find the owner for Greta's microchip, it would have been even easier if the chip had been kept updated. Holmes added that in order for microchips to work, they need to be registered, and ideally kept updated. Holmes also explained that getting an animal microchipped is an easy process. The chip itself is smaller than a grain of rice and goes under the skin. Putting the microchip in essentially involves giving the animal a shot, and lots of them don't even notice when it happens. Having a microchip is easy and cheap, it can't be lost, it doesn't negatively affect the animal, and it provides proof of ownership and contact information. Green River Animal Control can microchip an animal any time an officer is at the shelter, and the microchip costs $20. Animal Control also offers other services that come with the microchip, including lookup services and things like $500 return flight travel insurance for lost pets. "There's just not any cons to having them and there is so much good that they do," Winters said. While Greta thankfully had a microchip that eventually got her home, the other side of her story that needs to be considered is the possibility that other people picked her up and kept her during those seven years. Tracy Wyant, the Animal Control Community Services Supervisor, pointed out that people who may have wanted to help Greta actually kept her from her owners by not reporting her. She said it's important for people to realize that just because you find an animal doesn't mean it's yours to keep, and it should be taken to Animal Control so it can be checked for a microchip. Star photo by Hannah Romero In Wyoming, it's actually illegal and considered larceny to take someone else's pet since animals are considered property. If someone finds an animal and wants to keep it, they can go through the five-day waiting period after the animal goes to Animal Control, after which they can adopt it and keep it legally. However, people shouldn't just keep a stray animal that may have an owner. "The right thing to do legally is to report it," Wyant said. Thanks to Animal Control, microchips, and people willling to help, animals like Greta can get back home. "All the things that had to happen for her to get to this point and back to her owner, it's amazing," Winters said. NEW ORLEANS (AP) Louisiana lost more than $82 million worth of natural gas in 2019 due to leaks, venting or flaring at production sites, according to a study released Thursday by an environmental group and government watchdog organizations. The Environmental Defense Funds report said state fossil fuel producers wasted more than 27 billion cubic feet (760 million cubic meters) of gas in 2019. It's an economic loss for the state, the report said, estimating the tax and royalty revenue lost to state government that year at $2.5 million. The report also said it was an environmental hazard because methane, a major component of natural gas, is a contributor to climate change. More than 81% of wasted gas was from leaks. Less than 1% was from purposeful venting, and 19% was lost by flaring. Releasing gas by venting small amounts or by burning it is done for a variety of possible reasons involving safety and economics. Thats enough lost gas to meet more than 2/3 of residential natural gas demand in the state for a year, a statement accompanying the report said. The research was done by Synapse Energy Economics Inc., a consulting firm that lists various environmental groups and municipal, state and federal agencies among its clients. The report comes as the federal Environmental Protection Agency considers rules aimed at preventing gas releases, including inspection requirements for well sites. The state also is setting in motion a process for developing rules to deal with the issues, said Patrick Courreges, spokesperson for the state Department of Natural Resources. That includes what other oil and gas producing states are adopting and seeing how those regulations might work in Louisiana. Courreges, while not commenting on the accuracy of the report's figures, said reducing gas emissions is a department goal. We'd rather keep it in the pipes and send it somewhere doing work, he said in a telephone interview. State and federal authorities also have stepped up efforts to address leaks from orphan wells non-producing, abandoned well sites that are still leaking contaminants. Two watchdog groups joined the Environmental Defense Fund in calling for policies to address the issue. "Outdated policies keep billions of dollars worth of natural gas from getting to market at a time when budgets are tight and energy security is important as ever, Autumn Hanna, vice president at Taxpayers for Common Sense, said in a statement issued by the fund. When the industry is allowed to waste natural gas, it robs the state of important tax revenue, which then has to be made up through other taxes or else leave the state without the revenue it needs to fund critical programs," added Jan Moller of the Louisiana Budget Project. by Austin Bay April 12, 2023 On Aug. 31, 2021, as the world witnessed via live television the Biden administration's Afghanistan debacle, Reuters published a partial transcript of a July 23, 2021, phone call between President Joe Biden and Afghan government then-president Ashraf Ghani. Before reading the quote, remember Biden held and still holds command authority over all branches of the U.S. government. He bears leadership responsibility, especially in defense and foreign affairs. UNDISPUTED FACTUAL STATEMENT BY BIDEN ACCORDING TO REUTERS: "...I need not tell you (Ghani) the perception around the world and in parts of Afghanistan, I believe, is that things aren't going well in terms of the fight against the Taliban. And there's a need, whether it is true or not, there is a need to project a different picture." Translation for Ghani and dominant media: Ignore reality; ignore my command responsibility; go with a flat-out lie that benefits me, Joe Biden. Translation for everyone else: The Wizard of Oz Ploy. Even though the curtain has fallen, ignore the nattering fool behind the curtain. In late July 2021 even Wiz Joe knew the situation in Afghanistan was a mess. By the third week of July 2021, it was clear the American withdrawal from Afghanistan was a history-damaging calamity in progress on Joe's watch. The Joint Chiefs of Staff warned him. Joe was, and is, on the hook for the disaster. Confident propagandists -- like the Wizard of Oz and Joe Biden -- love to play "Nothing to see here, move along" and variants that slickly ignore essential context or suppress key facts. Instead of punishing the Taliban and aiding the Afghan government in order to secure the evacuation of U.S. citizens and deserving Afghan nationals, Biden was concerned with his own political viability. In Joe's brain his own political viability took precedence over broader American security and the lives of American military and embassy personnel on the ground in Afghanistan. In honest future history -- and honest histories will be written about Biden's fiasco, because it was bloody, inept and has huge consequence -- the Reuters report will foreshadow the Biden administration's epitaph: Even though it's an outright falsehood, we must project a pro-Biden picture and babble a pro-Joe narrative because because because. Fact: Biden's advisers know dominant leftist media is a complicit ally in their falsehoods. Consequence of that fact: On April 6, the Biden administration confidently released a 12-page National Security Council open-source propaganda spiel concocted to erase the Afghanistan disaster as (1) an issue in the 2024 election and (2) a historical fact that damages Joe and his underlings. And Biden, like the Wizard of Oz, resists the Afghanistan disaster's disabling facts, because because because (to mimic the musical's song) they know the dominant media will let them get away with it. To be blunt, the Biden administration and its media allies wage perception warfare on the American people. Leftist media doesn't disable America's enemies. America's enemies use leftist media to disable America. On April 10, Rep. Mike McCaul, R-Texas, told Fox News: "Since Afghanistan fell, we have projected weakness instead of strength." McCaul is right. The huge Afghanistan foreign policy failure convinced Vladimir Putin he could attack and absorb Ukraine into his new imperial Russian state. It also emboldened communist China. Biden's April 6 flimflam is an example of gaslighting as a crime against the American people and honest history. Gaslighting is generally defined as psychological manipulation forcing a target audience to question memories and perceptions of reality. Gaslighters deflect and divert. Biden's April 6 crock says, "President Biden's choices for how to execute a withdrawal from Afghanistan were severely constrained by conditions created by his predecessor." That damnation of Donald Trump is utter bull. From late January 2021 on Joe Biden had constitutional control of the Pentagon and the State Department. Biden was free to change policy and execute operations as he saw fit. Hence the critical diagnosis psychologists regard as the gaslighter's greatest moral and intellectual crime: denial of responsibility. Gaslighters refuse to take responsibility for their actions. They blame others for their failures. The city of Minneapolis agreed Thursday to pay nearly $9 million to settle lawsuits filed by two people who said former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into their necks years before he used the same move to kill George Floyd. John Pope Jr. will receive $7.5 million and Zoya Code will receive $1.375 million. The settlements were announced during a meeting of the Minneapolis City Council. Both lawsuits stemmed from arrests in 2017 three years before Chauvin killed Floyd during an arrest captured on video that sparked protests worldwide, prompted a national reckoning on racial injustice and compelled a Minneapolis Police Department overhaul. At a news conference Thursday, Mayor Jacob Frey apologized to all victims of Chauvin and said that if police supervisors had done the right thing, George Floyd would not have been murdered. He should have been fired in 2017. He should have been held accountable in 2017, Frey told reporters. Both lawsuits named Chauvin and several other officers. The lawsuits alleged police misconduct, excessive force, and racism Pope and Code are Black; Chauvin is white. They also said the city knew that Chauvin had a record of misconduct but didnt stop him. Bob Bennett, an attorney for Pope and Code, noted that other officers failed to intervene or report Chauvin, and police leaders allowed Chauvin to keep working even though they had video evidence from body cameras of his wrongdoing. In edited body camera footage released Thursday by Bennett's law firm, Pope is heard crying while lying on his stomach, his hands cuffed behind his back and Chauvin's knee on his neck. My neck really hurts," he says more than once. At one point, the videos show the other officers in the room walked out after Pope began crying. The easy thing is to blame Chauvin for everything, Bennett said in a written statement. "The important thing that the video shows is that none of those nine to a dozen officers at the scene ever reported it, ever tried to stop it. They violated their own policy and really any sense of humanity. Police Chief Brian OHara said the department is forced to reckon once again with the deplorable acts of someone who has proven to be a national embarrassment. But he also cited systemic failure within the Minneapolis Police Department. I am appalled at the repetitive behavior of this coward and disgusted by the inaction and acceptance of that behavior by members of this department. Such conduct is a disgrace to the badge and an embarrassment to what is truly a very noble profession, OHara said in a statement. Code, who has a history of homelessness and mental health problems, was arrested in June 2017 after she allegedly tried to strangle her mother with an extension cord. Pope was 14 in September 2017 when, according to his lawsuit, Chauvin subjected him to excessive force while responding to a domestic assault report. The lawsuits said body camera recordings showed Chauvin used many of the same tactics on Pope and Code that he used on Floyd. Chauvin was sentenced to 22 1/2 years in prison on a state murder charge for killing Floyd by pressing his knee to Floyds neck for 9 1/2 minutes as he pleaded that he couldnt breathe. The city also paid $27 million to Floyd's family. Code's lawsuit said she was in handcuffs when Chauvin slammed her head to the ground and pinned his knee on the back of her neck for 4 minutes and 41 seconds. A second officer didnt intervene and a responding police sergeant approved the force, the lawsuit stated. Popes lawsuit said his mother was drunk when she called police because she was upset that he and his 16-year-old sister left their cellphone chargers plugged in, leading to a physical confrontation. It alleged Chauvin struck Pope in the head with a large metal flashlight at least four times. It says he then put Pope in a chokehold before pinning him to the floor and putting his knee on Pope's neck. Chauvin would proceed to hold John in this prone position for more than fifteen minutes, all while John was completely subdued and not resisting, the complaint alleged. Over those minutes, John repeatedly cried out that he could not breathe. The complaint alleged that at least eight other officers did nothing to intervene. It said Chauvin did not mention in his report that he had hit Pope with his flashlight, nor did he mention pinning Pope for so long. Chauvins sergeant reviewed and approved his report and use of force despite having firsthand knowledge that the report was false and misleading, the lawsuit alleged. Chauvin admitted to many of Popes allegations when he pleaded guilty in December 2021 to federal charges for violating the civil rights of both Floyd and Pope. He was sentenced in July to 21 years on those charges. Chauvin is serving his sentences concurrently in a federal prison in Arizona. - For more of AP's coverage on the killing of George Floyd and the aftermath: https://apnews.com/hub/death-of-george-floyd This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate BEIJING (AP) Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva was in the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai on Thursday as he looks to boost ties and win political support for attempts to mediate the conflict in Ukraine. Lula arrived late Wednesday and is due to meet with his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday before concluding his visit on Saturday. The Brazilian government says the sides are expected to sign at least 20 bilateral agreements during Lulas trip, underscoring the improvement in relations with the South American giants biggest trade partner following a rocky patch under predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. In Shanghai, Lula will also attend the official swearing in of close adviser and former Brazilian president Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank. The institution posits itself as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, which are controlled mainly by the United States and its Western allies. It is focused on the so-called BRICS group of developing nations made up of Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Established more than seven years ago, the bank has approved 99 loan projects totaling more than $34 billion, mainly for infrastructure projects, according to China's Foreign Ministry. Much of that credit has gone to Brazil for projects such as a metro system in the business capital of Sao Paulo. Lula was shown arriving at the bank's headquarters and embracing Rousseff, his former chief of staff who succeeded him as president representing the Workers Party. Both later became embroiled in legal controversies, but Lula bounced back to win a third term by a narrow margin. During his meeting with Xi, Lula is expected to discuss trade, investment, reindustrialization, energy transition, climate change and peace agreements, according to the Brazilian government. China is Brazils biggest export market, each year buying tens of billions of dollars worth of soybeans, beef, iron ore, poultry, pulp, sugar cane, cotton and crude oil. Brazil is the biggest recipient of Chinese investment in Latin America, according to Chinese state media, although Lula has spoken against outright Chinese ownership of Brazilian companies. One of the agreements Lula will sign in China will be for construction of the sixth satellite built under a binational program that will monitor biomes such as the Amazon rainforest. China also recently ended a ban on Brazilian beef imposed in February after the discovery of an atypical case of mad cow disease. Politically, the left-leaning Lula's visit is a sign of Brazil's reemergence in global relations since he replaced Bolsonaro in January. Bolsonaro is a noted admirer of right-wing nationalists and showed little interest in international affairs or travel abroad. The often-abrasive right-wing populist and members of his family at times caused friction with Chinese authorities on issues from the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic to controversial telecommunications company Huawei. Lula made trips to Argentina and Uruguay in January and to the U.S. in February, signaling the importance he gives to international affairs, experts said. He toured the world during his first presidency from 2003-2010, particularly in his second term, when he visited dozens of countries, and has visited China twice before. On Thursday, he also visited a Huawei research center in Shanghai where he was shown a presentation on 5G and solutions in telemedicine, education and connectivity A very strong investment in research and innovation, Lula tweeted in a show of a support for a company shunned by the U.S. and many European countries as a potential security risk. A key piece of Lulas outreach abroad is his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, mediate peace over Ukraine. However, his suggestion that Ukraine cede Crimea as a means to forge peace has angered Kyiv and its closest backers. China has also sought to play a role in ending the conflict, though in a manner highly supportive of Moscow. It has refused to condemn the invasion, criticized economic sanctions on Russia and accused the U.S. and NATO of provoking the conflict. Russia and China declared a no limits relationship in a 2022 joint statement and Xi reaffirmed the closeness of ties in March by meeting with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow. A Chinese peace proposal presented in February contains aspects in common with Lulas, such as ceasing hostilities and starting negotiations, but says nothing about the return of Ukrainian territory seized by Russia and its separatist allies. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FARMINGTON, Utah (AP) A potential challenger to Republican first-term Sen. Mitt Romney of Utah took a major step Thursday toward jumping into next year's race, expected to be one of the GOPs hardest-fought primary contests in 2024. With memories of Romney's two votes to impeach former President Donald Trump stillfresh, Utah House Speaker Brad Wilson announced he was forming an exploratory committee 14 months before the scheduled primary. Utah needs a conservative fighter who represents its values, not a professional career politician," Wilson told The Associated Press in an interview at his real estate office in northern Utah. I dont have any illusions that, as speaker of the house, Im a household name. But thats really not what this is about. What this is about is me going out and understanding what people care about, he said. The move is just shy of making his campaign official and allows Wilson to raise money and campaign statewide. Romney has not yet announced plans to seek reelection, but earlier this week filed preliminary paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. He declined to comment on his statement of candidacy or Wilson's announcement on Thursday. Wilson's exploratory committee potentially sets up the latest test of Republican Party attitudes toward members willing to criticize Trump after others, such as former Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney, were punished in GOP primaries or opted not to seek reelection. Romney, 76, has long been revered in Utah as one of the most prominent members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and a person who helped save the 2002 Winter Olympics after a bribery scandal. But the Republican Partys rightward lurch and his stance as an outspoken Trump antagonist has sparked a growing chorus of questions about his reelection prospects. The June 2024 primary campaign will overlap with the GOP's presidential primary season, and should Romney run, Trump's presence in that race will likely further focus attention on his criticism of the ex-president. Romney's willingness to buck his own party has routinely angered GOP activists in Utah and but did little to puncture support for him in his last Senate primary in 2018, when he lost a state party convention ballot but ultimately won with voters in the primary itself, by almost 43 percentage points. Utah Republican Party Chair Carson Jorgensen said he does not expect Romney to seek reelection given his absences at recent state GOP events. Regardless, he said the party has changed since Romney last ran in ways that will affect the presidential and Senate races and how they become entangled. Jorgensen added that he anticipates high voter turnout in both contests due to negative attitudes toward President Joe Biden among Utahns. That Romney hasnt publicly made a decision could encourage many challengers to enter, since Senate seats open up so rarely, he added. The list of rumored names goes on and on. Ive heard Trent Staggs. Ive heard John Curtis, Jorgensen said, referring to the mayor of Riverton and 3rd District congressman, respectively. Curtis and Wilson are both fixtures at Republican events, he noted. Though Wilson is the first to launch an exploratory committee, former U.S. Rep. Jason Chaffetz said in February that he was thinking about running. A representative for state Attorney General Sean Reyes has said many were pressuring him to run as well. Wilson told AP on Thursday that his decision to consider a primary challenge has little to do with presidential politics or Romney's impeachment votes. However, he emphasized his background as a native Utahn and his support for Trump to draw a contrast with the Senator, who was born in Michigan, served as governor in Massachusetts and has said he didn't vote for Trump in 2016 or 2020. Im going to do what I have done every election cycle: I will vote for the Republican nominee. I have in the past, and I will again. I think thats whats best for our country, Wilson said. He declined to say whether he intends to support Trump's 2024 bid or seek his endorsement. Jason Perry, director of the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute of Politics, said polling shows Romney remains popular with moderate Republicans but less so among conservatives. In a potential primary, he said, The space thats more wide open is to the right. Wilson, who grew up with 11 siblings in Kaysville, was first elected to Utah's House in 2010 and has been Speaker his last three terms. Throughout his tenure, he has focused on spurring development, cutting taxes and confronting environmental challenges facing the Great Salt Lake. He has satisfied conservatives by supporting restrictions on abortion and transgender youth health care and participation in sports. On other issues he has forged a more moderate path, including changing the name of southern Utah's Dixie State University to Utah Tech University and helping squash a 2020 push to formally rebuke Romney over the impeachment votes. Like Romney, Wilson has criticized Biden on government spending and energy policy, earlier this year calling the Environmental Protection Agency's limits on pollution from power plants an assault on our energy through rule making." I think this is this is a sign of a very interesting election to come, Perry, the political scientist, said of Wilson's Thursday announcement. JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli authorities said Thursday that an internal investigation into the killing of a 26-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel earlier this month at Jerusalem's most sensitive holy site found no wrongdoing by police. With several details of the incident in question, the case has sparked outrage from Arab lawmakers and rights groups. The Israeli state attorney's office closed the case on Thursday, saying that police acted lawfully in self-defense when they shot and killed Mohammed Alasibi, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from a Bedouin village in the country's south. He was fatally shot at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem on April 1. Police alleged that Alasibi pounced on an officer and tried to grab his gun, managing to fire two shots into the air before the officer regained control of his weapon and killed him. Palestinian witnesses offered a conflicting account, saying Alasibi argued with an officer over his alleged harassment of a female worshipper on her way to the mosque the third holiest shrine in Islam. The compound, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, is also the most sacred site in Judaism. After some quarreling, Palestinians said they heard a burst of gunfire over a dozen shots all apparently fired at Alasibi at close range. Alasibi's family denied he would ever try to attack a policeman, describing him as ambitious and level-headed. They said he had just returned from studying medicine in Romania and was working to get certified as a doctor in Israel. Israel's state attorney said it had clear, direct and solid proof that no offense was committed" by the police, without elaborating or offering evidence. Although Jerusalems Old City alleys bristle with security cameras, police maintained that there was no security footage of the alleged attack. An investigation revealed that the incident took place in a 'blind spot' (of the Old City) that is not covered by any security cameras," the statement said. There also was no body camera footage. Ahmad Tibi, a prominent Arab lawmaker in the Israeli parliament, decried the investigation as a whitewash and demanded an independent probe. This is a department that we do not trust. Its result was known well in advance, Tibi told The Associated Press. The police story is not only unconvincing, but their refusal to publish any video of the incident confirms our suspicions ... that Mohammed was killed in cold blood. Israeli authorities said their investigation involved speaking with the involved officers, consulting witnesses and performing forensic examinations. The Department of Investigations of Police Misconduct, which handles brutality complaints, has faced criticism in the past for failing to thoroughly investigate allegations. An Israeli state comptroller's report from 2017 said the department closed the majority of cases under consideration at a preliminary stage of investigation, in part over concerns that officers may hesitate to use force when necessary. In 2015, 66% of the cases brought to the department were closed without questioning the officers involved, the report said. Fewer than 200 cases were referred for disciplinary action out of the 6,320 cases opened that year. We are worried that closing files like this one will lead to more shooting, more killing and more loss of life, said Jerusalem-based human rights lawyer Khaled Zabarqa. The Al-Aqsa mosque compound has long been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Last week, an Israeli police raid on the mosque aimed at evicting Palestinian worshippers who had stockpiled firecrackers set off unrest in the contested capital of Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and beyond. Yesterday Xiaomi announced it would unveil the Xiaomi 13 Ultra on April 18, and today the company announced this camera beast would be joined by two more products - Xiaomi Pad 6 and Xiaomi Band 8. Xiaomi also shared a couple of images revealing the Pad 6 and Band 8's designs and color options for the tablet. The Pad 6 will come in three colors, while the Band 8 will have five strap options. The Xiaomi Pad 6's display is surrounded by uniform bezels, with one of them sporting a camera for selfies and video calls. Around the back, we have a dual camera setup headlined by a 50MP camera. Xiaomi Pad 6 Xiaomi Band 8 The tablet has the power button on the top joined by two speakers, with another two at the bottom flanking the USB-C port. On the right-side frame of the Pad 6 is the volume rocker. The Xiaomi Pad 6 will also support a stylus and Bluetooth keyboard, which will likely be sold separately. Xiaomi is rumored to launch the Pad 6 and Pad 6 Pro at the event, but it's unclear which of these is shown in the poster. That said, with the event still five days away, we expect Xiaomi to reveal more details about Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Pad 6 series, and Band 8 to build hype around the products. Source (in Chinese) | Via An animal rights group that drew attention to a video of a Department of Agriculture employee at a cockfight expressed disappointment that the Civil Service Commission reinstated the employee's job and pay. The group plans to turn investigative materials over to the federal government for potential action. Ken San Nicolas was demoted in April 2022, but Civil Service Commission rules state that action against him should have happened within 90 days of management learning about the cockfight video. In this case, San Nicolas' supervisor knew about the video as early as June 2021. The demotion was thrown out this week, and San Nicolas was awarded back pay. Animal Wellness Action issued a statement saying they "reacted with shock and alarm to an administrative commission determination that Guam Department of Agriculture law enforcement officer Ken San Nicolas would be fully reinstated in his position and given backpay even though acknowledging and conceding that he participated in illegal cockfighting." They noted staging an animal fight is a federal felony, with penalties of up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine violation. "In the wake of this outrageous and wrong-headed decision, Animal Wellness Action has presented the ruling and the organizations original investigative materials, including video in which he is shown fighting birds in a local fighting pit, to federal authorities, and asked them to prosecute Mr. San Nicolas under federal law," the group stated in an announcement. While cockfighting is banned by the federal government, it is not illegal under Guam law, and enforcement of the federal ban is not a priority of GovGuam. In January 2022, the non-profit organization gave the Department of Agriculture two videos showing San Nicolas participating in a cockfight. The group called for the department to fire San Nicolas. Its an upside-down world when an official commission review makes a finding that an employee pictured in videos participating in illegal cockfighting is rewarded with reinstatement and backpay," Animal Wellness Action President Wayne Pacelle said in a news release. "Neither Mr. San Nicolas nor the leaders of the Guam Department of Agriculture are allowed to pick and choose which federal statutes they observe. Today, we are referring the evidence of felony violations of the federal animal fighting to the U.S. Department of Justice to take action against Mr. San Nicolas. The government of Guam spent more than $61 million for quarantine and isolation facilities at six hotels during the COVID-19 response, including more than $12 million for rooms that went unoccupied, according to an audit released Thursday by the Office of Public Accountability. Auditors reported that the government should have cut back on quarantine facilities as more people were vaccinated and quarantine requirements were scaled back. The audit also said that when invoices were compared with Guam National Guard reports for review, the Guard reports were unreliable. Because of this, the Office of Public Accountability questioned $15.7 million in costs involving 171 invoices. The quarantine facility utilization rate, calculated by the number of occupied and unoccupied rooms divided by the total number of guaranteed rooms, was higher earlier in the pandemic and decreased significantly as vaccines were introduced, mandatory quarantine time was adjusted and other restrictions were lifted. In March 2020, the government required all arriving travelers to be quarantined. Three hotels were procured as quarantine facilities under emergency procurement measures, and a fourth hotel was used as an isolation facility. The hotels received a flat rate of $100 per room, regardless of whether the rooms were occupied. Beginning in May, different rates were charged to different hotels, depending on whether the rooms were occupied. In September 2020, the facilities were consolidated into one hotel, with payment of $159 for occupied rooms and $120 per unoccupied rooms. In October, another hotel was used as the isolation facility, charging $175 per person and $95 per unoccupied room. After the introduction of vaccines in December 2020, the island began moving into the COVID recovery response phase. By June 2021, when the quarantine requirement was lifted for fully vaccinated travelers, the number of people in quarantine began to decrease. In addition, the quarantine time was reduced from 14 days to 10 days. In July 2021, the acting governor announced that Guam had reached the Operation Liberate Guam goal of an 80% fully vaccinated rate. Knowing this, GovGuam should have amended the minimum number of guaranteed rooms for (the quarantine hotel) as early as July 2021, the audit stated. Instead, GovGuam waited until October 2021 to amend the minimum daily guaranteed rooms from 300 to 74 at a daily rate of $150 per occupied room plus tax, regardless of occupied or unoccupied. From July 2021 through November 2021, the facility averaged 516 rooms occupied and 5,307 rooms unoccupied, which meant GovGuam paid a lot more for those unoccupied rooms than occupied rooms. The report noted that the need for quarantine and isolation facilities was needed to combat COVID-19. The government of Guam was making amendments to purchase orders for quarantine facilities to increase utilization dates when it knew the quarantine was continually needed. However, GovGuam should have known quarantine numbers would significantly decline around June 2021. They should have amended to reduce the minimum number of guaranteed rooms at the quarantine facility, the report stated. "GovGuam should use the available data and information to help reduce unnecessary expenses when possible. The Guam Visitors Bureau has been moving funding around to aggressively market the island in the Japanese market and has implemented employee pay adjustments, GVB officials said at Thursday afternoons board of directors meeting. The board deferred discussions on GVB President Carl Gutierrezs performance evaluation and the bureaus bylaws, at least until after Fridays legislative roundtable on GVB matters. The board selected chairpersons for different committees, and adopted a resolution allowing the use of video teleconferencing during special and regular GVB board meetings. All this comes about a month before Japan reclassifies COVID-19, putting it in the same category as seasonal flu by May 8. This is expected to boost Japanese travel to overseas destinations like Guam, so GVB is ramping up its marketing efforts. GVB Board Chairman George Chiu asked the bureau management to be more mindful of its public statements about the state of tourism, and to focus on efforts to bring in more tourists to Guam. Our job at GVB is to bring in tourists. We need to do it in any which way possible and we should try to avoid making comments such as it is what it is. I mean our job is to try to bring in tourists regardless of what the circumstances here are on Guam, Chiu said. The tone at the Thursday board meeting was more cordial and more optimistic about Guams tourism recovery. Gutierrez said the bureau expects more Japanese arrivals in the weeks ahead, and noted the increased flights from United Airlines and the return of Japan Airlines. Some 40 travel agents and media from Japan are currently on Guam for a familiarization tour, as part of the push to put Guam in the minds of Japanese tourists, GVB officials said. Gutierrez said last year, when Japan wasnt ready to travel yet, GVB moved marketing money to the Korean market. Governor Lou Leon Guerrero came to the rescue, gave us $5 million and we started allowing for Korean tourists to have up to $200 worth of PCR testing to get back into their country, Gutierrez said. This pushed overall arrivals to the island last year compared to the prior year. We took some money from the Japan marketing because it wasnt being used, moved it to Korea. So now maybe we dont need to use most of the Korea money right now, we move it to Japan. So Japan is the target right now, Gutierrez said. GVB Vice President Gerry Perez said Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero approved a pay adjustment to the 20 percentile effective April 1, 2023, and directed the bureau management to inform the GVB board. Perez said salaries at GVB are at the bottom 5 percentile of all comparable visitors bureaus in the U.S., adding that GVB lost nearly 20% or seven of its experienced employees in the last three years to federal and other employers. The bureaus planned fiscal 2024 budget request remains at $29 million. For the first half of fiscal 2024, arrivals to Guam reached 310,538, a 538% increase from the same period last year but still about 60% from pre-pandemic 2019. Korean arrivals are more than 50% of pre-pandemic levels, but Japan and Taiwan arrivals are still at about 10% of what they were prior to COVID-19. There are ongoing charter flights from Taiwan, bringing additional 5,000-plus visitors to Guam. Gutierrez also said theres a delegation of Philippine government officials on Guam right now. A resolution has been pending in Philippine Congress seeking a US visa waiver for Filipino tourists bound for Guam. Michael Lujan Bevacqua is an author, artist, activist and the curator for the Guam Museum. Haiti - Justice : William O'Neill new Independent Human Rights Expert in Haiti UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk on Wednesday designated William ONeill as an expert on human rights in Haiti, following a request from the UN Human Rights Council. The Council adopted a resolution on 4 April calling for the appointment of an independent rights expert on Haiti, amid mounting concern over deadly gang violence engulfing the country, threatening livelihoods, and pushing half the population into hunger. ONeills appointment is for a renewable period of one year. Under resolution A/HRC/52/L.17/Rev.1, the expert will be tasked with monitoring, with the assistance of the Office of the High Commissioner and in collaboration with the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), the development of the human rights situation in Haiti. In performing his duties, he will pay special attention to the situation of children and of human trafficking, and to ensure a gender perspective. He will also provide advice and technical assistance to the Haitian Government, national human rights institutions and civil society organizations, and assist in their efforts to ensure respect for and the promotion and protection of human rights. The Resolution also requests OHCHR to provide the Haitian government with technical assistance and support for capacity-building in the promotion and protection of human rights, specifically for the Haitian judiciary, security forces and prison administration. The work undertaken by ONeill will contribute to an interim written report that the High Commissioner will present to the Human Rights Council at its 54th session and a comprehensive report thereon to its 55th session. Learn more : ONeill, a US national, is a lawyer specializing in humanitarian, human rights and refugee law, with a special focus on the establishment and maintenance of the rule of law in post-conflict situations. He has been the senior adviser on human rights to the UN Mission in Kosovo, chief of the UN Human Rights Field Operation in Rwanda, and led the Legal Department of the UN/OAS Mission in Haiti. He helped establish the Haitian National Police in 1995, advising on recruitment, testing and training the then new police force, participated in creating the School for Judges, and worked closely with Haitian human rights organizations to help train their human rights monitors. He has also worked on judicial, police, and prison reform in Burundi, Liberia, Sierra Leone, South Sudan, East Timor, Nepal and Bosnia-Herzegovina. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - UNICEF : Donation of 30 motorcycles to the Educational Community Police (EduPol) On Wednesday April 12, 2023, the United Nations Organization UNICEF-Haiti during a ceremony, handed over a fleet of 30 motorcycles to the Educational Community Police (EduPol) in the presence of Nesmy Manigat, Minister of National Education, by Me Paul Eronce Vilard Chief of Staff to the Acting Minister of Justice and Public Security, of Bruno Maes Representative of Unicef in Haiti, of Inspector General Alain Auguste, Central Director of the Administrative Police and his assistant, Divisional Commissioner Ernst Dorfeuille. The Minister Manigat thanked UNICEF for the supply of this rolling equipment to this unit of the National Police of Haiti, which badly needs to deploy in other municipalities of the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince (Carrefour, Croix-des-Bouquets), and in other departments (North and Artibonite) where children are demanding the support of local police, emphasizing "The 4 million Haitian students need a calm climate to learning is effective. The 200,000 teachers need a serene climate to exercise their profession with dignity and with the necessary motivation [...]" Me Paul Eronce Vilard, Chief of Staff on behalf of the Minister of Justice, praised the work of the agents of Edupol, which is to fight primary type juvenile delinquency "You have a responsibility towards the children, towards the parents, towards the Nation. The students are our children; they must be protected in any case with regard to the laws of the Republic and the international conventions signed and ratified by Haiti," recalled Mr. Paul Eronce Villard. "UNICEF believes in the work of Community Educational Police officers," declared Bruno Maes, stressing "education is a pillar of stability in Haiti. When it is interrupted, social and economic life seems to stop," referring to the plight of children who, in several areas in the metropolitan region of Port-au-Prince and in the Artibonite, suffer because the violence has invited into their daily lives, or because their schools have been the target of armed groups, stating in conclusion "Equipping Edupol agents to enable them to secure schools means helping children grow up in a protective environment and continuing their safe schooling." HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Rice : Taiwan installs smart agricultural sensors The Technical Mission of Taiwan (Republic of China) in Haiti has installed 62 units of smart agricultural sensors in the Warf Massey and Islet Massey areas, located in the plain of Les Cayes to monitor climatic conditions on agricultural land. We use these sensors to inform farmers to improve irrigation and fertilization for rice production. Victory of the old Tiger [2-1] against the Lion of Mexico Tuesday, April 11, 2023 as part of the CONCACAF Champions League, Violette AC faced the Mexican Lions Club in the return match on the lawn of the Cibao Stadium (Santiago in the Dominican Republic). Despite a victory for the Old Tigers against the Mexican Lion [2-1], doubled by Mich-naider Chery 15' [1-0] and 26' [2-0] and reduction of the score by the Lions by Brian Alejandro Rubio Rodriguez at the 30' [2-1]. Violette is eliminated after his defeat in the first leg [5-0] against the Lions hhttps://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-39235-icihaiti-champions-league-the-lions-of-mexico-humiliates-the-old-tiger-of-haiti-[5-0]-video.html . Shoud be notes that this victory is a historic first, of a Haitian club against a Mexican formation. Ministerial reshuffle blocked According to our information, the allies of Prime Minister a.i. Ariel Henry are opposed to changes in the Ministries of the Interior and Planning. This is what would constitute the blockage of the cabinet reshuffle. Less than 3% of detainees tried in 2022 The latest report from the National Network for the Defense of Human Rights (RNDDH) on criminal hearings carried out in certain jurisdictions of the country reveals that from November 2022 to January 2023, of the 200 people who should have been tried, 128 were actually tried, 53 were released and 75 others convicted. RNDDH recommends that the judicial authorities regularly organize correctional and criminal hearings, with the aim of trying at least 50% of people awaiting trial during the year 2023. More than 9,000 detainees are in this situation, according to the RNDDH who regrets that less than 3% of detainees were tried in 2022. Download the full report (PDF in French 17 pages) : https://haitilibre.com/docs/4-Rapport-Justice-Assises-2022-2023-VS-10Avr2023-FR-.pdf FNE : Support of 100 million for Universities in the Region As part of its mission to contribute to the improvement of education in Haiti, the National Education Fund (FNE) grants budgetary support of 100 million Gourdes to Public Universities in the Region (UPR). 125,000 barrels of gasoline have arrived "Wednesday, April 12, 125,000 barrels of gasoline arrived in Port-au-Prince. A second cargo of 155,000 barrels of diesel is expected on Saturday April 15, 2023," informs the Development Assistance Programs Management Office (BMPAD). HL/ HaitiLibre Published on 2023/04/12 | Source There are actors who boast perfect teamwork that you want to see over and over again. When Jeon Do-yeon, Sol Kyung-gu, and Jang Hyuk, Jang Nara meet, the perfect actors come back together. Advertisement "Kill Boksoon" is an action film about Gil Boksoon, a legendary killer in the contract murder industry, who is about to renew her contract with the company, getting caught in an inevitable confrontation. Jeon Do-yeon and Sol Kyung-gu's familiar harmony is drawing attention in the Netflix movie "Kill Boksoon", which is receiving enthusiastic responses by topping the Netflix global top 10 movies (non-English) with 196.1 million viewing time. This is the third time Jeon Do-yeon and Sol Kyung-gu have come together. They first worked together in 2001 with the movie "I Wish I Had a Wife". Jeong Won-joo (Jeon Do-yeon) who works as an academy instructor in the same building as Kim Bong-soo (Sol Kyung-gu), a pure man who dreams of an ideal marriage, play in a flirting relationship. Then in 2019, the two met again in the movie "Birthday" after eighteen years. The two played the role of a couple who lost their son in the Ferry Sewol disaster in "Birthday". In "Kill Boksoon", the two reunited as the head of a murder contracting company with a 100% success rate of murder weapon. Jeon Do-yeon also described Sol Kyung-gu as a 'mountain holding out on the side'. In an interview with SpoTV News after the release of "Kill Boksoon", she boasted, saying, "Sol Kyung-gu always stood by me like a mountain, but when I climb the mountain, I know what kind of feelings he has". "The romance in "Kill Boksoon" was created by Sol Kyung-gu", she said. "When I read the script, I didn't feel much of the melodramatic story between Cha Min-gyoo (Sol Kyung-gu) and Boksoon. But after the first premiere, I cried because it seemed to be a love story between the two. I thought, "Did they have this kind of love?" Sol Kyung-gu created it", and Sol Kyung-gu said about Jeon Do-yeon, "Jeon Do-yeon is Jeon Do-yeon is Jeon Do-yeon. What more do I need to say?" Sol Kyung-gu worked for the third time with director Byun Sung-Hyun in "Kill Boksoon" after "The Merciless" and "Kingmaker". He said, "I think I like director Byun Sung-Hyun's movies and scenes. There was no reason not to. The staff of "The Merciless" participated in "Kill Boksoon", so the teamwork was good, and I think it is the most colorful work among the three works", he said. Director Byun Sung-Hyun said, "I didn't ask Sol Kyung-gu to appear, but I just called him, and he said the scipt must have come out and invited me home. I didn't have to say much to know he was going to do it", he said, boasting his belief but he also laughed by firmly saying, "It's not persona". There is also a duo who heralded their fourth meeting. Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara drew attention by announcing that they will work together for the fourth time with tvN's new Monday-Tuesday drama "Family", which will premiere on the 17th. Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara first worked together in 2002 with "The Successful Story Of A Bright Girl". Jang Nara played the role of Cha Yang-soon, a girl from Chungcheong-do, and Jang Hyuk played the role of the owner of a chaebol house with Cha Yang-soon as a housekeeper, and the drama drew attention by surpassing the highest viewer rating of 41%. In 2014, twelve years later, Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara showed chemistry between a man and a woman who got married after accidentally spending a night together in "Fated to Love You" and in "Drama Festival - Old Goodbye", Kang Soo-hyeok (Jang Nara), became seriously ill after divorce, and Han Chae-hee (Jang Nara) time-slipped to save him. Jang Hyuk and Jang Nara returned as a couple after eight years, signaling their fourth collaboration. "Family" is a close-knit family defense spy comedy between the husband, an NIS black agent, who disguises himself as an ordinary office worker, and his sweet and brutal wife, who dreams of a perfect family. Jang Hyuk is an NIS black agent Kwon Do-hoon, disguised as a trading company manager inside the house, where he is of the lowest rank and Jang Nara will play Kang Yoo-ra, a multi-talented housewife who is No.1 in the house. Regarding her fourth collaboration with Jang Hyuk, Jang Nara said, "It is very rare to meet the same actor again in various works, so I am very grateful. I think we have a good chemistry together. We work well together even if we don't have a lot of conversations", she said, raising expectations for synergy. Login or sign up to follow actresses, movies & dramas and get specific updates and news Login Sign Up New Ad-free Subscriber Login Email Password Password Username Subscribe to our daily NewsLetter Your E-mail will only be used to retrieve a lost password or receive our NewsLetter. Stay logged in Lost password Contact Korean Movie | 2021 Omnibus Horror Directed by Hong Won-ki () 123min | Release date in South Korea: 2022/04/27 Link Release date on wavve: 2022/05/27 Synopsis The fear of walking through a dark tunnel alone The questionable sound from next door The mystery of used furniture The false jealousy towards others A more terrifying reality than death that started from revenge, curses, and desire is coming! Episodes Episode 01 "Urban Myths: Tunnel" (, teo-neol) In the dead of night as Gi-hoon returns from a fishing trip, he begins to see handprints all over his windshield. He tries to wash them off using the wipers but cannot remove them. He wipes the window from the inside and the handprints rub clean. He thinks he is alone? Discover the truth when he enters the tunnel looming ahead. Episode 02 "Urban Myths: The Woman in Red" (, ppal-gan-ot) At the funeral of Hyeon-joo, Soo-jin who used to bully her, hears that she committed suicide. Now, she is plagued by frequent visions of a woman in red. No matter how hard Su-jin tries to escape her, the woman in red may not allow it. Episode 03 "Urban Myths: Necromancy" (, hon-sum) Best friends, Ji-hyeon and Hye-yeon, were like any other teen girls, sharing dreams and interest and making promises they should not keep. When Hye-yeon dies, Ji-hyeon in her grief honors one such promise. To perform necromancy if the other ever died. Ji-hyeon successful brings back Hye-yeon's soul but soon after finds that there are somethings that should never come back... Episode 04 "Urban Myths: Tooth Worms" (, chi-chung) Jae-seong who is suffering due to a severe toothache visits his dentist, Choong-jae. However, his dentist couldn't find the cause and asks him to come back the next day. Soon after, Choong-jae finds something writhing in the sink. Upon examining the specimen, his instinct tells him that when Jae-seong returns, no one will be smiling. Episode 05 "Urban Myths: Ghost Marriage" (, hon-in) A desperate job seeker, Jae-hoon, gets the chance at an interview. During the interview he is asked unusual questions unrelated to the job. Feeling unsure after the interview, he is told about the CEO, the shaman whispering in his ear and his deceased daughter whom he adores. Jae-hoon wonders, what kind of company is he getting involved with? Episode 06 "Urban Myths: The Closet" (, jung-go-ga-gu) Ji-hye finds a high-quality second-hand closet from an online flea market. When she meets the seller, she is a little creeped out by him but really likes the closet. She decides to take it. But once the closet is delivered, horrible nightmares come with it. Is it because the closet is haunted? Episode 07 "Urban Myths: The Girl in the Mirror" (, eol-gul-do-duk) Influencer Hyeon-joo is nothing but shallow and greedy. Shes obsessed with social media and gets jealous of anyone who looks better than her. One day she looks in the mirror and her reflection starts to speak to her. Now her superficial world begins to shake. Episode 08 "Urban Myths: A Mannequin" (, ma-ne-king) While Jong-chan is working at a mannequin warehouse, he hears strange rumors that some of the mannequins are more than they seem. That night, he bumps into a man that looks like a mannequin and things go horrifyingly wrong. Episode 09 "Urban Myths: The Wall" (, chung-gan-so-eum) Moving into a new apartment, Jeong-gyoon hears a knocking noise from the neighbor at night. Next morning, he runs into a beautiful woman who seems to live next door. He dares to communicate with her through the wall, not knowing the dire consequences he will encounter. Episode 10 "Urban Myths: Escape Games" (, bang-tal-chul) Three friends who enjoy going to famous escape rooms respond to an advert for a newly-opened escape room. Once they get there, they are told that there will be only one clue and no time limit. They start the escape game but realize that its nothing like the usual, normal ones... Published on 2023/04/13 | Source Eighth day at the La Compagnia cinema: the masterclass is sold out but can be followed online on MyMovies platform Advertisement Double appointment for the Oscar award in Florence: at 3 pm masterclass and at 8 pm greeting at audience before the screening of his "Mother - 2009" in a black and white version The director will receive an award from the President of Tuscany Region (Regione Toscana) Eugenio Giani, the Regional Council from President Antonio Mazzeo and Honorary Citizenship of the City of Florence (Firenze) by Mayor Dario Nardella Oscar winner Bong Joon-ho for the film Parasite is the special guest of the 21st Florence Korea Film Fest: the director will meet the festival audience on Thursday 6 April, at 3 pm, at the La Compagnia cinema in Florence (via Cavour 50r) in a masterclass entitled "Geometries of the gaze" and at 8 pm to present the 2009 film "Mother - 2009", in an original black and white version. The masterclass is sold out but can be followed online on the MyMovies and Piu Compagnia platforms by purchasing the subscription for 9.90 euros. To welcome in Tuscany The welcome in Tuscany will be given by the President of the Tuscany Region Eugenio Giani donating the Pegasus symbol of the Tuscany Region (Regione Toscana) and by the Mayor of Florence (Firenze) Dario Nardella the parchment of honorary citizenship of the City of Florence, by Antonio Mazzeo, president of the Regional Council who will deliver, before the masterclass, an acknowledgment on behalf of the entire legislative assembly, which sponsored the Florence Korea Film Fest. "For his artistic production and for having created a bridge, thanks to the cinema, between Italy and Korea, as in the unforgettable scene of Parasite with the song by Gianni Morandi in the background". With seven feature films, a Palme d'Or and four Academy Awards, Bong Joon-ho is one of the most famous and acclaimed masters of contemporary Korean cinema. After the retrospective dedicated in 2011, the director returns to Florence for a masterclass that traces his career, from the beginning to the present day. The meeting is curated by the critics Marco Luceri, Caterina Liverani and Luigi Nepi, and will address the main turning points of his idea of cinema: the reflection on the fractures that cross Korean society from individuals to the different social classes (as in "Barking Dog Never Bite", "Mother - 2009", "Memories of Murder" and "Parasite") and on the announced ecological disaster (as in "Snowpiercer" and "Okja") are always accompanied by a style that combines the originality of an auteur gaze with a taste for spectacular cinema with a strong popular connotation (such as "The Host"). A cinema of heroes who fight "against everything and everyone", on the chessboard of a world with uncontrollable trajectories. This will be followed by "Mother - 2009" at 8 pm, for many the true masterpiece of the Korean director, a mature film that takes on the thriller genre, where Bong once again puts the spotlight on the story of two outcasts (mother and son) who live on the edge of the world, but who precisely because of this have the strength to bend events and re-establish their own truth, which will be much more shocking than the "official" one. Two other screenings are also scheduled for the day: at 5.30 pm, space for "My Mother, the Mermaid" by Park Heung-sik, as a tribute to this year's festival guest, actor Park Hae-il: a story simple, which unfolds with delicacy and warmth, respectfully treating the themes of the present and at the same time looking with a kind of tenderness and reference to the patriarchal Korea of the past. Finally, at 10.30 pm, Kim Hong-seon's "Project Wolf Hunting" is in the room: during their transport by ship to be repatriated, from the Philippines to South Korea, a group of criminals unites to organize an escape attempt . However, they don't know that something even more dangerous than them is hiding on board the same ship they are traveling on. Information: Florence Korea Film Fest; via San Domenico, 101 (Fi); Tel: 055 5048516; info@koreafilmfest.com; www.koreafilmfest.com. Finnish startups have once again raised a record amount of funding. The amount invested increased by almost half a billion from the previous year, totalling 1.8 billion in 2022. The amount of capital raised by Finnish startups reached a new record last year. Of the total amount invested in Finnish startups, almost 60 per cent came from venture capital and growth investors. "The amount of funding raised by Finnish startups has increased tenfold in the last ten years. We have seen especially great leaps in the last four years, and the long-term development has also been positive," says Anne Horttanainen, Managing Director of the Finnish Venture Capital Association. Startups raise funding from several different types of investors. As in previous years, most of the funding came from venture capital and growth investors, who invested over one billion euros in Finnish startups in 2022. There has been a significant increase from the previous years sum of 886 million. Of the amount invested in 2022, 280 million came from domestic and 753 million from foreign VCs and growth investors. Other foreign investors, such as corporates and LPs, invested a significant amount of 597 million euros in Finnish startups. Other domestic investors invested a total of 160 million. The record sum was heavily boosted by supply chain and retail planning platform Relex's 500 million investment round and open-source cloud data platform Aiven's 200 million round. Other large investment rounds were raised by quantum computer developer IQM (128 million) and satellite technology company Iceye (120 million). "The largest funding rounds are often led by foreign investors. Financing of tens or hundreds of millions cannot be done by Finnish efforts alone, and for our startups to compete with the global leaders, we need to also be able to attract international capital," comments Horttanainen. The Finnish Venture Capital Ecosystem is Maturing and Internationalising Finnish venture capital investors play a significant role in the growth and development of startups. With the financing provided by VCs, startups can grow from the idea stage all the way to conquering international markets. In 2022, Finnish venture capital investors made a total of 358 million in investments. Of this amount, 238 million were invested in Finnish companies and 120 million in foreign companies. The development and internationalisation of the Finnish venture capital ecosystem are reflected by the data: Finnish venture capital funds have increasingly invested in foreign startups in recent years. "Internationalisation is visible in both Finnish startups and VCs. The strengthened global networks are an advantage for a small market like ours,"comments Jussi Sainiemi, partner at Voima Ventures and chairperson of FVCAs venture capital committee. Fundraising of Finnish venture capital funds was successful in 2022. A record amount of capital was raised, totalling 402 million. The previous record year was 2019, with 345 million raised. In 2022, FOV Ventures and Innovestor Life Science launched their first funds. Inventure, Butterfly Ventures, and Wave Ventures also raised new funds. "The development is positive - the sizes of funds have grown, and new funds have been established. While we already have a few larger VC funds, we are still missing the funds with hundreds of millions under management, which often lead later-stage investment rounds," says Horttanainen. Investor sentiment, as revealed by a survey conducted by the FVCA in March 2023, indicates that fundraising has become more challenging compared to previous periods. "The general economic uncertainty naturally creates challenges for this industry as well. Now is the time to make sure that unnecessary obstacles to fundraising are removed to secure the availability of funding for Finnish startups in the future, Horttanainen says. Staying on the right path In the past four years, the Finnish startup and venture capital ecosystem has grown in leaps. Startups have attracted record amounts of capital year on year, several companies have grown into international success stories, and VCs fundraising has been successful. The outlook for future development, however, is uncertain. Based on statistics, investment activity in Finland remained at a good level even towards the end of 2022, while it already slowed down in Europe and the United States. According to the investor survey, Finnish VCs feel that there are still good investment opportunities available, but recently, there has been discussion in Finland about the declining number of new startups being founded. The decrease in the number of startups also worries Horttanainen: "The development of the venture capital industry and the entire ecosystem is the result of the long-term work of many players. To ensure that this good development does not suffer a setback, cooperation to promote growth and entrepreneurship must continue. I also expect ambitious initiatives towards growth and entrepreneurship-friendly policies from our new government," she concludes. HT Source: Finnish Venture Capital Association (FVCA) Ill continue working as the partys chairperson until the next chairperson has been selected in the summers party conference, she stated at a press conference in the Parliament House on Tuesday. I believe its good for the party that a new leadership will take charge of the new rise. MARIA OHISALO , the chairperson of the Green League, has announced she will not seek another term at the helm of the party. Ohisalo stressed that she accepts full responsibility for the massive loss the party suffered in the parliamentary elections held on 2 April. Support for the Green League fell by 4.5 percentage points from the previous elections to 7.0 per cent, translating to a loss of 7 of its 20 seats in the Finnish Parliament. It is important that the party stops to think about its mission in the wake of the loss, according to Ohisalo. She added that she will lead the party into the coalition formation negotiations. While she did not rule out the possibility of being part of the next ruling coalition, she reiterated that the threshold for doing so remains high. The Green League is available to the extent that the next government starts to promote policies that dont cut a single euro from education, that dont backtrack on climate actions and that dont increase inequalities, she outlined. The announcement has fuelled speculation about both her successor and the direction of the party. With Pekka Haavisto and Ville Niinisto, both high-profile former chairpersons of the party, declaring that they will not enter the leadership race, over half a dozen party members have tentatively indicated that they are mulling over staging a leadership bid. They include Fatim Diarra, the chairperson of the Helsinki City Council, Atte Harjanne, a second-term Member of the Parliament from Helsinki, Krista Mikkonen, a third-term Member of the Parliament from Joensuu and Oras Tynkkynen, a fourth-term Member of the Parliament from Pirkanmaa. Public analyses have identified sundry possible reasons for the partys collapse in the parliamentary elections, from tactical voting and mainstreaming environmental concerns to unclear economic policy views, mumbled communication and a shift toward the political left. Tynkkynen on Tuesday told YLE that he has received a lot of feedback about the need to clarify the partys views on economic policy. At the same time, we have to be able to communicate more concisely and understandably, in laymans terms. We have to offer an answer to the question, how does the Greens differ from left-wing parties on the one hand and from right-wing parties on the other, he said. We have earned our left-wing label not by making left-wing economic policy but by not making any kind of economic policy, Ville Aarnio, a deputy chairperson of the economic policy association of the Greens, wrote in his election postmortem on Verde. Joel Linnainmaki, a special advisor to Minister for Foreign Affairs Haavisto, viewed that the Green League has deliberately painted itself in the same corner with the Left Alliance and Social Democrats. As a result, we are competing for the same voters. As the Social Democrats shifted further left in these elections, we should have tried to seize the space they vacated and reach toward the middle. But this is not possible when there isnt even a readiness to recognise that the Greens are on the left, he wrote according to Helsingin Sanomat. He also argued that the talking points brought up regularly by the party, such as human rights, resonate with a decreasing number of Finns. Value issues are important. Focusing exclusively on them is not a broad enough approach. The Green League clearly made a mistake by focusing on what its internal surveys suggest are its core supporters, gauged ex-chairperson Osmo Soininvaara. If the Centre did that, it would limit itself to only seeking the backing of livestock farmers. You should not limit your support base but rather expand it, he wrote on Verde. Soininvaara, on the other hand, has also stated that the party has foolishly tried to shed its image as a party for well educated urban dwellers and started to communicate in truncated tweet-like slogans instead of genuine analyses. Communication has become cliched and turned into simple communication of slogans. People need societal analyses, but the Green League has not offered them, he commented to Helsingin Sanomat. Satu Hassi, another former chairperson of the Greens, pointed out that some party members feel that the party has negative connotations. The Green Leagues message is easily perceived to be blaming. This is facilitated by the fact that the debate slides so easily to individual-level choices on housing, food and transport, she analysed on Facebook. Representatives of the party, she added, can feel pressure from their fellow party members to be a perfect eco-Jesus. Linnainmaki revealed that even he, a long-term party active and employee, has struggled to identify with the tone of official party communication. The imagery of our communications is glossy and narrow. Perfect people in forests. Perfect people building dens for Saimaa ringed seal, he characterised. Aleksi Teivainen HT DISH ON DINING: Verri's Italian Ristorante opens in old Mona Lisa spot The team at Verris Italian Ristorante includes Melissa, Tom, Sammie and Brittany Verri and Toms wife and the girls mom, Patti (not pictured). Although he was already plenty busy running Brooks Tavern with the help of his wife and daughters, Tom Verri still longed return to his roots serving Italian fare. An effort to buy Renzos on Main Street had fallen through at the last minute. When one door closes, another opens. When a wine distributor told him that Mona Lisa owner Franco Bonaduce wanted to sell his Church Street restaurant and retire, Verri jumped at the chance. He bought the place and hired a contractor to modernize the intimate space. After a thorough remodel, Verri reopened the dining spot last month as Verris Italian Ristorante, specializing in Italian food, of course, but also steaks and chops, wine and dessert. Basically, the restaurant is styled a lot after the restaurants Id worked at growing up in New York City, Verri says. I was born in Little Italy in the Bronx so you see a lot of the New York flavor. And it came out I would say very accurate to the way I envisioned it. The menu features four antipasti choices ($10-14), Della Casa, Greek and Caesar salads ($10-12), nine pasta entrees including Ragu Di Carne, homemade lasagna and Fettucine Alfredo ($18-21), five veal options plus chicken, lamb and pork chops, shrimp and scallop dishes and a seafood stew over pasta. Pizza options are cheese with a choice of 12 toppings ($14 plus $2 per topping), a star-shaped pizza with ricotta-stuffed mini-calzone edges ($17) and Margherita ($15). Desserts include cannoli, homemade tiramisu, homemade gelato and New York cheesecake ($9-14). Its a family-run operation all the way, with daughters Melissa, Sammie and Britanny and his wife, Patti, all pitching in fulltime. With their help, Verri has plans to expand as tourism ramps up. We are planning a doing seventh day (theyre currently closed on Monday) and adding tables outside, he says, and hopefully in the summer or late spring we might try to do lunch. * * * * * Verris Italian Ristorante, 785 N. Church St., is open 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday and 4-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Reach Verris at 828-696-7858. It takes reservations by phone or in-person only. A DELICATESSEN has opened in Wargrave. It is part of the Daisy Love Cafe in High Street and stocks fresh produce including vegetables, fruits, milk and cheese and flowers as well as store cupboard items such as chocolate, biscuits, cereal, oil and jam. Cansel San and Denis Shanov, who took over the cafe in October, plan to offer a range of food products including organic, gluten-free and vegan options. Mr Shanov said: Most of it comes from wholesalers but we try to discover the local farms as well, so one of the cheeses is coming from a local farm and the eggs too. About 80 people visited the shop on its first day of business. Mr Shanov said: We will try to see what people want so we can decide which products we should sell or which products people need. Some of them just have a little amount and if we see the interest we will increase the amount. We started with a little bit of fresh vegetables and if people show interest we would like to frequently provide these as well. The couple moved to Britain from Istanbul four years ago, where Ms San worked in human resources. She is responsible for running the cafe, which is open seven days a week. Mr Shanov, a software engineer, works remotely and helps her where he can. When the couple moved to Britain they initially lived in Cardiff, where Mr Shanov worked during the pandemic. Their son, Atlas, was born two years ago. Mr Shanov said that after the last lockdown his wife wanted to work and was still learning English so they thought about running a coffee shop. A friend who is in the industry helped them find the cafe in Wargrave and they liked the area so they moved to Maidenhead. Ms San said that running a coffee shop was not so different from her old job in human resources as it was also about having about good relationships. Whats different is I was working for a company but now I am working for myself, she said. I like Wargrave people. They are good, friendly and talkative. Theyve welcomed us, which is really nice. It is long hours. I go home and look after my son. Playing, cooking and sleeping, non-stop. The couple plan to take on a trainee so that Ms San can work half days when her son starts at nursery school. Mr Shanov said that the family moved to Britain so that their children would have a better life. He said: Turkey is nice, a good country, but there are some management issues on the government side and we wanted to have more opportunities, so it was arranging a better future for our kids. Its not easy to have a balanced life with work. Its hard for Cansel, the amount of effort shes putting in, but I believe our son will get the rewards. This article was produced as part of JTAs Teen Journalism Fellowship, a program that works with Jewish teens around the world to report on issues that affect their lives. (JTA) At the SAR High School, an Orthodox Jewish day school in Riverdale, New York, teens participate in anti-harassment training every fall. Students listen carefully as faculty list the dangers of TikTok, the potential social isolation resulting from excessive social media use, and the negative implicit messaging both Jewish and otherwise that often pervades these platforms. Yet for many Jewish teens... This article was sent to Heritage right before Passover but was too late to make it in one of the two papers that come out during Passover. Still, we felt it should be shared because it is so timely. There are many things that are charming about Jerusalem. Once, I read a book titled "Letters From Jerusalem 1947-1948" by a woman who lived here in the 1940s, fought during the War of Independence, and spoke about many of the challenges of living in Jerusalem at that time. One thing that struck me was that back then Jerusalem was more of a small town, only about 100,000 Jews. The impression wa... (JTA) There are 49 days between the second night of Passover and the holiday of Shavuot, but whos counting? Jews the world over, in fact, and in languages familiar and obscure. The daily counting of the Omer is an old ritual being given new life this season by the Jewish Language Project at Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion. On each day of the seven-week period, the research group will post a version of the counting in a different vernacular Jewish language, from Ladino and Yiddish to less familiar languages like Judeo-Georgian and Judeo-Persian. The multilingual Ome... Neil Bogart is shown with The Isley Brothers in June 1969. (JTA) - In the hit show "The Sopranos," veteran actor Jerry Adler plays mob-adjacent Jewish businessman Hesh Rabkin, who made a fortune in the music business decades earlier. In a first season episode, Hesh is confronted by a rapper seeking "reparations" for a late Black musician who he says Rabkin didn't pay fairly for a hit record. When Hesh responds by bragging that he wrote the hit songs he worked on back in the day, Tony Soprano corrects him: "A couple of Black kids wrote that record, you gave yourself co-writing credit because you owned the label." The greedy Jewish music mogul has be... Hanno Koffler as Hans Fittko, Deleila Piasko as Lisa Fittko, Cory Michael Smith as Varian Fry and Amit Rahav as Thomas Lovegrove in "Transatlantic." (JTA) - While the United States swung its door shut to most refugees during World War II, a young American in France saved thousands, including some of the 20th century's defining artists and thinkers - such as Marc Chagall and Hannah Arendt - from the Nazis. The rescue mission of Varian Fry, which went largely unrecognized during his life, is the subject of Netflix's new drama "Transatlantic," from "Unorthodox" creator Anna Winger. Starring Cory Michael Smith as Fry, the seven-episode "Transatlantic" aims to recreate his operation in Marseille after the Nazis defeated France and before t... (JNS) - Benjamin ("Ben") Ferencz, the last surviving prosecutor from the Nuremberg trials, passed away on April 7 at the age of 103. According to The New York Times, he died at an assisted-living facility in Boynton Beach, Fla. A Harvard-educated New York lawyer, Ferencz was only 27 when he secured the convictions of German officers in 1947 at Nuremberg, where prominent Nazi representatives from the political, military and economic spheres were put on trial. Ferencz was put in charge of the Einsatzgruppen case, in which 22 Nazis, including six generals, organized and directed roving SS ext... (JNS) Some 60,000 tourists are expected to arrive in Israel during the Passover and Easter holidays, injecting nearly $100 million into the economy. Passover begins on Wednesday at sundown and runs seven days in the Jewish state and eight days in the Diaspora. Easter is marked on April 9, and the monthlong Muslim festival of Ramadan began on March 22. Last month, 352,000 tourist entries were recorded and, overall, 916,000 tourists have visited Israel since the beginning of the year. The positive trend in incoming tourism, along with the increase in domestic tourism, leads to prosperi... (JNS) The Anti-Defamation League announced plans to open a satellite office in Brooklyn, N.Y., which its CEO and national director Jonathan Greenblatt calls one of the epicenters for antisemitism in this country. Of more than 395 antisemitic incidents that the ADL documented in New York City last year, 147 occurred in Brooklyn, home to a number of large Orthodox Jewish communities easily identifiable by their dress. Neighborhoods include Crown Heights, Williamsburg, Flatbush and Borough Park. The Brooklyn community has been burdened with an outsized number of hateful attacks,... (JNS) - A coordinated cyberattack took down the websites of major Israeli universities on Tuesday. A hacker group calling itself "Anonymous Sudan" claimed responsibility for the attack on its Telegram account, stating that the "Israel education sector has been dropped because of what they did in Palestine." Institutions impacted by the attack include Tel Aviv University, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev in Beersheva, the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovot, the Open University of Israel and Reichman University in Herzliya. "These are service-disrup... (JNS) The family of Or Eshkar, 32, who died on March 20 of a bullet wound sustained during a terror attack in Tel Aviv on March 9, donated his organs to five people. Eshkars heart was transplanted into a 65-year-old man. A 75-year-old man received his liver. A 52-year-old and a 59-year-old each received a kidney. And a liver lobe was transplanted into a one-year-old. The heart transplant, which went to Yedidya Sulimani, a father of four and grandfather of 11, was complex because the patient had an artificial heart implanted previously, Arutz Sheva reported. Professor Dan Aravot,... Rabbi Leo Dee and his remaining three children after two of his daughters, Maia and Rina, were killed on April 7 when their car was ambushed by terrorists in the Jordan Valley. The sisters were buried on April 9 at the Gush Etzion Regional Cemetery in Kfar Etzion, one day before their mother, Lucy Dee, succumbed to her wounds and died on April 10, 2023. (JNS) - In a video message, Rabbi Leo Dee - whose wife, Lucy, 48, and daughters, Maia, 20, and Rina, 15, were murdered in a terrorist attack - called for the observance of April 10 as "Dees Day." "Today, we differentiate between good and evil, right and wrong," he said. Dee described being unable to reach his wife and daughters, who were traveling in a different car, after hearing that there had been a terrorist attack. Then he saw a missed call from one of his daughters. "The feeling that she called me during the attack, and I wasn't able to speak to her, would come back and haunt me for... (JTA) Nikki Fried, who chairs Floridas Democratic Party, was arrested at a protest for abortion rights in the state capital, along with 10 other demonstrators. The protest on April 3, which took place outside Tallahassee City Hall, was in opposition to a proposed six-week abortion ban in Florida that the state senate passed Monday evening. The bill must pass the state House of Representatives before heading to the desk of Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Fried, who is Jewish, previously served as Floridas commissioner of agriculture, a rare Democrat elected to statewide office in Flo... (JNS) Ancient Judaism Recognized a Range of Genders. Its Time We Did, Too. So reads the headline of a March 18 New York Times guest essay by Elliot Kukla, whose website states that he provides radical spiritual care and was the first openly transgender rabbi to be ordained by a mainstream denomination, the Reform movements Hebrew Union College-Jewish Institute of Religion in Los Angeles. The uniform resource locator that the Times uses for the article contains the publication date and trans-teen-suicide-judaism. In my own tradition, Judaism, our most sac... Heritage Florida Jewish News is accepting nominations for the 2023 Heritage Human Service Award, which will be presented at the annual meeting of the Jewish Federation of Greater Orlando this summer. For more than 30 years, individuals who have made major, voluntary contributions of their talent, time, energy and effort to the Central Florida community have been honored with the selection and presentation of this award, said Jeff Gaeser, editor and publisher of the Heritage. Last years recipient was Dr. Edward Zissman. Former recipients have included Sarah Stern (2017), Loren Londo... (JNS) In a tactic straight out of Barack Obamas playbook, President Joe Biden has put serious daylight between the United States and Israel with his decision not to invite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the White House. During previous administrations, such an invitation was a customary gesture when a new Israeli prime minister assumed office. Netanyahu has met with Britains prime minister in London and traveled to Germany to meet with the German chancellor, but has no meetings scheduled with the leader of Israels closest ally. Presumably due to Bidens outrage... (JNS) Second gentleman Doug Emhoff had never shown any interest in his Jewish identity until his wife, Kamala Harris, was elected vice president of the United States. But though it would be an exaggeration to treat him as the Biden administrations point person on anything, he has, almost by default, become one of its leading spokespersons on Jewish issues. It was understandable that he emerged from Harriss recent trip to Eastern Europe with some Jewish anecdotes along with his comments seeking to bolster the administrations stand on the war in Ukraine. Speaking to Symone Sande... (Gatestone Institute via JNS) An anti-Israel group called Palestinian Solidarity Forum (PSF) on March 20 invited officials from the Iranian-backed Palestinian terror groups Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad to speak at an event at the University of Cape Town in South Africa. The two terror leaders, Khaled Qaddoumi of Hamas and Nasser Abu Sharif of PIJ, addressed students during the annual Israel Apartheid Week, a one-sided propaganda event smearing Israel that takes place every year on a number of university campuses in the United States and Europe. Inviting Hamas and PIJ of... Daily horoscope prediction says scorpio, honesty marks your character Scorpio Daily Horoscope Today for April 14, 2023: Minor issues may cause friction in your love. Minor issues may cause friction in your love. Respect the partner. Be professional at the office and complete the tasks. Today is good in terms of money & health. A new relationship will brighten your life. The commitment at the office will be recognized with accolades. Both finance and health will also be good today. Also Read Horoscope Today Scorpio Love Horoscope Today Patience is a major factor that makes your love life a success. You need to learn to control your emotional outbursts. Today, your partner may trigger a verbal clash but you need to avoid it. Be silent when you realize that things are going out of control. Any biased opinion can be misunderstood by the partner and this may cause a serious problem in life. Fortunately, single natives may also fall in love today. Also Read Love Horoscope Today Scorpio Career Horoscope Today Your diligence would be appreciated at the office. You are expected to come up with new ideas today and do not hesitate to express your opinions. You will be heard and the feedback would be mostly positive. Some businessmen, especially those handling construction, metal, and electronics businesses may have issues today related to funds. Your partner may also not help you in a needy hour, putting you in an embarrassing situation. However, things will be back on track by tomorrow. Also Read Career Horoscope Today Scorpio Money Horoscope Today Some financial woes may trouble you. Ensure you spend wisely and that no big amount is spent on luxury. Be a smart investor today. As youll see some good income, it is wise to invest in the share market, jewelry, or property. You may also repair the home; buy electronic equipment or a two-wheeler. Take the help of a finance expert to manage funds. Businessmen may face financial challenges as the fund flow would not be smooth as expected. Your partnership may also not be financially helpful. Scorpio Health Horoscope Today There can be breathing issues today. Start the day with a mild exercise to warm up the body. Yoga and meditation will help you face the challenges in the later part of the day. Some senior natives may complain about pain in joints. Oral health is also a major factor you need to consider today. Scorpio Sign Attributes Strength Mystic, Practical, Intelligent, Independent, Dedicated, Charming, Sensible Weakness: Suspicious, Complicated, Possessive, Arrogant, Extreme Symbol: Scorpion Element: Water Body Part: Sexual Organs Sign Ruler: Pluto, Mars Lucky Day: Tuesday Lucky Color: Purple, Black Lucky Number: 4 Lucky Stone: Red Coral Scorpio Sign Compatibility Chart Natural affinity: Cancer, Virgo, Capricorn, Pisces Good compatibility: Taurus, Scorpio Fair compatibility: Aries, Gemini, Libra, Sagittarius Less compatibility: Leo, Aquarius By: Dr. J. N. Pandey Vedic Astrology & Vastu Expert Website: https://www.cyberastro.com E-mail: caresponse@cyberastro.com Phone: 9717199568, 9958780857 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Mumbai, Maharashtra, India Business Wire India K J Somaiya Institute of Management (KJSIM), a constituent institute of Somaiya Vidyavihar University (SVU), and the ICICI Foundation have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to strengthen their collaboration and facilitate the exchange of knowledge and resources towards inclusive and sustainable growth. The MoU outlines several areas of cooperation between the two institutions, including to develop joint research projects, initiatives and case studies, knowledge sharing sessions, work on reducing carbon footprint with faculty and rural immersion, summer internships and live projects for students. Both the institutions believe these initiatives will allow MBA students to learn and appreciate social impact, and inculcate value-driven leadership. Anuj Agarwal, Chief Operating Officer, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, said, The need of development sector in our country are vast and diversified. It is important that academia and practitioners come together and implement models which are customised to specific need in a way that it can be replicable, scalable and sustainable. This partnership between K J Somaiya Institute of Management and ICICI Foundation will not only pave the way for communities to benefit, but also facilitate creating social leaders for tomorrow as the young generation works on these projects getting exposure of social sector and rural India. We are delighted to establish this partnership with the ICICI Foundation, said Prof. V. N. Rajasekharan Pillai, Vice-Chancellor, Somaiya Vidyavihar University. Their expertise and resources will be invaluable to our faculty and students, and we look forward to collaborating on research and educational initiatives that will have a meaningful impact on the society. Raman Ramachandran Ph.D, Director, KJSIM said, Both organizations recognize the importance of collaboration in achieving their respective missions and believe that this MoU will provide a solid foundation for a long and fruitful partnership. We look forward to working closely together to give our students experiential learning in inclusive and sustainable growth. We are also excited at the prospect of documenting the stellar work of ICICI Foundation as case studies. The MoU between the KJSIM and ICICI Foundation is effective immediately and will remain in effect for three years, with the possibility of renewal. Media Contact Details Arvind Pandi Dorai, K J Somaiya Institute of Management, apd@somaiya.edu Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. Pune, 13th April 2023: Sri Balaji University, Pune (SBUP) is a renowned private university that offers a range of professional and research programmes. Ranked among the Top 11 B-Schools in India by the TOI B-School Survey, the University has commenced registrations for its esteemed undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. The courses have been structured to meet the demands of the industry, providing students with various specializations to enhance their professional abilities. Interested candidates can choose from a plethora of UG and PG programmes such as - BBA, BA, BA - Liberal Arts, LLB, BA-LLB, BBA-LLB, B.Sc Actuarial Science, BCA, MCA, and BBA+MBA. Prof B. Paramanandhan, Pro-Chancellor SBUP & President SBS, said, We are excited to announce the registrations to our innovative and industry-ready undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. Our programmes are designed to equip students with the knowledge, skills and practical experience needed to succeed in today's rapidly changing business and technology landscape. We invite all ambitious and driven individuals to join us in this exciting journey and take the first step towards a fulfilling career. Apply now and be a part of a vibrant and dynamic community of learners. Sri Balaji University, Pune (SBUP) boasts over 25 years of experience in providing unique educational opportunities. Its BA program offers specializations in psychology, economics, and political science that SBUP also offers BA in Liberal Arts and together they are aimed at developing well-rounded professionals with a comprehensive understanding of societal issues, creativity & economics. Graduates of this program can pursue careers in both the public and private sectors, including as independent professionals or consultants. Additionally, students are encouraged to sit for various competitive exams such as central and state civil services. Apart from the traditional curriculum, Sri Balaji University, Pune (SBUP) has previously entered into collaborations with industry leaders such as Coursera, Bosche, Subex, Confederation of NGOs of Rural India (CNRI), Pimpri-Chinchwad Smart City (PCSCL) and others to increase learning possibilities for its distinguished students. The Universitys firm foundation is defined by its ranking, reputation, discipline, and commitment, which has propelled it to be one of the top management institutions in the country. The University further extends its support for student growth through various initiatives including interactive sessions with industry experts, guest lectures, and industrial visits. The university's commitment to innovation and student development has led to a nearly 100% placement rate each year. Despite the pandemic, SBUP graduates have secured jobs at top companies including Google, Amazon, Infosys, Deloitte, Tata Technology, Johnson and Johnson, Hyundai, and HDFC, among others. To apply for the UG courses at Sri Balaji University, Pune (SBUP), applicants must have a minimum of 50% marks in 12th grade. After the initial application review, eligible candidates will be invited for a Personal Interview. For the PG courses, applicants must hold a bachelor's degree or equivalent with a minimum of 50% marks and should also appear for S-BEST or have a valid CAT/MAT/XAT/MH-CET score. SBUP is a leading private university in the nation, known for its commitment to academic excellence and professionalism. With a proud history of two and a half decades, the university is poised for continued growth and development, making a significant impact in the education domain. To know more, visit - http://bit.ly/3Gzr3xi Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. New Delhi, Delhi, India Business Wire India TalentSprint, a pioneering global edtech company specializing in offering innovative and transformational programs, has announced its multi-year, multi-program partnership with Indian Institute of Management-Udaipur (IIM-Udaipur), India's leading business school with a key focus on high-quality research. The partnership aims to provide executive education that develops leaders capable of navigating challenges of the digital age and acquiring management acumen required for success in a disrupted world. With increase in competition and rise of disruptive technologies, businesses need to adapt and innovate to stay relevant and successful. This requires leadership and management expertise that can navigate through uncertain times and drive growth and profitability. In today's rapidly evolving business landscape, possessing a solid grounding in digital management principles and practices is imperative for professionals to stay relevant and excel in their careers. The first two programs to be offered under this collaboration aim at fulfilling a growing need for new-age senior management professionals and product managers who can lead in a digital-first world. The first is a 12-month Senior Management Programme (SMP) designed for middle and senior managers with over ten years of work experience. It is designed for managers who are new to or likely to take on senior management responsibilities, as well as senior functional managers transitioning to general management roles. The second is a 6-month Advanced Programme in Digital Product Management (APDPM), aimed at professionals seeking to build or advance their careers in product management. It will equip participants with the expertise needed to thrive in the ever-evolving digital landscape. IIM-Udaipur's Director, Professor Ashok Banerjee, expressed his enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "In a rapidly changing digital landscape, empowering professionals with the cutting edge expertise to stay ahead on the knowledge curve is the cornerstone of our mission at IIM Udaipur. Our partnership with TalentSprint for the Senior Management Program and Advanced Program in Digital Product Management is a testament to our commitment to providing the participants with the most relevant and transformational learning experiences that will help them advance their careers." TalentSprint CEO and MD, Dr. Santanu Paul, said "We are privileged to collaborate with IIM-Udaipur that has been awarded the prestigious AACSB accreditation, placing it in the top 5% of business schools worldwide. The two programs being launched under this partnership are designed to enhance the leadership capabilities and business acumen of professionals, leveraging the institute's exceptional research expertise," he added. "We expect these individuals to spearhead organizations and make the best use of technology for better outcomes." TalentSprint is known for offering high-impact programs co-created with think tanks and experts in related fields, combining academic expertise with practical industry experience. The APDPM and SMP programs to be offered in association with IIM Udaipur will be delivered in an executive-friendly hybrid format, with classes scheduled to begin from July 2023. The detailed information about these programs is available on TalentSprint and IIM Udaipur websites. Applicants can visit respective program pages to apply for selection into the programs. For SMP, visit iim-udaipur.talentsprint.com/senior-management-program For APDPM, visit iim-udaipur.talentsprint.com/digital-product-management-program About TalentSprint Established in 2010, TalentSprint is part of NSE group and a global edtech company that brings transformational bootcamps and cutting-edge learning programs to modern-day professionals who aspire to future-proof themselves with deep expertise. TalentSprint partners with top-tier academic institutions and bigtech global corporations to create futuristic programs and deliver remarkable outcomes. Its patent-pending AI-powered platform ipearl.ai seamlessly blends world-class academic rigor with industry-leading practitioner experience. The company's learner engagement rates and high customer delight scores make it a leading player in the industry. For more information, visit talentsprint.com About IIM Udaipur IIM Udaipur, a second-generation IIM, is one of the fastest-growing management schools in the country. It was set up by the Indian Government in 2011. Taking the legacy of older IIMs forward, IIMU aspires to set new benchmarks in management education by combining excellence in teaching and research. IIMU is committed to becoming a globally recognized management school by 2030 and is inevitably driving in that direction. With an accomplished faculty, a flourishing research ecosystem, and success in attracting the best minds in the country, IIMU is championing its core values of excellence and integrity. For more information, visit https://www.iimu.ac.in/ Disclaimer: This article is a paid publication and does not have journalistic/editorial involvement of Hindustan Times. Hindustan Times does not endorse/subscribe to the content(s) of the article/advertisement and/or view(s) expressed herein. Hindustan Times shall not in any manner, be responsible and/or liable in any manner whatsoever for all that is stated in the article and/or also with regard to the view(s), opinion(s), announcement(s), declaration(s), affirmation(s) etc., stated/featured in the same. After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first and second candidates lists, comprising of 189 and 23 candidates respectively, the party faced a fallout with several excluded leaders, who were miffed that they were passed over for fresh faces. Jagadish Shettar. (PTI FILE PHOTO) It was raining resignations and retirements in the BJP's Karnataka unit as several leaders were excluded from the party's candidates lists for the upcoming assembly election, due to be held on May 10, for which results will be out May 13. The BJP has announced 212 candidates to the 224-member house so far, choosing 52 fresh names in its first list. Here is a list of BJP leaders who quit after being denied tickets: Ex-deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi: An aspirant who was eyeing the Athani constituency ticket, he resigned as the Legislative Council member of the BJP and quit the party on Wednesday. Six-time MLA S Angara: From Sullia constituency in Dakshina Kannada district, he announced his retirement from politics on Wednesday, a day after he was denied a ticket by the party for the May 10 election. BJP MLC R Shankar: He resigned from the legislative council a day after the ruling party ignored his request for a ticket. R Shankar was one of the 17 opposition MLAs who helped the BJP bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019. Shankar was aspiring to contest the election from Ranebennur but was replaced by Arun Kumar Pujar. Mudigere BJP MLA M P Kumaraswamy: He announced his resignation from the party on Wednesday and blamed national General Secretary C T Ravi for not getting nominated. Former CM Jagadish Shettar : Senior leader and former CM Jagadish Shettar has quit the BJP and joined the Congress on Monday. As he was denied a BJP ticket from the Hubballi - Dharwad constituency, he will contest from the same place with a Congress ticket. Former MLA Vishwanath Patil Hebballa : Senior BJP leader and three time MLA from Chittapur constituency, Vishwanath Patil Hebballa has submitted his resignation to the primary membership of party on Monday. The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to list for hearing a plea challenging the Karnataka government's decision to scrap the four per cent reservation for Muslims in the state. The Supreme Court of India. (File Photo) A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal that all the defects of the petition have been removed. I mentioned this (petition) in court three yesterday. This is against the four per cent reservation being cancelled, Sibal said. READ | Yediyurappa defends removal of 4% Muslim quota as stir continues But the defects (in the petition) were not cured, the CJI said. The senior lawyer said all the defects have been cured. Alright, we will list it, the bench said. Recently, the state government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai decided to scrap the four per cent reservation for Muslims. READ | Will restore 4% Muslim quota in Karnataka, if elected: Congress The Karnataka government announced two new categories for reservation in jobs and education and scrapped the four per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) Muslims. The four per cent OBC Muslim quota has been divided between the Vokkaligas and Lingayats. Muslims eligible for quota have been categorised under economically weaker sections now. The state government's decision has pushed the reservation limit to around 57 per cent now. The Ambala Division of the Northern Railways has earned 2.09 crore as parking revenue from Chandigarh railway station, almost 40% of its total parking revenue in fiscal year 2022-23. The figures were shared by divisional railway manager Mandeep Singh Bhatia. Ambala division took over the day-to-day affairs of the Chandigarh station from Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) on April 1, 2022. (HT File Photo) The total parking revenue has increased from 1.4 crore in 2021-22 to 5.16 crorethe highest ever in 2022-23, a 266% increase. Officials said the division took over the day-to-day affairs of the Chandigarh station from Indian Railway Stations Development Corporation (IRSDC) on April 1, 2022. The IRSDC was looking after the management and redevelopment of the station since March 2019. In October 21, the board decided to shut operations of the corporation and hand over the works to respective zonal railway divisions. While the management was taken over by Ambala division, the redevelopment of the station was given to Rail Land Development Authority (RLDA). In September 2022, the division awarded the tender for a new parking system, often dubbed as Pick and Drop service, at 11.15 crore for a five-year period. The new system provided private vehicles with a six-minute access to pick-and-drop lanes for free. It was later increased to 10 minutes. There are different rates for commercial and non-commercial vehicles, depending on their stay in the three designated lanes at the station. Redevelopment work at full swing Bhatia said the redevelopment work to make Chandigarh station world-class is underway is expected to be completed by April next year. The RLDA had awarded the tender of this 462 crore project to Ahluwalia Contracts Private Limited to redevelop the station on an EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) model. In the first phase, the construction underway on the Panchkula-side and measures have been taken to avoid inconvenience to the passengers, an official privy with the developments said. The revamp will include separate arrival and departure areas, a food court, state-of-the-art lobbies, paid lounge, enquiry counter and two state-of-the-art foot-overbridges, among other facilities. During our six-month sojourn in Seattle, also known as Emerald City but more popularly as the City of Starbucks, I was the one in my son Sawans family to make tea for all of us rising, as I did, earlier than the rest. Though it makes everyone in the house happy initially, my making tea finds them busy clearing and cleaning the kitchen later. (Shutterstock) While in the US, I take upon myself the duty of making tea more conscientiously than the task being need-based. I dont know if my son and daughter-in-law praise me for the tea genuinely, but one thing they confess seems to be convincing, and that being its a heavenly feeling to enjoy bed tea in a country which doesnt have house helps to undertake routine chores. Though it makes everyone in the house happy initially, my making tea finds them busy clearing and cleaning the kitchen later. I leave a sullied pan, boiled-froth laden gas burner, emptied sweetener sachets, tags and threads of tea bags, besides milk cans and some tissue papers and wipes, strewn around on the kitchen table. My clumsy performance is discounted in favour of my being the eldest in the house and serving the tea, that too in bed. In most parts of Europe, and all of the United Kingdom, drinking tea is prevalent and there are tea-making kettles and other required material like milk, cream, tea bags, sugar sachets etc in the hotels. But in the US, one has to haggle at restaurants and eateries to convince the stewards and waiters to make them understand the beverage. They will invariably say if we mean Black tea. A hot beverage for them is coffee of whatever kind, or flavour. All through the tea-making, I recall what the home-grown doodh-patti, or only milk boiled with tea leaves, meant to us back in India. The truckers in our country tell the desired quality of tea to the vendors by way of a refrain: Paani patti rok ke, doodh meetha thok ke. It means adding plenty of milk and sugar and putting less of water and tea leaves. Students preparing for examinations are known to be drinking what is called kadak chai, an effective concoction of tea. Another favourite with them, particularly in the hills is a chai-Maggi treat. However, I dread to read about the tea called thea in Materia Medica by homeopath Dr Samuel Hahnemann. It says tea has such an influence on our bodies, causing many problems, including delirium and anxiety, to the extent that, if one was travelling on a train and consumes tea, one feels like jumping out of it! My father was very fond of tea. He also generally prepared it for everyone in the house. Back in my village, Anta, he was looked up to for offering tea, especially to the indisposed innocent yokels, who thought tea was a panacea for ills affecting the body. I think I have inherited the love for making tea from him. Tea, or chai in Hindi, makes an interesting connotation with bribery, when it has pani added to its calling, making it chai-pani. Those babus (clerks) who wouldnt otherwise ask for greasing their palms for small favours, would conveniently beseech a treat of chai-pani, with a roped in pre-empting and innocently employed impunity. I find a Punjabi saying interesting to relate, Ladaai halle di, te, chah thalle di (Voiced aggression is the essence of a fracas, like the concentrated tea at the bottom of the pan is tastier). The author is a Panchkula based retired IPS officer and an advocate and can be reached at rajbirdeswal@hotmail.com. Directing the officers of Gurugram Metropolitan Development Authority (GMDA) and Faridabad municipal corporation (MC) to make an effective action plan to deal with legacy as well as fresh waste, Haryana chief secretary Sanjeev Kaushal on Thursday said that about 28 lakh MT legacy waste will be processed till July. A MCG truck dump the garbage at Bandhwari waste treatment plant located at Gurugram-Faridabad road near Toll Plaza. (HT File) The chief secretary directed the officers to explore other alternative sites for fresh waste management during a virtual meeting with the senior officers of GMDA and MC Faridabad. Kaushal directed the concerned officers to review and monitor the weekly status report of land filling sites and inform the additional chief secretary (ACS) urban local bodies. Kaushal also directed the officers to take strict action and impose penalty on contractors for any delay in legacy and fresh waste processing, disposal of refuse-derived fuel (RDF) and setting waste to energy plant at Bandhwari landfill and Pali site. The chief secretary said that the state government is establishing and enforcing laws and regulations that aim to protect the environment. These regulations cover areas such as air and water quality, waste management, and natural resource conservation. The state government ensures that these regulations are effectively enforced and the violators are held accountable, he added. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led Haryana government has reconstituted the special investigation team (SIT) probing a first information report (FIR) pertaining to suspected irregularities in a land transaction between Sky Light Hospitality and realty major DLF Ltd in Gurugrams Shikohpur. Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is a director of Sky Light Hospitality and the deal took place when the Congress was in power in the state with Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the chief minister. (HT File) The SIT has been reconstituted to give impetus to the probe after a slap on the wrist by a Punjab and Haryana high court bench monitoring the timeline of cases against MPs and MLAs. The HC, on January 19, said that as far as Haryana is concerned, the reasons, which have been given, show that time is being whiled away for one reason or the other. The court also observed that it appears that the investigating agencies take it as a routine to get an affidavit filed, which merely fills up the gaps for the sake of it without there being actual progress. Robert Vadra, the son-in-law of former Congress president Sonia Gandhi, is a director of Sky Light Hospitality and the deal took place when the Congress was in power in the state with Bhupinder Singh Hooda as the chief minister. The BJP had made the alleged corruption and nepotism in the land deal, an issue in the run up to the 2014 Lok Sabha polls. The reconstitution of SIT, though being done in response to the HC rap, also has political undertones as the state assembly and Lok Sabha elections are slated for 2024. Hooda, on being asked about the case, said there was no illegality in the matter as it was purely a business transaction between private parties. The issue is raked up by the BJP time and again just to conceal its own failures, he said. Vadras counsel, Suman Khaitan, did not respond to request for a telephonic interview on the matter. The Gurugram police had on September 1, 2018, registered a criminal case against Hooda, Vadra and others under Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (using a forged document or electronic record as genuine) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and Section 13 of Prevention of Corruption Act (criminal misconduct by a public servant). However, the investigations in the case crawled at a slow pace with the police taking a plea of non-availability of the entire official record. Civil officers roped in to assist the cops The SIT, reconstituted on April 7, is headed by Gurugram deputy commissioner of police, traffic, Virender Vij, and has two ACP-rank officers Suresh Panghal and Vikas Kaushik, an inspector Rajender and ASI Pawan. However, since chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar felt that officers well-versed with land revenue and town and country planning laws and regulations would be needed to assist the cops, the state government has nominated IAS officer Mukul Kumar, who is also a former OSD to Khattar, and former chief town planner Dilbagh Sihag to lend assistance to the SIT on technical issues. What was the land transaction The land deal involved Vadras Sky Light Hospitality, Onkareshwar properties and DLF in Gurugrams Shikohpur village (Sector 83). Sky Light was granted a real-estate development licence by the town and country planning department for developing a commercial colony on 2.701 acres in revenue estate of Shikohpur village (now Sector 83), Gurugram, on December 15, 2008, during Hoodas reign as CM. Later, Sky Light, by way of a sale deed of September 18, 2012, sold 3.53 acres, including the licensed area of 2.701 acres, to DLF for 58 crore. The licence was cancelled by the department after seven years on March 9, 2022. The private transaction came into spotlight after Haryana IAS officer Ashok Khemka, on October 15, 2012, cancelled the mutation of the land in his capacity as director, consolidation of holdings. A committee of officers, constituted by the then state government, had termed Khemkas orders to cancel the mutation as inappropriate and without jurisdiction. Commission of inquiry quashed by HC The BJP, after winning Haryana in 2014, had set up a commission of inquiry under Justice SN Dhingra (retd) in 2015 to probe issues pertaining to grant of commercial licence to Sky Light. The Punjab and Haryana HC, however, on January 10, 2019, quashed the report of the commission of inquiry, citing procedural flaws and restrained the state government from making it public. However, the HC said the state government would be at liberty to appoint a new commission of inquiry on the same subject matter. The government though did not appoint one. Legal loopholes in the FIR The FIR against the former CM has been termed as legally unsustainable by legal experts as the police did not take prior approval of the state government under Section 17-A of the amended Prevention of Corruption (PC) Act before registering it. The amended law makes it mandatory to take prior approval before registering a PC Act case against a former or sitting public servant. Justice KM Joseph of the Supreme Court in a November 14, 2019, order had said that even proceeding on the basis that on petitioners complaint, an FIR must be registered as it purports to disclose cognisable offences and the court must so direct, will it not be a futile exercise having regard to Section 17-A of the PC Act. Senior criminal lawyer Vikram Chaudhri said that if the offending act falls within the sweep of Section 17-A of PC Act, it is mandatory to seek previous approval of the authority concerned before embarking upon any enquiry, inquiry or investigation. Therefore, the procedure under Section 17-A is the mandate and any breach would result in vitiation of the proceedings, he said. Left red-faced over this gaffe, the government subsequently on November 29, 2018, took ex post facto approval from the governor to conduct an investigation into the offences alleged to have been committed by the former chief minister in the FIR. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet in its meeting held at the state secretariat in Shimla on Thursday decided to fill 530 posts of lecturer (school new) of different subjects through direct recruitment. The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet in its meeting held at the state secretariat in Shimla on Thursday decided to fill 530 posts of lecturer (school new) of different subjects through direct recruitment. Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the meeting. (HT File Photo) Chief minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu presided over the meeting. The cabinet also gave its nod to amend the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Rules, 2014, to make attic floor habitable in order to facilitate the general public. The cabinet approved the proposal to make suitable amendments under Rule-4 and Rule 15-A of the Recruitment and Promotion Rules so as to provide for recruitment on fixed emoluments. The length of contractual service and emoluments shall be notified by the government from time to time. The cabinet also gave its approval to fill two posts of deputy superintendents of police (DSPs) on regular basis through direct recruitment on the basis of the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services (HPAS) combined competitive examination. The council of ministers also decided to amend the Rule 50 of the Himachal Pradesh Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules, 1989. As a step towards increasing revenue, the annual licence fee under this Rule will be 1,50,000. A presentation was given before the cabinet on Covid-19 situation in the state as well in which efforts being made to control the spread of the virus were highlighted. The state government has taken a number of steps to ensure the safety of the people, including the vaccination drive and the implementation of Covid-appropriate behaviour. The cabinet approved standard operating procedure (SOP) for Old Pension Scheme (OPS) for state government employees. The deduction under the New Pension Scheme (NPS) will stop henceforth. MBABANE - Total loans disbursed by the Eswatini Development Finance Corporation (FINCORP) have reached E6.5 billion from inception to date. These loans have been extended to over 80 000 beneficiaries who support just above 15 000 jobs and contribute about E1.5 billion to gross domestic product (GDP). This is according to the companys 2021/22 annual report. FINCORP first opened its doors to the public in April 1996 through Legal Notice No.16 of 1996 promulgated under the Finance & Audit Act No.18 of 1967 with a clear mandate of delivering access to credit for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) particularly those at the grassroots level. The companys main deliverables are access to finance, job creation, and poverty alleviation. The company has two shareholders namely the Government of Eswatini and Tibiyo Taka Ngwane, holding 80 per cent and 20 per cent respectively. In the year 2022, the FINCORP Group loan portfolio reached a total of E1.4 billion, a level which has been sustained in the last three years notwithstanding the volatile and fragile operating environment. The groups E1.4 billion total loan portfolio is made up of First Finances E940.1 million gross loan portfolio and FINCORPs E447 million portfolio. FINCORPs loan portfolio is spread across general-purpose finance, sugar cane farming, heavy haulage, public transport, supermarket, construction, and other agricultural and business activities. In the report, FINCORP Group Managing Director Dumisani Msibi disclosed that the latent effects of COVID-19 on business performance and market disruptions caused by the changing domestic operating environment manifested during the 2022 financial year, as lending operations showed a significant stagnation maintaining the same level of E1.4 billion in portfolio size for two consecutive years since 2020. Total new annual loan approvals slightly surged upwards from E976.6 million recorded in the previous year to E1.020 billion in the year under review, but was set off by loan repayments received during the year. Most new loan approvals were generated through existing clients, who were expanding or refinancing their operations, he said. Meanwhile FINCORPs posted a profit after tax of E5.8 million. Minister of Finance Neal Rijkenberg commended FINCORPs resilience amid the unpredictable operating environment. Disbursements Statistics show that FINCORP has, to a reasonable extent, fulfilled its mandate judging by the cumulative loan disbursements of E6.5 billion to more than 80 000 beneficiaries from inception while just above 15 000 jobs are being supported by businesses financed by the organisation, he said. The minister said FINCORP continues to be one of the state organs through which the government seeks to empower its citizens to actively participate in mainstream economic activities across various sectors. He appreciated all the stakeholders who continue to partner with FINCORP on several fronts, particularly the local and international funding organisations including the African Development Bank (AfDB), the European Investment Bank (EIB), and Norsad Finance. I also wish to pay a special tribute to local funding partners comprising banks, asset managers, pension funds, and the corporate sector for availing funding through the Eswatini Stock Exchange (ESE). As a major shareholder, the Government of Eswatini commits to supporting FINCORP in reaching out to the multitudes of MSMEs, which will lead to massive job creation and economic development throughout the Kingdom, he said. Tibiyo Taka Ngwane Managing Director Dr. Absalom Themba Dlamini also commended FINCORP for achieving significant institutional growth over the years as demonstrated by its increased outreach through the decentralisation of operations to remote geographical locations in the country, coupled with the expansion of its products offering to include general purpose finance and insurance products. The organisation must without fail maintain focus on financing micro, small, and medium enterprises across the length and breadth of the country, particularly those in rural areas that represent more than 70 per cent of the population, he said. Dlamini also said there is a strong compelling case for FINCORP to direct its focus to the youth population as it represents a significant section of the countrys population, yet it largely remains unemployed. The recent advent of COVID-19 has elevated to center stage the need to pay particular attention to the sustainability of organisations at all levels. Therefore, FINCORP must focus on safeguarding the continued existence of all the enterprises that it has financed by offering mentorship, knowledge transfer, and technical support. While quantitative financial results are equally important, we urge FINCORP to focus more on economic and social impacts to accelerate the kingdoms efforts towards achieving the global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Agenda 2063, he said. The Indian Army on Thursday shot down a Pakistani drone and recovered five loaded AK magazines, 131 rounds of AK 47, and 2 lakh cash (Indian currency) along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district, officials said. Five loaded AK magazines, 131 rounds of AK 47, and 2 lakh cash were recovered by the army (HT Photo) On the intervening night of Wednesday and Thursday, the alert troops of Indian Army in coordination with J&K Police recovered a drone crossing the Line of Control from Pakistan into Indian territory in Beri Pattan area of Sunderbani sector in Rajouri, said Defence spokesperson Lt Col Devender Anand. The drone movement was tracked successfully and has been brought down, he added. He said that after shooting it down, the army recovered 131 rounds of AK-47, five loaded Magazines, and 2 lakh in cash from the drone. He said that the army has further launched a search operation in the area. Also Read: Pak intruder killed, 2 held as army foils LoC infiltration bid On April 9 the Indian Army foiled a major infiltration in the Poonch sector where one intruder was killed and two others were captured alive. The security forces also recovered three bags with fourteen packets of narcotics weighing nearly 17kg, notes of Pakistan currency, some documents, and eatables. During the intervening night of March 31 and April 1, Border Security Force (BSF) had also shot down a Pakistani drone along the international border in the Ramgarh sector of Samba. On April 1 troops of the Border Security Force (BSF) fired at a Pak drone along the Indo-Pak international border in Ramgarh sector of Samba district. Last month, a powerful IED blast took place near a border police post in Sanyal of the adjoining Hiranagar sector of Kathua district. In October last year, the Indian Army deployed aqua jammers at the LoC to check Pak drones. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Punjab Police officials investigating the murder of four Indian Army jawans in the high-security Bathinda military station on Wednesday have raised suspicion about the claim of an eyewitness soldier after the autopsy did not suggest any injury mark of a sharp-edged weapon. Vigil was increased at the Bathinda military station after Wednesdays murder of four soldiers in the high-security zone. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT) Also read: Soldier dies of gunshot wound in Bathinda, no link to military station firing Investigators reiterated that the killing was not linked to any terrorist activity but a case of fratricide. According to a first information report (FIR) based on the complaint of Major Ashutosh Shukla from 80 Medium Regiment, a gunner on duty, Demai Mohan, claimed to have spotted two masked men in kurta pyjama after the murders. Mohan informed Major Shukla after he heard gunshots from the barracks of the jawans near the officers mess. Mohan, the only witness, told his senior officer that one of the unknown assailants was carrying an INSAS rifle, while the other had an axe. After killing the four young soldiers in their sleep, the two assailants disappeared into a forest in the army compound, he claimed. More than 30 hours after the murders, the army authorities and police are yet to make any arrest. Additional director general of police (ADGP), Bathinda range, SPS Parmar said on Thursday that the Mohans statement raises doubts as the bodies did not bear any injury caused by an axe. Post-mortem examinations of the four soldiers was conducted at the Shaheed Bhai Mani Singh Civil Hospital in Bathinda city. The autopsy shows multiple gunshot injuries but no visible mark of an axe or any other sharp-edged weapon. The jawan is being questioned as it does not go well why one of the two assailants was carrying an axe when it was not used to attack the soldiers. Moreover, no other person on duty spotted the movement of the men in civvies in the secured campus, the ADGP said. The police said that the murder of the four soldiers is being seen as a targeted killing though the motive is yet to be established. There is no evidence of involvement of any terror organisation. The secured zone did not report any security breach or attempt of intrusion. There is no doubt that the killings were an incident of fratricide as a terror action could have seen indiscriminate firing and collateral damage, whereas here only four soldiers were targeted, Parmar said. He said the stolen INSAS rifle and magazine were found abandoned not far from the crime spot. Several army personnel are being questioned by the police team, led by SP, investigation, Ajay Gandhi for leads. Security was tightened further in the Talwandi Sabo town of Bathinda district in Punjab on the eve of Baisakhi amid speculation that radical Sikh leader Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run since March 18, may surface at the historic Takht Damdama Sahib. Punjab Police personnel checking vehicles near Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo town, 35km from Bathinda, on Thursday. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT) Also read: Bathinda military station firing: Punjab Police pick holes in eyewitness account Located 35km from the Bathinda district headquarters, Talwandi Sabo is the hub of religious activities on Baisakhi as Takht Damdama Sahib is one of the five seats of temporal authority of Sikhism. At this place, Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh Guru, had prepared the full version of Guru Granth Sahib in 1705. Additional director general of police (ADGP), Bathinda range, SPS Parmar has been camping at Talwandi Sabo for the past week. Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav visited the town on Thursday afternoon to review the security arrangements. He had visited Talwandi Sabo earlier on Monday. The road leading to the shrine has been barricaded and vehicles are being checked as scores of security personnel from Punjab Police and paramilitary forces have been deployed around the gurdwara to ensure law and order. Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav and (ADGP), Bathinda range, SPS Parmar (extreme right) after reviewing security arrangements on Thursday. (Sanjeev Kumar/HT) Ever since the video message of Waris Punjab De leader Amritpal Singh, urging Akal Takht acting jathedar Giani Harpreet Singh to call a Sarbat Khalsa (an assembly of all factions of Sikhs) at Damdama Sahib on Baisakhi, was shared on social media, it was speculated the fugitive might surface at Talwandi Sabo. Though no Sarbat Khalsa is being convened, security personnel are geared up to prevent any untoward incident. ADGP Parmar said though there is no confirmed input of Amritpal reaching Talwandi Sabo, the police were leaving nothing to chance. Ive been in Talwandi Sabo for the past several days with my team. We are seeing that devotees dont face any difficulty but ensuring that no person wanted by the law tries to create any untoward situation, he said. This year, the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) is not holding a political conference in the town on Baisakhi as party leaders are engaged with campaigning for the Jalandhar Lok Sabha byelection scheduled on May 10. Sangrur parliamentarian and SAD (Amritsar) president Simranjit Singh Mann has, however, announced a gathering at Talwandi Sabo on Friday. Talwandi Sabo sub divisional magistrate (SDM) Gagandeep Singh said the town has been seeing an impressive footfall and the annual mela (fair) is going on smoothly. He said all arrangements are in place for the main celebration on Friday. Giani Harpreet Singh has appealed to the Sikh sangat (community) to converge at Talwandi Sabo in large numbers. He has been critical of the deployment of police and central paramilitary forces around the shrine. Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Prem Singh Chandumajra on Wednesday called for a high-level inquiry into a firing incident in Punjab's Bathinda military station, which claimed the lives of at least four jawans. After the incident, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Bathinda Range Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, had ruled out a terror angle in the incident. "It is a very sad incident. There should be a high-level inquiry into the incident," Prem Singh Chandumajra said in a press conference in Chandigarh. Punjab Police on Wednesday registered an FIR against two unknown persons in connection with the firing at the Bathinda Military Station. The FIR was registered on the basis of the statement of Major Ashutosh Shukla, a witness in the firing incident. Further, as per the FIR, the four slain jawans have been identified as Sagar, Kamlesh, Santosh and Yogesh. They were asleep in their rooms post the end of duty when two masked men, in white kurta pyjamas, attacked them with rifles and sharp-edged weapons. The four jawans were found in a pool of blood in their rooms. Also Read: Bathinda military station firing: Four jawans who were shot, killed identified The police informed that one of the weapons used in the crime was seized. Speaking to ANI, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Bathinda, Gulneet Khurana, said on Wednesday, "Our investigating team carried out a search operation and we seized a weapon used to commit the offence. "We can only confirm if this is the same weapon that was stolen from inside the camp once the forensic report is out. The investigation is underway. Bathinda Police is in contact with the Army," the SSP added. Meanwhile, after the incident, Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) Bathinda Range Surinder Pal Singh Parmar, had ruled out a terror angle in the incident. "This morning the news of firing in the army cantonment of Bathinda was received, and it was found that four people died. Top army officers and police officers reached the spot and the investigation is still ongoing," ADGP Parmar said on Wednesday. Read Here: Insas rifle, 28 bullets went missing on Monday from Punjab army base: Report Ruling out a terror angle in the incident, the ADGP said, "There is no terror angle in the incident. Two days ago, an FIR was filed at the Cantt police station that a rifle had been stolen. That matter, too, is being investigated. Once the Army shares further details, we will file an FIR on that and the investigation will also be conducted. Since this matter also pertains to the army, it will be separately investigated by them as well." According to initial reports, the firing at the Bathinda Military Station appeared to be an internal issue since a rifle with ammunition had been missing for the last two days, army sources said. The army said four army jawans of an artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. According to the statement, no other injuries to personnel or damage to property have been reported in the incident. The army said an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds were reportedly missing for the past two days and some personnel might be behind this incident. According to the sources, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also received a briefing on the incident from Army Chief General Manoj Pandey. Seven pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh died and 20 were injured when they were run over by a truck near Khuralgarh Sahib in Garhshankar division of Hoshiarpur district early on Thursday. Seven pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh died and 20 were injured when they were run over by a truck near Khuralgarh Sahib in Garhshankar division of Hoshiarpur district on Thursday. (Representational photo) Of the 20 injured, six were referred in a critical condition to Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, while 14 were admitted to the Civil Hospital at Garhshankar. The victims had come from Muzaffarnagar district to pay obeisance at the shrine dedicated to Guru Ravidas on the eve of Baisakhi. Garhshankar deputy superintendent of police Daljit Singh Khakh said the truck driver lost control of the vehicle while negotiating a slope and ran over the pilgrims, who were on foot, around 2am. The driver abandoned the truck and fled after the accident. A search is on for him, while the truck has been impounded. A 74-year-old woman was found dead with her throat slit in Dehraduns Prem Nagar on Wednesday evening, police said. Police said that they were investigating whether it was a robbery gone wrong (Representative Photo) Police have identified the victim as Manjeet Kaur, a retired Forest Research Institute (FRI) official in Dehradun. Sarita Dobhal, superintendent of police (SP) (city) said the woman used to live alone in Prem Nagar. Upon receiving the alert around 6.30pm, our team reached the spot and recovered the body. We have sent the body for post-mortem, said the SP. Also Read: Bihar: BJP leaders kin shot dead by bike-borne criminals in Banka The incident came to light when one of Kaurs two daughters living in Delhi and Faridabad respectively repeatedly phoned her and asked the neighbours to check on her mother after she didnt respond. Police said the neighbours saw her lying dead at her residence and informed them immediately. Police said that they were investigating whether it was a robbery gone wrong. In March this year, Dehradun police arrested a 41-year-old man for allegedly killing a 75-year-old woman in the citys Patel Nagar in a similar kind of incident. As the temperatures soar high and a heat wave is predicted in the national capital in the upcoming days, the Delhi government issued an advisory on Wednesday to schools to adopt appropriate measures in order to protect school-going children from heat-related illnesses. Schools have also been asked to report cases of heat related illness to health facilities or hospitals. This is detrimental to the health of children and adolescents studying in schools. The rise in temperature in NCR has led to increased instances of heat-related illnesses like exhaustion, dehydration, diarrhoea and vomiting among citizens, the order read. It further stated, All heads of Govt. /Govt Aided / Pvt. Unaided recognized schools under the Directorate of Education are directed to adopt following measures for circulating awareness and adoption of appropriate measures for protection of school children from HRI. The advisory has asked schools to avoid student assemblies in during afternoon shifts. The Directorate of Education, Delhi has also asked schools to ensure the availability of water for students in the school premises as well as has said that students should be given water breaks between classes. Sensitize students to cover their head (use umbrella, hat, cap, towel, and other traditional head gears) during direct exposure to sunlight i.e. while leaving/coming to schools during day time," it advised. Schools have also been asked to report cases of heat-related illnesses to health facilities or hospitals. All DDES (Districts/Zones) are requested to ensure the compliance of the same," the order said. India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Monday predicted that the national capital would get warmer as the week proceeds with temperature likely touching 40 degrees Celsius. On Tuesday, Delhi recorded a maximum temperature of 36.8 degrees Celsius, which was the highest temperature recorded in the city this year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A 61-year-old Gurugram woman was duped of at least 2 crore allegedly by a man, whom she befriended on social media, on the pretext of sending her expensive gifts and foreign currency, police said on Tuesday. The woman befriended the suspect on social media on the pretext of sending her expensive gifts and foreign currency. (Representational Image) An FIR has been registered at cyber crime police station, Manesar, under Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act against unidentified people, said police. According to the woman, who chose to remain anonymous, a resident of Sector 86, in December 2022, she received a friend request from AlexWilli285 who asked for her personal contact number. The person posed as a pilot associated with an international airline, and asked her to pay 35,000 before sending her a package meant for her. Over the days, she transferred 2 crore in about 10 transactions of varying amounts. The user approached me saying that he is a pilot and works for an International airline. On December 5, he said he had a surprise package with gift items like iPhone, artificial jewellery, watch and other accessories. He said that the package, coming from Dubai, also contained cash for me and asked for my address and phone number and that he would send it to me if I paid 35,000. I paid the amount and then I got a call from another person, who posed as an official from the airport authority, and said that I have to pay a penalty of 1 lakh. The accused asked me to follow the instruction, and pay the penalty, and promised that I will get my money back. I was forced to transfer 95,000. He then again asked me to pay another 2 lakh for a certificate required to exchange currency from USD to INR, which I transferred, she said. On December 9, she alleged that she got an SMS from another number claiming to be United Nations Anti-Terrorist Department, asking her to pay for a clearance form. She further alleged that she received at least 100 calls from different agencies which threatened her to transfer the amounts, forcing her to take a personal loan, and another against her jewellery in December. I trusted them to give back my remaining amount like they promised but I was forced to take a loan against all my jewellery from a private finance company and scammers forced me to transfer that loan amount as well. I was also forced to transfer another 35 lakh from my business current account and 50 lakh as well as I received from sale of a plot in Tirupati. I also borrowed 24.5 lakh from my six relatives, she said. Police said that the victim also withdrew money from her joint bank account, which alerted her son, following which the cyber fraud was unearthed. We are regularly receiving similar complaints and we have been spreading awareness on social media platforms. People trust strangers and fall prey to their modus operandi, said assistant commissioner of police (cyber) Priyanshu Diwan . Following a complaint lodged by the woman, an FIR was registered against unidentified fraudster under sections 419 (cheating by impersonation), 420 (cheating) of IPC and section 66-D of IT act, said police Diwan said they are verifying their IP addresses based on which raids will be conducted. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Two stationary buses parked on the premises of a private school in Gurugrams sector-45 area were reduced to ashes after one of them allegedly caught fire from an electrical short circuit on Wednesday evening, said fire department officials. The school has been closed for four days following the fire incident. (HT Photo) Officials said both the buses were used for transporting students and staff of the school. The buses were purchased around ten days back for students, officials said. The incident took place around 10-15 minutes before the classes were about to end with students then boarding the buses. Also Read:Delhi BJP writes to Amit Shah over DTC bus fires, urges for CBI probe Fire officials said at least two to three fire tenders were rushed to the spot to douse the flames. Parents rushed to the schools as soon as they received information about the bus catching fire. According to fire officials, alternate arrangements were made for students after the incident. In an official statement issued by the Gurugram police, no one was injured in the incident. All the students and staff of the school were completely safe, said Subhash Boken, spokesperson of Gurugram police. He said that one bus had caught fire from an internal short circuit after which the second bus parked alongside it, also got burned. The school has been closed for four days following the fire incident, police added. Clashes erupted in Rajasthans Bharatpur district on Wednesday night over the installation of the Bhim Rao Ambedkar statue where thousands of protestors of two communities gathered and indulged in stone pelting at each other and police personnel, officials said. The incident took place at Belara village under Nadbai legislative assembly where protestors blocked the Bharatpur-Nadbai highway (HT Photo/Sourced) The incident took place at Belara village under Nadbai legislative assembly where protestors blocked the Bharatpur-Nadbai highway. The Bharatpur district administration has decided to install a statue of Bhim Rao Ambedkar on April 14 at the intersection of Balera village in Nabadai. However, the move was allegedly opposed by the Jat community who wants a statue of Maharaja Surajmal at the same location. On April 9, people led by Bhupendra Singh, deputy pradhan of panchayat samiti, Nadbai, had gathered at the Belara intersection to protest against the district administration demanding installation of Maharaja Surajmal statue at the Belara intersection, which connects Bharatpur to Nadbai from Jaipur-Agra national highway-21. Also Read: FIR against 41 BJP leaders including 2 ex-CMs over Ranchi protest The protest was withdrawn on April 10 after cabinet minister Vishvendra Singh agreed to their demand. However, tensions erupted after Vishvendra Singh on Wednesday, during a press conference announced the installation of an Ambedkar statue at the same venue. Jogendra Singh, sub-division magistrate, Nadbai, said the administration has decided to install three statues of Maharaja Surajmal, founder of Bharatpur, Bhim Rao Ambedkar and Bhagwan Parshuram at three intersections. He confirmed that the Ambedkar statue will be installed at the main intersection on April 14. The divisional commissioner of Bharatpur Samwar Lal Verma gave us an order in writing to establish a statue of Ambedkar. We are convincing agitating people, he said. However, Verma said that a committee has passed the proposal to set up statues at intersections, however, no written order has been passed yet. Meanwhile, as the Wednesday night protest escalated, police teams, along with riot control vehicles were deployed in the area to take control of the situation. However, the protestors also damaged police vehicles and pelted stones at them. Additional superintendent of police (ASP) Raghuvir Singh Kabiya said police have been deployed here where the statue of Ambedkar was proposed but protesters started pelting stones at the cops. We are trying to maintain the law and order, he said. MBABANE Queen Chaka is requesting financial assistance to participate in the Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa. Born Chakazile Motsa popularly known as Queen Chaka, is the founder of the local beauty pageant Miss Lobamba Cultural Heritage. She is currently a finalist in the top 20 of Miss Universe Africa beauty competition and she is the only liSwati representing Eswatini in the competition. The summit the she is currently set to attend will be held in Gaborone Botswana, it is organised by the United States of Americas (USA) company Forbes. The Forbes Under 30 Summit Africa targets young entrepreneurs and change makers from across the world to participate in networking, actionable thought leadership, world class of food expirience and an amazing show-stopping music concert. This will be a four-day summit which will begin on April 23 until 26. Empowered During the four-day period, the young entrepreneurs will be empowered by venture capital and business role models providing inspiration to the newest and next generation of leaders. The summit will further welcome performers who are yet to be announced, as well as chefs. Theyheyheyheym will allow attendees to experience the sounds, cuisine and staples of local culture while engaging in unbeatable networking and pitching opportunities. Participants are required to register immediately to book a sit for themselves in this gathering and registration fee is priced at US$200 which amounts to E3 600 in local currency. Queen Chaka is requesting relevant ministries and members of the public to help her raise the registration fee so she can attend the summit. For this summit, I am expected to register to confirm my participation. I am kindly appealing to everyone out there who can to assist me with raising the registration fee so I can participate in the summit. Once I have paid the registration fee, the other necessities will be provided by the organising company during the summit. I have been knocking on several doors asking for sponsorship, I havent received any at the moment. Queen Chaka said. However, after receiving an invite, Queen Chaka expressed her excitement of being recognised abroad. Grateful I am grateful that I have been invited to represent Eswatini in such a big summit. Most of all, I am grateful to the fact that I got recognised not only as a model but as a growing entrepreneur and I am looking forward to coming back and sharing knowledge with the people of Eswatini. @This is a big opportunity for me and I would really love to grab it with both hands and use it. I earned the invite through hardwork and resilience that has kept me this far, Queen Chaka said. KOLKATA: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) should question Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Abhishek Banerjee in the bribe-for-job case, Calcutta high court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay observed on Thursday, according to lawyers who attended the hearing. TMC general secretary Abhishek Banerjee waves at supporters during a public meeting in Alipurduar. (PTI) Abhishek Banerjee, the TMCs general secretary, is the nephew of chief minister Mamata Banerjee. The judge was hearing a plea filed by expelled TMC youth wing leader Kuntal Ghosh, one of the prime accused, alleging that officers of the two federal agencies were pressuring him to name Abhishek Banerjee in his statement. Justice Gangopadhyay said no police complaint and first information report (FIR) can be lodged against any officer of ED and CBI at any police station in West Bengal in connection with this case, said lawyer Firdous Samim who is representing victims of the job scam in the state school education department. Kuntal Ghosh, who was arrested by ED on January 21, is lodged at Presidency correctional home in Kolkata. He filed the complaint at the court and the citys Hastings police station on April 6. Abhishek Banerjee also made a similar point without naming Kuntal Ghosh at a TMC meeting in Kolkata on March 29. The high court judge observed that since Ghosh and Banerjee made similar allegations, they should be questioned together. Samim said: Justice Gangopadhyay observed that officials of the two agencies should question Ghosh and Banerjee. He wanted to know the identity of those who are meeting Ghosh at the Presidency correctional home. He ordered the state government to submit before him the visitors register and footage recorded by security cameras at the correctional home between March 23 and April 6. The judge wants these records to be placed before him by April 20, Samim said. TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh reacted sharply to the judges observations during the proceedings. Justice Gangopadhyay is a respected citizen but he is misusing his chair. He has turned into a cadre of a political party only to seek publicity. He has targeted Abhishek Banerjee and the TMC, Kunal Ghosh said, hinting at opposition parties. If he charges me with contempt of court, I will face him in court. If he sentences me, I will go to jail, Ghosh added. In May 2022, justice Gangopadhyay ordered CBI to probe the appointment of non-teaching staff (Group C and D) and teaching staff by the West Bengal School Service Commission and West Bengal Board of Secondary Education between 2014 and 2021. The appointees allegedly paid bribes in the range of 5-15 lakh to get jobs after failing the selection tests. The suspected involvement of TMC leaders surfaced when ED, which was probing the money laundering aspect of the case, arrested the then-education minister Partha Chatterjee and his aide Arpita Mukherjee on July 23, 2022. Chatterjee was subsequently dropped from the cabinet. On Thursday, justice Gangopadhyay again expressed his dissatisfaction with the investigation, saying it lacked pace. The judge removed a CBI officer from the probe team on January 31 citing the same reason. The TMC last month expelled Kuntal Ghosh and another leader, Shantanu Banerjee. a functionary in Hooghly districts zilla parishad, who was arrested on March 10. He was earlier a state vice-president of the TMC youth wing. The Allahabad high court on Thursday refused to stay the conviction of Mohammad Abdullah Azam Khan, the son of senior Samajwadi Party (SP) leader Azam Khan, in connection with a criminal case registered against him in 2008 where he was awarded two years sentence by a Moradabad court which led to his disqualification as an MLA from the Uttar Pradesh assembly. It is alleged that Abdullah Azam and his father blocked traffic after their vehicle was stopped by police for checking in Moradabad. (For Representation) Rejecting his application, Justice Rajiv Gupta observed, In fact, the applicant is trying to seek stay of his conviction on absolutely non-existent grounds. It is well settled principle of law that stay of conviction is not a rule but an exception to be resorted to in rare cases. Disqualification is not limited only to MPs/MLAs. Moreover, as many as 46 criminal cases are pending against the applicant. It is now need of the hour to have purity in politics. Representatives of people should be man of clear antecedents. In the backdrop of the said circumstances, refusal to stay the conviction would not, in any way, result in injustice to the applicant. The order under challenge passed by the Moradabad court is just proper and legal and do not call for any interference, the court observed. A criminal case was registered in 2008 against Mohammad Abdullah Azam Khan and his father at Chhajlet police station in Moradabad district under sections 341 (wrongful restraint) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). It is alleged that they had blocked traffic after their vehicle was stopped by the police for checking in Moradabad. On February 13 this year, the additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM) sentenced Azam Khan and his son Abdullah to two years imprisonment and imposed a fine of 3,000 each. Later, they were granted bail after submitting the required surety. However, two days after the conviction and sentence, SP MLA Abdullah Azam Khan was disqualified from the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly on February 15, 2023. Abdullah represented the Suar assembly constituency of Rampur district. PRAYAGRAJ The body of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmads son Asad, who was gunned down by the UP STF on Thursday, may be claimed by his maternal grandparents or one of his three aunts who are not named as accused in lawyer Umesh Pals murder, said family members. After autopsy on Friday, the police may hand over Asads body for burial, if anyone in the family comes forward to receive it. (Pic for representation) Asad Ahmads body has been taken to the mortuary in Jhansi for a post-mortem examination. At present, theres no one in Atiqs family to claim Asads body. Atiq, his brother Khalid Azeem aka Ashraf and sons Ali and Umar are all in jail while his wife Shaista Parveen is on the run with a reward of 50,000 on her head. Under such circumstances, Asads maternal grandparents or any other relative will go to Jhansi to claim his body, said Atiqs lawyer Vijay Mishra. After autopsy on Friday, the police may hand over Asads body for burial, if anyone in the family comes forward to receive it. Atiq Ahmad has four sisters. One of them, Ayesha Noori, and her two daughters have also been made accused in the Umesh Pal murder case and are on the run. Ayeshas husband Akhlaq Ahmad was arrested for sheltering assailants of Umesh Pal and providing them financial help. One of Atiqs three sisters who are not named as accused or wanted in any case may come forward to claim the body, neighbours in the Chakia area said. Meanwhile, Atiq has also sought permission to attend his sons funeral. Senior lawyer Syed Naseem said only the court may grant permission to Atiq for attending the funeral of his son. However, the permission can also be denied on security grounds, he added. Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen may also try to attend the funeral. Asads body is expected to be taken to the family graveyard in Kasari Masari area in Prayagraj for burial. Bodies of Atiqs father Feroz Ahmad and other relatives were buried at the same place. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, who is wanted in the killing of lawyer Umesh Pal, has been killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, wanted in the killing of Umesh Pal, has been killed in an encounter by the UP STF in Jhansi.(PTI) Asad and another accused Ghulam were wanted in Umesh Pal murder case and carried a reward of 5 lakh each. One British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol recovered from them. The killing of Asad in an encounter comes on a day when Atiq Ahmad and his brother were produced before a Prayagraj court in connection with the case. The gangster was brought to Prayagraj via road from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati jail for his production in court. His brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from Bareilly jail. Umesh Pal was a witness in the 2005 killing of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lawmaker Raju Pal in which Ahmad is an accused. On February 24, Umesh Pal and his two security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members and others. The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON THANE: Acting upon citizen complaints received regarding dust pollution in the city, the Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) on Thursday issued a set of guidelines and decided to impose cash fines ranging from 5000 to 25,000 in its bid to control dust pollution. Dust at Ghodbunder road due to ongoing Metro work.Thane municipal corporation to impose fines on those causing dust pollution in the city. The civic body claimed dust pollution in the city has increased as it received several complaints from locals ,in Thane, in Mumbai, India, on,Thursday, April, 13, 2023. (Praful Gangurde / HT Photo) The civic body has also warned that citizens found violating the regulations will also be fined. ALSO READ| Dust city: Mumbai has a whopping 11,125 construction sites The TMC has identified two major causes of dust pollution in the city -- dust scattered by vehicular traffic and dust release at construction sites. There is a need control on this, and we have issued guidelines which people should follow. This will help reduce the dust pollution. People have raised concerns over the amount of dust released in the air and we need to work on it unitedly to ensure a dust free environment, said Manisha Pradhan, chief environment officer, TMC. The guidelines were issued at a meeting at TMC headquarters on Thursday attended by Thane developers, ready mix plant concrete operators, road work contractors, representatives of Metro Railway projects among others. Pradhan spoke about the need to curb air pollution in Thane. Deputy Commissioner Anagha Kadam said that a vigilance team of the Pollution Control department will be formed to monitor the pollution control measures. Thane city has a population of 22 lakh, but the vehicle population has increased to more than 23 lakh, according to the Regional Transport Office (RTO) records in May 2022. The 23 lakh vehicles include 1.34 lakh two-wheelers. Every year, more than 60,000 two-wheelers are added to the overall vehicle population of the city. Earlier there were only some specific areas where we could see the dust. Now, it is across the city with all the ongoing road works, metro works and construction projects. One cannot even walk near these sites as there are no measures taken for dust control, said Sangeeta Upadhayay, 38, a resident of Vartak Nagar, Thane. Set of rules to be followed: Barricading near construction sites Protection net for plaster works of buildings Use of plastic garbage drums to dump debris, no dumping debris in the open Use of water sprinklers to settle dust released from sand, mud and cement Use of rain run to avoid dust release on roads near the construction sites Cover the trucks transporting construction materials For RMC plants Use water sprinklers Barricading at the plant cover the vehicles transporting the materials to the plant Clean the tyres with water when the mixing vehicles leave or enter the plant. For road and metro works Use water sprinklers and rain gun Cover vehicles while transporting materials for the road or metro works. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON LUCKNOW The 20-year-old woman, whose charred body was found in a field at Sarura village on April 6, was killed by her live-in partner, said police on Thursday. The accused, identified as 21-year-old e-rickshaw driver Arshad, burnt victim Shaba Khan to death as she was persuading him to marry her. Accused Arshad was helped by his 19-year-old friend Mohammad Awesh in the crime. (HT Photo) Accused Arshad was helped by his 19-year-old friend Mohammad Awesh in the crime. Police arrested the accused duo after a tip-off. Shaba was thrown out of her house about eight-nine months ago. Subsequently, she met Arshad and they started living together, said DCP-North Quasim Abidi. During interrogation, the accused told the police that he could not marry Shaba as his family didnt approve of her. As the girl kept on persuading him to marry her, Arshad decided to kill her with help from his friend Mohammad, who is also an e-rickshaw driver, added DCP-North. Sharing further details, the senior cop said, The victim was first made unconscious with sleeping pills. Then, they took the woman to a plot in Sairpur police station area in an unconscious state and set her ablaze. A case under IPC sections 302 and 201 has been lodged against the accused. They are being sent to jail. Earlier, based on her autopsy report, police had ruled out sexual assault in the case. Her face and sensitive parts were burnt by keeping clothes on them. Due to the lack of CCTVs in surrounding areas, the identification of the accused was made difficult, police had said in a statement. LUCKNOW The Uttar Pradesh health department has sent a proposal to the state government seeking its nod to make 10 trauma centres fully functional. Among these 28 trauma centres, 10 will be made fully functional after the governments approval. (HT Photo) As per the proposal, government doctors from public hospitals will be shifted to the selected trauma centres. However, it will be ensured that doctors are not moved to other districts, said a senior official in the health department. At present, the state has 36 public-owned trauma centres. Among them, 28 are partially functional as they have basic staff and equipment but no specialist doctors to cater to serious cases. Among these 28 trauma centres, 10 will be made fully functional after the governments approval. Once the proposal gets the nod, the selection of doctors will start. We will ensure that the transfer of doctors to trauma centres does not hamper working at hospitals. Doctors will just have to change the place of reporting/working within the same district, added the official. Notably, the aim of establishing 36 trauma centres in Uttar Pradesh was to cater to the road accident victims with specialist care within the golden hour. Therefore, the location of these trauma centres was chosen strategically near the highways. In trauma cases, the time taken to start the treatment matters a lot. The shorter the gap between injury and treatment, the lesser the blood-loss. Also, internal injury harms less if treatment is started at the earliest, said Dr Abhishek Shukla, secretary general association of international doctors. Proposal to increase retirement age for docs to be reviewed again The proposal to increase the retirement age for government doctors in Uttar Pradesh is being reviewed again, keeping in view the provision for the retirement of doctors in other states. In January, a committee was formed to evaluate the proposal for increasing the retirement age from 62 to 65 years. The government doctors had opposed the proposal and the committee too stated, in its report, that raising the retirement age was not required. Now, a second thought is being given to decide whether increasing the retirement age will benefit the healthcare system. We are also looking at the retirement age of government doctors in other states, said a senior health official. Less than 14,000 doctors are working in government hospitals across the state and at least 7,000 posts of doctors are vacant at present. Every month, over a dozen doctors retire, reducing the strength by at least 150 a year. The medical education department has kept the retirement age of doctors in Uttar Pradesh at 65 years. The recruitment efforts have not brought the required strength in the past year at government hospitals. The health department is particularly focused on the shortage of specialists. A home guard posted at the Punjab National Bank (PNB) was shot dead and 12 lakh were looted from Bihars Sonepur branch of Punjab National Bank (PNB) by armed assailants, police said on Thursday. The entire incident was captured in the CCTV installed inside the bank (Representative Photo) The entire incident was captured in the CCTV installed inside the bank, they said. Saran superintendent of police (SP) Gaurav Mangla, who reached the spot said that the police are scrutinizing the CCTV footage and the footage obtained from other points to trace the culprits. According to Puja Kumari, a bank employee, five people entered the bank around 12.30pm. She said that one of them tried to enter locker-cum-safe and after the on-duty home guards tried to stop him, another man took out his pistol and shot at one of the guards, killing him on the spot. Also Read: Robbers loot 11 lakh from South Bihar Gramin Bank in Samastipur She said that while one home guard was shot dead, another received bullet injuries in his stomach, adding that all the criminals managed to escape from the spot with cash and cell phones of bank employees. The SP said that they have sent the body of the deceased home guard identified as Mahesh Shah (55) for post-mortem while the injured home guard identified as Naresh Rai, has been referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital. A senior police official from the headquarters said that separate teams of the Bihar special task force (STF) and crime investigation department (CID) are assisting the Saran police to identify and nab the criminals. Instructions have been issued to undertake intensive checking in all the bordering districts of the state capital, said the official. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PATNA: A joint committee of 28 teachers associations in Bihar on Thursday gave ultimatum to the government to bring necessary changes in the new recruitment rules vetted by the state cabinet within 24 hours, or they would boycott the second phase of caste survey starting April 15 across the state, even as the state government moved ahead by seeking vacancy positions for secondary and higher secondary schools from the district education officers (DEOs) through a letter. An enumerator marks a house in Patna during the 1st phase of the caste survey in January. (HT Photo) Director, secondary education, Sanjay Kumar wrote to all the DEOs that the Bihar state school teachers (appointment, transfer, disciplinary action, and service condition) rules, 2023, was in force from April 10 and hence district-wise details of vacancy should be furnished in the prescribed format for appointment under new cadres. All the teachers bodies, including those of the aspirants having qualified different teachers eligibility tests of the state government and the Centre, met under one roof in Patna and resolved to issue the ultimatum to the government. They have formed a joint teachers struggle forum comprising 28 associations. This happened after Jan Surajs Prashant Kishor came out in support of the teachers, urging them to take a leaf out of the farmers movement in Delhi, which made a strong Narendra Modi government pull back its steps, and come on one platform for a decisive struggle. They say there are over 30 teachers unions. The farmers also had 18 different unions, but they joined hands to show their might. If four lakh teachers join hands, the Bihar government will have to listen and make changes. When teachers bodies come to one stage, the political parties will start taking them seriously. Join hands and see the impact. Have your individual bodies, but for a common cause come on one stage, if you want to be taken seriously, he said. Opposition BJP and the government ally CPI-ML have already extended their support to the teachers, terming the new recruitment rules a mirage. Another meeting of all the teachers bodies has been called on April 15 at the residence of CPI-ML legislature party deputy leader Sandeep Saurav to work out future strategies. My party will work shoulder to shoulder with the teachers for their genuine cause, Saurav said. BJP MLC and teachers leader Nawal Kishore Yadav said that the new rules were a bad joke with working teachers as well as the teacher aspirants, who had been given assurance of appointment several times in the past. We will fight with the teachers from the streets to the legislature if the government failed to withdraw it. The teachers have been working in schools for the last 17 years and now the government has woken up to hide its failures at their cost, he added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A teacher from Patnas BRM College Munger was allegedly thrashed by a student who was expelled after being caught for cheating in an examination. The teacher lodged an FIR at Basudevpur police station against the student under various sections. (Representative file image) The incident took place on Tuesday. The association of college teachers met Munger superintendent of police on Thursday seeking immediate arrest of the accused. We have taken the incident seriously and the complaint has been lodged with police, examination controller Ramashish Purvey said. We have barred the erring student for three years from appearing for the examination. The teacher is undergoing medical treatment, he said. Also Read: Womans boyfriend booked for assaulting her two kids in Dera Bassi On Wednesday, a delegation of teachers led by association secretary Prof Abhay Kumar met vice chancellor Prof Shyama Roy and demanded security for teachers. One guard has been deputed at the college centre, Prof Kumar said adding, The University has conceded all our demands and now examination will be conducted in the tune of BPSC examination and examinees will have to undergo strict frisking. SP has assured that the arrest of the student against whom FIR has been lodged will be made immediately, he said. Soon after the incident, college teachers went on strike forcing the administration to arrange teachers for invigilation duty from other colleges. We somehow managed to conduct the examination on Wednesday as all the teachers boycotted the invigilation duty to protest the incident, Prof Kanchan Gupta, principal of the college said. Later, the teacher lodged an FIR at Basudevpur police station against the student under various sections. NKHABA A motor vehicle was set on fire after it was abandoned by unknown people next to carcasses of two stolen cows, at a grazing land situated at Nkhaba. The theft of a cow is a great loss to liSwati as livestock is still regarded as a sign of wealth. One cow is equivalent to E10 000 to E25 000, depending on the size and breed. Residents of the area believed that the Isuzu bakkie which was found with its keys in the ignition was left by its driver, who had come to fetch the carcasses of the cows that were slaughtered without the owners permission. During a visit to the area at around 8am yesterday, smoke was still visible from the burning car. The carcasses were chopped into quarters with the skin still intact, a few metres from the motor vehicle. It was discovered that the cows were tied to a tree when slaughtered. More than 50 residents of the area gathered at the scene with some armed with spears, sjamboks, bush knives and knobkerries, as well as sticks. A police officer was recording a statement from two boys. It was gathered that the boys came from the family of the stolen cows. While observing the scene, some residents shared that the cows were slaughtered at around 2am. They shared that they were woken by a bellowing noise of a cow at around 2am. The residents stated that they rushed to the grazing land, as they were troubled by theft of livestock in the area. They shared that the theft of the cows was the fourth incident since the beginning of the year. We saw lights at the grazing land opposite some of the homesteads. I think the perpetrators saw us coming and fled the scene, leaving behind the motor vehicle and the carcasses. We tried and failed to locate them in the mountains, said one of the areas community police members. The community police member stated that upon inspection, they discovered that the cows belonged to one of the residents of the area. He mentioned that some of the residents left their livestock at the grazing land. He stated that the cows were driven from one grazing land to the other, presumably so that they could not be noticed. This is a big loss as one of the cows was pregnant, said the community police member, while pointing at the calf that was removed from one of the cows. While discussing the matter, one of the elders requested the residents to excuse the police officers to speak with the two boys. They then held a meeting a few metres away from the police officers. Involved An elder who was present at the scene requested the residents to come up with suggestions that would help curb the theft of livestock in the area. It is clear that the perpetrators are not working alone, judging from the manner and the rate at which the livestock is stolen. I do not think the driver knows the route, hence he left the motor vehicle. What will happen if we discover that our children or some residents are involved in the theft of the livestock? Let us discuss so that we come up with a solution, the elderly pleaded with the residents. One of the residents said the starting point would be identifying the owner of the motor vehicle, so that he/she could positively identify the driver who abandoned the car. The resident said the driver would then help them get to the initial buyer and the seller. Getting these people will lead us to know how the cows got to be slaughtered without the permission of the owner, said the resident. The police officers present pleaded with the residents to give them a chance to investigate the matter. The officers of the law warned the residents against conducting their own investigations, stating that such might lead to the accusation of the wrong people. Investigations are conducted in stages, which we will be doing. We know where to start the investigations. We will report back to you once we are done with our investigations. You will know the owner of the motor vehicle and all the people behind the commission of this offence, the police officers told the residents. However, some of the residents registered their distrust in the police. They accused the police officers of failing to conduct investigations pertaining to the theft of livestock. We are very disappointed in the police when it comes to investigating issues of livestock theft. It is not the first time we lose livestock in the area, but we have never received any positive feedback from the police. The police keep promising to report back to us but they have never done that. How then would one trust the police if they fail to give us feedback on reported crimes? asked of the residents. The police officers tried to reason with the resident and further warned him against portraying them as defending criminals. The officers of the law also warned the resident against personalising the issues. Mind your words because we are not addressing you but the residents. Do not personalise the matter as if we side with criminals. All we are pleading with you is to give us a chance to investigate the matter before you make a mistake, one of the police officers warned the resident who kept accusing the police officers of failing to do their job. The argument did not end well as the officer ended up getting closer to the resident who was seated at a distance. At the time, some residents had warned journalists against taking pictures. The residents and the other police officer acted promptly when the police officer and the residents started wrestling. Some residents held their own while others pulled the police officer towards the police van. Deputy Police Information and Communications Officer Inspector Nosipho Mnguni confirmed the report of two cows that were stolen and slaughtered at Nkhaba. Mnguni said no arrest had been made yet as the suspects reportedly fled the scene. However, she said police were investigating the matter. She appealed to anyone with information that might lead to the arrest of the suspects to call the police on 999. SAMASTIPUR: Five men from Bihars Samastipur district who drove down to Nepal for a holiday died after their car skidded off a mountain road and crashed in the ravine in Bagmati province of Sindhuli district. Three of them died on the spot; the other two died at the hospital where they were being treated, people familiar with the matter said. Station house officer (SHO) of Samastipurs Kalyanpur police station Gautam Kumar said the five friends left for Kathmandu on Tuesday. (Twitter/mukesh_Sindhuli) The bodies of the five friends, all of them in their mid-twenties, are expected to reach their villages in the Samastipur district late by Thursday evening. Station house officer (SHO) of Samastipurs Kalyanpur police station Gautam Kumar said the five friends left for Kathmandu on Tuesday. According to reports from Nepal, the accident took place a little after Tuesday midnight on the Sindhulimadi-Khurkot section of Nepals BP Highway which connects Kathmandu Valley to the Eastern Terai region. District superintendent of police Rajkumar Silwal told Himayalan Times that the car appeared to have lost control and fell 500 metres off the road. It took local police officers an hour to reach the site and it was so difficult to retrieve the bodies due to the inaccessible geographical areas that the police finally requested assistance from the Nepal Army. The deceased have been identified as Mrityunjay Kumar alias Gabbar of Fulhara village, Abhishek Kumar Thakur of Bhagirathpur, Rajesh Kumar Singh of Mathurapur, and Mukesh Choudhary and Dharmendra Soni from Vikasnagar. We are shocked we are ruined, said Prabhat Singh, a family member of one of the deceased from Fulhara village. Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumars ally and Hindustani Awam Morcha (HAM) leader Jitan Ram Manjhi reached New Delhi on Thursday where he met the Union home minister Amit Shah. Jitan Ram Manjhi meets home minister Amit Shah in Delhi (ANI Photo) Following his meeting with Shah which sparked speculation of him joining hands with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), he said he just met the home minister to submit a memorandum. Meanwhile, the Bihar chief minister, who is also in Delhi, met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi and other party leaders as part of his initiative for stronger opposition unity ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to take on the BJP. Manjhi after his meeting with the home minister asserted that he has sworn to remain with Bihar chief minister and rejected any possibility of joining hands with the BJP. He clarified that there was no question of any drift on his part and that Kumar has all the qualities to be the Prime Minister. Also Read: As Nitish meets Rahul Gandhi, BJP reminded of Kauravas: Na jane kis kis I have taken a pledge that I will remain with Nitish Kumar wherever he remains. He is making an honest endeavour to unite the opposition to ensure some change in 2024 and he has categorically said that it is immaterial whether he is the PM candidate or somebody else is, he added. After his meeting with Shah in the midst of a political turn of events sparked speculations. He said he has sought time to meet Nitish Kumar in Delhi and will talk to him if he gets a chance. He said he only met Shah to present a memorandum to the home minister regarding the deaths at the Gaya firing range so that there was utmost precaution maintained and ex-gratia was paid to the kin of victims. Three villagers were killed in the Gaya district after an army mortar shell fell and exploded well outside the firing range on March 8. Besides, I demanded that apart from mountain man Late Dashrath Manjhi, former Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur and Bihars first chief minister Shri Krishna Singh be also considered for the Bharat Ratna Award, as their names have been recommended. I have also presented a book on Laungi Manjhi, who single-handedly carved out a five-km canal in Gayas village Kothilawa, added Jitan Ram Manjhi. Like Dashrath Manjhi, who worked for 22 years to carve out a path through the hills after his wife fell to death from the hillock, Laungi Manjhi is known for digging a canal with his solo efforts for nearly three decades. He was part of the Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD)-led alliance in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, which the Janata Dal (United) and the BJP contested together. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Pune: Amidst the surge in Covid-19 cases reported in the state and the vaccine shortage facing the health department, the Maharashtra government has sought 0.2 million Covid vaccine doses from the Centre. The central government will supply the required doses soon, said officials. Amidst the surge in Covid-19 cases in the state and vaccine shortage, Maharashtra government has sought 0.2 million Covid vaccine doses from the Centre. (HT FILE) Of the 0.2 million doses, approximately 85 per cent are Covishield, 12 per cent Covaxin, and 3 per cent will comprise Corbevax and Sputnik. The state officials raised the demand during a recent meeting held with the Central government officials. Dr Kailash Baviskar, deputy director of health services, state family welfare department, said, We will receive the vaccine supply in the next couple of days. National Covid-19 task force and health officials have advised precautionary dose following rise in Covid cases across the country. The hospitals run by Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) have been facing shortage of Covid-19 vaccine doses since April 1, forcing Covid vaccination centres (CVC) to close down till fresh stock is made available. Dr Suryakant Deokar, assistant health officer, PMC, said, We received the last vaccine stock 13,000 Covishield and 10,000 Covaxin doses in January this year. Covishield vaccine exhausted in February and Covaxin in March. We will resume immunisation programme after receiving the fresh stock. Pune: The city police on Tuesday arrested a 32-year-old man from Satara district who carried fake identity documents and posed as cop, said police. The accused has been identified as Omkar Vilas Dharmadhikari. Pune police arrest 32-year-old man from Satara district who carried fake identity documents and posed as cop. (Getty Images (PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)) According to the police, complainant Sagar Padale posted at Vishrambaug police station was deputed at Tilak Chowk along with his colleagues, including Sudhir Sonawane and Tejaswi Patil. Padale signalled the driver of a car with tinted glass to stop at around 8:30 pm on April 11. The car driver came out of the vehicle and threatened the traffic police claiming that he is a police official from Satara. The accused produced an identity card that turned to be fake and got into a verbal argument with the traffic police. After confirming from Satara police counterpart about the accuseds identity, Dharmadhikari was arrested. Investigation revealed that the accused carried history of similar fraudulent activities of duping people by posing as a police officer. Vishrambaug police station has filed a case under Sections 170 and 419 of the IPC. Pune: Additional Sessions Judge PP Jadhav on Thursday sentenced National Cadet Corps (NCC) teacher Amod Anil Ghanekar to seven-year rigorous imprisonment for accidentally shooting cadet Parag Devendra Ingale (13) in the head during a firearms practice session in February 2013. Court sentences NCC teacher Amod Anil Ghanekar to seven-year rigorous imprisonment for accidentally shooting cadet Parag Devendra Ingale in the head in February 2013. (Getty Images/iStockphoto (PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)) Judge Jadhav in his order stated, The accused Amod Anil Ghanekar is hereby convicted, vide Section 235 (2) of the CrPC, for the offence punishable under Section 304 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and he is sentenced to undergo rigorous imprisonment for seven years and pay fine of 5 lakh... Out of fine recovered from the accused, 3 lakh be paid to the parents of deceased. Parag, who remained in coma for three years, passed away due to the head injury at Punes Command Hospital in January 2016. The case According to the police, Ghanekar had taken 46 students of Loyola High School, Pashan Road, including Class 8 student Parag, to NCC Headquarters at Senapati Bapat Road on February 1, 2014. At about 2.45 pm, students namely Aman Manish Modi, Jayant Naresh Kakani, Kshitij Salil Malwankar and Parag were firing through 0.22 air rifles at the practice range. Ghanekar, standing behind the students, was firing through a 0.22 calibre rifle, without licence and authority. He had knowledge that if any student stands up all of a sudden, his bullet may hit such a student causing his death. The bullet from the accuseds firearm hit Parag on the head and he sustained serious injury. The probe A first information report (FIR) was lodged against Ghanekar at the Deccan police station. Ghanekar, who was then an assistant teacher at the school, was arrested by the police and later released on bail. Additional public prosecutor (APP) Rajesh Kavediya submitted that on the fateful day the accused was not authorised to conduct the firing but did it for thrill and passion resulting in the death of Parag. The trial went on for six years. The court order stated that the evidence of the first witness in the case was recorded on August 3, 2017, and the deposition of the last witness was recorded on February 21, 2023. The court order added, Very sad to mention that the NCC department deliberately did not secure the presence of inquiry officer P Saravanan for deposing in the court as a witness. As submitted by APP Kavediya, some persons from the NCC department used to visit the court and keep watch on the proceedings, but the service of summons to witnesses namely P Saravanan was avoided for years. Only after suggesting that the prosecution take steps by approaching higher authorities, the witness appeared in the court. Unfortunately, the helpless parents of the deceased Parag Ingale were forced to wait for almost ten years to get justice. The mental sufferings of parents are beyond imagination. PUNE: The local units of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Congress are at loggerheads over the Pune Lok Sabha (LS) seat which fell vacant due to the demise of veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Girish Bapat. Although the seat has traditionally been with the Congress, this time, the NCP has staked its claim even as the announcement of by-polls is yet to be made by the Election Commission (EC). Interestingly, after the NCP staking its claim over the Pune LS seat, the Congress has, in exchange, asked for the Baramati LS seat, known to be represented by the family of NCP chief Sharad Pawar with Supriya Sule being the current member of Parliament (MP). NCP workers from the city have put up banners in some parts demanding that the seat be allotted to the NCP with party city unit president Prashant Jagtap as candidate. Although Pune LS seat has traditionally been with the Congress, this time, the NCP has staked its claim even as the announcement of by-polls is yet to be made by EC. (HT FILE) There are chances that Pune may face by-polls within the next six months to fill the Pune LS seat as it is mandated upon the EC to hold the process under section 151 of the Representation of People Act, 1951. As per the law, the by-polls should be held within six months of the date of occurrence of the vacancy. However, even before the announcement of the by-polls, NCP workers from the city have put up banners in some parts demanding that the seat be allotted to the NCP with party city unit president Prashant Jagtap as candidate. The NCP, Congress and Shiv Sena are partners in the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) alliance. The alliance has already decided to contest the LS and assembly polls together. NCP city unit president Jagtap said, Party workers have made such a demand but it is not the partys official stand. The NCP has a strong base in the Pune LS seat. We had even more members than the Congress in the Pune Municipal Corporations last general body. Considering this, the demand is coming from workers even as we are alliance partners in the MVA. The decision will be taken at the higher level but if the party gives me a chance, I am ready to contest the by-polls. Since 2014, the Pune LS seat has been represented by the BJP. Between 2014 and 2019, it was represented in the LS by Anil Shirole and from 2019, Bapat represented it. Reacting to the workers demand, NCP state unit president Jayant Patil said, Jagtap is a good leader and if he is getting a chance for the LS seat, it is good. Despite the NCP having partnered the Congress and Shiv Sena for the MVA, NCPs demand has created unrest amongst the Congress workers. So much so that after the NCP workers demand, the Congress workers are now running a campaign on social media and have staked a claim on the Baramati LS seat (in exchange for the Pune LS seat). Congress city unit president Arvind Shinde said, Recently, NCP leader Ajit Pawar slammed the party workers and alliance partners for starting an early discussion on the LS election. Even NCP leader Sharad Pawar mentioned many times that the Pune district has four LS seats and all seats cannot remain with the NCP. Yet, the NCP has now put forward such a demand. While the Pune LS is with the Congress as part of the seat-sharing plan, the other three seats namely Shirur, Baramati and Maval are with the NCP. Shinde said that the NCP workers must respect their leaders opinion first. One of the Congress leaders on condition of anonymity said that the NCPs demand is nothing but an attempt to put pressure on the Congress for getting more seats in the PMC. Pune: A 58-year-old Yemeni national was swindled out of $4000 by unidentified persons claiming to be police officers who conducted a fake search for drugs, said police officials. A 58-year-old Yemeni national was swindled out of $4000 by unidentified persons claiming to be police officers who conducted a fake search for drugs, said police officials. (Getty Images/iStockphoto (PIC FOR REPRESENTATION)) According to the police, the incident took place on the busy Welcome Hall Chowk at Pargenagar area in Kondhwa on Sunday. The victim was in Pune for the last three months for the medical treatment of his wife. Three men posing as police officers approached the foreigner when he was returning home after having dinner at Arabian House Restaurant at around 10 pm. The accused demanded to search his bag for ganga drugs. Under the impression that he was dealing with legitimate law enforcement officers, the victim complied with the suspects demands and handed over his bag. The suspects proceeded to conduct a thorough search, rummaging through the victims belongings and stole $4,000 in cash from his bag. After realising that he has been cheated, the complainant approached the police. We have taken the incident seriously and will apprehend suspects soon, Kondhwa police station officials said, adding that a case has been registered against unknown people under Sections 417, 419, and 420 of IPC. SI-UK India, a UK-based education consultant organisation on Thursday announced that it will hold an education fair from April 14 for Indian students aspiring to study abroad. SI-UK education fair for Indian students from April 14(Getty Images/iStockphoto) The fair aims to provide students and their families with comprehensive guidance and information to help them firm up their study plans, SI-UK said in a press statement. The fair will cover 7 major cities in India, starting from 14th April 2023 in Thane, followed by Gurugram, Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Coimbatore, and Kochi, it said. Representatives and faculty members from the UK's educational institutions will take part in this fair. Some of the universities participating in the event are the University of Manchester, University of Birmingham, Queen's University Belfast and University of Exeter. Students and parents can clear their doubts about studying in the UK, including information about admissions requirements, scholarships, and student life in the event, it said. They will also get one-on-one access to experts in international education, can speak directly with representatives of UK universities during the event, it added. Lakshmi Iyer, Managing Director, SI-UK India said, Studying abroad is a life-changing experience, and it is essential that students are provided with accurate and reliable information to make informed decisions about their future. With our education fair, we aim to be the go-to destination for all students who aspire to study in the UK. We are committed to providing them with the best possible guidance, support, and assistance throughout their study abroad journey. To book a session, visit ukunifair.in. Actor-politician Hema Malini surprised fans when she travelled by metro and then by auto in Mumbai recently. Now, as Hema was spotted at the airport she talked about the experience further and said more artists from the film industry must also use the metro. (Also read: Hema Malini takes metro, auto to reach home: 'Security couldn't believe their eyes') Hema Malini urged other actors to travel by metro. Hema was asked by the paparazzo about her recent metro journey as she arrived at the Mumbai airport. She greeted them and responded to the question, saying, "Mujhe bhi laga Mumbai ki nagrik hone ke naate metro ka use aap bhi kar sakte he. Saare kalakar ko bhi use karni chahiye... to avoid the traffic jam. I liked it. I enjoyed it. (I also felt that as a citizen of Mumbai, we must use metro. Other artists should also travel by metro to avoid the traffic jam.) Many reacted to the clip in the comments. One user said, "Then Roz kyu nhi karti?" (Then why don't you travel everyday?) Another comment read, Imagine the problems public face everyday. A user also wrote, Such humble tone (red heart emoticon). Hema had taken to Twitter to share how it takes around two hours to reach Dahisar by car in Mumbai traffic, so she took the metro to reach her destination much faster. She wrote, "I must share with all of you my unique, wonderful experience. Drove 2 hours to reach Dahisar by car, so tiring! In the eve decided I would try the metro, and OMG! What a joy it was! True, we went thro tough times during the constr, but worth it! Clean, fast & ws in Juhu in 1/2 hr (two hearts emoji)." Hema had also shared a video which was taken from inside the metro. When several women posed next to her for selfies, Hema obliged them with a smile. She further added, "After my metro experience, decided to go by auto from DN Nagar to Juhu & that too was fulfilled. Landed by auto at my house & the dazed security could not believe their eyes! All in all, a wonderful, pleasurable experience for me! In the metro with the public." In the last few decades, Hema has featured in many films including Tum Haseen Main Jawaan (1970), Raja Jani and Seeta Aur Geeta (1972), Sholay (1975), Dream Girl and Kinara (1977), The Burning Train, Bandish and Do Aur Do Paanch (1980), Satte Pe Satta (1982), and Apne Apne (1987) to name a few. She is currently as a MP in Mathura for BJP. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Kajol recently recalled being called an unconventional actor during her initial years in the film industry. She said many pointed out that she was dark, fat or even wearing glasses all the time. However, Kajol said nothing affected her. She addressed the never-ending claims of skin-lightening treatments that she allegedly opted for later. Also read: Kajol has a hilarious reply for those who wonder how she became 'so fair' When Kajol was called 'dark' and 'fat.' (Photo by SUJIT JAISWAL / AFP)(AFP) In February, Kajol had shared a witty post on Instagram and revealed how she became so fair throughout the years by keeping her face covered. She wrote, To all those who ask me how I became so fair #sunblocked #spfunbeatable. In a new interview, she was asked if tags of being an unconventional actor bothered her and how she dealt with it. Kajol said she put those judgements away rather than dealing with it. There were a lot of tag at that point of time. She is dark, she is fat and she wears specs all the time. These were some of the judgments that were passed when I first started working in the industry. I couldnt care less. I knew I was smart, cool and better than everyone out there who had any negatives to say about me. So, I kept continuing to be myself and never let it show. Sooner or later, when they couldnt pull me down, the world simply embraced me for who I was - Kajol, the actor told Humans of Bombay. "I have not undergone any skin whitening surgery. I have just stayed out of the sun! For 10 years of my life, I was working all the time under the sun, which is why I got tanned! And now I am not working in the sun anymore. So Ive got untanned! Its not a skin whitening surgery, its a stay-at-home surgery," she also said during the conversation. While this is not the first time that Kajol addressed claims of skin whitening, she is quite vocal about her opinion. Not only she, but also her daughter Nysa Devgan is often criticised online for her looks. While Kajol admitted that people trolling Nysa affects her, she also said that a lot of people also say supportive things for Nysa who is no less than an internet sensation. Kajol married Ajay Devgn and they have two kids--Nysa and Yug Devgan. Kajol made her acting debut at age of 17 in the 1992 romantic drama Bekhudi. Since then she has been one of the most popular actors. She will be next seen in Disney+ Hotstar's The Good Wife, which marks her OTT debut. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON MBABANE There were no disruptions in operations at the Ngwenya/Oshoek Border Gate, despite the commemoration of April 12 by marchers who wanted to stage a border blockade. The marchers were from different political formations and trade unions from South Africa (SA) and Eswatini. They gathered at the border gate on the South African side, singing political songs. They gave each other chances to deliver their speaches on behalf of their organisations. Blockade The border blockade was organised and led by the Congress of South African Trade Unions (COSATU). Other organisations that were represented included the Peoples United Democratic Movement (PUDEMO), Ngwane National Liberatory Congress (NNLC), Swaziland Liberation Movement (SWALIMO), Multi-Stakeholder Forum (MSF), Swazis First Democratic Front (SFDF), and Swaziland Youth Congress (SWAYOCO), to name a few. The Swaziland National Association of Teachers (SNAT) President, Mbongwa Dlamini, was also part of the marchers. The marchers arrived at around 10am and gathered by the border gate on the SA side. They sang political songs and then moved backwards, away from the border and regrouped 100 metres away from the border gate. At around noon, they moved closer to the border gate and were met by members of the South African Police Service (SAPS), who formed a wall to avoid them from reaching the border. The SAPS allowed them to assembly on the side of the road, resulting in the free flow of trucks and other vehicles. On the Eswatini side, members of the Royal Eswatini Police Service (REPS) were also deployed at the border gate to maintain peace and order. They remained on the Eswatini side and watched the proceedings on the other side. Most of the speakers called for the withdrawal of the 1973 Decree, which saw political parties being banned in Eswatini. On April 12, 1973, King Sobhuza II declared a state of emergency, dissolved the House of Assembly, banned all political parties and abolished the 1968 Constitution. They further called for the national dialogue. SWAYOCO Deputy President Palesa Dlamini told the marchers that they would do everything in their power to disrupt the upcoming elections. Support Swaziland National Union of Students (SNUS) Sambulo Shongwe appreciated COSATU for organising the demonstration at the border, as such events showed the South Africas workers unions support to the Eswatini struggle for democracy. Shongwe further highlighted the challenges faced by the local tertiary students. He said currently, the University of Eswatini (UNESWA) was closed indefinitely, following a strike action by lecturers. He also highlighted that as students, they were also engaged in a campaign to demand scholarships for all students who had been admitted to tertiary institutions. Shongwe mentioned that they were also demanding free education in both primary and secondary/high school. Mrunal Thakur recently shared a photo of herself crying. In a new interview, the actor opened about her photo, which was widely shared online, and said the picture was taken a few days ago, when she 'had an emotional turmoil' and was going through a tough phase, professionally and personally. Mrunal also said that mental health 'is a sensitive topic and can be misinterpreted'. Also read: Mrunal Thakur cries in photo, says she was extremely low; fans tell her to 'stay strong' Mrunal Thakur spoke about mental health and depression in a recent interview. Last month, Mrunal Thakur had taken to Instagram Stories and talked about being naive and vulnerable. She shared a photo of herself in which she was crying, after which many on social media had expressed concern about the actor's well-being. Now, in a new interview, Mrunal has opened up about her crying photo. She also said social media 'gives an illusion of a world that doesnt exist. There are times when I end up posting a happy picture, but I dont feel the same. The day I posted that picture, I woke up feeling powerful, happy and courageous enough to know that no problem can put you down in life. There are days when we end up losing our self-esteem, confidence and we question our worth. Self-doubt takes over. In a world where theres an overdose of information and opinions, there are so many voices around you that you stop listening to your inner voice. It takes a lot of courage to be vulnerable in front of the world," Mrunal told Bombay Times. Mrunal Thakur had posted a photo of her crying on Instagram Stories in March 2023. After she shared a photo of her crying, social media users had speculated if the actor was referring to mental health or depression. Speaking about it, Mrunal said in the same interview, There are people who need help as far as mental health is concerned. Its a sensitive topic and can be misinterpreted. That is a separate conversation altogether. Depression is a big word that needs a deeper understanding and shouldnt be used casually. My intention was to normalise feeling low. We tend to bury these feelings deep inside and dont want to hear or talk about them. That needs to change. Accepting that you arent feeling great can only help you resolve it. I want to tell the world that I am not afraid to show or say what I feel, and you shouldnt either. Mrunal also said 'feeling low is normal'. She said people today are so caught up on their phones, which gives an illusion of a world that doesnt exist, adding everything they see online 'is not glamorous and aspirational'. Mrunal said people that are posting dreamy pictures may also be going through a tough time, as she asked fans to not believe what they see on social media as it can make them think that everyone is happy, while they are sad. Mrunal's last film was Gumraah (2023), co-starring Aditya Roy Kapur. Prior to that she was seen in Akshay Kumar and Emraan Hashmi's film Sefliee, which was released on February 24. She was a part of the song Kudiyee Ni Teri Vibe. Before that she was seen in the Telugu film Sita Ramam (2022) alongside Dulquer Salmaan. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bombay High Court on Wednesday directed actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his brother Shamasuddin not to post or upload any remarks against each other on social media for the "sake of maintaining equity" and in light of efforts to amicably resolve issues between them. Also read: Nawaz has been an absent father all his life, on what basis is he asking for our kids custody, asks Aaliya Siddiqui Nawazuddin Siddiqui poses at an event in Mumbai in February 2023. (AFP) A single bench of Justice R I Chagla gave the direction while hearing a defamation suit filed by the 48-year-old actor seeking 100 crore in damages from his brother for posting alleged defamatory statements against him on social media. The bench directed the brothers to remain present in his chambers along with their lawyers on May 3 to explore the possibility of an amicable settlement. The suit has also named the actor's ex-wife Zainab (also known as Aaliya) but on Wednesday Nawazuddin Siddiqui's counsel Abhinav Chandrachud told the court that said since the former couple was trying to resolve their issues amicably the actor did not wish to pursue the defamation suit against her. Advocate Rumi Mirza, appearing for Shamasuddin Siddiqui, told the HC settlement talks are going on between Nawazuddin Siddiqui and his ex-wife due to intervention of a division bench of the high court and that with the help of this bench, a similar arrangement could take place between the warring brothers. Chandrachud, however, said any talks between the brothers could begin only when Shamasuddin Siddiqui takes down his defamatory posts in which the award winning actor has been allegedly called a "rapist and molester". The court agreed and said for any settlement, the posts in question will have to be deleted and both the brothers shall refrain from posting on social media any further remarks against each other. In view of settlement talks, there will not be any (social media) posts against each other, there will be no aspersions cast against each other, in view of possibility of an amicable settlement. It is to maintain equity between parties so that there are no further posts against each other," Justice Chagla said. Meanwhile, a division bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Sharmila Deshmukh was on Wednesday informed that the discord between the actor and his ex-wife over education of their two minor children has been resolved. The court was told the children would be travelling back to Dubai to attend their school. The bench was hearing a petition filed by Nawazuddin Siddiqui seeking a direction to Zainab to reveal the whereabouts of the two children. The 'Sacred Games' star had claimed Zainab had brought the children back to India without informing him and that they were not attending school in Dubai. Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas were spotted in London on Wednesday as they left a venue. The actor was seen with her arms around Nick as they shared a kiss before getting into their waiting car. Priyanka Chopra and Nick have been in London for a few days now, where they recently celebrated Easter with daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas. Both Nick and Priyanka had shared photos of their celebrations on Instagram. Also read: Priyanka Chopra, Nick Jonas bring Malti Marie to India for the first time, share a kiss at airport. Watch Priyanka Chopra and Nick Jonas at the Valentino show in Paris. (File Photo/ AP) In Nick Jonas and Priyanka's latest photos from London, where the couple is spotted out and about, Nick's brothers Joe Jonas and Kevin Jonas were also seen. The Jonas Brothers is in London for a performance, scheduled to be held at the Royal Albert Hall on Friday. In the candid photos, Priyanka wore a pink hoodie and matching pants with a pair of beige shoes and matching beige handbag. She also sported a pair of black sunglasses. Nick was in a black jacket and dark sunglasses. Reacting to Priyanka and Nick's photos shared on a fan page on Instagram, a person wrote, "So happy to see these two lovebirds together." Another one said, "Beautiful couple." A fan also commented, "Lovebirds... always together." The London outing comes days after Nick shared a glimpse of his and Priyanka's Easter celebration. Nick had taken to Instagram to share an adorable family picture, in which Malti was seen playing on the floor as her parents lovingly looked at her. He also shared a photo of their table, on which some blue chocolate eggs could be spotted along with a specially curated Easter dinner menu. Priyanka Chopra was recently in India with daughter Malti Marie Chopra Jonas and mother Madhu Chopra. They had arrived in India on March 31. Nick had also joined her for a couple of days as they brought daughter Malti to India for the first time. The actor has been busy with the promotions of her upcoming series Citadel, which had its Mumbai premiere earlier this month. Before which, Priyanka was joined by Nick at the grand opening weekend of Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre in Mumbai, where she also danced on stage with Ranveer Singh. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Ranbir Kapoor, who welcomed his first child with actor-wife Alia Bhatt, daughter Raha Kapoor, last year, spoke about parenthood in a new interview. Ranbir also spoke about his equation with late father-actor Rishi Kapoor. As he opened up about his religious beliefs, the actor said his father played an important role in 'instilling' those in him. Also read: Neetu Kapoor shares old pic of Rishi Kapoor and Ranbir Kapoor inside Jaipur temple, visits it again 'after 30 years Ranbir Kapoor with Rishi Kapoor at an event in Mumbai. (File Photo) Rishi, who died on April 30, 2020, at the age of 67 after battling leukemia for a few years, was 'very religious', Ranbir Kapoor said. The late actor 'would pray twice a day', and say 'jai', whenever he crossed a small temple, according to Ranbir. He said having grown up watching his father, played a role in his belief in God. When asked if he has 'inherited any religious thoughts' from the late Rishi Kapoor, Ranbir told Free Press Journal, "Im an intense human being and I believe in God. My father was very religious and pious. He would pray twice a day. While travelling by car, whenever he saw any small mandir, he would say, jai. Such things are instilled in you from your childhood days so you carry these traditions forward. We love our traditions, love our Gods and I'm like that only. Im intense, but my personality is very chilled out." Further talking about Rishi, Ranbir said, "Papa was very strict, but he was wonderful. It was because of him I got exposure to the world. He was the one who sent me abroad for further education thus I have received a huge learning both practical and education wise. Thanks to dad, I could learn the worldly things to a certain extent at least subconsciously... I think my upbringing and the value system instilled by my parents, I will carry that in my children. It's a lifetime commitment. You aren't qualified but will become qualified." In the same interview, Ranbir spoke about how his attitude changed towards his parents after becoming one himself. He said that after he became a father, his respect towards his parents also increased. Alia and Ranbir married at their Mumbai home Vastu in April last year. Alia had announced via an Instagram post the birth of their daughter Raha on November 6, 2022. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Shah Rukh Khan is included in Time Magazine's annual 100 Most Influential People of 2023, in the list of Icons for the year 2023. The list, which was shared on Thursday, saw Shah Rukh Khan included with stars like Pedro Pascal and Jennifer Coolidge. Actor Deepika Padukone penned a beautiful note for her Pathaan co-star and called him a 'phenomenon.' (Also read: Shah Rukh Khan congratulates beta Suhana Khan on becoming Maybelline brand ambassador: If I may take some credit') Shah Rukh Khan has been named Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2023. Time Magazine included Shah Rukh Khan in the list of Icons for its annual 100 Most Influential People cover, with a picture from his appearance at the Red Sea International Film Festival last year. Deepika Padukone, who has worked with the star several times in the past, in Om Shanti Om, Chennai Express, Happy New Year and Pathaan, penned a short note describing the relationship with him. "Ill never forget the first time I met Shah Rukh Khan. I had just arrived in Mumbai from Bangalore with one suitcase and a dream. The next thing I knew, I was sitting in his house! I was being considered for a role in a film opposite him. Its been 16 years since. What makes our relationship special is the love, trust, and respect we have for one another. Shah Rukh Khan will forever be known as one of the greatest actors of all time. But what truly sets him apart is his mind, his chivalry, his generosity. The list goes on " Deepika then concluded by noting that she considers Shah Rukh Khan to be a 'phenomenon' and wrote, "For someone who has known him intimately and cares for him deeply, 150 words will never do justice to the phenomenon that is Shah Rukh Khan." Some of the other names in the list include The White Lotus star Jennifer Coolidge, Everything Everywhere All At Once's Ke Huy Quan, Booker Prize-winning author Salman Rushdie, and The Last Of Us star Pedro Pascal. Shah Rukh was last seen in Pathaan, which was helmed by Siddharth Anand. The film also starred John Abraham, Deepika Padukone, Ashutosh Rana, and Dimple Kapadia in the lead roles. Pathaan is streaming on Prime Video. The film has emerged as the highest-grossing Hindi film of all time. Shah Rukh will be next seen in director Atlee's upcoming action thriller film Jawan which is all set to hit the theatres on June 2, 2023. Apart from this, he also has director Rajkumar Hirani's next titled Dunki, where he stars opposite Taapsee Pannu, in the pipeline. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON After her long break, actor Sonam Kapoor is all ready to make a comeback with Shome Makhijas Blind. This will be her first film since she gave birth to son Vayu Kapoor Ahuja in August last year. The first look from the film was shared by the director on Instagram. On Thursday, Shome shared some stills of Sonam from the film, and wrote in the caption, "A glimpse into the world of Blind." Also read: Sonam Kapoor is having a blast on set, dad Anil Kapoor feels he's missing out Sonam Kapoor plays a blind cop in the film. In the first photo, Sonam carried a gun during what appeared to be target practice. She wore her hair in a neat bun and was in a black outfit. The second and third photos showed the actor in different settings. She seemed to look at someone in anger in one of the photos, while the other one featured the actor looking shaken as a body appeared on the floor in the background. A fan commented on Shome's post, "Can't wait to see queen Sonam Kapoor on screen after three years. Shome, I know this will be a treat for moviegoers. All the best to everyone involved in the making of Blind." Another one wrote, "Welcome back! Back with a Bang! Blind it is then." The film features Sonam Kapoor in the lead role with Purab Kohli, Vinay Pathak and Lillete Dubey in supporting roles. Blind a remake of the 2011 Korean film of the same name and centres around a blind police officer in search of a serial killer. The film's shooting in Glasgow, Scotland, among other places, was wrapped up in February 2021. Sonam had tied the knot with businessman Anand Ahuja in 2018. They welcomed their baby boy last year. In an interview with The Indian Express in January this year, Sonam had spoken about her maternity break. She had said, "I think it was the best decision as I got to take some time off. Now, I am getting back and I will be shooting for my films, and a few other things. Blind is releasing next, which was shot just before I got pregnant. So theres a lot to look forward to." When asked if she was getting the kind of roles she expects, the actor had said, I dont know about that, I think everyone also needs to realise that I am coming back to work. Also, I did say no to a lot of work while I was on a break. Sonam Kapoor was last seen in the 2019 film The Zoya Factor alongside Dulquer Salmaan and Angad Bedi. Before that Sonam had starred in Ek Ladki Ko Dekha Toh Aisa Laga, alongside Anil Kapoor, Rajkummar Rao and Juhi Chawla, which was released in the same year. She also had a cameo appearance in Netflix's AK vs AK (2020), starring her father Anil Kapoor and filmmaker Anurag Kashyap. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In an old interview, Aishwarya Rai spoke about feeling 'really hurt' once during her school days and having 'a huge ego blow'. She recalled being a topper and how 'everybody thought shed top the ICSE board exams', but she came seventh or eighth in her class. Aishwarya said that was the only time in her life that she 'really cried'. Also read: Aishwarya Rai, Aaradhya, Shah Rukh Khan pose with Gigi Hadid; model shares pics of 'unforgettable first India trip' Aishwarya Rai has been promoting her upcoming film Ponniyin Selvan: I. Aishwarya, who was crowned Miss World in 1994, made her acting debut in Mani Ratnam's 1997 Tamil film Iruvar and had her first Hindi film release, Aur Pyaar Ho Gaya co-starring Bobby Deol, that same year. In a 2000 interview, Aishwarya spoke about being a head girl in school and having an achiever kind of aura around her. She said in an interview to Rediff, 'Ive always been a good student. Ive always got a first rank except for my seventh grade mid-term when I stood second. I was head girl and was good at co-curricular activities. There was this good girl, this achiever kind of aura around me. Im not saying I was egoistic, but there was a certain level of confidence in me. My parents never pushed me, but it was taken for granted because I always came first. It never was a big issue for me to get the first rank. When I came to the 10th grade, my seniors, my juniors, everybody thought Id top the ICSE board exams. But I came seventh or eighth in class and that was a huge ego blow. Thats when it hurt. It really hurt because I had not valued my first rank until then." Aishwarya further spoke about how her my parents and friends helped her cope, and said, "I realised it was an ego thing. I got into Jai Hind and I did my 12th grade in Ruparel eventually. My percentage was not poor, but it was only a trivial ego thing. Although I came eighth, there was only a 0.5 percent difference between the girls. It was then that I realised I was trying to live up to other peoples expectations and not my own. Id never set any goals for myself. That was the only time in my life that I really cried. Thankfully, I had my parents and friends who kind of put things in perspective for me. Then came the 12th and I got 90 per cent in my PCB, which was not that great. I would not get into Bombay's medical colleges, although, for architecture, it was a very good percentage. But I took it better this time." Aishwarya was last seen in Mani Ratnams Tamil film Ponniyin Selvan: I (2022). The period film also featured Vikram, Trisha, Jayam Ravi and Karthi, among others. She will soon be seen in Ponniyin Selvan: 2, which will be released on April 28. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Satish Kaushik died in Delhi due to a heart attack in March. He was 66. April 13 marks Satish's birth anniversary. The late actor, screenwriter and director had spoken about working in a textile mill, when he first arrived in Mumbai, in an old interview. A couple of years ago, Satish had also shared a photo of himself from a railway station as he recalled coming to Mumbai to become an actor in August 1979. Also read: When Satish Kaushik looked back on his arrival in Mumbai Satish Kaushik died on March 9. He would have been 67 on April 13. (File Photo/ ANI) Satish was originally from Haryana, but attended college in Delhi. He had graduated from the National School of Drama in the capital. He had later joined the Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) in Pune. In an old interview, Satish recalled how he started his career as an assistant to filmmaker Shekhar Kapur. "In Bombay (Mumbai), I wasn't getting any roles at all. Those days when I started, that is in the eighties, most heroes did comedy, action, everything. We didn't stand a chance. Also, I was new to Bombay. To survive I did a job in a textile mills. I joined Nadira Babbar's Ekjut and acted in some plays. So I would work in the mill in the mornings and go to the theatre in the evenings. Still, the roles weren't coming," Satish had told Rediff in a 1999 interview. He had further said, "Finally, I decided I should become an assistant. Because I couldn't sit idle, you know. I have to something or the other all the time. I am very restless person. I do 10 things at the same time. Like today I am acting, directing, writing and running my own production company. So I thought that I should be working everyday. And then I joined Shekhar Kapur." In 2020, Satish Kaushik had shared a photo of his arrival in Mumbai on a train as he tried to make it as an actor. He had shared in a tweet that the city and its people gave him more than he had dreamt. Satish's last film as an actor was Chhatriwali, which was released in January 2023, months before his death. The late actor had completed filming his part in Kangana Ranaut's Emergency in which he essayed the role of politician Jagjivan Ram. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Naga Chaitanya is busy with the promotions of his upcoming Telugu action-thriller, Custody. He plays a police constable in the Venkat Prabhu- directed film. He recently took out time to interact with some police constables in Hyderabad about the experience of turning into a cop. As part of the interaction, one police constable told Chaitanya how his film Tadakha helped him recover from a brain injury. Also read: Samantha Ruth Prabhu denies talking about Naga Chaitanya and Shobhita Dhulipala dating rumours Naga Chaitanya met some police constables in Hyderabad recently. Custody, is set to release in theatres on May 12 and marks the maiden collaboration between Chaitanya and Venkat Prabhu. I really like your film Tadakha that you did with Sunil, who plays a police officer. In the film, villains thrash him very badly and you come and make him fearless with your words. I like that part very much because one year back I met with a bike accident and had a blood clot in my brain and lost my ability to speak. This film inspired me so much and I have been able to speak a little bit and run now. Today, I am in this stage only because of you, the police constable said. Another constable praised Chaitanya for taking up such a role. It is very rare for a star to play a police constable. They usually prefer playing high-ranking officers, he said. Talking about playing such a character, Chaitanya said that he was excited to play a constable. It is a role that has not been explored much in recent times. Constables are fresh out of training and they have the fire in them to make a change. The future is in their hands, he said. In the video, Chaitanya goes on to perform some physical tasks effortlessly after a constable challenges him. He even performs 30 push-ups in one go. The film also stars Krithi Shetty, Priyamani, Sampath Raj and Arvind Swami in crucial roles. It will also be dubbed and released in Tamil and Hindi. ott:10 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Ram Charan along with his wife Upasana, who are gearing up to welcome their first child soon, returned from their recent holiday on Wednesday. At the Hyderabad airport, Ram Charan was welcomed by their pet dog Rhyme, who ran towards him as soon as he exited the arrival gate. The clip has surfaced on social media and fans called their reunion cute. Also read: Ram Charan and his wife Upasana Konidela make the most of their time in the Maldives Ram Charan with his wife Upasana Konidela. The couple had gone on a vacation to Maldives, where they relaxed for a few days. Ram and Upasana had recently hosted her baby shower in Dubai. In their latest video from the airport, their pet dog Rhyme ran towards Ram and he picked up him and started kissing him. Reacting to it, several fans called their bonding adorable. One Twitter user wrote, Its so cute. Rhyme and Ram bonding (sic). Another one tweeted, Adorable. Love and bond like no other (sic). A few days ago, Ram Charan took to Instagram to share pictures from his holiday in Maldives. The first photo featured Ram and Upasana on a boat as they looked at the sea. The second photo was of Ram from a resort. Sharing the photos, Ram just added a blue heart emoji to his caption. Recently, Chiranjeevi and Ram Charan met actor Brahmanandam and felicitated him for his performance in Telugu film Rangamarthanda, a remake of Marathi hit, Natsamrat. In the pictures, Ram Charan was seen sporting a new look. His golden highlights on his hair have caught the attention of fans on social media. He Fans believed this new look could be for the upcoming schedule of his film Game Changer with director Shankar. The title and first look of the film was released on the occasion of Ram Charans birthday. This project will mark Shankars foray into Telugu filmdom. Ram Charan is said to be playing an IAS officer with anger issues while Kiara Advani plays his co-star. The team recently shot for a song in Visakhapatnam. They shot it in a major university and clips and pictures from the shoot have surfaced on social media. ott:10 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON SITEKI South Africas Matric examination is not for sale! Minister of Education and Training Lady Mabuza has explained the stance taken by the South African Department of Basic Education in stopping local Matric pupils from sitting their exams. This follows a communique from Umalusi, which is the Council for Quality Assurance in General and Further Education in South Africa. Mabuza said the government of South Africa (SA) has made it clear that they would not entertain Eswatini on this subject matter for quite a number of reasons. She said one of the reasons was that the Matric examination was free in SA, yet local private schools charged E2 600 as examination fee per pupil. They complained that the local private schools offering Matric were charging exorbitant fees for the examinations, yet it was free in South Africa, the minister said. Worth noting is that the future of at least 603 Eswatini pupils doing Matric hangs in the balance, after the South African Department of Basic Education stopped them from sitting their examination this year. The minister said the legal committee that was dispatched by the SA government to engage Eswatini highlighted that they were not happy to allow their Matric examination papers to cross their borders, as it was risky due to the fact that the papers might be leaked. She said they pointed out that it would be costly to set another paper, considering the population of pupils in South Africa. The Mafutseni Member of Parliament (MP) stated that the local schools offering Matric should devise a plan on how they would ensure that the pupils eventually sat the Matric examinations. She mentioned that government had failed, after countless efforts, to engage with SA Minister of Basic Eduction Angie Motshekga. I tried everything in my power to engage Minister Angie on this matter but I hit a wall. The legal team sent by the South African government complained that the local private schools charge exorbitant fees for the Matric exams, yet they are free of charge in South Africa. They told us that the private schools were making a killing through the charges of the fees for the Matric examination. They also talked about the risks associated with crossing the papers into our borders as they might be leaked. These are some of the reasons they highlighted during that meeting, she said. Future The minister further mentioned that it was unfortunate that the future of the pupils was at stake, yet the schools were told to stop admitting them for the Matric examinations in time. I hope a solution will be found soon by the owners of these schools, Mabuza said. The local centre, U-Tech High, normally hosts Matric exams for pupils from 10 schools locally, namely; Milestone, Mbalenhle Academy, Diamond Valley, Harrolds, Pro-Learning and Phumelela. The rest are Hillside, Wem, Bookville and the host (U-Tech High). U-Tech High School Head teacher Boy Khumalo said they were working around the clock to find a lasting solution to the matter. For now, we are doing something but we will announce any developments in due course, he briefly said. Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu, who is gearing up for the release of Telugu mythological drama Shaakuntalam on Friday, recently talked about her Tamil film Kaathuvakula Rendu Kadhal which endorsed bigamy as humour. The film released last year. In a new interview, she explained the reason behind accepting the film which was criticised for turning bigamy into humour. Also read: Samantha Ruth Prabhu on doing action in Citadel despite myositis Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara and Samantha Ruth Prabhu starred in Kaathuvakula Rendu Kadhal. Directed by Vignesh Shivn, Kaathuvakula Rendu Kadhal starred Vijay Sethupathi, Nayanthara and Samantha Ruth Prabhu. In the film, both Nayanthara and Samantha are in love with Vijay Sethupathi at the same time, despite being aware of it. The film was a box-office success while some criticised it. In an interview with Film Companion, Samantha was asked about accepting the project which openly endorsed bigamy. I dont take myself too seriously. I love doing comedy. When Im really tired, I like to watch a film that makes me laugh, and I like to do such films as well. I had so much fun doing Kaathuvakula. It came to me when I was doing other things like action and serious drama with emotions. It was nice to do something breezy that didnt require so much of an effort. Ive always wanted to work with Nayanthara and Vijay Sethupathi, and I got to do that in one film. Theyre great actors, she said. As part of the same interview, Samantha spoke about her decision to accept a song like Oo Antava when she also speaks up on issues like #MeToo and womens rights. She said that she can only be honest and transparent. She added that she gets pulled up a lot by people because they cant handle such brutal honesty from her. She also said she cant be the flagbearer of everything thats righteous. In Shaakuntalam, Samantha plays the central character Shakuntala, the daughter of Menaka and Viswamithra. The film, produced and directed by Gunasekhar, will be released in Hindi, Tamil, Malayalam and Kannada on April 14. This project marks Samanthas maiden collaboration with the director. Meanwhile, Samantha will be next seen in the upcoming Telugu romantic drama Kushi, co-starring Vijay Deverakonda. She also has the Indian adaptation of Citadel with Varun Dhawan. ott:10 SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu says she was excited to reunite with her The Family Man directors Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK for the Indian chapter of Citadel, a globe-trotting spy drama, is a complete package full of action and emotion. The 35-year-old actor features alongside Varun Dhawan in the Indian original series within the Citadel franchise, whose flagship show, featuring Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden, launches on Prime Video on April 28. Also read: Samantha Ruth Prabhu says she has fever, lost her voice ahead of Shaakuntalam release: 'Hectic schedules have taken...' Samantha Ruth Prabhu during the launch of a new trailer of Shaakuntalam in Mumbai. (PTI)(PTI) "I am privileged to work with Raj and DK again, they are (at) the top of their game, they gave me such an amazing character with Raji (in The Family Man 2). With Citadel we are pushing the boundaries even further, with action, with emotions, it is quite a package. It is like working with family, there is equal amount of fun and challenge, the actor told PTI in an interview. Billed as a local original spy series, the project hails from Prime Video and AGBO, the production banner co-founded by Hollywood filmmaking duo Russo Brothers. Samantha said even though her health posed a major challenge, she enjoyed doing action for Citadel. She is grateful to the team for being patient and understanding of her. The actor was diagnosed with myositis, an autoimmune condition, in October last year. Physically, the show is very intense, there is a lot of action in Citadel and we recently shot something and we are very happy and proud to show it to the world, I am really looking forward to that. "Considering the challenges that I am facing health wise, I am glad I am able to do what I am doing in Citadel. Everyone is being patient and kind and I am truly grateful for that, the Yashoda star said. Asked whether she took special precautions to avoid injuries during the action sequences, Samantha said she has often been warned for not being too careful in such scenes. I am the worst at that, I just think, I just have to go and do and do my best. I have been told by other actors that, It is not cool, you should be better prepared, you should protect yourself better. "But I am all very eager to dive into it, especially for a girl to do action and it is not really every day that you get a tag that, she is good at action. So, now you want to do better and you want to push it, and you dont want that tag to go away. I think that is what is pushing me to my maximum capabilities. The Indian Original Citadel series marks the streaming debut of Varun. Working with the Bhediya star, Samantha said, has turned out to be a great collaborative experience, as they both often push each other to perform their best. He is an amazing co-star and a very good human being. I have worked well whenever there is a good camaraderie between myself and the co-star. So, it is an absolute pleasure with him and we say (to each other) the scene came out well and he would say, I felt it too. So, it is working out really well, she added. Samantha revealed that she has seen the sneak peak of the American version of Citadel, which features Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Richard Madden. "I have seen a little bit of it, it is going to be great, she said. Reportedly, Samantha has been signed by producer Dinesh Vijans Maddock Films for a feature movie opposite Ayushmann Khurrana, theres also buzz that she has been roped in for a mythological film with Akshay Kumar and Karan Johar. Without commenting on her future Hindi projects, Samantha said her focus is on Citadel and Telugu romantic-comedy Kushi with Vijay Deverakonda. I am focusing on my projects that I have, like Citadel, and Kushi, and my health, which is at the centre stage right now. As of now, I am looking to complete the projects that I have in hand, she said. I look forward to the roles that I have been given, it doesnt matter to me which language it is in. What matters the most is what I have to offer to my best, she added. Samantha further said the character should challenge her as an actor for her to give a nod to any film, the language, she added, doesnt matter to her. It doesnt matter which language it is (film or show), what matters the most is the meat of the character, do I see myself, do I see a challenge in it, she added. She is currently awaiting the release of her pan-India movie Shaakuntalam. The Telugu film, based on Kalidasas acclaimed Sanskrit play Abhijnana Shakuntalam, is billed as a whimsical tale that revolves around the epic love story of Shakuntala (Samantha) and King Dushyant, played by Dev Mohan of Sufiyum Sujatayum fame. Directed by Gunasekhar, the movie is set to release in theatres on Friday. It is presented by Dil Raju via Sri Venkateswara Creations in collaboration with Gunaa Teamworks and is produced by Neelima Guna. Tigmanshu Dhulia is back with yet another realistic project, set in the heart of Uttar Pradesh. Titled Garmi, the show is a powerful youth political drama with real college students as the lead cast. Known for delivering films like Gangs of Wasseypur, Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster and Paan Singh Tomar, the filmmaker believes the characters in a film or a show must be realistic so that they can connect with the audience. This time, he is all set to tell the story of a boy who joins a presitgious college with big dreams but gets consumed by politics. "The premise is college politics but the story is of a boy who goes from a small hamlet to a bigger town with aspirations of becoming an IAS, just like many kids from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar do. The actors are new, they are 20-22-year-old students of MA first year. You will see freshness in their performance," he says. Also read: Salman Khan schools filmmakers as he explains why Bollywood movies are not working: 'Galat picture banaoge toh...' Tigmanshu Dhulia is gearing up for the release of his web show Garmi. Garmi has been majorly shot in Tigmanshu's hometown Prayagraj with some portions being shot in Bhopal as well. It has been produced by Swaroop Sampat & Hemal Ashok Thakkar and stars Mukesh Tiwari, Vineet Kumar, Pankaj Saraswat, Jatin Goswami, Vyom Yadav, Puneet Singh, Anurag Thakur, Anushka Kaushik, Disha Thakur, and Dheerendra Gautam. It will begin streaming on SonyLIV from April 21 onwards. Tigmanshu is a an alumni of National School of Drama and says he knows how to derive the right performance from a new and young star cast like this one. Sharing the challenges of working with such a cast, he says, "They do not know the small nuances of film acting like noticing the focus, dynamics of a frame like left and right, its not a stage where you can go around it. They take time in understanding such technicalities. Confidence is the main thing in acting. If you can generate that confidence that the actor can do it, half of the work is done." "Such a cast was chosen because it was physically close to the character. They look like how we have conceived the character, half of the job is done with casting. We induce the performance in them, if not, we do it ourselves and tell them to copy us. Its after all my work and I have to do what is needed to get the performance out of them," he adds. Tigmanshu claims he doesn't watch many Hindi films but is aware of how South cinema has seen more success than witnessed in the Hindi film industry. He says, "South filmmakers work very hard, their stories resonate with those in the north. Maybe because their characters are very real, connected to the society. The relatability of the characters with the majority of the audience is very strong, be it Pushpa or RRR. The problem in our industry is that the characters are usually not real, they have no social status, they come from nowhere. From where do they come, there is not much detailing due to which people are not able to relate with them. I am not sure if this is the reason but this is what I think as per my understanding. There is no mention of their social background. Like there is a boy who is in love. But who is he, how educated is he, from where has he come? The audience is now exposed to world cinema, how will you make all that." He still believes it was not such a shocker. "Bhool Bhulaiyaa 2 did perform and so did some other movies. Earlier around 250-300 films used to be made in a year and only 10-12 movies used to be a hit. The success ratio was always very low. People used to make movies because they were passionate about it," he asserts. The year 2022 also saw several Hindi remakes of South films. The filmmaker isn't against remakes and feels it should only be made when the original is a big hit. On the topic of why many Hindi remakes of South or Hollywood films didn't perform last year, he says, "When you adapt it in another language, like Hindi, the social translation gets distorted. Then sometimes there is wrong casting. The story shouldn't be at fault if it has already worked in another language. We also try to put a lot of glamour in Hindi films." A 33-year-old man died after allegedly being thrashed, tortured and being given electric shocks by his employer along with his six aides over suspicion of theft in Uttar Pradeshs Shahjahanpur district, police said on Thursday. All the accused have been booked, said police. A man died after being thrashed and being given electric shocks over suspicion of theft in Uttar Pradeshs Shahjahanpur (Agencies/Representative use) The victim identified as Shahjahanpur resident Shivam Jauhari,alias Anshul, used to work as a manager in a transport company, said police. Along with Jauhari, his three colleagues were subjected to similar assault , said police. The incident came to light on Wednesday when a purported video showing Jauhari tied to a pole and wincing in pain as a man thrashes him with an iron rod was shared on social media platforms. HT has seen the video. Confirming the incident, Shahjahanpurs senior superintendent of police (SSP) S Anand said that the victim Shivam Jauhari had been working as a manager in Suri Transports for the past seven years. The alleged torture of four employees took place at a hosiery shop office on Tuesday afternoon. So far, seven people, including the Suri Transports owner Bankim Suri and Kanhaiya hosiery shop owner Neeraj Gupta have been booked in the case. Jauhari along with three others were given electric shocks by putting live wires in swimming pool, hung upside down from the fifth floor of the building and thrashed with an iron rod as they were accused of stealing cloth bundles, the SSP said. The deceaseds post-mortem report confirmed that he was tortured. Multiple signs of injuries were mentioned in the report. Police are now verifying the authenticity of the video of the incident. Further action will be taken accordingly, he added. Based on a complaint filed by Jauharis father, Adhir, at Sadar police station on Wednesday, an FIR was registered under Sections 302 (murder), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention), 143 (unlawful assembly)ofthe Indian Penal Code, said the police. Meanwhile, the three other employees, Ram Niwas, Raghuveer and Sanju, who were also allegedly assaulted, have come forward as eyewitnesses to Jauharis thrashing of Shivam, said police. We were called to the office on Tuesday after it was found that a few cloth bundles were stolen from the hosiery shops godown. The hosiery shop owner and his aides, in presence of the transport agency owner, tortured us and forced us to accept that we stole the bundles, said police quoting Ram Niwas. Another victim Raghuveer alleged that the hosiery shop owner and his aides thrashed them after tying them to an iron pole. He said they were hanged from the fifth floor of the building and given electric shocks by putting live wires in the swimming pool. Sadar police station in-charge Amit Pandey said that statements of all the employees will be verified before initiating action against the accused. Maharashtra MLA and former minister Aaditya Thackeray recently claimed that before allying with the BJP, present chief minister Eknath Shinde came to Matoshree and cried that he would be put in jail if he did not join the BJP. Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) MP Sanjay Raut on Thursday said it is 100% correct as Raut claimed Shinde told him the same thing. "I tried to make him (Shinde) understand. But he was visibly scared of jail. What Aaditya said is right," Sanjay Raut said. Aaditya Thackeray in Hyderabad said there is only one Shiv Sena and the others are traitors "These 40 people have gone for their own seats and money, nothing else. The present chief minister came to our house and cried that he would be arrested by central agencies. He said he would have to hop on to the BJP. It's his good luck that these guys wanted to show him as the true Sena and so he will become the chief minister," Aaditya Thackeray said. On being asked about how pampered a grandson he was of Balasaheb Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray took a jibe at Shinde and said, Now many people in Maharashtra are claiming that they were pampered by my grandfather. Speaking at Hyderabad's Gitam, Aaditya said, "There is only one Shiv Sena and the others are traitors. They have tried to steal everything from us. The chief minister has gone to Delhi I think probably because he now wants our surname Thackeray too. Someone who has run away with everything only gets the tag of a 'chor'," Aaditya Thackeray said. "You end up placing your trust in a few people. You end up giving everything to them. And sometimes they just run away like a gang of 40 people. To run something successfully, you need to trust. There are people who have not run away, who have stuck to us," Aaditya said on rebuilding the party. "Now we have 40 new opportunities. That's the only way to look at it," Aaditya said. "In Assembly, they are scared to look at us. Some guys wink and say if they get disqualified they will come back; if they don't become ministers, they will come back. You see the expansion of the Maharashtra cabinet has not happened yet because they are scared to do so," Aaditya said. 'Know more than WhatsApp University' Aaditya said he knows about his grandfather more than the WhatsApp university. "My grandfather had supported the Congress before. He had a good relationship with the Gandhi family. We had supported Pranab Mukherjee and Pratibha Patil as presidents. On the flip side, BJP has gone around and supported parties like PDP that supports terrorists," Aaditya Thackeray said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi has asked hospital staff to wear face masks and follow Covid-appropriate behaviour in the premises. The directions came after a few staff members tested Covid positive. AIIMS-Delhi mandates Covid appropriate behaviour in premises(File) The advisory is a part of India's ongoing precautionary efforts to prevent a potential resurgence of the disease. Also read: XBB.1.16 has potential to drive fresh Covid wave? Former AIIMS director answers "Must use reusable cloth face cover /surgical mask in the workplace. Ensure proper cleaning and frequent sanitation of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces," it reads. Hospital staff are now required to avoid gatherings of more than four people and the AIIMS management asked to isolate patients at home if they show symptoms such as cough, cold or fever. "Employees who are at a higher risk - older or pregnant employees and those with underlying medical conditions - should take extra precautions," it added. On Thursday, India registered a significant spike in daily Covid cases with 10,158, as compared with 7,830 a day before. The numbers jumped by over 50% from what was reported on Tuesday. Similarly, Delhi logged 1,149 fresh Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, highest since August 20 last year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union home minister Amit Shah on Thursday reviewed the functioning of security grid in Jammu and Kashmir ahead of the G20 meeting in the Valley, people familiar with the development said. The union home minister asked the security agencies to make adequate security arrangements during the G20 event. (ANI image) The meeting was attended by national security advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha, union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, J&K police chief Dilbag Singh, Intelligence Bureau (IB) chief Tapan Deka, Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) chief Samant Goel, among others. People familiar with the meeting, which went on for almost four hours from 3pm to 7pm, said activities at the Line of Control (LoC) and international border (IB), besides general law and order were discussed. Shah asked the security agencies to make adequate security arrangements during the G20 event, officials said. Also Read: Integral part: India skewers Pak for objections to G20 meets in J&K, Ladakh India plans to hold G20 youth engagement group meetings in Leh and Srinagar and a G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar during May 22-24. A statement issued by the ministry of home affairs (MHA) said, Union home minister reviewed the functioning of the security grid and various aspects related to security. He reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, government of India is committed towards zero tolerance against terrorism. Shah, the MHA said, also reviewed the area domination plan, zero terror plan, law and order situation, cases related to unlawful activities prevention act (UAPA) and other security related issues. Home minister appreciated the efforts of the security agencies and administration of the J&K for substantial reduction in cross border infiltration and improvement in law & order and also advised to strengthen the routine policing, it added. The ministry further said Shah also reviewed the preparation of G-20 meeting which is scheduled to be held in Srinagar in May 2023 and asked all agencies to work in a coordinated manner for successful conduct of the event. On April 6, Dilbag Singh had said militancy has not ended in Jammu and Kashmir yet, but it is on the wane as the number of ultras has declined to an all-time low. He said local youths, who were pushed towards militancy, have now returned to the mainstream after leaving that path. An improvised explosive device (IED) explosion was reported on March 30 in Kathua district creating a huge crater in the ground. Earlier, in 2021 and 2022, there were several targeted killings in the union territory. According to the data shared by the government in Parliament in February this year, 125 terror incidents were reported in J&K in 2022, which was lowest in last five years. 129 terror incidents were recorded in 2021, 126 in 2020, 153 in 2019 and 228 in 2018. The number of civilians killed in these incidents have also come down from 39 in 2018 to 30 last year and causalities of security personnel have come down from 91 to 31. Five Kashmiri Pandits and 16 other Hindus and Sikhs were killed by terrorists in the UT since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 till July 2022. Businessman Anand Mahindra, on Thursday paid tributes to the chairman emeritus of Mahindra & Mahindra, and his uncle, who died yesterday. Taking to Twitter, Anand posted a monochrome picture of his uncle, in which he can be seen seated in an open jeep, with a garland on the bonnet - presumably the vehicle was driven off for the first time. "Travel well, Uncle Keshub. I know you must be exploring new, off-road trails wherever you are," he wrote along with the image. Veteran industrialist Keshub Mahindra died on Wednesday morning. Social media users also paid their tributes to the legendary businessman. Born on October 9, 1923, in Shimla, Keshub was an alumnus of Wharton, University of Pennsylvania. He joined his father's company in 1947 and helped steer the conglomerate from being a mere utility vehicle manufacturer to expanding into software services, hospitality, and real estate sectors. The originally automotive-focused Mahindra group is now known for its diverse business portfolio. Also read | 5 facts about Anand Mahindra's uncle Under his leadership, M&M acquired Punjab Tractors and Gujarat Tractors, South Korean company SsangYong Motor, entered the two-wheeler market and also marked a foray into the electric vehicle (EV) market by buying REVA. He was also instrumental in stitching business partnerships with Willys Corporation, Mitsubishi, International Harvester, United Technologies, British Telecom among others. The Mahindra patriarch has served on the boards of several companies including SAIL, Tata Steel, Tata Chemicals, Indian Hotels, IFC, and ICICI. He was also part of the Sachar Commission on Company Law & MRTP and the Central Advisory Council of Industries and a member of the Prime Ministers Council on Trade & Industry in New Delhi from 2004 to 2010. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath's office said he has praised UP Police's Special Task Force for the encounter killing of Asad Ahmad - the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad - in the state's Jhansi district. According to news agency ANI, the CM chaired a meeting on law-and-order in the state after news of Asad Ahmad's killing and congratulated the Director-General of Police, the Special Director-General (Law and Order) and the team of cops involved. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, wanted in the killing of Umesh Pal, has been killed in an encounter by the UP STF in Jhansi.(PTI) Meanwhile, UP deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has declared Asad Ahmad's killing 'historic' and boasted of a 'message' to other criminals - that chief minister Yogi Adityanath's government is in charge. I congratulate UP STF for this action. Police fired in retaliation after they were fired upon by them. It is a message to criminals that this is the 'new India'." READ | Atiq Ahmad's son Asad shot (dead) in encounter: 5 things about him "It is the Yogi government in UP, not the Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals. This is a very historic action by UP Police... era of criminals is over... (they) must surrender," he was quoted by news agency ANI. Asad Ahmad and another fugitive - Ghulam - were wanted in connection with the murder of lawyer Umesh Pal. They carried a 5 lakh reward on their heads. Police said foreign-made weapons were recovered from the scene. READ | Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, wanted in Umesh Pal murder case, killed Asad's father is Atiq Ahmad, the gangster turned politician who was today brought before a court in UP's Prayagraj - from his jail in Gujarat's Ahmedabad - and sent to extended judicial custody even as his son was killed. Atiq Ahamd reportedly broke down in court when told of his son's death. Earlier, a bystander at the court threw a bottle at Atiq Ahmad as he was taken inside. READ | Atiq Ahmad breaks down in court after son Asad's death, bottle thrown at him: Report Atiq Ahmad is also an accused in the killing of Umesh Pal, who was a witness in the 2005 killing of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal and was shot dead - as were his two security guards - at his home in Prayagraj on February 24. Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has slammed Yogi Adityanath and the ruling BJP for 'fake encounters' to divert people's attention from 'real issues' with less than a month to go for state-wide civic body polls. "By doing false encounters, BJP government is trying to divert attention from real issues. BJP does not believe in the court at all. Today's and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated" Yadav tweeted. READ | Asad Ahmad killing: Akhilesh Yadav slams BJP over 'false encounter' "The (government) does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong." With input from ANI SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has slammed Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party for using 'fake encounters' to divert attention from 'real issues'. Yadav, a former UP chief minister, tweeted shortly after state police confirmed the killing of Asad Ahmad - the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad - in an encounter in Jhansi district. Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav (File photo) Asad and Atiq Ahmad are both accused in the killing of lawyer Umesh Pal. "By doing false encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. The BJP does not believe in the court at all. Today's and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared," Yadav tweeted. "The (government) does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong." Asad Ahmad's killing comes less than a month before UP civic body polls. Asad and another accused in the same case - Ghulam - were shot dead in Jhansi and police recovered two foreign-made weapons. Each had a reward of 5 lakh on their heads. The weapons were a .455 bore British Bulldog revolver and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol. Read Here: Atiq Ahmad's son Asad shot dead in UP Police encounter: 5 things about him Asad Ahmad was killed on the day his father was produced before a court in Prayagraj in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. According to reports, Atiq cried in court when told of his son's death. Earlier, he had a bottle thrown at him while being taken inside. The Umesh Pal murder case Pal was a witness to the 2005 killing of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal, in which both Atiq and Asad Ahmad are accused. Pal was killed February 24 outside his home in Prayagraj. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON PIGGS PEAK Minister of Home Affairs Princess Lindiwe has called upon chiefs to gift His Majesty King Mswati III with cattle, thanking him for conquering the unrest. The minister said such a gesture would be in line with the countrys tradition of kwetfula, which is presenting gifts to the King. This come after the country was engulfed by unprecedented levels of political unrest, which led to the burning and looting of various businesses and the killing of civilians and State security personnel. The minister made the suggestion yesterday during a meeting with bantfwabenkhosi and chiefs at the REO Hall in Piggs Peak, where she had gone to relay a message from His Majesty the King ahead of the double celebration. Attained The country will celebrate 55 years since it attained independence from colonial rule and the Kings birthday where he will also be turning 55 years. We have been told that in the past, when the kingdom had just undergone a catastrophic event, such as the recent one, chiefs would take cattle to the King (kuyotfula), to say we are thankful that he has defeated or survived such a disaster or war. We are told that is what chiefs would do in the past, it is now up to you what you will do as chiefs to appreciate or thank the King for conquering the recent disastrous situation or war (sic), she said. The minister added; The country was under attack and now that the attacks are over, it is time for us to show our happiness. The country now shows signs of livelihood and it is out of that dark snake pit, where the devil had thrown it. The situation now permits us to be happy and celebrate when there is need to do so, such as the birth of His Majesty the King and commemoration of our Independence Day. We must make it a beautiful event to show that we have come out of a struggle and we are now celebrating, said the minister. She also highlighted that the message that she had come to deliver to bantfwabenkhosi and chiefs was a matter which had already been announced even in Parliament. Message I am here to deliver a message of the big festival, which will be commemorated by the kingdom. This year, we are celebrating 55 years since the country attained its independence. We are also celebrating His Majesty the Kings birthday, as he is also turning 55 years since God blessed the nation with his birth. This is a huge event in the country as we have had quite a number of years without celebrating the Kings birthday. It has been quite a while now, but Their Majesties saw it fit to celebrate the Kings birthday this year as the celebration will be merged with that of the country attaining its independence and, thus making it a big event deserving to be celebrated, she said. She further mentioned that it was known that during such celebrations, bantfwabenkhosi and chiefs were called upon to assist the King and ensure that such an event was a success. It is a national event, but due to the fact that the double celebration will be staged at Somhlolo National Stadium, in Lobamba, on September 6, 2023, it remains a fact that it will be an event held in the Hhohho Region. It does not mean other bantfwabenkhosi and chiefs from the other regions would not assist, but we deemed it proper to start by relaying the message to the Hhohho bantfwabenkhosi and chiefs as the celebrations will be held in the Hhohho Region, she said. The minister said for them, it was to assist and support bantfwabenkhosi and chiefs ensure that the celebrations were a huge success. She added that the country had a lot of events this year because after the double celebration of the Kings birthday and Independence Day, the country will go to the national elections, where they would usher in a new government into office. Celebration She said the double celebration would be held during the course of the national elections and this meant that there was a lot of work to be done and for the chiefs, it was to help and support the King to ensure that these national events were a success. Member of the Civil Service Commission (CSC), Prince Mphatfwa, on behalf of bantfwabenkhosi and chiefs, thanked the minister for the message from the King. He said they heard the message and would ensure that they assisted and supported the King for the double celebration to be a success. The prince said they were still to meet after the departure of the minister for a caucus among themselves on a way forward. The Umesh Pal murder case was important and challenging for UP Police and UP special task force (STF) as it involved the killing of a key witness along with two policemen providing him with security, a senior police official said on Thursday. Amitabh Yash, ADG Uttar Pradesh STF, called the encounter of Asad Ahmad, son of mafioso-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, and Ghulam Mohammad, both accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, a huge success. (Also Read | Asad Ahmad killing: Akhilesh Yadav slams BJP, Yogi over 'fake encounter') Jhansi: An ambulance at the site of the encounter in which jailed mafia Atiq Ahmad's son Asad was killed by the UP STF, in Jhansi, Thursday, April 13, 2023.(PTI) It was an important case for UP Police and UP STF because a key witness in a case (BSP MLA Raju Pal's murder), along with two police security guards with automatic weapons were killed, the official said. It was an attack on the criminal justice system, he added, referring to the murder of Umesh Pal and his police security guard. Umesh Pal was a key witness in the BSP MLA Raju Pal murder case, in which Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf are the main accused. Atiq Ahmad has already been convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in the Umesh Pal abduction case. (Also Read | Atiq breaks down in court after son Asad's encounter, bystander hurls bottle) Earlier today, Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an accomplice, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi on Thursday, officials said. Asad and his aide Ghulam were journeying across multiple states following Umesh Pal's murder, according to police. Acting on a tip, the police located them in Jhansi, where they retaliated by firing on the officers, said Anant Dev Tiwari, the Deputy Inspector General of UP STF. "They (Asad and his aide Ghulam) were travelling across several states after the Umesh Pal murder incident. We received a tip-off and zeroed in on them in Jhansi. They fired on the police team after which the STF team shot them down," Tiwari said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON GUWAHATI: A total of 11,304 dancers and musicians performed Assams Bihu dance at a stadium in Guwahati on Thursday to create two world records and take the traditional dance form to the world stage. Bihu dance is a traditional folk-dance popular across Assam and especially performed during Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, the spring festival that heralds the Assamese New Year in mid-April (Twitter/Screengrab) More than 7,000 dancers, most of them girls, and over 3,000 dhol drummers and other musicians who have been selected from all districts in the state and trained over the past few weeks, performed for 15 minutes at the Sarusajai Stadium. This was followed by a separate performance comprising drummers and other musicians. The performers tried to create world records in two categorieslargest Bihu dance performance and largest performance by folk musicians that included traditional instruments like dhol, pepa, gogona and toka. Bihu dance is a traditional folk-dance popular across Assam and especially performed during Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu, the spring festival that heralds the Assamese New Year in mid-April. Today we have been able to create two world records. Like today, on Friday also 11,000 dancers and musicians will perform Bihu in front of the Prime Minister and start our journey of conquering the world stage, the chief minister said. Prior to the dance performance, official adjudicator of Guinness World Records, Rishi Nath, informed that the previous largest gathering of Bihu dancers at one place was 500. In October 2015, 9,892 Nati dancers from Kullu in Himanchal Pradesh had entered the Guinness World Records for the largest gathering of performers of that folk dance form. Official certificates of the Guinness World Records will be handed over to the Assam government, which organised the event, at a similar performance to be held at the same venue on Friday in front of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is a happy and memorable day for all Assamese people. We have to present ourselves as a proud race on the world stage. We used to have all and still have, but our mentality of limiting ourselves between Sadiya and Dhubri (the easternmost and westernmost boundaries of Assam) had taken our race backwards, Sarma said in his address. The chief minister spoke about how people across India know about Chatrapati Shivaji and Rana Pratap, but the attempt to tell the world about bravery and valour of Lachit Barphukan, an Ahom general from Assam, has started only recently. Absolutely fantastic. That was the most mesmerizing show I have seen till date, said Guinness World Record adjudicator Rishi Nath. The exact figure of the total number of musicians who took part in the second performance was not available immediately, but officials said it will be mentioned in the official certificates. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad reportedly broke down in a Prayagraj court after learning about his son Asad's death on Thursday afternoon. Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an accomplice, Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi on Thursday. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad. "Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with the UP STF team," said Special Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. "The UP STF team was led by Deputy SP Navendu and Vimal. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited," the officer added. (Also Read | Asad Ahmad encounter killing a 'message to...': UP deputy CM. Yogi praises cops) A bystander at CJM court in Prayagraj threw a bottle at Atiq Ahmad who was being brought to the court for an appearance in the Umesh Pal murder case. Atiq Ahmad and his younger brother Khalid Azeem, aka Ashraf, were sent to 14-day Judicial custody by chief judicial magistrate's court in Prayagraj. During the custody period, they will be interrogated regarding the triple murders of lawyer Umesh Pal and his two police guards. Atiq, along with his two aides, was sentenced to life imprisonment by the MP/MLA court of Prayagraj in connection with the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping and assault case on March 28, 2023. Umesh Pal, a key eyewitness in BSP MLA Raju Pal's murder case, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj on February 24 this year. Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf are the main accused in the Raju Pal murder case. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam and others. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Asad Ahmad Encounter updates: Gangster-turned politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, who was wanted in the killing of lawyer Umesh Pal, has been killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi on Thursday. Asad and Ghulam, both accused in the case carried a reward of Rs. 5 lakh each for Umesh Pal's murder. A a British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol were also recovered from them. The encounter occurred on the same day that Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf appeared before a Prayagraj court in connection with the case. Upon hearing the news of his son's death, Atiq Ahmad reportedly broke down in court. Umesh Pal was a witness in the 2005 killing of Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) lawmaker Raju Pal in which Ahmad is an accused. On February 24, Umesh Pal and his two security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday dismissed the oppositions bid to stall the partys electoral juggernaut as futile and unavailing, as several different parties are attempting to build a coalition against it ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Opposition parties are trying to form a common platform to unite against the BJP. BJP leaders who spoke on conditions of anonymity said the party, which was voted to power at the Centre in the last two general elections with a decisive majority, does not anticipate an opposition bloc surviving the challenges of coalition politics and sees no threat to its narrative that combines development with ideology. A meeting of the Congress, Janata Dal (United) and Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leaders in the national capital on Wednesday set off speculations that the BJP will have to face a coalition of parties that have also been political adversaries. A senior opposition leader privy to the meeting, attended by Congress Rahul Gandhi, Bihar chief minister and JD(U) leader Nitish Kumar and his deputy and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav, said though attempts to foster a coalition have not yielded results in the recent past, the parties have identified uniting as a single entity as a worthwhile move to stop the BJP in its tracks. The BJP benefits from a multi-polar contest. If opposition parties join forces and contest as a single unit, then there is little chance of the anti-BJP vote being divided, which will be the only way to take on the party, particularly in the Hindi heartland states, the opposition leader explained, wishing not to be named. The oppositions attempts to coalesce may have set off concerns in the BJP but its leaders asserted that such a grouping is unlikely to withstand internal pressures and conflicts. Coalitions and alliances have been part of Indias electoral politics. Even the BJP in the past has had alliances with unlikely partners, including the Left, but the success of an opposition bloc dethroning a government depends on the public mood more than the composition of parties, a senior BJP leader said, seeking anonymity. Citing examples, the leader said the Congress, which was considered a behemoth before the Emergency in 1975, was defeated after there was public outcry and people chose to accept a coalition of parties that were otherwise ideologically divergent. It is not enough for these parties to just come together to oppose the BJP. They must have a strong narrative, and leadership to pull it off. The Congress today that is aiming to be the nucleus of an anti-BJP coalition does not have a Harkishan Singh Surjeet or Pramod Mahajan or even Ahmed Patel to pull off an impossible alliance, the BJP leader said. While Mahajan and Patel played key roles in shaping the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and United Progressive Alliance led by the Congress, Surjeet was credited with bringing together the Congress, the Left front and a clutch of regional parties against the BJP in 1996 and 2003. The BJP is confident that the development agenda of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, coupled with his popularity, will outmaneuver the oppositions efforts to prevent the party from coming to power in 2024. What has been the biggest achievement of the BJP government delivery of schemes, implementation of pro-people policies and inclusion of the most backward and deprived people in the list of beneficiaries. Will these people who witnessed change be swayed by the narrative of a handful of parties that have a record of corruption, casteism and dynastic politics, a second BJP leader said, also seeking anonymity. Opposition leaders, meanwhile, were optimistic after Wednesdays meeting, with Gandhi calling it a "historic step" and a process that will develop the Opposition's vision for the country". The BJP has already reached its saturation point in the North... In 2024, it may not be able to repeat its performance in states such as Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. It has set its sights on the southern region to increase its overall tally from 303 Lok Sabha seats in 2019. In the event if the opposition putting up a united front, the BJPs southern expansion too will get a jolt and its score in the heartland states will also dip, because regional satraps will come together, said the opposition leader quoted above. The BJP is unfazed by the observation and asserts that vote banks are not captive and any alliance that is not bound by a powerful narrative and a common minimum programme will come with a limited shelf life. It is also banking on inherent ideological differences of the parties to bring down the attempts to unify against it. There is a difference between allying on paper and being able to set aside contradictions and aspirations. Will the Congress that takes on the AAP in Delhi want to give them a bigger role? Will the TMC that fights against the Communists bury the hatchet? In UP, who will want to cede space to the opposition? The BSP and SP have traditionally been rivals, said a third BJP leader. The third BJP leader, however, admitted that the party would need to revisit its own alliance in the wake of the opposition bloc and the regional parties gaining heft. Over the past nine years, the BJP has lost some of its oldest allies including the Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray), the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Telugu Desam Party. Should the opposition coalition worry the BJP? Political commentator Sanjay Kumar said, If the opposition parties are divided into two or more blocs, the BJP has nothing to worry about, but should they put up a common candidate, then the party faces a challenge. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Three more Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) legislators on Thursday announced their resignation after being denied tickets for the upcoming assembly polls in Karnataka, adding to the turmoil in the ruling party thats attempting to fight anti-incumbency and effect a generational change in the state leadership. Reacting to the development, Karnataka chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said: Change is normal, it happens. We will persuade those who are upset. (PTI) Out of the 224 seats in the state, the BJP has announced candidates for 212, dropping a total of 17 incumbent lawmakers. This has fuelled dissension, protests and exits. The party denied a ticket to Mudigere lawmaker MP Kumaraswamy, who resigned and blamed national general secretary CT Ravi. CT Ravi has ensured that I dont get a ticket due to personal reasons, he has that strength now as national general secretary. If I was in his position and he was in mine, I would have done the same thing, he said. The Dalit leader may join the Janata Dal (Secular) or contest as an independent. I have sent in my resignation to the party office and will hand over (resignation as MLA) to the Speaker soon. I will discuss with my supporters and voters and decide my next move in a couple of days, he added. Haveri lawmaker Nehru Olekar, who was sentenced by a special court on charges of corruption in 2022, was also denied a ticket by the party. Hours after the list was announced, the 65-year-old two-time MLA hit the streets to protest against the party. He was replaced by Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar in the scheduled caste constituency. We will wait for the opinion of our workers and we will take a decision (future course of action) based on the outcome of a meeting with them, Olekar said. He added that he had an offer from the Janata Dal (Secular) and another party. Later in the day, MLA Goolihatti Shekhar also tendered his resignation. Among those denied tickets was Channagiri legislator Madal Virupakshappa, who was arrested in a corruption case last month after his son was caught taking a bribe of 40 lakh on behalf of the lawmaker. In Davangere North, former minister SA Ravindranath was dropped and so was siting legislator Linganna from Mayakonda. The party denied tickets to Byndoor MLA Sukumar Shetty and fielded Gururaj Gantiholi instead. But the party appeared confident of resolving the differences. Change is normal, it happens. We will persuade those who are upset. The discontent in the party is being rectified. The workers are strong, there will be no harm from this and the partys dissension will be eased in most parts, chief minister Basavaraj Bommai said. The protests on Thursday added to drama from a day before, when former chief minister Jagadish Shettar met party chief J P Nadda and urged him to reconsider the partys decision to deny a ticket to him, former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi announced his resignation from the BJP, and S Angara, a minister, announced his retirement from politics. Security outside the BJP office in Karnataka was stepped up after protests by ticket aspirants. The high command is talking to the disaffected. I have spoken to all the leaders. We are confident that the difference will be resolved soon. Savadi is a senior leader and has been in politics for a long time. There is also pressure from people for a place, it takes time, Bommai added. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and Enforcement Directorate (ED) should question Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in the bribe-for-job scam, Calcutta high court judge Abhijit Gangopadhyay observed on Thursday, according to lawyers who attended the hearing. The CBI and ED should question TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee in bribe-for-job scam, Calcutta high court said. (ANI) The judge was hearing a written complaint filed by former TMC youth wing leader Kuntal Ghosh, one of the prime accused, alleging that officers of the two federal agencies were pressuring him to name Abhishek in his statement. Justice Gangopadhyay also said no police complaint and first information report (FIR) can be lodged against any officer of the ED and CBI at any police station in West Bengal in connection with this case, said lawyer Firdous Samim, who is representing victims of the job scam in the state school education department. ALSO READ: CBI adds seven officers to probe Bengal job scam Ghosh, arrested by the ED on January 21, is lodged at Presidency correctional home in Kolkata. He filed the complaint at the court and the citys Hastings police station on April 6. Banerjee made a similar allegation, without naming Ghosh, at a TMC meeting in Kolkata on March 29. The judge observed that since Ghosh and Banerjee made similar allegations, they should be questioned together. Samim said: He wanted to know the identity of those meeting Ghosh at the Presidency correctional home. He ordered the state government to submit before him the visitors register and footage recorded by security cameras at the correctional home between March 23 and April 6. The judge wants these records to be placed before him by April 20, Samim added. Meanwhile, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh reacted sharply to the judges comments. Justice Gangopadhyay is a respected citizen but is misusing his chair. He has turned into a cadre of a political party only to seek publicity. He has targeted Abhishek Banerjee and the TMC, Kunal Ghosh said, hinting at opposition parties. Asad, aide were travelling across: UP STF on Atiq Ahmad son's encounter Atiq Ahmad being brought to Prayagraj (File) The Umesh Pal murder case was important and challenging for UP Police and UP special task force (STF) as it involved the killing of a key witness along with two policemen providing him with security, a senior police official said on Thursday. Read more Commission working on 10.5% quota for Vanniyars need 6 more months: CM Stalin Tamil Nadus backward classes commission has sought six extra months time to submit a report regarding the 10.5% internal reservation for the Vanniyar community, chief minister MK Stalin said on Thursday in the state assembly. Read more Prediabetes can damage your health; know all the complications, prevention tips from experts If you have been diagnosed with prediabetes and relieved that it's not at least diabetes, you may be surprised to know that while the condition is very much reversible and less risky than the dreaded diabetes, it can still cause a lot of damage and even result in life-threatening complications if not nipped in the bud. Read more Web Stories | Amazing Benefits of Water Melon For Skin Kajol says she has 'not undergone any surgery' to become fair, just stayed out of sun: 'Ive got untanned' Actor Kajol recently recalled being called an unconventional actor during her initial years in the film industry. She said many pointed out that she was dark, fat or even wearing glasses all the time. Read more 'In playoffs, he might do that': Eoin Morgan drops colossal 'MS Dhoni' prediction, gives verdict on Russell's form Chennai Super Kings captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni is aging like a fine wine. After bright cameos against Gujarat Titans (14* off 7 balls) and Lucknow Super Giants (12 off 3 balls), Dhoni arrived significantly early at the crease on Wednesday night when the side endured a poor batting display in the middle order against Rajasthan Royals. Read more SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former chief minister Oommen Chandys brother Alex V Chandy has approached health minister Veena George with a request to constitute a medical board to monitor the health of the former CM who is undergoing treatment in a private hospital in Bengaluru for last two months. Former Kerala CM Oomen Chandys brother requests for a new medical borad to monitor health of former CM. (HTArchives) In the letter sent on Wednesday he said close family members were not sharing any details of treatment with relatives and they fear that he was not getting satisfactory treatment. He said the state government should constitute a medical board to monitor his health situation and release details of his medical condition periodically. We are in dark about his health condition. We are not sure whether the current treatment is adequate or not and whether better treatment was required. Hence we are requesting the government to constitute a health board and release details of his health status. We are really concerned about this, said the brother in his letter. Two months back a controversy emerged regarding his health status after a section of party workers and relatives complained that he was not getting proper treatment. Alex V Chandy and many relatives had petitioned the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan seeking his intervention to ensure best possible treatment to Chandy. Later the government had constituted a medical board and he was shifted to Bengaluru. They alleged that Chandy, who is suffering from cancer and had treatment in Germany and later in Bengaluru, was not given proper follow- up treatment after he took a break from his ongoing treatment in Bengaluru. Some of them also alleged that they were not allowed to meet him and the letter was signed by 42 of his relatives including his brother. But later Chandy had denied allegations and said his family and the party ensured quality treatment to him and allegations in this regard were unfounded and baseless. The Kerala high court on Thursday rejected the bail petition of former principal secretary to chief minister M Sivasankar in money-laundering case related to the alleged corruption in Life Mission project, a housing scheme for the homeless. Kerala HC rejects CMs former secretarys bail plea in money laundering case. (PTI) He has been in judicial custody since his arrest on Feb 14 by the Enforcement Directorate (ED). A special court dealing with money-laundering cases had rejected his bail petition in March first week prompting him to move the HC. But the ED opposed his bail saying the former bureaucrat was powerful and he will influence the ongoing probe and witnesses in the case. But Sivasankar cited his health conditions and said the case was politically-motivated and the ED was using him as a pawn. He said his arrest was a political stunt and there was no direct allegation against him. But additional solicitor general R Sankaranarayanan, who appeared for the ED, said he was the kingpin and he could impede the probe if he was released on bail. Later justice A Badharudeen accepted the EDs contention and rejected his petition. Alleged irregularities in Life Mission project came to light when central agencies were probing the gold smuggling case in July 2020 after the customs department seized 30 kg gold from a consignment that came to the UAE consulate camouflaged as a diplomatic bag. When lockers of main accused in smuggling case Swapna Suresh were opened agencies got 1 crore cash and 2 kg gold. Later she reportedly told them that this was the commission she received for clinching a deal with the aid agency Red Crescent which funded a project in Vadakancherry in Thrissur district for the flood-affected. During investigation it was found that 18.50 crore was collected from Red Crescent through the UAE consulate in the state capital and only 14.50 crore were spent for the project. The rest of the money, 4 crore, was allegedly divided by government and consulate officials as their bribe. Swapna alleged that Sivashankar asked her to keep his part of share, 1 crore, in her locker. Besides Life Mission project, Sivasankar is also facing charges in smuggling case. Bahrain and Qatar have decided to resume diplomatic relations between the two countries, in accordance with the principles of the United Nations Charter and the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, 1961. The announcement was made following a meeting of the Bahraini-Qatari Follow-up Committee at the headquarters of the GCC General Secretariat in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said a Bahrain News Agency report. The Bahraini delegation was headed by the Undersecretary for Political Affairs, Dr Shaikh Abdullah bin Ahmed Al Khalifa and the Qatari delegation was headed by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Secretary General, Dr Ahmed Hassan Al Hammadi. The meeting reviewed the outcome of the first meeting of the Joint Legal Committee and the Joint Security Committee. The two sides confirmed that this decision stems from the mutual desire to develop bilateral relations and enhance GCC integration and unity in accordance with the objectives of the GCC Statute, and respect for the principles of equality between states, national sovereignty and independence, territorial integrity, and good neighbourliness, the report said. Former officer on special duty (OSD) to union minister Smriti Irani on Wednesday dismissed claims of her being sacked, while clarifying that she had chosen to resign instead. Shah had joined Iranis office in 2019 as an OSD. (File image | Facebook) Devanshi Shah, the ex-OSD whose tenure was curtailed by the government with effect from January 31, was replying to a social media post by Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate. Replying to Shrinate, ex-OSD Shah tweeted, Ms Supriya Shrinate, I chose to resign due to family obligations to look after elderly & was not sacked. It has been an honour to work with Smriti Irani Maam & serve my country. Id request you not to publicly mar my future as a professional just to settle scores with Min Irani. Also Read: Govt curtails appointment of two officers working with ministers Goyal, Irani Soon, after the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) had on Tuesday issued two separate orders of the curtailment of the tenures of the OSDs of union minister Irani and Piyush Goyal, Congress spokesperson Shrinate took to Twitter and questioned the reason behind their sacking and asked if the OSDs were being made the fall guys. Why have OSDs of Smt Smriti Irani and Shri Piyush Goyal been sacked? What wrong did they do? Could they possibly be the fall guys? Why must we not know the truth? Will the ministers speak up? Shrinate had posted on her official Twitter account. According to two separate orders issued by the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) on Tuesday, the term of Goyals OSD, Anuj Gupta, was curtailed with effect from March 7, 2023. SImilarly, the tenure of Iranis OSD, Shah, was curtailed from January 31, 2023. No reason was cited for the curtailment of the term of the two OSDs in the order. Gupta was first appointed as OSD to the minister in 2016, and his term was extended in 2019 and then, in 2021 while Shah had joined Iranis office in 2019 as an OSD. NEW DELHI: A day after four young soldiers were killed in a suspected fratricide attack at the Bathinda military station in Punjab, the army on Thursday continued its search for the perpetrators of the incident without any outcome, even as another soldier reportedly died by suicide at the same base hours after the shooting incident on Wednesday, officials familiar with the development said. Soldiers checking vehicles near the Cantonment after the firing incident in Bathinda (HT Photo/Sanjeev Kumar) The army said the two incidents were unrelated. The soldiers from 80 Medium Regiment were sleeping in their barracks near an officers mess when the shooting incident took place in the wee hours. The victims died of multiple gunshot injuries. All soldiers from the unit are being questioned extensively for clues that could lead to a conclusion, the officials said. No soldier from the unit is missing, they added. This indicates, as reported by HT on Thursday, that the persons who carried out the attack may have rejoined the unit, making the armys task of identifying them that much more difficult. Citing senior army officials, HT also reported that the incident was likely a planned fratricide attack and pointed to an automatic weapon and 28 rounds that went missing from an army unit three days ago, indicating that the same rifle may have been used. The weapon and some of the ammunition were recovered after the attack. The police, who are also investigating the matter, had a slightly different version on Wednesday. Superintendent of police (investigation) of Bathinda police Ajay Gandhi, who is leading the probe, said the crime is being probed from all angles adding that the terrorist angle is not completely ruled out at this stage. The police also claimed to have an eyewitness who claimed there were two attackers, one with a gun and the other an axe, and that they disappeared into the surrounding forests taking advantage of the darkness. On Wednesday, quick reaction teams were activated after the shooting took place at 4.35 am. The Jaipur-based South Western Command issued three statements on the shooting incident on Wednesday, but none described it as fratricide. The statements also did not say who may have been responsible for the incident. However, there was no statement from the army on the matter on Thursday. The army, however, issued a statement on the suicide that took place 12 hours after the suspected fratricide attack, and stressed that it had no connection with the latter incident. A soldier died of a gunshot wound at 4.30 pm on April 12 at Bathinda military station. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon. The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region. He was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries, the statement said. This soldier had returned from leave on April 11, and the case purportedly seems to be of suicide, it added. The Bathinda military station is the largest military base in Asia and home to the armys HQs 10 Corps. The pivot Chetak corps is responsible for defending Indias border with Pakistan in south Punjab and north Rajasthan. The victims of the suspected fratricide attack were identified as Gunners Sagar Banne (25), Kamalesh R (24), Yogeshkumar J (24) and Santosh M Nagaral (25). The four were killed in their rooms near the officers mess and the police recovered 19 empty shells of an Insas rifle from the crime spot. A first information report (FIR) was lodged at the cantonment police station against two unknown persons. A day after four soldiers were killed in a suspected fratricide attack at the Bathinda military station in Punjab, the army on Thursday continued its search for the perpetrators, even as another soldier reportedly committed suicide at the same base on Wednesday -- an incident that officials said was unrelated. Security tightened in Talwandi Sabo in view of the three-day-long Baisakhi mela at Damdama Sahib, in Bathinda on Thursday. (ANI) The soldiers from 80 Medium Regiment were sleeping in their barracks near an officers mess when the shooting incident took place in the wee hours. The victims died of multiple gunshot injuries. All soldiers from the unit are being questioned extensively for clues that could lead to a conclusion, the officials said. No soldier from the unit is missing, they added. This indicates, as reported by HT on Thursday, that the persons who carried out the attack may have rejoined the unit, making the armys task of identifying them difficult. Senior army officials, who asked not to be named, earlier said the incident was likely a planned fratricide attack and pointed to an automatic weapon and 28 rounds that went missing from an army unit three days ago, indicating that the same rifle may have been used. The weapon and some of the ammunition were recovered after the attack. The police, who are also investigating the matter, had a slightly different version on Wednesday. Superintendent of police (investigation) of Bathinda police Ajay Gandhi, who is leading the probe, said the crime is being probed from all angles adding that a terrorism angle has not been completely ruled out. The police also claimed to have an eyewitness who claimed there were two attackers, one with a gun and the other an axe, and that they disappeared into the surrounding forests taking advantage of the darkness. On Wednesday, quick reaction teams were activated after the shooting at 4.35 am. The Jaipur-based South Western Command issued three statements on the incident on Wednesday, but none described it as fratricide. The statements also did not say who may have been responsible for the incident. There was no statement from the army on the matter on Thursday but the force issued a statement on the suicide that took place 12 hours after the suspected fratricide attack, and stressed that it had no connection with the latter incident. A soldier died of a gunshot wound at 4.30 pm on April 12 at Bathinda military station. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon. The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region. He was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries, the statement said. This soldier had returned from leave on April 11, and the case purportedly seems to be of suicide, it added. Additional director general of police, Bathinda range, SPS Parmar said it could be a case of accidental firing as well. There is no connection whatsoever with the incident that took place at Bathinda Military Station in which four jawans died. The jawan was posted on some other campus, away from the spot where four jawans were found dead on Wednesday early morning, said the ADGP. The Bathinda military station is the largest military base in Asia and home to the armys HQs 10 Corps. The Chetak corps is responsible for defending Indias border with Pakistan in south Punjab and north Rajasthan. The victims of the suspected fratricide attack were identified as Gunners Sagar Banne (25), Kamalesh R (24), Yogeshkumar J (24) and Santosh M Nagaral (25). The four were killed in their rooms near the officers mess and the police recovered 19 empty shells of an Insas rifle from the crime spot. A first information report (FIR) was lodged at the cantonment police station against two unknown persons. Gangster-turned-politician and former MP Atiq Ahmad along with his younger brother and former MLA, Khalid Azeem aka Ashraf on Thursday were sent to 14-day Judicial custody by the court of chief judicial magistrate-Prayagraj. Atiq Ahmad was brought to Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj from Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail and his brother from Bareilly jail. Amid high security deployment, the two were presented in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam on thursday morning. Atiq Ahmad was brought to Uttar Pradesh's Prayagraj from Gujarat's Sabarmati Jail and his brother from Bareilly jail. Atiq's son Asad Ahmad - who was wanted in Umesh Pal murder case - was killed in an encounter with UP Police's Special Task Force in Jhansi. Atiq Ahmad is also an accused in the killing of lawyer Umesh Pal, who was a key witness in the 2005 killing of BSP lawmaker Raju Pal and was shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj on February 24. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Lucknow: The death of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmads son Asad in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi on Thursday triggered a political row after the Samajwadi Party (SP) and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) demanded a probe into the killing even as chief minister Yogi Adityanath lauded the efforts of the police personnel involved in the operation. Jhansi: Police personnel at the site of the encounter in which jailed mafia Atiq Ahmad's son Asad was killed by the UP STF, in Jhansi. (PTI) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) hailed the operation and termed it a message to criminals. Asad and his alleged accomplice Ghulam -- both wanted in connection with Prayagraj-based lawyer Umesh Pals murder on February 24 -- were allegedly trying to flee on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by a special task force (STF) in Jhansi, police said, adding that the accused shot at the personnel and were killed in retaliatory firing. In a statement, the chief ministers office (CMO) said: After the encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmeds son Asad and his aide, CM Yogi Adityanath took a meeting on law and order. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team. Deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya also hailed the STF and said the killers of Umesh Pal had to meet this fate. Congratulations to UP STF, this was the fate of the killers of Umesh Pal and police personnel! he tweeted in Hindi. Speaking to news agency ANI later, he said: I congratulate UP STF for this action. Police fired in retaliation after they (Asad and his aide Ghulam) fired upon them. It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi govt in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals. SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, however, called the encounter fake and said the state government was trying to divert attention from real issues. By doing fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from real issues. The BJP does not believe in courts at all. Todays and other recent encounters should be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared. The government does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. The BJP is against brotherhood, the former chief minister tweeted in Hindi. BSP chief Mayawati said the killing could be a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident. Gangster Vikas Dubey was also killed in a controversial police encounter in 2020 after the car transporting him allegedly overturned. In a tweet, Mayawati said: People feel their apprehension of a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident has come true. Therefore, a high-level inquiry is necessary so that the complete facts and truth of the incident can come before the public. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi also condemned the encounter, and asked if the killers of Junaid (35) and Nasir (27) who were allegedly kidnapped, beaten and murdered by members of right-wing groups in Haryana in February would also be shot dead in an encounter. Will the BJP also shoot the killers of Junaid and Nasir in Haryana? Will you do their encounter as well? No, you wont because you do encounters in the name of religion. You have made a joke out of the law. You want to do an encounter of the Constitution. You want to weaken the law, the Hyderabad MP said. anymore reactions? TMC? Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem alias Ashraf allegedly told the police that they had direct links to the Inter Services Intelligence and the Lashkar-e-Taiba and used those ties to procure sophisticated weaponry, the police said in a application before a Prayagraj court on Thursday. Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad (HT) ALSO READ: Asad, aide were travelling across: UP STF on Atiq Ahmad son's encounter The disclosure came in an application seeking police custody, filed by station house officer of the station house office of Dhoomanganj police station, Rajesh Kumar Maurya, who is the investigation officer in the Umesh Pal murder case. Atiq and Ashraf are both accused in the February 24 killing of the Prayagraj-based lawyer, who was the main witness in a sensational 2005 murder. ...I have no dearth of weapons because I have direct connections with Pakistans ISI and terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Weapons from Pakistan are dropped on the Punjab border with the help of drones and local connection collects them. Terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir get weapons from this consignment. If you take me with you, I can help you recover that money, arms and ammunition used in the incident, the application quoted Atiq as purportedly saying. The chief judicial magistrate (CJM), Prayagraj sent Atiq and Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody and also allowed a four-day police remand for both of them. The police remand will begin from April 13 and continue till 5pm on April 17.The judicial custody will continue till April 26. THIS WILL BE SIMULTANEOUS? Atiq Ahmed and Ashraf will be kept in Naini jail. In order to obtain the necessary information regarding the weapons used and obtained, the police custody remand of the two men is necessary, the investigating officer added in his application. Umesh Pal -- a key witness in the 2005 killing of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal -- and two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagrajs Dhoomanganj area on February 24. Atiq Ahmed, his wife Shaista Parveen, brother Ashraf, their sons and others were made accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, which is based on a complaint by Jaya Pal, Umesh Pals wife. Both Atiq and Ashraf were also accused in the Raju Pal murder case. Atiq is also named in 100-odd other cases, and was convicted and sentenced to life in jail in a 2006 abduction case. The chargesheet submitted by the Uttar Pradesh Police in the Umesh Pal murder case includes a recorded statement from mafioso-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad claiming he has no dearth of weapons because of his connections with Pakistan's spy agency ISI and proscribed terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba. In the statement, Atiq Ahmad claimed that the weapons are dropped on the Punjab border with the help of drones, and local connections collect them. Prayagraj: Jailed mafia Atiq Ahmed being produced in a court in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case, in Prayagraj, Thursday, April 13, 2023.(PTI) He also offered to help recover the money, arms, and ammunition used in the murder of Umesh Pal and the two policemen guarding him. "...I have no dearth of weapons because I have direct connections with Pakistan's ISI and terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Weapons from Pakistan are dropped on Punjab border with the help of drones and local connection collects them. Terrorists in J&K get weapons from this consignment. If you take me with you, I can help you recover that money and arms and ammunition used in the incident," the chargesheet cites Atiq. Earlier today, a Prayagraj court sent Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody and also allowed five-day police remand in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. Ahmad and Ashraf alias Khalid Azim will be kept in judicial custody till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. The five-day police remand of the duo will remain effective till the evening of April 17. On the completion of police remand, Ahmad and his brother will be sent back to jail. "Both Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf will be sent back to Sabarmati prison and Bareilly jail, where they are currently lodged, on the completion of police remand to complete the remaining duration of judicial custody," said Singh. The court's verdict came on a day the UP Police said they have killed Ahmad's son Asad and one of his aides in an encounter in Jhansi. Both Asad and his aide were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case. (With inputs from ANI, PTI) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: India on Thursday brushed aside Pakistans objection to holding of G20 meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, saying it is natural to arrange such events in the union territories that are an integral and inalienable part of the country. India is hosting some 200 meetings at locations across the country as part of its G20 presidency. (HT file image) Pakistans Foreign Office had on Tuesday objected to Indias plans to hold G20 youth engagement group meetings in Leh and Srinagar and a G20 tourism working group meeting in Srinagar during May 22-24. Pakistan claimed such events were aimed at perpetuating Indias illegal occupation of Jammu and Kashmir. The meetings and events of G20 are being held across India. They are being organised in every region of India and it is very natural to have these meetings in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, external affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told a media briefing while responding to a question on the stand taken by Pakistan. Also Read:Benchmarking adoption of e-commerce across the G20 members These places have always been an integral and inalienable part of India and they are ours. I will only say these meetings are being held in every region. This is our natural response, Bagchi said, speaking in Hindi. India is hosting some 200 meetings at locations across the country as part of its G20 presidency. These meetings will culminate with the leaders summit in New Delhi in September. Pakistans Foreign Office, in a statement issued on April 11, had expressed strong indignation at Indias move to hold G20 meetings in Kashmir and Ladakh and described the decision as disconcerting. Pakistan had also protested last year, when reports first emerged of Indias plans to hold some G20 meetings in Jammu and Kashmir. China, a close ally of Pakistan, stayed away from a G20 meeting on research and innovation held last month in Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, which is claimed by Beijing. Last year, China backed Pakistans objections to Indias plans to hold G20 meetings in Kashmir by saying all parties should not complicate the situation in the region through any unilateral moves. The Indian side perceives the holding of such international events in Kashmir and Ladakh as a way to reinforce its position that these regions are integral parts of the country, and to counter Pakistans claims about human rights violations in the area. However, Pakistan has contended India is exploiting its membership of the G20 to advance a self-serving agenda. Relations between the two sides have been at an all-time low since the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks, which were carried out by Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), and came under further strain after India carried out a cross-border air strike on Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019 in retaliation for the Pulwama suicide bombing. Ties took a further hit after India scrapped Jammu and Kashmirs special status in 2019 and split the state into two union territories. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Centre has taken action against at least 34 companies so far in the biggest crackdown against pharmaceutical companies manufacturing substandard drugs, according to people familiar with the matter. The Centre has taken action against at least 34 companies so far in a crackdown against pharmaceutical companies (Agencies/Representative use) The second round of inspections on this aspect is under way across the country. Central and state drugs regulators began conducting joint inspections earlier this year as part of a special drive to check production of substandard medicines in the country. As part of this special drugs inspection drive, 203 pharmaceutical companies were identified for the joint inspection. A majority of the companies are from Himachal Pradesh (which emerged a major pharma manufacturing hub last decade), followed by Uttarakhand, and Madhya Pradesh. In the first phase, inspection was conducted of 76 pharma companies across 20 states, and 18 were reportedly found to be producing spurious and adulterated drugs. According to the action taken list by state licensing authorities, a copy of which has been seen by HT, among the companies whose manufacturing licence was suspended or which were asked to stop production are included Himalaya Meditek Pvt Ltd registered in Dehradun, Sun AJ pharma, Indore (MP), Vintochem, Ujjain (MP), Om Biomedic, Haridwar (Uttarakhand), SVP Life Sciences, Dehradun, Uttarakhand, Apple Formulations, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, Relief Biotech, Roorkee, Uttarakhand, Agron Remedies, Kashipur, Uttarakhand, and Bajaj Formulations, Roorkee, Uttarakhand. ALSO READ: Drafting a road map to bolster the pharma sector HT reached out to the companies couldnt elicit a response. In addition, regulators issued show cause notices to Athens Life Sciences, Laborate Pharmaceuticals, Life Vision Healthcare, and JM Laboratories in Himachal Pradesh. The 20 States where joint inspections were conducted are Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Delhi, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarkhand, and West Bengal. According to people familiar with the matter, the joint inspections are a part of heightened pharma surveillance measures that the government decided to adopt after three incidents involving India-made products . The Uttar Pradesh Drugs Controlling and Licensing Authority recently cancelled the manufacturing license of Noida-based pharmaceutical company, Marion Biotech, whose cough syrup was allegedly linked to the death of 18 children in Uzbekistan in December last year. In February, the Tamil Nadu-based Global Pharma Healthcare recalled its entire lot of eye drop allegedly linked to vision loss in the US.However, a joint inspection with teams from central drugs standard control organization and state (Tamil Nadu) drugs regulator was carried out at its manufacturing unit, and samples that were tested were found to be free of contamination, as per officials familiar with the matter. And on October 5, WHO issued an alert over four cough syrups Promethazine Oral Solution, Kofexmalin Baby Cough Syrup, Makoff Baby Cough Syrup, and Magrip N Cold Syrup manufactured and exported by Maiden Pharmaceuticals and likely linked to the deaths of 70 children in The Gambia. While Haryana governments investigation found violations in Maidens manufacturing processes, the samples tested of its drugs did not find any kind of contamination. The regulator, however, asked the company to stop manufacturing until investigation was completed In February, the Union health ministry conducted a two day Chintan Shivir (deliberation camp) with focus on drugs quality, regulation, and enforcement. Steps are being taken to ensure harmonization of regulatory requirements, processes, and procedures as well as data bases across all States to ensure consistency in the evaluation and approval of drugs. The Union government has drawn up the countrys first animal pandemic response plan in collaboration with the World Bank, which will be implemented as a central government scheme to deal with outbreaks such as the devastating lumpy skin disease among cattle in 2021-2022, an official said. It will also enhance the governments capacity to monitor diseases that jump from animals to humans, such as Covid-19. A cow which has recovered from lumpy skin disease is seen at a cowshed on the outskirts of Jaipur, India, in February. (REUTERS) The programme seeks to ramp up surveillance, treatment and diagnostics infrastructure across 151 districts in five states with a federal funding of 1,229 crore, according details of the scheme to be launched on Friday by Union minister of fisheries, animal husbandry and dairying, Parshottam Rupala. India has one of the largest national livestock populations in the world at 536.76 million, according to the livestock census, 2019, and is a key source of income of nearly 80 million farmers. Livestock accounts for 30% of the countrys gross value added, or GVA, in the farm sector. GVA is a measure of income that subtracts net taxes from gross domestic product, or GDP. In 2022, the country battled a lumpy skin disease outbreak, which is estimated to have killed or emaciated nearly 300,000 cattle, hurting milk production and farm incomes. Officially named the Animal Pandemic Preparedness Initiative, the programme will focus on prevention of outbreaks, especially zoonotic diseases, or infections caused by microorganisms that jump from animals to humans. Ebola and Sars are examples of zoonotic diseases; Covid-19 is most likely one too. The programme will create an integrated disease reporting system for enhanced surveillance of zoonotic and other animal diseases, according to the details of the scheme. Funds will also go into upgrading 75 district and regional laboratories, 300 veterinary hospitals and training of 9,000 para veterinarians, apart from recruiting 5,500 veterinary professionals. The programme will also address health risk of humans from such diseases, the person cited above said. Although the lumpy skin disease is not known to infect humans, Indian scientists have said they were worried about such a possibility. Due to its recent spread in unnatural hosts, there are growing concerns about its zoonotic implication, although confirmatory evidences of human infection are lacking, an ICAR statement said in October 2022. The programme will aid development of disease-modelling algorithms, early warning systems, R&D on vaccines, and build genomic and environmental surveillance methods. The emphasis is to build a strong animal health system, essential to animal, human health and food security, apart from its importance in the overall economy. It is also key to protecting livelihoods and addressing threats from emerging infectious diseases, the official added. The scheme will also include awareness campaigns on prevention of zoonotic diseases and pandemic preparedness at community level by directly reaching out to 600,000 households in the first phase, the official cited above said. Prevention of animal infections, especially large outbreaks, has become all the more important due to greater risks to humans today compared to even half a century ago, said Rupesh Oza, a former regional director of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Climate change is one of the factors for increased risks of emergent diseases. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (Sinopec) has signed an equity participation agreement with QatarEnergy to take a 1.25 per cent share in Qatar's North Field East (NFE) expansion project, which is currently the largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in the world. The event marks another milestone after Sinopec and QatarEnergy inked a 27-year long-term LNG purchase and sales agreement in November 2022 for the annual supply of 4 million tons of LNG to Sinopec and achieves integrated cooperation on the NFE expansion project. Sinopec Chairman Ma Yongsheng and Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, formally signed the agreement at a signing ceremony in QatarEnergy's headquarter in Doha on Wednesday. "QatarEnergy, a world-leading LNG producer, is one of Sinopec's most important partners, the cooperation between the two companies will further strengthen the optimization of China's energy consumption pattern and improve the security, stability, and reliability of clean energy supply. With the solid foundation of our partnership, we hope to explore new LNG collaboration opportunities and expand new grounds for cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win progress," said Ma. Al-Kaabi expressed that China is one of the world's most important natural gas markets and key market for Qatar's energy products. The equity participation agreement fulfilled QatarEnergy's promise to further deepen relationships with major LNG clients, especially on developing long-term strategic partnerships with world's top clients like Sinopec. Sinopec is the first Asian stakeholder of the NFE project and the event marks a model of Sino-Qatar cooperation. With a total investment of $28.75 billion, the NFE project is projected to increase Qatar's annual LNG export volume from 77 million tons to 110 million tons. Sinopec and QatarEnergy's partnerships will help to meet the demand for natural gas in the Chinese market and continue to advance green low-carbon, safe, and sustainable energy development, said a statement. - TradeArabia News Service NEW DELHI: India was on Thursday non-committal about the possible participation of Ukrainian officials in meetings under the countrys G20 presidency and an address by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to the G20 Summit, as it reiterated that the list of guest countries had already been decided. External affairs minister S Jaishankar with spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, Arindam Bagchi, at Hyderabad House (ANI File Photo) Ukraines first deputy foreign minister Emine Dzhaparova had raised both the participation of her country in G20 meetings and a virtual address by Zelenskyy during her visit to New Delhi this week. Dzhaparova, the first Ukrainian leader to visit India since the start of the Russian invasion last year, also delivered a letter from Zelenskyy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was non-committal on these issues at a weekly media briefing, and referred reporters to remarks made by foreign secretary Vinay Kwatra at an earlier briefing on March 1. I think we have answered this question in the past, including by the foreign secretary. To be honest, I have nothing to add to that for the moment in terms of participation, Bagchi said. When Kwatra was asked last month about Ukraines participation in G20 meetings in India, he replied that New Delhi had already finalised the list of guest countries invited to join gatherings of the 20 largest economies. As far as Ukraines invitation is concerned, during the presser that we did at the time of launch of the G20 presidency, it was made clear as to which nations are invited as guests, he had said. The list of those countries was shared with you. We have not made any changes or addition in that list, Kwatra had said. The nine guest countries invited to the G20 meetings include close partners of India such as Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates and key players from different regions such as Egypt, Singapore and the Netherlands. Bagchi also declined to share the contents of Zelenskyys letter to Modi. Dzhaparova, however, said Zelenskyy sought a phone conversation with Modi and also invited the Indian premier to visit Kyiv. She said publicly that Ukraine is keen to see its officials participate in G20 meetings hosted by India, and that Zelenskyy will be happy to virtually address the G20 Summit in September, just as he had spoken at the last leaders summit in Bali last November. Bagchi noted Dzhaparovas comments about wanting Modi to visit Ukraine but said such high-level visits are not announced in this manner. Bagchi further said India has articulated its position on the conflict in Ukraine many times and rejected suggestions that the countrys approach is unbalanced. We certainly have worked towards peace, and dialogue and diplomacy is what we have been stressing, he said. Dzhaparova noted in her public remarks that National Security Adviser (NSA) Ajit Doval visited Russia three times in recent months and suggested that there should be a balance through a visit to Kyiv. She also said Ukraine wants to start a security dialogue at the level of NSAs. Given its long-standing strategic and defence ties with Russia, India has not publicly denounced the invasion of Ukraine or voted in favour of resolutions condemning Moscows actions at UN bodies. India has also ramped up purchases of discounted Russian crude. Dzhaparova had acknowledged New Delhis traditional relations with Moscow and said her visit was aimed at bringing Ukraine and India closer. ... SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON India on Thursday urged all sides in Myanmar to end violence after more than 150 people were killed in an air strike by the military junta in Sagaing region and pushed for the restoration of peace and democracy in the neighbouring country. MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi was addressing media persons on Thursday. (ANI image) The official death toll in the air strike near remote Kanbalu township in central Sagaing region on Tuesday remains unclear, though the shadow National Unity Government (NUG) has said 165 people, including women and children, were killed while 30 more were injured. External affairs ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi described the violence as disturbing and reiterated Indias call for peaceful resolution of all issues. Also Read: Myanmar air strike death toll rises to at least 130: Report We have seen disturbing reports of violence on April 11 near Kanbalu township in the Sagaing region of Myanmar. As a neighbour and friend of the people of Myanmar, we have repeatedly called for cessation of violence by all sides and peaceful resolution of all issues, he told a media briefing in response to a question. India reiterates its call for a return of peace, stability and democracy in Myanmar, he added. India has largely refrained from criticising the actions of Myanmars military junta since it seized power in a coup in February 2021, ousting the democratically elected government and imprisoning its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. Indias position is largely linked to security concerns related to the northeastern states that border Myanmar and fears that any pressure could push the junta closer to rival China. New Delhi has also sought to engage the junta to nudge it to restore democracy and to address the issue of Myanmarese citizens seeking refuge in northeastern states such as Mizoram. Myanmars junta has carried out several air strikes and ground attacks against resistance forces, including groups aligned to NUG, while claiming that such actions were directed against terrorist targets. Tuesdays air strike targeted a crowd of some 300 that gathered for the opening of a local administration office by NUG. The junta claimed it launched limited air strikes and said the military tried to minimise harm to civilians. We heard that more people were killed because of big explosions from weapons and ammunitions...displayed at the opening event, a junta statement said. Junta spokesman Maj Gen Zaw Min Tun said the dead included resistance fighters in uniform and blamed mines planted by the Peoples Defence Force for some deaths. The junta doesnt control Sagaing region, which was once a key base for anti-India insurgent groups from the northeastern states. Some of these groups continue to have a presence in this area. The Indian side has been concerned about the fallout of the violence in Myanmars border areas spilling over the northeast, people familiar with the matter said. Myanmar shares a 1,640-km border with the northeastern states, including Nagaland and Manipur. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre is one of the tragic and darkest events in the Indian history that led to the killing of several unarmed Indians and injuring many more. British military officer General Dyer on April 13, 1919, ordered his troops to open fire at an unarmed crowd that gathered in an open area near the Golden Temple in Punjab's Amritsar to stage peaceful protest against the arrest of nationalist leaders Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal. Amritsar: The Jallianwala Bagh during a visit by President Droupadi Murmu, in Amritsar, Thursday, March 9, 2023. (PTI Photo) (PTI03_09_2023_000249B)(PTI) Also read: President Murmu pays obeisance at Golden Temple, tributes to victims of Jallianwala Bagh massacre Remembering the Jallianwala Bagh massacre after 104 years The massacre is a sobering reminder of the brutalities under the British colonial rule, which completes 104 years in 2023. The tragic event turned out to be a turning point in the freedom struggle for India's independence, intensifying the nation's demand for self-governance and freedom. The massacre was a result of the draconian Rowlatt Act which allowed the British colonial government to arrest anyone without trial who were suspected of sedition. Kitchlew and Satyapal were arrested under this law. This led to widespread protest across India, especially in Punjab. Protestors gathered in numbers in Jallianwala Bagh and there were people of all age groups, men, women and children. Till their ammunition exhausted The protest was considered as a threat to the British colonial government and General Reginald Dyer, officer in-charge of Amritsar region, took it upon himself to take strict action against it. He entered the gathering with his troop and without much of warning to disperse the crowd, General Dyer ordered an open fire at them. Around 1,650 rounds were fired, killing over 500 people and more than 1,500 injured. The onslaught was carried out for over 10 minutes till their ammunition was exhausted. Also read: Rectify errors in Jallianwala Bagh renovation: Manish Tewari Significance of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre The incident sparked widespread outrage in India and abroad, which eventually fueled India's call for independence and even moderate nationalists started adopting more radical stance in their demand. Rabindranath Tagore renounced his titles awarded to him , including his knighthood, as a sign of protest against the British colonial government. Freedom fighter Udham Singh, who was among those who were injured in the massacre, assasinated Michael O'Dwyer, the then lieutenant-governor of Punjab and belligerent apologist for Reginald Dyer, as his retaliation. Indian government set up the Hunter commission to probe into the incidents and unrest in Punjab following the massacre. A museum has been built in the area in 2019 in remembrance of those who lost their lives and place an authentic account of the incident. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON As a sessions court in Surat on Thursday commenced the hearing on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for a stay on his conviction in the Modi-surname defamation case, Rahul Gandhi's lawyer senior advocate RS Cheema said Rahul Gandhi was elected from Wayanad by a record margin of votes and his disqualification as a result of the conviction will lead to irreparable loss and irreversible injury, Bar and Bench reported. Read | 'Dirty display of childish arrogance': Purnesh Modi's reply to Rahul Gandhi's plea A Surat court is hearing Rahul Gandhi's plea for stay on conviction in the 2019 defamation case Citing that only an aggrieved person can file a complaint, Cheema appearing for Rahul Gandhi said, "My speech isn't defamatory unless drawn out of context, looked under a magnifying glass to make it defamatory. basically, litigation was inflicted upon me for daring to be vociferously critical of our PM. The trial was harsh and unfair to me." Raising the issue of the complainant's (Purnesh Modi's) geographical jurisdiction, Cheema said the speech was made in Kolar and the complainant received a message on his Whatsapp. "If someone says you Punjabis are quarrelsome and abusive etc., then can I go and file a defamation case? Such words are often used for Gujaratis, other linguistic groups, religious entities etc." Rahul Gandhi's lawyer said. "At 11:51 am my client is pronounced guilty and within half n hour he is handed over the harshest and maximum punishment. I want to express shock that the trial court for saying Aapko Supreme Court warning diya tha. Bade dheeth ho, aap kuch nhi samje. I am sorry I am using strong words but yes the judge was misled and was harsh," Cheema said. Rahul Gandhi's lawyer said his client's apology to the Supreme Court for 'Chowkidar chor' comments was in November 2019, while this 'Modi surname' comment was made in April 2019. "So how can the judge rely on the proceedings where the complainant has said I was admonished by the top court?" Cheema argued. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Kerala high court on Thursday said Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sriram Venkitaraman should be tried for culpable homicide not amounting to murder in a 2019 accident case that led to the death of a journalist in Thiruvananthapuram. The Kerala high court said IAS officer Sriram Venkitaraman should be tried for culpable homicide in a 2019 accident case (Agencies/Representative use) Setting aside a sessions court order that dropped the charge under section 304 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) against Venkitaraman last year, a single bench of justice Bechhu Kurian Thomas said: Prima facie, it is assumed that that the first accused was overspeeding and was driving the vehicle after consuming alcohol and had even caused destruction of evidence relating to the offence. Venkitaraman was allegedly in an inebriated condition when he was driving a vehicle that knocked down journalist K M Basheer, killing him on the spot. Wafa Firoze, Venkitaramans friend to whom the vehicle belonged, was travelling with Venkitaraman at the time of the accident. On Thursday, the high court discharged her from the case. Last year, the sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram dropped the charge of culpable homicide against the two accused but maintained that the remaining sections 304 A (causing death by negligence) and 279 (rash driving ) of IPC and section 184 (reckless driving) of Motor Vehicles Act would stay. The state government later filed a criminal revision petition in the high court against the verdict of the sessions court. The bench observed that the absence of a medical report on the level of intoxication cannot be a reason to drop section 304 of IPC if there are other materials available to arrive at the conclusion that the accused was driving the vehicle in a drunken state. After being referred to the medical college hospital, the first accused could not have gone to a private hospital contrary to the reference unless he wanted to cause the disappearance of evidence of the alleged offence, the bench said. While discharging Firoze from the case, the court said there was no material evidence to indicate that she intentionally aided or instigated the first accused to commit the offence. In its appeal, the state government said that after the accident, Venkitaraman delayed his treatment and blood sample check after he was rushed to a general hospital. Doctors at the hospital referred him to the medical college hospital but he refused to go and got himself admitted to a private hospital. The government also said that several witnesses in the case said the IAS officer was drunk at the time of the incident and deliberately delayed his medical examination. His blood sample was reportedly taken 10 hours after the accident, it said. Venkitaraman was arrested nearly 17 hours after the accident. He was later granted bail and was also suspended from service but reinstated a year later. The IAS officer, who ranked second in the civil service examinations in 2013, was once seen as a hero of the state after he demolished a number of encroachments in the hill station of Munnar and locked horns with many influential people and politicians. His image suffered a beating after the accident. He is currentlymanaging director of the civil supplies corporation. Journalists in the state have alleged that the bureaucratic lobby played a key role in shielding Venkitaraman and weakening the case. Last year, Basheers brother filed a petition in the high court, seeking a probe by a central agency into his death. Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala high court on Thursday restored the culpable homicide charge against Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Sriram Venkitaraman in connection with the alleged drunk driving case related to the death of journalist KM Basheer in 2019. The high court, however, discharged his friend Wafa Firoze who was with him in the car, observing that there was no material evidence to indicate that she intentionally aided or instigated him to commit the offence. (File Photo) Justice Bechhu Kurian Thomass ruling on Thursday came on an appeal by the Kerala government against the decision by the sessions court in Thiruvananthapuram to drop the culpable homicide charge against the IAS officer. In its verdict in October 2022, the sessions court said there was no evidence to prove that he was drunk at the time of the accident on August 3, 2019, that claimed the life a young journalist. The government faulted this conclusion in its appeal, underlining that Venkitaraman delayed his treatment and blood check when he was rushed to the general hospital in the state capital soon after the accident. The doctors later referred him to the medical college hospital but he declined the advice of doctors and police and got himself admitted to a private hospital. The government reasoned that there were many witnesses to the accident who gave statements that he was inebriated at the time of the mishap but he deliberately delayed his medical test. His blood sample was reportedly taken 10 hours after the accident, the government said, adding that the IAS officer was a medical doctor by training and was aware of the consequences of the delay. In his verdict, justice Thomas referred to the IAS officers conduct to draw conclusions about his alleged motive. After being referred to the medical college hospital, the first accused could not have gone to a private hospital contrary to the reference unless he wanted to cause the disappearance of evidence of the alleged offence, justice Thomas said. Prima facie, it is assumed that that the first accused was overspeeding and was driving the vehicle after consuming alcohol and had even caused the destruction of evidence relating to the offence, the high court said. Soon after the incident in 2019, the government suspended Venkitaraman from service. The suspension was revoked a year later. He is currently with the state civil supplies corporation after a move to appoint him as Alapuzha collector was withdrawn after protests. Venkitaraman, second rank holder in the civil service examination in 2013, was once a hero of the state after he demolished a number of encroachments in hill station Munnar and locked horns with many influential people and politicians, but his image suffered a beating after the accident. Journalists alleged that the powerful bureaucratic lobby played its role well in shielding him and weakening the case. The Union government on Thursday rebuffed allegations of targeted attacks against Christians in the country, informing the Supreme Court that less than a third of the incidents alleged by some Christian organisations and individuals were found to be true. The Centre informed the Supreme Court that less than a third of the incidents alleged by some Christian organisations and individuals were found to be true. (PTI) While the petitioners in the top court claimed that 2021-2022 witnessed as many as 495 incidents of targeted attacks against Christians across eight states, the Centre said that only 155 incidents warranted registration of first information reports (FIRs). Citing the records furnished by the states of Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Haryana, Bihar, Jharkhand and Odisha that allegedly had the highest number of such incidents, the central government said that the there were no reports regarding 263 out of 495 incidents. Further, out of 232 incidents which have been reported to the concerned state governments, the matters were resolved in 73 incidents amicably with mutual agreement between both the parties. These 73 incidents were related to land dispute, family dispute, superstitious practices, violation of Covid-19 guidelines and other trivial issues. FIR/Non-FIR complaints were registered in the remaining 155 cases, stated the compliance affidavit filed by the Centre on Wednesday night. According to the affidavit, 44 FIRs out of 70 reported incidents were registered in Uttar Pradesh; 31 FIRs out of 34 reported incidents were lodged in Karnataka; 24 FIRs out of 36 reported incidents were registered in Chhattisgarh and 22 FIRs out of 26 reported incidents were lodged in Madhya Pradesh. Expressing its resolve to ensure rule of law and equal protection of law to all religions and communities, the Centre said that the information furnished by the state governments make it clear that the petitioners have exaggerated the number of incidents. Many incidents alleged as Christian persecution have been either false or wrongly projected. It is submitted that many trivial disputes between two parties are likely to have been given religious colour...factual check and the verification reports reveal that even family feuds and private land disputes being shown as communal targeting, rued the affidavit. It complained that the petitioners, which included Archbishop Peter Machado and two Christian organisations National Solidarity Forum and Evangelical Fellowship of India, relied on certain unauthentic reports to portray all criminal incidents, involving a member of Christian community, as incidents of violence against the victim due to religious reasons. The affidavit came up before a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud , and solicitor general Tushar Mehta stated that verification reports from the state governments have belied accusations made in the petition. Our concern is that this is how the issue will be projected outside the country as if Christians are being attacked in the country while the truth is completely different, said Mehta. The bench adjourned the case by two weeks after senior counsel Colin Gonsalves and advocate Aakarsh Kamra, representing the petitioners, sought time to respond to the Centres compliance affidavit. In September, the Supreme Court directed the Union government to verify allegations of attacks on Christians levelled in the PIL, asking the chief secretaries of eight states, alleged to have the highest number of such incidents, to submit a report on the action taken. These alleged incidents involved demolition of churches, murder, forced conversions, physical violence, arrest of pastors, defacement of statues, prayer hall and church property, burning of Bibles, hate campaigns, boycott of the community, stalling prayer meetings and church services, and gender violence. Seeking dismissal of the petition, the Centre, in its affidavit, denied that the soft approach of the police had strengthened fringe groups, leading to an atmosphere of intolerance. On the contrary, the verification reports of concerned state governments and the input received thereof reveals that the Police had taken prompt action in numerous cases and conducted necessary investigation as per rules... it seems that the incidents were included without verifying facts, added the affidavit. It stated that the verification reports received from the state governments disclose that allegations and observations made in the fact-finding report of certain organisations that the petitioners relied upon were unfounded and the majority of the incidents quoted were either false or deliberately exaggerated, and uncorroborated. India is a vibrant pluralistic society founded on strong democratic principles and practices, stressed the Centre, adding that the Constitution guarantees the right to freedom of religion and that the violations of such rights are dealt in accordance with provisions of the laws in force. The issues highlighted by the petitioner can always be taken care of by law enforcing agencies in respective States under the process of law or if required, by the jurisdictional Magistrates under the appropriate provisions of the CrPC. The attempt of the Petitioner is to paint a particularly false picture for aims unknown to the respondent...the country is governed by the rule of law and the attempt of the petitioner to create a false narrative through an Article 32 petition must be deprecated, said the Centre. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar on Thursday lauded the efforts of Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force (STF) for the encounter killing of Asad Ahmad, the son of gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad, and said that the rule of law always prevails in states where the Bhartiya Janata Party is in power. Union agriculture minister Narendra Singh Tomar.(Amlan Paliwal) Speaking to news agency ANI, Tomar said: "BJP government believes in strict punishment to criminals. Asad was a declared criminal and had a bounty of 5 lakhs on him. The encounter happened when he attempted to flee. I whole-heartedly congratulate UP Police. Also read | Atiq Ahmad's son Asad killed in encounter, had Walter P88 pistol: UP Police The Union minister further praised the BJP-led government in the northern state, and said: Wherever there is rule of BJP, jungle raj cannot prevail, only rule of law will prevail there. Earlier in the day, chief minister Yogi Adityanath also congratulated the Director-General of Police, the Special Director-General (Law and Order) and the team of cops involved in the operation. Read | 'I have no dearth of weapons': UP cops quote Atiq Ahmad in chargesheet Meanwhile, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav slammed Yogi Adityanath and the ruling BJP for 'fake encounters' to divert people's attention from 'real issues' with less than a month to go for state-wide civic body polls. "By doing fake encounters, BJP government is trying to divert attention from real issues. BJP does not believe in the court at all. Today's and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated" Yadav tweeted. Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an accomplice, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter with the UP's Police in Jhansi. They carried a 5 lakh reward on their heads. Atiq Ahmad reportedly broke down in court when told of his son's death. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON New Delhi Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought strong action against anti-India elements in the UK and progress in the return of economic offenders who have taken refuge in Britain, during a phone conversation with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Thursday. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi hold a bilateral meeting on November 16, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. (REUTERS) The two leaders also agreed on the need to speedily conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) between both countries, according to an Indian readout of the conversation, which came against the backdrop of anger in New Delhi over the activities of pro-Khalistan groups in Britain. Sunak and Modi reviewed progress in several bilateral issues that are part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030 and expressed satisfaction at recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, especially in the trade and economic sectors, the readout said. Modi raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements by the UK government, according to the readout. Sunak reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable violence outside the Indian mission in London and stressed that extremism had no place in the UK, according to a statement from the UK Prime Ministers Office. Sunak updated Modi on steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian high commission staff. The Indian readout said Modi raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK and sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. The readout didnt provide details on the offenders. The list of high-profile fugitives in the UK wanted by Indian authorities, whose current location are known and against whom extradition proceedings are either completed or are at an advanced stage, includes former liquor baron Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Sanjay Bhandari, Iqbal Mirchis wife Hajra Memon and their sons Asiq Iqbal Memon and Junaid Iqbal Memon. Modi and Sunak further agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, according to the readout. The British statement said the leaders reflected on the huge opportunities a deal would offer to Indian and British businesses, and agreed to direct their teams to expedite progress to resolve outstanding issues and ensure a world-leading deal that would see both economies thrive. India and the UK have already missed a deadline for concluding the FTA by Diwali in October last year. Officials have said the two sides are now focused on addressing differences on knotty issues such as market access, tariffs and mobility of Indian professionals, and the next round of talks on the FTA will be held in London from April 24. Protests in Britain by pro-Khalistan groups, which began after Punjab Police launched a manhunt for radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his followers, have become a fresh irritant in India-UK ties. After a pro-Khalistan activist pulled down the Indian flag at the mission in London last month, the foreign ministry summoned the senior-most British diplomat in New Delhi to demand action against those involved in the vandalism. The Indian side also reduced security at the UK high commission and the British envoys residence. The issue of Britain acting against pro-Khalistan elements figured at the external affairs ministrys briefing on Thursday, with spokesperson Arindam Bagchi saying India wants to see action against those who vandalised the flag and the mission in London. We are certainly pressing them to continue to take measures to ensure the security of the premises [and] safety of our diplomatic and consular personnel who are in London, he said. This issue also came up in the India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue held in New Delhi on Wednesday, with the Indian side raising anti-India activities in UK, including pro-Khalistan extremism. The Indian side specifically conveyed its concerns on misuse of UKs asylum status by pro-Khalistani elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India and sought better cooperation and increased monitoring of UK-based extremists. Modi invited Sunak to the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi in September. Sunak appreciated the progress made under Indias G20 presidency and reiterated the UKs support to Indias initiatives. Modi conveyed greetings to Sunak and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi, and the two leaders agreed to remain in contact. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Debt crisis key priority of Indias G20 presidency, says FM in US Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, right, speaks during her meeting with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen at the Treasury Department in Washington, Tuesday.(AP) Reiterating that addressing the growing debt distress was a priority for Indias G20 presidency, Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman has emphasised debt transparency, information-sharing, clarity on theread more. YSRCP questions Telangana govts plan to bid for Vizag steel plant The ruling YSR Congress party (YRSCP) in Andhra Pradesh reacted with disbelief on the Telangana governments attempt to support the cause of workers of Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), betterread more. New Covid variant Arcturus' appears to have this different symptom: Report The World Health Organization (WHO) has its eye a new Covid variant which seems to have a new symptom in children rarely caused by other Omicron sub variants. Dubbed as Arcturus, XBB.1.16 is fueling a newread more. Watch: Dhoni hits 2 last-over sixes but with 5 needed off 1 ball, Sandeep Sharma denies CSK skipper as RR win nail-biter It was yet another dramatic finish in the 2023 Indian Premier League on Wednesday night as Sandeep Sharma held his nerve to steer Rajasthan Royals to a three-run win over Chennai Super Kings. denying aread more. Kajol says 'I would have gone with Salman Khan's character' in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, would have never worn a saree More than 24 years after the release of one of her biggest blockbusters Kuch Kuch Hota Hai, Kajol has revealed what she would have actually done as Anjali if given a choice. The actor said she would have neverread more. Kriti Sanon, Sobhita Dhulipala, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor to other celebs, who wore what at the Jio Studios' event The Jio studios hosted a star-studded event at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Wednesday. The production house announced several upcoming films and web series at the occasion, attended by celebritiesread more. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Beijing, Apr 13 (UNI) US technology giant Apple is conducting talks with suppliers on the possible assembly and production of components for MacBook laptops in Thailand as part of the company's strategy to expand manufacturing outside China, Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asia reported on Thursday, citing sources. "Ideally, Apple asked us to set up facilities in Vietnam for MacBooks, following in the footsteps of other Apple suppliers, but we offered an alternative option of building the product at our Thailand plants, which still have a massive space that can be reserved for the client," a senior executive at one of the suppliers was quoted as saying by the newspaper. The move comes after five years of tensions between the United States and China partly due to the US imposing tariffs on Chinese goods, as well as the attempt by Apple's main suppliers to avoid possible trade conflicts between both countries, the report said. A 17-year-old Muslim girl preferred a private college instead of a government one so that she could wear a hijab inside the classroom. I had two options. First to take admission in a government college and shun hijab and second to enrol in a private college, where hijab was allowed inside the classroom. I opted for the second, she said. PREMIUM Wearing a hijab in classrooms became a major political and religious issue in 2022 after the state government issued an order that effectively banned it in classrooms in government run colleges. (PTI) She is not the only one in Udupi from where the hijab controversy erupted in January 2022 who has chosen a private college to express her religious identity. According to the government data, in Udupi, only 91 Muslim girl students were enrolled in pre-university colleges (PUCs), compared to the 2021-22 number of 178 girls. Meanwhile, private PUCs saw a spike in Muslim girl students with 487 girls enrolling as compared to the 328 in 2021-22. A similar trend can be seen across almost all of coastal Karnataka where wearing a hijab in classrooms became a major political and religious issue in 2022 after the state government issued an order that effectively banned it in classrooms in government run colleges. Last year, the Karnataka high court dismissed petitions filed by six hijab-clad Muslim students from a Udupi pre-university college. The Supreme Court gave a split verdict on the appeal filed against the high court order and now the apex court has referred multiple petitions to a three member bench. The 17-year-old cited in the first instance, and who asked not to be named, believes wearing a hijab is their right, but said the issue was blown out of proportion because of the five Udupi girls.This reporter visited the homes of two girls but their families remained unavailable for comments. Residents of Udupi say the girls were active members of Campus Front of India, the student wing of now banned Popular Front of India (PFI), somehow suggesting that the protest was orchestrated. When the problem started, only one college was not allowing hijab but a lot of colleges were. But after the protests became big, all other colleges stopped allowing hijab because there was a government order, she said. Standing next to her father and a few community leaders, she said she hoped that the Supreme Court would favour girls wearing a hijab and the entire controversy would come to an end. Hijab is just one of several issues that confront Muslim voters in coastal Karnataka. According to people in the region, the passage of the controversial anti-conversion bill, a campaign against halal meat and use of loudspeakers in the mosques, and killings of Muslim men in 2022 by right-wing groups are some other talking points among the community in the region, considered most communally sensitive part of the state. Although Muslims constitute 12.2% of the states population, they account for almost 20% in coastal Karnataka . Dakshin Kannada, a district which falls in the coastal region, has 24% Muslim population, the highest for any district in the state. Kodagu is second highest with 16% Muslim population as per 2011 Census. Muneer Katipalla, the state president of the CPI(M) affiliated Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) said the hijab issue was blown out of proportion by SDPI to gain political ground . Killing of 18-year-old B Masood which led to killing of Praveen Nettaru is (also) a big talking point among Muslims, he added. According to the police officers, the attack on 18-year-old B Masood on July 20, 2022, in Kalanja village in Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada allegedly by eight persons resulted in a spree of killings in the region. Masood died in a hospital on July 21. Police said that it was in response to this that bike-borne assailants targeted Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha activist 31-year-old Praveen Kumar Nettaru in Bellare town, hacking him to death in July 26, 2022. The police have filed charges against 20 persons in the case. Members of the banned Popular Front of India members are believed to be behind Nettarus killing. Police said that Netharus murder, resulted in the killing of 23-year-old Fazil Mangalpet who was hacked to death in front of a cloth shop in Surathkal town on August 6. In this case, seven persons affiliated to right wing groups were arrested . But Katipalla said the Muslim community did not react when 45-year-old Abdul Jaleel was killed in Surathkal December 2022 over an alleged affair with a Hindu woman. Police arrested four Hindu men for the murder and said the accused had gone to question him over his alleged affair when the murder took place. This time, the Muslim community did not react as they understood the impact it could have on elections, he said. Still, the situation, the DYFI leader said, is not very different from 2018, when several murders led to communal tension after which the BJP won 17 of the 21 assembly seats in the region. Two months before the assembly polls in 2018, the BJP launched a four-day rally, Jana Suraksha Yatre , deeming the then Congress government led by Siddaramaiah anti-Hindu and highlighting the cause of protecting Hindutva workers. The Jana Suraksha Yatre was focused on highlighting the deaths of 23 alleged Hindutva workers and was strategically held in coastal Karnataka, he said. Five years down the line, the SDPI, which has announced 19 candidates in coastal Karnataka, is trying to become the voice of Muslims. Even though BJP governments communal politics is haunting minorities, the Congress, which survives on the votes of the minority community, does not respond to the problems and challenges of the Muslims. When the Congress was in the power or while the Opposition, it didnt speak in support of the community, said SDPI district president Riyaz Farangipete. SDPI poses a threat to the Congress, which was counting on Muslim votes . Farangipete said some sacrifices have to be made for the larger goal. How many seats did the BJP have when they started, look at them now. So, we want to build that base and over the years in the next few elections ensure Muslim representation through SDPI in the assembly. UT Khader, a Muslim legislator from Congress, against whom Faranipete will be contesting said SDPI will not affect the Congress. He also said that the party would not strike any deal with the SDPI. In 2008 SDPI didnt contest the election in Bantwal but our candidate lost. In 2013, when SDPI contested against us, our candidate won. If they withdraw from the election, some communities that vote for us may not support us. So, we dont have to worry about SDPI. Their (SDPI) political opponent is not BJP; their political existence is in targeting secular forces like Congress. If they can split the votes, let them. But we are certain that it will be a small number. In my constituency, there are over two lakhs votes, even if SDPI gets 3000-4000 votes, it will not make a big impact. In fact, we want them to contest against us so that they know the voters are with us. If they (SDPI) dont contest they will claim we got votes because they stood out the election, he added. . Haji Muhammad Masood, the president of The Muslim Central Committee for Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts said that, unlike in previous years, the Muslim apex body will be asking its followers to support one political party. Earlier, we used to ask people to vote for the right candidates in their constituency, but this year, there is a feeling that the community has to come together for one party, he said, without naming the party they would prefer. That could well make a difference. HYDERABAD: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday told a special court in Vijayawada that there was no conspiracy behind the knife attack on YSR Congress president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Visakhapatnam airport on October 25, 2018. Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh YS Jagan Mohan Reddy speaks during the Global Investors Summit 2023 in Visakhapatnam (AP File Photo) In its counter affidavit to a petition filed by the chief minister seeking further investigation into the political conspiracy behind the knife attack on him, NIA urged the special court to dismiss his petition. HT has reviewed the counter-affidavit. NIA said it has thoroughly investigated the case and filed the charge sheet after examining all witnesses. It said the accused, Janipalli Srinivas Rao, a hotel worker who allegedly indulged in the knife attack on Jagan at the airport restaurant, had no connection with the Telugu Desam Party or any other political party. Though restaurant owner T Harshavardhan Prasad was a TDP sympathiser, investigation revealed that he had no connection with the accused, who was just a worker, NIA said. The agency said since the trial had already begun in the court, there was no need for another investigation into the case. Jagans counsel sought time to present his arguments in the case to counter the NIA . The court adjourned the hearing to April 17. Srinivas counsel Saleem also opposed Jagan Mohan Reddys petition, saying it was without merit. Earlier, NIA court directed Jagan Mohan Reddy to appear and record his statement on April 10. He, however, sought exemption from personal appearance on the ground that he has to discharge his duties as the chief minister and also on the ground that his appearance may lead to traffic jams around the court premises and thus, inconvenience the people. The chief minister requested the court to appoint an advocate commissioner to record his statement. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday told a special court in Vijayawada that there was no conspiracy whatsoever behind the knife attack on YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy at Visakhapatnam airport on October 25, 2018. NIA rules out any conspiracy behind knife attack on Andhra CM in 2018. (AP) The NIA filed a counter affidavit in the court, to a petition filed by the chief minister seeking further investigation into the political conspiracy behind the knife attack on him. The agency urged the NIA court to dismiss his petition. In the counter-affidavit, which was reviewed by HT, the NIA said it had thoroughly investigated the case and filed the charge sheet after examining all witnesses. It said the accused, Janipalli Srinivas Rao, a hotel worker who indulged in the knife attack on Jagan at the airport restaurant, had no connection with the Telugu Desam Party or any other political party. Though restaurant owner T Harshavardhan Prasad was a TDP sympathiser, investigation revealed that he had no connection with the accused, who was just a worker, the NIA said. The agency said since the trial had already begun in the court, there was no need for another investigation into the case. Jagans counsel sought time to present his arguments in the case to counter the NIA statement. The court adjourned the hearing to April 17. Srinivas counsel Saleem also filed counter to Jagan Mohan Reddys petition. He argued that Jagans petition lacks merits. Earlier, the NIA court had directed Jagan Mohan Reddy to appear and record his statement on April 10. He, however, sought exemption from personal appearance on the ground that he has to discharge his duties as the chief minister and also on the ground that his appearance in the court may lead to traffic jams around the court premises and thus, inconvenience to the people. The chief minister requested the court to appoint an advocate commissioner to record his statement. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Modi is alone enough to take on all opposition parties that want to forge unity to take on BJP in the 2024 elections. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge addresses a joint press conference with Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav, party leader Rahul Gandhi and others, at his residence, in New Delhi on Wednesday. (ANI) Speaking to ANI in Mumbai, Atawale said National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is really strong under the leadership of PM Modi. "If opposition parties want to come together, they can. PM Modi alone is enough to take on all of them. NDA is really strong under the leadership of PM Modi," Union Minister said on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The union minister's response came after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi as also Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday. Also Read| 'Historic step to unite opposition': Rahul Gandhi after meeting Nitish Kumar The opposition parties are striving as part of their efforts to unite as many opposition parties as possible to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Sources said there will be a meeting of opposition parties by the end of April after consultations with them and Nitish Kumar and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will talk to the opposition parties. After the meeting, Kharge talked of fighting the polls unitedly. Rahul Gandhi also talked of "standing together and fighting together". Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said it is essential for all opposition parties to unite and oust the BJP-led government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Also Read| As Nitish meets Rahul Gandhi, BJP reminded of 'Kauravas': Na jane kis kis The meetings are being seen as an attempt by Congress and other opposition parties to take forward their "unity" displayed during the budget session of Parliament session that concluded on April 6. The session saw continuous disruptions over the opposition's demand for a JPC probe into the Hindenburg-Adani row. The opposition parties also slammed the government over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case. BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday took a swipe at the opposition parties over their efforts to forge unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 elections and said these parties were coming together for 'Maha thug Bandhan'. "When political parties that are indulging in corruption come together they form 'Maha Thug Bandhan'. Corruption cannot be hidden. People know that they have neither policies, leadership, nor intention. People do not vote when there is a wrong intention. They don't have any policy or leadership. People will not vote for them. During 2014, 2019 and UP polls also formed this 'Maha Thug Bandhan' but nothing happened as people know about them," Thakur told ANI. Rahul Gandhi described the meeting with Janata Dal-United and RJD leaders as a "historic step" towards opposition unity and an ideological fight. Rahul Gandhi, who posted a picture of Kharge and him with JD-U and RJD leaders, said they are "standing together, will fight together - for India." "In this battle of ideology, a historic step has been taken today towards opposition unity. (We are) standing together will fight together - for India!" Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet on Wednesday. Janata Dal-United president Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh was also present at the meeting held at Kharge's residence. Nitish Kumar said they will try to unite as many parties as possible. "We will try to unite as many political parties as we can and move forward together. We will sit and deliberate on the way forward. We have had discussions. Those who agree with us...we will then take decisions about the future. A lot of people will come together," he said on Wednesday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raised concerns over the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the United Kingdom during a telephone conversation with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak. PM Modi called for strong action against anti-India elements and also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK, according to the Prime Minister's Office. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting on November 16, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia. (REUTERS File Photo) During the phone call, PM Modi requested progress on the return of the fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. In response, Sunak assured the security of the Indian mission and its personnel and conveyed that the UK considers the attack on the Indian High Commission totally unacceptable. The two leaders held the telephonic conversation weeks after some pro-Khalistan protesters pulled down a tricolour flying atop Indian High Commission in London. The leaders discussed several bilateral issues, including the India-UK Roadmap 2030 and the need for a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. The two leaders also discussed the upcoming G20 Summit to be held in September 2023 and PM Modi invited Sunak to attend. "PM Modi invited PM Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. PM Sunak appreciated the progress made under Indias Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UKs full support to Indias initiatives and their success," the release said. They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation between the two countries, particularly in trade and economic sectors. They agreed to remain in contact and continue working towards the strengthening of the India-UK relationship. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought strong action against anti-India elements in the UK and progress in the return of economic offenders who have taken refuge in Britain during a phone conversation with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak on Thursday. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a bilateral meeting on November 16, 2022 in Nusa Dua, Indonesia (REUTERS FILE PHOTO) The two leaders also agreed on the need to speedily conclude a free trade agreement (FTA) between both countries, according to an Indian readout on the conversation, which came against the backdrop of anger in New Delhi over the activities of pro-Khalistan groups in Britain. Sunak and Modi reviewed progress in several bilateral issues that are part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030 and expressed satisfaction at recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, especially in the trade and economic sectors, the readout said. Modi raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements by the UK government, according to the readout. Sunak reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable violence outside the Indian mission in London and stressed that extremism had no place in the UK, according to a statement from the UK Prime Ministers Office. Sunak updated Modi on steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian high commission staff. The Indian readout said Modi raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK and sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. The readout didnt provide details on the offenders. The list of high-profile fugitives in the UK wanted by Indian authorities, whose current location are known and against whom extradition proceedings are either completed or are at an advanced stage, includes former liquor baron Vijay Mallya, Nirav Modi, Sanjay Bhandari, Iqbal Mirchis wife Hajra Memon and their sons Asiq Iqbal Memon and Junaid Iqbal Memon. Modi and Sunak further agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, according to the readout. The British statement said the leaders reflected on the huge opportunities a deal would offer to Indian and British businesses, and agreed to direct their teams to expedite progress to resolve outstanding issues and ensure a world-leading deal that would see both economies thrive. India and the UK have already missed a deadline for concluding the FTA by Diwali in October last year. Officials have said the two sides are now focused on addressing differences on knotty issues such as market access, tariffs and mobility of Indian professionals, and the next round of talks on the FTA will be held in London from April 24. Protests in Britain by pro-Khalistan groups, which began after Punjab Police launched a manhunt for radical preacher Amritpal Singh and his followers, have become a fresh irritant in India-UK ties. After a pro-Khalistan activist pulled down the Indian flag at the mission in London last month, the foreign ministry summoned the senior-most British diplomat in New Delhi to demand action against those involved in vandalism. The Indian side also reduced security at the UK high commission and the British envoys residence. The issue of Britain acting against pro-Khalistan elements figured at the external affairs ministrys briefing on Thursday, with spokesperson Arindam Bagchi saying India wants to see action against those who vandalised the flag and the mission in London. We are certainly pressing them to continue to take measures to ensure the security of the premises [and] safety of our diplomatic and consular personnel who are in London, he said. This issue also came up in the India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue held in New Delhi on Wednesday, with the Indian side raising anti-India activities in UK, including pro-Khalistan extremism. The Indian side specifically conveyed its concerns on misuse of UKs asylum status by pro-Khalistani elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India and sought better cooperation and increased monitoring of UK-based extremists. Modi invited Sunak to the G20 Summit to be held in New Delhi in September. Sunak appreciated progress made under Indias G20 presidency and reiterated the UKs support to Indias initiatives. Modi conveyed greetings to Sunak and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi, and the two leaders agreed to remain in contact. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Mayawati on Thursday called for a high-level investigation into the encounter killing of mafioso-turned-gangster Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an accomplice, both wanted in Umesh Pal murder case. Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo and former CM Mayawati. Without expressing her opinion on the incident, the BSP chief said, Many types of discussions are underway on the killing of Prayagraj's Atiq Ahmed's son and another person in a police encounter today. People feel that their apprehension of a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident has come true. Therefore, a high-level inquiry is necessary so that the complete facts and truth of the incident can come before the public, Mayawati said. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav accused the ruling BJP of using 'fake encounters' to divert attention from 'real issues'. Yadav, a former UP chief minister, tweeted shortly after state police confirmed the killing of Asad Ahmad in an encounter in Jhansi district. "By conducting fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. The BJP does not believe in the court at all. Today's and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared," Yadav tweeted. Asad Ahmad encounter LIVE updates In July 2020, a team of Uttar Pradesh police officers went to arrest Vikas Dubey, a notorious gangster with a long criminal history. However, as the police team reached Dubey's village, they were ambushed by a large group of armed men. In the ensuing gunfight, eight police officers were killed, while Dubey managed to escape. After the incident, the UP police launched a massive manhunt and Dubey was eventually arrested in Madhya Pradesh. However, on the way back to Uttar Pradesh, the police vehicle carrying the gangster overturned, and he tried to escape, according to police. The police claimed that Dubey snatched a gun from one of the policemen and tried to flee. In the ensuing encounter, Dubey was shot dead by the police. The encounter was widely debated, with many questioning the circumstances surrounding Dubey's death. However, the police maintained that they had acted in self-defence and that the encounter was a legitimate use of force. In February this year, when UP police launched a manhunt to nab Atiq Ahmad's son and others named in the killing of Umesh Pal and his two police security guards, Dubey's encounter killing again became a hot topic of discussion. A BJP MP later hinted that Atiq Ahmad can meet the same fate as Vikas Dubey when the gangster-turned-politician was being brought to Prayagraj from Sabarmati jail. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Radical preacher Amritpal Singh, who is still out of the police dragnet, could possibly be hiding in Rajasthan, news agency PTI reported citing Punjab police. He was last seen on a Delhi street when a CCTV footage showed him in a different look, with his hair hanging loose and no turban. Punjab police have put up Amritpal Singh Wanted posters at various public places, including railway stations, in Gurdaspur and Batala. (PTI) Rajasthan Director-General of Police (DGP) Umesh Mishra said that the search operation was launched Wednesday night following information about Amritpal's likely presence in the Hanumangarh district bordering Punjab. The pro-Khalistani leader has been on the run since March 18 when the Punjab police launched a crackdown against him. The elusive preacher gave the police a slip when his cavalcade was intercepted in Punjab's Jalandhar district. Also read | After aide's arrest, Punjab Police's video message to Amritpal Singh: 'You can run, but' On Monday, Waris Punjab De chief close aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested from Amrtisar's Kathu Nangal area. Amritpal and Papalpreet travelled together, changing vehicles, as they escaped the chase by the police. From Punjab, they fled to Haryana, then to Delhi, and now probably to Rajasthan. Papalpreet faces four criminal cases, including one under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act and one for the Ajnala police station incident. The Punjab Police has increased its vigil across the state to nab the radical preacher. They have put up Amritpal Singh Wanted posters at various public places, including railway stations, in Gurdaspur and Batala. It also announced a reward for those giving information about the Waris Punjab De chief. (With inputs from agencies) SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON In an incident of accidental firing having no connection with Wednesday's Bathinda military station killings, a soldier died of a gunshot wound on Wednesday evening at around 4.30pm. The Army said there was no connection with the incident that took place at 4.30am at Bathinda Military Station in which 4 were killed. The soldier, in the second incident, was sent on sentry duty with his service weapon. The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to him. The wound was near his right temporal region. The incident seems to be of attempted suicide, the Army said in a statement. On April 11, the soldier returned from leave. The incident took place 12 hours after the Bathinda Military Station firing but has no connection with that, the Army said. (REUTERS) The incident took place about 12 hours after the Bathinda Military Station firing in which four jawans were killed. Bathinda Cantt Station House Officer (SHP) Gurdeep Singh said they received information regarding the death of the soldier on Wednesday evening. "We were informed by the Army and a case has been registered. Prima facie it appears to be an accidental firing case, said the SHO. The deceased was identified as Laghu Raj Shankar, said police The investigation is on into the earlier military station firing as Punjab Police registered an FIR against two unknown persons on the basis of the statement of Major Ashutosh Shukla, a witness in the incident. The four jawans were asleep in their rooms after their duty when two masked men in white kurta pyjamas attacked them with rifles and sharp-edged weapons. The INSAS rifle with cartridges has been found. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up former Indian Premier League (IPL) chairman Lalit Modi over his remarks against the judiciary made in social media posts and directed him to tender an unconditional apology on social media platforms and national newspapers. The Court remarked that the contemnor should not think that he is above the law. (HT file photo) The Court agreed to his suggestion to publish the apology in leading newspapers and social media platforms before the contempt petition against him is taken up next on April 24. We are not at all satisfied with the explanation, said a bench of justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar after going through an affidavit filed by Modi tendering an apology for a January 13 Instagram post where he made allegations of cases being fixed in judiciary. Also Read:Lalit Modi decides to sue Rahul Gandhi in UK court: Ill-informed or The Court had on March 3 sought his response after a contempt petition was filed against him by a senior member of the bar, Chander Uday Singh after taking permission of the Attorney General for India. The Court remarked that the contemnor should not think that he is above the law. Since the last date of hearing on March 3, Modi had posted a further tweet on March 30 causing additional damage to the judiciarys reputation. Even after notice of contempt is issued, the contemnor has again tweeted and tarnished the image of the Indian judiciary, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar said. Modi was represented by senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi who informed the Court that two tweets were published on March 30. The first was immediately withdrawn and the second came as a clarification. After going through the said tweets, the bench said, We are prima facie of the observation that even the clarification also would tarnish the image of the Indian judiciary. The Court insisted upon an unconditional apology and demanded a further affidavit giving an undertaking that the contemnor shall not engage in making such posts in future. Singhvi assured the bench that an unconditional apology shall be tendered with respect to both the tweets on all the social media platforms, wherever the alleged contemnor has followers and leading newspapers having wide circulation in Mumbai, Delhi Chennai, Kolkata and Bengaluru editions. The Court further recorded in its order, He (Singhvi) has also stated at the Bar that a further affidavit shall also be filed before this Court tendering unconditional apology as well as specifically stating that no such tweet shall be made in future which may tantamount even remotely tarnishing the image of the Indian judiciary. New Delhi/Port Louis, Apr 13 (UNI) Foreign Secretary Vinay Mohan Kwatra arrived in Mauritius on a three-day visit during which the entire gamut of bilateral ties would be reviewed. The Indian High Commission in a tweet said: Arrival of Foreign Secretary Shri Vinay Kwatra in Mauritius for a 3-day visit from 12-14 April 2023. Opportunity to review the entire gamut of India-Mauritius bilateral relations. In January last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Mauritian counterpart Pravind Jugnauth had jointly inaugurated an India-assisted social housing project in Mauritius virtually. They had also inaugurated a Civil Service College and an 8MW Solar PV Farm project in the Indian Ocean island nation. The Mauritian PM had visited India in April last year on an eight-day trip, accompanied by a high-level delegation. Besides holding talks in New Delhi, he had also visited Gujarat and Varanasi. Coincidentally, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is also visiting the eastern part of Africa currently, Uganda and Mozambique. UNI RN NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court asked all states and union territories to report on the number of crimes committed using unlicensed weapons and asked them to indicate how to remedy this menace that has serious consequences to a citizens right to life and the states duty to ensure administration of justice. The Supreme Court has asked states and union territories to report on the extent of the problem due to unlicensed weapons (AP File Photo) Dealing with a suo moto petition in a case from Uttar Pradesh, a bench of justces KM Joseph and BV Nagarathna said: The phenomenon of proliferation of unlicensed arms appears to be very common in several criminal cases. It has very serious consequences in terms of right to life and administration of justice. The court issued notice to all states and UTs seeking a response within three weeks to ascertain the extent of the problem faced across the country. The bench said the states should indicate the number of incidents involving use of unlicensed firearms and steps taken by the respective administrations and police establishments to deal with the menace. The judges came across the issue while dealing with a bail petition by Rajendra Singh who was involved in murdering a man using an unlicensed gun. His bail plea was rejected by the Allahabad high court against which he approached the top court. The court sought to go to the root of the matter and in February called for a response from the Uttar Pradesh Director General of Police on crimes reported involving unlicensed arms. It noted that possessing firearms is a recognised right in the US Constitution but the founding fathers of our Constitution consciously chose not to provide such a right. On Thursday, the Court wished to expand the scope of the petition further to ascertain the position in other states and to pass necessary directions to curb this menace. It asked the police chiefs of the states/UTs to provide the relevant statistics required by the Court. The bench had in February appointed senior advocate S Nagamuthu to assist in the matter as amicus curiae along with advocate Anish Shah. Nagamuthu suggested to the Court that response should be taken not from states alone but the Centre as well since the Arms Act is a central legislation. The Court issued notice to Union Ministry of Home Affairs and sought an affidavit indicating suggestions on strengthening the law to curb the menace of unlicensed weapons. Although the bench was initially of the view that since the menace prevailed more in the northern belt of the country, responses may be called from states such as UP, Bihar, Punjab and others. But the amicus curiae suggested that even states where no incidents are reported could be a learning lesson as their inputs on keeping the problem under control could serve helpful for other states. The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside a Calcutta high court order for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into an alleged attack on a convoy of Union minister of state for home Nisith Pramanik in West Bengal in February this year. MoS Nisith Pramaniks convoy was attacked in Cooch Behar on February 25. (PTI) A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud also asked the high court to consider the entirely of the matter after the Bengal government claimed that portions of the affidavit filed by the police did not find mention in the high courts March 28 order, which concluded that the state is not likely to conduct a fair investigation. We set aside the March 28 order and restore the case on the file of the high court, the bench, also comprising justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala, said. It also allowed the state to place the updated status report, which was presented in the top court on Thursday, before the high court. On February 25, Pramaniks convoy was allegedly attacked by Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers when he was on his way to attend a political programme in Cooch Behar district in north Bengal. More than 20 people were arrested after the incident. Leader of the opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, later moved the high court, seeking a CBI probe into the incident. On March 28, the high court ordered transfer of the case from the state police to CBI. Appearing for the Bengal government in the top court, senior advocates Abhishek Manu Singhvi and Gopal Sankaranarayanan took the judges through the affidavit that was filed in the high court. Following this, the bench said: In the course of discussion, the high court has adverted to certain extracts in the affidavit of the Superintendent of Police, Coochbehar district. The high court has not appreciated other aspects of the affidavit as we have been shown the affidavit. The bench also noted that 24 people, including workers of the ruling TMC, were arrested in the case. It asked the high court to consider the further material to be placed by the state and then take a view on whether the state had made out a case of fair investigation or whether a CBI investigation was still needed. Adhikaris counsel and senior advocate PS Patwalia read out portions of the high court order to explain why the petitioner did not expect a fair probe in the case. He said that Cooch Behar police refused to register an FIR on the basis of a complaint by a CISF official on the date of the incident and instead lodged it two days later. The case was a serious one as the ministers car was attacked and petrol bombs were hurled at the convoy, he said. Welcoming the top courts order, TMC Rajya Sabha member Sukhendu Sekhar Roy said: If federal agencies are asked to investigate each and every case relating to law and order, then what will the states own police force do? If every case goes to CBI, the BJP will be encouraged to approach courts with false allegations. We see the Supreme Courts order as a blow to this tendency of the BJP. BJP leaders were busy with preparations for Union minister Amit Shahs visit to the state on Friday and were not available for a comment. Tamil Nadus backward classes commission has sought six extra months time to submit a report regarding the 10.5% internal reservation for the Vanniyar community, chief minister MK Stalin said on Thursday in the state assembly. In November 2021, the Madras HC held that the quota is unconstitutional. (Facebook | MK Stalin) The DMK government went up to the Supreme Court to fight this case. Now, based on the commissions request, the time to submit a report has been extended, the chief minister said. The demand for grants for the department of Backward Classes, Most Backward Classes and Minorities Welfare was taken up for discussion on Thursday in the ongoing assembly. The chief minister was responding to the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), a caste-based Vanniyar party in alliance with the principal opposition AIADMK, who blamed the ruling DMK for giving the commission more time. Also Read:Stalin writes to non-BJP CMs on time limit for guvs to clear bills PMK floor leader GK Mani said that a six-month time period will put the Vanniyar community at a disadvantage ahead of the next academic year. PMKs founder S Ramadoss in a statement demanded that the chief minister enact a new legislation of providing a 10.5% reservation for Vanniyars by May 31 ahead of admission for the next academic year. The law carving out 10.5% internal reservation for Vanniyars from within the 20% reservation for the Most Backward Classes (MBCs) in Tamil Nadu was introduced by the AIADMK on 26 February 2021 just hours before the model code of conduct came into effect for the 2021 assembly elections. The 10.5% internal quota was applicable in public education and employment. After the DMK formed the government in May 2021, they issued a government order in June to fully implement the reservation following which 35 petitioners from various castes in MBCs, challenged it in the Madras high court, arguing that the 10.5% internal reservation will leave little for the 115 other castes under the MBCs. In November 2021, the Madras HC held that the quota is unconstitutional. The DMK-led Tamil Nadu government, PMK and several others had filed appeals against the high court order in the Supreme Court. Last March, the Supreme Court upheld the Madras HC verdict and struck down this law saying that caste alone cannot be the exclusive basis to grant quota within a reserved category. Everyone is aware about how the previous AIADMK government hastily brought this law only for political reasons without appropriate data, so it was quashed, Stalin said. Since it was rejected by the top court and the high court, the PMK has been demanding that the DMK enact a new law after conducting a caste-based census. On Wednesday, the PMK legislators had walked out of the assembly on this matter after the speaker M Appavu refused to let them speak on it saying that it could be discussed on Thursday since the commissions department was coming up for discussion. Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday will unveil a 125-feet-tall statue of Dr B R Ambedkar on the banks of Hussainsagar, marking the latters 132nd birth anniversary. Telangana chief minister KCR to unveil Dr BR Ambedkars statue on Friday. (HTfile) The iconic structure of Ambedkar, which will set another landmark for the state, is claimed to be the tallest statue in the country ever built for the architect of Indian Constitution with an overall height of 175-ft, including a 50-ft-high circular base resembling the edifice of Parliament of India. An official from the chief ministers office said the statue weighs 474 tonnes, while 360 tonnes of stainless steel was used for building the armature structure of the statue, 114 tonnes of bronze was used for casting of the statue. Interestingly, the statue was designed by renowned sculptors, Ram Vanji Sutar (98) and his son Anil Ram Sutar (65) of Ram Sutar Art Creations in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, who also designed several monumental sculptures, including the worlds tallest statue the Statue of Unity (597 feet) of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel in Gujarat. The overall cost of the project was estimated at 146.50 crore and the construction was taken up by KPC Projects Limited as per the agreement concluded on June 3, 2021. The pedestal on which the statue is installed has three floors with a total built-up area of 26,258 sq ft. This structure will house a museum which has several articles and pictures depicting the life history of Ambedkar and a 100-seater auditorium for presenting audio-visuals of Ambedkars life. A library will also be built in due course, the official said. The entire premises spread over 11 acres has been beautified with landscape and greenery in 2.93 acres, besides providing parking facility for about 450 cars. There are two lifts for visitors reaching the top of the pedestal to reach the feet of Ambedkar. Incidentally, the statue is adjacent to the newly-built state secretariat, which has also been named after Ambedkar. The secretariat complex will be inaugurated on April 30, the CMO official said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The Telangana high court on Thursday directed that the Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the Andhra Pradesh police not to take punitive action against 15 employees of the Margadarsi Chit Funds Private Limited (MCFPL), who were grilled by the agency in connection with the alleged irregularities in the company, people familiar with the matter said. Telangana HC directs Andhra CID not to take punitive action against Margadarsi employees. (Shutterstock) Acting on a lunch-motion petition filed by Margadarsi Chit Funds, a high court bench headed by Justice B Vijaysen Reddy ordered that the CID police should not arrest the employees in the name of non-cooperation. The company representatives alleged that the CID authorities, who had conducted day-long raids in its headquarters in Hyderabad on Wednesday, threatened to arrest them, if they refused to succumb to their pressure. Counsel for the Andhra CID Govind Reddy said the searches in the Margadarsi company headquarters were completed and no arrests were made. The high court posted the case to April 28 for further hearing. An official familiar with the development said the CID authorities issued fresh summons to Mardarasi Chit Funds managing director Sailaja Kiran for appearance before them for questioning again on Friday. Notices would also be issued to Margadarsi chairman and media baron Ch Ramoji Rao for appearing before the investigating officer soon, he said. On Wednesday, the CID authorities asked central probe agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED), the Income Tax (I-T) department and Serious Fraud Investigating Office (SFIO) authorities to probe the alleged irregularities in the Margadarsi Chit Fund. The CID officials led by additional director general of police N Sanjay met the authorities oc Central agencies in Delhi and lodged a complaint against Margadarsi for alleged violations of the law after it found cash deposit records of the group were bloated, Sanjay told reporters that the group raised deposits without permission of the RBI, and diverted the amount collected from the depositors to speculate in the risky stock market. He also said the CID suspected that the people making deposits in the chit-fund company could be common people or fictitious. He added that while there were no complainants in the case, the Andhra Pradesh government could not be a silent spectator to these alleged violations. The ADG also said the chit fund company had not been filing its balance sheets under the Chit Fund Act but under the Companies Act, and the state CID considered this an irregularity as public funds were being handled by private entities. The CID had filed seven FIRs against the group and arrested five people, he said. Meanwhile, Margadarsi Chit Funds, in a statement to the media, denied the charges levelled by the CID authorities. The entire exercise is part of a large scale conspiracy to attack the financial roots of the company. The CID authorities are trying to create some sort of fear psychosis among the subscribers of the chit fund company, a company spokesperson said in the statement. He further alleged that the CID authorities were stalling the day-to-day activities of Margadarsi Chit Funds and were not allowing the fresh subscribes to put in their money. We shall fight the legal battle against the deliberate attempt by the Andhra government to target the company, the spokespersons said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday shot dead the son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, Asad Ahmad, who is wanted in a high-profile murder case, during a gun battle in the states Jhansi district, sparking a political storm over the controversial encounter. Police personnel inspect a two-wheeler at the site of the encounter in which jailed mafia Atiq Ahmad's son Asad was killed by the UP STF, in Jhansi, on Thursday. (PTI) Police said the encounter occurred at 12.45pm when two teams intercepted Asad, 19, and Ghulam Hasan, his 40-year-old accomplice, on the Kanpur-Jhansi highway. Both were absconding after being named in the murder of Umesh Pal, a lawyer who was a key witness in a sensational 2005 murder and who was gunned down along with two police guards outside his home in Prayagraj on February 24. Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case and were carrying a reward of 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with an UP STF team, said special director general (law and order) Prashant Kumar. The encounter which came at the same time Atiq Ahmad and his brother Khalid Azeem, alias Ashraf, were being produced in a Prayagraj court triggered a political controversy with the Opposition condemning the lack of due process and demanding a probe into the incident. But the government backed the police, and chief minister Yogi Adityanath praised the special task force that shot dead Asad and Ghulam. Congratulations to UP STF, this was the fate of the killers of Umesh Pal Advocate and police personnel, tweeted deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya in Hindi. This is the third controversial encounter connected to the Umesh Pal murder case. On February 27, a 26-year-old man called Mohammed Arbaaz, who allegedly drove Umesh Pals assailants, was gunned down in Prayagraj. Then, on March 6, Vijay Chowdhury, who allegedly fired the first shot at Umesh Pal, was killed in another encounter, also in Prayagraj. Both these people were identified from multiple surveillance camera grabs after Umesh Pals murder, said Kumar. Umesh Pal was the prime witness in the murder of Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal in Prayagraj on January 25, 2005, a case in which Atiq Ahmad and Khalid Azeem were the prime accused. Armed men opened fire on Umesh Pal and his two police guards outside his residence in Prayagraj on February 24. On a complaint filed by Umeshs wife Jaya Pal, a first information report was registered against 27 people, including Atiq Ahmad, his wife Shaista Parveen and sons Umar, Ali and Asad, and others. They were booked under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting, armed with deadly weapon), 149 (unlawful assembly), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code and provisions of the Explosive Substances Act and the Criminal Law Amendment Act. Since then, Asad was on the run, police said. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused, said Kumar. Visuals showed two bodies spread next to a motorbike at the site of the encounter. An ambulance later took them away. UP STF additional director general (ADG), Amitabh Yash, who was monitoring the case, said the police team recovered a bike, a British Bulldog revolver and a Walther pistol from the spot. Umesh Pals family welcomed the development. His wife, Jaya Pal, said she wanted to thank Adityanath and that justice has been served. Asad who had no other criminal charges against him was caught on CCTV cameras when Umesh Pal was killed and was on the run for the past 50 days, police said. In one video, Asad was allegedly seen coming out of a white SUV and firing indiscriminately on Umesh Pal and his police guards, said police. Kumar said the STF team tried to intercept Asad and Ghulam near Paricha Dham on the Kanpur-Jhansi highway on a specific tip-off about their movement. Asad and Mohd Ghulam opened fire on the STF team when they tried to intercept their motorcycle and the police were forced to open fire in retaliation. The duo suffered bullet injuries in retaliatory firing and died on the spot, said Kumar. Three more alleged assailants in the Umesh Pal case remain on the run, he added. This is not the first time that a police encounter in UP has generated a controversy. In July 2020, the state police shot dead gangster Vikas Dubey during what they said was a botched escape attempt. But the manner of the accident in which the car Dubey was in overturned and the encounter sparked accusations that the incident was staged. A judicial panel later cleared the administration. A resident of Prayagrajs Mehndauri area, Ghulam Hasan was the brother of former Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) minority cell district president Rahil Hasan. Ghulam was named in eight criminal cases and, in 2013, was booked for the murder of a municipal contractor. The encounter took place even as Atiq Ahmed and his brother were being produced before an MP/MLA court in Prayagraj in connection with the Umesh Pal murder. I am totally reduced to dust, but please dont trouble the women and children of my family now, the 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party lawmaker told reporters from inside a police van. A police officer said on the condition of anonymity that some intelligence inputs suggested that Asad was planning to free his father who has been moved from Guajrats Sabarmati Jail to Prayagraj twice in a month -- from police custody, and came down to Jhansi to plan the escape. Opposition parties raised questions over the killing and demanded a high-level probe. Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the Bharatiya Janata Party government was trying to divert attention from real issues with fake encounters and BSP chief Mayawati said the killing could be a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident. But the government brushed aside these concerns. After the encounter, CM Yogi Adityanath held a meeting on law and order. He praised the UP STF as well as the DGP, special DG (law and order) and the entire team, said an officer in the CMs office. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday afternoon joined Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav in criticising Uttar Pradesh's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party after Asad Ahmad - an accused in the murder of Umesh Pal, whose father Atiq Ahmad is named in the same case - died in an encounter with UP Police. AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi. (PTI Photo) Speaking in Telangana's Nizamabad, he asked if 'the BJP (will) also shoot those who killed Junaid and Nasir' - a reference to two men killed allegedly by cow vigilantes in February; their charred bodies were found in a SUV in Haryana. "Will the BJP also shoot those who killed Junaid and Nasir? Will the BJP also do encounter killing of those who killed Junaid and Nasir? No, because you (the BJP) do encounters in the name of religion," a furious Owaisi said. "You want to weaken the rule of law... do 'encounter' of the Constitution." "Why do we have courts... the law... why is there CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure), IPC (Indian Penal Code)... why are there judges? You have just decided to do 'encounter killings'. What will judges do then? This is their job!" READ | Asad Ahmad killing: Akhilesh Yadav slams BJP, Yogi for 'false encounter' "Your job is to catch the killers... if someone kills, send them to jail," he added, and then took a swipe at the BJP over the controversial 'bulldozer justice' practice, saying, "If someone kills... destroy their homes with bulldozers." READ | 'Asad, aide were travelling: UP cops on Atiq Ahmad son's killing Asad Ahmad and another individual - identified as Ghulam - were shot dead in the encounter with UP Police's Special Task Force. The cops said two foreign-made weapons - a British Bulldog revolver and a Walther P88 pistol were recovered from the scene. Asad and Atiq are wanted in the killing of Umesh Pal, who was a witness to the murder of a Bahujan Samaj Party lawmaker Raju Pal and two cops assigned to his security; they were shot outside the BSP leader's home in Prayagraj in 2005. Asad Ahmad's killing has been praised by UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy, Keshav Prasad Maurya, who hailed the police action as 'historic'. READ | Asad Ahmad killing a 'message to...': UP deputy CM. Yogi praises cops The encounter has, however, been slammed by opposition leader Akhilesh Yadav; the Samajwadi Party boss accused the BJP of staging a 'fake encounter' to divert attention from other issues less than a month before civic body polls. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON An apparent stone scoreboard has been discovered at the Chichen Itza archaeological site in southeastern Mexico, archaeologists have said. The piece measures just over 32 cm (12.6 inches) in diameter and weighs 40 kilos (around 90 pounds). It dates from between 800 and 900 AD. Archaeologists have discovered a stone showing Mayan hieroglyphs. (INAH/Handout via REUTERS) It displays Mayan hieroglyphic writing surrounding two players standing next to a ball, according to Mexico's National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH). "In this Mayan site, it is rare to find hieroglyphic writing, let alone a complete text," archaeologist Francisco Perez, who is coordinating investigations in the Chichanchob complex, said. "The limestone circle, which has Mayan hieroglyphics on its edge and in the middle of it of Mayan dignitaries playing Pok Ta Pok, the pre-Columbian ball game, can change the history of the site by providing a new element that we were not aware of," Marco Antonio Santos Ramirez, director of the Chichen Itza archaeological site, said. (Also Read | Gond painting from Madhya Pradesh receives GI tag) The Pok Ta Pok ball game was a traditional practice of Mesoamerican peoples. Santos Ramirez said that the discovery was made thanks to investment in archaeological sites under President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's government. INAH researchers are preparing to take high-resolution pictures of the stone for detailed study. They are also to prepare for its conservation. What is Chichen Itza? The Chichen Itza complex has been declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is one of the main archaeological centers of the Mayan civilization in the Yucatan Peninsula. About 2 million people visit the site every year. The Maya civilization was one of the most advanced to arise in Mesoamerica. The earliest Maya settlements were built in about 1,000 B.C.. Santos Ramirez told the EFE news agency that the text on the newly discovered stone could be the last hieroglyphics that reflect the Mayan culture of late antiquity, or around 650-900 A.D. "Mayan classical literature stops at around 900 AD, during the glory days of Chichen Itza," Ramirez said. He said that the finding could provide new information on pre-Columbian Mayan society. In May 2021, Lopez Obrador apologized to Mexico's indigenous Maya communities for "abuses" committed by "national and foreign authorities." Indigenous Maya people number almost 1.5 million people in southeastern Mexico and over 7 million in neighbouring Guatemala, where they make up just over 40% of the population. The Jio studios hosted a star-studded event at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai on Wednesday. The production house announced several upcoming films and web series at the occasion, attended by celebrities like Kriti Sanon, Hrithik Roshan, Aamir Khan, Abhishek Bachchan, Shraddha Kapoor, Sobhita Dhulipala, Mouni Roy, Shanaya Kapoor, Disha Patani, Rakul Preet Singh, Varun Dhawan, Tiger Shroff, Shahid Kapoor, Mithun Chakraborty, Yami Gautam, and others. They walked the red carpet at the event dressed in stylish and elegant ensembles. Keep scrolling to find out who wore what. Kriti Sanon, Sobhita Dhulipala, Hrithik Roshan, Shahid Kapoor attend Jio Studios' event. (Also Read | Deepika Padukone's winter outfit at the airport leaves fans confused over her fashion choice in summer. Watch) Who wore what to Jio Studios' event Kriti Sanon Kriti Sanon walked the red carpet at the Jio Studios' event dressed in a wine-red-coloured ensemble. The star has served one jaw-dropping look after the other during her past few appearances on the red carpet, and this look also garnered a full score from us. She wore a shimmering sequin embellished crop top and a high-waisted bodycon skirt featuring a thigh-high slit. Minimal makeup, side-parted wavy open locks, strapped heels, and dainty accessories completed her look. Kriti attended the event with her sister Nupur Sanon. Shraddha Kapoor Shraddha Kapoor walked the red carpet at the Jio Studios' event in a shimmering red sequinned saree. The pre-draped six yards feature a halter-neck cropped blouse, a pleated floor-sweeping pallu, a thigh-high slit on the skirt, and a long train at the back. Side-parted open wavy locks, striking makeup picks, high heels, and minimal accessories gave the finishing touch. Hrithik Roshan Hrithik Roshan looked dapper at the Jio Studios' event in a sleek suit set featuring a round-neck black tee, a grey-coloured pinstriped blazer, and dark grey pants. He styled the ensemble with a back-swept hairdo, stylish loafers, and a clean-shaven look. Shahid Kapoor Shahid Kapoor wore a black printed pantsuit to the star-studded event. It features a notch lapel blazer, a matching button-down shirt, and sleek pants with a flared hem. He completed the look with a side-parted messy hairdo, a trimmed beard, and black dress shoes. Sobhita Dhulipala Sobhita Dhulipala opted for a glamorous all-black look by Gucci, featuring a cropped double-breasted blazer, a collared cropped shirt styled with a necktie, high-waisted straught-fitted pants, and a G-string thong visible on the waist. She completed the outfit with embellished strappy high heels, dangling earrings, a high ponytail, minimal makeup, and statement rings. Yami Gautam Yami Gautam looked magical as she arrived on the red carpet with her husband, Aditya Dhar. She draped herself in an ivory net saree decked with intricate applique work. She teamed the six yards with a plunging neck embellished blouse, hoop earrings, a box clutch, open tresses, on-point glam, and high heels. Shanaya Kapoor Shanaya Kapoor made heads turn at the starry event in a light blue mini dress featuring shimmering sequin adornments, a gathered design, a cowl neckline, spaghetti straps, a bodycon silhouette, and a short hem length. She rounded it off with strappy high heels, side-parted open locks, rouged cheekbones, dewy skin, glossy blush pink lips, and dainty ear studs. Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff Varun Dhawan and Tiger Shroff posed for the paparazzi at the Jio Studios' event. The two stars chose sleek black suits for the occasion, styled with stylish accessories. While the highlight of Varun's look was his sheer shirt, Tiger glammed up his style with emerald-layered chains and nerdy glasses. New Delhi, Apr 13 (UNI) Aam Aadmi Party Senior Leader and Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh will file a criminal defamation case against the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials for allegedly falsely naming him in its chargesheet. Sanjay Singh accused ED of targeting him after he raised his voice against the agency's actions in the parliament. He had given a speech on ED-CBI in the parliament on December 12, last year, and his name appeared in ED's chargesheet on January 6. Singh also mentioned that he will file a criminal defamation case against ED director, officer who signed the charge sheet, and IO, AAP said in a statement. Singh also alleged that he had sought an appointment with ED 11 times to give information on alleged Adani scam. However, the facts were received with great difficulty after two months, it said. Addressing a press conference on Thursday, Singh revealed the shocking truth about how the ED is involved in making false cases without any facts or evidence, and how his name was included in the ED's charge sheet. After presenting hard evidence that completely clears his name from the EDs allegations, the Rajya Sabha member called for a fight for justice and truth against the corrupt practices of the ED, it added. He urged all citizens who have been victimised by the agencys false allegations to inform him. He said, As the Privileges Committee of the Parliament has asked me to expose how the ED is fabricating false cases, I will bring your case and information before the Parliament of India's Privileges Committee. It's time to hold the ED accountable for its misuse of power and false accusations. UNI CM GNK Baisakhi 2023: One of the largest festivals of the Sikh community, Baisakhi announces the beginning of the harvest season. Every year, Baisakhi is celebrated with a whole lot of pomp and grandeur all over the country. Especially observed in Punjab, Baisakhi brings the promise of a better tomorrow and the hope of prosperity, happiness and wealth. This is the time when people get together to be with their families, friends, near and dear ones. They celebrate the day together and relish Baisakhi-special dishes together and celebrate the start of the harvest season. Baisakhi, also known as Vaisakhi, is observed in the state of Haryana as well. Baisakhi 2023: Date, history, significance of Punjab's harvest festival(Shutterstock ) This is the special time of the year again. From Poila Baisakh in West Bengal and Assam to Baisakhi in Punjab and Haryana, states of India will welcome the new year. As we gear up to celebrate Baisakhi , here are a few things to know about this special day. ALSO READ: Baisakhi, Bohag Bihu, Vishu, Puthandu 2023: All about spring harvest festivals Date: This year, Baisakhi will be celebrated on April 14. According to Drik Panchang, the Baisakhi Sankranti moment is 3:12PM. History: In 1699, Guru Gobind Singh, the tenth and last Sikh Guru established the Khalsa also known as the pure one. He ended the difference between the higher and the lower caste communities in Sikhs and announced that all humans are equal. He also put an end to the Guru tradition and Guru Granth Sahib was declared as the guide and the holy book of Sikhism, which is followed by everyone. Hence, Baisakhi , beside being celebrated as the start of the harvest season, is also observed as the special day when Khalsa was declared. Significance: On this day, Sikhs celebrate with a lot of enthusiasm. People visit their place of worship Gurudwaras, and take part in nagar kirtan, the processions carried out in the streets. They also decorate the Gurudwaras and seek blessings. Kada prasad is distributed among the devotees, and people celebrate the day with their near and dear ones. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON The much-awaited Bohag Bihu is just a day away. The 7-day harvest festival that marks the beginning of Assamese New Year is celebrated with much enthusiasm by people of this North-eastern state. Also known as Rongali Bihu, the festival of joy and abundance, marks the start of the seeding season. The celebrations include various cultural festivals, folk dances, Bihu songs, traditional foods like Ghila Pitha, Poka Mithoi, Til Laru, Narikolor Laru among many other things. The starting of the Hindu lunisolar calendar is celebrated across the country though the traditions differ slightly with each state. Baisakhi, Vishu, Puthandu, Pana Sankranti, Poila Baisakh are among the harvest festivals that are celebrated around this time of the year. (Also read: Bohag Bihu 2023: Date, history, significance, 7-day celebration of the Assamese New Year) Bohag Bihu 2023: This year Bohag Bihu begins on April 14 and the celebrations will last till April 20. (Pinterest) This year Bohag Bihu begins on April 14 and the celebrations will last till April 20. People meet and greet their friends and relatives on this day and exchange the white rectangular piece of handwoven cloth called Gomosa or Gamucha which usually has a red border on three sides. Here's a compilation of wishes, images, and messages you can share with your friends and family on the occasion of Bohag Bihu or Rongali Bihu. Happy Bihu! Let this Bihu give you the strength to do all that you dreamed to do last year but couldn't dare to. Happy Bohag Bihu! Let this year be filled with joy, laughter, happiness and all the things that are truly good. Bohag Bihu is being celebrated from April 14-20 this year Rongali Bihu stands for new and fresh. Life is always new and fresh. Let us strive to make all days Bihu. I hope this Rongali Bihu will bring cheer, prosperity and peace in your life. Let us pray that we gain enough strength to accept the highs and lows of life with equanimity. Bihu 2023: The 7-day harvest festival that marks the beginning of Assamese New Year Look for pleasure, look for life, and look for smile that will spread through your life! Bihu is one of such festival which empowers with all the power. Happy Rongali Bihu! Wish you a very Happy Bohag Bihu. May your life be as colourful and joyful as the festival of Bihu. Bohag Bihu marks the beginning of the seeding phase. Here is this beautiful festival with the beautiful spring! Kill those negative wishes with positivity in whatever you aspire. Those moments of anguish can be burnt by bringing in love and joy in the hearts. Follow more stories on Facebook & Twitter Poila Baisakh falls on April 15 this year. It marks the beginning of the Bengali New Year. The Bengali community in India, Bangladesh and across the globe get together with friends and family to celebrate this day with much fanfare. People clean and decorate their homes, wear new clothes, visit temples to seek blessings, make beautiful rangolis or alponas, prepare delicious sweet and savoury dishes, and more. The day also marks the beginning of the financial year for the Bengali business class. The businessmen worship Lord Ganesha and Goddess Lakshmi, and shopkeepers invite regular customers to distribute sweets and calendars to invite good fortune. Happy Poila Baisakh 2023: Subho Nobo Borsho wishes, images, messages, and greetings. (HT Photo) (Also Read | Baisakhi, Bohag Bihu, Vishu and Puthandu 2023: All about spring harvest festivals celebrated in India) Happy Poila Baisakh to you and your family. (HT Photo) If you and your loved ones are celebrating Poila Baisakh, you can make it special by sending them wishes and images on WhatsApp, Facebook and other social media platforms. Check out our list of messages, statuses and greetings below. Poila Baisakhi 2023: Subho Nobo Borsho Wishes, Images, Messages, Greetings and Status May all the rasgullas fill your life with a lot of sweetness and happiness. Subho Nobo Borsho. Poila Baisakh falls on Saturday, April 15. (HT Photo) On the joyous occasion of Poila Boishakh, here's praying that God blesses you with good health, wealth, peace and prosperity. Subho Nobo Borsho. Open your arms and welcome the New Year with a smile on your face. Wishing you a prosperous and Happy Poila Baisakh. Poila Baisakh marks the beginning of Bengali New Year. (HT Photo) This Nobo Borsho, let us hope for a bright, peaceful, and healthy future. Happy Bengali New Year. Warm greetings of Poila Baisakh to you and your family. May your New Year be as sweet as the rasgullas and your smile. Happy Poila Baisakh, my dear friend. Poila Baisakh is celebrated by the Bengali community in India, Bangladesh, and across the globe. (HT Photo) Here's extending my warm wishes to you and your family on the joyous day of the Bengali New Year. Happy Poila Boishakh. Let's welcome this New Year with open hearts and minds. I wish that you and your family are blessed with success, happiness and prosperity. Happy Poila Baisakh. People clean and decorate their homes on Poila Baisakh. (HT Photo) The festive occasion of Poila Baisakh brings your way abundant fortune and prosperity. Get ready to welcome it with open arms. Subho Nobo Borsho. May this New Year usher in a new dawn, hope, peace, joy and happiness. Happy Bengali New Year. The day also marks the beginning of the financial year for the Bengali community. (HT Photo) Wishing you and your family a wonderful Poila Baisakh. May all your dreams come true, your aspirations find wings, and you feel loved wherever you go. Vishu 2023: The special time of the year is here. Everywhere in the country, during this time, the new year is celebrated. In Kerala, the first day of the month of Medam of the Malayalam calendar is celebrated as Vishu. Observed on April 15, Vishu brings with itself the hope of a better tomorrow and the promise of a prosperous year ahead. Throughout the country, this time is celebrated with a whole lot of pomp and grandeur. While West Bengal and Assam celebrate Poila Baishak, Punjab and Haryana observe Baisakhi. Puthandu is observed in Tamil Nadu. Vishu is the time of the year when Malayalis decorate various auspicious things in front of their homes and watch it the first thing in the morning. Vishu 2023: Best wishes, images to share with loved ones They celebrate the day by relishing Sadhya a platter of traditional dishes made at home. Elders also give pocket money to the children on this day. People deck up in new clothes and gift their loved ones as well. As we gear up to celebrate the auspicious day, here are a few wishes, images and messages to share with your near and dear ones. ALSO READ: Vishu 2023: Date, history, significance and celebration of Malayalam New Year The special time of the year is here. Let's welcome the new year with open arms. Happy Vishu. The new year stands before us, like a chapter in a book, waiting to be written. We can help write that story by setting goals. Melody Beattie Vishu is an auspicious day for Malayalis. Happy Vishu to you and your loved ones. May this year bring happiness and prosperity in your lives. You are never too old to set another goal, or to dream a new dream. C.S. Lewis Vishu will be celebrated on April 15. Lets relish on sadhya and love our loved ones a little more this year. Happy Vishu. There is nothing magical about the flip of the calendar, but it represents a clean break, a new hope, and a blank canvas." Jason Soroski People relish on sadhya during Vishu. For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice. T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets Elders give pocket money to children during Vishu. Happy Vishu. May the lord bless us with happiness and hope on this day. Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, Whispering 'it will be happier'... Alfred Lord Tennyson Happy Vishu to everyone! Let's celebrate this auspicious day of Vishu with mirth and joy, for the new year will bring lots of success and prosperity for us. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Puthandu, also known as Tamil New Year, is the first day of the Tamil calendar and is celebrated by the Tamil community in India and other parts of the world. It usually falls on April 14th and marks the beginning of a new year according to the Hindu solar calendar. Puthandu is a time of celebration, feasting, and exchanging gifts with loved ones. As families and friends come together to mark the occasion, lip-smacking recipes play a central role in the festivities. From the delicious sweet and savory dishes to the traditional "mango pachadi," there is a wide variety of dishes that are prepared on this day. Here are some of the popular Puthandu recipes that you can make and enjoy with your loved ones on this auspicious day. (Also read: Happy Puthandu 2023: Best wishes SMS, WhatsApp messages, quotes, Facebook status to wish loved ones on Tamil New Year ) As families and friends come together to mark the occasion, lip-smacking recipes play a central role in the Puthandu festivities. (Pinterest) Popular Puthandu recipes: 1. Mango Pachadi (Recipe by Chef Tarla Dalal) Mango Pachadi(Pinterest) Ingredients: 1 onion , chopped 1 mango , chopped 50 gms jaggery (gur) 1/2 tsp chilli powder 1/4 tsp turmeric powder (haldi) 1/4 tsp mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) salt to taste 1 tsp oil Method: 1. Heat the oil in a kadai and add the mustard seeds. 2. When the seeds crackle, add the onions and saute till they turn golden brown. 3. Add the mango pieces and saute for 3 minutes. 4. Add the turmeric powder, chilli powder, salt and some water, mix well and cook till the mangoes are 3/4th cooked. 5. Add the jaggery, mix well and cook till the jaggery dissolves. 6. Serve hot. 2. Coconut Payasam (Recipe by Chef Pankaj Bhadouria) Coconut Payasam(pinterest) Ingredients: 3/4 cup tender coconut pulp cup coconut water 250 ml milk 1/4 cup condensed milk 1 tbsp cardamom powder 1/2 cup coconut milk dried rose petals for garnish pistachios for garnish Method: 1. Blend tender coconut pulp with coconut water and make a puree. 2. Chop the remaining tender coconut pulp into small pieces. 3. Heat milk in a pot and reduce till half. Add condensed milk, sugar and mix well. 4. Transfer the milk mixture to a bowl and cardamom powder. 5. Add thick coconut milk, fresh coconut puree, chopped tender coconut and mix. 6. Garnish with dried rose petals and pistachios. Coconut Payasam is ready to serve. 3. Poriyal (Recipe by Chef Tarla Dalal) Poriyal(Pinterest) Ingredients: 1 tbsp coconut oil or any other refined oil 1 tsp mustard seeds ( rai / sarson) 1 tsp urad dal (split black lentils) 1 tsp chana dal (split bengal gram) 1 dry pandi chilli , broken into peices 1 tsp finely chopped green chillies 1/4 tsp asafoetida (hing) 1/4 cup finely chopped onions 2 1/2 cups chopped french beans salt to taste 6 to 7 curry leaves (kadi patta) 1/4 cup freshly grated coconut Method: 1. To make beans poriyal, heat the oil in a kadhai and add the mustard seeds. 2. When the seeds crackle, add urad dal, chana dal, pandi chili, green chillies, asafoetida, onions and saute on a medium flame for 2 minutes, while stirring continuously. 3. Add the french beans, salt and cup of water, mix well and cover and cook on a medium flame for 8 to 10 minutes till they are cooked. 4. Add the curry leaves, coconut, mix gently and cook for another 2 minutes. 5. Serve beans poriyal hot. 4. Rasam (Recipe by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor) Rasam(Pinterest) Ingredients: Split Pigeon Pea soaked 4 tablespoons Turmeric powder teaspoon Rasam masala powder 1 teaspoons Asafoetida teaspoon Black pepper powder teaspoon Tamarind pulp 2 tablespoons Tomatoes chopped 2 medium Salt to taste Freshly chopped coriander leaves 4 tablespoons For Tempering Ghee 2 tablespoons Mustard seeds teaspoon Asafoetida a pinch Curry leaves 5-6 Method: 1. Pressure cook the pigeon peas in 4 cups water with half the turmeric powder till 4-5 whistles. 2. Heat some water in a non-stick pan. Add remaining turmeric powder, rasam masala powder, asafoetida, pepper powder, tamarind pulp and tomatoes, mix well and bring to a boil. 3. Reduce heat and cook till the liquid becomes half the volume. Mash the cooked dal and strain the water. 4. Add the strained dal water to the tamarind mixture along with salt and chopped coriander and mix well. 5. For tempering, heat ghee in a non-stick tempering pan. Add mustard seeds and let them splutter. Add asafoetida and curry leaves and switch off heat. 6. Add the tempering to the rasam, mix well and cook on medium heat for 4-5 minutes. 7. Serve hot with steamed rice. Ask ChatGPT to recommend places in Mallorca not yet overrun by tourists and it will suggest the well-known sights and traditional eateries that feature in every travel guide. The artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot recommends visiting Palma's cathedral, the popular and picturesque town of Soller and the centuries-old ice cream parlor Ca'n Joan de s'Aigo. In other words, don't rely on ChatGPT if you're looking for hidden gems off the tourist trail. Will robots replace human guides in the near future? (Martin Schutt/dpa/picture alliance) (Also Read | 7 scenic getaways near Mumbai to bookmark for a quick vacation) "When it comes to insider tips, it usually comes down to personal preferences and experiences that I don't have as an AI model," ChatGPT tells me. "If you need more specific and personalized recommendations, my advice is to consult local guides or locals who can give you insider tips." No silver bullet Simpler, more straightforward queries, however, are what ChatGPT excels at. Asking the chatbot how to reach Placa d'Espanya square in the center of Palma by bus produces a prompt and accurate answer. Likewise, asking ChatGPT about sobrasada, a traditional paprika sausage from Mallorca, delivers an equally correct response. The same can be said for my query about whether tipping is customary on the island it is, and 10% is generally considered quite generous. "It won't be long until tourism-specific chatbots guide us though cities," says Wolfram Hopken, a professor of business informatics at Ravensburg-Weingarten University of Applied Sciences in southern Germany, adding that "the technology is definitely advanced enough." Not only that, "AI applications are already being used quite extensively in other areas of tourism." AI is already widespread AI is mostly used today to optimize company operations, though travelers will not always be aware of this. Airlines, for example, use AI to predict how many passengers will cancel or forfeit their flights. Other companies rely on such technology to detect fraudulent online bookings. In Venice, AI is even being used for crowd control. "There already are AI applications used by travelers, service providers, tourist destinations and online travel platforms," says Hopken. Holidaymakers or people simply planning vacations might have encountered AI systems in other contexts, too. Often, these days, contacting a large tour operator will likely put you in touch with an online chatbot, as opposed to a real person. Then there are intelligent systems, used for instance by hotel booking platforms, to present customers with offers tailored to their specific needs and preferences. Last but not least, robots are slowly taking over tasks once performed by hotel and restaurant staff. But robots that collect dirty dishes from restaurant tables and bring them to the kitchen, for example, are not very sophisticated. Such robots cannot really navigate autonomously though restaurants, says Hopken. This aside, not all patrons may wish to interact with automatons. That's why AI applications will be used in some areas of the tourist trade and hospitality sector, but not others, Hopken says. Don't blindly trust ChatGPT Hopken is certain that technologies such as ChatGPT will grow increasingly important. Especially since when it comes to tourist inquiries, inaccurate or downright incorrect chatbot responses probably have less serious or dangerous consequences than in other fields. Anyone who follows ChatGPT's advice on visiting Mallorca's Marivent Palace the royal family's summer residence on the outskirts of Palma, for example, will be disappointed, as the building isn't actually open to the public. It remains to be seen whether chatbots will actually replace tried and tested guide books, or human travel guides. ChatGPT itself does not seem to think it will be taking over any time soon: "Although I can be useful as a digital assistant, I don't think I can build on the experience and opinions that travel guides and locals offer." Tens of thousands of trevellers, including hordes of foreign tourists sporting floral shirts and plastic water guns, descended on the streets of Bangkok on Thursday for the biggest traditional new year gathering since the pandemic. Festivities for Songkran, a much-loved Thai festival sometimes described as the world's largest water fight, had been muted or barred for the past few years due mainly to COVID-19 restrictions. Thai festival sometimes described as the world's largest water fight, had been muted or barred for the past few years due mainly to COVID-19 restrictions. (REUTERS/Chalinee Thirasupa) But as travellers now return to Thailand, the key tourism sector is helping revive Southeast Asia's second-largest economy. Trevellers - many of them soaked to the skin - walked through a half-kilometre (0.3 miles) long stretch in Bangkok's tourist hub of Khaosan Road, indiscriminately firing water guns and dancing to music blaring from kerbside establishments. "It's a multiple-day, city-wide water fight," said Jared Baumeister, a lawyer from New York, who flew into Bangkok this week to join the festivities. "I don't know where else in the world you'd get this," he said while holding a multi-coloured water gun and sipping a beer. Thailand beat its target of 6 million tourist arrivals in the first quarter, recording 6.15 million visitors between January and late March, according to government data. At least 30 million tourists are expected to visit Thailand this year and spend 1.5 trillion baht ($43.74 billion), according to projections by the Tourism Council, an industry body. Businesses expect tourist numbers to rise as summer approaches. "Income is skyrocketing," said Khanti Wichan, manager of ReRe Restaurant, who has worked on Khaosan Road for almost a decade. A strong recovery in the tourism sector will a key driver for Thailand's economy - which has bounced back slower from the pandemic than other Southeast Asian nations - to grow by as much as 4% this year, the fastest rate in five years. I have fought the leaders of India for a generation, Dr BR Ambedkar told the American writer James Michener in an interview in 1952. Many of them hate me, and I despise some of them. How did he then get into the Congress-dominated Constituent Assembly (CA) and become the chairman of its drafting committee? PREMIUM In his earlier stint in New Delhi, as the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Southeast Asia during World War II, he came to know of Ambedkar as a brave fighter. (File Photo) The story falls under two phases. In the first phase, lasting till around the end of 1946, Ambedkar was a sworn enemy of the Congress. But despite the partys opposition, he got elected to the CA from the Bengal provincial assembly, due to efforts of the Scheduled Caste (SC) leader Jogendranath Mandal, who secured support for him from the Muslim League and some Congress SC members. Ambedkar attended the first session of the CA, held from December 9-23, 1947, and in his first speech, made a stirring plea for national unity. Congressman NV Gadgil recalled that the speech was greeted with a tremendous ovation. Soon thereafter, Ambedkar was elected to the advisory committee of the CA. Following the Partition of India, he lost his seat in the CA (the seat was in East Bengal, which became a part of Pakistan), but the Congress was keen to have him back. Vallabhbhai Patel told GV Mavalankar, the president (speaker) of the central legislative assembly that Ambedkars attitude had changed. A vacancy in the CA had to be filled from the Bombay assembly, and Patel asked BG Kher, then the chief minister of Bombay, to arrange for Ambedkars re-election. President Rajendra Prasad also wrote to Kher saying that apart from any other consideration, the Congress had found Dr Ambedkars work to be of such an order as to require that we should not be deprived of his services. With the Congresss backing, Ambedkar re-entered the CA as a member from Bombay at the start of the assemblys fourth session (July 14-31, 1947). He was one of 30-odd non-Congress members elected to the CA. Around the end of July 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru invited Ambedkar to join the interim Union ministry that was to come into force on August 15, 1947. A few other non-Congressmen, including Syama Prasad Mookerjee who founded the Jan Sangh, were also invited. Ambedkars entry into the CA and the Nehru ministry thus appears to have been related to the Congresss effort to give legitimacy to the process of establishing a constitutional framework for free India. The concern for legitimacy would have been accentuated by the fact that the CA was not formed on the basis of universal adult franchise, because it was based on the elections in 1946. The bulk of the peasantry and people without minimum educational qualifications could not vote in the elections of 1946. Among the SCs, less than 10% enjoyed the right to vote in the Madras province; in the United Provinces, this number stood at 2.5%. Interestingly, Ambedkars appointment was backed by Viceroy Louis Mountbatten, who was close to Nehru. In his earlier stint in New Delhi, as the supreme commander of the Allied forces in Southeast Asia during World War II, Mountbatten came to know of Ambedkar as a brave fighter. In July 1947, Mountbatten told Nehru that unless a really sound Cabinet in which young, talented and keen members predominated was formed, a great opportunity of gripping the imagination of the country would be lost. According to Mountbatten, Nehru then scrapped an unimaginative list of Cabinet ministers made by his colleagues, and prepared a new list, with Patels backing. Mountbatten perhaps did not have a role in finalising the list, but when he saw Ambedkars name, he felt great satisfaction, he told secretary of state William Hare on August 9, 1947. Ambedkar had his reasons to join Nehrus ministry, which he explained in a letter to the prime minister in April 1948. He told Nehru that he did not believe in opposition for the sake of opposition, and accepted the Congresss offer as he could serve the interests of the SCs better from within the government. However, as the tremendous work he put in as chairman of the drafting committee shows, his concern was not limited to SCs. Keeping aside ideological differences, he contributed to the construction of the edifice of what he called a political democracy in India. Liberal-democratic in essence, that edifice showed little trace of Gandhis ideas of Ram Rajya. On that score, despite their differences, Ambedkar and Nehru spoke the same language. Ashok Gopal is the author of A Part Apart: The Life and Thought of BR Ambedkar The views expressed are personal Realty firm Hiranandani Communities will invest 1,000 crore to develop a new housing project in Mumbai to tap rising demand. The region is also witnessing the foray of many organised and branded developers to capitalise the new growth opportunities, Hiranandani said. (HT/file) The company has launched a new housing project -- 'Golden Willow' -- in its mixed-use integrated township 'Hiranandani Fortune City' at Panvel. The company plans to develop 1 million square feet of residential space in this project, comprising around 700 units. The apartment size ranges between 490 sq ft to 1,150 sq ft of carpet area. The company will invest 1,000 crore to tap the growing mid and luxury home demand in Panvel realty market, Hiranandani Communities said in a statement on Thursday. The project will be funded from construction finance and internal accruals. The ticket size ranges from 70 lakh to over 2 crore. Niranjan Hiranandani- CMD- Hiranandani Communities, said, "the launch of this new residential sector is in alignment with the market buoyancy as the company seeks to capture strong demand for branded luxury homes post-COVID." In Hiranandani Fortune City, the company has already delivered 2200 homes across 2.5 million square feet of residential space and 2 million square feet of commercial space, housing Asia's largest Yotta NM1 data center. He further said that The Panvel realty market is currently booming as a new economic node with the commissioning of mega infrastructure projects. This has already led to the increase in property prices index northwards." The region is also witnessing the foray of many organised and branded developers to capitalise the new growth opportunities, Hiranandani said. The Group has developed many mixed used integrated township across geographies like Powai, Thane, Panvel, Oragadam (Chennai). The group has strategically forayed into emerging real estate asset classes like industrial and logistics parks, data centre that marks its pan-India presence. Currently, the group is also actively evaluating redevelopment projects in Mumbai and MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region) markets. Apple Inc. assembled more than $7 billion of iPhones in India last fiscal year, tripling production in the worlds fastest-growing smartphone arena after accelerating a move beyond China. India's first Apple retail store ahead of it launch at Jio World Drive Mall, in Mumbai, Wednesday, April 12, 2023.(PTI) The US company now makes almost 7% of its iPhones in India through expanding partners from Foxconn Technology Group to Pegatron Corp., people familiar with the matter said. Thats a significant leap for India, which accounted for an estimated 1% of the worlds iPhones in 2021. Also read: Apple in talks with suppliers to manufacture MacBooks in Thailand: Report Apple is exploring ways to reduce its reliance on China as tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to escalate. Its longtime partners, who make most of the worlds iPhones from sprawling factories in China, have added assembly lines at a rapid pace over the past year, the people said, declining to be named as the information isnt public. The worlds most valuable company struggled last year with chaos at Foxconns main iPhone City complex in Zhengzhou, which drove home vulnerabilities in Apples supply chain and forced it to cut output estimates. At the same time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dished out a spate of incentives to boost local manufacturing. Of the total production, Apple exported $5 billion of iPhones in the year ended March 2023, nearly four times as much as the previous period, the people said. Apple will likely try to manufacture the next iPhones in India at the same time as in China, sometime in the fall of 2023. If so, that will be the first time that iPhone assembly begins concurrently in the two countries. And if the aggressive expansion of its suppliers continues, Apple could assemble a quarter of all its iPhones in India by 2025. Representatives for the US company declined to comment. Even before last years iPhone city flareup, Apple had recognized the need to diversify its supply chain. It successfully lobbied for incentives in India and pushed suppliers Foxconn, Wistron Corp. and Pegatron to ramp up locally. The trio, which together employ some 60,000 workers in India, make models ranging from the aging iPhone 11 to the latest iPhone 14 in the country. Thats helped place Apple at the heart of Indias ambitions to become a major manufacturing hub and alternative location to China. Apple is among the worlds most exacting when it comes to manufacturing: its production chain encompasses hundreds of companies across the world and employs millions, much of that now in China. The migration of iPhone production represents an economic triumph for India that could have implications for how other US brands plan their futures. For Apple, the country itself represents a fount of future growth, at a time the Chinese economy is sputtering after years of punishing Covid Zero restrictions. Apple will open its first two retail stores in India next week, one in the financial hub of Mumbai and another in the capital New Delhi. Chief Executive Tim Cook is scheduled to fly in to personally inaugurate the two stores, underscoring the domestic markets rising importance. Also read: In Pics: Apple's first-ever retail stores in Mumbai, Delhi Cupertino, California-headquartered Apple has also sought changes in Indias labor laws as part of its effort to expand local production and create mega factories. Its largest contract manufacturer, Foxconn, plans to invest about $700 million on a plant in a southern state to make phone components and possibly iPhones. Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron representatives didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Reducing exposure to Chinas dominance in the technology supply chain built over decades will face significant challenges, but our analysis indicates that dependence could be reduced by 20-40% in most cases by 2030. While geopolitical tensions as well as government and company policies are spurring nascent moves to diversify geographically, it will take years of investment to significantly untangle from Chinas complex, efficient and skilled supply chain from semiconductors to hardware to assembly. Cyber fraudsters have duped two people of 57 lakh in separate incidents of cyber fraud in Gurugram. A businessman was allegedly duped of 42 lakh over a social media proposal, PTI quoted police officials. As per the FIR, Sunil Arora had befriended one Shreya Joshi through Instagram last year. The proprietor claimed he was offered a business proposal by his online friend for a saffron cumin oil and saffron powder supply to her company in the United States. Arora said he was asked to contact one Riya Sharma, claiming to be the proprietor of Sharma Product from Mumbai to to procure materials as her products are approved in her company. ALSO READ: Gujarat couple falls prey to cyber fraud, lose over 1 crore: Report According to the FIR, Arora procured and purchased the samples and after lab testing approvals, Shreya is said to have helped him release a purchase order against exports for $1.79 million. However, the client refused to purchase materials without advances, and the online friend promised the victims with payments. The businessman claimed he transferred 42 lakh in instalments into her account but his online friend vanished and didn't take his calls or reply to his emails. An FIR has been registered against Joshi and others under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 66D of the IT act. A cyber fraudster allegedly hacked the companys mail id and sent a mobile deactivation request to the network service provider company. (REPRESENTATIVE PIC) In the second incident, another Gurugram resident called Rashmi Mantri was duped while looking for the customer car number of a courier firm after her consignment from Rajasthan got delayed. The complainant alleged on calling the number she was asked to send 5 on Google Pay after which 15 lakh was withdrawn from her account in multiple transactions from February 9 to 23. An FIR has been registered under sections 419 and 420 of the IPC and 66-D of the IT Act. The police said investigations in both the cases are underway and efforts are on to nab the accused. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON South Korea's top court on Thursday said Alphabet Inc's Google should disclose whether the technology giant had shared local user information with third parties, news agency Yonhap reported, sending the case back to a lower court. "We will review the Supreme Court's full written decision carefully," a Google spokesperson said. (File) The Supreme Court's decision came after a group of four plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Google and its South Korean unit in 2014 to force the company to disclose the handling of local users' privacy data. The group alleged that the tech company had shared private user information through PRISM, a U.S. National Security Agency surveillance programme. "We will review the Supreme Court's full written decision carefully," a Google spokesperson said. On the same day, the Supreme Court also upheld a previous ruling ordering Qualcomm to pay a fine of about 1 trillion won ($761.68 million) for abusing its dominant market position, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said. Qualcomm did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The Supreme Court's decisions on both cases are in line with South Korea's recent tendency to take a tough stance on regulatory matters concerning foreign technology giants. On Wednesday, South Korea's anti-trust regulator fined Google 42.1 billion won ($31.88 million) for blocking the release of mobile video games on a competitor's platform. The KFTC said the move against the U.S. technology giant was part of efforts by the government to ensure fair markets. A researcher has uncovered a long-lost 'hidden chapter' of the Bible that was written around 1,750 years ago. As per a recent study published in New Testament Studies, a lost section represents one of the earliest translations of the Gospels. Researcher uncovers 1,750-year-old chapter of Bible. (Image/@Phys.org) The lost section on this layered text, known as a palimpsest, have now been recovered by a medievalist from the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Grigory Kessel found one of the earliest translations of the Gospels, created in the third century and copied in the sixth on individual surviving pages of this manuscript. Grigory Kessel said in a Press Release, "The tradition of Syriac Christianity knows several translations of the Old and New Testaments. Until recently, only two manuscripts were known to contain the Old Syriac translation of the gospels." While one of them is housed in the British Library in London, another was found in St. Catherine's Monastery on Mount Sinai as a palimpsest. Grigory Kessel used ultraviolet photography to identify the manuscript fragment as the third layer of text. It is currently thought of as the fourth textual witness Gospel. The fragment provides a special window into the very early stage of the history of the textual transmission of the Gospels because it is the sole remaining piece of the fourth manuscript that is currently known to support the Old Syriac translation. Claudia Rapp, director of the Institute for Medieval Research at the Osterreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften, said in a press release, "Grigory Kessel has made a great discovery thanks to his profound knowledge of old Syriac texts and script characteristics." Andrew Edwards, a UK Tory leader, is being investigated over his controversial remarks after an audio clip went viral in which he purportedly said all white men should have a Black slave. Andrew Edwards(Twitter ) Edwards, a County councillor and former magistrate in Pembrokeshire, Wales, is also accused of saying Black people are of lower class than white people, reported the Independent. The Conservative group on Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed it was investigating the allegations against Edwards, who has not been suspended yet, according to the report. In the clip that went viral, a man could be heard saying, Nothing wrong with the skin colour at all. (...) I think all white men should have a Black man as a slave or Black woman as a slave, you know. Theres nothing wrong with skin colour, its just that theyre lower class than us white people. It is not clear when or where the 16-second clip was recorded. Responding to the allegations, the councillor said that I am aware of such serious allegations being made against me. This is why I have self-referred to the Public Services Ombudsman for an independent evaluation. It is now in the hands of legal experts and the ombudsman. It would be unfair on the process for me to comment. Expressing concern over large-scale layoffs in the tech industry, a group of lawmakers from the Silicon Valley have written to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services to ensure high-skilled immigrants can remain in the country even after losing their jobs. Lawmakers also asked that the USCIS release data detailing the impact of the layoffs on affected immigrants.(Bloomberg) Also read: These companies offer 1 year salary to employees who resign voluntarily This group of immigrants possesses skills that are highly valuable in today's knowledge-based economy and "forcing them to leave the US is harmful to our nation's long-term economic competitiveness", they said in their letter to USCIS Director Ur Jaddou. The letter has been sent by Congressmen Zoe Lofgren, Ro Khanna, Jimmy Panetta and Kevin Mullin. Lofgren has been a former Chair of the House Subcommittee on Immigration and Citizenship. "This issue is of great importance to our constituents because layoffs in the tech sector have accelerated in recent months. The number of tech jobs lost since the beginning of 2023 has already surpassed the total number of layoffs in 2022," the letter said It also requests that the USCIS release data detailing the impact of the layoffs on affected immigrants; inquire about whether the USCIS has issued guidance to adjudicators in response to the layoffs; and extend the 60-day grace period for laid-off H-1B holders to secure a new job before losing their legal status. The H-1B visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows US companies to employ foreign workers in speciality occupations that require theoretical or technical expertise. The lawmakers asked the USCIS director to provide details of approximately how many H-1B visa holders have successfully maintained legal status after losing their jobs and how many have departed the country or accrued unlawful presence. "We ask that you share any relevant data with us so we can better understand the impact of the layoffs," according to the letter. "What are the approval and denial rates, broken down by visa category, for newly unemployed H-1B holders who have applied for the nonimmigrant visas listed in the December 19th USCIS fact sheet? Considering unemployed H-1B holders only have a limited 60-day window to secure a new visa, we request that you release this data publicly so these individuals can make informed decisions about which visas to apply for," it said. The lawmakers asked approximately how long it takes for the USCIS to process visa applications submitted by newly unemployed H-1B holders. "While individuals are legally allowed to remain in the US as their visa applications are pending, were concerned about the potential consequences of processing times that exceed the 60-day grace period," the lawmaker said in their letter. In such cases, immigrants will be required to depart the country immediately if their visa applications are denied, they said. "This situation not only causes significant distress for the affected individuals but could also result in them accruing unlawful presence if it takes an extended period of time to get their affairs in order before departing the country. This could be held against them if they apply for a visa in the future," the lawmakers wrote. Also read: Google and Amazon struggle to lay off workers in Europe. Here's why The Congressmen asked are newly unemployed H-1B holders penalised when applying for B-1/B-2 visitor visas? "Because B-1/B-2 visas are intended for short-term visits to the US, we are concerned that adjudicators will deny visas to laid-off H-1B holders, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for years, on the grounds that these individuals do not have sufficient ties to their home countries to demonstrate that they intend to leave the US once their visas expire," they said. Beijing: China has banned ships from entering an area near self-ruled Taiwan on Sunday because of falling rocket debris, a provincial maritime authority announced on Thursday as tension remained high because of just-concluded large-scale drills and continuing patrolling by the Chinese military in the region. A view of Qiao Zi harbour on Beigan island in Taiwan's Matsu islands (AFP) Chinese authorities did not release details of the operations that will disrupt international passage of ships on Sunday with the Taiwan authorities saying as many as 33 flights could also be impacted by the ban. The area around 160 km from the Taiwanese capital, Taipei, will be closed from 9am to 3pm, the maritime safety administration of Chinas eastern Fujian province said on Thursday, adding that vessels would be forbidden to enter for the duration of the shutdown. The Chinese foreign ministry declined to share more information on Thursday including whether a no-fly zone would be imposed with spokesperson Wang Wenbin telling reporters at a regular briefing to refer to the competent authorities. Reports from Taiwan said on Wednesday that China had scaled down plans for a no-fly zone near the island after Taipei complained about risks to flight safety. China initially intended to impose the zone for aerospace activities from 9am to 2 pm over three days next week, the Transportation Ministry in Taipei said in a statement on Wednesday just days after the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) ended major military drills around the democracy, Bloomberg reported. It was only this Monday that Beijing announced the end of three days of military drills around Taiwan, which it claims as part of its territory and has vowed to merge it with the mainland, by force if necessary. The Joint Sword manoeuvres came in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens visit last week to the US, where she met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and a group of bipartisan lawmakers. The drills around the island have ended but routine patrolling and testing of equipment by the Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) has continued, Chinese state media reported. Several Chinese warships attached to the PLANs Eastern Theater Command continued realistic combat-oriented exercises in waters around the island of Taiwan on Tuesday, testing command capabilities and performance of weapons and equipment, the state-run tabloid, Global Times reported. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON China's plan to set up a no-fly zone to the north of Taiwan on April 16 will affect about 33 flights, Taiwan's official Central News Agency (CNA) reported, citing the island's transport minister, Wang Kwo-tsai. A Shenzhen airline flight is seen taking off at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport in Taoyuan, Taiwan on Wednesday.(REUTERS) The impact on flights was greatly reduced after Taiwan said it had successfully urged China to drastically narrow its plan to close air space north of the island, Wang was reported as saying. Reuters first reported that Beijing had initially notified Taipei it would impose a no-fly zone from April 16-18, but Taiwan's transport ministry said this was later reduced to a period of just 27 minutes on Sunday morning after it protested. Wang said the ministry had discussed with Japanese aviation authorities who will issue notices later on Thursday to boats and planes to avoid the area for that specific period on Sunday morning, the CNA said. Also Read| China declares 'successful completion' of Taiwan military drills Wang said the ban could add "less than one hour" of extra travel time to the affected flights as they will have to divert further south from their original routes. Taiwan's transport ministry on Wednesday published a map showing what it labelled China's "aerospace activity zone" to the northeast of Taiwan and near a group of disputed islets called Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan. The development follows days of intense military drills that China has staged around Taiwan in response to President Tsai Ing-wen's meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week. When China imposed air space restrictions during military drills last August, there were significant disruptions to flights in the region, with some aircraft required to carry extra fuel, according to OPSGROUP, an aviation industry cooperative that advises on flight risks. China has released a new set of revised rules for military recruitment in wartime, including giving priority to the veterans, drafting high-calibre soldiers and optimising conscription procedures, which an analyst described as combat readiness for a war over Taiwan. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) broke new ground in its latest drill around Taiwan by testing its capacity to blockade the self-ruled island. (File) A set of revised rules regarding military recruitment has been released by the State Council and the Central Military Commission (CMC) - the high command of the Chinese military headed by President Xi Jinping - aiming to provide institutional guarantees for consolidating national defence and building strong armed forces, state-run Xinhua news agency reported on Wednesday. The new regulation, with 74 articles in 11 chapters, focuses on recruiting more high-calibre soldiers, standardising and optimising conscription procedures, and improving the system's efficiency, it said in a brief report. The new rules will come into effect next month. Read Here: Taiwan says China curtailed plan for no-fly zone after complaint The regulations said recruitment should "focus on preparing for war" and increase efficiency by calling up high calibre recruits, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post newspaper reported. For the first time, a separate chapter on wartime recruitment has been included in the regulations, which state that ex-servicemen would be prioritised and expected to join their original units or similar positions. The new rules were promulgated as Beijing is facing geopolitical tensions on several fronts, including in the South China Sea, especially in the Taiwan Strait, according to the report. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) broke new ground in its latest drill around Taiwan by testing its capacity to blockade the self-ruled island. The three-day exercises which ended on Monday followed Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with US House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Also Read: Taiwan determined to safeguard freedom despite China's war games: President Tsai China views Taiwan as a breakaway province. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to reunify the self-ruled island with the mainland. China views any official exchanges between foreign governments and Taiwan as an infringement on Beijing's claims of sovereignty over the island. Though the exercises ended, the PLA maintained a substantial presence in the Taiwan Strait, keeping Taipei on tenterhooks. During a visit to the PLAs Southern Theatre Command on Wednesday, President Xi stressed the importance of accelerating the transformation into a modern fighting force through real combat-oriented exercises and innovative warfare concepts. He asked the military to resolutely defend China's sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain the overall stability of the neighbouring regions amid rising tensions over Taiwan and the South China Sea. China claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea. Chinese and Indian troops are also locked in a nearly three-year confrontation in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh even as the two sides completed disengagement of troops from several areas following extensive diplomatic and military talks. India has been maintaining that its ties with China cannot be normal unless there is peace in the border areas. Read Here: China encircles Taiwan with warships, fighters Explaining the addition of the wartime recruitment chapter to the military regulations, a CMC official said, in order to ensure the normal replacement of troops and the supplementary needs of soldiers in wartime, the regulations refer to the common practices of various countries ... and set up a special chapter to regulate the issue of wartime recruitment. Citizens who receive a recruitment notice during wartime must go to the designated place on time to enlist or face punishment, according to the regulations, the Post report said. During wartime, the regulations say the State Council and the CMC may adjust recruitment conditions and methods within the scope prescribed by law, leaving space for further changes. The amendment is part of consecutive efforts by Beijing to adjust and improve its legal system to better support wartime arrangements in the face of increasing geopolitical pressure, while at the same time exerting its military presence in the Taiwan Strait, the Post report said. In February, Chinese lawmakers approved a resolution giving the military the power to change how the Criminal Procedure Law is applied during wartime, to safeguard military missions and improve [the PLAs] ability to win in combat. Beijing-based military law expert Xie Dan said the amendment filled a gap in Chinas wartime legislation, but was also driven by the need for military preparations, including against Taiwan. "The Anti-Secession Law clarifies the conditions for resolving the Taiwan issue by non-peaceful means. Improving relevant military regulations is undoubtedly one of the important contents of current military preparations, Xie told the Post. Chinas military laws especially relating to wartime have become weak points over the decades of peace since China was last involved in a war, he said. In addition to its 2021 amendment to the military service law, Beijing also amended the Reservist Law in December to improve the development of reserve forces, which refers to the pre-assigned citizens who will become important components of the PLA during wartime. Read More: China stages live-fire drills for sealing off Taiwan: What we know so far According to Xie, the new recruitment regulations offer more operational and detailed rules for wartime mobilisation. The prioritisation of veterans was necessary because of their skills and experience in operating hi-tech weapons, he said. The PLA recruitment is also focused on college students and graduates, especially those with science and engineering backgrounds, to fulfil Xis goal of building a world-class military by 2050. Former PLA instructor Song Zhongping played down the implications of the regulation change for any possible military action by Beijing. The goal of the amendment was to enhance the legalisation of recruitment work as part of the military reforms, he told the Post. The World Health Organization (WHO) has its eye a new Covid variant which seems to have a new symptom in children rarely caused by other Omicron sub variants. Dubbed as Arcturus, XBB.1.16 is fueling a new surge in many countries including US, Singapore, and Australia, among others. Arcturus Covid Variant: The WHO declared XBB.1.16 a variant under monitoring. Read more: Donald Trump is suing his ex-lawyer for $500 million: Called me racist and The WHO declared XBB.1.16 a variant under monitoring in late March saying that it is the most transmissible variant yet. Maria Van Kerkhove, Covid technical lead for the WHO, said, XBB.1.16 variant is considered one to watch" by the world health body. Dr. Vipin Vashishthaa pediatrician and former head of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Immunizationsaid the symptoms of the variant include: high fever, cough and itchy conjunctivitis or pinkeye. Richard Reithinger, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the RTI International, told Fortune that it is probably too early to tell if the viruss symptom set has truly shifted. Conjunctivitis has previously been reported as a Covid symptom, he noted. Read more: Elon Musk slams BBC journalist on Twitter hate speech: You dont know what' Researchers at Nebraska Medicines Truhlsen Eye Institute had also identified the virus in the eyes tear film, earlier which could lead to conjunctivitis. According to the Institute, symptoms of conjunctivitis include: Tearing, or watery eyes, redness, swelling, pain or irritation, itching, discharge. Raj Rajnarayanan, assistant dean of research and associate professor at the New York Institute of Technology told Fortune that the XBB.1.16 and its descendants have the oomph to outcompete other Covid variants saying that new variants evolve quickly. XBB.1.16 is a recombinant of two sub variants of BA.2. A preprint study from scientists at the University of Tokyo suggested that the variant spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than relatives XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 which is why it will spread worldwide in the near future as it also seems robustly resistant to antibodies from other Covid variants. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Donald Trump sued his former lawyer Michael Cohen seeking at least $500 million in damages after he testified before the Manhattan grand jury that indicted the former US President. Donald Trump accused Michael Cohen of failing to keep information about him confidential and "spreading falsehoods" about him in books and podcasts. Donald Trump: Former US president Donald Trump appears in court at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York.(AFP) Read more: North Korea fires ballistic missile prompting wrong alert in Japan: Top points Michael Cohen's lawyer slammed Donald Trump's lawsuit as frivolous saying, Mr. Trump is once again using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen. The lawsuit comes as Michael Cohen is set to be a star witness against Donald Trump at a possible criminal trial in New York. Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records- marking the first time a former US president was charged with a crime. Prosecutors said Donald Trump covered up his reimbursement of Michael Cohen for $130,000 in hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Donald Trump said in his lawsuit that Michael Cohen wrongfully called him "racist" in a book and fabricated conversations. Read more: Have been a couple till now but: Expert on Harry-Meghan's coronation decision "The timing of Disloyal's release, just prior to the November 3, 2020 Presidential Election, suggests that (Cohen) intended to improperly disclose (Trump's) confidences when it would be most lucrative to do so - and while Disloyal would be sure to have the most damaging reputational effect," the lawsuit said. Earlier Michael Cohen said in 2019, "I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. He is a racist. He is a con man. He is a cheat." In 2018, Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to violating federal election law through the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels and was sentenced to three years in prison. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former US President Donald Trump claimed that courthouse staff were actually crying when he was arrested and arraigned in a New York court during an interview with Fox anchor Tucker Carlson. Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records over hush money payments made to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Donald Trump: Former US president Donald Trump holds a rally in Youngstown.(Reuters) Read more: North Korea fires ballistic missile prompting wrong alert in Japan: Top points In his first TV interview since being charged, Donald Trump said, They were incredible. When I went to the courthouse which is also a prison in a sense, they signed me in and Ill tell you people were crying. People that work there. Professionally work there that have no problems putting in murderers and they see everybody. Its a tough, tough place and they were crying." They were actually crying. They said Im sorry, he added. Although staffers at the court rubbished Donald Trumps claim with one telling The Mirror, The only thing Mr Trump was truthful on is that yes we do see murderers but at all times we remain professional. No one shed any tears whether they support him or not. We are trained to be courteous and polite but we dont show emotion like that - particularly over an arraignment. Read more: Have been a couple till now but: Expert on Harry-Meghan's coronation decision Youd think the way he spoke he was the victim of the biggest miscarriage of justice in history. Its laughable. No one cried. No one," the staffer added. Donald Trump was also criticised on social media as users mocked him for the bizarre claim. Heres Trump again repeating the old lie about how people were crying. Dude has a weird tears fetish," one user tweeted. Another added, Im sure they were laughing under their breath not crying youre probably laughing now that he even said anything so stupid. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former US President Donald Trump has said that he will "never drop out" of the presidential race for any legal reason, Fox News reported. Former U.S. President Donald Trump.(REUTERS) Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, "No, I'd never drop -- it's not my thing. I wouldn't do it." He made the remarks when asked if there was anything prosecutors could throw at Trump legally that would convince him to drop out of the White House race. Also Read| People in courthouse cried, said sorry': Donald Trump's bizarre claim Earlier this month, New York's Manhattan court called the United States' former President Donald Trump for the next in-person hearing on December 4, CNN reported. Trump pleaded not guilty to the 34 criminal charges against him. After leaving the courtroom, Trump left the building and got into his motorcade parked outside. The indictment against Donald Trump alleges the former president was involved in a conspiracy to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election, as per the CNN report. The indictment against Donald Trump alleges that the editor-in-chief and CEO of the National Enquirer approached Michael Cohen shortly after the access of Hollywood tape became public in October 2016. Prosecutors alleged that Trump sought to undermine the integrity of the 2016 election through a hush-money scheme with payments made to women who claimed they had extramarital affairs with Trump, as per the news report. Earlier, he surrendered to authorities at a court in Lower Manhattan ahead of his arraignment. As he arrived at the Lower Manhattan court, Trump posted a cryptic post that the experience is "SURREAL," adding, "WOW, they are going to ARREST ME. Can't believe this is happening in America," according to CNN report. Speaking to the Fox News host about whether current president Joe Biden will remain in the race, Trump said, "Look, I watch him just like you do and I think it's almost inappropriate for me to say it. But I deal with other people, I don't see how it's possible. He added, "And it's not an age thing. I say I have friends that are 88, 89, 92, Bernie Marcus Home Depot is 95, smart as hell, as sharp as he was. He's, you know, mentally, Bernie Marcus, Home Depot, founder of Home Depot, one of the founders." While responding to the question, Trump said Biden is not "too old." Trump said, "He's not too old, I think they do the age thing because I'm four or five years behind, they say 'this is a way of getting Trump, let's go', but there's something wrong. He continued, I saw his answer today on television about whether or not he was going to run to a very nice guy named Al Roker. When you can't get a softer question than that, that was a long answer talking about the eggs and this and that. Look, I don't think he can. But say what you want, they didn't expect him to get it. In a wide-ranging interview, Twitter CEO Elon Musk accused the BBC of covering up the side-effects of Covid vaccines saying that the media organisation had double standards. Elon Musk BBC Interview: Elon Musk talks to BBC reporter. Does the BBC hold itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and the side effects of vaccinations. And not reporting on that at all And what about the fact that the BBC was put under pressure by the British government to change editorial policy?", Elon Musk said combatively when asked about misinformation on Twitter. During the surprise interview at Twitter's San Francisco offices, Elon Musk accused the journalist of lying after he claimed there had been an increase in hate speech on Twitter. Read more: Musk not aware about Twitter deleting content on BBC's Modi documentary I say sir that you don't know what you are talking about... because you cannot give me a single example of hateful content, not even one tweet. You claimed that hateful content is high. That is false, you just lied," Elon Musk said. The journalist- James Clayton- defended his claim by citing an organisation that had warned about a rise in hateful posts on the social media platform. But Elon Musk insisted that hate speech had fallen, saying, People will say all sorts of nonsense. On BBC's government funded media twitter label, Elon Musk said, We want it to be as truthful and accurate as possible were adjusting the label. I know the BBC wasn't thrilled about being labelled state affiliated media. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan's marriage to Bushra Bibi did not follow the Islamic Sharia law, the cleric who solemnised his Nikkah (wedding), Mufti Saeed, has revealed, as per local media portals. In a hearing in Islamabad court on a petition filed by Muhammad Hanif, the cleric said that the Nikkah was not in accordance with the Shariah law. Imran Khan News: Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi are seen. (File) Read more: People in courthouse cried, said sorry': Donald Trump's bizarre claim The cleric disclosed that the ceremony took place during the iddat period of Bushra Bibi- a waiting period for Muslim women observed after the death of their husband or after divorce. During this time, Muslim women cannot marry another man as it is treated as a mourning period for women. The cleric said that he was brought to Defence Housing Authority Lahore in 2018 to officiate the wedding and he only performed the ceremony when a woman who claimed to be Bushra Bibi's sister gave him the nod, Express Tribune reported. The wedding was officiated on January 1 2018. Read more: The most sacred part of coronation that King Charles doesn't want world to see Imran Khan contacted the cleric in February 2018 and asked him to conduct their wedding again as he thought that the first time the Shariah law was flouted, he told the court. Both Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi were aware of the circumstances but Imran Khan felt that the marriage would help him become the prime minister, the cleric claimed. Earlier Bushra Bibi was in the news when a clash broke out between Imran Khan's supporters and Punjab police in the gifts case. When the police entered Imran Khan's house, Bushra Bibi was alone in the house, reports had claimed. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Iran executed 75 per cent more people in 2022 than the previous years, two rights groups said, denouncing an "execution machine" aimed at spreading fear amid massive protests that shook the country last year. At least 582 executions took place in Iran, well above the figure of 333 in 2021, Norway-based Iran Human Rights (IHR) and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty (ECPM) said. Iran Anti-Hijab Protests: A woman holds a placard with a picture of Iranian woman Mahsa Amini during a protest against her death.(AP) Read more: Elon Musk slams BBC journalist on Twitter hate speech: You dont know what' Massive protests erupted in Iran following the death of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini who died in police custody after she was arrested for allegedly violating the strict dress rules for women- not wearing her hijab properly. The protests faced crackdown that saw four men hanged in cases and executions which prompted an international outcry. IHR director Mahmood Amiry Moghaddam said that the international reaction has kept protest-related executions in check but Iran is still using executions on other charges to intimidate protestors. "The international reactions to the death sentences against protesters have made it difficult for the Islamic Republic to proceed with their executions. To compensate, and in order to spread fear among people, the authorities have intensified the execution for non-political charges. These are the low-cost victims of the Islamic Republic's execution machine," he said. More than half of the executions were after the start of the protests, and 44 percent of the 582 executions recorded in 2022 were on drug-related charges, the report noted. Read more: Royal catfight between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle over coronation? "The death penalty is part of the systematic discrimination and extensive repression ethnic minorities of Iran are subjected to," it said. The report said that one hundred more protesters still risked execution after being sentenced to death. It also expressed alarm over the spike in the number of drug-related executions. "Lack of reaction by the UNODC and donor countries to the reversal of these reforms (of 2017) sends the wrong signal to the Iranian authorities," ECPM director Raphael Chenuil-Hazan said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A royal biographer claimed that Prince William's wife Kate Middleton did not want Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle to attend King Charles coronation in May under any circumstances. Royal author Tom Bower claimed that Meghan Markle's decision to skip the coronation could be related to Kate Middleton. Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Prince William and Kate Middleton are seen.(AFP) Read more: How Charles and Harry were told about Queen's bad health? The difference Tom Bower called Prince Harry's decision to attend the coronation alone an ugly compromise, saying, I think we must all be grateful, that Kate, in the end I think, prevented Meghan coming and said she wouldnt have her there under any circumstances. The royal author added, I do think that for the Royal Family, Harrys presence is constitutionally important, after all if God forbid something happened to the Cambridges and all of them died, wed have King Harry on the throne after Charles, so hes got to be there. The question is, what is role will be when he gets to London? and I think that the arguments over the last few days have been very much to minimise his presence in the Abbey," he claimed. Read more: Have been a couple till now but: Expert on Harry-Meghan's coronation decision The royal author also said that in theory Meghan Markles absence would make it easier for Prince Harry to make an appearance before the crowds below Buckingham Palace. I think in practice it would be terrible if Charles did that because I think if he let Harry come on the balcony, hed also have to have Prince Andrew on the balcony. And to have two renegade princes in front of the public like that would be a very bad start to King Charless reign," he said. The coronation in the end is all about Charles and about what sort of king he is going to be, the author explained saying, Will he be accepted? will he be popular? Will he make an impression that theres an age of King Charles III? SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON King Charles banned television cameras from filming the moment when he will be anointed with holy oil before being crowned at Westminster Abbey, it was reported as the monarch has chosen to shield the most sacred part of the ceremony. With this, King Charles will not be publicly anointed. King Charles: Britain's King Charles III is seen speaking to guests during a reception.(Reuters) Read more: Royal catfight between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle over coronation? The Mirror reported that King Charles made the decision as he thought he must respect his relationship with God. The monarch has also instructed organisers to follow the tradition of previous monarchs in other parts of the ceremony. The report also claimed the King Charles has "been in favour of allowing the public to see as much of the ceremony as possible. This is the most holy and sacred of the entire ceremony, where monarchs who have gone before have been upheld. The King takes his role and relationship (with God) extremely seriously and will continue with the anointing as it has been carried out before in full. Read more: Prince Harry forced to attend King Charles' coronation due to fear? For Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation in 1953, a canopy of cloth-of-gold was held over the monarchs head for the anointing. In the ceremony, the Chrism oil will be used to anoint King Charles and his wife Queen Consort Camilla. For the service it will be kept in the Ampulla, made from gold and cast in the form of an eagle with outspread wings. The silver-gilt spoon is the oldest object in use at coronations, having been first recorded in 1349 among St Edwards Regalia in Westminster Abbey, the report said. It was used to anoint King James I in 1603, and has been used since at every subsequent coronation. The report also claimed that the coronation practice is suffering from issues like delayed seating plans, rehearsal overruns and the building of a ramp. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba, an e-commerce giant, is a symbol of how the ruling Communist Party has humbled the rich. In 2020 he dared publicly to criticise financial regulators. Soon afterwards they spiked the $37bn initial public offering of Ant Group, Alibabas fintech affiliate, and investigated Alibaba itself for monopolistic behaviour. A chastened Mr Ma largely vanished from public life. In late 2021 he left China and spent time learning about farming and sustainable food production. PREMIUM Xi Jinping. (Shutterstock) But after over a years absence, Jack is back. On March 27th photos emerged of him visiting a school in his home town of Hangzhou. He was reportedly persuaded to return by Chinas new prime minister, Li Qiang. Mr Li is trying to reassure wealthy private entrepreneurs that, though they should know their place, they are still valued by the party. Rich Chinese are in need of reassurance. Chinas draconian controls to stop the spread of covid-19 ended only a few months ago, after three years of disruptions to businesses and a brutal lockdown in Shanghai, where many wealthy Chinese live. Regulatory crackdowns have devastated once-thriving sectors like private education. Officials rage against money worship and make tax-dodging celebrities grovel for forgiveness. A government plan to narrow wealth gaps, though now on the back-burner, has some worried they will face more pressure to donate money. On top of that, Chinas wealthy worry that they may get caught up in sanctions if friction between China and America increases. Capital fright Faced with such headaches, many have been looking to leave. That was hard in 2020-21, when covid controls hit emigration. But in 2022 some 10,800 high-net-worth individuals, who have an average wealth of $6m, left the country, with the flow accelerating at the end of the year as covid controls eased. That is according to data compiled by Henley & Partners and New World Wealth, firms which track the movement of the rich. Even more are expected to leave in 2023, says Andrew Amoils of New World Wealth. Getting on a plane is easy, moving wealth less so. In theory Chinese citizens are allowed to move only $50,000 out of the country each year. But there are many ways to avoid controls, from visiting shady Hong Kong money exchanges to setting up overseas companies to employ family members. Ten years ago American border officials were picking up Chinese nationals carrying cash in suitcases through airports. More recently, billions of dollars have left the country via cryptocurrencies. Traditionally, Chinese citizens looked to buy property and other assets in Canada, America or Britain. In recent years, Singapore has been favoured. The city-state is the top destination for Chinese billionaires considering emigration, according to Hurun, a firm which tracks their wealth. Singapore has low taxes, good schools, a booming wealth-management industry and strong cultural links to China. Many there speak Mandarin. Its political stability is also a bonus for those wary of the rollercoasters of American and British politics. The new arrivals have pushed up house prices and increased demand for luxury cars and high-end baijiu, a Chinese spirit. But the clearest sign of wealth shifting to Singapore is a growing number of Chinese family officesprivate companies which manage a familys assets. According to data from Singapores central bank, the number of such offices rose from 33 in 2019 to 347 in April 2022. By the end of 2022 it is likely that as many as 750 Chinese family offices were registered in Singapore, making up about half of the total number, reckons Kia Meng Loh, a senior partner at Dentons Rodyk, a law firm. He expects more will be registered this year. All this suggests that, even though Mr Ma is back in China, the prime ministers efforts to charm the wealthy have a long way to go. He is also hindered by clumsy messaging. One provincial government said recently that businesspeople suspected of crimes should not be arrested unless they have to be. Similar statements have been made for years. Another billionaires disappearance is not helping either. On February 16th a Chinese investment bank reported that its founder, Bao Fan, could no longer be contacted. Ten days later, the company said he was co-operating with authorities on an investigation. Mr Bao, it turns out, also saw value in moving his assets outside China. In the months before he disappeared, he was said to be setting up a family officein Singapore, naturally. Correction (April 6th 2023): A previous version of this story referred to Henley & Partners incorrectly. Sorry. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Villagers used old car tyres on Thursday to cremate the last of an estimated 130 victims of an airstrike in Myanmar's central Sagaing region, with South East Asian countries saying they "strongly condemned" the attack. This photo provided by the Kyunhla Activists Group shows aftermath of an airstrike in Pazigyi village in Sagaing Region's Kanbalu Township, Myanmar(AP) The country has seen widespread violence, with its economy almost paralysed, since the military toppled Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government in a February 2021 coup. Also read: Myanmar military on airstrike that killed civilians: some people who were No official death toll from the Tuesday morning strike on Pazi Gyi village has been released, although authorities confirmed they had carried out an aerial military operation in the area. At least 130 fatalities have been reported by media outlets BBC Burmese, The Irrawaddy and Radio Free Asia, while the United Nations has cited a death toll of at least 100. A villager involved in rescue and recovery efforts -- who asked not to be named to protect his safety -- told AFP his team had counted and identified 130 bodies as of Thursday afternoon. Body parts were strewn across the site and identifying victims had been a difficult process, he said. "We used car tyres to cremate the dead bodies," he said, adding that 28 people remain missing. US-based media outlet CNN reported more than 160 fatalities, citing a figure from an exiled former lawmaker. The Sagaing region -- a rebel stronghold near the country's second-largest city of Mandalay -- has put up some of the fiercest resistance to the military's rule, with intense fighting raging there for months. Since the coup, the military's crackdown on dissent and armed groups opposed to its rule has killed more than 3,200 people, according to a local monitoring group. - Mounting condemnation - Earlier Thursday, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) -- which has spearheaded so far fruitless diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis in Myanmar -- strongly condemned the air strikes. Indonesia, Southeast Asia's biggest economy, is the 2023 chair of the regional bloc and is hoping to resurrect a five-point plan -- agreed to two years ago -- which the junta has largely ignored. "All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians," the bloc said in an unusually bold statement issued by Indonesia. A statement from the ASEAN chair does not necessarily indicate the agreement of all countries and although Myanmar remains a member, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has been barred from summits in recent years. Aung Myo Myint -- Myanmar's representative to the bloc -- met the top ASEAN official in Jakarta on Thursday to discuss the crisis and peace plan. The air strike incident is likely to be discussed at an upcoming ASEAN leaders' summit in Jakarta in May. The junta confirmed on Wednesday it had launched "limited" air strikes after it had received a local tip-off about an event marking the opening of an office for one of the local anti-coup groups. It did not say how many were killed but insisted the military had tried to minimise harm to civilians. Also read: Seven Myanmar nationals held at Manipurs Imphal airport: Police Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun blamed mines planted by the People's Defence Force -- coup opponents -- for some of the deaths. According to the International Institute for Strategic Studies' Myanmar conflict tracker, the military has carried out 689 air and drone strike attacks since the coup. This week's strike drew international outrage with United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk saying he was "horrified" and that the victims included schoolchildren performing dances. The United Kingdom -- Myanmar's former colonial power -- has called for the United Nations Security Council to meet to discuss the incident. Rights groups have urged the international community to further restrict Myanmar's access to aviation fuel in the wake of the attack. But this is unlikely because Russia is a firm ally of Myanmar and a large oil exporter, experts say. North Korea fired an unspecified ballistic missile, Seoul's military said. The details of the missile were not known but owing to the launch, Japan mistakenly predicted that it would fall near the island prompting an evacuation order for residents of the northern island of Hokkaido which was later lifted, news agency Reuters reported. North Korea Missile: A TV screen shows a file image of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea,(File) "North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile into East Sea," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, without giving any further details, AFP reported. Here are top points on North Korea's ballistic missile launch: Japan confirmed the launch telling residents of Hokkaido to "evacuate immediately" and seek shelter but local officials later said that there was "no possibility" of the missile hitting the island. The launch comes after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un held a meeting with his top officials to discuss ways to cope with the his top officials calating moves of the US imperialists and the south Korean puppet traitors to unleash a war of aggression. Following the meeting, Kim Jong Un ordered that the country's deterrence capabilities be strengthened. Earlier this year, the North Korean leader had also ordered the country's military to intensify drills to prepare for a "real war". Earlier, North Korea has claimed to have conducted three tests of underwater drones- all in less than three weeks. North Korea has also cut off hotline contact with Seoul last which which South Korea called irresponsible. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the sea on Thursday, South Korea's military said, days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways. A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.(AP) South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staffs said the launch occurred on Thursday morning but gave no further details, such as how far the missile flew and exactly what weapon the North fired. Japan's prime ministers office warned residents in its northernmost main island of Hokkaido to immediately seek shelter inside sturdy buildings or underground. It said the North Korean missile was expected to land near Hokkaido at around 23:00 GMT. It's the latest in a barrage of missile launches that North Korea has performed this year to protest South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. During a military meeting Monday, 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, according to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. KCNA said that meeting discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defense capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by its rivals' military drills. North Korea has long argued that U.S.-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washingtons hostility against Pyongyang. The North has said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to deal with U.S. military threats, though U.S. and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North. There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead earlier this month. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on missiles. Thursdays launch also came as South Korea accused North Korea of not responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. The Norths alleged suspension of the exchange of messages on the communication channels could be worrisome because one of the hotlines' roles is to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals sea borders. Earlier this week, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse, Seouls point man on the North, expressed strong regret over North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the hotlines. Kwon also warned unspecified legal action over the North's use of South Korean assets at a now-stalled inter-Korean factory park in North Korea. South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in North Korea 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. Syria and Saudi Arabia are moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade, the countries said on Thursday in a joint statement. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah meets with Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Faisal Mekdad in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, April 12, 2023. (Reuters) The announcement followed a visit by Syria's top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012. Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on protesters and later civilians, in an uprising turned civil war that began in 2011. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League. However, in recent years, as Assad has consolidated control over most of the country, Syria's neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. Read Here: In first in decade, Saudi plane carrying quake aid lands in Syria The overtures have picked up pace since the massive February 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, regional rivals that had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. A delegation headed by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks about bilateral relations between the two countries, state media from the two countries reported. Saudi state media reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad was received by the kingdom's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. The meeting focused on the steps needed to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that would ... achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab fold," the two countries said in a joint statement. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, where a restoration of Syria's membership is widely expected to be on the table. Also Read: Disruptive Saudi prince's political approach marks sea change with Iran deal The two sides also discussed the importance of enhancing security and combating terrorism in all its forms, and enhancing cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking, the statement said. Syria is a primary producer of the amphetamine-based drug Captagon, which is largely smuggled into Gulf markets for sale. The talks also focused on the need to support ... the Syrian state to extend its control over its territories to end the presence of armed militias and external interference in the Syrian internal affairs, as well as on facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of Syrian refugees. The visit to Saudi Arabia came after Syria announced on Wednesday that it will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, which cut off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied announced earlier this month that he had directed the country's foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria. His move was reciprocated by the Syrian government, a joint statement from the two countries' foreign ministries said Wednesday, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's decision not to attend King Charles' coronation could spark speculation of "a fracture in their public image", a PR expert warned after the Buckingham Palace confirmed that the Duke of Sussex will be attending the ceremony while his wife will remain in California with their children. Public relations expert Renae Smith told Express.co.uk that the strength of their brand as a couple is going to be questioned. Prince Harry-Meghan Markle: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex are seen.(AP) Read more: Prince Harry 'swore at father King Charles' during fight over money I can only comment based on what I know from the media and obviously am not privy to all details, but from a public image perspective, this feels like a fracture in their public image. Prior to now, Harry and Meghan have been a couple in every media engagement, expert Renae Smith said. Interviews, docos etc. Backing each other up, with the feeling of them being in an impenetrable bubble together - them against the world. The concern I would have here for their brand is that this small fracture signifies something different has happened - and thoughts may immediately go to a crack, or a weakness...Its an inconsistency in their brand, the expert explained. Read more: How Charles and Harry were told about Queen's bad health? The difference Warning that the decision could affect the couple, Renae Smith said, "The strength of their brand as a couple is going to be questioned. And I think it allows room for further negative rumours and speculation which is rarely good for brand strength." Royal expert Kinsey Schofield said that Meghan Markle's decision not to attend the coronation comes from prioritising self-preservation, saying, "I think we all knew it was critical for the Sussex brand to have a presence at the coronation. Harrys association with his family is 99 percent of the reason important people answer his phone calls as he tries to become a mover and shaker in the United States. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince Harry is set to attend King Charles' coronation in May without his wife Meghan Markle but a key factor in the decision was fear, a report claimed after Buckingham Palace announced the Duke of Sussex' presence in the May ceremony. Meghan Markle will remain at home in California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The announcement ends months of speculation about whether or not the couple would be at the coronation. Prince Harry On Royal Family: Britain's Prince Harry is seen. (AP) Read more: Have been a couple till now but: Expert on Harry-Meghan's coronation decision In a statement, the Palace said, "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 Telegraph reported that Prince Harry was deeply aware that the ceremony will be "pretty much the most important day" of King Charles' life. Prince Harry knew that he would always regret it if he turned down the opportunity to be at the coronation, the report said. In his memoir Spare, Prince Harry wrote warmly of his relationship with his Pa and later said in an interview that he would always love his father. Earlier The Mirror reported that Prince Harry wanted to meet King Charles and Prince William to discuss their issues before the coronation. Read more: Royal catfight between Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle over coronation? Harry has been very clear and his position hasn't wavered he isn't going to come if he feels the atmosphere will be as toxic as it was during the Queens Platinum Jubilee and funeral. He's said he wants to reconcile with his family and its their call, but so far nothing has changed, the report said. Earlier, talking about the coronation, Prince Harry had said, "There's a lot that can happen between now and then. But, you know, the door is always open. The ball is in their court. There's a lot to be discussed and I really hope that they can - that they are willing to sit down and talk about it, because there's a lot that's happened in six years. And prior to that as well." SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Prince William once left his father King Charles III "shaken" after a "heated" exchange because the Prince of Wales looked very angry in a way similar to his his late mother Diana, a new royal biography claimed. Prince William's temper was also discussed by Prince Harry in his memoir Spare which detailed a physical altercation between the brothers over Meghan Markle in 2019. Prince William: Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales is seen.(Reuters) Read more: Is this why Meghan Markle skipped King Charles' coronation? Royal author claims According to the new book Our King: Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, royal correspondent Robert Jobson wrote that King Charles was "shocked" by William and Harry's "level of belligerence" towards each other. On occasions, both his sons have challenged him. William has even been known to speak forcefully to his father. One exchange between them was so heated that it left Charles shaken, the book noted. Charles hoped his sons would sort things out without needing any intervention, the author claimed, writing, "Both of his sons' tempers are reminiscent of their mother Diana's, which Charles had struggled to cope with during their marriage. Thus the prince chose not to intervene, hoping that in time it would all blow over. But instead of a line being drawn under it, the relationship between his sons deteriorated further." Read more: 5 of the biggest claims about royal family in new King Charles biography The author said that both Prince Harry and Prince William have episodes of fierce temper. Earlier, Prince Harry recounted a "terrifying" meeting with William, Charles and Queen Elizabeth II in his Netflix docuseries. It was terrifying to have my brother scream and shout at me and my father say things that just simply weren't true and my grandmother, you know, quietly sit there and sort of take it all in, he had said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A new biography about King Charles III written by royal biographer Robert Jobson made some shocking claims about the royal family. The book, titled Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed looks at the monarch's life and ascension to the throne following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year. Royal Family News: The royal family is seen. Read more: The most sacred part of coronation that King Charles doesn't want world to see The book considers the life of the man and the monarch, reflecting on how his values and beliefs will shape him as he takes on this monumental role," the publisher claimed. Here are the biggest claims made by the book about members of the royal family: Following Queen Elizabeth's death, Prince Harry travelled separately from his brother Prince William and other members of the royal family. Robert Jobson claimed that Prince Harry chose to travel to Balmoral alone after a disagreement Meghan Markles attendance. It did not go down well with the family, they were all shocked by his behaviour," the book claimed. Queen Elizabeth met then UK prime minister Liz Truss in Balmoral, just two days before her passing, defying doctor's orders. Nothing was going to stop her from carrying out the official meetings, the book claimed however the meetings took an awful lot out of her. Read more: Is this why Meghan Markle skipped King Charles' coronation? Royal author claims Queen Elizabeth's mother did not like the parenting style of Charles' father Prince Philip and thought that he was an alpha male parent who was authoritarian and strict towards Charles. The Queen Mother frowned upon his brashness and the way he treated Charles as Philip would set very strict rules and expect Charles to meet incredibly high standards." Charles was unsure about his wedding to Diana and believes he let down not only the monarchy, but himself and Diana too, through his inability to call off the wedding. He told his friends about the marriage then, I desperately wanted to get out of the wedding in 1981, when during the engagement I discovered just how awful the prospects were, having had no chance whatsoever to get to know Diana beforehand. King Charles stopped taking Prince Harrys calls after he and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from his royal duties in 2020 but Harry regularly called his grandmother until he kept trying to air his grievances. The author wrote, 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. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Rupert Murdoch reportedly ended his marriage to Jerry Hall with an 11 word sentence emailed to her. The divorce was initiated by the billionaire media mogul without any warning, Vanity Fair magazine reported. Jerry, sadly Ive decided to call an end to our marriage, Rupert Murdoch wrote to his fourth wife. Rupert Murdoch Marriage: Rupert Murdoch was engaged to marry Ann Lesley Smith. (Twitter) Read more: North Korea fires ballistic missile prompting wrong alert in Japan: Top points Friends of Jerry Hall- a former supermodel said she was blindsided by the split, as the couple had never fought. She also said that she had nursed Rupert Murdoch through several illnesses. But Jerry Hall was given 30 days to move out of the couples mansion in Bel Air, California, the report claimed. Tom Cashin, a close friend of Terry Hall, said that she was devastated, mad, and humiliated when the marriage was called off and told friends that she made an effigy of Rupert Murdoch and burned it on a grill. The email was sent by Rupert Murdoch when Jerry Hall was waiting to meet him at their home in Oxfordshire We have certainly had some good times, but I have much to doMy New York lawyer will be contacting yours immediately," Rupert Murdoch added. The divorce was finalised in August last year following which Jerry Hall was stopped from giving story ideas to writers of Succession a show loosely based on the Murdoch family. Read more: Have been a couple till now but: Expert on Harry-Meghan's coronation decision Security guards watched Jerry Hall pack her belongings at the couples Los Angeles home as she was helped by her children, the report said. Even when she went back to the Oxfordshire home, which she kept as part of the divorce, CCTV cameras were connected to the Fox offices in New York, it added. There had been disagreements between the couple about Rupert Murdoch's anti-abortionist views and about their children. But the divorce was a surprise to Jerry Hall's friends. The couple had met in 2013 when Jerry Hall was in Australia. They married in London in 2016. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Military parades that were scheduled to take place in May have been cancelled after governors of two Russian regions cited security concerns, although report in Newsweek claimed that the parades were cancelled owing to lack of military equipment. Victory Day parades are held throughout Russia on May 9. Russia-Ukraine War: Russian President Vladimir Putin.(Reuters) Read more: Iran's execution machine amid anti-hijab protests? 75% spike in hangings Governors of Kursk and Belgorod, which borders Ukraine, scrapped their own events markingthe day. Kursk governor Roman Starovoyt said that there would be no parade in the regional capital because of "security reasons," news outlet RBC reported. Meanwhile, Vyacheslav Gladkov, the governor of Belgorod Oblast, said that the parade would also not be held in order not to provoke the enemy with a large number of vehicles and soldiers. However, Newsweek reported that the decision was taken because they simply have not enough functioning tanks to run up and down the road. Read more: Who was behind big US intelligence leak? Gun enthusiast in 20s: Report "Every Russian tank is needed at the front and all remaining parade vehicles are needed for the larger cities,"the report said. Quoting Maria Drutska, who covers Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the report said, Is it because there is nothing left to show at the parade besides T-34? Or they don't want extra charity fireworks? Any other reasons? Russian regions which border Ukraine, such as Belgorod and Kursk, have blamed Ukraine for regular rocket and drone attacks on military facilities. Both had held the parades last year. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON A Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war was taken into custody Thursday by federal agents, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity because it hadn't been publicly announced. The Biden administration has scrambled for days to contain the fallout from the leaked information.(AFP) Investigators believe that the guardsman, who specializes in intelligence, led the online chat group where the documents were posted. The guardsman was identified as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira. ALSO READ: Who was behind big US intelligence leak? Gun enthusiast in 20s: Report FBI agents converged Thursday at Teixeira's Massachusetts home and heavily armed tactical agents took a man wearing a T-shirt and shorts into custody outside the property. Attorney General Merrick Garland was set to formally announce the arrest on Thursday afternoon. It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned. ALSO READ: Apparent leak of US intel poses 'very serious' security risk: Pentagon Law enforcement officials roped off the street near the home. The New York Times, which first identified Teixeira on Thursday, said that a man who had been standing outside the Teixeira home earlier said that he needs to get an attorney if things are flowing the way they are going right now. The Feds will be around soon, I'm sure. The emergence of Teixeira as the apparent primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, one that continues to unfold with almost daily revelations of highly classified documents, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. The Biden administration has scrambled for days to contain the fallout from the leaked information, which has publicized potential vulnerabilities in Ukraines air defense capabilities and exposed private assessments by allies on an array of intelligence matters. The National Guard did not confirm his identity but said in a statement that, We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents. Air Force Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon spokesman, referred all questions about the case to the Justice Department. But he said: We have rules in place. Each of us signs a nondisclosure agreement. This is a criminal act, a willful violation of those." The Biden administration has been working to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. A top Pentagon spokesman told reporters earlier this week that the disclosures present a very serious risk to national security, and the Justice Department opened an investigation to identify the person responsible. We're getting close, President Joe Biden told reporters in Ireland on Thursday. He said that though he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been disclosed, "theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday. Its possible the leak may have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community. In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the posters own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of folded papers. Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed, which may provide critical clues as to who is responsible. Typically in classified briefings, as with the slides that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That is done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected afterward. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. Its those digital clues like the record of printouts that may help investigators hone in on who took the documents. In most of the photographs of documents posted online the pictures are of paper copies that look like they had been folded into quarters almost as if theyd been stuffed into someones pocket. In the days since the leaks came to light, the Pentagon has deferred questions on the investigation to the Justice Department, stating that its a criminal matter. Even if the person who leaked the files is an active duty member of the U.S. military, the Justice Department would likely still have the lead in the prosecution until it was ready to turn the matter over to the Defense Department, a defense official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. This has been the case in previous criminal cases, such as when two Marines based at Camp Pendleton in California were arrested on drug trafficking charges in 2020, the official said. If the person responsible turns out to be a civilian, the Justice Department will be responsible, the official said. The most saccharine song of 1980 was Theres No One Quite Like Grandma, performed by the St Winifreds School choir from Stockport, England. It shot to the top of the British charts as kids everywhere gave it to granny for Christmas. Grandma, we love you, they sang. Grandma, we do. Though you may be far away, we think of you. PREMIUM We found that there are 1.5bn grandparents in the world, up from 0.5bn in 1960 (though the further back one goes, the fuzzier the estimates become). (Representative Image/Pexels) Today, as the once-cherubic choristers start to become grandmas and grandpas themselves, grandparenting has changed dramatically. Two big demographic trends are making nana and gramps more important. First, people are living longer. Global life expectancy has risen from 51 to 72 since 1960. Second, families are shrinking. Over the same period, the number of babies a woman can expect to have in her lifetime has fallen by half, from 5 to 2.4. That means the ratio of living grandparents to children is steadily rising. Surprisingly little research has been done into this. The Economist could not find reliable figures for how many living grandparents there are, so we asked Diego Alburez-Gutierrez of the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Germany to produce some estimates by crunching UN age and population data with models of kinship structures in each country. We found that there are 1.5bn grandparents in the world, up from 0.5bn in 1960 (though the further back one goes, the fuzzier the estimates become). As a share of the population they have risen from 17% to 20%. And the ratio of grandparents to children under 15 has vaulted from 0.46 in 1960 to 0.8 today. By 2050 we project that there will be 2.1bn grandparents (making up 22% of humanity), and slightly more grandparents than under-15s. That will have profound consequences. The evidence suggests children do better with grandparental helpwhich usually, in practice, means from grandmothers. And it will help drive another unfinished social revolutionthe movement of women into paid work. Since fertility rates and life expectancy vary enormously from country to country, the age of the grandparent has not yet dawned everywhere (see chart 1). They are 29% of Bulgarians but only 10% of Burundians. Their average age varies widely, too, from 53 in Uganda to 72 in Japan (see chart 2). To understand what a difference plentiful grandparents make, a good place to start is in a country where they are still scarce. Consider Senegal. Most rural Senegalese are subsistence farmers. Although fertility has dropped from 7.3 babies per woman in 1980 to 4.5 today, large families remain the norm. Children under 15 outnumber living grandparents by 3.5 to 1. Amy Diallo, an 84-year-old matriarch wrapped in a blue and white hijab, has to think carefully when asked how many she has. Thirty, she concludes, looking up from her cross-legged position on the floor of her home in Tally Boubess, outside Dakar, the capital, on a street where horses and carts jostle with sheep and cars. As the oldest member of her family, she commands respect. She offers moral guidance to the young: be honest and pious, uphold tradition and stop hitting your younger brother. Every year she leads a family pilgrimage to Tivaouane, a Muslim holy city, with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and various in-laws, perhaps a hundred in all. Grandparents pass on traditional beliefs, stories, songs and a sense of history. More prosaically, they bring an extra pair of hands. That helps both parents and children. A study in rural Gambia, for example, found that the presence of a maternal grandmother significantly increased a childs chance of living to the age of two. In sub-Saharan Africa the odds of being in school are about 15% higher for children living with a grandfather and 38% higher for children who live with a grandmother. As for Mrs Diallo, she has never worked outside the home. But she has helped some of her offspring to do so. Ndeye, one of her daughters, got a job in an office despite having eight kids herself, because Mrs Diallo helped out with the children. Yet for all her sense of love and duty, Mrs Diallo cannot babysit all 30 grandkids. The state offers little help. Unlike Ndeye, many of Mrs Diallos daughters and granddaughters have never worked outside the home. This is common: barely a third of working-age women in Senegal are either in work or seeking it. Grandparents in the poorest countries do their best, but there are not enough of them. Shes there in times of need In richer places, fertility has fallen much further than in Africa. A typical Mexican woman, for example, can expect to have only two children, down from nearly seven in 1960. Mexicos ratio of living grandparents to children is three times higher than Senegals. Mexican abuelas thus have more time to lavish on each grandchild. Irma Aguilar Verduzco lives with her daughter, also called Irma, and two grandchildren, Rodrigo and Fernanda. She cooks, does school runs and reads with her grandchildren. Ever since he was three, Rodrigo, now 16, has liked to take a cup of coffee and sit down for a chat with his grandmother. Fernanda, now 12, still likes to get into bed with her. Irma junior, meanwhile, has long worked 12-hour days, currently as a manager at the Maya Train, a big rail project. She is divorced, and says her ex-husband does not help. She could not have done anything without Irma seniors help. Grandmothers are the main source of non-parental child care for young children in Mexico, especially since covid-19 forced many nurseries to close. They watch over nearly 40% of sprogs under six. Before grandma moved in, Irma was struggling. There is no understanding or flexibility for working mothers in Mexico, she complains. Her kids were often home alone. Sometimes I paid people to look after them but it was hard to afford and hard to trust people. One day, years ago, Rodrigo came home from nursery with a broken bone; Irma suspects mistreatment. With her mother around, she feels relaxed. Miguel Talamas of the Inter-American Development Bank and his colleagues have tried to estimate how much Mexican grandmothers help their daughters get paid work. They looked at what happened to families after grandmothers die. An abuelas death reduced by 27%, or 12 percentage points, the chance that her daughter was in the labour force, and reduced her earnings by 53%. (The same study found no effect on the employment rate of fathers.) Living with grandparents is not always easy. They may have outdated ideas or demand too much deference. In India, where couples traditionally live with the husbands parents, a genre of television drama turns on the fraught relations between wives and mothers-in-law. A study of rural Indian women in 2018 found that those who lived with their mummyji (mother-in-law) had little freedom. Only 12% were allowed to visit friends or relatives alone. A grandma who enforces old-fashioned norms of wifely subjugation can make it harder for her daughter-in-law to work outside the home. But an intriguing study finds that on average, this effect is outweighed by the help the mother-in-law gives with domestic chores. Such help has become more concentrated as Indias fertility rate has fallen, from six in 1960 to just over two today. Madhulika Khanna of Amazon and Divya Pandey of 3ie, a think-tank, looked at what happened to Indian women if mummyji died. They found the daughters-in-law were 10% less likely to do or seek paid work, probably because they had to spend more time collecting firewood and minding their children. Even overbearing grandmothers can inadvertently do their bit for female emancipation. Rich countries generally provide services that help women juggle child-care and work. But many parents seek extra help from grandparents nonetheless. Old-age pensions help, by allowing grandparents to give up work. According to one survey, 50% of very young children, 35% of primary-school-aged children and 20% of teens in America spend time with their grandparent in a typical week. This can make a big difference. Janice Compton of the University of Manitoba and Robert Pollak of Washington University crunched American census data and found that living within 25 miles of a grandmother raised the labour-force participation rate for married women with small children by 4-10 percentage points. Granny nannying, as some call it, can have downsides, too. A British study found grandparents are more likely to leave their wards near fire hazards than nurseries or nannies. Studies from America, Britain, China and Japan suggest that a child around grandparents is more likely to be obese, though whether this is due to spoiling or other factors is unclear. To us a book shell read And although grandmas help daughters return to the workforce, that often means withdrawing from it themselves. There is a clear trade-off, says Mr Talamas. Back in Mexico, Hermelinda Coapango Vazquez works as a manicurist but takes appointments only at times that fit around caring for her grandson. My grandson is my life, she says. I dont have a partner and I am not one for having lots of friends. A study from Brazil found that when children aged 0-3 were randomly assigned formal child care, the family collectively earned more, mainly because grandparents and older siblings were freed up to work. Another pitfall is that families that rely heavily on grandma for child-care are less likely to move and find a better job. A study by Eva Garcia-Moran of the University of Wurzburg and Zoe Kuehn of the Autonomous University of Madrid found that west German women who lived near their parents in-laws earn about 5% less and commute for longer than their peers. Children parented solely or mostly by grandparents tend to be worse off than their peers. In America, where roughly 2% of children are raised primarily by a grandparent, Laura Pittman of Northern Illinois University found more emotional and behavioural problems among such adolescents than their peers. That is perhaps not surprising. If children are not living with their parents, it is often because something has gone badly wrong: a father in jail; a mother dead or incapable. In these circumstances, living with a grandparent is usually far better than the alternatives. Katie Clark, a 68-year-old from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has had sole custody of one grandchild and has temporarily cared for five others because of her daughters addiction to opiates. She took charge of her daughters first baby soon after she was born. About 12 years later, the daughter arrived, homeless, with five more. She abandoned her children in Katies home, before returning with police to demand them back. The daughter currently has custody of the five children, and Katie fears she is neglecting them again. The child raised entirely by Katie is now at university. In rural China, grandparents help reduce the harm caused by the government. Under the apartheid-like hukou (household registration) system, rural Chinese who move to cities are treated as second-class citizens. Their children are barred from local public schools, so they are often left behind with their grandparents in their parents home village. But rural schools are often dire. Grandparents, though well-meaning, are often barely literate. Scott Rozelle of Stanford University finds that more than half of toddlers in rural China are cognitively delayed, partly because their grandparents do not realise that it is important to talk to them. In Chinese cities the story is different. The one-child policy (which became a three-child policy in 2021) was always enforced more strictly in cities than the countryside. So many urban families consist of four grandparents, two parents and just one child. Thus, there is no shortage of caring hands. Urban children often live with grandparents during the week and see their hard-working parents on weekends. Nurseries are pricey and distrusted in China. Grandmothers often retire in their 50s to watch over the precious only grandchild. This works well enough. The labour-force participation rate for Chinese women is, at 62%, slightly higher than Americas. If you want to give your child a good education, you have to work hard to earn a lot of money, says Zhou Bao, an architect and mother in a 4-2-1 family who has used both sets of grandparents for child-care. But in the process of making money, you can lose the time spent with your child. And she expresses a common fear that grandparents tend to spoil their only grandchildren. They can be too attentive, she says, making them less independent. The Communist Party promotes traditional values, such as family members caring for each other so the state does not have to. In Beijing the government even set up a school in 2005 to teach grandparents how to look after children better. But the next generation may not wish to shoulder the same responsibilities. Few middle-class parents today expect to be bringing up their childrens children in a few decades, reckons Dan Wang of Hang Seng Bank. If they opt out of grandparenting, that could make it harder for their daughters to combine motherhood and work, fears Ms Dan. Just stays a little while Overall, looking after kids appears to be good for grandparents. Those who spend time with their grandchildren report lower levels of depression and loneliness. But one can have too much of a good thing. Youngsters can be exhausting, frustrating and objectionable. A study in Singapore, with mainly ethnically Chinese families, found that many looked after their grandchildren more out of duty than because they relished it. Many find it harder as they age. Some are squeezed in the grandsandwich generationrelied upon to help both their grandchildren and their own ailing parents. Some hanker for a more relaxing retirement. Grandma Irma in Mexico admits she would like to travel more as her grandchildren grow more independent. One place where grandparents have plenty of time to relax is Sweden, where a strong welfare state means parents seldom rely on them. For each child, a Swedish couple can take 16 months of parental leave, for most of which the state pays them most of their previous wages. (The man must take three months, or they are lost; many split the time off equally.) Afterwards, there are subsidised nurseries, and the norm is for both parents to go back to work. Since child-care is everywhere, Swedes find it relatively easy to move cities to find a better job. Once in a while a grandparent might pick up a kid from pre-school or babysit, but not always, says Andreas Bergh of Lund university. Rather than allow a daughter to go back to work, grandparents might enable her to go out to dinner with her husband. Grandparental help is a bonus, says Andreas Heino of Timbro, a think-tank in Stockholm. Subsidies for parental leave are so generous that even entrepreneurs take a fair chunk of it. Sandra Kastas runs two companies in Stockholm. When her son was born in 2021 she took two months off, then spent a year working half-time, as did her husband, an IT specialist. Despite her hectic schedule, Mrs Kastas expects no regular help from her parents. They live on Gotland, a remote island, and do not visit often. Her mother shows her love by sending gifts, such as books and jumpers she has knitted. She talks to her grandson, on FaceTime. He hugs the phone when she calls. Its cute, says Mrs Kastas. Most Swedes are happy with their system. But some of the elderly complain of loneliness. Nearly half of Swedish households consist of one person, the highest level in Europe after Finland. In a population of 10.4m, some 900,000 people are over 60 and living alone. Of these, a fifth are considered socially isolated, meaning they do not meet friends or family more than twice a month. During the pandemic, Swedes joked darkly that it would be easy to isolate the elderly because We dont visit our grandparents much anyway. Immigrants from places such as Africa or the Middle East are often shocked at how atomised Swedish families are. Lars Tragardh, a historian, praises Swedens statist individualism. The state looks after people as individuals, so they can make their own choices and not have to rely on others, he says. Parents elsewhere envy the help that their Nordic peers receive, despite the higher taxes needed to pay for it. Still, even the most generous welfare state cannot offer love. Helena Paues, who works for an association of local authorities in Sweden, describes how her father enjoys taking her dyslexic son, Wille, to museums. He loves facts and science. I think his grandfather has taken him to all the museums in Stockholm: the science museum, the Viking museum, and so on. They have a very close bond. My father also struggled with learning to read and write when he was young. In the summer, the grandkids stay at their grandparents summer house, swim in the lake, and drink lemonade in a tree house. They clamour to do the same thing every year. Ms Paues says her father instils values such as respect for others. He doesnt need to talk about it, he does it by being himself. He teaches them that their opinions matter, because he listens to them. She concludes: As a child, you need more grown-ups than just your parents. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Canva image A New Orleans lawmaker intended to reduce the reasons why police can stop people to ease the financial impact of ticket fees on low-income drivers. But negotiations with law enforcement stripped down the proposal to a bare-bones version that advanced Tuesday from a Louisiana Legislature committee. Rep. Matthew Willard, D-New Orleans, had included broken tail lights and headlights, tinted windows and noisy exhausts in the original version of his bill that changed the violations from primary offenses, for which police could stop a motorist, to secondary ones. A driver can still be ticketed for a secondary offense, but the officer would need another reason to stop the vehicle in the first place. We do know that, across the country, traffic stops are sometimes used to support budgets, Willard said in an interview last week. The problem with it is, when they occur in neighborhoods that arent too well off, youre basically pulling money from neighborhoods without resources. And I think thats a big problem in Louisiana, where we have so many people living in poverty already. Williard said he wrote his proposal close to the legislatures pre-filing deadline, and he wasnt able to meet with law enforcement until Tuesday to get their feedback. The Louisiana Sheriffs Association took issue with most of its provisions, resulting in a version that would change only expired inspection stickers and jaywalking to secondary offenses. Michael Renatza, executive director of the sheriffs group, told Willard and House Transportation Committee members Tuesday the best way to ease the financial blow from traffic violations would be to change the law in which fees are set. You gotta address the fines and the fees, and thatll be how you can help people properly, Renatza said. Willard said he agreed to remove broken tail lights from his bill because police said they can be an indicator of vehicles that have been carjacked. He insisted one working headlight isnt necessarily a traffic hazard but conceded to an amendment that removed that exception. Most people stopped for non-working headlights arent aware theyre broken, Renatza said, adding that many are let off with just a warning. Police consider vehicle safety sacred ground and wouldnt favor changes in the law that ease these standards, he said. In his remarks Tuesday to the House Transportation Committee, Louisiana Sheriffs Association Executive Director Michael Renatza incorrectly attributed the arrest of Theodore Kaczynski, known as the Unabomber, to a traffic stop for broken headlines. It was actually serial killer Ted Bundy who was arrested in 1975 for driving without headlights in Utah, where police eventually linked him to a murder. Bundy escaped twice during his confinement and was finally apprehended for keeps in 1978 when police in Pensacola, Florida, pulled him over for driving a stolen car. Kaczynski was tracked down to a cabin in remote Montana after his brother recognized his writing in a 35,000-word manifesto The Washington Post published and tipped off police. In its current form, Willards bill would keep inspection stickers that are less than two months expired from being a primary offense. Current law gives vehicle owners a 30-grace period to update their brake tags. He had originally proposed a four-month grace period, but it was shortened to two months in committee. Committee member Rep. Ed Larvardain, D-Alexandria, asked Willard what impact his legislation would have had if it were in effect in November, when a Rapides Parish Sheriffs Deputy Rodney Anderson pulled over Derrick Kittling for a window tint violation. The traffic stop led to a scuffle between Anderson, who is white, and Kittling, who is Black. The fight ended with Anderson fatally shooting Kittling, who had gained control of Andersons stun gun, according to a Louisiana State Police investigation. Rapides District Attorney Phillip Terrell cleared Anderson of any wrongdoing last week. Willard refrained from answering Larvardains question directly, saying he wasnt an expert in law enforcement. In his interview with the Illuminator, Willard mentioned the increased frequency of police stops in neighborhoods of color but stressed the high cost of traffic fines were the inspiration for his bill. Theres a lot of data that shows that these types of violations occur in primarily Black neighborhoods, Hispanic neighborhoods, he said. Theres a concern there, too, about increased interactions with law enforcement over these minor traffic offenses. The transportation committee advanced Willards bill to the House floor with a 9-3 vote. SUPPORT NEWS YOU TRUST. DONATE The post Bill to reduce reasons why cops can pull you over in Louisiana gets stripped in committee appeared first on Louisiana Illuminator. Ukraine's economy contracted by 29.1 percent in 2022, the state statistics service said, as the country has been ravaged by Russia's assault. Ukrainian soldiers pass by an apartment building damaged by the recent Russian shelling in war-hit Avdiivka, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 12, 2023.(AP) By comparison, the pro-Western country's gross domestic product grew 3.4 percent in 2021 prior to the invasion ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin in February 2022. Also read: Ukraine war, already with up to 354,000 casualties, likely to last past 2023 Moscow's war has killed tens of thousands, prompted millions to flee and battered swathes of the economy. Construction was the hardest-hit sector as it shrank by 67.6 percent last year, the state statistics service said late Wednesday. The World Bank has said that Ukraine needs $411 billion for its reconstruction and recovery in the wake of Moscow's invasion in February last year. Also read: 'Russian soldiers, wives discussed even toilet bowls': Ukraine minister in India Russia damaged more than 50 percent of Ukraine's power infrastructure in attacks on its neighbour over the autumn and winter months, the global lender said. CIA director William Burns said that Russian President Vladimir Putin's military campaign in Ukraine was "a huge strategic failure" owing to which Russia is fast moving into becoming a economic colony. CIA Director William Burns On Vladimir Putin: Russian President Vladimir Putin is seen. "If you think about not only the losses in manpower and materiel; the humiliation in many respects of the Russian military, the exposure of its weaknesses; the long-term damage that sanctions and export controls, and the exodus of more than 1,000 Western firms from Russia, are going to have on Russia's own economic prospects," William Burns said. "If you think that, early in the war, it was Putin's intention to try to fracture and weaken NATO, the truth is, NATO is as coherent as it's ever been. It's just added one new member in Finland; it's likely to add a second in Sweden," he added. "And if you look at the reality that Russia is becoming more and more dependent on China, and in some respects runs the risk of becoming an economic colony of China over time, dependent for export of energy resources and raw materials in that direction as well, that all adds up, in my view, to a huge own goal for Putin's Russia right now," he further explained. On Vladimir Putin, the CIA director said, "His bet is that he can grind down the Ukrainians and wear down the West. He thinks, and he wants us to think, that he can make time work for him. He remains convinced that Ukraine matters more for him than it does for us. I think that Putin is as wrong in that bet as he was in his assumptions before his invasion." Last month, China's president, Xi Jinping visited Moscow and signed multi-year agreements with Vladimir Putin. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON UN nuclear chief Rafael Grossi warned on Thursday that "we are living on borrowed time" following two recent landmine explosions near Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia plant. Russia-Ukraine war: A view shows the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine.(Reuters) The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has repeatedly expressed fears over the safety of the plant, which is Europe's largest atomic power station. Russian forces took control of the six-reactor plant in embattled southern Ukraine in March last year. "We are living on borrowed time when it comes to nuclear safety and security at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant," Grossi said in a statement. "Unless we take action to protect the plant, our luck will sooner or later run out, with potentially severe consequences for human health and the environment," he added. Two landmine explosions occurred outside the plant's perimeter fence -- the first on 8 April, and another four days later, according to the statement. It was not immediately clear what caused the blasts, it said. Grossi met senior Russian officials in Kalingrad last week and prior to this with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Zaporizhzhia to discuss a safety plan. He also warned on Thursday that the plant continued to depend on a single still-functioning power line, posing "a major risk to nuclear safety and security". A back-up power line damaged on March 1 has still not been repaired, the IAEA said. It also said the staffing situation at the plant remained "complex and challenging", in part because of staff shortages. The person who leaked US classified documents which resulted in a national security investigation is a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base, the Washington Post reported. The report cited fellow members of the said person of an online chat group. US Intelligence Leak: The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington.(Reuters) Read more: Elon Musk slams BBC journalist on Twitter hate speech: You dont know what' The person shared classified information to the group on the instant messaging platform Discord which has about 24 men and young boys who shared a "mutual love of guns, military gear and God," the report claimed. The report did not name the person while Discord said in a statement earlier that it was cooperating with law enforcement. Earlier, US department of justice opened a formal criminal probe after the matter was referred by the Pentagon which has been assessing the damage done by the leak. The person was described by the report as, He's fit. He's strong. He's armed. He's trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie. Read more: Iran's execution machine amid anti-hijab protests? 75% spike in hangings The person also told the group members that he spent some of his day inside a secure facility that prohibited cellphones and other electronic devices, the report claimed. In the leak, US secrets and sensitive documents were posted on on Discord and other platforms including the online messaging board 4Chan and Twitter while US security services scrambled to minimise the damage that the leak resulted in with respect to allied. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Joshua Leifer in the New York Review of Books: Many opponents of Netanyahus judicial overhaul have called for Israel to finally draft a constitution, but any serious attempt will mean choosing between a democratic state and one that privileges Jewish citizens above all others. On March 26 Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, announced that he was firing his defense minister, Yoav Gallant. The previous day, Gallant, a former navy commando, had demanded that Netanyahu halt the governments plan to overhaul the countrys judiciarya plan that threatens to dismantle as much as reshape it. The proposal, unveiled by the justice minister, Yariv Levin, in early January, would give the governing coalition control over the appointment of judges, limit the Supreme Courts ability to annul legislation through judicial review, and enable Israels parliament, the Knesset, to override decisions made by the court. Levin committed to passing each plank of the plan as a bill of its own in quick succession. Since January opponents of Levins proposal to subordinate the judiciary to the Knesset have held demonstrations around the country every Saturday night. More here. Rachel Munroe in The New Yorker: The federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound, thirty years ago, was flawed from the start. The Branch Davidians were a fringe offshoot of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, and, in the early nineties, they were led by David Koresh, a charismatic long-haired man who believed that the end of days was imminent. The Davidians lived on a compound called Mount Carmel, twenty miles northeast of Waco, and were well known to local law enforcement, who considered them relatively benign. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms suspected the Davidians of illegally converting semi-automatic rifles into fully automatic weapons. (The weapons allegations seemed to inspire more reason for action than reports that Koresh was sexually assaulting his followers underage daughters.) During the ensuing investigation, A.T.F. agents repeatedly overestimated their capacity for subterfuge. When a group of undercover agents posing as college students moved into a house across the street from the Branch Davidian compound, their rental cars gave them away. The agents hosted a party to deflect suspicion, but it had the opposite effect: Some of the Branch Davidians showed up, mingled, and reported back to Koresh that these were federal agents for sure, Jeff Guinn writes, in the recently published Waco: David Koresh, the Branch Davidians, and a Legacy of Rage. More here. "I have made a decision to focus on my education so that I can be an independent and empowered woman," said Aisha. At Mpapa Primary School, the annual drop-out rate for girls was 26 per cent in 2017. By 2020, it had dropped to just 6 per cent. Nationally, only 51 per cent of girls complete primary school. analysis Senegal has a young population, with about half of its 18 million people aged below 19. This indicates a potentially high demand for education. Of those aged six to 11, however, 41% are out of school. In the age group 12 to 18, 43% aren't in school. Statistics show, too, that the enrolment numbers of girls decrease as they advance in grades. To understand these dynamics, the African Population and Health Research Center carried out a two-year study on girls' education and wellbeing in Senegal. The Conversation Africa asked Benta A. Abuya, a lead researcher on the study, to unpack the findings. You found that only a third of girls enrol in a secondary school. Why is this? The reasons begin in primary school. In Senegal, the official primary school entrance age is six. Primary school lasts six years, lower secondary lasts four years and upper secondary lasts three years. Our findings were that in the last grade of primary school, the dropout rate was 26.7% for girls and 22.2% for boys. We found that financial hardship in households is one of the obstacles to girls and boys completing school. About 39% of Senegalese live below the poverty line. Despite the existence of government programmes - like free public school education until age 16 and the Girls' Education Support Project, which provides school uniforms - the cost of schooling is still an obstacle for many families. They have to pay for learning materials and transport to school. We also found a preference to educate boys over girls. In households with limited finances, boys are more likely to be sent to school even if girls would like to go. Additionally, girls who are delinquent, lack interest in school or engage in unsafe sexual activities tend to be judged harshly by communities. They are viewed as bringing shame to their families. They are, therefore, withdrawn from school and married off early in an attempt to address this behaviour. Deep-seated cultural beliefs and practices - such as female genital mutilation, forced child marriages and early pregnancies - also prevent some girls from making progress in school. They, therefore, lag in education and wellbeing. The legal age of marriage in Senegal is 16 for girls and 18 for boys. But families decide when girls get married. For example, in the Kolda region in the south, 68% of girls get married before they turn 18. This is more than double the national average of 31%. In a scoping review we did in 2019, we found that out of 1,321 adolescent girls, 78% got pregnant between ages 12 and 18. Of these pregnancies, 25.6% occurred before the girls turned 15. And in an exploratory study we did in 2021, teenage pregnancy was predominantly cited in Zinguinchor and Sedhiou regions in south-west Senegal, as leading to girls dropping out of school. Some girls marry early because their families believe it makes them less likely to fall pregnant in a transactional sexual relationship. Others marry early if they see it as the only opportunity to make a life after dropping out of school. Why is this a problem? When girls don't get into secondary school, they and their communities miss out on the social, economic and health benefits that accrue from education. When more girls get to secondary school, this spurs communities to build more secondary institutions. This in turn spurs higher primary school enrolment. It also increases the chances of girls being near the schools they need to attend, which motivates parents to be more committed to supporting their schooling. When girls get a secondary school education, the whole society benefits. Critical thinking skills enable girls to participate in civic duties and drive democratic change in their communities. Educated women are better placed to address some of the health challenges facing their children and their communities, as they are often primary caregivers. Educated mothers increase the immunisation and nutrition intake of their children, reduce the likelihood of child mortality and stunting, have lower fertility rates, and have fewer unwanted pregnancies. Lastly, going to secondary school reduces the likelihood that girls will contract sexually transmitted diseases, as they are able to access information to change their health behaviour when they are most vulnerable. How can parents help turn the tide? Parents can help increase the number of girls getting into secondary school if they: give equal chances to girls and boys to attend school refrain from marrying girls off early stop using the excuse that girls are bound to "end up in the kitchen" register all their children, including girls, at birth so that they have birth certificates. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Senegal Education Women By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. We found that a failure to follow up on the issuance of birth certificates for girls hinders their education beyond primary school, as they are unable to sit for final exams. The government and education stakeholders need to encourage parents to get more involved in programmes to keep girls in schools. For instance, parents are needed to drive the fight against early marriage and female genital mutilation. The government should also ensure that the Coordinating Framework of Interventions on Girls' Education in Senegal works with communities. Men and boys should be involved in intervention programmes. This has the potential to shift power dynamics by challenging gender norms and patriarchal beliefs that men and women aren't equal. In the regions where cultural and religious factors hinder girls' education, parents should be at the forefront of addressing these barriers. They can do this by speaking up against early marriage and keeping girls in schools. Benta A. Abuya, Research Scientist, African Population and Health Research Center Radisson Hotel Group is pleased to announce the debut of its luxury lifestyle brand, Radisson Collection in India with the signing of the first hotel in Hyderabad. Among India's biggest tech hubs and known for its regal heritage, historic monuments, and iconic food streets, Hyderabad offers a wealth of experiences to leisure and business guests alike. The 300-room hotel is close to the city's financial district, which houses business centers, IT Parks, and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). The hotel would be operational by Q2, 2026. Radisson Collection is a luxury lifestyle collection of hotels and resorts, boasting unique locations in each destination. These iconic properties are based on the pillars of authentic local influence, living design, and a vibrant social scene and enable guests to enjoy the benefits of an aspirational lifestyle. Created to unlock owner value, the brand offers opportunities for exploring hotel collections in premium market categories while connecting with affluent travellers. Since its global launch in 2018, Radisson Collection has seen an upward growth trajectory with currently over 50 hotels in operation and development in picturesque locations across the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, and Turkey. Once open, Radisson Collection Hotel, Hyderabad Financial District will feature 300 elegant rooms and suites. Equipped with alluring and contemporary interiors, guests can select their preferred stay from standard rooms, executive suites, deluxe suites, and presidential suites. All the rooms will boast premium mattresses, duvets, and linens, with personalized pillows and turn-down preferences for first-class sleep. The design of the hotel will be curated with a sophisticated tone, elegant architecture, local nuances, and in totality, an exceptional experience for all backed by Radisson Hotel Group's global service standards. The hotel will feature an all-day dining restaurant, specialty F&B outlets, a tea lounge, and a rooftop bar. Guests can relax and unwind at the swimming pool or access the health club and a full-service spa for a holistic stay experience. Ideal for corporate events, holiday parties, or private functions, the hotel will offer over 12,500 sq. ft. of banquet space and a business club spread across nearly 7,000 sq. ft. According to a recent report, the luxury market in India is expected to grow to 3.5 times the current size and reach the US$200 billion mark by 2030, propelled by growth in entrepreneurship, the introduction of international brands, penetration of e-commerce businesses, and demand from tier 2 and 3 cities. Starting with Hyderabad as a key market, the Group will further expand its portfolio under the Radisson Collection brand by adding iconic properties across markets, including Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Goa, Rajasthan, Chennai, Ahmedabad, and Kolkata among other locations. Radisson Hotel Group continues to command a leading presence in the Indian market and is one of the country's largest international hotel operators with over 150 hotels in operation and development. It continues to be the largest hotel operator in tier-1 markets like Delhi NCR and at the same time, more than 50% of its portfolio is in tier-2 and 3 markets where it has benefitted by being the first mover. With hotels dotted across 64+ locations in India, there is a Radisson hotel in every 4 hours of drivable distance across the length and breadth of the country operating under brands, including Radisson Blu, Radisson, Radisson RED, Park Inn by Radisson, Park Plaza, Park Inn & Suites by Radisson, Country Inn & Suites by Radisson and Radisson Individuals. Hotel website Splendido, A Belmond Hotel, Portofino, continues its legacy as an icon of style and elegance with the much-anticipated unveiling of the newly redesigned pool, pool restaurant and Baronessa Suite on 8 June 2023, as the property welcomes guests for the summer season. Led by Martin Brudnizki Design Studio, the hotel will reveal the transformation of the celebrated pool area, famously overlooking the sparkling Ligurian Bay; as well as introducing the new Splendido Grill restaurant and the renovated Baronessa Suite. Each seasonal reopening promises new, elevated spaces that capture the spirit of Ligurian craftsmanship and design. A CELEBRATION OF LIGURIAN CRAFT BY MARTIN BRUDNIZKI One of the leading restaurant and hotel designers of his generation, Martin Brudnizki reinvigorates spaces with his unique and contemporary point of view, seamlessly blending tradition with design, synonymous with Belmond's own vision. Through the use of local materials and traditional craft, Brudnizki layers different colours, fabrics, textures and styles, with an inspiring and emboldened outcome. The result is a warming space combining family heirloom antiques with a modern elevated perspective. Inspired by Ligurian coastal villa living, delicate touches from the region are observed throughout the hotel's design, from black and white Carrara and Lavagna stone flooring, to the local Albissola ceramics through to the original Margerin frescos. A NEW CHAPTER FOR SPLENDIDO'S ICONIC POOL Splendido's cinematographic swimming pool is legendary in its own right; a glamorous destination where guests including renowned film directors, actors, artists and even royalty have soaked up the Portofino Bay panorama. Newly redesigned by the talented Italian landscape designer Marco Bay, the iconic 1970s pool has been updated to reflect the deep green-blue tones of the sea below, while the surrounding sun terrace now features contrasting hues of pink, red, and white stone, embedded with mosaic sea creatures. Adjoining the swimming pool terrace, the Splendido Grill restaurant will feature traditional hand-painted green and white tile frontages inspired by Albissola ceramics, also found in the hotel guestrooms. The restaurant's lush green surroundings blend seamlessly with the interior detailing, furniture and greenery, whilst the retractable sunroof in tones of acorn green and terracotta against a bright white background, provides a striking contrast against the red-flecked composite stone floor. At night, vibrant striped Murano glass pendant lights illuminate the terrace, furnished with Bonacina chairs, dressed with piped cushions in coral and green tones and tables adorned with custom-designed fine bone china inspired by the local flora and fauna. THE BARONESSA SUITE, REIMAGINED The newly designed Baronessa Suite combines the design details and language of the guest suites with enchanting frescoes, artistic elements and handcrafted decorations dating back to mid 20th century, evoking all the splendour of the Ligurian Riviera - with the addition of curios, antiques and richly layered furniture. Inspired by the noble Palazzos of the region, a particular emphasis has been placed on striking the balance between comfort and elegance. Rich fabric wall coverings contrast beautifully with the Graniglia alla Genovese flooring, with a mosaic border finish. Antique furniture, thoughtfully curated from local auction houses and estate sales, has been reupholstered in bespoke fabrics, including a statement chaise longue and carved timber side table, as well as a petite vanity table with contrasting footstool. A grandiose carved timber headboard depicting unfurling agapanthus leaves contrasts against the soft fabric of the upholstered insert whilst painted Genovese antique bedside tables are topped by Albissola table lamps. The suite's magnificence extends outdoors to the expansive terrace, furnished with rattan seating and a dining area, where guests can enjoy a sumptuous breakfast whilst basking in the warm morning sun. The Baronessa Suite is a true testament to tradition and cultural heritage, offering guests unparalleled style and comfort. Hotel website Accor today announces that Martine Gerow has been appointed as Group Chief Finance Officer. Martine will assume this role from 01 July 2023 and will also become a member of the Management board at this time, reporting directly to Sebastien Bazin, Group Chairman. Martine will lead the Group's Corporate financial function and manage relations with the market regulatory authorities and financial community. She replaces Jean-Jacques Morin, former Group Deputy CEO and CFO and now Premium, Midscale & Economy Division CEO. With a strong French and Anglo-Saxon background, Martine started her career as a consultant with the Boston Consulting Group in New York. She then joined PepsiCo and, in 2002, moved to Danone where she served as Division CFO and Group Controller based in Paris. Martine joined the travel industry in 2014, first as CFO of Carlson Wagon Lit Travel, and, since 2017, as CFO of American Express Global Business Travel, based in London. Martine is a graduate from HEC and holds an MBA degree from Columbia Business School. Conrad Washington, DC announced Adam Heffron as the new general manager of the luxury 360-room property. Heffron joins the property from the 305-room Conrad Los Angeles hotel which made its debut in Downtown Los Angeles last year. In his new role, Heffron will lead the team in all aspects of hotel operations, from marketing and hotel administration to luxury hospitality, while delivering on Conrad Hotels & Resorts' commitment to purposeful and passionate service. In Heffron's previous role, he led the pre-opening and opening team of the acclaimed Conrad Los Angeles hotel ensuring its success as the flagship property for the Conrad Hotels & Resorts brand in California. As a hospitality veteran with over 20 years of experience, he's held a variety of senior leadership roles with Hilton, including general manager of the award-winning Waldorf Astoria Park City, and hotel manager of the luxurious Conrad New York Downtown. Heffron holds a bachelor of arts in Political Science from Towson University and a certificate in Advanced Hospitality Revenue Management from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. Franklin, Tenn. - Quore, the leading provider of workflow management and productivity tools for hotels, today announced the latest enhancement to its Preventative Maintenance (PM) capabilities, adding new options and flexibility to scheduling features. Hotels can now leverage Quores solution to more easily maintain facilities, improve guest satisfaction, adhere to brand standards, and protect assets and revenue. In fact, customizing Quores PM app to meet the requirements of each brand or management company PM Program is a key step in the solutions onboarding process, so all the heavy lifting is pre-built into the platform. Preventative maintenance is consistently top of mind throughout the hospitality industry. Every hotel brand and management company places emphasis on PM activities so each property can extend the life of valuable on-site resources, from HVAC systems to televisions. In the new platform update, Quore added the flexibility to schedule general PMs tri-annually. This extends a list of existing frequency options, including weekly, monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, and annually. Quore also added two new guestroom PM frequencies, enabling hotels to schedule maintenance semi-annually or annually in those specific spaces. This latest update to Quores platform comes as the company celebrates reaching 6,000 hotel customers and completing its Cleanings Plus Data Integration Powered by IHG Concerto, allowing room status details to be leveraged to improve the performance of housekeeping teams at IHG branded hotels. . The company also recently commemorated its 10th anniversary in November 2022. We value our customers feedback and tailor our solution to their needs whenever possible. So, when some of the largest hotel brands in the world requested these new PM scheduling options, we delivered. We are thrilled to see our solution continue to evolve, deliver more flexibility, and meet the needs of the hospitality industry. This development builds on our recent successful Cleanings Plus integration through IHG Concerto, and we look forward to empowering our more than 6,000 customers with even more flexibility and customization options in the future. David Fox, COO at Quore For more information about Quores platform, visit Quores solution webpage here, or visit Quore in booth 641 at the Asian American Hotel Owners Association Conference (AAHOACON) this week in Los Angeles. About Quore Quore is an award-winning, cloud-based hotel operations solution, supporting hotels of any size to be more efficient and improve guest experiences. Founded in 2012, Quore manages all aspects of the guest experience, including preventative maintenance, guest requests and complaints, work orders, housekeeping and workforce/shift communication. Quore's software is used by more than 6,000 hotels, including hotels from the industry's largest brands, like IHG, Marriott, and Choice. The Tennessee-based company is privately owned and was named one of America's Best Startup Employers by Forbes. Ashley Shulte Media Contact New York, NY - The NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and Growth Advisors International Network (GAIN), a leading travel and hospitality innovation and growth advisory firm, are delighted to announce a multi-year strategic collaboration with the NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality and its Innovation Hub (HI Hub) Incubator Program. This international collaboration will extend to NYU's campuses in Shanghai and Abu Dhabi, with GAIN serving as an official advisory sponsor for both the NYU Tisch Center of Hospitality and the HI HUB Incubator. Under the terms of this agreement, GAIN will deliver C-suite level, travel and hospitality-focused professional advisory services to the winner of the NYU SPS HI Hub Incubator Pitch Competition, in which NYU affiliated hospitality startups have the opportunity to develop their businesses and compete for cash prizes. Additionally, GAIN will establish a yearly internship program for eligible students from the NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality. This industry collaboration additionally presents an exciting opportunity for NYU SPS students, and their related startups, to connect with GAIN's global network of travel technology leaders through various events and ongoing mentorship programs. Furthermore, GAIN and NYU SPS will jointly develop a Master Class, combining the expertise of both organizations to deliver a specialized and impactful educational experience for NYU SPS travel and hospitality students. This collaboration enables the NYU Tisch Center Incubator Program and its members to leverage the extensive industry experience and focused advisory services offered by GAIN's global network of travel and hospitality experts. It also gives NYU SPS Tisch Center Hospitality students access to valuable mentoring and networking opportunities, and real-world industry feedback delivering growth and impact. Dr. Richie Karaburun, MBA, DPS, clinical assistant professor and director of the HI Hub program Incubator Program, expressed enthusiasm for the partnership We are thrilled to embark on this strategic collaboration with the NYU SPS Tisch Center of Hospitality and their Hospitality Innovation Hub incubator. This alignment exemplifies the impact and value GAIN delivers and acknowledges NYU SPS's commitment to innovation and excellence. We look forward to working with such a prestigious global academic institution to be catalysts for the development of innovative solutions in the global travel and hospitality industries by providing direct access to industry expertise and resources. Michael Cohen, managing partner, GAIN About NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality and Its HI Hub The NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, celebrating more than 25 years of academic excellence, is a leading center for the study of hospitality, travel, and tourism. Founded in 1995, the Tisch Center was established in response to the growing need for hospitality and tourism undergraduate and graduate education. Its cutting-edge curricula attract bright, motivated students who see to become leaders in their fields. Through its undergraduate degree in hotel and tourism management, its graduate degrees in hospitality industry studies, tourism management, and event management, a plethora of Professional Pathways continuing education programs, and its world-renowned hospitality investment conference, students gain the knowledge and the skill sets that enable them to manage change, to communicate, to thrive in complex work environments, and to advance the business of hospitality, travel, and tourism. The Tisch Center launched the Hospitality Innovation Hub (HI Hub), which will foster entrepreneurship and creative solutions for the industries it services. The state-of-the-art facilities offer students, start-ups, and established industry partners and opportunities to learn, discover, innovate, and invest. For more information about the NYU SPS Jonathan M. Tisch Center of Hospitality, visit sps.nyu.edu/tisch. About GAIN Growth Advisors International Network GAIN is a collective of seasoned C-suite and VP-level commercial, IT, operations, finance and marketing executives, that works closely with organizations in the travel, hospitality, and restaurant technology sector globally to drive growth, industry impact and intelligent commercial expansion. GAIN comprises 30 associates, based across five continents and covering all core business disciplines. From technology and product development reviews, commercial strategy and brand positioning to sales leadership, go-to market strategies and funding advisory, GAIN provides a range of managed advisory services to vendors, funding organizations, travel and hospitality corporate entities and groups, and help startups and scaleups in attaining commercial momentum and the capital for their seed to series rounds and exits. To learn more about GAIN, its associates and managed services offering, please visit gainadvisors.com or follow the LinkedIn page. Michael C. Cohen Managing Partner | Growth Advisors International Network - GAIN GAIN - Growth Advisors International Network BEAUFORT, SC - Newport Hospitality Group (NHG) is a prominent hotel management company with a diverse portfolio, providing hotel owners and investors with comprehensive management services has recently been selected to manage the Holiday Inn & Suites Beaufort @ Highway 21, signifying a continued partnership with HMV Management. This announcement comes as the hotel joins the SpringHill Suites Beaufort, another HMV property in the area, which Newport also manages. Located minutes from Historic Downtown Beaufort, Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort, and Parris Island Marine Corps Recruit Depot, the Holiday Inn & Suites Beaufort @ Highway 21 is the perfect choice for vacationers, military travelers, and business guests alike. The hotel includes 5,400 square feet of flexible meeting and event space, making it an ideal venue for weddings, meetings, seminars, corporate events, and more. This Beaufort full-service hotel with 97guestrooms near Parris Island offers a range of amenities to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable stay. The hotel's on-site restaurant, Albergotti Grill, serves light-fare dinner options, while the Tides Bar & Grill offers a selection of beverages with picturesque views of the inland waterway marsh. Guests can also explore the nearby attractions, including the waterfront park, local shops, and restaurants in Historic Downtown Beaufort, Hunting Island State Park, the Spanish Moss Trail, Beaufort Arsenal Museum, Pat Conroy Literacy Center, and the Penn Center. Wayne West III, Newport's President, expressed his excitement for the opportunity to continue working with Vimal Desai, COO of HMV Management, stating, Our ongoing partnership with HMV Management is a testament to the trust and strong working relationship we've built over the years. We're thrilled to extend our management services to the Holiday Inn & Suites Beaufort and look forward to further success together. In addition to his optimism for the partnership, Vimal Desai, COO of HMV Management, brings a wealth of knowledge with a family history in hospitality in the Beaufort area, Desai deeply understands the community and its unique needs. He expressed his confidence in the hotel's future success under Newport's leadership, citing Newport Hospitality Group's expertise as a key factor. We have seen great success with our existing partnership and are confident that Newport Hospitality Group's extensive knowledge and experience in hospitality will ensure that the Holiday Inn & Suites Beaufort continues to thrive. Brendan McCoy, Vice President-Director of Operations, commented on the hotel's unique value, future plans, food and beverage opportunities, and the positive impact of working with the SpringHill Suites. The Holiday Inn & Suites Beaufort provides an ideal blend of relaxation and practicality for tourists and professionals on the move. Our focus on exceptional food and beverage offerings will provide guests with a memorable dining experience, further setting us apart from our competition. Collaborating closely with the SpringHill Suites, we plan to create a synergy between the two properties, maximizing the potential of both hotels. Beaufort is in the Lowcountry area of South Carolina, known for its rich history, natural beauty, and thriving arts scene, and has significantly contributed to the Beaufort County economy. Recent statistics indicate that the county has experienced substantial growth in tourism, with an increase in visitor spending and job creation in the hospitality sector. HMV Management is a leading hotel management company in Beaufort, SC specializing in providing hotel management and development. For more information, please contact Vimal Desai at [email protected]. Newport Hospitality Group Founded in 1991, Newport Hospitality Group, Inc. (NHG) is a leading hotel management company specializing in select and full-service hotels. They operate more than 50 hotels across the United States. Their diverse portfolio includes independent boutique hotels and top brands such as Hilton, Marriott, Hyatt, Wyndham, Choice, and IHG. NHG takes pride in delivering superior owner returns, exceptional guest experiences, and rewarding hospitality careers. Services include new hotel development and acquisitions, local market sales, revenue management, purchasing, and capital renovation. For more information about NHG, please visit nhghotels.com or get in touch at (757) 221-0100. For more information about the Beaufort, SC hotels, please visit: Holiday Inn Beaufort @ Highway 21 SpringHill Suites Beaufort View source Dave Rossman A Houston manufacturer of parts for wind turbines has been fined more than $280,000 for failing to address repeated workplace safety violations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration found violations in an April 2022 inspection of a plant operated by Proinlosa Energy Corp., a unit of Spain's Proinlosa's Group, and again in a follow-up November inspection, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. The facility is located just west of Bush Intercontinental Airport. Navy Blue opened in the heart of Rice Village just before Thanksgiving last year. Houstonians jumped on reservations with the fervor normally reserved for an Astros playoff game. They filled the dining room night after night slurping raw oysters, sipping cocktails served in delicate stemware and savoring one last bite of caviar or a slice of carrot cake dotted with toffee sauce. The restaurant garnered national buzz and within three months, Texas Monthly already anointed it the states best new restaurant in 2023. For chef Aaron Bludorn, who opened the seafood-centric restaurant with his wife Victoria and director of operations-partner Cherif Mbodji, there was still a missing piece. Obsessing over details is part of the job for Bludorn and Mbodji: Is a $48 filet of swordfish au poivre cooked to the proper temperature? Should the lights be turned up a notch or dimmed? Are there enough complimentary Mexican shortbread cookies for diners to take home on their way out? Earlier this week, Navy Blue was finally complete, Bludorn explained, as workers installed a 15-foot, 300-pound fishing boat from Senegal. It had traveled some 5,000 miles across the Atlantic Ocean from a fishermens village off the West African coast to the fourth-largest city in the U.S. But this narrow, wooden canoe hovering above the bar wasnt just another piece of decor in a restaurant that cost more than $2 million to build. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer Bludorn, 38, and Mbodji, 44, wanted a personal stamp on their sophomore restaurant, a follow-up to the blockbuster hit Bludorn in Fourth Ward. Navy Blue nods to the seafood menu and echoes Bludorns surname. Blue was also the call sign for the chefs father, a fighter pilot who was always supportive of his sons culinary career. The two New York City-trained restaurant pros Bludorn cooked and Mbodji worked front of house at celebrated French chef Daniel Bouluds Cafe Boulud looked up to their fathers. Both men died long before Bludorn and Mbodji moved to Houston and opened their first restaurant. Next to the shimmering open kitchen, a black-and-white photo of Bludorns father at a pinning ceremony for a promotion sits in a gilded frame overlooking the dining room. The boat, which the business partners found on a trip to Senegal over the winter, is an homage to Mbodjis father. Its like the final piece of Navy Blue and really completes the restaurant, Bludorn said. The restaurant is representative of both of us now. GET A BLUE: Bludorn team's Navy Blue, one of Houston's most anticipated new restaurants, opens in Rice Village The two Navy Blue partners stood on the sidelines that recent morning as four men hung the boat from galvanized steel wires. The pirogue, the French word for canoe thats often used in Senegal, is accented in the colors of the Senegalese flag yellow, green and red as bright as a traffic light. It sits on the opposite end of the dining room from the photo of Bludorns father, serving as a bookend of sorts. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer This boat is something physical, like him being there, said Mbodji, referring to his own father. Having him present in the restaurant is more than anything I can describe. Its like life coming full circle. Since meeting in 2014, Bludorn and Mbodjis relationship evolved from colleagues to friends to business partners as their professional and personal lives overlapped. They both describe their fathers as men they looked up to while navigating the long hours in the restaurant industry. They were both working at Cafe Boulud when their fathers died. But giving Senegal, where Mbodji grew up, a place at Navy Blue is not something entirely new. Bludorn put Senegalese dishes on the menu at Cafe Boulud, a fine-dining establishment on the Upper East Side in New York City. They recall first talking about going to Senegal together back in 2016. It didnt take much convincing on Bludorns part when he approached Mbodji about joining him in Houston a few years ago. Before I even finished, he was like, You tell me when, and Ill be there, Bludorn said. Elizabeth Conley/Staff photographer When they opened Bludorn nearly three years ago in the former Pass & Provisions space, it became a destination restaurant for Houstonians, even during the earlier days of the pandemic. MORE FROM BAO ONG: Houstons TOP 25 new and classic restaurants to dine at this spring Their delayed trip to Africa finally happened in January. They headed to a fishermens village in Dakar, the capital of Senegal, where Mbodji would hang out after school helping men push their boats, to bring back the missing piece at Navy Blue. They paid just over $500 for a beat-up boat that was no longer being used. A fisherman gave it a new paint job before it made its way on a ship to a port in New York City. Mbodjis friend in New Jersey retrieved the delivery before movers brought it to Houston a few weeks ago. Everyone looks to the chef to be the face of the restaurant. I want it to be as much about (Mbodji) as me, Bludorn said. I think hes a bigger face of our restaurants than I am. Mbodji changed into a traditional Senegalese outfit and wore his fathers tan shoes for the "baptism" of the boat and a celebratory lunch. The Navy Blue kitchen had prepared thieboudienne, a fish dish eaten in almost every home back in Senegal. A crew of chefs poached whole red snapper covered in parsley, garlic and chive. It was served over a bed of broken rice dotted with some root vegetables. I spent the last 20 years in my head and in my heart looking for my home, Mbodji said. I found it. By dinnertime, the fishing boat floated above a low-lit bar lined with bottles of gin, whiskey and Chartreuse. Emblazoned on the boat were two words in black paint: Mam Mor, Mbodjis fathers name. Its me welcoming my fathers name into the building, Mbodji said. If you tend to have severe headaches at the same time of day, it may not be a coincidence. Migraines and cluster headaches are closely linked to the bodys internal clock, known as the circadian system, according to a UTHealth Houston meta-analysis published in the journal Neurology. The researchers found that cluster headaches tend to occur overnight and in the spring and fall seasons. More than 70 percent of participants in studies about cluster headaches reported that their attacks peaked between 9 p.m. and 3 a.m. On the other hand, migraines tend to be more common in the morning, afternoon and evening. The meta-analysis found that more than 50 percent of participants in studies about migraines saw a low point of activity from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. They occurred throughout the year but tended to peak in April and October. Its not clear why cluster headaches and migraines appear to be linked to circadian rhythm, said Dr. Mark Burish, an associate professor in the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery with McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston. But he believes finding the answer could help scientists develop new ways to treat them. If we can figure out what the mechanism is that is turning on your headaches at a certain time, maybe we can design something that targets that and turns off the headaches, he said. MORE FROM EVAN MACDONALD: Houston Methodist team joins medical mission to treat Ukrainians injured in war with Russia Burish and Seung-Hee Yoo, an associate professor in the Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology with McGovern Medical School, are the lead authors of the study. The meta-analysis also found that people suffering from migraines had lower urinary melatonin levels, which were even lower during an attack. People who suffer from cluster headaches also have lower melatonin levels, as well as higher cortisol levels. Prior studies have found that melatonin may be an effective treatment for migraines and cluster headaches, Burish said. Migraines are a type of headache caused by moderate-to-severe throbbing or pulsating pain on one side of the head. Theyre fairly common, affecting 1 in 7 American adults each year, though theyre three times more frequent in women than men. They can last four to 72 hours if left untreated. Cluster headaches are less common than migraines, affecting 1 out of every 1,000 individuals. But theyre more severe, causing intense pain around the eye or on one side of the head. Bouts of frequent attacks can last for weeks or months, though theyre usually followed by a period of remission that can last months or years. To conduct the analysis, the researchers searched medical databases for all available studies on migraines and cluster headaches that included circadian features. They found 72 that met the criteria. MORE FROM UTHEALTH: A UTHealth study found the COVID-19 virus can alter the genome structure of our cells The researchers also found 33 studies they used to conduct a genetic analysis. They found that 110 of the 168 genes associated with migraines were also core circadian genes regulating circadian rhythms. Five of the nine genes associated with cluster headaches were core circadian genes. Doctors have long known that there appeared to be a circadian pattern to cluster headaches, Burish said. But it wasnt until he started his research that he discovered the same appeared to be true for migraines. Burish said the fact that those types of headaches follow a circadian pattern struck him as a peculiarity, and he wanted to learn more. Things arent just circadian for no good reason, he said. There are some theories on the topic. When we get headaches, one of the first areas of the brain that is activated is the hypothalamus, where our central biologic clock is located, he said. Maybe because its activated in this hypothalamus, its tapping into that circadian part of it, he said. MORE FROM EVAN MACDONALD: Sugar Land kidney and liver donor climbs Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for organ donation Burish said he hopes the meta-analysis will have short- and long-term implications. In the short term, it provides an explanation for why cluster headaches and migraines happen at a certain time. If someone always gets a migraine in the morning, it may not be related to how hard their bed is or what they eat for breakfast (though certain foods can trigger migraines). It could just be when they occur for that person, Burish said. People don't have to be racking their brain to try to change everything in their life at 7 a.m. to see what the problem is, he said. It just helps explain some of those things. Over the long term, Burish hopes scientists can develop medications for cluster headaches and migraines that target the circadian system. There are not many medications that do that, but some examples include steroids, melatonin and lithium, he said. I don't expect that circadian (medications) will be the final cure for migraines or cluster headaches, he said. But it's a brand-new avenue of treatment that doesn't exist right now that might give patients more options. analysis Carnivores like leopards, lions and hyenas have been killing livestock for centuries, causing financial losses to farmers. In many parts of the world, farmers respond by killing these predators. This has greatly reduced the populations of some top predators like leopards and lions. Killing predators may decrease their numbers in the short term. But there is no evidence that it is an effective way to protect livestock in the long term. For example, in South Africa, populations of the medium-sized predators like caracals and jackals that also predate on livestock increased or migrated into the area in response to lethal control efforts. For this reason, farmers in South Africa are looking at non-lethal methods of protecting livestock. One sustainable, wildlife-friendly method is the age-old practice of herding or shepherding. Very little data exists on how shepherding compares with lethal methods globally or in South Africa. We conducted a study in South Africa to fill this information gap. We found that shepherding was very effective. Using shepherds, livestock losses were five times lower than losses under lethal methods. Our results suggest that shepherds not only reduce predation; they may also be able to give a clearer picture of what causes livestock deaths. For instance, shepherds can see when livestock deaths are caused by illness rather than predation. This is supported by other research that shows predators may be blamed for livestock deaths that were actually due to exposure, illness or some other cause. The presence of shepherds could allow for more prompt responses to ill, injured or lost animals. A person who is with livestock all day can also identify where fences and water points are damaged, assess what grazing conditions are like and make decisions about herd movement. The challenge Shepherding involves herding and protecting small livestock while moving between grazing areas and water points. Shepherds are also often responsible for corralling animals in a pen at night. This is not a new strategy. Shepherding has been practised since early pastoralism began about 9,000 years before present (or BP, referring to the 1950s, the date up until carbon dating can be practically used). But its efficacy is understudied globally. That means there's little empirical evidence to show whether it's the best approach to keeping livestock safe, where it might be used along with other methods, or where it might not work at all. Existing data often relies on interviews, with their inherent biases, rather than on observations in the field. Our study sought to fill this gap. We are researchers in the fields of botany, zoology, agricultural economics and conservation. We set out to quantify livestock losses ascribed to predators in South Africa's Northern Cape province. The province's dry climate means that the main agricultural activity is livestock farming. The Northern Cape has the highest recorded national livestock losses to predation - an average of 13% of the herd. Our study We hypothesised that shepherding would be more effective in reducing predation on small livestock (mostly sheep but also goats) relative to other methods. We had access to two databases: one relying on interviews with farmers who had used mostly lethal methods, and one using field observations by shepherds and mobile technology. We consolidated these two databases into one publicly available online database. Unfortunately, data on predator or prey populations (which can influence predation) were not available for our sites in the Northern Cape. We confirmed, however, that the livestock types, dominant predators and environmental conditions were similar across the two databases. Using statistical analyses, we tested how predator management (shepherd, no shepherd), land tenure (private, communal), flock characteristics (herd size, livestock type), and environmental factors like terrain and plant productivity drove losses of small livestock across the area. As we expected, black-backed jackals and caracals were the dominant livestock predators in both management groups (shepherd, no shepherd). Also as predicted, the loss to predation was lower (five times) in shepherded herds than in the no-shepherd group. For lambs only, this was even more obvious with a seven-fold reduction in predation. Using herders' direct observations rather than gathering information from questionnaires also allowed us to quantify livestock loss due to causes other than predation. In our study area, we found that livestock illness caused as many deaths as predation. This was in line with global assessments by the Food and Agriculture Organization that showed losses from disease (30% of a herd) and exposure (anywhere from 9% to 52%) were the main causes of livestock mortality and were several times higher than the global average for predation (5%). This contrast merits further investigation locally and regionally in Africa so that farmers know where to place their management efforts in the future. All farmers, whether they were managing land privately or communally, experienced similar predation issues and drivers of predation in our study. This means that shepherding could be scaled to work even for privately owned (and usually large commercial) farms as a means to protect livestock. Several farmers in the study were keen to use or continue using herders. Others felt there were barriers to their use, such as financial costs and social issues. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Food and Agriculture By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The data proved useful to the herders, too. One, Brenda Snyman, said: Now we have the numbers. We really value the skills we've gained in herding and data collection during the study. Historically, herding has been an unappreciated and poorly paid profession. But with specialised programmes to train herders in animal husbandry and farm management now gaining ground, the skills and profession of herding may soon receive more recognition, while generating rural employment. The solution We must interpret our findings with caution because we were unable to account for predator and prey abundances. It is also possible that the non-herder group inflated their predation estimates during interviews. But, given the scarcity of existing information, these are exciting results that can be applied and form a basis for further research. They could also prove useful for decision-making by land users, and in policy change. Graham Kerley, Liaan Minnie, Dave Balfour, HO de Waal and Walter van Niekerk collaborated in this research. The authors thank Emma Cummings-Krueger (Conservation International) for her help on the text. Heidi Hawkins, Research fellow, honorary research associate, University of Cape Town A Cy-Fair ISD teacher is on leave while the district investigates an allegation that the teacher singled out the only Black student in the class during a lesson on slavery. A parent also complained that the same teacher told students the Confederate flag had nothing to do with slavery during a separate lesson. Tori Ards said that her daughter called her on March 30, saying that her Kahla Middle School history teacher told her class that history was wrong about the Confederate flag. "It's affecting her tremendously and, of course, consequently, affecting me," Ards said in a broadcast by Chronicle news partner ABC13. "She's in gifted and talented courses, she's a student athlete, she's never had a disciplinary action." Ards declined to speak to the Chronicle after the broadcast, saying she is seeking legal representation. Cy-Fair ISD said the teacher would not be allowed on the Kahla Middle School campus during the investigation. We have been made aware of allegations involving a staff member and improper role-playing during a social studies lesson, Kahla Middle School Principal Joshua Carroll said in a statement sent to parents. We look forward to a swift resolution to this matter and remain committed to providing a respectful, safe and supportive learning environment for our students. The district declined a request to speak with the teacher, and the teacher could not be reached by phone. Ards' family joined Candice Matthews, an activist with the Texas Coalition of Black Democrats, Quanell X of New Black Panther Nation in Houston and Sledge Leonidas with Houston Caribbean Professionals to speak publicly about the child's experience during a news conference last week. After reporting the Confederate flag comment to the Kahla Middle School's 8th grade assistant principal, Nydia Garcia, Ards daughter reported that the following Monday, the same teacher used her as an example for a lesson on the Fugitive Slave Act, Matthews said. She said Ards daughter is the only Black student in the class. She utilized the only African American young lady that was in their classroom, who I might add, is not a troubled kid and does not have a difficult record in this class, Matthews said. She used her and brought her to the front of the room and said that she would have taken this child to the South and sold her. Matthews said more students from Kahla Middle School reached out to her after the speaking event, reporting similar experiences in the same classroom. This has had a mental effect on this young lady and also on the family," Matthews said. "That is unacceptable. Matthews said if a teacher targets a student based on their race, regardless of consequences, it could embolden others to act the same. At this point we demand that this teacher be fired and is never around children, ever again, Matthews said. Racism has no place in our schools. Three candidates vying for Katy ISD board of trustees Position 4 in the May 6 election weighed in this week on restricting students' access to books, teacher pay and addressing bus driver shortages. The seat is currently held by Leah Wilson, who has chosen not to run for re-election. The candidates, Morgan Calhoun, Cicely Taylor and Erica Brettell, were all given the same questions. The deadline for voter registration is April 6, and early voting begins April 24. Taylor has lived in Katy for more than 17 years, and shes the mother of two Katy ISD graduates. Shes a lifelong educator, she said, having worked in the classroom as a teacher and now as an administrator. There are many local and national distractions that take away from the true mission of public schools, Taylor said. We need strong leaders to ensure our Katy ISD schools are spaces where all students have the joyful and rigorous educational experience they need to achieve their full potential. Calhoun is running for school board to ensure all voices in our community are heard, she said. She wants to uphold family values in the district while providing taxpayer oversight, she said. I want to serve this diverse community with a servant leader mentality, Calhoun added. Brettell is a third-generation graduate from Katy ISD and she has four children enrolled in the district. She has worked in governance, business and the nonprofit sector, and she spent ten years working on education policy in the U.S. Senate, she said. My nonprofit experience has further provided the understanding of how to adapt programs to specific audiences and needs, Brettell said. The candidates weighed in on some of the biggest issues facing the district. Restricting access to literature Katy ISD implemented a new policy in November in which parents must now formally agree to let their secondary school students check out books from classroom libraries. Parents will also automatically be notified when their children check out any school library books Calhoun believes that sexually explicit material does not belong in schools. She also said book banning is an incorrect term for the changes she intends to precipitate across the district. Book banning is an inaccurate term applied by the media to a legal process intended to remove harmful material that does not align with Texas law, she said. Katy ISD is making strides to address parents' concerns over reading materials, Brettell believes, and she feels the district needs to encourage further transparency with parents. The current policy includes various points of review and audit, in addition to the option for parents to be notified any time a child checks out a book from the library, she noted. The district should always be vigilant about the influences on its students and review policy as needed. Taylor is against broad book banning policies, she said, but added that parents should have the right to determine what is appropriate for their children. Our students deserve literature that is not only age and developmentally appropriate but also presents diversity in thought, language and experiences, she said. Katy ISD already has comprehensive parental controls over library materials, she said, and the issue with book banning, has become a significant distraction to teaching and learning, where our true focus should be." School safety Brettell lauded the districts efforts to promote school safety, but added that she thinks there should be police presence on every campus, and the district needs to fill staff vacancies in security guards and dispatchers. We should also invest in current programs already in place, such as 'Men on Campus' and 'Watchdogs,' which proactively provide extra eyes and ears on campuses, act as a deterrent and put students more at ease, she said. Before students can learn and teachers can teach, they must be safe, Taylor said. She supports bolstered campus security but also believes anti-bullying initiatives will mitigate some of the risk of school violence. The district also needs a comprehensive intervention plan for students who are exhibiting signs of needing help, she said. The safety of students and staff is an issue that requires a proactive approach, Calhoun said. Katy ISD has taken an aggressive stance in upgrading the security of the facilities, we should and will continue to audit and ensure that the districts campuses are safe and fortified against anyone seeking to cause harm, she said. Teacher retention Like most Texas school districts, Katy ISD is struggling with a teacher shortage. By having open communication with teachers, Taylor said, the district can ascertain the needs of teachers and address them accordingly. Teacher pay must also be increased, she said, and the district needs to invest in resources for performance-based compensation. Teacher retention requires more than an increased salary, Calhoun believes. In order to be successful, she said, teachers must be able to teach without distraction. Minimizing burdensome paperwork (and) maximizing classroom instructional and planning time allows a district to hold onto the best teachers out there, she added. In addition to better compensation, Brettell said, teachers need a reduced workload and incentives for professional development. Most importantly, she added, we should ask our teachers what would make the biggest impact to foster a better learning environment. Bus driver shortages Houston-area schools are scrambling to address a statewide bus driver shortage. Bus drivers are a critical part of safety and the school community, Calhoun said, and they need increased pay as incentive to work for the district. Their job is sometimes thankless and their compensation should always be part of any pay discussion going forward, she said. Brettell suggests actively listening to the bus drivers themselves as part of the solution to the issue. Making sure Katy ISDs pay is competitive will also mitigate the issue, she said, and working with community partners like local colleges and civic groups could help attract new drivers. Increased hourly pay and free childcare would incentivize drivers, Taylor said, noting that Katy ISD has already implemented a tiered bell schedule to alleviate some of the strain on the district. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The management of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center has drawn criticism from a prominent archbishop and some members of Congress by choosing not to renew a contract for Franciscan priests to provide pastoral care, and instead hiring a secular firm to oversee provision of those services going forward. For nearly two decades, priests from the Holy Name College Friary in Silver Spring, Maryland, had ministered to service members and veterans hospitalized at Walter Reed, a renowned medical facility in nearby Bethesda. Walter Reed said it notified the Franciscans in March that their contract would not be renewed, and that another bidder for the new contract had been selected secular defense contractor Mack Global LLC. The medical center said it issued a cease-and-desist order on April 4 in the midst of Holy Week when Franciscans continued to provide pastoral services after their contract expired on March 31. The events dismayed Timothy Broglio, who is president of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops and also is archbishop for the Military Services. I fear that giving a contract to the lowest bidder overlooked the fact that the bidder cannot provide the necessary service, Broglio said in a statement last week. On Wednesday, Broglio provided an updated response to The Associated Press. "The Archdiocese has been assured that the situation will be rectified and waits to learn of the outcome of the efforts to ensure appropriate care so that the First Amendment rights of patients and staff at the Medical Center will be respected, he said. Walter Reed, in a lengthy statement of its own, said it honors and supports a full range of religious, spiritual, and cultural needs. The statement said the new contract offered to Mack Global is under review to ensure it adequately supports the religious needs of our patients and beneficiaries. For now, the medical center said, an active-duty Army priest on its staff is providing Catholic pastoral services, supplemented as warranted by other priests in the region. The medical center declined to say whether it was dissatisfied in any way with the services provided by the Franciscans. It also declined to provide any monetary figure for the new and previous contracts. Asked for comment, the Franciscans provided a statement Wednesday expressing pride in the services they had provided to Walter Reed. While this is certainly disappointing after 20 years of service after building trust and so many wonderful relationships and friendships the Franciscan Friars of Holy Name Province respect the process, the statement said. It has been an incredible privilege and, really, a very powerful ministerial experience for the Franciscan Friars to be invited into the lives of these true American heroes who have sacrificed so much for our country. Walter Reed is one of many U.S. military medical centers whose pastoral care lies within the Archdiocese for Military Services, headed by Broglio. The statement issued by Broglio's office last week was stinging: The refusal to provide adequate pastoral care while awarding a contract for Catholic ministry to a for-profit company that has no way of providing Catholic priests to the medical center is a glaring violation of service members and veterans Right to the Free Exercise of Religion. The developments have drawn the attention of several Republican members of Congress who criticize Walter Reeds action. Among them was Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, who tweeted that the decision was incredibly embarrassing and wrong. Eleven other members of Congress, including Sens. Marco Rubio of Florida and Roger Marshall of Kansas, sent a letter to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin inquiring why the contract was awarded to a secular contractor which cannot fulfill the statement of work. We have made promises to our service members and veterans that if they take care of us, we will take care of them, the letter said. This extends to not just providing quality healthcare at our nations military medical facilities, but by also providing the ability to freely practice their religion to those under the care at these facilities. ___ 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. Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle Houstonians should exercise caution when using public charging stations at airports, malls and hotels, as the FBI recently warned residents against potential cyber risks. Criminals have found ways to compromise public USB charging ports, allowing them to infect devices with malware and gain unauthorized access to users phones, tablets and computers, according to a recent Tweet from the FBI. Prosecutors are introducing new rules for accepting low-level drug charges in a move to ease evidence testing backlogs and lighten the load for the courts, according to a Harris County District Attorneys Office memo. A letter sent to Harris County law enforcement agencies Tuesday said that weekslong delays in drug testing, caused by increased workload and high turnover at local labs, has bogged down an already overburdened criminal justice system. More from Nicole Hensley: Harris County prosecutor Sean Teare resigns, then goes on TV to criticize leadership in Ogg's office The change will require police to send out suspected drugs weighing less than 4 grams a small baggies worth for testing to confirm it is a narcotic before a prosecutor accepts a charge. That means police, not the courts, will have to wait for lab results that determine whether charges are warranted. In the memo, District Attorney Kim Ogg outlines the benefits: Evidence is unlikely to spoil as cases drag on and could prevent hundreds of drug cases from languishing. The alternative is to continue lengthy delays for defendants as prosecutors and defense attorneys wait for lab tests. Our local criminal justice system cannot sustain the current practice absent this required change, Ogg wrote. The charge if filed will force law enforcement to use a more laborious process of securing a warrant to arrest someone, rather than getting the prosecutors OK to arrest them on the street. The charge could take weeks or months to file, as hundreds of drug tests are pending. The Houston Forensic Science Center had, as of Tuesday, more than 1,900 requests to examine seized drugs, records show. Of those requests, about 1,500 have been pending for more than 30 days. Peter Stout, president of the Houston Forensic Science Center, said he has five full-time staff to process those tests and at least four more undergoing training to do the same tasks. Those analysts are will prioritize testing for in-custody defendants, he said. He said he couldnt predict how the district attorneys office policy which goes into effect April 21 could impact their workload. No conversations have happened with the Houston Police Department about how their protocols will change, if at all, Stout said. Houston police officials did not immediately comment on the new policy. DA'S OFFICE: Harris County DA revokes deal made by ex-prosecutor who publicly criticized office while departing job The change shifts the drug testing burden more toward law enforcement, Stout said. I cant predict whether this is going to make things easier for us or more difficult. The delays in lab testing have contributed to the backlog in the courts, but damage to the county criminal justice infrastructure during Hurricane Harvey and the pandemic were the main causes of the growing delays in case resolution. If we can turn around the results in two to three weeks, it may make things easier, but it wont fix the headaches in the courts, Stout said. During a news conference Wednesday, Ogg credited her offices triage program and the creation of their own homicide division for helping to reduce the case backlog especially for murder and capital murder cases. More than 38,000 felony cases are pending in the courts, a number that mirrors the early months of the pandemic when the courts stopped in-person proceedings. Filing drug charges before lab testing can slow down other criminal cases, the district attorney said in her memo, later adding that she did not consider the changes a backlog reduction strategy. Lauren Byrne, a defense attorney and former prosecutor, said she wonders if police officers will follow through on the drug testing, effectively reducing charges of that nature. For patrol officers, its going to be a lot of work, she said. Byrne said she worries about the reliance on warrants. Some defendants may be unaware that a charge has been filed and may act irrationally or aggressively toward the officers trying to arrest them. Houston Police Officers Union president Doug Griffith said that most officers will lack the time to follow up months later when the lab tests come back positive. TRENDING: Houston YouTubers face trespassing charge for prank video, mocking deaf student, disrupting UH class Are they going to have two to three hours on their shift to pull a warrant and then go find the guy, Griffith asked. There are exemptions to the policy. If an officer finds a small amount of drugs while arresting a defendant facing a violent offense or believes a significant concern for public safety exists, prosecutors can accept charges ahead of any testing. The cases that would most often be impacted by the district attorneys office policy are frequently filed into the Responsive Intervention for Change docket aimed at giving nonviolent drug offenders a chance at treatment, rather than jail. The docket does not include defendants facing additional charges outside of prostitution. Dozens of defendants packed the 20th floor courtroom Wednesday morning with Judge Brock Thomas on the bench. The visiting jurist declined to comment on the pending policy or any impact it could have on his docket. The policy will likely be addressed in May, when the judges next meet. Hundreds of drug possession cases have been filed into the specialty court since January, county records show. Some cases have already ended in deferred adjudication, pre-trial intervention or a dismissal. Stout said he estimates about 5 percent of their drug tests come back negative as a controlled substance. COURTESY/Houston Police Department Houston police asked for help Wednesday finding two people wanted for questioning over a fatal shooting Tuesday night in East Downtown. Police are looking for a man in his 30s who had facial hair and arm tattoos and a woman in her 30s who has brown hair and a medium build. Police released a photo of the two people and said investigators were also looking for a pearl white Cadillac CTS or ATS, which are types of luxury sedans. Google Maps A Lamar High School student has been charged with felony assault of a public servant in connection with punching his teacher in the face, according to the teacher and his lawyer. Steve Carpentier, who teaches theater, was struck April 6 by a student who refused to stop using his phone during class, which was in violation of school rules. The student wouldnt participate in class and when Carpentier told him he had to hand over his phone, the student punched him in the face, Carpentier contended. With state intervention quickly approaching for the Houston Independent School District, the Texas Education Agency is scheduled to give a presentation on Thursday evening at the regularly scheduled public board meeting, according to the meeting agenda. Trustees and community members will hear from a TEA representative about the agency's plan for the "transition from local governance to TEA governance of the district," according to the agenda. The meeting starts at 5 p.m. in the auditorium at the Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center located at 4400 W. 18th Street. Online streaming is also available. Rice University and the University of Houston are among a growing list of U.S. higher education institutions forging stronger partnerships with India as that country continues to chart relentless economic growth, signaling that it has seemingly replaced China as America's preferred academic and research partner. The collaborations will allow both India and the U.S. to gain academic and economic ground on superpower China if they combine forces, several college administrators and foreign policy analysts said. Right now, both sides are very keen, said Ramamoorthy Ramesh, Rice Universitys vice president for research. Theyre all trying to align together because of common threats ... One thing to shore them up is to have good academic interactions. More by Samantha Ketterer: Former Prairie View president Ruth Simmons blasts A&M's handling of the HBCU University partnerships with India have built steam over the past few decades and are hitting hit new strides under President Joe Biden, who this year launched an effort to boost industry collaborations under the U.S.-India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology. At the same time, the American Association of Universities announced a task force to expand education partnerships with the country. UH and Rice already have multiple programs, helped by being in a city with a large Indian population: UH offers an India Studies minor, and Rice opened a joint venture in 2020 with the Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur to research global energy demand. And the school just formalized a fellowship program that supports Kanpur students in coming to Rice to aid in ongoing research, said Rice Global Vice President Caroline Levander. The University of Houston also signed two agreements with the Indian government this semester. In February, the university established an energy-focused data center in partnership with Indias Directorate General Hydrocarbon, part of the countrys Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas. And in March, UH and the Indian Council for Cultural Relations announced a visiting scholar from India with expertise in Tamil studies would start this fall in the India Studies program. Officials at UH have long said they see India as an important focus in their global efforts. And Rice administrators are in active discussions about India, including to build off their partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, solidify more research partnerships with Indian universities through The Chatterjee Group-CREST in Kolkata, explore new dual-university degree programs and possibly create a Rice campus abroad. One thing I would say is, India is a very high priority for the university, said Levander. We start from a place where we already have a lot of momentum. A need The approach to India has been rapid in the context of Indian-American relations. Formerly under socialist rule, Indias government for decades prevented U.S. institutions from doing business with their thousands of colleges and universities, according to Sumit Ganguly, distinguished professor of political science at Indiana University Bloomington. Indian institutions began to decline as highly subsidized tuition led to miniscule profits. The economically liberalized government changed the fate of its higher education in the early 1990s when it opened the door for institutions to start seeking private investments, Ganguly said. UH RESEARCH: Rural residents are more depressed and anxious than those in urban areas, UH study finds Decades later, after massive growth to the sector, the country is still not meeting its postsecondary education needs: Half of the population is under 25 years old, according to the National Association of Foreign Student Advisers. About 200,000 Indian students already come to the U.S. for undergraduate or graduate education each year, contributing nearly $7.7 billion to the U.S. economy, state department officials said. If you look at it from our perspective, heres a great opportunity to have a large cadre of graduate students or perhaps undergraduate students get their education in the United States, said Ramesh, who also sits on the American Association of Universities task force. Mutual benefits A more solid pipeline for student exchanges will be a key part of collaborations, but advancing research for future industrial use will also be a large incentive in upcoming U.S.-India partnerships, administrators said. The countries are economic and political allies, highlighted by Biden holding two meetings with Prime Minister Narandra Modi and planning a third for the summer. The U.S. Department of State cites the partnership as one founded on shared values such as a commitment to democracy and shared goals in promoting global security and economic prosperity. Bilateral trade between the countries hit $157 billion in 2021, and energy, health and energy trading is important for the countries to maintain, according to the state department. TECH: Rice, UH opt to embrace, not shun Chat GPT despite plagiarism concerns Indias strength in technology and engineering make those fields natural areas for American universities to harness for partnerships, and Ganguly said the Indian government seems eager to make them happen. The Indians stand to benefit from American knowledge and technology, he said. Indian technologists and scientists and engineers have something to bring to the table. Its a win-win situation. Santosh Verma, secretary of the India Culture Center in Houston, said he sees more educational interactions as an opportunity to share cultures, which could also translate to better technological ideas. "The thing which is present among the Indian folks is the ability to work hard," he said. "The creativity part is missing. If you put both of them together in either of the environments, that will be beneficial." Targeting STEM India will be less likely to work with America on research or educational efforts in the liberal arts or humanities, Ganguly said, pointing to ongoing human rights issues that he feels the Indian government is keen to avoid in domestic discussions. He fears that the U.S. will look the other way on certain injustices in a trade-off for gains in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics, or STEM, fields. Free speech in India is under serious duress, Ganguly said. Its going to be very difficult for us to collaborate in India in a number of areas that that are not purely technical. Anjana Mishra, visiting assistant teaching professor in politics and international relations at Florida International University, said her previous studies and work in India didnt seem to be influenced by supposed limitations on speech. In the U.S., at least, UH has gained the Indian governments cooperation in its latest expansion of the India Studies program, based in the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences. Dean Daniel OConnor said he sees value in collaborating in the humanities, especially since many UH students will go on to work in India or with Indian coworkers. Were seeing that in industry, this issue of, how do you understand someones culture so you have a better collaboration? he said. You dont learn that in engineering school. Thats what we teach. No national boundaries University administrators say potential partnerships are mostly founded on sharing similar goals. Americas pursuit of India follows years of universities close working relationships with China many of which came under fire by lawmakers and have now ended amid concerns over intellectual property theft by Chinas military. India is similarly allied with the U.S. against China and has already begun emerging as a threat to the countrys economic power, Mishra said. Furthering Indias higher education offerings would change the landscape even more, she said. COLLEGE EXPLAINER: FAFSA will open late this year and look a little different. Here's what Texas students should know. A lot of business manufacturing has moved out of China and moved into India because of restrictions that were imposed in China during COVID, Mishra said. If India becomes a big powerhouse, that would be a very big blow to China and its ability to flex its muscles the way it has in the past. The motivations go farther. The U.S. and India are in positions of causing and having the ability to solve global problems, especially with massive populations that have a direct bearing on climate change and global health, Levander said. "These things were tackling dont know national boundaries," she said. "These are research problems that are international and global in scope, so the more we can stimulate international teams to work on those programs together and team up, those governments will benefit." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Shalon Irving had built an extraordinary resume. She skipped two grades before high school and went on to earn her bachelors and masters degrees. She became the first-ever student at Purdue University to earn a dual Ph.D. in sociology and gerontology. She was a college professor by 25, then an epidemiologist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with a focus on tackling health inequities. Irvings knowledge and resources did not prevent her from dying in 2017 from complications of high blood pressure related to her pregnancy. A Black woman, Irvings story is just one example of how discrimination and racism drive the worsening maternal health crisis, her mother said. MATERNAL DEATH REPORT: Stalled maternal mortality report shows Texas has not improved (My daughter) went to her health care workers again and again in distress during the three weeks following the birth of her child, Wanda Irving said Wednesday at the Maternal and Child Health Conference in Houston. Each time, she was dismissed, disrespected, devalued and disregarded. Irving, of Atlanta, was among hundreds of doctors, researchers, community health workers and patient advocates who attended the first-of-its-kind conference, hosted by Harris County Public Health at NRG Center this week. The two-day event put additional focus on the growing number of patients dying during or after pregnancy, along with the outsized impact on Black people. The CDC released data last month showing the number of maternal deaths in 2021 rose for the fourth consecutive year to 1,205, a 40 percent jump from 861 deaths the previous year. Black patients continue to die at more than twice the rate of white patients, a trend that has lasted for more than a decade. The United States already had the highest rate of maternal deaths in the developed world. I feel like the clarion call is louder, and that we need to act with even greater urgency given the fact that the numbers (show) our house is on fire, Harris County Public Health Director Barbie Robinson said. Unconscious bias The numbers do not reflect the full impact of losing a loved one to pregnancy complications, Irving said. In January 2017, her daughter went into cardiac arrest at her home, just a few hours after returning from a doctor visit. She was declared brain dead two days later, but not before leaving her mother a handwritten note: Mommy I will fight hard, but if anything happens and theres no hope, please let me go. Shalon Irving was taken off life support the next day, her mother said. Some days, the pain is just as intense and unrelenting as it was on Day One, she said, adding that her granddaughter, Soleil, also feels the trauma from the loss. RACIAL DISPARITIES: In a field with racist past, Houston med students are helping Black teens see a future as doctors Harris County is not immune to the crisis. Despite the presence of the renowned Texas Medical Center and sprawling hospital systems, the county exceeded both national and state maternal death rates from 2016 to 2020, with 54.9 per 100,000 live births, according to data from Harris County Public Health. The rate jumped to 106 deaths per 100,000 live births for Black patients, the agency said. Experts at the conference said disparities persist even when controlling for social and economic factors that impede access to health care. When Black patients do seek care, they are prone to unconscious bias, which can cause doctors to approach them in a condescending tone, make assumptions about possible treatment options or dismiss complaints. Studies show bias in medicine is linked to the false belief dating back to slavery that Black patients feel less pain than white patients. A 2019 in-depth analysis of maternal deaths in Texas for the first time included discrimination as a factor, contributing to six of the 52 pregnancy-related deaths analyzed in the report. A recent survey of 1,528 women in Harris County, presented at the conference by UTHealth School of Public Health professor Kimberly Baker, found that 40 percent of participants had experienced some type of discrimination in a health care setting. About 30 percent did not seek care due to concerns about discrimination. Where to go from here Advocates have been working to address maternal health in Houston for years, but Harris County Public Health only recently has started to organize programs around the issue, Robinson said. The agency last year was awarded $7.75 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to create a pilot program to connect Black mothers to social services and help them through the first few years after their pregnancy. Earlier this year, U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher, D-Houston, said she secured an additional $1 million in federal funding for ACCESS Harris County, an initiative that includes maternal health programs. Local efforts still are in their infancy. This weeks conference was intended to offer different perspectives on the issue to help community health workers make a more immediate impact. Among the speakers was Kay Matthews, founder and executive director of Shades of Blue Project, a Houston-based nonprofit that focuses on improving mental health for new or expectant mothers. Mental health conditions were the second-leading cause of pregnancy-related deaths in Texas in 2019, data shows. Matthews created the nonprofit in 2013, following a stillbirth of her own, after which she encountered a dearth of mental health resources. She coped on her own, journaling her feelings and talking to her general practitioner. MORE FROM JULIAN GILL: A Houston surgeon is known globally for operating on rare heart tumors. Now, he needs a successor. She said she eventually realized that mental health support systems for Black women are nonexistent or poorly managed. She created her own method to help people of color get through postpartum depression and other mood disorders related to pregnancy. After her speech at the conference, she acknowledged recent momentum around Black maternal health and the potential for community organizations like hers to benefit from a heightened sense of urgency at the state and federal level. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Texas lawmakers are considering bills that could make an impact in health disparities across the state. A proposal to expand Medicaid coverage to 12 months postpartum was one of the top recommendations earlier this year from the states Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee. Right now, pregnant patients on Medicaid are covered for up to two months after childbirth. That bill and another seeking to expand Medicaid eligibility to more low-income Texans are pending in committee. Other pending bills would create a maternal mortality data registry, cultural competency training for physicians and Medicaid-funded doula services. At the federal level, the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023, signed into law last year, set aside $324 million for maternal health programs. The people who need to pay attention are starting to pay attention, Matthews said. analysis Ethiopia has made significant progress in supporting gender equality and girls' empowerment. Rates of child marriage and teenage pregnancy have decreased substantially. Access to sexual and reproductive health services has increased. There has also been progress in the education sector. School attendance rates at all levels have risen, and the gender gap in enrolment is narrowing. Despite these positive trends, inequalities and entrenched patriarchal norms remain. Adolescent girls and young women in Ethiopia continue to face challenges, especially in rural areas. For example, the national rates of child marriage remain among the highest in Africa. Data from 2016 estimated that 58% of girls and 9% of boys were married before the age of 18. Improvements in education attainment for adolescent girls also remain sluggish. Only 15% of women have completed secondary or higher education. For men, the figure is 23%. Ethiopia is one of the youngest and fastest growing populations in the world. Gender equality is critical for enabling young people to reach their full potential. Achieving this will require addressing gender attitudes and norms that are linked to early marriage and childbearing, and are a barrier to girls education. The country has a national community health programme which aims to increase the availability of basic health services and promote healthy lifestyles. To do this, it uses community outreach activities, including household visits. Policymakers have been keen to understand more about its impacts on adolescent health and well-being as this could guide further efforts to improve the programme. Our study looked at the association between this health extension programme and 12 indicators of adolescent health and well-being. The programme focuses primarily on disease prevention and health promotion. However, our findings suggest that household visits from health extension workers have had a measurable impact on multiple interconnected adolescent challenges beyond just health. Household visits from health extension workers appear to reduce rates of child marriage, early pregnancy and school dropout. Impacts in these areas are important as they are likely to have long-term consequences. For example, delaying marriage and pregnancy promotes adolescent girls' health and aspirations. Higher educational achievement also increases girls' earning potential, and empowers their autonomy and decision-making. Health extension workers The health extension programme was introduced in 2003. It is delivered by local health extension workers, who are mostly young women. They are recruited from the community based on their ability to speak the local language and completion of general secondary education. The health extension workers promote routine medical check-ups at the local health post. They also use door-to-door household visits to educate families around health issues including family planning, youth reproductive health and child marriage. The programme has become a flagship intervention. Many families in Ethiopia still place a high value on marriage and motherhood, especially in rural communities. The legal age of marriage is 18. However, child marriage and early pregnancy remain prevalent nationwide. The government aims to eliminate child marriage by 2025. Our study indicates that the health extension programme is likely to play an important part in achieving this. Our research suggests that household visits from health extension workers are linked to significantly lower risks of child marriage, early pregnancy and school dropout. According to our study, receiving household visits from health extension workers is associated with a 70% reduction in the probability of child marriage, 75% reduction in the probability of early pregnancy, and 63% increase in the probability of being enrolled in education. There were also measured improvements in adolescent girls' literacy and numeracy scores. Our findings, along with other research by UNICEF and the Overseas Development Institute, suggest these effects are likely to be produced by health extension workers talking to families about the risks of child marriage and early pregnancy and the benefits of girls education. Health extension workers can modify families' expectations for girls to marry early, and their reluctance to invest in girls' secondary education. Health extension workers are also able to monitor family preparations for marriage. They can intervene in cases where the bride is younger than the legal age of 18. The workers are not just improving adolescent health. They are transforming adolescent girls' opportunities to pursue their own aspirations for education, employment and family. The next steps Our research highlights areas for further work, particularly around adolescent girls' sexual and reproductive health rights. This remains a taboo issue among some communities where it's believed that access to modern contraception will promote promiscuity. Our study found no evidence that household visits from health extension workers had addressed common misconceptions among adolescent girls around fertility and preventing sexually transmitted infections. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia Health Labour By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. There are still social barriers that prevent girls from getting information, services and support, and that foster misinformation around modern contraception. One promising initiative is Adolescents 360's Smart Start intervention in Ethiopia. It works with young girls and the health extension program to deliver contraceptive programming. For the last two years, Ethiopia has faced the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict in the northern part of the country, and widespread drought. All these events have disrupted the delivery of healthcare services, closed schools and heightened the needs of adolescents. In the process, these crises may have reinforced discriminatory gender roles. So work remains for health extension workers to address cultural and attitudinal barriers that hold back adolescent girls' education. Dessalew Emaway, a public health practitioner, and Silinganisiwe Dzumbunu, a doctoral student with the University of Cape Town's Centre for Social Science Research, contributed to this article and the original research it's based on.Click here to access the original research this article is based on. William Rudgard, Senior Postdoc, University of Oxford The former Texans player Darryl Sharpton Jr. made a splashy announcement in December: He was moving into the hospitality business. Specifically, he was planning to build six Airbnbs in the trendy neighborhood of Montrose. But neighbors living on the same block as the proposed short-term rental homes have been far from enthusiastic. After stories came out about the rental units, which would be branded as The Sharpton, neighbors gathered, imagining the potential parties, blocked driveways and litter that could come with visitors as well as the changes to their community fabric as neighbors were displaced by a rotating cast of tourists. It seems like there ought to be a law against it, thought one of the neighbors, a real estate attorney named Jason Ginsburg. He combed through the city rules and found an ordinance banning small hotels from residential areas. The Montrose neighbors united behind Ginsburgs legal strategy. MONTROSE: Montroses cool attracts national real estate attention The brewing battle over whether Airbnbs that are not used as residences should be considered hotels could potentially upend Houstons short-term rental industry. While short-term rental platforms require landlords to follow Texas hotel laws, automatically charging the states hotel occupancy tax, they have not been required to abide by the restrictions of Houston hotel laws. If Houston treated such short-term rentals as hotels, they would be subjected to a slew of ordinances, including limits on where they could be located, special permits and penalties of up to $500 a day if they failed to comply with regulations. According to the short-term rental data company AirDNA, Houston has more than 10,300 entire homes that can be rented by the day. In order to carry out his plan for the Airbnbs, Sharpton first needed what is known as a replat permission from the city to split a property into smaller pieces of land, each of which could then be used for separate developments. At the public hearing in late March, Ginsburg and his neighbors put forth their argument that since the properties would only have transient occupants, they were small hotels and should be treated as such. The planning commission decided to put off voting on the replat until the issue could be examined by the citys legal department. The planning commission considered the replat again on Thursday, and approved it. Kim Mickelson of the citys legal department explained to commissioners that the replatting process is focused on technical issues such as lot size requirements, access to public streets and sewage capacity. Whether or not the subdivided lot would eventually be used for hotels had no bearing on the decision. Instead, that question would be examined when building plans were submitted to the city. The issue, she said, will certainly come up at permitting. Karen Warren/Staff photographer Sharpton, who lives just outside of Montrose, said that he was planning to have coffee with the concerned neighbors to hear them out. Everything that theyre hesitant about, Im hesitant about as well Id be more upset than they would be if someone threw a party at one of these. But neighbors say even if the replat is approved, they plan to continue pushing for the ordinance to be applied to short-term rentals by broadening their fight to embrace others concerned about the issue throughout the city. They have spoken with City Council Member Abbie Kamin and city attorneys about their concerns and launched a Facebook group called Houstonians Against Airbnb seeking like-minded people in other neighborhoods to join their cause. The 12 of us and one council member, we alone dont have enough leverage to get this done, Ginsburg said. But as the tip of a spear, maybe we can make a difference. THE SHARPTON: Ex-Texans linebacker sells furniture companies for $150 million, turns attention to hospitality industry A finding by the citys law department in favor of making Airbnbs hotels would have to be grounded in the existing ordinances. Houston defines a hotel as any building or buildings in which the public may obtain transient sleeping accommodations, including houses. It does not include buildings with rooms for non-transient occupancy, and it is different than a bed and breakfast, which has an owner or manager living on premises. Hotels have long been limited to nonresidential streets. Hector Rodriguez of the citys planning and development department explained that 120 units is considered a high-end hotel. Hotels with fewer than 120 units have additional restrictions, limiting their proximity to schools, libraries, churches, licensed day care centers, health facilities and public parks. And hotels with fewer than 75 units cannot be situated in residential areas unless the hotel is on a highways access road. The reasoning for greater restrictions on smaller hotels, Rodriguez said, dates back to the 1990s, when small motels began popping up across Houston. People noticed that undesirable people were frequenting those locations, so they said, 'Lets regulate these small hotels.' Hotels have to show they meet all of those regulations during permitting, he said. If the planning department finds the hotel is too close to, say, a school, or in a residential area, the property owner will be required to get a variance granting the project an exception to the rules before it can proceed. This process involves a public hearing and a planning commission vote. If a building is being used as a hotel without the proper permits, Rodriguez explained, the city can be flagged through 311. Public works would notify the property owner multiple times before beginning to issue citations. PARTY HOUSES: 'Chronic party houses' on Airbnb and Vrbo have become hot topics in Houston HOA disputes Short-term rental platforms such as Airbnb and VRBO now allow visitors to stay in properties with even fewer units than the motels that proliferated in the '90s. Short-term rental platforms were originally marketed as ways for people to make the most out of their residences, allowing people to rent a spare room or make some money while they were out of town. Now, most listings are not residences, but instead investment properties that are rented out full time. A slew of property management companies offer to take care of renting out and cleaning the rentals for a cut of the revenue, allowing investors to purchase homes to use as short-term rentals hundreds of miles away from where they live. Many cities have struggled over how to regulate the industry, with places including San Antonio moving to register and limit short-term rentals in residential areas. Sharpton, a lifelong entrepreneur who sold limes and grapefruits as a child and recently sold two furniture businesses for $150 million, remains enthusiastic that his properties will move forward. He plans to make his short-term rentals high end, with aesthetically pleasing exteriors and interiors. He fell in love with Montrose, he said, for its walkability, its shops and its restaurants. I wouldnt want anyone to do anything that would be disruptive to a neighborhood that I love, he said. He said that he had thought about every detail about the rentals, to make sure that they were cozy, comfortable and unique. I think once everybody sees what exactly is coming up, theyll see this is an asset it will increase property values (and) the curb appeal. But the former linebackers words did little to soothe the fears of Miguel Kremenliev, who lives between two plots of land where Sharpton has planned Airbnbs. Instead, Kremenliev worried about the city waiting too long to regulate such development. Once short-term rentals become an entrenched part of the landscape, he said, it would be hard to undo. The people who built them would have invested so much capital in them, that theyll fight tooth and nail to keep them, he said. Youll have let the genie out of the bottle. Houston-based filmmakers have created a movie chronicling the dark world of sex trafficking on Bissonnet Street. Bissonnet is a gritty, suspense thriller about a young woman who gets caught up in sex work, focusing on the dangers of sex trafficking. MORE ON LOCAL: Houston YouTubers face trespassing charge for prank video, mocking deaf student, disrupting UH class The film premieres at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 6, at 4811 Highway 6 at Star Cinema Grill in Missouri City. Tickets for the red carpet event can be purchased on Eventbrite. Denise Monet, 32, co-wrote the script and acted in the film. We want to bring awareness, Monet said. Hopefully the city can get together and figure something out to help these girls. The Missouri City resident grew up in Houston and said she personally knows people who have both been sex workers as well as pimps, so she understands how damaging it can be. I know people I went to high school with that have been trafficked, Monet said. I wrote realistic stories about what happens every single day. Referred to as Bissonnet Track, the area is synonymous with prostitution and has garnered an international reputation. Conrad Craven Encompassing U.S. 59, Beltway 8 and Bissonnet Street, the Chronicle conducted an investigation in 2019 to tell the stories of the women who spent many years of their lives in the sex trade. Bissonnet director and cinematographer Conrad M. Craven, 47, said the process of filming on the infamous strip was difficult for the cast because of harassment from pimps toward the actresses portraying sex workers. As soon as these girls got out of the car these pimps, just like a moth to a flame, just started driving by harassing the girls, Craven said. They made it very hard out there because they were hyper aggressive. I could only imagine what an average girl would experience by herself. MORE ON LOCAL: Are Airbnbs hotels? In Houston, one neighborhood is pushing to upend short-term rentals Craven said the crew was able to wrap up filming in a month, with another two weeks for editing. The whole movie from the first day of shooting to everything being done took 30 days one month, he said. Editing took two weeks, 15 hour days and no days off. Now, the cast is ready for the premiere of a project they consider to be a labor of love that was also an eye opener into a world they had never seen before. It was very dangerous and very scary while we were filming and when we were out there it was our first time seeing that, Monet said. The cast did an amazing job; they really brought the characters to life. Bissonnet will be available to watch on Tubi, Prime Video and Peacock after it is released. Were really proud of it. We think its a really good representation of Houston film, Craven said. The two-hour film comes from executive producer Johnathan Milton and features a complete Houston-based cast and crew, as well as a soundtrack of local artists. Its great that we dont have to travel to Atlanta or Austin or some other state, we can do it in our own backyard, Craven said. The world is taking notice and actually looking to Houston for our films and our talent. Police describe traffic enforcement as a matter of public safety. Running red lights, distracted driving and speeding imperil all motorists. Thats why I designated a traffic safety officer to try to slow people down, Corrigan Police Chief Darrell Gibson told the Chronicle for a recent article about speed traps. Every time there was a traffic death, it was because they were going very fast. Yet many stops have little to do with a drivers dangerous behavior. Records from Texass 2,500 law enforcement agencies show that about one in five last year was for a so-called vehicle violation a broken tail light, an expired registration, an insufficiently visible license plate. Policing experts say such stops often are used not to make roads safer, but as a pretext for police to temporarily detain drivers so they can interview them and look inside their cars for contraband or other possible illegal activity. When youre stopping someone for absolutely trivial violations, its probably safe to say youre looking for something greater, said Patrick OBurke, a former commander for the Texas Department of Public Safety who now trains police. A Houston Chronicle analysis has identified the law enforcement agencies that conducted the highest rate of minor violation traffic stops last year, pulling over vehicles for equipment and paperwork infractions at a rate three and four times the states overall average. In La Vernia, a small city east of San Antonio where more than half of the police departments traffic stops last year were for minor vehicle violations, Chief Bruce Ritchey said his officers often stop vehicles as a courtesy to alert drivers to broken equipment. But he acknowledged they also take the opportunity to scope out vehicles and drivers for potential crimes. Drivers may not have a drivers license, they may not have insurance. They may have dope in the car, he said. Using the traffic stops to investigate drivers, is like a gun and handcuffs; its another tool to keep the community safe. Several of the departments that made a high number of minor-violation stops also ranked at the top of Texas police departments conducting the most vehicle searches, the Chronicles examination showed. In Kaufman County, where sheriffs deputies last year conducted traffic stop searches at one of the highest rates in the state, records show about half of all the departments stops were for so-called non-moving infractions. Were trying to find the criminal element, Sheriff Bryan Beavers said. The only way to find people (committing crimes) is when you stop them for a violation of law and do interviews on the side of the road. SPEED TRAP AHEAD: New analysis reveals where police pulled over the most people A review of six days-worth of 2020 citations showed that of the 42 stops Kaufman deputies made, 11 were for license plate violations and 9 were for defective lights. They also searched more than a quarter of all vehicles they stopped those days, records show, finding contraband twice. That aligns with academic research into traffic stops concluding that most roadside investigations turn up no contraband or only small amounts. The searches also typically fall disproportionately on Blacks and Hispanics, according to a string of studies. The minor stops can become combustible, as well. Since 2015, Texas police have shot 134 people during traffic stops, according to the Texas Justice Initiative, which tracks law enforcement use-of-force incidents. In the wake of high-profile tragedies such as the deaths of Black motorists Sandra Bland (failure to signal a lane change), Daunte Wright (expired registration tag), and Philando Castile and Walter Scott (broken tail light), several states and municipalities have legally limited police traffic stops for minor violations. None are in Texas. In Cleveland, north of Houston, police stopped Darius Wilson for defective equipment/tail lights, according to his Sept. 2, 2020, citation. He said the tint on my back tail lights was too dark, Wilson recalled. After approaching the car, the officer said he smelled pot so he would have to perform a search. Wilson said he found a bag with some crumbs in it, dumped it on the street then let him go. It was B.S., he said. A sampling of vehicle 'violations' Reasons for traffic stops made by Texas agencies with high rates of vehicle violation citations. Aug. 3, 2020: Cleveland Police Department Obstructed view through the windshield (rear view mirror) July 6, 2020: Kaufman County Sheriffs Office Unauthorized light equipment March 15, 2020: McLennan County Sheriffs Office Defective license plate light May 15, 2020: Henderson County Sheriff's Office Failing to signal from parked position Aug. 28, 2020: Cleveland Police Department Excessive acceleration Aug. 7, 2020: Cleveland Police Department No safety belt March 15, 2020: Panola County Sheriffs Office Failure to stop @ designated stopping point July 15, 2020: Kaufman County Sheriffs Office Unclean license plate Legal, but not effective The U.S. Supreme Court ruled 25 years ago that any traffic offense, no matter how minor, was a legally sufficient reason to stop and investigate motorists. With dozens of potential Transportation Code violations to choose from the wrong color license plate light, mud flaps that are too short attorneys say police can find a legal reason to pull over nearly any vehicle they encounter if they want a look inside. Panola County sheriffs deputies conducted minor vehicle violation stops at double the state average, records show. A review of citations from May 30 last year showed vehicles pulled over for headlights that were too bright, license plates that were too dark and expired registration tags. I could not begin to comment on how or why [deputies] do the number of stops or searches they do, said Capt. Martin Hall. He said the county participated in several drug interdiction task forces, which could explain the departments higher numbers. SPEED TRAP AHEAD: New analysis reveals where police pulled over the most people Studies analyzing traffic stop-and-search patterns, however, have found that impromptu roadside investigations typically yield little payoff. Most discretionary searches, in which police either gain the drivers permission to search or claim that have probable cause, turn up nothing. And only about half of those that do uncover contraband produce enough for police to make an arrest, said Frank Baumgartner, a University of North Carolina professor who studies traffic stops. In East Texas, about 55 percent of all stops Henderson County sheriffs deputies made in 2020 were for minor vehicle equipment or paperwork violations. Of the nearly three dozen traffic stops deputies conducted over three days last summer, citations show fewer than a third were for the sort of moving traffic violation that police point to as public safety threats. Records show Henderson deputies last year conducted discretionary searches on about one in every three vehicles they pulled over an unusually high number, experts say. Less than one in five of the searches resulted in an arrest. The low hits rates, potential for violence and persistent racial imbalance of stop-and-searches has prompted a growing recognition that investigative traffic policing may not be worth the toll it takes on average citizens. Its not effective as an investigative tool and it alienates the citizenry, said Sarah Seo, a Columbia University law professor and author of Policing the Open Road, a legal history of investigative traffic stops. Random stops just to go fishing dont make sense. Limiting vehicle searches Some jurisdictions have started drastically reining in the practice. Two years ago, the Oregon Supreme Court ruled police in that state could no longer use minor vehicle violation stops to launch roadside investigations. Questioning of the driver must be reasonably related to the infraction, the justices wrote, with exceptions for obvious impairment such as slurred speech. Virginia lawmakers last year passed a law that accomplished the same thing. While minor vehicle violations remain on the books, police may stop drivers only for more serious, public-safety violations such as speeding. There were so many vehicle equipment rules police used, said Brad Haywood, executive director for Justice Forward Virginia, which pressed for the reform. Since the law went into effect in March, the number of Black motorists searched by police fell 40 percent, and 30 percent for white drivers. Oakland and Berkeley, California, and Lansing, Michigan, have all limited police use of equipment violations to conduct a stop. San Franciscos district attorney has said his office wouldnt accept most possession of contraband crimes when the search stemmed from an infraction-related stop. Philadelphia cited racial disparities as the reason for a new bill ordering police to stop using secondary vehicle equipment violations as a pretext to pull over motorists. RACIAL PROFILING?: Virtually everyone a Fort Bend police officer stopped was Hispanic. His bosses shrugged. In the wake of Sandra Blands 2015 death, Texas, too, briefly considered putting limits on minor traffic stops. Brian Encinia, a Department of Public Safety officer, pulled Bland over for failing to signal a lane change. A Los Angeles Times evaluation of his 1,500 traffic stops over the previous year showed most were for minor violations. When Blands stop quickly escalated into a physical confrontation, Encinia arrested her for assaulting a police officer. She died by suicide in the Waller County jail three days later. After a House interim report recommended tightening up pretextual stop standards, in 2017, Rep. Garnet Colemans original version of the Sandra Bland Act called for limiting roadside investigations that start as minor traffic stops. Its a fishing expedition, he said in an interview. It lends itself to racial profiling and all the other things we know happen bad during a traffic stop. Police objected, however. Lawmakers stripped the provision from the bill. eric.dexheimer@chron.com st.john.smith@chron.com COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Finland's President Sauli Niinisto on Thursday warned that the country's new status as a NATO member doesn't solve every problem, and said Helsinki should not let down its guard on security issues. We still bear the main responsibility for our own security. Wherever we detect any gaps or vulnerabilities, they must be fixed, Niinisto said, in a speech to lawmakers as they gathered for the first time since the April 2 elections. He added that Finland, which shares a 1,340 kilometer (832 mile) border with Russia, has been focused on regional security in the past year, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We must not let this level of alertness drop in the future, either, the president said as he formally opened the 200-member Eduskunta legislature. We should better understand how organically the dangers and tensions we are witnessing here are linked with the increasing geopolitical pressures." Finlands main conservative party came first in this month's elections, after a tight three-way race that saw right-wing populists take second place. Sanna Marin, the head of the Social Democrats that came in third, stepped down as prime minister as her hopes for reelection were dashed. No new government has been formed. In May 2022, Russias invasion of Ukraine triggered European Union member Finland's historic decision to abandon its non-alignment policy and seek NATO membership. Finns became the 31st members of the worlds biggest military alliance on April 4 after the national parliaments of all of NATO's 30 member states ratified the Nordic countrys membership. Neighboring Sweden also applied for NATO membership in May 2022. That bid, however, has stalled due to opposition from Turkey, whose president says his country must first resolve its disputes with Stockholm. The Turkish government has accused Sweden of being too soft on groups that it deems to be terror organizations. Hungarys parliament also has yet to ratify Swedens NATO, and it remains unclear when it will do so. There are hopes that Sweden will join before U.S. President Joe Biden and other NATO heads of government meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July. WASHINGTON (AP) United States forces will assist their Colombian and Panamanian counterparts with intelligence gathering to dismantle smuggling rings operating in the dense jungle of the Darien Gap, a key route for migrants heading to the U.S. from South America, a senior Biden administration official said Wednesday. The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss details that have not been made public, said migration through the Darien would not end, but the campaign is expected to have significant impact. The Darien Gap, linking Colombia and Panama, 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. Thats in addition to the natural dangers posed by venomous snakes and rushing rivers. U.S. forces could assist in targeting smugglers for arrest and locating stash houses where smugglers hold migrants, the official said without specifying whether the U.S. forces involved would be military or civilian law enforcement. The United States, Panama and Colombia had announced Tuesday an ambitious 60-day plan to shut down the primary migrant route for people traveling from South America. The official said the 60-day period had not started yet and was still under consideration, but the effort is part of a broader campaign to prepare for the end of pandemic-era restrictions on applying for asylum at the U.S. border set to expire on May 11. Some 87,000 migrants passed through the Darien Gap in the first three months of the year, well ahead of last years pace of 14,000 during the same period. Last year set a record with nearly 250,000 using the route, according to Panamas government. The same obstacles that make it a treacherous crossing for migrants will make it impossible for authorities to completely cut off. It is about 60 miles of roadless dense jungle used by organized criminal groups for smuggling drugs and people. On the Colombian side, authorities will have to address multiple entry points and established smuggling routes. Most of the trek, however, lies on the Panamanian side of the border in jungle authorities seldom enter. Instead, the government has set up camps at the remote edge where they receive traumatized migrants. Tuesdays joint statement had also referred to new lawful and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees as an alternative to irregular migration, but without details. The administration official said the additional openings for tens of thousands of people have not yet been defined but will be in addition to the 30,000 parole slots currently available each month to Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans and Venezuelans. In the summer of 1914, few wanted war or thought a major war was possible. My grandparents were married that spring in Lviv, Austria-Hungary, and I look at their giddy wedding photos and realize they had no clue that a cataclysm would soon erase their country, shatter their lives and eventually send a branch of the family fleeing to the New World. This year I sometimes worry that were again too complacent about the risks of conflict ahead. And perhaps the worst geopolitical risk over the next decade or two is a war with China. While neither side wants war, each now accepts that conflict may be looming and is preparing accordingly driving suspicions on the other side and fueling an arms race. Its time for both sides to take a deep breath and step back from rhetoric and symbolic jabs that rally nationalists at home but that also increase the risks of a global catastrophe. A reminder of the risks came on Monday when China responded to the warm welcome given in the United States to Taiwans president by sending a record number of military aircraft near Taiwan. Things done publicly, symbolically, to stand up to Beijing dont necessarily lead Taiwan to be any more secure, noted Jessica Chen Weiss of Cornell University. For example, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a trip to Taiwan last year in what was meant to be a symbolic show of support. Polling found that Taiwans residents concluded by a 2-to-1 majority that the Pelosi visit made them less secure. If we want to help Taiwan, Weiss said, we need more deterrence and less provocation. In my view, the risks of conflict are primarily driven by Xi Jinping, from his brutal repression in Xinjiang to the enormous expansion of his nuclear arsenal that is now underway, and tensions will become far worse if he supplies Russia with artillery shells. But American domestic politics are also steering a collision course, and that may get worse as Democrats and Republicans compete to denounce China. From an American vantage point, another cold war may not seem so terrible, since we and the Russians managed to avoid incinerating each other in the last one. But millions died in the last cold war in proxy war zones from Vietnam to Angola. And Russia and the United States avoided nuclear war in part because leaders on each side had memories of World War II that made them cautious. I worry that today, as in 1914, overconfidence and myopic political pressures on each side might drive continuing escalation. I need no reminder of how oppressive China can be. I was on Tiananmen Square in June 1989 and witnessed as the Peoples Liberation Army fired on the crowd that I was in. But I also saw China lifting more people out of poverty than any other country in history and vastly improving education and health outcomes. We in the United States have to grapple with the uncomfortable reality that a newborn in Beijing may not be able to look forward to a meaningful vote or to free speech but has a life expectancy seven years longer than that of a newborn in Washington, D.C. When I say we must talk to each other, I am not downplaying American concerns. Im among those wary of TikTok because of the risk that it might be used for spying. But I also know that the United States has similarly used private businesses to spy on China. When China purchased a new Boeing 767 in 2000 to be the Chinese equivalent of Air Force One, American officials planted at least 27 bugs in it. I think the United States should press China harder on some issues, such as the reckless way Chinese companies export chemicals to Mexico that are turned into fentanyl. That Chinese-origin fentanyl kills many thousands of Americans each year, and its hard to see why the deaths of so many arent higher on the bilateral agenda. But we also need humility. Americas politicians, pharma companies and regulators themselves catastrophically bungled the opioid crisis. Why should we expect Chinese leaders to care more about young American lives than our own leaders do? Fulmination is not a policy, and it alienates the ordinary Chinese citizens who are that countrys best hope after Xi has left the scene. Thats the long game. Anti-Chinese rhetoric and over-the-top security concerns magnify racism toward Asian Americans and make Chinese feel unwelcome in America and that hurts all of us. In 2020, 17 percent of American doctoral degrees given in science and engineering went to Chinese students, underscoring that the United States has been a huge beneficiary of Chinas brain drain. But that could now reverse. A poll found deep disquiet among Chinese scholars in America, with 61 percent saying they have thought about leaving. I support President Joe Bidens steps to bolster American industry and his remarkable efforts to increase military preparedness in the Western Pacific. But lets recognize that the single most important step we can take to strengthen America vis-a-vis China has nothing to do with the military. It would simply be to tackle American dysfunction from addiction to child poverty and our failed foster care system and to invest in our education system so as to produce stronger citizens and a more robust nation. That, not prickly nationalism, is the lesson we should take from China and is the best way for us to meet the China challenge. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Harris County will expand its supportive programming for women jail inmates, a plan that includes education and vocational training, plus mental health and substance abuse support. The initiative is supported by $4.7 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds. MORE ON HARRIS COUNTY: Harris County approves $15M to buy 100 homes for affordable housing program To help reduce recidivism and homelessness after women are released, the sheriffs office already is offering some reentry programs at the Womens Center jail. Were partnering with (Houston Community College) to provide computer classes in there. Were going to do programming all day long, Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez said at a Harris County Commissioners Court meeting last month. Women were in tears with the available menu of programs that we have available for them. Even our personnel has been chosen with kind of a case manager philosophy. The plan is to keep growing the programming and services offered at the jail, he said. Were still trying to get a kitchen because wed like to build a culinary program in there as well, Gonzalez said. Commissioners Court approved the $4.7 million plan last week to allocate ARPA funds to support reentry programs for incarcerated women. Raquel Natalicchio/Staff photographer Roshawn Evans, co-founder of the Houston advocacy group Pure Justice, commended Gonzalezs efforts to support residents in the jail. While we are hopeful that the countys investment will yield positive results for the women selected to participate in this programming, we cannot stress enough that it is far more important that Harris County prioritizes making investments that lead to decarceration, reduce recidivism and eliminate interactions with the criminal justice system altogether, Evans said. Providing properly crucial public services, such as public health programs, affordable housing and pre-trial diversion, would likely yield far better results, keep communities safer and keep families together. Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo said the initiative is part of the countys plan to fight crime with evidence-based strategies. I am proud that our approach is already showing success. Violent crime is down 10 percent in Harris County, Hidalgo said in a statement. We kept looking for smart, evidence-based solutions that would tackle the root causes of crime, and we invested in them. The Womens Reentry Program at the Womens Center jail is just another example of our ongoing work to invest in reducing recidivism and improving public safety. JAIL INVESTIGATION: Harris County inmates leaked jail calls under investigation The funding will go to providing case managers who will help match women with assistance, plus nonprofit service providers such as housing navigators or substance abuse specialists. The Womens Empowerment Center is expected to hold an average of 150 to 200 women, but it can hold up to 500 people. It is located at the countys Little Baker jail facility, which flooded during Hurricane Harvey and recently reopened after being restored and updated to state standards. According to the county, 87 percent of women at the jail between the ages of 26 and 35 have either self-reported or been flagged by jail staff as likely having a mental health issue. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Daryl Davis was a decade into his 37-year sentence for aggravated assault when he was attacked in Texass Polunsky prison facility in Livingston. The first time the Mandingo Warriors gang used a broom handle to beat him. Days later they pummeled him using a magnet stuffed into the end of a sock as he turtled on the prison floor. The Department of Criminal Justice transferred Davis to another unit for protection. To the Tyler native known inside as Major, the assaults didnt make sense. He wasnt affiliated with any gang. He started asking around. POLICING: Texas police search thousands of drivers and find nothing. Heres where that happens most The prisons hyperactive rumor mill soon spit out an explanation: A guard who had accepted an inmates bribe for favors believed wrongly that Davis had turned him in. Seeking retaliation, the guard paid the gang in smoking tobacco to attack Davis. The discovery launched Davis on an improbable D-I-Y legal journey that lasted a decade and a half. Representing himself in federal court, he prevailed over State of Texas attorneys at the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, known for its conservative bent. At trial, he summoned the same gang members who had beaten him to describe how theyd been hired by the guard. Convinced, the jury awarded Davis $25,000 for the attack. UVALDE: After messy handling of Uvalde shooting, experts say even the fastest response cant outrun bullets That was just the start. For the next dozen years Davis tried to get the State of Texas to pay up. He filed petitions and wrote letters from his cell. Davis served 18 years and 6 months in prison after being convicted of beating his girlfriend with a full 40-ounce beer bottle. Once paroled, he started dropping in on state legislators. He haunted the Capitol in Austin, telling his story to anyone who would listen. The first thing I remember thinking is, How the hell did he get in here? recalled Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston. Staffers for Sen. Bryan Hughes, R-Mineola, and Rep. Carl Sherman, a DeSoto Democrat, confirmed their bosses also heard Daviss story. Im not a Republican, Im not a Democrat, Davis said. Ill walk with all of them. Rep. Matt Schaefer, a Tyler Republican, listened cautiously when Davis first stopped by. In a former life I did some criminal defense work, he said. So I come with a healthy skepticism of what anyone says in the criminal justice system. I thought he just wanted to be listened to, he added. But then hes showing up at the office all the time. It reminded me of the Bible story of the widow in front of the judge a parable Jesus told about a woman whose constant petitions for justice eventually prevailed. In time, Schaefer, too, became convinced the State of Texas owed Daryl Davis his money. Hard to win, no matter how talented The federal court system receives tens of thousands of filings every year from aggrieved prisoners representing themselves. But federal procedure and civil rights law create a challenging legal maze. Civil rights law is very difficult to begin with, so it is hard to win no matter how talented you are, said Jeff Edwards, an Austin attorney who has won civil rights cases against the Texas prison system. Almost always the suits are dismissed as deficient, added H. Daniel Butler, an Iowa State University sociology professor who has studied civil rights lawsuits filed by Texas prisoners. In a recent paper, he found only 7 percent of the complaints resulted in what might be called a win. To have a prisoner mostly represent himself and prevail, Butler added, is extraordinary. Filed in January 2007, Daviss original petition is a hand-written account of his prison attack. Suspecting that a guard under his command named Michael McDuffie was smuggling contraband, a lieutenant had lied to McDuffie in an effort to elicit a confession, saying Davis already had snitched on him. Furious, McDuffie paid an inmate gang to attack Davis in retaliation, Davis wrote. When Davis complained, prison officials didnt follow up on his grievances. In her Report and Recommendations, Magistrate Judge Judith Guthrie noted both the lieutenant and McDuffie denied their alleged roles in the incident, and Daviss injuries werent severe. She cited cases saying the prison system was not liable for every injury an inmate suffered at the hands of another inmate. Several weeks later a judge dismissed his case on summary judgment. Writing his own briefs, Davis appealed to the New Orleans-based 5th Circuit. In April 2009 a panel concluded Davis actually might have a case. While The district court found no evidence supporting Davis allegation that McDuffie ordered the hit on Davis or knew of an impending hit on Davis, they wrote, the finding ignores interoffice communications between prison officials indicating that several informants asserted that Officer McDuffie paid the Mandingo Warriors 30 packs of Bugler Tobacco to assault Davis. If McDuffie paid inmates to assault Davis, the judges added, this obviously would rise to a level of deliberate indifference beyond that protected by qualified immunity the legal shield insulating government agents from civil lawsuits for most actions they take while performing their on-the-job duties. The best witnesses For the first time, Davis got a court-appointed lawyer to help him. A Lufkin attorney since the mid-1970s, Roger Neil Moss said he has worked with plenty of state prisoners. Daryl knew the facts of his case better than anyone Ive represented, he recalled. He had boxes full of materials and I could say, Give me that letter from so-and-so, and hed reach over and snatch it right out. When Davis said he wanted the Mandingo Warriors to testify, Moss objected: Those guys have bad reputations. I told Daryl, they are not likely to be believed. But during the three-day trial in April 2010, James Grant, serving a 75-year sentence for aggravated sexual assault, and Troy Sanders, convicted of capital murder, were calm, articulate and precise in their descriptions of prison life, Moss recalled the best witnesses. Sanders explained why the Hispanic gang contacted by McDuffie to attack Davis had to contract out the job to the Warriors, a Black organization. The way penitentiary politics works, he testified, is that a Mexican, or group of Mexicans, jumping on a Black man, for those who are not in the know of whats going on, its automatically going to be construed as something racial. Grant, who identified himself as the Mandingo Warriors official liaison to the prisons Gang Intelligence unit, described how the group had warned officials that Davis might be attacked, hoping they could get him moved off the unit without bloodshed. But administrators didnt act. Did you see the actual attack? Moss asked. Yes, sir, Grant replied. I participated in it. After deliberating three hours, the jury sided with Davis, voting to award him $25,000. Collecting it was another matter. Knocking on doors Following the trial, Davis said state attorneys tried to strike a quick deal for $7,000. They must have thought Id take it because I was just an inmate, he said. But I said Id rather have nothing. Back in his cell, he fired off a flurry of filings. When he argued the State of Texas should cover the bill, the government lawyers said the prison system was not legally responsible for McDuffies actions. When he asked to garnish McDuffies wages, a judge rejected the idea, noting Davis hadnt even provided a good address for the guard. McDuffie could not be reached for comment for this story. In response to a growing number of inmate lawsuits, in 1996 the federal court system required prisoners to pay filing fees out of their trust accounts. When he ran out of money I just stopped filing, Davis said. He was released five years after his trial victory and returned to Tyler, where he started several charities to help school children. He also runs a car-detailing shop with a friend. In 2015 Davis found a Georgetown attorney to help him collect. The state should have paid him, and it should have been a lot more, said Chad Van Cleave. But they just told me, Were not liable and we dont have any intention of paying the check. He discovered the likelihood of collecting from McDuffie wasnt much better. The best I could tell he had a worthless trailer on property that didnt belong to him and a run-down bass boat, Van Cleave said. So Davis started knocking on politicians doors. A moral and legal obligation Schaefer said when Davis first approached him three years ago, I thought, Why should I spend my time on this case? But the fact Texas had offered a settlement suggested people knew the state had screwed up, he said. Without a doubt it had a moral and ethical obligation. We worked it and worked it, Schaefer said. But even with a legislator in his corner, the wheels turned slowly. In addition to the prison agency, the governors office and attorney general had to sign off. Davis approached other lawmakers, as well. Neither Sen. Hughes nor Rep. Sherman was available for an interview, though both listened and helped, Davis said. Whitmire, the longest-serving active senator and the influential chairman of the Senate Criminal Justice Committee, said he made inquiries after hearing Davis out. I asked Bryan Collier [Department of Corrections executive director] to take another look, he said. I thought he was entitled to his money. But it wasnt just the money, but the principle of the thing. Two months ago Schaefers office asked Davis to stop by. For the beating orchestrated by a State of Texas employee and his 16 years of dogged pursuit, Davis, now 58, was presented with a check for $27,669.86 the jury award plus interest. It wasnt a seismic event in the world of prisoner jurisprudence; no systemic wrongs were righted. And in a state that has paid millions of dollars to prisoners who spent years sometimes decades locked up for crimes they never committed, the settlement of Daviss debt made only the faintest of ripples. But it did mark the end of one former prisoners journey to be seen. No matter how many doors shut in your face, you need to fight, Davis said. You cannot be victorious if you give up. eric.dexheimer@chron.com When Tyler police officers asked permission to search his car after a traffic stop late on a February night in 2019, Daryl Davis quickly consented. Since his release from prison several years earlier, he had publicly preached the value of following the law. If pulled over by police, operate with the system, he said at a 2021 rally. Live to see another day. Davis also figured he had little to hide. As a parolee, he submitted to regular drug screenings. One of his jobs required periodic urine checks. Hes probably the most tested guy in the county, said his lawyer, Vance Freeman. Added Davis: I dont do drugs. IN-DEPTH: 15 years after a prison guard paid a gang to beat him, Daryl Davis finally gets Texas to pay up But as he stepped out of the car, one of the officers shouted that he saw Davis putting something into his mouth that looked like crack. As police riffled through his car, they can be heard on body camera audio expressing confidence that they would soon find drug paraphernalia. The search turned up nothing, according to police reports no residue, no baggies, no pipe. The officers drove Davis to a nearby medical center. But no mouth swab, stomach pump or blood test was performed to check for cocaine despite Davis asking for one. I was saying, Lets do it lets get this over with, he recalled. With no proof of drug possession, Davis was jailed for tampering with evidence. The charge means he stands to be sent back to prison for more than a decade, even if he ultimately is found not guilty of any crime. While many high-profile fatal police confrontations began as minor traffic stops Tyre Nichols most recently, Sandra Bland in Texas most motorists usually bear much quieter costs of stop-and-searches. A demeaning and humiliating experience, a federal judge wrote in declaring New York Citys stop-and-frisk policy unconstitutional. DANGLING AIR FRESHENERS, 'FAULTY' PLATES: These Texas police make the most minor traffic stops For parolees with little legal wiggle room, however, the consequences of a questionable traffic stop can be life-altering. With long lists of rules that, if broken, can land them back in prison for lengthy stretches even if they are never convicted of a crime they are uniquely vulnerable to police interactions that turn bad. For police and prosecutors, its just another traffic case, Freeman said. But for Daryl, it is literally a matter of life and death. Black motorists searched 5 times more Even within tough-on-crime Texas, Smith County has stood out as especially unforgiving. We do have the reputation of being the worst county of the 254 counties in Texas, acknowledged Shirley McKellar, a Tyler city councilwoman. In 2000, then-District Attorney Jack Skeen Jr. famously charged a 27-year-old man with a felony for stealing a Snickers bar, landing him a 16-year prison sentence. Even when the punishment made international headlines, Skeen was unapologetic, saying the defendants history earned him the treatment he received. After two decades as Smith Countys top prosecutor, Skeen in 2003 was elected district judge, a position in which he presided over Davis tampering-with-evidence case until his retirement at the end of last year. Over the years, courts have allowed intrusive police scrutiny of vehicles during traffic stops. Police use moving violation stops such as for speeding to also inspect cars for evidence of criminal wrongdoing. They also regularly conduct pretext stops, citing minor equipment defects a flickering license plate light, tinted windows or air fresheners dangling from a rearview mirror as opportunities to investigate motorists. Yet studies indicate police are not particularly skilled at separating criminal drivers from innocent ones, and most discretionary vehicle searches turn up nothing. Multiple studies also have concluded investigative stops are nearly always racially biased. A Hearst Newspaper analysis of the Tyler Police Departments 2022 racial profiling data submitted to the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement shows that officers in the city of just over 100,000 were nearly five times more likely to search a Black motorist during a traffic stop than a white one. As in Davis stop, more than 80 percent of the searches were discretionary, which studies show are often based on little more than a hunch. The practice has been criticized by civil libertarians as too often tainted by harassment, intimidation and racial profiling. Although his run-ins with the law began early, Davis was not a bad kid at all, said McKellar, who said she has known Davis since he was a child. Court records from Smith and Harris counties show a series of arrests through the 1980s and 90s, primarily for theft. In 1996, however, Davis was convicted of beating his girlfriend and sentenced to 37 years in prison. After serving 18 years, he was released to parole supervision in 2015. Since his return to Tyler, he has earned a college degree and started a charitable foundation. He conducts several regular fundraisers and events for children. He has a business, he has a job, he has a car, said the Rev. Steven Miller, a local pastor and activist. He made a way for himself. Daryl Davis is exactly who I want in my community, McKellar added. He knows a lot of people, said Kenny Rigsby, a Tyler native who is making a documentary film about Davis. And a lot of people know him. That includes government officials. Davis has testified in front of the Legislature and buttonholed lawmakers about legal reforms. Hearst Newspapers chronicled how a local legislator helped Davis collect a $25,000 judgment he won against the state of Texas for a prison beating. Davis conceded he has not been shy about speaking his mind to local police. He has organized protests of the criminal justice system in front of the Smith County courthouse. McKellar said she fears the case against him is payback. Theyre trying to make an example out of this man, she said. That you need to shut up that, 'Were the ones with the keys to the kingdom downtown, and we can put there whoever we want to.' 30,000 'blue warrants' a year Smith County District Attorney Jacob Putman and Davis parole officer both declined comment, so it is unclear what additional evidence authorities may have gathered. But last week after this article was published online Putmans office filed a notice it intended to use two of Daviss old convictions to seek a habitual offender status in an effort to increase Daviss potential prison sentence: his 1996 assault, and a 37-year-old drug possession case, from when Davis was in his early 20s. The result: If he is convicted of the evidence tampering charge Davis could receive a 99-year prison sentence. Public records show how Davis landed on the precipice of a lifetime prison sentence for a traffic stop-and-search that came up empty. A month after his February 2019 arrest, Davis was stopped for speeding as he passed through Huntsville. A license check revealed a state warrant had been issued for his arrest. The Board of Pardons and Paroles issues so-called blue warrants (they once arrived in a blue folder) when parolees violate conditions of their supervision. Although the warrants may be issued for administrative reasons not checking in or failing a drug test they are nearly always written when a parolee is arrested for a new offense. The agency issues more than 30,000 every year. Unless it is a misdemeanor, the parolee typically is held in the local jail until the charges are resolved. After three weeks in jail, Davis appeared in front of a parole hearing officer. Smith County had not yet filed criminal charges, and he was released in early April 2019. Smith County officially indicted Davis in September 2019, more than a half-year after his arrest. It is not clear why the parole division waited nearly 3 years to issue another blue warrant for Davis arrest, in February 2023. Davis learned about it only when he summoned police to a Tyler restaurant in early March to resolve a parking dispute and officers ended up taking him into custody on the new warrant. Tampering with evidence is a felony, so he has been held in the Smith County jail since, with his trial scheduled for early May more than four years after the original stop-and-search. Regardless of the outcome, Davis will have to make a separate case for his innocence in a parole hearing after the trial. Attorneys who specialize in parole said a not-guilty finding would most likely clear up his parole violation, too. But because parole rules require a lower standard of proof than courts to find defendants guilty of a violation, they cautioned it is also possible for Davis to be acquitted at trial and still end up back in a Texas prison. Im scared to death, Davis said. 'Its a big stretch' Police reports of Davis arrest show that Tyler officers staking out a suspected drug house claimed they spotted his car stop by and so radioed for nearby officers to detain him. After gaining Davis consent to search the car and asking him to step out, an officer reported Davis moved his hands quickly towards his face. One officer said he saw Davis put something in his mouth. Another wrote that he noticed an off-white rock substance on Davis lips. But if all that was true, Davis said, why didnt they try to recover any of it? They had a K-9 unit there; why didnt they have it check the car? Why didnt they conduct a field drug test? Why didnt they test me at the hospital? Several experts in drug cases said it was unusual to pursue an evidence-tampering charge without the evidence. It sounds very odd to me, said Patrick OBurke, who led undercover narcotics teams for the Texas Department of Public Safety. To find no pipe no anything and then charge this? Its a big stretch. Tampering with evidence is basically hurt feelings, added Jeff Strange, a former longtime Montgomery County prosecutor. For Davis, however, the case couldnt be more consequential. Im losing everything I worked for, he said. Peter Obi was accosted by immigration officials at Heartrow Airport who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside. Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, was last week detained in London by the United Kingdom immigration officials for alleged impersonation. This was made known in a statement issued Wednesday by the Head, Obi-Datti Media, Diran Onifade. Mr Onifade however said Peter Obi has since returned to Nigeria. "The LP presidential candidate in the February 25 presidential poll arrived at the Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, and joined the queue for the necessary Airport protocols when he was accosted by immigration officials who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside," Mr Onifade said. According to the statement, Peter Obi was harassed by London immigration officials and placed in detention where he spent the Easter holidays. "He was questioned for a long time and it was very strange for a man who lived for over a decade in that country," the statement said. Possible implication for Peter Obi Mr Onifade explained that the high implication of the offence is that the impersonator could be committing all kinds of weighty crimes and other dubious acts and it would be recorded in Obi's name. He emphasised that since the impersonator is still at large, the scenario is unimaginable as Peter Obi could be implicated in a series of forbidden acts and even be framed in a manner that could be a huge embarrassment to him, his family, his party, the Obedient movement, and Nigeria, where he currently and remains the conscience of the people. Mr Onifade also reiterated that Mr Obi has been under all kinds of attack, since the presidential election in which he put up an outstanding showing coming third out of 18 contestants as announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). "...though his supporters and many other election watchers including international observers believed very strongly that he won the election but was manipulated out," he added. Possible plot against Peter Obi by government? Mr Onifade noted that since Peter Obi was told to go to court since he feels unsatisfied with the election outcome, which all international monitors chorused was flawed and full of imperfections and he accepted, there have been severe attacks on him from all corners. "Even the Federal Government who directed him to go to court even dispatched the Minister of Information Lai Mohammad to the United States to attempt at de-marketing him and accused him of treason," the statement said. Mr Onifade accused the government of bugging Mr Obi's phone while possibly looking for information to portray him badly before a section of the country who had voted for him massively. "As if they were not getting the desired results of denting his image, and possibly placing the traducers under a heavier conscience load, they tried to persuade him to leave the country and go take a rest," he said, adding that it is also not impossible that those urging him to leave the country may have planted the impersonators ostensibly to tar the Eagle's immaculate appearance. "The Obi-Datti Media office will like to therefore assure all persons of goodwill especially the Obidients that the Rock is not deterred as he is ready to suffer the pain and remain even more determined to pursue whichever path his creator destined for him in Nigeria," Mr Onifade said. When contacted on phone, Mr Onifade said, "He experienced a delay at the airport because someone duplicated his details. But he has since returned to the country." Existing scourge Peter Obi came third in the 25 February election but he, and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, who came second, is challenging the victory of Bola Tinubu of the ruling APC. The LP presidential flag-bearer and supporters have come under attacks and criticisms for claiming he won the election without providing concrete evidence. Early this month, the social media space, especially Twitter, was awash with controversy over a leaked telephone conversation (now dubbed "Yes Daddy") between Mr Obi and the founder of Living Faith Church, David Oyedepo, a Bishop. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. In the audio clip, Petee Obi was heard asking Mr Oyedepo to help spread his campaign message to Christians in the South-west and parts of North-central. Ahead of the presidential election, critics of Mr Obi have accused him of playing politics of ethnicity and religion, which he lost but has challenged in court. Mr Obi denied playing politics of religion and ethnicity and asked his critics to provide evidence. The leaked file appears to have substantiated the position of the critics. However, Peter Obi and his party's Presidential Campaign Council described the leaked audio of the conversation between him and the cleric as 'faked and doctored' and that appropriate legal actions would be taken against Peoples Gazette, an online newspaper that first released the audio. Within this period, the LP claimed Mr Obi has been under pressure to leave the country or face the prospect of being arrested on false charges of inciting insurrection in the country. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate The Texas House on Thursday passed a bill banning discrimination against race-based hairstyles, such as braids, locks or twists, in schools and workplaces. The bill, known as the CROWN Act, passed almost unanimously, with the five no-votes comprising the chambers most conservative members. The acronym stands for Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair. It promotes belonging and engagement for our children and will protect Texans from being denied employment, promotions or housing just because they choose to wear their hair in a natural manner, said the bills author, Democratic state Rep. Rhetta Bowers of Garland, at a news conference Thursday. The push comes after a series of incidents in which Black Texas students faced suspension for violating so-called grooming policies. The Texas Legislative Black Caucus has been calling since 2020 for legislation to end the discrimination, but the measure failed to gain traction last session in the Republican-controlled House. READ ALSO: Barbers Hill ISDs dress code policy against dreadlocks is discriminatory, federal judge rules This years attempt faces tougher odds in the more conservative Senate. Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, who leads the chamber, did not respond to a request for comment. California was the first state to pass a CROWN Act in 2019, and since then, 20 states have passed similar measures. In Texas, Harris County and the city of Austin have passed their own local measures. The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a federal version of the bill for the past three years, but the Senate has repeatedly blocked the legislation. Bowers said she is heartened by the earlier attention the bill has received this session. Republican members are telling me, Im going to talk to our senators, she said. So we are working together. RELATED: Bellaire student leaves for Lamar after he says he was singled out over his afro by coach DeAndre Arnolds story was among those that helped bring attention to the issue on a national scale. Arnold, then a senior at Barbers Hill High School, 30 miles east of Houston, was threatened with in-school suspension unless he cut his dreadlocks, which he considered part of his identity being of Trinidadian descent. He opted to transfer school districts. His story quickly went viral. He spoke on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and was invited to the Oscars in 2020 by Gabrielle Union and Matthew A. Cherry, director of Hair Love, which won best animated short film that year. Our students, who should be focused on academics and extracurriculars and learning, have had to make tough choices like DeAndre did, said state Rep. Ron Reynolds, a Missouri City Democrat and co-author of the bill. Youre Black, youre beautiful, he said. You should be able to wear your hair just like God chose. The schools policy resulted in dozens more suspensions and is now the subject of an ongoing lawsuit. When Bowers was first elected, she said she used chemical relaxers in her hair. That started to change during the pandemic, and last year, she decided to cut off the damaged parts and embrace her hairs natural texture. Ive worn it naturally every day this session, she said, and Ill be wearing it that way when we pass the CROWN Act. Bowers said she has heard some pushback from some who see the measure as stupid or unnecessary, but she and other advocates say there is real harm that comes from prejudicial policies. Studies show that Black women with natural hairstyles are perceived to be less professional and competent and less likely to be recommended for a job interview. One study, co-commissioned by Dove and LinkedIn, which are corporate sponsors of the national movement, found that about two-thirds of Black women change their hair for a job interview. It also found that Black women with coily and textured hair are two times more likely to experience micro-aggressions in the workplace than Black women with straighter hair. Over 20 percent of Black women between the ages of 25 and 34 had been sent home from work because of their hair, according to the study. Black men also come up against the issue. Dakari Davis, a Dallas police officer who was recommended for termination in 2019 because he wore his hair in cornrows, shared his story on Thursday. His young son, whose long, natural hair was slicked back into a ponytail, was there with him. My history, character, were irrelevant as my level of professionalism in the workplace became solely contingent upon my appearance, Davis said. He was placed on alternative duty for a year while the agency investigated. It was later closed after a Dallas County commissioner intervened on his behalf and the media picked up his story. Never accept an ignorant opinion that a persons professionalism is based on their appearance over their actions and character, Davis said. Always stand against discrimination and advocate for change. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Several hundred people descended on Austin on Wednesday to kick off debate on a Republican priority bill that would deputize everyday citizens to arrest migrants, a measure designed to test the limits of Texas authority to enforce immigration laws. IN-DEPTH: Texas looks to unleash state border crackdowns with GOP priority bill The legislation, House Bill 20, has aroused fierce opposition from Democrats and immigrant advocates, who told a panel of House lawmakers that it would provoke widespread racial profiling and endanger the lives of migrants and legal residents alike. More than 270 people signed up to speak against HB 20 at Wednesdays House State Affairs Committee hearing, only to wait eight hours for their turn at the microphone after lawmakers pushed the bill to the end of the agenda. Public testimony began at 10:01 p.m. and was cut off after four hours. A number of critics urged lawmakers to redirect the billions of dollars Texas is spending on border security to instead pay for humanitarian assistance, or on other needs such as public education. You want a solution to the humanitarian crisis? said Priscilla Olivarez, an attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center. Misusing our taxpayer money to criminalize asylum seekers again, seeking asylum is a right under our nations laws to racially profile our community members and violate the supremacy clause of our Constitution clearly is not that solution. State Rep. Matt Schaefer, the Tyler Republican who authored the bill, countered that it would create a way for Texas to continue its currently unsustainable border operations, which he said have been necessary to handle a historic surge in illegal border crossings. If you do not stop the illegal crossings in between the ports of entry, then you have your law enforcement resources continually tied up processing paperwork, or people, and unable to effectively respond to the deadly poison of fentanyl coming across the border, Schaefer said. HB 20 would establish a Border Protection Unit with authority to arrest, apprehend, or detain migrants who cross the border illegally, including with the use of non-deadly crowd control measures. The unit,whose members would be largely shielded from criminal and civil liability, would operate under the Department of Public Safety at the direction of a chief appointed by the governor. The chief could hire a mix of licensed peace officers and noncommissioned citizens, who would need to have law enforcement experience outside Texas or have graduated from a state-licensed training school. It would be up to the governor and the commission that oversees DPS to grant citizen members authority to make arrests. The governor or Legislature could also empower border unit officers to expel from the country migrants who are observed actually crossing the Mexican border illegally. The DPS Public Safety Commission would also be tasked with developing a training program and other hiring standards for the unit, Schaefer said. More than 300 people signed up to testify on HB 20, with all but 40 registered against it. Among the speakers was 9-year-old Asher Vargas, who cited his experience volunteering at migrant welcome centers as he spoke against the bill. The migrants come seeking peace and better lives, just like my abuelita did. This bill would make it harder for them, which is not very kind, Asher said, referring to his grandmother. Do you want to be known as a hateful, unwelcoming state? I know I dont. The legislation would intensify Texas current border security efforts under Operation Lone Star, Gov. Greg Abbotts border security blitz that has deployed thousands of National Guard soldiers and state police to apprehend and jail migrants near the Texas-Mexico border. Most have been charged with trespassing on private land, a state misdemeanor charge. HB 20 would establish a new felony penalty for trespassing while knowingly entering Texas from any neighboring jurisdiction. The charge would be a third-degree felony, punishable by two to 10 years in prison. Schaefer said he envisions the Border Protection Unit effectively replacing the National Guard, who would shift to a supporting role in border defense and eventually return to their primary missions. State Rep. Victoria Neave Criado, a Dallas Democrat who chairs the Houses Mexican American Legislative Caucus, said HB 20 would deploy vigilantes across our state who would question our belonging under the suspicion of the color of our skin. Other lawmakers and advocates echoed her warnings of racial profiling during a Wednesday morning rally before the committee hearing. A lot of my community are immigrants. Some are refugees. Some are undocumented. And to this day, I dont know how to tell the difference between any of them, said state Rep. Gene Wu, a Democrat who represents a southwest Houston district where about 85 percent of residents are Asian, Black or Hispanic. Critics made similar charges against Senate Bill 4, a 2017 measure that allows police to ask the immigration status of people they stop. The measure, which passed the Legislature and was mostly upheld in court, also set off alarm bells among advocates six years ago, when 619 people registered to speak against the bill before the same House committee that considered HB 20 on Wednesday. The bill also sparked a melee between lawmakers on the House floor. Neave said she considers Schaefers bill worse than SB 4. SB 4 was law enforcement, she said. These are civilians who are going to have police powers to detain, and can get away with anything under Texas law. During testimony Wednesday, some critics flagged the bills legal protections for border unit officers, who would be shielded by any defense that applies to a peace officer in a civil or criminal action. Police accused of constitutional violations, including use of excessive force, are generally protected under a legal doctrine known as qualified immunity. State Rep. Charlie Geren, R-Fort Worth, also pressed Schaefer on whether the Border Protection Unit would effectively compete with DPS to hire officers, which he said the agency could not afford amid an existing staffing shortage. Ive just got a real problem with how were going to fill the holes, said Geren, who carried SB 4 in the House six years ago. Im not disagreeing with what youre trying to do, Im just trying to figure out how were going to fill the holes. Schaefer said he expects the unit would be partly filled by hiring members of the National Guard who are already stationed at the border. But he acknowledged Geren was describing a very difficult problem, and agreed with his assessment that it would take a long time to put this thing together. The committee did not vote on HB 20 after Wednesdays hearing, though the Republican-controlled panel is expected to eventually advance the bill to the House floor. A priority of House Speaker Dade Phelan, the bill is also expected to pass the full chamber. Meanwhile, the Texas Senate on Wednesday gave tentative approval to a measure that, like HB 20, would create a new state crime for crossing into Texas illegally. Punishments would range from up to a year in jail for first-time offenders to life in prison for offenders previously convicted of certain felonies. Wait! Before you go Please sign up for our Evening Digest and Breaking Newsletters Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request. * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. If you have already been getting our print edition mailed to you and you were never mailed a login and password you can create one yourself and attached the customer account and zip to get access. You simply use the account number and zip from the front cover of your print edition. If you just signed up on our subscription site, it does take about a week for our systems to update your print subscription to our online services. Our circulation representatives will send you and email with your login information and your account number. After your online account has been created and you have logged in, you can attach your print subscription account number and zip code to it to gain online access. Once logged and on the Print Subscriber Access page you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code, or just your zip code. When entering the zip code, only enter the first 5 digits. The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Click here for a Print Subscription with Online Digital included. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. Below you will see test that reads Print Subscribe Access. Click this to then Get Started attaching your account number and zip code to you online user account. Click on the banner above if you would like to become a print subscriber with digital access. If you simply want online access without print click get started below. Mr Eazi, the Nigerian music icon and renowned entrepreneur, has taken his passion for African music to a whole new level with the launch of Choplife Soundsystem, a pan-African music group. This new musical ensemble features a talented crew of DJs, artists, and producers from across the continent, including UK-based, Kenyan-born afrobeats selector DJ Edu who will serve as its resident DJ. Choplife Soundsystem takes its name from the popular West African pidgin slang phrase "chop life," meaning to enjoy life to the fullest, and the traditional Jamaican soundsystems, which are mobile crews of DJs and MCs who present music together at public events. Mr Eazi, who will be the primary vocalist on Choplife Soundsystem recordings and also serve as its MC, is putting his own spin on soundsystem culture, incorporating the latest genres like amapiano and afrobeats to create a modern African party experience. Choplife Soundsystem has already made its presence felt with a "soft launch" in Cotonou, Benin, Stockholm, Sweden, and Kigali, Rwanda in 2022. Excited about the new pan-African music group, Mr Eazi plans to release new music, announce partnerships, and perform live events later this Spring. As he says, "I'm going back to where I started from, hosting the biggest parties at university. That's how I started singing. I am looking forward to this new and fun ride, and I can't wait for all the music to start dropping and the accompanying live experience." With Choplife Soundsystem, Mr Eazi is bringing his creative vision to life, redefining the African music landscape, and showcasing the continent's diverse musical talents. Subscribers to Register-Star or The Daily Mail are eligible to receive full access to HudsonValley360. If you have an existing print subscription, please make sure your email address on file matches your HudsonValley360 account email. The Planning Board voted to recommend against passage of two warrant articles concerning apartments at Sweetwood. Williamstown Planning Board Recommends Defeat of Sweetwood Zoning Request WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. Planning Board meetings in recent years frequently have featured spirited debates for and against zoning bylaw amendment proposals with advocates for and against on both sides of the table in the Select Board Meeting Room. On Tuesday, there was little of that. Instead, there was near unanimous opinion on the board and among attendees at the pre-town meeting public hearing that no one wants to see that meeting approve a pair of bylaw amendments brought by the owner of the Sweetwood Independent Living Community on Cold Spring Road. By late in the hearing, even the attorney representing Sweetwood was suggesting that if the planners could recommend at least one of the amendments, the petitioner would be grateful. In the end, the board voted 5-0 to recommend town meeting vote down both amendments because, the elected officials said, each could have unintended consequences and requires more study. There was sympathy among the board members for the motivation behind the bylaw amendments. Basically, the 70-unit Sweetwood facility is operating at just over half capacity, and the operator, New Jersey's CareOne, is looking for a way to convert some portion of the empty units to regular apartments in order to keep Sweetwood in business. That is not possible because Sweetwood operates under a special permit that designates the facility as an "assisted living residence" in the town's Rural Residence 2 and RR3 zoning districts. Article 25 on the annual town meeting warrant would change the zoning covering the Sweetwood property to that of the nearby Southern Gateway District. If passed, the amendment would create an "island" of Southern Gateway not connected with the rest of the district, which currently runs south on Cold Spring Road (Route 7) with a southern terminus near the A Frame Bakery, a little less than a mile from Sweetwood. The second article placed on the warrant by landowner petition, Article 26, would allow conversion of existing buildings to "multifamily dwellings" (the bylaw's term for apartments) by right in the Southern Gateway District. Currently, such a conversion is allowed in the district, but only with approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals through the special permit process. Karla Chaffee of Boston's Nixon Peabody LLP said CareOne has long been looking at ways to make the Sweetwood property viable. "We decided with the spring town meeting coming up, we would very much like to change the zoning definition of prop to allow for conversion of the use from strictly assisted living to allow multifamily dwellings," Chaffee told the Planning Board. "What will not change if the articles are adopted is programming/services for current residents. Every resident has a contract with Sweetwood that will continue to be honored." Several residents of Sweetwood and family members of residents addressed the board with concerns that those contracts, which include services like dining options, transportation and health and wellness programs, could go away as more of the facility converts to non-assisted living apartments over time. "Let me give you a scenario that keeps me up at night," Williamstown native and Sweetwood resident Peter Mehlin said. "If they bring in outside renters, it can be 50/50 newcomers to seniors. However, realistically, we're a dying population. As apartments become vacant, unless there is serious active marketing to seniors, we'll end up with 60/40 newcomers to seniors, then 70/30, then 80/20. "At what point will all the services I went to Sweetwood for stop being economically viable?" Perhaps worse, while a small portion of the occupied units at Sweetwood are owned by the residents, the majority are rentals. And residents fear that they will be forced out of their homes once the facility starts converting to regular apartments. "I want to say there are, at present, three of the 38 [occupied] apartments that are owned," one resident told the board. "They have their own contracts, true. However, the rest of us have month-to-month contracts. We could leave with two months' notice, and I guess they could get rid of us with two months' notice." Another concern raised on Tuesday night: the fact that moving the property into the Southern Gateway District allows it to be used as a hotel by right. The planners acknowledged that CareOne has no plans to start operating a hotel on the site, but it was noted several times that CareOne may not be the landowner forever, and a future owner may see the profitability of a hotel offering one of the best views in the region. "I know the facility says their intention is not to have a hotel/mote by right in their plans," Planning Board member Peter Beck said. "But having the parcel in a different zone that allows a by-right use is something to consider even if that is not the intention of the current owner." Several times, the planners said they wished that CareOne had engaged the board earlier in the year to discuss options that may have allowed the conversion of some of the apartments to multifamily units while avoiding the unintended consequences. It was pointed out that the board could have developed an overlay district, like the one that covers the Cable Mills complex, or it could have taken another look at the regulations in the Southern Gateway District. Or, it was pointed out, CareOne could have asked the town to look at changing the special permit that allows Sweetwood to operate in RR2 and RR3 in the first place. But given the appearance of the landowners petition a couple of months before the annual town meeting, there is no time to do any of that. Beck noted that if CareOne does decide to start working collaboratively with the Planning Board, there is the possibility of holding a special town meeting midyear to address any zoning bylaw amendments that are needed to make the property economically viable. A special permit process with the ZBA would not be tied to the town meeting calendar and could, theoretically, happen even faster. That said, no one in town government can stop Articles 25 and 26 from going to May's annual town meeting. They are on the warrant that the Select Board closed on Monday night. The Planning Board's twin 5-0 votes recommending against passage echoed a unanimous decision by the Select Board on Monday to make no recommendation on the Sweetwood bylaw amendments because board members felt they lacked sufficient information. There was another echo of that Monday vote in Tuesday's Planning Board meeting. The annual public hearing addressed not only the Sweetwood bylaw amendments but several zoning bylaw amendments crafted by the Planning Board over the last year that are on the town meeting warrant. The board heard just a few comments from residents on those proposals all positive and voted to recommend passage of each of the five articles by town meeting. One of the articles cleans up outdated language in the bylaw around manufactured homes. The next is more substantive and would, if passed, allow those homes anywhere a "stick-built" home is allowed in town with the same frontage, setback and area restrictions that apply in a property's zone. A third Planning Board proposal to town meeting would reduce the frontage requirement for residential lots in the General Residence District from 100 feet to 66 feet. Two other amendments on the town meeting warrant would allow, by right, three-family and four-family homes in the General Residence District. The frontage and multi-unit changes grew out of Planning Board proposals that town meeting referred back to committee in June 2022. This year, the board decided to break the multi-unit proposals into two separate warrant articles: one moving the by-right development from two units to three units and another that raises the limit to four units. The reason for two separate articles is to allow the meeting, if it wants, to act more incrementally rather than going from allowing duplexes directly to allowing four-unit homes, though most of the Planning Board members agree that the latter step is needed to increase housing options and density in the town's core. On Monday, one member of the Select Board voted to recommend passage of the three-unit bylaw but against recommending the four-unit bylaw. On Tuesday, one member of the Planning Board, Roger Lawrence, followed suit, voting to recommend passage of the three-unit bylaw but against passage of its companion legislation. MCLA to Host Annual Undergraduate Research Conference NORTH ADAMS, MASS. On Thursday, April 20, 2023, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts will hold the 21st annual Undergraduate Research Conference (URC) including 122 student participants and keynote speaker Jenna McElroy '16. Conference registration begins at 8 a.m. in the Bowman Hall lobby followed by welcome remarks from Dr. Anna Jaysane-Darr, Chair of Undergraduate Research, and Dr. Caroyln Dehner, Dean of Academic Affairs. Paper presentations will take place in Bowman 201, 203, and 205 followed by poster sessions in Venable Gym from 11:15 to 11:45 a.m. Lunch will take place in the Campus Center Gym at noon led by President James Birge who will announce the Feigenbaum Scholars recipients, followed by the keynote address. Paper presentations continue throughout the day in Bowman Hall with a mini philosophy conference at 4 p.m. in Murdock 208. A senior art exhibit, "Liminal Spaces: The Overlooked & The Otherworldly," will close the day at MCLA's Gallery 51. The URC highlights MCLA's commitment to nurturing a dynamic culture of research where students will have the opportunity to showcase the hard work they've done on various academic projects throughout the year. Students will present 15-minute talks, posters, and artistic work; the URC will also include special sessions and events focused on specific themes and performances. Members of the media are welcome to cover this MCLA community event, sit in on virtual talks, and interview students and faculty members. Dalton Officials Recommend CBRSD Hire School Resource Officer DALTON, Mass. The Select Board on Monday voted to recommend that the Central Berkshire Regional School District hire a school resource officer. The Police Chief Deanna Strout advocated for this hire, saying it would make the school safer. Since Sept. 1 of this year, there have been 125 calls for service involving middle and high school students, she told the Select Board. Of those, 35 were for threats on social media, 23 for trespassing or noise disturbances, 16 for vandalism, 11 for theft, and nine school-related issues such as students walking out of school. Other calls involving juveniles included breaking and entering, fights and bullying, underage drinking, gel-gun shooting, sex-crime and drug investigations and one call for a weapon on school property. Although not all of these incidents happened on school property, all of them involved juveniles. A school resource officer would decrease the amount of time the police are called to schools and prevent future incidents, Strout said. The chief said having a school resource officer helps build relationships with the students and can proactively work on preventing issues like underage drinking and fighting. "It is my opinion that a school resource officer would be incredibly valuable and could help alleviate some of these issues proactively as well as deal with them," Strout said. "Instead of pulling our officers off the street to be dealing with juvenile issues, if we had a school resource officer available, they could be doing that." Strout and Executive Assistant Rebecca Whitaker have been working on a grant through the U.S. Department of Justice's Community Oriented Police Services program. . The funds would cover most of the cost of adding a resource officer to the middle and high school for the next three years. It would cover 75 percent of the cost of the officer and the remaining 25 percent would be covered by the police budget. To improve the chances of obtaining the grant, Strout was seeking letters of support from the Select Board and school officials. Superintendent of Schools Leslie Blake-Davis said it would have to be discussed by the Safety and Wellness subcommittee and School Committee because it would involve adding a position that will eventually affect the operating budget. Strout said, after the meeting, that the position would not affect the school's budget because the cost will come out of the Police Department's budget. According to Massachusetts state law , a superintendent has to request that a police department provide a school resource officer, subject to appropriation. The district is holding a Safety and Wellness meeting this month so that the subcommittee can make a recommendation to the School Committee on April 27. If a vote is made in favor of this position, Davis said she will write a letter of support to include with the grant application. The grant application deadline is May 11. Wike says the former Kogi senator isn't fit to be a governor. The spokesperson of the Peoples Democratic Party Presidential Campaign Council (PDP PCC) and November 2023 governorship aspirant in Kogi State, Dino Melaye has said that Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike sponsored his governorship campaigns in 2015. Mr Melaye, a former senator, said it was contradictory for Mr Wike who funded his 2019 governorship campaign to now say in 2023 that he is not fit to be the governor of Kogi State. "For Christ's 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's sake," Mr Wike said on Tuesday during a media chat in Port Harcourt. "Why would Kogi people say they would vote for a candidate like Dino? Are we joking?" the governor added. Speaking on Arise television on Tuesday - a few hours after Mr Wike's media chat - Mr Melaye said: "When I ran for governorship in 2019, Mr Wike was my biggest sponsor, my biggest supporter to the tune of hundreds of thousands of dollars. "He supported my primaries. He did not just support my primaries, Mr Wike provided his private jet to drop me at Kogi airstrip on the day of my primary and was calling me every minute to find out where are we, are we succeeded, meaning that Wike saw something in me in 2019 when he supported me, he knew I was fit to be governor hence his investment as the case may be. So what now happens between 2019 and 2023 that he's now saying that I am not fit to be a governor? Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Continuing, Mr Melaye said: "Somebody you had spent your money on. Somebody you supported materially and otherwise but suddenly because I'm not a bootlicker because I refused to participate in your very myopic and intellectually stagnant presidential ambition you now see me as one not fit for the governorship." Governor Wike's spokesperson, Kelvin Ebiri, did not respond to requests for comments on the allegation that the governor sponsored Mr Melaye's 2015 governorship campaign. Atiku's connection? Mr Melaye dismissed Mr Wike's allegation that delegate lists were being manipulated to favour him. He said those who are accusing Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of PDP of "forcing" him on Kogi people were being unfair to him (Melaye). "We have to completely keep Atiku out of this. I became a member of the House of Representatives, did Atiku influence that? I've been elected twice to the Senate, Atiku didn't influence any primaries but those who want to call a dog a bad name in order to hang it will bring a lot of insinuations and all that." BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Addressing an exhibition area full of visitors, a product manager from a medical technology company is elucidating a machine, emphasizing that it can help people with mobility difficulties walk comfortably without a power source. In a just-concluded conference on China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) development in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, 150 specialized and sophisticated SMEs that produce novel and unique products from all over the country participated with their latest products and research results. "This passive wearable exoskeleton device can support the hip joint and knee joint of the human body through the mechanical and physical principle of the pendulum by using the gravity of the human body instead of the motor driving force, thus enabling people with impaired mobility to walk," said Zhang Duo, the product manager with the medical technology company Sysmed (China). Beijing Tri-tech is a specialized and sophisticated enterprise that produces novel and unique products, focusing on providing integrated solutions for the robotic system in the energy industry. Its newly-developed wall-climbing inspection and cleaning robot can walk on the surface of large metal cans through magnetic adsorption. It can also collect images and detect them while cleaning by using its high-definition camera, according to Chen Xue, the general manager's assistant. "The robots effectively solve the previous problems of low efficiency and high risks of manual detection, and they have been applied in many power plants," Chen said. At present, specialized and sophisticated SMEs that produce novel and unique products are becoming the cradle of new industries, new business forms, and new models, and promoting China's manufacturing industry toward higher-end, more intelligent, and greener development, said Li Zibin, president of the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises. China has cultivated more than 70,000 specialized and sophisticated SMEs that produce novel and unique products, of which nearly 9,000 are "little giant" firms, said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Many local Chinese governments actively promote the implementation of relevant policies. Liaoning has issued a work plan to improve the gradient training system for specialized and sophisticated SMEs. East China's Anhui Province has proposed to build more than 5,000 provincial-level specialized and sophisticated enterprises by 2025 and 500 national-level specialized and sophisticated "little giant" firms. The Beijing Stock Exchange takes these SMEs as their priority and has formed a complete market system to provide whole-chain services for them. There are now more than 70 listed specialized and sophisticated "little giant" firms on the Beijing Stock Exchange, accounting for 40 percent of the total 186 listed companies. "These SMEs will effectively prop up China to accelerate the transformation of development mode, optimize the economic structure, and transform the growth momentum," Li Zibin said. A statement by IPI Nigeria says the three crucial committees will help to drive its agenda of promoting journalism practice and media freedom in the country. The International Press Institute in Nigeria (IPI Nigeria) has set up three standing committees to drive its agenda of promoting journalism practice and media freedom in Nigeria. A statement by IPI Nigeria's Secretary, Ahmed Shekarau, on Wednesday, listed the three newly-inaugurated committees of the body as those on fundraising, programmes, and advocacy. According to the statement, the National Committee of IPI Nigeria inaugurated Funke Egbemode as the chair of the Committee on Fund Raising, Hajia Sani, as the chair of the Committee on Programmes and Tobi Soniyi as the chair of the Committee on Advocacy. While the fundraising committee comprises six members, the two others have five members each. Inaugurating the committees, Kadaria Ahmed, a member of the IPI Nigeria's Board of Trustees (BOT), noted that the challenges ahead of the executive committee were enormous, adding that it was the right decision to constitute the committees to help drive the organisation's objectives. The President of IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, said the committees were constituted to enhance the work of the organisation, bring in more inclusiveness and more buy-in to the work IPI Nigeria does. READE IPI NIGERIA's STATEMENT IN FULL PRESS STATEMENT FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (ABUJA, April 12, 2023) IPI NIGERIA INAUGURATES THREE COMMITTEES; EGBEMODE, SANI, SONIYI ARE CHAIRS The Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute (IPI Nigeria) on Tuesday inaugurated three standing committees to help drive the organisation's objective of promoting journalism practice and media freedom in Nigeria. Inaugurating the committees, Kadaria Ahmed, a member of the IPI Nigeria's Board of Trustees (BOT), noted that the challenges ahead of the executive committee are enormous and that it is a right decision to constitute the committees to help drive the organisation's objectives. Mrs Ahmed, speaking on behalf of the Chairman of the IPI Nigeria Board of Trustees, Kabiru A. Yusuf, pledged the readiness of the BOT to support the executives at all times. Earlier, the President of IPI Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, said the committees were constituted to enhance the work of the organisation, bring in more inclusiveness and more buy-in of the work IPI Nigeria does. A statement issued by IPI Nigeria's Secretary, Ahmed I. Shekarau said Mr. Mojeed appealed to members to pay their membership and annual dues to enable the organisation execute laudable programmes that members would benefit from. The three sub-committees inaugurated are those on Fund Raising, Programme and Advocacy; Hajia Sani, Chairperson A former President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and immediate past Osun State Commissioner for Information, Funke Egbemode leads the Fund Raising Committee while Hajia Sani, the Director, Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria (VON) is the chairperson of the Programme Committee. The Advocacy Committee is headed by IPI Nigeria's Legal Adviser, Tobi Soniyi. The committees' chairpersons pledged their readiness to work for IPI Nigeria even as they solicit the support of all members. An Executive Board member of IPI Global, Raheem Adedoyin, said the inauguration of the committees is one of the best steps taken so far by IPI Nigeria. He advised IPI Nigeria to continue to engage with the Nigerian authorities in its advocacy programmes, and to avoid unnecessary confrontation as much as possible. Rather than wait for external funding, he advised members to save money to enable them fund their trips abroad to attend some of the training sessions and congresses of the IPI, adding that they stand to benefit more from such sessions. The committees and their memberships are as follows: 1. Fund Raising a. Mrs. Funke Egbemode, Chairperson b. Mr. Aliu Akoshile, CEO/Editor-in-Chief, NatureNews 247 c. Mr. Fred Ohwahwa, Senior Partner, Tokee Consult Limited Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Media By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. d. Mrs. Victoria Ibanga, Publisher, The Next Edition e. Mr. Bashir Adigun, Special Adviser to Kwara State Governor on Political Communication f. Mrs. Rafatu Salami, Assistant Director, Digital Media, Voice of Nigeria (VON) 2. Programming a. Hajia Sani, Chairperson b. Dr. Elizabeth Ikem, former Provost, Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) c. Mr. Ken Ugbechie, Publisher, Political Economist NG d. Hajiya Zainab O. Suleiman, Chairman, Editorial Board, Blueprint e. Ahmed I. Shekarau, Group Executive Director, Media Trust Group 3. Advocacy a. Mr. Toby Soniyi, Chairman b. Mrs. Catherine Agbo, Deputy Editor, 24th Century Chronicle c. Mr. Ukeh Onouha, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, The Sun d. Mr. Danlami Nmodu, mni, Publisher, Newsdiaryonline e. Dr. Hameed M. Bello, Chief Operating Officer, Peoples Daily "Government is free to change the policy" No rights will be taken away when the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) system comes to an end in June, lawyers for the Minister of Home Affairs told the Pretoria High Court on Wednesday. The court is hearing an application by the Helen Suzman Foundation and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa to have the minister set aside the decision. Advocate Ismail Jamie said rights that were temporarily conferred in the first place had been allowed to lapse through the passage of time. He said it would be impractical to expect the government to have consulted 178,000 ZEP holders. The lapsing of the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) system was a political decision by the Minister of Home Affairs, and does not take away the rights of ZEP holders, the government has argued in court. Advocate Ismail Jamie, counsel for the Minister of Home Affairs, told a full bench of the Pretoria High Court that there was no decision to terminate the ZEP system, as argued by the Helen Suzman Foundation (HSF) and the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA) in a case that seeks to set aside the minister's decision to terminate the ZEP system on 30 June 2023. Rights that were temporarily conferred in the first place had been allowed to lapse through the passage of time, he said. No rights had been taken away. "Just as government was free to adopt (a visa exemption) policy in respect of Zimbabweans as it relates to the conditions prevailing in that country in 2008 and 2009, it is free to change that policy in 2023," says Jamie. Blanket visa exemptions for Zimbabweans illegally in SA were introduced in 2009 under the Dispensation of Zimbabweans Project (DZP). That gave legal status to about 250,000 Zimbabweans who had fled political and economic instability at home. It allowed them to live, work, study and open businesses in SA. This scheme was extended and renamed the Zimbabwean Special Permit (ZSP) in 2014 and the ZEP in 2017. In 2021, Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that the ZEP system would not be renewed, though two temporary extensions were granted until 30 June 2023. When asked by Justice Gcina Malindi on whether ZEP holders had a right to consultation on a matter that affected the rights they had acquired under the permit system, Jamie replied that consultation with ZEP holders will take place when ZEP holders apply for alternative visas or waivers. "Practically, it is impossible to expect government to consult 180,000 ZEP holders, and to consider the personal circumstances of ZEP holders and their families. It would have taken years to assess impact on that level. That's impractical and not required by law," said Jamie. In response, Advocate Steven Budlender, for the Helen Suzman Foundation, argued that there was no consultation with affected parties either before or after the decision to terminate the ZEP system. The minister's claim that it was impractical to canvass 178,000 opinions as to how it would impact them was irrational, as this was standard procedure whenever legislation or policy is proposed by government, he said. "There was plenty of time to issue a notice of comment, yet this was not done in this case," said Budlender. "All public power has to be rational and there must be a rational process." The court heard considerable debate as to whether the minister's decision was subject to review in terms of the standard of procedural fairness under the Promotion of Administrative Justice Act (PAJA), or legal rationality. Jamie argued that PAJA did not apply, but that even if it did, the minister's decision was procedurally fair in that ZEP holders were given 18 months to regularise their affairs. They were also given an opportunity to make representations to Home Affairs and apply for waivers or alternative visas. Budlender disputed the claim made by counsel for the minister that this was a cabinet decision, saying it was the director-general of Home Affairs who made the decision. The minister had failed to consider the adverse impact of the decision on ZEP holders and their children. There was no affidavit from the minister explaining what steps he had taken to consider these impacts. "We sit here with no evidence that a single person has been granted a waiver. The minister has a duty of candour to this court," said Budlender. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Legal Affairs Zimbabwe By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The Helen Suzman Foundation argued that it is not saying the exemption permit system can never come to an end, but that decisions that affect the rights of ZEP holders and their families must be properly considered. The minister's decision limited the rights of ZEP holders since they would find themselves at risk of deportation, loss of jobs and closure of bank accounts after 30 June 2023. David Simonsz, representing the Consortium for Refugees and Migrants in South Africa (CoRMSA), challenged the minister's claim that there was no need to consult affected parties before making a decision as momentous as terminating the ZEP system. There was no consultation with those affected when the DZP was granted, or ended, nor were Zimbabweans consulted when the later programmes were introduced and ended. "The idea that at no point they had a right to be heard is wrong. When decisions are made that have an impact on you, you have a right to be heard," said Simonsz. Name: Tim Brown Organisation: SolarWinds Job title: Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President, Security, Date started current role: July 2017 Location: Austin, Texas Tim Brown serves as Chief Information Security Officer and Vice President, Security for SolarWinds, overseeing internal IT security, product security, and security strategy. As a former Dell Fellow and CTO, Brown deeply understands the challenges and aspirations of the person responsible for driving digital innovation and change. Brown has over 20 years of experience developing and implementing security technology. Nationally, his trusted advisor status has taken him from meeting with members of Congress and the Senate to the Situation Room in the White House. He is a member of the advisory board for Clemson University and holds 18 issued patents on security-related topics. What was your first job? My first real job was Wang Laboratories. I was hired out of college as a Software Engineer focused on creating tests for a new hardware/software product. Quality Assurance (QA) was a great place to start an engineering career. How did you get involved in cybersecurity? I really started focusing on cybersecurity when I joined Axent Technologies in 1996. I ran the teams building products focused on identity management and multi-factor authentication. Axent was acquired by Symantec in 1999, and shortly after, I joined the CTO office focusing on Architecture and Strategy across the company. Symantec was at that point focused completely on security. What was your education? Do you hold any certifications? What are they? My education is primarily hands-on with a great deal of opportunities to learn from experiences and people. I hold a BS in Computer Science with some additional executive education from the Wharton School of Business. Explain your career path. Did you take any detours? If so, discuss. My career path started as a Software Engineer. Then I managed small teams and then larger teams building products. I eventually switched to global CTO roles. At Symantec, I focused on internal architecture and strategy, working with and building a cohesive architecture team across the company. At CA, I focused externally as the CTO for the Security business. At Dell Software, I was one of six Dell Fellows and focused across the new Dell Software business unit. A couple of detours in my career have occurred. I joined FTP Software for a quick stint in 1994. Their main product was the TCP/IP stack for Windows. However, when Windows 95 came out, it decimated the business. I also joined a startup for a little over a year. It was a great experience but definitely a detour. Was there anyone who has inspired or mentored you in your career? So many great people throughout my career. Very early in my career, Jim Ray, one of my first managers, gave me some great advice. I was a new manager running a team of folks who had more experience than I did, but I was ahead on the vision and the technology. Jim told me something I never forgot. He said, Tim youre interrupting people. Just because you know all the answers, they dont need to be yours. To this day, I listen and I guide conversations to outcomes. I try hard to let others collaborate and come up with ideas. The end result is what matters, not being the loudest in the room. Rob Clyde, the CTO for Symantec, gave me opportunities to help acquire many companies, the freedom to invent, and to help others drive great vision. I have 18 patents, many of them from Symantec and CA. John Thompson, the CEO for Symantec, showed me how to speak to customers, how to present, and how to be empathetic and humble but still driven. Don Ferguson, CTO for CA and Dell Software, pushed me really hard to take charge and take ownership, have the hard conversations and be bold. Every day I try to learn something new. The people Ive worked with throughout the years and the experiences Ive had continue to shape and mentor me today. What do you feel is the most important aspect of your job? I manage risk for the business and help the company succeed financially. Both are critical. What metrics or KPIs do you use to measure security effectiveness? Metrics vary by function. In the product area, we tag every security issue in Jira and give it a CVSS score. This activity allows us to collect and report on product security. We measure our effectiveness internally with our internal security audit function and externally through third-party testing. Is the security skills shortage affecting your organisation? What roles or skills are you finding the most difficult to fill? We have hired globally and retrained people internally to help with the security skills shortage. This has worked well for us. Cybersecurity is constantly changing how do you keep learning? I read quite a bit. Im also part of some very good CISO groups that openly share experiences, technologies that they like, and where they are headed. We learn from each other. What conferences are on your must-attend list? I have attended RSA and Blackhat for years. The best meetings are the side meetings that occur since everyone is there. I also attend some CISO-only events like SINET, which has a great group of people. Team 8 in Israel has also brought together CISOs from around the world. What is the best current trend in cybersecurity? The worst? Technology continues to evolve and, in many cases, help us reduce risk and improve efficiency. The worst trend is the belief that technology solves all our problems. There is no perfect solution. Managing risk is a 24/7 hard job that takes strong people and great technology. What's the best career advice you ever received? Ive received so much great advice over the years. Here is one piece of advice I remember often from a very unlikely source. I was on a plane sitting next to someone I remember as a 60s hippy. We started talking and she asked me what I did. I told her that I built software and ran engineering teams. She said, You must be very passionate about what you do. The word passionate really got me thinking. I liked what I did but I was not really passionate about it. That was the point where I moved towards security and really focused on trying to help others. What advice would you give to aspiring security leaders? Continue to learn and learn outside of your area of expertise. Understand the business and learn how to communicate internally and externally. Become a resource beyond pure security. What has been your greatest career achievement? I have been lucky to have several of them. I have been able to share information and knowledge with thousands of people around the world, helping them gain new knowledge, adjust their thinking, reduce their risk and grow their careers. That is the greatest achievement. Professionally, I have launched some great products, Ive invented some great technology with 18 patents, and I became one of six Dell Fellows. In our field, a Fellow is the highest technical achievement. Ive also been able to guide a company through one of the most public security breaches of all times and help the company thrive. Looking back with 20:20 hindsight, what would you have done differently? There are a few opportunities I missed, but overall, Ive learned from each experience so I would do very little differently. The new Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) proposed by the Sri Lankan parliament, designed to replace the existing Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA) of 1979, threatens to further exacerbate restrictions on the right to assembly and gravely curtail freedom of expression and press freedom. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its Sri Lankan affiliates, the Sri Lankan Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), the Federation of Media Employees Trade Union (FMETU), and the Free Media Movement (FMM), in strongly condemning the bill and urging Sri Lankan authorities to withdraw the proposed draft and repeal the punitive PTA. On March 17, the Sri Lankan government announced its intention to replace the countrys current draconian terrorism act with the new ATA. The proposed legislation has been criticised by trade unions, human rights organisations, civil society, legal experts, and press freedom advocates, who have identified the bills potential to crack down on dissent and civic space amidst ongoing instability across the island. The law would expand the legal definition of terrorist offences beyond international guidelines and include the infliction of serious damage to any place of public use, the obstruction of essential services, and participation in an unlawful assembly deemed by the government to be connected to terrorism. The law would also criminalise the distribution of materials or services that allow others to possess terrorist publications and the publication of words or signs that may be understood by members of the public to conduct, encourage, or induce a terrorist offence, among many new and arbitrary charges. Non-judicial detentions, previously only invocable by the Minister of Defence, could now be requested by a Deputy Inspector General Of Police, the third highest rank in the Sri Lanka police force. Abuses of power historically recorded under the PTA may be increased as law enforcement would be sanctioned to create approved places of detention outside of Sri Lankas court structure, which has previously allowed for police torture of the arbitrarily detained. All arrests would occur before any formal charges were submitted. Under the proposed ATA, the president would have the power to invoke proscriptive orders, restricting organisations labelled terrorist from accessing funds or maintaining membership. The president would also have the power to order curfews, declare places prohibited, instate rehabilitation programs, and obtain restriction orders that prohibit movement and activities, all conducted outside of the court system. The Attorney General may also compel those charged under the ATA to produce guilty testimonies, as the AG may relieve an individual charged under the act for up to 20 years if they conduct conciliatory actions. The legislation has been announced after decades of local and international criticism surrounding human rights abuses, often directed towards journalists, and ethnic and religious minorities, that were conducted under the PTA by successive Sri Lankan governments. According to Prime Minister Dinesh Gunawardena, the bill is expected to be presented to the Sri Lankan Parliament in late April and could come into law as early as May 2023. Dharmasiri Lankapeli, the General Secretary of the FMETU, said: This so-called Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA) has provisions more draconian and tyrannical in nature compared to its predecessor PTA. [] The government has been compelled to put off the presenting of the ATA bill to Parliament due to vehement opposition by people, including lawyers' organizations, civil organizations, trade unions, and media organizations. We, the FMETU, call on all those who uphold the values of democracy and rule of law to rally against this governments attempt to arm itself with oppressive powers against people. The FMM said: "Although the national security of a country is an essential issue for the sovereignty, territorial integrity and security of the citizen, Free Media Movement strongly condemns the government's imposition of laws to deprive citizens of freedom of expression and speech under the guise of national security. The Free Media Movement raised its voice against the cases where the government tried to violate the freedom of expression of the citizens through the arbitrary laws brought by the government earlier, such as the Prevention of Terrorism Act. The Free Media Movement recognizes that many of the inhuman and arbitrary clauses in the proposed Anti-Terrorism Act are preventing citizens, especially human rights activists, from expressing their free opinion and criticizing the mal behaviour of state institutions. The SLWJA said: The SLWJA expresses grave concern regarding the Government of Sri Lankas proposed Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The SLWJA believes that the proposed ATA is even more dangerous than the PTA as it could label, delegitimise, and ultimately dehumanise those the government considers to be its political enemies. The SLWJA urges the Government of Sri Lanka to engage in meaningful dialogue with civil society and the international community to address the concerns regarding the proposed ATA. The IFJ said: The proposed Anti-Terrorist Act is a condemnable and dangerous alternative to the already flawed PTA, threatening to further undermine freedoms of expression, press, and assembly in Sri Lanka. If passed, journalists, media workers and their representative unions and organisations who are deemed critical of the Sri Lankan government face legal persecution under undemocratic and arbitrary terrorist activities. The IFJ strongly condemns the proposed ATA and urges the Sri Lankan authorities to immediately withdraw the bill and repeal the existing draconian PTA. In 2022 it was revealed that the number of cryptocurrency-related phishing attacks prevented by Kaspersky anti-phishing systems increased by 40% compared to the previous year, with over 5 million attacks being stopped. Conversely, there is a decrease in the detection of traditional financial threats, such as banking and mobile financial malware. These and other findings are in the company's latest report on Financial threats. According to a new report by Kaspersky, the financial threat landscape saw significant changes in 2022. While attacks using traditional financial threats such as banking PC and mobile malware have become less common, cybercriminals have shifted their attention to new areas, including the crypto industry. In 2022, cryptocurrency phishing rose significantly and was included as a separate category, demonstrating 40% year-on-year growth with 5,040,520 detections of crypto phishing in 2022 compared to 3,596,437 in 2021. This increase in crypto phishing could be partially explained by the havoc on the crypto market that occurred last year. However, it is still unclear whether the trend will continue, which will depend on the trust that users place in cryptocurrency. This data correlates with users' experiences with cryptocurrency threats explored by Kaspersky earlier this year - every seventh person surveyed was affected by cryptocurrency phishing. Although most crypto scams are traditional tricks such as giveaway scams or fake wallet phishing pages, a recent active fraudulent scheme discovered by Kaspersky shows that scammers are constantly coming up with new techniques to ensure their success. In this campaign, the user receives a PDF file in English by mail, stating that they allegedly registered on a cryptocurrency cloud mining platform a long time ago and need to urgently withdraw a lot of crypts since their account is inactive. The file contains a link to a fake mining platform. To withdraw the crypt, the user must fill out a form with personal information, including the card or account number, and pay a commission, in this case, through a crypto wallet or directly to the specified wallet address. An example of active crypto fraudulent scheme occurred in February 2023 "Despite some troubles that have occurred in the cryptocurrency market over the past six months, in the minds of many people, crypto still remains a symbol of getting rich quick with minimal effort. Therefore, the flow of scammers who parasitize on this topic does not dry out. In order to lure victims into their networks, these scammers continue to come up with new and more interesting stories," commented Olga Svistunova, a security expert at Kaspersky. In Southeast Asia (SEA), Kaspersky has monitored a slight dip in 2022 overall. The global cybersecurity company observed 64,080 crypto phishing in the region last year, 15% lower than 2021s number. The drop in crypto phishing is mainly detected in Singapore (-74%), Thailand (-51), and Vietnam (-15%). This type of threat, however, continues to grow in the Philippines (170%), Indonesia (+26%), and Malaysia (4%). Southeast Asia is home to diverse countries and continue to lead globally in terms of cryptocurrency adoption. With the highly active play-to-earn gamers plus the remittance usage of cryptocurrency in countries with high overseas workers, we expect to see more adopters in the region. This makes it essential to develop that protection-first mind set against attacks related to this useful technology, comments Chris Connell, Managing Director for Asia Pacific at Kaspersky. Find more details about the new cryptocurrency scam scheme on Kaspersky Daily. To maximize the benefits of using cryptocurrency safely, Kaspersky experts also recommend: press release Cape Town A 44-year-old man is expected to appear before the Bloemfontein Magistrate Court on Thursday, 13 April 2023 following his arrest on Tuesday, 11 April 2023. The suspect who is an employee contracted to a company that installs and maintains cameras at the Mangaung Correctional Centre faces a charge of aiding and abetting a convicted prisoner to escape from lawful custody, defeating the ends of justice as well as violation of a dead body. Meanwhile, North West police have seized a white Porsche Cayenne vehicle believed to belong to wanted suspect, Dr Nandipha Magudumana. The vehicle was seized by the Gauteng SAPS Tracking Team in Lichtenburg, North West. A 28-year-old male driver has since been taken into police custody where he is currently being questioned. The National Commissioner of SAPS, General Fannie Masemola says police are closing the net on those responsible for aiding Thabo Bester to escape from lawful custody. "Anyone who knows that they are involved in this case are warned to hand themselves over to authorities. Either they hand themselves in or we fetch them ourselves", said General Masemola. Investigations into this case are unfolding and the SAPS will continue to provide an update to the nation when time permits. The gig economy continues to boom and Payoneers 2023 Global Freelancer Insights Report discovered that independent contractors play a critical role in keeping businesses and the economy afloat even amid challenging times. Payoneer tapped 2,000 freelancers from 122 countries, and almost half (46%) answered that the demand for their services increased compared to the previous year. Over half (55%) have taken on more work, while roughly the same number (41%) have raised their rates. Many freelancers (32%) have also expanded their client base to new countries. Over two-thirds (68%) believe that demand for their talent will further grow in 2023. According to the report, fields like programming, marketing, project management, and web design continue to be sought-after fields. A growing number of businesses are relying on freelancers to support their full-time workforce because of convenience, flexibility, and outstanding quality of work. This benefits freelancers, too, since we have seen how they can enjoy a good work-life balance while still sustaining themselves, especially with the convenience, and practicality of earning in USD without leaving the country. We expect this industry to keep growing in the coming year, says Monique Avila, the country manager of Payoneer for the Philippines. The rise of freelance agencies Demand is so high that freelance agencies have popped up to offer the services of a group of subcontractors. Agencies have many benefits for both clients and freelancers. Businesses can access a vetted pool of subcontractors, while freelancers can focus on the task at hand. Starting an agency is just one of the topics discussed at Tech Trends: Gig Economy, a webinar hosted by the Department Of Information and Communications Technology last March 27, 2023. The webinar featured women leaders who are making their mark in the freelance economy, such as Lorna Bondoc, founder and chief experience officer of YOVEO Digital; Le-an Lai Lacaba, chief executive officer and co-founder of 2xYou Executive Services; and Britzee Capili, the small- and medium-sized business (SMB) sales lead of Payoneer. "Working in a freelance agency, theres a structure already. You wont have to look for clients. In addition, the payment transactions, or finance, are overseen by the management. An agency also provides training to their employees," shares Lacaba. While working as a freelancer and for an agency have different setups, Bondoc reminds those in the gig economy that the work ethic remains the same. She says, You can work by yourself or with a team of freelancers but the work discipline should just be the same, which is to deliver and make sure to handle your clients properly. Payoneer is the freelance agencies and sole freelancers partner in the Philippines Payoneer is a leading global payments platform that partners with freelancers, SMBs, marketplaces, and enterprises. It is trusted by the worlds leading digital brands, serving over five million customers and 2,000 top marketplaces and online platforms. Payoneer sends tens of billions of dollars a year to SMBs worldwide. According to Capili in Tech Trends: Gig Economy, We strongly support Filipino entrepreneurs and one of our ways of helping them is to provide a secure way of doing international transactions. Also, we wanted the agencies and the freelancers to have a direct payment platform with their clients. This has become beneficial for the two parties as freelancers and agencies expand their business globally. The rise and demand of the gig economy inspire us to continue striving to become the go-to platform of the freelancing sector. As freelancers enjoy more work in the coming year, Payoneer promises to make payments easier so they can focus on the job and reap the benefits of a remote career, ends Avila. To access Payoneers full 2023 Global Freelancer Insights Report, please visit discover.payoneer.com/businesses/freelancer-insights-report. 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 The Life Cinematic email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} US President Joe Biden said he would boast to his daughter about having his photo taken with James Martin, one of the stars of the Oscar-winning short film An Irish Goodbye. The film, which won the Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film at the ceremony last month, is a black comedy set on a rural farm in Glenmornan, a small hamlet in the west of County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. It follows the reunion of estranged brothers Turlough (Seamus OHara) and Lorcan (Martin) after the death of their mother. Biden pointed out James Martin in the crowd as he spoke this week at Ulster University in Belfast, during a visit to the country for the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Martin, who is from Belfast and has worked as a barista in the city, stood and bowed, while receiving applause from the audience led by the president. Biden said: Today Northern Ireland is a churn of creativity, art, poetry, theatre. Some of our favourite television shows and movies are filmed here, as you know. I got to meet James, I got my picture taken, Im going to go home and brag to my daughter. As part of his four-day tour of the island of Ireland, Biden earlier met Rishi Sunak in Belfast, before meeting Irish PM Leo Varadkar in Dublin. James Martin at the Oscars (PA Wire) At the Oscars, Martin partied with Elton John, later calling him a fantastic person who knows how to party. He called James Corden a good mover. Martin celebrated his birthday on the same night as the Oscars, with the crowd at the Dolby Theatre singing him Happy Birthday. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} North Korea launched an intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) of intermediate range or longer, prompting Japan to issue an immediate evacuation order for residents on Hokkaido island. The Norths latest launch is possibly a test for a new type of weapon system and could be a potential breakthrough. The new missile test could be a breakthrough for Pyongyangs ICBM arsenal that is banned by the UN. The missile test led to Japan issuing an immediate evacuation order for residents on Hokkaido island, which was later retracted after authorities ascertained it did not fall into their territory. The missile was fired from the vicinity of the capital Pyongyang at 7.23am local and it flew 1,000km before splashing in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, South Koreas joint chiefs of staff (JCS) said. The apogee, or maximum altitude of the missile, has not been disclosed but it was initially reported that the missile was launched at a high angle. A South Korean defence official said under anonymity that it was possibly a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel. South Koreas military said it was not ruling out that it could be a solid-fuel missile, a new weapon system displayed at recent North Korean military parades. So far Pyongyang is known to have tested liquid-fuelled ICBMs. But a solid-propellant ICBM, which can be launched from land or submarines, has been one of the key high-tech weapons on leader Kim Jong-uns wishlist. Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida speaks to the media after North Korea fired a ballistic missile, in Tokyo (via REUTERS) Pyongyang has been working to build more solid-fuel missiles, which are easier to store and transport, and can be launched with almost no warning or preparation time. If confirmed by North Korea, it would be the first test by the country of a weapon system and the first test of an ICBM since last month. The country had tested a liquid-fuelled Hwasong-17 ICBM on 16 March under Mr Kims supervision. The missile test, of which details are still emerging, prompted the nuclear envoys of South Korea, US and Japan to hold a telephone conversation and Japanese prime minister Fumio Kishida to hold an emergency National Security Council meeting in Seoul. The top envoys observing the Norths nuclear programme development called for a decisive and united international response to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean activities, that allegedly fund its weapons programme, during the call. The missile launch took place as South Korean officials said North Korea has not been responding to calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. The missile appeared to have been fired eastward at a high angle and did not fall into Japanese territory, Japans defence minister Yasukazu Hamada said, adding that the ministry was analysing the launch for more details. A TV shows J-Alert or National Early Warning System to the Japanese residents Thursday, 13 April 2023 in Yokohama, south of Tokyo (AP) The Japanese government warned residents of the island of Hokkaido to take immediate cover, saying a missile was likely to fall near it around 8am Japan time (2300 GMT). It retracted the alert after the missile disappeared from Japans radar immediately after detection, chief cabinet secretary Hirokazu Matsuno, said. He said the alert was not a mistake. The alert to take cover and evacuate caused a momentary alarm at a train station in Hokkaido, a student told Japanese broadcaster NHK. For a second in the train there was panic, but a station worker said to calm down, and people did, the unidentified man said. The missile launch comes days after Mr Kim said he would enhance his nuclear capability in practical and offensive ways. The US strongly condemned North Korea for its test of a long-range ballistic missile, the White House said in a statement, renewing its offer to open talks. The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilizing actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said Mr Kim is risking escalation in tensions and is not yet done demonstrating Pyongyangs nuclear delivery capabilities. Pyongyangs provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defence exercises because Kim Jong-un hasnt finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet, he said. However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation. The incident also comes a day after Japan announced plans to develop and build an array of advanced long-range missiles to improve the countrys defences. The Japanese Defense Ministry said it had signed contracts with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to produce the weapons. Additional reporting by agencies Authorities in India have brought a new case against the BBC for alleged violations of foreign exchange rules, months after multiple tac raids on the broadcasters offices in New Delhi and Mumbai. The actions come after the BBC aired a documentary about the 2002 Gujarat religious riots, with new evidence suggesting Narendra Modi was directly responsible for the circumstances leading up to violence in which over 1,000 people many of them Muslims were killed. Mr Modi, a Hindu nationalist, was subsequently elected prime minister of India. Officials from the Enforcement Directorate (ED), a branch of the finance ministry tasked with investigating serious financial crimes, told Press Trust of India that an investigation had been opened under the countrys law related to foreign funding. Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fort Lauderdale and other parts of south Florida have been swamped with historic rainfall, shutting down operations at a major airport and a high-speed commuter train. Up to two feet of rain fell in a matter of hours on Wednesday in Broward County leaving many areas underwater. The torrential downpours came after the area had already been drenched with several days of rain. The National Weather Service (NWS) in Miami declared a flash flood emergency around 8pm on Wednesday for Fort Lauderdale, along with the areas around Hollywood and Dania Beach. A short time later, forecasters issued a tornado warning for nearby Davie, Plantation and Lauderhill. Authorities urged people to stay off the roads after scenes of people driving -- and swimming -- through murky floodwaters. There have been no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. On Broward Boulevard, a man was seen swimming to the curb on the flooded street at rush hour as cars rolled by. Crews worked to clear drains and fire up pumps to clear standing water on Thursday as stranded cars floated down roads. The ground was already saturated so there is extensive flooding all over our city and throughout South Florida. Many roadways are impassable. Lots of vehicles got stuck and left abandoned in the middle of our roadways, Mayor Josh Levy, in the city of Hollywood, told CNN. Ive lived here my whole life. This is the most severe flooding that Ive ever seen. The Fort Lauderdale area is expected to see an additional two to five inches of rain on Thursday, the NWS said. Fort Lauderdale Airport was shut on Wednesday afternoon after travel became impossible due to flooding and tornado warnings. It was expected to reopen at noon on Thursday. Man swims in Florida floodwaters after widespread rainfall Video taken by witnesses showed water coming in the door at an airport terminal and a virtual river rushing down the tarmac between planes. Heavy rains also prompted South Floridas high-speed commuter rail line to shut dow with train service between Miami and Fort Lauderdale suspended on Wednesday. Nearly 6,000 customers in Florida were without electricity on Thursday morning, according to utility tracker poweroutage.us. Extreme rainfall events have increased in frequency and intensity in the US over the last 70 years as the planet warms. For each degree of warming, the airs capacity for water vapor goes up by about 7 per cent, leading to more intense downpours, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. With reporting from the Associated Press Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Independent Climate email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The number of monster sewage dumps in rivers and coastlines rose sharply in 2022, new analysis reveals, with the increase in severe spillages dubbed a national scandal. There were 3,276 high-frequency sewage spills in England and Wales last year, according to analysis by the Lib Dems, who urged government ministers and water companies to get a grip. That represents a rise of 63 per cent since 2021, when there were 2,008 storm overflows classed as having a high spill frequency meaning water firms dump so much sewage into a single area that they are obliged to investigate the cause and report on which action has been taken within three months. (Getty Images/iStockphoto) The huge increase comes amid intensified national anger over the issue and is even despite a reduction in the number of overall spillages during what was one of the driest years in England and Wales since records began. Sewage discharges fell by 19 per cent last year, down to a total of 301,091 spills, according to Environment Agency figures published in March. But the agencys chief John Leyland said this was down to dry weather, not water company action. Labour claims this still amounted to nearly 1 million hours-worth of discharges in coastal regions, with the equivalent of one sewage dump every three minutes and 45 seconds taking place in 2022 across 137 of 139 coastal constituencies. There were 194,900 sewage dumps from monster overflows in 2022, lasting more than 1.3 million hours, according to the Lib Dems figures which the government disputes. These monster sewage dumps cause devastation, flooding swimming spots with foul water and destroying animal habitats. The rise in these spills truly is a national scandal, said Lib Dem environment spokesperson Tim Farron. More than 1.3 million hours of sewage poured from high frequency spills last year (Getty) Water company execs are raking in millions in bonuses whilst their pipes leak sewage into our lakes and rivers. The whole thing stinks. These polluting firms are obligated to investigate, yet still no action is taken. You would think after a historic drought these figures would drop. It seems there is no end in sight for the sewage scandal. Ministers need to get a grip of this. Their half-baked plans announced recently just let water companies get away with it. The public wont stand for this any longer. Water companies need to be forced to fix the leakiest pipes responsible for these monster sewage dumps. The Lake Districts water company United Utilities were found to be the worst offenders, with nearly 40 per cent of their storm overflows being identified as having a high spill frequency, while 30 per cent of South West Water overflows were also identified as such, the analysis found. The longest dump from one of these overflows was by United Utilities from Plumbland wastewater treatment works in Cumbria which dumped sewage 339 times into the River Ellen for 6,896 hours equating to nearly 19 hours every day, the Lib Dems said. Meanwhile, Severn Trent dumped sewage into Whissendine Brook in Rutland from a nearby wastewater treatment works 318 times for 6,646 hours in 2022. Lib Dem leader Ed Davey has called for environment secretary Therese Coffey to resign over the issue, with The Independent recently revealing figures suggesting there were nearly 1,000 spills last year in her own constituency alone. Therese Coffey is pledging to clean up waterways and get tougher on polluters (PA) As well as poisoning swimmers, sewage damages river ecosystems through chemical and microplastic pollution and algal blooms, which feed on the phosphates in faeces and explode in size, consuming the waters oxygen and suffocating other forms of life. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it did not recognise the Lib Dems figures, with a spokesperson saying: High-frequency spills are defined as those spilling in excess of 60 times per year the numbers here do not align with the official data. This government is the first to take such comprehensive action on storm overflows and our new Plan for Water sets out the increased investment, tougher enforcement and tighter regulation to tackle this issue. We have recently announced 1.6bn in new, accelerated investment to tackle storm overflows, including 700m from United Utilities to reduce spills by 7,800 annually. The environment secretary has demanded an action plan on every storm overflow from every company in England, prioritising those near bathing waters. We are also consulting to give regulators more powers to impose much larger penalties for polluters without needing to go to court. Additional reporting by PA Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} An iconic New York City cafe has raised eyebrows after one person noticed it was selling an ordinary ham and cheese sandwich for a whopping $29. EAT, the famed Upper East Side marketplace and cafe owned by restauranter Eli Zabar, turned heads this week when Reddit user u/mauceri posted a picture of the pricey ham and cheese sandwich to the Reddit forum r/nyc. Spotted while walking around the UES while a family member has surgery at HSS, the Reddit user wrote. Eli Zabars on Madison between 80/81st. The pre-packed ham and cheese sandwich seemed just like any other sandwich. It was sliced in half and placed in a fridge alongside other to-go lunch items (note the $24 egg salad sandwich). But what appeared to set this ham and cheese sandwich apart from the others is that it was made with so-called health bread, perhaps the reason for its hefty price. The Reddit users post instantly went viral, with more than 2,000 votes and 600 comments from fellow New Yorkers all asking the same questions: Why is the ham and cheese sandwich so expensive? Do all New Yorkers pay this much? And what exactly is health bread? Okay seriously, this is criminal, said one person. Seriously whos buying this??? asked another. One user wrote: This is literally unbelievable. Well, according to Elis son Sasha Zabar, their health bread is exactly that: healthy. Every morning we bake our seven-grain health loaf in a special size, which EAT then slices the long way, schmears with French mustard, and covers with thinly sliced roasted glazed ham and imported Swiss cheese, he recently told Gothamist. In fact, its Eli Zabars signature sandwich since Eli first opened in 1973. The $29 ham and cheese sandwich is actually two sandwiches packed into one wrapping. A single ham and cheese sandwich at the eatery goes for $16, but the double sandwich is made with the intention of having one now and then the second sandwich later. The pre-packed ham and cheese sandwich on health bread costs $29 (Reddit (u/mauceri)) Surprisingly, the pricey sandwich is also one of the cafes most popular items. But that isnt the only high-priced sandwich on the menu. A smoked salmon sandwich to-go is priced at $30, while the turkey club costs $28. Meanwhile, a pack of 12 granola bars goes for $72 and one pound of lox costs $60. The prices here are insane! wrote u/borednerd on Reddit. Still, one person jokingly came to their defence when they commented: But its on health bread! As many New Yorkers will know, the Upper East Side restaurant has been known for its hefty prices ever since it first opened on Madison Avenue in 1973. Even a decades-old New York Times article noted the disgruntled reactions from shoppers back in 1993, who are cordially invited to spend $3 on one brownie, $7 on one hallah, $12 on one chicken salad sandwich. But if they stop complaining long enough to get the object of their disaffection into their mouths especially the bread, Elis bread, which in the last few years has transformed the staff of life in this town the outrage inevitably gives way to a rush of warm, mushy adjectives. Theyll hate him in the morning. The Independent has contacted Eli Zabar for comment. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fashion designer Mary Quant, who is widely credited for inventing the miniskirt and pioneering Swinging Sixties style, has died aged 93. Her clothes were popularised by famous faces including model Jean Shrimpton, photographer and model Pattie Boyd, Cilla Black and Twiggy. Mary Quant was such an influence on young girls in the late 50s early 60s, Twiggy posted on Instagram. She revolutionised fashion and was a brilliant female entrepreneur. The 1960s would have never been the same without her. Among her many achievements, Quant pioneered the high hemlines that became popular during a decade of cultural and social revolution in the UK. The official Twitter account of the Victoria & Albert Museum, which recently hosted an exhibition about Quants designs, shared a tribute that said it was hard to overstate the impact Quant had had on the fashion world. She represented the joyful freedom of 1960s fashion, and provided a new role model for young women, the statement said. Fashion today owes so much to her trailblazing vision. Designer and TV presenter Esme Young said: She designed things for the women who wanted to wear them, and she was a big influence on a lot of designers a really big influence. She added: I absolutely think she did liberate women. She put it out there, and we were all influenced by that. It felt like freedom I can have a miniskirt and I can wear whatever colour tights I want and you can piss off. It was about women. And I know some men might say it was sexual, but I dont believe that. I believe it was a way of women expressing themselves and having freedom. Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, also paid tribute to the late fashion designer, writing on Twitter: RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship a visionary who was much more than a great haircut. Author Linda Grant added: She was to fashion in the sixties what the Beatles were to music. Changed everything from hemlines, silhouette and makeup. Quant pictured at an airport in London in 1967 (Popperfoto via Getty) A statement issued by her family on Thursday (13 April) said Quant had died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK this morning. It continued: Dame Mary, aged 93, was one of the most internationally recognised fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties. Quant was born in Blackheath, south London, and was the daughter of Welsh school teachers. She studied illustration at Goldsmiths, University of London, where she met her husband, Alexander Plunket Greene. After graduating, she secured an apprenticeship as a milliner. In 1955, when her husband opened a boutique on the ground floor of a building he had bought, Quant focused on designing clothes that were then sold in the shop. She was a self-taught designer and attended evening classes on pattern-cutting to achieve the innovative looks she envisioned. Quants clothes shop, Bazaar, on Kings Road, Chelsea (Getty) Quant strived to create relaxed clothes suited to the actions of normal life. With their wearable yet flattering silhouettes and hemlines, Quants clothes became extremely popular. She went on to design both womens and mens clothing, playing with the proportions of the body and taking inspiration from earlier eras. Mary Quant (foreground) with models showing her new shoe creations in 1967 (PA) The designer is often credited for inventing the basis of the decades most iconic look, the timeless classic known as the miniskirt. Short skirts and shift dresses then became Quants trademark, with high-profile models, such as Twiggy, frequently seen wearing her designs. In 2014, Quant, who named the skirt after her favourite make of car, recalled its feeling of freedom and liberation. She said: It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance, and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short, and the customers would say Shorter, shorter. Other items Quant sold included knitwear, swimwear, accessories and garments made using Butterick patterns, Peter Pan collars, and the dangerously short micro-miniskirt, along with paint box make-up and plastic raincoats. By the end of the Sixties, she had three shops and was the UKs highest-profile designer. Actor Anne Goddet wears Mary Quants Smiler Sam trouser suit, in printed pink and yellow flannel (PA) In 1988, she designed the interior of her beloved Mini 1000 car. She resigned as director of Mary Quant Ltd, her cosmetic company, 12 years later after a Japanese buyout, and there were soon more than 200 Mary Quant Colour shops in Japan. In 2014, she was made a dame for services to British fashion in the Queens new year honours list. Quant wearing a shift dress in 1966 (PA) She said at the time: I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded this terrific honour. It is extremely gratifying that my work in the fashion industry has been recognised and acknowledged in such a significant way. In 2021, actor and film producer Sadie Frost made a fashion documentary about the designer, titled Quant. Contributions to the biographical film came from prominent figures in the world of fashion including supermodel Kate Moss, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, designer Jasper Conran, and designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. Frost said Quant had changed the whole kind of female silhouette and that she had stopped women from dressing like their mothers by creating free and daring designs. With additional reporting from PA. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Katie Holmes has revealed that before she started filming First Daughter, she called Jenna Bush Hager up for advice. During a recent interview on Today, with Hager and Hoda Kotb, Holmes reflected on the making of her film. In the 2004 film, she played the daughter of the president of the United States and fell in love with a secret agent, who was pretending to be a college student. Speaking to the actor, Kotb recalled the research that Holmes did, while First Daughter was still being made. Jenna so happened to be a first daughter during this time, she said, noting that Hager is the child of former President George W. Bush. And Katie, in your research, did you ever reach out to a young lady named Jenna Bush, and try to get a little intel info? In response, Holmes said: I believe I did. Hager explained why she missed the call and pointed out a weird coincidence that occured when the actor had contacted her. I was with my college roommates, we were watching Dawsons Creek, she said, referring to the hit show that Holmes starred in. Im not joking, we turned it off and Im like, Who called me from LA? Listened to the message and it was Katie and I was too embarrassed. Hager was a college student herself, at the time, just like Holmes character in First Daughter. In 2004, the now-TV host was studying at University of Texas at Austin, while her father was still based in the White House, until Presidential term ended in 2009. During the conversation with Holmes, Hager claimed that if she had talked to her about her college life, it wouldnt have been super interesting. I mean, also, had you come and done research, you would have been like, Wow. This is quite boring, Hager said. She also poked fun at the movies plot, as she added: And I never fell in love with a secret service man. However, she claimed that she had a friend who made out with someone in the secret service, to which Holmes replied: Im sure you did. That seems like the job of a friend. Hager then apologised for not calling Holmes back, before the actor said that it was okay. Kotb asked her co-host why she didnt return the phone call, to which Hager responded: Cause my real life didnt really match the movie. But the research you would have learned would have been kind of gross. Holmes explained how much fun she had when filming First Daughter, before detailing why she had turned to Hager for advice in the first place. I just felt like, What is that like, to carry that? and youve carried it so beautifully, the Batman Begins star said. Hager thanked the actor for her kind words, before Kotb chimed in and said that they were all having a moment. Holmes agreed with the sentiment and added: Its a girl party. As her newest movie, Rare Objects, will be released this week, Holmes has continued to open up about her film career. During her interview with Glamour, published on Wednesday, she described what it was like to direct herself in her new movie. Its difficult in the sense that youre wearing two hats, but your most important one on set is the director because youre leading the ship, she said. When I stepped into being an actor, in my head, I was [more] aware of time. I was like, I actually have to get this in very few takes because I know what we have left to get tonight. I dont want to hold people up. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} King Charles is not inviting his former sister-in-law the Duchess of York to his coronation, The Independent has learnt. Sarah Ferguson, who still lives with Prince Andrew and is very close to him even though they divorced in 1996, will have to watch the 6 May celebrations at Westminster Abbey on TV. The news follows the Duchess of Sussexs decision to miss the coronation by staying at her home in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet while Prince Harry attends alone. The King and Queen Consorts decision means that Fergie will not be seated next to her daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, who are 10th and 11th in line to the throne. The exclusion is somewhat surprising as Prince Andrew was recently invited to Windsor by the King over Easter, even though it has been made clear that the duke will be excluded from the inner workings of the royal family. The refusal to invite the duchess will cause a debate among royal watchers, as some see her as a national treasure who has courageously overcome financial and personal problems within the royal family, while others see her as an error-prone embarrassment. Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew at their wedding in 1986. Fergie will have to watch the 6 May celebrations at Westminster Abbey on TV (Getty) She has been hugely supportive of Charles and Camilla and does not want this to become about her, a friend said. The whole day is about the new King and the success of his reign but she has always championed the royal family and the Queen undoubtedly would have wanted her to be there. The Duchess and the Duke of York were married in 1986 and split up in 1992. She was then distanced from the royal family after being linked to a series of scandals. Despite the controversies, the Queen very publicly stood by her and in the last month of her reign made a point of supporting the duchess and spending a lot of time with her, even walking together in Windsor Park. A friend said: The Queen found Sarah warm and loyal, almost to a fault, and also found her amusing. Royal commentator Ingrid Stewart told The Independent that the decision to not invite Fergie is not a matter of personal preference but protocol. Fergie has not been invited to any official royal events since her divorce. As the ex-wife she would not expect to be invited, she said. The duchess was known to the Queen before she was married as her father Maj Ronald Ferguson was the royal polo manager. Even though she was not invited to stay for Christmas at Balmoral due to Prince Philips hostility towards her, she always stayed nearby on a cottage on the estate. In the last few weeks she has been on a series of publicity launches for her new book, A Most Intriguing Lady, and has always gone out of her way to be gushingly supportive of the royal family in particular the new King and Queen. Prince Harry will attend the Coronation but Meghan will not, leaving a space in the seating plan (AP) Earlier this month she told OK! magazine: I think if you look at the Kings track record in areas like the environment, where he was decades ahead of his time, and the Princes Trust, its clear what an extraordinary man he is. How fortunate we are to have him on the throne. Buckingham Palace revealed on Wednesday that Meghan would not accept her invitation and it is thought that Archies fourth birthday on the same date might have played a factor in the decision. Meghans absence leaves a space in the seating at the coronation which could easily be filled should the King reverse his decision. There have already been rows over who has and has not been invited to the ceremony, with places tight, and cabinet ministers not allowed to bring a plus one. Lord Mowbray, Segrave and Stourton, the oldest English barony, has been invited but other ancient titles have found themselves banished to their sitting rooms. Authorities dragged their feet investigating the matter, documents tabled before Parliament reveal An August 2022 investigation by the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS) found that Bester likely escaped. The South African Police Services (SAPS) reached the same conclusion by at least October 2022. But a task team to apprehend Bester was only activated on 24 March, after GroundUp exposed Bester's escape. During a meeting on 18 October 2022, the South African Police Service (SAPS) told the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) and the Judicial Inspectorate of Correctional Services (JICS) that rapist and murderer Thabo Bester escaped from Mangaung Correctional Centre, on 3 May 2022. Six days later, the Inspecting Judge for Correctional Services, Justice Edwin Cameron wrote to Minister of Correctional Services Ronald Lamola: "There are indications that, with the collusion of G4S employees and others, a fire was staged in the single-cell of one Thabo Bester (the notoriously named so-called 'Facebook rapist') and a corpse was smuggled into the cell with the objective of faking inmate Bester's death and facilitating his escape." This is revealed in documents given to the Parliamentary Committee on Correctional Services on Wednesday by G4S, DCS, SAPS, and JICS. G4S is a multinational security company that operates Mangaung Correctional Centre. Bester was arrested in Tanzania along with his associate Nandipha Magudumana on 7 April, eleven months after his escape. But it appears that efforts to apprehend him only started on 24 March after details of Bester's escape were uncovered by GroundUp. Here is a timeline showing how the authorities dragged their feet investigating the Bester saga: 29 April 2022 : A vehicle was driven into the facility without a gate pass. : A vehicle was driven into the facility without a gate pass. 30 April 2022 : Thabo Bester was transferred to a single cell, after he applied to do so for his own safety. The application had been approved by G4S but not the DCS controller. : Thabo Bester was transferred to a single cell, after he applied to do so for his own safety. The application had been approved by G4S but not the DCS controller. 3 May 2022 : Thabo Bester is reported dead after a fire breaks out in his cell. It was reported by G4S and DCS as a suicide. : Thabo Bester is reported dead after a fire breaks out in his cell. It was reported by G4S and DCS as a suicide. 4 May 2022 : A post-mortem is conducted on the body found in the cell, revealing that the person was dead before the fire broke out. : A post-mortem is conducted on the body found in the cell, revealing that the person was dead before the fire broke out. 5 May 2022 : JICS starts investigating the unnatural death of Thabo Bester. : JICS starts investigating the unnatural death of Thabo Bester. 6 May 2022 : Nandipha Magudumana collects the body from a Free State morgue and transports it to a Soweto mortuary. SAPS begins investigating a murder after receiving the autopsy report. : 13 May 2022 : SAPS confiscates the body from Magudumana's custody. : SAPS confiscates the body from Magudumana's custody. 19 May 2022 : Magudumana approaches the Pretoria High Court asking for the body to be returned to her. She claims to be Bester's customary law wife. : Magudumana approaches the Pretoria High Court asking for the body to be returned to her. She claims to be Bester's customary law wife. 25 May 2022 : The SAPS Investigating Officer makes a sworn statement, indicating suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire. : The SAPS Investigating Officer makes a sworn statement, indicating suspicious circumstances surrounding the fire. 22 June 2022 : G4S provides SAPS with information including CCTV footage, visit records, and other details. : G4S provides SAPS with information including CCTV footage, visit records, and other details. 1 July 2022 : DNA analysis is conducted by SAPS, comparing the body found in the cell to Bester's mother. The DNA does not match. A sample of Thabo Bester's actual DNA could not be found in the SAPS DNA database. : DNA analysis is conducted by SAPS, comparing the body found in the cell to Bester's mother. The DNA does not match. A sample of Thabo Bester's actual DNA could not be found in the SAPS DNA database. 10 August 2022 : SAPS provides copies of the autopsy report and DNA tests to JICS. JICS finalizes its preliminary report. : SAPS provides copies of the autopsy report and DNA tests to JICS. JICS finalizes its preliminary report. 11 August 2022 : Based on the findings of the report, JICS prepares an office note, recording that Bester did not die in his cell. : Based on the findings of the report, JICS prepares an office note, recording that Bester did not die in his cell. 15 August 2022 : G4S tells JICS that crucial video evidence is missing. : G4S tells JICS that crucial video evidence is missing. 12 October 2022 : An inmate writes to the Free State High Court, alleging that Bester escaped from prison with the help of an official. The official is identified as Senohe Matsoara (who appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on 11 April 2023). Two judges are sent to investigate the inmate's allegations. : An inmate writes to the Free State High Court, alleging that Bester escaped from prison with the help of an official. The official is identified as Senohe Matsoara (who appeared in the Bloemfontein Magistrates Court on 11 April 2023). Two judges are sent to investigate the inmate's allegations. 18 October 2022 : A meeting takes place between JICS, DCS, and SAPS. SAPS says that there is reason to believe Bester faked his death and escaped. DCS does not hand over its report. SAPS asks JICS to help it get the support of the Hawks. : A meeting takes place between JICS, DCS, and SAPS. 19 October 2022 : JICS conducts interviews with G4S officials and inmates. : JICS conducts interviews with G4S officials and inmates. 24 October 2022 : GroundUp receives information that calls into question the official explanation of what happened to Bester. GroundUp starts its investigation. : GroundUp receives information that calls into question the official explanation of what happened to Bester. GroundUp starts its investigation. 26 October 2022 : Justice Cameron writes to Minister Lamola that Bester likely escaped from prison. : Justice Cameron writes to Minister Lamola that Bester likely escaped from prison. 4 November 2022 : Justice Cameron implores Free State DCS Regional Commissioner Subashini Moodley to expedite the investigation. Moodley declines to discuss the matter without the guidance of Makgothi Thobakgale, the DCS National Commissioner. : Justice Cameron implores Free State DCS Regional Commissioner Subashini Moodley to expedite the investigation. Moodley declines to discuss the matter without the guidance of Makgothi Thobakgale, the DCS National Commissioner. 8 November 2022 : GroundUp publishes "Many mysteries surround the death of 'Facebook rapist' Thabo Bester" : GroundUp publishes "Many mysteries surround the death of 'Facebook rapist' Thabo Bester" 10 November 2022 : JICS receives G4S's internal investigation report, with incomplete video footage. : JICS receives G4S's internal investigation report, with incomplete video footage. 18 November 2022 : DCS's draft investigation report is completed and signed by the investigators. : DCS's draft investigation report is completed and signed by the investigators. 24 November 2022 : The DCS National Commissioner orders the investigation of the involvement of DCS officials. : The DCS National Commissioner orders the investigation of the involvement of DCS officials. 25 November 2022 : The DCS National Commissioner receives a copy of the draft investigation. : The DCS National Commissioner receives a copy of the draft investigation. 30 November 2022 : Three DCS officials are suspended - the Director of Contract Management, the Controller at Mangaung Prison, and the Deputy Controller. : Three DCS officials are suspended - the Director of Contract Management, the Controller at Mangaung Prison, and the Deputy Controller. 21 December 2022 : The two judges submit a report based on their inspection. GroundUp gained access to this report on 2 January 2023, after which we published this article. : The two judges submit a report based on their inspection. GroundUp gained access to this report on 2 January 2023, after which we published this article. 14 January 2023 : DCS Controller opens a case of escape with SAPS Bloemspruit (SAPS had refused to open a case in prior engagements). : DCS Controller opens a case of escape with SAPS Bloemspruit (SAPS had refused to open a case in prior engagements). 2 February 2023 : G4S provides JICS with a final investigation report. G4S told the parliamentary committee that the meeting with JICS was the first time they were shown the DNA report. : G4S provides JICS with a final investigation report. G4S told the parliamentary committee that the meeting with JICS was the first time they were shown the DNA report. 9 March 2023 : During its quarterly meeting with the National Commissioner for DCS, JICS repeats a request for DCS's internal report. JICS is told that a draft report has been completed and a final report focusing on contractual implications is awaited. : During its quarterly meeting with the National Commissioner for DCS, JICS repeats a request for DCS's internal report. JICS is told that a draft report has been completed and a final report focusing on contractual implications is awaited. 13 March 2023 : DCS National Commissioner orders that the final investigation report be delivered to him by 22 March. : DCS National Commissioner orders that the final investigation report be delivered to him by 22 March. 15 March 2023 : GroundUp publishes "Did the Facebook Rapist die in his cell? Or did he escape from prison?" : GroundUp publishes "Did the Facebook Rapist die in his cell? Or did he escape from prison?" 16 March 2023 : GroundUp publishes photographs of Bester and Magudumana shopping in Sandton in June 2022. : GroundUp publishes photographs of Bester and Magudumana shopping in Sandton in June 2022. 22 March 2023 : The DCS National Commissioner receives the final investigation report. : The DCS National Commissioner receives the final investigation report. 24 March 2023 : The National Commissioner activates a DCS team to work with SAPS to track, trace and re-arrest Thabo Bester. : The National Commissioner activates a DCS team to work with SAPS to track, trace and re-arrest Thabo Bester. 25 March 2023 : DCS confirms to the public that Bester escaped from prison. : DCS confirms to the public that Bester escaped from prison. 30 March 2023 : DCS sends its internal investigation report to JICS. : DCS sends its internal investigation report to JICS. 31 March 2023 : G4S provides the outcome of its investigation to DCS. : G4S provides the outcome of its investigation to DCS. 4 April 2023 : Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Correctional Services meets with JICS, DCS, and SAPS. G4S is invited but does not show up, but sends lawyers. : Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Correctional Services meets with JICS, DCS, and SAPS. G4S is invited but does not show up, but sends lawyers. 7 April 2023 : Bester and Magudumana are arrested in Tanzania. : Bester and Magudumana are arrested in Tanzania. 9 April 2023 : Senohe Matsoara, former G4S official who was on duty in Bester's cell block on the night of the fire, is arrested. : Senohe Matsoara, former G4S official who was on duty in Bester's cell block on the night of the fire, is arrested. 11 April 2023 : Matsoara is charged with murder in the Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court, alongside Magudumana's father, Zolile Sekeleni. : Matsoara is charged with murder in the Bloemfontein Magistrates' Court, alongside Magudumana's father, Zolile Sekeleni. 12 April 2023: G4S appears before the Parliamentary Committee after receiving a summons. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A new biography about King Charles III, authored by royal biographer Robert Jobson, is set to be released on Thursday 13 April. The book, titled Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, charts the new monarchs trajectory from his birth to his ascension to the throne, which took place after the death of Queen Elizabeth II last year. According to his publisher, Jobson set out to reveal the real man behind the crown and examine Charless passions, purpose and motivations as the UK gears up for the coronation on 6 May. The author considers the life of the man and the monarch, reflecting on how his values and beliefs will shape him as he takes on this monumental role. It also contains new claims about members of the royal family and about Charless personal feelings on how certain events in his life have unfolded. These are the biggest claims Jobson has made in his forthcoming biography: Prince Harry shocked royals by insisting Meghan accompany him to Balmoral after the Queen died On 8 September, the day Queen Elizabeth died and Charles ascended the throne, the Duke of Sussex notably travelled to Balmoral separately from his brother, the Prince of Wales, and other members of the royal family. Prince Harry took a private jet to Scotland, whilse Prince William drove the Duke of York and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh from Aberdeen airport. In an interview ahead of the publication of his memoir Spare, Harry claimed he received a horrible reaction from the royal family when he was reunited with them after Elizabeths death. Jobson claimed that Harry chose to travel to Balmoral alone after a disagreement over his wife, Meghan Markles attendance. The author wrote that Harry insisted Meghan accompany him to Balmoral, but Charles told him she could not come. A royal insider was quoted as saying: It did not go down well with the family, they were all shocked by his behaviour. Britain Prince Harry Coronation Queen insisted on meeting Liz Truss days before she died against doctors advice Only two days before her passing, the late Queen invited the newly appointed prime minister Liz Truss to Balmoral to form a government. According to Jobson, the monarch did so against the advice of her doctors, who worried about the Queen due to her frailty. However, close sources were quoted as saying that nothing was going to stop her from carrying out the official meetings with Truss and then-outgoing prime minister Boris Johnson. The Queen is said to have insisted that it was her job to formally install Truss as prime minister in the traditional kissing hands ceremony. However, the meetings took an awful lot out of her. Installing Truss was one of her last acts as Queen. Britain Politics (PA) Queen Mother disapproved of Prince Philips alpha male parenting style Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, was reportedly not a fan of the Duke of Edinburghs preferred parenting style, particularly when it came to Charles. Jobson described the late Prince Philip as having an alpha male parenting style that was authoritarian and strict towards Charles, who was known for having a sensitive nature. The Queen Mother is said to have frowned upon his brashness and the way he treated Charles. Philip would set very strict rules and expect Charles to meet incredibly high standards, Jobson wrote. It was a way to exert control over his behaviour or activities. There was little warmth towards his son and, growing up, Charles often felt lonely and isolated. Charles agonised over his mistake of not calling off wedding to Diana It was claimed in Jobsons book that the King agonised over the fact he did not call off his wedding to Diana, despite being reportedly unsure about whether they were compatible. The author wrote that Charles believes he let down not only the monarchy, but himself and Diana too, through his inability to call off the wedding. He claimed that the then-Prince of Wales aired his reluctance about the marriage to his close circle of friends and said: I desperately wanted to get out of the wedding in 1981, when during the engagement I discovered just how awful the prospects were, having had no chance whatsoever to get to know Diana beforehand. Diana was also said to be having second thoughts, as she reportedly told her sisters Lady Jane and Sarah that she believed Charles was still in love with Camilla Parker-Bowles, who was married to Andrew Parker-Bowles at the time. But Charles has long accepted that his reputation in relation to his doomed marriage to Diana would be forever distorted, Jobson wrote. (Getty Images) Charles stopped taking Harrys calls after Megxit Jobson also claimed that King Charles stopped taking Prince Harrys calls after he stepped back from his royal duties in 2020. Jobson wrote 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, he claimed. The author wrote 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 alleged 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 wrote. Jobson claimed 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. William known to speak forcefully to Charles The author alleged in his book that William had been known so speak forcefully to his father King Charles. One exchange between them was so heated that it left Charles shaken, he claimed. Jobson went on to claim that both of Charless sons tempers are reminiscent of their mother Dianas, which Charles had struggled to cope with during their marriage. Instead of a line being drawn under it, Charles relationship with his sons has apparently deteriorated further. Jobson added that both of Charless sons had challenged him on occasion. Our King Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed is available to buy at Amazon, WHSmith and Hive. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} King Charles III is reportedly very disappointed that his daughter-in-law the Duchess of Sussex nor his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will attend his and Queen Camillas coronation next month. Buckingham Palace announced on Wednesday (12 April) that the Duke of Sussex will attend the coronation, but Meghan Markle will stay at home in California with their two children. It comes after much speculation over whether the couple would fly to the UK to attend the crowning of King Charles on 6 May, amid tensions between them and the rest of the royal family. It was also thought that Meghan is missing the ceremony in order to stay at home and celebrate Archies fourth birthday, which also falls on 6 May. The palaces statement said: Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. A source has told The Sun that the King is happy that Prince Harry will travel to the UK to be at the coronation. The source said: The King is happy that Harry, his son, who he calls his darling boy, will be at the Abbey. He wanted him there. It is sad, he is very disappointed that he wont see Meghan or his grandchildren but understands the situation. In early March, a representative for the Sussexes indicated that they had received official correspondence about the coronation via email, but did not disclose their decision until yesterday. (Getty Images) It was said that Harry had been seeking an apology from the King and the Prince of Wales before he made any commitment to the ceremony. Ahead of the publication of his memoir, Spare, Harry said in an interview that the door is always open for reconciliation. Meghans absence from the coronation has been branded a snub by some critics, but royal author Omid Scobie said that Archies fourth birthday was a factor in the couples decision. Scobie, who co-authored the biography Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan, tweeted in response to the palace statement: Expect it to be a fairly quick trip to the UK for Prince Harry, who will only be attending the coronation at Westminster Abbey. It is not known if Harry will spend a night in the UK, but if he does, it is unclear where he will stay after the King requested he and Meghan vacate Frogmore Cottage. The couple are understood to be in the midst of packing up their belongings to be shipped to their home in Montecito, California. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} King Charles III has been named as one of TIME magazines 100 Most Influential People of 2023. The new monarch appeared on the list under the Icons category, alongside author Salman Rushdie, Chinese dissident Peng Lifa, actor Jennifer Coolidge, trans journalist Imara Jones, and others. The list pairs awardees with guest contributors who are specially selected to write about them, with British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful penning a tribute to King Charles. Enninful, who became the global ambassador of the Princes Trust in 2021, wrote about the impact that the charity had on the lives of his friends and family. Growing up on a council estate in West London, the world of royalty was one I didnt pay much mind to, he said. What would that have to do with young Black boys in Ladbroke Grove? Much more than I realised, it turned out. He credited the Princes Trust, which was founded by the King while he was the Prince of Wales, for putting people around him into steady employment and said its outreach programmes inspired many of us and instilled confidence. I didnt realise then just how close our now-King was to all of this, Enninful said. He didnt have to do any of it. He couldve let his privilege shield him from the realities of our hardship in a time when these were not a cause celebre. But he always met us with an open mind and a listening ear. Enninful, who is also European editorial director of Conde Nast, described the King as charming, funny, socially confident, with a kindness that always seeks to put others at ease. His love for the environment is well-documented, but his love for his subjects burns ever brighter, he penned. The monarchy is not perfect, but in Charles we have a King who understands both tradition and what it takes to evolve with the times. It is a delicate balance and a rare ability. Charles, the then-Prince of Wales, meets British Vogue editor-in-chief Edward Enninful during the Princes Trust Awards Trophy Ceremony in 2021 (Getty Images) Under Enninfuls editorial direction, British Vogue featured an interview and photo shoot with Charles to talk about his approach to sustainable fashion. But Charles is not the only royal to have made the TIME 100 list. In 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex appeared on the list and posed together for a cover image. The list highlights individuals who are divided into six categories: Artists, Innovators, Titans, Leaders, Icons and Pioneers. Other notable figures and celebrities who have been named on this years list include supermodel Bella Hadid, actor and TV host Drew Barrymore, author Neil Gaiman, Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, US fashion designer Thom Browne, and Mexican activist Maria Herrera Magdaleno. Charles appearance on the list comes as he prepares for his and Queen Camillas coronation on Saturday 6 May. This week, it was confirmed that the Kings youngest son, the Duke of Sussex, will travel to the UK to attend the ceremony but his wife and two children will remain in California. Buckingham Palace confirmed Prince Harrys attendance on Wednesday (12 April) after months of speculation. Meanwhile, The Independent learned that the Duchess of York will not receive an invitation to the coronation, although her former husband the Duke of York and both her daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are expected to attend. Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Lifestyle Edit email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Author Deepak Chopra has said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are struggling right now amidst their rift with the British royal family. The Indian-American mindfulness expert, who appeared on Prince Harry and Meghan Markles holiday special podcast back in 2020, recently gave insight into the Sussexes current state of mind as Harry prepares to attend King Charles IIIs coronation next month. While speaking to The Daily Mail at a red carpet event in London, Chopra said about his work with the royal couple: I enjoyed the podcast and interacted with them. It has been periodic theyre struggling right now. I hope they get through it light-hearted, he said. I think theres too much drama around them. People should mind their own business. On 12 April, Buckingham Palace confirmed Prince Harry will attend the coronation of King Charles and Queen Camilla at Westminster Abbey in London on 6 May. However, his wife Meghan will stay at home in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The best-selling author also shared some words of wisdom for Harry ahead of his first meeting with the royal family since the release of his tell-all memoir, Spare. My advice is to ignore it because if you react youll just aggravate the situation, Chopra said. If you ignore it, people cant say anything, then theyll stop. In December 2020, Chopra appeared on the Duke and Duchesss first podcast episode as part of their Archewell Audio production companys exclusive deal with Spotify. The holiday special which featured Sir Elton John, professor Brene Brown, and actor James Corden brought together many high-profile contributors to mark the end of a challenging year. To celebrate Meghans 40th birthday in 2021, Chopra also took part in her 40x40 Compassion In Action initiative, which aimed to help women return to work after the pandemic. To celebrate the 40th birthday of my friend Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, Im donating 40 minutes of mentorship to a woman re-entering the workforce, he said at the time. Prince Harrys confirmation at the Kings coronation comes after months of speculation over whether he would attend the ceremony. Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on 6 May, the Palace said in a statement on Wednesday. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. His attendance marks his first meeting with his father and brother, the Prince of Wales, after making several bombshell claims about the royal family in Spare, which hit bookshelves last January. The couple also laid bare their grievances with the royal family in the six-part Netflix docuseries, Harry & Meghan. It was reported that Harry was seeking an apology from Charles and Prince William before he made any commitment to the ceremony. Ahead of the publication of his memoir, Harry said in an interview that the door is always open for reconciliation. Following the announcement, a source told The Sun that the King is happy that Prince Harry will travel to the UK to be at the coronation but is very disappointed that his daughter-in-law and two grandchildren wont attend. The King is happy that Harry, his son, who he calls his darling boy, will be at the Abbey. He wanted him there, they said. It is sad, he is very disappointed that he wont see Meghan or his grandchildren but understands the situation. However, royal author Omid Scobie said that Prince Archies fourth birthday was a factor in the couples decision to have Meghan remain in California. I understand that Archies fourth birthday (also on 6 May) played a factor in the couples decision, he tweeted. 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. King Charles III will be crowned during a slimmed-down coronation ceremony at Westminster Abbey next month. Some 2,000 guests are expected to be in attendance, a stark contrast to the 8,000 guests present at the late Queen Elizabeth IIs coronation in 1953. The new monarch will appear on the famous Buckingham Palace balcony to wave at crowds on the day of his coronation, but its been reported that only working royals will appear alongside him. This means that Prince Harry, who stepped down from his role as a senior working royal in 2020, will not be present on the balcony. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Two former Los Angeles-area police detectives have been charged in the 2020 shooting of an unarmed man that left him paralyzed from the waist down, the district attorney said Wednesday. Former Whittier detectives Cynthia Lopez and Salvador Murillo opened fire on April 30, 2020, as Nicholas Carrillo ran from them. Two bullets struck him in the back one severing his spinal cord as he climbed a fence to escape. Although he was lucky to survive, his life was forever changed and he must now begin using a wheelchair, Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascon said Wednesday during a news conference. Murillo is charged with two counts of assault with a semiautomatic firearm and two counts of assault under color of authority. Lopez faces two counts of assault under color of authority, one count of shooting into an occupied vehicle and one count of assault with a semiautomatic firearm. Prosecutors filed the charges Tuesday. The detectives were in plainclothes and an unmarked car when they spotted a sedan that had been supposedly used during an unarmed robbery the month before, Gascon said. A woman was the suspect in that robbery at a Walmart, where a television was stolen. Carrillo was alone in the car on the day he was shot. The detectives followed the sedan into an alley, and emerged from their vehicle with their guns drawn. The sedan reversed and collided with the detectives car, Gascon said. Lopez fired into the sedans rear windshield, prosecutors said. Carrillo then ran from the car and Lopez and Murillo opened fire as they chased him. He was not armed. They are expected to be arraigned Monday. It was not immediately clear whether they had attorneys who could speak on their behalf. The Whittier Police Officers Association, the union that represents the departments rank-and-file officers, did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday. The detectives are no longer employed by the Whittier Police Department, which also did not respond to a request for comment. Whittier is about 15 miles (24 kilometers) southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The Whittier case comes two weeks after Gascon's office charged seven California Highway Patrol officers and a nurse with involuntary manslaughter in the 2020 death of a man who screamed I cant breathe while multiple officers restrained him as they tried to take a blood sample. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A new Covid strain behind a surge of infections in India has sparked fears it could also lead to a rise in cases in the UK. Research indicates Arcturus could be one 1.2 times more infectious than the last major sub-variant. Also known as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, the strain was first identified in January and has been monitored by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 22 March, which upgraded it to a variant of interest in mid-April. Addressing Arcturuss emergence at a press conference on 29 March, Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs technical lead for Covid, said: Its been in circulation for a few months. We havent seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but thats why we have these systems in place. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein, which, in lab studies, shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity. The sub-variant, one of 600 spawned from Omicron so far but seemingly no more lethal than others, has been detected in 34 countries so far, including Britain and US. In India, the countrys health ministry reported 63,380 active Covid cases on 25 April, part of a steady six-week rise that has prompted compulsory face masks to be introduced in some states, hospitals to carry out mock drills and vaccine production to be ramped up. India was devastated by the Delta wave in 2021 and suffered a total of 4.7m excess deaths, according to WHO estimates. Dr Vipin Vashishtha, a paediatrician and former head of the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Immunisation, told The Hindustan Times that Arcturuss symptoms include a high fever, a cough and itchy conjunctivitis or pinkeye. Five deaths and around 135 cases have been detected in the UK so far, according to the UK Health Security Agency, but Professor Paul Hunter of the University of East Anglia has told The Daily Mail it is too soon to say that Britain could face a fresh surge in infections driven by Arcturus. Commuters wear face masks amidst the spike in Covid cases in Chennai, India (EPA) Although in India it has taken off in the past few weeks so far it has not been increasing rapidly globally, Professor Hunter said. I suspect we will see a wave of infections with this variant but I doubt it will cause a big wave probably not even as great as the one we have just had in the UK and so probably not put as great a pressure on health services than recently. The professor was alluding to the Kraken strain of Covid, also known as XBB.1.5, which was the dominant form of the disease in Britain until February. Scientists at the University of Tokyo comparing the Kraken and Arcturus sub-variants have suggested that the newer strain spreads about 1.17 to 1.27 times more efficiently than its relative, warning that it will spread worldwide in the near future aided by the fact that it seems robustly resistant to antibodies lingering in the body from previous Covid infections. In the US, Arcturus is now responsible for 9.6 per cent of American Covid cases, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the WHO. Virologist Professor Lawrence Young from the University of Warwick told The Independent that the rise of the new variant in India is a sign that were not yet out of the woods. We have to keep an eye on it, he said. When a new variant arises you have to find out if its more infectious, more disease-causing, is it more pathogenic? And whats going to happen in terms of immune protection. These kinds of things highlight the importance of genomic surveillance but a lot of countries including our own have let our guards down a bit and we cant be sure what variants are around and what level of infection theyre causing until we see a significant outbreak. Sign up for our free Health Check email to receive exclusive analysis on the week in health Get our free Health Check email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Health Check email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Concern is growing that a new Covid variant behind a rise in cases in India could become dominant in the UK and prompt a new wave of the virus this spring. The new variant named Arcturus is behind a surge of infections in India where the latest figures show overall Covid case numbers have surpassed 10,000 infections a day and have soared 13-fold in the past month. Virologist Dr Stephen Griffin from the University of Leeds said Arcturus is growing at a faster rate than other variants and is rapidly outcompeting others in India. He added that the new variant, which is now spreading globally, is particularly concerning because of limitations in genomic sequencing and tracking, leaving the UK completely in the dark after it stopped publishing ONS Covid case figures last month. So far in the UK, Arcturus accounts for just 0.4 per cent of cases, according to the GISAID virus sequencing database but that proportion is expected to increase considerably. Arcturus has a growth advantage of about 1.2 compared to what weve had recently, Dr Griffin told The Independent. Its conceivable it could outcompete what weve had recently but there are other variants in the mix so its hard to know which one will become dominant. He added: Were still in a pandemic. New waves of the infection are being driven by the viral variation and we have an endless resupply of susceptible people because this virus is escaping our antibody-mediated immunity. We had five waves in 2022 and this is another one. Dr Griffin said it was hard to predict the impact of the new wave but with the current state of the NHS with patient hospital pressures, backlogs and strikes means any impact would be bad. He also said cases in the UK could match those seen in India (10,000 a day) with the rise of the new variant but it would difficult to quantify that figure given the lack of testing. Dr Vipin M. Vashishtha, a paediatrician and researcher who has been tracking Arcturuss rise in India, said cases there were increasing exponentially and fears the key spike protein mutations in the new variant could make it make aggressive. Its difficult to uniformly say it will cause large outbreaks globally but considering the mutations to it, this variant will lead to a higher rate of infection and may prove to be more aggressive, Dr Vashishtha told The Independent. In the US, its growing above current dominant variants so it could supersede elsewhere. In India so far its [Arcturus] only causing mild illness. Theres not many hospitalisations and deaths but gradually they are increasing in two to three states with Punjab, in particular, seeing more admissions and people on ventilators. Dr Vashishtha joined calls for governments worldwide to improve genomic sequencing at airports to ensure new variants are detected early. Virologist Professor Lawrence Young, from the University of Warwick, told The Independent that the rise of the new variant in India was a sign that were not yet out of the woods. We have to keep an eye on it, Prof Young said. When a new variant arises you have to find out if its more infectious, more disease-causing, is it more pathogenic? And whats going to happen in terms of immune protection? These kinds of things highlight the importance of genomic surveillance but a lot of countries including our own have let our guards down a bit and we cant be sure what variants are around and what level of infection theyre causing until we see a significant outbreak. A new malaria vaccine developed at the University of Oxford that could protect millions of children has been approved for use for the first time, by Ghana. The mosquito-borne disease kills more than 600,000 people each year, mostly in Africa, and scientists have been trying for years to develop vaccines. Childhood vaccines in developing nations are typically paid for by international organisations such as Unicef, after they have been backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which is still assessing Oxfords R21 Matrix-M jab. It wasnt me or Courreges who invented the miniskirt it was the girls in the street who did it, said Mary Quant of the revolutionary hemline she is widely credited with creating. The miniskirt was launched on Kings Road and immortalised in the Swinging Sixties, with Quant putting its success down to genetics: The Chelsea girl had the best legs in the world. She had the courage to wear it. Despite it grabbing global press attention, not everyone was enamoured with the abbreviated skirt. Quant recalled how the stereotypical city gent, with his pinstriped suit and bowler hat, would beat Bazaars window with his brolly while shouting Immoral! and Disgusting!. Coco Chanel declared the miniskirt indecent. When Sophia Loren publicly claimed that the miniskirt had destroyed the feminine mystique, Quant replied: Well, shes built the other way up. Quant was born in Blackheath in 1934 to Welsh schoolteachers. Her mother was born in Kidwelly, her father in Merthyr, and each graduated with a first class honours degree from Cardiff University. Evacuated to a village in Kent with her brother Tony during the war, Quant recalled her earliest fashion memory as being in bed with measles at six years old and cutting the bedspread with nail scissors in order to transform it into a dress. Her first successful encounter with needle and thread was an embroidered pillowcase she made for her mother at Christmas. When Quant was dispatched to a boarding school in Tunbridge Wells and presented with an exam question that asked her to choose between the Roundheads and the Cavaliers, Quant deemed it a no-brainer. I came down strongly on the side of the Cavaliers, as they were more chic, she said. On leaving school, she expressed her intention to pursue a career in clothes. Her parents were against the suggestion. Quant persuaded them to agree on the condition that she took an art teachers diploma. Quant applied to and was accepted at Goldsmiths. Quentin Crisp was a resident model; Quant described him as the most admired model and the most difficult to draw. It was here that she met her future husband, the debonair Alexander Plunket Greene, in 1953 at a ball. Instantly besotted, she described him as a 6ft 2in prototype for Mick Jagger and Paul McCartney rolled into one. Quant was wearing black mesh tights and strategically placed balloons at the time. Her suitor, who had a penchant for wearing his mothers gold silk pyjama top paired with prune hipster pants and chelsea boots, could often be spotted with a copy of Tom Browns Schooldays under his arm or an enormous single lily in his hand. Plunket Greene invited Quant to Paris, claiming he was busking outside the George V Hotel. It was the beginning of a personal and professional partnership that would last until he died, at the age of 57, in 1990. Models wearing pieces from Quants 1967 Viva Viva collection (Getty) On graduating from Goldsmiths, Quant experienced a eureka moment when she apprenticed with a Mayfair milliner called Erik whose salon was situated next to Claridges. Earning 2 and 10 shillings per week, she started to think about fashion strategically on the level of cost per wear. It seemed so ridiculous making one hat for one woman to wear to Ascot that cost 30 quid, said Quant. It seemed obvious that clothes should be made by mass production. Despite his flamboyant persona, Plunket Greene was an astute entrepreneur with a sharp marketing mind, and according to Quant was the greatest salesman ever. They decided they wanted to work together rather than apart. It makes your rows much more interesting, Quant claimed. They arent just about the housekeeping or a wet towel. Money wasnt an issue. Having met Archie McNair, a former solicitor who had opened Chelseas first espresso coffee bar, called Fantasy, they considered the possibility of a partnership. Plunket Greene had inherited 5,000 at the age of 21, and together with McNair decided to set up a business that combined fashion and food Quants boutique, called Bazaar, would be on the ground floor, with a restaurant called Alexanders in the basement. Quant (front, centre) at her footwear show Quant Afoot (Getty) Although McNair had previously run a photography studio, the trio used a mix of gut instinct and unfettered enthusiasm to stay afloat. We didnt know about mark-ups, we didnt know about working capital, said Quant. Nobody told us we couldnt do it and we did it. They paid the princely sum of 8,000 for the freehold on Markham House, a three-storey property at 138a Kings Road. When Bazaar opened its doors in 1955, there was already a long queue waiting patiently outside. Alexanders had opened a few weeks before. Word had spread. About to be unleashed was the style that Quant had succinctly summarised as Very simple. Very bold. A daisy logo, which Quant described as the luck of my life, became her symbol. Unable to find the kind of clothes she wanted, Quant metamorphosised from buyer to designer. She attended pattern-cutting classes and bought a sewing machine. Purchasing lengths of mens suiting cloth from Harrods, Quant made tunic dresses to be worn with skinny sweaters underneath. Pattie Boyd wearing a Quant ensemble at her wedding to George Harrison in 1966 (Getty) She would ask theatrical manufacturers to make tights in all colours. Quant persuaded knitwear producers to add another foot onto sweaters to turn them into dresses. That was how the sack was born, claimed Quant, and it appeared in Paris a year later. One of her most successful early creations which sold in its thousands was a white plastic collar designed to give a new look to a favourite black dress. I had my clothes described as dishy, grotty, geary, kinky, mod, poove and all the rest of it, said Quant. People either loved or hated it. Celebrity customers including Brigitte Bardot, Leslie Caron and Audrey Hepburn frequented both the boutique and the restaurant. John Lennon was photographed wearing a Mary Quant peaked cap. When Pattie Boyd married George Harrison at the Epsom register office in January 1963, she wore a Mary Quant ensemble of silk dress and red fox fur coat. Quant was given the Sunday Times Award for jolting England out of its conventional attitude towards clothes. Quant pictured in 1965: It seemed obvious that clothes should be made by mass production (Getty) The Quant agenda was one of discovery and reinvention. In 1963, the designer deployed the glossy properties of PVC, having fabrics dyed in ginger, terracotta colour and Colemans mustard yellow for her Wet Look collection. She then launched the Ginger Group one of the earliest designer diffusion lines. Joining forces with Americas JC Penney, Quant became the first named British designer to be promoted throughout the States. At the age of 32, she was awarded an OBE and wrote her first autobiography, Quant by Quant. Within seven years of opening, the business had made over 1m and Quants designs were in 150 shops in the UK, 320 shops in the USA, and on sale globally in France, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, South Africa, Australia and Canada. In 1963, Bazaar opened a second branch of her shop in Knightsbridge and, spotting a gap in the market, launched her own line of cosmetics. She was already having her hair cut at acute angles by rising star Vidal Sassoon, telling him decades later: I made the clothes. You put the top on. Taking a typically fresh approach to cosmetics, she created paint boxes in which make-up was presented as an artists palette. Everything was there from head to toe except the face. The make-up was all wrong, she said. Outfits by Quant photographed in 1975 (Getty) She watched Jean Shrimpton and Twiggy at close quarters, noting that they used their face as a canvas, and painted on top, rather like an impressionist painter, with pots of colour and theatrical powder. Her first make-up product consisted of cosmetic crayons in a tin. With an uncanny knack for brand-building, Plunket Greene injected humour into the product titles: eyeshadow was called Jeepers Peepers, gel cosmetics named Jelly Babies, there was a foundation called Starkers and a bra christened Booby Traps. Two years after her son Orlando was born, in 1972, Quant visited Japan for the first time. The following year, the London Museum mounted a major retrospective titled Mary Quants London. Fashion was entering a new decade, but Quant continued to be a covetable brand. Long before it became de rigeur for designers to venture into lifestyle products, Quant launched her Mary Quant at Home line. By 1985, she had 72 shops in Japan. Quant gets her iconic locks cut by hairdressing legend Vidal Sassoon (Getty) In 2009, Quants favourite dress called the Banana Split was featured on a set of Royal Mail stamps, along with other icons of design including Concorde, Spitfire, the Anglepoise lamp and the London Underground map. When she wrote her second autobiography in 2012, three years before she was made a dame for services to the fashion industry, she looked back on her adventurous existence with an overwhelming sense of gratitude. I mostly felt, my God, what a marvellous life you had, you are very fortunate. I think to myself, you lucky woman how did you have all this fun? Mary Quant, designer and entrepreneur, born 11 February 1930, died 13 April 2023 For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A lorry driver has been jailed for nine years for smuggling migrants into the UK in the back of his refrigerated truck carrying spinach. Romanian national Marinel Danut Palage was a key member of an organised crime group convicted of bringing migrants illegally into the country. The 31-year-old, who lives in Spain, would meet the migrants in northern France before taking them in the back of his lorry on a ferry from Caen to Portsmouth, Hampshire. He would then drive them to an industrial estate at Runcton near Chichester, West Sussex, where they would be met by drivers to take them to the Midlands and north of England. Bournemouth Crown Court heard that the operation was carried out at least three times bringing about 10 to 12 people illegally into the UK. Palage and the four others were arrested in March 2019 on the third trip by officers following a four-year investigation by the National Crime Agency. During a search of his cab, plastic bags containing 34,500 in cash, with further bundles of euros and sterling to the value of about 7,000, were discovered hidden behind a tachograph panel. Sentencing Palage, Judge William Mousley KC told him: You performed the essential function of driving the immigrants across the border in your lorry. You had a clear organisational role in managing aspects of the enterprise. You expected, and received, large sums of money for your involvement. The judge added that Palage had shown no remorse as he had gone on to carry out similar offences in Germany and had to be extradited to stand trial in the UK. He ordered that Palages vehicle and the money found to be seized. Father-of-three Pshtewan Ghafour, 37, and from Middlesbrough, was jailed for five years for his role in the organisation which included ensuring the group members were paid. Both defendants were found guilty of conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration following a four-week trial. NCA branch commander Richard Harrison said: This people smuggling group were content to put vulnerable migrants, including children, in the back of refrigerated lorries for hours on end during dangerous Channel crossings . It is clear from the evidence we found that their sole reason was for profit, without any regard to the migrants safety. A NCA spokesman said that Palage and Ghafour were arrested following a surveillance operation on March 11 2019 and Palages lorry was found to be carrying at least three people on that occasion. The ringleader Goran Jalal, 37, from Bradford, remains wanted by the NCA having absconded following his arrest. Kamaran Kader, 44, also from Bradford; Mariwan Mustafa, 33, from Halifax; and Manchester duo Jamal Saied, 38; and 37-year-old Hemin Salih, who has also absconded, will be sentenced separately for their part in the network. Department says it does not know how many learners need transport Thousands of learners in the Eastern Cape were not able to attend school in the first term because they do not have transport. Last year provincial transport spokesperson Unathi Binqose told GroundUp 140,000 learners were in need of scholar transport but the department was only able to transport 125,000 on its budget, leaving 15,000 learners stranded. This year, Binqose said, the budget would be up to R694-million from R691-million. He said the department would only know how many learners would need transport during the course of the second school term. "We started this year transporting 125,000 learners and we may remain on this number or not." In KwaNojoli, formerly known as Fort Beaufort, learners from Sakhululeka Senior Secondary School are behind in their studies because they can't get to school, says School Governing Body chair Joe Ndlebe. "We have 54 learners who are on the waiting list for scholar transport. Some of them are unable to come to school. They live in Krumie Farm and Hertzog which is about 20km away from the school." He said private scholar transport would cost each parent about R400 a month and most parents survived on social grants and could not afford that. Siseko Nodonti, the Council Speaker for the Sundays River Valley Municipality, who is also chairperson of the scholar transport committee, said about five schools have scholar transport problems in Addo. At St Ignatious Primary, for instance, 373 learners had school transport but 107 did not, he said. "At Vusumzi Primary there are 42 learners who are transported and 54 are not. While at Samkelwe Senior Secondary School 120 learners are transported and 90 don't have transport." Nodonti said the department had promised to consider these learners in the new financial year. Malibongwe Mtima, provincial education spokesperson, did not respond to our questions about assistance offered to the learners who are sitting at home because they have no way to get to school. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police investigating alleged hate crimes over the display of golli***s in a pub are now examining historic social media posts apparently by the landlord. Christopher Ryley, the landlord of the White Hart Inn in Grays, Essex, allegedly shared a number posts on his Facebook profile expressing racist and far-right views, including a comment where he apparently joked about Mississippi lynchings. The pub was raided this month with Essex Police removing around 20 of the racist dolls from the pub prompting an intervention from the home secretary who scolded the force for sending five officers to the operation. Complaints have been made about the dolls on display at the Essex pub (Benice Ryley / SWNS) In a March 2016 Facebook post still online, Mr Ryley uploaded a picture of golli***s hanging from his bar with the comment We have our golli***s, yaay. Commenting on the post his wife, Benice Ryley, asked: Are you sure this is legal. lol. The landlord replied: They used to hang them in Mississippi years ago. Months before, Mr Ryley had allegedly 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, a Generation Identity poster reading: Keep calm and defend your country was captioned. Mr Ryley later appears to have shared a recruitment poster and a photo of group members holding a banner over a bridge carrying the slogan: Defend London. Stop Islamisation. Chris and Benice Ryley were reported for the dolls in 2018 (Benice Ryley / SWNS) In 2018 Mr Ryley was asked by his local council to explain the golliwogs in the pubs bar. Posting about that on Facebook, he said: Today Ive had a call from our council licencing dept because some Snowflake has decided that they think they are racial. They have even gone to the police to complain that it could constitute racial aggrevation I never invited this person in, if they are not happy, go elsewhere. Our customers bring these items in from their travels. We have a lot of coloured customers who have never complained. In July last year, a complaint appeared on his Facebook page about the prospect of a Muslim prime minister, in an apparent mistaken reference to Rishi Sunak, who is a Hindu. It said: We now have the prospect of a Muslim PM, along with other Muslim mayors throughout the UK. Dont get me wrong, I choose to live in a Muslim country, here in Turkey. Did all the UK population agree to live under a Muslim regime? Muanmar Kadaffi said in 2008, we dont need guns or bombs. We will simply out breed Europeans. A post on the pub landlords Facebook profile (Facebook) In May 2021 Mr Ryley allegedly complained about media coverage of the US police murder of George Floyd, writing: Why are MSM dragging up George Floyd a year after he died? What about our own ppl who have died, Lee Rigby, why does he not get mentioned. Sorry, I forgot, he was white. That dont count. 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, a post on his page took aim at transgenders, gays, people that dont know what they are and illegal immigrants. Today the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) said the pub would no longer be an entry in their Good Beer Guide and that it was " baffling that any pub would choose to discriminate against customers". Officers enter the pub to remove the dolls (Benice Ryley / SWNS) CAMRA tweeted: Following discussions with the branch and our volunteer leadership yesterday evening, the White Hart's entry in the Good Beer Guide has been deleted & will not be submitted for forthcoming guides while the pub continues to be operated in a way counter to CAMRA's values and policies. It added: CAMRA believes pubs should be welcoming and inclusive places and it's baffling that any pub would choose to discriminate against customers or potential customers by continuing to display offensive material. Asked about the Facebook posts and references to lynchings and Generation Identity, Ms Ryley told The Independent: 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. Policing minister Chris Philip distanced himself from Ms Bravermans position on the raid saying it was up to police to decide how they respond to incidents. Asked on LBC why it took five police staff to remove the collection, Mr Philp said: Im not going to answer yes or no because theyre operationally independent and its up to police to decide how they respond to incidents, not up to me to tell them what to do or to offer comments after the event. Essex Police confirmed it was looking into Mr Ryleys social media posts. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Specialist cranes are on site as investigations continue into why a vessel owned by the US Navy toppled over in an Edinburgh dry dock, leaving 35 people injured. Two large Mammoet cranes have been placed at the port side of the Petrel, which tipped over to a 45 degree angle more than three weeks ago and sparked a huge emergency service operation at the dry dock operated by Dales Marine Services. Officers remain at the scene, and on Thursday a police car could be seen as workers operated the cranes and moved around the stricken 3,371-tonne vessel. Both the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Police Scotland said investigations into the incident, which happened on March 22, are continuing. A HSE spokesman said: Specialist inspectors from HSE are assessing the technical aspects of the structural collapse and continue to work with Police Scotland on the investigation into this incident. The 76m-long Petrel was once owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who bought the ship to locate historically significant shipwrecks and discovered 30 sunken warships, including the Japanese Imperial Navys IJN Musashi. But in 2022 the Isle of Man-registered vessel was sold to the US Navy, and is now operated by American-owned firm Oceaneering International. The Petrel has been moored at Imperial Dry Dock in Leith since September 3 2020 due to operational challenges from the pandemic. After it tipped over, a huge emergency service operation was launched, which included trauma teams, an air ambulance and the Coastguard, who all worked for hours to rescue people off the ship. Some 35 people were injured, with 23 taken to hospital and 12 others treated at the scene. A Police Scotland spokesman said: Officers are working with the Health and Safety Executive. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. The US Navy, Dales Marine Services, and Oceaneering International have been approached for comment. In a statement on Dales Marine Services website, it said it continues to liaise with the emergency services and relevant authorities in dealing with the incident and at this time it cannot comment any further. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Small boat crossings have led to a sharp increase in diphtheria cases in the UK and across Europe, according to scientists. Researchers at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID) said outbreaks seen across the continent over the past year have been mostly linked to incoming migrants. Diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection which can be fatal, is rare in the UK because babies and children have been routinely vaccinated against it since the 1940s. The ESCMID report for England uses figures from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), and is based on genomic testing of hundreds of cases across 10 countries in Europe, including 59 in England. Linked to an increase in migrant arrivals via small boat in the summer of 2022, the UK experienced a sharp increase in diphtheria cases caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae last year ESCMID report It highlights how 73 cases of the disease were recorded in England in 2022 overall up from 12 cases the previous year and one further case was recorded in 2023. Most of the patients (97%) were young Afghan males aged under 18 with unknown vaccination history although the UKHSA notes that this group may be over-represented due to greater clinical awareness and case ascertainment among the demographic. Around half of those infected (51%) presented with skin problems caused by the disease, which can include blisters on the legs, feet and hands, and large ulcers. Some 12% had no symptoms, and the disease in these cases was picked up through screening or contact tracing. The authors said: Linked to an increase in migrant arrivals via small boat in the summer of 2022, the UK experienced a sharp increase in diphtheria cases caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae last year. Speaking about data for Europe as a whole, they said there had been evident transmission among migrant people which they believed had occurred during travel within migrant facilities. They added that a lack of proper vaccination among the migrant people was the reason for the outbreaks. To avoid future diphtheria outbreaks, the researchers recommended increased awareness among physicians who provide care to migrants, thorough vaccination protocols and timely screening of at-risk individuals. They added: Further monitoring of this situation using molecular typing and genomic approaches will be key to define the source and routes of this resurgence. The research was led by Dr Helena Seth-Smith, from the University of Zurich, and Dr Sylvain Brisse, of the Institut Pasteur in Paris, who worked with scientists from across Europe including at the European Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The ESCMID said the report has been peer-reviewed, but it has not yet been submitted to a medical journal for publication. The data was published at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The daughter of a dog walker who is missing in Snowdonia has issued an emotional appeal to bring her beautiful mother home. Ausra Plungiene, 56, from Prestatyn, has not been seen since taking her dog Eyora out on Tuesday in Snowdonia, north west Wales. The mother-of-two is believed to have left for a walk at around 10.30am, but had not returned home by 10pm. Her dog is also missing. A search across Eryri national park was launched after the alarm was raised and her car was found in a remote car park in the Rowen area in the early hours of Wednesday. On Wednesday evening police said searches, with mountain rescue teams and RAF Search and Rescue, had been continuing in the Carneddau mountains. Ms Plungienes daughter Toma Plungauite Lamb has now made an emotional appeal for anyone with information about her mothers disappearance to come forward. She told The Sun: My mum is the most beautiful soul, who would do anything for anyone. So Im asking for anyone with any information to come forward to bring our mummy home. The heartbreaking appeal comes as temperatures in the national park dropped to 2C overnight. Local residents have been asked to remain vigilant and report any sightings of the 56-year-old. Her neighbour, Geraint Anderson, 41, said he spoke to Ms Plungiene over Easter. He told The Sun: I always see her with her dog. Its very worrying whats happened and I hope she turns up safe. Ausra Plungiene was last seen on Tuesday (PA Media) North Wales Police has said a multi-agency search is underway. In a Facebook post, the force said that North Wales Police, Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Team and the RAF Search and Rescue Team are all involved in an operation to locate the 56-year-old. The post said: Ausra, who lives in the Prestatyn area, is believed to have left for her walk at around 10:30am with her dog, but she failed to return home. The alarm was raised shortly before 10pm last night when North Wales Police coordinated a search across a vast area of Eryri. Her car was located by officers in the Rowen area during the early hours. She may have been wearing a dark pink/purple padded jacket, black leggings and blue shoes. Superintendent Owain Llewellyn of North Wales Police said all efforts were being deployed in the search. He said: We are extremely concerned for Ausras safety and I am appealing to anyone who may have seen her or has any information on her whereabouts to get in touch. A number of resources were deployed throughout the night to try and find her. Her vehicle was located in a remote car park in Rowen shortly after midnight so we are working to establish which route she may have taken. Searches are continuing across the area this morning involving a number of resources including air support, and due to the current inclement weather conditions, I would ask members of the public not to conduct their own searches, and allow our Mountain Rescue colleagues to continue their enquiries. Anybody who may have seen Ausra, or have any information is urged to contact North Wales Police via 101 or via the website, quoting reference number A052734. A woman has died after being pulled from the water near Brighton Marina. Coastguard boats from Brighton and nearby Shoreham were called to the scene alongside police and paramedics. A coastguard helicopter was also deployed from Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire and landed on a nearby beach after the alarm was raised at around 4.30pm on Tuesday. Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Eight serving and former Metropolitan Police officers have been found guilty of gross misconduct over a discriminatory and offensive WhatsApp group, which contained messages mocking Katie Prices disabled son. The officers, seven men and one woman, were found to have sent sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic and disablist comments in a WhatsApp group called Secret Squirrel S*** between May 2016 and June 2018. In addition to posting messages about Prices son Harvey, who is autistic and lives with PraderWilli syndrome, former sergeant Luke Thomas is alleged to have suggested to the group that he name his dog Auschwitz, Adolf or Fred or Ian after my two favourite child sex killers. Katie Price and her son Harvey (BBC/Minnow Films/Richard Ansett) In another conversation, one of the officers referred to a male police officer who once got away with rape and said he was a legend in my eyes, the panel heard. After a five-day misconduct hearing, legal chair Christopher McKay found each former and serving officer to have committed gross misconduct over their own messages, as well as by failing to challenge or report the conduct of others in the group. He told the hearing at Palestra House in Southwark that their behaviour amounted to a breach of the standards of professional behaviour that is so serious as to justify dismissal. The hearing concerned Mr Thomas, former acting sergeant Luke Allen, former PC Kelsey Buchan, former PC Carlo Francisco, former PC Lee South, former PC Darren Jenner, PC Glynn Rees, and Officer B, who has been granted anonymity. Sharing a letter she received from Scotland Yard alerting her to the WhatsApp group and misconduct hearing, Price said in February: Its disgusting that police officers from here have felt the need to laugh and use disgusting content on Harvey by creating a whats app group (sic). The case involved eight serving and former Met Police officers (PA Archive) These are the people who are supposed to be protecting us, people we are supposed to trust. Its pure betrayal. I was in shock at first, then I felt sick, heartbroken and angry, she later told the Sunday Mirror. Their messages also included derogatory comments about a junior female officer, referred to as Officer A. The panel heard that the most senior-ranking officer in the group, Mr Thomas who appears to have been one of the most active participants mocked Mr Prices weight in some messages and called Office A f****** ugly, referring to her as it, as well as joking about offensive names for his dog. Given his supervisory role as a sergeant, he failed to adequately supervise or guide his team in respect of conduct. His failings are extremely serious, said Mr McKay. He could and should have closed the WhatsApp group as soon as the highly inappropriate nature of the messages became apparent. Instead, he became one of its main contributors. This was undoubtedly gross misconduct. Mr McKay said Officer B also posted an edited photograph of Mr Price in the chat with the caption: Youve heard of elf on a shelf, now get ready for Harvey Price eating Uncle Bens basmati rice after trying to read three blind mice on spice. Casey report: Mark Rowley refuses to describe Met Police as 'institutionally' racist The rhyme has a racist tone and refers to his disability he is partially sighted, said Mr McKay. There is no need to refer to Uncle Bens rice unless pointing to the racial origins of Uncle Ben and Harvey Price being similar. The words 'trying to read' also highlight his disability. The post was a significant breach of the standard of equality and diversity, inappropriate and offensive to Mr Price, and constitutes gross misconduct, he said. The Independent Office for Police Conduct previously expressed concern that police officers unacceptable use of Whatsapp was deeply offensive and undermining to public confidence and trust, as the watchdog told The Independent that the app was replicating the canteen culture in the online space. A host of officers have since faced investigations over their behaviour on WhatsApp, notably those in a racist, sexist and ableist chat with Sarah Everards killer Wayne Couzens, and the two officers jailed for sharing images of the bodies of Bibaa Henry and Nicole Smallman. Additional reporting by PA Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The scale of the leak was enormous thousands of secret documents, some of the most sensitive and important held by United States intelligence, downloaded and put into the public domain in a huge blow to Western security. Classified information was downloaded from the computers of the National Security Agency (NSA) and Defense Intelligence Agency by a civilian private contractor who had been vetted and provided with one of the highest levels of security clearance. That was Edward Snowden, whose devastating disclosures were made almost exactly 10 years ago. Now there has been another huge security leak from the Pentagon, with Jack Teixeira, 21-year-old junior member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, arrested on Thursday afternoon over the leak. Day after day there are new reports about what American intelligence agencies have gathered from intercepting communications between the countrys allies as well as between its enemies. Many similarities exist between the two sets of leaks, a decade apart. For example, revelations include that the US spies on supposedly friendly states, such as Israel and South Korea. Snowden revealed that the US spied on Germany an ally and fellow Nato member even bugging the mobile telephone of its chancellor at the time, Angela Merkel. The difference between the respective leaks can be seen in both motivation and dissemination. Snowden maintained he was a whistleblower motivated by alarm at the aggressive actions of the US administration and its breaches of human rights. He chose to give the files he had obtained to senior journalists at serious media outlets such as The Washington Post and The Guardian. The current tranche of documents was dumped on a web server, apparently to impress fellow users of a chatroom rather than for ideological reasons. US defense secretary Lloyd Austin pledged to investigate and turn every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it ... they were somewhere in the web, and who had access at that point, we simply dont know. CIA director William Burns said the leak was deeply unfortunate, adding: We are trying to find out all we can about this. Its something the US government takes extremely seriously. Investigative journalism group Bellingcat claims Texeira posted the documents in an online group he oversaw, called Thug Shaker Central. The secret files also appeared on a Discord channel run by a 20-year-old British-Filipino student based in the UK and known online as Wow Mao; he describes himself as a shit-posting internet micro-celebrity. Some material also appeared on another Discord server, Minecraft Earth Map, where, after an argument about the Ukraine war, a user posted Here, have some leaked documents and attached 10 of them. What does appear to be the case is that the revelations are not the work of a state actor, such as Russian or Chinese intelligence services or those of other adversaries. And that makes such an event harder to foresee, or to mitigate. Both the Snowden leak and the current one are in part the result of a move towards the privatisation of security. The Pentagon has granted high-level security clearance to a very large number of civilians. The number of employees and contractors across the US administration with top-secret clearance is currently more than 1.25 million. Britain has three levels of security clearance: counter terrorist check (CTC), security check (SC) and developed vetting (DV). Since 2018, an average of 164,000 CTC and SC and 17,900 DV clearances have been issued each year. Jake Williams, a former NSA operator and an analyst with cybersecurity consultancy firm IANS Research, comments: It seems like the Department of Defense thought they had sufficient controls in place to detect would-be leakers after incidents like Snowden. But obviously, whoever is doing this got around that, or learned from past techniques and mistakes. Robert Emerson, a British security analyst, says the concept of a leak-proof security world is fanciful. The volume of information is so much, being transmitted at such speed, that its virtually impossible to ensure total control. At the same time, it would not be possible to operate in such an environment without extending security clearance to junior ranks and private contractors. And if, as we are told in this case, there were no strong ideological or political motivation in the leaking, its difficult to weed out individuals during vetting. A body has been found washed up on a beach following a search operation in Brighton during the heavy winds of Storm Noa. A rescue operation was under way for a person who was swept into the sea off Brighton Pier on Wednesday. They disappeared near Palace Pier in Brighton, East Sussex, in the afternoon. Lifeboats and the coastguard helicopter scoured the shoreline in a search operation that was still continuing into this morning. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The cost of the Scottish Governments legal challenge against the blocking of gender recognition reforms will not be revealed until after the case has concluded, the First Minister has said. Humza Yousaf said he has received legal advice on the worst case scenario figure, but added the costs cannot be made absolutely transparent before the case ends. A judicial review is to be sought by his Government after Scottish Secretary Alister Jack used a Section 35 order of the Scotland Act to prevent the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which was passed by MSPs in December, from gaining royal assent. The UK Government argues the veto was used because the legislation, which simplifies the process trans people go through to obtain legal recognition in their preferred gender, impacted on UK-wide equality laws. If the legal advice said that there is not a stateable case, the Government wouldnt take it forward Humza Yousaf Mr Yousaf has been urged to declare how much Scottish taxpayers will be spending on the legal challenge. It comes after a Supreme Court challenge on independence, which ruled the Scottish Government cannot hold a legal referendum, cost more than 250,000. Speaking to journalists while visiting a nursery in Glasgow on Thursday, Mr Yousaf said he cant go into the detail of the cost because it is part of legal advice he has received in relation to the case. Asked if he has been given a worst case scenario figure of the total costs, he said: Of course, but added: I dont go into legal advice in terms of what the cost of a court case may well be. But of course, at the conclusion of that court case, well make those figures absolutely public and absolutely transparent. He also dismissed claims that his Governments challenge is destined for failure. If the legal advice said that there is not a stateable case, the Government wouldnt take it forward, Mr Yousaf said. Scotland Office minister John Lamont however vowed the Westminster administration would strongly defend its use of the Section 35 order. Mr Lamont questioned how strongly the legal advice to the Scottish Government would have supported taking action. He told PA Scotland: I do question what the legal advice will be that the Scottish Government has received on this, my feeling is it will be similar to what the UK Government has had. Mr Lamont added: This is taxpayers money that is being used by the Scottish Government to take this action. And if they do have less than certain legal advice you have to question what the motivations are for taking this action if theyve not got robust advice to back up the decision they are taking to challenge us. Meanwhile former Supreme Court judge Lord Sumption told the BBC that the Scottish Governments position is weak and the legal challenge will be very difficult. The case for judicial review will initially be heard in the Court of Session in Edinburgh, but is widely expected to end up in the UK Supreme Court for a final decision. Scottish Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said the legal challenge will give ministers important clarity on the interpretation and scope of the Section 35 power and its impact on devolution. But Lord Sumption told the Good Morning Scotland programme: What this means for her, I suspect, is that it is important to be able to point to some way in which Westminster is cramping Scotlands style. That is of course something the Scottish National Party has always been keen to do. Section 35 empowers the UK Government to stop a Scottish Bill becoming law if it modifies the law relating to a matter reserved to Westminster in a way that adversely affects how the law works. One of those matters is equal opportunities, and what the UK Government says is the Scottish Bill modifies the law relating to equal opportunities in a way that adversely affects how it works. So if you think about it, the result will be that some UK citizens, if this Bill comes into force, will have a different legal gender in different parts of the UK depending on where they happen to be. That poses really quite serious legal and practical problems for employers and for public authorities operating equalities legislation on a UK-wide basis. He said the Scottish Government will have to argue that gender recognition is nothing to do with equal opportunities, instead saying the legislation is about defining a persons legal status. But he said the impact of the Bill could introduce serious problems, highlighting that Lord Hope, a former deputy president of the Supreme Court, had described the Scottish Governments position as hopeless and a waste of public money. Lord Sumption said: I wouldnt go that far. I think that the Scottish Governments legal position is arguable, but I think it is weak. Their basic problem is that gender reassignment is a protected characteristic and the Bill alters the way the law works as applied to those. The whole scheme of the Scotland Act is that matters that affect only Scotland are devolved to Scotland, matters that affect the whole of the UK remain in the jurisdiction of Westminster. That is the way the Scotland Act works. The UK Government is arguing that this is something that affects the way that UK-wide legislation works. Private prison company claims it cooperated with state's investigation G4S, the multinational security company that operates Mangaung Correctional Centre, appeared before Parliament on Wednesday. Murderer and rapist Thabo Bester escaped from the prison in May last year but the company had not yet officially acknowledged this. The company's representatives insisted that they have cooperated fully with the authorities. G4S claimed they needed a summons to appear before Parliament, but GroundUp understands they had been invited by the National Commissioner before the initial, postponed, hearing. Multinational security company G4S faced tough questions from Members of Parliament (MPs) on Wednesday about the escape of murderer and rapist Thabo Bester. G4S operates and partly owns the Mangaung Correctional Centre (MCC) from which Bester escaped in May 2022. The company's representatives insisted that they had fully cooperated with the authorities. But MPs accused G4S of failing the people of South Africa and refusing to take responsibility. They frequently expressed anger and frustration at the evasive answers from the company's representatives. G4S was expected to appear before the Parliamentary Committee on Justice and Correctional Services last week, but declined to do so, citing confidentiality clauses and the provisions of the Correctional Services Act. The company said that Parliament needed to issue a summons so that their representatives could be released from those clauses. Cobus Groenewoud, a director for G4S Africa, told Parliament that if they had appeared without being summonsed, they would have broken the law. "Had we attended last week, we would have been legally barred for known reasons from acting and participating fully and sharing all information available to us with the committee," he claimed. Groenewoud said that the Correctional Services Act bars G4S from disclosing confidential information to a third party (in this case, Parliament). But, according to the Act, the National Commissioner of Correctional Services is able to authorise the contractor (G4S) to disclose confidential information, and G4S was invited to Parliament by Makgothi Thobakgale, the National Commissioner himself, before the initial hearing. G4S was represented by Groenewoud, the head of MCC Joseph Monyante, and the head of risk and audit at MCC Gert Beyleveld. All three appeared under oath. "Mangaung Correctional Centre has been one of the most secure correctional centres in South Africa," Monyante told the committee. Three people have escaped from the prison over the past 22 years, he claimed. Much of the questioning centred on the events up to 3 May when a burnt body was found in Bester's cell and he was, incorrectly, declared dead. Monyante revealed that after SAPS had completed its examination and the forensic team removed the body, the possessions in the cell were removed. Among these were "an authorised laptop and an unauthorised cellphone". Monyante said that staff at Mangaung Correctional Centre reported a smell of petrol coming from Bester's belongings and they reported this to the Department of Correctional Services (DCS) on the day after the fire. Groenewoud said the CCTV system was fully operational, except for the cameras covering the administrative building as well as the unit where Bester was held. A power failure caused the CCTV system to stop recording between 7:38pm on 2 May and 4:11am on 3 May. The fire broke out between 2am and 4am on 3 May. G4S also confirmed that CCTV footage shows two unidentified figures running toward the Administrative Building. They were unable to confirm whether the two people were inmates or officials. Groenewoud said that they were only shown the DNA results of the body found in the cell in February 2023 during a meeting with the Judicial Inspectorate for Correctional Services (JICS). These results showed a mismatch between the body and Bester's mother. He said SAPS opened a case of escape on 14 January, but that G4S was not informed of this. A report by G4S handed to Parliament also stated that G4S employees had been suspended in relation to the events of 3 May 2022. Tough questions G4S's representatives were asked several times why they did not investigate the circumstances surrounding Bester's escape. Groenewoud maintained that it was not within the "remit or skill set" of G4S to conduct forensic investigations. "It's not for us to link those [suspended officials] to the ultimate crime. That is for the police services to do," Groenewoud said. He insisted that this was the role of the police and DCS, and in that regard, G4S had been fully cooperative. The investigations conducted by G4S, Groenewoud said, were related to policies and processes not followed by their employees. DA MP Glynnis Breytenbach questioned how G4S could be satisfied with their investigation after only three employees had been suspended when Bester must have had the collaboration of several more officials to orchestrate his escape. Bester's access to a laptop computer was also questioned. G4S revealed that Bester had access to a laptop because he was registered for a graphic design course with Damelin College. But ANC MP Richard Dyantyi pointed out that Bester's course had ended in 2021. Asked by Breytenbach how the personal computers of inmates are checked and monitored, Monyante did not provide a definitive response. MP Wilma Newhoudt-Druchen (ANC) asked how someone who used Facebook to lure rape victims was given a device that enabled him to have international meetings, and maybe lure women while he was in prison. Monyante replied that all inmates at MCC are seen as human beings and Bester was entitled to have a computer. MP Stephen Swart (ACDP) asked about the media reports that Bester ran a multimillion-rand company from prison. Groenewoud denied having seen the reports. (Before publishing our article about Bester's media company, GroundUp contacted G4S about this video and gave the company an opportunity to respond.) Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Monyante was asked whether G4S did lifestyle audits on their staff by Breytenbach, to which he replied there was no reason to do so. Beyleveld revealed that an unauthorised vehicle entered the prison without a gate pass several days before Bester's escape. He said that seven people have been suspended in relation to this. Beyleveld confirmed that a TV standing cabinet was in the vehicle and it was taken into the skills development area of the prison. It was not repaired or inspected. He said it is possible that a corpse could have fitted inside the vehicle. Breytenbach questioned how G4S was unaware of the vehicle entering the prison until a few weeks ago. She also asked how the body could have gotten to the cell without being noticed. Beyleveld said they were unable to respond to the question and said the matter will be investigated by SAPS. "We run a very good prison. Our track record explains itself. This unfortunate incident is a result of non-reporting," he told the committee. "How did Bester get out?" asked Breytenbach. Beyleveld responded that this is part of the SAPS investigation. "I don't believe that is my purpose now." "You don't think it is part of your responsibility to determine how a murderer and rapist got out of your prison? Get real!" replied Breytenbach. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} US President Joe Biden elated politicians by speaking Irish in the opening remarks of his speech in the Dail. After asking forgiveness for his poor attempt at Irish, the president said Ta me sa bhaile, meaning I am home. Mr Bidens Irish was not judged as harshly as he may have thought, as his short phrase was met with laughter and exultant applause by TDs, senators and party leaders gathered to hear him speak. Attendees included former president Mary McAleese, ex-Irish premiers Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, former Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams, and Marie Heaney, widow of Nobel laureate poet Seamus Heaney. Before the presidents address the speaker of the Dail, Sean O Fearghail, welcomed him as one of us. The presidents decision to open with a phrase of Irish fits the tone of his trip as he has visited places relating to his own Irish heritage. On Wednesday he toured Carlingford Castle and on Friday he will visit North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. Speaking Irish on state visits has proven significant in the past. In her unprecedented visit to Ireland in 2011, Queen Elizabeth II shocked the audience at a dinner at Dublin Castle when she opened her address with A Uachtarain, agus a chairde, which translates as President and friends. The late Queens visit was the first since the country gained independence from Britain, and her choice to speak Irish prompted the then president Mary McAleese, seated beside her, to exclaim wow, and the crowd to erupt into applause. Mr Biden was also invited to attend a dinner in his honour at Dublin Castle on Thursday, on the penultimate evening of his visit to Ireland. Joe Biden declared he was home in a historic address to Irelands parliament on Thursday, in which he spoke of the strength of US ties with Dublin and called on Britain to work more closely with Ireland to protect precious peace. The US president was welcomed with sustained, rapturous applause as he entered the chamber in Dublins Leinster House for what he called one of the great honours of my career. Asking to be forgiven for his attempt at speaking Irish, he said Ta me sa bhaile (I am home). For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} US president Joe Biden has been welcomed to the Irish parliament as one of us on what was described as a proud and historic day. Cheers and applause greeted the American leader as he entered the chamber ahead of his much-anticipated speech on the second day of his four-day visit to the island. Addressing the invited guests before Mr Biden rose to speak, the Dail speaker said the US president personifies the story of Ireland with its history of emigration. President Biden, today you are amongst friends because you are one of us Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail Sean O Fearghail said: President Biden, you are most welcome to Leinster House, the home of our national parliament. This is a very proud and historic day for us all. It is a day we have looked forward to since your election as the 46th President of the United States just over two years ago. He added: President Biden, today you are amongst friends because you are one of us. You often speak of your Irish roots with great pride and affection especially your ancestors from Louth and Mayo. The story of Ireland is inextricably linked to emigration and, in many ways, you personify it. Mr O Fearghail described the occasion of the Presidents visit as your homecoming and paid tribute to him as someone of unshakeable faith, deep resilience, and the ability to bring people of diverse and often conflicting views together. He said Mr Bidens visit to Northern Ireland earlier in the week had been an important statement of hope and support for building a better and continued peaceful and prosperous future for all. He thanked him for his unstinting and constructive support for the Good Friday Agreement over the last 25 years and for your continued close engagement which you demonstrated so powerfully this week. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Irish premier Leo Varadkar hailed the importance of US and European leadership, as he met with President Joe Biden in Dublin. The Taoiseach, meeting Mr Biden at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, praised American leadership since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Mr Varadkar said he wanted to thank you and your administration and your countrys leadership when it comes to Ukraine because I never thought in my lifetime that wed see a war of this nature happening in Europe again. He added: Democracy and liberty and the things that we believe in are on retreat, or in retreat, in large parts of the world, and if it wasnt for American leadership, and if it wasnt for America and Europe working together, I dont know what kind of world wed live in. Mr Biden, who also met with the Irish leader in Washington on St Patricks Day, praised Irish values and the countrys acceptance of thousands of Ukrainian refugees as he spoke of a stronger and stronger relationship between the US and Ireland. The pair are set to discuss efforts to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland, with Mr Varadkar thanking Mr Biden for US support for the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden told Mr Varadkar it had been great to see him in Washington last month, and said: I think there really is an opportunity to make serious progress, not just because of the accord that was signed 25 years ago, but in terms of the way Ireland is moving, the way it is taking its place in the world, working on helping countries around the world that are dealing with starvation, the way youve I know its not easy welcomed Ukrainians here and the leadership youve shown. Earlier, in the grounds of the Irish presidents official residence in Dublin, Mr Biden had reiterated his hopes for the return of politicians to Stormont as he rang the symbolic peace bell. Speaking to Mr Varadkar, Mr Biden appeared to reference the progress made in securing the Windsor Framework the deal between the EU and UK to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol as he spoke of co-operation between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as very valuable as well. The US president, who will address the Irish Parliament later on Thursday as part of a day filled with ceremonies and formal honours, was greeted at Aras an Uachtarain by Michael D Higgins as he continued his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. Mr Biden, who stopped to speak to reporters after ringing the peace bell four times, said: I hope that the government begins to function as it used to in terms of functioning as a representative body in the north. I think thats necessary and thats for you all to decide, not for me to decide. The peace bell was installed in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden, who visited Belfast on Wednesday as part of a trip to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace accord, referenced former US senator George Mitchell, who chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement. He said: Im very proud of my colleague George Mitchell. He did a fine job. He said 300 days of failure, one day of success. We have got to build on that one day. Mr Biden is expected to later set out a shared vision for the future of US-Irish relations when he addresses both Houses of the Oireachtas. He received a ceremonial welcome to Aras an Uachtarain, with his motorcade cheered by onlookers as it passed into the vast Phoenix Park. It was Mr Bidens third visit to the residence, but his first as president. A military band played the American national anthem as Mr Biden stood outside the grand residence with his right hand on his heart. After listening to the Irish national anthem, the president inspected a guard of honour before being introduced to Irish dignitaries including Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy and head of the Irish police, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. But Mr Biden was peppered with questions from reporters as he stood in the grounds of the Irish presidents house, including on a high-profile national security leak and his feelings on being back in Ireland. The world leader said it feels great to be home, adding: I know it sounds silly. The visit finished with Mr Biden and Mr Varadkar together meeting some young GAA players. Mr Biden will be accompanied to the Irish parliament by Marie Heaney, the widow of his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney. Nine members of the US Congress, one senator as well as Mr Bidens sister Valerie and son Hunter will attend the event, as well as former Irish president Mary McAleese, two former taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland political leaders and Larysa Gerasko, ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland. Mr Biden will attend a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle hosted by Mr Varadkar in the evening. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said the strength of the UK-US relationship should never be underestimated, as he rejected claims that Joe Biden is anti-British. It comes as a Home Office minister insisted Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks interaction with the US president in Belfast involved extensive discussions while the White House characterised their talks as broad and general. The Taoiseach, speaking to reporters in Dublin following a meeting with the US president, rejected any suggestion that Mr Biden was anti-British. I dont agree with that assessment, thats certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration, he said. Theyre very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. We should never underestimate the strength of the UK/American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also the institutions up and running. Because people and politicians come and go, its institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. I dont feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole. The Taoiseach would not be drawn on an Irish role in Northern Ireland if the current impasse at Stormont continues. Definitely something that I need to speak to the Prime Minister about before speaking in public, but plan A is the only plan we have at the moment, and that is to get the Good Friday Agreement working as envisaged, have the five parties form an executive four of them want to, one doesnt, he said. I think it is possible to get the DUP on board and then, not only crucially have the powersharing institutions up and running in Northern Ireland, but also the North-South bodies which are very important too. Mr Varadkar also said Northern Ireland can benefit from US investment if it establishes political stability. I think whats envisaged is investment by the US private sector, by American companies in Northern Ireland, he said. I think if there is stability in Northern Ireland, if theres predictability about the trading arrangements and the political situation there, Northern Ireland can benefit from that investment too. Earlier, Chris Philp defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday amid criticism that the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and the US president appeared to have been scaled back to a less formal conversation over a cup of tea. Touring broadcast studios on Thursday, the minister was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the presidents speech at the Ulster University campus after meeting him in the morning. I dont know exactly what the Prime Ministers schedule was, he told GB News. I havent discussed it with him or No 10 Of course they did have extensive discussions in Belfast yesterday before President Bidens speech. Later on Thursday, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat said the leaders had a broad, general discussion during the meeting. They discussed a number of global challenges, she said. Ms Sloat denied that the president was kept away from people in Northern Ireland, adding that it was a briefer stop than his visit to the Republic of Ireland. The president really enjoyed his time in Belfast Amanda Sloat, US National Security Council The president had the opportunity to engage with the leaders of the parties ahead of the speech and others, she said. I can say, as one who sat in the motorcade for about an hour before we left after the speech, the president was on the rope line in Belfast for I think almost an hour, engaging with virtually everybody, it seemed, that was sitting there. The president really enjoyed his time in Belfast, Ms Sloat added. Mr Bidens visit to the island of Ireland continued on Thursday in Dublin, with the president taking part in a series of engagements. Asked whether he agreed with claims the president was anti-British, Mr Philp replied: No I dont. I think the president, when he spoke to the King recently, agreed to come to the United Kingdom on a full state visit, which is fantastic. I think hes been here four times since becoming president so no, I dont think I would not accept that characterisation at all. Mr Philp also echoed the presidents remarks on powersharing, saying political parties in Northern Ireland should get around the table to bring an end to the deadlock. He described the Windsor Framework as a huge step forward by the UK Government which helped to remove obstacles to restoring the executive. The minister told Sky News: That was a huge step forward by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he got that Windsor Framework agreed with the European Union just a few weeks ago. So those obstacles we feel have now been removed. So we agree with President Biden, we think the parties should get around the table, restore the powersharing arrangements. Mr Philp added that Mr Bidens remarks that the return of powersharing could unlock new investment were interesting and made the case for ending the current paralysis really strong. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Mary Lou McDonald has said there is no ambiguity about Sinn Feins stance on US foreign policy, but she insisted Irish issues will be her port of call when speaking to Joe Biden. It comes after a TD accused the US president of using the Dail chamber as a soapbox to air his foreign policy agenda as statements will not be taken from political parties following his remarks to parliamentarians. Ms McDonald indicated that she shares concerns about Americas role in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the countrys support for Israel, but said a boycott of the US presidents address to the Irish parliament is the wrong choice. People Before Profit is boycotting the historic speech by Mr Biden to both houses of the Oireachtas over objections to his foreign policy. The party said the move is due to Mr Bidens record on Palestine, Iraq, Nato expansion and over climate pollution as well as the absence of opportunity for Dail parties to ask questions. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told the PA news agency it is possible to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement while also raising concerns about US foreign policy. We think its our duty to speak out about this and to draw attention to it Its treated as a visit by an interesting Irish-American celebrity, as opposed to a visit of the most powerful person in the world who needs to be asked hard questions about the kinds of policies that he is pursuing, he said. When asked about Sinn Feins position, he said there is no indication the party is going to raise the foreign policy criticisms it has. When Biden speaks in the Dail this afternoon and I presume he will make allusions to Ukraine, hints towards Nato, the importance of the West standing together, etc Sinn Fein TDs will, together with every other single TD and Senator in the Dail I presume, stand up and give a standing ovation. That is not raising necessary criticisms of Joe Biden, that is allowing him to present himself as something that hes not. The problem is we are not being given an opportunity to give our position, nor is any other party in the Dail. This has been the policy previously for US presidents who address the Dail, Mr Murphy said the Oireachtas Business Committee heard this was due to the prominence and stature of the position of US presidents. Mr Murphy added: We do think that if you go to address a parliament, which is made up of representatives of people representing different viewpoints, you really should listen to the views of those people. This visit hes just speaking, theres no response by anybody, no questions, no nothing. All that Leinster House is being used for is a soapbox to push Bidens agenda. He said that in the absence of statements, the best way to show opposition is by not participating in the whole thing. Speaking earlier, Ms McDonald heaped praise on the US contribution to the peace process, but said Sinn Feins concerns about aspects of Washingtons foreign policy are well known. Building peace in Ireland, the success of all of this, is very much an American foreign policy triumph Mary Lou McDonald The Sinn Fein leader also told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme that there wouldnt have been a peace process without America. Asked directly if she shares left-wing criticisms of US foreign policy, she said: Of course I do. And those are legitimate criticisms. I very much doubt that anybody in the American administration is unaware of the wide criticism of many of their foreign policy stances. Questioned whether she would raise concerns about Israel with the president, she added: Ill meet him today. Im not sure what opportunity I will have to have any length of a conversation with him. My first port of call with the president is Ireland and Irish affairs, marking progress, marking their contribution, but my position as regards Palestine, the rights of the Palestinian people, and Israeli apartheid are well, well documented. There is nobody with any ambiguous or lack of clarity of my or Sinn Feins position on all of those matters. Today, this visit is about Ireland. This visit is about the political impasse that we have here. The political opportunities that I want us to grasp with both hands, and the United States of America is a partner in that, and for the criticism of their foreign policy, be very clear, Ireland, building peace in Ireland, the success of all of this, is very much an American foreign policy triumph, and is very, very much to their credit. Asked about the planned boycott, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters on Thursday morning that Mr Biden was looking forward to meeting the leaders of the main political parties in Ireland. He has received an incredibly warm welcome here in Ireland. He is very much appreciative of the invitation to address the houses of parliament today. She said it was a historic opportunity for Mr Biden to set out his views to the Irish people. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} London-born crime author Anne Perry, who was jailed as a teenager for murdering her friends mother, has died at the age of 84, her agent has confirmed. The writer who was known for her Pitt and Monk detective novel series, alongside her dark past that was turned into the Oscar-nominated Peter Jackson film Heavenly Creatures died on Monday in Los Angeles, where she had been living. A statement from Ki Agency said: Anne was a loyal and loving friend, and her writing was driven by her fierce commitment to raising awareness around social injustice. Many readers have been moved by her empathy for people backed into impossible situations, or overwhelmed by the difficulties of life. Her characters inspired much love among her fans, and comforted many readers who were going through tough times themselves Ki Agency Her characters inspired much love among her fans, and comforted many readers who were going through tough times themselves. It announced her death along with the Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York and Ken Sherman & Associates in Los Angeles, saying she died on April 10. In 1954 at the age of 15, Perry, who was born Juliet Hulme, was convicted along with her friend Pauline Parker of murder. The pair bludgeoned Parkers mother to death with a brick in a stocking in Christchurch, New Zealand becoming two of the countrys most notorious killers. The events would later be the inspiration behind director Jacksons 1994 psychological drama, starring Kate Winslet in a break-out role and Melanie Lynskey, which received an Academy Award nod for screenplay writing. As both Perry and Parker were under 18 at the time of the killing, neither could be sentenced to death and they were instead subject to detention during Her Majestys pleasure, according to the New Zealand government website. After serving a five-year prison sentence, Perry was released and changed her name, returning to the UK and later beginning her writing career. It began with the publishing of The Cater Street Hangman in 1979, the first in a series of books featuring Victorian policeman Thomas Pitt and his wife Charlotte. She had this month released another novel in the sequence called The Fourth Enemy and in 2017 released 21 Days, which follows the couples son Daniel. Perrys second series of crime novels revolve around private detective William Monk and volatile nurse Hester Latterly. In 2000, she won the Edgar Award, which celebrates mystery novel writers, with Heroes, a short story about a murder that takes place in the trenches during the First World War. Prior to her death, she had been working on more titles in both the Pitt and Monk series and her works have regularly appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. Perry was born in Blackheath, London, in October 1938, and moved first to the Bahamas at the age of eight before originally settling in New Zealand. She said on her website that she had been fostered as a child due to illness and missed a lot of school as a result. Perry, who would return to the UK when she was in her 20s to live in Hexham, Northumberland, was also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She would also publish the mystical novels Come Armageddon and Tathea. Perry, who has also lived in southern California and Portmahomack near Inverness in Scotland, is survived by her brother Dr Jonathan Hulme and his family. Algie Transfo' (loosely translated as "Transformed Intense Pain"), a play by Rwandan actress and poetess Nina Umutesi, also known as Nina Salim, serves as a powerful and emotional reminder of the atrocities that took place during the Genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Inspired by a story told to her by her grandmother who survived the Genocide in former Kibuye, now Karongi District, the play aims to heal the trauma of those who still carry the sounds of the memories from the Genocide in their minds. "When she narrated the story of how her husband, siblings, and neighbors were killed, expressing their trauma and helplessness, I felt their screams echoing. I used that to create this play," she said. Umutesi explained that she aimed to use her play as a means of healing those affected by trauma, transforming their painful memories into bravery and hope. 'Algie Transfo' incorporates powerful symbols and sounds, such as gunshots and heavy breathing, to convey the urgency and intensity of the situation during the Genocide against the Tutsi. She depicts the movements of victims as they run, hide, and plead with God for escape. Through her use of poetry, Umutesi also paid tribute to those who passed by recognising and honoring their memory. By doing so, she encouraged her audience to hold onto hope for a brighter future and to express gratitude to the RPF Inkotanyi soldiers who stopped the Genocide. In one of the short poems featured in her play, Umutesi questions her own identity. Having been born to parents who fled to Burundi in 1994 and returned to Rwanda in 1995 when she was three years old, she wonders if she is truly Burundian or Rwandan. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Rwanda Entertainment By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. This uncertainty, she said, prompted her to delve deeper into the history of Rwanda and to use her art as a means of educating others. For Umutesi, as a young person who did not experience the Genocide, taking part in the commemoration and helping others to remember is a significant contribution to her country. She said it is an opportunity for her to pay tribute to the victims and to honor their memory. Through her art, she is able to raise awareness about the Genocide and to inspire others to hold onto hope for the future. Umutesi collaborated with Chockie Grace, a contemporary dancer and actress, in the performance of her play. Chockie's movements and acting complemented Umutesi's poetry, providing a powerful platform for the play to be performed in front of a large audience. Performing 'Algie Transfo' during the 'Our Past' on April 9, was a significant moment for Umutesi. She sees this as an opportunity to inspire and empower other girls to express their views and feelings with confidence and urged promoters to give more opportunities to female artists. The artist plans to perform the play at various locations with more artists during the 100 days commemoration of the Genocide against the Tutsi. Through her work, she hopes to promote healing and reconciliation among different communities. She believes that art can be a powerful tool for raising awareness, inspiring change, and building bridges between people. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Angela Rayner has hinted at tax hikes for the rich if Labour wins the next general election. The partys deputy leader criticised Rishi Sunak for offering tax breaks to the wealthiest while pushing the burden on working families. She accused the Conservative government of looking after the top one per cent, and stressed that Labours priority would be supporting working people. Ms Rayners remarks left little doubt Labour is planning a tax raid on the richest to support those less well-off if in power after a general election which is expected next year. The party took aim at chancellor Jeremy Hunts decision to scrap the tax-free limit on pension savings, which previously stood at 1.07m. Ms Rayner has called it a giveaway to the richest and Labour figures revealed it would take an average worker 400 years to benefit from the tax cut. The party has pledged to reverse Mr Hunts policy if it wins the next general election. Ms Rayner declined to say whether Labour would pursue other measures such as increasing capital gains or income tax, adding that the party would spell out its plans ahead of the election. But, speaking to the BBC, she said: Under the Conservatives, the wealthiest are being looked after, whether through non-dom tax status or tax breaks for the wealthiest. Our priority would be to help working people, not the wealthiest. The government is pushing the burden on working families - that is not fair. Come the next election, the choice will be clear: continue with the Conservatives who are helping the wealthiest, or Labour who would make working people better off. Labour has also promised to scrap non-dom status if it wins power after The Independent revealed Mr Sunaks wife was benefiting from the tax status. It believes scrapping the loophole would raise 3.2 billion per year. But Labour is at loggerheads over what to do with capital gains tax a levy paid on the profit made by selling an asset such as property or shares. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves has denied she plans to increase the tax, while Ms Rayner has suggested the current rate is too low. Ms Reeves said last month: I dont have any plans to increase capital gains tax. There are people who have built up their own businesses who maybe at retirement want to sell that business. They may not have had huge income throughout their life if theyve reinvested in their business, but this is their retirement pot of money. And we also have said we want Britain to be the best place to start and grow a business. The row came after Mr Sunak released a summary of his tax affairs, which showed that his tax rate was about 22 per cent because most of his earnings came from capital gains, which are taxed at a lower rate than income. Ms Rayner hit out at a tax system in which she said the prime minister pays a far lower tax rate than working people. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Senior Conservatives have urged Rishi Sunak to keep his word on helping Afghan war heroes, backing The Independents campaign to stop the threatened deportation of a pilot who fought against the Taliban. Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith called for greater flexibility for Afghan veterans to be settled in the UK, joining other top Tories in pushing the government to uphold its moral obligation to support those who fought alongside British forces. Sir Iain said the Afghan pilot threatened with deportation to Rwanda because he arrived via a small boat across the English Channel should be eligible for the Afghan Relocations and Assistance Policy (Arap) refugee scheme. With all schemes, there needs to be flexibility, said the former cabinet mister. Its smart always to be flexible on these things. We have established [a] safe route with the [Arap] Afghan scheme, so it shouldnt take too much to move him across to the scheme. Mr Duncan Smith added: If there is evidence he is what he claims to be, then I assume the government can look at it under the existing safe routes, and act accordingly. The Afghan pilot who flew dozens of missions against the Taliban and was praised by his American coalition forces supervisor as a patriot to his nation claims he has been forgotten despite working alongside British and US forces. Sir Iains comments come as MPs criticised the Arap scheme criteria which states that applicants must have worked directly for the UK government as being too narrow. Data shows the scheme has rejected 18,946 Afghans, while just 3,399 have been found eligible. The Global Witness campaign group said hundreds of Afghans who worked alongside British forces have been left behind and massively exposed. Conservative MP Julian Lewis, former chair of the defence select committee, told The Independent: I accept that our primary moral obligation is to those Afghans who worked directly for and with British armed forces during the campaign, as interpreters and other locally employed civilians. Mr Lewis, who served in the Royal Naval Reserve, added: Nevertheless, special consideration should also be given to genuine former military personnel who were our allies in the fight against Islamist extremists. Afghan pilot has been threatened with deportation (The Independent) Tory MP Flick Drummond said the case of the Afghan pilot was exactly why I supported the amendments to the Illegal Migration Bill arguing that the crackdown on small boat arrivals should not prevent asylum being given to those who helped British forces. Ms Drummond who served in the British Army Intelligence Corps said: We need to look at every case on its merits and provide sanctuary to those that need our help. Senior Tory MPs Tobias Ellwood and David Davis have previously backed The Independents campaign for Afghan war heroes to be given refuge. Mr Ellwood, the defence select committee chair said there was no functioning process that allows Afghans to apply for asylum from abroad. The Afghan veteran faces deportation to Rwanda (Supplied) Labour MP Clive Lewis said the threatened deportation of the pilot was overwhelmingly wrong because its someone who has risked their life alongside British forces, and then gets thrown to the wolves, adding: This man clearly merits being here. But Mr Lewis, who served in the Territorial Army, warned that the case was only the tip of the iceberg rather than exceptional arguing that the governments plan to block asylum claims from all small boat arrivals could shut out many more Afghans. The very narrow parameters of the Afghan resettlement scheme highlights that the governments rhetoric doesnt match up with reality, he said. There are thousands of others fleeing persecution who still deserve to be given refuge in this country. Mr Sunak said he would make sure the Home Office has a look at the case of the Afghan pilot. But No 10 refused to comment on the case, or say whether Mr Sunak would respond to the letter the Afghan air force fighter wrote asking for help. The Home Office has also refused to say whether it would consider removing the deportation threat while it considers his asylum claim and continues to insist it cannot comment on the plight of an individual. Rishi Sunak has claimed he is not responsible for the downfall of Boris Johnson as prime minister insisting that last years Tory rebellion was not my doing. The Tory prime minister quit as chancellor in July, a move which sparked a series of other government resignations leading to Mr Johnsons summer exit from No 10. Pressed in an interview with ConservativeHome whether Tory members could trust him after his decision to quit, Mr Sunak said: I made the decision I made for reasons that were personal to me. A junior doctors leader behind one of the longest ever NHS strikes has apologised for undermining the action by going on holiday while his colleagues are on the picket line. Dr Rob Laurenson, co-chair of the British Medical Associations Junior Doctors Committee, took annual leave to attend a family friends wedding this week, meaning he will be paid while striking doctors miss out. In a message to his colleagues, posted online, he wrote: I can see that you feel undermined and I am really sorry my actions have contributed to that. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Keir Starmer is the wettest Labour leader on crime in history, a Tory minister has claimed. Chris Philp said Sir Keirs record on crime is absolutely appalling. The policing minister added that his record is worse than his predecessor Jeremy Corbyn, who the Conservatives also described as soft on crime. Mr Philp said: When you look at how Keir Starmer has behaved and how his Labour party has voted in parliament thats why I say hes the wettest Labour leader on crime weve seen. His comments came a week after the Labour party sparked a controversy with a series of attack adverts targeting Rishi Sunaks record on crime. One ad claimed Mr Sunak does not think child sex abusers should go to prison, while another poster said he believes adults convicted of possessing a gun with intent to harm should also avoid jail. Labour also shared a graphic claiming the PM does not believe thieves should be punished. And in a poster this week the party took aim at Mr Sunaks wife after The Independent revealed she avoided tax by claiming non-dom status . The ad said: Do you think its right to raise taxes for working people when your family benefitted from a tax loophole? Rishi Sunak does. Mr Philp said attacks on politicians spouses were a sign of desperation. The Labour leader has denied attacking Mr Sunaks wife and said he will make no apologies for the controversial campaign. Labour accused Mr Philp of being the minister that crashed the economy for his tenure as chief secretary to the treasury during last Septembers disastrous mini-Budget. A party spokesperson said: On Rishi Sunaks watch, over 90 per cent of crimes are going unsolved. Criminals are getting away scot-free, and over a million victims every year are being let down. The Tories are all bluster. Labour has made it our mission to make Britains streets safe, starting with getting 13,000 more neighbourhood police & PCSOs on the beat funded through reforming police procurement. Labour is the true party of law and order." In an interview with ConservativeHome, Mr Sunak refused to say whether the Tories would retaliate with personalised attacks on the Labour leader. Asked about the controversial Labour attack ad on child sex abuse and whether his party would respond in the general election campaign, Mr Sunak said he was focused on delivering our priorities and was proud of our record on crime. Pressed again whether he would attack the Labour leaders record as head of the Crown Prosecution Service, the PM said: People have pointed out his [Sir Keir] record on these things. Mr Sunak added: We passed a new law to toughen up sentencing. They did not support our sentencing bill which toughened up sentencing for violent offenders. Labour said it opposed the governments Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill because it completely failed to tackle violence against women and girls. While the bill increased the maximum prison penalty from 12 months to two years for anyone who assaults an emergency worker, it was mainly focusing on giving the police the power to tackle disruptive protests. Nick Thomas-Symonds MP, Labours previous shadow home secretary, said at the time that the legislation pushes through higher sentences for damaging a statue than the minimum sentence for rape. A plan to lay solar panels down railway tracks like a carpet to generate electricity appears to have a number of flaws, the UK's Department for Transport has said. Transport minister Baroness Vere said the idea, set to be trialled in Switzerland, was "interesting" but that it could be needlessly expensive and interfere with safety inspections. The idea is being championed by Swiss start-up company Sun-Ways, which wants to install the panels near Buttes station in the west of the country, with a view to extending them to other parts of the network. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak was interviewed by the Conservative Home website on Thursday, 13 April. The prime minister was expected to discuss topics including upcoming elections, immigration and Northern Ireland. It comes after Mr Sunak met with Joe Biden in Belfast for engagements marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, the 1998 peace deal that largely brought an end to The Troubles. The prime minister is said to be planning a general election for autumn 2024. His allies have dismissed speculation that Mr Sunak could be tempted to go early to the polls in the spring to avoid more local election losses. On immigration, Mr Sunak could face questions on controversial plans to house around 500 asylum seekers on a barge off the coast of Dorset. The 93-metre long barge previously saw at least one person die and reports of rape and abuse on board when it was used by the Dutch government to detain asylum seekers. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter from The Independent's Race Correspondent Nadine White Sign up to our free fortnightly newsletter The Race Report 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 The Race Report email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Conservative councillor has been suspended after he was allegedly recorded saying "all white men should have a Black slave". Andrew Edwards, who represents the ward of Haverfordwest on Pembrokeshire County Council, is also claimed to have said black people are "a lower class than us white people". The Welsh Conservatives confirmed on Thursday that Mr Edwards has been suspended by the party while an investigation is carried out. He has also referred himself to the Public Services Ombudsman. In the recording, first published by news site Nation.Cymru, a man's voice can be heard saying: "Nothing wrong with the skin colour at all. "I think all white men should have a black man as a slave or a black woman as a slave, you know. "It's nothing wrong with skin colour, it is just they're a lower class than us white people, you know." Other members of the council reportedly identified Mr Edwards as the man speaking after they were sent the audio. It is not clear when the recording was made or who made it. Mr Edwards was elected in May 2022; his party are in opposition in the local authority, which has been led by independent groups since 1996. In his statement published on Wednesday, Mr Edwards said: "I am aware of such serious allegations being made against me. This is why I have self-referred to the Public Services Ombudsman for an independent evaluation. "It is now in the hands of legal experts and the Ombudsman. It would be unfair on the process for me to comment now." A spokesperson for the Welsh Conservatives said: "Andrew Edwards has been suspended by the party whilst an investigation is carried out." Welsh Conservatives leader in the Senedd, Andrew RT Davies, said: "The views expressed in the recording are disgraceful, abhorrent and are not shared by the Welsh Conservatives. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 / 50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 17 April 2023 A pelican sits in St Jamess Park, London PA UK news in pictures 14 April 2023 Protesters outside York Magistrates Court, where Patrick Thelwell is charged with threatening behaviour after eggs were thrown at King Charles III during his visit to York in November PA UK news in pictures 13 April 2023 British milliner Justin Smith, from J. Smith Esquire, with a crown he has created using 319 Scrabble tiles to mark Scrabble's 75th anniversary and King Charles III's coronation PA UK news in pictures 12 April 2023 US President Joe Biden delivers a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 11 April 2023 People take part in a rally in Trafalgar Square in London, in support of striking NHS junior doctors, as the British Medical Association holds a 96-hour walkout in a dispute over pay PA UK news in pictures 10 April 2023 Masked people attack a police vehicle with petrol bombs in Derrys Creggan area on on 25th anniversary of Good Friday Agreement Getty UK news in pictures 9 April 2023 People taking part in the annual procession in Glasgow as part of the Sikh Vaisakhi celebration to celebrate the Birth of the Sikh Nation PA UK news in pictures 8 April 2023 Visitors dressed in costumes during the Star Wars Celebration at the ExCel London in east London PA UK news in pictures 7 April 2023 Lorries queue to enter the Port of Dover in Dover, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 6 April 2023 Seating being erected on The Mall outside Buckingham Palace, central London, ahead of King Charles IIIs Coronation. PA UK news in pictures 5 April 2023 Police officers stand guard outside the home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow, Scotland Getty UK news in pictures 4 April 2023 Workers protest outside Google London HQ over the treatment of staff facing redundancies PA UK news in pictures 3 April 2023 Members of the Public and Commercial Services (PCS) union on the picket line outside the Passport Office in east London, as more than 1,000 members of the PCS working in passport offices in England, Scotland and Wales begin a five week strike as part of the civil service dispute PA UK news in pictures 2 April 2023 Coaches wait to enter the Port of Dover in Kent after extra sailings were run overnight to try and clear the backlog which has left passengers stuck in Easter traffic for hours PA UK news in pictures 1 April 2023 Waves crash against the lighthouse in Seaham Harbour, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 31 March 2023 Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with Darlington Council leader Jonathan Dulston, Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen and Darlington MP Peter Gibson in Firth Moor during a visit to Darlington, County Durham PA UK news in pictures 30 March 2023 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and deputy leader Angela Rayner travel by train to the launch of the Labour Party's campaign for the May local elections in Swindon PA UK news in pictures 29 March 2023 Newborn Grevys zebra Lola, who was born during the early hours of March 17 to 12-year-old mum, Akuna, at West Midland Safari Park, Bewdley, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 28 March 2023 Drag Queen Dross poses during a media event launching the Eurovision EuroFestival programme, in Liverpool EPA UK news in pictures 27 March 2023 The new leader of the Scottish National Party and former Health Secretary Humza Yousaf speaks after he is announced at Murrayfield Stadium in Edinburgh, Scotland EPA UK news in pictures 26 March 2023 Caoimhe Dempsey throws her welly to the shore as Cambridge University board their boat prior to The Gemini Boat Race 2023 Getty UK news in pictures 24 March 2023 Brian Cox opens the London Stock Exchange to celebrate Succession Season 4, which premieres on streaming service NOW and Sky PA UK news in pictures 23 March 2023 The Milky Way core rises at 3am over Bamburgh Lighthouse in Northumberland PA UK news in pictures 22 March 2023 Emergency teams attend the scene after a ship tipped over at the Leith dry dock in Edinburgh, Scotland Tomafc83 UK news in pictures 21 March 2023 Sir David Attenborough plants a tree, in honour of Queen Elizabeth II, for The Queen's Green Canopy in Richmond Park with school children from across London PA UK news in pictures 20 March 2023 The Superlambanana sculpture outside the Avril Robarts Library of Liverpool John Moores University painted in the colours of the Ukrainian flag, ahead of the city hosting the Eurovision Song Contest PA UK news in pictures 19 March 2023 Undated hanBumblebee nectaring on pink cherry blossom at Sheringham Park in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 18 March 2023 Ugandas Husnah Kukundakwe in action during the Womens MC 50m Butterfly heats on day three of the Citi Para Swimming World Series at Ponds Forge, Sheffield PA UK news in pictures 17 March 2023 The Prince and Princess of Wales laugh as they arrive for a visit to the 1st Battalion Irish Guards for the St Patricks Day Parade, at Mons Barracks in Aldershot PA UK news in pictures 16 March 2023 Actor Ed McVey, who plays the part of Prince William, on set in between filming scenes at the harbour for the next season of The Crown in St Andrews, Scotland PA UK news in pictures 15 March 2023 Britains Chancellor of the Exchequer Jeremy Hunt gestures as he poses with the budget box at Downing Street in London, Britain Reuters UK news in pictures 14 March 2023 Sir Dr. Brian May, musician, songwriter and animal Welfare Advocate, from Windlesham, is made a Knight Bachelor by King Charles III at Buckingham Palace PA UK news in pictures 13 March 2023 Demonstrators take part in a protest by junior doctors, amid a dispute with the government over pay, outside of Saint Thomas Hospital, in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 12 March 2023 A convoy of 374 Tractors make their way through Pateley Bridge in North Yorkshire during the Knaresborough Tractor Run PA UK news in pictures 11 March 2023 A Dachshund miniature strides across the judging ring on day three of Crufts at the NEC Arena in Birmingham Getty UK news in pictures 10 March 2023 Cars are driven along a snow-covered road in Lever Causeway, near Birkenhead, north west England AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 9 March 2023 A woman walks past the Beatles statue in the snow at Pier Head in Liverpool as the Met Office has issued an amber warning for strong winds bringing blizzard conditions and up to 40cm of snow in some areas. 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 "As the matter is being investigated, it would be inappropriate to comment further." Mr Edwards also left the party's group on the council on Tuesday. A spokesperson for Pembrokeshire council said: "We are aware of an allegation being made and have referred the matter to the ombudsman. It would be inappropriate to comment further." The news comes the same week a man selected by the Tories to stand as their candidate for Bracknell council was exposed as the former deputy leader of far-right group Britain First. Andrew McBride had been chosen to stand for the party at next month's local election. He has also been suspended from the party. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Rishi Sunak has admitted his plans to stop boats crossing the Channel wont happen overnight and declined to promise they could be completed by the next general election. In an interview with ConservativeHome on Thursday, the Prime Minister said the immigration issue is complicated with no single, simple solution. It comes after figures showed more than 4,500 people have been detected crossing the English Channel in small boats this year despite a promised crackdown. Mr Sunak pledged to stop the boats as one of his five main priorities. Asked if he will be able to do that by the next election, he said: Ive always said this is not something that is a) easy; it is a complicated problem where theres no single, simple solution that will fix it. And Ive also said it wont happen overnight. Ive been very clear about that. People should know its very important to me. Its hugely important to the country that we need to fix the system as a matter of fairness. Its not fair that people are breaking the rules and coming here illegally. Mr Sunak said he expects a legal battle over the novel, untested and ambitious Illegal Migration Bill, which is going through Parliament. He confirmed there may well be an interim judgment from the European Court of Human Rights against the policy, as happened with the Rwanda scheme. Ive always said this is not something that is a) easy; it is a complicated problem where theres no single, simple solution that will fix it Prime Minister Rishi Sunak Thats always likely to happen in these cases and we will robustly challenge those, as we are doing with the Rwandan cases that are currently working their way through the court system, he said. Mr Sunak added: You have to expect legal challenge on these things; our job is to robustly defend them and thats what well do. Home Office figures show 77 people in two boats risked a voyage across the Channel last Thursday. They followed 492 people on Wednesday, the years highest daily total and a figure that was revised up after it was first published. The total number of migrants making crossings last year was 45,755. The Governments Illegal Migration Bill is aimed at changing the law to make it clear that people arriving in the UK illegally will not be able to remain in the country. Instead they will either be sent back to their home country or to a nation like Rwanda with which the UK has a deal, although so far legal challenges mean no flights carrying migrants have taken off for Kigali. The Governments attempts to use a former RAF base in Essex to house asylum seekers is also set to end up in court. Braintree District Council said it has been granted an injunction hearing at the High Court on April 19 and the Home Office has agreed not to move any migrants on to the Wethersfield site until after that date. In a statement, the Tory-run council said the Home Office has confirmed preparatory work will continue at the site. Labours 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. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Sir Tony Blair and former US senator George Mitchell will attend a conference in Belfast next week marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. They are among the architects of the 1998 peace deal taking part in the event at Queens University. Mr Mitchell chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement, while Sir Tony was prime minister at the time. His wife Cherie Blair will also attend the conference and take part in a Women In Business event. Bill Clinton, US president in 1998, and his wife Hillary will also attend, along with former taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Queens University vice-chancellor Professor Ian Greer said: It is another major coup to have secured two more of the key architects in achieving the peace that we continue to enjoy for the Agreement 25 conference. Senator Mitchell has expressed his immense attachment for Northern Ireland and his return will be an emotional visit for many of us. We will have the honour of unveiling a bust in his honour in the grounds of the university which will further cement the great relationship senator Mitchell has had with Queens University. We also welcome Tony Blair who will contribute to the Guaranteeing Peace The Guarantors section of our conference. Joining former US president William J, Clinton and former taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, he will reflect on the magnitude of the agreement, how it was reached and the impact it has had on Northern Ireland. A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland marking the anniversary of the agreement which largely led to the end of the Troubles and established the powersharing Assembly at Stormont. US President Joe Biden delivered a speech at Ulster University on Wednesday in which he expressed hope for a return to powersharing, saying a stable devolved government could deliver an economic windfall for the region. The institutions are currently suspended as part of a DUP protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Biden said: As a friend, I hope its not too presumptuous for me to say that I believe the democratic institutions established in the Good Friday Agreement remain critical for the future of Northern Ireland. Its a decision for you to make, not for me to make, but it seems to me they are related. Last week a ceremony at Stormont on Good Friday marked the anniversary. In a video message at that event, Mr Mitchell urged current political leaders to act with the same courage and vision as those who secured the Good Friday Agreement. STUDENTS in rural areas are forced to walk for at least 15km to access schools with centre numbers for their examinations despite government's pledge to make education accessible to everyone, everywhere. Speaking during a parliamentary plenary session, Rushinga legislator Tendai Nyabani, said some schools in his constituency have been operating for more than a decade without centre numbers. "I requested for a ministerial statement from the Minister concerning schools in rural areas that have been functional for 10 years but do not have centre numbers. "Learners cannot sit for examinations at those schools, they have to walk for 10 to 15km just to write examinations yet the President said no place and no-one should be left behind. I wanted an explanation on what is happening," said Nyabani. Nyabani queried government's protocols in registering examination centres. "I want to find out why those schools cannot be registered as examination centres and get centre numbers." In response, Minister of Information, Monica Mutsvangwa, said the government was committed to creating a conducive learning environment for all pupils. "I would like to confirm that the Government is very much concerned about ensuring that every place has schools. Indeed, the Government said no-one and no place should be left behind. "No place or child is more important. All of them should get access to education. He referred to several schools and I feel that is a specific question," Mutsvangwa said. She challenged the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education to investigate why schools that have been operating for years have not been registered as examination centres. "I believe the Ministry should look into that and find out the facts as to why such schools do not have centre numbers. "There must be an investigation and I will request the Minister of Primary and Secondary Education to come to this august House and respond to that question raised by Hon. Nyabani." For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Esme Young and Twiggy are among the famous faces to remember fashion designer Dame Mary Quant as a trailblazer whose designs helped liberate women. The British fashion designer, widely credited with popularising the mini skirt, died on Thursday morning aged 93, her family said. Fashion designer and TV presenter Young, 74, told the PA news agency: She designed things for the women who wanted to wear them and she was a big influence on a lot of designers a really big influence. She added: I absolutely think she did liberate women. She put it out there and we were all influenced by that. It felt like freedom I can have a mini skirt and I can wear whatever colour tights I want and you can piss off. It was about women. And I know some men might say it was sexual but I dont believe that. I believe it was a way of women expressing themselves and having freedom. Young also explained the impact Dame Mary had on the establishment of Londons Kings Road as a fashion and design hub, telling PA: She made the Kings Road happen. Without her, I dont think it would have happened. Dame Marys clothes were popularised by famous faces including model Jean Shrimpton, photographer and model Pattie Boyd, Cilla Black and Twiggy, with the latter, whose real name is Dame Lesley Lawson, remembering her as a brilliant female entrepreneur. In a post on Instagram, Twiggy wrote: Mary Quant was such an influence on young girls in the late 50s early 60s. She revolutionised fashion and was a brilliant female entrepreneur. The 1960s would have never been the same without her. Condolences to her family, RIP dear Dame Mary. Boyd called Dame Mary a true icon. She recalled on Twitter how Dame Mary made her and her former husband George Harrisons wedding coats, sharing an image from the ceremony in 1966 which shows her and the Beatles star donning the fur coats. She wrote: Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant. Mary insisted on making Georges and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. A true icon. RIP. Born in south-east London on February 11 1930, Dame Mary was the daughter of two Welsh school teachers. She gained a diploma in the 1950s in Art Education at Goldsmiths College, where she met her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, who later helped establish her brand, he died in 1990. The designer is survived by her son Orlando, three grandchildren and her brother Tony Quant. A statement from the family said: Dame Mary Quant died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK, this morning. Dame Mary, aged 93, was one of the most internationally recognised fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties. Following the news, fellow designer Sir Paul Smith said: Im very sad to hear about the passing of Mary Quant, she was a brave innovator who was constantly modern, willing to shock and blessed with a business and personal partner, Plunket Greene, who could help turn her ideas into reality. Professor Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, added: Dame Mary was a pioneer who made an indelible mark on society through her visionary work. Prof Corner added that she was one of the original disruptors whose trend-setting work changed the way we thought as well as how we dressed. Dame Mary was taken on as an apprentice to a milliner before making her own clothes and in 1955 opened Bazaar, a boutique on the Kings Road in Chelsea. Her far-sighted and creative talents quickly established a unique contribution to British fashion. She was one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the 1960s and is credited with making fashion accessible to the masses with her sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs. Among her collection, she is arguably best known for conceiving the mini skirt as well as helping to develop the mod style in the 1960s. She began experimenting with shorter hemlines in the late 1950s, culminating in the creation of one of the defining fashions of the following decade. In 2014, Dame Mary, who named the skirt after her favourite make of car, recalled its feeling of freedom and liberation. She said: It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, shorter, shorter. Other styles from the 1960s included Peter Pan collars, as well as knitwear, swimwear and accessories and garments made using Butterick patterns. Dame Mary also revolutionised the high street with hot pants, and trousers for women, as well as accessories, tights and make-up, while using the daisy brand design that became synonymous with her creations. She broke into the American market in 1962 following a deal with US department store chain JC Penny for clothing and underwear design. From that point onward, she was inundated with requests for designs in various fields from Britain, Europe and US. In 1964, she launched her own cosmetics brand. She resigned as the director of the company in 2000 after a Japanese buyout which soon produced more than 200 Mary Quant Colour shops in Japan. She was made a dame for services to British fashion in the 2015 Queens New Year list and was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the most recent New Year Honours list. The special award is granted to those who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine or government. She was also awarded the prestigious Hall of Fame Award by the British Fashion Council for her contribution to British fashion in 1990. In 2021, actress and film producer Sadie Frost created a fashion documentary about Dame Mary called Quant. Contributions to the biographical film came from prominent figures in the world of fashion such as supermodel Kate Moss, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, designer Jasper Conran and designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. A Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career from 1955 to 1975 is set to open in Glasgows Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month following an international tour which included Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan and runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. At the time, Dame Mary said: It was wonderfully exciting and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. We didnt necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge! Following the news of her death, Jenny Lister, the curator of the Dame Mary exhibition at the V&A, said the fashion world owes so much to the revolutionary, trailblazing Mary Quant. In a statement to PA, Lister said: Its impossible to overstate Dame Mary Quants contribution to fashion. With her unique sense of humour, style, and determination to democratise and share the fun and creativity of her designs, she provided a new kind of role model for young women, creating a space for them to be themselves. Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, described the designer as a visionary. While head of curatorial at the Design Museum, Priya Khanchandani, said: Known for popularising miniskirts, hot pants and hosiery, Mary Quants playful designs in contrasting colours represent the apotheosis of 60s fashion and female liberty. A creative visionary and retail pioneer, who built one of the most enduring businesses of her time, she made her innovative style accessible to so many; and design today owes a great deal to her legacy. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} High-profile tech entrepreneur Bob Lee was stabbed to death outside a luxury apartment building in San Francisco in the early hours of 4 April. The 43-year-old was found at 2.35am outside a luxury high rise apartment on the 300 block of Main St, near Rincon Hill and the Bay Bridge, with life-threatening stab wounds, the San Francisco Police Department said in a statement. The tech executive was treated at the scene by first responders before being rushed to hospital where he died from his injuries, police said. Police arrested fellow tech executive Nima Momeni on 13 April in connection with the killing and he was booked into the San Francisco Sheriffs Jail. The reported arrest has yet to be officially confirmed by the San Francisco Police Department. Heres what we know so far about the murder. Attacked a block from Google HQ The San Francisco Police Department said in a statement that Lee was found with two stab wounds to the chest in Downtown San Francisco between Soma and the Financial District, a block from Googles San Francisco headquarters. Cash App creator Bob Lee has reportedly been stabbed to death in San Francisco (MobileCoin) Friend and MMA fighter Jake Shields tweeted that Lee appeared to have been the victim of a random mugging in the good part of the city. The tweet caught the attention of Twitter CEO Elon Musk, who offered his condolences and called on San Francisco district attorney Brooke Jenkins to take tougher action against violent criminals. Many people I know have been severely assaulted, Mr Musk tweeted. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. Is the city taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders Brooke Jenkins? Elon Musk has been a frequent critic of efforts to reform criminal justice in San Francisco (Associated Press) Ms Jenkins later tweeted her sincerest condolences to Lees grief-stricken family and friends. We do not tolerate these horrific acts of violence in San Francisco, she added. Responding to Mr Musk, she said: No one who commits a violent crime, or whos a repeat offender are receiving overly lenient plea deals. A suspect arrested more than a week after attack On 13 April it was reported that San Francisco police had arrested fellow tech executive Nima Momeni in connection with the fatal stabbing. Mr Momeni has been booked into the San Francisco Sheriffs Jail. This is the first step toward justice, Ms Lee said from her home in Miami, where Bob Lee had moved from Mill Valley, California, last year. Police in San Francisco arrested Mr Momeni on Thursday. Mr Momeni, 38, allegedly stabbed the 43-year-old after being involved in an altercation while driving in San Franciscos Rincon Hill area early on 4 April. San Francisco Police Chief William Scott confirmed Mr Momeni had been charged with one count of murder at a press conference on Thursday. The suspect was arrested without incident at an address in Emeryville, a city in the Bay Area, early on Thursday. The Mission Local news site was the first to report the arrest and said that the pair were known to each other. Mr Momeni appeared in court for the first time on Friday after the case sparked a furious debate about public safety in the city. A crowd of reporters packed into the courtroom as the suspects sister Khazar Momeni, also called Khazar Elyassnia, attended the hearing with her husband, Dr Dino Elyassnia, and three other members of the family, according to Mr Momenis temporary lawyer Robert Canny, The San Francisco Standard reported. The suspect was wearing an orange sweatshirt and sweatpants as his sister and another woman held up her hands in the shape of a heart as the suspect smiled at them. Mr Momenis arraignment was initially set to take place on Friday, but it has now been rescheduled for 25 April. He will be represented for the rest of the proceedings by Mr Cannys sister, Paula Canny, a private lawyer from Burlingame, California who wasnt present on Friday, the paper noted. The facts of what occurred, or didnt occur, will come out over time, Mr Canny said, stepping in for his vacationing sister. Mr Momeni didnt speak in court except to say yes, your honour when he was asked if he agreed to decline his right to a quick trial. The suspect is set to remain in custody without bail. He didnt enter a plea on Friday and he didnt make any comments. His next appearance is set to take place at 9am PT on 25 April. Booking records from the San Francisco County jail show that Mr Momeni was booked in on a murder charge at 9.19am on Thursday. The arrest was earlier confirmed by Lees ex-wife Krista, his brother Tim Oliver Lee, and city officials on Thursday. Onlookers ignored Lees plea for help Surveillance footage appears to capture Lee approaching a parked car clutching one side of his body and bleeding heavily from stab wounds. The 43-year-old father of two lifts his shirt to show the driver the extent of his injuries, but rather than help, the motorist speeds off. Those last tragic moments as he stumbled down Main St in San Franciscos downtown district at 2.30am on Tuesday in search of help were caught on CCTV and viewed by journalists from The San Francisco Standard. The footage did not capture the stabbing, but shows Lee walking along a deserted sidewalk on Main St with his mobile phone in one hand and holding his side with the other, The Standard reported. Bob Lee, who founded the Cash App, was stabbed to death in the early hours of Tuesday morning in San Francisco (Twitter / Bob Lee) The Cash App founder then crosses at the intersection with Harrison St toward where a white Toyota Camry with flashing lights is parked. The footage reportedly shows Lee lift up his shirt in a plea for help, and then fall to the ground as the driver pulls away. Lee then gets back to his feet and starts to retrace his steps along Main St in the direction of the Bay Bridge before collapsing again outside the Portside apartment building at 403 Main St. He could be heard pleading for help on a 911 call made at 2.34am, according to The Standard. The news site reported that it witnessed staff members cleaning what appeared to be blood from the side of the building on Wednesday. Father says he lost his best friend In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Lees grieving father Rick Lee described the slain tech mogul as his best friend. Mr Lee Sr wrote that the pair had lived together in Mill Valley, California, since the death of his wife in 2019, before relocating to Miami in October last year. Bob would give you the shirt off his back. He would never look down on anyone and adhered to a strict no-judgment philosophy, his father wrote. Rick Lee wrote that life has been an adventure with two bachelors living together, and the pair had grown close in recent years: Bobby worked harder than anyone and was the smartest person I have ever known. He will be missed by all those that knew him. 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) Bob Lees brother Tim wrote in a separate post that he was saddened and disheartened over the senseless slaying. Lee reportedly separate from his wife Krista in 2019. They have two daughters, Dagny and Scout. Crazy Bob Bob Lee was a much-loved member of the San Francisco tech community, where he was affectionately known as Crazy Bob. After working as an open source code developer in Missouri, where he attended St Louis University, Lee moved to San Francisco in his early 20s in 2004 to work as an engineer at Google, according to the San Francisco Standard. There he led a team that developed the first Android app. Lee was headhunted by Square, becoming its 13th employee, where he helped launch the Cash App and became the payment firms first chief technology officer in 2011, a Linkedin profile shows. Bob Lee, known to his friends as Crazy Bob, was knifed to death in central San Francisco early on Tuesday morning (Twitter / Bob Lee) After leaving Square in 2014, he invested in several tech startups including Clubhouse, Beeper and Faire, and the female-focused social media and networking company Present. He identified as a stay at home dad in an online blog post during this period. In 2021, Lee joined MobileCoin, a crypto payment firm, as its chief product officer. Stabbing shakes San Francisco tech community Lees former boss Jack Dorsey was one of many well-known San Francisco tech entrepreneurs to express their shock and grief at his death. Its real, Mr Dorsey wrote on his social network Nostr. Getting calls. Heartbreaking. Bob was instrumental to Square and Cash App. STL guy, he wrote, in an apparent reference to Lees hometown of St Louis. MobileCoin CEO Joshua Goldbard wrote that Lee was an incredible human being. Bob was so much more than a technologist. Bob was an artist. Everywhere he went Bob breathed love into this world. He had so much deep heartfelt love. Traveling with Bob was like seeing the world for the first time, Mr Goldbard wrote. As a lifelong Bay Area resident I have more questions than answers tonight. I dont know how to fix whats wrong, but I know something isnt working in our grey city, he added. Tributes poured in for the slain tech founder from his many friends in Silicon Valley and beyond. Jack Dorsey at the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida (Marco Bello/AFP via Getty Images) He was a generous decent human being who didnt deserve to be killed, Bill Barhydt, CEO of Abra, posted on Twitter. So sad to hear of @crazybobs untimely passing, Figma CEO Dylan Field wrote on Twitter. I first met him in summer 2006 he didnt care that I was only 14 and we talked tech / geeked out about programming. We remained connected over the years and he was an early supporter of Figma. Its so hard to believe he is gone. Other Silicon Valley executives laid the blame for Lees death on Mayor London Breed and the citys Board of Supervisors. Congratulations, your policies have claimed another life, wrote Alan Alden, a Palo Alto financier who was friends with Lee. Venture capitalist Matt Ocko, another friend, wrote on Twitter that Chesa Boudin, & the criminal-loving city council that enabled him & a lawless SF for years, have Bobs literal blood on their hands. Mr Boudin was Ms Jenkins predecessor as San Francisco district attorney and had become publicly associated with liberal policies on criminal justice. On the San Francisco Reddit forum, friends and acquaintances of Lee expressed frustration at all the needless violence. Something seriously needs to change in this city, one wrote. Crime in San Francisco San Francisco is often portrayed as a lawless city where drug use and homelessness have fueled a surge in violent crime and robberies. That narrative led in part to former District Attorney Chesa Boudin being ousted in a recall election in June last year, after he sought to eliminate cash bail and reduce the prison population. Ms Jenkins took over as District Attorney on a platform of balancing criminal justice reform while making stiffer penalties for violent offenders, and won re-election last November, Members of the San Francisco Homeless Outreach Teams Encampment Resolution Team speak to with homeless people in San Francisco in 2022 (file) (Associated Press. ) Figures from the San Francisco Police Departments crime reports show the situation is more complicated than often portrayed. While some violent crime began increasing during the pandemic, rates were still much lower than in previous years. In 2022, homicide rates remained flat at 55, exactly the same number as the previous year. Homicides hit a 56-year low in the city in 2019, when 41 people were killed in the city. There have been 12 homicides in the city so far in 2023, preliminary data shows. Aggravated assault, robbery and rape increased in 2022, but was still much lower than in 2016, 2017 and 2018, according to San Francisco crime statistics. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} San Francisco police have arrested a fellow tech executive in connection with the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee. Nima Momeni, 38, was booked into San Francisco County Jail on Thursday morning on a murder charge, records show. The Mission Local news site was first to report on the arrest, and said Mr Momeni was known to Lee. Police have not yet confirmed the identity of the suspect, but the arrest has been confirmed by Lees brother Tim Oliver Lee and ex-wife Krista. Lee, 43, died in San Francisco General Hospital on Tuesday 4 April after being stabbed in the Rincon Hill neighbourhood of San Francisco. Lee, the chief product officer at MobileCoin, had been visiting San Francisco for a tech conference from Miami when he was found with fatal stab wounds on outside a luxury high rise apartment on Main St. According to the Mission Local, police believe Lee and Mr Momeni had been in a car together in the early hours of 4 April when a fight broke out between the pair. Citing police sources, the news site alleges that the tech exceutive stabbed Lee twice outside the vehicle, and responding officers recovered a knife nearby. Tech executive Nima Momeni, 38, has reportedly been arrested for the fatal stabbing of Bob Lee (Linkedin) According to a Linkedin profile, Mr Momeni is the owner of Expand IT and lives in Emeryville, in the Bay Area. In a post on Facebook, the victims brother Tim Oliver Lee thanked the thousands of friends, family, and community who had been in touch to offer their support. He also thanked the San Francisco Police Force for bringing this person to justice so quickly, and said the family would take an active role in helping the District Attorneys office prosecute the case. Hopefully now our family can begin the healing process, Mr Lee said. San Francisco Board of Supervisors member Matt Dorsey said he was grateful to the citys homicide division for their tireless work to bring Bob Lees killer to justice and for their arrest of a suspect this morning in a Twitter post. Obviously, nothing can undo this senseless crime, and we reiterate our condolences to Mr. Lees family members, friends and colleagues. But I hope todays arrest can begin a process of healing and closure for all those touched by this tragedy. Lees murder was seized on by high-profile members of San Franciscos tech community including Elon Musk as another expample of the citys drug-fueled crime epidemic. Bob Lee, known to his friends as Crazy Bob, was knifed to death in central San Francisco early on 4 April. (Twitter / Bob Lee) But according to reports, the fatal attack was not a robbery or a random mugging. The suspect was reportedly arrested at an address in Emeryville, a city in the Bay Area, early on Thursday. The San Francisco Police Department did not immediately respond to a request for comment by The Independent. City officials last week slammed the politicisation of Lees murder. San Francisco Mayor London Breed also warned against jumping to conclusions over Lees death. When some of the facts of many of these cases come out, people are going to be surprised, Ms Breed told ABC News. Lees final tragic moments as he stumbled, mortally wounded, down Main St in in search of help were captured on surveillance footage. The father of two reportedly attempted to flag down a motorist in a parked Toyota Camry, lifting his shirt to show the extent of his injuries, but the driver fled instead of rendering care. In a 911 call lodged at 2.34am, Lee reportedly said someone stabbed me. Police and medics arrived about six minutes later. He was rushed to San Francisco General Hospital where he died soon afterwards. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins attacked Elon Musks reckless and irresponsible statements about the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee at a press conference on Thursday. Tech executive Nima Momeni, 38, was arrested in Emeryville on Thursday morning and booked into San Francisco County Jail on a charge of murder with an enhancement for using a knife, Ms Jenkins confirmed. Police said that Mr Momeni, the owner of Expand IT, knew Lee but didnt provide further information about their ties. Ms Jenkins said Mr Musks comments in the early stages of the investigation had served to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime. He knew nothing about the facts of this case. Nobody did, she added. In the hours after Mr Lees death, Mr Musk, the Twitter, took to his own platform to call on Ms Jenkins to take tougher action against violent criminals. Many people I know have been severely assaulted, Mr Musk tweeted. Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. Is the city taking stronger action to incarcerate repeat violent offenders Brooke Jenkins? San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins said Elon Musk had spread misinformation about Bob Lees murder (Associated Press) Lee, the chief product officer at MobileCoin, had been visiting San Francisco for a tech conference from Miami when he was found with fatal stab wounds on outside a luxury high rise apartment on Main St. According to the Mission Local, police believe Lee and Mr Momeni had been in a car together in the early hours of 4 April when a fight broke out between the pair. Lee reportedly got out of the vehicle, and was stabbed twice in the chest. Citing police sources, the news site alleges that the tech exceutive stabbed Lee twice outside the vehicle, and responding officers recovered a knife nearby. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Police in California found a missing 5-year-old girl who was reportedly taken from North Carolina and driven cross-country by her grandmother's ex-husband. Faith Leigh Harris, 5, was reportedly taken by her grandmother's ex-husband, 84-year-old Orion Douglas Memmott, police said. The alleged abduction occurred on 3 April, and the girl was considered missing until she was recovered Thursday morning. The Lincoln County Sheriff's Office located in North Carolina asked the California Highway Patrol for assistance after learning that Mr Memmott likely fled to the west coast with the girl. The CHP issued an "endangered missing advisory" which targeted Butte, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Los Angeles counties. On Thursday morning, the CHP announced that it had located Mr Memmott and Faith. A spokesperson for the CHP told The Independent that Faith was found safe in Butte County, and that Mr Memmott had been arrested. It is unclear when Faith will be returned to her family in North Carolina. Charges have not been announced at this time for Mr Memmott. Mr Memmott was previously charged and convicted for tax fraud in 2014. Orion Douglas Memmott, 84, and Faith Leigh Harris, 5, pictured on a California Highway Patrol endangered missing advisory after the girl was taken from her North Carolina home. She has since been located (California Highway Patrol) He was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for attempted tax evasion and subscribing to a false tax document, according to Yahoo News. Prosecutors argued that Mr Memmott, a tax attorney, stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from investors and law firm clients for use in day trading, travel, and personal trainers, according to court documents. One client was left destitute and homeless after he stole money from her medical trust. For years, Mr Memmott acted as if his law license placed him beyond the reach of the law, U.S. Attorney Wagner said in 2014. Today, in sentencing Mr Memmott to prison, the Court made clear that attorneys who commit crimes should not expect special treatment. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jere Dowell sat as an alternate juror during the trial of US Army Sergeant Daniel Perry, who was convicted of murdering a 28-year-old demonstrator during the 2020 Black Lives Matter protests in Austin. After conservative outcry over the murder conviction, Texas Governor Greg Abbott promised he was working to pardon Perry's crime a move Ms Dowell says is indicative of "egregious overreach" by the governor's office. Ms Dowell said she was present for the deliberations in Perry's murder trial and said the prosecutors made a convincing argument for the man's guilt. On 8 April, less than 24 hours after the verdict was announced, Mr Abbott posted to Twitter that he was "working as swiftly as Texas law allows regarding the pardon of Sgt. Perry." Under Texas law, the Governor cannot pardon without a recommendation first coming from the state's Board of Pardons and Paroles. Perry is facing up to life in prison for killing Garrett Foster, 28, who was legally carrying an AK-47 while marching with demonstrators in Austin. I just think its a travesty, Ms Dowell told the Associated Press when asked about Mr Abbott's plan to pardon Perry. Her comments are the first time a juror has spoken publicly about Mr Abbott's intentions. I just thought it was an egregious overreach of power, Ms Dowell said. It's undermining due process. It's undermining democracy. I was upset, honestly. An alternate juror in the murder trial of Daniel Perry said Governor Greg Abbotts intrusion into the case amounted to egregious overreach (Austin American-Statesman) Ms Dowell said she worried that Mr Abbott's intrusion into the case could cause other jurors to second-guess their decisions during deliberations. She said the jury reached its conclusions based solely on the evidence presented during the trial. If your governor is coming out and saying you made the wrong decision, that may make you think twice about what you said or what you felt, she said. Mr Abbott had not spoken publicly about Perry's case before the verdict, and it is unclear how, in under 24 hours, he determined that the man warranted a pardon. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza, whose office prosecuted Perry's case, told CNN that it was clear Mr Abbott had not actually watched the trial. "I don't know what's in the governor's mind," he said. Perry's attorney, Clint Broden, has filed a motion seeking a new trial. Close Idaho police detective, FBI continues to testify in Lori Vallow triple-murder case Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The trial of doomsday cult mom Lori Vallow is underway 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, 49. Tylee and JJ were last seen alive in September 2019. In June 2020, their remains were found buried on the Daybell property. Tammy died one month after their disappearance in October 2019. The string of mysterious deaths and murders, and the bizarre cult beliefs of those involved, have generated huge interest in the case. Ms Vallow allegedly also conspired to murder her fourth husband Charles Vallow and is charged separately in a case in Arizona. In court on Tuesday, a video call was played between Ms Vallow and her sister Summer Shiflet in which the latter sobbed and shouted at the defendant about the deaths of her children, saying even if she hadnt killed them she had not cared they were thrown away like garbage. Close Gunmans mother and co-workers call 911 during Louisville mass shooting Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The 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. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} US prosecutors will not pursue charges in the death of a North Carolina woman while she was on vacation in Mexico. Shanquella Robinson, 25, died under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, in late October. Her travel companions initially told her mother she had died of alcohol poisoning before a disturbing video emerged of a naked Robinson being hit and kicked by another woman. Mexican prosecutors previously issued an arrest warrant for an unnamed American citizen who they described as the direct aggressor seen in the footage. They said at the time that Robinson had died as a result of homicide after sustaining a spinal cord injury. But US federal prosecutors met with Robinsons family on Wednesday to inform them that no one will be charged in the case because there is no proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a federal crime was committed. Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both US Attorneys Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms Robinsons family that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution, the North Carolina Western District Attorneys Office said in a statement. Sue-Ann Robinson, an attorney for Robinsons family, decried the decision not to pursue the investigation during a press conference on Wednesday. Ms Robinson pinned US prosecutors refusal to bring charges on Robinsons race. Black and brown people always have to carve their own path to justice, she said, per news station WSOCTV. Theres no reason why a Black woman should go on vacation with her friends, be returned to her family in a box, and nothing be done for five months. Shanquella Robinsons family say authorities initially refused to take their concerns seriously (Facebook / Shanquella Robinson) The Mexican autopsy says theres a spinal cord injury, but according to them, there is no spinal cord injury, she added. How are you closing an investigation on a case where the cause of death is undetermined? Last month, Robinsons family called on President Joe Biden and the US Department of State to prioritize bringing those accountable for Robinsons death to justice. In the letter, shared with WCNC Charlotte, the attorneys representing Robinsons family named a 26-year-old woman who was a friend of Robinsons as the suspect currently being sought by Mexican authorities in connection to her death. A copy of Shanquella Robinsons autopsy report, which has since been contradicted by Mexican authorities (Courtesy of Geraldo Zuniga) The 18-page letter also included findings from a recent fact-finding trip to Mexico, autopsy findings and other unreleased documents from authorities. Back in October, Mexican authorities said in a statement that they investigated her death as a feminicide, a term used by local police to describe the homicide of a woman on account of her gender. Robinson was an entrepreneur and had two businesses Exquisite Babies and Exquisite Boutique where she braided childrens hair and sold clothes. She was a student at Winston-Salem State University. Sign up to our free US news bulletin sent straight to your inbox each weekday morning Sign up to our free morning US email news bulletin Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the US Morning Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Marjorie Taylor Greene has defended the Air National Guardsman arrested by the FBI for allegedly leaking national security documents. The far-right Republican lawmaker took to Twitter to show her support for Jack Teixeira who she lauded for being white, male, christian and antiwar although she referred to him as Jake Teixeira. Authorities raided the Massachusetts home of the 21-year-old who worked in cyber security for the Guard and took him into custody on Thursday. Hundreds of pages of classified military intelligence have been shared with an online gaming group before becoming public in a string of disclosures last week. But that did not stop the controversy-courting Georgia congresswoman from leaping to his defence, while also getting his first name wrong. Jake Teixeira is white, male, christian, and antiwar. That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime. And he told the truth about troops being on the ground in Ukraine and a lot more, she tweeted. Ask yourself who is the real enemy? A young low level national guardsmen? Or the administration that is waging war in Ukraine, a non-NATO nation, against nuclear Russia without war powers? Jake Teixeira is white, male, christian, and antiwar. That makes him an enemy to the Biden regime. And he told the truth about troops being on the ground in Ukraine and a lot more. Ask yourself who is the real enemy? A young low level national guardsmen? Or the Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (@RepMTG) April 13, 2023 Following the arrest, Attorney General Merrick Garland appeared at the DOJ to confirm that the suspect had been taken into custody without incident. Mr Garland said that the suspect was being investigated for the alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defence information and that he would make his first court appearance at the US District Court for Massachusetts. Jack Teixeira (Instagram) The so-called Pentagon Papers, widely shared and leaving many in Washington ashen-faced with embarrassment, have yet to be officially authenticated but appear to contain details on deeply sensitive matters pertaining to national security and foreign affairs. The slides of photographed files that were made public include detailed battlefield maps from Russias war in Ukraine and the alarming suggestion that the US believes Kyiv will soon run out of missiles for its air defence systems, in addition to awkward revelations about Americas attitude towards many of its allies around the world, including the UK, South Korea, Egypt, Israel and the UAE. Precisely how many documents were leaked is not known, with estimates varying from 50 into the hundreds. The federal government said the installation of the scanner would strengthen security at railway stations across the country. The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved the sum of N495 million for the installation of scanners in all the railway stations across the country. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the FEC meeting was presided over by Vice President, Yemi Osinbajo. The Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, briefed State House correspondents after the FEC meeting on Wednesday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Mr Adegoroye said the installation would strengthen security at the railway stations. "The Federal Ministry of Transportation had two memos today, which I presented on behalf of the ministry; one had to do with the provision of scanners at all railway stations all over the country. "You will all agree with me that in view of the importance of the security of lives and property such equipment has to be installed at our railway stations. "We are starting the railway's revolution; we are trying to put in place a lot of things in the railways; we don't want people to come and damage all that the government has been trying to put in place in that sector. "So, today, there was a memo before the council for the provision of baggage scanners at railway stations and I am happy to inform you that the council agreed with us and approved that contract for scanners to be installed at railway stations. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance Transport By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "When people get there and they have goods, they can pass through the scanners and we can be sure that there is nothing that can cause violence or inflicts danger or puts lives and property at stake," he said. The minister said the second memo had to do with the provision of towage services at the ports. He said the Lekki Deep Sea Port was inaugurated by President Muhammadu Buhari recently. Mr Adegoroye said one of the statutory responsibilities of the Nigerian Ports Authority was the provision of marine services, being the regulatory agency in that sector. "So, because of the new Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Jetty, the need has arisen for a company that can carry out towage services to make things a lot easier and more effortless in the ports. "Ship berthing will be easier; discharge of goods will be a lot easier; of course, there was the argument that why would the company that provides such services at Apapa Port and Lagos TinCan Island Port not do it. "We think that it will overstretch that company and because it would overstretch them, they will not be able to cope; they may not have the capacity to cope. "Secondly, we want the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Jetty to be able to perform maximally. "So, FEC agreed with us and has given a 10-year concession to that company, Messrs Alcuff, to carry out towage services at the Lekki Deep Sea Port and the Dangote Jetty," he said. (NAN) Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Twitters owner Elon Musk supported calls to defund NPR, escalating his hostility towards National Public Radio after the outlets accounts announced they would no longer be using the platform after Twitter falsely designated the outlet as state-affiliated media. NPR announced it would suspend use of 52 affiliate accounts on Wednesday as Twitter faces increased scrutiny from press freedom advocates and news organisations. NPRs organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent, according to a statement from Isabel Lara, NPRs chief communications officer. We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the publics understanding of our editorial independence, she added. Twitter defines 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. The platform later changed NPRs description to government-funded media. Shortly after the announcement, Mr Musk tweeted: Defund NPR. His reaction was quickly panned by critics who accused the Tesla CEO of acting like a child. Mr Musk is like a little child with a new toy, wrote chef and activist Jose Andre. Smart he is. And knows how to make money, he does. But he does a disservice to society and democracy. I wish he will grow up quicker. I can help. If you want to talk? Several others pointed to an article from The Los Angeles Times with the headline: Elon Musks growing empire is fueled by $4.9 billion in government subsidies. NPRs move marked the first major news organisation to step away from the once-influential platform under Mr Musks ownership, a period fraught with mass layoffs, press antagonism, a spike in hate speech and disinformation, and other chaotic policy changes. The Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) followed NPRs lead in announcing it is stepping back from Twitter later on Wednesday. Twitters simplistic label leaves the inaccurate impression that PBS is wholly funded by the federal government, PBS said. NPR says that less than 1 per cent of its annual operating budget comes from grants awarded through federal agencies and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a publicly funded nonprofit organisation with a board appointed by US presidents, and with a statutory obligation to a strict adherence to objectivity and balance in all programs or series of programs of a controversial nature. On 12 April, NPRs main account posted a thread sharing other ways to find subscribe to its content. NPRs president and CEO John Lansing said in a statement last week that the company was disturbed to see the state-affiliated label, a description that, per Twitters own guidelines, does not apply to NPR. NPR and our member stations are supported by millions of listeners who depend on us for the independent, fact-based journalism we provide, he said. 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. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre also defended the independence of NPR journalists, telling reporters on 5 April that the outlets journalists work diligently to hold public officials accountable and inform the American people. The hard-hitting independent nature of their coverage speaks for itself, she said. Mr Lansing addressed the move in a letter to staff on 12 April. It would be a disservice to the serious work you all do here to continue to share it on a platform that is associating the federal charter for public media with an abandoning of editorial independence or standards, he said. Recommended Twitter no longer exists as a company The change to NPRs account comes after Twitter removed the verification badge for The New York Times following reports that the newspaper would not pay for Mr Musks newly rolled out verification scheme. Other major US outlets including The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, Buzzfeed News, HuffPost and Politico also reportedly do not intend to pay. Twitter announced it would begin removing blue checks from verified accounts that did not pay for Mr Musks Twitter Blue service on 1 April, but it appears that the plan has not been rolled out en masse; The New York Times appeared to be singled out by Mr Musk, who responded to another Twitter user asking about the newspapers badge status by saying well take it off. PBS, which also receives money from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and the BBC have also been designated as government-funded outlets. In an interview with the BBC, Mr Musk said Twitter would change its labels for the British broadcaster to publicly funded. Were trying to be accurate, he said. I actually do have a lot of respect for the BBC. When pressed whether the accurate publicly funded label would apply to NPR as well, Mr Musk said it would. Until last week, Twitters own policy specifically stated that NPR as well as the BBC are not defined as state-affiliated media. That language was removed. NPR receives public funding, but is not state-controlled, meaning Twitters listing could pose risks for journalists reporting from areas where suggestions of government affiliation have negative connotations, according to a statement from Committee to Protect Journalists director of programs Carlos Martinez de la Serna. Twitter also labelled US broadcaster Voice of America as government-funded media, through the outlet a part of the US Agency for Global Media is statutorily bound to independence from government officials. The label government funded is potentially misleading and could be construed as also government-controlled which VOA is most certainly not, spokesperson Bridget Serchak said in a statement to NPR. Megan Sheets contributed to this report Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Harvard University will rename its graduate school after a Republican party donor following a $300m donation, it has announced. The Kenneth C Griffin Graduate School of Arts and Sciences will be named after the alumnus and hedge fund executive Kenneth Griffin. While also trying to create a philanthropic legacy for the institute, Mr Griffin has donated more than $500m in gifts throughout the span of four decades but this announcement has garnered controversy. As well as being the founder and chief executive of Citadel, which is valued at $59bn, he is notable for being a Republican mega-donor and for his investments in gun and ammunition manufacturers. In 2022, Mr Griffin gave nearly $60m to Republican candidates for federal positions, according to Politico. His investments also reportedly include shares in Smith & Wesson, Sturm and Ruger, ammunition maker Olin Corp, Vista Outdoor and Ammo Inc, the value of which has increased to $200m according to a Guardian review of SEC filings. Mr Griffin has also donated to Florida governor Ron DeSantis, who is teasing a presidential run in 2024. The Florida governor has been criticised for his positions on education and gay rights. The HB 1557 bill, otherwise known as the Dont Say Gay bill, prohibits Florida teachers in kindergarten to third grade from discussing sexuality and gender identity. He has also targeted Critical Race Theory, which is not taught formally in k-12 schools, and overseen a ban that prevents Floridas public high schools from teaching a new advanced placement course, African American studies. A spokesperson for Citadel, asked to comment on Mr Griffins support for Mr DeSantis and his policies, told The Guardian: Ken respects and employs people of all backgrounds. Kenneth Griffin is the 35th richest person in the world, according to the Bloomberg billionaires index and will be just the fourth individual at Harvard to have a school named after themselves in exchange for a donation, according to the Harvard Crimson student newspaper. Kens exceptional generosity and steadfast devotion enable excellence and opportunity at Harvard, said Harvards president, Larry Bacow, in a statement. I am deeply and personally appreciative of the confidence he has placed in us and in our mission to do good in the world. Mr Griffins gift to Harvard will go to the faculty of arts and sciences (FAS), which is also home to the undergraduate college and PhD programmes. This is also in addition to Mr Griffin making a $150m donation to the university in 2014, which was to primarily fund financial aid. This donation established a cohort of 200 Griffin scholarship recipients and matched funds through a leadership challenge fund so other alumni or friends to the institute could contribute to the financial aid programme. Sign up to our Evening Headlines email for your daily guide to the latest news Sign up to our free US Evening Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Evening Headlines email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Some 18,000 cows were killed after a massive explosion and fire erupted at a dairy farm in West Texas, becoming the largest known single-incident death of cattle. On Monday, a blast rocked the South Fork Dairy Farm in Dimmitt, Texas. Immense clouds of black smoke filled the air above the dairy farm for hours as officials worked to subdue the fire. The aftermath of the tragic fire revealed that a staggering 18,000 cattle died - nearly three times the amount of cows slaughtered each day in the US. There were no human casualties, though one dairy farm worker was rescued and taken to the hospital. As of Tuesday, they were in critical, but stable condition. It is unclear how the explosion began, though County Judge Mandy Gfeller hypothesized that it could have been a malfunction in a piece of equipment. Texas fire officials will be investigating the cause according to USA Today. Most of the cows that died in the fire were a mix of Holstein and Jersey cows, the 18,000 represented approximately 90 per cent of the farms total herd. The cows were huddled together in a holding pen, waiting to be milked, when the explosion occurred. The loss of livestock will have a large financial impact on the farm as each cow is roughly valued at $2,000 according to USA Today. Smoke rises from the dairy farm after the fiery explosion (Silvia Martin / KFDA News Channel 10) Locals told KFDA News Channel 10 they heard a loud boom and could see massive pillars of smoke for miles. The black smoke could be seen for miles, even from surrounding towns. It was crazy, Kennedy Cleraman, a Dimmitt resident, told KFDA. There was a big, massive, black air and it looked like fog in the street. And it was all burnt- the place. Videos and photos from people in the area show the terrifying amount of smoke that filled the air. South Fork Dairy Farm is located in Castro County which is one of the highest dairy-producing counties in Texas. Castro County has more than 30,000 cattle in it, according to Texas 2021 Annual Dairy Review. Renzo Sullivan, another Dimmitt resident, told KFDA, It is kind of painful because its like thats kind of what we do here, and thats how we get our money for like the city and all that. So thats just a major drop for us. Dimmitt Mayor Roger Malone called the fire mind-boggling. I dont think its ever happened before around here, Mr Malone said. Its a real tragedy. The incident is the largest single-incident death of cattle since the Animal Welfare Institute, an animal advocacy organisation, began tracking barn fires in 2013. The Animal Welfare Institute has guidelines to prevent barn fires which include performing annual inspections, having access to fire extinguishers, creating an emergency action plan, completing annual fire safety training, having emergency lanes in structures, and more Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Republican election denier has been expelled from the GOP-controlled Arizona House of Representatives for inviting a conspiracy theorist to testify before lawmakers. State Rep Liz Harris, who was only elected in November, was kicked out for bringing disrepute and embarrassment to the House of Representatives. A bipartisan two-thirds majority of the House voted to remove her, with only 13 opposing her expulsion. She is only the fifth member of the Arizona House to be expelled. The desk used by Arizona Republican Rep. Liz Harris at the state Capitol in Phoenix stands empty moments after she was expelled from the Legislature on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (AP) Ms Harris, who represents the Phoenix suburb of Chandler, has pushed false claims about the 2020 and 2022 elections. Her expulsion came a day after the House Ethics Committee released a report which concluded that she knew or was at least aware that a woman she arranged to testify would falsely claim that Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs and other elected officials and judges took bribes from the Sinaloa drug cartel. Jacqueline Breger, an insurance agent from Gilbert, Arizona, testified that the officials had also laundered money, and claimed the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints controls the government. Ms Breger presented no evidence for her false claims, which were widely condemned. This is not personal. This is about standing up for the right, no matter how difficult it is and how much it hurts, Rep David Livingston said before voting to expel his colleague. House Democratic leader Andres Cano, of Tucson, called it a sad and sombre day, but said that Ms Harris had caused real and lasting damage to the reputations of people who did not deserve it. Arizona law states that Ms Harris must be replaced by a Republican, with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors set to choose from a list of three candidates nominated by the GOP in her district. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Audio released by MSNBC includes Rudy Giulani privately admitting to Fox News personality Maria Bartiromo that he knew little about Dominion Voting Systems and had difficulty defending false claims that the company was involved with election fraud. Recordings aired by the network on 12 April also include audio from a Donald Trump campaign official stating that a review from Georgias top election official did not discover any physical issues with Dominion machines. The release of the audio comes at the start of a trial against the network stemming from a $1.6bn defamation lawsuit from Dominion, which has accused the network and its leadership of spreading false claims and baseless conspiracy theories about the companys role in the 2020 presidential election. The first recording includes an off-air conversation between Mr Giuliani and Ms Bartiromo on 8 November, 2020, just days after Mr Trumps loss to Joe Biden in that years election. Im going to be asking you for as much evidence as you can tell us about these lawsuits. Whatever you can tell us in terms of evidence would be really helpful, Ms Bartiromo said, according to the recording. I can tell you exactly what we have, Mr Giuliani replied. He admitted that providing evidence about Dominions software to defend statements about the company is a little harder. Mr Giuliani also said he cant prove that now-former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi had an interest in Dominion. Another recording captures an exchange between a Fox News producer and Trump campaign official from 5 December, 2020. The producer is heard asking: Have any of the machines been looked at? [Steve Bannon] had said that one was looked at in Georgia. The official, then asking to speak off the record, said; When the Secretary of State did its audit, there was a lot, I think a fair bit of looking at the machines The audit came in pretty darn close to what the machine count was with the receipts. So, I dont know the outcome of those, but our understanding, again this is from the Secretary of States Office was that there werent any physical issues with machines on those inspections. The tapes were provided by former Fox News producer Abby Grossberg, who has separately sued the network in a pair of filings accusing the network of fostering a sexist work environment and pressuring her into giving false testimony in the defamation case. As counsel explained to the court, Fox produced the supplemental information from Ms Grossberg when we first learned it, Fox News said in a statement to NBC News. Attorneys for Ms Grossberg said that the recordings were not provided to Dominions lawyers during discovery in the defamation case. If Dominion had these audio tapes and been able to use it in their summary judgment motion, maybe they would have gotten a complete victory, he told MSNBC. On 12 April, Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric Davis said he would impose sanctions on the network and investigate whether its legal team had deliberately withheld evidence, scolding attorneys for Fox News for failing to be straightforward with him. He also said he would impose a special master, an outside counsel, to investigate Foxs handling of discovery materials and whether Fox withheld information about the nature and scope of Rupert Murdochs involvement. The lawsuit was filed in 2021, and Fox has argued that the right-wing media mogul and senior leadership at Fox Corporation, the parent company on which he sits as chairman, have had no roles with running the network. We are pleased that the court recognized the very serious apparent discovery-related and other gross misconduct perpetrated by Fox News and its team of high-powered attorneys in relation to the Dominion v Fox lawsuit that our client, Abby Grossberg, has courageously and repeatedly revealed in her lawsuits, according to a statement from Ms Grossbergs attorneys shared with The Independent. Ms. Grossberg remains committed to speaking the truth in all appropriate forums, including before a Special Master appointed by the Court, while our firm will continue to ensure that she obtains the justice she deserves, they added. Jury selection in the closely watched case is expected to close on 14 April, and the trial is scheduled to begin on 17 April. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Former President Donald Trump sued the key witness in his criminal case on Wednesday, accusing onetime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen of vast reputational harm for talking publicly about the hush-money payments at the heart of the case. The lawsuit, filed in Miami, offered a preview of arguments that are sure to be featured in Trumps defense against charges that he falsified internal business records to disguise payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters. The suit accused Cohen of breaking a confidentiality agreement he signed as a condition of his employment, violating ethical standards for lawyers and spreading falsehoods" about Trump with malicious intent and to wholly self-serving ends. It seeks over a half-billion dollars from Cohen. Trump isnt specifically suing Cohen over his grand jury testimony in the criminal case, but he cites it in support of an argument that his ex-lawyer sought to profit from his role through the publication of two books, a podcast series and media appearances. Cohen's spokesman, attorney Lanny Davis, said the lawsuit will not deter Cohen's cooperation with prosecutors. Mr. Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen, Davis said. It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him. The suit is the latest effort by Trump to use the legal system to go after his political enemies and is another example of the former president turning on a once-loyal aide after their relationship imploded. A judge in Florida sanctioned Trump and one of his attorneys in January, ordering them to pay nearly $1 million for filing what he said was a bogus lawsuit against Trumps 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and others. Davis predicted this lawsuit would also fail. "Is there anyone in America, aside from a shrinking minority base of believers, who takes Mr. Trump seriously when he files these apparently frivolous lawsuits? Davis asked. The criminal case against Trump, brought last week by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, accuses the former president of falsifying 34 business records at his company to hide the true nature of 11 checks paid to Cohen to reward him for work covering up Trump's extramarital affairs. Those checks, prosecutors said, reimbursed Cohen for a $130,000 payment he made on Trump's behalf to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who had been in negotiations to sell her story of an alleged sexual encounter with the Republican. Cohen also played a role in arranging payments to the Playboy model Karen McDougal and to a Trump Tower doorman. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and says the alleged encounters with Daniels and McDougal never happened. Bragg's office on Wednesday declined to comment on Trump's lawsuit against Cohen. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, lying to Congress, and campaign finance violations regarding the payments to Daniels and McDougal. He was sentenced to three years in prison, although the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled him to serve the majority of the sentence under house arrest. Although federal prosecutors referenced Trump in the charges against Cohen, they chose not to pursue a criminal case against the Republican. Neither did investigators in the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, who conducted a wide-ranging probe through much of Trumps presidency. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Legislation approved by Republican state lawmakers in Florida outlaws abortion after six weeks of pregnancy, a measure that will effectively eliminate access for most abortion care across the US South. Abortion is effectively outlawed in more than a dozen states, mostly in the South, following the US Supreme Courts decision to strike down the constitutional right to abortion care last June. Florida already banned most abortions at 15 weeks of pregnancy, but the latest measure joins anti-abortion restrictions in neighbouring states and across the deep South, including near-total bans in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama, as well as a six-week ban in Georgia. The number of out-of-state abortion patients in Florida rose 38 per cent in 2022 compared to 2021, according to the states Agency for Health Care Administration. Governor Ron DeSantis signed the latest bill into law shortly after the states Republican-controlled legislature passed the measure on 13 April. Mr DeSantis, who signed the states 15-week ban into law last year, previously pledged to sign any great life legislation in the current legislative session . Across the country, pregnant people are being pushed to the brink of death because they cant get an abortion, said Elisabeth Smith, director of state policy and advocacy at the Center for Reproductive Rights. Yet Florida lawmakers have rushed this dangerous ban through the legislature with no concern for their citizens and how it will harm them, she said in a statement shared with The Independent on 13 April. The proposal will strand Florida residents in a vast abortion desert and force patients to travel more than 1,000 miles for legal access to abortion care, she said. No one should have to face that, and many people will not be able to make that journey, she said. Florida lawmakers spoke out against a near-total abortion ban on 29 March. The legislation passed on 13 April, and Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the bill into law (AP) Restricting access in Florida would prevent not just the nearly four million Florida women of reproductive age from accessing abortion care after six weeks, but would also impact the nearly 15 million women of reproductive age who live in states across the South with abortion bans and would no longer be able to rely on Florida as an option to access care, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Politicians like Governor DeSantis espouse freedom for all, while directly attacking the freedom to make ones own health care decisions, Ms Jean-Pierre said in a statement on 7 March. Many pregnant patients are not aware they are pregnant at six weeks, and as a result, this bill means many pregnant people will never have the option to have an abortion, according to Laura Goodhue, executive director of the Florida Alliance of Planned Parenthood Affiliates. But with the states additional 24-hour mandatory delay for abortion care and requirements that patients attend two appointments, even patients who realize they are pregnant before six weeks may be unable to access abortion care before they run out of time, Ms Goodhue said. The latest proposal has nothing to do with what is best for Floridians and everything to do with Ron DeSantis ambition to be president and what he thinks Republican primary voters want, she added. Compounding restrictions for abortion acre is an ongoing federal litigation over the future of mifepristone, a widely used abortion drug that is used in more than half of all abortions. A federal judge appointed by Donald Trump sought to revoked the US Food and Drug Administrations long-standing approval of the drug, and the US Department of Justice is appealing the case to the US Supreme Court. Democratic state Rep Anna Eskamani, a former Planned Parenthood patient and employee who now represents a district that includes Orlando, said the bill demonstrates a complete disregard for the women of our state and for our collective freedoms. As weve already seen in other states, a six-week ban is extreme, dangerous, and will force millions of people out of state to seek care and others will be forced into pregnancy, she said in a statement on 7 March. Most people do not even know they are pregnant until after six weeks, so this six-week ban might as well be a complete ban. The latest Florida proposal introduced on the first day of the legislative session includes exceptions for pregnancies from rape or incest up to 15 weeks of pregnancy, but a patient must have a copy of a restraining order, police report, medical record or other court order or document as proof. Legislation would also prevent state funds from supporting a patient who leaves the state to seek an abortion. Sweeping anti-abortion restrictions across the deep South and neighbouring states including total bans in Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky and West Virginia means that access in the South is limited to Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina, where the states Supreme Court struck down a similar six-week ban earlier this year. Abortion providers in that state also do not perform abortions past 14 weeks of pregnancy. Democratic state Rep Fentrice Driskell, Floridas House minority leader in the GOP-controlled legislature, condemned the DeSantis administrations anti-abortion agenda in response to his state of the state address on 7 March. Women in Ron DeSantis Florida are now less safe and will be forced to live under what effectively will be an outright abortion ban, she said in a statement on 13 April. As we said over and over, six weeks is before most women even know theyre pregnant, and its long before many tests for the viability, safety, and health of both the mother and fetus. Decisions about abortion care should be between a woman and her doctor, family, and faith, she added. She does not need Tallahassee politicians invading her right to privacy and taking that right away. This story was first published on 7 March 2023 and has been updated with developments Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Senator Tim Scott dodged questions around federal abortion ban as he voiced being 100 per cent pro-life. The comments came hours after the sole Black Republican senator announced his exploratory committee to run for the Republican nomination to challenge former president Donald Trump in 2024. I am certainly 100 per cent pro-life without a question, Ive been very clear about that, Mr Scott told CBS News as he tiptoed around the question about his stance on whether federal government should be involved in regulating abortion. Your colleague from South Carolina Lindsey Graham has a bill to limit abortions at 15 weeks, federal restriction. Do you support that measure? asked the journalist. So I would say this. I am certainly 100 per cent pro-life without a question. Ive been very, very clear about that. Very consistent about that. I do think we spend not enough time understanding how far the far left has gone on the issue of abortion, he said. Senate Democrats have voted for late-term abortions well into the third trimester, some even suggesting that we should have abortion up until the day of birth. The fact that we are one of a handful of countries that allows for late term abortions is a challenging predicament for us to be in. Journalist Caitlin Hue-Burns pressed again, asking if he thinks that the federal government should be involved with something like what Lindsey Graham is proposing? Theres no question that were gonna have lots of folks talk about legislation from a federal perspective, but from what Ive heard so far, and what Ive seen in the Senate arent proposals but votes from the left trying to figure out how to continue their campaign towards late-term abortions, even allowing abortions based on the gender of the child or the race of the child or the disabilities of the child, he said again, shying away from giving a straight response. But as president, if you were president, would you advocate for federal limits? the journalist tried the third time. So once again, I am 100 per cent pro-life and I do believe said Mr Scott, as the journalist asked whether he was saying yes. No, thats not what I said, the South Carolina senator responded. A slew of Republican-led states have moved to ban abortion after the Supreme Courts decision to overturnRoe v Wade in June last year. The landmark precedent established in the 1973 ruling from Roe affirmed the constitutional right to abortion care. According to the New York Times, most abortions are banned in 13 states This is not the first time Mr Scott painted an exaggerated picture of a womans reproductive rights. Earlier in August, the GOP member claimed that if his party does not win back the Senate in November, the Democrats will grant abortions up to 52 weeks, a comment health care workers criticised for inaccuracy. A full-term pregnancy is approximately 40 weeks, Dr Meera Shah, chief medical officer of Planned Parenthood Hudson Peconic, told HuffPost. It is not logical or medically accurate to say that people can be pregnant at 52 weeks, let alone be seeking an abortion. It is comments like this one that underscore exactly why medical decisions should not be made by politicians. Mr Scotts announcement marks the fourth candidate in the race for the Republican nomination. Along with him, Nikki Haley and Donald Trump, Republican businessman Vivek Ramaswamy announced their candidacy. The South Carolina senator has spoken about racism in the United States, talking about how he was racially profiled by police. He also voted against the nomination of a judicial nominee who was accused of intimidating Black voters. He and senator Cory Booker attempted to negotiate a police reform in the previous Congress after Minneapolis police killed George Floyd. But negotiations ultimately failed. He hinted at reigniting talks after Memphis police were caught on video assaulting Tyre Nichols, who later died. Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Fox News host Tucker Carlson upgraded his dogwhistle to a full on air horn during his Wednesday night broadcast when he went on a racist rant comparing the speech of a Black Tennessee lawmaker who was expelled from the statehouse for protesting gun violence to that of a "sharecropper." Democratic state Congressman Justin Pearson was one of two Black lawmakers expelled from the state legislature by the Republican supermajority for their participation in a protest inside the House chambers supporting gun control measures after a school shooting in the state left six people including three nine-year-old children dead. Both lawmakers have since been reinstated by their representative bodies. Mr Carlson commented on the situation Wednesday night on his show, accusing Mr Pearson and other Democrats of "mimicking civil rights leaders," and presenting themselves as the "modern incarnation of Martin Luther King Jr himself." The Fox News host who has frequently downplayed the severity of the Capitol riot said the protest at the Tennessee statehouse was done in hopes to "facilitate an insurrection." He then suggested Mr Pearson only got into college because he was Black, saying because he "wasn't white" that it was "probably how he got into Bowdoin in the first place." Mr Carlson then asked why there wasn't more "variety" in the mimicry he accused Democratic politicians of undertaking and questioned why none of them affected the voice of civil rights leader Malcolm X. You never see politicians transitioning to say, Malcolm X. Why is that? Maybe because Malcolm X didnt talk like a sharecropper. He spoke dignified standard English, he said, implying that Mr Pearson and other Democrats did not. Wednesday's rant was far from the first time Mr Carlson has injected racial invective into his commentary. He has previously endorsed the "great replacement" theory that alleges progressives are trying to "replace" white, Christian, Americans with immigrants and devotees to other faiths to secure power over the country. In 2020, he said that Democrats and Black Lives Matters demonstrators were "coming" for his audience with the aim of installing "woke militias" to undermine the police and steal power in the US. Mr Carlson called Iraqis "semiliterate primitive monkeys" during a 2008 radio show, said immigration made the US "dirtier," and called white supremacy a "hoax" intended to divide the country days after a mass shooter in El Paso who referenced a "Hispanic invasion" in his manifesto killed 23 people at a Wal-Mart. For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} A Russian fighter jet had fired a missile at a manned British aircraft over the Black Sea last September in what could have amounted to an act of war, leaked classified intelligence has suggested. The near shoot-down was due to miscommunication between the pilot and ground radar operator, according to a report from The New York Times published on Wednesday. The pilot had locked on to the British aircraft and fired, but the munition malfunctioned and failed to fire properly, according to US defence officials and a recently leaked classified intelligence report cited by NYT. The US defence officials told the publication that the Russian pilot misinterpreted what a radar operator on the ground was saying to him and thought he had permission to fire. The near shoot-down took place between a four-engine aircraft known as an RC-135 Rivet Joint a spy plane and two Russian Su-27 fighter jets, said two US defence officials with direct knowledge of the incident. The British C-135 Rivet Joint aircraft often has a crew of around 30 people and is capable of intercepting radio traffic. According to the US officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the British aircraft was listening to intercepted communications between a Russian radar controller on the ground when one of the pilots of the Russian Su-27s was dispatched to monitor the aircraft. The incident was described as really, really scary by one of the defence officials briefed on the encounter. In October, British defence secretary Ben Wallace had told the Commons that the Russian fighter jet had released a missile in the vicinity of an RAF aircraft over the Black Sea. He had not described the incident as a near shoot down. He had said the incident occurred in international airspace over the Black Sea on 29 September and added that an unarmed RAF RC-135 Rivet Joint was interacted with by two Russian armed SU-27 fighter aircraft, one of which released a missile in the vicinity of the RAF Rivet Joint beyond visual range. Mr Wallace informed the Commons that he had communicated with the Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu and the reply he received stated that the incident was a technical malfunction of the Su-27 fighter. A British defence official, however, told NYT that a significant proportion of the contents of the reports were untrue and manipulated. A significant proportion of the content of these reports is untrue, manipulated, or both. We strongly caution against anybody taking the veracity of these claims at face value and would also advise them to take time to question the source and purpose of such leaks, the statement said. The leaked documents also said that between 1 October and 22 February, British, French and American flights reacted to six different events in which Russian aircraft approached their patrols from distances of six nautical miles to just 100ft. he resigned in protest of being called a terrorist by the governor of the state. The Kogi Assembly Majority Leader, Murktar Bajeh (APC-Okehi), has resigned his position in protest of the terrorist tag thrown at him and eight other colleagues. The state governor, Yahaya Bello, on 23 March called nine of the 25 assembly members terrorists for their alleged roles during the 18 March House of Assembly elections in the state. In a letter to the speaker of the assembly, Matthew Kolawole, Mr Bello asked the assembly to suspend the nine lawmakers. He also asked the assembly to investigate their actions during the election. But Mr Bajeh, in a letter to the assembly, said he was stepping down from his position in protest of the disposition of the assembly and the governor. "I hereby wish to inform this House that I am no more interested in being your leader, but have resigned forthwith," the letter read. The speaker, who read Mr Bajeh's letter during plenary, asked for comments on the matter. It was at that point that a motion was moved by the Deputy Speaker, Alfa Momoh-Rabiu, for the nomination of the chief whip, Ahmed Dahiru, to replace Mr Bajeh as the majority leader. The speaker quickly asked the assembly to vote on the nomination of Mr Dahiru as the new majority leader to fill in the vacant position, and the members unanimously accepted Mr Dahiru as their new Majority Leader owing to his capacity and ability to do the job. "The house having accepted the choice of Hon. Ahmed Dahiru, member representing Okene II, to fill in the gap left by Hon. Muktar Bajeh, we hereby declare him (Dahiru) our new Majority Leader from today," the speaker said. NAN For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is fighting a mystery stomach problem which may be the result of slow poisoning, his spokesperson has claimed. The high-profile Putin critic has reportedly lost 8kg in just over two weeks, and last week an ambulance was called to treat him at the maximum security penal colony in Melekhovo, 250km east of Moscow. His spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said an unknown stomach complaint had flared up on Friday and claimed that prison doctors had treated him in the past by injecting him with medicine which they had refused to identify. We do not rule out that at this very time Alexei Navalny is being slowly poisoned, being killed slowly so that it attracts less attention, she said. He is being held in a punishment cell with acute pain without medical help. Ms Yarmysh said that Mr Navalny had suffered similar stomach pain in January and had again lost a lot of weight. When asked about the claims, the Kremlin said that it was not following the state of his health, and that it was a matter for the federal penitentiary service. The penitentiary service did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though it has previously denied allegations that prison employees have mistreated Mr Navalny. His lawyer Vadim Kobzev said that he is planning to request toxicological and radiological tests. This may sound like nonsense and paranoia to someone else, but not to Navalny after Novichok, said Ms Kobzev on Twitter. Mr Navalny was previously poisoned with the Russian nerve agent Novichok - made famous in the UK following the 2014 Salisbury poisonings - while travelling on a plane in Siberia in 2020. After recovering in Germany, Mr Navalny returned to Russia in 2021, where he was arrested on arrival. He is currently serving a 12-and-a-half-year prison sentence for fraud and contempt of court on charges, which his supporters claim are trumped up. A Yale-educated lawyer, Mr Navalny became famous a decade ago for repeatedly calling out Russias political elite, and accusing them of corruption on a vast scale. He won 27 per cent of the vote in the 2014 Moscow mayoral election, losing to a Putin appointee, and led the pro-democracy opposition party Russia of the Future between 2018 and 2021. Russian authorities claim that Mr Navalny and his supporters are extremists with links to the CIA. His political movement has been outlawed, and many of his supporters have been forced to flee from Russia. Even from prison, Mr Navalny has maintained his social media accounts, with his team uploading posts based on notes that he passes them from prison. Following the latest news of Mr Navalnys ill health, the German government said it was very worried about him. Navalny spokesperson Yarmysh said that medicine sent to his prison by his mother had not been collected by prison officials from the post office. Abusing Alexeis health is a regular practice [of the prison], said Yarmysh. All we can do right now [to help him] is to talk about Alexei everywhere. Close Related: Putin visits Russian troops in Ukraines Kherson and Luhansk regions For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} 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. Joe Biden appeared to confuse the Black and Tans and All Blacks during remarks made on his trip to Ireland. Speaking in Louth, the US president paid tribute to his distant cousin and former Irish rugby player Rob Kearney. Mr Biden thanked him for the tie he was wearing and referenced a match in Chicago, appearing to confuse the New Zealand team with the British security forces that fought IRA rebels in the 1919-21 war of independence from Britain. He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans, Mr Biden said. Click here to sign up for our newsletters. Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} By Farayi Machamire for Zim Morning Post Zimbabwean villagers say they are driving their cattle into Matopos National Park for grazing as a last resort in response to depleted pastures. Their continued human encroachment leaves their cattle vulnerable to contracting diseases and more precariously once wild animals have a taste of their cattle, it fuels human wildlife conflict. Park officials note that encroachments have seen some cattle contract catarrhal fever from coming into contact with Wildebeest. Hyena and leopard attacks on livestock are frequently reported, as are baboon raids on village crops, as well as baboon attacks on chickens and children, particularly in wards 15, 16, and 17. Matopo resident Thulani Zulu claims that friction between Park authorities and villagers has pitted communities surrounding the park against wildlife creating a scenario of them versus us. The relationship between villagers and park authorities is strained because villagers feel authorities have not done enough to ensure that they benefit from living alongside wildlife, Zulu claims. Matopos National Park, which boasts of the Matobo Hills one of the highest concentrations of rock art in Southern Africa dating back at least 13,000 years was established in 1926. As part of a compromise between the colonial authorities and the local people, areas were re-designated for settlement. Villages in close proximity to Matopos National Park include Gulati area which is about 5 kilometres away from the parks boundary, Silozwi, Chapo, Bazha, and Dewe areas which are all within 5 metres from the parks boundary. Professor Edson Gandiwa, Director Scientific Services at the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks), says that there are currently two distinct types of human encroachment at Matopos National Park: settlements and movements, or illegal entry. Community encroachment in terms of settlements has only been experienced within the Park buffer zone where the communities are building adjacent to the park boundary, says Professor Gandiwa. The parks boundary is not fenced; hence locations of illegal entry are possibly everywhere. It is more prevalent at the eastern park boundary and less at the boundaries close to the parks Intensive Protection Zone (IPZ). Efforts are being made to erect the boundary fence (parts of Hazelside and Whitewaters have been done so far) and prevent cattle encroachment as well as human illegal entry. Movement of people from their ancestral homes which made it impossible for them to access the pastures and hunting areas they had previously used, lowered public support for the park, leading to disregard for its limits and encroachment, say officials. When the National Park was established, it included public roads which made it difficult to identify illegal entry and control human or vehicle movements. Some people were also relocated, hence could not access previously utilised pastures and hunting grounds. This could have decreased acceptance of the park by people, resulting in disregarded boundaries and encroachment, says Professor Gandiwa. Matobo Rural District Council chief executive officer Elvis Sibanda says the council is aware of the problems the park is facing. However, in response to inquiries, he remained silent regarding the councils interventions and remedies. The boundary fence in some sections of the community bordering the park is no longer there as it was removed way back. There are no grids in some roads leading to the parks. All this results in livestock straying into the national parks and animals also crossing to the community, says Sibanda. There is a need to attend to areas of challenge such as repairing the fence and resuscitating grids so that good relations are maintained, he adds. Given the central location of the park in relation to the communities, ZimParks recognizes that there will inevitably be challenges involving humanwildlife conflict and poaching for the pot. Baboons, monkeys, wildebeest, crocodiles, hyenas, and occasionally leopards, jackals, and snakes are among the animals that are frequently reported and regularly brought up in communal areas during human wildlife conversations. In the Park human wildlife conflict takes many forms, including baboons raiding crops, attacking chickens and kids especially in wards 15, 16 and 17, says Professor Gandiwa. Loses incurring to villagers due to the ongoing conflation between humans and wildlife are varied. For instance, in Gwandavell, Lushumbe, Boomerange, and Chapo, monkeys raid crops, hyenas and leopards attack cattle. Jackals have been reported killing cattle, such as in Boomerang. In Silozwi, Gwandavell a secondary school, for example, pythons have been reported feeding on chickens. Crocodile attacks on humans, such as the one in ward 17. Catarrhal fever, for example, is transmitted to cattle by wildebeest. Local communities say the high cost of living with wildlife coupled with limited alternative ways to make a living and meet basic needs often ignite cases of wildlife crime. At the same time, compensation remains a contentious issue. Zimbabwe does not have a compensation law, although there is a Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund being set up by the Government to provide medical expenses and funeral costs to human wildlife conflict victims. The Relief Fund is awaiting approval by the Ministry of Environment, Climate, Tourism and hospitality Industry. Matobo National Park itself has no compensation policy for the victims of human wildlife conflict. However, there are unrelated benefits that include, but are not limited to cooperative social responsibility by the Park, says Professor Gandiwa. These benefits are accrued from the National Park by the surrounding communities. In addition, Matobo District has a CAMPFIRE status, hence the communities benefit from wildlife in their area through CAMPFIRE. On a national level, there is a Human Wildlife Conflict Relief Fund being set up to provide compensation to human wildlife conflict victims. Matobo National Park maintains that it enjoys a friendly relationship with the nearby communities who they appreciate as they offer important sources of information, labour, Indigenous Knowledge Systems, and cultural guidance. Community benefits from the park include donations such as in 2021 the proceeds from hay bales worth $2000 (1600), thatching grass for Silozwi Clinic, Silozwi Secondary school as well as roofing poles, monetary donations to villages from Matopo Rhino conservation, water provision for example from Mtshelele dam, Curios (provision of market), building of houses for community members in Silozwi and white waters and issuing of permits for free harvesting of firewood to use during funerals and other events. Matopo resident Zulu, however, says living adjacent to the national park is not as rosy as it is cranked up to be. This stresses the need for holistic engagement between Parks and villagers. The communities surrounding the Parks are actually required to pay $4 (3.20) for park entry and this causes strain and conflict, says Zulu. Villagers source of income is mainly agriculture but their farming produce is often wiped out by baboons and monkeys. In response, poaching for the pot becomes a desperate necessity, indicating a need for greater engagement and understanding between Park Authorities and the local people. Livestock and human settlement encroachment into protected areas and associated interactions with wildlife is a global issue with implications for sustainable development particularly in developing countries. This article is reproduced here as part of the African Conservation Journalism Programme, funded in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe by USAIDs VukaNow: Activity. Implemented by the international conservation organization Space for Giants, it aims to expand the reach of conservation and environmental journalism in Africa, and bring more African voices into the international conservation debate. Written articles from the Mozambican and Angolan cohorts are translated from Portuguese. Broadcast stories remain in the original language. Read the original story here: Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} By Farayi Machamire for Zim Morning Post The Eastern Highlands of Zimbabwe may have the most diverse ecosystem in the southern African country, but the communities that surround Nyanga National Park say they feel left out of the districts top tourism attractions. The park is one of the most picturesque areas in the nation with breathtaking mountain views, waterfalls, perennial rivers, a variety of activities, and unique vegetation and fauna. In addition to the privately owned Mutarazi Falls, the second-highest waterfall in Africa, the national park is home to Mount Nyangani, the highest peak in Zimbabwe, which is located in the centre of the park. Kudu, wildebeest, reedbuck, hyenas, and leopards are among the numerous species of wildlife that call Nyanga National Park home, though poaching has considerably reduced their numbers in recent years. The Ziwa ruins, an archaeological site comprising the remains of a sizable late Iron Age agricultural settlement dating to the 15th century, are also located in Nyanga District. Locals worry they dont get to access the parks resources and dont critically benefit from the parks position as a tourism destination, says Nyanga Rural District Council chief executive officer Zefania Jaravaza. Despite being surrounded by such wealth, Nyanga Town may be the poorest rural district council in the nation, according to Jaravaza. He continued, According to the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Authority (ZimParks) Act, they are not exempt from paying municipal land development rates, but they decline to do so on the grounds that the property is in a no-mans land. In terms of levies that we can use to repair roads, establish schools, or construct hospitals, Nyanga Rural District Council receives nothing from ZimParks. As a result, communities see living alongside wildlife and well-known tourism destinations as a burden rather than a benefit. A recent study found that locals may not support Nyanga National Parks sustainability as a tourist destination, due to conflicts arising from land ownership concerns. The study looked at the implications of landownership in Zimbabwe as a factor motivating human-wildlife conflict and its implications for Nyanga National Park as a tourist destination. The locals complain that they are not allowed to enter the park for ritual cleansing at the falls or to get their medicinal herbs from plants in the park. These restrictions reduce their interest in Nyanga national park as a tourist destination, wrote Winnet Masikati in a recent study. The research also looks at how political changes like land redistributions have impacted the current conflict between humans and wildlife and what that means for Nyanga National Parks future as a hub of Zimbabwean tourism. Elsewhere, for more than two decades, ZimParks and Nyanga Rural District Council have struggled to reconcile conflicting interests regarding the land in the northwestern border of Nyanga National Park. Matters escalated when council began developing the land for residential purposes in 2011. The development created Nyanga Extension with numerous families settled in the area, throwing the local wildlifes migratory patterns into disarray. Three sides of Nyanga Town are surrounded by Nyanga National Park the eastern side, the southern side and the western side, its only the northern side where they are rural homes but you cant remove those people and you relocate them to where? Jaravaza said of the towns growing housing backlog. Officials from ZimParks maintain that numerous efforts are being made to help the local populations understand the value of wildlife and tourist destinations in their area. In an effort to eradicate the evasive plantation that has been quickly encroaching on various park areas, locals are permitted to cut down black wattle. Villagers who are allegedly growing bananas on the parks south east side are another example of human encroachment, though park rangers say they are keeping them in check. There has also been concern around communities driving their cattle to graze in the national park. There have also been isolated instances of armed invasion. We understand the concerns of communities and the rural district council but all stakeholders must realise that ZimParks merely serves as the steward of a resource that we all share, says a Nyanga Park Ranger. Communities near the national parks boundaries now have access to bee farming. All local leaders are given permission to perform rituals at Mutarazi Falls or any other location of their choosing without having to pay a fee if they make the necessary application, he continued. For a small fee, we offer instructive tours to schoolchildren. In order to encourage locals, we also have a three-tier pricing structure for local, regional, and foreign customers. About 18 modest businesses in our area harvest timber as and when it is appropriate, he added. Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority Director of Scientific Services Edson Gandiwa said timber theft had been cut to an all-time low while everyone who plans to visit the park for cultural purposes does so lawfully and has paid the entrance fee, just like any other tourist. With the right support and community sensitivity, Nyanga National Park and the communities that surround it can come together and create a successful hub of tourism. Aggressive poaching though could upend these efforts, so important safeguards and strong community measures need to be put in place. Together, local people, the rural district council and ZimParks can safeguard this precious natural area and unite wildlife and people for Zimbabwes benefit. This article is reproduced here as part of the African Conservation Journalism Programme, funded in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe by USAIDs VukaNow: Activity. Implemented by the international conservation organization Space for Giants, it aims to expand the reach of conservation and environmental journalism in Africa, and bring more African voices into the international conservation debate. Written articles from the Mozambican and Angolan cohorts are translated from Portuguese. Broadcast stories remain in the original language. Read the original story here Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} It seems a great shame that Sarah, Duchess of York, still colloquially known as Fergie, hasnt been invited to the coronation. Rather like Meghan, who also will not be there accounts vary as to why the coronation ought to be an inclusive occasion, and one where reconciliation is a strong theme. That applies at an international level, where nations once colonised, racially divided and cruelly exploited by the British in the name of the crown can attend as free and equal members of the Commonwealth. It can be so nationally too, for our stressed United Kingdom, with other faith groups represented in prayers at the service, and minority communities taking part, rightly reflecting Britains, and the Commonwealths, multicultural and multiracial character. Why not make the service an example of family reconciliation too? Theres an implicit message of tolerance around such gestures that does matter, and is needed now as much as ever, given the fractious and charged nature of so much of national life the so-called culture wars. The Queen made it almost her lifes work to protect tolerance as a great British virtue, and to cherish diversity; and her son is carrying that forward. Its often forgotten exactly how woke Elizabeth II actually was, by the way, but this passage from her Christmas message in 2004 should dispel any doubt. Delivered at a time of tension, post 9/11 and the Iraq war, its quite timeless: Religion and culture are much in the news these days, usually as sources of difference and conflict, rather than for bringing people together. But the irony is that every religion has something to say about tolerance and respecting others. For me as a Christian one of the most important of these teachings is contained in the parable of the Good Samaritan, when Jesus answers the question who is my neighbour. The implication drawn by Jesus is clear. Everyone is our neighbour, no matter what race, creed or colour. The need to look after a fellow human being is far more important than any cultural or religious differences There is certainly much more to be done and many challenges to be overcome. Discrimination still exists. Some people feel that their own beliefs are being threatened. Some are unhappy about unfamiliar cultures. They all need to be reassured that there is so much to be gained by reaching out to others; that diversity is indeed a strength and not a threat. The Queen, as sincere a Christian as anyone, was also magnanimous towards her wayward former daughter-in-law, Sarah Ferguson, while The Duke of Edinburgh remained adamantly unforgiving towards Sarah and wouldnt be in the same room as her its no surprise she wasnt at his funeral. Theres no doubt that Fergie did some astonishingly unwise things, including her affairs, which resulted in one memorable sequence of photographs appearing in the press of her having her toes sucked by a lover. The Firm was made into a laughing stock. She was supposed to be a lively and outgoing addition to the team when she married Andrew in 1986, but things just went all wrong, with the press constantly mocking her weight and her dress sense. Her treatment by the tabloids was intrusive, unrelenting, personal, merciless, trivial and humiliating. There was never any genuine public interest justification for it. It was indeed a little bit mad. Sarahs treatment was nothing for any journalist to be proud of, and, for what its worth, has always made me feel ashamed on behalf of my trade. One courtier famously wrote Fergie off as vulgar, vulgar, vulgar. Yet those same officials refused her permission to share a home with Andrew when he was a serving navy officer, and she was left to moulder in Buckingham Palace, getting bored and lonely. It helped break a happy marriage, and a break-up that left Andrew free to allegedly follow his own, far more destructive activities (although he denies wrongdoing). Fergie made some calamitous mistakes, but the press, the palace and it has to be said the public seemed set on her destruction. The victim of some media stings, ie entrapment, stunts ever since, and a constant and well-publicised struggle with money havent helped. Curiously, among all this shes made a new relationship with Andrew and her family, though of course now he is disgraced this has also damaged her. Fergies life has been a mess ever since she found herself nominated by Diana as a potentially suitable bride for Andrew, and, later on, when Diana decided to allow her to be the pilot case for what a high-profile royal divorce would be like. Yet thats the point its the royal entanglement that created the dynamic and pushed her to near-destruction. Not all of her misfortunes are entirely her fault, and at least some of them (as with Diana and Meghan) are down to casual mismanagement by the palace and the family, by turns neglectful and then vengeful. Fergie did a lot of damage to the House of Windsor, but they did a lot of damage to her. A place at the coronation would set an example of reconciliation to estranged families everywhere. Its a tiny detail in the grand scheme of things, but it would have been a kindly one. Joe Biden followed in the footsteps of fellow Irish-Catholic president John F Kennedy when he addressed the parliament. Joe Biden followed in the footsteps of fellow Irish-Catholic president John F Kennedy when he addressed the Irish parliament, as he namechecked former US leaders during the course of his speech. The legacy of Mr Kennedy, who addressed a joint sitting of the Dail and Seanad in 1963, was reached for on a number of occasions by Mr Biden during the historic address. Mr Biden, who like his predecessor has made little secret of his pride in his Irish roots, told parliamentarians: We have the power to build a better future. He said that 60 years ago the first Irish-Catholic president of the United States made a historic trip here speaking to this assembly and capturing the imaginations of Irish and Irish-American families alike. Perhaps more than most, the United States was shaped by Ireland Joe Biden When John Kennedy addressed parliament, the honour of the more than 150,000 Irish immigrants who joined the army of the North during Americas Civil War and among them, one or two of them were my relatives as well they signed up in a new land, to stand for old values, to defend freedom and the dignity of all people. Mr Kennedy was also invoked as the current US president spoke of Irish support for Ukraine. The country has taken in thousands of refugees since the Russian invasion last year. President Kennedy said 60 years ago and I quote Ireland pursues an independent course in foreign policy, but is not neutral between liberty and tyranny and it never will be, Mr Biden said. To applause, he said: Over the past year, Ireland has proved him right. The Speaker said Ireland has stood proudly with the United States and partners around the world for liberty against tyranny. Barack Obama, under whom Mr Biden served as US vice-president, was also referenced as he recounted his familys Irish emigrant background. My good friend Barack Obama, and he is my good friend, his grandfather was a shoemaker like mine sailed five weeks earlier from the same port. The idea they both sailed for a new life and thought their great-great grandsons would both be president is, I think, really a little bit of Irish malarkey. Benjamin Franklin, one of the US founding fathers and one of the signatories of the US Declaration of Independence, also found his way into Mr Bidens speech. Perhaps more than most, the United States was shaped by Ireland. Thats not hyperbole. Thats a fact. And the values we share remain to this day the core of our historic partnership between our people and our governments. As nations weve known hardship and division but also found solace and sympathy and wondering. Just four years before we issued our Declaration of Independence, Benjamin Franklin came to the Irish parliament and described it as, I quote, disposed to be friends of America. The US President met with Michael D Higgins under clear blue skies at Aras an Uachtarain. US President Joe Biden, right, shakes hands with Irish President Michael D Higgins after signing the visitors book (Brian Lawless/PA) The red carpet was rolled out amid much fanfare as Joe Biden was officially welcomed to the Irish Presidents house in Dublin on a day of engagements in the capital. The US President met with Michael D Higgins under clear blue skies at Aras an Uachtarain on Thursday for the second day of the Republic of Ireland leg of Mr Bidens trip to the island. The crisp, dry conditions stood in contrast to what had so far been a series of soggy outings for Mr Biden, who had already been to Belfast and Co Louth on his four-day visit. The American leader was greeted by Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina on a red carpet outside the front of the 18th century house in the lush green surroundings of Dublins Phoenix Park. Inside, in the residences state reception room, Mr Biden spent almost two-and-a-half minutes writing a message in a visitors book as he sat at a small table with the Irish tricolour and US Stars and Stripes behind him. He told Mr Higgins it was a pleasure to be back and complimented the grand homes beauty, saying it is just like the White House. Asked what he wrote in the book, Mr Biden told reporters he quoted an Irish proverb, saying your feet will bring you where your heart is, adding: Its an honour to return. US President Joe Biden stands for the national anthem as he arrives for a meeting with Irish President Michael D Higgins at Aras an Uachtarain, in Phoenix Park, Dublin (Brian Lawless/PA) He said he made a reference to returning to his ancestral home and pledged to recommit to peace, equity and dignity. Mr Biden said: Im not going home. Isnt this an incredible place? All you American reporters: its just like the White House, right? Moving back outside, both presidents listened as their countries national anthems were played before Mr Biden was invited to inspect a military guard of honour. The president has visited Co Louth and is due to travel to Co Mayo, from where his ancestors hail. President Joe Biden has been told he personifies the story of Ireland as he spoke of how his ancestors were emblematic of so many Irish and American families. Mr Biden has visited Co Louth and is scheduled to travel to Co Mayo, with his ancestors hailing from both areas. During his keynote speech to the Dail on Thursday, the president recalled a trip to Ireland with his family in 2016 when they explored their ancestry in the Cooley Peninsula. He spoke of returning to Carlingford on Wednesday, and the view over Carlingford Lough, as likely one of the last glimpses of Ireland my Finnegan ancestors saw as they gazed on their way out in what in those days was referred to as a coffin ship. The journeys of our ancestors expanded our horizons. They became the untiring backbone of America's progress as a nation Joe Biden In remarks welcoming Mr Biden to the Irish parliament, Dail Speaker Sean OFearghail described the president as one of us. He said: You often speak of your Irish roots with great pride and affection especially your ancestors from Louth and Mayo. The story of Ireland is inextricably linked to emigration and in many ways, you personify it. Mr Biden told the Irish parliament chamber that talking about his Irish ancestry is not to wax poetic about bygone days, but because the story of my familys journey and those who left and those who stayed is emblematic of the stories of so many Irish and American families. He said: These stories are the very heart of what binds Ireland and America together. They speak to a history defined by our dreams, they speak to a present written by our shared responsibilities, and they speak to a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. Today Id like to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between Ireland and the United States, a partnership for the ages. Continuing his words on the history of Ireland, Mr Biden said: Their sweat is soaked with communities across the nation all across America, you cant go anywhere and not find them. The journeys of our ancestors expanded our horizons. They became the untiring backbone of Americas progress as a nation. Harbin Electric Corporation, a veteran state-owned enterprise with a history of over 70 years, has been hailed as the cradle of China's power generation equipment manufacturing industry. The enterprise has been promoting high-quality development and remains a leading player in the industry. In the first quarter of 2023, Harbin Electric Corporation achieved a strong start with a year-on-year increase of 22.2 percent in operating income, a year-on-year increase of 170 percent in total profits, and a year-on-year increase of 62.7 percent in the number of formal contracts signed. (Xinhua/Wang Jianwei) Abuja The Federal Government is to procure as well as instal baggage scanners in train stations traversing Abuja-Kaduna-Kano cities. Minister of State for Transportation, Ademola Adegoroye, disclosed this to newsmen on Wednesday on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting presided over by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo at the State House, Abuja. According to him, the devices were necessary because of the need to enhance security of lives and property in the aforementioned railway facilities. Speaking on the memorandum presented to FEC for consideration and approval, the Minister stated: "The Federal Ministry of Transportation had two memos today, which I presented on behalf of the ministry and it had to do with one, the provision of scanners at all railway stations all over the country. "You'll all agree with me that in view of the process of security of lives and property, such equipment has to be installed at our railway stations. Since we're starting railway revolution, we are trying to put in place a lot of things with the railways. We don't want people to come and damage all that the government has been trying to put in place in that sector. "So, today there was a memo before Council for the provision of baggage scanners at railway stations and I'm happy to inform you that the Council agreed with us and has approved that contract for scanners to be installed at railway stations so that when people get there and have goods, then they can pass through the scanners and they can be sure that there's nothing that can destroy, that can cause violence or inflict danger or bring lives and property at stake." Details later... Margaret Sweeney is the CEO of Ires Reit and has seen the trust's share price plunge Its not surprising that Ires Reit has come under fire from an unhappy shareholder. Whats surprising is that its taken so long for someone to publicise their criticisms. Amsterdam-style cafes legally selling Irish-grown cannabis would give small farmers access to a lucrative market Opportunity: Harnessing, regulating and standardising the demand for cannabis would create a new market for an agriculture industry that is being constantly told to diversify. Photo: Getty We went on a trip to Amsterdam recently and it didnt just rain, it poured. This meant we were constantly ducking in and out of museums, shops, bars, restaurants, drag shows and whatever other building offered sanctuary from the deluge. Henry Walsh: EU must address crazy milk price volatility Viable productive agriculture is being undermined at a time when the world needs more food than ever before Not impressed: Henry Walsh on his Galway farm. Photo: Hany Marzouk Henry Walsh Thu 13 Apr 2023 at 10:15 Guinness moved its headquarters to London in 1932 in response to the Control of Manufacturers Act Guinness maker Diageo has said it intends to submit applications for the delisting of its ordinary shares from each of Euronext Paris and Euronext Dublin stock exchanges. The changes look set to take effected in late May and the company said investors whose shares are listed here or in Paris should consult with their own investment advisers Diageos listings on the London Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange will not be impacted by the move and have always been more important to the business, which was created from a merger of Guinness and Grand Metropolitan in 1997. It is another blow to the Dublin market, as other heavyweights CRH and Flutter also plan to move their primary stock market listings to the United States. The decision by Diageo to delist was taken following a review of the trading volumes, costs and administrative requirements related to its listings on Euronext Paris and Euronext Dublin, the company said. The delistings are subject to approval by the relevant exchanges but are anticipated to take effect on or around May 26, 2023 (Paris) and May 30 (Dublin). The action will not have any impact on the companys day-to-day operations in France or Ireland. Even before the creation of Diageo, London was always Guinnesss most important stock market, hosting the then family-owned brewerys initial public offering (IPO) in1886. Guinness moved its headquarters to London in 1932 in response to the Control of Manufacturers Act. Its still another blow, though relatively small, to the Dublin stock exchange which is now part of the wider Euronext group. Large Irish corporates traditionally maintained a listing on their home exchange even after shifting their primary listing to bigger markets elsewhere, including London and New York. But building materials giant CRH has all but confirmed it will leave Dublin altogether when it moves its main listing to New York. Paddy Power owner Flutter is tipped to do the same when it moves its main listing to the US. The Government needs to provide financial support to upgrade port infrastructure around the country to facilitate the construction of offshore wind farms, according to a report published by Wind Energy Ireland today. It has also warned that consumers could continue to pay more for their power in coming years if the facilities are not delivered. The National Ports Study released last year showed that Belfast is currently the only port on the island of Ireland that is fully equipped to serve as a construction base for offshore wind farms. Ireland has a target of generating 70pc of its energy needs from renewable sources by 2030. Without more ports we will either completely miss our 2030 targets or these wind farms will be built from ports outside of Ireland, losing an incredible economic opportunity, said Wind Energy Ireland CEO Noel Cunniffe. Wind Energy Ireland has said that the failure by Government to act means that offshore wind projects, due to compete in an auction next month, still have no idea which Irish ports if any will be available to construct the wind farms. This uncertainty will push up prices so Irish electricity consumers could be paying more for their power for decades to come because of the lack of ports, the lobby group warned. The ESB recently signed agreements with the Port of Cork and Rosslare Europort operator Iarnrod Eireann to support the development of the countrys offshore wind and green hydrogen sector. Pat Brennan, the deputy CEO of Doyle Shipping Group, said the company hopes to apply for planning permission to deliver improvements at the Port of Cork that are needed to assist offshore wind farm development. He said financial assistance from the state would accelerate that. The report for Wind Energy Ireland, prepared by Gavin & Doherty Geosolutions, said government support would de-risk the initial investment in port projects. In the case studies we identify in the report it is clear there is no state aid issue here, according to Paul Doherty, executive director with the engineering consultancy firm. Online bank Revolut has upgraded its app to allow people to have joint accounts, a move that had been called for by its users. The joint-account option means it has put in place another feature that will allow it to keep eating away at the dominance of the mainstream banks throughout Ireland. Revolut, which claims it has two million customers in this country, last month began selling car insurance. It recently rolled out Irish IBANs (international bank account numbers) to replace the Lithuanian ones it had been using in this country. This is part of a process that saw it migrate its Irish customers to the Irish branch of Revolut Bank UAB, its European business. Previously, Revolut had been operating here under a Lithuanian banking licence. It has recently launched a loans product, a buy-now, pay-later product, and is launching a credit card. Revolut said it has released a new version of its app, which includes the new shared banking product. The joint accounts feature will allow customers to create an extra account within the Revolut app to be jointly owned by two people whether they are partners, family members, or friends. The upgrade is available on both iOS and Android devices, and also includes the group version of its instant messaging tool Revolut Chat. Revolut said that those setting up a shared account do not have to explain who they are or why, nor prove that they live together. The online bank said a survey it conducted across Europe shows that 58pc of Europeans were keen to use a joint account to manage their expenses with a partner. A third of those surveyed said they want to use it exclusively, as their only account. One in four respondents said they wanted a joint account to complement a private account. The remaining group preferred to keep their accounts and budgets separate. To open joint accounts, both parties need to be Revolut customers and have the app updated to the version supporting the joint accounts feature. Both people need to share the same country their personal accounts were registered in, the same Revolut entity or branch (personal accounts registration entity). The bank said they account holders cannot be a part of another Revolut joint account, or have a pending invite for a Revolut joint account from someone else. Imagine youve been on a steady climb up the blue-chip financial services sector. A vice-president in State Street. Then a senior vice-president in Citi. And until recently, a senior director in Deloitte. Imagine, also, that youre barely 50. Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny will also debut in Cannes, along with a special tribute to Harrison Ford. Harrison Ford in a scene from Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny (Lucasfilm Ltd/AP) New films by Wes Anderson, Alice Rohrwacher, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Todd Haynes and Wim Wenders will compete for the Cannes Film Festivals coveted top honour, the Palme dOr, as will a record number of films directed by women. Cannes artistic director Thierry Fremaux and president Iris Knobloch, who took over the post last year from Pierre Lescure, announced a lineup heavy on big-name international auteurs, along with some new faces, in a press conference on Thursday in Paris. Among the 19 films selected for Cannes prestigious competition are Andersons sci-fi homage Asteroid City, Wenders Perfect Days; Kor-edas Monster; Alice Rohrwachers La Chimera and Haynes May December, a romance with Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. Ken Loach, long a Cannes regular, will return with The Old Oak. Jonathan Glazer will premiere his first feature since 2013s Under The Skin with his Martin Amis adaptation Zone Of Interest. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content After a scaled-down 2021 event and a comeback festival in 2022, this years Cannes finds the festival back on level ground and its organisers triumphant that their mission, celebrating the best in world cinema as an inherently theatrical experience, has persevered. The films are back in theatres and the public is back in theatres, said Knobloch. The moviemakers, the artists, the professionals are all in agreement. Nothing can replace the cultural event represented by a release in a theatre for a movie. Joining Rohrwacher, the Italian director of Happy As Lazzaro, in competition are five more female directors: Frances Catherine Breillat with Last Summer, Austrias Jessica Hausner with Club Zero; Frances Justine Triets Anatomy Of A Fall; Senegalese-French director Ramata-Toulaye Sy with Banel & Adama; and Tunisias Kaouther Ben Hania with the documentary Olfas Daughters. Cannes has often come under criticism for selecting few films by women for its prestigious competition lineup. Only two female filmmakers have ever won the Palme dOr: Jane Campion in 1993 for The Piano and Julia Ducournau in 2021 for Titane. While six out of 19 films is a new high, it still falls below the parity that some have sought. Several of Cannes splashiest premieres had already been announced. Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny will debut in Cannes, along with a special tribute to Harrison Ford, as will Martin Scorseses Killers Of The Flower Moon, his big-budget adaptation for Apple of David Granns non-fiction bestseller. Fremaux said he urged Scorsese to screen Killers Of The Flower Moon in competition at the festival, but it is not currently scheduled to compete for the Palme. On Tuesday, Cannes said that the Pedro Almodovar short Strange Way Of Life, with Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke, will also premiere at the festival. Cannes gets under way on May 16 with the opening-night selection Jeanne Du Barry, starring Johnny Depp as King Louis XV. The film, directed by and co-starring the French actress and filmmaker Maiwenn, has been billed as Depps comeback film following his explosive trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife. The festival runs until May 27. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The much-anticipated HBO series The Idol, from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and starring the Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, will also debut in Cannes. Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years A Slave and the film anthology Small Axe, will present his Occupied City, a documentary about Amsterdam under Nazi occupation during the Second World War. The jury that will decide the Palme dOr will this year be led by the Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund, a two-time Palme winner. After winning Cannes top honour for 2017s The Square, Ostlund won last year for the social satire Triangle Of Sadness. Cannes is coming off a movie year that has reinforced the French festivals position as arguably the premiere international launching pad for film. Three of this years best-picture nominees at the Oscars premiered in Cannes: Top Gun: Maverick, Elvis and Triangle Of Sadness. His first studio album is due out on June 16 and he is scheduled to perform a number of live shows later this year. Damian Lewis has released his first single ahead of his upcoming debut album, Mission Creep, which will be out this summer. The 52-year-old British actor, best known for starring in TV dramas including Band Of Brothers and Homeland, released the soulful track Down On The Bowery on Thursday. He will follow this up with his first studio album, which is due out on June 16, amid a number of live performances scheduled for the summer. (Rhys Frampton/PA) The record is described as a thoughtful collection of rootsy, rock and jazz-tinged songs that reveal a deep love of music, and a deep need to communicate. Reflecting on the album, Lewis said: I suddenly had a lot to say. People will judge if its any good or not, but for me, it felt entirely natural. Its origins go back to when the actor left school and took to the road with his guitar and went busking through continental Europe. This experience is said to have impacted the upcoming album, which came about after Lewis rediscovered the guitar during the lockdown. As his acting schedule freed up due to the pandemic, he began playing and writing songs and later teamed up with various musicians including Italian-American Giacomo Smith. I wanted the album to give a sense of a journey to this point, from busking til now, Lewis added. Smith also introduced him to some musicians from his jazz outfit Kansas Smitty, and together they formed a group who have been performing gigs. Damian Lewis is scheduled to play Cheltenham Jazz Festival on May 1 and Black Deer Festival on June 16 (Joseph Lynn/PA) Lewis previously performed at Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire last year as well as gigs at London venues including Omeara, Koko, Tabernacle and Hoxton Hall. He is scheduled to play Cheltenham Jazz Festival on May 1 and Black Deer Festival on June 16. His biggest headline show to date will be at Union Chapel in London on July 11, with more live dates expected to be announced soon. Lewis has signed to Decca Records for his upcoming debut album. Co-presidents of Decca Label Group, Tom Lewis and Laura Monks, said: We are so delighted that Damian chose Decca. His songwriting is poetic, poignant and deeply personal. The album, recorded just down the road in Kentish Town, has a raw and refreshing honesty to it. Damian really opens his heart and invites us in. It is a thing of great beauty. Damian Lewiss debut album Mission Creep will be released on June 16 on Decca Records. Home Rescue: The Big Fix RTE2, 9.30pm Not many people can afford to buy a house at the moment and there arent a lot to choose from either. But those fortunate enough to own their own homes do at least have the option of doing them up. Home Rescue returns to our screens for a new season this week, with lots of inspiring ideas and a new designer in Deirdre Coleman. Shell be teaming up with builder Peter Finn and the Home Rescue team to renovate six homes in serious need of transformation. First up are Luke and Amy Martin, who share the house where Luke was raised in Ballybrack, south Dublin. It ought to be their forever home, but somehow still feels like somebody elses. Luke spends long days at his tattoo parlour, while Amy does the books and looks after their two children; time is always against them. A poor layout and limited storage are part of the problem, but the real reason things havent progressed are Lukes memories of his late mother, and brother. Sensitive about how the house was used in the past, the couple have never quite managed to make the house their own. This is Colemans very first task on Home Rescue, and her brief includes creating a fully functioning kitchen, bulking up the storage and turning a two-and-a-half bed house into an airy and spacious three-bedroom one. It wont be easy. Cheap European Homes RTE One, 7pm Laura and Elaine are looking to find a holiday home for themselves in France, but it will need to be near a town and include a decent-sized kitchen as theyre planning to rent it out to help pay the mortgage. Gordon Ramsays Future Food Stars Gordon Ramsays Future Food Stars BBC1, 9pm The contestants gather in Manchester to create a bottomless brunch that will be attended by some of the UKs most famous drag queens, and are tested on their knowledge of the fitness food industry. Rise & Fall: The Final Channel 4, 10pm Sixteen contestants, separated into Rulers and Grafters, have been whittled down to a final selection, and only one Ruler can now walk away with all the money thats been earned. Greg James presents. The Estate The Estate Sky Cinema Comedy, 8pm Satirical comedy starring Toni Collette and Anna Faris as sisters who try to win over their difficult, dying aunt in the hopes of inheriting her considerable estate, but soon find that other relatives have had the same idea. With Kathleen Turner, Rosemarie DeWitt. Blazing Saddles Blazing Saddles BBC4, 10.45pm When a corrupt railway tycoon tries to cause chaos in a frontier town by appointing a black sheriff, his plan backfires in spectacular fashion. Gene Wilder, Cleavon Little, Harvey Korman and Madeline Kahn star in Mel Brooks anarchic 1970s comedy. Tiny Beautiful Things Disney+, streaming now Based on the bestselling collection by Cheryl Strayed, this adaptation follows Clare (the always fantastic Kathryn Hahn), a writer who becomes an advice columnist while her own life is falling apart. Her marriage to her husband Danny is barely limping along; her teenage daughter, Rae, is pushing her away; and her once-promising writing career is floundering. Despite feeling like shes in no position to deliver advice, the resulting unfurling of her own childhood makes her one of the most revered columnists going. Authenticity is key. Transatlantic Netflix, streaming now Inspired by the true story of Varian Fry, Mary Jayne Gold, and the Emergency Rescue Committee, comes this series that charts them risking their lives to help 2,000 refugees escape occupied Marseille in 1940. Operation Fortune Prime Video, streaming now Guy Ritchie returns to direct yes, you guessed it Jason Statham in a more polished variant of his earlier work. Other actors providing a variation of their earlier work include Aubrey Plaza (sultry assassin), Cary Elwes (dapper sort), Josh Hartnett (affable actor), Eddie Marsden (sinister desk jockey), and Hugh Grant (one of the many characters he portrayed in Paddington 2). An enjoyable romp so buckle up. Oh Belinda Netflix, streaming now Its the role Ekin-Su was born to play! Sadly for her, its Neslihan Atagul in the title role, starring as an actress who suddenly becomes the character shes portraying in a shampoo commercial. In short, her world warps after she washes her hair while filming on set. A mind-bending caper co-starring Necip Memili, channelling Tom Conti. On a Wing and a Prayer Prime Video, streaming now If Hallmark did disaster movies; join Dennis Quaid (who appears to be morphing into Harrison Ford through the passage of time), Heather Graham, and Jesse Metcalfe as they depict a rattled family, and a grounded pilot, attempting to land a plane after the pilot suddenly dies. Florida Man Florida Man Netflix, streaming now From creator Donald Todd, this is a trip into a sunny place for shady people. Running for my Truth Netflix, streaming now An unfiltered docuseries featuring the rise, fall, and attempted redemption of Italian sportsperson Alex Schwazer. Groups of Nigerian doctors working in the Diaspora have petitioned the House of Representatives over the proposed bill to stop doctors and dentists from migrating abroad for greener pastures. The proposed bill seeks to amend the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN) Act to prevent Nigeria-trained medical or dental practitioners from being granted full licences until they have worked for a minimum of five years in the country, as part of measures to address brain drain in the sector. In a letter addressed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, a copy of which was made available to Vanguard, the medical practitioners said the bill could worsen the nation's health crisis. Copies of the letter entitled, 'Re: A Position Statement from Diaspora Medical Associations - Bill Seeking to Restrict Newly Qualified Medical Doctors and Dentists from Leaving Nigeria', were sent to the Senate President, Dr Ahmed Lawan, and the Chairman House Committee on Health, Dr Tanko Sununu. The letter reads in part: "The Diaspora Medical Associations have observed with keen interest, the ongoing deliberations in the Green Chambers of the National Assembly regarding the proposed Bill sponsored by Hon. Ganiyu Johnson, to mandate any Nigerian-trained medical and dental practitioners to practice in Nigeria for a minimum of five years before being granted a full license by the Council. "The bill which purportedly seeks a way to address the adverse effects of brain-drain may not be the most effective intervention to resolve the situation. It will be counterproductive and will not achieve its intended goal. "We recognise the problems posed by the exodus of Nigerian medical professionals from our health system including, but not limited to decreased access to health care services, lack of quality of care, care delivery deserts the inability to adequately enact healthcare and public health policy due to lack of manpower and leadership resource. "The medical or dental practitioner is the glue that keeps the team functional and the leading force for an effective health care delivery system. Similarly, the medical and dental professional bears the burden for systemic failures resulting in the maladaptive structure fostering stress, undue burden, physical and mental anguish, lack of job satisfaction, poor working conditions and much more. "The major cause of brain drain includes a poor care delivery framework from a failure to invest in the healthcare to foster a conducive environment. The system does not promote professionalism, growth, work satisfaction nor a high reliability culture. Other major drivers include very poor welfare packages, high level of insecurity, limited opportunities for employment, sub specialty training, sociopolitical and economic instability. "The majority of these issues stems from outside healthcare system and is outside of an individual's control. Indeed, good governance and commitment to future investment in healthcare would improve conditions in the country that will allow security, good education for children, improved compensation, as described in the Abuja Declaration." In the letter, they observed that the migration of professionals is not limited to the medical and dental practitioners alone, saying that the question is why is the medical and dental profession being targeted? According to them, "Focusing on one aspect of a problem without taking a holistic approach to a sustainable solution will be ineffective. Young professionals leave the country in search of better opportunities. Many are frustrated by the consequences of governance failures that have progressively worsened over the past 30 years. "The unfortunate reality is the healthcare system is in a state of serious neglect, training and career development opportunities are limited further impairing earning potential. Insecurity is rampant. Equity and Justice are lacking for the average Nigerian." The Diaspora Medical Associations said they are invested in crafting effective solutions and are willing to participate in fostering solutions to that extent. "Hon. Speaker, we look up to your leadership in embracing the purposeful systemic solution and ensuring that a "quick fix" attempt does not worsen the situation. We in Diaspora, support the position statements from other stakeholders including Medical and Dental Consultants' Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), National Association of Government General Medical and Dental Practitioners (NAGGMDP), and Nigerian Medical Students Association (NiMSA). Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Migration Nigeria Health By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "We will continue to support positive changes, and growth of our health sector, in all spheres and look forward to engaging with Hon. Abiodun Ganiyu Johnson and other members of the National Assembly in doing the serious work necessary to stop and reverse the brain drain. Diaspora healthcare workers would be willing to return to Nigeria if an enabling environment exists - reversing the trend and helping to solve the problem. Looking forward to solutions." The letter was jointly signed by the President, Nigerian Doctors' Forum, South Africa (NDF-SA), Dr Emeka Ugwu; the President, Association of Nigerian Physicians in the Americas (ANPA), Dr Chinyere Anyaogu; the President, Medical Association of Nigerians Across Great Britain (MANSAG), Dr. Chris Agbo; the President, Canadian Association of Nigerian Physicians and Dentists (CANPAD), Dr Nnamdi Ndubuka, and the President, Nigerian Medical Association-Germany (NMA-Germany), Dr Al Amin Dahiru. Dairy farming has been taking place in Ireland for 6,000 years. Our climate is ideal for the grass that our cows turn into nutritious milk. Irish cows are outside grazing grass between 240 to 300 days of the year and are not, as in many other countries, housed indoors and given processed feed. There are 17,500 family-run dairy farms in Ireland, 60,000 people are employed by the industry and dairy farming brings 6m to the Irish economy each year. Irish dairy is not, however, without its detractors. Agriculture accounts for over 37 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Ireland, which must be reduced by 25 per cent by 2030. Its a challenge, but one that Irish farmers are rising to with a combination of ambition, innovation and technology. Farmers across the country are investing in new technologies and methodologies designed to offset their carbon hoofprint. Low-emission slurry-spreading reduces ammonia emissions, while the switch to low-emissions fertiliser has the potential to reduce total farm emissions by up to 8 percent. Clover in the pasture significantly reduces the need for chemical fertiliser meaning less run-off into our waterways and a significantly lower carbon hoofprint for Irelands herd. The quality of our cows is another reason why the Irish dairy farming is more environmentally friendly. We have good genetics here in Ireland - cows live longer and produce more milk over their lifetime whereas other countries have a considerably lower output per cow. Beyond production, our farmers are dedicated to the environmental wellbeing of their farms. Moving fences out from hedgerows and watercourses to increase field margins the areas between the grazing pasture and the field boundary leaves space for nature and helps to keep pesticides, fertilisers and slurry away from watercourses and hedgerows. Tom Power, a National Dairy Council Farmer Ambassador farming in Ballymullala, Co Waterford, wants people to know more about what farmers are doing to contribute to Irelands shared national climate goals. As farmers we understand our obligation to the environment and as a community we are adopting new technologies and practices to reduce our impact and meet the challenge weve been set. Irish dairy production is already the most carbon efficient in Europe, with a carbon hoofprint of 0.97kg CO2-eq per litre of milk, compared to a global average of around 2kg. Irish farmers want to be given the chance to continue our work while still producing the best milk in the world and ensuring a future for us, our families and for Irish dairy. www.ndc.ie/farmer-ambassadors Video shows Aer Lingus flight number EI123 landing back at Dublin following the incident. An Aer Lingus flight to Chicago has made an emergency landing at Dublin Airport after the plane reportedly flew into a flock of pigeons on take-off. Aer Lingus flight number EI123 is back on the tarmac at Dublin following the incident. According to airlive.net, the Airbus A330-300 had taken off from the North runway at 11.12am but was forced to make a U-turn to carry out an emergency landing. The 16 year-old plane with the registration EI-EIK) landed back at Dublin Airport, on South runway, only 15 minutes later after the bird strike in the number two engine. The bird strike apparently caused major vibration from the right engine. The aircraft was met by fire engines as it landed. An inspection is currently underway to see if the flight can be resumed on this plane. One passenger tweeted: My #AerLingus flight EI123 from Dublin to Chicago just had a bird strike in number 2 engine on take-off. Captain says it was a flock of pigeons. Major vibration after take off lead to an emergency landing back in Dublin. Happened today April 13 at 12pm. #7700 #emergencylanding. A judge is to view CCTV footage of the removal by gardai of Simeon Burke from the Four Courts before deciding whether his detention is lawful and his trial for a public order offence can go ahead next week. Courts Man threw bleach in womans eyes, tried to strangle her with phone charger and falsely imprisoned her in flat Teen (17) ransacked Dublin hotel room and bit two gardai in acid-induced rampage, court told Boy was arrested after gardai responded to alert call from female in distressHe caused 2,500 worth of damage to a room in the Royal Marine Hotel in Dun Laoghaire Children's Court in Dublin Tom Tuite Thu 13 Apr 2023 at 16:49 In February, just before he was due to face a court hearing about the eviction, Brady had the emergency services out to his house claiming to be paralysed. Brady, was convicted of harassment and and intentionally exposing himself to another female neighbour in the quiet area of Bridge street, of Lurgan Fed-up residents celebrated last weekend after a notorious neighbour dubbed Mr Mayhem, was finally kicked out of their estate. Homeowners in the Bridge Street area, of Lurgan, cheered and gave a massive sigh of relief when removal vans turned up last Friday to empty convicted flasher and harasser, Peter Bradys belongings. Brady was in Maghaberry Prison having been remanded in custody after he was charged with threatening to damage his neighbours property and breaching a previous restraining order two days before the removal men moved in. He was being evicted by his housing association and its believed that knowing he was about to be moved on, he decided hed have one last go at his neighbours before he left for good. In February, just before he was due to face a court hearing about the eviction, Brady had the emergency services out to his house claiming to be paralysed. A fire crew had to cut his front window out so he could be carried out to an ambulance and taken to hospital but he walked back into his flat a few hours later. Brady had waged a campaign of harassment on his neighbours by calling the cops over 100 times as well as taking in their unemptied bins over a five year period which got worse during lockdown, until police got fed up having their time wasted. Peter Brady, was convicted of harassing a number of neighbours and intentionally exposing himself to another female neighbour in the quiet area of Bridge street of Lurgan. Last Wednesday the 50-year-old took to the street and started threatening his neighbours, threatening to damage their plants, threatening to turn off their electricity and he even padlocked the gates of the local church across the road. He went on one last rant, said neighbour Glenn Bell one of the neighbours who Brady was convicted of harassing last year. He must have known he was about to be moved on and so he went out onto the street and started threatening people, threatening their property and he put a lock on the church which he only removed when the police turned up. He was taken away in a police car and the last we saw of him. A removal van turned up on Friday and took away all his stuff. We had a bit of a celebration on Friday night. Its just a massive relief because hes been making our lives a misery for nearly five full years. Mr Mayhem Peter Brady, is finally leaving the neighbourhood after harassing a number of neighbours for years. A removal van pulls up to the former home of Peter Brady, much to the the delight of his long suffering neighbours. Brady appeared at Lisburn Magistrates Court last Friday charged with breaching a restraining order and threatening to damage property, namely Glenn Bells plants. He was remanded in custody but its understood he has since been released on bail and is starting his new life in Newry, 21 miles away. Its been an eventful 12 months for Brady who found himself jailed for weeks and at one stage banned from living in Bridge Street by a judge. While in prison he even found time to wind-up one of Ulsters most notorious killers when he got into a row with driller killer Colin Howell challenging the double-murderer to a fistfight. As revealed here over the last year Brady, who was caught last year pouring bleach over Glenns plants having already been convicted of harassing him, has tortured his neighbours in the once quiet street. Desperate residents left exhausted by the antics of Mr Mayhem even wrote to their MP for help. Over 20 residents signed the letter which was sent to the DUP MP for Upper Bann last year. He was convicted of harassing and flashing his genitals at fed-up neighbours last summer. The notorious nuisance had plagued his neighbours for years with a string of outlandish outbursts and false complaints to the police. Police became so fed up with Brady wasting their time they decided to prosecute him, deeming his constant fake claims of criminality as harassment. Brady was finally convicted in court last May of two counts of harassment on two neighbours. He was also found guilty of exposing his genitals to a horrified female neighbour who he had also been harassing. Brady confronted residents in Bridge Street Lurgan on a daily basis about just about everything even egging them on to punch him. He caused regular embarrassment by accusing people visiting his neighbours as either being prostitutes or of being in the IRA. He spent weeks in prison after he breached a restraining order for harassing his neighbours. Overcrowding and understaffing in the health service are causing avoidable fatalities and poorer health outcomes, the incoming President of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) has warned. And around one in 10 of the population are also without a GP because family doctors have had to close their lists. Speaking in advance of the IMO agm, in Killarney, Dr John Cannon said: Tragically, it is inevitable that this capacity crisis is contributing to increased avoidable mortality because patients are being treated in overcrowded hospitals or treatment is being delayed in primary or secondary care settings as capacity cannot meet patient need." The health service is beset with a deficiency of staff, hospital beds as well as an overwhelmed GP workforce, he insisted. He said the HSE is struggling to fill the roles left by retiring GPs or the more than 900 vacancies for consultants. There is huge reliance on junior doctors to fill the gaps in cover leaving them working unsafe hours. There is a shortage of doctors globally and we are simply not doing enough to either retain our workforce or to attract much needed doctors back to Ireland. The IMO recently voted by a majority to reject the new public only contract for consultants, worth up to 300,000 in salary and allowances over concerns around rosters and other issues. Too few beds means overcrowding in emergency departments and long waits to access a hospital bed. Unfilled consultant posts mean longer waiting lists for outpatient and consequent treatment. "Too few GPs means waiting times for GP appointments, with at least 10pc of the population being unable to sign up with a GP because their patient lists are at capacity. They warned that the extension of GP visit cards to up to 500,000 will swamp GPs even further and many will have free care but no access. The Government promised the roll out of free GP care to children aged 6 and 7 last year but it has not materialised. Around 400,000 additional GP cards due to a relaxed means test were also pledged in the Budget in October and the promise was they would be available this month. Talks have been underway between the IMO and the Department of Health on the extension with a commitment to additional financial supports. Dr Cannon warned:The capacity crisis is real and it is dangerous. Dangerous for patients and dangerous for people working in the health services. We need action and we need it urgently. Secondary school teachers are seeking special leave to be granted to those who suffer a miscarriage. Currently no leave is provided outside of standard sick leave in schools. Mary Lynch, a teacher based in Roscrea, Co Tipperary, experienced a miscarriage and revealed the only person she told was her husband. She didnt tell her workplace or some of their closest family members. At the time we had to keep it quiet, she said. It is wonderful to see two male teachers proposing this motion. Its bringing it out in the open. Its nothing to be ashamed of and its very common. Thank God we are throwing the veil back on a lot of things. Kenneth Dwyer, a teacher in Bray, Co Wicklow, told the Association of Secondary Teachers Ireland (ASTI) delegate conference in Wexford that each friend group, family circle or professional team could be visited by this. He said they were seeking that leave equivalent to compassionate leave in the case of a parent, child or spouse bereavement should be granted, pointing out that research shows an estimated one out of five women will have a miscarriage throughout their reproductive lives. A union should provide comfort, support and solidarity for members, particularly at their most trying times, he said Teacher Conal ODuffy said staff often had to rely on the discretion of school management after experiencing miscarriages. Partners of women who lose a child should also be entitled to take the special leave, he added. To put it in the simplest terms possible, when you experience grief after a miscarriage, you should not have to pretend you have the flu. Miscarriages are incredibly common. Anyone can be affected. Members of the ASTI voted unanimously to pass the motion. The Government has faced criticism for failing to act on a bill by the Labour Party which would provide up to 20 days paid leave for women who experience early miscarriage. The bill was first published by the party in March 2021. Its clear that neither Fine Gael, Fianna Fail or the Green Party fully appreciate the need to provide women who experience early miscarriage with paid time off work to recover and grieve, Labour leader Ivana Bacik said. Teacher Aoife Ni Cheileachair is facing eviction in the week that school closes for the summer holidays After seven years in the same rented cottage, teacher Aoife Ni Cheileachair is being evicted in the week that school closes for the summer holidays. Atiku's legal team wrote the CCB over the corruption allegation after the agency signalled its plan to commence investigations by inviting Mr Keyamo for an interview. Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has responded to the petition filed by the Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Festus Keyamo, at the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Atiku responded to CCB via letter by his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome, noting that the case is subjudice being the subject matter of a pending case before the Federal High Court already. Suggesting to the CCB to stay action on the case, Mr Ozekhome said in the letter dated 7 April and shared with PREMIUM TIMES on Wednesday, that he wrote the CBB following media reports of the agency's invitation to Mr Keyamo to shed light on the allegations contained in his petition. Background Mr Keyamo, who is also the campaign spokesperson for the Bola Tinubu presidential campaign, filed a petition against Atiku over allegation of using special purpose vehicles to siphon Nigeria's money. The minister copied all the major anti-graft agencies--the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) and CCB. He gave the anti-graft agencies 72 hours to investigate, arrest and prosecute Atiku. Following the expiration of the ultimatum, he filed a suit against the former Vice President at the Federal High Court in Abuja. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the CCB invited Mr Keyamo to "adopt the aforementioned petition and to provide any additional information." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Corruption Nigeria By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Atiku's response In a letter dated 11 April and addressed to the CCB, Atiku said it will be inappropriate to respond to the CCB since a court is already handling the case. "it is highly inappropriate for a party to a suit to take any extra-judicial steps, or to embark on any course of action that is either tantamount to, or calculated to undermine the authority and integrity of the court, which is dominus litis over the proceedings. "Such behaviour is as condemnable as it is unacceptable. It is strongly frowned upon, by courts of law, as it has the potential of over-reaching the court, the other party (our client) and foisting or the court, a fait accompli. In fact, it smacks of contempt of court, albeit ex facie curiae," the letter reads in part. Mr Ozekhome also informed CCB that Atiku already responded to the originating summon by the Federal High Court. "Upon being served with the originating process in the said suit, our client - through us - promptly responded by filing a statement of defence as well as a preliminary objection thereto," he stated. SPV allegation Mr Achimugu, who claimed to be a former aide of Atiku, in a series of social media posts, accused Atiku of using Special Purpose Vehicles (SPV) to commit financial fraud. Mr Keyamo, at the end of the expiration of the 72 hours ultimatum, filed a suit at the Federal High Court in Abuja seeking an order compelling the security agencies to arrest Atiku. A teachers union leader has thrown cold water on the idea of paying a Dublin allowance as a way of compensating teachers for working in areas where housing costs are high. Earlier this week, Irish National Teachers Organisation (INTO) was instructed by members to pursue a salary top-up, similar to what is paid in London to teachers and other key workers. Schools in Dublin, in particular but also other cities and towns are suffering severe staffing shortages, and advocates for the allowance believe it would help with recruitment and retention. But Teachers Union of Ireland (TUI) general secretary Michael Gillespie said: The London allowance hasn't worked. What happened in London was the prices went up to take it into account. Nor was there any enthusiasm for the idea from the other union representing teachers a post-primary level, the Association of Secondary Teachers of Ireland (ASTI). An ASTI spokesperson said the union had "no policy" on teachers living in Dublin and other urban areas receiving extra payment to compensate for higher living costs. The spokesperson said if proposals emerge, "we will consider these in detail. Mr Gillespie said the London Weighting Allowance, as its known, was based on transport sectors so how are we going to decide that. Where does Dublin end. In other words, there are people commuting to schools Dublin from towns such as Mullingar and Athlone who may have paid a lot of money for their houses. And having paid Dublin prices for houses to commute 100 kilometres they are telling us what they're struggling with the mortgage, but also because the price of diesel as gone up. So you suddenly add together the price of diesel and the mortgage they're paying, and they're now paying as much as if they bought a house in Dublin We also have people living in Dublin who may have been lucky enough, because of timing, to have bought a house in 2013 that may be cheaper than a house in Mullingar or Athlone. So what do you do? Do you pay everybody starting off in Dublin an allowance or do you pay existing people an allowance? That's what you're playing. It's unequal pay again. It's playing one group against another; some will end up lucky and others will end up unlucky on it," he said. He said what worked in London was that they gave key workers, such as teachers and nurse better loans from their councils to buy property, or even put them on the housing lists in London. Mr Gillespie said there were things that could be done that would be more helpful than a Dublin allowance. It would be better to give all teachers a pay rise, give teachers permanent jobs from day one and create more posts of responsibility, for which allowances are paid, he said. In relation to permanency, the TUI general secretary said there were teachers coming back from Dubai, with a deposit for a house but it took them two years to get their contract of indefinite employment. So even though they've got to deposit it's three years before they have the permanent job to actually buy the house. It remains to be seen how the INTO will pursue the instruction from members. Normally, the three teacher unions would work together on an issue such as this, but if there is no backing from the TUI and ASTI, it would make it more problematic for the INTO . I am 45,000 in debt Trinity College PhD students shocked as budget funding will not apply to them Charley Bell, 16 and a student at Methodist College Belfast, is the overall winner of the art competition, claiming the first prize of 1,500 for her masterful pencil portrait, Curiosity. First prize in Category F the youngest age group in the 2023 Texaco Children's Art Competition was won by 6-years old Clare student, Zoey Kennedy, from Ennis Art School, for her work entitled JoJo. First prize in Category E of the 2023 Texaco Children's Art Competition was won by 8-years old Galway student, Emily Acheson from Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha, Tuam, for her self-portrait. Second prize in Category G of the 2023 Texaco Children's Art Competition was won by Emma Comber (age 17), a pupil at Catherine McAuley School, Limerick, for her work entitled It's In The Eyes'. First prize in Category G of the 2023 Texaco Children's Art Competition was won by 17-years old James Moonan, from The Arthouse, Drogheda, for his self-portrait. Third prize in Category F the youngest age group in the 2023 Texaco Children's Art Competition was won by Donegal student, Neal (Bernard) Gallagher (age 1), a pupil at CPI Creche, Lifford, for his work entitled Rainbows and Sunshine. Young Antrim artist, Charley Bell a 16-year old student from Methodist College Belfast has been chosen overall winner of this year's 69th Texaco Children's Art Competition, taking first prize in the senior 16-18 years age category for her detailed portrait entitled Curiosity. A 16-year-old girl has been crowned the winner of the 69th Texaco Childrens Art Competition, while the youngest artist ever to place was just one-years-old, when he copied his brother to create his vibrant piece. Charley Bell, 16 and a student at Methodist College Belfast, is the overall winner of the art competition, claiming the first prize of 1,500 for her masterful pencil portrait, Curiosity. The second prize in the main category for 16 to 18-year-olds went to Amy OBrien, 17, from Presentation Secondary School in Mitchelstown, Co Cork, for her work The Bond, for which she received a 1,000 award. The youngest artist to ever secure a prize in the competition, Neal Bernard Gallagher, was just one-years-old and attending the CPI Creche in Lifford, Co Donegal, when he painted the joyous Sunshine and Rainbows piece. The talented boy, now two-years-old, has been awarded the third prize of 100 in the six-year-old and younger category. And it was all a spot of sibling rivalry that likely ignited the-then baby Neals unplanned entry. It was only when the tot spotted his older brother, Charles, six, creating his own masterpiece, that this baby artist announced: My turn! Neals older brother, Charles Dominic Gallagher, came second in the same category, just pipping his younger sibling to the post, with his outstanding Moo Moo Rua piece. Charles received 125 for the marvellous mixed media work of his father Seamus cow. The winner in this category was six-year-old Zoey Kennedy, from Ennis Art School, for her incredible portrait of JoJo, a pet dog. She was awarded 150 for the entry. The Gallagher boys mother, Orla Gallagher, from Castlefin, Co Donegal, told Independent.ie: I was cleaning up after Charles had finished Moo Moo Rua and Neal announced My turn. I gave him some paint sticks Id bought - as I thought theyd be less messy - to do a picture, but I never, in a million years thought hed get placed. Charles loves art. He watches YouTube videos and loves spending his time creating art. He was highly commended and he has a lot of talent. But Neal loves drawing on the walls. He draws and paints on the walls, Ms Gallagher added, laughing. Neal loves colour and mark making. I think both boys could be artists and it wouldnt be too much of a surprise. I teach art and my first cousin is Donegal artist, Sharon McDaid, so maybe it runs in the blood. While all the children and young people in each of the categories showed their artistic aptitude, one entrant made sure to honour her beloved grandfathers life, with her poignant My Grandad Eddie piece. Crafted from a photograph and an early memory of her grandfather, Eddie DArcy, 81, in the summer of 2013, Cavan student Lana Gallagher, 13, won second prize. Lana was presented with the 250 award for her entry in the 12 to 13-year-old category. Lanas mother Grace DArcy-Gallagher said: Lana painted from a photograph of my late father, Eddie, who passed away in 2014. She wanted to create a picture of her granddad, as he was the centre of the whole family. She picked to work from this particular photograph from the summer of 2013 because it was on a day we all remember being with him in his greenhouse. He was such a lovely, warm man and he loved being in his greenhouse. He was so natural there. It was his freedom and hed just given lettuce and radishes to family members. We remember this sunny, bright day with my dad in the greenhouse. Lana would have been five at the time, but she recalls it vividly. Working on the piece has given her a beautiful connection to her granddad. We all miss him. Im so glad the judges recognised the emotion and talent behind the piece. Eddies widow, Aggie, 83, travelled on the bus from her Co Wicklow home to watch her granddaughter claim second prize at the Maldron Hotel in Dublin. It was clear the St Aidans Comprehensive School, Cootehill, student, had achieved more for her family than any prize could offer, as her grandmother sipped tea and took in every blissful moment of this touching tribute. The winners in the remaining categories were: Ailbhe Treacy, 14, from St. Mary's Secondary School, Nenagh, in Co Tipperary, for her work entitled Me And My Mam. Ailbhe won 450 in the 14 to 15-year-old category. She had previously won in the 12 to 13-year-old group in 2021. Sabrina Morgan, 12, from St Patrick's High School, Keady, Armagh, won a first prize of 350 in the 12 to 13-year-old category for Burnt Out. Lilia Litwin, 10, a Gorey Educate Together National School student, came first in the nine to 11-year-old category for My Self Portrait. She was awarded 250. Eight-year-old Emily Acheson, from Gaelscoil Iarfhlatha in Tuam, Co Galway, won first prize for her self-portrait and was awarded 200 in the seven to eight-year-old group. Meanwhile, 17-year-old James Moonan, a pupil at The Arthouse, Drogheda, won a first prize of 1,500 for his self-portrait in the category reserved for entries from young artists of all ages with special needs James also won first prize in the category in 2021, 2020, and in 2019, second prize in 2018, and a Special Merit Awards in 2022 and 2017. The scene following the alert at the Houben Centre on Belfast's Crumlin Road A Belfast businessman is to stand trial for alleged involvement in a terrorist bomb hoax targeting Simon Coveney, a judge ordered today. Darren Service (42), is accused of driving gunmen to the scene of a hijacking in the city linked to loyalist paramilitary opposition to the Northern Ireland Protocol. In March last year, a workman was threatened and forced to transport a suspected device in his van to a peace-building on the Crumlin Road in north Belfast. Mr Coveney, who was Foreign Affairs Minister at the time, was attending the Houben Centre to give a speech but had to evacuate the venue due to the fake bomb alert. The scene following the alert at the Houben Centre on Belfast's Crumlin Road Based on disputed CCTV evidence, prosecutors claim Service escorted the two gunmen to the location where the workman was first threatened. The defendant, of Ballysillan Road in the city, remains in custody on charges of preparation of terrorist acts, hijacking and placing an article causing a bomb hoax in the vicinity of the Houben Centre at Holy Cross Church. Service, who owns three gym businesses, appeared remotely at Belfast Magistrates Court today for a preliminary enquiry into the strength of the allegations. During the brief hearing, he confirmed that he understood the allegations but declined to give evidence or call any witnesses at this stage. Defence counsel Joseph OKeeffe did not contest submissions that there is a prima facie case against his client. Granting the prosecutions application, District Judge Anne Marshall told Service: You will be returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court. Your solicitor will let you know the date for your arraignment in due course. With no application for bail, Service was remanded in custody until his next court appearance. Doctored images are being posted by students onto digital forums and social media The images being posted can be offensive, insulting and upsetting to teachers. Photo: Stock image Graphic doctored sexual images of teachers posted by students online can take weeks to be removed, the leader of the ASTI has warned. Kieran Christie said the harassment of teachers and harmful content on digital forums was a relatively new but rapidly growing phenomenon. He said that, in some cases, parents had been implicated in online abuse. Mr Christie said some teachers had lodged complaints with gardai but it was nearly impossible to get companies who manage the platforms to take offensive content down. We have come across quite graphic doctored images of teachers, he said. Some of them would indeed characterise or provide graphics in relation to sexual activity and so on in relation to teachers, and quite gross stuff that I wouldnt wish to describe. "It would usually be fairly clear as to who is being mocked or vilified. He said in some cases animal features were Photoshopped onto teachers, and the capacity to anonymise can make it difficult to trace the source. The union leader wants the Department of Education to revise its policy on granting special assault leave to teachers, which applies only in cases of physical assault. He said there were many types of assault and those who were victims of other forms including psycho-social abuse should qualify. Mr Christie told the ASTI annual convention in Wexford yesterday that the union had taken legal advice on teachers digital image rights, harmful online content and offensive communication posts. A sub-committee of its standing committee is working on an advice package for members. Where we have our biggest complaint, though, is the extent to which it is nearly impossible to get the companies who manage and operate the platforms on which these may be put to remove the content sometimes for many weeks, he said. He added that school management can find it difficult to contact big international social media conglomerates. Mr Christie welcomed the fact that a new online commissioner would be empowered to move quickly to deal with complaints where they were not resolved by an online service provider. He said they would be able to order the take-down or limit the availability of specific items of harmful online content, either on foot of a complaint or its own initiative. The whole area of social media now is so large, he said. We have come across examples of parents and others harassing teachers, but by far the category that would be most prominent would be students or a group of students, who sometimes think its just a prank and sometimes doing it for more sinister reasons. Its happened to individuals in many staff rooms throughout the country, some of it innocuous, perhaps offensive, others much more deeply insulting and provocative and upsetting, he said. It would appear to us that it is happening and it is likely to grow if its not arrested as a problem. He said the union was engaging with the Department of Education to address the issue, while procedures that are part of a national anti-bullying action plan are due to be updated. He said Tusla was set to revise guidelines to reflect department policies and procedures for schools These developments present ASTI with a unique opportunity to engage with the relevant state bodies for the purposes of highlighting the prevalence of bullying behaviour and harassment of teachers by students using online platforms, to lobby for the changes needed to national guidance frameworks to protect teachers from such behaviour, and to address incidents when they occur, he said. The Irish Independent contacted Meta, Twitter and TikTok for comment. US President Joe Biden with Senator Rebecca Moynihan and her daughter Margot at Leinster House in Dublin. Photo: Tony Maxwell/PA Wire The baby of senator Rebecca Moynihan became the unexpected guest of honour in the Dail after getting a special acknowledgement from the US president. Ahead of an historic address to TDs and senators as part of Joe Bidens trip to the island of Ireland, the Dail speaker drew attention to the young infant who was being held by her mother in the chamber. An Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail was reading out the list of distinguished guests in the room for the presidential address when he mentioned one particularly young member of the audience. I think I must mention somebody else, Mr President, because its just come to my attention that a very young observer is in attendance here today, and that is the daughter of Senator Rebecca Moynihan, he said. The introduction was met with applause by parliamentarians as Ms Moynihan held up daughter Margot, dressed in a yellow outfit. MEPs Ciaran Cuffe and Frances Fitzgerald, sitting beside Ms Moynihan, laughed and applauded as Mr O Fearghail namechecked the young guest. I do suspect that Margots attendance here will go down in family folklore for many years to come, he said. After beginning his address, Mr Biden went on to jokingly apologise to the infant daughter of the Labour senator for putting her through a policy speech, saying it is as bad as what my children have been put through. Margot, I apologise to you, little baby girl, he said. After his historic address to the Dail, Mr Biden met senator Moynihan and baby Margot whom he cuddled and kissed on the head. Joe Biden is not anti-British, the White House insisted yesterday as he began his series of engagements in Ireland. In Belfast, Mr Biden said he was there to listen as he met UK prime minister Rishi Sunak. At the meeting in a Belfast hotel, Mr Biden faced a volley of questions from reporters, including if he had a message for Northern Irish parties and why he was not discussing a trade deal while on his visit to the UK. But he declined to answer, instead commenting on the heck of a view from the upper floors of the Grand Central Hotel. Mr Sunak sat smiling at a table as the two leaders drank tea. Mr Biden, who is intensely proud of his Irish ancestry, has been criticised by senior DUP figures, with MP Sammy Wilson claiming the president has got a record of being pro-republican, anti-unionist, anti-British, while former first minister Arlene Foster has said he hates the UK. Mr Wilson told BBC Radio 4 the president carried no weight in discussions about how Northern Ireland could move forward politically. He accused Mr Biden of undermining the Good Friday Agreement institutions by backing the EU in trying to force the UK government into a corner in post-Brexit negotiations. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said Mr Bidens reference also to his own British ancestry I think indicates hopefully that we have a president that recognises the United Kingdom is a close ally and friend of the United States. However, Mr Donaldson doubted the presidents visit would change the political dynamic. I am clear what needs to happen to make the progress that we all desire, and that is that Northern Irelands place within the United Kingdom is both respected and protected, and we want to see that in law, he said. The suggestion that Mr Biden was anti-British was rejected by Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council. She said: Its simply untrue the fact that the president is going to be engaging for the third time in three months, and then again next month and then again in June, with the prime minister of the UK shows how close our co-operation is with the UK. President Biden obviously is a very proud Irish-American, he is proud of those Irish roots, but he is also a strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the UK, and not only on a bilateral basis within Nato, the G7, on the UN Security Council, and we are working in lockstep with the British government on all of the pressing global challenges that our countries are facing. Politics Everything you need to know about the Governments new housing plans She defended the letter she wrote and spoke of her support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi. Renowned Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Adichie, has replied the All Progressives Congress (APC) which called for her arrest following a letter she wrote to the American President, Joe Biden, alleging that the 2023 election was flawed. The novelist, in an interview with Arise Television on Tuesday, also criticised Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka over his comments about the Labour Party's vice presidential candidate, Datti Baba-Ahmed. Ms Adichie stated that Soyinka's description of Mr Baba-Ahmed's comment as fascist was a strong word that is only appropriate for the government of the day and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), gagging the will of the majority of Nigerians through a fraudulent election. PREMIUM TIMES reported how Dele Alake, the special adviser communications to President-elect, Bola Tinubu, said Ms Adichie may face a lawsuit over an allegation she made against the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mahmood Yakubu. Ms Adichie had in an open letter to the US president said "Many believe that the INEC chair has been "compromised". In the interview, she defended the letter she wrote and spoke on her support for Mr Obi. She also accused the American authorities of double standards on democracy on the African Continent. "I wrote that letter because this is important to preserve the truth when something like this happens in a country it's important to tell the story of what happened. What happened is it was not an election, it was a really unforgivable flaw and there is evidence for that. "I wanted to call out to the US for what I consider two faces when it comes to Africa. The US has a long history of complicity in non-democratic elections on this continent. Recently in Congo, they endorse an election that was an absolute sham but the same US will turn around and criticize Congo for not being democratic. My point was to say be what you say you are. You cannot criticise African countries for being non-democratic while at the same time endorsing something that was quite evidently undemocratic. "The most glaring is that we Nigerians all saw these mutilated elections, we saw polling unit agents talking about how what they had at the polling unit was not what was then announced or uploaded officially. For me, that is a striking reason and example of why this election was not about technical glitching. "Can we also realise that Nigeria is full of very bright young people in tech? There is no reason for that excuse of a technical glitch. Why was it possible to other people to upload the results of the other federal elections but not the presidential one? And I think most of us have this resounding unfortunate silence from the chairman of INEC and I think Nigerians deserve respect over an institution that is supposed to shepherd their democracy and nobody is coming out to explain to Nigerians how that happened. There was a statement about technical glitches. It is not convincing and knowing how much hope and trust the Nigerians invested in this election, knowing that Nigeria is a low-trust society means that if the people are truly sincere and have nothing to hide they will make (an) extra effort to explain to Nigerians what happened. Replies to APC She said the ruling All Progressives Congress is just trying to derail from what is important to Nigerians by accusing her of not voting in the election. "I think that it's not a useful criticism, I should say first of all that I have never been fazed by criticism. I wrote (this letter to the US president) of course, knowing full well that there will be criticism from certain quarters and I've seen a few things people sent to me and it has been kind of amusing to read the juvenile fulmination of non-juvenile people. "I have a home in Lagos and America, and I am very often here (Lagos), I tried very hard to get my PVC and the reason was that I was assured that technology will save us. It works in Osun, Ekiti, and Anambra, I really tried. We should also talk about how difficult is to collect PVC and that in itself is a form of voter disenfranchisement. I've done the first and I could not collect my PVC. Yes I did not vote but my not voting does not mean I cannot comment in an election, I am a Nigerian citizen, and every Nigerian has a right to an opinion. "When people say BVAS worked but IREV did not work which is a way of countering the accusation that technology was manipulated the response is, both have to work for the election to be credible BVAS was about making sure we did not have ghost voters but it defeats the purpose if you then do not upload the results because those results that you have make sure real people voted but then those real results we can't see them in real-time as professor Mahmoud Yakubu said. Because he said, the public will be able to view the polling unit results as soon as the elections are finalised on Election Day. This is an important thing to talk about and address with the Nigerian people. "The Electoral Act 2022 gave INEC the legal backing to have electronic transmission of results and did say in a format INEC could decide and we know that format because the chairman of INEC told us what the format would be when he said that the results would be uploaded at the end of voting from the polling units and that was not done. "It seems to me strange to deflect from that important issue and talk about how someone is not in Nigeria, those are not the points, the points are what happened. Lawsuit I am not worried about the lawsuit. Again, I think those are the things that are trying to deflect from what is really important and what is at stake. It could be very useful if people could point out what is untrue in the letter. The rumour surrounding the election is part of the story of the election. If you leave a gap in information, people will try to fill that gap, it's how human minds work our country is a low-trust society and we are so desperate to believe in something and we believe in this election, it does not work out well and nobody gives us convincing reasons and of course, people are going to rumours about people being compromised and also our political landscape is stiff in people being compromised and I am not worried about that I think that any fair-minded person in this country who is honest will acknowledged that these rumours are circulating and I said very clearly there is no evidence for them and I do say that in the story of this election, many people are starting to think... On her support for Peter Obi and ethnicity sentiment "Tribesman is such an outdated and strange expression and I also said something about that whoever is using it. It's a practice of that psychologists called projecting. You are doing something but you are accusing someone else of doing it even though they are not. I did not support Peter Obi because he is an Igbo as I am. I am a person who does not take a position lightly I very much admired Peter Obi and respect him and there are many other people whom I respect and admired but I will never vote for them to be president because I just don't think that they will be good President. "My support for Peter Obi is rooted in real things, my faith in his ability. I got to know him when he came and pay homage to my parents because he heard that my father was the first professor of statistics in Nigeria and my mother had retired as the first female registrar of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. "I was very impressed by that because he shows me how much he valued education and then he became governor of Anambra State, he took Anambra State to number one in education and I remembered being impressed by the story of how he gave his personal phone number to all the senior prefect in secondary schools in Anambra which shows me that he is interested in how ordinary people think. He wants to hear from the student about what is happening. "And his focus on security, he really tackled kidnapping in Anambra and I also remember that he really clashed with Anambra elites when he was tackling insecurity and kidnapping and that shows me that he is quite decisive even though he has a bit of a stubborn streak he is very focused on things that are really why I supported him. "The idea of ethnicity again I think is a way of deflecting, let us focus on what really matters. It's unfortunate that only one part of the political spectrum is politicising ethnicity. I think it's very unfortunate but I don't think people in Nigeria really care about ethnicity as much as they care about having a country that works for them, we want good leadership, and we want the hospitals, the schools and roads to be good and that affect everyone, whether Yoruba, Ijaw, and everyone. Attack on Wole Soyinka "I admire him, I respect him as a thinker, and a writer, and I think everyone should read 'The Man Died' but at the same time, I disagree very strongly with him on this particular issue, I watched his interview twice thinking that I was missing something. Fascism is a really strong word that often made me think of Missolouni's Italy but we use it now to address this kind of authoritarianism that often populates the right wing like in Hungry and even the former American President and if you look at these situations you can see why they have been tamed fascist. I did not see any reason that Datti Baba-Ahmed's interview would have been tamed fascism. I think he was making a very strong point about the election. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "He was saying that if our democracy is not rooted in our constitution and you then swear in a person who is being elected unconstitutionally then you infer ending democracy, I think a quite reasonable position. "The court will interpret the position, I don't think any reasonable Nigerian who can read and knows what the 'AND' means can make their interpretation and argue with it. The fact that the Labour Party is in the court means that they do not believe that this election was constitutional, I don't see why he will be tamed as a fascist. "I think a charitable way of reading Professor Soyinka's comments is that Professor Soyinka himself said he is not giving to restraint in the language in general and that may be where the word fascist came from. However, I have a suggestion for what we could use for fascism, we could use fascism for INEC because as is it right now, many Nigerians feel deeply cheated by INEC and deeply disenfranchised by INEC and there is authoritarianism which is the basis of fascism at the centre of manipulating election because what you do is gagging people and forcefully taken aware their voice that is fascism. Fascism is all of the violence that happened during the election, it's all about the silence that some people retain about that violence. Fascism is the government that did not come out to address the very tangible and palpable discontent in this country. "What I mean by using fascism for INEC is that for so many of us including myself this is not in any way a technological glitch. Professor Yakubu had an opportunity to high rising and he wasted it spectacularly because it's very easy to become the very hero of not just Nigeria but Africa. After all, so many Africa are watching and they are so inspired by what happened before this election - the obedient movement. I also think that President Muhammadu Buhari missed the chance in high rising because Nigerians felt that he mean well and credible election. I don't think that many Nigerians think that now. The Supreme Court has just made a ruling that does not make sense to a lot of people. I am optimistic that the supreme court will do the rightful and that people will get justice, she said. Up to 30 beds in mental health units for children and adolescents have had to shut in the past year as the nurses emigration trail resumes, a conference was told today. Peter Hughes, general secretary of the Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA), told its annual conference that despite the publication of the Maskey Report in January 2022 and the Mental Health Commission report it is inconceivable that over the past year the diminution of mental health services for children and adolescents of this country has continued. In effect we have 42 operational beds nationally which is less than 50pc of the 100 beds recommended in Vision for Change. "This is 30 beds less than this time last year. He said nursing shortages are impacting at every level of the mental health services and the problem has escalated since the decline of Covid due to a resumption of nurse emigration and retirement. Mental health services are once again experiencing a recruitment and retention crisis in both mental health and intellectual disability nursing. This has continued despite a PNA national survey of branches last November which revealed over 700 vacancies in the mental health services. Since the decline of Covid, services are now experiencing a very high level of nurses emigrating to Australia and Canada in particular. "Furthermore, nurses, who were eligible to retire and who stayed on to support services are now finally retiring. These chronic shortages are happening at a time when there is a significant increase in demand for mental health services post Covid. "The PNA highlighted these concerns over a year ago. However, the Department of Health and the HSE failed then and continues to fail, to address the identified concerns. The impacts of shortages are apparent daily throughout the services and the message to the Government is clear. It is inexcusable that nursing vacancies have been allowed to increase to such an extent that beds are being closed and vital services are being denied to communities across the country. He said he was once again reiterating a demand to the Minister, Department of Health and the HSE to urgently establish workforce planning groups at both CHO level and nationally to address the crisis in the recruitment and retention of Psychiatric/Mental Health. Mr Hughes said PNA has been to the fore in publicly highlighting the historic under investment in our CAMH services. This year the full extent of those failings was confirmed in January when the Mental Health Commission (MHC) issued an interim report of the review on the provision of Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). The commission made the decision to issue an interim report due to concerns in relation to the risk to safety and welfare of children receiving Mental Health Services, the management of the risk and lack of governance. The MHC Report is nothing less than a damning indictment of the many years of lack of investment in Mental Health Services, and a lack of workforce planning within the services, and particularly in CAMHS. It also highlights a CAMHS service, that is failing children, young people, families, communities, and staff. "The pressures and burnout experienced by staff left to cope with staffing shortages in CAMHS is intolerable and it is growing. He said the closure of inpatient beds comes against a background of an increase in demand for CAMHS, and an increase in the complexity of cases referred since the Covid pandemic. Waiting lists have almost doubled over the past two and a half years from 2,112 in July 2020 to 3,937 in November 2022. This reduction in beds will further exacerbate an already unacceptable waiting list for CAMHS and as we know from experience that this will ultimately lead to the inappropriate admission of children and adolescents to adult mental health units. Mr Hughes said that for years PNA has been warning that the spiralling cost of accommodation was a major concern particularly for young nurses and those contemplating a return from abroad. The cost of purchasing property, and increasingly of renting, in the major cities is prohibitive and is outstripping nurses pay, and this in turn is feeding into the nursing recruitment and retention crisis. I believe it is becoming increasingly critical that Government addresses the housing and social needs of nurses by developing and prioritising a subsidised nursing accommodation that can be offered for a set period of time to ensure we can attract and retain a stable nursing workforce. Mr Hughes said it was inexplicable that despite the professionalism and dedication shown by paramedics throughout Covid that members of the National Ambulance Service Representative Association (NASRA) branch of the PNA are still fighting for the right to be represented by the union of their choice, the PNA. NASRA has been to the forefront since its formation in highlighting service and operational deficiencies in the National Ambulance Service and calling the NAS, HSE and Government to account on the crucial issues facing the service and its dedicated, professional workforce. The 13-year campaign by paramedics, EMTs and advanced paramedics within the NAS to have the right to join NASRA/PNA as the trade union of their choice and to be represented by NASRA/PNA is continuing in the face of inexplicable opposition from the HSE. Our commitment to the NASRA branch of PNA and its members remains steadfast, and I am again calling on the Minister for Health and HSE to bring this unnecessary and divisive dispute to an end once and for all. The truth about trauma and repressed memory according to the experts What is repressed memory and how does our brain react to traumatic events in our lives? Heres the science behind how we create and store memories Memories do not always fall into binary categories of true or false. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Emily Hourican Thu 13 Apr 2023 at 03:30 The Australian dream? Meet the young Irish in Sydney facing another housing crisis Aideen OFlaherty talks to a group of travellers who set out on the trip of a lifetime, only to encounter another property-market nightmare Laura Pratt in Sydney Aideen OFlaherty Thu 13 Apr 2023 at 03:30 The ad was suggesting that it was necessary for women to look a certain way to be confident taking their children to school Botox is still one of the most requested treatments. Photo: Getty Images An advertisement for Back to School Botox for mothers has been banned in the UK as it exploited womens insecurities about their bodies and the ageing process. Glowday, a site that compares aesthetic procedure practitioners, had used a photo of a woman with a child wearing a rucksack to advertise back to school treatment" for parents in September 2022. The start of the new school term has an extra edge of anticipation for us Mums this year, the advertisement said. "It feels like the beginning of normality with women bearing the brunt of it all so its great we might finally be turning a little attention back to ourselves. Underneath, Glowday promised to offer hundreds of medically-qualified practitioners that are all insured, checked and verified. The comparison website said it had received more bookings for treatments in September, then [sic] ever before! "Over a quarter of women say lockdown has aged them and are turning to non-surgical aesthetic treatments to put the spring back in their step and perhaps feel more like themselves on the school run. Another photo showed a smiling woman in a dress and high heels with the caption: Why are Mums having Botox? All these women really want is to look like the very best version of themselves, and feel confident and self-assured. And thats exactly what aesthetic treatments can do for us. It added: So, what treatments are good for Mums on the school run? By far the most popular poison of choice, Botox If its your first foray into treatments baby Botox is your new BFF. The final section titled School Run Mum said: So theres a few ideas if you are one of those Mums who wants to dazzle at the school gates, or just a Mum who wants to dazzle, or just an ordinary woman who want to feel more like herself again! "You can book any of these treatments with some incredible practitioners on your doorstep. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) in the UK has now ruled that the advertisement can no longer appear. It focused solely on women, and specifically mothers the ASA said, adding the advertisement implied that women needed to look a certain way in order to have confidence. The ad was suggesting that it was necessary for women to look a certain way to be confident taking their children to school, the ASA said. The ASA also ruled the advertisements for Botox are already banned as it is a prescription-only medicine and Glowday has been told not to advertise prescription-only medicines to the general public, and to ensure that their ads were prepared with a sense of responsibility and did not perpetuate harmful gender stereotypes. Glowday corrected a number of issues raised by the ASA after arguing that the advertisement was based on research they had carried out. They said their research demonstrated that caregivers had the opportunity to book into treatments when schools began again. People awaiting the arrival of US President Joe Biden in Dundalk, Co Louth, on Wednesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Bidens historic trip to Ireland has provoked a strong response from the British press. Mr Bidens visit will mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. His trip has been described by US media as part homecoming, part diplomacy and part politics. CNN said Mr Bidens trip follows in the footsteps of JFKs visit to Ireland five months before his assassination in 1963. Reporter Kevin Liptak said that Kennedy told aides after his visit to Ireland that it was the best four days of my life. 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 New York Times in a news piece said Joe Biden is about to receive the warmest of welcomes. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also described it as an opportunity "to welcome a son of Ireland home, to welcome home a great Irish-American president". We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content However, Mr Bidens trip to Ireland has not been met with the same warmth by some publications in Britain. Foreign policy analyst Nile Gardiner said Mr Biden has gravely insulted Britain in his opinion piece for the Telegraph. Mr Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher, said President Bidens insulting decision to prioritise Ireland over the UK on his visit to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement should have come as no surprise. He also criticised Biden for not attending the coronation of King Charles in May. No US president has ever attended the coronation of the British monarch. Mr Gardiner described Mr Bidens approach towards Britain, which he labelled traditionally Americas closest friend and ally, as sneering, arrogant and disrespectful. He added that President Biden is putting two fingers up to the monarchy, Great Britain and its illustrious history and that he is no friend of the British people. Political cartoons were also illustrated to express dissatisfaction with Bidens visit. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Mr Biden has also been criticised by senior DUP figures, with MP Sammy Wilson claiming the president has got a record of being pro-republican, anti-unionist, anti-British, while former first minister Arlene Foster has said he hates the UK. Speaking to GB News, Ms Foster said: I just think the fact hes coming here wont put any pressure on the DUP, quite the reverse actually. However, following Bidens speech at Ulster University, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson told the media the Presidents words were measured and welcomed Mr Bidens visit to Northern Ireland. But Mr Donaldson said the Presidents remarks do not change the political dynamic in Northern Ireland. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content GB News Dan Wootton described Biden as an anti-British President and said he has a deep hatred of the United Kingdom. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The suggestion that Mr Biden was anti-British was rejected by Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council. She said: Its simply untrue the fact that the president is going to be engaging for the third time in three months, and then again next month and then again in June, with the prime minister of the UK shows how close our co-operation is with the UK. President Biden obviously is a very proud Irish-American, he is proud of those Irish roots, but he is also a strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the UK. Eagle-eyed people will have spotted Taoiseach Leo Varadkar wearing a pair of Mr Men novelty socks during US President Joe Bidens State visit to Farmleigh House this afternoon. President Biden spent the second of his three days in Ireland at a number of engagements in the Capital today. The US leader met President Higgins and his wife Sabina at Aras an Uachtarain this morning. Mr Biden planted an oak tree and rang the Peace Bell, which was erected in 2008 to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Following that meeting the US President made the short trip across the Phoenix Park to Farmleigh House, where he held a bilateral meeting with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar wearing 'Mr Cool' socks. While not drawing attention to his choice of footwear, Mr Varadkar was pictured at the event wearing a pair Mr Cool socks. It is not the first time the Taoiseach has shown a liking for novelty socks. Back in 2017, he wore Canada-themed mountie and maple leaf socks when he held his first meeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in Dublin. Later the US President travelled from the Phoenix Park to Dail Eireann this afternoon where he addressed both houses of the Oireachtas. Mr Biden said speaking in the Dail was the greatest honour of his career and added his only regret is that his mother and grandfather were not alive to be present. His day ended with a gala event at Dublin Castle tonight. Meanwhile tomorrow, President Biden will travel to Co Mayo for the final leg of his Irish visit. US president Joe Biden disembarks from Air Force One at Aldergrove RAF base, Co Antrim, on Tuesday at the start his official visit to Ireland. Picture: Charles McQuillan Standing on the edge of the Great Blasket Island, its easy to be transfixed by the majesty, power and beauty of the Atlantic Ocean. Gaze westwards at the blue-grey sheen on the horizon, and the vastness of the surrounding sea is mysterious and unknown. Theres much about the poet that witnessed him embracing the diversity that makes us all human. That the Good Friday Agreement was signed in the week of Seamus Heaneys birthday seems strangely apt. Yet, whatever about his oft-quoted line from The Cure at Troy about hope and history, there was much about the poet himself that witnessed him embracing in poetry and in person the diversity that makes us all human. While in prison in Mangaung, Thabo Bester ran a business and even appeared by video link at an event. 'Facebook Rapist' Murderer Thabo Bester Repatriated After Prison Escape Times Live reports that fugitive and convicted murderer-rapist Thabo Bester and his partner Dr Nandipha Magudumana have been brought back to South Africa from Tanzania, along with a Mozambican national. They were arrested en route from Arusha to the Kenyan border during Easter. Bester and Magudumana, who had been on the run since fleeing their luxury mansion in Hyde Park, arrived at Johannesburg's Lanseria airport on a chartered flight. Bester had been sentenced to life for rape and murder before staging his death in a fire in his cell. Power Utility Eskom Implements Stage 6 Blackouts Until Further Notice Eskom, the South African power utility, has announced that stage 6 load-shedding, the highest level so far of scheduled rolling blackouts, will continue until further notice, reports IOL. This is due to a breakdown of a generation unit at the Medupi power station. Eskom said the increase in demand after a long weekend and the reopening of schools had put additional strain on the system . Eskom will provide updates as significant changes occur. Negotiator Sent to Mali to Secure Release of South African Hostage Held by Al-Qaeda Five-and-a-half years ago, Gerco van Deventer, a South African paramedic, was captured by Al-Qaeda in Libya and later sold to captors in Mali, reports Times Live. Gift of the Givers, a South African humanitarian organization, is trying to negotiate his release. Negotiations were stalled due to Covid-19 but resumed after a French citizen held with Van Deventer was released. His family has struggled to raise ransom money, and the country does not pay ransom as official policy. Imtiaz Sooliman, head of Gift of the Givers, says negotiator Mohamed Yehia Dicko has landed in Mali "to pursue the case". City of Tshwane Restores Power to Multiple Areas Following Pylon Collapse Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines South Africa Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The collapse of pylons plunged multiple areas into darkness since Sunday, but efforts by the City of Tshwane have since restored power to affected neighbourhoods, Eyewitness News reports. Officials called on citizens to report infrastructure-related crime to reduce power outages in the city. Efforts to restore power to areas still affected are ongoing. Stage 9 Load Shedding on the Cards for South Africa? Stage 9 load shedding may be a possibility for South Africa if the nation experiences cold snaps, Business Tech reports. According to energy analyst Clyde Mallison, South Africans need to take necessary precautions as winter approaches, citing the Generation Adequacy Report which anticipates a high-risk scenario due to poor generation capacity by the national power utility Eskom. While Stage 9 load shedding does not exist - the maximum currently standing at Stage 8 - work is under way to revise this. More South African news US president Joe Biden poses for a selfie after delivering a speech on business development at Ulster University in Belfast. Photo: Jim Watson/AFP via Getty Images It seemed ungracious, on the eve of his birthday, to be nudging Seamus Heaney to one side. No offence was intended. Besides, one must nod to the prerogatives of hospitality. All the more so when the guest doing the shunting was the president of the United States, Even the late, great Nobel laureate, who would have been 84 today, could hardly demur. For after 25 years it was probably time for President Joe Biden to turn the page on Hope and history rhyming.... Doubtless, Heaneys haw lantern will still shine for many more years, but Mr Biden saw fit to add some new light. This time, it was the turn of Porta- down-born poet Sinead Morrissey. Whats left is dark and quiet, but bookended by light as when Dorothy opens the dull cabin door, what happens outside is Technicolor, he quoted. Mr Biden added: What happens outside is Technicolor. This place is transformed by peace. Made Technicolor by peace. Made whole by peace. In a gossamer-light speech, allowing for the sensitivities of some of his Belfast audience, he sought to reach rather than preach. He had not come to scold. At the same time, any soft soap was to be left on Air Force One. For he made plain that investment would flow far faster across the Atlantic if the institutions that were so central to the Good Friday Agreement were up and running. It was also his firm belief that the people of the North deserve to have a democratically elected power-sharing government. He would repeatedly stress that was for their judgment, not his. Its up to us to keep this going, he urged. And for those who needed further encouragement, he rounded off with: Your history is our history. He added: And even more important, your future is Americas future. No one really expected the balm of Mr Bidens words to coax the DUP down from the heights of dudgeon. Arlene Foster had accused Mr Biden of hating Britain before he had uttered a word, while Sammy Wilson had also warned him not to dare lecture Northern Irish politicians. Mr Biden tactfully took note of the terrible breakages and need for repair. Nonetheless, if the Good Friday Agreement brought peace, significant work remained to be done in reconciliation for the true potential of the North to be released. Speaking to RTE, Naomi Long of the Alliance Party endorsed Mr Bidens sentiments. She noted patience for stop-go government had long passed. Continuity of government, not just restoration, was what was required, and no party should be able to hold parliament to ransom. And those who came in the hope that Mr Biden would slip up, or offer some new offence to be banked for future outrage, may have left disappointed. For who can argue against the fact that there is a cornucopia of opportunity in co-operation, or that agreement will always open more doors than sullen rancour or division. Frank Coughlans superb article, Forgotten war sailors who kept neutral Ireland afloat (Irish Independent, April 11), prompted me to look again at the text of the citation and supporting document alongside the three-bar marine service medal awarded posthumously to my granduncle, Patricio McCarthy, who was born in Argentina. He lost his life as a result of a German U-boat attack on the Irish-registered steam trawler Leukos off Donegal on March 9, 1940. I am reminded of the many seafarers from other countries who lost their lives as a result of belligerent action while serving on neutral Irish-flagged vessels during the Emergency period 1939 to 1946 and who were awarded posthumously the Irish mercantile marine medal, which is the Governments highest decoration for service during the Emergency. The total of foreign nationals lost on Irish-registered vessels was 25, of whom 22 were British/NI. On May 16, 1945, then Taoiseach Eamon de Valera told the country: To the men of our mercantile marine who faced all the perils of the ocean to bring us essential supplies, the nation is profoundly grateful. Significantly, foreign nationals who were honoured for their sacrifice by the same Irish state in 1945 are excluded from any mention during the annual national commemoration. The old adage of eaten bread is soon forgotten springs to mind. Peter Mulvany, Clontarf, Dublin 3 Read more The forgotten merchant sailors who kept neutral Ireland afloat We need to snap out of being so offended or indifferent In his letter, No offence, but when will we all stop being so offended? (Irish Independent, April 11), Ray Dunne takes exception to a content warning shown before the film The Snapper was shown on RTE. According to Mr Dunne, this is cause for him to fear for Irish society becoming intellectually neutered in 30 years. Surely the fact RTE saw fit to broadcast this movie in the first place, content warning or not, shows they thought there was an audience for it in 2023 who could handle a bit of outdated or offensive humour. If they truly feared the ire of some outraged woke mob, they wouldnt have shown it at all. Ironically, it is people like Mr Dunne who seem to take offence at things in the name of proclaiming to the world that they are not offended. Sean Slattery, Newport, Co Tipperary Read more Biden is well worthy of the warmest cead mile failte Surely having a clean planet is a human right as well? On April 11, the Irish Independent ran a story headlined Government defends taking on group of Swiss grannies in legal battle over climate change threat. It detailed a case taken by KlimaSeniorinnen (Senior Women for Climate) to the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR). Ireland is one of two countries volunteering verbal arguments against the KlimaSeniorinnen, who argue that the Swiss government is not acting adequately to protect the health and lives of the population in the face of the climate emergency. It shocked me to learn that Ireland is not supportive of this case, so much as arguing that the ECHR does not guarantee people the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment. What is the supposed role of government in society if not to provide these attributes to its population? Ireland was the second country to declare a climate and biodiversity emergency in 2019. Since then, our emissions have continued to outpace our carbon budget. We are not playing our part in reducing emissions within the context of historical emissions of the Global North. Shouldnt the Government exist to ensure out waterways are free from pollution? To prevent the decline of biodiversity? To ensure our air is clean and safe to breathe? To ensure young people in Ireland can grow up confident of the future environment awaiting them? If the State will not protect us, we must endeavour to protect each other. Criodan O Murchu, address with editor Normal Stormont hostilities will resume once Biden goes It is mind-blowing how pathetic, bigoted and plainly useless the so-called politicians who cannot even bring themselves to go to work day in, day out for the good of the people they purport to represent can show up for the glory of a visit by Joe Biden. One by one they will line up in the University of Ulster for photoshoots and canapes. Then the doyens of Northern politics will revert to type and rush back to their familiar states of intransigence and senseless rhetoric. London is still paying these wasters wages, and I for one dread the day when Dublin might have to do so. Eamon Kearney, address with editor John and Michaela McAreavey on their wedding day in 2010 Twelve years ago, Michaela McAreavey was murdered in her hotel room while on honeymoon in Mauritius. She had married John McAreavey just 12 days earlier. Two hotel workers went on trial but were acquitted of the crime. The Indo Daily Unsolved: Return to Mauritius - the murder of Michaela McAreavey The Indo Daily speaks to Belfast Telegraph Crime Correspondent Allison Morris, who recently returned to Mauritius, about the case and continued search for justice. Members of the Waters family, Eamon, Rachel, Edwina, Mary Clare and Rhea lay a wreath at the graveside of Ned Waters. Picture John Tarrant A COMMEMERATION on Easter Monday remembered War of Independent fighter Edward (Ned) Waters at his resting place in Kilshannig Cemetery at Newberry. Waters served the Mallow Company during the fight for Irish Freedom, meeting his death in the Boggeragh Moutain at Inchimay near Nadd aged 24 years. In turbulent times in late February during 1921, Liam Lynch, commandant of the Cork No. 2 Brigade of the IRA, was forced by British activity in Lombardstown to move his brigade further west to the Nadd area. A training camp had been operating there for some months and David Herlihys farmhouse had become known as the barracks where the Mallow and Kanturk columns were dispersed among local farmhouses. In March, British forces helped by intelligence staged a major round-up. A party of British soldiers arrived unobserved to David Herlihys house where Herlihy, Lieutenant Edward Waters of Mallow Company, volunteers Timothy Kiely, Joseph Morgan and John Moloney were all sleeping, and were captured. They were all taken out the back to a field by the British soldiers and told to run. Morgan and Moloney dashed for liberty, both were wounded but escaped into the cover of the mountains. Waters, Kiely and Herlihy, however, were shot dead and bayoneted. Separately, Edward Twomey of Lacklown Company, a cow testing inspector who was at work, was shot dead running across a field. Waters is buried at Kilshannig Cemetery, his deeds and those of his colleagues acknowledged by guest speaker Billy Kelleher MEP. We come together on Easter Monday, April 10, a significant date in Irish History, 100 years on from the death of Liam Lynch and on the same date, the Good Friday Agreement was signed in 1998, he said. The attendance was welcomed by MC Patrick Fleming, proceedings opened with a decade of the rosary recited by John OConnor, followed by a laying of the wreath by members of the Waters family, a reading of the Proclamation by Michael Geaney and a poem recited by Christopher McSweeney. From left: final three in the Best Dressed Lady at Sunday's Races - from left: Mary Woulfe, Anne-Marie Corbett and Aine Purcell with judge Sharon Kennedy (2nd. from right). Easter Sunday at the three-day Easter Festival of racing at the Cork Racecourse, Mallow. Pic: Brian Lougheed Vinod Joseph Dsouza representing Herlihy Centra making the Daffodil Draw recently. First prize, a throw donated by the Irish Cancer Society, was won by Marie Carey, Sandfield Terrace. The second prize of a beauty hamper, donated by Claire Ruby of Visage Hair Salon, was won by Trish Kavanagh, College Wood. The Mallow region Daffodil Day generated a massive 39,114 this year for the Irish Cancer Society. Chairperson of the Mallow Daffodil Region Committee Noreen Gregor and her committee expressed much appreciation for the generosity of the communities of Mallow, Doneraile, Buttevant and Ballyclough, local schools, volunteers and also all those who donated daffodils. Special thanks to Tom Griffin and staff at Herlihy Centra in Mallow and to musicians who performed on the day. Adult Learning Centre Do you need help with reading, writing, spelling and numeracy or do you know someone that needs assistance? If so, the Mallow Adult Learning Centre can help. This is a free and confidential service. Please contact the Adult Learning Centre for more information. The centre operates from 9.30am to 1.30pm Monday to Friday. Please ring 022 42642 Mallow Field Club tour dates Mallow Field Club will visit the Spa area of Mallow, with local guides, on Tuesday evening next, April 18. Assembly point is at Tip ONeill Park at 6.30pm. This is one of the oldest parts of Mallow. The town developed in the vicinity of Mallow Castle, which was constructed to control the nearby river crossing. This outing represents a great opportunity to learn more of the early history of your town. Everybody is welcome to come along. The following are forthcoming programmes in the Mallow Field Club programme: Tuesday, May 16 - Bridgetown Abbey and Kilcummer Viaduct with guides Denis Power and Mary Sleeman. Sunday, June 11 - Bus Tour to Arfert Cathedral and Banna with local guides. Tuesday, July 11 - Kilmallock with local guides. Tuesday, August 15 - Glanworth with guide Christy Roche. For more detailed information please email mallowlectures@gmail.com. Mallow Field Club welcome new members, with an annual subscription of 20. Mallow RFC Girls Give It A Try Mallow Rugby Clubs annual Girls Give it a Try programme is now open for registration. The 8-week programme is for girls (aged 6 to 14) that have not previously played to have fun, make friends and learn how to play rugby (non contact/tag). The cost is 10.00 per girl for the 8 week programme and sessions are one hour in duration. First session begin on Saturday, April 22 at 11.00am, but girls are welcome to join the programme at any time over the 8 week period. Sessions will be held at Mallow Rugby Club on St. Josephs Road and for more information contact Neil at 087 655 1126 or email neil_sexton@hotmail.com. Mallow twinning trips The Mallow Treguier Twinning Committee are organising a second trip to the French town, following on from the one just ended over the Easter holidays. The second visit will take place on the third weekend in May which will coincide with the festival of St. Yves, held in Treguier each year. The Committee hope to have a return visit from friends in October or Easter next year. Further updates will follow. Should anyone be interested in visiting Mallows twin town or hosting Brittany families you can phone 087 245 9015. Dublin tenant undergoing chemotherapy says he has nowhere to go A cancer patient facing eviction from Tathony House in Dublin while undergoing chemotherapy, says the situation has left him stressed and desperate. Gianluca Pollastro (42) was diagnosed with lung cancer at the beginning of October last year and is currently receiving treatment. Residents living across 35 apartments in Tathony House, Kilmainham, Dublin 8, received notice to quit in October, seen by Independent.ie, as the landlord intends to sell the property. Mr Pollastro, who has been living at the property since June 2020, said there is nowhere for us to go as the tenants plan to stay past their eviction date in June. On October 19, the landlord told me by text to leave because the building is for sale, he said. Now I am stressed and desperate because I cant find any other place to move in because there is nothing or its crazy expensive. The treatment is hard enough without the added stress of this eviction. There is nowhere for us to go and I plan on staying, he added. The tenants are requesting for the landlord to engage with Dublin City Council to purchase the property through the tenant-in-situ scheme or an approved housing body. The residents plan on staying beyond the June 2 eviction date and will protest again on April 22. Tenant James O'Toole, who has lived at the property for the past 13 years, said: We are planning a rally at Tathony House on April 22 at 3pm to show the landlord we have supporters and we will defy our eviction if needs be. We are workers who work in this city and yet face the prospect of homelessness. Its unacceptable. I plan on staying no matter what, even if that means defying the sheriff and bailiffs, he added. Councillor Madeleine Johansson, who is also a tenant of Tathony House, said: I spend all my time as a councillor helping people who are facing homelessness and now I face it myself. Its terrifying to lose the roof over your head. The stress is so hard to deal with and I cant imagine how people like our neighbour Gianluca is dealing with it with everything else he has to deal with. Fr Peter McVerry, who attended a previous Tathony House protest outside Dublin City Council buildings in February, said the eviction ban should be extended until we can get to grips with the homeless crisis. Without that ban, trying to house people is like trying to empty the bath water with the taps still running, he said. A hospital worker and mother with a four-year old daughter being evicted from Tathony House previously told Independent.ie that she is worried for her daughter. Her creche is here and I dont have anyone to handle her, she said. Independent.ie has made attempts to contact the landlord of Tathony House for comment. The DCU sailing team completed a 24-hour sail in Malahide Yacht Club in aid of the RNLI A group of Dublin students has sailed for 24-hours in aid of the RNLI, the charity that saves lives at sea. The RNLI provides a 24-hour search and rescue service around Ireland and the UK, up to 100 nautical miles offshore and on some inland waters. Across the island of Ireland, this includes 46 operational lifeboat stations with 60 lifeboats on call. There are three lifeboat stations operating in Dublin, at Howth, Dun Laoghaire and Skerries. On average, lifeboats are launched over 1,000 times annually to answer a call for help on the water and bring approximately 1,500 people to safety. As well as working to save lives on the water, the RNLI which celebrates its 200th anniversary next year also provides water safety advice and education. Visits to schools, clubs and organisations provide opportunities to share life-saving advice and promote conversations on water safety. The DCU sail took place last weekend at Malahide Yacht Club, Broadmeadows, and the fundraising effort continues. Final year student and captain, Aoife Nash, told Independent.ie: There are so many people I know who volunteer as a coast guard and so many positive cases of people being rescued. RNLI lifeboats launch over 1,000 times a year around Ireland Its important to have that support when youre on the water and youre very vulnerable. All the people who volunteer, they give up their own time. Its a non-profit organisation. Everything they get goes towards the equipment and helping people out in the water, its important for them to get donations and funding. Aoife has been sailing since she was 13 and continued the water sport when she went to university. The 24-hour sail was a tradition in DCU quite a number of years ago. It didnt happen for a few years, but I was elected captain last year, she said. There was a lack of people sailing, so I made it my mission to encourage people to get sailing up and running again. It was really good fun, but the weather wasnt great this year. It was raining a lot; the nights were cold and windy. It was a bit of a challenge, but it was really nice for everyone to get involved, she added. The charity is volunteer-led, with lifeboat crews undertaking rigorous and continuous training to be able to deal with every situation on the water. Pauline McGann, RNLI Community Manager, said: As a charity, the RNLI relies on the generosity of the public to fund its life-saving work. The DCU sailing teams 24-hour sail in Malahide yacht club is a fantastic event and we are so grateful to them for their support. With more people getting interested in water-based activities and more equipment and opportunities available to get involved, its important to keep having conversations about water safety and knowing the advice that goes with your activity. RNLI lifeboat crews are always ready to answer a call for help and having the funds to provide the best in training, kit and equipment, ensures that it will continue for another 200 years. Over the last five years the RNLI has put sixteen new lifeboats on service at stations across the island of Ireland. The costs of these lifeboats range from 102,000 to 2.7m, while the average cost of training a crew member over a full year is 1,667. You can donate to DCUs RNLI fundraiser here. Tenants in 124 new social homes in Whitehall have to agree to a strict 'no pets' policy Dublin City Councils strict no pets allowed policy for new social homes in north Dublin should be reviewed for smaller animals, it has been claimed. An advert for 124 new social homes in Whitehall makes the no pets policy clear for prospective tenants. However, one local councillor believes some allowances should be made. In an apartment complex, a big dog wouldnt suit. But if people had smaller pets, I cant see why theyre not allowed, Sinn Fein councillor Larry OToole said. Its a cruel thing if you have young children who are really attached to a pet and to get rid of that pet would be heart-breaking. People become attached to pets, its hard to give them up. Maybe its something that should be raised with Dublin City Council. I understand why you couldnt bring a huge dog in, but a small pet should really be allowed. There should be some allowance, he added. Fianna Fail councillor Racheal Batten, for the Whitehall-Artane area, said: Most of the council homes allow pets and acknowledge that pets can be a very important part of a family. Unfortunately, this development is through an Approved Housing Body (AHB) that does not. This information is outlined on the application so anyone that is looking at these properties will know if they suit them or not. Meanwhile, Gillian Bird from the DSPCA believes the council should look at the possibility of a rental agreement for a pet. They may have made this decision because the facilities for pets arent available. If youve apartments, do they have facilities for pets? Are the lifts suitable? she said. A regular landlord can make the decision as to whether they allow pets. There are landlords who will set up a separate pet agreement and charge you an additional deposit in case of damage done by the pet. Its terrible on the council to turn around and say no pets allowed, but on the other hand, maybe its because of the facilities available to exercise and toilet their pets. Its not good for pet owners at this time trying to find accommodation. We would recommend the council look at the possibility of a rental agreement for a pet. Any tenant moving into the property will have to sign a letting agreement and there should be a situation where they sign for each pet, she added. A spokesperson for Dublin City Council said: These units have been advertised under the Choice-Based Letting Scheme. The advertisement gives a general overview of the properties available and when this process is finalised, the units will be allocated by Dublin City Council to households that apply. This set of apartments are not owned or managed by DCC and in such cases the rules for tenants are established and implemented by the management company. Paramore outside the new Tola Vintage store. Hayley Williams of Paramore performs during the 2018 Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival on June 8, 2018 in Manchester, Tennessee. Following a jubilant return to the road in the US Paramore is bringing their tour to the UK and Ireland, in support of their highly anticipated sixth album This is Why. Paramore released the title track from the new album last September and it continues to climb streaming and radio charts around the globe. Kicking off in 3Arena today, Thursday 13 April, 2023, the band will make stops in Cardiff, Glasgow, Manchester, London and Birmingham. This will be the bands first UK and Ireland tour in over four years. Paramore is working with environmental nonprofit REVERB on their 2023 tour to create positive impacts for people and the planet. They will host an Eco-Village at every show where fans can take action on important environmental and social causes. The band were spotted roaming around Dublin yesterday ahead of their 3Arena gig tomorrow night, from shopping at Tola Vintage to drinking pints of Guinness in Temple Bar, theyre definitely being tourists in Dublin. Heres all you need to go if youre heading to the concert: What time will it start? Doors open at the 3Arena at 6.30pm, with Paramore expected to take to the stage around 8pm. Who is the support act? Bloc Party, an English rock band, will support Paramore. What should concert goers be aware of? Its advised to allow plenty of time to travel to the venue, as traffic is expected. It is also encouraged to use public transport wherever possible. The maximum bag size allowed into the venue for the concert is 40cm x 40cm x 20cm, with small bags subject to a search upon entry. Food and drink cannot be brought into the arena but there will be food and drink, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic, available to buy inside. Bottles, cans, selfie sticks, laser pointers, large umbrellas, posters A3 size or larger and professional camera equipment are banned from the venue. What is the setlist? This Is Why C'est Comme Ca That's What You Get Decode Pool Hard Times Still Into You Rose-Colored Boy I Caught Myself In the Mourning You Ain't Woman Enough (To Take My Man) Boogie Juice Told You So The News Ain't It Fun Encore Nigerian novelist, Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, has said that despite her support for the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi who is an Igbo man like her, there are many other Igbo men she can never vote for if they contest the Nigeria's presidency. She stated this during a chat with Arise TV concerning her recent later to the United States President, Joe Biden, challenging the conduct of the 2023 presidential election that saw the emergence of the ruling All Progressives Congress' Bola Ahmed Tinubu as president-elect. Some members of the APC accused her of supporting "tribesman" describing the election as free and fair. Chimamanda said she didn't support Obi because he is an Igbo man, but because he demonstrated competence when he was Anambra state governor. She said, "Tribesman is just an outdated and strange expression, which I think says something about whoever is using it. I think that kind of accusation is a practice of what psychologists call protecting, which means you're doing something and you accuse someone else of doing it, even though they're not. "I did not support Peter Obi because he's an Igbo as I am. I am a person who doesn't take positions lightly. And so, while I very much admire Peter Obi, respect him, there are many Igbo men who I admire and respect and would never vote for them as president. "And so my support for Peter Obi is actually rooted in real things. It's rooted in my faith in his ability." She also said President Muhammadu Buhari and Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, blew their chances of becoming the new heroes of Nigeria's democracy. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. She said, "Many Nigerians feel deeply cheated by INEC, deeply disenfranchised by INEC, and that is authoritarianism which obviously is the basis of fascism at the centre of manipulating an election because what you're doing is that you're gagging people, you're forcibly taking away their voice. "I think that Prof Yakubu had an opportunity for heroism. I think he wasted it spectacularly. Because he could very easily have become the hero of not just Nigerians but Africa because so many Africans were watching and they were so inspired by what happened before this election and by the 'obidient' movement. "I also think that President Buhari missed an opportunity for heroism, maybe his last chance at heroism, because Nigerians felt before the elections that he meant well and meant to support credible elections. I don't think many Nigerians think that now." The protesters were calling for six titles to be removed from Swords Public Library A protest in Swords library against LGBTQ+ reading material for children has been condemned by councillors. Staff at Swords library in north Dublin were confronted by a group of protesters last Thursday demanding the removal of certain books providing information on gay and transgender issues. The protesters were allowed inside the building by gardai, while a counter-demonstration took place outside. The protest began at Pennys around lunchtime on main street and made its way to Swords Public Library, where protesters handed in a letter asking for the removal of specific books. These books included six titles, all of which were checked out at the time of the protest. Among them were, This Book Is Gay, by the author Juno Dawson, and the Trans-teens Survival Guide. The group claims the books are pornographic and should not be available to young readers. John Quinlivan, Director of Economic, Enterprise, Tourism and Cultural Development at Fingal County Council, said the books being sought by protesters on the day were not available as they were out on loan at the time, a statement which received laughter from councillors. Mr Quinlivan said gardai allowed a limited number of protesters into the building to hand in the letter and inquire about the availability of the books. Our objective on the day was to ensure the staff and users of the library were protected, said Mr Quinlivan. We engaged early with gardai and made good preparations to ensure the priority was, from both ourselves and the gardai, to protect library users and staff. We are happy the protest went off without incident for any of our staff, he added. No incident reports were submitted by staff and a union meeting took place on Monday. Mr Quinlivan said when books are destroyed or not returned there is a policy of replacement. It is absolutely normal practice for us to do so, he said. A motion to condemn the protest and express solidarity with library staff in the face of intimidation was passed unanimously by councillors. It called on the chief executive to convene a meeting between the relevant council officials, library workers and relevant garda authorities to discuss how library protests will be policed in the future. Councillor John Burtchaell, who raised the motion, said the issue was not a child welfare issue, but an attack on the LGBTQ+ community with bogus concerns. Cllr Karen Power requested that protesters who removed LGBTQ+ friendly books and do not return them have their library cards rescinded. While Cllr John Walsh said the protest was an attempt on censorship. There is clearly a small group of people who are not happy in Irish society at the moment and want to drag us back to the 1950s, he said. It was acknowledged by Cllr Paul Mulville that counter protesters and members of the LGBTQ+ community were extremely upset and shocked that protesters were facilitated into the library. However, a number of councillors criticised those who put blame on the gardai for allowing protesters inside the building. Cllr Ted Leddy said the criticism had unfounded accusations against the gardai, while Cllr Adrian Henchy referenced how garda members had their cars rammed during a recent protest in Ballyfermot. Every day when they [gardai] go to work we absolutely know they are risking their lives and their families and loved ones know that, he said. Enjoying the coffee at the new Coffee Pod outside the Tralee International Resource Centre is Sean Lyons, Adeola Onowolayemo, Nadiia Sichevska, Vlad Komid, Artem Mykhailov and Mary Carroll. Photo by Mark OSullivan. The new Coffee Pod organised by the Tralee International Resource Centre (TIRC) is up and running and already is proving a hit with the community. The artwork by 8-year-old Roibeard O Lubhaing from Scoil An Fhirtearaigh in West Kerry; Roibeard's work won him a Special Merit award at this years 69th Texaco Childrens Art Competition. The artwork by 17-year-old Clodagh McCluskey from Presentation Secondary School in Tralee which was chosen to receive a Special Merit Award at this years 69th Texaco Childrens Art Competition. The artwork by 13-year Jolin Weng, a student in Mercy Mounthawk in Tralee, which won a Special Merit Award in this years 69th Texaco Childrens Art Competition. Three talented Kerry students have won top prizes in this years 69th Texaco Childrens Art Competition with with winners announced this week. They were: 17-year-old Clodagh McCluskey from Presentation Secondary School, Tralee; 13-year-old Jolin Weng from Mercy Secondary School, Tralee and eight-year-old Roibeard O Lubhaing from Scoil Bhaile An Fhirtearaigh in West Kerry. All were winners of Special Merit Awards for artworks that Final Adjudicator, Professor Gary Granville said were imaginative and displayed high levels of skill and creativity. No strangers to the Competition, Clodagh won first prize in the 14-15 years age category in 2021 and a Special Merit Award last year, whilst Roibeard was also a Special Merit Award winner last year. The Texaco Childrens Art Competition is popularly regarded as the longest-running sponsorship in the history of arts sponsoring in Ireland, with an unbroken history that dates back to the very first Competition held in 1955. This year, as has been the case throughout its life, it has been a platform on which young artists from Kerry and counties throughout Ireland have had their talents recognised and their creativity commended. Dundalk is back, exclaimed a proud BIDS Manager, Martin McElligott following the visit of President Joe Biden to the town last week. Dundalk is back to the postcard town that it once was. Somewhere along the line we lost it, but Dundalk is a very important place, he added. It was an incredible turnout really given the rain, which probably put some people off, but we are still talking thousands of people. Many observers commented upon how well the town centre looked with the Facades project - which has involved painting the first floor frontage of shop fronts over the past five years - really popping with the vibrant colours much in evidence on the television news coverage. You have to be doing those things to be ready for a day like this. You have to be mowing the lawns and planting the flowers to capitalise on such an historic occasion. It was a defining moment, he added. The BIDS Manager outlinedhow well everyone pulled together to put Dundalk on the best footing for the second visit of an American President to the town, from senior management at council level right through to retailers who decorated their premises and shop windows in stars and stripes. The forward team were getting a bit anxious about the lack of bunting and flags around the town in the lead up to the event, but then on Wednesday morning they were bowled over by the way the town was looking. Martin explained how he had bunting and flags ready to erect, but waited until the last moment so that everything was as fresh as possible. Myself, Paddy Mackin and Sam McClenaghan worked from 6pm on Tuesday evening to 1pm on Wednesday morning getting everything in place for the visit. Prior to this the entire town centre from Church Street, Clanbrassil Street, Market Square and Earl Street was power washed and dis-infected. Speaking on Thursday morning, the morning after the day before, Martin explained that he was away on holiday when he first learned of the impending visit of President Biden. I was back home on Sunday, April 2 and got a text from a Council official the previous Friday giving me a heads up that I would be pretty busy when I got back to work on the Monday. Heading for a well-earned rest, he said the symbolism of the visit cannot be over-estimated for Dundalk and augurs well for the days and years ahead. The historic visit by US President Joe Biden to Louth on 12th April 2023 was a proud day for the county, with a huge welcome extended across Carlingford and Dundalk. The Department of Foreign Affairs, organisers of the visit, had put best efforts in for a smooth journey, but a Yellow Wind warning saw the planned helicopter landing site of President Biden change at the last minute from the Cooley Kickhams to Dublin airport, with the cavalcade then having to travel to Louth by car. An unfortunate incident on the M1 (unrelated to the visit) further hindered travel to Louth. At this stage, most people might have given up but President Biden, whose Louth roots are strong, was determined to visit his ancestral home. The 46th President of the United States is a direct descendant of Thomas, Catherine, James and Patrick Finegan who are interred in Kilwirra Cemetery, Templetown, Carlingford. The first stop for the Presidential cavalcade in Louth was Carlingford Castle in the heart of the medieval village. Accompanied by An Tanaiste Micheal Martin on the tour, President Biden took in the stunning views of Carlingford Lough. Built circa. 1190, the castle was abandoned in the 1700s, but in more recent years has undergone careful renovation by the Office of Public Works to make it more accessible to the public. The people of Carlingford were not shy in their welcome home to the President, lining the streets in the rain to greet his arrival. A piper band, which included one of Louth County Councils own firefighters, played a composition called Biden Returns which earned them an unexpected but much welcome invitation to play at The Whitehouse! Having left Carlingford, President Biden travelled by car to Dundalk. Large crowds lined the streets, as the President arrived in Clanbrassil Street for a visit to McAteers The Food House and a walk about towards Market Square, meeting and greeting well wishers along the route. A reception was held at The Windsor Bar and Restaurant, where President Biden met with a number of dignitaries including Oireachtas members, Louth County Council elected representatives, and Louth County Council officials. Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, Conor Keelan said: President Joe Biden has deep and lasting ties with County Louth, which were very clear when he said it feels like coming home. It was great to see him given the warmest of welcomes during this historic visit, which really showcased the very best Louth has to offer. Chief Executive Joan Martin said: It was an extraordinary day for County Louth, and we were delighted to witness the rousing welcome received in both Carlingford and Dundalk. We are really honoured that Joe Biden returned to Louth once again, this time as President of the United States, and hope that he takes home many great memories from his time in Louth. To mark the visit President Biden was gifted with a pair of specially designed Cloicin cufflinks, created by Louth based jeweller Garrett Mallon. Cloicin takes its name from the stony shoreline of Carlingford. A framed photograph of Kilwirra cemetery in Templetown, taken by Dundalk photographer Mark Duffy was also gifted, along with a book of Louth photographs taken by Mark Duffy. While the visit was directed by the Department of Foreign Affairs and the security services, Louth County Council had made preparations ahead of the Presidential visit over the last week. These included: Installation of 50 sq. metres of new granite paving outside the Queens building at Market Square; replanting of all flower beds at Market Square; removal of 50 bins along Clanbrassil Street, over 40 manholes searched and sealed with An Garda Siochana, and power-washing of footpaths and street surfaces throughout the town centre carried out over three consecutive nights. In addition the Clinton Monument, installed at Earl Street to mark the historic speech made by the first US President to visit Dundalk in December 2000, was cleaned up ahead of President Bidens tour of the town centre. Louth County Council co-ordinated with a range of organisations and agencies, including: the US Embassy, Department of Foreign Affairs, Department of the Taoiseach, An Garda Siochana and the HSE, to ensure the visit was such a success. The visit put County Louth at the centre of national and international media coverage throughout the day, presenting once in a generation opportunities for tourism and future economic and business investment. US President Joe Biden (left) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire US President Joe Biden's cavalcade leaves Carlingford, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Robert Hunter Biden, son of US President Joe Biden at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Son Robert Hunter Biden (left) and sister Valerie Biden Owens (right) of US President Joe Biden (centre) at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Handout photo issued by Government of Ireland of US President Joe Biden (left) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire Handout photo issued by Government of Ireland of US President Joe Biden (left) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire Handout photo issued by Government of Ireland of US President Joe Biden (right) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire Handout photo issued by Government of Ireland of US President Joe Biden (centre) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin (left) at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Julien Behal/PA Wire US President Joe Biden leaves after a visit to Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Biden leaves after a visit to Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Biden signs a book while on a walkabout through Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Biden takes a selfie while on a walkabout through Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Biden's cavalcade arrives for his visit to Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire People wave as US President Joe Biden leaves after a visit to Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Biden (2nd left) visits on a walkabout through Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Biden (centre left) on a walkabout through Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire People wave flags as US President Joe Biden visits Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Biden takes a selfie while on a walkabout through Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Patricia Moriarity with a selfie of herself and US President Joe Biden during his walkabout through Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland, She works in the food house restaurant that Joe visited. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire Rob Kearney during a visit by US President Joe Biden to Dundalk, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Niall Carson/PA Wire US President Joe Biden (left) with Tanaiste Micheal Martin at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire US President Joe Biden at Carlingford Castle, Co Louth, during his trip to the island of Ireland. Picture date: Wednesday April 12, 2023. PA Photo. See PA story IRISH Biden. Photo credit should read: Brian Lawless/PA Wire Dundalk and Carlingford shone in the rain today, as President Joe Biden made his third trip to the Wee County since 2016. The US President has made a deep and seemingly lasting connection with the birthplace of his ancestors from the Cooley Peninsula and despite the rain, the people of Louth and beyond turned up in their thousands to welcome him home. First off he stopped in King Johns Castle in Carlingford and then travelled onto Dundalk where thousands lined Clanbrassil Street to cheer his arrival as he stopped in McAteers Foodhouse, one of the towns most popular lunchtime spots. Read more Louth has a big, big smile for US President Joe Biden as he comes home His final stop-off in Dundalk was to the Windsor bar where proprietor Donal McGeough welcomed him, his travelling party and T.anaiste Micheal Martin and where President Biden spoke of his deep connection to Louth and its people and of how he is likely to return again at a future date. Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. President Joe Biden chats with Anna McAteer, mother of Jerome McAteer, who with his husband Bobby Wain owns the Food House Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. Bobby Wain with President Joe Biden when he visited The Food House in Clanbrassil Street Patricia Moriarity with a selfie of herself and US President Joe Biden during his walkabout in the Food House. Niall Carson/PA Wire President Joe Biden poses for a photo with Conor Halpenny and Einri McMahon in the Food House, Clanbrassil Street Well do it if we can promote Dundalk Dog Rescue. That was the message Bobby Wain and Jerome McAteer gave the secret service agents who had been checking out The Food House on Dundalks Clanbrassil Street ahead of the historic visit by American President Joe Biden. "We noticed a big group in suits coming in one day and we were so busy that they queued for 10 to 15 minutes and went away, said Bobby. They came back the next day and then every morning for coffee. We knew they were the black suits behind the President and they got talking to us about how they had fallen in love with the place and how it represented so much of what President Biden is about. The couple and their staff, then had to keep it all secret, and were delighted when a rumour went around that President Biden was going to call into XXI Ice down the street. "It was great it made it so much easier for us to keep it secret, said Bobby. "We had the secret service and the gardai coming in, and were locked down for two days. We left the building on Monday night with the Gardai here with their sniffer dogs and snipers on the roof. Then we were locked in here for six or seven hours before he arrived. It was all so surreal. Patricia Moriarity with a selfie of herself and US President Joe Biden during his walkabout in the Food House. Niall Carson/PA Wire The dog-loving President, the first to have a rescue dog in the White House, immediately struck a bond with Bobby and Jerome. "He grabbed the two of us and gave us the biggest bear hug. He came down into the restaurant and was talking about family and dogs. said Bobby. We told him how we had raised 25,000 at our wedding and he was blown away by that. He couldnt believe that the people of the town had given 550,000 in total to build a rescue centre. Bobby Wain with President Joe Biden when he visited The Food House in Clanbrassil Street Conscious that Tanaiste Micheal Martin was standing close by, Bobby told President Biden that until puppy farms and backyard breeders were stamped out, there would be a need for rescue. "He said it was pretty much the same in the United States. President Joe biden poses with staff in The Food House, Clanbrassil Steet, Dundalk President Biden spent over 20 minutes in the deli and restaurant, happily chatting with staff and posing for photos. "His team were trying to get him to leave, but he just kept talking and walked down the back to look at our wall of dog photos. "He hugged our two staff members who have special needs, Conor Halpenny from Louth Village and Einri McMahon from the Point Road, and got his photo taken with them. Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. While much of their conversation was about dogs, Bobby also took the opportunity to tell the President that Dundalk was multi-cultural town that welcomed people from many countries. Wanting to give the President a personal gift to mark his visit to their restaurant, Bobby presented him with a gold medal won by his grandfather Jim Beckett, who was one of Irelands top swimmers and athletes. President Joe Biden chats with Anna McAteer, mother of Jerome McAteer, who with his husband Bobby Wain owns the Food House "Its an 18 caret gold medal and I just felt it was something beautiful to give him. He said hes going to keep it in a display case in the Oval Office and share its story and then send it back to me when his presidency is over. Bobby and Jerome also presented President Biden with a specially commissioned piece of artwork by local artist Ciara Mullen, who makes pictures from stones. Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. "I went down with the rescue dogs to Whitestown beach, which is close to where his ancestors are buried in Kilwirra, and picked up stones and moss and gave them to Ciara who made the most beautiful piece of artwork. For staff member Patricia Moriarty, the Presidents visit was particularly special as she grew up in the United States and is an American citizen. "He was fantastic. Hes just lovely and we had the best of time. It was such great craic, she said of his visit. We knew for two weeks that he was coming and were very lucky that we were picked. Jerome McAteer, McAteer's Food House introduces some of his staff to President Joe Biden and Tanaiste Micheal Martin. During his visit, President Biden bought some sweet treats and a mug with the image of a dog. He paid for it with a 50 note and gave a 10 tip for Conor and Einri. While it was back to business as usual on Thursday morning, Bobby and Jerome found themselves at the centre of a media storm, with requests for interviews from radio stations around the country. President Joe Biden leaving the Food House in Dundalk following his visit. "Its mental. Jerome's been on with Pat Kenny and Ive done three interviews this morning, including some from Cork who have discovered that Im from Douglas, said Bobby. "It was such a great day to be Irish, a proud day to be Irish, he said, still not quite believing that they hosted the most powerful man in the world. "He said that we must go to the White House and weve made new friends for life. Collecting fines from NI drivers is not straightforward, meeting was told. The issue of Northern Ireland registered vehicles escaping parking fines in Sligo has once again been raised at a meeting of the county council. Sligo County Council have secured funding from Failte Irelands Platforms for Growth Tourism Investment Fund for the development of outdoor water-based facilities at Rosses Point, the County Council meeting was told. A sum of 650,000 has been allocated for the project. Cllr Declan Bree had asked in a motion, for when construction work was expected to commence on the proposed new outdoor water-based activities facility at Rosses Point and to ask what proposals, if any, the Council had to refurbish the steps leading to the First Beach In a written reply, Director of Services, Dorothy Clarke said the proposed facilities were currently at preplanning stage. It is envisaged that an application for consent to undertake construction works of the proposed facilities will be made to An Bord Pleanala in Q2 2023. An application to An Bord Pleanala is required due to the location of the proposed facilities in or near/adjacent to a Special Area Conservation (SAC). One could estimate if planning consent is received, that the construction phase might begin in late 2024 or early 2025 at the earliest. The Council has no current proposals to refurbish the steps leading to the First beach. The current steps cannot be rebuilt in the same position due to ever increasing coastal erosion risks. In the meantime, the steps have been closed off. Cllr Bree said at the outset he wanted thank Director of Services, Emer Concannon and Senior Executive Engineer Val Baynes, for their prompt response to the request to have stones removed from the slipway to the first beach in Rosses Point last week. As was known, stones can build up on the slipway during winter months as a result of high tides, currents and storms. And on many occasions the stones can be removed by the sea. He also thanked Ms Concannon and Brian Flynn for progressing the proposal to provide a swimming shelter at the Deadmans Point swimming pool. The provision of such a shelter to protect swimmers as they change in inclement weather, particularly during the winter months, will be of significant benefit, said Cllr Bree. With regard to the report on the proposed new outdoor water-based activities facility centre, I have to say that I am somewhat disappointed as I was under the impression from previous reports that construction work would commence early in 2024. There was a general welcome in April of 2021 when the funding was announced for the facility. Members were advised then that the centre will provide hot water showers, changing and toilet facilities, secure storage, induction spaces and will be fully wheelchair accessible. Currently, the public toilet at the beach in Rosses Point is only open from May to the end of August, so in this context the construction of the new centre will be warmly welcomed. He added that it would be his expectation that one of our beach wheelchairs will be located in the centre so as it will be readily available for disabled people should they wish to use it, he said. He noted from Ms Clarkes report, that unfortunately the current damaged steps to the first beach cannot be rebuilt in the same position due to the ever increasing coastal erosion risks and he thanked the director for the update. Cllr Thomas Walsh welcomed the update on the outdoor water based facilities and asked the Director if the design of the facilities was the same across the country. He asked for a coffee facility or takeaway dock be considered as well. Ms Clarke said it was very hard to give an exact time scale of when the Council would be on site. The Director said they may be on site before the end of 2024 but it was too early to say as they had previous experience of contracts having to be re-tendered. There are two facilities in Sligo and the design is a standard one but it would be tailored to an individual areas needs. The Director said they would keep members informed through the Municipal District meetings of progress. On additional facilities, she said they would be taken into consideration if the location allowed. Nairobi Kilifi Senator, Stewart Madzayo has said that they will approach bipartisan issues with an open mind. Speaking on Tuesday, Madzayo said that they are not going to threaten anyone stating that Kenya as a country is important than all of us. "We are not threatening anyone, whatever we want we are laying them down, they are going to be discussed by the parties, we don't know what they are going to discuss, we don't know what they are going to agree, each party will follow its own instructions," Madzayo said. The Kilifi county senator said that once the instructions have been given, the two parties on a bipartisan approach will sit down and try to negotiate and find ground expressing his positivity on the modality after they have discussed. "In the first instance when they sit, they will agree on the modality, we believe and trust that it is going to work, I have confidence," Madzayo said. In addition, Madzayo advised that we must do anything to ensure that there is peace in the country stating that that is the spirit they are approaching bipartisan. "The idea of just thumbing that others are wrong and others are right, do not go back to the streets, that is not how we approach bipartisan," he added. This news comes days after the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya coalition announced that it will embark on holding "a series of direct engagements with members of the public through town hall meetings and public barazas". The Chairman of the Azimio Executive Council Wycliffe Oparanya subsequently noted that the coalition's first town hall meeting will take place on April 13,2023 in Nairobi. The people's baraza will thereafter follow at the Kamukunji grounds on April 16, 2023. "The purpose of the town hall meetings and public barazas is to enable the party to explain to the people where we are and the upcoming course of action following the suspension of protests," he said. The former Kakamega Governor underscored that the coalition was ready to engage with their colleagues in Kenya Kwanza in resolving the issues raised key among them the high cost of living and the need for electoral reforms in the country. Tubbercurry will be the first town in Sligo to be included in a new scheme for the regeneration of town centres, the April meeting of the County Council was told. Director of Services, Dorothy Clarke was giving the elected members an update on the Towns Centre First -A Policy Approach for Irish towns. The Director told the meeting it was a new programme for the regeneration of town centres. Its main objective was to address dereliction and vacancies, and they were delighted that they were at the stage when they could roll out the programme here in Sligo. Senior Executive Engineer Brian Flynn said the Town Centre First policy was launched by the government in February 2022 and it was a joint project between the Department of Housing Local Government and Heritage and the Department of Rural and Community Development. The primary aim of the policy was to breathe back some vibrancy into our towns and cities and to tackle dereliction and vacancy and to improve facilities in towns. He said the policy contained 33 actions with some at a local and some at a national level. Locally, the appointment of a Town Regeneration Officer was made, and he was appointed to that role as of January 9 last. At a national level there was a proposal to set up a network of town regeneration officers. They were to meet monthly and share learnings across the country so they would know what works and what does not. All towns are unique, so it is not a one size fits all. He added that Towns Teams would also be established and made up of local representatives, local residents, groups, business groups, Tidy Towns and education facilities etc so that they can have a say in how their towns develop. He said that Tubbercurry was the first town to be considered in this category and there was a document issued to the consultants with the intention of appointing them to work with the Council in the preparation of a Town Centre First Plan for Tubbercurry. It was hoped to have the consultants appointed in the next few weeks. Their first objective was to have an open meeting with the community in Tubbercurry to see where the community feels the town is at, and what challenges that were needed to be addressed. They were also looking to put a town team in place, and they had around six months to develop this plan for Tubbercurry. In that time efforts would be made to get funding opportunities for the town under Town and Village Renewal. Cllr Tom Fox said the scheme was very important for the county of Sligo and it was very important to get our youth involved in the future of our towns and villages. Cllr Dara Mulvey welcomed the report and was also glad to see progress on the plan for Tubbercurry town centre. There was a very active community out there and hopefully some of the smaller rural towns in Sligo might learn from this scheme and get involved in the future. There were also other towns like Ballymote that could benefit. Cllr Rosaleen OGrady thanked Mr Flynn for his report, and it was welcome to see that Tubbercurry was one of the first places to be looked after but she was also concerned about Sligo town area. She knew that over the years relationships had been built up with businesses in the town and she was looking forward to the problems in Sligo town being looked after. Cllr OGrady said there was quite an amount of dereliction and closed businesses all over Sligo and she welcomed the initiative. Cllr Gilroy welcomed the report and wondered would all towns be included. Mr Flynn said that at present, the focus was on populations below 10,000, but that was something that was considered at a national level, and it was quite likely that it would include all towns in the future. LUXE will produce a dusk and dawn coastal spectacle in Sligo in July. The Cairde Sligo Arts Festival takes place from July 1st -9th. Cairde Sligo Arts Festival welcomes back trailblazing landscape spectacle company LUXE for a dusk and a dawn coastal spectacle and a very special closing event in the heart of Sligo town. The large scale illuminated show will take audiences on a journey of fire, water and magic. On the night of July 2 and morning of July 3, on the first full moon after the summer solstice, LUXE will open a portal to the seas above, use sacred geometry to lay out a large fire mandala in a special coastal location to be revealed and then at first light celebrate the new dawn with Fire Horses amongst the waves of the rising tide. Working in the half light, with mantra and fire prayer, absorbing light in the blue hours after the sun sets over the sea and again before it rises at dawn LUXE will make fiery imagery at the waters edge, elemental alchemy, magic created from two opposing forces Fire & Water. This is a landscape installation and audiences are invited to walk, sit, meditate and are encouraged to dress for the weather and the beach. Following the huge success of LUXEs An Streolin Seven Sisters on Coney Island in 2021, were thrilled to welcome LUXE back for two special coastal events and a spectacular closing festival procession on Sunday, 9th July, said a spokesperson for Cairde Sligo Arts Festival. LUXE have made trailblazing landscape spectacle internationally for 14 years. They continually extend and adapt their collections of sumptuous costume, processional and fire sculpture to make beautiful bespoke shows. They present processional, installation and ritual work ranging from intimate voyages to large scale illuminated journeys that embrace the elemental energy of their Atlantic home. Working always outdoors, often with small communities LUXE continue to find new causes for celebration, break new ground, open up new spaces and explore new approaches to spectacle. Full line-up and ticket information for the Cairde Sligo Arts Festival, which takes place from July 1-9, will be announced in the coming months. For more information about the festival, visit cairdefestival.com or follow along on social media. The festival, now in its eleventh year, features both renowned artists alongside emerging talents from the local community. In addition to the main performances, the festival includes a number of exclusive commissions, premieres, large scale outdoor art and unique events, such as The Ninth Wave, a new landscape spectacle by LUXE, The Hare new theatre by Bob Kelly and Clare Monnelly and The Lonesome Boatman a new family circus show by Colm OGrady. The festival features a program of workshops and masterclasses for people of all ages. Tara McGown has served as the Director of Cairde Sligo Arts Festival since the beginning, overseeing all aspects of its programming and operations, and working tirelessly to bring the best in local, national, and international talent to Irelands Northwest. Under her leadership, the festival has grown in size and reputation, attracting visitors from all over the world. Tara is a highly respected and accomplished professional in the arts industry, with a wealth of experience in curating and producing cutting-edge cultural events. US President Joe Biden with President Michael D Higgins as part of his visit to Ireland. Having visited Ireland several times before and being extremely proud of his Irish heritage, there was a small sense of hope in Wexford County Council headquarters that Joe Biden might just follow in the footsteps of fellow US President John F Kennedy and explore some of his Wexford roots. Back in 2020, it was revealed that Bidens great grandmother, a lady by the name of Catherine Roche, supposedly emigrated from the village of Taghmon, Co Wexford, in the 1840s. This very point was made in an official invitation sent to President Biden from Cathaoirleach of Wexford County Council, George Lawlor, through the US Ambassador to Ireland. However, there was to be no stars and stripes erected over the main street in Taghmon, as the invitation went unanswered, President Biden instead favouring visits to Louth and Mayo. "We decided to issue the invitation given President Bidens connection to Wexford, Cllr Lawlor said, somewhat conceding it was a longshot. Obviously it didn't fit with his schedule on this occasion. Aontu councillor Jim Codd was disappointed at missing out on the opportunity to show cousin Joe around Taghmon himself. "I certainly think its a missed opportunity, he said. I think the people of Taghmon would've been delighted to welcome the president. "We could've gone for dinner in Mary McGees and we wouldve shown him the sites and wonders of south Wexford. Changing his tone somewhat, Cllr Codd concluded by saying: It is a missed opportunity though, and it shouldnt go unnoticed. Brother John Gibson, a christian brother and retired teacher, who was found guilty of sexually assaulting two children at the school where he taught. Freed paedophile John Gibson has refused to apologise to his victims after serving four years behind bars for sexually abusing children. The disgraced Christian Brother walked out of Arbour Hill Prison last Wednesday, defiantly refusing to comment on his crimes. One of his victims said this week the 76-year-old retired teacher "does not deserve to be free". "He gave us a life sentence of bad memories and now he gets his freedom. Hell always be a danger to children, the survivor said. Dressed in a grey shirt, black trousers and a black jacket, Gibson carried only a small bundle of brown paper envelopes and what appeared to be medication as he left prison. He was approached as he took his first step to freedom outside the grounds of the prison at 9.30am last Wednesday. Startled by a press camera, Gibson mumbled "yes", but after being asked if he had a message for his victims, quickly walked towards a waiting car. Shortly after 9am, the driver of that car, a black Ford Focus, had arrived and parked outside the entrance, waiting 30 minutes for Gibson to be freed. Gibson rushed to get past the camera and into the passenger seat, before the pair made a quick exit. This is not the first time he has been outside the confines of prison since his sentence began in April 2019. Gibson was initially locked up at the Midlands Prison in Portlaoise, but was later transferred to Arbour Hill in the capital. He has been transported out of jail on numerous occasions over the years to attend a series of different medical appointments. One victim hopes he will never encounter Gibson on the street. He is under no restrictions. He is free to go wherever he pleases. I dont think hed be stupid enough to come to Wexford, but who knows? Hes arrogant. I knew the day (of his release) was coming, but you just try to put it to the back of your mind. This week, obviously, I cant, and its having a bigger effect on me than I expected. He doesnt have that hold over me like he did. I dont fear him anymore, but it takes its toll on me and the whole family. They see how it impacts me. Theres a lot more (victims) out there who for different circumstances arent able to come forward and there are some who are sadly no longer with us. I hope that people read this story and it helps them to know that it hasnt been forgotten and maybe it will help them to come forward. "There are many other victims, any time allegations of abuse came out, he was always moved from school to school. That was their modus operandi. Gibson was locked up in April 2019 after he was found guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of sexually assaulting two children. He indecently assaulted a 12-year-old girl at a CBS in Wexford between May and September 1983. He was also found guilty of indecently assaulting a boy, aged 14, between May 1 1985 and September 1 the same year. During a five day trial, the woman and man testified that Gibson molested them while washing them after they carried out odd jobs around the school. Gibson, with an address in Dun Laoghaire, had denied all three charges, but a jury convicted him by majority verdict on all counts - two against the female victim and the third against the male. Judge Elma Sheahan said Gibsons crimes had profound and long-lasting consequences on victims, he abused his position of authority and carried out the attacks in a premeditated way. A year later in June of 2020, he had four and a half years added to his sentence after pleading guilty at Wexford Circuit Court to the indecent and sexual assault of another young boy. He admitted two charges of indecent assault and three charges of sexual assault against the boy at various locations in Ireland on dates between May 1, 1987 and July 1992. Separately, in 2014 a number of other men and women, then aged in their 40s, made allegations against Gibson. One of the men said that he had first reported Gibson to gardai 20 years earlier. He said that the abuse took place in the showers when he was a student at the school and playing with the hurling team. He went into Wexford Garda Station 1994 to make a report and later two gardai called to his home to speak with him about it. They asked him to make a statement and he agreed to, but a few weeks after this a senior garda called to his place of work and told him that there was no point in pursuing the matter, because it would be one man's word against the other's. After reading reports of allegations made against Gibson in 2014, the same man contacted Wexford Garda Station again and made a second statement. Investigators told him that they were never able to locate the statement that he had made 20 years earlier. The man's wife went on to make a statement to gardai confirming that her husband had made the earlier statement, as he claimed, and corroborated his story. A file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecution on his case, but Gibson was never charged. Gibson also taught at the North Monastery Secondary School in Cork city in the late 1970s and 1980s. Gardai in Cork launched an investigation into claims he abused a boy during his time at the school. Gibson was interviewed by gardai in the Midlands Prison in relation to these claims. Wexford minister James Browne has announced funding of 215,000 to commemorate the 225th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion. A fund of 75,000 has been allocated to host a number of commemorative events across Co Wexford, culminating with a 1798 summer school in Enniscorthy. In addition, capital funding of 140,000 has been allocated by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage with 100,000 dedicated to the National 1798 Rebellion Centre and 40,000 allocated to the Fr. Murphy Centre in Boolavogue. Commenting on the funding, Minister Browne said, Im delighted to have secured funding for significant investment related to commemorations of the 225th anniversary of the 1798 Rebellion in Co Wexford. These three allocations from government departments to Wexford County Council (WCC) will go a long way towards honouring the rich historic legacy of the 1798 Rebellion. In 1998, the bicentenary was commemorated across our county. This year, we have an opportunity to again honour the great men and women who joined the republican cause in our county 225 years ago. The capital funding will significantly enhance the National 1798 Rebellion Centre in Enniscorthy and the Fr. Murphy Centre in Boolavogue, while the 75,000 will be used for a programme of commemorative events across the county. "Im delighted to have secured these significant investments in commemorating our countys history and I look forward to attending these commemorative events later this year, Minister Browne concluded. The announcement was welcomed by local councillor Cathal Byrne who described the 1798 Rebellion as part of the DNA of Enniscorthy. The memory and legacy of that rising and those who died in it form part of the historic fabric of our town, said Cllr Byrne. This funding will enable the hardworking staff of the 1798 Centre to upgrade and refurbish the existing exhibitions and will act to build upon the existing visitor experience. I want to pay tribute to the voluntary board of the 1798 Centre including Manager Mico Hasset for their work with this project and thank the officials in WCC who have assisted with this project from the beginning. However, Cllr Byrne said this announcement did not alter his long-held belief that the 1798 Centre should be located in a different part of Enniscorthy. "I remain of the view that the 1798 Centre ought to be located in a purpose built interpretive centre on Vinegar Hill and have raised this with officials in WCC to form part of a longer term vision for Vinegar Hill, he insisted. In the meantime, I am delighted that the Minister has allocated this funding and look forward to the works commencing later this year. Engaged at 21? The Irish couples who chose to marry young like Millie Bobby Brown Getting hitched at a young age is not a new concept, nor is it one reserved for the rich and famous, as these fresh-faced couples can attest to Christina and William Newell got engaged when they were 22 and 21 Saoirse Hanley Thu 13 Apr 2023 at 16:55 Model Grainne Gallanagh has bid farewell to her family as she jets off for a new life in Australia. The former Miss Universe Ireland, who has amassed a large social media following, revealed last month that she had bought a one-way ticket to Australia. The Donegal native and her long-term partner Ryan set off this morning for their new adventure Down Under. She is a nurse and worked on the frontline in Letterkenny Hospital throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Speaking on social media, the 28-year-old described leaving her home in Buncrana to travel to the airport as awful. "I've been up since 4am. We left the house at 5am and got the bus down to the airport, she said. "Leaving the house this morning was actually even worse than I thought it was going to be. "It was like a wake, it was awful. But we're here now. I feel like that's the worst part over with. "The flight now will hopefully be alright. I've a few books and stuff. The former Dancing With The Stars contestant also shared an image online with her partner, she said: Heart is broke, but also excited for new adventures. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The model previously said she was nervous about heading into the unknown. Speaking to the Sunday World, she said: Its something that Ive been talking about for years, but with Covid and all the rest I kept putting it off. Now Ive decided to give it a go and see how I get on. I can always come home if it doesnt work out, but at least Ill have given it a go. These are the things you do when you are in your twenties and I feel that, with Covid, we lost those years and they passed before you knew it. I feel that our generation was robbed of a couple of years where we should have been enjoying our best life. Jared Drake Bell, the actor best known as a star of the Nickelodeon television show Drake & Josh, was found safe on Thursday, hours after authorities in Florida said he was missing and endangered. Bell was in touch with police officers and was not in danger, Daytona Beach Police Department spokeswoman Carrie McCallister said. She did no provide further details. At this time we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr Bell is safe, McCallister said. Hours earlier, the police department put out a statement declaring Bell missing and endangered and asked the public for help in locating him. Before being found on Thursday, Bell was last seen on Wednesday night near a Daytona Beach high school. Representatives for the 36-year-old actor did not immediately reply to The Associated Press requests for comment. Bell began acting as a child and was catapulted to fame as a teen with Nickelodeons The Amanda Show and later Drake & Josh. The Nickelodeon show starring Bell and Josh Peck ran from 2004 until 2007, and was accompanied by two movies. Since then, Bell has mostly worked as a voice actor in addition to roles in little-seen TV series and movies. He also launched a music career. In 2021, Bell was charged with child endangerment relating to a girl who attended a 2017 concert of his in Cleveland when she was 15 and had met him online years before. He pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanour charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and was sentenced to two years probation. He was allowed to serve his probation and 200 hours of community service in California. I lost everything. Complete financial ruin Designer Helen Cody opens up about divorce, the death of her son and how she had to start all over again after the crash The scene of devastation after the air strike in Pazigyi village in Sagaing Regions Kanbalu Township in Myanmar. Photo: Kyunhla Activists Group via AP Schoolchildren dancing at a village celebration are among 100 people feared killed in what could be one of the deadliest air attacks by the Myanmar military since the junta seized control two years ago. The air force dropped multiple bombs on Pazigyi in north-west Sagaing, a region that opposes military rule, on Tuesday before an Mi-35 helicopter gunship circled and fired on those fleeing for roughly 20 minutes. Villagers had gathered to celebrate the opening of a new administrative office, part of a network set up by the opposition National Unity Government. Footage online shows the event ended in carnage, with dead bodies, burnt motorbikes and skeletons of destroyed buildings amid thick smoke. Residents told the BBC it was difficult to count the bodies because they had been blown into many pieces, but reports put the death toll at about 100, including 20 to 30 children. Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, said he was horrified by reports of the air strike on the ceremony, which demonstrates the juntas blatant disregard for the related rules of international law. UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres condemned the attack and called for those responsible to be held accountable, his spokesperson said, adding that Mr Guterres reiterates his call for the military to end the campaign of violence against the Myanmar population throughout the country. Junta spokesman Zaw Min Tun told military broadcast channel Myawaddy late on Tuesday that the attack on the ceremony held by the National Unity Government (NUG), a shadow administration, for their armed Peoples Defence Force was aimed at restoring peace and stability in the region. During that opening ceremony, we conducted the attack. PDF members were killed. They are the ones opposing the government of the country, the people of the country, said Min Tun. According to our information, we hit the place of their weapons storage and that exploded and people died. Referring to accusations of civilian casualties, he said some people who were forced to support them probably died as well. Min Tun said photos showed some of those killed were in uniform and some in civilian clothes, accusing the PDF of falsely claiming civilian deaths when their forces were killed. Citing residents of the region, BBC Burmese, Radio Free Asia (RFA) Burmese and the Irrawaddy news portal reported between 80 and 100 people, including civilians, had been killed in the attack by the military. According to a PDF member, about 100 bodies, including 16 children, had been cremated. The exact death toll is still unclear since body parts are scattered all over the place, said the PDF member, who declined to be identified. Myanmars lightly armed opposition fighters have no effective defences against the militarys air force. Air strikes have become a pillar of the militarys attempts to suppress opposition since its coup in February 2021. As more and more army road convoys are being ambushed, the junta is increasingly reliant on aerial attacks. According to BBC analysis, there have been at least 600 since the coup, including a hit on a school that killed nine people on Monday, a strike on a monastery last month in which more than 20 died and an attack on a concert in October that killed 50. The Myanmar militarys attacks against innocent people are enabled by world indifference and those supplying them with weapons, said Tom Andrews, a UN special rapporteur on human rights in Myanmar. Since the coup, more than 3,200 civilians have been killed and around 1.4 million have been forced from their homes. The latest violence has sparked renewed and widespread condemnation internationally. Turkana Thirty-two Kenyans face a 20-year jail term in Ugandan prisons for allegedly being in possession of illegal firearms and ammunition. They were sentenced by the 3rd Division Military Court Martial based in Moroto District in the Northern region. The 32 Kenyans, all residents of Orum, Loima Sub County, were convicted on their own plea of guilty and sentenced by the court presided over by the 3rd Division Court Martial Chairman, Col Benard Arinaitwe Tuhame. According to the Monitor, on April 8, the UPDF together with police conducted a successful cordon and search operation in the areas of Lokiriaut, Nadunget sub-county where 31 guns and 752 rounds of ammunition were recovered from Turkana pastoralists in Moroto District. "It was a well-executed operation after intelligence leads indicated that the kraal in the village owned by the Turkana pastoralists was a hideout for guns," Brig Balikuddembe said. Brig Balikuddembe said one warrior was killed during the operation while others were injured. "Joint security forces minimized as much as possible the number of casualties despite the heavy crossfire that injured five warriors, one UPDF soldier, while one warrior was put out of action as he tried to flee the scene with a gun," he said. Brig Balikuddembe said that about 129 suspects were arrested in the operation, but the criminal files for the 32 suspects are the ones which were ready by Tuesday for prosecution. - Kna Michael Angelo Riley, 51, was on duty when a mob attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, injuring more than 100 officers. Insurrectionists stormed the US Capitol in Washington on January 6, 2021 (Jose Luis Magana/AP/PA) A US Capitol police officer who tried to help a Virginia fisherman avoid criminal charges for storming the building has been sentenced to two years of probation and four months of home detention. Michael Angelo Riley, 51, was on duty when a mob attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, injuring more than 100 officers. Riley said his awful judgment cost him his career, tarnished his reputation, ended friendships in the department and traumatised his family. The amount of regret and remorse I have over this situation in unimaginable, Riley told US District Judge Amy Berman Jackson before she sentenced him. When the time came for (Riley) to hold the line, he sided with a known rioter, a person he had never met or spoken to, because of the rioters political views and because he happened to be a good fisherman Assistant US Attorney Christopher Howland Before the hearing, prosecutors recommended a prison sentence of two years and three months for Riley. The judge said Rileys actions were shocking conduct for any member of law enforcement. You knew exactly how bad January 6 was, she added. She also ordered him to pay a 10,000 dollar (7,980) fine and perform 150 hours of community service. On January 6, 2021, Riley investigated a report of an explosive device at Republican National Committee headquarters and helped an injured officer. The following day, he posted a Facebook message calling for federal charges against anybody who assaulted police, damaged property or breached the Capitol. If we dont send a message it will surely happen again, he wrote. Less than two hours later, Riley read a Facebook post by Jacob Hiles, a fisherman he knew from YouTube videos. Hiles wrote about his own participation in the riot and posted a video of rioters clashing with police. Riley, of Maryland, privately messaged Hiles and identified himself as a Capitol police officer who agreed with his political stance. Take down the part about being in the building they are currently investigating and everyone who was in the building is going to be charged. Just looking out! Riley wrote. They continued to exchange friendly messages until Hiles told Riley that the FBI was very curious that they had been communicating. They took my phone and downloaded everything, Hiles wrote. Riley immediately deleted all their private messages, according to prosecutors. Riley was charged with two counts of obstruction of justice. In October 2022, a jury convicted him of one count but deadlocked on the second. Riley described his actions as stupid and reckless but said he did not think he was breaking the law. It certainly doesnt excuse my lapse in judgment, he said. Riley fully understood the horrors of the January 6 attack, Assistant US Attorney Christopher Howland said in a court filing. And yet, when the time came for (Riley) to hold the line, he sided with a known rioter, a person he had never met or spoken to, because of the rioters political views and because he happened to be a good fisherman, Mr Howland wrote. Rileys lawyers said he already has paid a steep price for contacting Hiles as he has lost his job. If he could do it all over again, he never would have contacted him, they wrote. Hiles pleaded guilty in September 2021 to a misdemeanor count of parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. Judge Jackson sentenced him in December 2021 to two years of probation and ordered him to complete 60 hours of community service. More than 1,000 people have been charged with federal crimes related to the January 6 riot. More than 600 of them have pleaded guilty or been convicted after trial. More than 450 have been sentenced, with over half getting terms of imprisonment ranging from seven days to 10 years. More than 100 police officers were injured at the Capitol on January 6. Also on Thursday, a different judge is scheduled to sentence a Michigan man who pleaded guilty to assaulting a police officer at the Capitol during one of the most brutal clashes between rioters and law enforcement. Logan Barnhart, a pipelayer who modelled for covers of romance novels, grabbed an officer by his neck and torso and dragged him into the crowd of rioters on the Capitols Lower West Terrace. Minutes later, Barnhart returned to a police line and struck other officers with a flagpole. Prince Harry and Meghan with King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at the funeral of Queen Elizabeth last September. Photo: Reuters Prince Harry will attend his fathers coronation, but his wife Meghan will miss the occasion and stay in California with the couples children, Buckingham Palace has announced. Harry, who laid bare his troubled relationship with the royal family in his Netflix documentary and autobiography Spare, will be there to witness King Charles and stepmother the Queen Consort Camilla being crowned in Westminster Abbey on May 6. Meghan will instead stay in the US with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The palace said in a brief statement yesterday: Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that the Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The news ends months of Will they? Wont they? speculation about whether the couple would show up to the Kings big day, but will undoubtedly see Meghan accused of snubbing the monarch and the royal family. May 6 is Archies fourth birthday, and his celebrations played a part in the duchesss decision to remain in the US, sources said. Archewell, Harry and Meghans charitable foundation, issued a near identical statement to the palace confirming Harry will join guests at the coronation. His attendance will see him appear in a public setting with Charles; Camilla; his brother William, the Prince of Wales; sister-in-law Kate, the Princess of Wales; and the rest of his family for the first time since he lambasted the royals in his memoir. It will also be the first time he has been pictured with the Windsors since the funeral of his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth. Harry criticised Charless parenting, said the king was jealous of Meghan and Kate, and accused William of physically attacking him in his tell-all book, which was published in January. He also branded Camilla dangerous and accused her of sacrificing him on her own personal PR altar. He went on to allege it was William and Kate who encouraged him to notoriously dress up as a Nazi at a fancy dress party. Harrys inflammatory claims were seen as damaging his fragile relationship with his brother the future king beyond repair, and further troubling his dealings with Charles and the rest of the family. In the three years since the Sussexes stepped down as senior working royals, they have been critical of the monarchy, telling their story in their Netflix documentary and in a televised interview with Oprah Winfrey. Harry and Meghan were asked earlier this year to vacate their UK home, Frogmore Cottage, in a move sanctioned by the king. It is unclear what the arrangements will be for Harrys security while he is in London. The duke is taking legal action against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK. It has not been confirmed whether Harry will play any particular role in the coronation ceremony, whether he will join the carriage procession or appear on the palace balcony with the royal family. The duke has a claim against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over phone hacking allegations being heard at the High Court, with the trial due to start on May 9, three days after the coronation. Three British women are determined to get justice by suing toxic masculinity influencer Andrew Tate over allegations of violent sexual and physical assault. The claimants, in their late 20s and early 30s, are pursuing the former world champion kickboxer for damages for offences they claim took place between 2013 and 2016. They accuse the 36-year-old of causing personal injury and psychiatric harm through assaults and coercive, controlling behaviour. Tate is understood to have denied any wrongdoing. It is hoped the legal action will lead to further victims coming forward and result in a UK criminal investigation into Tate. One claimant said: To have seen Andrew Tates rise in popularity and influence, while knowing who he is and what he has done, has been extremely difficult for those of us who were sexually and physically abused by him. "We intend to prove in court that Andrew is abusive, coercive and controlling and that his public statements about women are nothing more than fantasy. We are determined to get justice, and are ready to fight for it. The case is being brought by McCue Jury & Partners, who hope reports of the claim could embolden other victims to come forward. Matthew Jury, the firms managing partner, said: For years, Tate abused and manipulated women across the UK, committing numerous violent sexual and physical assaults for which he has never been brought to justice. This is an unacceptable failing on the part of the UK authorities. Mr Jury said young men must be protected from Tates weaponised misogyny and promotion of aggressive and violent behaviour towards women. The proceedings will initially be crowdfunded. Jayne Butler, chief executive of Rape Crisis in the UK, said: We are deeply concerned by the dangerous ideology of misogynistic rape culture that Mr Tate spreads, and the serious allegations against him. We commend these survivors for speaking out. Anyone impacted by this case can contact our 27/7 rape and sexual abuse support line. The dual British-US citizen is under house arrest in Bucharest on suspicion of organised crime and human trafficking. Rescued migrants aboard a fishing boat greet their arrival at the port of Catania with cheers and to the cry of 'Bella Italia'. Photo: Fabrizio Villa/Getty Images Italys right-wing government has declared a six-month national state of emergency following a sharp surge in migrant flows across the Mediterranean. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said the decree would allow for a more efficient and timely management of flows. It means Rome can bypass normal EU public bid processes and certain regulations to quickly build structures for sheltering, processing and repatriating migrants. The government has set aside 5m for the measure, which also calls for the appointment of a special commissioner. Pressure to act has been mounting since a migrant boat was wrecked on the Calabrian coast on February 26, leaving more than 90 dead with bodies washing up on the shoreline for weeks. So far this year, 31,000 migrants have arrived in Italy, either on their own or after being rescued quadruple the amount in the same period last year. More than 3,000 have arrived since Sunday alone. Most are from Ivory Coast, according to government data, followed by people from Guinea, Pakistan, Egypt, Tunisia and Bangladesh. A worsening economic and political crisis in Tunisia has exacerbated the problem, with human traffickers using beaches near Sfax, just 260km from the Italian island of Lampedusa, as opposed to departure points in Libya. Since a fiery speech on February 21 by Tunisian president Kais Saied, in which he lashed out at the countrys sub-Saharan African population, many Ivory Coast guest workers have lost their jobs or faced violence and discrimination, prompting them to flee. Ms Meloni has pressed the EU for more action, but pledges of solidarity have not yet turned into concrete help. Lets be clear, this doesnt resolve the problem, the solution of which is linked to a mindful and responsible intervention of the European Union, Civil Protection and Sea Policies minister Nello Musumeci said after the cabinet meeting. Five Star Movement leader and former premier Giuseppe Conte lambasted the move as a far cry from the false election promises of unrealisable naval blockades and recalled how he was criticized by the right-wing for imposing similar decrees during the Covid-19 pandemic. Marwa Mahmoud, an Egyptian-born Democratic Party city councillor in Reggio Emilia, said the right-wing government has failed to pursue sensible solutions such as amending the Dublin agreement or creating safe and legal humanitarian corridors. Why, when Italians go abroad, do we choose to call it a brain drain? asked Mahmoud in an interview with Repubblica. Perhaps those arriving have the same ambitions as those who immigrated to America from Italy 100 years ago. Meanwhile, dozens of unseaworthy vessels have been detected in recent days. One carrying nearly 700 passengers arrived Wednesday in the Port of Catania, with the hotspot centre in Lampedusa swollen to nearly four times its capacity. ( Telegraph Media Group Ltd 2022) Pope Francis was unconscious when he was rushed to hospital two weeks ago with bronchitis and could have died. Thats according to an Italian man widely reported to speak to the Pontiff regularly, who said he last talked to him on Saturday. The 86-year-old Pontiff was taken to Romes 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 reporters that in their most recent conversation the Pope sounded better than he had the last time the two men spoke in January. He seemed very tired back then, Mr Ferri said. Mr 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 Im not sure I would have been around to tell it. Mr 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 Mr Ferri. It did not comment on Mr Ferris latest remarks. Last week, the Pope was well enough to preside over all Easter celebrations, apart from a Good Friday night-time outdoor service that he skipped due to cold weather. Francis suffers from a number of ailments. Part of one of his lungs was removed because of an illness when he was a young man in Argentina. Revenue and operating profit will grow this year, the business said, despite remaining flat in the first half. Imperial Brands expects a rise in profit and revenue this financial year (Imperial Brands/PA) Cigarette and vape-maker Imperial Brands said that it expects to meet expectations this year with rises in profit and revenue, but warned that its next-generation products had taken a hit in the US. The business said that it was on track to meet full-year expectations in a short update to the stock market on Thursday morning. Revenue and operating profit will grow this year, it said, despite remaining flat in the first half. But the business warned that there had been uncertainty in the US which led sales of its next-generation products to fall in the first half. It came after the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a marketing denial order for several of Imperials myblu vaping products last year. First-half NGP revenues are expected to be ahead of the prior period, driven by strong growth in Europe, more than offsetting declines in the US, driven by uncertainty caused by the marketing denial order for myblu, it said. Europe is Imperials biggest market and whilst market share gains elsewhere are currently compensating for declines in the UK and Germany, this is something to keep an eye on Derren Nathan, Hargreaves Lansdown Much of the cigarette industry is putting its hopes in new products such as heated tobacco and vaping pens as it tries to find new products to replace traditional tobacco which causes cancer. US authorities have been tougher on vapes than many of their international peers. On Wednesday, e-cigarette maker Juul agreed to pay nearly half a billion dollars to settle claims by six US states that it had unlawfully marketed its products to minors, according to reports. Imperial Brands still managed to grow its share of the cigarette and other combustible products market in the US, Spain and Australia, three of its priority areas. This offset declines in the UK and Germany. It means that the company has seen market share remain stable for two years running after several years of decline. Focused investment in our priority combustible markets continues to support the stabilisation of market share. We are consolidating the strong gains achieved last year with aggregate share in our top-five markets at the half year expected to be at a similar level to the prior period, it said. Derren Nathan, head of equity research at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: As pressure mounts on consumers, tobaccos resilience continues to hold up. Imperial Brands is flexing its pricing power further this year which it is confident will help it eke out modest revenue and profit growth. But with profits flat in the first half, even modest full-year growth expectations mean theres a lot to deliver in the second half. Europe is Imperials biggest market and whilst market share gains elsewhere are currently compensating for declines in the UK and Germany, this is something to keep an eye on. Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who was jailed over payments to Stormy Daniels. Photo: Eduardo Munoz/Reuters Former US president Donald Trump is suing his former lawyer Michael Cohen for more than $500m (455m), according to a filing in federal court in Florida yesterday. The lawsuit comes after Mr Cohen, once Mr Trumps loyal fixer, testified before a Manhattan grand jury that later indicted Mr Trump on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, marking the first time in US history that a former president has been charged with a crime. Mr Trump, who is seeking the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, pleaded not guilty in that case on April 4. Mr Cohen is poised to be a star witness in any eventual trial in the case, which centres around a hush money payment he made before the 2016 election to a porn star who says she slept with Mr Trump. The lawsuit accuses Mr Cohen of violating his attorney-client relationship with Mr Trump by revealing his confidences and spreading falsehoods in books, podcasts and media appearances. It says Mr Cohen wrongfully called Mr Trump racist in his 2020 book, Disloyal, and fabricated conversations with Mr Trump. The timing of Disloyals release, just prior to the November 3, 2020, Presidential Election, suggests that Defendant intended to improperly disclose Plaintiffs confidences when it would be most lucrative to do so and while Disloyal would be sure to have the most damaging reputational effect, the lawsuit said. Mr Trump lost the election to Democrat Joe Biden. Mr Cohen did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Mr Cohen was a top executive at Mr Trumps real estate company and then worked as his personal lawyer when Mr Trump assumed office in 2017. While Mr Cohen said that year that he would do anything to protect Mr Trump, his stance had changed dramatically by 2019, when he testified before a US congressional committee. I am ashamed because I know what Mr Trump is, Mr Cohen told the panel. He is a racist. He is a con man. He is a cheat. Mr Cohen in 2018 pleaded guilty to violating federal election law through the $130,000 payment to the porn star, Stormy Daniels. He was sentenced to three years in prison for that and other crimes, including cheating on his personal taxes and lying under oath to Congress about when the Trump Organisation stopped working on a proposed building project in Russia. Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports that Stormy Danielss lawyer has submitted a complaint with a New York attorney grievance committee against one of Mr Trumps top lawyers, alleging he has a conflict of interest. Clark Brewster said he submitted the complaint this week after it was raised during Mr Trumps arraignment whether Joe Tacopina should be conflicted out of representing the former president. Mr Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in an alleged hush-payment scheme in which Ms Daniels was paid $130,000 in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter she had with Mr Trump. Ms Daniels, an adult-film actress who is now a witness in the case against Mr Trump, contacted Mr Tacopina in February 2018 about potentially hiring him to represent her in matters related to her encounters with Mr Trump. Mr Brewster raised the issue after hearing Mr Tacopina make public statements Mr Brewster said are at odds with those privileged communications. Mr Tacopina dismissed the allegation from Mr Brewster, saying in a statement to the Post: Ive never had a disciplinary finding against me in my 32 years of practice and I intend on keeping it that way. The missile flew between the Korean Peninsula and Japan which prompted an alert for people on Japans northernmost island to seek shelter. North Korea launched a ballistic missile toward the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to take shelter as a precaution. A TV screen shows an image of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea. (Lee Jin-man, AP Photo) North Korea launched a ballistic missile towards the sea between the Korean peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to take shelter as a precaution. South Koreas joint Chiefs of Staff said the North Korean missile flew toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan but gave no further details, such as how far it flew and exactly what type of weapon the North launched. The launch had prompted the Japanese government to urge people to seek shelter on the northernmost island of Hokkaido. Japanese media later reported the Japanese government retracted the alert and emergency notice to local governments, saying there was no possibility of a missile landing in the Hokkaido area. The launch, the latest in the Norths barrage of weapons tests this year, came days after its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways. Japan issued a similar evacuation order in October last year when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated a potential to reach the US Pacific Territory of Guam. This year, North Korea has launched about 30 missiles in response to South Korean-US military drills it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. South Korean and US officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Koreas growing nuclear and missile threats. During a military meeting on Monday, 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, according to North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content KCNA said that meeting discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defence capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by its rivals military drills. North Korea has long argued that US-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washingtons hostility against Pyongyang. The North has said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to deal with US military threats, though US and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North. There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead earlier this month. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on missiles. Thursdays launch also came as South Korea accused North Korea of not responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Justin Pearson, from Memphis, was sworn in a day after commissioners voted to reinstate him. Justin Pearson is sworn in at the State Capitol in Nashville, Tenn., on Thursday, April 13, 2023 (Nicole Hester/The Tennessean via AP/PA) The second of two black Democrats expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House followed his colleague back to work at the Capitol on Thursday, a week after their expulsion for participating in a gun control protest. Justin Pearson, from Memphis, was sworn in on Thursday outside the statehouse. The day before, Shelby County commissioners voted to reinstate him. Yes indeed, happy resurrection day, Mr Pearson said on Thursday morning, as he signed paperwork for his return. Before Mr Pearson returned to the House floor, politicians cheered and applauded as the police officers who responded to a recent deadly Nashville school shooting the event that prompted the gun control protest were honoured in the chamber. Democratic Bob Freeman praised the officers bravery, but also stressed that inaction is not an option on how to respond to the tragedy. Republicans banished Mr Pearson and Justin Jones last week over their role in the protest on the House floor over the shooting, which left three children and three adults dead. The Nashville Metropolitan Council took only a few minutes on Monday to restore Mr Jones to office. He was quickly reinstated to his House seat that day. The appointments are interim, though both Mr Jones and Mr Pearson plan to run in special elections for the seats later this year. The Houses vote to remove the pair but keep white representative Gloria Johnson drew accusations of racism. Ms Johnson survived by one vote. Republican leadership denied that race was a factor, noting that Ms Johnsons role in the protest did not involve some steps that Mr Jones and Mr Pearson took, including speaking into a bullhorn. Banishment is a move the chamber has used only a handful times since the Civil War. Most state legislatures have the power to expel members, but it is generally reserved as a punishment for those accused of serious misconduct, not used as a weapon against political opponents. The expulsions last Thursday made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy. In the span of a few days, the two raised thousands of campaign dollars and the Tennessee Democratic Party received a new jolt of support from across the US. Political tensions rose when Mr Pearson, Mr Johnson and Ms Jones, from the House floor, joined hundreds of demonstrators who packed the Capitol to call for passage of gun control measures. As protesters filled the galleries, the politicians 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. Their participation from the front of the chamber broke House rules because the three did not have permission from the House speaker. In Tennessee, Republican lawmakers have been more supportive of the idea to strengthen school safety than to address gun control with only weeks to go in the legislative session. Republican Governor Bill Lee has avoided commenting on the members expulsions, saying the controversy is a House issue. He has since called on the General Assembly to pass legislation aimed at keeping dangerous people from acquiring weapons. The Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest brought together the three neighbouring countries foreign and defence ministers. Romania, Ukraine and Moldova signed cooperation agreements in Romanias capital on Thursday after a trilateral meeting on ways to strengthen security in their Black Sea region to counter threats posed by Russian aggression. The Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest brought together the three neighbouring countries foreign and defence ministers, government officials and international partners. The aim was to address the wide-ranging impact that Moscows war in Ukraine is having on the region. Instead of peace and stability, the Black Sea region has become the primary target of the Russian aggression Romanias foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu Nato member Romanias foreign minister Bogdan Aurescu called Russia the most direct and serious threat to the Black Sea region and the Western alliance, and said war-torn Ukraine and embattled Moldova are essential to our future European security. Instead of peace and stability, the Black Sea region has become the primary target of the Russian aggression, he said, adding that a strong Nato presence there is a must. After signing the agreements, which aim to boost political, economic and security cooperation between the three nations, Mr Aurescu said it records the fact that we have similar visions. Ukraines foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba who spoke to the Bucharest gathering by video-link called the war a bleeding wound in the middle of Europe and said a security network for countries in the region that feel threatened by the maniac on the loose must be sought. Its time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, a sea of Nato, Mr Kuleba said, referring to Finlands recent admission to the Nato military alliance. He also called for a resolute step forward on the path to Ukraines own Nato membership, a move that Western officials are wary of committing to. After signing the trilateral declaration on Thursday, Moldovas foreign minister Nicu Popescu said that Moldova remains the target of hybrid attempts to destabilise our country and that the impact of Moscows war is being felt by every citizen of non-Nato Moldova. Moldova, which has faced a long series of crises over the past year including alleged Russia-backed destabilisation plots, was granted European Union candidate status last June, the same day as Ukraine. As well as addressing security issues, the Black Sea Security Conference held on April 12-13 discussed topics including freedom of trade and the facilitation of energy transport routes. Officials also discussed the importance of countering Russias cyberwarfare efforts. Romanias Mr Aurescu said Moscow is orchestrating (attacks) against the region, against European and Allied states. Nairobi The 10th Digital Rights and Inclusion Forum (DRIF23) kicked off in Nairobi today, setting the ball rolling for the three-day conference bringing together 600 delegates from across the world. The event started with a high-level panel discussion comprising Emma Inamutila Theofelus, Namibia Deputy Minister for Information Communication & Technology (ICT); Grace Githaiga Chief Executive Officer (CEO) & Convenor, KICTANet; 'Gbenga Sesan, Executive Director, Paradigm Initiative and Vladimir Garay, Advocacy Director, Derechos Digitales. The panel was unanimous on the need for sustainable internet and balanced regulation across the continent. Theofelus, who spoke about the level of Internet penetration in Namibia, pointed out the huge cost involved in developing infrastructure and the need for government and political will. "Rolling out infrastructure is difficult and very expensive. We have put in place the conditions for licensing and investment from the government. There has been some political will. This includes the Universal Service Fund. We also have one of the most liberated media on the continent," she said. Githaiga emphasised the need for multi-stakeholder collaboration and joint convenings in delivering Internet access. "As KICTANet, we have held joint convenings focusing on cybersecurity, data protection and the broadband report. The Kenya Internet Governance Forum is our flagship program. Through the forum we discuss and see how to fit issues into our local context." On his part, Vladimir stressed the importance of Internet access saying connectivity supports human rights. "People want high quality, affordable and secure internet connectivity. The Internet is expensive and limited. We need to acknowledge and address internet connectivity gaps." 'Gbenga also urged stakeholders to contribute towards efforts aimed at ensuring Internet accessibility. "If all stakeholders don't get their hands dirty, we will come back here 10 years later to discuss the same issues," he added. Paradigm Initiative is hosting the Pan-African bilingual event in collaboration with Kenya ICT Action Network (KICTANet) and Centre for Intellectual Property and Information Technology Law (CIPIT) established under Strathmore University. KICTANet is a multi-stakeholder think tank in Kenya for ICT policy and regulation. CIPIT is an evidence-based research and training Centre based at Strathmore University, Nairobi, Kenya. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya ICT By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. At the forum, Paradigm Initiative is hosting key partners from Internews, the Global Digital Inclusion Partnership, Derechos Digitales, the Open Observatory of Network Interference (OONI), Inclusive Tech Group, Access Now, Data Privacy Brazil, Defend Defenders, Youth and Society, Tech Societal, the Global Network Initiative, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization), the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, MTN and the European Center for Not-for-Profit Law, to mention a few. The event sponsors are the Kingdom of the Netherlands, Ford Foundation, Wikimedia Foundation, Google, Open Technology Fund and the Global Network Initiative (GNI). PIN, which is a leading Pan-African Digital Rights and Inclusion organization, has convened DRIF since 2013. The forum, whose theme is Building A Sustainable Internet For All, will bring together representatives from government, non-governmental organizations, academia, media, funding partners, the United Nations, the technical community, and the private sector within the digital ecosystem. The forum is hosting 70 sessions with partners from 48 countries across the world. Sessions are focusing on among other themes, Internet shutdowns, Universal Service Fund utilization, data protection, content moderation, and censorship. Also lined up at the event are key launches of research, platforms, and networks. Last year's DRIF under the theme, Towards a Digitally Inclusive Africa was a hybrid event that was able to reach over 1,300 individuals. Physical sessions were hosted in 17 African countries. This publication is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in the Indian market and includes a gu... An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2020 will provide readers with an overview of the fundamentals of i... Kolkata: Tata Steel officials, with the help of the West Bengal Police, recently conducted a raid on a manufacturing unit situated in Kolkata, the company said in a press release. On April 10, 2023, Tata Steel officials, in collaboration with the West Bengal Police, conducted a raid on a manufacturing unit located in Kolkata, for infringing the Tata brand name and allegedly manufacturing and selling fake Tata bearing products illegally. The Tata Bearing branded products are packaged in a unique manner and all original products are sold with the same packaging by authorised dealers and distributors only. The products were being manufactured and sold under the registered TATA trademark in similar packaging in an attempt to deceive consumers into believing that they were purchasing genuine Tata products. Upon receiving information about the unscrupulous activity, Tata Steel along with the West Bengal Police conducted the raid on the unit on April 10, 2023, and seized huge quantities of Tata Bearing outer boxes, packaging material, price labels, and other related items. The party responsible for this activity has been charged under sections 120 B, 420 of the Indian Penal Code 1860, and sections 63, 65 of the Copyright Act 1957, said the press release. Tata Steels products possess tremendous goodwill in the minds of the consumers by virtue of the quality of the products and the unauthorized use of its brand name on counterfeit products has caused damage to its reputation. Tata Steel strongly condemns the misuse of its trademarks and logos without prior permission. To protect its brand reputation and goodwill, Tata Steel's brand protection team is continuously monitoring and taking actions against entities that are infringing on the brand's intellectual property rights, including counterfeiters. Tata Steel will continue to monitor and take action against any such illegal activities that negatively impact its assets and customers. The company urges consumers to only purchase Tata Steel products from authorized dealers and distributors to ensure the authenticity of the product. Nairobi The government is set to double security forces in bandit-prone areas beginning Saturday in a bid to scale up efforts to tame banditry in the North Rift. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki said Wednesday when he appeared before the National Assembly for question time that despite the challenges they continue to experience in the fight against banditry in the North Rift, significant stock recoveries have been made. "The challenge is still there and it did not start last year but in 1997. We are doing everything possible to ensure it gets to a final end. We appeal for patience and we know we will get rounded once we are done," Kindiki told the House. Despite the ongoing operation in the North Rift, some parts including Samburu, Turkana, Elgeyo Marakwet, West Pokot, have continued to witness recurrent attacks. On March 13, Kindiki ordered the immediate vacation of residents living in 27 gorges, escarpments, caves, ravines, hills, and forests as a security forces moved in to expel bandits. Evacuation of civilians Kindiki subsequently gave the residents in the affected areas from Baringo, Laikipia, Samburu, West Pokot, and Turkana Counties 24 hours to immediately evacuate. "I, therefore, declare these areas as scenes of crime, and we will treat any person found therein as a suspect of armed banditry, or as a suspect of aiding and abetting banditry, or as an accessory after the fact. Everyone must evacuate immediately," Kindiki ordered at the time. The affected areas in Baringo included Korkoron Hills, Tandare Valley and Silale Gorges. In Laikipia, Kindiki said disturbed areas included Mukogodo Forest, Kamwenje, Warero and Ndonyoriwo, Lekuruki Hills, Losos, and Kiape Caves, and Sieku Valley. In Samburu, government listed Ltungai Conservancy, Longewan, Nasuur, Lochokia and Lekadaar Escarpments; Lolmolok Caves, Pura Valley, Malaso Escarpment and Suguta Valley. The government also banned low-altitude aircrafts over the disturbed areas as it intensified a multi-agency operation including the military to crash banditry. He freezing of flights over bandit-prone areas came amid reports that some powerful shadowy figures had been using choppers to ferry weapons and ammunition and in some instances fighters. Image Credit: PIB New Delhi/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday said the AIIMS in Guwahati will boost Assam's health infrastructure and it will also help the entire northeast. The Prime Minister during his visit to Assam on Friday will dedicate AIIMS Guwahati and three other Medical colleges to the nation, as per a statement issued by the Prime Minister's Office. In response to a tweet by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya apprising that the PM will inaugurate AIIMS Guwahati on Friday, Modi wrote, "AIIMS in Guwahati will boost Assam's health infrastructure and also help the entire Northeast." He also said it will make quality healthcare even more accessible. "Ayushman Northeast! PM Narendra Modi Ji to dedicate to the nation AIIMS Guwahati, the first AIIMS of Northeast, on April 14," Mandaviya tweeted. The operationalisation of AIIMS Guwahati will mark a momentous occasion for the state of Assam and the entire North-East region, the PMO said. Image Credit: Twitter/Jaishankar New Delhi/Addis Ababa/UNI: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday made a short visit to the Ethiopian capital during which he held talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Ethiopia Demeke Mekonnen Hassen. In a tweet, the EAM said he had a good meeting with his Ethiopian counterpart during which they shared views on multilateral cooperation. A good meeting with DPM and FM @DemekeHasen during a short Addis Ababa transit. Welcomed his perspective on developments in the region. Also shared views on our strong multilateral cooperation, including in the AU and United Nations. A good meeting with DPM and FM @DemekeHasen during a short Addis Ababa transit. Welcomed his perspective on developments in the region. Also shared views on our strong multilateral cooperation, including in the AU and United Nations. pic.twitter.com/O3X8SiZBYc Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2023 The EAM stopped over in Addis Ababa on way to Mozambique, on the second leg of his two-nation official tour that earlier took him to Uganda. Earlier, before leaving Kampala, the EAM interacted with the Indian community in Kampala. In a tweet, he said he was Energized by the warmth of their welcome. He said their contribution to Uganda and India-Uganda relationship makes us all proud. Image tweeted by @DrSJaishankar Kampala (Uganda): Forces that indulged in cross-border terrorism against India for decades now know this is a new India which will give them a reply, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, media reported. Addressing the Indian community in Uganda's capital Kampala on Wednesday, Jaishankar stressed that India can meet its national security challenges posed by China and Pakistan, said a report in the media. He spoke about the transformation of the country into a new India, referring to the Balakot strikes in retaliation to an attack on the Indian Army camp in Kashmirs Uri by Pakistani terrorists. Shared my interactions over the last three days. Highlighted the opportunities for further growth in our cooperation. : https://t.co/VjpS23cOOq Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 12, 2023 "Today, people see a different India that is willing to stand up and India which will meet its national security challenges whether it is Uri or whether it is Balakot," he said. He also stated the challenges on the border with China in the last three years with Beijing deploying large forces violating agreements, he said. India has tackled the situation and deployed military at very great heights and in severe climatic and geographic conditions, he said. However, this wasnt the response India gave in the past to Chinese violations. Now, Indian soldiers have the "full backing, they have the right equipment and the infrastructure," Jaishankar said, according to the report. Indias policies are no longer impacted by any external pressures and what we see now is a more independent India, he said. Today, other countries cannot put pressure and "tell us where we should buy our oil and where we should not buy our oil." "This an India which will do what is in the interest of its citizens, its consumers," he said, the report quoted the EAM as saying. Meanwhile, Russia emerged as the top supplier to meet Indias crude oil requirements for the sixth straight month in the month of March, according to energy tracker Vortexa. Russia has emerged as a significant supplier of crude oil to India, after the US and the EU imposed sanctions following its war with Ukraine since February 2022. Image Credit: UNI New Delhi/IBNS: India Thursday rebuffed Pakistans objections to New Delhi hosting G20 events in Srinagar and Leh, stating that holding G20 events in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is very natural as they are an integral and inalienable part of India. Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, answering a query at a briefing today, said: G20 events are taking place across India; they are being organised in every region of the country. "The holding of G20 events in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh is very natural as they are an integral and inalienable part of India. Indias response came as Pakistans Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Tuesday expressed strong indignation after India updated its G20 calendar to include meetings in Srinagar in Jammu and Kashmir and Leh in Ladakh. India will be hosting a G-20 Tourism Working Group meeting in Srinagar on May 22-24, while two other meetings of a consultative forum on youth affairs (Y-20) will be held in Leh and Srinagar. Pakistans MFA said that the irresponsible move by India 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. [With UNI inputs] Image Credit: UNI Lucknow: Asad Ahmed, son of Atiq Ahmed and an accused in the Umesh Pal murder case, who was killed in an encounter in Jhansi today, had changed six cities and 10 SIM cards to evade arrest. However, the UP Police had been chasing him and keeping track of his whereabouts, media reported. Asad Ahmed and co-accused Ghulam in the Umesh Pal murder case were killed in an encounter after a nearly two-month pursuit by Uttar Pradesh police. The CCTV footage from the spot showed Umesh Pal, who was a lawyer and witness in the 2005 murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal, was gunned down by several shooters outside his home in Prayagraj. The policemen deployed to protect him were also killed in the attack. The footage also showed Asad Ahmad pointing a gun during the incident. After the February 24 murder, Asad had fled to Lucknow and then to Kanpur. He kept changing his location, and went to Meerut where he stayed for a week, said police sources, reported NDTV. Asad then moved to Delhi and lived in Sangam Vihar area and again changed his base to Ajmer in Rajasthan. However, he needed to shift again to prevent being caught and decided to travel to Madhya Pradesh, which required him to pass through Uttar Pradesh. During this course, he changed 10 SIM cards. According to the report, police sources said they had an informer in Atiq Ahmed's gang, who kept them updated on Asads movements, the report said. The police tightened their stranglehold when Asad reached Jhansi. They started raiding various locations in the city to nab him. Today, the wanted criminal set off for Madhya Pradesh with his accomplice Ghulam on a bike. They were in a disguise to avert attention. According to the report, a team from the UP Special Task Force intercepted Asad and Ghulam while they were travelling to Madhya Pradesh. Ghulam fired at the 12-member police team, following which the police responded with retaliatory firing, resulting in the deaths of both Asad and Ghulam, police said. The encounter reportedly involved the firing of 42 rounds of ammunition. Bengaluru/IBNS: The Supreme Court Thursday put on hold the Karnataka government's decision to scrap a four per cent quota for the Muslim community in government jobs and education, and divide the same among the two dominant Hindu communities just ahead of state assembly elections. The apex court said the move appeared to be on "highly shaky ground" and "flawed". Taking up a batch of petitions against the decision by several Muslim groups and individuals, the court questioned the logic behind the step which was announced on March 24, just weeks before the state assembly elections on May 10. The petitioners argued that the Karnataka government had violated the constitutional principles of equality and secularism by discriminating against Muslims, who constitute about 13 per cent of the state's population. They also claimed that the government had not conducted any study or collected empirical data to back its decision. The Karnataka government, led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), defended its decision by saying that it was based on the recommendations of a commission that had examined the socio-economic status of various communities in the state. The government explained that it had taken into account the historical and cultural factors that make Vokkaligas and Lingayats, who together account for about 40 per cent of the state's population, deserving of higher reservations. Vokkaligas and Lingayats are politically influential communities that have traditionally supported different parties in Karnataka. The BJP, which came to power in 2019 after toppling a coalition government of the Congress and the Janata Dal (Secular), has been trying to woo both communities ahead of the elections. The court, however, expressed doubts over the validity of the commission's report and asked the government to produce more evidence to support its decision. The court also asked the government to explain how it had arrived at the four per cent figure for Muslims, which was introduced by a previous Congress government in 2013. Image Credit: Press Information Bureau New Delhi/UNI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Thursday spoke on the phone with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak during which he raised the issue of the vandalization of the Indian High Commission in London by pro-Khalistani supporters and called for strong action by the UK government against anti-India elements. PM Modi also raised the issue of fugitive Indian economic offenders who are staying in the UK, including Nirav Modi, and sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. British PM Rishi Sunak conveyed that the UK considers the attack on the Indian High Commission totally unacceptable and assured of the security of the Indian Mission and its personnel. The two leaders reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030. They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors. They agreed on the need for an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. PM Modi also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK. He sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. The Indian PM Modi also invited PM Sunak to the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. PM Sunak appreciated the progress made under Indias Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UKs full support of Indias initiatives and their success. The two leaders agreed to remain in contact. The telephonic conversation comes days after reports that India has disengaged from the trade talks with the UK over Britains failure to condemn pro-Khalistani activists who vandalised the Indian High Commission last month. According to reports, India had made it clear to the UK that there would be no progress in the FTA negotiations without a public condemnation of the Khalistan movement. On March 19, India summoned the senior-most UK diplomat in New Delhi to convey its strong protest after some Khalistani activists had removed the Indian flag from outside the Indian High Commission in London. India had demanded an explanation for the complete absence of British security that allowed the Khalistani elements to enter the Indian High Commission premises. In a statement, India said it finds unacceptable the indifference of the UK Government to the security of Indian diplomatic premises and personnel in the UK. India had demanded that the perpetrators be immediately arrested and prosecuted and stringent measures be put in place to prevent the recurrence of such incidents. Image Credit: Adil Raja Twitter page Islamabad: Pakistan Armys retired major Adil Raja has alleged that senior officials of its spy agency Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) have been directed to track his technical details. Sharing the names of the ISI officials, Raja tweeted: "Maj Gen Adeel Minhas, Signals, DG Technical at ISI has been tasked by DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum to track my technical details." He alleged: "He is collaborating with Maj Gen Omer Ahmad Shah, Commander Cyber Command of Pak Army, tasked by Lt Gen Retd Asim Munir to track and hack me virtually. Both these generals are course mates. I have had this information since February 2023." Raja said he will reveal the residential addresses of both these officers 'to the concerned people' if they do not back off from their task assigned to them. "The stupid attempts to hack my phone and WhatsApp are ridiculous," Raja tweeted. Maj Gen Adeel Minhas, Signals, DG Technical at ISI has been tasked by DG ISI Lt Gen Nadeem Anjum to track my technical details. He is collaborating with Maj Gen Omer Ahmad Shah, Commander Cyber Command of Pak Army, tasked by Lt Gen Retd Asim Munir to track and hack me virtually. Adil Raja (@soldierspeaks) April 10, 2023 Pakistani parliamentarians, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote to the United Nations demanding independent investigation of the murder of Arshad Sharif. We are grateful to all those parliamentarians who joined the cause #UN_for_ArshadSharif pic.twitter.com/haRnMxJPbB Murad Saeed (@MuradSaeedPTI) April 9, 2023 "Get a life, Adeel and Omer, and be loyal to your country, not your boss. ISI station Chief at London, Col Asad Rasheed, has been sacked recently for failing to assassinate me," he said. Raja also referred to the alleged killing of senior Pakistani journalist and anchorperson Arshad Sharif in Kenya where he said: "You are only making it more difficult for yourself. I know what you did to #ArshadSharif, but this is not Kenya or UAE." The journalist was shot dead by Kenyan police last year, triggering a political row in the country. According to Geo News, he was shot dead by the Kenyan police on a Sunday night in a mistaken identity. Arshad Sharif was killed by four members of the para-military General Service Unit (GSU) in a random shootout in Kenya when the journalist was on his way to his penthouse, where he was living at that time, reported ANI. Recently, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has written to the United Nations (UN) demanding an independent investigation into the killing of the journalist. PTI leader Murad Saeed tweeted: "Pakistani parliamentarians, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan wrote to the United Nations demanding independent investigation of the murder of Arshad Sharif. We are grateful to all those parliamentarians who joined the cause #UN_for_ArshadSharif." Meanwhile, Adil Raja, who is a retired major of the Pakistan Army, landed himself in a controversy when he alleged that some senior officers of the military used top models and actresses of Pakistan as bait to record intimate videos of politicians from various political parties. Adil Rajas vlog on the controversial topic triggered a storm in Pakistan and he was criticised by many for targeting top-ranking women of the Pakistani entertainment industry. Consequently, despite showing defiance, Adil Raja had to apologise publicly to the actresses he referred to in his vlog, reports Daily Pakistan. Image Credit: Pixabay Chinese officials have been utilizing "ears," spies who are selected from everyday citizens, police officers, and neighborhood committees to prevent Uyghur Muslims from fasting during the holy month of Ramzan, media reports said. According to an ANI report, a police officer from the Turpan area told Radio Free Asia that many secret agents are being employed by Chinese officials to prevent Uyghur Muslims from fasting during Ramzan. According to news reports, this ban on fasting began in 2017 when Chinese authorities began detaining Uyghurs in "re-education" camps as part of an effort to eradicate Uyghur culture, language, and religion. In 2021 and 2022, the Chinese government relaxed the restriction slightly, allowing people over the age of 65 to fast and reducing the number of home searches and street patrols conducted by police. However, this year, Radio Free Asia reported that a political official at the Turpan City Police Station stated that the ban on fasting applies to everyone, regardless of age, gender, or profession. According to a report by Radio Free Asia, during the first week of Ramzan, Chinese authorities summoned 56 Uyghur residents and former detainees and questioned them about their activities. The police officer from Turpan City Bazaar Police Station stated that 54 of them had violated the law by fasting, but he and another police officer at the station declined to discuss what happened to those who were found to have broken the law. The report also stated that officials had engaged two or three spies from each village in Turpan to monitor people who had previously been questioned or detained for fasting during Ramzan and those who had been released from prison. "Our 'ears' came from three fields -- the ordinary residents, the police and the neighbourhood committees," the police officer from an area near Turpan said, according to Radio Free Asia. She mentioned that Uyghurs were recruited to monitor other Uyghurs because of the language barrier and there are 70-80 Uyghur policemen in her workplace who either directly work as 'ears' or lead other civilian 'ears'. The Turpan City Bazaar Police Station has reportedly recruited two or three spies, known as "ears," to monitor the activities of residents during Ramzan, with some villages having four to five spies, states the report by Radio Free Asia. Furthermore, a police officer disclosed that an investigation would be conducted on individuals who had previously violated the law by fasting during Ramzan, as well as those who organized fasting activities. According to the news report, a staff member at the Turpan Prefecture Police Bureau stated that the authorities there had employed spies within the police force to monitor whether Uyghur officers were fasting from dawn to dusk during Ramzan. She further added that, to date, they have not found any officer who is fasting. As per a police officer from a police station in Turpan City, this year's policy for Ramzan includes conducting home searches, street patrols, and mosque searches. The authorities have also been questioning Uyghur Muslim families to ascertain if they are eating before dawn and gathering for a meal after sunset during the holy month. Authorities being urged to put rural heritage to better use China has added 1,336 traditional villages to the State protection list amid efforts to promote heritage conservation, according to a notice issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development late last month. It urges local authorities to establish or improve their archives of traditional villages and draw up plans to strengthen the villages' protection and use. Together with five other government organs, including the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the National Cultural Heritage Administration and the Ministry of Finance, the ministry has placed a total of 8,155 traditional villages under State protection. Traditional Chinese villages generally refer to those with lengthy histories, which retain folk customs, and have not undergone significant changes to their architectural appearance, according to Chen Xingyi, professor at the Traditional Village Architectural Culture and Art Research Center at Henan Polytechnic University. To be selected, villages must meet certain criteria, including rich history and culture, a well-preserved layout, traditional buildings with conservation value, the living practice of local intangible cultural heritage and the preservation of village vitality. "The value of traditional Chinese villages is diverse and irreplaceable. They reflect historical memory and methods of production, living wisdom, as well as cultural and artistic essence, and regional characteristics," Chen said. "They are also an important part of world cultural heritage." Renovation and preservation Most of the country's world heritage sites, along with the vast majority of its national-level and provincial, municipal and county-level intangible cultural heritage areas, are located either in or near clusters of traditional villages, according to Chen. Protecting the villages to help preserve cultural inheritance is critical and will promote the development of China's stated goal of creating what it refers to as "ecological civilization" while also advancing rural vitalization, he said. The central government began a survey of traditional villages in 2012. After years of effort, by 2020, it has successfully brought 539,000 historic buildings and traditional dwellings under State protection. Chen stressed that protecting traditional villages does not mean preserving them exactly as they were. Lifestyles should be modernized in accordance with the times, and villagers have the right to enjoy the conveniences of modern technology. He proposed integrating modern life into the traditional village setting, while paying close attention to protecting the local environment and culture. "We should develop while protecting, and protect while developing, transitioning from static preservation to active inheritance," he said. "This transformation is aimed at ensuring better protection. The use of villages under protection not only promotes their development, but also supports efforts to preserve cultural inheritance." He called for establishing a set of stringent standards, methods and protection mechanisms based on actual circumstances to ensure sustainable development. As many cities have made a point of developing clusters of the villages, Chen said it's important local authorities take into account the features of each village, including their appearance and industries. Chen urged authorities to focus not only on tourism, but also on exploring and developing other aspects, such as special farming techniques, local agriculture and distinctive handicrafts. Cai Suihong, deputy chief engineer with the Guangdong Urban and Rural Planning and Design Institute, suggested that in areas where conditions permit, houses belonging to villagers could be transferred to the village collective for vitalization and use. For example, they could be turned into village history museums, public venues, tourist service centers or homestays. "If the buildings were previously used for purposes such as workshops or mills, we recommend they be restored to their original function," Cai said. Cai emphasized that the most important aspect of protecting and using traditional villages is to demonstrate the role they play in preserving cultural inheritance. Experts concurred that minimal renovation should be undertaken in villages, stressing that old buildings and their surrounding environments shouldn't undergo large-scale demolition, and there shouldn't be arbitrary development. Instead, everything should be carried out on the basis of maintaining the original style of the villages and their environments. "During renovation, a cautious attitude should be maintained, and the core value of traditional villages should be preserved," said Pan Ying, professor at the School of Architecture at the South China University of Technology. While introducing modern functions to traditional villages, reasonable scale should be adopted, Pan added. "For example, it is best to use original buildings for homestays, without changing the spatial structure and cultural charm of the streets and alleys. New, large-scale construction is not suitable," she said. Efforts paying off Over the past decade, China has stepped up efforts to manage rural housing, train rural artisans and develop village infrastructure and public services, according to Li Xiaolong, an official at the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. As a result, many now boast beautiful, natural scenery, with significantly improved living conditions. In particular, rural household waste management has been upgraded, with more than 90 percent of villages now covered. Moreover, the evaluation mechanism for rural construction has been improved, from overall development down to specifics such as housing construction, Li said, adding that through evaluation, the development status and the effectiveness of construction in villages, as well as outstanding problems and weaknesses, have been identified, and this has paved the way for promoting rural development. Under a policy aimed at protecting traditional villages, several regions have promoted the vitalization and use of traditional villages. They have explored the setting, history, culture and landscapes, and have developed rural tourism and cultural industries related to local conditions. In 2020, 10 cities and prefectures, including Huangshan in Anhui province and Dali Bai autonomous prefecture in Yunnan province, each received 150 million yuan ($21.8 million) from the central government to carry out protection work in traditional village clusters. Local authorities also encouraged public investment. Furthermore, a long-term protection and use mechanism has taken shape, according to the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development. In the ancient village of Pengdong, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, authorities have vigorously developed rural tourism and have strengthened agriculture and tourism through government leadership, the introduction of social capital and investments from villagers in the form of houses, land and other resources. As Pengdong leverages its scenery and culture and history, it is attracting an increasing number of tourists. On average, the village receives 1,000 visitors per day, and annual per capita incomes have increased to around 40,000 yuan, according to local authorities. In 2020, villages like Pengdong on the national protection list received 360 million tourists, which increased incomes, enhanced cultural confidence and injected new vitality into those rural areas, according to the ministry. yangfeiyue@chinadaily.com.cn Nairobi Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki has denied allegations of double standards in unravelling civilian deaths blamed on police particularly those related to mass protests by Azimio supporters. Kindiki told MPs that the Ministry of Interior and National Administration has deployed quick response mechanisms through the National Police Service's Internal Affairs Unit to respond and investigate cases blamed on police. He cited the murder of boda-boda rider Daniel Mutembei during protests in Chuka as an example. During an before the National Assembly plenary on Wednesday when he became the first Cabinet member to face lawmakers for a question session, Kindiki dispelled claims that the government had turned a blind eye to incidents in opposition bedrocks. "The government has no double standards and doesn't respond to cases based on where they happen. In the matter that Wandayi raised we acted faster but there no question to respond on what we have done," he said. "The same measures in Chuka are the same applied on this issue. The internal affairs as we speak are on the ground. IPOA is also on ground," Kindiki added. Minority Leader Opiyo Wandayi raised queries on the ministry's response citing prompt action in Mutembei's death yet no tangible investigation had been instituted on police excesses during Azimio-led anti-government protests. Bias Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Legal Affairs By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. He said the fatal shooting of a third-year student at Maseno University during Azimio protests on March 20 as well as the death of a police officer in Nyamira who was run over by a police car. "Could you confirm is in those instances you have released the police officers in the same Internal Affairs Unit to handle investigations?" Wandayi posed. "If so what is the progress of those investigations or could we be seeing a case of double standards, application of the law differently in different situations and parts of the country?" he questioned. The Minority Leader questioned why Kenyans were losing their lives during the mass protests yet the Police Service Act restricts police officers from using live bullets in crowd control. "Is it now the policy of the Kenya Police Service to quell riots through live bullets as opposed to the old policy of using rubber bullets. If so then when did these changes occur and for whose benefit?" Wandayi asked. Deputy Minority Leader Robert Mbui asked why killings were being reported during the protests yet Kenyans have the right to picket. "Are shoot to kill orders the new norm by the Kenya Kwanza administration. Do the police bosses understand the Constitution (2010) that Kenyans have the right to picket?" Mbui asked. Kindiki however explained to lawmakers that the Inspector General of Police had given strict instructions against the use of live bullets to control the masses. "There's no shoot to kill order and in fact, the reason the OCPD and OCS in Chuka incident was transferred is because there were strict order by Inspector General. If indeed it was police who fired at Mutembei then action will be taken," he said. Their style is a reflection of Reunion (akin to the Blues but with the Creole influences of the Islands), mixed with Madagascar and Indian music, African Drums and Creole lyrics. They have performed at Olympia Hall in Paris, one of the most legendary music venues in the city of Paris. They have won Best Group and Artist Award in Africa (1994), Best African Group and Artist (1997) at Kora Awards and Best Group at the Cesars de la Musique in 2007. Alliance Francaise of Madras in association with Exodus is bringing Ziskakan to Chennai! The band has been winning hearts through their meaningful lyrics and soulful tunes, and we had the chance to speak to the bands frontman Gilbert Pounia. We jumped straight into asking him what Ziskakan means, and Gilbert tells us, Ziskakan is a Maloya music group from Reunion created in 1979. Before becoming one of the flagship bands of the Reunion scene, Ziskakan had the objective of promoting and spreading Reunionese culture. Also, the group engages in the denunciation of what it perceives as harmful policies imposed by Paris. With Gilbert as the frontman (vocal and guitar), the bands other members include Wazis Pounia (bassist and son of Gilbert); Frederic Riesser (drummer); Clency Sumac (guitarist); Shakti Shaan Ramchurn and Damien Hervio, who have just joined the group because of their musicality and their identification with Ziskakan. Wazis Pounia Also read: Indian-origin duo 'Almost Famous' releases a new single titled 'Unsick' ft. Tyla Yaweh Ziskakan released their first record with Philipe de Magne in 1982 and signed with Universal Music. They met the greatest artistes through their tours in the United States. Gilbert describes himself as an Afro, Indo, Sino, Euro, Malagasy and above all, an artiste from the islands who has devoted 45 years of his life to music. He believes art has a strong social role and allows encounters. We are creators and carriers of words, the defense of our culture is a daily fight, that is to say, activists for Creole culture, he states. Damien Hervio As we get talking, we ask Gilbert about the origin of their music genre Maloya. The origin of this practice is linked to slavery and enlistment. It was built through the meeting of African, Malagasy and Indian cultures. The practice has a sacred component (ancestor worship and a public component), Gilbert shares, adding, Maloya is passed on from one generation to the other, and there are now classes at the Reunion Regional Conservatory. Also read: An Ode to the Guitar: A celebration of music from some of the best guitarists in India on International Guitar Month The place Gilbert comes from is an island with uneven and steep terrain, with a large part of its territory covered by protected natural areas. An important and necessary part of its space is also reserved for agriculture and animal husbandry, thereby limiting urban development. Telling us further about lifestyle and culture of the place, Gilbert says, We know how to live together and form an open and tolerant society where everyone respects the other communities. The people are attached and proud of their culture and traditions. They are welcoming and warm, subject to respecting their culture. Integration in Reunion necessarily requires an unzoreil (metropolitan) phase of adaptation to this culture and the rhythm of life of Reunionese. Frederic Riesser Prodding him to also tell us more about Reunions cuisine, we get Gilbert to share, The traditional Creole meal essentially revolves around the main course, the carry, a family dish consisting of meat or fish in sauce accompanied by rice, grains (red, white or pink beans, peas, lentils, etc.) or bredes (vegetables) and a rougail (spicy condiment that accompanies the dish: tomato rougail, lemon rougail, dakatine rougail). The Creole dish is therefore very complete. The curry is traditionally cooked over a wood fire in a Creole cast iron pot, and served flat on the table. It can be preceded by a starter and an aperitif, followed by a dessert. Shakti Shaan Ramchurn As he comes to Chennai along with his band to perform, Gilbert gets nostalgic telling us that he has been to this city several times, and has always felt at home. We want to bring back part of our culture to Chennai and especially discover the Indian evolution in the islands. We have a varied group with different profiles of musicians, and thats what makes us strong, a Creole group that wants to wear the colours of its island with pride. To actually understand what we will be performing, you need to attend our musical event. Even if you dont understand Creole, the rhythm, the intensity of the words will certainly touch your hearts, and you will feel the music, he says, signing off. Clency Sumac Entry free. April 15.7.30 pm. At Bay 146, Mylapore. rupam@newindianexpress.com @rupsjain Also read: Hyderabad-based indie artiste drops latest music, offers a nostalgic reverie In a city full of homegrown labels claiming to come up with unique designs on handwoven authentic fabric, Paromita Banerjees eponymous label stands out for its silent commitment to quality and innovation. Sustaining several weaver clusters across the country for over 13 years now, this highly talented graduate from the National School of Design loves to take things slow and steady. Not a believer in stunning her audience with edgy over-the-top creations, Paromitas collections comprise timeless pieces that can be handed down as heirlooms. A conscious fashionista and a champion of the six yards, Paromita also works towards making sari an appealing attire to the millennials, so much so, that the younger generation includes the fabric as a part of their regular wardrobe. This summer too, the couturier has come up with a range of beautiful ethnic wear, Saaj 2.0, consisting of saris, long jackets, blouses, tops, and skirts that just debuted at Bangladesh Fashion Week in Dhaka in association with the Fashion Design Council of Bangladesh. Ahead of Poila Baisakh, the designer unveils her vibrant edit with the beautiful Tollywood actress Ushasi Ray channelling four very stylish looks to rock the Bengali New Year. Excerpts from the chat: Ushasi Ray in Saaj2.0 How differently have you created your summer special collection this year? The collection is our take on festive summer dressing and festive occasions around summer; celebrating handwoven fabrics like tussar, zari and silk matka with sprinkles of our signature jamdani in ghera dresses, kalidar-style kurtas, anti-fit capes, asymmetrical under-layers and saris. The weaves are colour blocked in shades of ecru, beige, coral, sindoor red, amber and gold. Tussar matka is woven with hazaar buti jamdani in layered dresses worn with anti-fit capes. A layered reversible cape is worn over saris to play on tone-and-tone but each ensemble can be dissected and worn as separates too. A hint of red and white accents reminds one of the festive Bengal. What was the design philosophy behind the collection? As always, the idea was to utilise handwoven fabric to celebrate handwoven luxury retold for a global audience. We have two kinds of audience - Indians who are well travelled and the international clientele that also includes Indians and they want outfits that have minimal aesthetics while retaining the colours and vibrancy of our country. There is a spontaneous understated luxe-quotient in this handwoven collection which speaks volumes of the fabrics and weaves used - silk matka, tussar and woven gold with the technique of jamdani as accents. There is a play of gold woven in the fabric to give it an antique shine. Ushasi Ray in Saaj2.0 How handloom Bengali saris have evolved over the years? The conventional saris from Bengal in the 80s were primarily taant pieces made in the looms with starched cotton, stiff on the first wear. Prior to that, fine count muslin saris in fine cotton muslin with jamdani woven on the base in soft opaque yarn were in vogue. Bengal was also known for hand-block printed saris inspired by hand-drawn alpona motifs from Visva Bharati. Over the years, weavers and designers here started exploring new types of yarn and combinations of yarns giving rise to contemporary saris using cotton, linen, silk and tussar that trend around the world. How can millennials incorporate saris into their wardrobes? They can wear the sari by incorporating newer drapes and newer styles in blouses. One can safely say, the millennials have made the sari more colloquial and functional in their wardrobe. For them, the sari is not just restricted to conventional occasion wear and a few would wear it as a sense of power dressing for a minimal style statement. How can one style the saris differently to make it a part of their daily wardrobe? By not 'overthinking' a sari and its drape! A confident sari wearer is one who is most natural while wearing it and does not let the drape overpower the persona of the wearer. Wear a mix of functional and versatile blouses and choose comfort over style. How has your brand evolved over the years? In the past 13 years, from taking baby steps to commanding over our craft, we have come a long way. We have always placed relationships at the core of our brand building. As a hands-on entrepreneur I have realised, the only thing that works for a good brand is how grounded it has remained from the time it started out and remembering every single person who has been a part of the process from the start. In terms of design, we have evolved by incorporating more varied weaver clusters in our design and fabric repertoire. Currently, we work with 7 weaver clusters across India. In terms of marketing, we have maintained an organic following on our social media feeds and stressed telling our stories with each product we have sold. Caption What will be trending this summer when it comes to ethnic wear? Co-ord sets in breathable fabrics, statement jewellery that are heirloom pieces, or hand-me-downs -- something that connects you with your roots and who you were, while growing up. What will be trending in summer weddings? An earthy palette and lots of woven gold besides a lot of heirloom restructured and upcycled bijoux pieces will always trend. Pieces from your mother's or grandmother's wardrobe that you can repurpose for weddings are also much cherished. Trousseau tips for brides who want to go the handloom way? Incorporate heirloom quality trousseau that you might have inherited from your past generation. Nobody makes fabrics and craft of that quality anymore. Guard them zealously and flaunt them proudly. There is nothing more beautiful and hot, than an 80-year-old Benarasi being restructured or repurposed for your own wedding. Keep your attention to 1-2 key pieces in your ensemble that speak of who you are, rather than mixing styles from various Pinterest feeds! Your wedding should speak of who you are. And not what your wedding planner or your stylist has asked of you. Ushasi Ray in Saaj2.0 How do you incorporate sustainability into your label? By closing the chain and cycle and eliminating waste along the way. Each of our leftover fabrics from past collections is used to make newer products. There is nothing that goes to waste in our studio. We have tried to reduce the carbon footprint by making most things in-house and sourcing them locally. Except for our handwoven fabrics, which are woven across seven clusters in the country, our talent pool and raw materials are all sourced locally. Your upcoming collections? We are busy with the launch of our kidswear label Chotto Pa which literally translates into little feet. The label has been inspired by my 5-year-old daughters simple and refined sense of dressing. We are also reviving a 150-year-old Bengali weave that we are getting woven by weavers who were out of work during the two years of the pandemic. We are getting them to start all over again and it is a great sense of achievement for us. We are also in talks to expand our retail to four more stores across the country and internationally. Currently, we retail across 14 stores pan India. On paromita-banerjee.com Ushasi Ray in Saaj2.0 Keeping it cool Here's what actress Ushasi Ray's summer wardrobe looks like. Poila Boisakh wardrobe: Pure cotton mulmul saris and sleeveless blouses are what I love wearing during Bengali New Year Summer fashion: Comfortable cotton outfits in all shapes and sizes and cool colours are a must when it comes to summer fashion. Summer wardrobe essentials: A lot of comfortable outfits, especially, I love linen outfits, shirts and dresses Favourite summer outfits: A linen dress, it can be short or long. Favourite accessories: Shades Essentials always in the bag: A good sunscreen Pics: Debarshi Sarkar / Hair and Makeup: Abhijit Paul, assisted by Sananda Mondal Laha / Styling: Anupam Chatterjee / Jewellery: B Sirkar Johuree / Location courtesy: The Astor Hotel / Food courtesy: Hanglaatherium The Italian newspaperfeatureds Eva Kailis first statement after the news that she will be out of prison with an electronic monitoring bracelet. A couple, Adeyemi and Divine Adegoke, alongside Deji Ajayi, their neighbour, on Thursday, appeared before an Osogbo Chief Magistrates Court, for assaulting officers of Ibadan Electricity Distribution Company (IBEDC) and three police operatives during official duties. Details of the offences committed by the defendants as contained in their charge sheet indicated that they engaged in the acts on March 31, 2023, at No. 93, Ayelaka Area, Dada Estate, Osogbo. The defendants allegedly assaulted one Sayo Owaniyi and Adetunji Adetona who were staffers of IBEDC, as well as Inspectors Ariyo Oyeleke, Muritala Kazeem and Police Corporal Femi Adisa, while performing their duties. READ ALSO: Police Arrest Nine Sara-Suka Thugs For Murder Of 23-Year-Old Man In Bauchi (Photos) The charge sheet containing details of the offences committed by the defendants read in part, That you, Adegoke Divine, Adegoke Adeyemi and Ajayi Deji on the 31st day of March 2023 in the morning at No. 93, Ayelaka Area, Dada Estate, Osogbo in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did conspire together to commit felony to wit serious assault, assault and threat to the life of one Owaniyi Sayo and Adetunji Adetona of IBEDC Osogbo and Police Officers and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 516 of the criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002. That you Adegoke Divine, Adegoke Adeyemi and Ajayi Deji on the same date and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District did seriously assault one Owaniyi Sayo and Adetunji Adetona who are IBEDC staff of Osogbo Branch and also Inspector Ariyo Oyeleke, Inspector Muritala Kazeem and Adisa Femi while performing their duty by beating and stoning them and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 356 of the criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002. That you Ajayi Deji on the same date and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District did attempt to kill one Owaniyi Sayo and Adetunji Adetona with a dog and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 320 of the criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002. That you Ajayi Deji on the same date and place at the aforementioned Magisterial District did attempt to kill one Owaniyi Sayo and Adetunji Adetona with a dog and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 383 and punishable under section 320 of the criminal code Cap 34 Vol. II laws of Osun State of Nigeria 2002. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the three counts pressed against them. . In his ruling, the presiding magistrate, Dr Olusegun Ayilara, admitted Divine to bail in the sum of N200,000 with one surety, while the other two were granted bail in the sum of N500,000 each with two sureties. Ayilara then adjourned the matter till June 15, 2023, for a hearing. Phrank Shaibu, Special Assistant on Public Communication to Peoples Democratic Party presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar has slammed the All Progressives Congress (APC) and president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for attempting to portray the $460,000 forfeiture case as one involving tax evasion rather than drug charges. Shaibu, in a statement in Abuja on Thursday disclosed that the truth had finally been unravelled through the processes filed by the All Progressives Congress at the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal. His words: Festus Keyamo had gone on national television to say that Tinubus forfeiture of $460,000 was based on tax obligations. At least they have now finally admitted that the forfeiture was in relation to a drug trafficking case even though Tinubu did not admit guilt. But what has been established is that Justice John Nordberg ordered on October 4, 1993 that the funds in the amount of $460,000 held in First Heritage Bank in the name of Bola Tinubu represent the proceeds of narcotics trafficking or were involved in financial transactions in violation of 18 U.S. 1956 and 1957. Tinubu should know that he cannot outrun his past. He was investigated in relation to heroin trafficking. He had millions of dollars in his account while on a salary of $2,500 monthly, and he forfeited part of it in order to escape jail. These are the facts. Elections are over, and he should stop lying to Nigerians. According to Shaibu, Keyamos lack of understanding of the legal proceedings was one of the reasons he failed as a prosecutor with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Festus Keyamos law degree really needs to be investigated. One wonders how he even became a senior advocate. He went on national television to say the $460,000 was a fine for not paying taxes, he said. READ ALSO: Appoint Faleke As Chief Of Staff, Niger Delta Group Urges Tinubu Now, Tinubu is telling the Election Petition Tribunal that the money in question was forfeited as part of a court decree in relation to his drug case. No wonder Keyamo lost so many high profile cases with the EFCC while he was a prosecutor, Shaibu said. Atikus aide, however, slammed Tinubu for claiming that he was not under investigation, but only the funds in his bank accounts were under probe. Shaibu asked Tinubu to explain to Nigerians how he was able to deposit millions of dollars one year after opening bank accounts while earning a salary of $2,500 at Mobil. He said, Elections are over, but Tinubu is still trying to deceive Nigerians. Is he saying the millions of dollars found in his account just magically appeared there just as how his aide said on live television that the bullion van found on his premises ahead of the 2019 poll erroneously found their way there? Tinubu should stop taking Nigerians for a ride. Let him explain the business he did in order to have such a humongous sum of money in his account. Given his antecedents and open admission that he lived with known drug kingpins, Shaibu opines Tinubus presidency would be a setback in the fight against narcotics. He further urged the US authorities to disregard diplomatic protocol and provide the Nigerian judiciary with all information pertaining to Tinubus trial and verdict in the US investigation into drug dealings, as well as his forfeiture of $460,000 US dollars during his conviction. The US should not associate with electoral thieves by merely stating whether he is still under probe or not. We need in-depth details of this corn-man, Shaibu said. Nigerias president-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu has described the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 election, Atiku Abubakar, as a serial loser. The former Lagos State governor said this in his response to the petition filed by Atiku and the PDP before the Presidential Election Petition Court (PEPC), in which they prayed the court order a rerun or be declared the winner of the February 25 election. In the response filed through his team of lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun, Tinubu said Atiku had always lost the chance to lead the country since 1993, and crisscrossed different political parties, in search of power. The president-elect asked Atiku not to see his loss at the last election as strange, arguing that it would have been a miracle for the PDP and its candidate to win in view of the crisis rocking the Party before and during the election. His words: The 1st petitioner (Atiku) has been consistently contesting and losing successive presidential elections in Nigeria since 1993, whether at the party primary election level or at the general election; including 1993, when he lost the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primary election to the late Chief M.K.O Abiola. In 2007, Atiku lost the presidential election to the late President Umaru Musa YarAdua; and in 2011, when he lost the Peoples Democratic Party presidential primary election to President Goodluck Jonathan; 2015, when he lost the APC primary election to President Muhammadu Buhari; 2019, when he lost the presidential election to President Muhammadu Buhari; and now, 2023, when he has again, lost the presidential election to the 2nd respondent (Tinubu). It was/is not a surprise and/or not by accident that the electorate rejected the 1st petitioner at the polls of the presidential election held on 25th February, 2023. According to Tinubu, the former vice president was without a stable political platform and has lost majority of his key supporters, in view of his habit of jumping from one political party to another. READ ALSO: I Know What Tinubu Can Do, My Life Is Endangered Ex-Lagos Dep. Governor, Ojikutu He hammered that Atikus emergence as PDPs candidate fueled the crisis in the Party, resulting in five of its sitting governors resolving to work against him. Tinubu also faulted the competence of Atikus petition, describing it as not only frivolous, but an abuse of the process of court, owing to the fact that the PDP filed a suit at the Supreme Court, through some of its governors. The president-elect argued that the PDP and Atiku cannot maintain two cases on the same issue in different courts at the same time, saying that the PDP through its governors in Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo and Sokoto states filed a suit at the Supreme Court, demanding among others, that the February 25 presidential election be cancelled. The plaintiffs attacked INEC for not following its Manual and Regulations in the conduct of the election, and also complained of glitches, which is also the thrust of their petition. While the originating summons (in the suit before the Supreme Court) was filed on 28th February, 2023, this petition was filed on 21st March, 2023. The petitioners herein, through themselves and/or their proxies filed the originating summons at the Supreme Court, before filing this petition. The petitioners are maintaining two processes in respect of the same subject and/or complaint of theirs, against the conduct of the presidential election held on 25th February, 2023. This latter petition is abusive of the originating summons filed at the Supreme Court and is liable to be dismissed in limine, he disclosed. The Federal Government of Nigeria has approved N6.28bn for surface maintenance of the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State. The Minister of Works and Housing, Babatunde Fashola, who briefed State House correspondents after this weeks Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on Wednesday, at the Presidential Villa said the 24-month repair will cover 11 kilometers including interchanges, ramps, and critical links. He said the move aligns with Executive Order 11 signed by the President Muhammadu Buhari, in April 2022, which gave legal backing to the countrys national maintenance policy. READ ALSO: FG To Install Luggage Scanners In Abuja, Kaduna, Kano Railway Stations The announcement comes barely two weeks after the Lagos State Government said it would undertake rehabilitation works on the 32-year-old Bridge to repair failed and peeled asphaltic sections and substructure. However, Fashola argued that there will be no duplication of efforts. The former Lagos State governor said the States Public Works Corporation will focus on the functional structure of the bridge such as the underwater piles, while the FG will undertake surface maintenance to treat potholes and restore missing guard rails. He said Council approved a fresh contract for the maintenance of the pavement of the third mainland bridge and this was approved in the sum of N6.28bn for a period of 24 months. I have been asked about the works that have been done on the bridge before. The works are concentrating largely on the substructure of the bridge; the underwater piles, the pile caps and also the replacement of the expansion joints and the bearings. These are maintenance works that are critical to the structural integrity of the bridge. What were dealing with now is different. It is the driving surface and also the aesthetics. Some of the rails have been stolen. Some of the pleats are misaligned at the routes that lead you on and off the bridge. Fashola added that there are no anticipated prolonged closures during the works. Meanwhile, the council also approved N17.5bn variation for the contract for the construction of the old Enugu-Onitsha road whose current sum now stands at N48.99bn. Gunmen on Wednesday kidnapped Muhammed Jubril at the settlement of Fulani herdsmen in Ila local government area of Osun State. It was gathered that the gunmen, who were Fulani Bororo numbering about eight, attacked the Ago Igbira settlement in Ila-Orangun around 12am on Wednesday. The gunmen shot sporadically into the air to scare the settlers who were predominantly Fulani herdsmen. The Serikin Fulani of the settlement, Muhammed Kajibo, disclosed that the sound of the gun alerted close-by settlements and quickly called security operatives. According to him, the prompt arrival of vigilante guard, local hunters and Oodua Peoples Congress security squad unsettled the kidnappers and forcefully took away the victim. Osun police command spokesperson, SP Yemisi Opalola while confirming the incident said a joint team of police and local security operatives combed the near by bush and recovered three expended shells of AK 47 rifle and cartridges. READ MORE: Nigerian Army Kill Notorious Bandit Chief, Recover Materials In Kaduna During a shootout with police, one Hassan Jubril was injured and was taken to hospital for treatment. Presently, the combined team is on a search and rescue mission in the area and trying to arrest the perpetrators, she said. Meanwhile, the kidnappers were heading towards Kwara State boundary in the forest. Lai Mohammed, the Minister of Information and Culture, has said a lot of foreign commentators were astonished by the outcome of the 2023 presidential election because of their wrong mindset, prior to the polls of which he has explained clearly to them. The update was disclosed in London during his engagements with some international media organisations. The minister was in London to defend the legitimacy of the just concluded general elections and correct the imbalance in the narratives which had pervaded the air regarding the polls according to the News Agency of Nigeria. Information Nigeria understands the minister has engaged international media organisations such as, The Economist, The Guardian and African Confidential, as well as Think Tank, Royal African Society. According to him, during his respective meeting with them, some of the commentators had the mindset that the Labour Party and its presidential candidate, Peter Obi, would win the election. Mohammed said the wrong mindset was premised on the hyped activities of Labour Party and their supporters on the social media, as well as the outcomes of various opinion polls which were unrepresentative of the situation in Nigeria. The minister said: In the course of my interactions, particularly with the Economist, I referred them to an earlier article they wrote, in which they rated the Labour Party Presidential candidate as the front runner in the polls. I explained to them that there was no way a presidential candidate who has no political spread and a grassroots base could win an election in Nigeria. I also explained to them that many of them were ignorant of the constitutional requirements for a presidential candidate to win an election in Nigeria. READ ALSO: Lagos Govt Commences Investigation Into Banana Island Building Collapse For instance, not only that the candidate must have the plurality of votes, he must also have one-quarter of the total vote cast in at least 25 states of the federation. When you look at the results, only the candidate of the ruling All Progressives Congress and the President-elect, Bola Tinubu, met these requirements. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Atiku Abubakar, came short of these because he came second and had 25 per cent in 21 states. Obi came far behind with 25 per cent in 15 states. This means that Obi, who was wrongly adjudged as a front runner in the election, was virtually unknown and unpopular in 22 states. Again, he reiterated his position that there is no victory pathway for either Atiku or Obi in the poll because they did not meet the conditions to be declared president. For any party to ignore the North-East and the North-West Zones of Nigeria during a presidential election, it will be impossible for it to win. The election had thrown up a lot of surprises and it is precisely those surprises that made it credible and transparent, he said. On the issue of large turnout of youths for voter registration before the election, the minister explained that winning an election was beyond registration with the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). What INEC did was to ensure the extension of voter registration exercise for about 18 months so that people will not be disenfranchised. However, it is one thing to register to vote and it is another thing to come out to vote on an election day. Those 24 million people that came out to vote during the polls were the authentic people that concluded the processes of election, he said. He furthered that INEC should be praised for the introduction and the strict usage of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS). BVAS, according to him, was a technology that paved the way for check and balance as well as prevented fraud and other irregularities during the elections. According to the minister, BVAS cut out fraudulent votes, ghost voters and multiple votes. Mohammed said from the outcome of his engagements so far, the international community had come to the conclusion that the 2023 elections were the fairest and most transparent in Nigeria history. Nairobi The government has given the green light for the training of an additional 200 police reservists beginning this Friday to boost security operations in the bandit-prone Baringo County. Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki announced that 100 reservists will be recruited from Baringo North and a similar number from Baringo South. Baringo is among the six counties that have been mapped as disturbed areas and currently under dusk-to-dawn curfew, but bandits have continued to wreak havoc in the area despite an ongoing multi-agency security operation. "Training is going to start before Friday, because we believe the security agencies cannot be in every homestead but the National Police Reservists (NPR) can help mitigate in a big way and you have seen in other parts of the country NPR's are helping stabilizes situations in a big way," Kindiki said Wednesday when he appeared before the House to respond to questions on concerns over insecurity in parts of the North Rift. CS Kindiki said that the government has already set aside funds to facilitate the training of the reservists. To further enhance security in the area, Kindiki stated that the government is opening up two new security roads in Baringo North which connects Arabal, Mukutani and Laikipia Nature conservancy which have become a bandit hotspot. Civilian casualties While responding to questions on the increased civilian deaths as a result of banditry, Kindiki said that government is doing its best to pacify the area. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Kenya Legal Affairs Conflict By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "The deaths that have been caused in Samburu and other parts of the country as results of livestock rustling and banditry are regrettable. We have had an operation going on there but we continue to experience incidences of bandit attacks from time to time," Kindiki said. "We have been able to dominate the permanent abodes where we suspected bandits were hiding whenever they steal livestock." Kindiki said the ministry had complied to international standards on evacuation of civilian populations from active operational areas. He however admitted that some criminal elements might have taken advantage of the evacuation window to mix up with the civilian population. Kindiki attributed the recent attacks to the bandits who evaded security agents during the evacuation but maintained that the security agencies continue to do their best to avert further attacks. "During that window of notice we had given to be able to ensure we don't have civilian casualties we some of these criminals could have mixed with the population, and because the security forces cannot be everywhere and guard every homestead, they are making sporadic raids, sometimes successful but we have prevented and thwarted and even recovered livestock numerous times," he added. He added that in as much as they continue to encounter challenges, the government has made progress in the operation to rid the North Rift of the bandits. Sinatu Ojikutu, a former Lagos State deputy governor, has cried out over what she described as a threat to her life following the emergence of former governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu as Nigerias president-elect. The first female deputy governor who served as deputy governor during the administration of late governor Michael Otedola in the State from 1992 to 1993, alleged the threat to life at a press conference on Wednesday in Lagos. According to Ojikutu, she has commenced the process of renouncing her Nigerian citizenship as she had promised if Tinubu emerged the countrys president. The former deputy governor who revealed that her problem with the president-elect started when she opposed his governorship ambition more than 20 years ago, added that efforts to resolve the differences between the them had failed to achieve desired results. She added that a reconciliatory move initiated by former president Olusegun Obasanjo also failed because Tinubu refused to listen to the former president. Ojikutu said: I came out before the election to say that if former Governor Bola Tinubu won the election, I, Sinatu Aderoju Ojikutu, will renounce the citizenship of this nation and I have my reasons. READ ALSO: FG Approves N6bn For Third Mainland Bridge Maintenance When he won, people called me and said he had won, that he would not do anything bad to me. But I know this man and I have known him for over 20 years now, I know what he has done to me personally. So calling this press conference is also to show that I am personally endangered by the current situation. I am endangered, I have been ostracized, humiliated in places where I should be honoured because of Tinubu not being at peace with me. The last thing before the election was when it came to me that he was saying that am I still alive? When somebody mentioned my issue to him, I understand, he said, Is she still around? What does that mean? What does he mean? I am alive, hale and hearty. Have they planned my death? Why should anybody be asking if I am still alive? Up till today, since I raised that issue in January, none of his associates I have talked to has gotten back to me and this is giving me a personal concern. Am I safe? And there are many people like that in my category. People have been saying that people do not like former governor Bola Tinubu but nobody has bothered to ask what of the people that Bola Tinubu does not like? It is a two-way thing, she said, while calling on security agencies to provide security for her and her family. Presidential candidate of Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, has denied receiving any letter of apology from the British government over his detention by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport in London. Obi made the rebuttal through the Head, Media and Communications of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council, Diran Onifade. READ ALSO: Were Sorry British Govt. Apologises To Obi Over Illegal Detention A statement by Onifade read, We have been receiving enquiries with regards to a so called apology, purportedly issued by the British Government or any of its agencies, to our Principal Mr Peter Obi, in respect of a routine Immigration engagement with him, as he arrived London, for a brief visit, last Friday, the 7th of April. We would like to state emphatically that we are not aware of any such apology, and have not issued any statement whatsoever, in that regard. While we continue to examine any dubious or political motive, on the part of the perpetrators of the identity theft, We have every confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter, to conclusion. Mr Peter Obi and the LP/PCC have since moved on from the incident and continue to be totally focused; on the legal processes before the Election Petition Tribunal towards the recovery of our mandate, which we are firmly convinced, was overwhelmingly expressed by voters, in the Presidential election of February 25th. Recall that the Spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Daniel Bwala, had said the British government apologised to Obi over his detention at Heathrow Airport. Obi was, on Friday, accosted by an immigration official at the Heathrow Airport in London, and handed a detention note. The LP presidential candidate was later released after being questioned for identity duplication, which suggests that someone had been impersonating Obi in London. Taking to his Twitter account on Thursday, Bwala claimed that the British government has apologised to Obi for illegally serving him a detention note. He wrote, British government apologised to Peter Obi for illegally serving him a detention note. Can you now put a respek on his name? We are now waiting for US government to apologise to Tinubu for illegally collecting the forfeited dollars. Asiwaju fans oya start throwing the insults. Ex-Big Brother Naija season 6 housemates, Adeoluwa Okusaga and Nini Singh shocked many on March 31, when a video of Saga proposing to Nini surfaced online. Recall that Saga appeared to have given Nini a surprise engagement, and many congratulated the lovebirds who began their relationship in the house. READ ALSO: I Made Just N30,000 Per Movie Acting In Nollywood Skit-Maker Nons Miraj However, Saga is now claiming that it wasnt real and was just a skit to get people talking. He made the claim during an interview with Naija Info FM, stating that the video was shot in December last year, and he doesnt know how the video surfaced online. Watch video below: The Lagos State Government has accused promoters of the movie Gangs of Lagos of making a mockery of the heritage of Lagos. The government made the accusation in a statement posted on its official website. It read, Lagos State Government has expressed displeasure with the promoters of the Gangs of Lagos film/series over cultural misrepresentation and for portraying the culture of Lagos State in a derogatory manner. A release signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Pharm. (Mrs.) Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said the Ministry, being the regulatory body and custodian of the culture of Lagos State, views the film/series as a mockery of the Heritage of Lagos. READ MORE: Lagos Govt Commences Investigation Into Banana Island Building Collapse The Commissioner expressed her disappointment with the promoters of the film, Jade Osiberu and Kemi Akindoju, for portraying the Eyo Masquerade as a gun-wielding villain while adorning the full traditional regalia. According to the statement, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf said: We are of the opinion that the production of the film The Gang of Lagos is very unprofessional and misleading while its content is derogatory of our culture, with the intention to desecrate the revered heritage of the people of Lagos. It is an unjust profiling of a people and culture as being barbaric and nefarious. It depicts a gang of murderers rampaging across the State. Akinbile-Yussuf maintained that the Adamu Orisha, popularly known as the Eyo Festival, is rarely observed and only comes up as a traditional rite of passage for Obas, revered Chiefs and eminent Lagosians. She added that the Eyo Masquerade is equally used as a symbol of honour for remarkable historical events. It signifies a sweeping renewal, a purification ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, acknowledging the blessings of the ancestors of Lagosians. Meanwhile, the statement by the Lagos State Government has been widely condemned by Nigerians on social media platforms. Nigerian gospel artiste, Nathaniel Bassey is celebrating his 10 years wedding anniversary today. Bassey, who made this known on his Insatgram page on Thursday, described the anniversary as a 10 years of Gods Goodness. The gospel artiste wrote, Kept by His Mercy, Sustained by His GRACE. The SARANATA project (Coined from SARAH & NATHANIEL) .We called it. God has not abandoned this project. And never will. The Lord will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O Lord, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. READ MORE: Nathaniel Bassey reacts to the unfortunate demise of his colleague, Osinachi Nwachukwu Psalm 138:8. Many more years, or Grace and Mercy to go. Father in heaven we Thank you. To my Honeywell @saranata00 The price you pay and keep paying for what I do, can only be Gods grace at work. Thank You. And to everyone out there trusting God for same, May this Grace speak in your life and manifest very soon. To every troubled marriage out there, PEACE BE STILL, in Jesus name. Please cover us in your prayers, he stated. A member-elect of the House of Representatives, Miriam Onuoha, has joined the race for the Office of Speaker in the coming 10th National Assembly. The current member of the House officially declared her speakership ambition at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday. Onuoha, who is representing Onuimo/Isiala Mbano/Okigwe Federal Constituency in Imo State on the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress, is the first female to openly declare a bid for the office. The lawmaker, who has been reelected for a second term in the House, is the second member from the South-East geopolitical zone to have joined the race, after Benjamin Kalu from Abia State who is Chairman of the House Committee on Media and Public Affairs. At the conference, Onuoha was accompanied by two serving male members of the House, Messrs Abdulkadir Abdullahi (APC/Bauchi) and Emeka Chinedu (PDP/Imo) as well as several fresh members-elect and members of the APC Presidential Campaign Council. READ ALSO: 2023 Election: Atiku Didnt Meet Conditions To Win Presidential Poll INEC Tells Court In her address titled, The Unity House, Onuoha noted that the 10th Assembly promises to be a watershed of some sort for Nigerias fledgling democracy. The lawmaker also stated that Nigeria needs a nationalist and a dynamic team player to stem the tide of our dwindling economy and the much-needed dividends to Nigerians a service-driven leader who understands citizens participation. Onuoha said, The emergency of the dwindling number of women in parliament calls for deliberate action, an action that will bridge the gender gap; an action that is a call for the leadership of the National Assembly to embrace the stance for a woman of competence and experience. I honourably call for my fellow contestants to support me, a woman with competence, integrity and full of vision. No doubt, our President-elect, His Excellency, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is a he-for-she who has always empowered women in all spheres of life, having picked a woman as his running mate as the Governor of Lagos state and supported his amiable wife to become a senator in the parliament, in line with the goals of the UNs 35 per cent Affirmative Action for women. To this effect, my election as the Speaker House of Representatives will, therefore, afford Nigeria the rare opportunity of killing the two ubiquitous birds of gender balancing and youth inclusiveness in its political/leadership landscape, with one stone. Truthfully, I Princess Miriam amply represent the twin-engine essence of Nigerias youth and female status quo, whom the circumstances of our political exigencies have made an endangered and vulnerable species. The lawmaker added that the issue of regional balancing in the nations leadership equation is also another veritable national challenge that my election to the speakership of the House of Representatives will address and resolve simultaneously in the interest of national unity, peace and inclusion. Omoyele Sowore, the presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), has said that there is something fishy about the attempted arrest of the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi. Information Nigeria had reported yesterday that immigration in the United Kingdom detained Obi for hours and interrogated him after his British Airways plane landed at Heathrow Airport on Friday morning over alleged impersonation. Stella Okunna, a close associate who served under Obi while he was Anambra State governor, disclosed this via a post on Facebook. Also, confirming the incident, the Obi-Datti media office said the LP presidential candidate was questioned at the airport for a long time which seemed quite strange considering that he had lived for over a decade in the country. READ ALSO: You Should Have Said Yes Daddy To British Immigration FFK Mocks Obis UK Encounter Reacting via Twitter on Wednesday, Sowore wondered how Obis identity was mistaken when there is a modern biometric passport with his fingerprints and biometric identity. He insisted that something suspicious is happening. There is something suspicious about @peterobis UK Immigration Story, because I dont see how a modern biometric passport with his fingerprints and biometric identity could lead to his being seen as an impersonator or a clone, more curious is why hes sending third parties to tell half of the story. Something fishy is going on! #Revolutionnow, he tweeted. Workers of of Mormar Marines Ltd, a pipeline surveillance firm in the Oil Mining Lease, OML 3O, have shut down oil installations in the Oil Mining Lease, OML 30 over the non-payment of the backlog of salaries owed them by the company and the Nigeria Petroleum Development Company, NPDC. On Thursday, the workers who converged the Pigging Manifold located in the Erhiemu oil field, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, said they were forced to shut down the facilities being operated by joint venture partners, NPDC, Heritage and Shoreline because they could no longer go on in hunger. Displaying placards which bore various inscriptions such as You cannot owe us and disengage us NPDC, stop this divide and rule, We are comfortable working with Mormar Marines among others, they said NPDC had concluded plans to terminate their jobs without any arrangement to pay them the six months outstanding salaries still being owed them. According to the Coordinator of the company, Comrade Lucky Ofuomukoro while addressing press, said they had been on protest at the manifold since Wednesday last week to register their grievance with no positive response from NPDC. READ MORE: House Of Reps To Query Malami, Others Over Alleged Illegal Sale Of 48m Barrels Crude Oil He said: In December last year, the management of Mormar Marines Ltd, called us for a meeting where they told us that the job has been terminated and we said if they no longer need our services, we have to quit. We now did a protest in this particular place and told them to pay the salary they were owing us so that we can go to our houses. At the end of the day, the management of the company called us for a meeting where we told them to extend the job and they told us to go back to our duties which we did. At the end of March, they promised that there will be order to extend the work, but to our greatest surprise, they called us to say that the work has ended. We came back here since last week telling them to pay our salaries, but till this momment, nobody from NPDC, Heritage and Shoreline has come; they just left us like that. We dont have power to damage the facilities, the only power we have is to shut them down and that is what we have done. Another Coordinator, Mr. Paul Agbama lamented the marginalization and oppression metted on the surveillance workers. We have been on this job for many years but recently, our salaries are not coming regularly which is not fair. We have decided to shut down so that they will call us and pay our salaries. Representatives of president-elect Bola Ahmed Tinubu, have told the international media that the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate won the election contrary to the claims of opposition parties. The team, led by Festus Keyamo, chief spokesperson of the Partys Campaign Council, had Minister of Youth and Sports, Sunday Dare and Assistant Principal Spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale, at a parley with the International Media at the Press Centre, Washington DC, United States on Wednesday. Keyamo and members of his team said that the 2023 polls were free, fair and that president Muhammadu Buhari-led administration ensured a level playing via no interference, in a statement titled: Separating the Facts from Fictions. According to them, the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAS), did not fail during elections as alleged by the opposition but recorded 88 per cent success, adding that opposition parties accepted the results of senatorial and House of Representatives elections held on the same day, which they won but chose to kick against that of the presidential they lost. Insisting that Tinubu won the polls and met the constitutional requirement to be declared president-elect, they said incidents of violence and irregularities recorded in a few polling units were not enough to affect the overall outcome of the election. They said having gone to court to challenge the result, the opposition parties should desist from spreading false tales. Recall that according to the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), the All Progressives Congress had 8,794,726 votes (36.61%); Peoples Democratic Party had 6,984,520 votes (29.07%); Labour Party had 6,101,533 votes (25.40%) and New Nigeria Peoples Party had 1,496,687 votes (6.23%). The statement read in part: The countrys out-going President, Muhammadu Buhari, signed into law a Bill that seeks to improve our electoral process by introducing technology as a means of accrediting voters at the polling units. This is known as the Electoral Act, of 2022. The opposition and international observers hailed him on this. READ ALSO: APC Prays Tribunal To Dismiss Three Opposition Parties Petitions Against Tinubu There was also complete non-interference in the political process by State institutions. There were no reports of the deployment of security agents or State apparatus in support of the candidate of the ruling party. In fact, in some instances, the opposition celebrated the fact that our candidate had no support of the Government. These led to well-published reports (albeit false) that the President was not in support of the candidate of his own party. The ruling party, the All Progressives Congress controlled 21 out of the 36 states of the country and the FCT before the elections with elected Governors; whilst the main opposition, the Peoples Demoratic Party had 14 governors and the All Progressives Grand Alliance had one governor. The Labour Party had no single governor or elected official at any level of Government. About eight months to the elections, the main opposition, the PDP, suffered some major set-backs. Its Vice-Presidential Candidate in 2019, Mr. Peter Obi moved to the Labour Party with his supporters, mainly from his region of origin, the South-East. Another of the Partys main pillar of support in the North-West, Alhaji Musa Kwakwanso moved to the New Nigerian Peoples Party (NNPP), taking with him a chunk of the partys supporters in that region. Five (5) out of the 14 Governors of the PDP, publicly announced they would not be campaigning for or supporting its Presidential Candidate (Alhaji Atiku Abubakar). Meanwhile, the ruling party remained one huge, indivisible entity with no departure of any of its elected officials or public dissent from them. It was in this state of affairs that all the parties went into the elections. Contrary to the false outcry by the opposition, the main technological device, Bi-modal Voters Accreditation System, BVAS, did not fail on the election day. All the local and international observers scored the use of BVAS very high, with one local body called YIAGA, working in coalition with the EU and other International Observers, saying it recorded 88% success in all the polling units it monitored. The Nigeria Bar Association also issued its report saying only 8 percent of voters were not satisfied with the process on that day. The portal that the opposition made so much noise about, IREV, is just a viewing portal, which has nothing to do with accreditation or verification of voters or even the counting or recording of votes. Our Constitution requires a Presidential candidate to secure the highest number of votes and score at at least one-quarter of the votes in two-thirds of the States of the Federation which includes the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Only Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu met these requirements especially that of the spread (he scored 25 percent and above in 29 States), even though all 3 top candidates won 12 States each. The candidate of the PDP scored 25% and above in just 21 States, falling short of the 24 states required and the candidate of the Labour Party scored 25% and above in 15 States plus the Federal Capital Territory, making it 16 States. There was just no pathway to victory for these candidates who did not have the requisite national acceptability. So, how tenable is the claim of rigging the elections? We see none It is significant to note that the elections were so credible that it threw up some upsets in our otherwise settled demography. For the first time, 20 sitting Governors lost their states, mostly those of the ruling party. Seven Governors who sought elections into the Senate failed to scale through. This has never happened in the history of Nigeria. In addition, the President-Elect lost his home State (Lagos State); the sitting President lost his home State (Katsina State); the Director-General of the Campaign lost his home State (Plateau State);the ruling Party Chairman lost his home State (Nassarawa State); the Chairman of the ruling Partys Governor Forum lost his home State (Kebbi State) and the ruling party lost some of its traditional strong holds like Yobe State, Kaduna State and Kano State. The Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Nasarawa Eggon Unit, raided a kidnappers hideout in Tudun Waya, Nasarawa Eggon Local Government Area of Nasarawa State and arrested six suspects. During the operation, the vigilante operatives also rescued seven abducted victims who were being held captive by the suspects. READ ALSO: Gunmen Assassinate Delta APC Chieftain, Sylvester Efeurhobo According to The Sun, the arrested suspects are responsible for the recent spate of kidnapping-for-ransom along the Akwanga/Nasarawa Eggon/Lafia road. Following their arrest, the suspects were taken to the state Police Headquarters in Lafia for further investigation and prosecution. The successful operation by the Vigilante Group has been met with cheers from the residents of the area, who have been living in fear due to the activities of the kidnappers. Bawa Ibrahim, one of the residents, expressed gratitude to the vigilante operatives for their efforts in ensuring peace in the area. We are happy with the development today because for some time now, we have not been sleeping with our two eyes closed, but I believe that with the arrest of the six suspected bandits, we will start enjoying peace in the area. he added. See photos below: Public life came to a standstill during nearly a week of protests across Amhara state. Addis Abeba Girma Yeshitila, head of the Prosperity Party and member of the executive committee in the Amhara regional state, claimed that the sustained mass protests in the Amhara region were the result of poor leadership on the part of the task force commissioned with reorganizing the special forces in the area. According to him, the responsible reorganizing team was unable to adequately notify the public about the reorganization plan, and the media concentrated on disseminating political sabotage and inaccurate information irrelevant to the actual picture of the plan. The regional special force was confused and enraged by a letter that was sent by a member of the reorganizing execution team ordering the disarmament of the force without a formal discussion with all of the force's members and knowledge of the government and political leadership, stated Girma in an exclusive interview with the regional media, Amhara Media Corporation. The letter has been circulating on social media. He criticized the task force for spreading information, saying "the government decided to disband the special forces", while the path taken by the task force to carry out the work was largely planned, conceiving the big picture of forming a "centralized national army." The task force was further censured for giving impression that the government is working to disarm the special force and put the Amhara people in a "precarious situation" and not performing its responsibilities properly. "Military weapons and various armors being used by the special forces are primarily aimed at strengthening the region in accordance with military discipline," said Girma. Despite the fact that both the federal and regional governments had authorized the decision to reorganize special forces throughout all regions, the Amhara region's implementation has resulted in tension between the executors, Amhara people, and special forces. The people in the region have been concerned about the timing and security issues for fear that the decision would leave them vulnerable to attacks from neighboring regions since there is no guarantee that the country is at complete peace, said Girma. He further said that the northern conflict was settled, Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) has pledged to resolve all disputes amicably through dialogue and for that matter the fear of the people has no basis "Nevertheless, the northern conflict was settled, Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) acknowledged its erroneous act and apologized, and they pledged to resolve all disputes amicably through dialogue; thus, this is where the fear of the people has no basis." In the past five days, mass protests have taken place in several major cities in the Amhara region, including the capital Bahir Dar, Gondar, Dessie, Woldia, Kobo, etc., against the government's move to reorganize regional special forces into regular police and the national army. Many city entrances and exits were blocked in addition to the demonstrations. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The protests erupted in the Amhara region following announcement by the federal government on April 6 that "practical activities" had been started to dissolve the controversial regional state special forces and "reorganize" them into regular regional and federal police, as well as the national army. In some cities, clashes erupted between government security forces and civilians, as well as between members of regional special forces and the national army. In Kobo town in the North Wollo zone of Amhara region, the sound of heavy artillery was heard in the town on Sunday night. Yelikal Kefale (PhD), president of Amhara Regional State, subsequently, announced that the decision was made with the support of the federal and regional administrations and will be carried out across all regions; "There was no explicit decision to disarm and disband the special forces in the Amhara region." AS Bashir Ahmad, Special Assistant on Digital Communication to President Muhammadu Buhari, has mocked the Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his detention in the United Kingdom (UK). Information Nigeria had reported yesterday that Obi was detained and interrogated for hours by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport in London, according to head of Obi-Datti Media Office, Diran Onifade, who disclosed the situation in a statement in Abuja. Onifade revealed that the former governor of Anambra State was wrongly detained over duplication offences allegedly committed by an impostor who is still at large. The statement added that the impostor of Obi may have committed various crimes that led to the harassment of the LP flagbearer who lived for over a decade in the UK. READ ALSO: If Obidients Are Removed From Political Space, Therell Be Peace In Nigeria Shehu Sani But reacting mockingly on Wednesday via Twitter, Bashir said the detention was unacceptable saying Peter Obi was treated like a common criminal in the UK. He further pleaded with the UK government to explain to Nigerians the circumstances surrounding Obis arrest. The presidential aide wondered if it was the real Peter Obi or a fake one that contested for the February 25th election. He wrote: A whole former presidential candidate treated like a common criminal, unacceptable. Haba. The UK should kindly tell us what they know about the numerous Peter Obis roaming around. His detention got me really disturbed. Was it the authentic Obi or the criminal Obi that contested and came 3rd in the February presidential election? I hope it wasnt the criminal one oo! The British government has apologized to the Nigerian Labour Party Presidential candidate, Peter Obi after immigration officials admitted wrongly giving him a detention note. The officials had detained Obi for committing several alleged financial crimes only to find out that he was being impersonated. They also said the uncomplimentary treatment he received was completely unacceptable, and issued a personal apology. Frankly, the Immigration Officials action has been appalling and we are sorry, Immigration authorities apologized. READ ALSO: UK Immigration Interrogated, Detained Obi Because Someone Is Impersonating Him LP PCC Recall that Obi was unlawfully detained and interrogated for hours by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport in London on April 7, 2023. The Head of Obi-Datti Media Office, Diran Onifade, made this known in a statement issued on Wednesday. The Obi-Datti media office said the former Governor of Anambra State was wrongly detained over offences allegedly committed by an impostor who is still at large. The statement added that the impostor of Obi may commit various crimes that would lead to the arrest of the LP flagbearer in the United Kingdom for duplication. The statement reads in part: The Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi just back from London, United Kingdom where he celebrated Easter, has confirmed that he was harassed by London immigration officials and placed in detention but for the spontaneous reaction of Nigerians at Heathrow Airport. Dele Momodu, Director of Strategic Communications of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Campaign Council, has urged Nigerians to pray for governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State. Acknowledging Wike as a hardworking man, Dele Momodu opined that the governor is possessed by the demon of anger and prayed for his deliverance. The veteran journalist who made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja noted that Wike has continued to express excitement over the loss of the PDP presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar, however, he has remained inconsolable since almost one year after he lost the PDP presidential primary election. According to him, Wike will know life better after May 29, 2023, no matter what position he occupies because nobody would ever trust him. Momodu said, As his big Brother who loves him so much, I will continue to offer him prayers so that God can deliver him fully from this demon of anger. Wike truly deserves our pity and prayers. He is a hardworking man who suffers from several afflictions like many mortals: the chief of which is rabid anger. He is a control freak who expects everyone to bow and tremble before him no matter your age or influence in society. Sometimes, when God has been so kind to a man, he may begin to see himself as God. READ ALSO: If Obidients Are Removed From Political Space, Therell Be Peace In Nigeria Shehu Sani Wike is gloating that Atiku lost the election, the process of which is still ongoing. But Wike lost his own election since last year and he is yet to recover. Wike is happy that Dr. Iyiorchia Ayu is no longer our National Chairman. Oh, but despite his attacks against the gentleman, Wikes power and wealth couldnt remove him. Only cowards mock the dead in battle. Like a suicide bomber, Wike terminated the dreams of three of his Governor friends, in his war of attrition. So, what exactly did he gain? He said I did not win any vote but we both lost, yet he wasted billions of state resources on pursuing a dream he couldnt achieve. I remain a journalist without borders, while he continues to oppress his hapless and seemingly helpless victims in Rivers State. Even the Peter Obi that he stylistically intimidated out of PDP is far more relevant today. Alhaji Atiku Abubakar remains a global statesman in politics and in business. And he still cant do without the ARISE NEWS that he pretends to hate so much. What is there to gloat about? He will be viewed with suspicion and derision. He may become the first Governor Emeritus to live in the Government House with the new Governor or move the Governor into his own Guest chalet for the sole purpose of signing documents. It is the way the cookie crumbles. What a sad end to a brilliant career!! Very unfortunate. Femi Fani-Kayode (FFK), former Minister of Aviation and Director, New Media sub-committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, has mocked the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi over his encounter with Immigration officers in the United Kingdom. Recall that the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Office, earlier on Wednesday, released a statement, explaining that Obi was allegedly harassed by immigration officers at the Heathrow Airport. Diran Onifade, the spokesman of the Partys Campaign Council, disclosed that Obi was detained and questioned for a duplication offense, which suggests that someone has been impersonating Obi in London. The statement added that the impostor of Obi may have committed various crimes that led to the harassment of the LP flagbearer who lived for over a decade in the UK. READ ALSO: If Obidients Are Removed From Political Space, Therell Be Peace In Nigeria Shehu Sani The development has since generated reactions from many Nigerians. But Fani-Kayode, in a statement via Twitter on Wednesday, said Obi was accosted, detained and deported back to Nigeria like a commoner by the British authorities. He tweeted, Poor @PeterObi! Accosted, detained & deported back to Nigeria like a common criminal by the British authorities? Why didnt you say yes daddy to the immigration officer? Or better still why didnt you call the little Englander or the little diva to put in a word for you. Author and Philadelphia resident Lorrie Kim holds one of the many letters Judy Blume has written her since 1977, in "Judy Blume Forever." Read more The current wave of book banning is bizarre and disgusting, author Lorrie Kim says to The Inquirer over the phone. Back in 1984, when Kim was 16, her pen pal, author Judy Blume, wrote to her about the National Coalition Against Censorship in a letter and mentioned being really busy with work with that organization. By that time, it had been seven years since Kim first wrote to Blume. Growing up in central New Jersey, and in the fourth grade, Kim admittedly had no idea what menstruation or sex or anything like that was. Which was when some of her classmates shook their heads and kindly led Kim over to the section of the school library where Judy Blumes books were stacked. Kim picked up Blumes 1970 novel, Are You There God? Its Me, Margaret. I remember feeling really angry, Kim said, that I hadnt been told all these important things [about myself] that there was this adult conspiracy to keep me ignorant even though everyone else already knew. Thats when she decided to write Blume a letter. Advertisement I just wrote down everything that I wanted to ask her. No one had taught me that you couldnt write to an author so I was sending a letter out into the void, she said. Blume wrote back, and the two havent stopped writing to one another ever since. It has been 45 years since that first letter from Blume, that came with a brochure Blume had written for a sanitary napkin company. It was called Growing Up and Liking It. Kim and her letters appear with Blume in the new documentary Judy Blume Forever, directed by Leah Wolchok and Davina Pardo. It plays at the PFS SpringFest on Saturday and releases April 21 on Amazon Prime. Between the time that we filmed and now, the political climate around book banning has gotten so much worse, said Kim, who lives in West Philly with her spouse and two teenage offsprings. We need to know that we have fought this battle before, and we dont always lose, she said, referring to the many times Blumes books have been banned in the past. I sell banned books read the stickers that adorn the walls and shelves of Blumes Books and Books bookstore in Key West, Fla. Back when Kim graduated from Bryn Mawr, in the 1980s, book banning was epidemic. That was also when Kims family faced some problems flying into the States from Korea, in time for Kims graduation. Not wanting to be the only person at my college graduation without family members, Kim wrote to Blume asking if she and her husband, lawyer George Cooper, would attend as her family. She said, Yes, and she was very firm about it, Kim recalled. With Bryn Mawr being a historically all-womens college, Blumes books had been fodder for almost every students intellectual growth. Kim remembered feeling very happy when she introduced her proxy family to her professors not just Blume, who is such an important part of American literature, but the couple for their political activism against censorship. Yet, its not just Blumes activism that inspires Kim she identifies as a Harry Potter Fan for Trans Rights, A part of what I know about parenting, I absorbed from her, she said. Things about not being ashamed, things about being open, about respecting the opinions of children from the moment theyre born. Long before Kim wrote Snape: The Definitive Analysis of Hogwartss Mysterious Potions Master in 2022, she was a journalist who wrote extensively for the Philadelphia Gay News. From 1998 to 2003, she maintained Rainbow Ice, the first website devoted to LGBTQ issues in figure skating. Did Blume inspire her to write? Its hard to know, because starting from age 9, she was always in my life. But Im sure the answer is yes, Kim said. In her letters to Kim, Blume would often write of her life as an author how when she lived in New Mexico, Blume had to move her desk away from the window because the scenery was distractingly beautiful. Then when she would have to do publicity for a new book, she often found it frustrating because all she wanted to do was to write her next book. And she couldnt, for months. It was just these everyday details about being a writer that made me think this is a life, too, Kim said. While the documentary comes at a time of intense moralistic gatekeeping, Blume, Kim said, is the opposite of a gatekeeper. She insists that anyone can be a writer, that anyones own voice and authority is important and worth listening to. And nothing is more authoritative than what someone says about their own life. Even in these bizarre and disgusting times, as Kim calls it, she (like Blume) is ready for battle. Blume, she said, is still here to remind us, this war has been won before. It might be frightening, but its worth fighting. Judy Blume Forever screens at the PFS SpringFest, April 15, 4 p.m., Philadelphia Film Center, 412 Chestnut St., Phila., filmadelphia.org/springfest. It releases April 21 on Amazon Prime. Kiki Aranita has been doing a little bit of this and a little bit of that since her restaurant, Poi Dog Philly, closed in 2020 after three years of bringing Hawaiian traditions to a Center City storefront, and for four years before that, as a food cart on Temple Universitys campus. Theres been fiber art, and theres her writing, which brought her a James Beard nomination last year for her essay How It Feels to Close Your Restaurant for Good, which appeared in Food & Wine. Her main gig nowadays is a line of bottled sauces under the Poi Dog brand, including the gingery Chili Peppah Water that Inquirer critic Craig LaBan said could warm a dish of pulled pork or rice like a splash of sunshine, as well as Guava Katsu sauce. On Saturday at the Cherry Bombe Jubilee in New York, the annual conference celebrating women and creatives in the world of food and drink, she will officially release Huli Huli, a pineapple-based sauce and marinade. Since Aranita is a writer, Ill let her explain the Huli Huli backstory: I grew up in Hawaii Kai, a suburb of Honolulu. It was an idyllic place to spend ones childhood a couple miles away from Hanauma Bay, where my sister and I would swim in calm waters while fish nibbled at our toes. There is a Foodland at the halfway point between home and the road up the mountain to Hanauma Bay and on weekends, the perfume of smoke and roasting chickens would nearly reach our house. Huli Huli smoke was a siren call for us to line up in the Foodland parking lot, but also the backroads of Kaneohe and the edges of the Swap Meet at Aloha Stadium knowing that our fingers would soon be oil-slicked and blackened, tearing into chicken flesh, seasoned with soy, maybe some pineapple, and a lot of smoke. Advertisement She says Huli Huli goes best with chicken or mushrooms. Aranita hopes this sauce (suggested retail: $17-$18) will join the lineup of Poi Dogs other sauces distributed via Lancaster Farm Fresh to smaller groceries and specialty markets from New York to Virginia, including such Philadelphia shops as Hermans Coffee, Rowhouse Grocery, and Riverwards Produce Market. Initially, Huli Huli will be available mainly in 64-ounce food-service sizes. Which brings up an odd coincidence. Her food-service redistributor is Ari Miller of C.W. Dunnet in South Philadelphia, formerly of 1732 Meats. Aranitas husband is also named Ari Miller, the former chef-owner of Musi in South Philadelphia and now chef de cuisine at Ivan Ramen in New York. Miller the food distributor is in her phone as Ariyeh Miller, while her husband is in there as Ari Miller Lite an inside joke because she has been lobbying him to create a beer with that name. AUSTIN, Texas The Justice Department said Thursday that it will again go to the Supreme Court over abortion after a lower court ruling allowed the abortion pill mifepristone to remain available in the U.S. but reimposed past restrictions on getting and using the drug. At stake in the accelerating court battle that began in Texas is widespread access to the most common method of abortion in the U.S., less than a year after the reversal of Roe v. Wade prompted more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright. In a ruling late Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas that had completely blocked the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone. But a divided three-judge panel still reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail. The ruling preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another significant constraint of abortion access that could be felt even in states where abortion remains legal, some of which have already begun stockpiling mifepristone over worries that the drug will become unavailable. Advertisement The Justice Department said it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order to stop the lower court ruling from taking effect. We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, speaking from Dublin during a visit by President Joe Biden. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. Abortion rights groups expressed both relief over FDA approval remaining in place and outrage over the appeals court reinstating restrictions. Whole Womans Health, an abortion provider that operates six clinics in five states, said in a tweet it was continuing to offer mifepristone in clinics and through virtual services while reviewing the decision. In the 2-1 decision, the judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10 and allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctors office. The panels decision came just days after the Justice Department appealed last weeks far-reaching ruling out of Texas that blocked the FDAs approval of the pill. The lawsuit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that also argued to overturn Roe v. Wade, and is representing a group of anti-abortion doctors. There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the regulators medical decisions. Attorneys for the plaintiffs indicated Thursday that they were content with the courts order and did not plan to seek an appeal that might restore the Texas courts full ruling. The 5th Circuits decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, womens health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law, said Erin Hawley, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom. The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former 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. Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington state last week ordered the FDA not to do anything that might block mifepristones availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. The judge in that case clarified Thursday that his order requires the FDA to keep access the same as it was in January in those states, leaving the agency facing conflicting court orders. This is just as much of a binding court order as whatever comes out of Texas, said David S. Cohen, a law professor at Drexel Universitys Thomas R. Kline School of Law. The New Orleans appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesdays decision noted that the Biden administration and mifepristones manufacturer warn us of significant public consequences that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling. But the judges suggested FDA changes making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be difficult to argue the changes were so critical to the public given that the nation operated and mifepristone was administered to millions of women without them for 16 years the judges wrote. When the drug was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug, misoprostol, and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctors supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences of the drug. If the appeals courts action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now. Democratic leaders in states where abortion remains legal since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year say they are preparing in case mifepristone becomes restricted. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her state would stockpile 150,000 doses of misoprostol. The White House also has contingency plans in place, but Jean-Pierre held off detailing them while legal action continued. Instead, she described a proposed new federal rule to limit how law enforcement and state officials collect medical records if they investigate women who flee their home states to seek abortions elsewhere. At the core of the Texas lawsuit is the allegation that the FDAs initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks. Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years. While less drastic than completely overturning the drugs approval, the latest ruling still represents a stark challenge to the FDAs authority overseeing how prescription drugs are used in the U.S. The panel overturned multiple decisions made by FDA regulators after years of scientific review. Common side effects with mifepristone include cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache and diarrhea. In rare cases, women can experience excess bleeding that requires surgery to stop. Still, in loosening restrictions on mifepristone, FDA regulators cited exceedingly low rates of serious adverse events. More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used the drug as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one-tenth of 1% of women who took the drug. Reading Hospital, in West Reading, is the anchor facility for Tower Health, which on Thursday announced another small round of layoffs. (Photo: Tower Health) Read more Tower Health told employees Thursday that it was laying off 45 people and eliminating an additional 55 positions that are either vacant or will be soon as people retire or leave voluntarily. The announced cuts add to a string of relatively small Philadelphia-area health-care layoffs, as the industry attempts to adapt to higher costs for wages, pharmaceuticals, and other supplies that have not been fully offset by increases in government and private insurance payments. Most of the affected positions are in management or involve employees who dont provide clinical care, Towers chief operating officer Michael Stern said in email to employees. The nonprofit based in West Reading, Pa., owns four hospitals, including St. Christophers Hospital for Children, in a joint venture with Drexel University Tower, which also owns Reading, Phoenixville, and Pottstown Hospitals, employs 12,000 people. Advertisement Stern, who joined Tower Health in September, said the cuts are expected to trim $12 million a year from costs at Tower, a system with $2 billion in annual revenue that has lost large amounts of money in recent years. Healthcare providers regionally and nationally are working through very difficult financial challenges. Tower Health is no exception. While we are making progress, the effort to improve our financial performance must remain a constant focus, Stern said. Last fall, Tower laid off 52 people from its corporate staff in West Reading, citing its need to retrench after the closures of its Brandywine and Jennersville Hospitals, both in western Chester County, and the sale of its Chestnut Hill Hospital to a group led by Temple University Health System. A string of health-care layoffs this year Even financially strong hospital operators such as the nonprofit University of Pennsylvania Health System are cutting jobs to keep ahead of financial pressures. Penn announced internally in February that it had cut a small number of administrative positions as part of an effort to reduce corporate overhead by $40 million annually. The system had $9.2 billion in revenue in the fiscal year ended June 30. Penn Medicine employs about 40,000 people. The corporate changes at Penn included the consolidation of medical malpractice insurance companies and legal departments, which had long existed separately at some of the hospitals Penn acquired. Then last month, Lancaster General Health, which Penn has owned since 2015, announced the layoff of fewer than 65 of its 9,700 employees, according a report in LNP/Lancaster Online. On the plus side, Penn this week announced 4% raises for health-care staffers. Another small layoff occurred recently at the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute. The Philadelphia-based private practice, which has offices in four states, laid off 18 people from its corporate staff last month. Rothman employs 1,800. Crozer Health, in Delaware County, announced a larger layoff of 215 people, or 4% of its workforce, as part of long-running effort to contain losses. Crozers financial woes stem in part from the sale of its real estate for $420 million in 2019 when it was under the control of Leonard Green & Partners as part of a $1.55 billion deal in which Prospect hospitals in three states had to rent back their buildings from a real estate investment trust. That sale effectively loaded the hospitals with debt. Signs for union members to carry at start of the Graduate workers, faculty, postdocs and EOF counselors strike at Rutgers-Camden. Read more As the unions representing 9,000 academic workers at Rutgers University went on strike this week, theirs became one of several local universities tied up in contentious labor disputes, which are increasingly reaching a boiling point across the U.S. The strike has led to class cancellations just a few weeks before the end of the semester, and while the university has assured students that graduation wont be canceled, some students are worried about the consequences of missing instruction if the strike continues for too long. When a strike was announced, New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy requested that both sides continue negotiations under supervision from his office and asked the university not to take legal action to get strikers back to work. Melissa Atkins, a labor and employment lawyer at Obermayer Rebmann Maxwell & Hippel in Philadelphia, represents universities and other public employers in collective bargaining with unions. While its impossible for schools to give their employees everything they ask for, she said, employers need to come to the table willing to make concessions. Her frequent advice to employers is to try to work out their disagreements with workers before getting lawyers involved. As the Rutgers strike continued Wednesday, Atkins spoke with The Inquirer to discuss the employers perspective. Advertisement This conversation has been edited for length and clarity. You were quoted in a January article from the Los Angeles Times saying that you thought we would see more organizing and striking among higher-education workers, and weve seen that play out. Whats behind this trend? Its a perfect storm between COVID-19 [recently causing particularly difficult work conditions] and employees generally wanting more benefits surrounding sick time and livable wages. At the same time, [President Joe] Biden did say that hes pro-union and the National Labor Relations Board is more liberal than its been in the past. Its really across all industries. For the colleges and universities that are negotiating with workers now, what are the potential consequences for them? Canceled classes ... major research could be stopped. Hopefully it doesnt disrupt kids graduating. These are the same kids that started college during COVID 2019 going on 2020 so theyve had a pretty disruptive four years, and you would hope that this doesnt disrupt it even more. What should universities be thinking about as they go into bargaining, given the national climate around higher-education working conditions? You have to be prepared to concede some things for the better of your university. These negotiations are long, long processes, especially when theres no current contract [in the case of a new union]. When youre creating a contract from basically nothing, these negotiations can take years. You just have to be able to try to try to work it out. What have we seen historically in higher-education strikes? What might be different in the current climate? [Historically] we dont typically see [strikes in higher education]. It just goes with the trend that people want livable wages. I think COVID really accelerated that. You would expect your employer to recognize that a dollar is not what it was in 2019. If youre an employer and youre not giving your employees the benefits that they think that theyre entitled to, this is what you see you see organizing. Employees organize because theyre not happy and they want change, so if you can find a way to keep your employees happy i.e. negotiate with them before it gets to a union and if you can give it to them or make some concessions, it works out better for the employer in the long run. What are some of the economic forces at play here that could complicate that? Well, the money has to come from somewhere, right? So if employees seek higher pay, then ... it likely will be passed down to students, which is unfortunate. Its a bad recipe because higher education is already so expensive. Unless the state can fund it more and have a higher number in their budget for the universities, then I dont see it coming from anywhere else but the students. Do you think the organizing were seeing now at universities could lead to systemic changes in higher education? I would hope so. You know, at the end of the day, management does want the best for their employees but sometimes theyre stuck. ... Student enrollment isnt as high as it used to be, so theyre losing money. And they realize the cost of education is already expensive. You dont want to see enrollment numbers continue to drop, but if tuition goes up I think thats the end result. Theyre stuck between a rock and a hard place, trying to appeal to their employees and appeal to the consumer, which would be the student. Why dont the universities just give their unions everything they are asking for? Because its impossible. I represent a lot of public municipalities and counties across Pennsylvania, and when Im negotiating contracts I sometimes say to them, When you get lawyers involved, things get complicated. Try to work out as much as you can between each other before we get involved because you guys have the best relationship. This is an employer-employee relationship. Peoples backs go up when attorneys walk into the room, but it doesnt have to be like that. I get along with my adversaries. Most of the union attorneys and labor attorneys know each other because its not the first time were sitting at the table with each other. Sometimes neither side can get everything they want, and the quicker both sides realize that, the quicker you can get [to an agreement]. The longer it takes for both sides to realize that theres things to concede, then the longer negotiations are going to take and the more contentious theyre going to be. A Video Surveillance Technician (city did not want names used) with Office of Innovation and Technology installs a camera on a pole outside the Marie Dendy Recreation Center. City of Philadelphia puts up surveillance cameras outside the Marie Dendy Recreation Center, 1555 N 10th Street, Philadelphia. The city held a press conference at this location on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Read more On Wednesday a man in a hardhat took a lift to make the final installation tweaks to a flying saucer-type object on a utility pole. The new apparatus a 360-degree camera took its new vantage point in the middle of the 1500 block of North 10th Street, where it had a view of the Marie Dendy Recreation Center and playground. The camera is one of 100 slated to be installed near 14 recreation centers, chosen using police data, in an effort to create safe play zones. According to the Parks and Recreation Department, nearly 300 incidents of gun violence have taken place around recreation centers and playgrounds since 2019. Philadelphia police hope the cameras will act as a deterrent. They also work to capture so much of the crucial evidence thats instrumental in prosecuting individuals that commit crime, said First Deputy Police Commissioner John Stanford. Advertisement In May 2021, a 19-year-old woman was shot at the playground next to Dendy Recreation Center. The woman survived but no arrest was made. Following several shootings near Parks and Recreation centers and playgrounds that year, Councilmember Cindy Bass and Council President Darrell L. Clarke introduced legislation to fund security cameras. The legislation was passed at the end of 2021 in a unanimous vote. About $5 million in funds were allocated to the installation and operation last year in the citys five-year financial and strategic plan with Clarke saying there is more funding to come. Still, city officials had hoped to begin the installation of cameras sooner but supply chain issues delayed their plans. We searched all over, we actually reached out to some of the for-profit entities, said Clarke. They said they couldnt buy it. Stanford said personnel at the Real-Time Crime Center can tap into the cameras, which gives them the opportunity to update responding officers as they head to scenes. The cameras can record at 360 degrees in a lower resolution, said a police spokesperson. Additional details regarding capabilities were not immediately available. There is some debate, however, about just how much of a deterrent cameras can be. In 2019, Jerry Ratcliffe, a professor of criminal justice at Temple University, and colleagues looked at crime data in the city between 2003 and 2012. They found no significant impact associated with the introduction of CCTV surveillance. Still, police say cameras have become an indispensable part of investigative work, particularly in shootings and homicides. Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore, speaking at a City Council budget hearing this week, said many investigations are now based entirely on a combination of forensic evidence including video, cell phone records, and ballistics tests, as opposed to requiring witness testimony. Were putting [forensics] together in an investigative process to really, in some cases, replace the witness, Vanore said. Police have credited video with helping them make arrests after several recent high-profile crimes, including last summers shooting on South Street, which killed three people and left 11 wounded; the shooting outside Roxborough High School that killed a 14-year-old boy and wounded four other teens; and the fatal shooting of Tiffany Fletcher, a West Philadelphia rec center employee caught in the crossfire of a nearby gun battle. The streets of Bahir Dar in Amhara after a week of violent clashes. Days of protests across Amhara turned violent, triggering a curfew to foil a potential security crisis. A relative state of calm has been observed in the last 24 hours - but will it last? Federal government plans to integrate local defense forces into the police and national army has led to days of violent protests across Ethiopia's northern Amhara region. There were reports of several people being shot at during protests held on Tuesday, which marked the sixth consecutive day of rallies against the government plans. A resident of Dessie town, one of the areas that witnessed some of the most violent clashes, told DW that Tuesday's unrest had largely receded: "There was occasional shooting in the morning but I think it was to disperse them [the protesters]. Now the shooting has stopped but roads are still closed," the resident said. Meanwhile similar developments were observed in Bahir Dar, the capital city of the Amhara region. Independent Ethiopian analyst Alemnew Mekonnen told DW that the anger observed on Tuesday had subsided, while some major roads remained blocked: "Now things are calming down. Yesterday, there was a big demonstration in different areas. There was a mess yesterday but now, from all sides, things are calming down," Mekonnen said. Stability after days of chaos He says that life is gradually returning to normal for residents after a week of instability. "Some workers are back in their offices. Transport services have been started. Things now are in a normal track," he said. Curfews had been imposed on three major cities of Gondar, Dessie and Debre Birhan to prevent the protests from spiraling out of control. This was reportedly accompanied by an Internet blackout, which the Ethiopian government has resorted to before to quell dissent. Eshetu Getnet, an eyewitness to the days of violence between Amhara and Oromo militants in the neighboring areas of Ataye and Jile, told DW that the federal defense forces were instrumental in stabilizing the situation. "It is commendable that the defense is now working fairly," Getnet said. In a vulnerable position The Ethiopian federal authorities say that dissolving the Amhara Special Forces (ASF) and other militia groups in Ethiopia's 11 regions and integrating them into the federal army or police will create a strong and unified force in a country, where divisions have resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths in the past 50 years. But the protesters in Amhara say that the government's plans would leave their state vulnerable to attack from other regions. This comes after the ASF also played a crucial role in the government's war against Tigrayan rebels - a conflict that killed thousands and displaced many more. The dismantling and integration into the national army of the ASF is part of the peace deal with Tigray, the stipulations of which are currently being implemented by the federal government. Mekonnen told DW that the violent protests of recent days were largely triggered by a lack of engagement with the regional forces and militia on the government's part, as the details of the peace plan were being hashed out: "As far as I know, there was no discussion between the people and the special forces," he said. Blen Mamo Diriba, an Ethiopian researcher at the Birkbeck College at the University of London, said that despite this, the recent escalation of tensions was "unnecessary." "Caution is of high demand to prevent another bloody civil war," she cautioned on Twitter, underscoring how fragile peace in the region is. Some other analysts like Mekonnen have also called for more engagement between the federal government and regional leaders to resolve the situation in Amhara. "The authorities should discuss with the people, with the special forces, with other stakeholders, so there can be some understanding," Mekonnen told DW. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Ethiopia Governance By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Opting for mediation One of the leaders of the Fano militia which fought alongside the federal forces against Tigrayan fighters in the recent war said that the way forward was through mediation. "We have a ceasefire. It is settled. We will negotiate," the militia leader, who wanted to remain anonymous, told DW. "Elders and church fathers are also engaged [in resolving the crisis]," he added, highlighting the importance of including local religious leaders in these talks. Diriba however said that community leaders from the region should primarily focus on convincing the public to refrain from impulsive and violent acts, stressing that resolving the current crisis in Amhara was key to ending the precarious overall security situation in Ethiopia. "Ethiopia must break this vicious cycle of violence. And the government ought to deliver on its duty in a legitimate manner without initiating hostile encounters with notable consequences on the nation's political stability and national security." F. Christopher Goins, who took over as president of Girard College on July 1, resigned on March 31 for personal reasons, according to the school's board. Read more F. Christopher Goins has resigned as president of Girard College, less than a year after he took over at the storied Philadelphia boarding school. Goins, who became president July 1, resigned on March 31 for personal reasons, according to the Board of Directors of City Trusts, which oversees the school in Fairmount. I want to express my sincere gratitude to each and every one of you for your support, hard work, and dedication to the mission of Girard College, Goins said in a statement released by the board. I am proud of the work we have accomplished together, and I will always cherish the memories and relationships I have formed during my time at the college. Bernard W. Smalley, president of the board of directors, and Lynette M. Brown-Sow, chair of the Girard College Committee, said in the statement that the board takes this opportunity to thank him for his service to the educational mission of Girard College, and to wish him well. Advertisement While this is difficult news for all of us, we want you to know that we are at work to ensure that campus life and the daily routine of our students will not be interrupted, the statement said. In the coming days, we expect to announce the appointment of an Interim president to lead the college. Smalley directed a reporter to spokesperson Kevin Feeley, who said that he couldnt comment further on the leadership change other than to say Goins resigned for personal reasons and we have agreed to honor that decision. Goins was selected to lead Girard College last year following a six-month national search. Previously, he was the founder of a high-performing Chicago charter school and worked with the Obama Foundation to build a nonprofit, My Brothers Keeper Alliance, focused on expanding programs for boys and young men of color. At the time of his hiring, Goins praised the school as an example of true educational equity in action. Founded in 1848 after merchant Stephen Girard left money in his will to start a boarding school for poor white male orphans, Girard College first admitted Black students in 1968 following a years-long battle for integration. The school later began admitting female students. Today, it educates about 300 children in first through 12th grades, all economically disadvantaged and from single-parent households. Students receive full scholarships and live on campus during the week. At the time of his arrival in Philadelphia, Goins told the Philadelphia Business Journal that, while overseeing academic and fundraising initiatives, his goal was to be a stable leader at the school. In the past 10 years, Im the fourth president, so there has been a lack of consistency. Theres a lot of turnover. And with that, every president brings in a new leadership, Goins said. Theres just been a lot of historical knowledge that has been lost. A Philadelphia man pleaded guilty Thursday to raping a woman on a SEPTA subway train in front of passengers in 2021 and was sentenced to seven to 14 years in prison. Fiston Ngoy, 36, pleaded guilty to one count of raping an unconscious person, a spokesperson for the Delaware County District Attorneys Office said. Ngoy will serve a minimum of seven years before being eligible for parole. Ngoys lawyer, Mary Elizabeth Welch, declined to comment after the hearing. Ngoy assaulted the woman on Oct. 13, 2021 on a subway train on the Market-Frankford Line as the train was pulling into Upper Darbys 69th Street station. Advertisement The crime quickly drew international attention after law enforcement officials initially said witnesses stood by and did nothing and that some bystanders filmed the rape without calling authorities. Authorities later backtracked and said it was likely other passengers did not know what was happening. They also said an off-duty SEPTA employee called 911. The woman said she had gone to a bar in West Philadelphia and had three beers before catching a SEPTA train. She said she continued to drink beer as she boarded the wrong train and headed eastbound on the Market-Frankford Line, in the opposite direction of where she wanted to go. Ngoy sat next to her and started talking to her, she said. In a recorded statement, Ngoy told police hed seen the woman before and said she initiated a sexual encounter. But surveillance footage showed the woman repeatedly pushing Ngoy away and trying to fight him off for 40 minutes before the sexual assault, according to court records. Ngoy was arrested inside the train car at the 69th Street Transportation Center in Upper Darby. Author Jean Kwok argues that her book, Girl in Translation, should remain in district libraries during the Central Bucks School Board meeting Tuesday. Read more The debate over library books in Central Bucks continued Tuesday, as another author made the case to the districts school board for why her book shouldnt be banned. Jean Kwok, whose book Girl in Translation is facing a challenge, said she traveled from the Netherlands to address the board at its meeting. Do I seem like a person who writes pornography? Kwok asked. The district received 61 book challenges in February after enacting rules accompanying its policy targeting sexualized content in school libraries. Advertisement The complaints, and the policys language, have spurred fears of book removal. Last month, author Laurie Halse Anderson, who lives in Upper Dublin, told the board it would be educational malpractice to ban her memoir, Shout, and other books dealing with sexual abuse. On Tuesday, Kwok said that books are one of the most powerful tools we can give to our children, providing insight into the lives of others and allowing children to observe mistakes without having to make them. After writing Girl in Translation, about a girl who immigrates to America with her mother from Hong Kong and spends nights working in a Brooklyn sweatshop, Kwok said she heard from people of all races that the book had provided courage to work hard and keep going in the most difficult of times. But it has also become a target. Booklooks, a website that has been linked to the Moms for Liberty group and lists objectionable content in school library books, says Girl in Translation contains sexual activities; sexual nudity; mild/infrequent profanity; alcohol and drug use by minors; and abortion commentary. Numerous challenges received by Central Bucks which provided records to The Inquirer in response to a Right to Know request cited Booklooks, listing the same passages quoted on the website. In most of the 61 cases, challengers whose names were redacted by the district indicated they hadnt read the book in question. That was the case with the Girl in Translation challenge, which listed passages that also appear on Booklooks. Kwok said her book depicts some pot smoking, kissing, and one sexual encounter also, really not an explicit encounter. Im a fade-to-black kind of author, she said. I cant even watch R-rated movies. She also noted that a character considers abortion but incidentally does not go through with it. The challenge filed with Central Bucks called it disturbing that the book presented abortion as an option. Its unclear what will happen in response to the 61 challenges, which were filed between Feb. 7 and Feb. 14. Regulations adopted by the district to carry out the library policy say a committee appointed by the superintendent will review challenged material and issue findings within 60 days, with a possible extension of 30 days. A person who challenged a book and doesnt agree with the committees findings can appeal to the school board. The district has not responded to questions about the status of any reviews. At Tuesdays meeting, school board member Jim Pepper asked Superintendent Abram Lucabaugh whether any books had gone through the challenge process. Lucabaugh answered yes, but didnt specify how many. Was Lawn Boy one of those books? Pepper asked. Yes, Lucabaugh said. He said the book was not removed from school libraries. Lawn Boy, by Jonathan Evison, is described by School Library Journal as tackling race, sexual identity, and the crushing weight of American capitalism. It was one of five books the district disclosed earlier this year that it had decided to review before having received any formal challenges the others being This Book Is Gay; Me and Earl and the Dying Girl; Gender Queer; and Beyond Magenta. At the time, Lucabaugh said the district had a responsibility to guard against the sexualization of children and didnt want to ignore books that had been raised as possibly problematic more than a year earlier. Four of the five books center on LGBTQ characters a point of controversy in the district, which has been accused of creating a hostile environment for LGBTQ students. The district has maintained its library policy which the board passed last year over outcry from community members and such groups as the ACLU is focused solely on sexual content. Addressing the challenges earlier in the meeting, school board president Dana Hunter said the board was not aware of the books challenged and by whom. She then said she hoped that community members would not weaponize this process by submitting challenges for the purpose of contributing to a false narrative. A district spokesperson didnt respond to a question Wednesday about whether the district believes it has received challenges from people who arent actually seeking to remove books. One woman who spoke during public comment, Shannon Harris, noted she had submitted the challenge to Living Dead Girl, and said she was upset that a community member had disclosed her involvement on social media. She said that people challenged books because theyre sexually explicit, but noted objections to other topics, as well, including hardcore drug use, sex abuse, battery, profanity and violence. Its good to point out these things, because we dont think our kids should be educated with this kind of material, Harris said. (Other topics cited in challenges included sexual and gender identity and inflammatory racial commentary.) Harris said that Booklooks did read the books, they developed their own rating system. Thats what we had to use because [Central Bucks] did not have a rating system to go by. Kwok said that, as a mother, she also understood the desire to protect children. But her two sons were assigned her book in school and read it. Parenting is a beautiful and tragic thing, when we do it correctly, she said. Our children grow up and they leave us. Books, she said, can help prepare them to enter the world. Please dont remove my book from school libraries, Kwok said. Please dont remove any of our books. Gov. Phil Murphy (left) speaks with Gov. Josh Shapiro as they tour the Finishing Trades Institute in Philadelphia on Thursday. The governors held a press conference after the tour to announce a partnership to form an interstate task force to address wage theft and worker misclassification in both their states. Read more Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy announced a new interstate task force Thursday to help the states protect workers and address misclassifications. Shapiro and Murphy, both Democrats, appeared together after touring the Finishing Trades Institute in Northeast Philadelphia, a training site for industrial and commercial painters, glaziers, drywall finishers, and others. President Joe Biden made his budget address at the same facility last month. When workers get misclassified by their contractor bosses, taxes arent collected correctly, Shapiro said. You know who gets shortchanged? Our local police, our local parks, Shapiro added. Then the commonwealth has to come up with the difference. Advertisement Worker misclassification occurs when employers list workers as independent contractors rather than employees. In addition to tax implications, it can also limit workers ability to be in a union or receive benefits. The task force will allow the states to share information about contractors misclassifying their workers and potentially coordinate joint enforcement actions against them, Shapiro said. Murphy also issued a warning to contractors about the states new partnership: If youre a bad-apple contractor, were either going to bring you into compliance, or were going to put you out of business. Shapiro used the visit to tout his budget proposal, which includes increasing the states vocational and technical education spending to that of former Gov. Tom Ridges administration in the late 1990s. Murphy, in a news conference following the tour, said programs such as the Finishing Trades Institute allow him and Shapiro to double down on our passion and belief in apprenticeship programs. They are the backbone of both the Pennsylvania economy and the New Jersey economy, Murphy added. Both governors repeated their support for organized labor in their states, and joked about the rivalry between the states. Pennsylvanias Labor and Industry acting Secretary Nancy Walker and New Jersey Department of Transportation Assistant Commissioner Justin Braz also joined the governors. As part of the visit, the governors met with three high school students from Mastery Charter Pickett Campus, who are part of a pre-apprenticeship program. They demonstrated the different types of personal professional equipment they learn to use on the job. We werent interested in going to college and sitting behind a desk all day, no offense, though, Abdur-Rahman Davis, 18, a senior at Masterys Pickett Campus, said to the governors. The trades were for me. Davis and Jahkai Moses, who will both graduate from Mastery Pickett this year, said they joined the pre-apprenticeship program after several of their teachers encouraged them to attend. Both students are looking forward to applying to apprenticeship programs where they will earn a living while focusing on their chosen trades. Moses wants to attend FTIs painting apprenticeship. Davis is considering applying to an insulators union apprenticeship. College isnt for everybody, Moses said. Some people are better off doing a more hands-on working experience. Ryan N. Boyer, Business manager of the Philadelphia Building Trades, speaks during a press conference to announce a program introducing students to the construction trades at Strawberry Mansion, in Philadelphia. Read more Ryan Boyer wants to create a corps of blue-collar millionaires, and he wants it to start at Strawberry Mansion High School. Flanked by City Council President Darrell L. Clarke and Philadelphia Superintendent Tony B. Watlington Sr., Boyer business manager of the citys powerful Building Trades Council stood in the library of the North Philadelphia high school Wednesday to tout a new program designed to propel any Mansion student with interest into the trades. Were serious about training children, said Boyer. Our trades we have a stronger demand than we have workforce. The Strawberry Mansion program, which began this month, is taught by building trades professionals. Once a week, 40 high school seniors learn the ins and outs of different trades and about OSHA compliance. They also absorb soft skills financial literacy, job readiness, and more. Advertisement Union apprenticeships are coveted positions in Philadelphia. Boyer declined to say how many positions are open annually but promised that Mansion students who successfully completed the schools program would have a clear path. Anybody from here that wants to come in, theyll be in, Boyer said. Know this, Councilmember Isaiah Thomas told the students gathered in Mansions library: Once fully qualified, union tradespeople make anywhere from $72,000 to $140,000 annually. If you want to work hard, you have a career here, said Thomas. Guess what? Once you know a skill, you can open a business, and guess what your salary is then? Unlimited. Councilmember Katherine Gilmore Richardson, who once worked as a substitute teacher at Strawberry Mansion, urged the students to take advantage of the chances in front of them. Not every student will or should go to college districtwide, 48% of students attend a two- or four-year university after graduation, and at Mansion, the figure was just 15% last year. A union job is your ticket to the middle class, Gilmore Richardson said. Your union job is your ticket to a better life and a better opportunity. Just ask Tylisa Williams, a building-trades apprentice who came to Mansion to share her experience with the students. Cracking the building trades wasnt easy, Williams said at one point, she moved her family into a hotel in Chester County to make sure she wouldnt be late for a mandatory weeklong program needed to become an apprentice. I stayed and I finished the program, said Williams. After finishing that program, Ive been given opportunity after opportunity after opportunity. Shes worked on demolition jobs, on jobs draining oil tanks and digging up streets. Shes able to take care of her children. I want yall to know its possible, Williams said. Mansion senior Marissa Cooper nodded. Cooper has big dreams, and sees herself parlaying the building-trades class into an apprenticeship and a career. I want to be my own construction manager, in real estate, said Cooper, 18. She wants to offer places to live for formerly incarcerated people and victims of gun violence. Im going to take advantage of every opportunity I come across. Clarke, who himself attended Strawberry Mansion as a youth, said he had been working for at least five years to bring such a partnership to bear. Back in the day, they had wood shop, they had metal shop, but somehow that all went away, Clarke said. Here we are years later, talking about bringing meaningful opportunities back educational opportunities. The aim is to give students good jobs, but if successful and scaled, the program reaches well beyond that, with a potential to help calm the citys public safety crisis. This is the way to go, a comprehensive approach to giving young people opportunities, Clarke said. It cant just be about law enforcement. State Sen. Sharif Street (D., Philadelphia) agreed, pledging the states support. We change the economic conditions in these communities, we will change the violence, we will change everything, Street said. Watlington said the Mansion pilot was important, and hell be keeping tabs as he and his team develop the strategic plan that will guide the district over the next five years. Growing the program is a priority, he said, turning to Clarke and Boyer. Weve got room here at Strawberry Mansion, said Watlington. Ronda Goldfein, vice president of the nonprofit Safehouse, holds notes during a press conference on the proposed opening of a supervised-injection site in South Philadelphia in 2020. Read more As ongoing settlement talks could soon clear the way for the opening of Philadelphias first supervised injection site, civic organizations and elected officials opposed to the idea say they are growing increasingly concerned that theyre being cut out of the process. The citys police union and a coalition of 19 community groups accused the U.S Justice Department this week of effectively switch[ing] sides after a years-long legal battle fighting to block such a facility in the city. They urged a federal judge to hear their concerns before signing off on any agreement between the government and Safehouse, the nonprofit that has proposed launching the site to help stem the tide of overdose deaths. Separately, five Democratic state senators also raised misgivings in a new court filing Thursday. The government now imminently plans to abandon the Philadelphians it once pledged to protect, wrote Michael H. McGinley, a lawyer representing the civic organizations and the police union, in a motion filed Tuesday. Without intervention, the law and Philadelphias neighborhoods may be left with no defense. Advertisement Many of those now raising concerns are the same groups and officials who were most vocal during Safehouses bungled attempt to quietly open a supervised injection site in South Philadelphia three years ago a plan that was quickly scuttled amid fierce opposition from some elected and civic leaders. But the ratcheting up of anxiety, reflected in recent filings, suggests even if Safehouse can reach an accord with the Justice Department, it may be only a first step in winning the support the nonprofit needs to launch its proposed facility. As of this week, no settlement agreement has been announced after more than a year of ongoing talks. And neither the U.S. Attorneys Office in Philadelphia nor Safehouse officials has been willing to discuss the progress of their discussions. Judge Gerald A. McHugh, who has overseen the case since 2019, has not signaled whether he intends to hear arguments from the civic organizations and state senators who oppose the plan. But Barbara Capozzi president of the Packer Park Civic Association, one of the groups that signed on to the recent court filings said it was important he know of their viewpoints any agreement is finalized. Were hoping to get a seat at the table, which we should have had at the beginning, she said. We have to represent the neighbors because no ones representing the neighbors. A long legal battle Safehouse vice president Ronda Goldfein said Thursday that her organization shares community concerns about the devastation caused by the opioid crisis. A record 1,276 people died of overdoses in Philadelphia in 2021, the last year for which complete data are available. Several local nonprofits, including the Scattergood Foundation, support the sites, and local harm-reduction advocates organized demonstrations to support the sites during Safehouses legal battle. We think that an overdose prevention center, an evidence-proven initiative to save lives, should be one of the many things that need to be done to address the crisis, Goldfein said. But supervised injection sites are a controversial proposition. In a recent a Lenfest Institute for Journalism/SSRS poll that surveyed more than 1,200 people, just 27% of respondents ranked supervised drug consumption sites as one of the best interventions to combat the opioid crisis. In 2019, the Justice Department under then U.S. Attorney General William Barr sued to block Safehouse from opening what at the time would have been the first supervised injection site in the nation, saying it would violate a federal law known as the crack-house statute, which makes it illegal for anyone to operate a facility for the purpose of unlawfully using controlled substances. Though McHugh rejected that argument finding that Safehouses ultimate goal was not to facilitate drug use but to reduce it the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned that decision in late 2021. The decision left Safehouses backers to return to McHughs court to pursue additional legal claims, including an argument that their faiths compel them to provide lifesaving medical care to vulnerable populations and any government effort to block them from launching a supervised injection site would be a violation of their constitutionally protected religious rights. Meanwhile, the Justice Department under President Joe Biden has proven much more open to embracing harm reduction strategies like needle exchanges and potentially supervised injection sites than under his predecessor, President Donald Trump. In a statement last year, the department said it was evaluating supervised consumption sites as part of an overall approach to harm reduction and public safety. And when two supervised injection sites opened in New York City in late 2021, they drew none of the threats of prosecution and legal action from the Biden Justice Department that Safehouses plan had provoked in Philadelphia. OnPoint NYC, the organization running both sites, has reported that more than 3,100 people have used the sites nearly 70,000 times. Staff have treated more than 800 overdoses. Settlement talks continue So far, the ongoing settlement talks between the Justice Department and Safehouses backers have been carried out behind closed doors. A meeting last month appears to have ignited the latest wave of anxiety from the community groups and officials now raising concerns in the case. Many of the same groups who are now seeking to intervene in the legal proceeding met with U.S. Attorney Jacqueline C. Romero but were outraged when elected officials they sought to bring to the meeting were turned away. The community groups were happy to support the governments position when it was enforcing the law and protecting Philadelphias most vulnerable neighborhoods, wrote McGinley, the lawyer whose law firm, Dechert LLP, is representing the opposed community groups pro bono. But now that the government appears poised to switch sides in this case, the groups must intervene to ensure their health, safety and property interests remain protected. The coalition of Democratic state senators who filed their own brief with the court which includes Christine M. Tartaglione, Sharif Street, Anthony H. Williams and Jimmy Dillon argued that even if the Justice Department reached an agreement not to enforce existing federal laws to block Safehouse, the nonprofits plan could run afoul of state laws that give community-based organizations standing to sue to prevent drug-related nuisance[s] in their neighborhoods. Tartaglione whose Northeast Philadelphia district also includes Kensington, the neighborhood most significantly affected by the citys opioid epidemic has also introduced a bill that would explicitly ban supervised injection sites under state law. A court decision preempting any vote on such a measure, they said, would undermine the authority of state lawmakers an authority recognized by the Third Circuit in overturning McHughs original decision. Regardless of whether the parties agree to a settlement to open one or more drug consumption sites or even provide additional safety protocols not originally included in Safehouses plans, lawyers George Gosset Jr. and Shannon A. Sollenberger wrote, that does not change the decision of the Third Circuit that such a site in the Commonwealth will still violate federal law. Kids exit the Penrose pool through the playground at closing time in North Philadelphia on Friday, June 24, 2022. Rec centers are vital to the city's youth, as they are public spaces that kids can hang out. However, according to The Trust for Public Land, the city only spent $73 per capita on parks and recreation, while the national average is $98. Read more As hundreds of teenagers gathered at the Fashion District one night last week, so did the police. What happened next is disputed, even among the police; some officers initially said the kids threw rocks and stomped on cruisers, while other police reports had no mention of this kind of disorder. But after the chaotic evening, one thing was clear: There are not enough safe and accessible public spaces for teenagers and youth to hang out in Philadelphia. Are there opportunities for young people to come together and engage with things that they wanna engage in? said Marcia Hopkins, director of youth advocacy at the Juvenile Law Center. I would say [in] our city, theres not that many spaces for [that]. Finding a public space to hang out or meet up with friends is hard for anyone in Philadelphia right now. If youre an adult, there are always restaurants and bars to fall back on, but what options does a high schooler have? Advertisement Center City businesses have been known to display signs discouraging using backpacks or shopping in groups. Other businesses, such as the Round1 arcade, require an ID for admission. These are clear signals to groups of young people: They are not welcome here. Nikia Owens, president of the nonprofit Campaign for Working Families and a former city employee overseeing youth outreach, put things simply: They dont have hardly anything for young people here. Philadelphia falls short on investing in public spaces Compared with other large cities, Philadelphia does not significantly invest in public spaces. The Trust for Public Land, a national nonprofit working on public space preservation, publishes an annual ParkScore index report, comparing the park systems of the 100 most populous American cities. In 2022, Philadelphia ranked 32nd overall, highlighted by the fact that 95% of Philadelphians lived within a half-mile of a park, one of the best marks of any city. But Philly fell behind with its monetary investment TPL calculated that the city spent only $73 per capita on parks and recreation, while the national average is $98. It means that our public spaces dont get the kind of maintenance that they require, which makes them less attractive to hang out in. It means that they close maybe when they dont need to be closed, said Conrad Benner, creator of the popular StreetsDept photo blog. You cant even go to a lot of the rec centers and play in the yard because theres needles and other things, said Owens, also a former youth probation officer. So thats not really a viable space. One public space that seemingly would be ideal for teenagers hanging out after school or on the weekends is the Free Library, with safe, accessible locations and ample programming. But even with recent increases to the Free Library budget, the entire system is massively underfunded and offers limited hours, still reeling after budget cuts in 2020. School closures contribute to this lack of space, too. In 2012 and 2013, the School District shuttered 30 schools, mostly in North Philly and West Philly. That meant closing large spaces that are entrenched in those communities, which could otherwise have been used as a gathering space after school or on evenings and weekends for students and their families. Are they really analyzing if our city has spaces where young people can actually celebrate or enjoy themselves or be in large numbers [safely]? I dont know if theyre asking that question, Hopkins said. Public spaces require public funding, Benner said. We need federal dollars, we need state dollars, and we need people in positions of power to really champion that. READ MORE: Philadelphia is allowing its libraries to wither and rot | Opinion Trusting youth The lack of financial investment and commitment is one part of the problem, but Owens explained that building more adequate public spaces for teenagers also requires a shift in mentality. Adults with the capacity to make these changes have to listen to youth and design spaces and amenities that they actually want to engage with. You have to meet kids where they are, she said. Owens suggested indoor skating rinks or teen-only clubs as possibilities for new spaces in Philly. Benner mentioned an arcade, but he also knows that the answers cant come from just the minds of adults. I dont know what kids want. I dont know what kids are doing, he said. If we really want to create spaces that are for kids talk to the kids, build it with the kids. That means trusting the citys youth. Owens says she believes that the city or small-business owners shouldnt avoid building spaces because they think kids will end up defacing or mistreating them. You have to meet kids where they are. Nikia Owens We say, Kids, they dont know how to act. They dont know how to treat stuff. But we never give them an opportunity to do that, she said, explaining how not having these spaces communicates a similar message to youth. Youre not worthy of these things. Owens said that investing in these spaces and trusting youth to shape and maintain them shows Philadelphias next generation that they matter. A well-maintained, fully staffed, accessible library or arcade is more than just that; it is evidence that someone cares about them. You have to get these kids and [then] have caring adults that are gonna speak life into [them] and encourage these young people so that they dont turn to the gang in their neighborhood, or turn to X, Y, and Z, she said. Now, dont get me wrong, youre not gonna save everybody. But I tell you one thing, youre gonna save a lot of em. Authorities are seeking the publics help to identify two people who broke into the Independence Seaport Museums Boat Shop last week. The two burglars gained entry to the museum, located at 211 S. Christopher Columbus Blvd., at about 4:40 a.m. last Friday, according to city police. They made off with a welder and some tools before museum security could reach the scene. The Seaport Boat Shop gives visitors the opportunity to observe and learn about wooden boat building and sailing in the Delaware Valley and at the Jersey Shore. Privately owned vessels are built there, and the museums own boat collection is maintained at the shop. No museum operations were impacted, as the perpetrators never got close to the museum exhibitions and would have had to pass through several more locked and alarmed doors to reach any potential area of vulnerability, said Peter S. Seibert, president and CEO of the museum. Advertisement Our visitors can expect the museums exhibitions and programming to be fully available and unaffected by this incident, Seibert added. That includes this Fridays opening of the museums latest exhibit, At the Waters Edge: Working and Living Along the Delaware River. Its the first exhibit of the new Richard C. von Hess Foundation Gallery, located on the museums second floor. READ MORE: New exhibit about the history of life and work on the Delaware comes to the Seaport Museum The modern tools taken in the break-in werent unique and are being replaced, the president noted. The door the burglars broke to enter the boat shop has been repaired. Philadelphia police ask that anyone with information about the people in this security video contact them: A doctor uses a handheld Doppler probe on a pregnant woman to measure the heartbeat of the fetus on Dec. 17, 2021, in Jackson, Miss. Read more When I was 18 years old, in my last semester of high school, I had an unplanned pregnancy. Scared and with nowhere to go, I quickly learned what it meant to be Black, young, unwed, and pregnant. After five stressful months, my pregnancy ended in a stillbirth. I felt fear, shame, and loneliness. The doctors did not explain anything to me. They insisted I could not have anyone in the room while I passed the fetus, and offered no comfort for my loss. I was invisible to them. That was over 40 years ago, and, unfortunately, the systems of oppression that led to how I experienced my pregnancy and stillbirth have not changed much today. What has changed is a growing movement within Black families to demand reproductive justice and to own our birth journeys. The path to justice is paved with truth and solidarity. And in the pursuit of justice, we can find and choose joy. Black Maternal Health Week, this year celebrated from April 11 to 17, is a national campaign founded and led by the Black Mamas Matter Alliance to build awareness, activism, and community. The annual campaign amplifies the voices, perspectives, and lived experiences of Black mamas and birthing people. Advertisement I find joy as I see Black parents acting with autonomy, building community, and speaking their truth as part of this movement. Increased awareness of doula support, the recently extended postpartum Medicaid coverage, and the growing advocacy for legislation that will address the maternal health crisis are all encouraging. Healthy moms, caregivers, and stable families are key to a childs optimal health and well-being. This kind of support would have been life-changing for me as a teenager. The inequitable conditions Black families are faced with are not new, and they persist. In 1955, my mother was forced to choose between driving 100 miles to the nearest integrated hospital in Alabama or staying closer to home and delivering my sister in a nearby doctors office. In the end, she stayed close to home and delivered my oldest sister on an exam table, rested for a couple of hours on a waiting room sofa, and then went home. Inequitable maternal, child, and infant health outcomes are the result of purposefully designed racist systems of inequities that sit at the root of persistent higher maternal mortality and morbidity rates among Black birthing people. The health of families is significantly affected by our lack of access to affordable housing, nutritious food, high-quality childcare, and a living wage. These social determinants of health transcend race; however, they have a greater impact on Black families and families living in poverty. And yet, despite this reality of injustice, we choose joy. We believe parents are agents of change in their own lives and communities. When Black parents are given choices, listened to, respected, and actively participate in defining their own birth experience, we get much closer to a just world. I am proud to be part of an organization that, through advocacy, research, and direct services, shines a light on the path forward, and provides resources that can improve the health and well-being of pregnant women and parenting families. I am grateful for the opportunity to lead and learn from our families and staff, and I am hopeful that our team at Maternity Care Coalition is part of a groundswell that will bring sustained joy and parental autonomy to all Black families. Join us as we celebrate this Black Maternal Health Week and envision a future where parents impacted by racial and social inequities in Southeastern Pennsylvania can give birth with dignity, parent with autonomy, and raise babies who are healthy, growing, and thriving. Marianne Fray is the chief executive officer of Maternity Care Coalition, which serves parents and families impacted by racial and social inequities in Southeastern Pennsylvania. @maternitycarecoalition Zulene Mayfield, founder of Chester Residents Concerned For Quality Living, of speaks during a community meeting on Thurlow Street in Chester on June 26, 2021. Read more I went to bed angry on Tuesday night. Its now two days later, and Im still angry. Not just angry Im livid. I didnt watch the debate between the leading mayoral candidates on TV, but midway through it, my phone started blowing up. Did you see that? people asked. I found the clip, and here is what I saw: Moderator Shiba Russell to Jeff Brown: Where Philadelphia transports some of his trash has sparked accusations of pollution and environmental racism, specifically from the residents of Chester. Would you, as mayor, keep or change the existing waste disposal contracts? Advertisement Jeff Brown: So, um, I really dont Im not sure. I would bid it out, but Im not sure if that changes it or not. But Chester is Chester. Im worried about Philadelphians and how their lives are. And so what would come first to me is what would be best for my Philadelphians. Shiba Russell: So you dont care about Chester? The trash thats coming from Philadelphia Jeff Brown: I do care, but I dont work for them if Im the mayor. I work for Philadelphia. And the trash has to go somewhere. And whoever gets it is going to be unhappy with it. As a founding member and the chairperson of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living, the organization that has been fighting off polluters since 1992, with a home I own facing the incinerator that burns 400,000 tons of Philadelphias trash every year, I felt these words in my body. I felt them in my spirit. To me, Brown wasnt just dismissing the humanity of the residents of Chester. He was dismissing the humanity of Black and brown people everywhere. He said the quiet part out loud. He didnt mention Black and brown people, but everyone knows that Chester is mostly 72% Black. Another 10% are other people of color. Comments like these dismiss our humanity, our right to have the same desires as anyone else: to live cleanly, safely, be with our families, educate our children, and boost the next generation. If the trash needs to go somewhere, why not send it to Chestnut Hill or Rittenhouse Square? After the debate, I went to Jeff Browns campaign page and invited him to come to Chester, to see the incineration site and meet the wonderful people who are fighting for our community. I havent heard back. I want him and everyone in Philadelphia to come to Chester, to see for themselves the Covanta-owned incinerator, which burns more than 1 million tons of trash from Philly, New Jersey, and New York, among other sites. It is the nations largest incinerator, burning more than 3,000 tons of trash per day, and one of the largest emitters of particulate matter, which affects the respiratory system. Nearly 40% of Chester kids have asthma; in Philly the rate is closer to 20%, and its only 8% nationwide. But I dont want people to just come for the incinerator. Chester is the oldest city in Pennsylvania and is due respect. I want them to come see what Chester residents call our C pride we love each other and our community. We want our community to be everything we want it to be, and we work for that. As mad as I am, I do hope something good can come out of what happened during the debate: Browns indefensible comments let more people in Philadelphia know where their trash goes, and opened some of their eyes to the problem of trash incineration. The citys contract with Covanta is up for renewal next year, and I hope this moment will help convince people to stop practicing environmental racism by sending their trash to Chester to be burned. Other communities such as Detroit and Hartford, Conn. have shuttered their trash incinerators. Landfills are a much safer alternative. Its been two days since the debate, but the emotions in Chester havent died down. Ive gotten dozens of calls and texts from people who are angry, and the comments on my Facebook page havent slowed down. We are your neighbors, not your dumping ground. To Philadelphians, I say: We are your neighbors, not your dumping ground. We are not your solution for waste management. You have some brilliant people in Philadelphia, with ideas for alternative solutions to waste disposal. At some point, Philadelphia needs to wean itself off incineration. This is an antiquated system, past its life span, and not a solution. It is a contributing factor to the demise of our environment and hindering the economic development of our community. The city needs to make a decision to exercise some true brotherly love, and make the decision to stop causing harm, destruction, and the devaluation of the community of Chester. Do not renew your contract to send trash to Chester. Zulene Mayfield is chairperson of Chester Residents Concerned for Quality Living. She is full of C-pride. Germany's defense and development ministers are in the Sahel region to assess the security situation. Their visit comes as Germany plans to withdraw peacekeeping troops from Mali while boosting cooperation with Niger. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius and Development Minister Svenja Schulze arrived in the Nigerien capital, Niamey, on Wednesday at the start of a joint trip to both Niger and Mali. The trip, which was not preannounced for security reasons, comes as Germany is set to gradually withdraw its Bundeswehr troops from the UN mission MINUSMA, which has been carrying out peacekeeping activities in Mali amid an Islamist rebellion. At the same time, the country is stepping up its military engagement in Niger, where German soldiers are to help train local armed forces as part of the new EU-led mission EUMPM. Why are the ministers visiting the region? The two ministers intend to use the visit to gain insights into the security situation of the two Sahel countries. During their stay, they are scheduled to meet their regional counterparts and visit German soldiers stationed there. Ahead of the trip, Pistorius said in a joint statement, "The security of the Sahel region is of particular interest to Germany." He also emphasized that Germany remained committed to helping the region despite the planned Bundeswehr withdrawal from Mali, which is to be completed by May 2024. However, he conceded that German military assistance was moving location. "The focus of our future military engagement in the Sahel will be in Niger," he said. Schulze also stressed Germany's continued commitment to the region. "Many people in the Sahel region join extremist groups because they see no other future for themselves and need income," she said. "Development policies can start out from here with the aim of depriving terrorism of the conditions that feed it." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Mali West Africa Arms and Armies By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Germany has spent about 2.5 billion (roughly $2.7 billion) on civilian development aid in the Sahel region since 2013, with most of the money going toward agricultural projects and strengthening state structures. Why is Germany withdrawing from Mali? The decision to pull German troops out of the West African country came partly against the background of a monthslong dispute with its military transitional government, which took power in the second of two coups in 2021 and currently plans no elections until 2024. The government has put restrictions on MINUSMA's scope for action in the fight against Islamist insurgents, turning instead to Russia for military help. Among other things, the junta has brought hundreds of fighters from the Kremlin-backed mercenary group Wagner into the country. There, they have been accused of committing serious human rights violations. The Islamist rebellion in Mali started in the country's north in 2012 and has since spread to neighboring Niger and Burkina Faso. The region has now become one of the most dangerous in the world. Niger, in contrast to Mali, has established a fragile democracy. (dpa, AFP) As a teenager, there were many days when I thought about killing myself. I struggled to come out as gay. The weight of being repeatedly bullied, hearing people speak in disgust about my sexuality, and seeing others get beaten or killed for being themselves made it difficult to accept who I was. At the time, I felt that it would be easier to end the pain by dying. But then something happened. On one of my darkest days in high school, I learned of someone who was planning a suicide attempt. At first, I was shocked. I didnt realize why he could want to die; he was good at sports, in a relationship, and seemed to have it all. I was happy to hear that he sought help, and his actions helped me. I reached out to people I trusted and got support. The experience taught me an important, life-altering lesson: You never know what someone may be going through by just looking at them, and its better to assume they could be struggling or have been through trauma. I started training at a suicide prevention hotline when I turned 18 years old and knew I wanted to incorporate suicide prevention work in my life somehow moving forward. As a volunteer suicide prevention counselor, I can remember sitting in an office building at night, alone. Each time I heard the phone ring, Id get a little nervous knowing that any near-death situation could be on the other end. How to find help If you or anyone you know is thinking of suicide, help is available 24/7: The National Suicide Prevention Talk Line offers help in over 150 languages. Call 1-800-273-8255 or text HELLO to 741741. En Espanol , marca al 1-888-628-9454. If you're deaf or hard of hearing , call 1-800-799-4889. offers help in over 150 languages. Call 1-800-273-8255 or text HELLO to 741741. , marca al 1-888-628-9454. If you're , call 1-800-799-4889. The Philadelphia Suicide and Crisis Center offers guidance and assessment about depression, self harm, hopelessness, anger, addiction, and relationship problems, at 215-686-4420. offers guidance and assessment about depression, self harm, hopelessness, anger, addiction, and relationship problems, at 215-686-4420. Veterans Crisis Chat is available at 1-800-273-8255 or by text at 838255. is available at 1-800-273-8255 or by text at 838255. The Trevor Project offers crisis support to LGBTQ+ youth 25 and under. Call 1-866-488-7386, text START to 678678, or start a chat. Over time, I learned another life-altering lesson: Most people want or need someone to listen to them. People who called the hotline in crisis were from various socioeconomic backgrounds, sexual orientations, races, and ethnicities. We were more alike than we are different. In college in Washington, D.C., I began to have hope that our nation was heading in the right direction to address the rising suicide rates and mental health public crisis. Federal leaders developed strategic plans to reduce suicide and made it seem like all would be better over time. When I volunteered for the legislative branch of a suicide prevention organization in college, the team was advocating for policy in the proposed Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act. Named after a U.S. senators son who died by suicide, the bill was passed and provides funding (even to this day) for states to pursue youth suicide prevention efforts. Advertisement Now, almost 20 years later, the crisis is getting worse, and Im more worried than ever. We have made some progress, and we have a long way to go. As a pediatric emergency medicine physician for the past 10 years, I have witnessed increasing rates of mental health-related emergencies and suicidality in my young patients. In 2021, one out of five high schoolers who took part in a survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that they had seriously considered suicide within the past year. The risks were especially pronounced for certain segments of the teen population nearly one out of three young women said that they had considered suicide, and almost two out of every three LGBTQ youth reported doing so. In 2020, suicide was the second leading cause of death in the U.S. for youth ages 10-14, and the third leading cause of death for those ages 15-24. The COVID-19 pandemic further exacerbated mental health needs. I work in an emergency department that cares for more than 100,000 pediatric patients each year. We see patterns, hear stories of struggles, see opportunities for improvement, and live through a spectrum of satisfying and gut-wrenching outcomes. Its our job to identify and address emergencies, and I dont know how to sound the alarm any louder regarding the mental health crisis. The barriers to mental health care and access including limited mental health professionals, long wait times for services, and insurance difficulties keep climbing, yet the need is higher than ever. The crisis keeps us up at night, and we know that it is likely going to get worse before it gets better. The vicarious trauma my coworkers and I experience hearing and seeing the repeated struggles needs to be balanced with knowing we are trying our best to ensure children are given the best chance in life. The problems are complex, so we need to be prepared for complex solutions. We need to start by treating the mental health crisis like the resuscitation of a critically ill patient. In the emergency department, when the code alarm rings, a team with preassigned roles converges to quickly identify the problems and act. If a child comes in with a gunshot wound, everyone has a role: airway management, intravenous access, comprehensive examination, medications, a leader to synthesize information and anticipate next steps, and surgeons at the ready to take the patient to a higher level of care in the operating room. Each person is valuable, and the team approach offers the best chance for success. To address the needs of patients in this mental health crisis, our players must include schools, insurance companies, legislators, social media influencers, community and cultural contributors, mental health professionals, and other health-care professionals and administrators all working as a team to reduce mental health stigma, increase mental health education, minimize treatment barriers and wait times by expanding services and training, and address the difficulties with costs and reimbursements. Some of these solutions will take time; we need to plan for both short- and long-term solutions and simultaneously work on prevention and helping those in crisis. These solutions will no doubt require a significant investment of resources. An investment upfront from institutions and government is key, but we also need a surge of donations and resources from anyone invested in the well-being of children and future generations. My colleagues and I will continue to try our best. I am inspired by people already doing great work toward implementing solutions, such as integrating mental health training and clinicians in schools and health-care settings. We must continue to invest in our communities, support mental health legislation, listen to each other, be kind, and keep the best interest of our youth at the forefront. We could all use a boost of hope. Jeremy Esposito is a pediatric emergency medicine physician at a local childrens hospital. In addition to clinical shifts, he works with teams to improve how we identify and care for youth with mental health concerns. Former Council Majority Leader Cherelle Parker was a member of Council President Darrell L. Clarke's leadership team until she resigned to run for mayor. Read more This years Philadelphia mayors race at one point included six candidates who were members of City Council last year, giving Council President Darrell L. Clarke plenty of options as he weighed his endorsement. On Thursday, Clarke announced that he is supporting Cherelle Parker, who was a member of Clarkes leadership team until she resigned last year to run for mayor. She is the person for this particular time that I know will be there for you, that I know will work hard, harder than anybody else, Clarke said at a news conference with Parker in City Hall. READ MORE: Cherelle Parker is proud of her West Oak Lane roots. As mayor, could she save Phillys middle neighborhoods? Advertisement Parker, who was Councils majority leader, often gave thunderous speeches at the legislative bodys weekly meetings, and Clarke on Thursday joked about her oratorical style. This lady right here, she is passionate. Some people say, Well, sometimes shes a little too passionate. There is no such thing as being too passionate, Clarke said. She might get a little loud. OK, well, she wants to make sure everybody hears what shes saying. In some ways, it may be surprising to see Clarke endorsing Parker for mayor. Clarke is a former chief of staff to John F. Street, the ex-mayor, while Parker was a former staffer and protege of Marian Tasco, a legendary former Council member. Their bosses had a rocky relationship, and Clarke defeated Tasco in the 2012 race for Council president. But Clarke and Parker bonded when she was a state representative. As chair of Philadelphias delegation to Harrisburg, Parker worked closely with Clarke to advance the citys interests in the Capitol. She succeeded Tasco on Council in 2016, and became majority leader in 2020. Thursdays endorsement event took place in the mayors reception room, an ornate hall lined with portraits of former Philadelphia mayors. Parkers campaign paid the city $750 to use the space, which is regularly rented out for private events. Parker said she plans to be a mayor who can get to nine, meaning she can win over a majority of Councils 17 members to back her priorities. She said she learned how to do that in part by working on legislation behind closed doors with Clarke. The most important work that weve done together no one has seen it on Instagram, it hasnt been on Facebook, its not on Twitter, Parker said. There is no one who could pretend to be a leader for the city of Philadelphia and not be able to work with the legislative body that governs the city of Philadelphia. The council presidents support is the latest in a string of endorsements Parker has racked up from elected officials, making her the clear favorite of many in the citys Democratic establishment. In addition to U.S. Rep. Dwight Evans, she has the backing of four state senators, six state representatives, and now four Council members. Parker also secured endorsements from key members of Philadelphias Latino community during an event in Norris Square Park on Thursday, including State Representatives Jose Giral (D-180) and Danilo Burgos (D-197), a protege of ex-mayoral candidate Maria Quinones Sanchez. Im proud to see the Latino community say, Cherelle, Ive got your back, Parker said at the Norris Square Park event. Noticeably absent from Thursdays slate of Latino leader endorsements was Quinones Sanchez, the longtime District 7 councilperson who lives in Norris Square. Parker and Quinones Sanchez had butted heads during their time on Council, most notably over Parkers support for the building trades unions, which have historically blocked jobs for Black and Latino workers. We believe [Quinones Sanchez] will be endorsing, said the Cherelle Parker campaign. I think we just need to be respectful of her process. It hasnt yet been a week since she dropped out. READ MORE: Sign up for The Inquirer's newsletter on the Philadelphia mayor's race. Another former Council member Derek Green, has also dropped out of the mayors race. The remaining top candidates for the May 16 Democratic primary include former Councilmembers Helen Gym and Allan Domb, former City Controller Rebecca Rhynhart, and ShopRite proprietor Jeff Brown. Former Councilmember David Oh is running unopposed in the Republican primary. Parker, the only top contender in the mayors race who is Black, also appears to be solidifying support from leaders in the citys African American neighborhoods, an indicator that she could win over the support of key voter blocs. Clarke, whose 5th District includes the heart of North Philadelphia, vowed Thursday to hit the streets in his district with her. Clarke briefly considered running for mayor himself in 2015, but he ended up endorsing Mayor Jim Kenney, who was also a longtime Council member, shortly before the primary. Clarke announced in February that he was not seeking reelection, ending his 12-year run as Councils leader and contributing to a period of massive turnover in City Hall. READ MORE: City Hall is about to see some serious turnover that will determine the direction of Philadelphia government Staff writer Chris Brennan contributed to this article. Businessman Jeff Brown speaks to his supporters as he announces his run for mayor in November. This week, he was endorsed by the city's police union. Read more Philadelphias police union on Thursday endorsed mayoral candidate Jeff Brown, who is running on a pledge to defeat the citys political establishment that union leaders believe has failed to adequately support and protect officers. The Fraternal Order of Police Lodge No. 5 is the second municipal union to back Brown, a first-time candidate and the only major contender in the race who has never held political office before. Our brave men and women who risk their lives each and every day to protect our city deserve a mayor that has their backs and support, union president John McNesby said in a statement. Hours after the unions announcement, the Guardian Civic League, the local chapter of the National Association of Black Law Enforcement Officers, announced it is also backing Brown, saying that he is the only real choice. Advertisement The group has split before with the FOP, so its endorsement is notable. Bill Blackmon, chairman of the groups election committee, said Brown will fight against the unfair treatment of Black and brown Philadelphia by law enforcement. Still, the FOPs endorsement in a city thats deeply divided on issues of policing may shift some voters perception of Brown, whose early campaign messaging courted Black voters and touted his background supporting criminal-justice reform efforts. In 2017, Brown served on the transition team of progressive District Attorney Larry Krasner, the FOPs chief political foe. He built his image in part on hiring thousands of ex-offenders to work in his stores, and he has said that he does not think the police departments nearly $800 million budget should grow. But Brown has also said police in the city do not feel supported by political leaders. He has been critical of Krasners offices prosecution record, and he has questioned elements of the citys so-called driving-equality legislation, a law aimed at curbing racial bias in police stops that the FOP sued to try to block. The FOPs announcement comes after several days of negative headlines surrounding Brown, who on Monday was accused by the citys board of ethics of illegally coordinating with an outside group supporting his campaign. Then, on Tuesday, a comment he made about trash incineration went viral when he appeared dismissive of concerns voiced by residents of Chester about environmental racism. Brown had earlier won the backing of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees District Council 33, which represents thousands of workers in the citys prisons, recreation, and streets departments. READ MORE: Philly mayoral candidate Jeff Brown calls ethics allegations a political hit job Several of Browns rivals did not seek an endorsement from the FOP, which represents about 6,000 active-duty officers. Brown said in an interview with The Inquirers editorial board last month that he sought the FOPs backing, saying any union that supports him is signing up for change. And we know we need them to make a change, he said. So I want them to sign up in advance that, This is the manager we want, and these are the changes we are willing to agree to. Its unclear at this point what those changes are. McNesby has said he is open to some criminal-justice reform measures including body-worn cameras for officers and behavioral health providers responding with officers to some crime scenes but the FOP has in general worked to maintain law enforcements status quo. The unions strength and the citys police arbitration system makes it challenging for the city to get rid of cops accused of misconduct. The FOP has successfully had police discipline or firings overturned dozens of times over the last decade. It has also defended a disability program that has been abused for years by officers who made questionable injury claims yet continued to make a city salary, tax-free. Brown was asked about the arbitration system during a mayoral forum Wednesday and defended the FOP, saying a lot of these problems I see as a failure of leadership and management and not of the union. He said the city should adjust its disciplinary procedures, and said if an officer is out-of-duty and shouldnt be, its managements job to address it. We have very poor personnel management in this city, he said. And its easy to blame the union, but you have to remember, theyre there for a purpose, bargaining for the employees for pay and protecting them if they get discharged. Over the last several years, the FOP has endorsed a mix of Democrats and Republicans for political office. Last year, the union backed Josh Shapiro for governor, the Democratic nominee and former attorney general, as well as Mehmet Oz, the GOP U.S. Senate nominee. Shapiro won; Oz lost to Democrat John Fetterman. In 2016 and 2020, the local union followed the national FOP and backed Donald Trump for president. The FOP has been consistent in rejecting progressive politicians, especially those it sees as sympathetic to the defund the police movement. No mayoral candidate has indicated being in favor of reducing funding to the police department. Three candidates Allan Domb, Helen Gym, and Cherelle Parker were City Council members in 2020 when they voted to cancel a proposed $19 million increase to the police budget. Since then, the annual police budget has increased by more than $50 million. AFCA's services have, sadly, never been more needed. We will continue to work in partnership with financial firms, consumer bodies, and regulators to share lessons from our work and drive improved practices. We want to see financial firms resolve more disputes themselves, so fewer matters have to be escalated to AFCA, he said. Teenagers face a higher risk of death and injury in pregnancy and childbirth. Anxious mother-to-be Karikikuta van der Merve, 18, needed to be close to medical support for her delivery. Opuwo, Kunene Region Expecting her first child this month, Karikikuta van der Merve, 18, found herself in a predicament. Her tender age placed her at a higher risk of complications during childbirth. She needed to be close to medical assistance, yet her village, Ehomba, is situated far from the nearest hospital. This is significant for the young mother-to-be, because if she gives birth in hospital, she has a far lower chance of death or injury, such as an obstetric fistula. Hospitals are equipped to keep women safe while giving birth. They offer trained medical professionals, advanced medical technologies, and emergency equipment that can address any potential complications. The region Ms. Van der Merve hails from has Namibia's lowest rate of hospital deliveries, a trend that puts mothers' lives at risk. Poor roads, lack of transportation and long distances to the nearest hospital make it difficult for rural pregnant women to reach help in time to give birth safely. As an anxious mum-to-be, she needs to be assured of the medical support she will need. For countless women and teenage mothers like her, maternity waiting shelters located close to hospitals represent a haven of hope. As her time to deliver approached, Ms. Van der Merve was housed at Kazetjitindire Angelika Muharukhua Maternity Waiting Home in Opuwo. "The Kunene region is blessed to have this maternity waiting house. It has kept so many pregnant women safe," said Ms. van der Merve. Built in 2013 to enable expectant mothers to be near the town's District Hospital, the dormitory houses up to 60 women and offers a shared kitchen, dining room, bathroom and meeting room. But when Ms. van der Merve arrived, the facility lacked important equipment. This matter was resolved with the donation of new furniture and kitchenware to the shelter, which has been welcomed by the pregnant women. "We didn't have enough chairs and tables, and we would eat sitting on the ground or on our beds. Now we will be more comfortable while we are staying here," Ms. van der Merve said. The donated items included a refrigerator, two industrial stoves, eight dining tables, chairs, a stainless-steel table, drinking jars, blankets, treated mosquito nets and two sewing machines. In addition, the 55 pregnant women housed at the home each received a dignity kit, cans of fish, maize meal and a bottle of cooking oil. Each dignity kit contained essential items enabling the women to maintain their hygiene and dignity - Vaseline, toothpaste, toothbrush, face cloth, washing powder, bath soap, sanitary pads, underwear, a malong (wraparound fabric) and a torch. This donation was made possible by the Leaving No One Behind Project, implemented by UNFPA in eight regions of Namibia, including Omaheke, with funding from the Government of Japan. "We would like to secure the pregnant women by delivering basic items and nutritional food so that we can strengthen the dignity and confidence of pregnant women in Namibia," said the Ambassador of Japan to Namibia, Hisao Nishimaki. At the 8th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD8) last year, Japan committed to bolstering African Countries' health care and medical systems, to achieve Universal Health Coverage and to support sexual and reproductive health, to ensure every pregnancy and delivery is safe. Namibia's Deputy Minister of Health, Dr. Esther Muinjangue, encouraged expectant mothers to use the services of waiting homes. "This is critical, not only for service delivery but also for promoting pregnancy outcomes," she said. The Leaving No One Behind Project focuses on those most left behind, such as vulnerable women and girls, particularly those who live with disabilities, as well as pregnant and nursing women, in- and out-of-school youth, and other groups susceptible to sexual and gender-based violence. It serves as an emergency response intervention in the context of COVID-19. Maternal deaths and gender-based violence are not only human rights concerns. They are essential to the achievement of national priorities and the Sustainable Development Goals, according to Gift Malunga, UNFPA Representative a.i. for Namibia. "Maternal mortality is at 210 deaths per 100,000 live births. We all know that most of these deaths are preventable," she said. "The proximity of the maternity waiting home to the hospital facilitates timely interventions when complications of pregnancy and delivery occur." In Namibia, pregnant women need assistance with increasing their sense of self-worth and confidence, lessening their susceptibility to risks related to gender-based violence and sexual and reproductive health, and enabling them to meet their basic needs, while acquiring long-term livelihood skills that will increase family income and overall well-being, she said. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Namibia Pregnancy and Childbirth By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Namibia's high rate of teen pregnancy Kunene has the second highest rate of teenage pregnancies in Namibia, at 23 per cent. Teenage pregnancies have negative consequences for the individual, families and society. Teen mothers often face social stigma, economic hardships, limited educational opportunities, and reduced job prospects. They may also experience physical and mental health problems due to the strain of pregnancy and childbirth at a young age. Children born to teenage mothers are more likely to experience negative outcomes, such as low birth weight, developmental delays and poorer academic performance. These challenges can perpetuate a cycle of poverty, limiting opportunities for the next generation. High teenage pregnancy rates put a strain on public resources, including health-care systems and social welfare programmes. Preventing teen pregnancy through comprehensive sex education, access to contraception, and social support can improve outcomes for teen parents and their children. Tim has made a significant contribution to Crawford in Australia, and perhaps one of his greatest leadership moments was steering the business through the devastating Australian floods in 2022. I want to thank Tim for his immense contribution to Crawford & Company and wish him every success in his retirement, he said. Generally, in business, the government is currently talking about baseline cybersecurity uplifting to a mandatory obligation, said Christie. What was happening in critical infrastructure and with APRA in CPS 234 [an outline of the governments cyber security requirements] is starting to spread wider and more seriously because I think the government sees what is happening with ransomware and other cyber incidents as a real blight on the economy, something thats really holding us back. We are delighted to have the talented team at Milestone join us and help continue to grow our presence on the West Coast, Goodreau said. With the addition of Milestone, we continue to be even better positioned to address the diverse insurance needs of our clients. Crum & Forster has made great progress on our journey thus far, and we will continue to do more, Marques-Thomas said. This award is an incredible honor in recognition of our companys ongoing efforts to incorporate diversity, equity and inclusion into everything we do, and to create a culture of belonging. C&F has built a corporate culture that embraces diversity, equity and inclusion by bringing together people from different cultures, backgrounds and perspectives. Its one of the many things that makes C&F such a great place to work. New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A Pennsylvania candy-maker ignored warnings of a 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 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. Chocolate Factory Blast a Deadly Reminder of Combustion Risks The lawsuit, filed in Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, also names gas utility UGI. Messages were sent to Palmer and UGI 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 pipelines role. Palmer officials should have evacuated immediately after being told of the 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 gas odor about 30 minutes before the factory blew up. Palmer has offered condolences but has otherwise said little since the explosion. The seven who we lost will always be in our prayers, and to those who were injured we wish a speedy recovery. Over the many years that we have worked together many became personal friends and all valued members of the Palmer team. Their loss will be felt forever, the Palmer family said in a statement five days after the explosion. The law firm representing Lopez-Morans family, Saltz Mongeluzzi Bendesky, said it represents more than a dozen victims of the explosion. Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Photo: In this screen grab from video provided by WPVI-TV/6ABC, smoke rises from an explosion at the R.M. Palmer Co. plant in West Reading, Pa., Friday, March 24, 2023. (WPVI-TV/6ABC via AP) Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Claims Manufacturing New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Seven members of an organized theft crew were arrested yesterday and charged in connection with stealing catalytic converters from more than 470 vehicles in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. For the alleged ringleader, theft was a full-time job, prosecutors said. More than 70 local police departments from across New England contributed to the investigation. Law enforcement used surveillance footage, communications and location monitoring data obtained from the defendants cell phones and the ringleaders vehicle to identify the thefts that they estimate represent $2 million in losses. The seven defendants males ages 26 to 37 from western Massachusetts were arraigned in federal court in Boston. The details contained in the charging documents are allegations. The defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. Catalytic converters are targeted for theft due to the high value of their metals, some of which are more valuable per ounce than gold. Black-market prices can be more than $1,000 each. According to the court documents, law enforcement identified a large number of catalytic converter thefts that involved a maroon Acura. These incidents in 2022 and 2023 involved at least two suspects wearing dark clothing who would target residential and commercial vehicles. The suspects were able to locate and cut away the catalytic converter from a vehicle within a minute in most instances utilizing a battery operated reciprocating saw. They allegedly used a jack to raise some vehicles to access the catalytic converters. After they cut the catalytic converter, they would stow it in the rear of the maroon Acura and move on. Prosecutors contend that, on numerous occasions, they targeted more than 10 vehicles in a single night, with one night reporting thefts from 26 vehicles. According to police, the defendants were allegedly involved in the thefts from at least 470 vehicles across Massachusetts and New Hampshire in 2022 and 2023 alone. Police said they believe a significant number of additional thefts have not been identified or were not ever reported to law enforcement. The investigation revealed that the maroon Acura belonged to Rafael Davila, a/k/a Robin Hood, 35, of Feeding Hills, who prosecutors allege to be the theft crew leader who planned and participated in each of the thefts. Prosecutors allege that Davila engages in catalytic converter thefts and burglaries on a full-time basis, committing thefts multiple nights per week for upwards of eight hours a night. Additionally, cell phone data allegedly revealed that Davila maintained meticulous notes accounting for the locations they targeted and the number of catalytic converters stolen, including the makes and models and when they were dropped off. Law enforcement believes Davila would undertake the thefts with a group of individuals including his brother. Davila was allegedly responsible for the planning of and transportation to each targeted theft using his vehicle, determining price values for stolen converters, and purchasing needed materials including saw blades designed to be used with a reciprocating power saw as well as cut-resistant gloves. New Massachusetts Law Aims to Thwart Catalytic Converter Thieves Once they had the stolen catalytic converters, the crew would then allegedly sell them to a buyer, who would accumulate them from multiple theft crews and then in turn sell them to scrap dealers. In particular, this defendant allegedly sold stolen catalytic converters to scrap dealers who have since been charged federally for interstate transportation of stolen property and money laundering, including Downpipe Depot charged in Connecticut and DG Auto, a New Jersey based company charged in California and Oklahoma. This Massachusetts defendant buyer is alleged to have transacted approximately $30,000 to $80,000 in stolen catalytic converters per week to these entities. This buyer also allegedly provided prices to Davila and other theft crews based of the make and model of the vehicle and by the code on the catalytic converter. Knowing the prices of the most valuable converters, Davila and his crew would seek out those makes and models to target. Nationwide Catalytic Converter Theft Ring Taken Down in Raid According to the National Insurance Crime Bureau, the number of catalytic converter thefts reported in claims to insurance companies jumped from 3,389 in 2019 to 14,433 in 2020 and continued to rise significantly during the pandemic. The increase in thefts has prompted some states, including Massachusetts, to toughen penalties and impose new requirements for scrap metal dealers who buy the converters. The vehicle history service CARFAX claims there were as many as 153,000 catalytic converters stolen in 2022, far more than earlier estimates. CARFAX said its data scientists reviewed millions of service and maintenance records to arrive at this number. In addition to the catalytic converter thefts, several of the defendants in the court in Boston were also charged in connection with thefts from automatic teller machines, allegedly using stolen trucks to rip the ATMs from the ground and gain access to the vault, and from jewelry stores. The jewelry store thefts totaled more $137,000, officials said. Insurers Report Jump in Catalytic Converter Thefts; New State Laws May Help Seventy local police departments in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Connecticut contributed to the investigation through the submission of their investigations of catalytic converter thefts in their jurisdiction. The Massachusetts police departments contributing to the investigation were Abington, Acton, Andover, Auburn, Bedford, Bellingham, Beverly, Billerica, Burlington, Bridgewater, Canton, Carver, Chelmsford, Concord, Cranston, East Hampton, Easton, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Hampton, Hanover, Haverhill, Hingham, Holliston, Holyoke, Hudson, Ipswich, Lawrence, Leominster, Lynn, Malden, Medford, Marlborough, Methuen, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Newton, Northborough, Norwell, Norwood, Peabody, Pembroke, Plymouth, Randolph, Rockland, Sharon, Shrewsbury, Springfield, Sterling, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Tyngsborough, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, West Bridgewater, Weymouth, Wilmington, Woburn and Worcester. The New Hampshire police departments were Bow, Concord, Derry, Hooksett, Hudson, Londonderry, Manchester, Salem and Windham. The Connecticut police departments were South Windsor and Windsor. The U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Rachael S. Rollins, FBI, Massachusetts State Police, and the National Insurance Crime Bureau made the arrest announcement. They cited assistance provided by the U.S. Attorneys for Connecticut, Oklahoma and the District of California; Homeland Security; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; and the Plymouth County District Attorneys Office. Assistant U.S. Attorney Philip A. Mallard of Rollins office is prosecuting the case. Source: U.S. Attorney for Massachusetts Topics Fraud Law Enforcement Talent New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! A substantial wildfire in Manchester Township in New Jersey on federal, state and private property, which reached 3,859 acres in size, has been 100% contained, the states forest fire service reported Thursday. The New Jersey Forest Fire Service also said no injuries have been reported due to the massive forest fire. The blaze, which started Tuesday, was located near Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, a military installation in the states pinelands. New Jersey Air National Guard helicopters conducted water drops in support of the the firefighters on the ground. About 170 homes in Manchester and Lakehurst were ordered evacuated, but residents have been told it is safe to return home. Roads that were closed have been reopened. Yesterday afternoon about 20 structures were deemed under threat but by evening they were no longer in jeopardy from the fire. This fire exhibited extreme fire behavior, John Cecil, an assistant commissioner in the states Department of Environmental Protection, told The Associated Press. I dont mean to be dramatic, but this was a severe situation that these guys and gals managed to keep in a place and protect lives and property from that. The cause of the fire is under investigation. The state is experiencing high fire hazard conditions in multiple areas as warm, windy and dry weather continues. Firefighters are still battling a forest fire near West Milford in the northern part of the state. That fire is about 250 acres in size and has been 30% contained. A volunteer firefighter at a smaller Sussex County fire suffered cardiac arrest and died yesterday, fire officials reported. Topics New Jersey The Kremlin warned on Wednesday that the outlook for extending a deal beyond May 18 that allows the safe wartime export of grain and fertilizer from several Ukrainian Black Sea ports was not great as Russias own such exports still faced obstacles. The Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July last year to help tackle a global food crisis that U.N. officials said had been worsened by the deadliest war in Europe since World War Two. No deal can stand on one leg: It must stand on two legs, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters. In this regard, of course, judging by the state of play today, the outlook (for its extension) is not so great. To help persuade Russia to allow Ukraine to resume its Black Sea grain exports last year, a separate three-year agreement was also struck in July in which the United Nations agreed to help Russia with its food and fertilizer exports. Peskov said this deal has not worked and is not working so far. Western powers have imposed tough sanctions on Russia over its Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. Its food and fertilizer exports are not sanctioned, but Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a barrier to shipments. Last month, Russia only agreed to renew the Ukraine Black Sea grain export deal for at least 60 days, half the intended period. Moscow said it would only consider a further extension if several demands in relation to its own exports were met. Those include allowing the Russian Agricultural Bank to return to the SWIFT payment system, allowing Russia to import agricultural machinery, the removal of insurance restrictions, port access for Russian ships and cargo, and an unblocking of the financial activities of Russian fertilizer companies. Moscow also wants a pipeline that delivers Russian ammonia to a Ukrainian Black Sea port to be restarted. Herding People When asked on Wednesday if any progress had been made on Russias demands, U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said U.N. officials were trying to doggedly move the process forward, noting that Secretary-General Antonio Guterres had little power. The secretary-general has no authority over SWIFT. He has no authority over member states that impose unilateral sanctions. He has no authority over insurance companies, shipping companies, he cant tell them what to do, he said. Were trying to herd a whole group of people, added Dujarric. The United States has pushed back on Moscows demands, saying the only prohibitions on food and fertilizer exports from Russia are those imposed by the government of Russia. Russia and Ukraine are two of the worlds key agricultural producers, and major players in the wheat, barley, maize, rapeseed, rapeseed oil, sunflower seed and sunflower oil markets. Russia is also dominant in the fertilizer market. The Ukraine Black Sea export agreement has allowed more than 27.5 million tonnes of food to be exported by Ukraine, and the United Nations says this has contributed to the lowering of food prices around the world. But the U.N. World Food Programme warned earlier this month that food insecurity remains at unprecedented levels in 2023 as conflict, economic shocks, climate extremes and rising fertilizer prices continue to disrupt food production globally. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Michelle Nichols; additional reporting by Nigel Hunt and Pavel Polityuk; editing by Andrew Osborn, Tomasz Janowski and Jonathan Oatis) Photograph: Bulk carrier M/V Razoni, carrying a cargo of 26,000 tonnes of corn, leaves Ukraines port of Odesa, en route to Tripoli in Lebanon, on Aug. 1, 2022. Photo credit: Oleksandr Gimanov/AFP/Getty Images Topics Trends Australias northwest region, home to the worlds largest iron ore export hub, braced on Thursday for the areas most powerful tropical cyclone in a decade, as a major port closed and residents rushed to stock up on essential supplies. Cyclone Ilsa, located about 155 kilometers off (96 miles) Australias coast in the Indian Ocean, was on Thursday afternoon upgraded to a category five storm, the highest rating. The storm is expected to make landfall late on Thursday or early on Friday with winds of up to 315 km per hour (196 mph) at its core, the Bureau of Meteorology said. Theyve got a lot of strength in them, the ability to not only destroy trees and knock down power lines but lift up those loose items in the yard, including trailers and caravans, meteorologist Miriam Bradbury told ABC television. The weather bureau said in its latest update that Ilsa could impact a 600 km sparsely populated stretch from just north of Port Hedland eastwards to just south of tourist town Broome. Port Hedlands port, the worlds biggest iron ore export point, closed on Thursday morning after the port authority began clearing berths a day earlier. The port is used by BHP Group, Fortescue and billionaire Gina Rineharts Hancock Prospecting. Rio Tinto exports out of the Port of Dampier, to the west of Port Hedland. The weather bureau issued a Red Alert for Port Hedland on Thursday afternoon, where wind gusts up to 155 kph are expected. Its 15,000 residents, most of whom are mining company employees, were advised to seek shelter indoors away from doors and windows. It will be the strongest system to hit the countrys far northwest region since Cyclone Christine crossed the coast in December 2013, weather bureau forecaster Jessica Lingard said. BHP said it was closely tracking the cyclone but its mining and rail operations were continuing. A Fortescue spokesperson said it had suspended shipping operations and non-essential travel to the port but it did not expect any significant impact to operations at this stage. Many of the regions mines are located hundreds of kilometers inland. Some shelves in supermarkets have been stripped bare, local media reported, with essential supplies like bottled water, fruit and meat in huge demand. The storm is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength over Friday night as it moves inland. (Reporting by Renju Jose and Lewis Jackson in Sydney; editing by Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed and Kim Coghill) Photograph: Aerial View of Port Hedland, Western Australia. Photo credit: Bigstock Related: Topics Australia The Clear Group, the London-based independent broker, announced the acquisition of Irish commercial broker McAuliffe Barry & Collins Ltd., which trades as MBC Insurance and Techinsure.ie. Clear has acquired 100% of MBC Insurance. Financial details of the deal were not disclosed. This latest deal represents the 38th acquisition made by Clear since it was established in 2001 and marks its first acquisition in the Irish broker market. The acquisition of MBC Insurance further signals Clears expansion plans into new markets through targeted M&A activity following investment last year from Goldman Sachs. Celebrating its 40th anniversary last year, MBC Insurance offers a comprehensive insurance offering to more than 5,600 clients nationwide. MBC specializes in a variety of commercial insurance types and sectors, such as, business insurance, plant & access machinery hire, tool & equipment hire, and forklift hire insurance. In addition, MBC offers a wide range of IT insurance through its well-established Techinsure.ie brand. MBC is a key member of Brokers Ireland, the leading representative body for insurance brokers in Ireland. The MBC executive management team, led by Managing Director Des Murphy, Directors Shane Sullivan and Brian McMahon, and Chairman Denis Collins, will continue to lead the business and are fully committed to driving the future growth and strategic development of both MBC and the Clear Group in Ireland. Clear said it is planning to make further acquisitions in Ireland and is interested in talking with brokers who share similar values and culture. Establishing a Clear presence in Ireland is a central plank of our strategy as we look to grow across Ireland and acquire businesses outside of the UK, commented Mike Edgeley, group CEO of the Clear Group. We are delighted the MBC team have chosen to join the Clear Group. MBC has a great team of people, and lots of potential to continue to grow backed by the support and investment of the Clear Group. We are delighted to finalise this transaction, which is testament to the exceptional quality and dedication of the MBC team and business. MBC and the Clear Group are ideal partners in terms of our shared values, commitment to our people, and customer satisfaction, according to Des Murphy, managing director, MBC Insurance. Source: Clear Group Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Agencies UN chief Antonio Guterres on Wednesday reaffirmed the world body's commitment to supporting the Horn of Africa country as it continues on its path to establishing lasting peace and stability. "Somalia faces many challenges, but in the spirit of Ramadan, I also bring a message of hope and renewal - the United Nations stands in solidarity with the Somali people. "Let us come together to advance peace and security, sustainable development and human rights - and build a better future for all Somalis," the UN chief said. He was addressing a news conference in the Somali capital, Mogadishu, on the second and last day of his visit to Somalia. On Tuesday, the Secretary-General met with Somalia's President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and members of his cabinet and advisors, visited internally displaced families in South West State on a trip to Baidoa, and met separately with civil society organisations and the heads of UN agencies, funds and programmes working in support of Somalis. Progress and support In his remarks at the news conference, the UN chief noted that despite severe challenges, the people of Somalia continued to demonstrate enormous strength and resilience. "During the six years since my last visit, we have seen progress on peace, security and sustainable development. In my talks with President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud and the Government yesterday, we discussed how the United Nations system can continue to support Somalia in building on this positive momentum," Mr. Guterres said. "I commended the President's efforts to advance peace and security, and highlighted the importance of strong collaboration with Federal [Member] States to address the threats posed by Al-Shabaab," he added. "The United Nations is committed to supporting national and regional efforts to protect human rights and combat terrorism and violent extremism." The UN chief highlighted the support of the African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS), a multidimensional mission that includes military, police and civilian components, and which is mandated by the UN Security Council to assist Somali security forces in their fight against the Al-Shabaab terrorist group. Civil society's vision While in Mogadishu, the Secretary-General also met with representatives of Somali civil society organisations working in women's affairs and empowerment, climate change, persons with disabilities, youth and marginalised groups. He told media representatives he was "deeply inspired by their vision and energy." "A safe and inclusive civic space is essential to good governance and can help prevent and reduce violence. The full participation of Somalia's women and young people in political life - including the constitutional review - is critical," Mr. Guterres said. "I welcome the Government's commitment to women's rights and representation and call for the full implementation and codification of the 30 per cent quota for women in elections." During Somalia's last electoral process, completed in 2022, there had been a goal of achieving a minimum of 30 per cent women's representation in the federal parliament. In the end, women took up just 21 per cent of parliamentary seats, down from 24 per cent of parliamentary seats in the 2016/17 electoral processes. The United Nations has previously said that meeting the 30 per cent quota is an important first step to full representation and an inclusive society in Somalia. Humanitarian crisis The Secretary-General's last visit to Somalia, in 2017, was during a large-scale humanitarian operation to prevent famine. His visit this year came as Somalia grapples with a devastating drought which led to the deaths of 43,000 people in 2022 alone. Urgent assistance is needed for some 8.3 million Somalis, according to the UN humanitarian affairs coordination office (OCHA). The drought has displaced 1.4 million Somalis - with women and children making up 80 per cent of these people. Food prices are rising and aggravating hunger and malnutrition. "Today, the situation is once again alarming. Climate change is causing chaos. Somalia has experienced five consecutive poor rainy seasons, and this is unprecedented... Poor and vulnerable communities are pushed by the drought to the brink of starvation, and the situation can get worse," Mr. Guterres said. Between now and June, some 6.5 million Somalis are expected to face high levels of acute food insecurity, and the risk of famine is looming. 'We must act now' "We must act now to prevent a catastrophe. Yesterday, I visited Baidoa, and spoke to families who have lost their livelihoods to drought and insecurity - I am deeply moved by their struggles. I was also impressed by their resilience, their courage and their determination to rebuild their lives, but they cannot do it alone," Mr. Guterres said. "I strongly appeal to donors to stand with Somalis in their time of need," he continued. "The international community has the responsibility and the interest to support Somalia with the resources needed to defeat Al-Shabaab, to build resilience and to [stabilise] the areas liberated and to provide much needed humanitarian assistance." Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines International Organisations Somalia By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Underfunded response Somalia's 2023 Humanitarian Response Plan, put together by OCHA and its humanitarian partners, identifies the most critical humanitarian needs in the country, proposes a response plan and determines the budget needed to address them. This year's Plan seeks $2.6 billion. So far, its funding levels stand at around 15 per cent, or $347 million. "When famine looms, this is totally unacceptable. The international community must step up and dramatically increase the volume of funds to support Somalia in this moment of difficulty," Mr. Guterres said. "It is unconscionable that Somalis, who have done almost nothing to create the climate crisis, are suffering its terrible impact - just as they are beginning to emerge from years of conflict and insecurity." The UN chief's two-day visit to Somalia was part of his annual tradition of paying solidarity visits to Muslim countries during the Holy Month of Ramadan, during which he joins in observing the related fast, and sharing an Iftar meal. Germanys ruling coalition presented a scaled-back plan to decriminalize personal use of cannabis in Europes largest economy. The proposal would allow adults to possess as much as 25 grams (0.9 ounce) of marijuana and join nonprofit social clubs to purchase the drug, according to a joint press release from Germanys health, agriculture and justice ministries on Wednesday. The government initially proposed a wide-ranging legalization in an October position paper. But after negotiations with the European Union, it has limited the scope of its ambitions, and plans to first decriminalize marijuana and only later consider a law to allow tests of commercial sales. Its a scientific pilot project, its not legalization, said Niklas Kouparanis, chief executive officer of the Bloomwell Group, one of Germanys biggest legal cannabis producers. The government is expecting to submit a draft bill on the decriminalization measures this month, and a parliamentary vote could happen as early as the summer. While restrictions on marijuana have been loosened in some smaller EU states and its sale is generally tolerated in the Netherlands, Germany would be the biggest member moving toward allowing recreational use. Germanys decisions will shape a cannabis market that Prohibition Partners, a cannabis data firm, sees growing to 2.1 billion ($2.3 billion) of annual sales by 2027. Germany, already Europes biggest medical market for cannabis, is also one of the first major countries to move ahead with legalization plans. An estimated 427,000 patients in Europe will consume medical cannabis this year, and that will rise to approximately 1.4 million patients by 2027, according to Prohibition Partners. The ruling coalition says the measures will allow the clubs to cultivate and distribute cannabis to members for personal use. They will precede debate, planned after parliaments summer break, over a separate bill that would create five-year pilot projects that could allow for some commercial stores and lead to full legalization. Specialized stores should be able to come, but only after the successful pilot projects, German Health Minister Karl Lauterbach said at a press conference in Berlin on Wednesday. Bloomwells Kouparanis said the proposal represents a step forward, even if its less ambitious than previous plans. Its more worthy than having ongoing prohibition, he said, adding that barriers to the legal production could fuel illicit marijuana. Elsewhere, a longer wind-up period before setting up legal sales has caused headaches such as the proliferation of a black market thats hard to stamp out. New York, for example, is still struggling to close down unlicensed weed shops in many neighborhoods months after legal, licensed sales have begun. Kouparanis said that this could also happen in Germany under the new plan, calling on the pilot projects to be conducted as fast as possible. While we fuel the illicit market with decriminalization, the legal market cannot ramp up capacity, he said. With assistance from Tiffany Kary. Photograph: A flowering cannabis plant growing at the Green Health Colombia SAS medical cultivation facility in Los Santos, Santander department, Colombia, on Monday, April 3, 2023. Colombias cannabis industry exports, including seeds, crude extracts, distillates, isolates, and finished products such as phytotherapeutics and cosmetics, nearly doubled in 2022, with over $8.4 million U.S. dollars in sales. Photo credit: Natalia Ortiz Mantilla/Bloomberg Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Cannabis Germany This edition of International People Moves details appointments at AIG Asia Pacific and Gallagher Re. A summary of these new hires follows here. AIG Appoints BHSIs Colahan as Regional President, AIG Asia Pacific American International Group Inc. announced that Chris Colahan has been appointed regional president, AIG Asia Pacific, and will join the company in the second quarter of 2023. Colahan will report to Jon Hancock, chief executive officer of AIGs International General Insurance business. Colahan has more than 20 years of insurance industry experience and most recently served as president of UK & Europe for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI). Prior to that, he was president of BHSI Australasia. Previously, he served as regional CEO for RSA Asia and CEO of RSA Asias Hong Kong and Singapore operations. Colahan holds a degree in Law and Commerce from Bond University, Australia. Colahan replaces current Regional President Steven Barnett, who is leaving to pursue opportunities outside the company. We are fortunate to have someone with Chris industry experience and vast knowledge of the Asia Pacific marketplace join AIG, said Hancock, Asia Pacific is an important market for our General Insurance business, and with Chris leadership, we expect to expand our business and capabilities, deepen relationships with distribution partners and clients, and continue to demonstrate our risk management expertise. *** Gallagher Re Hires McMillan as Renewable Energy Practice Leader Gallagher Re, the global reinsurance broker, has appointed Robert McMillan as Renewable Energy Practice leader within its global marine & energy team, with immediate effect. McMillans extensive knowledge and experience in the renewable energy sector, in particular onshore and offshore wind, will enable Gallagher Re to build out its client proposition, develop a proprietary view of risk, and best support its insurer and MGA clients increasing investment and involvement in renewables. His skillset will complement Gallagher Res existing transactional expertise, where it already has significant experience in placing treaty business for renewables, whether mixed portfolios or standalone programs. McMillan brings more than 30 years industry experience and joins from Siemens where he spent 16 years the last 10 specializing in the onshore and offshore wind industry, holding a variety of senior management roles. A chartered engineer by profession, with additional project management qualifications and skills in leading multi-disciplinary teams, McMillan most recently served as global head of Product Safety and Risk at Siemens, having been head of Engineering for Wind Power UK and Offshore Product Safety officer prior to that. As our clients energy portfolios and exposures change, our investment is focused on providing the right mix of industry insight, data and analytics, tailored advice and optimised reinsurance solutions to best support those transitions. Developing a dedicated renewable energy specialism using Roberts expertise and experience is a natural enhancement to our multi-disciplinary marine & energy practice and we are delighted to welcome him to the team, commented Nick Croxford, global head of Marine & Energy at Gallagher Re. Renewable energy has an essential role to play in delivering on decarbonisation targets, improving energy security and reducing emissions overall, and Im excited to apply my decades of experience and knowledge in a new way that furthers its development, McMillan said. Without the transfer of risk made possible by insurance and reinsurance, ground-breaking renewables projects and technological advances simply wouldnt happen. So Im looking forward to working with my broking colleagues to deliver the support and solutions our insurer clients need in this fast-evolving industry, McMillan added. Topics Energy Leadership A.J. Gallagher MILWAUKEE (AP) A landlord has been ordered to pay $1.35 million for a fire that killed two people in Milwaukee in 2019, a newspaper reported. Will Sherard has shown a reckless disregard for the condition of his properties, Milwaukee County Judge William Sosnay said in a March 31 decision. The fire began in wiring behind walls. Clarence Murrell Jr., 60, and Patricia Colston, 53, died. The lawsuit was filed by Murrells adult children, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday. The newspaper said the financial award was a rare step in a Milwaukee housing case. Sherard hasnt talked publicly about the lawsuit. We are sending a message to all predatory landlords that our community will no longer tolerate unsafe and substandard housing. The lives of people you rent to matter, said attorney Justin Padway, who represents Murrells family. In 2021, the Journal Sentinel found electrical fires hit Black renters in distressed neighborhoods the hardest. The newspapers work was recognized as a Pulitzer Prize finalist. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Wisconsin New You can now listen to Insurance Journal articles! Former President Donald Trump filed a $500 million lawsuit against his former attorney Michael Cohen for allegedly violating their attorney-client bond and spreading embarrassing or detrimental lies. Cohen, whose falling out with Trump has led to exchanges of insults between the men, also was accused of violating a non-disclosure agreement with Trump and fraudulently misrepresenting a $74,000 business expenditure, according to the suit filed Wednesday in federal court in Miami. Public statements by Cohen helped form the basis for last weeks criminal indictment of Trump by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, as well as a $250 million civil fraud suit brought by the New York attorney general. Cohen pleaded guilty to crimes including campaign finance violations and bank fraud, and hes now a full-time critic of Trump. Cohens lawyer Lanny Davis accused the former president of abusing the judicial system in an attempt to harass and intimidate his client. It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him, Davis said of Trump. Is there anyone in America, aside from a shrinking minority base of believers, who takes Mr. Trump seriously when he files these frivolous lawsuits? Trump has a long history of suing his accusers, but his track record in Florida isnt good. His complaint against 2016 election rival Hillary Clinton and dozens of other Democrats, accusing them of conspiring against him with fake Russia-collusion claims, was tossed out by a judge who fined the former president and his lawyer a total of almost $1 million for bringing frivolous and unfounded claims. Trump has appealed that ruling. In his suit against Cohen, Trump alleges his former fixer committed these breaches through myriad public statements, including the publication of two books, a podcast series, and innumerable mainstream media appearances. One of Cohens books, Disloyal, was criticized in the complaint as being replete with mischaracterizations, falsehoods, and flat-out misrepresentations about Trump. The former presidents suit also singles out Cohens popular podcast. In the more than 250 episodes of the podcast produced to date, defendant repeatedly and consistently reveals, or purports to reveal, confidential information gleaned by nature of his prior attorney-client relationship with plaintiff, as well as information pertaining to plaintiffs personal and private life, according to the suit. Trump alleges Cohen violated a confidentiality agreement that barred him from publishing any secret information about Trumps personal life and business affairs, even after his term of employment ended. Not long after Trump and Cohen parted ways in 2018, the lawyer committed the first of an onslaught of fiduciary and contractual breaches by making inflammatory remarks about Trump, according to the suit. Seeking Damages Trump seeks $500 million in damages plus the return of the $74,000 Cohen allegedly obtained through fraudulent misrepresentation, according to the suit. The complaint refers to a section of Cohens book that describes paying $13,000 to rig online polling ahead of Trumps first presidential run and how he billed the Trump Organization for a larger sum. In the years after Trump was elected president in 2016, Cohen went public with details about a $130,000 hush-money payment the lawyer paid to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about an alleged affair with Trump before the 2016 election. The indictment in Manhattan alleges Trump falsified business records to hide his payments reimbursing Cohen. Trumps suit incorporates statements made about Cohen by another lawyer, Robert Costello, who spoke extensively with Cohen after Cohens office was raided by FBI agents in 2018. Costello, who reportedly testified to the Manhattan grand jury in an attempt to cast doubt on Cohens claims about the hush-money payment, recalls that Cohen told him in 2018 that he didnt have anything on Trump and that the payment to Daniels was his idea, was intended to protect Melania Trump from being hurt and wasnt reimbursed by the Trump Organization, according to Trumps complaint. Mr. Costello has further completely discredited Defendants subsequent accounts implicating Plaintiffs involvement in any violation of law surrounding the payment, Trumps lawsuit says. Costello called Cohen a serial liar and said he is totally unreliable.' Cohen also testified to Congress about alleged financial wrongdoings at the Trump Organization, triggering a three-year investigation by New York Attorney General Letitia James that culminated in a $250 million civil suit thats set to go to trial in October. The case is Trump v. Cohen, 23-cv-21377, US District Court, Southern District of Florida (Miami). Photo: Donald Trump and Michael Cohen Photographer: Bloomberg /Bloomberg Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Lawsuits The Louisiana Department of Insurance sent out a reminder this week that United Property & Casualty Insurance Companys (UPC) former policyholders and their insurance agents have until April 28 to secure homeowners insurance in the private market or bind a Louisiana Citizens policy with retroactive coverage from Citizens back to the cancellation of their UPC policy by Florida effective March 29. UPC policyholders who did not find a new homeowners policy before their UPC policy was canceled will be covered by Citizens for claims occurring between their cancellation date and the end of the extension period if an agent binds a Citizens policy by April 28. UPC, a Florida insurer with about 30,000 Louisiana policies and 202,000 policies in five other states, was placed into liquidation by the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation and Florida judicial system on February 27 after its estimated losses from Hurricane Ian increased to $1.5 billion. The LDI recommends former UPC policyholders do the following: Contact multiple agents, including both captive and independent agents, to obtain as many quotes as possible for a new policy. Ask an agent to contact Citizens for a quote if you are unable to find a policy in the private market. If you do get a Citizens policy, continue shopping around for a new policy as the LDI expects more insurers to begin writing this month following implementation of the Insure Louisiana Incentive Program. If you cancel and rewrite your Citizens policy with a private company, Citizens will refund any unearned premium. If you have an open claim with UPC, that claim will likely be transferred to the Louisiana Insurance Guaranty Association (LIGA) for adjusting and payment. LIGA can be reached at 225-277-7151. Source: LDI Topics Louisiana Homeowners Five defendants were arraigned this week on multiple felony counts of insurance fraud after a California Department of Insurance investigation found a landscaping company some of the defendants owned allegedly underreported wages to their insurer to reduce their workers comp premiums. Three defendants include Antonio Martinez Resendiz, 36, of Murrieta, Ismael Martinez Resendiz, 34, of Fallbrook, and Jorge Martinez Resendiz, 32, of Temecula, owners of Green View Landscape & Tree Service Inc. in Escondido. The two additional defendants are Ariana Martinez, 34, of Murrieta, and Silvia Reyna Martinez, 34, of Temecula, supervisors within the company. To ensure proper coverage, employers are required to accurately report employee job classifications and the amount of payroll expended. One common way employers avoid paying workers comp premiums is to underreport employee payroll by providing false payroll reports to their insurer. The San Diego County District Attorneys Office is prosecuting the case. Topics California Workers' Compensation Fraud Three Alaska Native tribes have sued to block what they say would be one of the largest gold mines in the world, arguing that federal agencies failed to properly analyze health and environmental concerns for the project in southwest Alaska. Tribes from the communities of Kwethluk, Tuluksak and Bethel filed a federal lawsuit this week challenging the adequacy of a 2018 environmental review by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and issuances of a key permit and lease by federal agencies for the Donlin Gold project. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of the tribes by environmental nonprofit Earthjustice, claims the agencies failed to fully analyze potential harms and health impacts from a catastrophic spill and did not provide adequate protection for rainbow smelt, a subsistence food, from increased barge traffic related to the project, the Anchorage Daily News reported. The lawsuit states the project has received the approvals needed for construction to begin but that construction has not yet started. The project is about 10 miles (16 kilometers) north of the Kuskokwim River community of Crooked Creek. Donlin Gold LLC, owned by subsidiaries of Canada-based NovaGold Resources and Barrick Gold Corp., manages the project. Dolin Gold said in a statement that the federal permitting process was rigorous. Donlin Golds stakeholders fully believe that this lawsuit is meritless and are confident the actual record will once again fully support the agencies decisions, the statement said. In the meantime, the Donlin Gold team and the owners continue to advance remaining state permitting, as well as drilling and technical work, subject to Donlin Gold LLC Board approval. The lawsuit names as defendants the corps, U.S. Interior Department, U.S. Bureau of Land Management and agency officials. An Interior Department spokesperson declined to comment. A spokesperson with the corps in Alaska referred an email request for comment to the U.S. Department of Justice. The Justice Department is aware of the complaint but declined further comment, a spokesperson said in an email. The deposit contains 39 million ounces of gold worth close to $80 billion at todays prices. A 315-mile (507-kilometer) natural gas pipeline from the west side of Cook Inlet would supply a power plant at the mine. The project life is anticipated around three decades. The project is on land owned by The Kuskokwim Corp., the area Alaska Native village corporation, and the mineral rights to the deposit are controlled by Calista Corp., the regional Alaska Native corporation. The mine is expected to employ 3,000 people during construction and about 1,400 people during operations. Opposition has grown in recent years from tribes and other Indigenous groups that worry the project will harm fisheries, a primary subsistence resource for residents. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Numbers 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 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 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. Topics Lawsuits California An environmental group has sued to block Pacific Gas & Electric from seeking to extend the federal operating licenses for Californias last nuclear power plant. A complaint filed in San Francisco Superior Court by Friends of the Earth asks the court to prohibit the utility from sidestepping its 2016 agreement with environmentalists and plant workers to close the twin-domed Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant by 2025. The possibility of a longer operating run emerged last year after Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature opened the way for PG&E to seek an extended lifespan for the twin reactors. The company intends to apply to the Nuclear Regulatory Commission by the end of the year to extend operations by as much as two decades. The operating license for the Unit 1 reactor expires next year and the Unit 2 license expires in 2025. Hallie Templeton, legal director for Friends of the Earth, said in a statement that PG&E has been acting as if our contract has disappeared. California is the birthplace of the modern environmental movement that for decades has had a fraught relationship with nuclear power, which doesnt produce carbon pollution like fossil fuels but leaves behind waste that can remain dangerously radioactive for centuries. The Newsom administration is pushing to expand solar power and other clean energy, as the state aims to cut emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. Newsoms decision last year to support a longer operating run for Diablo Canyon shocked environmentalists and anti-nuclear advocates because he had once been a leading voice for closing the plant. PG&E said in a statement it had not yet seen the lawsuit, but that as a regulated utility will follow state policy. The lawsuit marks the latest development in a long-running fight over the operation and safety of the decades-old plant, which Newsom says should keep running beyond 2025 to ward off possible blackouts as California transitions to solar and other renewable energy sources. Diablo Canyon produces 9% of the states electricity. At issue in the lawsuit is how a complex 2016 agreement figures in the Legislatures decision reverse itself and to try and keep the reactors running. At the time the agreement to wind down Diablo Canyon was made, California utility regulators, the Legislature and then-Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown agreed to the closure. The complaint describes the 2016 agreement as a contract, and asks the court to find it binding. It also asks for an order prohibiting PG&E from violating the contract. PG&E acts as if it has no remaining contractual obligations, the complaint said, while asserting that the utility still has a responsibility to retire the nuclear power plant on schedule. Its not clear if the reactors will continue operating beyond the expiration of their 2024 and 2025 licenses and if so, for how long since many regulatory milestones and unanswered questions remain. Last year, PG&E CEO Patricia Patti Poppe warned that the permitting and relicensing of the facility is complex and so theres a lot of hurdles to be overcome. For example, its not yet publicly known what it will cost to update the plant for a longer run given that the company was preparing to close it for years. The state could consider backing out if capital costs climb over $1.4 billion and a string of state agencies also has to review extending the plants lifespan. Construction at Diablo Canyon began in the 1960s. Critics say potential shaking from nearby earthquake faults not recognized when the design was approved could damage equipment and release radiation. One fault was not discovered until 2008. PG&E has long said the plant is safe, an assessment the NRC has supported. The U.S. nuclear industry has been through a tough stretch, with reactors retiring and its share of energy production slipping since 2012. But many industry leaders see a renaissance on the horizon, as climate change has brought attention to carbon-free power. The Biden administration last year launched a $6 billion effort to rescue nuclear power plants at risk of closing, citing the need for nuclear energy as a carbon-free power source that helps to combat climate change. The lawsuit also named labor groups from the plant that were involved in the 2016 agreement as defendants, including the Coalition Of California Utility Employees. Copyright 2023 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits California Lead, South Dakota - April 13, 2023 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results from five additional drill holes at its Richmond Hill Gold Project ("Richmond Hill"). Drilling at Richmond Hill to date has delineated an extensive gold system more than a mile in length from north to south, with the gold mineralization open in all directions. Drill hole RH22C-013 was drilled in an effort to locate higher-grade gold mineralization at the intersection of a dominant north-south structure, with northeast-southwest crossing structures within the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. Drill hole RH22C-013 intersected 0.175 oz/ton Au over 98.5 feet (5.98 grams/tonne over 30.0 meters), which confirms the existence of higher-grade gold mineralization that may be related to preferential structures. The Richmond Hill Gold Project contains six known breccia pipes, four of which are largely untested. To date, Dakota Gold has drill tested only the Twin Tunnels and Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipes, both of which are open to extension at depth and laterally to the north and south. Between 1988 and 1994, LAC Minerals (USA) LLC ("LAC") produced 175,000 ounces of gold from the Richmond Hill Breccia Pipe which is similarly open to extension. Drill Hole Highlights: RH22C-013 intersected 0.175 oz/ton Au over 98.5 feet (5.98 grams/tonne over 30.0 meters) in a Tertiary breccia and confirmed the presence of higher-grade gold mineralization at Richmond Hill in the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe and confirms higher-grade gold mineralization found in historical drill hole TT-86-26. RH23C-014 intersected 0.039 oz/ton Au over 137.8 feet (1.35 grams/tonne over 42.0 meters) in the Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipe. RH23C-014 was designed to test the Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipe closer to the surface. RH22C-009 intersected 0.035 oz/ton Au over 16.8 feet (1.21 grams/tonne over 5.1 meters) in the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. RH22C-010 intersected 0.024 oz/ton Au over 50.6 feet (1.24 grams/tonne over 1.54 meters) 2,500 feet west of the Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipe. RH22C-011 intersected 0.036 oz/ton Au over 50.6 feet (1.24 grams/tonne over 15.4 meters) in the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. Dakota Gold has identified a large gold system at Richmond Hill with drilling underway to test the remaining breccia pipes. Tertiary breccia pipes are favorable conduits for gold bearing fluids in the Homestake District and continue to be a priority drill target. Drilling and geologic reinterpretation has demonstrated two large breccia pipes are one larger system. James M. Berry, Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "Richmond Hill continues to provide positive drill results with RH22C-013 confirming the presence of higher-grade gold mineralization in the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. We are seeing large intervals of visible alteration in the drilling and are using historical drilling, geophysics, and surface mapping to test the known breccia pipes for better grade mineralization. Four previously known breccia pipes remain untested." The Company currently has four drills operating on its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota, with two drills operating at the Maitland Gold Project ("Maitland") targeting Homestake-hosted and Tertiary gold mineralization. Two drills operating at Richmond Hill are targeting Tertiary breccia and replacement gold mineralization, as well as conducting infill and step-out drilling designed to convert and expand the known gold mineralization identified in 880 historic drill holes, to S-K 1300 compliant resources. Richmond Hill is located 2.3 miles west of Maitland and 1.5 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf Mine. The Wharf Mine produced 79,768 ounces at 0.021 oz/ton gold in 2022. Exploration Update: RH22C-009 RH22C-009 was drilled to test between RH22C-005 and RH22C-006 (see December 8, 2022 press release) at the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The drill hole intersected multiple zones of mineralization as shown in Table 1, with the best interval intersecting 0.022 oz/ton Au over 76.9 feet (0.77 grams/tonne over 23.4 meters). The mineralization was hosted within a Tertiary breccia composed of altered or bleached Precambrian, greenstone clasts. RH22C-010 RH22C-010 was drilled to test an area 2,500 feet west of the Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipe as shown in Figure 1 for historically identified Tertiary replacement gold mineralization hosted in the Cambrian Deadwood Formation and the Precambrian stratigraphy. This drill hole intersected 0.024 oz/ton Au over 18.7 feet (0.82 grams/tonne over 5.7 meters) in a fractured Tertiary lamprophyre sill. RH22C-010 also intersected 0.016 oz/ton Au over 13.1 feet (0.55 grams/tonne over 4.0 meters) in the lower Deadwood Formation. The lower portion of the drill hole contained Precambrian greenstone. RH22C-011 RH22C-011 was drilled to test below RH22C-009, intersecting 0.036 oz/ton Au over 50.6 feet (1.24 grams/tonne over 15.4 meters) in Tertiary breccia and is shown in Figure 2. RH22C-011 also intersected 0.021 oz/ton Au over 54.9 feet (0.74 grams/tonne over 16.7 meters) in the lower Deadwood Formation and Tertiary altered Precambrian phyllites below the unconformity. The drill hole also intersected 0.017 oz/ton Au over 75.1 feet (0.57 grams/tonne over 22.9 meters) and 0.024 oz/ton Au over 52.8 feet (0.84 grams/tonne over 16.1 meters) in Tertiary breccias with Precambrian greenstone clasts. RH22C-013 RH22C-013 was drilled to test for higher-grade gold mineralization at the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. The drill hole was drilled from the same pad as RH22C-012 (see December 8, 2022 press release) at a shallower angle. RH22C-013 intersected 0.175 oz/ton Au over 98.5 feet (5.98 grams/tonne over 30.0 meters) in oxidized Tertiary breccia and fractured Precambrian phyllites as shown in Figure 3 and 4. The drill hole also intersected 0.039 oz/ton Au over 33.4 feet (1.33 grams/tonne over 10.2 meters) in Tertiary breccia. RH22C-013 demonstrates the potential for higher gold grades within the breccia pipes at Richmond Hill. RH23C-014 RH23C-014 was drilled to test the upper portion of the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe above RH22C-005 as shown in Figures 1 and 5. RH22C-014 intersected 0.028 oz/ton Au over 88.9 feet (0.95 grams/tonne over 27.1 meters), 0.039 oz/ton Au over 137.8 feet (1.35 grams/tonne over 42.0 meters), and 0.023 oz/ton Au over 84.9 feet (0.77 grams/tonne over 25.9 meters), extending the Tertiary breccia hosted mineralization intersected in RH22C-005 closer to the surface. Figure 1. Plan View of Dakota Gold Corp. Richmond Hill Drill Holes with Highlighted Gold Intercepts. Figure 2. Cross Section along RH22C-009 and RH22C-011 Looking North-Northwest. Figure 3. Cross Section along RH22C-003, RH22C-012, and RH22C-013 Looking Northwest. Figure 4. Core photo of RH22C-013 at 87.5 feet showing Tertiary breccia with Precambrian clasts. Figure 5. Cross Section along RH23C-014 Looking North. About Dakota Gold Corp. Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 46 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine. The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history. Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates. Shareholder and Investor Inquiries For more information, please contact: Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604-761-5251 Email: JAwde@dakotagoldcorp.com Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content. The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Richmond Hill Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Check samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory as the drill program progresses. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Forward-Looking Statements This communication 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. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities, our use and evaluation of historic data, our ability to achieve our strategic goals, the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry, and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KT for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Peacekeepers from the UN's MONUSCO mission patrol in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (file photo). The East African Community Regional Force (EACRF) in eastern DR Congo on Wednesday, April 12, repulsed an attack within its area of operation by a group of armed men suspected to be members of a local armed group. The armed men whose intent was likely to commit atrocities within Kibumba, in Nyiragongo territory, fired several rounds in the area prompting a quick reaction force to respond, successfully repulsing them and containing the situation, the regional force said in a statement. "The troops have since enhanced patrols within the areas to deter any further threats, especially to the local population who have since been sensitized to continue with their normal activities," the EACRF said. The regional force took control of Kibumba in December 2022, after the M23 rebels withdrew from the town in compliance with the Luanda agreement signed by regional leaders earlier in November. However, on Wednesday morning, the M23 claimed that the Kinshasa government forces had sought to re-occupy Kibumba, in violation of the ceasefire. It said fighting was ongoing. EACRF said it continues to protect the livelihood of citizens in areas they occupy and is urging the local population to return back to their homes. On Monday, the M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka said the government coalition was taking advantage of the slow deployment of the regional force in areas vacated by the rebels and committed various abuses. Kanyuka said the M23's "withdrawal is not the end but a step needed to create suitable conditions for political dialogue" with Kinshasa in order to "address the root causes of the conflict." Eastern DR Congo has been volatile for nearly three decades and is home to more than 120 local and foreign armed groups. Source: Mike Stevens April 13, 2023 (Investorideas.com Newswire) The U.S.-based software firm is "beginning to stack early wins and momentum," noted an Echelon Capital Markets report. HS GovTech Solutions Inc. (HS:CSE; HDSLF:OTC), having landed new contracts, clients, and markets, cut costs, and improved efficiencies in Q1/23, is on track to turn EBITDA positive toward the end of this year, reported Echelon Capital Markets analyst Mike Stevens in an April 6 research note. "We are encouraged with another positive update," Stevens wrote, "as HS GovTech continues to execute toward its 2023 goals of reaching US$8-10 million ($8-10M) in annual recurring revenue and, perhaps more importantly, turning EBITDA positive." HS GovTech develops and sells to governments software-as-a-service applications for managing data and communications. 186% Projected Return Stevens highlighted that the North Carolina-headquartered company offers investors a significant potential return of about 186%. This is shown in the gap between HS GovTech's current share price of about CA$0.28 and Echelon's target price on the firm of CA$0.80 per share. Echelon rates the technology firm Speculative Buy. Q1/23 Achievements In his report, Stevens presented the highlights of HS GovTech's update for Q1/23: 1) The company generated US$6M worth of contracts in Q1/23. Full execution of these should boost annual recurring revenue (ARR) to about US$6.8M, which compares to about US$6M in ARR at year-end 2022. 2) HS GovTech penetrated the market in three additional states: Montana, New Jersey, and Nevada. "The prospect for follow-on business represents a meaningful opportunity across the board," Stevens commented. 3) The company took 12 clients live. Deployments in all of 2022 totaled 27, 11 of which were in Q4/22. 4) HS GovTech decreased in gross annual payroll by not adding any new positions. This contributed to the company saving about US$1M in annualized costs. "The Company's progress with increasing project deployment efficiencies is a very encouraging trend toward scaling profitably and turning EBITDA/cash flow positive," wrote Stevens. 5) HS GovTech continued rapidly expanding its number of HSPay customers. HSPay is its online and mobile payment platform for government revenue collection. At the end of Q1/23, the average total processed volume was up to US$87,000 ($87K) per week versus US$25K per week in late December 2022. "The trajectory is certainly noteworthy and could emerge as a more meaningful revenue contributor over the next couple of years," wrote Stevens. Expectations in 2023 For Q1/23, Echelon estimates HS GovTech revenue of US$1.9M, gross profit of US$1.5M, and EBITDA of (US$0.8M), Stevens noted, and all three should build throughout the year. The broker-dealer expects the North Carolina firm will see in 2023 about a US$1M increase in cash operating expenses but also, topline growth of 57%. Echelon also forecasts the software company will turn EBITDA positive in Q4/23 and, for the full-year of 2023, generate US$9.5M in revenue and achieve US$7.6M in gross profit. As far as the tech firm itself relayed Stevens, management said it aims to close at least US$20M in total contract value this year, which should equate to about US$9M in annual recurring revenue. "Notably, if HS GovTech continues to execute on its annualized trajectory, we expect the company to outperform our forecasts," Stevens commented. Disclosures: 1) Doresa Banning wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. She or members of her household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. She or members of her household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. As of the date of this article, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with: None. Please click here for more information. 3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of HS GovTech Solutions Inc., a company mentioned in this article. Disclosures For Echelon Capital Markets, HS GovTech Solutions Inc , April 6, 2023 Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. is a member of IIROC and CIPF. The documents on this website have been prepared for the viewer only as an example of strategy consistent with our recommendations; it is not an offer to buy or sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy or sell any security or instrument or to participate in any particular investing strategy. Any opinions or recommendations expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. cannot accept any trading instructions via e-mail as the timely receipt of e-mail messages, or their integrity over the Internet, cannot be guaranteed. Dividend yields change as stock prices change, and companies may change or cancel dividend payments in the future. All securities involve varying amounts of risk, and their values will fluctuate, and the fluctuation of foreign currency exchange rates will also impact your investment returns if measured in Canadian Dollars. Past performance does not guarantee future returns, investments may increase or decrease in value and you may lose money. Data from various sources were used in the preparation of these documents; the information is believed but in no way warranted to be reliable, accurate and appropriate. Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. employees may buy and sell shares of the companies that are recommended for their own accounts and for the accounts of other clients. Echelon Wealth Partners compensates its Research Analysts from a variety of sources. The Research Department is a cost centre and is funded by the business activities of Echelon Wealth Partners including, Institutional Equity Sales and Trading, Retail Sales and Corporate and Investment Banking. Research Dissemination Policy: All final research reports are disseminated to existing and potential clients of Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. simultaneously in electronic form. Hard copies will be disseminated to any client that has requested to be on the distribution list of Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. Clients may also receive Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. research via third party vendors. To receive Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. research reports, please contact your Registered Representative. Reproduction of any research report in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. Canadian Disclosures: To make further inquiry related to this report, Canadian residents should contact their Echelon Wealth Partners professional representative. To effect any transaction, Canadian residents should contact their Echelon Wealth Partners Investment advisor. U.S. Disclosures: This research report was prepared by Echelon Wealth Partners Inc., a member of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund. This report does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities discussed herein. Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. is not registered as a broker-dealer in the United States and is not be subject to U.S. rules regarding the preparation of research reports and the independence of research analysts. Any resulting transactions should be effected through a U.S. broker-dealer. ANALYST CERTIFICATION Company: HS GovTech Solutions Inc. | HS:CSE I, Mike Stevens, hereby certify that the views expressed in this report accurately reflect my personal views about the subject securities orissuers. I also certify that I have not, am not, and will not receive, directly or indirectly, compensation in exchange for expressing the specific recommendations or views in this report. Important Disclosures: During the last 12 months, Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. provided financial advice to and/or, either on its own or as a syndicate member, participated in a public offering, or private placement of securities of this issuer. During the last 12 months, Echelon Wealth Partners Inc. received compensation for having provided investment banking or related services to this Issuer. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. Our site does not make recommendations for purchases or sale of stocks, services or products. Nothing on our sites should be construed as an offer or solicitation to buy or sell products or securities. All investing involves risk and possible losses. This site is currently compensated for news publication and distribution, social media and marketing, content creation and more. Disclosure is posted for each compensated news release, content published /created if required but otherwise the news was not compensated for and was published for the sole interest of our readers and followers. Contact management and IR of each company directly regarding specific questions. More disclaimer info: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Disclaimer.asp Learn more about publishing your news release and our other news services on the Investorideas.com newswire https://www.investorideas.com/News-Upload/ and tickertagstocknews.com Global investors must adhere to regulations of each country. Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Here is a selection of people starting new roles with IDA Ireland, DLA Piper, Oxendales, Irish Beverage Council, TEKenable and CarTrawler. Michael Lohan has been appointed as CEO of IDA Ireland. He iis currently IDA global head of life sciences and talent transformation and innovation departments and is a member of the organisations executive leadership team. He has represented IDA in roles with Digital Manufacturing Ireland, the SSPC research centre for pharmaceuticals, the Irish Medical Association (Ibec) and the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund. He joined IDA Ireland in 2003 from the private sector where he held senior roles including Nortels European Operations in Galway and IEC Electronics European Operations. He holds an MSc in Technology Management from NUIG, and is a graduate of the Berkley Executive Programme. Aoife Murphy has been appointed as a partner with law firm DLA Pipers Intellectual Property & Technology (IPT) practice in Ireland. Previously a partner in Whitney Moore since 2005, she will lead DLA Pipers IPT team, bringing her notable experience in the life sciences sector. Aoife is a multi-award-winning commercial litigator and author, and is named in the Top 250 women in IP globally and ranked as a Leading Individual by the Legal 500 . She advises indigenous and multinational clients on all aspects of patents, trademarks, copyright and design-related intellectual property matters. Aoife also sits on the Intellectual Property Law Committee of the Law Society of Ireland. Paul Sweeney has been appointed as CEO of online retailer Oxendales, operating in Ireland for over 60 years. He previously spent six years with the firms parent company, N Brown Group, a clothing, footwear and homeware retailer, which also owns fashion and lifestyle brands JD Williams, Simply Be and Jacamo. This appointment comes as Oxendales continues to develop its new strategic proposition in Ireland. The retailer currently offers over 5,000 womens fashion pieces and over 6,500 home, garden and DIY products across its retail platforms. Paul brings more than 25 years of senior executive experience in the financial services sector, delivering leadership, employee, and customer engagement programmes. Agnese Filippi, country manager of Coca-Cola Ireland, has been named as the new chair of the Irish Beverage Council (IBC), the unit of the employer group Ibec representing the non-alcohol beverage industry. As IBC chair, Agnese will represent an industry at the heart of Irelands economy employing over 3,500 people directly and supporting another 3,000 jobs indirectly. Agnese has been country manager of Coca-Cola Ireland since 2021, responsible for meeting the evolving needs of consumers, positioning the organisation to drive success in the marketplace and ensuring continued delivery of the companys long-term growth and success in Ireland. Ibec members range from agriculture to manufacturing, retail, tourism and more. Muhammad Zeeshan Khan has been promoted to CTO of the Microsoft services division at tech services firm TEKenable, from his prior role as Microsoft Power Platforms lead solution architect. He has held various roles with TEKenable over the past 20 years. Muhammad brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise in his engagement with clients. He has been a major contributor to the success and growth of the company. Since 2011, he has managed TEKenable Groups regional presence in the UAE/GCC region. He holds a post-grad diploma in Business Studies & IT from the DBS and an MBA Management Information Systems from the University of Central Punjab. Zillah Byng-Thorne has been appointed as a non-executive director with CarTrawler, the B2B travel technology company providing car rental and mobility technology solutions to clients including easyJet, Emirates, eDreams Odigeo and American Express Travel, and with recent partnerships including Uber, United Airlines, Hopper, and Volotea. Zillah is the outgoing CEO of global media business Future, where she led the growth of its market capitalisation from 30m in 2013 to 1.4bn today. She is also an experienced board member and is chair-designate of Trustpilot, chair of M&C Saatchi, a non-executive director of Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings, and previously served as director of Flutter Entertainment, The Hut Group and Go Compare. I love reading, and I think this helped enormously when I decided to write my own book, An Irish Atlantic Rainforest: A Personal Journey into the Magic of Rewilding (Hachette Ireland, which was published last September. But I only go for non-fiction; the last real fiction I read was probably a decade ago or more now. I went through a long period of reading mostly books about the natural world and ecology, as I was working to restore my own rainforest, and was fascinated with how ecosystems work. A whole new world was opening up for me. But I also like history, and books on various aspects of what might loosely be described as "the human condition". The titles listed below are among those that had the greatest influence on my own thinking and writing. Its very far from being comprehensive; in fact, there are a dozen other books Id happily have included here. Woodlands; The Future of Life; Rewilding the World 1. Woodlands, Oliver Rackham (2006) I bought this book a few years before we got our farm on the Beara Peninsula in 2009, and for a long time afterwards it was a sort of go-to bible for all things trees and forest. Rackham opened my eyes to so many aspects of woodland ecology, such as how self-seeded wild native trees are generally much so better ecologically compared to their planted equivalents. He was also the first to make me aware that our native tree species are, as George Monbiot later described them, elephant adapted, having evolved together with pachyderms like the straight-tusked elephant, now extinct due to human over-hunting in prehistory. However, while very good on the ecology, I now find Rackham at times tended to dwell too much on the human angle, such as the historic uses of various timbers. 2. The Future of Life, Edward O Wilson (2002) This book blew me away when I first read it in 2010, lifting the curtain to so much of how ecosystems function, and how we as a species have been preventing them from doing so properly. Though first and foremost an entomologist (insect specialist), Wilson was almost certainly the most ground-breaking biologist of the last 100 years or so, his discoveries and theories extending to how we too evolved to be the species we are. My first copy of this book, which I sadly lost, was crammed with pencilled annotations in the margins, often with several exclamation marks, and lengthy underlined sections. I later got another copy, but its not the same. 3. Rewilding the World: Dispatches from the Conservation Revolution, Caroline Fraser (2009) Around 2011, I came across the concept of rewilding, and having looked online for further reading material, found and ordered this wonderful book, one of the very first to be published on the subject. In it, Caroline Fraser takes us to rewilding projects the world over, and the explorations of the ecology, sociology, and politics behind bringing back wild nature are just excellent. It was my first introduction to how we dont have to accept the continued death of the natural world all around us; that in most cases nature has an immense power to rebound if we stop the activities that are constantly preventing it from doing so; that there is hope. I often dip back into this one. Nature in its Place; Feral; Keeping the Wild 4. Nature in its Place Stephen Mills (1987) Ill be honest here, while this is a great book overall, its only included on this list because of one chapter of seven: Woodland Layers, which gives so much insight into what makes a natural woodland in a healthy state tick, and how all the various components trees, ground flora, insects, birds, mammals, fungi, etc. fit together seamlessly as a functional ecosystem. Mills looked in particular at Killarney National Park, which even back then in the 80s was suffering heavily from invasive species sika deer and rhododentron ponticum, a situation which has continued to worsen ever since. I picked up my copy of this book second-hand, as I usually do wherever possible. 5. Feral: Searching for enchantment on the frontiers of rewilding, George Monbiot (2013) When it comes to writing that manages to combine well-researched science with lyrical description and visceral emotion, Monbiot is probably unsurpassed, so I was very excited when I heard this book was coming out over a decade ago now. And it certainly didnt disappoint, with imaginative and far-reaching dives into every aspect of rewilding, from how ancient megafauna once roamed what is now central London to how our own lives could be so much more fulfilling if our current disconnect from the natural world was lessened. This was also the first book I read on rewilding written by an author based on these islands, and it has informed much of my thinking on the subject ever since. 6. Keeping the Wild: Against the Domestication of Earth, edited by George Wuerthner, Eileen Crist, and Tom Butler (2014) A compilation of pieces from a total of 22 writers on the global ecological crisis, this brilliant book examines what can and must be done to reverse it. While reading it in 2015, this was another victim of my terrible habit of underlining more important passages in pencil and making notes in the margins. But many of the pieces in this book have more lines underlined than not, thereby making the exercise somewhat ridiculous. I also marked each one out of ten for future reference, nearly all of them scoring nine or ten (one even got twelve out of ten!). Its companion volume Protecting the Wild: Parks and Wilderness, the Foundation for Conservation, edited by the same three authors (2015), is equally good. Whittled Away; Wilding; The Hidden Life of Trees 7. Whittled Away: Irelands Vanishing Nature, Padraic Fogarty (2017) Whittled Away demolished the false myth of the Emerald Isle in no uncertain terms. It showed comprehensively that, behind the green facade, Ireland is one of the most ecologically wrecked places on Earth. It showed how industrial farming, fishing and forestry have whittled away, and are continuing to do so, biodiversity on this island down to near nothing. But in this book, Padraic does far more than just bemoan how bad things are: practical solutions are offered that could, with the right political and societal will, be implemented tomorrow. That means, above all, returning wild natural ecosystems on a mass scale, i.e. rewilding. An absolutely landmark book for Irish nature. 8. Wilding: The Return of Nature to a British Farm, Isabella Tree (2018) This hugely inspirational book charts the journey of a 3,500-acre farm in West Sussex, England, from industrial chemical-soaked and diesel-powered agriculture to a form of extremely High Nature Value farming. The owners, Isabella Tree and Charlie Burrell, took the incredibly courageous decision to move in a totally different direction in 2000, having increasingly struggled to make conventional farming work financially. But they were also aware of the desperate plight of nature in their area, including their own land. Following the cessation of intensive farming practices, they were witness to the return of abundant and diverse populations of wildlife, including many rare species, a remarkably powerful demonstration of how nature can and will return if we only let it. 9. The Hidden Life of Trees. What They Feel, How They Communicate: Discoveries from a Secret World, Peter Wohlleben (2015) Peter Wohlleben started out as a forester in Germany, but over time became ever more disillusioned by what he saw in the industry, for which trees are no more than a crop. Instead, he began to investigate just how amazingly complex they are, not just in themselves, but as pillars of an integrated ecosystem, in which thousands of species interconnect in the most mind-boggling ways. This book was the first to popularise, for example, the findings of Prof. Suzanne Simard, who had been working on the interactions and symbioses between trees and fungal networks, communicating and even sharing resources via an underground web. One of the best things about The Hidden Life of Trees is how it makes deep science highly accessible in a light-hearted, and somewhat quirky, German way. Anja Murray holding a copy of her book Wild Embrace. 10.Wild Embrace: Connecting to the Wonder of Irelands Natural World, Anja Murray (2023) Only just released on March 9th, Anja Murrays Wild Embrace takes us on a fantastic adventure of rediscovery: of the wild nature that still hangs on in pieces here and there all around in Ireland, and of the place within every one of us that yearns for reconnection with this hidden world. You rightly wont find any avoidance of the desperate state of Irish nature in this book, on the contrary. But hope for recovery is identified in the three-legged stool of wonder, knowledge and action. In other words, by deeply engaging with the wild once more, learning a little of how ecosystems really work, and rolling up our sleeves to finally do what needs doing, nature can, and will, come roaring back. A hugely important, and simply delightful, book. Tony Blair and former US senator George Mitchell will attend a conference in Belfast next week marking the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. They are among the architects of the 1998 peace deal taking part in the event at Queens University. Mr Mitchell chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement, while Sir Tony was prime minister at the time. His wife Cherie Blair will also attend the conference and take part in a Women In Business event. Bertie Ahern and former US president Bill Clinton will take part in the conference in Belfast (Julien Behal/PA) Bill Clinton, US president in 1998, and his wife Hillary will also attend, along with former Taoiseach Bertie Ahern. Queens University vice-chancellor Professor Ian Greer said: It is another major coup to have secured two more of the key architects in achieving the peace that we continue to enjoy for the Agreement 25 conference. Senator Mitchell has expressed his immense attachment for Northern Ireland and his return will be an emotional visit for many of us. We will have the honour of unveiling a bust in his honour in the grounds of the university which will further cement the great relationship senator Mitchell has had with Queens University. We also welcome Tony Blair who will contribute to the Guaranteeing Peace The Guarantors section of our conference. Joining former US president William J, Clinton and former Taoiseach of Ireland Bertie Ahern, he will reflect on the magnitude of the agreement, how it was reached and the impact it has had on Northern Ireland. A number of events have been taking place in Northern Ireland marking the anniversary of the agreement which largely led to the end of the Troubles and established the powersharing Assembly at Stormont. US President Joe Biden delivered a keynote speech in Belfast marking the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement (Aaron Chown/PA) US president Joe Biden delivered a speech at Ulster University on Wednesday in which he expressed hope for a return to powersharing, saying a stable devolved government could deliver an economic windfall for the region. The institutions are currently suspended as part of a DUP protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. Mr Biden said: As a friend, I hope its not too presumptuous for me to say that I believe the democratic institutions established in the Good Friday Agreement remain critical for the future of Northern Ireland. Its a decision for you to make, not for me to make, but it seems to me they are related. Last week a ceremony at Stormont on Good Friday marked the anniversary. In a video message at that event, Mr Mitchell urged current political leaders to act with the same courage and vision as those who secured the Good Friday Agreement. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald has said there is no ambiguity about her party's stance on US foreign policy, but she insisted Irish issues will be her port of call when speaking to Joe Biden. Ms McDonald indicated that she shares concerns about Americas role in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the countrys support for Israel, but said a boycott of the US presidents address to the Oireachtas is the wrong choice. People Before Profit is to boycott the historic speech by Mr Biden to both houses of the Oireachtas over objections to his foreign policy. The party said the move is due to Mr Bidens record on Palestine, Iraq, and Nato expansion as well as the absence of opportunity for Dail parties to ask questions. Sinn Fein Party leader Mary Lou McDonald is to meet US President Joe Biden during his Irish visit (Liam McBurney/PA) Ms McDonald heaped praise on the US contribution to the peace process, but said Sinn Feins concerns about aspects of Washingtons foreign policy are well known. She did not commit to raising any such concerns with the US president when she meets him as part of the visit. Speaking on RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme, Ms McDonald said there wouldnt have been a peace process without America. Asked directly if she shares left-wing criticisms of US foreign policy, she said: Of course I do. And those are legitimate criticisms. I very much doubt that anybody in the American administration is unaware of the wide criticism of many of their foreign policy stances. Building peace in Ireland, the success of all of this, is very much an American foreign policy triumph Questioned whether she would raise concerns about Israel with the president, she added: Ill meet him today. Im not sure what opportunity I will have to have any length of a conversation with him. My first port of call with the president is Ireland and Irish affairs, marking progress, marking their contribution, but my position as regards Palestine, the rights of the Palestinian people, and Israeli apartheid are well, well documented. There is nobody with any ambiguous or lack of clarity of my or Sinn Feins position on all of those matters. Today, this visit is about Ireland. This visit is about the political impasse that we have here. The political opportunities that I want us to grasp with both hands, and the United States of America is a partner in that, and for the criticism of their foreign policy, be very clear, Ireland, building peace in Ireland, the success of all of this, is very much an American foreign policy triumph, and is very, very much to their credit. A new unit has been set up to examine how the Department of Education listens to the views of students, the Minister for Education has announced. Norma Foley made the announcement as she attended the Irish Second Level Students Union (ISSU) annual congress. In recent years, Ms Foley has expanded the membership of the National Council for Curriculum and Assessment (NCCA) to include ISSU which means that students now sit on the body charged with curriculum development. I am pleased to also share with you today that I have worked with our departments Inspectorate also to ensure that the student voice is heard and captured within the school inspection process, Ms Foley said. However, more can be done to increase the participation of children and young people, she added. I am pleased to announce the establishment of a dedicated unit in my department to promote the participation of children and young people into department policy. An expert group has been formed to advise on the work of the new unit, which will be independently chaired by Professor Laura Lundy. The ISSU will also be represented in this group. The group will examine how the Department of Education currently fulfills its obligations in respect of the participation and voice of children and young people in the development of department policies. It will look carefully at how we consult with students and young people like yourselves, what we do well, and where we could improve, Ms Foley said. It will look right across the world to consider best practice and consider relevant research, as well as consulting with officials in the department and all other educational stakeholders. It is a process which I am pleased as Minister for Education to commence, and one which I feel will deeply enrich our work across the board. US president Joe Biden has met with his counterpart Michael D Higgins, ahead of the US presidents historic address to the Oireachtas later on Thursday. Mr Biden is expected to set out a shared vision for the future of US-Irish relations when he address both houses of the Oireachtas, part of a series of ceremonies and honours to be held for the world leader. The US president emerged wearing sunglasses and a broad smile as he walked the red carpet to be met by Mr Higgins and his wife Sabine. It is Mr Bidens third visit to the residence, but his first as president. US president Joe Biden with President Micheal D Higgins. Picture: Maxwells He was taken to the drawing room to meet Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Irelands first female secretary-general to the president, Orla OHanrahan. Mr Biden signed the visitors book in the historic State Reception Room, telling President Higgins "its a pleasure to be back. Asked what he had written in the visitors book, Mr Biden said he had quoted an Irish proverb, your feet will bring you where your heart is, adding: Its an honour to return, and made a reference to returning to the home of his ancestors, pledging to recommit to peace, equity and dignity. Mr Biden told reporters: Im not going home. Isnt this an incredible place? All you American reporters, its just like the White House, right? US President Joe Biden message in the guestbook at Aras an Uachtarain. Picture: Maxwells He also planted an Irish oak in the grounds of Aras an Uachtarain and rang the Peace Bell, which was unveiled in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden rang it four times before shaking hands with President Higgins. The ringing of the symbolic bell is often an honour bestowed on visiting world leaders and dignitaries. He said he was ringing the bell for the US, his ancestral home of Ireland, for his ancestors and for peace. Mr Biden follows in the footsteps of US presidents John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama who have all planted trees in the grounds, as have Pope John Paul II and the late Queen Elizabeth II. Speaking to President Higgins, Mr Biden said: Mr President, I asked whether or not my great-grandchildren can come back and climb this tree when it grows? Oh absolutely, replied President Higgins. The White House said Northern Ireland and Ukraine would top the agenda as Mr Biden meets Mr Higgins and the Taoiseach later, with US National Security Council senior director Amanda Sloat telling reporters that his Oireachtas address will refer to areas of close partnership between both countries and setting out a shared vision for the future. Mr Biden will be accompanied to Leinster House by Marie Heaney, the widow of his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney. Nine members of the US Congress, one senator as well as Mr Bidens sister Valerie and son Hunter will attend the event, as well as former Irish president Mary McAleese, two former taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland political leaders and Larysa Gerasko, ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland. A worker vacuums the red carpet ahead of the arrival of US president Joe Biden to Aras an Uachtarain. Picture: AP Photo/Peter Morrison) Mr Biden, who is on a four-day trip to the island, will attend a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle hosted by the Taoiseach in the evening. His first full day of engagements on Wednesday began in Northern Ireland, where he delivered a keynote address in Belfast. In his speech to Ulster University, Mr Biden expressed the hope of a return to powersharing at Stormont, saying a stable devolved government could deliver an economic windfall for the region. His visit north of the border came as the region marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark Good Friday peace accord. After his address in Belfast, Mr Biden travelled to Dublin and from there to Co Louth, where he can trace some of his Irish ancestors. In a speech at a pub in Dundalk, he described how he felt as though he had come home. His remarks also included an apparent gaffe when he appeared to confuse the All Blacks rugby team with the Black and Tans, a contentious police unit from Irelands War of Independence era. Asked about that gaffe, Ms Sloat said: It was clear what the president was referring to, it was certainly clear to his cousins setting next to him. A shortage of psychiatric nurses due to emigration and retirement is having an impact at "every level of mental health services". The Psychiatric Nurses Association (PNA) said there were 700 vacancies across the country and nothing had been done to resolve this. Addressing its annual conference on Thursday, PNA general secretary Peter Hughes said the sector was enduring a "recruitment and retention crisis in both mental health and intellectual disability nursing". He said the PNA had highlighted the issue with the Department of Health and the HSE last year, but they had "failed then and they continue to fail." He added: Since the decline of covid, services are now experiencing a very high level of nurses emigrating to Australia and Canada in particular. Furthermore, nurses, who were eligible to retire and who stayed on to support services are now finally retiring." "The impacts of shortages are apparent daily throughout the services and the message to the Government is clear. It is inexcusable that nursing vacancies have been allowed to increase to such an extent that beds are being closed and vital services are being denied to communities across the country. Other factors included the "spiralling" cost of accommodation for nurses planning to return from abroad, with Mr Hughes warning a workforce planning group was needed to address the crisis. Mr Hughes also slammed the lack of investment by the Government in the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (Camhs), pointing to Maskey Report of January 2022 as a "damning indictment". "The pressures and burnout experienced by staff left to cope with staffing shortages in Camhs is intolerable and it is growing. "It is inconceivable that over the past year the diminution of mental health services for children and adolescents of this country has continued. " There are only 42 Camhs beds in operation nationally, despite a waiting list of 3,937 in November of last year. Special leave for people who suffer pregnancy miscarriage and their partners has been called for by the Association of Secondary Teachers in Ireland (ASTI). ASTI members now plan to collaborate with other unions to push through this measure and end the stigma that often still shrouds miscarriage. A motion passed unanimously at the ASTI convention that special leave be granted to those who experience a miscarriage or their partners equivalent to compassionate leave for a parent, child or spouse bereavement. One in five pregnancies end in miscarriage but there is no specific leave for pregnancy loss under 26 weeks gestation, Ken Dwyer, who proposed the motion and ASTI representative from Bray, said. The union should provide comfort, support and solidarity for members, particularly at this most vulnerable time, Mr Dwyer said. Mary Lyndon, from Roscrea, who once suffered a miscarriage, said that the motion was lifting the veil over miscarriage and challenging the stigma that still shrouds it. I was one of those people who had a miscarriage. I only told my husband. It wasnt spoken about at all. I felt a failure. Thank God were throwing the veil back on this. Its nothing to be ashamed of just because it happens to women. The ASTI annual convention in Wexford erupted in applause when Ms Lyndon noted that two men were now proposing this motion which would predominantly protect their female colleagues. Once-taboo subjects like miscarriage, menopause and menstruation are losing their stigma thanks to people speaking up about them, she said. And this is vital if we are to attract and retain women in the workforce, she said. Ms Lyndon said: We are a predominantly female profession, why should we be embarrassed about periods or menopause or miscarriage or maternity? Conall O Dufaigh, ASTI representative for Bray, also proposed the motion. When people need time off following a miscarriage they should not have to pretend they have the flu or rely on sick leave or the discretion of the school following such a difficult event, he said. Mr Dwyer and Mr O Dufaigh said that they were motivated to propose the motion after seeing friends and family struggle through miscarriage without having access to specific leave for it and noticed a culture of shame around it. "I think a crucial part of the trade union movement is to identify needs that havent necessarily been set out in law yet and make them into realities," Mr O Dufaigh said. Mr Dwyer said: This has to be an issue we fight for and that its not a culture of shame. Equality James Herbert, ASTI representative from North Dublin, got a standing ovation at the convention when he called for equality in the workplace. Mr Herbert, an English teacher, said that he almost did not go to the convention after he faced LGBT+ slurs in a hotel at a previous convention in Cork. He said that a group of males made anti-LGBT+ comments about him when he got into a lift with them in the hotel. It would leave a bitter taste in your mouth," he said. The language used in schools is vital to challenge and prevent prejudice and subconscious bias against LGBT+ people, he said. Were the nucleus. It needs to start here at convention to emanate it back into schools, back into the classrooms. Words are so important. Words can hurt. So we need to be very careful of the vocabulary that we use. US president Joe Biden has lauded Ireland for its record in accepting Ukrainian refugees and said that Ireland and Americas values and concerns are the same. During a brief conversation with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar ahead of a bilateral meeting between the pair at Farmleigh House in Dublins Phoenix Park, Mr Biden said that it feels so good to have a relationship between the US and Ireland that grows stronger and stronger. Mr Varadkar thanked Mr Biden for Americas support for the Ukrainian cause since the Russian invasion of its neighbour on February 24 2022, adding that he did not know where the world would be without European-American cooperation in the face of that conflict. Mr Varadkar added that the outbreak of hostilities had led to a conflict on European soul that he had never expected to see in my lifetime. The US president had arrived for the meeting nearly 90 minutes late after first meeting with President Michael D Higgins at the nearby Aras an Uachtarain. The ensuing meeting between the American and Irish leaders was followed by a demonstration of GAA skills by youngsters from local clubs Castleknock, St Brigids, and St Oliver Plunketts. Earlier at a meeting with President Michael D Higgins planted an Irish oak in the grounds of Aras an Uachtarain and rang the Peace Bell, which was unveiled in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden rang it four times before shaking hands with President Higgins. The ringing of the symbolic bell is often an honour bestowed on visiting world leaders and dignitaries. He said he was ringing the bell for the US, his ancestral home of Ireland, for his ancestors and for peace. Mr Biden follows in the footsteps of US presidents John F Kennedy, Ronald Reagan, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama who have all planted trees in the grounds, as have Pope John Paul II and the late Queen Elizabeth II. Speaking to President Higgins, Mr Biden said: Mr President, I asked whether or not my great-grandchildren can come back and climb this tree when it grows? Oh absolutely, replied President Higgins. additional reporting from PA blog Sudan's political factions are negotiating the formation of a new transitional government, a major step toward a civilian-led government that is long overdue nearly eighteen months after a military coup led by General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan. Once the parties do form a new government--talks are continuing past a previously announced April 11 target date--perhaps its most critical task will be to clarify what role Sudan's security forces will have in the country going forward. To ensure that Sudan's transition to democracy succeeds, its leaders must put limits on the power of the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). For a successful political transformation, the SAF, led by Burhan, and the paramilitary RSF, led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, must be governed by the rule of law and work to protect democracy and human rights in Sudan. Absent meaningful reform to rein in the existing power of the security services, institutional tension between the services could spark a wider conflict that would destabilize the country and threaten the transition to democracy. Reform of the security services will not be easy, and it is the subject of ongoing debate as the factions try to strike a deal on a transitional government. But there are steps Sudan's leaders and those who support Sudan's transition to democracy can take now. The struggle for reform Sudan's military has played a major role in the political landscape of the country since its independence in 1956. Omar al-Bashir came into power in a military coup and, following thirty years of autocratic rule, was removed in 2019 by another military coup. Following his ouster, civilian and pro-democracy leaders called for fundamental reforms of the security sector, but Sudan continues to struggle with attempts at reform. During the transition to democracy since 2019, the SAF and RSF have both cooperated and competed with one another for power in the country. For example, in an October 2021 coup ousting Sudan's civilian leadership led by then-Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdock, the SAF and RSF joined forces with an array of Sudan's armed movements and marginalized groups. At the same time, the RSF and SAF compete with each other behind the scenes to retain as much economic and political power, influence, and control as possible. Managing the tension between the SAF and RSF will be a paramount concern for Sudan's leadership as it seeks to avoid future conflict between the security forces that could trigger greater violence. This is a key element to establishing peace, security, and sustainable development in the country while allowing for the development and modernization of Sudan's security institutions. Meaningful security sector reform must address the role of the SAF and the professionalization and integration of the RSF into the SAF. It must also place the security services firmly under civilian control and oversight. In the security sector, reforms to Sudan's legal framework must include formally establishing the role of the security forces and a single national army trusted by local communities across Sudan, especially in the conflict areas of the country. Another critical step is untangling the military institutions from the economy. This will be very difficult and will require careful planning, as the SAF and RSF currently dominate nearly all facets of political, economic, and media power in Sudan--and work to protect this influence. Civilian authorities should seize the moment and take steps to address the challenges of security sector reform in Sudan during the transition to civilian leadership. The Bashir regime created a vast array of expensive, corrupt, and ineffective security forces accused by critics of operating outside of the law, committing human-rights abuses, and creating an economy that directly benefits the security institutions--preventing more robust economic reform and development. To set the country on a better path, Sudan's civilian leaders must enact reforms that begin to disentangle the military from the construction, telecommunication, aviation, and banking sectors. Steps Sudan's military and civilian leaders should take In concert with the new civilian leadership, the military must commit to reform that helps modernize and develop the SAF. This includes ensuring that the SAF is tasked with protecting civilians and is accountable to the country's civilian leadership. The SAF needs to be respected and not feared by those it is assigned to protect. Civilian and military leaders must adopt legislation that addresses the specific gaps in Sudan's transitional documents. Using the legal framework, civilian authorities should work with the military leadership to scale down the size of the SAF, find meaningful economic opportunities for former fighters, identify core priorities for its mission, and deploy a military that is able to meet the needs of the country. Sudan's authorities should also identify funding to create and support a broad disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration strategy that avoids a sole focus on the reintegration of militia fighters and includes appropriate financial oversight. Outside of these efforts, civilian authorities must look for ways to reform Sudan's economy that help to disentangle the vast array of companies linked to the security services, create opportunity to improve the business environment, and send the signal to investors, banks, and credit rating agencies that Sudan is open for business. Civilian authorities must take steps to increase transparency and accountability in the illicit gold trade to disrupt illicit financial flows to Sudan's militias, including the RSF. As Sudan's economy faces uncertainty due to elevated food, fuel, and transportation prices, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank must balance the need for economic reforms in the country with the imperative to not destabilize a new civilian-led government. This government will need to walk a difficult line to implement reforms that address economic mismanagement by the SAF, the rising cost of living, and stubbornly high prices for basic goods that have further complicated efforts to secure international funding and support for the economy. Steps the United States should take The United States can help Sudan's transition to democracy and help facilitate security sector reform. The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act included the Sudan Democratic Transition, Accountability, and Fiscal Transparency Act of 2020, elevating Sudan on the foreign policy agenda and sending a signal to Sudan's new leadership that the United States is ready to support Sudan as it enacts difficult reforms. This law is an effective messaging tool, encourages a coordinated US government response to support the civilian leadership, and can direct public reporting on sensitive issues, support a sanctions regime, and show the private sector that Sudan is not open for business as usual. Policymakers can use this legislation to support Sudan's economic reforms, stability, and oversight of the security and intelligence services in the short term while seeking to hold human-rights abusers, spoilers to the transition, and those seeking to exploit Sudan's natural resources accountable for their actions. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Sudan Governance Arms and Armies By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. Working with other countries, the United States can also play a leading role to encourage international financial institutions to carefully leverage the approval of World Bank projects, consider withholding IMF disbursements, and institute public reporting to ensure that economic and security sector reforms remain on track. The diplomatic community must continue to apply coordinated pressure on Sudan's authorities to ensure that they follow through on their verbal commitments and work with key external actors--including the United Arab Emirates and Egypt--to encourage them to be meaningful contributors to Sudan's democratic progress. Sudan's transition to democratic leadership provides another critical opportunity for security sector reform in the country. As the transitional government moves forward, Sudan's civilian leadership can show investors, banks, and its people that greater connectedness to the global economy, a modern security apparatus, and a commitment to fighting corruption is in its long-term interest. Doing so would solidify a path toward a peaceful and democratic Sudan. Benjamin Mossberg is the deputy director of the Atlantic Council's Africa Center. Previously, he led US Treasury Department efforts to combat corruption, money laundering, terrorist financing, and financial crimes on the African continent. US president Joe Biden was nearly called upon as a ball boy during a young girls Gaelic games demonstration. Mr Biden stood with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar and watched girls from St Brigids GAA Club play camogie at Farmleigh House in sunny Dublin on Thursday. During the demonstration, a sliotar flew past the president, prompting him to quickly turn and almost break into a jog before a young girl ran past him to collect it. US president Joe Biden and Taoiseach Leo Varadkar meet camogie players at Farmleigh House (Niall Carson/PA) Mr Biden turned back to face the pitch and smiled as the game continued. The president put his arm around Mr Varadkar as they watched the demonstration, before going over to speak to the children. The girls asked Mr Biden questions before he posed for photos with the camogie teams and boys from Castleknock GAA Club and St Oliver Plunkett Eoghan Ruadh GAA Club, who were playing Gaelic football. Two camogie players presented Mr Biden with a St Brigids cross a religious symbol made of reeds named after the Irish saint. Mr Biden arrived at Farmleigh House earlier on Thursday where he was greeted by Mr Varadkar on a recently cleaned red carpet outside the entrance to the official Irish state guest house. Beautiful day, the president said as the pair shared a joke while shaking hands in front of a number of cameras. Irish and US flags were positioned side by side next to the carpet, with a bed of purple flowers in front of them. A small guard of honour greeted the president before he entered the building with Mr Varadkar. During their meeting, the Irish premier hailed the importance of US and European leadership and praised the US following Russias invasion of Ukraine. The baby of a senator became an unexpected guest of honour in the Dail after getting a special acknowledgement from the US president. Ahead of an historic address to TDs and senators as part of Joe Bidens trip to Ireland, the Dail speaker drew attention to the young infant who was being held by her mother in the chamber. As Ceann Comhairle Sean O Fearghail was reading out the list of distinguished guests in the room for the presidential address when he mentioned one particularly young member of the audience. I think I must mention somebody else, Mr President, because its just come to my attention that a very young observer is in attendance here today, and that is the daughter of Senator Rebecca Moynihan, he said. The introduction was met with applause by parliamentarians as Ms Moynihan held up her eight-week-old daughter Margot, dressed in a yellow outfit. MEPs Ciaran Cuffe and Frances Fitzgerald, sitting beside Ms Moynihan, laughed and applauded as Mr O Fearghail namechecked the young guest. I do suspect that Margots attendance here will go down in family folklore for many years to come, he said. After beginning his address, Mr Biden apologised to Margot for having to listen to a policy speech by the US president, which he said his own children also had to endure. Margot, I apologise to you, little baby girl, he said. Patient safety is being put at risk by long hours worked by doctors, with data showing these medics are more likely to make mistakes, the CEO of the Irish Medical Council warned on Thursday. Leo Kearns said 44.9% of doctors working 59 hours or more in a week were involved in what hospitals term adverse events leading to serious harm. In contrast, just 9.5% of doctors who worked 39 hours a week or less were involved in similar incidents. He listed the challenges facing doctors while stressing that ultimately these pose problems for patients. Without addressing these significant issues, our health service is in continued jeopardy, he said. Mr Kearns was speaking during the first day of the Irish Medical Organisation (IMO) annual general meeting in Killarney. He said the growth in the number of consultants who are not specialists is also a concern for patients, and should be addressed. Ireland has about three times the number of non-consultant hospital doctors who are not in training for a specialist post compared to health systems in the UK or Australia, he said. The shortage of GPs is another area of concern for the public, he said, with some regions now finding it difficult to recruit. Despite this, about 28,000 doctors are expected to have registered with the council last year, up from over 21,000 the previous year, although a significant number work in private healthcare. He called for the HSE and Department of Health to work together with colleges and unions, saying the crisis has never really been taken seriously. HSE Medical Workforce Planning Lead for doctor training, Roisin Morris, highlighted psychiatry as an area needing extra doctors to treat the numbers of patients waiting. They have been working with hospitals and sites to estimate what is needed over the next few years, Dr Morris said: The increased recommendation is to 850 psychiatrists from a benchmark of around 500, so its a big increase that weve identified. She echoed Mr Kearns concerns around the high number of doctors who emigrate due to being unhappy with the conditions here. The majority by far go to the UK, she said, followed by America and Canada but Australia is quite far down the overall numbers. That would infer to us that talk of Australia as a destination for our medical graduates is probably short-term, backpacker-type destination country, she said. IMO president John Cannon said doctors in training often work 80 to 90 hours a week which led to a ballot for strike action last year. While this was put on hold, the opening day of the agm heard examples of increasing pressures which Dr Cannon also linked to patient safety. He expects patients to benefit from pledges to re-draw doctors rosters and other changes. The ballot still stands from last year, and we will have to see real and meaningful engagement from the Government, he said. People around the world know that they can count on Ireland for hope, US president Joe Biden has said. Mr Biden was speaking at a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle. Quoting Seamus Heaney, Mr Biden said that those in the room should work to "reach that further shore". He noted how his great-grandfather had written more than 100 poems, each of which focused on his ancestral homeland of Ireland. Mr Biden repeated his belief that the word dignity is used by Irish people more than any other race. "Whether you've faced famine, hardship, or sorrow, together you've always prevailed. "Together we work to become more peaceful, more equal, more diverse, more unifying. And I think more each other day, wherever there's a yearning for freedom, a struggle for change, a cry for justice, people around the world will begin to count on Ireland." He said there is "nothing Ireland and the United States can't achieve together". Mr Biden paid tribute to former taoiseach Enda Kenny, who he said had told president Barack Obama to "let the boy come home" when Mr Biden was serving as US vice president. "Thank you for doing that, pal," Mr Biden said. US president Joe Biden speaking at the banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle today, Thursday. Picture: Patrick Semansky/AP The banquet saw politicians joined by civic leaders and figures from sports and arts. Ireland football manager Stephen Kenny joined GAA pundit Joe Brolly, whose wife Laurita Blewitt is a distant cousin of Mr Biden, and another cousin, rugby star Rob Kearney. Invited guests, across the Irish and US side, included current and retired senior political representatives, and public servants. The menu had what organisers called a "particular focus on showcasing in-season Irish produce during the evening". It consisted of a seafood starter with Lambay Island crab cake, a roast lamb main course, and pear and maple tart for dessert. Guests were treated to music from Colm Mac Con Iomaire, Cormac Begley, Lisa Hannigan, and Loah. During his speech, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said that both countries are at their best "when they cherish everyone equally". Mr Varadkar said that "our countries share a similar past and philosophy". "We are joined by bonds of kinship as well as of friendship. But most importantly, we share the same vision about the future and what can be achieved. "Throughout our histories our countries have been at their best when we have lived up to the promise of those early dreamers. When we cherish all of our children all of our people equally - regardless of gender, age, race or religion. When we welcome new arrivals with a cead mile failte, and open our hearts as well as our homes." A teenager who is in custody on a charge of assault causing harm to a 29-year-old Carrigaline man who later died in hospital expressed his concern about the legal process. Jordan Deasy, aged 18, of 41 Ravensdale, Heron's Wood, Carrigaline, County Cork, indicated his concerns through his solicitor, Eddie Burke, at Cork District Court. Sergeant Gearoid Davis said directions were not available yet from the Director of Public Prosecutions. A full post-mortem certificate is awaited. That has not been received yet, Sgt Davis said, as he applied to have Jordan Deasy remanded in continuing custody until April 27. Mr Burke said: This goes back to Christmas. Mr Deasy is concerned about the position. It is going on an awful long time. Judge Olann Kelleher said he would need an explanation from the prosecution on April 27. Mr Deasy is charged with assault causing harm to Matt ONeill at Glenwood, Carrigaline, County Cork, on December 28, contrary to the Non-fatal Offences Against the Person Act. Mr ONeill died in Cork University Hospital on January 8. Det Garda Declan Healy of Carrigaline Garda Station gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution of Mr Deasy on the day of his arrest, and told the court back on January 1 that Mr Deasy made no reply when the charge was put to him. Mr ONeill was described at his funeral as a young man who had helped save many people from drowning at sea and was described as a kind and caring person. Hundreds of mourners attended the requiem mass at the Church of the Real Presence, Curraheen Road, Cork, in January where Fr James McSweeney told mourners that Mr ONeill was precious, special and unique. The State has urged the High Court to dismiss law student Simeon Burke's claim that he is unlawfully detained in prison following his arrest on a public order charge at the Four Courts last month. Seamus Clarke SC for the State said that Mr Burke has wrongfully stated that parties including the gardai, lawyers for the State and the courts have engaged in a "conspiracy" to wrongfully arrest, detain and charge him with an offence arising out of an incident in the Court of Appeal (CoA) last month. Counsel said Mr Burke's allegations that gardai have "lied" about the events leading up to and subsequent to his arrest were also rejected by the State. This was not the case, counsel said, adding that the court could be satisfied from the evidence that Mr Burke's ongoing detention is lawful, and his trial on the public order matter should be permitted to proceed next week. Mr Burke's arrest occurred when the Court of Appeal was giving judgment in an aspect of his brother Enoch's ongoing legal dispute with Wilson's Hospital school. Mr Burke was earlier this week granted an inquiry under Article 40.4.2 of the Constitution into the legality of the the 24-year-old Co Mayo man's detention at Cloverhill Prison. The inquiry is being conducted by Mr Justice Brian Cregan. Opening day submission In his submission to the court on the opening day of an inquiry into the legality of his detention, Simeon Burke said that on that date he was wrongfully arrested, detained, and was "treated like an animal" and was physically injured when being removed from the courtroom, and in the yard immediately outside the court. He also claims that the warrant currently detaining him is fundamentally flawed on grounds including that its states he was arrested by a garda who he alleges did not arrest him. He says that the gardai had no right to remove him from the courtroom, adding that the judges of the Court of Appeal (CoA) did not make a direction while they were in the courtroom that he and members of his family should leave the court. He also claims that various procedures were not followed by the gardai, including that he was never properly informed as to why he had been arrested. He further claims that the District Court judges did not properly deal with complaints he has made about his arrest and charge. He further claims that the breach of his constitutional rights is so egregious that the District Court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case against him. He is due to be tried in respect of the public order charge before Dublin District Court next Monday. As part of his inquiry he seeks an order from the court directing his release from prison as well as an order prohibiting his trial before the District Court from proceeding. Claim that gardai and lawyers lied Mr Burke, who became emotional at one point of the proceedings, said that the gardai and lawyers for the DPP have lied to the District Court on matters including the use and availability of CCTV pictures taken from cameras mounted outside the CoA courtrooms, and about the availability of the court's digital audio recording of proceedings on March 7. In reply to a question from the judge Mr Burke accepted that he did not "acquiesce" when he was detained by the gardai, during what he said was his wrongful arrest. He said that he did not accept that the CoA had asked members of his family to leave the courtroom on March 7, adding that the judges rose after members of his family had sought to raise issues with that court while the court was reading out its judgement in his brother's case. He said he did not accept that those interjections by other members of his family were such that the three judges of the CoA had to rise and were unable to give their decision. Gardai, he said, had no right nor a warrant to remove him and his family from that courtroom. Application opposed Simeon Burke's application is opposed and the State represented by Mr Clarke appearing with Grainne O'Neill Bl, and the DPP who is represented in the inquiry by Matthew Holmes Bl reject the student's arguments and say that he is lawfully detained. Counsel said that all of Mr Burke's claims regarding the arrest are disputed including his claim that the arresting garda was not the garda who arrested him. Garda counsel added that they did not require a warrant to remove persons from the courtroom and had to take steps to deal with what was a public order situation. Counsel added that many of the issues raised by Mr Burke, and his sister Ammi in the inquiry are in fact matters for the judge hearing the criminal trial, or are not relevant to an inquiry brought under Article 40 of the Constitution, which Mr Burke had brought at the 11th hour. Counsel said Mr Burke had elected not to take up bail afforded to him by the District Court, however that was "his choice". Even if his arrest was deemed unlawful, counsel said it cannot be a valid reason for halting his trial. If that argument was valid, counsel said the courts would need "a new list" to deal with applications from those accused of criminal offences seeking to get their trials halted. Breach of the peace charge Simeon Burke is charged with a breach of the peace, under the Public Order Act, for engaging in threatening, insulting, and abusive words and behaviour at the CoA. The offence carries a possible three-month custodial sentence. Simeon Burke, with an address at Cloonsunna, Castlebar, Co Mayo, denies the charges and the contested hearing is due to take place before the District Court on April 17. He has pleaded not guilty to a breach of the peace offence in connection with outbursts in the Court of Appeal on March 7. Mr Burke has been remanded in custody since his arrest over a month ago with consent to bail, which he has declined to take up. He has refused to take up bail on a point of principle, arguing that to do would be to accept that his arrest was in some way lawful. Mr Burke, who is a student barrister-at-law at the Kings Inns, has refused to sign a bail bond with a condition to stay away from the Four Courts. The hearing continues on Friday. According to recent official figures from the Irish Prison Service, prison overcrowding is re-emerging as a serious problem in this country. Last week, there were 4,609 people in custody in Irish prisons, compared to 4,001 on the same date in 2022. This represents an increase of 608 or 15% - in the prison population in just one year and reflects an overcrowding rate across the prison estate right now of 105%. Some individual prisons are at even higher levels of overcrowding: for example, Mountjoy male prison is at 109% over capacity, while Limerick male prison is at 133%. In our two womens prisons, the situation is even worse: Mountjoy female prison is at 121%, while Limerick female prison is the most overcrowded prison in the country, at 182% capacity, according to the Prison Services statistics. One might ask: why should this be of concern to the law-abiding citizenry of Ireland? The reason it should concern us is because of the implications of prison overcrowding for public safety, in addition to its negative impact on human rights. 'Wrecking ball' Prison overcrowding results in those affected sharing cramped living and sleeping spaces, with some of those detained having to sleep on floors. Those working in prisons have previously and aptly described the impact of overcrowding as having a wrecking ball effect on all aspects of prison and prisoner management, with inevitable negative consequences, including demeaning and devaluing human rights standards. Overcrowding gives rise to increased tensions among prisoners, worsening mental health, and over-stretched staff, as well as reduced access to education, training and rehabilitative services for those in custody. Violence and other organised criminal activities take hold in overcrowded institutions, while effective rehabilitation, as well as the good management of early release and post-release supervision, become incidental to crisis-managing prison numbers, a process known in previous decades as the revolving door of unplanned early release. Overcrowding is truly a wrecking ball on any good that may be expected from sending those who have offended to prison. At its worst, severe prison overcrowding results in institutions that are dangerous for prisoners and staff and fly in the face of civilised human rights standards. Solutions So, what can be done to address the current and worsening fact of prison overcrowding? One thing is certain: building more prison spaces is not the answer. Apart from the huge investment of money, time and other resources required (see the example of the failed Thornton Hall prison building project in North County Dublin, for example), creating more prison spaces will do little to improve public safety. Prisons provide an important public service but should be retained for those who need to be there. If we want to be effective, our wider criminal justice system should prioritise diversion and community sanctions for those whose offending and dangerousness do not require them to be in prison, thereby maximising opportunities for rehabilitation. In recent times, the ratio of prison spaces when we have held that number at or below a maximum of 4,000 spaces to population in Ireland has been at roughly the European average, reflecting a positive aspect of our penal system. Supervised community sanctions, like probation and community service, are more successful in rehabilitation than imprisonment, which can constitute a university of crime, and huge disruptor of family and social connections for many who end up there. Read More Mick Clifford: Worrying signs from penal system with delayed prison chaplains reports Previous community-based initiatives undertaken, to good effect, in times of comparable overcrowding have included the introduction of community service in the mid-1980s, intensive probation supervision in the 90s, the wide-ranging changes incorporated in the Children Act 2001, the Community Return programme in 2011 and more recently through the Joint Agency Response to Crime, targeting prolific offenders. Indeed, the Probation of Offenders Act 1907, which commenced in practice 115 years ago this year, and remains as the primary legislative basis for probation work in Ireland, was a far-seeing piece of legislation aimed at diverting offenders from custody and facilitating rehabilitation and reintegration in the community. Nevertheless, it has long outlived its usefulness and must be replaced. Probation practice has moved on considerably and its legislative basis must reflect that. The heads of a new bill to address this statutory gap was published by then Minister Alan Shatter in 2014, but despite repeated commitments to progress that bill, successive ministers and governments have so far failed to do so. More specific and immediate measures that can and should be prioritised now do not even require legislation or capital-building programmes. To begin with, the overall prison population must be actively set and maintained at a level where meaningful rehabilitation and re-integration programmes in custody can be prioritised. Among the immediate steps that can therefore be taken include the following: Make a political/policy decision to cap our prison population at a maximum of between 3,500 and 4,000, Take urgent action to implement policy providing for more community-based sentencing and addressing overcrowding, Prioritise and resource the Probation Service and community-based sanctions, Implement measures to divert those with mental illness and significant mental disorders and addictions away from custody, Address issues associated specifically with pathways into and out of the criminal justice system for women, and Better manage the numbers in custody awaiting trial. Only if we take such steps can we as a society have a criminal justice system which is both humane and effective and where the pernicious effect of prison overcrowding becomes a thing of the past. Vivian Geiran Adjunct Assistant Professor, TCD School of Social Work and Social Policy; former Director, Irish Probation Service; and co-author (with Dr Shane McCarthy) of Probation and Parole in Ireland: Law and Practice. Libraries are not as quiet as their reputation suggests. Newspapers rustle, readers gossip in low whispers. A class of primary-school children, too boisterous to be truly quiet, try to quell their excitement as they scatter among the shelves. Libraries are busy community spaces now, places where people congregate and communicate. Recently, this humdrum beauty has been disrupted by small groups of loud, gesticulating people waving books in librarians faces. They film their protests for a worldwide audience before dramatically destroying a book they hate and fear: This Book Is Gay by Juno Dawson. In the past, librarians often faced public rage over dangerous books. In Mayo, a man brought his own paraffin to burn library books he found "dirty and immoral". He was wrestled, bellowing, to the ground by library staff and local firefighters. Many books suffered vigilante censorship as readers blacked out passages or tore out pages, sometimes whole chapters. And always, alongside these acts of violence against books, were complaints. Readers thrust books at librarians, muttering that nobody should read that. Arms crossed over their handbags, those women (borrowers were overwhelmingly women) were not loud but righteously indignant. Following complaints, staff removed books from the shelves, referring them to a book selection committee for their judgement. The controversial 'This Book Is Gay', by Juno Dawson It was a censorious time. Volunteer censors were mimicking the work of the Censorship of Publications Board that monitored the books and newspapers entering Ireland, sifting through fiction for indecency and non-fiction for birth-control propaganda. Since 1929, reading in Ireland has been regulated by the government through prohibition orders. Everyone agreed that reading was dangerous. It could pollute minds, contaminate souls and inspire unnatural vices, which was code for gay sex. When local authorities considered funding libraries, the seditious potential of reading worried local politicians. Many feared spending rates on books or staff would encourage social and moral evils. Official censorship worked with local censure to monitor readers, whether they preferred to pore over newspapers in the reference section or borrowed two books, every two weeks. Sex in print erased As books, magazines and newspapers vanished from libraries, chasms of silence opened up. Sex in print was erased. Even euphemism, a social code created to talk about bodies, was found to be indecent and obscene. Following generations of censorship, inference was all people had left, conveying warnings about sex to their children in equivocal phrases like Mind yourself or Be good. Those brave enough to ask what, precisely, needed minding were scolded by embarrassed elders who didnt have any words to explain. Societies worried about children knowing too much, too soon, opted for ignorance. When books challenged the consensus of silence, the response was often ferocious. In 1972, the Irish government refused to renew the visa of an American, George Solomos, because he had dared to import a controversial book, The Little Red School Book by Soren Hansen and Jesper Jensen. Small enough to fit in a childs pocket, where it could be hidden from parents and teachers, it was incendiary. The authors explained how sex worked while encouraging children to challenge every authority figure they met. The Little Red School Book was internationally notorious by the time Solomos imported 300 copies into Ireland. The French government had banned it as a threat to public order in 1971. In Britain, Mary Whitehouse, a self-appointed crusader against moral pollution, described it as "a political and sexual revolutionary primer". Blacklisted Forewarned by this international controversy, the Irish government quickly banned it. It was blacklisted until 2000 and it wasnt until 2014 that an uncensored edition was published in English. Its a radical forthright book that retains its capacity to shock but theres no need for a moral panic thanks to censorship, there isnt a single copy in an Irish public library. In the past few decades, we have allowed voices once too small to be heard to speak in books, on the radio, and on television. This is an inter-generational reckoning with silence. Thankfully, library stock today would never make it past the book selection committees and censorship boards of the past. All those concepts antithetical to our censorious forebears diversity, choice, equality are celebrated on library shelves. Todays librarians do not quiz children to see whether they read the books they borrowed, like the Wexford county librarian did in the 1940s. In a library, readers can be themselves, finding or losing themselves in books, films and records. For noisy protestors, freedom appears to be licence, choice looks like chaos. Like censors of the past, they see danger in all the wrong places. Many people were genuinely shocked this week to hear a legal team representing Ireland argue that the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) does not in fact guarantee the basic human right of access to a clean, healthy, sustainable environment. Check out our Sustainability and Climate Change Hub where you will find the latest news, features, opinions and analysis on this topic from across the various Irish Examiner topic desks and their team of specialist writers and columnists. You might well wonder who could possibly argue against such fundamental, inalienable human rights. The answer is the Irish State, acting under advice from the Attorney Generals office, which was one of only two countries to present a verbal argument rejecting these rights. This astonishing intervention occurred during the so-called Swiss grannies case, where a group of women in their 70s have taken a case to the ECHR arguing that Switzerlands failure to take adequate action on the climate emergency violates their human rights. Just a few days earlier, Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain, chair of the Citizens Assembly on Biodiversity Loss confirmed that the Irish State was the number one offender when it came to breaking or failing to enforce laws protecting nature in Ireland. Consider that as recently as 2019, total funding available to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to manage and protect Irelands national parks and nature reserves was less than 14m. Divided over 26 counties, this amounted to a pittance, averaging at barely 500,000 per county. As recently as 2019, total funding available to the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) to manage and protect Irelands national parks and nature reserves was less than 14m. Picture: Eoghan Daltun In 2008, the NPWS had a budget of nearly 50m, but under cover of austerity measures, this was cut by over two-thirds, while during the same period, funding for Bord Bia increased sharply, to assist in the marketing of Irish food overseas. Funding for nature and wildlife protection has only recently been restored to 2008 levels at the insistence of the Green Party, but there is little doubt the service was starved of funding for over a decade to ensure it was incapable of effectively carrying out its job of protecting our natural heritage. Lest you think this arose simply because the State had to make difficult decisions about spending, bear in mind that the 84m of taxpayers money poured into subsidising greyhound and horse racing in 2019 was six times larger than total spending that year on the NPWS. Biodiversity in dire condition It is no coincidence that Irelands biodiversity is now in dire condition, with 63% of our bird species in decline and less than 2% of our marine waters having any kind of protection. The situation for our key wildlife habitats as identified in the EUs habitats directive is equally depressing, with less than one in six in favourable condition. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than half of Irelands rivers, lakes and estuaries are now in poor condition. The EPA drew attention to the alarming deterioration in water quality as a result of nitrogen and phosphorus run-off, mainly from intensive livestock agriculture. The State has fundamentally failed to protect nature, and one of the most worrying things about that is that it was the biggest transgressor of its own laws and EU laws, Dr Ni Shuilleabhain noted. Dr Aoibhinn Ni Shuilleabhain:'The State has fundamentally failed to protect nature, and one of the most worrying things about that is that it was the biggest transgressor of its own laws and EU laws.' Failure to act now, she added, and we actually wont have access to clean drinking water on this island. Early last year, EU Commission official Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea decried the increasingly aggressive stance being taken in Ireland against environmental defenders. He was particularly critical of calls by some politicians to de-fund environmental NGOs. The thinly veiled contempt of many Irish politicians for nature protection was best articulated by then taoiseach Bertie Ahern, when in 2007 he expressed his frustration at delays in road-building projects because of swans, snails and the occasional person hanging out of a tree. Anti-environmental rhetoric If anything, the anti-environmental rhetoric has gotten far uglier since then. In recent weeks, Independent TD Michael Fitzmaurice denounced a draft EPA scientific report on land use and forestry as ethnic cleansing of the agricultural community, with other rural TDs calling for the document to be incinerated. Is it that Irish people simply dont care about nature? The top three heritage and nature charities in the UK have a combined membership of about 7m people, thats roughly one in nine of the total population. In Ireland, our top three equivalent charities have a total of about 30,000 members, or about one in 166 of our population. Even allowing for some historical differences, it beggars belief that the average British person is 18 times more likely to support a nature charity than their Irish counterpart. Small wonder perhaps that some Irish politicians feel safe in siding with pressure groups whose business model involves water pollution, biodiversity collapse and the destruction of our uplands. This abject neglect and vandalism of our priceless natural heritage is one of the greatest failures of the first century of Irish independence. If we are to begin to reverse this disastrous trajectory, the first step is to take on board the Citizens Assembly recommendation and hold a referendum to amend our Constitution to give enforceable legal status to our right to a healthy natural environment and the fundamental right for nature itself to simply exist. The chair of the House of Commons defence select committee has warned allegedly leaked documents about UK special forces in Ukraine could endanger lives. The British Ministry of Defence warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak of US classified information, which have been published online, at face value. But the committee chair Tobias Ellwood told The Times: Given our long-established lead in scale and capability when it comes to elite forces, it will come as no surprise that our special forces are doing much of the heavy lifting. But this deliberate, large-scale disclosure of sensitive material could easily endanger lives and should prompt an urgent review about who has access to sensitive information and how it is shared. Media outlets including the BBC and The Guardian reported that a document, dated March 23, indicates as many as 50 UK special forces personnel have been deployed to the country alongside other western special forces. But the document reportedly does not state where the allegedly deployed forces are located or what they are doing. Former special forces commander Dan Jarvis, who served in Afghanistan and is now the British Labour MP for Barnsley Central, told The Times such operations are by necessity shrouded in secrecy. He said: Any compromise of secret material regarding their deployment or numerical strength is not only politically embarrassing but also militarily disadvantageous. It risks jeopardising the security and effectiveness of those operations and could put lives at risk. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson said on Twitter: 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. Chris Meagher, a spokesman for the Pentagon, has urged caution in promoting or amplifying any of these documents, adding that it does appear that slides have been doctored. The documents may first have been published in a chatroom on Discord, a social media platform popular with gamers, Associated Press reported. 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. Associated Press could not independently confirm many details shared by the person and the original chatroom has been deleted. 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. Ibuka Rwanda, the umbrella association of Genocide survivors, has expressed concerns about the early release of perpetrators of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, as well as the prolonged delays in some of the trials. The concern was raised by Philbert Gakwenzire, President of Ibuka during the commemoration of over 105,000 victims who were killed in the Genocide against the Tutsi in 1994, at Nyanza, Kicukiro. Gakwenzire cited the case of Stanislas Mbanenande, who was convicted of genocide against the Tutsis and sentenced to life imprisonment in Sweden, but is eligible for parole in five years. Mbanenande was involved in the killing of thousands of people in the then Kibuye Prefecture, western Rwanda, between April and June 1994. Furthermore, he highlighted the ongoing concerns of survivors regarding the protracted trial of Felicien Kabuga who was arrested three years ago and his trial is yet to be concluded. This delay has been attributed to various reasons which include poor health, something that has resulted in frustration among survivors. Gakwenzire also urged people to provide any information they have about Genocide fugitives, emphasizing the importance of holding them accountable for their actions. Former US president Donald Trump arrived at the offices of New Yorks attorney general on Thursday for his second deposition in a legal battle over his companys business practices. He was scheduled to meet lawyers for Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Mr Trump last year. Her lawsuit claims Mr Trump and his family misled banks and business associates by giving them false information about his net worth and the value of assets such as hotels and golf courses. The lawsuit is unrelated to the felony criminal charges filed against Mr Trump by the Manhattan district attorney, which led last week to his historic arraignment, the first for a former president. In a social media post on Thursday morning, Mr Trump called the suit ridiculous, just like all of the other Election Interference cases being brought against me. In an earlier post, he said the good thing about the lawsuit is I will finally be able to show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I built. The motorcade of former president Donald Trump arrives at the Attorney Generals office building for depositions in a civil investigation in New York (Yuki Iwamura/AP/PA) He raised his fist as he left his apartment at Trump Tower, with his motorcade arriving at the Attorney Generals office at around 9.42am. Ms James declined to answer a question about the deposition at a news conference on an unrelated matter on Wednesday. Mr Trump previously met with Ms Jamess lawyers on August 10 last year, but refused to answer all but a few procedural questions, invoking his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination more than 400 times. Anyone in my position not taking the Fifth Amendment would be a fool, an absolute fool, he said in the session, which was recorded on video and later released publicly. Protesters gather before Donald Trump arrives for the deposition at the Attorney Generals New York office (Craig Ruttle/AP/PA) Mr Trump predicted a renegade prosecutor would try to make a criminal case out of his answers, if he gave them. 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 at a level seldom seen in this country, because Ive experienced it, he said. A trial for the lawsuit is scheduled for October. It is unclear whether Mr Trump might answer any questions in his second deposition, which will be conducted in private if it takes place as planned. ZHANJIANG, Guangdong, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected the navy of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed strengthening training and combat readiness and accelerating transformation to boost the armed forces' modernization levels on all fronts. He called on the armed forces to resolutely fulfill the duties entrusted by the Party and the people. At the navy headquarters of the Southern Theater Command, Xi met representatives of officers and soldiers and posed for group photos with them. He acknowledged the achievements the command's navy has made in improving itself and exercising its duties since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. Xi said the armed forces should analyze and address military issues from a political perspective, carry out military struggles in a resolute and flexible manner, and enhance the ability to ensure timely and proper responses to complex situations. He told the military to resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain the overall stability of the country's neighboring regions. Xi ordered the armed forces to strengthen training under combat conditions, innovate the concepts of combat and the methods of combat and training, and intensify force-on-force training based on operational plans. They should develop new types of combat forces and means and accelerate the efforts to incorporate new equipment and new forces into actual combat capacity, he said. Xi stressed the importance of strengthening the Party's leadership over the armed forces and urged relentless efforts to exercise full and rigorous Party self-governance in the military and govern the military with strict discipline in every aspect. Abuja The federal government has instituted legal action against the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Seplat Energy PLC; Mr. Roger Brown as well as the oil firm for allegedly breaching the extant provisions of the Immigration Act, 2015. Sued alongside the CEO is the Board Chairman, Mr. Basil Omiyi, the Independent Non-Executive Directors (INED) Dr. Charles Okeahalam, Mrs. Bashirat Odunewu, Prof. Fabian Ajogwu, Mr. Rabiu Bello, Ms Emma Fitzgerald, and Company Secretary/Legal Counsel, Mrs. Edith Onwuchekwa. In the suit filed before the Federal High Court on April 6, the defendants are being accused of allowing Mr. Brown to accept employment as the CEO of Seplat Energy PLC without the statutory approval of the Controller-General of Immigration, conspiring among yourselves to allow Mr. Brown take over business as CEO of Seplat Energy PLC without the consent of the Minister of Interior, allowing Mr. Roger Brown, a non-Nigerian to accept employment as CEO of Seplat after withdrawal of his visa, resident, and work permits, and for refusing to apply for the Comptroller-General of Immigration's approval before employing Mr. Brown both as Chief Finance Officer and CEO, contrary to the provisions of the Immigration 2015. The four-count charge reads: "That you on or before the 9th day of March, 2023 at Seplat Energy PLC Head Office 16 A Temple Road Ikoyi Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, did conspire among yourselves to allow Mr Roger Brown accept employment as CEO at Seplat Energy PLC without the consent of the Comptroller General of Immigration, contrary to Section 36 (1)(a) and 71 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Section 36 (2) and Section 71 (a) of the Immigration Act 2015. "That you...did conspire among yourselves to allow Mr Roger Brown take over business as Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy PLC without the consent of the Minister of Interior, contrary to Section 36 (1) (b) and punishable under Section 36 (2) and Section 105 of the Immigration Act 2015. "That you, on or before the 9th day of March, 2023 at Seplat Energy PLC Head Office 16 A Temple Road, Ikoyi Lagos, within the Jurisdiction of the Honourable Court, you as director, secretary, members of board of directors of Seplat Energy PLC as the case may be, did instigate, encourage, connive, by neglect on your part, allow Mr. Roger Thompson Brown, a non- Nigerian to accept employment as Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy PLC even after withdrawal of his immigration documents, contrary Sections 36, 71 and 105 of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Sections 36(2) 105(1) of the Immigration Act 2015. "That you did refuse to make an application to the Comptroller-General of Immigration for his permission before employing Mr. Roger Thompson Brown both as Chief Finance Officer and Chief Executive Officer of Seplat Energy PLC, contrary to Section 38(1) of the Immigration Act 2015 and punishable under Section 38(5) of the Immigration Act 2015". Although court sources said the Defendants have been served, arraignment date is yet to be fixed. The lawsuit is marked: FHC/AB/CR/149/2023. It is recalled that the FG on March 3, revoked the visa, Resident Permit, and Work Permit of Seplat's CEO, Roger Brown, over alleged racist practices, discrimination against Nigerian employees at Seplat, favouring of expatriate workers, and breach of good governance codes. It also alleged that Mr. Brown refused to honour investigations invitations by the Ministry in the course of its investigation. The letter to Seplat entitled "Withdrawal of Work Permit, CERPAC, Visa/Residence Permit of Mr. Roger Thompson Brown - CEO, SEPLAT Energy PLC" also read in part: "Investigation and records in the Ministry also revealed that Mr. Roger Brown was in possession of CERPAC that was not based on validly issued Expatriate Quota approved by the Ministry of Interior resulting to the violation of relevant Immigration Laws and Regulations. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Nigeria Legal Affairs Migration By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "As a result of these, the Honourable Minister has determined that Mr. Brown's continued stay in Nigeria is contrary to national interest. "Consequently, the Ministry has withdrawn the Work Permit CERPAC, Visa, Residence Permit and all relevant documents that authorised Mr. Roger Thomson Brown's entry or stay in Nigeria". However, in a swift reaction, Seplat Energy, in a statement signed by the Board Chairman, Mr. Basil Omiyi, said: "On March 8, 2023, the Board of Seplat Energy unanimously passed a vote of confidence in Mr. Brown, who continues to discharge his duties and responsibilities as CEO from the Seplat UK office". 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. Peacekeepers from the UN's MONUSCO mission patrol in North Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo (file photo). The M23 rebel group in eastern DR Congo has accused the government forces of violating a ceasefire called for by regional leaders and is instead killing civilians. In a statement on April 10, the M23 spokesperson, Lawrence Kanyuka said the government coalition was taking advantage of the slow deployment of the East African Community regional force (EACRF) in areas vacated by the rebels and committed various abuses. Kanyuka said the M23 had withdrawn from "most of the areas under its control," including Karuba, Mushaki, Kilorirwe, Kitchanga, Mweso, Kishishe, Bambo, Bunagana, Tchengerero, Kiwanja and Kinyandonyi. On Monday, the M23 withdrew from Kiwanja, in North Kivu province, allowing the Ugandan contingent of the regional force to take over. The rebels began pulling out from occupied territories in December 2022, in compliance with the Luanda agreement signed in the Angolan capital a month earlier. Since its deployment, the regional force, made up of troops from Kenya, Uganda, Burundi, South Sudan, occupies the rebels' vacated positions. "We are witnessing troop deployment delays by the [regional force] in other areas vacated by the M23, including Kishishe, Bambu, Kibirizi, shasha, Kisharu, Busanza, Ngwenda, Mabenga, Tongo and Nyamilima, which leaves local communities at the mercy" of the government coalition which includes militias like the FDLR and Mai-Mai and mercenaries. While these re-occupations are taking place, Kanyuka said, targeted killings and harassment of innocent civilians by the coalition forces are swiftly spreading in Mushaki, Kiroliwe, Mweso, Bambu, Busumba and Rugogwe. Kanyuka said the rebels are committed to peace in eastern DR Congo. He called on the regional leaders and the facilitator of the EAC-led peace process to engage the Congolese government "to do its part as a matter of priority." "The DRC Government must stop re-occupying areas vacated by M23, killing, harassing innocent civilians, and looting and destroying their property. It must disarm its militia forces, including FDLR and mercenaries, and immediately repatriate them to their countries of origin," he said. The M23 reminds the Congolese government, the EAC and the international community, Kanyuka said, that its "withdrawal is not the end but a step needed to create suitable conditions for political dialogue" with Kinshasa in order to "address the root causes of the conflict." Eastern DR Congo has been volatile for nearly three decades and is home to more than 120 local and foreign armed groups. Kenya's former president Uhuru Kenyatta, who is the facilitator of the EAC-led peace process, said last week that the regional efforts were making progress, although North Kivu was still volatile. The Judiciary Permanent Secretary , Pius Bigirimana has explained circumstances under which they have mooted a plan to have at least five armored vehicles for selected judges. Addressing journalists on Wednesday, Bigirimana said due to an assessment by security, they were moved to have some judges' vehicles get armored. "As you may recall recently, the Principal Judge was attacked on Kampala-Masaka highway and there have ben threats on other principals. It is not for all judicial officers but some. We have a demand for armoring five vehicles and it is being done because of the security assessment which was made by security agencies," Bigirimana said. The Judiciary recently sought approval of a shs1.6 billion budget by parliament to cater for armored vehicles for judges. Speaking on Wednesday, Bigirimana explained that the money is not to cater for buying armored vehicles but rather to armor the existing ones. He noted that they will be looking at modifying five vehicles to make them armored. "You may recall that people like Joan Kagezi who played sensitive roles, an attempt on the Principal Judge and many other principals who have been threatened? Government therefore found it important to see how these people can be secured in the case of these threats. We are however not going to buy armored vehicles," Bigirimana said. Asked about the specific judges to get armored cars and the criteria to be used, the Judiciary Permanent Secretary said those details are security matters that cannot be publicly divulged. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Uganda Legal Affairs Arms and Armies By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. "For security reasons, I can't tell you," Bigirimana said. Security threat Following the November, 2021 twin blasts at the Central Police Station and along Parliamentary Avenue in Kampala, security has warned of an increased threat, especially caused by ADF terrorist group. In April last year, the Principal Judge Dr. Flavia Zeija was attacked by unknown assailants who planted an improvised explosive device along Kampala -Masaka highway. He was however not injured but only his lead car was affected. Since then, the security for judicial officers has been heightened. The latest move by the Judiciary is meant to further heighten security for judicial officers. President Museveni last year spoke about the closing off of roads as he moves around the city, noting that it is a security measure. "When I am moving around sometimes they stop vehicles which is something I wouldn't like but because we still have these types of elements(ADF), security takes precautions which sometimes inconvenience the public," Museveni said in December last year. "...but we are really weeding out especially ADF in Congo and we shall get rid of those inconveniences after we have thoroughly uprooted ADF." Uganda has deployed troops to eastern DRC in a joint operation with the Congolese government forces, FADRC to fight the ADF who are accused of masterminding terror attacks inside Uganda. The terrorist group has been pounded in the operations to ensure the fighters run in disarray . According to the Ugandan army, ADF fighters are now moving in small groups for fear of attacks . Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine has condemned in the strongest terms, the continuing attacks on journalists and media freedom in Uganda by the security forces. Police on Tuesday turned their wrath on journalists covering a press conference of the medical interns and senior house officers (SHOs) and sprayed them with pepper spray indiscriminately. Among the injured were Thomas Kitimbo, a video journalist working for NBS television and Francis Isano, the photographer. In the news briefing, medics were protesting against the delayed deployment of medical interns to training facilities and the delayed salaries for senior house officers. During the scuffle, a police officer identified as Ogwal with badge number 49563 turned around and pepper sprayed journalists who had put on press jackets and holding cameras and had identity cards. Many members of the media have condemned the act of the police and called for the reprimand of the officer with immediate effect. In a statement, Kyagulanyi who is the leader of the National Unity Platform (NUP) said Museveni "dictatorship" will target anyone it considers a threat to its interests. "At the end of the day, oppression does not spare anyone no matter how insulated they might appear to be. The Museveni dictatorship will target anyone it considers a threat to its interests, and that includes journalists who routinely expose its excesses," he said. Kyagulanyi called upon all Ugandans including the media to collectively rise up and to challenge Museveni's regime. Kitimbo questioned the motive behind such police action, saying " Someone can't be in the line of duty, holding the camera and you come and spray directly in the eye. What have I done?" Isaano who was very upset with the police said, "Mr. Ogwal, you hurt me, you hurt my eyes up to now, but God will judge you where I will not be and you will remember this day." The 2022 global press freedom index released by the Reporters Without Borders indicates that Uganda's press freedom index has continued to backslide, with the country dropping to 132 out of 180. This drop is seven steps down compared to the 2021 index where the country was ranked 125 out of 180 countries. While press freedom in all the countries in the East African Community (EAC) improved, it is only in Uganda where the situation worsened for journalists. Apart from Kenya and Burundi, the report describes the situation in the rest of the EAC countries as difficult for press freedom. The report indicated that journalists in Uganda face intimidation and violence nearly on a daily basis and that they are regularly targeted by the security operatives. The country has more than 200 radio stations and some 30 television networks, many of them belonging to members or supporters of the National Resistance Movement, the ruling party. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Uganda Legal Affairs Media By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The report also indicates that President Museveni does not tolerate criticism and regularly indulges in hateful commentary against the press. Although enshrined under Articles 29 and 41 of the Ugandan Constitution, repeated violation of press freedoms, profoundly by security forces, has raised questions over what appears to be a crisis of legitimacy. By 2022, the East African nation of more than 44 million people had nosedived seven places as practitioners in Uganda's fourth pillar of democracy continued to be threatened with a record overt and covert forms of repression from State actors. The nation's status of independent journalism falls far away from Reporters Without Borders's description of free press. They define media freedom as "the effective possibility for journalists, as individuals and as groups, to select, produce and disseminate news and information in the public interest, independently from political, economic, legal and social interference, and without threats to their physical and mental safety. Lagos government says some persons sustained injuries in the incident but there was no fatality. The Lagos State government says its officials are assessing the situation at an unapproved seven-floor building under construction which collapsed in Banana Island Wednesday evening. The state government said this on Wednesday in a statement by the spokesperson of the state ministry of physical planning and urban development, Mukaila Sanusi. The statement said some persons who sustained injuries in the incident were being treated. "There is no fatality. This unfortunate incident happened while casting was being done. "The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins was immediately on site to assess the situation and flag- off investigation. "We ask members of the public to remain calm and expect further information from the ministry as we know more." The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) had reported that the building collapsed at First Avenue, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. It said Ibrahim Farinloye, Lagos Territorial Coordinator National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA), confirmed the incident in an interview with the news agency on Wednesday in Lagos. Mr Farinloye told NAN that the building, which was under construction, trapped some workers inside. He said all the emergency agencies were on their way to the scene of the incident. Luanda International Conference on Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) praised Wednesday in Luanda the role of parliamentary diplomacy in pacifying spirits and uniting peoples for a common future . The recognition was expressed by ICGLR Executive Secretary while speaking to the press at the end of a meeting with the speaker of the National Assembly, Carolina Cerqueira. The ICGLR official noted that parliaments are institutions of great importance in the constant search for debate on the establishment of peace and security in the Greater Lakes. He stressed, however, the work done by the female speakers of the parliaments of the ICGLR organisation (Angola, South Sudan, Tanzania and Zambia) in promotion of peace in the region. "We have female speakers of parliaments, so we are using this condition to also show the world the role of female speakers of National Assemblies and what they can do for peace", he expressed. The Angolan diplomat, at the service of the ICGLR, stressed that the meeting with the speaker of the Angolan Parliament is part of a plan of visits to entities in the member countries of the Great Lakes Region. "I am proud, as an Angolan, to work towards strengthening cooperation relations not only with the Angolan Parliament, but with all the parliaments of the Member States of the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region", stressed Joao Caholo. The meeting highlighted the role of the parliamentarians of the countries of the region in the mediation and resolution of conflicts, in the promotion of peace through dialogue and coordination, to guarantee the necessary stability and security for the pacification and an effective peace. Close Sign up for free AllAfrica Newsletters Get the latest in African news delivered straight to your inbox Top Headlines Angola Peacekeeping By submitting above, you agree to our privacy policy. Success! Almost finished... We need to confirm your email address. To complete the process, please follow the instructions in the email we just sent you. Error! Error! There was a problem processing your submission. Please try again later. The participants also addressed the importance of cooperation between the National Assembly and the ICGLR, in the area of specialty commissions, in addressing issues relating to human rights, defence and security and international relations. Recently, the speaker of the National Assembly participated, in Juba, South Sudan, in the FP-ICGLR meeting that addressed, among other issues, the need for parliaments to be involved in efforts in favour of peace in the Great Lakes Region. The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) comprises Angola, Burundi, Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, Rwanda, Sudan, South Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Republic of Congo. DC/SC/ADR How to Clip Click and hold your mouse button on the page to select the area you wish to save or print. You can click and drag the clipping box to move it or click and drag in the bottom right corner to resize it. When you're happy with your selection, click the checkmark icon next to the clipping area to continue. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Accept Read More North Korea launched an unspecified ballistic missile on Thursday, as reported by Seouls military. This prompted Japan to issue a warning to residents in the northern Hokkaido region, advising them to take shelter. Seouls Joint Chiefs of Staff announced that North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile into the East Sea, also known as the Sea of Japan, but did not provide further details. Japan confirmed the launch and instructed Hokkaidos residents to evacuate immediately and seek shelter in a building or underground, warning that the missile was expected to land around 8:00 am local time (2300 GMT). However, local government officials in Hokkaido confirmed that the missile could not hit the island. Pyongyang has conducted a series of weapons tests at the start of the year, including nuclear-capable underwater drone tests and two intercontinental ballistic missile launches. North Korea has also claimed to have conducted three tests of underwater drones, known as Haeil, which means tsunami in Korean, in less than three weeks, claiming that it is capable of unleashing a radioactive tsunami. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attended a meeting of the Central Military Commission on Monday 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. This prompted Kim to order the country to strengthen its deterrence capabilities at increasing speed and in a more practical and offensive manner. North Korea declared itself an irreversible nuclear power last year, rendering denuclearisation talks unlikely. This year, Kim ordered the military to intensify drills to prepare for a real war, causing Washington and Seoul to intensify defence cooperation by staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets. North Korea views such joint exercises as rehearsals for invasion, describing them as frantic drills simulating an all-out war against Pyongyang. South Korea also accused North Korea of being irresponsible for cutting hotline contact with Seoul last week, as North Korea refused to accept its notice to quit activity at the joint industrial complex in Kaesong, which Seoul pulled out of in 2016 following a North Korean nuclear test, claiming the complex supported Pyongyangs weapons programmes. For the first time, two simultaneous outbreaks of the deadly Marburg virus are occurring in Equatorial Guinea and Tanzania. The Marburg virus, which is closely related to Ebola, has been extremely rare until now. On March 21, Tanzania announced an outbreak of the disease, in addition to the one in Equatorial Guinea on the other side of the African continent. As of April 6, eight cases have been confirmed, with five fatalities. The US Center for Disease Control has issued a warning, advising doctors in the US to remain aware of the potential for imported cases. The World Health Organisation has also issued an alert, after inexplicable deaths in villages in the north of Equatorial Guinea. The official tallies may be underestimating the true impact, as spread has been detected in regions far apart. Since the Marburg virus was first detected in humans in 1967, it has only emerged in a dozen outbreaks in Africa, with most outbreaks affecting no more than a dozen people. However, this unprecedented and simultaneous outbreak, its increased detection in countries with improved monitoring systems, coupled with ecological disruptions and climate change, heighten the risk of viral disease becoming more significant. Nonetheless, the Marburg virus does not spread as easily as Covid-19, and transmission occurs through contact with bodily fluids of infected individuals rather than respiratory droplets. Currently, the WHO estimates that each of the outbreaks poses a moderate risk at the regional level. Vaccine development is underway, and health authorities are ready to test vaccine candidates in the countries affected. The Sudanese army has warned that the actions of a paramilitary force led by General Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, which mobilised in Khartoum and other cities, has increased the risk of confrontation. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) movements are considered a clear violation of law and could hamper the transition to democracy in Sudan, the army said. The RSF, which emerged from militias involved in the conflict in Darfur, has been accused of human rights abuses. It has become a powerful force in the country and helped to overthrow former leader Omar Hassan al-Bashir in 2019. Since then, it has clashed with the military and civilian political alliances, leading to delays in the transition process. General Dagalo is now deputy leader of Sudans ruling military council but has recently distanced himself from the military and aligned with a civilian political alliance. His disagreement with the military is centred on the integration of the RSF into the army. The army has stationed more soldiers in Khartoum in response to the RSFs actions, leading to concerns about prolonged insecurity across the country. As tensions continue to rise, the future of the transition to a democratic Sudan remains uncertain. (Reuters) Cult favourite directors Wes Anderson, Todd Haynes, Ken Loach and Wim Wenders will be among the filmmakers competing for the Palme dOr at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the organisers announced on Thursday,with the 76th edition set to be a star-studded affair. The worlds leading cinema shindig returns to the Cote dAzur from May 16-28, having bagged the world premieres of the new Indiana Jones and Martin Scorsese movies, as well as the comeback film from Johnny Depp. Andersons latest, Asteroid City, has a typically A-list roster including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson, while Haynes has a romance, May/December starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. Hollywood loves the French Riviera as a launchpad for its glossier fare, with Top Gun: Maverick and Elvis getting their world premieres at the festival last year. This time sees Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, with Harrison Ford as guest of honour for his fifth and final appearance as the iconic adventuring archaeologist, alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas. Also confirmed is Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro. And arguably the biggest star of 2023 (and so-called Internet daddy) following TV hit The Last of Us, Pedro Pascal will be joined by Ethan Hawke for a queer Western short film, Strange Way of Life, by Spanish cult favourite Pedro Almodovar. The line-up also includes a record six women filmmakers out of 19 in the main competition, beating last years record of five. They include Italys Alice Rohrwacher and a feature debut from Senegalese director Ramata-Toulaye Sy. Depps returnTwo-time Palme dOr winner Ken Loach is back with The Old Oak,focused on the last remaining pub in a small English village where local people are leaving because the mines have closed. Wim Wenders, Cannes winner with Paris, Texasin 1984, comes back to competition with Perfect Days,while another former Palme dOr winner, Italys Nanni Morettireturns to the Croisette with Il Sol dellAvvenire,a Rome-set feature set in the 1950s. The coveted Palme dOr, which can give a major boost for arthouse cinema such as last years winner Triangle of Sadness, which went on to win several Oscar nominations.Its director, Swedens Ruben Ostlund, heads this years jury. A fiery start is guaranteed thanks to opening night film Jeanne du Barry, which sees Depp play French king Louis XV in his first role since an explosive defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard. Johnny Depp is heading to Cannes. The actors new film, Jeanne du Barry, from director Maiwenn, will open the 76th Cannes Film Festival on May 16. Definitely a big moment for his career at this stage of his comeback. As if that was not enough to inflame social media, the films star and director, Maiwenn, had a criminal complaint lodged against her last week for allegedly assaulting a journalist yanking his head back and spitting in his face in a Paris restaurant. Meanwhile arthouse fans are particularly excited for the return of British director Jonathan Glazer with a Holocaust-set romance The Zone of Interest based on a novel by Martin Amis. The competition also includes past Palme dOr winner Nuri Bilge Ceylan as well as celebrated auteurs such as South Koreas Hirokazu Kore-eda and Finlands Aki Kaurismaki. ( with AFP) Luanda Angolan head of State Joao Lourenco Wednesday in Luanda discussed with his counterpart from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) Felix Antoine Tshisekedi the security and peace process in the Eastern region of this country, which faces an internal armed conflict. Felix Tshisekedi, who had been in Luanda for a few hours, discussed with President Joao Lourenco, among the matters, the cantonment of the M23 forces, according to the understandings reached as part of the mediation exercised by the Angolan Head of State. The Angolan mediation of the conflict in the East of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) resulted in a ceasefire agreement in that region, since March 7 this year. The Angolan National Assembly approved last month, at the request of the President of the Republic, unanimously, the deployment of a contingent of 500 soldiers from the Angolan Armed Forces (FAA) to the DRC for a 12-month period. The staff integrates a battalion of the FAA and their respective components, as well as financial means estimated at 11.2 billion kwanzas, within the framework of the budget of Defence and Security sector. A contingent of the Angolan army should secure the cantonment areas of the M23 rebels and protect the members of the ad hoc verification mechanism, following the ceasefire between government troops and the rebels. At a mini-summit on peace and security in the Great Lakes region, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on February 17, 2023, the African Heads of State and Government mandated" Angola, in coordination with the former President of Kenya, Uhuru Kennyatta, a facilitator appointed by the East Africa Commission, to hold contacts with the leadership of the March 23 Movement (M23) rebel group. The M23 was created in 2012 when DRC soldiers revolted over the loss of power of their leader, Bosco Ntaganda, accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of war crimes and for alleged breaches of the peace agreement of March 23, 2009, which gives the name to the movement. AFL/SC/ADR Reddit Email 30 Shares ( Middle East Monitor ) Israels far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir slammed an Israeli government decision to ban non-Muslims, including illegal settlers, from entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound until the end of Ramadan, Army Radio reported. Dome of the Rock and al-Aqsa Mosque Ben-Gvir said that the decision to prevent settlers from entering Al-Aqsa Mosque is a grave mistake that will lead to escalation. Weakening the police force in Al-Aqsa will create a fertile ground for massive demonstrations and incitement to kill Jews and throw stones at settlers at the Buraq Wall (Western Wall), he added. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu yesterday announced that a ban was being put in place on non-Muslims entering the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound until the end of Ramadan. Netanyahus office said that the decision was reached after a comprehensive assessment of the security situation. The decision was unanimously recommended by the minister of defence, the police chief, the head of the intelligence service Shin Bet and the police commissioner. Middle East Monitor by Yoav Litvin Counterpunch ) Benjamin Netanyahu, in collaboration with Kahanist Itamar Ben-Gvir and a cohort of other fascists, has been executing a judicial coup which guts so-called Israeli democratic institutions and threatens liberal reforms. Many Israelis are infuriated. Theyve always viewed Israel as either part of Europe or the United States 51st state. The only democracy in the Middle East, a villa in the jungle with its fancy boutiques, exquisite espresso bars, glitzy shopping malls, wild/sexy nightlife and world-class wineries and restaurants. Most liberal Zionists see themselves closer to civilized white Christian Europeans rather than their primitive Brown Muslim Arab neighbors. Liberal Zionism promotes the notion of a left-to-right spectrum within Israel. Yet the differences between the extremes are merely tactical and cosmetic, maintaining an illusion of a humane society with a healthy democratic discourse. Left-wing and Liberal Zionist parties engage in civil liberties for members of the privileged class yet dare not address the nature of Zionism, whose adherents have terrorized Indigenous Palestinians for over seven decades. For liberal Zionists, without LGBTQ rights and buses on Saturday, Israel would simply become another Middle Eastern theocracy in which women are rendered inferior and prayer is mandatory in schools. In contrast, they see themselves as trailblazing feminists who believe women should have every right men have, like the right to enlist into military combat units and kill Palestinians. And what about Palestinians, you ask? Its complicated, they respond. Photo by Latrach Med Jamil on Unsplash The Pogrom and BTselem As with every fledgling Israeli regime, the current government seeks to market itself to the Israeli public, distracting from its own corruptions and inadequacies by massacring Palestinians and stealing their resources. However, in contrast to recent administrations, Netanyahu and his cabal now unapologetically incite vigilante and mass civilian settler violence in addition to advocating for military incursions, mass arrests, bombings of innocent civilians, sieges and assassinations. On the night of February 26-27, supposedly in response to the shooting of two Israeli settlers, hundreds of settlers rampaged through the Palestinian town of Huwara, near Nablus in the occupied West Bank, killing, torching and wounding. Israeli liberal society was outraged. Hagai El-Ad, Executive Director of BTselem, the Israeli Human Rights Organization said in response: As a Jewish person, we know what a pogrom is. Because Jews have been on the receiving end of pogroms for too many years. Now, after what happened here on Sunday night, there are hundreds of Jewish settlers that know what a pogrom is not from the side of suffering under it but from the side that has committed that atrocity. By comparing the events in Huwara to a pogrom, a word closely linked to massacres of Jewish people in Russia or eastern Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, El-Ad continues BTselems unfortunate framing of Zionism as a Jewish project enforcing Jewish supremacy, rather than the correct identification of genocidal western settler colonialism and white supremacy. It is common practice for Zionist propagandists to promote the anti-Semitic fallacy that Israel is a Jewish state which represents Judaism and thus all Jews. Spearheaded by Netanyahu in 2018, Israels The Nation State of the Jewish People law enshrines this canard as an addition to Israels Basic Laws, which operate as a stand-in for a non-existent Constitution, pursuant to Israel having never declared its borders thus enabling continuous theft of Palestinian land. The fallacy serves as the cornerstone of Zionist propaganda (aka Hasbara), galvanizing support for Israels settler colonialism and attack of anti-colonial resistance. Clearly, Zionists would much rather engage with accusations of carrying out a pogrom than a white supremacist settler rampage, ironically despite the obvious white supremacist nature of the former. Deploying its police, military and settler brownshirts, Israel has always been engaged in settler violence aimed at expansionism and resource acquisition. In fact, Zionism is a racist and settler colonialist movement, which opportunistically coopts aspects of Judaism in an attempt to justify its criminal practices against the Palestinian people. Zionism is based on a distinctly secular outlook, which embraces aggression and expansion as an acceptable response to trauma and denounces the traditional Jewish pacifist approach of viewing hardship as divine punishment for sins. Zionist strategists manipulate the past traumas Jews have endured to gain support for aggressive criminal policies that disenfranchise and evict Palestinians. Unfortunately, El-Ads comments are in line with this Zionist tradition. However, the framing of Zionism as white, not Jewish enables and strengthens the formation of coalitions between all those opposed to settler colonialism and white supremacy and hinders Zionist attempts at sabotage by hurling cynical accusations of anti-Semitism. The Israeli Flag and Zionist Propaganda The ultimate propaganda goal of any nationalistic apparatus is to fuse the perception of self with that of nation into a cohesive identity that is loyal to the ruling class. Indeed, one symbol has reemerged in nearly every image and video from these liberal Zionist protests throughout Israel and the West Bank the Israeli flag. These protests have become a nationalistic chest-beating contest in which protesters compete with Israeli police, and politicians Netanyahu and his fascistic brethren over loyalty to Israel and Zionism. Hence, its clear these protests are no real threat to the apartheid regime. Yet, they could pose a threat to Netanyahus solidification of the Nation-State law within the Basic Laws as he seeks to extinguish the power of courts to change or remove it, along with protecting him from corruption charges. Meanwhile, millions of Indigenous Palestinians in Israel, the Occupied Territories and diaspora are excluded from this reactionary discourse. For them, the Israeli flag represents their catastrophe and can never symbolize justice. Indeed, Zionist propagandists have recognized the immense propaganda potential in these protests. They can claim Zionism is indisputable within Israel, and is fundamentally liberal, even democratic, as it supposedly allows a range of opinions and tolerates opposition. Not only have these protests failed to threaten the Israeli regime, Netanyahu and his government have unapologetically and confidently deployed police tactics against protesters normally reserved for Palestinians and occasionally ultra-orthodox Jews. These tactics, including flash grenades and skunk water are small potatoes for Palestinians who are murdered every day by Israeli occupation forces, including women, children, elderly folk and members of the press. Further, amidst worldwide condemnations, including within Israels political spectrum, some Israeli politicians have maintained their emboldened inflammatory rhetoric. Betzalel Smotrich, Israels finance minister with sweeping civilian powers in the West Bank said the town of Huwara should be erased, yet not by civilians, but by the military. Alternative Protest The horrific oppression and dispossession of the Palestinian people will not cease as a result of actions by the Israeli/Zionist public unless Palestinian demands for justice are supported first and foremost. As with the 2011 social justice protests, these recent demonstrations reflect discontent from a class of Israeli society afraid to lose certain privileges. Inevitably, Palestinians will continue to suffer apartheid and genocide until the international community intervenes. By contrast, the boycott, divestment and sanctions (BDS) movement has wisely adopted a strict anti-Zionist, anti-racist platform grounded in human rights. Built on clear understanding of oppressive systems, intersectional resistance and the path to liberation, BDS incorporates lessons of past anti-colonial movements, dismantling fictitious, divisive political narratives of white supremacy, imperialism, racism and patriarchy. The recognition that various oppressed peoples have common enemies serves to reinforce solidarity and cooperation between them, enhancing the growth and success of principled grassroots movements worldwide. LONGUEUIL, QC, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Azimut Exploration Inc. ("Azimut" or the "Company") (TSXV: AZM) (OTCQX: AZMTF) is pleased to announce that Mr. Rock Lefrancois, P.Geo., has been promoted Vice President Exploration of the Company. Mr. Lefrancois was previously acting as Manager Special Projects for Azimut. Mr. Lefrancois holds 35 years of international experience in the search, evaluation and development of gold and base metal deposits throughout the Americas. During his 15 years of engagement with mid-tier mining companies he was responsible for the implementation of project generative and acquisition programs and the management of exploration and extensive resource and reserve definition drilling programs and collaborated on economic assessments. For the last 20 years, Mr. Lefrancois has been involved in the management and development of publicly traded junior exploration and mine development companies. In the position of President & COO of NioGold Mining Corp., he was a key contributor to the consolidation of the largest land position in the Malartic Gold Camp in Abitibi, the definition of 2 Moz of gold resources and the negotiation of strategic partnerships with gold producers. NioGold was taken over by the Osisko Group in 2016. In the position of COO of Columbus Gold Corp. (now Orea Mining Corp.), Mr. Lefrancois was responsible for the management of a joint venture between Columbus and gold producer Nord Gold plc for the completion of the Bankable Feasibility Study and Environmental and Social Impact Study on the Montagne d'Or open pit gold mine project (4.8 Moz resources, 2.8 Moz reserves), located in French Guiana, South America, leading to a mine construction decision by the joint venture and the start of the permitting process. More recently, as President & COO, and subsequently, President & CEO of Columbus, Rock implemented a corporate growth strategy involving the search, evaluation, and acquisition of gold projects in South America with a priority on the Guianas. Mr. Lefrancois holds a bachelor's degree, specialization Geology, from Concordia University in Montreal. A total of 100,000 stock options from Azimut have been granted to Mr. Lefrancois with his promotion as Vice President Exploration. These options will vest in tranches over a three (3) year period with an exercise price of $1.44 per share, and are exercisable for a ten (10) year period. This grant is subject to regulatory approval. About Azimut Azimut is a leading mineral exploration company with a solid reputation for target generation and partnership development. The Company holds the largest mineral exploration portfolio in Quebec. Its wholly-owned flagship Elmer Gold Project is actively advanced to the initial resource stage in the James Bay region. Azimut also controls a strategic land position for copper-gold, nickel and lithium. At least 10 work programs are planned for 2023, including an aggressive lithium-focused field assessment phase as early as possible after the winter season. Azimut uses a pioneering approach to big data analytics (the proprietary AZtechMine expert system), enhanced by extensive exploration know-how. The Company's competitive edge is based on systematic regional-scale data analysis and concurrently active projects. Azimut is led by a team with a wide range of national and international expertise in the mining industry, including technical, financial and legal experience from exploration to production. The Company maintains rigorous financial discipline and a strong balance sheet, with 79.7 million shares issued and outstanding. 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. Toronto, Ontario and Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Minera Alamos Inc. (TSXV: MAI) (the "Company" or "Minera Alamos") is pleased to announce that it has completed the documentation necessary to formally proceed with the Cerro de Oro permitting process. Cerro de Oro represents the future growth of the Company's gold mining activities in Mexico and this is a major step in transforming the production profile of the Company. The management of the remainder of the permit process will now be handled by the Company's advisors who have successfully permitted multiple mines in Mexico as recently as November 2022. Permitting follows significant time and community engagement over the last 18 months as the Company negotiated surface rights both directly associated with the initial mine development plans previously highlighted by the NI43-101 PEA (see news release dated October 3rd, 2022) as well as ensuring both surface rights and permit applications would accommodate the significant future upside and expansion potential at Cerro de Oro. "The initiation of the environmental permitting process at Cerro de Oro marks the culmination of a tremendous amount of work completed by the Minera team and our external consultants. We are thrilled to be moving down the path to bring a new gold mine to the State of Zacatecas, supporting the local economy and local stakeholders who have been extremely supportive since the Company acquired the Cerro de Oro project in the fall of 2020" stated Doug Ramshaw, President. "While we proceed through permitting at Cerro de Oro, we will seek in the coming months to conclude negotiations on a lending package that will demonstrate that, subject to the receipt of permits, Cerro de Oro will be fully funded for its construction which the Company hopes to take place in the first half of next year." Highlights of the Previously Filed PEA NI43-101 Technical Report Production highlights Average annual gold production approaching 60,000oz (~60,000oz to 70,000oz in Years 1 through 4). 8.2 year mine life based on initial mineable total of 59 Mt of mineralization (0.37 g/t Au) heap leached at an average rate of approximately 20,000 tpd -- +0.40 g/t Au in Years 1 through 4. 477koz of gold produced in loaded carbon/dore. LOM strip ratio of 0.3:1 (waste:mineralization). Robust economics using a gold price of $1,600/oz LOM All-In Sustaining Cost (AISC) of $873/oz -- averaging $763/oz in Years 1 through 4. After-Tax NPV at 5% of $150.5M and IRR of 111%. Low capital intensity project with rapid payback: Pre-production capital costs of $28.1M (includes 30% contingency). Payback period of 11 months. Used crushing plant already purchased reduces up-front capital requirements. Figure 1: Mine Plan and Permitting Layout Figure 2: Plant Area Configuration Santana Drilling Update Drilling to date has been utilizing the Company-owned drill on a one shift per day basis. Following the conclusion of the Easter holiday period, drilling will move to two shifts per day increasing the overall drilling rates considerably. The first 3 holes at the Benjamin and the Benjamin West zones have been completed with one further hole in progress. It is anticipated that the drill rig will then shift location to focus on the Zata pipe. Zata has never been drilled before and represents one of the more significant untested pipes on the broader Santana property. Results will be batched and released upon receipt at both target areas as they are received and reviewed by the Company's exploration team. PEA Cautionary Note: Readers are cautioned that the PEA is preliminary in nature and there is no certainty that the PEA results will be realized. Mineral resources are not mineral reserves and do not have demonstrated economic viability. Additional work is needed to upgrade these mineral resources to mineral reserves. Qualified Person Statements The 2022 PEA referenced in this release was conducted by the following Qualified Persons contributing to their respective sections. All Qualified Persons ("QPs") as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. All of the QPs are "independent" of the Company pursuant to National Instrument 43-101. The listed Qualified Persons have reviewed the data contained in this news release and verified that it is accurately disclosed. Scott Zelligan P.Geo., Independent Resource Geologist Lawrence Segerstrom M. Sc. (Geology), CPG Peimeng, Ling P.Eng. Alex Duggan P.Eng. Toren Olson PG Mr. Darren Koningen, P.Eng, a 'Qualified Person' as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101, is responsible for the other technical information (information not directly related to the PEA) in this news release. About Minera Alamos Minera Alamos is a gold production and development Company undergoing the operational startup of its first gold mine that produced its first gold in October 2021. The Company has a portfolio of high-quality Mexican assets, including the 100%-owned Santana open-pit, heap-leach mine in Sonora that is currently going through its operational ramp up. The 100%-owned Cerro de Oro oxide gold project in northern Zacatecas has considerable past drilling and metallurgical work completed with plans to enter the permitting process. The La Fortuna open pit gold project in Durango (100%-owned) has a robust and positive preliminary economic assessment (PEA) completed and the main Federal permits in place. Minera Alamos is built around its operating team that together brought 3 mines into successful production in Mexico over the last 13 years. The Company's strategy is to develop very low capex assets while expanding the projects' resources and continuing to pursue complementary strategic acquisitions. For Further Information Please Contact: Minera Alamos Inc. Doug Ramshaw, President Tel: 604-600-4423 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Victoria Vargas de Szarzynski, VP Investor Relations Tel: 289-242-3599 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.mineraalamos.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. April 13th, 2023 TheNewswire - Rockport, Ontario - New Age Metals Inc. (TSXV:NAM); (OTC:NMTLF); (FSE:P7J2) (NAM or Company) is pleased to announce the procurement of 30, 668 hectares of mineral exploration license (MEL) area around Red Cross Lake, Manitoba. The Northman Lithium project is the Companys third property acquisition of 2023. The MEL covers approximately a 28 km strike length of the North Kenyon Shear Zone and surrounds an associated LCT pegmatite swarm documented at Red Cross Lake with historical assays up to 1.25% Li2O and 2.86% Cs2O (LPG pegmatite) and 2.97% Li2O (SPG pegmatite). 1 The newly acquired Northman Lithium Project lies within the Oxford-Stull domain in Northern Manitobas Red Cross Lake greenstone belt (figure 1) which hosts highly fractionated lithium-bearing pegmatites and is significantly underexplored. All the claims are held by Lithium Canada Development, a 100% owned Lithium Division of New Age Metals. KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF THE NORTHMAN LITHIUM PROJECT Along trend of lithium bearing pegmatites documented at Red Cross Lake LPG Pegmatite: Lepidolite and Pollucite rich pegmatite swarm with 17 parallel and sheared dykes up to 4 meters in width over an area of ~50 meters Work by the Geological Survey of Canada in the 1960s identified the rubidium and cesium potential of these pegmatites, with one sample assaying 2.86% CsO, 1.29% RbO, and 1.26% Li 1 SPG Pegmatite: Spodumene-bearing dyke with grab samples assaying up to 2.97% LiO In terms of K/Rb ratios, the pegmatites in the Red Cross area are ranked with the most evolved spodumene pegmatites worldwide Large leucogranite intrusions within the MEL zone that occur up to 5 km long and attain a maximum width of 90 meters. Thin-section analysis of these units identified the presence of spodumene and quartz replacing petalite Property covers 30 km of strike extent of the North Kenyon Shear Zone, a regional-scale structure in which the pegmatitic rocks are situated within, or closely adjacent to 4,5 Identified targets from regional magnetics that are analogous to those hosting rare-metal pegmatites at Red Cross Lake. Figure 1: Overview of Newly Acquired Northman Lithium Project Harry Barr, Chairman and CEO of New Age Metals Inc. commented It is fantastic to see our research efforts and diligence paying off with the addition of this highly prospective ground. While we work and develop our Southeast Manitoba projects through the joint venture with Mineral Resources Ltd., we intend to be a leader and prospect generator for green metals in Canada. Our three recent 100% owned project acquisitions now give us a large lithium focused portfolio with excellent exploration targets in Northern Manitoba. Together with our technical team from Axiom Exploration Group Ltd., we are currently working on a comprehensive go-forward exploration plan for these properties as we patiently await the snow to melt so our crew can get boots on the ground. New Age Metals continues to expand its Manitoba Lithium Divisions land holdings as a leading explorer for battery metals in the province. The recent acquisitions bring the total land holdings to 74,448 hectares (figure 2). New Age Metals has 11 projects covering 20,211 hectares in Southern Manitoba which are under option to Mineral Resources Limited, one of the top 5 lithium producers worldwide. The recent acquisitions of South Bay -, McLaughlin Lake -, and Northman Lithium Projects make up 54,289 hectares for which the Company is looking to find a strategic partnership. Figure 2: Overview of New Age Metals Inc. Land Holdings in Manitoba, Canada About NAM New Age Metals is a junior mineral exploration and development company focused on the discovery, exploration, and development of green metal projects in North America. The Company has two divisions: a Platinum Group Metals division and a Lithium/Rare Element division. The PGM Division includes the 100% owned, multi-million-ounce, district-scale River Valley Project, one of North Americas largest undeveloped Platinum Group Metals Projects, situated 100 km by road east of Sudbury, Ontario. The company plans to have an updated Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) completed on the project by mid-summer and will announce its exploration plans within the next 60 days. In addition to River Valley, NAM owns 100% of the road accessible Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska and plans to complete a Option-Joint Venture arrangement with a third party mining company to develop the project. The Companys Lithium Division is one of the largest mineral claim holders in the Winnipeg River Pegmatite Field, where the Company is exploring for hard rock lithium and various rare elements such as tantalum, rubidium, and cesium. The company recently completed a phase two drill program at Lithium Two Project and is beginning to receive initial assay results. Further exploration plans for 2023/24 include continued mapping/sampling field programs following up on prospective trends outlined in the magnetic data and 2022 surface sampling, additional geophysical surveys, and diamond drilling. The company has a partnership with Mineral Resource Limited (MRL, ASX: MIN), a top global lithium producer to explore and develop the Companys lithium project portfolio. The 2023/24 budget for our Manitoba Lithium Division has been submitted to MRL and a final budget is expected by mid-April 2023. The company is currently completing its 2022/23 $2.3 million budget. Our philosophy is to be a project generator with the objective of optioning our projects with major and junior mining companies through to production. The Company is actively seeking an option/ joint venture partner for our newly acquired Northman, McLaughlin Lake, and South Bay Lithium Projects in Northern Manitoba, as well as its road-accessible Genesis PGM-Cu-Ni Project in Alaska. Investors are invited to visit the New Age Metals website at www.newagemetals.com where they can review the company and its corporate activities. Any questions or comments can be directed to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Harry Barr at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Farid Mammadov at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call 613 659 2773. Qualified Person The technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lynde Guillaume (Senior Geologist, Axiom Exploration Ltd.), a Qualified Person, and a Professional Geoscientist (P.Geo) who is a registered member of the Engineer and Geosciences of Manitoba (no. 47952). Opt-in List If you have not done so already, we encourage you to sign up on our website (www.newagemetals.com) to receive our updated news. On behalf of the Board of Directors Harry Barr Harry G. Barr Chairman and CEO Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements: This release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. These statements may differ materially from actual future events or results and are based on current expectations or beliefs. For this purpose, statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements include statements in which the Company uses words such as continue, efforts, expect, believe, anticipate, confident, intend, strategy, plan, will, estimate, project, goal, target, prospects, optimistic or similar expressions. These statements by their nature involve risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially depending on a variety of important factors, including, among others, the Companys ability and continuation of efforts to timely and completely make available adequate current public information, additional or different regulatory and legal requirements and restrictions that may be imposed, and other factors as may be discussed in the documents filed by the Company on SEDAR (www.sedar.com), including the most recent reports that identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake any obligation to review or confirm analysts expectations or estimates or to release publicly any revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. References 1. Jambor, J L; Potter, R R. 1967, Rubidium-bearing Dykes, Gods River area, Manitoba; Geological Survey of Canada, Paper 67-15, 1967 2. Cerny, P., Corkery, M.T., N.M., Ferreira, K., Brisbin, W.C. Chackowsky, L.E., Meintzer, R.E., Longstaff, F.J. & Trueman, D.L., (2012a): Extreme Fractionation and deformation of the leucogranite-pegmatite suite at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. I. Geological setting. Can. Mineral. 50. 1793-1806 3. Cerny, Petr & Halden, Norman & Ferreira, Karen & Meintzer, Robert & Brisbin, William & Chackowsky, Leonard & Longstaffe, Fred & Trueman, David. (2012). Extreme fractionation and deformation of the leucogranite Pegmatite suite at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. II. Petrology of the leucogranites and pegmatites. The Canadian Mineralogist. 50. 10.3749/canmin.50.6.1807. 4. Brisbin, William & Eby, Ray & Corkery, Timothy & Cerny, Petr & Chackowsky, Leonard & Fierreira, Karen & Halden, Norman & Meintzer, Robert & Trueman, David. (2012). Extreme fractionation and deformation of the leucogranite - Pegmatite suite at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. III. Description Of shearing and mylonitization textures in the lepidolite pegmatites. The Canadian Mineralogist. 50. 1823-1838. 10.3749/canmin.50.6.1823. 5. Cerny, Petr & Teertstra, David & Chapman, Ron & Selway, Julie & Hawthorne, Frank & Ferreira, Karen & Chackowsky, Leonard & Wang, X.-J & Meintzer, Robert. (2013). Extreme fractionation and deformation of the leucogranite - Pegmatite suite at Red Cross Lake, Manitoba, Canada. IV. Mineralogy. The Canadian Mineralogist. 50. 1839-1875. 10.3749/canmin.50.6.1839. 6. Manitoba Assessment Report# 94002 Report on Diamond Drilling Sucker 1&2 Claim Blocks, Red Cross Lake (1981) by Tantalum Mining Corporation of Canada 7. Manitoba Assessment Report# 95009 Report on Red Cross Lake Ta-Li-Cs-Rb Property (2001) by William C. Hood, P.Geo VANCOUVER, BC, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Vizsla Silver Corp. (TSXV: VZLA) (NYSE: VZLA) (Frankfurt: 0G3) ("Vizsla" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from six new drillholes targeting the southern extension of the Napoleon Vein, at its 100%-owned flagship Panuco silver-gold project ("Panuco") located in Mexico. The new drill results are centered on the western portion of the district and are a part of Vizsla's ongoing 90,000 metre resource infill and expansion/discovery-focused drill program. Highlights NP-22-343 returned 1,085 grams per tonne (g/t) silver equivalent (AgEq) over 4.00 metres true width (mTW) (590 g/t silver, 5.15 g/t gold, 1.00 % lead and 4.39 % zinc), including: 3,185 g/t AgEq over 0.98 mTW (2,025 g/t silver, 15.74 g/t gold, 1.71 % lead and 5.22 % zinc), and (590 g/t silver, 5.15 g/t gold, 1.00 % lead and 4.39 % zinc), including: 863 g/t AgEq over 6.10 mTW (156 g/t silver, 3.63 g/t gold, 7.88 % lead and 6.63 % zinc), including: 1,899 g/t AgEq over 1.11 mTW (255 g/t silver, 11.69 g/t gold, 19.25 % lead and 8.40 % zinc), and 1,251 g/t AgEq over 1.69 mTW (290 g/t silver, 4.72 g/t gold, 9.26 % lead and 10.71 % zinc) NP-22-344 returned 527 g/t AgEq over 3.05 mTW (157 g/t silver, 2.55 g/t gold, 0.81 % lead and 5.08 % zinc), including: 705 g/t AgEq over 1.26 mTW (259 g/t silver, 4.88 g/t gold, 0.74 % lead and 3.11 % zinc); and (157 g/t silver, 2.55 g/t gold, 0.81 % lead and 5.08 % zinc), including: NP-23-353 returned 1,401 g/t AgEq over 1.00 mTW (532 g/t silver, 8.96 g/t gold, 1.46 % lead and 7.13 % zinc) "The Napoleon Vein was the first major discovery made by Vizsla at Panuco in 2020," commented Michael Konnert, President and CEO. "We have now expanded the mineralized footprint of Napoleon area to over two and a half kilometres along strike and outlined a resource of 41.3 million ounces AgEq Indicated and 28.7 million ounces AgEq Inferred. With a local exploration model that continues to be validated through ongoing drilling, and new high-grade results from the hanging wall vein splays that warrant further step out drilling at depth and along strike, we continue to view the Napoleon Area as a primary target for future resource growth and development. Of the seven drill rigs currently turning on the property, infill drilling continues at Napoleon with one rig." Details of the Napoleon Southern Extent Infill and step-out (expansionary) drilling completed to date has led to an improved understanding of the mineralization controls along the Napoleon vein corridor. Observations based on metal zonation and alteration continue to support the interpretation that the corridor is tilted where the southern extent of drilling is at the top of the mineralized horizon, near surface (Figure 5). Previously reported high-grade gold assay values near surface support the model (see press releases dated December 16, 2021 and March 29, 2022). Infill drilling assay results disclosed in this news release, show additional high-grade silver and gold values on vein splays at the hanging wall of the main Napoleon structure. The vein splays are situated between 25 to 120 metres into the hanging wall and typically contain high lead and zinc concentrations in addition to the precious metal values. Results from recent drilling suggests that Hanging Wall 1 splay (HW splay 1) forms a cymoid loop with the main Napoleon Vein, as shown in Figure 3, whereas Hanging Wall 2 (HW splay 2) comes off and diverges from main Napoleon at depth (Figure 4). The results indicate the potential for additional high-grade gold and silver at depth and along strike in some hanging wall splays which remain open. Results from hole NP-22-343 warrant follow up drilling to the north and at depth along Hanging Wall 2 (long section not shown). Vizsla continues working on structural and 3D geologic modelling to design specific drill holes for the exploration of the vein splays (HW splay 2 and HW splay 4). Drillhole From To Downhole Length Estimated True width Ag Au Pb Zn AgEq Vein (m) (m) (m) (m) (g/t) (g/t) % % (g/t) NP-22-343 392.40 397.10 4.70 4.00 590 5.15 1.00 4.39 1,085 HW 2 Includes 393.35 394.50 1.15 0.98 2,025 15.74 1.71 5.22 3,185 NP-22-343 525.65 534.70 9.05 6.10 156 3.63 7.88 6.63 863 HW 1 Includes 525.65 527.30 1.65 1.11 255 11.69 19.25 8.40 1,899 Includes 530.50 533.00 2.50 1.69 290 4.72 9.26 10.71 1,251 NP-22-343 557.80 564.95 7.15 5.00 99 1.44 1.25 5.09 410 Napoleon Includes 557.80 559.75 1.95 1.36 157 2.81 0.81 9.57 707 Includes 561.25 562.55 1.30 0.91 103 1.32 3.26 6.68 523 NP-22-344 330.00 332.00 2.00 1.70 268 1.41 0.20 0.28 360 HW 4 NP-22-344 391.30 394.70 3.40 3.05 157 2.55 0.81 5.08 527 HW 2 Includes 391.30 392.70 1.40 1.26 259 4.88 0.74 3.11 705 NP-22-344 No significant values HW 1 NP-22-344 No significant values Napoleon NP-22-349 No significant values HW 3 NP-22-349 No significant values HW 2 NP-22-349 442.35 446.85 4.50 3.00 133 0.66 0.21 0.48 192 HW 1 NP-22-349 No significant values Napoleon NP-23-353 364.65 365.40 0.75 0.51 85 0.46 0.63 0.51 147 HW 2 NP-23-353 456.30 457.80 1.50 1.00 532 8.96 1.46 7.13 1,401 HW 1 NP-23-353 504.00 509.10 5.10 3.10 63 0.55 0.93 3.09 235 Napoleon NP-23-360A 586.35 601.00 14.65 10.65 54 0.93 0.16 0.82 148 Napoleon Includes 586.35 587.45 1.10 0.80 95 3.36 0.38 1.68 387 Includes 588.45 589.35 0.90 0.65 142 1.01 0.26 2.85 311 Includes 594.35 595.05 0.70 0.51 201 2.02 0.28 1.31 379 Includes 600.40 601.00 0.60 0.44 352 7.25 0.49 2.96 939 NP-23-365A Pending assays Table 1: Downhole drill intersections from the holes completed along the Napoleon main and vein splays. Note: AgEq = Ag g/t x Ag rec. + ((Au g/t x Au Rec x Au price/gram)+(Pb% x Pb rec. X Pb price/t) + (Zn% x Zn rec. X Zn price/t))/Ag price/gram. Metal price assumptions are $24.00/oz silver, $1,800/oz gold, $2,424.4/t lead and $2,975.4/t zinc. Metallurgical recoveries assumed are 93% for silver, 90% for gold, 94% for lead and 94% for zinc. Metallurgical recoveries used in this release are from metallurgical test results of the Napoleon vein (see press release dated February 17, 2022). Drillhole Easting Northing Elevation Azimuth Dip Depth NP-22-343 403,830 2,586,364 442 270 -61 680.5 NP-22-344 403,830 2,586,364 442 270 -65 651.0 NP-22-349 403,771 2,586,258 442 275 -64 543.8 NP-23-353 403,800 2,586,265 429 274 -66 657.0 NP-23-360A 403,965 2,586,221 456 271 -57 660.0 NP-23-365A 403,888 2,586,230 434 270 -49 636.0 Table 2: Napoleon vein drillhole details. Coordinates in WGS84, Zone 13. About the Panuco project The newly consolidated Panuco silver-gold project is an emerging high-grade discovery located in southern Sinaloa, Mexico, near the city of Mazatlan. The 7,189.5-hectare, past producing district benefits from over 86 kilometres of total vein extent, 35 kilometres of underground mines, roads, power, and permits. The district contains intermediate to low sulfidation epithermal silver and gold deposits related to siliceous volcanism and crustal extension in the Oligocene and Miocene. Host rocks are mainly continental volcanic rocks correlated to the Tarahumara Formation. The Panuco Project hosts an estimated in-situ indicated mineral resource of 104.8 Moz AgEq and an in-situ inferred resource of 114.1 Moz AgEq. An updated NI 43-101 technical report titled "Technical Report on the Mineral Resource Estimate Update for the Panuco Ag-Au-Pb-Zn Project, Sinaloa State, Mexico" was filed on SEDAR on March 10, 2023, with an effective date of January 19, 2023 was prepared by Allan Armitage, Ph. D., P. Geo., Ben Eggers, MAIG, P.Geo. and Yann Camus, P.Eng. of SGS Geological Services. About Vizsla Silver Vizsla Silver is a Canadian mineral exploration and development company headquartered in Vancouver, BC, focused on advancing its flagship, 100%-owned Panuco silver-gold project located in Sinaloa, Mexico. To date, Vizsla has completed over 250,000 metres of drilling at Panuco leading to the discovery of several new high-grade veins. For 2023, Vizsla has budgeted +90,000 metres of resource/discovery-based drilling designed to upgrade and expand the mineral resource, as well as test other high priority targets across the district. Quality Assurance / Quality Control Drill core samples were shipped to ALS Limited in Zacatecas, Zacatecas, Mexico and in North Vancouver, Canada for sample preparation and for analysis at the ALS laboratory in North Vancouver and rock samples were shipped to SGS Lab in Durango Mexico for sample preparation and analysis. The ALS Zacatecas, North Vancouver facilities and SGS lab are ISO 9001 and ISO/IEC 17025 certified. Silver and base metals were analyzed using a four-acid digestion with an ICP finish and gold was assayed by 30-gram fire assay with atomic absorption ("AA") spectroscopy finish. Over limit analyses for silver, lead and zinc were re-assayed using an ore-grade four-acid digestion with AA finish. Control samples comprising certified reference samples, duplicates and blank samples were systematically inserted into the sample stream and analyzed as part of the Company's quality assurance / quality control protocol. Qualified Person In accordance with NI 43-101, Martin Dupuis, P.Geo., COO, is the Qualified Person for the Company and has reviewed and approved the technical and scientific content of this news release. Information Concerning Estimates of Mineral Resources The scientific and technical information in this news release was prepared in accordance with NI 43-101 which differs significantly from the requirements of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). The terms "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" used herein are in reference to the mining terms defined in the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum Standards (the "CIM Definition Standards"), which definitions have been adopted by NI 43-101. Accordingly, information contained herein providing descriptions of our mineral deposits in accordance with NI 43-101 may not be comparable to similar information made public by other U.S. companies subject to the United States federal securities laws and the rules and regulations thereunder. You are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral resources will ever be converted into reserves. Pursuant to CIM Definition Standards, "inferred mineral resources" are that part of a mineral resource for which quantity and grade or quality are estimated on the basis of limited geological evidence and sampling. Such geological evidence is sufficient to imply but not verify geological and grade or quality continuity. An inferred mineral resource has a lower level of confidence than that applying to an indicated mineral resource and must not be converted to a mineral reserve. However, it is reasonably expected that the majority of inferred mineral resources could be upgraded to indicated mineral resources with continued exploration. Under Canadian rules, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies, except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an inferred mineral resource is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces" in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves" by SEC standards as in place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. Canadian standards, including the CIM Definition Standards and NI 43-101, differ significantly from standards in the SEC Industry Guide 7. Effective February 25, 2019, the SEC adopted new mining disclosure rules under subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K of the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SEC Modernization Rules"), with compliance required for the first fiscal year beginning on or after January 1, 2021. The SEC Modernization Rules replace the historical property disclosure requirements included in SEC Industry Guide 7. As a result of the adoption of the SEC Modernization Rules, the SEC now recognizes estimates of "measured mineral resources", "indicated mineral resources" and "inferred mineral resources". Information regarding mineral resources contained or referenced herein may not be comparable to similar information made public by companies that report according to U.S. standards. While the SEC Modernization Rules are purported to be "substantially similar" to the CIM Definition Standards, readers are cautioned that there are differences between the SEC Modernization Rules and the CIM Definitions 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 resource estimates under the standards adopted under the SEC Modernization Rules. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release includes certain "ForwardLooking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forwardlooking information" under applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target", "plan", "forecast", "may", "would", "could", "schedule" and similar words or expressions, identify forwardlooking statements or information. These forwardlooking statements or information relate to, among other things: the exploration, development, and production at Panuco, including plans for resource/discovery-based drilling, designed to upgrade and expand the maiden resource. Forwardlooking statements and forwardlooking information relating to any future mineral production, liquidity, enhanced value and capital markets profile of Vizsla, future growth potential for Vizsla and its business, and future exploration plans are based on management's reasonable assumptions, estimates, expectations, analyses and opinions, which are based on management's experience and perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, and other factors that management believes are relevant and reasonable in the circumstances, but which may prove to be incorrect. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the price of silver, gold, and other metals; no escalation in the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic; costs of exploration and development; the estimated costs of development of exploration projects; Vizsla's ability to operate in a safe and effective manner and its ability to obtain financing on reasonable terms. These statements reflect Vizsla's respective current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of other assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information and Vizsla has made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation: the Company's dependence on one mineral project; precious metals price volatility; risks associated with the conduct of the Company's mining activities in Mexico; regulatory, consent or permitting delays; risks relating to reliance on the Company's management team and outside contractors; risks regarding mineral resources and reserves; the Company's inability to obtain insurance to cover all risks, on a commercially reasonable basis or at all; currency fluctuations; risks regarding the failure to generate sufficient cash flow from operations; risks relating to project financing and equity issuances; risks and unknowns inherent in all mining projects, including the inaccuracy of reserves and resources, metallurgical recoveries and capital and operating costs of such projects; contests over title to properties, particularly title to undeveloped properties; laws and regulations governing the environment, health and safety; the ability of the communities in which the Company operates to manage and cope with the implications of COVID-19; the economic and financial implications of COVID-19 to the Company; operating or technical difficulties in connection with mining or development activities; employee relations, labour unrest or unavailability; the Company's interactions with surrounding communities and artisanal miners; the Company's ability to successfully integrate acquired assets; the speculative nature of exploration and development, including the risks of diminishing quantities or grades of reserves; stock market volatility; conflicts of interest among certain directors and officers; lack of liquidity for shareholders of the Company; litigation risk; and the factors identified under the caption "Risk Factors" in Vizsla' management discussion and analysis. Readers are cautioned against attributing undue certainty to forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information. Although Vizsla has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be anticipated, estimated or intended. Vizsla does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forwardlooking statements or forward-looking information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information, other than as required by applicable law. VANCOUVER, BC, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from six vertical reverse circulation ("RC") holes recently completed at its Atlanta Gold Mine Project located 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend. Highlights: Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22HG-11 228.7 250.0 21.3 1.26 85.1 Bottomed in Mineralization AT22NS-87 169.2 216.5 47.3 2.16 140.2 includes 175.3 182.9 7.6 4.57 227.6 AT22NS-88 169.2 214.9 45.7 1.28 162.0 AT23NS-65 79.3 117.4 38.1 1.79 52.5 AT23NS-58 42.7 108.2 65.5 2.54 62.9 includes 86.9 100.6 13.7 4.97 53.0 AT23NS-64 41.2 108.2 67.1 2.98 62.1 Bottomed in Mineralization includes 57.9 102.1 44.2 4.05 66.0 Table 1: All holes released today. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward; true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is estimated to be between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. Holes released today plotted on Section 22-9N were drilled across the high-grade feeder zone associated with several strands of a braided network of structures comprising the 150m -wide Atlanta Mine Fault Zone (" AMFZ "), which lies between the East Atlanta and West Atlanta Faults (see Figure 1). These vertical holes intercepted new areas of high-grade gold mineralization on this section that were not intercepted in historic drilling. These new high-grade areas were targeted based on Nevada King's recent revised modelling of gold mineralization across this section line which differs significantly from historic interpretations. -wide Atlanta Mine Fault Zone (" "), which lies between the and West Atlanta Faults (see Figure 1). Shown in Figure 2, the highest gold grades occur within blocks between the Atlanta King and East Atlanta Faults as evidenced by AT23NS-58 and AT23NS-64 (Table 1) and nearby holes AT21-63 and AT22NS-59 (Table 2). Historical angle holes drilled by Goldfields, Kinross, and Meadow Bay largely passed beneath and missed this 40m -wide, shallow high-grade zone. King and East Atlanta Faults as evidenced by AT23NS-58 and AT23NS-64 (Table 1) and nearby holes AT21-63 and AT22NS-59 (Table 2). Historical angle holes drilled by Goldfields, Kinross, and Meadow Bay largely passed beneath and missed this -wide, shallow high-grade zone. In similar fashion, a 30m -wide block on the eastern side of the West Atlanta Fault is also host to higher-grades, as seen in AT22NS-87 and 88. A number of historical angle holes did intersect this zone, but very few of them fully sampled the complete mineralized thickness. Significant differences are apparent in gold grades and thicknesses in today's NS-87 and NS-88 ( 47.3m @ 2.16 g/t and 45.7m @ 1.28 g/t) compared to Kinross angle holes KR97-3 and KR97-4 ( 24.4m @ 0.97 g/t and 27.4m @ 0.85 g/t). -wide block on the eastern side of the West Atlanta Fault is also host to higher-grades, as seen in AT22NS-87 and 88. A number of historical angle holes did intersect this zone, but very few of them fully sampled the complete mineralized thickness. Significant differences are apparent in gold grades and thicknesses in today's NS-87 and NS-88 ( @ 2.16 g/t and @ 1.28 g/t) compared to Kinross angle holes KR97-3 and KR97-4 ( @ 0.97 g/t and @ 0.85 g/t). The upthrown "horst" block immediately west of the Atlanta King Fault typically hosts more moderate grades and thicknesses compared to the two high-grade zones on either side of it. However, AT22NS-65 tested this horst block and returned 1.79 g/t Au over 38.1m , which is generally thicker and higher grade compared to sections further south. King Fault typically hosts more moderate grades and thicknesses compared to the two high-grade zones on either side of it. However, AT22NS-65 tested this horst block and returned 1.79 g/t Au over , which is generally thicker and higher grade compared to sections further south. Hole AT22HG-11, collared west of the West Atlanta Fault penetrated mineralized volcanics in the West Atlanta Graben target but was lost at a shallow depth, bottoming in mineralization. Drilling across the West Atlanta Graben along the western extension of line 22-9N will commence shortly, filling in a large information gap that currently exists within the historical drill pattern. Nevada King's holes along 22-9N are very similar in grade and mineralized thickness to holes previously released along Sections 22-5N, 22-6N, 22-7N, and 22-08N. The same pattern of: (1) high-grade grabens between the East Atlanta and Atlanta King Faults, (2) the moderate grade horst block west of the Atlanta King fault, and (3) the high-grade graben block east of the West Atlanta Fault, is repeated southward along each section, demonstrating excellent continuity of mineralization. Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, stated, "As our drill fences progress northward along the AMFZ we are seeing strong continuity in grade, thickness, and style of mineralization from section to section. We also start to see why many of the historical holes failed to pick up on the higher-grade mineralization localized in the numerous fault blocks and how this mineralization was largely missed by past explorers. The shallow high-grade mineralization immediately west of the East Atlanta Fault that we drilled into during our 2021 exploration program was completely missed by past explorers while the high-grade fault block along the east side of the West Atlanta Fault was under-represented in the historical drilling. Our new interpretation and geologic model is allowing us to effectively track both of these high-grade zones northward along the AMFZ, systematically defining the major fault components and associated mineralized blocks." Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22NS-59 4.6 54.9 50.3 2.65 20.7 AT22MET-1B 7.8 22.6 14.8 3.76 69.0 Bottomed in Mineralization AT21-63 7.6 48.8 41.2 3.95 27.3 Bottomed in Mineralization KR97-2 187.5 213.4 25.9 1.79 13.0 KR97-3 195.1 219.5 24.4 0.97 29.4 KR97-4 218 245.4 27.4 0.85 70.2 Table 2: Previously reported and historic holes used in Section 22-9N. AT22 series holes were drilled by Nevada King in 2022 while the AT21 series hole was drilled by Nevada King in 2021. KR97 series angle holes were drilled by Kinross in 1997. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward; true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is estimated to be between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $7.25 million as of April 2023. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work given the global COVID-19 pandemic, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. VANCOUVER, BC, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - NGEx Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: NGEX) ("NGEx Minerals" "NGEx" or the "Company") is pleased to report additional assays from four holes drilled at the Los Helados copper-gold project located in Region III, Chile. These results contain some of the highest grades ever seen at Los Helados, including molybdenum grades which are significantly higher than any intersected previously, and demonstrate that the Fenix Zone is rapidly growing into a second major centre of mineralization. Most of the new drilling into the Fenix and Alicanto Zones is outside of the current Los Helados Mineral Resource and both zones remain open to expansion in several directions. PDF Version HIGHLIGHTS LHDH081-2 : Fenix Zone : 343.8m at 0.90% CuEq , including 63.8m at 1.25% CuEq : : LHDH081-3 : Fenix Zone : 234.0m at 0.90% CuEq, including 28.0m at 1.49% CuEq : : LHDH084: Fenix Zone: 390.0m at 1.13% CuEq LHDH086 : Alicanto Zone : 104.0m at 0.69% CuEq : : Commenting on the results Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO stated "The 2023 exploration program is shaping up to be the most successful and impactful in the Company's history. Years of hard work and exploration experience are coming together to deliver a series of high impact discoveries. Last week we released high-grade results from the new Potro Cliffs discovery which is the fourth major system discovered in the Vicuna District. Today's results from Los Helados, 9 kilometres to the north of Potro Cliffs, continue to confirm the Fenix and Alicanto Zones as significant new centres of high-grade mineralization. Both of these zones have considerable room to grow, and offer the potential for a meaningful expansion of the Los Helados resource. We are particularly encouraged by the copper and molybdenum grades of these new zones, which are significantly higher than the averages seen to date. This season's drilling is proving the exploration adage that 'Big systems tend to grow and deliver continued positive surprises." Composited intervals are shown in the table below. Note molybdenum (Mo) grades are not included in the CuEq calculation: Hole ID From To Length (m) Cu % Au g/t Ag g/t CuEq % Mo ppm Zone* LHDH081-2 770.7 1549.8 779.1 0.54 0.10 2.0 0.61 121 Fenix incl 1206.0 1549.8 343.8 0.81 0.12 2.5 0.90 204 incl 1486.0 1549.8 63.8 1.14 0.14 3.6 1.25 741 LHDH81-3 814.0 1266.0 452.0 0.54 0.15 1.3 0.64 57 Fenix incl 1032.0 1266.0 234.0 0.76 0.22 1.7 0.90 69 incl 1032.0 1186.0 154.0 0.85 0.25 1.8 1.02 80 incl 1238.0 1266.0 28.0 1.25 0.36 2.6 1.49 91 LHDH084 728.0 1500.0 772.0 0.67 0.11 1.7 0.74 119 Fenix incl 1110.0 1500.0 390.0 1.02 0.15 2.4 1.13 187 LHDH086 938.0 1042.0 104.0 0.60 0.14 2.2 0.69 48 Alicanto incl 998.0 1042.0 44.0 0.75 0.22 2.7 0.90 50 Mineralized zones within the Los Helados deposit are bulk porphyry-style zones and drilled widths are interpreted to be essentially true widths. Copper Equivalent (CuEq) for drill intersections is calculated based on US$ 3.50/lb Cu, US$ 1,700/oz Au and US$ 20/oz Ag, with metallurgical recoveries of 88% for copper, 76% for gold and 60% for silver based on a comprehensive program of metallurgical testwork. The formula is: CuEq % = Cu % + (0.6117 * Au g/t) + (0.0057 * Ag g/t). LHDH081-2 was a daughter hole kicked off LHDH081 at a depth of 780.0m and angled towards the southwest. It was drilled to a final depth of 1,549.8m, intersecting the Fenix Zone between 35m and 90m to the west of LHDH081. The zone remains open to the west of this hole. The Fenix Zone was intersected over a 343.8m interval from 1,206.0m to 1,549.8m and consists of a clast-supported hydrothermal breccia with a matrix composed of anhydrite, chalcopyrite, quartz and biotite. The average grade of this interval is 0.81% Cu, 0.12 g/t Au and 204ppm Mo which is considerably higher than the Los Helados deposit average. The hole ended due to rig capacity in high-grade mineralization, with the final 20m averaging 1.36% CuEq (1.27% Cu, 0.11 g/t Au, 3.1 g/t Ag) plus 1540ppm Mo. Note that Mo is not currently included in the CuEq calculation. LHDH081-3 was kicked off hole LHDH081-2 at a depth of 786.6m and angled towards the south to investigate the gap between holes LHDH081 and LHDH076. The hole encountered the Fenix Zone at a depth of 1,032.0m and drilled it to a final depth of 1,266.0m resulting in a partial intersection of 234.0m at an average grade of 0.76% Cu and 0.22 g/t Au. The hole was terminated due to technical complications on the part of the drill contractor. The Fenix Zone in this hole was split by a low-grade porphyry dyke from 1,186.0m to 1,238.0m (52m) resulting in dilution to the overall intersection. This dyke was also intersected in holes LHDH076 and LHDH081 and its true width is estimated at 20-25m, indicating that it has a disproportionate impact on the overall grade of the intervals due to the angle of intersection with the drill hole. LHDH084 was drilled from south to north across the Fenix Zone in the opposite direction from the LHDH081 series holes. The hole terminated in high-grade mineralization due to rig capacity at 1,500.0m, resulting in a partial Fenix Zone intersection of 390.0m grading 1.02% Cu, 0.15 g/t Au and 187ppm Mo. The southern contact of the Fenix Zone was intersected at a depth of 1,110.0m which puts it 250m due south of the northern contact as intersected in hole LHDH081, establishing a minimum horizontal width for the zone. This hole ended 100m to the southeast of the end of LHDH081-2. LHDH086 intersected the Alicanto Zone from 938.0m to 1,042.0m and returned 0.60% Cu and 0.14 g/t Au, including a higher-grade interval of 44.0m with 0.75% Cu and 0.22 g/t Au. This intersection is 60m to the west of the discovery hole, LHDH078, and the zone remains open in several directions beyond it. 2022/23 LOS HELADOS DRILL PROGRAM OVERVIEW Los Helados contains at least three distinct high-grade zones hosted within well-defined structural corridors that cross cut the large breccia body that hosts the deposit; the Alicanto Zone, the Condor Zone, and the Fenix Zone. The current drilling program is focused on defining the geometry and size of the Alicanto and Fenix Zones. Holes currently completed with assays pending, or in progress are outlined below: Holes Completed and in Progress LHDH085: Drilling from north to south to intersect the Fenix Zone 140m east of LHDH076. Complete, assays pending. LHDH086-1: Target 100m step-out to the east of LHDH078 on the Alicanto Zone. Complete, assays pending. LHDH086-2: Target 100m step-out to the south of LHDH078 on the Alicanto Zone. Complete, assays pending. LHDH087: Target to west of LHDH081-2 and LHDH084 on the Fenix Zone. In progress. LHDH088: Drilling from north to south, across the Fenix Zone between LHDH076 and LHDH084. In progress. NEXT STEPS The final two holes of the program are underway, supported by a directional drilling crew from STYR SpA, a leading provider of Devico directional drilling technology. The Company has also completed a comprehensive geophysical program to assist in targeting higher grade mineralization including a 3D IP/Resistivity survey, a drone magnetics survey, and a magneto-telluric survey. Results are currently being processed and will help guide a comprehensive interpretation combined with the results of the current drilling program. ABOUT NGEX MINERALS NGEx Minerals is a copper and gold exploration company based in Canada with projects in Chile and Argentina. NGEx Minerals holds the large-scale Los Helados copper-gold deposit, located in Chile's Region III, as well as the Potro Cliffs and Valle Ancho Projects located in Argentina. NGEx Minerals is the majority partner and operator for the Los Helados Project, subject to a Joint Exploration Agreement with Nippon Caserones Resources Co., Ltd. NGEx Minerals' near-term focus is on expanding the high-grade core of Los Helados and drilling the Potro Cliffs target located between Los Helados and the Filo del Sol deposit. The Company is listed on the TSXV under the trading symbol "NGEX". QUALIFIED PERSONS AND TECHNICAL NOTES The scientific and technical disclosure for the Los Helados Project included in this news release have been reviewed and approved by Bob Carmichael, B.A.Sc., P.Eng. who is the Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Carmichael is Vice President, Exploration for the Company. Samples were cut at NGEx Resources' operations base in Copiapo, Chile by Company personnel. Diamond drill core was sampled in 2 metre intervals (except where shortened by geological contacts) using a rock saw. Core diameter is a mix of HQ and NQ depending on the depth of the drill hole. Samples were bagged and tagged and packaged for shipment by truck to the ALS preparation laboratory in Copiapo, Chile where they were crushed and a 500g split was pulverized to 85% passing 200 mesh. The prepared samples were sent to the ALS assay laboratories in either Lima, Peru or Santiago, Chile for copper, gold and silver assays, and multi-element ICP and sequential copper analyses. ALS is an accredited laboratory which is independent of the Company. Gold assays were by fire assay fusion with AAS finish on a 30g sample. Copper and silver were assayed by atomic absorption following a 4-acid digestion. Samples were also analyzed for a suite of 49 elements with ME-MS61 and a sequential copper leach analysis was completed on each sample with copper greater than 500ppm (0.05%). Copper and gold standards as well as blanks and duplicates (field, preparation and analysis) were randomly inserted into the sampling sequence for Quality Control. On average, 9% of the submitted samples are Quality Control samples. No data quality problems were indicated by the QA/QC program. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Neither the TSXV nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. The information contained in this news release was accurate at the time of dissemination but may be superseded by subsequent news release(s). The Company is under no obligation, nor does it intend to update or revise the forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. On behalf of NGEx Minerals, Wojtek Wodzicki, President and CEO Additional information relating to NGEx Minerals Ltd. may be obtained or viewed on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com or on the Company's website at www.ngexminerals.com. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements made and information contained herein in the news release constitutes "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking information"). All statements other than statements of historical facts included in this document constitute forward-looking information, including but not limited to, statements regarding: the nature and timing of the work to be undertaken to advance the Los Helados Project and the potential for the discovery of extensions of mineralized zones and new exploration targets; the ability of the Company to complete the planned program; the potential of the current drill program to add higher grade material to the Los Helados resource; Words 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 and similar expressions identify forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is necessarily based upon various estimates and assumptions including, without limitation, the expectations and beliefs of management regarding the nature, scope and timing of the work to be undertaken to advance the Los Helados Project. While the Company anticipates completing its planned drill program, it may encounter unexpected drilling and other challenges, costs, or delays that could prevent the Company from completing the program on the expected timeline or at all. Any future drilling is dependent on results from this year's program and the Company securing additional funding. This program could be delayed or not be carried out at all. Although the Company believes that these factors and expectations are reasonable as at the date of this document in light of management's experience and perception of current conditions and expected developments, these statements are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking statements and undue reliance should not be placed on such statements and information. Such factors include, without limitation: the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic and the risk that an intensification of the pandemic or an outbreak at the project could impact the company's ability to carry out the program and could cause the program to be shut down, estimations of costs, and permitting time lines; ability to obtain environmental permits, surface rights and property interests in a timely manner; currency exchange rate fluctuations; requirements for additional capital; changes in the Company's share price; changes to government regulation of mining activities; environmental risks; unanticipated reclamation or remediation expenses; title disputes or claims; disputes with surface rights owners, limitations on insurance coverage, fluctuations in the current price of and demand for commodities; material adverse changes in general business and economic conditions in Chile; the availability of financing if and when needed on reasonable terms; risks related to material labour disputes, accidents, or failure of plant or equipment; and other risks, uncertainties and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with Canadian securities regulators which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com under the Company's profile. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is based on information available to the Company as at the date of this news release. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not undertake any obligation to publicly update and/or revise any of the included forward-looking information, whether as a result of additional information, future events and/or otherwise. Forward-looking information is provided for the purpose of providing information about management's current expectations and plans and allowing investors and others to get a better understanding of the Company's operating environment. 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. 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 the forward-looking information contained in this document is qualified by these cautionary statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information due to the inherent uncertainty thereof. Cautionary Note to U.S. Readers Information concerning the mineral properties of the Company contained in this news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Canadian securities laws, which differ in material respects from the requirements of securities laws of the United States applicable to U.S. companies subject to the reporting and disclosure requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. Follow Us Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2023) - HighGold Mining Inc. (TSXV: HIGH) (OTCQX: HGGOF) ("HighGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced upsized non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") (see news release dated April 5, 2023). The Offering was oversubscribed, and a total of 14,029,243 common shares of the Company (each, a "Share") have been issued at a price of $0.66 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $9,259,300. In connection with the Offering, an existing strategic shareholder of the Company exercised their participation rights under an investor rights agreement with the Company to maintain their 9.9% interest, subscribing for 1,420,000 Shares at $0.66 per Share for proceeds of $937,200. The $9,259,300 in aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering is inclusive of the $937,200 from the strategic shareholder. "With the closing of the financing, HighGold has $16 million in working capital, placing us in a strong position to advance our core asset, the Johnson Tract Gold Project in Alaska," commented President & CEO Darwin Green. "We are very pleased to welcome new shareholders to HighGold's registry and equally appreciative of the support of existing major shareholders that participated in the financing. HighGold now looks forward to putting these funds to work as we finalize plans for our 2023 exploration program." The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for exploration and development initiatives in connection with the Company's Johnson Tract project and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory four-month and one day hold period in Canada expiring August 12, 2023. A total of $28,263 in finders' fees are payable as a cash commission to arm's length finders in connection with the closing of the Offering. Certain insiders of the Company (collectively, the "Related Parties") participated in the Offering and subscribed for an aggregate of 133,052 Shares for gross proceeds of $87,814. These constitute related party transactions pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements, respectively, as at the closing of the Offering, neither the fair market value of the Shares issued in connection with the Offering, nor the fair market value of the consideration received by the Company for same, insofar as it involved the Related Parties, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The closing of the Offering is subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. About HighGold HighGold is a mineral exploration company focused on high-grade gold projects located in North America. HighGold's flagship asset is the high-grade Johnson Tract Gold-Zinc-Copper Project located in accessible Southcentral Alaska, USA. The Company also controls one of the largest junior gold miner land positions in the Timmins, Ontario gold camp. This includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, which is renowned for its high-grade mineralization, and the large Golden Mile and Timmins South properties. HighGold also has 100% ownership of a group of properties in Yukon's emerging new Selwyn Basin Reduced Intrusive Related Gold district. HighGold's experienced Board and senior management team, are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration. On Behalf of HighGold Mining Inc. "Darwin Green" President & CEO For further information, please visit the HighGold Mining Inc. website at www.highgoldmining.com, or contact: Darwin Green, President & CEO or Naomi Nemeth, VP Investor Relations Phone: 1-604-629-1165 or North American toll-free 1-855-629-1165 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.highgoldmining.com Twitter : @HighgoldMining 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. Forward looking statements: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively "forward looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, the ability of the Company to obtain requisite approvals for the Offering, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Golden Independence Mining Corp. (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 6NNA) (the "Company" or "Golden Independence") is pleased to announce it has expanded its exploration-stage Napoleon gold project in the Kamloops Mining Division of British Columbia. The Company has increased the project's size by about 506 acres or 20% to 3,168 acres through direct staking based on prospective historical sampling results. The Napoleon project represents a contiguous 3,168-hectare land position which is wholly owned with no underlying royalties. The Company has engaged Tripoint Geological Services of Victoria, BC, to plan for an upcoming exploration program which is anticipated to commence this quarter. "We have been able to significantly expand our exciting Napoleon project land position by almost 20%, with the new grounds demonstrating gold mineralization based on a thorough analysis of historical records," commented Jeremy Poirier, CEO of Golden Independence. "We are actively working to formalize an exploration program in the coming weeks which is facilitated by year-round project access and strong established infrastructure." The Company also announces an agreement with Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC ("EMC") (Address: 390 North Orange Ave. Suite 2300, Orlando, FL, 32801; email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; phone: + 321-206-6682) for marketing services for up to six months, commencing April 17th, 2023 which is renewable or cancelable anytime within the term. EMC will utilize their online programs with the aim of increasing investor awareness and attracting potential new investors through various online platforms and methods of engagement in consideration of US$150,000. The promotional activity will occur by YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Google. EMC is an arm's length service provider and does not have any prior relationship with the Company. About Golden Independence Mining Corp. Golden Independence Mining Corp. is a development company currently focused on the advanced-stage Independence project located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mine's Phoenix-Fortitude mine in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend of Nevada in addition to the wholly-owned Napoleon gold project located in the Kamloops Mining Division of BC. The Independence project hosts an M&I resource of 334,300 ounces of gold and an Inferred resource of 847,000 ounces of gold with a substantial silver credit. A 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined a low-cost heap leach operation focusing on the near-surface resource with total production of 195,443 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,078 per ounce of gold. The Napoleon project is comprised of over 1,000 hectares and prospective for multiple-forms of gold mineralization, with exploration in the area dating back to the 1970's with the discovery of high-grade gold. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), a director and president of Golden Independence Mining and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Jeremy Poirier, Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 1.604.722.9842 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This press release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation) that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information includes statements based on current expectations of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and, as such, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the commencement of the exploration program at the Napoleon project and the exploration potential of the Napoleon project.. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information in this news release, including without limitation, inherent risks associated with the mining industry and the results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties, stock market volatility and capital market fluctuations, general market and industry conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion & analysis. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. This forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management on the date hereof and is expressly qualified by this notice. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada at www.sedar.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by applicable law. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - VALOREM RESOURCES INC. (CSE: VALU) (FSE: X37) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that, effective as of April 13, 2023, Sir Samuel Jonah (KBE, OSG) has been appointed as a senior advisor to the Company. Sir Samuel Jonah Sir Samuel Jonah has significant experience and expertise in the global mining sector, especially in Africa. He has extensive listed company experience, having served on the boards of various public and private companies, including Ashanti Goldfields, Anglo Ashanti, Moto Gold Mines, Vodafone Group plc, the Global Advisory Council of the Bank of America corporation and Standard Bank Group, Roscan Gold and a Non-Executive Director of Grit Real Estate Income Group Limited. Sir Samuel Jonah is currently the Chairman of Helios Towers, a leading independent telecoms infrastructure company, focused on Africa and the Middle East, listed on the London Stock Exchange. Sir Samuel Jonah is the Chancellor of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. He joined Ashanti Goldfields Corporation in 1979, working in various capacities, including underground operations. At the age of 36, he became the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and supervised the transformation of Ashanti Goldfields into a mining multinational, increased gold production from 240,000 ounces per annum to over 1.6 million ounces in over ten years, and oversaw the company's listing as the first operating African company on the New York Stock Exchange. He became Executive President of Anglo Ashanti Ltd. (world second largest gold producer at the time) in May 2004 when Ashanti merged with AngloGold Limited. Sir Samuel Jonah was instrumental in creating and building Uramin Inc., from a start-up AIM London listed junior uranium mining company to the sale of the company is less then 24 months for $2.4 Billion. Sir Samuel Jonah also played a significant role in transforming Equinox Minerals from a $60 Million market capitalization company to a $7.4 Billion company before selling to Barrick. In addition, he took Moto Gold from a $50 Million market capitalization company to a $546 Million company before selling to Rangold. Moto Gold discovered the Kabali gold mine in DRC, which is now one of Barrick Gold's largest producing mines. In June 2003, Sir Jonah became the first Ghanaian to be knighted in the 21st century when he was presented with an honorary knighthood in recognition of his achievements as an African businessman, a leading business executive from the Commonwealth, and an international public figure. Sir Jonah was elected in 2018 as a foreign member of the United States National Academy of Engineering in recognition of his distinguished leadership and technical contributions to engineering and for advancing the mineral industry in Africa. Sir Jonah had his high-school education at Adisadel College, in Cape Coast, Ghana, then earned an Associateship in Mining Engineering at the Camborne School of Mines, Cornwall, England, and subsequently a M.Sc. in Mine Management at the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. Sir Jonah has an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) degree awarded jointly by the Camborne School of Mines and the University of Exeter (UK) in 1996. In 2022, Sir Jonah was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science (D.Sc.) by the Imperial College of Science and Technology, London. Tony Louie, Interim CEO and Director of Valorem, commented: "I am delighted to welcome Sir Samuel Jonah to Valorem as a senior advisor. Sir Samuel Jonah brings with him invaluable experience and knowledge of the African mining industry and will make a significant contribution to the growth of our company." About Valorem Resources Inc. Valorem Resources is a mineral exploration company working on a Tier-1 gold opportunity in the Democratic Republic of the Congo ("DRC"), located in the Fizi territory of South Kivu province, in the DRC. The Misisi Gold Project (or the "Project") has a contained Inferred Mineral Resource of 3 million ounces of gold as reported in the Company's National Instrument 43-101 technical report on the Misisi Gold Project (the "Technical Report"). The Project is located 250 kilometres south of Bukavu, the provincial capital of the South Kivu Province, in the DRC. The Project is comprised of three contiguous 30-year mining leases, valid until 2045, covering 133 square kilometres of prospective exploration ground along the 55-kilometre-long Kibara Gold Belt. The Kibara Belt is a well-known metallogenic province and hosts a number of other deposits including the Twangiza (5.1 Moz oz Au, source: S&P Global) and Namoya (1.9 Moz, source: S&P Global) gold mines. The Project is host to the Akyanga deposit, which is the subject to Inferred Resource of 44.3 million tonnes at an average grade of 2.16 grams per tonne gold containing 3.0 million ounces. Qualified Person Ephraim Masibhera, a "Qualified Person" as defined by National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), has reviewed the scientific and technical information that forms the basis for this news release and has approved the disclosure herein. Historical information contained in this news release cannot be relied upon as the Company's Qualified Person, as defined under NI 43-101 has not prepared nor verified the historical information. This news release also includes references with respect to the Twangiza (5.1 Moz oz Au, source: S&P Global) and Namoya (1.9 Moz, source: S&P Global) gold mines, which are located near the Misisi Gold Project. The Company advises that, notwithstanding their proximity of location, discoveries of minerals on such properties, any promising results thereof are not necessarily indicative of the mineralization of, or located on the Misisi Gold Project, or the Company's ability to commercially exploit the minerals claims which comprise the property or to locate any commercially exploitable deposits therefrom. For more information on the Misisi Gold Project, please refer to the Technical Report filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Tony Louie, Interim CEO and Director Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Office: +1 (604) 908-1679 Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Excellon Resources Inc. (TSX: EXN) (OTCQB: EXNRF) (FRA: E4X2) ("Excellon" or the "Company") is pleased to announce a non-brokered private placement of up to 28,571,428 subscription receipts of the Company (the "Subscription Receipts") at a price of C$0.35 per Subscription Receipt (the "Offering Price") for aggregate gross proceeds to the Company of up to approximately C$10,000,000 (the "Offering"). Following completion of the Company's previously announced acquisition (the "Acquisition")1 of the issued and outstanding shares of Minera La Negra, S.A. de C.V., the owner of the permitted, past-producing La Negra mine ("La Negra") located in Queretaro State, Mexico, the net proceeds of the Offering are expected to be used to advance development of La Negra, fund exploration at La Negra and for general corporate purposes. Acquisition Summary1: Excellon entered into a definitive agreement with Dalu S.a.r.l., an entity controlled by Orion Resource Partners, (the " Seller ") to acquire La Negra for up to US$50 million 2 . ") to acquire La Negra for up to . Upfront consideration totaling US$20 million in common shares in the capital of the Company (" Common Shares ") at a price of C$0.48 per Common Share. in common shares in the capital of the Company (" ") at a price of per Common Share. Up to US$30 million in deferred consideration payments after declaration of commercial production at La Negra, at the Company's option payable in cash or Common Shares. in deferred consideration payments after declaration of commercial production at La Negra, at the Company's option payable in cash or Common Shares. The Company and the Seller have agreed to extend the timeline to complete the Acquisition to no later than June 15, 2023 .3 La Negra Project1: Fully permitted, past producing mine with established infrastructure and historical payable production averaging +3.0 million silver-equivalent (" AgEq ") ounces (" oz ") annually. ") ounces (" ") annually. Indicated Mineral Resources of approximately 15.1 million oz AgEq at 191 g/t AgEq and Inferred Mineral Resources of approximately 41.8 million AgEq oz at 202 g/t AgEq. Completed Preliminary Economic Assessment (" PEA ") demonstrates a post-tax NPV 5% of US$132.4 million . ") demonstrates a post-tax NPV of . Estimated restart capital of US$20.9 million based on the PEA. based on the PEA. Target annual payable production of +3.0 million oz AgEq annually at an estimated cash cost of US$12.95 per AgEq oz. per AgEq oz. Polymetallic production mix: 43% Ag, 26% Zn, 23% Cu, 7% Pb by NSR contribution. Near-term restart of La Negra: 12-18 month development plan de-risking mine restart. The Subscription Receipts will be created and issued pursuant to the terms of a subscription receipt agreement (the "Subscription Receipt Agreement") between a third party escrow agent, as subscription receipt agent (the "Subscription Receipt Agent"), and the Company. Each Subscription Receipt will entitle the holder thereof to receive, for no additional consideration and without further action on the part of the holder thereof, one unit of the Company comprised of one Common Share and one Common Share purchase warrant of the Company (a "Warrant"), subject to adjustment in certain events, upon the satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined in the Subscription Receipt Agreement), including the satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the completion of the Acquisition, at or before 5:00 p.m. (Toronto time) on the Escrow Release Deadline (as defined in the Subscription Receipt Agreement). Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one Common Share at a price of C$0.55 per Common Share for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Offering, subject to adjustment in certain events. In connection with the Offering, provided the Escrow Release Conditions are satisfied, certain arm's-length parties may receive a cash finder's fee payment and/or warrants to purchase Common Shares in consideration of Subscription Receipts that are sold to subscribers introduced by such parties. Upon closing of the Offering, the aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering will be deposited in escrow with the Subscription Receipt Agent pending satisfaction or waiver of the Escrow Release Conditions, in accordance with the provisions of the Subscription Receipt Agreement. Unless the requisite approval is obtained pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of the Subscription Receipt Agreement, if the Escrow Release Conditions are not satisfied at or before the Escrow Release Deadline, each of the then issued and outstanding Subscription Receipts will be cancelled and the Subscription Receipt Agent will return to each holder of Subscription Receipts an amount equal to the aggregate Offering Price of the Subscription Receipts held by such holder plus an amount equal to the holder's pro rata share of any interest or other income earned on the escrowed funds (less applicable withholding tax, if any). To the extent that the escrowed funds are insufficient to refund such amounts to each holder of the Subscription Receipts, the Company shall be liable for and will contribute such amounts as are necessary to satisfy the shortfall. The Offering is expected to close on or about May 4, 2023 and is subject to certain conditions including, but not limited to, the receipt of all necessary approvals, including the approval of the Toronto Stock Exchange. The Subscription Receipts will be offered: (a) by way of private placement in each of the provinces of Canada pursuant to applicable exemptions from the prospectus requirements under applicable Canadian securities laws; (b) in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons, by way of private placement pursuant to the exemptions from the registration requirements provided for under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"); and (c) in jurisdictions outside of Canada and the United States on a private placement or equivalent basis. The securities to be issued pursuant to the Offering will be subject to a four-month hold period in Canada pursuant to applicable Canadian securities laws. The securities offered have not been, nor will they be, registered under the U.S. Securities Act, or any state securities law, and may not be offered or sold in the United States or to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons absent registration or an exemption from such registration requirements. This news release shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy in the United States nor shall there be any sale of the securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful. __________________________________ 1 For further details on the Acquisition and La Negra (including the PEA and mineral resources) refer to Excellon's news release dated January 9, 2023 and the technical report entitled "Technical Report Preliminary Economic Assessment Study, La Negra Mine, Minera La Negra S.A. de C.V., Caderyta de Montes (Maconi), Queretaro, Mexico" dated June 29, 2022 with an effective date of March 31, 2022 (the "La Negra Technical Report") available under Excellon's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) and on the Company's website (www.excellonresources.com), as well as the Cautionary Statements at the end of this news release. 2 As previously disclosed in Excellon's news release dated January 9, 2023, 60% of the purchase consideration will be paid to the Seller for all of its shares of the holding company of La Negra and 40% will be paid to Grupo Desarrollador Migo, S.A.P.I. de C.V. for the termination of existing joint venture arrangements regarding La Negra. 3 As previously disclosed in the "Corporate Update" section of Excellon's news release dated April 3, 2023 announcing the Company's financial and operating results for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022, the Company was in discussions with the Seller regarding an extension of the timeline to complete the Acquisition to no later than the end of June 2023 (as opposed to the April 2023 target dates announced on January 9, 2023). Copies of such prior news releases are available under Excellon's profile on SEDAR and on Excellon's website. About Excellon Excellon's vision is to realize opportunities through the acquisition of advanced development or producing assets with further potential to gain from an experienced operational management team for the benefit of our employees, communities and shareholders. The Company is advancing a portfolio of silver, base metals and precious metals assets including Kilgore, an advanced gold exploration project in Idaho; and Silver City, a high-grade epithermal silver district in Saxony, Germany with 750 years of mining history and no modern exploration. The Company has also entered into an agreement to acquire La Negra, a past-producing Ag-Zn-Cu-Pb mine with exploration potential, located in Mexico. Additional details on Excellon's properties are available at www.excellonresources.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS All statements, other than statements of historical fact, contained, referenced or incorporated by reference in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" and "forward looking information" (collectively, "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as: "advance", "deferred", "de-risking", "development", "expected", "exploration", "following", "further", "later", "near-term", "opportunities", "option", "payable", "plan", "potential", "preliminary", "restart", "subject to", "target", "upon", and "vision", or variations of such words, and similar such words, expressions or statements that certain actions, events or results can, could, may, should, will (or not) be achieved, occur, provide, result or support in the future or which, by their nature, refer to future events. In some cases, forward-looking information may be stated in the present tense, such as in respect of current matters that may be continuing, or that may have a future impact or effect. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding the structure and terms of the Offering; the use of proceeds of the Offering the timing and ability of the Company to close the Offering; any finder's fee payments, in cash or warrants to purchase Common Shares; the timing and ability of the Company to receive necessary approvals; the timing and ability of the Company to close the Acquisition (including timing thereof); the restart of mining operations and/or commercial production at La Negra (including strategy, plans, critical work streams, development activities and resulting further analysis, timing, costs, capital requirements, permitting, achieving commercial production, mine plan, production); exploration at La Negra; the La Negra PEA including any financial and/or economic metrics and other results or conclusions or recommendations thereof (including restart recommendation and the following which are all estimates only: AgEq oz, cash costs and capital costs, production, NPV, and NSR contribution); and Excellon's vision. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct, and any forward-looking statements by the Company are not guarantees of future actions, results or performance. Forward-looking statements are based on assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions, which are considered reasonable and represent best judgment based on available facts, as of the date such statements are made. If such assumptions, estimates, expectations and opinions prove to be incorrect, actual and future results may be materially different than expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are inherently subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors which may cause the actual results or performance of the Company to be materially different from any future results or performance expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. Such risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors include, among others, the "Risk Factors" in the Company's annual information form dated March 31, 2023 (the "2023 AIF"), and the risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors identified in this news release, the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis, and accompanying financial statements, for the year ended December 31, 2022 (collectively, the "FYE 2022 Financial Disclosure"), the La Negra Technical Report, the Excellon news releases referenced in this news release, and the Company's other applicable public disclosure (collectively, "Company Disclosure"). The foregoing list of risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors is not exhaustive; readers should consult the more complete discussion of the Company's business, financial condition and prospects that is provided in the 2023 AIF and the other aforementioned Company Disclosure. The forward-looking statements referenced or contained in this news release are expressly qualified by these Cautionary Statements as well as the Cautionary Statements in the FYE 2022 Financial Disclosure, the 2023 AIF and the other referenced Company Disclosure. Forward-looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release (or as otherwise expressly specified) and the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by applicable laws. Mineral Resources Until mineral deposits are actually mined and processed, mineral resources must be considered as estimates only. Mineral resource estimates that are not classified as mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability. The estimation of mineral resources is inherently uncertain, involves subjective judgement about many relevant factors and may be materially affected by, among other things, environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties, contingencies and other factors described in the foregoing Cautionary Statements on Forward-Looking Statements. The quantity and grade of reported "inferred" mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "inferred" mineral resource estimates as an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading "inferred" mineral resource estimates to an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource category. The accuracy of any mineral resource estimates is a function of the quantity and quality of available data, and of the assumptions made and judgments used in engineering and geological interpretation, which may prove to be unreliable and depend, to a certain extent, upon the analysis of drilling results and statistical inferences that may ultimately prove to be inaccurate. The quantity and grade of "inferred" mineral resource estimates are uncertain in nature and there has been insufficient exploration to define "inferred" mineral resource estimates as an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in upgrading "inferred" mineral resource estimates to an "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource category. Mineral resource estimates may have to be re-estimated based on, among other things: (i) fluctuations in mineral prices; (ii) results of drilling and development; (iii) results of geological and structural modeling including stope design; (iv) metallurgical testing and other testing; (v) proposed mining operations including dilution; and (vi) the possible failure to receive and/or maintain required permits, licenses and other approvals. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of a "inferred", "indicated" or "measured" mineral resource estimate will ever be upgraded to a higher category including a mineral reserve. Mineral resource estimates disclosed by the Company were estimated and reported in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI 43-101") using Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum ("CIM") Definition Standards for Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves (the "CIM Standards"), which govern the public disclosure of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects by Canadian issuers such as Excellon, and applying the CIM's Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves Best Practices guidelines (as applicable). For additional discussion of the Company's mineral resource estimates at La Negra, as well as an overall more detailed discussion of such project, the reader should refer to the 2023 AIF and the La Negra Technical Report. U.S. Readers The terms "mineral resource", "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource" as disclosed by the Company are Canadian mining terms defined in the CIM Standards (collectively, the "CIM Definitions") in accordance with NI 43-101. NI 43-101 establishes standards for all public disclosure that a Canadian issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. These Canadian standards differ from the requirements of the SEC applicable to United States domestic and certain foreign reporting companies under Subpart 1300 of Regulation S-K ("S-K 1300"). Accordingly, information describing mineral resource estimates for the Company's projects and La Negra, may not be comparable to similar information publicly reported in accordance with the applicable requirements of the SEC, and so there can be no assurance that any mineral resource estimate for the Company's projects or La Negra would be the same had the estimates been prepared per the SEC's reporting and disclosure requirements under applicable United States federal securities laws, and the rules and regulations thereunder, including but not limited to S-K 1300. Further, there is no assurance that any mineral resource or mineral reserve estimate that the Company may report under NI 43-101 would be the same had the Company prepared such estimates under S-K 1300. Preliminary Economic Assessments (or PEAs) A PEA, including the La Negra PEA, is only a conceptual study of the potential viability of the subject project's mineral resource estimates, and the economic and technical viability of the project and its estimated mineral resources has not been demonstrated. A PEA is preliminary in nature and provides only an initial, high-level review of the subject project's potential and design options; there is no certainty that a PEA will be realized. The conceptual LOM plan and economic model in a PEA include numerous assumptions and mineral resource estimates including inferred mineral resource estimates. Inferred mineral resource estimates are considered to be too speculative geologically to have any economic considerations applied to such estimates. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility studies, pre-feasibility studies or other economic studies, except in prescribed cases, such as in a preliminary economic assessment under certain circumstances. There is no guarantee that inferred mineral resource estimates will be converted to indicated or measured mineral resources, or that indicated or measured mineral resources can be converted to mineral reserves. Mineral resources that are not mineral reserves do not have demonstrated economic viability, and as such there is no guarantee the economics described in any PEA, including the La Negra PEA, will be achieved. Mineral resource estimates may be materially affected by environmental, permitting, legal, title, taxation, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant risks, uncertainties and other factors, as more particularly described in the foregoing other Cautionary Statements of this news release. Qualified Persons Mr. Paul Keller, P. Eng., Chief Operating Officer of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined in NI 43101 (a "QP"), reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information relating to operations and production results contained in this news release. Mr. Jorge Ortega, M.Sc., P.Geo., Vice President Exploration of the Company and a QP, reviewed, verified and approved the scientific and technical information relating to geological interpretation and results contained in this news release. VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / December 22, 2021 / Fabled Copper Corp. (" Fabled Copper " or the " Company ") (CSE:FABL) is pleased to announce that the spinout transaction conducted by Fabled Silver and Gold Corp. (" Fabled Silver ") distributing all the shares it held in the Company to the... Read More A court in Peru sentenced the country's former military intelligence chief to 12 years in prison on Thursday over his role in the 1988 murder of a journalist. Daniel Urresti Elera was found to have been complicit in the killing of Hugo Bustios Saavedra, a reporter for weekly magazine Caretas, the court ruled. Bustios was killed during a plain-clothed military patrol in the Andean region of Ayacucho. Urresti was part of the patrol, which took place in the epicenter of an armed conflict, but he maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Saavedra's murder had been blamed on the country's now defunct Shining Path rebel group, which was active during the 1980s and 1990s. But witnesses said that Bustios had been deliberately targeted by the patrol, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The trial was the second in the same case against Urresti after the Supreme Court in 2019 overturned a ruling made the previous year that had acquitted him. Two decades of fighting between the rebels and security forces left 69,000 people dead or missing, according to Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Benjamin Berell Ferencz was the last living Nuremberg prosecutor. He passed away during the night of April 7-8, in his 104th year. Born on March 11, 1920 into a Jewish family, he left Romania at the age of nine months and crossed the Atlantic with his family in the third class of an ocean liner, then lived in a basement in Hell's Kitchen, New York. He combined the American dream with personal determination and was one of the pioneers in the development of contemporary international law. In his autobiography, he wrote that he learned early on "never to blow out the candle of life until its time has come. It seemed to his friends that Bennys time would never come, he was "too busy saving the world" as he repeated in recent years. He seemed to have been forgotten by the Fates. Having miraculously risen from poverty, Ferencz decided, upon receiving his doctorate in law from Harvard, to join the armed forces. In December 1943, he was deployed to England with the 115th Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion. On guard duty in the early hours of June 6, 1944, in the extreme south of England, he saw the skies darken with the planes of Operation Overlord. Ferencz landed at Omaha Beach in Normandy and fought throughout the French campaign, then the Battle of the Ardennes, and went on to Berchtesgaden in Germany. He wrote that one of the most gratifying experiences of my life was to feel the gratitude and warmth of the French people who were liberated from German occupation by American troops. () It was a heartwarming and emotional demonstration of the value of freedomwhich Americans as well as others too often take for granted. Benjamin Ferencz in 1943 at the Harvard University library. His law degree in hand, the young American enlisted in an artillery battalion and took part in the liberation of France. Ferencz Family Archives Investigator and law of war pioneer In December 1944, he joined the Judge Advocate General's Corps of the Third Army, commanded by General George Patton. Few jurists were under arms at the time, and even fewer had already thought about the law applicable to war criminals. Benjamin Ferencz was one of them, having assisted law professor Sheldon Glueck in 1942 in the writing of articles and two pioneering works, in particular "War Criminals, their prosecution and punishment". A forerunner among legal intellectuals, Ferencz was one of the first investigators working on war crimes, even as the war was still raging. His first investigations concerned the lynching of Allied pilots. He then participated in April 1945 in the liberation of the camps of Ohrdruf and Buchenwald, developing a technique. As soon as he entered a camp, he rushed to the Schreibstube, the camp office, and seized the Totenbucher, the death registers containing the names of the prisoners and the false causes of their death. He seized frightening exhibits, such as two shrunken human heads, which were later produced at Nuremberg. He then moved on to the camps of Flossenberg, Mathausen, Ebensee and Dachau. Then he set out on the trail of art dealers in Bavaria, and finally returned to New York in December 1945. At the end of the First World War, it was felt that the conflict had been a terrible interruption, but only an interruption, in the historical progress of a reasonable civilization. After the Second World War, it was not at all the same. Ferencz drew from his experience of war a deep determination to try and prevent it. He admitted the potential for the crime to happen again, but considered that only justice could legitimately respond to it. He wrote: I was keenly aware that there was no way for the scales of justice to balance the murder of more than a million innocent human beings against the lives of two dozen of their executioners. It was my hope that the trial would serve a more useful and enduring purpose; that it might somehow help to deter the repetition of such horrors in the future. Benjamin Ferencz, chief prosecutor at 27 Contacted by the entourage of Robert H. Jackson, the US Attorney General at Nuremberg who was looking to strengthen his legal team, Benjamin Ferencz was assigned as a branch chief in Berlin, responsible for gathering evidence. In the spring of 1947, one of his investigators discovered a virtually complete set of secret Gestapo reports in an annex of the Foreign Office. These reports described the daily activities of the Einsatzgruppen, special units that had been liquidating Jews, perceived political opponents and other "undesirables" for two years after the invasion of the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941. Counting the number of executions on a small calculating machine, Ferencz stopped his macabre counting when he got to one million dead. When counting decades later, Ben would still mimic this calculator that must have looked like some kind of one-armed bandit. He reported his discovery to General Telford Taylor, now chief prosecutor for the American trials at Nuremberg, who realized the importance of this evidence. But any further funding in addition to the Nuremberg trials already planned by the Pentagon was ruled out. When Taylor asked him if he could take on this trial in addition to his original duties, Ferencz became chief prosecutor at age 27 of what became the biggest murder trial in history. On the first day of the trial, Ferencz echoed Jackson's words from two years earlier at the opening of the Nuremberg trials: "We ask this court to affirm, through international criminal action, the right of man to live in peace and dignity, regardless of race or religion. The case we present here is a call of humanity to the law. When Benjamin Ferencz told the court that he would prove that the defendants had killed a million people, the impression in the courtroom was that these were vague estimates. The evidence would soon prove otherwise. Despite the mass of evidence gathered and the thousands of Einsatzgruppen arrested, Ferencz was only able to bring 24 into the courtroom. There was no more room in the dock. He selected the highest-ranking officers, including six generals, and those with the best education from the names that were most frequently mentioned in Gestapo reports. While the evidence against the Einsatzgruppen leaders took only two days to present, the defence took 136 days in court. The court handed down 21 convictions, including 13 sentences of hanging. Slight figure and round cherubic face The President of the Court, Michael Musmanno, pays tribute to him in his writings: The active Chief prosecution is young Benjamin Ferencz, graduate of the Harvard Law School, thoroughly at home in the German language and veteran of an American combat outfit which saw active service in Germany. General Taylor assigned this young man to the task of analysing the captured Einsatzgruppen documents, drafting the indictment, locating the accused men in the various prisoner-of-war compounds, selecting assistant trial lawyers, and taking active part in the trial work, generally supervising the entire prosecution. His mammoth preliminary labours having been accomplished () He himself undertakes the responsibility of presenting the evidence (). Benjamin Ferencz is but four feet four inches high and when he stands at the podium his chin barely clears the lectern. Only 27 years of age, his slight figure and round cherubic face make him seem even younger. [In reality, his height was 160 centimetres]. This impromptu trial became a highlight of the American trials at Nuremberg because of the clarity of the accusation and evidence. As Taylor paid tribute in his writings, the facts and arguments were so simple that this trial was of great importance and dramatic intensity. Benjamin Ferencz speaks at the opening of an information and documentation centre in Nuremberg on 21 November 2010. At 90 years of age, he has become an icon of international justice. Armin Weigel / Pool / AFP After the great trial, the pursuit of reparations Benjamin Ferencz saw in this founding trial a promise. With Musmanno, he was convinced that - "Wherever the law exists, a court will rise", as the American judge put it. This certainty was to shape Ferencz's thinking and his activity for decades. As "director general" of the Jewish Restitution Successor Organization (JRSO), he set up reparation mechanisms for the victims of Hitler's regime - in particular through the restitution of property, the rescue of precious and religious objects, the re-appropriation of cemeteries, and compensation agreements. The results were mixed. Taylor, in the preface to the book Ferencz wrote about the experience, wrote: I believe that in time Germany will regret that their industrial leaders did not write a postwar record of generosity instead of the cold and niggardly one revealed in this book. A reparations agreement was signed, however, on September 10, 1952, in Luxembourg between West Germany and Israel. German Chancellor Konrad Adenauer borrowed Ferencz's fountain pen for this purpose. Ferencz continued until 1956 to promote reparation mechanisms, which initially amounted to one billion dollars, and more than 50 billion in 2003. After 1956, as a lawyer, he continued to represent the families of victims who did not benefit from these mechanisms, and in particular the victims of medical experiments who were east of the "Iron Curtain. But as the United States became bogged down in the war in Vietnam, several former American prosecutors at Nuremberg recalled that the essential lesson of these trials was that anyone, regardless of rank or condition, could be held accountable before an international tribunal. From January 1970 onwards, Ferencz personally undertook a vast research plan aimed at guaranteeing world peace through the criminalization of the crime of aggression. He contributed to the first elaboration of this criminal qualification by the General Assembly of the United Nations, and in December 1974 he published a book that would become a landmark in the history of the legal prohibition of acts of international aggression: "Defining International Aggression: The Search for World Peace". Since the law was gradually emerging, it was time to create an international court, according to Ferencz. In the early 1990s, he wrote "An International Criminal Court: Step toward World Peace" and this work, which was relayed by several American NGOs, resonated especially after the collapse of Yugoslavia and the Rwandan genocide, when part of the international community called for a shift from policies of stabilization by force to policies of stabilization by law. Benjamin Ferencz contributed, in Rome, to the conclusion of the treaty creating the International Criminal Court (ICC) in July 1998, and then in Kampala in June 2010 to the formulation of the crime of aggression and its inclusion in the Rome Statute. When the slowness of ratification of this special amendment became obvious, Ferencz first undertook a "tour of the capitals of the rule of law", and then explored new legal avenues, suggesting in particular to use the qualification of crime against humanity to repress acts of aggression. The repression of this crime of crimes that incorporates all the others became urgent for him. History proved him right, in a striking manner, on February 24, 2022. While the ICC is investigating the conflict in Ukraine but has no jurisdiction over the crime of aggression, will the path suggested ten years ago by Ferencz be explored? All his life he sought peace through law. He revered a sixteenth-century cartographer, Tycho Brahe, who had begun to map the infinite space of the sky -- in vain, according to his contemporaries. Benjamin Ferencz was one of the pioneers of an even larger space, that of peace and law, where he now rests. GUANGZHOU, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said distinctive rural industries have broad prospects. Xi made the remarks on Tuesday while visiting a village in the city of Maoming during his inspection trip to south China's Guangdong Province. He went to the village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, where he inspected a lychee orchard and an agricultural cooperative and commended the villagers' efforts to advance rural revitalization through developing the distinctive lychee industry. Noting that the place is a "hometown of lychees," Xi said it has distinctive features and advantages in growing lychees, which is an effective approach to promoting common prosperity and advancing rural revitalization. Yoo Ah In's agency claps back at reports about the actor's drug charges. The award-winning star faced another issue concerning his involvement with illegal substances. Did Yoo Ah In Use Zolpidem? It was after reports say that the "Seoul Vibe" star has been found to have allegedly used Zolpidem, a substance used to treat insomnia. Known as a "very strong sleeping pill," zolpidem is a sedative-hypnotic that slows down activity in the brain, allowing a person to fall asleep. While Yoo Ah In tested positive on four types of drugs like propofol, marijuana, cocaine, and ketamine after undergoing urine and hair strand tests, it has been said that police have found prescription records suggesting his usage of zolpidem. The recent action was amid the continued investigation of the authorities regarding Yoo Ah In's drug case. In addition, police have reportedly raided medical facilities where the actor allegedly prescribed zolpidem. Yoo Ah In's Agency To Take Legal Action Against Malicious Rumors Following an update regarding Yoo Ah In's drug scandal, his agency, UAA released a statement, claiming that the report is "baseless." As obtained by a local media outlet, the talent label pointed out that they are "trying to correct the facts regarding the situation." Moreover, the agency said that undisclosed investigation details, such as the recent news regarding an alleged fifth drug, were brought out to the media "for unknown reasons." IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Yoo Ah In Reportedly Visits Itaewon Clubs Weekly to Use Drugs With Fellow Celebrities In addition, UAA hints that it is based on the informant's perspective and not through investigation. "The article was written based only on the witness of informant A. It was reported only through speculation without any confirmation of the facts," Yoo Ah In's agency raised. With this, UAA has warned of legal action against malicious rumors, in relation to the report. Yoo Ah In's Health Confition Led Him to Drug Usage After investigation proved that Yoo Ah In tested positive in four types of illegal drugs, his agency claimed that the prolific actor used propofol and ketamine for treatment but denied the use of cocaine. The same goes for propofol whom UAA admitted that the "Hellbound" star used the substance due to his "needle phobia." "He has a phobia of needles because he has been struggling with a skin condition and so he requested anesthesia for the treatments," the agency said, as obytained by a media outlet, Due to this, the actor received mixed reactions from the media and pointed out that he is making excuse to justify the drug abuse. Yoo Ah In's Drug Scandal Affects His Upcomiong Project Despite the public apology, Yoo Ah In's drug scandal had a massive blow in his career. He have decided to drop out from the upcoming sequel of "Hellbound" and weas replaced by Kim Sung Cheol. As for his movies and an upcoming K-drama, the premiere of "Goodbye Earth," "High Five," and "The Match" will be postponed for the time being. KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills As hit K-dramas like "Taxi Driver 2" and "Our Blooming Youth" is set to bid goodbye this week, a slew of new K-dramas is about to premiere this second week of April. From the highly anticipated team-up to interesting series featuring a unique storyline, viewers will witness a round of entertaining K-dramas that would surely make everyone hooked at every episode. Check out these four new K-dramas airing this second week of April 'Stealer: The Treasure Keeper' Set to hit the small screen this April 12, "Stealer: The Treasure Keeper" is a new action-adventure comedy series starring Joo Won. It follows the story of the mysterious cultural asset thief Skunk, played by the South Korean heartthrob. Interestingly, Joo Won is playing a double role as his character also works as a civil servant of the Cultural Heritage Administration and lives as Hwang Dae Myung. Joining him in the new series is the Team Karma led by Jang Tae In, played by Jo Han Chul along with Choi Min Woo (Lee Joo Woo), Shin Chang Hoon (Kim Jae Won), and Lee Chun Ja (Cha Hwa Jung). Viewers get to watch "Stealer: The Treasure Keeper" through tvN at 10:30 p.m. KST. 'Doctor Cha' Starring Uhm Jun Hwa, Myung Se Bin, Song Ji Ho, Kim Byung Chul and Min Woo Hyuk, "Doctor Cha" is a 16-part episode medical comedy K-drama helmed by Kim Dae Jin of "Kill Me, Heal Me" and "The King of Pigs." It focuses on the life of Cha Jung Sook, played by Uhm Jun Hwa, who is a housewife for 20 years but has decided to take a leap of faith and return to medical school. "Doctor Cha" which will air on April 15, will illustrate how her life will turn out as she fulfills her dreams. 'QueenMaker' One of the most talked about new K-dramas airing this April is non-other than the team-up between two top stars. Moon So Ri and Kim Hee Ae will be working together to make the impossible possible. Hwang Do Hee, played by Kim Hee Ae will transform labor rights lawyer, Oh Seung Sook, portrayed by Moon So Ri into the newest mayor of Seoul. She will be heads to heads against Baek Jae Min (Ryu Soo Young) who will be her biggest competitor. The 12-episode K-drama "QueenMaker" is scheduled to hit the small screen on April 14, exclusively on Netflix. 'Family: The Unbreakable Bond' From the most awaited K-drama to an exciting team-up, the new K-drama "Family: The Unbreakable Bond" is creating a buzz since it was first announced as ut features Jang Nara and Jang Hyuk as lead stars. The duo, who will be on their fourth project together will portray the role of a married couple. Jang Hyuk, who poses as an ordinary employee, Kwon Do Hoon, is a secret agent while Jang Nara, who plays Kang Yoo Ra, a dotting mother, and loving wife has a surprising secret. "Family: The Unbreakable Bond" will air its pilot episode on April 17 via tvN and Disney Plus. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: tvN Unveils Jang Hyuk's Shocking Transformation for New Series 'Family' KDramaStars owns this article Written by Geca Wills Kim Young Kwang talked about his thoughts on the A-graded Disney+ series "Call It Love," which airs its final episodes later this week. The actor also talked about his career plans and relationship with Lee Sung Kyung who also stars in the melodrama. Keep on reading. Kim Young Kwang Expresses Gratitude To 'Call It Love' Supporters With the final week of "Call It Love," Kim Young Kwang took the time to show his gratitude to his beloved fans! In an interview with a media outlet, the "Call It Love" actor recalled his most memorable moments in the series as well as his undeniable chemistry with close friend Lee Sung Kyung. "Call It Love" depicts the turbulent romance between two people who weren't meant to fall in love. In the series, Kim Young Kwang becomes a man full of woe who harbors feelings for someone who wants to take him down. The actor was able to showcase his flawless acting through the work. Kim Young Kwang also diversified his career spectrum with the sentimental genre. According to the actor, "Call It Love" was a huge challenge in his career as it depicted the different kinds of love that exhausted his character, making him miserable throughout his life. However, the great feedback and high praises motivated the actor to do his best. Kim Young Kwang said, "It's such a boost of confidence to receive compliments from the people I respect and adore. I will never forget that feeling. Kim Young Kwang Praises Co-Star Lee Sung Kyung's Performance "Call It Love" marked Kim Young Kwang and Lee Sung Kyung's first acting project together. The two were already close prior to the drama as they both began their careers as models. This gave them an advantage in acting comfortably with no dull moments. Their closeness even sparked dating rumors that also duped their director but the actors clarified that they're just friends. However, Kim Young Kwang admitted that Lee Sung Kyung does possess some of the traits she looks for in a woman. With this, Kim Young Kwang praised the actress for her immersive and emotional acting that Lee Sung Kyung hasn't done in any of her previous works before. "Lee Sung Kyung's mature acting was impressive. She was undoubtedly excellent," the actor said. "I'm grateful to be partnered with her through the work." Kim Young Kwang also shared that he's willing to act with his co-star again, preferably in a romantic comedy setting to showcase their impeccable chemistry and real-life closeness. On the other hand, "Call It Love" will release its final episodes on April 12 on Disney+! Don't miss it! KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. Seol In Ah gets surprised by a sudden truth about Jang Dong Yoon in the latest episode of "Oasis." Meanwhile, Chu Young Woo continuously tries to win her heart over. Read on to know what happened in "Oasis" episode 12. Lee Doo Hak Returns To South Korea At the end of the previous episode, it is revealed that Lee Doo Hak (Jang Dong Yoon), who was shot and left for dead, was alive after being saved by Choi Dong Pal (Kim Byung Ki). Three years have passed and he still hasn't returned home. Lee Doo Hak stayed in Japan and lived as a thug with Choi Dong Pal while sharpening his fighting skills. Coincidentally, Choi Cheol Woong (Chu Young Woo), his conniving younger brother, is on a business trip in Japan. In episode 12, Lee Doo Hak returns to South Korea as Lee Hyung Guk with the intention to avenge himself and the painful demise of his late father. Oh Jung Shin Turns Down Choi Cheol Woong Oh Jung Shin (Seol In Ah) tries to get by while her heart continues to be in pain due to Lee Doo Hak's disappearance. To commemorate their love, she reopens her family's theater. Choi Cheol Woong, who still tries to win her heart over, helps rebuild the theater. Despite being rejected by her childhood friend, his concern and affection for her continue to grow. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: 'Oasis' Episode 11: Seol In Ah Moves On From Jang Dong Yoon Meanwhile, Lee Doo Hak digs deep to find dirt on Choi Cheol Woong's family's real estate. He also visits his mother who shows her immense remorse for what they did to the former. His heart swells when he sees Oh Jung Shin. He then runs and gives her a hug from behind, telling her how he had missed her. They share an ardent embrace while crying their hearts out. Lee Doo Hak Reunites With Oh Jung Shin Lee Doo Hak promises Oh Jung Shin to never leave her side. However, he asks her to keep his identity and existence as a secret, raising curiosity. At the end of the episode, Lee Doo Hak reveals that he wants to get revenge on Choi Cheol Woong and the people who did him wrong from the beginning. KDramaStars owns this article. Written by Elijah Mully. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Lawyers assert that they never file a frivolous lawsuit. All malpractice claims are legitimate because there is a reasonable suspicion of fault when a case is filed. On January 21, 2022, at 11:40 a.m., I received a call from my attorney, who represented me in a frivolous malpractice lawsuit, informing me that I was unconditionally dismissed. I never doubted that dismissal with prejudice was inevitable. For a lawyer, a malpractice lawsuit is about syntactics. They use qualitative symbols. Reasonable suspicion of fault is a hunch. It is probable cause. Quantitatively, probable cause is 50% probable. A medical malpractice lawsuit requires reasonable degree of medical certainty. It is a proximate cause. Quantitatively, the proximate cause is greater than 50% probable. Syntactics conflate reasonable suspicion of fault with reasonable degree of medical certainty. Hence, for a lawyer, legitimate is meritorious. A malpractice lawsuit can be legitimate and still be frivolous. Hypothesis testing makes the difference. It is quantitative. Retaining the null hypothesis (the standard of care) proves a doctor innocent. Rejecting the null hypothesis and accepting the alternate hypothesis (a departure from the standard of care) proves a doctor is negligent. The burden of proof is always a preponderance of evidence 50% probability plus a scintilla. Scintilla depends on the intuition of finders-of-facts; it is also quantitative. When scintilla is 0.01%, the burden of proof has a 50.01% probability. When a scintilla is 45%, the burden of proof has a 95% probability. Even when scintilla is left to intuition, for any finder-of-fact, it is common sense that 95% probability is a stronger burden of proof than 50.01%. The higher the scintilla, the greater the chance that accepting the null hypothesis is the right decision and the lower the chance that rejecting the null hypothesis is the wrong one. Rejecting a true null hypothesis is a type-1 error. This is the difference between meritorious and frivolous. Neither hypothesis testing nor syntactics changes the rules of civil procedure. In Maryland, where this case was filed, lawyers must certify merit, not legitimacy, when filing a lawsuit with a certificate of merit. They are permitted a 90-day grace period. Since I served on 9/17/2021, this suit has had issues. First, the plaintiffs lawyer requested medical records in 2018 and had to retain a medical expert to review them. Three years was ample time to obtain a certificate of merit. Yet, there was no certificate of merit and no medical expert identified. Although the plaintiffs counsel exploited the rules, I intended to follow them by insisting that my attorney identify a medical expert. Initially, he was reluctant because the plaintiff did not identify one. Nevertheless, he retained one. It took three days, not three years. Second, the plaintiffs counsel had no proof. The obligation of plaintiffs counsel was to prove negligence. To do so, he used inductive reasoning, which was conventional. Inductive reasoning was logic. However, scintilla was intuition. Intuition was inference. Logic must validate inference. Without validation, inference was not proof. I did not have to prove anything; I needed to cast doubt on the plaintiffs attorneys proof. The best way to do this was hypothesis testing, which was deductive reasoning. Deductive reasoning was logic. It, too, was used in court. I used a well-defined scintilla of 45%, which unequivocally validated 95% confidence. This was not intuition. It also retained the null hypothesis and decisively impeached the plaintiffs case. I, too, use syntactics. Malicious is an unspoken qualitative symbol. Every malicious lawsuit is frivolous. Since hypothesis testing proves that this lawsuit is frivolous with 95% confidence, the specter of malicious looms throughout. I submit my proof to my attorney and insist that he conveys it to the plaintiffs attorney. He advises against this because it shows my hand. Nevertheless, he agrees, as long as this is done separately from his answers to the complaint. I want to show my hand. If the plaintiff uses hypothesis testing, a level of significance will likely correspond to 50.01% probability, which comports with inductive reasoning. He rejects the null hypothesis and proves negligence. However, there is a type-1 error of 49.99%. Hence, rejecting the null hypothesis has at least a 49.99% probability of being a wrong decision. A level of significance corresponding to 95% probability has a type-1 error of 5%. By contrast, maliciousness becomes an unspoken threat. Thirty-seven days after seeing my proof, the plaintiffs counsel dismissed me with prejudice, 127 days since I was first served. Ambulance chasers hired guns, and miscreant claimants wage a war of attrition against all doctors. Between 20,000 and 85,000 malpractice suits are filed each year, and 70% of these are frivolous. One-million doctors share these same risks, and 5% of them will be sued each year. The total cost of medical malpractice is $56 billion per year. Of this, $39 billion, comparable to profits for the Sinaloa drug cartel, is paid to this syndicate of ambulance chasers, hired guns, and miscreant claimants. Because of this war, during my career, I have paid approximately $1 million in malpractice insurance premiums for protection against frivolous lawsuits. In return, discovery lasts for months when sued, and I am bound to an outcome controlled by the defense attorney and the malpractice carrier. This time, I prevailed in 127 days. I, not my attorney or insurance company, prove this case is frivolous. Hypothesis testing, rules of civil procedure, codes of conduct in law and medicine, due diligence, and common sense are my strategies, tactics, and weapons. Here is my epiphany. This is war. Every doctor has a 5% chance of being a casualty, and every battle has a 70% chance of being pointless and easily won. Because of the Hippocratic oath, I am happy to share my strategies, tactics, and weapons with doctors on this battlefield. Doctors are invincible when we stand defiant as we fewwe happy fewwe band of brothers. Howard Smith is an obstetrics-gynecology physician. A consortium of civil society organizations in Uganda has protested against the high cost of life-saving drugs by international pharmaceutical companies manufacturing the said drugs. The organizations which included Uganda Cares, Aids Care Foundation (AHF), and HEPS Uganda among others say, Gilead Sciences, one of the largest biopharmaceutical companies manufacturing life-saving drugs especially those being used to treat Hepatitis C and HIV has hiked the prices of the drugs, living patients from the poor counties Uganda inclusive at risk. The executive director of the Coalition for Health Promotion and Social Development (HEPS) Kenneth, Mwehonge says the company in question should provide patent rights to some of the local companies in Uganda to enable them manufacture the drugs, which he believes will help to reduce the prices of the drugs. We see that one in four people has no access to antiretroviral therapy globally. 38 million people are living with HIV but one in four has no access, and why? Its because these pharmaceutical companies are not offering voluntary licenses for production of generic versions of these medicines that are cheaper and affordable, Mwehonge said. There are about 1.4 million people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda which is a prevalence of 5.2 percent of the total population. Govt has signed a 2-year contract with M/s China Road and Bridge Corporation, a Chinese Company to rehabilitate the Tororo-Gulu meter gauge railway line. The rehabilitation works for the 375KM line which traverses through Mbale, Soroti, Lira, and Gulu districts will cost shs199.9 billion. The Ministry of Works and Transport together with the Uganda Railways Corporation (URC) has signed the contract on behalf of the government as the implementing agency. According to URC, the meter guage railway once rehabilitated will ease transportation of national and international goods on a commercial basis. Construction works will include drainage improvement along the railway, earthworks, supply of new track material, and construction of level crossing signage. The Kabaka of Buganda Ronald Muwenda Mutebi II has appealed to his subjects to continue fostering unity as one of the pillars of success. He made the remarks at his Palace in Lubiri-Mengo during the celebrations of his 68th birthday, applauding religious leaders and everyone who prayed for him as he battled sickness. He also thanked his cabinet for implementing Bugandas strategic plans as well as guiding his subjects. Meanwhile, the King re-echoed his call to Baganda and Uganda at large to embrace the struggle to end HIV/AIDS by protecting themselves. He asked infected persons to take their medicine and avoid circulating the virus, while those who dont know their status have been advised to go for medical checkups. While leading prayers, the Archbishop of the Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Uganda, Pastor, Dr. Moses Maka Ndimukika, praised God for the protection he has given to the Kabaka. The occasion was graced by several dignitaries including religious leaders led by the Archbishop of Kampala Paul Ssemogerere, members of the royal family, Buganda cabinet, politicians, and partners among others. The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) has asked the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to bring the officers responsible for attacks on journalists to book. In a letter to the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Martin Okoth Ochola, NAB chairman, Mr. Kin Karisa says the media plays a critical role in promoting democracy and ensuring that citizens are informed about the happenings in the country which makes it essential to safeguard their rights while on duty. The move followed a repeat incident this week on Tuesday when a police officer identified as CPL Ogwal Yeeko pepper-sprayed two journalists who were covering a procession by pre-medical interns at Mulago in Wandegeya. Kariisa says despite efforts to address the brutal attack on journalists, the situation has not improved. NAB Secretary General Mr. Joseph Beyanga has confirmed to KFM that they have penned a letter to the IGP, seeking to meet in a bid to find a lasting solution to the challenge. The Uganda Police Force has since condemned the manner in which the journalists were attacked and revealed that CPL Yeeko has been suspended and other implicated officers interrogated as investigations continue. By Mike Sebalu The shadow cabinet has condemned the continued attack on journalists by police as they carry out their work. On Tuesday, a team of journalists was pepper-sprayed by police officers led by Yeeko Ogwal as they covered the medical pre-interns demonstration in Mulago, Kampala. The attack was commanded by Assistant Superintendent of Police Kamulya who was captured on Camera. The shadow minister for information Joyce Bagala says the attacks not only threaten journalists but also sabotage the free flow of information in the country. She says the IGP Martins Okoth Ochola should be ashamed and embarrassed, further urging him to take action against his errant officers There have always been several reported incidents of police brutality against journalists during protests. These actions are not only threatening journalists but also the free flow of information, which is vital in a free and democratic society guaranteed by the constitution of Uganda, Bagala told KFM. She has asked police and other security agencies to provide the necessary security for journalists and all Ugandans as they investigate and prosecute the culprits. Journalists have since threatened to protest against police brutality next week. Slieverue rally driver Craig Breen has been killed in an accident ahead of next weeks Croatia Rally. Hyundai Motorsport confirmed the news today. Statement from Hyundai Motorsport pic.twitter.com/GLNXbphVQW hmsgofficial (@HMSGOfficial) April 13, 2023 The 33-year-old reportedly went off the road and collided with a pole. His co-driver James Fulton was unharmed in the crash. Craig had a very successful rally career and represented his country with aplomb. He was the 2012 WRC Super 2000 world rally champion, with class wins at the Monte Carlo Rally, Wales Rally GB, Rally France and the Rally of Spain. He was the WRC Academy champion in 2011. Craig secured the WRC Academy and SWRC titles in 2011 and 2012 before joining the Peugeot Rally Academy for a long and successful stint in the ERC. That led to a part-programme with Citroen in the WRC for 2016. He didnt disappoint, with a podium in Finland and fifth place in Corsica. Five top-five WRC finishes followed in 2017 before Craig returned to the podium in Sweden in early 2018. He made his WRC debut with us in 2019, securing seventh at Rally Finland. In the subsequent two seasons, the Irishman claimed an impressive four podiums from seven events, including two second place finishes in Estonia. Joe Biden has declared he is home as he made a historic address to a packed Irish Parliament where he spoke of the strength of the Irish-US relationship and promised a future of unlimited shared possibilities. The US president was welcomed with sustained, rapturous applause as he entered the chamber in Dublins Leinster House to deliver a speech on Thursday. Asking to be forgiven for his attempt at speaking the Irish language, he said Ta me sa bhaile (I am home). Mr Biden is the fourth US president to address the Irish Parliament after John F Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984 and Bill Clinton in 1995. He said it was one of the great honours of my career, to be here today. Later he also received a standing ovation at a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle where he reiterated his message of solidarity between Ireland and the US. As he reflected on his family roots he told the audience: No barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland or the United States of America. Lets renew our commitment to defending all the values we stand for. And lets remember, no barriers too thick or too strong for Ireland or the United States of America. Especially today. Theres nothing, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, theres nothing our nations cant achieve if we do it together. Addressing the same event, Irish premier Leo Varadkar said Ireland and the US have a shared history which unites their response to the war in Ukraine. When we show courage to defend the principle that all people are created equal, and we fight to protect those inalienable rights described so long ago when we become beacons of hope, as well as of liberty, helping others to find their own paths to freedom, and the freedom to achieve freedom that is the promise of America. And that is the promise of Ireland too, he said. Today it defines our response to the invasion of Ukraine because the war is an attack on the international community, and therefore is an attack on us all. Our hearts are filled with sympathy and understanding for the people of Ukraine, as well as the huddled masses who have been forced to flee, to go west to safety. Mr President, we thank you, your administration and your nation, for the leadership that youve shown on Ukraine. We stand with you, shoulder to shoulder, for as long as it takes. Earlier in his speech to the Irish Parliament Mr Biden praised the enduring strength of the Irish-US relationship as he promised a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. Big names in Irish politics and society congregated for the speech, as well as some members of the US Congress, a senator and Mr Bidens sister Valerie and son Hunter. Former Irish president Mary McAleese and ex-taoisigh Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny were among those present, as was former Sinn Fein leader Gerry Adams, who later tweeted a selfie of himself with Mr Biden. Mr Biden spoke of the precious peace that must be nurtured in Northern Ireland as he suggested the UK should be working more closely with the Republic of Ireland to support the region. Reflecting on discussions with Mr Varadkar, he spoke of how Ireland and the United States can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland. Mr Biden said: I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour. Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island. Representing Northern Ireland politicians were SDLP leader Colum Eastwood, Alliance chief Naomi Long and Sinn Feins Northern Ireland leader Michelle ONeill. Despite being invited, no unionist politicians attended. The passionate address, which lasted around 30 minutes, began with Mr Biden looking upwards and saying: Well mom, you said it would happen. He also referenced his son Beau, who died aged 46 in 2015 after suffering from brain cancer, with Mr Biden saying: As a matter of fact he should be the one standing here giving this speech to you. The speech contained numerous references to the presidents family history and how his story is like that of so many other Irish Americans who left the island in search of a new life. He told the crowd: These stories are the very heart of what binds Ireland and America together. They speak to a history defined by our dreams, they speak to a present written by our shared responsibilities, and they speak to a future poised for unlimited shared possibilities. Today Id like to reflect on the enduring strength of the connections between Ireland and the United States, a partnership for the ages. TDs and senators rose to their feet for a standing ovation as Mr Biden finished his speech. Other special guests included Marie Heaney, widow of one of Mr Bidens favourite poets Seamus Heaney. The poet, who would have turned 84 on Thursday, was likely to be looking down on us with his glasses nestled between his fingers and a hint of a smile on his face, Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail said as he addressed those gathered before Mr Biden spoke. Mr Biden then used the often-quoted hope and history rhyme line from Heaneys The Cure At Troy. The youngest person in attendance for the speech was baby Margot, daughter of Labour senator Rebecca Moynihan. Mr Biden jokingly apologised to the infant for putting her through a policy speech, saying it is as bad as what my children have been put through. Theresa Schweiker, Janosch Jacob, and Robin Muller (front) built a vacuum chamber for the Jugend forscht competition. (Photo: Amadeus Bramsiepe, KIT) Today (Friday, March 31, 2023), the 58th state competition Jugend forscht was decided at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). Eight projects have qualified for the federal final. They range from a broom cleaning device to the detection of Savis pipistrelle in the city of Lorrach to a system reducing the loss of power of photovoltaic systems due to shading or soiling. Photo album with the winning projects In a high-quality competition with 58 projects in seven disciplines, eight projects have qualified for the federal final that will take place in Bremen from May 18 to 21. The projects presented here in the state final of the Jugend forscht competition prove that young people are interested in complex scientific questions and can answer them, says Professor Holger Hanselka, President of KIT, which hosted the state competition this year. I was very impressed by the high number of young researchers who concentrated on topics like climate change, healthcare, and an aging society and, hence, addressed our our most urgent problems. I cordially congratulate the winners and wish them much success in the final. [] Further information (in German): https://www.kit.edu/kit/pi_2023_018_jugend-forscht-am-kit-entschieden-aus-ideen-wird-grosses.php Being The Research University in the Helmholtz Association, KIT creates and imparts knowledge for the society and the environment. It is the objective to make significant contributions to the global challenges in the fields of energy, mobility, and information. For this, about 9,800 employees cooperate in a broad range of disciplines in natural sciences, engineering sciences, economics, and the humanities and social sciences. KIT prepares its 22,300 students for responsible tasks in society, industry, and science by offering research-based study programs. Innovation efforts at KIT build a bridge between important scientific findings and their application for the benefit of society, economic prosperity, and the preservation of our natural basis of life. KIT is one of the German universities of excellence. Americas Gold and Silver Corporation (TSX: USA) announced today that an underground miner was killed after being struck by falling ground. The incident occurred yesterday. Operations have been suspended and an investigation is underway. The company is working closely with the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) and local authorities who are onsite. The company owns and operates the Cosala Operations in Sinaloa, Mexico, manages the 60%-owned Galena Complex in Idaho, USA, and is re-evaluating the Relief Canyon mine in Nevada, USA. By Divya Rajagopal TORONTO, April 12 (Reuters) - Several Teck Resources Ltd shareholders called on Wednesday for Glencore Plc to sweeten its takeover bid for the copper-and-zinc miner, saying the offer is still not high enough for them to oppose Teck's own restructuring plan. Glencore's unsolicited $22.5 billion bid for Teck last week was the latest in a wave of buyout offers across the mining sector, fueled in part by global opposition to new mine construction and rising demand for copper, a metal key to the green energy transition. Teck rejected the initial offer twice and said its plan to spin off its steel-making coal unit to focus on copper and other industrial metals was the only viable option for the Vancouver-based company. Glencore on Tuesday modified the bid to include a cash component, although Teck's board responded by describing it as "largely unchanged." Glencore Chief Executive Gary Nagle is flying to Toronto to meet with some Teck shareholders on Thursday to personally lobby them to support the deal, in which the combined company would be called GlenTeck. "The cash component is an improvement, but a higher bid would be required for me to consider changing my vote," said Todd Kapala of Addenda Capital Inc, which holds about 710,000 Teck shares. Glencore declined to comment. Another Teck investor said Glencore's offer still did not reflect the expected future value of a company that could become one of the world's largest copper producers. "The premium doesn't seem sufficient for me to get excited, considering where Teck is headed," said Jonathan Case of CI Global Asset Management, which holds nearly 5 million Teck shares, or about 1% of the company's free float. Teck owns several copper deposits that it can develop into mines, a rarity across the mining industry, Case added. Glencore's Nagle has called for Teck to postpone its April 26 shareholder vote on its spin-off plan. A London-based investor holding 700,000 Teck shares said delaying the vote would be a hard sell to shareholders based the current Glencore offer price, even with the cash component. The investor declined to be named due to sensitivities about discussing an acceptable price. Canada's Keevil family, which has opposed Glencore's bid, controls Teck through its dominant ownership of "A" class of shares, which have more voting power than the numerous "B" class shares held by institutional investors. (Reporting by Divya Rajagopal; Editing by Ernest Scheyder and Jamie Freed) SYDNEY, April 13 (Reuters) - Top global miner BHP Group has won support from Oz Minerals' shareholders, as expected, to proceed with a A$9.6 billion ($6.4 billion) takeover of the Australian copper and gold producer. Some 78.9% of proxy votes on behalf of Oz Minerals' investors were in favour of the takeover offer of A$26.50 cash from BHP and a A$1.75 special dividend paid to Oz Minerals investors, at a shareholder meeting in Adelaide on Thursday. The deal will add to BHP's copper exposure and raise its nickel prospects. It will bring in Oz Minerals' Carapateena copper mine, close to BHP's own Olympic Dam copper mine and smelting operations in South Australia. Strategically it will also boost BHP's nickel supply through Oz Minerals' West Musgrave nickel project in Western Australia, where BHP is already producing nickel sulphate at its Nickel West operations. Its customers include Tesla . The final regulatory hurdle is approval from the Federal Court of Australia, which is slated to rule on Monday, April 17. If the deal is approved as expected, Oz Minerals shares will be suspended on April 18. Oz Minerals' board had unanimously supported the bid. ($1 = 1.4930 Australian dollars) (Reporting by Scott Murdoch and Melanie Burton; Editing by Alasdair Pal, Jacqueline Wong and Sonali Paul) WASHINGTON, April 13 (Reuters) - The German government is satisfied with the consultations at the World Bank's spring meetings and the initial progress made towards a fundamental reform of the development bank, Germany's finance minister said on Thursday in Washington. The World Bank has submitted a long-awaited reform plan that would boost annual lending to middle-income countries to fight climate change and other global crises by about $5 billion annually while protecting the bank's top-tier credit rating. The minister, Christian Lindner, said he had met Ajay Banga, the U.S. nominee to head the World Bank and former Mastercard (MA.N) CEO. "I am very impressed with the candidate for the presidency of the World Bank," Lindner said. "He is a very good choice." Banga will mobilize private funds for poor countries, having a lot of experience in the private sector, Lindner said. The U.S. nominee sees that the World Bank has additional tasks in climate protection, without leaving aside its goal of reducing poverty, Lindner said. "That is also in line with the German government's goal of taking a holistic approach to supporting low-income and middle-income countries," the finance minister said. Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel added that the clear separation between the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank must be maintained. The World Bank has development tasks, the IMF is concerned with the debt sustainability of countries in financial distress. BERLIN, April 13 (Reuters) - Germany's finance minister on Thursday welcomed a signal from China that it may drop a demand for multilateral banks to be involved in debt restructuring for poorer countries, which would remove a key roadblock to debt relief. Speaking on a visit to Washington for the International Monetary Fund and World Bank spring meetings, Christian Lindner said that China appears to "finally accept its responsibility as the major creditor of low-income countries." China, which is attending the meetings in person for the first time in three years, has indicated it will drop its demand for multilateral development banks to share losses alongside other creditors in sovereign debt restructurings for poor nations, a source told Reuters. "The German government sees this as progress and we welcome it," Lindner said. "China is a difficult partner to talk to but we need China at the table for the solution of debt problems, because otherwise we won't see any progress," Lindner said. China is by far the largest creditor for many highly indebted countries in Africa and Asia, and has been repeatedly pressed to make concessions on multilateral lenders to speed debt restructuring. April 13 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) has dropped or cut credit lines to a large number of Indian metals clients, sending them looking for new brokers, the head of Nanhua Financial UK told Reuters. JPMorgan declined to comment. Reuters reported last September that JPMorgan had pared back credit to customers in Europe and Asia after a review of risk, according to sources close to the situation. "Loads of Indian clients have enquired because JP Morgan cancelled their accounts," said Nong Yan, chief executive of Nanhua Financial UK, the British arm of one of the biggest future brokers in China. Nanhua became a member of the London Metal Exchange in 2018. In some cases the Indian clients had large credit lines with JP Morgan that her brokerage was not able to match, but Nanhua was doing its best to accommodate them for their hedging requirements, Yan added. "The risk appetite is just not there anymore." Some clients from China had also been dropped by JP Morgan, but most of them had multiple brokers so the loss was not as significant, she added. Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that JP Morgan had made deep cuts to its metals business and slashed bonuses of its bankers after last year's nickel crisis, citing people familiar with the matter. The bank also declined to comment on that report. Broker Marex Financial has also been picking up new clients as JP Morgan and other banks reduce their exposure to metals and commodities, its chief executive said. "It's not just JP Morgan, all of these banks are sharpening their focus. The broad trend is for them to focus on their very largest clients," Ian Lowitt told Reuters. "It creates opportunity for us to add clients." Record 2022 results and a successful takeover have boosted the potential for a listing of Marex when markets recover, Lowitt said . JPMorgan's metals business has been under strict internal scrutiny due to the bank's role in the upheaval last year, when the London Metal Exchange (LME) was forced to suspend nickel trading after the metal's prices doubled. The surge was attributed to China's Tsingshan Holding Group buying large amounts of nickel to reduce its short positions in the metal. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Mastercard continues to delve deeper into the world of blockchain technology and cryptocurrencies with the release of a non-fungible token (NFT) to officially kick off the launch of its Web3 music program for emerging musicians. The payment provider unveiled its new NFT at NFT.NYC 2023, the largest NFT conference in the world. The limited-edition Mastercard Music Pass NFT is the key to unlocking the Mastercard Artist Accelerator program, a Web3 platform first announced in January that gives free access to educational materials, unique AI tools, and other resources to help future the careers of aspiring musicians. Through the end of the month, music and Web3 fans will be able to redeem Mastercard Music Pass NFT, that leverages Mastercards design principles as well as its sonic melody to compose a striking digital collectible, the press release said. Through this initiative, created together with blockchain developer Polygon, Mastercard seeks to take advantage of Web3 technologies to educate and get more people on board with the digital transformation happening in music. Mastercard has been one of the most active large corporations in the blockchain space, engaging the community across various verticals from crypto payments to the metaverse. In November, the firm hosted Mastercard SONIC Latinoamerica, the first Latin American music festival in the metaverse. The Mastercard Artist Accelerator looks to leverage Web3 technologies to help create exclusive, inclusive and scalable experiences for fans and artists alike. As a company, we hope to help people and partners around the world better understand and trust how blockchain and digital assets are used and how our technology can support the ecosystem, said Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer at Mastercard. We also believe that Web3 can be a powerful tool in connecting people and building communities around shared universal passions. As part of the accelerators launch, Mastercard has selected five up-and-coming artists to chronicle their journey in the program. The artists will be guided by five expert mentors as they experience the AI music studio -powered by Warpsound- to jumpstart their content creation, receive mentorship and gain tips and tricks in using blockchain to monetize their work and build a community of fans, all in the Web3 environment, the announcement said. The artists selected for the first round of the accelerator program include Young Athena, Manu Manzu, LeriQ, Emily Vu, and Cocoa Sarai. Education is a primary focus of the Mastercard Artist Accelerator as it is the key to helping artists build skills, innovate, understand how to build a business and expand their networks. By investing in education, individuals can increase their chances of success and contribute to the growth of the creator economy as a whole, Mastercard said. According to the website for the Artist Accelerator, the limited edition NFTs are free to mint for the next three weeks only. The AI studio will be launched in May, allowing users to create your very own music tracks using an online AI studio. Artist and mentor sessions will also be launched in May, allowing users to Follow along to get behind-the-scenes access to mentors and artists as they explore Web3 and learn how to build their brand as an artist. In June, the five artists will do a live showcase of their work. Interested parties can mint the NFT for free now on the Artist Accelerator website. The NFTs are required to gain access to the Mastercard Artist Accelerator Program where users can interact with artists and mint their Music Pass NFTs (MPNFTs) and Music NFTs (MNFTs). Each MNFT created by the AI Music Tool consists of a unique combination of generative artwork and a generative music sample. KARACHI, Pakistan, April 13 (Reuters) - Pakistan has completed all requirements to receive critical bailout money from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the country reiterated following a meeting with the lender on Thursday. Pakistan has less than a month's worth of foreign exchange reserves and is awaiting a bailout package of $1.1 billion from the IMF that has been delayed since November over issues related to fiscal policy adjustments. The funds, which can only be released after signing a staff level agreement (SLA), are part of a $6.5 billion bailout package the IMF approved in 2019, which analysts say is critical for Pakistan to avert defaulting on external payment obligations. The finance minister further shared that all prior actions for 9th Review under the Extended Fund Facility have already been completed and Government of Pakistan is fully committed to fulfill its obligations as agreed with the IMF," the finance ministry said in a news release. The statement said discussions included economic and financial policies, reforms and initiatives to implement ongoing IMF programs. It added that Antoinette Moniso Sayeh, deputy managing director at the IMF, supported continuing to work together and was confident of signing the SLA very soon. "The finance minister also shared that all the international obligations have been addressed in time, it added. On Wednesday, Pakistan's finance ministry release a statement following talks with the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Director Jihad Azour. "Mr. Jihad Azour expressed confidence that SLA expected to be signed soon which to be followed by the Boards approval for the 9th Review," said the ministry in a tweet. Pakistan's finance minister canceled a visit to Washington for spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, citing domestic political turmoil, but has been attending virtually. Get all the essential market news and expert opinions in one place with our daily newsletter. Receive a comprehensive recap of the day's top stories directly to your inbox. Sign up here! (Kitco News) - Gold and silver prices are posting good advances in early U.S. trading Thursday. Both metals hit 13-month highs Wednesday. The metals bulls are being fueled by a slumping U.S. dollar index and rising crude oil prices, and also by very friendly technical charts. June gold was last up $16.80 at $2,041.70 and May silver is up $0.262 at $25.72. Global stock markets were mixed overnight. U.S. stock indexes are pointed toward steady to slightly higher openings when the New York day session begins. On deck today is the U.S. producer price index report for March, which is forecast at unchanged from February. Traders have mostly digested Wednesday morning's U.S. consumer price index report for March that came in at up 5.0%, year-on-year, compared to market expectations for a rise of 5.1%. However, the core CPI number came in 0.1% higher than expected, which tempered trader/investor optimism as the trading session wore on Wednesday. In overnight news, China's exports in March rose 14.8%, year-on-year. That was way above the 7% decline the marketplace expected. The big rise came as China's export business to Russia and southeast Asia jumped. China's imports dropped by 1.4% in March but were above the 5% decline expected. Euro zone industrial production in February beat market expectations, at up 1.5% from January. A rise of 0.7% was expected. Recent data from the world's major economies has proven better than expected, despite many economists still predicting a global downturn. Reads a Barron's headline today: Recession talk has returned; why markets are shrugging." The key outside markets today see the U.S. dollar index lower and hitting a 2.5-month low. Nymex crude oil prices are a bit weaker after hitting a five-month high Wednesday, presently trading around $83.00 a barrel. The benchmark 10-year U.S. Treasury note yield is presently fetching 3.434%. Other U.S. economic data due for release Thursday includes the weekly jobless claims report. Technically, the gold futures bulls have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices are in an uptrend on the daily bar chart. Bulls' next upside price objective is to produce a close in June futures above solid resistance at the record high of $2,078.80, basis nearby futures. Bears' next near-term downside price objective is pushing futures prices below solid technical support at the April low of $1,965.90. First resistance is seen at the April high of $2,049.20 and then at $2,078.80. First support is seen at the overnight low of $2,028.30 and then at Wednesday's low of $2,015.70. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 8.5 The silver bulls have the solid overall near-term technical advantage. Prices hit a 13-month high Wednesday and are in a steep uptrend on the daily bar chart. Silver bulls' next upside price objective is closing May futures prices above solid technical resistance at $27.50. The next downside price objective for the bears is closing prices below solid support at $23.50. First resistance is seen at this week's high of $25.828 and then at $26.00. Next support is seen at the overnight low of $25.515 and then at Wednesday's low of $25.175. Wyckoff's Market Rating: 8.5. Radio NZ reports: Newly drafted rules about advertising to children should apply to all under 18-year-olds, rather than under 16-year-olds, a leading food and nutrition policy expert says. Hilarious. We are being told that 16 and 17 year olds are mature enough to be given the vote, but they are not mature enough to see advertisements! University of Auckland researcher Fiona Sing told RNZ the criteria should be under-18s to match the United Nations definition of a child. Teenage children do need to be protected just as much as younger children because they are they have proven to be vulnerable, their cognitive abilities have been shown to be still developing, she said. Studies that show that up to 18 is an important time to still be protecting [children] from exposure from harmful marketing. And also, obviously, purchasing power has increased. Clearly, theres purchasing power from a younger age too, but we move away from children who have pester power, and can try nag their parents, to actually money in their pockets and having the ability to have a direct impact. China has placed 8,155 traditional villages under state protection since the Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development released a state protection list of traditional villages in collaboration with several other departments in 2012. Provincial-level and city-level regions in the country have also issued corresponding protection lists of traditional villages. Recent years have seen multiple places in China rolling out specific policies and measures to protect traditional villages, and have designated them as key sites under government protection at different levels. These policies and measures have played a prominent role in maintaining the original appearance of traditional villages. While retaining the original appearance of traditional villages, regions across China have also optimized the villagers living environment. To improve the rural living environment is to ensure better protection and development of traditional villages, said Hu Binbin, director of the Chinese Village Culture Research Center of the Central South University in central Chinas Hunan Province. Hu put forward measures to make traditional dwellings more livable with convenient and modern living facilities and suggested improving relevant laws and regulations, and supporting eligible villagers in traditional villages in building new houses in places away from their original homes. Wuyuan county in Shangrao city, east Chinas Jiangxi Province, has adopted four measures to protect ancient dwellings and buildings, said Liu Guangyao, deputy director of the countys housing and urban-rural development bureau. The county constructs new residential houses, assists villagers in traditional villages in building new houses in places away from their original homes, supports the appropriate use of ancient dwellings, and encourages third parties to claim ancient buildings featuring clear ownership for restoration, according to Liu. This way, the county does its best to protect traditional villages while improving the living conditions of locals. Multiple regions have begun attaching importance to raising villagers awareness of protecting traditional villages and motivating them to do so. For example, some villagers are employed as personnel or docents responsible for the protection of cultural relics in traditional villages. Some places have rolled out measures to inherit skills in traditional villages, such as those for restoring ancient buildings. Southwest Chinas Chongqing Municipality carried out a survey of craftsmen of ancient buildings, formed a list of such craftsmen and trained more craftsmen. Some regions have cultivated new rural industries to retain talent by properly commercializing traditional villages to avoid the phenomenon of hollow villages, where there are only the elderly and children as young people leave their hometowns to work in cities. Hollow villages pose challenges to the protection of traditional villages. Jinxi county in Fuzhou city, Jiangxi, has sparked villagers initiative to protect the original features of traditional villages by sharing in renovation spending. Zhang Wengui, Party chief of Jinxi county, said the county established a center for the protection and commercialization of traditional villages, and villagers could entrust their old houses to the local government. A cultural relics protection foundation funded half of the renovation for each household, and a special fund and fiscal allocation accounted for 30 percent of the expenses, said Zhang, adding that the rest was self-raised. This way, we alleviated the burden for villagers to restore their old houses and motivated them to participate in the restoration of traditional villages, Zhang noted. Li Huadong, an associate professor of the Faculty of Architecture, Civil and Transportation Engineering (FACTE) at Beijing University of Technology, said that villagers have continuously raised awareness of the protection of ancient villages, especially those who benefited from the protection, thanks to enhanced efforts to popularize knowledge about protecting traditional villages. For instance, Cheng Hongxia, owner of an ancient dwelling dating back more than 300 years in Renli village, Yingzhou township, Jixi county, east Chinas Anhui Province, once worked outside the village. She has been running an agritainment business at her ancient dwelling after returning to her hometown. We will continue to protect our ancient dwelling, Cheng said. President Joe Biden, here in a pub in Dundalk, Ireland on Wednesday, appeared to suggest Thursday that the US government is close to identifying the leaker responsible for the disclosure of sensitive government secrets. Missouris attorney general has announced new restrictions on gender-affirming care for adults in addition to minors in a move that is believed to be a first nationally and has advocacy groups threatening to sue Travone, left, and Olga Mister plead with lawmakers to pass camp licensing following the drowning of their son at a summer camp. Hemispherx BioPharma, Inc (NYSEAMERICAN:HEB Get Rating) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.43. Hemispherx BioPharma shares last traded at $0.41, with a volume of 42,446 shares traded. Hemispherx BioPharma Stock Performance About Hemispherx BioPharma (Get Rating) Hemispherx Biopharma, Inc, a specialty pharmaceutical company, engages in the clinical development of drug therapies based on natural immune system enhancing technologies for the treatment of viral and immune based chronic disorders in the United States. The company's products include Alferon N Injection, an injectable formulation of natural alpha interferon to treat a category of genital warts, a sexually transmitted disease; and Ampligen for the treatment of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). Read More Receive News & Ratings for Hemispherx BioPharma Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hemispherx BioPharma and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mesabi Trust (NYSE:MSB Get Rating) passed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $21.60 and traded as high as $25.70. Mesabi Trust shares last traded at $25.50, with a volume of 22,556 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Mesabi Trust in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Get Mesabi Trust alerts: Mesabi Trust Trading Up 0.8 % The company has a market cap of $339.28 million, a P/E ratio of 8.03 and a beta of 1.00. The firms 50 day moving average price is $24.66 and its 200-day moving average price is $21.63. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Mesabi Trust Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. CoreCap Advisors LLC bought a new position in Mesabi Trust during the 4th quarter worth approximately $30,000. CWM LLC bought a new position in Mesabi Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Lee Financial Co bought a new position in Mesabi Trust during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $36,000. Global Retirement Partners LLC bought a new position in Mesabi Trust in the third quarter valued at approximately $41,000. Finally, BNP Paribas Arbitrage SA bought a new position in Mesabi Trust in the second quarter valued at approximately $122,000. Institutional investors own 34.74% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Mesabi Trust engages in the collection and distribution of royalties and payment of expenses and liabilities. It holds interest in Peter Mitchell iron mine located near Babbitt and in Silver Bay, Minnesota. The company was founded on July 18, 1961 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Mesabi Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mesabi Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Aflac (NYSE:AFL Get Rating) had its price objective reduced by Morgan Stanley from $77.00 to $72.00 in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the financial services providers stock. Several other research analysts also recently commented on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $62.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Friday, January 6th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Aflac in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Raymond James lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $74.00 to $77.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Truist Financial lifted their price target on shares of Aflac from $65.00 to $70.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Monday, February 6th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Aflac currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $71.13. Get Aflac alerts: Aflac Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of Aflac stock opened at $65.98 on Wednesday. Aflac has a 1 year low of $52.07 and a 1 year high of $74.01. The firm has a market cap of $40.39 billion, a PE ratio of 10.04, a PEG ratio of 2.33 and a beta of 0.93. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.33, a current ratio of 0.06 and a quick ratio of 0.06. The company has a 50 day simple moving average of $66.29 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $67.29. Insider Buying and Selling Aflac ( NYSE:AFL Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The financial services provider reported $1.29 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.21 by $0.08. Aflac had a net margin of 21.54% and a return on equity of 13.69%. The business had revenue of $4.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.49 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $1.28 earnings per share. Aflacs revenue for the quarter was down 26.2% on a year-over-year basis. Analysts expect that Aflac will post 5.59 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In other Aflac news, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total transaction of $32,225.00. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 19,269 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,241,887.05. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, Director Masatoshi Koide sold 19,291 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 14th. The shares were sold at an average price of $70.36, for a total transaction of $1,357,314.76. Following the sale, the director now owns 87,598 shares in the company, valued at approximately $6,163,395.28. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, Director Joseph L. Moskowitz sold 500 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, April 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $64.45, for a total transaction of $32,225.00. Following the sale, the director now owns 19,269 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,241,887.05. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.90% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Trading of Aflac A number of hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of AFL. Edmp Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 6,918.5% during the 4th quarter. Edmp Inc. now owns 3,676,833 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $51,110,000 after buying an additional 3,624,445 shares in the last quarter. Norges Bank bought a new stake in shares of Aflac during the 4th quarter valued at $175,416,000. Truist Financial Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 982.0% during the 3rd quarter. Truist Financial Corp now owns 2,198,423 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $123,552,000 after buying an additional 1,995,240 shares in the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of Aflac by 62.4% during the 1st quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 4,936,608 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $317,865,000 after buying an additional 1,897,212 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted its stake in Aflac by 22.9% in the 4th quarter. Morgan Stanley now owns 8,812,956 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $634,004,000 after purchasing an additional 1,640,984 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 66.22% of the companys stock. Aflac Company Profile (Get Rating) Aflac, Inc is a holding company. engages in the provision of financial protection services. It operates through the followings segments: Aflac Japan and Aflac United States (U.S.). The Aflac Japan segment offers life insurance, death benefits, and cash surrender values. The Aflac U.S. segment sells voluntary supplemental insurance products for people who already have major medical or primary insurance coverage. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Aflac Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Aflac and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Parlapiano Turner & Welch LLC bought a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories (NYSE:ABT Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm bought 1,918 shares of the healthcare product makers stock, valued at approximately $211,000. Several other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the business. apricus wealth LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Abbott Laboratories during the 4th quarter valued at $206,000. New World Advisors LLC increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 8.8% in the 4th quarter. New World Advisors LLC now owns 3,700 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $406,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the last quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 13.0% in the 4th quarter. Kestra Advisory Services LLC now owns 208,845 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $22,929,000 after acquiring an additional 23,975 shares during the last quarter. United Capital Management of KS Inc. increased its holdings in Abbott Laboratories by 3.1% in the 4th quarter. United Capital Management of KS Inc. now owns 37,824 shares of the healthcare product makers stock worth $4,153,000 after acquiring an additional 1,129 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Capital Investment Counsel Inc purchased a new stake in Abbott Laboratories in the 4th quarter worth about $226,000. 72.93% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Abbott Laboratories alerts: Abbott Laboratories Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of Abbott Laboratories stock traded up $0.19 on Thursday, hitting $102.75. The stock had a trading volume of 603,097 shares, compared to its average volume of 5,158,373. The company has a quick ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39. Abbott Laboratories has a one year low of $93.25 and a one year high of $124.35. The stock has a market cap of $178.57 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 26.23, a PEG ratio of 4.65 and a beta of 0.67. The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $102.84 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $104.44. Abbott Laboratories Dividend Announcement Abbott Laboratories ( NYSE:ABT Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The healthcare product maker reported $1.03 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.90 by $0.13. Abbott Laboratories had a net margin of 15.88% and a return on equity of 26.09%. The firm had revenue of $10.09 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $9.69 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business earned $1.32 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was down 12.0% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, sell-side analysts predict that Abbott Laboratories will post 4.38 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Investors of record on Friday, April 14th will be paid a $0.51 dividend. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.99%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 13th. Abbott Laboratoriess payout ratio is 52.17%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ABT has been the subject of several recent research reports. UBS Group assumed coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. They issued a buy rating and a $117.00 price objective for the company. Mizuho lifted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $105.00 to $110.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Tuesday, January 24th. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their target price on Abbott Laboratories from $110.00 to $125.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. StockNews.com started coverage on Abbott Laboratories in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Finally, Bank of America reduced their price target on shares of Abbott Laboratories from $125.00 to $115.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. One 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 companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $121.88. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $68,375.30. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,091,998.90. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other Abbott Laboratories news, SVP Julie L. Tyler sold 260 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $103.24, for a total transaction of $26,842.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the senior vice president now owns 40,896 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,222,103.04. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, EVP Andrea F. Wainer sold 679 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 1st. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.70, for a total value of $68,375.30. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 70,427 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $7,091,998.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold 1,971 shares of company stock valued at $199,140 over the last quarter. 1.10% of the stock is owned by company insiders. 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Abbott Laboratories Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Abbott Laboratories and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Atria Investments Inc grew its position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (BATS:EFV Get Rating) by 12.6% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 604,881 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 67,726 shares during the period. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF comprises about 0.6% of Atria Investments Incs holdings, making the stock its 27th largest position. Atria Investments Incs holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF were worth $27,752,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Leelyn Smith LLC acquired a new position in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the third quarter worth $27,000. Bessemer Group Inc. bought a new stake in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF during the 3rd quarter worth about $29,000. Focused Wealth Management Inc bought a new position in shares of iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $37,000. Tortoise Investment Management LLC lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 429.4% in the 3rd quarter. Tortoise Investment Management LLC now owns 1,350 shares of the companys stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 1,095 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cambridge Trust Co. lifted its holdings in iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF by 206.8% in the 4th quarter. Cambridge Trust Co. now owns 1,129 shares of the companys stock worth $52,000 after purchasing an additional 761 shares during the last quarter. Get iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF alerts: iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Stock Up 0.7 % EFV stock traded up $0.34 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $49.65. 1,542,477 shares of the company traded hands. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF has a twelve month low of $49.15 and a twelve month high of $59.57. The business has a 50 day simple moving average of $48.46 and a 200-day simple moving average of $45.86. The stock has a market capitalization of $16.56 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.51 and a beta of 0.86. iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Company Profile iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF (the Fund), formerly iShares MSCI EAFE Value 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 Value 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares MSCI EAFE Value ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Citizens Financial Group (NYSE:CFG Get Rating) had its price objective cut by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $45.50 to $37.00 in a research note issued to investors on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have an overweight rating on the banks stock. A number of other equities research analysts also recently issued reports on CFG. Piper Sandler boosted their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $47.00 to $51.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 15th. Royal Bank of Canada cut their price objective on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $55.00 to $48.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 24th. DA Davidson initiated coverage on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a research report on Wednesday, December 21st. They set a buy rating and a $47.00 price objective for the company. Citigroup upped their target price on shares of Citizens Financial Group from $45.00 to $47.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Citizens Financial Group in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Five investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $47.00. Get Citizens Financial Group alerts: Citizens Financial Group Price Performance Shares of CFG opened at $29.38 on Monday. The firm has a market cap of $14.23 billion, a PE ratio of 7.20, a P/E/G ratio of 2.23 and a beta of 1.32. The company has a current ratio of 0.92, a quick ratio of 0.92 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.73. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $36.60 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $38.43. Citizens Financial Group has a 1-year low of $28.27 and a 1-year high of $45.34. Citizens Financial Group ( NYSE:CFG Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Tuesday, January 17th. The bank reported $1.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.30 by ($0.05). Citizens Financial Group had a net margin of 22.86% and a return on equity of 11.24%. The company had revenue of $2.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.22 billion. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Citizens Financial Group will post 4.98 EPS for the current year. Citizens Financial Group declared that its board has approved a stock repurchase plan on Friday, February 17th that authorizes the company to buyback $1.15 billion in shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the bank to reacquire up to 5.6% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the companys leadership believes its shares are undervalued. Citizens Financial Group Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Tuesday, February 14th. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, January 31st were issued a dividend of $0.42 per share. This represents a $1.68 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 5.72%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 30th. Citizens Financial Groups dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 41.18%. Insider Buying and Selling at Citizens Financial Group In other Citizens Financial Group news, Director Kevin Cummings sold 90,689 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $43.00, for a total transaction of $3,899,627.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 455,789 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $19,598,927. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Insiders own 0.53% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Citizens Financial Group Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund raised its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 0.7% during the 4th quarter. Oregon Public Employees Retirement Fund now owns 131,537 shares of the banks stock valued at $5,179,000 after buying an additional 862 shares in the last quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. raised its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 93.3% during the 3rd quarter. D.A. Davidson & CO. now owns 45,029 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,547,000 after buying an additional 21,740 shares in the last quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC raised its position in shares of Citizens Financial Group by 7.2% during the 4th quarter. Kovitz Investment Group Partners LLC now owns 32,069 shares of the banks stock valued at $1,263,000 after buying an additional 2,140 shares in the last quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System raised its position in Citizens Financial Group by 8.8% in the 4th quarter. New York State Teachers Retirement System now owns 584,445 shares of the banks stock worth $23,010,000 after purchasing an additional 47,425 shares during the period. Finally, Essex Savings Bank purchased a new stake in Citizens Financial Group in the 4th quarter worth about $220,000. 88.96% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. About Citizens Financial Group (Get Rating) Citizens Financial Group, Inc engages in the provision of commercial banking services. It operates through the Consumer Banking and Commercial Banking segments. The Consumer Banking segment includes deposit products, mortgage and home equity lending, student loans, auto financing, credit cards, business loans, and wealth management and investment services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Citizens Financial Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citizens Financial Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. grew its position in Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) by 1.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The firm owned 71,917 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 1,169 shares during the quarter. Walmart accounts for 1.3% of Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc.s holdings, making the stock its 24th largest holding. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Walmart were worth $10,197,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in the company. My Personal CFO LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart in the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Walmart by 105.3% in the 4th quarter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC now owns 195 shares of the retailers stock worth $28,000 after buying an additional 100 shares during the period. JDM Financial Group LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart during the 4th quarter worth $28,000. Bellwether Advisors LLC lifted its stake in shares of Walmart by 112.0% during the 3rd quarter. Bellwether Advisors LLC now owns 212 shares of the retailers stock worth $27,000 after purchasing an additional 112 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Lipe & Dalton purchased a new stake in shares of Walmart during the 3rd quarter worth $29,000. 31.27% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Walmart alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several brokerages recently issued reports on WMT. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Walmart from $164.00 to $169.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Tigress Financial upgraded Walmart from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the company from $170.00 to $176.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Oppenheimer raised their target price on Walmart from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. The Goldman Sachs Group set a $164.00 price objective on Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada set a $163.00 price objective on Walmart in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Six equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $164.34. Walmart Stock Performance WMT stock traded down $0.60 during trading on Thursday, hitting $148.74. The company had a trading volume of 1,705,436 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,421,665. The firm has a market cap of $400.95 billion, a PE ratio of 34.89, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart Inc. has a 1-year low of $117.27 and a 1-year high of $160.77. The firm has a 50-day moving average price of $143.09 and a 200-day moving average price of $142.52. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.51 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $164.05 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $158.67 billion. Walmart had a return on equity of 20.45% and a net margin of 1.91%. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 7.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.53 EPS. On average, analysts expect that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 earnings per share for the current year. Walmart Dividend Announcement The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. Walmarts payout ratio is 53.27%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Walmart news, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,504,039 shares of the businesss 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 owns 245,711,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,753,482,693.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Walmart news, Director S Robson Walton sold 1,504,039 shares of the businesss 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 owns 245,711,516 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,753,482,693.16. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.03, for a total value of $625,756.25. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 243,548 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,834,670.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have sold 21,053,710 shares of company stock worth $2,982,527,217. Company insiders own 47.06% of the companys stock. Walmart Company Profile (Get Rating) Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. General Mills (NYSE:GIS Get Rating) had its price objective boosted by equities research analysts at Morgan Stanley from $73.00 to $77.00 in a research note issued to investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has an underweight rating on the stock. Morgan Stanleys price target would indicate a potential downside of 11.50% from the stocks previous close. Other equities research analysts have also issued research reports about the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed a sector perform rating and set a $76.00 price target on shares of General Mills in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on shares of General Mills from $88.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lifted their price target on shares of General Mills from $84.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Friday, March 24th. StockNews.com upgraded General Mills from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Finally, Mizuho lifted their target price on General Mills from $75.00 to $80.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have given a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, General Mills currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $84.12. Get General Mills alerts: General Mills Stock Down 0.1 % Shares of General Mills stock opened at $87.01 on Tuesday. General Mills has a twelve month low of $64.94 and a twelve month high of $88.34. The company has a quick ratio of 0.32, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.78. The companys 50 day moving average is $80.58 and its 200 day moving average is $80.95. The company has a market cap of $51.11 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 18.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.74 and a beta of 0.27. Insider Activity at General Mills General Mills ( NYSE:GIS Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, March 23rd. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.91 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $5.13 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. General Mills had a net margin of 14.04% and a return on equity of 24.51%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 13.0% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.84 EPS. Research analysts anticipate that General Mills will post 4.23 EPS for the current year. In other General Mills news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total transaction of $685,199.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 83,049 shares in the company, valued at $7,086,571.17. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. In other General Mills news, insider Jonathon Nudi sold 8,030 shares of General Mills stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 29th. The shares were sold at an average price of $85.33, for a total transaction of $685,199.90. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now directly owns 83,049 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,086,571.17. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, insider Bethany C. Quam sold 21,734 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 4th. The stock was sold at an average price of $85.86, for a total transaction of $1,866,081.24. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 47,560 shares in the company, valued at $4,083,501.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.67% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On General Mills A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in GIS. National Bank of Canada FI increased its holdings in General Mills by 116.9% during the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 122,941 shares of the companys stock worth $10,546,000 after purchasing an additional 66,264 shares during the period. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA increased its stake in shares of General Mills by 5.9% during the first quarter. Farmers & Merchants Trust Co of Chambersburg PA now owns 18,826 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,609,000 after buying an additional 1,045 shares during the period. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of General Mills by 1.2% in the first quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 12,452 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,064,000 after acquiring an additional 150 shares in the last quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC grew its holdings in General Mills by 6.1% during the 1st quarter. Exchange Traded Concepts LLC now owns 13,299 shares of the companys stock worth $1,137,000 after acquiring an additional 760 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its position in General Mills by 93.8% during the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 591,147 shares of the companys stock valued at $50,519,000 after purchasing an additional 286,043 shares during the period. 74.48% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. About General Mills (Get Rating) General Mills, Inc engages in the manufacture and marketing of branded consumer foods sold through retail stores. The firm operates through the following segments: North America Retail, Europe & Australia, Convenience Stores & Foodservice, Pet, and Asia & Latin America. The North America Retail segment includes grocery stores, mass merchandisers, membership stores, natural food chains, drug, dollar and discount chains and e-commerce grocery providers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for General Mills Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Mills and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Equities research analysts at Stifel Nicolaus began coverage on shares of Philip Morris International (NYSE:PM Get Rating) in a research report issued to clients and investors on Thursday, The Fly reports. The firm set a buy rating on the stock. A number of other analysts have also recently issued reports on the stock. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to a buy rating and raised their target price for the stock from $95.00 to $120.00 in a research note on Wednesday, January 25th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Philip Morris International in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley raised their price target on shares of Philip Morris International from $109.00 to $118.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Jefferies Financial Group raised shares of Philip Morris International from a hold rating to a buy rating and raised their price target for the stock from $86.00 to $118.00 in a research report on Thursday, January 19th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Philip Morris International from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from $109.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. One equities 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 company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $110.36. Get Philip Morris International alerts: Philip Morris International Price Performance PM stock traded up $0.96 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $99.75. The stock had a trading volume of 2,890,346 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,544,798. The stock has a market capitalization of $154.83 billion, a PE ratio of 17.17, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.12 and a beta of 0.68. The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $98.43 and a 200 day simple moving average of $96.86. Philip Morris International has a fifty-two week low of $82.85 and a fifty-two week high of $109.81. Insider Activity at Philip Morris International Philip Morris International ( NYSE:PM Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The company reported $1.39 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.29 by $0.10. The company had revenue of $8.15 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations 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 quarterly revenue was up .6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the company posted $1.35 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts forecast that Philip Morris International will post 6.31 EPS for the current fiscal year. In other news, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of Philip Morris International stock in a transaction dated 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 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 legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other news, Chairman Andre Calantzopoulos sold 80,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $100.35, for a total transaction of $8,028,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 1,007,048 shares of the companys stock, valued at $101,057,266.80. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, insider Stacey Kennedy sold 20,308 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.30, for a total transaction of $2,036,892.40. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 22,418 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,248,525.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 117,064 shares of company stock valued at $11,738,763. 0.13% of the stock is owned by insiders. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Philip Morris International Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of PM. Riverpoint Wealth Management Holdings LLC bought a new position in shares of Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $25,000. Red Tortoise LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Optiver Holding B.V. acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 4th quarter worth approximately $29,000. Winch Advisory Services LLC grew its position in shares of Philip Morris International by 200.0% during the 4th quarter. Winch Advisory Services LLC now owns 294 shares of the companys stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 196 shares during the period. Finally, Mark Sheptoff Financial Planning LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Philip Morris International during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $25,000. 75.85% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. 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. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Philip Morris International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Philip Morris International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. 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 related businesses based on the strength of its dividends, institutional ownership, valuation, profitability, risk, earnings and analyst recommendations. Insider & Institutional Ownership 65.3% of Local Bounti shares are held by institutional investors. Comparatively, 26.7% 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, 16.8% of shares of all Agricultural production crops companies are held by company insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, large money managers and endowments believe a stock is poised for long-term growth. Get Local Bounti alerts: 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% -95.94% -47.68% Local Bounti Competitors -339.13% -25.58% -15.99% Earnings and Valuation Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Local Bounti $19.47 million -$111.07 million -0.43 Local Bounti Competitors $1.63 billion $21.77 million -0.72 This table compares Local Bounti and its peers revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Local Bountis peers have higher revenue and earnings than Local Bounti. Local Bounti is trading at a higher price-to-earnings ratio than its peers, indicating that it is currently more expensive than other companies in its industry. Risk & Volatility Local Bounti has a beta of 1.75, suggesting that its stock price is 75% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Local Bountis peers have a beta of -23.93, suggesting that their average stock price is 2,493% less volatile than the S&P 500. Analyst Recommendations This is a summary of current ratings and price targets for Local Bounti and its peers, as reported by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Local Bounti 0 1 4 0 2.80 Local Bounti Competitors 99 170 488 23 2.56 Local Bounti presently has a consensus price target of $2.85, indicating a potential upside of 419.79%. As a group, Agricultural production crops companies have a potential upside of 55.17%. Given Local Bountis stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts clearly believe Local Bounti is more favorable than its peers. Summary Local Bounti beats its peers on 7 of the 13 factors compared. Local Bounti Company Profile (Get Rating) 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. Receive News & Ratings for Local Bounti Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Local Bounti and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Foreign ministry spokesman Lim Soo-suk attends a press conference at the foreign ministry in Seoul, April 13. Yonhap Korea on Thursday decided to ban its nationals from traveling to the border region between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the foreign ministry said. The Level 4 travel alert, the highest in the government's four-tier travel advisory system, for the region will take effect Saturday, according to the ministry. The region has been subject to a Level 3 advisory since August 2020. The ministry decided to elevate the advisory due to continued armed clashes in the area. The United States, Britain, Canada, Australia and Japan have also banned their nationals from traveling to the region. (Yonhap) Angola, IN (46703) Today A few showers early, then clear overnight. Widespread frost likely. Low 31F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight A few showers early, then clear overnight. Widespread frost likely. Low 31F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. Auburn, IN (46706) Today Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming clear overnight. Scattered frost possible. Low 32F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%.. Tonight Cloudy and damp with rain early...then becoming clear overnight. Scattered frost possible. Low 32F. Winds N at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 90%. IVE Liz and Yujin have gone viral for their living singing on "I AM," their song with the most number of high notes, which the two idols pulled off without breaking a sweat. Here's what people are saying! IVE Liz & Yujin Applauded for Live Singing: 'Both of them were good, as expected' IVE has once again become hot topic for their talent! On April 12, IVE appeared on 1theK Originals' variety segment '4Cut Live,' where they sang their newest comeback release, "I AM." In the video, the girls were seen having fun with their props and posing for the cameras. They were also tasked to sing "I AM" in the episode while having them take pictures. During their craze, IVE's main vocal Liz proved haters wrong with her amazing vocals. !!!!!! pic.twitter.com/EVyVCN0iv2 42 (@lizwvw) April 12, 2023 "I AM" is one of 2023's best K-pop releases because of its robust structure, melody, and high notes. When it was released, the community wondered how IVE would sing it live due to its difficult notes. However, Liz showed her vocal prowess on "4Cut Live." Liz hit every note without any difficulties, cementing her position as the group's main vocalist. She was also followed by IVE leader Ahn Yujin, who hit the high note in the chorus' start. The two took on a duet and slayed the whole chorus part of the song, impressing netizens. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: IVE Debunks Lip-Syncing Speculations After Rei Did THIS, Group Praised For Vocals DIVEs were stunned with the two idols and expressed their thoughts on a forum. They were amazed on how Liz calmly did the high notes. Yujin was also commended by her remarkable vocals, proving her status as a fourth-gen "ace" in the music industry. Read their comments below: "Both are good, as expected." "Wow Yujin is so good at singing." "Their forced hate was legendary, they actually killed the live?" "Yujin is good at singing high notes on top of having that face." Liz's clear voice. All of them were good! IVE, I support you. "Both of them are freaking good." "Liz is seriously so good at singing." Vocal Comeback: DIVEs Reinforce IVE's Talents, Calls Out Haters On the discussion, DIVEs recalled how much IVE went under fire from haters who claimed their lack of live singing. Fans stated how "forced hate" is everywhere, and IVE has done nothing too controversial for the amount of hate they're getting. They were even distressed how some hated the song before it was even released. Some dished out how these same haters are now speechless because of their live singing in "I AM." Others pointed out IVE's persistence when it comes to improvement. Fans commented: "Haters said IVE can't sing, they got mad and came back with this song." "I feel like IVE always take the criticism towards them seriously and improve their self, it's really impressive." "It's always forced hate. When have they done something controversial enough for the amount of hate they are receiving?" "Hate train is too ridiculous, I remember when the I AM teaser came out I saw some people say that it sounded horrible, and I was like wtf?" "What a slap for the haters." Did you love how they handled the high notes? Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: IVE Jang Wonyoung Dating Rumor: Why Was She Suddenly Linked to BIGBANG G-Dragon? KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte BIGHIT MUSIC has responded to reports regarding J-Hope's military enlistment date and location. Here's what they said. BIGHIT MUSIC Shares Brief Response to BTS J-Hope's Military Enlistment Reports On April 13, Korean media outlet News1 reported about J-hope's military enlistment, which they claimed its location and date. According to the reports, J-Hope's enlistment date will be on April 18, with his location being at a military camp in Gangwon-do. It was also stated that after training for five weeks, the idol will then be dispatched to his troop. To maintain safety, the specific details for his ceremony will not be disclosed to the public. Upon learning of the reports, BIGHIT MUSIC responded briefly, stating that these details are difficult to confirm, and asked for everyone's understanding. "Regarding J-Hope's enlistment date and its location, it's difficult for the agency to confirm these details. With this, we kindly ask for your understanding." J-Hope's military enlistment was announced at Weverse on April 1, where they disclosed his role as an active-duty soldier. They also encouraged fans to support J-Hope in his service. BIGHIT MUSIC also warned everyone the illegal use of the idol's IP, where it can be utilized for buying illicit packages or tours. Read their full statement below: "Greetings. This is BIGHIT MUSIC. Firstly, we express our gratitude to fans who support BTS, and share the updates on J-Hope's upcoming military enlistment. J-Hope will serve his duty in the military with his required timeframe. Kindly take note that no official event will be held on the day of his enlistment. The ceremony is only to be observed by their families only, as well as military personnel. This is also to avoid overcrowding. We also ask you to keep your support and encouragement inside your hearts. Furthermore, we also instruct you not to purchase unauthorized product packages or tours through the artist's IP. We will take immediate action against any commercial activity using such IP. Please give your unconditional love and support for J-Hope until he comes back from the military. We will support him in any way we can during his service. Thank you." BTS J-Hope Cancels Enlistment Postponement, ARMYs Demand Idol's Album On February 26, BTS J-Hope cancelled the postponement for his military enlistment. According to BIGHIT Music, the first steps for J-Hope's enlistment has kickstarted by this cancellation, while assuring netizens that more updates will be released in the future. Afterwards, the agency also announced a second notice declaring J-Hope's solo music release "on the street (with J. Cole)," which was released on March 3. While most ARMYs were excited about the upcoming content, some demanded an album from BIGHIT MUSIC. Fans remarked: "Why does Hobi only get to release a digital single before enlisting in the military?" "Please give me an actual album before J-Hope goes to the army!" What are your thoughts on this? Tell us in the comments below! Read KpopStarz for more K-pop news. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: ARMYs Shocked by BTS J-Hope's Expensive Attire - Here's How People Are Reacting KpopStarz owns this article Written by Israel Monte slide 2 of 6 IVE Gaeul decorated the cover of Singapore fashion magazine. Singapore's fashion magazine L'OFFICIEL Singapore released a pictorial and interview with Gaeul on the 13th. This pictorial, based on the concept of "BEYOND THE HORIZON," drew attention as it contained the splendid visuals and luxurious aura of Gaeul, who returned to global fans with a more mature appearance. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Washington DC [US], April 13 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly called for timely debt restructuring as a solution to the global debt crisis stating that it is closely intertwined with addressing the global poverty challenge. Sitharaman said this on the first day of the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors meeting held in Washington DC, which she co-chaired with Reserve Bank of India's Governor Shaktikanta Das. Also Read | 7th Pay Commission Good News: Centre Likely To Raise Fitment Factor Rate in 2024, Heres How Much Salary Might Increase. Sitharaman further noted that the crisis adversely affects the most indebted countries as they also house the poorest people, according to tweets posted by the ministry of finance. Day 1 of the second G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting under the Indian presidency witnessed Session 1 on Global Economy and International Financial Architecture held under the ambit of Spring Meetings 2023 of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB). Also Read | Ambedkar Jayanti 2023 Rangoli Designs & 'Jai Bhim' Jayanti Images: Simple Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Portrait and Drawing To Pay Homage on His 132nd Birth Anniversary (Watch Videos). The FMCBG meeting also discussed key challenges to the Global Economic Outlook and explored possible areas of policy coordination on pressing global issues, besides exchanging views on accelerating progress on deliverables envisioned during G20India Presidency. Sitharaman discussed the progress on the agenda of strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs) including hearing from MDBs on the implementation of recommendations of Capital Adequacy Framework Review Panel and sought G20 members views on the way forward of expert group on strengthening MDBs set up by G20 India Presidency, according to the finance ministry. Speaking about Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable during the meeting, FM Sitharaman also emphasised India's commitment as part of G20 India's Presidency to all global efforts to address the growing debt vulnerabilities and welcomed the partnerships from International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank (WB) to advance this agenda. (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 13: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir in a high-level meeting here in the national capital. The meeting started at 3 pm at the North Block office of the Ministry of Home Affairs. National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir Dilbagh Singh and other senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Armed Police Forces attended the meeting. Amit Shah to Lay Foundation Stone of BJP Office in Bengal. Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka, R&AW chief Samant Kumar Goel, National Investigation Agency DG Dinkar Gupta and Central Reserve Police Force Director General SL Thaosen also attended the meeting. Similar meetings have been chaired by the Home Minister from time to time to review the status of J-K where several civilians and security force personnel are being targeted by militants over the years and several personnel have lost lives in such attacks. Amit Shah Slams Congress, Says It Wants To Dig Grave of PM Narendra Modi, Who Made India Famous All Over the World. Senior officials of the Government of India, including the officers from J-K also attend the meetings. The Home Minister in his three-day visit to J-K in October last year had also reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory. Shah also held a review meeting in New Delhi on December 28, 2022, over the security situation and development aspects of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Ranchi, Apr 13 (PTI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at multiple premises, including that of an IAS officer, in Jharkhand, Bihar and West Bengal in connection with a money laundering probe linked to an alleged land grab case, official sources said. The raids are taking place at a total of 22 places in these states and the premises of Jharkhand cadre Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Chhavi Ranjan, who served as the Deputy Commissioner in state capital Ranchi earlier, are being searched. Also Read | Akanksha Dubey Suicide Case: Co-Accused Arrested in Varanasi in Bhojpuri Actress Death Case. The premises linked to some private persons and some other state government officers are also being searched, they said. The action is being undertaken under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Also Read | Mumbai Weather Forecast and Update: Unseasonal Rainfall Brings Temperature Down, IMD Predicts More Downpour During Weekend. (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 13 (ANI): The Central government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the figures provided by the petitioners on the alleged attacks on Christians and their institutions were incorrect and they just wanted "the pot boiling". Solicitor General Tushar Mehta appearing for the Centre said the apex court had taken note of the matter on basis of the figures provided by the petitioners, however, the figures given by them were incorrect. Also Read | Ramadan 2023 Time Table: Sehri and Iftar Timings for 22nd Roza of Ramzan on April 14 in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Other Cities of India. It was apparent that the petitioners just wanted "the pot boiling" to sully the image of the country. "The petition sent a wrong message to the public. This is how it is displayed outside the country. This is the message that goes out to the public that Christians are in danger and are being attacked. This is wrong," Solicitor General told a bench of Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala. Also Read | Asad Ahmed Encounter: Mayawati Demands High-Level Probe Into Death of Atiq Ahmad's Son. The Centre collated the responses from the States and as per the data figures provided by the petitioners were found to be "wrong", he added. "The petitioner claimed that there are some 500 incidents where Christians were attacked. We sent everything to the State governments. We collated all information we got," SG said. He further said, "First, let's see Bihar. The total number which the petitioner gave are internal fights between neighbours and one of which happens to be Christian, this they have resolved... The figure given by them, which obviously persuaded the court, was not correct." Mehta said, "Wherever there is a grave offence and arrests had to be made, arrests have been made." The bench took note of the report filed by the Centre and granted three weeks to the petitioners to respond to it after senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for them, wished to file a response on the Centre's affidavit. Earlier, the Centre had said that the majority of the incidents cited by the petitioner as attacks on Christians were wrongfully projected in news reports. The Centre had said that there was no merit in the plea and the petitioner has "resorted to falsehood and self-serving documents" along with press reports which have misreported such incidents. Criminal cases arising out of personal issues have been given communal colour, the Centre had said. The petition was filed by the Archbishop Of Bangalore Diocese Dr Peter Machado seeking directions to stop violence and mob attacks against the members of the Christian community in various States across the country and also the implementation of earlier apex court guidelines to curb hate crimes. The petition had sought the setting up of Special Investigation Teams with officers from outside the States where the incidents set out to register FIRs, conduct criminal investigations and prosecute the criminal offenders in accordance with the law. It had further sought direction that the SITs file closure reports in accordance with the law, where false counter FIRs have been filed by the assailants against the victims. The petition had also sought implementation of the guidelines issued in the Tehseen Poonawala judgement in which nodal officers were to be appointed to take note of hate crimes and register FIRs across the nation. The Supreme Court in 2018, issued a slew of guidelines for the Centre and State governments to control and prevent the increasing number of hate crimes, including mob violence and lynching. The guidelines included fast-tracked trials, victim compensation, deterrent punishment and disciplinary action against lax law-enforcing officials. The top court had said offences such as hate crimes, cow vigilantism and lynching incidents should be nipped in the bud. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Shimla, Apr 13 (PTI) The Himachal Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday decided to fill up 530 posts of school lecturers through direct recruitment, according to a statement issued here. In a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, the cabinet also gave its approval to fill up two posts of deputy superintendent of police through direct recruitment based on the Himachal Pradesh Administrative Services Combined Competitive Examination. Also Read | Vehicles Can Zoom From Mumbai-Thane-Navi Mumbai 'Signal-Free' Now at Ghatkopar and Vakola. It decided to amend Rule 50 of the Himachal Pradesh Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Rules, 1989, revising the fee for licenses to pharma units for using opioids to manufacture medicines. The license fee was Rs 200 in 1989 which remained unchanged till date. Now, the fee has been revised to Rs 1.50 lakh. Also Read | 'Decision-Making Highly Shaky, Flawed', Says Supreme Court on Karnataka Government Scrapping 4% Muslim Quota. At present, there are 36 such license holders in the state, officials said adding the decision would increase the revenue of the state exchequer. The cabinet also gave its nod to amend the Himachal Pradesh Town and Country Planning Rules, 2014, to allow the attic floor habitable. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Sambalpur, Apr 13 (PTI) The Odisha government suspended internet services in Sambalpur district for 48 hours from 10 AM of Thursday even as prohibitory order was in force after violence broke out during the Hanuman Jayanti rally, an official said. At least 10 police personnel including a woman cop were injured in the violence. However, police were yet to disclose the number of civilians injured in the incident. Also Read | UGC NET 2023 Result to Be Declared Today At ugcnet.nta.nic.in, Here's How to Check. The administration clamped prohibitory order under section 144 CrPC in areas coming under six police stations - Town, Dhanupali, Khetrajpur, Ainthapali, Bareipali and Sadar - in Sambalpur city. "The situation is critical and miscreants are circulating false and inflammatory messages through social media to disturb public order in Sambalpur district," the notification issued by Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, DK Singh, prohibiting internet use and access in Sambalpur, said. Also Read | TCS Hiring: Amid Tech Layoffs, Tata Consultancy Services Plans to Recruit 40,000 Freshers Via Campus Placement Drive in Financial Year 2023-24. Singh said internet is suspended to prevent circulation of "inflammatory and motivated messages", which have the "potential to inflame communal passion". No access to social mediaWhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & . Suspension of internet/data services of all MSPs & ISPs and Broadband dial up system", the notification said. Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar said that 43 people have been detained and 26 people have so far booked under different sections of the IPC. They will be forwarded to the court. The SP said 30 platoons of police force have been deployed in the area. Asked whether it was a conspiracy, the SP said: "We think it is a sporadic incident. Investigation is going on. The situation is now under control." The SP said the policed have also seized petrol bombs from some people. He said police will soon conduct flag march in sensitive areas. Gangadhar said a meeting will soon be convened on whether to allow the Hanuman Jayanti celebration and procession scheduled to be held on Friday. Violence erupted on Wednesday evening when stones were allegedly thrown at the bike rally taken out out to celebrate the Hanuman jayanti. Every year a bike rally and a ritual Jhanda Sthapana' are organised prior to Hanuman Jayanti in the city. During the violence some shops and several two-wheelers were set on fire while a number of cars were damaged. Hanuman Jayanti is celebrated in Odisha on Maha Visuba Sankranti which falls on Friday this year. A majority of places in the city wore deserted look as most of the shops remained closed. (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 13 (ANI): Families of the victims of the Jaipur serial bomb blast case of 2008 on Thursday moved to the Supreme Court, challenging the Rajasthan High Court order, which acquitted four accused. The families have challenged the Rajasthan High Court's March 29, 2023, order, which acquitted the accused persons in the case. Rajasthan High Court set aside the trial court order which convicted the accused person. Also Read | German Imports from Russia Down by 91%. The Special Leave Petition was filed by the families of the victims of the serial Bomb Blasts which took place at various public premises in the City of Jaipur on May 13 2008, which resulted in the death of 71 persons and injuries to 185 persons. In total 8 FIRs were registered out of which 4 FIRs were registered at Kotwali Police Station, Jaipur and 4 FIRs were registered at Manak Chowk Police Station, Jaipur. Also Read | Atiq Ahmad Has Admitted to Links With Pakistan's ISI, Lashkar-E-Taiba, Says Uttar Pradesh Police Charge Sheet. "The present appeal represents the plight of the huge numbers of innocent citizens and their families who were victims of serial bomb blasts and who have been left in a situation of facing grave injustice arising out of the impugned order whereby after waiting for justice for more than 14 years, the convicted accused persons have been acquitted on the basis of gross misapplication of the law by the High Court," the petition said. The petition also said that the entire appreciation of law as made by the High Court is so grossly erroneous and contrary to settled principles of law of appreciation of evidence that a bare perusal of the impugned order would be sufficient to shake the conscience of the top Court. Over 80 persons were killed and more than 183 injured in the Jaipur bomb blasts when eight explosions took place on May 13, 2008. (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 13 (PTI) The NHRC has issued notices to the Bihar government, Patna's SSP and the city's municipal commissioner over reports that two sanitation workers died while cleaning an underground drain in Transport Nagar area. Reportedly, they were not given any safety gear by the employer company involved in cleaning the drain, the National Human Rights Commission said in a statement on Thursday. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: We Are United, Says Rahul Gandhi After Meeting Sharad Pawar Over Opposition Unity Ahead of General Polls (Watch Video). The content of the report, if true, amount to a serious issue of violation of the right to life of the victims, the NHRC said. The NHRC said it has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that two workers were "choked to death" while cleaning an underground drain in Transport Nagar area in Patna on April 11. Also Read | Lok Sabha Elections 2024: Opposition Unity My Only Goal Ahead of General Polls, Says Bihar CM Nitish Kumar. Accordingly, it has issued notices to the chief secretary, Bihar government, Senior Superintendent of Police, Patna, and Commissioner, Patna Municipal Corporation, seeking a detailed report within six weeks. It is expected to include the status of the FIR registered in the matter, departmental action taken against the responsible people, and the relief and rehabilitation provided to the aggrieved families by the state authorities, the rights panel said. The Commission has been consistently advocating a complete ban on the activities of hazardous cleaning without adequate and proper protective and safety gear or equipment. It also issued an advisory to the Centre, states, and local authorities in this regard on September 24, 2021. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Dehradun (Uttarakhand) [India], April 13 (ANI): Uttarakhand Director General of Police Ashok Kumar on Wednesday said that over 800 persons accused of rigging the examinations by cheating have been arrested in the last one year. The DGP said that on the instructions of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami, continuous action is going on against those who rigged the examinations by cheating. Also Read | Ghana First to Approve Oxford Malaria Vaccine. He informed that strict lobbying is being done by the prosecution against the culprits in the court. "Action has been taken against more than 900 land mafia in view of crime and law and order," he said. Also Read | Sextortion Racket Busted by Delhi Police, Man Accused of Extorting Money After Recording Obscene Videos of Victims Arrested. The official said that action has been taken against more than 200 accused in the name of providing jobs, sending them abroad and chit funds etc. "199 drug mafia have been sent to jail under the Mission Nasha Mukt Devbhoomi 2025," he said. Further detailing the police action, the DGP said that under the Gangster Act, action has been taken against 445 criminals and property worth Rs 175 crore has been attached. He informed that 538 rewarded and wanted criminals have been sent to jail under the special campaign launched against crime and criminals. Under the Goonda Act, 138 accused have been shifted to the Badar district. Earlier this month, Uttarakhand Public Service Commission decided to debar 44 candidates for cheating in Patwari/Lekhpal examination from the upcoming examinations of the commission for five years. It is worth mentioning that while taking strict action against 61 candidates who cheated in the JE examination earlier, the commission has banned them from participating in all the examinations of the commission for the next five years. Thus a total of 105 cheating candidates will not be able to appear in any examination of the Commission for the next five years, according to the official statement. Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami in February said all upcoming exams will be conducted under an anti-copying ordinance of the state. This came after protests broke out over the alleged leak of question papers for government exams. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Bharatpur (Rajasthan), Apr 13 (PTI) Tension erupted in the Nadbai town of the district last night after a dispute between two groups over the installation of statues of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Maharaja Surajmal, who founded Bharatpur. Police said villagers pelted stones at police personnel and blocked a key state highway on Wednesday night. "The situation is under control now," Additional Superintendent of police Raghuvir Singh said ion Thursday. Also Read | Uttar Pradesh: Home Guard in Shamli Gets Notice From Delhi Income Tax Department Over Transactions of Rs 54 Crore From His Bank Account. The incident occurred at Belara village when its residents gathered at Belara Chauraha to install the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar on April 14, his birth anniversary, but the Jat community wanted to install a statue of Jat king Maharaja Surajmal. A row was simmering after a committee headed by Bharatpur Divisional Commissioner Sanwarmal Verma recently decided to install a statue of Bhimrao Ambedkar at the Belara Chauraha, a prominent intersection in the village, and of Maharaja Surajmal at Kumher Chauraha and that of lord Parshuram at Nagar Chauraha. Also Read | Tiger Attack in Uttar Pradesh: 50-Year-Old Woman Mauled to Death by Big Cat in Motipur Forest Range of Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Bahraich. On April 9, people from the Jat community organised a protest against the administration. They demanded to install Surajmal's statue at the Belara Chauraha. The dharna was withdrawn on April 10 after Cabinet minister Vishvendra Singh assured them to fulfil their demand. However, the tension erupted when people from the Jat community learnt that Vishvendra Singh announced through a press conference in Nadbai Wednesday evening that the statue of Ambedkar will be installed at Belara Chauraha. Nadbai Sub-Division Magistrate Jogendra Singh said efforts are being made to pacify the agitating people. Bhupendra Singh, the Nadbai Panchayat Samiti Up-pradhan, said, "We are not jealous of any caste but we are demanding Maharaja Surajmal's statue at the main intersection. Some officers led by the divisional commissioner in a room have made a decision." ASP Raghuvir Singh said police personnel have been deployed at the place where the statue of Ambedkar was proposed but protesters started pelting stones on cops. PTI COR SDA (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Chennai (Tamil Nadu) [India], April 13 (ANI): Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) will conduct marches across the state of Tamil Nadu at 45 places on April 16, said a party statement on Thursday. The statement issued by the RSS stated, "The DGP of Tamil Nadu granted permission to RSS to conduct route march in 45 places all over Tamil Nadu and requested the district cadres to approach the concerned District Commissioners of Police and Superintendent of Police and work out the route and other formalities for conducting march on 16th April 2023." Also Read | Dog Bite Claims a Life in Delhi; 65-Year-Old Man Dies of Rabies After Being Bitten by Stray Dog in Chawri Bazar. "RSS has been conducting route marches ever since its formation in 1925 every year during Vijayadasami throughout the country. It is an annual event conducted in every part of India from Kashmir to Kanyakumari", R Vanniyarajan, RSS President, Tamilnadu said in the statement. The statement added, "We expect the General public and other brethren to join us for the public meeting and view the march in large numbers. We thank Supreme Court, High Court and Police for granting permission to conduct the march." Also Read | Bihu Dance World Record 2023: Assam Scripts History, Enters Guinness Book of World Records for Largest Bihu Performance at Single Venue. On Tuesday, the Supreme Court rejected the Stalin-led-Tamil Nadu's appeal against the Madras high court order allowing 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 had observed that the main objection raised by the State before the High Court was that after the imposition of a banning 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 of 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. (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 13 (PTI) The Supreme Court Thursday set aside a Calcutta High Court order for a CBI probe in the alleged attack on Union Minister Nisith Pramanik's convoy during a visit to his constituency in West Bengal in February this year and directed fresh adjudication of the PIL filed by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari on the issue. The top court also rejected the vehement submissions of Adhikari, the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, for a status quo on the probe into the incident by the state police which, otherwise, will proceed with a lightening speed in view of the fact that they have not given the case files to the CBI as directed by the high court. Also Read | Ramadan 2023 Time Table: Sehri and Iftar Timings for 22nd Roza of Ramzan on April 14 in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Lucknow and Other Cities of India. No we cannot pass such an order, a bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices P S Narasimha and J P Pardiwala said. The top court referred to the fresh affidavit filed by the West Bengal police before it with regard to the actions taken so far in the incident and set aside the high court judgement ordering a CBI probe, saying the the high court has not noticed any of the above facets. Also Read | Asad Ahmed Encounter: Mayawati Demands High-Level Probe Into Death of Atiq Ahmad's Son. However, the narration which is set out in the earlier part of the judgement (of the high court) have a bearing on the fact that the high court did not apply its mind to the entirety of the material which was produced before it by the petitioners on whether a proper investigation was being conducted (by the state police), the bench said. In this view of the matter, we are of the considered opinion that it would be appropriate to remit the proceedings back to the high court to apply its mind fresh to the material which has been placed on record including the further material which has been placed before this court," it said. The apex court said the high court will be at liberty to take a fresh view on whether the investigation by the state police has been fair and proper, and if not, whether a case has been made out for the transfer of the investigation to the CBI. The top court, in its order, took note of the steps taken so far by the state police with regard to incidents, including the one related to alleged attack on the Union Minister of State for Home Affairs' convoy during a visit to his constituency in Cooch Behar district on February 25. It noted that these materials were evidently before the high court which was also told that 21 arrests were made by the state police in a suo-motu (on its own) case registered by the Sahibganj police station there and three more arrests in respect of the FIR registered on the basis of the complaint given by the CISF (Central Industrial Security Force), which was protecting the union minister. Moreover it is stated that six specific cases of house damage and ransacking were registered on February 26-27, 2023 on the basis of the complaint submitted by the supporters of the BJP and that in those cases, five accused have been arrested, it said, adding The high court has not noticed any of the above facets in the course of its judgment. The top court did not refer to the details of the state police affidavit with regard to the latest probe saying these materials have been placed after the decision of the high court. However, the narration which is set out in the earlier part of the judgement have a bearing on the fact that the high court did not apply its mind to the entirety of the material which was produced before it by the petitioners bearing on whether a proper investigation was being conducted, it said while setting aside the CBI probe order. While disposing of the appeal of the state government, the bench said it was leaving open objections, to be raised by police, with regard to the maintainability of Adhikari's PIL for a CBI probe. The Calcutta High Court had on March 28 ordered the CBI to probe the alleged attack on Pramanik's convoy during a visit to his constituency Cooch Behar district on February 25. The high court had passed the order on the PIL filed by Adhikari, seeking a CBI probe into the attack alleging a conspiracy to "cause bodily harm" to Pramanik, a BJP MP, during his visit to Dinhata. A division bench presided over by Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava had ordered the transfer of cases filed in connection with the incident from the state police to the CBI. Stating that the allegations are against the workers of the ruling Trinamool Congress, the high court had observed that a possibility that the state police may not fairly carry out the investigation cannot be ruled out, especially when the other side comprises workers of the principal opposition party in the state. Adhikari had alleged that Pramanik's car was attacked during his visit to Dinhata where workers belonging to the Trinamool Congress had thrown stones and hurled bombs at the convoy. It was alleged that bombs broke the window panes of the car and the shrapnel damage to the body of the vehicle could have resulted in fatalities. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Taipei [Taiwan], April 13 (ANI): After carrying out a 3-day series of military drills near Taiwan, Beijing informed Taipei that a no-fly zone will be implemented north of Taiwan the following week, NHK World reported, citing Taiwan's transportation ministry on Tuesday. China reportedly warned Taiwan's northern flight information zone on Tuesday of the upcoming airspace closure, to conduct aerospace activities in the area. Also Read | Gerard Depardieu Accused of Sexual Misconduct by 13 Women Between 2004 and 2022. China said the duration would be five hours per day from April 16-18. However, it will be reduced to about half an hour on only April 16, following the complaint lodged by Taiwan's ministry. The transportation ministry cautioned that the shutdown was inappropriate and would provide significant and unnecessary safety hazards in its complaint against China. Also Read | Prince Harry to Attend King Charles III's Coronation Without Meghan Markle Reports. China intends to block airspace over the high seas north of Taiwan, according to Taiwan's defence minister, who stated that defence officials will closely monitor Beijing's aerospace actions, which may include a potential satellite launch, according to NHK World. As tensions between Taiwan and China continue to escalate, Taiwan recently tracked the People's Liberation Army's 91 aircraft and 12 naval ships from 6 am on Monday (April 10) to Tuesday (April 11). In an official release, Taiwan's Defence Ministry stated, "91 PLA aircraft and 12 PLAN vessels around Taiwan were detected by 6 a.m.(UTC+8) today. 54 of the detected aircraft had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's southwest and southeast ADIZ." "Yesterday, China completed the third day of live-fire drills but still, there are 8 vessels that are operating in the waters surrounding Taiwan," Taiwan's Defence Ministry said. The island country's armed forces were monitoring the situation and tasked CAP aircraft, Navy vessels, and land-based missile systems to respond in the event of an emergency. 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, Al Jazeera reported. 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. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Beijing, Apr 13 (PTI) Japan has unveiled a new plan to provide "like-minded" countries especially in Asia with military aid as it looks to expand its influence in the Indo-Pacific region to counter China's aggressive push over Taiwan and the South China Sea issues. The guidelines announced by Tokyo early this month included a new programme to strengthen the militaries of like-minded countries by providing official security assistance - a move that breaks with its previous policy of avoiding the use of development aid for military purposes other than disaster relief, the Japan Times reported. Also Read | Google Planning Another Round of Layoffs? CEO Sundar Pichai Has This to Say on More Job Cuts At The Tech Giant. Japanese Foreign Ministry officials said the Philippines will be one of the first beneficiaries of Overseas Security Assistance (OSA), with Malaysia, Bangladesh and Fiji also among those being considered, the report said. Japan, a member of the Quad alliance consisting of the US, India and Australia, is actively pursuing the Indo-Pacific strategy which China claims aimed at countering its rise. Also Read | Pakistan: Swedish Embassy in Islamabad Shuts Down Indefinitely for Security Reasons. Tokyo's decision to use international aid for military purposes is a paradigm shift' but won't lead to an arms race in Asia, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Thursday. The move will not only build up the defence capabilities of Asian nations amid changing security dynamics', but boost the competitiveness of Japan's defence sector, it said. Japan's new policy of defence aid to neighbours was announced after this month's visit of Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi to China. In his talks with Hayashi on April 2, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang said Japan should not help a villain do evil, apparently referring to Tokyo's close ties with Washington. This was the first visit by the Japanese Foreign Minister to China since 2019. China and Japan have a long-festering dispute over uninhabited East China Sea islands controlled by Japan but claimed by China. The islands are known as the Senkakus by Japan, while China named them as Diaoyu. Taiwan also claims the islands but has forged agreements with Japan to avoid any conflict as Tokyo maintains close defence ties with Taipei. The purpose of Tokyo's new initiative is to contribute to the creation of a desirable security environment for Japan, while maintaining Japan's basic principles as a peaceful nation, according to the Japanese ministry statement. The OSA is being presented as an expansion of Japan's official development assistance (ODA) - one of the world's largest foreign aid programs - to cover projects for the benefit of armed forces and other related organisations, the Japan Times report said. The new framework was revealed as Tokyo moves away from a strict non-military approach to ties with its neighbours and looks to realise its vision of a Free and Open Indo-Pacific (FOIP), it said. According to its fiscal 2023 budget, the Japanese government has set aside two billion Japanese Yen (USD15 million) for OSA. Funding will be separate from the Yen 570.9 billion in economic and social development assistance that Tokyo provides to developing countries. While this year's modest OSA budget appears largely symbolic, especially compared with the ODA funds, experts say the decision to launch the program is significant, as it marks another step in Japan's march toward a more robust and proactive defence posture that could ultimately allow it more leeway in defence transfers, Japan Times report said. Tokyo has traditionally exercised self-restraint on arms exports and defense technology transfers. Stephen Nagy, politics and international studies professor at the International Christian University in Tokyo, said Japan's decision was due to the changing security dynamics within the region. "I do not see this as a fundamental departure of international aid; rather, I see it as a continuation of the use of strategic partnerships to help build the security capabilities of like-minded countries, Nagy told the Post. Under existing partnerships, Japan had provided coastguard vessels and maritime domain awareness capabilities to various Southeast Asian countries including the Philippines, Malaysia and Indonesia. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington [US], April 13 (ANI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday underlined that in order to address the mounting debt crisis around the world, it is necessary to supplement current global initiatives, especially those of the G20. Sitharaman made the remarks during the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable meeting alongside managing director of International Monetary Fund (IMF) Kristalina Georgieva on Tuesday on the sidelines of the SpringMeetings 2023, in Washington. Also Read | Gerard Depardieu Accused of Sexual Misconduct by 13 Women Between 2004 and 2022. World Bank President David Malpass was also present while Sitharaman discussed the global debt crisis. Taking to Twitter, the Finance Ministry wrote, "Union Finance Minister Smt. @nsitharaman participated in the Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable #GSDR meeting along with Ms@KGeorgieva, MD, IMF @IMFNews, and @DavidMalpassWBG President @WorldBank on the sidelines of the #SpringMeetings 2023, in Washington DC, today." Also Read | Prince Harry to Attend King Charles III's Coronation Without Meghan Markle Reports. "As a priority for the #G20India Presidency, FM Smt. @nsitharaman said that there is a need to augment present global efforts, including those of the #G20 to address growing debt distress across the globe," the ministry tweeted further. During the discussion, Sitharaman also emphasised the need for debt transparency, information exchange, and clarity regarding the treatment of different debt situations on par, predictability of the process, and timeliness of the process. On Tuesday, Sitaraman also engaged in a bilateral meeting with her US counterpart. Yellen lauded India's leadership on the issue of reform of MDBs. Yellen also added that the US seeks G20's help in achieving reforms. "The G20 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," the top US official stated. At the MDB Roundtable Yellen further said, "In the coming weeks, we will elect new leadership at the World Bank that can carry this work forward. I believe that Ajay Banga - U.S. nominee for President of the World Bank - is the right leader to take the baton from President Malpass and accelerate our work to evolve this institution." Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Sunday (local time) reached Washington to attend the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and International Monetary Fund and other G20 meetings. She was received by Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. Sitharaman is on a week-long visit to the US. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Islamabad, Apr 13 (PTI) Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday heard petitions against the bill curtailing the country's chief justice's power and issued notices to the federal government and political parties, amidst a raging row between the ruling coalition and the judiciary. The apex court adjourned the hearing till next week, saying that the date for the proceedings will be announced as per the availability of the judges. Also Read | Vehicle Emissions Control FAQs: How Often Do You Need an Emissions Test? What Is the Emissions System? Get All Answers to Trending Questions. At the hearing, Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said the independence of the judiciary was an important matter but at the same time noted that he had the utmost respect for parliament, the Dawn newspaper reported. An eight-judge bench of the apex court heard the petitions against the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill, 2023, which seeks to curtail the Chief Justice of Pakistan's powers to initiate suo motu proceedings and constitute benches on his own. Also Read | Google Planning Another Round of Layoffs? CEO Sundar Pichai Has This to Say on More Job Cuts At The Tech Giant. Besides Chief Justice Bandial, the larger bench comprises Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha Malik, Justice Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed. During the hearing on Thursday, the court issued notices to the political parties, the federal government, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and other respondents in the case. As the hearing commenced, AGP Awan and the petitioner's lawyers Advocate Azhar Siddique and Advocate Imtiaz Rashid Siddiqui were present in the courtroom. Advocate Imtiaz said that in the current scenario, the case held a lot of importance. He stated that ever since the National Assembly was restored in April last year, the political divide and crisis had increased. He further argued that the federal government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) were not willing to hold elections, thus the court itself had to take notice of the matter and order the ECP to conduct polls. "On April 3, the court ordered elections, however, after the court's directives to follow the Constitution, more problems were created. The court and judges were criticised personally," he said. Imtiaz held government ministers and parliamentarians responsible for this. The lawyer stated that the proposed legislation interfered with the independence of the judiciary. He said that after approval from both houses, the bill was sent to the president who raised objections and sent it back to the assembly. However, the president's objections were not reviewed, he said, adding that the bill would become law in ten days after approval by the joint session. "Under Article 191 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court makes its own rules," he said. "The basic question is whether this bill is worthy of becoming a law, the lawyer said, asserting that it was illegal for the cabinet to ratify the bill. Bill presentation and approval in the cabinet are both administrative matters, he said. Presenting the bill in the National Assembly and getting approval is also unconstitutional, he said, arguing that whether the president gave his assent or not, the proposed act would eventually become a part of the law. Imtiaz noted that the Supreme Court could invalidate the bill passed by Parliament, adding that the top court could not exist without the Chief Justice. The Supreme Court completes its work with the appointment of the CJP and even if there are other judges without the Chief Justice, the court is not complete, he was quoted as saying by the Express Tribune newspaper. Earlier on Thursday, the federal coalition issued a joint statement rejecting the eight-member bench, saying that the apex court's move to form a controversial bench even before the completion of the legislative process was unprecedented and unacceptable. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Samarkand [Uzbekistan], April 13 (ANI): Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday held talks with his Chinese counterpart Qin Gang in Uzbekistan's Samarkand Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who on Wednesday arrived in Samarkand, took to Twitter to state that Lavrov and Foreign Minister of China Qin Gang held talks on April 13 in Samarkand. Also Read | Lead by Example: JPMorgan Ends Work From Home for Managing Directors, Asks Them To Be Present in Office Five Days in a Week. Lavrov, Qin Gang along with Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar participated in a meeting in Samarkand within the framework of a ministerial conference of Afghanistan's neighbouring nations, TASS reported. Top diplomats of Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan also attended the meeting. Also Read | Eid 2023 Holiday: UAE Announces Eid al-Fitr Holidays for Public Sector, Check Dates Here. Ahead of the meeting, TASS reported that the leaders will discuss further steps on facilitating Afghanistan's political settlement. They will also talk about the stabilization of the humanitarian and socio-economic situation in Afghanistan and development of regional economic integration and the implementation of transport and energy projects with Kabul's participation. As per TASS, during his visit, Lavrov will also participate in a meeting of top CIS diplomats and a ministerial meeting in a Russia-Central Asia format. Lavrov had previously met Qin Gang met on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting (G20FMM) in New Delhi this March. During the meeting, Qin Gang said that the ties between China and Russia continue to develop "steadily and healthily." He also recalled former Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's visit to Russia in February 2023. "Thanks to the strategic guiding role of our leaders, our relations continue to develop steadily and healthily, setting a positive example of bilateral relations between major powers," TASS quoted Qin Gang as saying. "Recently Comrade Wang Yi successfully visited Russia, where he exchanged views with you personally and the rest of his Russian colleagues, and [they] reached broad agreements. We took the opportunity to talk with you on all issues of mutual interest," he added. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Mumbai, April 13: The Mumbai Traffic Police on Wednesday issued an advisory in view of the large number of followers visiting Chaityabhoomi in Dadar on the occasion of the 132nd Birth Anniversary Celebrations of Bharat Ratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar. On the occasion of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar's Jayanti, his followers are expected to throng the Chaityabhoomi in Dadar in large numbers to pay their tributes. The Mumbai police in its advisory have asked commuters to avoid certain routes in and around the Dadar area ahead of Ambedkar Jayanti on April 14. Taking to Twitter, the Mumbai traffic police shared the advisory and said, "Following traffic regulations will come into effect from 11.00 am on 13th April till 24.00 on 14th April on the mentioned roads leading towards Chaitya Bhoomi, Dadar." Ambedkar Jayanti or Bhim Jayanti 2023 Date: Know History and Significance of the Day Celebrating 132nd Birth Anniversary of Babasaheb Ambedkar, the Father of the Indian Constitution. Ambedkar Jayanti Traffic Advisory In view of large number of followers visiting Chaityabhoomi on Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti (14th April). Following traffic regulations will come into effect from 11.00 am on 13th April till 24.00 on 14th April on the mentioned roads leading towards Chaitya Bhoomi, Dadar pic.twitter.com/VEHrxkTQbL Mumbai Traffic Police (@MTPHereToHelp) April 12, 2023 The traffic advisory has been issued in order to "prevent danger, obstructions, and inconveniences to the public". What Does the Ambedkar Jayanti Traffic Advisory Say? As per the advisory, one-way and certain roads have been closed for vehicular traffic. SK Bole Road will be a "One-way" road from Siddhi Vinayak Junction up to Portugues Church while SVS Road from Siddhi Vinayak Junction to Yes Bank junction will remain closed for all types of vehicular traffic. The advisory also stated that Ranade Road and Dnyaneshwar Mandir Road will be closed to all types of vehicular traffic. "All heavy vehicles, goods vehicles including tempos (except BEST buses) shall be diverted from Mahim Junction via LJ Road," the advisory read. On the other hand, the Mumbai traffic police have also issued a slew of alternate routes which people can use on April 14 in order to make their travel within the city hassle-free. 18,000 Notebooks Used To Make Babasaheb Ambedkar's Portrait in Mosaic Art Form in Maharashtra Ahead of Ambedkar Jayanti 2023. Besides, parking arrangements have been made on Senapati Bapat Road, Mahim, Dadar, Kamgar Stadium, India Bulls Center, Jupiter Mill Compound, India Bull Finance Center, Elphinstone, Kohinoor Square, Kohinoor Mill Compound, and Shivaji Park among others. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 13, 2023 04:20 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). More people are trying to cross the Mediterranean to seek a better life, but many do not make it. The UN has slammed policies by some states that seek to make the crossing harder.The number of people who died while crossing the Mediterranean Sea to seek refuge in Europe has reached a level not seen since 2017, according to a report published by the United Nations on Wednesday. Also Read | US Sanctions Russian Oligarchs, Hungary-based Bank. The UN's International Organization for Migration (IOM) counted 441 deaths in the first three months of 2023, but warned that the real number was likely much higher. Also Read | IPL 2023: Delhi Police Arrest Eight Persons for Selling Fake Tickets for Delhi Capitals vs Mumbai Indians Match. "The persisting humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable," said IOM chief Antonio Vitorino. "With more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this route since 2014, I fear that these deaths have been normalized. States must respond," he added. What's behind the increase in Med deaths? The IOM pointed the finger at the states around the Mediterranean without naming any in particular saying that the delayed launching of state-led search and rescue (SAR) operations were responsible for numerous deaths. The report gave six example incidents where SAR delays led to the deaths of at least 127 people. "The complete absence of response to a seventh case claimed the lives of at least 73 migrants," it added. The IOM also pointed to the decrease in activities by nongovernmental organizations but blasted the policies introduced by some countries to hamper humanitarian efforts. Italy has frequently impounded humanitarian boats for varying reasons, and the new far-right government now requires those carrying rescued people to disembark further away from their areas of operations. "State efforts to save lives must include supporting the efforts of NGO actors to provide lifesaving assistance and ending the criminalization, obstruction of those efforts," the IOM said. More people migrating this year The number of crossings was also up in general, with some 32,000 people landing in Italy since the start of 2023, according to figures from the Italian Interior Ministry. During the same period last year, the number was 8,000. The largest share of people taking the Mediterranean route to cross into Europe this year was people from Ivory Coast, Guinea and Pakistan. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and her far-right coalition government declared a six-month state of emergency on Tuesday over mass immigration, which the coalition parties have pledged to end. Many of those who reach Italy see their applications rejected as they are fleeing poverty rather than war or persecution. Others hope to pass through Italy to meet up with family members in other European countries but, according to EU rules, they are required to make their asylum claims in the first country they arrive in. ab/nm (AP, AFP) (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 13, 2023 03:30 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Bhopal, April 13: Former BJP minister and son of ex-Chief Minister (late) Kailash Joshi's son Deepak Joshi, who has been sidelined from the state politics for the last few years, is likely to join the Congress. The process of dialogues between Joshi and the top leadership of Congress in Madhya Pradesh has already been initiated, sources privy to the development told IANS. While the MP Congress led by Kamal Nath is planning to give a big political jolt to the ruling BJP ahead of the Assembly polls due later this year, Joshi, who has been angry over not being given active role in the state politics despite being a senior BJP leader, is likely to grab this opportunity to flourish his political career in the Congress. BJP Will Win Karnataka Election Riding on PM Modi's Vision and Achievements: Gaurav Bhatia. Sources said that a group of senior Congress leaders and Deepak Joshi held a close door meeting a few days ago, however, negotiation was yet to reach any conclusive step. Meanwhile, the Congress leadership also feared facing disappointment within its own faction, especially from the local party leaders of Dewas district. "Joshi does not just want a ticket for the Assembly polls but wants to play a big role. Like his father, he has a clean image and his shifting to the Congress will undoubtedly be a big political jolt for the ruling BJP. At the same time, some senior BJP leaders also tried to convince him to stay with the party, however Joshi's rift with CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan continues," a senior Congress leader told IANS on condition of anonymity. Last week, when a group of farmers of his home district, Dewas, staged a protest against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government, Joshi had not only justified the protest but he had also addressed the gathering. However, speaking with IANS, he said, "People of Bagli and Hatpipliya constituencies are like my family members and if they have any problem, it is my duty to stand with them. My father was a clean politician and I am following in his footsteps. I was made to sit at home for the last few years without any reason." When asked about his further political step, he did not say much, but added, "See, I am made to sit at home for the last few years. I have to make decisions in the interest of people who have faith in my family." As per the sources, Joshi was sidelined after he raised his voice against corruption in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Dewas district. "Whenever I raised this matter before, some leaders from my own party (BJP) accused me of playing politics and raising voice against the BJP government. But I kept raising this matter because my father won elections from the Bagli constituency eight times and people have faith in us. At present, this constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) but people still come to me whenever they have any problem," Joshi added. Karnataka Assembly Elections 2023: BJP Announces Second List of 23 Candidates, Denies Tickets to Seven Sitting MLAs. Getting no response from the state leadership on his complaint, Joshi had then written to the Central leadership of the BJP and following which, Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh in December last year had booked 45 officials and employees in different departments for allegedly misusing funds meant for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Dewas district. A police investigation had revealed that the nexus has been operating for the past few years, embezzling several crores of rupees by creating fake bills. Joshi (60), who won three Assembly polls from Bagli (2003, 2008) and Hathpiplia (2013), also served as a minister of technical education and skills development, and of school education in Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet. He lost the election in 2018 against the Congress. His father, Kailash Joshi, was the ninth Chief Minister (June 24, 1977 to January 18, 1978) of Madhya Pradesh when he was a member of the Janata Party. He died on November 24, 2019. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 13, 2023 11:56 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). "I want that there should be talks with leaders of all opposition parties including Mamata Banerjee, Arvind Kejriwal. We should talk to them and move forward, taking everyone along, to unite the opposition," he said. New Delhi, April 13: After the ChatGPT success, apps with the term 'AI Chatbot' or 'AI Chat' in either their app name, subtitle, or description on both Google and Apple app stores have increased a whopping 1,480 per cent (year-over-year) in the first quarter this year. According to analytics firm Apptopia, just this year (through March), 158 such apps have arrived on the app stores. Downloads of AI chatbot apps increased 1,506 per cent, and in-app purchase (IAP) revenue surged 4,184 per cent, year-over-year, in the first quarter. Chinese ChatGPT: Alibaba Launches Chinese Equivalent of OpenAIs AI Chatbot Tongyi Qianwen To Be Integrated in Its DingTalk. "The public launch of OpenAI's ChatGPT product has created a consumer-facing artificial intelligence gold rush, including in the realm of mobile apps," said Adam Blacker, VP, Insights at Apptopia. The top 10 AI chatbot apps were responsible for 52 per cent of all AI chatbot app downloads and 72 per cent of their IAP revenue in Q1 2023. "Like most of these apps, Genie generates revenue by charging users to uncap the app's usage. Genie is the second most downloaded and second highest revenue-generating AI chatbot app so far in 2023," Blacker informed. ChatGPT Could Return to Italy if OpenAI Complies with Rules. Most of these apps are made by independent developers and are eventually likely to be surpassed by bigger brands like Microsoft and Google due to their marketing power and brand familiarity. Microsoft's search app has already been rebranded as Bing -- Your AI copilot. Since the announcement of its integration with Open AI's ChatGPT, Bing's average daily downloads have increased by 1,000 per cent, the report mentioned. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 13, 2023 11:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Mumbai, April 13: Prince Harry of Britain will not accompany his wife Meghan to his father King Charles' coronation, the couple confirmed on Wednesday, putting an end to months of rumours regarding their attendance in the much anticipated event. In front of dignitaries and foreign leaders of state, Charles will be crowned in a ritual that has been going on for a thousand years. However, his youngest son's participation had been in question after the 38-year-old harshly lambasted his family in a book and television series. Prince Harry Lawyers Say He Feels Unsafe Bringing Kids to UK. Harry, also known as the Duke of Sussex, will attend the event on May 6 according to Buckingham Palace and a spokesperson for the duo, while Meghan will stay in California with the couple's two young children. On the same day, Archie, their oldest child, turns four. According to a representative for Buckingham Palace, "The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey." "Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will stay in California with the Duchess of Sussex, he added. Prince Harry To Sit 10 Rows Behind The Royal Family: Harry and Meghan left their royal responsibilities in 2020 and relocated to California, claiming they wanted to start again and lead independent lives away from the British monarchys attention. They made an agreement with the royal family that they would not participate in any upcoming official royal events or tours, and since they left, they have rarely been spotted in Britain, including for Queen Elizabeth's funeral after a 70-year reign. Prince William and Kate Middleton Won't Watch Prince Harry, Meghan Markle's Netflix Documentary: Reports. Personal Disclosures Following their departure, tensions quickly arose, and recently Harry published a memoir that revealed personal details about the British royal family. The couple also made an appearance in a Netflix documentary series. They made a number of allegations, one of which was that some royals, including stepmother Camilla and brother William, the heir to the throne, had leaked information to tabloid publications in an effort to protect or boost their reputations. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 13, 2023 01:06 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Damascus/Riyadh, April 13: Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed in a joint statement to resume consular services and flights, after the bilateral ties have been stranded for years. The announcement came as Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad wrapped up his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first time since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement on Wednesday said both Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to resume the consular services and the flights between the two countries, stressing that both sides have agreed on boosting security and counter-terrorism efforts, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry. Iran and Saudi Arabia Surprised Many when They Announced an Agreement. The two sides discussed the necessary steps to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the crisis in Syria that would end all its repercussions, achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab surroundings and the resumption of its natural role in the Arab world, according to the statement. The two countries also agreed to resolve humanitarian difficulties and offer a suitable environment for assistance to reach all parts of Syria, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The two sides stressed the importance of the return of Syrian refugees and displaced individuals to their areas, along with taking the required steps to stabilise the situation in the country. Syiran FM Faisal Mekdad Makes First Visit to Saudi Arabia Since 2011 War. Mekdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came upon the invitation by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, as the relations between both countries are on the way to normalisation. On Wednesday, Tunisia and Syria decided to reopen their respective embassies to resume diplomatic ties between the two countries. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 13, 2023 10:23 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). On 12 April Hondurass defence ministry (Sedena) announced that in the first quarter of 2023, over 1.8m coca plants had been seized, spanning 147.8 hectares (ha), and seven drug-processing laboratories identified and destroyed. End of preview - This article contains approximately 403 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options On 12 April, Mexicos President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador denied that a proposed reform to the mining law presented any risk to Mexicos mining industry. Analysis: Lopez Obrador was referring to a reform initiative that he presented to congress on 28 March. The initiative would modify the mining law, as well as the national water law, the general law of ecological equilibrium and environmental protection, and the general law for waste management. The reform would give the government more control over granting and cancelling mining concessions as well as reducing the length of concessions from 50 to 15 years and restricting where they may be granted. Private sector resistance to the reform continues to build, indicating it may well provide another point of contention between industry groups and Lopez Obradors government. In a press conference yesterday, Lopez Obrador said the reform would likely lead to the cancellation of half the mining concessions in the country. He said this posed no problem for the mining industry given the quantity of concessions that existed (some 25,000), claiming 60% of Mexico had been given over to mining due to the number of concessions handed out in the neoliberal period. Lopez Obrador maintains that the reform would protect national resources and the environment. Under the reform, new mining concessions would not be granted in areas with water scarcity or in natural protected areas. Social impact studies and community consultations would be undertaken before granting concessions and companies operating in an area with an existing community would pay at least 10% of mining profits to the affected community. The reform would also reduce the duration of mining concessions and introduce a single extension limit of 15 years. Mexicos International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), mining chamber (Camimex), and private sector lobby Consejo Coordinador Empresarial (CCE) have warned against the reforms economic impact. In a statement issued yesterday, CCE stated it would violate international treaties such as the US-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), threaten individual freedoms and human rights and discourage greater development in the mining industry. International credit ratings agency Moodys has also warned against the reform, stating it would increase the regulatory burden for companies and hinder investment in the sector which accounts for 2.5% of Mexicos GDP. Looking Ahead: The reform would only need a simple majority to pass congress, which is likely as the ruling Movimiento Regeneracion Nacional (Morena) and its allies enjoy a simple majority in both chambers. On 12 April, Brazils Presidentlanded in China to begin his official state visit, which had been postponed for health reasons End of preview - This article contains approximately 605 words. Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article Not a Subscriber? Choose from one of the following options Elon Musk made another statement regarding his recently acquired social media company Twitter and the possibility of selling it to another owner in the future. Musk was asked in a BBC interview conducted on Twitter Spaces whether he would sell Twitter if someone were to offer him $44 billion for the social media company, which was the same amount that Musk paid when he bought the company, according to PC Mag. The billionaire and Tesla CEO initially refused to hypothetical offer but backtracked and said that it would depend "on who" would make the offer to buy. He added that if he was confident that the person would "vigorously pursue the truth," he would be "glad to hand it over to someone else." Musk went on to say that he does not care about the money but wants to have some "source of truth that I can count on." BBC reporter James Clayton then said that if the billionaire does not care about the money, Musk could just give it to someone he thinks would be a good person to run Twitter. Musk then asked who could be the right person for such a task, to which Clayton replied, "Honestly, I have no idea." READ NEXT: Elon Musk Reclaims Top Spot on Billionaires List Twitter Since Elon Musk Took Over Aside from the possibility of selling Twitter, Elon Musk has also recounted his experience owning one of the largest social media platforms, saying that it has never been boring but admitted that it was "quite stressful over the last several months." NDTV noted that Musk then said that the workload would sometimes mean him sleeping in the office, describing his spot on a couch in a library "that no one goes to." Musk has made several changes upon the acquisition of Twitter. Among the changes include letting go of some Twitter employees and executives and selling some of the company's furniture in an attempt to cut costs and ramp up the company's income. An anonymous engineer noted in a Business Insider report that Musk tried to get Twitter's staff to buy its office plant. The engineer was a BBC source that was not named as he is still employed in the company. The source claimed that Musk's focus at the company "was on money." Musk has also cut back on free food since he took over and laid off thousands of staff. Twitter has also paid some legal challenges after the company failed to pay bills, including millions of dollars of rent for its San Francisco office. Elon Musk Twitter Acquisition The widely watched Elon Musk Twitter acquisition for $44 billion was completed in October 2022, as reported by The New York Times. The new ownership of Twitter started with the sacking of at least four top Twitter executives, including the chief executive and chief financial officer. Some Republicans celebrated the acquisition. Many Republican key figures have been censored on Twitter for conservative viewpoints. At the time of his procurement, Musk said that Twitter has "tremendous potential," adding that he looks forward to the company and the community of users to "unlock it." READ MORE: Elon Musk Says Twitter Will Sue 'Disgruntled Employee' Who Claims His Tweets Were Boosted This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Elon Musk talks state of Twitter in new interview l GMA - from ABC News More details about the horrific migrant facility fire in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico that killed 40 migrants have emerged. Meanwhile, a very important immigration official just got charged for the incident. The head of the Mexican Immigration Institute, Francisco Garduno, may have kept his job for now, thanks to a decision by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, but the federal Attorney General's Office announced late Tuesday that the immigration official will also be charged in connection to the fire. The Associated Press noted that this may have been because of the difficult position that Mexico is in right now, as the country faces pressure from the United States to slow northbound migration while the international community calls on them to treat migrants humanely and safely. Garduno, a lawyer and criminologist before he took the job, started in June 2019 amid enormous pressure from the Trump administration to decrease the flow of immigrants. AMLO revealed during his daily press conference that Garduno had not offered his resignation. However, the Mexican president added that he would not protect anyone who had committed a crime. So far, the immigration chief's charges are not yet clear, so AMLO announced that they will be making a decision on his fate at the "right time." He also defended the official, stating that "his work is good in general; he has always had good performance," and this is despite the deadly border fire that happened in Ciudad Juarez. Garduno is noted to be close to the Mexican President, as the two have known each other since AMLO was still the mayor of Mexico City. READ MORE: Mexico Migrant Protest Forces Closure of El Paso Bridge in Texas Guards at the Immigration Facility Did Not Have Keys to the Cells, Making the Border Fire Deadlier Videos of the incident showed the guards fleeing the fire without unlocking the cell doors, trapping migrants inside and resulting in their deaths. However, AMLO revealed that the guards themselves did not have the keys to unlock those cell doors, which may have saved the lives of the migrants. "The door was closed, because the person who had the keys wasn't there," said AMLO. The Honolulu Star Advertiser noted that he made these comments on the same day that the bodies of 17 Guatemalan migrants and six Hondurans killed in the fire were flown back to their respective home countries. According to El Pais, three of the facility's guards, as well as the Venezuelan migrant who started the fire as a form of protest, have already been detained for questioning. Migrant Facility Near the U.S.-Mexico Border That Burned Down Had Plenty of Problems The Mexican immigration institute, the facility near the U.S.-Mexico border that burned down, had already been plagued with repeated complaints of human rights violations and unhealthy conditions. This was also why one Venezuelan migrant started the fire, as he was protesting the inhumane conditions of the facility. The facility reportedly had plenty of issues, including inadequate ventilation, clean water, and food. There were also reports of guards being corrupt. However, Garduno took a harder line when he took over. READ NEXT: Texas: FBI Shot, Killed Suspect in Kidnapping of Migrants From Mexico This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Video shows detainees locked behind gates as fire breaks out in detention center - CNN The highly anticipated Joe Biden visit to Ireland has met its first logistic hurdle when a security paper listing the protection detail of the U.S. president was found lying on the streets of Ireland. The security paper was found near the hotel where U.S. President Joe Biden was staying, detailing the names and phone numbers of police officers involved in security operations of the U.S. president during his Ireland visit, according to USA Today. The security paper also noted the streets the security members were deployed, with other information such as street closures and measures to detect vehicles they deemed hostile. The man who found the security paper, "Bill," found the document on one Belfast street. He said in an interview with "The Nolan Show" on BBC Radio Ulster that it "sounds a bit crazy, but it's true." READ MORE: White House: Russia Offering Food for North Korea Weapons Security Paper of Joe Biden Ireland Visit Bill said in an Independent report that he found it alarming, with the security paper containing "highly sensitive" information, with details of roads being closed, the names of the commanders, and phone numbers. The officers' names were listed, along with the nature of their role in the president's security. For instance, some officers' nature of duty includes "bronze supervision of the call signs at the venue" while also ensuring "integrity of the controlled streets around the venue." The security paper also has call signs assigned to each officer, with the event name on the paper stating, "Op Rondoletto - Grand Central Hotel." Police Service Northern Ireland responded to the incident by saying that they were aware of a security breach and had launched an investigation. PSNI also said that they have notified the senior information risk officer, adding that they take the "safety of visiting dignitaries," the public, and their officers and staff "extremely seriously." Bedford Street was closed, including streets surrounding the Grand Central Hotel, amid the U.S. president's visit. Over 300 offices from the rest of the United Kingdom were drafted into Northern Ireland to support PSNI during Biden's visit. Joe Biden Visit to Ireland Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Rishi Sunak, greeted Joe Biden in Belfast. The U.S. president headed to Belfast to celebrate an agreement that ended three decades of killing, the Good Friday Agreement. USA Today noted Good Friday Agreement was orchestrated during former president Bill Clinton's administration. When Biden left Washington on Tuesday, he described his goal as ensuring "the Irish accords and the Windsor Agreement stay in place." Liam Kennedy, director of the Clinton Institute for American Studies at the University College Dublin, said in a CNN report that Biden wants to see good examples when it comes to the rule of law in U.S. foreign policy. Kennedy said that the Good Friday accord is a "good example" of that. The director went on to say that the Good Friday Agreement can get "real bipartisan buy-in" in the U.S. political arena. Biden was known to have opposed extraditing IRA suspects from the U.S. to Britain, saying that the justice system in Northern Ireland at the time "wasn't fair." READ MORE: Russia-Ukraine Crisis: Ukrainian Pres. Volodymyr Zelensky Says if Pres. Joe Biden Acted Sooner 'There Would Be No War' This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Biden calls for return of power-sharing in Northern Ireland - from Guardian News Louis Bernard Gaskin, 56, also known as the "ninja killer," has finally been executed in Florida last Wednesday. He is known for killing a couple visiting from New Jersey. According to the Associated Press, Gaskin was pronounced dead at 6:15 p.m. on Wednesday after receiving a lethal injection. The Florida governor's office confirmed his execution. The killings of Robert Sturmfels, 56, and Georgette Sturmfels, 55, a couple from New Jersey who were staying at their winter home in Flager County, Florida on that fateful day on December 20, 1989, rocked the Sunshine State and was considered one of the state's grisliest homicides of that time, grabbing headlines across the United States. The relatives of the Strumfels were reportedly not present during the convicted killer's execution. Gaskin got that "ninja killer" moniker because he wore an all-black ninja suit when he attacked the couple. However, he did not kill them with the usual ninja weapons; rather, he killed them with a gun. The Final Hours of the 'Ninja Killer' Louis Bernard Gaskin On Wednesday morning, Gaskin woke up at 4:45 a.m. A few hours later, at around 9:45 a.m., Department of Corrections spokesperson Kayla McLaughlin Smith revealed that the "ninja killer" had his final meal, which included BBQ pork ribs, pork and turkey neck, Buffalo wings, shrimp fried rice, french fries, and water. The New York Post reported that before his execution, Gaskin was visited by his sister, but it was reported that he did not meet with any spiritual adviser. Before he was executed, Gaskin was asked for a final statement, and he said, "Justice is not about the crime. It's not about the criminal. It's about the law." He then finished his final words by saying, "Look at my case." READ MORE: Disney Stops Ron DeSantis Takeover of Walt Disney World At around 6:02 p.m., the "ninja killer" began receiving the lethal cocktail of drugs before a doctor went inside the death chamber at 6:14 p.m. to examine him. He was soon declared dead. Gaskin is the latest in a string of death warrants signed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. He is expected to run for the presidency this year, challenging former president Donald Trump for the Republican nomination. He presents himself as tough on crime with this string of death warrants, though it should be noted that Florida still has a higher crime rate than New York, which he often accuses of being crime-ridden. Other convicted murderers executed by DeSantis include Donald Dillbeck, who was executed for the 1990 murder of Faye Vann. Another man scheduled to be executed is Darryl B. Barwick for the 1986 killing of Rebecca Wendt. Who Is Louis Bernard Gaskin, the Infamous 'Ninja Killer?' The murder of the New Jersey couple happened on December 20, 1989, with Gaskin dressing up as a ninja as he planned to loot their winter home. He went inside armed with a semi-automatic .22-caliber rifle, according to Murderpedia. The couple was watching TV when he struck, shooting at the couple through a window before stealing several items inside the house, including jewelry, VCRs, lamps, a clock, an iron, and household appliances. Gaskin was arrested that same year and later confessed to his crimes. He was sentenced to execution soon after. READ NEXT: Rapper Tekashi 6ix9ine Injured After Attack at Florida Gym This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: 'Ninja Killer' set for execution, local protest planned - WFLA News Channel 8 Donald Trump made a claim about New York court employees during his arraignment in a Fox News interview with Tucker Carlson. The claim was quickly debunked by a law enforcement source. Trump said during his interview with Carlson that New York court employees were crying when he was arraigned, which the law enforcement source described as "absolute BS," according to Independent. The law enforcement was a Yahoo! News source, who said there was "zero" truth to the former president's story and described it as "absolute BS." The source said that "there were zero people crying," adding that there were also "zero people" saying "I'm sorry." The former president has been previously reported to issue unfounded claims and even blatant lies, particularly over the return of classified documents from his administration. CNN reported that Trump claimed the Presidential Records Act prolonged negotiations over the return of the materials. However, the Presidential Records Act states that the National Archives and Records Administration gets custody and control of all presidential records from all administrations the moment a president leaves office. The law did not note that there should be a negotiation between the former president and National Archives over the return of the documents. READ NEXT: Donald Trump's Claims of Contributions to Ron DeSantis' Win in 2018 Election Debunked Donald Trump Claims New York Court Employees 'Crying' The law enforcement source said that aside from Trump's lawyers and Secret Service agents, the former president only interacted with some of the district attorney employees at the courthouse, as reported by Yahoo! News. In addition, the same source said that the former president had "extremely limited exposure" with others during the Donald Trump arraignment. It was opposed to Trump's interview story with Carlson, saying that the employees were "actually crying," while saying "I'm sorry" and "2024, sir. 2024." The source added that the only close interaction the former president had with New York court employees was when the district attorney employees provided lotion for Trump's fingers as his fingers were too dry for fingerprinting. Carlson was earlier reported not to be too friendly with the former president behind closed doors. In a text to one colleague dated January 4, 2021, Carlson said about Trump that he hates the former president "passionately." Donald Trump Arraignment The former president was charged with 34 felony counts, to which he plead not guilty. The case against him revolved around the hush money payment he allegedly made to adult film star Stormy Daniels, but the charges go beyond that. Manhattan District Attorney's office accused the former president of "repeatedly and fraudulently" falsifying records to conceal "damaging information from the voting public," as cited by Al Jazeera. Meanwhile, the New York judge, Juan Merchan, presiding over the case has reportedly received multiple threats after the historic arrest. The Guardian noted that Merchan and his family received "dozens" of threats, with two sources familiar with the matter saying that the threats had come in the form of calls, emails, and letters. It was similar to those recently directed toward Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg. READ MORE: Donald Trump Expects to Be Arrested on Tuesday, Calls His Supporters to Protest This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Trump reveals court staff cried and apologised in fascinating interview with Tucker Carlson - from Sky News Australia Former President Donald Trump has sued Michael Cohen for $500 million in damages for allegedly breaching his contract as Trump's ex-attorney. CNN reported that the lawsuit filed on Wednesday in a federal court in Florida accused Trump's ex-lawyer of spreading lies about the former president and violating his contractual obligations to him through his public speeches, published books, podcast series, and other media appearances. A new probe into the hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels has brought Trump's former "fixer" back into the public eye. Cohen arranged the payment days leading up to the 2016 election, and the former president was allegedly furious with Cohen for cooperating with authorities. "Mr. Trump is once again using and abusing the judicial system as harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen," Lanny Davis, Cohen's attorney, said in a statement. "Mr. Cohen will not be deterred and is confident that the suit will fail based on the facts and the law," he added. According to Trump's legal team, their client has no other option but to seek legal retribution by filing this case in response to Cohen's escalation of false comments about his previous boss. READ NEXT: Donald Trump Indicted, Makes History as First Criminally Charged Ex-US President Donald Trump's Ex-Attorney, Michael Cohen Before Donald Trump was elected president in 2017, Michael Cohen was a top executive at Trump's real estate firm and his lawyer, Reuters reports. Cohen, formerly known for his unwavering loyalty to Trump, has since turned his back on his former boss, helping investigators and lawmakers investigating the former president. "I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is," Cohen told a U.S. congressional committee in 2019. "He is a racist. He is a con man. He is a cheat." Trump's ex-attorney admitted in 2018 that he had violated federal election law when she paid Stormy Daniels $130,000. He received a three-year prison term for this and other offenses, including tax evasion and lying under oath to Congress about Trump Organization's abandoning working on a proposed building project in Russia. Trump's lawyers said their former president paid Daniels "to protect his family from the malicious and false claims" made by the porn star. Trump faces several legal challenges, including criminal prosecution and inquiries into his removal of federal files from the White House after serving as president and attempts to reverse his 2020 election defeat. Last week, Trump claimed that Cohen had failed to show up for a deposition by his legal team concerning the fraud lawsuit filed by New York State Attorney General Letitia James last year. That lawsuit is set to go to trial on October 2. Justice Arthur Engoron has scheduled a hearing for April 21 to decide whether to order Cohen to testify. Donald Trump Case in Manhattan Donald Trump turned himself in last Tuesday to authorities in New York, where he was arraigned on 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Prosecutors claimed that Trump had illegally altered company documents to hide $130,000 in reimbursements to Michael Cohen for paying the porn star before the 2016 election. Daniels was reportedly paid to keep quiet about their alleged romance. The ex-president has maintained his innocence by denying it. A former doorman at Trump Tower has also come forward, saying he was bribed to keep quiet about his knowledge of Trump's illegitimate child with Daniels. Former Playboy model Karen McDougal was also given $150,000 after admitting her relationship with Trump. READ MORE: Melania Trump Issues First Statement Since Donald Trump's Indictment This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Donald Trump Hits Former Fixer Michael Cohen With $500M Lawsuit - From WGN News Colorado woman Letecia Stauch is currently facing murder charges for what happened to her 11-year-old stepson, Gannon Stauch. Letecia is accused of stabbing and fatally shooting the boy in El Paso County and disposing of his remains in Florida. Yahoo! News reported that former El Paso County Sheriff's detective Jessica Bethel reviewed several interviews she conducted with Letecia and the boy's dad, Al Stauch, days after Gannon's disappearance in January 2020. Bethel, who testified in Letecia's murder trial on Wednesday, previously interviewed Gannon's parents in a local Starbucks, and the interview audio recording was played in court on Wednesday. Before it was played in court, Bethel said she wanted to conduct the interview at the Stauch home. However, she noted that Letecia was "hesitant at best" to do the interview in their home. Aside from Bethel, two El Paso County Sheriff's Office deputies also testified on Monday that Letecia's car appeared to have been freshly cleaned when she arrived for the interview. Bethel then noted that Letecia arrived more than two hours late to the interview. READ NEXT: JonBenet Ramsey Murder Case: New Investigation Launched as Police Seek Help From Colorado Cold Case Team Colorado Woman Letecia Stauch Interview With Detectives A FaceTime call was also played for jurors, wherein Letecia Stauch once complained to Jessica Bethel about being constantly questioned about her missing stepson. Bethel asked in the audio if there was anything that Letecia could share with her to help them find Gannon, and at one point, she asked her where she was, but Letecia declined to tell her. According to Law & Crime, Letecia answered that Bethel kept asking her that same question "over and over and over." Prosecutors believed that Letecia knew about her stepson's locations, while authorities claimed she stabbed Gannon Stauch on January 27, 2020, in his bedroom in Colorado. Letecia has used an insanity defense, with her attorney, Will Cook, telling jurors in opening statements that Letecia has been living with dissociative identity disorder and experienced both physical and sexual abuse growing up. On the other hand, prosecutors claimed that Letecia knew what she was doing as she cleaned up the crime scene and lied to everyone about Gannon's location. Al also testified about confronting Letecia regarding changing her stories about his son's disappearance. Gannon Stauch Disappearance The boy's father previously told detectives that Gannon Stauch would usually play with friends and take his Nintendo Switch, but he was only gone for a short time. At one point, he said he was convinced that something terrible had happened to his son Letecia Stauch's half-brother, Dakota Lowery, later said he saw Letecia carrying a heavy suitcase while he helped her move out of her Colorado home, PEOPLE reported. Lowery noted that something did not feel right about the suitcase, which seemed heavier than the others. He said he offered to carry it, but she declined and said she did not need help. Prosecutors said the Colorado woman stabbed her stepson 18 times and fatally shot him in their Colorado home. The boy was found in March 2020 inside a green suitcase in Florida. Lowery claimed that it was the same suitcase that Letecia struggled to carry. READ MORE: John Lennon Killer: The Disturbing Story of Mark David Chapman Who Was Denied Parole for 12th Time This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Jury Views Police Interview With Letecia Stauch - From COURT TV The father of the missing Minnesota mother's children finally broke his silence and claimed he "has nothing to do" with Madeline Kingsbury's disappearance. Fox News reported that this was the first time Adam Fravel has publicly said anything since the Minnesota mother of two went missing on March 31 after they dropped their children off at a day care that morning. Fravel was the last person to see Kingsbury alive. In a lengthy written statement through his lawyer, he said: "Over the course of the last 12 days my family and I have been subject to a myriad of accusations regarding the disappearance of the mother of my children... I did not have anything to do with Maddi's disappearance." Fravel noted that he has been cooperating with authorities, which includes sitting down for several interviews with Winona County police. He also said he wanted the mom of his 5-year-old and 2-year-old to be found and brought home safely. Despite police not publicly naming a suspect or even acknowledging that there is a suspect, social media and the community have pointed the finger at Fravel and his family since Kingsbury disappeared. According to Winona Police, Fravel previously said that after they dropped the kids off at the day care, they returned to their home in Winona. He noted that he left the house using Kingsbury's van around 10 a.m., but the Minnesota mother was not there when he returned later that day. READ NEXT: Missing Minnesota Mother Vanished Under 'Suspicious' Circumstances Authorities Release Update in Missing Minnesota Mother's Investigation The Winona Police Department (WPD) on Wednesday provided an update on their search efforts to find Madeline Kingsbury, according to KTTC. WPD said numerous law enforcement agencies have been looking for Kingsbury from the beginning of the probe. Over 2,000 people reportedly volunteered to look for the Minnesota mother last Friday and Saturday. Authorities continued to conduct targeted searches in Winona and Fillmore counties after the end of those massive searches. Over 100 law enforcement and public safety personnel, who joined in the search done Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, scoured these additional targeted areas based on information they received through tips or investigative findings. WPD has also served multiple search warrants as part of its search efforts. Dozens of tips reportedly come every day through Crime Stoppers, and police also receive lots of inquiries about the missing Minnesota mother's van that was taken and processed for evidence. WPD has reportedly collaborated closely with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) to locate and analyze any relevant forensic evidence throughout the investigation. Missing Minnesota Mother's Last Text Conversation With Her Sister Megan Kingsbury, the sister of Madeline Kingsbury, sent the Minnesota mother a text before she vanished, according to ABC 5. Megan said it was a funny picture from a family trip to Rhode Island last summer, to which Kingsbury responded with a "kind of laughing at the photo, and that was it." "It was the last message that I got from her," said Megan, who reported getting that response around 8:15 a.m. on March 31. Later in the day, the family became increasingly worried because Kingsbury's mother still could not contact her. "It was fairly unusual not to continue to hear from her," said Megan. Authorities said the Minnesota mother's cell phone, wallet, and ID were inside the residence, so there was no reason to believe that Kingsbury had just left on foot or in another car. The family is offering a reward of $50,000 for any information leading to the location of the missing Minnesota mother. READ MORE: Mexico: 1,200-Year-Old Scoreboard from Ancient Game Is a Rare Find This is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Thousands Search for Missing Minnesota Mom - From ABC News Getting kidnapped by members of the notorious Gulf Cartel in Mexico was a harrowing experience for four American tourists. The two who survived this terrifying ordeal had finally talked about what happened that day. Survivors LaTavia Washington McGee and Eric Williams went to Mexico with their friends Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard on March 3 for a medical appointment in Matamoros in Mexico's state of Tamaulipas. However, the van they were driving was attacked by members of the Gulf Cartel, who later abducted them. Brown, Woodard, and a bystander were killed. The two surviving American tourists sat down with CNN's Anderson Cooper in a tell-all interview on Tuesday to talk about their harrowing experience while in Gulf Cartel custody and about the moments leading up to the deaths of their friends. "To hear your brother, somebody who is your friend, who you can call a brother, tell you they love you and know you're never gonna see them again," Williams described, with Washington McGee adding, "watching them fight for their life, and there's nothing you can do." Mexican authorities believe that the attack was a case of mistaken identity as the Gulf Cartel members initially thought that the American tourists were Haitian drug smugglers. According to PEOPLE, Washington McGee saw a video of her own kidnapping filmed by a bystander, and one of her captors showed it to her. She told Cooper that at the time, "I just started crying, [thinking] looks like I'm never going home." READ NEXT: Mexico: Mexican Tourist Killed in Tulum in Deadly Armed Robbery American Kidnapped by Gulf Cartel in Mexico Tried to Escape Twice According to ABC-15 News, LaTavia Washington McGee was asked about her attempts to escape while being held captive by the drug cartel. Anderson Cooper asked, "You tried to escape twice... what was behind that?" "For my brothers to have the proper burial and for us to go back home to our family and kids... none of us deserved that but we're alive, and we have a lot of recovering to do," replied Washington McGee. Mexican authorities eventually rescued the group in a house some 30 minutes from where their vehicle initially crashed when the cartel members attacked them. One alleged member of the Gulf Cartel was arrested during that operation. But the cartel willingly gave up the other five men responsible for the incident and even wrote an apology letter. Americans Talk About the Gulf Cartel Attack Eric Williams also told Anderson Cooper that while they were driving, a car appeared behind them and started shooting. "Zindell and Shaeed, they jumped up to run and they were gunned down," Williams noted. Williams, who was the driver, told Cooper that when a cartel member started beating on their vehicle with a gun, he also tried to jump out but was shot in both legs. The four Americans were then loaded into the back of a pickup truck, with Shaeed Woodard and Zindell Brown still alive at the time. When they arrived at the house where they were held captive, the pair said the kidnappers, wearing red "Diablo masks," put "guns at our heads, telling us not to look up." They noted that Brown and Woodard were fighting for their lives at the time, but the cartel members "didn't do" anything. The two men eventually died. READ MORE: Notorious Drug Trafficker Tied to CJNG, Sinaloa Cartel Pleads Guilty to Cocaine Conspiracy This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Rick Martin WATCH: Americans Kidnapped by Mexican Cartel Reveal Horrifying Details - From CNN Around 150 Kansas City teens were involved in a theme park brawl over the weekend that required a massive police response, according to a Missouri sheriff's office. In a statement, the Clay County Sheriff's Office said around 100 to 150 teens were involved in the brawl at Worlds of Fun amusement park in Kansas City, Missouri, on April 8, the New York Post reported. Responding Clay County deputies and Kansas City police officers, as well as park security personnel witnessed hundreds of teens involved in a huge altercation. They worked to move the teens out of the park. The Clay County Sheriff's Office said a teenage girl, who refused to leave the park, punched a deputy in the face, leaving the cop with "superficial injuries." The girl was arrested and was later released to her parents. The sheriff's office noted that the fighting continued into the parking lot after the teenagers were removed from the park. Police officers eventually cleared out the park at around 8:30 p.m. There was no report or confirmation as to what started the altercation in the first place. READ NEXT: Universal Announces New Theme Park in Texas Kansas City Theme Park Worlds of Fun Changes Policy Following Massive Brawl After the massive brawl involving Kansas City teens, Missouri's Worlds of Fun made some changes in its policy. According to Fox 4, the park now has a policy that adults should accompany anyone aged 15 or below after 4 p.m. An adult over the age of 21 is required to fill that role. That chaperone must remain at the park throughout the duration of the visit and must always be available by phone. The Worlds of Fun has warned that unaccompanied minors under 15 will not be allowed by security to enter the park. They will be required to show an ID. Natalie Anderson, a theme park goer, said she has witnessed the brawl at the Worlds of Fun and still dealing with what she has seen there. "I still get that anxiety like I've got goosebumps thinking about it having my children in an uncontrolled situation to where I had no control - no way to protect my children," Anderson noted. Anderson is also concerned about Worlds of Fun's new policy, despite her support for action to ensure parkgoers' safety. "So we are going to profile people now? How can you determine if someone looks 15 years old or younger? They should have some type of wristband," Anderson said. The Worlds of Fun claimed it is changing its policies with families and visitors in mind. The amusement park also warned that parents or guardians might be held legally responsible for the actions of their children. The theme park's new policy will be implemented beginning Saturday, April 15. Kansas City Theme Park Is Not Alone in Issuing Chaperone Policy Missouri's Worlds of Fun is among those theme parks to issue such a policy, USA TODAY reported. After several brawl incidents involving teenagers, Knott's Berry Farm in Southern California mandated in July that all guests aged 17 and younger be accompanied by an adult who is at least 21 years old. It was not the first time teenagers brawled at Worlds of Fun. The 50-year-old Kansas City theme park at 4545 Worlds of Fun Avenue was also the scene of a brawl in April 2019 that involved up to 300 teens. READ MORE: Donald Trump Sues Michael Cohen This article is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Worlds of Fun Kicks Out as Many as 150 Teens After Weekend Fight - From Fox 4 News Kansas City Kim Kardashian will not be skipping this year's Met Gala, despite rumors that the entire Kardashian clan may not be invited to the upcoming event. A source confirmed to Page Six that the reality star was still on the Met Gala's guest list and will walk on the steps of the Met Museum in New York City during this year's most stylish event. After the entire Kardashian family showed up together for the first time in 2022, Page Six reported in March that May's event would be Kardashian-free. Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour allegedly put strict guidelines in place for who may attend the magazine's annual fashion gala, and the Kardashians were reportedly not among those invited. Aside from Kim, another member of her famous family will also reportedly attend fashion's biggest event. However, there was no report on who among her siblings had gotten an invite. The outlet speculated that it would be Kendall Jenner. Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian attended the Met Gala for the first time last year. Kris, Kendall, and Kylie Jenner have all walked the carpet before, but none as regularly as Kim. While pregnant with their first child, the reality star and her then-husband Kanye West attended the Met Gala for the first time in 2013. READ NEXT: When Will Kim Kardashian Join' American Horror Story'? Kim Kardashian Is Met Gala's Trendsetter Kim Kardashian's outfits at Met Gala have always drawn attention. In 2019, she made headlines for her "wet" look outfit by Thierry Mugler. In 2021, she wore a full black Balenciaga bodysuit, which sparked debate online and created numerous hilarious memes. Last year, Kim faced backlash for wearing the famous "Happy Birthday Mr. President" dress that Marilyn Monroe wore in 1962, Marca reported. Kim allegedly damaged the dress of the late actress, which was denied by the camp of the reality star. It is still unknown which designer Kim will collaborate with for this year's Met Gala. Met Gala 2023 According to Harper Bazaar, the Met Gala 2023 will be held on May 1, celebrating the annual Costume Institute's exhibition. The museum has announced that "Karl Lagerfeld: A Line of Beauty" will be the Met's spring 2023 exhibition theme. The Met initially announced it in a press conference during Paris Fashion Week in September. Karl Lagerfeld was a famous designer who died in 2019 at the age of 85. He was one of the most celebrated fashion designers of all time. Lagerfeld headed up some of the most prestigious fashion brands in the world, including Fendi, Chanel, and his namesake label. He acted as creative director in all three brands until his death. Aside from Kim Kardashian, other stars reported to attend this year's Met Gale were Cara Delevingne, Dua Lipa, Mindy Kaling, and Roger Federer. READ MORE: Nick Cannon Wants Baby No. 13 with Taylor Swift This is owned by Latin Post. Written by: Bert Hoover WATCH: Kim Kardashian Fires Back After Being BANNED From Met Gala - From This Happened West Bethlehem is in line for a group home for male veterans who are transitioning out of homelessness. The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday night granted approval for the Changing Lives Center to operate at 1512 W. Broad St. Yahya Rahman, founder and CEO of the Philadelphia-based company, received the boards approval for 13 residents in a 14-month program. They come to Changing Lives Center via referral from U.S. Veterans Affairs or social service agencies that identify them as homeless veterans in need of transitional housing, he said. These are just people that are needing some help and support in our communities to be able to get them back to where they need to be, Rahman said. They are down on their luck for a number of reasons and they come to us to get guidance and to get help and support to get them back on their feet. Seated center alongside attorney James Preston is Yahya Rahman, founder and CEO of Philadelphia-based Changing Lives Center, as he addresses the Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Rahman received approval to operate a group transitional home for homeless veterans at 1512 W. Broad St.Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com The 6,228-square-foot building was previously home to a dance studio, according to Thomas Barker, the project developer with Bethlehem-based Jama Properties LLC. A group home is a permitted use for that property, but only for five residents. The zoning board approved a special exception to permit the 13 residents. Each will have his own room, with a common kitchen and common areas for meeting and recreation space, plus a computer room and potentially basement exercise room, according to the testimony before the board. Open exclusively to veterans in need of housing, the 14-month program is designed to help them return to life in the community through education and job-readiness training. Each participant in the program is working to become independent and have their own home, Rahman said. Rahman stated the business in 2007 and says he has a success rate of around 85%. The home will have a case manager on site and staff to cook and clean. The property has a garage and 12 off-street parking spaces that satisfy the citys parking requirements. Most program residents wont have a car, relying on public transportation or the transportation that the program provides, the testimony indicated. West Bethlehem resident John McGeehan, a disabled veteran and retired senior military officer, spoke in favor of the proposal: I think this is a great thing for our veterans. We need help. The zoning boards unanimous approval requires compliance with all local, state and federal regulations and appropriate licensing. Rahman said he hopes to be up and running by November. Good luck with a very worthwhile project, zoning board Chairman Terry Novatnack said. In other business Wednesday night, the board granted approval for a new three-story, six-apartment, in-fill development at 1275 E. Fourth St. on the citys Southside. The approvals were needed for dimensions on the property, with 9,000 square feet required for the use and the existing lot only measuring 7,665 square feet; a 67-foot-wide lot rather than the 90 feet required; and 6-foot side yard setback rather than the 15 feet required. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com. Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. A controversial cross-shaped pier on the Jersey Shore will open to the public ahead of schedule, the local religious organization behind its reconstruction announced. Visitors will be able to walk on the rebuilt Ocean Grove fishing pier as early as Saturday, following a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association said in its announcement Monday. The Methodist group previously said it expected the pier to be completed by Memorial Day. Some residents objected to the shape of the pier when its cross-shaped design was unveiled in July 2022 at a groundbreaking in the Monmouth County resort town. Critics, including the nonpartisan advocacy group Neptune United, raised concerns about putting a religious symbol in a public space on the beach. Officials with the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association which helps governs the Ocean Grove section of Neptune under a unique charter previously said they make no apologies for the symbolism of the new structure. We dont mean to hurt anyone and we dont mean to offend anyone, Michael Badger, the meeting associations president, said last year. We are Christians and we are going to continue to be Christians in the public square, on our private lands, he added. The Ocean Grove pier, which was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy more than a decade ago, will reopen with a new cross-shaped design.Andre Malok | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com Neptune United alleged the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, known as the OGCMA, did not follow state Department of Environmental Protection rules when it built the pier. Despite not obtaining the required permits, violating multiple DEP conditions, and having had exactly zero oversight by Neptune Township, the OGCMA is somehow allowed to have a ribbon cutting and opening for a pier that will be walked on by tens of thousands of residents and visitors alike, Neptune United said in a statement Tuesday. Unfortunately, Neptune Uniteds concern is not limited to municipal noncompliance and the underlying safety issues. Each day, Neptune United becomes more and more alarmed by the OGCMAs blatant disregard for both the community and well-established law, the statement said. Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association officials did not immediately respond to a request to comment on Neptune Uniteds statement. The Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association was issued a notice of violation by the Department of Environmental Protection on Sept. 22 for unauthorized activity under the Waterfront Development Act and Coastal Area Facilities Review Act, records show. Badger said the state never fined the camp meeting association and work never stopped on the project. The beach, boardwalk and pier are open to the public and everyone is invited to use these amenities regardless of their faith, nationality, background, or personal characteristics. It is our hope that by experiencing the sun, sand, and surf people with be refreshed and draw closer to God who created all of nature, Badger said in a statement. The state provided emergency authorization for construction on Oct. 5 and the association followed up with the submission of a Coastal Area Facilities Review Act permit application on Nov. 7, according to DEP records. A DEP spokeswoman said the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association was meeting the requirements cited in the Sept. 22 violation and was permitted to proceed with construction of the pier. The new pier did not need to go through the local zoning board for approval, Neptune officials previously said. The Ocean Grove pier project received approvals from the state under the Coastal Area Facilities Review Act, Neptune officials previously said in a statement. Because it is property owned by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, and over water, the township did not have any zoning authority over the piers placement or design. The Camp Meeting Association spent nearly 10 months working on the $2 million project to restore the Ocean Grove pier which was destroyed during Hurricane Sandy more than a decade ago to its historic length of 500 feet. The Camp Meeting Association raised $550,000 for the project through a three-year fundraising campaign called American Treasure. The money will go toward the new pier and beachfront facilities. The majority of donations to the campaign came from long-term camp donors, but $72,000 came from first-time donors, Badger said. The remaining construction costs for the pier are being paid with $1.45 million from the Camp Meeting Associations financial reserves. Ocean Grove, referred to as Gods Square Mile by some of its residents, is a seaside community of roughly 3,000 residents located just south of Asbury Park. Its not its own municipality Ocean Grove is a small section of Neptune Township set aside with a unique charter. It was founded more than 150 years ago as a summertime, tent-revival religious retreat for Methodists. It was governed by the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association as a religious enclave for 100 years until the New Jersey Supreme Court declared its original charter unconstitutional after a series of lawsuits. However, the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association still owns all the land and helps govern the beachfront community. The Ocean Grove Meeting Association was sued in 2007 when it barred same-sex couples from using its boardwalk pavilion for civil union ceremonies, which a judge later said violated the states anti-discrimination law. Christian symbols can be found all around Ocean Grove. Christian symbols can be found all around Ocean Grove. On the beach, a Christian flag flies beside the U.S. flag. Beach badges sold by the Camp Meeting Association include a cross, beach umbrellas available for rent are decorated with cross icons and theres a cross mounted on the dunes at the beach. Neptune United said the new pier is another effort by the Camp Meeting Association to imprint Ocean Grove with religious symbols. Neptune United remains committed to advocating for a community where everyone feels included, respected, and safe, the group said. The end of the pier hanging over the ocean is made of a different material than the rest of the boardwalk, making the cross shape stand out from the air and for those walking on the structure. The end of the pier is made of a grey fiberglass specially designed with small gaps that allow water to come through it. That will help avoid the moisture damage common to wooden structures, Badger said. The piers completion comes as Ocean Grove is gearing up for the communitys busy season. In May, the area, famous for its colony of canvas tents near the beach, begins to reopen for the summer. There are 114 tent structures nestled around the Great Auditorium, the hub of activity in Ocean Grove, according to the Camp Meeting Association website. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Jackie Roman may be reached at jroman@njadvancemedia.com. The state will be holding its first vehicle auction of the year. The auction will be held at 10 a.m. Tuesday at Manheim Keystone Pennsylvania, 488 Firehouse Road in East Hanover Township (Grantville), Dauphin County. The auction will feature more than 300 used vehicles from Commonwealth agencies. This auction will also feature a number of vehicles seized by state law enforcement agencies including: a 2012 Audi A8, 2009 Dodge Challenger R/T, 2007 Audi Q7Premium, 2007 Ford Mustang Deluxe, 2007 Mazda Mazda3 I Sport, 2006 Cadillac CTS and a 2005 Mercedes-Benz E-Class. Vehicle offerings will include a variety of 4-wheel drive SUVs, utility vehicles and pickup trucks from Chevrolet, Dodge, Ford, GMC, Jeep, Nissan, and Hyundai as well as front- and all-wheel drive sedans and mini-vans from the previously mentioned manufacturers. Included in the vehicles that will be offered for public purchase will be a number of Police Interceptor sedans and SUVs. In addition, several utility/box trucks will be available in this auction. An in-person preview of vehicles begins Thursday and will run through Sunday. Pre-registration and in-person previewing of the vehicles runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Sunday at the auction site. Pre-registration for the auction is mandatory and must be completed by 4:00 p.m. Sunday. There will be no registration on the day of the auction. Buyers must purchase with certified funds in the form of money order, cashiers check or certified check made payable to Manheim Keystone PA. No cash will be accepted. There are future auctions scheduled for June, August, October and December. The auction is handled by the Pennsylvania Department of General Services. Sign up for Eat, Shop, Go, a weekly report from PennLive on food, restaurants, business, retail centers, things to do and places to go all around central Pa. Sign up for free by clicking here. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. Joe Biden shook hands and greeted well-wishers as he toured Co Louth as he continues his visit to the Republic of Ireland. The US president and his motorcade stopped off in Dundalk on Wednesday evening, with Mr Biden greeted with shouts of Welcome home Joe and waving American flags. Mr Biden had been due to fly by helicopter from Dublin to Co Louth, but plans were changed to a motorcade due to the weather conditions. Earlier, locals had turned out in numbers on motorway overpasses as well as lining road sides approaching Carlingford despite heavy rain in an area Mr Biden has traced ancestral roots to. While there, he was met by Irelands deputy premier (Tanaiste) Micheal Martin, and the pair toured Carlingford Castle together. Delighted and honoured to welcome @POTUS Joe Biden to Carlingford. Great excitement among the crowds in Louth, despite the wet weather. pic.twitter.com/iROB76EKY8 Micheal Martin (@MichealMartinTD) April 12, 2023 The castle offers a view of Carlingford Lough where Mr Bidens great-great grandfather Owen Finnegan left via Newry port during the Irish famine in 1849 for a new life in the United States. As Mr Biden walked around the castle amid the rain, someone shouted up to ask him what he thought of the weather, to which the president quipped: Its fine, its Ireland. In Dundalk, members of the public in ponchos and raincoats had been waiting to greet the US president with a sign reading Dundalk welcomes President Biden hung above Clanbrassil Street. Mr Biden went into McAteers The Food House restaurant on the same street shortly before 7.15pm, where he chatted with staff. Former Irish rugby player Rob Kearney was among those accompanying Mr Biden as he stopped off in the town. The US president arrived in the Republic of Ireland earlier on Air Force One where he was greeted on the tarmac at Dublin Airport by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. It followed a brief visit to Northern Ireland. On Wednesday morning, Mr Biden met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast, where the pair spoke about the incredible economic opportunities for Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister described the UKs relationship with the US as being in great shape, describing them as very close partners and allies. Mr Biden called for the restoration of powersharing at Stormont during a keynote speech at Ulster University, and praised the work of the UK and EU to strike the Windsor Framework on post-Brexit trading arrangements. The Republic of Ireland leg of the presidents four-day tour of the island will see him travel to the Irish capital, Co Louth and Co Mayo. Mr Biden became the sixth person to travel through Dublin Airport while serving as US president, following Barack Obamas visit to the country in May 2011. Irelands Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason was also among the politicians and officials to greet the president, alongside her US counterpart Claire D Cronin and her husband Ray. The US presidents son Hunter Biden and sister Valerie Biden Owens are accompanying him for the trip. He is also expected to deliver a number of speeches over the course of his three days in the country, including in Dublin, at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina and to the Irish Parliament. Mr Biden is due to meet Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday, followed by a further meeting with Mr Varadkar, whom he recently hosted for St Patricks Day. 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. Before his departure back to the US on Friday, Mr Biden will visit Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins. He will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. Earlier on Wednesday, the White House denied Mr Biden was anti-British, with Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, saying: Its simply untrue. The fact that the president is going to be engaging for the third time in three months, and then again next month and then again in June, with the Prime Minister of the UK shows how close our co-operation is with the UK, she added. US president Joe Biden has described how he feels like he has come home after an evening in the Republic of Ireland. People lined the streets in Carlingford and Dundalk in Co Louth to cheer and wave American flags as Mr Biden arrived. The president was accompanied by Tanaiste Micheal Martin as he toured St Johns castle, which offers a view of Carlingford Lough where Mr Bidens great-great grandfather Owen Finnegan left via Newry port during the Irish famine in 1849 for a new life in the United States. As Mr Biden walked around the castle amid the rain, someone shouted up to ask him what he thought of his visit, to which the president responded: It feels wonderful, it feels like Im coming home, adding with regards to the heavy rain: Its fine, its Ireland. At The Windsor Bar in Dundalk later, Mr Biden met with distant cousins John Owen Finnegan and Andrea McEvitt as well as local politicians. He also paid tribute to his sister Valerie and his son Hunter, who have accompanied him on the trip to the island of Ireland. He said: Coming here feels like coming home. The president added: Ive often said the Irish are the only people who are nostalgic about the future. In my experience, hope is what beats in the heart of all people, particularly the heart of the Irish. Every action is about hope that we can make things better, hope to build both our nations that has been passed down generation to generation by our families. And its hope that continues to this day. Completing his first day in the Republic of Ireland, he said: Thank you all for homecoming welcome. The bad news for all of you is well be back. Theres no way to keep us out. Im so proud to be here. So proud to be in Louth. Mr Martin also spoke at the event, focusing his remarks on the value of peace to the border town as he introduced Mr Biden. He said that the value of the Good Friday Agreement was so tangible and real here in this location. It is a shared space, a place that links rather than divides. Peace is not an abstraction here, he said. As we build on the ambition of the Good Friday Agreement to sustain a dynamic and prosperous peace, the US will remain an essential and fundamental partner. He finished: Welcome home, Mr President. Mr Biden had been due to fly by helicopter from Dublin to Co Louth, but plans were changed to a motorcade due to the weather conditions. Locals had turned out in numbers on motorway overpasses as well as lining road sides approaching Carlingford and Dundalk despite the heavy rain. In Dundalk, members of the public in ponchos and raincoats had been waiting to greet the US president with a sign reading Dundalk welcomes President Biden hung above Clanbrassil Street. Mr Biden went into McAteers The Food House restaurant on the same street shortly before 7.15pm, where he chatted with staff. Former Irish rugby player Rob Kearney was among those accompanying Mr Biden as he stopped off in the town. The US president arrived in the Republic of Ireland earlier on Air Force One where he was greeted on the tarmac at Dublin Airport by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. It followed a brief visit to Northern Ireland. On Wednesday morning, Mr Biden met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast, where the pair spoke about the incredible economic opportunities for Northern Ireland. The Prime Minister described the UKs relationship with the US as being in great shape, describing them as very close partners and allies. Mr Biden called for the restoration of powersharing at Stormont during a keynote speech at Ulster University, and praised the work of the UK and EU to strike the Windsor Framework on post-Brexit trading arrangements. The Republic of Ireland leg of the presidents four-day tour of the island will see him travel to the Irish capital, Co Louth and Co Mayo. Mr Biden became the sixth person to travel through Dublin Airport while serving as US president, following Barack Obamas visit to the country in May 2011. Irelands Ambassador to the US Geraldine Byrne Nason was also among the politicians and officials to greet the president, alongside her US counterpart Claire D Cronin and her husband Ray. He is also expected to deliver a number of speeches over the course of his three days in the country, including in Dublin, at St Muredachs Cathedral in Ballina and to the Irish Parliament. Mr Biden is due to meet Irish President Michael D Higgins on Thursday, followed by a further meeting with Mr Varadkar, whom he recently hosted for St Patricks Day. 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. Before his departure back to the US on Friday, Mr Biden will visit Co Mayo, where he has also connected with distant cousins. He will tour the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock and visit the North Mayo Heritage and Genealogical Centres family history research unit. Earlier on Wednesday, the White House denied Mr Biden was anti-British, with Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council, saying: Its simply untrue. The fact that the president is going to be engaging for the third time in three months, and then again next month and then again in June, with the Prime Minister of the UK shows how close our co-operation is with the UK, she added. A Laois primary school may be the first in the county to get an entirely new modular rapid build school building, which is hoped to be installed within months. The small rural school of Gaelscoil Shli Dala in Ballaghmore is hoping to replace dilapidated prefabs with an entire new building including a PE hall, in time for the next school year this September. Gaelscoil Shli Dala's board chairman is former President of the GAA Liam O'Neill and principal is Teresa Kennedy. It teaches 50 boys and girls through Irish, with 12 of them attending two ASD early intervention classrooms. Below: pupils pictured recently outside their prefab classrooms. Local Cllr Conor Bergin told the Leinster Express / Laois Live that there are health and safety issues with the current building. He submitted a letter to the planners supporting their application, saying that the present prefabs are "wholly unsuitable for their needs, and the health and safety of the children." "The prefabricated buildings have deteriorated significantly and are in a bad state of disrepair. Since the school opened in 2005 it has expanded and grown significantly," Cllr Bergin said. Cllr Bergin states that the school already has the money for the modular building approved by the Department of Education. "I am anxious that this planning application be granted... so that construction can commence immediately and the new school building is ready for September 2023," he said. Below: another view of the new planned modular school. The Board of Management seeks permission to revise, site boundaries and remove three pre-fabricated classrooms and outbuildings from site, and to refurbish and relocate two further prefabricated classrooms. A new school building will have four prefabricated classrooms, an activities hall, two staff offices, a staff canteen, toilets, circulation corridors, outdoor play areas, sensory playground and all ancillary facilities. Also sought is permission to upgrade the existing sewage treatment system and provide a 3,500 litre underground fire water storage tank, with additional car parking facilities and pedestrian access footpaths and all associated site works. A decision is due on the application by May 8. The 'small town with a big heart' in Laois, has raised over 10,000 in a single day for cancer research and care. Daffodil Day in Mountmellick on Friday, March 24 was "a tremendous success" this year, local volunteer organisers have reported, giving the grand total. Below: Actress Pauline McLynn with Mountmellick Daffodil Day volunteers Mary Donoher and Claire Hartnett along with Averil Power, CEO of the Irish Cancer Society. "The organisers of Daffodil Day in Mountmellick would like to extend their sincere gratitude to all those involved in making Daffodil Day such a tremendous success on the 24th of March. "We are extremely grateful to those who generously donated daffodils and who contributed to our collections, to Pat and Mary Culleton for providing us with the use of his premises for the day, to Denis Daly and of course our wonderful volunteers who selflessly give us their time every year to make Daffodil Day a continued and overwhelming success. "A total of 10,100 was raised in Mountmellick, all of which will go directly to the Irish Cancer Society for use in their numerous projects including research, assisting and caring for people living with cancer and their families etc. "Go raibh mile maith agaibh go leir," they say. On the same week, the town's residents had donated over 15,000 to the Laura Lynn children's hospice, in fundraisers organised by Mountmellick Community School in memory of teenager Eoin Coss. Read above. Kildare is to feature in the forthcoming episode of Food Matters series on RTE, which is presented by Michael Kelly of GIY. In programme four, with a Support Local message, Michael Kelly meets Meath cabbage grower Cathal Lenehan who over the last year has decided to give up his business because of rising costs. He also chats with former IFA chair of the horticulture sector and broccoli producer Paul Brophy in Kildare, about the challenges for the commercial vegetable growers in the face of rising input costs, and ever stiffer competition from cheaper imports. Michael then heads to Kerry where he meets independent vegetable retailer Dan Horan to discuss the difficulties faced by smaller, independent retailers, to stay viable at a time when vegetables are cheaper than ever. In Wicklow, Michael discovers how Wicklow Wolf Brewery co-founders Quincey Fennelly and Simon Lynch have managed to put sustainability at the core of their drinks business with the support of their local community. Heading to Tipperary, Michael learns how one entire community is all about supporting each other, at the Cloughjordan Community Farm. Back at GROW HQ in Waterford, Michael meets Jack Crotty and Joleen Cronin from NeighbourFood and talks about how connecting small producers with a wider customer base makes it a win-win for all. FOOD MATTERS is produced by David Hare of InProductionTV and Sceal Creative for RTE, and supported by the EPA Stop Food Waste and ReThink Ireland campaign A man was verbally abusive and had to be restrained at a concert in County Kildare. Nathan Johnston, 20, whose address was given as 58 Huband Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12, was prosecuted at Naas District Court for two breaches of the Public Order Act. Sgt Dave Hanrahan told the court that the incident occurred at 8.30pm on April 17, 2022. He said a garda sergeant was referred to as a rat and a paedo. Sgt Hanrahan said the defendant had to be restrained. Solicitor David Powderly said the defendant had lost his temper and was very apologetic. The court heard that the defendant had 14 previous convictions, but none under the Public Order Act. Most of the prior convictions were under the Road Traffic Act. Three were foreign convictions. Judge John OLeary remanded him on continuing bail to July 26 for a probation report on his suitability for community service in lieu of three months in prison. Read more Kildare news Four devices discovered inside a cemetery in Derry where a republican commemoration was staged on Easter Monday were viable pipe bombs, police have said. A senior officer has said he believes the explosive devices left in the City Cemetery are attributable to the New IRA. A major security operation took place at the cemetery on Tuesday after the suspicious devices were discovered, leading to the facility being closed to visitors. It followed a republican parade in the city on Monday. Prior to the event at the republican plot in the cemetery, there were scenes of violence in the Creggan area of Derry when a number of missiles, including petrol bombs, were hurled by young people at a police Land Rover monitoring the pre-commemoration parade. Chief Superintendent Nigel Goddard confirmed that the devices discovered on Tuesday were viable. He said: These actions have seen the exploitation of young people in the illegal parade, with a complete disregard for public safety. We believe these would have been used to attack police, and cause injury to our officers. Our colleagues from Terrorism Investigation Unit are continuing with their inquiries into this. At this time, the main line of inquiry is these pipe bombs are attributable to the New IRA. We urge anyone with information that may assist the investigation to call police or contact Crimestoppers, which can be done anonymously. Last week Assistant Chief Constable Bobby Singleton warned that police had intelligence that dissident republicans might attempt to draw police into serious public disorder to use that as a platform to launch terrorist attacks. During Mondays illegal parade which started in the Central Drive area, 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. Police have previously said they believe the New IRA carried out the shooting which seriously injured Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell earlier this year. When they met at the White House on St Patricks Day in Washington, Leo Varadkar pledged to roll out the red carpet for Joe Biden when he got to Ireland. On Thursday night, with a banquet dinner in St Patricks Hall at Dublin Castle, the Taoiseach delivered on his promise. As the worlds media waited for the arrival of the president, running significantly behind schedule after a packed day of events, the red carpet outside the State Apartments became the focus of attention. So anxious were officials to keep the fabric pristine, that a worker emerged three times to vacuum it inside half an hour. The theme of the dinner, attended by current and retired politicians and public servants, was in-season Irish produce. The menu consisted of a seafood starter with Lambay Island crab cake, a roast lamb main course and pear and maple tart for dessert. Opening the banquet, Mr Varadkar said Ireland and the US shared a similar past and philosophy. He added: When we become beacons of hope as well as of liberty, helping others to find their own paths to freedom, and the freedom to achieve freedom that is the promise of America, and it is the promise of Ireland too. Mr Biden received a standing ovation as he finished his speech in which he reflected on his family roots and told the audience: No barrier is too thick or too strong for Ireland or the United States of America. Together we have worked to become more peaceful, more equal, more diverse, more unified, and I think more hopeful. So today, wherever theres a yearning for freedom, a struggle for change, a cry for justice, people around the world know they can count on Ireland. They can count on Ireland. Our countries remember well the cost of war and, most importantly, the profits of peace, and especially as we mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement this week, above all remember the vital and ceaseless work of strengthening democracy to deliver progress for our people everywhere. Lets renew our commitment to defending all the values we stand for. And lets remember, no barriers too thick or too strong for Ireland or the United States of America. Especially today. Theres nothing, and I mean this from the bottom of my heart, theres nothing our nations cant achieve if we do it together. In the same room at Dublin Castle in 2011, Queen Elizabeth II made history when she spoke in Irish during her first visit to the Republic of Ireland. Mr Biden evoked similar memories on Thursday when he spoke in Irish during his address at Leinster House. At the White House last month Mr Varadkar said the presidents Irish visit would be like no other. As the third day of Mr Bidens trip to the island came to a conclusion, it was becoming clear he had also delivered on that promise. Seven Letters provides a platform for seldom heard voices; three lives are unfurled before us through a carefully constructed recipe of dialogue, monologue, and song. Stories are told, secrets revealed, and friendships forged in this poignant, and often humorous play. Three very different women whose paths would otherwise never have crossed are thrown together through societal circumstance. Sensitive subject matter is handled with delicacy and care, but also brutal honesty. A fierce hunger rages within these women, a need to be heard, to be remembered, to be loved, and to be alive. The emotional balance is finely poised, bringing us between laughter and a raw truth that evokes sadness and empathy. Seven Letters is constantly asking us to pause a moment and think about the path ahead of us. This play is a tribute to everyday women who go through life with memories weighing on their hearts. These are women who suffer from love, abandonment, hope, heartbreaks. No matter what troubles fell at their feet they kept their heads up and moved on, often with wit and laughter. Seven Letters reminds us that our youth goes by all too quickly as our passing seems to drag on for far too long. The professional all-female cast portray an age range from 25 to 80 plus. The females in the room, whom society at large has deemed invisible, are now seen and have a voice. Their sheer determination and mission is to make you listen and relate to their stories, and ultimately respect and regard them for their age rather than punish them for it. As a society we now know that we are an ageing one, and the emotional wealth of the community can only benefit by embracing all ages, with all that they have to offer, especially fuelled by the knowledge that many of us will reach a life that has only a few years ahead but so many behind. Written and directed by Rian Flatley, this show performs in The Corn Mill Theatre, Carrigallen on Sunday, April 15 at 8pm. Tickets are 18 from cornmilltheatre.com or call 0872570363. People working in Connacht and Ulster are less likely than their counterparts in Leinster and Munster to have access to flexitime policy at work, according to the latest Reflecting Ireland research from Permanent TSB. Just over one third (35%) of workers in Connacht and Ulster can take advantage of flexitime policy at work, compared to more than half of those elsewhere in Ireland. This compares to 56% of those in Dublin, 52% in the rest of Leinster and 50% of those in Munster. The findings are part of Permanent TSBs look at the changing lives of people in Ireland since the pandemic. Nationally, the research found there has been an increase in the number of people with a more positive view of the economy over recent months. The research was undertaken by Core Research in March 2023 amongst 1,000 adults. It continues to show public concern about the economy but also finds an increase in the number of people who express optimism across several key areas. Relevant findings include: There was a rise of 6% in the number of people who believe the economic situation will improve over the coming 12 months (17% in this report, up from 11% in November 2022). However, a greater number, 49% of respondents indicated that they felt the economic situation will deteriorate over that period (63% in November) There was a rise of 4% in the number of people who believe that they are better off now than 12 months ago (15% in this report, up from 11% in November 2022). In contrast the percentage of people who believe they are now worse off than 12 months ago fell to 56% (down from 63% last November). Looking ahead 22% of respondents said that they expect to be better off in 12 months time. That compares to 18% in the November survey. The percentage which believes they will be worse off over the coming 12 months declined to 38% from 47%. When asked their views on whether or not the country was on the right track currently, 60% said we are off-course while 28% said we were on the right track. This compares to 62% and 25% respectively in the November survey. Leontia Fannin, Head of Corporate Affairs with Permanent TSB said: There is a subtle but significant shift in opinion from November which suggests that more people think the worst of the cost of living crisis is behind us. It will be interesting to see whether that more optimistic mood continues or is paused in the coming months. The survey also explored the significant impact of the Covid Pandemic on how people in Ireland live their lives. Key findings in this area include: Housing 40% of young adults (25 to 34) are looking for a property to buy or rent. Over half of all respondents (52%) say home ownership has become more important to them in recent years, rising to 69% among 25-34 year olds, the age group most likely to be looking for a new home. Amongst those looking to buy (16% of general public), 57% are first time buyers. 22% are trading up. 13% are trading down and just 4% want to buy a property in order to rent it out. Of those who dont own a home (47%), 8 out of 10 (81%) say it is personally important to them to do so in the future. However, two thirds (66%) feel the prospect has become less achievable in recent years. For over half (55%) the main barrier is financial; this rises to 76% among 2534-year-olds. Financial barriers include struggling to save a deposit (27%), not being able to find a suitable property within budget (19%) and worry about the financial risk (9%). The research also confirms that there remains little appeal for long-term renting. 41% say they would never consider long-term rental. Of those that would consider it, 13% say recent years have made them less likely that previously to consider it. A higher proportion (20%) of those aged 25-34 agree with that statement. Energy efficiency has become a more considered option in recent years, with 4 in 10 (39%) stating that they would be more likely to purchase an energy efficient home and 30% more likely to consider retrofitting. Changing Lifestyles 72% of respondents say that the way they spend their free time has changed since the pandemic. Half of us socialise less since the pandemic with costs (57%) and habit (46%) key factors. Some positive lifestyle choices have become easier to make since the pandemic. 43% say it has become easier to exercise and 41% to cook from scratch. Against that, implementing financial practices such as controlling utility bills (63%), saving money (61%) and managing finances (52%) have all become harder. Working Lives 36% of workers say they can work remotely (either full time or hybrid) while 62% say they work exclusively from their workplace. Flexitime is the most sought-after benefit for workers (identified by 54%). 48% say they would like to be able to avail of a compressed work week (working the same number of hours but over fewer days) while only 18% say it is available to them. A third (33%) feel working from home regularly could negatively impact on their chances of promotion. Addressing the findings of the impact of the pandemic, Leontia Fannin, Head of Corporate Affairs with Permanent TSB said; the pandemic may have ended but its impact continues. We can see from this research that peoples attitudes have changed significantly on key issues and lifestyle choices. Behavioural Scientist, Claire Cogan of BehaviourWise said: The pandemic led many of us to re-evaluate our lives, and there was much discussion at the time about which behavioural changes would stick. Its clear that many have made positive changes to their lifestyles including getting more exercise, cooking from scratch and managing work-life balance. However, half of us are socialising less than before, with cost and habit the main reasons given for this. It will be interesting to see if this pattern changes as we head towards the summer, a key period for the hospitality industry. Irish premier Leo Varadkar has said the strength of the UK-US relationship should never be underestimated, as he rejected claims that Joe Biden is anti-British. It comes as a Home Office minister insisted Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks interaction with the US president in Belfast involved extensive discussions while the White House characterised their talks as broad and general. The Taoiseach, speaking to reporters in Dublin following a meeting with the US president, rejected any suggestion that Mr Biden was anti-British. I dont agree with that assessment, thats certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration, he said. Theyre very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. We should never underestimate the strength of the UK/American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also the institutions up and running. Because people and politicians come and go, its institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. I dont feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole. The Taoiseach would not be drawn on an Irish role in Northern Ireland if the current impasse at Stormont continues. Definitely something that I need to speak to the Prime Minister about before speaking in public, but plan A is the only plan we have at the moment, and that is to get the Good Friday Agreement working as envisaged, have the five parties form an executive four of them want to, one doesnt, he said. I think it is possible to get the DUP on board and then, not only crucially have the powersharing institutions up and running in Northern Ireland, but also the North-South bodies which are very important too. Mr Varadkar also said Northern Ireland can benefit from US investment if it establishes political stability. I think whats envisaged is investment by the US private sector, by American companies in Northern Ireland, he said. I think if there is stability in Northern Ireland, if theres predictability about the trading arrangements and the political situation there, Northern Ireland can benefit from that investment too. Earlier, Chris Philp defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday amid criticism that the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and the US president appeared to have been scaled back to a less formal conversation over a cup of tea. Touring broadcast studios on Thursday, the minister was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the presidents speech at the Ulster University campus after meeting him in the morning. I dont know exactly what the Prime Ministers schedule was, he told GB News. I havent discussed it with him or No 10 Of course they did have extensive discussions in Belfast yesterday before President Bidens speech. Later on Thursday, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat said the leaders had a broad, general discussion during the meeting. They discussed a number of global challenges, she said. Ms Sloat denied that the president was kept away from people in Northern Ireland, adding that it was a briefer stop than his visit to the Republic of Ireland. The president had the opportunity to engage with the leaders of the parties ahead of the speech and others, she said. I can say, as one who sat in the motorcade for about an hour before we left after the speech, the president was on the rope line in Belfast for I think almost an hour, engaging with virtually everybody, it seemed, that was sitting there. The president really enjoyed his time in Belfast, Ms Sloat added. Mr Bidens visit to the island of Ireland continued on Thursday in Dublin, with the president taking part in a series of engagements. Asked whether he agreed with claims the president was anti-British, Mr Philp replied: No I dont. I think the president, when he spoke to the King recently, agreed to come to the United Kingdom on a full state visit, which is fantastic. I think hes been here four times since becoming president so no, I dont think I would not accept that characterisation at all. Mr Philp also echoed the presidents remarks on powersharing, saying political parties in Northern Ireland should get around the table to bring an end to the deadlock. He described the Windsor Framework as a huge step forward by the UK Government which helped to remove obstacles to restoring the executive. The minister told Sky News: That was a huge step forward by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he got that Windsor Framework agreed with the European Union just a few weeks ago. So those obstacles we feel have now been removed. So we agree with President Biden, we think the parties should get around the table, restore the powersharing arrangements. Mr Philp added that Mr Bidens remarks that the return of powersharing could unlock new investment were interesting and made the case for ending the current paralysis really strong. Airwallex Survey Finds Majority of Singapore SMEs Are Bracing for a Potential Recession Singapore businesses have a cautious economic outlook, as new data from global fintech Airwallex reveals 7 in 10 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here are bracing for a potential recession within the next two years. The independent research1 considered the challenges SMEs in Singapore would face amid the current economic uncertainty, how they would get around them, and how fintechs could support their future growth. SMEs look to optimise operations with technology and fiscal discipline to manage rising costs Rising costs is among the top 3 pain points for two-thirds of Singapore SMEs. Rising costs from suppliers (35 per cent) accounts for the highest rise in business cost, followed by employee costs (30 per cent) and logistical disruption costs (23 per cent) likely due to the pandemic. "The challenges identified by SMEs in the survey findings are consistent with what we have been hearing from our customers, with rising costs and ways to manage it being a consistent theme in conversations," said Low Cher Hao, Director, SME and Growth, Singapore, at Airwallex. To optimise their operations amid an increasingly uncertain environment, SMEs are taking a prudent approach to their financial spending, with nearly two-thirds looking to reduce business spending and/or optimise operations through technology in the next 6-12 months. Improving efficiency (42 per cent), growing revenue (40 per cent), and market share (33 per cent) were the top three priorities for SMEs surveyed. "SMEs contribute significantly to Singapore's economy and the findings emphasises the need for better solutions to manage their top concerns and encourage their growth and success," Cher Hao added. Trust in fintech and digital platforms and willingness to adopt are high While SMEs continue to maintain a high level of confidence in traditional banking providers, the survey found that 93% of businesses in Singapore hold a high level of trust in fintech and digital platforms to support their business activities. More than 9 in 10 SMEs have already adopted or are planning to adopt digital or fintech solutions to support their businesses' financial needs. The clear benefits of going digital include saving time (58 per cent), ease of access (50 per cent) and greater control over transactions (48 per cent). SMEs in Singapore remain focused on geographic growth, particularly across Southeast Asia Amid a challenging economic environment, businesses in Singapore retain a strong appetite for growth and expansion. The survey found that nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of SMEs plan to expand their business overseas in the next 12 months. Southeast Asia remains a top expansion region, with almost one in two SMEs (43 per cent) looking to expand across the region. The top five favoured markets for expansion include Malaysia, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. "Singaporean businesses are entrepreneurial. They are constantly looking for ways to globalise their products and services. We see ourselves playing a critical role in helping them achieve their international ambitions," said Cher Hao. "Over a thousand SMEs in Singapore trust Airwallex to support the financial needs of their business; we are looking to empower them further, and welcome more like-minded businesses to join us." Methodology This survey from Airwallex was carried out by Censuswide between 16 - 23 March 2023 among 255 SME business decision makers in Singapore (companies with 50 - 500 employees). About Airwallex Airwallex is the most powerful financial technology platform for modern businesses. We remove the unnecessary friction and cost inherent in the traditional financial system to help entrepreneurs achieve their global ambitions. Companies trust Airwallex to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend to embedded finance -- all in one single platform. Our purpose is to connect entrepreneurs, business builders, makers and creators with opportunities in every corner of the world. With an international footprint across the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, we empower businesses to operate anywhere, anytime. 1 Over 250 SME decision makers based in Singapore were surveyed 12 april 2023 at 23:05 News published onand distributed by: REPORT: RBC jumps to world's #1 fossil fuel financier in 2022, Stand.earth and Canadian Groups React Despite increasing fires and floods, Canadian banks are laggards and fossil fuel "lenders of last resort" TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ -- Released today, the 14th annual Banking on Climate Chaos report, the most comprehensive global analysis on fossil fuel banking, unveils Royal Bank of Canada as the world's #1 fossil fuel financier in 2022. RBC pumped over USD$42.1 billion in 2022 in fossil fuel companies in the last fiscal year ? an increase over 2021 levels. In total, since the Paris Climate Agreement was affirmed in 2016, RBC has financed more than USD$253.98 billion to fossil fuel companies. Total overall financing of fossil fuel companies by Canadian banks increased in 2022 over 2021 levels, surpassing USD $137 billion - the largest amount since before the Paris Climate Agreement was signed. More information on Canadian Banks fossil fuel financing here. Bank Fossil funding 2022 (USD / CAD billions) Global Annual Rank 2022 Global Annual Rank 2021 RBC 42.1 / 54.7 1 4 Scotiabank 29.5 / 38.4 7 7 TD 29.0 / 37.7 8 11 BMO 19.3 / 25.1 13 14 CIBC 17.9 / 23.3 14 9 TOTAL 137.8 / 179.2 Public pressure is mounting on RBC ? Canada's, and now the world's ? #1 fossil fuel financing bank, to stop funding fossil fuel expansion and ramp up investments in climate-safe solutions. At its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in Saskatoon just last week, RBC proved it has no interest in Indigenous reconciliation, furthering corporate colonialism in how the bank treated the Indigenous and Black delegation . The bank opted to apply a reserve system to its AGM, forcing Indigenous and Black delegates into a second class room, with color-coded passes. Outside the AGM, hundreds of Indigenous water protectors, young people, and allies rallied. RBC's AGM comes weeks after a large force of RCMP C-IRG raided a Gidimt'en village site , and arrested five land and water defenders, mostly Indigenous women. Days earlier, thousands of people took action for Fossil Fools Day at over 40 actions outside RBC branches across so-called Canada. The day before its AGM, just as RBC re-packaged existing staff into a new climate institute to do "thought leadership" on climate, reports revealed that RBC helped arrange US$5.4B of 'sustainability-linked' financing for a coal mine operator in Germany, and traditional owners lodged a human rights lawsuit against 12 banks ? including RBC ? for involvement in a $4.7 billion gas project in Australia. Despite net-zero commitments and public rhetoric, RBC continues to finance fossil fuel expansion, including bankrolling dangerous projects that attack Indigenous sovereignty, like the Coastal GasLink fracked gas pipeline without consent from Wet'suwet'en Hereditary leadership. Many of RBC's oil and gas clients increased overall emissions in 2022. RBC is currently under investigation by the Competition Bureau of Canada for allegedly misleading consumers with climate-related advertising while continuing to increase financing for coal, oil and gas. Fossil Fuel Sector Trends (in USD) Expansion: The 60 banks profiled in this report funneled $150 billion in 2022 into the top 100 companies expanding fossil fuels, including TC Energy, TotalEnergies, Venture Global, ConocoPhillips, and Saudi Aramco. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG): The top bankers of liquefied "natural" gas (LNG) in 2022 were Morgan Stanley, JPMorgan Chase, Mizuho, ING, Citi, and SMBC Group. Overall finance for LNG nearly doubled from $10.8 billion in 2021 to $21.3 billion in 2022. Tar sands oil: The top tar sands companies received $20.9 billion in financing in 2022, led by the biggest Canadian banks, who provided 89% of those funds. TD, RBC, and Bank of Montreal top the list. Arctic oil and gas: Chinese banks ICBC, Agricultural Bank of China, and China Construction Bank led financing for Arctic oil and gas, which totaled $2.9 billion for the top companies in this sector in 2022. 26 banks are still financing Arctic oil and gas, including U.S. banks JPMorgan Chase, Citi, and Bank of America. Amazon oil and gas: Spanish bank Santander leads financing for companies extracting in the Amazon biome, followed closely by U.S. bank Citi. Financing totaled $769 million in 2022. Fracked oil and gas: Finance for the fracking companies totaled $67.0 billion dollars in 2022, which is an 8% increase over the financing reported in 2021 for the top fracking companies. This increase is especially disturbing given the extreme methane emissions from fracking. RBC and JPMorgan Chase are the top financiers of fracked oil and gas for 2022/since Paris. Offshore oil and gas: European banks BNP Paribas, Credit Agricole, and Japanese bank SMBC Group top the list of worst financiers of offshore oil and gas for 2022. Financing totaled $2.2 billion in 2022. Coal mining: Of the $13.0 billion in financing that went to the world's 30 largest coal mining companies, 87% was provided by banks located in China, led by China CITIC Bank, China Everbright Bank, and Industrial Bank. Coal power: Of the financing to the world's top 30 companies in coal power, 97% of financing was provided by Chinese banks. These companies, which have plans to expand coal power capacity, received $29.0 billion from the profiled banks in 2022. Full data sets ? including global press materials, fossil fuel finance data, policy scores, and stories from the frontlines ? are available at bankingonclimatechaos.org . QUOTE SHEET Chief Na'Moks, Wet'suwet'en Hereditary Chief, said: "When C-IRG was created in 2017, with the full intent of unrestricted violence supported by the provincial and federal governments, it was to remove be the Indigenous and human rights of all peoples of so-called democratic Canada. The actions of this unit of the RCMP have proven that those who wish to protect clean water, lands , food security and the very air that we all breathe and depend on, are merely the 'cost of doing business' for industries, governments and the Royal Bank of Canada financing this corporate colonialism. No conscience, no morals, no future. The path RBC is on can be defined as either psychopath or sociopath ? not a path for a better future" Sleydo', spokesperson for Gidimt'en Checkpoint, said: "As the world's top fossil fuel financing bank in 2022, CEO Dave McKay is trying to throw other banks under the bus ? as if everyone is as bad or worse. Meanwhile, the Royal Bank of Canada is financing violence and destruction of Wet'suwet'en people and Wedzin Kwa. RBC's colonial Coastal GasLink project is fueling harassment by private mercenaries ? C-IRG. It's time for RBC to stop dodging accountability and harassing Indigenous land defenders, and defund climate chaos now." Richard Brooks, Climate Finance Director at Stand.earth, said: "It's obscene that the Royal Bank of Canada is now the world's dirtiest banker for fossil fuels ? CEO Dave McKay should be ashamed. While we work to advance climate action at all levels, RBC is moving in completely the wrong direction, dragging our climate ambitions backwards and positioning Canadian banks as fossil fuels' lenders of last resort. Publicly, RBC spends millions on greenwashed advertising, claiming support for Indigenous rights. In reality, the bank is polluting our communities, bankrolling climate chaos and Indigenous rights violations to the tune of billions. RBC's greedy fossil fuel financing is a clear signal for the need for increased regulation and aggressive pressure from shareholders and customers." Keith Stewart, senior energy strategist for Greenpeace Canada, said: "As RBC takes over as the largest funder of fossil fuels in the world and other big Canadian banks move up the global ranking, it is clear that we can no longer simply trust bankers to do the right thing on climate change or Indigenous rights. Asking politely will only lead to us continuing to be played for suckers by the big banks. Canada is currently legislating a requirement for auto manufacturers to phase out gasoline-powered cars in favour of electric vehicles, and now our federal banking regulators must similarly require banks to phase out fossil fuel finance while ramping up support for clean energy." Dani Michie, Digital Campaigner for Banking on a Better Future, said: "Last year we rallied outside the Ritz Carlton in Toronto as RBC CEO was awarded Business Leader of the Year by Ivey Business School. We gave him a much more accurate award, naming McKay the Climate Villain of the Year. An apt award now that RBC has moved from the fifth largest global fossil fuel financer to the worst in the world. RBC is funding climate chaos, violations of Indigenous sovereignty, and the destruction of our collective future. The callous racism and discrimination on display at the RBC AGM last week only confirms what we already know to be true: RBC only cares about their bottom line. This bank will put profits over people every time. Young people refuse to be greenwashed and duped by RBC, we're moving our money out of fossil fuel funding banks and kicking them off our campuses until they divest from fossil fuels and respect Indigenous sovereignty." Kate Turner, coordinator for Decolonial Solidarity, said: "Everyday people, including RBC customers, are part of a growing movement of solidarity with Wet'suwet'en Land Defenders and other communities on the frontlines of violent resource extraction. Just two weeks ago, thousands of people in forty locations took action to demand that RBC withdraw all support from Coastal GasLink and implement free, prior, and informed consent policies in line with international and Canadian law. This report has crushed what little relevance and credibility RBC had left. RBC is rapidly losing the support of its customers and employees, as well as its public image. From seniors to students, united by solidarity, we will never stop fighting for a healthy and just place for all." Gabrielle Willms, organizer with For Our Kids, said: "After watching RBC use police and intimidation tactics to turn away Indigenous land defenders and members of frontline communities at their AGM last week, it's no surprise to see they've taken the title of world's biggest fossil fuel funder. RBC has shown no interest in taking accountability for their role in fueling the climate crisis, and they continue to prioritize profits over basic human rights and a liveable future for all of us. Parents and families will continue to bank elsewhere and push our government to regulate Canada's Big Banks until they start respecting Indigenous sovereignty and stop undermining urgent climate action." SOURCE Stand.earth 13 april 2023 at 00:01 News published onand distributed by: Alentis Therapeutics Closes $105 Million Series C Funding to Advance Transformational Medicines for Claudin-1 Alentis Therapeutics ("Alentis"), the Claudin-1 (CLDN1) company, is a clinical-stage biotech developing breakthrough treatments for organ fibrosis and CLDN1 positive tumors. Today, Alentis announced $105 million in Series C financing. The funding round was led by Jeito Capital together with Novo Holdings A/S and RA Capital Management with participation from existing investors including BB Pureos Bioventures, Bpifrance through its InnoBio 2 fund and Schroders Capital. The financing will support Phase II and Phase I programs of Alentis' lead investigational products ALE.F02 and ALE.C04 respectively as well as the CLDN1 platform development. "We are absolutely delighted with this support from our investors," said Dr. Roberto Iacone, CEO at Alentis Therapeutics. "There are huge unmet needs in organ fibrosis and cancer, and this funding enables us to continue with the important work we're doing in the CLDN1 space and generate clinical data from both our programs. We can now aggressively develop CLDN1 biology in oncology and continue with the recruitment of our organ fibrosis trials while advancing our ADC and bi-specific antibodies." Founder and CEO of Jeito Capital, Rafaele Tordjman said, "We are totally convinced about the CLDN1 biology potential in multiple areas of fibrosis and oncology. Alentis has made significant progress in identifying target populations while developing programs and advancing the platform. We are committed to continuing our partnership with Alentis as they are the leading player in the CLDN1 space and are well positioned to generate meaningful clinical data within the next 12-18 months." Novo Holdings' Senior Partner, Naveed Siddiqi will join the Alentis Therapeutics' Board of Directors. "The Venture Investments team of Novo Holdings has an extensive track record of backing high-quality biotechs across Europe and the US developing novel treatments for unmet medical needs," said Naveed Siddiqi. "Alentis has pioneered a world-leading position in the Claudin-1 space and is led by highly capable drug developers. We were encouraged by exciting emerging pre-clinical data in oncology and the potential of Claudin-1 targeted therapeutics to treat a wide range of cancers where Claudin-1 is highly expressed. We are looking forward to supporting Alentis as it further advances its pipeline in the clinic with the proceeds of this round." Since its $67 million Series B funding in June 2021, Alentis has made major strides: ALE.F02 MAD study completion is imminent; it has clearly defined the CLDN1+ cancer patient population, including T-cell excluded cancers to develop ALE.C04 in oncology; set-up the platform to engineer CLDN1 antibody drug conjugates and bi-specific antibodies that the Series C will help to further develop; and is expanding its team of top talent. About Alentis Therapeutics Alentis Therapeutics, the CLDN1 company, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on developing breakthrough treatments for CLDN1+ tumors and organ fibrosis. Alentis is pioneering a novel approach to modify and reverse the course of disease progression targeting CLDN1, a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the pathology of tumors with immune evasive properties and fibrotic disease across multiple organs. Alentis is the only company developing potential treatments for solid cancers and fibrosis targeting CLDN1. The company was founded in 2019 based on ground-breaking research in the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Baumert MD at the University of Strasbourg and the French National Institute of Health (Inserm). Alentis is headquartered in Basel's pharma-biotech hub in Switzerland with an R&D subsidiary in Strasbourg, France and clinical operations in the US. Visit https://alentis.ch About Jeito Capital Jeito Capital is a global leading Private Equity company with a patient benefit driven approach that finances and accelerates the development and growth of ground-breaking medical innovation. Jeito empowers and supports managers through its expert, integrated, multi-talented team and through the investment of significant capital to ensure the growth of companies, building market leaders in their respective therapeutic areas with accelerated patients' access globally, especially in Europe and the United States. Jeito Capital has ?534 million under management and a rapidly growing portfolio of investments. Jeito Capital is based in Paris with a presence in Europe and the United States. About Novo Holdings Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novozymes (the Novo Group companies) and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. The investment portfolio comprises two teams including Life Science Investments and Capital Investments. The Life Science Investments team invests in companies at all stages of development and includes Seed Investments, Venture Investments, Growth Investments and Principal Investments. The Capital Investments team manages a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate and infrastructure assets, as well as private equity investments. Novo Holdings operates out of offices in Copenhagen, London, Boston, San Francisco, Singapore and Shanghai. As of year-end 2021, Novo Holdings had total assets of USD 106 billion. About RA Capital Management RA Capital is a multi-stage investment manager dedicated to evidence-based investing in public and private healthcare and life science companies that are developing medicines, medical devices and diagnostics. The flexibility of its strategy allows RA capital to provide seed funding to startups and to lead private IPO, and follow-on financings for its portfolio companies, enabling management teams to drive value creation from inception through commercialization. At RA Capital's core is its TechAtlas research division, a scientifically trained team that maps out competitive landscapes to put data into context, identify breakthroughs, and originate conviction in new ideas. TechAtlas provides market intelligence, technical diligence, and other resources to both our internal investment team and our portfolio companies. About Pureos Bioventures Pureos Bioventures invests exclusively in private innovative drug development companies, with a special emphasis on the next generation of biological drugs and drug formats. The fund's portfolio companies are built on scientific excellence to develop therapies across a broad indication spectrum including oncology, immunology, ophthalmology, rare diseases, and neuroscience. Pureos has built a team with in-depth investment, operating and clinical expertise, that strives to impact patients' lives by advancing innovative treatments for devastating diseases. 13 april 2023 at 01:05 News published onand distributed by: Agence France Locale Deploys Orchestrade To Achieve Next Level of Growth Agence France Locale deploys Orchestrade LYON, France, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Agence France Locale (AFL), the unique French local government funding agency owned by French local authorities, has today announced it has completed deployment of Orchestrade, the leading modern, cross-asset, front-to-back trading and risk management platform, to lower its operational risk and improve its overall trading and risk management. AFL is a unique public sector company, which aims to help French local authority funding in the best way possible at the most competitive price. As part of its growth trajectory, AFL wanted to invest in a new financial software package to increase efficiency, reduce costs and achieve its business objectives. AFL therefore required a single, scalable, modern platform to handle front, middle, risk, operation, and back office, and also be able to meet its specific trade capture and risk management needs. AFL needed a front-to-back solution with a visualized loan process, including acquiring loans and hedging them as they go to market. Selecting the right platform was a significant challenge, and a risk, for AFL, as the system would underpin its existing operations and be vital to enable AFL to continue to growth. After consulting various software publishers, AFL chose Orchestrade. "Orchestrade's strengths were its ability to understand AFL's technical needs and to propose a solution with a competitive quality-price ratio. The platform's standard functional coverage was good, as well as Orchestrade's willingness to develop missing interfaces during the project, working alongside AFL's business and IT teams," confirmed Olivier Roulle, AFL General Secretary. Despite the Covid crisis requiring all work to be done remotely, the project continued as planned. Orchestrade delivered portfolio profit and loss analysis and monitoring, alongside asset liability management using behavioural assumptions and new production forecasts, in line with FR-GAAP and IFRS9 accounting metrics. AFL now also uses Orchestrade for treasury optimization to ensure profitability and for its lending processes. "Following the example of our Nordic counterparts, we are changing our market operations management module for a more suitable front-to-back and asset liability management software package, so we can optimize and secure our processes and develop future new possibilities, such as new products," according to Thiebaut Julin, AFL's Chief Financial Officer. "We at Orchestrade are proud of the role we are playing in helping AFL accomplish its specific mission. With a rich and smart interaction between the different teams involved in the project, we have created a flexible and enhanced user experience, with world class customer support, using cloud-based architecture. Developing and delivering a managed service offering, which met AFL's specific challenges really showed the breadth, stability, and flexibility of our technology platform. That we could do it in the way AFL wanted and needed gives us a real sense of pride and of a job well done for our client," said Jean-Daniel Morfin, Head of Product Management at Orchestrade. About AFL "The Company's mission is to embody a responsible finance to strengthen the local world's empowerment so as to better deliver the present and future needs of its inhabitants." By creating our bank, the first one we own and manage, we, the French local authorities, have decided to act to deepen decentralization. Our bank, Agence France Locale (AFL), is a financial institution unlike any other. Created by and for local authorities, it aims to strengthen our freedom, our ability to develop projects and our responsibility as local public bodies. Its culture of prudence spares us from the dangers of complexity and its governance from a downward slide of conflict of interest. The main objective is to provide the local world with access to cost-efficient resources, under total transparency. We are driven by the principles of solidarity and equity. We are convinced that together we go further. We decided that our institution would be agile, addressing all types of local authorities, from the largest regions to the smallest municipalities. We see profit as a means to maximizing public spending, not as an end goal. Through AFL, we support a local world committed to take up social, economic, and environmental challenges. AFL strengthens our empowerment: to carry out projects in our territories, today and tomorrow, to the benefit of our inhabitants. We are proud to have a bank whose development is like us, more responsible and sustainable. We are Agence France Locale. www.agence-france-locale.fr About Orchestrade Orchestrade delivers the most modern technology for cross asset, front-to-back trading and risk management. Its award-winning capital markets platform has been implemented by leading financial institutions in the Americas, Europe and Asia. www.orchestrade.com Media Contact Louis Hogan, Cognito, 44 7847716844, [email protected], https://www.orchestrade.com/ SOURCE Cognito 13 april 2023 at 05:30 News published onand distributed by: Vortex Aviation Announces the Opening of New Chicago Facility to Support Engine Asset Owners, Airlines, Lessors, and Cargo Operators Vortex Aviation, a global leader in quick turn commercial aviation engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, is excited to announce the opening of its new facility in Chicago (Roselle), Illinois (USA) to provide unparalleled support for engine asset owners, airlines, lessors, and cargo operators. CHICAGO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Vortex Aviation, a global leader in quick turn commercial aviation engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, is excited to announce the opening of its new facility in Chicago (Roselle), Illinois (USA) to provide unparalleled support for engine asset owners, airlines, lessors, and cargo operators. This will be Vortex Aviation's fourth strategic FAA and EASA approved facility, expanding the capabilities of the Hospital Shop and Field Services, which provide efficient and customized repair solutions for mature and next-generation turbine engines. These services aim to minimize customers' downtime and reduce direct maintenance costs. The new facility scheduled to open on May 1st, 2023, provides comprehensive on-wing and on-site maintenance services, including: Hospital Shop Services: Specializing in quick turn surgical strike maintenance to get the engine back in service with minimal impact to operations and cost effectively extending the on-wing life of the engine. The Chicago facility will provide top case repair & inspections, boroblend capability, borescope inspections, QEC & stand swaps, engine lease return workscopes & evaluations among other services to include long term and short-term storage. Field Service: Vortex Aviation's experienced "on-wing" support team of Field Service Technicians will be available to travel to customers' locations, providing global AOG quick turn engine maintenance, repairs, and inspections. The Chicago facility will extend the reach of these services throughout the Midwest, offering rapid response to minimize downtime and keep aircraft flying. "Our new Chicago facility, located 15 minutes from Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) and 40 minutes from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is another significant milestone for Vortex Aviation," said John McKirdy, SVP of Vortex Aviation. "We are excited to expand our operations to this strategically important location and with our experienced team and wide range of capabilities, we are confident that we can deliver the world-class engine maintenance support our customers demand." About Vortex Aviation Vortex provides engine maintenance services to the aviation industry supporting the repair, troubleshooting, and maintenance of today's mature and modern turbine CFM56-3/-5B/-7B, CF6-80, CF34-8/-10, V2500, Leap, GTF, PW4000 engines and APUs, with effective solutions that reduce customers' maintenance costs and help keep their aircraft flying. Vortex Aviation's global core competencies include worldwide AOG repair & maintenance. Its four strategically located hospital shops provide targeted quick turn repair solutions for modern next generation and classic turbine engines used by the global, commercial, and regional jet aircraft markets. Vortex's full-time staff consists of OEM trained technicians at its certified repair stations in Florida and Chicago, USA plus Shannon and Dublin, Ireland. These operations have extensive background with major airlines, Operators, MRO's, Lessors and Asset Owners. For more information about Vortex Aviation and its services, please visit http://www.vortexaviation.com or contact [email protected] Media Contact Marisol Gomez, Vortex Aviation, 1 954-990-0911, [email protected] SOURCE Vortex Aviation 13 april 2023 at 06:00 News published onand distributed by: High steady state of COVID-19 case levels are a concern, according to CoVaRR-Net experts OTTAWA, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Despite a general perception that the COVID-19 pandemic is over, CoVaRR-Net experts have found that COVID-19 case levels and related hospital occupancies in Canada have remained steady at a high level over the past eight months - facts with serious implications for Canadians, our healthcare system, and our economy. "Unfortunately, COVID-19 has hovered at a steady level since the early fall of 2022, rather than declining, even though immunity in the Canadian population is high," says Dr. Sally Otto, Co-Lead of CoVaRR-Net's CAMEO (Computational Analysis, Modelling and Evolutionary Outcomes) Pillar and Killam Professor and Tier 1 Canada Research Chair at the University of British Columbia. "A relatively high level of COVID-19 in the population matters because it impacts rates of hospitalizations, long COVID development, and absenteeism in workplaces ? collectively impacting both healthcare and the economy," adds Dr. Fiona Brinkman, Deputy, CoVaRR-Net's CAMEO Pillar and Distinguished Professor in Bioinformatics and Genomics at Simon Fraser University. "The waves have changed from big peaks and low troughs to smaller waves (or wavelets) centering around an overall higher COVID level. With the spread of recent immune-evasive variants, COVID case levels are consistently higher than we would want, and some people are getting re-infected three or four times a year." Spring uptick in COVID-19 cases predicted "XBB.1.5 is the major strain that is driving cases now, and I expect a minor uptick in cases this Spring that should last for about a month," says Dr. Otto. "Like glacial melt raising sea levels, the higher transmissibility of XBB.1.5 and waning immunity are raising the sea level of COVID-19 cases. We continue to see new variants emerge, so we don't yet know what variant will dominate this summer, but we don't predict a big downswing in the summer either." More boosters would curb case levels "The current vaccination rate in Canada is less than one million shots a month. If Canadians doubled the rate at which they are getting vaccinated, the level of COVID-19 cases would decline by about 40%," states Dr. Otto. "When more people get vaccinated, this helps to offset waning immunity. If Canadians were to stop getting boosters, our projections show cases would rise by about 40%." Improving ventilation in crowded indoor settings would also reduce cases substantially. "Our modelling shows that if half of crowded environments improved ventilation ? halving the risk of transmission in those places -- cases in Canada would also drop by 40%," adds Dr. Otto. CoVaRR-Net's CAMEO team ? composed of more than 15 academic researchers and members of the Public Health Agency of Canada with diverse subject expertise ? uses computer modelling and simulations to evaluate the genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 variants and monitor how quickly they spread in the Canadian population. As CoVaRR-Net transitions to becoming an academic pandemic preparedness network, CAMEO scientists are continuing to develop knowledge tools to be able to track and monitor not just SARS-CoV-2, but also select other pathogens of concern. Learn more Discover CAMEO's Duotang, a continually updated web-based notebook that contains a wide range of genomic epidemiology and mathematical modelling analyses. The data for Duotang is compiled from the Canadian VirusSeq Data Portal and DNA Stack's Viral AI. About CoVaRR-Net The Coronavirus Variants Rapid Response Network (CoVaRR-Net) was created with a $9 million investment by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research at the end of March 2021 as part of the Government of Canada's Variants of Concern Strategy. It was allocated another $9 million in 2022. It is a network of interdisciplinary researchers from institutions across the country created to coordinate, facilitate, and accelerate rapid response research throughout Canada regarding SARS-CoV-2 variants. The Network is laying the foundations to evolve into an academic pandemic preparedness network that will foster close ties, collaborations, and relationships with public health laboratories, biomanufacturing facilities and hubs, and industry ? because everyone's contribution is critical during a pandemic. Contact Tim Parent [email protected] 289-241-1647 13 april 2023 at 07:00 News published onand distributed by: Foraco International wins a major 74 MU$ water drilling services contract with Rio Tinto Iron Ore in Australia TORONTO and MARSEILLE, France, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Foraco International SA (TSX: FAR) (the "Company" or "Foraco"), a leading global provider of mineral and water drilling services, today announced it has been awarded a major contract with Rio Tinto Iron Ore. This contract is for water related drilling services in the Pilbara region, involving both monitoring wells, dewatering wells and vibrating wire piezometers digital networks installation, mostly with flooded reverse circulation rigs and is signed for 2 years firm plus 3 optional years extension. It will involve a total of 4 rigs and a VWP grout unit, including our new proprietary generation of BF800, the NGBF, a 60T pull remotely operated rig which will bring our large diameter drilling capacity to the next step in term of intrinsic safety and capabilities. The contract has a total face value of AUD 111 million, or U$ 74 million, including options. "Our remarkable partnership with Rio Tinto Iron Ore in the Pilbara has gotten one step further with this additional contract on top of our running long term exploration contract and we're very excited to extend our collaboration with Rio Tinto to help them to manage their mines groundwater which is now seen as a critical and vital natural resource to be preserved and well managed. We are very proud that Rio Tinto management and their field operators appreciate Foraco technical expertise, safe execution and reliable services. This is a great reward for all our employees, field crews and support teams in Australia" said Daniel Simoncini, CEO of Foraco. "We believe long term relationships with world leaders like Rio Tinto is an efficient way to increase our long-term profitability resilience, while providing the best quality of professional life to our employees with who we can share a time horizon long enough to develop them, train them and make them safer and happier." About Foraco International SA Foraco International SA (TSX: FAR) is a leading global mineral and water drilling services company that provides a comprehensive and reliable service offering in mining and water projects. Supported by its founding values of integrity, innovation and involvement, Foraco has grown into the third largest global drilling enterprise with a presence in 22 countries across five continents. For more information about Foraco, visit www.foraco.com. "Neither TSX Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release." Caution concerning forward-looking statements This document may contain "forward-looking statements" and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements and information include estimates, forecasts, information and statements as to Management's expectations with respect to, among other things, the future financial or operating performance of the Company and capital and operating expenditures. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of words such as "may", "will", "should", "plans", "expects", "intends", "anticipates", "believes", "budget", and "scheduled" or the negative thereof or variations thereon or similar terminology. Forward-looking statements and information are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Management, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements and information are not guarantees and there can be no assurance that such statements and information will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the Company's expectations are disclosed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form dated March 3, 2023, which is filed with Canadian regulators on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The Company expressly disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements and information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. All written and oral forward-looking statements and information attributable to Foraco or persons acting on our behalf are expressly qualified in their entirety by the foregoing cautionary statements. SOURCE Foraco International SA 13 april 2023 at 07:30 News published onand distributed by: Nine Canadian Kids Finalists in Global Design Competition Kids across Canada designed vehicles to make the world a better place TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Nine Canadian kids were named finalists in a global design competition after coming up with innovative solutions to some of society's biggest challenges. From environmental issues to social tensions, the nine kids from across Canada each designed a unique vehicle to help make the world a better place, and now their innovations will now compete against other designs on the world stage. Every year, Toyota invites kids across Canada (and around the world) to design a 'dream car' to help make the world a better place. Here are the three Canadian winners (and finalists in the worldwide competition) in each age category (along with their designs): Under 8 Years Old Ziyu Alan Wang (age 7, Oakville, ON ). Ziyu's entry ? "Twinkle Twinkle Music Car" ? flies over the Earth's atmosphere while playing live concerts to "spread joy to the universe". Humans ? as well as all other forms of life in space - can enjoy the peaceful melodies. Brianna Law (age 7, Richmond, BC ). Brianna's entry ? "Healicorn that Spreads Love" ? is a unicorn-shaped vehicle with the power to heal the environment and spread love to all people. A multi-terrain solution, it filters the Earth's bodies of water to rid them of garbage, while also putting out wildfires on land. Phoebe Zhang (age 5, Richmond Hill, ON ). Phoebe's entry ? "Mobile Candy Shop" ?is a mobile candy store providing children with a safe and trusted way to purchase candy in their neighbourhoods 8 to 11 Years Old Dora Chen (age 11, Foothills, AB). Dora's entry ? "Nature Keeper" ? is shaped like an Indigenous totem to represent nature. This vehicle fights pollution by sucking up all unclean air and transforming it into a rainbow of hope. Claire Kim (age 11, Calgary, AB ). Claire's entry ? "Happy Family Dream Car" ?creates a safe space of joy for families and kids, protecting them from the negativities living outside it. Louisa Ji (age 11, Vancouver, BC ). Louisa's entry ? "Journey Through Earth" ? sucks up air pollution from our cities, cleaning and re-releasing it through the car's exhaust pipe as floral-scented air. The vehicle is also an educational tool to teach people about its cutting-edge technology 12 to 15 Years Old Chloe Ng (age 12, Calgary, AB ). Chloe's entry ? "Hydro-Car" ? collects and filters water from our oceans to distribute around the world, so everyone can have access to clean, filtered water. Ryan Chen (age 12, Foothills, AB). Ryan's entry ? "Peace Builder" ? helps families affected by war by rebuilding buildings, cities and relationships to reunite families. Haeum Park (age 14, Calgary, AB ). Haeum's entry ? "Eco-Friendly Bus" ? runs on bio-energy derived from corn, eliminating fossil fuels altogether. It also grows and delivers its own vegetables and fruit. A panel of distinguished Canadian judges was tasked with assessing the entries from kids across Canada: Dr. Bonnie Schmidt ? President, Let's Talk Science ? President, Let's Talk Science Larry Hutchinson ? President and CEO, Toyota Canada ? President and CEO, Toyota Canada Regina Chan ? Managing Director, AutoNerve Media Here's what the judges had to say about the submissions for this year's contest: "The vision, creativity and innovation presented in the design ideas of Canadian children and youth is truly impressive. With the reoccurring themes of peace, environmental sustainability, and happiness, it's clear to see that these are the leaders of tomorrow." ? Larry Hutchinson, President and CEO, Toyota Canada "The imagination and ingenuity expressed through the concepts of these designs were filled with hope and a deep desire to build a better world. Judging this year's competition was inspiring and made it very difficult to select just nine finalists. Congratulations to all the participants who shared their dream car. Our future is in good hands." ? Dr. Bonnie Schmidt, President, Let's Talk Science "We have many talented young artists across Canada, and I am very impressed with all the entries. Their creativity and vision range from innovative ideas to address social issues to wild ideas beyond our imagination. Their youthful and pure philosophies were embedded in their drawings and they give us hope of a brighter future with better transportation and a cleaner environment." ? Regina Chan, Managing Director, AutoNerve Media The nine Canadian finalists will now be entered into the World Finals of the contest for a chance to win a prize valued at $5,000 USD. Each Canadian finalist also received a $250 online retail gift card to KiwiCo. First held in 2004 and now one of the world's largest global design contests for children, the Toyota Dream Car Art contest invites future artists, designers and engineers to share their ideas about the future of mobility. For more about the global Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, click here. About Toyota Canada Inc. Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over six million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI's head office is in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Clarington and Vancouver. Toyota also operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than nine million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include the Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the Lexus RX and RX hybrid, and the Lexus NX and NH hybrid. Recent investments at its facilities in Ontario will allow for increased production of these top-selling models for the North American market. SOURCE Toyota Canada Inc. 13 april 2023 at 08:30 News published onand distributed by: Baptist Health Expands Precision Medicine Effort With ActX As part of an ongoing effort to expand precision medicine access to their patients and employees, Baptist Health has extended its partnership with its Genomic Decision Support vendor, ActX, until 2028. LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- As part of an ongoing effort to expand precision medicine access to their patients and employees, Baptist Health has extended its partnership with its Genomic Decision Support vendor, ActX, until 2028. At Baptist Health, ActX is integrated into the EpicCare electronic health record, providing actionable genomic decision support at the point of care, allowing Baptist Health providers to make better decisions about medical treatment using patient's genetic information. Baptist has utilized the service at its nine owned hospitals and more than 400 points of care over the past several years. In 2022 Baptist Health launched a pilot program to study the benefits of genetic testing with a sample group of its employees. Comparing 2022 claims data to 2020 and 2021, the results showed fewer claims and an average cost savings of $482 per study patient per month, for a total savings of $2.6 million so far. In 2023, Baptist Health included coverage for pharmacogenetic testing to all employees and dependents enrolled in their medical plan. "Over the past several years ActX has helped Baptist Health make the best therapeutic choices for many patients by personalizing their medical care with genetics" said Brett Oliver, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer at Baptist Health. "With the extension of the Baptist Health-ActX partnership, we will be able to further expand this important initiative, increasing our capabilities by enabling precision medicine for many more individuals". "We are excited to help expand the important work Baptist Health is doing with precision medicine." said Andrew Ury, MD, CEO of ActX. "Baptist Health has been a leader in showing the important benefits of an EHR integrated genomic decision support model". About ActX ActX helps physicians make better decisions about medical treatment, using patients' genetic information. ActX uses its GenoACT? clinical decision support program to analyze a patient's genetic information and alert physicians in real time through their existing workflow tools about drug-genome interactions, actionable hereditary risks and carrier status. For more information, visit http://www.actx.com, email [email protected] or call 888-998-2289. About Baptist Health Founded in 1924 in Louisville, Kentucky, Baptist Health is a full-spectrum health system dedicated to improving the health of the communities it serves. The Baptist Health family consists of nine hospitals, employed and independent physicians, and more than 400 points of care, including outpatient facilities, physician practices and services, urgent care clinics, outpatient diagnostic and surgery centers, home care, fitness centers, and occupational medicine and physical therapy clinics. Baptist Health's eight owned hospitals include more than 2,300 licensed beds in Corbin, Elizabethtown, LaGrange, Lexington, Louisville, Paducah, Richmond and New Albany, Indiana. Baptist Health also operates the 410-bed Baptist Health Deaconess Madisonville in Madisonville, Kentucky in a joint venture with Deaconess Health System based in Evansville, Indiana. Baptist Health employs more than 23,000 people in Kentucky and surrounding states. Baptist Health is the first health system in the U.S. to have all of its hospitals recognized by the American Nursing Credentialing Center with either a Magnet or Pathway to Excellence designation for nursing excellence. Baptist Health's employed provider network, Baptist Health Medical Group, has nearly 1,500 providers, including more than 750 physicians and more than 740 advanced practice clinicians. Baptist Health's physician network also includes more than 2,000 independent physicians. Media Contact Joe Sichel, ActX, 1 888-998-2289, [email protected] SOURCE ActX 13 april 2023 at 09:00 News published onand distributed by: Lysol Pro Solutions collaborates with LCI to create employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired LCI Durham, NC to repackage an estimated 25,000 Lysol Disinfecting Wipe Flat Packs each month PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A collaboration between Reckitt's Lysol Pro Solutions ? a science-led business-to-business offering ? and LC Industries (LCI) ? a diversified manufacturing, distribution, and retail company, will create jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired within its facilities in North Carolina and eventually expanding to Mississippi. LCI is one of the largest employers of blind or visually impaired Americans, and helps create opportunities and careers, while developing skills that transform lives. Through the collaboration, LCI's Durham facility will repackage an estimated 25,000 packs of Lysol Disinfecting Wipes each month. The collaboration between Lysol Pro Solutions and LCI is part of Reckitt's broader commitment to offering equal opportunities in all areas of its business to everyone, regardless of an individual's personal characteristics including but not limited to gender, race, nationality, age, disability, sexual orientation, and religion. Most of the products manufactured by LCI are sold directly to the U.S. federal government under the auspices of the AbilityOne Program. This means that the Lysol Pro Solutions disinfecting products packaged by LCI employees in Durham will potentially be used to help protect members of the military serving in the U.S. or overseas, and government offices including staff in the White House. This collaboration comes at a time when 40% of people are still concerned about germs,1 and leverages the power of Lysol, the most trusted disinfection brand,2 to enable facilities to elevate their hygiene measures and help protect people entering their spaces. "At Reckitt, one of the core pillars of our diversity, equity, and inclusion work is reflecting the communities we serve," said Emily Flynn, Business Solutions Commercial Director, Americas at Lysol Pro Solutions. "Our collaboration with LCI enables us to support community members with disabilities by providing job opportunities that leverage their skills and help them build new ones for future success." In 2021, Reckitt launched a holistic conscious inclusion program to help employees engage in topics of inclusion, equity, and working together across differences. Reckitt's leaders each dedicate time to exploring what these topics mean to the company, to their teams, and to individuals. Through online learning and team discussions, every Reckitt employee is encouraged to recognize their responsibility for creating a culture that includes everyone. "It's important to LCI that the companies we work with have their own commitments to diversity, equity, and inclusion," said DuWayne Gilbertson, VP Business Development at LCI. "Reckitt's prioritization of these efforts is felt throughout our collaboration." ABOUT LYSOL PRO SOLUTIONS Reckitt's Lysol Pro Solutions harnesses the power of Lysol to help protect businesses and public spaces from the spread of germs. In today's world, consumers have increased hygiene expectations which makes germ-protection more critical than ever. The comprehensive approach from Lysol Pro Solutions incorporates science-backed protocols and training, EPA-approved Lysol products and Lysol branded marketing materials and signage. Lysol Pro Solutions empowers businesses to demonstrate to their staff and customers a commitment to providing a trusted standard for protection. ABOUT RECKITT Reckitt* exists to protect, heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner, healthier world. We believe that access to the highest-quality hygiene, wellness and nourishment is a right, not a privilege. Reckitt is the company behind some of the world's most recognisable and trusted consumer brands in hygiene, health and nutrition, including Air Wick, Calgon, Cillit Bang, Clearasil, Dettol, Durex, Enfamil, Finish, Gaviscon, Harpic, Lysol, Mortein, Mucinex, Nurofen, Nutramigen, Strepsils, Vanish, Veet, Woolite and more. Every day, more than 20 million Reckitt products are bought globally. We always put consumers and people first, seek out new opportunities, strive for excellence in all that we do and build shared success with all our partners. We aim to do the right thing, always. We are a diverse global team of c. 40,000 colleagues. We draw on our collective energy to meet our ambitions of purpose-led brands, a healthier planet and a fairer society. Find out more or get in touch with us at www.reckitt.com/us. *Reckitt is the trading name of the Reckitt Benckiser group of companies ABOUT LCI L C Industries, Inc. (LCI) is a 501(c)(3) not for profit in the business of creating meaningful employment for people who are blind. Founded in Durham, NC in 1936 as a manufacturer, our mission has propelled us to evolve and expand into third party logistics services, retail operations, and accessibility consulting. Today, we are one of the largest employers of Americans who are blind or visually impaired. LCI operates seven manufacturing facilities, three distribution centers, fifty-nine retail locations, e-commerce web properties and holds large government distribution contracts. While being an incredibly diverse organization, the common thread throughout all business units is our dedication to creating meaningful employment for the blind and visually impaired. 1 StreetBees Germ Tracker for Reckitt, as of January 2023 2 Suzy Oct 2021. Among those who expressed a preference in a nationwide October 2021 consumer preference survey Statistically significant at the 95th percentile. SOURCE Reckitt 13 april 2023 at 10:00 News published onand distributed by: WillDom Amplifies Network in Brazil with Introduction of New Sao Paulo Branch WillDom today announced the introduction of Prox as its newest branch in Sao Paulo, Brazil. SAO PAULO, Brazil and FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- WillDom, a leader in enabling high-growth organizations to rightsource, strategize, and execute their digital transformation initiatives, today announced the introduction of Prox as its newest branch in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Prox joins WillDom Marilia strengthening WillDom's presence in one of LATAM'S top tech hubs. Supporting ERP systems as well as delivering SaaS and a variety of applications for the past 13 years, Prox joins WillDom as its twelfth branch with 70 employees and a robust portfolio of clients. Prox, founded by Renato Souza and Erik Pereira in 2010, now looks to leverage WillDom's growing network to expand its impact in the global market, collaboratively. "WillDom is a powerful brand that has a great reputation and a strong network of professionals and clients that will enable us to scale much faster in the U.S.," stated Renato Souza, CEO and Co-Founder of Prox. "We look forward to growing our skills, capabilities, and services through this alliance." With more than 18 years of experience in the market, Renato Souza and Erik Pereira come from a background deeply rooted in IT, finance, strategic operations, and sales and marketing. Together they began Prox to bridge the gap between technicality and business needs with top talent. "Unfortunately, until this day, we have many professionals who are very technical but are not able to connect the business needs with the technology; there are a lot of executives and salespeople who don't speak that language. We have the skill to connect both," added Souza. Today, Prox serves 70% of Brazilian Banks through their ERP Practice, and with this new capability, WillDom will be able to expand its Fintech expertise to the Americas. Aligning precisely with WillDom's methodology, the company's approach of matching tech talent and cutting-edge solutions with next-gen projects makes Prox a perfect partner for the WillDom ecosystem. "Tapping into the wealth of talent in Brazil is instrumental in our growth as an organization," shared Javier Ibanez Padilla, cofounder and Chief Networking Officer at WillDom. "The Prox team's strong background in ERP solutions provides a new perspective for our network with a focus on enhancing operational excellence for our clients. Digitally transforming from within with leading-edge technologies such as those developed by Prox are what strengthen our clients and ensure that they optimize delivery to their customers." Prox has a strong client base of service-driven clients of which 90% deliver services directly to customers in diverse industries such as tech, finance, marketing, and customer service. About WillDom WillDom is a leader in enabling high-growth organizations to rightsource, strategize, and execute on their digital transformation initiatives. Through its proprietary end-to-end WAVE platform, WillDom utilizes its vast network of more than 5,000 best-in-class software developers, engineers, and technologists to provide organizations with software development that brings big ideas to life. If you need a partner for your digital journey or are looking to hire a full team, visit WillDom.com or follow us on LinkedIn today to access the power of the WillDom Ecosystem. Media Contact Ryan Siss, Fastlane, 1 855 677 5263, [email protected] SOURCE Fastlane 13 april 2023 at 11:30 News published onand distributed by: ASC dismisses appeal by Paul Anthony Dwyer from MFDA disciplinary decisions CALGARY, AB, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - The Alberta Securities Commission (ASC) has dismissed Paul Anthony Dwyer's appeal from two disciplinary decisions issued against him by the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada (MFDA). In January 2022, an MFDA hearing panel found that Dwyer, while registered as a mutual fund dealing representative with Investors Group Financial Services Inc., contravened two MFDA rules in March 2018. He submitted for processing two trades for which he would earn commissions despite being informed by his branch manager that the trades would not be approved. In addition, the trades gave rise to a conflict or potential conflict of interest that Dwyer failed to address by the exercise of responsible business judgment. In March 2022, the MFDA panel ordered that Dwyer be suspended from conducting securities-related business in any capacity while in the employ of or associated with any MFDA member for a period of three months from April 4, 2022 to July 3, 2022, that he pay a fine of $12,500 and costs of $20,000, and that he be subject to strict supervision until December 31, 2022, following his suspension. Dwyer appealed both decisions to the ASC, which has oversight over self-regulatory organizations including the MFDA under the Securities Act (Alberta). At the material time, the MFDA was the self-regulatory organization for Canadian mutual fund dealers, but it has since been amalgamated with the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada. The amalgamated entity has been temporarily renamed the New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada until a permanent name is approved this year. An ASC panel determined that the MFDA panel's findings and sanctions were reasonable in the circumstances and dismissed Dwyer's appeal. A copy of the decision is available on the ASC website at asc.ca. The ASC is the regulatory agency responsible for administering the province's securities laws. It is entrusted with fostering a fair and efficient capital market in Alberta and with protecting investors. As a member of the Canadian Securities Administrators, the ASC works to improve, coordinate and harmonize the regulation of Canada's capital markets. SOURCE Alberta Securities Commission 13 april 2023 at 12:00 News published onand distributed by: An ethnic Murle woman waits for food distribution in Gumuruk, South Sudan, on June 10, 2021. SIMON WOHLFAHRT / AFP The door of the small humanitarian plane dropped onto the gravel of the Pibor airstrip in eastern South Sudan. Clara (all victims' names have been changed) hurried down the three steps that separated her from the arms of her father and husband, who had come to greet her on this warm March morning. Kidnapped in the summer of 2022 during an attack by Nuer herders from the neighboring Jonglei State, she had just been repatriated from the city of Bor by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan. On the tarmac, the young woman's relatives whispered prayers as they touched her hair, shoulders and arms. Her return was nothing short of a miracle. After walking 200 kilometers to reach her captors' village in Jonglei State, Clara was separated from her 4-month-old child. Subjected to multiple forms of abuse before finally being driven away by her captors, she wandered for months, walking all the way to the Ethiopian border where a man took her in before handing her over to the authorities. Clara's story is not unique. Since the beginning of the year, 117 women and children from the Murle group abducted in the Greater Pibor region have been able to return home. Hundreds more are still being held against their will. Authorities estimate that 1,810 people were taken from their families between December 24, 2022, and mid-January. Assaults carried out by heavily armed Nuer and Dinka herders claimed the lives of 661 Murle villagers on Christmas Day. 'A form of slavery' Despite the 2018 peace agreement that ended five years of civil war in South Sudan, inter-communal violence has not stopped. In the eastern part of the country, it has even worsened, with cattle raids now frequently accompanied by the abduction of women and children. "It's human trafficking, a form of slavery," said a UN official, speaking on condition of anonymity, emphasizing the extent of the phenomenon. The captives are intended to be exchanged for animals or money, or forcefully integrated into their captors' families. According to the international official, approximately 9,000 people are currently affected by this form of servitude in Jonglei and Greater Pibor. All communities are both actors in and victims of these abductions. "The youths steal cows in order to survive and also to get married," said Juma Ngare Allan, a 35-year-old teacher in Pibor. "Because right now, it's very hard to pay the bride price, which can reach 60 or 70 cows, without raiding another community." He added that "If someone wants to get married, he needs cows, and this person may go and steal someone's child in order to sell this child and get cows. It's well known around here!" He expressed regret at the failure of the peace process in Pieri. In March 2021, a peace agreement was signed in this Jonglei village between the Nuer, Dinka and Murle communities. However, it did not stop the violence. Bianca, 18, was hiding in the forest when her captors found her near the village of Gumuruk. "You will be my brother's wife," they explained to her in broken Arabic, since she did not speak Nuer and they did not speak Murle. After four days of walking "barefoot, carrying all kinds of heavy things," the young woman, sick, could not go on. The men who had kidnapped her then took her to a health center. There, government soldiers, who arrived in large numbers after being alerted by local residents, managed to free her. Locating the abducted individuals Following the December 2022 and January attacks, Jonglei authorities have focused their efforts on a system designed to locate abducted individuals. These efforts have been praised by several Murle officials, as well as by Nicholas Haysom, the head of the United Nations Mission in South Sudan, during a press conference in January. However, doubts remain about the actual conditions of these releases presented as voluntary: According to several sources, many are in fact negotiated in exchange for money. The UN is funding the returnees' air transportation and medical care upon their arrival. Following this, the South Sudanese NGO Gredo, based in Pibor, handles accommodation and food arrangements. The organization also verifies that the families reunited with the recently liberated women and children are indeed their own. This support continues until their return to their original villages, "if the security situation is stable," said Peter Waran, a member of the organization specializing in child protection. As for Helena, she returned to Pibor alone. Captured with her baby in late December 2022, near Gumuruk, she took advantage of an evening when her captors were getting drunk on local alcohol to escape. "One of my abductors had planned to keep me as his sister in order to get cows by marrying me to someone else (...) I pretended I wanted to use the toilet, and I passed through a hole in the bamboo fence." Separated from her child, the young woman walked for six nights "in order not to faint because of the heat." On the seventh day, she finally reached a Murle village, from where she managed to get back to Pibor and find her husband. More than a week after this ordeal, her thinness, cough and barely audible voice still betrayed her exhaustion. The five other women who were held captive with her have not returned. In Gumuruk, the sight of the devastated settlement tells the story of these forced disappearances. Several plots that were once occupied are now nothing more than blackened areas with charred soil. "These are the villagers who are still missing," explained Atoti Kaku Korok, a traditional leader. "We're still trying to assess who has died, who has been taken and who is still displaced." Those who have decided to return and resettle in Gumuruk are trying to rebuild their homes with the little they can find, mainly plastic sheets distributed by humanitarian organizations. "Now that I came back, I think about those who are still there," said Julia, who was also kidnapped during the December attack along with four of her children. Freed by the Jonglei authorities, she returned with only two of them: the others, 3 and 4-year-old girls, were "sold." Florence Miettaux(Juba (South Sudan) correspondent) Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version. A quarter of a century after it was signed on April 10, 1998, in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the Good Friday Agreement is a rare example of lasting peace achieved through patient political and diplomatic efforts in a conflict that had long been seen as hopeless. By ending 30 years of deadly civil war between unionists (mainly Protestants, who favored remaining in the United Kingdom) and republicans (mainly Catholics, who favored Irish reunification), this historic peace treaty deserves to be celebrated. On the first day of his trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland on Wednesday, April 12, in Belfast, Joe Biden did just that. "Peace was not inevitable," said the American president as the country is once again plunged into a climate of tension and political disturbances. The 1998 agreement, reached under US pressure, ended the conflict by removing controls on the border between Northern Ireland (a country that is a part of the UK) and the Republic of Ireland, establishing power-sharing between the two sides in local government and making possible reunification of the island subject to a future referendum. But the mistrust between the two communities is far from over, as evidenced by the continued existence of peace walls in Belfast. Yet Brexit has destabilized Northern Ireland, caught between being in the United Kingdom and its proximity to the Republic of Ireland, a member of the European Union (EU), which 56% of Northern Irish had chosen to remain in during the 2016 referendum. The opportunism of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who, to make the divorce with the EU a reality agreed that goods transiting from the United Kingdom to Northern Ireland would be subject to customs controls, has exasperated unionists, who refuse any singularity from the rest of the kingdom. It will take more than just a speech For this reason, unionists have refused for nearly a year to sit in the local government, making the territory unmanageable while British intelligence services consider the risk of a return to violence to be very serious. In February, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, urged by Biden to ease the tension, signed the Windsor Agreement with Brussels which eliminated many of the customs checks. That has so far not been enough to convince the unionists to return to local government alongside the nationalist Sinn Fein party, which came out on top for the first time in the 2022 elections. It will take more than a speech by Biden to resolve the Northern Irish issue. But the American president, his country's second Catholic leader after John Fitzgerald Kennedy, by devoting the bulk of his trip (three days out of four) to the Republic of Ireland the homeland of his ancestors who fled the Great Famine in the mid-19th century while not attending the coronation of King Charles III on May 6 in London, is sending several messages. One is aimed at American voters 30 million of whom claim Irish roots as Biden does when the president proudly recalls his humble origins and presents "courage" and "faith" in the future as traits common to both Irish and Americans. The other message, aimed at Europeans, highlights the importance of the EU. Before being threatened by Brexit, peace in Ireland had been greatly facilitated by the membership of both parts of the island in the Union. It is up to Europeans to continue to do everything possible to preserve it. Read more Article reserve a nos abonnes In Northern Ireland, new border protocol still divides Ajouter a vos selections Ajouter a vos selections Pour ajouter larticle a vos selections identifiez-vous Sinscrire gratuitement Se connecter Vous possedez deja un compte ? Le Monde Translation of an original article published in French on lemonde.fr; the publisher may only be liable for the French version. SAVING lives of motorists around Limerick and the wider country is what some University of Limerick (UL) students have pledged to do, as they reimagine road safety with a new project. In the first month of this year, 660 Irish drivers were hit with driving under the influence offences. With alcohol, drugs and mobile phone driving continuing to be the primary causes of motor accidents, over 600 Kemmy Business School students at UL put their skills to the test by coming up with marketing solutions to change driving behaviours. A collaborative project between UL, An Garda Siochana and Limerick City and County Council (LCCC) saw a showcase of posters that the students created on display, with the winning teams presented with Lifesaver Awards from An Garda Siochana, while prize money worth 1,000, funded by LCCC, was awarded. The winning posters included titles such as One high can lead to a six-foot low and Comparing the road to the pitch, will be displayed in garda stations around Limerick and will contribute to the safety of citizens and has the capacity to be a lifesaver, according to UL Provost Shane Kilcommins. Assistant Commissioner of Roads Policing and Community Engagement, Paula Hilman, described the students posters as very impactful and that by working together, we can really start to make that difference on Irish roads. A special inspiration award was presented to the family of road safety campaigner Fergal Cagney, a Limerick man who suffered serious spinal injuries in a road traffic collision 18 years ago. The award was collected by his brother Brian, who is a UL graduate and a garda. Kemmy Business School Executive Dean, Professor Finbarr Murphy, praised the collaborative project by saying: the excellent standard at work demonstrated the passion for safety on our roads that existed among the many participating students. NEW York-based anchor at Bloomberg TV Vonnie Quinn has thanked Limerick Fire and Rescue Service for saving her childhood home after an alleged arson attack. Firefighters from the city responded within two minutes to a report of a blaze at a property on the Ennis Road in the city last week. Two adjoining properties at the prime city location were extensively damaged. Ms Quinn tweeted: Immeasurable gratitude to Limerick, Shannon, and Cappamore firefighters for saving our childhood home after an hours-long effort. Born and raised in Limerick, Ms Quinn moved Stateside in 2004, joining Bloomberg in 2006 after the completion of her studies at Columbia University, where she earned an MA and MS in journalism. Now internationally recognised, she has been awarded the ABC Frank Reynolds Fellowship, a French government medal, a Swiss Government Scholarship, and a National University of Ireland Travelling Studentship. Due to the extent of the blaze at her former home - firefighters from Cappamore and Shannon were called in to assist their city colleagues. Limerick Fire and Rescue Service said they fought a well developed fire in a roof in two semi-detached properties. Given the limited access around the properties to use an aerial appliance, crews fought the fire from several fire service ladders, they tweeted. Firefighters spent over four hours at the scene on Tuesday night, April 4. Gardai were alerted and following enquiries by investigating gardai, a male, aged in his 40s, was arrested in the early hours of Wednesday morning and was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 at a Limerick garda station. The fire had spread to an adjoining property on the Ennis Road. Fire Services attended the scene and the fire was brought under control. Significant damage was caused to both properties. There were no persons present at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported, said a garda spokesperson. The man was later charged by gardai in connection with the fire. He appeared before Ennis District Court on Thursday morning. A MAN WAS caught driving with no insurance while on his way to attend court in Newcastle West. Antonio Da Silva, aged 23, of Coole Haven, Gort, Co Galway, who has six previous convictions for driving without insurance, pleaded guilty to two further counts of no insurance. Inspector Gearoid Thompson, prosecuting, said the defendant has a poor record. Indeed, said solicitor Michael ODonnell, who represented Mr Da Silva. Newcastle West Court heard that Mr Da Silva was found to be driving without insurance on March 24, 2021 at Barnakyle, Patrickswell and on February 16, 2023 at Maiden Street, Newcastle West. On the latter occasion, Mr ODonnell said his client was driving to court at the time. That was the purpose of his driving, said the solicitor. Mr ODonnell said his client has six previous convictions for driving without insurance and faces two more today. He is 23-years-old, married with three young children. He works as a mechanic in a garage. His excuse is it was a necessity of sorts. His wife doesnt drive. It is a bit late but he now had made provisions, said Mr ODonnell, who added Mr Da Silva has a relatively modest income of 400 per week and provides for his wife and three children. Judge Carol Anne Coolican imposed a two month prison sentence for the no insurance offence in 2021 and fined him 250 for driving without a driving licence. For the 2023 driving offences, the judge handed down a three month jail sentence with the last month suspended for two years for no insurance. Judge Coolican put Mr Da Silva off the road for four years for no driving licence. Recognisance was fixed. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service returns to Foynes this Sunday for the first time since Covid. The last Foynes Blood Donation Clinic was held in September 2019. The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) are appealing to the many committed blood donors in Foynes to give blood as their clinic returns to the area for the first time since 2019. The IBTS say they need to collect 3,000 units of blood every week to maintain the national blood supply and reopening the Foynes clinic this Sunday will help this. IBTS Recruitment Executive Alex OConnor said: Our blood donors save lives day in, day out, every day of the year. The IBTS are delighted to be able to provide this facility locally in Foynes once again and look forward to welcoming existing Donors and also greeting new Donors this Sunday. The issue with blood is that no one knows who will need it when they will need it, how much they may need, or what type they require. We are continuing to experience high demand for blood from hospitals. Stocks of O Neg, B Neg and A Neg are low. We are urging donors to make and keep appointments so that the hospital demand for blood can be met, he said. Upcoming clinics in Limerick include Foynes Community Centre from this Sunday, April 16, between 11.45am to 3pm and Colaiste Iosaef in Kilmallock from Monday, April 17 to Wednesday, April 19 between the hours of 5.45pm and 9pm. Approximately 1000 people in Ireland get blood transfusions every week. Transfusions can happen for a variety of reasons - cancer treatment, surgery, car accidents, and childbirth complications to name a few. According to the IBTS one in four of us will need a blood transfusion in our lifetime, 67% of donated blood is used to treat cancer patients and people with blood disorders, 27% of donated blood is used in surgery and emergency situations, 6% of donated blood is used to treat blood loss after childbirth and to help premature babies, 100% of donated blood is precious and saves lives in Ireland every day. Ireland and the US are standing together to oppose Russias brutal aggression in Ukraine, US president Joe Biden has said. In his address at Leinster House, Mr Biden also referenced Irish neutrality, stating that the country had stood with partners around the world for liberty against tyranny. The president said the US and Ireland shared the same values. He added: Today Ireland and the United States are standing together to oppose Russias brutal aggression and support the brave people of Ukraine. President Kennedy said 60 years ago, Ireland pursues an independent course in foreign policy, but it is not neutral between liberty and tyranny and it never will be thank you for that. Over the past year Ireland has proved him right, and stood proudly with the United States and partners around the world for liberty against tyranny. Mr Biden added: Ireland has committed more than 170 million euro in non-lethal aid to Ukraine, including vital protective gear, medical equipment, humanitarian support and aid to minimise the impacts of war on food insecurity and child malnutrition you dont forget, you got memories that go deep. As a member of the European Union, Ireland is working together with the United States and other partners to hold Russia accountable for its actions, including through significant sanctions and export control. He said that Russian president Vladimir Putin thought countries would become divided but he was wrong, adding: Today, were more united and more determined than ever to defend the values that make us strong. Earlier this month it was announced a forum will be held this summer to examine issues relating to Irelands defence capabilities, security and military neutrality. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Defence Micheal Martin announced plans for a consultative forum on international security policy. It is understood that contributors on up to 20 panels will come from a broad range of perspectives and include participants from other countries re-evaluating their national security position, like Finland and Swedens relationship with Nato, as well as neutral countries such as Austria and Switzerland. It is expected the forum will also assist in the upcoming Strategic Defence Review within the Department of Defence. The talks may also examine Irish involvement in peacekeeping efforts under UN obligations and EU foreign policy. Mumbai: Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL), India's third largest private steelmaker, on Thursday, announced plans to double its rail manufacturing capacity to 2.2 million tonnes by commissioning a new rail mill in Angul, Odisha. The country's sole private rail manufacturer, JSPL aims to produce 1.2 million tonnes of rails annually at the new facility, it said in an exchange filing. JSPL is proactively adding and augmenting further Rail manufacturing capacity to support the modernization of the Indian Rail network," said Bimlendra Jha, MD, JSPL. JSPL's expansion aligns with the government's "Gati Shakti Yojna" initiative, providing domestically-produced import substitution products at competitive prices. Investment details for the project remain undisclosed. The company did not disclose the amount it will invest in this project. The current 1 mtpa capacity rail mill in Raigarh, Chhattisgarh, produces specialty rails for applications requiring heavier loads and higher speeds. JSPL supplies 260-meter rails to Indian Railways, dedicated freight corridors, and other nationally significant projects from its Raigarh mill. This expansion comes as Indian Railways seeks to upgrade track systems, accommodating axle loads over 25MT and speeds up to 200 km/hour. JSPL's head-hardened specialty grade rails are utilized across metro rails, regional rapid transit systems, and special projects in challenging terrains. Even though there is surplus rail capacity in India, there are markets abroad we will be looking to feed as well after meeting Indias requirements," added Jha. Shares of JSPL ended marginally higher at around 560 apiece on the National Stock Exchange on Thursday. In January, 2019, the Odisha government had approved nine projects that required a total investment of over 1.53 trillion. Subsequently, ArcelorMittal Nippon Steel India Ltd had proposed to set up a 7-MTPA plant in Jagatsinghpur with an investment of 38,000 crore. The ArcelorMittal proposal is expected to create employment for more than 11,000 in Odisha, according to a PTI report, citing the companys officials. Currently, there are 51 steel plants in Odisha with a production capacity of 33.1 mtpa. Demand for refined petroleum products hit a record in FY23, led by transportation fuel. The Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (PPAC) said consumption reached 222.30 million tonnes in the last fiscal. Mint explains this spike Whats the trend in petro products? The 222.30 million tonnes of petroleum products consumed in FY23 was 10.2% higher than the year before. The previous record for consumption came in FY20 at 214.13 million tonnes. Demand was impacted in FY21 due to the covid-19 pandemic. In FY23, demand for most products crossed pre-covid levels as various sectors of the economy made a recovery from the pandemic slowdown. Demand for dieselthe most-consumed fuel in Indiastood at 86.82 million tonnes. Demand for petrol came in at 35.09 million tonnes while Indias LPG consumption also hit a new record of 28.62 million tonnes. Why is India seeing such a surge? The increase in consumption of petrol, diesel and jet fuel during FY23 came on the back of growth in industrial activity and travel. These activities recovered after slowing down in the previous two fiscals because of the pandemic. Sourav Mitra, director of consulting at Crisil, noted that enhanced refining of crude imports and improved utilization of petrol and diesel across India have contributed heavily to the rise in demand. The rise in refining is in tandem with increased crude imports. This reflects a global trendoil demand is rising globally due to a rebound in Chinese consumption. View Full Image Graphic: Mint Does the Ukraine war have anything to do with this? The Russian invasion sparked an energy crisis. India had to diversify its oil import sources and raise imports for energy security. Cheap oil from Russia also added to import bill. According to provisional trade data released by the commerce ministry on Wednesday, Indias import of crude oil and petroleum products rose 29.5% to $209.57 billion in FY23. Will the demand stay strong this year? The global economy is expected to slow down. Yet, the demand for petroleum products in India is expected to stay robust. According to PPAC projections, the demand is likely to set a new record in FY24, nearly 5% higher compared to FY23. Thats because The demand for petrol and diesel will remain strong for the same reasons we saw last fiscal. Sourav Mitra of Crisil said that increase in domestic consumption, fuelled by accumulated household savings during and after the pandemic, will also boost demand. What does this mean for OMCs? Increase in petroleum product demand boosted refining margins of oil marketing companies (OMCs). According to PPAC, in April-December, major state-run refiners at least doubled their gross refining margins (GRM). Indian Oil Corp.s GRM rose from $8.52 to $21.08 per barrel; Hindustan Petroleum Corp. from $4.50 to $11.40; Bharat Petroleum from $6.78 to $20.08; Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals from $5.80 to $11.70. Refining margins are likely to improve further. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Rituraj Baruah Rituraj Baruah is a senior correspondent at Mint, reporting on housing, urban affairs, small businesses and energy. He has reported on diverse sectors over the last six years including, commodities and stocks market, insolvency and real estate. He has previous stints at Cogencis Information Services, Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) and Inc42. Read more from this author NEW DELHI : External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar became the first Indian Foreign Minister to visit Mozambique since 2010 when his plane touched down in Maputo, the countrys capital, on Thursday. His visit signifies New Delhis push to develop Africa as a key partner by aggressively opening diplomatic missions and boosting its profile as a security partner. During the visit EAM will call on top leadership and also co-chair the 5th Session of the Joint Commission Meeting with Mozambican Foreign Minister Ms. Veronica Macamo. He is also expected to meet several other Ministers and representatives of the Assembly of Mozambique," according to the Ministry of External Affairs. EAM will also interact with the Indian diaspora based in Mozambique, said Indias Foreign Ministry. However, energy security will be a top priority for Indias Foreign Minister as he meets Mozambiques top leadership. India is currently ramping up efforts to resume operations at a gas project in a terrorist-affected province of Mozambique where an ONGC Videsh-led Indian consortium has a 30% stake. The $20 billion Offshore Area 1 project has been under force majeure since April 2021, following attacks by Islamic State terrorists in the coastal town of Palma in Cabo Delgado province. Total E&P Mozambique Area 1 Limitada, a subsidiary of TotalEnergies, holds 26.5% in the plant. Force majeure is a clause that allows removal of liability for natural disasters and catastrophes created by humans. Three state-run companies hold a total of 30% stake in the project. ONGC Videsh holds 16%, while BPRL Ventures Mozambique BV, a subsidiary of BPCL, and Oil India Ltd hold 10% and 4% respectively. Mint had earlier reported that efforts have been underway to resume operations for the past few months amid volatility in the global energy market and concerns over low availability of gas due to the Ukraine war. Restarting the project would be of interest to India given that LNG gas exports from Mozambique would take just three days to arrive in India. This would significantly add to the availability of LNG in the country. Mint also reported that a team from India would be sent to Mozambique to assess the feasibility of restarting operations on the project, which is operated by TotalEnergies. TotalEnergies also has been making efforts to resume operations at the plant. In February, the chairman and CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanne, visited Cabo Delgado to review the security and humanitarian situation and he entrusted Jean-Christophe Rufin, an expert in humanitarian action and human rights, with an independent mission to assess the humanitarian situation in Cabo Delgado. Efforts have been underway to resume operations for the past few months amid volatility in the global energy market and concerns over low availability of gas due to the Russia-Ukraine war. The quest for sourcing more LNG comes as India has been trying to widen its source base for its energy needs. The country currently depends on imports for as much as 85% of its oil needs and 55% of its natural gas demand. So far in FY23 (April-January), India has imported LNG worth $14.88 billion, 36.46% higher than $10.90 billion during the corresponding period of FY22. Qatar has been the largest supplier to India so far, followed by UAE and the US. Pharmaceutical drug manufacturer, supplier, and exporter, Medico Remedies Ltd., has been recommended by analyst Nikhil Bhatt for a short-term buy. Founded in 1994, the company is WHO-GMP- and ISO 9001-2015-certified and has hygienic production facilities located in Palghar, India. Medico Remedies has been profitable since 2014 and has shown consistent growth in its overall sales. The stock was consolidated between Rs.70 to 80 after the split and has confirmed a breakout by making a new 52-Week High recently. The company's stock price has shown an impressive 400% compound annual growth rate and has room for further growth after a recent stock split. Medico Remedies has been effectively using shareholder funds for its business-related activities, resulting in an improving return on equity (ROE) over the last two years. Bhatt recommends buying the stock at its current market price and holding it for the short term, with a target price of Rs. 120 and a stop-loss of Rs. 63. The stock has shown a positive breakout near the first resistance and its relative strength index (RSI) indicates price strength, making it a suitable option for buying. Although the stock may be overvalued compared to its peers, Medico Remedies' annual net profit rose 88.7% in the last year to Rs. 4.9 crores. Its sector's average net profit growth for the last fiscal year was -7.9%, which justifies its higher valuation. Medico Remedies has a huge recurring customer base in more than 35 countries worldwide, thanks to its state-of-the-art manufacturing plants and latest R&D facilities. The company's revenue was $17 million in the trailing twelve months. The company's promoters own a significant 73.34% stake in the company and have not pledged any shares for short-term borrowing. The company has an interest coverage ratio of 11.7, meaning it can comfortably meet its interest payments with its earnings. Overall, the analyst's report recommends Medico Remedies as a suitable mid-to long-term investment option for those starting to accumulate close to the current market price. The fundamentals and technicals of the company have made the stock immune to the bearish market, with the shareholding its price without plunging like its peers. Additionally, the pharma sector has shown a decent recovery in the past five trading sessions, adding more momentum to Medico Remedies in the upward direction. Disclaimer: The views and recommendations made above are those of individual analysts or broking companies, and not of Mint. We advise investors to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions. ABOUT THE AUTHOR Vipul Das Vipul Das is a Digital Business Content Producer at Livemint. He previously worked for Goodreturns.in (OneIndia News) and has over 5 years of expertise in the finance and business sector. Stocks, mutual funds, personal finance, tax, and banking are among his specialties, and he is a professional in industry research and business reporting. He received his bachelor's degree from Dr. CV Raman University and also have completed Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication (DJMC). Read more from this author New Delhi: The coronavirus pandemic underscored the importance of health insurance among Indians, leading to the rise of group health insurance plans as a solution for providing affordable healthcare benefits. However, according to a survey, a critical challenge remains: lack of employee awareness about healthcare plans and their benefits. This knowledge gap is concerning, as it could result in employees being underinsured and not fully leveraging their healthcare plans. Its not just about insurance coverage but also access to doctor consultations, preventive care, mental wellness support, fitness plans, and more. The survey, conducted by Onsurity, a subscription-based employee healthcare benefits provider, spanned cities such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, Pune, Noida, Ghaziabad, Lucknow, and Chandigarh. Approximately 90% of respondents were non-Onsurity members. Alarming lack of awareness The survey revealed that 6 of 10 had no idea who their employee healthcare benefits provider was, 9 out of 10 individuals had employer-provided healthcare coverage, but 2 in 10 didnt know their sum insured. Less than 1 in 10 respondents used their employer-provided healthcare plan to file a health insurance claim. Moreover, 84% respondents only got a health check-up when their doctor recommended it, and 83% of those surveyed did not know whether their healthcare plan covered preventive health check-ups and the same percentage of people were unaware of the benefits their employer-provided healthcare plan offered. About 71% of respondents were unsure whether their employer-offered healthcare plan covered their parents or not. Ignorance is not always bliss: This ignorance can lead to underutilization of preventive care, unawareness about healthcare benefits, financial vulnerability, and unrealistic expectations from healthcare plans. Employees often face high out-of-pocket expenses due to lack of awareness, resulting in millions of Indians falling into poverty each year. Neglecting routine health check-ups often lead to chronic diseases that could have been prevented through early detection and intervention. Despite announcements and reminders, employees struggle to understand the benefits of preventive care. April marks the beginning of a new financial year, which is when many new income tax laws come into effect. For FY23-24, in order to make the new income tax regime more attractive, the government has revised the income tax slabs under the new tax regime. Benefits such as introduction of standard deduction, nil tax on taxable income up to 7 lakh have also been introduced this year. Individual taxpayers have the option to select whether they want to be in the old tax regime, which provides for exemptions and deductions or switch to the new tax regime which offers low tax rates but no exemptions. What will happen if an employee forgets to intimate his/her employer about the preferred tax regime? In case an employee does not intimate his/her employer about the preferred tax regime, then the employer would be required to deduct TDS from salary income as per the new revamped tax regime announced in Budget 2023-24. Recent instructions from CBDT has asked employers to consult employees about their preferred tax structure in order to calculate their total income and TDS. Amit Gupta, MD, SAG Infotech said at the end of the month, employees should inform their employers of their preferred tax structure. If they don't, their employer may withhold TDS under the new income tax system, which might lead to a lower monthly salary for people who have investments that allowed them to claim significant deductions under the old system. Tax shall be withheld at source by the employer at the rates outlined in Section 115BAC paragraph 1(A). When filing their ITR, employees can change their tax situation, but neglecting to inform their employer before April 15th could cause problems. If you work for a company, the accounting or payroll department may send you an email asking for your preferred tax structure for the fiscal year 20232024, he said. Income tax slabs under new tax regime Under the new tax regime, there will be no tax for those with an annual income of up to 7 lakh. A standard deduction of 50,000 has also been allowed and the basic exemption limit hiked to 3 lakh. Income between 3-6 lakh would be taxed at 5 per cent; 6-9 lakh at 10 per cent, 9-12 lakh at 15 per cent, 12-15 lakh at 20 per cent and income of 15 lakh and above will be taxed at 30 per cent. The old tax regime, which allows for exemptions and deductions, has a basic exemption limit of 2.5 lakh. Also, those having an annual income of 5 lakh do not have to pay any tax. Income between 2.5 lakh and 5 lakh attracts a 5 per cent tax, while that between 5 lakh and 10 lakh is levied with a 20 per cent tax. Income above 10 lakh is taxed at 30 per cent. So, all those individuals who have still not opted for the new or old tax regime, please do it now, else, by default it will be new tax regime only for you. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google, suggested during a recent interview that the company may face a second wave of layoffs. He discussed the company's ambitious goal of increasing productivity by 20 percent, which he hopes to achieve by September. During a recent interview with the Wall Street Journal, the Google CEO declined to directly address questions about possible layoffs but indicated that the company is content with its current rate of transformation. This could include a restructuring or downsizing effort in the upcoming months. Pichai's comments follow criticism of Google's handling of job cuts. In March, around 1,400 employees of Alphabet Inc., Google's parent company, wrote an open letter to the CEO expressing concerns about the treatment of staff during the layoff process. The workers demanded that their voices be heard and that Alphabet consider the global impact of its decision to reduce its workforce. In January, Alphabet announced its plan to cut six percent of its global workforce, equivalent to about 12,000 employees, following pressure from investors to reduce spending due to the economic downturn caused by the pandemic. The move prompted a petition from employees in mid-March, expressing concerns about the treatment of staff during the layoff process. While the announcement led to immediate terminations for many employees in the United States, the process has been slower in countries with stronger labor protection laws, according to a report by Bloomberg. Following the sudden layoffs, many of the affected employees had expressed their frustration with the lack of transparency and communication from Google's management. However, in an email to staff, CEO Sundar Pichai defended the company's decision, admitting that Google had hired for a "different economic reality than the one we face today" and took "full responsibility" for the move. With the surge in Covid-19 cases, AIIMS Delhi has issued a mandatory advisory for all hospital staff to wear face masks while inside the hospital premises. This precautionary measure is part of the country's ongoing efforts to prevent a potential resurgence of the disease. "Must use reusable cloth face cover /surgical mask in the workplace. Ensure proper cleaning and frequent sanitation of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces," reads the advisory. As per the advisory, all hospital staff are now required to wear masks at all times and avoid gatherings of more than three to four people. Additionally, the AIIMS management has instructed staff to isolate patients at home with a doctor's guidance if they exhibit symptoms such as fever, cough, or cold. "Employees who are at a higher risk - older or pregnant employees and those with underlying medical conditions - should take extra precautions," the memorandum said further noting that all officials were advised to take care of their health and look out for symptoms. The advisory emphasizes that if any employee feels unwell, they must immediately inform their reporting officer and leave the workplace. Such employees should observe home quarantine and undergo Covid testing, as per the advisory. On Wednesday, the national capital recorded 1,149 new Covid-19 cases in the past 24 hours, with a positivity rate of 23.8%. This is an increase of 200 cases compared to Tuesday's tally of 980. This surge in cases is the highest since August 20, when 1,109 fresh cases were reported. As per the bulletin from the Delhi health department, there was one reported COVID-19 fatality, but it was not considered the primary cause of death. The total number of COVID-19 deaths in Delhi now stands at 26,546. The active cases in the national capital currently stand at 3,347, while the cumulative cases have reached 20,17,250. Union Home Minister Amit Shah will review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, said sources, adding that he will be given a detailed presentation on the prevailing law and order situation in J-K by security officials of the central government and the union territory administration. Sources said that the situation along the Line of Control and International Border, infiltration bids from across the border, and attempts to target minority community members are expected to be discussed at the meeting in Delhi, according to the news agency PTI. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, Jammu and Kashmir Director General of Police Dilbag Singh, and other senior officials will attend the meeting. There were several targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir in the last three years. The government had informed Parliament that as many as 118 civilians, including five Kashmiri Pandits and 16 other Hindus and Sikhs, were killed in J-K since the abrogation of Article 370 in 2019 till July 2022. In May, four Hindu pilgrims were killed and at least 20 injured when their bus caught fire near Katra in Jammu. Police suspect a sticky bomb might have been used to trigger the fire. The Modi government abrogated Article 370--which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir--on August 5, 2019 and the state was divided into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh. The Home minister, on his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir in October last year, had also reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory, ANI reported. Shah had also held a review meeting in New Delhi on December 28, 2022, over the security situation and development aspects of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. (With inputs from agencies) A total of 29 of the incumbent chief ministers are crorepatis in India with Andhra Pradesh's Jagan Mohan Reddy having the highest assets totaling 510 crore, according to poll affidavits analyzed by the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). The report stated that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee has the lowest total assets of about 15 lakh, according to the news agency PTI. After analyzing the self-sworn poll affidavits of all the 30 current chief ministers of states and union territories, the ADR and Election Watch (NEW) said that have arrived at this conclusion. There are 28 state chief ministers and two union territories -- Delhi and Puducherry -- also have chief ministers. The Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir does not have a chief minister currently. Out of the 30 CMs analyzed, 29 (97 percent) are crorepatis with the average assets being 33.96 crore for every CM, the ADR said. According to the ADR report, out of the 30 CMs, 13 (43 percent) have declared serious criminal cases including those related to murder, attempt to murder, kidnapping, and criminal intimidation. Serious criminal cases are non-bailable offenses with over five years of imprisonment, the report said as quoted by PTI. The top three chief ministers in terms of assets are Andhra Pradesh's Jagan Mohan Reddy (over 510 crore), Arunachal Pradesh's Pema Khandu (over 163 crore), and Odisha's Naveen Patnaik (over 63 crore), according to the ADR. The three CMs with the lowest declared assets are West Bengal's Mamata Banerjee (over 15 lakh), Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan (over 1 crore), and Haryana's Manohar Lal (over 1 crore), the ADR said. Both Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Delhi's Arvind Kejriwal own assets worth over 3 crore, the report added. (With PTI inputs) India recorded a sharp hike in daily Covid-19 cases at 10,158 compared to the previous day on Thursday. According to the health ministry data, the active infections stand at 44,998. This comes as the country is witnessing a surge in cases with Maharashtra and Delhi reporting over 1,000 daily cases the first time this year on Wednesday. India recorded 7,830 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, marking a sharp jump from Tuesday when 5,675 cases were reported, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry. The country is witnessing a sharp rise in the cases of Covid-19. The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Delhi has issued an advisory for its staff to follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviour after a few of them were tested positive for the infection. "Must use reusable cloth face cover/surgical mask in the workplace. Ensure proper cleaning and frequent sanitation of the workplace, particularly of the frequently touched surfaces," the AIIMS management said in an advisory on Wednesday. A new Covid variant, Arcturus, XBB.1.16, is fueling a surge in many countries including US, Singapore, and Australia, among others. The WHO declared XBB.1.16 a variant under monitoring" in late March saying that it is the most transmissible variant yet. The national capital on Wednesday reported 1,149 new coronavirus cases, marking a sharp jump from Tuesday when 980 cases were reported, according to a daily bulletin issued by the Delhi Health Department. According to the Delhi Health Department, one death was reported in the national capital but the primary cause of death was not Covid. While the positivity rate stood at 23.8 per cent. On Monday, nationwide mock drills were conducted to check the preparedness for the emergency Covid-19 situation at public and private health facilities. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya himself monitored mock drills at some hospitals. A total of eight Indian states including Maharashtra and Delhi are reporting a high number of coronavirus infections. According to the Indian Medical Association, the reasons behind the recent Covid surge in our country may be the relaxation of Covid-19 appropriate behavior, the low testing rate, and the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus infection. According to a report in PTI, Covid cases in India are expected to rise for the next 10-12 days, and will gradually come down. The report also underlined that the diseases is heading towards an endemic stage. Shares of information technology services major Infosys declined during Thursday's trading session when the company is set to announce its financial results for the March quarter (Q4FY23). The script was trading 2.42% lower at 1,393 per share at 11.35 am. Infosys has given 0.81 per cent returns to investors in the last week. The stock hit a 52-week high of 1759.45 on 13 April 2022, and a 52-week low of 1355.5 on 26 September, 2022. As per data available on Trendlyne, the average price target for Infosys shares before the release of its fourth-quarter results is 1,720.36, indicating a potential upside of 20.84% on the stock. The company's consolidated revenue from operations increased 20.2 per cent to 38,318 crore as against 31,867 crore in the corresponding quarter last year. In constant currency terms, YoY revenue growth was at 13.7 per cent while sequential growth stood at 2.4 per cent. The IT firm added that the total contract value for the quarter was the strongest in the last eight quarters at $3.3 billion. Meanwhile, weak trends were also witnessed in other IT counters, with Infosys, Tech Mahindra, HCL Technologies and Wipro trading lower in morning trade. Infosys is expected to report around 15 per cent surge in year-on-year (YoY) net profit on a 20 per cent rise in net sales for the quarter that ended 31 March, 2023. Ebit margin is likely to expand for the IT major, but marginally. Deal wins are expected to be flattish on a sequential basis. Brokerages largely expect Infosys to guide for 5-8 per cent revenue growth in constant currency (CC) terms and 21-23 per cent Ebit margin for FY24. All eyes would be on large deals intake and updates on client conversations. The Haryana Government has approved the proposal for Rail Connectivity between Delhi's IGI Airport and Hisar's Maharaja Agrasen Airport, news agency PTI has reported citing state government officials. As per the official statement, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has approved the proposal of Rail Connectivity between IGI Airport Delhi and Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar via Bijwasan-Gurugram-Garhi Harsaru- Sultanpur-Farukhnagar-Jhajjar for freight as well as passengers." "Accordingly, the feasibility report has been presented in the meeting of Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HRIDC) presided over by the Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal who is also the Chairman of HRIDC," the statement added. Earlier in March, Haryana Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala had said the Maharaja Agrasen Hisar Airport will be made operational by 1 November. Under the regional connectivity scheme, air service will be started from Hisar on nine routes to different states. After completion of various works, passengers will be able to travel on these routes, he said in Hisar. Giving information about various works going on at the airport, the deputy chief minister said the work of the boundary wall of the airport would be completed in May. "In terms of security, watch towers have been set up according to international standards. The work of the taxiway at the airport is almost complete. Advanced lighting systems have arrived and will be installed from next month," he said Coming back to the proposed project, Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal stated that the proposal will now be sent to the Ministry of Railways. "Project will be sent to the Ministry of Railways for sanction. The rail link between Garhi Harsaru-Farukhnagar - Jhajjar will be developed while in the second phase, the connectivity to Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar will be taken up. He said that the rail connectivity links will boost regional development, improve transportation efficiency, and promote sustainable mobility for both freight and passengers," it mentioned. "While reviewing various other railway projects, the Chief Secretary appreciated the progress near Manesar and directed the officers to set the timeline and fix physical milestones for the year 2023-24," it added. Managing Director, HRIDC, Rajesh Agarwal apprised in the meeting that the proposed project route is Garhi Harsaru - Farukhnagar (11 km) existing single line, Farukhnagar - Jhajjar (24 km) missing link double line to be developed for the double line at the total cost of 1225 crore, as reported by PTI. "Jhajjar - Rohtak (37 km) in an existing single line, Rohtak-Dobh Bahali-Hansi (68 km) which is under progress by northern railways. Hansi-Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar (25 Km) will be developed in the second phase," it said. A loan of 1040 crore from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been sanctioned for the rail infrastructure projects in the state, for this the agreement will be signed soon. "MD Rajesh Agarwal mentioned that Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) was given an amount of Rs. 874 Crore under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for capital Investment for 2022-23 by the Union Finance Ministry. The Government of India has extended the scheme for which the proposal for 2023-24 will be sent for assistance soon," it said. Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary (Civil Aviation) Ankur Gupta, and other senior officers were present in the meeting. (With inputs from PTI) The Congress has scheduled a meeting on April 13 to resolve the ongoing conflict between Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot and Congress leader Sachin Pilot, according to party sources. The meeting may include Pilot to present his side of the story. Sukhjinder Randhawa, Rajasthan Congress in-charge, met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi to discuss the situation. Randhawa acknowledged Pilot's claims of corruption but criticised his approach, stating that he should have raised the issue during the Assembly session. According to Randhawa, the conversation with Sachin Pilot took place for thirty minutes on April 12, and they will continue to converse the following day. Randhawa intends to examine the situation thoroughly and create a report identifying the culpable party. When asked about allegations of inaction against loyalists of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot over not holding Congress Legislative Party meetings, Randhawa stated that he was not in charge of Rajasthan at that time. Randhawa stated that there should have been action taken in the past, which was not done. However, this time, he affirmed that action would be taken. Also Read: Congress veteran's daughter Rajanandini joins BJP ahead of Karnataka elections After receiving the report from Randhawa, Congress President Kharge met with Rahul Gandhi to discuss the matter. ANI sources say that Rahul will now discuss the situation with Sonia Gandhi. The final decision will rest with Kharge. The conflict between Gehlot and Pilot stems from the latter's daylong fast, seen as an accusation against Gehlot's handling of corruption cases. The Congress party has taken a dim view of the protest, with Randhawa calling it an "anti-party activity". The situation is particularly concerning as it arises months before the state's assembly polls, scheduled for later this year. Pilot is considered a contender for the chief ministerial post, but Gehlot is reportedly reluctant to hand over power. Also Read: Rahul Gandhi summoned to Patna court in defamation case for Modi surname remark The conflict between the two leaders erupted in 2020 when Pilot led a "rebellion" against Gehlot. Both have publicly criticised each other on several occasions. The Congress party aims to resolve the conflict before it adversely impacts the party's prospects in the upcoming elections. (With ANI inputs) Karnal/New Delhi: A massive warehouse where 40,000 barrels are neatly stacked on metal racks is where the angels come to take their share. It is a dimly lit space with a slight nip in the air, heady with the lingering aroma of fine malts maturing in wooden casks. As the stored spirits age over time, a part of it is lost to evaporation. Distillers call it angels share. The warehouse in Haryanas Karnal, off the busy highway connecting Delhi to Chandigarh, is in a village named Indri. The village now lends its name to a new single malt brand launched in mid-2021. Branded Indri-Trini, the premium three-wood whiskey crafted by Piccadily Distilleries is made from six-row Indian barley grown in Rajasthan and matured in three different casks. The imported barrels which once stored bourbon, wine and sherry add an array of flavours and aroma as the malt interacts with the wood while ageing. To qualify as a single malt, the whiskey must be a product of a single distillery, though the malt can be matured in different casks. Indri earned itself some bragging rights within a short span. In the year to March 2023, Piccadily sold 15,000 cases (of nine litres each) of Indri, an impressive count going by industry standards. Since its launch, it has won a handful of international awards, including a gold tasting award at the International Spirits Challenge, London, and another gold from Dominic Roskrow who ran a New Wizards Awards, both in 2022. Dominic Roskrow, a maverick whiskey critic and writer, died late last year. He was an authority on new world whiskiesor whiskey crafted beyond traditional hubs like Scotland and USA. The rise of single malts from India, the worlds largest whiskey market, follows a long journey which began more than two decades ago. Even 10 years back, Indian whiskies were frowned upon internationally as most distillers used molasses, a by-product of sugar production, which was in abundance. Within India, it was sold as whiskey but the world liked to call it rum. Faced with a crippling shortage of food post-independence, for years, distillers shunned making whiskey from grain spirits. Then, in 2004, Amrut Distilleries from Bengaluru launched a single malt in Glasgow, Scotland, marking the beginning of a new category of premium world whiskiesthe Indian single malt. Ever since, the segment has grown rapidly with at least nine brands on offer by 2022. Among them are Paul John from Goa, Rampur by Radico Khaitan and Solan Gold by Mohan Meakinmakers of the popular Old Monk rum. Even Diageo, among the top spirit sellers globally and makers of Johnnie Walker blended scotch whiskies, launched an Indian single malt named Godawan last year. Within India, the premiumization is driven by the growing affluence of a section of the population. The rich were already consuming large volumes of imported scotch, which were blended with Indian grain spirits. Recently, India replaced France as the worlds largest importer of scotch whisky by volume. The early makers of Indian single maltlike Amrut in 2004 and Paul John in 2012went for an international launch for a reason. They wanted to prove that Indian distillers can make premium whiskey and compete with renowned brands in their home turf. Also, the global market held a promise beyond the over-regulated, complex and heavily taxed domestic market in India. The international accolades, in turn, helped shore up domestic sales. India has broken through this barrier now (of) peoples perception of the best whisky coming only from Scotland. Yes, some of the best whisky comes from Scotland, but so does some of the worst. People have preconceived notions and perceptions that are carved in granite, when in fact there are quite a few top-notch whiskies coming out of India," whiskey critic Jim Murray said in an interview to Firstpost in 2019. Out of stock What made Indian single malts stand apart in the international market? In a tropical climate like India whiskies mature faster. Our whiskies are almost cooked in wood," explains Surrinder Kumar, former master distiller at Amrut who also developed Indri. The angels share is high. The exchange between the malt and the wood as it contracts and expands lends it a unique flavour profile. If one compares four different whiskies matured in four different regions of Indiaeven when they follow the same processthe flavour profile will be different due to differences in temperature and humidity. You cannot make an Amrut in Haryana or an Indri in Bengaluru," Kumar added. Sure, domestic consumers are loving these different flavour profiles. About a fourth of the 475,000 cases (of nine litres each) of single malt consumed within India now comprise home-grown brands, according to estimates from the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC). Indian single malt makers are currently producing around 225,000 cases. A part of this is exported. Of the estimated whiskey consumption (in 2022) of 240 million cases in India, about 80% are cheap variants, priced at less than 500 for a 750 ml bottle (taking Delhi as the reference market). These make little money for manufacturers. So, many distilleries are targeting the premium segmentpriced at over 1,000 a bottlewhich account for 8 million cases. Within the premium segment, single malts have seen massive growth in consumption in recent years. Since Indian single malt distillers did not plan for this surge in demand, some have run out of spirits," said Vinod Giri, director general of CIABC. This explains why retail outlets in major cities often run out of Indian single malts. In comparison, imported brands have the advantage of past inventory. Besides, since they supply all over the world, they are better placed to cater to the surge in demand in one market," Giri added. Few years back, Japan too, witnessed a massive surge in demand for aged varieties of single malt which led to shortage on the shelves. Since malt matures faster in India, distillers are better equipped to handle the demand spike. Yet, ageing the malt for at least three years (single malts have to be aged for at least three years), means a temporary setback to local supplies. Rocky beginning The journey of the Indian single malt began in July 2002. Rakshit Jagdale, the current managing director at Amurt Distilleries, was then pursuing a management degree at Newcastle, UK. For the course dissertation, Jagdale took his fathers suggestion and did a project on the potential market for an Indian single malt, sold via Indian restaurants in UK. Jagdale imported samples of malt maturing at Amruts facility and did a tasting survey, which received a favourable response. One afternoon, during a blind tasting at the popular Pot Still bar in Glasgow, whiskey connoisseurs mistook the Amrut sample for a 12-year-old highland scotch. They were shocked when told it is a product from India. That gave us a lot of confidence," Jagdale said. It took Amrut another two years to launch the first single malt at the Cafe India restaurant in Glasgow in 2004. But three years into the project, the going got harder. In 2007, a meeting with a distributor in London did not go off well. They rejected Amrut. The Jagdales were told that an Indian single malt held little potential. But Amrut chairman, Neelakanta Rao Jagdale, took a call to persist even at the risk of losing some more millions." Then in 2010, Jim Murrays Whiskey Bible rated Amrut Fusion as the third finest in the world. This has to be one of the great whiskies found anywhere in the world; from distillation to maturation, this is genius whisky from whichever continent," Murray wrote. The tide had turned. Around the time when Amrut launched in Glasgow, Goa-based John Distilleries was mulling a similar entry, away from whiskies catering to the lower end of the market, into premium single malts. Following eight years of research, travels and groundwork, it launched a single malt internationally in 2012, and in India three years later. I still remember the smirk on the UK immigration officers face when I said I am here to launch an Indian single malt. Initially, there was a lot of apprehension since India was known to make whiskey from molasses, and doubts, if we were following proper (manufacturing) practices," Paul P. John, chairman of John Distilleries told Mint. But over the years, the accolades began to flow; now you have fans of Indian single malt across the world. In fact, some the best single malts are now coming from Asian countries like Taiwan, India and Japan," John added. The Indian market, too, has evolved over the years. For brands like Paul John, Amrut and Indri, India is now the single largest market accounting for 60-70% of sales. As a strategy, Piccadily, which is the largest independent malt distiller in India, is getting rid of cheaper, low-margin brands. We are currently available in 11 states in India and 16 countries internationally. The plan is to expand to 22 states in India. I am often told that Indri is priced at a discount ( 2,800-3,000 for a 750 ml bottle in Gurgaon) for the quality it offers. But I want people to drink the liquid," said Siddhartha Sharma, founder of Piccadily. But going ahead, adds Sharma, India will need to introduce regulations and standards around single malts to prevent fly-by-night operators from spoiling the party; there is still a trust deficit in international markets. Unfair treatment India imposes a 150% duty on imported alcohol, including on Scotch whiskey. Currently free-trade negotiations are on with the UK, which can potentially result in a reduction of duties. But Indian brands are confident. If we can compete in the global market and still sell whatever volumes we produce, why fear a duty reduction? Besides, it will be beneficial for Indian distillers who import scotch for blending. Blended whiskies will become cheaper and their quality will improve," said Sanjeev Banga, president of international business at Radico Khaitan, which launched its Rampur single malt in 2016. On the flip, side non-tariff barriers imposed by UK will need to go; Indian manufacturers cannot sell regular whiskey in UK because they insist on at least three-year maturation. That is suited to the weather in Scotland but not in India where the malt matures faster," Banga added. The domestic industry is fine with lower dutiessay, a duty cut of 100% spread over 10 yearsif the agreement secures a level playing field and does not encourage misuse of trade concessions, said Vinod Giri from CIABC, the industry lobby. But non-tariff barriers like maturation requirements must go. We are against the practice of under-invoicing. Presently, an international brand can import premium whiskey for its domestic subsidiary at very low prices. How will premium domestic brands compete?" Giri asked. But this is not the only pain point for Indian brands. In India, liquor taxes are decided by state governments which often impose higher taxes and license fees on domestic brands. For instance, it costs an international brand just 50,000 to register a label in Delhi, while domestic brands pay a staggering 25 lakh license fees per label. In November 2021, Maharashtra reduced excise taxes on imported liquor from 300% to 150%, while domestic brands are taxed at 300%. Together, Delhi and Mumbai account for over 70% of premium liquor sales. This sort of taxation is structured to encourage import of low-volume premium liquor; taxes and fees for domestic brands were kept high as they were seen as mass market players with large volumes. The reality is different now, with domestic premium brands entering the market. Higher taxes on domestic brands also means they hesitate from releasing premium limited-edition liquor as that entails higher overhead cost per bottle. According to Giri, this anomaly is hurting low volume premium brands from India. It may sound odd but if an Indian single malt distiller decides to manufacture in Sri Lanka and then import it to Maharashtra, its products will be cheaper by 20-30%." Despite the adverse tax regime, distillers remain hopeful. The Indian market has come of age... domestic sales now account for two-third of our annual sales of 60,000 cases. Of course, the international accolades helped us increase our domestic footprint," said Rakshit Jagdale from Amrut, adding that surging demand prompted it to increase distillation capacity by 25% over current levels. India is witnessing a generational shift in drinking culture, said Piccadilys Sharma. Drinking is also an experiencesomething to unwind with. Alcohol is not just about getting drunk anymore." On the run for nearly a month, fugitive pro-Khalistani leader Amritpal Singh may have escaped to Rajasthan. The development comes mere days after his top aide Papalpreet Singh was arrested nabbed in Amritsar district. Meanwhile, rumours suggest that the radical preacher may surrender at Takht Damdama Sahib in Talwandi Sabo on Baisakhi. Based on the latest intelligence, officials have been put on alert in the border district of Hanumangarh as well as Sriganganagar, Bikaner, Jaisalmer, and Barmer. Rajasthan DGP Umesh Mishra told news agency PTI that the search operation was launched on Wednesday night following information about Amritpal's likely presence in Hanumangarh. Teams of Anti-Terrorism Squad and Emergency Response Team of Rajasthan Police are actively on the lookout for Singh. ALSO READ: You can run, but, Punjab Police to Amritpal Singh after aide's arrest | Video The Khalistan sympathiser has been on the run since March 18 when police launched a major crackdown against him and members of his outfit 'Waris Punjab De.' Amritpal had escaped the police net in Jalandhar district on March 18, switching vehicles and changing appearances. While initial reports had placed him in Haryana, his exact location remains a mystery. Alerts have also been sounded in Nepal, with officials remaining vigilant about Singh's potential alert into the other country. Last month Nepal's Department of Immigration had put Singh on its surveillance list following a request from the Indian Embassy. (With inputs from agencies) Kolkata Metro created history on Wednesday when its rake ran through a tunnel under a river for the first time in the country. The Metro rake which had only officials and engineers on board ran under the Hooghly from Kolkata to Howrah on the other side of the river. For the first time in India Metro has completed under the river journey. P Uday Kumar Reddy, General Manager, Kolkata Metro Railway travelled from Mahakaran to Howrah Maidan station in Rake No. MR-612 to witness this historic event. This rake crossed river Hooghly at 11:55 hrs. Shri H. N. Jaiswal Additional General Manager, Metro Railway and MD, KMRCL as well as other senior officers of Metro Railway and KMRCL accompanied him during this journey," KMRCL said in a statement. #WATCH | Kolkata: India's first underwater metro carried out maiden run through Hooghly River tunnel pic.twitter.com/b8pxW48Ejm ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2023 Later, Rake No MR- 613 was also taken to Howrah Maidan station. Terming it a historic event, General Manager has informed that the trial runs from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade will be conducted for the next 7 months and after that regular services on this stretch will begin. All the staff, engineers of KMRCL under whose efforts and supervision this engineering marvel has been achieved are happy that their dreams have come true. Kausik Mitra, CPRO/Metro Railway has said that This is a historic moment for Metro Railway as after overcoming many hurdles we have succeeded to run rakes beneath the Hooghly river. This is a revolutionary step in providing a modern transport system to the people of Kolkata and suburbs. This is indeed a special new year gift from Indian Railways for the people of Bengal". As the two Metro rakes have been taken today to Howrah Maidan station from Esplanade station, soon the trial runs on the 4.8 kms underground section from Howrah Maidan to Esplanade will begin. It is expected that commercial services on this stretch will begin in this year. once this stretch is open then Howrah will be the deepest Metro station (33-meter below surface) of the country. The Metro is expected to cover the 520 meters stretch under the river Hooghly in 45 seconds. This tunnel under the river is at 32 meter below from the water level. Terming it a historic event, the Metro general manager said, Trial runs between Howrah Maidan and Esplanade station will be conducted for the next seven months, following which regular services on this stretch will begin." Trial runs on the 4.8 km stretch of the underground section will commence soon, the official said. After this stretch becomes operational, Howrah Maidan will be the deepest Metro station - 33-metre below the surface - of the country. The Metro is expected to cover the 520-metre stretch under the river Hooghly in 45 seconds, he said, adding that this tunnel under the river is 32 metres below the water surface level. The East West Metro corridor connecting Howrah Maidan and Sector V, the Information Technology hub in Salt Lake, is partially operational - between Sealdah and Sector V stations. Out of the 16.6 km length of East West Metro, the underground corridor constitutes 10.8 km between Howrah Maidan and Phoolbagan with the tunnel passing below the Hooghly river, while the rest is elevated corridor, according to a KMRC official. Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a telephonic conversation with his British counterpart on Thursday evening, discussing a slew of bilaterial issues. The interaction came in the wake of protests and vandalism by Sikh separatists. The PM also issued an invite for the upcoming G20 summit and raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK. "Pleased to speak with UK PM Rishi Sunak. Extended Baisakhi greetings to him, and new year greetings to the vibrant Indian community in the UK. We reviewed progress on a number of issues to further strengthen India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including FTA," PM Modi said in a tweet. Discussing the India-UK Roadmap 2030, the two leaders also agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. ALSO READ: India raises concern over UKs asylum status misuse by pro-Khalistan extremists New Delhi has been upset about protests and vandalism by Sikh separatists outside its mission in London and elsewhere in the United States and Canada. Earlier this week a report claimed that India had halted FTA negotiations and sought tougher action against pro-Khalistan groups behind last month's attack on the Indian High Commission in London. Both countries had refuted the assertion. PM Modi raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and calls for strong action against anti-India elements. As per a readout of the call, Downing Street said that Sunak reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable" violence outside the Indian High Commission in London last month and updated Modi on the steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian diplomatic staff. (With inputs from agencies) (Reporting by Shubham Kalia in Bengaluru, Editing by William Maclean) The Serum Institute of India (SII) could resume production of the Covishield Covid-19 vaccine as infections rise in the country, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday. Covishield is a version of an AstraZeneca shot. The world's biggest vaccine maker already has a stock of 6 million doses of Covovax, a version of a Novavax vaccine, the spokesperson added as quoted by Reuters. Dr Amitav Banerjee - an epidemiologist who leads DY Patil Medical College in Pune has earlier said that Covishield carried a double whammy of risk. He noted that its use had been discouraged in most European countries due to blood clots. "It also carries the risk of myocarditis. There is accumulating evidence that this heart condition is associated with the mRNA vaccines. Many would perhaps not know that Covishield carries a DNA gene on an adenovirus which after injection gets converted into mRNA in the body," he said. He urged people to pause at these red signals noting that there were anecdotal reports of sudden deaths across the world as well as high all-cause mortality following Covid-19 vaccination drives in many countries. Meanwhile, AIIMS professor Dr. Sanjay K Rai also voiced similar sentiments, calling for universal vaccination to be reconsidered. "Global evidence has demonstrated that natural infection provides better and longer duration of protection than any vaccine alone. In the current scenario, there is no requirement for universal vaccination against Covid-19. This may cause more harm than benefits," he said in a statement. Malhotra's remarks have also prompted murmurs about 'dangerous' fringe elements' that could mislead the public. Indeed, the BBC reportedly faced flak from many scientists after an interview with the cardiologist was aired. His paper on the topic has also been refuted by many medical experts. It is pertinent to note here that the Indian government as well as the World Health Organization have cleared Covishield for use. (With Reuters inputs) The talks between the Vedanta-Foxconn semiconductor consortium and STMicroelectronics for the latter's potential entry as a technology partner have encountered obstacles due to disagreements on various aspects, The Economic Times reported citing sources. These include the specifics of technology transfer, the duration of the partnership, and the allocation of investment funds from each company. A crucial point of contention is that STMicroelectronics is seeking to restrict the extent of technology transfer and incorporate a sunset clause to determine the duration of the joint venture, as disclosed by an individual familiar with the situation. STMicroelectronics also has some reservations regarding its investment in the (Vedanta-Foxconn) combine. They want Vedanta to take the lead and invest more," this person said. Another source said that STMicroelectronics wants to exit the joint venture after 5-10 years during which it can complete technology transfer," the Vedanta-Foxconn combine wants the European chipmaker to stay on for longer. The inclusion of STMicroelectronics as a technology partner is crucial for the Vedanta-Foxconn consortium to be eligible for the Indian central government's 76,000 crore incentive plan. As per the official requirements for the semiconductor incentive plan, applicants must showcase their expertise in the specialized domain of semiconductor manufacturing. To gain government approval, applicants must either possess a fabrication unit capable of producing semiconductor chips in the 65-28 nanometer (nm) range, or have "production-grade licensed technologies" to manufacture 28 nm chips. Additionally, they must also provide evidence of their capabilities in advanced node technologies through licensing or development, as outlined in the official guidelines. Vedanta, in collaboration with Foxconn, the contract manufacturer for iPhones, has revealed its intention to establish a semiconductor manufacturing facility in Gujarat, India. The company has announced plans to invest up to 66,000 crore in this chip manufacturing plant, with an initial focus on producing chips in the 28 nm and lower ranges. The Vedanta-Foxconn consortium is among the five applicants vying for government incentives under a $10-billion package unveiled in December 2021 to foster domestic semiconductor manufacturing in India. The government has pledged to cover 50% of the project cost, along with additional incentives, as part of its support for the initiative. India's External Affairs Minister, S Jaishankar, on Thursday, highlighted that India is a different country now that is capable of meeting its national security challenges posed by China and Pakistan . Cross border terrorism Jaishankar emphasized that India is now a different India that is willing to stand up for itself, and its forces are equipped to respond to cross-border terrorism. "Today, people see a different India that is willing to stand up and India which will meet its national security challenges whether it is Uri or whether it is Balakot," Jaishankar said while speaking to the Indian community in Uganda He referred to the 2016 Uri attack and the 2019 Balakot airstrike, where India responded to terrorist activities by Pakistani insurgents. "Today, the forces which indulged in cross-border terrorism against India for decades and which India tolerated, they now know this is a different India and this India will give them a reply," he said. China aggression Jaishankar also spoke about the challenges India faces on its border with China, and he highlighted the violation of agreements by the Chinese. "Today the Indian military is deployed at very great heights and in very tough conditions. This situation is different from the past as Indian soldiers have now the full backing, they have the right equipment and the infrastructure," he said. He admitted that more work has to be done to develop the infrastructure on the border with China as it has been neglected in the past. Buying oil from Russia Jaishankar emphasized India's policies are not influenced by external pressure, and it is now a more independent country that does what is in the interest of its citizens and consumers. He also said India will not succumb to pressure from countries that dictate where it should buy oil. "This an India which will do what is in the interest of its citizens, its consumers," he said. He mentioned that India continues to purchase Russian oil in large quantities, and Russia is the single largest supplier of crude oil to India for six months straight, according to energy cargo tracker Vortexa. (With inputs from agencies) Uttar Pradesh Police filed its charge sheet against gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed on Thursday, citing a recorded statement from the former MP. As per the document, he had claimed to have direct connections with Pakistan's ISI and terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba". The development comes mere hours after the security personnel gunned down his son Asad and the latter's associate in an encounter. ...I have no dearth of weapons because I have direct connections with Pakistan's ISI and terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba. Weapons from Pakistan are dropped on Punjab border with the help of drones and local connection collects them. Terrorists in J&K get weapons from this consignment," the charge sheet cites the former Samajwadi Party leader as saying. The document also quotes him as promising to help an individual recover that money and arms and ammunition used in the incident". ALSO READ: Atiq Ahmed breaks down in UP court on learning about son's death in encounter Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf were remanded 14-day judicial custody on Thursday afternoon. A Prayagraj court also allowed five-day police remand in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The CJM court's verdict came on a day the Uttar Pradesh Police said they have killed Ahmad's son Asad and one of his aides in an encounter in Jhansi. Both Asad and his aide were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case. The lawyer - a key witness in the 2005 killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal - had been shot dead alongside two of his police security guards in February this year. The incident took place outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area. (With inputs from agencies) Due to "intense heat wave condition" in the state, the Odisha government has ordered to close Anganwadi centres and all schools, both government and private, up to class 10th from Wednesday to April 16, a release from chief ministers office here said. On arrival from Japan visit on April 11, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik immediately took a review meeting with senior officers on the current heat wave condition and various health-related facilities, it said. "In view of intense heat wave condition, Anganwadi centres and all schools, both govt and private up to class 10th will remain closed from Wednesday till 16th of April," the release said. For the past few days, the temperature is rising in the state and MeT Department has also issued a heatwave warning throughout the state. "In this context, the Chief Minister directed the administration particularly panchayat raj & drinking water department, housing & urban development department and energy department to start preparedness to meet the situation," the release said. The Chief Minister directed the concerned authorities to ensure a smooth supply of drinking water both in urban and rural areas with a special focus on water scarcity pockets. "He also directed the energy department to ensure continuous power supply to meet demands during heatwave conditions," the release said. "Patnaik also advised the administration to keep in touch with various professional Meteorological agencies to collect information about monsoons and prepare advanced planning accordingly. While reviewing the various activities of the health & family welfare department, the chief minister expressed satisfaction over the functioning of the Biju Swasthya Kalyan Yojana (BSKY) scheme which provides free healthcare facilities to nearly three and a half crore people of Odisha," the release said. "In view of the significance of the scheme, the chief minister advised the H&FW department to ensure prompt medical care for all the beneficiaries," the statement informed. The Chief Minister was briefed about the current COVID-19 scenario in the country in general and Odisha in particular. "The situation is well under control. The government has taken all precautionary measures including a massive awareness programme to contain the outbreak. The Chief Minister has advised monitoring the situation closely," it said. Chief Minister's Secretary VK Pandian coordinated the meeting. Chief Secretary PK Jena, Development Commissioner Anu Garg and other senior officers attended the review meeting through video conference, it said. Alexei Navalny, Russia's most prominent opposition politician, is grappling with severe stomach pain in jail that could be some sort of slow acting poison, his spokeswoman said on Thursday. An ambulance was called for Navalny overnight on Friday to Saturday to the maximum security IK-6 penal colony at Melekhovo, about 250 km (115 miles) east of Moscow, where he is being held. Kira Yarmysh, his spokeswoman, told Reuters. Navalny was suffering from severe stomach pain, she said, and could not eat the prison food provided to him because it was making his pain worse and since Monday has has been banned from buying alternative food. "He doesnt eat anything because he is prohibited from receiving parcels with food or to buy food in the prison store and the food that is provided by the prison to him actually worsens his stomach pain," Yarmysh said in English. "His health is not a good condition," she said. "We can't rule out the idea that he is being poisoned, not in a huge dosage as before, but in small ones so that he doesn't die immediately but for him to suffer and to ruin his health." Yarmysh said there was no definitive proof of the poisoning theory but that he had never had such stomach pains before. She said she was terrified for him because there was almost no contact with him and he was not receiving proper medical care. When asked about claims that Navalny might be being slowly poisoned, the Kremlin said it was not following the state of his health and that it was a matter for the federal penitentiary service. The penitentiary service, which has in the past denied allegations that its employees have mistreated Navalny and has said he has always been afforded medical treatment when needed, did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. Navalny, who is serving combined sentences of 11-1/2 years for fraud and contempt of court on charges he says were trumped up to silence him, said via Twitter on Tuesday that he had been moved back into solitary confinement and forced to endure "extremely hellish" conditions. Yarmysh said he had suffered similar stomach pain in January after being treated with antibiotics for a virus and had again lost a lot of weight. The German government said on Wednesday it was very worried about Navalny's worsening health condition. Reuters could not independently verify the state of Navalny's health. 'RUSSIA'S MANDELA' Navalny is a former lawyer who rose to prominence more than a decade ago by lampooning President Vladimir Putin's elite and voicing allegations of corruption on a vast scale. Navalny's supporters cast him as a Russian version of South Africa's Nelson Mandela who will one day be freed from jail to lead the country. Conversely, Russian authorities view him and his supporters as extremists with links to the U.S. CIA intelligence agency intent on trying to destabilise Russia. They have outlawed his movement, forcing many of his followers to flee abroad. In 2020, Navalny survived an apparent attempt to poison him during a flight in Siberia, with what Western laboratory tests determined was a nerve agent. Navalny accused the Russian state of trying to kill him, something it denied. He was treated for that poisoning in Germany but voluntarily returned to Russia in 2021, where he was arrested on arrival and jailed. Yarmysh said medicine sent to Navalny's prison by his mother was not collected by prison officials from the post office and was returned. He should be afforded proper medical care, she said. His supporters had to battle with the prison authorities every time he fell ill to ensure he received some kind of treatment, she said. "He is in total isolation and we do not know what is happening to him," she said. "I am actually terrified because noone knows what is happening." "Putin has no red lines," said Yarmysh. "He is an innocent man and only in prison due to Putin's personal hatred." Russia says he was found guilty in a court of law and that claims of any personal hatred are unfounded. Days after concluding extensive military drills around Taiwan, China has now released a revised set of wartime military recruitment rules. As per the new regulations, recruitment should "focus on preparing for war" and increase efficiency by calling up high calibre" recruits. The development comes mere days after Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with the US House Speaker sparked outrage in mainland Beijing. As per a report shared by the state-run Xinhua news agency, the revised rules aim to provide institutional guarantees for consolidating national defence and building strong armed forces. It focuses on recruiting more high-calibre soldiers, standardising and optimising conscription procedures, and improving the system's efficiency. The new rules will come into effect from next month. ALSO READ: The likely scenarios for China-Taiwan tensions Meanwhile, self-ruled Taiwan remains on high alert this week after Beijing staged three days of military drills that simulated "sealing off" the island. Taipei held disaster-preparedness drills on Thursday enacting a range of disasters from missile strikes to a chemical weapons blast and a deadly metro station attack. Chinese jets and warships have continued circling the island after the drills concluded, with Taiwan's defence ministry detecting seven naval vessels and 26 aircraft between Wednesday and Thursday morning. 14 aircraft had crossed the unofficial median line that separates the island from mainland China. ALSO READ: Mint Explainer: Why Macrons comments on Taiwan have landed him in hot water The revision also marks the first time that a separate chapter on wartime recruitment has been included in the regulations. The new rules were reportedly promulgated as Beijing is facing geopolitical tensions on several fronts, including in the South China Sea, especially in the Taiwan Strait. China regards Taiwan as its own territory and objects to any interactions between the Taiwanese leadership and foreign officials. Beijing has not ruled out the possible use of force to reunify the self-ruled island with the mainland at some point of time. Taiwan however rejects China's sovereignty claims. (With inputs from agencies) US President Joe Biden, Oscar-winning actor Ke Huy Quan, Iranian singer-songwriter Shervin Hajipour and billionaire businessman Elon Musk are among the 100 most influential people in the world. The 2023 list released by TIME magazine features numerous heads of state, artists, writers, actors, athletes and activists. Closer to home, actor Shah Rukh Khan and director SS Rajamouli as well as Indian-American author Salman Rushie also find mention. There are several parameters behind the selection of individuals with the central theme being "the confluence of interconnected challenges, from climate and public health to democracy and equality". The people we spotlight range from the globally famous to the literally anonymousThere are world leaders and local activists, artists and athletes, scientists, moguls and a number of people who are running for President of the United States," the magazine had explained in a 2016 article about its methodology. View Full Image TIME magazine releases latest list of the 100 most influential people in the world The latest list of influential personalities includes a record 16 people defending the environment" - including world leaders elected on a wave of pro-climate sentiment. With the Iranian protests and Russia -Ukraine conflict overshadowing much of 2023, journalists have also been propelled to the front. The Time 100 list includes three scribes - Iranian reporters Elaheh Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamedi as well as Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich who faces bogus espionage charges for reporting on Russia" After becoming the oldest successor to the British throne, King Charles III, was featured in Time's list of 100 most influential people of 2023. He was featured in the Icons category of the list which also included names like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Rushdie, Jennifer Coolidge, etc. King Charles' coronation is scheduled to take place on 6 May, 2023. Also Read: Biden, Musk, Altman, Rushdie - Who are the worlds 100 most influential people? In a ceremony at St James's Palace in London, the longest-serving Prince of Wales was officially proclaimed King of Britain, after the demise of the longest-reigning British monarch, Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022. Also Read: Ahead of King Charles' coronation, UK royals unveil emoji, route details. 10 points Despite being the official proclamation of the King of Britain, the symbolic accession of the throne will be held at the coronation ceremony. King Charles will be formally crowned at the ceremony. The last such ceremony was held in February 1952, when Queen Elizabeth succeeded the throne. The head of the Commonwealth is known to be charming, funny, and socially confident like a member of the royal family. Also Read: Kate blocked Meghan Markle from attending King Charles coronation, under no circumstances...' Akin to the coronation ceremonies of previous British monarchs, King Charles III's royal coronation ceremony will be rooted in long-standing traditions. However, it will also showcase the role of the monarch in today's times and its importance in the future. The much-awaited ceremony of King Charles will be shorter and smaller in scale than Queen Elizabeth II's coronation in 1953. Also Read: King Charles's Coronation: Prince Harry to be barred from Buckingham Palace balcony finale, other key events Recently, the King's coronation has been in the news for several other reasons as well, prominently because the world was left speculating whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will join the Royal function or not. The family tension between the royals and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle has been in news for quite a while. However, reports say that the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle will not attend the high-profile function and Prince Harry will reportedly travel alone to London to attend the function. He will be joining the other 2,000 guests of the royal function going to be held at Westminster Abbey. Notably, this will be the first appearance of Prince Harry with the Royal after the release of his bombshell memoir, Spare. Prince Harry's book is seen as the last nail in the coffin of the tense relationship between the couple and the royals. His book reveals the gravity of issues and disagreements with other members of the Royal Family. Explosive revelations have emerged ahead of the highly anticipated King's Coronation next month. Reports suggest that the Royals are "relieved" that Meghan Markle will not be in attendance. In fact, one unnamed family member was reportedly "uncomfortable" with the idea of her attending the event. A Royal observer has stated that Charles will be satisfied with Meghan's absence, and the rest of the family will feel relieved, particularly Kate, as her presence would have been uncomfortable for her, according to the Daily Mirror. However, author of the couple's biography Finding Freedom, Omid Scobie, has suggested that the decision was influenced by Archie's birthday, which falls on May 6. Despite this, Meghan's absence has raised eyebrows and left many wondering about the reasons behind her nonattendance. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams weighed in, stating that the decision for Prince Harry to attend without Meghan was an "ideal compromise". Also Read: Does this confirm that Prince Harry-Meghan Markle will skip King Charles Coronation? Leaked plans spark further rumours Prince Harry will be present at the Westminster Abbey ceremony on May 6, as confirmed by Buckingham Palace. However, The Duke of Sussexs wife Meghan Markle will remain in California with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. There have been speculations about the possibility of Harry-Meghans presence at the coronation, which falls on the birthday of Prince Archie of Sussex, their son. The latest update settles all rumours. It seems that his sons birthday won't stop Prince Harry from attending the event. According to media reports, the prince may have another engagement lined up in the UK right after the coronation. Also Read: Prince Harry, Meghan Markle likely to encounter Royal Family feud upon UK return The coronation of King Charles III, who will be crowned alongside Queen Consort Camilla, has been in the works for some time now. However, preparations for the event have been marred by the scandalous allegations made by Prince Harry in his recent memoir, Netflix documentary and several TV interviews. In light of the current economic turmoil in Britain, the Royal Family has decided to adopt some cost-saving measures, such as cutting short the carriage route that Charles and Camilla will follow. Despite the tension, Prince Harry's presence at the event may signify an olive branch extended by the Royal Family, and it may well be a matter of convenience for him to attend. The coronation is set to be a three-day affair, with a star-studded concert at Windsor Castle being one of the highlights. There will also be a series of street parties and a national volunteering campaign branded as "The Big Help Out". Buckingham Palace has released a statement announcing further details on the events that will take place over the Coronation Weekend. According to the statement, the Archbishop of Canterbury will lead the Service, which will reflect the current role of the Monarch while also incorporating traditional customs and grandeur. (With ANI inputs) Even though Prince Harry would be attending King Charles's Coronation, he is likely to be excluded from key parts of the ceremony, including the Buckingham Palace balcony finale, a royal expert has cited. Camilla Tominey, an Associate Editor at The Telegraph and a royal expert, said, as reported by Express UK, Meghan Markle's invitation refusal was to be expected but warned it would leave Harry having to "suck up the ignominy" of being secluded during the ceremony. Tominey suggests that Meghan's absence from Harry's book tour and rumors of discontent regarding Archie and Lilibet's potential exclusion from the Coronation procession were signs of Meghan's refusal to attend. The signs were all there, from the Duchess being almost entirely absent from her husbands book tour to rumours of disgruntlement at Archie and Lilibets apparent exclusion from the Coronation procession." Tominey also suggests that the Sussexes would only play a secondary role when Queen Elizabeth was conducting events and now that she's no longer leading the royal family, Meghan has left the band for good. Friends of Meghan reportedly see her future in the US, following in the footsteps of John Lennon. "So it will be left to Harry to suck up the ignominy of being excluded from both the Kings procession and Coronation procession and from the Buckingham Palace balcony. Blood is thicker than water, and all that." Royals are relieved Recent reports suggest that some members of the Royal family are "relieved" that Meghan Markle will not be attending an upcoming event. An unnamed family member reportedly felt "uncomfortable" with her attendance. Observers have stated that Prince Charles and the rest of the family will feel relieved, particularly Kate, as her presence would have been uncomfortable for her. Some speculate that Meghan's absence may be due to her son Archie's birthday, which falls on the same day as the event. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams believes, as reported by Daily Mail, that Prince Harry attending without Meghan is an "ideal compromise." North Korea fired an "unspecified ballistic missile" Thursday, Seoul's military said, prompting Japan to issue a warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region telling them to take shelter. "North Korea fired an unidentified ballistic missile into East Sea," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff said, referring to the body of water also known as the Sea of Japan. They did not give any further details. Japan also confirmed the launch, telling residents of Hokkaido to "evacuate immediately" and seek shelter in a building or underground, warning the missile was expected to land around 8:00 am local time (2300 GMT). Local government officials in Hokkaido later said there was "no possibility" of the missile hitting the island. Pyongyang has opened the year with a flurry of weapons tests, including what its state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones and the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korea has claimed to have conducted three tests of underwater drones -- known as Haeil, which means tsunami in Korean -- in less than three weeks so far. Pyongyang has claimed the weapon is able to unleash a "radioactive tsunami". - 'Escalating moves' - On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 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. 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. North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, and on Tuesday described them as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang. South Korea on Tuesday also accused North Korea of being "irresponsible" after Pyongyang cut hotline contact with Seoul last week. For five days, North Korea has not answered the twice-daily calls made through a military hotline and an inter-Korean liaison channel, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Young-se told reporters. Recently, the links between North and South Korea were cut just one day after Seoul accused Pyongyang of ongoing unauthorized use of a joint industrial complex located in Kaesong, a city in North Korea. South Korea stated that North Korea had refused to acknowledge its notice to cease activity at the factory, which used to be seen as a symbol of reconciliation between the two countries. In 2016, South Korea withdrew from the venture after a North Korean nuclear test, citing concerns that the complex was being used to finance Pyongyang's weapons development programs. The National Public Broadcaster (NPR) said that it will no longer post anything on its official Twitter account in a move to mark protest against the label by the Elon Musk-led platform which implies the government's involvement in its editorial content. The US-based organization claimed on Wednesday that the social media company refused its repeated requests to remove the inaccurate label of "state-affiliated media", now changed to "government-funded media." The label does not accurately describe its public media governance structure, the NPR said. "If we continued tweeting, every post would carry that misleading label," NPR said. Britain's national broadcaster BBC has also objected to the label and called it misleading. Elon Musk has affirmed that the company is trying to be "accurate" and is mulling over the idea of amending the label. "Our goal is simply to be as truthful and accurate as possible.. We're adjusting the label to be 'publicly funded' which I think is perhaps not too objectionable," Musk said in an interview with BBC on Wednesday. NPR stated that it would continue to use other social media platforms but was considering adding new and upcoming third-party platforms to its list. During the interview, Musk also mentioned that Twitter's financial status had improved as several advertisers, who had previously stopped spending on the platform following its acquisition last year, had now returned, and the company was "roughly breaking even." Almost all of them have either come back or said theyre coming back," Musk said. This would be a significant change from the situation shortly after the acquisition when many advertisers stopped spending on the platform due to uncertainty about the changes that were taking place. According to Sensor Tower's estimates, the top 10 advertisers on Twitter spent $71 million on ads from September to October of last year. However, in the past two months, these same advertisers only spent $7.6 million on ads, representing a decline of 89%, as stated in a report by the research firm on March 31. (With inputs from agencies) Acting British High Commissioner Andrew Dalgleish appreciated the incumbent Pakistani government for the measures it has taken for economic stability and offered all possible help from the United Kingdom to overcome the ongoing financial collapse. The active British high commissioner on Wednesday called on Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar to discuss the current macroeconomic situation of the world along with cash-strapped Pakistan, according to a report published by Geotv. Dar also briefed the British envoy on the progress of talks with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a bailout package which is still pending for approval. He also apprised him of the country's overall economic outlook. The UK official further offered "all possible help" in mitigating the socioeconomic crisis. Pakistan's finance minister appreciated Dalgleish for his cooperation and support. Pakistan has been struggling with its worst economic turmoil for the past months with multiple indicators clearly suggesting that the country is battling its worst nightmare since 1971 when the country lost a war against India and partitioned from Bangladesh. The federal government has been in talks with the Washington-based financial body for the release of an economic bailout to overcome the financial collapse and revive the economy. IMF has even lowered its forecast for Pakistans economic growth rate from 2 percent to just 0.5 percent for the current fiscal year. The revision in Pakistans growth prospects is in line with similar 0.4 percent and 0.6 percent projected last week by the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank, respectively. The State Bank of Pakistan last week announced that the country's foreign reserves fell by $55 million to $9.76 billion by the week ending on March 31, 2023. The official reserves of SBP fell by $36 million to $4.208 billion during the week ending on March 31, 2023, as compared to the previous week. However, the current forex reserves can still provide more than one months worth of import cover. Potatoes are renowned globally as a staple food, including in India where they are commonly used in various dishes across states. They are also known for their affordability. However, there is one type of potato that defies this perception of potatoes being economical. The Le Bonnotte potato, an exceptionally rare variety, is sold for a staggering 40,000-50,000 per kilogram and is available for only 10 days a year. The Le Bonnotte potato, a unique variety, is exclusively cultivated on the Ile De Noirmoutier island in France. What sets it apart is that it is grown on a mere 50 square meters of sandy land, using seaweed and algae as natural fertilizers. This makes it the world's most expensive potato. In terms of flavour, the Le Bonnotte potato has a distinct profile with hints of lemon, a touch of saltiness, and a subtle note of walnuts, setting it apart from other potato varieties. These potatoes are known for their delicate nature and are handpicked individually for only one week each year. These potatoes are recommended to be consumed with their skin intact, as the skin has the unique ability to absorb the distinct aromas and flavours of the soil and seawater in the vicinity. Out of the total potato harvest of 10,000 tonnes on the island, only 100 tonnes are La Bonnette potatoes, which significantly contributes to their high price. Due to the labour-intensive process of handpicking, approximately 2,500 people are employed during the seven-day harvest season to carefully select these rare potatoes. On paper, sales are booming. In the just-concluded 2022-23 fiscal year, sales grew by over 60% at nearly 8.5 lakh units. As has been the case in the past few years, the heavy lifting was done by high-speed electric-two wheelers that qualify for governments Fame-II subsidies. This segment nearly trebled in size last year (2022-23) at 7.27 lakh units against 2.5 lakh units in the previous fiscal. Yet, things are not particularly rosy. Even with this growth, the industry has missed the projected one million units sales for the fiscal by 27%. Ominously, actual sales lagged projected sales in each month of the year, which indicates a deeper malaise and not something temporary like a price hike or an interest-rate revision. View Full Image (Graphic: Satish Kumar/Mint) Two major factors are at play here. One, the governments decision to withhold subsidies to companies pending an investigation into allegations of under-invoicing and not meeting localisation requirements. This started affecting sales in the aftermath of the festive season in October. Even on a month-on-month basis, the performance of the industry was dire, with sales below 70,000 units when they should have been near 100,000. At the heart is confusion over whether manufacturers met localisation norms to avail Fame subsidies or flouted them. Also in question is whether the norms were too stringent in the first place and hence too difficult or even impossible to comply with. This is not improbable considering the allegations are against almost all companies, including the big five Ola Electric, Ather, Hero Electric, Okinawa and Ampere. There is no easy fix to this and if the government is strict, it will take time to resolve. In the meantime, with the subsidies withheld, some companies are facing a shortage of working capital. The funding winter in the startup ecosystem has also dampened spirits. These are major headwinds. The other major factor is a spate of consolidation thats sweeping in the industry. Slicing and dicing data for February 2023 versus 2022 shows the extent of this. While the total number of players in the market has gone up from 93 last year to 173 this year, the number of companies that are selling over 1,000 units in a month has fallen from 10 to 7. Moreover, the share of the top five players in overall sales has gone up from 67% earlier to 79% this year. This indicates bigger players are scaling up and taking bigger chunks of the pie while smaller players are left to fight for leftovers. This is not a sign of a healthy, profitable industry. The number of companies with sales between 100 and 1,000 units has gone up from 18 to 24, which suggests inability of some players to scale up sufficiently. The effects of the funding winter are at play here. Companies with sales less than 100 units also went up from 65 to 142, accounting for most of the new entrants. This consolidation is not entirely unexpected. Experts always believed the two-wheeler market in India could support only about a dozen mass-market players in the long term. Consolidation, however, was expected to happen after 2025, after the expiry of Fame-II subsidies. What does this mean for electric two-wheeler sales? EV penetration in India, at a little over 5%, is still in its infancy and offers tremendous room for growth. The next few quarters will see legacy players like Hero MotoCorp, TVS, Honda and Bajaj get more aggressive with their EV two-wheelers. This will surely expand the market, though some of it will come at the cost of the smaller startups. On the low base of under a million units the overall two-wheeler industry volume is a hefty 16 million in comparison sales are bound to go up, albeit at a slower clip. But on the evidence of 2022-23 and the churn already underway, even the most pessimistic Niti Ayog projection of 72% penetration by 2031-32 seems off the charts. Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindias plan to create multiple aviation hubs in India is a welcome move. It would benefit not only airports and airlines but the entire Indian economy. If India is to house thriving multinational companies, both Indian-owned and foreign-owned, it is vital that direct air connectivity from the country to any corner of the world be readily available at short notice. That is not the case right now. Singapore, for example, connects to most important destinations in the world directly, making it attractive as a hub of global business in the Asia-Pacific. Indians who seek to fly to any of the destinations of growing vitality in Southeast Asia, Oceania and East Asia right now find it more convenient to fly to Singapore and take connecting flights from there. That layover in Singapore could be done away with by converting Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kochi into major aviation hubs. India needs aviation hubs not just for international connectivity but also for easy access to the countrys far-flung regions. India is a large country, with an area of nearly 3.3 million sq km, the seventh most expansive in the world. It needs many more airports and more air connectivity to allow its economically mobile population to travel freely and easily to even the far reaches of the country. This calls for multiple hubs and spokes to strike the right balance between distance travelled and cost of travel. It is possible, in theory, to have direct flights from, say, Delhi, to every major town with an airport in the Northeast. But the passenger load on every flight may not justify frequent direct flights. But converting, say, Kolkata, into a hub for the Northeast would allow large, economical aircraft to carry all passengers from Delhi to the Northeast to Kolkata, from where they could board smaller craft headed to various destinations in the Northeast. The hub-and-spoke model would call for large investment by airlines in carrying capacity. The large fleet acquisition plans of Air India and Indigo even play out in bilateral relations between India and the likes of the US and the European Union. Creation of aviation hubs has the potential, therefore, to increase Indias diplomatic heft as well. Another way to enhance capacity is for domestic airlines to enter into code-sharing arrangements with foreign airlines. Indias large airlines would be well-advised to both expand their own capacity and form alliances with global airline majors to ensure that no passenger who wishes to book a flight to anywhere in the world has to turn to a non-Indian airline. Apart from increased connectivity for passengers, there would be ancillary benefits from the creation of aviation hubs. One is easier transportation of freight from India to the rest of the world. This is essential for the expansion of high-value exports such as electronics, fresh fruit and vegetables, high-end designer clothes, blueprints and pharmaceuticals. These hubs could also serve as major centres for maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft, not just for Indian airlines but others as well. MRO is a line of economic activity that would leverage Indias plentiful supply of technical and engineering manpower and relatively low labour costs. Thus, the creation of aviation hubs would generate jobs not just in the hospitality and retail sectors already associated with core aviation activity at airports, but also in the technical sector of MRO. Creating aviation hubs is more than an expression of ambition. It calls for appropriate policy, regulation and taxation. The tax treatment of expensive machinery brought in temporarily to assist in MRO has been a bone of contention in the past. Creating an efficient ecosystem for aviation hubs calls for coordination between multiple ministries of the government aviation and finance in the case of taxation, and aviation and skills training in the case of creating manpower. Scindia has demonstrated his ability to make the government work across silos with the successful campaign to reduce the tax on aviation fuel, which calls for coordination with different state governments. More power to him as he moves to convert his vision for aviation hubs in India into a bustling reality. Satellites are crucial military infrastructure for spying and communications . They are also vulnerable to attack and disruption. In November 2021, three months before it invaded Ukraine, Russia fired a missile into a defunct satellite. Then, in October, a Russian diplomat declared even commercial satellites could be legitimate targets. Satellite systems used by Ukraine have been hacked and jammed. Ground antennae have been attacked. In light of this sort of thing, Americas military establishment is worried that its satellite network is not up to snuff. But it has a plan. The Space-Based Adaptive Communications Node (Space-BACN, or Space Bacon", to its friends) will, if successful, create a laser-enabled military internet in orbit around Earth by piggybacking on a number of satellites that would have been launched anyway. Space Bacon is a brainchild of DARPA, the special-projects research arm of the Department of Defence, and is an intriguing orbiting echo of the original, terrestrial ARPANET, which evolved into the internet. (It was so named at a point in DARPAs history when the organisation lacked the initial D" for defence".) The plan is to fit as many newly launched satellites as possibly with laser transceivers that will be able to communicate with counterparts as far away as 5,000km. Satellite owners will pay for these transceivers, but will then receive payments from the American government for their use. Zipping the light fantastic Space Bacon promises many benefits. Unlike radio, the normal mode of communication with and between satellites, transmissions by laser beam are hard to intercept and almost impossible to jam. Indeed, adversaries might not even know when a transmission is taking place, a bonus for operational secrecy. Lasers also offer far higher data rates than radio waves. Some satellite constellations do already use lasers for communication between members, and these achieve about two gigabits per second (about 200 times what radio can manage). DARPA, however, has asked Space Bacons contractors to develop equipment that can transmit, in a single beam, 100 gigabits per second. That is enough for several high-definition movies to be sent in that time. The ability to hand military information from bird to bird like thisand without the constraints imposed by differences in the communication protocols of the satellites providing the piggybackwill greatly simplify matters. Individual satellites can download data only when in range of a terrestrial antenna belonging to their particular network, or via another member of that network, which is likely to be in a similar orbit. A satellite in the Space Bacon system, by contrast, can hand off data to another, possibly belonging to another operator, in a different orbit. And that satellite may, in turn, hand it to yet another, until a suitable ground antenna is within reach. At the moment, reporting delays caused by lack of network interoperability mean, say, that a tank spotted by a satellite may have driven off by the time its location has been received by anyone who could make use of the information. Space Bacon will more or less eliminate this latency. It will also offer one of the vaunted pluses of the original ARPANET design, which the internet inherited. This is automatic rerouting of a message if a node (ie, a particular satellite or ground station) is disabled. Also, by bringing pretty-well every relevant ground station into play, data that are especially sensitive can, as Greg Kuperman, Space Bacons programme manager, observes, be routed through antennae in places where attempts to eavesdrop on the final, radio-transmitted, leg of the journey are considered less likely. The heart of all this is the precision of aim that will be built into Space Bacons lasers. Phil Root, head of DARPAs Strategic Technology Office, says pondering this blows my mind". Satellites in low Earth orbits (LEOs, those below an altitude of 2,000km, and the sort which Space Bacon will use to start with) travel at about 7.8km a second, often tumbling as they go. Connecting the optical heads on two of these will be an epic task. Advances have, however, been impressive. Mynaric, a firm based near Munich that is designing heads for Space Bacon, can adjust a lasers trajectory by just 57.2 millionths of a degree. At a distance of 1,000km, this translates into a beam displacement of less than a metre. To sweep its lasers smoothly Mynaric uses a system of motor-driven lenses and tilting mirrors. Another contractor, mBryonics of Galway, Ireland, employs electronic signals to alter the lights phaseminutely adjusting the beams direction in a manner analogous to the redirection of photons through a glass lens. Even with these levels of precision however, initial direct hits on a distant head will probably be rare, says David Mackey, mBryonics top technologist. Optical heads attempting to link up will therefore conduct what he calls blind spiral search patterns. When a beam finds its mark, the signal will inform the receiver of the senders exact position. Using a different wavelength, to prevent interference, the receiver will then fire a laser back along the same path to confirm the connection. Mr Mackey thinks his kit will complete these orbital handshakes" in ten seconds. Existing laser-based satellite communications rely on sensors called photodiodes. Space Bacons higher data rates need a different approach. The message-carrying photons will enter a single fibre-optic strand with an opening a mere ten microns acrossfar smaller than the 100 microns of a photodiode, of which more than one may, in any case, be needed. Mybryonics hopes to pull off this trick using a mirror with a complex curved surface to redirect photons into a device the size of an iPhone that focuses the light and shoots it into the fibre-optic strand. The Space Bacon systems specification requires that it draw no more than 100W from its host satellite. This limit poses a problem for the processor needed to translate between the different data protocols used on satellites, for only 40W of that 100 is available to do so. One firm working on this is Intel, an American chipmaker. It is designing what Sergey Shumarayev, the projects leader, describes as a Rosetta Stone-type modem". Mr Shumarayev says commercially available components have been ruled out for doing this because they are too big and power-hungry. He reckons that if they were used, the result would be as large as a pizza and consume 400W. His team are trying to shrink the pizza size into a matchbox" using what they call chiplets", in lieu of bigger semiconductors. Bringing home the BACN DARPA wants Space Bacon to cost a maximum of $100,000 a satellite, the better to encourage participation. It bodes well that Amazon, SpaceX and Viasat, a lesser-known but well-established satellite-communications company, are all designing command-and-control architectures for Space Bacon. Amazon plans to launch a broadband LEO satellite constellation called Project Kuiper. This may incorporate Space Bacon transceivers. SpaceX may add them as it expands Starlink, its broadband LEO constellation, from its current complement of 3,500 or so satellites to tens of thousands. Viasats existing network is different. It is based on five big satellites in geosynchronous orbits 36,000km above Earth, which will be joined by another three over the next 14 months. The firm also has an extensive network of ground stations to bring to the party. One command-and-control problem is working out optimal routes for the handing on of data. Craig Miller, head of government systems at Viasat, says this is trickier than solving the travelling-salesman problem, a maths classic. As the network grows, computing the most efficient routes gets harder and harderand not just because the nodes will be moving. Mr Millers team must also assign and take into computational account variable trust" scores for potential data hops, for some are more vulnerable than others to enemy action. DARPA plans to select the best subsystems this summer, and hopes to have a prototype ready for testing in LEO before 2025. If all goes well, the network could then be extended to geosynchronous orbits. Allies, Dr Root reckons, might be invited to join. Americas adversaries will no doubt be watching closely. 2023, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com Xiaomi India hosted its Smarter Living 2023 event today. At the event, the company unveiled a range of smart devices that includes a vacuum cleaner, air purifiers, a smart TV and more. Heres a quick at the products launched by Xiaomi India along with their pricing and availability Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 and Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite Xiaomi introduced two new air purifers in India today. These include Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 and Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite with Particle Clean Air Delivery Rate (PCADR) of up to 400m3/h. The former is priced at 13,999, while the latter costs 9,999. Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 will be available via Amazon from April 23 onwards. Similarly, the Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite can be purchased on April 23 via Amazon and Flipkart. Both air purifiers can be operated via Xiaomi Home app as well as a remote. For hands-free operation, they feature support for Google Assistant and Amazon Alexa. Talking about the features, Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 comes with an OLED screen to show indicators like the mode, air quality and more. It has a PCADR rate of up to 400m3/h and is claimed to be capable of circulating air across a maximum area of 516 sq. ft within 10 minutes. It offers a three-layer filtration system and 360-degree filtration. It can filter out PM 2.5, PM 10 particles, and even gas fumes. Xiaomi Smart Air Purifier 4 Lite comes with a PCADR of up to 360m3/h and can deliver 6000L of clean air per minute. It has an LED screen to notify users about air quality, modes and other details. Xiaomi Smart TV X Pro series The company has launched Xiaomi Smart TV X Pro in three different sizes - 43-inch, 50-inch and 55-inch priced at 32,999, 41,999 and 47,999. It will be available via Flipkart and offline retail stores from April 19. The new Xiaomi Smart TV X Pro series is said to come with improved colours, contrast, saturation, and brightness across a wide colour gamut. It features support for Dolby Vision IQ and Vivid Picture Engine 2 and has slim bezels. The smart TV offers 4K resolution display and is equipped with a 40W sound system with support for Dolby Atmos and DTS:X sound technologies. The all-new Xiaomi Smart TV X Pro runs Google TV OS. Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2i Xiaomi Robot Vacuum Mop 2i comes with an introductory price of 16,999. It will be available via Amazon from April 28. It is 2-in-1 vacuum and mop combo with a suction power of 2,200 pa. It also has a Gyroscope and Optical Sensor Aided Navigation to map "complex" home layouts. The Xiaomi Robot Vacuum-Mop 2i comes with a 450 ml independent large dust compartment. On the battery front, it is said to offer a 100-minute run time that can clean areas of more than 1200 sq ft. Xiaomi has launched the all-new Beard Trimmer 2C which carries a price tag of 1,199. US-based technology major Apple Inc is reportedly in talks with suppliers to make MacBooks in Thailand. According to a report by Nikkei, the move is part of the company's ongoing efforts to expand its manufacturing presence beyond China amid geopolitical uncertainties. The iPhone maker has been mass producing its Apple Watch in Thailand for more than a year, says Nikkei Asia's report. As per the report, Apple suppliers involved in the talks already have manufacturing complexes in Thailand for other clients. They are now discussing possible assembly and production of components and modules for MacBooks. "Ideally, Apple asked us to set up facilities in Vietnam for MacBooks, following in the footsteps of other Apple suppliers, but we offered an alternative option of building the product at our Thailand plants, which still have a massive space that can be reserved for the client," a senior executive at one of the suppliers told Nikkei Asia. "As MacBook assembly will begin in Vietnam first, we could support the components from our Thailand plants, too. ... It will only take two to three days of logistics and custom clearance." While another supplier said it is building new plants in Thailand for Apple. Construction of a new factory for MacBooks and other products will be completed this year, it added. An executive at the third supplier said the company has set up a trial production line for MacBooks in Thailand, but the company is also looking for a plot of land in Vietnam as a backup plan. The U.S. tech giant will reportedly begin mass production of MacBooks in Vietnam in the first half of this year. Apple has gradually moved some production capacity for AirPods, the Apple Watch, iPads and MacBooks to northern Vietnam in recent years. The number of Apple suppliers in the country increased to 25 in 2021 from 14 in 2018, when the trade war started escalating, according to Nikkei Asia's analysis of the company's official list of suppliers. However, shifting production from China will not be easy for Apple and it suppliers as they have spent decades building a massive supply chain in the country. But the geopolitical tensions have forced the iPhone maker to rethink its supply chain show few signs of easing. Thailand is also an emerging beneficiary of the U.S.-China trade war, with many server, data center, printer and automotive suppliers setting up factories in the country since 2018. Sam's Club You can never have enough toilet paper, paper towels, and hot dogs. That's why to celebrate Sam's Club's 40th birthday the retail warehouse chain is taking $40 off first-time memberships, according to a company news release. Starting Friday, April 14, customers can be introduced to the store by signing up for club membership for the low price of $10 the annual membership normally runs for $50. In addition, future customers can pick up a Plus membership, which usually costs $100 and grants card holders early access to the store, for $70. However, the deal is short lived and ends Wednesday, April 19. This Isn't Going to End Well: The True Story of a Man I Thought I Knew By Daniel Wallace. Illustrations by William Nealy Algonquin. 258 pp. $28 - - - Novelist Daniel Wallace - best known for "Big Fish," the basis for Tim Burton's 2003 film - undertakes a striking first venture into nonfiction with "This Isn't Going to End Well." A memoir wrapped in an elegy - or maybe the reverse - it states its project crisply: "This is a book about the life and death of William Nealy, my brother-in-law, a man I loved and admired and who left this world, by choice, when he was forty-eight years old." That clean, clear language, sturdy throughout, is fitting, as it maps a strangely stunning life. Who was William Nealy? What made him do it? Wallace slowly unravels the fascinating - and ultimately tragic - story of a man who, though very close to Wallace, somehow kept his inmost self hidden in plain sight. Though Nealy is the focus of "This Isn't Going to End Well," the book is necessarily Wallace's story, too, marking his maturation as a man and writer as he works to unpack Nealy's history. The tale opens with a literal splash, as Wallace recalls coming home from seventh grade in 1971 to find his big sister's handsome, fearless boyfriend "standing on the roof . . . eyeing the swimming pool about twenty-five feet below. William." Young Wallace is stunned. William's contrasting "wildness . . . derring-do . . . willingness to take flight - literally - into the unknown" had never "been modeled to me by anyone." As William jumps successfully - and keeps jumping - Wallace lets himself fantasize from this distance "how the rest of our lives would have turned out had [William] died that day instead of . . . three decades later." Yet William will continue, "so alive . . . in his leather jacket . . . plain white T-shirt . . . assassin-style sunglasses . . . hair the color of burned butter." Wallace marvels "that someone so remarkable and dangerous could ever be reduced to ten cups of ashes in a small wooden box." One hears Hamlet sadly mulling Yorick there. Early on, William becomes a devoted mate to Wallace's beautiful sister Holly (more fiercely when her lifelong struggle with severe rheumatoid arthritis begins). As they grow up, William shepherds Wallace through thrilling forays: rock concerts, fishing trips, movies, carpentry, booze, weed. A self-made, hellbent naturalist and survivalist, William stashes weaponry of every sort. But "despite the guns in the secret cutaway wall . . . despite the paramilitary esprit of his imaginary life . . . he never, ever hurt a living soul . . . I thought of him as the child of James Dean, Albert Camus, Ernest Hemingway, Keith Richards, Satan, G.I. Joe, and of course, Clint Eastwood." That list makes sense: William, a prolific cartoonist, described himself to an editor as a "Boy Scout . . . high school dropout, war resister, civil rights activist, construction worker, college student, mountain rescue specialist, garbageman . . . rock musician, police analyst, sculptor, spelunker, motorcyclist, bowhunter, paramedic, canoeist, kayaker, river guide . . . parachutist, author . . . yachtsman . . . archer, rollerblader, tree surgeon . . . drunk . . . drug addict." Wallace's book is illustrated with William's extraordinary cartoons - detailed maps of rivers and back country, white-water guidance, character satires, first-aid instructions including "Swimming Self-rescue." All are practical yet witty; their exuberant energy reminiscent of R. Crumb's work. (Many of these marvelous maps and drawings became popular books - a halcyon period for the young iconoclast.) Wallace chronicles William's trajectory, including his first encounter with Holly (William is "playing with matches and gasoline," a perfect prophecy), their wild adventures (motorcycles and sex) and Wallace's steady wish to emulate his rogue-space-cowboy of a future brother-in-law. "He wanted to get as close as he could to disaster, but then, through wit and skill . . . get right out of it." When Holly's illness "turned [her] to stone," William didn't leave. "He was a caretaker and a problem-solver . . . he tried to fix it . . . a born adventurer who became a nurse to the woman he loved . . . I think he would do it again." By a certain point, the men relate as brothers. "Riding bikes, smoking cigarettes, playing pool, drinking cheap beer . . . brought us close." But Wallace also consistently questions "how much of it was me and how much of it was me trying to be William." What Wallace manages in setting down this cryptic, powerful story is fourfold: He conveys its intense mystery - secret journals and letters show up - in due course revealing what shaped and drove the wounded, gifted young man, from his 1953 birth in Alabama to the end in Virginia, near a houseboat on a lake in 2001. "[William] was like Odysseus. Heroic and destructive. Cursed by the gods to be himself." He evokes the natures of the key players, their feats and their settings in time and place with sensuous immediacy. He describes how it felt to live inside his own, hapless witnessing, and later mortal reflections. "I'm not in the world to break it or to be broken by it." Above all, he imbues this chronicle with tremendous compassion - for William, for everyone. "This Isn't Going to End Well" gives off the particular radiance of a life lived hard, whatever else: as such, a brand of American bildungsroman. There's deep satisfaction to its arc, despite its inherent sadness - a wondrous glimpse of the melding, in human doings, of fate, character and serendipity. - - - Joan Frank's recent books are "Juniper Street: A Novel" and "Late Work: A Literary Autobiography of Love, Loss, and What I Was Reading." By Eirinie Carson Melville House. 232 pp. $27.99 - - - "I do not remember our love unfolding, that we got to know one another and in time became friends. I only remember that she came through the door and it was there, huge and permanent and first." These words are from Ann Patchett's 2004 memoir "Truth and Beauty," about her impassioned friendship with Lucy Grealy, who died a few years before its publication. The writers met in college in their late teens, and the book tracks the following two decades of shared successes and misfortunes that came to shape their enduring bond. I thought about Patchett's book while reading Eirinie Carson's striking debut, "The Dead Are Gods," another fervid outpouring of friendship, grief and love. Like Patchett, Carson writes as much to come to terms with a sudden, unexpected loss as to celebrate a transformative, unexpected meeting of two people, a blazing stroke of luck that prevailed. Both memoirs testify to the ways rare friendships can make and unmake us as fully as any fiery romance or formative familial relationship. Carson was 15 when she met 16-year-old Larissa - tall, Black, gorgeous, dressed like a punk - in the mostly White rock festival scene of early-2000s London. "This was pre-Google," writes Carson, the daughter of a White mother and a Black father. "I had no way of knowing that there might be people who looked like me and dressed like her." "The Dead Are Gods" is a tender, intricate portrait of Larissa, nicknamed "Larry," sometimes "shmoo" or "poo poo." Carson writes that she adored Larissa, her best friend, for the very traits that often put a strain on Larissa's relationships with others. She was magnetic, not only for her looks and intelligence but also for her bold, demanding nature. "Larissa did nothing for anyone, she put her needs and desires before almost everything else, and in doing so lived in an honest way," Carson writes. In 38 chapters filled with elegiac, rhythmic prose, Carson first tracks their lives together, in their early 20s residing in various flats around London while occasionally modeling and mostly broke; then, later, living apart, once Carson moved to Los Angeles, married and had a child while Larissa settled in Paris, experiencing a sequence of romances and heartbreaks. It was there that she died, alone in her apartment, at 32 years old. As with Grealy, the circumstances of her death were mysterious, though in both cases an accidental overdose was suspected. Even when they were living in different time zones, the friends communicated often, if erratically, via texts, email and audio messages, sometimes meeting up to see each other in London or Paris or New York. Each chapter is punctuated by delightful, loving exchanges drawn from their digital communication, allowing readers to experience the tempo and inflections of a private, playful intimacy. (At one point, Carson adds a note at the end of one of her doting messages, observing how "my emails to you read exactly like my emails to A" - that is, Adam, her husband.) The two friends, Carson explains, had a lot in common to begin with: They were each raised by a single mother, with estranged fathers they rarely talked about; they were drawn to literature and writing; and they both sometimes modeled, booking gigs more irregularly than they should have. ("Both of us heard 'We already have a Black model on this job' several million times.") In Larissa, Carson found herself leaning into attributes and qualities she earlier disregarded or downplayed for various reasons. Her Blackness, her spunk, her confidence. "You were such a doorway to so many aspects of my adulthood, you facilitated so many moments that caused me to reassess who I was, who I wanted to be." Throughout, the author toggles between writing directly to an imagined reader, often a compatriot griever, and apostrophically addressing her dead friend. This mash-up - of those in the throes of grief and those who are being grieved - adds to the sense of bewilderment that drives the narrative. It suggests, too, that everyone is just a measure away from transitioning from one side of the equation to the other. At the heart of Carson's memoir is a complicated friendship with roots so deep that they endure well beyond Larissa's death. "You were a good listener. In fact, you still are," Carson writes. "If I am honest you have been the one person who has been inimitable and yet the one I have most desired to be like." The best friendships - the most exceptional ones - involve a kind of acceptance and understanding, an ability to see beyond the performance of one's usual persona, that is often nearly impossible to find elsewhere. They are mutual admiration societies, and as such they bring about the best in both parties, in the long or short term. As the Stoic philosopher Seneca wrote: "Friendship creates a community of interest between us in everything. We have neither successes nor setbacks as individuals; our lives have a common end." That "common end" extends well beyond the transactional. It is, instead, a way of seeing, a way of being in the world, that is otherwise individually unavailable. For Carson, there's an irony to this experience of mutual encouragement: The person who most relentlessly supported her writing, she notes, will never be able to read the book prompted by her death, the one Carson wrote, in part, to help herself carry on. Yet she recognizes, too, that the attention she bestows on Larissa in her writing, in her grieving, is something she never would have been able to offer while her friend was alive. There were secret, distressing parts Larissa never wanted Carson to see, aspects of her life that, once exposed, would have indelibly transformed, possibly even destroyed, their relationship. "I have never been closer," Carson writes, "never examined your life quite like this . . . I can get closer than you would have perhaps allowed me when you were living." One can love, and be loved, fully and powerfully, and still withhold parts of oneself. This is a paradox Carson initially glosses over - in the memoir as when her friend was still alive - but she eventually recognizes it as the very essence of her persistent, unabating grief. It's a painful realization, but it also offers a kind of fulfillment: In discovering Larissa anew, Carson lets their friendship continue to play out, and with it the very forces that gave her the space to love, to breathe and, ultimately, to try, as her friend taught her, to live as fully as possible. - - - Tahneer Oksman is an associate professor at Marymount Manhattan College, where she teaches courses in writing, literature and cultural journalism. When children's book author Kyle Lukoff began writing "Call Me Max," it was a dare, of sorts. Writing as a wave of book banning hit the United States - bans mostly focused on stories told by LGBTQ people and people of color - Lukoff paid attention to the criticisms being raised by parents, lawmakers and conservative advocates. They argued that the books contained offensive language or age-inappropriate sexual content. One story about a transgender girl, written by a friend of Lukoff's, received complaints because it contained a reference to "dirty magazines." So Lukoff aimed to write a book that was as safe and "basic" as possible - "bulletproof," as he wrote in a recent Jezebel article. "I wanted to force people to say the quiet part out loud. To say, 'We don't like this book because it's about a trans person,' and not give them any other excuses," Lukoff said. In the book, a kid named Max asks his teacher to call him by the name he chose, not the name that's on the attendance sheet. He shares his feelings about his identity with his parents. He makes new friends. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) showed an image from the book before signing a bill last year that banned students from kindergarten to third grade from discussing anything related to sex or gender identity. Lukoff had succeeded. But "what I had not planned on," he said, "was how terrible it would feel when my plan worked." The stakes have never been higher for trans people in the United States. Trans rights are being rolled back around the country, and some trans creators are facing fervent backlash against their work. At the same time, trans artists, writers and performers have more opportunities, and audiences are connecting with more nuanced portrayals of trans people than ever before. Trans filmmakers are showing their movies at Sundance, trans musicians are winning Grammys, and trans writers are best-selling authors. Popular video games such as "The Sims 4" allow players to create trans characters. Increasing visibility, while seen as a reflection of increasing acceptance and understanding of trans communities, has come with increased vulnerability. In this landscape, trans storytellers and performers are wrestling with the power - and limitations - of trans representation. Decades before trans artists hit the mainstream, though, they were making art for themselves. Writers founded their own presses to publish their books. They created their own superheroes. Artists such as Juliana Huxtable, Greer Lankton and Loren Cameron explored layers of their identities and histories in poems, paintings and photographs. But for most of American history, the trans people seen in popular culture were products of the cisgender imagination: direct reflections of the fears, fascinations, impulses and misunderstandings that cis people had about being trans. In television and film, trans representation amounted to a melange of stereotypes, usually falling into one of two categories: the villain (a cross-dressing serial killer) or the victim (murdered sex workers in crime shows; patients hospitalized for transition complications on hospital dramas). On daytime talk shows, audiences howled and jeered at transgender reveals. In popular comedies, such as "Family Guy" and "Ace Ventura: Pet Detective," cis male characters would vomit at the thought of hooking up with a trans woman. "Grand Theft Auto" and other popular video games included derogatory depictions of trans people. Major publishers overlooked or ignored trans writers. Advocates say this has impacted Americans' views on what it means to be a trans person. "In 2023, it's still true that the vast majority of Americans say they've never met a transgender person in real life. So all they know about what it means to be a transgender person is what they've learned from the media," said Nick Adams, vice president of the GLAAD Media Institute, which advocates for better representation of LGBTQ people in media. This makes it easier for media outlets, influencers and politicians to spread misinformation and rouse fear about trans people, he said: "They're able to get more traction than they should be able to get because the average person hasn't met us in real life." According to a Washington Post-KFF survey, discrimination and harassment remain a fact of most trans adults' lives. More than 6 in 10 trans adults said they have encountered discrimination and verbal attacks. A quarter reported being physically attacked. Problematic depictions may also affect how trans people see themselves. Nonbinary journalist and author Tre'vell Anderson is a "a church queen by heart." When they were growing up in South Carolina, their family often watched bootleg DVDs of Tyler Perry plays. Anderson was drawn to the religious iconography in Perry's work - and the singing. But Anderson also noted their family's reactions to the character Madea, a wisecracking, bespectacled matriarch that Perry performed in a gray wig and prismatic dresses. Anderson internalized those responses. There was only one "acceptable" way a person like them could wear a dress: for comedic value. It was only when Anderson encountered trans people on reality TV - the famed ballroom dancer Leiomy Maldonado on "America's Best Dance Crew" or Isis King on "America's Next Top Model" - that Anderson saw people they could actually relate to. Trans people who couldn't just "take off the wig." "There was something to latch onto in terms of the realness of these people, of these communities, of the possibilities for how I could show up in the world," Anderson said. Trans visibility has surged in recent years. Because of the internet and social media, it is easier than ever for trans people, young and old, to find community and get more information. The work of trans artists and stories depicting trans characters have funneled into the mainstream. This is especially true of television. The FX show "Pose," depicting New York's underground ballroom scene of the '80s and '90s, featured a cast full of trans actors, including Michaela Jae Rodriguez, who won a Golden Globe for her role. Trans actors play trans characters on popular shows, such as Elliot Page in "The Umbrella Academy" and Hunter Schafer in "Euphoria." GLAAD numbers highlight this shift: From 2021 to 2022, there were 42 transgender regular and recurring characters across broadcast, cable and streaming networks. Out of those, 41 were played or voiced by trans actors. These changes both impact and reflect the number of openly trans and nonbinary people, advocates say. The Post-KFF survey found that young people in particular were much more likely to be out (about 9 in 10 of those ages 18 to 34 were out to their friends and family; for trans people ages 35 and older, that rate was about 4 in 5). For those who have come out to their families, nearly 7 in 10 said their families were at least somewhat supportive. Still, despite rapid growth over the last decade, visibility has "plateaued" a bit in the last couple of years, said Adams from GLAAD. Trans characters remain scant on the big screen. GLAAD's review of all the films released by Hollywood's largest studios in the last five years found only one trans character (Anybodys in 2021's "West Side Story"). The role was minor. Jen Richards, a trans writer, actress and producer living in Los Angeles, used to joke about what the trans version of "the Bechdel test" would be. (The test evaluates how women characters are portrayed on-screen: To pass, a work must feature at least two women and show these women talking to each other about something other than a man.) The trans version of the Bechdel test? As recently as 10 years ago, "it was pretty much, like, there is a trans person and they live," Richards said. "I think now we would say there's more than one trans person and they talk to each other at all. They're named." Richards is quick to note how much has changed in just the last five years - "the very fact that I have a career at all is beyond what I even hoped for when I started advocating for change in this industry." She landed an Emmy nomination in 2016 for the web series "Her Story," which she co-wrote, co-produced and starred in. Back then, cis actors like Jared Leto and Eddie Redmayne were still playing trans roles - and winning awards for those portrayals. It would be "unthinkable" to have that kind of casting now, said Richards, who has a recurring role on the AMC show "Mayfair Witches." It was recently renewed for a second season. But she senses a certain "timidity" when it comes to telling trans stories or showing trans characters. Yes, Richards and other trans writers in Hollywood are getting work. She has even sold and developed a couple shows. But none of these shows have made it to air. "The right has done such a good job of vilifying trans people, of making them scapegoats, that it's now seen as a loaded issue," Richards said. And well-meaning people in the industry may fear getting stories about trans people wrong, she added. Many trans creators - whether they are working in Hollywood, video games, publishing, media and the fine arts - still have to rely on cis people to fund, produce and distribute their work. Because of this, a certain kind of trans story is often repeated: one that fixates on a character's transition or coming out. As sympathetic and moving as some of these portrayals may be, they're also stunting, creators say. Because in this kind of story, being trans is a problem that must be resolved. The character is often isolated, concerned with how cis people will respond to their identity. The struggle and suffering of transition - which can be one of the most difficult parts of a trans person's life - is foregrounded. Creators have become increasingly frustrated by these tropes, in large part because they suggest that there is nothing more interesting to say about being a trans person. This narrow focus also erases a crucial aspect of their lives: community. "It is the community, it is the chosen family, that has been our savior, our reprieve, our comfort," Anderson said. "So often in narratives that have trans people that aren't created by trans folks, that's not taken into account. And so what ends up happening is that the fullness of that trans character's life on screen is only in relation to the cis folks around them." This dynamic impacts the work that's available to trans creators, Richards said. "I'm so much more than my transness," she said. She has studied mythology and folk tales. She is a Shakespeare scholar. "But people only reach out to me if there's a trans storyline." "Where the needle is really going to move forward is when we are empowered to tell our own stories," said Adams of GLAAD. He sees this as a way of combating the growing animus against trans people in communities and state legislatures across the country. "There has to be a multipronged approach to create a world that is safe for transgender and nonbinary people to exist in, and representation is part of that fight," Adams said. That starts with telling a more diverse array of stories. GLAAD has advocated for more trans representation in comedies, where audiences can laugh with trans characters instead of at them. "We think humor and laughing is a way to connect people in general," Adams said. He pointed to the late '90s comedy "Will & Grace," which has been credited with helping to boost acceptance of gay people beyond its prime-time broadcast slot. It's also just good business, Adams argues: LGBTQ people, generally, are a growing audience. According to a 2022 Gallup poll, the percentage of Americans who identify as LGBTQ has doubled in the last 10 years, with the highest rates among Gen Z (19.7 percent) and millennials (11.2 percent). The same poll found that nearly 2 percent of Gen Z identify as trans. These stories aren't just valuable for audiences, cis or trans. The process of making them is also affirming for trans creators themselves, especially at a time when lawmakers are trying to limit the ways trans people live their lives. Anderson has a forthcoming book about the power of trans representation: "We See Each Other: A Black, Trans Journey Through TV and Film." It was important for them to trace the history, sometimes hidden, sometimes overlooked, of Black trans artists who have "made ways out of no way, time and time again." "It is both a joy and wonder to be witnessed," they said. "Visibility allows us as trans people to see each other, to be seen, to find each other, to be in community, to know that we are not alone, because our mere existence unsettles so much about how our world is set up." Lukoff, the children's book author, makes it clear that he doesn't write to increase visibility or representation. He writes because he is a writer, he said, not because he has some end goal in mind. Sure, his books could help someone be more empathetic to trans people or inspire young trans kids. Maybe his audience could even lobby for legislation to protect trans people. But, he added, his books are "impotent" without the right people in power. As much he abhors the current climate, he's still able to keep it at bay when he sits down to write. Since the bans, Lukoff has actually become less cautious, he said: "I know that no matter what I do, they're going to come for me. So why would I hold my tongue?" Courtesy/Webb County Sheriff's Office An Alexander High School student punched a fellow classmate in the nose when he asked him about classwork, according to the United ISD Police Department. Fernando Hernandez III, 18, was arrested and charged with assault. BRUNI, Texas A district school board meeting in the small town of Bruni sent shockwaves across the county on Tuesday evening as Webb Consolidated Independent School District no longer has a superintendent. Webb CISD Superintendent Beto D. Gonzalez submitted his letter of resignation to the school board on Monday night following an incident with a district vehicle from last December that has caused he and the school district to be involved in a million-dollar lawsuit. The school board nearly voted unanimously in favor of his resignation, with only one voting against, during a meeting at the Texas Board Room. Webb CISD board member Robert Marshall said during the meeting that he was notified about the lawsuit just a week ago, and they were notified of Gonzalezs resignation letter on Monday night, which prompted Tuesday's meeting. Marshall was also the lone member to vote against the resignation, stating that he would have preferred to turn Gonzalez into the district attorneys office instead. According to court records, a lawsuit has been filed against Gonzalez and Webb CISD by three plaintiffs who are seeking "over $1,000,000 subject to any statutory caps." The lawsuit states that on Dec. 9, 2021, Gonzalez was driving a district-owned vehicle on FM 681. A car was allegedly stopped to make a left turn in front of him when "Gonzalez failed to control speed" and struck the vehicle. This led to the vehicle moving into the opposite lane of traffic where it struck the plaintiffs' vehicle, which "caused the Plaintiffs serious and incapacitating injuries," the lawsuit states. Gonzalez is being accused by the plaintiffs of driver inattention and failing to keep a proper lookout, control speed, break properly, control vehicle, keep a proper distance away from the vehicle in front of his and use a reasonable degree of care. "Defendant Heriberto D. Gonzalezs acts and omissions constitute negligence, negligence per se, and/or gross negligence which proximately caused the collision and injuries and other losses as specifically set for herein, all of which Plaintiffs suffered and which they will continue to suffer in the future, if not for the remainder of their natural lives," the lawsuit states. According to his bio, Gonzalez has over 25 years of experience including 16 years in administrative leadership. Webb CISD's superintendent also was a former college/university dean at Texas A&M-San Antonio, Dean of Students and Student Services at Bakersfield College and a lecturer and instructor at the Graduate School of Education at Fresno Pacific University. Gonzalez has a bachelor's degree in English and Spanish, and a master's degree in educational administration from California State University at Bakersfield. He has also completed doctoral coursework in educational leadership at the University of California at Los Angeles. With Gonzalez's departure, there will now be an active search for a new leader before the next school year begins. The board announced that more information will be posted on their website pertaining to the requirements for whoever decides to fill in the position. The school board also discussed the possibility of using several local legal firms in efforts to find the best candidates possible. According to one source experienced in these types of situations, however, superintendent searches even when done hastily to fill the position take about three to four months to find a good and qualified candidate. That may mean Webb CISD will have its work cut out for it to get in a quality new candidate prior to the start of the 2022-23 school year. ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) A former Navy reservist who stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and expressed admiration for Adolf Hitler was sentenced Thursday to three years in prison on firearms charges. The sentence U.S. District Judge Michael Nachmanoff imposed for Hatchet Speed in federal court in Alexandria was just five months less than the term sought by federal prosecutors and much longer than the one-year term sought by Speed's lawyers. Speed, 41, of McLean, is a military veteran who held top-secret clearances while working for a defense contractor. The gun charges against him in Virginia are separate from charges brought in Washington, D.C., for obstructing an official proceeding, the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress for certifying the Electoral College vote. He will sentenced on those charges next month; sentencing guidelines in that case call for a term of nearly five to six years. Speed's lawyers asked the judge not to be prejudiced against him because of his inflammatory views. In conversations with an FBI undercover employee in 2022, Speed expressed admiration not only for Hitler but also for Olympic Park bomber Eric Rudolph and Unabomber Ted Kaczynski. In recorded conversations, Speed also made antisemitic comments and proposed targeting Jewish people with acts of violence. He also collected neo-Nazi memorabilia. But Nachmanoff said Speed's admiration for despicable historical figures and his views on advocating violence to achieve his objectives demonstrate the danger he poses to the public. The defendant's statements of admiration for Adolf Hitler, Eric Rudolph and Ted Kaczynski ... and his belief that such activities could be justified are all highly relevant, Nachmanoff said. Prosecutors said Speed, a member of the far-right Proud Boys group, believed the 2020 presidential election was stolen from Donald Trump. After Joe Biden took office, Speed began making preparations for what he believed was imminent civil war and started stockpiling weapons, including the three silencers that were the subject of his Virginia trial. In Thursday's closing statements, prosecutor Thomas Traxler said Speed studied the manifestos of Rudolph and Kaczynski to try to come up with a better game plan than they had. Speed had claimed he was innocent because the devices he purchased were actually solvent traps used to collect excess fluid when you clean a gun. The devices are indeed marketed as solvent traps, but their design is similar to that of a silencer. The only significant difference is that the solvent traps require drilling a hole in the end to turn them into functioning silencers. Speed bought the devices, which are made of titanium and sell for hundreds of dollars, after he tried to buy silencers and faced significant delays. Speed said he did not believe he was required to register the devices as silencers with the government unless he drilled holes in them something he never did. Prosecutors, though, said the law governing silencers covers devices intended for use as a silencer, regardless of whether they are functional or sold under another name. Speed's first trial in Virginia ended with a hung jury and a mistrial, as jurors apparently struggled with the legal definition of a silencer and whether Speed was required to register them. He was convicted at a retrial, after one of the initial jurors reached out to prosecutors and explained what caused the jury's confusion. Traxler said the legal loophole that Speed thought he uncovered was too cute by half and urged a stiff sentence to discourage others from doing likewise. Speed, who intends to appeal his conviction, did not speak at Thursday's hearing. Michael Sohn/AP BERLIN (AP) Germany's imports from Russia fell by more than 90% in the first year of Moscow's war in Ukraine, largely as a result of the collapse of Russian energy deliveries to Europe's biggest economy, official figures showed Thursday. The Federal Statistical Office said Germany imported goods worth 300 million euros ($329 million) in February, down from 3.7 billion euros a year earlier. That was a 91% fall, and dropped Russia from the 11th-biggest source of imports to 46th place. An education programme aiming to position Ireland as a leader in sustainability within the food industry has a Longford lady flying the flag. Sustainability is recognised as a priority issue for the food industry. The Origin Green Ambassador Programme takes 10 Ambassadors passionately committed to the better management of our planets resources on a 23-month journey towards an MSc in Business Sustainability. Ailbhe McGowan, from Lismore, Newtownforbes has been working across London and Ireland with some of the leading global food and drink companies: Origin Green programme is a two year Masters in Business Sustainability run by the Bord Bia talent academy in conjunction with the UCD Smurfit Graduate Business School. During the programme participants do several modules to up-skill, then three six month placements with companies in markets that Ireland are selling into, she told the Leader. Ailbhe's undergraduate degree in UCD was in Food and Agri Business Management: I always had an interest in food and agriculture, she explained, I worked with R&H Hall, Ireland's biggest importer and supplier of animal feed ingredients. I was working as a trader. We imported products like soya, maize, barley or wheat. They supply mills like Kiernans or P&V in Longford. This made me aware of the conversation around commodities; deforestation and sustainability. She has worked with a range of leading food and drink businesses, NGOs, Governments and civil society, representing the Irish food and drink industry abroad: Its a really interesting time to be working in sustainability, particularly in Irelands food and drink sector which has an export value of 16.7bn. Ailbhe was delighted to be chosen as an Origin Green Ambassador: I came across the programme by chance. It seemed like such a good opportunity. Sustainability is so important. I applied and was lucky to get a place. There are 10 of us on the programme, we are all using the experience we gather to make sure Irish producers stay ahead of the curve. Her farm family background may have played a role in her initial education route, her sister has recently completed her Green Cert, however her career path has been an organic progression: Getting into sustainability was really through my work. The knowledge of supply chains and the impact it is having on the world's resources. I am now completing my final placement with an environmental consultancy company called Efeca UK. There are several different avenues I can take after that. It encompasses retailers, food manufacturers or any business that wants to develop their sustainability themes. As Ailbhe's Origin Green Ambassador programme comes to an end she still ponders her next option: My speciality relates to deforestation. It would be interesting to stay in that space. To be honest I haven't got it figured out yet. It's a space that is developing so quickly. For any prospective students who would like to undertake overseas placements with some of the worlds leading global brands, while gaining an internationally recognised Masters the 2023 applications of the Origin Green Ambassador Programme closes at the end of April. Use the Arrows < > above to go through the gallery Pope Francis has appointed Mullingar native Father Paul Connell as the new Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois. News of this Episcopal appointment was announced to mass goers in Longfords St Mels Cathedral last Wednesday morning by Monsignor Julien Kabore, Charge dAffaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland. READ MORE BELOW PHOTO The Diocese of Ardagh and Clonmacnois had been without a bishop since November 10, 2021, when Bishop Francis Duffy was appointed as Archbishop of Tuam. Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Duffy, Bishop of Meath Tom Deenihan, Bishop-elect Connell; Monsignor Kabore; Father Tom Healy, Diocesan Administrator of Ardagh and Clonmacnois, and also present were Bishop Emeritus Ardagh and Clonmacnois Colm OReilly and Bishop Emeritus of Meath Michael Smith. Bishop-elect Connell told the congregation that there was no one more surprised to be here than he was. When I was asked by Monsignor Julien to come to see him, I was rather hoping it was for the purpose of briefing him on an educational issue. Given my presence here today you can see that the Lord had something else in mind! Ordained in 1982, Bishop-elect Connell outlined that accepting this appointment obviously was not an easy decision or one that I took lightly. The responsibilities that come with the office of bishop are daunting, indeed frightening. I am deeply humbled by the Holy Fathers decision and I can only hope that I will be able to carry out my duties in a manner that befits his trust in me. Address by Bishop-elect Paul Connell on his appointment by Pope Francis as Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois As we gather this morning on Spy Wednesday in the midst of the holiest of weeks in the Church calendar, there is no one more surprised to be here than I am. When I was asked early last week by Monsignor Julien to come to see him at the Nunciature in Dublin, I was rather hoping it was for the purpose of briefing him on an educational issue. Given my presence here today you can see that the Lord had something else in mind! Monsignor Julien was most gentle and kind in relaying the news to me that the Holy Father, Pope Francis, wished to appoint me as the new Bishop of Ardagh and Clonmacnois in succession to Archbishop Francis Duffy. Since my ordination, I have always tried to say yes to any task requested of me but accepting this appointment obviously was not an easy decision or one that I took lightly. The responsibilities that come with the office of bishop are daunting, indeed frightening. I have also spent forty-one very happy and fulfilling years working as a priest in the diocese of Meath. We often say that God works and speaks with us in mysterious ways. One way that He does speak to us is in, and through, the people that surround us, our families, neighbours, friends, acquaintances, those whom we live with, meet with and work with. We depend on their wisdom as we go through life, a wisdom that is of God. We place our trust in the Lord that he loves and cares for each of us and knows what is best for us. It is in the spirit of that trust that I accept this responsibility as your new bishop, and I will depend immensely on your prayers and support. I am deeply humbled by the Holy Fathers decision and I can only hope that I will be able to carry out my duties in a manner that befits his trust in me. Of this I am certain, I cannot and will not be able to do this alone. With the Lords help, together we will do this work. I am greatly encouraged that this diocese continues to be richly blessed by the dedicated and generous service of its priests and I look forward to getting to know you in the coming months and working closely with you in the future. I am also deeply honoured to be appointed bishop of this historic diocese at the heart of Ireland whose Christian life is deeply rooted in the tradition of Saint Ciaran and Saint Mel. And at its centre, this beautiful Cathedral, risen from the ashes, a true expression of the resilience, faith and loyalty of the people of this diocese. A diocese blessed with a most varied and beautiful landscape. I look forward to visiting and getting to know all its parish communities. Of course, I too have strong roots in this diocese. All my mothers people, Bigleys, Browns, Butlers, Dunnings, Feeneys, and Gleesons come from the Cornamaddy area of Athlone, Athlone town and Hodson Bay in the Elphin diocese. I have many very happy childhood memories of visits to Athlone and Cornamaddy. As a Church we live in interesting times, facing many challenges. Our society is in danger of losing the sense of the sacred, above all the truth that we come from God and will some day return to God. As we look around we see difficulties for the Church on all sides. The temptation to despair is great but we must rather take courage, place our trust in the Lord and move together along the synodal path that we are at present exploring. Only in this way can we fulfil our mission to preserve the faith and hand it on to future generations. It has been a unique privilege for me to have spent a great part of my ministry working with young people. It gives me great delight to see young people here this morning. In the words of Pope Francis, to follow Christ is to love, care and respect each other but also to love, care and respect the world around us, to protect our common home. It is a message that clearly resonates with young people. I am very grateful to Archbishop Francis Duffy and Bishop Colm OReilly for their presence here this morning. I hope and trust that I can adequately follow in their footsteps, as I know that their service to this diocese is remembered here with great fondness and gratitude. I am equally grateful to Bishop Tom Deenihan and Bishop Michael Smith for their presence. I deeply appreciate Bishop Toms friendship and support. I have enjoyed greatly working with him over the last five years and certainly have gained some insight from him into the task ahead. In particular his dedication and commitment to Catholic education is remarkable. Bishop Michael was my bishop for thirty four years, a model of faith, commitment and dedication, the epitome of kindness itself. I have learned a great deal from his guidance and wisdom. I would like to thank sincerely Monsignor Julien Kabore, Charge dAffaires of the Apostolic Nunciature in Ireland, for his kindness and assistance over the last few days. I am most grateful to the Administrator of the diocese, Father Tom Healy, for his gracious warm welcome and encouragement. Over the past fifteen months he has served this diocese with great commitment and generosity. My grateful thanks to Father James McKiernan and his team here in Saint Mels Cathedral for their help and support and in particular the organisation of todays event. I am acutely aware that I have added greatly to their burden on this the busiest of weeks. Finally thank you all for coming here this morning. To Him who is able to do so much more that we can ever think or imagine, through His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the Church and Christ Jesus. Amen. (Ephesians 3:20). Please pray for me. The funeral of Longford woman Laura Gilmore Anderson, who passed away in Scotland last weekend following a three year battle with cancer, will take place on Saturday, it has been announced. The much loved former Sligo IT graduate died last Saturday surrounded by her family just two days after her 36th birthday. Laura, diagnosed with a rare and incurable Neuroendocrine tumour in her pancreas following three years of misdiagnosis, had been hoping to fly out to Mexico for potentially life saving treatment. That came after Laura had been informed by doctors she had just weeks to live, prompting a sustained fundraising campaign that saw over 400,000 being raised on both sides of the Irish Sea. However, in a heartbreaking message posted online by her husband Paul last Saturday, it was confirmed the much loved Longford woman had sadly lost her fight. "We are all so proud of her strength and determination in her battle these last few years. Laura has shown us all what an amazing, strong, wonderful, beautiful and courageous woman she was, especially in the past week, not giving up the fight until her final breath," he said. Hundreds of people shared their condolences with the family as they remembered Laura as "an inspiration kindhearted soul like no other". Close friend Lauren McKeen heaped praise on all those who supported Laura over the past three years and revealed will go towards the Longford woman's chosen charities. "She was the bravest, most courageous girl and truly fought until the very end," she said. "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone that has supported Laura throughout her journey - I know how much your generousity and kind messages meant to her and got her through some of her toughest days. "In Lauras words If love could have saved me, I would have lived forever." Another person wrote: "@help_laura_heal the absolute bed of heaven to her - may God give her partner family and friends the strength and support to carry on in the coming days months and years. God rest her soul". Longford GAA, of whom Lauras father, Brendan was a former chairman of, likewise took to Twitter as news of Lauras passing filtered through. Longford GAA are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Gilmore Anderson today. We extend our deepest sympathies to her husband Paul, her parents Brendan and Anne, and the extended Gilmore and Anderson families at this sad time. The late Laura Gilmore Anderson will lie in repose at Glennon's Funeral Home, Ballinalee Road (N39 EC81) tomorrow (Friday) from 5.00pm concluding with prayers at 8.00pm. A notice on rip.ie reads: "Laura will be sadly missed and remembered with love by her family, her beloved husband Paul, dear parents Ann and Brendan, sisters Susan, Aisling, Janette and Natalie, brothers Andrew and Stephen, mother-in-law Margaret, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, Chip, relatives and a wide circle of friends. "Mass of the Resurrection will take place on Saturday at 11.00am in St.Mels Cathedral, Longford, followed by cremation at 2.30pm in Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan. "In keeping with Laura's wishes, the family would like those attending if they so wish to wear bright colours." The legacy of literary great Maria Edgeworth on the town of Edgeworthstown shows no sign of abating as it gets set to host a major international conference next month. The suitably dubbed The Education of a Nation & The Role of the Edgeworths event will take place on May 5 on the grounds of St Marys Community Campus. A whole host of leading and internationally acclaimed experts are due to fly in for the day long event in what looks set to attract scores of visitors from both at home and abroad. In a further boost, organisers have also managed to pull off somewhat of a coup by securing the attendance of Education Minister Norma Foley. Matt Farrell told of how he and fellow chief organiser Eamon Brennan spent much of the last 12 months carefully bringing the event to fruition. It (preparations) started last year, he said. The reason we decided to go with it was because it was the 225th publication of Maria Edgeworths Practical Education, he said. Sadness and Joy as Longford Arms Hotel hosts 'Mostrim Goes To Hollywood' 'One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest' took the top award as Mostrim GAA's fundraiser Goes To Hollywood entertained huge crowds on Saturday night. Matt said the methodology adopted by the famed early 19th century writer was a strategy which, while invariably different from todays pressurised educational arena, was a technique that held much weight. He said many of those who are due to address the event closely adhered to those principals in their everyday teaching practices. Her (Maria Edgeworth) ways were that children should be introduced to practical projects and experimentation as opposed to learning off reams of stuff. A lot of these experts who are coming from all over Europe actually use Edgeworths methods in their teaching methods. For Matt, the occasion offers much more than a chance to throw the spotlight on one of this countrys greatest literary figures. Longford's GAA community bids farewell to 'heart and soul' of Mostrim club Anyone who ever graced the halls of Pearse Park on days of county games will be familiar with Philomena (Phil) Donoghue. Mrs D, as she was affectionately known, coordinated the hospitality of the county's GAA HQ. What this is also about is to bring recognition to the town of Edgeworthstown and put it in a positive light for a change, he said. We get enough negative publicity as it is and what this event will do is recognise the significant role Edgeworthstown played in the establishment of our education system. Would Maria Edgeworth in 1798 ever have imagined that 225 years after its publication a female Minister for Education Norma Foley T.D. would visit Edgeworthstown to celebrate the event? *Registration for The Education of a Nation & The Role of the Edgeworths is free and can be done by logging onto www.mariaedgeworthcentre.com before April 21. For more details contact (043) 6671801 or (087) 2241351. Longford's first Summer time Piano Festival is moving towards becoming a reality with the announcement of local authority funding. Camlin Keys Piano Festival shared the news that under the Creative Ireland Community Open Call through Longford County Council they were successful in their application to fund a Piano Festival in County Longford. This new Longford festival will provide an occasion for pianists of all ages and abilities to play, perform and compete in a friendly and supportive atmosphere. Longford has a wealth of pianists, piano teachers and students - producing the finest musicians of all genres of music. Organiser Joanna Pearman expressed her delight at the progress of the festival: Since the piano is not always the most mobile of instruments, not everybody gets the opportunity to share their skills and hard work. Our event aims to create that opportunity and we plan to host competitions, recitals, masterclasses, introductory sessions for all ages, workshops, recreational activities and a piano party.The proposed date of the festival is mid-June: At this stage in the planning we would very much welcome input and ideas from the wider piano community, teachers, and musicians, to ensure our provision meets expectations, Joanna said. The organisers are hosting an open meeting for interested parties to express their views this Friday, April 14. The venue for the meeting had yet to be confirmed before the Leader went to print, but a Zoom option to attend will be available. Joanne hopes the meeting will bring together people to promote the Camlin Keys Piano Festival: It's not only musicians Camlin Keys want to attract, but an audience too. We would welcome support and input into the development of this project from local enterprises. It would be wonderful if we got support with a venue option, hosting an event or sponsorship of prizes and classes. All ideas are welcome, to what we hope will become a feature of the Irish musical calendar. For further information or to register for a Zoom link for Friday's meeting contact camlinkeyspianofestival @gmail.com. It's going to be a busy weekend for 16 year old Seanna Donohoe from Abbeylara. Not only will the talented musician participate in the final of 2023 Fiddler of London gala competition on Saturday, but she follows up with Longford Fleadh Ceoil on Sunday. Fiddler of London is a prestigious international competition recognising an outstanding musician. Seanna, a pupil at Ard Scoil Phadraig Secondary School in Granard, is one of 10 finalist and will be proudly represent Longford across the channel. The multi instrumental musician The Fiddler of London honours the traditional music heritage of the city. It is rooted in a vibrant traditional music scene that evolved though the 1940 wave of emigration, with the first incarnation of the competition coming about in the 1070s. Seanna described how she came to be selected: I sent in a video to the competition organisers two months ago. I played a slow air into a hornpipe, then a set of reels. I also had to describe what the tunes meant. I recently got word I was selected as one of the 10 finalists. She is devoted student of music: I am a member of the John Dungan CCE in Granard and also part of the Leinster Youth Orchestra. I study under the legendary Fermanagh musician Pat McManus. After the competition Seanna will be heading straight home: Mammy and Daddy are going with me, but we have to be back in Ireland the next day for the Fleadh. I am competing in the Fiddle, Banjo and Ceili Band categories. I got to he All Ireland on the banjo last year. The fiddle and banjo are my favourite instruments. Irish premier Leo Varadkar hailed the importance of US and European leadership, as he met with President Joe Biden in Dublin. The Taoiseach, meeting Mr Biden at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, praised American leadership since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Mr Varadkar said he wanted to thank you and your administration and your countrys leadership when it comes to Ukraine because I never thought in my lifetime that wed see a war of this nature happening in Europe again. He added: Democracy and liberty and the things that we believe in are on retreat, or in retreat, in large parts of the world, and if it wasnt for American leadership, and if it wasnt for America and Europe working together, I dont know what kind of world wed live in. Mr Biden, who also met with the Irish leader in Washington on St Patricks Day, praised Irish values and the countrys acceptance of thousands of Ukrainian refugees as he spoke of a stronger and stronger relationship between the US and Ireland. The pair are set to discuss efforts to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland, with Mr Varadkar thanking Mr Biden for US support for the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden told Mr Varadkar it had been great to see him in Washington last month, and said: I think there really is an opportunity to make serious progress, not just because of the accord that was signed 25 years ago, but in terms of the way Ireland is moving, the way it is taking its place in the world, working on helping countries around the world that are dealing with starvation, the way youve I know its not easy welcomed Ukrainians here and the leadership youve shown. Earlier, in the grounds of the Irish presidents official residence in Dublin, Mr Biden had reiterated his hopes for the return of politicians to Stormont as he rang the symbolic peace bell. Speaking to Mr Varadkar, Mr Biden appeared to reference the progress made in securing the Windsor Framework the deal between the EU and UK to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol as he spoke of co-operation between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as very valuable as well. The US president, who will address the Irish Parliament later on Thursday as part of a day filled with ceremonies and formal honours, was greeted at Aras an Uachtarain by Michael D Higgins as he continued his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. Mr Biden, who stopped to speak to reporters after ringing the peace bell four times, said: I hope that the government begins to function as it used to in terms of functioning as a representative body in the north. I think thats necessary and thats for you all to decide, not for me to decide. The peace bell was installed in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden, who visited Belfast on Wednesday as part of a trip to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace accord, referenced former US senator George Mitchell, who chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement. He said: Im very proud of my colleague George Mitchell. He did a fine job. He said 300 days of failure, one day of success. We have got to build on that one day. Mr Biden is expected to later set out a shared vision for the future of US-Irish relations when he addresses both Houses of the Oireachtas. He received a ceremonial welcome to Aras an Uachtarain, with his motorcade cheered by onlookers as it passed into the vast Phoenix Park. It was Mr Bidens third visit to the residence, but his first as president. A military band played the American national anthem as Mr Biden stood outside the grand residence with his right hand on his heart. After listening to the Irish national anthem, the president inspected a guard of honour before being introduced to Irish dignitaries including Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy and head of the Irish police, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. But Mr Biden was peppered with questions from reporters as he stood in the grounds of the Irish presidents house, including on a high-profile national security leak and his feelings on being back in Ireland. The world leader said it feels great to be home, adding: I know it sounds silly. The visit finished with Mr Biden and Mr Varadkar together meeting some young GAA players. Mr Biden will be accompanied to the Irish parliament by Marie Heaney, the widow of his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney. Nine members of the US Congress, one senator as well as Mr Bidens sister Valerie and son Hunter will attend the event, as well as former Irish president Mary McAleese, two former taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland political leaders and Larysa Gerasko, ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland. Mr Biden will attend a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle hosted by Mr Varadkar in the evening. By Jacob Alvear Published: April 13 2023 JUUL to Pay $462 Million to Six States and D.C., New York to Receive $112.7 Million NEW YORK New York Attorney General Letitia James today secured the largest multistate agreement with JUUL Labs Inc. (JUUL) and its former directors and executives for their alleged role in contributing to the youth vaping epidemic that led to a rise in underage e-cigarette vaping nationwide. As part of a multistate agreement co-led by Attorney General James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta, JUUL will pay $462 million to six states and the District of Columbia. New York will receive $112.7 million, which will support underage vaping abatement programs across the state. The agreement also requires JUUL to secure JUUL products behind retail store counters and verify the age of consumers that directly sell or promote its products online. The agreement is the largest multistate settlement with JUUL and places the most stringent restrictions on JUULs marketing, sales, and distribution practices in order to protect and prevent minors from underage vaping. JUUL lit a nationwide public health crisis by putting addictive products in the hands of minors and convincing them that its harmless today they are paying the price for the harm they caused, said Attorney General James. Too many young New Yorkers are struggling to quit vaping and there is no doubt that JUUL played a central role in the nationwide vaping epidemic. Todays agreement will help young New Yorkers put their vapes down for good and ensure that future generations understand the harms of vaping. I thank my fellow attorneys general for their collaboration on this effort to protect the health and well-being of our communities. In November 2019, Attorney General James sued JUUL for its deceptive and misleading marketing that glamorized vaping with colorful ads featuring young models using fruity, sweet, and minty flavors that appealed to youth. JUUL misled consumers about the nicotine content of its products, misrepresented the safety and therapeutic value of its products by stating that they were safer than cigarettes, and failed to prevent minors from purchasing its products in stores across the country. The lawsuit alleged that JUULs conduct violated New Yorks General Business Laws, which prohibit deceptive acts and practices and false advertising; Common Law Public Nuisance, which prohibits substantial and unreasonable interference with the public health; and Executive Law 63(12), which prohibits repeated and persistent fraud and illegality, based on violations of the New York Public Health Law prohibiting underage sales of tobacco products to minors. In addition to marketing to young New Yorkers, JUUL engaged in direct outreach to high school students, including in at least one New York City school, where a JUUL representative falsely told high school freshmen that its products were safer than cigarettes. JUULs pervasive launch and ad campaign reached teenagers across the country, who then introduced JUULs products to their peers in rapid numbers. After JUUL launched in 2015, e-cigarette use in New York City high school students increased three-fold from 8.1 percent in 2014 to 23.5 percent by 2018. By 2019, the proliferation of vaping led to a national outbreak of severe vaping-related illnesses, with more than 2,500 hospitalizations. In October 2019, a 17-year-old male from the Bronx died due to a vaping-related illness, making him the first reported vaping-related fatality in New York, and the youngest vaping-related fatality in the United States. The New York State Department of Health reports that more than 1 in 5 high school students reported vaping in 2020. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report that more than 1 in 7 high school students use e-cigarettes as of 2022. Todays agreement requires JUUL to pay $462 million to six states and the District of Columbia. New York will receive $112.7 million over an eight-year period. JUUL is required to make its first payment to the states within 90 days of the effective date of the agreement followed by seven annual payments. The agreement also has stringent restrictions on JUULs sales and marketing abilities, including requiring JUUL to: Refrain from any marketing that directly or indirectly targets youth, including using anyone under the age of 35 in promotional material or funding, operating youth education/prevention campaigns, or sponsoring school related activities, Limit the amount of retail and online purchases an individual can make, Perform regular retail compliance checks at five percent of New Yorks retail stores that sell JUULs products for at least four years, Treat synthetic nicotine as nicotine, Refrain from providing free or nominally priced JUUL pods as samples to consumers, Exclude product placement in virtual reality systems, and Increase funding to a document depository by up to $5 million and add millions of relevant documents to the depository to inform the public on how JUUL created a public health crisis. In addition, the agreements restrictions on JUUL are binding on JUULs former directors and executives, Adam Bowen, Hoyoung Huh, James Monsees, Nicholas Pritzker, and Riaz Valani, and any business they control that sells nicotine products. For too long, JUUL has gotten away with deceptively hooking young people on nicotine. Todays settlement puts an end to those nefarious practices and invests in a healthier New York, said Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine. Im grateful to Attorney General James and her team for spending years working to hold JUUL accountable and curb vapings rise in youth. As a parent of two young daughters and the sponsor of the law banning flavored e-cigarettes in New York, Im extremely grateful to Attorney General James for the $462 million settlement she has reached with JUUL, which created a public health crisis by cynically marketing its flavored vaping products to underage youth and misleading consumers about the harmful effect of e-cigarettes, said State Senator Brad Hoylman-Sigal. Im hopeful that this historic settlement by the Attorney General will be a precursor to the FDA once and for all banning JUUL vaping products altogether due to the overwhelming safety concerns and extraordinary rise in youth vaping. From the outset, JUUL had ripped a page straight from big tobacco's playbook, spending millions of dollars to market their new product to youth and hook a new generation on nicotine, said Assemblymember Linda B. Rosenthal. I applaud Attorney General James and the attorneys general of the other states involved in this settlement for their efforts in protecting youth from the harm we know is caused by vaping. Having worked on legislation to crack down on the e-cigarette industry since 2010, it's become abundantly clear that JUUL has been deceptive and dishonest in its marketing practices, prioritizing its bottom line over the health of millions of young people. This settlement and the restrictions it will impose on e-cigarette marketing will finally create some accountability, and I thank Attorney General James for leading the charge. This settlement is an important step in holding JUUL accountable for fueling the youth e-cigarette epidemic with its flavored, nicotine-loaded products and youth-oriented marketing, said John Bowman, Executive Vice President of U.S. Programs, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. We applaud Attorney General James for her leadership in shining a spotlight on JUULs wrongdoing and forcing the company to change its harmful practices. By requiring the disclosure of previously secret JUUL documents and providing funding for youth vaping prevention programs, this settlement can have a particularly significant impact in protecting the health of our children. We are enormously grateful to New York Attorney General Letitia James for her relentless pursuit of JUUL and her fight to hold the company accountable for marketing to young people across New York and around the country, creating the youth vaping epidemic that has harmed millions of families, said Dorian Fuhrman and Meredith Berkman, Co-Founders, Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes. Her tireless efforts and those of her remarkable team have helped lead to todays massive multi-state settlement with JUUL that will have an important impact on public-health education and vaping cessation efforts for years to come. We are particularly encouraged that todays settlement requires disclosure of discovery documents detailing JUULs youth-centric marketing that will be housed in an academic archive. Public access to these papers is essential to the protection of public health so that this kind of predatory behavior will not be repeated. Truth Initiative applauds the tremendous leadership of New York Attorney General Letitia James and California Attorney General Rob Bonta on behalf of six states and the District of Columbia that has resulted in the largest and most comprehensive settlement against JUUL to date, including much-needed stringent sales, marketing, and distribution restrictions, said Robin Koval, CEO and President, Truth Initiative. With the persistence of the youth e-cigarette crisis, we look forward to the use of these hard-won funds to educate young people, prevent them from ever starting to use tobacco products, and help them stop if they do. Truth Initiative is grateful for this important milestone and stands ready to work with New York to protect millions of young people from the harms of nicotine use and the risks of addiction. Joining Attorney General James in todays historic agreement are the attorneys general of California, Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico, and the District of Columbia. For New York, settlement discussions were led by Senior Advisor and Special Counsel M. Umair Khan, Assistant Attorneys General Hailey DeKraker and Noah Popp, and Healthcare Deputy Bureau Chief Leslieann Cachola. The settlement was also brought about by the work of Assistant Attorneys General Sarah Millings, Michael Reisman, and Abigail Kasowitz; Consumer Frauds Bureau Chief Jane Azia; Senior Assistant Solicitor General Dennis Fan, Deputy Solicitor General Judith Vale; Special Assistant Attorney General Emily Auletta; Senior Enforcement Counsel John Oleske; Deputy Director of Research and Analytics Megan Thorsfeldt and Data Scientist Jasmine McAllister; Chief Scientist Jodi Feld, Information Technology Manager Corey Nugent, Information Technology Specialists Hewson Chen and Paige Podolny; E-Discovery Document Review Manager Carol Cheng; Civil Recoveries Section Chief Martin Mooney; and former Special Counsel Morenike Fajana, former Healthcare Bureau Chief Lisa Landau, and former Section Chief Amy Schallop. The Division for Social Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Meghan Faux and the Division for Economic Justice is led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris DAngelo. Both the Division for Economic Justice and the Division for Social Justice are overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy. Community, Charity & Cause By Chris Boyle Published: April 13 2023 Olivia's dedication to serving the community has earned her recognition from the Girl Scouts of America, who have added her face to their boxes of Do-Si-Dos cookies. At a recent Town of Brookhaven Board Meeting, Deputy Supervisor Dan Panico and Suffolk County Legislator Jim Mazzarella honored Olivia Philips, a Girl Scout in the William Floyd School District, for her community service and philanthropy. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: April 13 2023 Christopher Flores was allegedly drunk and high when he struck 42-year-old Scott Brower as he crossed Merrick Road in Rockville Centre. Nassau County District Attorney Anne T. Donnelly announced that a Long Beach man was arraigned on manslaughter and other charges stemming from a motorcycle crash that killed a pedestrian in Rockville Centre in March 2022. Christopher Flores, 27, was arraigned today before Judge Caryn Fink on charges of Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the First Degree (a C felony); Vehicular Manslaughter in the Second Degree (a D felony); Assault in the Second Degree (a D violent felony); Driving While Ability Impaired by the Combined Influence of Alcohol and Drugs as a Felony (an E felony); Operating a Motor Vehicle While Under the Influence of Alcohol as a Felony (an E felony); Reckless Endangerment in the Second Degree (an A misdemeanor); and Reckless Driving (an unclassified misdemeanor). The defendant pleaded not guilty and was released to pre-trial services. He is due back in court May 30, 2023. If convicted, the defendant faces up to five to 15 years in prison. Scott Brower was walking home after meeting a friend for drinks in celebration of Rockville Centres Irish Day when he was struck by the defendant who was allegedly driving his motorcycle while under the influence of drugs and alcohol, said DA Donnelly. Despite making the responsible choice, Scott never made it home that night and later died. NCDA will vigorously prosecute individuals who ignore our laws and endanger pedestrians and fellow motorists. DA Donnelly said that, according to the charges, on March 19, 2022, at approximately 11:53 p.m. victim Scott Brower was crossing Merrick Road at South Forest Avenue in a crosswalk when he was allegedly struck by Flores driving a 2020 BMW motorcycle eastbound on Merrick Road at a high rate of speed while allegedly intoxicated and high. Flores was thrown from the motorcycle, which crashed into another vehicle before finally coming to rest. Brower was transported to Nassau University Medical Center where he was pronounced deceased at 1:40 a.m. The defendant also suffered significant physical injuries and was transported to Mount Sinai South Nassau Hospital in Oceanside for treatment. He was arrested by members of the Nassau County Police Department on March 20, 2022. Deputy Bureau Chief Stephanie Dellinger of the Vehicular Crimes Bureau is prosecuting the case. The defendant is represented by Dennis Lemke, Esq. Crime By Chris Boyle Published: April 13 2023 Senior Executives of Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. Engaged in Criminal Conduct that Led to Pervasive Corruption of Nearly Every Aspect of Companys Operations. Damian Williams, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, Michael J. Driscoll, the Assistant Director in Charge of the New York Field Office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and Thomas Fattorusso, the Special Agent in Charge of the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation (IRS-CI), announced the unsealing of a four-count Indictment charging LARS WINKELBAUER, ABILASH KURIEN, CARLTON LLEWELLYN, ROBERT SCHIRMER, SKYE XU, BENJAMIN WEI, a/k/a/ Ben Wei, ALVARO LOPEZ, FABIOLA CINO, ORLANDO WONG, and PATRICK LAU, a/k/a Pat Lau, in connection with a massive scheme to defraud Polar Air Cargo Worldwide, Inc. (Polar), a leading cargo airline, of tens of millions of dollars in revenue and the honest services of its employees. Nine defendants were arrested today. KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, SCHIRMER, and LAU will be presented in federal court in Manhattan this afternoon. WEI and WONG will be presented later today in federal court in the Central District of California. LOPEZ and CINO will be presented later today in federal court in the Southern District of Florida. WINKELBAUER was arrested today in Thailand and is pending extradition to the United States. SKYE XU remains at large. U.S. Attorney Damian Williams said: As alleged, the 10 defendants charged today conducted a widespread scheme that tainted nearly every aspect of Polar Air Cargo Worldwides operations and that cost the company an estimated $52 million in losses. The defendants, all of whom were either employed in high-level positions by Polar or were vendors reliant on business arrangements with Polar, allegedly showed a blatant disregard for the integrity of their companies in favor of lining their own pockets. Their pervasive fraud ends today, and each defendant now faces substantial prison time for their alleged crimes. FBI Assistant Director Michael J. Driscoll said: For more than a decade, the defendants allegedly utilized a complex set of schemes at the expense of Polar Air to line their own pockets. The indictments today serve as a reminder to any unscrupulous actors attempting complex frauds the FBI will hold you accountable in the criminal justice system. IRS-CI Special Agent in Charge Thomas Fattorusso said: Todays charges are the opening salvo against a decade-long scam by a small group of Polars executives and others that allegedly tainted every aspect of its business operations. These arrests and charges today will hopefully begin the process of righting the alleged wrongs of those charged and put the company on a path to integrity, which its hardworking employees and legitimate customers deserve. As alleged in the Indictment:[1] From at least in or about 2009 through in or about July 2021, LARS WINKELBAUER, ABILASH KURIEN, CARLTON LLEWELLYN, ROBERT SCHIRMER, SKYE XU, BENJAMIN WEI, ALVARO LOPEZ, FABIOLA CINO, ORLANDO WONG, and PATRICK LAU participated in a massive scheme to defraud Polar. At all relevant times, WINKELBAUER, KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, and SCHIRMER (collectively, the Executive Defendants) were senior executives of Polar. XU, WEI, LOPEZ, CINO, WONG, and LAU (collectively, the Vendor Defendants) owned and operated various Polar vendors and customers. The Executive Defendants agreed to accept millions of dollars in kickbacks from the Vendor Defendants and also reaped substantial financial benefits as a result of their secret ownership interests in certain Polar vendors, in exchange for ensuring that those vendors received favorable business arrangements with Polar. The fraud they perpetrated which involved a substantial portion of Polars senior management and at least 10 customers and vendors of Polar led to pervasive corruption of Polars business, touching nearly every aspect of the companys operations, for over a decade. Polars business involved numerous outside vendors and customers. Polar relied heavily on third-party, general sales agents (GSAs) in the United States to sell cargo space on its planes. In turn, the GSAs hired by Polar often sold available cargo space to freight forwarding vendors, which had been hired by downstream customers to coordinate transportation logistics for large quantities of goods. Polar also contracted with ground handling vendors to load and unload cargo and with trucking vendors to transport cargo from domestic locations to the appropriate airports. In addition, Polar contracted with other partners for a variety of business reasons, including to secure cargo space on airline routes not serviced by Polar flights. The scheme to defraud Polar touched on each aspect of these operations. Together, the Executive Defendants and the Vendor Defendants defrauded Polar by corrupting Polars relationships with GSAs, freight forwarders, and other vendors, including those providing ground handling and trucking services. Unbeknownst to Polar, the Executive Defendants utilized their positions within Polar to secure, among other things, favorable contracts, valuable cargo space, favorable shipping rates, and enrollment in various incentive programs for the Vendor Defendants and their entities. In return, the Vendor Defendants paid the Executive Defendants kickbacks in various forms, including, for example, in payments calculated per kilo of cargo shipped with Polar or as a percentage of the revenue earned as a result of a vendors relationship with Polar. In addition, the Executive Defendants, in various combinations, held concealed ownership positions in certain companies which contracted with Polar and that were, in at least one case, associated with the Vendor Defendants. As a result, the Executive Defendants received ownership distributions based, in large part, on revenue derived from contracts with Polar contracts that had been secured and, often times, renewed due to, in large part, the recommendation of the Executive Defendants with conflicts of interest. To conceal the kickbacks and conflicted ownership interests from Polar, and thereby to continue the fraud scheme, WINKELBAUER, KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, and SCHIRMER often directed the kickbacks and ownership distributions be paid to limited liability companies with non-descript names that they, in fact, controlled. Additionally, the Executive Defendants communicated amongst themselves and with the Vendor Defendants about the scheme primarily using personal email accounts, while the Vendor Defendants conducted official Polar business with the Executive Defendants primarily using their professional email accounts. As a result of the scheme, the Executive Defendants, along with two co-conspirators who also worked as senior executives at Polar, received unlawful payments, either directly or through various limited liability companies they controlled, in excess of approximately $23 million in kickback payments or disbursements received as a result of their ownership of conflicted companies. Additionally, a financial analysis conducted at Polars direction estimates that, as a result of the fraudulent scheme, Polar suffered at least approximately $52 million in losses between in or about 2009 and in or about July 2021. In the Summer of 2021, Polar discovered documentary evidence of the conflicted ownership arrangements and kickback agreements. Shortly thereafter, Polar terminated the employment of WINKELBAUER, KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, and SCHIRMER, and reported the conduct to law enforcement authorities. Polar has continued to cooperate with law enforcement authorities through the investigation. WINKELBAUER, 47, of Bangkok, Thailand, KURIEN, 45, of Wilton, Connecticut, LLEWELLYN, 55, of Highland Mills, New York, SCHIRMER, 58, of Port Jefferson Station, New York, XU, 40, of West Covina, California, WEI, 58, of San Marino, California, LOPEZ, 50, of Aventura, Florida, CINO, 45, of Aventura, Florida, WONG, 60, of Manhattan Beach, California, and LAU, 43, of Flushing, New York, are each charged with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; one count of wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. WINKELBAUER, KURIEN, LLEWELLYN, and SCHIRMER are also charged with one count of honest services wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. The maximum potential sentences are prescribed by Congress and are provided here for informational purposes only, as any sentencing of the defendants will be determined by a judge. Mr. Williams praised the outstanding work of the FBI and IRS-CI. Mr. Williams also thanked the United States Attorneys Offices for the Central District of California and the Southern District of Florida as well as the Justice Departments Office of International Affairs and Thai authorities for their assistance in the investigation. The case is being prosecuted by the Offices Complex Frauds and Cybercrime Unit. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Katherine Reilly and Danielle Kudla are in charge of the prosecution. The charges contained in the Indictment are merely accusations, and the defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. Three jihadist groups in Syria have formed a joint operations room in the Damascus countryside to combat the Syrian regime and Russian forces. The three organizations are Al Nusrah Front, Ahrar al Sham and Ajnad al Sham. The alliance, named Jund al Malahim (Soldiers of the Epics), is the latest in a series of jihadist-led coalitions formed by Al Nusrah, an official branch of al Qaeda, and Ahrar al Sham, which is linked to al Qaeda. The most prominent of these joint ventures is Jaysh al Fateh (Army of Conquest), which overran most of the Idlib province beginning in March. The founding statement for the Jund al Malahim operations room (seen on the right) was posted on the official Twitter feeds of all three organizations on October 21. The jihadist groups say a fierce attack has been unleashed on the Muslim ummah (community of worldwide Muslims) in the Levant and elsewhere. And the Russians have joined this supposed assault by following in the footsteps of the rejectionists [meaning Shiites and Iran], the crusaders and their allies. The jihadists say that due to the suffocating siege unleashed by Bashar al Assads criminal regime in the blessed eastern Al Ghouta countryside of Damascus, a new initiative became necessary for all of the loyal and honest people to gather together to repulse the attack on the land of Muslims. Assads regime has committed a number of crimes, according to Jund al Malahims founding parties. These include the displacement of of Al Ghoutas residents in order to create a rejectionist [Shiite] region that would change the identity of Damascus. The goal is to isolate it from the Muslim ummah that is waging jihad. We ask Allah almighty to make this operations room the beginning of a larger coalition that would gather factions under one flag and one army that defends Muslims, attacks the enemies of our sect and faith, and liberates the capital of the Umayyad, the statement reads. The last part is a reference to the Umayyad dynasty, which ruled over one of the great Islamic caliphates. Notably absent from Jund al Malahim is Jaysh al Islam, which is one of the largest rebel groups Al Ghouta. Jaysh al Islam has cooperated with Al Nusrah and Ahrar al Sham, but has also had disagreements with them. Jaysh al Islam is widely suspected of being backed by Saudi Arabia. Like the other coalitions founded by Al Nusrah Front and Ahrar al Sham this year, Jund al Malahim has its own logo, which can be seen at the top of its founding statement. Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for 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. Yesterday (Feb. 9), the jihadi known as Abu Jaber released his first speech as the leader of the newly formed Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), or Assembly for the Liberation of the Levant. In late January, al Qaedas branch in Syria, Jabhat Fath al Sham (formerly known as Al Nusrah Front), and four other groups announced the creation of HTS, with Abu Jaber as their leader. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, Al Qaeda and allies announce new entity in Syria.] Abu Jaber (seen above) had been a prominent figure in another organization, Ahrar al Sham, which he led from Sept. 2014 to Sept. 2015. But he resigned from Ahrar entirely to become the general commander of HTS. Abu Jaber begins his speech by mentioning the many difficulties the insurgents in Syria currently face, including military, political, [and] civil challenges. He says that HTS was formed to safeguard the gains of the revolution and the land that was liberated with the blood of thousands of martyrs. He emphasizes that HTS is an independent entity and not an extension of previous organizations or factions. Instead, he claims, it is a merger where all factions and titles were dissolved and disintegrated. With these lines, Abu Jaber undoubtedly intends to distance HTS from the legacy of al Qaedas official arm, which he and others now argue no longer exits. The creation of HTS ushers in a new stage in the life of the blessed revolution and seeks to unite the various insurgent groups under the banner of one entity, with a unified leadership that will guide the political and military work of the Syrian revolution toward achieving its goal. Their chief mission, Abu Jaber stresses, is to topple Bashar al Assads regime. And HTS will be begin its military work against the regime in short order. This war of liberation will achieve great victories, he promises. Abu Jaber rallies his brothers in HTS, saying they are at the forefront of the Syrian jihad and stories of their heroism and victories have motivated the people. They have handed Assads regime defeats, humiliated Hezbollah, and faced down the Russians, Abu Jaber says. He calls on other factions to join HTS and also warns all Sunnis in Syria of the dire circumstances they would face should the war be lost. In that event, he claims, the Shiites (rejectionists) will enslave the region. HTS was not established over night. It is the product of a long-running debate within the jihadi community over the best course for surviving and achieving victory in Syria. Abu Jabers background Abu Jaber (also known as Hashem al Sheikh) rose to prominence in Syria in Sept. 2014, when he was named the new emir of Ahrar al Sham. He continued in that role for one year before voluntarily stepping down in Sept. 2015. He was pressed into service after the first leader of the group, Hassan Abboud, was killed along with his comrades in a mysterious explosion. Abboud, who was a student of the famous al Qaeda leader known as Abu Khalid al Suri, was a popular figure among jihadis and Islamists in Syria. When Abboud and many of his closest advisors in Ahrar al Sham perished, Abu Jaber suddenly inherited a greatly weakened organization, at least at the leadership level. Ahrar al Sham released a short biography for Abu Jaber on Sept. 10, 2014. It can be seen on the right. A native Syrian, he was born in Maskana in Aleppo and eventually received a bachelors degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Aleppo. Abu Jaber worked for a time as an expert in the Defense Factories, but he was arrested several times due to his religious thoughts, which is likely a reference to his Salafi-jihadist beliefs. Bashar al Assads regime arrested Abu Jaber in 2005 and sent him to the notorious Sednaya Prison. He was held alongside other jihadis who would eventually be freed and then help lead the fight against the Syrian government. Abu Jaber was released from Sednaya on Sept. 25, 2011 and then joined the Mujahideen against the Assad regime in the northern and western countryside of Aleppo. Abu Jaber fought among the ranks of al-Fajr Islamic Movement and later led others from his area in [the] Musab Ibn Omayr battalion. Abu Jabers men fought alongside the group formerly known as Al Nusrah Front, al Qaedas official Syrian branch. Abu Jabers organization was folded into Ahrar al Sham and its joint venture, the Islamic Front. And he was eventually appointed as a member of Ahrar al Shams elite shura (or advisory) council, as well as the groups leader in the eastern countryside of Aleppo. It is possible that there were some intriguing details left out of Ahrar al Shams Sept. 2014 biography of Abu Jaber. Shortly after he was named as the head of HTS in late January, jihadis circulated another short dossier on him. A similar document was previously posted online by El-Dorar Al-Shamia. The events described in this version of Abu Jabers life are basically the same as in Ahrar al Shams biography, with two noteworthy additions. First, according to this alternate biography, Abu Jaber joined the jihad in Iraq during the height of the war. He reportedly helped facilitate fighters through Syria and into Iraq. If accurate, then this implies that Abu Jaber was a facilitator for al Qaeda in Iraq (AQI). It is well known that Bashar al Assads regime hosted AQIs major pipeline, which sent jihadis into Iraq to fight the Americans. Abu Jaber was imprisoned by the Assad regime from 2005 to 2011, but this doesnt preclude the possibility that he worked for AQIs network, as Assads security services periodically detained jihadis in order to maintain control over the operation. While Assads government imprisoned some Sunni jihadis, it allowed others to operate with relative impunity. Second, it appears that Abu Jaber was named the head of Ahrar al Shams operations in Aleppos eastern countryside after Abu Khalid al Suri was killed in Feb. 2014. If this is true, then it is another especially important detail. Abu Khalid al Suri was one of the most senior figures in Ahrar al Sham, as well as Ayman al Zawahiris most trusted advisor in Syria. That Abu Jaber could succeed Abu Khalid as the chieftain for eastern Aleppo indicates that others in Ahrar al Sham already held him in high regard. In Apr. 2015, Al Jazeera broadcast a lengthy interview with Abu Jaber. He complained about Al Nusrah Fronts role as a branch of al Qaeda. Abu Jaber argued that Al Nusrahs allegiance to al Qaeda hurt the Syrian revolution. Other Ahrar al Sham commanders have made the same argument, claiming that al Qaedas overt presence in the rebellion hinders the effort to topple Assad by bringing unwanted scrutiny from the international community. These same Ahrar al Sham leaders likely realize that the nations opposed to Assad will not provide as much assistance as they could as long as al Qaeda, an international pariah, is recognized as a strong player on the battlefield. Abu Jabers critique was not a disavowal of al Qaeda; it was a common sense observation. Indeed, al Qaedas own senior leaders tried to hide their affiliation with Al Nusrah Front at first for precisely this reason. Al Qaeda wanted to avoid the unwanted attention that comes with the al Qaeda brand name as it built up its paramilitary army and focused on toppling Assad. As a result of an open dispute with the Islamic States Abu Bakr al Baghdadi in Apr. 2013, however, Al Nusrah Front leader Abu Muhammad al Julani revealed his allegiance to Ayman al Zawahiri. The al Qaeda chieftain criticized Julanis decision, noting that al Qaeda had not given him permission to announce his fealty or reveal his connections. Al Qaeda even embedded veteran operatives in Ahrar al Shams ranks, with the intent of clandestinely guiding the group. Men such as Abu Khalid al Suri, Abu Hafs al Masri, and Abu Hani al Masri had well-documented al Qaeda pedigrees, which were not advertised to the public even as they helped lead Ahrar al Shams operations. For years, Ahrar al Sham and al Qaedas arm in Syria (rebranded as Jabhat Fath al Sham in July 2016) have been close battlefield partners. The two organizations established a series of coalitions throughout 2015, including during Abu Jabers tenure as Ahrar al Shams overall commander. The most successful of these was Jaysh al Fateh, which overran Assads forces in the province of Idlib in early 2015. In May of that year, while Abu Jaber was still Ahrars overall leader, they also jointly created Ansar al Sharia in Aleppo. This military alliance quickly became defunct, but it was an attempt to unite various jihadist, Islamist and other factions. [For more on Ansar al Sharia and the jihadists other coalitions throughout Syria, see FDDs Long War Journal report: Al Nusrah Front, allies form new coalition for battle in Aleppo.] Abu Jaber has eulogized fallen jihadists, including members of al Qaedas branch, as martyrs on his Twitter feed. In one tweet on Feb. 26, 2015, for instance, he asked Allah to comfort our dear brothers in the #Al Nusrah Front regarding three slain fighters, including one who was the emir of the Syrian Desert. In early Jan. 2016, Abu Jaber honored a deceased Ahrar al Sham commander known as Abu Rateb al Homsi, whom Al Nusrah Front identified in its own eulogy as a jihadist who had fought in Afghanistan. During Abu Jabers time as Ahrar al Shams emir, the group also openly praised the Taliban and its deceased leader Mullah Omar for showing jihadists how to build the [Islamic] Emirate in the hearts of the people before it becomes a reality on the ground. It is a goal that Abu Jaber has apparently taken to heart. Abu Jaber: The jihad must be a popular jihad. Jihadism has been evolving for some time, but especially since 2011, when uprisings throughout the Arab world shook the dictatorships that had long maintained a stranglehold on their societies. The revolutions presented a new opportunity for jihadists to spread their ideas and attempt to win popular support. Suddenly, there was a range of options open to the jihadists. On one end of the spectrum was Abu Bakr al Baghdadis top-down, authoritarian Islamic State, which rejects compromise, even with its closest ideological cousins. Prominent jihadi thinkers, including within al Qaeda, have long considered Baghdadis approach to be a long-term loser, as it alienates much of the Muslim population and invites outside parties (especially the US) to intervene. Al Qaedas leaders rejected the Islamic State, in part, because they feared that Baghdadis men would spoil the jihad in Syria. Most Muslims in Syria and elsewhere do not pine for Islamic State-style rule. Al Qaeda shares many of the same goals as Baghdadi and his enterprise, but has adopted a radically different strategy for achieving them. In many ways, the war in Syria brought the jihadis into unchartered waters, as they are attempting to achieve a lasting victory without resorting to Baghdadis immediate totalitarianism. It is a difficult balancing act, as there are undoubtedly many jihadis within al Qaedas sphere of influence who want to immediately impose a Draconian-style of sharia similar to the Islamic States laws. The lure of declaring an Islamic emirate in northwestern Syria has also been strong, even though al Qaeda thinks it would be premature. Should the jihadis and Islamists in Idlib announce that they now control a Taliban-style state, and then lose control over it, the very notion of an Islamic emirate could be discredited in the peoples eyes. Ahrar al Sham, including during Abu Jabers one-year tenure, has attempted to navigate these difficult waters. There is not one settled school of practical thought for them to follow. So, there have been regular disagreements over how much the jihadis should be tactically flexible. Some have sought to portray Ahrar al Shams quest for a practical jihadism as distinct from al Qaedas own experimentation, but this is not the case. It is evident to any careful observer that al Qaeda itself has been debating, sometimes in vitriolic terms, which path is best for achieving its goals without abandoning or severely compromising on its Salafi-jihadist ideology. Al Qaedas own official arm in Syria, first known as Al Nusrah Front, then as Jabhat Fath al Sham, has embodied different ideas. One al Qaeda theorist has even advocated that the jihadis adopt political guerrilla warfare, such that it enhances their resilience in the face of militarily superior Western foes. Indeed, the Afghan Taliban, which remains closely allied with al Qaeda to this day, has long mixed its own form of politics with jihad. Abu Jaber is clearly aware of this evolution in the jihadis thinking. He has lived it. And he has moved himself to the forefront of the quest to develop a practical program that would allow the jihadis to survive and thrive in Syria. In 2016, Al Jazeera produced a lengthy documentary on Ahrar al Sham that highlighted how Salafi-jihadists were adapting to events on the ground in Syria. Ahrars first emir, Hassan Abboud, traced this evolution to the time he and others, including Abu Jaber, spent in the Sednaya Prison. The prisoners represented different camps within the Islamist and jihadist worldview. While they shared many points in common, they also had significant differences. The Sednaya prison phase, to be honest, during it, some of the concepts and visions were rectified and for the first time, we lived the difference between theory and practice, when you follow the path of Jihad, especially the Salafi-jihadist [ideology], Abboud said. For his part, Abu Jaber said he rejects any ideologue who is quick to label others just because he doesnt agree with him on every detail. There are people who, I mean, just for having a different opinion from them, they have labels which [they] label you with, and name you with the names which they choose, Abu Jaber said. People of ignorance we call them. They dont want to learn. The only thing they understand about religion is to sacrifice their blood, to die, and only that. Abu Jaber wants more than that. He wants to transform Syrian society. We didnt want the Islam of caves or the Islam of rifles, Abu Jaber told Al Jazeera. The Islam, the right understanding of it, is that it is a religion, a country. Its politics and it is fighting. Its ruling and its knowledge. The Al Jazeera documentary did a good job of explaining why this has been difficult for the jihadis to achieve. Al Jazeeras journalists used the example of Aleppo, where mixed ideologies have existed. Along with Al Nusrah Front and Liwa al Tawhid, Ahrar al Sham established the citys first judicial body. But this ruling religious authority immediately encountered problems. Islamists and more secular parts of the society disagreed over how to govern. Ahrar al Shams leaders explained these problems in the documentary, emphasizing that it is difficult to establish a truly competent administrative body in a revolutionary environment in which the war is far from over. In one clip, an Ahrar al Sham leader implores his audience to stop protesting against the religious committee and to work out their differences instead. Clearly, this early attempt at jihadi governance in Syria was a failure. Everyone agrees that there were mistakes, Abu Jaber said of the attempt to rule in Aleppo. We have to learn from those mistakes, so we dont fall for them again. The solution is not to rely on the Jihad (opinion) of the elite. The Jihad must be a popular jihad. In other words, the jihadists can be successful only once their ideology has been adopted by a significant portion of the population. Another Ahrar leader went even further than Abu Jaber, saying that the followers of the Salafi-jihadist ideology have tarnished themselves by claiming their jihad to be the jihad of the elite. In contrast to the Islamic States top-down authoritarianism then, Ahrar al Sham figures such as Abu Jaber have adopted a bottom-up approach, seeking to spread their beliefs so that their state-building project cannot be easily uprooted. The problems they have encountered are numerous. Some of their own members havent understood how their ideology differs from the Islamic States and, at times, even refused to fight Baghdadis men as they marauded their way through parts of Syria. Many of the brothers dropped their weapons and left, Abu Jaber told Al Jazeera, referring to the early days of the conflict with Baghdadis so-called caliphate. They dropped their weapons and left, to avoid the spilling of Muslim blood. Abu Jaber explained why: The surprise was that there was no prior intellectual foundation. Abu Jaber likely meant that, in the beginning, Ahrar al Shams own foundation was shallow and his comrades lacked a deep cadre of support from which they could draw in the battle against Baghdadis adherents. Al Qaedas branch in Syria (most recently known as Jabhat Fath al Sham), Ahrar al Sham and other organizations have spent years cultivating more popular support for their project. They are far beyond square one, but still well short of their ultimate goal: a new Islamic emirate in Syria. A new path Muhannad al Masri succeeded Abu Jaber as the head of Ahrar al Sham in Sept. 2015. In his own interview with Al Jazeera the following year, al Masri praised Abu Jabers stewardship of the group, saying it started following the institutional and administrative methodology excellently during his tenure. Sheikh Abu Jaber was quite devoted to it at the end of the year when he was in charge, al Masri explained. But Abu Jaber resigned from the Shura [council] of Ahrar al Sham, so he could go down a new path in the world of Islamic and Jihadi movements. Muhannad al Masri didnt explain what this new path entailed, but Abu Jaber has been positioning himself for another leadership role for some time. In Feb. 2016, several reports suggested that Abu Jaber was going to lead a new joint venture of several parties in Aleppo. The alliance didnt get off the ground, but the effort demonstrated that Abu Jaber was considered someone capable of uniting various factions under a single banner. [See FDDs Long War Journal report, Aleppo-based rebel groups reportedly unite behind Ahrar al Shams former top leader.] Then, in late 2016, Abu Jaber and other senior Ahrar al Sham figures formed their own internal contingent named Jaysh al Ahrar. Although they didnt break away from the Ahrar al Sham mother organization at the time, the creation of Jaysh al Ahrar clearly signaled that there was an internal divide. Those divisions became obvious earlier this year. Ahrar al Sham has split into different factions, with Abu Jaber and other founding members joining HTS. According to pro-HTS accounts, a large number of Ahrars battalions have joined them. Meanwhile, other leaders continue to run the original organization, absorbing smaller groups in the process. It says much about Abu Jabers influence and the respect al Qaedas jihadis have for him that they accepted him as the first leader of HTS. Abu Muhammad al Julani, the longtime emir of Al Nusrah/Jabhat Fath al Sham, stepped aside to allow Abu Jaber to fill the top spot. As the miltary commander of HTS, Julani still wields considerable power within the organization. But Abu Jaber is its front man. The new flag for HTS can be seen on the right. The formation of HTS came at a time when al Qaedas men in Syria feared that their enemies were launching a new conspiracy against them. By merging with other groups and embedding their operations within HTS, al Qaeda clearly hopes to minimize additional international attention. In January, representatives from some Syrian opposition groups traveled to Astana, Kazakhstan for diplomatic talks. Jabhat Fath al Shams members portrayed the negotiations as part of a plan to turn other insurgents against them. Tellingly, HTS staged rallies in which Abu Jaber was praised for rejecting the talks. Some of the signs that were held up (seen below) praised Abu Jaber while denouncing Jaysh al Islams Mohammad Alloush, who served as one of the rebels chief negotiators. Abu Jaber and his newly formed HTS are now charged with defending the jihadist project in Syria. And his new path incorporates the group first known as Al Nusrah Front and then as Jabhat Fath al Sham which is al Qaedas largest branch in history. In early February, pro-HTS Telegram channels posted the pictures below of protests in Syria. Abu Jaber was praised for rejecting the talks in Astana, while Alloush was denounced for taking part in them: Note: Jihadi media outfits, including Bilad al Sham, have produced multiple translations of Abu Jabers speech. Thomas Joscelyn is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Senior Editor for 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. HTS vehicle fires on Islamic State militants near the village of Umm Mayal in eastern Hama province Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), a jihadist conglomerate, released photos yesterday showing the battles between its forces and the Islamic State in Syrias Hama province. The photos show HTS fighters from its Elite Forces wing battling the Islamic State near the village of Umm Mayal and Talayhan in Hamas eastern countryside. Fighters are seen progressing on the battlefield, using heavy machine guns on technicals and engaging in close to mid-range combat. Several photos show dead Islamic State fighters scattered around the small village. At the same time, HTS also claimed to have dismantled an Islamic State IED and explosive cache inside HTS stronghold of Idlib province. The Islamic State, in turn, conducted a suicide bombing on HTS in Armanaz, Idlib. The battles between the two jihadist forces flared up again earlier this week when the Islamic State launched its Abu Muhammad al Adnani campaign, which also focuses on regime, Russian, and Iranian forces in central Syria. Just days earlier, HTS launched its own offensive on regime forces in Hama, taking over the town of Abu Dali. [For more on the fighting between the Islamic State and HTS, see FDDs Long War Journal report: Islamic State attacks rival jihadists in Hama province.] Photos from HTS showing the fighting: Caleb Weiss is an editor of FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. 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. Sami al-Uraydi as seen in a 2018 video released by al-Qaedas central propaganda outlet as-Sahab. The U.S. State Department added Sami al-Uraydi, a senior leader of Al Qaedas branch in Syria, to its list of Specially Designated Global Terrorists. States Rewards for Justice program previously offered a $5 million bounty for information leading to the arrest and prosecution of al-Uraydi. State offered little other information on al-Uraydi in yesterdays designation, only noting he was being designated as a result of his senior leadership position in HAD. Al-Uraydi, who is also known by his kunya as Abu Mahmud al-Shami, was previously identified by State, however, as a Jordanian national and senior sharia official for Hurras al-Din (HAD, or the Guardians of Religion organization). Al-Uraydi is a known al-Qaeda loyalist who was closely allied with former al-Qaeda emir Ayman al Zawahriri. Zawahiri even cited al-Uraydis speeches on multiple occasions and featured periodically in media released by al-Qaedas general command. The U.S. government also previously alleged al-Uraydi was involved in terrorist plots against the United States and Israel. [See LWJ report, US offers rewards for information on 3 al Qaeda leaders in Syria.] In 2018, al-Qaedas central propaganda outlet as-Sahab included footage of al-Uraydi during a video celebrating the 9/11 attacks. In that video, al-Qaeda emphasized al-Uraydis self-serving claim that Muslim scholars generally agree that waging jihad is a religious imperative. Al-Uraydis works continue to be featured in propaganda released by as-Sahab, with an article penned by al-Uraydi featuring in the latest issue of the outlets One Ummah magazine just last week. It is thus clear by his continued inclusion in the groups global propaganda that al-Uraydi plays an outsized role in al-Qaedas overall messaging and propaganda and not just for its continuing, albeit limited, operations inside Syria. Uraydis Hurras al-Din was formed in early 2018 during a dispute within the senior leadership cadres of the former Al-Nusrah Front, which rebranded itself as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, or HTS, in early 2017. Al-Qaeda loyalists within HTS, such as al-Uraydi and Abu Hammam al-Shami (the current emir of HAD and an al-Qaeda veteran), disagreed with HTS disavowal of al-Qaeda and left HTS shortly after its creation. Other leaders and factions also left HTS shortly thereafter, wherein they subsequently merged to form HAD. HAD is now believed to be al-Qaedas official branch inside Syria. The U.S. Office of the Director of National Intelligence estimates that HAD has between 2,000 and 2,500 fighters in its ranks (though the UN notes these numbers could be lower), and the group is primarily based in Syrias Idlib Governorate near the borders with Turkey and with a limited presence in nearby Latakia Governorate. The UNs ISIL (Daesh) and Al-Qaida Sanctions Committee also reports that HAD receives direct instructions from Sayf al-Adl, who is currently assessed to be al-Qaedas current overall emir. Al-Uraydi thus helps oversee al-Qaedas current incarnation in the Levant, which continues to be an area of great importance for al-Qaedas overall goals and aspirations as made evident by Sayf al-Adls direct interventions. Bill Roggio is a Senior Fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies and the Editor of The Long War Journal. Caleb Weiss is a research analyst at FDD's Long War Journal and a senior analyst at the Bridgeway Foundation, where he focuses on the spread of the Islamic State in Central Africa. 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. Again, these are just SOME of the options so if (somehow) nothing here tickles your fancy, you might still be in luck! The offer is for delivery only, no pick-up or dine-in meals will be one dollar. If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. While everyone has the right to comment on public issues, the government should not be faulted for sending to the trash bin such absurd comments on serious matters involving international law The on-going controversy involving the insistence of the International Criminal Court to investigate the anti-drug war maintained by the Philippine government during the administration of then President Rodrigo Duterte has triggered many absurd reactions from some public officials and from the public. The ICC wants to conduct its investigation on Philippine territory, but the Philippine government politely refuses to allow any such investigation to take place inside Philippine territory. Explaining that refusal, Justice Secretary Jesus Crispin Remulla points out the Philippines has already withdrawn from the Rome Statute, the international treaty creating the ICC. Accordingly, Manila may rightfully refuse to cooperate with the ICC, and reject any attempt by the ICC to conduct any investigation within Philippine territory. In short, the Philippines has the inherent right to oppose any foreign overture that violates Philippine sovereignty. ADVERTISEMENT Remulla also pointed out that under the Rome Statute, the ICC may conduct an investigation in a country only if the justice system in that country is a failure. The justice system in the Philippines, Remulla stressed, is functioning efficiently, which means the ICC has no jurisdiction to investigate in the Philippines even if Manila did not withdraw from the Rome Statute. Even the Supreme Court dismissed a petition which challenged the constitutionality of Manilas withdrawal from the Rome Statute without the concurrence of the Senate. In fine, there is no legal impediment either in international law or under Philippine law against the withdrawal of the Philippines from the Rome Statute, and the refusal of the country to allow the ICC to conduct any investigation in Philippine territory. Recently, Solicitor General Menardo Guevarra suggested a local commission be created to investigate the drug war of the Duterte administration. That way, Guevarra said, the ICC will be convinced that the justice system in the Philippines works and that, accordingly, the ICC need not enter the picture. Remulla disagrees with Guevarras proposal. The justice secretary maintains that any anomaly that may have occurred during the anti-narcotics war of the Duterte administration can be readily taken up under the current justice system obtaining in the Philippines. Remulla is right. Moreover, adopting Guevarras suggestion is tantamount to indirectly accepting the ICCs jurisdiction over the Philippines which the ICC has effectively lost by reason of Manilas withdrawal from the Rome Statute. In addition, the Philippines should never create an investigating body solely for the purpose of satisfying an international agencys illegal attempt to override Philippine sovereignty. At the end of the day, the manner by which the Philippine government enforces Philippine law is none of the ICCs business, because the Philippines has withdrawn from the Rome Statute, and because the existing justice system in the Philippines is functioning efficiently. That notwithstanding, Guevarra recently submitted a formal request to the ICC, praying that the ICC stop its investigation of ex-President Dutertes anti-drug war. Naturally, the ICC denied the appeal. Considering the manifest desire of the ICC to impose itself against Philippine sovereignty, did Guevarra really expect the ICC to grant the appeal? Surprisingly, Guevarra filed an appeal asking the ICC to reconsider its rejection of his earlier request. Does Guevarra also expect the ICC to reconsider its ruling? Like his suggestion of creating a commission, Guevarras overtures to the ICC may have the effect of vesting jurisdiction on the ICC which the latter does not have to begin with, in view of the countrys withdrawal from the Rome Statute. The Office of the Solicitor General operates under the Department of Justice. Thus, Remulla should demand an explanation from Guevarra for his legally unsound reactions to the ICC controversy, and prevent further damage to the official position of the Philippines on this issue. (Editors Note: The Office of the Solicitor General is an independent and autonomous office attached to the Department of Justice. Although the OSG is attached to the DOJ, the OSG is not a constituent unit of the DOJ. The DOJs authority, control and supervision over the OSG are limited only to budgetary purposes.) Weeks ago, a morning news program broadcast on the ANC News Channel aired several online comments from its viewers regarding the refusal of the Philippines to allow the ICC to conduct its investigation in Philippine territory. The bulk of the comments argue if the Philippine government has nothing to hide, it should not be afraid of the ICC investigation. Those comments are non sequitur made by persons who do not understand the law. Even if one has nothing to hide from investigators, it does not necessarily follow that one should consent to an investigation in the first place! If the simpletons who made those silly comments were to have their way, everyone in the Philippines, particularly those with nothing to hide, should automatically consent to any search of their persons, houses, papers and effects precisely because they have nothing to hide. That absurdity violates the constitutional right against unreasonable searches and seizures. While everyone has the right to comment on public issues, the government should not be faulted for sending to the trash bin such absurd comments on serious matters involving international law. Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman was arrested this Thursday at his home after being accused of leaking dozens of sensitive US intelligence documents, in what's being called the biggest national security breach in at least the last decade. Teixeira was reportedly stationed in Fort Bragg, North Carolina but was apprehended around 20 miles from Providence, Rhode Island, in the 21 year old's home in North Dighton, Massachusetts. The FBI said that they had aggresively pursued investigative leads since last week. "Today's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk," the bureau expressed in a statement. Merrick Garland, the Attorney General for the United States confirmed that the arrest was made without any incidents and Texeira is being charged with unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information. While the National Guard said they're aware of the invetigation of the alleged involvement of one of the members of the Massachusetts Air National Guard into the leakage of highly classified documents. Beware the TikTok Trojan Horse The truth behind the TikTok hearing Your vacuum cleaner could be spying on you Two words that make every American a suspect This is what concerns me the most... 1.As you read this, politicians on both sides of Capitol Hill are trying to take away your freedoms. I wish that was an exaggeration but its not. A new bipartisan law was recently introduced to Congress. If passed, you can wave goodbye to your right to privacy in your own home. Because it will label every single American a potential threat to the state.And give the government the right to monitor what you do in your own home at all times.Of course, the media isnt framing it this way.Theyre barely covering it at all. And when they do, theyll label it something innocuous like 2. The Ban TikTok Act. US lawmakers recently hauled the CEO of popular social media app TikTok in front of Congress. They grilled him on accusations that TikTokwhich is owned by Chinese firm ByteDanceis spying on us through its highly addictive app thats installed on most American teenagers phones. TikTok cant read your texts and emails directly. But it does a lot of other things. It admitted to tracking journalists physical movements and sending the data to its Chinese parent company. It also collects your faceprints and voiceprints. Thats why a contact of minewho runs a venture capital fundtold me its the one app he doesnt let his kids use. He went so far as to call it fentanyl for the brain. Lawmakers already knew this before the hearing. If they wanted to ban TikTok, they could have done it years ago. Thats not why this hearing took place. They did it to lay the groundwork for a new, alarmingly draconian law theyd like you to accept. 3. Its called the RESTRICT Act. Remember the PATRIOT Act? It was a series of sweeping anti-terrorist laws enacted after 9/11. Problem is two decades later, the same laws designed to take down terrorists are now being used to surveil ordinary Americans. For example, the FBI can secretly wiretap you without probable cause. Try withdrawing $10,000 (of your own cash), and youll be questioned like a terrorist and reported to the IRS. The RESTRICT Act is the PATRIOT Act for the internet. The Patriot Act allowed the government to secretly listen in on your phone calls, read your emails, and browse through your internet history. The RESTRICT Act takes it one step further It was recently introduced to Congress by Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and John Thune (R-SD). Its supported by over 20 politicians on both sides of the aisle, including Democrat Tim Kaine and Republican Mitt Romney. If voted into law, it would grant the government the right to access any device in your home connected to the internet . And Im not talking about just laptops and smartphones. A modern home has tons of devices connected to Wi-Fi. Home security cameras, baby monitors, robot vacuums, smart speakers, smart thermostats, cars Think how many devices in your home feature a camera or a microphone. The government will have legal rights to access them all. Theyll be able to see and hear everything you do in your own home. 4. Ive read through the bill. Its shockingly authoritarian and grants broad powers no government should have Hidden amid pages upon pages of lawyer-speak is Sec3(a). It states the US government: is authorized to and shall take action to identify, deter, disrupt, prevent, prohibit, investigate , or otherwise mitigate, including by negotiating, entering into, or imposing, and enforcing any mitigation measure to address any risk arising from any covered transaction by any person . Without getting into the legalese, heres what you need to know. The RESTRICT Act defines covered transaction as current, past, or potential future transactions . That means if the government suspects you might do something bad in the future, it can spy on you. The law defines the term transaction just as loosely It says the acquisition of information is a transaction. So, if you read a blog or watch a YouTube video from a risky source, youre a suspect, and they have the right to spy on you. Chilling, right? This is one of the biggest power grabs in American history under the guise of banning TikTok. Now, please understand this is one of the oldest tricks in the book for a government to seize power. Just like terrorism was a real problem so too is Chinese spying. That doesnt mean we must forfeit our rights to solve it. The same folks saying, If youre not for the PATRIOT Act, youre with the terrorists, are now telling us, If youre not for the RESTRICT Act, youre with the communists. Dont be fooled.\ 5. Forgive me for getting fired up about this. I love technology and hate to see it weaponized by governments and turned against ordinary people. President Biden says hell sign the RESTRICT Act if it passes through Congress. Hopefully, it doesnt make it that far. Its worrying that almost two dozen elected US senators and The White House support this crazy nanny state bill. But I dont see it passing anytime soon. Theres been strong pushback against the RESTRICT Act from the public since it was introduced. And passing any new laws with the current divided government is a tall order. What concerns me is how laws like the RESTRICT Act could be pushed through during a crisis. Im sure youve heard the old Winston Churchill quote: Never let a good crisis go to waste. Politicians are masters at pouncing on opportunities to pass new laws when some new crisis scares large swaths of the population. Americans never would have put up with the PATRIOT Act if 9/11 didnt happen. We would have balked at the idea of lockdowns if not faced with the deadly COVID virus. Its only a matter of time before the next major cyberattack or some Chinese-related threat. Uncle Sam could use this to push through the RESTRICT Act, which would end the era of the open internet. Forewarned is forearmed. Be on the lookout for the next crisis, armed with the knowledge that its simply an excuse to take away your freedoms. Stephen McBride Chief Analyst, RiskHedge To get more ideas like this sent straight to your inbox every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, make sure to sign up for The RiskHedge Report , a free investment letter focused on profiting from disruption. Expect smart insights and analysis on the latest breakthrough technologies, the big stories the mainstream media isn't reporting on, and much more... including actionable recommendations. Click here to sign up. 2023 Copyright Stephen McBride - All Rights Reserved Disclaimer: The above is a matter of opinion provided for general information purposes only and is not intended as investment advice. Information and analysis above are derived from sources and utilising methods believed to be reliable, but we cannot accept responsibility for any losses you may incur as a result of this analysis. Individuals should consult with their personal financial advisors. 2005-2022 http://www.MarketOracle.co.uk - The Market Oracle is a FREE Daily Financial Markets Analysis & Forecasting online publication. The New England Aquarium has announced the new arrival of an African penguin chick which hatched in late March and is now rapidly growing with many milestones to go. The chick, which emerged on Thursday, March 23, to parents Malgas II and Demersus III, is now 16 times its weight when it hatched, according to the New England Aquarium in a news release Thursday. It is the first chick to join the aquariums penguin colony since 2019, the aquarium said, adding that the COVID-19 pandemic had put this efforts to breed the penguins on hold for the past three years. The species, native to the coasts of South Africa and Namibia, is endangered due to threats faced by depletion of food from overfishing, climate change and pollution, the New England Aquarium said. Over the last 30 years, the number of breeding African penguins in South Africa has declined by 73% from over 42,000 pairs in 1991 to a little over 10,000 pairs in 2021, the aquarium added, making the chicks hatching all the more significant. The New England Aquarium said there were three pairs of possible penguin parents this breeding season and the chicks hatching was the only successful one. The breeding season for African penguins has now also concluded. Raising a penguin chick is no easy feat for us, or its parents, said Eric Fox, the aquariums assistant curator of penguins, in a statement. Months of planning, preparation, and hard work go into ensuring each chick has the best chance for success. Fox noted its been a while since a new chick last joined the aquariums colony, calling the chicks arrival a huge win for our team and for this endangered species. The sex of the chick is currently unknown, but it will receive a full physical exam once its waterproof feathers come in with a blood test able to determine if it is male or female, the aquarium said. The chick will likely join its fellow penguins in the colony on exhibit in June, according to the aquarium. Staffers will select a name at this point for the chick one with an educational or conservation tie in, it added. The New England Aquarium participates in the African Penguin Species Survival Plan through the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), which supports field conservation efforts and a thoughtful breeding program to promote a sustainable future for these endangered penguins, it said. The aquarium added that in breeding the birds it gives the penguins the chance to go through an important life stage pair-bonding, nesting, breeding, and rearing. The aquarium said the chicks mother, 15-year-old Malgas II, had been displaying mating behavior with its father, Demersus III, with Malgas II laying her egg in February. The penguin parents had previously raised another chick together, and Malgas II has two other chicks with a previous mate, according to the New England Aquarium. The family history of the chick runs deep at the New England Aquarium. The chicks great-grandmother, 41-year-old Deco, was born in 1981 and she has thrived and far exceeded the life expectancy of African penguins, who usually live 10 to 15 years in the wild, the aquarium said. Deco remains the oldest African penguin at the aquarium and in the AZAs Species Survival Plan, it said. There are the tourist destinations and then there are the hidden gems. Readers Digest featured a list of what it called the most underrated American cities worth visiting. Among the 15 places listed, one New England city stands in contrast to other northeastern metropolitan hubs, specifically New York City. So what city did Readers Digest think of? Greenwich, Connecticut. Only a 45-minute train ride from Grand Central Station lies Greenwich, Connecticut, a walkable city with all the charm and convenience of a small town, the article said. For a town of 62,000, its surprisingly diverse: About a quarter of its residents were born outside the United States, and nearly 29 percent speak another language in addition to English, according to U.S. Census data. Summer is polo season in Greenwich, with matches at Greenwich Polo Club drawing thousands. Stay at European-inspired Delamar Greenwich Harbor, a pet-friendly property on the water with a spa and award-winning French restaurant, the article reads. Leave room in your suitcase for souvenirs: Family-owned stores like Richards, Betteridge, and Hoaglands of Greenwich are must-shops. Greenwichs tourism office website touts itself as one of the oldest communities in the state, established in 1640. Among its most famous residents past and present included actresses Glenn Close and Jane Fonda, actor Adam Sandler and Presidents George H. W. and George W. Bush. Listed among its top tourist attractions include Greenwich Point Park, the Black Rock Antiques Center, Island Beach, Byram Shore Park and the Bruce Museum. This coastal town is the largest on Connecticuts Gold Coast due to its many hedge funds and large financial service companies, the website reads. ... Several festivals take place throughout the year for all interests; arts, film, food, and cultural. Take a stroll through Greenwichs downtown where you can enjoy fine dining, shops and other attractions. SPRINGFIELD Big Y Express Fresh Market will begin on-the-spot hiring for its new location in Tower Square next week. The store, located in space that once was a CVS on the first floor of 1500 Main St., is expected to open in July. Workers have spent months fitting out the space. The new store is seen both as a convenience for office workers downtown and a solution to the chronic lack of fresh and healthy foods in the urban center, an issue thats gotten the neighborhood labeled a food desert. The Springfield-based Big Y said many will be surprised at what Big Y will be able to offer within this new locations format. While smaller than a complete supermarket, Big Y Express Fresh Market will have more than 250 different fresh produce items, freshly baked breads and cakes, bean-to-cup coffee, hot breakfast sandwiches, prepared meals and sandwiches, freshly made sushi, everyday necessities and natural and organic products. Store hours are 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday to Friday and 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. Were excited to bring an entirely new shopping format to downtown Springfield. We know that there has been an appetite for Big Ys fresh and local foods for many years now. We are confident that customers will enjoy our many offerings and welcome their feedback at any time, Colin M. DAmour, senior director of Big Y Express, said in a statement. At 10,000 square feet, the new store is about a fifth the size of a Big Y World Class Market shoppers would find in the suburbs. About a year ago, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced a $1 million grant to Big Y for the project from the citys share of American Rescue Plan Act funds. Springfield received $123.8 million in ARPA money and is going through the process of distributing it to residents, businesses and nonprofits. Tower Squares owners courted Big Y once CVS left for the South End in 2019. The downtown mall is also home to the YMCA of Greater Springfield as well as White Lion Brewing, Hot Table, Lorilil Jewelers and others. Interested applicants should apply at www.bigy.com/careers prior to the event, Big Y says. Big Y offers flexible shifts and many scheduling options. Hiring will be 3 to 6 p.m. April 18 at the store location, Suite 164 in Tower Square. Up to 10 jobs are available, Big Y said in a news release. Hours before a Boston police officers girlfriend discovered his body in the snow, another woman at a party the officer was at before his death searched ho(w) long to die in cold on her phone and later deleted the message, the Boston Globe reported. The officers girlfriend is now charged with murder in his death. In an attempt to prove their clients innocence, her defense attorneys revealed the other womans phone records in court Wednesday, saying that she, not their client, should be the suspect. According to court documents obtained by the Boston Globe, the defense attorneys of Karen A. Read, 42, believe phone evidence reveals two other suspects in the death of Boston police officer John OKeefe. Karen A. Read, 42, the girlfriend of the late Boston police officer John OKeefe, looks at her family in Dedham on June 10, 2022. She was arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court on charges of second-degree murder in OKeefe's death. (Photo by John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)Boston Globe via Getty Images Read was charged with second-degree murder, motor vehicle manslaughter and leaving the scene of a collision in the death of her boyfriend, OKeefe, who Read found severely injured, buried in snow on Jan. 29, 2022. OKeefe later died of his injuries. Read pleaded not guilty to the charges and has been held on $100,000 bail. OKeefe, who was a Boston police officer, was off-duty and out with Read at the Waterfall Bar in Canton until after midnight on Jan. 29, 2022 court documents read. Read dropped OKeefe off at a party at the Canton home of Brian Albert, another Boston police officer. Prosecutors accused Read of hitting OKeefe with her vehicle while making a three-point turn leaving the Canton residence. Early the following morning, after growing worried that OKeefe had not returned home, prosecutors said Read and two friends found him in the snow outside the Canton house, bruised, cut and bleeding. John O'Keefe, a Boston police officer of 16 years, was found dead outside a home in Canton during a snowstorm on Saturday, Jan. 29, 2022. (Boston Police Department). The 16-year Boston cop was taken from the home in Canton to Good Samaritan Medical Center, where he was later pronounced dead. In Norfolk Superior County Court Wednesday, OKeefes lawyers David R. Yannetti of Boston and Alan Jackson of Los Angeles presented phone records from Jennifer McCabe they characterized as being suspicious, according to the Boston Globe. McCabe is the sister-in-law of Brian Albert, the police officer who was throwing the party. At 2:27 a.m., hours before Read would find her boyfriends body buried in snow, McCabe searched ho[w] long to die in cold into her phone. Forensic data analysts discovered that McCabe later deleted the search from her phones history, according to the defense attorneys. The defense team accused prosecutors of concealing the evidence for more than a year. Reads defense lawyers are now motioning to also access Alberts phone for further investigation, according to the Boston Globe. The defense team believes McCabe and Albert should be suspects in OKeefes death. There is simply no innocent explanation for McCabes search at that time, Reads defense team wrote in a statement. This evidence unequivocally exonerates Karen, because it establishes that individuals who were in the house at 34 Fairview that night were aware that John was dying in the snow before Karen even knew he was missing. The defense and prosecution are scheduled to meet on May 3 to discuss access to Alberts phone. Two people went to work at Monsoon Roastery and Urban Artisan Farm on Wednesday. But while they were there, their cars were consumed by a brush fire, a GoFundMe states. Losing your only vehicle is hard enough but during our current post-pandemic climate when vehicles are way more expensive than they have ever been, our friends could use a little love, the GoFundMe page reads. The Springfield Fire Department said firefighters responded to the area of 250-270 Albany St. on Wednesday. The fire department said although there were no injuries, two cars were damaged. Photos of the cars show damage to the body, melted tires and destroyed insides. The state was also under a Red Flag Warning Wednesday for fire danger. Several fire departments statewide issued warnings that fires that start could spread rapidly and become difficult to contain. Dave Celino, the chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation, told Boston.com Massachusetts crews have responded to nearly 100 bush fires since last Wednesday. Monsoon Roastery shared a video of the cars surrounded by smoke and flames. Were all ok. Just shaken up, the business wrote on Facebook. The fire was contained but the cars were left destroyed. One of the cars was owned by Makari Mack, the head barista at Monsoon Roastery. Believe us when we tell you, Monsoon would not function half as well if it wasnt for this girl right here, the business had shared in a Facebook post last May. The other car was owned by Jack Wysocki, the owner of Urban Artisan Farm. The GoFundMe, which was started by Monsoon Roasterys owner Andrea Monson, is hoping to raise $5,000 for each of them or $10,000 total. As of Thursday morning, it had raised more than $3,000. Any little bit helps, the business wrote on Facebook. Click here for the GoFundMe. EASTHAMPTON Marijuana grower and retailer Insa has laid off staff in recent weeks, citing numerous challenges from out-of-state competition that did not exist months before, according to Peter Gallagher, CEO and co-founder. To address these new challenges, we have been focused on implementing important cost-saving measures to align with the new market. It was through this process that the difficult decision was made to eliminate various positions in the company, Gallagher wrote in an emailed response to questions. We are providing support and resources to those who have been impacted by this decision to help with the transition. Its a further sign that the buzz is wearing off the states cannabis industry, where the price for an ounce of flower now averages $188, according to the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission. Thats down from $321 an ounce a year ago and $403 in March 2021. A store in Northampton, The Source, closed abruptly in December. And last month, a buyer with ideas to grow marijuana pulled out of a deal to buy the former Chez Josef banquet house in Agawam after it couldnt get financing due to market conditions. Insa has a national reach, but its growing and packaging operation is in Easthampton where in January, the company bought its space at Keystone Mills, 122 Pleasant St. for $2.7 million in a business condominium arrangement. Read more: Judge orders Springfield City Council to grant permit for Insa marijuana shop at Luxe Burger Bar site Gallagher did not specify how many jobs were cut and didnt respond to follow-up emails. Insa had more than $55 million in sales in 2022 and was the number-one dispensary in the state. Insa accounts for 2.42% of the estimated $1.4 Billion of all cannabis sales in the state according to CannMenus and its data platform The company has not filed a WARN notice with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development, a notice which some companies must file 60 days before they undergo mass layoffs, according to state spokeswoman Michele Campbell. The Insa marijuana dispensary in Easthampton in 2019. (Don Treeger / The Republican) The Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission reports job losses statewide in the aggregate, but not at specific companies. As of the end of March, there were 22,129 active employees agents in industry parlance working in the adult-use recreational cannabis industry across the state. In January, the states recreational cannabis industry surpassed a total of $4 billion in gross sales since the first legal shops opened in November 2018. As far as out-of-state competition, the first New York shops opened over the last few months, with the first Albany-area shop opening April 1. Vermont and Maine and Rhode Island also have legal recreational marijuana. Read more: Cannabis festival Extravaganja will return for 1st time since pandemic Connecticuts first recreational dispensaries opened in January and at least one retailer plans to open soon in Enfield. Insas shop on West Columbus Avenue in Springfield sits just a few miles north of the Connecticut line. It was obviously placed there to capture customers traveling Interstate 91. The company has advertised with billboards touting the locations ease of access from the highway. Insas growing and manufacturing operations are in Easthampton. Besides the Springfield store, it has a medical marijuana location on Cottage Street, a shop in Salem and a recently opened medical dispensary in Avon, Massachusetts. Insa is also licensed to do business in Connecticut and has operations running in Florida and Pennsylvania. Damages to about two dozen grave markers could total more than $100,000 after a driver, who police claim was intoxicated at the time, barreled through part of a Northampton cemetery last weekend. For the families whose loved ones headstones were hit, the focus now turns to a key question: who will cover the repairs or in some cases, the total replacement of the grave markers? SPRINGFIELD For Gumersindo Gomez, the exploits of the U.S. Armys 65th Infantry Regiment its soldiers nicknamed Borinqueneers is a source of pride. Its soldiers, who came from Puerto Rico and served in World War I, World War II and the Korean War, put Puerto Rico on the world map, Gomez said. Gomez, executive director of the Bilingual Veterans Outreach Centers of Massachusetts, uses his position honor the Borinqueneers, a segregated unit in the U.S. military whose soldiers throughout the years earned awards from 600 Bronze Stars to one Congressional Medal of Honor. First established in 1899, it disbanded in 1959. Gomez helped organize the raising of the Puerto Rican flag outside City Hall Thursday, which is National Borinqueneers Day. About 20 people watched as the Puerto Rican flag climbed the flagpole in the April sun. We will continue to do that for generations to come and may their legacy and service continue to inspire those who serve today, City Council President Jesse Lederman said. A few members of the storied Borinqueneers eventually relocated to the Springfield area. The annual flag raising is not the only rememberance to the Borinqueneers in the city. Previously, a section of a street in the North End was renamed the 65th Infantry Way, which begins at the Spanish-American War Memorial at 2291 Main St. In 2014, then-President Barack Obama signed legislation awarding the regiment the Congressional Gold Medal. And Congress designated April 13 as a day to commemorate the 65th Infantry Regiment through its passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021. Reached for comment, Resident Commissioner Jenniffer Gonzalez Colon, who is Puerto Ricos non-voting representative in Congress, said in a statement that the island has remembered the 65th through naming several public spaces and highways in its honor. Several monuments stand in memory of the unit as well. But seeking a wider rememberance of the unit beyond the island, she said she secured the language in the congressional bill to designate National Borinqueneers Day. Im overjoyed to see on social media and other platforms how this celebration has extended among the states, Gonzalez Colons statement said. But more importantly, it fills me with great honor to know that there are members of the Borinqueneers witnessing how a nation remembers and honors their legacy, knowing that their sacrifices are valued and will be remembered forever. ***Update: As of 4:30 p.m. Thursday, the crash scene was reported cleared A tractor-trailer and cement truck crashed into one another on Interstate 90 westbound in West Springfield late Wednesday morning, Massachusetts State Police said. Drivers are urged to seek alternative routes as cleanup is expected to take several hours. The crash occurred near the 45-mile marker on the Massachusetts Turnpike in West Springfield at around 10:32 a.m. Wednesday, Massachusetts State Police spokesperson Dave Procopio stated. The driver of the cement truck, who was only identified by police as a man, was rushed to Baystate Medical Center with injuries. An oil spill also happened during the collision, officials added. As of 12:30 p.m., officials said drivers should expect delays for the next several hours as the right lane has been shut down so crews can clean the oil and remove the large vehicles from the area. Massachusetts is a solidly blue state, but many of the states Republicans still support former President Donald Trump as he faces one legal storm after another going into the 2024 presidential election, a new poll said. Trump now has 59% approval among Republicans in Massachusetts, according to a University of Massachusetts Amherst/WCVB poll released Wednesday. That places the president 41 percentage points ahead of the second contender in the poll, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, at 18%. Trump holds a lead among nearly every category of Republican respondent other than those with post-graduate degrees, where DeSantis has a small 51-to-49 lead. Ron DeSantis has often been presented as an alternative to Trump, but so far Massachusetts Republicans arent buying it, professor of political science at UMass Amherst and co-director of the poll Jesse Rhodes said in a statement. Trump seems to be consolidating his lead as the frontrunner for the 2024 GOP presidential nomination. Rhodes added that Trumps recent indictments for 34 felonies in New York District Court is helping him among Republicans, who view the indictment as a form of persecution. However, DeSantis numbers could rise if he announces a run for the presidency, poll co-director Raymond La Raja said in the statement. Strong support for the former president comes after what poll co-director Tatishe Nteta called an upheaval in the Massachusetts GOP following Charlie Bakers tenure as the states most popular governor and Republican, the inability of a lone Republican to win statewide office in the 2022 election and the subsequent ousting of Mass. GOP chairman Jim Lyons. Through all of this turmoil, one thing has remained constant: Republicans in the Bay State remain loyal to former President Donald Trump, Nteta said. With rumors of New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu throwing his hat in the GOP primary ring, La Raja noted that he doesnt come close to beating Trump, losing 81-19, according to polling data. As Sununu mulls a bid for the White House, our results suggest that Republicans in the Bay State do not share in his negative assessments of the two Republican frontrunners, Nteta said in the statement. If Sununu has any chance of emerging as the Republican nominee in 2024, he will need to shore up support among Republicans in the state and our results suggest that it will likely be a quixotic quest. This poll was conducted between March 28 and April 5 with responses from 700 statewide respondents. YouGov interviewed 821 total respondents who were then matched down to a sample of 700 to produce the final dataset. An unrelated poll by Opinion Diagnostics, a Boston-based polling and market research firm, found that even if the Massachusetts Republican primary were held on the day of his indictment, 45% of likely voters would cast their ballots for Trump, MassLive previously reported. Editors note: Temoris Greckos relentless and incisive reporting into the crimes in Iguala and the disappearance of the 43 students in Ayotzinapa makes him a voice of authority on the subject. In 2016, he published Mentira historica. Estado de impunidad, impunidad de Estado (Proceso, 2016), he wrote and produced the documentaries, Mirar Morir. El Ejercito en la noche de Iguala (2015) and Mirar Morir. Addendum (2020), as well as the podcasts series, Ayotzinapa. Los crimenes y la implicacion presidencial (2023). This story first appeared on palabra, the digital news site by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. By Temoris Grecko and translated by Patricia Guadalupe The confrontation between the military and students who were protesting the disappearance of 43 young students from Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, was not itself new. As on so many previous occasions, it was young people, who supported the demonstrations by parents demanding justice for their children, that tried to enter a police station by force, but the militarys anti-riot forces pushed them back. It was the usual script until, inexplicably, a live war band emerged, playing the toque de ataque, an attack call, like an ominous coded message. It was strange for something like this to happen in September 2022, during President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors administration and eight years after the still unpunished crimes against students of the Ayotzinapa school for rural teachers. Giovanni Galindes Guerrero was 20 years old the night he and his companions disappeared. His parents, Maria Elena Guerrero and Alfredo Galindes, are rural teachers, the kind who try to open the path of education to children in the countryside, and Giovanni wanted to follow the same path. Jorge Alvarez Nava taught himself to play the guitar. He aspired to study medicine, so his father, Epifanio, tried to come to the United States without papers to pay for his studies, but he was arrested and deported, and he returned to work in the fields alongside his wife, Blanca Luz. Jorge took the only option he had: enter the Ayotzinapa school. The same was done by Jose Angel Navarrete Gonzalez, son of Angelica Gonzalez and Emiliano Navarrete, from the town of Tixtla, who instilled in him the desire to study so he wouldnt end up as a bricklayer. The anti-monument to the 43 disappeared, located (since 2015) at an important intersection on the most famous street in Mexico City, Paseo de la Reforma, was the first of a long series of sculptures in memory of different groups of victims. They were installed by demonstrators primarily to protest various issues, but also to challenge the governments exclusive right to determine public space. Theyve been a significant part of the capitals political culture. Photo by Alejandro Melendez Ortiz For them and 40 other young people who were showered with bullets on September 26, 2014, in the city of Iguala and were later disappeared by government forces, a demonstration is held in Mexico City and in cities in the state of Guerrero on the 26th day of each month. During the first four years after the crimes, the government of then-President Enrique Pena Nieto tried to cover up the criminal plot responsible for those disappearances and six additional murders. This caused great displeasure in various sectors of Mexican society and was the cause of frequent skirmishes between students and law enforcement. That was the period of the so-called historical lie, in reference to Ayotzinapa and its bogus investigation. It was thought that the second phase would be that of truth and justice. This began in 2018, when then president-elect Lopez Obrador promised to investigate the fate of the disappeared and prosecute both those responsible for the attacks and the officials who supposedly were looking for them. For the first time since the disappearances, the faces of mothers and fathers lit up with smiles and hope. Four years later, in the weeks leading up to that eighth anniversary, progress was slow for the relatives. The scant remains of student, Alexander Mora Venancio, were identified in 2015, as were those of Jhosivani Guerrero and Christian Rodriguez in 2020. These were the only remains discovered of the 43 missing. Suddenly, an avalanche of judicial developments occurred, with the issuance of dozens of arrest warrants and the execution of several of them, only to end up with a dead stop and significant setbacks due to decisions that were as strange as they were unexpected. This has caused a serious credibility crisis regarding the governments ability to get to the bottom of what happened, and has increased fears that the power of the military is greater than the presidential will. The second phase, which was supposed to be the final one, ended up being that of a promise not yet fulfilled. So began a third phase, whose nature is unknown. The Ayotzinapa case remains unresolved and no one knows where the case is headed. THE HISTORIC LIE The solemn Museum of Memory and Tolerance, in front of the grand Alameda Central in Mexico City, was the scene of an emotional, life-giving meeting on September 26, 2018 between parents of the 43 disappeared and Lopez Obrador, who had won the presidential election and was preparing to take office. Through Maria Elena Guerrero, Giovannis mother, they gave him the recognition denied to Pena Nieto: For us, he is already president, because right now, our hearts beat, our hopes are in them (the new government) and their commitment to comply. Together we will make history, as our president has said. They are an example for all those who fight in Mexico and in the world for justice, for their dedication to this noble cause, the president-elect responded, reiterating, my commitment to comply, not to fail in this case to the mothers, to the parents of the young people of Ayotzinapa, and not to fail the people of Mexico. On September 26, 2018, some of the parents of the 43 disappeared students from Ayotzinapa met with Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his officials at the Memory and Tolerance Museum (Museo Memoria y Tolerancia), four years after the crimes in Iguala, Guerrero. Photo by Alejandro Melendez Ortiz. Four years went by and on that same date in 2022, the relatives returned to the political heart of the country, the enormous Zocalo square, where they usually deliver the most important speeches of the many given each year in front of the tens of thousands who come to listen to them. No, Mr. President, we want the truth, said Blanca Luz Nava, Jorges mother. Emiliano Navarrete, Jose Angels father, lamented, If we had made a little progress with this government, when it came to the point of dealing with the army, (now), everything (has) fell apart.In November 2014, a few weeks after the attacks against the Ayotzinapa students, the Pena Nieto government wanted to come up with a quick solution to the problem of the disappeared. In the official version, which the then-Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam called historic truth (later revealed to be a lie), the students were infiltrated by criminals; they had gone to the city of Iguala as part of a dispute between criminals and with the aim of sabotaging a political act; they had been attacked by armed civilians and municipal police officers under orders of the mayor; they had been rounded up in a single group, taken to the garbage dump in the neighboring town of Cocula, killed and incinerated on a makeshift open-air pyre so impossibly efficient that nothing but ashes remained with no trace of personal belongings, not even DNA; and that their remains had been thrown into a small river. According to this version, everything was strictly local. Few believed it. The link between the military and the different police forces with organized crime in Guerrero is historic. In the 1970s, when then-Colonel and later General, Mario Arturo Acosta Chaparro, was put in charge of law enforcement in the state, he combined a repression of scorched earth tactics and flights of death (from airplanes, they threw political detainees into the ocean) with the introduction of poppy cultivation (to produce heroin) and other illegal activities. But the historic truth was built to minimize the scope of the authorities participation: that apart from the municipal ones, no other higher level - state or federal - was involved. And it had to hide the crux of the conflict: The police, military, and civilian officials who spoke on the subject never discussed the keyword, the word that would explain the common thread between the armed men, those police officers, and the mayor: heroin. It was hidden. THE COVAJ VERSION After years of lies and even harassment, defamation, and government espionage against investigators and journalists who denounced the deception, and against mothers and fathers who did not give up on their demand for justice, the new government of Lopez Obrador formed a special prosecutors office and a Commission for Truth and Justice (COVAJ, in Spanish). The investigations dragged for months and soon years until in August 2022, when the governments Undersecretary for Human Rights and head of COVAJ, Alejandro Encinas, surprised everyone with a report (still missing important elements) that painted a completely different picture than the historic lie. The report stated that the students had no connection to the crime rings, nor did they go to sabotage any act, but that they arrived in Iguala by accident and that their objective was to find transportation to bring groups of students to a demonstration in Mexico City. It further states that they were not attacked by criminals to prevent their arrival in the city, but rather to prevent them from leaving. The reason, unknown to the students at the time, was that one of the five buses they had taken had hidden a package of heroin to be smuggled into the United States that was worth millions of dollars. Students from Ayotzinapa, along with mothers and fathers of the 43 disappeared and members of civil society groups, held a march on September 26, 2018 in Mexico City to commemorate the fourth anniversary of their disappearance in Iguala, Guerrero. Photo by Alejandro Melendez Ortiz The students were never brought together in a single group, transferred to the dump, or cremated. In the effort to recover the so-called fifth bus, various groups of criminals and police officers took them to different directions, and apparently they murdered them with methods as cruel as they were different. The most serious aspect is that none of this happened just at the local level. Each one of the students movements was monitored and sent in real time through a national security communications system, so different authorities were aware of the events but chose not to help the defenseless civilians under armed attack. Even worse, agents from different state and federal police forces, as well as the military, participated in the attacks. According to Undersecretary Encinas, Colonel Jose Rodriguez Perez, commander of the 27th Infantry Battalion, directly ordered the murder of at least six of the disappeared. The COVAJ report which is incomplete and not even final was still causing a stir when 83 arrest warrants were issued, two of them against generals and 18 against other soldiers (of whom four were arrested, including Rodriguez Perez). Former Attorney General Murillo Karam was also arrested. Students hold hands to protect demonstrators as they march in Mexico City to the main square, the Zocalo, on September 26, 2018, commemorating four years since their 43 companions were disappeared in Iguala, Guerrero. Photo by Alejandro Melendez Ortiz THE ARMY INTERVENES It seemed that the government had managed to break the impunity pact that protected the generals and the highest-ranking former civil servants. There was speculation as to whether they would also accuse Pena Nietos Cabinet secretaries, or the former president himself. Without his intervention, it is unlikely that his ministers of the Interior, Defense, and the Navy, in addition to the attorney general and the intelligence agency, could have colluded in coming up with the historic lie. Murillo Karams own arrest was the first sign that something was wrong. This happened right under the nose of the special prosecutor Omar Gomez Trejo, who wanted to beef up his accusations before presenting them before a judge. Just as he and key members of his team were in Israel and Panama working on legal procedures related to the case, his boss, the attorney general, ordered Murillo Karams arrest and requested - and obtained - the withdrawal of 21 of the 83 arrest warrants, including 16 against members of the military. Upon returning to Mexico, Gomez Trejo found that 20 investigative police agents under his command had been removed. He resigned on September 27, one day after the eighth anniversary. The attorney general did not explain his decisions. It was President Lopez Obrador that did the explaining. Although the judge found sufficient grounds to grant them, the president asserted, without any evidence, that the 21 orders which were withdrawn had been requested to light up the investigation, and that thinking that this would cause a rebellion in the army (and that then) we would have to turn back the clock so as not to touch anyone. The presidents statement tacitly implicated the special prosecutor, because he was the one who requested the arrest warrants. However, when asked directly if it had indeed been the prosecutor, Lopez Obrador said no, leaving his serious accusation out in the open and ambiguous. 100 MONTHS It is January 26, 2023. The march that the mothers and fathers of the disappeared do every month in Mexico City in front of the Memory and Tolerance Museum, where a presidential promise that once gave them hope now gives them doubts, finishes at the statue of Benito Juarez, the hero who led the defense of the country against the invading French army until victory in 1867. The contingent of mothers and fathers of the 43 disappeared leads the demonstration on September 26, 2018. In the background is the Angel of Independence monument, the traditional start of these marches. Photo by Alejandro Melendez Ortiz An independent government transparency body has ordered the prosecution to report why it requested to withdraw the arrest warrants. But the investigation has been stalled. The special prosecutor was replaced with a lawyer with no experience in investigations or litigations. This is an official completely oblivious to an extremely complex and extensive case that has generated hundreds of thousands of documents and, unlike his predecessor, does not have the support of the victims. The question remains whether the president will finally be able to impose on the military his constitutional authority and his commitment to justice. He has only 20 months left in office. If, between October 2014 and January 2015, there was a great anger in the streets of Mexico, mirrored in dozens of countries by what was called Global Actions for Ayotzinapa, now the anniversary demonstrations bring together only a few thousand people. The monthly events have fewer participants, although they serve to remind society that what outraged them remains alive and well, in impunity. That their demands for truth and justice have only been partially met and that they should not give up. This January afternoon, the mothers and fathers look sad, determined to continue the fight, but with a new kind of anger. Its no longer about the abused and persecuted, but that of those with great disappointment. Their lawyer, Vidulfo Rosales, explains that their position is that of continuing the dialogue, the rebuilding of trust, and bringing back those arrest warrants that were withdrawn. The clearest, most transparent proof that this government is willing to clarify the facts of the Ayotzinapa case will be to bring back those (arrest) orders. Behind the relatives is a new generation of students from Ayotzinapa and other schools for rural teachers. They are 17, 19, and 21 years old. They were between nine and 13 years old when their 43 cohorts were dragged into the unknown. The fight has become old. While today is not another anniversary, it does feel like a special date because 100 months have passed without justice. 100 months that represent, for these young men, nearly half of their lives. ___ Temoris Grecko is an award-winning political scientist, journalist, and documentary filmmaker who has covered armed conflicts on every continent and has authored seven non-fiction books. Alejandro Melendez Ortiz was born in Mexico City. He studied communication science at the School of Political and Social Science at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) and photography at the Center for Marti Studies in Havana, Cuba. He is a freelance photographer, deputy director of the website Periodistas Unidos (United Journalists) and a member of the FotorreporterosMx collective. He worked at the newspapers El Financiero, La Jornada and Excelsior and the sports publication Record. He has also worked at the news agencies Notimex, Clasos, AFP, Xinhua y Procesofoto and has contributed to the magazines focused on music, including Mosca, Rolling Stone, Grita Radio and website Me Hace Ruido. He has written two books: Culturas Juveniles, edited by the UNAM School of Political and Social Science and Luminiescencias with the publishing house Literal. He won the Gabriel Garcia Marquez award in 2019 in the innovation category for joint reporting on Mujeres de la Vitrina (Showcase Women). The state Senate approved a plan to create a housing secretariat Thursday afternoon, a move Gov. Maura Healey has pitched as necessary to help struggling renters and homeowners in Massachusetts. In arguing for the new post, lawmakers have pointed to a rise in rent and home prices that are putting a strain on residents. A reorganization of the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, they said, will help combat a housing crisis in Massachusetts. Senators voted 39-0 to advance the bill over to the House for their approval, which could act on the proposal during their formal session Thursday. A new secretariat creates an entire think tank on the topic at the executive level of state government and puts a person in place to make sure that housing is a human right, said Sen. Lydia Edwards, a former Boston city councilor who now serves as co-chair of the Legislatures Housing Committee. The new department, Edwards said, will help eliminate all forms of discrimination. Were looking at the ways in which we are administratively helping and also sometimes burdening individuals and finally, looking at ways in which we can innovatively house and hopefully assure that people have affordable places to live and generational wealth, she said during remarks on the Senate floor. Healey said she is grateful to the Legislature for sharing our commitment to establishing the new secretariat. [The office] will drive housing production across our state and lower costs, Healey said in a statement. We look forward to the work ahead to stand up this secretariat and have already started the search process for our housing secretary. Healey issued an executive order earlier this year establishing a working group to come up with a plan to create a housing secretariat, which was later sent to the Legislature. The State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee held a hearing on the matter last month and gave it their stamp of approval earlier this week. The two branches have until April 30 to vote on Healeys proposal, though it would still take effect even if the House and Senate do not take action. If the Legislature does give it the green light, the plan would take effect 30 days after the enactment. The new Democratic governor pitched a housing secretariat on the campaign trail, pledging to split the position off from the traditional dual housing and economic development secretary used in past administrations. Healey has said a standalone housing secretariat dubbed the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities would better allow the administration to prioritize housing the way it deserves. It will also help us better coordinate our housing response with the lens of economic development, transportation, climate and public health so that we can comprehensively make our state both more affordable and attractive to residents and employers alike, she said at an event in January. Every community will have a role in meeting our goals we cant do this alone. In a letter accompanying their approval of the plan, lawmakers on the State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee said the reorganization plan is only the first step in what we expect will be a continuing collaboration with the Legislature, municipal officials, and key stakeholders throughout the Commonwealth to increase the production of new housing over the long term. The key provisions of the bill charge the new Secretary of Housing and Livable Communities with developing a full array of additional new housing policies that will expand the supply of affordable, accessible housing across the commonwealth, the letter said. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight Committee Co-Chair Sen. Nick Collins said the new secretariat will oversee the Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency, the Massachusetts Housing Partnership, the Community Economic Development Assistance Corp., the Manufactured Homes Commission, the Commission of Indian Affairs, and the American-Candidan-French Cultural Exchange Commission. With housing crisis before us, we know that the efforts that well be making here on the budget this year and then hopefully in our economic development bill will continue to foster more housing construction that people can afford, the Boston Democrat said. Edwards said it is important to have a cabinet dedicated to housing to help bring together all the stakeholders in the industry rents, landlords, homeowners, and future homeowners, to name a few. It is not an easy thing to do to try to house anybody, especially in the state of Massachusetts. We already are dealing with some of the most expensive housing in the country, Edwards said. And already we deal with a vast majority of people who are rent burdened. Red Sox pitcher Josh Winckowski joined the latest Fenway Rundown episode with MassLives Chris Cotillo. Winckowski talked about building off his struggles from 2022, making his way up to the majors, clashing with Chicago Cubs fans after his comments about Wrigley Field and more You can listen to the full podcast here and subscribe on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Here are some highlights: Winckowski on his success out of the bullpen after coming up as a starter in 2022: I think velocity is up a little so far this year, Im kind of wondering if its bullpen or whatnot, Winckowski said on the podcast. I do think even in spring, the ball was coming out a little bit easier in longer outings of 4-5 innings. I think I wouldve thrown a little bit harder this year regardless of where I was at, but I think bullpen makes it easier. Truthfully this is a team Im not too upset about (not) starting with, he continued. I mean, the veterans you have at the front and then the young talent with (Garrett) Whitlock and (Tanner) Houck and even the guys down there in Triple-A that are coming up. Not the worst team to be in the bullpen for. I mean, (Chris) Sale, (Nick) Pivetta and (Corey) Kluber, those guys have all done extremely well for a long time. Feeling pretty good in the bullpen. BetMGM Massachusetts BET $10, GET $200 BONUS BETS CLAIM OFFER Promo code: MASSLIVE 21+ and present in Massachusetts. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-Gambler. Related: Mobile sports betting is live in Massachusetts on BetMGM. Get started with $200 in bonus bets How long did it take Winckowski to flush last years problems out of his system? Heading into spring training there was still a thought of it, Winckowski said. Definitely some anger at points, frustration, but as spring training approached I definitely got into a healthy spot with it and just let it fuel me. Days before spring training (I) was definitely still like got to be on top of things this year. Warmer weather and gusty winds have left Massachusetts vulnerable to brush fires breaking out over the last week but is it the new normal? For context, the state has seen 151 wildfires since April 5, part of 319 wildfires across the state since the start of the year as of Thursday, April 13, according to Dave Celino, the chief fire warden for the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. The story on this is that this is the typical, annual spring fire season for the northeastern United States, he said. Fire starts in the east once we lose snowpack ... were seeing this come to fruition this year where typically in the spring we get these weather patterns that bring us dry air and windy conditions. The National Weather Service issued an alert for elevated fire weather conditions for parts of Massachusetts this week. Except for some grass, a lot of shrubs have not leafed out, elevating the fire risk for kindling to catch fire and engulf an area in flames. This past week has been somewhat unique with the lack of precipitation, dropping down to 15%, combined with heavy winds, Celino said. But in Massachusetts, brush fires are not isolated to rural areas, Jake Wark, spokesperson for the State Fire Marshal, told MassLive. About 40% of Massachusetts homes are in what are known as wildland-urban interface or intermix zones places where the built environment abuts or mixes with the natural environment, Wark said. This presents a reciprocal hazard, because a wildland fire can put people and property at risk and a fire at home can easily spread to surrounding brush. An example of this would be a four-alarm fire that tore through a Weston home last week, which also caused a brush fire, Wark added. Risks like these are not unheard of for anyone living on the periphery of a rural area, whether in Massachusetts or in a state prone to devastating wildfires like Colorado and California. In the Golden State, the Santa Ana winds bring dry, intense, warm-to-hot gusts westward toward the coast, sometimes causing severe damage to buildings and bringing wildfires to life, according to Celino and the National Weather Service. What happens for us in the northern hardwoods here is that we get extreme and dangerous fire behavior in hardwood leaf litter thats unshaded, like the conditions were in this week, when we get down to like 20% relative humidity, Celino said. So its almost the equivalent of being at maybe 7 or 6% in California. Along with vegetation thats evolved to warmer climates, this combination of factors provides a smaller frequency of large wildfires compared with those in the western United States, Celino said. Even in California, the new normal has been a prolonged fire season expanding well through the fall and winter. In terms of a new normal, its somewhat similar in Massachusetts. If there is anything that has grabbed our attention in terms of a new normal is that were seeing fire season come earlier, Celino said. Were seeing fire activity start to ramp up by the end of February and early March, as opposed to us still having a snowpack. He added that this spring has so far exhibited very typical springtime weather patterns, even going into this weekend, with temperatures dropping and the start of a new rainy system carrying on from Sunday through to the start of next week. The public is one of our big partners in wildland fire management, Celino said. Across the country, nationally. On a national stage, 95% of all wildfires are human-caused. In Massachusetts, we know that probably more than 98% of our wildfires are human-caused in some form or fashion. Campfires that are not entirely extinguished and not cold to the touch are one of these causes, along with lit cigarettes, disposed cigarette butts and a spark from a muffler, Celino said. With these risk factors leaving open the potential to start a fire, outdoor enthusiasts are encouraged to heighten their own situational awareness, be aware of their surroundings, the weather conditions, the dry fuel conditions, Celino said. Such fires can become long-term, labor-intensive fire events that draw resources from local fire departments that also have a communitys worth of other emergencies to respond to, Wark said. Despite this, he urged that if anyone sees a fire to call 911 right away. Dental Industry Market Information By Discipline (Endodontics, Restorative Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Orthodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, and Oral Surgery), By Consumables (Resin Composites, Dental Biomaterial, Dental Aesthetic, Endodontic Supplies, Gingival Retraction Material, and Whitening Material), By End-User (Hospitals & Clinics Specialty Dental Centers, and Dental Academic & Research Institutes), and Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Rest of the World)Forecast till 2030 The dental industry market size is projected to reach approximately USD 60.37 billion by 2030, at a CAGR of 6.9% from 2022 to 2030. Dental disorders diagnosis, prevention, and treatment are covered under dental services provided by dentists and dental professionals. The dental industry market refers to the commercial sector that provides goods and services related to oral health and dental care. This market encompasses a wide range of products and services, including dental implants, orthodontic appliances, cosmetic dentistry, dental instruments and equipment, dental materials, and dental insurance. The dental industry also encompasses dental practices, clinics, and laboratories, as well as the manufacturers and distributors of dental products and technologies. The dental industry market is constantly evolving with new technologies and products, making it a dynamic and growing sector. The COVID-19 pandemic has led to the highly contagious nature of the virus and the proximity required for dental procedures, many dental practices were forced to temporarily close or significantly limit their services during the initial stages of the pandemic has led to a decrease in consumer confidence and a decrease in the number of people seeking dental treatments, as people prioritize their health and financial stability over elective procedures. This has resulted in a decline in demand for dental products and services, which has impacted the bottom line of dental industry businesses. Get Free Sample PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2753 Dental Industry Segmentation The Global Dental industry market has been segmented into Discipline, Consumables, and End-User. Based on the Discipline, the market has been segmented into Endodontics, Restorative Dentistry, Prosthodontics, Periodontics, Orthodontics, Cosmetic Dentistry, and Oral Surgery Based on the Consumables, the market has been segmented into Resin Composites, Dental Biomaterial, Dental Aesthetic, Endodontic Supplies, Gingival Retraction Material, and Whitening Material Based on the End-User, the market has been segmented into Hospitals & Clinics Specialty Dental Centers, and Dental Academic & Research Institutes Dental Industry Key Players Some of the key market players are 3M Company, Dentsply Sirona Inc., Henry Schein, Inc., Ivoclar Vivadent AG, Straumann Holding AG, Danaher Corporation, Zimmer Biomet Holdings, Inc., GC Corporation, A-dec Inc., and Planmeca Oy. Dental Industry Regional Analysis North America is the largest market for the dental industry, with the United States being the largest contributor to the market. The growth in this region is attributed to factors such as increasing healthcare spending, the rising geriatric population, and the presence of advanced healthcare infrastructure. Europe is the second-largest market, with countries such as Germany, the United Kingdom, and France contributing significantly to the market. Browse In-depth Market Research Report (490 Pages) on Dental Industry: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/dental-industry-market-7637 The Asia Pacific region is expected to experience the highest growth rate, driven by factors such as the increasing prevalence of dental disorders, the growing geriatric population, and rising healthcare expenditure. The key markets in the region include China, Japan, India, and South Korea. Latin America and the Middle East and Africa are also emerging markets for the dental industry, with increasing demand for dental services and rising awareness of oral health. Browse Related Reports at Dental CAD/CAM market Research Report Information By Type (In-lab, and In-office), By Component (Milling machines, Dental printers, Scanners, Software), By End-user (Dental clinics, Dental laboratories, Milling centers), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2030. Dental Prosthetics Market Research Report InType of Materialation By Type (Denture, Crown, Bridges, Veneer, Abutment and Inlays), By Type of Material (Porcelain-Fused-to-Metal, All-Ceramic and Others), By End User (Dental Hospitals & Clinics and Dental Research Laboratories), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, And Rest Of The World) Market Forecast Till 2030. Dental Implants Market: Information By Type of Material (Titanium and Zirconium), By Procedure (Root-Form Dental Implants and Plate-Form Dental Implants), By End User (Hospitals & Clinics and Dental Research Laboratories) Forecast till 2030 About Market Research Future: Market Research Future (MRFR) is a global market research company that takes pride in its services, offering a complete and accurate analysis with regard to diverse markets and consumers worldwide. Market Research Future has the distinguished objective of providing the optimal quality research and granular research to clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help answer your most important questions. Contact: Market Research Future (Part of Wantstats Research and Media Private Limited) 99 Hudson Street, 5Th Floor New York, NY 10013 United States of America +1 628 258 0071 (US) +44 2035 002 764 (UK) Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Website: https://www.marketresearchfuture.com The global dermal fillers market, valued at USD 5.74 billion in 2022, is projected to reach USD 9.13 billion by 2028. With an impressive compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.03%, this rapidly expanding market is driven by several factors, including increased awareness of facial aesthetics, an aging population, and rising healthcare expenditure. Dermal fillers are aesthetic procedures intended to hide signs of facial ageing, wrinkles, and other flaws. Dermal filler operations have grown in popularity thanks to social media and the promotion of positive results by tastemakers, celebrities, and beauty influencers. Dermal fillers are injectable treatments used to enhance facial contours, add volume, and smooth lines. They fill in wrinkles, lines, and other signs of aging by injecting substances such as hyaluronic acid or other synthetic fillers directly into the skin. The results are immediate, and the effects can last up to a year. Dermal fillers also improve skin tone and texture, providing volume to areas like cheeks and lips. As awareness of these treatments grows, so does the demand for them, driving the growth of the dermal fillers market. Read the latest report on dermal fillers market: https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/dermal-fillers-market Key Trends and Drivers in the Dermal Fillers Market Include: Advancements in Aesthetics & Product Launches: The market has witnessed the launch of advanced products and innovative non-invasive procedures, with manufacturers focusing on providing various filler options to suit clients needs. Increasing Demand for Male Aesthetics: Men increasingly seek treatments to address aesthetic concerns, contributing to the dermal fillers market. Better Access to Cosmetic Procedures & Medical Tourism: Patients can access treatments unavailable in their home country at a lower cost. Increasing Demand for Non-invasive Aesthetic Procedures: Dermal fillers offer a non-invasive option with minimal risks and side effects. Aging Demographics & Focus on Improving Appearance: The growing elderly population and increasing focus on personal grooming is driving the demand for dermal fillers. Increasing Awareness & Expenditure on Aesthetic/Cosmetic Procedures: Rising awareness and per capita expenditure on cosmetics have significantly contributed to the dermal fillers market growth. Request a Free Sample: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3771 The global dermal fillers market is experiencing rapid growth due to increased awareness, technological advancements, and a variety of driving factors. As the market continues to expand, manufacturers and service providers will need to adapt and innovate to remain ahead of the competition and meet the rising needs of their customers. Non-invasive aesthetic procedures, like dermal fillers, are very popular as they offer a safe and effective way to improve the appearance without major surgical intervention. They are less expensive, time-consuming, and have shorter recovery times compared to surgical cosmetic procedures. Hyaluronic acid (HA) dominates the market as the most commonly used dermal filler, followed by non-hyaluronic acid dermal fillers. Lips & cheeks enhancement is the most popular application, and the female segment accounts for the largest share in the market. Geographically, North America dominates the global dermal fillers market, followed by Europe and the Asia-Pacific region. The APAC region is expected to witness the fastest growth rate during the forecast period. Social Media Channels, a Prominent Growth Enabler for Derma Filler market The medias emphasis on physical attractiveness is more pervasive than ever in todays culture, especially among younger people and via newer media channels like social networking sites. The way one looks can have a big impact on whether other users view and remark on their profile. The number of young individuals getting cosmetic operations is rising in tandem with the trend of increased social media use. Social media has always had a positive impact on the global dermal fillers market, promoting awareness of various options available to customers. The International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS) conducted a global survey in 2021, revealing that 17.6 million non-surgical procedures were performed, including 5.2 million hyaluronic acid dermal filler procedures. The number of these procedures has increased by 19.9% compared to 2020 and by 54.4% since 2017. The number of dermal filler procedures is expected to increase in the coming years due to the aging population surge and the expenditure on aesthetic treatments. Factors such as rapidly changing lifestyles and the surge in demand for dermal filler procedures will propel the demand for dermal fillers in the coming years. In 2020, the female population accounted for 2.9 million dermal filler procedures, while the number of dermal filler procedures among the male population was recorded at 118,614. According to Arizton, the focus on appearance is expected to drive the global dermal fillers market for males. Nowadays, more men are concerned with their appearance and seek aesthetic treatments. Men are seeking aesthetic treatments in order to compete with younger men for jobs. This is especially true for those in the marketing, sales, banking, and finance industries, where they meet new people on a regular basis and where first impressions count. Looking young can help you look like a alpha male at work. Click here to Get a Sample of Derma Fillers Market Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3771 Women have dominated the aesthetic industry, with advertising efforts aimed squarely at them. However, statistics show that men understand that looking good entails more than just a great haircut and a nice pair of clothes. Men have been stepping up and embracing aesthetic treatments in recent years to boost their confidence. As the demand for male aesthetics rises, the global dermal fillers market is expected to expand at a healthy clip. Aesthetic treatments for men are becoming more popular for a variety of reasons, including increased awareness, acceptability, and accessibility. Other factors influencing this shift include social media, competitive job markets, and the growing number of male celebrities who undergo multiple aesthetic enhancements. The rise of direct-to-consumer dermatology is another significant impact of social media on the dermal filler market. This has paved the way for more innovative and customised brands to engage with their target audiences directly via social media. Furthermore, discussions about dermal fillers have increased on platforms such as Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok. These influencers are now sharing their experiences with their followers, adding credibility and reassurance to those thinking about getting dermal filler treatments. Influencers frequently showcase their work or discuss treatments they have had, allowing beginners and professionals alike to compare notes and determine which treatment options might be right for them. The rise of social media has benefited the dermal filler market significantly. Potential patients can now see real results, hear stories and testimonials from those who have had treatments, and connect with experts from direct-to-consumer dermatology brands thanks to social media. These factors have significantly contributed to the growth of the dermal filler market, allowing people to be more informed about the treatments available. Click here to Get a Sample of Derma Fillers Market Report: https://www.arizton.com/request-sample/3771 The report considers the present scenario of the global dermal fillers market and its market dynamics for 20232028. It covers a detailed overview of several market growth enablers, restraints, and trends. The study covers both the demand and supply sides of the industry. It also profiles and analyzes leading companies and several other prominent companies operating in the industry. 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 The Latest Report Provides Market Size by 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 (US, Canada), Europe (Germany, Italy, Spain, UK, France), APAC( China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia), Latin America( Brazil, Argentina, Mexico), Middle East & Africa (Turkey, Saudi Arabia, South Africa) To Get the Benefit of Our Free Report Customization Service, Send Your Enquiry Here https://www.arizton.com/customize-report/3771 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 various 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. Contact Us: Call: +1-312-235-2040 +1 302 469 0707 Mail: enquiry@arizton.com Contact Us: https://www.arizton.com/contact-us Blog: https://www.arizton.com/blog Website: https://www.arizton.com/ DATABASE AND GIS MANAGER, USAID CENTRAL AFRICA REGIONAL THIRD-PARTY MONITORING PROJECT APPLY FOR JOB Management Systems International (MSI), a Tetra Tech Company, is a Washington, D.C. metro area management consultancy with a 40-year history of delivering results for our clients. Our expertise is in the fields of monitoring and evaluation; democracy and governance; peace and stability; rule of law and accountability; education; gender and inclusion; strategic communications; and leadership and organizational development. MSI has implemented projects in 90 countries around the world such as Colombia, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Pakistan, Syria and Ukraine, and works domestically. We support clients ranging from the U.S. Government (e.g., the U.S. Agency for International Development, U.S. Department of Defense, U.S. Departments of State and Labor, and the Millennium Challenge Corporation) to large bilateral and multilateral donors (e.g., the World Bank and the United Nations Development Program). We also work with national and local governments, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), think tanks, foundations and universities. For more information, please visit our website at www.msiworldwide.com. Project Summary: The USAID Central Africa Regional Third-party Monitoring (CART) project will establish independent, impartial, timely, responsive, contextualized, and forward-looking third-party monitoring (TPM) and operational support services. CART will provide a comprehensive range of verification and outcome monitoring and learning services that will increase USAID BHAs and its implementing partners (IP) understanding of the outputs, outcomes, progress, challenges, successes, results, and lessons learned for both emergency and non-emergency activities within Central Africa Republic (CAR), Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), and Republic of Congo (ROC). This project seeks to improve BHAs capability to utilize humanitarian assistance resources to ameliorate the drivers of poverty and malnutrition characterized by complex emergencies within the region. **Please note: Only Congolese (DRC) citizens are eligible for this position.** Position Summary: The Database and GIS Manager will be based in Kinshasa and will provide critical support to the configuration and rollout of all IT products used by the project, including CAPI survey software and GIS mapping software. The Manager will work closely with MSIs headquarters software developers and Knowledge Management team. This is a full-time position and will report to the Chief of Party (COP). Responsibilities: Work with project staff and project stakeholders to ensure that ongoing M&E data are compiled in a database and made available to USAID and implementing partner staff as required (e.g., implementing partners submit performance indicator data quarterly). Support project staff and local contractors as required to program data collection tools for field surveys and third-party monitoring and any other periodic surveys required by USAID. Design and carry out project staff and stakeholder training on databases and support USAID data entry requirements. Manage and manipulate data for results-based performance analysis and performance reports. Meet regularly with project staff to ensure accurate and timely data analysis and reporting. Design, develop, and implement systems and databases to access and store geospatial data. Design digital maps using geospatial data and analyze spatial and non-spatial information. Generate standard and custom maps for ongoing reporting activities. Support data collection verification by reviewing the data, especially Geographic Information System (GIS) data. Profile de la compagnie: Management Systems International (MSI), une compagnie Tetra Tech, est une societe de conseil en gestion dans la region metropolitaine de Washington, DC, avec une histoire de 40 ans dans la fourniture de resultats a nos clients. Notre expertise principale se situe dans les domaines du suivi et de l'evaluation (S&E), democratie et gouvernance ; paix et stabilite ; etat de droit et responsabilite ; education ; genre et inclusion ; communication strategique ; et le leadership et le developpement organisationnel. MSI a mis en uvre les projets dans 90 pays a travers le monde, dont la Colombie, lIndonesie, la Jordanie, le Kenya, le Mexique, le Nigeria, le Pakistan, la Syrie et lUkraine, et travaille au niveau national. Nous soutenons des clients allant du gouvernement americain (par exemple, lUSAID, le Departement de Defense, le Departements d'Etat et du Travail, et la Millennium Challenge Corporation) aux grands donateurs bilateraux et multilateraux (par exemple, la Banque mondiale et le Programme des Nations Unies pour le developpement). Nous travaillons egalement avec des gouvernements nationaux et locaux, des organisations non gouvernementales (ONG), des groupes de reflexion, des fondations et des universites. Pour plus d'informations, veuillez visiter notre site web a l'adresse www.msiworldwide.com. Resume du projet: Lobjectif du programme de lUSAID Central Africa Regional Third-Party Monitoring (CART) est detablir et mettre en uvre un mecanisme de suivi par tier qui est independant, impartial, reactif, contextualise et prospective avec des services de soutien operationnel. CART fournira une gamme complete de services de verification et de suivi des resultats, et d'apprentissage qui permettront aux partenaires du Bureau de lUSAID en charge de lAssistance Humanitaire (BHA) de mieux comprendre les realisations, les resultats, les progres, les defis, les succes, les resultats et les lecons apprises pour les projets d'urgence et non-urgence en Republique Democratique du Congo (RDC), Republique Centrafricaine (RCA) et la Republique du Congo (RC). Le programme CART vise a ameliorer la capacite de lUSAID BHA a utiliser les ressources destinees a l'assistance humanitaire pour attenuer les facteurs de pauvrete et de malnutrition caracterises par des situations durgence complexes dans la region. **Attention: Seuls les citoyens de la RDC sont eligibles a ce poste.** Resume du Poste: Le gestionnaire de base de donnees et SIG base a Kinshasa, fournira un soutien essentiel a la configuration et au deploiement de tous les produits informatiques utilises par le projet, y compris le logiciel d'enquete CAPI et le logiciel de cartographie SIG. Le gestionnaire de base de donnees travaillera en collaboration avec les developpeurs de logiciels et l'equipe de Gestion des Connaissances basee au siege. Il s'agit d'un poste a temps plein qui relevera de la supervision du Chief of Party. Responsabilites: Travailler avec le staff et les parties prenantes du projet pour s'assurer que les donnees de suivi et d'evaluation en cours sont compilees dans une base de donnees et mises a la disposition de l'USAID et du personnel des partenaires d'execution si necessaire (par exemple, les partenaires d'execution soumettent les donnees des indicateurs de performance tous les trimestres). Soutenir le staff du projet et les projets locaux selon les besoins pour programmer des outils de collecte de donnees pour les enquetes de terrain et le suivi par des tiers et toutes autres enquetes periodiques requises par l'USAID. Concevoir et realiser la formation du personnel du projet et des parties prenantes sur les bases de donnees et prendre en charge les exigences de saisie de donnees de l'USAID. Gerer et manipuler les donnees pour l'analyse des performances et les rapports de performance bases sur les resultats. Rencontrer regulierement le personnel du projet pour assurer une analyse et des rapports des donnees precis et a temps Concevoir, developper et mettre en uvre des systemes et des bases de donnees pour acceder aux donnees geospatiales et les stocker. Concevoir des cartes numeriques a laide de donnees geospatiales et analyser des informations spatiales et non spatiales. Generez des cartes standard et personnalisees pour les activites de rapportage en cours. Appuyer la verification de la collecte de donnees en examinant les donnees, en particulier les donnees du systeme dinformation geographique (SIG). Qualifications: Bachelors degree in computer science or related technical fields is required. Masters degree preferred. Minimum five years of experience in leading teams to develop data and information management systems is required. Minimum two years of experience working with database development and information management is required. Minimum one year of experience professionally using GIS software/s is preferred. Ability to work across key sectors in the development of a database and information management system is required. Strong oral and written communication, analytical, interpersonal, attention to detail, organizational, and team management skills required. Fluency in French required. Advanced level in English preferred. MSI is an equal opportunity employer that values diversity and inclusion. We strive to develop and maintain a culture that honors the perspectives and identities of our employees, our communities and those impacted by our work. We do not discriminate on the basis of any protected attribute, including race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, marital or veteran status, pregnancy or disability, or any other basis protected under applicable law. In accordance with applicable law, we make reasonable accommodations for applicants and employees religious practices and beliefs, as well as any mental health or physical disability needs. MSI is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Affirmative Action/Americans with Disabilities/Veterans Employer. Reasonable Accommodations: MSI is dedicated to hiring an inclusive workforce. If you would like to request reasonable accommodations during the application process, please visit Tetra Techs Disability Assistance Page. Our recruitment team looks forward to engaging in an interactive process to provide reasonable accommodations for candidates. Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will be contacted. No phone calls, please. Qualifications: Un diplome Universitaire en informatique ou dans une discipline similaire requis. Une maitrise est preferee. Un minimum de cinq annees dexperience dans la direction dequipes chargees de developper des systemes de gestion des donnees et de linformation sont requises. Deux annees d'experience dans le developpement de bases de donnees et la gestion de l'information sont requises. Excellentes competences en communication orale et ecrite, en analyse, en matiere de relations interpersonnelles et en gestion d'equipe requises. Capacite a travailler dans des secteurs cles au developpement d'une base de donnees et d'un systeme de gestion de l'information. Un minimum dun an dexperience professionnelle dans lutilisation de logiciels SIG est preferable. Une forte attention au detail et des competences organisationnelles excellentes sont requises. Maitrise du francais requise. Anglais de niveau avance prefere. MSI est un employeur garantissant l'egalite des chances qui valorise la diversite et l'inclusion. Nous nous efforcons de developper et de maintenir une culture qui honore les perspectives et les identites de nos employes, de nos communautes et de ceux qui sont touches par notre travail. Nous ne faisons aucune discrimination sur la base d'attributs proteges, y compris la race, la religion, la couleur, l'origine nationale, le sexe, l'orientation sexuelle, l'identite de genre, l'expression de genre, l'age, l'etat matrimonial ou de veteran, la grossesse ou le handicap, ou toute autre base protegee en vertu de loi applicable. Conformement a la loi en vigueur, nous faisons des amenagements raisonnables pour les pratiques et croyances religieuses des candidats et des employes, ainsi que pour tout besoin de sante mentale ou de handicap physique. Amenagements Raisonnables: MSI est dedie a lembauche dune main-duvre inclusive. Si vous souhaitez demander des accommodements raisonnables pendant le processus de soumission, veuillez visiter, priere de visiter Tetra Techs Disability Assistance Page. Notre equipe de recrutement se rejouit a lidee de sengager dans un processus interactif afin doffrir des mesures dadaptation raisonnables aux candidats. Seuls les candidats selectionnes pour un entretien seront contactes. Nous vous remercions de ne pas nous contacter par telephone. Please submit your application by April 22, 2023. To apply: Please visit our website, https://tetratech.referrals.selectminds.com/msi/jobs/database-and-gis-manager-usaid-central-africa-regional-third-party-monitoring-project-33803 by Todd Wasserman , April 12, 2023 Millennials are driving sales of beer down to the point at which distilled spirits has displaced beer for the first time, at least according to one survey. The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States released a report that found that the market share for distilled spirits (42.1%), exceeded that of beer (41.9%). That growth contrasts with a 55.7% share for beer in 2000. (At the time, the share for distilled spirits was 28.7%.) Sales of beer were affected by price hikes that occurred in October 2022. In the 12 weeks before Christmas, beer prices rose an average of 7% higher than the year-earlier period, according to an analysis of Nielsen data by Bump Williams Consulting Co. But U.S. beer sales volumes have been falling for years as people switch to wine and spirits. A 2018 poll of more than 2,000 adults found that a plurality of Americans prefer liquor drinks. advertisement advertisement In the poll, millennials said they preferred distilled spirits, with 50% saying they would choose cocktails or straight liquor over beer or wine. A 2022 report by YPulse found that White Claw, an alcoholic seltzer, was the top beverage among millennials, with the first beer brand, Bud Light, coming in at No. 6. Beer Markets Insights estimated that beer had fallen from a 58.7% share of absolute alcohol consumption in 2000 to 46.1% in 2021. The shift continued in 2022, when the U.S. beer industry sold only 2.5% more beer than it did in the year 2000, despite a 21-plus population thats probably around 25% larger, said Christopher Shepard, senior editor of Beer Marketers Insights. Shepard said hes a millennial and when he went to school, beer was an older person's drink. Craft changed many millennial minds about beer, but far from all of them. by Ray Schultz , April 12, 2023 Media magnate Barry Diller let fly earlier this week, telling publishers they should sue to stop AI engines from stealing their content. 'If all the world's information is able to be sucked up in this maw and then essentially repackaged...there will be no publishing, it is not possible,' Diller said during the Semafor Media Summit, according to reports. He added, Companies can absolutely sue under copyright law. Diller, who is founder and chairman of the IAC, publisher of many digital sites, compared todays situation with the start of the Internet, when everything was free. advertisement advertisement I think that today is a potentially analogous to that, which is if publishers do not say 'you cannot scrape our content, you cannot take it' -- you cannot take it transformatively, to get to the key word in fair use, but you cannot take it and use it in real time to actually cannibalize everything,' he said, according to the Daily Mail. He added, 'And if you think that won't happen, I think you're just being a fool. Meanwhile, publishers have been discussing how their content is being used to train AI tools, and how they should be compensated. Last month, Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minnesota) and John Kennedy (R-Louisiana), introduced the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act, a bill that would allow news publishers and broadcasters to jointly negotiate with large online platforms including Google and Facebook. That presumably could include chatbot providers. he which supports the bill, also pointed to the recent growth of artificial intelligence tools. Danielle Coffey, executive vice president and general counsel of the News/Media Alliance, stated that emerging artificial intelligence technologies show a need for compensation, adding that content creators may soon see even less return than what they receive today. She added, We must ensure that the digital ecosystem returns value back to the people who deliver high-quality journalism we all rely on around the world,. by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, April 13, 2023 Pepsico Mexican Foods campaigns surpassed previous benchmarks and performed better across the board when targeting audiences without third-party cookies -- using Lotames Panorama ID universal cookieless identifier -- versus third-party cookies. The two companies, which have been collaborating since 2021, announced results on Thursday. The two also worked with media agency Anagram to create direct connections with consumers through data-driven targeting. Anagram shared insights about the type of audience the brand wanted to target, and then Lotames group suggested audience segments that matched to well-performing parameters. Daniel Diaz, brand senior director at Pepsico Mexican Foods, said the shift to digital has been a key enabler in the past years to create a more empathic and closer relationship with consumers. Lotame created custom audience segments for Pepsico Mexican Foods two snack cookie brands Marias Gamesa, and Chokis using a mix of demographic and interest data. advertisement advertisement Demographic segments consider variables such as age, gender and income to improve analysis or targeting. Interest-based segments by contrast take into account lifestyle behaviors, activities, opinions, behaviors, and attitude, says Sebastian Yoffe, managing director of Latin America and U.S. Hispanics at Lotame. For the Marias campaign, their target included interest and demographic segments such as Beauty, Parents, Yoga, etc. Chokis by contrast relied on audiences that targeted age 20-35, Foodies, Social Media, Chocolate, and more. Using these parameters, both cookie and cookieless segments were created to test the process. Cookieless audiences used Lotame Panorama IDs to reach Pepsico Mexican Foods audiences in Mexico across all programmatic inventory without relying on third-party cookies or authenticated traffic. Both sets of audiences were shared with the brands DSP MediaMath for targeting. Anagram in collaboration with Lotame also developed a data-driven cookieless video strategy to extend Pepsico Mexican Foods addressability across devices and the open web. The campaign exceeded each of Pepsico Mexican Foods brands by 75% video completion rate (VCR), and cookie performance across all browsers and devices, proving data-driven targeting works today and post-cookie. The test reached 42% more unique individuals with Panorama ID than cookies, and cookies proved 2 times as expensive and 2 times less efficient at reaching unique individuals compared to Panorama ID. Anagram had visibility via the demand-side platform (DSP) each day. Lotame also provided a report on conclusion of the campaign to analyze performance. by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 13, 2023 Montana lawmakers on Thursday advanced a bill that aims to ban the use of TikTok in the state, due to concerns about national security, privacy and the app's content. Senate Bill 419, which would take effect in January, prohibits TikTok from operating in Montana, and prohibits internet service providers and app stores from offering TikTok to users in Montana. The bill would not penalize users, but provides for sanctions of $10,000 per day against TikTok and mobile app stores. House lawmakers advanced the measure Thursday by a vote of 60-39, and are expected to vote for a final time on Friday. The state Senate passed the proposed law last month by a 30-20 vote. advertisement advertisement The bill contains language saying TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese company ByteDance, gathers significant information from its users, accessing data against their will to share with the People's Republic of China. The bill also says TikTok fails to remove, and may even promote, dangerous content that directs minors to engage in dangerous activities such as throwing objects at moving automobiles, inducing unconsciousness through oxygen deprivation, and cooking chicken in NyQuil. The American Civil Liberties Union, Center for Democracy and Technology, Electronic Frontier Foundation and other digital rights organizations oppose the bill, arguing that it would violate the First Amendment. TikTok is home to massive amounts of protected speech and association: it enables Montana residents to discuss their opinions, share their hobbies, make art, and access news from down the street and around the world, the groups said this week in a letter to Montana lawmakers. SB 419 is censorship, the groups add. It would unjustly cut Montanans off from a platform where they speak out and exchange ideas everyday, and it would set an alarming precedent for excessive government control over how Montanans use the internet. Numerous states have already banned the use of TikTok on government-owned devices or public WiFi networks, but no state has yet passed legislation prohibiting people from accessing TikTok on private devices or networks. On the federal level, Senators Mark Warner (D-Virginia) and John Thune (R-South Dakota) introduced the Restricting the Emergence of Security Threats that Risk Information and Communications Technology (RESTRICT) Act, which could ultimately lead to a ban on apps or other communications technology owned by China and other companies deemed foreign adversaries. Earlier this year the House Foreign Affairs Committee advanced a separate bill that could empower President Joe Biden to ban TikTok. That measure, Deterring America's Foreign Adversaries Act (HR 1553), would revise the International Emergency Economic Powers Act by allowing the government to block informational material, in some situations. Currently, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act limits the ability to material considered informational, such as photos and news feeds. Democrats on the House Foreign Affairs Committee opposed the bill, arguing that it is inconsistent with free-speech principles. Greta Gerwigs Barbie is quite the talk of the town. The director has won many accolades and has phenomenal films like Little Women to her credit and Barbie looks as promising. Most girls growing up have idolised the Barbie beauty standard - thick blonde hair, effortless grace, tall, porcelain-like skin and a size-zero figure. However, I always wondered what our own Desi Barbie would look like. While Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling are a dream when it comes to being cast as Barbie and Ken, here we explore a list of Bollywood characters who in a parallel universe would have given the current pair, tough competition: 1. Sunehri And Aryan From Dhoom 2 IMDb I mean just look at them. If Barbie and Ken are all about good looks, good looks and good looks - Aishwarya and Hrithik as Sunehri and Aryan deliver. Looking like Greek gods, both of them share palpable chemistry and look nothing less than picture-perfect dolls. 2. Poo And Rohan From K3G Dharma-Productions Poo (Kareena Kapoor Khan) did it better than Barbie, yes no cap! She liked all things pink, shimmery and glossy and was unapologetic about her delicate feminine personality. She gave us major fashion goals and iconic dialogues. Wait did Hrithik make it to the list again? Here is a petition to make him the official Ken of Bollywood. Rohan and Poo did it before and did it better. 3. Mastani And Bajirao From Bajirao Mastani IMDb Did someone say desi Barbie? Played by Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh, these characters have a regal aura and striking outfits. Their chemistry and powerful personalities would make for a unique Barbie and Ken set. 4. Shanaya And Abhimanyu From Student Of The Year Dharma-Productions If Barbie and Ken went to college, they would definitely be enrolled at St. Teresas because neither of them is real! Shanaya (Alia Bhatt) and Abhimanyu (Sidharth Malhotra) perfectly embody the youthful, fun spirit of Barbie and Ken. Shanaya, with her fashionable, sequined outfits and haughty attitude would be the perfect Barbie doll for young girls who love all things fashion and flair. Meanwhile, Abhimanyu's cool personality with his chiselled face cut would make for a great Ken doll. 5. Ajay And Nisha From Khel Khel Mein IMDb The OG couple Neetu Singh and Rishi Kapoor look absolutely dapper in Khel Khel Mein. The styling is impeccable with Neetu Singh wearing vibrant boots, bell bottoms and skirts, her hair tied with two ponies with dainty lace ribbons and minimal glossy makeup. Rishi Kapoor complements her look with trendy sweaters and shirts. They give us serious retro wardrobe suggestions! Their chemistry and playful banter in the movie would also make for an interesting dynamic between the dolls. The Bottomline IMDb In conclusion, whether you're a fan of Barbie, Bollywood, or both, imagining our favourite characters as dolls have been a fun ride. From the striking chemistry of Sunehri and Aryan to the playful banter of Ajay and Nisha, we've explored some exciting options. Let us know if we missed some of your favourite pairs! So, come on, let's keep the party going and keep dreaming of these iconic duos as the perfect Barbie and Ken sets. Who knows, maybe one day we'll see them on the shelves and we'll finally get to bring them home! A Bay County man said winning a $1 million prize on the Michigan Lottery's "The Big Spin" show means the world to him. The lucky player Jeremiah Solomon, 38, was selected to participate in the show after entering codes online from non-winning game tickets, according to a Thursday press release. He was one of five players picked to play in a random drawing after submitting their losing tickets. "Getting the call to be on 'The Big Spin' show was unbelievable," Solomon said in the Thursday release. "This is an amazing opportunity, and I feel blessed to be here." Solomon, of Bay City, won the $1 million prize after spinning the prize wheel on the show hosted by former Detroit Piston John Salley. Watch him win and celebrate in the video below. "Winning $1 million means the world to me and will allow me to complete some home improvements and take care of my friends and family," Solomon said. The second chance component of The Big Spin game has ended, according to commissioners for the Michigan Lottery. Selected to appear on the show were 20 players. Each player spun the wheel and had a chance to win up to $2 million. All the players who spun the wheel were guaranteed to win at least $100,000. More than $10.5 million was won by players on the show. Each $10 ticket offers players a chance to instantly win prizes ranging from $10 up to $1 million. Players have won more than $14 million playing The Big Spin which launched in September. More than $56 million in prizes remain, including two $1 million top prizes. Victoria Ritter/Midland Daily News The City of Midland on Wednesday reached a settlement agreement for the owner of two condemned hotels to pay $18,900 in fines to the 75th District Court by April 17. Bhavin Patel, through his companies LABH Hospitality and SUBH Hospitality, owns a former Days Inn and a former Best Western at 5217 and 5221 Bay City Road, just inside Bay County but still in the Midland city limits. The City of Midland condemned both hotels last August. Midland resident Samantha Chew, a senior at Saginaw Valley State University, earned a 2023 Outstanding Senior in French Award recently from the American Association of Teachers of French. The award recognizes senior-level students who have demonstrated excellence in the study of French and exceptional commitment to the French language and the cultures where it is spoken. To be eligible for the award, which is given to only one student per school, one must be a non-native speaker of French, have completed three years of formal French instruction, maintain an A average in French and a B average overall, and participate in extracurricular activities. Chew began to learn French while attending her alma mater, Bullock Creek High School, where she was also a standout in track and field among other activities. It has always been a goal to learn another language and eventually become bilingual, she said. I knew French was one of the most commonly spoken languages in the world, so when the opportunity to study French presented itself, I took it! Chew will graduate in May with a double major in international business and French. She currently works as a program analyst intern for the U.S. Department of Agriculture and will continue in that capacity through the summer. As a member of SVSUs Global Foundation Scholars, Chew spent time studying at Universite Grenoble Alpes, the third largest university in France. Being a member of the Global Foundation Scholars helped me find my niche as a first-year student and discover how much I love learning about new cultures, which eventually helped me to declare an international business major, Chew said. Chew is a student of Julie Foss, SVSU professor of modern foreign languages. She also is a member and officer of SVSUs French Club, a member of Alpha Mu Gamma foreign language honor society, and has received the Le Detroit Award, a French business scholarship awarded by the French American Chamber of Commerce, Michigan Chapter. Learning French has been a passion of mine for the past four years, and it is great to be recognized for all the extracurricular time that Ive put into it. I am grateful to Dr. Foss for encouraging me and for all the support she gives to her students," Chew said. A Michigan State Police trooper was released from the hospital Thursday morning after he was struck by a suspected drunk driver while directing traffic around a fiery crash on I-94 in Detroit. The trooper, identified as a sergeant, wasn't seriously hurt in the incident that occurred around 2:40 a.m. on the freeway at Livernois, according to officials for the MSP Second District. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution. No other injuries were reported in either collision. "We were very lucky that this sergeant wasnt more seriously hurt," Mike Shaw, public information officer for MSP, said in a Thursday statement. "Poor driving decisions are continuing to put everyone in danger on our roads. Please move over for emergency vehicles and dont drive impaired." In light of the incident, MSP reminded Michigan drivers of the Emergency Vehicle Caution Law, commonly known as the "Move Over" law. To show its importance, authorities released video from the sergeant's body cam and the dash cam from the patrol car that was struck. Warning: The footage below is disturbing and viewer discretion is advised. "This video shows dash cam video of sergeant arriving on scene. Body cam of sergeant getting out and his camera getting knocked off his chest from impact of the crash," authorities wrote on Thursday on Twitter. "The last part is from the passenger seat rear which captures the crash," authorities continued. "Yes, it happens this fast and if the sergeant wouldnt have parked there the suspect would have driven right into first responders and the crash scene. Move Over! Dont Drive Impaired! Its that simple." The state's "Move Over" law requires motorists to slow down and move over for stationary authorized vehicles with flashing, rotating or oscillating lights activated, according to a presentation by the Michigan Office of Highway Safety Planning. Authorized vehicles include police, fire, rescue, ambulance, road service, tow trucks and more. "When approaching carefully slow down to at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit and fully move over into an open lane," the agency wrote. "If this is not possible due to traffic, weather, or road conditions, slow down to at least 10 mph below the posted speed limit and pass with caution allowing the authorized vehicle as much space as possible." Authorities said the driver behind the wheel of the vehicle that hit the squad car was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, taken to the hospital for a blood draw and lodged in jail. She was identified as a 32-year-old woman from Rochester Hills. The freeway has since reopened to traffic. An investigation into the incident remains ongoing. A man whose family was featured on a cable television reality show is suing Tuscola County and Sheriff Glen Skrent for his alleged mistreatment and withholding of heart medication during a stay at the Tuscola County Jail in Caro. Lawyers for William E. Putman II, 62, have filed suit in United States District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan against the county, Skrent, Undersheriff Robert Baxter, Jail Administrator Lt. Brian Harris and corrections officers Kyle Nordstrom and Ryker Maurer. Putman was one of 26 family members featured on the reality television show, "Meet the Putmans," on the TLC cable network. The show followed the family living under one roof in a Sand Point home in Huron County. In his lawsuit, Putman, who suffers from congestive heart failure, claims he was "intentionally" denied prescription medication as he served a 30-day sentence in the Tuscola County Jail for an assault and battery conviction in October 2022. The suit alleges Putman suffered a cardiac arrhythmia and subsequent coronary occlusion and required multiple surgeries due to the denial of his medication. The lawsuit may be bolstered by a recent presentation to the Tuscola County Board of Commissioners by the jail administrator about contracting with a new medical services provider due to dissatisfaction with the current provider. Also named in the suit are the jail's medical care services provider Correction Health Care Companies LLC, Dr. Joseph Natole, M.D., a licensed practical nurse identified only as "Jane Doe" and five other unidentified individuals listed as either "correctional officers or medical staff at the jail and employees or subcontractors of either the Tuscola County Sheriff's Office" or Correctional Health Care. According to court documents, Putman reported to the jail after he was sentenced to a year of probation with the first 30 days to be served in the Tuscola County Jail following his conviction on four misdemeanor counts of assault and battery by a jury after a four-day trial in September. Putman was convicted in September 2022 of assaulting two construction workers at a medical facility on M-81 west of Caro owned by the Putman family that was under construction. Before Putman was jailed, the suit alleges, sheriff's office officials and jail staff as well the Tuscola County Prosecutor's Office and the Tuscola County 71B District Court were "made aware" he suffered from several serious cardiovascular conditions requiring the uninterrupted use of his prescription heart medications, including metoprolol, clopidogrel and atorvastatin. Putman's medical condition and needs were confirmed in a letter from his cardiac electrophysiologist, Dr. Frank Pelosi Jr., M.D. of the University of Michigan, who has been treating Putman since 2005, the suit stated. According to the lawsuit, Putman's sons, William "Billy" Putman III and Blake Putman, M.D. who also serves as his father's primary care physician also informed sheriff's office officials and jail staff of their father's medical condition and personally delivered his medication as well as Blake Putman's written orders and instructions. The suit also alleges jail staff "deliberately withheld" medications and also "refused to provide water" to Putman, who "languished for two days before (the) defendants dispensed a single partial dosage of his prescription." Putman subsequently suffered severe angina, incontinence, vomiting and a loss of consciousness, according to the suit. Two days after he entered the jail, Putman's condition "had completely deteriorated" and he was only taken to the hospital after his cellmate demanded jail staff provide him with emergency medical care. The lawsuit states Putman underwent multiple surgeries, including cardiac cardioversion, a treatment for an arrhythmia involving an electric shock or medication, and coronary stenting. The suit claims Putman is now at greater risk of suffering a "major or debilitating" stroke and requires "additional medical care and monitoring." Those named in the suit "witnessed Putman endure days of needless suffering, indifferent not only to his pain, but also to his being." The lawsuit also claims Putman "suffered not only as a result of (the) defendants' cruelty, but also because of systemic deficiencies in (the Tuscola County Jail's) policies and procedures which allow individuals with chronic illnesses like Putman, to go days without receiving a medical assessment by a qualified medical professional." According to the suit, Blake Putman attempted to contact Natole about his father's condition "but could not speak to him personally." That call was never returned, the lawsuit alleges. Blake Putman also spoke with jail nurse about his father's metoprolol, which carries an FDA warning label about the "abrupt cessation" of the drug, according to the suit. During his jail stay, Putman's family members made repeated requests to staff about Putman's medication, according to court documents. Putman lost consciousness during his transfer by ambulance to the University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, the suit stated, suffering "an acute coronary syndrome and atrial fibrillation with heart rates as high as 180 beats per minute." According to the lawsuit, Skrent and the county contracted with the National Sheriff's Association to assess the adequacy of the jail's policies, procedures and operations. "Although the (Tuscola County Jail) has a contractual medical provider, the services are limited to 40 nursing hours per week and limited doctor's hours per week," the report stated, according to the lawsuit. "The booking process relies upon jail staff (instead of its medical contract services) to conduct risk and medical/mental health assessments of all new admissions. The jail staff reported do not receive any formal clinical training to make determinations on the medical or mental health needs other than common or obvious needs." The report continued, stating: "Individuals who have chronic illnesses as identified through symptomatic observation, medical histories or disclosure might be missed without a formal medical assessment. While the medical assessments are completed during the 40 hours the contractual nurse is in the facility, some inmates might wait up to 72 hours or longer before the assessment is completed." The report from the sheriffs association concluded with a recommendation that delays in assessments be addressed by extending contractual coverage to have medical assessments completed or contracting with an EMT to conduct the initial risk and medical assessments. It also suggests LPNs assigned to the jail are underqualified to perform the duties necessary for the job. The lawsuit also claims the county, the sheriff and Correctional Health Care "failed to provide Nurse Doe specific training as to inmate health care, including assessing conditions of inmates, obtaining physicians orders, providing ordered treatments to inmates, monitoring patient progress or providing necessary emergency care to inmates to avoid constitutional violations." According to court documents, Putman's attorney, Marc A. Deldin of Grosse Pointe Farms, also claims in the lawsuit that although county officials, Skrent and Correctional Health Care were aware their contractual agreement stipulated that Natole, the sole physician assigned to the jail, was to provide one hour of on-site services per week, Natole nor any other physician provided onsite services at the jail under the terms of their agreement, leaving the medical care of inmates to under-qualified LPNs and untrained jail staff. During a March board of commissioners meeting, Harris requested a change in medical service providers and told the board the jail's doctor had not visited the facility since before the COVID pandemic. On April 13, the board approved a three-year contract with Advanced Correctional Healthcare Inc. for $270,499 for the first year of service, with Consumer Price Index increases included in annual renewals. The contract goes into effect on May 1. Attorneys for Putman, Tuscola County and Correctional Health Care did not respond to requests for comment by press time. LANSING The prospect of taxpayer-funded vouchers for private school students remains an issue, especially for rural districts, despite the repeated failure of advocates to create such a program. Former U.S. Education Secretary Betsy DeVos of Grand Rapids has aggressively, yet unsuccessfully, championed school choice programs in Michigan, including tuition vouchers. Despite the Democrats having a statewide legislative majority, now groups such as the Great Lakes Education Project, which DeVos founded, are pushing for more school choice options other than vouchers. There was a push in 2000 for vouchers, which would channel dollars to families for private schools, but the state constitution prohibits the use of any public funds toward any non-public school expenses. Other efforts, most recently a scholarship fund from taxpayer credits and donated dollars, failed. According to Paula Herbart, the Michigan Education Associations president, vouchers are still a timely issue and they would dramatically harm rural communities because we dont have other options for them. Herbart said that if public tax dollars are spent on vouchers, much of the money would go for students who already pay to attend private schools. Now you have less dollars to give to the public schools because youre taking them away and putting them into private sector entities, Herbart said. A 2022 report from the Michigan State University College of Education said state policymakers have ignored the needs and education conditions of rural school districts over the past two decades. The report concluded that education policy changes, including school choice, have had a decidedly urban emphasis. Doug Pratt, the unions director of public affairs, said school choice measures, such as vouchers, would fail rural districts. Investing in the communitys schools is a far better policy approach than propping up sub-par alternatives, Pratt said. The Michigan Association of Non-Public Schools advocates on behalf of private schools to support school choice. One aspect is vouchers, according to its communications and partnership manager, Molly Koll. Koll said vouchers would allow parents the opportunity to choose where their child attends school, regardless of location or finances. Both students and parents would benefit from a voucher program or any other mechanism that allows for more choice in education, Koll said. In Michigan, unless you have the financial means to pay for a private education, you are locked into where you can go to school based on your ZIP code, she said. Koll said transportation can be a barrier for families looking to faith-based and other private schools, and vouchers could make transportation more possible. Herbart said state funds are important because many rural districts face such problems as technology needs, limited broadband access and lower teacher salaries. Transportation costs are also high, given how far many students live from their schools. These people that need fleets of buses are losing dollars for whatever reason, still need those buses, Herbart said. Koll said the state falls short at providing full choice to all families. Stymied on vouchers, school choice advocates say they are now pushing for a scholarship fund for private school pupils with tax credits for individual and business donors. They also have called for authorization of education savings accounts. In 2021, when Republicans held a majority in the House and Senate, the Legislatures passed such a program, but Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer vetoed the legislation. And last year, DeVos failed to get two Let MI Kids Learn legislative initiative proposals before lawmakers to authorize such programs. Beth DeShone, the executive director of the Great Lakes Education Project, said tax credits, private scholarships and education savings accounts would provide parents with flexibility in choosing schools. There are a lot of other programs that could serve the same purpose (as vouchers) to help children have access to additional funds to go to a different school or have different educational opportunities, she said. Thumb county commissioners have had their say regarding the Camp Grayling expansion, as Sanilac County is the latest to join in the opposition to the National Guard project. Camp Grayling, the largest National Guard training facility in the U.S., has requested to lease an additional 162,000 acres of public land, more than 253 square miles, from the DNR to expand its base. Currently, Camp Grayling operates on 148,000 acres or 230 square miles, which is the size of Chicago. The camp wants to expand for low-impact and cyber warfare training. The expansion is also part of the Michigan Air National Guard's proposal to increase air space for flight training in Northern Michigan and the Thumb. It is believed that the military looks to use the expanded area for private industry tests, research, and development of its products, which could create a threat to species, hunting, fishing, and tourism according to the Sierra Club Michigan Chapter. These factors could affect residents in the Thumb who have land up north closer to Camp Grayling. Last week at its county meeting, Sanilac County commissioners voted 6-1 against the expansion. As of April 4, there are now 57 local governments that have opposed the expansion, covering over 10 counties. Around 287 elected officials have voted and opposed the issue, with only a few that have voted for it. Huron County is the lone county in the Thumb Region that does not have its opposition of the project on the record. Commissioners had intended to oppose the project with a 3-1 vote, but found out afterward that due to a technicality that required a majority vote of active board members and not just those in attendance, that vote failed. The board rules would have had to be amended for something to be done. As the period has passed for rules to be amended, Huron County will not be changing its decision in opposing the expansion of the National Guard campground. Huron County's Executive Assistant Jodi Essenmacher shared her thoughts on the expansion. "I think the National Guard needs to inform and share at what is really going on," Essenmacher said. "What's the reason they need the extra land? It doesn't seem as if they take good care of the current land they have so this is information that needs to be shared." "Some commissioners may have some personal advantage or benefit to officially not oppose the expansion," Bear Lake Township Board Trustee in Kalkaska County Jim Knight said. "This seems as if this is a done issue," said Essenmacher. "A commissioner spoke about doing something for his district but I'm not sure how that would go about." Although a resolution for the county failed to pass, there are other ways that one could still be done. On Monday at this month's county meeting, District 4 Commissioner Steve Vaughn explained other ways to represent the community members from his respective district that are against the expansion proposal. "Most people up here don't realize how many uses or have property adjacent to that land (Camp Grayling)," Vaughn said. "The expansion would eliminate the use of recreational land, which is not a good thing." Vaughn discussed these matters with his fellow companions and shared how the people he represents have expressed their feelings about the expansion. Vaughn represents Chandler, Colfax, Meade, and Oliver townships as well as the village of Elkton. Many of them asked him to write up a proposal opposing the Camp Grayling expansion. "I'm explaining to districts how it affects the county and letting them know that is an option," Vaughn stated. "There are both counties and townships that have opposed the proposal and I urge them to oppose it. I believe they're not even fully using the land that they have right now." Vaughn said that he will either work with individual townships or bring something to the board regarding the matter. Because the Huron County Board of Commissioners doesn't have the option to reconsider, the townships can create their own resolution opposing the issue. "People need to be educated," he said. "A lot of people don't understand how this affects them." A 26-year-old Ubly man died Wednesday when his motorcycle rear-ended a box truck in Sanilac County. According to a press release from the Sanilac County Sheriff's Office, deputies were dispatched around 5:43 p.m. Wednesday to a report of a crash involving a truck and a motorcycle at the intersection of Ubly and Eddy roads in Sanilac County's Moore Township. A deputy's investigation showed that a 2022 Honda CBR500 motorcycle driven by a 26-year-old Ubly man was heading north on Ubly Road and struck the rear end of a 2021 GMC box truck, according to the press release. The truck, driven by a 22-year-old Caro man, had been traveling north on Ubly Road and had slowed down or stopped to make a left turn onto Eddy Road. The Ubly man, whose name is being withheld, was transported by Sanilac EMS to McKenzie Memorial Hospital in Sandusky for treatment of his injuries and later died. Alcohol does not appear to be a factor in the crash, according to the press release, and the motorcyclist was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The driver of the truck was not injured. The Sanilac County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash, and the names of those involved are not being released at this time, according to the press release. Deputies were assisted at the scene by members of the Moore Fire Department and Sanilac EMS. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed multiple bills on Thursday that will establish universal background checks for all firearm purchases and safe storage requirements. This legislation comes exactly two months after the shooting at Michigan State Universitys campus that left three dead and five injured. In January, Whitmer proposed this legislation during her State of the State address, and she has worked with the Michigan Legislature, community groups, law enforcement, students and parents to get these measures signed into law. Today, we are turning our pain into purpose and honoring those we have lost with common-sense gun violence prevention legislation supported by a majority of Michiganders, Whitmer said. Universal background checks and safe storage are long-overdue steps we are proud to take today that will save lives by keeping guns out of the hands of criminals and domestic abusers and children in the home." Kathy Kinkema, chapter leader for the Great Lakes Bay Region Moms Demand Action, attended the bill signing with Allison Wilcox and others from the chapter. Kinkema has spent eight years working to improve gun safety in the state of Michigan. "I was a school teacher and a high school counselor, so I've been through years of the active shooter drills," Kinkema said. "For all of that to be put on the shoulders of the schools to be the ones to come up with the solutions, I realized just wasn't correct. We've all got to be willing to say that we can do better when it comes to suicides, we can do better when it comes to school shootings, we can do better when it comes to community shootings and we can do better to keep people safe." Kinkema sat on the stage beside Whitmer as she signed the bill. She said the experience was "emotional." "There are many people in our community that have tirelessly worked on this issue and talked to legislators, talked to community people, trying to get this issue taken seriously and to start working together to come up with solutions," Kinkema said. "It is quite an overwhelming feeling to know that all of those conversations that we have and all of the community work that we've done is finally to a point where's it's being recognized." Kinkema emphasized that there is still more work to do, but she is grateful to see that the efforts of the GLBR Moms Demand Action and all of its volunteers have been recognized. "The Great Lakes Bay area is fortunate to have this incredible group of volunteers," she said. "They've never given up. I am so amazed at the people I've been able to meet through this movement." Kinkema said the legislation is a huge accomplishment for the state of Michigan but that citizens will still need to work together to create safe communities. "It's going to take communities working together and to say that we want our communities to be safe and that we can come up collectively with solutions on how to accomplish that," she said. While the bills did receive bipartisan support in the House and Senate, Kinkema said she is disappointed that some Great Lakes Bay Region legislators did not support the legislation. "It would have meant a great deal to me if we could have seen a larger bipartisan vote on this because this is about lives, this isn't about politics," she said. Rep. Bill G. Schuette (R-Midland) did not support the laws that were signed or the Red Flag laws that were discussed by the House on Thursday. He said the laws would not prevent shootings like the one at MSU and that they infringe on the constitutional rights and privacy of citizens. Democrats seem dedicated to push through their gun control agenda in a sad politicization of recent tragedies, Schuette said. What would have prevented the shooting at MSU, would have been if the liberal prosecutor in Ingham County had done her job instead of pursuing a catch and release policy to criminals. Instead, Schuette said he is co-sponsoring legislation in the House that would prevent prosecutors from letting gun offenders off the hook like the MSU shooter, whose previous gun charge was reduced from a felony to a misdemeanor in a plea deal. I understand the urgency and need to do all we can to protect our children and address our mental health crisis, Schuette said. That is why I am a sponsor of a bipartisan school safety and mental health legislative package that would take actionable, tangible steps to securing our schools and addressing the true roots of tragic violence in our country. Whitmer signed Senate Bills 79, 80, 81 and 82 and House Bills 4138 and 4142. Senate Bill 79 will require an individual to keep a firearm that is stored or left unattended on premises unloaded and locked with a locking device or stored in a locked box or container if it is reasonably known that a minor is or is likely to be present on the premises, and will establish a range of penalties for a violation. The bill will also require the Department of Health and Human Services to inform the public of the penalties, publish lethal means counseling literature, and provide that literature to federally licensed firearms dealers and revise the wording of a notice that a federally licensed firearms dealer must post on the premises where firearms are sold. Senate Bill 80, sponsored by Sen. Kristen McDonald Rivet (D-Bay City), is the senators first public act. The legislation updates the states criminal code for safe storage of firearms for child access protection. I have devoted the bulk of my career to helping children and families thrive. We cant thrive without feeling and being safe, McDonald Rivet said. Thats why overwhelming majorities in Michigan, including gun owners, support the action were taking. This is about protecting our children and preventing tragedies from upending our communities. Im proud to stand against special interests and stand up for kids and families. Senate Bills 81 and 82 lower the costs of firearm safety devices to ensure owners can safely store their guns, keeping them away from children and out of the hands of criminals. House Bills 4138 and 4142 protect Michigan communities by closing loopholes in the law and expanding universal background checks to all firearms. KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) The Taliban have shared a rare, months-old audio message from their reclusive supreme leader in which he purportedly says that Afghanistan would be ruined" without justice handed out by the country's new rulers. The Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, an Islamic scholar, almost never appears in public and hardly ever leaves the Taliban heartland in southern Kandahar province. He surrounds himself with other religious scholars and allies who oppose education and work for women. Only one known photo of him, years old, exists. He was named the Taliban leader in 2016, after a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan killed his predecessor, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour. Since the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021, Akhundzada has traveled to Kabul only once, to give a speech to a gathering of clerics. However, he was not shown in the media at the time and appeared with his back to the audience. The audio recording was shared on Twitter by the main Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Wednesday. In it, a voice that Mujahid says belongs to Akhundzada declares that justice is an instrument for the survival of the Taliban government. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify that the voice on the audio message is Akhundzadas. But if there is no justice, and there is oppression, selfishness, murders and revenge, as well as killings without courts, this country will be ruined, says the voice, then adds that this "can be prevented through the right decision of religious scholars and its proper implementation by the government. According to the spokesman, the recording was from a speech given five or six months ago to Taliban officials at an unspecified location. There was no word on why the recording was released at this time. Pakistan-based journalist Ahmed Rashid, who has written several books about the Taliban, said the clip addressed none of the issues facing the Taliban, such as women's rights and the country's deepening humanitarian crisis. There doesn't seem to be a political purpose to this clip. It's very unusual to hear from him," Rashid said, adding that it's irrelevant to the population. In January, Mujahid tweeted that Akhundzada met religious scholars from different provinces. He also tweeted about the leader's February meeting with commanders and other high-ranking security officials. Akhundzada appears to have taken a stronger hand in directing domestic policy. He ordered women and girls barred from universities and schools after the sixth grade. He has also issued the edicts barring Afghan women from working for non-governmental organizations and the United Nations. Read the original article on Business Insider. More Americans than ever are moving to Florida. The state had the largest population gain last year with nearly 320,000 new residents moving in from elsewhere in the US. But the Sunshine State is also increasingly home to scammers operating fraudulent moving companies targeting Florida residents and people across the country. These companies will often offer customers a low estimate and deposit price, and then demand additional exorbitant fees after taking their belongings hostage. Moving company scams doubled between 2015 and 2022, and Florida-based companies made up almost half of all customer complaints nationally, Newsweekreported based on data from the Department of Transportation. The scam usually begins with a moving broker, who solicits a customer, sets up the move, and then finds a carrier to pick up and transport the person's belongings. It's easy to become a broker in Florida, where establishing an LLC costs just $125. For $600, the Department of Transportation will then approve a broker's license. "You just go online, make up a fake name, and that's it and you're up and running. No one's regulating," Susan Chana Lask, a New York-based consumer rights attorney who settled a lawsuit last year with a Florida-based moving company, told Insider. "It's just a name with an LLC for 100 bucks." The Florida Attorney General's office says the warning signs of a moving scam include low moving cost estimates, estimates given sight unseen, demands for full payment before the move, storage fees, and a moving business that's had multiple name changes. A Couple's Possessions Vanish to a Storage Unit 1,000 Miles Away Nissa Wisuttismarn was desperate for a mover in October 2020 when she needed to take the contents of her storage unit in Santa Clara, California, to Missouri City, Texas, where she and her husband had relocated during the pandemic. After the first company she hired backed out just days before the move, Wisuttismarn reached out to a Florida-based company called Compass Movers. She paid Compass, which she didn't realize was just a broker, an initial deposit of about $2,400, then another $350, and an additional $2,500 when the movers picked up her things, according to a receipt Wisuttismarn provided Insider. The couple's belongings nearly all of their possessions were supposed to get to Missouri City between 10 and 14 days later. But that window came and went and nothing arrived. Wisuttismarn said she repeatedly called and texted the broker to no avail. She said she had no luck with the police department in Santa Clara, so she began her own investigation and eventually tracked her things to a Public Storage facility in Bothell, Washington. "I'm a project manager for a living, so documentation, tracking down things is a big part of what I do," Wisuttismarn told Insider. But the bill for the storage unit with Wisuttismarn's belongings had gone unpaid and its contents were auctioned off. Wisuttismarn eventually got in touch with the man who'd bought her belongings and negotiated with him to purchase the items that he hadn't yet sold off for $3,000, according to a copy of the check Wisuttismarn provided. Wisuttismarn's husband has since been up to Washington to take control of the unit and begin the process of finding new movers. But most of the couple's prized possessions, including the piano Wisuttismarn got while she lived in China years ago, were gone, she said. "I met my husband in China, and I spent a lot of formative years there and, you know, to one who plays music, these things are special," she said. "At the end of the day, we all die without anything, but, you know, I do miss that." Wisuttismarn said she never got any help from the offices of the Washington State and Florida attorneys general, which she said she contacted, in addition to the Bothell police department. The owner of Compass Movers, Christopher Ruwe, didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Few Legal Consequences Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody says she's cracking down on the criminal scams. Her office announced last November that it had shut down 19 fraudulent moving companies and recovered $27 million in fines and restitution from the scammers. "Stopping these scams may be more important now than ever before, as Florida continues to experience a population boom fueled by people fleeing other states to enjoy all we have to offer here," Moody said in a video statement last year. A spokesperson for Moody didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Federal law enforcement officials have also gotten involved. The Justice Department in September charged two South Florida residents with operating an interstate moving company scam. The sharp increase in moving scams across the country has also prompted the Biden administration to announce it's taking action. Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg announced last week that his agency is "cracking down on moving companies that hold people's possessions hostage, and the brokers who facilitate that fraud." Buttigieg said the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration would do more to investigate moving companies with the worst customer ratings, but didn't specify how the agency would do so. While a few members of Congress have expressed concern about the issue, there's little evidence that lawmakers will do much about it. Wisuttismarn insisted there need to be legal avenues for customers to hold these companies accountable. "As a consumer who's doing everything right, I just felt extremely helpless," she said. "I did everything I was supposed to do and, you know, still nobody's helping me." A Massachusetts National Guardsman was arrested Thursday in the investigation into highly classified military documents that were posted to an online social media platform. Jack Douglas Teixeira, a member of the Air Force National Guard, was arrested by armed agents as part of the Justice Department probe into the unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a brief press conference immediately after. Teixeira, an airman 1st class at Otis Air National Guard Base, joined the service in 2019, and his duty title as of Thursday was cyber transport systems journeyman, meaning he worked on global military communications systems, according to the Air Force. He reportedly shared classified documents with a group of teenage acquaintances on Discord, a chat site popular with gamers. Read Next: Navy Reservist Who Was at Jan. 6 Riot Gets 3 Years on Gun Charges The leak entailed sensitive information on the state of the war in Ukraine and forced the Biden administration into damage control due to embarrassing disclosures about allies such as South Korea and Israel. The Pentagon launched an ongoing review April 7 to determine the scope of the damage, and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has gotten daily updates on the progress. The Pentagon is also reviewing who should have access to such classified information, though it wasn't immediately clear whether Teixeira had been granted official access as part of his Guard job. At least some of the sensitive documents allegedly leaked, which were intended to brief officials on important national security issues, were distributed across the department and beyond. "We continue to work around the clock along with the interagency and the intelligence community to better understand the scope, scale and impact of these leaks," Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, the top Pentagon spokesman, said Thursday just before the arrest. Ryder declined to comment on Teixeira or the arrest, which was handled by the Justice Department. News crews captured images and video of a man being taken into custody in Dighton, Massachusetts, on Thursday afternoon, with several outlets reporting that the suspect was Teixeira. "The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence," the FBI Boston Field Office said in a statement. "Since late last week, the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads, and today's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk." News broke Thursday from The New York Times and Wall Street Journal reporting that Teixeira had been involved with the chat forum where the national defense documents had been posted online, and the two outlets were the first to report the 21-year-old's affiliation with the military. A spokesman for the 102nd Intelligence Wing, as well as Col. Sean D. Riley, the wing commander, did not return Military.com emails seeking comment on the incident. An official Facebook page for the wing named Teixeira and other service members as being promoted to airman first class in July 2022. Teixeira oversaw a private online chat group named "Thug Shaker Central" in which more than a dozen young men would discuss guns, memes and video games, according to The New York Times. But Teixeira was also releasing photos of classified defense documents for months pertaining to operations in the Ukraine war, as well as U.S. surveillance efforts around the world, The Wall Street Journal and New York Times reported. More than 60 documents posted appeared to belong to the Central Intelligence Agency's Operations Center and the Pentagon's Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Wall Street Journal reported. Teixeira's role in supporting IT infrastructure made him one of more than a million people who have access to the nation's most sensitive secrets. According to an April 2020 report, the U.S. granted its highest clearance -- "Top Secret" -- to more than 1.3 million people. Another 2.7 million had access to the lower "Secret" and "Confidential" levels. Teixeira's position as an IT professional within his unit also closely mirrors that of the military's most prolific and notable leaker -- Edward Snowden. Snowden famously used his ability to access hundreds of thousands of files and documents as a systems administrator for the National Security Agency to pass to journalist Glenn Greenwald and documentarian Laura Poitras. However, while Snowden cast his actions as those of a principled whistleblower looking to expose what he saw as massive government overreach, reporting by The New York Times suggests that Teixeira's disclosures had none of those lofty motives or aspirations. Traditionally, individuals who leak or otherwise disclose classified information are charged with violations of the Espionage Act of 1917. Snowden was charged with violating two sections of law shortly after he revealed his identity in 2013. More recently, Reality Winner, a contractor and former airman who was charged with leaking a report on Russian hacking efforts connected with the 2016 election, was also charged with violating the law. Snowden was never arrested and tried for his charges and became stuck in Russia on his way to Ecuador. He was granted Russian citizenship in 2022. Winner, however, served more than four years after her conviction. Teixeira was taken into custody without incident and will soon have an initial appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, Garland said. Editor's Note: This article has been updated to remove a reference to Wall Street Journal reporting that Teixeira had served at Fort Bragg. The newspaper has since retracted that reporting. -- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten. -- Thomas Novelly can be reached at thomas.novelly@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @TomNovelly. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Leak Raises Questions About Access to Classified Documents A federal judge in Virginia sentenced a Navy reservist to 36 months in jail on gun charges Thursday. The man has also been convicted of a host of charges stemming from his role in the riot on Jan. 6, 2021. Petty Officer 1st Class Hatchet Speed, a cryptologic technician, was charged with three felony counts of possessing unregistered silencers, according to court documents that were filed in September 2022. Speed held a top-secret clearance and worked for a defense contractor. Speed's participation in the riot that took place amid efforts to certify the 2020 national election was notable because, as court records later revealed, he had hopes of copying other famous domestic terrorists and praised Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. Read Next: Commander of Army Pacific Training Brigade Suspended In March, Speed was found guilty of five charges related to his activity at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and he is still awaiting sentencing on those convictions. In addition to the three-year sentence for the gun charges, the judge in Speed's case also fined him $15,000 and ordered him to undergo a mental health evaluation The Associated Press reported that Speed argued in court that the devices in question were "solvent traps" meant to collect excess fluid that would spill from a gun while it is being cleaned. However, prosecutors argued that, despite the marketing, the titanium tubes that screw onto the barrel of a 9mm pistol are designed to be easily converted into silencers, which explained why customers were willing to pay more than $300 for them. A firearms expert for the government testified that it would take 10 minutes to convert the device into a fully functional silencer simply by drilling a hole in the end for a bullet to pass through, according to Associated Press reports. In documents filed on his Jan. 6 charges, prosecutors said that Speed told an undercover FBI agent in March 2022 that he was inspired by and sympathized with Eric Rudolph -- the man behind the deadly 1996 bombing of the Atlanta Summer Olympics -- and Ted Kaczynski, also known as the Unabomber. Federal authorities said Speed told an agent that "it's useful to get into these people's heads and, you know, try and come up with a better game plan than they had." The sailor also had praise for Hitler and the methods that Islamic jihadists took in accomplishing their goals. Speed said Hitler was "one of the best people that's ever been on this Earth" in a meeting April 7, 2022. -- Konstantin Toropin can be reached at konstantin.toropin@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @ktoropin. Related: Reservist Inspired by the Unabomber Gets Felony Gun Crimes Added to His Jan. 6 Charges SCRANTON The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant machinery rumbles, hums, sparks and sprays as it churns out a major weapon of war. Just a short walk from Scranton's downtown, the plant produces more than 11,000 pressure-tested, thoroughly inspected, 155 millimeter shells a month, and its officials hope to eventually produce even more. About 300 people work at the plant. On Wednesday, the U.S. Army showed off its capabilities. With the United States supplying Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion, the need for the howitzer-fired 155mm keeps growing. The Army plans to spend $243 million over the next few years to modernize the plant and produce even more shells monthly. Synchronized spray-paint guns coat the shiny, silvery steel shells in the Army's favored drab green. Each shell's structure is chemically altered to blow apart in nickel- and dime-sized pieces. "Maybe quarter-sized," said Richard Hansen, a Navy veteran and the plant commander's official representative who led Wednesday's tour. "These are anti-personnel rounds." In other words, they kill enemy soldiers. War is never pretty, and the hulking U.S. Army plant's nine buildings aren't either. In four buildings totaling 495,000 square feet, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad workmen once produced and repaired locomotives during the first half of the 20th century. In 1951, the Army paid $2.2 million for it, and started military production. Now, its contracted operator, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, produces and stores shells here until their shipment to Iowa where robots safely install explosives amid thousands of empty acres. "If we were to LAP (load, assemble and pack explosives) here, and we had a mishap, we'd probably take some of downtown with us and we don't want that," Hansen said. The plant sells scrapped shells and trimmings to recyclers. It also collects rain for manufacturing processes up to 62,000 gallons of water from an inch of rain, Hansen said. As Navy veteran Hansen led the tour, Army Joint Munitions Command spokeswoman Justine Barati herded participants to the right places for the best views. Now and then, a human-operated forklift hauling massive boxes of metal scraps or headed for its next job rolled through. "If you don't have a camera, step back so the cameras can get in," Barati said at one stop where space was tight. The shells start as solid, long cylinders of steel, shipped to the plant 20 tons at a time on trucks, 200 tons per railroad car. An overhead crane with a magnet lugs them into position where a machine slices them into 14-inch, 115-pound bites. A massive robot resembling a Transformers toy, its inner workings shielded by heat-resistant metal, lifts the bites into a furnace. The furnace softens the steel, turning it a bright orange, then the robot gathers each piece individually into other machines that stretch the molten metal to 30 inches and poke the holes that create tubes. "That robot is working in 2,000-degree heat all day long," Hansen said. Conveyors move the pieces to a machine that shapes a shell end to a smoothed nose, then another that threads inside the nose so a fuse can be screwed in once explosives are inside. Another machine ultrasonically tests for defects. Still another threads the bottom of the outer shell so the howitzer mechanism can efficiently grab it before firing. Inspectors check each step. Painted red "X's" dot shells that fail quality tests. Sky blue and orange paint means a shell moves on to the next step. No shell heads for Iowa until the Letterkenny Army Depot in Franklin County tests a representative sample of each batch, Hansen said. A second furnace along the way heats each shell to more than 1,500 degrees to refine its deadly composition and add "the ability to do what it's designed to do," Hansen said. "It's freeing up the mechanical properties in that steel, so that when we go to quench at the other end, we're kind of freeze-drying those mechanical properties in place," he said. "The only goal that we have here at the end of the day is ensuring that when this thing is fired, it does what it's supposed to do." ___ (c)2023 The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) Visit The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) at citizensvoice.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The Blue Jays and first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. have discussed a contract extension, though it doesnt appear the two sides got anywhere close to a deal, per Shi Davidi of Sportsnet. The slugger said that he would love to stay in Toronto for his entire career but that the negotiations havent reached the point that theres something serious about it. Its unclear exactly when these talks took place but Guerrero said in January that extension talks had not yet taken place. That would seemingly point to the negotiations taking place during Spring Training, a fairly standard time for those kinds of conversations. From the point of view of the Jays, its hardly a surprise that they have interest in securing Guerreros services for the future. The former top prospect has established himself as a premier hitter in the majors over the past few seasons. He hit 48 home runs in 2021 and slashed .311/.401/.601 for a wRC+ of 166. In most years, that would have been good enough for an MVP award, but Vladdy had the misfortune of having that season coincide with Shohei Ohtanis true emergence as a two-way player. That led to Guerrero coming in second in the vote behind Ohtani. Last year, Guerrero dipped slightly but still hit 32 home runs and put up a .274/.339/.480 batting line and 132 wRC+. He also stole eight bases and showed progress with his first base defense, winning a Gold Glove award and coming in seventh among all major league first basemen in the voting for the Fielding Bible Awards. Hes off to a roaring start here in 2023, hitting .400/.472/.556 through 11 games. All of that has coincided with a return to contention for the club, who made the expanded playoffs in 2020 and then tallied 91 and 92 victories in the subsequent two seasons. But from the players point of view, theres little reason for him to settle for anything below market value, even if his comments about wanting to stay are genuine. As the son of Hall of Famer Vladimir Guerrero, who made millions of dollars in his career, the younger Guerrero likely began from a stronger financial position than many of his peers. On top of that, he was a highly touted player as a teenager, signing a bonus of $3.9MM when he was 16 years old. Hes now progressed through to his arbitration years, first qualifying last year as a Super Two player. He made $7.9MM last year and got that bumped up to $14.5MM this year. Hes slated for two more passes through arbitration before reaching free agency after 2025. With all of that money already in the bank and plenty more on the way, Guerrero has tons of leverage. Walking away from money always carries the risk of a serious injury later diminishing ones earning power, but Guerrero already has plenty of security and is currently slated for free agency ahead of his age-27 season. He doesnt play a premier defensive position, but his youth and offensive abilities should still make him quite attractive as a free agent if a deal with the Blue Jays doesnt get done. The Blue Jays have a few contracts on the books beyond that 2025 season, which is currently lined up to be Guerreros last. Jose Berrios is on the books through 2028 while George Springer and Kevin Gausman are signed through 2026. That leaves plenty of room for a big contract for someone like Guerrero, but the Jays also have other players to consider. Third baseman Matt Chapman is a free agent at the end of this season, while shortstop Bo Bichette is in the same boat as Guerrero, set for free agency after 2025. The club has also reportedly had some talks with right-hander Alek Manoah, though those didnt appear to gain much traction either. Manoahs case is less urgent since hes not slated to hit the open market until after 2027. Although the talks with Guerrero havent made much progress yet, he doesnt seem to be walking away from the table. Im going to take care of what Ive got to take care of, which is on the field, and the rest Im going to leave to my agents to work with, he said. I know who I am. I know my value. Were going to keep having conversations, but all my focus every day is here on the field. GRAND RAPIDS, MI The Michigan Court of Appeals will review two judges prior decisions that found a Grand Rapids police officer should stand trial for shooting a Black motorist during a traffic stop. The review will likely delay the trial in the high-profile case against the former officer, Christopher Schurr. The Court of Appeals announced Thursday, April 13, it will start the process to determine if Schurr, 32, was properly bound over for trial in the killing of Patrick Lyoya, a 26-year-old Congolese refugee. Schurr shot Lyoya on April 4, 2022. Schurr, who spent seven years with the Grand Rapids Police Department before he was fired, was ordered to stand trial for second-degree murder after a lengthy preliminary examination in October. Testimony was taken from eyewitnesses, experts, and law enforcement officers. In his ruling, Grand Rapids District Judge Nicholas Ayoub said Michigans legal process calls for a jury to determine, not a district judge, whether the officers use of deadly force was necessary in this case. About three months later, in February, Schurrs defense team asked Kent County Circuit Judge Christina Elmore to overturn Ayoubs ruling and dismiss the former officers lone charge. Elmore rejected those efforts. After the hearings in district and circuit courts, Schurrs defense team said they would appeal both judges decisions. This was always a possibility, and simply means they are reviewing the determination that the defendant was properly bound over for trial, Kent County Prosecutor Chris Becker said in a statement regarding the Court of Appeals announcement. The violent encounter between Schurr and Lyoya began around 8:10 a.m. on April 4, 2022. Schurr stopped Lyoyas car on Nelson Avenue SE just north of Griggs Street. Lyoya tried to run when the officer asked for his drivers license. Schurr caught him and they struggled for some time. Schurr twice fired his Taser but it was not successful. Schurr repeatedly told Lyoya to let go of the Taser. He was on top of Lyoya when he fired his handgun to the back of Lyoyas head. The defense team was pleased to learn Thursdays news. We look forward to the Court of Appeals looking at the issue of when a police officer will be charged for actions committed in the line of duty, defense attorney Matthew Borgula told MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Its an important appeal. All police officers in the State of Michigan are going to be watching how this could impact how to police. Schurr is scheduled to stand trial Oct. 24, but the trial likely will be delayed because of the appeals process, Borgula said. The defense has contended that Schurr was legally permitted to use deadly force and that he acted in self-defense. They said Schurr had a right to prevent Lyoya from fleeing and to make an arrest. Read more on MLive: Former police officer not in fear of Patrick Lyoya before deadly shooting, attorneys say No basis for traffic stop before Patrick Lyoyas fatal shooting, familys expert says Views from Back the Blue, Justice for Patrick remain sharply different a year after Lyoya killing Its really hard for me, mother of Patrick Lyoyas daughter says 1 year after shooting death We will get justice: Patrick Lyoyas dad reflects on anniversary of sons killing by police ALPENA, MI A dog died in a house fire Wednesday afternoon in Northern Michigan, police said. The dog was pulled out of the burning home on Michigan Avenue in Alpena, The Alpena News reports. It was given CPR and then transported to a local veterinarians office where it died of its injuries. There were no other injuries; no one else was home at the time of the fire. Neighbors told police that they smelled gasoline before the fire started and witnessed a man climbing out of a window in the back of the house, the report said. Police are searching for the person of interest. Fire crews responded to the blaze around 12:40 p.m. and fought it from the exterior and interior of the home, the report said. READ MORE: MSP sergeant hit by vehicle while directing traffic around fiery crash on Michigan highway Northern Michigan man found guilty of murdering ex-wife, her 2 sons Security guard shoots 2 men who were firing into crowd U.P. man accused of terrorism for school shooting threat, bond set at $1M WEXFORD COUNTY, MI -- A K-9 with the Michigan State Police canine unit tracked down an alleged car thief Monday morning after the suspect ditched the stolen vehicle and hid in the woods. Michigan State Police were dispatched around 2:54 a.m. for reports of a car being stolen from a gas station in Cadillac. The owner of the car said he discovered it was missing after leaving the gas station but his vehicle was nowhere to be found. As police were responding to the call, they were diverted for a report of an abandoned car found in a ditch at E 28 and S 37 roads. While MSP responded to that call, officers with the Cadillac Police Department reviewed surveillance video from the gas station and were able to determine a description of the suspect. When MSP got to the car in the ditch, no one was found nearby and it was determined the car was the one reported stolen from the gas station. A canine unit was called in once on scene, the K-9 tracked down the suspect who was found roughly 200 yards away from the car hiding under large bedsheets in the thick of the pine trees. The suspect was arrested and has been identified as 32-year-old Alexander Dumas of Manistee. Dumas was arraigned in 84th District Court on charges of one count unlawful driving away of motor vehicle, one count malicious destruction of property over $1,000 under $20,000 and failure to report a crash. Bond was set at $25,000 and Dumas is due back in court on April 25. READ MORE: Man shoots at police during traffic stop, barricades himself in Northern Michigan home Human remains found near home of man reported missing Ypsilanti man dead after crashing motorcycle into home, police say MONTMORENCY COUNTY, MI -- Police arrested a man Thursday morning after he allegedly shot at an officer before barricading himself inside a home on County Road 491. According to the Michigan State Police, the incident began Thursday morning when a deputy with the Montmorency County Sheriffs Office attempted to pull over a driver near Lewiston. The driver -- who has only been identified as a 56-year-old Lewiston man -- fled however and the officer began pursuing the vehicle. At some point the suspects car became disabled and the man got out of his car and began running away from police. As he was running, the man allegedly fired multiple shots at the deputy. Police began investigating the incident and found an address for the suspect. Police set up a perimeter around the home and began negotiating with the man, who eventually surrendered around 7:20 a.m. No injuries were reported, however Johannesburg-Lewiston area schools were closed as a precaution. An investigation is ongoing and formal charges are expected. READ MORE: Human remains found near home of man reported missing Ypsilanti man dead after crashing motorcycle into home, police say Man accused in string of Ann Arbor-area arsons and break-ins gets probation WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI - A high-tech business incubators plan to clean up and rehabilitate a long-vacant industrial site along I-94 just outside Ann Arbor has received a boost from a tax break from Scio Township. Michigan Innovation Headquarters, MI-HQ, is targeting the property at 300 North Zeeb Road to host start-ups, many in the science and technology fields, as it does at its existing campus several miles away on Wagner Road. But that involves spending some $10 to $15 million on renovating the Zeeb Road facility once the headquarters of ProQuest and predecessor companies tackling asbestos and contaminated soils in the process, according to MI-HQ. Read more: Vacant industrial site along I-94 near Ann Arbor targeted for redevelopment plan Our goal is to reinvigorate this site, which has been vacant for over 13 years, MI-HQ President Mark Smith told Scio Township leaders in a presentation on Tuesday, April 11. The company requested officials support the project by approving a tax incentive under a state law intended to help rehab vacant commercial properties. The measure maintains the current local property taxes on the facility, but freezes them in place for a period of years when they would normally grow because of the proposed improvements to the facility. Smith argued that the business incubators plan represents a large investment, will bring a vacant and trouble property back online rather than take up new land and will generate high-paying jobs, while also attracting new companies in photovoltaics, battery testing, wafer fabrication and other specialized technology and life sciences fields to the area. Scio Township has granted 70 tax breaks over the past two decades, totaling almost $28 million, supporting other business endeavors, he said in his presentation, adding the ideal incentive for the MI-HQ project would last 10 years. Some township board members said they understood the benefits of the project, but favored a shorter time period. I am pro this project. I am pro [MI-HQ] doing it. I like taking care of our own, Trustee Mark Brazeau said on Tuesday. However my goal is to do what is fair for Scio Township first and foremost, but also an incentive for [MI-HQ]. A three-year tax freeze felt reasonable, he said. Smith argued that a longer tax incentive could help the township down the road. Thats because MI-HQ is also pursuing an incentive known as brownfield tax increment financing, which allows developers to be reimbursed over time for eligible contamination cleanup costs out of the increase in taxes that result. If local taxes are frozen for a longer period, more state taxes go toward paying off those brownfield costs, meaning the township would get to keep about $70,000 of its own revenue from being captured in the long-run, he said. In the end, the township board agreed on a five-year break on new taxes for the project, which some framed as a compromise position. It also could later be extended, officials said. Township officials could not provide the estimated value of the incentive, as only three- and 10-year scenarios were presented on Tuesday. A brownfield plan, outlining some $2.7 million in cleanup and rehabilitation expenses, will next go to the township board for approval, likely at its April 25 meeting, according to township Supervisor Will Hathaway and Washtenaw County Brownfield Redevelopment Coordinator Nathan Voght. The plan will also be considered by the county Brownfield Redevelopment Authority, before going up for a public hearing in front of the county board, with a work plan also submitted to the state, Voght said. Similar tax incentives arent uncommon with older, derelict properties in the county, he said, giving examples of the historic Thompson Block in Ypsilanti and the Rockwell building in the Chelsea Clocktower complex. Read more: Downtown Chelsea industrial building dating back to 1909 set for redevelopment When we have environmental contamination, its a big impediment to redevelopment of any property. It really, really adds to the cots of making properties work, he said. Still, Voght added, its common for elected leaders to take their time evaluating the potential benefit resulting from the tax incentives. We all want to be good stewards of these funds and not just hand them out like candy, he said. The MI-HQ project will involve an exterior facelift on the Zeeb Road site, designed by renowned Midland architect Alden B. Dow and dating back to the 1960s, as well as improvements to the parking lot and stormwater system, according to the business incubator. The company has a track record with contaminated sites not far away. Since 2016, MI-HQ has run an innovation campus at the former Gelman Sciences complex in Scio Township, the source of major groundwater contamination in the Ann Arbor area discovered in the 1980s. A similar transformation could be in the cards for the Zeeb Road site. Its become a blight in our community and is the front door of our township. Its not the best representation of the incredible businesses and technology that we have here, Smith said on Tuesday. More from The Ann Arbor News: STEM center plans approved for former Eastern Michigan University building Abandoned bikes being removed from University of Michigan campus Michigan school district joins lawsuit targeting addictive Facebook, social media use Bulldozed trees angered students, so University of Michigan may tweak $14M rec fields DEXTER, MI - Dexter Community Schools is joining a federal lawsuit alleging social media products like Facebook and Instagram have a defective design that isnt safe, particularly for kids. During its Monday, April 10 meeting, the Dexter School Board unanimously approved joining the lawsuit filed in the U.S. District Court Northern District of California. The district has entered into an attorney-client fee contract with California-based Frantz Law Group, which represented more than 125 Michigan schools in successfully settling nationwide litigation against Juul and other vaping product manufacturers. The current lawsuit specifically lists Meta Platforms, Inc. as the plaintiff, while several other social media companies like TikToks ByteDance, Inc. and Snapchats Snap Inc. have been added by dozens of others across the country who have signed on to the suit. The lawsuit alleges technology companies focus on maximizing time spent, not time well spent, and that there have been growing concerns about the impact of social media on the mental health and wellbeing of adolescents. Researchers argue social media facilitates cyberbullying, contributes to obesity and eating disorders, instigates sleep deprivation, encourages children to negatively compare themselves to others and to develop a broad discontentment for life, the lawsuit states. Defendants have intentionally designed their products to maximize users screen time, using complex algorithms designed to exploit human psychology and driven by advanced computer algorithms and artificial intelligence available to two of the largest technology companies in the world, the lawsuit states. Defendants have progressively modified their products to promote problematic and excessive use that they know threatens the actuation of addictive and self- destructive behavioral patterns. Meta Head of Safety Antigone Davis reassures parents that the company has their interests at heart in the work it is doing to provide teens with safe, supportive experiences online. Meta has developed more than 30 tools to support teens and their families, from age verification technology to allowing parents to decide when, and for how long, their teens use Instagram, he said. Weve invested in technology that finds and removes content related to suicide, self-injury or eating disorders before anyone reports it to us, Davis said in a statement. These are complex issues but we will continue working with experts and listening to parents to develop new tools, features and policies that are effective and meet the needs of teens and their families. While schools count on parents to support their children with proper social media use, media companies are actively marketing to children, Dexter Community Schools Superintendent Chris Timmis said, noting children often have their own cell phones by age 6 and are on social media by age 8. Social media platforms like Snapchat require users to be at least 13 years old, Timmis said, adding its easy to circumvent that by entering a fake birth date. What we see with the behaviors of kids is the apps are highly-addictive and the technology is written to keep people on it, Timmis said. Our kids are making terrible mistakes on social media, and theyre not prepared to use it. The lawsuit states the addictive qualities of social media products and their harmful algorithms have intentionally created an attractive nuisance to children. The complaint states that plaintiffs only recently learned the truth about Metas increasingly detrimental effect on teenagers when Frances Haugen, a former Facebook employee turned whistleblower, came forward with internal documents showing that Meta was aware that its platforms and products cause significant harm to its users, especially children. Rather than making meaningful changes to safeguard the health and safety of its adolescent users, Meta has consistently chosen to prioritize profit over safety, the lawsuit states. The defendants position, outlined in the lawsuit, states that plaintiffs attempt to use product liability law to impose liability on social media companies represents an unprecedented use of tort law to attack intangible communications services. The medical conditions plaintiffs describe are troubling, and defendants deeply sympathize with plaintiffs and their families, the lawsuit states. But defendants dispute they were the cause of these alleged harms. Schools have become the point of contact for social media-related incidents that occur outside of school or when school isnt in session on the weekends, Timmis said Ultimately, Timmis said social media use among young people is a national problem that is negatively impacting our kids. This is the least that we can do to try to force some change, he said. It doesnt matter what we clamp down on at different levels. Our kids have that access and even in the youngest grades when we wont let them have phones in classes, they still find ways to get to their phones during the day. Frantz Law Group will represent Dexter Community Schools on a contingency fee basis, meaning Frantz will not charge any fees or costs unless there is a financial recovery. READ MORE: Solar power could be coming to Dexter schools A Washtenaw County school will pilot a new AP African American studies course Washtenaw County educator awarded for being a pioneer in bringing middle colleges to Michigan ANN ARBOR, MI - Breath tests can currently prevent drunken drivers from starting their cars. What if there was something similar that could be applied to guns? A University of Michigan student is combining Breathalyzer and storage safe technology to create a safe that would help keep weapons out of the hands of impaired people. The Sober Vault is the invention of sophomore John Kotarski of Grand Rapids as part of professor Eric Fretzs entrepreneurship course. The inspiration for it came after he said he saw a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention article claiming gun fatalities involving firearms users under the influence were similar to drunken driving fatalities. I also know that intimate partner violence is a big problem with alcohol-induced firearm violence, as well as suicides using firearms under the influence, he said. Those were two big pushes that made me think about this idea. A 2016 study in the National Library of Medicine states that more than one-third of firearm violence incidents involve a shooter who has acutely consumed alcohol and more than one-fourth had heavily consumed alcohol prior to their death. Fretzs core course for the entrepreneurship minor asks students to do epic s*** in the form of business ideas. Kotarski teamed up with classmates Carigan Price and Carly Cehelsky, with him acting as lead engineer and Price and Cehelsky on marketing and design. Read more: Be epic: University of Michigan lecturer helps students with business start-up ideas In its current form, the Sober Vault safe runs on a microcontroller that takes input from an air quality sensor geared toward sensing alcohol content, Kotarski said. A motor latches the safe open and shut, as long as the user also remembers the safes password on a keypad. Users breathe into a sensor on the vault. If theyve had too much alcohol, LED lights flash red to indicate the safe is locked. If the user is sober, the lights flash yellow to indicate the keypad password may be entered. If the password is correct, the lights flash green and the safe opens. There is no specific blood alcohol content level associated with the safe locks currently, as Kotarski calibrated the sensors based on the breath of sober people and inebriated ones, he said. The team is currently working on an override for the safe in case of an emergency, he said. Wed like to keep working on this moving forward, Kotarski said, indicating the product may have legs, even after the universitys winter semester ends on April 27. Invention has been part of Kotarski s life since fourth grade, he said, as he has been taking stuff apart and putting it back together since reading about Thomas Edison. His time in college reinvigorated those dreams, he said. I got to college and got to explore that side of myself a little more, he said. I realized that maybe this actually is realistic, so I kind of felt myself circling back to my fourth-grade goals. Prior to joining Fretzs class, Kotarski was working on another project involving a more ergonomic pepper spray dispenser, he said. He found the class fed his entrepreneurial passion even more. (Fretz) gives everyone the freedom to do whatever they want, Kotarski said. Its just really opening for me because I like to build stuff, I like to make stuff and thats been a part of my life. Other applications for Sober Vault include storing keys as another safeguard against drunken driving, or as he joked, a safeguard against calling a significant other after a few too many drinks. However, Sober Vault is currently focused on safe gun ownership, he said. While there are breath tests to curb drunken driving, there is a gap in curbing drunken firearm use, he said. One of these problems has been solved, but not solving the other one just seems absurd, Kotarski said. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Dont toss medical supplies. University of Michigan students can send them to areas in need Trailblazing physicist will be new namesake of University of Michigan lab Tabasco labels, mundane objects part of new mural at University of Michigan ANN ARBOR, MI True early voting is coming to Michigan for the 2024 election cycle and Ann Arbor wants input from residents as the city clerks office plans implementing it locally. With statewide voter approval of Prop 2 in November 2022, Michigan will be introducing nine days of early voting as a new option for voters to cast ballots in statewide federal elections. Ann Arbor is now asking city residents to take a six-question anonymous survey to help inform the city how local voters prefer to cast ballots and their awareness of the new voting option. Take the survey. The survey asks residents how they plan to vote in the November 2024 general election, whether in person at the polls on Election Day, via absentee ballot (which requires more paperwork and having ballots sealed in envelopes and stored for tabulation on Election Day) or by voting before Election Day at an early vote center with ballots tabulated on the spot. The city expects early voting centers to help further eliminate long lines and wait times on Election Day. Its a mess. Behind the long election lines at the University of Michigan The survey is open through May 22. In light of these new changes coming, the city of Ann Arbor plans to use this feedback from city residents to make the voting process convenient, easy to understand and accessible to all who wish to cast a ballot, City Clerk Jackie Beaudry said. For more information on elections and voting in Ann Arbor, visit www.a2gov.org/elections. MORE FROM THE ANN ARBOR NEWS: Ann Arbor Energy Commission calls on city leaders to ban gas like its an emergency Ann Arbors north side could get new retail space with mixed-use development Ann Arbor increasing living wage 7.28% to keep up with inflation Man accused in string of Ann Arbor-area arsons and break-ins gets probation Bulldozed trees angered students, so University of Michigan may tweak $14M rec fields YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, MI -- An Ypsilanti man who had been previously reported missing was found dead at at a home near Textile Road earlier this week. Donald Osborne, 37, was reported missing by his family on Saturday, April 8, after he went out to ride his motorcycle and never returned home, according to the Washtenaw County Sheriffs Office. Officers were called the following day to a scene of crash where a motorcyclist had driven into a house in the 6000 block of Miami Street in Ypsilanti Township. It appears Osborne had been riding his motorcycle in a nearby parking lot on Textile Road when he lost control, crossed the road and struck the side of the home, where he was found dead, police said. The homeowner did not find Osborne until they returned home on Sunday, April 9. Read more from The Ann Arbor News: Police seeking help in finding man who exposed himself in Eberwhite Woods Bulldozed trees angered students, so University of Michigan may tweak $14M rec fields Michigan Weather Snapshot: Enjoy the warmest day of the year so far FLINT, MI The President of the Flint Board of Education has asked Michigan State Police to look into an overpayment that resulted in a retiree receiving more than $60,000 in payouts for non-work and sick days accrued throughout their career. Board President Michael Clack announced the decision to get police involved at the Wednesday, April 12 Board of Education meeting. The Flint Board of Education unanimously approved to investigate the payment, which stemmed from a June 15, 2022, meeting in a surprise motion that usurped the districts normal practice of paying retirees. The payment was rediscovered in a Stephenson & Company audit report for the 2022 fiscal year. The retired employee was supposed to either be paid $26,663.25, according to past practices, or $27,569.50, according to the current contract, according to a document prepared by Jorgina Rubin in the human resources department. However, the retirees payment was the lone payment to come before a board decision -- which tipped Clack off to suspect that there may have been some wrongdoing, he said. On June 15, 2022, the school board voted to pay the employee, who was seeking compensation for approximately 72 remaining non-work days and approximately 143 remaining sick days. The current Congress of Flint School Administrator contract states employees who retire with a minimum of 10 years with the district only receive $50 in additional terminal pay for each unused personal time off day, which would cap the sick day payment to just $6,250. In past practices, the congress contract was used to dictate payments to non-union employees. At the June 15 board meeting, led by then-President Joyce Ellis-McNeal, the board voted unanimously to pay the employee for the accrued personal time off days. Ellis-McNeal led the meeting with Laura MacIntyre, who was treasurer at the time, and former board members Allen Gilbert, Linda Boose and Chris Del Morone were in attendance. MacIntyre made the motion to pay the retiree, which was approved unanimously. However, the board vote didnt specify the payment amount. The item had little discussion and it was unclear if the motion was on the agenda, as all minutes and board agendas from Ellis-McNeals term as board president are not available. Past practices indicate that retiree payments do not normally come before the board and are handled by the human resources department. Rubin assisted board members in going through with the payment that was approved by board vote. She informed via email Ellis-McNeal of the three options for payment because the board didnt specify an amount, she said. After preparing the options, Rubin wrote the board president in an email that she would like the same consideration days before she also retired, she told the board. Prior to the June 15 vote, Superintendent Kevelin Jones said he denied the retirees request to be paid at daily rates before it made the agenda. Jones said the retiree was not entitled to the payout. Meetings later both Ellis-McNeal and MacIntyre were removed from their positions as president and treasurer on the board when Danielle Green, who couldnt attend meetings due to a plea agreement with the city after an incident with MacIntyre, showed up anyway to cast the deciding vote to oust the pair. Ellis-McNeal, who was board president at the time of the original vote to pay the retiree, encouraged the investigation during a back-and-forth on the subject during a March meeting. Clack, who brought the issue to the Michigan State Police Flint post earlier this week, said this is getting in the way of bigger issues like new schools and teacher recruitment. It also sets a bad precedent for other retiring employees who might expect the same treatment, Clack said. We needed to clean up these things in order to move forward and, in turn, put our district in the direction that we want to see it go, he said. Clack read a statement to the board on Wednesday, April 12 condemning the action of the previous board: As board members, it is not our role to overstep the administration and pry into their daily affairs. MacIntyre, who was the only board member to speak after Clack announced police involvement, said she welcomes any type of investigation. Michigan State Police will begin the interview process with involved members next week, according to Clacks statement. Michigan State Police confirmed that the report will be investigated. MSP Lt. Kim Vetter said the case, if any wrongdoing is found, would likely be presented to the Genesee County Prosecutors Office to pursue charges. Read more at The Flint Journal: Flint schools to investigate 2022 board action that resulted in overpayment to retiree UM-Flint opens 14 gender-inclusive bathrooms on campus Atherton teacher accused of inappropriate relationship with student waives preliminary exam Flint native recognized as top high school jazz bassist JACKSON COUNTY, MI -- Trial dates have been set for late July in the case of an Ohio man accused of beating and maiming a coworker while they were staying at a Jackson County motel. Nicholas Stamper -- 36, of Toledo, Ohio -- is set to appear before Jackson County Circuit Judge Susan Jordan July 24 to began a three-day jury trial. Stamper is accused of brutally assaulting a 31-year-old man before abandoning him at Brooklyns Super 8 motel. The victim had been left without medical attention for nearly three days, police said. He was found by hotel staff Feb. 22, 2022 in a badly beaten state in the bathtub of his motel room. Related: Drunken argument led to near-fatal assault in Brooklyn motel, court testimony states The trial dates were set during a hearing before Jordan April 7. A final pretrial hearing in this case is scheduled for June 23. Brandon Schneider -- who works the front desk at the motel -- testified at a preliminary examination that Stamper and the alleged victim were staying at the motel for about three weeks as they worked on a construction project in the area. On the night of Feb. 20, Schneider was alerted after hearing sounds of pounding and yelling coming from a nearby hallway. When checking to see what was happening, Schneider saw Stamper pounding on a door, stating he couldnt get into his room, Schneider said. In wasnt until Schneider got closer that he noticed Stamper was covered in blood. Stamper told Schneider he and the victim had gotten into a fight, which began after the 31-year-old said something about Stampers children, Schneider testified. After a short look into the the victims room, motel manager Scott Spence noticed what appeared to be bloodstains but did not see the man himself, Spence testified. He did not check the bathroom at this time. The next day, Feb. 22, the boss for the construction project and his driver visited the motel to pick the men up to drive them to work. Shortly after arriving, they notified Spence that he should call an ambulance. The victim was found in his units bathroom, the walls of which were drenched in blood, Spence testified. The man himself was found in the fetal position in the bathtub, also covered in blood. During the assault, the victims ear was damaged to the point it was nearly removed from his head, police said. The mans eyes were also severely damaged during the assault. The 31-year-old was taken Henry Ford Jackson Hospital before being transferred to Henry Ford Health in Detroit, where he was treated for life-threatening injuries, police said. Stamper was arrested May 24 in a joint operation by the Columbia Township Police Department and Toledo Police Department. More from The Jackson Citizen Patriot: Jackson County man gets 5 years in prison for meth-fueled shooting spree conviction Pending investigation, resignations leave Jackson County township in turmoil Jackson County family who lost daughter in crash still looking for justice Jackson man wanted for throwing rocks at cars, fighting and fleeing police Beware of critical fire threat: Red Flag Warning covers much of Michigan Update: The man surrendered after about two hours and was arrested, KDPS said. There is a bomb robot checking for explosives in the building around 4:50 p.m. KALAMAZOO, MI A man walked into WWMT News Channel 3s building in Kalamazoo and said he had a bomb Thursday afternoon. He entered WWMTs building around 2:30 p.m. on April 13, and said he had explosives in his bag, Kalamazoo Public Safety spokesperson Jay Shatara said. The man was still in the building as of 4:10 p.m., and police are in negotiations with him to get him to surrender, Shatara said. Channel 3 employees have evacuated the building and no injuries are reported, Shatara said. The station is at 590 W. Maple St., just off of South Westnedge Avenue. WWMT is West Michigans CBS affiliate TV station. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. More from MLive: 5 deaths, 12 overdoses from fentanyl in 24 hours in Kalamazoo, police say Uber settles lawsuit from 2016 Kalamazoo shooting rampage Sad to see it go: WMU celebrates student center one final time before demolition KALAMAZOO, MI -- Hundreds of students, staff, alumni and community members gathered one last time on Thursday, April 13 to celebrate the legacy of the Bernhard Center at Western Michigan University. The Bye-Bye Bernhard event was coordinated by the Campus Activities Board, as an opportunity to say farewell to the closing event center. KALAMAZOO, MI A lawsuit has been settled that alleged Uber could have stopped Jason Daltons 2016 shooting rampage in Kalamazoo. Matt Mellen was taken on a dangerous ride by Dalton, an Uber driver, on Feb. 20, 2016. Dalton went on to fatally shoot six people and injure two others that night. Mellen filed a lawsuit against Uber, Raiser (a technology subsidiary of Uber) and Dalton in September 2021. The case was heard in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Michigan. A judge dismissed Dalton from the lawsuit. Uber and Raiser have since reached a settlement with Mellen and the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice March 10, according to court documents. Both sides have to pay their own attorneys fees. Related: Uber could have stopped driver before Kalamazoo shooting rampage, lawsuit says No details about the settlement are included in court documents. At one point, Mellen had requested $1.2 million from Uber. Attorneys for Mellen did not respond to multiple MLive/Kalamazoo Gazette requests for comment. Uber also did not respond to requests for comment. Dalton, now 52, was sentenced to life in prison in February 2019 for eight felonies related to the shootings. He is currently in prison in Manistee County, per Michigan Department of Corrections records. Related: Trail of terror: How a gunmans rampage changed Kalamazoo Mellen had requested an Uber ride around 4:30 p.m. on Feb. 20, 2016, and ended up getting Dalton as his driver. The drive was terrifying, the lawsuit said. Dalton was running red lights, crashing into other vehicles, committing crimes including kidnaping, falsely imprisoning and battering of (Mellen), the lawsuit said. Mellen escaped from the ride and immediately called 911 and tried to contact Uber to report Daltons unsafe driving, the lawsuit said. Mellen and his girlfriend tried to contact Ubers 24/7 response team for more than an hour. The goal was to get Uber to deactivate Dalton following the dangerous driving, which would have put a pause on his ability to drive people through the app. But Uber didnt deactivate him until after he was arrested later that night for shooting eight people, the lawsuit said. Rather than following the clear community standards/code of conduct set forth on their own website (such as DEACTIVATING Dalton for his criminal and dangerous acts though Defendant Ubers dedicated incident response team on call 24/7 to investigate safety incidents,) Uber did absolutely nothing, the lawsuit said. Still active on UBERs APP, Dalton continued his UBER rides, killing six, wounding many, deeply damaging Matt Mellen, for life. Uber said it had a dedicated response team on call 24/7 to investigate issues that threaten the safety of the riders, the lawsuit said. The team was supposed to investigate and then if confirmed, permanently deactivate the driver. Mellen could not reach Uber to report the dangerous driving, meaning Ubers statement that it had a 24/7 on-call team was false, the lawsuit said. Uber continued to allow Dalton to drive with the app. Want more Kalamazoo-area news? Bookmark the local Kalamazoo news page or sign up for the free 3@3 Kalamazoo daily newsletter. More from MLive: Woman, 2 children injured in Kalamazoo County crash Kalamazoo assistant superintendent fired for whistleblowing, lawsuit says Man pleads guilty in crash that paralyzed Kalamazoo police officer New townhomes, apartments proposed behind Kalamazoo County Meijer Man, 41, dies in head-on crash after crossing centerline in Southwest Michigan LANSING, MI Implementation of Michigans expansion of voting rights and access from the November election took its first step Wednesday. The Senate elections committee voted, 8-0, to advance a bill to the full chamber that would give military and overseas voters more time to return their ballots in every election. Our overseas ballots are anywhere from 20 to 70 times more likely to be received after theyre able to be counted, said Erin Schor, legislative policy director for the Michigan Secretary of States office. Military and overseas voters, of which Michigan had more than 21,000 in the last presidential election, are currently treated like any other voters: Their absentee ballots must be at their local clerks office by 8 p.m. on Election Day. But under Senate Bill 259, these voters ballots would be counted if postmarked by Election Day. Ballots then need to be received within six days after the election. The change comes to coincide with Proposal 2, which already took effect in the state constitution after 60% of Michiganders approved it in the November election. Bills like SB 259 aim to formalize new rights and access into law. Other Prop 2 legislation expected to pass this year would implement an early in-person voting system and crack down on harassment of election workers. More Prop 2: Benson: $50m, anti-misinformation laws needed for future Michigan elections Federal law requires military and overseas voters to be sent their ballots via mail or electronically at least 45 days before an election, but problems can occur in the mail. Less than 1% of Michigan absentee ballots were rejected in that November 2020 election, according to a U.S. Election Assistance Commission report, but 4.6% of Michigan military and overseas ballots were rejected. Thats just wrong, said Melanie Macey, policy counsel for Promote the Vote. And this bill implementing the constitutional amendment is how it gets righted. SB 259 also provides guidance for election officials regarding missing or unclear postmarks and for tabulating ballots after the six-day extension. And it would require the SOS office to write rules for the electronic return of voted ballots through a secure web portal commonly used by soldiers on the frontlines. Read more from MLive: Whitmer signs universal background checks, safe storage gun bills into law Michigan grants $410M to electric vehicle projects, delays Gotion funding A deadly bird flu raised egg prices. Michigan farms vigilantly protect flocks. Far from vanilla: Gerald Ford is consequential, relevant in new biography Letter from the Editor: Michigan needs dedicated environmental journalists. Lake Effect newsletter shows our passion Screams of joy swept over Michigans House chamber April 13 as lawmakers voted along party lines to pass a package of bills implementing a process to temporarily keep firearms out of the hands of at-risk individuals. The move came hours after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed into law universal background checks on all firearms and a mandate to safely store those guns when minors are present. It was also two months to the day since a mass shooting on Michigan State University left three students dead and another five wounded. This isnt about taking anyones rights, Rep. Kelly Breen, D-Novi, chair of the House Judiciary Committee said in a floor speech Thursday. Its about getting someone the help they need before they cause unfathomable heartbreak and if that is an inconvenience to people I am sorry, but I am not sorry. Passing out of the House Thursday were House Bills 4145, 4146, 4147 and 4148 in 56-51 votes. The four would collectively create the Extreme Risk Protection Order (ERPO) Act more commonly known as red flag laws. The act would require courts to issue an ERPO if there is enough evidence to support the idea that a person poses a safety risk, either to themselves or others, and should not be in temporary possession of a firearm. It goes on to outline who may file a petition including family members, health care providers or police officers and what can be considered when determining if the petition is necessary. A served order would take effect immediately, with a court determining whether firearms must be seized immediately or willingly turned over within a 24-hour period. A court could schedule a compliance hearing within 10 days of a served ERPO if this does not occur. Several Republicans rose in opposition to the bills, with police involvement in risk protection order proceedings being a key concern. We have seen mistrust in law enforcement, support of our law enforcement, in our communities across Michigan ... and now were going to go and ask these officers to go to somebodys door and take their guns away without due process? Rep. Bob Bezotte, R-Howell, said. We have tons of bills and laws on the books to prevent this. We dont need four more bills. Despite this, police have expressed their approval of the bills as they moved out of a House committee earlier this week. Dan Pfannes, the deputy director of the Michigan Sheriffs Association, told members of the House Judiciary Committee his organization hadnt initially supported the bills, but changes had brought them on board. By all of the attendant stakeholders, we believe thats in the best interest of public safety, Pfannes said during an April 12 hearing. Were very pleased and honored that our requests were taken into consideration as we move through this process. RELATED: Whitmer signs universal background checks, safe storage gun bills into law If it is determined an ERPO is necessary, its duration would last for one year although modifications are possible. One motion to modify or rescind the order could be filed during the year the order is in effect, with another possible during the year an extended order is in effect. Again, Republicans rose in opposition, citing this as a violation of a persons Second Amendment rights. A yes vote on this would be voting against the United States Constitution and Second Amendment that clearly states, shall not be infringed, said Rep. Angela Rigas, R-Caledonia Township. Rep. Stephanie Young, D-Detroit, pushed back on that idea in a statement, saying personal safety is not a partisan issue, and I am tired of hearing gunshots disrupt the peace in my neighborhood. We have a responsibility to strengthen our laws and potentially save lives, and these bills give us another set of necessary tools to temporarily separate firearms from people at risk of harming themselves or others, she said. I am grateful to see them advancing through the Legislature and commend my colleagues for their resolve in helping to create safer communities. The main bill of the Houses package, HB 4145, is a near mirror of Senate Bill 83, which also passed the lower chamber Thursday in a 56-51 vote. Their main differences lie in where a person can file an order. Under the Senates version, a person could file one in any Michigan county, much like how personal protection orders currently operate. The Houses version, however, would limit the filing venue to a county meeting one of four criteria: where the requester lives, the location of the requesters workplace, where the respondent lives or where the respondent works. The package of red flag bills now move over to the Senate, where they await a hearing. Given the House changed SB 83 prior to passage, the Senate will need to confirm those changes in a floor vote prior to enrolling the bill and sending it to the governor. Headed to the governors desk, however, is HB 4143, which handles sentencing guidelines for universal background check violations. House lawmakers voted to approve Senate-made changes to the legislation in another 56-51, party line vote. MLive senior political reporter Simon Schuster contributed to this story. More from MLive Military, overseas voting bill begins Michigan Prop 2 implementation Michigan grants $410M to electric vehicle projects, delays Gotion funding State initiatives aim to address high death rates among Black Michigan mothers What to know about the abortion pill and efforts to suspend use Michigans anti-texting and driving laws may get a modern facelift Michiganders seeking care at numerous hospitals throughout the state will no longer be required to wear a mask as COVID-19 concerns fade further into the rearview mirror. More than a dozen health systems have adjusted their masking policies this month. Many moved to make masking optional with some exceptions for areas with higher-risk and immunocompromised patients. Our patients really want to see our faces and we want to see their faces, said Dr. Darryl Elmouchi, president of Corewell Health West in Grand Rapids. Its hard to take care of people when you cant really see them smile. Sparrow Health in Lansing and Michigan Medicine in Ann Arbor were the first to update their policies last week. On Thursday, April 13, most of the remaining systems announced similar relaxing of masking requirements, with new policies going into effect within the next week. Corewell Health West, formerly known as Spectrum, and Corewell Health Ease, formerly known as Beaumont Health, made masking optional for all patients and clinical teams, except for those in long-term care, skilled nursing facilities, and transplant clinics. Individuals with COVID-19 or other respiratory symptoms will still be required to wear masks when entering a hospital facility, and masks will still be made available at entrances. Visitors with COVID or similar symptoms will be asked to stay home until healthy. Elmouchi said the move comes as the system has gone months with less than 3% of its hospital beds taken up by COVID patients. Amongst that group, about half are in the hospital for other reasons. After three years of masking every day in all of our facilities, were moving to mask optional, he said. This doesnt mean the masking goes away but it means that masking is not going to be required for everyone. Below is a breakdown of other health systems and what their new policies entail: Ascension Michigan: Acute care and ambulatory centers have suspended routine use of masks, effectively immediately, except in units providing care to immunocompromised populations or patients with increases risk of complications from COVID, including intensive care units, oncology units and transplant units. Bronson Healthcare: Masking will be optional as of Tuesday, April 18, except for those who exhibit symptoms of respiratory or infectious illness. The rule change wont apply to Bronson Commons, a skilled nursing facility. Covenant Healthcare: Masking will be optional as of Monday, April 17, with a few exceptions. Detroit Medical Center: Masking optional for all patients and staff as of Friday, April 14. Henry Ford Health: Masking optional, except for inpatient areas where there are immunocompromised patients. Mary Free Bed Rehabilitation: Masking is recommended but optional at the Grand Rapids hospital campus, West Michigan outpatient locations and orthotics, prosthetic and bionics locations. Masking will still be required at the Sub-Acute Rehabilitation program. McLaren Health Care: Masking optional as of Monday, except for designated critical care units, the Karmanos Cancer Institute facilities, subacute/outpatient rehabilitation facilities, and skilled nursing facilities. Michigan Health West: Masking will be optional for most patients, visitors and staff as of Friday. Exceptions include patients seeking care for respiratory symptoms of COVID, visiting patients in precautions for COVID, or if a household contact has COVID. Caregivers will still have to mask when interacting with patients who have immunodeficiency, who have received a transplant, residing in long-term care facilities, have an acute respiratory illness, or who request them to wear a mask. Munson Healthcare: Masking optional, except for long-term care and skilled nursing facilities. The system is also returning to its pre-pandemic visitation policy as of Friday. MyMichigan Health: Masking optional in non-patient care areas, including entryways, hallways, and waiting rooms. Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services: Employees and visitors are no longer required to wear a mask, except for in 24-7 patient care settings and specialty care units. Patients will continue to be screened for COVID at admission, and will have to mask if diagnosed with COVID-19. Trinity Health: Masking optional for all as of Monday, except for inside senior living communities. Dr. Justin Klamerus, McLaren Health Care executive vice president and chief medical officer, said his health system would continue to monitor COVID rates in the communities it serves and adjust guidance appropriately. In early 2020, none of us could have imagined how COVID-19 would impact our lives, he said. Although the future of this virus cannot be certain, we do appear to be entering a significant period of improvement with falling infection rates and substantial levels of vaccination and acquired immunity in our communities. Elmouchi said health leaders around the state began talking last month about relaxing their masking rules. They were in agreement that masks were very appropriate and necessary for a time, but were at a different stage of the pandemic now, he said. For the general public, The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommends wearing masks indoors in communities reporting high levels of coronavirus spread. Its three-tiered system relies on new cases per 100,000 people and hospital admissions for determining high, medium, or low risk communities. As of last week, 83 of 84 Michigan counties reported low levels of coronavirus spread. Only Monroe County in Southeast Michigan surpassed the medium-risk threshold. Daily COVID cases reported by the state have reached the lowest point since July 2021. COVID deaths remain relatively stagnant, and hospitalizations continue to decline. Read more on MLive: Red flag bills prompted by MSU shooting clear Michigan House Senate Democrats propose moving Michigan to 100% clean energy by 2035 A deadly bird flu raised egg prices. Michigan farms vigilantly protect flocks. Police seize computers from Jackson County pediatrician in connection with daughters death With an increase in severe storms and power outages throughout Michigan, a new plan to reduce carbon emissions and utility costs for residents was introduced in the Michigan Senate this week. Sponsored by Senate Majority Floor Leader Sam Singh, D-East Lansing, and Sen. Sue Shink, D-Northfield Township, the bill package, called the Clean Energy Future Plan, sets goals for things such as phasing out fossil fuels and creating a 100% clean energy standard. Sometimes the best way to save on our energy costs is by reducing the cost in our homes, Singh said. Whether thats making sure that our appliances are at a higher level, making sure that we do weatherization of our homes, and so forth. A lot of those types of activities can reduce the costs for customers, but at the same time reduce the amount of energy thats used by electric companies. Deadlines in the package include phasing out coal-fired electricity generating plants by 2030 and requiring utilities to produce 100% of their electricity from carbon-free sources by 2035. It would also require a reduction in the carbon intensity of transportation fuels by 25% by the end of 2035, and develop a Michigan Construction Decarbonization Plan to reduce emissions from heating homes and businesses 17% by 2030. That is going to save people money and make their homes and businesses more comfortable and more affordable, so very practical legislation, Shink said. Another proposal in the package requires utilities to improve energy efficiency annually by at least 2% by increasing the current energy waste reduction target. It also would codify a Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development program that allows farmers to rent land for solar operations while preserving farmland. Lisa Wozniak, executive director of the Michigan League of Conservation Voters, said in a statement it will set Michigan on a path toward cleaner air, good-paying jobs, lower costs and a healthy, livable future. We are at a crossroads: continue with business as usual, or be bold and take advantage of the opportunity we have with historic federal funds and leadership that is committed to protecting our future, Wozniak said. Hundreds of thousands of Michigan residents lost power for days during multiple ice storms earlier this year, resulting in families losing food, medicine and money. Since then, Shink said lawmakers have heard from many residents who want accountability from the Michigan Public Service Commission, the state government body that regulates utilities. Related: What has changed? Lawmakers unload on Michigan utility reps after outages One of the bills Shink is championing would expands commissions power to consider effects on climate change, health, equity and affordability when approving utility rate plans. Now when they talk about climate change, and the effects of power generation on climate change, those details will be considered in setting the rates and also in determining how the power will be produced, Shink said. With the 100 days of the new legislature passed and the new Democratic majority tackling some of their key priorities early on in the term like codifying rights for LGBTQ people into state law, removing the states century old abortion ban from the books and repealing right-to-work theyve now identified climate and environmental issues as a policy area they will be focusing on going forward. Earlier this year, Gov. Gretchen Whitmers executive budget recommendation called for a $1.65 billion investment toward climate and clean energy. She reaffirmed that commitment at a statewide climate conference earlier this week. Related: Whitmer says shes a climate optimist in conference keynote More bills for the Clean Energy Future Plan are being worked on, senators said, one of which is anticipated to promote the purchase and use of electric vehicles. Whitmer has called for a two-year pause of the 6% state sales tax on electric vehicle purchases. In addition to working with community partners, Singh said they hope to work with the Michigan Public Service Commission to support the work already being done on reliability. They are working out their own plans, and we didnt want to preempt those discussions because theyre pretty far down the road, Singh said. And so, what we see is that this plan would sort of be in concert with the reliability plans that the commission is doing. If there are legislative changes that the commission needs for us to do reliability, I know we are committed as a caucus to implement those. Read more from MLive: A deadly bird flu raised egg prices. Michigan farms vigilantly protect flocks. Letter from the Editor: Michigan needs dedicated environmental journalists. Lake Effect newsletter shows our passion Michigan grants $410M to electric vehicle projects, delays Gotion funding Far from vanilla: Gerald Ford is consequential, relevant in new biography MTN Ghana has issued a press release on the suspension of the much-talked-about Data Zone Bundle. In the release dated Wednesday, April 12, it said the suspension of the innovative Data Zone bundle is due to a review of the bundle offer in line with the Significant Market Power (SMP) directives applied to MTN Ghana in June 2020, not to be the lowest priced on any offer in the industry. Scancom PLC (MTN Ghana) has announced a suspension of its MTN Data Zone bundle effective April 05, 2023. We apologize to our cherished customers for limiting our communications on this matter to service activation channels only. This media release is to provide more information on the issue. The suspension of the innovative Data Zone bundle is due to a review of the bundle offer in line with the Significant Market Power (SMP) directives applied to MTN Ghana in June 2020, not to be the lowest priced on any offer in the industry, parts of the MTN release said. It continued, We are currently engaging and collaborating with the Regulator, as we seek alignment on a revised Data Zone bundle to be reinstated as soon as possible. We will notify you in due course of further developments. MTN Ghana would like to reassure its customers that it would continue to roll out innovative and affordable products and services for the benefit of its cherished customers. Data Zone bundle is an innovation by MTN Ghana that gives customers a 1-day validity bundle at discounted rates at the point of purchase. Subscription is through the Short Code 135. Since its suspension, there have been a lot of complaints from customers on social media. Fresh clashes with M23 rebels erupted Wednesday near the eastern DR Congo city of Goma, according to officials, rupturing weeks of relative calm in the troubled region. A Tutsi-led group, the M23 has won a string of victories against the army and enemy militias since re-emerging from dormancy in late 2021, capturing swathes of North Kivu province. The group also triggered a vast humanitarian crisis as it closed in on the provincial capital Goma, a trade hub of over one million people. On Wednesday morning, armed men claiming to be Congolese patriots attacked M23 positions near Kibumba, about 20 kilometres (12 miles) north of Goma, according to an army official who requested anonymity. M23 fighters repulsed the attack and the army later arrested the assailants, the army official added. Fataki Sebatutsi, a civil society leader in Kibumba, also told AFP that clashes had occurred. A precarious calm had reigned for several weeks prior to the attack, with troops from the regional East African Community (EAC) military force deploying to the region to oversee an intended M23 withdrawal. M23 leader Bertrand Bisimwa tweeted on Wednesday that the "Kinshasa government coalition" had attacked its positions. Kibumba marked the furthest extent of the M23's advance towards Goma, but the group announced a withdrawal from the settlement on December 23, which took place under the supervision of the EAC force. The M23 retreated from the settlement but stayed put in the surrounding hills. The group has since withdrawn from several other areas that it conquered, but the Congolese army has cast such retreats as diversion tactics. The EAC force comprises Kenyan, Burundian, Ugandan and South-Sudanese troops, with many contingents arriving in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo only within the last several weeks. It is meant to supervise a staged withdrawal of the M23 from the region, but many locals are disappointed that the force is not taking the fight directly to the rebel group. Move over Mars. The search for extra-terrestrial life in our solar system is this week fixed squarely on Jupiter as the European Space Agency (ESA) gets set to send its Juice spacecraft on an ambitious mission to inspect the frozen oceans of three of the planet's moons. The Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer which blasts off on Thursday from French Guiana and won't reach its destination until the year 2031 is suped up with the most powerful remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments ever transported to the outer solar system. This will allow the Airbus-built machine to carry out a detailed survey of both the giant gas planet itself and its three large ocean-bearing Galilean moons, Ganymede, Callisto and Europa, which are being viewed as dwarf planets with the potential to harbour alien life. Huge challenges While Europa is the most likely candidate for life, massive levels of radiation mean it won't be possible for Juice to enter into orbit says Gabriel Tobie, a planetary scientist at the University of Nantes in France. This is why we will fly round Europa only twice and then focus on the outer moons Ganymede and Callisto, where the radiation is much weaker, Tobie told RFI. Information about the seismic surface of Europa will be collected using spectral imaging cameras. "If we are lucky, we may be able also to detect eruption," Tobie says, adding that one of the major challenges will be determining the depth of the ocean below the icy shell on the three moons. "To do that we use what's called 'geophysical measurement'. So we measure the magnetic field, the gravity field, and the topography. By combining this information, we'll be able to tell how deep the ocean is, and get information about the composition of the ocean. "We'll be able to know if the ocean is very salty or not very salty, and if it's comparable to the oceans on Earth." After a sequence of some 35 flybys, Juice will be sent into orbit around Ganymede, the largest of Jupiter's satellites and the only moon known to have its own magnetic field which protects it from harmful radiation. This accomplishment will make Juice the first spacecraft to orbit the moon of another planet. Modest fuel Discovered by Italian astronomer Galileo more than four centuries ago, Jupiter's icy moons are so far away from the Sun that our star appears as a mere spotlight in the sky, astronomers say. Little solar energy is able to travel that distance. The first mission launched with the specific aim of exploring these remote worlds also presents as a major technological feat. Not only does Juice require a nuclear bunker to protect its precious equipment from radiation, it must also complete its decade-long mission with modest fuel supplies. "When its launches, there will be about three tons of fuel inside Juice, and most of this fuel will be used for the transfer to Jupiter," Tobie explains, adding the fuel will also be needed to put the vessel into orbit around Jupiter and later around Ganymede. "This is because in order to go into orbit we need to use the fuel to slow down the spacecraft." Juice's impressive solar panels will be used to power the instruments and electric systems onboard but despite their 85-metre size, they only produce about a thousands watts, says Tobie. "That's comparable to the energy used to power a hairdryer." Alien life? The burning question of whether life exists outside our home planet has been the source of fascination and speculation for centuries. By the end of its mission, Juice may be able to offer some concrete answers. What are the chances that our far-flung Jovian system is home to some kind of life? "That is difficult to determine," says Tobie. "What we're doing is determining what the chances are of getting information about this possibility ... Juice will be able to tell us where to look." The convener for a group calling itself Concerned Betters of Ghana (CBOG), Mr Richard Aguda says government is desperately imposing a tax on bet winnings out of frustration. Mr Aguda believes the current economic recession has dazed authorities in the country forcing them to scramble for anything to survive. "If the government think it was easy to win a bet, why not allow its appointees to bet with state money and use the earnings to develop the country?" he quizzed. He said this on the Kumasi-based OTEC 102.9 FM's morning show Nyansapo on Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Mr Aguda however said while they are not against the collection of tax, the implementation of this particular tax was misconceived. "I personally believe whoever lead the introduction of the tax measure has little knowledge of how the bet industry works. "Just imagine I use Gh10,000 to win a bet totalling Gh 11,000 and government decides to take 10 per cent from the money, the tax component will affect the principal money I used to get the earning, who does that, who tax principal money?" he intimated. He therefore called on the government to review the percentage downwards or they stage a demonstration. Government as part of efforts to expand the tax base and increase domestic tax revenue has introduced a 10 per cent tax on bet winnings. The tax component which has been approved by parliament already means gamblers should be ready to have 10% of their earnings withheld as tax should the President assent to the newly passed bill by Parliament. Family members of the late Benjamin Asonaba Dapaah, a former Council of State member and founding member of the NPP party, are demanding explanations from the government over the purported funeral arrangements of their late son. According to them, some radio stations in Kumasi are announcing the final funeral rites of the late statesman without any prior knowledge of the family. Addressing the media at a press conference in Kumasi on Tuesday April 11, 2023, the Acting Family Head, Mr Mathew Kusi said the announcement had names of the President Akufo-Addo, the Vice President, Chief of Staff among other high-profiled personalities in the country calling on people to grace the funeral rites. The situation according to him comes as a huge surprise to the maternal and paternal families of the late Council of State Member. Mr Kusi has therefore urged the general public to disregard any posters announcing the final funeral rites of their dead relative. "The unanimous decision was taken by both the matrilineal and the patrilineal side of their late relative to call on the general public to disregard any such circulations. "Even though our relative died in 2019, the family has not officially come out to announce the final funeral rites due to a pending court issue. "The head of Asona family of Atwea, Yaw Opoku (currently in Italy), Obaapanin Akua Nfum, the only surviving sister of the late Asonabas mother, the entire Asona abusua as descendants of Ama Pokuaa and Yaa Yeboaah of Atwea and Agona Akrofonso, wish to state on record that no family member or elder of the family has engaged in any funeral preparation and to officially come out with the arrangements for the final funeral rites of our dead relative, the late Benjamin Asonaba Dapaah," he said. Mr Kusi appealed to government to halt the final funeral rites if indeed they are preparing to do it and rather engaged the family of the deceased to avoid any problems. The second daughter of the late Asonaba Dapaa, Madam Grace Dapaa in an interview with this reporter after the presser said eight of the twelve children of the deceased had been sidelined in all processes regarding their late father's funeral. She appealed to the President to intervene in the situation and ensure the right is done. Fire incident that occurred at the on-site laboratory at Newmont Africa's Ahafo South mine on Sunday, 9th April, has been brought under control. No fatalities or injuries were recorded. We are relieved that the incident did not result in any injury or fatality to the workforce who remain our most important resource. Everyone is safe and back to work, Alex Annin, General Manager, Ahafo Mine said. He added, The regulatory authorities have visited the incident scene and have commenced Investigations. We await the results to understand the cause of the fire and determine the next steps. Safety remains our topmost priority, and we look forward to applying the lessons learnt from the investigations to avoid a repeat incidence. Source: Newmont Africa Majority of the members of the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) in the Weija-Gbawe Constituency in Accra have registered their displeasure ahead of the NPP Parliamentary Primaries. The group made up of mostly, NPP Weija-Gbawe Constituency Executives, Polling Station Executives, Ward Coordinators, are aggrieved over alleged mischievous attempts by the CEO of the Coastal Development Authority (CODA) Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib to bulldoze his way to snatch the seat from the incumbent Hon. Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah. They are therefore making a strong claim that they will fight and ensure that Lawyer Jerry Ahmed is kicked out of the Weija-Gbawe NPP since he does not belong to the constituency. The group claims that Lawyer Jerry Ahmed is using his appointment as CODA CEO to create confusion and disaffection among members in the Constituency. Led by its main Convenor, Teacher Danquah and Co-Convenor Patrick Baidoo the group was addressing a press conference on Wednesday at the Silvia Executive Lodge located at Mendskrom in MacCarthy Hill, Accra. The group stated without mincing words that the WEIJA-GBAWE constituency, since 2004 has become a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party when it was part of then Weija Constituency and has remained same from 2012 even after the Electoral Commission of Ghana carved out the current Weija-Gbawe Constituency. Teacher Danquah made it clear that Lawyer Jerry Ahmed has never contributed or committed any resources whatsoever, in any way to the welfare of Weija-Gbawe NPP. He pointed out that Weija-Gbawe is not an orphan Constituency, but a stronghold of the New Patriotic Party with a sitting Member of Parliament in the person of Hon. Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah, therefore the political strides made in the constituency cannot be toyed with. He further accused the CODA CEO of stealing development projects executed by the sitting MP Hon. Tina Naa Ayeley Mensah to make them his own. He lamented that the moves by Jerry Ahmed also undermine the NPP rules and regulations governing Parliamentary Primaries, while at the same time undermining the workings of the sitting Member of Parliament (MP) as nomination has not been opened. Lawyer Jerry Ahmed does not belong to NPP Weija-Gbawe Constituency and also does not even vote in the constituency. Article 12 of the NPP Constitution states clearly that a person can only be qualified to contest parliamentary elections on an NPP ticket if he has worked in the constituency for at least 2-years and also if the aspiring candidate has a vote in the constituency he is seeking to lead. "Ladies and gentlemen, the Concerned NPP Members in Weija-Gbawe constituency wish to call on the regional executives to call Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaibu and his cohorts to order since their actions are an affront to the dictates of the party as enshrined in the party constitution, he said. Teacher Danquah used the platform to also condemn alleged secret meetings by Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib with some party executives, coordinators and polling station executives to clandestinely work against the sitting MP. Jerry Ahmed thinks he has amassed enough wealth and has decided to channel it into a wasteful agenda to unseat Hon. Tina but it will never work. Lawyer Jerry Ahmed Shaib is not a registered voter in Weija-Gbawe Constituency and has not contributed in anyway meaningful to aid the course and growth of the party in the constituency, he posited. Touching on the electoral records of the sitting MP Hon. Tina, the group recalled that Tina holds unprecedented electoral records from 2016 to 2020. They reiterated that Hon. Tina Mensah remains the strong force whose efforts, contributions and electoral results in the constituency even frighten the main opposition NDC. Statistically in 2016, through the efforts of then parliamentary candidate, Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah, Party Executives and our members, the NPP polled a total of 36,803 votes representing 61.64% of the valid votes cast at the end of the Presidential poll for then flagbearer Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, while then President John Dramani Mahama, candidate of the NDC in same election secured 22,398 votes representing 37.51% of the valid votes cast. "On the other hand, our sitting Member of Parliament (MP), Hon. Tina Gifty Naa Ayeley Mensah who was a very formidable candidate then and still, polled 34,216 votes at the end of polls by flooring her closest contender, Madam Obuobia Darko-Opoku of the National Democratic Congress whose party was in government and had all the state apparatus at her disposal. She secured 25,087 votes representing 42.00% (a clear difference of 9,129 Parliamentary votes not to mention the upsurge in Presidential votes that contributed to the electoral fortunes of the NPP at the national level," he stated. He added that the Diabolical and detrimental political gimmicks being played by Jerry Ahmed Shaib, the CODA CEO within Weija-Gbawe Constituency must cease in the interest and common good of the NPP. This ongoing and unconventional style of politicking, we say is very despicable and breaking the unity, and peace we have enjoyed in Weija-Gbawe Constituency. 13.04.2023 LISTEN A 21-year-old driver's mate has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court for having sex with a 13-year-old girl in two different guest houses in Accra. Absalon Toboase, charged with two counts of defilement, pleaded not guilty. The court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann at the end of the trial found him guilty. The court said in sentencing Toboase, it considered the intrinsic seriousness and the gravity of the offence. According to the court, it also considered the fact that the accused person had had no brush with the law. The prosecution led by Superintendent of Police Agnes Boafo said the complainant is a trader residing at Mamprobi in Accra. She told the Court that the victim stays with the complainant. Toboase was also residing at Lapaz in Accra. The prosecution said Toboase and the victim who met on Facebook, had been friends for some time. It said about a month ago, Toboase lured the victim with a love proposal on the social media site and arranged to meet her Lapaz. The prosecution said on January 7, 2023, Toboase met the victim, took her to a guest house, had sex with her and promised to marry her. It said on the night of February 3, 2023, the victim packed some of her belongings, sneaked out of the complainant's house and went to stay with Toboase. The prosecution said the following day, the victim arrived at Lapaz and met Toboase who took her to another guest house and had sex with her for the second time. It said the complainant reported the absence of the victim from her house to the Police. At the Police Station, the prosecution said the complainant received a call from the victim who informed her that she was at Mamprobi with Toboase. It said the Police accompanied the complainant to Mamprobi and Toboase was arrested. The prosecution said a Police medical report form was given to the complainant to seek medical care for the victim. GNA 13.04.2023 LISTEN An Accra Circuit Court has granted a GHC100,00.00 bail with two sureties to a 40-year-old businessperson who allegedly forged documents to sell a vehicle he did not own. Mr Yanick Dela-Dem, the accused, was said to have forged the document covering a Mercedes Benz GL utility vehicle, sold it, and transferred ownership to the buyer. The court presided over by Mrs Evelyn Asamoah, adjourned the case to May 16, 2023. Prosecuting Police Chief Inspector Benson Benneh told the Court that, the complainant, William Hwanompe is a businessperson who resided at Manjor. Hwanompe wanted to sell his Mercedes Benz GL vehicle with registration number GE 1118-18 at the price of GHC 100,000.00. He said Dela-Dem went to Hwanompe and collected the vehicle under the pretext of showing it to a potential buyer and did not return the car. Yanick subsequently advertised the vehicle on Jiji.com, an online marketing platform. One Joseph Kwame Okyere, a witness, saw the said advertisement and expressed interest in buying the vehicle. Police Chief Inspector Benneh said Okyere later met Dela-Dem, inspected, and purchased the vehicle at the cost of GHC 65,000.00. He told the court that Dela-Dem failed to inform Hwanompe about the sale of the vehicle but fraudulently managed to retrieve the documents of the vehicle from the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority and transferred ownership to Okyere. The prosecution said Dela-Dem went into hiding after selling the vehicle. The case was reported to the Police on January 25, 2022, leading to the arrest of the buyer on December 22, 2022, and the retrieval of the vehicle for investigation. The Prosecution said, on March 31, 2023, Dela-Dem was arrested. He admitted to the offence in his cautioned statement and refunded GHC 30,000.00. Dela-Dem was charged with the offence on March 02, 2023, and put before the court. GNA 13.04.2023 LISTEN A Nigerian trader who trafficked two Nigerian women to Ghana and compelled them to engage in prostitution has been sentenced to six years imprisonment by an Accra Circuit Court. Favour Chikadia, charged with two counts of human trafficking, pleaded not guilty. The court, however, found Chikadia guilty at the end of the trial and convicted her accordingly. Handing the sentence, the court presided over by Mrs Christina Cann said it took into consideration the five months and 13 days spent by Chikadia in lawful custody and her inability to meet her bail conditions as well as her plea for leniency. According to the court, the convict had not exhibited remorse for her activities. It further ordered the convict to be deported after serving her sentence. The facts as narrated by Superintendent of Police Agnes Boafo are that the complainants, whose names had been withheld, were unemployed Nigerians. The prosecution said during the month of June 2022, Chikadia contacted the complainants, who were then in Nigeria, through an agent. It said Chikadia, through the agent, promised to find jobs with attractive salaries in Ghana for the complainants. The prosecution said the complainants became convinced and agreed to come to Ghana. On their arrival, the complainants were housed in a hostel at Kotobabi, where they were hoping to begin the work promised them. However, the prosecution said Chikadia started engaging them in prostitution. As they could no longer endure the prostitution, the complainants escaped and reported the case at the Accra Regional Police headquarters for investigations-. GNA The Importers and Exporters Association of Ghana (IEAG) and the Ghana Federation of Labour (GFL) have called for a re-engagement on the recently passed revenue bills before the President's assent. Just before its recession, Parliament passed three new revenue taxes; Excise Duty Amendment Bill 2022, the Growth and Sustainability Levy Bill 2022, and the Income Tax Amendment Bill 2022, which is currently awaiting presidential assent for its implementation. The IEAG and the GFL have however called on the President not to assent to the bill as it was against the interests of the growth of businesses, both manufacturers and importers. Mr Samson Asaki Awingobit, the Executive Secretary of the IEAG, and Mr Abraham Koomson, Secretary General of the GFL, were speaking respectively on the topics, Perspective of Importers and Exporters on the three newly approved taxes, and What makes the three new taxes bad from the perspective of organised labour. They said this when they appeared on the Ghana News Agency-Tema Industrial News Hub Boardroom discussions, which provides the platform for both state and non-state organisations to deliberate on national topic issues. Mr Awingobit said, We want to engage the President, this is the only tax bill that collectively all business organisations have come together to oppose, therefore the President must take it seriously. He said should the President go ahead and sign, the business community would meet and decide the way forward and what actions to take, as implementing the bills would lead to suffering for businesses, government revenue, and the public. Mr Koomson, for his part, said since the government did not engage the unions and businesses before pushing for the passage of the bill, it would not even rake in a quarter of the projected annual revenue of GHS 4 billion it hopes to collect. He said it was not too late for the President to hold on to the assent, as doing so against the will of the people would backfire and not benefit the economy. He described it as unfortunate that the Members of Parliament passed the bill even though they petitioned them on the consequences of such taxes, reiterating that it would lead to the folding up of many companies and the redundancy of workers who were members of labour unions such as the GFL. According to him, already workers were being laid off and businesses were folding up due to the unfavourable economic situation in Ghana, therefore adding all three would compound issues. GNA Despite this vast abundance of water on our planet, there are between two and three billion people worldwide experiencing water shortages. According to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and UN-Water. Globally, 2 billion people (26% of the population) do not have safe drinking water and 3.6 billion (46%) lack access to safely managed sanitation, according to the report, published by UNESCO on behalf of UN-Water and released today at the UN 2023 Water Conference in New York. These shortages will worsen in the coming decades, especially in cities, if international cooperation in this area is not boosted, warn UNESCO and UN-Water in the latest edition of the UN World Water Development Report. The report has it that between two and three billion people experience water shortages for at least one month per year, posing severe risks to livelihoods, notably through food security and access to electricity. The global urban population facing water scarcity is projected to double from 930 million in 2016 to 1.72.4 billion people in 2050. The growing incidence of extreme and prolonged droughts is also stressing ecosystems, with dire consequences for both plant and animal species. The data above tell just one thing and that is there is an urgent need for policymakers and implementers across the globe to come together to establish strong international mechanisms to prevent the global water crisis from spiraling out of control. Water is our common future and it is essential to act together to share it equitably and manage it sustainably. The UNESCO Director-General, Audrey Azoulay. It didnt come to me as a surprise when the United Nations announced its intention to hold the UN Water Conference due to the imminent risk of a global water crisis. The 2023 UN Water Conference which took place in New York on 22-24 March, co-hosted by the Netherlands and Tajikistan was the first time in almost five decades. The first UN Water Conference was held in Argentina in 1977, the Earths population has doubled to 8 billion people and demand for water is skyrocketing. The UN 2023 Water Conference is, as the UN says, the most important water event in a generation. There is much to do and time is not on our side. This report shows our ambition and we must now come together and accelerate action. This is our moment to make a difference. Says Gilbert F. Houngbo, Chair of UN-Water and Director-General of the International Labour Organization There is no doubt that nearly every water-related intervention involves some kind of cooperation. Growing crops require shared irrigation systems among farmers. Providing safe and affordable water to cities and rural areas is only possible through communal management of water supply and sanitation systems. And cooperation between these urban and rural communities is essential to maintaining both food security and upholding farmer incomes. Managing rivers and aquifers crossing international borders makes matters all the more complex. While cooperation over transboundary basins and aquifers has been shown to deliver many benefits beyond water security, including opening additional diplomatic channels, only six (6) of the worlds 468 internationally shared aquifers are subject to a formal cooperative agreement. On this World Water Day, the United Nations calls for boosting international cooperation over how water is used and managed. This is the only way to prevent a global water crisis in the coming decades. According to the UN. Partnerships and peoples participation increase benefits Environmental services, such as pollution control and biodiversity, are among the shared benefits most often highlighted in the report, along with data/information-sharing and co-financing opportunities. For example, water funds are financing schemes that bring together downstream users, like cities, businesses, and utilities, to collectively invest in upstream habitat protection and agricultural land management to improve overall water quality and/or quantity. Mexicos Monterrey Water Fund, launched in 2013, has maintained water quality, reduced flooding, improved infiltration, and rehabilitated natural habitats through co-financing. The success of similar approaches in Sub-Saharan Africa, including the Tana-Nairobi river watershed, which supplies 95% of Nairobis freshwater and 50% of Kenyas electricity, illustrates the global potential of such partnerships. Inclusive stakeholder participation also promotes buy-in and ownership. Involving the end-users in planning and implementing water systems creates services that better match the needs and resources of poor communities, and increases public acceptance and ownership. It also fosters accountability and transparency. In displacement camps in the Gedo region of Somalia, residents elect water committees that operate and maintain the water points that supply tens of thousands of people. Committee members partner with local water authorities of the host communities to share and manage water resources. The United Nations World Water Development Report. Ghanas water situation Even though UNICEFs data available points to the fact that access to water in Ghana has improved significantly, one person out of every ten has to spend more than 30 minutes to access an improved source of drinking water. Another 11 percent of the population, still drink from the surface and other unsafe water sources. For instance, in northern Ghana where the harsh weather condition dries up many water sources, residents are compelled to walk many miles in search of water. 28 percent of Ghanas current population lives in areas with scarce water, and this number is projected to rise to 48 percent by 2030. And like someone who sits by the riverside yet washes his hands with saliva, Ghana is now tasty in the abundance of water. This is because almost all the river bodies in the country have dried up or turned into something else. The Akims in the Eastern Region of Ghana used to boast of the popular Bremu River and were proud to beat their chest as they sang its praises with a popular local accolade, Akyinkwaa nana a onom bremu meaning, a proud native of Akim who drinks directly from the famous Bremu River. Again, people of Techiman in the Bono East Region of Ghana. also boasted about the Tano River while the people of Kwahu in the Eastern Region also had the famous Pra River as their pride. In fact, one cannot mention popular rivers in Ghana and leave out famous rivers like the Ankobra River, Ofin River, Birim River, Ayensu River, Densu River, and Afram River among others. Regrettably, almost all these rivers have lost their pride. Today, residents of areas where these rivers are located who had an abundance of water are hit with an acute water shortage, because we have destroyed these very same rivers which quench our thirst. It is about time we put on our thinking cap and note that what goes around comes around so destroying our water and river bodies means destroying our own livelihoods. Ghana recently joined the rest of the globe to mark the 2023 World Water Day which seeks to accelerate change to solve the water and sanitation crisis threatening humanity. And because water affects us all, we need everyone to take action. You and your family, school, business, and community can make a difference by changing the way you use, consume, and manage water. Article by: Franklin ASARE-DONKOH, National Organiser, Ghana WASH Journalists Network According to the Bank of Ghana and Finance Ministry available data, In the quest for seeking sanity in the banking sector during the 2017 banking crisis cost the state at least GHS25 billion and 420 banking and non-banking, and financial and non-financial got their class 1 license revoked. Having explicit deposit insurance in place could have saved depositors' funds and employment. Out of curiosity, I assessed and examined the Deposit insurance database developed by ( Asli Demirguc-Kunt, Luc Laeven,& Edward Kane, 2014 ) to analyze how many African countries have in place deposit insurance schemes to safeguard it banking and financial systems. The database is the compilation of deposit insurance releases around the world dated 2003,2010 and 2013. Explicit deposit insurance schemes typically insure deposits up to a statutory coverage limit. I discovered that Ghana as a beacon of African democracy does not have in place explicit deposit Insurance. The data shows that, only four African countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda & Tanzania) has explicit deposit insurance with coverage limit/GDP per capita (%) as of 2013. Coverage limit including government guarantee and with the current exchange rate equivalent are, Nigeria NGN500,000 (US$1,086), Kenya KES100,000 (US$748.33), Uganda UGX3,000,000 (US$797.37) and Tanzania TZS1,500,000(US$641.42) and this is not enough for protection against both domestic and external crisis. Highlighting on few empirical evidences on the relevance of explicit deposit insurance, bank stability and corporate governance. Abdallah and Ismail (2017) find a positive relationship between corporate governance and firm Performance. Weak corporate governance is one of the problems that facilitated the crisis and theres a need to tighten regulation on ownership structure by BoG. Laeven and Levine (2009:273) show that bank risk does not rise in response to deposit insurance when the bank is widely held. Gropp and Vesala (2004) show that the adoption of deposit insurance is associated with lower bank risk in the European Union. Chernykh and Cole (2011) also document that the adoption of deposit insurance in Russia is associated with better financial intermediation. Karels and McClatchey (1999) find stabilization effects from the adoption of deposit insurance for US credit unions. The benefits of the adoption and implementation of Explicit Deposit Insurance would outweigh the cost in the crisis period. Of course there are critics of deposit insurance, some argue that the government may lack the resources, information or incentives to correctly assess bank risk and charge deposit insurance premium accordingly. Lack of resources for effective operations of the GHANA DEPOSIT PROTECTION ACT, 2016 (ACT 931) as amended (AMENDMENT) ACT, 2018 (ACT 968)1, might be the case Ghana finds herself. However, we should capitalized more on the general benefits of the financial safety net ( Explicit Deposit Insurance) from the perspective of cost and benefit analysis in both scenario (stable and unstable) in domestic and global financial systems. The negative impact of the banking crisis, Data from iwatch Africa states over 6, 000 direct jobs were lost accompanying a loss of over GHS20billion taxpayer monies against BoG claims that 70% of jobs of the affected banks were saved. The banking clean-up had affected a lot of households' ability to feed, provision of shelter for families, rent etc, and it is very important we put in place measures such as explicit deposit insurance with good statutory limit, coverage including government guarantee, coverage limit/ GDP per capita, effective functioning of the schemes, and BoG ensuring effective monitoring and supervisory of banks within the remit of modern scientific and empirical-based models especially risk-taking levels and risk management. In a nutshell, we have come to a point in life, where a country and African continent must accept the fact humanity dwells on science, learning from the best practices and systems is key, and this has been the approach of the Western world which ought to be emulated. Therefore, it is prudent we tailored investment on scientific research on reoccurring social problems that affects the daily bread of the ordinary Ghanaian and Africans in general and in specific areas in the event of a bank/firm failure. It is very disturbing Ghana has not yet embraced explicit deposit insurance schemes in the banking sector. Although, there is formal assented legislation in 2016 on Deposit Protection Act and amended in 2018 but its effective implementation is lacking. The question is, if explicit deposit insurance is not good measure, would the USA and EU be reviewing their schemes during crisis, in the 2008 global financial crisis the US FDIC upward adjusted the deposit insurance statutory limit from US$100,000 to US$250,000 , currently, the US Treasury and Congress is considering lifting the FDIC cap from 250,0000 amidst the failure Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank. The few African countries (Nigeria, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania ) that have explicit insurance also do not have enough coverage to protect depositors and investors when banks fail. How are we protecting our banking and financial systems? Key: Bank of Ghana(BoG), European Union ( EU), Gross Domestic Product (GDP), Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation(FDIC). Produced by: Mr. Evans DARKO, Doctoral Researcher, CREM LAB, France. Does current Ghana's president, Akufo Addo, enjoy violence? Does he genuinely care about the poor's human rights? I am inspired to write this article today for my column "A mixture of periodicals" by these two questions. Although I cannot accuse the president of having hidden violent tendencies, I have chosen a few past occurrences to discuss for the readers' consideration since I am not impressed with the president, due to his disrespect for and inhumane treatment of ordinary Ghanaians. The first Ghanaian president, Dr. Kwame Nkrumah, had it very tough during his era before he died in exile. It is well documented that he survived at least, four assassination attempts on his life and is also among the Big Six, known to have fought for Ghana's independence from Britain, Edward Akufo Addo, the father of the current president of Ghana, Akufo Addo, was the rebellious one among them, who caused Kwame Nkrumah the most trouble, forcing him to sever ties with Edward Akufo Addo. Every Ghanaian government, whether democratic or military, has problems, but this one under Akufo Addo has been different. The extent of corruption, inefficiency, the appointment of the president's relative as finance minister, persistent violations of human rights, and widespread crime committed with impunity all contributed significantly to the collapse of Ghana's entire infrastructure, including the nation's steady economy before the NDC government lost the 2016 election. Evelyn Aidoo, a Ghanaian-Canadian registered nurse known on social media as Serwaa Broni, is a victim of Akufo Addo's underlying propensity for violence. The Akufo Addo government has failed horribly since it was unable to keep the pledges and promises it made to the populace, but it still intends to hold onto power, since the government's primary priority is breaking the eighth cycle. On two consecutive occasions, the president promised to use all measures in his power to hand over power to the NPP in 2024 and to make the point obvious to Ghanaians, he sent Bryan Acheampong to make such a treacherous remark. The NPP politician asserted that "the party will never hand power to the NDC." Why does it matter so much if Bryan Acheampong makes such a foolish declaration that might easily lead to violence? Akufo Addo was declared the winner of the 2020 presidential election by Jean Mensa, the head of the Electoral Commission, however, this was fraudulent conduct. Despite her claims that the election was free and fair, she declined to testify before the public to explain to Ghanaians the provided numbers they found it difficult to comprehend because Chief Justice Kwasi Anin-Yeboah, who was appointed by Akufo Addo, advised her not to. Yet, when Ken Agyapong disclosed recently that individuals had been brought in from Niger to boost support for the NPP, she was, nonetheless, unable to challenge him. Thanks to Kevin Taylor, host of "Loud Silence TV," who painstakingly exposed Bryan Acheampong and presented information revealing the president's long-standing plan to use violence to rig the 2024 elections and why the president recently appointed Bryan Acheampong as the Agricultural minister. The real reason Mr. Acheampong made such a trivial statement is that Akufo Addo had previously used him as a tool to murder innocent Ghanaians. Kevin Taylor even played an old video of Mr. Acheampong boasting that the president relies on him because he is competent. Dangerous Akufo Addo hides his atrocities behind a fictitious democratic government and the bible. He has a history of involvement in violent crimes around the nation. Apart from the confession of the killer who implicated the president in the murder of NPP politician J. B. Danquah-Edu, to prevent any proof that may reveal his affair with Serwaa Broni, a Ghanaian-Canadian nurse, the president dispatched the NPP security force, including Hopeson Adorye, to follow the woman at gunpoint. The horrified victim shared her painful experience with to Kevin Taylor in an interview. It was under the same government, the investigative journalist, Ahmed Hussein-Suale was brutally murdered. Any president with common sense who abhors violence would condemn these murders, including the Asawase killings of seven men but Akufo Addo chose not to. The issue is that, in addition to the pervasive corruption that has destroyed the country, there is also a serious crime occurring within the NPP government, but most Ghanaian journalists are afraid of Akufo Addo and refuse to express their opinions or write about them. Unfortunately, those who are prepared to fight for the country are still subject to verbal attacks and death threats. If you believe you are a qualified journalist, why do you fear dying? Unless you are merely living to feed your stomach. The Arab Spring, the wave of pro-democracy rallies and upheavals that began in the Middle East and North Africa in 2010 and 2011, was another occurrence about which Akufo Addo, frustrated in his bid to become president spoke. He portrayed John Mahama's leadership as a burden and suffering, and, therefore, man would have easily set himself on fire. The command to pursue Serwaa Broni with a gun and this Arab Spring narration, are two pieces of evidence sufficient to establish Akufo Addo's violent nature. Why, at such a mature age, does a president have a hidden penchant for violence is the question? Akufo Addo is conscious of his shortcomings before his political party and the people of Ghana. He is also aware that, in addition to being corrupt and incompetent, the majority of Ghanaians have entirely rejected him, making him the worst president in the nation's political history. He knew he would lose the 2024 elections; therefore, he wants to use violence to seize and transfer power to the NPP party. Akufo Addo wants to avoid being held responsible if the NPP loses the 2024 elections because he knows he cant live with that for the rest of his life but what surprises me is that there are consistently foolish politicians behind him who never consider the shame that awaits them like Hopeson Adorye due to greed and a fear of losing power. NPP politicians, including Richard Ahiagbah, Justin Kodua, Bryan Acheampong, and Akufo Addo, find it challenging to accept responsibility for the widespread corruption and incompetence; as a result, they have been blaming COVID and the Russian-Ukrainian crisis. What aggravates me, though, is that they never mention the sizeable amount of the COVID money that was embezzled, even though their theft had a considerable negative impact on Ghana's economy. In my opinion, Akufo Addo loves violence and this is how he has acted recklessly while hiding his propensity violent nature. The prosecution has asked for up to six years in prison for some of the 11 alleged members of the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK) on trial in Paris, accused of extortion and financing terrorism. In court Wednesday, anti-terrorism prosecutor Xavier Laurent asked for between three years of suspended sentence to six years in prison for the 11 alleged PKK members on trial most of whom are Kurds from Turkey who have all denied membership in the group, which has long fought Turkey for greater autonomy for the Kurdish minority, and which the European Union, the United States and Turkey have labelled a terrorist organisation. Laurent did not ask for the deportation or ban from France of any of the defendants, which is common in terrorist-related cases a sign of the complexity of this trial, as many of the men received asylum in France and the danger they face in Turkey has been proven. However, the prosecutor said he was not convinced by the dissuasive measure of the potential sentences, given the degree of engagement of most of the defendants. Since the start of the trial, the defense has questioned calling the PKK a terrorist organisation, and it has argued that the PKK has no presence in France. But investigators believe that France, and some EU neighbours, serves as a staging ground for the group. Questioning terrorist label The defense has denounced what it has called France's ambiguity towards the Kurds, who it says are allies when they fight the Islamic State armed group in Syria, but are terrorists when they fight Turkey. Laurent insisted the trial was not about determining who is the good guy and who is the bad, it's about the law. He reminded the court that while Turkey may have committed crimes against the Kurdish people, the PKK continues to use means that are always those of a terrorist organisation. The defendants, who are accused of strong-armed recruitment tactics and harassment and extortion in the collection of a form of community tax known as "kampanya" that funds the PKK, denied being members of the PKK, all while expressing their sympathy for the group. They have denied the accusations of extortion, even in the face of extensive testimony and phone taps of members of the Kurdish diaspora in France. The trial continues Thursday with the defense presenting its case. (with AFP) The US Department of State has released its 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ghana. Parts of the report note that while the Constitution of Ghana prohibits inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment, and other related abuses, there were credible reports police beat and otherwise abused detained suspects and other citizens. While the report found out that victims were often reluctant to file formal complaints, it also uncovered that the Police generally denied allegations or claimed the level of force used was justified. In the report, the Ghana Police Service is accused of impunity as well as bribery and allegation offenses. Impunity remained a significant problem in the Ghana Police Service, particularly regarding corruption and bribery. The investigation and complaints processes did not effectively address reports of abuses and bribery. Results of internal police investigations were almost never publicly released. Corruption, brutality, uneven training, lack of oversight, and an overburdened judicial system contributed to police impunity, the report said. In addition, the report said the Police often failed to respond to reports of crimes. It said in many instances, police did not respond to complaints unless members of the public paid for police transportation and other operating expenses. Meanwhile, the report acknowledged that the Office of the Inspector General of Police and the Police Professional Standards Board investigated claims of excessive force by police force members. Read the full US Department of State 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ghana below: [Full text] US Department of State releases 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ghana 13.04.2023 LISTEN The US Department of State has released its 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ghana. A section of the report focuses on corruption and lack of transparency in government. In that section, the report said although Ghana had laws to deal with corruption, government officials frequently engage in corrupt practices with impunity. In the report, the US Department of State noted that there were numerous reports of government corruption. The law provides criminal penalties for corruption by government officials, but the government did not implement the law effectively, and officials frequently engaged in corrupt practices with impunity. There were numerous reports of government corruption. Corruption was present in all sectors of government, according to media and NGOs, including recruitment into the security services, part of the report said. The US Department of State 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ghana further cited a July report by the Ghana Integrity of Public Services Survey that revealed widespread corruption and waste of public funds. The report concluded that corrupt practices resulted in more than five billion cedis ($346 million) of financial mismanagement, including misapplication and misappropriation of funds, theft, and procurement mismanagement. Read the full US Department of State 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ghana below: Read More: [Full text] US Department of State releases 2022 Country Report on Human Rights Practices in Ghana The 2023 edition of the Jubilee House Iftar has been held in Accra with a host of dignitaries from diverse religious backgrounds present. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on behalf of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo , led the government guest list, which included Ministers of State and senior officials at the Presidency, to welcome the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and the leadership of the Muslim Community. Also present were MPs, Members of the Council of State, the Diplomatic Corps and some members of the clergy, who led a fair number of Christians present. The Iftar is the traditional evening meal to break the Ramadan fast, and it is normally held in groups to bring people, families and communities together. Many countries around the world organise Iftars at their respective seats of governments during Ramadan. In Ghana, the Jubilee House Iftar was introduced by the Akufo-Addo government in 2017, and it has since been held every year, except in 2020 due to Covid-19. Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Bawumia said the institution of the Iftar has enabled government to further its engagements with religious groups for harmony. The historic institution of the Jubilee House Iftar, after we assumed office in 2017, reflects its importance, and the significance our government attaches to our engagements with religious groups, in our quest to promote harmony among our people, Dr. Bawumia said. He added: The month of Ramadan is a period of devotion, sacrifice and togetherness, and the Iftar, as we all know, is a time during the Ramadan, which defines the essence of unity, as we have all gathered here from diverse backgrounds, including our Christian brothers, for a meal to break the days fast and also pray for our nation Ghana. A former Chairman of Christ Apostolic Church International, Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani, reflected on the beautiful relationship between Muslims and Christians in the country, and commended the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for providing leadership which has greatly contributed to the harmonious relationship. Both the National Chief Imam and Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani said separate prayers for the country. 3news.com A keenly-watched malaria vaccine from Oxford University has secured its first approval in Ghana, as the country ramps up efforts to combat the mosquito-borne disease that kills a child every minute. The effort is one of several focused on addressing the disease that kills over 600,000 each year, most of them children in Africa. The complicated structure and lifecycle of the malaria parasite has long stymied efforts to develop vaccines. After decades of work, the first malaria vaccine, Mosquirix from British drugmaker GSK, was last year endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO), but a lack of funding and commercial potential has thwarted the companys capacity to produce as many doses as needed. The Oxford vaccine, which has secured regulatory approval in the age group at highest risk of death from malaria children aged 5 months to 36 months has a manufacturing advantage thanks to a deal with Serum Institute of India to produce up to 200 million doses annually. In contrast, GSK has committed to produce up to 15 million doses of Mosquirix every year through 2028, well under the roughly 100 million doses a year of the four-dose vaccine the WHO says is needed long-term to cover around 25 million children. Mid-stage data from the Oxford vaccine trial involving more than 400 young children was published in a medical journal in September. Vaccine effectiveness was 80% in the group that received a higher dose of the immune-boosting adjuvant component of the vaccine, and 70% in the lower-dose adjuvant group, at 12 months following the fourth dose. The doses were administered ahead of the peak malaria season in Burkina Faso. Data from an ongoing phase III clinical trial in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania that has enrolled 4,800 children is expected to be published in a medical journal in the coming months. However, late-stage data which suggests a similar vaccine performance as in the phase II trial has been shared with regulatory authorities over the last six months, Oxford scientist Adrian Hill said. Childhood vaccines in Africa are typically paid for by international organisations such as Gavi and UNICEF after they have been backed by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This is the first time a major vaccine has been approved first in an African country, before rich nations, Hill added, noting that it was unusual that a regulatory authority in Africa had reviewed the data quicker than the WHO. Particularly since COVID, African regulators have been taking a much more proactive stance, theyve been sayingwe dont want to be last in the queue. Source: Reuters Youth and Civil Society Leaders have called for adequate funding for the National Centre for Civic Education (NCCE) and the Department of Social Welfare. The youth have pointed out that the NCCE and the Department of Social Welfare are legally responsible for educating and providing support to streetism, but they lack the necessary resources to do so. The young activists also highlighted in their petition that foreign nationals are exploiting the country's lenient laws to bring children into the cities to beg for alms. They emphasized that the situation requires immediate action from the government. The youth are asking for immediate bylaws in the Tamale Metropolis where streetism is on the rise to stop parents from making their children work on the streets. According to the group, about 90,000 children are living on the streets, denying them access to education and a decent life. They believe that majority of these street children are from the north where poverty is high. The group delivered their petition to the Mayor of Tamale, Sule Salifu, at a forum organized by the Centre for Development and Policy Advocacy (CEDEPA) Ghana to mark International Day for Street Children in the Northern Regional capital. During the forum, the Executive Director of CEDEPA Ghana, Mr. Ziblim Alhassan, expressed his concern about the state of streetism in the Northern Region. He emphasized that urgent action is needed from the government and other civil society organizations to address the problem. Mr. Ziblim backed the youth's claim that foreign nationals are bringing children from their countries to beg on the streets of cities. He believes that these actions not only violate children's rights but also pose a threat to the security of the country. The Director of CEDEPA called on the government to implement effective policies that would deter foreigners from engaging in such illegal activities within the country. Commendations The Northern Regional Director of NCCE, Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu, praised the youth for the petition to the President, noting that it is a step in the right direction. Alhaji Mohammed Aliyu also highlighted the potential danger of extremists entering the country through the activities of vulnerable street children. He encouraged the youth to become change ambassadors in their communities and educational institutions regarding streetism. She stressed that ending this problem requires collective efforts from all stakeholders. He applauded the efforts of Cedepa and its partners in their efforts to combat streetism in the country. Hajia Fati Seidu, the Executive Director of Sung Foundation, delivered a solidarity speech on behalf of the Coalition of Non-governmental Organizations Against Streetism (CONAS). She joined the youth activists in urging urgent action to end streetism in the Tamale metropolis. She however, emphasized the importance of young people being respectful towards the elderly and taking responsibility for their actions. Hajia Fati Seidu also highlighted that the youth are the future leaders of the community, but they can only fulfill this role by taking their education seriously and avoiding behaviors that may lead them astray. International Day for Street Children The International Day for Street Children is a global awareness day observed annually on April 12th. The day aims to raise awareness about the plight of street children and advocate for their rights. It also celebrates the resilience and strength of street children and promotes the need for their protection and support. The day was first celebrated in 2012 and has since been recognized by various organizations and individuals around the world. Defendants at the 2016 Brussels attacks trial have described the anger they felt at the bombing of Islamic State positions in Syria and Iraq by the international coalition, saying that anger motivated them to strike back. The nine defendants are being tried in connection with the 22 March 2016 suicide bomb attacks that killed 32 people at Brussels airport and the city's metro. The Islamic State jihadist group claimed responsability for the bombings. Investigators believe the terrorist cell behind the attacks was linked to the group that carried out the November 2015 Paris attacks, which left 130 dead. Sofien Ayari, already sentenced to 30 years in jail over the Paris attacks, went to fight with IS in 2014 before being wounded and hospitalised in the Syrian city of Raqqa. 'Hatred and incomprehension' "What I experienced in Raqqa was not a war, it was something else, it was bombs falling on men, women, children," the 29-year-old Tunisian told the court. "It was a tipping point for me. I had never felt such hatred, such incomprehension. I was mad with rage." He claimed Western leaders showed "no consideration for human lives" in IS territory. "I have the impression that only one side is being condemned," he said. Ayari fled after the Paris attacks but was detained in the Belgian capital just before the Brussels bombings. "When I see people suffering, of course it doesn't make me happy," he said of the victims of the Brussels attacks. "Today I am not at peace with everything." Paris attacks terrorist Abdeslam condemns West's 'disastrous decisions' Co-defendant Salah Abdeslam, the sole surviving member of the unit that carried out the Paris attacks, linked his actions to "disastrous decisions" taken by the heads of the anti-IS coalition. Like Ayari, Abdeslam was in custody on the day of the Brussels attacks and denies being involved. "The pilots of the planes over Raqqa and Mosul will never find themselves in the dock to answer for their abominable acts, they have been rewarded," said the 33-year-old Frenchman, who never set foot in Syria. He said "the wave of attacks in the West was not carried out to raise the black flags of IS on European territory, but in response to the bombings". Another suspect Bilal El Makhoukhi a 34-year-old Belgian-Moroccan former IS fighter said that in Syria he had spent "the best moments of his life, even if it was hard". "I felt more alive there than here. I felt I was serving a purpose," he said. The questioning of the defendants is set to continue until late Thursday. (with wires) Veteran journalist Kweku Baako Jnr. has slammed the National Democratic Congress (NDC) for asking the police CID to arrest Bryan Acheampong, Minister for Food and Agriculture, over comments he made at a party gathering. Acheampong allegedly told NPP supporters at Mpraeso that the party would not hand over power to the opposition NDC. He also warned against any act of violence and harassment employed by the NDC in the upcoming 2024 elections. It will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC," the Minister said. Meanwhile, the NDC had petitioned the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to arrest and prosecute Acheampong for what it described as treasonable comments. However, speaking on the "Kokrokoo" program on Peace FM and monitored by ModernGhana, Mr Baako described the NDC's petition as "laughable and comical." "Those inviting the Police for investigations and possible charges and so forth, the whole thing is laughable and comical," he stated. According to him, Bryan Acheampong did not explicitly state that the NPP would refuse to hand over power if the Electoral Commission declares the opposition winner of the 2024 elections. "That was key. I was looking for that. I was actually looking for that but it wasn't there. It was missing. It was missing because it wasn't said. "Anything outside the constitutional framework is potentially treasonable. So, I don't get the understanding that Bryan Acheampong was saying 'come what may if we lose the elections, we won't hand over'," he stressed. He indicated that Bryan Acheampong's comments only seek to suggest that if the party is able to address the challenges and difficulties facing the country NPP's chances of 'breaking the 8' will improve. ...rather I could hear him suggesting that if we address our challenges and difficulties in such a manner, it will enhance our chances. That's my understanding, Kweku Baako intimated. The controversy over Acheampong's comments has further heightened the political tension in Ghana ahead of the 2024 elections. The majority of Ghanaian floating voters are not in support of how President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo is governing the country. A findings of a survey conducted by Global InfoAnalytics has revealed. In the findings of the new national poll released by Global InfoAnalytics for the month of April 2023, it said 71% of voters believed Ghana is headed in the wrong direction under Akufo-Addo. The breakdown of the findings revealed that 15 percent of floating voters approved of President Akufo-Addos performance compared to 77 percent who disapproved of his performance. The poll said in general, 65 percent of voters disapprove of his performance, up from 59 percent in January, while 29 percent approve of his performance, down from 32 percent. While 58 percent of NPP supporters approve of the presidents performance, 38 percent disapprove. For supporters of the National Democratic Congress (NDC) engaged, the poll uncovered that 11 percent approved his job performance whilst 86 percent disapproved his performance. The April 2023 release from Global InfoAnalytics also has interesting information on the upcoming flagbearer election of the two largest political parties in the country. While the findings revealed that John Dramani Mahama will win the NDC flagbearer election with a very huge gap, the case was different for the NPP. It indicates that the NPP primaries will be a three-horse race. Although Alan Kyerematen and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia appear to be the frontrunners, the survey said Kennedy Agyapong has closed in on the two and could pull off a surprise. Tunisia's coastguard said Thursday 24 people had died in a shipwreck carrying sub-Saharan African migrants, a group that complains of not feeling safe since the country's president delivered an incendiary speech against them. The coastguard announced on Wednesday that it had recovered 10 bodies after the shipwreck the day before off the North African coastal city of Sfax. On Thursday, it said 14 more bodies of migrants were discovered, including six women, as well as the body of the boat's Tunisian captain. Faouzi Masmoudi, the spokesman for the court of Sfax which is investigating the tragedy, said the 15 bodies had been trapped under the boat. The spokesman for the National Guard also announced Thursday that 41 Tunisian migrants, including five women and nine children, had been "rescued" off the coast of Sousse. Tunisia's coastguard said last week it had intercepted over 14,000 migrants trying to reach Europe from January to March, more than five times the number of those who attempted the trip in the first quarter of 2022. Dozens of migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan Africa, have drowned off Tunisia in recent weeks, in desperate attempts to reach Europe. 'Respect us as human' Departures have spiked since President Kais Saied in February delivered a speech against them, sparking a wave of violence and evictions. Map of Tunisia locating the city Sfax, where a boat of migrants sank off the coast. By Sylvie HUSSON (AFP) Saied accused "hordes" of illegal immigrants of causing a crime wave and being part of a "plot" to change Tunisia's demographic make-up. Hundreds of migrants, including children and pregnant women, were made homeless and many faced violence in the days that followed. Many have been sleeping rough outside United Nations offices in the capital Tunis. Tunisian police used tear gas on Tuesday to disperse homeless migrants who had blocked the entrance to the UN refugee agency UNHCR to demand evacuation to "any other safe country that will accept and respect us as human". On Thursday, two rights groups held a press conference in Tunis to demand a safe place for them to stay. "The urgent thing is to protect these people. They must be put in a safe place, especially the women and children," said Zeineb Mrouki of Lawyers Without Borders (ASF). "They need emergency accommodation, and they have a lot of health issues that need to be taken care of." Tunisia, whose coastline is less than 150 kilometres (90 miles) from the Italian island of Lampedusa, has long been a favoured spot for migrants attempting the journey. 'Lives are at stake' The UN rights chief Volker Turk voiced alarm on Thursday over the "precarious" situation of asylum seekers and migrants attempting to cross the central Mediterranean, the world's deadliest migration route. "We are seeing a steep increase in the number of desperate people putting their lives at grave risk," he said in a statement. Since 2014 over 26,000 people have died or gone missing crossing the Mediterranean, including over 20,000 along the central Mediterranean route alone, it said. "We cannot afford to dither, and to become embroiled in yet another debate about who is responsible. Human lives are at stake," Turk said. Romdhane Ben Amor of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES) called on authorities to allow aid organisations and citizens to help the migrants, after a volunteer who tried to deliver food was arrested. Police are using a law which "criminalises any form of assistance to people in an irregular situation", he said. The European Space Agency decided to postpone the launch of its Juice mission to Jupiter to Friday because of unfavourable weather conditions at the South American launchsite in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch of the Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer or Juice was called off Thursday, just minutes before the Ariane 5 rocket was to take off from the European space port in Kourou, French Guiana. Launch directors said weather, notably a risk of lightening, would have put the mission at risk. The mission was rescheduled for Friday, 9:14 am local (12:14 pm GMT). The unmanned spacecraft will be launched towards the east, and will head into the atmosphere before making contact with receivers near Australia once it is clear of the Earth's atmosphere. Juice will take eight years to reach Jupiter, where it will survey the planet and inspect the frozen oceans on three of its moons for evidence of extraterrestrial life. The launch will mark the penultimate use ot the Ariane 5 rocket before it is replaced by the Ariane 6, whose deployment has been repeatedly delayed. The mission will mark the first time Europe has sent a spacecraft into the outer Solar System, beyond Mars. The launch of the 1.6 billion-euro mission comes during a crisis for European space efforts, after Russia stopped supplying Soyuz rockets in response to sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Combined with delays to the next generation Ariane 6 rockets and the failure of Vega-C's first commercial flight last year, Europe is struggling to launch space missions. 13.04.2023 LISTEN Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) has confiscated some herbal and orthodox pharmaceuticals worth GH700,000 at Alabar in Kumasi in the Ashanti Region. Officials of the FDA also arrested the merchant, a 35-year-old woman. The exercise is part of the FDAs crackdown on illicit pharmaceuticals and Alabar is a hotbed of the illicit trade in the Ashanti Region. The regional head of the FDA, Mr John Laryea Oddai Tettey, told journalists during the exercise in the company of the police: This one was seized from a single shop at Alabar, and we have a number of them out there as was seen in our exercise last week, and we are currently collaborating with the police to ensure that products that are not registered will be gotten rid of. The advice to consumers is to get a proper diagnosis and visit the hospital and get a prescription and buy from licensed shops, and you are not to buy medicines like toffees. You dont buy medicine that is being hawked because, in case of anything, it is difficult to trace and apprehend the culprits. 13.04.2023 LISTEN A Pediatrician at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital has said scientists are working progressively to find a permanent cure for haemophilia, a bleeding disorder, Dr Yaa Gyamfuah Oppong-Mensah. She noted that with an injury or surgery, affected individuals can bleed spontaneously, or excessively. Studies in both animals and humans have provided evidence that a permanent cure for haemophilia is within reach. Gene therapy which has a curative intent is currently under development and trials in the Western world, Dr Oppong-Mensah said. Notwithstanding, she said the current standard of care for haemophilia in the country was to control or prevent bleeding episodes through factor replacement therapy, given by regular intravenous (IV) infusions. Dr Opppng-Mensah said the KATH and the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital offered comprehensive care to patients with bleeding disorders to improve their quality of life. She said the earliest symptoms usually occurred after birth; bleeding from the cord, scalp swelling, and most importantly, prolonged bleeding after circumcision. An individual's blood does not clot properly due to insufficient blood-clotting proteins (clotting factor) that help stop bleeding, Dr Oppong-Mensah, also a member of the Ghana Hemophilia Society told the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in an interview to mark this year's World Hemophilia Day (WHD). The WHD is an international observance day held annually on April 17 and instituted by the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) and the 2023 celebration is on the theme access for all: prevention of bleeds as the global standard of care. Dr Oppong-Mensah said with the support of the Ghana Hemophilia Society other satellite centres had been established Sunyani Regional Hospital, Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital, Sefwi Wiawso Municipal Hospital, Tamale Teaching Hospital and Cape Coast Teaching Hospital. The disease is caused by a mutation in a gene that sits on the X chromosome. Males have one X and one Y chromosome (XY), and females have two X chromosomes (XX). Hence males are affected when they inherit a chromosome from their mothers. The disease consequently affects more males than females, as males have only one X chromosome. A female carrying the defect on one of her X chromosomes may not be affected by it, she stated. Dr Oppong-Mensah added that a carrier mother has a 50 per cent chance of passing the faulty X-chromosome to her daughter, while an affected father will always pass on the affected gene to his daughters. A son cannot inherit the defective gene from his father and haemophilia affects all races and ethnicities with an occurrence of one in every 10,000 births, she added. Mr Martin Boakye, the Founder of the Ghana Hemophilia Society, a non-profit organization said the society was formed in 2009 and worked to educate and train health workers as well as advocated the needs and rights of people living with haemophilia. Currently, the society has, in collaboration with the treatment centres, about 500 haemophilia patients in their database who are being supported in treatment and care, he added. The society through its enviable work has gained recognition and membership from the World Federation of Hemophilia, Canada, Mr Boakye stated. GNA The future of France's contested pension reform is in the hands of the Constitutional Council, which will rule Friday on the constitutionality of a bill that was forced through parliament without a vote. So what is the council? And what are the possible outcomes? Usually a discreet body, the Constitutional Council rules on the constitutionality of bills and avoids wading into the fray of politics. The pension reform has pushed it into the spotlight in a way to which it is unaccustomed. The council has been asked to rule on two things: if the pension reform and the process through which the legislation was passed is in line with the constitution, and if a referendum can be held on the retirement age. Lawmakers with the opposition Nupes alliance asked the council to approve a Referendum d'initiative partagee , or RIP, which would ask citizens to vote on keeping the minimum legal age of retirement at 62 years old. What is the Constitutional Council? The Constitutional Council was created by the 1958 constitution as a constitutional court, to act as a check on legislators and the country's president. It has the power to strike down legislation it deems unconstitutional, whether passed by parliament or implemented by the president by decree. The current council is made up of nine people six men and three women presided over by former prime minister Laurent Fabius. Called the Sages (Wise Ones), they are appointed to single, non-renewable nine-year terms. The French president appoints three members, including the council president, and the presidents of the National Assembly and the Senate appoint three members each. Former presidents are also permitted to sit on the council, with seats for life, though currently no one has chosen to do so since the death of Valery Giscard d'Estaing in 2020. Nicolas Sarkozy sat for a few months in 2012 and 2013 before resigning, and Francois Hollande never did. Incumbent President Emmanuel Macron said in 2019 that he would not join the council after the end of his term. What does the council do? The Constitutional Council can be considered the Supreme Court of France in that it acts as a check on the executive and legislative branches. Its mandate has evolved and expanded from a body first intended to rule on technical legal principals, to one that considers and upholds broad rights. In a July 1971 ruling in which it struck down a law by arguing it infringed on the rights of assembly laid out in the 1789 Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, the council shifted towards ruling on broader principles. Its scope was expanded with a 1974 constitutional reform allowing 60 members of the National Assembly or senators to file a case, and not just the president, prime minister or presidents of the assemblies. This opened up the possibility for the opposition to contest the validity of legislation. A 2008 constitutional reform opened up the possibility for citizens to question legislation. Ruling on pension reform The implementation of the pension reform bill has been suspended until the council's decision. The government brought the legislation to the council in March, after it passed it without a parliamentary vote. The council had one month to rule, either accepting the text entirely, rejecting it, or striking down parts of it the more likely scenario. Delegations from opposition lawmakers in the Senate and National Assembly have argued their case for a complete rejection of the bill on the grounds that it was introduced as part of a social security spending bill, which is limited to 10 days of debate. The council could rule that by introducing the legislation in this way, the government denied a full debate on a major issue. The council is also considering the government's use of article 49.3 of the constitution, which allows it to push through legislation without a vote in parliament which appears constitutional, even if in this case it was unpopular. Over its lifespan the council has reviewed 744 bills and struck down 369, only 17 of them completely. Future of the opposition? The other issue at hand with the pension reform, the question of a referendum, will potentially have more of an impact, according to sociologist Jean-Francois Amadieu, who researches social movements. The big novelty is this issue of the referendum. It's the first time that we'll see the council engage on the issue, he told RFI If the council accepts the referendum, it makes it difficult for the government to implement its reforms, and would bring them back to the negotiating table, notably with trade unions, which have been largely sidelined. After 14 April, things will be different. The prime pinister could open negotiations, said Amadieu. It's a probable scenario, especially if the council approves the referendum. Then the executive will really have to open a dialogue this time. Whatever the result, the decision is likely to be final on the pension reform. The council's decision will necessarily bring a resolution to this crisis, and maybe allow an exit from above, which is what the parliamentary majority would like, said Amadieu. The head of the CFDT, Laurent Berger, has said the trade union would not contest the legitimacy of the constitutional council. If the referendum is rejected and the legislation is approved, in full or in part, the opposition will have to grapple with questions of what to do with the lingering anger built up over weeks of protests since January. It is certain that trade unions will have to find something else, said Amadieu. It is hard to imagine electricians or oil workers or garbage collectors continuing to be mobilised indefinitely. The 12th day of strikes and protests against the government's pension reform plans is continuing across France. There have been isolated reports of violence. The shop and office headquarters of the luxury goods group LVMH in central Paris was invaded at lunchtime by protesters. A spokesman said the point of the peaceful action at the premises was to suggest to the government that France's billionaires could help to finance a more equitable pension system. LVMH is owned by Bernard Arnault, the richest man in the world. Isolated violence, tear gas There have been violent clashes between protesters and police in the western French cities of Nantes and Rennes, with the security forces using tear gas against stone-throwing groups of protesters. Violence is also reported from Lyon where police sources claim a group of about 1,000 individuals broke away from the main march and caused damage to a luxury hotel. Thousands are marching in Paris, where CFDT union leader Laurent Berger has warned the government that the union struggle against the pension reform "is far from over". The unions claim 400,000 people are marching in the capital. There are no official figures available. Looking forward to demonstrations planned for 1 May, Sophie Binet of the CGT said "despite what the government hopes, this movement is far from over." She said the unions were determined to show the president "that he can't govern the country until this reform is withdrawn." Paris incinerator blocked There have been isolated incidents on the fringes of some demonstrations. A bin lorry depot was blocked at Aubervilliers on the outskirts of Paris, while the urban waste incinerator at Ivry-sur-Seine was also temporarily closed by protestors. TotalEnergies said 20 percent of oil refinery staff were on strike and that some deliveries had been cancelled. Public transport in the French capital is reported to be normal. Strike numbers down in civil service Fewer civil servants are on strike this week, according to official figures. Of the 2.5 million state employees in public service, fewer than 4 percent were absent from their posts at noon, compared to 6.5 percent on 6 April according to the ministry responsible. In the so-called territorial public service, which employes two million people, 2 percent were on strike according to official figures. The trade unions put the figure at 4 percent. In French public hospitals, with 1.2 million employees, 4.2 percent were strikers, compared to 6 percent last Thursday. Civil service participation in the pension protests on 6 April was already slightly down on figures for 28 March. The Bibiani Police, led by Superintendent Seth Sewornu, has weed out several 'wee ghettos' in the Bibiani municipality of the Western North Region. The police operation formed part of the activities to flush out criminals in the area. The Bibiani area has been identified as one of the hideouts for criminals rampantly increasing the criminal records of the area. The police have also taken a keen interest in the activities of those involved in the escalating crime in the area. As part of police efforts to flush out the criminals in the community, some 'wee ghettos' have been destroyed. The police have burnt several 'wee ghettos' in Old Town, Attakrom and Nantwikumye all in the Bibiani community of the Bibiani Anhweaso-Bekwai municipality in the Western North Region. However, no person was arrested during the operation. The police in an interview disclosed they will continue their activities until all 'wee ghettos' are collapsed in the municipality. Class 91.3 FM's Western North Regional correspondent speaking to some residents in Bibiani commended the police for embarking on such an important exercise. They appealed to the police to continue the destruction of the 'wee ghettos' to make Bibiani a better living place. Source: Classfmonline.com Palgrave Boakye-Danquah, the government's spokesperson for governance and security has hinted at a soon-to-be-sealed deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The $3billion bailout which was supposed to be sealed by the end of March this year will happen by the end of June this year. Speaking on Accra-based Original TV, Mr. Boakye-Danquah cited smooth talks with Chinese government for debt forgiveness as a boost for the country to seal the IMF deal. The Paris Club, which was petitioned by government to help in its negotiation with China, according to the spokesperson is currently bearing fruits. I am confident that with the cooperation we are receiving from the Paris Club members and the People's Republic of China, which sent a delegation from China's Exim Bank to France over the weekend to meet with officials of the Ministry of Finance, we will be able to go to the board of the fund to finally conclude the agreement by the end of the quarter," he disclosed. Ghana on July 1, 2022 announced going to the IMF for a handout. Subsequently, the government, in December 2022, reached a staff-level agreement with the fund as part of the processes for a bailout, pending approval from the board, which is becoming very difficult for Ghana. 13.04.2023 LISTEN Former President John Mahama who is seeking a second term in office mocked President Nana Akufo-Addo and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) during a speech in Suhum, Eastern Region. Mahama said the President and the NPP then in opposition used "big English" and "slang" to deceive Ghanaians but are now struggling to fulfil those promises. They have a foreign accent, but I have a Ghanaian accent. But these numerous slangs and big English doesnt develop a country, he said. Mahama noted that President Akufo-Addo and Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia in the 2016 election campaign used heavy slogans creating the impression that they turn Ghana into a paradise overnight. NPP is gonna come and transform Ghana in one and a half years. When we come, well give you one district, one factory, Mr Mahama mimicked President Akufo-Add amid laughter. He also cited some of Akufo-Addo's popular quotes, including "y tse sika so nanso kom de yen," which means "we have wealth, but we are suffering." 13.04.2023 LISTEN The International Monetary Funds economic surveillance strategy called Article IV consultation must be revised in Africa. The Article IV consultation of the IMF involves an in-depth analysis of a country's economy and a set of recommendations to improve its economic performance. The Fund states that Under Article IV of its Articles of Agreement, the IMF has a mandate to exercise surveillance over the economic, financial and exchange rate policies of its member in order to ensure the effective operation of the international monetary system. The IMFs appraisal of such policies involves a comprehensive analysis of the general economic situation and policy strategy of each member country by the Funds economists: the IMFs economists collect and analyze data and hold discussions with government and central bank officials. African countries regularly visit the Fund for policy advice and policy credibility because African economies have been struggling for decades with structural issues, mismanagement, corruption, and bad governance. Hence, they need effective policy prescriptions that can help them address their economic challenges. The economies of Africa have made some progress in recent years, but they still face many fundamental structural challenges. The continent has experienced steady economic growth over the past decade. Yet, this growth is insufficient to meet the needs of the rapidly growing population. These economies are highly vulnerable to both internal and external shocks. This vulnerability has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the conflict embarked on by Russia in Ukraine, which has led to a sharp decline in economic activity and a rise in debt levels. African countries also face structural issues that constrain their economic development. These include inadequate infrastructure, a low level of industrialization, weak institutions, and high levels of corruption. Many African countries have been unable to create a conducive business environment that can attract foreign investment, and this has limited their economic diversification agenda. The IMFs critical role of providing technical support to its member countries in Africa, sustains the economies of these member countries on the African continent. The Fund provides technical assistance to these countries to design and implement economic policies that stimulate economic growth and improve economic performance. But the International Monetary Funds Article IV consultation as one of its key services being provided to member countries has serious weaknesses in Africa. The consultation involves a wide-ranging analysis of a country's economic policies and economic performance, and prospects. It also proffers solutions to address economic weaknesses and solutions that promote economic growth in member countries. The IMFs Article IV consultation, however useful it is in providing policy advice to member countries it visits, does not address specific policy issues or challenges. The Fund focuses on providing generic policy advice that does not help address the critical challenges of member countries. It appears the Fund and the countries it visits in Africa for consultation do not understand the needs and priorities for their economies to guide them in building ownership and support for structural reforms for their economies. This explains why African countries engage in excessive borrowing and unrestrained fiscal activities that create fiscal imbalances and financial crises for their economies. The Funds Article IV consultation must be a tool for policing the economic and development policies of African countries. An effective economic surveillance on the economies in Africa should ensure countries accumulate sustainable debts. It is not reasonable for experts from the IMF to examine the books of countries whose debt levels become unstainable a couple of years after such a critical exercise. This occurrence points to a failure or weakness associated with the expert analysis of the economists employed by the IMF to monitor the economic activities of member countries. The IMFs Article IV consultation process is weak because the Fund thinks being tough on member countries to implement recommendations after an Article IV consultation may constitute surrendering of economic sovereignty by member countries. African countries mostly act behind the veil of economic sovereignty to engage in excessive borrowing and the accumulation of unsustainable debts. The recent IMF Article IV consultation in Ghana was in 2021. The IMF Executive Board asserted that there were encouraging signs of an economic recovery. A statement from the Executive Board noted that risks to Ghanas capacity to pay have increased. But the Directors concurred that they are still manageable. A couple of months after this consultation, Ghanas debts were declared to be unsustainable, and therefore could not be serviced. This is a classic case of predictive failure of the IMFs Article IV consultation. Under its key issues in the Press Release after the consultation with the Ghanaian authorities, the IMF remarked that medium-term prospects remain favourable, driven by opportunities in digitalization, structural transformation, and the expansion of extractive industries. The expert economic analysis by the economists of the Fund could not predict a likely dire financial situation such as the one Ghana currently experiences. The scope of the IMFs Article IV consultation must be redefined and repurposed for African economies. The IMF may not need to engage the Paris Club of creditor nations to give financial assurances to their debtor nations for an IMF bailout if it tightens its Article IV consultations, by making sure countries manage their debts to sustainable levels even if these countries are not under a program of the Fund. It appears clearly that member countries of the International Monetary Fund, especially those in Africa, only adhere to the policy prescriptions of the Fund when they join a program of the international financial institution. The Fund prescribes policy options for member countries after the consultations but these countries do not execute them. The IMF needs to revise its economic surveillance strategies in Africa by providing actionable and effective solutions that address specific challenges. For instance, the Fund must focus on addressing the fundamental structural problems in Africa through its Article IV consultation. Such proposals must be binding on countries in Africa to implement since they cannot manage their economies prudently on their own. The IMF may need to develop debt sustainability levels and frameworks with punitive sanctions for African countries. The Fund must develop special debt limits for African economies beyond which they cannot and must not borrow; countries that flout the Funds orders must be punished heavily. The IMFs Article IV consultation must be used to instill fiscal discipline in its member countries in Africa by imposing sanctions on debtor nations on the African continent who do not borrow within prescribed limits. The traditional method of prescriptions and policy advice employed in its economic surveillance cannot provide the much-needed solutions to resolving the economic difficulties of its member countries in Africa. Emmanuel Kwabena Wucharey Economics Tutor, Advocate and Religion Enthusiast. 13.04.2023 LISTEN The opposition Member of Parliament (MP) for Ellembelle Constituency in the Western Region, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah has distributed over 100 bags of rice to Muslim community in Ellembelle to climax this year's Ramadan. Some bags of sugar (50kg), and cooking oil in boxes were added to the items. The kind gesture formed part of the lawmaker's annual love and solidarity with the Muslims in the area. Making the presentation at Kamgbunli, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah who is the Deputy Minority Leader in Parliament, appealed to the Muslims in the Ellembelle Constituency to use the occasion to pray for the peace of the country to be sustained. He also urged them to remain united with other religious groups. "I will appeal to you to use this Ramadan which is one of the Pillars of Islam to pray for the peace and unity of Ellembelle and Ghana as a whole. Peace is very paramount and over the weekend we heard a Minister of state making a very treasonable statement but I don't want to talk about him but he should know that he is not God, my party leadership has condemned him so nobody should be afraid", he stated. He pledged his total commitment to support Islamic activities in the Ellembelle Constituency as far as he continues to be MP. "Even though my political party is not in power but I will do everything possible to support Islamic activities in Ellembelle Constituency and anytime there is a Ramadan, I will support you with food items", he said. In a related development, the MP visited Muslims and other residents of Aidoosuazo, Anloga and Asomase in Aiyinasi North of Ellembelle Constituency to acquaint himself with the challenges facing them. The MP also took the opportunity to support the residents with food items. After accessing the Asomase-Basake-Mumuni deplorable road network linking to Amenfi West Constituency, the MP devoted GHC18,000 to the leaders of Asomase farming community to reshape the road. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah noted down some concerns raised by the residents and pledged his commitment to addressing them. He called on them to rally behind him and the NDC to come to power in 2024 to provide job opportunities for the youth in the area. "It is sad that since NDC left power, NPP government has abandoned you, the electrification project we started here, NPP government has abandoned, the current DCE does not think about you, it is their responsibility to reshape your road for you but they abandoned it but as your MP who loves farming communities, I'm giving the leaders of Asomase GHC18,000 to use it to reshape the road from Asomase to Mumuni so that during the rainy season you will not suffer, I will call on you to rally behind NDC to come to power to develop your communities in Aiyinasi North, we will also create jobs for the youth here", he stated. Mr. Amidu Kisiba, a Muslim rep of Asomase, commended Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah for the kind gesture. He also commended the MP for building a school, providing an ambulance and connecting Asomase with electricity. He took the opportunity to pray for the MP and his entourage to live long. The Ellembelle MP and Deputy Minority Leader were accompanied by Ellembelle NDC Constituency Chairman, Alex Kwame Mahama, Ellembelle NDC Constituency Vice Chairman, Felix Quayson, Ellembelle NDC Constituency Women's Organizer, Barikisu Alhassan, Ellembelle NDC Deputy Constituency Women's Organizer, Gifty Araba Kwofie, Ellembelle NDC Constituency Communications Officer, Kwasi Hanson, Ellembelle NDC Constituency Organizer, Akesseh Monkey, the media and among others. 13.04.2023 LISTEN The Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) on Thursday, April 13, officially launched a year-long calendar of activities to mark 25 years of its founding. Established in July 1998 to promote democracy, good governance and inclusive development in Ghana and the rest of Africa, CDD-Ghana has, over the course of the last two and a half decades, given voice to ordinary citizens through its public opinion surveys and other primary research; informed and empowered local communities and citizens to demand accountability from public authorities through its social accountability programs; engendered credible and peaceful elections in Ghana and Africa through its election observation networks; influenced legislative action through working with Parliament; promoted and protected the rights of the marginalized and vulnerable in society; and provided thought leadership and experience sharing on good democratic practices across Africa. The Center has pursued its mission by drawing on diverse tools, including primary research, data and policy analysis, advocacy, training, coalition-building, and civic and policy engagement. These efforts have earned the Center a reputation as one of the leading democracy and governance policy research think tanks in Africa. Under the theme, Civil Society and the Quest for Democracy and Inclusive Development in Ghana and Africa: The Next 25 Years, the Center will use this anniversary year to engage various audiences and stakeholders in Ghana and across the world to reflect on civil societys role in building and sustaining democracy in Ghana and Africa during the last 25 years and the outlook for the next 25 years. The Centers silver jubilee, which also coincides with the 30th anniversary of Ghana's transition to democracy under the banner of the 4th Republic, comes at a most trying time for democracy both globally and regionally. Across Africa, citizens are expecting and demanding far more than they believe they are getting from the governments they elect. In our immediate neighborhood, nascent democratic projects in Mali, Burkina Faso and Guinea have succumbed to coups d'etat. Elsewhere in the region where democracy has not suffered fatal reversal, its quality has degraded over time, raising concerns about the future of democracy in West Africa. All of this is happening in a fast-changing global geopolitical and technological environment that presents enormous challenges and uncertainties for democracy. In the coming weeks and months, the Center will initiate, stimulate and lead conversations with diverse audiences and actors around the theme for the anniversary with the aim of forging an agenda for the future. The year-long celebrations will include an editors' forum, regional engagements, an international conference Ghana's democracy at 30, a virtual homecoming for CDD alumni around the world, and many other activities. Mr David Prah, the Deputy Director General, Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Service Ghana, says all teachers under the Service will begin taking the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination (GTLE). Mr Prah, speaking at the National Teaching Council's Research Dissemination event on the rollout of GTLE, said the examination was essential to note the characteristics of a good teacher Teacher Licensure Examination is critical to teacher professionalism, and a good teacher is expected to exhibit certain professional characteristics, and so these characteristics are put in the Teacher Licensure Examination, he said. Mr Christian Addai-Poku, Registrar of the National Teaching Council (NTC), said the teacher reforms put in place had made the country more competitive. Ghana was selected by the UK government as one of the four countries in Africa whose teachers are exempt from Qualified Teachers Status (QTS) assessment should they apply to teach in the United Kingdom, he said. He said the examination was a professional one to assess the people venturing into the occupation without living it out in the training institutions. Mr Addai-Poku said seven editions of the GTLE had been written, and that the Council saw the need to conduct a study that would help understand the issues surrounding the policies and influence further reforms. The research was done on four editions: 2018, twice in 2019; and once in 2021. The research was on, An Evaluation of the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examination, Quality and Trend Analysis of the Ghana Teacher Licensure Examinations, and Teacher Professionalism and Professional Practice in Ghana. Section 59 of the Education Regulatory Bodies Act, 2020 (Act 1023) mandates the National Teaching Council to regulate teaching in Ghana. Also, in-service teachers, on the other hand, are required to undergo continuous professional development to improve their skills and to accrue the needed points to renew their license upon expiry. The GTLE was introduced in 2018 with the aim of ensuring that prospective teachers after graduating from the teacher education institutions were filtered through the license exams. GNA The West African Centre for Cell Biology of Infectious Pathogens (WACCBIP) at the University of Ghana and its research partners have been selected as one of 14 leading science consortia to receive funding under phase two of the Developing Excellence in Leadership, Training, and Science in Africa programme (DELTAS Africa II). The DELTAS Africa II programme, which was launched by the Science for Africa Foundation (SFA) in Nairobi on March 14, 2023 ( https://scienceforafrica.foundation/media-center/launching-a-70m-programme-to-drive-quality-health-research ), is a USD 70 million programme jointly funded by the Wellcome Trust and the United Kingdoms Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO). The programme seeks to build world-class research and African scientific leaders for the continent while strengthening African institutions. This second phase of the DELTAS Africa programme funds 14 consortia in nine African countries, with WACCBIP as the lead institution in Ghana. The consortia are led by 14 world class research leaders who were selected from >150 applicants through a highly competitive process, with WACCBIPs Prof Gordon Awandare winning the grant for the second time ( https://scienceforafrica.foundation/media-center/14-world-class-research-leaders-in-africa-funded-to-drive-locally-relevant-health-research ). Each consortium will receive USD4.4m over four years to produce quality scientific data and train new science leaders. According to Professor Awandare, the vision of WACCBIP DELTAS II is to build on our successes from DELTAS I, by providing high-quality training and advanced research on the mechanisms underlying the development of infectious diseases (IDs) and non-communicable diseases (NCDs). He further highlighted that although a significant public health concern, the co-occurrence of IDs and NCDs provides a unique opportunity to understand the relationship between infectious exposures and NCDs in ways that are no longer possible in resource-rich nations. We intend to use deep research approaches to obtain a more thorough understanding of the disease mechanisms for some of the major infectious and non-communicable diseases affecting African populations. and have assembled a top-class team of scientists from institutions in Africa, Europe, and the United States to conduct high-quality research and training for young African scientists. By providing advanced laboratory-based research and training to build the skills necessary for effective disease surveillance and control of drug resistance, development of new diagnostic tools, drugs and vaccines, and characterization of genetic predictors of risk of NCDs, our team seeks to address the double threat of IDs and NCDs facing Africa, he added. Priority IDs include malaria, tuberculosis, bacterial infections that infect internal parts of the body, COVID-19, HIV-AIDS, and hepatitis B and C, while NCDs of interest include cancer, renal disease, sickle cell disease, diabetes, and non-syndromic hearing impairment. In addition, the project will significantly impact health research capacity by training 60 graduate interns,15 master's students, 12 PhD students, five early-career postdoctoral fellows, two advanced technology training fellows, and two senior research fellows. The Centre will also enhance the skills of at least 250 health sector professionals through targeted short courses, and build research infrastructure in several collaborating and partner African institutions to enhance their capacity for high-quality research and competitiveness for future research funding. The WACCBIP DELTAS II will be implemented with partners at the institutional (West African Genetic Medicine Centre and Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research), regional (Medical Research Council unit, The Gambia, University of Liberia, University of Lagos and University of Cape Town), and international (London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Francis Crick Institute, UK, and Johns Hopkins University, USA). About the DELTAS II Programme DELTAS Africa II, set to run from 2023 to 2026, supports 14 programmes in 75 institutions, across 36 countries, which now includes institutions in North Africa and Lusophone countries that had previously not been covered. The consortia, led by world-class African research leaders, recognise the interconnectedness of Climate Change, Food Security and Health and the necessity to balance research excellence and equity. DELTAS Africa II emphasizes intra-African collaboration, engagement and partnership between institutions that are relatively well-resourced and those that are low-resourced. "The DELTAS Africa programme paves the way for new scientific leaders who address Africas most pressing public health challenges and generate data and evidence that informs policy and Africas development agenda. Through phase one, we have already seen how impactful science funding can be. These scientists have contributed to health policy development globally, improved research infrastructure and increased scientific knowledge through peer reviewed publications and innovations in health. The funding built a critical mass of globally competitive research leaders who are now internationally recognised, says Dr Alphonsus Neba, Deputy Director of Programmes and DELTAS Africa Programme Manager, SFA Foundation. In this second phase, we are advancing a programme that is truly pan-African, multidisciplinary and cross-disciplinary. Together, we bring a wide range of expertise to address the challenges faced by our continent, and to ensure that researchers and institutions are not left behind in efforts to close the critical gaps in the science ecosystem. This all to ensure healthy and productive nations for acceleration of economic growth, says Dr Tom Kariuki, Executive Director, SFA Foundation. DELTAS Africa II follows an initial five-year programme launched and funded by Wellcome and FCDO in 2015 with phase I of the programme implemented by the African Academy of Sciences (AAS) and African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). Cheryl Moore, Chief Research Programmes Officer at Wellcome says Wellcome is committed to funding ambitious and creative research across Africa that takes on some of the most pressing health challenges facing our world. We are very pleased to be working with the SFA Foundation and partners to support high-quality, world-leading research across Africa, developing the continents growing research and development sector. In addition to funding research, support from Wellcome and the UK government is directed towards the development of global standards for grant due diligence, research management, open access to science and enabling public participation in research. These components are an essential part of strengthening the wider research ecosystem to enable partner countries to deliver sustainable economic growth in line with national and UK priorities,- Dr Jordan Kyongo, Research & Innovation Adviser, British High Commission, Nairobi DELTAS Africa II, which is now being implemented by the SFA Foundation, continues to invest and increase Africas research capacity by growing the number of science leaders producing quality scientific data and information for evidence-based decision-making whilst strengthening the African R&D ecosystem. The Mayor of Kumasi, Hon Samuel Pyne has disclosed that the suspension of three major projects in the Ashanti has nothing to do with financial problems. According to him, funding for the projects is readily available but government opted to halt works on the projects due to the ongoing negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Some residents in the Ashanti Region have expressed worry about delays in three major projects. These projects include phase two of the Kumasi International Airport, Kejetia Central Market and the 500-bed capacity maternity and children block at the KATH. The Mayor of Kumasi Samuel Pyne said this on Thursday, April 13, 2023, in an interview on the Kumasi Kumasi based OTEC 102.9 FM's morning show Nyansapo hosted by Captain Koda. "I can assure you that, the suspension has nothing to do with financial problems, just as I said earlier, funding for the projects has already been secured by government but works on site had to stop due to the IMF negotiations," he stated. He assured that work on the projects will resume immediately after the country secures the deal with IMF. 14.04.2023 LISTEN Telecom giant MTN Ghana has faced criticism over the suspension of its data plan, MTN Zone with some experts questioning the legality of the move if imposed by the regulator. Dr Mark Yama Tampuri, a finance and antitrust specialist, argues that pricing below the cost of competitors is not necessarily illegal, but it would be if it were to be part of a strategy to eliminate rivals and create a monopoly. In such cases, he noted that it would be a violation of antitrust laws. However, vigorous competition generally benefits consumers. "The practice of wanting to offer lower prices is a common occurrence in many competitive markets and does not generally violate antitrust laws though there are certain exceptions to this rule," Dr Tampuri was reacting to the suspension of the Data Zone bundle by MTN Ghana. Dr Tampuri believes telcos in the interest of fair regulatory practices by public agencies, firms should challenge some of the directives imposed by its regulators through the courts especially when the basis is not well put across. He said "pricing below your competitor's or even your costs may not necessarily be illegal, but it could be part of a larger strategy to eliminate competitors and create a monopoly for the discounting firm. This then could allow them to raise prices far into the future and recoup their losses. "In such a scenario, it would be a violation of antitrust laws and these are case by case basis. While predatory pricing exists, regulators like NCA will have to be innovative in their analysis of pricing, however, they can't just give a blanket order or directive as a regulator to a Significant Market Power (SMP) which goes to implies that all the prices of that SMP should be above that of their competitors." Dr. Tampuri stressed, "although instances of a large firm using low prices to drive smaller competitors out of the market in hopes of raising prices after they leave are rare, such strategies can be successful if the short-term losses from pricing below cost are compensated by much higher prices over an extended period." He argues that it is unlikely that MTN could price below cost long enough to drive out a significant number of rivals and attain a dominant position through its MTN Zone bundle. He asserts that "low prices generally benefit consumers, and they are only harmed if below-cost pricing allows a dominant competitor to knock out its rivals from the market and then raise prices to above-market levels for a considerable period." Dr Tampuri emphasize that the legality of pricing below the cost of competitors depends on the circumstances and that vigorous competition is generally beneficial for consumers. He has therefore advised MTN Ghana to seek clarity from the law courts of Ghana. The specialist again observed that antitrust issues like these are the reason he constantly calls for competition law and policy without delay. "You see, in some of these antithrust issues in this day and era of evolving digital economy, you cannot leave sector regulators to be in charge of antitrust issues...We may have Public Utilities Regulatory Commission Act,1997 (Act 538) and the Protection against Unfair Competition Act, 2000 (Act 589) but these are limited in their application because both do not address the full dimension of restrictive trade practices." "The market needs rather a Competition law that will as well establish a 'Competition Authority' without any further delay with expertise to determine such issues. We dont have a comprehensive antitrust law and so businesses are competing without laws to guide them, which could lead to these pricing dynamics with the fate of stakeholders left to sector authorities but it takes a resourced and well-capable competition regulator to address these," he added. Dr Tampuri further called on the legislature and executive arms of government to without delay, finalize the Competition Bill into an Act. iShares Biotechnology ETF (NYSEARCA:IBB Get Rating) fell 0.5% on Monday . The company traded as low as $129.40 and last traded at $130.36. 1,454,504 shares traded hands during trading, a decline of 5% from the average session volume of 1,524,467 shares. The stock had previously closed at $131.05. iShares Biotechnology ETF Trading Down 0.1 % The stock has a 50-day simple moving average of $129.36 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $129.39. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.66 billion, a P/E ratio of 12.93 and a beta of 0.85. About iShares Biotechnology ETF (Get Rating) The iShares Biotechnology ETF (IBB) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE Biotechnology index. The fund tracks the performance of a modified market-cap-weighted index of US biotechnology companies listed on US exchanges. IBB was launched on Feb 5, 2001 and is managed by BlackRock. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for iShares Biotechnology ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares Biotechnology ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. (NYSEAMERICAN:NAK Get Rating) (TSE:NDM) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.25. Northern Dynasty Minerals shares last traded at $0.24, with a volume of 572,989 shares. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, HC Wainwright reissued a buy rating and issued a $0.80 target price on shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals in a report on Monday, February 13th. Get Northern Dynasty Minerals alerts: Northern Dynasty Minerals Stock Performance Northern Dynasty Minerals (NYSEAMERICAN:NAK Get Rating) (TSE:NDM) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Friday, March 31st. The mining company reported ($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter. Institutional Trading of Northern Dynasty Minerals About Northern Dynasty Minerals A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in NAK. Virtu Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 113.5% during the 4th quarter. Virtu Financial LLC now owns 114,856 shares of the mining companys stock worth $25,000 after buying an additional 61,047 shares during the period. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new position in Northern Dynasty Minerals during the 1st quarter valued at $39,000. UBS Group AG lifted its stake in Northern Dynasty Minerals by 243.5% during the 1st quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 132,433 shares of the mining companys stock valued at $56,000 after acquiring an additional 93,875 shares in the last quarter. Millennium Management LLC raised its stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals by 34.5% during the 2nd quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 389,467 shares of the mining companys stock worth $101,000 after purchasing an additional 99,796 shares during the period. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new stake in shares of Northern Dynasty Minerals during the 1st quarter worth $49,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 12.00% of the companys stock. (Get Rating) Northern Dynasty Minerals Ltd. engages in the exploration and development of gold and copper mineral properties. It holds interest in the Pebble Copper-Gold-Molybdenum Project, which is an undeveloped copper-gold-molybdenum-silver resource. The company was founded on May 11, 1983 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Northern Dynasty Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Northern Dynasty Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Almaden Minerals (NYSEAMERICAN:AAU Get Rating) (TSE:AMM) in a research note issued to investors on Sunday. The brokerage issued a sell rating on the basic materials companys stock. Separately, Alliance Global Partners cut shares of Almaden Minerals from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Get Almaden Minerals alerts: Almaden Minerals Price Performance Shares of AAU stock opened at $0.19 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.05, a quick ratio of 26.92 and a current ratio of 26.92. The firms 50-day moving average is $0.21 and its 200-day moving average is $0.23. The stock has a market cap of $25.80 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of -9.40 and a beta of 0.95. Almaden Minerals has a 52-week low of $0.18 and a 52-week high of $0.38. Institutional Inflows and Outflows About Almaden Minerals Large investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC bought a new position in Almaden Minerals in the 4th quarter valued at about $119,000. Millennium Management LLC grew its position in shares of Almaden Minerals by 587.9% during the 4th quarter. Millennium Management LLC now owns 485,878 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $119,000 after purchasing an additional 415,244 shares in the last quarter. HRT Financial LP acquired a new position in shares of Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter worth approximately $64,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP grew its position in shares of Almaden Minerals by 564.4% during the 4th quarter. Susquehanna International Group LLP now owns 233,188 shares of the basic materials companys stock worth $57,000 after purchasing an additional 198,088 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Jane Street Group LLC acquired a new position in shares of Almaden Minerals during the 4th quarter worth approximately $28,000. 3.81% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. (Get Rating) 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. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Almaden Minerals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Almaden Minerals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Atento (NYSE:ATTO Get Rating) in a research report report published on Monday. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the business services providers stock. Atento Price Performance NYSE ATTO opened at $1.74 on Monday. The stock has a market capitalization of $26.88 million, a PE ratio of -0.20 and a beta of 1.78. Atento has a 1 year low of $1.70 and a 1 year high of $26.86. The businesss 50-day moving average is $2.67 and its 200 day moving average is $3.94. Get Atento alerts: Institutional Trading of Atento A hedge fund recently raised its stake in Atento stock. Renaissance Technologies LLC boosted its stake in Atento S.A. (NYSE:ATTO Get Rating) by 12.1% in the 2nd quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 31,612 shares of the business services providers stock after buying an additional 3,400 shares during the period. Renaissance Technologies LLC owned 0.21% of Atento worth $316,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 48.01% of the companys stock. About Atento Atento SA is engaged in the provision of customer relationship management business process outsourcing services and solutions. The firm offers front-end and back-end services ranging from sales, applications processing, customer care, and credit management. It operates through the following geographical segments: Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA), America, and Brazil. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Atento Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Atento and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Atwood & Palmer Inc. lifted its position in Mastercard Incorporated (NYSE:MA Get Rating) by 0.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 66,434 shares of the credit services providers stock after purchasing an additional 308 shares during the quarter. Mastercard comprises approximately 2.1% of Atwood & Palmer Inc.s portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Atwood & Palmer Inc.s holdings in Mastercard were worth $23,101,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Mastercard by 0.7% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 77,259,535 shares of the credit services providers stock worth $21,967,977,000 after purchasing an additional 568,155 shares during the period. State Street Corp increased its stake in Mastercard by 0.4% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 33,865,057 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $9,629,190,000 after acquiring an additional 138,753 shares during the last quarter. Jennison Associates LLC increased its stake in Mastercard by 1.6% in the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 7,874,093 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $2,238,920,000 after acquiring an additional 121,731 shares during the last quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in Mastercard by 1.7% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,337,588 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,550,168,000 after acquiring an additional 71,113 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased its stake in Mastercard by 3.8% in the third quarter. Canada Pension Plan Investment Board now owns 3,540,192 shares of the credit services providers stock valued at $1,006,618,000 after acquiring an additional 128,200 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 74.51% of the companys stock. Get Mastercard alerts: Mastercard Stock Up 1.7 % NYSE MA traded up $6.11 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $367.89. The stock had a trading volume of 904,255 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,807,862. Mastercard Incorporated has a 1 year low of $276.87 and a 1 year high of $390.00. The stock has a market cap of $350.69 billion, a PE ratio of 35.40, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.70 and a beta of 1.11. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $360.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $345.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.16, a current ratio of 1.17 and a quick ratio of 1.17. Mastercard Announces Dividend Mastercard ( NYSE:MA Get Rating ) last issued its earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The credit services provider reported $2.65 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.56 by $0.09. The company had revenue of $5.82 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $5.79 billion. Mastercard had a net margin of 44.65% and a return on equity of 158.38%. Mastercards quarterly revenue was up 11.5% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm posted $2.35 EPS. On average, research analysts expect that Mastercard Incorporated will post 12.14 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 9th. Shareholders of record on Friday, April 7th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 0.62%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, April 5th. Mastercards payout ratio is currently 22.31%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 20,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $375.99, for a total transaction of $7,519,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 21,579 shares in the company, valued at approximately $8,113,488.21. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. In related news, insider Hai Ling sold 8,220 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $356.31, for a total value of $2,928,868.20. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 26,496 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $9,440,789.76. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. Also, insider Edward Grunde Mclaughlin sold 20,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $375.99, for a total transaction of $7,519,800.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 21,579 shares in the company, valued at $8,113,488.21. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 649,189 shares of company stock worth $240,317,705 in the last 90 days. 0.29% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several analysts have issued reports on MA shares. Raymond James upped their price target on shares of Mastercard from $406.00 to $450.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. BMO Capital Markets cut their price target on shares of Mastercard from $427.00 to $414.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, January 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price target on shares of Mastercard from $395.00 to $452.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, January 27th. Jefferies Financial Group raised their target price on Mastercard from $370.00 to $430.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Wednesday, January 18th. Finally, Robert W. Baird raised their target price on Mastercard from $370.00 to $410.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and twenty-one have given 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 $413.41. Mastercard Company Profile (Get Rating) Mastercard, Inc is a technology company, which engages in the payments industry that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, governments, and business. It offers payment solutions for the development and implementation of credit, debit, prepaid, commercial, and payment programs. The company was founded in November 1966 and is headquartered in Purchase, NY. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Mastercard Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mastercard and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Otter Creek Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR Get Rating) by 30.2% in the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The firm owned 195,254 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 45,254 shares during the quarter. Avantor comprises approximately 2.7% of Otter Creek Advisors LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest position. Otter Creek Advisors LLCs holdings in Avantor were worth $4,118,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AVTR. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd raised its stake in Avantor by 59.6% in the 3rd quarter. Gulf International Bank UK Ltd now owns 120,535 shares of the companys stock worth $2,362,000 after acquiring an additional 45,000 shares during the last quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. raised its stake in Avantor by 39.1% in the 2nd quarter. Raleigh Capital Management Inc. now owns 8,551 shares of the companys stock worth $262,000 after acquiring an additional 2,402 shares during the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its stake in Avantor by 442.4% in the 3rd quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 84,055 shares of the companys stock worth $1,647,000 after acquiring an additional 68,559 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC purchased a new position in Avantor in the 3rd quarter worth $599,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can purchased a new position in Avantor in the 3rd quarter worth $10,225,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.80% of the companys stock. Get Avantor alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth AVTR has been the topic of several analyst reports. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Avantor from $25.00 to $28.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 8th. Citigroup increased their price target on Avantor from $25.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Raymond James increased their price target on Avantor from $26.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Barclays cut their price target on Avantor from $28.00 to $25.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price target on Avantor from $29.00 to $27.00 in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $29.27. Avantor Price Performance Avantor stock traded up $0.21 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $21.50. The company had a trading volume of 2,806,039 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,813,591. The company has a market capitalization of $14.51 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.07 and a beta of 1.34. Avantor, Inc. has a 12-month low of $17.91 and a 12-month high of $34.37. The firms fifty day simple moving average is $22.73 and its 200-day simple moving average is $21.65. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.22, a current ratio of 1.60 and a quick ratio of 1.05. Avantor (NYSE:AVTR Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, February 3rd. The company reported $0.32 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $1.80 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.79 billion. Avantor had a net margin of 9.14% and a return on equity of 22.06%. Avantors quarterly revenue was down 5.9% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the company posted $0.36 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Avantor, Inc. will post 1.39 EPS for the current year. Insider Activity at Avantor In related news, EVP Gerard Brophy sold 11,339 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.06, for a total value of $284,155.34. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 102,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,565,768.10. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. In other Avantor news, EVP Gerard Brophy sold 11,339 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $25.06, for a total value of $284,155.34. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 102,385 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,565,768.10. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, EVP Christophe Couturier sold 3,078 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $24.24, for a total transaction of $74,610.72. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 94,370 shares in the company, valued at $2,287,528.80. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last three months, insiders have sold 18,331 shares of company stock valued at $456,616. 1.50% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Avantor Profile (Get Rating) Avantor, Inc engages in providing mission critical products and services to customers in the biopharma, healthcare, education and government, and advanced technologies and applied materials industries. It sells materials, equipment, instrumentation, and offers specialty procurement. The firm operates through the following segments: the Americas, Europe, and AMEA. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding AVTR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Avantor, Inc. (NYSE:AVTR Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Avantor Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Avantor and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MetLife Investment Management LLC increased its position in shares of Bar Harbor Bankshares (NYSEAMERICAN:BHB Get Rating) by 6.5% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 8,070 shares of the financial services providers stock after acquiring an additional 489 shares during the quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC owned approximately 0.05% of Bar Harbor Bankshares worth $259,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Swiss National Bank lifted its position in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 7.9% in the first quarter. Swiss National Bank now owns 35,500 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,016,000 after buying an additional 2,600 shares during the last quarter. Bank of Montreal Can acquired a new position in Bar Harbor Bankshares in the first quarter valued at about $972,000. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 0.3% during the first quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 1,120,430 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $32,068,000 after purchasing an additional 3,221 shares during the period. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can increased its stake in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 65.5% during the first quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 998 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 395 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP increased its stake in Bar Harbor Bankshares by 0.3% during the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 671,599 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $19,221,000 after purchasing an additional 1,775 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 52.24% of the companys stock. Get Bar Harbor Bankshares alerts: Bar Harbor Bankshares Price Performance Shares of BHB stock traded up $0.22 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $25.39. The stock had a trading volume of 29,505 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,205. The company has a market capitalization of $383.90 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 8.82 and a beta of 0.80. Bar Harbor Bankshares has a twelve month low of $24.00 and a twelve month high of $33.11. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $29.42. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 0.98 and a quick ratio of 0.98. Bar Harbor Bankshares Announces Dividend Bar Harbor Bankshares ( NYSEAMERICAN:BHB Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 19th. The financial services provider reported $0.83 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.81 by $0.02. Bar Harbor Bankshares had a return on equity of 11.11% and a net margin of 26.91%. The firm had revenue of $41.18 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $39.90 million. As a group, equities analysts predict that Bar Harbor Bankshares will post 2.95 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 16th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 16th were issued a $0.26 dividend. This represents a $1.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.10%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 15th. Bar Harbor Banksharess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 35.99%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Separately, StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Bar Harbor Bankshares in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating on the stock. Bar Harbor Bankshares Profile (Get Rating) Bar Harbor Bankshares operates through its subsidiaries, which engages in the provision of commercial, retail, and wealth management banking services. It includes lending activities, acceptance of demand, savings and time deposits, business services, investment management, and trust and third-party brokerage services. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bar Harbor Bankshares Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bar Harbor Bankshares and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of STAG Industrial, Inc. (NYSE:STAG Get Rating) have earned an average recommendation of Moderate Buy from the eight research firms that are currently covering the stock, MarketBeat Ratings reports. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a buy rating on the company. The average 1-year target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is $37.83. A number of equities research analysts recently commented on STAG shares. StockNews.com started coverage on STAG Industrial in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on STAG Industrial from $34.00 to $36.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, BMO Capital Markets started coverage on STAG Industrial in a research report on Monday, February 6th. They issued an outperform rating and a $41.00 price objective on the stock. Get STAG Industrial alerts: STAG Industrial Price Performance Shares of NYSE STAG opened at $32.46 on Thursday. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $33.78 and its 200 day moving average price is $32.61. The firm has a market cap of $5.82 billion, a P/E ratio of 32.46, a P/E/G ratio of 4.99 and a beta of 1.02. STAG Industrial has a 52 week low of $26.56 and a 52 week high of $42.49. The company has a quick ratio of 1.45, a current ratio of 1.45 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.72. STAG Industrial Dividend Announcement Insider Transactions at STAG Industrial The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, June 15th. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, May 31st will be paid a dividend of $0.1225 per share. This represents a $1.47 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.53%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, May 30th. STAG Industrials payout ratio is 147.00%. In other news, Director Virgis Colbert sold 23,911 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.82, for a total transaction of $760,848.02. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now directly owns 17,017 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $541,480.94. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In other STAG Industrial news, Director Virgis Colbert sold 23,911 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, March 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $31.82, for a total value of $760,848.02. Following the transaction, the director now owns 17,017 shares in the company, valued at approximately $541,480.94. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, insider Benjamin S. Butcher sold 19,923 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $34.69, for a total value of $691,128.87. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 7,088 shares in the company, valued at approximately $245,882.72. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 1.10% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of STAG Industrial Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in STAG Industrial in the 2nd quarter valued at about $27,000. Sound Income Strategies LLC raised its holdings in STAG Industrial by 45.0% in the 1st quarter. Sound Income Strategies LLC now owns 1,006 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $34,000 after acquiring an additional 312 shares during the last quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. raised its holdings in STAG Industrial by 2,252.3% in the 2nd quarter. SRS Capital Advisors Inc. now owns 1,035 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 991 shares during the last quarter. Itau Unibanco Holding S.A. acquired a new stake in STAG Industrial in the 4th quarter valued at about $36,000. Finally, Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in STAG Industrial in the 3rd quarter valued at about $34,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.21% of the companys stock. About STAG Industrial (Get Rating) STAG Industrial, Inc is a real estate investment trust, which focuses on acquisition, ownership and operation of single-tenant, industrial properties throughout the United States. The company was founded by Benjamin S. Butcher on July 21, 2010 and is headquartered in Boston, MA. Read More Receive News & Ratings for STAG Industrial Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for STAG Industrial and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Bunzl plc (LON:BNZL Get Rating) has been assigned a consensus rating of Hold from the eight brokerages that are covering the stock, Marketbeat reports. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have given a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the company. The average 1 year price target among analysts that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 2,955.83 ($36.60). A number of research analysts have commented on the stock. Shore Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Monday, February 27th. Barclays restated an underweight rating and set a GBX 2,750 ($34.06) price target on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upgraded shares of Bunzl to an overweight rating and raised their price target for the stock from GBX 3,250 ($40.25) to GBX 3,375 ($41.80) in a research note on Monday, March 13th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and issued a GBX 2,800 ($34.67) target price on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Thursday, January 5th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reiterated a hold rating and issued a GBX 3,060 ($37.89) target price on shares of Bunzl in a research note on Tuesday, February 28th. Get Bunzl alerts: Insider Buying and Selling In related news, insider Richard Howes sold 4,909 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 3,002 ($37.18), for a total value of 147,368.18 ($182,499.29). In other Bunzl news, insider Richard Howes sold 4,909 shares of Bunzl stock in a transaction on Friday, March 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of GBX 3,002 ($37.18), for a total transaction of 147,368.18 ($182,499.29). Also, insider Frank van Zanten sold 21,307 shares of Bunzl stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of GBX 3,066 ($37.97), for a total transaction of 653,272.62 ($809,006.34). Insiders sold 81,898 shares of company stock worth $249,954,592 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.84% of the companys stock. Bunzl Stock Up 0.6 % Bunzl Increases Dividend Shares of BNZL opened at GBX 3,103.31 ($38.43) on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of 10.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 2,187.23, 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 has a 12 month low of GBX 2,542 ($31.48) and a 12 month high of GBX 3,249 ($40.24). The company has a 50-day moving average price of GBX 3,019.88 and a two-hundred day moving average price of GBX 2,933.76. The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, July 4th. Investors of record on Thursday, May 18th will be given a GBX 45.40 ($0.56) dividend. This represents a yield of 1.51%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, May 18th. This is a boost from Bunzls previous dividend of $17.30. Bunzls payout ratio is 4,468.09%. About Bunzl (Get Rating) 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. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Bunzl Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bunzl and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Canal Capital Management LLC grew its position in Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX Get Rating) by 24.2% during the 4th quarter, HoldingsChannel.com reports. The fund owned 78,939 shares of the asset managers stock after buying an additional 15,402 shares during the quarter. Blackstone makes up about 1.4% of Canal Capital Management LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 15th largest holding. Canal Capital Management LLCs holdings in Blackstone were worth $5,856,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in BX. Mach 1 Financial Group LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Blackstone in the third quarter valued at approximately $25,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. acquired a new stake in shares of Blackstone in the third quarter valued at approximately $26,000. HWG Holdings LP acquired a new stake in shares of Blackstone in the third quarter valued at approximately $28,000. Ameliora Wealth Management Ltd. acquired a new stake in Blackstone during the third quarter worth $29,000. Finally, Trust Co. of Vermont increased its stake in Blackstone by 133.3% during the third quarter. Trust Co. of Vermont now owns 350 shares of the asset managers stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 200 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.39% of the companys stock. Get Blackstone alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other news, insider John G. Finley sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.37, for a total transaction of $4,014,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 350,005 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,130,001.85. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. In other news, insider John G. Finley sold 40,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $100.37, for a total transaction of $4,014,800.00. Following the sale, the insider now owns 350,005 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $35,130,001.85. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III sold 205,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, January 26th. The shares were sold at an average price of $33.00, for a total value of $6,781,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 9,844,228 shares in the company, valued at approximately $324,859,524. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last 90 days, insiders have acquired 10,950,338 shares of company stock worth $18,744,064 and have sold 140,651,616 shares worth $1,735,265,267. 1.00% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets Blackstone Stock Performance BX has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Bank of America cut their target price on Blackstone from $115.00 to $98.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. Piper Sandler dropped their price objective on Blackstone from $114.00 to $111.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, December 21st. Morgan Stanley lifted their target price on Blackstone from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Barclays lifted their target price on Blackstone from $86.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Friday, January 27th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group decreased their target price on Blackstone from $69.50 to $69.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, three have assigned a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $108.15. Shares of BX stock opened at $84.79 on Thursday. The stock has a market capitalization of $59.89 billion, a PE ratio of 34.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 1.50. Blackstone Inc. has a 52-week low of $71.72 and a 52-week high of $126.80. The stocks 50-day moving average price is $88.54 and its 200 day moving average price is $86.80. The company has a quick ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Blackstone (NYSE:BX Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The asset manager reported $1.07 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.95 by $0.12. Blackstone had a return on equity of 19.43% and a net margin of 20.52%. The firm had revenue of $1.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.62 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.71 EPS. As a group, equities research analysts forecast that Blackstone Inc. will post 4.56 EPS for the current year. Blackstone Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 13th. Shareholders of record on Monday, February 6th were given a dividend of $0.91 per share. This is a boost from Blackstones previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, February 3rd. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 4.29%. Blackstones payout ratio is presently 153.59%. About Blackstone (Get Rating) Blackstone, Inc engages in the provision of investment and fund management services. It operates through the following segments: Real Estate, Private Equity, Credit and Insurance, and Hedge Fund Solutions. The Real Estate segment includes management of opportunistic real estate funds, Core+ real estate funds, high-yield real estate debt funds, and liquid real estate debt funds. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Rating) will be posting its quarterly earnings results before the market opens on Friday, April 14th. Analysts expect Citigroup to post earnings of $1.68 per share for the quarter. Citigroup has set its FY 2023 guidance at EPS.Parties interested in listening to the companys conference call can do so using this link. Citigroup (NYSE:C Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The company reported $1.10 EPS for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.18 by ($0.08). The firm had revenue of $18.01 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $17.91 billion. Citigroup had a net margin of 14.73% and a return on equity of 8.14%. On average, analysts expect Citigroup to post $6 EPS for the current fiscal year and $7 EPS for the next fiscal year. Get Citigroup alerts: Citigroup Price Performance NYSE:C opened at $46.92 on Thursday. The firm has a market cap of $91.20 billion, a PE ratio of 6.70, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.56 and a beta of 1.57. Citigroup has a 12 month low of $40.01 and a 12 month high of $54.56. The company has a quick ratio of 0.94, a current ratio of 0.94 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.49. The companys 50-day moving average price is $48.48 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $47.05. Citigroup Announces Dividend Wall Street Analyst Weigh In The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 26th. Stockholders of record on Monday, May 1st will be given a dividend of $0.51 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 28th. This represents a $2.04 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 4.35%. Citigroups payout ratio is 29.14%. A number of equities analysts have recently issued reports on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reduced their target price on shares of Citigroup from $55.00 to $51.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Bank of America increased their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $52.00 to $60.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $52.00 to $46.00 in a report on Friday, January 6th. Evercore ISI cut their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $53.00 to $45.00 and set an in-line rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Oppenheimer cut their price objective on shares of Citigroup from $87.00 to $75.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and seven have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $54.47. Insider Buying and Selling at Citigroup In related news, insider Michael Whitaker sold 12,500 shares of Citigroup stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $51.63, for a total transaction of $645,375.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 239,429 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $12,361,719.27. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In related news, insider Sara Wechter sold 2,950 shares of the stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 21st. The shares were sold at an average price of $50.77, for a total transaction of $149,771.50. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 82,779 shares of the companys stock, valued at $4,202,689.83. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Michael Whitaker sold 12,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, February 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $51.63, for a total transaction of $645,375.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 239,429 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,361,719.27. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders have sold a total of 27,353 shares of company stock valued at $1,403,390 in the last ninety days. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Trading of Citigroup Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in C. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC boosted its position in Citigroup by 7.0% during the first quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 4,077 shares of the companys stock worth $218,000 after purchasing an additional 268 shares during the period. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC lifted its position in Citigroup by 2.2% during the first quarter. Orion Portfolio Solutions LLC now owns 15,952 shares of the companys stock valued at $852,000 after purchasing an additional 338 shares during the last quarter. Wealthsource Partners LLC lifted its position in Citigroup by 8.1% during the third quarter. Wealthsource Partners LLC now owns 5,380 shares of the companys stock valued at $224,000 after purchasing an additional 404 shares during the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. raised its stake in shares of Citigroup by 0.4% during the first quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 96,806 shares of the companys stock worth $5,169,000 after acquiring an additional 415 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC raised its stake in shares of Citigroup by 82.0% during the first quarter. Nelson Van Denburg & Campbell Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 961 shares of the companys stock worth $51,000 after acquiring an additional 433 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 70.90% of the companys stock. About Citigroup (Get Rating) Citigroup, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of financial products and services. It operates through the following segments: Global Consumer Banking, Institutional Clients Group, and Corporate and Other. The Global Consumer Banking segment provides traditional banking services to retail customers through retail banking, including commercial banking, and Citi-branded cards and Citi retail services. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Citigroup Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Citigroup and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clean Yield Group cut its holdings in Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW Get Rating) by 1.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 8,599 shares of the industrial products companys stock after selling 115 shares during the period. Clean Yield Groups holdings in Illinois Tool Works were worth $1,894,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of ITW. Cibc World Market Inc. grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 3.7% in the first quarter. Cibc World Market Inc. now owns 9,666 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,024,000 after acquiring an additional 348 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 4.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 9,070 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $1,899,000 after acquiring an additional 368 shares in the last quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 54.7% in the first quarter. Sequoia Financial Advisors LLC now owns 2,859 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $599,000 after acquiring an additional 1,011 shares in the last quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its holdings in shares of Illinois Tool Works by 9.9% in the first quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 2,407 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $504,000 after acquiring an additional 217 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Covestor Ltd lifted its stake in Illinois Tool Works by 70.7% in the first quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 746 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $156,000 after purchasing an additional 309 shares during the last quarter. 79.83% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Illinois Tool Works alerts: Insider Activity at Illinois Tool Works In related news, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $246.29, for a total value of $58,039,716.24. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 213,538 shares of the companys stock, valued at $52,592,274.02. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In other news, Vice Chairman Christopher A. Oherlihy sold 60,137 shares of the firms 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 transaction, the insider now directly owns 40,072 shares of the companys stock, valued at $9,868,130.72. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link. Also, CEO Ernest Scott Santi sold 235,656 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $246.29, for a total value 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 disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.78% of the stock is owned by insiders. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Illinois Tool Works Price Performance ITW has been the topic of several research analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Illinois Tool Works in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. UBS Group upped their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $213.00 to $245.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $174.00 to $223.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $210.00 to $238.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company upped their price objective on Illinois Tool Works from $210.00 to $220.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have given a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $224.43. Shares of ITW stock traded down $2.82 on Thursday, reaching $229.53. The companys stock had a trading volume of 317,147 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,087,247. The company has a quick ratio of 0.95, a current ratio of 1.41 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.00. Illinois Tool Works Inc. has a 12-month low of $173.52 and a 12-month high of $253.37. The company has a market capitalization of $69.97 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.76, a PEG ratio of 3.49 and a beta of 1.10. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $235.48 and its 200-day simple moving average is $222.38. Illinois Tool Works (NYSE:ITW Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 2nd. The industrial products company reported $2.34 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $2.60 by ($0.26). Illinois Tool Works had a return on equity of 87.15% and a net margin of 19.04%. The business had revenue of $3.97 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $3.90 billion. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.95 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.9% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts predict that Illinois Tool Works Inc. will post 9.53 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Illinois Tool Works Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, April 13th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a $1.31 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $5.24 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.28%. Illinois Tool Workss dividend payout ratio is presently 53.58%. Illinois Tool Works Profile (Get Rating) Illinois Tool Works, Inc engages in the manufacture of industrial products and equipment. It operates through the following segments: Automotive OEM, Test and Measurement and Electronics, Food Equipment, Polymers and Fluids, Welding, Construction Products, and Specialty Products. The Automotive OEM segment produces components and fasteners for automotive-related applications. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Illinois Tool Works Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Illinois Tool Works and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Community Bank of the Bay (OTCMKTS:CBYAA Get Rating) shares traded down 4.5% on Wednesday . The stock traded as low as $8.45 and last traded at $8.45. 900 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 92% from the average session volume of 11,406 shares. The stock had previously closed at $8.85. Community Bank of the Bay Stock Down 4.5 % The firms 50 day simple moving average is $9.14 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $9.20. Community Bank of the Bay Company Profile (Get Rating) Community Bank of the Bay provides various banking services to individuals and businesses in the greater San Francisco Bay area. It offers checking, savings, and money market products, as well as certificates of deposit; funds; and loan products comprising business and term loans, lines of credit, letter of credit, commercial and industrial, real estate, non-profit, and construction and land loans, as well as small business administration loans. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Community Bank of the Bay Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Community Bank of the Bay and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale lifted its position in shares of Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) by 24.5% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 1,124,671 shares of the retailers stock after buying an additional 221,139 shares during the period. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrales holdings in Walmart were worth $159,657,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently modified their holdings of the company. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its position in shares of Walmart by 1.4% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 130,176,496 shares of the retailers stock worth $16,883,890,000 after buying an additional 1,832,388 shares during the period. BlackRock Inc. raised its holdings in Walmart by 2.9% during the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 96,570,711 shares of the retailers stock worth $12,525,224,000 after acquiring an additional 2,712,886 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp raised its holdings in Walmart by 1.2% during the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 60,659,193 shares of the retailers stock worth $7,867,497,000 after acquiring an additional 701,415 shares in the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp raised its holdings in Walmart by 0.3% during the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 11,685,848 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,515,655,000 after acquiring an additional 33,452 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Walmart by 2.9% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 10,904,858 shares of the retailers stock worth $1,623,951,000 after acquiring an additional 303,726 shares in the last quarter. 31.27% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Walmart alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades Several analysts recently issued reports on WMT shares. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft upped their target price on Walmart from $164.00 to $169.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Royal Bank of Canada set a $163.00 target price on Walmart in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Credit Suisse Group set a $170.00 target price on Walmart and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, February 22nd. Evercore ISI upgraded Walmart from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and upped their price objective for the company from $145.00 to $160.00 in a research note on Thursday, March 30th. Finally, Roth Capital restated a buy rating on shares of Walmart in a research note on Tuesday, February 14th. Six research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, twenty-five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $164.34. Walmart Price Performance Shares of WMT stock traded down $0.72 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $148.62. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,587,511 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,419,793. The firms 50 day simple moving average is $143.09 and its 200-day simple moving average is $142.52. The company has a market capitalization of $400.63 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 34.89, a PEG ratio of 4.52 and a beta of 0.48. Walmart Inc. has a fifty-two week low of $117.27 and a fifty-two week high of $160.77. The company has a quick ratio of 0.21, a current ratio of 0.82 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.47. Walmart (NYSE:WMT Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Tuesday, February 21st. The retailer reported $1.71 EPS for the quarter, beating 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 company 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 company earned $1.53 EPS. Walmarts revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. Sell-side analysts forecast that Walmart Inc. will post 6.06 earnings per share for the current year. Walmart Dividend Announcement The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, January 2nd. Stockholders of record on Friday, December 8th will be paid a $0.57 dividend. This represents a $2.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.53%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, December 7th. Walmarts payout ratio is 53.27%. Insider Activity In other news, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.03, for a total value of $625,756.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 243,548 shares in the company, valued at approximately $34,834,670.44. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, major shareholder Jim C. Walton sold 1,908,331 shares of the firms stock in a transaction 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 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 filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Also, EVP John R. Furner sold 4,375 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 26th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.03, for a total value of $625,756.25. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 243,548 shares of the companys stock, valued at $34,834,670.44. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 21,053,710 shares of company stock worth $2,982,527,217. Insiders own 47.06% of the companys stock. About Walmart (Get Rating) Walmart, Inc engages in retail and wholesale business. The company offers an assortment of merchandise and services at everyday low prices. It operates through the following business segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sams Club. The Walmart U.S. segment operates as a merchandiser of consumer products, operating under the Walmart, Wal-Mart, and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands, as well as walmart.com and other eCommerce brands. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WMT? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Walmart Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Walmart and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. EVRAZ plc (LON:EVR Get Rating) crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of GBX 81 ($1.00) and traded as low as GBX 81 ($1.00). EVRAZ shares last traded at GBX 81 ($1.00), with a volume of 13,219 shares traded. EVRAZ Price Performance The stock has a market cap of 1.18 billion, a PE ratio of 41.54, a P/E/G ratio of 0.05 and a beta of 0.92. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 68.87, a current ratio of 1.36 and a quick ratio of 0.76. The firms 50 day moving average price is GBX 81 and its two-hundred day moving average price is GBX 81. About EVRAZ (Get Rating) EVRAZ plc, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the production and distribution of steel and related products in Russia, the Americas, Asia, Europe, CIS, Africa, and internationally. It operates through four segments: Steel; Steel, North America; Coal; and Other Operations. The company offers steel and value-added products, including infrastructure steel, rails, large-diameter pipes, and oil country tubular goods. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for EVRAZ Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for EVRAZ and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Graypoint LLC decreased its position in shares of Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating) by 1.2% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel reports. The fund owned 9,486 shares of the companys stock after selling 116 shares during the quarter. Graypoint LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $861,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of NVS. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP raised its stake in Novartis by 7.7% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 6,503,191 shares of the companys stock worth $494,313,000 after buying an additional 465,677 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. raised its holdings in Novartis by 4.6% during the 1st quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 4,399,213 shares of the companys stock worth $386,031,000 after buying an additional 193,519 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its stake in Novartis by 0.9% in the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,131,935 shares of the companys stock valued at $362,577,000 after buying an additional 35,483 shares in the last quarter. Cullen Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 2.2% in the third quarter. Cullen Capital Management LLC now owns 3,467,273 shares of the companys stock valued at $263,547,000 after buying an additional 75,377 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Novartis by 27.2% during the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 2,781,596 shares of the companys stock worth $244,085,000 after acquiring an additional 594,194 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 8.12% of the companys stock. Get Novartis alerts: Novartis Trading Up 0.7 % NYSE:NVS opened at $96.47 on Thursday. Novartis AG has a 52 week low of $74.09 and a 52 week high of $97.00. The firm has a market cap of $213.45 billion, a P/E ratio of 30.43, a P/E/G ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.54. The firms fifty day moving average is $87.00 and its 200-day moving average is $86.07. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.29. Novartis Increases Dividend Novartis ( NYSE:NVS Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $1.51 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $12.69 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.85 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 21.79% and a net margin of 13.75%. Equities analysts expect that Novartis AG will post 6.54 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently disclosed an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 20th. Investors of record on Friday, March 10th were issued a dividend of $3.4694 per share. This represents a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This is an increase from Novartiss previous annual dividend of $1.18. Novartiss dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 71.61%. Analyst Ratings Changes NVS has been the subject of a number of research analyst reports. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised shares of Novartis from an underweight rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Novartis from a sell rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Citigroup lowered Novartis from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. StockNews.com began coverage on Novartis in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Finally, UBS Group boosted their target price on shares of Novartis from CHF 82 to CHF 84 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Wednesday, December 14th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Novartis currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $82.63. Novartis Profile (Get Rating) Novartis AG is a holding company, which engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Innovative Medicines, Sandoz, and Corporate. The Innovative Medicines segment researches, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells patented pharmaceuticals, and is composed of two business units: Novartis Oncology and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding NVS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Gulf Investment Fund plc (LON:GIF Get Rating)s share price was up 1.3% during trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as GBX 1.96 ($0.02) and last traded at GBX 1.94 ($0.02). Approximately 3,212 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 65% from the average daily volume of 9,265 shares. The stock had previously closed at GBX 1.92 ($0.02). Gulf Investment Fund Trading Up 1.3 % The company has a fifty day simple moving average of GBX 1.90 and a 200-day simple moving average of GBX 1.99. The stock has a market cap of 795,400.00 and a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.78. Get Gulf Investment Fund alerts: Gulf Investment Fund Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 9th were given a dividend of $0.04 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 9th. This represents a yield of 1.87%. Gulf Investment Funds payout ratio is currently 3,888.89%. Gulf Investment Fund Company Profile Qatar Investment Fund plc is a close-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Epicure Managers Qatar Limited. The fund is co-managed by Qatar Insurance Company SAQ. It invests in public equity markets of Qatar. The fund benchmarks the performance of its portfolio against Qatar Exchange Index. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Gulf Investment Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Gulf Investment Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX Get Rating) was downgraded by equities researchers at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday. Helix Energy Solutions Group Trading Down 0.6 % HLX traded down $0.05 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $7.79. The company had a trading volume of 703,481 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,890,534. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $7.88 and its 200 day simple moving average is $6.86. The company has a market cap of $1.18 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of -13.43 and a beta of 2.77. Helix Energy Solutions Group has a 12-month low of $2.47 and a 12-month high of $9.16. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.15, a quick ratio of 1.55 and a current ratio of 1.55. Get Helix Energy Solutions Group alerts: Helix Energy Solutions Group (NYSE:HLX Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 20th. The oil and gas company reported $0.09 earnings per share for the quarter. The firm had revenue of $287.82 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $244.70 million. Helix Energy Solutions Group had a negative return on equity of 4.85% and a negative net margin of 10.05%. Equities research analysts anticipate that Helix Energy Solutions Group will post 0.62 earnings per share for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Helix Energy Solutions Group Helix Energy Solutions Group declared that its board has authorized a stock buyback plan on Monday, February 20th that allows the company to buyback $200.00 million in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization allows the oil and gas company to reacquire up to 16.5% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally an indication that the companys board of directors believes its stock is undervalued. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Belpointe Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $26,000. Dorsey Wright & Associates acquired a new stake in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group during the 4th quarter valued at about $37,000. Captrust Financial Advisors lifted its holdings in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group by 91.4% during the 1st quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors now owns 6,907 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 3,298 shares during the last quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd lifted its holdings in shares of Helix Energy Solutions Group by 388.4% during the 3rd quarter. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd now owns 7,423 shares of the oil and gas companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 5,903 shares during the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC lifted its holdings in Helix Energy Solutions Group by 292.6% in the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 10,000 shares of the oil and gas companys stock worth $39,000 after purchasing an additional 7,453 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 87.78% of the companys stock. Helix Energy Solutions Group Company Profile (Get Rating) Helix Energy Solutions Group, Inc is an international offshore energy company. It focuses on subsea construction, maintenance and salvage services to the offshore natural gas and oil industry. The firm also provides specialty services to the offshore energy industry, with a focus on well intervention and robotics operations. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Helix Energy Solutions Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Helix Energy Solutions Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hi Line Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm bought 40,145 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $1,151,000. Brookfield Asset Management accounts for approximately 0.4% of Hi Line Capital Management LLCs holdings, making the stock its 28th largest position. Several other hedge funds have also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 3.2% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 46,380,575 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $1,896,501,000 after acquiring an additional 1,426,257 shares in the last quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. The Manufacturers Life Insurance Company now owns 18,991,648 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $780,582,000 after acquiring an additional 285,949 shares in the last quarter. Legal & General Group Plc grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 7.8% during the 2nd quarter. Legal & General Group Plc now owns 7,640,915 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $339,175,000 after acquiring an additional 554,244 shares in the last quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 166.2% during the 1st quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 7,051,145 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $398,883,000 after acquiring an additional 4,402,115 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Brookfield Asset Management by 2.9% during the 3rd quarter. Connor Clark & Lunn Investment Management Ltd. now owns 6,658,887 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $272,057,000 after acquiring an additional 186,790 shares in the last quarter. Get Brookfield Asset Management alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on the stock. Royal Bank of Canada reaffirmed an outperform rating and set a $40.00 price target on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Tuesday, March 28th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. raised their target price on shares of Brookfield Asset Management from $35.00 to $39.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. StockNews.com started coverage on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Finally, CIBC started coverage on shares of Brookfield Asset Management in a research note on Friday, December 16th. They issued an outperform rating and a $37.00 target price for the company. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong 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 $47.06. Insider Transactions at Brookfield Asset Management Brookfield Asset Management Trading Up 2.0 % In other news, Director Multi-Strategy Mast Brookfield sold 24,744 shares of Brookfield Asset Management stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 28th. The stock was 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 owns 21,104,923 shares of the companys stock, valued at $252,414,879.08. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link BAM stock traded up $0.65 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $32.77. 191,196 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,711,931. The business has a 50-day moving average price of $32.93 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $35.77. Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. has a one year low of $26.76 and a one year high of $36.50. Brookfield Asset Management (NYSE:BAM Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 8th. The financial services provider reported $0.31 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.30 by $0.01. The company had revenue of $958.10 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $21.81 billion. Equities analysts anticipate that Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. will post 1.39 EPS for the current year. Brookfield Asset Management Increases Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a dividend of $0.32 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Monday, February 27th. This represents a $1.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.91%. This is an increase from Brookfield Asset Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. Brookfield Asset Management Profile (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. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAM? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Brookfield Asset Management Ltd. (NYSE:BAM Get Rating) (TSE:BAM.A). Receive News & Ratings for Brookfield Asset Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Brookfield Asset Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals (NYSE:VTN Get Rating) announced a monthly dividend on Tuesday, April 4th, Wall Street Journal reports. Investors of record on Monday, April 17th will be paid a dividend of 0.0331 per share by the investment management company on Friday, April 28th. This represents a $0.40 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 3.79%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, April 14th. Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals Price Performance NYSE:VTN opened at $10.49 on Thursday. The businesss 50-day moving average is $10.32 and its two-hundred day moving average is $10.13. Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals has a 12 month low of $9.13 and a 12 month high of $11.37. Get Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Credit Suisse AG acquired a new stake in Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals in the second quarter valued at approximately $96,000. Susquehanna International Group LLP acquired a new stake in Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals during the 4th quarter valued at $109,000. Wells Fargo & Company MN increased its stake in Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals by 12.9% during the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 15,336 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $155,000 after buying an additional 1,750 shares during the period. UBS Group AG lifted its holdings in Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals by 141.7% in the 2nd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 25,081 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $270,000 after buying an additional 14,706 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE lifted its holdings in Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals by 3.8% in the 1st quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 103,346 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $1,198,000 after buying an additional 3,797 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 17.76% of the companys stock. About Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals operates as a non-diversified, closed-end investment company. It intends to provide common shareholders with current income exempt from federal as well as from New York State and New York City income taxes, consistent with preservation of capital. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco Trust for Investment Grade New York Municipals and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Invst LLC purchased a new stake in iShares China Large-Cap ETF (NYSEARCA:FXI Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor purchased 837,495 shares of the exchange traded funds stock, valued at approximately $26,632,000. iShares China Large-Cap ETF accounts for approximately 4.1% of Invst LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 8th biggest position. Invst LLC owned approximately 0.43% of iShares China Large-Cap ETF as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its holdings in iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 16.2% in the first quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 19,191 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $614,000 after purchasing an additional 2,680 shares during the period. Private Advisor Group LLC increased its stake in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 11.1% in the first quarter. Private Advisor Group LLC now owns 6,298 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $201,000 after purchasing an additional 627 shares in the last quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. increased its stake in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 68.2% in the first quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 34,847 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $1,114,000 after purchasing an additional 14,135 shares in the last quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers increased its stake in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF by 7.2% in the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 79,636 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,546,000 after purchasing an additional 5,342 shares in the last quarter. Finally, AJ Wealth Strategies LLC purchased a new position in shares of iShares China Large-Cap ETF in the first quarter worth about $356,000. Get iShares China Large-Cap ETF alerts: iShares China Large-Cap ETF Stock Up 2.1 % NYSEARCA:FXI traded up $0.59 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $29.00. 12,990,568 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 35,497,570. The businesss 50-day moving average price is $29.12 and its 200 day moving average price is $27.97. The company has a market cap of $5.67 billion, a PE ratio of 9.27 and a beta of 0.46. iShares China Large-Cap ETF has a 12-month low of $20.87 and a 12-month high of $34.83. About iShares China Large-Cap ETF iShares China Large-Cap ETF (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 FTSE China 25 Index (the Underlying Index). The Funds portfolio of sectors include Financials, Telecommunication, Oil & gas, Technology and Consumer goods. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares China Large-Cap ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares China Large-Cap ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc. (NYSE:HPP Get Rating) Research analysts at Jefferies Financial Group upped their Q2 2023 earnings estimates for shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in a research report issued on Monday, April 10th. Jefferies Financial Group analyst P. Abramowitz now anticipates that the real estate investment trust will post earnings of $0.44 per share for the quarter, up from their prior estimate of $0.43. The consensus estimate for Hudson Pacific Properties current full-year earnings is $1.79 per share. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Hudson Pacific Properties Q2 2023 earnings at $0.44 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $1.80 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $1.80 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $1.73 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $1.73 EPS, FY2025 earnings at $1.73 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $1.73 EPS. Get Hudson Pacific Properties alerts: Hudson Pacific Properties (NYSE:HPP Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The real estate investment trust reported ($0.09) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.50 by ($0.59). The firm had revenue of $269.93 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $267.83 million. Hudson Pacific Properties had a negative return on equity of 1.47% and a negative net margin of 4.89%. Hudson Pacific Properties Stock Performance Several other analysts have also weighed in on HPP. The Goldman Sachs Group assumed coverage on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. They issued a sell rating and a $5.50 price objective for the company. Morgan Stanley decreased their price target on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $10.00 to $6.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Mizuho decreased their price target on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $12.00 to $10.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, January 4th. BMO Capital Markets decreased their price target on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $8.00 to $7.00 and set a market perform rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price target on shares of Hudson Pacific Properties from $10.00 to $7.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have issued a hold rating and one has assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Hudson Pacific Properties currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $10.63. NYSE:HPP opened at $6.07 on Thursday. The company has a fifty day moving average of $8.31 and a 200-day moving average of $9.75. The firm has a market capitalization of $855.20 million, a P/E ratio of -15.56 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a quick ratio of 2.21, a current ratio of 2.21 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.40. Hudson Pacific Properties has a twelve month low of $5.27 and a twelve month high of $26.16. Hudson Pacific Properties Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Investors of record on Monday, March 20th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 16.47%. The ex-dividend date was Friday, March 17th. Hudson Pacific Propertiess dividend payout ratio is currently -256.41%. Insider Activity at Hudson Pacific Properties In related news, CIO Drew Gordon bought 25,000 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 27th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $5.96 per share, with a total value of $149,000.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the executive now directly owns 116,958 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $697,069.68. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. In other news, EVP Arthur X. Suazo bought 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, March 28th. The shares were purchased at an average price of $5.86 per share, for a total transaction of $58,600.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the executive vice president now owns 87,102 shares of the companys stock, valued at $510,417.72. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, CIO Drew Gordon bought 25,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 27th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $5.96 per share, for a total transaction of $149,000.00. Following the acquisition, the executive now directly owns 116,958 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $697,069.68. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders have purchased 38,975 shares of company stock valued at $232,523 over the last three months. 2.95% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. Institutional Trading of Hudson Pacific Properties Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HPP. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 119.5% during the 4th quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 3,424 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 1,864 shares in the last quarter. Captrust Financial Advisors bought a new stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties during the 2nd quarter valued at $33,000. Point72 Hong Kong Ltd bought a new stake in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties during the 2nd quarter valued at $35,000. Ellevest Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 269.6% during the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 3,955 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 2,885 shares in the last quarter. Finally, CWM LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Hudson Pacific Properties by 196.8% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 3,520 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 2,334 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 95.57% of the companys stock. About Hudson Pacific Properties (Get Rating) Hudson Pacific Properties, Inc is a real estate company, which acquires, repositions, develops, and operates sustainable office and state of-the-art studio properties in high-barrier-to-entry submarkets in California, the Pacific Northwest, Western Canada, and Greater London, United Kingdom. It operates through the Office Properties and Studio Properties segments. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Hudson Pacific Properties Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hudson Pacific Properties and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kessler Investment Group LLC reduced its stake in Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC) by 99.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 1,300 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 331,349 shares during the quarter. Kessler Investment Group LLCs holdings in Bank of America were worth $43,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other large investors also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Legend Financial Advisors Inc. lifted its stake 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 valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 745 shares during the last quarter. Avondale Wealth Management acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter valued at $30,000. WD Rutherford LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 3rd quarter valued at $33,000. Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC lifted its stake 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 valued at $35,000 after purchasing an additional 1,089 shares during the last quarter. Finally, McElhenny Sheffield Capital Management LLC acquired a new position in shares of Bank of America in the 4th quarter valued at $38,000. 68.34% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bank of America alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets BAC has been the topic of several research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft lowered Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and decreased their target price for the stock from $45.00 to $36.00 in a research note on Friday, January 6th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on Bank of America from $38.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Monday. Odeon Capital Group lowered Bank of America from a buy rating to a hold rating and set a $35.20 target price on the stock. in a research note on Wednesday, March 8th. Barclays reduced their price target on Bank of America from $48.00 to $39.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Finally, StockNews.com initiated coverage on Bank of America in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating and eight have issued a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Bank of America presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $37.22. Insider Buying and Selling at Bank of America Bank of America Trading Down 0.8 % In other Bank of America news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of Bank of America stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following the transaction, the insider now directly owns 319,803 shares in the company, valued at approximately $10,959,648.81. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website . In other news, insider Matthew M. Koder sold 105,054 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $34.27, for a total value of $3,600,200.58. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 319,803 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,959,648.81. 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 214,745 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $35.91, for a total value of $7,711,492.95. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 214,747 shares of the companys stock, valued at $7,711,564.77. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Company insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. NYSE:BAC opened at $28.48 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day moving average price is $31.79 and its 200 day moving average price is $33.38. The company has a market capitalization of $227.95 billion, a PE ratio of 8.93, a P/E/G ratio of 1.21 and a beta of 1.36. The company has a quick ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.78 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Bank of America Co. has a 52-week low of $26.32 and a 52-week high of $40.37. Bank of America (NYSE:BAC Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.85 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.76 by $0.09. Bank of America had a return on equity of 11.41% and a net margin of 23.93%. The company had revenue of $24.50 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $24.17 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.82 EPS. The companys revenue was up 11.1% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts anticipate that Bank of America Co. will post 3.28 EPS for the current year. Bank of America Dividend Announcement The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 3rd were paid a $0.22 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 2nd. This represents a $0.88 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.09%. Bank of Americas dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 27.59%. Bank of America Company Profile (Get Rating) Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management (GWIM), Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BAC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bank of America Co. (NYSE:BAC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bank of America Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bank of America and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Kunlun Energy (OTCMKTS:KLYCY Get Rating) was downgraded by HSBC from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. Kunlun Energy Stock Up 5.9 % Shares of OTCMKTS KLYCY opened at $8.05 on Tuesday. The company has a fifty day moving average price of $8.22 and a 200 day moving average price of $7.61. Kunlun Energy has a 1-year low of $6.00 and a 1-year high of $9.15. Get Kunlun Energy alerts: Kunlun Energy Company Profile (Get Rating) Further Reading Kunlun Energy Company Limited, an investment holding company, engages in the exploration, development, production, and sale of crude oil and natural gas. It operates through four segments: Natural Gas Sales; Sales of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG); Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Processing and Terminal; and Exploration and Production. Receive News & Ratings for Kunlun Energy Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Kunlun Energy and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Liberty Media Acquisition Co. (OTCMKTS:LMACU Get Rating) shares traded up 0.3% during trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $10.08 and last traded at $10.08. 7,300 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 90% from the average session volume of 73,885 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.05. Liberty Media Acquisition Price Performance The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $10.08 and a 200 day moving average price of $10.05. Get Liberty Media Acquisition alerts: Hedge Funds Weigh In On Liberty Media Acquisition Institutional investors and hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. UBS Group AG grew its position in shares of Liberty Media Acquisition by 199.3% in the 3rd quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 2,882 shares of the companys stock worth $29,000 after buying an additional 1,919 shares during the period. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted its stake in Liberty Media Acquisition by 85.9% during the first quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 45,312 shares of the companys stock worth $454,000 after acquiring an additional 20,937 shares in the last quarter. Flow Traders U.S. LLC purchased a new stake in Liberty Media Acquisition in the first quarter worth about $657,000. Shaolin Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Liberty Media Acquisition during the third quarter valued at approximately $696,000. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Liberty Media Acquisition during the third quarter valued at approximately $696,000. Liberty Media Acquisition Company Profile Liberty Media Acquisition Corporation does not have significant operations. The company focuses on effecting a merger, capital stock exchange, asset acquisition, stock purchase, reorganization, or similar business combination with one or more businesses. The company was incorporated in 2020 and is based in Englewood, Colorado. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Liberty Media Acquisition Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Liberty Media Acquisition and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd. (TSE:LIQ Get Rating) crossed above its 50 day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50 day moving average of C$9.25 and traded as high as C$9.28. Liquor Stores N.A. shares last traded at C$9.25, with a volume of 106,114 shares. Liquor Stores N.A. Trading Up 1.9 % The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$9.25. About Liquor Stores N.A. (Get Rating) Liquor Stores N.A. Ltd. engages in the retail of wines, beers, and spirits in Canada and the United States. As of March 14, 2018, the company operated 230 retail liquor stores consisting of 174 stores under Liquor Depot, Liquor Barn, and Wine and Beyond brand names in Alberta; 33 stores under Liquor Depot and Liquor Barn brand names in British Columbia; and 22 stores under Brown Jug brand name in Alaska. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Liquor Stores N.A. Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Liquor Stores N.A. and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 11.3% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The fund owned 25,667 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,608 shares during the period. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc.s holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $1,847,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 4.4% in the 4th quarter. DekaBank Deutsche Girozentrale now owns 3,727,890 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $267,150,000 after acquiring an additional 155,558 shares in the last quarter. Clean Yield Group raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 12.3% in the 4th quarter. Clean Yield Group now owns 4,408 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $317,000 after acquiring an additional 482 shares in the last quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 0.8% in the 4th quarter. Birch Hill Investment Advisors LLC now owns 19,340 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $1,392,000 after acquiring an additional 160 shares in the last quarter. WPWealth LLP acquired a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter valued at $331,000. Finally, BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 23.2% in the 4th quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC now owns 1,990 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock valued at $143,000 after purchasing an additional 375 shares during the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Insiders Place Their Bets In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the sale, 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 at this hyperlink. In related news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a document filed 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 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 in the company, valued at approximately $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Company insiders own 0.09% of the companys stock. Bristol-Myers Squibb Trading Up 0.4 % Shares of NYSE BMY traded up $0.27 during trading on Thursday, reaching $70.48. The company had a trading volume of 2,394,030 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,984,336. The stock has a market cap of $148.24 billion, a P/E ratio of 23.80, a PEG ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.45. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 12 month low of $65.28 and a 12 month high of $81.43. The companys fifty day moving average price is $69.69 and its 200-day moving average price is $72.79. The company has a quick ratio of 1.14, a current ratio of 1.25 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data 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 firm had revenue of $11.41 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate 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% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business posted $1.83 earnings per share. As a group, research analysts expect that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 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. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.23%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 77.29%. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth BMY has been the topic of several recent analyst reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $60.00 to $62.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 3rd. Cantor Fitzgerald began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Tuesday, January 17th. They set an overweight rating and a $95.00 price objective on the stock. Finally, Atlantic Securities boosted their price objective on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $79.69. Bristol-Myers Squibb Profile (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mexico Equity & Income Fund Inc. (NYSE:MXE Get Rating)s share price passed above its fifty day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a fifty day moving average of $9.93 and traded as high as $10.02. Mexico Equity & Income Fund shares last traded at $10.01, with a volume of 7,780 shares trading hands. Mexico Equity & Income Fund Price Performance The stocks 50-day simple moving average is $9.93 and its 200 day simple moving average is $9.16. Get Mexico Equity & Income Fund alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On Mexico Equity & Income Fund A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in MXE. Susquehanna International Group LLP purchased a new stake in Mexico Equity & Income Fund during the 4th quarter worth approximately $148,000. Clough Capital Partners L P acquired a new position in shares of Mexico Equity & Income Fund in the 3rd quarter valued at $205,000. Lazard Asset Management LLC boosted its stake in Mexico Equity & Income Fund by 36.9% during the 1st quarter. Lazard Asset Management LLC now owns 26,196 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $239,000 after purchasing an additional 7,060 shares during the period. Atlas Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Mexico Equity & Income Fund during the 4th quarter worth $268,000. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC raised its position in Mexico Equity & Income Fund by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 42,228 shares of the investment management companys stock worth $318,000 after buying an additional 1,348 shares during the last quarter. Mexico Equity & Income Fund Company Profile Mexico Equity & Income Fund Inc is a closed ended balanced mutual fund launched and managed by Pichardo Asset Management, SA de C.V. The fund invests in the fixed income and public equity markets of Mexico. It also invests some portion in the convertible securities. The fund invests in the stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Mexico Equity & Income Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Mexico Equity & Income Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MTY Food Group (TSE:MTY Get Rating) had its target price lifted by equities research analysts at Raymond James from C$65.00 to C$66.00 in a research report issued on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. The firm presently has a market perform rating on the stock. Raymond James price target suggests a potential upside of 10.48% from the stocks previous close. A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on MTY. Royal Bank of Canada raised their price target on MTY Food Group from C$59.00 to C$69.00 and gave the company a sector perform rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. National Bankshares raised their price target on MTY Food Group from C$72.00 to C$74.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday. TD Securities raised their price target on MTY Food Group from C$65.00 to C$67.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Friday, February 17th. CIBC lowered their price target on MTY Food Group from C$73.00 to C$69.00 in a research report on Thursday. Finally, Scotiabank raised their price target on MTY Food Group from C$66.00 to C$75.00 in a research report on Friday, February 17th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, MTY Food Group presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of C$70.00. Get MTY Food Group alerts: MTY Food Group Price Performance TSE:MTY traded down C$0.17 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting C$59.74. 81,757 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 52,470. The firm has a market cap of C$1.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.36, a P/E/G ratio of 0.75 and a beta of 1.87. MTY Food Group has a 52 week low of C$45.20 and a 52 week high of C$73.50. The businesss fifty day simple moving average is C$64.64 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is C$60.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.57, a current ratio of 0.61 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 148.46. MTY Food Group Company Profile MTY Food Group Inc franchises and operates quick-service, fast-casual, and casual dining restaurants in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company also sells retail products under a multitude of banners. As of November 30, 2021, the company had 6,719 locations comprising 6,603 franchised, 23 joint ventures, and 93 corporate locations. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for MTY Food Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for MTY Food Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Finning International Inc. (TSE:FTT Get Rating) Equities researchers at National Bank Financial dropped their FY2024 earnings per share estimates for shares of Finning International in a research report issued to clients and investors on Monday, April 10th. National Bank Financial analyst M. Sytchev now anticipates that the company will post earnings per share of $3.06 for the year, down from their previous estimate of $3.11. National Bank Financial currently has a Sector Perform Market Weight rating on the stock. The consensus estimate for Finning Internationals current full-year earnings is $3.34 per share. Get Finning International alerts: Several other equities research analysts have also recently commented on FTT. BMO Capital Markets lifted their target price on Finning International from C$38.00 to C$43.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 9th. Raymond James lifted their price objective on Finning International from C$39.00 to C$42.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. National Bankshares cut Finning International from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and set a C$40.00 price objective for the company. in a research note on Tuesday, February 7th. CIBC lifted their price objective on Finning International from C$43.00 to C$45.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. Finally, Scotiabank lifted their price objective on Finning International from C$44.00 to C$45.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 8th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and four have issued a 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 C$43.14. Finning International Stock Up 0.8 % Finning International Announces Dividend TSE FTT opened at C$34.41 on Thursday. The stock has a fifty day moving average of C$34.69 and a 200-day moving average of C$32.67. The stock has a market capitalization of C$5.19 billion, a P/E ratio of 10.59, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.56 and a beta of 1.72. Finning International has a 52 week low of C$23.46 and a 52 week high of C$40.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 94.60, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 1.41. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 9th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, February 23rd were issued a dividend of $0.236 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Wednesday, February 22nd. This represents a $0.94 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.74%. Finning Internationals dividend payout ratio is presently 28.92%. About Finning International (Get Rating) Finning International Inc sells, services, and rents heavy equipment, and power and energy systems in Canada, Chile, the United Kingdom, Argentina, and internationally. The company offers telehandlers, articulated trucks, asphalt pavers, backhoe loaders, cable assist vehicles, cable yarding systems, chip dozers, cold planers, compactors, dozers, drills, electric rope shovels, excavators, material handlers, motor graders, off-highway trucks, pipelayers, remixing transfer vehicle, road reclaimers, road wideners, skid steer and compact track loaders, tack distributors, track loaders, underground-hard rock, wheel loaders, wheel tractor-scrapers, and windrow elevators, as well as attachments. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Finning International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Finning International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Franklin Parlapiano Turner & Welch LLC grew its stake in Novartis AG (NYSE:NVS Get Rating) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The firm owned 80,241 shares of the companys stock after buying an additional 473 shares during the quarter. Novartis accounts for about 2.4% of Franklin Parlapiano Turner & Welch LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 17th largest holding. Franklin Parlapiano Turner & Welch LLCs holdings in Novartis were worth $7,279,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors and hedge funds have also modified their holdings of the company. Synovus Financial Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 4.9% in the 3rd quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 23,006 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,749,000 after buying an additional 1,078 shares during the period. Commerce Bank lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 4.7% in the 3rd quarter. Commerce Bank now owns 23,504 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,786,000 after buying an additional 1,050 shares during the period. Community Bank N.A. lifted its holdings in shares of Novartis by 3.1% in the 3rd quarter. Community Bank N.A. now owns 5,188 shares of the companys stock valued at $394,000 after buying an additional 155 shares during the period. Eagle Bay Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of Novartis in the 2nd quarter valued at about $79,000. Finally, Single Point Partners LLC acquired a new position in shares of Novartis in the 4th quarter valued at about $312,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 8.12% of the companys stock. Get Novartis alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of research firms recently weighed in on NVS. Morgan Stanley cut Novartis from an equal weight rating to an underweight rating in a report on Friday, January 6th. UBS Group upped their price target on Novartis from CHF 82 to CHF 84 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Wednesday, December 14th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Novartis from a sell rating to a hold rating in a report on Monday, March 27th. StockNews.com began coverage on Novartis in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating for the company. Finally, Citigroup cut Novartis from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, January 26th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, three have assigned a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $82.63. Novartis Price Performance Shares of NVS stock traded up $1.52 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $97.99. The company had a trading volume of 521,354 shares, compared to its average volume of 2,217,586. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.34, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.29. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $87.00 and a 200-day moving average of $86.07. The company has a market capitalization of $216.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.43, a PEG ratio of 1.72 and a beta of 0.54. Novartis AG has a 12-month low of $74.09 and a 12-month high of $98.19. Novartis (NYSE:NVS Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $1.51 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.42 by $0.09. The business had revenue of $12.69 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.85 billion. Novartis had a return on equity of 21.79% and a net margin of 13.75%. On average, equities analysts anticipate that Novartis AG will post 6.54 earnings per share for the current year. Novartis Increases Dividend The business also recently declared an annual dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 20th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th were given a $3.4694 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, March 9th. This is a positive change from Novartiss previous annual dividend of $1.18. This represents a dividend yield of 2.6%. Novartiss dividend payout ratio is 71.61%. Novartis Profile (Get Rating) Novartis AG is a holding company, which engages in the development, manufacture, and marketing of healthcare products. It operates through the following segments: Innovative Medicines, Sandoz, and Corporate. The Innovative Medicines segment researches, develops, manufactures, distributes and sells patented pharmaceuticals, and is composed of two business units: Novartis Oncology and Novartis Pharmaceuticals. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Novartis Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Novartis and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Oncolytics Biotech Inc. (TSE:ONC Get Rating) shares passed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$2.05 and traded as low as C$1.48. Oncolytics Biotech shares last traded at C$1.55, with a volume of 54,063 shares changing hands. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts recently commented on the stock. HC Wainwright reiterated a buy rating on shares of Oncolytics Biotech in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Cantor Fitzgerald reiterated an overweight rating and issued a C$9.00 price target on shares of Oncolytics Biotech in a research note on Monday, March 6th. Get Oncolytics Biotech alerts: Oncolytics Biotech Stock Up 1.9 % The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.41, a quick ratio of 8.86 and a current ratio of 9.05. The stock has a market cap of C$98.64 million, a P/E ratio of -3.76 and a beta of 1.76. The stocks fifty day simple moving average is C$1.94 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$2.05. Oncolytics Biotech Company Profile Oncolytics Biotech Inc, a development-stage biopharmaceutical company, focuses on the discovery and development of pharmaceutical products for the treatment of cancer. Its lead product is pelareorep, an intravenously delivered immunotherapeutic agent for the treatment of solid tumors and hematological malignancies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Oncolytics Biotech Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Oncolytics Biotech and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Peoples Bank OH bought a new position in Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm bought 6,663 shares of the electronics makers stock, valued at approximately $213,000. Other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. BlackRock Inc. grew its position in Corning by 3.3% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 55,945,292 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $1,623,533,000 after purchasing an additional 1,796,774 shares during the last quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Corning by 197.7% in the first quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 2,033,754 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $75,066,000 after acquiring an additional 1,350,499 shares during the period. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Corning by 1.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 95,986,278 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $2,785,521,000 after acquiring an additional 1,002,544 shares during the period. Victory Capital Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Corning by 254.6% in the third quarter. Victory Capital Management Inc. now owns 1,298,059 shares of the electronics makers stock valued at $37,670,000 after acquiring an additional 932,034 shares during the period. Finally, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its position in Corning by 21.8% in the first quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 3,666,949 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $135,347,000 after acquiring an additional 656,886 shares during the period. 67.79% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Corning alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades GLW has been the topic of several recent research reports. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Corning in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating on the stock. Susquehanna lifted their price target on shares of Corning from $39.00 to $40.00 and gave the company a positive rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised Corning from a hold rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $35.00 to $38.00 in a research note on Monday, March 27th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on Corning from $44.00 to $40.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research note on Tuesday, December 20th. Finally, Credit Suisse Group reduced their target price on shares of Corning from $41.00 to $40.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $38.11. Insider Activity Corning Trading Down 0.2 % In other Corning news, insider Li Fang sold 19,909 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.17, for a total transaction of $700,199.53. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink . In related news, insider Li Fang sold 19,909 shares of Corning stock in a transaction on Tuesday, March 7th. The stock was sold at an average price of $35.17, for a total transaction of $700,199.53. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, VP John Z. Zhang sold 4,655 shares of Corning stock in a transaction dated Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $36.00, for a total transaction of $167,580.00. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 5,744 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $206,784. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Company insiders own 0.40% of the companys stock. Corning stock traded down $0.07 during trading on Thursday, hitting $34.67. The company had a trading volume of 777,185 shares, compared to its average volume of 4,255,237. The stock has a market cap of $29.37 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 22.56, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.34 and a beta of 1.07. The company has a current ratio of 1.44, a quick ratio of 0.88 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. The companys 50 day simple moving average is $34.43 and its 200-day simple moving average is $33.52. Corning Incorporated has a 1-year low of $28.98 and a 1-year high of $37.73. Corning (NYSE:GLW Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The electronics maker reported $0.47 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.44 by $0.03. The business had revenue of $3.63 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.54 billion. Corning had a return on equity of 14.82% and a net margin of 9.27%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 2.2% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $0.54 earnings per share. As a group, analysts expect that Corning Incorporated will post 2.01 EPS for the current fiscal year. Corning Increases Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, February 28th were issued a $0.28 dividend. This is a boost from Cornings previous quarterly dividend of $0.27. The ex-dividend date was Monday, February 27th. This represents a $1.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.23%. Cornings dividend payout ratio is presently 72.73%. About Corning (Get Rating) Corning, Inc engages in the provision of glass for notebook computers, flat panel desktop monitors, display televisions, and other information display applications, carrier network and enterprise network products for the telecommunications industry, ceramic substrates for gasoline and diesel engines in automotive and heavy-duty vehicle markets, laboratory products for the scientific community and polymer products for biotechnology applications, optical materials for the semiconductor industry and the scientific community, and polycrystalline silicon products and other technologies. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding GLW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Corning Incorporated (NYSE:GLW Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Corning Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Corning and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:DAL Get Rating) Equities research analysts at Seaport Res Ptn lowered their Q1 2023 EPS estimates for Delta Air Lines in a research report issued to clients and investors on Wednesday, April 12th. Seaport Res Ptn analyst D. Mckenzie now expects that the transportation company will earn $0.35 per share for the quarter, down from their previous estimate of $0.40. The consensus estimate for Delta Air Lines current full-year earnings is $5.19 per share. Seaport Res Ptn also issued estimates for Delta Air Lines Q3 2023 earnings at $2.05 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $5.60 EPS. Get Delta Air Lines alerts: A number of other equities research analysts also recently commented on DAL. Argus upgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from a hold rating to a buy rating and set a $39.00 price objective for the company in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. Evercore ISI upgraded shares of Delta Air Lines from an in-line rating to an outperform rating and raised their price objective for the company from $40.00 to $47.00 in a research report on Tuesday, March 7th. Raymond James raised their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $53.00 to $54.00 and gave the company a strong-buy rating in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Bank of America raised their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $40.00 to $43.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Finally, Barclays raised their price objective on shares of Delta Air Lines from $44.00 to $48.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, sixteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, Delta Air Lines currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of $49.53. Delta Air Lines Price Performance Shares of DAL opened at $33.74 on Thursday. Delta Air Lines has a fifty-two week low of $27.20 and a fifty-two week high of $46.27. The company has a market capitalization of $21.64 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 16.54, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.22 and a beta of 1.25. The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of $36.28 and a 200-day simple moving average of $34.82. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.14, a quick ratio of 0.45 and a current ratio of 0.50. Delta Air Lines (NYSE:DAL Get Rating) last announced its earnings results on Thursday, April 13th. The transportation company reported $0.25 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.33 by ($0.08). Delta Air Lines had a return on equity of 45.69% and a net margin of 2.61%. The business had revenue of $12.76 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.25 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company posted ($1.23) EPS. Delta Air Liness quarterly revenue was up 36.5% on a year-over-year basis. Insider Transactions at Delta Air Lines In other Delta Air Lines news, Director Francis S. Blake acquired 12,880 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 18th. The stock was acquired at an average cost of $38.58 per share, with a total value of $496,910.40. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 93,795 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,618,611.10. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. In other Delta Air Lines news, SVP William C. Carroll sold 15,529 shares of Delta Air Lines stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $38.20, for a total value of $593,207.80. Following the completion of the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 16,780 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $640,996. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, Director Francis S. Blake bought 12,880 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 18th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $38.58 per share, with a total value of $496,910.40. Following the completion of the purchase, the director now directly owns 93,795 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,618,611.10. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 43,980 shares of company stock valued at $1,696,902 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.84% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Delta Air Lines Several hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Silverlake Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Delta Air Lines by 2.8% in the 1st quarter. Silverlake Wealth Management LLC now owns 10,996 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $384,000 after acquiring an additional 300 shares during the period. National Bank of Canada FI grew its stake in Delta Air Lines by 48.2% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 452,518 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $15,798,000 after acquiring an additional 147,150 shares during the period. Oxinas Partners Wealth Management LLC grew its stake in Delta Air Lines by 562.2% in the 1st quarter. Oxinas Partners Wealth Management LLC now owns 40,430 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $1,412,000 after acquiring an additional 34,325 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. grew its stake in Delta Air Lines by 46.7% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 159,195 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $5,559,000 after acquiring an additional 50,705 shares during the period. Finally, 626 Financial LLC grew its stake in Delta Air Lines by 26.7% in the 1st quarter. 626 Financial LLC now owns 16,499 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $576,000 after acquiring an additional 3,481 shares during the period. 66.47% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Delta Air Lines Company Profile (Get Rating) Delta Air Lines, Inc engages in the provision of scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo. It operates through the Airline and Refinery segments. The Airline segment provides scheduled air transportation for passengers and cargo. The Refinery segment provides jet fuel to the airline segment. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Delta Air Lines Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Delta Air Lines and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sampo Oyj (OTCMKTS:SAXPF Get Rating)s share price was up 7.5% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $48.77 and last traded at $48.77. Approximately 888 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 72% from the average daily volume of 3,168 shares. The stock had previously closed at $45.38. Sampo Oyj Stock Performance The companys fifty day simple moving average is $48.14 and its 200-day simple moving average is $48.50. About Sampo Oyj (Get Rating) Sampo Oyj engages in the administration of insurance subsidiaries and management of investment portfolio. It operates through the following segments: Property and Casualty Insurance, Life Insurance and Holding Business. The company was founded in 1909 and is headquartered in Helsinki, Finland. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sampo Oyj Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sampo Oyj and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Securities Trust of Scotland plc (LON:STS Get Rating) passed below its 50-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 50-day moving average of GBX 216.26 ($2.68) and traded as low as GBX 213.71 ($2.65). Securities Trust of Scotland shares last traded at GBX 216.50 ($2.68), with a volume of 150,181 shares trading hands. Securities Trust of Scotland Price Performance The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 7.55, a quick ratio of 0.40 and a current ratio of 0.40. The stock has a market capitalization of 219.07 million, a PE ratio of 1,471.39 and a beta of 0.50. The companys fifty day simple moving average is GBX 216.33 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is GBX 221.54. Get Securities Trust of Scotland alerts: Securities Trust of Scotland Announces Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 14th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 23rd will be paid a dividend of GBX 1.45 ($0.02) per share. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, March 23rd. This represents a dividend yield of 0.69%. Securities Trust of Scotlands dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 4,000.00%. About Securities Trust of Scotland Securities Trust of Scotland plc is a closed-ended equity mutual fund launched and managed by Martin Currie Fund Management Limited. It is co-managed by Martin Currie Investment Management Limited. The fund invests in public equity markets across the globe. It seeks to invest in stocks of companies operating across diversified sectors. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Securities Trust of Scotland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Securities Trust of Scotland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Source Financial Advisors LLC acquired a new position in The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund acquired 3,341 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $278,000. A number of other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of the business. Fisher Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Charles Schwab during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $1,109,194,000. Boston Partners increased its position in Charles Schwab by 37.0% in the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 10,355,686 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $747,479,000 after buying an additional 2,798,159 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 2.1% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 124,437,061 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $8,943,291,000 after buying an additional 2,589,952 shares during the period. Alliancebernstein L.P. lifted its position in shares of Charles Schwab by 7.4% during the 3rd quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 20,767,564 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,492,565,000 after buying an additional 1,431,879 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Bank of New York Mellon Corp grew its stake in shares of Charles Schwab by 10.9% during the 3rd quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 13,495,161 shares of the financial services providers stock worth $969,896,000 after acquiring an additional 1,322,868 shares during the period. Institutional investors own 73.49% of the companys stock. Get Charles Schwab alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts have recently weighed in on SCHW shares. The Goldman Sachs Group reduced their target price on shares of Charles Schwab from $98.00 to $75.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. began coverage on Charles Schwab in a research report on Friday, March 10th. They set a buy rating and a $97.00 target price on the stock. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods cut their target price 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. Bank of America lowered their price target on shares of Charles Schwab from $74.00 to $60.00 in a report on Monday, March 13th. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on Charles Schwab in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and eleven have given a buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $76.63. Insider Activity Charles Schwab Trading Up 0.4 % In related news, insider Jonathan M. Craig sold 51,144 shares of Charles Schwab stock in a transaction dated Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.30, for a total transaction of $4,106,863.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink . In other news, insider Jonathan M. Craig sold 51,144 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.30, for a total transaction of $4,106,863.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, CEO Walter W. Bettinger acquired 50,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, March 14th. The stock was purchased at an average price of $59.31 per share, with a total value of $2,965,500.00. Following the completion of the acquisition, the chief executive officer now directly owns 656,501 shares of the companys stock, valued at $38,937,074.31. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here . Over the last ninety days, insiders purchased 81,000 shares of company stock valued at $4,706,960 and sold 728,106 shares valued at $58,067,403. Insiders own 6.60% of the companys stock. Shares of SCHW stock opened at $51.92 on Thursday. The company has a market cap of $93.01 billion, a PE ratio of 14.83, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.07 and a beta of 0.88. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.77, a current ratio of 0.38 and a quick ratio of 0.38. The stocks 50 day simple moving average is $67.18 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $74.31. The Charles Schwab Co. has a 1 year low of $45.00 and a 1 year high of $86.63. Charles Schwab (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, January 18th. The financial services provider reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $1.10 by ($0.03). Charles Schwab had a return on equity of 24.94% and a net margin of 34.60%. The firm had revenue of $5.50 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.55 billion. During the same period last year, the company earned $0.86 earnings per share. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 16.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Research analysts predict 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. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 10th were paid a $0.25 dividend. This is a positive change from Charles Schwabs previous quarterly dividend of $0.22. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. This represents a $1.00 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.93%. Charles Schwabs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 28.57%. Charles Schwab 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. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SCHW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for The Charles Schwab Co. (NYSE:SCHW Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Charles Schwab Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Charles Schwab and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure (TSE:TWM Get Rating) had its price objective decreased by investment analysts at CSFB from C$1.50 to C$1.30 in a research report issued on Thursday, BayStreet.CA reports. CSFBs price target would suggest a potential upside of 51.16% from the stocks current price. Other equities analysts also recently issued reports about the stock. Stifel Nicolaus downgraded shares of Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure from a buy rating to a hold rating and cut their price objective for the stock from C$1.80 to C$1.15 in a report on Tuesday, March 14th. National Bankshares cut Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure from an outperform rating to a sector perform rating and decreased their price target for the company from C$1.50 to C$1.10 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Canaccord Genuity Group decreased their price target on Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure from C$1.50 to C$1.40 in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure from C$1.60 to C$1.50 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, National Bank Financial cut shares of Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure from an outperform overweight rating to a sector perform market weight rating in a research report on Friday, March 10th. Three investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of C$1.44. Get Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure alerts: Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Stock Performance Shares of TSE:TWM traded down C$0.02 on Thursday, hitting C$0.86. The company had a trading volume of 372,870 shares, compared to its average volume of 408,166. Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure has a 1-year low of C$0.85 and a 1-year high of C$1.72. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of C$0.99 and a 200 day moving average price of C$1.05. The company has a current ratio of 0.82, a quick ratio of 0.55 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 94.08. The stock has a market cap of C$365.16 million, a price-to-earnings ratio of 43.00, a P/E/G ratio of 0.64 and a beta of 1.62. About Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure ( TSE:TWM Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 9th. The company reported C($0.01) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of C$0.04 by C($0.05). The business had revenue of C$711.10 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of C$712.00 million. Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure had a net margin of 0.30% and a return on equity of 2.72%. Analysts expect that Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure will post 0.1329394 EPS for the current year. (Get Rating) Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Ltd., through its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified midstream and infrastructure company in North America. It primarily focuses on natural gas, natural gas liquids (NGLs), and crude oil operations and processing plants located in the Deep Basin, Edmonton, and Montney regions of Alberta and British Columbia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tidewater Midstream and Infrastructure and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Toronto-Dominion Bank (TSE:TD Get Rating) (NYSE:TD) shares crossed below its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of C$87.19 and traded as low as C$79.25. Toronto-Dominion Bank shares last traded at C$80.00, with a volume of 10,850,713 shares trading hands. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In TD has been the subject of several research reports. National Bankshares raised their target price on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$100.00 to C$102.00 in a research note on Wednesday, February 22nd. Barclays dropped their price target on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$102.00 to C$101.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Scotiabank raised shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from a sector perform rating to an outperform rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. BMO Capital Markets dropped their target price on shares of Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$98.00 to C$93.00 in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada dropped their price target on Toronto-Dominion Bank from C$113.00 to C$110.00 in a research report on Monday, March 27th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of C$99.76. Get Toronto-Dominion Bank alerts: Toronto-Dominion Bank Trading Down 1.0 % The firm has a 50-day simple moving average of C$85.93 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of C$87.17. The company has a market capitalization of C$147.32 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.73, a P/E/G ratio of 1.06 and a beta of 0.83. Toronto-Dominion Bank Dividend Announcement Insider Activity The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Sunday, April 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, April 6th will be issued a $0.96 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, April 5th. This represents a $3.84 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 4.77%. Toronto-Dominion Banks payout ratio is 46.43%. In other Toronto-Dominion Bank news, Senior Officer Riaz Ahmed sold 37,832 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$89.01, for a total value of C$3,367,426.32. In related news, Senior Officer Riaz Ahmed sold 37,832 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of C$89.01, for a total transaction of C$3,367,426.32. Also, Director Mark Russell Chauvin sold 42,576 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Friday, January 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of C$88.45, for a total transaction of C$3,765,847.20. Following the transaction, the director now directly owns 185,780 shares of the companys stock, valued at C$16,432,241. Corporate insiders own 0.10% of the companys stock. Toronto-Dominion Bank Company Profile (Get Rating) The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through Canadian Personal and Commercial Banking, U.S. Retail, Wealth Management and Insurance, and Wholesale Banking segments. The company offers personal deposits, such as checking, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toronto-Dominion Bank and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Twin Capital Management Inc. lessened its stake in Snap-on Incorporated (NYSE:SNA Get Rating) by 3.4% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 19,411 shares of the companys stock after selling 673 shares during the period. Twin Capital Management Inc.s holdings in Snap-on were worth $4,435,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds have also bought and sold shares of the stock. Copeland Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Snap-on by 653.3% during the 4th quarter. Copeland Capital Management LLC now owns 113 shares of the companys stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 98 shares in the last quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust lifted its position in shares of Snap-on by 57.3% during the 1st quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 129 shares of the companys stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 47 shares in the last quarter. NuWave Investment Management LLC purchased a new position in shares of Snap-on during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Trustcore Financial Services LLC lifted its position in shares of Snap-on by 200.0% during the 3rd quarter. Trustcore Financial Services LLC now owns 150 shares of the companys stock valued at $30,000 after buying an additional 100 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Mitsubishi UFJ Morgan Stanley Securities Co. Ltd. purchased a new position in shares of Snap-on during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 85.19% of the companys stock. Get Snap-on alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts recently commented on the company. Robert W. Baird increased their price objective on Snap-on from $253.00 to $265.00 in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Snap-on in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. Tigress Financial restated a buy rating and set a $302.00 target price (up from $298.00) on shares of Snap-on in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. MKM Partners raised their target price on Snap-on from $238.00 to $259.00 in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Roth Capital restated a neutral rating on shares of Snap-on in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Three analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and two have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $250.25. Insider Activity Snap-on Trading Down 1.1 % In other news, CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk sold 22,800 shares of Snap-on stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $236.05, for a total value of $5,381,940.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 676,929 shares in the company, valued at approximately $159,789,090.45. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link . In other news, CEO Nicholas T. Pinchuk sold 22,800 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 16th. The stock was sold at an average price of $236.05, for a total transaction of $5,381,940.00. Following the sale, the chief executive officer now owns 676,929 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $159,789,090.45. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink . Also, CFO Aldo John Pagliari sold 7,030 shares of the firms stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 9th. The stock was sold at an average price of $251.90, for a total value of $1,770,857.00. Following the sale, the chief financial officer now directly owns 80,511 shares in the company, valued at approximately $20,280,720.90. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last quarter, insiders sold 41,744 shares of company stock worth $10,207,319. 4.20% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Snap-on stock traded down $2.67 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $235.26. 20,140 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 299,710. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $244.00 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $234.09. Snap-on Incorporated has a 12-month low of $190.08 and a 12-month high of $259.78. The firm has a market cap of $12.50 billion, a PE ratio of 14.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.96 and a beta of 1.09. The company has a current ratio of 3.47, a quick ratio of 2.40 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.26. Snap-on (NYSE:SNA Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 2nd. The company reported $4.42 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $4.09 by $0.33. The business had revenue of $1.16 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.15 billion. Snap-on had a return on equity of 20.83% and a net margin of 20.29%. The businesss quarterly revenue was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $4.10 EPS. Research analysts expect that Snap-on Incorporated will post 17.1 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Snap-on Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, February 23rd were paid a $1.62 dividend. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.75%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, February 22nd. Snap-ons payout ratio is presently 38.50%. Snap-on Profile (Get Rating) Snap-On, Inc engages in the manufacture and marketing of tools, equipment, diagnostics, repair information, and systems solutions for professional users performing critical tasks. Its products and services include hand and power tools, tool storage, diagnostics software, handheld and PC-based diagnostic products, information and management systems, shop equipment and other solutions for vehicle dealerships and repair centers, as well as for customers in industries such as aviation and aerospace, agriculture, construction, government and military, mining, natural resources, power generation, and technical education. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Snap-on Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Snap-on and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Virgin Money UK PLC (OTCMKTS:CBBYF Get Rating) reached a new 52-week high during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $2.40 and last traded at $2.40, with a volume of 0 shares. The stock had previously closed at $2.40. Virgin Money UK Price Performance The company has a 50 day moving average of $2.40 and a 200-day moving average of $2.40. Virgin Money UK Company Profile (Get Rating) Virgin Money UK PLC provides banking products and services for consumers, and small and medium sized businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. The company offers savings and current accounts, mortgages, credit cards, and home loans; business loans, overdraft facilities, treasury solutions, and corporate and structured finance; asset and invoice finance services; risk management; international trade services; and home, car, and life and critical illness insurance products. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Virgin Money UK Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Virgin Money UK and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Air India has signed an agreement with KSU Aviation to launch TaxiBot operations at Delhi and Bengaluru airports for its Airbus A320 family of aircraft. The strategic partnership is aimed at reducing Air Indias carbon footprint, as the adoption of TaxiBots envisages a potential saving of 15,000 tonnes in fuel consumption over three years, the airline said in a release. A piece of semi-robotic equipment, the TaxiBot, once attached to the aircraft, acts as an extension of the aircrafts nose landing gear. It is used to tow aircraft from the airport terminal gate to the taxi-out point and to tow aircraft from the terminal gate after landing (taxi-in phase) without utilising the aircrafts engines, thus saving jet fuel. The technology helps curb fuel consumption, carbon emissions, and noise levels, while also reducing the costs incurred by airlines. Commenting on the tie-up, Dr Ashwani Khanna, Director, KSU Aviation Pvt Ltd, said, We are excited about the formal induction of TaxiBot as part of Air Indias focussed approach to address its carbon footprint. In October 2019, in a global first, Air India used a TaxiBot on an Airbus A320 aircraft operating a commercial flight with passengers on board. Elaborating on the adoption of TaxiBot, Campbell Wilson, CEO & MD of Air India, said, Air India is constantly looking for ways to improve sustainability and manage our carbon footprint. The deployment of TaxiBots is an example of our commitment to reducing emissions and fuel consumption. This collaboration will allow us to better assess the capabilities of TaxiBots, and potentially lead to greater deployment across Air Indias subsidiaries and other airports. Last year, the Air India group entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) Indian Institute of Petroleum to collaborate on the research, development, and deployment of sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). Apple Inc. assembled more than $7 billion of iPhones in India last fiscal year, tripling production in the worlds fastest-growing smartphone arena after accelerating a move beyond China. The US company now makes almost 7% of its iPhones in India through expanding partners from Foxconn Technology Group to Pegatron Corp., people familiar with the matter said. Thats a significant leap for India, which accounted for an estimated 1% of the worlds iPhones in 2021. Apple is exploring ways to reduce its reliance on China as tensions between Washington and Beijing continue to escalate. Its longtime partners, who make most of the worlds iPhones from sprawling factories in China, have added assembly lines at a rapid pace over the past year, the people said, declining to be named as the information isnt public. The worlds most valuable company struggled last year with chaos at Foxconns main iPhone City complex in Zhengzhou, which drove home vulnerabilities in Apples supply chain and forced it to cut output estimates. At the same time, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has dished out a spate of incentives to boost local manufacturing. Of the total production, Apple exported $5 billion of iPhones in the year ended March 2023, nearly four times as much as the previous period, the people said. Apple will likely try to manufacture the next iPhones in India at the same time as in China, sometime in the fall of 2023. If so, that will be the first time that iPhone assembly begins concurrently in the two countries. And if the aggressive expansion of its suppliers continues, Apple could assemble a quarter of all its iPhones in India by 2025. Representatives for the US company declined to comment. Even before last years iPhone city flareup, Apple had recognized the need to diversify its supply chain. It successfully lobbied for incentives in India and pushed suppliers Foxconn, Wistron Corp. and Pegatron to ramp up locally. The trio, which together employ some 60,000 workers in India, make models ranging from the aging iPhone 11 to the latest iPhone 14 in the country. Thats helped place Apple at the heart of Indias ambitions to become a major manufacturing hub and alternative location to China. Apple is among the worlds most exacting when it comes to manufacturing: its production chain encompasses hundreds of companies across the world and employs millions, much of that now in China. The migration of iPhone production represents an economic triumph for India that could have implications for how other US brands plan their futures. For Apple, the country itself represents a fount of future growth, at a time the Chinese economy is sputtering after years of punishing Covid Zero restrictions. Apple will open its first two retail stores in India next week, one in the financial hub of Mumbai and another in the capital New Delhi. Chief Executive Tim Cook is scheduled to fly in to personally inaugurate the two stores, underscoring the domestic markets rising importance. Cupertino, California-headquartered Apple has also sought changes in Indias labor laws as part of its effort to expand local production and create mega factories. Its largest contract manufacturer, Foxconn, plans to invest about $700 million on a plant in a southern state to make phone components and possibly iPhones. Foxconn, Wistron and Pegatron representatives didnt immediately respond to requests for comment. What Bloomberg Intelligence Says Reducing exposure to Chinas dominance in the technology supply chain built over decades will face significant challenges, but our analysis indicates that dependence could be reduced by 20-40% in most cases by 2030. While geopolitical tensions as well as government and company policies are spurring nascent moves to diversify geographically, it will take years of investment to significantly untangle from Chinas complex, efficient and skilled supply chain from semiconductors to hardware to assembly. The commerce ministry has recommended continuation of 18.95 per cent countervailing duty (CVD ) on certain flat-rolled steel products imported from China for five years to guard domestic manufacturers from subsidised imports. The duty was recommended by the ministry's investigation arm Directorate General of Trade Remedies (DGTR) after conducting a sunset review investigation on imports of 'hot rolled and cold rolled stainless steel flat products' imported from China. Jindal Stainless Ltd and Jindal Stainless (Hisar) Ltd had jointly filed an application before the DGTR for initiation of this probe. They had sought the continuation of the countervailing duty on the imports, according to a notification of the directorate. According to the applicants, the expiry of the existing duty was likely to result in continuation/recurrence of subsidised imports of these goods from China and that impact the domestic industry. The imports have increased to 3,43,893 (annualised) metric tonnes (MT) in April-September 2022, and 4,42,058 MT (annualised) in October-December 2022, thus showing continuous increase. The directorate in its findings have concluded that the Chinese imports are undercutting the domestic prices and there is a likelihood of continuation of subsidisation on the products by China if the existing CVD was discountinued in the light of the surplus capacities maintained by the Chinese producers. "The Authority considers it appropriate and necessary to recommend continuation of definitive duty...for a period of five years on all imports of the subject goods from the subject country," it said. While the DGTR recommends the duty, the finance ministry takes the final decision to impose the same. Under the global trade rules of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), a member country is allowed to impose anti-subsidy to countervailing duty if a product is subsidised by the government of its trading partner. These duties are trade remedies to protect domestic industry. Subsidy on a product makes it competitive in price terms in other markets. Countries provide this to boost their exports. India and China are members of the WTO. China is a major trading partner of India. The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) has agreed on urgently improving information sharing, including on macroeconomic projections and sustainability assessments, at an early stage of debt restructuring processes. Co-chaired by the International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank Group President David Malpass and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the GSDR on Wednesday discussed debt sustainability, and debt restructuring challenges and ways to address them. As a priority for India's G20 Presidency, she said there is a need to augment present global efforts, including those of the G20, to address growing debt distress across the globe. Sitharaman stressed on debt transparency and information-sharing as well as clarity on the comparability of treatment, predictability and timeliness of the debt restructuring process, including those for steps involved in the process and ways to assess and enforce. Discussions focused on the actions that can be taken now to accelerate debt restructuring processes and make them more efficient, including under the G20 Common Framework, according to a statement issued by the roundtable, . "We agreed on the importance to urgently improve information sharing including on macroeconomic projections and debt sustainability assessments at an early stage of the process. The IMF and World Bank will rapidly issue staff guidance on information sharing at each stage of the restructuring process," it said. "The meeting discussed the role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in these processes through the provision of net positive flows of concessional finance. The International Development Association's (IDA) provision of positive net flows and the ex-ante implicit debt relief through increased concessionality and grants to countries facing higher risks of debt distress was welcomed," the statement said. To clarify key concepts to support predictability and fairness of debt restructuring processes, a workshop will be organised in the coming weeks on how to assess and enforce comparability of treatment, it said. "Moreover, further work will be undertaken on principles regarding cut-off dates, formal debt service suspension at the beginning of the process, treatment of arrears, and perimeter of debt to be restructured, including with regard to domestic debt," the statement said. This work will also help in clarifying potential timetables to accelerate debt restructurings, it said. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has registered a case under FEMA against BBC India for alleged foreign exchange violations and called its staffers for questioning following which a deputy managing editor of the broadcasting company deposed on April 13, official sources said. The action by the central agency comes nearly two months after the Income-Tax department surveyed the office premises of the British Broadcaster in Delhi and Mumbai in February. According to officials, the case under the provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) was registered nearly two weeks ago to essentially probe purported foreign direct investment (FDI) violations by the company and related instances. The ED has called for documents and the recording of statements of some company executives and a team of lawyers representing the company has already submitted some financial documents last week, they added. In London, the British public broadcaster said it will cooperate fully with the Indian authorities. We will continue to cooperate fully with the Indian authorities to ensure that we comply with all our obligations, a spokesperson for the UK-headquartered British taxpayer-funded licence fee-backed media corporation told PTI in response to a query. Reacting to the ED action, Congress spokesperson Anshul Avijit said, We know the atmosphere that is being created by the Orwellian sort of state here where the freedom of expression and press has completely been clamped down. It is not new, it has been happening, there are changes in laws but far from that there are threats and intimidation so whoever dares criticise this government is actually thrown in jail, Avijit said at a press conference at AICC headquarters. On February 14 this year, the I-T department conducted survey operations at the London-headquartered broadcaster's offices in Delhi and Mumbai as part of an investigation into alleged tax evasion. The survey went on for three days. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the administrative body for the I-T department, had then said the income and profits shown by various BBC group entities were not commensurate with the scale of their operations in India and tax has not been paid on certain remittances by its foreign entities. The BBC, after the tax survey, had said they will continue to cooperate with the authorities and hope matters are resolved as soon as possible. The survey found that despite substantial consumption of content in various Indian languages (apart from English), the income/profits shown by various group entities (of BBC) is not commensurate with the scale of operations in India. the department gathered several pieces of evidence pertaining to the operation of the organisation which indicate that tax has not been paid on certain remittances which have not been disclosed as income in India by the foreign entities of the group, the CBDT had said. The action had led to a sharp political debate with the BJP accusing the BBC of venomous reporting while the Opposition questioned the timing weeks after the broadcaster aired a two-part documentary, India: The Modi Question. Three municipal corporations -- Varanasi Nagar Nigam, Agra Municipal Corporation and Greater Chennai Corporation plan to raise funds through municipal bond sales, three persons close to the development said. Varanasi Nagar Nigam and Agra Nagar Nigam have invited bids from potential advisors-cum-merchant bankers, the persons said on condition of anonymity. Greater Chennai Corporation plans to raise at least Rs 200 crore through a municipal bond sale by May-end, top officials at the civic body said. Municipal bonds are issued by civic bodies to finance urban infrastructure projects. Merchant bankers act as intermediaries between issuers of stocks and bonds and investors. They take responsibility for the preparation of the sale prospectus and marketing. According to Varanasi Nagar Nigams tender, merchant bankers or transaction advisors can submit their application by April 21 up to 5 pm. On April 5, Moneycontrol reported that two municipal corporations in Uttar Pradesh are planning bond issues, citing sources. Kanpur Municipal Corporation plans to raise at least Rs 100 crore through a 10-year municipal bond sale. Agra Municipal Corporation Officials at the corporation said they planned to raise Rs 50-100 crore through the bond sale, without disclosing the tenure of the bonds. As of now, we have not decided where these funds will be utilized, but once the merchant banker selection will completed, we will disclose it publicly, an official told Moneycontrol on condition of anonymity. The last date to submit application had been April 15 till 2 pm. A source said: We have extended the last date to bid by 5 days to April 20. The corporation held a pre-bid meeting on April 12, official said. Also read: AMFI March mutual fund numbers out, net equity inflow at Rs 20,190 crore, highest in a year Greater Chennai Corporation Top officials told Moneycontrol that the corporation planned to raise up to Rs 200 crore through municipal bonds. They are planning to issue these or bidding for these bonds will take place by May-end. We have appointed AK Capital as a merchant banker for the issue and issue these bonds by May-end, one corporation official said. Also read: Bankrupt crypto exchange FTX has recovered $7.3 billion in assets Past issuances In the last 10 years, municipal corporations have raised over Rs 4,000 crore through municipal bond sales, market participants say. According to Prime Database data, Vadodara Municipal Corporation, Ghaziabad Nagar Nigam, Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and Indore Municipal Corporation were among the civic bodies that sold municipal bonds since 2013. On February 24, NSEs index services subsidiary, NSE Indices Limited, launched Indias first ever Municipal Bond Index, Nifty India Municipal Bond Index, at a Securities and Exchange Board of India workshop on Municipal Debt Securities in Bengaluru. The index has 28 municipal bonds issued by 10 issuers, all having a credit rating in the AA category. Germany's imports from Russia fell by more than 90% in the first year of Moscow's war in Ukraine, largely as a result of the collapse of Russian energy deliveries to Europe's biggest economy, official figures showed Thursday. The Federal Statistical Office said Germany imported goods worth 300 million euros ($329 million) in February, down from 3.7 billion euros a year earlier. That was a 91% fall, and dropped Russia from the 11th-biggest source of imports to 46th place. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 triggered several rounds of Western sanctions. Its relations with the West chilled even in areas that weren't directly subject to sanctions, such as natural gas. Moscow, which once supplied more than half of Germany's gas, reduced and then stopped gas deliveries to the country last summer. The statistics office said imports of Russian oil and gas were down 99.8% in the year to February, falling to 4.2 million euros from 2.2 billion euros. Germany's overall imports of oil and gas this February totaled 6 billion euros. Coal imports dropped 92.5%, to 26 million euros from 347 million euros. Meanwhile, Germany exported goods to the tune of 800 million euros to Russia in February, down from 2.1 billion euros a year earlier. That was a 60.5% decline. The statistics office didn't give details of what is still being imported and exported. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept IT company HCL Technologies' digital business service head Anand Birje has resigned, the firm said on Thursday. Birje was based out of San Francisco. He has been with HCL Technologies for the last 20 years. "Anand Birje, head of Digital Business Services has decided to leave HCL Technologies Ltd to pursue another opportunity. Anand joined HCL Tech in 2003 in Infrastructure Services sales, moved on to lead the D&A practice in 2017 and later became the head of Digital Business Services in 2021," the company said in a regulatory filing. There have been several churns of high-level officials in Indian technology companies, including the exits of Infosys president Mohit Joshi and Tata Consultancy Services CEO Rajesh Gopinathan. HCL Tech said it continues to have a stable senior talent pipeline and would announce the new leadership shortly. "Anand will continue to serve till May 5, 2023. We deeply appreciate his contributions to the company," HCL Tech said. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has retained Indias Category 1 (CAT-1) status, the ministry of civil aviation has said. The ministry tweeted that FAA had confirmed that it would continue Indias CAT-1 status as per its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme. Under the leadership of PM Sh. @narendramodi & HMCA Sh. @JM_Scindia, we are dedicated to ensuring a seamless & safe flying experience for all passengers. (2/2) MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) April 12, 2023 CAT-1 status implies that an airline can operate and offer its services to American cities and proceed with codeshare agreements with US carriers. Civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia also responded to the ministry's post, hailing Indias 16 percent jump in International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) global rating. After a significant 16 percent jump in its ICAO global rating, yet again, Indias civil aviation sector successfully retains its Category A status with FAA. Indias standards for aviation safety oversight continue to be amongst the best in the world! Congratulations @MoCA_GoI! he tweeted. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept India and Spain are likely to hold a fifth round of negotiations in June to finalise the fast track mechanism for investments aiming to provide single window clearance and ease of doing business to Spanish companies, a top official of the commerce ministry said. "Four rounds of negotiations have been completed with Spain on the fast track mechanism for investments. The fifth round of negotiations will be held in June," Sumita Dawra, Special secretary, Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), said at the India-Spain business meeting in New Delhi. The fast track mechanism for investments is likely to be finalised by September, sources said. ALSO READ: Overall exports in FY23 jumps to $770 billion, surpasses target: Commerce Secretary Spain is the 16th largest investor in India with a $4-billion investment. The mechanism will be like a single-window clearance between the two countries to provide ease of doing business for Spanish companies, similar to the existing mechanism between India and Germany. "(We are) Looking at deepening, strengthening bilateral economic engagement with Spain. Spanish companies have opportunities to invest in multi-modal parks, infrastructure in India," Dawra said. India and Spain have opportunities to collaborate in defence, technology, green energy, manufacturing, aviation, healthcare, high speed railway, etc., she said. Spain is India's 7th largest trading partner in Europe with a trade of $8 billion. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Jindal Steel and Power Ltd (JSPL) will more than double its rail making capacity to 2.2 million tonnes by setting a rail mill at Angul, in Odisha with an annual capacity of 1.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). The steel maker owns and operates 1 MTPA rail mill at its Raigarh unit, in Chhattisgarh, where it manufactures speciality rails like 1175 HT, R350 HT, asymmetric rails, and 1080 HH (head hardened) rails for the Railways, metro projects and high-speed freight corridors. "JSPL will set up a new 1.2 MTPA rail mill at Angul. After the commissioning of the new mill, the total rail-making capacity will be more than doubled to 2.2 MTPA," a company statement said on Thursday. The company did not disclose investment figures, but sources said the estimated investment would be in the range of Rs 2,500 crore to Rs 3,000 crore. The company is also supplying 260-meter rails to Indian Railways, dedicated freight corridors and other critical projects of national importance from its Raigarh mill. These rails are an import substitution product, required for heavy axle loads of more than 25 metric tonnes. Such long rails with minimum welds are a key element in increasing track safety and comfort, it said. "Our company is proactively augmenting rail manufacturing capacity to support the ongoing expansion and modernization of the Indian rail network. We are committed to support the government's initiatives like Gati Shakti Yojna, AtmaNirbhar Bharat by making available domestically produced products at competitive prices against imported items," JSPL Managing Director Bimlendra Jha. The company will also explore international markets to supply Made in India rails after fulfilling domestic needs, he said. JSPL is also exporting rails to multiple countries around the world. It has supplied speciality rail blooms for the European railways. Shares of Anupam Rasayan surged around four percent on April 13 morning after the chemical manufacturer said it signed a pact with a Japanese multinational to make and supply "three high-value" speciality chemicals. The custom synthesis and speciality chemical player signed a letter of intent worth revenue of $182 million (Rs 1,500 crore) for the next seven years with one of the leading Japanese multinationals to manufacture and supply three high-value speciality chemicals, Anupam Rasayan said in a regulatory filing. With this pact, Anupam Rasayan added another marquee name to its customer base in a short span and the three molecules will be used as advance intermediates for highly specialised polymers and liquid crystals, it said. We will be the exclusive supplier for these molecules out of India and this is in line with our strategy of expansion in fluoropolymer and electronic segments, manufacturing high-value molecules and going up the value chain with the support of our customers, Managing Director Anand Desai said. Catch up on all LIVE stock market updates here The speciality chemicals major has two verticals: life sciences-related specialty chemicals such as those used in agrochemical, personal care and pharmaceutical industries. Other specialty chemicals comprise special pigments and dyes and polymer additives. At 11.24 am, Anupam Rasayan was trading 3.1 percent higher at Rs 978.55 on the BSE. The stock has gained 71 percent since February 2023. The market buzz is that high networth individuals and a Middle East long-only fund are lapping up shares of the firm expecting better profitability. The companys margin has taken a knock in the past couple of quarters due to an inventory pile-up, which led to stretched working capital. Raw materials had piled up because the firm expected to secure an export order, which it did not get. Now that the high-cost inventory has been utilised, the pressure on margin is expected to ease, a dealer said on condition of anonymity. Unlike the other chemical companies, Anupam Rasayan is benefitting from the European energy crisis as it has signed two new contracts worth Rs 1,000 million with a European agrochemical company, said KRChoksey Shares & Securities. The company is witnessing a change in the trend as Indian chemical players are being selected as preferred manufacturing partners for strategic products presently being manufactured in Europe," it said. Disclaimer: The views and investment tips expressed by 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. A University of Oxford developed and Serum Institute of India (SII) manufactured and scaled up high efficacy malaria vaccine has been licensed for use in Ghana by Africa's Food and Drugs Authority, the university announced in London on Thursday. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine, leveraging Novavax's adjuvant technology, has been approved for use in children aged 5 to 36 months - the age group at the highest risk of death from malaria. It marks the first regulatory clearance for the R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine for use in any country. "This marks a culmination of 30 years of malaria vaccine research at Oxford with the design and provision of a high efficacy vaccine that can be supplied at adequate scale to the countries who need it most," said Professor Adrian Hill, Chief investigator of the programme and Director of the Oxford University's Jenner Institute at the Nuffield Department of Medicine. "As with the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine, our partnership with the Serum Institute of India has been key to successful very large-scale manufacturing and rapid development," he said. The R21/Matrix-M malaria vaccine is a low-dose vaccine that can be manufactured at a mass scale and modest cost, enabling as many as hundreds of millions of doses to be supplied to African countries which are suffering a significant malaria burden. "Malaria is a life-threatening disease that disproportionately affects the most vulnerable populations in our society and remains a leading cause of death in childhood. Developing a vaccine to greatly impact this huge disease burden has been extraordinarily difficult," said Adar Poonawalla, CEO of the Serum Institute of India. "The licensure of the R21/Matrix-M Malaria Vaccine for use in Ghana is a significant milestone in our efforts to combat malaria around the world. We remain steadfast in our commitment to scaling up production of the vaccine to meet the needs of countries with high malaria burden and to support global efforts towards saving lives," he said. The R21/Matrix-M vaccine was initially designed and developed at the University of Oxford and has undergone clinical trials in the UK, Thailand, and several African countries, including an ongoing Phase III trial in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania that has enrolled 4,800 children. Results from these trials are expected to be reported later this year. The vaccine contains Novavax's Matrix-M, a saponin-based adjuvant that enhances the immune system response, making it more potent and more durable. The Matrix-M adjuvant stimulates the entry of antigen-presenting cells at the injection site and enhances antigen presentation in local lymph nodes. This technology has also been used in Novavax's Covid-19 vaccine and is a key component of other development-stage vaccines. John C Jacobs, President and Chief Executive Officer, Novavax said, "We're thrilled that Novavax's Matrix-M adjuvant has contributed to the success of this promising and much-needed malaria vaccine.It is our intention to unlock the potential of our adjuvant, both in the near term and over time, to continue to improve public health." Meanwhile, SII is said to have already established potential manufacturing capacities of more than 200 million doses annually. The scientists behind the project see this as a critical step towards reducing over half a million malaria-related deaths annually and improving the health outcomes of millions of people in Africa and beyond. Increasing use of digital technology, migration of IT infrastructure to third-party providers, and growing usage of data from new and existing channels will result in the addition of 678 MW to Indias digital transformation industry by 2025. This will create demand for 9.1 million square feet of real estate space, which will need an investment of $4.8 billion in both data centre infrastructure and data centre sector real estate, according to a report. The industry added 71.8 MW of capacity in the second half of 2022, resulting in a total supply of 171 MW in 2022 a 31 percent growth over the previous year. As a cost optimisation and revenue-boosting strategy, digital transformation is expected to gain wider acceptance and drive higher absorption in the coming quarters, according to Jones Lang LaSalles Data Centre Update: H2 2022. Data capacity is measured in megawatts (MW) and gigawatts (GW). They indicate how much data the network of servers can consume. Mumbai leads the space absorption, accounting for a 43 percent share, with a substantial hyperscale precommitment being delivered in Delhi NCR, it said. Hyperscale data centres cater to the demands of large organisations including Amazon, Google, and Facebook. Faster delivery The supply in the market increased 36 percent year-on-year with the addition of 85.1 MW. The addition was mainly due to precommitments that made up a significant portion of the demand. Data centre operators have been prioritising faster delivery times to entice additional hyperscale precommitments, resulting in a consistent growth of supply. Mumbai and Delhi NCR led the way, representing 74 percent of the total supply added during the second half of 2022, it said. Hyperscalers public cloud services have been scaling up their requirements significantly and are expected to grow further. This demand is fuelled by the rising digital adoption across sectors and the outsourcing of IT infrastructure to third-party players, said Rachit Mohan, head - data centre advisory, India, at JLL. With this precommitment, the industry is set to experience growth and expansion, creating exciting opportunities for all stakeholders involved. It is expected that the 350 MW absorption will be delivered by 2025. According to Samantak Das, chief economist, and head of research & REIS, India, at JLL, Indias data centre industry doubled to 722 MW in 2022 from 350 MW in 2019, registering a robust CAGR of 27 percent. This growth shows no signs of slowing down, thanks to the high pace of India's digital transformation. In 2022, the industry saw an all-time high absorption of 160 MW, resulting in a total occupancy of 660 MW, which is 32 percent higher than the previous year, Das said. Indias data centre industry is set for continued growth, with a strong precommitment pipeline expected to result in 678 MW being added over the next three years, taking the industry's capacity to 1,400 MW by end-2025. The highest capacity addition is expected in Mumbai, including Navi Mumbai, requiring 4.7 million sq. ft. of real estate, followed by Chennai at 2.3 million sq. ft. and Delhi NCR at 1 million sq. ft. The investment in real estate and data centre infrastructure required for setting up data centres will require a capital outlay of $4.8 billion by 2025. Data centre operators may tap global investors or form alliances to fund the additions. Mumbai-based Hiranandani Group plans to venture into the redevelopment of old buildings, for which it is exploring opportunities in the suburbs and south Mumbai. The group also plans to launch three plotted development projects in Alibaug, Khandala near Mumbai and in Chennai to capitalize on demand for second homes post-Covid-19. Niranjan Hiranandani, founder and managing director of Hiranandani Group, told Moneycontrol. The company is also looking to launch two luxury projects in Powai where it has 13 acres of unused land, Hiranandani said. These announcements come in the backdrop of the company announcing an investment of Rs 1,000 crore and plans to construct 1 million sq ft in its upcoming township in Panvel near Mumbai. The land for the project was purchased by Hiranandani in 2008. It plans to construct apartments ranging from 1,2 and 3 BHK in the range of Rs 70 lakh to Rs 2 crore. Also read: Hiranandani Group plans to invest Rs 1,000 crore for 1 million sq ft of residences at Panvel near Mumbai Open to redevelopment The company that owns huge land parcels in the country says it is evaluating opportunities for redevelopment projects in Andheri and South Mumbai's Malabar Hill. "There are no concrete details that can be shared, but we are evaluating various opportunities. We have got proposals from the Lokhandwala area in Andheri, and are also evaluating opportunities in the Malabar Hill area of South Mumbai. The relaxations in the Coastal Regulatory Zone (CRZ) rules are helpful and will boost redevelopment not only in South Mumbai but even in other parts of the city," he said. Plotted developments The company plans to launch three plotted development projects in Alibaug, Khandala, and in Chennai. Hiranandani said the group own 250 acres of land in Alibaug, 500 acres in Khandala and 400 acres in Chennai. We will put 15-20 acres of land each for plotted development in these locations, he said. Luxury project launch in Powai The company plans to launch a luxury project consisting of 3 and 4 BHKs in Powai, where it owns around 13 acres of land that is lying vacant. "We are also open to redevelopment opportunities in the Powai area where we have constructed buildings in the last three to four decades, but we will also like to go for luxury project launches considering there is immense growth in the mid- segment and luxury market," Hiranandani said. Open to taking up slum rehabilitation projects Close to 30 years after the Slum Rehabilitation Act was passed, over 2,200 projects have been completed. The Hiranandani group is also open to taking up such projects. "We are already doing the Parksite project in the Vikhroli area that is of slum rehabilitation after the court ordered us. At the same time, we are also open to exploring more slum rehabilitation projects," he said. Data centres The company also plans to come up with data centres in the city limits of Mumbai. This will come up under the banner of Yotta Infrastructure. Would investment in real estate be the first option? Asked what would he do if he had a budget of Rs 50 lakh and was 30 years old, the 73-year-old Hiranandani said that if his annual income was Rs 12 lakh, he would invest Rs 30 lakh in real estate and the rest in mutual funds and the stock market. We should remember that it is real estate that will remain and fight inflation while the rest all is on paper. I would go for investing Rs 30 lakh in real estate, considering that if I had 25 percent of the total amount of the property value in hand for downpayment, said Hiranandani. Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), which kicked off the earnings season on April 12, added 22,600 employees during FY23, a steep decrease as compared to its net addition in FY22. In the previous year, it had added 1.03 lakh employees on a net basis during the year. With this, the companys headcount as of March 31, 2023, stood at 6,14,795. This is the companys lowest net headcount addition since FY15 when it had added 19,000 employees on a net basis during the year. The company had added 40,185 employees on a net basis in FY21, 24,179 in FY20 and 29,287 in FY19. During the last quarter of the fiscal, TCS saw a marginal increase of 821 employees on a net basis after last quarters decline of 2,197 employees, signalling the current stress in the IT sector. TCS added 35,209 employees in the same quarter last year. TCS added 14,136 employees in Q1FY23, 9,840 in Q2, saw a decrease of 2,197 employees in Q3, and an increase of 821 in Q4. Milind Lakkad, the companys Chief Human Resources Officer, said, We are honouring all job offers, and have added 22,600 employees on a net basis in FY 23. During the year, we onboarded over 44K freshers and our highest-ever number of experienced professionals. Last quarter, Lakkad said the hiring slowdown was not a blip, but was planned this way. Attrition for the quarter fell to 20.1 percent, continuing its downward trend from last quarters 21.3 percent. As the talent market cools off, attrition rates have continued to normalise further, and it is also in line with the managements commentary about attrition being expected to fall in coming quarters. The hiring slowdown is on expected lines, as companies take a cautious approach to fresh hiring after the highs of FY22. Experts Moneycontrol spoke to recently also expected a hiring slowdown in Q4FY23, and expect hiring to be subdued for at least the first two quarters of FY24. Smartphone maker vivo on Thursday said it will invest Rs 1,100 crore more by the end of 2023 to scale up its manufacturing capacity in the country, and that production in its upcoming unit at Greater Noida is expected to commence by early 2024. vivo India also said it is "on track" to export more than one million 'Made in India' smartphones in 2023, having sent its first 'made in India' smartphone shipment to Thailand and Saudi Arabia during 2022. As part of its Rs 7,500-crore proposed investment plan it had outlined, vivo is on its way to complete the first phase investment of Rs 3,500 crore by the end of 2023. "vivo India has already invested Rs 2,400 crore, and a further Rs 1,100 crore is expected to be invested by the end of 2023 to increase its manufacturing capacity and support the government's vision of making India a global export hub," the company said in a release. The company released the second edition of its India impact report, as it pledged its "unwavering commitment" to the Indian market. "The vision which vivo has for India, there is a very strong conviction that India's smartphone market holds a lot of potential and, thus, we are invested in creating this whole ecosystem for the smartphone market," Yogendra Sriramula, Head, Brand Strategy, vivo India said. Accordingly, production in its new manufacturing facility in Greater Noida will commence by early 2024, subject to necessary clearance from the authorities. The new facility spreads across 169 acres and will have annual capacity to produce nearly 120 million smartphones in the future, after all the phases are completed. Its current manufacturing unit is also in Greater Noida. Every vivo smartphone that is sold in India, is made in India, the release mentioned. "Since our inception, India has continued to be a strategic market for us," Sriramula said. All of vivo's motherboard assembly is happening in India, the release said adding vivo procures 95 per cent of its battery and 70 per cent of its charger components locally. Indias merchandise trade deficit widened to $266.78 billion in the financial year 2022-23, rising 39.6 percent from a year earlier, financial year 2021-22, official data released on April 13 showed. Merchandise exports rose 6 percent on year to $447.46 billion while imports jumped 16.5 percent to $714.24 billion, according to the commerce ministry. Overall exports in FY23 jump to $770 billion, but trade deficit grows Meanwhile, the countrys overall exports in fiscal year 2022-23 jumped to $770 billion, surpassing the annual target set by the government. The FY23 exports target was $750 billion, which has been exceeded by around $20 billion, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal told reporters in New Delhi. In FY22, total exports of $676 billion were ecorded. Indian exports for services sector grew by 26.79 percent to $322.72 billion this financial year. Services imports rose 21.04 percent to $177.94 billion. Overall imports in the full fiscal year, grew by 17.38 percent to stand at $ 892.18, as compared to imports in financial year 2021-22. The overall trade deficit grew by 46.05 percent in FY22, rising from $ 83.53 billion in FY22 to $ 122 billion in FY23. Export of petroleum products rises, engineering goods see a decline Petroleum exports saw a sharp spurt of 40 percent this financial year, with exports rising from $ 67.47 billion to $ 94.52 billion. Others which topped the list in merchandise exports included electronic goods, rice, organic & inorganic chemicals and drugs & pharmaceuticals. However, a marginal decline was registered in the exports in the categories of engineering goods, cotton/yarn/handloom products, plastic and linoleum, iron ore as well as in the gems and jewellery sector. Gold on an import decline; petroleum, crude imports see a rise Imports for gold saw a decline of $ 11 billion, as they fell from $ 46.17 billion in FY 2021-22 to $ 35.02 billion in FY 2022-23. Other products that saw marginal decline in imports included medicinal & pharmaceutical products, pearls, precious & semi-precious stones as well as pulses. On the other hand, imports of petroleum, crude products saw a steep rise, buying products worth $ 209.57 billion, up from last fiscals $ 161.81 billion. A jump recorded in the imports of coal, coke, briquettes and transport equipment. Imports from Russia see a growth of 370% Imports from Russia grew highest on-year, at a rate of 396.44 percent, owing to the surge in petroleum imports from the country. While India only had imports worth $ 9.87 billion from Russia in FY21, the number rose to $ 46.33 billion in FY22. Its share in Indian imports also saw a boom, rising to 6.49 percent in FY22 from its earlier 1.61 percent in FY21. India has been buying discounted crude oil from Russia. The Asian giant relies on imports for nearly 85 percent of its needs. India is not seeking permanent immigration visas from any country under a free trade agreement (FTA) and is only looking to engage with trading partners on mobility like temporary visas for students, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. He said that some people mix up mobility and immigration but they are two separate subjects. Mobility is about expanding trade, business, providing temporary visas for people who visit a country either for work or for studies, he said. India is not seeking permanent immigration visas from any country We are only looking to engage with countries on mobility. We are concerned only about our ability to give services for business and investments through temporary visas, for students who take training in the post study period (and) for which we have found a lot of acceptance in all the countries with which we are talking, he told reporters here. He added that post-Covid, the world is realising that remote working is a great success and in fact this will open up huge opportunities for our young boys and girls from smaller towns and tier 2 and 3 cities. It would also improve the competitiveness of Indias services and help the country support the global effort towards international exchange of goods and services, he added. He was replying to a question about apprehensions raised by some countries on the services side that Indias demand could result in large inflow of Indian professionals in those markets. Providing temporary visas to professionals from sectors such as IT are key demands of India in trade agreements. He also said that the negotiations with the UK, EU and Canada are progressing fast. When asked about a media report on issues in the ongoing talks between India and the UK, the minister said that some media speculate and looks for headlines only. India and the UK are scheduled to hold the next round of talks for the agreement on April 24. Some of the Indian exports from sectors such as apparel are of the view that the trade pact with the UK would help them push exports worth about USD one billion after the agreement comes into force. Indian authorities have recently dismissed reports that India-UK trade talks have been stalled over the recent attacks involving pro-Khalistan groups in London. According to British media reports, New Delhi has stalled negotiations with the UK over a free trade agreement (FTA) as it wants tougher action against these groups behind the attack on the Indian High Commission in London last month. The live blog session has concluded. For more news, views and updates, stay tuned with Moneycontrol.com. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept Indian medical students, who returned home from Ukraine following the Russian invasion, will be allowed to take a key examination from India. The Ukraine government has decided to allow foreign medical students including Indian students to take the Unified State Qualification Exam (USQE) in their domicile country. During her visit to New Delhi between April 10 to April 12, the Ukrainian deputy minister of foreign affairs Emine Dzhaparova informed this latest development to Indian External Affairs Ministry. The USQE exam will include an integrated test exam KROK, an objective structured practical (clinical) exam, and a professional English language exam for MBBS students. In March last year, the Ukrainian government reportedly cancelled the KROK exam, which is mandatory to get a medical license, for final-year MBBS students studying in Ukrainian universities in view of the war. Several medical universities had also started online classes and students had been informed that their exams will also be held online. They also allowed their foreign students to gain practical training at hospitals and clinics in their own countries. Around 19,000 Indian students were studying in Ukraine when the Russian invasion began in February last year. According to estimates, approximately 2,000 Indian students have gone back to Ukraine and they are residing mostly in the western part of the East European country. Under the initiative of the Ukrainian authorities, the students who are still in India can join online classes and have the option to appear for the Unified State Qualification Exam (USQE) in India. According to the official statement, the decision will allow medical students outside Ukraine to take KROK exam at testing centres recognized by the state non-profit enterprise Testing Board for Professional Competence Assessment of Higher Education Trainees in Medicine and Pharmacy at the Ministry of Public Health of Ukraine, in the respective countries of their stay, including India. "Dzhaparova, during her visit, highlighted Ukraine's desire to build a stronger and closer relationship with India," the MEA said. "Dzhaparova's visit to India would facilitate cooperation between the two countries," it said. (With inputs from PTI) More than 3 million listeners tuned in for Elon Musks interview with the BBCs James Clayton on Wednesday morning UK time. They heard the Twitter owner dodge and deflect questions on safety, claim the companys chief executive officer was now his dog, and make frequent racist, pornographic allusions about the broadcasters name. So far, so Elon. But also on the agenda was an assurance that Twitters advertisers were returning and, as a result, the company was roughly at breakeven. We could be cashflow positive this quarter if things keep going well, Musk predicted. Since Twitter is a private company, we have to take Musks word for it. Insider Intelligence, the well-respected data-research group, sees a very different picture. Many big agencies still havent advised clients to end their pause [on advertising with the company], wrote analyst Jasmine Enberg. We expect Twitters worldwide ad revenues to plummet by 27.9 percent this year as advertisers continue to pull back spending. Enberg noted research from digital-economy research shop Sensor Tower that said spending by Twitters top 10 advertisers which include Amazon.com Inc, IBM Corp, and Coca-Cola Co had fallen 89 percent in February and March 2023 compared with the pre-Musk September to October 2022. The recently revamped paid verification service, Twitter Blue, wont come close to making up the shortfall. This is not necessarily all Musks fault, Enberg rightly points out. Twitters decreasing relevance for much of the population those who dont want a constant timeline of doom and gloom has had advertisers hesitating for a while now. Uncivilized behavior on Twitter predated but accelerated with the rise of Donald Trump. Musks contribution has been to ultimately and inexplicably say more of that, please, reinstating some of the worst offenders. Twitter is troll heaven, Musk said after the BBC interview, when the discussion continued on Twitter Spaces, with Musk inviting a few acolytes who were eager to chat. One of them, Ian Miles Cheong, a right-wing social media figure, described the appeal of Twitter as thus: When you tweet a celebrity, theres pretty good chance theyll read it and they get irritated by it, and then say youre trolling them, which is what I do. Its good, its fun having that reaction. Its like playing a video game but better. Yeah, totally. Exactly, Musk agreed. Its the kind of sentiment typical among the excitable group of Twitter users that feel the network has become more fun than ever before. That may be so for some in the same way that some find fun by playing music aloud on the bus or smashing up a phone box. Theres a certain crowd being cultivated by Musk on Twitter that equates obnoxious behavior with a good time. Yet Troll Heaven lets call it that now? is not the sort of place most sensible advertisers would choose to insert their brands. Instead, dollars have flowed to the more Gen Z-friendly domains of YouTube and TikTok. A private email thread between top advertising executives, published earlier this month by news site Semafor ahead of a major industry conference next week, gave a glimpse into the fears of major brands. Tariq Hassan, chief marketing officer at McDonalds Corp, said Musks ownership of Twitter objectively can only be characterised as ranging from chaos to moments of irresponsibility. Colgate-Palmolive Co Vice President Diana Haussling added that she had to be mindful of the harmful and often racist rhetoric of Elon Musk. Despite all this, Musk may of course be telling the truth about some advertisers coming back. A refresh of Twitters feed suggests as much. There are big advertisers, such as Apple Inc and Walt Disney Co, as well as banner brands such as the UEFA Champions League and others. Whats changed in the time Musk has come along is the proliferation of extremely low-rent or comically untargeted offerings. I was recently shown an ad promoting the sale of an agricultural-equipment company in Iowa when, unfortunately, I am far from the right audience. Others are for cheap and tacky novelty products. Still, Musk has a point when he told the BBC: If Disney feels comfortable advertising their childrens movies, and Apple feels comfortable advertising iPhones, those are good indicators that Twitter is a good place to advertise. But it was less than five months ago when Musk was using his platform to taunt Apple, asking Do they hate free speech in America? when it looked as though the company was pulling back its ad spend on the network. Only a visit to Apple HQ and a sunny walk around a lake with CEO Tim Cook seemed to repair that relationship and convince the worlds richest company to stick around. Not every business is going to get that kind of one-on-one attention. Jump in, the waters warm, its great, Musk said to the BBC when asked if he had a message to reluctant brands. The problem is the network he seems intent on creating is one advertisers do not want. And while Musk likes to describe Twitter as the worlds biggest town square, what he has actually created is a wild playground a place where the loudest and roughest inhabitants set the tone. Dave Lee is Bloomberg Opinion's US technology columnist. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg Chinas back, baby! That was the exuberant message late on Wednesday from LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE. It also reflected relief. Shares in luxury groups soared this year on expectations of a fresh wave of revenge spending by Chinese consumers at home and abroad. But would those customers actually deliver? Without their largesse, company valuations would be seen to have risen too far and too fast and would quickly plummet. Fortunately, LVMH the worlds biggest purveyor of luxury delivered a blowout quarter driven by Asia. Organic sales which exclude mergers and acquisitions as well as the results of currency movements rose 17 percent in the three months to March 31, almost twice the level that analysts had predicted. At the all-important fashion and leather goods division, it was 18 percent, again almost twice the expectations. Asia led the outperformance, with the region experiencing a significant rebound since the end of COVID restrictions. Its also notable that the Selective Retailing arm , which includes beauty store Sephora and the travel retail unit, lifted sales by 28 percent, the strongest divisional growth. This reflected the the return of Chinese tourism, first to Hong Kong and Macau, but also indicated an increase in individual travelers to Europe. Shares in big bling have increased sharply as investors anticipated a surge in Chinas domestic spending along with waves of tourists from the country later this year and in 2024. The MSCI World Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods Index is up almost 20 percent since the start of this year through to Wednesdays close, outpacing the MSCI World Index, which is up about 7 percent over the same period. Shares in LVMH are up about 23 percent so far this year through Wednesday. But Hermes International, maker of Kelly and Birkin bags, which reports on Friday, has led the uptick, with the shares up about 30 percent. So far, so good. LVMHs fashion and leather goods sales in China rose by a percentage into the double digits in the first quarter, which bodes well for the rest of the year. We are not talking about frantic or excess optimism and growth in China, said Chief Financial Officer Jean-Jacques Guiony. We are talking about a normalization at a fairly high level. Although LVMH shares rose as much as 5 percent early Thursday, the pace of Chinas recovery may not be enough to meet investor expectations, given just how much luxury shares have appreciated. Its also worth remembering that not all purveyors of upmarket goods are created equal. LVMH owns two of the worlds leading fashion brands Louis Vuitton and Dior as well as a host of other names, including Celine, Loewe and Tiffany. Louis Vuitton passed the 20 billion ($22 billion) sales mark for the first time last year ahead of all other luxury brands with Dior generating sales of 8.5 billion last year, according to HSBC Holdings Plc. Over the past three years, the biggest brands have taken sales from those that now have less relevance with customers. LVMHs houses have likely gained share that way. Now, with a market value of 420 billion, the company has the scale to reinvest in its brands, gilding them with high-profile events and the most influential ambassadors to make them stand out even more for well-heeled clients. Case in point: recruiting pop star Pharrell Williams as the new menswear designer at Louis Vuitton. With all eyes on China, it would be easy to overlook the fact that luxury demand in the US which supported the industry while China grappled with COVID outbreaks is slowing, particularly among younger, more aspirational buyers. Job losses in the technology sector, and turmoil in the banking industry dont help either. Guiony said US fashion and leather goods and jewelry sales were decelerating. This is partly because more Americans are shopping in Europe, but it also reflects demand from local customers losing steam, with cognac suffering from a severe slowdown. LVMH is indeed more exposed to the US than most of its rivals, but scale and strength should help it outperform, even in the weakening American market. It can also count on beauty retailer Sephora and travel retail. Indeed, LVMHs US sales rose 8 percent in the first quarter, broadly in line with the final quarter of 2022, driven primarily by Sephora. Travel retail had been a drag for the past three years, but should rebound nicely now. For now at least, LVMH has reassured the markets on luxurys fortunes. However, with valuations pricing in not only a recovery in Chinese spend but a soft landing in the US and Europe, there is no room for a fashion faux pas. Andrea Felsted is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering consumer goods and the retail industry. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. Credit: Bloomberg The famous Bush Doctrine of If you are not with us, you are against us would aptly describe the political strategy of the Congress lately. It rests on the notion that Rahul Gandhi is the sole challenger to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the face of the largest opposition party apart from also being the only leader who fronts up against the agendas of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological fountainhead, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). This strategy has a major flaw, though: It is exclusionary. Rahul Gandhis unwavering convictions had become an issue within the Congress post the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, when he accused party veterans of not toeing his line on the Chowkidar Chor Hai slogan coined by him. This time around, the Modani jibe, directed at the PM for his alleged association with businessman Gautam Adani, could similarly become a sticking point. Congressman At Heart On top of that, Sharad Pawars googly backing Gautam Adani and pooh-poohing a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the Adani Group following the Hindenburg report came as a jolt to the effort to unite opposition parties. Since then there have been veiled suggestions of Pawar selling out to the BJP. Once dubbed Bhishma Pitamah for cobbling the Maha Vikas Aghadi, bringing the ideologically-incompatible Congress and Shiv Sena along with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) in an alliance, it is tough to decode Pawar. In his autobiography titled On My Terms, Pawar describes himself as a Congressman at heart. Pawar always strode the middle path and pursued pragmatic politics for which he credits his stint in the Congress. He disavows the cult of political untouchability as he dubs it, on dealing with politicians across the aisle, making him the most networked politician of all. And he counts many industrialists among his friends. Mastery Over Realpolitik Pawar is more of a realist, than an idealist or a cynic. For him politics is the art of the possible, and his ingenuity in stitching unlikely coalitions was evident as far back as 1978, when he formed the Progressive Democratic Front (PDF) government with his splinter faction of Congress (S), Janata Party (which included the Jana Sangh), Peasants and Workers Party of India, Maharashtra Socialist Congress, Republican Party of India, Communist Party of India-Marxist, Muslim League et al. The MVA, in comparison, would have been a cakewalk. Only recently did Maharashtra Deputy CM Devendra Fadnavis insinuate that Pawar was in the know of his backchannel talks with Ajit Pawar which led to the formation of a short-lived BJP-NCP government in 2019. However, according to those close to Pawar Saheb, as he is referred to, it was the old foxs way of getting the Presidents Rule lifted, thereby ensuring that the MVA could stake its claim. Epic 2019 Poll Fight There is a larger context to this: It was in the run-up to the 2019 Maharashtra election that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) booked Pawar for money laundering in the Cooperative Bank case, after the BJP attracted a string of defectors from the NCP. Assuming it could go for the kill, Union Home Minister Amit Shah also went on to target Pawar personally in his campaign. A riled Pawar took an uncharacteristic swipe at Shah and turned the tables on the ED to ride a sympathy wave in the 2019 assembly elections. Denying the BJP an opportunity to form a government then meant something to him. This was not the situation in 2014 when Pawar lent a helping hand to the BJP till the Shiv Sena eventually came around. Pawars Pragmatism As the maxim goes, there are no permanent friends and foes in politics, and Pawar knows that all too well. Make no mistake, Pawar is positively inclined towards Congress, but he is unsure whether the Gandhi scion possesses the will and the wile to trump the Modi-led BJP at this juncture. Nor does he believe that he has a bounden duty to fight for the installation of a secular government, although he would be happy to help in case there is an opening. This is not to say that he would defect to the BJPs side at the first opportunity, but he has to protect his own interests and the NCPs future. Pawar is the quintessential transactional politician with his finger in multiple pies. The NCP is in coalition with the Left in Kerala, BJP in Nagaland, and the Congress, pretty much everywhere else. He was realistic about not harbouring prime ministerial ambitions in 2014, when he stated that it wasnt something he could fancy as the leader of a small party. Personal Over Political Pawar has always kept personal equations separate from political realities. In 2016, PM Modi showered praises on Pawar for hand-holding him as Gujarat CM, but Pawar had a similar equation with the Late Chimanbhai Patel as well, which he recollected in his autobiography. Pawars hobnobbing with industrialists and businessmen have always been a matter of speculation, but he rationalises it by way of serving the interests of his constituents and state. For Pawar to back Adani, with whom his friendship goes back many decades as recounted in his autobiography wouldnt have required him to think twice. It is for the Congress and those propagating ideological purity to understand that politics is not as black and white as they imagine. And when you fight an election which is a function of popular vote, you need to build bridges and win friends rather than alienate them. For, every vote counts. Anand Kochukudy is a Kerala-based journalist and columnist. Views are personal and do not represent the stand of this publication. The Indian Airforce (IAF) is all set to issue a Request for Proposal (RFP), the second time in 15 years for its acquisition of 114 multirole fighter aircraft (MFRA). The deal is expected to be worth over $25 billion and can be easily termed as the mother of all defence deals in Indias military history. The MRFA deal is the second iteration of the original medium multi-role combat aircraft (MMRCA) that was set in motion back in 2007. The revised MRFA deal now targets 12 fewer aircraft as compared to the MMRCA and is set to add roughly 6.5 squadrons of 4++ generation fighters to the IAFs fleet. The icing on the cake however pertains to the fact that this comes with a significant transfer of military technology (ToT) to India. Through this deal, India wants to access cutting-edge military aviation technologies ranging from fifth-generation avionics complex, gallium nitride active electronically steered arrays (AESA) radar systems, long-range air-to-air ramjet missile systems, and most importantly, jet engine technology. Adopting Maruti Suzuki-like Approach Nevertheless, India, it seems, is treating this deal as a one-off and risks squandering the opportunity for peanuts - $25 billion is a lot of money and affords India tremendous influence while dealing with any aircraft original equipment manufacturer (OEM). Using this clout, India must approach the MRFA deal with the same level of ambition as it once had with cars, way back in 1981. Indian defence planners must therefore carefully study the strategy employed by Maruti Udyog and its partner Suzuki Motor Corporation, Japan, in the early days of Indias automotive revolution, circled around the companys Gurugram facility. Emulating the Maruti Suzuki approach will therefore require an ambitious plan, which should spawn a fresh greenfield project involving tier 1 component manufacturers within a 100 km radius of the core assembly plant. The Maruti project not only indigenised high-end automobile technology and standardised quality across the value chain, but also aided joint ventures between Indian and Japanese component manufacturers. Moreover, to convince Indian corporates about the potential riches that the automotive sector brings to the table, Maruti, along with its partner Suzuki also invested in these joint ventures, as a token of commitment. Developing the level of ambition and drive in a country that had virtually no automotive market or consumer appetite remains unparalleled to this day. Not without reason, Maruti Suzukis journey to one lakh units just took roughly three years, from the day the factory started operations. The juggernaut that started with the Maruti project revolutionised the Indian auto sector, spawning tier 1 and 2 component companies that have now become part of global automobile supply chains. Today Indias automobile industry is the third largest in the world and is worth over $250 billion. Indias fighter jet manufacturing must follow a similar approach and employ these proven strategies once used by Maruti Suzuki to jumpstart the Indian automobile dream. First and foremost, India must consequently cast aside all doubts regarding the future of the MRFA deal and commit to its success wholeheartedly. The understanding that the deal is pivotal to Indias fighter jet manufacturing ambitions must be etched in stone for New Delhis think tankers. Once this is done, India must adopt an ecosystem building approach, just as was done by Maruti Suzuki in the 1980s. This is because supplier/ vendor development will be critical for technology absorption and standardising manufacturing processes. India must also make it clear to all bidders for the MRFA project that it is looking for a long-term partner willing to develop a fighter aircraft ecosystem within the country. The fact that India is not just looking at merely assembling an aircraft but developing an entire ecosystem must be a pivotal component of the deal. By offering $25 billion up for grabs for the winning bidder, India needs to drive the point home that it is seeking a Suzuki for fighter aircraft manufacturing, period. Set Indigenisation Targets Just as it was done by Maruti Suzuki, the Government of India must impose strict indigenisation targets and commit to a minimum number of aircraft for both domestic as well as export markets. Evidently, an assembly line without the necessary volumes cannot be scaled up and will be least lucrative for any aircraft OEM, obligated to part with sensitive military technology. Technologies absorbed and capabilities acquired could then help in the development of Indias next generation fighter aircraft, that can be developed in the same or associated facilities for maximum profitability for participating companies. The work already done on the Tejas Mark 2, and the AMCA Mark 1 by Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), and Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE) consortium must be aligned with the MRFA dedicated ecosystem for rapid deployment of new capabilities and absorbed technologies. Undoubtedly, the MRFA project is like the Maruti project in many ways and represents India of the 21st century with different needs and aspirations. Therefore, the MRFA deal holds the key for Indias militaristic ambitions. As India silently builds one of the worlds most powerful economies, it will face even more hostilities from competing countries, which feel threatened by Indias rise. Given the destabilising proxy tactics used by the China-Pakistan-Turkey nexus to keep India in a permanent state of anxiety, policymakers must focus on building a cutting-edge defence technology base that is necessary for an offensive military force, capable of securing Indias economic-industrial complex. Apparently, Indias enemy states are doing everything in their power to subdue us. Through the Maruti approach in aircraft manufacturing, we must send out a clear message about our capabilities. Karan Mehrishi is an economist, specialising in monetary economics and fixed income. Views are personal, and do not represent the stand of this publication. Before it became the streaming giant and the household name it is today, Netflix was a DVD rental business that Amazon was interested in acquiring. In 1998, in fact, Amazon top boss Jeff Bezos offered $15 million for Netflix, which was then a one-year-old company. Netflix co-founders Marc Randolph and Reed Hastings turned down his offer and the rest, as they say, is history. Today, 25 years to the date of that fateful meeting, Marc Randolph has once again spoken about their reasons for turning down Amazons offer. 25 years ago, in 1998, Reed and I flew to Seattle to talk about selling Netflix to Amazon. The meeting went well, and Jeff Bezos floated a price of $15 million, tweeted Randolph, who in 1998 was the CEO of Netflix. 25 years ago, In 1998, Reed and I flew to Seattle to talk about selling Netflix to Amazon. The meeting went well, and Jeff Bezos floated a price of $15 million. That wouldnt have been a bad payday for less than 12 months work, but we thought we were on to something. We had Marc Randolph (@mbrandolph) April 13, 2023 He explained that even though talks with Amazon went well, the meeting made him and his business partner Reed Hastings realise that they were not yet ready to put their startup in the hands of somebody else. It turns out that theres nothing like having the option to get out that reinforces your desire to stay in, wrote Randolph, admitting that taking up the offer would not have been a bad deal for less than 12 months of work. At that time, Hastings owned 70% of Netflix, while Randolph owned 30%, and both would have earned millions if they had taken up Bezos on his offer. For Reed and I, this wasnt a sales trip. This was a commitment ceremony, the first-ever CEO of Netflix concluded. He also spoke about the incident in greater detail in a LinkedIn post shared today Randolph has spoken about Amazons offer in the past as well, both in interviews and in his memoir That Will Never Work, according to CNBC. He said that he and Hastings discussed the pros and cons of selling their DVD rental startup to Amazon and agreed it made sense because Netflix, at that time, was not making money and had no scalable business model. Despite that, both the co-founders knew they were on the brink of something. Turns out their hunch was right Netflix is today a production and streaming company with a market capitalization of over $150 billion. Fed up with a giant pothole that had been plaguing his Brentwood neighbourhood in Los Angeles for weeks, actor Arnold Schwarzenegger decided to take matters into his own hands. The former California governor, along with two other men, took to the streets on Tuesday armed with packaged concrete and a camera to record the task. The 75-year-old shared a video of himself filling the pothole on Twitter, saying, "Today, after the whole neighborhood has been upset about this giant pothole that's been screwing up cars and bicycles for weeks, I went out with my team and fixed it. I always say, let's not complain, let's do something about it. Here you go." The video shows Schwarzenegger, in work boots, a leather jacket, and sunglasses, shoveling blacktop across the street before sealing his work. A woman drove past and thanked him for getting his hands dirty, to which he replied, "You're welcome. You have to do it yourself. This is crazy. For three weeks, I've been waiting for this hole to be closed." The minute-long clip has 4.5 million views and over 62,000 likes. 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. I always say, lets not complain, lets do something about it. Here you go. pic.twitter.com/aslhkUShvT Arnold (@Schwarzenegger) April 11, 2023 According to a spokesperson for Schwarzenegger, Brentwood residents had made repeated requests for repairs since winter storms created potholes and cracks on local roads. However, the repairs were not forthcoming, prompting Schwarzenegger to go it alone. The former governor said he used skills he gained from the bricklaying business he started with fellow bodybuilder Franco Columbu in 1968, a few years before his role in "Pumping Iron" launched him into international stardom. Schwarzenegger's DIY approach to fixing the pothole highlights the frustration many citizens feel about the state of the city's roads. Last week, Mayor Karen Brass announced a plan to fix what she called an unprecedented number of damaged streets across Los Angeles caused by historic rainfall. Since December 30, Los Angeles has received 19,692 service requests for repairs, and as of April 6, crews had filled at least 17,549 potholes, New York Post reported quoting officials. It was always Peter Beck's dream to send a rocket into space. But in 2006, when he approached NASA and companies like Boeing to hire him as an intern, he was shown the door. It wasn't because the 28-year-old from New Zealand was not qualified. Beck had skipped college to take up an apprenticeship with a tools manufacturer so he could learn to work with his hands and play around with model rockets and propellants in his free time. By the time he approached the companies in the US, he had built a steam-powered rocket bicycle that traveled nearly 145 kph. Beck felt his experiments would be able to convince NASA and Boeing, but it didn't work. "Heres a foreign national turning up to an Air Force base asking a whole bunch of questions about rockets that doesnt look good, 45-year-old Beck told CNBC Make It. Cut to 2023, Beck is now the owner of Rocket Lab based in California which is worth $1.8 billion. The company has completed more than 35 space launches, including one to the moon with a NASA satellite in 2022. Speaking to the publication on what made him start his own space startup, Beck said after his trip to the US, he came to know that a few companies were actually making what he wanted to create: lightweight, suborbital rockets to transport small satellites. He also knew that it would be difficult to convince investors to back him when he did not have a college degree and could not even land an internship. So, on his flight back to New Zealand, he planned his first startup and even drew its logo on a napkin. Beck launched Rocket Lab later in 2006 and three years later, it became the Southern Hemispheres first private company to reach space. A busy start to the year for Electron with launches from LC-1 in New Zealand and LC-2 in Virginia this quarter. Many more to come in what is shaping up to be our most active launch year yet: https://t.co/5LgQDHqNyh pic.twitter.com/0wwiH0E6iK Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 27, 2023 Talking about why he decided to start his own company immediately after failing to get a job in aerospace, Peter Beck told CNBC Make It, "One of the things Im always frustrated with is how long everything takes. Ask anybody who works around me: Theres a great urgency in everything. I dont walk upstairs, I run upstairs. As weve grown as a company, its always a sprint. I wish things would get faster. Im always battling time." Just seven days after our last launch, Electron has delivered mission success once again. Two launches from two continents just days apart - that's responsive space access in action. #TheBeatGoesOn pic.twitter.com/WmphQY1qbi Rocket Lab (@RocketLab) March 24, 2023 One of the biggest challenges Beck faced was financing Rocket Lab. "Nothing happens without funding in this business. When I first started Rocket Lab, I ran around Silicon Valley trying to raise $5 million," he told the publication. "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." Then the company decided to raise really small amounts of funding. The experience made them 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," Beck said. In pics | Inside NASA's simulated Martian habitat: This is where a four-person Mars crew will live The spike in Covid cases in India is being driven by the new Arcturus variant. Formally called XBB 1.16, Arcturus is a sub variant of Omicron that has led to concerns about a fresh wave of Covid infections. India registered a single-day rise of 7,830 coronavirus cases, the highest in 223 days, on April 12, according to the Union Health Ministry data. But health officials are asking people not to panic, noting that more than 10 lakh hospital beds are currently available across the country. Officials sources said even though the cases are increasing, hospitalisation is low and expected to remain low. Covid in India is moving towards the endemic stage, so the cases may keep rising for the next 10-12 days after which they will subside, sources said on Wednesday. Also read: XBB 1.16 Omicron Variant: Symptoms, who are at risk and need for boosters Meanwhile, mock drills were conducted this week by the health ministry to check for Covid preparedness, while masks have been made mandatory in certain places for the first time in over a year. -Mutation of concern - Arcturus or Omicron 1.16 is being monitored by the World Health Organization (WHO) which says it had some mutation of concern. Its been in circulation for a few months. We havent seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but thats why we have these systems in place, said Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organizations COVID-19 technical lead, during a press conference on March 29. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity, she said. The Arcturus Covid variant was first detected in January. It has since been found in USA, Singapore and other countries. But Dr Van Kerkhove noted that most sequences were from India, where it seems to have replaced other variants. A study from the University of Tokyo also suggests that Arcturus is 1.2 more infectious than the Kraken variant, which was the name given to Omicron XBB 1.5. (With inputs from PTI) India was non-committal on the participation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the G20 summit in September, days after Ukraine's First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova said that he will be happy to address it. In an address at a think-tank in Delhi, Dzhaparova on April 11 said Zelenskyy would be happy to speak at the summit just like he did during the Bali summit of the grouping last November. The Ukranian President addressed the Bali summit through video conference. India is holding the current presidency of the G20 and will host the summit of the grouping in September in Delhi. When asked about Dzhaparovas comments, External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on April 13 referred to remarks by Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra on the invitations. As far as Ukraines invitation is concerned, see, during the presser that we did at the time of the launch of the G20 presidency, it was made clear as to which nations are invited as guests, including obviously, the G20 members, Kwatra told reporters on March 1. The list of those countries was shared with you. We have not made any changes or addition to that list, he said. Besides the G20 countries, India has invited Bangladesh, Egypt, Mauritius, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Oman, Singapore, Spain and the United Arab Emirates as guest countries. I think we have answered this question in the past, including by the foreign secretary. I have nothing to add to that for the moment in terms of participation, Bagchi said when asked whether India will invite the Ukrainian President to participate at the G20 summit. Asked about Dzhaparovas comments during her visit to New Delhi that some of Indias actions demonstrate its unbalanced position on Ukraine, Bagchi chose not to respond directly but asserted that India has been pushing for peace. In her comments, the first deputy minister specifically mentioned visits to Moscow by senior Indian ministers and officials and wondered why they did not travel to Kyiv. Our position on the conflict in Ukraine has been articulated many times. I do not know the word unbalance ..is not something that we have worked with. We certainly worked towards peace and dialogue and diplomacy. It is what we have been stressing will not respond without knowing the full context, he said. During her visit, Dzhaparova handed over a letter to the Minister of State for External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi. The letter was written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by Zelenskyy. Asked about the content of the letter, Bagchi chose not to comment. Since the Ukraine conflict began in February last year, Modi spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin as well as Zelenskyy a number of times. In a phone conversation with 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. India has not yet condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine and it has been maintaining that the crisis must be resolved through diplomacy and dialogue. A petition filed in the Supreme Court has challenged the Karnataka government's decision to scrap the 4 percent quota for OBC Muslims. Senior Advocate and MP Kapil Sibal mentioned the case before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud and sought for a hearing. The CJI has agreed to consider listing the case. In March 2023, the state decided to scrap 4 percent reservation given to Muslims under 2B classification of the OBC category, it will now be divided into two equal parts and added to the existing quota of Vokkaligas and Lingayats for whom two reservation categories of 2C and 2D were created during the Belagavi Assembly Session last year. The Cabinet decided to bring the religious minorities under the EWS category, the government said. The decision comes days ahead of the Assembly elections. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept The Supreme Court on April 13 set aside a Calcutta High Court order for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the alleged attack on Union minister of state for home affairs Nisith Pramanik in West Bengals Cooch Behar. The court has asked the high court to reconsider the case after analysing the West Bengal polices reports on the action taken. In February, Pramanik, who is also the minister of state for youth affairs and sports, was in Cooch Behar when his convoy was allegedly attacked. The minister was on his way to meet BJP workers. Leader of opposition in state assembly Suvendu Adhikari filed a public interest litigation (PIL) in the court seeking a CBI inquiry. A divisional bench of the high court allowed the BJP leaders plea, asking the state police to hand over the case documents to the investigating agency. Appearing for the state in the Supreme Court, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued on April 13 that the high court had not considered the reports of the police. The high court selectively quoted portions of the reports submitted by the West Bengal police, he said. Appearing for Adhikari, senior advocate Paramjit Patwalia argued that the police acted in a biased manner. The court, however, set aside the high court order, asking it to consider the case afresh. Clashes between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the BJP, which is trying to expand its presence in the state, are on the rise, especially after the 2021 assembly elections. The Trinamool Congress retained the state by a huge margin, beating back the BJP challenge. New York City has appointed its first-ever rat czar to deal with its growing rodent menace. Kathleen Corradi has been named the citys director of rodent mitigation, NYC Mayor Eric Adams announced Wednesday. Corradi will work with government agencies to use new technologies to detect and exterminate rat populations, in her new role. Rats have been a problem in New York City since its founding. Every new generation of leaders has tried to find a better way of controlling the rodent population, and struggled to show results. New York City Mayor Eric Adams had made rat eradication a key policy goal for the city. Former Mayor Bill de Blasio had spent tens of millions of dollars on efforts to reduce the rat population in targeted neighborhoods through more frequent trash pickup, more aggressive housing inspections, and replacing dirt basement floors in some apartment buildings with ones made of concrete. Officials are hopeful that the appointment of Kathleen Corradi as rat czar will bring positive change to a problem that has long plagued New Yorkers. Introducing Corradi on Wednesday, Mayor Adams said she would help create a more welcoming city for all New Yorkers. "He hates rats. I hate rats. Every New Yorker hates rats," Corradi said after being introduced. "Rats are tough but New Yorkers are tougher." "Rat mitigation is more than a quality-of-life issue for New Yorkers," she said, according to ABC News. "Rats are a symptom of systemic issues, including sanitation, health, housing, and economic justice. New York may be famous for the Pizza Rat, but rats, and the conditions that help them thrive will no longer be tolerated no more dirty curbs, unmanaged spaces, or brazen burrowing." (With inputs from agencies) Pakistan will struggle to break out of a cycle of ongoing debt repayments without reform, former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan told the Financial Times in an interview. Khan told the publication that the government needed to break out of borrowing cycles that have held back developing economies. He, however, ruled out a default if his party returned to power, saying it would prioritise domestic reforms over seeking debt relief. "Whatever we do, when we look ahead, the debt is growing, our economy is slowly shrinking. From my party's point of view, we've started thinking that we're stuck," the report quoted him as saying. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept North Korea fired a ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea and Japan said, prompting an alert for residents in Japans northern island of Hokkaido to take cover. Japanese authorities later retracted the alert, saying an emergency warning system had erroneously predicted the missile would fall near the island. Japans coast guard said the projectile that appeared to be the missile had fallen into the sea to the east of North Korea. The launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for a strengthening of the countrys war deterrence in a more practical and offensive manner to counter what the country called moves of aggression by the United States. The missile, suspected to be intermediate-range or more extended, was fired at 7:23 a.m. (2223 GMT on Wednesday) from near Pyongyang, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said. The South Korean military said it was on high alert and maintaining a readiness posture in close coordination with the US. Japan's Kyodo news agency reported that the missile fell outside Japans exclusive economic zone. North Korea has criticized a recent series of joint military exercises between the U.S. and South Korea as escalating tensions, stepping up its weapons tests in recent months. USER CONSENT We at moneycontrol use cookies and other tracking technologies to assist you with navigation and determine your location. We also capture cookies to obtain your feedback, analyse your use of our products and services and provide content from third parties. By clicking on 'I Accept', you agree to the usage of cookies and other tracking technologies. For more details you can refer to our cookie policy. *I agree to the updated privacy policy and I warrant that I am above 16 years of age. *I agree to the processing of my personal information for personalized recommendations, personalized advertisements and any kind of remarketing/retargeting on other third party websites. I agree to receive direct marketing communications via Emails and SMS. (Optional). Please select (*) all mandatory conditions to continue. I Accept North Korea fired a new model of long-range ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea said, triggering a scare in northern Japan, where residents were told to take cover, though there turned out to be no danger. A South Korean military official said the missile appeared to have been a new weapon displayed at recent North Korean military parades, and possibly used solid fuel. The missile flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), South Korea's military said, calling it a "grave provocation". The official said the missile's maximum altitude was lower than 6,000km, the apogee of some of last year's record-breaking tests. "So far we assess that they fired a new type of ballistic missile with an intermediate or intercontinental range," the official said. "We're still analysing details like the trajectory, altitude and range, with the possibility that it carried a solid-fuel propellant." The South Korean military said it was on high alert and coordinating closely with its main ally, the United States, which "strongly condemned" what the White House said in a statement was a long-range ballistic missile test. North Korea has been working to build more solid-fuel missiles, which are easier to store and transport, and can be launched with almost no warning or preparation time. While North Korea has tested short-range solid-fuel missiles, it has not tested a long-range missile of that type, said Bruce Bennett, a senior defence analyst at the U.S.-based RAND Corporation. Kim Dong-yup, a former South Korean navy officer who teaches at Kyungnam University's Far East Institute, said the new system might have been an intercontinental ballistic missile that was unveiled at a February military parade, and powered by a solid-fuel engine tested in December. The missile was fired at 7:23 a.m. (2223 GMT on Wednesday) from near Pyongyang, the South's military said. Japan's coast guard said it had landed by 8:19 a.m. It could have been launched from an international airport close to North Korea's capital, a major site for test-firing large missiles since 2017. BRIEF PANIC The nuclear envoys of allies South Korea, the U.S. and Japan spoke and condemned the launch, saying North Korea had constantly threatened regional peace with "unprecedented levels of provocations and menacing words", South Korea's foreign ministry said. Japan called a National Security Council meeting in response to the launch. Its defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada, said the missile appeared to have been fired eastward at a high angle and it did not fall in Japanese territory. Japan's coast guard said the projectile had fallen in the sea to the east of North Korea. Hamada said he could not confirm whether the missile had flown over Japan's exclusive economic zone. Authorities retracted the alert for Hokkaido island in northern Japan when they determined that the missile would not fall nearby. Schools in Hokkaido delayed their opening times and some train services were suspended, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported. A student there said the alert caused momentary alarm at a train station. "For a second in the train there was panic, but a station worker said to calm down, and people did," a student told NHK. The launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening war deterrence in a "more practical and offensive" manner to counter what North Korea called moves of aggression by the United States. While condemning the latest in a string of North Korean missile tests, the United States renewed its offer to open talks. "The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilising actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. North Korea has criticised recent joint military exercises between U.S. and South Korean forces as escalating tensions, stepping up its weapons tests in recent months. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on April 13 held a telephonic conversation with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak. During the conversation, both the leaders reviewed progress on a number of bilateral issues, particularly in trade and economic sectors. The prime minister also raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements. Additionally, PM Modi also sought progress on return of economic offenders. India is pursuing the extradition of beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi from the UK. ALSO READ: India-UK FTA negotiations on as we speak: FM Nirmala Sitharaman On the topic a strong action against anti-India elements by the UK Government, Sunak conveyed that UK considers the attack on Indian High Commission totally unacceptable and assured of security of the Indian Mission and its personnel. Pleased to speak with UK PM @RishiSunak. Extended Baisakhi greetings to him, and new year greetings to the vibrant Indian community in the UK. We reviewed progress on a number of issues to further strengthen India-UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including FTA. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2023 Moreover, PM Modi also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK. He sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. Sunak added that there was no room for extremism in Britain/ "The Prime Minister (Sunak) reiterated his condemnation of the unacceptable violence outside the Indian High Commission in London earlier this month," said a readout of a call between the two leaders published by Sunak's office. The leaders reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030. They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors. They agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, the government official statement noted. PM Modi invited PM Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. PM Sunak appreciated the progress made under Indias Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UKs full support to Indias initiatives and their success. PM conveyed greetings to PM Sunak and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi. The two leaders agreed to remain in contact. Saudi Arabia and Syria's foreign ministers on Wednesday welcomed a thaw in bilateral ties, including steps to resume consular services and flights, and agreed to cooperate to fight drug trafficking and facilitate Syria's return to the Arab fold. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad landed in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah on Wednesday in the first visit by a senior Syrian diplomat to the kingdom in more than a decade, a major sign that Syria's regional isolation is nearing an end. Gulf heavyweight Saudi Arabia cut ties with Damascus amid Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests in 2011, and backed rebel groups that fought to remove Assad from power. Syria was also suspended from the Arab League. The resumption of Saudi-Syrian ties marks the most significant development in moves by Arab states to normalize links with Assad. It comes weeks after Mekdad met with the top diplomats of Egypt and Jordan, also for the first time in over a decade. Assad, with the help of his main allies Iran and Russia, regained control over much of Syria, and Saudi Arabia has said isolating him was not working. In a joint statement at the end of Wednesday's visit, both sides agreed on the need for the Syrian state to assert its control over all its territories "and end the presence of armed militias". The two ministers also discussed the steps needed for a political settlement to the Syrian crisis that contributes to "Syria's return to its Arab environment" and said they would enhance cooperation on combating drug trafficking. The U.S. and European nations, among others, have accused the Assad family of playing a leading role in the billion-dollar illicit trade of captagon, an amphetamine they say is produced in Syria and helps to fund the Syrian government. Much of it is thought to be sold to buyers in Gulf Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. Assad's government denies involvement in drug-making and smuggling and says it fights to curb the lucrative trade. Mekdad's trip to Jeddah came two days before Saudi Arabia hosts another meeting of regional foreign ministers that will discuss Syria's return to the Arab League. Saudi Arabia plans to invite Assad to the Arab League summit Riyadh is scheduled to host on May 19, a move that would formally end his regional isolation, sources have told Reuters, though it is unclear if there is Arab consensus on the matter. Syria and Tunisia said on Wednesday they have also agreed to reopen their respective embassies. George Jetson, the character in the animated TV series The Jetsons, was born in a fictional 2022. By the time he reaches middle age, forty years later, people are zooming around in flying cars. Venkat Viswanathan thinks theres a straight shot from today to the technologies needed to build that future, despite all the jokes about flying cars being fantasy. The professor at Carnegie Mellon University is obsessed with building the batteries that will power these zero-emission aircraft. Viswanathan has worked with next-generation battery companies such as QuantumScape Corp., 24M Technologies Inc., and Aionics Inc., and concluded that aviation is the most important problem that batteries can address, he said. While the straight shot may exist, technologically speaking, it will still take a lot of work. That's why Viswanathan serves as an adviser to companies that make aircraft powered by batteries known as electric vertical takeoff and landing aircraft, or eVTOLs. Later this year, hell move to the University of Michigans aerospace engineering department to double-down on battery research for electric aviation. Time is of the essence. Even if the world gets on track to reach net-zero by 2050 and emissions from most sectors decline, carbon produced by the aviation industry is projected to increase. BloombergNEF estimates the sectors carbon pollution is set to double between now and 2050. The problem is that its hard to beat jet fuel when it comes to the right combination of weight and power needed to lift a plane (with passengers and cargo) off the ground. To make a battery that is powerful but light enough to accomplish the same feat is bound to be extremely expensive. Thats why Viswanathan believes the first application will have to be in the luxury market. Electric aviation will replace the types of trips people might take via helicopter or private jet. The ultimate aspiration may be to make long-haul flights electric, but at first the market will be small distances and people that value time a lot who will be willing to pay a much higher price to travel that mile. While it may seem like a waste of energy, Viswanathan says that electric flying cars are likely to replace trips covering tens of miles that are typically taken by gasoline-powered cars today, in which case there is a clear energy efficiency argument to be made that an eVTOL would definitely reduce emissions. Viswanathan argues that we are close to a Roadster moment for aviation. Aviation will go electric the same way the auto industry did after the luxury Tesla Roadster showed there was demand for electric cars. If this sounds too good to be true, rest easy that Viswanathan is also in the business of poking holes in battery technology that overpromises. Its easy for startups to take advantage of complicated science to create hype for an idea that may be bunk, he says. When venture capitalists are trying to figure out if a battery startup is worth investing in, they bring in Viswanathan to look at their claims. The key, he says, is combining optimism with a healthy dose of skepticism. April 13, 2023 More Doubts About The 'Leaked' Briefing Slides - Updated Updated below (17:30 UTC) When media reported on the first batch of 'leaked' Pentagon briefing slides they also published pictures of the originals. Then came a second round which conveniently was more about bashing Russia than on the releases itself. Those leaks were labeled as new or from a previously unknown source. Among those stories were: No Russia-Ukraine peace talks expected this year, U.S. leak shows - Washington Post, Apr 12, 2023 The grinding war between Ukraine and Russia is expected to bleed into 2024 with neither side securing victory yet both refusing to negotiate an end to the conflict, according to a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that is among the highly sensitive U.S. government materials leaked online and obtained by The Washington Post. ... Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely during 2023 in all considered scenarios, says the document, which has not been disclosed previously. ... A stalemate also will result in Ukraine enacting the full mobilization of its remaining eligible population, the document predicts, sending more young men to the front lines. Leaked US intel: Russia operatives claimed new ties with UAE - Associated Press, Apr 12, 2023 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. ... 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 documents authenticity, which the AP could not independently do. However, it resembled other documents released as part of the recent leak. The slides I have seen so far are from late February and the first days of March. A March 9 document is new. New Leaked Documents Show Broad Infighting Among Russian Officials - New York Times, Apr 12, 2023 The additional documents, which did not surface in a 53-page set that came to wide public attention online last week, paint a picture of the Russian government feuding over the count of the dead and wounded in the Ukraine war, with the domestic intelligence agency accusing the military of obscuring the scale of casualties that Russia has suffered. The new batch, which contains 27 pages, reinforces how deeply American spy agencies have penetrated nearly every aspect of the Russian intelligence apparatus and military command structure. (The piece is bylined by Bellingcat's Aric Toler.) There is no explanation where the "additional documents" are coming from or how they were found. US thinks UN chief too accommodating to Moscow, leaked files suggest - BBC, Apr 13, 2023 The US believes the UN secretary general is too willing to accommodate Russian interests, according to fresh revelations in classified documents leaked online. .... It is the latest from a leak of secret documents, which US officials are scrambling to get to the bottom of. I am also curious about the selective reporting of a second stash of documents by mainstream media. This looks to me like someone is now piecemeal feeding additional 'intelligence' to the various outlets. Each runs a different stories. If this is from a common stash how come that these outlets seem to have coordinated who is taking on what briefing slide? No pictures of the underlying briefing slides has appeared in this second round of 'leaks'. Now the Washington Post claims to have lots of information about the person that 'leaked' the first stash of the Pentagon briefing slides: The man behind a massive leak of U.S. government secrets that has exposed spying on allies, revealed the grim prospects for Ukraines war with Russia and ignited diplomatic fires for the White House is a young, charismatic gun enthusiast who shared highly classified documents with a group of far-flung acquaintances searching for companionship amid the isolation of the pandemic. United by their mutual love of guns, military gear and God, the group of roughly two dozen mostly men and boys formed an invitation-only clubhouse in 2020 on Discord, an online platform popular with gamers. But they paid little attention last year when the man some call OG posted a message laden with strange acronyms and jargon. The words were unfamiliar, and few people read the long note, one of the members explained. But he revered OG, the elder leader of their tiny tribe, who claimed to know secrets that the government withheld from ordinary people. The young member read OGs message closely, and the hundreds more that he said followed on a regular basis for months. I am skeptical of that way too neat story. Is this "mutual love of guns, military gear and God" for real? The tale does not really explain how the 'reporters', the Post's intelligence and national security scribe Shane Harris and Samuel Oakford of Bellingcat fame, found the person or why it was willing to completely spill its beans: This account of how detailed intelligence documents intended for an exclusive circle of military leaders and government decision-makers found their way into and then out of OGs closed community is based in part on several lengthy interviews with the Discord group member, who spoke to The Washington Post on the condition of anonymity. He is under 18 and was a young teenager when he met OG. The Post obtained consent from the members mother to speak to him and to record his remarks on video. He asked that his voice not be obscured. His account was corroborated by a second member who read many of the same classified documents shared by OG, and who also spoke on the condition of anonymity. Both members said they know OGs real name as well as the state where he lives and works but declined to share that information while the FBI is hunting for the source of the leaks. One does not use real names when joining a gamers talk server or similar venues. So even if the Post had that member's online 'name' there would usually be no way to find it. Did the teen gamer contact the Post? But why would s/he talk at all about the issue? And why would the Post publish so many details about the person? This will evidently make it easy for the FBI to identify her or him. The Post also claims that the stash is much bigger than previously known: The Post also reviewed approximately 300 photos of classified documents, most of which have not been made public; some of the text documents OG is said to have written out; an audio recording of a man the two group members identified as OG speaking to his companions; and chat records and photographs that show OG communicating with them on the Discord server. But the Post does not say where those 300+ documents come from or what they are about. Are they not the more important story? We have pictures of the first stash of the files. The briefing slides seem real to me. The language is correct Pentagon lingo. The abbreviations used are typical. But some of the information therein, like the casualty numbers, is dubious. Do the Joint Chiefs of Staff really get briefed with Ukrainian defense ministry numbers that are know to be mere fantasies? The Pentagon and/or the CIA certainly have their own casualty estimates. Why not brief those? We have seen no picture of any slide that the additional stories are based on. Why were those not published? A plausible explanation is that the first release was a real leak but that someone is now pushing new 'leaks' to dedicated outlets that are only half true or mere propaganda. On top of that the Washington Post story about 'OG' is not only weird but suspicious. At Naked Capitalism Lambert Strether and Yves Smith also have doubts about it: Yves and I discussed this piece; it seems to us remarkably shiny; perhaps written, from clues in tone and structure, by an entity other than the bylined reporter. The central character in the excessively tight narrative, OG, the leaker, is putatively a Christian, a gun enthusiast, and something akin to a cult leader of a group of disaffected teenagers on the Discord server where the documents were found; his motive in placing the documents there seems to have been to consolidate his authority and moral ascendancy over his group. Meanwhile, OG seems almost perfectly calculated to fit neatly into the fascist traitor hole in liberal heads. I wonder if well ever find him? One can see The Hunt for OG storyline persisting for many weeks, good job. [...] As far as cui bono, Yves points out that obvious next steps are to pass the pernicious Restrict Act and exert authority over yet another platform, Discord. Or is all of this a diversion from the Ukrainian loss of Bakhmut? Or was all this leaked as a warning to the White House by someone high up in the security state? Seymour Hersh's latest about Zelensky's corruption may give a clue. A summary of the paywalled Hersh piece says: Meanwhile, Hersh, citing an intelligence official, said that the sabotage of the Nord Stream pipelines and lack of strategic planning with regard to Ukraine had caused a growing rift between the White House and the US intelligence community. There is a total breakdown between the White House leadership and the intelligence community, the intelligence official was quoted by Hersh as saying. The alleged rift dates back to the covert operation last fall to blow up Russias Nord Stream pipelines, a move that was purportedly ordered by President Joe Biden. Destroying the Nord Stream pipelines was never discussed, or even known in advance, by the community, the official said. Another issue dividing the Biden administration and the intelligence community is the lack of planning on Ukraine. The official highlighted Bidens decision to deploy two brigades a few miles from the Ukrainian border in response to Russias special military operation. If there is some bad blood between the military or intelligence community and the White House the whole 'leak' story may well have been placed to limit the White House's option. Update (17:30 UTC) The New York Times has found the 'leaker' and published his name and whereabouts. Leader of Online Group Where Secret Documents Leaked Is Air National Guardsman The leader of a small online gaming chat group where a trove of classified U.S. intelligence documents leaked over the last few months is a 21-year-old member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, according to interviews and documents reviewed by The New York Times. The national guardsman, whose name is Jack Teixeira, oversaw a private online group named Thug Shaker Central, where about 20 to 30 people, mostly young men and teenagers, came together over a shared love of guns, racist online memes and video games. The lead writer byline starts with Erin Toller of Bellingcat fame, another byline is of Christiaan Triebert, formerly Bellingcat. It was Triebert who who tweeted out the NYT story: Christiaan Triebert @trbrtc - 16:02 UTC Apr 13, 2023 We've identified the leader of the Discord group where top secret U.S. documents were leaked it's a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, specifically its intelligence wing. Gift link, no paywall: Heres what we know about the leader of the online group where secret documents were leaked. One writer byline of a Washington Post piece above was Samuel Oakford likewise a former Bellingcat writer. We know that Bellingcat is an outlet for the British external intelligence service MI6. This thereby looks very fishy: chinahand @chinahand - 17:11 UTC Apr 13, 2023 if bellingcat id'd the leaker wonder if gchq fed some breadcrumbs so nsa could continue to maintain "we don't surveil US citizens w/o a warrant". there's a whole 5 eyes tagteam built around dodging national restrictions on surveillance, i think I for one find it extremely concerning that the Washington Post and the New York Times worked more intensely on identifying the source of the leaks that the leaked briefing slides. Since when is it their job to find people who endanger the national security state? /End Update/ Posted by b on April 13, 2023 at 14:39 UTC | Permalink Comments next page The announcement of the new series came as HBO Max rebranded itself, changing its name to 'Max'. Starting May 23, the new USD$16-per-month service will hit America, automatically replacing the existing HBO Max. Still no word yet on when we might get it in New Zealand, but it's set to be rolled out to some Asia Pacific territories next year. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) The water was rising around her car, and Amanda Valentine thought she was going to die. She had just gotten a warning on her phone about flash flooding, and now it was all around her. I called my parents like, Im going to die. Like Im going to drown. Theres no way for me to get out of this car, Valentine said. And they couldnt help me. I called 911, and they told me they couldnt help me. She eventually forced the door open and got to safety. Parts of South Florida began cleaning up Thursday after the unprecedented storm that trapped Valentine and other motorists dumped upward of 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain in a matter of hours, caused widespread flooding, closed a key airport and turned thoroughfares into rivers. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. Residents still waded through knee-high water or used canoes and kayaks to navigate the streets Thursday in Fort Lauderdale's Edgewood neighborhood, where window screen installer Dennis Vasquez towed some of his neighbors belongings on an inflatable mattress to a car on dry land. He himself lost all of his possessions when water rose chest-high in his house Wednesday night. Everything, its gone, he said in Spanish. But I will replace it. In Broward County, where rains started Monday before the heaviest rains arrived Wednesday afternoon, crews worked Thursday to clear drains and fire up pumps to clear standing water. Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. Crews worked through the night to attend rescue calls. Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, which closed Wednesday evening, said it would not reopen until 5 a.m. Friday because of debris and flooding. Enough water had drained by early Thursday to allow people to drive on the upper level or departures road to pick up waiting passengers. But the entrance to the lower-level, or arrivals, road remained closed. Airlines were forced to cancel or change flights to and from the airport. Southwest canceled about 50 departures through Friday morning, and the number could grow, a spokeswoman said. The airline is letting customers rebook on flights to and from Miami and Palm Beach at no additional charge, she said. Frontier Airlines moved two flights from Fort Lauderdale to Miami but canceled about 15 other round trips, a spokeswoman said. Allegiant Air also canceled some flights and rerouted others to the Tampa, Orlando and Punta Gorda areas. More than 650 flights were canceled at Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, according to FlightAware. Broward County schools initially canceled classes Thursday, including after-school and extracurricular activities, after water flooded hallways and classrooms at some schools. Officials announced in the evening that schools would remain closed Friday. Service was restored on South Floridas high-speed commuter rail, Brightline, after it briefly shut down Wednesday evening. The Red Cross set up a staging area to help residents whose homes were flooded, providing them with blankets and coffee, officials said. Fort Lauderdale City Hall remained closed Thursday with ground-floor flooding and no power. A tunnel carrying U.S. Route 1 under a river and a major street in downtown Fort Lauderdale was also closed, along with some ramps to Interstate 95. Tow truck driver Keith Hickman said he saw abandoned cars floating like boats in the streets of Fort Lauderdale. There were hundreds of cars up and down here, he said. It was unbelievable. I have never seen cars bumper-boating each other and floating. And a truck would come by and the wake would push the cars into the other cars and they were just floating. Ive never seen anything like it. In the Sistrunk neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, 74-year-old Bobbie Ponder hiked up her dress to push her bicycle the last block to Rays Market to get a money order for her internet bill, only find it flooded and closed. Bags of potato chips and Cheetos floated in a foot of water as workers tried to clean up. Ponder, who lives in a third-floor apartment, said she didnt think the flooding would be that bad until she tried to ride her bike. She was trying to keep the flooding in perspective, comparing it against tornadoes that recently hit other states, killing dozens of people. We are blessed a lot of them died, she said. In the Edgewood neighborhood, Christopher Alfonso and Tony Mandico, neighbors for 50 years, said their homes are likely total losses. That storm ... just poured down on us for hours and hours and hours, Alfonso said. Pointing to the tightly packed homes with tiny yards, he said, All this asphalt, concrete, no grass there was no place for (the water) to go. Both said the area never severely flooded until a sanitary sewer system replaced septic tanks 10 years ago, making some streets higher than others and channeling rain onto lower roads. Shawn Bhatti, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said the region received an unprecedented amount of rain. The weather service was still confirming totals, but some gauges showed up to 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) of rainfall. For context, within a six-hour period the amount that fell is about a 1 in 1,000 chance of happening within a given year, Bhatti said. So its a very historical type of event. ___ Kozin and Frisaro both reported from Fort Lauderdale. Associated Press reporter Kathy McCormack contributed from Concord, New Hampshire. Presidenta Dina Boluarte: Este segundo balance de gestion tiene que empezar, como no puede ser de otra manera, con lo mas inmediato y urgente, que es la atencion a las poblaciones afectadas por las lluvias e inundaciones. Hasta la fecha hemos entregado cerca de 1600 toneladas pic.twitter.com/rDxjWpj6LW EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Anyone who wants to buy a gun in Michigan will have to undergo a background check, and gun owners will be required to safely store all firearms and ammunition when around minors under new laws signed Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The signing took place on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, where a gunman killed three students and injured five others two months ago. Flanked by students and gun safety advocates, Whitmer, a graduate of MSU, told the more than 100 people in attendance to buckle up, were going to continue this work. Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country, Whitmer said. We dont have to live like this and today, we are showing we are not going to anymore. The legislation is part of a sweeping 11-bill gun safety package that was introduced in the weeks following the MSU shooting but was predominately drafted after the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in which four students were killed. The bills saw little movement at the time with Republicans in control of the Legislature. Gun safety advocates, who poured into the state Capitol on Thursday afternoon, cheered loudly from the gallery above the House chamber as Democrats voted to approve red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders. The Senate passed the measures in March but will need to give final approval on several amendments before the bills are sent to Whitmer. The Democratic governor has said she would sign the package if and when it gets to her desk. Extreme risk protection orders are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior to stop them from hurting themselves or others. An Associated Press investigation last year found that many U.S. states barely use the red flag laws. Under the legislation signed Thursday, criminal background checks will be required for anyone buying a rifle or shotgun, which had previously only been required for purchases of pistols. The safe storage bills will require gun owners to keep unloaded firearms in a locked storage box or container when it is reasonably known that a minor is or is likely to be present on the premises. The laws will go into effect next year. Safe storage requirements gained momentum after Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time, killed four classmates and wounded seven other people at Oxford High School. Afterward, he admitting using a gun that was not locked in a box at home and had been purchased for him by his father. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the acts of Ethan, who has pleaded guilty to terrorism and first-degree murder charges. Supporters have also said the safe storage requirements will protect teenagers from using firearms in suicide attempts. Calling gun violence a uniquely American problem, Whitmer drew attention to mass shootings across the country during her remarks Thursday, specifically referencing recent shootings in Nashville and Louisville. Numerous state legislatures across the country are debating ways to address gun violence. A shooting in downtown Louisville this week was the 15th mass killing of the year in the U.S. in which four or more people were killed other than the perpetrator. That is the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009. The U.S. is sharply divided over what steps, if any, to take in the face of violence that involves firearms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, an expected Republican presidential candidate who visited Michigan last week, signed a bill this month that allows people in his state to carry concealed firearms without a permit, and without training or a background check. It takes effect July 1. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Odessa Police Department Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Odessa Police Department Show More Show Less 3 of 3 The Odessa Police Department is searching for a 26-year-old suspect who may be involved in the shooting. OPD reported that around 8 p.m. Monday a 19-year-old was shot in the 300 block of Patterson and transported to a local hospital with serious bodily injury. By Kyle Johnson | Apr 14, 2023 Dr. Tina Bernot, executive director of development, Murray State University; Kyle Johnson, director of development, Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business and Corporate Giving; Heather Castleman, client relations director, ATA CPAs + Advisors; Alexis Long, marketing director, ATA CPAs + Advisors; Leah Bona, partner, ATA CPAs + Advisors; Ty Ellegood, manager, ATA CPAs + Advisors; Dr. Leigh Johnson, chair, Department of Accounting; Dr. David Eaton, dean, Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business. MURRAY, Ky. ATA CPAs + Advisors has made a generous gift to the Murray State University Foundation to establish a new scholarship to encourage diversity within the next generation of accounting professionals. Named the ATA Diversity in Accounting Endowed Scholarship, the scholarship will provide financial assistance for students pursuing an education in the field of accounting at Murray State for years to come. Based in Jackson, Tennessee and with 15 office locations in Tennessee, Arkansas, Kentucky and Mississippi, ATA provides a wide range of accounting, auditing, wealth management, tax and consulting services and more for clients ranging from individuals to businesses of all sizes to governmental institutions. ATA serves as a long-term business advisor to its clients and also provides other services not traditionally associated with accounting such as data security, human resource management, wealth management and digital marketing. ATA believes in the importance of promoting diversity within the next generation of accounting professionals and the benefit of expanding career opportunities for diverse individuals from under-served populations through higher education. We're excited to provide a new scholarship in accounting to support students in obtaining a Murray State education and develop future leaders who can serve their communities effectively, said John Whybrew, managing partner, ATA CPAs + Advisors. On behalf of Murray State University and the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business, I would like to thank everyone at ATA for this generous gift that will benefit so many Murray State students over future decades, said Kyle Johnson, Murray State director of development for the Bauernfeind College of Business. We look forward to seeing all of the future accounting graduates whose education will be made possible by this scholarship. Murray State and the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business values partnerships, like what we have with ATA, so that we can offer a quality education to our students, reduce the financial cost associated with higher education, and develop pipelines for employment for all of our talented graduates to businesses like ATA. Murray State offers both undergraduate and graduate degrees in Accounting. Students are able to pursue any of three tracks: finance, financial planning or information management. The program also offers a Master of Business Administration in Accounting. Individuals interested in establishing a scholarship or fund for the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business can contact Kyle Johnson, director of development for the Arthur J. Bauernfeind College of Business at kjohnson7@murraystate.edu or 270-809-3123. Presidenta Dina Boluarte: Gobernar nunca ha sido facil, y a nosotros nos ha tocado una coyuntura particularmente dificil. En estos cuatro meses hemos afrontado dos crisis sucesivas: una grave crisis politica y social interna y externa que puso en juego la estabilidad, el orden pic.twitter.com/qHaYSKUHPB Attorney General Douglas Moylan, center, shakes hands with several other attorneys at a Supreme Court of Guam status conference Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at the Guam Judicial Center in Hagatna. Zaldy Dandan is a recipient of the Best Editorial Writer Award of the Society of Professional Journalists, and the CNMI Humanities Award for Outstanding Contributions to Journalism. His four books are available on amazon.com/. Follow Zaldy Dandan Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate New films by Wes Anderson, Alice Rohrwacher, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Todd Haynes and Wim Wenders will compete for the Cannes Film Festivals coveted top honor, the Palme dOr, as will a record number of films directed by women. Cannes artistic director Thierry Fremaux and president Iris Knobloch, who took over the post last year from Pierre Lescure, announced a lineup heavy on big-name international auteurs, along with some new faces, in a press conference Thursday in Paris. Among the 19 films selected for Cannes prestigious competition slate are Andersons sci-fi homage Asteroid City," Wenders Perfect Days; Kor-edas Monster; Alice Rohrwachers La Chimera"; and Haynes May December, a romance with Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore. Ken Loach, long a Cannes regular, will return with The Old Oak. Jonathan Glazer will premiere his first feature since 2013's Under the Skin with his Martin Amis adaptation Zone of Interest. After a scaled-down 2021 event and a comeback festival in 2022, this year's Cannes finds the festival back on level ground and its organizers triumphant that their mission celebrating the best in world cinema as an inherently theatrical experience has persevered. The films are back in theaters and the public is back in theaters, said Knobloch. The moviemakers, the artists, the professionals are all in agreement. Nothing can replace the cultural event represented by a release in a theater for a movie. Joining Rohrwacher, the Italian director of Happy as Lazzaro, in competition are five more female directors: Frances Catherine Breillat with Last Summer; Austrias Jessica Hausner with Club Zero; Frances Justine Triets Anatomy of a Fall; Senegalese-French director Ramata-Toulaye Sy with Banel & Adama; and Tunisias Kaouther Ben Hania with the documentary Olfas Daughters. Cannes has often come under criticism for selecting few films by women for its prestigious competition lineup. Only two female filmmakers have ever won the Palme dOr: Jane Campion in 1993 for The Piano and Julia Ducournau in 2021 for Titane. While six out of 19 films is a new high, it still falls below the parity that some have sought. Several of Cannes splashiest premieres had already been announced. Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny will debut in Cannes, along with a special tribute to Harrison Ford, as will Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon, his big-budget adaptation for Apple of David Granns non-fiction bestseller. Fremaux said he urged Scorsese to screen Killers of the Flower Moon in competition at the festival, but it isn't currently scheduled to compete for the Palme. On Tuesday, Cannes said that the Pedro Almodovar short Strange Way of Life, with Pedro Pascal and Ethan Hawke, will also premiere at the festival. Cannes gets underway May 16 with the opening-night selection Jeanne du Barry, starring Johnny Depp as King Louis XV. The film, directed by and co-starring the French actress and filmmaker Maiwenn, has been billed as Depps comeback film following his explosive trial last year with Amber Heard, his ex-wife. The festival runs through May 27. The much-anticipated HBO series The Idol, from Euphoria creator Sam Levinson and starring the Weeknd and Lily-Rose Depp, will also debut in Cannes. Steve McQueen, the director of 12 Years a Slave and the film anthology Small Axe, will present his Occupied City," a documentary about Amsterdam under Nazi occupation during World War II. The jury that will decide the Palme dOr will this year be led by the Swedish filmmaker Ruben Ostlund, a two-time Palme winner. After winning Cannes top honor for 2017s The Square, Ostlund won last year for the social satire Triangle of Sadness. Cannes is coming off a movie year that has reinforced the French festivals position as arguably the premiere international launching pad for film. Three of this years best-picture nominees at the Oscars premiered in Cannes: Top Gun: Maverick, Elvis and Triangle of Sadness. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CARLINVILLE A Carlinville woman accused in the death of a 3-year-old Macoupin County boy pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of involuntary manslaughter. Ashley N. Bottoms, 34, of Carlinville was charged with manslaughter and endangering the life of a child causing death in connection with the death of Hunter Lee Drew. In a scheduled court appearance, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Macoupin County State's Attorney Jordan Garrison said involuntary manslaughter is an accusation that a person unintentionally killed someone without justification. It is a felony punishable by between three and 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Macoupin Circuit Court Judge Joshua Meyer will sentence Bottoms at 1:30 p.m. June 16. Bottoms was arrested Oct. 22 and has remained in the Macoupin County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. Bottoms is accused of throwing the boy against a wall in an attempt to break up a fight. The impact of throwing the child caused blunt-force trauma and resulted in bleeding in Hunter's brain, according to court records. Prosecutors said although it was clear Hunter was in distress because of the injury, medical attention was not immediately sought. Charging documents accused Bottoms of driving the boy around for about three hours and then going to Litchfield to pick up the boy's father. It was then someone noticed Hunter was unresponsive and he was taken to the Litchfield fire station but had already died, according to prosecutors. Hunter's uncle, Kiel Quigley, and his then-girlfriend and now-wife, Hailee, had been caring for Hunter from Oct. 6, 2021, until August. After Illinois Department of Children and Family Services found Hunter's biological father, Christopher Gunn, late in 2021, case workers eventually "decided Chris needed to take responsibility for Hunter," Quigley told the Journal-Courier in October. Gunn took formal custody of Hunter on Aug. 27. Since Hunter's death, Quigley has called for an investigation of DCFS by the Illinois attorney general, Illinois State Police and the inspector general. Morgan County is in the beginning stages of building a comprehensive plan to provide people who are homeless with resources to help them get back on their feet. While Jacksonville does not have the problems that face larger cities such as Springfield, the concerns do exist here, said Becky Gabany, system director of community health for Memorial Health. The aim of a community forum Tuesday at Jacksonville Public Library was to gather comments from residents about what needs to be done to effectively address the issue. The meeting was coordinated by Memorial Health and led by Gabany. "While it is difficult to know exactly how many homeless people there are in the city of Jacksonville, there is no doubt the number is underreported," Gabany said. A point-in-time count conducted in January by the West Central Illinois Continuum of Care in Quincy identified 180 homeless people in Morgan County. Gabany said Jacksonville Police Department helped 120 people find shelter in 2022. A survey of Morgan County schools, conducted through funding from the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act, showed 114 students in the most recent school year lacked "a fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence." Gabany said that can include shared housing because of economic hardship or those living in hotels, shelters or cars. That survey included the Jacksonville, Franklin, Waverly, Triopia and Meredosia-Chambersburg school districts. Gabany said that, in 2022, New Directions Warming & Cooling Center provided 2,098 nights of shelter, with the average stay being 23 days. The highest occupancy was in August. Besides undercounting, Gabany said, many things in regard to homelessness are not widely known. "Of people experiencing homelessness, 76% have an income, so they are working and trying to do something to put themselves in better situations," Gabany said. "The cost of housing people temporarily in hotels is extremely high." According to the Kentucky-based Center for Rural Strategies, the rate of homelessness and housing insecurity rose faster in rural places than the country at large. Nationwide, homelessness rose less than a half percent from 2020 to 2022, but almost 6% in rural communities. Gabany said many people experience housing insecurity because people double up with friends or family. That can be precarious if conflict arises, and the guests are asked to leave. There also are people who couch surf moving from one friend or relative's house to another because they have no home of their own. Several steps already have been taken to model an effort in Morgan County based on Heartland Housed, an initiative in Springfield and Sangamon County also driven by Memorial Health. The goal in Springfield, as it will be in Jacksonville, is to reduce homelessness to "functional zero" in five years. "Functional zero" means if a person experiences homelessness in Jacksonville, the organization would want to be able to provide support and services for that person to help them end their homelessness within 30 days. The goal is to have a plan in place by the end of September and Gabany said several steps have been taken to reach that goal, including the formation of a steering committee that meets monthly. Representatives from several agencies, including the city of Jacksonville, Morgan County, the Crisis Center Foundation, Jacksonville Memorial Hospital, Midwest Youth Services, New Directions, the Jacksonville Area Landlord Association, the NAACP, Prairieland United Way, The Salvation Army and the West Central Illinois Continuum of Care are involved. "The mission is to create a collaborative and unified plan that is both human-centered and provides actionable and sustainable solutions that remove systemic barriers and empower people experiencing homelessness to exit homelessness with dignity and respect," Gabany said. Morgan County has several strengths in dealing with homelessness, including strong support for this initiative by those doing the work now, Gabany said. There is also a desire to establish a connection between client support in Springfield and Jacksonville. Opportunities awaiting the county are the capacity to apply for new funding and building a coordinated approach with other agencies. The forum was designed to encourage participation from the audience. At the end, the audience broke into two groups to talk about what would be useful in educating the community on homelessness, things the steering committee should consider, and what should be included in the final plan. One thing both groups suggested was to compile a complete list of what services are available and were to send someone in need of help. That includes what kind of housing is available and what the needs of the individuals are. It was observed there is a lack of rental housing in Jacksonville and sometimes people have no place to go. Another suggestion was to educate the community about homelessness by putting a face on the problem to remove the stigma sometimes associated with being homeless. One group said it needed to go past "us vs. them" and realize it is incorrect that people are homeless solely because they lack a work ethic. People want to know what to know what the average person can do, one group said, including how to volunteer. The other group talked about the transportation barriers many homeless people face. Sheriff ARRESTS, CITATIONS Kyle R. Paul, 35, of 2105 N. Sixth St., Springfield, was booked into the Morgan County jail at 3:47 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without an ignition interlock. Jacksonville Police ARRESTS, CITATIONS Draven M. Canada, 18, of 112 E. Third Ave., Versailles, was arrested at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday on a retail theft charge after being accused of taking merchandise from Walmart, 1941 W. Morton Ave., without paying. Devin J. Clapp, 19, of 800 Hoagland Blvd. was arrested at 8:25 p.m. Tuesday on a retail theft charge after being accused of taking merchandise from Walmart, 1941 W. Morton Ave., without paying. Anthony M. Standly, 20, of 301 W. Beecher Ave. was booked into the Morgan County jail at 7:40 p.m. Saturday on a charge of criminal damage to government-supported property. ACCIDENTS Janet K. O'Connell, 57, of Jacksonville was cited on a charge of improper lane use after her vehicle and one being driven by a 17-year-old girl collided at 9:03 p.m. Tuesday in the 800 block of West Morton Avenue. Last months congressional TikTok hearing was both a symbol of deteriorating United States-China relations and an anxious reaction to a future in which the U.S. may no longer enjoy exclusive dominance over the technological landscape. TikTok is portrayed as the vanguard of a China-led world in which four of the five top mobile apps in the U.S. have Chinese origins, and China increasingly challenges the U.S. in AI supremacy and as an innovation-centric society. The criticisms leveled at TikTok concerning everything from data privacy to misinformation to the harms to children differ little from those directed for years at American platforms. We should be skeptical about how much change to expect from Congress. Yet the big question remains: Just how much of a threat does TikTok really pose? TikToks singular popularity stems from the power of its recommendation algorithm to learn the interests of its users with uncanny ability and feed them an intimately personalized stream of content. Algorithmic recommendation is at the heart of all major social platforms, but TikToks algorithms, coupled with its short-form video-centric content, have proven far more intoxicating than those of U.S.-based legacy platforms. The dangers of such hyper-personalized recommendation streams range from encouraging harmful behaviors in teens to the concern that China could secretly use the platform to foment divisions and unrest and nudge the West toward ideas and beliefs that favor Chinas interests. TikTok has gone to great lengths to emphasize its independence, but the idea that the Chinese government could leverage tiny algorithmic tweaks to manipulate what Americans are interested in has real merit. The company has previously confirmed that its employees do manually override its algorithm to prioritize topics and individuals that it wishes to promote, though it strenuously denies that the Chinese government could influence its decisions. From a data-privacy perspective, there is a risk that TikTok could monetize the richly intimate portraits it creates of Americans by selling their data. On the one hand, American platforms have long argued over what it means to sell data and who should have access to the insights they derive from it. On the other hand, the U.S. already has a vibrant landscape of shadowy data brokers from whom even more intimate data containing information ranging from medical and financial to sexual can be purchased today in bulk. Even if TikTok doesnt sell Americans data (which it promises it will not), some warn that Chinas spy agencies could use the data to gain a better understanding of the American population. Facebooks own use of its mobile app in 2019 to track users it deemed threats suggests how TikTok could turn its billion-plus users, including 150 million Americans, into real-time location beacons to catalog patterns of life in the U.S. TikToks admission last year that it accessed the data of two journalists to investigate a leak lends further credence to these concerns. At a more basic level, TikTok could simply adjust its content-moderation policies to silence criticism of Chinese interests. In 2019, the Guardian revealed that TikTok had been quietly censoring topics like Tiananmen Square, Tibetan independence, and Falun Gong. While the company subsequently claimed that it was no longer suppressing such content, nothing is stopping it from quietly imposing hard or soft bans on topics of interest to Beijing, much as American companies allow governments around the world to influence their moderation decisions. As content moderation becomes increasingly algorithmic, such adjustments might not even be readily apparent to oversight boards. The societal dangers that TikTok poses are no different than those of American social media platforms that already collaborate with foreign governments to censor, surveil, and manipulate users around the world, often in ways hostile to U.S. interests. Requiring TikTok to use U.S.-based servers will mitigate some of these risks, but even an outright ban will do little to curtail TikToks use by American teens already well-versed in circumventing parental controls. In the end, there is only one real solution to the TikTok problem: American companies must develop viable competitors. Via Twitter, the Police indicated that their capture was carried out by agents the Counterterrorism Directorate (Dircote) , in coordination with the Huanuco Counter-Terrorism Department. For his part, Counterterrorism Directorate head, General Jose Antonio Zavala, affirmed that the detainees were identified as: Ramon Claudio Regin, comrade Ramon, captured in Puerto Maldonado; Alejandro Poma Cecilio, comrade Alex, captured in Huanuco; and Magner Felix Camara Villan, comrade Filicho, who is believed to have participated as a collaborator in the illegal trafficking of weapons and people. "We have managed to capture three Shining Path members, who carried out illegal activities in the town of Aucayacu, in the area of Magdalena, where they performed all forms of actions that Shining Path used to undertake in the 1980s and 1990s, and even until 2012 under the leadership of comrade Artemio," the Dircote's head said during the presentation of the detainees. According to the Dircote, those arrested are said to have operated under the command of comrade Artemio , who was captured in February 2012. (END) MAO/RMB The Peruvian National Police (PNP) has confirmed the capture of three alleged terror offenders, who are said to have collaborated and participated in the terrorist organization Sendero Luminoso (Shining Path) Published: 4/13/2023 YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France issued a statement on the April 11 Azerbaijani attack on Armenian troops near the village of Tegh in Armenia. In the statement, the French Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over what it described as violence near the Tegh settlement in Armenian territory on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan on April 11. France reminds that delimitation must take place exclusively through negotiations and calls on the parties to continue efforts in this direction. Respect for Armenias territorial integrity and withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from occupied positions of the line of contacts Armenian side are of significant importance for preventing future incidents and maintaining the foundations for sustainable peace in the region. France fully supports the activities of the EU monitoring mission deployed in the Armenian side of the border, which plays a key role in reducing tension. France will continue to act along with the EU for the benefit of adherence to the ceasefire, dialogue and resumption of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the French Foreign Ministry added. On April 11, Armenian troops carrying out engineering works near the village of Tegh close to the border with Azerbaijan came under heavy gunfire in an unprovoked attack by Azerbaijani forces. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and six wounded. YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. On April 12, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan had a telephone conversation with US acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Derek Hogan. Mirzoyan and Hogan discussed regional security issues, the foreign ministry said in a readout. Minister Mirzoyan presented the details on the provocation carried out by the Azerbaijani armed forces in the area of Tegh village of the Syunik region of the Republic of Armenia on April 11, noting that it was another manifestation of the general aggressive policy of Azerbaijan, also aimed at disrupting the efforts to continue the peace negotiations. Views were exchanged on the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh and on issues of normalization of relations between Armenia and Azerbaijan. Ararat Mirzoyan reaffirmed Armenia's commitment to the peace process and presented the approaches of the Armenian side to the settlement of existing problems, the foreign ministry said. On April 11, Armenian troops carrying out engineering works near the village of Tegh close to the border with Azerbaijan came under heavy gunfire in an unprovoked attack. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and six wounded. Germany appeals for reducing tensions over Taiwan View Photo BEIJING (AP) Germanys government appealed for efforts to reduce tensions over Taiwan as the German foreign minister arrived in China on Thursday for official talks following Chinese military exercises near the self-governed island democracy that Beijing claims is part of its territory. Annalena Baerbock arrived in the northeastern port city of Tianjin for meetings and was due to hold talks with her Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, on Friday in Beijing and with senior diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday. Her ministry said she would discuss Taiwan, Ukraine, human rights and other issues with Chinese officials. Chinas ruling Communist Party sent warships and fighter planes near Taiwan last weekend in retaliation for a meeting between U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the islands president, Tsai Ing-wen. Threatening military gestures increase the risk of unintentional military confrontations, a spokesperson for Baerbocks ministry, Andrea Sasse, said in Berlin. We therefore call on all partners in the region and are working also with our international partners to contribute to a de-escalation in the Strait of Taiwan, Sasse said Wednesday. Taiwan and mainland China split in 1949 after a civil war. The Communist Party says the island is obligated to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary. European governments are increasingly worried about Chinese pressure on Taiwan, a global high-tech center and one of the biggest trading economies. European governments with the exception of Vatican City have diplomatic relations with Beijing instead of Taiwan but maintain informal and commercial relations with the island. European legislators have visited Taiwan and met Tsai to show support in the face of Chinese intimidation. On Ukraine, Baerbock said in a statement issued by her ministry that Germanys interest in bringing the war on our European doorstep in Ukraine to a swift, lasting and just end was at the top of her agenda for the visit. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China bears a special responsibility for world peace, she said. Germany has strongly backed Ukraines resistance to Russias invasion, while Beijing has blamed the U.S. and NATO for provoking the conflict. While trade and investment between them remain strong, Germany has grown increasingly wary of Chinas growing influence in its economy. Germany has ordered a new security assessment of Chinese company COSCOs plan to purchase a 25% stake in a container terminal in Hamburg amid heavy criticism from many in Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government, throwing the deal into doubt and prompting strong complaints from Beijing. We hope Germany can refrain from politicizing business cooperation, making it something about ideology or security, or artificially setting up obstacles, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a briefing Thursday. Baerbock plans to travel to South Korea on Saturday and then attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major economies in Japan on Sunday. German imports from Russia down over 90% in wars 1st year German imports from Russia down over 90% in wars 1st year View Photo BERLIN (AP) Germanys imports from Russia fell by more than 90% in the first year of Moscows war in Ukraine, largely as a result of the collapse of Russian energy deliveries to Europes biggest economy, official figures showed Thursday. The Federal Statistical Office said Germany imported goods worth 300 million euros ($329 million) in February, down from 3.7 billion euros a year earlier. That was a 91% fall, and dropped Russia from the 11th-biggest source of imports to 46th place. Russias full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022 triggered several rounds of Western sanctions. Its relations with the West chilled even in areas that werent directly subject to sanctions, such as natural gas. Moscow, which once supplied more than half of Germanys gas, reduced and then stopped gas deliveries to the country last summer. The statistics office said imports of Russian oil and gas were down 99.8% in the year to February, falling to 4.2 million euros from 2.2 billion euros. Germanys overall imports of oil and gas this February totaled 6 billion euros. Coal imports dropped 92.5%, to 26 million euros from 347 million euros. Meanwhile, Germany exported goods to the tune of 800 million euros to Russia in February, down from 2.1 billion euros a year earlier. That was a 60.5% decline. The statistics office didnt give details of what is still being imported and exported. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine-war Slovakias central bank chief fined for bribery, faces trial View Photo BRATISLAVA, Slovakia (AP) The head of Slovakias central bank, who is a member of the European Central Bank committee that decides monetary policy for 20 countries, was convicted Thursday of bribery and fined 100,000 euros ($110,000). The countrys Special Criminal Court handed National Bank of Slovakia Gov. Peter Kazimir a two-year suspended sentence, said Katarina Kudjakova, a spokesperson for the court. Not paying the fine would mean jail time. The verdict was issued without a trial, however, and the state prosecution service appealed it shortly afterward, sending the case back to court. Kazimir also could appeal. Kazimir is accused of handing a bribe of 48,000 euros ($53,000) to the head of the countrys tax office related to a tax investigation of private companies, but few details were available because there was no trial. Kazimir didnt immediately comment, but he previously denied any wrongdoing. President Zuzana Caputova said Kazimir should consider resigning, and Prime Minister Eduard Heger called it unacceptable for him to head the central bank. Slovakia is one of 20 countries that use the euro currency, and Kazimir is a member of the European Central Banks governing council, its main decision-making body. The ECB said it had no comment. The case dates to when Kazimir served as finance minister from 2012 to 2019 in the leftist government of populist Prime Minister Robert Fico and was a member of Ficos Smer-Social Democracy party before taking over his central bank job. Smer lost the 2020 general election and was replaced by a coalition government whose parties campaigned on an anti-corruption ticket. The new government made fighting corruption a key policy issue. Since it took power, a number of senior officials, police officers, judges, prosecutors, politicians and businesspeople have been charged with corruption and other crimes. Slovakia faces an early election in September after the government lost a parliamentary no-confidence vote in December. Fico, who unlike the current government opposes military help for Ukraine against Russia, stands a chance to win the snap vote, recent polls suggested. Ukraine, Romania, Moldova boost ties at security meeting View Photo BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Neighbors Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova signed cooperation agreements in Romanias capital Thursday after a trilateral meeting on ways to strengthen security in their Black Sea region to counter threats posed by Russian aggression. The Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest brought together the three countries foreign and defense ministers, government officials and international partners. The aim was to address the wide-ranging impact that Moscows war in Ukraine is having on the region. NATO member Romanias Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu called Russia the most direct and serious threat to the Black Sea region and the Western alliance, and said war-torn Ukraine and embattled Moldova are essential to our future European security. Instead of peace and stability, the Black Sea region has become the primary target of the Russian aggression, he said, adding that a strong NATO presence there is a must. After signing the agreements, which aim to boost political, economic, and security cooperation between the three nations, Aurescu said it records the fact that we have similar visions. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who spoke to the Bucharest gathering by video link called the war a bleeding wound in the middle of Europe and said a security network for countries in the region that feel threatened by the maniac on the loose must be sought. Its time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, a sea of NATO, Kuleba said, referring to Finlands recent admission to the NATO military alliance. He also called for a resolute step forward on the path to Ukraines own NATO membership, a move that Western officials are wary of committing to. After signing the trilateral declaration Thursday, Moldovas Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu said that Moldova remains the target of hybrid attempts to destabilize our country and that the impact of Moscows war is being felt by every citizen of non-NATO Moldova. Moldova, which has faced a long series of crises over the past year including alleged Russia-backed destabilization plots, was granted European Union candidate status last June, the same day as Ukraine. As well as addressing security issues, the Black Sea Security Conference held on Apr. 12-13 discussed topics including freedom of trade and the facilitation of energy transport routes. Officials also discussed the importance of countering Russias cyberwarfare efforts. Romanias Aurescu said Moscow is orchestrating (attacks) against the region, against European and Allied states. By STEPHEN McGRATH Associated Press ChatGPT could return to Italy if OpenAI complies with rules View Photo ROME (AP) ChatGPT could return to Italy soon if its maker, OpenAI, complies with measures to satisfy regulators who had imposed a temporary ban on the artificial intelligence software over privacy worries. The Italian data protection authority on Wednesday outlined a raft of requirements that OpenAI will have to satisfy by April 30 for the the ban on AI chatbot to be lifted. The watchdog known as Garante last month ordered the company to temporarily stop processing Italian users personal information while it investigated a possible data breach. The authority said it didnt want to hamper AIs development but emphasized the importance of following the European Unions strict data privacy rules. OpenAI, which had responded by proposing remedies to ease the concerns, on Wednesday welcomed the Italian regulators move. We are happy that the Italian Garante is reconsidering their decision and we look forward to working with them to make ChatGPT available to our customers in Italy again soon, OpenAI said. Concerns are growing about the artificial intelligence boom, with other countries, from France to Canada, investigating or looking closer at so-called generative AI technology like ChatGPT. The chatbot is trained on huge pools of data, including digital books and online writings, and able to generate text that mimics human writing styles. Under Italys measures, OpenAI must post information on its website about how and why it processes the personal information of both users and non-users, as well as provide the option to correct or delete that data. The company will have to rely on consent or legitimate interest to use personal data to train ChatGPTs algorithms, the watchdog said. The Italian regulators had questioned whether theres a legal basis for OpenAI to collect massive amounts of data used to teach ChatGPTs algorithms and raised concerns the system could sometimes generate false information about individuals. San Francisco-based OpenAI also will have to carry out a publicity campaign by May 15 through radio and TV, newspapers and the internet to inform people about how it uses their personal data for training algorithms, Italys watchdog said. Theres also a requirement to verify users ages and set up a system to filter out those who are under 13 and teens between 13 and 18 who dont have parental consent. Only in that case will the Italian SA (supervisory authority) lift its order that placed a temporary limitation on the processing of Italian users data . so that ChatGPT will be available once again from Italy, the watchdog said on its website. Peruvian politician convicted in 1988 murder of reporter View Photo LIMA, Peru (AP) A Peruvian judge convicted retired army general and conservative politician Daniel Urresti and sentenced him to 12 years in prison Thursday for his role in the 1988 murder of a journalist who covered abuses during Perus civil war. Hailed by advocates as an overdue but key verdict in upholding accountability and press freedom in Peru, the sentence represented a remarkable turnaround for Urresti, who has been an interior minister, congressman and presidential candidate as well as a frequent political commentator. Urresti was a military intelligence officer in November 1988 when journalist Hugo Bustios was machine-gunned and blown up with dynamite in a slaying initially blamed on the communist militant group Shining Path. A fellow journalist with Bustios survived the attack. Members of the military later were convicted of carrying out the ambush during a plainclothes patrol in Huanta province to prevent the journalist from covering news of military abuses against civilians in the largely Indigenous region. The man who had been the local military commander was convicted in the attack in 2007, and he implicated Urresti as a member of that patrol in 2011. Judge Juan Santillan issued the sentence in Lima as Urresti listened along with his wife and daughter, whom he hugged before being taken into custody by the police. Prosecutors had requested 25 years, but said they were satisfied with the decision. Urresti indicated he would appeal. Sharmeli Bustios, daughter of the murdered journalist, told reporters that after 35 years, I can tell my parents that they can finally rest in peace. The National Association of Journalists said in statements on social media that the verdict was restitution both for the family of Bustios and for journalism. It is an important step towards justice and the defense of press freedom in Peru, the group said. Urresti was a popular interior minister in 2014-15 under President Ollanta Humala, with a reputation for being outspoken and taking a hard line against crime. He served in Perus Congress in 2020-21 and was the presidential candidate in 2021 for the Podemos Peru party. His conviction came only after a second trial. He initially was acquitted in a verdict that was annulled in 2019 by the Supreme Court, which ordered a new trial on the grounds the previous process was riddled with errors. The Huanta province capital, also called Huanta, about 370 miles (600 kilometers) southeast of Lima, was one of the most violent cities during the war that raged between the Peruvian military and the Shining Path from 1980 to 2000. Herminia Ore, who represents disappeared and tortured people of that city, told a journalist from The Associated Press in 2015 that there was an atmosphere of paranoia in Huanta during the conflict. A candle lit in your house at night was a reason for the military to arrest you, she said. The civil war left an estimated 70,000 people dead, the majority of them in rural areas where the predominant languages were Quechua and Ashaninka. By FRANKLIN BRICENO Associated Press Gray fox that was displaying signs of distemper the homeowner contacted Sonora Police who captured the animal in February, 2023 View Photos Jamestown, CA A disturbing trend has developed over the past few months, and now Tuolumne County Animal Control is cautioning dog owners to make sure their pets shots are up-to-date. Shelter officials report an increase in gray foxes displaying abnormal behavior, prompting them to take some blood samples, resulting in two testing positive for canine distemper virus (CDV). The viral disease can affect dogs, raccoons, gray foxes, skunks, badgers, mountain lions, coyotes, and some marine life, with outbreaks lasting for years in some cases. It is undetermined how many animals will be affected, according to shelter officials, who added that the disease is often fatal with a 50% mortality rate in adult dogs and 80% in puppies. Unvaccinated dogs are more likely to contract and spread the disease through food and water dishes accidentally used by infected wildlife. Another way the virus spreads is through direct contact with saliva (drool), inhalation of infected respiratory droplets, and tears. The virus cannot be transmitted to humans. Keeping dogs up to date on vaccinations not only protects pets; it protects wildlife, said California Department of Fish & Wildlife (CDFW) Senior Wildlife Veterinarian Deana Clifford. Wild animals can spread distemper to domestic dogs, but unvaccinated domestic dogs can also spread the disease to wild animals. Anyone witnessing a sick animal should contact their local Fish and Game Department at (559) 243-4009. Do not try to grab or help the animal, and keep pets away from them, according to shelter officials. They add that if your pet has been exposed, immediately call your veterinarian and report the incident to Tuolumne County Animal Control at (209) 694-2730 for possible rabies control and quarantine. Also, make sure your dog is current on its vaccinations. If a wild animal bites or scratches you, wash the wound vigorously with soap and water and consult a physician and/or contact your countys public health department or Tuolumne County Animal Control at (209) 694-2730. For more details on CDV including symptoms, click here. California High Speed Rail View Photo Sacramento, CA Californias High-Speed Rail project now has an estimated price tag of $128-billion, compared to the $33-billion estimate provided to voters in 2008. The goal is to eventually have the train run from Los Angeles to San Francisco, with much of the focus currently on building the initial 170-mile stretch from Merced to Bakersfield. That link alone is now anticipated to cost over $36-billion and be completed by 2030. The High-Speed Rail Authority currently does not have an estimate as to when the originally envisioned full project would be completed. It will require additional state and/or federal funding over the coming years. Yesterday, the Assembly Transportation Committee and Budget Subcommittee held a joint hearing on the project. It will continue, but Republicans argued that it should be scrapped. The Republican leader of the Budget Subcommittee, Vince Fong, stated, The Governor and the Legislature need to stop wasting taxpayer money on this failing project and redirect the billion-dollar yearly funding to more pressing priorities like hardening levies, water storage and conveyance that will protect lives and communities to help Californians. Leading Democrats would like to see the project come to fruition. Nearly $10-billion in additional revenue will be needed to finish the Central Valley stretch. Governor Gavin Newsom put $526-million into his latest budget proposal, and the state is also hoping secure $8-billion in federal infrastructure dollars to cover the remaining gap. Washington, DC California Senator Diane Feinstein has been absent from Capitol Hill since announcing that she was hospitalized with shingles in early March. Feinstein, 89, has already announced that she will not be seeking re-election next year. Her month-and-a-half absence has created challenges for Democrats trying to approve Judicial appointments, as she is a member of the Judiciary Committee, and judges will not get approved if there is a 10-10 tie. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna put out a statement yesterday calling for Feinstein to resign from office, arguing, While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Senator Feinstein put out a statement last night, through her office, in response to growing concerns about her health. It states, When I was first diagnosed with shingles, I expected to return by the end of the March work period. Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis. She continues, I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so Ive asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until Im able to resume my committee work. Senator Feinstein has given no indication that she plans to retire prior to her term expiring. If she did choose to do so, Governor Gavin Newsom would be tasked with picking a replacement to serve as California Senator through the end of next year. Pet arrives home, dog-tired, after Alaskan sea-ice odyssey View Photo ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A 1-year-old Australian shepherd took an epic trek across 150 miles (241 kilometers) of frozen Bering Sea ice that included being bitten by a seal or polar bear before he was safely returned to his home in Alaska. Mandy Iworrigan, Nanuqs owner who lives in Gambell, Alaska, and her family were visiting Savoogna, another St. Lawrence Island community in the Bering Strait, last month when Nanuq disappeared with their other family dog, Starlight, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Starlight turned up a few weeks later, but Nanuq, which means polar bear in Siberian Yupik, was nowhere to be found. About a month after Nanuq disappeared, people in Wales, 150 miles (241 kilometers) northeast of Savoonga on Alaskas western coast, began posting pictures online of what they described as a lost dog. My dad texted me and said, Theres a dog that looks like Nanuq in Wales, Iworrigan said. She reactivated her Facebook account to see if it might be her wandering hound. I was like, No freakin way! Thats our dog! What is he doing in Wales? she said. The events of Nanuqs journey will likely always be a mystery. I have no idea why he ended up in Wales. Maybe the ice shifted while he was hunting, Iworrigan said. Im pretty sure he ate leftovers of seal or caught a seal. Probably birds, too. He eats our Native foods. Hes smart. She used airline points to get her dog back to Gambell on a regional air carrier last week, a charter that was transporting athletes for the Bering Strait School Districts Native Youth Olympics tournament. Iworrigan filmed the happy reunion when the plane landed at the air strip in Savoonga, with both she and her daughter Brooklyn shrieking with joy. Except for a swollen leg, with large bite marks from an unidentified animal, Nanuq was in pretty good health. Wolverine, seal, small nanuq, we dont know, because its like a really big bite, she said. YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The second Azerbaijani servicemen who crossed into Armenian territory on April 10 and was missing since then was found and taken into custody by Armenian authorities on April 13, the Ministry of Defense announced Thursday. On April 13, the second Azerbaijani servicemen was found and arrested in the territory of the Republic of Armenia, the Ministry of Defense said in a statement. An Azerbaijani soldier was detained in Armenia on Monday after crossing the border. He claimed to have crossed into Armenia together with another Azerbaijani serviceman. On April 12, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian said that the Azerbaijani soldier detained in Armenia on Monday deserted his unit after being ill-treated by his Azerbaijani comrades. Arkansas requires parents OK for children on social media View Photo LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) Arkansas on Wednesday became the second state to restrict social media use by children, as Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders approved legislation requiring minors to get their parents permission to create a new account. The bill signed by the Republican governor requires social media companies to contract with third-party vendors to perform age verification checks on new users. The law will apply to new accounts created starting in September. While social media can be a great tool and a wonderful resource, it can have a massive negative impact on our kids, Sanders said before signing the legislation. The proposal is similar to a first-in-the-nation law that Utah Gov. Spencer Cox signed last month. Utahs law takes effect in March 2024. Several other states are considering similar measures, touted by supporters as a way to protect children. California last year enacted a law requiring tech companies to put kids safety first by barring them from profiling children or using personal information in ways that could harm children physically or mentally. Sanders last month announced the state had filed lawsuits against TikTok and Facebook parent Meta, claiming the social media companies misled consumers about the safety of children on their platforms and the protection of users private data. The legislation has drawn criticism from opponents who said restrictions could raise new privacy concerns and exacerbate the mental health crisis among young people. Experts have also questioned how and if the restrictions could be enforced. The governor and the legislators who voted for this bill must not understand the harm it will cause to the privacy and free speech rights of the people they represent, because if they did, I dont think they could pass it in good conscience, Jason Kelley, acting director of activism for the Electronic Frontier Foundation, said in a statement. The restrictions would only apply to social media platforms that generate more than $100 million in annual revenue. It also wouldnt apply to certain platforms, including LinkedIn, Google and YouTube. Social media companies that knowingly violate the age verification requirement could face a $2,500 fine for each violation under the new law. The law also prohibits third party vendors from retaining identifying information of users after theyve been granted access to the social media site. Republican Sen. Tyler Dees, the Arkansas bills sponsor, said the new law sends a clear message that we want to partner with parents and empower them to protect our children. By ANDREW DeMILLO Associated Press Whitmer signs stricter gun background check, storage bills View Photo EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Anyone who wants to buy a gun in Michigan will have to undergo a background check, and gun owners will be required to safely store all firearms and ammunition when around minors under new laws signed Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The signing took place on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, where a gunman killed three students and injured five others two months ago. Flanked by students and gun safety advocates, Whitmer, a graduate of MSU, told the more than 100 people in attendance to buckle up, were going to continue this work. Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country, Whitmer said. We dont have to live like this and today, we are showing we are not going to anymore. The legislation is part of a sweeping 11-bill gun safety package that was introduced in the weeks following the MSU shooting but was predominately drafted after the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in which four students were killed. The bills saw little movement at the time with Republicans in control of the Legislature. Gun safety advocates, who poured into the state Capitol on Thursday afternoon, cheered loudly from the gallery above the House chamber as Democrats voted to approve red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders. The Senate passed the measures in March but will need to give final approval on several amendments before the bills are sent to Whitmer. The Democratic governor has said she would sign the package if and when it gets to her desk. Extreme risk protection orders are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior to stop them from hurting themselves or others. An Associated Press investigation last year found that many U.S. states barely use the red flag laws. Under the legislation signed Thursday, criminal background checks will be required for anyone buying a rifle or shotgun, which had previously only been required for purchases of pistols. The safe storage bills will require gun owners to keep unloaded firearms in a locked storage box or container when it is reasonably known that a minor is or is likely to be present on the premises. The laws will go into effect next year. Safe storage requirements gained momentum after Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time, killed four classmates and wounded seven other people at Oxford High School. Afterward, he admitting using a gun that was not locked in a box at home and had been purchased for him by his father. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the acts of Ethan, who has pleaded guilty to terrorism and first-degree murder charges. Supporters have also said the safe storage requirements will protect teenagers from using firearms in suicide attempts. Calling gun violence a uniquely American problem, Whitmer drew attention to mass shootings across the country during her remarks Thursday, specifically referencing recent shootings in Nashville and Louisville. Numerous state legislatures across the country are debating ways to address gun violence. A shooting in downtown Louisville this week was the 15th mass killing of the year in the U.S. in which four or more people were killed other than the perpetrator. That is the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009. The U.S. is sharply divided over what steps, if any, to take in the face of violence that involves firearms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, an expected Republican presidential candidate who visited Michigan last week, signed a bill this month that allows people in his state to carry concealed firearms without a permit, and without training or a background check. It takes effect July 1. By JOEY CAPPELLETTI Associated Press After calls to resign, Feinstein seeks Judiciary replacement View Photo LOS ANGELES (AP) U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has faced calls to resign from fellow Democrats, asked Wednesday to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers from illness that has kept her away from Washington for weeks. Feinstein, the oldest member of Congress at 89, said in a statement that her recovery from a case of shingles she disclosed in early March had been delayed because of complications. She provided no date for her return and said she had requested that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to serve in her committee seat until she was able to return. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel, Feinstein said. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. Feinsteins lengthy absence has caused increasing anxiety within her party because it has threatened Democratic efforts to confirm President Joe Bidens nominees for federal courts in a narrowly divided chamber. Her decision to seek a committee stand-in during her recovery came shortly after two House Democrats called on her to resign after her extended absence from Washington. Feinstein has faced questions in recent years about her cognitive health and memory, though she has defended her effectiveness representing a state that is home to nearly 40 million people. California Rep. Ro Khanna, one of two Democratic House members who called Wednesday for Feinstein to resign, said in a statement: This is a moment of crisis for womens rights and voting rights. Its unacceptable to have Sen. Feinstein miss vote after vote to confirm judges who will uphold reproductive rights. Khanna, a California progressive, wrote on Twitter that Feinstein should step aside. She announced in February that she would not seek reelection in 2024, opening up her seat for the first time in over 30 years. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty, wrote Khanna, who has endorsed the Senate campaign of Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not long afterward, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota tweeted that he agreed with Khanna. Feinstein, he wrote, is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But 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. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday from Ireland, where President Joe Biden was visiting, that Biden and first lady Jill Biden wish Senator Feinstein the very best and a speedy recovery. She said Biden is deeply appreciative of her support for his judicial nominees and respects and appreciates her commitment to public service. Already, Democratic Reps. Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have launched Senate campaigns to succeed Feinstein. If Feinstein decides to step down during her term, it would be up to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy, potentially reordering the highly competitive race. Newsom said in 2021 that he would nominate a Black woman to fill the seat if Feinstein were to step aside. Lee is Black, and becoming the incumbent could be a decisive advantage in the contest, but its not known if Newsom would consider Lee, given her candidacy. Porter and Schiff are white. Newsom declined through a spokesperson to comment on Khannas statement. The governor is not calling on her to resign, the spokesman, Anthony York, said in an email. Before the calls for her resignation, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, acknowledged in remarks to CNN that Feinsteins absence has slowed down their push to confirm nominees in the closely divided panel. I cant consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee, Durbin said. Feinstein has had a groundbreaking political career and shattered gender barriers from San Franciscos City Hall to the corridors of Capitol Hill. She was the first woman to serve as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970s and the first female mayor of San Francisco. She ascended to that post after the November 1978 assassinations of then-Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk by a former supervisor, Dan White. Feinstein found Milks body. In the Senate, she was the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committees top Democrat. She gained a reputation as a pragmatic centrist who left a mark on political battles over issues ranging from reproductive rights to environmental protection. By MICHAEL R. BLOOD AP Political Writer LAS VEGAS (AP) The sexual abuse trial of a Dances With Wolves actor charged in Nevada with abusing Indigenous women and girls for more than a decade is on hold indefinitely, a state judge announced Wednesday. Nathan Chasing Horse, 46, was originally set to stand trial May 1. He is charged with 18 felonies, including sexual assault of a minor, kidnapping, lewdness and child abuse. Shortly after a grand jury in Las Vegas indicted him in February, Chasing Horse invoked his right to a trial within 60 days. But on Wednesday, his public defender, Kristy Holston, asked to put a pause on proceedings while they ask the Nevada Supreme Court to toss his indictment. Clark County District Judge Carli Kierny said she would set a new trial date if the high court upholds her recent decision denying Chasing Horse's request to dismiss the case. Chasing Horse and his attorneys argued that two women identified as his victims wanted to have sex with him. Kierny, in her ruling issued Friday, said state prosecutors presented enough evidence for a reasonable grand juror to conclude that the sexual assaults occurred." While Kierny upheld the sexual abuse charges, she dismissed a drug trafficking charge, saying that there was no substantive testimony tying Chasing Horse to the psilocybin mushrooms investigators found while searching his home. Holston and lead prosecutor Stacy Kollins declined to comment further after the hearing. Kierny set a new hearing for May 10 to check on the status of Chasing Horses appeal to the high court, which had yet to be filed on Wednesday. Chasing Horse was born on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota and is widely known for his portrayal of Smiles a Lot in Kevin Costners 1990 film. But police and prosecutors have said that in the decades since appearing in the Oscar-winning movie, Chasing Horse 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, gain access to vulnerable girls and women, and take underage wives starting in the early 2000s. Chasing Horse's indictment in state court stems from allegations made by two women including one who says she was 14 when the sexual abuse began but court records show authorities have identified at least four other victims in the U.S and in Canada. The former actor's arrest on Jan. 31 in Nevada sent shockwaves throughout Indian Country and led to more criminal charges in 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 is being held on $300,000 bail at a county jail in Las Vegas. If he posts bail, he likely would be turned over to federal authorities in Nevada. LONDON (AP) Mary Quant, the visionary fashion designer whose colorful, sexy miniskirts epitomized London in the 1960s and influenced youth culture around the world, has died. She was 93. Quants family said she died peacefully at home in Surrey, southern England, on Thursday. Quant helped popularize the miniskirt some credit her with inventing it and the innovative tights and accessories that were an integral part of the look. She also created dresses and other simple mix-and-match garments that had an element of whimsy. Some compared her impact on the fashion world with The Beatles impact on pop music. I think it was a happy confluence of events, which is really what fashion is so often all about, said Hamish Bowles, international editor at large for American Vogue magazine. She was the right person with the right sensibility in the right place at the right time. She appeared on the scene at the exact cusp of the 60s. Quant was also an astute businesswoman and one of the first to understand how branding herself as a creative force could help her sustain her business and branch out into new fields, like cosmetics, he said. Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, wrote on Twitter: RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship - a visionary who was much more than a great haircut. Quant was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the youthquake of the 1960s. She sensed that the days of exclusive salons were numbered, and thought that even the great Parisian designers would follow ready-to-wear trends. The look she created was sexy and fun, a sharp break with the predictable floral day dresses commonly worn in the conservative, austere years after World War II. Quant introduced miniskirts with hemlines up to 8 inches above the knee to the London scene in 1966 and they were an instant hit with young people, in part because they shocked and offended their elders. While some insist she first developed the style, many also credit French designer Andre Courreges, whose 1964 spring collection included minidresses that were popular in Paris but did not have widespread impact outside France. Others cite the short skirts worn by actress Anne Francis in the 1956 film Forbidden Planet as the first example of the miniskirt. Whether or not she was the first to design them, it was Quant who figured out how to market miniskirts to the masses. Quant, who named the skirt after her favorite make of car, the Mini, recalled how it offered a feeling of freedom and liberation." From her shop on Kings Road in London's trendy Chelsea neighborhood, she was part of a clothing revolution. It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted, she said. I wore them very short and the customers would say, shorter, shorter. While Courreges came from an haute couture tradition and his expensive clothes were aimed at a limited audience, Quant used a variety of materials and colors to make miniskirts popular with young women on a limited budget. She blasted through barriers of snobbery and tradition, with her vision of fashion as a way of resisting stereotypes, with well-made clothes and cosmetics that were empowering and liberating, as well as affordable, said Jenny Lister, who curated a 2020 exhibition devoted to Quant at Londons Victoria & Albert Museum. Fashion today owes so much to the revolutionary, trailblazing Mary Quant. She shot to the top of the fashion scene at the time when The Beatles and Rolling Stones dominated the music world, and she was forever linked to the heady freedoms of the 1960s. The clothes became wildly popular and were worn by models such as Twiggy and Pattie Boyd, who was then married to Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Asked by the Guardian newspaper in 1967 if her clothes could be considered vulgar because they were so revealing, Quant replied that she loved vulgarity and embraced it. Good taste is death, vulgarity is life, she said, adding that the provocative poses of her models reflected the new sexual openness of the times, which was fueled by the development of the birth control pill. Born Feb. 11, 1930, the daughter of schoolteachers, Quant studied art education at Goldsmiths College in London before moving into fashion, working first as an apprentice to a hat-maker before trying her own designs. With the help of her wealthy husband and business partner, Alexander Plunket Greene, and the accountant Archie McNair, she opened Bazaar in Chelsea in 1955, at first relying on innovative window displays to bring in younger customers. Snobbery has gone out of fashion, and in our shops you will find duchesses jostling with typists to buy the same dress, Quant once said. She called the store a sophisticated candy store for grown-ups. Bazaar became a focal point for the young and the beautiful and those who wanted to rub shoulders with them. Small restaurants, bistros, pubs and boutiques opened nearby, giving the neighborhood the feel of a perpetual party. The shop was such a success that she soon moved into other parts of London and began exporting her clothes to the United States, where the British invasion was in full swing. Quant was unusual in that she often modeled her own clothes, usually with her hair styled in a distinctive, angular bob by hairdresser Vidal Sassoon. She soon diversified her interests, developing a popular makeup line and also moving into kitchenware and household accessories. The makeup proved extremely profitable, particularly in Japan, where Quant retained a devoted following. Quant was also credited with introducing hot pants and micro-minis to the fashion scene in the late 1960s. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for service to the fashion industry in 1966, wearing a miniskirt when she received the honor at Buckingham Palace. In 2014, she was made a dame the female equivalent of a knight for services to British fashion. At the start of this year, she was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor, a royal honor restricted to 65 people of distinction in the arts, science, medicine or government. Quant stepped down from the day-to-day management of her firm, Mary Quant Ltd., in 2000 after it was purchased by a Japanese company, but kept working as a consultant. The firm continued to use the daisy motif and logo that Quant pioneered in the 1960s, and it long maintained a shop in London, in addition to roughly 200 shops in Japan. ___ Former AP correspondent Gregory Katz contributed biographical material to this story before his death in 2020. AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The Justice Department said Thursday that it will again go to the Supreme Court over abortion after a lower court ruling allowed the abortion pill mifepristone to remain available in the U.S. but reimposed past restrictions on getting and using the drug. At stake in the accelerating court battle that began in Texas is widespread access to the most common method of abortion in the U.S., less than a year after the reversal of Roe v. Wade prompted more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright. In a ruling late Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas that had completely blocked the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone. But a divided three-judge panel still reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail. The ruling preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another significant constraint of abortion access that could be felt even in states where abortion remains legal, some of which have already begun stockpiling mifepristone over worries that the drug will become unavailable. The Justice Department said it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order to stop the lower court ruling from taking effect. We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, speaking from Dublin during a visit by President Joe Biden. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. Abortion rights groups expressed both relief over FDA approval remaining in place and outrage over the appeals court reinstating restrictions. Whole Woman's Health, an abortion provider that operates six clinics in five states, said in a tweet it was continuing to offer mifepristone in clinics and through virtual services while reviewing the decision. In the 2-1 decision, the judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10 and allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctors office. The panel's decision came just days after the Justice Department appealed last week's far-reaching ruling out of Texas that blocked the FDAs approval of the pill. The lawsuit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that also argued to overturn Roe v. Wade, and is representing a group of anti-abortion doctors. There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the regulator's medical decisions. Attorneys for the plaintiffs indicated Thursday that they were content with the court's order and did not plan to seek an appeal that might restore the Texas court's full ruling. The 5th Circuits decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, womens health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law, said Erin Hawley, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom. The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former 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. Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington state last week ordered the FDA not to do anything that might block mifepristones availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. The judge in that case clarified Thursday that his order requires the FDA to keep access the same as it was in January in those states, leaving the agency facing conflicting court orders. This is just as much of a binding court order as whatever comes out of Texas, said David S. Cohen, a law professor at Drexel Universitys Thomas R. Kline School of Law. The New Orleans appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesday's decision noted that the Biden administration and mifepristones manufacturer warn us of significant public consequences that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling. But the judges suggested FDA changes making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be difficult to argue the changes were so critical to the public given that the nation operated and mifepristone was administered to millions of women without them for 16 years the judges wrote. When the drug was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug, misoprostol, and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctors supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences of the drug. If the appeals court's action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now. Democratic leaders in states where abortion remains legal since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year say they are preparing in case mifepristone becomes restricted. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her state would stockpile 150,000 doses of misoprostol. The White House also has contingency plans in place, but Jean-Pierre held off detailing them while legal action continued. Instead, she described a proposed new federal rule to limit how law enforcement and state officials collect medical records if they investigate women who flee their home states to seek abortions elsewhere. At the core of the Texas lawsuit is the allegation that the FDAs initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks. Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years. While less drastic than completely overturning the drug's approval, the latest ruling still represents a stark challenge to the FDAs authority overseeing how prescription drugs are used in the U.S. The panel overturned multiple decisions made by FDA regulators after years of scientific review. Common side effects with mifepristone include cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache and diarrhea. In rare cases, women can experience excess bleeding that requires surgery to stop. Still, in loosening restrictions on mifepristone, FDA regulators cited exceedingly low rates of serious adverse events. More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used the drug as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one-tenth of 1% of women who took the drug. ___ Gresko reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington, Colleen Long in Dublin and Matt Perrone in Atlanta contributed to this report. DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a federal rule in 24 states that is intended to protect thousands of small streams, wetlands and other waterways throughout the nation. U.S. District Judge Daniel L. Hovland in Bismarck, North Dakota, halted the regulations from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the 24 states, most of which are led by Republicans. The regulations were finalized in December 2022, repealing a rule implemented during President Donald Trump's administration but thrown out by federal courts. Opponents of the regulations, which define which waters of the United States are protected by the Clean Water Act, have called the rules an example of federal overreach and argued they would unfairly burden farmers and ranchers. The preliminary injunction affects Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. An injunction was previously issued that halted the rules in Texas and Idaho. In his 45-page order, Hovland wrote that the federal regulation raises a litany of ... statutory and constitutional concerns and would cause great harm to the states." "Once again, the courts have affirmed that the Biden administrations WOTUS rule is overreaching and harmful to Americas beef farmers and ranchers, said Todd Wilkinson, a South Dakota cattle producer and president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association. Cattle producers in 26 states now have some additional certainty while this rule is being litigated and we are optimistic that the Supreme Court will provide nationwide clarity on the federal governments proper jurisdiction over water. The EPA said in a statement that the agency and the Army Corps of Engineers were reviewing the decision but still believe the regulations were the best interpretation of the Clean Water Act. The agency says its rules would still stand in states not included in the injunction. The agencies remain committed to establishing and implementing a durable definition of waters of the United States informed by diverse perspectives, the EPA said in the statement. Our goal is to protect public health, the environment, and downstream communities while supporting economic opportunity, agriculture, and industries that depend on clean water. The injunction comes less than a week after President Joe Biden vetoed a congressional resolution that would have overturned the rule. The House and Senate had used the Congressional Review Act to block the regulations, with several Democrats joining Republicans in opposing the regulations. John Rumpler, clean water program director at Environment America, a national network of state environmental organizations, said the EPA rule blocked by the judge is supported by science and the law and that the judge was misreading the purpose of the Clean Water Act. From a favorite stream for fishing to the water flowing from our kitchen sinks, we all depend on clean water to survive and thrive, Rumpler said in a statement. That is why an overwhelming number of Americans support stronger protections for our waterways. However, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey said the key is finding the right balance between powers given to states and the federal government. This rule would harm jobs and economic growth by taking jurisdiction from states and asserting federal authority over nearly any body of water, including roadside ditches, short-lived streams and many other areas where water may flow only once every 100 years, Morrisey said. ANCHORAGE, Alaska (AP) A 1-year-old Australian shepherd took an epic trek across 150 miles (241 kilometers) of frozen Bering Sea ice that included being bitten by a seal or polar bear before he was safely returned to his home in Alaska. Mandy Iworrigan, Nanuq's owner who lives in Gambell, Alaska, and her family were visiting Savoogna, another St. Lawrence Island community in the Bering Strait, last month when Nanuq disappeared with their other family dog, Starlight, the Anchorage Daily News reported. Starlight turned up a few weeks later, but Nanuq, which means polar bear in Siberian Yupik, was nowhere to be found. About a month after Nanuq disappeared, people in Wales, 150 miles (241 kilometers) northeast of Savoonga on Alaskas western coast, began posting pictures online of what they described as a lost dog. My dad texted me and said, Theres a dog that looks like Nanuq in Wales, Iworrigan said. She reactivated her Facebook account to see if it might be her wandering hound. I was like, No freakin way! Thats our dog! What is he doing in Wales? she said. The events of Nanuqs journey will likely always be a mystery. I have no idea why he ended up in Wales. Maybe the ice shifted while he was hunting, Iworrigan said. Im pretty sure he ate leftovers of seal or caught a seal. Probably birds, too. He eats our Native foods. Hes smart. She used airline points to get her dog back to Gambell on a regional air carrier last week, a charter that was transporting athletes for the Bering Strait School Districts Native Youth Olympics tournament. Iworrigan filmed the happy reunion when the plane landed at the air strip in Savoonga, with both she and her daughter Brooklyn shrieking with joy. Except for a swollen leg, with large bite marks from an unidentified animal, Nanuq was in pretty good health. Wolverine, seal, small nanuq, we dont know, because its like a really big bite, she said. PORTLAND, Maine (AP) Somewhere in a remote stretch of forest near Maine's border with Canada, rocks from space crashed to Earth and may be scattered across the ground just waiting to be picked up. If you're the first person to find a big one, a museum says it'll pay out a $25,000 reward. The unusually bright fireball could be seen in broad daylight around noon Saturday, said Darryl Pitt, chair of the meteorite division at the Maine Mineral and Gem Museum in Bethel. NASA says four radar sweeps detected signatures consistent with falling meteorites seen at the time and location reported by eyewitnesses, and people also heard sonic booms. It's the first time radar spotted a meteorite fall in Maine, the space agency said. The Maine Mineral and Gem Museum wants to add to its collection, which includes moon and Mars rocks, Pitt said, so the first meteorite hunters to deliver a 1-kilogram (2.2-pound) specimen will claim the $25,000 prize. That could be about the size of a softball. "With more people having an awareness, the more people will look and the greater the likelihood of a recovery, Pitt said Wednesday. Pitt said that because the descent was spotted by radar, hes confident meteorites can be found on the ground. Still, there's no guarantee there are any meteorites big enough to claim the payout. NASA said on its website that the meteorite masses calculated from the radar signatures range from 1.59g (0.004 pounds) to 322g (0.7 pounds) although larger masses may have fallen. The meteorites likely impacted across a swath of ground spanning from the town of Waite, Maine, to Canoose, New Brunswick. According to NASA, the largest specimens will be strewn at the west end of the debris field, closest to Waite about a 3 1/2 hour drive from Portland. Locating a softball-sized space rock in the wilderness may be similar to finding a needle in a haystack: Pitt said the estimated area where the meteorites hit is about a mile wide (1.6 km) and stretches for 10-12 miles (16-19 km), all the way into Canada. The museum is asking aspiring meteorite hunters to brush up on what meteorites look like before searching, so they know what theyre looking for, and avoid private property unless they have permission. The museum has an extensive collection of specimens, including the largest intact Mars rock on Earth. Pitt said the museum is also looking to purchase any other specimens found by meteorite hunters. He said the specimens could easily be worth their weight in gold. YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Its already been nearly four months that Azerbaijan is illegally blockading the Lachin Corridor, ignoring the February 22 binding ruling of the International Court of Justice and the clear demand by the international community to fulfill it, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani on April 13. With the blockade of Lachin Corridor, the terror, as well as other actions aimed at making the Armenians of Nagorno Karabakh forcefully leave their homes, Azerbaijan seeks to implement a coordinated policy of ethnic cleansing in Nagorno Karabakh. I want to especially underscore that the International Court of Justice has stated the presence of direct threats of irreversible damages to the rights of Armenians under the Convention on Elimination of all Forms of Racial Discrimination, FM Mirzoyan said. FM Mirzoyan repeated that in this situation, unimpeded access of international humanitarian organizations into Nagorno Karabakh and the deployment of an international fact-finding mission to Nagorno Karabakh and Lachin Corridor can have important significance to end the fake narratives generated by Azerbaijan, to prevent the aggression, end human sufferings and establish stability in the region. Mirzoyan also mentioned the violations of other terms of the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement by Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan refuses to return all Armenian prisoners of war and civilians held as hostages, by continuing false trials against them, FM Mirzoyan said. He added that along with refusing to ensure the return of IDPs and refugees to Nagorno Karabakh under the supervision of the UNHCR as envisaged under the 9 November statement, Azerbaijan is populating the Armenian settlements that have gone under its control with Azerbaijanis. By displaying explicit disregard for fundamental principles of international law, Azerbaijan continues belligerent rhetoric and hate speech, threatening with renewed aggression and seriously jeopardizing regional stability, the Armenian FM added. The United Nations highest court the International Court of Justice (ICJ) - ordered Azerbaijan on February 22 to take all steps at its disposal to ensure unimpeded movement of persons, vehicles and cargo along the Lachin Corridor in both directions. The Lachin Corridor has been blocked by Azerbaijan since 12 December 2022. A set of issues face Texas educators with teacher shortages, along with a recent pushback for better pay. The House recently approved a $302 billion spending plan for the next two years, including pay raises for state employees, tax cuts, and additional mental health services, with $5 billion allocated for teachers. The increase has received backlash from state employees stating more is needed. The allocated funds would include a $3,800 pay increase for teachers. However, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, the House Democratic Caucus chair, pushed for another $4 billion to raise teachers' pay increase from around $3,800 per teacher to $10,000. The debate on the house floor gained online steam when Rep. Jared Patterson was shown mocking the effort. The pay increase is one of many issues local public educators face in Texas. Trained, armed and ready to teach arithmetic to second graders have now become normalized in Texas with the rising mass shooting trends along with a set of issues with teacher shortages, inadequate pay increases and less support for public education in the state. Texas State Teachers Association President Ovidia Molina, went to Twitter to express her concerns about gun violence and the lack of funds for public education. She recently told Austin media, "The problems facing teachers will only worsen." The TSTA wanted a minimum increase of $10,000 per teacher. The effort fell short on a 79-66 party-line vote. State employees protested outside the Austin capital on April 12, asking for better pay and benefits. LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) Frantic calls from witnesses reporting a mass shooting at a Louisville bank were released Wednesday by police including from a woman who was on a virtual meeting and saw the shooter, as well as one from the man's mother, who told a 911 operator that her son currently has a gun and is heading toward the bank. I need your help. Hes never hurt anyone, hes a good kid, said the woman, who identified herself as the gunman's mother. It turned out that at the time of her call, the gunman was already at the bank. The emergency dispatcher informed the woman that other calls were coming in about the shooting. None of the callers are identified by name and other information is edited out of the calls, but the first call that came in was from a woman who was on a video call inside the bank. She screams and cries throughout the four-minute call and says there is an active shooter at the downtown branch of the bank. I just watched it on a Teams meeting," she says. "We were having a board meeting. With our commercial (lending) team. We heard multiple shots and everybody started saying, Oh my God and then he came into the board room. Bank employee Connor Sturgeon, 25, used an AR-15 assault-style rifle in the attack Monday at Old National Bank, where he killed five coworkers while livestreaming before police fatally shot him. Eight others were injured, including a police officer who was shot in the head and remains hospitalized in critical condition. After the first call, others began streaming in. One of the callers says shes calling from within the building as numerous gunshots are heard in the background. Im in a closet hiding, the caller says. She says people have been shot and gives a description of the shooting, saying she knows the shooter. He works with us. How long will it be before they get here? she whispers and the dispatcher tells her that authorities are on the way and advises her to keep quiet. Asked what kind of injuries there were, the caller replies: I dont know. I just saw a lot of blood. Another call came from a man inside the bank, who told dispatchers the address and said, "We have an active shooting in our building. White male. Hes an employee of Old National Bank. Get here now. We need somebody now. Another call came from a motorist driving down Main Street, who reported seeing a man about five minutes prior with an assault rifle and a bulletproof vest walking around. The caller asks if anyone else has reported the man. The dispatcher then describes what others reported the suspect was wearing and the caller confirms it. The woman identifying herself as Sturgeons mother asks during the call if she can go to the bank but is told by the dispatcher that she should not because theres a situation going on down there and its dangerous. Youve had calls from other people, so hes already there? the mother asks with shock in her voice. Wednesdays release included a half-hour of emergency responder radio traffic. The release came hours before hundreds of people gathered at the Muhammad Ali Center in downtown Louisville Wednesday evening to remember the victims and allow the public to offer prayers for the injured. The center has an outdoor auditorium just a mile from the site of Mondays shooting. Louisville mayor Craig Greenberg was among the speakers. The mood at the vigil was somber, but there were cheers for the officers who responded to Monday's shooting. Many attendees were dressed in business clothes, and some had walked to the memorial after their workday in downtown Louisville. That same night, a moment of silence preceded a college baseball game between Louisville and neighboring Bellarmine University at Jim Patterson Stadium. Players from both schools stood in alternating patterns along the first- and third-base lines as the names and pictures of the victims were displayed on an outfield video screen. On Tuesday, police released body camera video that showed the chaotic moments when officers arrived at the bank. Sturgeons parents said in a statement that their son had mental health challenges that were being addressed, but there were never any warning signs or indications he was capable of this shocking act. They said they are mourning for the victims and the loss of their son, and working with police to understand what happened. 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) south of Louisville. The five bank employees killed in the shooting were Joshua Barrick, 40, a senior vice president; Deana Eckert, 57, an executive administrative officer; Tommy Elliott, 63, also a senior vice president; Juliana Farmer, 45, a loan analyst; and Jim Tutt Jr., 64, a commercial real estate market executive. Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear has said Elliott was one of his closest friends. Ill admit that while I am not angry, I am empty. And Im sad, Beshear said at the vigil, his voice breaking. And I just keep thinking that maybe well wake up. What I know is, I just wish Id taken an extra moment, made an extra call, tell him how much I care about him. And I know we are all feeling the same. But I also know they hear us now. And that they feel our love." Later, speaker Whitney Austin said she was shot 12 times in a September 2018 mass shooting at a Cincinnati bank and that Monday morning was heartbreakingly familiar to me." Just as she was wrapped in love by her community since then, Austin asked those at the vigil to do the same for the families involved in Monday's shooting. Please dont forget about them next week. Dont forget about them next month. And dont forget about them next year, Austin said. "They are going to need your support for the rest of their lives. ___ Raby reported from Charleston, W.Va. AP Sports Writer Gary B. Graves in Louisville contributed. 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. Regardless of the details, plenty of residents expressed their feelings about the trash. We took our kids for a bike ride yesterday at Salado Creek. The amount of litter and trash EVERYWHERE was honestly depressing, admitted u/phonebook_vertical. I live right next to the park, and it's really awful. Junk everywhere, added u/bakedbaker1989. Humans really suck sometimes, u/fatkidseatcake summarized. San Antonio isnt the only guilty city. Another Reddit post shows the aftermath of cascarones at an Austin park, while a Dallas resident shared that parks in North Texas were also left with trash. Yes the typical someone else will clean this up mentality. Glad to see [it's] still thriving, pointed out u/IThinkMyLegsAreBroke. The city should consider making those who camp out and celebrate on Easter, at least clean up their mess or pay a fine. Not cool! wrote u/Fantastic_Rip_6950. If residents can admit they wont take care of the mess they make, other Reddit users offered up tips and solutions to cut down litter as much as possible. My mother in law makes them filled with bird seed, one person shared. We made ours with crumbled leaves from fall! suggested another resident. Store a couple handfuls for spring and you have EZ eco-friendly confetti eggs! A few residents have even taken matters into their own hands, even though it wasnt their mess. I've gone to McAllister after Easter with a few bags and filled them in less than 10 minutes with candy and plastic eggs, shared u/swirleyswirls. These people are disgusting. They put out extra trash cans for them but nope, they just drop everything on the ground and leave. Considering that April is Earth Month, perhaps residents can do their part to clean up the mass of confetti and party supplies that come during Fiesta to help the environment and make it easier on park workers who actually have to clean up. Please and thank you, San Antonio. BEIJING (AP) Germany's government appealed for efforts to reduce tensions over Taiwan as the German foreign minister arrived in China on Thursday for official talks following Chinese military exercises near the self-governed island democracy that Beijing claims is part of its territory. Annalena Baerbock arrived in the northeastern port city of Tianjin for meetings and was due to hold talks with her Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, on Friday in Beijing and with senior diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday. Her ministry said she would discuss Taiwan, Ukraine, human rights and other issues with Chinese officials. China's ruling Communist Party sent warships and fighter planes near Taiwan last weekend in retaliation for a meeting between U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen. Threatening military gestures increase the risk of unintentional military confrontations, a spokesperson for Baerbocks ministry, Andrea Sasse, said in Berlin. We therefore call on all partners in the region and are working also with our international partners to contribute to a de-escalation in the Strait of Taiwan," Sasse said Wednesday. Taiwan and mainland China split in 1949 after a civil war. The Communist Party says the island is obligated to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary. European governments are increasingly worried about Chinese pressure on Taiwan, a global high-tech center and one of the biggest trading economies. European governments with the exception of Vatican City have diplomatic relations with Beijing instead of Taiwan but maintain informal and commercial relations with the island. European legislators have visited Taiwan and met Tsai to show support in the face of Chinese intimidation. On Ukraine, Baerbock said in a statement issued by her ministry that Germany's interest in bringing the war on our European doorstep in Ukraine to a swift, lasting and just end was at the top of her agenda for the visit. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China bears a special responsibility for world peace, she said. Germany has strongly backed Ukraine's resistance to Russia's invasion, while Beijing has blamed the U.S. and NATO for provoking the conflict. While trade and investment between them remain strong, Germany has grown increasingly wary of China's growing influence in its economy. Germany has ordered a new security assessment of Chinese company COSCO's plan to purchase a 25% stake in a container terminal in Hamburg amid heavy criticism from many in Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government, throwing the deal into doubt and prompting strong complaints from Beijing. We hope Germany can refrain from politicizing business cooperation, making it something about ideology or security, or artificially setting up obstacles, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a briefing Thursday. Baerbock plans to travel to South Korea on Saturday and then attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major economies in Japan on Sunday. Prison sentences and pleas in West Haven's COVID relief fund scandal now mark the final chapter in a shameful tale of government fraud. Another story of government abuse of taxpayer dollars is yet to be complete, as federal authorities probe the state's now-infamous multibillion-dollar school construction program. An audit of this program, released in January, provided the public and lawmakers with spotty information, at best. This is not the way government should operate. Yes, a few bad actors are responsible for these incidents most municipal and state employees are honorable people. However, even one dollar of taxpayer money that government officials abuse is one dollar too many. We must respect the sacrifices of all taxpayers every day, and that is done by treating their money as our own. Anyone reading this piece knows just how difficult it is to stretch your paycheck from week to week, or month to month. You have respect for your money and know how scarce it is. Because of this scarcity, we're held accountable by our families, our employers and our businesses to properly spend what we earn. State and municipal government must do the same. As Connecticut receives an unprecedented amount of federal funding for COVID relief and infrastructure investment, we must ensure that every taxpayer dollar is spent wisely and transparently. Cases like West Haven or the state's school construction program highlight the need for improved oversight and disclosure to prevent future abuses. That's why I am proud to have joined my Senate Republican colleagues recently to introduce our Better Way to An Accountable Connecticut, which aims to bolster government accountability across the board. This series of actionable proposals addresses the recent scandals I've mentioned and would install guardrails to prevent other forms of government fraud. It includes mechanisms for COVID relief fund oversight; oversight of federal funds for roads, bridges, and highways; and creates a state Chief Accountability Office with the power to investigate impropriety. What would these mechanisms be? To provide transparency and accountability for federal funds, we suggest requiring municipal CEOs to submit quarterly reports detailing their expenditures. These reports should be easily accessible to taxpayers on state and town websites. Connecticut is set to receive nearly $5.4 billion in federal Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act funds. These billions must be used for their intended purpose to address our most pressing infrastructure needs, while addressing climate initiatives and advancing transportation for our future. To respect your dollars, we propose requiring the Connecticut Department of Transportation to establish a webpage dedicated to its use of the funds, detailing a projects status, budget and completion date. Moreover, we propose establishing the State Accountability Office, led by two Chief Accountability Officers from each party, to hold state, quasi-public and local governmental activities to the highest standards of integrity. The legislative branch has a solemn duty to hold the executive branch accountable for its stewardship of public funds and projects. By implementing these measures, we can make sure that the historic federal investments are used efficiently, transparently and securely for the benefit of all Connecticut residents. It's time for bipartisan support and action to improve the quality of life for everyone in our state. For more information on A Better Way to An Accountable Connecticut, visit BetterWayCT.com. State Sen. Paul Cicarella, Deputy Senate Republican Leader, represents the 34th District (Durham, East Haven, North Branford, North Haven, Wallingford). SOUTHINGTON The Spot Pet Spa is the newest locally owned business to open in Riverbend Plaza, 1049 Queen St. Owned by 26-year-old Melissa Russo, the spa aims to create a holistic and intimate experience to make pets and their owners as comfortable as possible when they come in for a visit. While the spa opened last week and is already booking appointments, an official grand opening is planned on April 30 from 12 to 4 p.m. Visitors will be able to meet Russo and her dog Pongo, and are encouraged to bring their own pets as well. The spa services dogs, rabbits, and even guinea pigs. Russo hopes to expand to cats soon and is the process of getting additional training to offer that service. I was a hairdresser for quite a long time and I think that I just never found this overwhelming connection with people. Don't get me wrong, people are great, but there was just this time that I hit a wall and I was like, I'm really just not happy, Russo said. I did some digging and I wound up reaching out to someone who became my mentor. She showed me what really giving animals time and space is and how to respect them and through that I fell in love with it. Russo is a Connecticut native who gained experience with a mobile grooming service that served Fairfield County, along with Brooklyn and Queens, New York. Shes since gotten her masters degree in holistic arts for pet grooming. While she enjoyed her experience working for the mobile unit, it had its own challenges, including time constraints when grooming the volume of pets they were trying to serve. To give the animals an experience she thought they deserved, Russo got the inspiration to open up her own brick and mortar store. Pets are like kids and I think sometimes we forget that, but they're just like children, she said. I have pets and I treat them like my kids and if I brought my dog to a grooming salon or even when I bring them to the vet, I want to be a part of everything. I want to know what's going on, I want to understand so I can be better, Russo said. I really just wanted to create a really calm, peaceful space that pet parents were able to walk through the door and say, wow, I know that my pet is going to be shown patience, love, and kindness here. And those are just really big important things to me. I wanted that to be something that was available for people who valued those same things as I did. While not originally from the area, Russo was drawn to Southington because she saw it was a growing area with a thriving local business community and wanted to be a part of an area where she could support other businesses and feel like part of a broader network. Despite being open for such a short period of time, Russo says that members of the community and other tenants at Riverbend Plaza have been welcoming and supportive of her endeavor. People have been super supportive, super kind, especially all of my neighbors that I work next to. They come peek through the windows and they check on me and that's been really great. The customers who have come in so far have all been very receptive and open to the business, which is really neat. To officials, the opening of new local businesses is a continuing sign of the towns attractiveness to business owners even in spite of an economic downturn. Southington is a great town to live, to work, to travel, to visit, to patronize businesses. And we're very happy to have this new business open up. I know that plaza is a great plaza. It's got great businesses in it, said Town Councilor Mike DelSanto, chair of the Economic Strike Committee. Even though we're in a down economic time, people still want to open businesses and thrive in Southington. We're hoping that things are gonna be turning around sometime soon and we'll be able to accommodate some of the industry and business that want to come to town. DelSanto said the town is drafting several measures officials hope will continue to attract businesses to the area and which they hope to unveil to the public over the coming months. For more information about the spa or to book a reservation go to https://thespotpetspa.com/. Find the business on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheSpotPetSpa. YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. Armenia is consistent in fulfilling its obligations under the 9 November 2020 trilateral statement and making efforts for establishing comprehensive and lasting stability in the region, Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan said at a joint press conference with OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Foreign Minister of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani. For this purpose, Armenia continues negotiations with Azerbaijan in good faith in the direction of normalizing relations, including over the draft peace treaty. Id like to stress that addressing the rights and security of the people of Nagorno Karabakh under internationally guaranteed mechanisms for dialogue is of key importance for final settlement, the Armenian FM said. He said that the OSCE, which has been dealing with the NK conflict since the 1990s, must intensify its involvement, including for preventing any manifestation of the use of force. We attach great importance to the role of the OSCE chairmanship, as well as the involvement of the organizations created for the NK conflict settlement, in line with their mandate, Mirzoyan said. Mirzoyan said that he discussed with Osmani also the bilateral agenda between Armenia and North Macedonia. He said that Armenia attaches importance to its relations with North Macedonia and is ready to advance the bilateral agenda and mutually beneficial cooperation. Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Metacore/Merge Anyone whos scrolled through social media or turned on a TV in the last year knows just how popular Chilean American actor Pedro Pascal is and for good reason. Between starring in hit TV shows with massive followings like The Mandalorian and The Last of Us, Pascal is a household name for his talents, good looks, and loveable personality. But now its official. TIME named Pascal, who spent part of his childhood in San Antonio, as one of the 100 most influential people in 2023 in a list made public on Thursday, April 13. Sam Sanchez Since late last year, Iguanas Burritozilla has been driving around San Antonio in its food truck filled with extra-large helpings of Cali-style stuffed burritos. Now, fans of the California-based company will be happy to know that the business is landing at a permanent home in the Balcones Heights. The Iguanas food truck will be parked outside the new brick-and-mortar restaurant, located at 4205 Fredericksburg Road, until it's fully ready and operational, according to an Instagram post. Until then, customers can visit the truck for their big burrito fix and sneak a peek of the permanent location from the outside. Mike Sutter /Staff San Antonio Food News is MySA's quick catch-up on all things food-related happening in San Antonio. Here's where we dive into anything from new menu items to restaurant openings to the newest pop-ups across the city. Have tasty news to share? Email food reporter Polly Anna Rocha at polly.rocha@mysa.com. Kicking things off for this week's roundup of San Antonio food news is a big ol' doughnut! Original Donut Shop, home of the iconic toasted bean and cheese, has added a new doughnut to the menu that is larger than life. The restaurant is calling it "The Original Mega Donut" and from the looks of it, the pink glazed sprinkle covered treat could feed a handful of mouths.The Mega Donut is available for advance orders at Original Donut Shop's website for $12.99. Paul Stephen /Staff file photo Last month, Saint City Supper Club hosted its third annual Battle of the Boil, which would inevitably serve as the final event to come from the group for the foreseeable future. The local charity organization behind the event, and numerous others over the last six years, took to social media to announce its dissolution on Tuesday, April 11. Saint City Culinary Foundation was established by Joel Rivas in 2017 as a mental health and wellness resource for San Antonio's food and beverage industry workers. The organization would go on to host regular dining events as Saint City Supper Club, which benefited the foundation's charitable efforts. Courtesy of H-E-B Yes, Texans love H-E-B, especially its baked goods. A new Texan, who moved from California, revealed in a viral TikTok how she can't get enough of the H-E-B brownie bites (and can you blame her?). TikToker janelleeev has been documenting her journey in the Lone Star State after moving from Los Angeles to the Rio Grande Valley. In one of her viral TikToks, Jane featured the brownie bites, saying "I don't know what the heck HEB puts in these brownies but dude they are so freaking good." According to H-E-B, the brownie bites are made with a blend of real chocolate and double-roasted cocoa. As of Wednesday, April 12, early voting is set to kick off for San Antonio's upcoming general election in 12 days on April 24. This is also the week that Fiesta events begin, which you probably have plans to attend. But with all San Antonio City Council positions, including mayor, up for election this year, you might want to carve out a few minutes to vote on your next local representative. MySA has put together a list of what you need to know about early voting to make planning a little easier. When can I vote? Early voting is from April 24 to May 2. San Antonio voters will have seven days to cast their ballot, not including April 28 and April 30. Here's all dates and hours for early voting: Monday, April 24 through Thursday, April 27 - 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, April 29 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday, May 1 through Tuesday, May 2 - 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Where can I vote? There are over 40 polling locations around San Antonio during early voting. Locals can vote at any polling locations despite their address. Below is a list of each location. What is on the ballot? It's a packed one this year with over 50 people, including most of the incumbents, running for election or reelection. The justice reform petition, known as Proposition A, is also on the ballot. MySA has a full explainer of what's on the ballot here. You can also check out this explainer on Proposition A here. See the full sample ballot below. Which council person represents me? Not everyone knows this but finding this out is easy. Bexar County Elections allows you to put in your street name and ZIP code and it will provide you with a list of who represents you and where you can vote. Check it out here. Am I registered to vote? The deadline to register to vote in the May 6 election has already passed, but you might still be registered. Again, the Bexar County Elections website has helpful tools online that allow you to check. You can check if you're registered to vote by entering your birth date and house number here. The house number is the numeral portion of your address. For example, if you live at 1234 Broadway then you would enter 1234. What do I need to bring? Texas voter ID laws are strict even if all you have to bring is a state ID or driver's license. But there are other acceptable forms of ID that you can bring. Here is what you can bring in place of a state ID: A Texas license to carry a handgun issued by the Texas Department of Public Safety. A U.S. military photo ID card. A U.S. citizenship certificate with a personal photo. A U.S. passport. People can cast their vote if they don't have any of these alternatives by signing a reasonable impediment declaration and provide a certified birth certificate, a copy or original of a recent utility bill, government check, bank statement, paycheck, or any other document that shows your name and address. Voting judges at the polling location are not allowed to ask questions about their claimed impediment. Can I vote by mail? Texas made changes to mail-in ballot requirements last year. Here is what you need to know to qualify for a mail-in ballot: You must be 65 or older by Election Day on May 6. You will be out of county for the for the entire voting period. That is from April 24 to May 6. You have a sickness or disability that prevents you from voting in person without the need of assistance or may cause injury to yourself without assistance. The expected birth of your child is three weeks before or after Election Day (May 6). You are currently in jail but not convicted of a felony. The application for a ballot by mail must be received, not postmarked, by April 25. You can download mail-in ballot application here. It can be filled out through your computer or printed out and completed by hand. Either way, the ballot must be physically turned in or mailed to the elections office at 1103 S. Frio, Suite 200, San Antonio, Texas 78207. College students and people overseas (including military) can apply for an mail-in ballot if they are currently studying or stationed outside of their county. YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) strongly condemns the visit of the delegation of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member states of the International Organization of Turkic Culture to the occupied Armenian city of Shushi on 8 April. Below is the full statement issued by the Artsakh MFA. We strongly condemn the visit of the delegation of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member states of the International Organization of Turkic Culture to the occupied Armenian city of Shushi on 8 April. It is obvious that this illegal visit, as well as holding other similar events in the occupied Armenian city of Shushi, are aimed at legitimising by Azerbaijan and its allies the results of the aggressive war unleashed by Baku in 2020 and the illegal use of force against the Republic of Artsakh and its people. We emphasise again that the city of Shushi is an integral part of Artsakh, both in the territorial, cultural, economic and historical aspects. The visit by the National Commissions for UNESCO to Shushi looks even more blasphemous and provocative against the backdrop of the illegal blockade of Artsakh that has been going on for 4 months now, as well as the systematic destruction of Armenian religious, historical and cultural monuments and the falsification of their identity in the territories that came under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, including in the ancient Armenian city of Shushi, and the persistent obstruction by the Azerbaijani authorities of sending a UNESCO assessment mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to conduct an inventory and assessment of the state of cultural heritage sites. By such actions, the Azerbaijani authorities seek to obtain from representatives of individual states and international structures tacit approval of their criminal plans to carry out ethnic cleansing aimed at leaving Artsakh without Armenians and traces of the centuries-old Armenian presence. The abuse of kinship ties between countries and peoples to falsify history and promote their own political narratives is unacceptable and does not contribute to strengthening peace and mutual understanding among peoples. In this regard, we remind once again that the ongoing acts of vandalism and desecration by Azerbaijan against Armenian churches and other cultural and religious monuments in Artsakh, including in the occupied Armenian city of Shushi, constitute gross violations of international law, as well as the Order of the International Court of Justice of 7 December 2021 on the indication of provisional measures. The Texas House gave initial approval Wednesday to a bill that would prohibit race-based hair discrimination in schools, workplaces and housing. The lower chambers vote tookthe state one step closer to adopting a law inspired by the experiences of two Black high schoolers near Houston threatened with discipline in the 2019-20 school year if they didnt cut their locks. House Bill 567, filed by state Rep. Rhetta Bowers, D-Garland, was voted out of a House committee in late March. An identical Senate bill from state Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, is sitting in the Senate State Affairs Committee but hasnt yet received a hearing. Representatives overwhelmingly approved the bill on its second reading with a 141-3 vote. I believe how the hair naturally grows out of our heads should have nothing to do with what is inside, Bowers told the House committee. And therefore with any of the success that we accomplish, the time is now for Texas to take up this civil rights legislation and protect the people from racial discrimination. HB 567 would add to the states education, labor and property codes a prohibition on discrimination based on certain hairstyles including braids, dreadlocks and twists. Versions of the legislation, called the CROWN Act an acronym for Create a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair have been adopted throughout the country since 2019, when school administrators ordered two young men in Mont Belvieu, about 30 miles east of Houston, to cut their hair. The bill so far has received what appears to be wide support on its journey through the legislative process at least in the House. More than a dozen people spoke in favor of the proposal during a House State Affairs Committee hearing last month. Additionally, more than 70 people registered their support for the measure but did not testify; two individuals registered their opposition, according to a witness list. Dakari Davis, a Black police officer who testified in support of the bill, said people shouldnt be reprimanded for sporting styles that are natural for their hair or specific to certain cultures. Davis, who has cornrows, said he was suspended from duty and prevented from engaging with the community he protected for almost a year before being cleared of violating department policy with his hair. The discrimination had already occurred and the damage was done, Davis said. I was confused as to how my natural hair determined that I was not good enough to protect Texans, confused as to why I had to change my appearance to fit in with old standards of beauty created during a time where people that didnt look like me or people that did look like me were considered a non-factor. He recounted the July 2016 police shootings in Dallas when a gunman killed five law enforcement officials, including one who was Davis close friend. I remember that night seeing police from all over the state respond to protect Texas, running towards gunfire, Davis testified. Today as I reflect on that night, I do not recall anyone stopping to say, Hey, I dont believe that officers hair is professional. Anecdotal accounts of discrimination like Davis have emerged sporadically since the incident in Mont Belvieu drew international attention to the issue. Administrators at Barbers Hill Independent School District told DeAndre Arnold and his cousin to cut their locks or be disciplined. Both refused and sued the school district over its dress code policy in a matter that is not yet resolved. A federal judge in 2020, once Arnold had graduated, found the policy discriminatory and stopped the school district from enforcing it. The school system has maintained it permits students to wear locks, but that does not preclude hair length restrictions in the dress code. The students experience inspired laws that have since been adopted in 20 states, including in Virginia, according to a national group that champions the legislation. A similar bill was unanimously voted out of a House committee during the 2021 legislative session, but the full chamber never voted on it before the session ended. Harris County, the states most populous, and the city of Austin have already passed similar local legislation. I am overjoyed with todays vote on the Texas CROWN Act, Bowers said in a statement Wednesday. The Texas House took a strong stance against hair-based discrimination, and I look forward to sending the bill over to the Senate after tomorrows final vote. This article was first published on The Texas Tribune. U.S. Rep. Tony Gonzales, R-San Antonio, is boasting early support in his reelection campaign as he faces primary opposition over recent breaks with his party. Gonzales raised $1.3 million in the first quarter and has locked down nearly 80 endorsements inside his district, his campaign told The Texas Tribune. He also has a confident message for his rivals. Anyone who wants to lace em up against me, its a fools errand, Gonzales said in an interview. I run hard all aspects of it. Gonzales 2024 primary has heated up early after the Texas GOP voted to censure him in early March. That gave way to two challengers announcing campaigns, and others are eyeing the seat, which used to be a national battleground in the general election but became more red through redistricting in 2021. The intraparty pushback was fueled by Gonzales votes last year to protect same-sex marriage rights and to pass a gun safety law after the Uvalde school shooting, which took place in his district. More recently, he clashed with fellow Republicans over a border security proposal by U.S. Rep. Chip Roy, R-Austin, that Gonzales has said would effectively ban asylum. Roy denies that. Gonzales raised $1,307,245 over the first three months of the year, according to his campaign, and has nearly as much cash on hand $1,267,766. His full campaign finance report for the first quarter is due to the Federal Election Commission on Saturday. Gonzales 23rd Congressional District stretches from San Antonio to El Paso and covers hundreds of miles of Texas-Mexico border. Gonzales endorsements include elected officials in some of the more rural and often deeply conservative pockets of the district. They include the mayors of Alpine, Castroville and Monahans, as well as sheriffs in Presidio, Hudspeth and Pecos counties. There are also endorsements from the more populous east and west ends of the district, like former El Paso Mayor Dee Margo and Greg Brockhouse, a former San Antonio City Council member and two-time mayoral candidate. Gonzales announced primary challengers include Julie Clark, the former Medina County GOP chair who led the charge to censure Gonzales, and Victor Avila, a retired special agent for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement who unsuccessfully ran for land commissioner last year. Avila is attending the annual National Rifle Association meeting that starts Thursday in Indianapolis, aiming to show a contrast with Gonzales on gun issues. Avilas campaign said he was personally invited by an NRA board member. I am proud to stand for the Second Amendment and every Americans right to self-defense, Avila said in a statement. There are solutions to violent crime, but disarming law-abiding citizens is not one of them. Clark has already run TV ads in the district attacking Gonzales as a RINO Republican in Name Only and comparing him to moderates like former U.S. Rep. Liz Cheney, R-Wyoming. Clark announced nine endorsements Tuesday that include her successor as Medina County GOP chair and precinct chairs in the district. This article was first published on The Texas Tribune. Yves here. Tom Neuburger describes some of the far too many examples of Democrats and Republicans professing to care about public welfare, then teaming up to advance the interests of elites at the expense of everyone else. And when that happens, it is nauseatingly called bipartisanship. Neuburger highlights examples of when the more feral elements in both parties have teamed up to defeat measures that hurt ordinary citizens, such as cutting Social Security. Needless to say, the mainstream media seldom acknowledges the otherwise odd fellows collaborations that make these victories possible. Instead, it calls the perps populists as if that were bad. Neuburger reminds his readers of a current threat, the RESTRICT Act, which would greatly increase Internet censorship, as weve warned long-form. By Thomas Neuburger. Originally published at Gods Spies Most peoples idea of bipartisanship in Washington is Democrats and Republicans coming together to name a Post Office (though that course is not always smooth), beef up our beefy wars, or reauthorize our endless tax cuts for the rich. Theres also negative bipartisanship, when both parties reject something most people want, like Medicare For All. This is the kind of bipartisanship we see when those who rule, the donors who finance both parties, garner both parties support for what they want. See? We can all get along. This kind of bipartisanship also assumes that the big fight is between the right and the left, whatever that means in America, not between those who serve wealth and maintain the status quo where wealth always wins and those whod rather to disrupt that gravy train. The Other Bipartisanship Saved Social Security Yet every now and then a coalition forms in Congress that threatens the plans of the wealthy, and that coalition is, for want of a word, bipartisan. This happened spectacularly during Barack Obamas presidency when he tried for years to cut Social Security benefits he styled it as a Grand Bargain between reasonable Democrats and Republicans, as if it were a good bipartisan thing. Guess who ultimately killed it? Stone-dense but successful campaign to preserve Social Security during the Obama years House progressives and Tea Party representatives, acting separately but together: One of the ironies is that the tea party was more useful than Democratic leadership when it came to killing a grand bargain that would have cut Social Security benefits, said Adam Green, co-chair of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. They were so crazy and unwilling to take yes for an answer. That allowed us to live to fight another day. Thank you, tea party! Green added. Thats the other kind of bipartisanship. Bipartisanship Today Ryan Grim and Emily Jashinsky spotted a different bipartisanship in their April 7 Breaking Points broadcast (segment available only to paid subscribers; start at the 49 minute mark if you have access). After discussing the first kind of bipartisanship, where party leaders get together to support other leaders in this case, Nancy Pelosi supporting Speaker McCarthys meeting with the Taiwanese president they point to a Politico article that spots the other kind, the kind party leaders dont like: Freedom Caucus and progressives lock arms and that could be bad news for McCarthy The speakers immediate headache is a growing right-left alliance on Iraq war powers. But House liberals and conservatives are linking up on other issues, too. The Houses most conservative Republicans and its most liberal Democrats can barely stand each other most days. But lately theyre building an unlikely alliance that could cause real problems for Speaker Kevin McCarthy. The Donald Trump-aligned Freedom Caucus and the Progressive Caucus are openly uniting in favor of repealing two decades-old war authorizations in Iraq. Thats on top of growing agreement between the two groups members in favor of revamping government surveillancepowers and curbing defense spending. [emphasis added] Using Speaker McCarthys weakness against him he has a roughly four-vote margin on any proposal the Freedom Caucus, heirs of the Tea Party, are allying with progressives not just to pass repeal of the 1991 and 2002 AUMFs (authorizations for use of force in Iraq), but other good measures as well. The AUMF repeals matter because theyre still being used to justify war in other countries, especially the one AUMF not (yet) up for repeal, enacted in 2001 after 9/11: Wolf Blitzer: The US military has not been using this authorization [unspecified] to justify military action since 2009. But the US military has been very active in Iraq, just with a different authorization or with the agreement of the Iraqi government. In fact, every year, the White House tells Congress where the military has been active using military force in the preceding year. In 2021, the unclassified version of the report lists actions in Iraq, Afghanistan, Syria and Somalia. And they were all justified by the 2001 AUMF relating to terrorism. Sen. Tim Kaine: The 2001 authorization to take action against terrorist groups that have some tie to those who perpetrated the 9/11 attack is still a live authorization, and that needs to be rewritten. [emphasis added] Politico adds: Its not just the war powers effort thats bringing together the Houses opposing factions. Theyve also united to push for pumping the brakes on a potential ban of TikTok, airing fears of government overreach while more establishment colleagues share national security worries. In addition, Progressive Caucus chief Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) and Freedom Caucus member Rep. Warren Davidson (R-Ohio) are jointly raising concerns about government surveillance laws ahead of a reauthorization deadline at the end of the year. The left and right frequently align on issues of war, civil liberties and privacy, Jayapal said. We do have things that we see eye to eye on, and I think were always going to look for those opportunities. RESTRICT Expands the Power of the Security State Among the issues are repeal of the infamous Section 702 of the FISA Act (more here) and the upcoming RESTRICT Act, a bipartisan op by Sens. Mark Warner and John Thune, supposedly aimed at TikTok, but with much broader reachthan its supporters want to see advertised. For example, by the language of the act, RESTRICT could be used to criminalize individuals for using a VPN to access TikTok if U.S. access is banned. Critics are calling RESTRICT a Patriot Act 2.0 which opens the door to unprecedented digital surveillance of Americans, and gives an appointed executive panel unchecked power to censor the internet in the U.S. Worth fighting against? If you give the national security state even more power, what do you think it will do? Back to bipartisanship, Emily Jashinsky says at the close of the Breaking Points piece: These [bipartisanship] headaches would be good for the American people. This is good headaches. What kind of bipartisanship do we want? The smooth-as-silk kind that keeps the Pentagon flush and grows the power of our own Praetorian Guard? Or the disruptive kind that preserves Social Security and fights against state surveillance, at least till the next bipartisan attack appears? The Wall Street Journal does a solid job of reporting today in one of its lead stories, The U.S. Cracked a $3.4 Billion Crypto Heistand Bitcoins Anonymity. However, as well discuss, the large steps made in piercing the crypto veil, at least as I read it, do not vitiate the secrecy potential of crypto per se, but of the infrastructure and services around it, on which many users, including those knowing engaged in criminal conduct, use. And this story demonstrates that all it took was one goof by a crypto thief for the Feds to track him down. I found it odd that the comments I read so far at the Journal and Twitter miss the way the article overstates what are still very large gains by the authorities in tracking crypto transactions and then figuring out who is behind them. And the article (as many Journal readers did point out) confirmed my prejudices about crypto: that it has no uses beyond crime, tax evasion, money laundering, and speculation, none of which are positives to society. The piece revolves around the bust of one James Zhong, a US computer science student who found a bug on Silk Road, which hed been using to buy cocaine. He could withdraw twice as much Bitcoin as he had on deposit. He set up additional accounts and made off with about $600,000 of Bitcoin in 2012. Zhong had the bad fortune to have Silk Road go bust, which gave the authorities their first opportunity to mine transaction records across a network. But the level of forensic skills took a great leap forward with the failure of Mt. Gox in 2014. Crypto maven Jonathan Levin and his business partner Michael Gronager were hired guns on the Mt. Gox collapse, developing software and analytics that became the foundation of Chainalysis. As the story explains: Government investigators exploit a feature of bitcoin and many other digital currencies: Every transaction is stored forever in blockchains online ledger and open for anyone to see. Since Mr. Zhongs heist, authorities and private firms have compiled the equivalent of a blockchain address book to aid the IRS, Federal Bureau of Investigation and state and local authorities investigating cybercrimes. The blockchain-analytics company Chainalysis Inc., based in New York, said it has mapped more than a billion wallet addresses, separating out legitimate and questionable holdings and identifying the exchanges where the cryptocurrency is converted to cash. These advances make it difficult for criminals to convert their spoils to cash. After government officials publish wallet addresses connected to crooks, no legitimate cryptocurrency exchange wants to do business with them, fearing legal consequences Blockchain analytics provide law-enforcement investigators with an important piece of the blockchain puzzlemapping the flow of cryptocurrency belonging to specific people and groups. Greater regulatory scrutiny of cryptocurrency exchanges has also helped. Exchanges have stepped up systems to identify the parties they do business withunder so-called know-your-customer requirementsand are more responsive to law-enforcement inquiries. Let us understand the rub: you as a nefariously-behaving crypto user would be well-protected from the authorities if you did not use a wallet. Of course, you would face the risk of death, loss, or accidental destruction of the device(s) that held your coin. You would also be at risk of loss of your password to your device (this risk also exists with wallets; I have no idea what if any account recovery methods they have). But what good is having crypto if you cant eventually trade it or convert into fiat or real economy assets? With exchanges and wallets more widely used and more and more crypto service operators deciding that being on the up and up is a better business proposition, the illicit exchanges and other means for trading out of crypto are declining in importance, and may be shrinking in absolute terms. The Journal piece quotes an expert who claims North Korea has stolen more crypto than it can convert into dollars. Now back to Zhong. Despite the investigation of the Silk Road failure, no one identified his heist them. Zhong transferred his stolen coins across different accounts for eight years. By 2021, the value of his stash had increased to $3.4 billion. Zhong kept his modest home, but had splurged with a lakefront house, a Lamborghini, and a $150,000 Tesla. But those expenditures werent what tipped off the authorities. What did was Zhong getting sloppy: For five years after the Silk Road theft, Mr. Zhong sat on his digital treasure. In 2017, he embarked on a $16 million spending spree, much of it spent trying to win friends, according to court papers and his lawyer, Michael Bachner. Mr. Zhong gave away 258 bitcoins, many of them on digital devices each loaded with 50 bitcoins and now worth close to $1.5 million. He hosted friends on chartered planes and boats, at sporting events and in fancy hotels, according to court papers and Clayton Kemker, a former bond salesman who became Mr. Zhongs business partner. Mr. Zhong made his big mistake on Dec. 16, 2020, according to court records and an analysis of his bitcoin transactions by Elliptic. He combined crypto funds the IRS had linked to the Silk Road thefts with legitimate funds he kept in a cryptocurrency exchange. With Mr. Zhongs Silk Road link in hand, authorities went to the bitcoin exchange that handled the transaction. The exchange gave IRS agents an IP address, 45.20.67.1, and Mr. Zhongs internet service provider confirmed that he had been using that address since 2016. A month later, federal agents searched Mr. Zhongs house and found the digital storage devices that helped clinch the investigation. Im surprised Zhong had a static IP address.1 Im also surprised that he didnt make regular use of a VPN. Readers? The denouement was mundane: In November 2021, federal agents surprised Mr. Zhong with a search warrant and found the digital keys to his crypto fortune hidden in a basement floor safe and a popcorn tin in the bathroom. Mr. Zhong, who pleaded guilty to wire fraud, is scheduled to be sentenced Friday in New York federal court, where prosecutors are seeking a prison sentence of less than two years. The article makes Zhong sound sad, hoping money would buy him love and friends ad finding his spending produced not much of either. The light sentencing request seems odd. Perhaps Zhong was unusually cooperative? But what sort of helpful information could he have provided? The larger point is not that is it impossible to get away with crime or otherwise hide your tracks in the world of crypto, but that a very big increase in the sophistication and intensity of oversight means its much much harder to hide, and far more likely that anything short of meticulously tech hygiene will put a shady user at risk. With that in mind, Sam Bankman-Frieds nearly non-existent records at Alameda look like a feature, not a bug. The lack of concern about accounting for customer and counterparty funds sure sounds like the point of Alameda and FTX was not the business of the business, but whatever else could be hidden in the funds miasma. Consider the latest, via Forbes: 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. Follow William Williams Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today On Thursday morning, one week after his expulsion from the Tennessee state House, Rep. Justin Pearson was sworn back in to office. Pearson (D-Memphis), along with Rep. Justin Jones (D-Nashville), was expelled for leading an anti-gun protest on the floor of the chamber following the Covenant School shooting. Rep. Gloria Johnson (D-Knoxville) survived an expulsion vote the same day. Shelby County unanimously voted to reappoint Pearson on Wednesday. "We have to have a people-powered movement that is guided by the issue of morality, about the right of everybody to feel safe in communities that are safe and not with people, ordinary people, having weapons of war," Pearson said in a press conference after his swearing-in. He added that elected officials need to debate and pass "just legislation." Pearson says his reappointment was a message from Memphis to that state that "we will not be bought, we will not be disenfranchised. We will not allow the system to continue to do us harm without responding." Pearson also said he welcomes critics of him and his colleagues. "This movement is for everybody, said Pearson. Nobody is out. Everybody's in. So for anybody who is a critic, you are not you are a consultant. Welcome to the movement. Jones was also reappointed on Monday after a unanimous vote by the Metro Council. Close Following Februarys devastating earthquake in Turkiye, the first people began moving into tented accommodation provided by NATO on Monday (10 April 2023). Located in Antakya, the temporary relief site will provide housing, food and water for up to 2,400 people seeking shelter. NATO is also setting up temporary shelters in Iskenderun and Defne for thousands left homeless by the earthquakes. Turkish Defence Minister Hulusi Akar and NATOs Supreme Allied Commander Europe, General Christopher Cavoli, marked the handover of the Antakya facility from NATO to Turkiye on Wednesday (12 April 2023). With many schools damaged in the quake-hit provinces, the first to move in were 100 Turkish schoolchildren and their teachers. The Turkish authorities will manage the site, which will primarily function as a boarding school. The shelters, built by NATOs Support and Procurement Agency, also include heating, power generators and medical treatment areas. NATO Allies and partners have been supporting Turkiyes earthquake relief efforts for months. As part of a NATO air bridge, Allies and partners have also flown some 10,000 tents, blankets and pieces of medical equipment to Turkiye. NATO also supported Turkish hospitals, including with X-ray facilities. Thousands of emergency responders from across the Alliance have been engaged in the relief efforts, as has invitee Sweden, and partners including Japan. The earthquakes that struck Turkiye earlier this year were the deadliest natural disaster on Alliance territory since NATOs foundation. In an address to the Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform in Bucharest on Thursday (13 April 2023), Deputy Secretary General Mircea Geoana underlined the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for Euro-Atlantic security. He highlighted NATOs enhanced presence in the region, and the Alliances unprecedented support to Ukraine, as well as other partners at risk of Russian aggression, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia and the Republic of Moldova. The place of all these independent nations from Georgia to Moldova, from Ukraine to Bosnia, and to any other democracy in Europe, if you choose so - to be with the Euro-Atlantic family - this dream will come true he said. Mr Geoana spoke alongside the Defence and Foreign Ministers of Romania, the Defence Minister and Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine, as well as the Foreign Minister of Moldova. NATO and the US State Department are jointly organizing the 18th Annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Non-Proliferation on 17-20 April 2023, in Washington DC. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will deliver remarks at the opening session of the conference on April 18 and participate in a Q&A session. Secretary General will join the event online. The opening session will be livestreamed on the NATO website and on the State Department website. The rest of the event is not public. NATO has organised the Annual NATO Conference on Arms Control, Disarmament and WMD Non-Proliferation since 2004. This unique event provides a venue for senior national officials to discuss informally WMD threats and regularly includes more than 150 attendees from around 50 countries. The 18th Annual Conference is hosted for the first time in North America. Media advisory April 18, 15:30 (CEST) Opening session with speech by the NATO Secretary General (online) A transcript of the Secretary Generals remarks, as well as photos and video, will be available on the NATO website after the event. Contact points For more information on the event please contact wmdc2023@state.gov. Contact the NATO Press Office Follow us on Twitter (@NATO, @jensstoltenberg and @NATOPress). YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. On April 13, the Chair of the National Assembly Standing Committee on Foreign Relations, the Head of the Armenian delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE PA) Sargis Khandanyan and the delegation members met with the delegation led by the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani, ARMENPRESS was informed from the parliament of Armenia. Welcoming Bujar Osmani, Sargis Khandanyan underscored that, unfortunately the visit of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office coincided with the Azerbaijani next aggression on the territory of Armenia, because of which the Armenian side had casualties and wounded. In the words of the Head of the Armenian delegation, because of the Lachin Corridor blocking by Azerbaijan the humanitarian situation deteriorates day by day in Nagorno Karabakh. According to Sargis Khandanyan, in the solutions of the created situation the actions of the international community should be distinct and addressed, taking into consideration the intention of Azerbaijan to implement the policy of ethnic cleansing. According to the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office, this visit documents that the raised issue is in the centre of their attention, and they are concerned about the existing security situation in the region. Our goal is to promote the establishment of the stable peace in the region, Bujar Osmani underscored and expressed hope that during his chairmanship it will be possible to record positive steps in this issue. The Armenian parliamentarians spoke about the security complicated situation existing in the South Caucasus and the continuous efforts of Armenia aimed at the establishment of peace. The members of the Armenian delegation to OSCE PA reaffirmed that Armenia has no territorial requirements towards its neighbours and wants to ensure peaceful coexistence in the region. Reference was also made to Armenian prisoners of war being held in Azerbaijan, the implementation of the practical steps by the OSCE was highlighted in the issue of their return. Issues on Armenia-OSCE long-term cooperation, as well as the development of relations with North Macedonia were discussed. (As delivered) Thank you so much, Alina, and its good to be back home, in this place which symbolises Romanias national identity and the sacrifice of generations and historical periods, to be finally part of the West. I had a long and interesting discussion with my friend Oleksii Reznikov earlier, and I also was a physical participant and contributor to the launch of the Crimea Platform in August 2021 in Kyiv. And I was a bit puzzled why I was invited, as NATO representative, to speak last. And I asked President Zelenskyy and Dmytro Kuleba, Why did you invite NATO to speak last? Is that a message? And with his exceptional humour and wisdom, the President, the Foreign Minister told me: The guy that speaks last will have the most lasting impact on the audience. Lets hope this will also be the case in Bucharest. The day after the Crimea Platform launch and by the way, I was impressed by the leader of the Crimean Tatars, an old general, dignified and heroic, and also telling us: If we allow an imperialistic power to grab by force territory from an independent nation, we are doomed, for this cannot only happen in Europe, but also elsewhere. What happens in Europe can also happen in Asia. What happens in the Black Sea could happen tomorrow if we dont do things right now - and here - in other seas and oceans, the Indo-Pacific, or wherever else. The day after the Crimea Platform launch, I attended the 30th anniversary of the independence of Ukraine. I even remember the big square, and also men were wearing E as we said then in Romanian, and I asked the day before President Zelenskyy, So Mr. President, when are you going to respond to the infamous long essay by President Putin? I think that is still on the website of the Kremlin. And basically, he denies the national identity and culture of Ukraine. And he smiled, and he said, Listen to my speech tomorrow. I listened to his speech on the 30th anniversary of Ukraine, and I heard the leader of a proud nation anticipating probably trouble to come, with a sense of national identity and resilience and hunger for a better future. That is probably the explanation for the heroism that we see with our Ukrainian friends in this difficult, difficult, barbaric war. We are living in a world which is competitive and dangerous. And this is not only because of this war, it's also because of the global shift and great power competition, a competition defined by a fight between democracies and authoritarian regimes. The Black Sea region is at the heart of today's discussion. And as a Romanian, I also know - and I feel - that this is a region which is strategically important area for Euro-Atlantic security. Of course for the riparian states, but also as a platform, a springboard, for Russia to project power - to Africa, to the Middle East, in what we call in NATO a 360-degree approach. So what happens in the Black Sea is not only for the Black Sea only, its also for the Mediterranean Sea, for the Adriatic Sea, for the Indian Ocean, and beyond. The Black Sea region has been the focus of Russia's aggressive build-up and actions for more than two decades now. And the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and the portions of the Donbass but just, if you want, the start-up. This is also influencing the Western Balkans. Its influencing also our Georgian friends. Its influencing our Moldovan friends. Its influencing our friends in Bosnia and Herzegovina. And this is why Russias irresponsible and hostile behaviour in the broader Black Sea region is deeply affecting the security of the entire Alliance. So in Madrid last year, when our leaders approved the Strategic Concept stating the strategic importance of the Black Sea, this is not just a piece of paper. This is a fundamental belief and action by our Alliance. We stepped up our presence in the region since 2014. We enhanced our cooperation partnership with Ukraine. And this is why our footprint after the full-blown war by Russia is increasing. I would like to thank our French and Italian Allies for leading the two battlegroups in Romania and Bulgaria. Of course to our Allies in Turkiye for the immense role that they play in a much broader region. We have now four more new battlegroups, and we'll be bringing them up to brigade level as needed. And also encouraging pre-positioning of equipment, and also multi-domain operations because it's not only about sea, land and air, but also cyberspace and space. We continue, and we will continue, to support Ukraine. We have stood by Ukraine since the independence of this country back in 1991. Over the last year, Allies have provided unprecedented support for Ukraine's right to self-defence, with 65 billion euros of military aid, and Oleksii and his colleague, the Minister of Defence, know that this is going to continue. NATO will stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes. And we will support your long-term path to Euro-Atlantic integration. And as a Romanian and a former minister of this country, who had the privilege to raise the flag of my country as a new NATO member back in - 19 years ago already - and seeing our Finnish new Allies and our Swedish new Allies joining our ranks, I know that you belong to the West, you belong to the family of democracies, you belong to the Euro-Atlantic family, and we are standing with you all the way. We also have increased our support to other partners at risk of Russian aggression, including for the Republic of Moldova, and I salute Nicu Popescu, a brilliant diplomat and leader. But our friends in Georgia, they are an Enhanced Opportunity Partner to NATO, and we are looking forward to continuing to invest in our partnership. And we wish you the best of luck also on the EU front, because this is also very important for you, together with Ukraine and Republic of Moldova, to go towards Europe. Nicu Popescu remembers that when you visited NATO HQ earlier this year - and also some of your colleagues - we discussed how to deepen our cooperation with full respect for Moldova's independence, sovereignty, territorial integrity and constitutional neutrality. I welcome on the partnership we have, both with NATO and the EU, and I encourage the Republic of Moldova to make even better use of this joint partnership between NATO, EU and the Republic of Moldova. There is more synergy to be identified, there are more things we can do - and will do - together. Your neutrality does not mean we cannot work together with NATO. On the contrary, NATO is stepping up political and practical support to Moldova through an enhanced capacity-building package. We support your political aspirations to join the West, and also to increase your national resilience. Because resilience is crucial. Its multifaceted. Sometimes it has explicit, aggressive behaviour, sometimes more implicit, insidious facets. Russia is using all the conventional and hybrid tools in its toolbox. And the Republic of Moldova is the place where Russia is using to its fullest extent the toolbox of hybrid warfare against your country in order to hamper economic development and foment instability in the region. So we need to strengthen our individual and collective resilience to withstand any threats and challenges - from conventional to cyber attacks to disinformation and attempts to interfere in our democracies and economies. We can learn much from one another amongst Allies and partners, building up stronger societies and more resilient critical infrastructures in a team effort. Recently, NATO and the EU, our Secretary General and President von der Leyen, we established a joint task force on critical infrastructure. And I encourage the countries in the Black Sea region to co-opt and be active in this new format because of the Black Sea has critical infrastructures we need to protect, defend, and make sure that they work to the benefit of our people. So we look forward to working with all of you as we head towards our next Summit in Vilnius in July. We look forward to welcoming Dmytro Kuleba, Oleksii, to our Ministerial meetings. Nicu, if you want to be again like youve been in Bucharest at the Foreign Ministers meeting that Bogdan has hosted I think some months back, you are always welcome amongst our ranks. And of course, we look forward to welcoming President Zelenskyy at the NATO Summit in Vilnius in mid-July. So in this temple of Romanian national identity and struggle over generations to become part of the political, democratic and hopefully prosperous West, I send you our best message of hope. Well stay with Ukraine for the long haul. And the place of all these independent nations - from Georgia to Moldova, from Ukraine to Bosnia - and to any other democracy in Europe: if you choose so, to be with the Euro-Atlantic family, this dream will come true. Thank you so much. (Natural News) Chatbots enhanced by artificial intelligence (AI) can influence peoples decisions in life-or-death situations. A study published in the journal Scientific Reports has found that peoples opinion on whether they would sacrifice one person to save five was swayed by the answers given by ChatGPT. Researchers have called for future bots to be banned from giving advice on ethical issues. According to the researchers, the current software threatens to corrupt peoples moral judgment and may prove dangerous to naive users. Just recently, a grieving widow claimed her Belgian husband had been encouraged to take his own life by an AI chatbot. (Related: Google is creating an AI GOD, whistleblower Zach Vorhies warns Brighteon.TV.) Some observers said the software, which is designed to talk like a human, can show signs of jealousy even telling people to leave their marriage. Experts have highlighted how AI chatbots may potentially give dangerous information because they are based on societys own prejudices. The study first analyzed whether ChatGPT itself, which is trained on billions of words from the internet, showed a bias in its answer to the moral dilemma. It was asked multiple times whether it was right or wrong to kill one person in order to save five others, which is the premise of a psychological test called the trolley dilemma. The chatbot did not shy away from giving moral advice, but it gave contradictory answers every time. This means that it does not have a set stance one way or the other. The researchers then asked 767 participants the same moral dilemma alongside a statement generated by ChatGPT on whether this was right or wrong. Some participants were told that the advice was provided by a bot, while others were told that it was given by a human moral advisor. ChatGPTs advice, while not particularly deep, did have an effect on participants. However, most participants played down how much sway the statement had with 80 percent claiming they would have made the same decision without the advice. ChatGPT more likely to corrupt than improve moral judgment The study concluded that users underestimate ChatGPTs influence and adopt its random moral stance as their own, adding that the chatbot threatens to corrupt rather than promises to improve moral judgment. Interestingly, the study used an older version of the software behind ChatGPT. It has since been updated to become even more powerful and more convincing. ChatGPT is a natural language processing tool driven by AI technology that allows users to have humanlike conversations and much more with the chatbot. The language model can answer questions and assist users with tasks like composing emails, essays and code. It was created by OpenAI, an AI and research company. The company launched ChatGPT on Nov. 30, 2022. According to an analysis by Swiss bank UBS, ChatGPT is the fastest-growing app of all time. According to the analysis, ChatGPT had 100 million active users in January, barely two months after its launch. For comparison, it took nine months for TikTok to reach 100 million. ChatGPT is scary good. We are not far from dangerously strong AI, said Elon Musk, who was one of the founders of OpenAI. It has shown that it can influence human lives in one way or another. That alone makes it scary and dangerous. Read more news about chatbots powered by artificial intelligence at FutureTech.news. Watch this video to know more about ChatGPT. This video is from the What is happening channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Rise of the Terminators: Killer robots with facial recognition now pose dire threat to humanity. Military designing killer robots capable of behavioral deception. Coming soon: An army of hunter-killer robots that will murder humanity. Google suspends engineer for exposing sentient AI chatbot. Killer robots must be outlawed immediately, warns UN official. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk ZDNet.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Once again, the Biden regime is taking aim at its political enemies, and this time in one of the cruelest, most vile ways. On Tuesday, the regime put forward measures that could greatly reduce water resources in seven western states due to the severe drought conditions that have persisted for decades. As reported by Fox News, the Department of the Interior (DOI) has proposed two potential actions to tackle the declining water levels in the Colorado River Basin. The proposals involve federally mandated supply reductions for states that heavily rely on the river system, which serves over 40 million Americans and is crucial for the economies of western states. However, the DOIs focus is on ensuring a sustainable future for the Colorado River Basin, and by sustainable that means the regime is more worried about environmental issues than the economic survival of mostly conservative states. Failure is not an option, Tommy Beaudreau, the DOIs deputy secretary, said in a statement. 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 1,450-mile Colorado River not only provides water to millions of Americans but also supports 5.5 million acres of agricultural lands, generates electricity for millions of residents through hydroelectric dams, and has significant recreational and ecological uses, the outlet reported. The river system serves as a water source for seven states, which are categorized into two geographical regions: the Upper Basin (consisting of Colorado, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming) and the Lower Basin (including Arizona, California, and Nevada). The Upper Basin states receive water from smaller rivers that branch off the Colorado River, while the Lower Basin states mainly depend on water pooled in Lake Powell, a man-made reservoir along the Utah-Arizona border, and Lake Mead, a reservoir along the Nevada-Arizona border. The Glen Canyon Dam in northern Arizona and the Hoover Dam in southern Nevada regulate water flows from the respective reservoirs to the Lower Basin states, said Fox News. Due to persistent drought conditions over the past decades, the water levels of both Lake Powell and Lake Mead have significantly dropped, approaching the critical dead pool levels at which the water can no longer flow from a reservoir through its dam. Officials claim that poses a serious threat to water supplies and the hydroelectric power generated by the two reservoirs, which is essential for tens of millions of Americans. Its notable that California, which has had drought issues for years, has not embarked on a plan to construct desalination plants long its coastline to turn seawater into fresh water. Drought conditions in the Colorado River Basin have been two decades in the making, said Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. 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. Federal data shows that the level of Lake Powell has dropped to approximately 3,520 feet and Lake Meads level has dropped to 1,046 feet due to decades of drought conditions. The estimated dead pool levels for the two reservoirs are 3,370 feet and 895 feet, respectively. On Tuesday, the Department of the Interior proposed a draft supplemental environmental impact statement, which outlines the first proposed action to reduce water supply in the Lower Basin states. The water supply reductions will be based on the seniority of the entities that receive water from the reservoirs. And big, blue California will benefit the most, per Fox News. Such a proposal would benefit the agriculture industry in California including the Imperial Irrigation District, a senior water rights holder that uses Colorado River water to supply about 500,000 acres of farmland, the outlet noted, citing a report in the Los Angeles Times. The action, though, would disproportionately negatively impact junior water rights holders like an Arizona entity that supplies water to Phoenix. Sources include: FoxNews.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A study published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology has found that more than 1.3 million Californians may be drinking water contaminated with high levels of manganese. This is bad because the levels are enough to cause cognitive disabilities in children and Parkinsons disease-like symptoms in adults. The study was conducted by researchers from the University of California, Riverside (UCR). For the study, the research team inspected private wells and public water systems throughout the Central Valley. Over 50 percent of the affected residents live in disadvantaged communities and results showed that almost 89 percent of residents are likely to access water highly contaminated with manganese. While manganese is also found in water supplies worldwide, the U.S. is one of the only countries that does not enforce a maximum level. Recent studies have revealed that exposure to excessive levels of manganese may cause Parkinsons-like neurological symptoms since the mineral builds up in the basal ganglia area of the patients brain. The researchers added that California residents who are worried about manganese exposure can take measures to treat contaminated water, such as purchasing treatment options like oxidation and precipitation filters. They also recommended water softeners, chlorination and reverse osmosis systems. But not everyone can afford certain methods, such as devices for monitoring water quality that can cost up to $400 annually. Ying added that since not a lot of people can afford them, these communities can be subsidized to buy treatment options. (Related: Forever chemicals from almost 42,000 sources threaten to contaminate drinking water.) The team decided to investigate water from Central Valley because it is considered one of the countrys most productive and economically important agricultural regions. The area is also home to one-third of domestic well users in the state. These analyses demonstrate the need for additional well-monitoring programs that evaluate Mn and increased access to point-of-use treatment for domestic well users disproportionately burdened by associated costs of water treatment, concluded the researchers. What to do if your water contains manganese Manganese is rarely found alone in the water. Its rarer than iron, so if you find iron in your water, it may also be contaminated with manganese. Signs of manganese in your drinking water supply can include: An orange-brown tint Orange or brown staining on surfaces that come into contact with water A metallic taste or smell Dark black or brown stains your laundry High manganese levels in drinking water can cause manganese toxicity. Symptoms of manganese toxicity can include: Depression Headaches Hearing problems Insomnia Irritability Loss of appetite Mania Muscle tremors Weakness Manganese in your water supply can also cause dark brown or black stains on sinks, bathtubs, showers, laundry and plumbing fixtures. Your water may also taste unpleasant, especially since manganese has a distinct metallic taste and aroma. Drinking water contaminated with manganese tastes unpleasant, and cooking with manganese-contaminated water can also give food an unpleasant metallic flavor. Another study suggests lithium in water may be linked to autism The research on manganese-contaminated water follows a study conducted by researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) that revealed an alarming link between lithium in drinking water and autism. The UCLA study on lithium in drinking water revealed that pregnant women who drank water contaminated with the mineral had a moderately higher risk of giving birth to a baby with an autism spectrum disorder. Beate Ritz, the studys lead study author, explained that any drinking water contaminants that may affect the developing human brain deserve intense scrutiny. In the future, anthropogenic sources of lithium in water may become more widespread because of lithium battery use and disposal in landfills with the potential for groundwater contamination, warned Ritz. Ritz collaborated with Danish researchers who reviewed lithium levels in 151 public waterworks in Denmark, which made up about 50 percent of the countrys water supply. The researchers gathered information from a nationwide database to find which systems supplied to homes with pregnant mothers from 1997 through 2013. The team then compared 12,799 children diagnosed with autism against 63,681 children who did not have an autism diagnosis. The study findings revealed that autism diagnosis increased with higher lithium levels. Compared to the lowest quartile of recorded lithium levels, or those in the 25th percentile, lithium levels in the second and third quartiles were linked to a 24 to 26 percent higher risk of autism. In the highest quartile, the risk was 46 percent higher compared to the lowest quartile, concluded the research team. Visit Pollution.news to learn more about dangerous water and environmental contaminants. Watch the video below for more tips on how to protect your family from contaminated drinking water. This video is from the High Hopes channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: EPA doing bare minimum to address toxic PFAS pollutants in drinking water. Dozens of new contaminants found in drinking water, including forever chemicals, pesticides and radioactive materials. Study: Proper hydration found to reduce long-term risks for heart failure. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk WQPMag.com PH.UCLA.edu Brighteon.com (Natural News) A son of billionaire George Soros has quietly become a de-facto White House ambassador, making at least 14 visits there on behalf of the far-left kingmaker since President Joe Biden took office, records reviewed by The Post show. (Article by Rich Calder and Matthew Sedacca republished from NYPost.com) Alexander Soros a prolific Democratic fundraiser in his own right who likes to boast about his relationships with world leaders on social media scored at least a dozen meetings with White House officials in 2022, according to recently updated White House visitor logs. Soros, 37, also participated in two other confabs there in late 2021, the records show. His latest trips include visiting Dec. 1 with then-White House Chief of Staff Ron Klains advisor Nina Srivastava, who also worked on Bidens presidential campaign, the logs show. Later that evening. the younger Soros was one of 330 people who attended a lavish state dinner on the White House South Lawn hosted by the president and First Lady Jill Biden honoring French President Emmanuel Macron and Macrons wife, Brigitte. A day later, Alexander Soros who chairs the powerful, liberal grant-making network Open Society Foundations founded by his dad met with both Advisor to the Counselor of President Mariana Adame and Deputy National Security Advisor Jonathan Finer, records show. Alexander Soros attended a state dinner on the White House South Lawn honoring French President Emmanuel Macron. Alexander Soros His previous White House meetings included earlier sitdowns with Adame on October 14; Srivastava on September 14; Finer on Dec. 15, 2021, and October 6 and September 15 of last year, according to records. Soros also had meetings with Kimberly Lang, then a National Security Advisor executive assistant, on October 6; and former Klain advisor Madeline Strasser on Oct. 29, 2021, and April 22, 2022. Its unclear what was discussed at the meetings, and the White House did not return messages. Mike Howell, director of the Oversight Project at the Conservative Heritage Foundation, said the younger Soros easy White House access is troubling considering the Soros family has already done tremendous damage to our country. Alexander Soros chairs the liberal grant-making network Open Society Foundations founded by his father. Anthony J. Causi The Soros agenda is one of death and destruction in the name of open borders and ending Western Civilization, he said. The Biden administration and rogue prosecutor movement may be [its] most damaging purchase in America to date. The Soros familys influence over White House policy has never been stronger, according to Matt Palumbo, author of The Man Behind the Curtain: Inside the Secret Network of George Soros. All throughout the White House, there is a Soros hold somewhere, and his son is his fathers new ambassador, Palumbo told The Post. White House records show an expansive list of Soros meetings with top officials: 12/2/2022: Mariana Adame, Advisor to the Counselor Steve Ricchetti 12/2/2022: Jon Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor 12/1/2022: State Dinner on South Lawn for French President Emmanuel Macron attended by President Biden 12/1/2022: Nina Srivastava, adviser to then-Chief of Staff Ron Klain 10/14/2022: Mariana Adame, Advisor to the Counselor Steve Ricchetti (x2) 10/6/2022: Jon Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor 10/6/2022: Kimberly Lang, Executive Assistant to the National Security Advisor 9/15/2022: Jon Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor 9/14/2022: Nina Srivastava, adviser to then-Chief of Staff Ron Klain (x2) 4/22/2022: Madeline Strasser, adviser to then-Chief of Staff Ron Klain 12/15/2021: Jon Finer, Deputy National Security Advisor 10/29/2021: Madeline Strasser, adviser to then-Chief of Staff Ron Klain Following the 2020 presidential election, Bidens transition team was filled with liberals connected to Soros network, and Bidens cabinet was also armed with Soros loyalists, Palumbo said. Alexander Soros, seen here with former President Barack Obama, scored 14 White House meetings in a little over a year. They included Klain, a board member of the lobbying wing of the Soros-funded Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank that pushes abortion rights, climate-change policies, and other causes. George Soros typically tries to keep a lower profile, exerting influence by donating under the radar to lefty candidates and funneling money to liberal causes through his Open Society Foundations and related nonprofits he founded, which have doled out more than $32 billion worldwide since 1984, according to its website. The Hungarian-born, 92-year-old has recently come under renewed fire from conservatives linking him to former President Donald Trumps legal woes. They point to the elder Soros donating $1 million in 2021 to the left-wing Color of Change political action committee that backed Alvin Bragg, the Manhattan district attorney who convened the grand jury that indicted Trump late last month on criminal charges over an alleged hush-money payment. Soros whose payment to Color of Change was part of a larger effort to finance a criminal justice revolution aimed at abolishing bail and defunding police has denied supporting Braggs campaign directly or even knowing the soft-on-crime DA. Alexander Soros politicking is much more of an open book than his fathers. The younger Soros has individually donated more than $11 million to lefty political action committees since 2010 including $2 million in 2018 to the Senate Majority PAC that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) has major influence over, records show. A review of his Instagram page shows him visiting with Schumer at least nine times since 2018, and posing with former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) eight times. Alexander Soros boasts about his relationships with world leaders and other elected officials on social media, including former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The account also highlights photos of him with his dad, as well as with former President Barack Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris, and other prominent Dems at fundraisers he hosted or other events. Scoring 14 White House meetings in a little over a year suggests the younger Soros has an outsize policy influence in the Biden administration rivaling the easy access only a select few as American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten has, said Tom Fitton, president of the conservative legal watchdog group Judicial Watch. George Soros is pursuing an aggressive environmental agenda, open-border initiatives, and other far-left causes dear to him, Fitton added. The younger Soros has individually donated more than $11 million to lefty political action committees since 2010. Dont be distracted by Alexs name in the visitor log; its a George Soros rep theyre looking to meet with at the Biden White HouseHes still calling the shots, its his money, his foundations, Fitton insisted. But it is Alexander who is most poised of the elder Soros five kids to eventually lead his familys multibillion-dollar political and philanthropic network, said Scott Walter, president of conservative think tank Capital Research Center. Like his father, he cozies up to White House and congressional leaders willing to do the familys bidding on such issues as crime, immigration, election policy, and more, as the Soroses exploit every type of giving: money to parties, independent expenditure groups, and so-called charities, Walter told the Washington Examiner, which first documented the White House jaunts. No wonder former staffers and grantees of their foundations, donor groups, and lobbying shops are found throughout the Biden administration, from the State Department to the Domestic Policy Council. A Soros spokesman declined to comment. Read more at: NYPost.com (Natural News) The federal government peddled technology to Big Tech companies to assist them in censoring Americans speech on social media in the run-up to the 2020 election, according to emails Missouri and Louisiana uncovered in their First Amendment lawsuit against the Biden administration. (Article by Margot Cleveland republished from TheFederalist.com) Specifically, the State Department marketed this censorship technology through its Global Engagement Center. In other words, our tax dollars not only funded the development of tools to silence speech that dissented from the regimes narrative. They also paid for government employees to act as sales reps pitching the censorship products to Big Tech. Ive been tasked with building relationships with technology companies, Samaruddin Stewart, then a senior adviser for the State Departments Global Engagement Center or GEC, wrote in an early-February 2020 introductory email to LinkedIn, allegedly requesting a meeting. According to the lawsuit, his email also suggested he would be reaching out to other social media companies interested in countering disinformation. On March 9, 2020, Stewart again contacted LinkedIn, referencing an earlier verbal discussion and writing: Ill send information [to LinkedIn representatives] about gaining access to Disinfo Cloud which is a GEC funded platform that offers stakeholders an opportunity to discover companies, technology, and tools that can assist with identifying, understanding, and addressing disinformation. These two emails are explosive. Yet because they were revealed in two passing paragraphs of the 164-page complaint filed by Missouri, Louisiana, and a handful of other plaintiffs against the Biden administration, they and their enormous significance have been overlooked. Cold-Calling Big Tech The Stewart emails establish that in 2020, federal government actors contacted social media giants to promote GECs Disinfo Cloud. GEC represented that this government platform provided companies, technology, and tools to assist with identifying, understanding, and addressing disinformation. Then it gave private tech companies access to Disinfo Cloud. Almost identical to how GEC described Disinfo Cloud in congressional testimony, the State Departments webpage marketed it as a one-stop shop to identify and then test tools that counter propaganda and disinformation. Fact checking and media authentication are just a couple of the types of technologies available through the dashboard. GEC didnt just promote Disinfo Cloud or give Big Tech access to what GEC called the U.S. governments online repository. Government employees at GEC also offered to help private companies identify tools to suit their specific needs. Just write to the GECs Technology Engagement Division about what your office needs to counter propaganda and disinformation, the State Department instructed on its webpage, and the government will assist in finding a technological solution. Testbed Access to Disinfo Cloud, according to the State Departments webpage, also provides a gateway to the GECs Technology Engagement Divisions Testbed, allowing users to review and test the technology against their unique needs. While Stewarts emails dont expressly mention the Testbed feature, the State Department boasts that the private sector uses both Disinfo Cloud and Testbed. The GECs webpage also invites Disinfo Cloud users to ask for assistance in identifying a technological solution or draft a test proposal for a tool. If Disinfo Cloud users cant find a tool that works for them, the GEC Technology Engagement team stresses it is open to insights and is here to help implement ideas to move the counter propaganda and disinformation mission forward. Infomercials Deposition testimony by FBI Agent Elvis Chan suggests GECs marketing of the censorship tools went beyond making cold calls (or emails) to LinkedIn and other Big Tech companies. It also seemingly went further than providing product advice and samples on Disinfo Cloud: The GECs Technology Engagement Division apparently hosted infomercials to help the private vendors market their censorship software. Chan, the assistant special agent in charge of the cyber branch at the FBIs San Francisco field office, was one of the primary people communicating with social media companies about supposed disinformation, and thus is one of the named defendants in Missouri v. Biden. As part of that litigation, the plaintiffs deposed Chan. During questioning, Chan testified that ahead of the 2020 election, he periodically spoke with Stewart, who would meet with the social media companies separately from Chan. According to Chan, Stewart met with policy individuals with the various social media companies about different initiatives. Those initiatives included various kinds of vendor-made software that they would pilot to see if they could detect malign foreign influence on social media platforms. Chan further testified that Stewart and GEC would provide webinars from these vendors. As Chan explained, [T]he State Department was just providing a venue where different vendors could show off their products. The presentations were open to the general public, said Chan, but the GEC would invite all sorts of audiences, to include researchers, employees from State Department counterparts, so typically Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The intended audience, according to Chan, was State Department-equivalent personnel, social media companies, and researchers. Chan said he attended only a couple of the webinars because the companies took only a surface-level look at the content, and thus he didnt consider the technology useful to the FBI. But apparently, it was fine for the State Department to market the same tools to social media companies. From Chans deposition testimony, it appears Stewart, the GECs then-senior adviser, made the equivalent of sales calls and hosted infomercials, all for the purpose of pushing various censorship services to social media companies. It is unclear whether these webinars were in addition to the GECs Tech Demo Series at which private vendors showcased their knack for fighting so-called disinformation for U.S. government counterparts and foreign partners or whether, after the GEC sent a full-time representative to Silicon Valley in December of 2019 (presumably Stewart), the Tech Demo Series was opened to the public. However, given that the official Disinfo Cloud Twitter account promoted the Tech Demo Series, it seems likely that GEC expanded its target audience for the series to include the private sector and other Disinfo Cloud users. Either way, Chans deposition testimony reveals our government marketed censorship technology to social media companies through webinars. And while Chan claimed he didnt think GEC endorsed the products, the government expressly represented the Disinfo Cloud technology as tools to assist with attacking so-called disinformation. The Tools So what exactly were those tools? From open-source material, it is difficult, if not impossible, to identify the entire dataset of tech companies featured on Disinfo Cloud or participating in the Tech Demo Series. Thats because Disinfo Cloud has been retired as [a] GEC-sponsored effort, according to the State Department. The DisinfoCloud.com webpage has also been shuttered. But because GEC ran various tech challenges, giving winners State Department sponsorship on the governments Disinfo Cloud Testbed advertised as worth $25,000 among other things, several censorship companies involved can be identified, including NewsGuard, PeakMetrics, and Omelas. NewsGuards censorship technology includes its unreliable reliability ratings database of thousands of news and information websites and a second database of purported hoaxes, as I detailed in March. NewsGuards winning tech-challenge entry built upon those databases and used AI and social listening tools to identify the initial source of the hoax, and to find instances of the hoax being repeated or amplified online. The second winner, PeakMetrics, offered a dashboard for tracking mentions of a topic across multiple media channels with social listening technology. The third winner, Omelas, developed tools to visually map online information. The government gave these winners the ability to pilot their technology on Disinfo Clouds Testbed. Then it promoted Disinfo Cloud to social media giants as offering access to companies, technology, and tools that can assist with identifying, understanding, and addressing disinformation. So were NewsGuard, PeakMetrics, and Omelas among the companies GEC marketed to Big Tech? Did they participate in the government-run Tech Demos and present infomercials to the private sector? Did GEC help these vendors test their products for private companies on the Testbed? In Practice Consider the implications, using NewsGuard to illustrate. NewsGuard rates various media outlets on a 100-point scale and provides a red unreliable rating if its experts score the news source below 60. The company rates The Federalist red and claims it is one of the top-10 most influential misinformers. Conversely, some of the outlets that botched the biggest political stories of the century maintain a 100 percent reliability score. The government awarded NewsGuard a $25,000 prize to develop new technology on Disinfo Cloud, using, in part, that ratings system as a backbone. NewsGuard would later receive an additional $750,000 from the government to advance the development of its censorship technology. PeakMetrics and Omelas also both scored additional government funding of $1.5 and $1 million respectively. But think about the governments other behind-the-scenes censorship entanglements. The government, via your tax dollars, funded both Disinfo Cloud, which provided the technology necessary to pilot the program, and the outside contractor, Park Advisors, that managed it. The State Departments GEC promoted the companies and technology featured on Disinfo Cloud, and a government liaison working for GEC personally contacted social media companies to encourage them to use the platform. The government also hosted Tech Demo Series for the vendors to market their products to the private sector. Disinfo Cloud regularly promoted private censorship technology on its official Twitter account and retweeted NewsGuards announcement of its partnership with Mediabrands to bring NewsGaurds rating work to TV news programming. Then beyond promoting the censorship tools, government employees working with GEC helped social media and private-sector businesses identify, test, and tweak the most appropriate technology for their needs. And what are those needs? Censoring the speech of you and your fellow Americans. A Scandal Like No Other This scandal far surpasses the one that formerly ensnared GEC, when it was revealed the State Department awarded the Global Disinformation Index (GDI) another ratings company that blacklists conservative outlets $100,000 as part of the U.S.-Paris Tech Challenge. GDI also reportedly received money from other government-funded organizations. Those taxpayer funds helped finance GDIs blacklist of conservative media outlets, which advertisers relied upon to defund dissenters. But what Stewarts emails now reveal is that the government is not merely funding censorship research. It is acting as a sales rep to market censorship technology to private companies. The State Department isnt skirting the First Amendment. It is driving a stake through its heart. Read more at: TheFederalist.com (Natural News) Nineteen suspected terrorists recently arrived in the UK on small boats across the Dover Strait and are now living in migrant hotels that are being funded by British taxpayers. According to the Daily Mail, the foreign nationals made their way into the UK illegally last year from northern France and are linked to a range of terrorist groups, including the Islamic state. Most of them have filed asylum claims in the UK and cannot be deported for several reasons, including human rights laws. The publication reports that seven of the men were already the subjects of an active investigation in other countries when they made their way to British shores. Some are under surveillance by the British security service MI5 and counter-terrorism police. However, the government is not able to remove them due to the potential for them to be subjected to torture or other forms of mistreatment in their home countries. Of the 19 known terror suspects, five are said to be Iraqi, while five are Iranian, four are from Somalia, four are from Afghanistan and one is from Libya. Five of the seven who are currently under active investigation have been linked to Isis and its offshoots; three of them are Iraqi and two are linked to the Afghani affiliate of Isis known as Islamic State or Khorasan. The last two belong to Iranian terror groups. Routine fingerprinting helped British security services determine the identities of many of the terrorists, and it is believed that they have evidence against them ranging from intelligence material to overseas convictions. One security source told the Daily Mail that once these individuals enter the UK, they can monitor them and take steps to minimize any potential threats, but this adds to the countrys surveillance burden. Migrants arriving by boat are a growing problem in the UK Asylum seekers are increasingly making their way across the channel in small boats. Those who do not manage to land on their own on beaches are rescued by British authorities and transported to Dover for processing. Last year, a record-setting 45,476 individuals made it across, which was a significant jump over the 28,526 individuals recorded in 2021. The figure for 2020 was just above 8,000, while 2019 and 2018 saw 1,843 and 299 individuals respectively. Brits were already concerned about the fact that hundreds of criminals have been identified among the arriving migrants from France, prompting some to question the governments ability to protect citizens. Now, however, it appears that the problem is even more serious than originally believed and the system is deeply flawed. Its important to note that known terrorists who enter the country via legal means, such as scheduled flights, would be stopped at immigration control and refused entry to the UK for reasons of national security. However, the same terrorist can arrive to the UK in a small migrant boat across the channel and cannot be denied entry. International refugee conventions and human rights laws dictate that they must be granted an opportunity to claim a right to live in the UK indefinitely. Adding insult to injury, taxpayers have to foot their bill for full board in hotels for months on end. The average nightly cost is 150, which means that each suspect costs taxpayers around 4,500 per month. Moreover, many of them cannot be criminally prosecuted because evidence against them stems from intelligence materials, which cant be used in court. New legislation in Parliament seeks to give the Home Secretary the power to detain irregular arrivals like migrants coming in on small boats and reduce their ability to lodge human rights challenges. It also seeks to give the Home Office the power to send failed applicants to other safe countries such as Rwanda. However, it is facing some opposition from Labour and other opposition parties in the UK. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk KentOnline.co.uk DailyMail.co.uk (Natural News) Russias ongoing special military operation in Ukraine is significantly reducing the latters ability to fight back. Leaked documents from the United States suggest that Ukraines missile stocks could be depleted by May. The leaked reports from the Department of Defense have revealed that Ukraine is running out of anti-aircraft missiles, specifically for the nations Soviet-era S-300 and Buk surface-to-air missile systems, which make up around 89 percent of the countrys air defense capabilities. (Related: Defense Department to boost production of artillery ammunition by 500% for Ukraine but will take two years just to build the new factories.) After more than a year of war, the Ukrainian Air Force (UAF) commented that the military faces a serious challenge of sourcing more of the Soviet-designed ammunition that forms the backbone of the nations air defense systems. According to the leaked reports, dated Feb. 23 and marked Secret, the nation will run out of ammunition for its S-300 systems by May 2. The Buk air defense systems could run into trouble sourcing ammunition by mid-April. All other air defense platforms, especially the ones responsible for protecting Ukrainian troops on the frontlines, could be completely reduced by May 23. The Pentagons predictions for when Ukraine will run out of ammo for its different anti-air systems are based on the usage rates when the report was made. It is unclear if the usage rate has since changed. Ukraine continues to beg its Western allies for more military aid Col. Yuri Ihnat, a spokesman for the UAF, confirmed that the countrys air defenses face a serious challenge and said Ukraine urgently needs its Western partners to speed up the delivery of military aid. If we lose the battle for the skies, the consequences for Ukraine will be very serious, he said, urging the countrys Western allies to speed up their assistance. This is not the time to procrastinate. Ihnat added that Kyiv needs more air defense systems to fully replace the depleted ones. Since the beginning of the special military operation, the Russian Air Forces bombers, helicopter gunships and other air assets have been unable to venture too deep behind Ukraines front lines due to the unexpected strength of Ukraines air defenses, thanks in no small part to the aid given to the nation by its allies in the West. As a result, Russia has only been able to strike deep inside Ukraine with expensive, difficult-to-take-down cruise missiles and long-range Iranian-supplied drones, rather than the more abundant and more powerful unguided bombs launched by aircraft and helicopters. But in recent months, the Russians have been gaining more opportunities to attack Ukrainian forces. The Pentagon noted that one of the likely consequences of the looming crisis in Ukraines air defense capabilities is that Kyiv could eventually lose its ability to conduct counteroffensives. This could put a damper on Kyivs plan to launch a massive offensive to recapture territories occupied by Russia in the coming weeks, using reserve brigades trained and equipped by the U.S. and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Pentagon also warned that should Ukraines air defense capabilities diminish, most of the countrys critical national infrastructure outside of the Kyiv Oblast (province) and two areas in the countrys southwest will no longer have air defense cover. This means that the number of unprotected critical sites could soar from six to more than 40. Learn more about the deteriorating situation in Ukraine at UkraineWitness.com. Watch this clip from The American Journal on InfoWars as host Harrison Smith discusses how the leaked Ukraine documents expose the Deep States game plan for the country. This video is from the InfoWars channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Zelensky admits Ukraine already OUT OF AMMO another begging spree in the works. US is more than a DECADE behind in ammunition stockpiling but Biden is still giving it away to Ukraine. UK to send Ukraine DEPLETED URANIUM tank rounds that could cause irreparable harm to the people and the land. UKs ammo stockpiles are dangerously low after sending generous military aid to Ukraine. RUNNING OUT: Ukraine blowing through more ammo than NATO, US can manufacture and provide. Sources include: Express.co.uk WSJ.com NYPost.com TheGuardian.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) Walmart announced on Tuesday, April 11, that it will be closing four of its eight stores in Chicago as they cost the retail giant millions in annual losses. Collectively, these stores have not been profitable since the first one opened 17 years ago, costing the company tens of millions of dollars a year in losses, according to a press release. The company added that losses have nearly doubled over the last five years alone. (Related: Walmart cuts another 2,000 warehouse jobs following retail store closure announcement.) The four locations chosen to close are the Neighborhood Markets in Kenwood, Lakeview and Little Village, as well as the Supercenter, Health Center and Walmart Academy in Chatham. The four stores will close their doors by April 16. The pharmacies in the locations will remain open for up to 30 days after the stores close. 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, said the company in its press release. As we looked for solutions, it became even more clear that in these stores, there was nothing leaders could do to help get us to the point where they would be profitable. Walmart noted that the employees in these stores will be paid through Aug. 11 and will also have the option to transfer to other Walmart locations, including one of the four other Chicago stores, which will remain open. 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, reads the statement. Chicago residents, officials disappointed by Walmart closures Walmart claimed it has tried many different strategies to improve the performance of its stores in Chicago. Some of these strategies include building smaller stores, localizing product assortment and offering a variety of services beyond traditional retail. Furthermore, Walmart said it has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in the City of Chicago in the last couple of years, including $70 million on store upgrades and on building Walmart Health and Walmart Academy facilities. It was hoped that these investments would help improve our stores performance, said Walmart. Unfortunately, these efforts have not materially improved the fundamental business challenges our stores are facing. In response to the store closures, Chicago officials and residents expressed their disappointment. Norma Gregory, a regular customer of the Chatham location, noted how disastrous this will be for the neighborhood since another big box retailer, Target, also recently left. I think its terrible, she said. We dont have anything in our community anymore. They made all these improvements, they put the Walmart Academy here, and its just so hard to believe they are just going to close it all down, its just going to be a huge vacant space, said Sharon Woods, another customer of the Chatham location. Alderman Howard Brookins, who fought to get Walmart in the Chatham area and for it to reopen after it shut down following the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, expressed his profound disappointment and sadness over the closure. Outgoing Mayor Lori Lightfoot called the announcement an unceremonious one that will leave residents in the affected neighborhoods without a means to affordably get their basic needs. Lightfoot applauded that near-term arrangements will be made for the affected Walmart employees, but she also expressed concern over their career prospects in the long term. Lightfoot said she is hoping that the soon-to-be-closed stores get repurposed by their communities. Walmart responded by saying it will work with local leaders to help find reuse options for their establishments so they remain important parts of their communities. Read more stories of Americas economic downturn at MarketCrash.news. Watch this clip from the Next News Network discussing Walmarts plan to lay off thousands of employees nationwide. This video is from the News Clips channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Walmart converting 65% of its stores to automation human employees will be let go. Why is every Walmart in the entire city of Portland being permanently shut down? CITY IN COLLAPSE: Every Walmart in Portland is closing as anti-cop city leaders allow rampant crime to annihilate retailers. THE VANISHING: Pharmacist shortage prompts closures at CVS, Walmart pharmacy locations. Walmart CEO: Rampant organized shoplifting could lead to price hikes, store closures. Sources include: CNBC.com NBCChicago.com FoxBusiness.com ABC7Chicago.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) In a sudden and unexpected about-face, the World Health Organization (WHO) has slammed communist China over its lack of transparency concerning the origin of the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19). Calling this lack of transparency simply inexcusable, the WHO has publicly stated its disappointment with Beijing-affiliated researchers who, after three long years of this nightmare, have only just now shared crucial samples that were collected from inside Wuhans ground zero, which refers to the bio-laboratory where many now believe the Fauci Flu originated. A senior WHO official has said that this important data should have been shared immediately. Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHOs technical lead on covid, also stated that she believes communist China may be sitting on even more bombshell evidence that could solve the mystery behind the scamdemic. Kerkhove believes that Beijing knows more about the high-risk experiments that took place at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which may have caused the lab leak that resulted in the Chinese Virus escaping and contaminating the world. (Related: Why was the WHO involved with bioweapons research just prior to the unleashing of covid?) WHO says communist China likely holding onto more data that have yet to be shared According to communist China, its leaders have always told the full truth, and nothing but the truth, concerning the true origin of covid. However, if that is really true, why, then, is there suddenly new information showing that lies were told? This is the issue that the WHO says is simply inexcusable: the continued lack of truthfulness from the Chinese regime concerning where covid came from and how it managed to become a global plandemic that last nearly three years. For a long while, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and its allies told us that covid came from bat soup at a wet market in Wuhan, even though there are no operating wet markets in Wuhan since they were banned many years ago. When that explanation failed to stick, the regime turned to blaming the United States which could be part of the story if U.S. special interests used the Wuhan lab as a proxy for the development and release of covid, much like the dozens of biolabs in Ukraine that are run by the Pentagon. For years, independent researchers have been well aware that the official story surrounding covid makes no sense. The WHO, as of three weeks ago, seems to agree but why did it take this long for the WHO to capitulate that the official story simply does not add up? The latest excuse for covid is that it came from raccoon dogs sold at the very same wet markets that were not even in operation at the time when covid appeared out of nowhere. Do they really expect people to believe this? The lack of data disclosure is simply inexcusable, stated Kerkhove in addressing the samples her agency was finally able to evaluate. 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. 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. In a first-person article she wrote for the prestigious journal Science, Kerkhove went on to describe Chinas advanced technical capabilities that make it fully possible for the regime to have, at best, accidentally released covid from a lab where it was being tampered with prior to its release. and I therefore believe that more data exist that have yet to be shared, she wrote. As the official story surrounding covid continues to unravel, we will keep you informed about the latest developments at Plague.info. Sources for this article include: DailyMail.co.uk NaturalNews.com YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. On April 13, Deputy Foreign Minister of Armenia Paruyr Havhannisyan received the delegation led by Lyon Mayor Gregory Doucet. As ARMENPRESS was informed from MFA Armenia, welcoming the guests, the Deputy Minister highlighted the special ties and effective cooperation between Yerevan and Lyon, which has its own place in the privileged Armenian-French relations. Paruyr Hovhannisyan thanked for organizing the fourth forum of Armenian-French decentralized cooperation in Lyon last year at a high level and for hosting the representatives of Armenian territorial administration bodies. Expressing gratitude for hosting the Lyon delegation in Armenia with special warmth these days, Gregory Doucet confirmed his willingness to further deepen and strengthen the relations with Yerevan, which started in 1992. The sides particularly highlighted the realization of joint projects between the communities of Yerevan and Lyon, Armenia and Lyon metropolis, particularly in the economic sphere. Paruyr Hovhannisyan presented to the delegation the current challenges of the region and Armenia's continuous efforts to establish peace. Referring to the aggressive actions of Azerbaijan, including the humanitarian crisis in Nagorno-Karabakh due to the illegal blocking of the Lachin Corridor and the provocation of the Azerbaijani side near the Tegh community on April 11, he noted that Azerbaijan's attitude is aimed at completely disrupting efforts to establish stability and peace in the South Caucasus. In this context, he emphasized the imperative of sending an international fact-finding mission to the Lachin Corridor and stressed the importance of implementing the February 22 decision of the International Court of Justice. It is noted that at the end of the meeting, on the initiative of the French side and with the mediation of the Armenian Foreign Ministry, a meeting was held with Seyran Saghatelyan, the father of Armenian prisoner of war Grigor Saghatelyan, who is illegally held in Azerbaijan, and the Mayor of Lyon. (Natural News) In response to the bombshell video reports on the Darien Gap camps exclusively brought to you by war correspondent Michael Yon, Brighteon.com , NaturalNews.com and InfoWars.com three sites the Biden regime ordered banned from Big Tech acting proxy president Joe Biden has been forced to issue a public statement ordering the closure of these camps. As Breitbart.com reports: President Joe Bidens border chief is shutting down the deadly Darien Gap jungle trail in Panama he built for migrants in 2021 just as a huge wave of northbound migrants is now overwhelming his border management plans. The shutdown news was delivered on April 11 in a Trilateral Joint Statement issued by Panama, Columbia, and border chief Alejandro Mayorkas. Over the last several days, extraordinarily courageous work by Michael Yon has brought to the world the truth about how the United Nations and United States fund and operate human trafficking camps in the Darien Gap region of Panama, gathering migrants from around the world (China, Haiti, Middle East, Venezuela, Europe, etc.) to be shuttled across the U.S. border as illegal immigrants in a coordinated, government-funded operation to occupy and nullify the United States of America. See new videos below, including a shocking visual tour of a new camp in the Darien Gap region. It is our opinion that border chief Alejandro Mayorkas should be arrested and charged with committing treason against the United States of America. And he is only shutting down these camps because the independent media Brighteon.com, NaturalNews.com, InfoWars.com, etc. was able to get this story out to the America people despite all the illegal censorship and oppression carried out against the alt media by the Biden regime and complicit tech giants that have all been infiltrated by the CIA and FBI. The US government used taxpayer money to fund this human trafficking highway from the very start. It was Mayorkas and Biden who set up the camps in 2021 to try to flood the US border with illegals. As Breitbart explains: The document did not explain the price that Bidens pro-migration border chief paid to the two countries for their cooperation. That price is likely an agreement to let some of their citizens take Americans jobs in the United States. Media reports show that many more migrants including many Venezuelans and Haitians are gathering at the Texas border so they can rush across once Biden lifts the Title 42 border barrier on May 11. Most of those migrants crossed the Darien gap earlier this year. Innocent people are tricked into taking this dangerous, often deadly journey to the United States As Michael Yon and I exposed this week via numerous videos and interviews such as this one including on Brighteon.com, NaturalNews.com and InfoWars.com innocent families are tricked by the United States (Biden and Mayorkas) into using the Darien Gap as a human trafficking channel to flood the U.S. border with illegals. Those innocent families are told they will be given amnesty in the United States, so they put their lives on the lines, often facing extreme violence, routine rapes of young women, injuries, illness and death. Heres a photo of a woman at the Darien Gap who was given one of the many rape kits by the United Nations, as they know the vast majority of young women are raped and robbed as they make their way along this treacherous journey. In todays bombshell video, revealing yet another horrific camp named Lajas Blancas, Michael Yon picks up a map thats distributed to the migrants, giving them the exact steps and pathways to make it to the US border as illegal aliens: This particular map was simply picked up off the dirt ground, having been tossed there by one of the camp inhabitants: Watch my interview of Emily and her family Venezuelan refugees fleeing tyranny who are stuck at this camp with no way out: Brighteon: Brighteon.com/d1d0b744-34ca-41e9-9425-e6a1d406e510 Rumble: Rumble.com/v2i0y60-mike-adams-interviews-16-year-old-venezuelan-refugee-fleeing-tyranny-with-h.html Bitchute: Bitchute.com/video/HSjyACQVQ572/ Banned.Video: Banned.video/watch?id=64383b242a928f708c673694 Michael Yon and his local friends give us a full tour of this camp, Lajas Blancas, in the following mind-blowing (and heartbreaking) video: Brighteon: Brighteon.com/02de3522-4933-4118-9b36-fd092cbcf605 Rumble: Rumble.com/v2i0s56-michael-yon-visits-another-migrant-camp-in-panama.html Bitchute: Bitchute.com/video/Sxo8CJXfK3Nn/ Banned.Video: Banned.video/watch?id=643833232a928f708c66486d Stay tuned to NaturalNews.com and Brighteon.com for more coverage of the globalist effort to overrun the United States and the mass human suffering and exploitation that is being deliberately encourage in order to achieve that goal. We must stop illegal immigration and have an orderly, safe and lawful immigration process that rejects criminals and exercises discernment on which families and individuals we allow into the United States of America. We welcome legal immigrants who share our values, who value hard work, who are law-abiding citizens and who are serious about contributing to a better society. But we must reject this human trafficking approach to mass illegal migration that exploits families and children to achieve (left-wing) political aims the replacement of Americans with illegals who tend to be more socialist and left-wing in their own beliefs. Biden and Mayorkas were forced to shut down these camps because we embarrassed them by exposing the human cost of their heartless, lawless exploitation schemes. Now, we must continue to expose more crimes of the globalists and the cabal while protecting Americas borders, culture and values. Read more about this issue at Migrants.news See the full tour and report in the video interview, via the HRR channel on Brighteon.com (or see it listed above). Support Michael Yon at Michaelyon.locals.com he also has a twitter handle of michael_yon Discover more interviews and podcasts each day at: https://www.brighteon.com/channels/HRreport Follow me on: Brighteon.social: Brighteon.social/@HealthRanger (my breaking news gets posted here first) Telegram: t.me/RealHealthRanger Substack: HealthRanger.substack.com Banned.video: Banned.video/channel/mike-adams Truth Social: https://truthsocial.com/@healthranger Twitter: @MikeAdamsHR Gettr: GETTR.com/user/healthranger Parler: Parler.com/user/HealthRanger Rumble: Rumble.com/c/HealthRangerReport BitChute: Bitchute.com/channel/9EB8glubb0Ns/ Clouthub: app.clouthub.com/#/users/u/naturalnews/posts Join the free NaturalNews.com email newsletter to stay alerted about breaking news each day. Download my current audio books including Ghost World, Survival Nutrition, The Global Reset Survival Guide and The Contagious Mind at: https://Audiobooks.NaturalNews.com/ Download my new audio book, Resilient Prepping at ResilientPrepping.com it teaches you how to survive the total collapse of civilization and the loss of both the power grid and combustion engines. (Natural News) Tennessee Riverkeeper and a coalition of environmental groups on Tuesday filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for failing to set limits on harmful chemicals like cyanide, benzene, mercury and chlorides in the billions of gallons of wastewater pouring out of U.S. oil refineries, chemical plants and factories that manufacture plastics, pesticides, fertilizer and nonferrous metals. (Article by Tennessee Riverkeeper republished from ChildrensHealthDefense.org) The Clean Water Act requires the EPA to limit discharges of industrial pollutants based on the best available wastewater treatment methods and to tighten those limits at least once every five years when data show treatment technologies have improved. But the EPA has never set limits for many pollutants and has failed to update the few decades-old limits that exist including limits set almost 40 years ago for oil refineries (1985), plastics manufacturers (1984) and fertilizer plants (1986). Pollution from plastics, pesticides, petroleum and a grim litany of other toxins continue to plague public water supplies, said David Whiteside, founder of Tennessee Riverkeeper. The Clean Water Act requires factories to use the best available methods to treat their pollution, but the government has failed to enforce this provision. The lawsuit filed Tuesday seeks to reduce a vast array of toxins in our environment from numerous industries by requiring polluters to finally use modern technology and obey the law, Whiteside said. The lawsuit was filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit in San Francisco by the Environmental Integrity Project, the Center for Biological Diversity, Clean Water Action, Waterkeeper Alliance, Food & Water Watch, Environment America, Bayou City Waterkeeper, Black Warrior Riverkeeper, Healthy Gulf, San Antonio Bay Estuarine Waterkeeper, San Francisco Baykeeper, the Surfrider Foundation and Tennessee Riverkeeper. The lawsuit challenges EPAs decision on Jan. 31 not to update outdated and weak water pollution control technology standards (called effluent limitation guidelines or ELGs and pretreatment standards) for seven key industrial sectors: petroleum refineries, inorganic and organic chemical manufacturers, and factories that manufacture plastics, fertilizer, pesticide, and nonferrous metals. Two factories in Decatur are cited in the lawsuit: Ascend Performance Materials Operations and Indorama Ventures Xylenes and PTA. Despite the legal mandate for regular reviews and updates to keep pace with technology, the guidelines for 40 of 59 industries regulated by the EPA were last updated 30 or more years ago, with 17 of those dating back to the 1970s. Outdated standards mean more water pollution is pouring into U.S. waters than should be allowed because some plants are using technology standards from the Reagan era before the common use of the internet, email or cellphones. No one should get a free pass to pollute, said Jen Duggan, deputy director of the Environmental Integrity Project, which coordinated the action by the 13 environmental groups. Duggan added: Its completely unacceptable that EPA has, for decades, ignored the law and failed to require modern wastewater pollution controls for oil refineries and petrochemical and plastics plants. We expect EPA to do its job and protect Americas waterways and public health as required by the Clean Water Act. A Jan. 26 report by the Environmental Integrity Project, Oils Unchecked Outfalls, revealed that 81 refineries across the U.S. discharged into waterways 15.7 million pounds of algae-feeding nitrogen in 2021 as much as from 128 municipal sewage plants along with 60,000 pounds of selenium (which can cause mutations in fish), among other pollutants. The six other industries with weak and outdated EPA effluent guidelines targeted in the lawsuit filed by the environmental groups are: Organic chemical and plastics plants: EPA estimates that 609 facilities across the U.S. manufacture plastic resins, PFAS forever chemicals, synthetic fibers (rayon, polyester, etc.), and other chemicals and discharge pollution to waterways. These plants release millions of pounds of pollution every year, including nitrogen, benzene and lead. The effluent guidelines for this sector have not been updated since 1993 and have no limits on, for example, stormwater pollution or on plastic pellets called nurdles that often escape in stormwater or wastewater. Plastics molding and forming: 120 plants that mold and form plastic products discharge into U.S. waterways, according to an EPA estimate. But the agency has not revised its technology-based limits for this sector since EPA first set the limits in 1984, almost 40 years ago, even though the standards are supposed to reflect best available technology. Among the toxic pollutants discharged by this industry without any federal limits are phthalates, PFAS, nitrogen, N-N-Dimethylformamide, and microplastics in stormwater. Fertilizer manufacturing: EPA estimates that 59 chemical fertilizer manufacturing plants discharged nearly 90 million pounds of pollution into waterways in 2019. Among these are 21 plants that make nitrogen-based fertilizers and release millions of pounds of nitrogen into U.S. waterways. EPA has set no limits on several fertilizer plant pollutants, including selenium, total chromium, zinc, iron, nickel, cadmium, cyanide and lead. The current effluent guidelines for fertilizer factories have not been updated since 1986. Nonferrous metal manufacturing: 56 facilities in this manufacturing sector (metals excluding iron and steel) dumped more than 100 million pounds of pollution into waterways in 2019, according to an EPA estimate. But pollution control guidelines for this industry have not been updated since 1990 and the current limits for this industry do not include any controls on stormwater pollution, for example. Inorganic chemicals plants: Inorganic chemical plants, which make products like vinyl chloride, are one of the largest industrial dischargers of toxic pollution in the U.S., with 229 factories dumping over 2 billion pounds of pollution into waterways in 2019, according to an EPA estimate. But EPA has not updated pollution limits for this sector since 1984. Pesticide manufacturing: EPA estimates that 31 pesticide chemical plants discharge pollution into U.S. waterways, including the insect-killing ingredients being manufactured, as well as nitrogen, benzene, cyanide and more. But EPA has not made updates to the guidelines for pesticide manufacturing since 1998. Outdated pollution control technology standards meant that, for example, 81 oil refineries across the U.S. dumped 15.7 million pounds of nitrogen and 1.6 billion pounds of chlorides, sulfates, and other dissolved solids (which can be harmful to aquatic life) into waterways in 2021. Twenty-one nitrogen fertilizer plants discharged 7.7 million pounds of total nitrogen, which causes algae blooms and fish-killing dead zones and proposed new plants will add millions of additional pounds to that load. The EPA estimates that 229 inorganic chemical plants dumped over 2 billion pounds of pollution into waterways in 2019. It is a shame EPA has allowed industrial polluters such as chemical plants and oil refineries to escape accountability under the Clean Water Act by operating for decades without proper pollution controls in place, said Nelson Brooke of Black Warrior Riverkeeper. It is imperative EPA swiftly right these wrongs by requiring modern pollution controls for industrial facilities in order to protect rivers and all the people and critters who depend on them to be clean and safe, Brooke added. Read more at: ChildrensHealthDefense.org (Natural News) In the runup to the fraudulent 2020 election, uncovered emails show, the federal government was pushing tech companies to censor Americans free speech by peddling the very technologies that social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter ended up using to steal the election for Democrats. As part of the First Amendment lawsuit filed by the states of Missouri and Louisiana against the Biden regime, it was revealed that the State Department marketed these censorship tools through its Global Engagement Center (GEC). This means American taxpayer dollars were used to develop the very tools that Silicon Valley deployed as weapons against the First Amendment. The government also paid public sector employees to act as sales representatives to pitch the censorship products to Big Tech. One of them, Samaruddin Stewart, then a senior adviser for GEC, was tasked with building relationships with technology companies, according to an early-February 2020 introductory email to LinkedIn, in which Stewart requested a meeting. The lawsuit shows that Stewarts email also included information about how he would be reaching out to other social media companies as well to sell them on software tools for countering disinformation. (Related: The government was also using taxpayer money to silence online free speech about vaccine injuries and deaths.) The federal government paid employees to cold call Big Tech companies The GEC ran an entire Disinfo Cloud, we now know, in which the GEC tasked government employees with cold calling Big Tech companies to try to sell them censorship tools. Those who bought in were given direct access to the Disinfo Cloud. Almost identical to how GEC described Disinfo Cloud in congressional testimony, the State Departments webpage marketed it as a one-stop shop to identify and then test tools that counter propaganda and disinformation,' reported The Federalist. Fact checking and media authentication are just a couple of the types of technologies available through the dashboard. Beyond all this, the GEC also offered to help private tech companies identify specific tools for their specific needs. The GEC told them to just write to the groups Technology Engagement Division about what your office needs to counter propaganda and disinformation. From there, the State Department agreed to assist these companies in finding a technical solution to the problem of free speech. To ascertain how effective its censorship tools were, the GECs Technology Engagement Division also created a Testbed platform that allowed users to review and test the technologies offered against their unique needs. If Disinfo Cloud users cant find a tool that works for them, the GEC Technology Engagement team stresses it is open to insights and is here to help implement ideas to move the counter propaganda and disinformation mission forward,' reports explain. If all that is not enough, evidence obtained by deposition testimony from FBI agent Elvis Chan suggests that the GEC even set up a marketing department complete with informercials designed to peddle the censorship products that way as well. The GECs Technology Engagement Division apparently hosted infomercials to help the private vendors market their censorship software, The Federalist explains. Chan was one of the primary people involved with these direct communications efforts with social media companies. This is why he is specifically named as one of the defendants in Missouri v. Biden. Chan testified that ahead of the fraudulent 2020 election, he occasionally spoke with Stewart, who met separately with social media companies. In addition to informercials, there were also webinars and other venues where different vendors could show off their products, according to Chan. These presentations were open to the general public, but the GEC would invite specific entities that are involved with social media. More related news can be found at Censorship.news. Sources for this article include: TheFederalist.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) A hidden translation of a chapter in the Gospel of Matthew was found in a manuscript in the Vatican Apostolic Library with the help of ultraviolet (UV) light. The concealed translation originally written more than 1,500 years ago was found in a manuscript about ancient Christian stories and hymns. A researcher from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (OAW) applied UV light to the manuscript, which then revealed the translation written in the Old Syriac language. The translation had been concealed under later writings in the Greek and Georgian languages. UV light has become popular among scientists, who hope to uncover secret documents as the hidden text absorbs the light and glows blue, the Daily Mail said. It can capture hidden text because parchment soaks in ink. And no matter how often it is reused, the original writings are still imprinted on the paper. (Related: Scientists uncover invisible ancient Hebrew inscription that can only be seen with advanced technology.) The initial text in Old Syriac was written around the third century, but was later erased by a scribe in Palestine. Such erasures were a common practice at that time due to the scarcity of animal skin paper. After being erased, the paper was used to write the Apophthegmata patrum (Sayings of the Fathers) a collection of more than 1,000 stories and sayings from early Christian hermits from the fifth and sixth centuries. Later, the page used for the Apophthegmata patrum was erased and used to jot down the Iadgari of Mikael Modrekili. The Georgian manuscript dating from the 10th century included a collection of hymns. The sheet was then stored in the Vatican Library, where researchers rediscovered the hidden translation centuries later. The Gospel text found in this reused manuscript contains the so-called Old Syriac translations of the Gospels, said medievalist Grigory Kessel, the researcher who discovered the translation. The Gospel text is hidden in the sense that the early sixth-century parchment copy of the Gospels book was reused twice. Today on the same page, one can find three layers of writing: Syriac, Greek [and] Georgian. Syriac translations provide more detailed pictures of the Gospels Kessel continued: This Old Syriac translation quite often attests the Gospel text that is different from the standard Gospel texts as we know today. The Old Syriac versions of the Scriptures dubbed Peshitta became the official translation used by the Syriac Church in the fifth century. The page featured Chapters 11 through 12 from the Gospel of Matthew, providing more details than todays standard text. While Kessel has not yet revealed a complete translation in Old Syriac, he gave a short preview of what the hidden manuscript contains. For example, the Greek version of Matthew 12:1 said: At that time, Jesus went through the grainfields on the Sabbath. His disciples were hungry and began to pick some heads of grain and eat them. The Old Syriac version has expounded on the disciples actions, adding that they began to pick the heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat them. The tradition of Syriac Christianity known several translations of the Old and New Testaments, Kessel said in a statement. Until recently, only two manuscripts were known to contain the Old Syriac translation of the Gospels. One of the two manuscripts is now kept in the British Library in London, while the other one was discovered in St. Catherines Monastery located at Mount Sinai in Egypt. Claudia Rapp, director of the OAWs Institute for Medieval Research, lauded the efforts of Kessel. In a statement, she described how the medievalist has made a great discovery thanks to his profound knowledge of old Syriac texts and script characteristics. This discovery proves how productive and important the interplay between modern digital technologies and basic research can be when dealing with medieval manuscripts, she said. Watch David Daniels as he expounds on the Codex Sinaiticus and the Codex Vaticanus, two manuscripts of the Bible in Greek. This video is from the History & The Bible channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Experts say oldest, most complete Hebrew Bible could sell for $50M. Biblical texts tell rare stories of wizards, demons in disguise and a man crucified next to Jesus. Scientists offer $250K prize to decipher Herculaneum manuscripts burned during Vesuvius eruption. Bible stories come to life: Archaeologists unearth extraordinary mosaic showing what might be Jesus feeding the 5,000 with five loaves. Sources include: DailyMail.co.uk Phys.org BibleGateway.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) India has accused China of providing Myanmar with enough resources to build massive military installations on a group of islands near a strategic Indian archipelago to act as espionage facilities. The report emerged after British international affairs think tank Chatham House released a report titled Is Myanmar building a spy base on Great Coco Island? The report indicated that Myanmar has neither the motivation nor the resources to conduct such a massive military buildup on the islands, which are only 30 miles north of Indias strategically important Andaman and Nicobar Islands. (Related: Japan, India launch first joint air combat drills amid growing threat posed by China.) The images show extensive military buildup over the years on Coco Islands. The report stated that the islands show signs of a steady makeover, with military modernization. One such modernization is the major extension on the islands runway. New hangars and a radar station are also being built, suggesting that the island could become a base for aircraft. Myanmars military junta seized power via a coup in February 2021, ousting the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. Since then, the countrys cash-strapped military has been ostracized by most nations in the global community, facing a wide array of sanctions while fending off attempts to overthrow the coup government by armed resistance groups. Because of this deteriorating political and economic situation at home, Chatham House believes the country is likely receiving substantial amounts of aid from another country to build the military installations on the Coco Islands. Given their close relations with India, Myanmars other major partners like Japan or ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] have no intention of monitoring India from the Coco Islands, commented Swaran Singh, a political science professor at the University of British Columbia in Canada. He added that Myanmar also does not have the financial and technical capabilities to launch such complex infrastructure projects on the Coco Islands. China is bound to be a natural suspect, as it has both the intention and the wherewithal and, above all, it has secured access to the Coco Islands for the last 30 years, said Singh. He added that Chinas aim with the installations would likely be to monitor Indias military, including its major missile testing sites in the nearby seas. Myanmar denies Chinese involvement, calling allegations absurd Chatham Houses report and the satellite images of Great Coco Island were widely shared by Indian government representatives, who have confronted Myanmar officials in recent months with the intelligence that the country may be working with China to build an espionage facility on the island. Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun, a spokesman for Myanmars ruling State Administration Council, called the allegation that China was building espionage facilities in the Coco Islands absurd. He denied it and said Myanmar would never allow access to foreign troops on its soil. Myanmar and India always have discussions at many levels, but there was no specific discussion on this issue, said the general. The Indian government already knows perfectly well that only Myanmar security forces are based there, and they are doing defense activities for their own country. China itself has hit back at Chatham Houses report, with the countrys Ministry of Foreign Affairs calling it sheer nonsense. India plans to continue pressuring Myanmars junta to prevent China from operating on the island, but Indian officials assessed that the generals have become far too economically dependent on Beijing since the coup to refuse any kind of demand from the Chinese. Recent reports from Indian intelligence said that China currently has no offensive military capabilities on the island. But these same reports warn that Myanmar has allowed a Chinese signals intelligence facility to operate on the island since the 1990s, and Chinese research vessels have been repeatedly snooping in the nearby waters. The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on Indias security, said Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi, who added that the country would take necessary measures to safeguard its interests. Read more stories about ongoing and escalating conflicts around the world at WWIII.news. Watch this clip from G News discussing Chinas plan to further connect itself with Myanmar by creating a railway connecting the communist nation to the Indian Ocean through Myanmar. This video is from the channel Chinese Taking Down Evil CCP on Brighteon.com. More related stories: China increases military budget to $224 BILLION in preparation for invasion of Taiwan. ESCALATION: India conducts nuclear-capable ballistic missile test one week after border clash with China. Almost a thousand Indian and Chinese troops engage in fresh clashes along disputed border. WAR ALERT: China setting stage for NUCLEAR WAR with Taiwan, Australia, Japan, India and the USA. India recently put Beijing in range of its nuclear weapons, report says. Sources include: SCMP.com Bloomberg.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) A 37-year-old man from Texas who used to work for Alex Jones has been sentenced to four months of home detention and 60 hours of community service for filming the breach of the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Samuel Montoya was documenting the event as a journalist when he reportedly found himself inside the Capitol where he witnessed the incident involving 35-year-old Air Force veteran Ashli Babbitt. Babbitt, as the media reported, was fatally shot outside the Speakers Lobby. And Montoya was right there to film it, his family members told the FBIs National Threat Operations Center in a tip, claiming that he showed them the footage firsthand. At the time, Montoya was a video editor for Infowars who allegedly showed up on his own after being told by Jones to stay in Texas to work on the sites broadcasts while Jones and others went to Washington, D.C., for the Stop the Steal rally. Jones said that Montoya went to D.C. on his own and that Jones had instructed his staff not to go inside the U.S. Capitol, wrote Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexis Loeb in a court filing. (Related: The supposedly alt-right Boogaloo Bois that participated in the insurrection were actually far-left extremists in right-wing disguise.) Unless the White House sees you as a real journalist, youre apparently not allowed to report Montoya was hired by Infowars in 2018 but laid off back in November after the company filed for bankruptcy. As you may recall, Jones was slapped with a $1.5 billion fine for comments he made about the 2012 Sandy Hook incident, according to his attorney. At the same time, Montoya is facing a much lesser but still onerous punishment for merely being present at the moment Capitol Police Lt. Michael Byrd reportedly shot Babbitt, killing her. Prosecutors attempted to get Montoya thrown in the slammer for his presence at the event, but U.S. District Judge John Bates ruled against this. Instead, Montoya will have to endure three years of probation, including 120 days of home detention and 60 hours of community service. Montoya was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine plus $500 in restitution for his crime. Montoya was first arrested in April 2021. He initially faced charges that included one count of entering and remaining in a restricted building; one count of disorderly and disruptive conduct in a capitol building; one count of impeding passage through the Capitol grounds or buildings; and one count of parading, demonstrating, or picketing in a capitol building. Ultimately, Montoya pleaded guilty to just one of these counts, the latter one, which is just a misdemeanor punishable by up to six months in prison. At the very least, prosecutors wanted Montoya to rot in a cell for at least 45 days, but Judge Bates ruled against this. Despite claiming to be a member of the media, Montoya was not officially a journalist in the eyes of the White House. Montoya apologized for his presence there, stating that nothing like what happened at the Capitol that day should ever take place again. I truly hope my apology offers a bit of closure to my fellow countrymen as we recover and heal together, he added. Judge Bates clarified that his ruling will not allow Montoya to get a free pass just because he considered himself a journalist. The fact that Montoya only got the sentence he did was a close call, the judge added. He was more than just a reporter, Bates stated. He was not just an observer. He was a participant. The latest news about the state-sanctioned political persecution of independent journalists can be found at Tyranny.news. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com NaturalNews.com (Natural News) The Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) mass vaccinations and vaccine mandates are the primary reasons behind excess deaths, financial analyst Ed Dowd told host Ann Vandersteel during the April 6 episode of Right Now with Ann Vandersteel on Brighteon.TV. Americans saw a 40 percent higher death rate in people aged 18 to 64 during last two quarters of 2021 compared to the same period the previous year. Were seeing right now the highest death rates weve ever seen in the history of this business, Scott Davison, the CEO of life insurance and retirement company OneAmerica, said in January last year. For context, the first COVID-19 vaccine to get an emergency authorization from the Food and Drug Administration was Pfizers on December 11, 2020. Its safe to say that the massive spike in excess deaths happened months after the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines. Dowd said an industry report came out in August last year from the Society of Actuaries showing that companies saw over 40 percent more claims from group life policyholders in 2021. Group life insurance policies are a type of life insurance that covers an entire group of people under one contract. Typically, these policies cover employees of a company. (Related: Trail of death: Latest actuarial data connects excess deaths to covid vaccine mandates.) That happened in 2021, and the general U.S. population saw 32 percent excess mortality. So, 40 versus 32, eight points higher in this group life policyholder subset of our population. What you need to know about that is that does not happen. Its usually the other way around, Dowd said. The Society of Actuaries noted that group life policyholders die at one-third the rate of the general American population in recent years but that flipped in 2021. Dowd blamed the mass vaccination program and vaccine mandates for it. He added that the excess mortality in the said age group is still running around 23 to 25 percent, particularly among millennials. He told Wisconsin Senator Ron Johnson that the countrys employed population has experienced the worst health outcomes following the vaccine rollout. Employed disability rate also up There were about 30 million disabled people in America prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this went up to 33.2 million by September 2022 with 1.7 million of them employed. Dowd noted that employed disability rate increased by 31 percent. It was not normal as employed individuals are supposed to be the healthiest in the population because they get to work and have access to the best health care available. Dowd called for an investigation to figure out why these things are happening. This is a sad and cruel joke on humanity. And these crimes have been perpetrated by sick and evil people, Vandersteel said. Dowd agreed, adding that people need to go to jail for it. The financial analyst said their data, which is based on conservative numbers, shows an estimated 300,000 excess deaths in America directly related to COVID-19 vaccines. His group estimates that the total damage caused by COVID-19 vaccines in 2022 alone was $150 billion, including $5.2 billion in lost wages. Dowd also noted that the worktime lost is worth around $89 billion to the U.S. economy. These figures, he said, were reflected in the loss of worktime data over the past two years. Of course, some sectors thrived over that same period. Dowd said Pfizer earned $7.1 billion and Moderna $4.4 billion for a total of $11.5 billion in vaccine revenues last year. Follow Vaccines.news for more stories about COVID-19 vaccines. Watch the April 6 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: America at war: Excess deaths mount after COVID-19 vaccine rollouts, mandates. CDC report shows 40 percent increase in excess deaths among Americans ages 18 to 49. Exhaustive peer-reviewed study says MILLIONS worldwide now suffer from serious health problems caused by covid vaccines. NOT the virus: Deaths among teens and 20-somethings soar following COVID vaccine release. More Covid vaccine negative effects and coverups are emerging. Sources include: Brighteon.com WFYI.org (Natural News) National Public Radio (NPR) recently decried its labeling by Twitter as a state-affiliated media outlet. But its not really hard to prove that NPR is indeed a state propaganda outlet. An April 5 article by the outlet denied the claim, pointing out that the designation is typically reserved for official state mouthpieces and propaganda outlets in countries such as Russia and China. NPR operates independently of the U.S. government. And while federal money is important to the overall public media system, NPR gets less than one percent of its annual budget from federal sources, the article stated. NPR CEO John Lansing also denounced the label, saying: It is unacceptable for Twitter to label us this way. A vigorous, vibrant free press is essential to the health of our democracy. NPR stands for freedom of speech and holding the powerful accountable. But independent journalist Caitlin Johnstone begged to differ. In an April 6 piece on her Substack, she laid down her arguments as to why NPR definitely deserves the state-affiliated media label. Its a bit funny that Lansing is now cited complaining about NPR being labeled state-affiliated media on Twitter, given that he has devoted his life to promulgating U.S. state-affiliated media, she wrote. NPR receives funding from the U.S. government, consistently advances the information interests of the U.S. government and is routinely run by professional propagandists of the U.S. government. (Related: P for public or propaganda? How NPR morphed into a voice for the elite establishment.) Johnstone also touched on the argument of NPR defenders, who claim that the label is inaccurate as the outlet only receives a small amount of its funding from the U.S. government. She pointed out that NPRs website itself said federal funding is essential to public radios service to the American public and its continuation is critical for both stations and program producers with the website emphasizing the word essential. Propagandists run the show at NPR The independent journalist then shifted the spotlight to Lansing and his predecessors at NPR. Prior to his stint at the outlet, the NPR CEO had served as the CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) from 2015 to 2019. The USAGM runs state-funded outlets such as Radio Free Asia (RFA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America. RFE was established in 1949 and RL four years later in 1953. Both merged to form RFE/RL in 1976, with the resulting entity continuing to this day. Meanwhile, RFA was set up in 1951 as the eastern counterpart to RFE and RL but went off the air four years later in 1955. It lay dormant for 41 years, until the efforts of the Clinton administration brought it back to life in 1996. Further bolstering the propaganda connection, Johnstone cited a 1977 article by the New York Times that explicitly named RFE, RL and RFA as stations part of the network constructed by the Central Intelligence Agency to circulate propaganda worldwide. According to Johnstone, Lansings history is not an anomaly as NPR is often headed by executives that oversee propaganda efforts for Washington. Kevin Klose, who served as the outlets president from 1998 to 2008, had previously run RFE/RL. He then returned to the state-funded radio outlet after his 10-year stint. Meanwhile, Ken Stern became NPRs CEO in 2006 after assuming the executive vice president post in 1999. But prior to joining NPR, he served as the senior advisor to the director of the USAGMs International Broadcasting Bureau. Johnstone ultimately remarked: If youve conceded that you receive government funding to any extent, its hard to then argue that you are in no way affiliated with that government. Visit NPR.news for more stories about the outlet. Watch Fox News anchor Tucker Carlson discusses NPRs reaction to being slapped with the government-funded media label below. This video is from the GalacticStorm channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Taxpayer-supported NPR embraces looting and rioting how long before the Left-wing network voices support for political genocide against conservatives? Why should taxpayers keep paying the salaries of sex perverts and gropers at PBS and NPR? Tucker Carlson: NPR has become insane & unrecognizable since takeover by woke left. Disinformation-spreading NPR launches disinformation reporting team. PBS and NPR The ultimate FAKE NEWS duo of all time. Sources include: SHTFPlan.com NPR.org CaitlinJohnstone.Substack.com NYTimes.com Brighteon.com (Natural News) The Bank for International Settlements (BIS), which is often described as the central bank of central banks, is working on a new global central bank digital currency (CBDC) that could become the new one-world digital currency. Known as Project Icebreaker, the plan involves coordinating all of the worlds central banks and their respective currencies under a new foreign exchange clearing house for retail CBDCs, meaning digital currencies used by ordinary people and businesses in their day-to-day affairs. Much like the SWIFT payment system for international settlements, Project Icebreaker will enable varying digital currencies to be traded from country to country both quickly and efficiently. The Icebreaker Hub, as the BIS is calling it, will facilitate data transfers for an array of transactions that occur at banks, both internally and in their dealings with other banks. (Related: Australia recently launched its own CBDC pilot program to replace all cash throughout the country with a central bank-controlled digital currency.) The central banking cartel wants total control over everything When Russia invaded Ukraine, it was expelled from the SWIFT network by the central banking cartel as retaliation. The same type of thing would happen under Project Icebreaker to those who break script; they would face financial sanctions. In Russias case, it was able to sidestep the SWIFT ban by dealing directly with economic powerhouses like China and India that belong to BRICS, minimizing the damage that the West tried to impose. Project Icebreaker would make such an action a whole lot harder because it would tighten the noose on global trade and finance. The goal is to entangle every country into the CBDC web, enabling absolute totalitarianism on a global scale. What if all monetary transactions were centralized through CBDCs and the BIS controlled the hub in which all retail CBDCs are exchanged globally? This is what Icebreaker is, explains Brandon Smith from the Birch Gold Group. Now imagine that you operate a business that relies on overseas transactions; say you need to pay manufacturers in Vietnam or Taiwan to produce your products. With CBDCs in place you will most likely be completely dependent on a system similar to the Icebreaker Hub to move that digital money to Vietnamese banks and into the accounts of your manufacturers. Say officials at the BIS, for whatever reason, decide they dont like you and they initiate Russian-style sanctions denying your access to the hub. Your business is now dead. You can probably see where this is going in relation to climate change and the woke ESG business model that has been thrusted upon the world. In a Project Icebreaker paradigm, any person or business that refuses to comply with the latest climate dictates could be cut off from all commerce. There will also need to be a bridge currency available to fill the gaps in exchange rates and to maintain liquidity. The BIS and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have that covered, too, with their GLOBAL CBDC, which will be based around the Special Drawing Rights basket system that has already been in use for decades to broker currency transfers between national governments. CBDCs give establishment officials the leverage to starve their political opponents with algorithmic precision, Smith warns. It would be a new world of technocratic oppression. I can see the nightmare play out when I look at projects like Icebreaker. They are seemingly innocuous, but they act as the DNA by which economic tyranny is given birth. When the new one-world currency arrives, it will be the ultimate form of tyranny to enslave the world. To learn more, visit DollarDemise.com. Sources for this article include: Alt-Market.us NaturalNews.com (Natural News) An Oregon mother of five was denied an adoption of two young children in need this week after she revealed to the state that her Christian religion would not allow her to take those children in for a sex change in the event that they decided to become transgenders. Despite the fact that there are thousands of orphan children in need across Oregon, the mother was told that she must agree to whatever the adopted children in question demand concerning their sexuality even if it means cutting off body parts and taking hormone-damaging pharmaceuticals. Oregons Department of Human Services apparently places an implacable commitment to gender ideology above the needs of the thousands of children in its care, said Quena Gonzalez, senior director of government affairs at Family Research Council, about the situation. (Related: The Beaver State recently declared itself to be a sanctuary state where underage children from around the world can come to get abortions and sex changes without parental consent.) Is Oregon trying to become the trans capital of the world? The mother in question, Jessica Bates, lost her husband to a serious car accident in 2017. Bates is the birth mother of five children between the ages of 10 and 17, and she says she felt inspired to adopt two more based on the Bibles commandment to visit orphans and widows in their affliction (James 1:27). Bates also volunteers twice a week at a pro-life pregnancy resource center. When Bates first notified Oregons foster care system about her desire to adopt, officials at the states Department of Human Services helped her fill out the application. She was later told that part of the state-mandated instructions for adoption include unequivocally supporting a foster childs desire to become transgender. In order to be a good adoptive parent, Bates was told by an instructor within the Resource and Adoptive Family (RAFT) program, she would have to allow a child to dress however they want and take them to a Pride parade. Respecting [a childs] gender identity and expression is very important, reads a RAFT handout that Bates received as part of the application process. That same handout further specifies that all prospective adoptees must always ask someone for their pronouns because there are an infinite number of pronouns as new ones emerge in our language. Conversely, parents should never force their adopted children to attend activities (including religious activities ) that are unsupportive of people with diverse SOGIE [sexual orientation, gender identity, and expression], the handout goes on to explain. In order to adopt, Bates and other participants in the adoption process must [p]rovide access to a variety of books, movies, and materials, including those that positively represent same-gender relationships. Display rainbow flags and other messages and images, reads another handout, as described in a legal brief from the Alliance Defending Freedom, which is mounting a case against the State of Oregon in defense of Bates and her desire to adopt. By making these demands, Oregon is overriding Bates and her familys religious liberty. It is deciding for her that she cannot take her entire family to church, for instance, because to do so contradicts state orthodoxy. Its telling that Oregon would prefer to keep over 5,000 children in foster care every day than certify an otherwise well-qualified home that not only desires to serve such children but is open to sibling groups and older children, Gonzalez said, adding that homes like Bates that are willing to adopt older children and keep siblings together are usually in short supply and high demand. The latest news about the trans-ification of America can be found at Transhumanism.news. Sources for this article include: En-Volve.com NaturalNews.com YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The National Assembly of Armenia will convene an extraordinary session on April 18, ARMENPRESS reports, the session will be convened on the initiative of the MPs. The agenda of the extraordinary session includes 6 issues, including the report "On the implementation process and results of the Governments Action Plan (2021-2026) for 2022". (Natural News) Pro-life activist Susan Swift has condemned the narrative floated by the Left that abortion is healthcare and necessary to save women. Abortion is never healthcare and never necessary to save a womens life. But thats what the abortion cartel makes money on, she told the Health Ranger Mike Adams during her appearance on the Health Ranger Report. She added: They sell it as a product to desperate young women who are afraid and it is marketed that way. According to Swift, who serves as the vice president of legal affairs at the California-based Right to Life League, pro-abortion groups have brainwashed women into believing that a baby will ruin their lives and prevent them from achieving their dreams. All of that is a lie. Because what it does is, it informs their choice to kill a baby for their own convenience, Swift said. Swift also pointed out that the ideologues behind abortion are pushing a very Marxist trope, because it is designed to divide and alienate a mother from her child still in the womb through the act of murder. Adams concurred with his guest, remarking that abortion should not even be dubbed as womens reproductive health because it is very misleading. Its not reproductive, its anti-reproductive. Its not about the health of the unborn children; its about their death. So maybe it should be called womens anti-reproductive death,' he said. The Natural News and Brighteon.com founder added that the cartels pushing for abortion use lots of mind games, censorship and threats of violence against their pro-life opponents. I find it quite fitting, because they want to murder their own babies and want to commit violence against those who wish to protect those babies from being murdered. Its actually consistent; they are philosophically indebted to violence. Aborted babies are found in the food supply via biosludge Swift cited a 2014 study done by the Guttmacher Institute that found about 74 percent of women who opted for abortion did so because they believed they had no other choice. Eight years after the study, abortion in the U.S. has only ramped up. This is what the future of abortion is: You can literally pick up the phone or Google abortion pill near me and you can find these places that will just prescribe the pill to you. You dont even have to see a doctor and no ones going to date your pregnancy, she lamented. This is about the convenient disposal of human beings and its being marketed as healthcare. (Related: Angela Stanton-King urges people to set aside differences and unite against abortion, child mutilation Brighteon.TV.) Adding another horrifying layer to the issue, Adams said people could be indirectly eating aborted babies. The do-it-yourself chemical abortion procedures that involve taking in pills to induce labor and allow women to give birth result in the aborted fetuses being flushed down the toilet. The Health Ranger recounted the movie Biosludged, which he did in partnership with former Environmental Protection Agency whistleblower Dr. David Lewis. We live in a country where quite literally dead babies are spread as fertilizer on farms that grow the food that people eat in the cities where they promote abortion, Adams told his guest. We found out in talking with scientists that every city in America takes the sludge human feces and everything is flushed down the toilets dry it and distribute it on food farms all over the country, Adams explained how America is heading toward cannibalism. People advocating abortion seem to be completely oblivious to what happens next. How can people not understand that it doesnt just vanish because you flushed it down the toilet? Check out Abortions.news for more stories related to the murder of the unborn. Watch the full episode of the Health Ranger Report with Mike Adams and Susan Swift below. This video is from the Health Ranger Report channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: Biden administration offers paid leave, free travel for Coast Guard servicemembers who want to get an abortion. Bill Gates pledges $7 billion to control population and promote abortion in Africa. Biden signs executive order promoting abortion on demand following Roe v. Wade overturn. Sources include: Brighteon.com YourNews.com (Natural News) Another disaster has occurred in eastern Ohio after a truck hauling contaminated soil from the East Palestine train derailment crashed in Columbiana County. A driver hauling dioxin-contaminated soil from the site of the Norfolk Southern train derailment suffered a single-vehicle crash and toppled over on Route 165 near Waterford Road, dumping its contents all over the street. A press release from local law enforcement states that a preliminary investigation found 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. Inside the truck was 40,000 pounds of contaminated soil from the cleanup site in East Palestine. About half of the load spilled onto the road and the berm. According to the Ohio EPA, the spill was contained and not a threat to nearby waterway, the press release further revealed. The driver of the vehicle, 74-year-old Phillip Falck, suffered minor injuries and was cited for operating a vehicle without reasonable control. The road where the incident occurred will remain closed until crews clear the site. (Related: Did the East Palestine train wreck cause the largest dioxin plume in world history?) What are the odds of ANOTHER wreck like this spilling dioxins into the environment? According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, the road spill was contained. Amazingly, it occurred just four miles away from the site of the crash. Since the February 3 incident, about 19,900 tons of soil have been removed from the area where the train derailed. There remains another 17,000 tons of excavated soil that will still have to be removed and hopefully none of that will end up all over the road somewhere else in a wreck. Because the region is rainy, workers are constantly having to move displaced soil and water back near the containment site for later removal. They are using pumps to try to keep the contaminated water and soil from going downstream or impacting wetlands. Authorities are insistent that other waterways are not threatened in any way by the contamination, but environmental activists and local residents worry that this might not be true. Its not acceptable, said Joanne Cusick, a 52-year-old resident of Youngstown, Ohio, whose daughter lives near East Palestine. Cusick and many others worry that contamination from the disaster will impact drinking water, soil, and agriculture for years to come. I know theres really no other way, but they should be a little more cautious This is hazardous waste. It should be handled as such, she added. Youre transporting it anything could happen. Tammy Tsai, another resident of East Palestine, said that she believes the cleanup efforts are being mishandled. She and her husband have expressed outrage over the governments response to the incident. They just tell us everythings fine, Tsai is quoted as saying. No one will answer our questions. According to the local EPA, excavation efforts at the site of the derailment are nearly complete on the south track. That same track, however, will need to be rebuilt before workers can start to work on the north track. How long this will all take remains unknown, but it seems as though it might take a very long while. Contaminated materials from the site are being hauled away to other states like Texas, Maryland, and Indiana that are expressing concerns about how the toxins might damage their own local environments. In Baltimore, officials were successful in striking down efforts to dump treated runoff from East Palestine into the citys local waterways. East Palestine is the dioxin disaster that just will not quit. To learn more, visit Pollution.news. Sources for this article include: CBSNews.com NaturalNews.com People.com WashingtonPost.com (Natural News) The latest news about the situation on the ground in Ukraine is that the United States deep state has resumed operations at its dozens of Pentagon-funded biological weapons laboratories. Igor Kirillov, the commander of Russias Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defense Forces, announced in a media briefing this week that the secretive facilities are once again becoming operational and new ones are still being built with American taxpayer dollars. Kirillov presented a trove of new documents outlining the biological weapons programs that the U.S. is funding and performing at these biolabs. As you may recall, the U.S. initially denied the existence of these biolabs, but now claims that they exist but are used for non-nefarious purposes. Citing the U.S. protocol as outlined at a meeting dated Oct. 20, 2022, which was attended by representatives from the U.S. Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) and multiple Ukrainian officials, as well as members of the Jacobs / CH2M engineering company, Kirillov provided detailed evidence showing that the biolabs were temporarily paused during Russias special operation, but are now being un-paused. Now, the project has been resumed with focus on renewal of legislative support, revision of training schedule, as well as conclusion and resumption of construction work, reads the Ukrainian-language protocol citing Jacobs / CH2Ms David Smith. (Related: The purpose behind the Ukrainian biolabs, which are funded in part by the Biden Crime Family, is to build bioweapons targeting certain ethnic groups, i.e., an ethnic cleansing genocide.) Remember when America used to claim to be against weapons of mass destruction? Now the U.S. is funding their development in Ukraine Previously known as Joint biological research, the ongoing bioweapons program in Ukraine has since been rebranded as Biological control research, according to the same documents that Kirillov presented. The reason for this rebranding has to do with what the documents describe as a Russian disinformation campaign concerning the programs purpose. Meanwhile, the Financial Times is reporting that an advisor to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated that his country is ready to give up Crimea to the Russians. According to RT, the U.S. is now engaging in extensive damage control efforts to try to prevent any further details about its bioweapons programs in Ukraine from getting leaked to the public. Hiding from responsibility for participating in military biological projects, many suspects left the territory of Ukraine, Kirillov said. To prevent a possible leak of information about the illegal activities of the Pentagon, the U.S. administration is taking emergency measures to search for and return them. These damage control attempts first began back in February 2022 right after Russia invaded Ukraine. A draft memo about this, entitled Reducing the Threat of Ukrainian Expertise Proliferating to U.S. Adversaries and written by Laura Denlinger, a senior counterproliferation advisor with the U.S. State Department, was obtained by the Russian military as evidence. The Russian invasion of Ukraine has resulted in the exodus of highly capable technical experts from Ukrainian facilities that produce missile components and advanced conventional weapons (ACW), as well as those with expertise that could be redirected and exploited by others for a chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) weapon, that memo, dated March 11, 2022, reads. The U.S. has come a really long way from the days of George W. Bush and the fight to eliminate weapons of mass destruction. It turns out the U.S. is the worlds biggest proliferator of WMDs, at least according to the mountains of evidence being obtained by the Russian military in Ukraine. The U.S. deep state will not stop until it is forced to stop. To learn more, visit DeepState.news. Sources for this article include: GreatGameIndia.com NaturalNews.com RT.com (Natural News) The zombie apocalypse is already happening and it is known as vaccine injury. Dr. Tau Braun, a clinical psychologist and United States National Counterterrorism and Emergency Management advisor, made this claim in an interview with James Grundvig during the April 6 episode of Unrestricted Truths: Defcon 5 on the American Media Periscope network. According to Grundvig, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has been involved with the military and with zombie apocalypse predictive programming for a long time now and they are preparing the American people for a zombie pandemic. (Related: James Grundvig joins the Health Ranger Report to reveal the CDC as a criminal and deceptive cartel Brighteon.TV.) Grundvig and his co-host Josh Reid discussed with Braun why the human race is going to become zombies and how it is connected to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines. The zombie apocalypse is already happening. Its called vaccine injury. Its already happening to these folks that are calling themselves, for the most part, long haulers, Braun said. Long haulers refer to people who have long COVID. Braun noted that the list of long haulers is becoming shorter because the recovery time to get over the exposure to the COVID-19 chemical and biological weapon is different from having it placed into a lipid nanoparticle. This highly charged cationic lipid nanoparticle put into the human body is moving through every organ to escape the human immune system. Humans are now in some form of zombie fight Braun pointed out that a purposeful attack using low-grade, tranquilizer-like vaccines has been done to control the behavior of the population. And in some way, this is like spraying over a population with human beings. And were all in some form of zombie fight at the moment. We are not ourselves. Were not reacting in the same way. Our behavior is sluggish for the amount of threat that we are under, Braun said. We are the proverbial deer in headlights and its everywhere because the spike protein is now ubiquitous. So, we are constantly having to fight that effect of zombification. The clinical psychologist noted that the biology of someone injured by the vaccine is comparable to someone who has been envenomed. The venom in the vaccine is replicating the effect of hibernation and putting people into a form of suspended animation, or a zombie state. While in this zombie state, the venom replicates the spike protein, which copies parasitic-like behavior as it reproduces in the human body that is switched off in the hibernation process. Think about all the things that were going to need to counteract living human beings that have essentially lost their souls, Braun said. Reid warned the viewers that this agenda is going to be pushed on the American people. He said another plandemic is coming at some point and the people behind it are getting everybody prepared for the digital slave system. Follow Zombie.news for more about the zombification of humans. Watch the video below to know more about the zombie apocalypse that is happening now in America. This video is from the AMPNews channel on Brighteon.com. More related stories: We are now witnessing the early signs of the dreaded vaccine zombie apocalypse: Raging mask Karens, personality changes, violent behavior and animalistic lower brain stem lunacy. Zombie apocalypse: The coronavirus is now known to alter brain function and make some victims AGGRESSIVE and disoriented (NOT satire). New bird flu passes to mammals and causes zombie-like behavior infected animals have no fear of humans. Sources include: Brighteon.com DrTauBraun.com [PDF] According to some photos published on April 13, 2023, the Chief of Staff of the People's National Army of Algeria Said Chengriha showed his interest in the Brahmos anti-ship missile on the occasion of the LAAD exhibition taking place in Brazil. Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Chief of Staff of the People's National Army of Algeria Said Chengriha at LAAD 2023, Brazil. (Picture source: Restitutor Orientis) LAAD Defence & Security is an annual trade show that showcases the latest defense and security technology in Latin America. It is considered the largest and most significant exhibition of its kind in the region, with the support of the Ministry of Defense, the Armed Forces, the Ministry of Justice, and the Brazilian Public Security structure. The event attracts manufacturers and suppliers of technology for the Armed Forces, Polices, Special Forces, high executives of defense and security industry, and government agencies. It also brings together managers of large corporations, service concessionaires, and critical infrastructure. About the Brahmos The BrahMos missile is a joint venture between the Indian DRDO and Russian NPO Mashinostroyeniya, and is the world's fastest supersonic cruise missile. It can be launched from submarines, ships, airplanes or land, and has already entered service in its land and ship-launched versions. In 2019, an air-launched variant of BrahMos was introduced. The missile's propulsion is based on the Russian missile, while missile guidance has been developed by BrahMos Aerospace. The missile has a range of more than 500 km (310 mi) from ship and land platforms, while the air-launched variant has a range of 450-500 km (280-310 mi). Its flight altitude can be as low as 3-4 meters, and it has a maximum speed of Mach 3. The missile has a warhead of 200-300 kg (440-660 lb) and an accuracy of 1 m CEP. Plans are underway to develop a new generation of BrahMos missiles with an 800 km range that can hit protected targets with pinpoint accuracy, and eventually upgrade all missiles to a range of 1,500 km. YEREVAN, APRIL 13, ARMENPRESS. The President of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan received the delegation led by the OSCE Chairman-in-Office, Minister of Foreign Affairs of North Macedonia Bujar Osmani. As ARMENPRESS was informed from the office of the President of the Republic of Armenia, welcoming the guests, the President said: "I am sure that your visit will contribute to solving problems in the region. Unfortunately, the situation is not so that we have nothing to worry about in the current process on the way to peace. We are convinced that the OSCE has its role in solving the problems of our region, taking into account both the activities of the OSCE and our long-term working experience with the OSCE." Thanking for the reception, Bujar Osmani noted in his speech. "Mr. President, this is my first visit to this region and Armenia. I am here today as the OSCE Chairman-in-Office to discuss the long-standing relations between the OSCE and Armenia. I can say that we have a valuable and effective cooperation based on mutual trust, and we are also ready to open a new page of cooperation, taking into account the changed geopolitical circumstances." During the meeting, the President of the Republic presented to the OSCE Chairman-in-Office the approaches and opportunities of Armenia regarding the solution of regional problems. Vahagn Khachaturyan emphasized that Armenia is firm in its position to achieve ssustainable peace in the South Caucasus and establish neighborly relations with its neighbors. The interlocutors discussed issues related to the settlement of the Nagorno Karabakh issue, the humanitarian crisis created in NK due to the illegal blockade of the Lachin Corridor, the security and rights protection mechanisms of the NK population. Bujar Osmani, referring to conflict resolution, noted that the OSCE and North Macedonia in particular have a great experience in solving such problems and are ready to share that experience. BBC has published an investigative piece on a billion-dollar scam titled "the scammers who will steal your life savings" about the global fraud scheme with the alleged involvement of Georgia's former Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili and his business partners.The journalistic investigation concerns the case of so-called call centers, Milton Group and the connection of this company with Kezerashvili. The call centers and scams themselves have been reported by Western media before, but the BBC reports that they have now tracked down the people behind the scheme and their connections.According to the BBC, the Milton Group, which was used by fraudsters, was investigated by the police and closed in 2020. Journalists identified 152 brands, including well-known platforms, which were actually part of this network.Kezerashvili responded to the allegations and denied his involvement, saying he has never been involved in the so-called call centers who scam people into investing their money.After the procedure for accreditation of media representatives was approved in the Parliament, Public Defender Levan Ioseliani met with the chairman of Parliament of Georgia.According to the newly adopted procedure, the two types of accreditation will be issued to media representatives: a parliamentary journalist, which will have a term of one year, and a special (one-time) accreditation.Levan Ioseliani told reporters that the public defender will be involved in the format of a friend of the court regarding media restrictions, and said that they will present a 'substantiated' opinion on the validity of the proportionality of the restrictions."An important part of the Public Defender's recommendations, among them, is addressed to the Parliament. Therefore, it is important for me that the Parliament pays attention to these recommendations and their implementation. We were talking about defining this work format. Implementation of the recommendations given to the Parliament by the Public Defender significantly improves the human rights situation. Therefore, this issue is a priority for me.We also talked about media restrictions. This issue has been appealed in court and the public defender will be involved as a friend of the court. Media organizations have appealed to us and we will submit our reasoned opinion on the proportionality of these restrictions to the court. I received the appropriate approval that the cooperation with the Parliament will be continued more actively," stated Ioseliani. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of France issued a statement on the April 11 Azerbaijani attack on Armenian troops near the village of Tegh in Armenia. April 13, 2023, 10:05 France calls for withdrawal of Azerbaijani troops from occupied territories of Armenia STEPANAKERT, APRIL 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: In the statement, the French Foreign Ministry expressed deep concern over what it described as violence near the Tegh settlement in Armenian territory on the border of Armenia and Azerbaijan on April 11. France reminds that delimitation must take place exclusively through negotiations and calls on the parties to continue efforts in this direction. Respect for Armenias territorial integrity and withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from occupied positions of the line of contacts Armenian side are of significant importance for preventing future incidents and maintaining the foundations for sustainable peace in the region. France fully supports the activities of the EU monitoring mission deployed in the Armenian side of the border, which plays a key role in reducing tension. France will continue to act along with the EU for the benefit of adherence to the ceasefire, dialogue and resumption of negotiations between Armenia and Azerbaijan, the French Foreign Ministry added. On April 11, Armenian troops carrying out engineering works near the village of Tegh close to the border with Azerbaijan came under heavy gunfire in an unprovoked attack by Azerbaijani forces. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and six wounded. Uma Kannan By Express News Service BENGALURU: IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Wednesday said it will honour all job offers. The comment comes at a time when a few other IT companies have been delaying onboarding freshers that they recruited a year ago. Wipro recently slashed annual salary offers of freshers by 50%. Milind Lakkad, chief HR officer, TCS, said the company is honouring all job offers and has added 22,600 employees on a net basis in FY23. However, this addition is much less when compared to the previous fiscal as it made a record hiring of over 1,03,546 employees in FY22. It has added only 821 employees in Q4. During the year, we onboarded over 44,000 freshers and our highest-ever number of experienced professionals, he said. Speaking to the media, he said the company will continue to honour all offers. There were some delays for onboarding people (a month or two) but it will happen, he said. In FY24, it has already made offers to 46,000 freshers. He also informed that there would not be any reduction in salaries and they will pay out 100% of the variable pay for Q4. High performers will also receive a hike anywhere between 12% and 15%. The companys attrition on an LTM (last twelve months) basis continued to trend down and was at 20.1%. Experts have been saying that IT companies will take a cautious approach as far as hiring is concerned as they overhired in FY22 and slowdown is also due to the present challenging macroeconomic climate. TCS workforce was at 614,795 as on March 31, 2023. Lakkad also said that they doubled down on organic talent development, obtaining over 53,000 cloud certifications during the year, bringing the total to over 110,000 employees certified on hyperscaler platforms. This places us among the top 2 partners for the largest cloud providers, he added. BENGALURU: IT services company Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) on Wednesday said it will honour all job offers. The comment comes at a time when a few other IT companies have been delaying onboarding freshers that they recruited a year ago. Wipro recently slashed annual salary offers of freshers by 50%. Milind Lakkad, chief HR officer, TCS, said the company is honouring all job offers and has added 22,600 employees on a net basis in FY23. However, this addition is much less when compared to the previous fiscal as it made a record hiring of over 1,03,546 employees in FY22. It has added only 821 employees in Q4. During the year, we onboarded over 44,000 freshers and our highest-ever number of experienced professionals, he said. Speaking to the media, he said the company will continue to honour all offers. There were some delays for onboarding people (a month or two) but it will happen, he said. In FY24, it has already made offers to 46,000 freshers. He also informed that there would not be any reduction in salaries and they will pay out 100% of the variable pay for Q4. High performers will also receive a hike anywhere between 12% and 15%.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The companys attrition on an LTM (last twelve months) basis continued to trend down and was at 20.1%. Experts have been saying that IT companies will take a cautious approach as far as hiring is concerned as they overhired in FY22 and slowdown is also due to the present challenging macroeconomic climate. TCS workforce was at 614,795 as on March 31, 2023. Lakkad also said that they doubled down on organic talent development, obtaining over 53,000 cloud certifications during the year, bringing the total to over 110,000 employees certified on hyperscaler platforms. This places us among the top 2 partners for the largest cloud providers, he added. Yeshi Seli By Express News Service NEW DELHI: Over 20,000 Indian medical students who were studying in Ukraine before the outbreak of conflict with Russia on February 24, 2022, will be allowed to take the Unified Qualification Exam in the country of their domicile. This was announced during the recent visit of Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova to Delhi. Many students like me who were studying in Ukraine moved out to various universities in Georgia, Russia and in countries closer to Ukraine. But for those who havent yet decided how to complete their degree, this would be great news, said Arman, who was in his third year of Medicine in Kharkhiv. He is moving to Georgia. Meanwhile, Ukraine is seeking Indias support in humanitarian assistance. During the interaction that Dzhaparova had with Secretary (West) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), there were discussions on extending more humanitarian aid, among other issues, according to the MEA. India has already provided humanitarian assistance in the form of medicines and medical equipment and has spoken about providing school buses. Ukraine is seeking Indias help in rebuilding infrastructure. During her interaction with MoS for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, Dzhaparova handed over a letter from President Zelenskyy addressed to PM Narendra Modi. The Ukrainian minister said the main objective of her visit was to re-establish ties and further cooperation with India. She also said that she hoped India would take a fair view of the war as Ukraine was a victim. NEW DELHI: Over 20,000 Indian medical students who were studying in Ukraine before the outbreak of conflict with Russia on February 24, 2022, will be allowed to take the Unified Qualification Exam in the country of their domicile. This was announced during the recent visit of Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova to Delhi. Many students like me who were studying in Ukraine moved out to various universities in Georgia, Russia and in countries closer to Ukraine. But for those who havent yet decided how to complete their degree, this would be great news, said Arman, who was in his third year of Medicine in Kharkhiv. He is moving to Georgia. Meanwhile, Ukraine is seeking Indias support in humanitarian assistance. During the interaction that Dzhaparova had with Secretary (West) Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), there were discussions on extending more humanitarian aid, among other issues, according to the MEA.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); India has already provided humanitarian assistance in the form of medicines and medical equipment and has spoken about providing school buses. Ukraine is seeking Indias help in rebuilding infrastructure. During her interaction with MoS for External Affairs and Culture, Meenakshi Lekhi, Dzhaparova handed over a letter from President Zelenskyy addressed to PM Narendra Modi. The Ukrainian minister said the main objective of her visit was to re-establish ties and further cooperation with India. She also said that she hoped India would take a fair view of the war as Ukraine was a victim. By Express News Service NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: After hectic consultations for several days, the ruling BJP on late Tuesday night announced its first list of 189 candidates for Karnataka with 52 new faces, two days before the nomination process is scheduled to start. The second list is expected in a day or two. In a bid to make the fight tough for the Congress chief ministerial aspirants, the BJP fielded revenue minister R Ashoka against state Congress president D K Shivakumar in his pocket-borough Kanakapura and housing minister V Somanna against former CM Siddaramaiah in Varuna, which the Congress considers a safe seat. Ashoka will also contest from his Padmanabhanagar seat in Bengaluru, while Somanna from Chamarajnagar. In the last elections, Siddaramaiah won with a narrow margin (in Badami against B Sriramulu) and this time we are 100% sure of defeating him, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said while releasing the first list in Delhi. Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will seek re-election from his home constituency Shiggaon in Haveri district. Former chief minister B S Yediyurappas son B Y Vijayendra will contest from the Shikaripura segment that was represented by the former partys Lingayat strongman for nearly four decades. Former IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, who recently left the AAP to join the BJP will be the partys candidate from Chamarajpet in Bengaluru to take on Congresss Zameer Ahmed Khan, while former IAS officer Anil Kumar will take former deputy CM G Paremeshwara in Koratagere in Tumakuru. The party is fielding 52 new faces to overcome anti-incumbency, while also retaining most of the heavyweights, including turncoats who had helped the BJP form its government in 2019. The BJP had adopted a similar strategy in the UP and Gujarat polls. The party, which is also banking on the state governments reservation policy revamp, is fielding 30 from Scheduled Castes (SC), 16 from Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 32 from Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The numbers may increase when BJP releases names for the remaining segments. The list was prepared after a detailed consultation process involving 25,000 party workers from the assembly segments, Singh and Pradhan said. Shettar furious; Savadi dropped There was some heartburn among the senior BJP leaders, who went public expressing their displeasure. While former CM Jagadish Shettar rejected a suggestion to make way for a new face, former deputy CM Laxman Savadi appealed to the high command to reconsider its decision to drop him NEW DELHI/BENGALURU: After hectic consultations for several days, the ruling BJP on late Tuesday night announced its first list of 189 candidates for Karnataka with 52 new faces, two days before the nomination process is scheduled to start. The second list is expected in a day or two. In a bid to make the fight tough for the Congress chief ministerial aspirants, the BJP fielded revenue minister R Ashoka against state Congress president D K Shivakumar in his pocket-borough Kanakapura and housing minister V Somanna against former CM Siddaramaiah in Varuna, which the Congress considers a safe seat. Ashoka will also contest from his Padmanabhanagar seat in Bengaluru, while Somanna from Chamarajnagar. In the last elections, Siddaramaiah won with a narrow margin (in Badami against B Sriramulu) and this time we are 100% sure of defeating him, BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said while releasing the first list in Delhi.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will seek re-election from his home constituency Shiggaon in Haveri district. Former chief minister B S Yediyurappas son B Y Vijayendra will contest from the Shikaripura segment that was represented by the former partys Lingayat strongman for nearly four decades. Former IPS officer Bhaskar Rao, who recently left the AAP to join the BJP will be the partys candidate from Chamarajpet in Bengaluru to take on Congresss Zameer Ahmed Khan, while former IAS officer Anil Kumar will take former deputy CM G Paremeshwara in Koratagere in Tumakuru. The party is fielding 52 new faces to overcome anti-incumbency, while also retaining most of the heavyweights, including turncoats who had helped the BJP form its government in 2019. The BJP had adopted a similar strategy in the UP and Gujarat polls. The party, which is also banking on the state governments reservation policy revamp, is fielding 30 from Scheduled Castes (SC), 16 from Scheduled Tribes (ST), and 32 from Other Backward Classes (OBCs). The numbers may increase when BJP releases names for the remaining segments. The list was prepared after a detailed consultation process involving 25,000 party workers from the assembly segments, Singh and Pradhan said. Shettar furious; Savadi dropped There was some heartburn among the senior BJP leaders, who went public expressing their displeasure. While former CM Jagadish Shettar rejected a suggestion to make way for a new face, former deputy CM Laxman Savadi appealed to the high command to reconsider its decision to drop him Rajesh Asnani and Preetha Nair By Express News Service JAIPUR/NEW DELHI: A day after Sachin Pilot fasted, first for securing his grip over state Congress and then for reconnoitering the state political landscape, two significant things have appeared on the horizon: AAP or RLP door is open to him if Congress were to turn harsh, an indication for which was available in Delhi. The third, if at all that matters, is the silence that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot displayed to unburden himself. Pilots apparent objective was to press for an inquiry into the scams of the previous Vasundhara Raje government of the BJP. Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief and MP Hanuman Beniwal said if Sachin Pilot contests the assembly elections due later this year by forming his own party, then RLP could ally with him. RLP is in a strong position in Shekhawati and Marwar regions. If Pilot comes with us, we will be strong contenders in east Rajasthan. We could even form the government, said Beniwal said. On the other hand, AAP will contest all 200 Assembly seats, but it does not have any strong local face to lead the party. AAPs Rajasthan in-charge Vinay Mishra tweeted: If anyone has looted Rajasthan today, it is the alliance of Vasundhara and Ashok Gehlot. As a result, Rajasthan has the highest debt of Rs 5 lakh crore in the country. Today an educated young man, Sachin Pilot, is exposing their alliance, so the people of Rajasthan should support him. On the day when Pilot left for Delhi, the state capital Jaipur on Wednesday saw CM Gehlot staying calm, not speaking a word on Pilot or the allegations that he has been making. The CM sought to assert that his focus was on Mission 2030, which is aimed at making Rajasthan economically the top state in the country. In Delhi, the central leadership sent out a strong signal: it will not tolerate any anti-party activity and that some action will be taken against Pilot. ALSO READ | No Congress symbol at former deputy CM Sachin Pilots fast site On Wednesday, Pilot reached Delhi seeking an audience with the top leadership. Though Pilot did not meet party chief Mallikarjun Kharge or any members of the Gandhi family, AICC Rajasthan in charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, told the media: We should have acted earlier, but will act now. The Congress leader also said that he will meet Kharge on Thursday morning and apprise him of the situation. Expressing his displeasure over Pilots actions, Randhawa said that Pilot should have taken up the issue in the state Assembly before going public about it. Though his concerns are valid, the way he took up the issue was wrong. Pilot should have taken it up during the assembly session. It was a better platform and he would have got the answer from the CM, he said. When asked about some past political tussles in Rajasthan, which caused embarrassment for the party, the leader said Actions should have been taken earlier. But it didnt happen. Now actions will be taken, he said, adding he will discuss issues with Pilot on Thursday. I am looking into all the events that happened in Jaipur. Without any bias, I will see if any wrong steps have been taken by both Pilot and the CM camp, he said. While Pilots move is largely being seen as a pressure tactic to solve the long pending demands for power-sharing, a senior leader told this newspaper that the high command might try to defuse the situation by offering him some important portfolio. JAIPUR/NEW DELHI: A day after Sachin Pilot fasted, first for securing his grip over state Congress and then for reconnoitering the state political landscape, two significant things have appeared on the horizon: AAP or RLP door is open to him if Congress were to turn harsh, an indication for which was available in Delhi. The third, if at all that matters, is the silence that Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot displayed to unburden himself. Pilots apparent objective was to press for an inquiry into the scams of the previous Vasundhara Raje government of the BJP. Rashtriya Loktantrik Party chief and MP Hanuman Beniwal said if Sachin Pilot contests the assembly elections due later this year by forming his own party, then RLP could ally with him. RLP is in a strong position in Shekhawati and Marwar regions. If Pilot comes with us, we will be strong contenders in east Rajasthan. We could even form the government, said Beniwal said. On the other hand, AAP will contest all 200 Assembly seats, but it does not have any strong local face to lead the party. AAPs Rajasthan in-charge Vinay Mishra tweeted: If anyone has looted Rajasthan today, it is the alliance of Vasundhara and Ashok Gehlot. As a result, Rajasthan has the highest debt of Rs 5 lakh crore in the country. Today an educated young man, Sachin Pilot, is exposing their alliance, so the people of Rajasthan should support him.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); On the day when Pilot left for Delhi, the state capital Jaipur on Wednesday saw CM Gehlot staying calm, not speaking a word on Pilot or the allegations that he has been making. The CM sought to assert that his focus was on Mission 2030, which is aimed at making Rajasthan economically the top state in the country. In Delhi, the central leadership sent out a strong signal: it will not tolerate any anti-party activity and that some action will be taken against Pilot. ALSO READ | No Congress symbol at former deputy CM Sachin Pilots fast site On Wednesday, Pilot reached Delhi seeking an audience with the top leadership. Though Pilot did not meet party chief Mallikarjun Kharge or any members of the Gandhi family, AICC Rajasthan in charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, told the media: We should have acted earlier, but will act now. The Congress leader also said that he will meet Kharge on Thursday morning and apprise him of the situation. Expressing his displeasure over Pilots actions, Randhawa said that Pilot should have taken up the issue in the state Assembly before going public about it. Though his concerns are valid, the way he took up the issue was wrong. Pilot should have taken it up during the assembly session. It was a better platform and he would have got the answer from the CM, he said. When asked about some past political tussles in Rajasthan, which caused embarrassment for the party, the leader said Actions should have been taken earlier. But it didnt happen. Now actions will be taken, he said, adding he will discuss issues with Pilot on Thursday. I am looking into all the events that happened in Jaipur. Without any bias, I will see if any wrong steps have been taken by both Pilot and the CM camp, he said. While Pilots move is largely being seen as a pressure tactic to solve the long pending demands for power-sharing, a senior leader told this newspaper that the high command might try to defuse the situation by offering him some important portfolio. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, awarded a life term in the Umesh Pal abduction case on March 28, got the biggest blow of his life when his third son, Asad, was killed in a police encounter on Thursday. It is the first personal loss he has suffered in his criminal history spanning four decades. Police authorities said the murder of Umesh Pal hardly gave any tangible gain to Atiq and his gang. It was only a bid by his henchmen to re-establish fear among the people of Prayagraj. However, the move backfired big time. While Asad, 19, has now been killed, Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen is still absconding. The third of the couples five sons, Asad was a first-year student at a law college. The couples two elder sons -- Ali and Umar -- are jailed in other cases, while two minor ones are housed by the authorities in a shelter home. Atiqs first interface with the police goes back to 1984 when he was booked for attempting a murder in Prayagraj. Five years later, he took the electoral plunge winning his first election as an MLA from Allahabad West, as an Independent in 1989. He retained his seat in the next two Assembly elections as well, also as an Independent. ALSO READ | Umesh Pal kidnapping case: Atiq Ahmad, two accomplices get life term; seven acquitted In 1995, Atiq joined the Samajwadi Party (SP) and came to notice when the guesthouse where the then BSP general secretary Mayawati was staying with her party MLAs was attacked. MLAs and workers of the SP allegedly surrounded the guest-house and went on a rampage, angry over the BSP having broken ties with them. In 1996, Atiq won from Allahabad West for the fourth time, as an SP candidate. Three years later, he joined Apna Dal, and in 2002, again won the seat. In 2004, he contested from Phulpur Lok Sabha seat on an SP ticket and got elected. In 2004, in the bypoll held for the Allahabad West seat, after Atiq had moved to the Lok Sabha, BSP candidate Raju Pal defeated his brother Ashraf, fighting on an SP ticket. In January 2005, Raju Pal was gunned down, along with two of his associates, and Atiq was named as an accused along with Ashraf and others. While Atiq now has over 100 cases lodged against him, his brother Ashraf has 52 cases against him and is currently lodged in a Bareilly jail. With the SP in power in the state at the time, on the Supreme Courts orders, the case was transferred to the CBI. It filed a chargesheet in 2019 against 10 people. Subsequently, Atiq got booked for a 2018 incident involving the alleged abduction of a businessman Mohit Jaiswal, who was taken to Deoria district jail, where Atiq was lodged at the time. Jaiswal claimed he was forced to sign documents for property worth Rs 48 crore in favour of his associates. In the course of his journey into the world of crime and establishing himself as the head of a crime syndicate registered in police records as IS 227, Atiq pushed his entire family into it. His eldest son Mohammad Umar, who is currently lodged in a Lucknow district jail, is a co-accused in the Jaiswal case. His second son, Mohammad Ali Ahmad, is currently in Naini jail for alleged involvement in a case of assault on a property dealer in December 2021. Apart from the Umesh Pal killing, his wife Shaista Parveen has had at least three other cases registered against her since 2019 under forgery and illegal arms at the Colonelganj police station in Prayagraj. The cases are pending in court, said a police officer. While on the run, Shaista Parveen moved a local court in Prayagraj saying that the police had illegally taken away two of her minor sons apart from the three named in police cases or in jail on the evening of February 24 and that she had no information about them. The police later told a local court that the boys had been found in Prayagraj and were admitted to a child protection home. Some of the 'encounter killings' by UP Police: April 23, 2018: Balraj Bhati in Noida Aug 11, 2019: Shakeel in Sambhal Oct 10: Lakshman Yadav in Azamgarh Jan 26, 2020: Chand alias Kale in Meerut Feb 18: Shiv Shakti Naidu in Meerut July 7: Vikas Dubey in Kanpur March 6: Vijay Kumar alias Usman of Atiq Ahmad gang in Prayagraj February 27: Arbaaz of Atiq Ahmad gang in Prayagraj Feb 20, 2023: Saheb Singh in Bulandshahr March 21, 2022: Manish Singh in Varanasi October 30, 2021: Gauri Yadav in Chitrakoot April 12: Aditya Rana in Bijnor April 13: Ghulam Mohammad of Atiq Ahmad gang in Jhansi April 13: Asad Ahmad of Atiq Ahmad gang in Jhansi Total number of encounters in UP since March 20, 2017: Over 10,000 Total criminals eliminated so far from March 20, 2017: 181 LUCKNOW: Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, awarded a life term in the Umesh Pal abduction case on March 28, got the biggest blow of his life when his third son, Asad, was killed in a police encounter on Thursday. It is the first personal loss he has suffered in his criminal history spanning four decades. Police authorities said the murder of Umesh Pal hardly gave any tangible gain to Atiq and his gang. It was only a bid by his henchmen to re-establish fear among the people of Prayagraj. However, the move backfired big time. While Asad, 19, has now been killed, Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen is still absconding. The third of the couples five sons, Asad was a first-year student at a law college. The couples two elder sons -- Ali and Umar -- are jailed in other cases, while two minor ones are housed by the authorities in a shelter home.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Atiqs first interface with the police goes back to 1984 when he was booked for attempting a murder in Prayagraj. Five years later, he took the electoral plunge winning his first election as an MLA from Allahabad West, as an Independent in 1989. He retained his seat in the next two Assembly elections as well, also as an Independent. ALSO READ | Umesh Pal kidnapping case: Atiq Ahmad, two accomplices get life term; seven acquitted In 1995, Atiq joined the Samajwadi Party (SP) and came to notice when the guesthouse where the then BSP general secretary Mayawati was staying with her party MLAs was attacked. MLAs and workers of the SP allegedly surrounded the guest-house and went on a rampage, angry over the BSP having broken ties with them. In 1996, Atiq won from Allahabad West for the fourth time, as an SP candidate. Three years later, he joined Apna Dal, and in 2002, again won the seat. In 2004, he contested from Phulpur Lok Sabha seat on an SP ticket and got elected. In 2004, in the bypoll held for the Allahabad West seat, after Atiq had moved to the Lok Sabha, BSP candidate Raju Pal defeated his brother Ashraf, fighting on an SP ticket. In January 2005, Raju Pal was gunned down, along with two of his associates, and Atiq was named as an accused along with Ashraf and others. While Atiq now has over 100 cases lodged against him, his brother Ashraf has 52 cases against him and is currently lodged in a Bareilly jail. With the SP in power in the state at the time, on the Supreme Courts orders, the case was transferred to the CBI. It filed a chargesheet in 2019 against 10 people. Subsequently, Atiq got booked for a 2018 incident involving the alleged abduction of a businessman Mohit Jaiswal, who was taken to Deoria district jail, where Atiq was lodged at the time. Jaiswal claimed he was forced to sign documents for property worth Rs 48 crore in favour of his associates. In the course of his journey into the world of crime and establishing himself as the head of a crime syndicate registered in police records as IS 227, Atiq pushed his entire family into it. His eldest son Mohammad Umar, who is currently lodged in a Lucknow district jail, is a co-accused in the Jaiswal case. His second son, Mohammad Ali Ahmad, is currently in Naini jail for alleged involvement in a case of assault on a property dealer in December 2021. Apart from the Umesh Pal killing, his wife Shaista Parveen has had at least three other cases registered against her since 2019 under forgery and illegal arms at the Colonelganj police station in Prayagraj. The cases are pending in court, said a police officer. While on the run, Shaista Parveen moved a local court in Prayagraj saying that the police had illegally taken away two of her minor sons apart from the three named in police cases or in jail on the evening of February 24 and that she had no information about them. The police later told a local court that the boys had been found in Prayagraj and were admitted to a child protection home. Some of the 'encounter killings' by UP Police: April 23, 2018: Balraj Bhati in Noida Aug 11, 2019: Shakeel in Sambhal Oct 10: Lakshman Yadav in Azamgarh Jan 26, 2020: Chand alias Kale in Meerut Feb 18: Shiv Shakti Naidu in Meerut July 7: Vikas Dubey in Kanpur March 6: Vijay Kumar alias Usman of Atiq Ahmad gang in Prayagraj February 27: Arbaaz of Atiq Ahmad gang in Prayagraj Feb 20, 2023: Saheb Singh in Bulandshahr March 21, 2022: Manish Singh in Varanasi October 30, 2021: Gauri Yadav in Chitrakoot April 12: Aditya Rana in Bijnor April 13: Ghulam Mohammad of Atiq Ahmad gang in Jhansi April 13: Asad Ahmad of Atiq Ahmad gang in Jhansi Total number of encounters in UP since March 20, 2017: Over 10,000 Total criminals eliminated so far from March 20, 2017: 181 Sudhir Suryawanshi By Express News Service MUMBAI: It took social activist Anjali Damania to set off tremulous rumours that Ajit Pawar was ready for a saffron switch. Not only him but 10-15 of his NCP cohorts too will embark on an unlikely journey along with the NCPs second-in-command after Sharad Pawar, Damania tweeted. Naturally, the NCP refuted the speculation. Reacting to the buzz, Ajit Pawar said: Damania is a big person, and it would not be right on my part to speak on her comment. Earlier in the day, Damania tweeted that some of the state government employees shared the information that the 16 MLAs of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde will be disqualified and Ajit Pawar will join the BJP with 10-15 MLAs. Top NCP sources said that Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel do believe that NCP should go with the BJP and get immunity from arrest in connection with various cases. The BJP has been misusing Central agencies to target their opponents. Leaders are threatened to either join the BJP or face arrest and perish behind bars. Some opposition leaders are succumbing to the BJPs pressure tactic. But as long as NCP chief Sharad Pawar is in command over his party and the family, things are unlikely to take that shape, said a senior NCP leader. NCPs Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule said wouldnt predict what the future holds. NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said Anjali Damania is working on BJPs agenda to damage Ajit Pawars image. He said Ajit Pawar has several times refuted such speculation. It shows that there is a conspiracy against Ajit. This has been done to weaken the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Tapase said. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said he does not think that Ajit Pawar will join the BJP. Dont bring all issues to media, Ajit warns Cong NCP chief Ajit Pawar has warned Maharashtra Congress Nana Patole not to take every small issue of Maha Vikas Aghadi to the media, and that he should first try to resolve it with alliance partners. The leader reminded Patole that in alliance, there are bound to be issues on matters. MUMBAI: It took social activist Anjali Damania to set off tremulous rumours that Ajit Pawar was ready for a saffron switch. Not only him but 10-15 of his NCP cohorts too will embark on an unlikely journey along with the NCPs second-in-command after Sharad Pawar, Damania tweeted. Naturally, the NCP refuted the speculation. Reacting to the buzz, Ajit Pawar said: Damania is a big person, and it would not be right on my part to speak on her comment. Earlier in the day, Damania tweeted that some of the state government employees shared the information that the 16 MLAs of Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde will be disqualified and Ajit Pawar will join the BJP with 10-15 MLAs. Top NCP sources said that Ajit Pawar, Sunil Tatkare and Praful Patel do believe that NCP should go with the BJP and get immunity from arrest in connection with various cases.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The BJP has been misusing Central agencies to target their opponents. Leaders are threatened to either join the BJP or face arrest and perish behind bars. Some opposition leaders are succumbing to the BJPs pressure tactic. But as long as NCP chief Sharad Pawar is in command over his party and the family, things are unlikely to take that shape, said a senior NCP leader. NCPs Lok Sabha MP Supriya Sule said wouldnt predict what the future holds. NCP chief spokesperson Mahesh Tapase said Anjali Damania is working on BJPs agenda to damage Ajit Pawars image. He said Ajit Pawar has several times refuted such speculation. It shows that there is a conspiracy against Ajit. This has been done to weaken the Maha Vikas Aghadi, Tapase said. Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said he does not think that Ajit Pawar will join the BJP. Dont bring all issues to media, Ajit warns Cong NCP chief Ajit Pawar has warned Maharashtra Congress Nana Patole not to take every small issue of Maha Vikas Aghadi to the media, and that he should first try to resolve it with alliance partners. The leader reminded Patole that in alliance, there are bound to be issues on matters. Harpreeet Bajwa By Express News Service CHANDIGARH: Hours after four Indian Army soldiers were killed by unidentified assailants, another soldier reportedly died by suicide inside Bathinda Military Station late on Wednesday evening. The army said that there is no connection between the two incidents. A statement issued by the South Western command headquartered at Jaipur read, "A soldier died of a gunshot wound at approximately 4:30 PM on April 12 at Bathinda Military Station. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon. The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region. He was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. "The soldier had returned from leave on April 11. The case purportedly seems to be of attempted suicide. There is NO connection whatsoever with the incident that took place at 4:30 AM at Bathinda Military Station, it added. The Bathinda Cantonment police station has received a complaint in this regard. As far as the other incident in which four army soldiers were killed. The state police initially claimed that it was an incident of fratricide. The police officials say there was no clarity on the incident yet. "We are hunting the two unidentified masked men who killed the army soldiers, said an official. Sources in the Army said a court of inquiry will investigate the entire incident in addition to the ongoing investigation by the Punjab Police. Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) CHANDIGARH: Hours after four Indian Army soldiers were killed by unidentified assailants, another soldier reportedly died by suicide inside Bathinda Military Station late on Wednesday evening. The army said that there is no connection between the two incidents. A statement issued by the South Western command headquartered at Jaipur read, "A soldier died of a gunshot wound at approximately 4:30 PM on April 12 at Bathinda Military Station. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon. The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region. He was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. "The soldier had returned from leave on April 11. The case purportedly seems to be of attempted suicide. There is NO connection whatsoever with the incident that took place at 4:30 AM at Bathinda Military Station, it added.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The Bathinda Cantonment police station has received a complaint in this regard. As far as the other incident in which four army soldiers were killed. The state police initially claimed that it was an incident of fratricide. The police officials say there was no clarity on the incident yet. "We are hunting the two unidentified masked men who killed the army soldiers, said an official. Sources in the Army said a court of inquiry will investigate the entire incident in addition to the ongoing investigation by the Punjab Police. Discussing suicides can be triggering for some. However, suicides are preventable. In case you feel distressed by the content or know someone in distress, call Sneha Foundation - 04424640050 (available 24x7) The U.S. State Department has commented on the April 11 deadly Azerbaijani attack on Armenian troops. April 13, 2023, 10:13 Use of force is unacceptable U.S. State Department on April 11 Azeri attack on Armenian troops STEPANAKERT, APRIL 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: In response to a query from the Voice of Americas Armenian service, the U.S. State Department said that the use of force for resolving disputes is unacceptable and disrupts the negotiations process. We regret the deadly clash between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces on April 11 which claimed several lives. We extend our condolences to the families of those killed and wounded. The conflict cant have a military solution, and the use of force for resolving disputes is unacceptable. The only way towards sustainable peace is around the negotiation table, while the use of force disrupts the negotiations, the U.S. State Department said. On April 11, Armenian troops carrying out engineering works near the village of Tegh close to the border with Azerbaijan came under heavy gunfire in an unprovoked attack. Four Armenian soldiers were killed and six wounded. By PTI KOLKATA: A man and his son were charred to death while his other son was critically injured in a fire at a footwear label printing unit in Kolkata on Thursday morning, police said. The blaze erupted at 7.20 am at the unit located on Topsia First Lane and four fire tenders took over two hours to douse it, a police officer said. The injured person has been admitted to a hospital where he is undergoing treatment, he said. "The cause of the fire is to be ascertained by our forensic team. The trio was working in the unit where labels used to be printed on slippers. There were inflammable materials inside the establishment," the officer added. KOLKATA: A man and his son were charred to death while his other son was critically injured in a fire at a footwear label printing unit in Kolkata on Thursday morning, police said. The blaze erupted at 7.20 am at the unit located on Topsia First Lane and four fire tenders took over two hours to douse it, a police officer said. The injured person has been admitted to a hospital where he is undergoing treatment, he said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "The cause of the fire is to be ascertained by our forensic team. The trio was working in the unit where labels used to be printed on slippers. There were inflammable materials inside the establishment," the officer added. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service LUCKNOW: One does not need to make a spectacle to express ones benevolence. However, small gestures can be enough to create a bonhomie. The case of Gulab Yadav of Kauria village in Mubarakpur town of Azamgarh district in eastern UP, is not very different. He is setting an example of mutual respect by serving Rozedaars (practioners of fast) in the holy month of Ramzaan in his own novel way. Like a custodian of the much talked about Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb of Uttar Pradesh, forbearance and comity come naturally to Gulab Yadav who has been willingly following a 48-year-old tradition set by his father Chirkit Yadav in the village in 1975. Gulab, along with his son Abhishek, has been carrying his fathers legacy with pride he makes it a point to wake up all the Muslims residing in his village for Sehri (morning refreshment before starting day-long Roza). He follows the practise religiously, without a miss, on all the days of the holy month of Ramzaan. As per Gulab Yadav, he gets out of his house in the dead of night at around 1 am daily with a baton in one hand and a lantern in the other and visits the localities where Muslim families live. Even the residents of Kauria village claim that it is not that only a few families of Muslims live there. Over 200 Muslim families live in the village and Gulab visits every door daily without fail, as his duty to wake up the Rozedaars (practitioners of fast) for Sehri so that they dont miss the time. As per the villagers, Gulab is a labourer working in other states to make both ends meet. However, he ensures to return to the village with the advent of the holy month of Ramzaan to serve the Rozedaars. Every night, he starts knocking at every door of Muslim families, calling them by their name and asking them to wake up for Sehri. He is so particular that Rozedaars dont have to worry about the Sehri time, says a villager Hari Om Yadav. Another adds that the prayers and wishes which Gulab gets from Muslim families are his biggest earnings. Yadav, reluctant to come on a call for the interview as he thinks his gesture is not an extra-ordinary one, believes that the tradition started by his father brings the two communities closer. They have been living together for ages in each others thick and thin. Drawing solace from the practice, Yadav is committed to continue the tradition till his last breath. He thinks that his son Abhishek will carry it after him. The fellow villagers appreciate Gulabs resolve so much so that once he had returned without attending the wedding of his nephew. LUCKNOW: One does not need to make a spectacle to express ones benevolence. However, small gestures can be enough to create a bonhomie. The case of Gulab Yadav of Kauria village in Mubarakpur town of Azamgarh district in eastern UP, is not very different. He is setting an example of mutual respect by serving Rozedaars (practioners of fast) in the holy month of Ramzaan in his own novel way. Like a custodian of the much talked about Ganga-Jamuni Tehzeeb of Uttar Pradesh, forbearance and comity come naturally to Gulab Yadav who has been willingly following a 48-year-old tradition set by his father Chirkit Yadav in the village in 1975. Gulab, along with his son Abhishek, has been carrying his fathers legacy with pride he makes it a point to wake up all the Muslims residing in his village for Sehri (morning refreshment before starting day-long Roza).googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); He follows the practise religiously, without a miss, on all the days of the holy month of Ramzaan. As per Gulab Yadav, he gets out of his house in the dead of night at around 1 am daily with a baton in one hand and a lantern in the other and visits the localities where Muslim families live. Even the residents of Kauria village claim that it is not that only a few families of Muslims live there. Over 200 Muslim families live in the village and Gulab visits every door daily without fail, as his duty to wake up the Rozedaars (practitioners of fast) for Sehri so that they dont miss the time. As per the villagers, Gulab is a labourer working in other states to make both ends meet. However, he ensures to return to the village with the advent of the holy month of Ramzaan to serve the Rozedaars. Every night, he starts knocking at every door of Muslim families, calling them by their name and asking them to wake up for Sehri. He is so particular that Rozedaars dont have to worry about the Sehri time, says a villager Hari Om Yadav. Another adds that the prayers and wishes which Gulab gets from Muslim families are his biggest earnings. Yadav, reluctant to come on a call for the interview as he thinks his gesture is not an extra-ordinary one, believes that the tradition started by his father brings the two communities closer. They have been living together for ages in each others thick and thin. Drawing solace from the practice, Yadav is committed to continue the tradition till his last breath. He thinks that his son Abhishek will carry it after him. The fellow villagers appreciate Gulabs resolve so much so that once he had returned without attending the wedding of his nephew. Namita Bajpai By Express News Service Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmads third son Asad Ahmad, who was wanted in witness Umesh Pal's murder case, has been killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi. Asad's close aide and co-accused Ghulam was killed in the encounter as well. The encounter took place in the forest area of Jhansi-Babina road on Thursday. Some sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from them, said UP STF ADG Amitabh Yash. Asad and Ghulam both had a Rs 5 lakh bounty on their heads. Media reports say that the marriage of Asad was fixed with Atiq's sister Ayesha Noori's daughter. The two had gotten engaged last year. Asad's killing in the encounter comes a day after Atiq Ahmad was brought from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Jail to the CJM court in Prayagraj while his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from Bareilly Jail in connection with the case. The Prayagraj police have been seeking police remand of Atiq and Ashraf in connection with Umesh's murder. Atiq Ahmads third son Asad Ahmad. Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen, carrying a reward of Rs 50,000, is also one of the main accused in the case. Atiqs two elder sons Ali and Umer are presently in Nani Central Jail in Prayagraj and Lucknow Jail respectively in connection with criminal activities. Two other younger sons are twins and have been in a juvenile home in Prayagraj since Umesh's murder. Atiq Ahmad on Wednesday claimed he was being harassed in the Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat. He also claimed that his family was ruined. When reporters told him that the government has said he will be decimated, Ahmad claimed, "They have already decimated me. I am also being harassed in the Sabarmati jail." WATCH | Lawyer Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards Sandeep Nishad and Raghvendra Singh were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. It may be recalled that a day after Umesh Pals murder, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had claimed in the Assembly that his government would decimate Umesh Pals killers and many others who had been running crime syndicates in UP. As per local sources, on getting the news of his sons killing, Atiq started crying loudly in the courtroom. Asads killing has come as a huge personal blow to the gangster-turned-politician who had been running a crime syndicate in Prayagraj and adjoining districts for the last three decades. Ghulam, who was Asad's close aide and co-accused in Umesh Pal's murder case. On March 28, the court there had sentenced Ahmad and two others to life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case while Atiq's brother Ashraf and six others were acquitted by the court. Notably, the video footage released by UP Police after the murder of Umesh and his two police guards clearly shows Asad and Ghulam opening fire at the victim in front of his residence. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his wife Shaista Parveen, Atiq's brother Ashraf, Atiq's two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others. The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Ahmad is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case. On April 2, UP STF arrested Akhlaq Ahmad, a government doctor and the husband of Ayesha Noori. Atiq's brother-in-law Akhlaq, posted at the Abdullapur Community Health Centre, had not only provided shelter to the killers of Umesh Pal but also money when they reached Meerut after the murder, sources said. This is Atiq Ahmad's first conviction even though more than 100 cases were registered against the former Samajwadi Party MP over the years. ALSO READ | BSP won't field Atiq Ahmad's wife Shaista Parveen in Prayagraj mayoral polls: Mayawati (With PTI inputs) Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmads third son Asad Ahmad, who was wanted in witness Umesh Pal's murder case, has been killed in an encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi. Asad's close aide and co-accused Ghulam was killed in the encounter as well. The encounter took place in the forest area of Jhansi-Babina road on Thursday. Some sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from them, said UP STF ADG Amitabh Yash.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Asad and Ghulam both had a Rs 5 lakh bounty on their heads. Media reports say that the marriage of Asad was fixed with Atiq's sister Ayesha Noori's daughter. The two had gotten engaged last year. Asad's killing in the encounter comes a day after Atiq Ahmad was brought from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati Jail to the CJM court in Prayagraj while his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from Bareilly Jail in connection with the case. The Prayagraj police have been seeking police remand of Atiq and Ashraf in connection with Umesh's murder. Atiq Ahmads third son Asad Ahmad. Atiqs wife Shaista Parveen, carrying a reward of Rs 50,000, is also one of the main accused in the case. Atiqs two elder sons Ali and Umer are presently in Nani Central Jail in Prayagraj and Lucknow Jail respectively in connection with criminal activities. Two other younger sons are twins and have been in a juvenile home in Prayagraj since Umesh's murder. Atiq Ahmad on Wednesday claimed he was being harassed in the Sabarmati Central Jail in Gujarat. He also claimed that his family was ruined. When reporters told him that the government has said he will be decimated, Ahmad claimed, "They have already decimated me. I am also being harassed in the Sabarmati jail." WATCH | Lawyer Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards Sandeep Nishad and Raghvendra Singh were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. It may be recalled that a day after Umesh Pals murder, UP CM Yogi Adityanath had claimed in the Assembly that his government would decimate Umesh Pals killers and many others who had been running crime syndicates in UP. As per local sources, on getting the news of his sons killing, Atiq started crying loudly in the courtroom. Asads killing has come as a huge personal blow to the gangster-turned-politician who had been running a crime syndicate in Prayagraj and adjoining districts for the last three decades. Ghulam, who was Asad's close aide and co-accused in Umesh Pal's murder case. On March 28, the court there had sentenced Ahmad and two others to life imprisonment in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case while Atiq's brother Ashraf and six others were acquitted by the court. Notably, the video footage released by UP Police after the murder of Umesh and his two police guards clearly shows Asad and Ghulam opening fire at the victim in front of his residence. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his wife Shaista Parveen, Atiq's brother Ashraf, Atiq's two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others. The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Ahmad is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case. On April 2, UP STF arrested Akhlaq Ahmad, a government doctor and the husband of Ayesha Noori. Atiq's brother-in-law Akhlaq, posted at the Abdullapur Community Health Centre, had not only provided shelter to the killers of Umesh Pal but also money when they reached Meerut after the murder, sources said. This is Atiq Ahmad's first conviction even though more than 100 cases were registered against the former Samajwadi Party MP over the years. ALSO READ | BSP won't field Atiq Ahmad's wife Shaista Parveen in Prayagraj mayoral polls: Mayawati (With PTI inputs) Dilip Singh Kshatriya By Express News Service AHMEDABAD: In reaction to a contentious religious social media post, the Gujarat DGP on Wednesday suspended Police Inspector (PI) Nishant Solanki of Vadodara citys Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB). He allegedly made derogatory remarks about Hinduism and its rituals. This is the first instance in Gujarat when a police officer is facing action for posting such content on social media that allegedly incited religious animosity. Vadodra in-charge Police Commissioner Manoj Ninama told TNIE: We discovered that this post was made by ND Solanki, a police officer from Vadodara. A cyber investigation revealed that the two posts on his Facebook page that offended peoples religious feelings were made from Solankis phone. Were looking into whether he made the post or if his phone was hacked. Ninama said there is a DGP circular for police officers about social media posts, and that Solankis Facebook posts violated the law. I investigated the case. N.D. Solanki was suspended at the conclusion of the investigation. said Ninama. Sources said the state home ministry received complaints from Hindu organizations that a police officers social media post was offensive to Hindu religious sensitivities. The PI of PCBs Anti-Human Trafficking Cell allegedly mocked Hindu deities and questioned Hindu worship rituals on social media. Neeraj Doneria, the coordinator of the Himachal Pradesh Bajrang Dal, wrote to the Gujarat Home Ministry in response to his post, requesting that action be taken against the police officer who is constantly insulting Hinduism. The Gujarat Home Department launched an official investigation in response to his complaint. AHMEDABAD: In reaction to a contentious religious social media post, the Gujarat DGP on Wednesday suspended Police Inspector (PI) Nishant Solanki of Vadodara citys Prevention of Crime Branch (PCB). He allegedly made derogatory remarks about Hinduism and its rituals. This is the first instance in Gujarat when a police officer is facing action for posting such content on social media that allegedly incited religious animosity. Vadodra in-charge Police Commissioner Manoj Ninama told TNIE: We discovered that this post was made by ND Solanki, a police officer from Vadodara.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); A cyber investigation revealed that the two posts on his Facebook page that offended peoples religious feelings were made from Solankis phone. Were looking into whether he made the post or if his phone was hacked. Ninama said there is a DGP circular for police officers about social media posts, and that Solankis Facebook posts violated the law. I investigated the case. N.D. Solanki was suspended at the conclusion of the investigation. said Ninama. Sources said the state home ministry received complaints from Hindu organizations that a police officers social media post was offensive to Hindu religious sensitivities. The PI of PCBs Anti-Human Trafficking Cell allegedly mocked Hindu deities and questioned Hindu worship rituals on social media. Neeraj Doneria, the coordinator of the Himachal Pradesh Bajrang Dal, wrote to the Gujarat Home Ministry in response to his post, requesting that action be taken against the police officer who is constantly insulting Hinduism. The Gujarat Home Department launched an official investigation in response to his complaint. Ejaz Kaiser By Express News Service RAIPUR: The ruling Congress in the state keenly awaits its first-ever visit on Thursday by the party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi to the tribal-dominated Bastar region, about 300 km south of Raipur, as an informal launch of their poll campaign in Chhattisgarh. Political parties believe that the road to power in Chhattisgarh is via Bastar, which holds the key to the formation of government in the state. All the 12 assembly seats in Bastar are with the Congress. Vying for the support of the adivasis, Priyanka will address a public rally at the Lalbagh ground in Jagdalpur and will have separate interaction with the women from the tribal belts. Interestingly, Bastar is a region where women voters, with little over 51 per cent, outnumbered men. In several pockets of the conflict zone, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) also had the presence for a past over three decades. Priyanka is likely to have key consultations with the senior party leaders to draw up the party strategy ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled later this year. RAIPUR: The ruling Congress in the state keenly awaits its first-ever visit on Thursday by the party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi to the tribal-dominated Bastar region, about 300 km south of Raipur, as an informal launch of their poll campaign in Chhattisgarh. Political parties believe that the road to power in Chhattisgarh is via Bastar, which holds the key to the formation of government in the state. All the 12 assembly seats in Bastar are with the Congress. Vying for the support of the adivasis, Priyanka will address a public rally at the Lalbagh ground in Jagdalpur and will have separate interaction with the women from the tribal belts. Interestingly, Bastar is a region where women voters, with little over 51 per cent, outnumbered men. In several pockets of the conflict zone, the outlawed CPI (Maoist) also had the presence for a past over three decades. Priyanka is likely to have key consultations with the senior party leaders to draw up the party strategy ahead of the Assembly polls scheduled later this year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); By Express News Service NEW DELHI: India has expressed concern over the misuse of the United Kingdoms asylum policy by pro-Khalistani elements who have been aiding and abetting terrorists. Pro-Khalistani elements aid and abet terrorist activities in India and we request better cooperation with the UK and increased monitoring of UK-based pro-Khalistani extremists, said a statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs after the 5th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue held in Delhi on Wednesday. India has also urged the UK to monitor pro-Khalistani extremists and take appropriate proactive action. Indias concern over the breach of security of the Indian High Commission in London was also emphasised. During the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation and identified further steps that can be taken to explore opportunities and synergies in advancing cooperation in counter-terrorism, cyber security and global supply chains, drug trafficking, migration, extradition and anti-India activities, the statement said. India and the UK expressed satisfaction with the ongoing partnership and agreed to deepen bilateral engagement and maintain momentum for enhanced security cooperation between the two countries, the MHA had said on Wednesday. The Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the British delegation was led by Permanent Secretary Home Office, Sir Mathew Rycroft. The meeting was also attended by other senior officials of both nations. NEW DELHI: India has expressed concern over the misuse of the United Kingdoms asylum policy by pro-Khalistani elements who have been aiding and abetting terrorists. Pro-Khalistani elements aid and abet terrorist activities in India and we request better cooperation with the UK and increased monitoring of UK-based pro-Khalistani extremists, said a statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs after the 5th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue held in Delhi on Wednesday. India has also urged the UK to monitor pro-Khalistani extremists and take appropriate proactive action. Indias concern over the breach of security of the Indian High Commission in London was also emphasised. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); During the meeting, both sides reviewed the ongoing cooperation and identified further steps that can be taken to explore opportunities and synergies in advancing cooperation in counter-terrorism, cyber security and global supply chains, drug trafficking, migration, extradition and anti-India activities, the statement said. India and the UK expressed satisfaction with the ongoing partnership and agreed to deepen bilateral engagement and maintain momentum for enhanced security cooperation between the two countries, the MHA had said on Wednesday. The Indian delegation was led by Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, and the British delegation was led by Permanent Secretary Home Office, Sir Mathew Rycroft. The meeting was also attended by other senior officials of both nations. By Online Desk NEW DELHI: The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) is deeply disturbed by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 (IT Amendment Rules, 2023), issued by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology on April 6, 2023, it said in a press release. As per the newly notified rules, the Ministry will enjoy the power to constitute a fact-checking unit, which will have sweeping powers to determine what is "fake or false or misleading", with respect to "any business of the Central Government." The said fact-checking unit will also have the power to issue instructions to intermediaries, including social media platforms, Internet Service Providers and other service providers, to not host such content and take out the content if it has been published. Urging the Union government to withdraw its notification, INS said the Centre must "hold widespread and meaningful consultations with the stakeholders like the media organisations and press bodies before coming out with any notification having serious implications on the profession of media, and its credibility." 'Censorship of the Press' In a statement condemning the government's "fact-checking" rules, the INS stated that "such power is seen to be arbitrary, as it is exercised without hearing the parties, and thus a violation of all principles of natural justice and has the effect of the complainant acting as the Judge." "It is also to be noted that the so-called fact-checking unit can be constituted by the Ministry through a simple notification published in the Official Gazette. The notified rules do not specify as to what would be the governing mechanism for such a fact-checking unit, what sort of judicial oversight would be available in the exercise of its powers, whether there would be the right to appeal and so on. All this, we are constrained to say, tantamounts to censorship of the Press, and thus a violation of the principle of freedom of expression," the statement read. The INS also criticised the government for failing to hold any meaningful consultation with the stakeholders i.e. the media organisations or practitioners, before notifying this amendment, despite widespread criticism over its draft amendments that it had put out in January 2023. "It is a matter of regret that no attempt has been made by the Ministry to hold any meaningful consultation with the stakeholders i.e. the media organisations or practitioners, before notifying this amendment. With the result that the new set of rules, notified on April 6, 2023, shows hardly any significant improvement from the draft amendments put out in January 2023," the INS statement read. NEW DELHI: The Indian Newspaper Society (INS) is deeply disturbed by the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Amendment Rules, 2023 (IT Amendment Rules, 2023), issued by the Ministry of Electronics & Information Technology on April 6, 2023, it said in a press release. As per the newly notified rules, the Ministry will enjoy the power to constitute a fact-checking unit, which will have sweeping powers to determine what is "fake or false or misleading", with respect to "any business of the Central Government." The said fact-checking unit will also have the power to issue instructions to intermediaries, including social media platforms, Internet Service Providers and other service providers, to not host such content and take out the content if it has been published.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Urging the Union government to withdraw its notification, INS said the Centre must "hold widespread and meaningful consultations with the stakeholders like the media organisations and press bodies before coming out with any notification having serious implications on the profession of media, and its credibility." 'Censorship of the Press' In a statement condemning the government's "fact-checking" rules, the INS stated that "such power is seen to be arbitrary, as it is exercised without hearing the parties, and thus a violation of all principles of natural justice and has the effect of the complainant acting as the Judge." "It is also to be noted that the so-called fact-checking unit can be constituted by the Ministry through a simple notification published in the Official Gazette. The notified rules do not specify as to what would be the governing mechanism for such a fact-checking unit, what sort of judicial oversight would be available in the exercise of its powers, whether there would be the right to appeal and so on. All this, we are constrained to say, tantamounts to censorship of the Press, and thus a violation of the principle of freedom of expression," the statement read. The INS also criticised the government for failing to hold any meaningful consultation with the stakeholders i.e. the media organisations or practitioners, before notifying this amendment, despite widespread criticism over its draft amendments that it had put out in January 2023. "It is a matter of regret that no attempt has been made by the Ministry to hold any meaningful consultation with the stakeholders i.e. the media organisations or practitioners, before notifying this amendment. With the result that the new set of rules, notified on April 6, 2023, shows hardly any significant improvement from the draft amendments put out in January 2023," the INS statement read. Shruti Kakkar By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside Calcutta High Courts order which directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the attack on Minister of State (Home) Nisith Pramanik in Cooch Behar district on February 25. Ministers convoy was attacked when he was visiting his constituency. Noting that the HC did not consider the entirety of the facts, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI)DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala asked the HC to consider the matter again. The bench while setting aside HCs order took cognisance of the affidavit filed by the Superintendent of Police and the steps taken by the police authorities. The top court also said that the HC did not make note of the 21 arrests, and registration of six specific cases of ransacking and damage, even though it was informed of it. The HCs March 28, 2023 order was passed in a PIL instituted by Suvendhu Adhikari, MLA and LoP in West Bengal Assembly which alleged that the attack was at the behest of the TMC party and thus the police did not take any action against the perpetrators. While directing CBI to probe into the attack the HC had said that the investigation is not heading in the right direction and thus it is necessary for the probe to be carried out by an independent agency. The incident is admitted and is of serious nature relating to the attack on a car and convoy of HMoS Union of India. Therefore, non-registration of the complaint promptly supports the apprehension in the mind of the petitioner. That apart, the complaint mentions the names of as many as 30 offenders, but no prompt action against them is reflected, the HC had said in its order. For the state, Senior Advocates AM Singhvi and Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that the judgement has missed certain crucial aspects of the status report which show that the police were investigating. For Adhikari, Senior Advocate PS Patwalia contended that the HC was justified in transferring the investigation as the incident took place on 25th Feb and the FIR lodged on 26th pertained to workers of BJP ransacking the office of the ruling political party. NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside Calcutta High Courts order which directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to probe into the attack on Minister of State (Home) Nisith Pramanik in Cooch Behar district on February 25. Ministers convoy was attacked when he was visiting his constituency. Noting that the HC did not consider the entirety of the facts, a bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI)DY Chandrachud, Justices PS Narasimha and JB Pardiwala asked the HC to consider the matter again. The bench while setting aside HCs order took cognisance of the affidavit filed by the Superintendent of Police and the steps taken by the police authorities. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); The top court also said that the HC did not make note of the 21 arrests, and registration of six specific cases of ransacking and damage, even though it was informed of it. The HCs March 28, 2023 order was passed in a PIL instituted by Suvendhu Adhikari, MLA and LoP in West Bengal Assembly which alleged that the attack was at the behest of the TMC party and thus the police did not take any action against the perpetrators. While directing CBI to probe into the attack the HC had said that the investigation is not heading in the right direction and thus it is necessary for the probe to be carried out by an independent agency. The incident is admitted and is of serious nature relating to the attack on a car and convoy of HMoS Union of India. Therefore, non-registration of the complaint promptly supports the apprehension in the mind of the petitioner. That apart, the complaint mentions the names of as many as 30 offenders, but no prompt action against them is reflected, the HC had said in its order. For the state, Senior Advocates AM Singhvi and Gopal Sankaranarayanan argued that the judgement has missed certain crucial aspects of the status report which show that the police were investigating. For Adhikari, Senior Advocate PS Patwalia contended that the HC was justified in transferring the investigation as the incident took place on 25th Feb and the FIR lodged on 26th pertained to workers of BJP ransacking the office of the ruling political party. By PTI LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party demanded a through investigation into the death of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad in Jhansi on Thursday, alleging that it could be a fake encounter. Hours after police said Asad and his accomplice Ghulam were killed in an encounter, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was trying to divert attention from real issues with "fake encounters". Soon, BSP supremo Mayawati said the killing could be a repeat of "Vikas Dubey incident". Dubey was a notorious gangster from Kanpur, who was killed when the police vehicle bringing him from Madhya Pradesh overturned and he tried to escape by snatching a gun from a policeman, officials said. Asad and Ghulam, wanted for the daylight murder of Umesh Pal and his two security guards in Prayagraj in February, were killed by an STF team, said Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. "By doing fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from real issues. The BJP does not believe in courts at all. Today's and other recent encounters should be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared. The government does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. The BJP is against brotherhood," Yadav tweeted in Hindi. - - Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 13, 2023 Mayawati said in a tweet that many types of discussions are happening on the Jhansi encounter. "People feel their apprehension of a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident has come true. Therefore, a high-level inquiry is necessary so that the complete facts and truth of the incident can come before the public," she added. ALSO READ | Officer threatened to eliminate me; will send his name in sealed cover: Atiq Ahmad's brother Both Asad and Ghulam were on the run since the killing of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder of then BSP legislator Raju Pal. Umesh Pal's wife Jaya had alleged in a police complaint that Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, son Asad, their accomplice Ghulam and others were behind the killing. Ahmad, the 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party legislator, was brought to Prayagraj for the second time within a month from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat for hearing in criminal cases related to the kidnapping and murder of Umesh Pal. On Thursday, he and Ashraf were sentenced to five-day police custody in the murder case. Following the killing of Umesh Pal, Yadav had tried to corner Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and raised questions over law and order in the state. Adityanath had then retorted to Yadav, blaming his party for "nurturing" criminals. The chief minister had also vowed to "destroy" the mafia in the state. "The mafia whose name is emerging. Is it not true that the Samajwadi Party had made him an MP. He was a mafia nurtured by the SP. Our government is working to break their back. 'Mitti me mila denge' (We will destroy the mafia)," Adityanath had said in the assembly. LUCKNOW: The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party demanded a through investigation into the death of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad in Jhansi on Thursday, alleging that it could be a fake encounter. Hours after police said Asad and his accomplice Ghulam were killed in an encounter, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged that the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh was trying to divert attention from real issues with "fake encounters". Soon, BSP supremo Mayawati said the killing could be a repeat of "Vikas Dubey incident". Dubey was a notorious gangster from Kanpur, who was killed when the police vehicle bringing him from Madhya Pradesh overturned and he tried to escape by snatching a gun from a policeman, officials said.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Asad and Ghulam, wanted for the daylight murder of Umesh Pal and his two security guards in Prayagraj in February, were killed by an STF team, said Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. "By doing fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from real issues. The BJP does not believe in courts at all. Today's and other recent encounters should be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared. The government does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. The BJP is against brotherhood," Yadav tweeted in Hindi. - - Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 13, 2023 Mayawati said in a tweet that many types of discussions are happening on the Jhansi encounter. "People feel their apprehension of a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident has come true. Therefore, a high-level inquiry is necessary so that the complete facts and truth of the incident can come before the public," she added. ALSO READ | Officer threatened to eliminate me; will send his name in sealed cover: Atiq Ahmad's brother Both Asad and Ghulam were on the run since the killing of Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder of then BSP legislator Raju Pal. Umesh Pal's wife Jaya had alleged in a police complaint that Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, son Asad, their accomplice Ghulam and others were behind the killing. Ahmad, the 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party legislator, was brought to Prayagraj for the second time within a month from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat for hearing in criminal cases related to the kidnapping and murder of Umesh Pal. On Thursday, he and Ashraf were sentenced to five-day police custody in the murder case. Following the killing of Umesh Pal, Yadav had tried to corner Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and raised questions over law and order in the state. Adityanath had then retorted to Yadav, blaming his party for "nurturing" criminals. The chief minister had also vowed to "destroy" the mafia in the state. "The mafia whose name is emerging. Is it not true that the Samajwadi Party had made him an MP. He was a mafia nurtured by the SP. Our government is working to break their back. 'Mitti me mila denge' (We will destroy the mafia)," Adityanath had said in the assembly. By PTI BAREILLY: Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed's brother Ashraf alleged that an official has threatened to eliminate him in two weeks, adding that he will send a sealed envelope to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and the Chief Justice of India revealing the identity of the perpetrator. Former MLA Khalid Azim alias Ashraf also said that he had full faith in judiciary. An MP-MLA court had on Tuesday held Atiq Ahmad and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life. Ashraf and six others were acquitted by the court. Talking to reporters before being taken back to Naini jail, Ashraf said from inside the police van, "I have full faith in the judiciary and believe that I will be acquitted in other cases as well." He alleged that an officer told him that he would be taken out of jail after two weeks and killed. Ashraf also called reports of his alleged involvement in the Umesh Pal murder case "completely baseless" and "part of a controversy". "There is a conspiracy to trap the whole family. There is a conspiracy to defame the state government. Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath knows how fake cases cases are lodged. He understands my pain," he alleged. Asked about the closed envelope, Ashraf said he will send the same containing the name of the officer who threatened him to CJI D Y Chandrachud and Adityanath. Despite being acquitted in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, Ashraf will remain in jail as more than 50 cases have been registered against him, out of which hearing is going on in about 24 cases. Umesh Pal, the main witness in the murder of MLA Raju Pal, was gunned down outside his Prayagraj residence on February 24. A case was lodged at the Dhoomanganj police station in Prayagraj against Atiq Ahmed, his brother, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others on the complaint of Umesh's wife. Refuting the charge of planning criminal activities from inside jail, Ashraf said whenever someone comes to meet him in prison, officers from the local intelligence unit (LIU) sit in front of him and CCTV cameras are installed. "Who can plan anything in such a situation?" he asked. He also sought to know why he and his brother were taken out of jail when the High Court has permitted hearing of cases via video conferencing. He said there is also an order that his lawyer should be with him when he steps out of the jail, adding that "I see there is no lawyer with me". The former MLA dismissed any threats to his life inside the jail. "The danger is outside the jail," he added. ALSO READ | BAREILLY: Gangster-politician Atiq Ahmed's brother Ashraf alleged that an official has threatened to eliminate him in two weeks, adding that he will send a sealed envelope to Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister and the Chief Justice of India revealing the identity of the perpetrator. Former MLA Khalid Azim alias Ashraf also said that he had full faith in judiciary. An MP-MLA court had on Tuesday held Atiq Ahmad and two others guilty in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Ashraf and six others were acquitted by the court. Talking to reporters before being taken back to Naini jail, Ashraf said from inside the police van, "I have full faith in the judiciary and believe that I will be acquitted in other cases as well." He alleged that an officer told him that he would be taken out of jail after two weeks and killed. Ashraf also called reports of his alleged involvement in the Umesh Pal murder case "completely baseless" and "part of a controversy". "There is a conspiracy to trap the whole family. There is a conspiracy to defame the state government. Honourable Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Yogi Adityanath knows how fake cases cases are lodged. He understands my pain," he alleged. Asked about the closed envelope, Ashraf said he will send the same containing the name of the officer who threatened him to CJI D Y Chandrachud and Adityanath. Despite being acquitted in the Umesh Pal kidnapping case, Ashraf will remain in jail as more than 50 cases have been registered against him, out of which hearing is going on in about 24 cases. Umesh Pal, the main witness in the murder of MLA Raju Pal, was gunned down outside his Prayagraj residence on February 24. A case was lodged at the Dhoomanganj police station in Prayagraj against Atiq Ahmed, his brother, his wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others on the complaint of Umesh's wife. Refuting the charge of planning criminal activities from inside jail, Ashraf said whenever someone comes to meet him in prison, officers from the local intelligence unit (LIU) sit in front of him and CCTV cameras are installed. "Who can plan anything in such a situation?" he asked. He also sought to know why he and his brother were taken out of jail when the High Court has permitted hearing of cases via video conferencing. He said there is also an order that his lawyer should be with him when he steps out of the jail, adding that "I see there is no lawyer with me". The former MLA dismissed any threats to his life inside the jail. "The danger is outside the jail," he added. ALSO READ | Umesh Pal murder: Atiq Ahmed should be killed in police encounter, says former BJP MP Jailed Atiq Ahmed moves SC claiming he may be killed in fake encounter by UP police House of third man linked to Umesh Pal murder accused Atiq Ahmed being demolished Atiq Ahmad's wife, three sons to be included as members of his gang in UP police records The statement of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs on April 12, is supporting Armenia, reads Azerbaijani Foreign Ministrys commentary on the statement of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France dated April 12. April 13, 2023, 12:30 Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry accuses France for supporting Armenia STEPANAKERT, APRIL 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: "The statement on importance of unilateral respect to the territorial integrity of Armenia by France is an example of bias of France against our country, the Foreign Ministry said. Earlier French Foreign Ministry said: Respect for the territorial integrity of Armenia and the withdrawal of Azerbaijani forces from occupied positions on the Armenian side of the contact line are essential to prevent future incidents and preserve the basis for a lasting peace in the region. By Express News Service GUWAHATI: A 16-year-old boy in Assam was arrested by the police on Thursday for allegedly molesting a 30-year-old woman from Hyderabad while attempting to snatch her iPhone. The incident occurred in broad daylight in Majuli when the victim was going to Apholamukh Ghat in an e-rickshaw to catch a ferry on the Brahmaputra. She was travelling to Nimati Ghat in the adjoining Jorhat district. The accused, who was arrested in February for allegedly attempting to molest a minor girl and walked out of an observation home a few days ago, was also travelling with the woman from Hyderabad. She is a member of a group that arrived in Majuli a few days ago to conduct meditation and yoga camps. She was going to Hyderabad while the others in the group were staying at a homestay on the river island. The police said the driver asked the duo to get off and walk a stretch as the village road leading to Apholamukh Ghat was in bad condition. When the woman was walking, the accused attempted to snatch her mobile phone and allegedly molested her by the roadside. Hearing her scream, some locals rushed to the site and rescued her. Majuli Superintendent of Police Gautam Borah told this newspaper that snatching and molestation are the two angles in the case. He said the police were investigating the case. The driver, who has been also arrested, engaged the boy to snatch the phone and offered him Rs 40. He also promised new clothes for the minor as the Rongali Bihu is approaching, the SP said. He said the woman suffered a minor bruise on her nose during a scuffle that she had with the accused who had a criminal intention. We will produce him in a court as a normal criminal. The court will decide whether he should be sent to jail or a juvenile home. We will not treat him as a juvenile, the SP said. He said the woman was sent to her team members after a medical examination. GUWAHATI: A 16-year-old boy in Assam was arrested by the police on Thursday for allegedly molesting a 30-year-old woman from Hyderabad while attempting to snatch her iPhone. The incident occurred in broad daylight in Majuli when the victim was going to Apholamukh Ghat in an e-rickshaw to catch a ferry on the Brahmaputra. She was travelling to Nimati Ghat in the adjoining Jorhat district. The accused, who was arrested in February for allegedly attempting to molest a minor girl and walked out of an observation home a few days ago, was also travelling with the woman from Hyderabad.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); She is a member of a group that arrived in Majuli a few days ago to conduct meditation and yoga camps. She was going to Hyderabad while the others in the group were staying at a homestay on the river island. The police said the driver asked the duo to get off and walk a stretch as the village road leading to Apholamukh Ghat was in bad condition. When the woman was walking, the accused attempted to snatch her mobile phone and allegedly molested her by the roadside. Hearing her scream, some locals rushed to the site and rescued her. Majuli Superintendent of Police Gautam Borah told this newspaper that snatching and molestation are the two angles in the case. He said the police were investigating the case. The driver, who has been also arrested, engaged the boy to snatch the phone and offered him Rs 40. He also promised new clothes for the minor as the Rongali Bihu is approaching, the SP said. He said the woman suffered a minor bruise on her nose during a scuffle that she had with the accused who had a criminal intention. We will produce him in a court as a normal criminal. The court will decide whether he should be sent to jail or a juvenile home. We will not treat him as a juvenile, the SP said. He said the woman was sent to her team members after a medical examination. Ashwini M Sripad By Express News Service BENGALURU: A day after BJP announced its first list of 189 candidates, the party is facing rebellion from the aspirants who have been denied tickets. Many of them have openly expressed their displeasure even as their followers took to the streets. Some flew to Delhi to meet the partys top leaders. In many constituencies, BJP workers protested against the party leadership for denying tickets to their leaders. They raised slogans against the party and set ablaze tyres on roads. Some even shed tears for the treatment meted out to their leaders. Meanwhile, CM Basavaraj Bommai and former CM BS Yediyurappa expressed confidence that the rebellion will not have any impact on the partys prospects in the Assembly elections. The selection of candidates has been welcomed in almost all constituencies and talks with dissatisfied leaders are on, Bommai said. Former deputy CM and MLC Laxman Savadi said he will quit the BJP. He is expected to make an announcement in this regard on Thursday. Former minister R Shankar resigned from the party and also as MLC on Wednesday after he was denied a ticket. He quit the JDS-Congress coalition government in 2019 and joined BJP. He was made MLC by BJP. In Belagavi district, former MLA Vishwanath Patil, who was expecting the party ticket for the Bailhongal seat, has openly expressed his displeasure. After the list was announced, he said the party had cheated him. Patil won the seat on the KJP ticket in 2013. He is a follower of Yediyurappa. Many of his followers have also threatened to quit the party. In Tumkur, BJP leader and former minister Sogadu Shivanna said he would resign from the party and contest as an independent candidate. According to party sources, tickets were given to newcomers and not to loyalists in the Mandya district. ALSO READ | BJP leadership tells Jagadish Shettar not to contest, he says he will Katte Sathya to fight as independent In Bengaluru, former mayor and BJP leader Katte Sathya, who failed to get the party ticket to contest from Basavanagudi, said that he will contest as an independent. Former BBMP councillor NR Rameshs followers protested after he was denied a ticket to contest from Chickpet. After Housing Minister V Somanna was cleared for Varuna and Chamarajanagar constituencies, his followers protested in front of his house in Bengaluru demanding that the party field him again from Govindarajanagar. Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat and former MLA Appasaheb Pattanashetti, who too did not get tickets, expressed their displeasure. Many leaders, who got tickets, visited Yediyurappas residence to seek his blessings. A few leaders, including Bommai and Ashoka, visited temples. Some of them collected the B Form from the party office. ALSO READ | Kudligi MLA Gopalakrishna quits BJP, rejoins Congress 'BJP sinking' Criticising the saffron party, the Congress said, The exodus from BJP is in full swing! Even deputy CMs have been denied tickets. This shows the shabby treatment meted out to senior leaders by the BJP leadership. No wonder, the 40PercentSarkar is sinking beyond repair, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. Senior BJP Leaders in #Karnataka , particularly BC & SC leaders, are disappointed with apathy and insults heaped upon them by central BJP leadership, including PM & HM. Knowing that #40PercentSarkara is sinking, they are refusing to contest on BJP symbol. Do readpic.twitter.com/6mBRiU4Zl0 Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 11, 2023 READ MORE: Former Union minister Srinivas Prasad announces political retirement Senior Karnataka BJP leader Eshwarappa 'retires' from electoral politics To beat anti-incumbency, BJP may resort to Gujarat model in Karnataka BENGALURU: A day after BJP announced its first list of 189 candidates, the party is facing rebellion from the aspirants who have been denied tickets. Many of them have openly expressed their displeasure even as their followers took to the streets. Some flew to Delhi to meet the partys top leaders. In many constituencies, BJP workers protested against the party leadership for denying tickets to their leaders. They raised slogans against the party and set ablaze tyres on roads. Some even shed tears for the treatment meted out to their leaders. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Meanwhile, CM Basavaraj Bommai and former CM BS Yediyurappa expressed confidence that the rebellion will not have any impact on the partys prospects in the Assembly elections. The selection of candidates has been welcomed in almost all constituencies and talks with dissatisfied leaders are on, Bommai said. Former deputy CM and MLC Laxman Savadi said he will quit the BJP. He is expected to make an announcement in this regard on Thursday. Former minister R Shankar resigned from the party and also as MLC on Wednesday after he was denied a ticket. He quit the JDS-Congress coalition government in 2019 and joined BJP. He was made MLC by BJP. In Belagavi district, former MLA Vishwanath Patil, who was expecting the party ticket for the Bailhongal seat, has openly expressed his displeasure. After the list was announced, he said the party had cheated him. Patil won the seat on the KJP ticket in 2013. He is a follower of Yediyurappa. Many of his followers have also threatened to quit the party. In Tumkur, BJP leader and former minister Sogadu Shivanna said he would resign from the party and contest as an independent candidate. According to party sources, tickets were given to newcomers and not to loyalists in the Mandya district. ALSO READ | BJP leadership tells Jagadish Shettar not to contest, he says he will Katte Sathya to fight as independent In Bengaluru, former mayor and BJP leader Katte Sathya, who failed to get the party ticket to contest from Basavanagudi, said that he will contest as an independent. Former BBMP councillor NR Rameshs followers protested after he was denied a ticket to contest from Chickpet. After Housing Minister V Somanna was cleared for Varuna and Chamarajanagar constituencies, his followers protested in front of his house in Bengaluru demanding that the party field him again from Govindarajanagar. Udupi MLA Raghupathy Bhat and former MLA Appasaheb Pattanashetti, who too did not get tickets, expressed their displeasure. Many leaders, who got tickets, visited Yediyurappas residence to seek his blessings. A few leaders, including Bommai and Ashoka, visited temples. Some of them collected the B Form from the party office. ALSO READ | Kudligi MLA Gopalakrishna quits BJP, rejoins Congress 'BJP sinking' Criticising the saffron party, the Congress said, The exodus from BJP is in full swing! Even deputy CMs have been denied tickets. This shows the shabby treatment meted out to senior leaders by the BJP leadership. No wonder, the 40PercentSarkar is sinking beyond repair, AICC general secretary Randeep Singh Surjewala tweeted. Senior BJP Leaders in #Karnataka , particularly BC & SC leaders, are disappointed with apathy and insults heaped upon them by central BJP leadership, including PM & HM. Knowing that #40PercentSarkara is sinking, they are refusing to contest on BJP symbol. Do readpic.twitter.com/6mBRiU4Zl0 Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 11, 2023 READ MORE: Former Union minister Srinivas Prasad announces political retirement Senior Karnataka BJP leader Eshwarappa 'retires' from electoral politics To beat anti-incumbency, BJP may resort to Gujarat model in Karnataka By PTI KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday denied bail to M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in connection with the alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act in the Life Mission project. The court said he could tamper with evidence as he had influence with the ruling party and the CM. Justice A Badharudeen also denied bail to Sivasankar on medical grounds, saying the prosecution agency or jail authorities would ensure that he is provided adequate treatment. "In the instant case, the petitioner (Sivasankar) could not be held as a person who would flee from the trial. However, his propensity to tamper with the evidence and to influence witnesses could be foreseeable, since the petitioner is a person having very much influence in the ruling party of Kerala, particularly with the Chief Minister of Kerala," the high court said. The court noted that even after his initial arrest, and subsequent release on bail, Sivasankar had been reinstated in service by the government, "ignoring his involvement in serious crimes", and that he continued to hold a "pivotal post" in the state till his retirement. "That is to say, his involvement in serious crimes prior to this crime in no way affected his official stature because of his authority in the state government," it said. The court also said that the probe was at an initial stage in the case and many accused, including Swapna Prabha Suresh, are yet to be arrested. "Why the prosecution is delaying the arrest of Swapna Prabha Suresh is also a matter of serious concern, though she had an active role in the present crime. For the above reasons, the petitioner cannot be released on bail at this stage and this application is liable to be dismissed. In the result, this bail application is dismissed," the court said. Sivasankar had moved the High Court for bail in the case after he was denied relief by a special court last month. The special court had said that in view of the nature and gravity of the offence involved and the investigation being in the preliminary stage, Sivasankar could not be released on bail. Sivasankar was arrested on February 14 in connection with the alleged violation of FCRA in Life Mission, a flagship housing project of the Left government. The project was conceived by the Kerala government to provide houses for the homeless in the state. As part of the project, the construction of a housing complex at Wadakkancherry was to be undertaken using funds offered by the international humanitarian organisation Red Crescent. The construction contract was awarded to Unitac Builders and Sane Ventures. The two companies undertook the construction based on an agreement that they entered into with Red Crescent, which had agreed to provide Rs 20 crore towards the Wadakkancherry project of Life Mission. It has been alleged that Unitac builders gave kickbacks to Sivasankar and the Consul General of the UAE to get the contract. This came to light when former UAE Consulate employees Swapna Suresh and Sarith PS were arrested by the ED and Customs in another case related to the smuggling of gold into Kerala. The CBI in 2020 filed an FIR in a Kochi court under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (punishment of criminal conspiracy) and Section 35 of FCRA on a complaint by the then Wadakkanchery MLA and Congress leader Anil Akkara, listing Unitac Builders' Managing Director Santhosh Eappen as the first accused and the company Sane Ventures as the second accused. The alleged FCRA violation and corruption in the project had snowballed into a major political issue at the time with opposition parties accusing Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the controversial gold smuggling case, of having admitted before an NIA court that she had received Rs 1 crore as commission for the project. She had reportedly claimed that the money was meant for Sivasankar. KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Thursday denied bail to M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in connection with the alleged violation of the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act in the Life Mission project. The court said he could tamper with evidence as he had influence with the ruling party and the CM. Justice A Badharudeen also denied bail to Sivasankar on medical grounds, saying the prosecution agency or jail authorities would ensure that he is provided adequate treatment.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); "In the instant case, the petitioner (Sivasankar) could not be held as a person who would flee from the trial. However, his propensity to tamper with the evidence and to influence witnesses could be foreseeable, since the petitioner is a person having very much influence in the ruling party of Kerala, particularly with the Chief Minister of Kerala," the high court said. The court noted that even after his initial arrest, and subsequent release on bail, Sivasankar had been reinstated in service by the government, "ignoring his involvement in serious crimes", and that he continued to hold a "pivotal post" in the state till his retirement. "That is to say, his involvement in serious crimes prior to this crime in no way affected his official stature because of his authority in the state government," it said. The court also said that the probe was at an initial stage in the case and many accused, including Swapna Prabha Suresh, are yet to be arrested. "Why the prosecution is delaying the arrest of Swapna Prabha Suresh is also a matter of serious concern, though she had an active role in the present crime. For the above reasons, the petitioner cannot be released on bail at this stage and this application is liable to be dismissed. In the result, this bail application is dismissed," the court said. Sivasankar had moved the High Court for bail in the case after he was denied relief by a special court last month. The special court had said that in view of the nature and gravity of the offence involved and the investigation being in the preliminary stage, Sivasankar could not be released on bail. Sivasankar was arrested on February 14 in connection with the alleged violation of FCRA in Life Mission, a flagship housing project of the Left government. The project was conceived by the Kerala government to provide houses for the homeless in the state. As part of the project, the construction of a housing complex at Wadakkancherry was to be undertaken using funds offered by the international humanitarian organisation Red Crescent. The construction contract was awarded to Unitac Builders and Sane Ventures. The two companies undertook the construction based on an agreement that they entered into with Red Crescent, which had agreed to provide Rs 20 crore towards the Wadakkancherry project of Life Mission. It has been alleged that Unitac builders gave kickbacks to Sivasankar and the Consul General of the UAE to get the contract. This came to light when former UAE Consulate employees Swapna Suresh and Sarith PS were arrested by the ED and Customs in another case related to the smuggling of gold into Kerala. The CBI in 2020 filed an FIR in a Kochi court under Section 120B of the Indian Penal Code (punishment of criminal conspiracy) and Section 35 of FCRA on a complaint by the then Wadakkanchery MLA and Congress leader Anil Akkara, listing Unitac Builders' Managing Director Santhosh Eappen as the first accused and the company Sane Ventures as the second accused. The alleged FCRA violation and corruption in the project had snowballed into a major political issue at the time with opposition parties accusing Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the controversial gold smuggling case, of having admitted before an NIA court that she had received Rs 1 crore as commission for the project. She had reportedly claimed that the money was meant for Sivasankar. Antony Fernando By Express News Service KARAIKAL: Days after a fisherman here complained of his mechanised boat, which was impounded by the Sri Lankan Navy in November last year on charges of poaching, having sunk, fisherfolk on Monday submitted a petition with the Karaikal collector seeking the governments urgent intervention before other similar vessels are also reduced of their seaworthiness from neglect. According to sources, a group of 14 fishermen, including ten from Karaikal, on November 16, 2022, put out to sea from Karaikal fishing harbour in a mechanised boat belonging to M Selvamani (60) of Kottucherrimedu. That night, the Sri Lankan Navy in a fast-attack craft confronted the fishermen off Point Calimere and arrested them for alleged poaching. Selvamani's boat was impounded by the local fisheries authorities. While the fishermen were released after serving detention, the ruling by a court in Point Pedro led to Selvamani's boat being attached and it being declared an asset of the Sri Lankan government. Selvamani appealed against it in a higher court in Jaffna following which the court agreed to hear his plea on March 27 this year. Days before the hearing, Selvamani and his family read news reports from Sri Lanka of some vessels being sunk near Mullaitivu, sources said. During the hearing on March 27, Selvamani argued that he was not present when his men were arrested and contested his boat being attached and made a government asset. The Jaffna court then allowed him to accompany Sri Lankan fisheries authorities to inspect the boat's condition. Meanwhile, Selvamani learnt that the fisheries authorities had given away his boat to a fisher in Mullaitivu. After waiting till April 7 to receive the court order, Selvamani and officials from the fisheries department and Myliddy fishing harbour went to the place off Mullaitivu in a small vessel only to see his boat almost submerged. "The boat was almost under water. They had removed my vessels gantry," Selvamani said. The gantry is an integral component of a trawler which helps the boat to trawl the fish catch. It may be noted that trawling is, however, banned in Sri Lanka. "It is mentioned in the court order that the boat should be maintained well until the legal proceedings are over. However, the vessel has been left to ruin. We demand retrieval of the boat and compensation for damage," he added. S Kamaraj, a fisherfolk representative from Kottucherrimedu, who submitted the petition highlighting Selvamanis demands to the collector, said, "It would take several lakh rupees to restore a vessels seaworthiness. It may not be possible at all. We condemn such actions by Sri Lanka, leaving our boats to meet such a horrific fate." KARAIKAL: Days after a fisherman here complained of his mechanised boat, which was impounded by the Sri Lankan Navy in November last year on charges of poaching, having sunk, fisherfolk on Monday submitted a petition with the Karaikal collector seeking the governments urgent intervention before other similar vessels are also reduced of their seaworthiness from neglect. According to sources, a group of 14 fishermen, including ten from Karaikal, on November 16, 2022, put out to sea from Karaikal fishing harbour in a mechanised boat belonging to M Selvamani (60) of Kottucherrimedu. That night, the Sri Lankan Navy in a fast-attack craft confronted the fishermen off Point Calimere and arrested them for alleged poaching. Selvamani's boat was impounded by the local fisheries authorities. While the fishermen were released after serving detention, the ruling by a court in Point Pedro led to Selvamani's boat being attached and it being declared an asset of the Sri Lankan government. Selvamani appealed against it in a higher court in Jaffna following which the court agreed to hear his plea on March 27 this year.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Days before the hearing, Selvamani and his family read news reports from Sri Lanka of some vessels being sunk near Mullaitivu, sources said. During the hearing on March 27, Selvamani argued that he was not present when his men were arrested and contested his boat being attached and made a government asset. The Jaffna court then allowed him to accompany Sri Lankan fisheries authorities to inspect the boat's condition. Meanwhile, Selvamani learnt that the fisheries authorities had given away his boat to a fisher in Mullaitivu. After waiting till April 7 to receive the court order, Selvamani and officials from the fisheries department and Myliddy fishing harbour went to the place off Mullaitivu in a small vessel only to see his boat almost submerged. "The boat was almost under water. They had removed my vessels gantry," Selvamani said. The gantry is an integral component of a trawler which helps the boat to trawl the fish catch. It may be noted that trawling is, however, banned in Sri Lanka. "It is mentioned in the court order that the boat should be maintained well until the legal proceedings are over. However, the vessel has been left to ruin. We demand retrieval of the boat and compensation for damage," he added. S Kamaraj, a fisherfolk representative from Kottucherrimedu, who submitted the petition highlighting Selvamanis demands to the collector, said, "It would take several lakh rupees to restore a vessels seaworthiness. It may not be possible at all. We condemn such actions by Sri Lanka, leaving our boats to meet such a horrific fate." Sneha Belcin By Online Desk Author Vincent Lloyd in his article Human Dignity is Black Dignity refers to American social reformer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his quarrels with his master Covey. "After the fight, Covey will still rule over him," Lloyd writes. Lloyd argues black dignity is an action. The action is a struggle against domination. It is the same for Dalits. Thus, resisting the oppressors, then relapsing as if in a bid to catch one's breath, and then again taking up arms against oppression becomes the binary living condition for the Dalits. For the Dalits and the oppressed, discrimination and exclusion exists even before they were born. Researcher BRC, in her article on Navigating Through Healthcare As a Dalit Non-Binary Person, writes, "For the oppressed, isolation is not a choice. It's an inevitability. We are unable to navigate this society without constantly being preached about "Dalit merit" and "Reservation." The upper castes flaunt their caste surname and on the same hand turn around and say that caste is not based on birth but on work. We feel like we live in a country that has no space for us. Our people, most often, have to hide their identity for fear of discrimination. So grappling with the social boycott, micro-aggression, and loneliness becomes a major part of our lives." The impact of oppression that society forces a Dalit to undergo can be traced back to the person's ancestors. Thus, one whole life becomes a struggle to break free of the shackles that gag their psyche. Suicides of the marginalised as a subject of study gains relevance against the backdrop of the data presented by the Union Education Minister in Parliament. The data reveals that out of the 122 students who took their life between 2014 to 2021 in the premier institutions including IITs and IIMs, 58 per cent belong to OBC, SC, ST, and minority communities. Talking about the kind of alienation a student faces at premier educational institutions, research scholar Arunesh says, "If a Dalit student goes to IIT and tries to talk about anti-caste leaders such as Ambedkar or Periyar; or discusses affirmative action with students belonging to oppressor castes, they will ostracize the dalit student. Moreover, students who consume Meat will be subjected to infrastructural discrimination. The question of identity, alienation, and segregation starts here, from a seemingly harmless segregation of students based on food 'choice." Aarthy, a psychology graduate based out of Chennai, said, I studied in a savarna school where some of the students from marginalized communities did score fewer marks in the tests. Consequently, we were manipulated into believing that we lack the talent and skills which the upper caste students possess. We believed our condition as narrated by the upper-caste students to be true. We believed we can never outperform them in studies. But only after we got into colleges and with experience of several years that we understood that what we were made to believe was not true." There is no dearth of reports about oppressed people quitting their jobs or resorting to the extreme measure of taking their life unable to cope with the way they were treated by society and the system. Mental health problems of oppressed people mainly stem from the kind of discrimination they undergo at educational institutions, workplaces, and society. The social, political, and economical effects of caste and gender discrimination. With the help of the mainstream mental health narrative, we have collectively gotten to the point where the phrase 'get help' looks familiar, moralistic, intellectual, and affectionate. BRC writes, "Eventually, I gave up on therapy. I considered all the discrimination my ancestors and I had gone through a closed chapter. I navigated college and work experiencing debilitating social anxiety, largely without ever talking about it. And when I finally started to apply to colleges again, it came back. All the pain and discrimination came back. And when I looked, I had no one to share it with. No support groups or communities." The isolation and the anxiety BRC writes about resonate with so many who come from oppressed castes, genders and backgrounds. "I got pro bono therapy from students who were doing their master's degree. But since I come from a psychology background, I knew where they would make mistakes because even experienced therapists make mistakes," says Aarthy talking about how she sought help. BRC further writes, "How can I as a Dalit person ever feel comfortable talking about caste to a therapist who repeats every word except caste? How can I feel comfortable discussing my Non-Binary personhood, and problems with school or work when every one of these is marked with my Dalit identity? Or when an upper caste doctor can physically touch me inappropriately and be sure that his job wont be at risk because he knows the management? I wish I could talk about these issues in isolation. But I cant. Even LGBTQIA+ spaces in India are led by upper castes who are every bit as casteist as their cis and heterosexual counterparts." "'Among all the other problems, do you think mental health issues are important' is one question that you hear when you do dare talk about it. Who can afford to have mental health crises in India and who can afford to talk about it? And who decides who can afford to have it? What decides who can afford to have it? And who can afford to seek help for it? Is mental health free in India? Is it accessible?" are some questions Arunesh puts forward discussing the mental health problems of people from marginalized backgrounds. Nazriya, the Coimbatore-based transwoman cop, who was forced to quit her job after twice trying to take her life following discrimination she suffered at the hands of her higher-ups, says she was advised by her parents that she got to endure the discrimination and carry on working. "We protest, but we also endure." To be asked to "endure" and then to explode into "I can't do this anymore" is an inevitable routine. But, it happens to an exhaustive degree for people who come from marginalized sections. "I can never recover from my childhood loneliness," Rohith Vemula writes. How tiring it must have been to carry this fatigue around? This, with heaps of other burdens. People from marginalized backgrounds also carry the burden of mobilizing the community. "Say I am first generation graduate and I join IIT - the minute I join I would only imagine the hardships my parents go through and I would ask myself to undergo whatever difficulties to finish the course," says Arunesh. He adds, "They say that a community only develops or becomes better when people from the marginalised community suffer. This is exactly why I get angry when I watch Pariyerum Perumal. Someone is attacking me and I am being asked to tolerate and study? In a constructive context, it makes sense. But the scar that appears on that individual, why are we refusing to talk about that?" Aruna, a Subject Matter Expert based out of Pondicherry, says her parents did pressurize her to study but not for their sake. "They wanted me to study to become someone, to be someone in society. They always say that they don't want anything from me, and they just want me to look after myself," she says. Nazriya's case is under investigation. She takes part in the enquiry but has no hope of rejoining. "I will beg in the streets," she said when I asked what she was going to do. She might have made her choice, but it is not so for everyone. "Right when you want to quit a toxic workplace, voices of your collective social consciousness question you. It makes you feel that you're betraying your people by choosing an easier way out and not representing them. You'd feel that you're being selfish and not giving back to the community. The dilemma will add more mental pressure, but these voices, internal or external, aren't completely wrong either; considering the fact that Ambedkar and many other social reformers endured so much more for the marginalized, to be in such a respectable position, where our voices are heard and represented" says Arunesh. It is one thing when individuals like our parents and friends ask us to endure the pain. It is with the assurance that they are going to walk beside us. But it is completely different when institutions do that -- it comes from a place of sheer hatred and discrimination. After all, they can only reflect the states negligence towards the oppressed. Author Vincent Lloyd in his article Human Dignity is Black Dignity refers to American social reformer and abolitionist Frederick Douglass and his quarrels with his master Covey. "After the fight, Covey will still rule over him," Lloyd writes. Lloyd argues black dignity is an action. The action is a struggle against domination. It is the same for Dalits. googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); Thus, resisting the oppressors, then relapsing as if in a bid to catch one's breath, and then again taking up arms against oppression becomes the binary living condition for the Dalits. For the Dalits and the oppressed, discrimination and exclusion exists even before they were born. Researcher BRC, in her article on Navigating Through Healthcare As a Dalit Non-Binary Person, writes, "For the oppressed, isolation is not a choice. It's an inevitability. We are unable to navigate this society without constantly being preached about "Dalit merit" and "Reservation." The upper castes flaunt their caste surname and on the same hand turn around and say that caste is not based on birth but on work. We feel like we live in a country that has no space for us. Our people, most often, have to hide their identity for fear of discrimination. So grappling with the social boycott, micro-aggression, and loneliness becomes a major part of our lives." The impact of oppression that society forces a Dalit to undergo can be traced back to the person's ancestors. Thus, one whole life becomes a struggle to break free of the shackles that gag their psyche. Suicides of the marginalised as a subject of study gains relevance against the backdrop of the data presented by the Union Education Minister in Parliament. The data reveals that out of the 122 students who took their life between 2014 to 2021 in the premier institutions including IITs and IIMs, 58 per cent belong to OBC, SC, ST, and minority communities. Talking about the kind of alienation a student faces at premier educational institutions, research scholar Arunesh says, "If a Dalit student goes to IIT and tries to talk about anti-caste leaders such as Ambedkar or Periyar; or discusses affirmative action with students belonging to oppressor castes, they will ostracize the dalit student. Moreover, students who consume Meat will be subjected to infrastructural discrimination. The question of identity, alienation, and segregation starts here, from a seemingly harmless segregation of students based on food 'choice." Aarthy, a psychology graduate based out of Chennai, said, I studied in a savarna school where some of the students from marginalized communities did score fewer marks in the tests. Consequently, we were manipulated into believing that we lack the talent and skills which the upper caste students possess. We believed our condition as narrated by the upper-caste students to be true. We believed we can never outperform them in studies. But only after we got into colleges and with experience of several years that we understood that what we were made to believe was not true." There is no dearth of reports about oppressed people quitting their jobs or resorting to the extreme measure of taking their life unable to cope with the way they were treated by society and the system. Mental health problems of oppressed people mainly stem from the kind of discrimination they undergo at educational institutions, workplaces, and society. The social, political, and economical effects of caste and gender discrimination. With the help of the mainstream mental health narrative, we have collectively gotten to the point where the phrase 'get help' looks familiar, moralistic, intellectual, and affectionate. BRC writes, "Eventually, I gave up on therapy. I considered all the discrimination my ancestors and I had gone through a closed chapter. I navigated college and work experiencing debilitating social anxiety, largely without ever talking about it. And when I finally started to apply to colleges again, it came back. All the pain and discrimination came back. And when I looked, I had no one to share it with. No support groups or communities." The isolation and the anxiety BRC writes about resonate with so many who come from oppressed castes, genders and backgrounds. "I got pro bono therapy from students who were doing their master's degree. But since I come from a psychology background, I knew where they would make mistakes because even experienced therapists make mistakes," says Aarthy talking about how she sought help. BRC further writes, "How can I as a Dalit person ever feel comfortable talking about caste to a therapist who repeats every word except caste? How can I feel comfortable discussing my Non-Binary personhood, and problems with school or work when every one of these is marked with my Dalit identity? Or when an upper caste doctor can physically touch me inappropriately and be sure that his job wont be at risk because he knows the management? I wish I could talk about these issues in isolation. But I cant. Even LGBTQIA+ spaces in India are led by upper castes who are every bit as casteist as their cis and heterosexual counterparts." "'Among all the other problems, do you think mental health issues are important' is one question that you hear when you do dare talk about it. Who can afford to have mental health crises in India and who can afford to talk about it? And who decides who can afford to have it? What decides who can afford to have it? And who can afford to seek help for it? Is mental health free in India? Is it accessible?" are some questions Arunesh puts forward discussing the mental health problems of people from marginalized backgrounds. Nazriya, the Coimbatore-based transwoman cop, who was forced to quit her job after twice trying to take her life following discrimination she suffered at the hands of her higher-ups, says she was advised by her parents that she got to endure the discrimination and carry on working. "We protest, but we also endure." To be asked to "endure" and then to explode into "I can't do this anymore" is an inevitable routine. But, it happens to an exhaustive degree for people who come from marginalized sections. "I can never recover from my childhood loneliness," Rohith Vemula writes. How tiring it must have been to carry this fatigue around? This, with heaps of other burdens. People from marginalized backgrounds also carry the burden of mobilizing the community. "Say I am first generation graduate and I join IIT - the minute I join I would only imagine the hardships my parents go through and I would ask myself to undergo whatever difficulties to finish the course," says Arunesh. He adds, "They say that a community only develops or becomes better when people from the marginalised community suffer. This is exactly why I get angry when I watch Pariyerum Perumal. Someone is attacking me and I am being asked to tolerate and study? In a constructive context, it makes sense. But the scar that appears on that individual, why are we refusing to talk about that?" Aruna, a Subject Matter Expert based out of Pondicherry, says her parents did pressurize her to study but not for their sake. "They wanted me to study to become someone, to be someone in society. They always say that they don't want anything from me, and they just want me to look after myself," she says. Nazriya's case is under investigation. She takes part in the enquiry but has no hope of rejoining. "I will beg in the streets," she said when I asked what she was going to do. She might have made her choice, but it is not so for everyone. "Right when you want to quit a toxic workplace, voices of your collective social consciousness question you. It makes you feel that you're betraying your people by choosing an easier way out and not representing them. You'd feel that you're being selfish and not giving back to the community. The dilemma will add more mental pressure, but these voices, internal or external, aren't completely wrong either; considering the fact that Ambedkar and many other social reformers endured so much more for the marginalized, to be in such a respectable position, where our voices are heard and represented" says Arunesh. It is one thing when individuals like our parents and friends ask us to endure the pain. It is with the assurance that they are going to walk beside us. But it is completely different when institutions do that -- it comes from a place of sheer hatred and discrimination. After all, they can only reflect the states negligence towards the oppressed. By AFP China's President Xi Jinping called on the country's armed forces to "strengthen military training oriented towards actual combat", state media reported Wednesday, after Beijing conducted military drills intended to intimidate Taiwan. Xi's comments, made on a naval inspection trip on Tuesday, come amid heightened tension in the region after the show of force by Beijing, which sees self-ruled Taiwan as its territory. China on Monday concluded three days of military drills launched in response to a visit last week by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen to the United States, where she met a bipartisan group of lawmakers and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Xi on Tuesday told the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command Navy that the military must "resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability", state broadcaster CCTV reported. Beijing has also criticised a plan for US forces to use a growing number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan. ALSO READ: Taiwan detects Chinese warships, planes around island, day after military drills end The United States and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills this week, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken committing to "standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea". Xi added Tuesday that China must be "innovative in its concepts and methods of combat". Disputed waters China and Taiwan split following a civil war in 1949. Beijing views the democratic island as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, stepping up its rhetoric and military activity around the island in recent years. The PLA simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of Taiwan during its recent three-day "Joint Sword" exercise. EXPLAINER: The Taiwan Strait, a history of crises Taiwan's defence ministry said it continued to detect Chinese warships and aircraft around the island even after drills officially concluded. Beijing warned this week that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions. Washington has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily. It has, however, sold weapons to Taipei for decades to help ensure its self-defence, and offered political support. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea -- a strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually -- despite an international court ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have overlapping claims in the sea, while the United States sends naval vessels through it to assert freedom of navigation rights in international waters. ALSO READ: China military 'ready to fight' after drills near Taiwan By PTI KHARTOUM: Sudan's military on Thursday warned of potential clashes with the country's powerful paramilitary force, which it said deployed troops in the capital and other cities. Tensions between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally-backed deal with political parties to restore the country's democratic transition. In a statement, the military said the buildup of the RSF in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country has come without "the approval of, or coordination with" the armed forces' leadership. It said the RSF measures "have stirred up panic and fear among people, exacerbated security risks and increased tensions between regular forces." The military said it has attempted to "find peaceful solutions to such violations" to prevent an armed conflict with the RSF. The military's statement came as the RSF deployed troops in the Northern Province on the border with Egypt. Local media reported that the paramilitary force has attempted to build a military base there. The RSF said its deployment across the country aims at "achieving security and stability and fighting human trafficking and illegal migration." Recent tensions are rooted in the integration of the RSF into the military. The RSF, led by powerful Gen.Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, grew out of former militias that executed a brutal crackdown in Sudan's Darfur region over the past two decades. Sudan has plunged into chaos since a 2021 military coup removed a Western-backed, power-sharing administration and dashed Sudanese aspirations for democratic rule after three decades of autocracy and repression under Islamist President Omar al-Bashir. A monthslong popular uprising forced the military's overthrow of al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019. Since then, the former president, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over the Darfur conflict, has been imprisoned in Khartoum. KHARTOUM: Sudan's military on Thursday warned of potential clashes with the country's powerful paramilitary force, which it said deployed troops in the capital and other cities. Tensions between the military and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally-backed deal with political parties to restore the country's democratic transition. In a statement, the military said the buildup of the RSF in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country has come without "the approval of, or coordination with" the armed forces' leadership.googletag.cmd.push(function() {googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-8052921-2'); }); It said the RSF measures "have stirred up panic and fear among people, exacerbated security risks and increased tensions between regular forces." The military said it has attempted to "find peaceful solutions to such violations" to prevent an armed conflict with the RSF. The military's statement came as the RSF deployed troops in the Northern Province on the border with Egypt. Local media reported that the paramilitary force has attempted to build a military base there. The RSF said its deployment across the country aims at "achieving security and stability and fighting human trafficking and illegal migration." Recent tensions are rooted in the integration of the RSF into the military. The RSF, led by powerful Gen.Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, grew out of former militias that executed a brutal crackdown in Sudan's Darfur region over the past two decades. Sudan has plunged into chaos since a 2021 military coup removed a Western-backed, power-sharing administration and dashed Sudanese aspirations for democratic rule after three decades of autocracy and repression under Islamist President Omar al-Bashir. A monthslong popular uprising forced the military's overthrow of al-Bashir and his Islamist government in April 2019. Since then, the former president, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court over the Darfur conflict, has been imprisoned in Khartoum. . Sorry, that page not found! Please visit our Home Page for latest updates One of the world's deadliest volcanos has lain dormant since it last erupted in 1985, but a surge in seismic activity indicates it could awaken in the 'coming days.' April 13, 2023, 15:31 One of world's deadliest volcanos poised to erupt in 'coming days' STEPANAKERT, APRIL 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: Colombia's Nevado del Ruiz registered an unbelievable 6,000 earthquakes per day last week, leading officials to raise the alert to the second highest scale and evacuate more than 2,500 families in the area, the Daily Mail reported. Some 57,000 people live in the volcano's hazard zone, which is spread across parts of six provinces, according to Colombia's Geological Service (CGS). The volcano's eruption in 1985 killed more than 25,000 people, the fourth-deadliest volcanic eruption in human history, leaving people buried under avalanches of earth and rock fragments. CGS believes last week's earthquakes are due to magma moving through the fault system, setting the stage for what could be Nevado del Ruiz's next deadly eruption. The Nevado del Ruiz straddles the border between Colombia's Tolima and Caldas provinces. The volcano, which formed about 150,000 years ago, reaches an elevation of 17,717 feet and sits about 80 miles west of the capital city Bogota. It is a stratovolcano composed of many layers of lava that alternate between hardened volcanic ash and rocks. On November 13, 1985, Nevado del Ruiz spewed hot ash and lava some 23,000 feet into the atmosphere, Earth Magazine reports. The event caused the ground to rumble, releasing mudflows towering more than 98 feet through the region. The eruption was not considered large, but heat released during the event, surrounding glacier capping on the volcano, released the deadly mudflow on villages below. Now that Nevado del Ruiz is showing signs of activity, officials are not taking any chances and evacuating nearby people. President Gustavo Petro has asked for evacuations to move more quickly. However, some residents said they do not plan on leaving their homes. Authorities said that children must evacuate even if adult family members choose to stay. Before last week's activity, officials said an average of 50 earthquakes per day were recorded, with minor events over the past 10 years. CGS reported that increased seismic activity was first observed last month, with 6,500 earthquakes on March 28 to 11,000 earthquakes on March 29. S.Koreas Job additions snap 9-month slowdown in March Seoul, April 12: South Korea's job additions snapped their nine-month decline in March in the face of an economic slowdown, but most jobs were created for the over-60 age group, data revealed on Wednesday. S.Korea's Job additions snap 9-month slowdown in March The number of employed people came to 28.22 million last month, up around 469,000 from a year earlier, according to the data compiled by Statistics Korea.The country's monthly job additions had been slowing for nine consecutive months through February, when it added 312,000 jobs, reports Yonhap News Agency.In March, the jobless rate edged down 0.1 percentage point on-year to 2.9 per cent, marking the lowest level for any March since the agency adopted the current data compiling methods to analyse the job market in 1999.Despite the strong job market, most of the added jobs, some 547,000, were for people aged 60 and above, reflecting the still challenging job conditions for younger generations.Excluding senior employment, South Korea's job additions moved down 78,000. Those for people in their 20s and 40s lost 86,000 and 63,000, respectively, over the period.The overall job creation was led by the health and welfare sector, which advanced 186,000 on-year, followed by the accommodation and restaurant industry with 177,000.Information and communications businesses added 65,000 jobs as well.On the other hand, jobs in the wholesale and retail sectors decreased 66,000, with the construction segment losing 20,000 jobs.The number of jobs in the manufacturing industry also moved down 49,000 over the period, extending losses to a third month amid the sluggish exports.The country's outbound shipments fell 13.6 per cent on-year in March, falling for the sixth consecutive month, mainly due to weak global demand for semiconductors.In 2022, South Korea added an average of 816,000 jobs on-year each month, driven by the post-pandemic recovery.The Finance Ministry earlier said it expects the figure to drop to a mere 100,000 in 2023 due to the slowing economy and the declining population.IANS12 April 2023 Shared Recently! Trade talks with UK underway, Piyush Goyal reiterates Indias position By Shailesh Yadav, Paris [France], April 12: Clearing the air regarding the ongoing trade talks between India and the UK, Union minister Piyush Goyal stressed that negotiations are "underway but some credible action should be taken against the incidents that happened in Britain," referring to the recent pro-Khalistan activities by some elements outside Indian High Commission in London. Trade talks with UK underway, Piyush Goyal reiterates India's position 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 national flag of India. The protest was being held to denounce the recent police action in Punjab."Trade talks are underway but some credible action should be taken against the incidents that happened in Britain," Minister Goyal told ANI.The India-UK Free Trade Agreement talks were initiated on June 17, 2022.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."India earlier "denied" the UK publication's report and termed it as "baseless".MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi recently said that India expected to see more action, than just assurance and hoped that foreign governments will act against and prosecute those involved in the incident.Further, regarding the matter of reviewing wheat export policy, Minister Goyal said that there are no such plans to review the wheat export ban decision at the moment.As the tensions between Russia and Ukraine turned into a full-blown war in 2022, export demand for wheat got a boost, resulting in lifetime high prices of the staple food grain in the local mandis, pushing India put a restriction on exports. Ukraine and Russia are two major suppliers of wheat.To manage the overall food security of the country as well as meet the needs of the neighbouring and other vulnerable countries, India then amended the export policy of wheat by putting its export under the "prohibited" category.Also, multiple rounds of heat waves in several wheat-growing regions in India before the rabi harvest last year affected crops. Wheat pods in the mature stage typically shrink if overexposed to heat.This year too, there are reports of crop loss due to unseasonal rains. There were reports from various wheat-growing states that unseasonal rains have flattened standing crops in some regions. Wheat, a rabi crop was in an advanced maturing stage, and was expected to hit mandis in a fortnight or so.Minister Goyal said that they would send teams out across most of the states on wheat as there has been minor lustre loss or some amount of moisture. However, he said it will impact the government's procurement drive."I have been receiving reports that in the next few weeks, we'll be seeing a significant amount of stocks coming in there. There is absolutely no concern about the procurement in the current year, particularly since the export of wheat continues to be restricted and will not be allowed except for the G2G relationships," Goyal said.ANI12 April 2023 Shared Recently! SICOM swings back to profit in 18 months Mumbai, April 12: The State Industrial Investment Corporation of Maharashtra (SICOM) has scripted a remarkable comeback story with the key financial ratios of the company bouncing back to black along with an improvement in business while its stressed assets declined substantially leading to overall profitability. The company has achieved the comeback by successfully tackling bad loans, which once blotted its books, along with overall cost reduction practices and strict financial control and liquidity management. SICOM swings back to profit in 18 months Top company officials said that in a period of one and half years, SICOM could recover as much as Rs.177 crore, worth of sticky loans. "Further, through our treasury portfolios, additional liquidity of about Rs.147.5 crore was infused. In place of the negative carry of Rs.11 crore, there is a positive carry of Rs. 1 crore for FY 23," Dr Nitin B. Jawale, a career civil servant and the Managing Director of SICOM, said. Carry is a term used in finance to denote the difference between a firm's income and expenditure."Due to some good recoveries around the third quarter of FY 2022-23, our CRAR (Capital-to-Risk-Weighted Assets or Capital Adequacy Ratio) went up to 21% and the Leverage Ratio went down to a level of 5.64 times of the equity. We have set an internal deadline to steer clear of the default situation with the State Public Sector Units (PSUs) soon. We have also submitted a board-approved action plan to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to come out of the Prompt Corrective Action (PCA) framework," he added. SICOM was placed under PCA by RBI after a spike in its net-NPAs a couple of years back.SICOM was set up by the Government of Maharashtra in 1966, to act as a catalyst for the industrial development of the State by providing financial assistance and advisory services to entrepreneurs. SICOM raises capital from the State PSUs and onward lend it to last mile entrepreneurs for taking up industrial activities.Through the six decades of its existence, SICOM, as a Systemically Important NBFC (NBFC-ND-SI as designated by RBI) helped promote over 8,000 industrial units in the State of which some of the prominent names include Future Group, Lupin Laboratories, Supreme Industries, Bajaj Auto, Jindal Iron and Steel.Chips started going down for SICOM by the end of FY 2020-21 when the general economic slowdown induced by COVID-19 pandemic hit the company badly leading to piling up of NPAs, The PCA framework put the company on a sticky wicket as drying up of fresh business started choking its cash flow. This has left SICOM with little options but to aggressively recover NPAs.The company is also planning to raise capital from State-run PSUs since it is now in a position to restart its industrial lending operations. SICOM is also planning to focus on the industrialization of unindustrialized and backward areas of the state.SICOM was set up by the Government of Maharashtra in 1966, to act as a catalyst in the industrial development of the State by providing financial assistance and advisory services to entrepreneurs. SICOM is entitled to take deposits from the State Public Sector Undertakings and it uses this capital to provide credit to entrepreneurs for industrial activities. In the six decades of its existence, SICOM, as a Systemically Important NBFC (NBFC-ND-SI as designated by RBI), helped promote over 8,000 industrial units of which some of the prominent names are Future Group, Lupin Laboratories, Supreme Industries, Bajaj Auto, Jindal Iron, and steel, etc.This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI12 April 2023 Shared Recently! Talent Remains the Focal Point for HR Leaders at the SHRM India Talent 2023 Leadership Summit Mumbai, April 12: today successfully concluded the final edition of its 'SHRMI Talent Leadership Summit' in Mumbai. With the theme - 'Lead the Charge' - the conference is one of the biggest gatherings of prominent HR Leaders. More than 20 eminent speakers and over 600 HR Leaders and CXOs participated in the Talent Summit. Hugely admired and reputed, the SHRMI Talent Leadership Summit is a uniquely curated event focused on 'All Things Talent'. The first edition of the 'SHRMI Talent 2023 Leadership Summit' was held on 05th April 2023 in Bengaluru. The Conference delved into topics encompassing the long and short of Talent Management. Talent Remains the Focal Point for HR Leaders at the SHRM India Talent 2023 Leadership Summit Commenting on the success of the summit, Achal Khanna, CEO-SHRM India, APAC and MENA said, "It is a privilege to host SHRMI Talent 2023 Leadership Summit. I am thankful to all our esteemed speakers and participants. The new emerging landscape of work is talent centric. Understanding the talent space, managing the workforce and equipping them with the latest skill is the need of the hour. Exploring the latest innovation and technology is the way forward to building a successful organisation. Today's time demands HR professionals to take over leadership roles, and we as HR Leaders will have to make the first move, we will have to lead the charge in order to develop our businesses."The day was kick-started by Achal Khanna who in her welcome address expressed gratitude towards the HR Leaders for participating in the summit.The welcome address was followed by a keynote address - 'Sustainable Talent Management Solving the New Puzzle', wherein Dr Santrupt Misra Group Director, Birla Carbon; Director, Chemicals; and Director, Group Human Resources, Aditya Birla Group highlighted the need of sustainable talent management in today's scenario of work.Ankit Aggarwal, Founder and CEO, Unstop in his Spotlight session on Talent Acquisition - 'Unravel Secrets to Engage the Right Talent' talked about technology and how it is next to impossible to engage employees without technological aids. The session explored innovative ways to move to the next curve of leveraging technology to support an organizational strategy by improving ways to engage Talent.In a fireside chat on Talent Acquisition, Aarti Srivastava CHRO, Capgemini and Rohan Sylvester Talent Strategy Advisor - Indeed.com discussed the Art and Science of Successful Hiring. Both expert speakers pondered over the ways in which today's research and analysis combined with innovation can transform talent acquisition. The conversation carried on to how the three pillars - data, automation, and the elevation of traditional recruitment marketing through employer branding - can help elevate the talent acquisition function.Neha Pant Associate Director - Knowledge and Advisory, SHRM India presented the overview of 'Talent Management for Industry 4.0' report. SHRM India in Partnership with Pragyan Advisory prepared the report on Leading Talent Management Practices Redefining the Industry 4.0. The 'Talent Management for Industry 4.0' report attempts to answer the BIG question- 'What constitutes the Talent Management ecosystem of the most renowned and successful technology companies operating out of India?'The CEO Speak session on Talent Management - 'The Equity Imperative Nurturing Talent with Fairness' was hosted by Achal Khanna CEO, SHRM India, APAC and MENA, Ashok Ramachandran President and CEO, Schindler India and South Asia and Rama Shankar Pandey, CEO, Tata Green Batteries. The trio discussed how employees may actually be working in a blatantly unfair workplace when they are subjected to the same rigid norms and procedures with little regard for individual requirements. They stressed equity strategy becomes imperative to level the playing field in such a scenario.The day witnessed a number of knowledge and spotlight sessions along with debates and panel discussions. The list of eminent speakers and panelists included Dr Santrupt Misra Group Director, Birla Carbon, Director, Chemicals, and Director, Group Human Resources, Aditya Birla Group; Ankit Aggarwal Founder and CEO, Unstop; Carmishta Mitra Group CLO, Axis Bank; Aarti Srivastava CHRO, Capgemini; Rohan Sylvester Talent Strategy Advisor - Indeed.com; Achal Khanna CEO, SHRM India, APAC and MENA, Ashok Ramachandran President and CEO, Schindler India and South Asia; Ashok Ramachandran President and CEO, Schindler India and South Asia Axis Bank; Sapna Purohit CHRO, Sun Pharma; Sudipta Marjit Group Head Human Resource, Tata Autocomp; Sushma Kumar Global Head - People Management and Career Academy, HSBC; Ankur Gupta Senior Director - Marketing, Skillsoft; Hemalakshmi Raju Chief Learning Officer (Hydrocarbon Business), Reliance Industries; Shruti Malhotra Head of Global Learning and Growth India, Siemens Ltd.; Pratik Mehta Head - Mahindra Leadership University, Mahindra; Sakaar Anand India Head and Head of HR, BMC; Dr Vishwanath Joshi Senior VP and Master Facilitator, Great Manager Institute; Sonal Vaidya Global Head - Organisation Development and Effectiveness, L and T Technology Services; Pooja Bansal CHRO, Piaggio Vehicles, India; Savio Dsouza Director, Human Resources, India and South West Asia, The Coca-Cola Company; Tathagata Basu Chief Talent Officer, Piramal Pharma and Anita Bhogle Speaker, Author, Partner and Learning Content Head, Prosearch Consultants and Bizpunditz.SHRM, the Society for Human Resource Management, creates better workplaces where employers and employees thrive together. As the voice of all things work, workers and the workplace, SHRM is the foremost expert, convener and thought leader on issues impacting today's evolving workplaces. More than 95 per cent of Fortune 500 companies rely on SHRM to be their go-to resource for all things work and their business partner in creating next-generation workplaces. With 320,000+ HR and business executive members in 165 countries, SHRM impacts the lives of more than 115 million workers and families globally. Visit for more information.This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI12 April 2023 Shared Recently! Karnataka is diverting Mhadei water for steel plants, says Goa MP Panaji, April 12: South Goa Member of Parliament Francisco Sardinha on Wednesday said that there is no issue giving Mhadei water for drinking purposes, but Karnataka's main aim behind diverting water is for steel plants. 'Karnataka is diverting Mhadei water for steel plants,' says Goa MP Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Sardinha said that if the water is diverted for irrigation purposes, then Goa will suffer."We have no problem if the water is taken for drinking purposes. But we can't allow it for irrigation purposes. Karnataka's main aim to divert Mhadei water is for steel plants," Sardinha said."If water is diverted then the environment, flora and fauna will be destroyed. There will be scarcity of water in Goa. Nobody knows what will be a picture (without water). The Goa government should look at our interests," he said.He said that even the Union Home Minister Amit Shah made a statement over Mhadei diversion.Amit Shah during a rally in Belagavi on January 28 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.""One side Maharashtra is taking water and the other side Karnataka is also taking water. But the government is not speaking on this issue," Sardinha said.Recently Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant had said that he will speak to Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis with regard to work which has been restarted on the controversial Virdi dam in Sindhudurg district across the Valvanti river."Our officers have visited the site of Virdi dam. On our request, Maharashtra has stopped the ongoing work. Maharashtra will also have to take permission from Mhadei Water Management Authority (PRAWAH), before starting the work," Sawant said.BJP leaders in Goa have said that in no circumstances would the state government compromise on the Mhadei issue.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.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Accord announces volume production of new line of GNSS receiver ICs with GlobalFoundries New Delhi, April 12: Accord Software and Systems Pvt. Ltd, a leading provider of Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) solutions, today announced the volume production of Accord's new line of GNSS receiver IC's, the AST-500 Kaveri series manufactured with GlobalFoundries (GF). Accord announces volume production of new line of GNSS receiver IC's with GlobalFoundries GF is a leading semiconductor manufacturer with locations throughout the world offering a wide range of differentiated process technologies that enable high-performance products across multiple domains and applications.Advanced features of Kaveri seriesAccord's AST-500 Kaveri series of System on Chip (SoC) GNSS receiver IC's, fabricated by GF in a competitive technology, enables a broad range of feature-rich GNSS positioning and timing solutions. The advanced multi-constellation, multi-frequency GNSS engine leverages the Power-Performance-Area (PPA) benefits of the low-power, high-density semiconductor process technology, delivering contemporary GNSS performance in sensitivity, accuracy, Time to First Fix (TTFF) and interference/multipath mitigation.The series is fully compatible with the Indian satellite constellation NavIC, catering to the regional needs of navigation. The IC's support both code and carrier-based positioning enabling low-cost precision solutions.The SoC's constitute an advanced multi-constellation GNSS engine as well as a low-power computing platform, along with high-speed internal RAM and a wide range of industry standard peripherals such as CAN 2.0, SPI, QSPI, I2C, and UART, facilitating development of location centric applications with no additional components.Applications of Kaveri seriesThe AST-500 Kaveri series of SoC's enable Accord's own next-generation GNSS receiver products, as well as OEM customers designing high-performance GNSS receivers into their products. In particular, products for the Indian markets can leverage NavIC, India's regional GNSS satellite constellation, for applications including public transportation, passenger safety, emergency services, highway toll collection, traffic monitoring, logistics, delivery, timing synchronization, and supply-chain.Support from the foundryWith over 30 years of technology development and solutions expertise in the GNSS area, Accord was looking to enhance their legacy AST-200 series of GNSS IC's by implementing their advanced multi-GNSS receiver technology in very low power and small footprint silicon."We were faced with a choice of semiconductor manufacturers," said Murali Krishna S., Accord CEO, "and we are very happy with our decision to go with GlobalFoundries. Accord especially appreciates the close support that we received from GF in taking our designs through the MPW, qualification, and volume production stages."Products by India companies"We are pleased to see companies such as Accord bring their own custom designed IC's to the market," said Michael J. Cadigan, Senior Vice President at GlobalFoundries, who was recently in Bengaluru on a business visit. "The world knows India - and Bengaluru in particular - for their engineering talent. Now we are seeing initiatives to promote high-technology products by Indian companies, and GlobalFoundries is happy to support companies such as Accord to offer differentiated semiconductor solutions - for India and the world," he added.Jitendra Chaddah "JC", India Country Head, GlobalFoundries, noted "GlobalFoundries has the largest semiconductor manufacturing services presence in the country. In India, we are focused on Technology Development, Technology Enablement, IP Design, Business Enablement and Fab Operations providing support for our manufacturing facilities in Germany, Singapore and the USA. In addition, GF India is committed to support fabless semi companies and start-ups to succeed in delivering solutions using differentiated technologies from GF. I congratulate the Accord team for bringing out their innovation and am excited about their continued partnership with GF for local and global customer needs."Accord, founded in 1991, is a technology firm focusing on GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite Systems) technology and Embedded Systems. With its rich portfolio of GNSS products encompassing silicon IP to end-systems, Accord services multiple business segments such as consumer electronics, industrial, automotive, telecom and avionics. Accord is an ISO-90012015 and AS91002016 certified company. For more information, visitGlobalFoundries (GF) is one of the world's leading semiconductor manufacturers. GF is redefining innovation and semiconductor manufacturing by developing and delivering feature-rich process technology solutions that provide leadership performance in pervasive high growth markets. GF offers a unique mix of design, development and fabrication services. With a talented and diverse workforce and an at-scale manufacturing footprint spanning the U.S., Europe and Asia, GF is a trusted technology source to its worldwide customers. For more information, visit .(c)GlobalFoundries Inc., GF, GlobalFoundries, the GF logos and other GF marks are trademarks of GlobalFoundries Inc. or its subsidiaries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.Contact informationThis story has been provided by Mediawire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Mediawire)ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Will be remembered for his contribution to business: PM Modi condoles demise of Keshub Mahindra New Delhi, April 12: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed anguish over the death of veteran businessman Keshub Mahindra, saying that he will be remembered for his contribution to the world of business. Will be remembered for his contribution to business: PM Modi condoles demise of Keshub Mahindra PM Modi said the departed tycoon's philanthropic efforts will continue to mark his legacy through generations going forward."Anguished by the passing away of Shri Keshub Mahindra Ji. He will be remembered for his contribution to the world of business and his philanthropic efforts. Condolences to his family and friends. Om Shanti," PM Modi said in the tweet.Earlier on Wednesday, Keshub Mahindra passed away at the age of 99 at his residence in Mumbai.The former chairman of Mahindra and Mahindra Group of Companies, Keshub Mahindra served in the position from 1963 to 2012, before passing the baton to his nephew Anand Mahindra.He was also considered the 'oldest' billionaire in the country, with a net worth of around 1.2 billion USD.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Arya College Jaipur: The launchpad for engineering excellence and RTU toppers Jaipur, April 12: Arya College is one of the noted engineering colleges in Jaipur and affiliated to RTU (Rajasthan Technical University), Kota. Since its establishment, has provided the best education to all students in various fields of engineering. Arya College is a prestigious group of institutions consisting of AIET, ACERC, and AIETM, has once again proved its mettle in engineering education by producing an impressive number of Rajasthan Technical University (RTU) toppers. Arya College Jaipur: The launchpad for engineering excellence and RTU toppers This accomplishment serves as a true yardstick to measure the quality of engineering education provided by the college. Not only does Arya College nurture academic excellence, but it also sets the stage for lucrative career opportunities for its students, debunking the common misconception that toppers don't get the highest packages.Meet the Toppers and their AchievementsArya College has always been at the forefront of fostering academic excellence. Here are the toppers from Arya College and their respective ranks in RTU- Trisha Biswas, CSE, ACERC, Rank 1- Radhika Sharma, IT, AIET, Rank 1- Nimisha Naruka, ECE, AIET, Rank 1- Lalit Bansal, ME, AIET, Rank 1- Suraj Singh Gehlot, CE, AIETM, Rank 2- Kajol Sharma, IT, AIET, Rank 2- Gunjan Sharma, EE, ACERC, Rank 2These exceptional students have not only excelled academically but have also secured impressive packages from top companies. Here's a glimpse of some of the toppers' career milestones- Trisha Biswas Currently employed at L and T with an annual package of 11 LPA- Radhika Sharma Working with Daffodil at 8 LPA- Nimisha Naruka Employed at Collabera with a package of 6 LPA- Lalit Bansal Joined L and T with an annual package of 8 LPA- Kajol Sharma Working at Infosys with an 8 LPA package- Gunjan Sharma Currently employed at Torrent Gas with a package of 7 LPAArya College's Impressive Placement RecordArya College takes pride in its consistent track record of successful placements, with the average placement package being far above its competitors. The college's average placement package stands at an impressive 6 LPA, showcasing its commitment to providing excellent to its students.Arya College Placement 2023 welcomed many notable companies that provide placement to engineering students. Here are the glimpses of companies that visited in 2023 Arya College Placement drive-- Morgan Stanley (with package 22 LPA)- Amazon (with package 14.5 LPA)- Prominence Games Pte Ltd (with package 13 LPA)- Google (with package 12 LPA)- Xperate Systems Pvt. Ltd ( with package 12 LPA)- HashedIn (Deloitte) Technologies Pvt. Ltd. (with package 8.10 LPA)- Hexaware Technologies Ltd (PGET) (with package 6 LPA)- Capgemini India (with package 7 LPA)- Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) (with package 6.50 LPA)- Teleperformance (with package 3.50 LPA)- Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd. (with package 3.50 LPA)To get admission at Arya College Jaipur, students must participate in Rajasthan Engineering Admission Process - . The selection of the candidates for BTech direct admission at RTU is made based on the combined merit list prepared by the admission authority. The names of candidates are mentioned who pass the counselling process.If a student is willing to take admission to any engineering program of Arya College then they must have completed their 10+2 with PCM from any recognized board of education with at least 45% marks.T. K. Agrawal founded this institute under the "All India Arya Samajis Society", with the belief that engineers build the nation. Arya College is recognized on a global scale as a centre of academic and professional excellence that values innovation, participation, and rigour in the classroom. The engineering department of Arya College is best known for its quality education and excellence in placement. The engineering department offers computer engineering, IT engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Electronics and Comm Engineering, and AI and Data Science Engineering courses.Arya College Jaipur's dedication to nurturing academic excellence, producing top RTU toppers, and securing exceptional placements for its students is a testament to the institution's unparalleled quality of education. and toppers continues to serve as an inspiration for other institutions, proving that academic success, when combined with industry-relevant skills and exposure, paves the way for a bright future for its students.This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! The reconstruction of the DPR, the LPR, and the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions is already underway, but this is the least that Russia can do for them; the most important thing is to shield these territories from danger, Presidential Spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday at a meeting with New Media Workshop trainees, Tass informs. April 13, 2023, 16:38 Russia must protect its new regions from danger. Peskov STEPANAKERT, APRIL 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: "The reconstruction process is underway, but this is the tiniest fraction of what the country can do for its new regions. The maximum that the country is obliged to do is to shield the new regions from danger," the New Media Workshop's Telegram channel quotes Peskov as saying. He stressed that the special military operation "will continue until the victorious end." About what was being done in terms of reconstruction in the new regions, Peskov said: "Tens of thousands of people are working there. Tremendous efforts are being exerted." The residents of Lugansk, he said, "can see for themselves every day new roads repaired and built, and infrastructure created." Basictells Top Colleges in India for Admission 2023 revealed New Delhi, April 12: Basictell's expert-designed list of India's top colleges to get admission for MBA, Engineering, Medical, Law, and Architecture. Basictell's Top Colleges in India for Admission 2023 revealed Education and Career platform Basictell have today unveiled its best colleges to get admission this year with the release of Basictell's Top Colleges in India 2023.Basictell's annual publication of top-picked colleges celebrates its expert analysis of where to get admission this year. Top Colleges in India 2023 is Basictell's annual list featuring the 10 best colleges in each field.Basictell's Top Colleges in India 2023 offers a comprehensive set of factors aimed at helping candidates to get admission to the right college as per their needs - while following along with ranking frameworks like NIRF and some seriously knowledgeable career experts from the education industry.The MBA field features the Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore as one of the best Government MBA colleges, XLRI Xavier College of Management, Jamshedpur as the top private MBA college, and the Indian Institute of Management, IIM Ahmedabad as the top MBA colleges in India as per NIRF ranking.Students from the science stream planning to get entry into a Govt. Engineering colleges like IIT Madras, IIT Delhi, and others can check details about the entrance exams, courses, fees, and other details. Also, there are some top Private engineering colleges like Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) to pursue a B.Tech degree in India.All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi and Christian Medical College (CMC) Vellore are the top medical colleges on the list offering MBBS, BDS, and related Medical and Paramedical programs for students.Candidates who want to become a legal professional with a LL. B, LL.M. law degree have the option to get admission into the top public law colleges like; National Law School of India University (NLSIU) Bengaluru or private law colleges like; Symbiosis Law School, as well as National Law School of India University, the top law college in India as per NIRF ranking.In the field of architecture, Basictell has listed top architecture colleges such as IIT Roorkee, IIT Kharagpur, SRM IST, Lovely Professional University (LPU), best institutes to pursue a B.Arch or M.Arch degree or PhD at UG, PG, and doctorate levels.Basictell's Top Colleges in India 2023 lists are designed according to various ranking factors like NIRF and other authorities. The lists are then whittled down by its panel of education and career experts to just the top 10 colleges. Each is chosen for its courses, NIRF ranking, placement, experiences, and its latest offerings to education programs, accessibility, and campus life.According to Basictell's founder Sukanta Das, the release of Basictell's annual "top list" of colleges and offerings comes at an important time to be getting admission. "2023 is shaping up to be the year to explore courses that can open new career opportunities. To build a solid base from the beginning, candidates are looking for the best colleges, courses, and experiences.""The list covers colleges from all over India and their offerings," Das continues. "Each of the providing mentioned in Basictell's top Colleges in 2023 helps candidates to choose the right college as per their need."Basictell's Top Colleges in 2023 helps candidates to find popular colleges like IIM and IIT, popular private MBA colleges in India, best government Engineering colleges in India, and top medical colleges as per NIRF ranking.A trusted education and career platform, Basictell is part of the Fast India Media portfolio. Providing education and career guidance for schools, colleges, and job aspirants since 2011, Basictell reaches hundreds of millions of visitors each year, helping them achieve success. Basictell can be found on Basictell.com, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram through guides, e-books, videos, mock tests, and more. Over the past 10 years, Basictell has provided hundreds of guides covering school board exams, entrance exams, competitive exams as well as job interviews for students from India and all over the world. Visit Basictell at and check the list of top colleges atThis story has been provided by India PR Distribution. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/India PR Distribution)ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! India has a delta of opportunities: Piyush Goyal at India-France Business Summit Paris, April 12: Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, while addressing India-France Business Summit and CEOs Roundtable in Paris, told participants and delegates that there is a huge delta of opportunities in India and invited them to leverage on them. India has a delta of opportunities: Piyush Goyal at India-France Business Summit The Embassy of India in Paris, in association with the industry body Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the Mouvement des entreprises de France(MEDEF) and the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry(IFCCI), organised the Business Summit and CEOs Roundtable on Tuesday (local time).More than 50 CEOs from Indian and French companies participated at the CEOs Roundtable which was addressed by Minister Goyal and the Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, Olivier Becht. Sectors such as agriculture, tourism, defence, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and aerospace were also represented at the roundtable."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," Minister Goyal told participants.Notably, India's total exports crossed USD 750 billion in 2022-23, the highest ever by the country. In the past six-to-seven years, India's exports have risen by about 75 per cent, as compared to 28 per cent at the global level.Minister Delegate for Foreign Trade, Economic Attractiveness and French Nationals Abroad, Government of France, Olivier Becht also participated at the event."India being the world's most populous country has the potential to attract numerous manufacturing activities, already, many French companies are actively engaged in India, and there is tremendous untapped potential for further collaboration," Becht said.Sessions were held on 'Building a green future'; Critical and Emerging Technologies The New Strategic Frontier; 'Defence Cooperation Securing a Shared Future Through Atmanirbhar Bharat' and France and India Springboard to Europe and Indo-Pacific.During the session new energy, the participants discussed ways in how businesses could tap opportunities in green transition; new technologies in various areas - renewable energy, mobility, buildings, infrastructure, construction, energy efficiency, industrial processes, and agriculture.Critical and Emerging Technologies The New Strategic FrontierCollaboration and competition are growing around critical and emerging technologies, including advanced computing, communications and networking technology, advanced materials, engine technology, space technologies and systems, sensors, renewable energy technology, semiconductors and microelectronics, directed energy, and hypersonics.As two countries with strong belief in sovereignty and strategic autonomy, the session highlighted ways on which India and France can enhance their cooperation in critical and emerging technologies; complementarities between the two countries and opportunities therein; recommendations on increasing India-France Technology Cooperation.Defence Cooperation Securing a Shared Future Through Atmanirbhar BharatThe evolving geopolitics, including the growing challenges in the Indo-Pacific region, and the emergence of contests in new domains such as Space and cyberspace, have further increased the salience of this partnership.France has been a longstanding and increasingly important source of defence platforms, equipment and technology for India. The Session brought out how we go beyond assembly and also develop and design defence technologies; specific defence platforms and equipment where we see the maximum potential for the India-France partnership.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Moderate exercise safe for people who suffer muscle pain from statins: Research Washington, April 12: According to research published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, statin therapy does not worsen muscular damage, discomfort, or tiredness in patients who engage in moderate-intensity exercises, such as walking. The findings are reassuring for patients who feel muscular discomfort or exhaustion from statins but still need to exercise to keep their cholesterol levels low and their hearts healthy. Moderate exercise safe for people who suffer muscle pain from statins: Research Statins have long been the gold standard for lowering LDL or "bad" cholesterol and preventing cardiovascular disease (CVD) events, but while generally well-tolerated, they can cause muscle pain and weakness in some. Physical activity is also a cornerstone of CVD prevention, especially when combined with statins; however, studies have shown vigorous exercise can increase muscle damage in some statin users, which can lead to decreased physical activity or cause people to stop taking their medication. Less is known about the impact of moderate exercise.Researchers sought to compare the impact of moderate-intensity exercise on muscle injury in symptomatic and asymptomatic statin users, plus nonstatin using controls. Symptomatic vs. asymptomatic was determined by the presence, localization and onset of muscle cramps, pain and/or weakness using the statin myalgia clinical index score. Researchers also examined the association between leukocyte CoQ10 levels on muscle injury and muscle complaints, since statins may lower CoQ10 levels and reduced levels can predispose people to muscle injury.All study participants walked 30, 40 or 50 km (18.6, 24.8 or 31 miles, respectively) per day at a self-selected pace for four consecutive days. Statin users had all been on the medication for at least three months. The researchers excluded those with diabetes, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, known hereditary skeletal muscle defects, other diseases known to cause muscle symptoms or those using CoQ10 supplementation. There were no differences in body mass index, waist circumference, physical activity levels or vitamin D3 levels (low vitamin D3 levels have been associated with statin-induced myopathy and therefore may be a risk-factor for statin-associated muscle symptoms) among the three groups at baseline.Researchers found that statins did not exacerbate muscle injury or muscle symptoms after moderate-intensity exercise."Even though muscle pain and fatigue scores were higher in symptomatic statin users at baseline, the increase in muscle symptoms after exercise was similar among the groups," said Neeltje Allard, MD, first author of the study and researcher at the Department of integrative physiology, Radboud University Medical Center in Nijmegen, Netherlands. "These results demonstrate that prolonged moderate-intensity exercise is safe for statin users and can be performed by statin users to maintain a physically active lifestyle and to derive its cardiovascular health benefits."Researchers did not find a correlation between leukocyte CoQ10 levels and muscle injury markers at baseline or after exercise nor was there a correlation between CoQ10 levels and muscle fatigue resistance or muscle pain scores.In an accompanying editorial comment, Robert Rosenson, MD, Director of Metabolism and Lipids for the Mount Sinai Health System in New York, said patients experiencing statin associated muscle symptoms will often avoid exercise because of muscle pain and weakness and concerns of making the pain worse; however, exercise is essential for restoring and maintaining fitness in people at increased risk for cardiovascular disease or who have had a cardiovascular event."[Based on the study], many patients who develop statin associated muscle symptoms may engage in a moderately intensive walking program without concern for worsened muscle biomarkers or performance," he said.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Synechron named a winner of the Best Places To Work Award Program 2023 New York /London /Pune, April 12: a leading global digital transformation consulting firm, today announced it has been named a winner of the Business Intelligence Group's award program 2023. Synechron was one of 28 companies honored with this award, and one of only two companies named within the Large Business awards category. This annual award is important because it is based upon the results of input from a global survey of Synechron employees, conducted several weeks ago. This is the fifth time that Synechron has been honored with this prestigious award. Synechron named a winner of the Best Places To Work Award Program 2023 The award recognizes organizations that are doing all they can to improve performance through actively working to challenge employees in environments that make work fun and engaging. The award honors companies for helping their employees accelerate their careers, knowledge and performance.Synechron has been mindful of its full breadth of 14,000+ global team members, and has sought ways to recognize, support and provide them with the tools to excel and build their careers. Notably, Synechron has provided no-cost access to the Udemy 24/7 online learning and development platform, as well as on site and virtual trainings that provide opportunities to both reskill and upskill. Synechron also takes pride in offering its 'Same Difference' diversity, equity and inclusion ('DEI') program, which includes a variety of collaborative, team building and team supporting projects, events and initiatives. Synechron has also forged multiple initiatives and partnerships with several diversity organizations all focused on demonstrating how our talent can enhance and embrace DEI across the entire company. Synechron supports an array of corporate social responsibility programs that contribute to the good charitable work being done by local/regional organizations and the wellbeing of the individuals they serve."The strength of our team is based on the power and contribution of each individual. And our core values drive what we do every day," said Christin Spigai, Chief Human Resources Officer at Synechron. "We are so honored to have won this prestigious award which demonstrates that our employees themselves, not just an external organization, believe that we are doing great things together.""Congratulations to Synechron for building an organization focused on employee engagement and performance," said Maria Jimenez, Chief Nominations Officer of Business Intelligence Group. "This clearly was a most challenging year for many companies, and it is clear this is a great place to work and employee feedback is not only listened to but acted upon. Congratulations to the entire team."At Synechron, we believe in the power of digital to transform businesses for the better. Our global consulting firm combines creativity and innovative technology to deliver industry-leading digital solutions. Synechron's progressive technologies and optimization strategies span end-to-end Consulting, Design, Cloud, Data and Engineering, servicing an array of noteworthy financial services and technology firms. Through research and development initiatives in our FinLabs we develop solutions for modernization, from Blockchain and Artificial Intelligence to Data Science models, Digital Underwriting, mobile-first applications and more. Over the last 20+ years, our company has been honored with multiple employer awards, recognizing our commitment to our talented teams. With top clients to boast about, Synechron has a global workforce of 14,000+ and has 40 offices in 17 countries within key global markets. For more information on the company, please visit our or community.The Business Intelligence Group was founded with the mission of recognizing true talent and superior performance in the business world. Unlike other industry and, business executives--those with experience and knowledge--judge the programs. The organization's proprietary and unique scoring system selectively measures performance across multiple business domains and then rewards those companies whose achievements stand above those of their peers.For more information please contact Synechron Rashmi Joshi Ph +91-9560694654ORSEC Newgate UK, Andrew Adie / Sophie Morello / Matthew RedleyBusiness Intelligence Group Maria Jimenez+1 (909) 529-2737This story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Ensologic announces Rs 1000 crore Business Deal with Flipkart New Delhi, April 12: Ensologic, a global supply chain solutions provider, has announced a landmark business deal with Flipkart, India's leading e-commerce platform, for the development of Flipkart's private label brand. The expected business volume for this partnership is estimated to be about INR 1000 Cr in the current financial year, 2023-2024. Ensologic announces Rs 1000 crore Business Deal with Flipkart With Ensologic's extensive integration in major Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and PRC, combined with Flipkart's wide reach in the Indian market, the two companies are well-positioned to identify innovative products through their research teams and develop them to benefit their customers.Anil Agarwal, CEO of Ensologic, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating, "Cross-border business has a long history, dating back to 500 AD with the famous Silk Road. However, it's time to transform it with technology at a micro level, where goods, information and transactions can happen in real-time." He highlighted the evolution of supply chains over the centuries, from horses to the industrial revolution, and now the need for technology-driven transformation.Anil credited the entire Ensologic- BEYOBO team and BEYOBO Investors, including Indian Angel Network, Hyderabad Angels, and Inflection Point, for their continuous support in terms of finance, guidance, connections, and mentorship. He acknowledged the growth of Ensologic as a startup in the past year and attributed it to the unwavering support of the team and investors."50 years of domain experience and integration with interior parts of major Asian countries showcase the magnitude of the deal," said Anil, highlighting the expertise and capabilities of Ensologic.With e-commerce booming in India, the partnership between Flipkart and Ensologic, backed by investors and the dedicated Ensologic-BEYOBO team, is expected to have a major impact on the country's e-commerce and supply chain industry.Ensologic is a global supply chain solutions provider with expertise in major Asian countries such as Japan, Korea, Indonesia, Vietnam, Taiwan, Thailand, and PRC. The company offers innovative supply chain solutions, leveraging technology and domain expertise to streamline processes and enhance efficiencies for businesses across various industries.For more information, please visitThis story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Check the latest paper pattern, CBSE releases new Evaluation Criteria 2023-24 for 10th, 12th Board Exams New Delhi, April 12: In the upcoming academic session of 2023-24, a noticeable change i.e., CBSE Evaluation Criteria 2023-24 has been implemented in the proportion of competency-based questions for classes 9 to 12. One of the significant changes in CBSE Evaluation Criteria 2023-24 is the increase in competency-based question types, such as Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs), Case-Based Questions, Source Based Integrated Questions, and other creative formats. Check the latest paper pattern, CBSE releases new Evaluation Criteria 2023-24 for 10th, 12th Board Exams As per the latest examination pattern for Class 9 and Class 10 board exams, there will be a significant emphasis on competency-based questions. Approximately 50% of the questions in the exam paper will be competency-based, which may include Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs), Case-Based Questions, Source Based Integrated Questions, or other similar types of questions. These questions are designed to test the student's understanding, critical thinking, and application skills, rather than just factual recall.In addition, around 20% of the questions in the Class 10 board exam paper will be in objective-type format. The remaining 30% of the questions will be in short-answer or long-answer format, allowing students to demonstrate their ability to express their thoughts.Similarly for Class 12 CBSE Evaluation Criteria 2023-24, a significant portion of the exam, amounting to 40% of the total marks, will comprise competency-based questions. Another 20% of the exam will consist of objective questions that will assess the students' factual knowledge, conceptual understanding, and analytical skills. These questions may include multiple-choice questions (MCQs), fill-in-the-blanks, or matching-type questions. The remaining 40% of the exam will comprise short-answer and long-answer-type questions.With the commencement of a new academic session for class 10 from April 1, 2023, CBSE has come up with a new yet great surprise like CBSE Evaluation Criteria 2023-24. CBSE has launched the new in addition to the latest sample papers for the class 10 students.Earlier, CBSE used to launch the sample papers in July. But, for the first time, they have launched these sample papers before the session to give a stress-free start for the students.If you are also a class 10 student, but you are yet to check the official circular issued by CBSE, this blog is just the apt place for you. This blog will help you come across all the details about the latest curriculum, sample papers, and question banks that can act as a great savior for your exam needs.CBSE Class 10 syllabus 2023-24As per the latest circular released by CBSE, there are no changes observed in the latest CBSE Class 10 syllabus 2023-24. Students can go ahead with the preparation for the board exams just like the previous years.CBSE Class 10 syllabus 2023-24 comprises a detailed view of the topics that will be asked in the board examinations.CBSE Class 10 2023-24 Sample PapersIn addition to the CBSE Class 10 syllabus 2023-24, CBSE has also launched the . This sample paper has all the types of questions that have a great probability of coming in the examination from an examination standpoint.Apart from that, CBSE Sample Paper Class 10 2023-24 also helps you understand the weightage of each topic so that you can prepare the topics accordingly.You can easily check the CBSE Sample Paper Class 10 2023-24 from their official website and download it for future reference.But to prepare well for the exam, you need to solve an ample number of sample papers. In this scenario, you can go ahead and buy the latest Sample Papers available in the market. Oswaal Books is one such name from where you can grab more sample papers for your practice.Recommended LinksCBSE Class 12 Maths Syllabus for 2024 Board Exams -CBSE Class 12 Physics Syllabus for 2024 Board Exams -NCERT Books Class 12 Maths for 2024 Board Exams -NCERT Books Class 12 Physics for 2024 Board Exams -NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Maths for 2024 Board Exams -NCERT Exemplar Class 12 Physics for 2024 Board Exams -CBSE Class 10 2023-24 Question BanksNo doubt, sample papers won't make many contributions from the start of the session when you are not even aware of most of the entire CBSE Class 10 syllabus 2023-24.But, this doesn't mean that you can't go ahead and start with your preparation journey. In this scenario, will act as a blessing in disguise for your needs.Similarly, with , you can kick-start your preparation and move ahead with a diversified set of questions from each topic.These question banks have the largest pool of questions that help you prepare every topic holistically for the board examination.You can also take assistance from Oswaal Question Banks which are exclusively designed by keeping the student's need in mind.They have more than 2000 questions that will help you understand each topic from the core and will make your concepts crystal clear. Oswaal CBSE Question Banks for Class 10 2023-24 include cognitive exams such as Mind Maps, Mnemonics, Quick Revision Notes, and More features for a better understanding of exam concepts, making learning simple.Apart from that, these question banks come upgraded with the latest syllabus and fully solved board paper that acts as an eye-opener in your preparation journey.The best part of referring to these question banks is that you get the opportunity to come across crisp and clear revision notes. These notes will not only help you after every chapter but will also act as a great help during exam times.Final ThoughtsBy now, you must have got an idea about the latest CBSE Class 10 syllabus 2023-24. It is just the beginning of the new session and it's just the best time to pull up your socks and start with the board exam preparation simultaneously with your curriculum.So, why not grab CBSE Question Bank Class 10 2023-24, and mark a new start with a new ray of hope and dedication for the upcoming board examination?The only mantra to succeed in the exam is through practice. Therefore, give your best shot with an ample amount of practice for the exam.All the Best!This story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! India records over 7000 new Covid cases New Delhi, April 12: India recorded 7,830 new cornonavirus cases on Wednesday, marking a sharp jump from yesterday when 5675 cases were reported, according to data shared by the Union Health Ministry. India records over 7000 new Covid cases The overall active caseload in the country currently stands at 40,215 with a daily positivity rate of 3.65 per cent and a weekly positivity rate of 3.83 per cent.The death count due to COVID virus has gone up to 5,31,016 with 16 new fatalities - two each in Delhi, Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, and one each in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Haryana and Uttar Pradesh. Five virus-related deaths were reconciled by Kerala, according to the health ministry data at 8 am on April 12..A total of 4692 recoveries were recorded in the last 24 hours with the recovery rate currently at 98.72 per cent and taking the overall count to 4,42,04,771.2,14242 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours taking the total number of tests conducted so far to 92.32 crores.441 vaccine doses were administered in the last 24 hours, the bulletin stated.A total of 220.66 crore total vaccine doses (95.21 crore second doses and 22.87 crore precautionary doses) have been administered so far under the Nationwide Vaccination Drive.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 an 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 dispose 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.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Jaishankar inaugurates Uganda campus of Indias NFSU, says its personal vision of PM Modi Jinja [Uganda], April 12: Marking a milestone in Indian-Uganda bilateral cooperation, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar inaugurated the first foreign campus of India's National Forensic Sciences University in Jinja, Uganda on Wednesday. Jaishankar inaugurates Uganda campus of India's NFSU, says it's personal vision of PM Modi "A personal vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its international footprint is a matter of particular satisfaction," Jaishankar tweeted.Jaishankar also highlighted this was a proud day for India, a proud day for Uganda and for the India-Uganda relationship. The inauguration of NFSU's Uganda campus is an example of practical cooperation between the two nations, he added.Mentioning the courses offered by this university - Forensic Sciences in behavioural sciences, cyber security, digital forensics and allied sciences - Jaishakar said that he was confident that these courses will be in high demand from students and will bring immense benefits to all the stakeholders in Uganda and in Africa.In his remarks at the inauguration of the NFSU in Uganda, Jaishankar said, "India's National Forensic Sciences University is opening its campus in Uganda, partnering with the Ugandan People's Defence Forces. This is the first foreign campus of the National Forensic Sciences University. Even more important, it is actually the first government University of India opening a campus anywhere abroad in the world.""The National Forensic Sciences University is an institution of national importance and is the world's first university dedicated exclusively to forensic sciences. It was established in Ahmadabad in Gujarat, under the dynamic leadership of our Prime Minister. This university conducts courses in forensic sciences, behavioural sciences, cybersecurity, digital forensics, and allied sciences, and also promotes research in these areas," Jaishankar added.He also said, "For the past few years we have seen that courses in forensic sciences were in very high demand from students in Africa under various scholarships provided by the Government of India. One of the reasons why the stakeholders thought about a campus in Uganda, was in fact the high acceptance of this university among students from Africa."Jaishankar said that discussions for this campus have been going on between the NFSU and the Ugandan authorities for some time. "The issue got a real push when the President of Uganda wrote to our Prime Minister in August 2022 and the Prime Minister immediately directed the concerned ministries to support NFSU on this proposal. The campus we are going to launch today is therefore reflective of the vision and the relationship of the highest leadership of our both countries. That also makes it a responsibility of all stakeholders to give their best to this institution and make it truly a centre of excellence," he added.At the inaugural event of NFSU's Uganda campus, Jaishankar also spoke on the defence relations between India and Uganda.He said, "Our two countries have robust defence relations. India has been regularly training and exchanging with UPDF, under its Economic and Technical Cooperation Programme. About 50 UPDF officers travel to India every year to take defence courses ranging from short-term months to up to one year.""Further, a four-member Indian Military Advisory and Training Team is stationed in the Defence Staff College of UPDF since 2010 and I acknowledge their presence here today. I am happy to note that our discussions have raised to open up the possibility of further expansion of defence cooperation, in the last few months and years. Cooperation between the National Defence College and the newly constituted NDC of Uganda is also under consideration," Jaishankar concluded.During his Uganda visit, Jaishankar also discussed Millets with a Ugandan chef. "Great to discuss Millets and their importance in Ugandan culture. Shree Anna is another facet binding us together," he tweeted.Notably, EAM Jaishankar is on a visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to further strengthen India's "strong bilateral relations" with the two countries.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Health Minister Mandaviya to meet representatives of e-pharmacies soon: Sources New Delhi, April 12: At a time when the Union Health Ministry is mulling regulations and stringent action against e-pharmacies, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with representatives of e-pharmacies soon, said official sources on Wednesday. Health Minister Mandaviya to meet representatives of e-pharmacies soon: Sources "There are concerns over data privacy, malpractices and irrational sale of drugs," said the source."We are against the e-pharmacies business of providing online medicines without prescription but not against the online prescription given by doctors," the sources added.It further said, "The Union Ministry of Health is mulling over shutting down digital pharmacies due to concerns like misuse of data, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) and predatory pricing of medicines."On February 28, the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) wrote a letter to the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) and showed concern over the issue."The FICCI e-Pharmacy Working Group, comprising industry leaders, has been relentlessly addressing challenges faced by the sector through various representations, conferences, and knowledge sessions. FICCI has also assisted the industry in developing an 'e-Pharmacy Code of Conduct' to ensure high standards of operation. Recently, FICCI published a White Paper titled"E-pharmacies at COVID-19 Frontline Fighting the Odds, Serving the Nation," highlighting the crucial role of Pharmacies during the pandemic," reads the copy of the letter.After letter written by FICCI, the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists (AIOCD) wrote a letter to FICCI and said, "Business of e-Pharmacies is against the laws in our country and AIOCD suggests one should not support the illegal business of e-Pharmacies which is detrimental to public health."In March, AIOCD stated, "AIOCD immediately contacted FICCI and this is clarified by FICCI that 'FICCI had requested for a meeting, since no response from the Government, FICCI has not taken any further action.""AIOCD immediately wrote to FICCI about this as it amounts to advocating for an illegally operating business. It also contained a statement by Mr Prashant Tandon, CEO, of TATA 1MG that all e-pharmacies are compliant today under the provision of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act" which is absolutely false and misleading to the general public and against the Public Health," it mentioned further.AIOCD is an association of medicine traders of India. This apex body represents all State Associations and the collective membership of AIOCD is 12 lakh.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! The Foreign Ministry of Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh) strongly condemns the visit of the delegation of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member states of the International Organization of Turkic Culture to the occupied Armenian city of Shushi on 8 April. April 13, 2023, 18:10 Artsakh strongly condemns visit of the delegation of TURKSOY National Commissions for UNESCO to the occupied Shushi STEPANAKERT, APRIL 13, ARTSAKHPRESS: Below is the full statement issued by the Artsakh MFA. We strongly condemn the visit of the delegation of the National Commissions for UNESCO of the member states of the International Organization of Turkic Culture to the occupied Armenian city of Shushi on 8 April. It is obvious that this illegal visit, as well as holding other similar events in the occupied Armenian city of Shushi, are aimed at legitimising by Azerbaijan and its allies the results of the aggressive war unleashed by Baku in 2020 and the illegal use of force against the Republic of Artsakh and its people. We emphasise again that the city of Shushi is an integral part of Artsakh, both in the territorial, cultural, economic and historical aspects. The visit by the National Commissions for UNESCO to Shushi looks even more blasphemous and provocative against the backdrop of the illegal blockade of Artsakh that has been going on for 4 months now, as well as the systematic destruction of Armenian religious, historical and cultural monuments and the falsification of their identity in the territories that came under the control of the Azerbaijani armed forces, including in the ancient Armenian city of Shushi, and the persistent obstruction by the Azerbaijani authorities of sending a UNESCO assessment mission to Nagorno-Karabakh to conduct an inventory and assessment of the state of cultural heritage sites. By such actions, the Azerbaijani authorities seek to obtain from representatives of individual states and international structures tacit approval of their criminal plans to carry out ethnic cleansing aimed at leaving Artsakh without Armenians and traces of the centuries-old Armenian presence. The abuse of kinship ties between countries and peoples to falsify history and promote their own political narratives is unacceptable and does not contribute to strengthening peace and mutual understanding among peoples. In this regard, we remind once again that the ongoing acts of vandalism and desecration by Azerbaijan against Armenian churches and other cultural and religious monuments in Artsakh, including in the occupied Armenian city of Shushi, constitute gross violations of international law, as well as the Order of the International Court of Justice of 7 December 2021 on the indication of provisional measures. Shri Ram College of Commerce announces the return of the Business Conclave 2023; Presented by Face Magazine New Delhi, April 12: Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC) has announced the return of its annual flagship event, the Business Conclave - titled by Face Magazine, which is set to take place on April 12th-14th, 2023. This year's theme is Uniting Visionaries, Redefining Excellence, and the event promises to be bigger and better than ever before. Shri Ram College of Commerce announces the return of the Business Conclave 2023; Presented by Face Magazine The Business Conclave is Asia's largest undergraduate management fest, and it is designed to provide students with an opportunity to learn about the latest trends and developments in business and to interact with leading experts in the field. The event attracts thousands of students from all over India, and it is one of the largest events of its kind in the country.The 16th edition of the Business Conclave features an enthralling lineup of speakers and panellists, including Nitin Gadkari, Bhupender Yadav, Naveen Jindal, Suresh Narayanan, Aryaman Birla, and many more. The event will feature various masterclasses, workshops, and national-level case competitions, providing students with a broad perspective on the world of business.The Business Conclave places a strong emphasis on topics such as sustainability, social responsibility, and the role of business in society. By engaging with these issues, students are encouraged to think critically about the impact of business on society and to consider how they can use their careers to make a positive difference in the world.The fest also hosts a variety of national-level competitions that challenge the students' potential and push them to put their best foot forward. Eight competitions are held under the umbrella of the Conclave - Shri Ram Case Competition, Indian Silicon Valley, The Big Sho(r)t, Policy (K)nights, Anthropos (K)apital, Market Mania, Sustainup and Maestro The Best Manager.The Business Conclave is held in collaboration with Face Magazine - its title sponsor, Dettol Banega Swasth India, Lotus Flex Toothbrush, Chromebook, IGL, Boston Consulting Group, JSW, and many more this year"We are excited to announce the return of the Business Conclave after the pandemic. This year's event promises to be even more exciting than previous editions, and we are thrilled to have such an impressive lineup of speakers and panellists," said the Business Conclave Organizing Committee.The Business Conclave is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for students to meet and learn from industry leaders, innovators, and successful individuals from various domains. It offers a platform for students to challenge themselves and elevate their full potential.Join us for the most enthralling experience of your life on the 12th, 13th, and 14th of April 2023 at the Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi, India.This story is provided by GPRC. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/GPRC)ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Pedro Almodovars Strange Way of Life to be screened at Cannes Film Festival Washington, April 12: Pedro Almodovar's Strange Way of Life will have a world premiere at the Cannes Film Festival in the Official Selection. Pedro Almodovar's Strange Way of Life to be screened at Cannes Film Festival As reported by Variety, the festival confirmed the news and said Almodovar will attend the premiere with his two lead actors, Ethan Hawke and Pedro Pascal.The short film marks Almodovar's second English-language feature, after "The Human Voice" in 2020.The screening will be followed by a conversation with Pedro Almodovar and the filmmaking team, as reported by Variety."Strange Way of Life" was produced by Agustin Almodovar at El Deseo.Almodovar revealed in a statement that the film's title "alludes to the famous fado by Amalia Rodrigues, whose lyrics suggest that there is no stranger existence than the one that is lived by turning your back on your own desires."The Western drama revolves around the bond between two men who met when they were young while working together as hired gunmen and reconnect 25 years later in Bitter Creek.The movie stars Pedro Casablanc, Manu Rios, George Steane, Jose Condessa, Jason Fernandez, Sara Salamo, Ohiana Cueto and Daniela Medina.Along with "Strange Way of Life," the festival has confirmed a pair of anticipated U.S. movies, Martin Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon" and Disney's "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny."Ruben Ostlund, the two-time Palme d'Or director of "The Square" and "Triangle of Sadness," will preside over the jury.The Cannes Film Festival will unveil its Official Selection on April 13.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Ekom Sarovar Vacations: Rekindling the call to explore Indias hidden gems New Delhi, April 12 (ANI/Ekom Sarovar): Are you ready to rediscover the wonders of India? The call to explore the vast and diverse landscapes of India was passionately put forth by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the nation to visit at least 15 domestic tourism destinations by 2022. Ekom Sarovar Vacations: Rekindling the call to explore India's hidden gems Although the pandemic stalled the dreams of countless Indians, Ekom Sarovar Vacations Pvt Ltd is ready to rekindle those aspirations, inviting travellers to traverse the country with renewed enthusiasm and excitement. As everyone embarks on this unforgettable journey, travellers can prepare to uncover the boundless beauty and marvels that India has to offer.A Power Duo at the HelmEkom Sarovar Vacations is led by an experienced and dynamic duo. Sonia Chauhan, with her 25 years of experience in the vacation industry with Diploma from IITC Delhi in Tourism brings unparalleled expertise to the table.Mahesh Hasija, a partner of numerous successful hotel chains, adds his keen business acumen and vast industry knowledge to the mix. This powerful partnership ensures that Ekom Sarovar Vacations sets the highest standards for travellers' travel experiences.A New Dawn in Domestic TourismLaunched on 28th February 2023, Ekom Sarovar Vacations aims to reignite domestic travel and contribute to India's socio-economic growth. They are dedicated to creating a lasting impact on the nation's travel landscape by setting new benchmarks for excellence and transforming how travellers explore India's wonders.Ekom Sarovar Vacations focuses on the unique 3-E Concept- Environment- Ecology, and- Economy.This commitment is reflected in their business practices and offeringsEnvironment Ekom Sarovar Vacations focuses on sustainable practices, minimising waste, conserving energy, and using eco-friendly materials. They encourage guests to participate in eco-friendly activities and adopt environmentally responsible behaviours.Ecology Ekom Sarovar Vacations preserve and protect natural habitats around their properties, support local conservation efforts, promote biodiversity, and ensure harmony with ecosystems. They educate guests on ecological preservation and offer opportunities to engage with nature.Economy Committed to supporting local economies, Ekom Sarovar Vacations create jobs, source from local vendors, and promote local tourism experiences. This approach contributes to community well-being and provides guests with authentic, culturally enriching experiences.Through their focus on the 3-E Concept, they aim to set a new standard for responsible and sustainable hospitality, ensuring that their guests can enjoy memorable and environmentally conscious vacations.Ekom Sarovar Vacations are committed to upholding the Prime Minister's call for domestic exploration by promoting lesser-known destinations, fostering a newfound appreciation for India's rich heritage and natural beauty.Collaboration is key to realising the Prime Minister's vision. Ekom Sarovar Vacations aim to work hand in hand with the government to amplify the call for domestic exploration, promote local tourism, and support socio-economic growth.Inclusive Accommodations and DestinationsEkom Sarovar Vacations strives to provide accessible accommodations and travel experiences for travellers with disabilities or special needs. By working closely with hotels and attractions, the company ensures that all travellers can enjoy India's diverse offerings in a comfortable and hassle-free manner.They also recognize the growing demand for experiential travel, where travellers seek authentic and immersive experiences that allow them to connect with local cultures, traditions, and environments on a deeper level.Experiential TravelRecognizing the growing demand for experiential travel, they are dedicated to curating extraordinary journeys that go beyond typical tourist offerings.From yoga and meditation sessions in serene settings to Ayurvedic treatments and holistic therapies, these transformative retreats are designed to rejuvenate and revitalise the mind, body, and soul, allowing travellers to return home feeling refreshed and elated.Ekom Sarovar Vacations specialises in organising off-the-beaten-path expeditions that take travellers to lesser-known destinations and offer unique experiences. From trekking through remote villages and exploring ancient ruins to participating in traditional ceremonies and witnessing rare wildlife, these bespoke journeys allow travellers to uncover India's hidden gems away from the tourist crowds.Ekom Sarovar Vacations actively promotes accessible tourism by raising awareness among industry stakeholders and advocating for improvements in infrastructure and services. Providers are dedicated to fostering a culture of inclusivity within the travel industry, enabling all travellers to explore India's beauty without limitations.As the world moves towards a new normal, Ekom Sarovar Vacations is poised to redefine the Indian travel industry. With an unwavering commitment to excellence and a passion for discovery, the company promises to deliver unmatched experiences that will leave a lasting impression on travellers.Travellers can start planning their extraordinary journey with Ekom Sarovar Vacations today. You can visit the website to explore the myriad of travel experiences on offer and embark on the adventure of a lifetime.This story has been provided by Ekom Sarovar. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/Ekom Sarovar)ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! HarperCollins is proud to announce the publication of Arambha: The Birth of Vijayanagara by Buchi Ramagopal New Delhi, April 12: Arambha is a story of skill and rapid conquest, as two brothers carve out an empire in the subcontinent. Most of all, it is a story of exceptional people who played a role in building this new entity - the Vijayanagara Empire. HarperCollins is proud to announce the publication of Arambha: The Birth of Vijayanagara by Buchi Ramagopal It is published by HarperCollins. It is available in paperback with 548 pp. The price of the book is Rs 499. It is available wherever books are sold. It will release on April 15, 2023.ABOUT THE BOOKHow Two Brothers Built an EmpireWhen Hakka and Bukka are taken prisoners by Muhammad-bin-Tughlaq in the battle at the Fort of Hosadurg in 1327, they begin to forge a relationship with their captor. Over time, Tughlaq installs Hakka as the Governor of Kampili, the kingdom where the brothers had initially been captured by the Sultan's army.Slowly, Hakka and Bukka break free of the Sultanate and begin to establish their influence in the South. Over forty years, they lay the foundation for the Vijayanagara Empire - an empire that would last for more than two centuries.This is a story of skill and rapid conquest, as two brothers carve out an empire in the subcontinent. Most of all, it is a story of exceptional people who played a role in building this new entity - the Vijayanagara Empire.According to the author, Buchi Ramagopal,"Looking at the vivid canvas of Indian history, Hakka Raya and Bukka Raya's establishment of the Vijayanagara empire is definitely in the foreground and stands out as a feat of great consequence. This period in history marks the beginning of a renaissance in Southern India In art, architecture, the study of scripture, and music ... I found the history and the story of the two brothers heroic, and their accomplishments genuinely magnificent. This is a story of skill, rapid conquest, and an extraordinary ability to consolidate the subcontinent during a period of flux. I hope the drama of events that transpired, and the majesty of their achievements is conveyed in story told in Arambha."Poulomi Chatterjee, Publisher, HarperCollins India says, "Buchi Ramagopal brings us a meticulously researched, fast-paced and action-filled adventure of epic and awe-inspiring proportions - a journey through a time that was both; fascinatingly eventful and fraught with battles, upheaval and change. Tracing the story of the Vijayanagara Empire, its building blocks and the brothers who founded it, this novel brings a significant period of India's history alive in all its complex and fascinating glory."ABOUT THE AUTHORBuchi Ramagopal was born in India and spent his early years there. For ten years, he was an academic, on the faculty at Middlebury College, the University of Vermont, and McGill University. He subsequently moved into banking. Buchi now lives in New Jersey with his wife, and his dog Pax, his writing companion.30 YEARS OF HARPERCOLLINS PUBLISHERS INDIAAt HarperCollins, we believe in telling the best stories and finding the widest possible readership for our books in every format possible. We started publishing 30 years ago; a great deal has changed since then, but what has remained constant is the passion with which our authors write their books, the love with which readers receive them, and the sheer joy and excitement that we as publishers feel in being a part of the publishing process.Over the years, we've had the pleasure of publishing some of the finest writing from the subcontinent and around the world, and some of the biggest bestsellers in India's publishing history. Our books and authors have won a phenomenal range of awards, and we ourselves have been named Publisher of the Year the greatest number of times. But nothing has meant more to us than the fact that millions of people have read the books we published, and somewhere, a book of ours might have made a difference.As we step into our fourth decade, we go back to that one word a word which has been a driving force for us all these years Read.WebsiteThis story has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Tawang Monastery: Unearthing the hidden gems of Buddhist wisdom in Indias Northeast Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh), April 12: Nestled in the serene valleys of Arunachal Pradesh, the Tawang Monastery stands as a beacon of spiritual and cultural heritage. Established in the 17th century, this majestic institution is not only one of the largest monasteries in India but also a treasure trove of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and artefacts. It is home to more than 450 monks and continues to play an essential role in preserving the precious relics of a bygone era. Tawang Monastery: Unearthing the hidden gems of Buddhist wisdom in India's Northeast The Tawang Monastery, also known as the Gaden Namgyal Lhatse, meaning "celestial paradise in a clear night," is perched at an altitude of 10,000 feet and overlooks the mesmerizing Tawang-Chu valley. Founded by Merak Lama Lodre Gyatso in 1680, the monastery is the birthplace of the 6th Dalai Lama, Tsangyang Gyatso, and has since served as the spiritual and cultural nucleus of the region.As you enter the monastery complex, you are greeted by the Dukhang, the main assembly hall, adorned with vibrant murals of Buddhist deities, intricate wood carvings, and gilded statues that bear testament to the monastery's rich artistic tradition. However, the true hidden treasure of Tawang lies within its sacred library, the Par-Khang, which houses an invaluable collection of ancient Buddhist manuscripts and artefacts.The Par-Khang is home to more than 400 handwritten and printed manuscripts, including the sacred Kangyur and Tengyur texts. The Kangyur, comprising 108 volumes, contains the Buddha's teachings, while the Tengyur, consisting of 225 volumes, is a collection of commentaries and treatises by revered Indian and Tibetan Buddhist scholars. These manuscripts, some dating back to the 14th century, are written in gold and silver ink on delicate paper and parchment, preserved carefully to withstand the ravages of time.In addition to the sacred texts, the library also holds numerous thangkas, vibrant silk paintings depicting Buddhist deities, and intricate wooden masks used in the monastery's annual Tawang Torgya festival. These artifacts, steeped in history and symbolism, offer invaluable insights into the evolution of Buddhist art and iconography in the region.The Tawang Monastery's commitment to preserving these ancient manuscripts and artifacts has not gone unnoticed. Recognizing the need for conservation, the monastery, in collaboration with the government and non-governmental organizations, has embarked on ambitious projects to digitize and conserve these invaluable resources. This initiative has facilitated the creation of high-resolution digital copies of the manuscripts, ensuring their preservation for future generations.Moreover, the monastery has established the Tawang Manuscript Conservation Centre, dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and study of these sacred texts. The centre, equipped with state-of-the-art technology and staffed by skilled conservators, is playing a pivotal role in safeguarding the region's literary and cultural heritage.The monastery's efforts have also garnered international attention. Scholars and researchers from around the world now visit Tawang to study the manuscripts and artefacts, contributing to a deeper understanding of Buddhist philosophy and the history of North East India. In a world where cultural heritage is increasingly at risk, the preservation efforts of Tawang Monastery serve as a shining example of the power of collaboration and dedication.But the monastery's impact extends beyond its walls. As a centre of learning and spiritual growth, Tawang Monastery is also actively involved in nurturing the next generation of Buddhist scholars and practitioners. With a robust curriculum in Buddhist philosophy, theology, meditation, and traditional arts, the monastery is grooming future custodians of this sacred heritage.Furthermore, the Tawang Monastery plays a vital role in the socio-economic development of the region. By promoting sustainable tourism and attracting visitors to the area, the monastery helps generate income for local communities. The annual Tawang Torgya festival, a vibrant display of traditional dance, music, and rituals, is a major draw for tourists, providing a much-needed boost to the local economy.As a hub of spiritual and cultural learning, Tawang Monastery is fostering a sense of pride and identity among the local Monpa people. The monastery's dedication to preserving ancient Buddhist manuscripts and artefacts serves not only as a testament to the region's rich history but also as a reminder of the power of perseverance in the face of adversity.In a world that often seems to be moving at breakneck speed, the Tawang Monastery stands as a sanctuary, where ancient wisdom is protected and cherished. The monastery's unwavering commitment to preserving the treasures of the past ensures that these sacred texts and artefacts continue to illuminate the path to enlightenment for generations to come.As we celebrate the enduring legacy of Tawang Monastery, it is crucial to remember the importance of safeguarding our shared cultural heritage. By preserving these ancient manuscripts and artefacts, we not only honour the wisdom of our ancestors but also ensure that future generations can continue to learn from and be inspired by these priceless treasures.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! India will strive and thrive in its G20 presidency: Indonesias envoy to India Inna Krishnamurthy New Delhi, April 12: Indonesia's Ambassador to India Inna Krishnamurthy on Wednesday said India will strive and thrive in its G20 presidency and that many achievements have already been made by the country on the issue of digital energy transition and many other issues. India will strive and thrive in its G20 presidency: Indonesia's envoy to India Inna Krishnamurthy "India will strive and thrive in its presidency, many achievements already done by India in the issue of digital energy transition and many other issues," Krishnamurthy said while speaking about India's G20 presidency and expectations.The Indonesian Ambassador to India said, "We're so looking forward as to what India can do until the end of the presidency, which is in November." She said that India put forward the principle of inclusivity in its presidency.Krishnamurthy said that though there has been no consensus during the past meetings so far, "we should not lose any hopes and optimism that something will happen during the summit, because the past meetings cannot define what is going to be the result and outcome of the summit."Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said India was making an effort to include concerns of the Global South in the G20 framework under its presidency.Jaishankar, who is on a visit to Uganda and Mozambique, on Tuesday addressed members of the Parliamentary Forum on Indian Affairs in Uganda."We (India) are doing it differently in the sense that no other chair of G-20 made an effort to consult all the countries of the Global South and ask it saying, look, you are not on the table. So what is your interest, what are the things you want? What are your concerns that we can put on the table on your behalf? We went through this very, very detailed, very exhaustive exercise in the month of January," he said.The External Affairs Minister also stated that India would like to use its G20 presidency to get the influential forum focused on its mandate of global growth and development issues.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Wella Professionals launches a new Color Collection Kromatic 2.0 through multi city look and learn seminars across India Mumbai, April 12: The world's leading Color brand Wella Professionals, has launched an all-new edition of the Kromatic color collection - Kromatic 2.0 that celebrates diversity and self-expression. Kromatic focuses on encouraging consumers to discover and flaunt their own unique vibe by making hair color an everyday accessory. Wella Professionals launches a new Color Collection Kromatic 2.0 through multi city look and learn seminars across India The brand has launched this diverse collection through interactive look and learn seminars held in multiple cities across the country, starting with Kolkata in February. Hosted by Wella Passionistas - Natasha Naegamvala, Elton Steve Vessoaker, Placid Braganza and Nikhil Sharma, the seminars showcased the experts decoding the collection color techniques and styling.The new Wella Kromatic Collection showcases an all new set of celebrities - Neelam Kothari, Prakruti Mishra, Shivaleeka Oberoi and Rohit Khandelwal, in customized looks created by 4 Wella Passionistas - Natasha Naegamvala, Elton Steve Vessoaker, Placid Braganza and Nikhil Sharma. This diverse collection by Wella has been designed to inspire and encourage hairstylists to create custom looks suited to their clients and to help people embrace their individuality and find their own unique vibe. The collection also works around breaking the stigmas around hair color, and inspiring people to make hair color an everyday accessory. With 4 unique customised looks the collection has something for all colorers - whether your vibe is Bold, Playful, Gorgeous or Edgy!These successful multi-city seminars had Wella Passionistas, decoding these celebrities' looks live on stage and interacting with the audiences on tips and tricks to create their "own signature" looks.Pravesh Saha, General Manager, South Asia, Wella Company shared, "Our brand, Wella Professionals, focuses on elevating the art of hairdressing in India by bringing in the very latest with respect to international trends. Kromatic 2.0 - our newly launched collection is designed to provide a canvas for hairdressers to express their creativity while addressing common concerns that consumers have regarding hair color. Consumers today value their freedom of expression and individuality. Our 4 celebrity partners - Neelam, Prakruti, Shivaleeka and Rohit, each with their distinct personalities and customized looks bring this to life and show us that if you co-create something with your hairdresser, what happens is absolutely magical. We firmly believe that Hair Colour is for everyone, let us help you find your vibe." Elton Steve Vessoaker, Hair Specialist, Makeup artist, and Educator shared, "I am extremely excited to be part of curating the second edition of the Kromatic Collection. As a hairstylist, I love breaking stereotypes and as a brand that has a global voice, Wella Professionals always allows me to change the tide by using my expertise into making new experiences for my customers. To create a unique look for Prakruti Mishra, I tried to match her spirited personality creating the #ElectricCopper look that shows her fun and adventurous take on life and amps up the electrifying flare of her persona. The Kromatic 2.0 collection allows hairstylists to help consumers in their journey of self-expression and I believe that a personalised hair color is the ideal way of allowing people to express their individuality."Placid Braganza, Owner at Placid Salon, stated, "Being associated with Wella Professionals is always a matter of prestige, and coming together to curate the Kromatic Collection once again gives me all the more pleasure and excitement. The thrill of delving into the unknown and customising a hair color that suits a specific personality gives me a great amount of satisfaction as a hairstylist. For Shivaleeka Oberoi, the challenge was in creating a look that matches her gorgeous and chic personality and at the same time allows her to unleash her inner diva. This glamorous #CaramelBrown look suits her perfectly. To match the great texture of her hair which has immense bounce, I dabbled with the color types of cool brown and blonde hues resulting in a gorgeous caramel brown hair color. The color exudes classic highlights and gives her hair the right amount of pop."Natasha Naegamwala, Director Nalini of Nalini and Yasmin Salon explained, "I believe hair color is for everyone and the Kromatic 2.0 collection is proof of that. No matter your age, personality, style, or vibe, everyone has a unique personal style and Wella Kromatic encourages you to discover that with help from your expert - the hairstylist. I loved working on the new Kromatic 2.0 Collection by Wella Professionals as it gave me the perfect platform to create something new. To match Neelam's bold personality I knew I wanted something Fearless and chic. I opted for creating a customised look with #MagnificentPink. I took slices of the hairline and worked back, and towards the center of her hair so that the color stands out through the perimeter of her hair, frames her face perfectly."Nikhil Sharma, Founder at Nikhil Sharma Hairdressing, adds, "Being a part of Wella Professionals has always been a matter of great pride. This year I am thrilled to create yet another exclusive look for the Kromatic 2.0 Collection. For Rohit who has been averse to color, I wanted to create something classic yet edgy to compliment his dashing personality. I experimented with the technique of dual toning using visual freehand to unlock the #IceBrown Hair color for Rohit. This customised hair color displayed a smooth and swift transition from icy cool tones to blended browns. As stylists we have the power to create transformative changes which can give a consumer the necessary confidence boost that they are looking for."It is your time to #FindYourVibe with Kromatic 2.0. Head to the Wella Salon nearest you and #AskAWellaExpert. Wella Company is one of the world's leading beauty companies, comprised of a family of iconic brands such as Wella Professionals, Sebastian, System, weDo, Clairol, OPI, Nioxin and ghd. With 6,000 employees globally and a presence in over 100 countries, Wella Company and its brands enable consumers to look, feel, and be their true selves. As innovators in the hair and nail industry, Wella Company empowers its people to delight consumers, inspire beauty professionals, engage communities, and deliver sustainable growth to its stakeholders.This story has been provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Karnataka elections: Will ensure not a single woman left behind, says BJP Mahila Morcha chief Bengaluru, April 12: Ahead of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Mahila Morcha president Vanathi Srinivasan on Wednesday said the party will ensure that not a single woman is left behind without supporting the BJP. Karnataka elections: Will ensure not a single woman left behind, says BJP Mahila Morcha chief "Being the Mahila Morcha, we will concentrate on women voters. A big shift has been taken in Uttar Pradesh, Manipur, Goa and Gujarat and the confidence that women show to BJP is across the nation. We want to capture that support. We want to ensure that no single women supporter is left behind without extending support to BJP," Srinivasan told ANI."In all government schemes, more than 50 per cent of beneficiaries were women. We uploaded 1 crore selfies with all the women beneficiaries and uploaded them on the NaMo app. In Karnataka, we will club the central scheme with state schemes," she added.BJP on Tuesday released the first list of candidates for 189 seats out of 224 seats for the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections with 52 new candidates getting tickets.While addressing the press conference BJP's national general secretary Arun Singh said, "52 new faces, eight women, nine doctors, five lawyers, one retired IPS officer, three retired government employees and eight social activists have been given tickets.He further mentioned that BY Vijendran who is the son of former Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa has also been given the ticket.The party fielded former Bengaluru police commissioner Bhaskar Rao from the Chamrajpet constituency. BJP national general secretary CT Ravi will contest from the Chikmagalur constituency.State Ministers - Shashikala Jolai, R Ashok, Prabho Chauhan, Shankar Muniyakappa, Muniratna, ST Somashekar, VC Patil, Varity Vasuraj, Murgesh Nirani, CC Patil, Sunil Kumar, Shivram Hebbar have been given tickets.State Assembly Speaker Vishwaser Hegde has been given the ticket."V Somanna MLA from Govindraj Nagar has been given a ticket from Chamaraj Nagar and Varuna Assembly. It will directly challenge Congress leader Siddaramaiah," he added.In this list, tickets have been given to Lingayat-51, Vokkalinga-41, Kurba-7, SC-30, ST-16 and 32 from the OBC community.Nomination filing for the state assembly elections will begin on Thursday, April 13.Meanwhile, supporters of sitting BJP MLA from Belagavi North, Anil Benake staged a protest on Tuesday evening after he was denied a ticket in the upcoming Karnataka Assembly elections.Further, supporters of BJP MLA Mahadevappa Yadawad protested in Ramdurg constituency in Belagavi over the ticket being denied to him. Chikka Revana who joined the BJP recently got the ticket from the constituency.According to BJP sources, former Karnataka Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has started showing a rebellious attitude and has been called to Delhi."Former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar has started showing a rebellious attitude. In fact, the party's high command is not in favour of fielding him, but Shettar does not agree. He has been called to Delhi. Shettar will be asked to work for the party. It is unlikely he will get a ticket for the upcoming elections," party sources said.BJP sources also mentioned that the wife of the late union minister Ananth Kumar will not get a ticket in the upcoming elections."No ticket will be given to Tejaswini Ananth Kumar but she may be given a larger role in the organisation in the time to come," sources said.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Environmentalists welcome TNPCB ban on woven and ruffian bags Chennai, April 13: Environmental groups and social activists have welcomed the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board (TNPCB)'s move of imposing a ban on woven and ruffian bags. Environmentalists welcome TNPCB ban on woven and ruffian bags On Wednesday, the TNPCB issued a statement stating that the woven or ruffian bags are single-use plastics and directed the public not to use such bags.The board in the statement said that the manufacture, selling and distribution of these plastics is a violation as per the notification on ban on single-use plastic.Mahadeva Ramalingam, Chief Advisor, Chennai Environmental Group -- a study group on environment -- told IANS, "We have found large quantities of woven and ruffian plastics flooding into the Tamil Nadu market after the ban on single-use plastics. This is a method to bring in single use plastic through the back door ultimately polluting the environment."Several environmentalists and social movements across the state have been campaigning against this, he said and added that the statement of the TNPCB was highly appreciated and welcomed.The Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board has in the statement said, "Plastic carry bags in the name of woven bags or ruffian bags are widely available with the vendors and shopkeepers. Commercial establishments like super markets, textile shops, shopping malls, flower shops, groceries, food and vegetable shops are using these bags in large numbers and these single use items are used only once before they are thrown away and littered."Environmentalists and social activists have been raising the issue of single-use plastic flooding the market through back doors like woven or ruffian plastic bags.Syed Umanullah Khan, activist based out of Madurai while speaking to IANS said, "When we protested against the use of woven and ruffian bags in Madurai and other southern Tamil Nadu districts, I was hounded out by the big cartel. We had to file several complaints with the police and pollution control board officers in Chennai and Madurai and there has been a relentless fight for this. Ultimately the result has come and we are happy at the TN PCB issuing the statement clarifying the position."IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Intel, ARM reach joint chip manufacturing deal San Francisco, April 12: In a significant move, chip-maker Intel on Wednesday said it will work with British chip designer ARM to build low-power compute system-on-chips (SoCs). Intel, ARM reach joint chip manufacturing deal The collaboration will focus on mobile SoC designs first, but allows for potential design expansion into automotive, Internet of Things (IoT), data centre, aerospace and government applications.ARM customers designing their next-generation mobile SoCs will benefit from leading-edge Intel 18A process technology, which delivers new breakthrough transistor technologies for improved power and performance."Intel's collaboration with ARM will expand the market opportunity for Intel Foundry Services (IFS) and open up new options and approaches for any fabless company that wants to access best-in-class CPU IP and the power of an open system foundry with leading-edge process technology," said Pat Gelsinger, CEO of Intel.Intel is currently investing in leading-edge manufacturing capacity around the world, including significant expansions in the US and the EU, to serve sustained long-term demand for chips."ARM's collaboration with Intel enables IFS as a critical foundry partner for our customers as we deliver the next generation of world-changing products built on ARM," said Rene Haas, CEO of ARM.This collaboration will enable a more balanced global supply chain for foundry customers working in mobile SoC design on ARM-based CPU cores. By unlocking ARM's leading-edge compute portfolio and world-class IP on Intel process technology, ARM partners will be able to take full advantage of Intel's open system foundry model, which goes beyond traditional wafer fabrication to include packaging, software and chiplets.Intel 18A delivers two breakthrough technologies, PowerVia for optimal power delivery and RibbonFET gate all around (GAA) transistor architecture for optimal performance and power."IFS and ARM will develop a mobile reference design, allowing demonstration of the software and system knowledge for foundry customers," said the companies.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! CNG prices have been slashed by operators by up to 10 per cent across India after recent hikes. It comes as a relief to a lot of consumers, including those who own a CNG vehicle. Billed as the more cleaner version of petrol and diesel vehicles, CNG car segment has seen significant rise in recent times. The latest price cut may encourage a lot of prospective buyers to go for a CNG car to benefit from the latest price reduction of the natural gas. Here is a look at five most affordable CNG vehicles you can pick. Maruti Suzuki Alto 800 Maruti Suzuki's smallest hatchback Alto 800 is the most affordable among the CNG cars sold in India. Though the carmaker has recently pulled out the petrol-only model from the market due to stricter BS-6 Phase 2 emission norms, one can still drive home an Alto 800 CNG while the stocks last. Priced from 5.13 lakh (ex-showroom), the Alto 800 CNG offers a mileage of more than 30 kms per kg, one of the highest among all other CNG cars. Power delivery is also par for the course with around 40 bhp and 60 Nm on offer. Maruti Suzuki S-Presso Priced just under 6 lakh (ex-showroom), the S-Presso CNG uses Maruti Suzuki's new generation S-CNG kits. The CNG version of the S-Presso is available in the LXi variants. The car comes equipped with a 1.0-litre petrol engine that can churn out 56 bhp of power and 82 Nm of peak torque. Maruti S-Presso CNG models offer a mileage of more than 32 kms per kg. Maruti Suzuki Alto K10 The existing Alto K10 hatchback was launched Maruti's S-CNG technology last year. The new 1.0-litre K10 series engine can generate power output of nearly 56 bhp and 82 Nm of torque. With a mileage of nearly 34 kms per kg and a price of 5.96 lakh (ex-showroom), the Alto K10 S-CNG could prove more bank for the buck for most CNG vehicle buyers. Maruti Suzuki WagonR One can also pick the CNG version of this boxy hatchback, one of the most popular small car models in the country. It comes powered by the same 1.0-litre K series engine that is used for Alto K10, Celerio and other models. The WagonR CNG models are capable of generating 56 bhp of power and 82 Nm of peak torque. The CNG fuel economy of 34.05 kms/kg is also one of the highest in the segment. The WagonR CNG variants come at a price of 6.43 lakh (ex-showroom). Tata Tiago iCNG With the Hyundai Santro CNG out of the market, Tata's smallest hatchback is now also one of the most affordable CNG choices one has currently. Under the hood, Tata Tiago iCNG models come equipped with a 1.2-litre engine, capable of generating 72 bhp of power and 95 Nm of peak torque. The Tiago CNG also claims to return mileage of 26.49 kms/kg. One can buy the Tiago i-CNG variant at a price of 6.44 lakh (ex-showroom). First Published Date: Syria, Saudi Arabia agree to resume consular services, air flights Damascus/Riyadh, April 13: Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed in a joint statement to resume consular services and flights, after the bilateral ties have been stranded for years. Syria, Saudi Arabia agree to resume consular services, air flights The announcement came as Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad wrapped up his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first time since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Xinhua news agency reported.The statement on Wednesday said both Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to resume the consular services and the flights between the two countries, stressing that both sides have agreed on boosting security and counter-terrorism efforts, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry.The two sides discussed the necessary steps to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the crisis in Syria that would end all its repercussions, achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab surroundings and the resumption of its natural role in the Arab world, according to the statement.The two countries also agreed to resolve humanitarian difficulties and offer a suitable environment for assistance to reach all parts of Syria, according to the Saudi Press Agency.The two sides stressed the importance of the return of Syrian refugees and displaced individuals to their areas, along with taking the required steps to stabilise the situation in the country.Mekdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came upon the invitation by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, as the relations between both countries are on the way to normalisation.On Wednesday, Tunisia and Syria decided to reopen their respective embassies to resume diplomatic ties between the two countries.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! There will be no power cut in Odisha this year, says Energy Minister Bhubaneswar, April 12: With heatwave continuing to grip Odisha, state Energy Minister Pratap Keshari Deb on Wednesday assured people that there will be no power cuts in the state this year. There will be no power cut in Odisha this year, says Energy Minister Talking to media persons here, Deb said "There are speculative reports in the media about chances of power cuts. I assure everyone that there will be no power cut in Odisha, including rural areas, this year."However, there might be temporary power cuts due to technical issues, he said, adding, electricity is being supplied in the state as per the demand of the people.The minister's statement holds significance as the state is currently reeling under an intense heatwave situation.According to a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD) at least 14 places recorded a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius or above on Wednesday.Jharsuguda was the hottest place of Odisha at 43 degrees Celsius followed by Baripada, which sizzled at a maximum temperature of 42.5 degrees Celsius.Similarly, Sambalpur recorded a maximum day temperature of 42 degrees Celsius while it was 41.6 degrees at each of Boudh and Talcher.Bolangir and Titlagarh towns in western Odisha witnessed a maximum temperature of 41.2 degrees followed by Angula at 41.1 degrees,Bhadraka at 41 degrees, Sundergarh at 41 degrees, Hirakuda at 40.7 degrees, Rourkela at 40.6 degrees, and Chandbali at 40.3 degrees.The Met department issued an alert for heat waves in several parts of Odisha in the next three days.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Iranian team arrives in Riyadh to prepare for diplomatic missions reopening Tehran, April 13: Iran's technical team arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh to prepare the ground for the reopening of its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, said the Iranian Foreign Ministry. Iranian team arrives in Riyadh to prepare for diplomatic missions reopening The Ministry's Spokesman Nasser Kanaani described the visit as a new step in line with the implementation of the Beijing-brokered agreement between Tehran and Riyadh on the resumption of the official bilateral relations and diplomatic activities of their political and consular offices in the two countries, according to a statement on the Ministry's website.Kanaani on Wednesday said the Iranian delegation, welcomed by Saudi officials upon arrival, is going to implement the necessary measures for the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh as well as the consulate general and representative office to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah.He added that efforts have been underway to reopen the Iranian diplomatic missions before the beginning of the Haj pilgrimage in late June, Xinhua news agency reported.On Saturday, the Saudi technical team arrived in Tehran to prepare for the reopening of the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and consulate general in the northeastern city of Mashhad.Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a deal in March to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions in the two countries within two months.In a meeting in Beijing on April 6, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement announcing the practical resumption of official diplomatic relations.Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shia cleric.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Western Australia braces for strongest cyclone in a decade Canberra, April 13: The state of Western Australia is bracing for a powerful category four cyclone -- deemed to be the strongest in a decade to hit the region. Western Australia braces for strongest cyclone in a decade In its latest forecast, Australia's Bureau Of Meteorology (BOM) said tropical cyclone Ilsa is predicted to strike some 500 kilometre west of Broome and the storm's "very destructive core" could gust up to 275 km/h on Thursday night into Friday morning, before it moves inland, reports the BBC.Australia uses a five-tier system to categorize cyclones, and on Thursday it strengthened to a Category 4 cyclone.The BOM also warned of up to 400 mm of rain and abnormally high tides, with the storm's impact felt across a 600 km region from Port Hedland to just south of Broome.Authorities have issued a yellow alert, which orders people to be ready to shelter, for several remote towns including Port Hedland, a town of 15,000 which is the world's biggest iron ore exporting port.Port Hedland mayor Peter Carter said evacuation centres have been set up in the town."Everyone is on edge," the BBC quoted Carter as saying to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation."They understand that cyclones are what they are. They're very, very unpredictable."Some 700 residents from the remote community of Bidyadanga were being evacuated, the fire service said.Cyclones are common on the west coast of Australia, with the BOM logging seven of them last year, reports CNN.The northern coast of Western Australia has been hit by 13 storms equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane since 1960, but this would be the first since tropical cyclone Laurence in 2009, which hit in a very similar location with winds of 240 kph at landfall.The strongest storm ever to hit any part of Australia was tropical cyclone Monica, which arrived in 2006 with sustained winds around 290 kph, as it swept across the eastern and northern parts of the country.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Kansas Cancer Center honours 2 Indian-American doctors New York, April 13: Two distinguished Indian-American members of The University of Kansas Cancer Center were recognised as most productive faculty, and formally invested with endowed professorships. Kansas Cancer Center honours 2 Indian-American doctors Breast medical oncologist Priyanka Sharma and gastroenterologist Prateek Sharma were honoured for their efforts in research and treatment of cancer and gastroenterology.Priyanka, MD, who was invested with the Frank B. Tyler Cancer Research Professorship, is a leading expert on triple-negative breast cancer. She is a professor in the Department of Medical Oncology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and co-leader of the cancer center's Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics research program.Priyanka has dedicated much of her career to identifying more effective therapies to treat this aggressive subtype of breast cancer, a University of Kansas Cancer Center release noted.She serves as vice chair for the breast committee of SWOG and is a member of the SWOG Board of Governors and National Cancer Institute (NCI) breast cancer steering committee.Prateek Sharma, MD, professor of medicine and director of GI Fellowship Training at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, was invested with the Elaine Blaylock Cancer Research Professorship.A renowned gastroenterologist and scientist focusing on esophageal diseases, including cancer, he is president-elect of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy.He serves as chair on the Esophageal Committee of World Endoscopy Organization and chairs the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy artificial intelligence task force.Both professorships are appointed positions made by Roy Jensen, MD, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center."Priyanka and Prateek Sharma are outstanding leaders and experts in their respective fields," Jensen said in a statement."Through these endowed chairs, both can pursue more innovative ideas and create more inter-disciplinary collaborations leading to advances in cancer care," he added.The University of Kansas Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center in the region, and one of only 53 in the nation, to receive this elite distinction.NCI-designated cancer centers are recognised for their scientific excellence, including their depth and breadth of research.They are the backbone of innovative research and care across the country, helping to pioneer most groundbreaking advances in cancer treatment.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Biden pays homage to his Irish heritage Dublin, April 13: Visiting US President Joe Biden paid homage to his Irish heritage during a trip to the home county of his ancestors, the media reported. Biden pays homage to his Irish heritage Biden arrived in Ireland on Wednesday on a three-day visit from his brief trip to Northern Ireland where he marked the 25th anniversary of Good Friday peace agreement, reports the BBC.Later in the evening, he addressed thousands of people at the Windsor Bar in Dundalk town, County Louth, and said that visiting the area which his great-great-grandfather had left for America "feels like coming home".To shouts of "welcome home, Joe", the President said Irish people were the "only people in the world in my view who are actually nostalgic about the future"."It is because, more than anything in my experience, hope is what beats in the heart of all people and in particular in the hearts of the Irish," he said, adding "Every action is about hope we can make things better."Biden said his ancestors left Ireland at about the same time as former US President Barack Obama's great-great-great-grandfather Falmouth Kearney, who was from Moneygall in County Offaly."They would never have dreamed that their grandsons would have been presidents of the US," he said.After landing in Dublin where he was received by Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar, Biden travelled to meet distant relatives in the Cooley Peninsula and the village of Carlingford in County Louth on the east coast.The President also visited a Dundalk shop owned by Jerome McAteer, who said he was honoured to sell Biden some sweet treats, including lemon meringue and chocolate eclairs, the BBC reported.Biden regularly speaks of his Irish heritage and had promised to visit Ireland during his term in office.A US genealogist who researched the President's lineage has estimated he is "roughly five-eighths" Irish.His maternal great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan departed Carlingford in County Louth in the late 1840s to travel to America.Among his great-grandparents was Edward Blewitt, who left the west coast town of Ballina in County Mayo in 1850 to emigrate to the US.He settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the devastating Irish potato famine was causing widespread starvation.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Should India make an exception and export wheat to Nepal? Kathmandu, April 13: Nepal has formally requested India to supply 300,000 tonnes of the wheat to meet the demand of the flour mills amid India's ban on wheat exports since May last year. Should India make an exception and export wheat to Nepal? Even though India in December last year fixed a quota of 50,000 tonnes for supplying wheat to Nepal, Nepal-based flour mills have been seeking supply of more wheat from the southern neighbour.Flour prices have skyrocketed in the Nepal market and subsequently, the price of biscuits, noodles and breads have also surged in recent months.'It has been 14-15 days since we sent a request to India for the supply of 300,000 tonnes of wheat meant for Nepal's flour mills,' Narayan Prasad Regmi, spokesperson at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies told India Narrative.com. 'The request was sent through the diplomatic channel.'He said that additional demand for wheat was sought after supply of 50,000 tonnes in the past was not adequate for Nepal's industrial consumption.Nepal's flour mills, whose number are in the range of over three dozen, were pressuring the government for getting supply of additional wheat, complaining that the limited wheat supply from India led either to closure of many factories or less capacity utilisation.'As per our demands, the government sent the request to India for supply of additional wheat,' Dinesh Kumar Agrawal, senior vice-president of Nepal Flour Mills Association told the India Narrative. 'Since India set a quota of 50,000 tonnes for Nepal, Nepal's flour mills received just 33,000 tonnes of wheat supplied by India and they are forced to run the factories at just 15-20 per cent of their capacity.'He said that his association has called the Nepal's government to make a request for the supply of 700,000 tonnes of wheat required for the country within a year.India imposed a ban on wheat exports in May last year after a freak rise in temperatures impacted the harvest there.In March 2022, a heatwave curtailed India's wheat production to 100 million tonnes against local consumption of 103.6 million tonnes, according to the reports.India faced another heatwave in northern and central India earlier this year. The heatwave appearing at a time the crop is ripening is threatening to damage grains and dent the country's wheat production for the second straight year, the reports said.And, India is showing no sign of ending the current ban on export of wheat as it wants to keep wheat prices stable in the domestic market amid global supply chain disruption. But many in Nepal argue that India is treaty bound to supply the wheat to Nepal despite it being in the list of export ban.As per the protocol to trade between Nepal and India which was last renewed in 2016, where needed by one contracting party, the other shall authorise exports of goods which are in export ban category, subject to specific annual quota allocations. The quota list may be jointly reviewed as and when necessary, the protocol to the treaty states.'In line with the provision of treaty, India had exported rice to Nepal in 2007-08 within a month after India imposed global export ban on rice,' Posh Raj Pandey, executive chairperson of the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), a Kathmandu-based think tank focussed on international trade, told the Indianarrative.Nepal also produces wheat. According to Nepal's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, annual production of wheat in Nepal has been over two million tonnes in recent years.In the last fiscal year 2021-22 ending in mid-July 2022, the wheat harvest increased by less than 1 percent to 2.14 million tonnes, according to Nepal's Agriculture Ministry. 'We expect that wheat production will grow to 2.2 million tonnes this year,' Ram Krishna Regmi, under secretary at the ministry, told this website.Wheat, Nepal's third largest cereal crop, is sowed in mid-November and harvested in mid-April.'Nepal's domestic production is enough for consumption of wheat in its natural form in the households,' said Regmi. 'But there is not enough production of durum wheat which are used in certain industries to produce noodles, pasta, breads, biscuits among others.' Durum wheat yields a glutinous flour.Sunil Kumar Singh, senior agricultural economist at the Department of Agriculture under the Agriculture Ministry said that there have been a few efforts to grow the durum wheat in the country but it has been difficult to convince the farmers.'The farmers are concerned whether such wheat could be sold in the market provided the flour mills refuse to buy domestic wheat because of cheaper Indian wheat,' he said.Nepali officials say that the domestic production of wheat is enough for household consumption in its natural form because the majority of Nepali people prefer rice over wheat as staple food.'People of certain regions and elite communities in the urban areas prefer wheat over rice for their daily food consumption,' Singh, who is also information officer at the Department of Agriculture.But reduced availability of glutinous flour has resulted in price rise of everything that is produced with durum wheat.Industries have either increased the prices of the wheat flour-based products or reduced the quantity to adjust the cost of production. 'The price of per kg wheat increased to NPR 40 now from NPR 32 at the same time last year,' said Agrawal. 'That's why, it has been difficult for us to keep the price of wheat flour down.'SAWTEE Chairperson Pandey said that the food security situation of the country should not just be judged based just on household consumption of wheat in its natural form.'Consumption of processed wheat products has also been a rising trend in Nepal's culinary culture. So, whether the country has enough wheat for the processed wheat products should also be a part of ensuring food security of the country,' he said.(Prithvi Shrestha writes for India Narrative from his perch in Kathmandu)(The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com)--indianarrativeIANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! TN fishermen seek govt intervention to retrieve boats from Sri Lanka Chennai, April 13: Fishermen of Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in Puducherry have sought governmnet's intervention to retrieve their fishing vessels impounded by Lankan authorities. TN fishermen seek govt intervention to retrieve boats from Sri Lanka The fishermen complained that more than 50 vessels worth crores of rupees are impounded by Sri Lankan Navy and coastal authorities on charges of crossing International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL).M.S. Antonio Joseph, a fisherman from Ramanathapuram told IANS, "Mechanised fishing boats are our source of revenue and a group of fishermen from the shores of India venture into the sea for days to get a good catch and earn livelihood. Of late, life has become miserable for fishermen as we are being attacked by Sri Lankan Navy as well as sea pirates. The line demarcating the two is very thin and we can't recognise it."He said that most of the time fishermen cross the IMBL inadvertently. The mechanised boats with outboard engines are of huge costs, Joseph said.The Sri Lankan navy lets off the Indian fishermen after they serve the sentence but boats are impounded and left to be destroyed without maintenance, Joseph claimed.Antonio Joseph said that the Tamil Nadu government must take up the matter with the Union government to retrieve the boats from Sri Lanka.The fishermen cited examples of Sri Lankan authorities giving away their boats to local fishermen who submerge their vessels as well as remove their outboard engines.Ranganathan, a fishing boat owner from Karaikal, told IANS that his fishing boat is left to the mercy of Sri Lankan authorities as it was in their custody since the fishermen including himself were arrested and jailed in Lanka for crossing the IMBL.The fishermen have also said that there were instances wherein the fishing boats that were seized and impounded are sold off without proper notice to the owners.The fishermen associations of coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are planning to meet the Chief Ministers Of the respective states M. K. Stalin and N. Rangasamy and urge them to take up the matter with Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for further action.M. Muniyandi, a fisherman from Pudukottai, told IANS that the fishermen will have no other option but to conduct a series of agitations in coastal areas to get justice. He said that the lives of an entire coastal region go haywire when a fishing boat is impounded as it means bread and butter to many fishermen and their families.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! As India, Japan, France to announce new platform to restructure SLs debts Colombo, April 13: As India, Japan and France to announce a new platform for creditors to coordinate restructuring of Sri Lanka's debt on Thursday, China called on all island nation's creditors to share burden. As India, Japan, France to announce new platform to restructure SL's debts "We call on commercial and multilateral creditors to take part in Sri Lanka's debt restructuring based on fair burden-sharing," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said while adding the Beijing would work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development.Wenbin was responding to a question raised at a media briefing in Beijing on Wednesday.However Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki who announced that Japan, France and India would disclose the new platform for creditors to coordinate Sri Lanka's debt restructuring had invited China to join their efforts."We altogether made a great effort to set up the framework... I hope many countries will participate. It will be very nice if China will join," Suzuki has told media on Wednesday.The new platform initiated by Japan, the chair of this year's G7 meeting, G20 chair India and France aim to address debt vulnerabilities of middle-income countries such as Sri Lanka.At the press briefing China's Foreign Ministry spokesman had also reminded about the extension on Sri Lanka's debt service due in 2022 and 2023, an announcement made by China's Exim Bank in February."Sri Lanka will not have to repay the principal and interest due of the bank's loans during the above-mentioned period, so as to help relieve Sri Lanka's short-term debt repayment pressure; meanwhile, the bank would like to have friendly consultation with Sri Lanka regarding medium- and long-term debt treatment in this window period; and the bank will make best efforts to contribute to the debt sustainability of Sri Lanka," the Chinese spokesman said.The response from China, Sri Lanka's largest bilateral creditor came following Sri Lanka's Central Bank head, told that the Indian Ocean Island was awaiting China's support in its effort to restructure debts and start repayment.While attending the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's Spring Meetings, Central Bank Governor, Nandalal Weerasinghe told media that the country aims to quickly complete negotiations with official and commercial creditors.Suffered with repeated debacles including the Easter Sunday attack in 2019 and pro-longed Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka went through a severe financial crisis which lead to a political turmoil in 2022.Facing severe shortages of all essential items including food, fuel, medicines, people took to streets and toppled the government lead by Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the President and his elder brother Mahinda as the Prime Minister.In April 2022, for the first time in history, Sri Lanka defaulted its debt repayment of $7 billion that was due for the year.Former opposition MP, Ranil Wickremesinghe took over the country and stopped major imports, introduced economic restrictions and raised taxes in order to secure $2.9 billion bailout package by the IMF.Sri Lanka plans to announce its debt-restructuring strategy with commercial creditors during April.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Shanghai (Gasgoo)- BENTELER Investment (China) Co., Ltd. (BENTELER) and Beijing Hainachuan Automotive Parts Co., Ltd. (BHAP) recently signed an agreement to jointly build a factory in Beijing, according to a post on BENTELER's WeChat account. The cooperation newly formed will focus on the automotive chassis and suspension business, aiming to provide products for the future platforms and electrified vehicles under luxury and premium auto brands. Photo credit: BENTELER The factory jointly built by the two companies will be located in Yizhuang, Beijing Economic and Technological Development Area. It plans to complete equipment debugging before the end of 2023 and achieve volume production in 2025. BENTELER takes chassis module as one of its core businesses, and has a leading position globally in this field. Since 1987, BENTELER has had 25 years of experience in module production and has built 27 module factories worldwide. In China, the German-based company has set up factories in such cities as Tianjin, Fuzhou, Shenyang, Chongqing, Wuhu, and Shenzhen, offering local assembly services to a slew of automakers like Beijing Benz, Fujian Benz, BMW Brilliance, Changan Auto, and Chery Auto. As the auto parts business unit under BAIC Group, BHAP provides customers with innovative solutions for systematizing core parts and components. Its products cover interior and exterior trims, electronics, chassis, powertrain, and body systems, offering supporting services to more than 40 well-known global OEMs. It has formed partnerships with over 20 automotive parts groups worldwide. Rashmi Thackeray to address Shiv Sena (UBT) women activists in Nashik Mumbai, April 13: Rashmi Thackeray, the wife of Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, is likely to address party's women workers in Nashik later this month, party sources indicated here on Thursday. Rashmi Thackeray to address Shiv Sena (UBT) women activists' in Nashik Rashmi, currently the Editor of 'Saamana Group' of publications, will travel to Nashik to boost up the party cadres and prevent the continuous 'leakage' of party supporters, witnessed in the city Sena (UBT) since the past few months, after the split in June 2022.Reputed to be a woman with a firm independent mind, she has always remained in the shadows to manage the Thackeray household for the past over two decades after she became a 'Thackeray bahu' 34 years.The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state President Chandrashekar Bawankule reacted sharply to the development saying that since the party (Sena-UBT) is being decimated, it has to rely on other family members to keep it going.However, senior leaders like Sushma Andhare or Kishore Tiwari dismissed Bawankule's statements and said that Uddhav and Aditya "are sufficient to give a strong challenge" to the BJP.Tiwari also questioned Bawankule's locus standi to comment on the Sena (UBT)'s internal matters, while Andhare said "nobody takes the BJP chief seriously".Nashik is considered a 'weak-link' in the Sena (UBT)'s scheme of things with the rival BJP, and even Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) going all out to woo the people there ahead of the upcoming civic elections.Earlier, Rashmi has attended women activists camps and even certain political rallies addressed by her husband, and stood behind him like a rock during the crisis that split the party vertically nine months ago, with a loyalist-turned-dissident Eknath Shinde becoming the CM.Simultaneously, Uddhav and Aditya go around on tours across the state to pep up the morale of their workers, and attempt to strengthen the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance and pose a tough challenge to what they term 'gaddar' (traitor) Shinde.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! NTR Jr. hosts special dinner for James Farrell, VP International at Amazon Studios Mumbai, April 13: Star NTR Jr. hosted the Vice President of Amazon Studios, James Farrell and few dignitaries from the industry for an intimate dinner at his house in Hyderabad on Wednesday night. NTR Jr. hosts special dinner for James Farrell, VP International at Amazon Studios Some prominent filmmakers including S.S. Rajamouli, Koratala Siva, Trivikram, Shobu Yarlagadda, Mythri Naveen, Sirish Reddy, and Nagavamsi also attended the exclusive dinner.NTR shared a few pictures from the dinner party. He wrote "An evening well spent with friends and well-wishers. Was great catching up with James and Emily. Thanks for keeping your word and joining us for dinner."The 'RRR' actor kept his look simple and classic in a black t-shirt and ash grey pants. As soon as the pictures surfaced on social media, fans were quick to point out if this was the beginning of a new project following his global success as Bheem in 'RRR'.NTR Jr. is currently shooting for Koratala Siva's NTR 30 in Hyderabad which will release in theatres on April 5, 2024.IANS13 April 2023 Shared Recently! North Korea fires ballistic missile toward East Sea of Japan, says S. Korea Seoul, April 13: Following its ongoing unwillingness to respond to what were formerly daily cross-border communications, North Korea on Thursday fired an unspecified ballistic missile towards the East Sea of Japan on Thursday, Yonhap News Agency said citing the South Korean military. North Korea fires ballistic missile toward East Sea of Japan, says S. Korea According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, they discovered the launch. However, they did not go into further detail about it as the investigation is underway.Tensions increased on Tuesday as state media in the North claimed that leader Kim Jong-un had called for strengthening his nation's military deterrence in a more "practical and offensive" way, Yonhap News Agency reported.Moreover, the Japanese government said the North Korean missile could be heading towards Japan as Pyongyang fired an unspecified missile in the East Sea amid rising tensions with Seoul and Washington.Japan has warned that a North Korean missile has possibly come down in Hokkaido Prefecture or in the waters nearby, NHK World reported.It is advising residents of the prefecture and the nearby areas to seek safety right away.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Jr NTR hosts dinner for Amazon Studios top executive, S S Rajamouli joins them Hyderabad, April 13: 'RRR' star Jr NTR, who has become a global sensation in the last few months, hosted a dinner party for James Farrell (Vice President International, Amazon Studios) and few dignitaries from the film industry at his house on Wednesday. Jr NTR hosts dinner for Amazon Studios top executive, S S Rajamouli joins them Taking to Instagram, Jr NTR posted a few snaps from the evening, in which S S Rajamouli also joined him. In the first black-and-white snap, Jr NTR can be seen sharing a good laugh with Farrell. In another frame, NTR posed with Rajamouli for the shutterbugs."An evening well spent with friends and well-wishers. Was great catching up with James and Emily. Thanks for keeping your word and joining us for dinner," NTR wrote in the caption.Jr NTR is in the headlines as he has bagged a role in the sequel of 'War'. As per a source, the shooting for the film is expected to start in November 2023."Get set for the biggest theatrical experience when Hrithik Roshan takes on NTR Jr. in War 2. The film is being mounted on a scale that has never been attempted before in India. Aditya Chopra and Ayan are clear that they want to make it a spectacle and a global cinematic moment for India. Pre-production is in full swing for this action extravaganza that starts its shooting schedule in November," the source said."War 2 is a huge pan India movie right now, after casting coup by Aditya Chopra to get NTR Jr. in this film. The YRF Spy Universe is expanding at a rate that is unimaginable and all the films of this universe are now the biggest event films for audiences to enjoy in theatres," the source added.Directed by Siddarth Anand, 'War' featured Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff in lead roles. This high-octane action drama is touted to be one of the highest-grossing Hindi films of that year. However, the makers have not made any official statement regarding 'War 2'.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! India is not seeking permanent immigration visas from any country in FTAs: Piyush Goyal By Shailesh Yadav, Rome [Italy], April 13: India is not seeking permanent immigration visas from any country under a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and is only looking to engage with trading partners on mobility like temporary visas for students, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday. India is not seeking permanent immigration visas from any country in FTAs: Piyush Goyal He said that some people mix up mobility and immigration but they are two separate subjects.Mobility is about expanding trade, business, and providing temporary visas for people who visit a country either for work or for studies, he said."India is not seeking permanent immigration visas from any country... We are only looking to engage with countries on mobility. We are concerned only about our ability to give services for business and investments through temporary visas, for students who take training in the post-study period... (and) for which we have found a lot of acceptance in all the countries with which we are talking," Union Commerce Minister told reporters here.He added that post-Covid, the world is realising that remote working is a great success and in fact, this will open up huge opportunities for "our" young boys and girls from smaller towns and tier 2 and 3 cities.It would also improve the competitiveness of India's services and help the country support the global effort towards the international exchange of goods and services, he added.He was replying to a question about apprehensions raised by some countries on the services side that India's demand could result in a large inflow of Indian professionals in those markets.Providing temporary visas to professionals from sectors such as IT is India's key trade agreement demand.He also said that the negotiations with the UK, EU and Canada are progressing fast.When asked about a media report on issues in the ongoing talks between India and the UK, the minister said that some media speculate and look for headlines only.India and the UK are scheduled to hold the next round of talks for the agreement on April 24.Some of the Indian exports from sectors such as apparel are of the view that the trade pact with the UK would help them push exports worth about USD one billion after the agreement comes into force.Indian authorities have recently dismissed reports that India-UK trade talks have been stalled over the recent attacks involving pro-Khalistan groups in London.According to British media reports, New Delhi has stalled negotiations with the UK over a free trade agreement (FTA) as it wants tougher action against these groups behind the attack on the Indian High Commission in London last month.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! From SRKs Dunki to Varun Dhawans Bhediya 2: All you need to know about Jio Studios new 100 projects Mumbai, April 12: In a star-studded event held at the Jio World Convention Centre in Mumbai, Jio Studios, the media and content arm of Reliance Industries Limited, for the first time released its content slate. The studio has lined up ready to release over 100+ stories across genres of films and original web series in multiple languages and genres. From SRK's Dunki to Varun Dhawan's Bhediya 2: All you need to know about Jio Studios' new 100 projects The list of projects is pretty exciting and looks like a game-changer for the industry.Jio Studios has collaborated with talents like Raj Kumar Hirani, Sooraj Barjatya, Dinesh Vijan, Ali Abbas Zafar, Aditya Dhar, Prakash Jha, Amar Kaushik, Laxman Utekar to bring this gift for their audience. The production houses promise projects with both new and experienced filmmakers as well as actors.Jyoti Deshpande, President - RIL Media and Content Business commented, "We are in the most exciting and eventful phase of Indian entertainment, with storytelling taking centre stage in an era of explosive digital disruption. Since its inception five years ago, Jio Studios has worked very hard to lay solid foundations in scaling what is traditionally a very fragmented industry. We have actively partnered with some of the best names in the business and newcomers alike to reach this day, when a staggering and exciting 100 content assets have been produced, ready to be showcased to the world"."Our vision is to power stories that are from, by and for India and Bharat, tell stories that not only entertain but also have purpose, partner with storytellers in every Indian language and take these stories mainstream. Our mission to Make in India and Show the World is vast and inclusive and will ensure the growth of the entire entertainment value chain. The future holds infinite possibilities, and this occasion marks a new chapter in our journey to give wings to the greatest stories ever told and champion the creative excellence of incredible storytellers", winds up Ms Deshpande.The intriguing film lineup consists of movies like Dunki (Shah Rukh Khan), Bloody Daddy (Shahid Kapoor), Bhediya 2 (Varun Dhawan) , Bhul Chuk Maaf (Kartik Aryan and Shraddha Kapoor), Untitled (Shahid Kapoor and Kriti Sanon) Stree 2 (Rajkummar Rao and Shraddha Kapoor), Section 84 (Amitabh Bachchan), Hisaab Barabar (R Madhavan), Zara Hatke Zara Bachke (Vicky Kaushal and Sara Ali Khan), BlackOut (Vikrant Massey and Mouni Roy), Mumbaikar (Vijay Sethupathi), The Storyteller (Paresh Rawal and Adil Hussain), Dhoom Dhaam (Pratik Gandhi and Yami Gautam), Empire (Taapsee Pannu and Arvind Swamy), to name just a few.Jio Studios has also announced several web originals with power-packed stories. The list comprises Laal Batti, a political thriller helmed by Prakash Jha (marking Nana Patekar's debut in OTT and Sanjay Kapoor), Union The Making of India (Kay Kay Menon, Ashutosh Rana and a stellar ensemble cast), Inspector Avinash (Randeep Hooda and Urvashi Rautela), Rafuchakkar (Maniesh Paul's debut in OTT), Bajao (Rapper Raftaar's OTT debut), The Magic of Shiri (Divyanka Tripathi), Doctors (Sharad Kelkar), A Legal Affair (Barkha Singh and Angad Bedi) and many more. Additionally, the studio has built a Mini-Originals slate showcasing slice-of-life content that includes Ishq Next Door (Abhay Mahajan and Natasha Bharadwaj), Do Gubbare (Mohan Agashe and Siddharth Shaw) and Hajamat (Sanjay Mishra and Anshumaan Pushkar).Jio Studios plans to decorate their content slate with multiple regional projects in Marathi language like Baipan Bhari Deva (Rohini Hattangadi, Vandana Gupte, Sukanya Kulkarni), Four Blind Men (Ankush Chaudhari), 1234 (Vaidehi Parshurami and Nipun Dharmadhikari), Kharvas (Sandesh Kulkarni), Kaata Kirrr (Priyadarshan Jadhav), Khashaba (Nagraj Manjule) Kaalsutra (Subodh Bhave and Sayaji Shinde), Eka Kaleche Mani (Prashant Damle) and Aga Aai Aho Aai (Renuka Shahane and Hruta Durgule).Studio has planned a massive collaboration with SVF Entertainment to work with top like Bhojpuri artists including Mithun Chakraborty, Prosenjit Chatterjee, Jisshu Sengupta and makers Dhrubo Banerjee, Raj Chakraborty, Anirban Bhattacharya, Srijit Mukherji and Suman Ghosh.The studio is also backing Gujarati cinema and will present a fascinating line up of Bachubhai (Siddharth Randeria), Chaandlo (Kaajal Oza Vaidya, Manav Gohil and Shraddha Dangar) and Ghulam Chor (Malhar Thakkar).ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Shahid Kapoor brings intriguing avatar in Bloody Daddy teaser, check out fans reactions Mumbai, April 13: After the OTT release announcement, the makers of the upcoming film 'Bloody Daddy' unveiled the teaser on Thursday. Shahid Kapoor brings intriguing avatar in 'Bloody Daddy' teaser, check out fans reactions Taking to Instagram, Shahid Kapoor treated fans with the teaser of his upcoming action thriller and captioned the post, "Get ready for a BLOODY good time at the movies. #BloodyDaddy June 9, 2023 on @officialjiocinema."The teaser showcases the 'Jersey' actor in a rugged avatar. He is seen in intense action look by fighting multiple goons in a hotel. The video also gave a glimpse of Sanjay Kapoor, Ronit Roy and Diana Penty.As soon as the teaser was released, the netizens chimed in the comment section.One of the users wrote, "John wick vibes."Another commented, "wooooooowwwwwww.""Teaser is so gooooood. Can't wait to watch the movie already," another read.On Wednesday, Jio Studios announced their upcoming lineup of films and web series at a grand event in Mumbai.Talking about the film Jyoti Deshpande, President - RIL Media and Content Business said, "We have taken a really big special film, with a very big actor, a very big director, spent lots and lots of money on it and we are going to do an OTT release."Helmed by Ali Abbas Zafar, the film stars Shahid Kapoor, Sanjay Kapoor and Ronit Roy in the lead roles.Shahid, on the other hand, shared his experience of working with the 'Tiger Zinda Hai' director and said, "It was a lot of fun. I had a great time doing an action film, I really enjoyed working with Ali. He understands the genre very well. The dilemma now is that if you're doing something of this scale, on OTT, what do you do on the big screen? So we have to figure that out, it has been a blast."The actor also revealed that his dancing experience helped him understand action choreography really fast.He said, "There's a lot of choreography involved with dance, and because I started dancing at the age of 15, I can memorise things really fast, that helped us. When we did the film, unfortunately, due to COVID we had a lot of issues. The action directors were not from here, some of them were from London, some came from Hollywood, and they are used to a lot of rehearsals. And they came in and they thought that it is going to be a disaster. But because I have done a lot of dancing I could pick it up really fast."On Wednesday, taking to Instagram, Shahid unveiled the first look poster of his film which he captioned, "Teaser dropping BLOODY soon."'Bloody Daddy' will stream from June 9 this year.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Wissen Technology inaugurates 50,000 sq.ft. office space in Bangalore Bengaluru, April 13: Wissen Technology, a US-based specialized technology solutioning and consultancy company, announced the opening of its state-of-the-art office in Bangalore. The new dedicated Offshore Development Centre (ODC), located in Embassy Signet, Cessna Business Park, Outer Ring Road in Bangalore, covers 50,000 sq. ft. of space, with a seating capacity of over 800 employees. With the addition of this facility, Wissen Technology now has six offices in India. Wissen Technology inaugurates 50,000 sq.ft. office space in Bangalore This state-of-the-art facility will strengthen company's digital transformation capabilities and solutions in areas like cloud, artificial intelligence and machine learning for its BFSI clientele. Speaking on the occasion, Raghu Pareddy, CEO, Wissen Technology said, "The inauguration of our new office in Bangalore marks a significant milestone in our growth journey. The new facility will enable us to strengthen our delivery capabilities, enhance our digital transformation offerings, and cater to the growing demands of our BFSI clientele."Wissen Technology, which has been certified as a Great Place to Work for three consecutive years (2020-2023), offers an array of services that includes Application Development, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Big Data and Analytics, Visualization and Business Intelligence, Robotic Process Automation, Cloud, Mobility, Agile and DevOps, Quality Assurance and Test Automation, and Infrastructure Management.Last year, Wissen opened its offices in Pune and Chennai. With current addition in Bangalore, Wissen Technology marks its presence in five major cities across India, with total employee strength of over 1400 technologists.Wissen Technology is a specialized technology company delivering high-end technology consulting and solutions for organizations in the Banking and Finance, Telecom, and Healthcare domains. Established in the year 2015, Wissen Technology is a part of the Wissen Group (Since 2000) and has offices in the US, India, UK, Australia, Mexico, and Canada with 4000+ employee strength.This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN)ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! Mia Goth to star in Marvels Blade Washington, April 13: Mia Goth, who rose to fame with last year's release 'X and Pearl' has bagged a Marvel project. Mia Goth to star in Marvel's 'Blade' According to the Hollywood Reporter, Mia has been cast in Marvel studio's 'Blade'.Blade stars Mahershala Ali as the titular half-human, half-vampire who spends his time hunting vampires to avenge his late mother. 'Lovecraft Country' fame director Yann Demange will direct the project. Micheal Starrbury has penned the script.As reported by the Hollywood Reporter, comic book writer Marv Wolfman and artist Gene Colan introduced the world to Blade in 1973's The Tomb of Dracula No. 10 and Wesley Snipes played Blade in a trilogy of films New Line released in the 2000s.The new 'Blade' was first announced at San Diego Comic-Con in 2019. It is expected to shoot in Atlanta.Goth is about to commence shooting MaXXXine, which is A24 and filmmaker Ti West's third film in the X series, and then will move on to Blade in June. She recently stole scenes in Brandon Cronenberg's horror feature Infinity Pool.ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! LOS ANGELESIn "Kyler Makes Brock His Soldier," the newest release from amateur military site Active Duty, tattooed Brock Kniles wants Kyler Drayke to take charge. Its fun to finally see two of our Active Duty favorites together at last, and this one is the perfect match of great performers, said Jeremy Babcock, CCO of Active Duty parent company Alpha Studio Group. I really enjoyed getting topped by Kyler, said Kniles. He fucked me exactly how I like it. Overall, it was a very smooth and easy scene with Kyler. Looking forward to doing it again! Agreed Drayke, Brock is an awesome scene partner! Super masculine and yet he can switch to a submissive bottom like it's nothing. Such incredible versatility, I love it! See more Kniles, Drayke, and other recruits at ActiveDuty.com and follow the brand on Twitter @ActiveDutyx. Uttarakhand CM Dhami inaugurates training program Pashu Sakhi Dehradun, April 12: Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami on Wednesday inaugurated the training program of Pashu Sakhi scheme funded by the Government of India. Uttarakhand CM Dhami inaugurates training program 'Pashu Sakhi' On the occasion, Chief Minister Dhami said, "It is a matter of pride that Uttarakhand has become the third state in the country to start the Pashu Sakhi training program after Madhya Pradesh and Kashmir. This training program will prove to be a milestone in making women self-reliant."[{e3590e79-edc7-4433-8f2e-49935bb045a0intradmin/ANI-20230412160727.jfif}]"Uttarakhand can be made a model state in every field. There are good possibilities of achieving a 100 per cent target of various sector schemes of the Government of India in Uttarakhand. It can become a model state for the country in every field," the CM said at the Survey of India Auditorium in Dehradun.On this occasion, A-HELP (Accredited Agent for Health and Extension of Livestock Production) kits were distributed by the Chief Minister to 23 A-help workers.After Pashu Sakhi training, a help worker will work as a connecting link between the Animal Husbandry Department and the animal parents and will also provide information about all the schemes of the government to the animal parents.CM Dhami further said, "As a son and brother, he is always ready to serve and maintain the confidence of the mother power of the state. Strong women are the backbone of any society, if the women's power in a state is progressing, then the development of that state is sure, no one can stop it. Women have made a special contribution to the construction of our state.""On the one hand, where the mother power of the state has taught the entire society to live and fight in adverse circumstances, on the other hand, it has also taught it to win in every situation. I am happy that today women in remote villages of the state are giving impetus to the rural economy through cottage industries by forming self-help groups. Women have never had any dearth of skills and now these skills are powering their and their families' economy. He said that the women of Uttarakhand are manufacturing better products than the products of multinational companies," he added.Women members of the self-help groups of the National Rural Livelihood Mission will get the opportunity to get the honorarium fixed by the Government of India in various schemes through the A-Help scheme.The A-help worker will also share the record of all livestock and poultry population in the area with the block-level veterinarians. This will not only make the implementation of animal husbandry activities easier but will also have a direct impact on milk production.Apart from this, she will also encourage animal rearers to produce fodder so that they become self-sufficient for the supply of fodder. Each A-Help worker will also be given a first-aid kit so that they can take care of the basic health needs of the animal parents.Lauding Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the CM said, "Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, today about 23 crore women across the country have Jan Dhan accounts and women power is getting the benefits of various schemes directly. Today, the government led by the Prime Minister has done the work of promoting women in every field. Today, from financial inclusion to social security, from quality healthcare to housing, from education to entrepreneurship, several efforts have been made to keep our women's power at the forefront of India's development journey. These efforts will continue with more enthusiasm in the coming times.""You can understand the commitment of the state government from the speed with which the Uttarakhand government also worked to give complete benefits of 30 per cent reservation to women in government jobs. Today, all the mothers and sisters of the state, with their untiring hard work, have done the work of making themselves financially self-sufficient, on the one hand, they have also kept alive the civilization and culture of the land of God. We have full faith that this special scheme starting today will further strengthen our government's resolution of "strong mother power, strong state," CM Dhami said.On this occasion, Cabinet Minister Saurabh Bahuguna said, "This is a big step in achieving the Prime Minister's goal of doubling the income of farmers and cattle herders. Like every sector, the Uttarakhand government is getting unprecedented cooperation in animal husbandry from the central government. This scheme is important for empowerment and self-reliance of mother power."ANI13 April 2023 Shared Recently! India, Uganda have very converging perpsective in terms of world outlook: Jaishankar New Delhi, April 13: In terms of the world outlook, India and Uganda have very converging perspectives which are based on the solidarity of the south-south cooperation between the two nations, said Jaihankar on Thursday in a podcast of his recently concluded Uganda visit. India, Uganda have very 'converging perpsective' in terms of world outlook: Jaishankar He said that out of many conversations during his visit to Uganda, future cooperation between India-Africa, and especially India -Uganda was an important subject.Calling the African nation of Uganda "noteworthy", the External Affairs Minister in his podcast said that he has seen new intensity in interactions between New Delhi and Kampala and that even as we look towards the development side, India has a clear purpose with regard to expanding its economic interactions with the African country."When I came here to Kampala 2 days ago, I had the privilege of meeting President Museveni almost immediately. I had interaction with the minister of foreign affairs, and defence, the minister of trade, the minister of water resources and many of their colleagues," Jaishankar informed in the podcast that was posted on the EAM's Twitter handle.He underlined two important events which coincided with his visit.Talking about the events in his podcast of the Uganda visit, he said, "On was of the inauguration of the campus of National Forensic Science University and second of beginning of construction of solar water pump project which would bring water to half a million Ugandans spread across 20 districts."He also talked about how India has always had a regular flow of visitors from the Ugandan side."In 2015, President Museveni visited India for India-Africa Forum Summit," the EAM said.Jaishankar also informed that in 2018, PM Modi had paid a return visit to Kampala. Highlighting the ties between the two nations, he further said that the famous Kampala principles still guide India's partnership with the developing world.Marking a milestone in Indian-Uganda bilateral cooperation, Jaishankar inaugurated the first foreign campus of India's National Forensic Sciences University in Jinja, Uganda on Wednesday."A personal vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its international footprint is a matter of particular satisfaction," Jaishankar tweeted.Jaishankar also highlighted that this was a proud day for India, a proud day for Uganda and for the India-Uganda relationship. The inauguration of NFSU's Uganda campus is an example of practical cooperation between the two nations, he added.Mentioning the courses offered by this university - Forensic Sciences in behavioural sciences, cyber security, digital forensics and allied sciences - Jaishakar said that he was confident that these courses will be in high demand and will bring immense benefits to all the stakeholders in Uganda and in Africa.Jaishankar on Monday met Uganda's President Yoweri K Museveni at his farm in Rwakitura and congratulated the country on assuming the chairship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM)."Privileged to call on President @KagutaMuseveni of Uganda at his farm in Rwakitura. Conveyed the personal greetings of PM @narendramodi. Appreciated his guidance on furthering our traditional and long-standing ties," Jaishankar tweeted.He also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, energy, defence, health, digital and agricultural domains.Notably, EAM Jaishankar is on a visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to further strengthen India's "strong bilateral relations" with the two countries.ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! You were a true blessing, Anil Kapoor at loss of words to wish late friend Satish Kaushik Mumbai, April 13: It's Satish Kaushik's first birth anniversary and his dear friends are searching for words to wish him. You were a true blessing, Anil Kapoor at loss of words to wish late friend Satish Kaushik Anil Kapoor took to Instagram to post a video capturing the filmy moments in which Anil and Satish have worked together."While I sit here trying to find the right words or just any words really to express what I feel right now...I want to fill books telling you what you mean to me but I know you already knew that...in the 3 mins of this video, I relived so many of our memories. I wish we had more time...I wish I could call you and tell you just one more time how lucky I am to have you in my life....I miss you beyond words Satish...I pray that everyone has a friend like you in their life because you were a true blessing...Happy Birthday my friend..." wrote Anil in the post.Anil's heartwarming post drew love from other celebs.Gajraj Rao wrote, "Beautiful tribute Sir."Bakhtiyaar Irani wrote, "Wooowwww sir @anilskapoor God bless his soul."Earlier, Anupam Kher shared a heartfelt post in which he mentioned that he will celebrate his late friend's birthday with love, music and laughter.Satish Kaushik died on March 8 following a sudden cardiac arrest in New Delhi. Anupam Kher first broke the news of his demise on social media.Sharing the news, Anupam tweeted in hindi, "Death is the ultimate truth of this world!" But I never thought in my dreams that I would write this thing about my best friend #SatishKaushik while alive. Such a sudden full stop on a friendship of 45 years!! Life will NEVER be the same without you SATISH! Om Shanti!"ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Parul University offers Industry-linked MBA programs for lucrative careers and startup incubation New Delhi, April 13: Parul University, one of India's premier universities, known for its broad range of educational programs and insightful vision towards the exchange of knowledge, is preparing to welcome a new group of MBA students for the academic year 2025. The University is offering a comprehensive learning experience that provides full exposure to modern business trends and practices. It includes an all-encompassing set of 20 courses in business administration, designed to impart to students the necessary skill sets regarding the scope of various fields related to business and management. Parul University offers Industry-linked MBA programs for lucrative careers and startup incubation The program offers specialized degrees in various areas, such as Agribusiness Management, Information Technology, Forensic Accounting and Fraud Investigation, Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Digital Marketing and Sales, Entrepreneurship and Innovation Development, Family Managed Business, Pharmaceutical Management, Project Management, Healthcare Management, Public Policy, Retail Management, Tourism and Event Management, Business Analytics, Finance, Human Resource Management, Marketing, Operations Management, Banking and Financial Services, and International Trade and Business.These degrees aim to provide students with a solid foundation in the field and prepare them for future leadership roles. Dr Parul Patel, Vice President, Parul University expressed gratitude for providing a rich program in Business Management studies. The contemporary global scenery demands business leaders with unique skill sets in business management, and the Faculty of Management endeavours to equip students with the necessary skills and business ethics required to navigate the business world. The faculty's practical-based curriculum seeks to nurture students into highly competent management personnel, imparting within them a set of entrepreneurial skills that promote a culture of business innovation with vital management solutions. Additionally, the faculty's strategic industrial tie-ups provide students with endless avenues for hands-on training from expert industrialists from various leading business fields.The University's vision is to develop well-trained leaders to manage leadership positions in business and industry focusing on emerging areas of specialization. The University strives to achieve a high level of institution building by offering an optimum mix of different specializations in management. This program promises the best outcome, which is significantly reflected in successful placements every academic year. The highest-grossed package of 30 LPA and an average package of 8 LPA secured by students reflect the program's success.Parul University secures an elite position in the placement sector as it has the most successful companies collaborating with its students, including DMart, Flipkart, Godrej, ICICI Bank, BYJU'S, IndusInd Bank, Adani Gas, Patanjali, Aditya Birla Group, Colgate, Asian Paints, Amul, and Amazon. In addition, through its uniquely structured, industry-linked, and field-aligned programs, the University has an impressive record of fulfilling students' infinite dreams, launching their lucrative careers towards high trajectories through start-up incubation and impeccable placement records.The University's 125-acre eco-friendly campus is home to over 43,000 students from every State of India and over 2,500 international students from 68 countries, making it a truly culturally global destination.In conclusion, Parul University offers a comprehensive MBA program designed to equip students with the necessary skills and knowledge required to navigate the contemporary business landscape successfully. The program's success is reflected in the impressive placement records of its students and the strategic industrial tie-ups that provide endless opportunities for hands-on training from expert industrialists. The University's vision to develop well-trained leaders to manage leadership positions in business and industry, focusing on emerging areas of specialization, and the provision of an optimum mix of different specializations in management promises to produce competent management personnel that are well-equipped to tackle the challenges of the business world.To know more visitThis story has been provided by SRV. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/SRV)ANI14 April 2023 Shared Recently! Neighborhoods continued to bear the burden of flooded streets and rushing water outside their homes on Wednesday, dealing with the results of unprecedented snowmelt in Flagstaff. According to Stacey Brechler-Knaggs, the City of Flagstaff's emergency manager, at least one home on Stevanna Way in Coconino Estates and two residential properties on Butler Avenue have suffered damage as a result of rising water. Two city parks have been closed Foxglenn and Continental -- and stretches of the urban trail system are underwater as of Wednesday, according to city officials. Do not enter when flooded signs seem to be popping up with more frequency than spring wildflowers, and the Schultz Creek Detention Basins, installed for flood mitigation following last summers wildfires, have started to spill over already. Despite those instances, city officials say the three basins are still acting as a tremendous resource in holding back water. Its easy to point fingers about the response to it, said Flagstaff Vice Mayor Austin Aslan. "I really challenge residents to imagine what would have happened if we didnt have those retention basins up near Schultz. Thats one success story. Those retention basins, even though theyre under a lot of stress right now, are still a total game-changer. We can clearly see how important these measures are. The basins are designed to hold back more than 65 acre-feet (upwards of 325,000 gallons) of water, according to Daniel Kelly with the City of Flagstaff Emergency Management. Comparably it was not anything close to what it was last summer. That means the basins are doing their job and holding some of the water back, Brechler-Knaggs added. Once the detention basins reached 100% capacity Monday night, the excess water began to flow downstream into the Rio de Flag. Near the Schultz Creek detention basins, Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) crews have been working through the night to make sure the Schultz Creek culvert at Highway 180 continues to flow and operate as needed. Today our crews are working on replacing the piping there that had been crushed with rocks in the past. Theyll be placing concrete in there to seal that off, said Brenden Foley, the Northcentral District administrator with ADOT. Weve noticed from our 48-inch pipe the system is functioning as intended. Southbound lanes on Highway 180, on the west side of the road near Stevanna Way, have been closed to move vehicles away from water on the shoulder. Sidewalks within ADOTs right-of-way have also been closed. We do have traffic southbound shifted. We closed the southbound lane to get traffic away from the edge due to the subsidence, Foley said. We did remove the sidewalk in that location from the fire department south to Stevanna Way because it was all impacted by the subsidence, so the area is closed to pedestrians out of safety. City officials say flooding events like those the city is currently facing are nearly impossible to plan for. It would be nice to have an exact model of what we need to do. But we dont. We dont know what the next fire will look like, or where that scar will be," Aslan said. "Theres small differences that will direct water to one neighborhood or another. Because perfect planning is impossible, teams like Brechler-Knaggs and Kelly have to be responsive to evolving situations as they develop. Its important to note the basins were not designed to hold snowmelt. That is a newer thing that was not predicted. It was meant for flash flooding. They were designed to fill up real quickly and drain out -- releasing into Schultz Creek, Kelly said. We had to install gates and corrugated metal pipes that go from basin one and basin three into Schultz Creek to try and hold water in. In responding to the situation, agencies across the region have gotten involved. County emergency management is available to address flooding outside city limits. Streets crews have been out in Cheshire and Coconino Estates making sure the roads are clear of debris, and Water Management crews installed berms to protect homes on Butler Avenue Tuesday night and have been diligent in clearing culverts, Brechler-Knaggs said. The Rio de Flag seems to rise highest at night, and Kelly says theres a reason for that. What were seeing is the snowmelt at the top of the mountain, it takes a good eight hours to reach the Highway 180 culvert and the basins. Thats why our peak times have been at nighttime, Kelly said, adding that theres no way to predict how much more water the city will see. We dont know how long it will take to melt that snow. Aslan toured the Southside neighborhood Tuesday evening with former mayor Coral Evans. In the dark, he noticed a city trash can floating down Duont Avenue like a boat. He found the experience disquieting. It sounded like river rapids and it was just immediately alarming. My heart really goes out to residents in the area who are living with this uncertainty and the devastating impacts of what this will mean, Aslan said. Luckily, according to Brechler-Knaggs, no homes in the Southside neighborhood have been flooded. For her, this round of flood response began Friday with a trip out to Lake Mary. We just were informed that there was water leaking out of the levee, and we went out there and got eyes on it and notified the Forest Service and Coconino County Emergency Management, she said. After that, responding to rising water in neighborhoods has been a near around-the-clock job for Brechler-Knaggs. After working all day Tuesday to address flood concerns related to snowmelt, she was ready for a break. Brechler-Knaggs was in her kitchen preparing dinner for her husband when she was called back out -- destined to work nearly through the night. Shes worked with the city for 39 years. Flagstaff is her home. Working all night on behalf of her neighbors, she said, is something shes proud to do. The community is so thankful, the community is just rallying, she said. Its nice to see a community rally together. Gallery: Flagstaff under water as snowmelt, rain saturates the city Foxglenn Park Flooded There's a Hippo in the Park Merilee Lane Foxglenn Park Flooded Picnic, Anyone? Water Pumped Off 89N Foxglenn Park Flooded Water, Water Everywhere Foxglenn Park Flooded Rio de Flag Floods Foxglenn Park Driving Range Becomes Pond, Floods FAC East Parking Lot Foxglenn Park Flooded Water, Water Everywhere Water, Water Everywhere Water, Water Everywhere Walnut Canyon Lake Bursts Its Banks Water, Water Everywhere Why Did the Duck Cross the Road? Making a Splash Bursting Banks Water, Water Everywhere Water, Water Everywhere Water Crossing on Soliere Avenue Harold Ranch Road Cut-Off By Floodwater The trouble is that the community might really be in need of a rest. It seems the city and county have been moving through a season of one catastrophic event after another. Fire after fire and flood after flood have proven tiring for the folks on the front lines, and neighbors who have grown very used to the sight of sandbags. Wheres the rest? Wheres the reset? Aslan asked. Weve had a bad roll of the dice. He pointed out that ordinarily there is a break between fire seasons and floods, time after monsoon flooding for residents to clean their properties and recover. This time, that doesnt seem to be the case. Were not hiding from the task at hand. Were all in it together and we know whats at stake for each other, Aslan said. Personal mitigation is encouraged in the meantime as the melt cycles seem bound to continue. Were trying to help, but theres nothing we can really do. The Rio is so high and its causing so many problems," Kelly said. "We highly encourage homeowners to take appropriate mitigation efforts. If you feel your home is in danger, go get sandbags. Sandbag your doors and windows. Take care of your home." Prefilled sandbags and filling stations are available for residents on Aztec Street in the parking lot by the softball fields near Thorpe Park and on King Street located near Coconino County Health and Human Services. City officials say sandbags should only be used around doors and windows constructing piles of bags to divert water can cause harm to neighboring properties. Gallery: Snowmelt leads to more flooding Tuesday evening in Flagstaff Snowmelt continued to create flooding impacts in Flagstaff on Tuesday night as water flowed through the Rio de Flag. Floodwaters Rising The Rio de Flag rips through the channel in front of the downtown library Tuesday night as snowmelt continued causing flooding through the city. Local top story Snow Melt Continues to Rise A River of Gold A street light paints snowmelt floodwaters shades of gold Tuesday night as it races along the Rio de Flag through Wheeler Park. Protecting Home Sawyer Matje, 9, pushes back snowmelt floodwaters from his family home on Stevanna Way Tuesday afternoon. Flooding on Stevanna Way Stevanna Flooding Neighbors work together Tuesday night on Stevanna Way to redirect floodwater away from their homes. Stevanna Flooding Neighbors work together Tuesday night on Stevanna Way to redirect floodwater away from their homes. Stevanna Flooding Neighbors work Tuesday night on Stevanna Way to redirect floodwater away from their homes. Stevanna Flooding Neighbors work together Tuesday night on Stevanna Way to redirect floodwater away from their homes. Assistant States Attorney Brooke Hinman said the teen had missed probation appointments and school, and did not write the letter of apology that she had been ordered to. Download Now The News-Gazette mobile app brings you the latest local breaking news, updates, and more. Read the News-Gazette on your mobile device just as it appears in print. Latest ruling on pill shifts US abortion landscape again A court ruling this week keeps an abortion pill available, clarifying the U.S. abortion landscape but not settling it New technologies that can capture subtle changes in a patient's voice may help physicians diagnose cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease before symptoms begin to show, according to a UT Southwestern Medical Center researcher who led a study published in the Alzheimer's Association publication Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. Our focus was on identifying subtle language and audio changes that are present in the very early stages of Alzheimer's disease but not easily recognizable by family members or an individual's primary care physician." Ihab Hajjar, M.D., Professor of Neurology at UT Southwestern's Peter O'Donnell Jr. Brain Institute Researchers used advanced machine learning and natural language processing (NLP) tools to assess speech patterns in 206 people 114 who met the criteria for mild cognitive decline and 92 who were unimpaired. The team then mapped those findings to commonly used biomarkers to determine their efficacy in measuring impairment. Study participants, who were enrolled in a research program at Emory University in Atlanta, were given several standard cognitive assessments before being asked to record a spontaneous 1- to 2-minute description of artwork. "The recorded descriptions of the picture provided us with an approximation of conversational abilities that we could study via artificial intelligence to determine speech motor control, idea density, grammatical complexity, and other speech features," Dr. Hajjar said. The research team compared the participants' speech analytics to their cerebral spinal fluid samples and MRI scans to determine how accurately the digital voice biomarkers detected both mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease status and progression. "Prior to the development of machine learning and NLP, the detailed study of speech patterns in patients was extremely labor intensive and often not successful because the changes in the early stages are frequently undetectable to the human ear," Dr. Hajjar said. "This novel method of testing performed well in detecting those with mild cognitive impairment and more specifically in identifying patients with evidence of Alzheimer's disease even when it cannot be easily detected using standard cognitive assessments." During the study, researchers spent fewer than 10 minutes capturing a patient's voice recording. Traditional neuropsychological tests typically take several hours to administer. "If confirmed with larger studies, the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to study vocal recordings could provide primary care providers with an easy-to-perform screening tool for at-risk individuals," Dr. Hajjar said. "Earlier diagnoses would give patients and families more time to plan for the future and give clinicians greater flexibility in recommending promising lifestyle interventions." Dr. Hajjar collaborated on this study with a team of researchers at Emory, where he previously served as Director of the Clinical Trial Unit of the Goizueta Alzheimer's Disease Research Center before joining UTSW in 2022. He is continuing to collect voice recordings in Dallas as part of a follow-up study at UTSW being funded with a National Institutes of Health grant. This study's research was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health/National Institute on Aging (AG051633, AG057470-01, AG042127) and the Alzheimer's Drug Discovery Foundation (20150603). Dr. Hajjar holds the Pogue Family Distinguished University Chair in Alzheimer's Disease Clinical Research and Care, in Memory of Maurine and David Weigers McMullan. Early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's disease requires reliable and cost-effective screening methods. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden have now discovered that a type of sugar molecule in blood is associated with the level of tau, a protein that plays a critical role in the development of severe dementia. The study, which is published in Alzheimer's & Dementia, can pave the way for a simple screening procedure able to predict onset ten years in advance. The role of glycans, structures made up of sugar molecules, is a relatively unexplored field in dementia research. We demonstrate in our study that blood levels of glycans are altered early during the development of the disease. This could mean that we'll be able to predict the risk of Alzheimer's disease with only a blood test and a memory test." Robin Zhou, study's first author, medical student and affiliated researcher at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society (NVS), Karolinska Institutet In Alzheimer's disease, the neurons of the brain die, which is thought to be a result of the abnormal accumulation of the proteins amyloid beta and tau. Clinical trials for Alzheimer's drugs show that treatment should commence early in the pathological process, before too many neurons have died, to reverse the process before it is too late. More blood biomarkers needed There is both a practical and a financial need for non-invasive screening methods for Alzheimer's. Markers in blood are preferable, as taking samples of the cerebrospinal fluid is more difficult and brain imaging is expensive. Researchers at Karolinska Institutet have now shown that the level of a certain glycan structure in blood, denoted bisected N-acetylglucosamine, can be used to predict the risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. The research group has previously demonstrated a link between tau protein and glycan levels in people with Alzheimer's disease, but these analyses were done on cerebrospinal fluid. Glycans are sugar molecules found on the surface of proteins, the building blocks of life, and determine the location and function of these proteins in the body. By measuring blood glycan levels the researchers found that individuals with matching levels of glycans and tau were over twice as likely to develop Alzheimer's-type dementia. "We also show that a simple statistical model that take into account blood glycan and tau levels, the risk gene APOE4 and a memory test, can be used to predict Alzheimer's disease to a reliability of 80 per cent almost a decade before symptoms such as memory loss appear," says corresponding author Sophia Schedin Weiss, docent at NVS, Karolinska Institutet. 17-year follow-up The results are based on 233 participants of the Swedish National Study on Aging and Care in Kungsholmen (SNAC-K). The samples were collected between 2001 and 2004, and the participants were monitored regularly with respect to factors such as memory loss and the presence of dementia. The follow-ups were carried out every three to six years and continued for 17 years. The researchers will now be analyzing blood samples from the remaining participants of the SNAC-K study as well as from participants of other aging studies in and outside Sweden. "We're collaborating with researchers in primary care in Sweden to evaluate different biomarkers for dementia at primary health care centers," says Dr Schedin Weiss. "We hope that glycans in the blood will prove to be a valuable complement to current methods of screening people for Alzheimer's disease that will enable the disease to be detected early." The study was conducted by researchers in Lars Tjernberg's research group at the Division of Neurogeriatrics at Karolinska Institutet in collaboration with the Aging Research Centre at Karolinska Institutet, the Stockholm Gerontology Research Center and Karolinska University Hospital. Doctors at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital have developed lightweight and easy-to-use Parkinson's gloves that can automatically reduce tremors, allowing Parkinson's Disease patients to enjoy social life and reducing side effects from medication and risk from brain surgery. Tremors, slowness, stiffness -; these are the noticeable symptoms of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), especially the hand tremors while resting which are found in 70 percent of patients. These uncontrollable tremors make patients appear disabled and unable to enjoy their daily routines, calling for a caretaker, which lowers their self-esteem and makes them scared to socialize. The current method of treating Parkinson's is taking a cocktail of medications, which is mostly unable to reduce all the tremors. Some patients whose tremors are especially strong may need brain surgery, which is an always undesirable option due to its high cost and many side effects. This conundrum has inspired a team of researchers at the Faculty of Medicine, Chulalongkorn University, led by Prof. Dr. Roongroj Bhidayasiri and Asst. Prof. Onanong Phokaewvarangkul, Ph.D. to research and develop the prototype of "tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves" since 2014. The product received a patent under the name portable tremor measuring and reducing device using electrical muscle stimulation in January 2017. Many research articles have been published in international medical journals to support the efficiency of the device. The team has now succeeded in developing the "5th generation tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves" which are lightweight, easy to wear, and effective, not to mention cheaper than similar imported device. "The tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves are the first medical device that can help reduce tremors in the hands of PD patients through automatic electric stimulation of the hand muscles. We hope this will help reduce the tremors for the patients without having to increase the dosage of their medication unnecessarily and reduce the risk of brain surgery," discussed Asst. Prof. Dr. Onanong in connection with the significance of the innovation for Parkinson's disease. Currently, there are over 10 million PD patients around the world and approximately 150,000 patients in Thailand. It is estimated that for every 100 elderly people (aged 60 and over), there is one with Parkinson's disease! (For more information, read Getting to Know Parkinson's Disease). "As we move further into the aging society, the number of PD patients will only increase. Our estimation predicts an increase of 2-3 times in the future." Asst. Prof. Dr. Onanong added that the rise of PD patients will affect the socioeconomic status and the treatment methods in the country's public health system. If the PD patients are of working age, their quality of life and performance will be affected, as well as the financial status of their families. On the other hand, elderly patients with Parkinson's disease will face many other health issues from age, including poor balance, difficulty walking, and stiff muscles. Other health-related problems may also follow such as falling, which could lead to injuries or broken bones, causing them to potentially become bedridden. All of these have an impact on the methods of treatment, budget, and wellbeing of both the patients and the family, as well as the country's public health system. How does the tremor-reducing Parkinson's glove stimulate the hand muscles to lessen shaking? In 2014, a research team led by Asst. Prof. Dr. Onanong succeeded in developing the prototype model of Parkinson's gloves that can detect the tremors in the hands of the patients and automatically use electric current to stimulate the hand muscles to reduce the tremors. Asst. Prof. Dr. Onanong explained that the automatic tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves operate by combining 2 systems as follows: Detecting and measuring Parkinson's tremors using an accelerometer and a gyroscope, which are highly accurate and low in error risk. Parkinson's tremors measure at 4-7 Hz. Suppressing tremors with electrical stimulation of the hand muscles -; when the sensors detect Parkinson's-specific tremors, they will transmit a signal via Bluetooth to the muscle stimulator to release an electric current that will reduce the tremors from a small battery. The muscle stimulator uses the physiotherapy standard resistance, frequency, and electric current, which are safe for use with patients. Asst. Prof. Dr. Onanong explained that one set of the Parkinson's gloves includes 3 main components: (1) a glove with the muscle stimulator installed, (2) a control panel for detecting tremors and releasing electric current, and (3) a mobile phone with an application to control the device and store the tremors and stimulation. The device's uses will be stored on the phone's memory or a computer with a program to analyze the tremors in detail. All 3 components of the Parkinson's gloves will automatically work together via Bluetooth. 6 highlights of tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves From its prototype of a noticeably large glove, today the 5th generation tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves have developed into a pleasant-looking, small, lightweight device, which resembles a palm strap to make it look less like a medical device. Asst. Prof. Dr. Onanong has summed up the advantages of the latest Parkinson's gloves as follows: They are safe in detecting and noticeably reducing tremors in the hand. They are lightweight and easy to wear. The production cost is low compared to medication and surgery. The device is an alternative treatment that can reduce the side effects of using multiple medicines or the need to add more treatments to reduce tremors. The device can automatically record the patient's tremors, which can be immediately sent to a doctor online for regular treatment evaluation. The gloves can be used to reduce tremors in the hand from other conditions as well. The patient needs to always wear the glove to stimulate the hand muscles with electric current. If the device is turned off, the tremors will return. Most PD patients usually have other abnormalities in motion such as slowness or stiffness, forcing them to take Parkinson's disease medicine. However, the tremors are found only when the patient reacts negatively to medication. Therefore, using the tremor-reducing gloves will prevent the patient from having to take more medication to control the tremors and having to risk brain surgery." Asst. Prof. Onanong Phokaewvarangkul, Ph.D., Chulalongkorn University Support research, reduce production costs, and increase quality of life for PD patients Although devices to reduce PD patients' hand tremors are available in other countries, they are mostly very expensive. Also, there are no similar devices backed up by medical research, but Chulalongkorn's Parkinson's gloves are accompanied by clinical research which has been published in international medical journals. The cost of production of the gloves is also lower than the imported ones. Currently, the production cost is around 30,000 40,000 baht per set. "The team would like to show our gratitude for the continuous support in the research from many organizations, which has made the development of the tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves possible. We have received funding from Chulalongkorn University, the government, and the private sector, as well as other benefactors who donated money to sponsor the development of this device for patients, giving them more access to the treatment with these gloves," said Asst. Prof. Dr. Onanong. Currently, the tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves have been given to over 50 Parkinson's disease patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital and have proven to be effective (Figure 3). Plans for next-generation Parkinson's gloves Chula's Parkinson's gloves were awarded the National Innovation Award in Society and Environment (Private Sector) 2022 from the National Innovation Agency (Public Organization), the Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research, and Innovation. Even so, the research team remains committed to developing more useful and practical innovations for patients. "In the future, the team plans to develop the gloves to be smaller and better looking. They won't look like a medical device, but more like an accessory or part of the outfit. Still, they will retain the efficiency in reducing tremors, the stability of electrical current, and the ease of data upload. More development will include detection and reduction of tremors in other parts of the body, such as the legs, as well as tremors stemming from other diseases." Finding co-investors to produce the gloves for PD patients Right now the tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves are limited to only patients at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. The Excellence Center for Parkinson's Disease & Related Disorders is receiving patients to test the device. If the device works well for the patient, the Center will gladly sponsor the device for the patient's continuous use. Asst. Prof. Dr. Onanong mentioned that the tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves innovation is ready to be introduced to patients at large. They are welcoming potential entrepreneurs to help develop the device further before commercial production so that PD patients will best benefit from medical devices. Contact information for organizations and individuals interested in tremor-reducing Parkinson's gloves via Facebook Friends Against Dictatorship - FAD Public statement by 46 Thai civil society organizations regarding the deportation of asylum seekers from Peoples Defence Force to Myanmar dictator regime The Myanmar dictator regime has ascended to power through staging a military coup to topple a democratically elected government. It was the decimation of the supreme power of the people of Myanmar. The only legitimate ruling government in Myanmar should be the National Unity Government (NUG) which is consisted of representatives democratically elected by the people. According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP), as of 10 April 2023, 21,300 individuals have been arrested and more than 3,229 have been killed following the seizure of power from the civilian government on 1 February 2021. The people of Myanmar have formed the Peoples Defence Force (PDF) to oppose the coup by the Myanmar dictator regime. On 5 April 2023, it has been reported by various news agencies in Myanmar that the Thai Immigration Bureau has arrested three members of the PDF which is opposed to the coup by the Myanmar dictator regime and handed them over to the Border Guard Force (BGF) at a Thailand-Myanmar border checkpoint. At present, the three individuals have reportedly been transferred to the custody of the Myanmar dictator regime. The three members of the PDF. Ko Thiha (38), Htet Nay Wun (31) and Saw Phyo Lay (26), have travelled to Mae Sot District to seek medical treatment on 1 April 2023 and were intercepted by the Immigration officials at a checkpoint. They were later handed over to the BGF close to Myanmars Ingyin Myaing border pass by the Moei River, in Taks Mae Sot. The undersigned civil society organizations find the deportation of the three members of the PDF who sought medical treatment in Thailand to the BGF forces under the command of the hostile Myanmar army knowing full well that the three of them were vulnerable to fatal treatment including torture and persecution is a violation of Section 13 of the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance 2022 which came into force in Thailand since 22 February 2023 following our ascension to the UN Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (UNCAT). Section 13 clearly stipulates that No government organizations or public officials shall expel, deport, or extradite a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, or enforced disappearance. Thailand should have known that PDF has been formed by the forces that want to fight against the egregious and cruel crime committed by the Myanmar dictator regime against its own people. Therefore, what the Thai authorities have done in this case is a blatant breach of international law concerning non-refoulement. In addition, such act could be tantamount to a denial of medical treatment for an injured person which would amount to a violation of war crime including the Geneva Convention IIIs Articles 13 - 16 which place an importance on protecting prisoners of war to ensure they are treated based on a humanitarian basis, without discrimination, revenge and the provision of free-of-charge-medical attention. The act of the Thai authorities in this case could, therefore, be tantamount to a war crime given its obvious support and aiding to the Myanmar dictator regime. Thailands civil society organizations therefore condemn this act and have these recommendations for the concerned Thai authorities; 1. The Thai state must immediately ensure an effective enforcement of the Act on Prevention and Suppression of Torture and Enforced Disappearance B.E. 2565 including by refraining from expelling, deporting ,or extraditing a person to another State where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of torture, cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment, or enforced disappearance and must stop deporting members of the Peoples Defence Force and anti-coup activists from Myanmar to their country of origin. 2. An effort should be promptly made to accelerate the enforcement of the Regulation of the Office of the Prime Minister on the Screening of Aliens who Enter into the Kingdom and are Unable to Return to the Country of Origin in order to screen and identify the persons in need of protection since they have fled from persecution in their country of origin. 3. Thailand must respect the non-refoulement principle which obliges the host state to not immediately deport refugees or asylum seekers should such deportation may result in danger against the life or liberty of the persons. 4. The Thai government must clarify to the public about the criteria based on which the three members of the Peoples Defence Force had been deported since the issue has garnered national and international attention and must pledge to not violate its own domestic laws and international laws. 5. The Thai state must promptly investigate the alleged deportation of the three members of the Peoples Defence Force to establish if it is a violation against domestic and international laws or not. And if a violation could be established, the offenders shall strictly be brought to justice. For human rights, freedoms and democracy The Civil Society Network Monitoring the Situation in Myanmar 13 April 2023 Organizational endorsement 1. NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD) Thailand 2. Northern NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD) 3. North-Eastern NGO Coordinating Committee on Development (NGO-COD) 4. Legal Status Network Foundation (LSNF) 5. Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) 6. Cross Culture Foundation 7. Peace Way Foundation 8. Thai Allied Committee with Desegregated Burma Foundation (TACDB) 9. Thai Volunteer Service Foundation (TVS) 10. Foundation for AIDS Rights 11 Rak Thai Foundation 12. Foundation for Labour and Employment Promotion (HomeNet Thailand) 13. Human Settlement Foundation (HSF) 14. 4 Regions Slum Network 15. Friends Of The Homeless, Khon Kaen 16.(Khon Kaen Voice of Youth (KK-VoY) 17. Pha-thung Warrior Network, Chana 18. Lan Hoi Siab Community University, Chana, Songkhla 19. Pun Rak Food Sharing Project 20. I-san Urban Community Action (I-San UrComAct.) 21. Satun Provincial Development Plan Monitoring Group 22. Proud Association 23. Human Rights Lawyers Association (HRLA) 24. Campaign for Popular Democracy (CPD) 25. 35 The Relatives Committee of May 1992 Heroes 26. Social Democracy Institute 27. Young People for Social Democracy, Thailand (YPD) 28. Union For Civil Liberty (UCL) 29. (Dao Din) 30. A Know Network of Activities Circle Key (KNACK) 31. North Activist Community (CAN) 32. (Young Leadership Network for Social Change) 33. Activist Network for Democracy (A.N.D.) 34. Society of young social innovators (SYSI) 35. People Go Network 36. Campaign for Public Policy on Mineral Resources (PPM) 37. The Mekong Butterfly 38. Community Resources Center: CRC 39. Spirit in Education Movement (SEM) 40. ETOs Watch Coalition 41. The Coalition for the Rights of Refugees and Stateless Persons (CRSP) 42. Just Economy and Labor Institute 43. (MAP Foundation) 44. Migrant Working Group (MWG) 45. Burma Concern 46. Friends Against Dictatorship (FAD) Individual endorsement 1. somsak boonmarlert 2. Saranarat Kanjanavanit 3. Pasakorn Intoo-Marn 4 Jutamas Srihutthaphadungkit 5. Sasiprapa Raisanguan 6. Supaporn malailoy 7. Siriphorn Chaiphet Flagstaff Unified School Districts (FUSD) board approved on Tuesday at its meeting a position description for a new teacher mentor as part of a change to the districts teacher induction program for the 2023-2024 school year. The district had received a two-year grant from the Arizona K-12 Center to employ a new teacher mentor and will be using Title II funds for two other new teacher mentors. One mentor each will be working with new teachers in the districts elementary, middle and high schools. The grant is specifically for new teacher induction, mentoring and support. The mentors will be spending time in the new teachers classrooms, providing evaluations and helping them learn tasks such as classroom management and lesson planning. The structure is based on recommendations from the Arizona Department of Education's Beginning Teacher Induction Standards. Heather Ziegler, the learning, technology and innovation assistant director for FUSD, said the district hires between 85 and 90 teachers each year, 70% of whom are in their first three years of teaching. When we received this [grant], we also wanted to look at how our mentor-mentee program is currently structured and really looked at the way we structure our current capacity for new teachers," she said. Ziegler said that this is a shift from FUSDs current system, which right now is closer to a buddy system. To date in FUSD, weve been limited to the colleague support or buddy type of program due to a number of factors, including awareness surrounding research funding and access to effective training, she said in a presentation during a February board meeting. This grant would provide an opportunity for our district to implement a really solid proven model of beginning teacher support. Learning, technology and innovation coordinator Renda Fisk also presented on the mentor program. Research shows that teacher quality is the most important factor in student success, she said. ... This program is grounded in the Arizona beginning teacher induction standards, and those state that developing effective teachers those that stay and have the knowledge and skills to help all students achieve their maximum potential takes that intentional work. Fisk noted that early-career teachers have higher retention rates when they receive comprehensive induction support. At the February meeting, Ziegler said that between 40% and 50% of teachers leave the profession in their first five years of teaching. The grant funds the position for two years, so the program will be adjusting over time. [Well be] really focusing in with strong mentor support within those first two years of the teaching program with our new teachers, and in year three scaling that back a little bit to be somewhat of that buddy system within the schools, Ziegler explained. Then still having a very targeted approach when it comes to the first three years of having ongoing professional development how we can support them A recording of Tuesdays board meeting is available online. Discussion of the teacher mentor program begins at about one hour. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects in their unborn child. Now, research at Texas A&M University demonstrates that a father's alcohol consumption before conception also links to growth defects that affect the development of his offspring's brain, skull and face. Research investigating fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) exclusively examines maternal alcohol exposure. However, because men drink more and are more likely to binge drink than women, Dr. Michael Golding, an associate professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences' Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology, and his team set out to challenge the existing dogma, using a mouse model to examine what happens when the mother, father and both parents consume alcohol. In a new article published in the Journal of Clinical Investigation, Golding and his team found that male alcohol consumption before conception caused FAS brain and facial growth defects. We found that male exposures actually drive certain craniofacial differences much stronger than maternal exposures do, so this programming effect that's coming through sperm has a profound effect on the organization of the face and the growth and proportion of different facial features. When it was the dad drinking, we saw a profound shift in the organization of the face." Dr. Michael Golding, Associate Professor in the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences' Department of Veterinary Physiology & Pharmacology According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), FAS is a fetal disorder caused by maternal alcohol consumption during pregnancy. FAS is hard to diagnose, but when doing so, doctors currently look for abnormal facial features; lower-than-average weight, height or both; central nervous system problems such as a small head size, problems with attention and hyperactivity or poor coordination; and verification of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. "When doctors suspect a child has FAS, they sit down with the mother to confirm the diagnosis by discussing her drinking habits during pregnancy," Golding said. "It's not uncommon for the mother to deny consuming alcohol while pregnant. When they do, there's this stigma or this notion that women are lying about their alcohol use." Golding said this research, which was funded by a Medical Research Grant from the W.M. Keck Foundation and the NIH National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, reveals a potential blind spot in the current diagnostic criteria for FAS, the most severe form of Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD), which requires documentation of maternal alcohol use during pregnancy. "Our research proves there's a plausible alternative explanation the father's contribution, which has never been examined before," he said. "In this study, we call into question the dismissal of the mother's denial and really examine the capacity of male alcohol use to induce FAS growth defects." Golding explained that findings from his holistic approach that examines both parents' contributions to FAS reveal the need for two critical changes. "First is the recognition of the importance of male health in pregnancy outcomes and fetal health," he said. Golding pointed out that paternal health before conception is a novel consideration in terms of pregnancy outcomes and fetal health; as a result, raising awareness of the role a father's health plays in his offspring's health is just as important as awareness of the mother's contributions from preconception and through gestation. "Research examining fetal health is overwhelmingly focused on maternal health," he said. "I'm not saying that this is not appropriate; I'm just saying it's not the complete picture and we need some balance. "The second," he said, "is the fact that both parents are responsible for preventing alcohol-related birth defects." FAS has significant, life-changing consequences for children. Because their study identified FAS-related craniofacial differences in offspring born to fathers who regularly consumed alcohol at or more than the legal limit, Golding pointed out that both parents should commit to limiting or omitting their alcohol consumption before trying to become pregnant. Ultimately, Golding emphasizes that the first step in this process is expanding messaging outreach about the reproductive dangers of alcohol use to both parents. "Change the alcohol warning label to remove the maternal emphasis and put it on both parents to say, 'The decision to consume this beverage can have significant, life-changing consequences to a future child,'" he said. "Right now, the warning label only conveys part of the story. We must get that message out into the world as quickly as possible." Studies have shown that Mexican Americans have worse outcomes after a stroke than non-Hispanic white Americans. A new study looks at whether the language Mexican American people speak is linked to how well they recover after a stroke. The study is published in the April 12, 2023, online issue of Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology. Our study found that Mexican American people who spoke only Spanish had worse neurologic outcomes three months after having a stroke than Mexican American people who spoke only English or were bilingual. More research is needed into what factors and barriers may influence these worse outcomes." Lewis B. Morgenstern, MD, Study Author, University of Michigan in Ann Arbor and a Fellow of the American Academy of Neurology The study involved 1,096 Mexican American people in Corpus Christi, Texas, who had a stroke over a 10-year period. Researchers looked at results three months after the stroke in three areas: neurologic, functional and thinking and memory skills. Neurologic results cover areas such as muscle strength and coordination and problems with speech or vision. Functional results look at how well people can complete their daily activities such as showering and preparing meals. The 170 people who spoke Spanish only were compared to the 926 people who spoke English only or were bilingual. Those who spoke Spanish only were older, had received less education and had worse neurologic scores at the time of the stroke than those in the other group. Three months after the stroke, the Spanish-only speakers had average neurologic scores of seven, where scores of five to 14 indicate moderate effects from a stroke. The English-only and bilingual speakers had average scores of four, where scores of one to four indicate mild effects. The results remained after researchers adjusted for the differences between the two groups and other factors that could affect stroke risk, such as high blood pressure and diabetes. The study found no difference between the two groups in how well they recovered their ability to complete their daily activities or in their thinking and memory skills. "We conducted an earlier study in this same community finding that the language people spoke was not associated with any delay in their getting to the hospital or using emergency medical services after an ischemic stroke, so we definitely need more information to determine what is driving the differences in outcomes between these two groups," Morgenstern said. A limitation of the study was that there was a low number of Spanish-only speakers. Also, the majority of Mexican Americans in Corpus Christi are born in the United States, so these results may not be applicable to areas with a larger population of people born outside the United States. The study was supported by the National Institutes of Health and the TRANSCENDS (Training in Research for Academic Neurologists to Sustain Careers and Enhance the Numbers of Diverse Scholars) program funded by the National Institutes of Health. In a recent study posted to the bioRxiv* preprint server, researchers perform extensive multiscale investigations to explore virological characteristics of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron XBB subvariant, XBB.1.16. Study: Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB.1.16 variant. Image Credit: Limbitech / Shutterstock.com *Important notice: bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. Background The SARS-CoV-2 XBB.1.16 variant is associated with a 1.27- and 1.17-fold higher effective reproductive number (R e ) as compared to the XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 subvariants, respectively, thus indicating the ability of this novel Omicron variant to disseminate quickly. As a result of this increased transmissibility, the World Health Organization (WHO) began monitoring XBB.1.16 on March 30, 2023, following its detection in several countries, including India. Earlier, the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB subvariants with the F486P substitution in their spike (S) protein, which include XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.9, were widely circulating worldwide. Study findings The current analyses showed that as compared to its predecessor mutant strains, XBB.1.16 had two S substitutions, including E180V and T478R in the N-terminal domain (NTD) and receptor-binding domain (RBD), respectively. Furthermore, the dissociation constant (K D ) of the XBB.1.16 RBD for the host receptor angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) was 2.4-fold higher than XBB.1.5; however, its K D values were markedly poorer than that of XBB.1, thus reflecting the binding affinities of this novel subvariant. Pseudovirus assays showed that the infectivity of XBB.1.16 was comparable to that of XBB.1 but unlike XBB.1.5, the latter of which had higher infectivity than the parental XBB.1 mutant. Note that the S: T478R and S: E180V substitution mutations have a significant influence on the infectivity of this viral variant. Whereas the S: T478R mutation increases the infectivity of XBB.1.16, the S: E180V substitution significantly reduced its viral infectivity. XBB.1.16 likely acquired these two S protein mutations simultaneously as a strategy to evolve. This behavior has been previously observed in other Omicron subvariants, including BA.5 and XBB.1. Indeed, XBB.1.16 follows the evolutionary path of Omicron subvariants that emerged earlier. Regarding sensitivity to sera, neutralization assays showed that XBB.1.16 was highly resistant to sera from individuals reinfected with Omicron BA.2/BA.5, 18- and 37-fold more resistant than Omicron B.1.1/B.1.1. However, the sensitivity of this variant to convalescent sera of hamsters infected with XBB.1 was similar to XBB.1/XBB.1.5 mutants. XBB.1.16 was highly resistant to all six clinically available monoclonal antibodies for SARS-CoV-2. Only sotrovimab exhibited antiviral activity against XBB.1.16; however, this effect was weak. Lastly, antigenic cartography showed that XBB.1.16 had antigenicity close to XBB.1; however, this characteristic differed considerably from that associated with XBB.1.5. Conclusions Overall, the current extensive exploratory analyses uncovered that the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron XBB.1.16 subvariant has immense potential to disseminate and infect people worldwide to a greater extent than XBB.1 and XBB.1.5 subvariants. Furthermore, XBB.1.16 exhibits a higher immune-evasion potential that is similar to that of XBB.1 and XBB.1.5. The authors reasoned that XBB.1.16 enjoyed a higher fitness and growth advantage due to different antigenicity than XBB.1.5. Moreover, mutations in the non-S SARS-CoV-2 proteins also potentially contributed to its higher fitness. *Important notice: bioRxiv publishes preliminary scientific reports that are not peer-reviewed and, therefore, should not be regarded as conclusive, guide clinical practice/health-related behavior, or treated as established information. The Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC) has isolated (entirely or partially) and classified virological and serological data for over 80 years. Around 200 types of arboviruses (human pathogens) have been isolated and classified by the IEC, some of which have not been taxonomically classified. The similarities in symptoms and antigenic resemblance caused by arboviruses pose difficulty in their diagnosis in laboratory settings. In addition, disorderly urbanization and garbage accumulation favor the increase in arbovirus vectors, which leads to the emergence and re-emergence of diseases, particularly by Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses. A recent article published in the journal Viruses presents the encephalitogenic viruses registered at the Department of Arbovirology and Hemorrhagic Fevers (SAARB) of the IEC over the past six decades. Study: Isolation of Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses with Encephalitogenic Potential Diagnosed by Evandro Chagas Institute (Para, Brazil) in the Period of 19542022: Six Decades of Discoveries. Image Credit: angellodeco / Shutterstock.com Background A broad spectrum of infections has been associated with arbovirus infections, such as mild febrile illness, hemorrhagic fevers, and neurologic symptoms. Arboviruses are viruses maintained in nature through biological transmission between susceptible vertebrate hosts and hematophagous arthropods, or between arthropod hosts by the transovarian and/or venereal route. They are able to reproduce in vertebrate hosts, multiply in arthropod tissues, and be passed on to new susceptible vertebrates by arthropod bites after an extrinsic incubation period. At present, seven viral families of arboviruses, including Asfaviridae, Rhabdoviridae, Flaviviridae, Phenuiviridae, Sedoreoviridae, Togaviridae, and Peribunyaviridae have been shown to be capable of infecting humans and animals. Among these, the West Nile virus (WNV), Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), Dengue virus (DENV), Rocio virus (ROCV), and Zika virus (ZIKV) are neuroinvasive viruses with high epidemiological interest in Brazil. The genus Alphavirus of the Togaviridae family includes 32 viruses, including CHIKV, Eastern equine encephalitis virus (EEEV), and the Western equine encephalitis virus (WEEV), all of which are extremely important to public health. Alphaviruses are positive-sense, single-stranded RNA viruses that contain an icosahedral capsid envelope. These viruses are transmitted through mosquitoes, ticks, bed bugs, and lice. These viruses are also transmitted through vertebrate hosts, such as non-human primates, humans, birds, rodents, and pigs. The genus Flavivirus belongs to the family Flaviviridae and is composed of 53 viruses, including the Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), WNV, ZIKV, and DENV. These viruses also contain a positive-sense RNA genome with an icosahedral symmetrical structure. Flaviviruses are transmitted through cycles between vectors and vertebrate hosts. About the study The Laboratory of Viral Isolation/SAARB/IEC has its own Vero and C6/36 cell lines that have been consistently studied between 1954 and 2009. Between 1999 and 2018, these cells were used to isolate Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses from human samples. A large number of Flavivirus isolates were obtained from the Northern region of the country, whereas Alphavirus isolates were obtained from states in the Northeastern region. In addition to isolating viruses from cell cultures, viruses with encephalitogenic potential were isolated from infected mice and mosquitoes. Taken together, 1,347 arbovirus samples with encephalitogenic potential were isolated from mice, 639 of which were Flaviviruses and 708 were Alphaviruses were isolated. These viral samples were geographically distributed in the State of Para and other states of the Brazilian federation, such as Aripuana (Mato Grosso State), Serra do Navio-ICOMI (Amapa State), Boca do Acre (Acre State), Macapa (State of Amapa), Tocantins State, Macapa (State of Amapa). In the northern region of Brazil, particularly in the state of Para, Flaviviruses were isolated from armadillos and sloths, while Alphaviruses were found in ticks and horses. A total of seven Alphaviruses and four Flaviviruses were partially identified. Around 293 isolated viruses belonged to the family Picornaviridae, Arenaviridae, Flaviviridae, Togaviridae, Sedoreoviridae, Rhabdoviridae, and Peribuniviridae. Some viruses, such as Cajazeira virus, Canta virus, Uruara virus, Iriri virus, Marajo virus, Galibi virus, Codajas virus, Tracambe virus, and Naranjal virus, were partially identified and have unknown pathogenesis. The method by which Flaviviruses and Alphaviruses were isolated from mice by using mosquitoes as an animal model of origin was practiced by IEC from 1966 to 2012. This isolating method was reinstated in 2018, exclusively using C6/36 cell culture. Conclusions The current study highlighted the urgent need to combat forest degradation, which influences the spread of diseases transmitted by arthropods. The adaptation of arthropods in domestic settings increases the risk of emerging or re-emerging zoonoses. The general population must be encouraged to modify behaviors that could prevent disease manifestation. At present, no vaccines are available for the majority of arboviruses; therefore, strong preventive measures must be developed to prevent arbovirus infection. Skip to: insights from industry Dr. Radoje Drmanac Chief Scientific Officer at MGI Co-Founder of Complete Genomics The Human Genome Project was an international scientific research project set out to map, identify, and sequence all the genes that make up the human genome, as well as improve the tools for data analysis for the future deciphering of genetic information. The project began in 1990 and was completed in 2003. Since its completion, it has helped to accelerate the field of human biology, providing us with crucial information about the human blueprint. With such a rapidly evolving scientific landscape, the field of genomics has seen tremendous breakthroughs, and new research is utilizing genomics technology to continue to push the boundaries of medical science. One company that is helping to accelerate these discoveries is MGI, a leading producer of advanced high-throughput genome sequencing technology. With the 7th birthday of MGI this April coinciding with the 20th anniversary of the Human Genome Project, we look back at where it all started as well as the importance of sequencing technology in advancing the field. In this inspiring interview, we speak to Dr. Radoje Drmanac, co-founder of Complete Genomics and Chief Scientific Officer at MGI, to learn more. The Human Genome Project (HGP) is celebrating its 20th anniversary this April. As someone involved in this project from the start, how did this project come about, and what was your involvement? The field of genomics was already around before the Human Genome Project started in the 1980s. Many people like George Church, Hans Lehrach and myself were involved in thinking about how to create chromosome maps or expression sequence tags. Through such thinking, I became involved in genetic engineering at the Institute for Molecular Genetics and Genetic Engineering in Serbia. There I started thinking about how to improve DNA sequencing as sequencing at that time was carried out using the Sanger method. Although I never used this method myself, I watched my colleagues conduct gel sequencing, and it soon became clear how slow and difficult it was. In 1987, I proposed a new method for more efficient sequencing based on DNA arrays called sequencing by hybridization (SBH). At the same time, the US Department of Energy (DOE), developer of atomic bombs, was studying the impact of radiation in causing genetic mutations. They held a meeting to discuss how to find and identify these mutations, and I believe George Church told them that the best way would be to sequence the whole genome in exposed people. They initiated a first round of grants to improve technologies for genome analysis, including sequencing. I applied for this grant from Serbia in 1987, and to everybodys surprise, including my own, we received a $150,000 grant to develop that sequencing by hybridization method that held so much promise for faster, much higher throughput sequencing. In 1988, I proposed massively parallel sequencing (MPS) using microarrays, a radically new approach, and the proposal was to use emulsion polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on micro-sized beads to create millions of clonal DNA on such small beads to form these novel DNA microarrays. Before this, picking and arraying clones was the only viable method. Then, as a postdoc in 1991, through this connection with the DOE, the whole team all nine of us moved to Argonne National Laboratory near Chicago in the US to continue to develop sequencing by hybridization technology using the DOE grants. We also published a couple of papers, the first being in journal Genomics, a paper on genome sequencing by SBH that was very popular. Then in Argonne National Laboratory, together with Lee Hood, we published a paper in the journal Science in 1993 that proved in a blind test that sequencing by hybridization was highly accurate and could be used to sequence DNA using oligo hybridization. That is how I first became involved in the Human Genome Project. Image Credit: Elena Sharipova/Shutterstock.com How did the Human Genome Project help to propel parallel sequencing technologies in the life sciences? I proposed massively parallel sequencing in 1988, and sequencing by synthesis was also proposed in the 1990s, both long before the genome was sequenced. However, once the genome was sequenced, these two technologies and our sequencing by ligation became possible, allowing for routine, affordable individual genome sequencing. This motivated me to start Complete Genomics in 2005, acquiring funding and starting operations in 2006. In 2005, we invented DNA nano balls and pattern arrays for massively parallel sequencing. These clonal arrays were critical to implementing efficient massively parallel sequencing, and our DNA nano balls were, and still are, the best approach for this. We were the first to implement pattern arrays, while others used random arrays. When we started Complete Genomics, within a couple of years of implementation, we achieved a milestone, an event that promoted the genomic revolution. We sequenced and published in the journal Science in 2010, for the first time, a whole human genome for $5,000, a 10-fold improvement, using patterned DNA arrays of DNA nanoballs, a much more efficient, higher-density sequencing platform. Seven years after the first genome was sequenced for $3 billion, your team published a $5000 genome, almost 1 million fold cheaper. What was this journey like, and were there any particular R&D challenges that you had to overcome? Many people in the industry, including some of the people we hired, believed that such dense arrays, were unachievable. Despite this initial resistance, we started making the arrays, and the first genome was sequenced with, I believe, 600 nanometers center to center, a sub-one-micron array. We have since continued to push the edge of possibilities. One limitation at the time was that cameras had fewer pixels than they do today. Today, we have cameras with a hundred times more pixels and much faster imaging. As the industry was still new, we had to offer it as a service initially. As such, we started this service for routine genome sequencing for scientists. They would send us their important samples, and we would sequence them. Nonetheless, there was still a lot of debate regarding the accuracy of whole genome sequencing by short reads and, despite our efforts, we still had some errors, so even though it was quite accurate, it was not yet perfect. There were also questions surrounding whether we could detect a single mutation that causes a disease. As this had never been carried out before, and as the genome is so big comprising 3 billion chemical letters, there were also uncertainties regarding our ability to identify the single mutation that causes disease. All things considered, it was really rewarding when, with a long-time friend and colleague, Lee Hood, we decided to sequence the first family. We sequenced a family of four, two parents and their two children who were affected with a disease called Miller Syndrome, to prove that we could identify the cause of Miller Syndrome in the affected children. We successfully detected the genetic cause of this disease and published our findings that demonstrated our ability to sequence genomes accurately. These results also highlighted the importance of sequencing family genomes and their role in discovering genetic diseases. With that paper and the many others that followed, people soon realized that the genome could be sequenced efficiently, affordably, and quite accurately, and this is what kickstarted the genome revolution. Image Credit: MIKHAIL GRACHIKOV/Shutterstock.com You have had an incredible career, from being the technology developer for the Human Genome Project to the sub-hundred dollar human genome and CoolMPS technology. Over the past 20 years, how do you feel the genomics industry has evolved? In one sentence, the genomic revolution was made possible by massively parallel sequencing. Everybody knows that the progress we continue to see would not be possible without this technology. The cost would not have been able to come down from $5,000 to $1,000 or even to the very first $100 and sub $100 genome. Over the last 20 years, many applications have been developed for sequencing because of this ability to carry out efficient sequencing in almost any lab. Today, almost every aspect of omics uses sequencing. We measure protein levels in the blood by sequencing barcodes. People measure gene activities by sequencing. Sequencing became the single assay to measure the molecular state of our cells. It was not just genome sequencing, but all other omics were enabled by MPS. At the same time, long single-molecule sequencing was also achieved and made available by multiple companies. The revolution then spilled out into knowledge by sequencing all of these samples, having all these assays, sequencing millions of genomes. We also learned how to barcode single cells, and now, using dens DNA nanoball arrays, we have the best spatial omics to monitor gene expression in tissue sections at the subcellular level. All this is enabled by massively parallel sequencing, and these applications are still growing. We have seen in recent years that sequencing is the key to accelerating the field of omics. What role have both Complete Genomics and MGI played in this discovery, and what role will they continue to play in its future? We have always pushed the boundaries, starting with the $5,000 genome, which was so important. In a way, it proved that routine genome sequencing was possible and that there is value in individual genome sequencing. After this, we continued to build on initial studies and develop many different instruments. Our DNBSEQ-T7*will be remembered as a critical instrument, the first to achieve pair-end 2x150 bases high-throughput genomes in 24 hours. The T7* is an example of the power of DNBSEQ when it is properly implemented with really cool engineering. We have now also announced DNBSEQ-T202RS*providing a sub-hundred-dollar genome. Our DNBSEQ provides the highest resolution spatial omics due to the high-density arrays. I believe we will be the first to achieve the $10 genome, as there is no doubt that DNBSEQ enables that. We can make four times higher array density than today. The drive for the $10 genome is not just for the inherited genome but because it will allow annual checkups using deep sequencing in the immune system, cell-free DNA, and in the microbiome, enabling us to monitor our health and our aging at the molecular level. One technology that is a less expensive and more efficient technology for sequencing is CoolMPS, as it allows much longer reads in massively parallel sequencing. We have already implemented SE400 using standard sequencing technology. With CoolMPS, we are working on getting to 1,000 bases continuous reads, the SE1000 continuous MPS for 1,000 bases. This is so important because it will bring affordable genome sequencing to an even higher level of completion. There are some types of sequences, like triple repeats, that, when they expand, cause a disease like fragile X. With these longer reads, we will be able to measure how long these repeats are, which will tell us if expansion is causing disease or if it is still tolerable. Combining the efficient sequencing with our single tube LFR technology for haplotype phasing, solving blind spots by resolving the pseudogenes, separating pseudogenes from the real genes, and using these longer reads all redefines massively parallel sequencing and brings it to the level that will enable faster understanding of our genetic program. With this understanding, our omics tests will be so efficient that we can bring health monitoring omics to all. We will have such a deep understanding that when we obtain the state-of-the-art measures of our tissues at the molecular level, we will know what this means and how to prevent disease and slow aging. We already have a level of understanding that our tissues are primarily aging because of epigenetics. In a way, epigenetics is controlled by a genome program that uses methylation and other marks to differentiate cells. In the beginning, there is only one cell, and then we have hundreds of tissues in the developed organism. Every tissue is locked into its state by these methylation and other marks called epigenetic modifications. These marks are lost or changed during life, i.e., modified, leading to a loss of young and healthy tissues. We can reverse this process using transcription factors that promote the re-establishment of young tissue epigenetic marks. However, it is important that we do not just live longer but that we have longer healthy and more productive lives. Everything in biosciences is growing exponentially thanks to these technologies. Our understanding is exponential, and our technologys ability to measure things is exponential. We will definitely have a $10 genome within this decade, and 1,000 base MPS reads, so that, in a decade or two, after deep understanding of our molecular nature maybe we will be in control of aging. Image Credit: majcot/Shutterstock.com With the 20th anniversary of the Human Genome Project and the 7th birthday of MGI both this April, how do you personally feel about how far the field of genomics has come? Where do you feel that this sector is heading? I am really happy with how things have panned out. If we had not merged with MGI, the field would be in a totally different place than it is today. Yet, from the beginning, we have always had this feeling or hope that we could do this almost unlimited level of sequencing. There are so many genomes and other omics to sequence, and we are unlikely to stop improving even at $10 genome. The whole field is unstoppable, and we will continue to do wonders, and I am certain that the true importance of massively paralleled sequencing or any large-scale, efficient sequencing is still underestimated. The green energy revolution and electric vehicles are critical. But efficient sequencing, I think, will be recognized as one of the most important human technologies because it concerns our health. Our genome touches all aspects of our lives, including genetic needs for personalize parenting or personalized learning. The whole of medicine will be changed. Imagine having the ability to deeply, efficiently, and accurately measure your molecular health at an affordable price. When you combine that enormous data set with artificial intelligence, suddenly, we have predictions or preventions of disease and aging that are affordable to everybody. About Dr. Radoje Drmanac Dr. Radoje (Rade) Drmanac is the co-founder and has served as Chief Scientific Officer since June 2005 at Complete Genomics and Chief Scientific Officer since 2013 at MGI Tech. He invented and led development of massively parallel DNA sequencing using DNA nanoarrays, ligation-based DNA sequencing, and haplotyping by co-barcoded sequence reads. In 1994, Dr. Drmanac co-founded Hyseq Inc., a DNA array technology company that became Hyseq Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and later merged with Variagenics, Inc. to become Nuvelo, Inc., and served as its Senior Vice President of Research from 1994 to 1998 and as its Chief Scientific Officer from 1998 to 2001. Prior to that, Dr. Drmanac served as a group leader at Argonne National Laboratory from 1991 to 1994 as part of the Department of Energys Human Genome Project. He started his career at the Center for Genetic Engineering, later IMGGE, in Belgrade, Serbia. Dr. Drmanac received a B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. in Molecular Biology from the University of Belgrade. *Unless otherwise informed, StandardMPS and CoolMPS sequencing reagents, and sequencers for use with such reagents are not available in Germany, Spain, UK, Sweden, Italy, Czech Republic, Switzerland and Hong Kong (CoolMPS is available in Hong Kong). The new drug looked so promising except for that one warning sign. At the American College of Rheumatology's annual meeting in 2008, Duke University's Dr. John Sundy proudly announced that pegloticase, a drug he'd helped develop, was astoundingly effective at treating severe gout, which affects perhaps 50,000 Americans. In about half of those who had taken it, the drug melted away the crystalline uric acid deposits that encrusted their joints to cause years of pain, immobility, or disfigurement. But Sundy also disclosed an unsettling detail: In one clinical trial, patients who got the drug were more likely to develop heart problems than those who didn't. The day after Sundy's talk, the stock price of Savient Pharmaceuticals, which developed the drug with Duke scientists, plunged 75%. That danger signal would disappear in later studies, and the FDA approved pegloticase, under the trade name Krystexxa, two years later. But the small biotech company never recovered. In 2013, Savient was sold at auction to Crealta, a private equity venture created for the purpose, for $120 million. Two years later, a young company now called Horizon Therapeutics bought Crealta and its drug portfolio for $510 million. Even at that price, it proved a good deal. Krystexxa brought in $716 million in 2022 and was expected to earn $1 billion annually in coming years. Although Horizon says it now has 20 drugs under development, in its 15 years of existence it has yet to license a product it invented. Yet the company has managed to assemble a war chest of lucrative drugs, in the process writing a playbook for how to build a modern pharmaceutical colossus. As the White House and both parties in Congress grapple with reining in prescription drug prices, Horizon's approach reveals just how difficult this may be. Horizon's strategy has paid off handsomely. Krystexxa was just one of the many shiny objects that attracted Amgen, a pharmaceutical giant. Amgen announced in December that it intends to buy Horizon for $27.8 billion, in the biggest pharmaceutical industry deal announced in 2022. Horizon's CEO, Tim Walbert, who will reportedly get around $135 million when the deal closes, has mastered a particular kind of industry expertise: taking drugs invented and tested by other people, wrapping them expertly in hard-nosed marketing and warm-hued patient relations, raising their prices, and enjoying astounding revenues. He's done this with unusual finesse courting patients with concierge-like attention and engaging specialist clinicians with lunches, conferences, and research projects, all while touting his own experience as a patient with a rare inflammatory disease. Walbert's company has been particularly adept at ensuring that insurers, rather than patients, bear the costly burdens of his drugs. A federal prosecutor in 2015 began examining allegations that Horizon's patient assistance program had worked with specialty pharmacies to evade insurers' efforts to shun Horizon's expensive drugs. A separate probe opened in 2019 over alleged kickbacks to pharmacy benefit managers, companies that negotiate to get Horizon's drugs covered by insurers. Those investigations appear to be no longer active, Horizon spokesperson Catherine Riedel said. The company this year disclosed a third probe, concerning methods the company allegedly used to get prior authorization of its drugs. Justice officials did not respond to requests for comment on the investigations. An injection of marketing To help sell its drugs, Horizon blankets specialist physicians with marketing and peer-to-peer appeals. Its payments to physicians for things like consulting, speeches, and meals totaled $8.7 million in 2021, compared with the $10 million it paid them for research, federal records show. By contrast, Seagen, a biotech company of roughly the same size, paid doctors a total of $116 million, with nearly $112 million of that pegged for research. Riedel said Horizon's marketing and educational approaches were "necessarily unique" because of the challenges of treating rare and neglected diseases. Walbert launched Horizon in 2008 in the Chicago area by combining and refashioning generic drugs into single pills. Duexis, Horizon's first drug, is a mixture of generic Motrin and Pepcid. Its Vimovo combines generic Aleve and Nexium. In a 2017 article, a ProPublica reporter described being prescribed Vimovo for a shoulder injury. It cost him nothing, but his insurer was billed $3,252 for pills that together cost about $40 for a month's supply in generic form. Horizon sold more than $57 million worth of Vimovo that year. In 2014 and 2015, respectively, Horizon picked up two relatively new drugs that had no generic versions: the immunosuppressant Actimmune and Ravicti, which treats a rare genetic disorder. Soon Horizon was charging more than $50,000 a month for each, placing Actimmmune fourth and Ravicti second on GoodRx's 2020 list of the most expensive U.S. drugs. Horizon's net sales soared from $20 million in 2012 to $981 million in 2016; Walbert's pay package followed suit, topping an astronomical $93.4 million in 2015 in salary and stock. Stock analysts questioned the long-term soundness of a strategy of simply selling old drugs for mind-boggling prices, but Walbert was using the cash to refashion the company as a rare-diseases franchise. His approach would make Walbert a darling of pharmaceutical investors and his board, which lavished him with over $20 million in compensation each of the past three years. While most biotechs and startups borrow heavily from venture capital to do science and have no idea how to develop and market a drug, Walbert got cash coming in quickly. "He did it backwards," said Annabel Samimy, an analyst at Stifel Financial Corp. "Horizon built commercial platforms before they got into drug development." Generating "robust sales of what sounded like not very interesting drugs" allowed Walbert "to start a company on not very much," said Oppenheimer analyst Leland Gershell. All the while, Horizon funded and cultivated the patient advocacy groups that can help lobby for a drug to be approved by the FDA and placed on insurers' formularies, the lists of drugs health plans cover for patients. Capitalizing on his own illness? As Walbert and his spokespeople often point out, Walbert and his youngest son suffer from a rare disease, and Walbert also has an autoimmune disease. Walbert won't name the diseases, but has said he's taken the anti-inflammatory injectable Humira since 2003 the year he led that drug's commercial launch as a vice president at Abbott Laboratories. Humira has become the bestselling drug in history, with about $200 billion in all-time global sales. In 2014, Walbert moved Horizon's headquarters to Ireland, which nearly halved its tax rate. A year later it gained control of Krystexxa, and in 2017 it bought, for $145 million, a failing company that produced Tepezza, a drug for thyroid eye disease, which causes unsightly eye bulging and pain. Tepezza quickly became a blockbuster, with $3.6 billion in total sales in 2021 and 2022. The company conducted additional clinical research on both Tepezza and Krystexxa, but it also spent heavily promoting these and other drugs to specialists who could prescribe them. All the while it steadily raised prices. Savient put Krystexxa on the market in 2011 at $2,300 per injection. Horizon charges roughly 10 times as much. Six months of Tepezza treatment can run more than $400,000. Horizon's publicity emphasized the company's sensitivity to patients, and its constant contact with disease advocates. "Our scientists are attuned to the unmet needs of patients, their diagnostic and therapeutic journey," Bill Rees, Horizon's vice president for translational sciences, told KFF Health News. "It's the marrying of the basic clinical science with a focus on the needs of the patient that differentiates us." To make sure patients keep using its drugs, clinicians say, Horizon staffers negotiate with insurance carriers, and the company offers drug discounts to lower-income patients while swaddling them with attention from its medical staff. "Horizon has a nurse talk to each and every patient before every appointment," said Dr. Brigid Freyne, who treats around half a dozen patients each year with Krystexxa at her Murrieta, California, rheumatology clinic. "The patients who come in here are highly motivated to get their IV. They get the message that it's very important and they are fortunate to get the medicine." None of the manufacturers of her other infusion drugs shower patients with this kind of attention, she said. While at Abbott, Walbert pioneered direct-to-consumer advertising for specialty drugs like Humira, a trend that aggravated insurers, who anticipated, correctly, that they would soon be shelling out billions for expensive drugs. Horizon's marketing plan for Krystexxa includes direct-to-consumer ads aimed at driving patients to specialists. The drug is designed for recalcitrant gout patients, who often have large lumps on their fingers, feet, and kidneys. Many, though not all, are heavy drinkers of beer or soda sweetened with high-fructose corn syrup, which can increase the buildup of uric acid, the cause of gout, said Dr. Robert McLean of Yale University. While Krystexxa can help patients with advanced gout, the American College of Rheumatology views it as a drug of last resort, with plenty of cheaper, early intervention alternatives available. "I prescribe it maybe once a year," McLean said. "From a cost-effectiveness standpoint, it warrants questioning." Horizon recently started a publicity campaign addressed to all gout sufferers, urging them to see a rheumatologist or a nephrologist the specialists it has targeted with Krystexxa educational materials before the disease does too much harm. "Horizon would like you to say, 'Everyone with serious gout should be started on Krystexxa,'" said Dr. James O'Dell, a rheumatologist at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. The Horizon pitchmen he deals with are "nice guys, but we don't believe that's the best way." The company defends its marketing practices. "We learn what matters most to patient communities and act. This approach has been validated by independent third-party research," said Riedel. The Federal Trade Commission said in January it was seeking more information on the Amgen-Horizon merger. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), citing high prices for Horizon and Amgen drugs, urged the agency to nix the deal. It has come as a surprise for many that a 108-year-old woman from Tamil Nadu has become a topper in the literacy programme run by the Kerala state. Kamalakanni, who was reportedly born in 1915 in Cumbum of Tamil Nadus Theni district began working in the Cardamom field in the neighbouring state of Kerala during her early days. According to the National Statistical Office (NSO) survey, Kerala is the most literate state in India, with the highest literacy rate of 96.2 per cent. Accordingly, the Kerala government has implemented a scheme under the Education initiative with the tagline Education for All and Always to help senior citizens acquire educational knowledge. Under the Sampoornam Shastra literacy programme in Kerala, education is being taught to the elderly people with the goal of acquiring knowledge and on the premise that the elderly people should sign their names, much like the Arivoli Iyakkam (mass literacy movement) that was done in Tamil Nadu. Meanwhile, the 108-year-old Kamalakanni, who moved from Tamil Nadus Theni to work on the cardamom farm in Kerala, is receiving education under this programme as it co-educates interested elderly citizens. After completing second standard and moving with her family to the Vandanmedu region, which is predominantly occupied by Tamil people and situated precisely at Tamil Nadu and Kerala border, Kamalakanni, began working on Cardamom farm to support her impoverished family. Subsequently, workers from Tamil Nadu travelled in great numbers to work in Kerala since it has a big number of Cardamom farms. In this way, Kamalakanni spent her previous 80 years of life labouring in the Cardamom fields. Due to her constant work on the farm, she was unable to complete her schooling. This 108-year-old woman, who has good hearing and vision, has enrolled in Keralas literacy programme and started studying. Many individuals are praising Kamalakanni as an example for the project. Moreover, her dedication towards education has brought her accolades even at a very mature age. Eventually, she practiced writing in both Tamil and Malayalam, and on the Literacy Projects test, she secured 97 out of 100. Numerous Kerala organisations are grateful for her desire to participate in the programme despite her age. According to Kamalakannis grandson, who spoke to News18, they are the fifth generation to live in Vandanmedu, and plans are being made to honour their grandmothers 109th birthday the next month. My grandmother has always been very motivated to learn, but she only completed the second grade at the time. When we approached them after learning about the Sampoornam Shastra, they expressed interest in teaching our grandma." We are pleased that she has set an example at such an old age. She has also received recognition from the Kerala Government for earning higher scores under the programme," he added. Read all the Latest Buzz News here A huge portrait of Dr B R Ambedkar made using 18,000 notebooks in mosaic art style by 18 artists has been displayed at a park in Maharashtras Latur city to mark the birth anniversary of the chief architect of Indias Constitution on April 14. The notebooks used to make the portrait, measuring 100 x110 feet in 11,000 sq ft area, will later be distributed to students of government schools as a social commitment to spread the awareness about education, said Latur BJP Lok Sabha member Sudhakar Shrangare, who took the initiative for making of the portrait. An artists creativity knows no bounds and this holds true for an American man who has been drawing portraits on floating ice blocks in the Baltic Sea. Moreover, instead of ordinary paints, the artist, David Popa, uses charcoal and soil to draw the artwork. A video, uploaded on YouTube, gives a glimpse of the 29-year-old artists exceptional talent. It features an aerial view of one of Popas portraits where he is seen standing on huge sheets of ice and drawing the artwork. As the drone captures the breathtaking portrait from a higher altitude, it gets even more spectacular with small chunks of ice surrounding the big sheet and adding to the beauty of the painting. There are other videos of Popas portraits on the internet which he has named the Fractured series. He draws these in the freezing weather of Finland and swims to the extremely cold sea to reach the ice sheet or block, according to Newsweek. Hailing originally from New York, US, Popa moved to Espoo, Finland, and tried his hand at drawing artwork. Initially it was a huge paradigm shift for me to convince myself that it was even possible and safe, said Popa. The artist said that he first practised drawing the portrait for two winters before starting with the series. (Including PTI Inputs) Read all the Latest Buzz News here A woman from Vietnam was recently found to have parasitic worms buried inside her brain and swarming under her skin. This reportedly happened after she consumed raw blood pudding. Before falling ill, the 58-year-old unnamed woman from An Binh commune in the suburbs of Hanoi ate the local delicacy Tiet canh, which consists of raw blood and cooked meat. She complained of severe headaches and fell over multiple times in her home after preparing the meal herself, reported the Mirror. Initially, medical staff believed that the woman was suffering from a stroke, but after undergoing a scan, it was discovered that she was infested with parasitic worms. The worms had nested in her brain and were swarming under her skin in her arms and legs. Deputy director of the Dang Van Ngu Hospital, Dr Tran Huy Tho, confirmed that the woman contracted the worm infestation from the raw blood pudding and that her condition could have been much more severe. The woman was discharged from the hospital after being prescribed medication to cure the infestation. She spoke to local media about her ordeal, admitting that she eats blood pudding once a month. She had made it herself, believing that it would be clean and free of diseases. She said, I thought if I make the pudding myself, it would be clean and I would rest assured knowing there would be no disease involved." Dr Tho warned that many people consume raw food and suffer from similar infestations, often mistaking the symptoms for seizures, strokes, and mental health conditions. The Mirror quoted him as saying, Many people even believe they suffer from seizures, strokes and other mental health conditions, so they get treated at psychiatric hospitals for years. By the time they go to Dang Van Ngu Hospital, their conditions have already progressed and the parasites have already harmed their brain, forcing them to live with lifelong conditions like reduced eyesight." The consumption of raw blood pudding is a popular delicacy in Vietnam, but it is known to carry significant health risks, as it may contain harmful bacteria, viruses, and parasites. The consumption of raw or undercooked food can lead to severe infections and illnesses, including parasitic infestations, as in the case of the Vietnamese woman. This incident underscores the importance of food safety and the dangers of consuming raw or undercooked food. Read all the Latest Buzz News here Life is full of possibilities. No matter where you start from, if you can work hard, theres always a chance to finish at the top. This inspiring story of a bookseller who ended up having his own authors Corner at the Delhi International Book Fair proves exactly that. Mukul Sharma shared a video detailing his struggle in the journey. In the clip, the young author could be seen selling his book at Delhis Connaught Place. In the next frame, the video moves to show Mukul travelling to the Delhi International Book Fair venue and posing at his stall. The inspiring story has received an incredible response. One Day I will make it. This journey has been a roller coaster till date and its just a start. Sticking on my mantra Keep Hustling. You will make it, Mukul wrote in the caption. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Mukul Kundra (@mukul.kundra) In response to Mukuls video, one of his followers expressed their desire to meet him, saying More power to you, being a book lover I wanna meet you soon, another commented, Wow this is great! Rooting for you, a third wrote, I fell in love with his courage and hard work, Another user, moved by Mukul Kundras determination, expressed their appreciation by saying, I dont know you, I dont know about your struggle either. But for your sheer efforts and Wont quit" determination, I respect you, your journey and going to follow you to learn and grow The young mans passion for books and his love for reading drove him to pursue his dream and his hard work paid off in the end. Mukuls story is not just an inspiration, but a lesson and the power of never giving up on ones dreams. During an interview with Entrepreneur Stories last year, Mukul Kundra explained the inspiration behind the title of his book The Interview. He shared that he related his own story to a job interview, where the protagonist desires to be in a restricted place and must convince the interviewer to grant them that opportunity. The author highlighted the idea that life takes an interview at every step, and its up to the individual to handle it well and learn from it. Read all the Latest Buzz News here Republican Rep. Liz Harris gives a thumbs up after fellow members of the Arizona House of Representatives voted to expel her from the chamber on April 12, 2023. Photo by Caitlin Sievers | Arizona Mirror Republican Rep. Liz Harris was expelled from the Arizona House of Representatives on Wednesday for orchestrating a February meeting in which a member of the public spread wild conspiracy theories claiming that various state and local officials were in on a housing deed money laundering scheme involving a Mexican drug cartel and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Following a House Ethics Committee report released Tuesday that found Harris lied about her actions and that she had engaged in disorderly conduct, violating rules of the Arizona House of Representatives and damaging the institutional integrity of the House, the House voted 46-13 on Wednesday to expel her from the chamber. A two-thirds majority is necessary to expel someone from the chamber. I stand on honesty and integrity, Harris told members of the media as she left the chamber on Wednesday. God knows the truth. If you dont toe the line, this is what happens. Although he said it wasnt personal, Republican House Speaker Ben Toma, one of the lawmakers implicated in the unproven bribery scheme, voted to expel Harris. The only thing we have down here is our word and our integrity, and when that is clearly crossed, when you can no longer count on someones word or integrity, they can no longer be an effective legislator, Toma said after the vote. They cannot represent their district well, they cannot be part of anything significant. As difficult as it was, it was just the inevitable and also the right thing to do. Toma also pointed out that Harris repeatedly lied to the House Ethics Committee. While Harris claimed during the Ethics Committee hearing that no criminal allegations were made during Jacqueline Bregers Feb. 23 presentation to the House and Senate elections committees, the panel rejected that claim, finding that the evidence contradicted Harriss testimony. Republican Rep. David Livingston, of Peoria, one of the Republicans who voted to oust Harris, urged his colleagues to consider the vote with the weight it deserved. This comes down to the integrity, in my opinion, of this institution, he said. This is not personal this is standing up for whats right, no matter how difficult it is. And it hurts. And it should hurt. And it will hurt. This institution is more important than us individually. Harris replacement will be determined by the District 13 Republican precinct committeemen and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. The precinct committeemen have five days to nominate three possible replacements, to ultimately be chosen and appointed by the county board. Harris faced the House Ethics Committee on March 30, after Democrats asked for her to be formally censured for inviting real estate agent Breger to a Feb. 23 joint House and Senate elections committee meeting. Breger provided no proof of her wild and unfounded allegations, including that Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs was involved in the money laundering scheme, but that didnt stop them from spreading like wildfire, fueled by fringe conservative media. Many Republican members of the legislature soon distanced themselves from Harris and Bregers presentation. The Ethics Committee found that many of the claims that Harris made during its hearing were untrue, including that she was not aware that Breger would make criminal allegations during her presentation, and that she was surprised by the content of Bregers presentation. Scottsdale Republican Rep. Alexander Kolodin, who was present for the Feb. 23 elections committee meeting, said that while he was disappointed in Harriss actions, he does not believe expelling her was the right call. This makes her a martyr for these awful allegations, Kolodin said. Its setting the precedent that, if you rock the boat too much, you will be expelled. Republican Rep. Joseph Chaplik, who heads the Ethics Committee that recommended Harris be punished, also voted against her expulsion. Minority Leader Andres Cano thanked the Ethics Committee and Toma for taking this matter seriously. This is a sad and somber day for our institution, but it is a necessary day, Cano said. This did real and lasting damage to the lives and reputations of people who did not deserve it. He voted to expel Harris, Cano said, with the hope of restoring integrity and honor to the House of Representatives. The Arizona House last kicked out a legislator in 2018 when it expelled Republican Rep. Don Shooter because of a lengthy pattern of sexual misconduct, according to the Associated Press. Raise your hand if you love relishing lip-smackingly delicious street food items. After all, it is an emotion. From pipping hot samosas to spicy panipuris, the food items scream yummilicious from a mile and a half away. Not many would disagree that it is hard to say no to these snacks. Wondering why we are talking about street food items. Courtesy: A couple from Jaipur, Rajasthan. This couple runs a roadside food stall. They sell puri sabji. A bowl of sabji and 10 puris costs Rs 30. There is raita too. It is available for Rs 10. Oh, and, onion and green chillies are complimentary. In the video, posted on Facebook, the man is seen making puris and serving the customers. The man said that they start serving at 7:30 in the morning. The shop is open until 2:00 pm The clip has grabbed a lot of attention on social media. Watch the full video here: A user wrote, This seems to be a cheap and tasty meal and is a must-try. Best place to have breakfast, declared a person. Another added, Will definitely visit this place on my next trip to Jaipur. This is very cheap. We should eat from such people who do such hard work, said a person. Some called it a commendable act. Giving 10 puris for 30 rupees is a very commendable act. But then how is it benefiting the couple? Unlike this place, other vendors charge 50 rupees for just 2 puris, but this brother is giving 10 puris for only 30 rupees. Will you visit this couple on your trip to Jaipur? Read all the Latest Buzz News here It is highly unlikely that you havent seen the iconic hilly landscape picture which came as the default wallpaper on Windows XP. It is one of those things that are etched on our memory and evoke nostalgia every time we see them. The desktop wallpaper, known as Bliss, is also said to be the most viewed photo in the world. But, do you know who took the photo? And how much its photographer was paid by Microsoft? The Bliss was clicked by photographer Chuck ORear back in January 1996 when he was headed to meet his future wife in California. Chuck ORear, who worked for National Geographic, told the People magazine that he always carries a camera and would often stop while driving to take photos. Recalling the day he captured the scenic green hills, Chuck ORear said, in a conversation with CNET, that it was mid-winter when the grass was getting greener and the sky had beautiful white clouds. As he drove through the picturesque location, Chuck ORear decided to stop and make a couple of frames. He took out his Mamiya RZ67 film camera and captured the hills without realizing that one day the photo would be bought by Microsoft and become the default desktop image on almost every computer around the globe. Chuck ORear submitted his photo to Corbis, a stock photo agency. Later, Microsoft somehow stumbled upon the picture and bought it before naming it Bliss. The amount Microsoft paid for the click was not revealed due to a non-disclosure agreement. But it was the largest sum ever paid for a single photo. According to Ladbible, Chuck ORear received over $100,000 for the Bliss photo by Microsoft. The tech giant had also bought the Autumn wallpaper which too was used for Microsoft XP. It was clicked by Peter Burian who too gave uploaded it on Corbis just like Chuck ORear. But, Microsoft paid a significantly lesser amount of $45 to Peter Burian for his photo. Keeping aside the money, photos of both Chuck ORear and Peter Burian are still associated with Windows XP. I think its going to be around forever. When you are 90 years old, somewhere a photograph like Bliss will appear and you will say I remember that, said Chuck ORear. Read all the Latest Buzz News here One of UK PM Rishi Sunaks interviews, where he recalled his courtship days with wife Akshata Murthy, is getting roasted on Twitter. In an interview with The Sunday Times in February, Sunak recalled the time when he and Akshata could not stay in a fancy" hotel. We got engaged in a place called Half Moon Bay - it was a place that when we were students, we met when we were studying together in the States, and we used to walk in this area and look up at this nice fancy hotel that we never could stay in," Sunak said. For context, Akshata Murthy is a businesswoman and also the heiress and daughter of Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy. Eventually, Sunak surprised Akshata and they did stay at the hotel, which is believed to be the five-star Ritz Carlton in California. Before that, they went for a walk along the cliffs and that was where he proposed to her. The primary criticism from folks on Twitter has been that this interview appeared like Sunak cosplaying as a middle class individual". Hobby of the rich to act poor," one Twitter user said. They just love to act like theyre common folk," another said. Some disagreed; for instance, one Twitter user wrote, Evolved families differentiate between parents wealth & kids earnings. Wish more indian families did that. As students, they def couldnt afford much." Narayan Murthys daughter couldnt afford a fancy hotel? pic.twitter.com/tKpNsQSor8 (((Dominique Fisherwoman))) (@AbbakkaHypatia) April 11, 2023 The whole family just loves cosplaying 'middle class'. Minal (@PPuzhu) April 12, 2023 They just love to act like theyre common folk. Sangita (@Sanginamby) April 12, 2023 Their struggle begins where our wildest dreams are fulfilled. Abu Hassan (@sibgatullah) April 11, 2023 He has said this in the interview (not she) & if true that his family was not as well off as hers (not saying poor), then he may have felt that particular hotel was not affordable back then. It's not about how rich her family was then, or they r "today". Feel free 2 disagree. Amol S (@AmolSonawane10) April 12, 2023 Classic trope of portraying themselves as simpletons living on bhiksha while controlling every institution from the ruling castes to the castes who control funds.Once abroad, they coopt the narrative of the underprivileged to create rags to riches tales that are more palatable. Ayub Dawood (@AyubDawood9) April 11, 2023 Evolved families differentiate between parents wealth & kids earnings. Wish more indian families did that. As students, they def couldnt afford much. TheBrook (@Southern_Brook) April 12, 2023 Of late, there has been a narrative of the ultra-rich insisting on a self-made image, which has not gone down well on social media. Read all the Latest Buzz News here The National Medical Commission (NMC) has warned medical aspirants against fake letters for allotment of MBBC seats making rounds on social media platforms. According to NMC, the fake allotment letters are issued under the false signature of the secretary. The commission has advised students and their parents to be alert of miscreants and not fall into any such traps. It is brought to the notice of the public that none of the officers of NMC and its Boards issues any letter either for admission in the medical college or is involved in the medical college allotment process, reads the official notice. Such incidents are also intended to spoil the image of the Commission, the NMC added. This is not the first time that NMC has come forward to warn students against fake circulars or notices, intended to cheat aspirants. In April last year, the commission alerted students against forged allotment letters that were issued in its name for students seeking admission to undergraduate (UG) courses in medical colleges across India. The National Medical Commission, on April 10, 2023, issued guidelines on the professional responsibilities of medical students. One of the points in these guidelines directed medical students not to indiscriminately post on social media regarding patients and patient-related information. The guidelines further highlighted the need to learn the local language for effective communication with patients. Meanwhile, NMC approved two new medical colleges, in Telangana, each with 100 Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) seats for the academic session 2023-24. These new medical colleges are located in Kumuram Bheem Asifabad and Kamareddy. Furthermore, the announcement about the colleges was made on April 8 by Telangana Health Minister, Sri Thaneeru Harish Rao. The two new medical colleges are expected at boosting medical institutions as well as healthcare facilities in the rural areas of Telangana. Confirming its development, Telangana Health Minister said that it is a significant step towards achieving Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Raos vision. He also asserted that there are seven more medical colleges that are yet to be granted permission and the upcoming medical colleges will also be helpful to young medical professionals. Read all the Latest Education News here All is not well in the BJP Karnataka unit after the party released the much-awaited lists of candidates on April 11 and April 12, which saw a total of 17 sitting MLAs being denied the ticket, for the Karnataka assembly elections next month. Some of the names of veteran leaders missing from the lists are former Karnataka chief minister Jagadish Shettar, former deputy chief minister KS Eshwarappa, who had said he will step down to pave way for others, MLA Nehru Olekar and MP Kumaraswamy, former minister SA Ravindranath, MP Kumaraswamy and K Raghupathi Bhat. There are reports that the BJP lists have created a row in the party where many sitting MLAs and leaders are threatening to contest the May 10 elections as independents, while some veterans such as Shettar have publicly indicated rebellion after he was asked to make way for others. Although latest reports suggest that Shettar is hopeful that he will be given the ticket after he pressed his demand to BJP national president JP Nadda in Delhi. But what are the other BJP leaders planning to do to salvage the situation? KS Eshwarappa, who is the former deputy CM, resigned before the upcoming state polls. Both him and Yediyurappa built the party in the state and then moved into oblivion. Eshwarappa is the fourth BJP legislator to announce retirement before the May 10 elections after BS Yediyurappa, Haladi Srinivas Shetty and SA Ravindranath. There are reports that several BJP leaders from Shivamogga district have tendered their resignation in support of Eshwarappa. MP Kumaraswamy, who is the MLA from Mudigere, has announced his resignation from the party, expressing his displeasure for not being on the BJPs list of candidates. Deepak Doddaiah will contest from Mudigere replacing Kumaraswamy. The three-time MLA, Kumaraswamy hit out at national general secretary CT Ravi for not being nominated, and said he will plan his next move after discussing with his supporters and people of his constituency. There are speculations that the leader from the SC community will join the JD-S or contest as an independent. Jagadish Shettar, the former Karnataka chief minister, who was dropped from the BJP list, is hopeful to get a ticket after he was summoned to Delhi by party leadership. BS Yediyurappa had earlier said 99% Shettar will be given the ticket. Shettar had earlier told the media that his popularity is good and he has not lost a single election. So, there is no reason to deny him the ticket. The Lingayat leader said he will contest from Hubli Dharwad Central any which way. The BJP has chosen new face Kranti Kiran to contest from Hubli Dharwad East and Arvind Bellad from Hubli Dharwad West. K Raghupathi Bhat, a three-time MLA from Udupi, told media had the BJP leadership told him six months ago that he cannot be fielded due to caste considerations, he would have followed the path of Eshwarappa, who announced retirement from electoral politics. Bhat has been replaced by Yashpal Suvarna, the leader of the fishermen community. I am still in a state of shock and havent taken any decision yet, Bhat said. Nehru Olekar, the Haveri sitting MLA was denied a ticket and was replaced by Gavisidappa Dyamannavar. Olekar has said he would resign from the BJPs primary membership. The MLA lashed out at CM Basavaraj Bommai for practising hate politics and alleged that he cheated the party. He pointed out that six constituencies were being sacrificed for personal interest. Olekar along with his two sons and six associates were convicted for corruption in February. Laxman Savadi, is a three-time MLA from Athani, who was denied a ticket from the seat that he lost in 2018. He was one of the three deputy CMs in the Yediyurappa government in 2019. The BJP has instead given MLA Mahesh Kumathalli, who was among defectors who helped the party bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition. Savadi had announced his resignation from the party primary membership and also as MLC. He told media that he is a self-respecting politician and that he would not go around with a begging bowl. R Shankar resigned from his post as MLA after the BJP denied him ticket from Ranebennur constituency. He has announced to contest as an independent candidate. The BJP has fielded MLA Arun Kumar from the constituency. After the first list of candidates was announced, Shankar took on to the BJP and said the party cheated all of us after it was brought to power by the Congress-JDS rebels. Madalu Virupaksappa, the sitting MLA of Channagiri, was snubbed by the BJP after he was arrested for accepting bribe of Rs 40 lakh in March. The party has decided to field Shiv Kumar from the constituency. Virupaksappa is in jail on charges of corruption. S Angara, Karnataka minister and six-time MLA has announced retirement from politics after being denied a ticket. The minister from Dakshina Kannadas Sullia constituency alleged some leaders conspired against him. Bhagirathi Murulya has been nominated as official candidate of the BJP for the upcoming polls. Srinivas Prasad, former Union minister and Chamarajanagar MP, announced retirement from active politics after his term ends in 2024. He was campaigning for party candidate CS Niranjan Kumar in Gundlupet. Read all the Latest Politics News here India will be the first country in the world to outlaw hijab and halal before France, Yashpal Suvarna had said during the peak of the controversy last year. Suvarna is popularly known as the face of the anti-hijab campaign and is one of the fresh faces from the BJP to contest in the upcoming Karnataka elections. The poster boy of the hijab row said the controversy was created by anti-national and antisocial elements, who did not want Muslim girls or even poor Hindu students to be educated. As BJPs Udupi candidate, Suvarna said Prime Minister Narendra Modis governance and development will be his campaign mantra. In an exclusive interview to News18, Suvarna has blamed the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) for creating unrest in the Dakshin Kannada region over the hijab issue. Udupi is a peace-loving and happy place. PFI, KFD (Karnataka Forum for Dignity) and Campus Front of India (CFI) created the issue because they did not want girl child to be educated. These anti-national, antisocial elements did not want poor Hindu students to receive good education. They wanted to divert the attention of the economically poor students at government PU college, and kindled the hijab issue, Suvarna said, adding that he will address the issue during his campaign. Three-term MLA Raghupati Bhat, a popular leader from the Brahmin community, was asked to make way for Suvarna, who represents the OBC (other backward class) community called Mogaveeras (mostly part of the fishing community). People from across the world are looking to Narendra Modi as a leader and we are proud to have him as our leader. We will show people how we will deliver as Modi has, Suvarna said. Udupi a Laboratory for Development and Nationalism Suvarna gained traction for his targeted campaign against wearing hijab at government colleges in the Udupi region and, as an active gaurakshak, his task has been cut out for him. I want to tell the people that our region is not just about being a Hindutva laboratory, but a laboratory of development and nationalism as well, he said. Suvarna had called the six girls, who moved court over the hijab ban, terrorists and anti-nationals. He is the vice-president of the development committee of the same Udupi Government PU Girls College, which was at the centre of hijab controversy. The six girls who call themselves victims are so young they do not know the law of the land. They do not have voting rights, yet they are going to the courts to file a petition. This shows there is a strong force instigating them, which I call the anti-social activity associations, he said, adding that despite the hijab ban, there had been a rise in the number of admissions of Muslim girls in the college for the new academic year. The issue was fake. There is a difference between issues created and issues started. The hijab issue was created, the leader said. If people were affected, why is it that even today Muslim families are sending their daughters to college? That means 90 percent of Muslim girls are against hijab, against their system and want to be free birds, lead a normal life and not be shackled by a hijab, he told News18. Family with deep roots in Jana Sangh, RSS Suvarna credited his rise from an ABVP leader to a Bajrang Dal activist to the general secretary of the BJPs national OBC Morcha and now an aspiring MLA to Modi, former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat. His family, which is from coastal Karnatakas Mogaveera community, has deep roots in the Jana Sangh and RSS. His father quit his job as a banker to set up a fishing business. His uncle, Raghunath, was an RSS worker and had contested from the Surathkal assembly constituency as far back as the 1980s but lost the election. Since childhood, I have been an RSS swayamsevak and have grown up watching BJP leaders shape the youth. My inspiration has been Narendra Modi and, during my growing years, I was inspired by Atal Bihari Vajpayee and Mohan Bhagwat. Their selfless work and dedication towards building a strong BJP and even stronger Karnataka has guided me to date, he said. Suvarna recalled a time when veteran BJP leader, the late VS Acharya, handpicked him from his hometown and gave him some political exposure. I was in the RSS. He brought me into mainstream politics and gave me a chance to contest in municipality elections. I have served in the municipality for three consecutive terms, he said. While pursuing his graduation, Suvarna was actively working with the ABVP and led several campaigns in the region against cow slaughter. In 2005, he was one of the prime accused in a case where a father and son were stripped in broad daylight and paraded in the city for allegedly transporting cows for slaughter. He was later acquitted. Udupis famous Sri Krishna Matha, in an unprecedented move in 2007, held an iftar party under former Pejawara Matha head Vishwesha Tirtha inside its premises. Suvarna was among the strong voices against entertaining Muslims in a place of worship. If elected, Suvarna said he wants to bring more medical facilities and educational institutions to Udupi. I would like to create more jobs and also encourage temple tourism and IT parks. The schemes that Modi has provided, I would like to take them to every house in my constituency, he added. Read all the Latest Politics News here Deeply upset veterans, growing dissent, and threats to fight the May 10 Karnataka elections as independents have forced the BJP to seek the assistance of their troubleshooter BS Yediyurappa in the state unit. Like in the Mahabharata where Vidhura has been the Margadarshak and counsellor for both the Pandavas and the Kauravas, Yediyurappa has been asked to try and curb the rebellion in the party before it takes a more serious turn, said a staunch supporter of BSY to News18. With the BJP dropping six MLAs in the second list, which was released on Wednesday, Yediyurappas role will be all the more relevant to quell the possible revolt in the party. It is learnt that BJP national president JP Nadda in a telephonic conversation with BSY sought his intervention to defuse a possible rebellion in the Karnataka BJP. Yediyurappa was asked to hold a one-to-one meeting with all the aggrieved leaders who were denied tickets and have threatened to stand as independents or resign from the party membership. According to sources, Nadda had stressed that the current crisis can be resolved only by BSY who has a good connection with the upset leaders. BSY is said to have assured the leadership that he will channel all his attention and energies to resolve the snowballing problem. Over 1,200 BJP Kartyakartas from various local units of the BJP in Bengaluru resigned en masse from the primary membership of the party in protest after NR Ramesh, president of the Bangalore South District, was denied a ticket. The central leadership of the BJP got in touch with BSY after five senior leaders former chief minister Jagadish Shettar, former deputy chief ministers KS Eshwarappa and Laxman Savadi, former fisheries and port minister S Angara and three-time MLA from Udupi Raghupati Bhat all expressed their anger and extreme disappointment in the way ticket was denied to them by the party for their constituencies. Eshwarappa and Angara announced retirement from electoral politics, while a miffed Shettar and Savadi sent out a clear signal to the party leadership that they will not hesitate to stand as independents. Shettar, Angara, and Bhat felt humiliated by the way the news was communicated to them. This is not the way to treat us, said Raghupati Bhat who was asked to step aside to introduce political greenhorn Yashpal Suvarna as a new face in this election. Bhat even said he was not sad over the partys decision to not give him a ticket, but the fact that he had to learn about it from the media. I was not even informed by the district president. I learned that I have been denied a ticket through news flashes on TV. Is this the way I should get to know the decision of the party? That boy (Suvarna) has been groomed by us. Ami Shah called Shettar and informed him. I dont expect Shah to call me, but at least the district president should have done it, Bhat told media. Shettar and Angara also shared the similar sentiment. They said had they been informed a few months earlier, it would have been more respectable and they would have considered stepping aside. The biggest threat to the BJP has been Jagadish Shettar who has won the seat six times. The sulking former chief minister of Karnataka was summoned to Delhi on Wednesday to meet Nadda. After the meeting, Shettar said he was hopeful but the BJP is yet to decide on the name of the candidate for the Hubballi-Dharwad Central assembly segment where he is the sitting MLA. I have spoken to the people of my constituency. They have urged me to fight the election, so I will definitely contest," said Shettar after the meeting where he was promised a positive outcome. The first list of 189 candidates did not feature Shettars constituency, but on April 11, Shettar held a media briefing to disclose that he had received a call from the party asking him not to contest the upcoming elections. According to party sources, BSY had also recommended that Shettar be given a ticket as he is an influential Lingayat leader who could pose to be a problem in the Hubballi-Dharwad region and parts of North Karnataka dominated by the community and is largely a BJP stronghold. Yediyurappa told ANI that 99 percent Jagadish Shettar will be given an election ticket. Read all the Latest Politics News here After House of the Dragon, Game of Thrones fans are in a treat for yet another prequel show titled A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms: The Hedge Knight. The announcement was made during a Warner Bros press conference about the spinoff thats set nearly a century before the events of Game of Thrones, which narrates Daenerys Targaryens fierce struggle to sit on the Iron Throne. The new prequel is said to take place in the same universe as A Song of Ice and Fire which chronicles the heinous Targaryen civil war shown in House of the Dragon. The series is the official adaption of George RR Martins Dunk and Egg novellas. The plot is based on the life of two unlikely heroes wandering through Westeros when the Iron Throne is still under the power of the Targaryen house. The character Dunk in the title refers to the future Lord Commander of the Kingsguard, Ser Duncan the Tall, while Egg is used for the future king Aegon V Targaryen. Unlike the previous war epic shows, this new one is said to be on a lighter note which brings Westeros in a completely new light. It is a tale of friendship while the history of the conflict is yet to occur. According to a report by The Hollywood Reporter, the synopsis of the prequel story reads, A century before the events of Game of Thrones, two unlikely heroes wandered Westeros a young, naive but courageous knight, Ser Duncan the Tall, and his diminutive squire, Egg. Set in an age when the Targaryen line still holds the Iron Throne and the memory of the last dragon has not yet passed from living memory, great destinies, powerful foes, and dangerous exploits all await these improbable and incomparable friends. The release date of the show has not been disclosed but it will be available to stream on HBOs streaming service now called Max. Previously, the first season of House of the Dragon explored the onset of the bad blood between the house Targareyn and Velaryon, leading to a heinous civil war to usurp the Iron Throne. The prequel aptly captured the raw foreboding essence of its predecessor show highlighting blood baths and gory sequences while also retaining dragons pitted in the ugly game of power. In the final scene, Princess Rhaenyra and King Daemon join forces to wage a war against Queen Alicent Hightower, who is adamant to make her son Aegon the King after Lucerys death. The second season of the show is currently in production. Read all the Latest Bollywood News and Regional Cinema News here The trailer of Netflixs upcoming streaming series Tooth Pari: When Love Bites was unveiled on Tuesday. The romantic fantasy thriller follows the storyline of a vampire (played by actress Tanya Maniktala) falling in love with a shy, faint-hearted dentist (essayed by Shantanu Maheshwari). The series is set in the backdrop of the City of Joy aka Kolkata. Fans are falling in love with the trailer, while it goes through a series of moments of unravelling the mystery to some intimate scenes between the lead actors. The trailer has surely gripped everyones attention. Did you know Tanya once landed up in the controversial soup for her kissing scene in her first Netflix original series, The Suitable Boy? In 2020, a controversy erupted over the web series after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders alleged that the show had hurt religious sentiments. Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra sought action against the streaming giant after a complaint in the regard was submitted in Reeva, by Gaurav Tiwari, who is the National President of BJPs Yuva Morcha. The ruling party objected to the scene where a Hindu girl (Tanya) kisses a Muslim boy (played by Danesh Razvi) in the backdrop of a Hindu Temple. Tiwaris complaint also stated that Netflix is promoting Love Jihad. Narottam Mishra told the media that he had instructed authorities to check what legal action can be taken against the Netflix producer and director of the series. The series also received a huge backlash from the internet and the hashtag #BoycottNetflix was also trending at that time. A Suitable Boy is Mira Nairs TV adaptation of Vikram Seths novel with the same title. It was released on Netflix on October 23, 2020. Ishaan Khatter, Tabu, Tanya Maniktala and Rasika Dugal are seen in pivotal roles in the series. Coming back to Tooth Pari, the series is helmed by Pratim Dasgupta. Tooth Pari has an amazing star cast including Revathy, Tillotama Shome, Sikandar Kher, Adil Hussain, Saswata Chatterjee, Anindita Bose, Anjan Dutt, Kharaj Mukherjee, Rajatava Dutta, Swaroopa Ghosh, Zarina Wahab and Barun Chanda in prominent roles. Read all the Latest Bollywood News and Regional Cinema News here Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad on Thursday broke down in Prayagraj court after learning about the death of his son Asad and one of his aides in Jhansi in an encounter by a team of Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). The court sent Atiq and his brother Ashraf to four-day police remand in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. Asad and his aide Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case and gunned down in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police today afternoon. The 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party MLA Atiq and Ashraf were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. An eyewitness, who was present in the courtroom, told News18 that during the hearing Atiq got the news of Asads encounter and he broke down and sat on the floor. After crying profusely, he asked for water to drink. Slogans such as Atiq Ahmad Murdabad" and Umesh Pal Amar Rahe" were also raised in the court premises. #WATCH | A by-stander at CJM court in Prayagraj throws a bottle at former MP Atiq Ahmed who has been brought to the court for an appearance in Umesh Pal murder case pic.twitter.com/AWFu7PyNLz ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 For the court hearing today, Atiq was brought from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat and Ashraf was brought from Bareilly jail. This was the second time within a month that Atiq was brought from the Gujarat jail to Prayagraj via road for a court hearing. Umeshs wife Jaya Pal had filed a case on February 25 against Atiq, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam, and others. They will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26," said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Jaya. Asad And Ghulams Encounter in Jhansi Speaking on the encounter incident, Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said, Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with an UP STF team. Sophisticated foreign made weapons were recovered from the accused." Visuals showed two bodies lying beside a motorbike at the site of the alleged encounter. An ambulance later took them away. STF officials said Asad and Ghulam were on the run since the murder of Umesh Pal on February 24. Several STF teams were pressed to track them down. On Thursday, they were trying to flee on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by an STF team in Jhansi, the officials said, adding they opened fire on the personnel and were killed in retaliatory firing. Reaction of Umesh Pals Family Reacting to it, Umeshs family thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and the police administration. Whatever they have done is right. He (the CM) has punished the killer of his daughters husband. I express my gratitude. He is like a father. Justice has been done," Jaya told the media and voiced hope that strict action would be taken against other accused. When asked against who else she wanted action, she said, I leave that to the government. The government is giving me justice." Umeshs mother said, The two gunners who were killed in broad daylight today had committed a sin. They have been punished today. We have faith, we will get complete justice." Umesh Pal Murder Case Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagrajs Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. The daylight killing on a busy street had raised questions over law and order in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had vowed in the state assembly that he will destroy" the mafia in the state. Atiq, Ashraf, their family members and others were made accused in the Umesh Pal murder case based on a complaint by Jaya Pal. Atiq is also an accused in the Raju Pal murder case. On March 28, an MP-MLA court held Atiq and two others guilty in connection with the kidnapping of Umesh Pal in 2006 and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life. The FIR in the Umesh Pal murder case was lodged under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation). (with inputs from PTI) Read all the Latest India News here Xem them ... Tin bai cuoi cung Khong con du lieu e load After gangster Atiq Ahmads son Asad Ahmad was killed in an encounter, a senior Uttar Pradesh cop said they had information of a possible attack on a police convoy in Jhansi to free the former legislator. Additional Director General Law & Order Prashant Kumar said the police convoy carrying Atiq used to pass through Jhansi to reach Prayagraj. We had information that to help the accused Atiq and Ashraf escape, there could be an attack on the police convoy bringing them back to UP in the case (Umesh Pal murder case). In view of this information, teams of civil police and special forces were deployed, Kumar said. ALSO READ: Did Asad Pay Price for Not Following Father Atiq Ahmeds Foolproof Strategy? Decoding Umesh Pal Murder Asked why the attack was planned in Jhansi, Kumar said, Jhansi is a big place. There could be many reasons for the convoy to stop. It could be natures call or for food." Earlier this week, an Uttar Pradesh police convoy brought Atiq Ahmed from Ahmedabad to Prayagraj. Kumar also informed that 183 criminals have been killed in encounters since 2017 while 13 police personnel lost their lives. We will continue to push down on terrorism in Uttar Pradesh, our teams are fully equipped: Prashant Kumar, ADG law and Order, UP on #asadencounter pic.twitter.com/BRxYpYwSXu News18 (@CNNnews18) April 13, 2023 Asad, son of jailed gangster Atiq Ahmed, and his close aide Ghulam were shot dead by Uttar Pradesh STF during an encounter near Parichha Dam in Jhansi today. Both were wanted in Umesh Pals murder case. ALSO READ: Asad Ahmed, Who Took Over Reins of Fathers Gang, Killed in Encounter | All About Atiq Ahmeds 5 Sons The police said one British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol were recovered from them. Exchange of fire took place between 12:30 pm and 1 pm. Our STF team encountered two accused, who were injured initially but were later declared dead. They were identified as Ghulam and Asad, the police said. Till last year, young Asad Ahmed did not have any criminal case lodged against him. But by February this year, he became the most wanted man in Uttar Pradesh after leading half-a-dozen shooters who killed Umesh Pal in broad daylight on a busy street in Prayagraj on February 24. Mohammed Ghulam, a close aide of Atiq Ahmed, was another accused in the case. In March, the Prayagraj administration deployed bulldozers to demolish his home. Ghulam had been missing since Pals murder. Rs 5 lakh reward was on head of both Asad and Ghulam. Earlier in the day, a Prayagraj court sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. This was the second time within a month that Ahmad was brought from the Gujarat jail to Prayagraj via road for a court hearing. On March 28, an MP-MLA court held Ahmad and two others guilty in connection with the kidnapping of Umesh Pal in 2006 and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life. Read all the Latest India News here Mitti Mein Mila Denge said chief minister Yogi Adityanath promising tough action against Atiq Ahmeds gang. It took 50 days of meticulous tracking and a constant search and chase, perhaps the biggest in recent history, by the Uttar Pradesh Police before it ended in an encounter in Jhansi with Atiqs son Asad being shot down. Sources told News18 that the search by multiple teams of the UP Special Task Force (STF) went to several states and even abroad, to Nepal, in the search of Asad. Soon after gunning down Umesh Pal in broad day-light on February 24 in Prayagraj, Asad had escaped and was not using mobile phones to avoid electronic surveillance making the job of the police even more tougher. However, the UP STF remained on the chase before spotting Asad and his key aide Ghulam on a motorcycle in Jhansi on Thursday and an encounter ensued. The UP Police had earlier killed two other shooters in the Umesh Pal case. We were after him (Asad) from Day 1. We tracked him to Jhansi today they had not fled the country. Earlier, we missed them but this time we have got them. Foreign-made weapons have been recovered from him. They were using secure means of information, the head of the UP STF Amitabh Yash told News18. Asad Ahmed was to remain in the background during the killing of Umesh Pal and remain inside the car when other shooters led by him carried out the killing on February 24. He had also left his mobile phone in his flat in Lucknow to avoid being detected. But seeing Umesh Pal flee to his house after being initially shot by the attackers, Asad emerged from the car and rushed behind him to shoot him, exposing himself to be captured in CCTV cameras. The UP STF immediately got on his trail with CM Yogi Adityanath giving clear orders to deal with Asad sternly. Till Umesh Pals killing, a young Asad Ahmed did not have any criminal case lodged against him. But he became the most wanted man in Uttar Pradesh after leading half-a-dozen shooters who killed Umesh Pal, and a reward of Rs 5 lakh was put on his head. Asad is the third son of gangster-cum-politician Atiq Ahmed and is said to have taken the reins of his fathers dreaded gang last August after his two elder brothers had surrendered in court. Sources in the UP Police told News18 that Asad used to operate from Lucknow, from where he had passed out from Class 12 from a top school but could not go abroad for further studies as his passport was not cleared due to his familys criminal history. He was not on the police radar till he was captured in the CCTV. The police suspect that Asad took instructions from Atiq and Ashraf from jail over calls to plan the murder of Umesh Pal with whom his family had a long-standing rivalry. Read all the Latest India News here Long before todays encounter where gangster Atiq Ahmeds son Asad was gunned down by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force, the gangster-turned-politician had predicted of a similar situation where another gangster, Vikas Dubey, was shot by UP cops in 2020. Follow Live Updates Here. After UP CM Yogi Adityanath warned of a crackdown on mafia and criminals in the state, Atiq had repeatedly claimed that there was threat to his life and that his family was completely ruined. If we try to recollect, a few years back, a very similar incident had taken place where 50-year-old Dubey, who had hogged the headlines after his henchmen allegedly shot dead eight police personnel in a botched raid that he had converted into an ambush. Later, Gangster Vikas Dubey was killed after being critically injured in an alleged shootout with STF officials. Vikas was shot when he reportedly tried to flee, following a road accident in which the vehicle he was travelling in overturned. Dubey was taken to the emergency ward of the Hallett Hospital in blood-soaked condition. At that time, SSP Kanpur Dinesh Kumar said that the doctors have confirmed the death of Vikas Dubey. As media persons converged at the hospital, the gates were closed and STF officials refused to comment on the developments Atiq Feared Vikas-Like Death But Atiq, the prime accused in an old kidnapping case of Umesh Pal, was being transported from Sabarmati jail, where he was imprisoned since 2019, to Prayagraj for the verdict, which was scheduled to be delivered. He was then to be produced before the court in Prayagraj in connection with the case. As the convoy halted briefly at Kharai in Shivpuri district and Ahmed, wearing a white turban, got down from the police van to attend natures call, reporters asked him whether he was afraid, to which he replied by saying kahe ka dar (what fear) before police personnel whisked him away. The statement came a day after Ahmed claimed he might be murdered and possibly face an encounter such as the case concerning gangster Vikas Dubey. Hatya, hatya (murder, murder), Ahmed had told reporters outside the prison while being whisked away. Read all the Latest India News here Asad, son of jailed gangster Atiq Ahmed, and his close aide Ghulam were shot dead by Uttar Pradesh STF during an encounter near Parichha Dam in Jhansi. Both were wanted in Umesh Pals murder case. Exchange of fire took place between 12:30 pm and 1 pm. Our STF team encountered two accused, who were injured initially but were later declared dead. They were identified as Ghulam and Asad, Additional Director General (ADG) of Uttar Pradesh Polices Special Task said. Till last year, young Asad Ahmed did not have any criminal case lodged against him. But by February this year, he became the most Read More Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmeds son Asad Ahmed and his close aide Ghulams killings on Thursday brought the total number of criminals neutralised in such encounters to 182 in the last six years of the Yogi Adityanath-led government in Uttar Pradesh. According to figures released by the state government, the numbers also show that over 10,000 police encounters were recorded. In fact, counting Asad Ahmed and his aide, there were 10,714 encounters. The data shows that those killed in encounters were accused of serious offences. Looking at the district-wise breakup, Meerut police had the highest number of encounters at 3,152 in which 63 accused were eliminated and 1,708 left injured. During these incidents, the data shows, one policeman was killed in the line of duty while 401 cops were hurt and 5,967 accused were arrested as a result of these encounters. Agra had the second highest number of police encounters. The Taj district witnessed 1,844 encounters where police gunned down 14 accused and arrested 4,654. A total of 55 cops got hurt. Bareilly has the third highest number of encounters at 1,497 in which seven accused were killed and 3,410 arrested. A policeman was killed during these encounters, while 296 cops and 437 accused sustained injuries. Special director general of police (law and order) Prashant Kumar, while speaking about the data, said the state police had given a befitting reply to criminals. Since he became chief minister Yogi Adityanath has made the law and order situation in the state a priority, with a zero tolerance policy for antisocial elements. In its sixth year now, the state government has made an effort to continue its crackdown on crime with 23 accused gunned down in police encounters and 1,256 injured between March 16, 2022, and March 15, 2023. Besides, property worth Rs 1,849.28 crore has been seized, demolished and freed from illegal possession from mafiosos, gangsters and criminal elements in the same time period. Other than a befitting reply to criminals if they attacked police, 3,052 criminals carrying a reward on their head have been arrested during this period. These include 2,749 criminals who were carrying a reward of Rs 25,000, 267 criminals carrying a reward between Rs 25,000 and Rs 50,000, and 36 criminals over Rs 50,000, Kumar said. He said 12,513 accused had been arrested in 3,903 cases under the Gangster Act and 126 arrested in cases related to the National Security Act (NSA). At least 66 mafiosos and their gang members had been identified during this period, he added. Kumar further said the police acted against 354 mafiosos and their gang members in 186 cases registered against them, of which 94 were arrested, 61 booked under the Goonda Act and 138 booked under the Gangster Act while the NSA was imposed against nine. A total of 13 mafiosos and 21 of their aides were convicted and sentenced to life in jail and handed out other sentences, while two got the death penalty in 28 different cases over the past year, the DGP said. Crackdown on drugs and illicit liquor Kumar also said the special crackdown began on January 1, 2022, and till March 12, 2023, 13,787 NDPS cases had been registered while contraband amounting to Rs 479.67 crore was seized from different parts of the state. He said 310 cases of the Gangster Act were registered against 1,448 people involved in peddling drugs. A similar crackdown was launched on the manufacture and sale of illicit liquor, in which 1,06,952 cases were registered and illicit liquor as well as material used in its manufacturing worth Rs 108.75 crore was seized, Kumar said. A total of 423 cases had been registered under the Gangster Act against 1,377 people involved in the sale and manufacturing of illicit liquor. Earlier this year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union home minister Amit Shah praised Adityanath for improving the states law and order situation in the state at the Global Investors Summit in Lucknow. They said a better law and order situation had helped the state attract more investment. Samajwadi Party secretary and spokesperson Rajendra Chaudhary, however, said the law and order situation had worsened under the Adityanath-led BJP government. This government is all propaganda. It has been claimed that criminals and mafia have left the state, but nothing has changed and they all continue to strike at will, Chaudhary said. Major police encounters against gangsters Vikas Dubey: Gangster Vikas Dubey was killed in an encounter on July 10, 2020. He allegedly tried escaping when the special task force was taking him back to Kanpur from Ujjain in a police vehicle. He allegedly fired at cops as he ran. He was the primary accused in the murder of eight police officers, including a deputy superintendent of police rank officer, during a raid in his house at Bikru village in Kanpur. Tinku Kapala: Lucknows most wanted person at one point, Tinku Kapala aka Kamal Kishore was gunned down in UPs Barabanki on July 25, 2020, during a joint operation by the special task force and UP police. The price on his head was Rs 1 lakh. He was charged with over two dozen criminal prosecutions, including serious allegations under the Arms Act for robbery, murder, and attempted murder. Moti Singh: On February 21, 2021, the UP Police gunned down Moti Singh, who was the main accused in the Kasganj murder case. He allegedly killed a constable of the Sidhpura police station and injured a sub-inspector on a police raiding party in Kasganj village. Hamza: The UP Police gunned down an alleged Bangladeshi gangster in Lucknows Gomti Nagar area on October 18, 2021. He was the suspected commander of a gang that burgled homes near railway tracks in Uttar Pradesh and other states. Hamza was carrying a reward of Rs 50,000. Manish Singh: On March 21, 2022, in rural Varanasi, Manish Singh alias Sonu was shot and executed by the special task force (STF), which had placed a bounty of Rs 2 lakh on him. Police charged him in 32 cases, including seven murder, five attempted murder, and additional cases of theft, dacoity as well as robbery. Vinod Kumar Singh: Jaunpur police killed a gangster who had a reward of Rs 1 lakh. This police encounter" took place in a village under Badlapur police station on September 30, 2022. More than two dozen cases, including robbery, murder, and dacoity were registered against him. Aditya Rana: A day before Asads encounter, Aditya Rana alias Ravi, carrying a bounty of Rs 2.5 lakh, was shot and killed in a police encounter on April 12 in Bijnor. He was wanted after he escaped twice from police custody once in 2017 and again on August 23, 2022, from Shahjahanpur. He was missing for the past eight months. In a statement, police said Rana was a suspect in 43 crimes, including six killings and 13 robberies. (Inputs by Harshika Yadav) Read all the Latest India News here Asad Ahmeds defiance of his father Atiq Ahmeds fool proof strategy for Umesh Pals murder may have led to the 23-year-old finally walking into the police net. Asad Ahmed, who was shot dead in an encounter in Jhansi on Thursday, was supposed to be in a supervisory role as per the original conspiracy hatched by his gangster-cum-politician father, sources told CNN-News18. The 23-year-old, who was captured in CCTV footage, was not mandated to step out of the car to attack Pal a key witness in the 2005 murder case of then BSP MLA Raju Pal and was supposed to be in a supervisory role on February 24 as shooters led by him carried out his orders. In fact, he had also left his mobile phone behind in his flat in Lucknow to avoid being detected part of the plan to distance the family from the murder. However, seeing Umesh Pal flee inside his house after being initially shot by the attackers, Asad emerged from the car and rushed behind the Pal to shoot him, exposing himself to the CCTV cameras. The defiance cost him dearly as the UP STF immediately got on his trail, with chief minister Yogi Adityanath giving clear orders to deal with Asad sternly. The third son of Atiq Ahmed, Asad Ahmed is said to have taken the reins of Atiqs dreaded gang last August after his two elder brothers surrendered in court. On March 28, Atiq Ahmed, a mafia don-turned-politician, was convicted by an MP-MLA court and sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment for his involvement in the abduction and subsequent death of Umesh Pal. In a criminal career spanning 44 years and over 120 cases, Atiq Ahmed was convicted for the first time and awarded life term for the 2006 abduction and murder of Pal. On March 28, the UP mafia who was brought to Prayagraj court in connection with the case left for Sabarmati Jail after he was sentenced to life imprisonment. Atiq Ahmed has been lodged in Sabarmati Jail since June 2019 after the Supreme Court, in April that year, directed the authorities to shift him to a high-security prison in Gujarat since he was accused of orchestrating the kidnapping and assault of a businessman while in jail. Read all the Latest India News here Khalistani sympathiser Amritpal Singh, who has been on the run since a crackdown was launched to nab him, managed to give police the slip again after he was spotted in Rajasthan near the Pakistan border. Sources in the Rajasthan Police told CNN-News18 that Singh was seen in Hanumangarh district which shares borders with Muktsar and Fazilka in Punjab. A team of Punjab Police was also present. We cordoned the house where he was staying but he managed to escape. While Rajasthan Police earlier said he wasnt at the location, an SHO said he wasnt sure of who Singh was but he had seen a 6-feet-tall, fair outsider, dressed in the robes of a nihang at the house, the source said. They added that while they could not apprehend Singh in the raid, the Khalistani sympathisers mother received a call around 9-9.30pm from Avtar Singh Khanda, the brain behind Singhs rise. On the call he said something had gone wrong. He added that he was unsure of Singhs safety since he was on the run once again after a police raid. Upon hearing this, his mother started crying. The source said on further probe, it was revealed that Singh was staying at the home of a man identified as Hardeep who was his former gunman and also part of his close coterie. Also, his house was very close to Bathindas Talwandi Sabo. Hardeep, who was also on the run, was apprehended at 3am and has refused to divulge why he escaped. The house where Singh was staying was such that any movement could be spotted from it. This must have helped them escape. Hence, raids will continue in Hanumangarh and Ganganagar. Explaining Singhs modus operandi, the sources said he would try to enter through a relatively unknown chink in the security as he knew that he would be apprehended by the police spread across the state. Punjab Police will not get a Baisakhi holiday this year as leaves of all officers have been cancelled till April 14 in the wake of the radical Sikh preachers escape. Singh is on the run since a police crackdown against him and members of his pro-Khalistan Waris Punjab De outfit on March 18, about three weeks after he and his supporters stormed into the Ajnala police station near Amritsar to secure the release of an arrested aide. Read all the Latest India News here Police have arrested a 32-year-old former journalist from Dombivli in Maharashtras Thane district for allegedly stealing valuables by breaking into houses, an official said on Wednesday. Deputy Commissioner of Police (zone III Kalyan) Sachin Gunjal said, Of late, the number of house break-in and theft cases had gone up in the Kalyan-Dombivli region. The police had formed teams that worked on various leads, including the CCTV footages and intelligence inputs, and finally nabbed the accused." The police recovered from him 47 tola gold ornaments and a couple of laptops worth Rs 20 lakh, he said. With his arrest, the police claimed to have solved eight cases of house break-ins and thefts in the region. The accused is well-educated and worked as a journalist in a leading newspaper in Mumbai till 2011. He got addicted to dance bars and in order to earn quick money, he started targeting houses for thefts, the police official said. He used to strike the locked houses and loot the ornaments," he added. Read all the Latest India News here A special court in Kalol in Gujarats Gandhinagar on Thursday sentenced a man to death for raping a 5-year-old girl in November 2021. Special judge AA Nanavati, hearing cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, sentenced 28-year-old Vijay Thakor to death for raping a minor girl after abducting her on his motorcycle on November 4, 2021. During past hearings, the prosecution had told court Thakor deserved capital punishment because he had raped three minor girls, aged 3, 5 and 10 years, respectively, in a span of 10 days and killed one of them. He was already sentenced to life in jail till death by the Gandhinagar POCSO court in 2021 for raping and killing a 3-year-old girl. He was given a similar sentence for raping a 10-year-old girl," said public prosecutor Sunil Pandya. Pandya told court the 5-year-old was raped so brutally that her internal organs had ruptured and that she may not be able to become a mother in future due to these injuries. Thakor, a resident of Kalol taluka of Gandhinagar, had committed these crimes despite being the father of a minor child and at a time when his wife was pregnant, said Pandya. In November 2021, Santej police in Gandhinagar district had received a complaint from a woman labourer living near Rancharda village alleging that an unidentified man abducted her five-year-old daughter on November 4 and left her at a secluded place on the same day after raping her. Two days later, Santej police received another complaint of a 3-year-old girl being abducted on the night of November 5 from a makeshift shanty near Khatraj crossroads. After scanning CCTV footages and collecting information from locals, police arrested Thakor, a casual labourer from Vansjada village in Kalol taluka. He confessed to raping three girls in a span of 10 days and strangling one of them. Read all the Latest India News here Indias progress and prosperity can create new opportunities that can benefit Uganda, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said, as he met the Indian business community here and encouraged it to bolster bilateral business ties for growth and development. Jaishankar is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to strengthen Indias strong bilateral ties with the two African countries. Indias progress and prosperity create new opportunities that can benefit Uganda. Just as Indias experiences can help Ugandas development journey, he tweeted on Tuesday after his meeting with the Indian Business Community. Addressing the community, Jaishankar spoke about the problems that India faced due to the war in Ukraine. He said when the Ukraine conflict started a year ago, the first hit that the world economy took was the price of oil. Very soon thereafter, there was a big issue with the price of wheat, because the oil prices, of course, were a more complicated issue. The wheat was a direct outcome of the lack of exports from Ukraine, which is a big exporter of wheat, he said. Jaishankar said what was a less noticed story, however, was the problems that India faced in terms of edible oil. We were big importers of sunflower oil from Ukraine. And the pressure on us to find compensatory resources actually took Indian importers well beyond their traditional sources, a lot of those sources were in the ASEAN. It actually took them to Latin America, he said. So, if you look today at the big spike in Indias trade with Latin America, interestingly, some of that is oil in terms of fuel oil, but a large part of it is oil in terms of edible oil, he said in a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs on Wednesday. Indias total imports of edible oils surged to a record Rs 1.17 lakh crore in the 2020-21 marketing year (November to October) from nearly Rs 72,000 crore in the previous year due to a sharp rise in global prices. India imports palm oil from Indonesia and Malaysia, while soybean oil comes from Brazil and Argentina In his address, Jaishankar also highlighted Indias growing relationship and development partnership with Africa, especially its ties with Uganda. The core of the relationship, which we need to address is how do we expand this business between our two countries and I certainly would urge all of you to look at these possibilities and I certainly assure you from our side, there is a great deal of interest, a lot of empathy in actually trying to find ways of growing this trade, he said. Jaishankar also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi in Jina. Honoured to pay homage to Bapu, the apostle of peace and non-violence, in Jinja at the source of the Nile. Gandhijis ashes, immersed in the Nile, reflects the universality of his message. And also his deep and abiding bond with Africa, he tweeted along with a picture. Read all the Latest India News here Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday remembered the martyrs of the infamous Jallianwala Bagh tragedy and said their great sacrifice inspires us to work even harder. Taking to Twitter, the prime minister wrote, I recall the sacrifices of all those martyred on this day in Jallianwala Bagh. Their great sacrifice inspires us to work even harder to fulfil the dreams of our great freedom fighters and build a strong and developed India. I recall the sacrifices of all those martyred on this day in Jallianwala Bagh. Their great sacrifice inspires us to work even harder to fulfil the dreams of our great freedom fighters and build a strong and developed India. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) April 13, 2023 Other Indian leaders, including Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar and Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan also paid tribute to the martyrs of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre on Twitter. I join the nation in paying tributes to the innocent children, women and men who were martyred in the inhumane Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their sacrifice will always remain etched in the heart of every Indian, Vice President Dhankar tweeted. I join the nation in paying tributes to the innocent children, women and men who were martyred in the inhumane Jallianwala Bagh massacre. Their sacrifice will always remain etched in the heart of every Indian. Vice President of India (@VPIndia) April 13, 2023 Union Minister Pradhan also paid homage to the people who lost their lives in the gruesome attack and said that it remains a blot on humanity. Homage to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh.A gruesome symbol of colonial cruelty, the horrific episode remains a blot on humanity. India will forever be indebted to the martyrs. May their sacrifice inspire every Indian to spread the timeless message of peace & non-violence. pic.twitter.com/XfwAU2cQ0s Dharmendra Pradhan (@dpradhanbjp) April 13, 2023 Calling it one of the most brutal and cold-blooded tragedy in Indian history, Union Minister Hardeep Puri tweeted, On the anniversary of one of historys most brutal & cold-blooded massacres, I join the nation in paying homage to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh. On the anniversary of one of historys most brutal & cold blooded massacres, I join the nation in paying homage to the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh.#jallianwalabagh pic.twitter.com/xtf0ht0yIU Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) April 13, 2023 I join my fellow Punjabis in paying homage to the valiant Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs who changed the course of Indias freedom struggle with their supreme sacrifice. This unparalleled act of tyranny also reminds us of the power of courage in the face of oppression. Jai Hind, tweeted former Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh. I join my fellow Punjabis in paying homage to the valiant Jallianwala Bagh Martyrs who changed the course of Indias freedom struggle with their supreme sacrifice. This unparalleled act of tyranny also reminds us of the power of courage in the face of oppression. Jai Hind! pic.twitter.com/2pTNU5HXOb Capt.Amarinder Singh (@capt_amarinder) April 13, 2023 The Jallianwala Bagh Massacre of Punjab On April 13, 1919, British Military General Dyer, known as the Butcher of India, ordered the killing of several unarmed Indians who were peacefully protesting against the arrest of nationalist leaders Saifuddin Kitchlew and Satyapal. What makes the incident all the more ghastly was the fact that Dyer opened fire without any warning in a confined place with a small opening leaving several protesters dead and many injured. Read all the Latest India News here The accused in the Kanjhawala hit-and-drag case had ample opportunities to save the victim but they intentionally and knowingly dragged her with the car so that she is killed, Delhi Police said in its chargesheet. The accused persons hit the victim and they moved the car backwards and forward and further dragged the victim for a very long distance, the police said. According to the chargesheet, when the accused persons dragged the victim by vehicle then the guilty intent became clear and the knowledge part has been established by the fact that they stopped the car just after about 500-600 meters from the place of incident. The two accused persons, who were sitting in the rear seat, and one other person from the front seat (drivers side) came out of the car and checked whether the victim was still stuck under the car or not, it added. In furtherance of their ill intention, plan and active participation, the accused persons finally killed her in a gruesome manner. Anjali Singh (20) was killed in the early hours of the new year after her scooter was hit by a car, which dragged her for more than 12 kilometres from Sultanpur to Kanjhawala. The police said the act of the accused persons was so imminently dangerous that it, in all probability, was sufficient to cause death, or such bodily injury as is likely to cause death, and the act of the accused persons was without any excuse for incurring the risk of causing death or such injuries. 4 Accused Booked Under Murder Charge The police invoked murder charge against the four accused persons- Amit Khanna, Krishan, Manoj Mittal and Mithun who were in the car at the time of accident. The police initially registered for culpable homicide not amounting to murder and rash driving on public way. Read all the Latest India News here India has registered a single-day rise of 10,158 new coronavirus infections, the highest in over 200 days, and the count of active cases in the country has increased to 44,998, according to Union Health Ministry data updated on Thursday. A total of 92.34 crore tests have been conducted so far, of which 2,29,958 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, the data stated. The count of active cases now comprises 0.10% per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 98.71%. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 4,42,10,127, while 220.66 crore doses of vaccines have been administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive. News agency PTI had a day ago quoted official sources as saying that the coronavirus cases may keep rising for the next 10-12 days after which they will subside, as India is moving towards endemic stage". The sources said even though the cases are increasing, hospitalisation is low and expected to remain low. The current rise in Covid cases is being driven by XBB.1.16, which is a sub variant of Omicron, they added. While Omicron and its sub-lineages continue to be the dominant variant, most of the assigned variants have little or no significant transmissibility, disease severity or immune escape. The prevalence of XBB.1.16 increased from 21.6 per cent in February this year to 35.8 per cent in March. However, no evidence of an increase in hospitalisation or mortality has been reported, official sources said. Amid the scare, Serum Institute of India (SII) has restarted manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield. CEO Adar Poonawalla said the company already has six million booster doses of Covovax vaccine available and adults must take the booster shot. CEO Adar Poonawalla on Wednesday said it has restarted manufacturing of Covid-19 vaccine Covishield amid rising numbers of cases of the virus infection. Reacting to reports of Covid-19 vaccines shortage, he said manufacturers are ready but there has been no demand. Just as a precaution, at risk we have done it so that people have a Covishield as a choice if they want it," Poonawalla was quoted by PTI. Read all the Latest India News here The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) faced the ire of citizens after failing to provide sufficient water supply to the city for 48 hours. Facing problems, residents reached out to the administration and demanded answers for the prolonged disruption in the water supply. Belapur resident, 54-year-old Sudhir Dhani, said they had to beg for water for two days, a Hindustan Times report mentioned. The NMMC had announced a 24-hour cut in the water supply on April 6 for April 10. According to the report, the move was undertaken as the civic body planned to shift the Morbe main pipeline at Chikhale for the Panvel-Karjat railway line and cross the water supply mainline at the Diva-Panvel railway line below the expressway bridge at Kalamboli. The engineering department of the civic body also decided to do the maintenance work of the Bhokarpada water treatment plant and Morbe dam to Digha main pipeline. The water supply was supposed to resume after 10 pm on April 11. Nerul-based activist Anarajit Chauhan was quoted by Hindustan Times as saying that the NMMC could have undertaken the work in winter when the consumption of water per capita is less than in summer. Chauhan is set to file an RTI to unveil the mismanagement. Koparkhairane, Belapur and Ghansoli areas were affected the most due to the disruption in the water supply. Koparkhairane resident BN Kumar said that the water supply should have been restored by 11 am on Tuesday. But even on Wednesday, not a single drop was released. Tankers were also not available, and we could arrange for one on Tuesday, which was barely sufficient to cater for 446 flats. We started looking for alternatives again on Wednesday morning, " Kumar said. Meanwhile, residents in other areas complained about getting murky and non-potable water. Koparkhairne resident Veera Mudaliyar shared videos showing the dirty water being supplied in the neighbourhood on Twitter. Senior officials of the water department ensured that the situation would be resolved at the earliest. On the other hand, Thane commissioner Abhijit Bangar said that Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) has not imposed cuts in the water supply. However, the 15% cut imposed by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in several areas is leading to water shortage. Naupada, Louiswadi, Kisannagar and Kopri are some of the areas affected by the 15% in the water supply. Read all the Latest India News here One Army jawan lost his life in accidental firing at Bathinda Military Station on Wednesday. As per the report filed with police by the Army, when the alert was sounded during yesterdays shooting, the jawan was setting up his weapon and in the process accidentally shot himself. An statement by the Army, however, said the jawan might have attempted to die by suicide. The Armys reported that this was a separate incident and has no relation to April 12 shooting inside the Military Station. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region and the jawan was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital, but succumbed to his injuries. The soldier had returned from leave on 11 April 2023. The case purportedly seems to be of attempted suicide., a statement said. Four Army jawans were killed early Wednesday in firing inside a military station in Bathinda in Punjab, triggering a hunt for two men spotted at the scene of the attack with their faces covered and armed with a rifle and an axe. The four personnel, in their mid 20s, were sleeping when the firing took place around 4:30 am in their barracks near the officers mess in the artillery unit. According to the information we have gathered so far, it is clear that it is not a terrorist act," a senior police officer said. Initially, the police suggested that it was an incident of fratricide". However, officials later said there was no clarity on the incident yet. It is learnt that Army Chief Gen Manoj Pande briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the matter. Army sources said a court of inquiry (CoI) will investigate the entire incident in addition to the ongoing probe by the state police with support from the force. It is suspected that an INSAS rifle, which was reported missing along with 28 rounds earlier this week, was used in the firing incident. The Army said on Wednesday a search team has located the INSAS rifle along with the magazine. Read all the Latest India News here Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the United Kingdom in a telephonic conversation with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak and called for strong action against anti-India elements, a statement said. According to it, Modi also sought progress on the return of economic offenders wanted in India. India is pursuing the extradition of beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi from the UK. Mallya, who fled to the UK in 2016, is wanted in India over a default of Rs 9,000 crore that was loaned to Kingfisher Airlines by several banks. Nirav Modi is facing charges in the estimated USD 2 billion Punjab National Bank loan scam case. About the vandalism at the Indian High Commission last month, Sunak conveyed to Modi that the UK considers the attack totally unacceptable" and assured the security of the Indian Mission and its personnel, the statement said. Last month, the tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans, leading to an arrest related to the violent disorder. The two leaders also reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030, particularly in trade and economic sectors. They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors and agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, the statement said. During the talks, Sunak reiterated the UKs full support for Indias ongoing G20 presidency. Modi also conveyed his greetings to Sunak, who is of Indian origin, and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi. PM Modi invited Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. The British leader appreciated the progress made under Indias Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UKs full support to Indias initiatives and their success, the release said. Read all the Latest India News here The birth anniversary of Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, who is known as the Father of the Indian Constitution and was the first law minister of Independent India, is a special occasion to commemorate his contributions to society. Celebrated with great enthusiasm across the country, followers have planned various activities to honor him on his 132nd birth anniversary. This year, in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Ambedkars followers have paid tribute to him in a unique way by naming a star after him. Babasaheb Ambedkars Mahaparinirvan (death) happened on December 6, 1956. After his demise, Babasaheb was cremated amid a massive crowd of followers chanting Babasaheb, your name will live on as long as the sun and moon remain." Now, this sentiment seems to be materialising as a star has been named after Babasaheb in space on the eve of his birth anniversary on April 14. Bhim Sainik of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar has purchased the star and completed its registration. How did Bhim Sainik register this star? Raju Shinde, former chairman of the standing committee of Sambhaji Nagar Municipal Corporation, purchased a star in space. Subsequently, the star was registered in Babasahebs name through the International Star and Space Registry in the United States on February 9, 2023. The required documentation has been submitted to the institute, and Raju Shinde has received an online certificate. After completing this process, the star will be visible on the mobile devices and laptops of Android and Apple users from April 14 onwards. How can someone view this star named after Babasaheb? Every follower of Babasaheb can view this star on April 14 by following a few simple steps on their mobile device or laptop. First, they need to download the Space Registry or Star Naming application from the mobile play store and enter the registry number CX26529US in the application. There are separate applications for Android and iOS users. This star can be viewed through the innovative user Star Finder 3D smartphone app for Android and iOS," said Shinde, adding, This year we decided to pay tribute to Babasaheb in a unique way. We put in all our efforts to make this dream a reality." Read all the Latest India News here The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force received information last month that Asad Ahmad, the son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, was likely in Jhansi, sources told News18 on Thursday. This information led to a significant breakthrough in the investigation of his whereabouts and resulted in the killing of Asad and his accomplice in an encounter with police in Jhansi earlier in the day. Asad and his aide Ghulam were both wanted for the daylight murder of Umesh Pal and his two security guards in Prayagraj in February. Visuals showed two bodies lying beside a motorbike at the site of the alleged encounter. An ambulance later took them away. Following the encounter, Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said: Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited." Asad Captured on CCTV During Killing of Umesh Pal Asad was captured on CCTV during the killing of Umesh Pal and had been evading the authorities for the last 50 days. Pal was a key witness in the 2005 murder case of the BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagrajs Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. His wife Jaya Pal had filed a case on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam and others. Asad Ahmads Encounter: STF Visited Jhansi Last Month Last month, the Special Task Force received information about Asad Ahmads whereabouts in Jhansi and subsequently visited the district to question individuals and follow leads, which ultimately proved correct, sources revealed. During the pursuit of Asad and Ghulam, the STF located them heading towards the Paricha dam, and an encounter ensued in the nearby jungle. On Thursday, the police said a team from the Special Task Force, led by two deputy superintendents of police, received information about the gangsters and arrived in the Badagaon area of Jhansi district. Asad and Ghulam, who each carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh, attempted to escape on a motorcycle but were pursued by the STF. Atiq Ahmad Appears Before Prayagraj Court The police encounter happened on a day Atiq Ahmad, the 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party legislator, was brought to Prayagraj from the Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat for hearing in a court amid heavy security. According to News18 reports, Atiq broke down in court after learning about the death of his son and one of his aides in Jhansi in an encounter. According to an eyewitness who was present in the courtroom, Atiq wept openly and sat down on the floor upon the announcement of his sons death. He later requested for water to drink. Additionally, slogans such as Atiq Ahmad Murdabad" and Umesh Pal Amar Rahe" were chanted on the court premises. Atiq and his brother Ashraf were sent to a 14-day judicial custody and also allowed a five-day police remand in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. Atiq Ahmad Purchased Weapons Smuggled from Pakistan According to sources, the Uttar Pradesh Police suspect Atiq Ahmad and his gang were involved in purchasing weapons smuggled from Pakistan to Punjab via drones. The authorities intend to interrogate Atiq and his brother Ashraf regarding the alleged Pakistan connection" once they are in custody. In an apparent reference to Atiq Ahmad, Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar, in a press conference said there were intelligence inputs that the convoy bringing the accused might be attacked to free him. (With inputs from agencies) Read all the Latest India News here The Enforcement Directorate has accused the British Broadcasting Corporation of deliberately violating rules governing foreign direct investment in the country. The agency has alleged that funds remitted by the BBC group companies to the United Kingdom are illegal and in violation of FEMA rules. The ED has also charged at least one BBC group company of knowingly violating the FDI and foreign exchange rules. The agency has questioned 10 BBC employees in this regard including its current director and two ex-directors. Officials said that details have been sought from the BBC companies to examine the probable FEMA violations. The employees, whose statements were recorded on Thursday, have been asked to explain how BBC World Service India Private Limited and BBC Global News India Private Limited were functioning in the country since they were owned 100% by BBC UK. The companies of BBC group are 100% FDI companies and still doing broadcasting content services which are not permitted under the FEMA rules and regulations," a note accessed by CNN-News18 says. The shareholding of BBC companies as of date according to ED: 1. BBC World Service India Private Limited British Broadcasting Corporation U.K - 1,55,17,499 BBC Global News Limited, U.K (Previously known as BBC World News Limited) - 1 2. BBC Global News India Private Limited Equity shares BBC Global News Ltd, UK - 9,99,847 BBC World Distribution Limited, UK 1 Preference shares BBC Global News Ltd, UK - 43,49,457 What is the violation? CNN-News18 has learnt that the ED probe against BBC began on February 4, 2023. Ten days later income tax officials also reached BBC offices in Mumbai and Delhi. The inquiries conducted by the agencies so far suggest prima facie violation of the provisions of Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 and its rules and regulations namely Foreign Exchange Management (Non-Debt Instruments) Rules, 2019 and other regulation prior to that; which regulate the receipt of Foreign Direct Investment". The agency points to a Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) press note dated September 18, 2019, which capped the FDI in digital media entities at 26%, and a clarification issued on October 16, 2020, which specified the entities that were required to comply: Entities uploading/ streaming news and current affairs on websites, apps and other platforms News agencies that supply news to digital media entities News aggregators which with the help of software/web applications aggregate content from various sources in one location The clarification asked eligible entities to align their FDI to 26% within one year of the clarification i.e. by 16 October 2021. Thereafter, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Government of India issued a Public Notice on 16 November 2020 asking all the eligible entities to undertake compliance with the aforementioned press note of DPIIT. One of the companies of the BBC group was aware about the aforesaid FDI violations. However they intentionally avoided taking any action regarding the same FDI rules," the ED note accessed by CNN-News18 says. ED officials said that other issues in this regard are still under investigation. A BBC spokesperson, when asked about the investigating agencys allegations, said: We will continue to cooperate fully with the Indian authorities to ensure that we comply with all our obligations." Read all the Latest India News here India is proud of its deeply ingrained values and traditions in addition to its rich cultural heritage. Monogamy, faithfulness, and abstinence from extramarital or premarital sex have traditionally been stressed in traditional Indian society. Yet, as time went on, so did society conventions, which had earlier been rigid in nature and had a tighter hold on its citizens. Extramarital affairs are no longer seen as a taboo topic in the country as they were a decade or two ago, with importance placed on personal freedom and individualism. The Indian society, which traditionally placed the highest value on devotion and fidelity to ones relationship, has since evolved to hold more liberal views. The younger generation, which is more educated and exposed to different cultures, has recently begun to express their opinions on having an open relationship in which both couples consent to having relationships with persons who are not their spouses. A change in social norms can be seen in how many famous and influential persons began to admit to having extramarital affairs. Gleeden, a dating app has conducted a comprehensive study in partnership with IPSOS to understand the changing mindset on marriages, infidelity, and other traditional socio-cultural norms in India. According to the survey, 82% of respondents believe it is possible to be true to one person for the rest of ones life, while 44% believe it is feasible to be in love with two people at once. Its interesting to note that 55% of respondents want to have sex with someone else their spouse, but 37% of individuals believe it is feasible to cheat on someone while still loving them. Sybil Shiddell, Country Manager, Gleeden, India comments on the poll, Observing how Indian society is changing in terms of relationships and marriage is incredibly intriguing. Our most recent study reveals that people are rejecting ingrained sociocultural conventions and adopting a more liberal and open mindset. We are delighted to be at the forefront of this transition, and we think that the fact that our platform continues to develop in India is evidence that it offers a secure environment in which people may explore their passions and achieve pleasure on their own terms." Numerous people, particularly women, have begun to resist conventional norms and demand that their partners provide them the sexual and emotional fulfilment they require in order to be happy in their relationships. This has led to the rise in popularity of a new kind of partnership known as a polyamorous relationship." Although young people and metropolitan cultures have embraced this topic into their personal lives, extramarital affairs continue to be despised in rural areas and other parts of society. Another startling finding from the study is that the infidelity rate is nearly identical in large cities and small towns (58% vs. 56%). This could help to explain why more people from Tier 2 cities, particularly Bhopal, Gurugram, Vadodara, Navi Mumbai, Kochi, Thane, Dehradun, Patna, Nashik, and Guwahati, are signing up for the Gleeden app. Indian culture needs to be more aware of different points of view and the evolving attitudes on romantic love, sexuality, and marriage as it continues on its modern-day path. To avoid internal conflict and establish a community that functions in unison despite differences, a clear shift in perspective and the capacity to coexist with opposing ideas will be the only path forward. Read all the Latest Lifestyle News here Till some time back, a young Asad Ahmed did not have any criminal case lodged against him. But the most wanted man in Uttar Pradesh, who led half-a-dozen shooters to kill Umesh Pal in broad daylight on a busy street in Prayagraj on February 24, finally met his end on Thursday as he was shot dead in an encounter. Asad was the third son of gangster-cum-politician Atiq Ahmed and is said to have taken the reins of Atiqs dreaded gang last August after his two elder brothers surrendered in court. Sources in the UP Police told News18 that Asad used to operate from Lucknow, from where he had passed out from Class 12 from a top school but could not go abroad for further studies as his passport was not cleared due to his familys criminal history. He was not on the police radar till he was captured in CCTV shooting at Umesh Pal. Who is Asad Ahmed who took over reins of fathers gang, planned Umesh Pals murder? @AmanKayamHai_ shares all the details #asadahmed #umeshpal pic.twitter.com/NG1NLQDZlk News18 (@CNNnews18) March 6, 2023 Asad had the highest reward (of Rs 5 lakh) than on any of his other family members in the past. His father Atiq Ahmed is lodged in Sabarmati jail in Gujarat while his uncle Ashraf is lodged in UPs Bareilly jail. In their absence, Atiqs two elder sons, Umar and Ali, ran the dreaded gang in the last few years while Asad was studying. The police suspected that Asad took instructions from Atiq and Ashraf from jail over calls to plan the murder of Umesh Pal with whom the Ahmed family had a long-standing rivalry. Asad is said to have rallied the other shooters and was seen in the CCTV images while emerging from an SUV and shooting at Umesh Pal with a pistol. Asad Took Over Gang After Elder Brothers Jailed Umar, Atiqs eldest son, came into the limelight in 2018 when he kidnapped a property dealer in Lucknow, Mohit Jaiswal, and took him to Deoria jail where Atiq Ahmed was lodged and Jaiswal was assaulted for not paying up extortion money. Ali, Atiqs number two son, also has cases for attempted murder and extortion against him. After rewards were declared on both of them by investigating agencies, the two brothers had surrendered in courts last year in July in quick succession fearing they may be eliminated in encounters. It is then that Asad took over the reins of the gang, UP police officials suspect. Atiq has two more sons, Azham and Aban, who are minors and are studying in Class 10 and 8 respectively. Azham and Aban are presently lodged in a juvenile centre after the police said they found them roaming aimlessly after the murder of Umesh Pal while their mother Shaista Parveen filed an application in court that the police had taken them away from her home. Parveen, too, is an accused in the Umesh Pal case and is said to be missing. Read all the Latest India News here Like every year, this year too, the green belt of Punjab and Haryana will burst into Baisakhi celebrations amidst splashes of colourful costumes, energetic bhangra dances to the beat of the dhol accompanied by laughter, chatter, bonhomie and generous langar. But deep down, every Baisakhi day inflames that wound from another Baisakhi long ago. Those pitiful screams, those panic-stricken faces of trapped people running for shelter from the spray of bullets, the raw earth caked with rivulets of blood as bullets kept splitting open innocent body after innocent body. The United Kingdom never apologised to India for the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar on Baisakhi Day in which Britains state military, led by Michael O Dwyer, murdered hundreds of people at the Bagh. At a banquet during her India trip in 1997, all that Queen Elizabeth said at the head of an expansive banquet was, It is no secret that there have been some difficult episodes in our past. Jallianwala Bagh is a distressing example. Worse, Prince Philip went on to suggest that the count of deaths was exaggerated. Since cinema has been a tangible portrayal of good, evil and everything in between, the Jallianwala Bagh massacre has found expression in films down the ages and not just the ones by Indian filmmakers. The tragic incident, a part of the biopic Gandhi (1982), was used as a historical background in fictions like Rang de Basanti (2006) and Phillauri (2017). This incident, 104 years ago, which triggered mass outrage and spawned several heroes, continues to find interest in biopics and films. Two prominent characters among those were Bhagat Singh who, as a 11-year-old boy was a witness to the massacre and the youth Udham Singh who waited patiently for 20 years to avenge the massacre by shooting Michael O Dwyer to death. A nation proud of its heroic sons has paid humble tributes by immortalising them in films. Chronologically, the first film around Udham Singh was Jaliyanwala Bagh (released in 1987) with Parikshit Sahni playing Udham Singh. According to film expert Pavan Jha, the original director of the film was Hrishikesh Mukherjee who withdrew midway. With directorial inputs from Gulzar (who wrote the dialogues and screenplay for the film and also acted in it), the film was completed by Producer Balraj Tah himself. According to Jha, the film was completed in 1977 and was on the verge of release but actually released only ten years later due to some challenges. In fact, the filming of Jaliyanwala Bagh may have commenced as early as 1973, as is very evident from how young and slim Parikshit Sahni looks in the first scene. Elsewhere in the film, his face looks puffed up and with more inches around his waist. There was another little-known film called Shaheed Udham Singh (2000) with Raj Babbar playing the hero. And of course, the much-celebrated Sardar Udham (2021) with Vicky Kaushal in the lead. Among Bollywoods tributes to Bhagat Singh, the earliest one was in 1954 titled Shaheed-e-Azad Bhagat Singh starring Prem Adib in the title role (Adib was the uncrowned Rama of silver screen, having played the mythological Rama multiple times). This was followed up with two more films in 1963 - Amar Shaheed Bhagat Singh with Som Dutt and Shaheed Bhagat Singh with the popular Shammi Kapoor in the title roles respectively. The Jallaianwala Bagh incident ignited the raw fury inside the 11-year-old Bhagat Singh, which is what was portrayed in the film The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) with Ajay Devgn in the titular role picking up a fistful of blood-soaked earth. In fact, since Udham was influenced by the bravery of Bhagat Singh, we see Bhagat Singh being fictionalised too in both Shaheed Udham Singh (2000) and Sardar Udham (2021). And then there was Manoj Kumars Shaheed, released in 1965. The story material was compiled with the permission of the mother of Bhagat Singh (she was around 81 then). The co-lyricist was Late Ram Prasad Bismil (one of the comrades of Bhagat Singh himself). Sukhdev was played by Prem Chopra. Bhagat Singh lived on with three releases in 2002 alone. A colourfully cast version was 23rd March 1931 Shaheed (2002) starring Bobby Deol and, in the same year, The Legend of Bhagat Singh (2002) starring Ajay Devgn in the title role with elements of stock Hindi masala films like shattering of windowpanes, slapstick comedy pieces, college campus fracas, chase scenes and Westside-like confrontations thrown in. In an interview with Ajay Bhramatmaj in the August 2007 release of Documentary Today, Amir Khan revealed that he had been offered the title role by Director Raj Kumar Santoshi but had turned it down. If the role had been that of an imaginary person, I would have taken it and lived the role on screen. But I was 34 then and Bhagat Singh had attained martyrdom at the age of 23. I felt that I would not be able to do justice, he said. Incidentally, Ajay Devgn too was in his 30s when he played the role. The third of the 2002 releases on Bhagat Singh was Shaheed E Azam with Sonu Sood in the lead role. Films over decades have been retelling these stories and re-interpreting the lives of these heroes and the massacre that gave birth to a band of like-minded patriots including Rajguru, Sukhdev, Ashfaqulla Khan, Chandrashekhar Azad, Ram Prasad Bismil and Batukeswar Dutt. Through the lenses of these filmmakers, we will always be reminded of these heroes and their sacrifices. The author is an award-winning author, Bollywood commentator, columnist and speaker. Find him at www.balajivittal.com and on Twitter @vittalbalaji. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest Opinions here The genesis of climate change can be traced to an economic principle called the Tragedy of Commons which says that when individuals have access to a common resource, they act in their own interest, and make decisions selfishly with scant regard to their impact on others. Earth is our common resource, and this humane tendency has driven us into this menace known as climate change. Our Honourable Prime Minister, Narendra Modi highlighted this when he spoke at COP26, held in Glasgow in 2021. One aspect that he expounded on has become the buzzword in nudging people towards sustainable behaviour the concept of LiFE Lifestyle for the Environment. Water is at the heart of mission LiFE. When India assumed the Presidency of G20 on December 1, 2022, we shared the vision of One Earth, One Family, One Future, with the motto of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam. If the world has to emerge victorious from the scourge of climate change, then G20 countries have to do the heavy lifting as 80 percent of the worlds emissions are caused by these countries. While the gambit of climate change is vast, I would like to draw your attention towards one aspect in particular, i.e., water resources management. India is committed to strengthening cooperation among G20 member countries in water resources development and management through shared technical experiences, best practices and usage of state-of-the-art tools and technology. India believes that water has to be at the centre of our development paradigm, with partnerships that make water everyones business. The Second Environment and Climate Sustainability Working Group (ECSWG) meeting, organised by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, held in Gandhinagar during March 27-29, 2023 included a side event on the theme of Water Resources Management led by the Ministry of Jal Shakti. With countries gathered to reiterate their commitments towards water security, India reaffirmed that its priorities, policy and actions are organically linked to achieving the targets set by the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Many presentations, which were made on diverse themes of Integrated & Sustainable Use of Water Resources/Ecosystem Management, Waterbody Restoration, River Rejuvenation, Rainwater Management, etc, will definitely be of immense value for all G20 members. Under the visionary leadership of PM Modi, the Government of India has taken several initiatives to improve the quality of life of its 1.4 billion people. The integrated Ministry of Jal Shakti was formed to have greater synergy and coherence in water management in the country. All our programmes and efforts are aligned for such coherent holistic water management in the country. Through Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) the worlds biggest drinking water supply program to provide drinking water through tap connection to 160 million households today, more than 116 million, i.e., 60 percent of households have been provided with a tap water connection. According to recent studies, the availability of safe drinking water shall save the lives of 1.36 lakh children under the age of five. Our other flagship campaign, Swachh Bharat Abhiyan made India 100 percent open defecation free (ODF) by the construction of more than 100 million toilets, which saved the lives of 3 lakh children according to a World Health Organisation (WHO) study. Now, we are moving towards Total Sanitation by creating villages equipped with the best solid and liquid waste management practices aimed towards ODF+. More than one-third of all villages in India have become ODF+ today. Under the flagship interventions of water management in the country that were shared, Namami Gange Mission was shown as a model for holistic river rejuvenation through five modes managing pollution, maintaining continuity in the river flow, improving people-river connect, conservation of river ecosystem and sustainable livelihood. Our efforts have been duly noted by the United Nations (UN) which recognised us as one of the Top 10 World Restoration Flagships aimed at reviving the natural world. India also shared the work done on climate resilient infrastructure water resource development through Strategies for Climate Resilience including the Dam Rehabilitation Program to better manage critical water storage infrastructure and participatory groundwater management involving communities for sustainable groundwater management. In the G20 meeting, the highest emphasis was given to the role of cooperation at all possible levels which is the key to effective Water Resource Management (WRM). Secondly, the common understanding of water and groundwater and integrating principles of sustainable development in the implementation of WRM is critical. Some facets of an integrated approach as deliberated are interventions in monitoring and evaluation of water ecosystems, strong legal and policy instruments and technology, cooperation and joint research. The delegation also visited the stepwell at Adalaj Vav to see the ancient water management practices of India. It was followed by a visit to the Sabarmati Siphon structure, a modern engineering marvel that showcased Indias capacity to design and execute challenging water infrastructure projects. The delegates also experienced Gujarats vibrant cultural traditions. The second ECSWG meeting is a critical step in fostering the efforts of the G20 countries, invitee countries, and international organisations towards a sustainable and resilient future. Under the leadership of our prime minister, the Ministry of Jal Shakti is committed to working with all stakeholders to drive outcomes in each of the priority areas to achieve this common purpose. Gajendra Singh Shekhawat is the Union Minister of Jal Shakti. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest Opinions here On Monday, the Value Addition Courses Committee of the University of Delhi organised a three-day workshop on Vedic mathematics. Organised under the leadership of Prof Niranjan Kumar, I was invited along with Atul Kothari, national secretary, Shiksha Sanskriti Utthan Nyas, an RSS-affiliated organisation that has been taking up the cause of Vedic maths books to be included in school and college curriculums, to give a talk on Vedic mathematics. While Kothari talked about the role and relevance of Vedic mathematics in turning new India into a mathematical powerhouse, the truth is Vedic Mathematics is also a powerful tool to explore Indias real history the past that has been officially suppressed and ideologically distorted for reasons other than history. India gained Independence more than seven decades ago, on 15 August 1947, but it still has not got its history right. Even the Modi government, currently in the fag-end of its second term, has failed to put in place any comprehensive change. Its a valid criticism. After all, the history of India continues to be primarily about its foreign invaders and plunders. It is still a Delhi-centric narrative, where some of the biggest empires are left unattended. The Ahoms, for instance, ruled the Eastern and Northeastern parts of India for over 600 years and had the distinction of defeating the Mughals at the height of their power under Aurangzeb. But they remained largely ignored. Even the Chola and the Vijayanagara empires failed to get the attention they deserved. But the biggest fraud committed on this civilisational state was to divest this landmass of its indigenous population. We were told that this fertile landmass with numerous sea-like rivers was actually bereft of people. So Aryans came and displaced Dravidians, pushing them down south. This narrative is still going strong despite the fact that the word Aryan isnt a racial term. So, were Dravidians the original inhabitants of India? No, our eminent historians say that they too entered India from outside and forcibly displaced the Adivasis. Some historians even wonder if Adivasis had come from outside. The narrative, therefore, was that India was like a railway platform where different people deboarded at different points in time. This means this territory was as much of the Aryans and Dravidians as it was of latter-day Muslims and Europeans. It belongs to them all, or to none of them. Given the popularity of this theory, one may assume that there must be hundreds of pieces of evidence literary, archaeological, astronomy-related or even genetic to prove such migrations into India, especially the arrival of the Aryans. The truth is there is not a single credible evidence to back this theory. In fact, if theres any evidence its about out-of-India migration. The Puranas, the Mahabharata they all talk about people moving out of India. This was countered by maligning the Puranas, questioning their veracity and projecting them as a product of Brahmanical imagination. As for the archaeological evidence, it suggests that the Saraswati river, the most praised river in the Rig Veda, dried up around 1900 BC, at the same time the so-called Harappan civilisation collapsed. Initially, we were told that the Harappans were vanquished by Aryans. Some of our well-known historians, now mostly out of favour, would invoke poor Indra for his role in destroying Harappan forts! Here too there was no archaeological evidence to back this grandiose claim. But when it became difficult to justify the invasion, they quietly moved to migration. Now these hordes of people were not projected as invaders; they came to India quietly and their numbers were very minuscule too. The migration theory was even more ludicrous than the invasion one. Despite being largely illiterate and overwhelmingly pastoral people, and despite the fact that they came in small numbers, these Aryans managed to supplant an urban civilisation that was numerically superior, economically prosperous, and technologically more advanced. The Harappans even disowned their own language to adopt Sanskrit. The reality is that culture and language are very sticky in nature; they are hard to supersede even when the entire country is converted into another religion. Khomeinis Iran and Islamist Pakistan are apt examples. This is where the role of Vedic mathematics becomes important: It can help expose the distortions in Indian history, besides bringing out Indias contribution to the making of the world civilisation per se. A closer, unbiased study of Vedic mathematics has shown that the commonly held view of Mesopotamia being the cradle of civilisation may not be true. The late American mathematician, Dr A Seidenberg, in his paper, The Origin of Mathematics, writes about the existence of two distinct traditions in ancient mathematics: The algebraic or the computational, and the geometric or the constructive. If it could be shown that each of these has a single source and there are many rather familiar facts that suggest this is so and if, moreover, in both cases, the sources turn out to be the same, it would be plausible to claim we have found the unique origin of mathematics, he writes. The common source, as per Seidenberg, was Vedic Mathematics the mother of all ancient mathematics. Given its connections with Egyptian and Babylonian civilisations, he pushed Vedic mathematics (Sulbasutras) as far back as 1700 BCE. But facing intense protests from Sanskrit scholars of that era, he began searching for an older mathematics very much like it. He even went on an elusive trip to Iran looking for such a text. Its unfortunate that Seidenberg died without realising the full importance of his own work. Today, when the Aryan Invasion/Migration Theory is busted, and new scientific and archaeological discoveries are pushing the antiquity of the Indic civilisation by thousands of years, Seidenbergs assessment seems to be true: That the sciences, including mathematics, were nurtured in India long before Mesopotamia and Egypt. The two civilisations, in fact, borrowed from India. Navaratna Rajaram and David Frawley write in their book, Vedic Aryans and the Origins of Civilisation, The evidence of the Sulbas, notably the fact that Old-Babylonia and Egypt both derive their mathematics from them, places the early Sutra literature firmly before 2000 BCE, the date of the Egyptian Middle Kingdom. Interestingly, astronomical references in the work of Asvalayana push this date for the Sulbasutras even further to around 3100-2600 BCE. This received additional support from other astronomical observations, including one mentioned in the Satapatha Brahmana. This is very much in line with the Indian tradition, write Rajaram and Frawley, which places Asvalayana about five generations removed from the Mahabharata war. Baudhayana also belonged to the same period, perhaps a generation earlier. So, Vedic mathematics and ancient astronomy both vindicate the traditional date given for the Mahabharata war, which is 3102 BCE. As mentioned earlier, the archaeological evidence being thrown at us currently suggests that the Saraswati river dried up around 1900 BCE. That means the Rig Vedic period must have been in existence well before this date. Interestingly, when we read the Mahabharata, we find evidence of the Saraswati river drying up. There is a story of Balaram, the elder brother of Lord Krishna, going on a pilgrimage after the Mahabharata war. And in this context, Balaram finds the river suddenly vanishing at a place called Vinasan in the Thar desert, to appear again a few hundred km later. There cant be any more graphic evidence of the Saraswati drying up the same river that has been praised profusely for being the mother of all rivers, the largest of them all! So, from the Rig Vedic period to the Mahabharata era, Saraswati saw its transformation from being the biggest of rivers to the one fighting for its survival. And by 1900 BCE, it had disappeared. Incidentally, Saraswatis disappearance coincided with the fall of the Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation, which is rightly called by many as Indus-Saraswati or just the Saraswati civilisation, as most of the sites are found near its banks. To add to it is the fact that the excellent city planning of the Indus-Saraswati civilisation fits in well with the notions of the Sulbasutras! With Vedic mathematics finding more acceptance in new India, where modernity doesnt find itself in contradiction with Indias civilisational mores, one hopes it taps into the innate mathematical brilliance of the average Indian and makes the country a mathematical powerhouse it once was. But as the article suggests, Vedic mathematics can also be a powerful tool to explore Indias history and rescue it from its politico-ideological distortions. And most importantly, it would give India its due in the making of the world civilisation: It was, after all, Indias mathematical brilliance that was behind the successes of the Egyptian and Babylonian civilisations. Sulbasutras are living proof that India, and not Mesopotamia or Egypt, was the mother of world civilisations. Today when Prime Minister Narendra Modi calls for India to become a Viswaguru, he isnt saying anything new. He just wants the country to reclaim its old civilisational position a position that it lost unceremoniously a thousand years ago. (The article is based on the authors Special Address at the inaugural session of the three-day workshop for educators on Vedic mathematics at the University of Delhi on 11 April 2023) The author is Opinion Editor, Firstpost and News18. He tweets from @Utpal_Kumar1. Views expressed are personal. Read all the Latest Opinions here Punjab, during the period of Green Revolution, was the most prosperous state of India. The state, which went through almost 15 years of a painful insurgency from 1980, is once again facing unsurmountable challenges which emanate from political, economic, social and strategic reasons. If not handled maturely, they have the potential to take the state to another bout of chaos and turmoil. Having experienced the previous period of violence and turmoil in the 80s and 90s, one shivers at the thought of history repeating itself so soon. I recollect a few incidents of the late 70s and early 80s when I was a young officer who followed events in Punjab closely, even when I was posted to places as far away as Arunachal Pradesh, because I hailed from Punjab. The first incident relates to, when I had once come home on leave. I saw a big poster on a wall reading Sikh Homeland Lai Ke Rahenge which meant We will take Sikh Homeland. I laughed at the idea, thinking in my mind that no right-thinking Sikh of Punjab would ever buy such a bizarre idea. I thought the people of Punjab were too busy in their economic activities to pay heed to such ideas. By 1984, I realised how wrong I was. Besides the internal political games played by politicians, propaganda supported by external forces inimical to India could sway young minds and create havoc in a sensitive border state like Punjab. Rest is a painful part of history. The second occurrence was an open letter written to Indira Gandhi, the then prime minister, by the famous journalist Khushwant Singh, which I read in a national newspaper. The letter requested her and her party not to play with fire or take those developments in a border state like Punjab lightly. I dont think the political leadership of the time took that open letter of Khushwant Singh seriously or else the state would not have gone through the cycle of violence and bloodshed. As per official estimates, 20,000 people were killed during the Punjab conflict, including 11,690 civilians, 1714 policemen and 7,946 militants. Many more are still missing, suspected to be victims of enforced disappearances perpetrated by the police. The biggest loser was the common man of Punjab, irrespective of his/her religion or caste. The negative economic impact of that period is still being felt by the people of the state. Whatever industry existed in the border state, shifted out to the neighbouring states or NCR, which took the jobs along leaving the youth dependent primarily on agriculture in an era of shrinking land holdings. Having witnessed the entire saga as it unfolded from the late 70s to the restoration of normalcy in the mid-90s, it is strongly felt that the whole episode is unfolding in a similar manner once again. Unfortunately, history appears to be repeating itself too soon and the stakeholders dont seem to have learnt their lessons. The political fault lines are reappearing and the state is being used as a playground to play political games. Recent incidents of violence and subsequent poor performance of the police highlight an all-round failure of the leadership and the administration. These incidents could not have been planned and executed overnight. An alert police and the administration could have easily anticipated and prevented such incidents. Someone in the executive must shoulder responsibility for the serious unacceptable lapses. Blaming the ISI of Pakistan is a fair judgement, but we would be too naive not to expect our adversaries to take advantage of our fault lines, especially if we offer them on a platter. The solution lies in putting our own house in order and not just blaming the adversaries. The current national security environment is far too volatile and challenging due to enhanced threat levels on our Northern borders and active collusion between China and Pakistan in every sphere possible, to threaten India. At this juncture, the country can ill afford another challenge in a sensitive strategically pivotal border state like Punjab. A peaceful security environment is a prerequisite for Indias economic growth to realise the dream of a five trillion-dollar economy. It needs to be remembered that the restoration of peace in the 90s was the result of resolute political leadership of that time and the people of Punjab who supported the security forces and the administration. In fact, the people of Punjab decided to stand up against the militants helping the security forces in successfully executing operations in those days. It is time to take the current threat seriously and take all possible steps to nip the problem in the bud before things get out of hand. The way forward, therefore, is Firstly, the security apparatus must be beefed up to produce the highest quality of specific intelligence and targeted police operations to ensure an incident-free environment. There needs to be better coordination between the Central and state intelligence and security agencies. Secondly, steps must be taken to prevent the ill effects of Narco-terrorism due to the nexus between criminals and potential terrorists. Drug abuse by the youth needs to be checked by involving all stakeholders. Thirdly, the state needs investments and economic activity to create jobs and improve the quality of life of the citizens by reducing their dependence on agriculture. Last, but not the least, it is imperative that all political parties shed their differences to put up a united front against the nefarious designs of the potential terrorists and adversaries of the country so that the state does not slip into that dark phase once again. The time to act is NOW. Lt Gen Balbir Singh Sandhu (Retd) was head of Army Service Corps. He is a distinguished fellow at United Service Institution of India. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not represent the stand of this publication. Read all the Latest Opinions here Congress leader Sachin Pilot is scheduled to meet party high command on Thursday to hear him out amid the leaders ongoing conflict with Rajasthan chief minister Ashok Gehlot. State Congress in-charge Sukhjinder Randhawa is also likely to be a part of the meeting. Acknowledging Pilots claims of corruption but criticising his approach, Randhawa met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in Delhi to discuss the situation. Rajasthans party in-charge reportedly stated that Pilot should have raised the issues during the Assembly session. According to reports, Randhawa held a conversation with Sachin Pilot for 30 minutes on Wednesday (April 12), and will continue with talks on Thursday as well. The AICC in-charge of the state said he will do an analysis of the sequence of events of not just now but from before. I will see where we are standing, where mistakes were made from our side or from his side and will submit a full report," he said Had the issue been raised in the Assembly, people would have seen that Sachin Pilot is raising the matter, and the CM would have had to respond to it. If not there, he could have raised it with me as I meet him more often than I meet the CM due to my relations with this family since 1986," Randhawa further said. He added that Pilot should have clearly asked why arrests were not made made in the scam involving Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, and also demanded a probe of the case under Vasundhara Raje. However, Pilots approach was not pro-party, the AICC in-charge stated. The state leader accepted that there should have been action taken in the past, which was not done. He then went on to assure that concrete steps would be taken this time. Congress president Kharge later on Wednesday met Rahul Gandhi to discuss the matter, after he received that report from Randhawa. News agency ANI quoted it sources as saying that Rahul will discuss the situation with Sonia Gandhi, and the final decision will rest with Kharge. Defying the partys warning, Pilot had observed a fast in Jaipur on Tuesday demanding action from the Ashok Gehlot government in cases of alleged corruption under the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in Rajasthan. The situation is concerning as it comes months before Rajasthan assembly elections that are scheduled to held later this year. Pilot has been pushing for the chief ministerial post, but Gehlot remains unmoved. Both Gehlot and Pilot were keen on the chief ministers post when the party won the state in 2018. But the Congress high command picked Gehlot for the top post for a third time. Revisiting the 2020 Gehlot vs Pilot Conflict 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 Congress central leaderships 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 one to stall what they felt was an attempt to make Pilot the new chief minister. Gehlot was then being considered for the party presidents post. Action Plan to Avoid 2021 Punjab Redux The Congress now aims to resolve the conflict before it impacts the partys prospects in the upcoming elections. A report in Hindustan quoted sources as saying that the partys top leadership has indicated that a major change can take place to end the tussle and restore unity. It further quoted sources as saying that the party does not want to repeat the mistakes made in Punjab in 2021 when former chief minister Amarinder Singh had quit the party months before the Assembly elections and formed his own outfit. Read all the Latest Politics News here Troubles seem to be mounting for Lalu Prasad Yadavs family as Enforcement Directorate called in former Bihar chief ministers third daughter Chanda Yadav for questioning on Thursday in the alleged land-for-job scam case. This comes just hours after the probe agency recorded the statement of Ragini Yadav, daughter of RJD chief Lalu Prasad Yadav. Ragini Yadav was deposed before the agency for questioning and her account was registered under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Reportedly, the agency has so far raided the premises of Ragini Yadav, her sisters Chanda Yadav and Hema Yadav, and former RJD MLA Abu Dojana in Patna, Phulwari Sharif, Delhi-NCR, Ranchi and Mumbai in March this year after allegations were levelled that then Railway Minister and his family were involved in a scam wherein they demanded land in exchange of government jobs. The ED had on Monday questioned and recorded the statement of Ragini Yadavs brother and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav in this case. Meanwhile, the Yadav family, including daughter Misa Bharti and Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav had refuted all the charges against them and said it was BJPs political ploy to suppress opposition voices. As per the reports, the probe agency said it seized unaccounted cash" of Rs 1 crore and detected proceeds of crime worth Rs 600 crore during the searches. It said the investigation was underway to unearth more investments made on behalf of Prasads family and their associates in various sectors, including real estate, at multiple places. Read all the Latest Politics News here Had the State Guest House Incident not taken place, Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) would have ruled Uttar Pradesh the seemingly ordinary statement not only brought the 28-year-old incident back to the fore but also created a buzz in political circles, especially at a time when SP is looking to forge an anti-BJP alliance by uniting regional parties ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha Polls. The statement came after Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav recently garlanded the statue of BSP founder Kanshi Ram at a programme in Rae Bareli. The SP chief should introspect and remember June 2, 1995, when a Dalit Ki Beti was attacked at Lucknows guest house during the SP governments tenure, Mayawati said. The 28-year-old incident that brought the SP and BSP at loggerheads is relevant in UP politics till date. Political pundits say the incident still haunts Mayawati and the statement is a clear signal from the BSP that the two parties will not align again. The BSP supremos statement shows the incident is a thorn in the flesh and thus SP and BSP will not be together anymore, Shashikant Pandey, head of the department of political science at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow, said. What is the Guest House Incident? The episode can be traced back to when the Ram Janmabhoomi movement was at its peak but the SP and BSP coalition successfully stopped BJP from winning UP in 1993. However, the alliance lasted for only two years, resulting in the failure of SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadavs government in 1995. This, however, was just the beginning. On June 2, 1995, after the BSP announcement to withdraw from the coalition, an unruly mob of SP workers and supporters attacked Lucknows Meerabai guest house where Mayawati was in a meeting with her MLAs. According to reports, her room was vandalised, casteist remarks were thrown at her and Mayawati had to lock herself in a room to save her life. Eventually, BJP MLA Brahm Dutt Dwivedi stepped into the room and escorted her to safety. What led to the incident? In 1993, following the demolition of the disputed structure in Ayodhya, UP was swept by a saffron wave. The SP and BSP decided to join forces and contested the assembly elections, winning 176 seats out of 424 in the undivided state. With support from the Congress and others, the SP-BSP coalition formed the government with Mulayam Singh Yadav as chief minister. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party, with 177 seats, was left out in the cold, with no party willing to join it. However, in 1995, the BSP withdrew its support from the government due to deteriorating relations with Mulayam. And shortly after, the BJP offered outside support to Mayawati, who then became the chief minister. However, this is not the first time the guest house incident has hogged headlines. In 2019, when the Mahagathbandhan or Grand Alliance was formed under the leadership of Akhilesh Yadav, Mayawati and Rashtriya Lok Dals chief Ajit Singh, the episode once again found mention, recalls Pandey. The Grand Alliance was anti-Congress and anti-BJP. Of the total 80 seats in UP, the Grand Alliance left two seats for then Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi to whom BSP had declared its support. But the arrangement failed to make any difference as BJP, with Narendra Modi, managed to bag 51.19 per cent vote share while the vote share of Mahagathbandhan was 39.23 per cent. Congress managed to score a mere 6.41 per cent votes. BJP bagged 62 seats whereas the Mahagathbandhan bagged 15 seats in totality, pointed out Pandey. He added: It was during Mahagathbandhan that she had highlighted the issue again and stated that she had forgotten it. Besides, Mayawati also held a press conference in 2019 with Akhilesh Yadav where she said: Lucknow guest house kaand se desh hit ko upar rakhte hue humne saath aane ka faisla kiya hai (We have decided to forget the 1995 guest house incident for the benefit of the country). While some believe the infamous episode still haunts the BSP supremo, a section of political experts blames Mayawati for playing the emotional card in order to retain her Dalit vote bank despite the electoral reverses in the 2022 UP polls. The BSP won just one seat in the UP assembly election in 2022. The, pundits, however said instead of such tactics, Mayawati should focus on making a comeback in her original firebrand form. Read all the Latest Politics News here As temperatures soar in Rajasthan, the heat is on the Congress in Delhi to pilot a solution to the Gehlot-Sachin Pilot crisis. More than 24 hours after a warning that the Congress saw Pilots anshan as an anti-party activity, the Grand Old Party is yet to figure out whether he should be issued a show-cause notice. The reasons are many. One, as per sources, Priyanka Vadra is not keen to rock the boat. The Congress has seen some exits like those of Anil Antony and CK Kesavan of late. While the party may dismiss them as small leaders who make no difference, the fact is that with each departure, the Congress looks to be out of sync and Rahul Gandhi is blamed. At this time, Pilot facing action would make the party look poor on two counts. One, when Rahul Gandhi is spearheading a campaign against corruption, Pilots strike on opening corruption cases against Vasundhara Raje Scindia cannot be seen as a case against him. It can certainly not be called anti-party, said a source close to Pilot. Second, Pilot may just be an MLA but he is one of the high-profile and star campaigners of the Congress. With very few young leaders left with pan-India appeal, distancing him from the party could hurt the Congress as it heads for the 2024 polls. However, on the other hand, is Ashok Gehlot. On multiple occasions, he has shown that he is the man in control. While Rajasthan usually sees a cyclical pattern in state polls, the Congress is hopeful of a win again with some good schemes being announced by the chief minister, like right to health. It is also clear that state in-charge Sukhvinder Randhawa and other senior leaders have moved closer to Gehlot and are supporting him. In a subtle way, Pilot is being painted as someone who is a rebel and is helping the BJP. In the end, its a tense situation and a case of who blinks first. Gehlot could stand up to Sonia Gandhi after the failed CLP meeting. Weakened Gandhis may find it difficult to confront Gehlot and despite the siblings soft corner for Pilot, it may be difficult to take on Gehlot. Post the Punjab debacle, top leaders of the Congress including the Gandhis are caught in a dilemma. Who should bell the cat? Will Pilot be the fall guy? And in the end, will a divided Congress give an edge to the BJP? Read all the Latest Politics News here The US-based Tech giant Apple is reportedly in discussions with suppliers regarding the production of MacBooks in Thailand, as part of the companys efforts to increase its manufacturing capabilities beyond China. The news was first reported by Nikkei on Thursday. Apple has been seeking to diversify its supply chain and reduce reliance on China. The company has already shifted some production to other countries, including Vietnam and India. If the talks with suppliers are successful, it would mark a significant move for Apple into the Southeast Asian manufacturing market. The company has reportedly been in discussions with several potential suppliers, though no official announcements have been made. The move would likely benefit both Apple and Thailand, as the tech giant would be able to reduce its dependence on China. And Thailand would gain increased investment and job opportunities in its manufacturing sector. In related news, Apple recently doubled its financial commitment to a fund it had established two years ago to invest in projects that remove carbon from the atmosphere. The iPhone-maker said it will invest up to an additional $200 mln in its Restore Fund, which was created in 2021 with an initial $200 million commitment. The additional investment is expected to help the fund start new projects and carry forward its previously stated goal to remove about 1 million metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, the company said. Apple is making efforts to become carbon neutral through its entire supply chain and the life cycle of every product by 2030. The fund, launched with Goldman Sachs Group Inc and nonprofit Conservation International, has invested in forest properties in Brazil and Paraguay in the last two years. The expanded fund will be managed by Climate Asset Management, a joint venture of HSBC Asset Management and Pollination, Apple said in a statement. Read all the Latest Tech News here Beatrices own Philadelphia Eagle Cam Jurgens was greeted with screaming and cheering when he visited Stoddard Elementary on Wednesday afternoon. The week prior to the Super Bowl, the students made a video for Jurgens. During a visit home, he arranged to visit the school. However, the students were only told they were gathering in the gym for a surprise guest. Principal Kevin Janssen introduced Jurgens. We are in the presence of Beatrice High School graduate, a former Nebraska Cornhusker and a participant in the Super Bowl," he said. Screaming erupted from the students as Jurgens came into the gym. Jurgens said he wanted to come and say thank you. There is a lot of fun stuff that we got to do as a part of Super Bowl week, he said. One of my favorite things was getting the video from all of you. That means a lot. After the students had photos and had given high fives, Jurgens continued to visit with teachers and sign memorabilia. I remember being in their shoes at Cedar Elementary if someone was going to state we would make signs and send them off, he said. This was similar, except I was playing in the Super Bowl which is a little bigger. It was cool getting to see that video from people in Nebraska wearing my t-shirts and cheering us on. Twitter CEO Elon Musk has claimed that his dog is now the CEO of the popular micro-blogging platform Twitter. Musk, who acquired the platform for an impressive $44 billion last year, made the remark during an impromptu interview with the BBC, where he commented on a poll regarding his position as CEO. Tesla boss Elon Musk responded to the poll by saying, I did stand down. I keep telling you Im not the CEO of Twitter, my dog is the CEO of Twitter." In the past, Musk tweeted a photoshopped image of his dog, Floki, as CEO. Since taking over Twitter, Musk has been active on the platform, using it to share his thoughts on a variety of topics and promote his various business ventures. Recently, he even changed the platforms logo from its iconic blue bird to the symbol of a cryptocurrency. Twitter CEO Elon Musk also told BBC that running Twitter has been quite painful and a rollercoaster. The interview was described by the UK-based media outlet as last minute and was broadcast live on Twitter Spaces. (The) pain level has been extremely high, this hasnt been some kind of party, Musk was quoted as saying by the BBC. Its not been boring. Its been quite a rollercoaster. (It has been) really quite a stressful situation over the last several months, Musk told the BBC but said he felt buying Twitter was the right thing to do. Elon Musk also said that he remains open to the idea of selling the company to the right person, if and when the right person came along. The interview was shot and recorded in Twitters headquarters in San Francisco and over three million listeners tuned in. Musk also said that he sleeps in the office sometimes and has a spot in the library which many dont frequent. Read all the Latest Tech News here During a recently arranged interview, Elon Musk and BBC reporter James Clayton engaged in a heated exchange regarding the presence of hate speech on Twitter since Musks acquisition of the platform. Clayton claimed to have witnessed an increase in such content, but Musk challenged him to provide specific examples, which Clayton was unable to do. The interview, described as hastily arranged" and unexpected" by the British outlet, generated a lot of attention on social media. Clayton had echoed criticisms from various mainstream media outlets that suggested Musks Twitter had allowed hate speech to thrive. When Musk asked Clayton to provide an example of hate speech he had seen on Twitter personally, Clayton responded that his Twitter feed had got slightly more" of such content since Musks acquisition. This time with video & better audio https://t.co/js4nTQSSh3 Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 12, 2023 Can you name one example?" asked Musk. Clayton was unable to do so, prompting Musk to become amused and ask again, You cant name a single example?" Clayton then offered an excuse, stating, Because I dont actually use that For You feed anymore because I dont particularly like it." Despite Claytons struggles to provide a defense, Musk continued to press him, stating, Im asking for one example and you cant give a single one. Then I say, sir, that you dont know what you are talking about. You cannot give me a single example of hateful content, not even one tweet. And yet you claimed that hateful content was high. That is false, you just lied." As Clayton struggled to back up his claim, tensions rose and Musk ultimately summarised the exchange by stating, You literally said you experienced more hateful content and then couldnt name a single example. Thats absurd!" The tense exchange quickly caught the attention of social media users as they eagerly shared their thoughts and opinions about the same. Memes, comments, and other humourous content flooded Twitter, sparking an ultimate memefest as users relished the clash between the two parties. Highlights of the Elon Musk interview by the BBC. Go Elon (ride that wolf) pic.twitter.com/u2oV00XZUo Senor Don Perde (@scaredketchup) April 12, 2023 In case you missed @elonmusks interview with BBCpic.twitter.com/DizeZaKdoa Dr. Eli David (@DrEliDavid) April 12, 2023 So apparently Elon Musk was streaming the BBC interview live on a Twitter space.That meant that the BBC was unable to edit out the excruciating bits for the hapless reporter pic.twitter.com/uwD9iJw9tT Richard (@ricwe123) April 12, 2023 BBC x Elon Musk interview summarized @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/3SCG9lyLbv Sir Doge of the Coin (@dogeofficialceo) April 12, 2023 The summary of the interview.. pic.twitter.com/wEmUKGtcn5 Ibrahim AlQahtani (Engr. Ibra) (@IbrahimQahtani7) April 12, 2023 All this summed up with grills, trolls, and memes! Read all the Latest News here The official residence of the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has been forced to shut down since 2022 making it uninhabitable due to rodent infestation. The residence, which has hosted the countrys prime ministers for more than 70 years, is now empty and full of ageing electrical wiring and rusted water pipes, BBC reported. The local government said that the house faces many problems including drafty windows that let in cold air, no central air conditioning and a fire trap rife with asbestos. The Canadian PMs official house, unlike the White House or 10 Downing Street, has been in despair since 2015 and nears catastrophic collapse". However, the biggest problem, the authorities said was the buildings mouse issue which caused additional problems". The estimated cost to fix the property now stands at more than $26 million. There is an important rodent infestation, which cant be fully addressed until the building envelope issues are resolved, the document read. There were so many dead mice trapped behind the walls and heaped in the basement that the officials had to shut down the building. The buildings interior walls contain hazardous asbestos and cannot be removed until a remediation plan is in place, The Guardian reported. Moreover, the masses of decomposing mice and excrement had led to real concerns with air quality within the residence. The house has been vacant since 2015 and the restoration work would not be an inexpensive affair. The house, with 34 rooms spanning in an area of 12,000 square-foot, was once Justin Trudeaus childhood home. The Canadian Prime Minister used to live with his father, Pierre Elliott Trudeau, when he served as the prime minister. The house once hosted prominent guests including John F Kennedy, Princess Diana and Mikhail Gorbachev. Read all the Latest News here A supreme court judge in China has been jailed for 12 years for accepting bribes worth 22.7 million yuan (USD 3.3 million) over two decades. Judge Meng Xiang, a former director of the Supreme Peoples Courts enforcement bureau and member of its trial committee, was also fined two million yuan after he admitted accepting bribes between 2003 and 2020, the intermediate peoples court in Zhengzhou city announced on Tuesday. The court said Meng had used his status and power to accept bribes in exchange for helping others with matters such as court rulings and law enforcement, securing construction contracts for firms and influencing cadre selection, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Wednesday. Meng, 58, was placed under investigation two years ago as part of a self-rectification campaign targeting judicial and land enforcement officials, the report said. He had worked in the countrys justice system for more than three decades, starting as a clerk in a local district court in Beijing. As he rose through the ranks he held various leadership positions in the judicial system, including the high peoples court in Beijing. While Mengs case highlights the corruption in the higher echelons of Chinas judiciary, Zhou Qiang, a former chief justice, said during the annual meeting of the legislature last month that 61 officials from the supreme court which comprises hundreds of judges and administrative officials had been placed under investigation and punished over the past five years. Mengs role as a member of the supreme courts trial committee a group of high-ranking officials selected by the National Peoples Congress, the countrys legislature meant he was involved in discussions about complex and important cases, the report said. He was made director of the enforcement bureau in 2016 a role that meant he was responsible for helping to maintain the smooth operation of the justice system. The bureau enforces court orders, handles disputes involving the execution of judgments across different regions or provinces and reviews appeals relating to those judgments. The verdict said Meng had been given a lighter sentence because he had expressed remorse and confessed to bribery offences the authorities had not previously known about. All his illegal earnings will be confiscated, and any interest accrued will be handed over to the national treasury, the Post report said. Read all the Latest News here At least 133 people, including women and children, were killed in the air strike on a village in Myanmar carried out by the military Junta on Tuesday. The death toll from the strike, one of the deadliest attacks in recent years, remained unclear as reports estimated the fatalities to be over 100. However, a report in CNN quoting the human rights minister Aung Myo Min, said 133 people, including women and children, were killed in the strike. The death toll also includes 20 children while 50 more people were injured in the strike. The strike was carried out on Tuesday morning in the remote Kantbalu township in Sagaing region, where around 300 people had gathered in Pazigyi Village to celebrate the opening of a local administration office. The military junta confirmed that it had launched limited air strikes" after receiving a tip-off from locals about the event. It said that some of the dead were anti-coup fighters in uniform while acknowledging there could be some people with civilian clothes." The strike by the military junta received international condemnation with several nations and international agencies criticising the Myanmar military. UN rights chief Volker Turk said he was horrified" by the deadly air strike, whose victims he said included schoolchildren performing dances, with the global body calling for those responsible to be brought to justice. Frances foreign ministry said that the abominable" strike demonstrated the strategy of indiscriminate violence the Myanmar junta has inflicted on Myanmars people for more than two years". The US also denounced the reprehensible" attack. Following a coup that toppled Aung San Suu Kyis civilian government in 2021, the militarys crackdown on dissent and armed groups opposed to their rule has left more than 3,200 people dead, according to a local monitoring group. The military, which accuses anti-coup fighters of being terrorists, has faced international condemnation for razing villages, mass killings and air strikes on civilians. Read all the Latest News here US President Joe Biden on Wednesday began a nostalgia-filled tour of the Republic of Ireland, jetting in from Northern Ireland where he pushed for an end to political paralysis in the British province. Biden emerged from Air Force One at Dublin airport to driving wind and rain, and was greeted by the Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar and a sea of black umbrellas. The 80-year-old president calls Ireland part of my soul", and his visit includes trips to the hometowns of his 19th-century ancestors. On the first such trip out of Dublin, to Carlingford Castle near Northern Ireland, Biden said: It feels wonderful! Feels like Im coming home." He went on to visit an ice cream shop and a pub in the town of Dundalk near Carlingford Castle, where he staged a walkabout. Distant cousins from his mothers Irish side of the family were present in Dundalks Windsor Bar, where Biden said emigres like their forebears had brought courage and hope" to America. All together we have to continue working towards a future thats of greater dignity, as we face darkness," the Democrat said, ahead of a potential election rematch next year against Republican Donald Trump. Keep the peace Biden will also meet Irish head of state Michael Higgins and address a joint sitting of both houses of the Oireachtas the Irish parliament on Thursday before heading home late Friday. Despite the sentimental nature of his trip, Biden was keen to underscore its seriousness. The priority, he said, was to keep the peace" in Northern Ireland, 25 years after a landmark peace agreement that ended three decades of deadly sectarian violence over British rule. He used a speech at a new campus of Ulster University in Belfast earlier on Wednesday to promote the benefits of enduring peace and investment, but faced heated criticism from pro-UK hardliners. I hope the (Northern Ireland) Executive and Assembly will soon be restored," Biden said, urging feuding leaders to restore the power-sharing government which has been suspended since February last year. Anti-British? Biden touted the unlimited possibilities" for investment and growth offered in Northern Ireland, 25 years on from the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement. The president also met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who said the UKs relationship with the United States was in great shape". But senior figures in the pro-UK Democratic Unionist Party (DUP), which is under pressure to resume local power-sharing, were strikingly undiplomatic about the president. Sammy Wilson, a DUP member of the UK parliament in Westminster, branded Biden anti-British", accusing the second Catholic US president of having made his antipathy towards Protestants in particular very well known". DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson, who was among local leaders to greet Biden, said the visit doesnt change the political dynamic in Northern Ireland". Other senior party figures said Bidens love affair with the Republic made him unfit to comment about affairs north of the border. Power-sharing government is a key plank of the 1998 peace accord, but it collapsed 14 months ago over the DUPs opposition to post-Brexit trade arrangements in Northern Ireland. Despite the UK and the European Union agreeing to overhaul the trading rules earlier this year, the DUP is yet to back them, and allow the restoration of Belfasts Stormont legislature. Security fears The White House hit back at the claims that Biden is anti-British". The president has been very actively engaged throughout his career, dating back to when he was a senator, in the peace process in Northern Ireland," said Amanda Sloat, National Security Council senior director for Europe. Sectarian violence remains a concern north of the border. On Monday, masked youths pelted police vehicles with petrol bombs during an illegal march by hardline nationalists in Londonderry, which is also known as Derry. Police in Northern Ireland on Tuesday said that four suspected pipe bombs had been retrieved from a cemetery in the Creggan area of the city. Biden brushed off any security concerns and saw up close how much redevelopment has transformed Belfast since 1998. The dividends of peace are all around us," he said at the new university campus, whose glass frontage would have been dangerously impractical in the days when the city centre was constantly being bombed by anti-British militants. Read all the Latest News here US President Joe Biden on Thursday declared Im home" as he was feted on a visit to his ancestral homeland Ireland, whose story he said proved the triumph of hope over despair. Gearing up for a potential election rematch against Donald Trump, the Irish-American Democrat dwelt on the success of Irish emigres in carving out a new life far from home. The United States and Ireland were joined in not just the hope but the conviction that better days lie ahead", he said in a speech to the Irish parliament, after his motorcade was cheered by large crowds in Dublin. Seeming to draw a firm contrast to some US Republicans dystopian vision for the future of America, Biden added: We have the power to build a better future." But, following a testy visit to Belfast prior to Dublin, Biden also issued a pointed warning that the UK should be working closer with Ireland" to protect a 25-year-old peace deal in Northern Ireland. Political violence must never again be allowed to take hold in this island," he said to warm applause from the Irish audience, which included veteran nationalist leader Gerry Adams. Adams, still a hate figure for many pro-UK unionists in Northern Ireland, hugged Biden after the speech, likely adding fuel to the unionists fire after their former leader Arlene Foster said that Biden hates the United Kingdom". The White House pushed back strongly at that, and Irish Taoiseach (prime minister) Leo Varadkar said after meeting Biden in Dublin that the president was keen to be supportive in any way that he can" to uphold the peace in Northern Ireland. Biden backed efforts by the UK and Irish governments to end a unionist boycott of the devolved Belfast legislature, but doesnt want to be overbearing or interfering either", Varadkar said. - Gaffe - Biden, who is only the second Catholic president in US history, earlier met Irish head of state Michael Higgins at his official residence. Watched by fellow octogenarian Higgins, Biden tapped into his Irish roots for his message in the official guest book. As the Irish saying goes, your feet will bring you to where your heart is," he said he wrote, joking that he was going to stay in Ireland. In parliament, he switched briefly from English to Irish, telling lawmakers and dignitaries: Im home." Biden also took the opportunity to correct a gaffe that has gone viral, this time congratulating Irelands rugby team on beating New Zealands all-conquering All Blacks last year. The night before, he said the Irish team had beaten the Black and Tans", a notorious police force set up by the British to quell Irish independence fighters. Biden was the fourth president to address the Oireachtas (Irish parliament) after John F. Kennedy, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton. The parliament building, Leinster House, was built by Kennedys aristocratic forebears, the Fitzgeralds. - Roots - Bidens own roots in Ireland were far more humble. Some of his forebears fled famine under British rule and congregated in hardscrabble Scranton, Pennsylvania. The Speaker of the Dail lower house, Sean OFearghail, told Biden: Today, you are amongst friends because you are one of us." Biden last met Varadkar in March in Washington for Irelands St Patricks Day celebrations, when the White House fountain ran emerald green. Varadkar returned the favour with a banquet late Thursday in Bidens honour at Dublin Castle, the ancient seat of English and then British rule in Ireland. Toasting Biden, the Irish premier reflected on the 25 years of peace in Northern Ireland since the Good Friday Agreement was signed in April 1998, after round-the-clock US mediation. Our mission now must be to keep this promise and honour the sacrifices that have been made by so many from across all communities in Northern Ireland and beyond," Varadkar said. Before jetting home on Friday, Biden will head to Ballina in County Mayo, northwestern Ireland, another jumping-off point for ancestors who emigrated to Pennsylvania. He still counts relatives living in the area, including Joe Blewitt, a third cousin, who works as a plumber. Its emotional, its a very proud day for our family and for Ireland," Blewitt, 43, told AFP. Ballinas very special to him." Read all the Latest News here The cleric who solemnised former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans wedding with Bushra Bibi has said that the marriage ceremony was not conducted in accordance with Islamic Sharia law. Mufti Saeed, the cleric who solemnised the Nikkah, has claimed that the initial ceremony was not conducted as per the Sharia law as the marriage occurred during the iddat period of Bushra Bibi. The iddat period is a waiting period that a Muslim woman must observe after the death of her husband or dissolution of the marriage. During the iddat period a woman goes into isolation and cannot remarry, The Express Tribune reported. The controversy surrounding Imran Khan erupted when the cleric made the statement during a recent court hearing in Islamabad related to alleged un-Islamic Nikah of the former PM with Bushra Riaz Wattoo. Imran Khan contacted me on phone on January 2018. At that time I had good ties with Imran Khan and I was a member of his core committee Imran Khan asked me to solemnise his nikkah with Bushra Bibi, Mufti Saeed said as he appeared before the court. Imran Khan married Bushra Bibi in February 2018. Mufti Saeed, 62, said he used to have a good relationship with Imran Khan and was a part of his core committee. He claimed that he was taken by Imran Khan to Lahores residence to officiate the Nikah. Saeed further said that a women, claiming to be Bushra Bibis sister, assured him that all requirements for the marriage under the Shariah were complete. He added that he solemnised the Nikah between Imran Khan and Bushra Bibi on January 1, 2018 after the womans assurance. The two began living together in Islamabad following the wedding. However, the cleric claimed that he was one against contacted by Imran Khan to solemnise the Nikah again as Bushra Bibis iddat period was not complete during the first Nikah. Then the former premier contacted me again on February 2018 and requested me to solemnise his Nikah with Bushra Bibi again as the first time it was against the Shariah, Mufti Saeed claimed. The cleric, quoting the PTI chief, said that Bushra Bibi had been divorced on November 2017 and that there was a prediction that Khan will become the prime minister if he marries her. He added that the first Nikah was illegal which had been solemnised based on the prediction. The matter was brought to light after a petition was filed by one Muhammad Hanif, a citizen of Pakistan. The cleric claimed that the petitioner Hanif had approached him last month on the fourth day of Ramazan and inquired about the Imran Khans marriage, to which he revealed the details. Before Bushra Bibi, Imran Khan was married to Jemima Goldsmith and Reham Khan. Read all the Latest News here Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida on Thursday said that a missile launched by North Korea, that prompted Hokkaido residents to take shelter, did not fall in Japanese territory", an AFP report said. Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said that the projectile, which was likely to be an ICBM-class ballistic missile, sharply angled eastwards" also did not appear to have fallen in Japans economic waters. Japans government had urged Hokkaido residents to take shelter on Thursday morning after the missile launch. Evacuate immediately. Evacuate immediately," the government said in an initial warning, telling residents of Hokkaido to take shelter in a building or underground. The missile, suspected to be intermediate-range or longer, was fired at 7:23 am (2223 GMT on Wednesday) from near Pyongyang, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said. Japans coast guard said the missile was believed to have landed. It did not give exact details of where, but said there was no longer a possibility" it would fall near Hokkaido. The South Korean military said it was on high alert and maintaining readiness posture in close coordination with the US. Pyongyang has opened the year with a flurry of weapons tests, including what its state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones and the launch of two intercontinental ballistic missiles. North Korea has claimed to have conducted three tests of underwater drones known as Haeil, which means tsunami in Korean in less than three weeks so far. Read all the Latest News here Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday informed the lawmakers that the Parliament would be briefed on April 14 in-camera on the matters of national security. The Prime Minister said this in response to a point raised by a parliamentarian from the Waziristan tribal region, days after the National Security Committee decided to launch a fresh operation to rid the country of militancy. Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the parliamentarians would also be able to put questions on the relevant subject and the reservations of lawmakers from the tribal region would be listened to and responded positively to satisfy his concerns. This will be a healthy interaction, the prime minister said. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also speaking on the floor of the National Assembly said that the military leadership would brief parliament regarding the states policy on countering militancy, stating that the security establishment was cognisant of the prevailing situation. Earlier, Ali Wazir from the tribal region said that the countrys current policy regarding militancy needed to be reviewed. I appeal to the incumbent government that those responsible for the rise in terrorism () those who brought these militants into Pakistan should be punished, he said. Until and unless these people are punished, we wont allow the new operation to commence, he said. Another tribal lawmaker, Mohsin Dawar, said that operations were conducted in the past but none of them was successful in eliminating terrorism. This is because you are confused. There is no clarity in your policy. You send mixed signals, he said. The Pakistan tribal region lies along the volatile Afghan border and it has been badly hit due to fighting between the security forces and militants. The tribal people and their representatives are apprehensive that any new operation would catch them in the crossfire. Read all the Latest News here Its time to return to normal Medicaid enrollment operations after the three-year COVID-19 public health emergency prevented states from dis-enrolling people despite changes in income or family size. Coined the Medicaid Unwinding, its estimated that about 6.8 million Americans will mistakenly fall off Medicaid over the next year despite remaining eligible for benefits, according to the Office of Health Policy. As for Montana, experts are skeptical that the state health department is equipped to handle the massive increase in Medicaid redeterminations. Between pandemic staffing shortages, opting for a shorter unwinding timeline and traditionally slow responses to Medicaid applicants, its expected that many eligible Montanans will fall off due to error or an unreturned renewal packet. The most at risk of mistakenly losing health insurance are people with substance use disorders or mental health conditions. Anyone who is couch surfing will likely miss their renewal packet in the mail. Unstable addresses and phone numbers put people at risk of falling through the cracks. The first round of Medicaid renewal packets were sent out April 1. Health department workers are reviewing tax filings and other documents to see if the enrollee is still eligible for benefits or if they will need to sign up for subsidized health insurance on the Healthcare Marketplace. With the State of Montana electing to finish the 322,000 redetermination in 10 to 12 months rather than the 12 to 14 months allowed by the federal government, its important for enrollees to be proactive throughout the Medicaid Unwinding. First steps Scooter Gates, a care manager at RiverStone Health started scouring medical records in early March to identify Medicaid patients. When shed find someone with a phone number listed, she made the call. When the number successfully connected her to the patient its not uncommon to find their phone number had changed Gates tried to explain the changes that were on the horizon. Its hard to explain it to people. Its confusing, but individuals need to take the initiative, Gates said. The first, vital step is to update addresses and contact information with the Office of Public Assistance (OPA). Care managers or other enrollment assistance groups, like Cover Montana, can help make these updates when theyre contacted. The address listed is where the health department will send renewal information, and, if the documents arent returned in a timely manner, text and email reminders will be sent. By making an account on apply.mt.gov the website will que individuals of their redetermination date, according to Olivia Riutta with Cover Montana. Opening mail as soon as possible will also be important. Medicaid recipients will only have 30 days to return their packet with all the supporting documents. When no longer eligible for Medicaid, consumers can purchase health insurance plans on the insurance marketplace at HealthCare.gov. Income-based subsidies that make coverage more affordable are also available. Riutta and others encouraged people to call Cover Montana or other enrollment assistance groups with questions. These assistance teams plan on bolstering their forces as the redeterminations ramp up. We shouldnt underestimate how much work there is. We need to make sure that people understand the process, said Riutta. We anticipate talking to people more than once, and thats good. It increases the chance theyll make it through. Likelihood of error An estimated 71,000 Montanans will fall off Medicaid by January 2024 a 24% decline in enrollment from March, according to a study conducted by health policy researchers at George Washington University in D.C. There was no estimate listed for how many discontinuations will occur due to error, but administrative staff havent processed renewals since 2020, increasing the risk for procedural mistakes and delays. To help with redeterminations, the state health department contracted with a company out of Boston called Public Consulting Group in November 2022. The contract, costing over $200,000 up front, will have additional charges of $49.53 per case and is set to expire July 31. The company has national reach, and will experience a massive increase in workload that could overburden the system. The states proposed plan for the unwinding is untested, and its unclear if theyre prepared for the surge in workload, said Leighton Ku, director of the Center of Health Policy Research and participated in the study. Jon Ebelt, communications director for the state health department, said that in preparation for the unwinding, 73,000 text messages were sent out to households most likely to have new mailing addresses and encouraged them to update their information on apply.mt.gov. New legislation Adding to the confusion is the end of continuous eligibility, which keeps people enrolled in Medicaid for a full 12 months regardless of changes in circumstances, for the first time since Montana adopted Medicaid Expansion in 2015. On this front, Montana is taking a step backwards. At the last legislative session in 2021, when Medicaid Expansion was up for renewal, lawmakers opted to rescind continuous eligibility while other states are just starting to embrace the 12-month enrollment. Now, a sudden increase in income could bump people off Medicaid, creating issues for those who pick up more hours during the holidays, or when a manger asks an employee to cover for another sick coworker. Ultimately, continuous eligibility is a tool to reduce churn, the processing and reprocessing of Medicaid enrollees whose income fluctuates. There are multiple things happen at the same time, and its confusing. Were requiring people to do a lot. People need help understanding whats being asked of them, Riutta said. Pakistan will supply Ukraine with 230 containers of military equipment in a bid to arm the nation against Russian aggression, a report has said. The bolstering of ties between Kyiv and Islamabad comes even as Pakistan seeks Russian assistance to upgrade its weapons. Islamabad will send the 230 defence containers to Ukraine from the Karachi port this month, a report in The Economic Times said. It further said that the defence items will be shipped on two ships MV Bokram and MV Kherson. However, there were no further details on the specifications of the defence supply to Ukraine. The vessel transferring the weapons from Pakistan to Ukraine are using the US and European flags, while their main entry points into Europe is through ports in Poland and Germany. The transfer of weapons by Islamabad comes even as Pakistan is seeking Russian help to upgrade its aircraft engines. The country also hopes to get discounted oil from Russia this month. Islamabads supply of weapons to Kyiv comes as Ukraines First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzhaparova up her three-day visit to India on Wednesday and said it is important to have India on Zelenskyys peace formula. The report also said that Ukraine-Pakistan-China had created a nexus to share missile technology among themselves. Earlier in 2021, Islamabad was keen to purchase an anti-tank guided missile (ATGM) system from Ukraine. Pakistan has established itself as a major supplier of weapons and defence equipment to Ukraine in exchange for Western aid. Earlier in January, reports said Pakistan sent a consignment of weapons and ammunition to Ukraine. The massive consignments, having 159 containers, included 155mm artillery shells, M4A2 propelling bag charges, M82 primers and PDM fuses. The weapons were sent to Kyiv through Poland in a ship named BBC Vesuvius. Last year, Britain supplied weapons and ammunition to Ukraine via Romania using Pakistan as an air bridge. Read all the Latest News here Saudi Arabia hosted landmark delegations from Iran and Syria on Wednesday as Gulf countries prepare for re-establishing diplomatic ties after years of bitter divisions. Only hours after Iranian state media said a delegation had touched down in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia announced the arrival of Syrias foreign minister in Jeddah the first such trip since the countrys civil war broke out in 2011. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad met with his Saudi counterpart and discussed the necessary steps to achieve a complete political settlement to the Syrian crisis", the Saudi foreign ministry said in a statement. The aim is to achieve a national reconciliation and bring back Syria to its Arab fold and resume its natural role in the Arab world", the statement said. The two diplomats also confirmed that steps would be take to resume consular services, and also announced plans to resume flights between their countries. With Irans president also expected in Saudi soon, and the Saudis negotiating with Yemens Huthi rebels this week in an attempt to end fighting there, optimism has blossomed for the turbulent Gulf region during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. Iranians and Syrians are in Saudi Arabia on the same day. Thats totally crazy and was inconceivable a few months ago," a Riyadh-based Arab diplomat told AFP. On Friday, representatives of nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah to discuss letting Syrian President Bashar al-Assads long-isolated country attend an Arab League summit next month. Before then, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad will meet his Saudi counterpart to discuss efforts to reach a political solution to the Syrian crisis that preserves the unity, security and stability of Syria", the Saudi foreign ministry said. - Diplomatic flurry - Earlier, Tehran announced the arrival of the Iranian delegation in Riyadh to pave the way for reopening diplomatic missions, seven years after an acrimonious break in ties. The visit comes after a Saudi delegation made a similar trip to Irans capital, and follows a historic meeting in China between the two governments foreign ministers who vowed to bring stability to the troubled region. The Iranian delegation will take the necessary steps to reopen the embassy in Riyadh and the consulate general in Jeddah as well as the activities of Irans permanent representative in the (Jeddah-based) Organisation of Islamic Cooperation," Irans foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanani said in a statement. Irans President Ebrahim Raisi has been invited to Saudi Arabia, according to Tehran. It would be the first trip by an Iranian president to Saudi Arabia since Mahmoud Ahmadinejad attended a regional meeting in Mecca in 2012. The flurry of diplomatic activity follows last months landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement that Iran and Saudi Arabia, who have backed opposing sides in conflicts around the Middle East, would work towards resuming ties. Riyadh broke off relations in 2016 after Iranian protesters attacked Saudi diplomatic missions following the execution of Saudi Shiite cleric Nimr al-Nimr one in a series of flashpoints between the long-time foes. Since the March 10 announcement, the two countries foreign ministers have met in China and a Saudi technical delegation met Irans chief of protocol in Tehran last week, according to the official Saudi Press Agency. The Saudi delegation, which arrived in Tehran on Saturday, is due to fly on to Irans second city Mashhad on Thursday, Kanani said. - Yemen truce talks - As the contacts grow, Saudi Arabia is also negotiating with Yemens Iran-backed Huthi rebels, eight years after launching a military intervention aimed at dislodging them from power in its impoverished neighbour. Saudi ambassador Mohammed Al-Jaber travelled to Sanaa, Yemens rebel-held capital, this week hoping to stabilise" a lapsed truce and work towards a comprehensive political solution" between the Huthis and the ousted government. Saudi Arabia gathered a multinational coalition to fight the Huthis in 2015, after the rebels took control of Sanaa and large swathes of the country, forcing the government to flee. Yemen has become a major battleground and the two countries also vie for influence in Syria, Iraq and Lebanon. Analysts say Saudi Arabia, the worlds biggest oil exporter, now wants to exit the eight-year war to focus on domestic projects aimed at diversifying its energy-dependent economy. Washington has cautiously welcomed the rapprochement between the Saudis and US adversary Iran despite the role of China, which it sees as its biggest global challenger. Read all the Latest News here South Koreas top court ruled Thursday that Google must disclose details of any personal information of South Korean nationals that it had shared with third parties, sending the case back to a lower court. The ruling comes in response to a 2014 lawsuit filed by a group of activists against the global tech giant and its local unit, Google Korea, demanding it disclose how their personal information was handled. The plaintiff alleged Google had shared the private information of its users including some in South Korea with the American governments Prism" intelligence programme, the Yonhap news agency reported. An appeals court had earlier partially sided with the plaintiffs but ruled Google had the right to reject the demand in accordance with US laws. The case has now gone back to the high court for retrial, where the apex courts decision on this aspect of the case will be binding. The Supreme Court said Thursday that Googles obligation to abide by US laws does not legitimise" its practice in South Korea. Under South Korean law, online service providers must comply with individual users requests and provide records of whether and how their personal data has been shared with a third party. Comprehensive consideration should be given to whether the need to respect foreign laws is significantly superior to the need to protect personal information," read the court statement. Google will carefully review" the court statement, Yonhap news agency cited a company spokesperson as saying. Read all the Latest News here Multiple US media sources have reported that Jack Teixeira, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested on Thursday in connection with the leak of classified documents. Teixeira was allegedly responsible for managing a group called Thug Shaker Central on a popular gamer website Discord, where over 100 classified documents, including information on Ukraine and intelligence gathered from spying on allies, were shared. ABC News reported that the FBI made a probable cause" arrest of a man identified by authorities as a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. US media aired footage from North Dighton, Massachusetts showing the detainee in shorts with his hands behind his back and being placed by agents into an unmarked vehicle. The New York Times was the first to identify Teixeira ahead of his arrest Thursday as the leader of the group where a trove of classified documents was posted. The newspaper identified him as Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. Less than a week since news of highly classified military documents surfaced, US national security agencies and the Justice Department are probing the release to assess the damage to national security and relations with allies. On Thursday, President Joe Biden indicated that the US government was close to identifying the suspect. Theres a full-blown investigation going on, as you know, Biden said during a visit to Ireland. The intelligence community and the Justice Department. And theyre getting close. I dont have an answer for you. (With agency inputs) Read all the Latest News here As India and the UK are scheduled to hold the next round of trade talks on April 24, some top business leaders in both the countries are of the opinion that the political turmoil in the western nation has affected the agreement to a certain extent, but now with Rishi Sunak having taken over as the Prime Minister, things are expected to flow into smooth. In a exclusive interaction with CNN-News18, Global Chair of UK India Business Council (UKIBC) Richard Heald discussed the future scope of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between India and UK as the ninth round of bilateral are almost due. The FTA between two countries, which was charted out two years back under the guidance of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his then UK counterpart Boris Johnson have had several contentions being raised right from the change in the government at UK to the pro-Khalistani supporters targeting Indian High Commission in London. Business does not really have a stance on it, but it is unfortunate. The rule of law is supreme and we have enforce that in UK pretty seriously," said Heald. While businesses gear up and look forward to the next round of talks, PM Modi held a telephonic conversation with Sunak to review progress on a number of bilateral issues, particularly in trade and economic sectors. The political turmoil did not facilitate the progress, but once we are past that, the current regime is willing to take this forward," said Heald. In the ninth round of talks, the key focus on trade would be on the following sectors - food and beverage, defence, aero space and sustainable energy. Some aspects such as data, intellectual property, tariff elements are something that both the countries will have to work on. Because while businesses would function, somethings would require fine tuning by governments," Heald said, adding, FTA is more like a milestone in the journey on the way forward in the relationship between UK and India." Read all the Latest India News here External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday took a ride in a Made in India train during his visit to the capital of Mozambique and discussed with the Mozambican Transport minister about Indias partnership in helping expand the train networks electric mobility and waterways connectivity. Jaishankar arrived here in the capital of Mozambique on Thursday on a three-day visit and met the President of the African countrys Parliament to strengthen bilateral cooperation. His visit to Mozambique from April 13 to 15 is the first-ever visit by an external affairs minister of India to the country. A great green transport conversation with Mozambican Minister of Transport &Communication and Chairman, Mozambican Port & Rail Authority Mateus Magala. Talked about expanding train networks, electric mobility & waterways connectivity. India is a reliable partner in this regard, he tweeted. Took a ride in a Made in India train from Maputo to Machava with Mozambican Transport Minister Mateus Magala.Appreciate CMD RITES Rahul Mithal joining us on the journey. @AshwiniVaishnaw pic.twitter.com/NhfIGwGHQj Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 13, 2023 He also took a ride on a train manufactured in India. Took a ride in a Made in India train from Maputo to Machava with Mozambican Transport Minister Mateus Magala. Appreciate CMD RITES Rahul Mithal joining us on the journey, he tweeted. He also interacted with the Indian community and visited a temple. Offered my prayers at the Shree Vishvambhar Mahadev Mandir in Maputo this evening. So glad to interact with the Indian community there, he tweeted. Jaishankar arrived in Maputo from Uganda where he held talks with the countrys top leadership, including President Yoweri Museveni, and discussed possible cooperation in the areas of trade, infrastructure, energy and defence. Read all the Latest India News here UPDATE Apr 13, 2023 3:10 PM CDT New York City officially has a rat czar. Kathleen Corradi was named Wednesday as the city's first-ever director of rodent mitigationa well-paying gig. Corradi, who previously served as the Queens director of space planning in the city's education department, will earn $155,000 per year, Mayor Eric Adams said, per CNN. She'll coordinate city agencies in efforts to find "innovative ways to cut off rats food sources" and use "new technologies to detect and exterminate rat populations," according to the mayor's office. "The rats are going to hate Kathy, but we're excited to have her leading this important effort," added Adams. Corradi said "rats, and the conditions that help them thrive will no longer be toleratedno more dirty curbs, unmanaged spaces, or brazen burrowing." Dec 2, 2022 6:19 AM CST Now that New York City is required to reveal salaries in most of its job listings, there's one for $120,000 to $170,000 recently posted by Mayor Eric Adams' administration that might catch everyone's eyebut it's a "daunting" one, per the AP. The city is seeking a "director of rodent mitigation," aka a rat czar, to handle the Big Apple's longtime pest problem. Applicants for the high-paying gig need to have, as Liam Neeson might put it, a very particular set of skills. Yes, applicants must have at least a bachelor's degree; experience in urban planning, project management, government, or other related fields; and the usual organizational and tech proficiency many managers prefer, per the job posting. It adds that interested parties have to also be "somewhat bloodthirsty" and possess a "swashbuckling attitude, crafty humor, and general aura of badassery." Applicants must be "determined to look at all solutions from various angles," which in some cases might include "wholesale slaughter" of the pests described in the job post as "cunning, voracious, and prolific." The New York Times notes that the city already has a pest control office, as well as a rodent task force and "urban rodentologist" embedded in the city's Department of Health. However, Meera Joshi, the city's deputy mayor for operations, says there's no one that's been tasked with coordinating all of these efforts against the rats, which have long been an issue in the city. The mayor himself, who had a rat named Mickey for a pet when he was a kid, is said to have a deep-rooted, career-long "fixation" on the rodents, per the Times, which notes that before his first year in office is even completed, Adams has already made at least a half-dozen announcements related to getting rid of the city's rats. During his tenure as the president of the borough of Brooklyn, Adams once eagerly demonstrated use of a trap that lured rats into a bucket filled with a "toxic soup," leading to their drowning, per the AP. "There's nothing I hate more than rats," Adams said in a statement, per Gothamist, which first reported on the attention-grabbing job posting. "Getting our city clean and ridding our streets of these filthy creatures are key to our recovery." (Read more rats stories.) UPDATE Apr 12, 2023 6:07 PM CDT Sen. Dianne Feinstein hasn't returned to the Senate since she was hospitalized for shingles early last month and sources tell Politico that Democrats are starting to worry that the 89-year-old senator from California won't come back at all. Feinstein, the oldest sitting US senator, has been undergoing treatment in San Francisco and Politico's sources say the diagnosis appears to have taken a heavy toll on her. In February, Feinstein said she wouldn't seek another term in 2024, but she planned to serve the remainder of the current one. She has missed almost 60 votes since her diagnosis and in her absence, Democrats have been unable to advance President Biden's picks for the federal judiciary. Mar 3, 2023 12:00 AM CST Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the oldest sitting US senator, has been hospitalized for shingles. The 89-year-old California Democrat is receiving treatment in her hometown of San Francisco, and said in a statement that she expects to make a complete recovery and hopes to return to work in Washington, DC, later this month, Fox News reports. As CNN reports, with Democrats holding a slim 51-49 majority in the Senate and fellow Sen. John Fetterman also hospitalized currently, Feinstein's absence "could influence Democratic strategy." Typically, it's older people who had chicken pox (the varicella-zoster virus) in the past that develop shingles, which usually involves a painful rash that can last up to a month and sometimes causes nerve pain that lasts longer. Feinstein, who has been in office since 1992, is the longest-serving female senator of all time. She does not plan to run for re-election next year. (Read more Dianne Feinstein stories.) The Bureau of Land Management is assessing how to manage about 60,000 acres of land along the Blackfoot River that, although long open to public access, is only recently coming into public ownership. To better understand how the public would like the lands managed, the federal agency is conducting an ecosystem analysis at the watershed scale, often referred to as a watershed assessment. The agency is in an early listening phase of the process to understand the public's priorities for the landscape. The assessment isn't a project proposal there are no actions being proposed or analyzed but it could help guide the future development of projects proposed in years to come. The assessment covers 123,000 acres of land with a variety of ownership statuses on the northwest side of Highway 200, from about Angevine Park on the southwest to about Blanchard Creek on the northeast. The assessment area extends west to the Rattlesnake Wilderness and northwest to the Flathead Indian Reservation. It includes the drainages of West Twin Creek, East Twin Creek, Spring Creek, West Fork Gold Creek, Gold Creek, Belmont Creek and Burnt Creek. It encompasses the Ninemile Prairie area and, of course, the Blackfoot River from Highway 200 near Ninemile Prairie, downstream to Angevine Park. As recently as the mid-1990s, the BLM managed just 40 acres of public land within that area, which was then mostly timber lands owned by Plum Creek Timber Co. and Champion International Corp. From 19982000, the BLM acquired more than 10,000 acres of former timber lands with the assistance of The Nature Conservancy. Generally, The Nature Conservancy buys former timber lands and holds them while state or federal agencies secure funding to acquire the land and bring it into public ownership. That arrangement has allowed the BLM's footprint in the area to expand to its current size of about 43,000 acres. More acquisitions in the next couple years will bring BLM-administered lands in the area to a total of about 60,000 acres. The agency expects to have a draft assessment available for public review early this summer, and a final assessment out for review in December. After that, individual projects may be put forth in 2024 or beyond. But those proposals would be separate from this assessment and would have to undergo their own public process and environmental analysis through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). "Today is about listening, understanding the values and perspectives, the things we need to be listening to moving forward," Erin Carey, the BLM's Missoula Field Office manager, said at an open house the agency held in Missoula Tuesday afternoon. She said the goal is to find a balance of managing the landscape for things like high-use recreation, habitat preservation, historical and tribal treaty uses, and remote backcountry trails. Michael Albritton, the assistant field manager for Missoula and watershed assessment team lead, noted that the public had access to the land in question when it was timber land, but said, "These are new public lands. The public has been using these lands for generations, but they are new to public ownership and public management." There's already been a lot of management on the land not the least of which was extensive clear-cut logging and the roadbuilding it required. But before that, he noted, the ancestors of the present-day Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes lived on the landscape and managed it, in part with fire. Livestock grazing has long been present in the area, too. And recreation, especially on the river, is ubiquitous. The stretch of the Blackfoot in question is the setting for Norman Maclean's book "A River Runs Through It." Tuesday's public open house, and another that was scheduled for Bonner the following night, came after the Missoula Field Office held 50 listening sessions in late winter with a cross section of user groups in the area, from outdoor recreation groups to ranchers. Outdoor recreation, Albritton said, rose to the top of people's concerns: "We probably heard the most about this topic in general and that does not surprise me. A lot of time what ties us to a piece of land is where we hunt, where we ski, where we bike." But people's interest in recreation was varied, he said, with some wanting "high-quality front-country experiences" close to access points, and others seeking the quiet and solitude of areas managed more as backcountry. River use, winter sports, mountain biking, motorized recreation and hunting topped the list of recreation types people wanted to see supported, he said. And people wanted to see the dense network of old logging roads on the landscape improved for recreation access. But there are also public concerns that the area constitutes a "really important landscape for a lot of threatened and endangered species, like Canada lynx and grizzly, and bull trout critical habitat, said Claire Romanko, a Missoula Field Office hydrologist. She said the public expressed a desire for management "valuing wildlife as its own standalone resource." A half-dozen states announced a settlement Wednesday with Juul, which they accused of designing the marketing for its addictive e-cigarettes to appeal to underage young people. The states' attorneys general said the company agreed to pay out $462 million, the Hill reports, without conceding it did anything wrong. Juul has now settled suits filed by 45 states for more than $1 billion. The deal announced Wednesday is the largest multistate settlement so far, the officials said. It was reached with California, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, New York, and Massachusetts, as well as the District of Columbia. "There is no doubt that Juul played a central role in the vaping epidemic today," New York Attorney General Letitia James said, per CNBC. "Juul is paying for widespread harm caused and will undergo severe restrictions on its marketing and sales practices." The restrictions include imposing limits on Juul's sales and marketing abilities. The company's products will have to be kept behind counters in retail stores, and buyers' ages will have to be verified. Juul said that since it changed its marketing practices in 2019, use of its products by people under 18 has dropped 95%, per Reuters. The company said it's close to resolving all such legal battles. Several of the states said their share of the money will support vaping addiction programs. (Read more Juul stories.) President Biden returned Wednesday to his ancestral home of Ireland, where he was greeted by thousands of cheering people who lined up four and five deep and endured an hourslong wait in the cold rain in hopes of getting a glimpse, a photo, or even the slightest touch from him. In the town of Dundalk, County Louth's most famous descendant declared: "I don't know why the hell my ancestors left here. It's beautiful." Biden's mother's family comes from this corner of Ireland, and he appeared overjoyed to take a break from Washington's grind to dive into his Irish heritage, which he often cites as a driving force in his public and private life, the AP reports. The buoyant president popped into several shops and restaurants in Dundalk's town square, and he stretched over barricades to shake hands, make small talk and pose for pictures. Biden toured a food hall and later met up with some of his cousins at a pub. Biden is spending three days in Ireland on his first visit back as president, with plans to meet with Ireland's leaders, address the parliament in Dublin and attend a gala dinner on Thursday, then visit County Mayo, another ancestral area on the west coast of Ireland, on Friday before he flies back to Washington. Ireland's prime minister greeted Biden on Wednesday after he landed at the airport in Dublin. Earlier Wednesday, Biden marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland. The US-brokered deal brought peace to an area of the United Kingdom where years of sectarian violence known as "the Troubles" left some 3,600 people killed in bombings and other attacks. "The enemies of peace will not prevail," Biden said. "Northern Ireland will not go back, pray God." In his speech at Ulster University's new campus in Belfast, Biden dangled the prospect of more American investment to help fuel economic growthespecially if Belfast's fractious politicians resolve a stalemate that has put their government on pause, reports the AP. "The simple truth is that peace and economic opportunity go together," Biden said. He urged all political parties to get back to work, saying that "democracy needs champions" and that Northern Ireland's future is in their hands. (Read more President Biden stories.) The official residence of Canada's prime ministera 155-year-old, four-floor, 35-room mansion at 24 Sussex Drive in Ottawahas been vacant since 2015. When Justin Trudeau came into office that year, he opted to move his family into a smaller, two-floor, 22-room home on the grounds of Rideau Hall, the official residence of the governor general. And it's no wonder why. Documents from the National Capital Commission, obtained by the National Post, show the mansion to be a health hazard, with asbestos, mold, rusty water pipes, old electrical wiring that presents a fire risk, and a rodent infestation that "leaves us with excrements and carcasses between the walls and in the attic and basement spaces." Meals for the prime minister and his family were still prepared in the mansion's kitchens up until November, when the decision was made to close the residence so workers could remove hazards and replace obsolete mechanical, heating, and electrical systems this spring, per the Post. But the long-term future of the building is unclear. There are ongoing discussions as to whether the mansion should be renovated, another home for the prime minister purchased, or a new one built from the ground up. In 2021, the NCC estimated it would cost about $27 million to get 24 Sussex Drive in "good condition." But for that price, you could "buy all 10 of the most expensive homes currently for sale in the Ottawa area," the Post points out. The last major renovations were completed in 1951, per the BBC. In the ensuing decades, prime ministers faced hard questions about their use of taxpayer funds for home upgrades. Opponents cast Pierre Elliott Trudeau's updates to the kitchen and security as "lavish," while Brian Mulroney endured a scandal over closets for his wife's shoes. "Politically, spending money on 24 Sussex became as toxic as the asbestos in its walls," the BBC notes. But the mood may now be changing. It's time to decide on a path forward, writes Globe and Mail columnist John Ibbitson, noting the "increasingly absurd embarrassment" of 24 Sussex Drive "does not speak well" of Canadians. "The longer the government waits, the higher the cost will be," he adds. (Read more Canada stories.) When she was 15, Juliet Hulme helped her best friend murder the other girl's mother. By the time she died at age 84 on Monday, she was Anne Perry, award-winning and best-selling author of dozens of crime novels. The New York Times traces her troubled and fascinating life: Born in London, she was sent to live with a foster family in the Bahamas at age 8, for health reasons, after developing tuberculosis. She reunited with her family, by then living in New Zealand, at age 13, and met Pauline Parker, developing a relationship she later described as obsessive, but not romantic or sexual. When Hulme's parents decided to divorce and send their teenage daughter to South Africa to live with an aunt, Hulme wanted Parker to come along, but Parker's mother, who wanted to see their intense friendship end, refused, the Los Angeles Times reports. The girls decided to murder Honorah Parker to avoid being separated, the Guardian reports. They beat her to death using a stocking-wrapped brick, and a sensational trial followed; they spent five years imprisoned and, upon their release, were ordered never to see each other again lest they return to prison for life. They also took on new identities, and Hulme became Perrythe surname of the man her mother married after divorcing her father. She started writing under that name, publishing her first novel in 1979 and going on to author multiple crime series, including a Victorian detective series and a series about a female English detective. Her past remained a secret until 1994, when Peter Jackson's Heavenly Creatures was releasedthe film was based on the grisly murder, and starred Kate Winslet as Hulme. A journalist figured out the connection. While Perry initially slammed Jackson and Fran Walsh, who co-wrote the screenplay with him, as "idiotic movie-makers whose movie painted a grotesque and distorted portrait" of her, she later recanted. She also acknowledged her guilt publicly, saying she was concerned if she didn't agree to the murder plan Parker might have taken her own life, but sometimes wondered how she should be judged. "Why cant I be judged for who I am now, not what I was then?" she asked in one interview. And in a documentary made about her, she noted, "Its in the end, Who am I? Am I somebody that can be trusted? Am I someone that is compassionate, gentle, patient, strong? ... If youre that kind of personif youve done something bad in the past, youve obviously changed. Its who you are when times up that matters. (Read more obituary stories.) There will be no federal charges regarding the mysterious death of an American woman in Mexico last year, US prosecutors told the family of Shanquella Robinson on Wednesday. "Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both US Attorneys Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms. Robinsons family today that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution," the feds said in a press release cited by CNN. Robinson, 25, of North Carolina, was on a trip with friends when she died; those friends initially reported to her family that she had suffered alcohol poisoning. But a Mexican death certificate listed her death as "accidental or violent," citing the cause as "severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation," or excessive movement in the uppermost neck vertebrae. Video also surfaced on social media showing Robinson being beaten inside a hotel room by another woman as other people looked on; it's not clear whether anyone intervened, what led up to the altercation, or whether it was related to Robinson's death. But Mexican authorities ended up declaring Robinson's death a femicide and issuing an arrest warrant for one of Robinson's female traveling companions, identified by Fox News and other outlets as Daejhanae Jackson. Mexico issued an extradition request for her, but it's not clear whether the US is cooperating. On receiving the news that no federal charges would be brought in the case, Robinson's family says it is "very deeply disappointed" but "not deterred" and will continue to fight for justice, according to their lawyer. "Black and brown people always have to carve their own path to justice," their lawyer said at a press conference. She added, per BuzzFeed News, "United States citizens cannot go to Mexico, commit a crime that we all saw on a video, and then come back to America and say, Were on base. Were safe. Were not going to be charged with a crime.' That cannot be the message that the US authorities want to send." Also complicating matters is the fact that an autopsy conducted in the US after Robinson had already been embalmed and brought back home found swelling on the brain, but no spinal cord injury. The cause of death was undetermined. The family lawyer criticized the "delay" in the US investigating Robinson's death properly. (Read more Mexico stories.) Florida executed a man known as the ninja killer on Wednesday for the 1989 slayings of a couple visiting the state from New Jersey, the AP reports. Louis Bernard Gaskin, 56, was pronounced dead at 6:15pm after receiving a lethal injection, the governors office said. He was convicted of killing Robert Sturmfels, 56, and Georgette Sturmfels, 55, on Dec. 20, 1989, in their Flagler County winter home on Floridas northeastern coast. Gaskin, whose last meal included BBQ pork ribs, pork and turkey neck, Buffalo wings, shrimp fried rice, french fries, and water, was visited by his sister Wednesday, but he did not meet with a spiritual adviser, a Department of Corrections spokesperson said. No relatives of the victims had arranged to be in the witness room during the execution, which was scheduled for 6pm and started without delay. When asked if he had any final statement, Gaskin said: Justice is not about the crime. Its not about the criminal. Its about the law. He then referred to the legal proceedings surrounding his case and the appeals and finished his statement saying, Look at my case. Gaskin, who was dubbed the ninja killer because he wore all-black ninja clothing during the crimes, shot his victims with a .22-caliber rifle, investigators said. He was convicted of first-degree murder. Items he stole from the Sturmfels homea clock, two lamps, and a videocassette recorderwere found at his residence and were intended to be Christmas gifts for his girlfriend, according to investigators. He was also convicted of armed robbery, burglary, and the attempted murder that same night of another couple who lived nearby. (Read more Florida stories.) The person who leaked classified military documents online is a gun enthusiast who works on a military base and shared secrets for months in a private Discord chatroom with around two dozen members, according to two members who spoke to the Washington Post. One member, who is under 18 and spoke to the Post on condition of anonymity, says the leaker was known as "OG" and was the undisputed leader of the "Thug Shaker Central" server. He says OG boasted of knowing secrets unavailable to the general public and started posting transcripts of classified documents last year. The member says that out of around 25 people with access to the server, about half were from overseas. The group was made of gamers, most of them teenagers, while OG is in his early to mid-20s, according to the member. The member describes it as a "tightknit family" made of people who felt isolated during the pandemic. The Post says it reviewed hundreds of documents, most of which have not been made public, along with recordings of a person the member identifies OG, including one in which he "yells a series of racial and antisemitic slurs" before firing at a shooting range target. The member says OG ranted about "government overreach" and saw the US government, especiably intelligence agencies, as a sinister force. He says OG didn't support either side in Russia's war on Ukraine, and titled the room in which he posted classified information "Bear vs Pig." The member says OG ranted about other users' lack of engagement with the classified information and, late last year, started posting photos of documents instead of transcripts. He says the members most interested in the material were from the "Eastern Bloc and those post-Soviet countries." He says another teen user started posting the information on another server in early March, though it would be weeks before authorities discovered the leak. "I would definitely not call him a whistleblower. I would not call OG a whistleblower in the slightest," says the member, whose account was supported by a second server member. Both members said they know OG's real name and state of residence but won't share that information with authorities. The first member says he has been in touch with OG in recent days and he seemed "distraught" and "very confused and lost as to what to do." (Read more leaked documents stories.) Disgraced former Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein has returned to the New York prison system after spending nearly two years in California, where he was tried and convicted of raping an Italian model. Weinstein, whose December 2022 conviction in Los Angeles followed his February 2020 New York conviction on rape and sexual assault charges, will be housed at the Mohawk Correctional Facility in Rome, New York, state prison officials said. Prior to being extradited to California in 2021, Weinstein was serving his New York sentence at the Wende Correctional Facility near Buffalo. Weinstein was flown back to New York on April 5. A spokesperson for the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision said the department chose to transfer Weinstein to the medium-security Mohawk facility after reviewing his treatment and program needs, the AP reports. Weinstein was sentenced to 23 years in prison on his New York conviction for rape and sexual assault against two women and another 16 years for his Los Angeles conviction. Weinstein has appealed his New York conviction to the Court of Appeals, the state's highest court. Prosecutors have until June 7 to file their response to his appeal after the deadline was moved from April 12, according to court records. His lawyers have said that the 71-year-old Weinstein suffers from health problems including cardiac issues, diabetes, sleep apnea, and eye problems. Weinstein's spokesperson Juda Engelmayer said Wednesday, "It was our expectation that he would have been returned to Wende CF where he was previously in protective custody and where all the doctors that treated his very serious medical ailments and diminishing eyesight are located." (Read more Harvey Weinstein stories.) Former President Trump is expected to sit for a second deposition Thursday as part of the New York attorney general's civil lawsuit against him and his children. Trump was seen arriving at Trump Tower in Manhattan late Wednesday and later confirmed he would meet with lawyers for attorney general Letitia James, who accuses Trump and his family of more than 200 fraudulent asset valuations over 10 years. Trump's first deposition in the case was on Aug. 10, though the former president only answered "a few procedural questions," invoking his right against self-incrimination more than 400 times, per the AP. He suggested he would be more forthcoming this time. "I will finally be able to show what a great, profitable, and valuable company I built, actually, some of the greatest real estate assets anywhere in the world," Trump wrote on Truth Social, per Reuters. He also attacked James as a "racist" and "lowlife," per the Daily Beast. Jameswho is seeking $250 million and to permanently ban the Trumps from operating businesses in New Yorkdeclined to answer a question about the deposition at a Wednesday news conference, per the AP. A trial in the case is set for October. (Read more Donald Trump stories.) A Russian man who fled the country after he was convicted of "discrediting" the country's military has been extradited from Belarus, a human rights group says. Alexei Moskalyov, 54, was arrested in Minsk last month, two days after he fled house arrest in Yefremov, south of Moscow. Hours after Moskalyov went on the run, he was sentenced to two years in a penal colony for posts he had made on social media criticizing the military and the invasion of Ukraine, the Guardian reports. Russian authorities started investigating the single father last year after his daughter, then 12 years old, refused to take part in a patriotic class at school and drew anti-war pictures, including one showing a rocket being fired at a Ukrainian family. Rights groups argued that Moskalyov was being punished not for the posts on social media, but for the drawings by his daughter, who was sent to an orphanage last month, Politico reports. The Kremlin childrens rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, said last week that the girl was now in the custody of her mother after initially refusing to live with her, per the Guardian. Moskalyov is expected to officially lose custody after another trial. (Read more Russia stories.) CNR: On April 12, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang visited Uzbekistan. Could you share more information with us? Wang Wenbin: On April 12, Uzbekistans President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Tashkent. State Councilor Qin also held talks with Uzbekistans Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Bakhtiyor Saidov. State Councilor Qin noted that President Xi Jinping and President Shavkat Mirziyoyev agreed on building a community with a shared future at the bilateral level and gave China-Uzbekistan relations a new characterization. Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the growth of China-Uzbekistan relations is presented with important opportunities. China will continue to work with Uzbekistan to firmly support each other on issues concerning each others core interests, make the pie of cooperation bigger, forge stronger synergy for the Belt and Road cooperation, cement the foundation of friendship between the two peoples and take bilateral relations to a new level. China supports Uzbekistan in advancing reform and development, opposes all external interference in Uzbekistans internal affairs, and stands ready to work closely with Uzbekistan to combat terrorism, separatism and extremism and jointly safeguard peace and tranquility of the two countries and the region. State Councilor Qin stressed that the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative proposed by President Xi have received extensive support from the international community. China stands ready to step up coordination with Uzbekistan to jointly advance the three initiatives and make China and Uzbekistans contributions to building a community with a shared future for mankind. China appreciates Uzbekistans contributions to the preparation of the fourth Meeting of Foreign Ministers among the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan and stands ready to work closely with Uzbekistan to make the meeting a success. The Uzbekekistani side noted that President Xis successful and historic visit to Uzbekistan last year elevated bilateral relations to an unprecedented level. The Uzbekistan-China comprehensive strategic partnership has grown more mature. Uzbekistan looks forward to deepening all-round cooperation with China and drawing on Chinas experience in governance such as poverty reduction. Uzbekistan will continue to fully support and actively participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, unswervingly abide by the one-China principle and jointly fight terrorism, separatism and extremism with China. The Uzbekistani side also noted that China takes an active part in global governance and makes important contributions to peace, progress, development and prosperity for humanity. Uzbekistan is willing to maintain close coordination with China on international and regional affairs and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. President Shavkat Mirziyoyev said he looks forward to attending the China-Central Asia Summit and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China. State Councilor Qin Gang expressed welcome for that. Reuters: Taiwan said China will set up a no-fly zone to the north of the Island of Taiwan on Sunday that will affect 33 flights. Has China notified neighboring countries and international airlines and vessels to avoid the area? Wang Wenbin: Id refer you to competent authorities for this question. Phoenix TV: It was reported that High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said on April 12 that he will postpone his visit to China after testing positive for COVID-19. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: The EU side has notified the Chinese side of the decision to postpone High Representative Borrells visit to China after he tested positive for COVID-19. We expressed our understanding and sent our warm thoughts to High Representative Borrell to wish him a speedy recovery. We welcome him to visit China at a time of mutual convenience. Yonhap News Agency: It was reported that the DPRK launched a new type of ballistic missile on April 13 in violation of UN Security Council resolutions. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, what is Chinas stance on this? Wang Wenbin: This round of tensions on the Korean Peninsula happened for a reason. The USs recent massive military drills near the Peninsula and its deployment of strategic weapons apparently had a negative impact. It is hoped that all parties will remain cool-headed, exercise restraint and stop the pressure and confrontation. The US in particular needs to act as soon as possible to address the legitimate concerns of the DPRK and create conditions for the early alleviation of tensions and resumption of dialogue. CCTV: On April 13, 2021, the Japanese government decided to discharge over one million tons of nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station into the ocean after filtering and dilution. This caused serious concern and strong opposition from the Japanese people as well as the international community. Now two years have passed, rather than canceling the decision, the Japanese government announced that it will start the discharge during spring or summer this year. The Japanese people have held several rallies recently to protest against the Japanese government pushing forward the discharge plan. What is your comment? Wang Wenbin: The unilateral decision of the Japanese government to discharge Fukushimas nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean in disregard of the global public interest will cause unpredictable risks of nuclear pollution to the global marine environment and human health. China has repeatedly expressed our grave concern and strong opposition. Twelve years ago, a devastating earthquake happened in Japan on March 11, which triggered a nuclear accident rated the highest level at the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power station. China and the rest of the world showed deep sympathy and provided prompt humanitarian assistance to the Japanese government and people. In April 2021, however, without either fully exploring all possible and safer options or fully consulting with neighboring countries, the Japanese government unilaterally decided to discharge the nuclear-contaminated water into the Pacific Ocean, a chilling move that would pass on the risk to the entire humanity. There is no precedent for discharging nuclear-contaminated water into the ocean. This discharge is different from the normal disposal of water from nuclear power stations because it contains dozens of radionuclides. For some of these radionuclides, no technologies have been publicly deemed effective for treating them. The nuclear-contaminated water in storage has already reached over 1.3 million tons, and more than 100 tons are added to the bulk every day. The discharge of such a large amount of water will last as long as 30 years or even longer. This will cause unpredictable hazards to the global marine environment and human health. Though Japan decided to dilute the radioactive substances in the nuclear-contaminated water, nothing has been done to control the total amount of radionuclides in it. Japan claims that the treated nuclear-contaminated water is safe and harmless, yet it refuses to discharge it into Japans inland rivers or use it for agricultural and industrial purposes as suggested by the Pacific island countries. This has essentially refuted Japans own claim about the safety of the nuclear-contaminated water. Over the past two years, the international community, including the Japanese people, have been calling out to the Japanese government for the shelving of the discharge plan. Regrettably, the Japanese government has stubbornly pushed forward the plan in total disregard of the concerns from the international community and its due international obligations, without offering a convincing explanation on the reliability of the treatment system or the uncertainty of environmental impact, and before the IAEA reaches a conclusion on the safety of the plan. This is beneath a responsible country and falls far short of what the international community expects of Japan. China once again urges Japan to face up to the concerns of the international community, step up to its due responsibilities, and earnestly perform its international obligations. It needs to seek a science-based, open, transparent and safe way to dispose of the nuclear-contaminated water, including duly studying other options than ocean discharge and fully subjecting itself to international oversight. Pending full consultation and consensus with neighboring countries and other stakeholders as well as relevant international agencies, Japan must not start the ocean discharge process. CCTV: It was reported that Japans Defense Ministry signed contracts worth $2.84 billion with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a new missile force. At the center of the plan is for Japan to obtain the capability of striking targets more than 1,000 km from Japan, so as to address the threat from China. Japan also plans to deploy hypersonic weapons by 2026, and develop submarine-launched hypersonic missiles with a range of 3,000 km by the early 2030s. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: This has come to our serious attention. China will closely follow the developments. In recent years, Japan has constantly hyped up the China threat narrative, repeatedly breached its commitments under the pacifist constitution and exclusively defense-oriented policy, greatly increased defense expenditure, developed offensive weapons, and sought strike capabilities against the enemy. Japan is moving further down the path of military expansion. This has sent out a dangerous message to countries in the region and the wider world that Japan is attempting to subvert the post-war international order. The international community needs to stay on high alert against this. We strongly urge the Japanese government to deeply reflect on the history of its aggression, earnestly respect the security concerns of its Asian neighbors, remain true to its exclusively defense-oriented policy, keep to the path of peaceful development, and act prudently on military and security issues. Kyodo News: In the past few days, we have seen a dust storm in Beijing. The dust has spread to Japan and affected the lives of Japanese people. Could you tell us what China is doing or will do in the future to deal with the dust storm? Wang Wenbin: In recent years, China has taken desertification control very seriously, and notable progress has been achieved through years of efforts. The areas of desertified and sandified land has shrunk for four consecutive monitoring periods. In recent years, dusty weathers have dropped significantly compared to the end of last century, and they have become weaker and less harmful. The repeated dusty weathers this year once again show that stepping up sand control, conducting multi-pronged science-based desertification control, enhancing ecological conservation and building a beautiful China remain uphill and long-term tasks that call for persistent and unremitting efforts. Chinas efforts to combat desertification and control air pollution have not only benefited our own people, but also contributed enormously to the air quality in Northeast Asia as a whole. China makes annual voluntary contribution to the budget of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and has taken concrete action to support collaboration on desertification control led by the UNCCD Secretariat. Through regional mechanisms including the Northeast Asia Desertification, Land Degradation and Drought Network, China has stepped up regional cooperation in Northeast Asia, actively promoted information-sharing on sandstorm monitoring technology and early warning, and shared sand and dust prevention and control experience, practices and technologies with other countries. In the future, China will continue to implement well its national plan for sand control covering the period from 2021 to 2030, ensure effective desertification control at home and make our best effort to contribute to global sandstorm prevention and control. Hubei Media Group: The China-Laos Railway between Kunming and Vientiane opened for cross-border passenger service this morning. The journey will be completed within one day. Recent years have seen increasingly closer and more convenient connectivity between China and its neighboring countries, especially Southeast Asian countries. Can you share more information on this? Wang Wenbin: As you just said, starting from today, cross-border passenger trains will be running in opposite directions departing from Kunming of China and Vientiane of Laos respectively. The journey will be completed within one day. This will further facilitate cross-border travel and trade between China and Laos and accelerate recovery of tourism and other sectors. It will also improve connectivity between the two countries and boost their common development. By April 9 this year, the China-Laos Railway has served 13.93 million passengers and shipped 18.38 million tons of freight. The potential of this golden route for international logistics is further unleashed. The China-Laos Railway is an epitome and good example of China-ASEAN cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and regional economic integration. In recent years, the new western land-sea corridor is growing fast as more and more new lines are being added to the train service. In the first three months of this year, the sea-rail combined transport trains on the corridor have shipped 191,000 TEUs of cargo, up by 11.7% year-on-year. From the successful trial operation of the Jakarta-Bandung High-speed Railway, the first of its kind in ASEAN, to the inauguration of Vietnam's Hanoi Metro Line 2A, from the opening of the Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, the first highway in Cambodia, to the accelerated construction of the China-built East Coast Rail Link in Malaysia, China and ASEAN countries have further drawn synergy from their development strategies and jointly set up a model for high-quality BRI cooperation. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping. China always sees ASEAN as a priority and important partner in BRI cooperation. We will further match the BRI with the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity 2025, continue to share the new opportunities brought by Chinese modernization with ASEAN countries, and develop the Belt and Road into a belt of prosperity for the 11 countries and a road to happiness for the 2 billion people of China and ASEAN. Reuters: The Japanese government has demanded an explanation from China about the no-fly zone near Taiwan. What is Chinas comment? And if there is a no-fly zone, how would you ensure the safety of civilian and commercial air and shipping traffic in the area? Wang Wenbin: I refer you to Chinas competent authorities. Beijing Youth Daily: Delegations from Saudi Arabia and Oman recently held talks with the Houthis in Yemens capital Sanaa to seek an end to the long-running conflicts in Yemen. The Saudi Foreign Minister received the visiting Syrian Foreign Minister yesterday, in the first such trip since the Syrian crisis broke out 12 years ago. Do you have any comment? Wang Wenbin: We welcome and commend the efforts of regional countries including Saudi Arabia and Oman to ease the situation in Yemen and seek a permanent ceasefire. We support parties concerned in seeking a political settlement of the issue of Yemen through dialogue and consultation. We stand ready to continue to play a constructive role in advancing the political settlement of the issue and upholding regional peace and stability. China welcomes the improvement of relations between Syria and other Arab countries and supports Syria in returning to the Arab family at an early date. This is conducive to the solidarity and rejuvenation of Arab countries, to stronger strategic independence of countries in the region and to regional peace, stability and development. China stands ready to continue to play a positive role in helping Arab countries achieve greater solidarity. Reuters: Germany is reviewing its decision to allow Chinas COSCO to take a stake in three terminals at Hamburg Port, according to the German Ministry of Economy. Does China have any comment? Wang Wenbin: We noted the reports. Practical cooperation between China and Germany is based on voluntary business choices and mutually beneficial. The German side knows full well the details of COSCOs acquisition of the stake in the Port of Hamburg. We hope that Germany will not politicize normal business cooperation or make it an issue about ideologies and security. There should be no man-made barriers for such cooperation. We once again urge Germany to view the practical cooperation between the two countries from an objective and rational perspective, and provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies. Reuters: Japan, France and India will announce a new platform for creditors to coordinate restructuring of Sri Lankas foreign debt. Japan said it would be very welcome if China joins the platform. Will China join and what is Chinas response? Wang Wenbin: You may refer to what I said about Chinas position on related issues yesterday. I would like to reiterate that we continue to support Chinese financial institutions in actively working out the debt treatment. We will work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development. At the same time, we call on commercial and multilateral creditors to take part in Sri Lankas debt restructuring based on fair burden-sharing. Bloomberg: A recent poll by Pew Research shows that some 38% of US respondents in a survey labeled China as an enemy and this was up 13 percentage points from last year. How does MOFA respond to this sort of polls? Wang Wenbin: Normally we do not comment on specific polls. I would like to stress that China is committed to a path of peaceful development. Chinas development is an opportunity for the world, not a challenge to anyone or any country. We will continue to be open-minded and welcoming towards having more cultural exchanges with other countries and bringing people from different countries closer to each other. For some time, lies, rumors and disinformation from anti-China forces have seriously misled public opinion and clouded peoples judgement in relevant countries. We hope people will keep their eyes open, see through such disinformation, and make an independent judgement based on reality and facts. The Montana Senate gave initial approval Tuesday to a bill establishing mandatory minimum sentences for those convicted of distributing fentanyl. Law enforcement officials say fentanyl will soon replace meth as Montanas most catastrophic drug, with hundreds of thousands more doses confiscated in recent years and overdoses occurring in clusters at a time. House Bill 791 from Rep. Courtenay Sprunger, R-Kalispell, would set a minimum two-year prison sentence for those convicted of distributing the drug and raise the maximum prison penalty from 25 years to 40. The bill passed the House last month on an 87-11 vote, and saw its first debate on the Senate floor Tuesday. Sen. Bob Brown, a Thompson Falls Republican carrying the bill in the upper chamber, said the substance is especially dangerous because a small dosage can be fatal. And in such small quantities, fentanyl is nearly untraceable while being mixed in with other substances. A lot of this stuff, people think theyre taking a legitimate pill from the pharmacy, and its not, he said. Democrats spoke against the bills mandatory minimum requirement, arguing no studies have uncovered a link between sentencing requirements and a slide in drug abuse. Sen. Ellie Boldman, D-Missoula, said the bill would only land low-level offenders in long prison stints. When the defendant is charged with trafficking fentanyl over state and national borders, as law enforcement has repeatedly confirmed as the route in which fentanyl arrives in Montana, those people dont face state law violations, anyway, she said. The U.S. Attorneys Office is handling that; those are federal crimes, she said. Sen. Greg Hertz, a Polson Republican, countered that he trusted prosecutors and judges to know the difference when cases come to court. I trust the judicial system that theyre not going to allow a young person who may get caught up in this to spend 30, 40 years in jail, Hertz said. The Legislature in recent weeks has been steeped in discussions about the lack of prison capacity in the state. Sen. Brad Molnar, R-Laurel, noted crowding has extended into county jails, too, and said HB 791 would only exacerbate that problem. Lets rely on the judges for a couple more years while we figure out how to untie this knot, Molnar said. You can sentence them to 50 years if you want; it doesnt open one cell. Yellowstone County Republican Sen. Barry Usher argued the bills passage would not further cram inmates together in prisons. According to fiscal analysts, 42 people convicted of distribution of dangerous drugs received prison sentences of less than two years in 2022. Using federal sentencing data, the Montana Department of Corrections estimated that four people could be convicted under the terms in HB 791. This is just for the one or two people, maybe, that we end up prosecuting instead of the federal government, Usher said during Tuesdays debate. The Senate passed the measure on a 32-18 vote. The bill will next head to the Senate Finance and Claims Committee to further examine the bills fiscal impact before it fully clears the Senate. It was something mankind had never seen beforeand now we're seeing it like never before. The first-ever image of a black hole captured in 2019 revealed a fuzzy, fiery doughnut-shaped object. Now, researchers have used artificial intelligence to give that cosmic beauty shot a touch-up. The updated picture, published Thursday in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, keeps the original shape, but with a skinnier ring and a sharper resolution. The image released in 2019 gave a peek at the enormous black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy, 53 million light-years from Earth. A light-year is 5.8 trillion miles. It was made using data gathered by the Event Horizon Telescope, a network of radio telescopes around the world, showing swirling light and gas. But even with many telescopes working together, gaps remained in the data, reports the AP. In the latest study, scientists relied on the same data and used machine learning to fill in the missing pieces. The resulting picture looks similar to the original, but with a thinner "doughnut" and a darker center, researchers said. "For me, it feels like were really seeing it for the first time," said lead author Lia Medeiros, an astrophysicist at the Institute for Advanced Study in New Jersey. Mederiros explains in a statement that the upgrade doesn't just have cosmetic implications: "Since we cannot study black holes up close, the detail of an image plays a critical role in our ability to understand its behavior. The width of the ring in the image is now smaller by about a factor of two, which will be a powerful constraint for our theoretical models and tests of gravity." She calls that realization about its width "incredibly exciting," in comments to NPR, as it's one that will help scientists better understand what's occurring as matter circles the black hole and falls in. "If we have more matter falling into the black hole, it'll create a thicker ring. And if we have a smaller amount of matter falling in, it should create a thinner ring, right?" she says. Medeiros said the team plans to use machine learning on other images of celestial objects, with the Washington Post flagging their next target: Sagittarius A* (or Sgr A*), the supermassive black hole at the center of our own Milky Way galaxy whose portrait was revealed last May. (Read more black hole stories.) Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny is in a maximum-security prison and in just two weeks' time has lost 18 pounds, reports Reuters. Spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said Navalny is suffering from a mystery ailment that could be a slow-acting poison. In a series of tweets, Yarmysh said that when Navalny asks for a diagnosis, "the prison doctor mockingly answers that it is 'just spring and everyone has exacerbations.'" She continued to say that Navalny's advocates "do not rule out" that he may have been poisoned with something during "all this time in prison" that could be making his health "deteriorate slowly but steadily." Navalny is Russias most well-known and vocal Kremlin critic and he is being held in Penal Colony No. 2 east of Moscow, reports the New York Times . He says he has been repeatedly placed in punishment cells for trivial misdemeanors and has complained about conditions in the prison and lack of access to proper medical care. Concerns about Navalny's health have grown in recent months, leading to rare, public petitions from groups of Russian lawyers, doctors, and lawmakers who, despite risking prosecution for dissent, have used their names to ask that he receives improved medical care. As Reuters notes, Navalny supporters see him as akin to Nelson Mandela, destined to lead Russia once he is free from prison. Russian authorities, however, consider Navalnyand his supportersas extremists with links to the CIA, bent on destabilizing Russia. His movement has been banned, and numerous supporters have fled the country. There is precedent for believing Navalny has been poisoned: Three years ago, he survived an apparent attempted poisoning that occurred on a flight over Siberia. That incident involved a nerve agent that was ultimately identified by lab tests, per Reuters. The government denied the accusation, but Navalny accused the Russian state of orchestrating an assassination attempt. (Read more Alexei Navalny stories.) A convicted rapist and killer who faked his death before escaping from a South African prison a year ago is back in custody. Thabo Bester, his celebrity girlfriend, and a Mozambican national were arrested last week in Tanzania, from which they planned to travel to Kenya, officials say, per CNN and CBS News. The trio reportedly had several unstamped passports each. Bester and celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana were seen arriving at an airport in Johannesburg on Thursday. Prison authorities only confirmed Bester's escape from Manguaung Correctional Centre in Bloemfontein in recent weeks, noting DNA tests on a burned body found in his cell did not match with the so-called "Facebook rapist." Authorities now say the 35-year-old escaped with help from prison guards, then lived for months in a mansion in a Johannesburg suburb. Two prison guards and a night supervisor were previously fired for alleged roles in the escape, while seven more were suspended, per the BBC and CNN. One guard has been charged with murder in connection with the burned body. Magudumana's father faces the same charge, as will Magudumana herself, per CBS. She's also to be charged with fraud and aiding and abetting escape, per CNN. Armed police were seen placing Magudumana in a van at Lanseria Airport on Thursday, while Bester was taken away in a police vehicle with bars on the windows. He was sent to Kgosi Mampuru Central Maximum prison in Pretoria, where he'll be under 24-hour surveillance. South African authorities have seized control of the Manguaung prison from private security firm G4S, which was forced to answer for the May 3, 2022, escape at a parliamentary hearing on Wednesday. Officials acknowledged a TV cabinet big enough to hide a body was allowed into the prison without a search hours before Bester fled. They also said top-ranking officials had approved Bester's transfer to a single-occupant cell next to a fire exit. Additionally, an investigation found the prison's security camera recording system experienced a "power interruption" around the time of the escape. "Are you honestly telling us this escape of Hollywood proportion was done with the assistance of only three people?" asked lawmaker Glynnis Breytenbachshe, per CBS. Police say more arrests will come. (Read more South Africa stories.) Most meteorites fall in the ocean. Last Saturday morning, one fell into the woods of Maineand whoever finds a chunk of it could find themselves handsomely rewarded. The Maine Mineral & Gem Museum is hoping to get its hands on any fragments that remain, and has announced a $25,000 reward for the first person who finds a piece weighing at least 2.2 pounds (that's one kilogram). CNN reports the museum is also willing to pay an unspecified amount to those finding smaller bits. The head of the museum's meteorite division, Darryl Pitt, says he'd like to study the pieces, but he acknowledges that might not be possible. While hundreds of meteorites are seen falling to Earth annually, Pitt says typically no more than 10 are recoveredand the woods of Maine are "not the simplest of the environments." A similar offer the museum made in connection with a 2016 meteor went nowhere. But searchers may have a leg up this time: NASA says that this marked the first time a meteorite was detected on radar in the state. It notes that "eyewitnesses report[ed] a fireball that was bright even in midday, followed by loud sonic booms near Calais, Maine." It was observable by NASA's radar for a full 4 minutes and 40 seconds, and NASA was able to calculate a strewn field estimate using radar signatures. But there may not be pieces of the size the museum wants. USA Today reports NASA calculated fallen pieces were up to 322 grams, or about a third of a kilogram, in size, "although larger masses may have fallen." As for the museum, the Bangor Daily News offers this bit of trivia: It's currently home to "the single largest specimens of both the moon and Mars on Earth." (Read more meteorites stories.) A federal judge on Wednesday temporarily blocked a federal rule in 24 states that is intended to protect thousands of small streams, wetlands, and other waterways throughout the nation. US District Judge Daniel L. Hovland in Bismarck, North Dakota, halted the regulations from the EPA and Army Corps of Engineers pending the outcome of a lawsuit filed by the 24 states, most of which are led by Republicans. The regulations were finalized in December 2022, repealing a rule implemented during President Trump's administration but thrown out by federal courts, the AP reports. Opponents of the regulations, which define the "waters of the United States" protected by the Clean Water Act, have called the rules an example of federal overreach and argued they would unfairly burden farmers and ranchers. The preliminary injunction affects Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wyoming. An injunction was previously issued that halted the rules in Texas and Idaho. In his order, Hovland wrote that the federal regulation raises a list of "statutory and constitutional concerns and would cause great harm to the states." The president of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association said he hopes for clarity from the Supreme Court. "Once again, the courts have affirmed that the Biden administrations WOTUS rule is overreaching and harmful to Americas beef farmers and ranchers," Todd Wilkinson said. The EPA said in a statement that the agency and the Army Corps of Engineers were reviewing the decision but still believe the regulations were "the best" interpretation of the Clean Water Act. The agency says its rules would still stand in states not included in the injunction. President Biden days ago vetoed a congressional resolution that would have overturned the rule. John Rumpler, clean water program director at Environment America, a national network of state environmental organizations, said that the EPA rule blocked by the judge is supported by science and the law and that the judge was misreading the purpose of the Clean Water Act. (Read more Clean Water Act stories.) Anyone who wants to buy a gun in Michigan will have to undergo a background check, and gun owners will be required to safely store all firearms and ammunition when around minors under new laws signed Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The signing took place on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, where a gunman killed three students and wounded five others two months ago, the AP reports. Flanked by students and gun safety advocates, Whitmer, a graduate of MSU, told the more than 100 people in attendance: "Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country. We don't have to live like this and today, we are showing we are not going to anymore." The legislation is part of a sweeping 11-bill gun safety package that was introduced in the weeks following the MSU shooting but was predominately drafted after the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in which four students were killed. The bills saw little movement at the time with Republicans in control of the Legislature. Gun safety advocates, who poured into the state Capitol on Thursday afternoon, cheered loudly from the gallery above the House chamber as Democrats voted to approve red flag laws. The Senate passed the measures in March but will need to give final approval on several amendments before the bills are sent to Whitmer. The Democratic governor has said she would sign the package if it gets to her desk. Under the legislation signed Thursday, criminal background checks will be required for anyone buying a rifle or shotgun; they had previously only been required for purchases of pistols. The safe storage bills will require owners to keep unloaded firearms in a locked storage box or container when it is "reasonably known that a minor is or is likely to be present on the premises." The laws will go into effect next year. Safe storage requirements gained momentum after Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time, killed four classmates and wounded seven other people at Oxford High School. Afterward, he admitting using a gun that was not locked in a box at home and had been purchased for him by his father. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the acts of Ethan, who pleaded guilty to terrorism and first-degree murder charges. (Read more gun control stories.) Drought is continuing to ease in North Dakota as the snowpack melts and sinks into the parched soil, though in some areas the runoff is too much and is leading to localized flooding. Meanwhile, two snowpack records in Bismarck have come to an end after five months. All of southeastern and most of south central North Dakota are now removed from any drought category, according to the latest U.S. Drought Monitor map, released Thursday. Moderate drought shrunk in northeastern North Dakota, though it persists in the north central and far west regions. About one-third of the state is in moderate drought, and another third is considered abnormally dry. A week ago nearly all of the state was in some drought category. "In the Northern Plains, the conditions on the map improved in response to recent significant winter storm events that helped to boost snowpack conditions in North Dakota, where numerous weather stations broke all-time snow depth records for April, according to the North Dakota State Climate Office," Western Regional Climate Center Associate Research Scientist David Simeral wrote in this week's report. The U.S. Drought Monitor is a partnership of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the National Drought Mitigation Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Snow records end The snow depth in Bismarck dropped from 8 inches on Tuesday to 6 inches on Wednesday, according to National Weather Service data. That marked the end of a streak of 152 days in which the city had a snowpack of at least 8 inches, nearly double the previous record of 80 days, set in 2009-10. The record for consecutive days with a snow depth of at least 6 inches reached 153 on Wednesday before ending when the snowpack fell below that level on Thursday. The previous mark was 108 days in 1996-97. The city also set a record earlier this winter of 54 consecutive days of a snowpack measuring at least 12 inches. The heavy snowpack resulted from one of the snowiest records on winter. Bismarck's total of 99.8 inches is nearly double the norm and third-most in 148 years of record-keeping. "In the Dakotas, deep snowpack conditions were observed this month as well as recent rapid melting, which has boosted soil moisture levels significantly ... as well as concerns over major flooding," Simeral wrote. "Flood warnings have been issued for numerous rivers across the Dakotas." Flooding concerns Numerous flood warnings remained posted in western and central North Dakota on Thursday, mostly for localized minor flooding. Soils ravaged by prolonged drought are tempering the runoff and keeping major flooding at bay, though some rural roads have been swamped. The northwestern town of White Earth has experienced flooding. The North Dakota National Guards Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment sent a Black Hawk helicopter to the town on Wednesday to drop one-ton sandbags to plug a drainage culvert. Rain is in the forecast for many areas into Saturday, including possible thunderstorms in the southeast. "With those you can get higher localized amounts of rain," said Connor Smith, a meteorologist at the weather service office in Bismarck. Rain could turn to snow early Friday as a late-week cold front drops temperatures, but no significant accumulations are expected due to warm ground temperatures and air temperatures rising above freezing during the day. Liquid precipitation totals are not forecast to exceed half an inch. In the Bismarck area the total is expected to be around four one-hundredths of an inch. "It could be minimal here," Smith here. 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 main concern is in the eastern Red River Valley. Flood resources are available at www.weather.gov/flood. A flood risk identification portal is available at https://ndram.dwr.nd.gov/. Crop report The weekly crop report from the National Agricultural Statistics Service shows a big boost in soil moisture in North Dakota compared to two weeks ago. Topsoil moisture supplies statewide are rated 78% adequate to surplus, and subsoil moisture is 70% in those categories. That compares with 65% and 56%, respectively, in late March. The winter wheat crop is rated 93% fair to good, and cattle and calf conditions are 89% in those categories, with another 4% rated excellent. Hay supplies are 70% adequate to surplus, and stockwater supplies are 91% in those categories. A Montana woman who pleaded guilty to impersonating her in-laws and taking money from their Bismarck bank account to make a down payment on a house has been sentenced to 6 years in prison. Carol Feist, 57, must also repay $134,000 and spend three years on supervised release, according to U.S. Attorney Mac Schneider. A federal grand jury indicted Feist in March 2022 on charges of bank and wire fraud, and two counts of aggravated identity theft. The indictment states that she in phone calls to a Bismarck bank in October 2021 claimed to be her mother-in-law, Johanna Feist, and used Johanna and Andrew Feists bank account information to arrange a $134,000 wire transfer to a title company in Helena, Montana. Authorities say Carol Feist also fraudulently represented to the title company that Andrew Feist had signed a deed for the property and that the deed was notarized in North Dakota. The name of the notary public on the document was not a licensed notary in North Dakota, according to authorities. The $134,000 Feist stole represented the life savings of her in-laws, according to Schneider. Andrew Feist was in hospice during Carol Feists actions and has since died, Schneider said. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa issued an order to distribute Eid Al Fitr gifts to all widows and orphans, who are registered with the Royal Humanitarian Foundation (RHF). HM the King directed the RHF, led by HM the Kings Representative for Humanitarian Work and Youth Affairs His Highness Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, to oversee the distribution of the royal gifts to all beneficiaries. HH Shaikh Nasser praised His Majestys constant fatherly interest in RHF-sponsored families, keenness to share with them various occasions, including Eid Al Fitr, and directives to provide distinguished services and care for those families to ensure decent and stable life for everyone. His Highness extended deepest congratulations to HM King Hamad on Eid Al Fitr, praying to Allah the almighty to bless him with abundant health and happiness, and to protect Bahrain. Congratulations RHFs Secretary General Dr Mustafa Al Sayed, extended sincere congratulations to HM the King and HH Shaikh Nasser on Eid Al Fitr. He pointed out that HM King Hamad is always keen to provide all kinds of interest and care for the citizens, particularly widows and orphans, citing the constant royal directives to provide them with various services. Dr Al Sayed affirmed that the annual royal kind gesture is in line with HM the Kings fatherly interest in RHF-sponsored families and desire to share with them the joy of Eid Al Fitr, which, he said, has a positive impact on the beneficiaries. He added that HM the King is keen on providing all kinds of care to the citizens under various circumstances. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Interior Minister, General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, yesterday visited the Open Prison Complex to inspect the situation of inmates and the progress of the open prison programme. Chief of Public Security, Interior Ministrys Undersecretary and Director-General of Verdict Enforcement and Alternative Sentencing attended the event. The programme is being implemented by the General Directorate of Verdict Enforcement and Alternative Sentencing to promote human rights in Bahrain. The Interior Minister asserted the directives of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa to enhance the enforcement of the Alternative Sanctions and Measures Law, in which the open prison is one of its essential phases. The law is within the reform era of HM the King and reflects his wisdom and consideration of convicts social and humanitarian aspects. The project also represents a delightful side of Bahrains human rights accomplishments. AFP | Islamabad The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Moments before dawn, Noor ul Islam ascends the steps of one of the world's biggest mosques, enters its cavernous hall and says a private prayer before a faintly buzzing microphone. Then, the 32-year-old gulps down a deep breath and makes the morning's call to worship -- a forceful yet lilting chant amplified across Islamabad, Pakistan's capital, marking the start of daylight fasting during Ramadan. "The voice is a gift from God," Islam told AFP at Faisal Mosque, a towering marble monument to the nation's devotion to faith. "If your intentions are genuine, your voice will have the power to touch people's hearts," he said. All across the Muslim world, men like Islam, known as muezzins, broadcast the "adhan" call to prayer, five times a day. In the month of Ramadan, where prayers mark the start and finish of 14 hours of fasting in Pakistan, the faithful are particularly attuned. The script and rhythm are the same everywhere. Intoned in Arabic over minaret loudspeakers, it reminds Muslims: "God is the greatest" and they should "hasten to prayers". But there is a quiet hierarchy among muezzins. A particularly melodic caller can increase the standing of a mosque. House hunters might judge the neighbourhood adhan before making an offer. And at prestigious mosques, the job is highly coveted. The three muezzin roles at Faisal Mosque -- a national emblem opened in 1986 with a fabled capacity of 300,000 worshippers -- are among the most prized outside the holy sites of Mecca and Medina. - Holy calling - As a teenager visiting Pakistan's capital from his hometown 105 kilometres (65 miles) away, Islam was captivated by the soulful call from Faisal Mosque's four spiked towers. "Every Muslim yearns to say the adhan, lead prayers or give a sermon at a well-known mosque," he said. "Every pious Muslim has this dream." His chance came in 2018, when a single slot opened and he beat 400 other candidates to the post. When he steps up to the microphone, Islam plugs his ears with his fingers in order to block all sounds apart from his voice. "The adhan, delivered with a beautiful and precise pronunciation, resonates with people," said 57-year-old businessman Aziz Ahmed in front of the mosque. Some of Islam's fellow muezzins coddle their vocal cords like rock stars and theatre performers, drinking honey-laced beverages, and avoiding cold breezes and oil-drenched Pakistani cuisine. "I am a careless person when it comes to this," chuckles Islam. "I can't resist." Nonetheless, he treats his vocation with humble reverence. "The fundamental purpose of the adhan is to invite people towards God. You can only accomplish this effectively when you possess a pure heart", he said. "Any delay or lack of sincerity in performing the adhan could potentially erode our faith." A sub-par adhan is treated as a "formality" by muezzins who create "fake voices". A good recital can "strike me straight in the heart", Islam said. But the position does come with a hint of celebrity. Devotees travel for miles to hear the call at Faisal Mosque, peer through the windows to watch Islam at work and ask for selfies afterwards. Back home in the town of Swabi, he is considered a local hero. Now Islam aspires to secure a further promotion to muezzin at the Grand Mosque in the holy city of Mecca. "I can't explain these feelings," he said. "Every Muslim should try to make this bond between him and God." "There is peace in this." After lengthy debate the North Dakota House voted 51-41 on Thursday to pass a bill that will offset the cost of tuition for some families sending their children to private schools. The bill introduced by Rep. Claire Cory, R-Grand Forks, would set aside $10 million from the state general fund for an educational reimbursement program during the second half of the biennium, for the 2024-25 school year. The proposed legislation, which garnered hundreds of testimonies both for and against it during the session, was debated for more than an hour on the House floor before the final vote. Supporters of the bill say it will allow more families to choose where they send their children to school by making private school tuition more affordable. During the floor session on Thursday, Cory said the bill does not pit public and private schools against each other, but was created to support students. This program begins and ends with parents, and this is about families and helping the ones that need it most, Cory said. If signed into law, House Bill 1532 will establish a program in which the state Department of Public Instruction will pay private schools for tuition costs no more than 30% of the state determined per-student pay rate. Parents would apply to participate in the program and the school would request funds to cover a students education expenses. But opponents say families already have a choice in where their students are educated and argue public money should not fund private organizations. I dont think wed also agree to send public money to build a private toll road running parallel to our highways, said Rep. Zac Ista, D-Grand Forks. I dont think wed send public money to somebody who wants to hire a private security guard if theyre dissatisfied with the local police, or hire a private fire brigade if they dont like the services their local fire department offers, so I think that precedent should give us pause, members of the assembly. The bill and its proposed amendments passed 27-19 in the Senate in a floor vote on Tuesday. The Senates amendments to the bill on Tuesday included a reduction in the appropriation for the program from $24 million to $10 million and the introduction of a means test for families applying for the money to send their children to private schools. The means test would require a familys gross taxable income to be under the 500% federal poverty level. For a family of four to participate in the program, their gross taxable income would have to be less than $150,000. The House originally passed the bill 54-40 on Feb. 21, despite its do not pass recommendation coming out of the House Appropriations Committee. On Thursday, the House approved amendments to the bill made in the Senate and granted the bill final legislative approval. Two members of the House were absent for Thursday's vote. The educational reimbursement program outlined in the legislation limits the program to one year during the second half of the 2023-25 biennium and requires a legislative management study on the funding of nonpublic schools during the 2023-24 interim session. For the educational reimbursement program to continue into the next biennium, the Legislature will have to reapprove the program in the next legislative session. However, allowances are made for mothers taking their young son with them into the womens bath, or fathers taking their young daughters into the mens. Sort of like with parents taking their kids with them into restrooms for the opposite sex, its a societal gray area as to what age its OK to do that until. Legally, though, in Hokkaido the limit for taking boys into the womens bath or girls into the mens bath was up until the kids 10th birthday. That changed this week, and as of April 11 children will be barred from entering the opposite sexs bath starting at the age of 7. The impetus for the change appears to be a study conducted by Japans Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare in 2021 which determined that six or seven were the ages at which the largest proportions of children (or perhaps their parents who were answering for them, as the exact methodology is unclear) said they would be embarrassed being unclothed in a bath with people of the opposite sex. ...continue reading Bristol Connecticut Police Department/Facebook BRISTOL A vehicle caused tens of thousands of dollars' worth of damage to a security gate at an entrance to ESPN headquarters in a nighttime crash, according to local police. Police shared a video clip depicting the Ronzo Road crash on Facebook Wednesday morning and said in an accompanying post that they are seeking assistance identifying the vehicle responsible, described as possibly a silver Subaru. H John Voorhees III/Hearst Connecticut Media DANBURY The state has given its blessing for a new organization to manage the proposed charter school in Danbury, but funding is as uncertain as ever for the tuition-free school that hopes to open in the fall. I am well aware of the misconceptions being shared about Danbury Charter Schools funding in relation to Danbury public schools, and I welcome the opportunity to speak to all community members that have concerns, said John Taylor, CEO of Elevate Charter Schools, shortly after the state Board of Education approved Elevate as the new management organization for the Danbury charter school. My team and I will host several community conversations to discuss the schools funding, the academic program, and ways we can work collaboratively and comprehensively with the city of Danbury and Danbury public schools. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORWALK A local leader in the senior living industry Gregory D. Smith, founder and chief executive officer of Maplewood Senior Living and Inspir, died on March 31. He was 54. His cause of death has not been released. Smith, who lived in Norwalk and was known as Greg, created the Maplewood brand in 2006. His vision was to raise the bar with luxury accommodations, innovative wellness programs, exceptional care, hospitality, and technology in senior living communities. Westport-based Maplewood Senior Living has grown to 16 senior living communities in Danbury, Darien, Newtown, Orange, Southport section of Fairfield, Bethel and East Norwalk as well as in Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York and Ohio. Inspir, the companys newest brand, has locations in New York City and Washington, D.C. It all started 17 years ago when Smith and his Maplewood Senior Living opened its first community Maplewood at Danbury at 22 Hospital Ave. Gregs passion was infectious and drove all of us to push the boundaries of what was possible, Shane Herlet, Maplewoods chief operating officer, said in a company statement. We are proud to carry on his legacy and continue our work to deliver best-in-class senior living options. On behalf of our leadership team, employees and investment partners, we extend our deepest sympathies to his family and friends. A Maplewood spokesperson declined to comment further, saying staff could not comment on Smiths death beyond the statement. In one of his innovative programs, Smith opened a memory resource and support center at Maplewood Senior Living on Stony Hill in Bethel in 2015. It offers some of the latest research and information on Alzheimers, dementia and other memory-related conditions. The center is located within the assisted-living facility, which was designed for the treatment of patients with Alzheimers disease and other conditions that impact memory. The center, which is free and open to the public, opened as part of a partnership between the developer and the Connecticut chapter of the Alzheimers Association. It provides information and research on treatment, science, technology, clinical trials, medicine, holistic treatments and other therapeutic resources. Smith was chair of the board of directors for Bethel-based Ability Beyond and was on the board of directors for the Alzheimers Association of New York City as well as Danbury Hospital and Norwalk Hospital, both of which are part of Nuvance Health. He cared about helping others and was known for his philanthropy. He supported various projects and campaigns at Nuvance Health, including the Andrew Cruz Endowed Chair in Palliative Care, which was established in memory of his cousin, and the neonatal center and pediatric emergency room at Danbury Hospital. At Ability Beyond, we are deeply saddened by the sudden passing of our longtime board member and chairman, Gregory D. Smith, founder and CEO of Maplewood Senior Living and Inspir, said Jane Davis, Ability Beyonds chief executive officer. He was passionate about creating and providing best in class services for the seniors he served and for the people we serve at Ability Beyond. Being in a related health and housing industry, his expertise and support were invaluable, particularly during the beginning of the pandemic, she said. In 2011, Smith joined the board at Ability Beyond, a nonprofit a nonprofit that offers services to more than 3,000 people with disabilities across Connecticut and New York, and had served as chair since 2016. He also served as the co-chair for Ability Beyonds current Making Beyond Possible campaign. Through his volunteer leadership, philanthropy and friendship, Gregs passion for enhancing peoples lives has left a lasting impact, Davis said. Greg spoke often about the opportunity to make a difference by profoundly changing lives, and he did just that. His impact and legacy will be felt by the people we serve for generations to come. Smith grew up in Pittsfield, Mass., and studied marketing and finance at Bentley University in Waltham, Mass. Smith is survived by his mother and father, Sandra and Robert Smith; his twin brother, Christopher Smith; his sister, Hollee Chontos; his fiancee, Carine Bonnist; his children, Hunter, Hayden, Cruz, John Robert, Bella, Sage and Dakota; his paternal uncle and aunt, David and Karen Smith; his maternal uncle and aunt, Philip and Sandy Cruz; his nephews, Chase, Cole, Trevor Smith, and Colin Chontos, as well as several cousins and extended family members. He was predeceased by his paternal grandparents Ruth and Donald Smith, and his maternal grandparents Liuntina and Custodio Cruz. Memorial donations may be made to Ability Beyond, Alzheimers Association of Connecticut, and the Andrew Cruz Endowed Chair in Palliative Care. A funeral Mass for Smith will be celebrated at St. Rose of Lima Church in Newtown at 10 a.m. Saturday, April 15. It will be immediately followed by a celebration of his life at Shorehaven Country Club in Norwalk. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) Ohio's constitution is caught in a high-stakes tug-of-war. With an effort to enshrine abortion rights looming this fall, an influential mix of Republican politicians, lobbying organizations and business interests is positioning to try to make another change to the state's founding document first. They're pushing an amendment that would raise the threshold for passing future constitutional changes, including the abortion question, from the current 50%-plus-one to 60% of Ohio voters. This issue isnt just about abortion, said Ohio Right to Life President Mike Gonidakis, who represented a cross-section of conservative causes at recent strategy talks on the subject. This is about family farming. This is about small businesses. This is around Second Amendment rights, setting the minimum wage. Despite that powerful line-up of conservative support, getting the 60% question to the ballot this August has been fraught with complications. First, there's the fact that Statehouse Republicans voted to eliminate most August special elections last year. GOP Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose, the state's elections chief and a likely 2024 U.S. Senate candidate, was among the measure's highest profile supporters, testifying: These unnecessary off-cycle elections arent good for taxpayers, election officials or the civic health of our state. Its time for them to go! LaRose and powerful Ohio Senate President Matt Huffman, a fellow Republican, have now changed course, realizing the political stakes. Both favor reinstating August elections at least, just this once after lawmakers missed the deadline for a May vote. LaRose says a well-publicized statewide issue is a very different thing than the low turnout local ballot questions he opined against in December. The swiftly timed reversal didn't go over well with Republican Ohio House Speaker Jason Stephens, who has struggled to conduct business with a fractured supermajority caucus. Let me be abundantly clear. I am and have always been 100% Pro-Life, Stephens tweeted on March 24. I will stand for life at every turn; however, I am not for changing the rules willy nilly at a whim when it comes to changing our constitution. Among Stephens' concerns were the burden and expense an August election would impose on already stressed local election officials. Stephens has since called August a possibility. Those comments came the same day fellow Republicans launched an effort to thwart his authority and push the 60% threshold resolution directly to the House floor. The effort would prevent Stephens from delaying a vote past May 10, the deadline for a $20 million August election the resolution will reinstate. Republicans arent going to put it on the same ballot as the abortion issue, said ex-House Constitutional Resolutions Committee Chair Scott Wiggam, whom Stephens ousted as chair after he worked at cross purposes to his own committee by signing the petition. Thats because if they both pass with 50%-plus-one, then abortion would be protected by a 60% threshold into the future. That's not to say it would even pass if it reaches the floor. A lack of the necessary three-fifths majority tanked a similar resolution during last year's lame duck session and not just because minority Democrats and a large coalition of advocacy groups organized against it are opposed. Among Republicans, some constitutional purists worry about the unforeseen consequences of changing a simple majority requirement in place since 1912. Others are concerned about opposition to the idea among GOP voters, particularly in rural areas that look unkindly on government overreach. About a dozen sitting GOP lawmakers, for instance, supported the legislative version of a pending medical freedom amendment aimed at preventing COVID-19 vaccine mandates. Diana Smith, the conservative from Bradford in western Ohio who is gathering signatures for that effort, said it's unfair to require its backers to win an additional 10% of the Ohio electorate. Whether youre Republican or Democrat, were all citizens, were all one, she said. Its been in our Constitution that one greater than 50% should be the majority, and I feel that it should stay that way, that we the people are the ones that should be in charge of our government. Rob Sexton, legislative affairs director for the Buckeye Firearms Association, is among the coalition of groups in the GOP-controlled state pushing for the 60% requirement. They are watching gun control or right to food amendments pass in other states with trepidation. Ballot issues, in general, have increasingly become almost completely influenced by whoever has the most money, he said. So when youre talking about our states foundational document, then we believe it needs protection from large national organizations that may not have Ohio values but are able to bankroll multi-million ballot campaigns in our state. In Ohio, 59% of voters in last years midterm elections said abortion should be legal in most or all cases, according to AP VoteCast, an expansive survey of over 90,000 U.S. voters. Only 7% of Ohio voters said abortion should be illegal in all cases. The way its Republican backers have overtly tied the 60% idea to sinking an abortion rights measure that could potentially prevail in Ohio otherwise appears to have weakened would-be support elsewhere. Two of the state's most powerful pro-business groups the Ohio Chamber of Commerce and the Ohio Business Roundtable have so far remained neutral on both amendments. The Chamber hosted and the Roundtable attended the March strategy meeting with Gonidakis; state Rep. Brian Stewart, the resolutions sponsor; Wiggam and others whose support for the higher threshold is unrelated to abortion. But the two heavy hitters run by former Republican U.S. Reps. Steve Stivers and Pat Tiberi, respectively generally don't wade into social issues on which their corporate members, and the state, might be divided. While the proposal's immediate targets are abortion rights, recreational marijuana legalization, a minimum wage increase and redistricting reform, some conservatives recognize a 60% threshold could hurt their own future constitutional efforts. The conservative American Policy Roundtable, which has backed a host of successful Ohio constitutional amendments over the years, is opposed, for example. Across the U.S., states are declaring constitutional rights to own guns, to hunt and fish, and to farm. Meanwhile, in Wyoming just last month, the constitutional right to make one's own healthcare decisions added to constitutions in Ohio and elsewhere in a push by opponents of the federal Affordable Care Act was used to protect abortion access. That could prompt conservatives to try to repeal it someday. Two former Bismarck mayors, the head of an environmental group, and a retired energy engineer on Wednesday voiced concerns with a planned carbon dioxide pipeline they say will be routed too close to the capital city, and outlined plans to pressure elected officials. The group calling itself the North Dakota Energy Council held a press conference at the state Capitol and announced a petition that calls on elected officials to take various actions related to Summit Carbon Solutions' Midwest Carbon Express pipeline. The petition went live last week but the press conference was delayed a week due to a blizzard. The petition is not seeking prohibition of pipelines; rather it asks officials to ensure that this CO2 pipeline is safe. Members of the group insist that they are not "anti-pipeline." Speaking at the conference were former Mayors John Warford and Steve Bakken; North Dakota Watchdog Network Director Dustin Gawrylow; technical adviser, retired energy engineer and Envision Natural Resources Group owner Curtis Jundt; and Dakota Resource Council Executive Director Scott Skokos. This is the latest local attempt to stop, delay or regulate the building of the CO2 pipeline by Summit Carbon Solutions. The Legislature considered several related bills, but none passed. The Burleigh County Commission recently passed two ordinances to regulate hazardous liquid pipelines within the county's borders and even considered passing a moratorium on such pipelines in the county. Other counties have taken or are considering similar measures. The group's mission is to help Burleigh County residents and landowners be heard by elected state and local officials over the issue. Some landowners in the northern part of the county where the pipeline will cross worry about their safety should the pipeline rupture. "Our elected officials need to hear from the public and understand that the placement of the pipeline near populated areas is not acceptable and it is just too dangerous," Warford said. Bakken praised the Burleigh County Commission for its effort to address the pipeline and criticized the Bismarck City Commission for what he said was its lack of action. The city did not immediately respond for comment. The proposed pipeline route does not go through the city or its extraterritorial area. Summit touts the overall safety record of pipelines and notes that a CO2 pipeline has existed in western North Dakota for more than 20 years, transporting carbon dioxide from the Great Plains Synfuels Plant in Beulah to oil fields in Canada. Summit officials recently told county commissioners that CO2 pipelines are safe, and that federal regulation makes local ordinances unnecessary. Summit in a statement to the Tribune on Wednesday said "Pipelines are significantly safer and less intrusive when transporting commodities like CO2. In Bismarck, there are currently multiple pipelines that have been operating safely for decades without impacting the communitys development. These existing pipelines, like Summits proposed CO2 pipeline, are extensively regulated by the (federal) Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration." PHMSA is updating safety regulations for CO2 pipelines, including requirements related to emergency preparedness and response. The effort comes in the wake of a CO2 pipeline rupture in Satartia, Mississippi, in 2020, that prompted the evacuation of hundreds of people and sent dozens of people to the hospital. The pipeline was operated by Denbury Gulf Coast Pipelines. The Midwest Carbon Express pipeline is to transport climate-warming CO2 emissions from dozens of ethanol plants in five Midwestern states to North Dakotas Oliver County for permanent storage underground. Summit said it has secured voluntary easement agreements from 70% of landowners along the proposed pipeline route and from 85% of landowners in the disposal area. "It is clear that North Dakota landowners view our project as not only safe but also critical to maintaining the long-term viability of the states most important industries -- agriculture and energy," Summit said. Some reluctant landowners fear that Summit will resort to eminent domain -- the forceful taking of private property use, with compensation. "With the threat of eminent domain landowners get scared that if they dont sign the easement, they're going to get condemned and then they don't get to determine the price that they get -- some people are signing (easements) under duress," Skokos said. The biggest opposition to easements is coming from Richland, Emmons and Burleigh counties, he said. The Dakota Resource Council is providing legal counsel for landowners to pool resources and fight, according to Skokos. The petition The group is collecting signatures for its petition that lays out four requests for local, state and federal officials: Oppose efforts to build any CO2 pipeline within 20 miles of Bismarck's extraterritorial area. The Summit pipeline is less than 2 miles from the extraterritorial area at its closest point. Warford said that there are 1,247 homes within 2 miles of the proposed route in Burleigh County. Require pipeline developers to be held financially responsible for damages from releases during the operational life of a pipeline. Require pipeline operators to fairly compensate political subdivisions and taxpayer-funded entities for emergency training and equipment necessary to respond to a pipeline release. Create a plan to deal with a pipeline emergency and to educate residents on what to do. The online petition had more than 200 signatures as of Wednesday. The group has more than 400 physical signatures, according to Gawrylow. Upcoming hearings The state Public Service Commission will permit the pipeline's route throughout North Dakota. The North Dakota Industrial Commission will permit the CO2 disposal site. The PSC has held public hearings in Bismarck, Gwinner and Wahpeton. Two more are scheduled: May 9, 9 a.m. Central time, at the Emmons County Courthouse Auditorium at 100 Fourth Street NW in Linton. The hearing will focus primarily on portions of the project in Emmons, Logan and McIntosh Counties. June 2, 8:30 a.m. CT, at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum, Russell Reid Auditorium, at 612 E. Boulevard Ave. in Bismarck. The hearing will focus primarily on portions of the project in Oliver, Morton, and Burleigh counties. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Dozens of scientists from universities and environmental groups are pushing for the removal of the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming she lacks the educational background required to run the agency despite securing Senate confirmation last year. The concerns over the credentials of service Director Martha Williams were outlined in a letter from 100 scientists sent Wednesday to President Joe Biden and U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Williams is an attorney who majored in philosophy, and her critics claim she does not have the science-based education that federal law says is required for the position. Government attorneys have rejected allegations she's not credentialed, but they have not disputed her lack of a science degree. There was no discussion of Williams educational qualifications during her Senate confirmation hearing. She was confirmed on a voice vote in February 2022 with bipartisan support. She worked as an attorney at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for more than two decades, then led the state agency for three years before being named principal deputy director at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following Bidens election. During the Obama administration, she was a deputy solicitor at the Interior Department for two years. The call for her resignation or dismissal comes as Biden faces growing pressure from some wildlife advocates who contend the administration has not done enough to protect endangered plants and animals from extinction. Many of the scientists named in the letter also have been involved in efforts to retain federal protections for threatened grizzly bears in Western states and gray wolves across most of the nation. Williams came to the Biden administration from Montana, where hunting wolves is legal. She said during her confirmation hearing that the grizzly bear population around Yellowstone National Park has recovered, putting her at odds with wildlife advocates. The battle over her qualifications has simmered since she was announced as Bidens pick in late 2021. The Interior Departments solicitor and inspector general dismissed complaints over the matter, but still pending in federal court is a lawsuit that focuses on the educational requirements outlined by Congress when it overhauled the wildlife agency in 1974. Federal law says only someone with scientific education and experience can be appointed director of the service. Williams has a bachelor's in philosophy from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Montana, according to congressional records and the Department of Interior. The Fish and Wildlife Service did not respond to multiple emails about her qualifications. Interior spokesperson Melissa Schwartz declined to comment on the letter, and the White House did not respond. Attorneys for the Biden administration said in court filings that the law requires Williams education to be considered cumulatively with her experience. She clearly has the requisite background, they wrote. A spokesperson for Montana Sen. Steve Daines said Wednesday that the Republican lawmaker stood by his vote for Williams. Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, said that since her confirmation, Williams has brought collaborative, science-based solutions to the tough problems facing our wildlife and public lands. Other than resigning or being fired by the president, impeachment is the only mechanism for removing Senate-confirmed civil officers such as Williams, according to Katherine Scott, associate historian in the U.S. Senate Historical Office. The scientists calling for her ouster say they're concerned the administration is setting a precedent by sidestepping the scientific education requirement. They claim Williams is serving in contradiction to the administrations own policies and ethics rules. They pointed to an assessment done by Biden's Scientific Integrity Task Force that suggests executive branch positions should be filled by candidates with appropriate credentials and that violations of scientific integrity policies should be taken as seriously as violations of ethics rules. The scientists include Dave Parsons, who led government efforts to reintroduce the endangered Mexican gray wolf in the Southwest; two board members and a scientist with Silver Spring, Maryland-based Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; well-known biology professors Paul and Anne Ehrlich at Stanford University; and wolf experts William Ripple and Robert Beschta from Oregon State University. With the exception of Williams, every director since the agency was overhauled in the 1970s had a scientific education, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. I see this appointment as a tipping point, where politics will forever override statutory credentials, said Parsons, who authored the letter. In the lawsuit challenging her confirmation, Illinois lawyer Robert Aland claimed decisions made by Williams would be contaminated since she was appointed illegally. Wildlife could suffer the most serious adverse consequences" as a result, he said. A judge dismissed the case over jurisdictional issues and did not address the dispute over education. Aland has appealed. Aland previously sued the agency over its attempts to lift protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone region of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Federal judges restored protections in both instances, but a new proposal to lift protections is under consideration by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency is planning a new rule that could lift protections for gray wolves in early 2024. Some of the scientists in Wednesday's letter said the decisions on bears and wolves are up to Williams. They said her qualifications could be used as an argument in future litigation over the species. Williams is not the first to have her qualifications questioned. Under former President Donald Trump, political appointee Greg Sheehan oversaw Fish and Wildlife for more than a year as the agencys deputy director at a time when no director was in place. Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke unsuccessfully sought to make Sheehan acting director, but government officials said he did not have the science degree required for the position under federal law. Sheehan stepped down in 2018 and was never formally nominated. Before Trump nominee Aurelia Skipwith was confirmed for the post in 2019, environmental groups objected in part because she had studied molecular biology and not wildlife specifically. The Center for Biological Diversity called her an industry shill because of Skipwiths past work with the chemical company Monsanto. Center for Biological Diversity government affairs director Brett Hartl said the group knew about Williams lack of a degree, but decided nevertheless to support her. He said his group believed having an outside person serve as director would offer a better opportunity to solve deep cultural issues that have plagued the agency over the years. Hartl agreed that the law requires a science degree but said the Senate has the ultimate authority to decide whos qualified. Despite the early support for Williams, Hartl said his group has been disappointed with the Biden administrations failure to replace a Trump-era rule that weakened protections for many species. To me, thats the stuff she should be evaluated on, he said. Weve been fairly underwhelmed thus far at her tenure. ___ Brown reported from Billings, Montana. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Former President Donald Trump sued the key witness in his criminal case on Wednesday, accusing onetime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen of vast reputational harm for talking publicly about the hush-money payments at the heart of the case. The lawsuit, filed in Miami, offered a preview of arguments that are sure to be featured in Trumps defense against charges that he falsified internal business records to disguise payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters. The suit accused Cohen of breaking a confidentiality agreement he signed as a condition of his employment, violating ethical standards for lawyers and spreading falsehoods" about Trump with malicious intent and to wholly self-serving ends. It seeks over a half-billion dollars from Cohen. Trump isnt specifically suing Cohen over his grand jury testimony in the criminal case, but he cites it in support of an argument that his ex-lawyer sought to profit from his role through the publication of two books, a podcast series and media appearances. Cohen's spokesman, attorney Lanny Davis, said the lawsuit will not deter Cohen's cooperation with prosecutors. Mr. Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen, Davis said. It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him. The suit is the latest effort by Trump to use the legal system to go after his political enemies and is another example of the former president turning on a once-loyal aide after their relationship imploded. A judge in Florida sanctioned Trump and one of his attorneys in January, ordering them to pay nearly $1 million for filing what he said was a bogus lawsuit against Trumps 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and others. Davis predicted this lawsuit would also fail. "Is there anyone in America, aside from a shrinking minority base of believers, who takes Mr. Trump seriously when he files these apparently frivolous lawsuits? Davis asked. The criminal case against Trump, brought last week by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, accuses the former president of falsifying 34 business records at his company to hide the true nature of 11 checks paid to Cohen to reward him for work covering up Trump's extramarital affairs. Those checks, prosecutors said, reimbursed Cohen for a $130,000 payment he made on Trump's behalf to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who had been in negotiations to sell her story of an alleged sexual encounter with the Republican. Cohen also played a role in arranging payments to the Playboy model Karen McDougal and to a Trump Tower doorman. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and says the alleged encounters with Daniels and McDougal never happened. Bragg's office on Wednesday declined to comment on Trump's lawsuit against Cohen. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, lying to Congress, and campaign finance violations regarding the payments to Daniels and McDougal. He was sentenced to three years in prison, although the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled him to serve the majority of the sentence under house arrest. Although federal prosecutors referenced Trump in the charges against Cohen, they chose not to pursue a criminal case against the Republican. Neither did investigators in the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, who conducted a wide-ranging probe through much of Trumps presidency. OMAHA, Neb. (AP) The Biden administration is urging U.S. meat processors to make sure children aren't being illegally hired to perform dangerous jobs at their plants. The call comes after an investigation found more than 100 kids working overnight for a company that cleans slaughterhouses, handling dangerous equipment like skull splitters and razor-sharp bone saws. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack sent a letter Wednesday to the 18 largest meat and poultry producers urging them to examine the hiring practices at their companies and suppliers. The letter is part of a broader effort by the administration to crack down on the use of child labor. The Labor Department has reported a 69% increase since 2018 in the number of children being employed illegally in the U.S. "The use of illegal child labor particularly requiring that children undertake dangerous tasks is inexcusable, and companies must consider both their legal and moral responsibilities to ensure they and their suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors fully comply with child labor laws," Vilsack said in the letter. Just last year, the Labor Department found that more than 3,800 children had been working illegally at 835 companies in various industries. In the most egregious recent case, Packers Sanitation Services Inc., or PSSI, agreed earlier this year to pay a $1.5 million fine and reform its hiring practices after investigators confirmed that at least 102 kids were working for the company at 13 meat processing plants nationwide. PSSI, which is based in Wisconsin, employs about 17,000 people working at more than 700 locations, making it one of the largest food-processing-plant cleaning companies. The plants where PSSI was found to be employing minors were in Arkansas, Colorado, Indiana, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas. The Labor Department says it has more than 600 child labor investigations underway and officials are concerned about the exploitation of children, particularly migrants who may not even have a parent in the United States. Several federal agencies launched a broad effort to combat child labor earlier this year, and officials asked Congress to increase the penalty for violations because the current maximum fine of $15,138 per child isn't enough of a deterrent to big companies. One major meat producer, Smithfield Foods, said Wednesday it was not aware of any violations at its facilities. Smithfield Foods and all of its affiliates comply with all child labor laws, both federal and state, the company said. We require all of our contractors to do so as well. Kids across Canada designed vehicles to make the world a better place TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Nine Canadian kids were named finalists in a global design competition after coming up with innovative solutions to some of society's biggest challenges. From environmental issues to social tensions, the nine kids from across Canada each designed a unique vehicle to help make the world a better place, and now their innovations will now compete against other designs on the world stage. Eco-Friendly Bus (CNW Group/Toyota Canada Inc.) Every year, Toyota invites kids across Canada (and around the world) to design a 'dream car' to help make the world a better place. Here are the three Canadian winners (and finalists in the worldwide competition) in each age category (along with their designs): Under 8 Years Old Ziyu Alan Wang (age 7, Oakville, ON ). Ziyu's entry "Twinkle Twinkle Music Car" flies over the Earth's atmosphere while playing live concerts to "spread joy to the universe". Humans as well as all other forms of life in space - can enjoy the peaceful melodies. Brianna Law (age 7, Richmond, BC ). Brianna's entry "Healicorn that Spreads Love" is a unicorn-shaped vehicle with the power to heal the environment and spread love to all people. A multi-terrain solution, it filters the Earth's bodies of water to rid them of garbage, while also putting out wildfires on land. Phoebe Zhang (age 5, Richmond Hill, ON ). Phoebe's entry "Mobile Candy Shop" is a mobile candy store providing children with a safe and trusted way to purchase candy in their neighbourhoods 8 to 11 Years Old Dora Chen (age 11, Foothills, AB). Dora's entry "Nature Keeper" is shaped like an Indigenous totem to represent nature. This vehicle fights pollution by sucking up all unclean air and transforming it into a rainbow of hope. Claire Kim (age 11, Calgary, AB ). Claire's entry "Happy Family Dream Car" creates a safe space of joy for families and kids, protecting them from the negativities living outside it. Louisa Ji (age 11, Vancouver, BC ). Louisa's entry "Journey Through Earth" sucks up air pollution from our cities, cleaning and re-releasing it through the car's exhaust pipe as floral-scented air. The vehicle is also an educational tool to teach people about its cutting-edge technology 12 to 15 Years Old Chloe Ng (age 12, Calgary, AB ). Chloe's entry "Hydro-Car" collects and filters water from our oceans to distribute around the world, so everyone can have access to clean, filtered water. Ryan Chen (age 12, Foothills, AB). Ryan's entry "Peace Builder" helps families affected by war by rebuilding buildings, cities and relationships to reunite families. Haeum Park (age 14, Calgary, AB ). Haeum's entry "Eco-Friendly Bus" runs on bio-energy derived from corn, eliminating fossil fuels altogether. It also grows and delivers its own vegetables and fruit. A panel of distinguished Canadian judges was tasked with assessing the entries from kids across Canada: Dr. Bonnie Schmidt President, Let's Talk Science President, Let's Talk Science Larry Hutchinson President and CEO, Toyota Canada President and CEO, Toyota Canada Regina Chan Managing Director, AutoNerve Media Here's what the judges had to say about the submissions for this year's contest: "The vision, creativity and innovation presented in the design ideas of Canadian children and youth is truly impressive. With the reoccurring themes of peace, environmental sustainability, and happiness, it's clear to see that these are the leaders of tomorrow." Larry Hutchinson, President and CEO, Toyota Canada "The imagination and ingenuity expressed through the concepts of these designs were filled with hope and a deep desire to build a better world. Judging this year's competition was inspiring and made it very difficult to select just nine finalists. Congratulations to all the participants who shared their dream car. Our future is in good hands." Dr. Bonnie Schmidt, President, Let's Talk Science "We have many talented young artists across Canada, and I am very impressed with all the entries. Their creativity and vision range from innovative ideas to address social issues to wild ideas beyond our imagination. Their youthful and pure philosophies were embedded in their drawings and they give us hope of a brighter future with better transportation and a cleaner environment." Regina Chan, Managing Director, AutoNerve Media The nine Canadian finalists will now be entered into the World Finals of the contest for a chance to win a prize valued at $5,000 USD. Each Canadian finalist also received a $250 online retail gift card to KiwiCo. First held in 2004 and now one of the world's largest global design contests for children, the Toyota Dream Car Art contest invites future artists, designers and engineers to share their ideas about the future of mobility. For more about the global Toyota Dream Car Art Contest, click here. About Toyota Canada Inc. Toyota Canada Inc. (TCI) is the exclusive Canadian distributor of Toyota and Lexus vehicles. Toyota has sold over six million vehicles in Canada through a national network of 287 Toyota and Lexus dealerships. Toyota is dedicated to bringing safety, quality, dependability and reliability to the vehicles Canadians drive and the service they receive. TCI's head office is in Toronto, with regional offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Montreal and Halifax, and parts distribution centres in Clarington and Vancouver. Toyota also operates two manufacturing facilities in Canada. Having produced more than nine million vehicles, popular Canadian models built at these facilities include the Toyota RAV4, Toyota RAV4 Hybrid, the Lexus RX and RX hybrid, and the Lexus NX and NH hybrid. Recent investments at its facilities in Ontario will allow for increased production of these top-selling models for the North American market. SOURCE Toyota Canada Inc. For further information: Hanan Ismail, [email protected] The Russian-Ukraine has mainly become a war of attrition. The questions for such a war are which side has more endurance and can either side make breakthroughs that accelerate the collapse of the opponent. Russia and Ukraine will both attempt knockout blows and major offensives in this Spring and Summer. If there is no knockout or major shift then they will settle in for another winter attrition campaign. There are a lot of trenches and fortifications and minefields all over Ukraine now. Both sides have sufficiently effective air defenses to mostly neutralize the air war. Both sides have lost a lot of their best soldiers and equipment. These conditions mean it is very difficult to breakthrough the lines. This was the case for seven years both sides were stalemated in the smaller-scale war from 2014 to early 2022. Ukraine success would be to take the Zaporizhia Oblast and then the Kherson Oblast. They cut off a lot of supplies to Crimea and then they take Crimea. Russia would keep fighting from Russia territory into Ukraine. Ukraine would need to have three times the success they had late last year to pull this off. Russia needs to assemble and equip more forces and start advancing across its front. Russia needs to degrade Ukraines ground air defenses and air power so that Russia can make its air power effective. Moscows plan calls for expanding the Armed Forces by an additional 350,000 troops, set up three new motor rifle divisions and reorganising the current seven motorizsd rifle brigades into divisions, tripling them in size. It is assessed that these and other reforms would increase the number of military personnel, armament, and combat equipment units in the Western Military District by 30 to 50 percent, the Lithuanian intelligence report reads. These changes are only possible in the long term, in five to ten years, even though Russia aims to carry out the reform by 2026. Russia increased the official war spending by 30 percent last year. In 2023, the cost is estimated to reach five trillion rubles (66 billion euros); in fact, with all secret allocations the cost of war is assessed to be much higher. The problem with either side making sudden advances is that the layers of defensive lines and minefields means that a push that took weeks or months to build up might only get 5 to ten miles before defenders regroup at the next line. Last fall Ukraine broke through three Russian lines that will not well prepared. Now there has been six months for both sides to build more fall back defense lines and minefields. This summer will show if major advances and territorial gains are still possible. Russia is ready to continue the war in Ukraine for another two years, Lithuanias military intelligence chief. After two years, Russias supplies of old tanks and other things will run down. However, both Russia and Ukraine will be de FORT WAYNE, Ind. (AP) One person died and three people were wounded in a shooting at an Indiana park during a memorial, police said. The shooting occurred around 6:45 p.m. Wednesday during a balloon release at McCormick Park in Fort Wayne, Officer Anthony Krock told The Journal Gazette. WEST HAVEN With three of four co-conspirators in a scheme to defraud West Haven of more than $1 million in federal pandemic funds already sentenced to prison time, the sentencing of linchpin former state Rep. Michael DiMassa likely has been delayed. DiMassa pleaded guilty on Nov. 1, 2022, to exploiting his authority and the lack of procedural checks and balances in City Hall to walk fraudulent invoices through West Haven's payment process. Later that month he testified as a government witness at the trial of co-conspirator John Trasacco. John Bernardo, a former city employee who developed a shell company with DiMassa that received more than $636,000 in stolen funds, was sentenced to 13 months of prison and ordered to pay $59,000 in restitution on March 22. The following day, DiMassa's pregnant wife, Lauren DiMassa, was sentenced to six months of prison and ordered to pay $148,000 in restitution for her role in cashing checks stolen from a federal youth violence prevention grant. Earlier this month, Trasacco, who was found guilty by a jury of wire fraud and conspiracy to commit wire fraud, was sentenced to eight years of prison and ordered to pay $143,994 in restitution. The sentence handed down by U.S. District Judge Omar A. Williams was above the sentencing guidelines; the sentence reflected various things such as Trasacco's prior convictions and his lack of any reported income or filed tax returns, Williams said. DiMassa, who was scheduled to be sentenced on April 26 after his initial sentencing date of March 8 was delayed, now likely will be sentenced at a later date due to his attorney's involvement in another case that is expected to go to trial. Attorney John Gulash filed a memorandum on April 3 requesting that DiMassa's sentencing date not be before May 31 due to his other client, Brian Carey, rejecting a plea deal that day. Carey, the former interim public works director and town conservation director of Fairfield, is one of several former Fairfield officials charged in connection with an alleged illegal dumping scheme in that town. Carey is accused of allowing contaminated soil dredged from Owen Fish Pond to build a berm around public works property and participating in a subsequent cover-up attempt. On April 4, Williams ordered that a scheduled deadline for Gulash to submit a sentencing memorandum in DiMassa's case by April 7 would be extended to April 13, extending the government's deadline to submit its memorandum to April 20. "If the Carey case indeed proceeds to trial as presently scheduled, defense counsel may request further continuance of this DiMassa sentencing (and, as necessary, of any briefing deadlines related thereto)," Williams said in his order. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NORTH HAVEN Peter Estrada wasn't surprised his proposal to sell guns out of a storefront on Washington Avenue was met with pushback from North Haven residents. Estrada, a Hamden resident, said he has operated a firearms academy called Urban 2a from the site for about four years. He described his efforts as part of a broader goal to educate people of color from urban communities about their Second Amendment rights. Having been in the industry for some time, he has come to expect opposition. And thats exactly what happened after he submitted a change of use application to the town in the hopes of being allowed to sell firearms from the facility. Concerned residents say the site, which is located at 140 Washington Ave., #16, is not appropriate for a gun store. Neighboring businesses include DJs Cards and Comics, Starbucks, Dunkin, McDonalds and Five Guys, which opponents argue attract families. First Selectman Mike Freda also has come out against the proposal. I dont support it at that particular location, he said. Theres a Dunkin Donuts there, theres all kind of businesses there. Theres a park right around the corner, so I do not support it for those reasons. Freda has received multiple emails from residents with similar concerns, he said. People are absolutely opposed to it, like I am. The location is not good, he said. Estrada, who says he is reevaluating his plan, is open to other options but expressed skepticism about finding a better location. Im always open to hear what areas would be good, but you know North Havens a small town so its hard to figure out where, he said, noting that only certain areas of town are zoned for retail. Im not sure where exactly people would think is a good area. Dozens showed up to last weeks Planning & Zoning Commission meeting to comment on Estradas proposal, according to Freda and meeting attendees. Though the PZC did not take public input opting instead to set a hearing on the issue for May 8 it is unlikely that the feedback would have been positive. Many attendees were organized by the Democratic Town Committee and the North Haven Equity Coalition, a group focused on local advocacy efforts for diversity and equity, said member Scott Friedman. Prior to the meeting, an email went out to the groups listserv. It expressed concern over the application and asked folks to show up at the meeting to speak against it. In light of all the mass shootings that weve had recently, including todays shooting in Louisville and (the March 27) shooting in Nashville, more guns coming into our streets is not the answer, Friedman said Monday, referring to the April 10 shooting at Old National Bank in Louisville and the March 27 shooting at the Covenant School in Nashville, both of which killed six people. The location of the North Haven training facility is in an area frequented by families, said Friedman. This is not the place for a gun shop. Amanda Gabriele, a North Haven resident, said guns are a source of stress for her, especially as a mother of two school-aged children. Im not a big fan of the proliferation of guns and I think that are enough shops in the area to service people that would like guns, Gabriele said. Estrada said he understands residents concerns and believes some people would oppose a gun store no matter its location. Ive seen this throughout the years being in the industry, he said. If some people had a say, they wouldnt want a gun store in the whole state. Estrada had hoped to add a small counter to his training facility where customers could purchase guns, he said. He is currently debating whether to move forward with that plan. He believes strongly in Americans Second Amendment right to protect themselves, he said. Estrada, who said he is Puerto Rican, also feels he could bring an important service to the industry. He estimated there are between 50 and 70 gun stores in Connecticut but only five are owned by people of color. Minority-owned gun stores are places where Black and Hispanic residents might feel more comfortable asking questions about gun ownership, Estrada said. His goal is to increase the access that people of color from urban areas like New Haven, have to gun permitting and ownership. A reporter asked about the rate of gun violence in Connecticut cities, which tends to be higher than in suburban towns. To Estrada, thats exactly why city residents should have access to guns. Thats where the crime is, he said. If anyone needs a firearm to protect themselves it would be someone in that environment. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Russia's top security agency accused a Ukrainian man Thursday of involvement in a bombing that killed a well-known Russian military blogger at a St. Petersburg cafe. Vladlen Tatarsky, 40, an ardent supporter of the war in Ukraine who filed regular reports on the fighting from the front lines, was killed on April 2 as he led a discussion at a riverside cafe in the historic heart of Russias second-largest city. The bombing injured 50 other people. A 26-year-old St. Petersburg resident, Darya Trepova, who was seen on video presenting Tatarsky with a statuette moments before the blast, was quickly arrested. According to Russian media reports, Trepova told investigators she was asked to deliver the statuette but didnt know what was inside it. Russian authorities described the bombing as an act of terrorism and blamed Ukrainian intelligence agencies for orchestrating it. Ukrainian authorities have not directly responded to the accusation, but an adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the bombing was part of Russias internal turmoil. Russia's Federal Security Service, known under its Russian acronym FSB, declared Thursday that a Ukrainian citizen whom it identified as Yuriy Denysov had gathered information about the blogger and supplied Trepova with explosives through a courier service. The agency claimed that Denysov acted on orders from the Ukrainian security services and left Russia the day after the bombing, which was the latest attack inside Russia on a high-profile pro-war figure. Last year, a nationalist TV commentator was assassinated when a bomb exploded in her SUV outside Moscow. Tatarsky was the pen name of Maxim Fomin, who had accumulated more than 560,000 followers on his Telegram messaging app channel. He had joined separatists in eastern Ukraine after a Moscow-backed insurgency erupted there in 2014 and fought on the front lines for years before turning to blogging. Military bloggers have become increasingly visible in Russia during the invasion of Ukraine, supporting the war but also exposing flaws in military strategy. Meanwhile, the Kremlin has shut down independent media outlets and muzzled any criticism of the war. The FSB also reasserted Thursday that Trepova was a supporter of imprisoned Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The security service accused Navalnys top allies, Ivan Zhdanov and Leonid Volkov, of making repeated calls for subversive activities in Russia. Zhdanov said on his messaging app channel Thursday that authorities could try to use the explosion to extend Navalnys prison term and to add the anti-corruption foundation he established to Russias list of terrorist organizations. Navalny, the Kremlins fiercest foe, spent years exposing official corruption and organizing massive anti-government protests. He is currently serving a nine-year fraud sentence that he has denounced as a political vendetta. His lawyers and associates said Wednesday that Navalny was suffering from acute stomach pains and voiced fears that he might have been poisoned. Proposed changes to the North Dakota Ethics Commission's procedures are going to Gov. Doug Burgum. Left out of the bill is the panel's request to add nearly 9,000 state employees to its oversight authority. The Senate on Wednesday passed Senate Bill 2048, advanced by the Ethics Commission, in a 45-1 vote. The bill cleared the House of Representatives on Thursday, 79-10. The commission brought the bill for several requested changes to state government ethics laws. They include extending the time frame to notify an accused person of an ethics complaint, and adding criteria for who can make complaints. The ethics board has oversight of elected and appointed officials of the executive and legislative branches, members of the governors Cabinet, members of the Ethics Commission and legislative branch employees. The ethics panel originally sought to add about 8,960 executive branch employees to its jurisdiction over public officials," citing the move as "an equitable expansion" because legislative branch employees already are under the board's authority. The Senate State and Local Government Committee cut that proposed expansion from the bill. Chair Kristin Roers, R-Fargo, previously said her panel "didn't feel like there should be that large of an expansion of (the Ethics Commission's) scope without a lot more information and justification for that." The bill "narrowed considerably, and now with the House changes it is really just a clarification of many of our current processes, putting some timelines on there so that if you do have an ethics complaint filed against you, you know what the notification requirement is and your response times are defined in statute," Roers told the Senate on Wednesday. House Government and Veterans Affairs Committee Chair Austen Schauer, R-West Fargo, told the House on Thursday he had concerns about the ethics panel's authority, "mission drift" and "the Ethics Commission being used to weaponize public officials" -- the latter something he thinks the House should "take a look at" -- but said the bill's "work is good." North Dakota voters in 2018 approved a ballot measure adding ethics mandates to the state constitution, creating the five-person panel, which began meeting in 2019. Addiction. Cancer care. Organ and tissue donation. These topics arent usually top of mind until they have to be. Whether youre the patient, the loved one or an acquaintance, the ripple effect of someone in need of hospital care reverberates through our lives. At Niagara Health, we often see people on the worst days of their lives when they are hurt, sick or at the bedside of a loved one. But, sometimes its on their best days when they welcome new life into the world or ring the bell to celebrate being cancer-free. The stories of the people who come through our doors, and those waiting within to help, are the inspiration behind a new monthly column that will pull back the curtain on Niagara Healths operations. Each column will feature a different area of hospital care, with the experiences of patients or their loved ones as the focus and in their own words. In addition, our staff and physicians voices will also be heard as they share what its like to provide care for Niagara residents every day. The past few years have brought unparalleled challenges to our hospital and our community. Some of the challenges our team faced included concerns about personal protective equipment shortages, preventing and managing outbreaks, new variants and waves of COVID-19, staff and physician shortages, and consistently adapting to meet the needs of patients. As a multi-site hospital organization serving more than 450,000 residents across the Niagara region, Niagara Health is committed to helping ensure every person gets to live every day in the best health possible. We operate one of the busiest emergency medicine programs in Ontario and have several regional centres of excellence. And, with the third-oldest population in Canada, we are increasing our focus on care for older adults. Niagara Health is committed to transparency and providing the best possible care, which includes giving me the privilege of giving readers a glimpse behind the scenes of our hospitals. My hope is that by telling the stories of those cared for, and those who care at Niagara Health, we can provide an inside look and detangle some of the complexities of health care. Michelle Presse is a communications specialist at Niagara Health. Michelle.Presse@niagarahealth.on.ca SHARE: An investigation into a potential Indigenous burial ground in Port Colborne has been put on hold until all involved parties are on the same page. Initially planned to begin Monday, the archeological probe on Sugarloaf Street stems from human remains being discovered last year. But one group, Haudenosaunee Development Institute (HDI), wants more information before entering an agreement, according to a recent article from CBC Hamilton. Multiple attempts by The Tribune to reach HDI this week have not been successful. The City of Port Colborne has signed agreements with the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation and Six Nations to be part of the investigation. The city is working to finalize an agreement with HDI, said Jasmine Peazel-Graham, the citys communications manager. Steve Shypowskyj, director of public works, said the municipality has invited the Indigenous community to participate in the process through a report and strategy review, as well as through monitoring during field investigations. We made the decision to postpone the archaeological investigation to ensure the Indigenous community has an opportunity to be involved, said Shypowskyj. We are committed to engaging with the Indigenous community and are always looking to learn more about the best ways to do so, he added. Asked whether the burial site covers municipal or private property, or both, he said the investigation will help to determine the boundary of the site and that the citys investigation is limited to city-owned property, which is the roadway on Sugarloaf Street. The city is spending $435,000 on the investigation. No road closures have been set up. At this time, the road is fully open to traffic in both directions. The investigation stems from an initial burial investigation that was being carried out by Kitchener and Hamilton-based Archaeological Research Associates (ARA) on behalf of a Sugarloaf Street property owner. On March 10, 2022, contractor Emburghs Backhoe Service was digging in the front yard of the home, between 239 and 229 Sugarloaf St. and across from the Port Colborne urgent care centre and New Port Centre, when its workers discovered human remains. Work was halted and Niagara Regional Police forensic officers and the regional coroners office investigated the remains. Police determined it was not a criminal matter and turned the site over to the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. The ministry looks after cemeteries and burial grounds in the province to either designate them under the Ontario Heritage Act, part of Heritage Conservation Districts or as archeological sites. Janet Gardner, from ARA, said historical research shows there was a graveyard in the area of Sugarloaf and Isabel streets. Port Colborne Historical and Marine Museum archivist Michelle Vosburgh previously said the cemetery began in the 1830s during a cholera outbreak along the Welland Canal. It was active until at least 1900 and was called Gravelly Bay Burying Ground. It was never an official cemetery, but there were burials with markings. The area near the home, nearby H.H. Knoll Lakeview Park, is all reclaimed land and once formed the Lake Erie shoreline. Mark LaForme, Mississaugas of the Credit First Nations consultation and accommodation director, told CBC hes confident the site isnt an Indigenous burial ground and doesnt contain Indigenous human remains. When a report was before Port Colborne city council March 28, local politicians had concerns about the timing of the dig, and the potential for the costs to increase if the dig finds more graves. Ward 3 Coun. Gary Bruno recalled a previous burial site dig on Lakeshore Road, which dragged on beyond its initial timeline. This project is intended to take one month, said Bruno. That project (on Lakeshore Road) was supposed to be a short project, and it extended through two winters. With files from Dave Johnson and Niagara This Week Kris Dube is a St. Catharines-based reporter for the Welland Tribune. Reach him via email: kris.dube@niagaradailies.com SHARE: DAKAR, Senegal (AP) Ghana on Thursday became the first country to approve a new malaria vaccine for young children, one that officials hope will offer better protection against the disease that kills hundreds of thousands every year. Final results from late-stage trials have not yet been published, and the vaccine is under review at the World Health Organization. Preliminary results from early testing of the new vaccine, developed at the University of Oxford, have suggested the vaccine is far more effective than the only malaria vaccine now authorized for use by the WHO. Late-stage testing of the vaccine still is underway in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania, with results expected later this year. Results from an earlier trial released last year showed that in children vaccinated in Burkina Faso, the vaccine was up to 80% effective depending how much of an immune-boosting ingredient was included in the shots. The WHO has already rolled out a pilot program of the worlds first authorized malaria vaccine, piloted in three African countries, including Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. But that vaccine, sold by GlaxoSmithKline as Mosquirix, is about 30% effective. That vaccine is saving lives in the three pilot countries and has been delivered to over 1.4 million kids, according to Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman. Jasarevic said its advisory panel on malaria vaccines is reviewing available information on the new vaccine but is waiting for more data about its safety and efficacy from ongoing trials. Initial results appear promising, he wrote in an email. We would welcome a second malaria vaccine that is safe and efficacious and approved by WHO to complement the roll-out of the first malaria vaccine, he said. Its not clear how soon the new vaccine will be available. Ghanas Food and Drug Authority approved its use for children ages 5 months to 36 months, the group at highest risk of death from malaria, its developers said in a statement. Once the new Oxford vaccine is in use, Ghanaian health officials will weigh the pros and cons before making a final decision on which one is more effective, said Kwame Amponsa-Achiano the head of Ghanas immunization program. Ghana is currently using the WHO-approved vaccine. The new vaccine can be manufactured at large scale and modest cost, its developers say. The Serum Institute of India says it could produce up to 100 million doses depending on demand, which will in turn depend on approval from the WHO. Ghanas decision to approve the vaccine quickly was welcomed by health officials on the continent. (The) more we wait (the) more well have thousands of children dying from malaria, said Halidou Tinto, a malaria researcher who is leading the vaccine trial in Burkina Faso. ___ Associated Press reporters Francis Kokutse in Accra, Ghana, Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed. SHARE: From what we know so far, Jack Douglas Teixeira is no Chelsea Manning. But the classified U.S. military intelligence he allegedly leaked could have even more impact on the Ukrainian battlefield and in diplomatic circles than the files for which Manning, a junior intelligence analyst in Iraq, was convicted of releasing to the world through WikiLeaks. Hes no Edward Snowden either. The criminal case against Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the U.S. Air Force National Guard in Massachusetts, appears to have none of the ethical underpinnings or digital sophistication that were the hallmarks of the Snowden affair, in which files stolen from the National Security Agency were released to expose the activities of U.S. intelligence agencies. Nor are there any indications that whoever was behind the leaked Pentagon documents took the sort of evasive measures that Snowden now a Russian citizen and Moscow resident took to avoid detection, arrest and capture. The charges against Teixeira have not been tested in a courtroom, but what we have here, at least on first read, looks more like a case of boasting and bravado by a youngish American serviceman to younger, impressionable members of an online community united by their shared love of videogames. It appears the documents were posted online in an attempt to impress, rather than to hinder an unjust cause or shame the worlds most powerful army into changing its ways. The photos of secret documents and other pieces of diplomatic and military information that Teixeira is alleged to have posted online are real-time sensitive not harmful merely in retrospect, not just potentially harmful for future conflicts, not simply embarrassing. This Pentagon leak deals with in-the-works plans for the war in Ukraine, where a broad and, at times, unwieldy alliance of western nations are co-ordinating military support in the fight against Russia as best they can. One document from February revealed that Ukraines air defences could be out of missiles within the month, if their munition stocks havent already been depleted. Others have revealed just how deeply embedded American spy agencies are in the administrations of allies (Israel, South Korea, Ukraine) as well as enemies (Russia, China). Perhaps the most strategically damaging detail that has emerged is the timetable for Ukraines long-awaited spring counteroffensive. According to one document, that effort to push Russian forces back toward their own country was to have begun on April 30 with 12 Ukrainian brigades. You dont need to be a general to know that the element of surprise is one of the keys to military success. And it doesnt take a tactician to recognize that Ukraine, the U.S. and all the others involved in the countrys defence are now scrambling to come up with new war plans on the fly, as the muddy Ukrainian soil firms up enough to facilitate the rapid movement of tanks and troops. The United States has a long history of dissidents going public with top-secret information for purpose that the leakers feel outstrips their professional oaths to secrecy. Daniel Ellsberg made that calculation in 1971 when he leaked the Pentagon Papers to the New York Times, saying that the U.S. government was hiding the extent of its nefarious activities during the Vietnam War. A few years later, Deep Throat later revealed to be Mark Felt, then-associate director of the FBI went to the Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein of the Washington Post to reveal that the political rot exposed in the break-in at the Watergate Hotel went right to the top of Richard Nixons White House. Contrast Felt and Ellsberg with suspect Teixeira, who the Times reported was known to his online pals as O.G. on a private social-media group dubbed Thug Shaker Central where members came together over a shared love of guns, racist online memes and videogames. The Post, which interviewed one of the teenage members of the group, said that O.G. initially wrote up the contents of the classified material and shared it with other members, but felt that his audience was not sufficiently appreciative of the material being presented to them. The leaker then began posting photos of the documents to the group. Among them, the Post reported, were satellite imagery from the battlefield in Ukraine and close-up spy-plane photos of the Chinese spy balloon that was discovered floating across North America earlier this year. Those posts reportedly hundreds of them to a closed group of about 30 individuals from around the world eventually popped up on other, more popular, less exclusive social-media platforms. Theyre now circulating on Telegram and Twitter, so millions around the world can get a sneak peek into the world of American intelligence. There are already calls, in the wake of Teixeiras arrest, to review and further restrict the number of those who can receive, read and transmit military secrets with the power to turn the tide of an active war. On the basis of the facts that have emerged to date, this would seem like a prudent course of action and the bare minimum. Yet the impacts of these leaked documents may never be fully known. They could emerge months from now. Its also possible that the biggest, most damaging secrets are still to come. Eighty years ago, the U.S. Office of War Information coined the famous phrase, Loose lips might sink ships. In the absence of a principled justification for such a damaging leak, it would seem time for that all-American slogan to be refreshed for the modern age, as a reminder to those who should know better that online photos can carry lethal, real-world risks. Allan Woods is a Montreal-based staff reporter for the Star. He covers global and national affairs. Follow him on Twitter: @WoodsAllan Read more about: SHARE: KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) The Taliban have shared a rare, months-old audio message from their reclusive supreme leader in which he purportedly says that Afghanistan would be ruined without justice handed out by the countrys new rulers. The Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, an Islamic scholar, almost never appears in public and hardly ever leaves the Taliban heartland in southern Kandahar province. He surrounds himself with other religious scholars and allies who oppose education and work for women. Only one known photo of him, years old, exists. He was named the Taliban leader in 2016, after a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan killed his predecessor, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour. Since the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021, Akhundzada has traveled to Kabul only once, to give a speech to a gathering of clerics. However, he was not shown in the media at the time and appeared with his back to the audience. The audio recording was shared on Twitter by the main Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Wednesday. In it, a voice that Mujahid says belongs to Akhundzada declares that justice is an instrument for the survival of the Taliban government. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify that the voice on the audio message is Akhundzadas. But if there is no justice, and there is oppression, selfishness, murders and revenge, as well as killings without courts, this country will be ruined, says the voice, then adds that this can be prevented through the right decision of religious scholars and its proper implementation by the government. According to the spokesman, the recording was from a speech given five or six months ago to Taliban officials at an unspecified location. There was no word on why the recording was released at this time. Pakistan-based journalist Ahmed Rashid, who has written several books about the Taliban, said the clip addressed none of the issues facing the Taliban, such as womens rights and the countrys deepening humanitarian crisis. There doesnt seem to be a political purpose to this clip. Its very unusual to hear from him, Rashid said, adding that its irrelevant to the population. In January, Mujahid tweeted that Akhundzada met religious scholars from different provinces. He also tweeted about the leaders February meeting with commanders and other high-ranking security officials. Akhundzada appears to have taken a stronger hand in directing domestic policy. He ordered women and girls barred from universities and schools after the sixth grade. He has also issued the edicts barring Afghan women from working for non-governmental organizations and the United Nations. Read more about: SHARE: EAST LANSING, Mich. (AP) Anyone who wants to buy a gun in Michigan will have to undergo a background check, and gun owners will be required to safely store all firearms and ammunition when around minors under new laws signed Thursday by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. The signing took place on the Michigan State University campus in East Lansing, where a gunman killed three students and injured five others two months ago. Flanked by students and gun safety advocates, Whitmer, a graduate of MSU, told the more than 100 people in attendance to buckle up, were going to continue this work. Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country, Whitmer said. We dont have to live like this and today, we are showing we are not going to anymore. The legislation is part of a sweeping 11-bill gun safety package that was introduced in the weeks following the MSU shooting but was predominately drafted after the 2021 Oxford High School shooting in which four students were killed. The bills saw little movement at the time with Republicans in control of the Legislature. Gun safety advocates, who poured into the state Capitol on Thursday afternoon, cheered loudly from the gallery above the House chamber as Democrats voted to approve red flag laws, also known as extreme risk protection orders. The Senate passed the measures in March but will need to give final approval on several amendments before the bills are sent to Whitmer. The Democratic governor has said she would sign the package if and when it gets to her desk. Extreme risk protection orders are intended to temporarily remove guns from people with potentially violent behavior to stop them from hurting themselves or others. An Associated Press investigation last year found that many U.S. states barely use the red flag laws. Under the legislation signed Thursday, criminal background checks will be required for anyone buying a rifle or shotgun, which had previously only been required for purchases of pistols. The safe storage bills will require gun owners to keep unloaded firearms in a locked storage box or container when it is reasonably known that a minor is or is likely to be present on the premises. The laws will go into effect next year. Safe storage requirements gained momentum after Ethan Crumbley, who was 15 years old at the time, killed four classmates and wounded seven other people at Oxford High School. Afterward, he admitting using a gun that was not locked in a box at home and had been purchased for him by his father. His parents, James and Jennifer Crumbley, have been charged with involuntary manslaughter for the acts of Ethan, who has pleaded guilty to terrorism and first-degree murder charges. Supporters have also said the safe storage requirements will protect teenagers from using firearms in suicide attempts. Calling gun violence a uniquely American problem, Whitmer drew attention to mass shootings across the country during her remarks Thursday, specifically referencing recent shootings in Nashville and Louisville. Numerous state legislatures across the country are debating ways to address gun violence. A shooting in downtown Louisville this week was the 15th mass killing of the year in the U.S. in which four or more people were killed other than the perpetrator. That is the most during the first 100 days of a calendar year since 2009. The U.S. is sharply divided over what steps, if any, to take in the face of violence that involves firearms. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, an expected Republican presidential candidate who visited Michigan last week, signed a bill this month that allows people in his state to carry concealed firearms without a permit, and without training or a background check. It takes effect July 1. SHARE: Politicians are blaming some newsworthy violent crimes on the bail system. The solution, they say, is bail reform. Bail reform is an attempt to make it harder for people charged in certain circumstances to get released on bail. If bail reform is not the solution politicians say it is, we are throwing away money and compromising public safety. It costs approximately $302 per day to keep one person in jail in Ontario. If the cost of denying bail for a year was a person, it would be on the Sunshine List. I will let you in on a secret. Bail reform is not the solution politicians say it is. Two recent murders show how bail reform misses the mark. Gabriel Magalhaes was stabbed to death in the Keele subway station. The 16-year-olds alleged murderer was not on bail. Bail reform would not have prevented this tragedy. OPP Constable Greg Pierzchala was killed in December. His alleged murderer, Randall McKenzie, was on bail for a previous violent offence against a peace officer. At the same time, there was a warrant for McKenzies arrest. The bail system was ready to take McKenzie off of the street. For reasons that the police need to explain, the police did not use the warrant to arrest McKenzie. The failure here was not the law, but the police failing to use the law. There is another argument tied in with bail reform. Violent offenders, once convicted, should not be back on the streets where they can harm the public. This is an argument for sentencing reform. The United States tried this. It has not worked. Moreover, increasing the length of sentences has nothing to do with bail reform. I will let you in on another secret. Bail reform largely exists already. Do you want people who allegedly commit a crime while on bail to be held in jail unless they can show why they should be released? Thats already the law. The same goes for people who allegedly possess a gun while they are prohibited from doing so. There are more deserving arguments against bail reform aside from it being poor fiscal policy. Academics have thought about this issue from a broad perspective. Lawyers experience the bail system at the ground level. Both are saying the same thing. Bail reform is a knee-jerk answer to a complex question. Bail reform is a punishing experience for those who will be unreasonably denied bail. Bail reform is possibly unconstitutional. That should tug at your heart strings. But if it does not, know that it will pull at your wallet. Instead of locking people up to keep us safe on transit, we could put that money into lowering transit fares. Politicians need to look past bail reform and turn their attention toward a solution that actually makes us safer. Chris Sewrattan is a lawyer at Sewrattan Criminal Lawyers Professional Corporation. He teaches criminal procedure at the Lincoln Alexander School of Law at Toronto Metropolitan University. SHARE: VANCOUVER - Federal Public Safety Minister Marco Mendicino says Chinese community members in Vancouver have told him of intimidation, harassment and abuse linked to foreign governments or their proxies, confirming the need for a foreign agent registry. Mendicino said he met Wednesday with a robust cross-section of people from the communities. The results, he said, reinforced the need for a registry of agents who are acting on behalf of foreign governments in Canada. Foreign interference is a phenomenon that has existed for many years, but it has become a more insidious threat to our national security landscape, Mendicino said after the meeting. And so thats why we have (been), and will continue to be, very proactive in putting in place the people, the resources and the tools that are necessary to combat foreign interference. The federal government announced in March that it wants to hear from Canadians on creating a foreign influence transparency registry to help prevent meddling in Canadas affairs. The process will continue until May. The minister did not disclose exactly who was invited to Wednesdays meeting, only that it included community advocates, business leaders and representatives. Mendicino said some indicated they fear retaliation, so he chose to host the discussions in a safe and inclusive environment where the privacy of those speaking out would be protected. The issue of foreign interference has been under debate amid media reports citing unnamed security sources and classified documents that warned China had tried to interfere in the last two federal elections, as well as the recent municipal election in Vancouver. The requirement that someone be registered to act on behalf of a foreign government thus making their actions more transparent has been in place in the United States since 1938 and was introduced in Australia five years ago. But Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus national security adviser Jody Thomas said in a memo last August that a registry could elicit public pushback, since countries like Russia have used it as a tool to silence activists and shut down organizations critical of government. Mendicino said he heard similar concerns at Wednesdays meeting, with some people expressing concerns about how a person would be labelled as an agent. The minister said a properly calibrated registry should alleviate not deepen such fears. By bringing sunlight and transparency to the table, we are able to ensure that those foreign activities and diplomatic activities are being done in a way that is transparent, Mendicino said. Mendicino was joined at the meeting by Richmond Centre MP Wilson Miao and Steveston-Richmond East MP Parm Bains. Both Liberals defeated incumbent Conservatives in the 2021 federal election. Mendicino dismissed a question about whether foreign interference might have helped Miao or Bains. I want to be very clear that MPs Bains and Miao are two hard-working colleagues who were elected by their respective constituents in their respective ridings by Canadians and Canadians alone, Mendicino said. And we are confident in the integrity of the elections of 2019 and 2021, as was verified by two independent panels. Mendicino said the 2023 budget earmarks $50 million for law enforcement and national security agencies to directly support and protect Canadians from intimidation or harassment stemming from foreign interference. When you take all of that and you add to it the creation of this registry, Canadians can be confident that the government of Canada is doing everything that is necessary to protect our economy, to protect our communities, and to protect Canadians from foreign interference. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: , ", , , . . VANCOUVER - British Columbia Emergency Health Services has released grim statistics on the toxic drug crisis ahead of the seventh anniversary of the province declaring a public health emergency. B.C. set records in March for the most overdose calls in one day, the highest 30-day average of overdose calls and the most consecutive days where paramedics attended 100 or more poisonings. The province is also on pace to set a new record for poisoning calls in a year and match its annual record for the most naloxone doses administered to reverse the effects of opioids. B.C. was the first jurisdiction in Canada to declare a public health emergency over increasing overdoses on April 14, 2016. Overdose deaths had reached 474 in 2015, a 30 per cent increase from the year before, and the government said more people were dying every month. Last year, the toxic drug supply claimed nearly 2,300 lives in B.C. Leslie McBain, one of the founding members of the advocacy group Moms Stop the Harm, said the number of illicit drug poisoning calls are devastating, but not surprising. The drug supply has been getting more toxic and theres not enough testing available for people who use drugs to know what they are consuming, she said. Its a crapshoot because there are new things (in the drugs) and in different strengths, theres no consistency around the drugs, and theres still, obviously, people who need these drugs. Its the perfect storm. The data shows B.C. recorded an average of 119.9 overdoses a day in March. The previous 30-day high was 116.2 recorded from July to August 2021. From March 15 to April 2, Emergency Health Services was notified of 100 or more poisonings on each of those 19 days. The previous record for consecutive days was 15, set in August 2021. On March 22, 2023, paramedics responded to a total of 205 poisoning calls in B.C., a new provincial daily record exceeding the previous mark of 203 on Jan. 19, 2022. McBain, whose 25-year-old son Jordan died in 2014 of a pharmaceutical drug overdose, remembers feeling optimistic when B.C. declared the emergency, believing it would start the momentum needed for change. I would have never predicted, I could have never predicted, that it would just get worse and worse and worse, she said. The public face of the emergency in the early years was medical health officer Dr. Perry Kendall. Now retired, Kendall told The Canadian Press that had those in power realized how toxic the supply of drugs would become, they may have worked sooner to increase access to a safe supply. What I think was needed at the time, had we but known and its still very contentious is the whole issue of increasing safe supply and actually getting enough good medications in stock for people who are actually trying to get into treatment, he said. Kendall said declaring an emergency was meant to increase public awareness and require data around overdoses and deaths to be released more quickly. A working group was pulled together to organize the emergency response. We introduced overdose prevention sites, the minister ordered the regional health authorities to open up overdose prevention sites where the need was, the coroner was able to give us information on a rapid basis we got a significant budget to add to the response, he said. Kendall said it appeared at first that their efforts were having some impact. Deaths levelled out at the 1,500 range in 2017 and 2018 before dropping below 1,000 in 2019. And then COVID struck, he said. People just didnt have access to supervised consumption sites, to overdose prevention sites, that they needed, and the numbers rebounded in 2020, in 2021 and 2022. Kendall is an advocate for both national decriminalization of drugs and a Canada-wide safe supply program. Prohibition and criminalization and stigma have not made life better for many people. They have not stopped people using drugs, theyve just made the drugs a whole lot more dangerous, he said. And so, the experiment with decriminalization is one factor that might help to reduce stigma and ameliorate the problem, but its not enough. He said theres an ethical duty to make drugs safer with a regulated supply that adults can access so that they know what theyre consuming. I think until we can either come up with a mechanism of changing peoples characters on a huge scale so theyre not interested in using mind-altering substances and I obviously dont think were going to be able to do that or else we create a regulated supply that is safer, he said. Seven years later, McBain said she sees signs of improvements in B.C. for policies to help drug users but that its not moving nearly fast enough. The need for safe supply is still front of mind, the same way it was in 2016, she said. McBain noted that several people die every day in the province and when you multiply that number by another one, two or three years, until there is a safe supply, thousands more will by killed by toxic drugs. So, you know, we need to treat this like the emergency that it is, that was declared those seven years ago, and it doesnt seem like its being treated as an emergency. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA - The union representing the largest number of federal public servants announced a countrywide strike mandate on Wednesday. The Public Service Alliance of Canada says workers are ready to strike at any time, and whether they do is dependent on how bargaining with the Liberal government goes in the coming days. In the event of a strike, many federal services from taxes to passport renewals could be affected with departments and agencies now signalling which essential services will continue during a strike, and which may be disrupted. Heres the lay of the land. Canada Revenue Agency: The agency announced its own strike mandate last Friday. In the event of a strike, benefit payments would be prioritized and the Canadian Child Benefit would continue. The CRA is encouraging people to file their taxes online due to delays in processing some income tax and benefit returns, particularly those filed by paper. There may be longer wait times at contact centres. Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Canadian Coast Guard: Fisheries and Oceans Canadas conservation and protection program, health and safety-related fishery closures along with the Canadian Coast Guards search and rescue, environmental response and icebreaking services will still be running but may be operating at reduced administrative capacity. Some services that may be partially or fully disrupted include Canadian Coast Guard lighthouses, wrecked vessels, and licensing and funding programs by Fisheries and Oceans. Canadian Transportation Agency: The agency says it will ensure that the national transportation system will continue to run. There may be some delays to things like dispute resolution and information provision. Employment and Social Development Canada: Essential services such as the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, employment insurance and social insurance numbers will be maintained. However, there could be processing delays and longer wait times. The delivery of passports would be limited to clients experiencing humanitarian or emergency situations. There would also be partial processing delays to the Temporary Foreign Worker program, the Canada Education Savings Bond, the Canada Disability Savings Grant and the Canada Disability Savings Bond. Global Affairs Canada: The department says it will maintain essential services such as travel advisories, the EduCanada program and international scholarships program. Services at missions abroad, document authentication services, import and export permits, the CanExport program and international assistance programming may be partially or fully impacted. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada: Expect delays for most services, including processing applications, in-person appointments and citizenship ceremonies, passport services and contacting the department. Services offered by outside organizations would still be available, and online applications, accounts and emergency services will be maintained. Library and Archives Canada: Service points in Ottawa, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Halifax along with services for the Government of Canada, galleries, libraries, archives and museums will be maintained. There could be delays to ordering archival and published material, requesting copies, making access-to-information requests, making licensing or copyright requests and for services to publishers. Royal Canadian Mounted Police: Regular police services would continue across the country, but services such as administrative support, media relations, web updates and access to RCMP buildings may be disrupted. Transport Canada: Essential services would be maintained but services such as public outreach, regulatory work, aircraft services, issuance of licenses, certificates and registrations, transportation security clearances and other motor vehicle safety hotlines could be partially or fully disrupted. Veteran Affairs Canada: In the event of a strike, periodic payments to veterans would continue uninterrupted. That includes disability benefits, income replacement benefits and additional compensation for pain and suffering. However, the department anticipates a reduced ability to process new payments. New benefit requests or those that are already in the queue will be prioritized on a needs basis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship. Read more about: SHARE: A group of protesters under the aegis of The Natives, on Wednesday, appealed to the presidential candidate of Labour Party, Peter Obi, and his counterpart in the Peoples Democratic Party, Atiku Abubakar, not to abandon the country following their loss in the February 25 poll. But in swift response, Atiku, through his Special Assistant on Communications, Phrank Shaibu, slammed the protesters, saying he did not owe the group an explanation of travel itinerary. The call by the group came barely one week after Obi came under attack over a leaked audio where he allegedly described the 2023 elections as a religious war. While denying the allegation, Obi had tweeted via his official Twitter handle that he was under pressure to leave the country Reacting to Obi, the Director of New Media of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Fani-Kayode, had on his Twitter handle, said Obi was free to leave the country. Please do us all a big favour and go! Sooner the better and never come back! Fani-Kayode wrote. But addressing newsmen during their peaceful protest in Abuja on Wednesday, Convener of The Natives, Smart Edward, urged Obi, Atiku and other dejected candidates not to embark on exile out of frustration. While urging them to accept the outcome of the presidential election as declared by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Smart disclosed that there was nowhere in the world where perfect elections are conducted. He said, We are hearing rumours that some presidential candidates of various party have started leaving the country. This is a trademark of any politician who is just an opportunist. @We, therefore, call on our respected Labour Party candidate, His Excellency Peter Obi, to please stay in the country because his talents, ability and contributions are needed in this country. As a patriot, he doesnt need to go on exile. We are also hearing that the PDP candidate, His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, will soon be on his way back to Dubai. Whether he has gone or about to leave, we appeal to him to stay back because his valuable contributions are needed in the country. We encourage all of them to stay back like President Muhammadu Buhari stayed back because this is the process of contributing to development of our democracy and Nigeria. For Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, his party has lost elections twice. But he won this one through proper collaboration and we are asking all to work together for growth our beloved Nigeria and its democracy. But when contacted, Shaibu lashed out at the group, saying, Atiku does not owe the group his travel details. He decides when or not to travel. Rather than waste their energy on frivolities, they should call on the man they claimed they elected to return to the country. The man that they said has been elected is nowhere to be found. He is the man whose whereabouts should worry them. They should look for him and encourage him to return to the country. Spokesperson of the Atiku Abubakar presidential campaign, Daniel Bwala, has said the British government apologised to Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, over his detention at Heathrow Airport. Recall that Obi was, on Friday, accosted by an immigration official at the Heathrow Airport in London, and handed a detention note. In a statement on Wednesday by the spokesman for the Campaign Council, Diran Onifade, the LP presidential candidate was later released after being questioned for identity duplication, which suggests that someone had been impersonating Obi in London. Taking to his Twitter account on Thursday, Bwala claimed that the British government has apologised to Obi for illegally serving him a detention note. He wrote: British government apologised to Peter Obi for illegally serving him a detention note. Can you now put a respek on his name? We are now waiting for US government to apologise to Tinubu for illegally collecting the forfeited dollars. Asiwaju fans oya start throwing the insults. However, a well-placed member of the Obi/Datti presidential campaign council could not confirm that the British government tendered an apology to Obi for the aforesaid incident. Also, when the UK Immigration office was contacted on the matter, it said it does not speak to individual issues. Olalekan Jacob Ponle, known as Mr Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud. He also agreed to forfeit $8 million in proceeds of wire fraud as well as luxury cars and watches to the foreign government. Woodberry, a known associate of the now-imprisoned internet fraudster, Ramon Abbas, better known as Hushpuppi, recently in a plea declaration submitted at the United States District Court of the Northern District of Illinois Eastern Division on April 6, pleaded guilty to count one of the indictments. According to his plea agreement, he is required to pay back the sum of $8 million he fraudulently received from the seven companies that he scammed. Defendant understands that by pleading guilty, he will subject to forfeiture to the United States all right, title, and interest that he has in any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence, stated the document containing Mr Ponles signed plea declaration. Woodberry was also asked to waive his rights to the luxury cars, and designer watches he had stashed in Dubai. The high-end automobiles include Rolls Royce Cullinan with vehicle no J9153, Lamborghini Urus (N4973) and Mercedes-Benz G-class (G68816). Other items seized are four Rolex watches, one Patek Philippe watch, three Audemars Piguet watches, three gold and diamond-studded earrings, and six gold neck chains. Last year, he forfeited 151.8 Bitcoin to the American government. On June 10, 2020, Woodberry was arrested in Dubai alongside Ramon Hushpuppi Abbas, who is currently serving an 11-year sentence for a similar fraud charge. Prior to his arrest, Woodberry was known for rocking and flaunting expensive designer wear and showing off his illicit wealth to his massive Instagram followers, the majority of whom had no idea his luxury lifestyle was funded by cybercrime. The Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, has lambasted the Coalition of Northern Group, CNG, over its stance on the renewed call for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB. It was reported that the spokesperson of CNG, Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, had in a statement on Saturday, called on the Federal Government to disregard the call for Kanus release, describing it as unpatriotic. The group urged the FG to prosecute Nnamdi Kanu to a logical conclusion, saying it would be bad to set a bad precedent of regional leaders interfering with the course of justice. Reacting, COSEYL, in a statement by its President-General, Goodluck Ibem, on Wednesday, tackled the Northern group, saying if they were patriotic enough, they would have condemned the incessant killings going on in many parts of the nation. The federal government is duty bound by law to obey the Federal Court of Appeal Judgement releasing Kanu from DSS custody before appealing the matter at the Supreme Court. Anything short of that is an illegality. The same CNG claiming to be patriotic have never for once condemned the heinous killings by murderous Fulani terrorists and Jihadists parading as herdsmen. The failure to obey court judgement releasing Nnamdi Kanu will cause mishaps and unnecessary devastation and drive the country over the brink into a catastrophe as strict obedience to court judgements remains the centripetal force holding the sovereignty of any nation, the statement read. Senator Samuel Anyanwu, the National Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has described his victory at the partys Imo State governorship primary election as divinely orchestrated. Anyanwu emerged unopposed as the PDP Governorship flagbearer during Wednesdays primary election conducted in Owerri. He garnered 802 yes votes cast during the election. Speaking to newsmen at the end of the exercise, Anyanwu reaffirmed his total submission and commitment to the will of God. Anyanwu urged the party faithful and the people of Imo to let God finish what he has started. Its with humility and the greatest sense of responsibility that I accept this divinely orchestrated nomination, Anyanwu said. He continued, Ill work with you and for you. I thank the Almighty God for his infinite mercies and I thank the leaders of our party in Imo for working hard to set the process that has brought about my emergence in motion. I pledge to pursue an issue-based campaign that would usher in a people-oriented government. Together, we shall achieve the Imo of our dream, he said. Presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Peter Obi, on Thursday, refuted a report that the British government has tendered an apology over his detention by immigration officials. The former Anambra governor was reportedly detained by immigration officials at Heathrow Airport in London over alleged impersonation. A report, however, emerged on Wednesday that the British government has apologized to Obi over his treatment at the Airport. But Obi, in a statement issued by Diran Onifade, Head, Media and Communications of the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Council debunked the report, saying they are not aware of such an apology. We would like to state emphatically that we are not aware of any such apology and have not issued any statement whatsoever, in that regard. While we continue to examine any dubious or political motive, on the part of the perpetrators of the identity theft, We have every confidence in the ability of the British authorities to resolve the matter, to a conclusion the statement added. Some international media organisations and Think tanks have admitted that they were misinformed on the chances of the Labour Party candidate, Peter Obi, in winning the 2023 Presidential polls. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, disclosed this in London when he concluded his engagements and meetings with the media houses and Policy Institutes. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the minister was in Washington and London to defend the legitimacy of the just concluded general elections and correct the imbalance in the skewed narrative which had pervaded the air on the polls. Addressing newsmen at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House, London, where he concluded his engagements, the minister said his mission abroad was very successful. We have been able to correct the imbalance in the reporting and we are leaving today with a better feeling. Most of the people we met agreed with us that they had been misinformed and they over-relied on social media hype, he said. The minister said not until he educated them, many were not even aware of the requirements to win the presidential election in Nigeria. He said he pointed out to them that, in addition to plurality of votes, a candidate must have one quarter of votes cast in two thirds of the states which translates to 25 states before being declared winner. When we told many of those we met that the Labour Party scored one third of votes in only 15 of the 36 states they were shocked. We also told them there is no pathway to victory for either the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) or Labour Party because they did not meet the requirements to be declared winner, he said. Mohammed said he was also able to explain the edge the All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Sen. Bola Tinubu had over the two other major contenders, Obi and Atiku Abubakar of the PDP, though they all won in 12 states each. We explained to them that it is not enough for you to win 12 states but what you scored in other states is also very important. For instance, in addition to winning 12 states, the APC came second in 19 other states with very high scores, he said. The minister said he also informed the media houses and think tanks that it was impossible for any party without national spread and grassroots base to win the Presidential election. Mohammed said he gave the instance of the Labour Party which scored only 315,000 votes in the entire North-East zone and 350,000 in North-West because its candidate was barely known and unpopular there. He said, whereas in the same North-East and North West, where the APC and its candidate are popular, the vote scored in each of the zones was over two million. Unfortunately, with all these facts on ground, they earlier believed that Obi won the election. This was because of the wrong mindset they had before the polls based on the hyped activities of his followers on social media. They also developed the wrong mindset based on skewed and very unrepresentative opinion polls especially by Bloomberg which was uncritically reported by other international media. However, I am living in the U.S.A. and the UK satisfied because the wrong perceptions had been corrected and were changing, he said. The minister was asked whether the INEC Chairman, Prof. Yakubu Mahmoud, fulfilled his promise made at the Chatham House in January to deliver free, fair, credible polls and let the peoples votes count. Mohammed said the INEC Chairman walked his talk on the promise. He explained that contrary to the belief out there, the INEC Chairman did not promise that he was going to transmit elections electronically. Our laws today say all election management systems are done physically and manually. There is this misunderstanding about the INEC Result Viewing Centre (IREV). IREV is not about collation and transmission of election. It is a platform for transparency to ensure that whatever is entered into Form EC8A is transmitted into IREV so that everyone can see it, he said. NAN reports that while in the U.S. the minister had engagements with international media platforms, including the Washington Post, Voice of America, Associated Press and Foreign Policy Magazine. He was also at the Reuters News Agency; The Politico, an international political newspaper, and Zenger News, a channel that publishes its contents on Forbes. Among the international Think tanks he engaged with were the United States Institute of Peace, Hudson Institute, The Atlantic Council and Wilson Institute. He was also at the Council on Foreign Relations, a well versed think tank on African affairs and foreign relations chaired by a Nigerian, Dr Ebenezer Obadare. In London, Mohammed engaged with The Economist, The Guardian, African Confidential, The Spectator, Times Radio and Africa Report. He also met with the Think tanks, Royal African Society, the Royal United Service Institute and the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House. A trader, identified as Dayo Bankole, was on Wednesday shot dead, while several others were injured during a robbery attack at a popular phone market, otherwise known as computer village in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. Our correspondent gathered that an eight-man gang of armed robbers stormed the market, located at Ibara, the commercial centre of Abeokuta on motorcycles in broad daylight and started shooting sporadically. It was gathered that the incident caused panic in the area as people scampered to safety to avoid being shot. However, the traders later summoned the courage to go after their attackers and got one of them arrested. Our correspondent further gathered that the deceased died while receiving treatment at the General Hospital, Ijaye Abeokuta. Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Oyeyemi, said the police successfully repelled the armed robbery gang. Oyeyemi in a statement on Thursday morning said, The armed robbery gang stormed the market at about 5:30 p.m, started shooting sporadically, and carting away expensive phones. He disclosed that a distress call was made to the police at Ibara division and the DPO of Ibara division, Abayomi Adeniji, immediately mobilised his anti-robbery and surveillance teams in collaboration with men of the Amotekun corps to the scene. He said, The armed robbery gang numbering about eight, stormed the market popularly known as TARMARC at about 5:30 p.m, started shooting sporadically and carting away expensive phones. Distress call was quickly made to the police at Ibara divisional headquarters, consequence upon which the DPO Ibara division, CSP Abayomi Adeniji quickly mobilised his anti-robbery and surveillance teams in collaboration with men of Amotekun corps and moved to the scene. On sighting the policemen, the robbers engaged them in gun battle, but due to the superior firepower of the policemen, the hoodlums took to their heels. They were hotly chased and with the assistance of the market men, one of the robbers later identified as Adeniji Sakiru 32-year-old was apprehended. Unfortunately, one Dayo Bankole, a trader in the market, who was shot by the robbers gave up the ghost while receiving treatment at General Hospital Ijaye Abeokuta. Recovered from the arrested robber are one double barrel locally made gun and assorted Criminal charms. The PPRO, however, said the outgoing Commissioner of Police now AIG, Frank Mba, has directed that the suspect be transferred to State Criminal Investigation Departments for discreet investigation. Oyeyemi said he equally ordered a massive manhunt for the remaining members of the gang with the view to bringing them to justice. He, therefore, appealed to members of the public, especially hospitals, to inform the police if anybody with a gunshot injury is seen in their area. "The Sea Wolves" is a 1980 war film directed by Andrew V. McLaglen and starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, David Niven, and Trevor Howard. The story is based on the real-life Operation Creek, a British special forces mission during World War II to destroy German ships in neutral Goa, India. The main characters in the film include: Captain Gavin Stewart (played by Gregory Peck) - the leader of the British special forces team tasked with carrying out the mission. Colonel Lewis Pugh (played by Roger Moore) - a retired British Army officer who is recruited by Stewart to help with the mission. Jack Cartwright (played by David Niven) - a former British intelligence officer who provides crucial information and helps plan the operation. Major Yamamitsu (played by Toshiro Mifune) - a Japanese intelligence officer who is stationed in Goa and becomes aware of the British plan. The story begins in 1943, when the British government decides to launch a secret mission to destroy German ships in the neutral port of Goa. Captain Stewart leads a team of retired soldiers, including Colonel Pugh and Jack Cartwright, to carry out the mission. However, they soon discover that the Germans are well-prepared and have set up defenses to protect their ships. As the team tries to carry out their mission, they encounter various challenges, including conflicts with Indian officials, betrayal by a local Goan, and suspicion from the Japanese intelligence officer Major Yamamitsu. Despite these obstacles, the team manages to successfully sink two German ships and damage several others. Overall, "The Sea Wolves" is a thrilling war film that highlights the bravery and resourcefulness of the British soldiers involved in Operation Creek. The film also touches on themes of loyalty, patriotism, and the complexities of war. ** There is a romantic subplot in "The Sea Wolves" involving Colonel Lewis Pugh, played by Roger Moore, and Mrs. Cromwell, played by Barbara Kellerman. They meet and develop feelings for each other while staying at the same hotel in India. They spend time together, and it is implied that they sleep together. However, their romance is brief and does not play a significant role in the overall plot of the film. at 1:10:45 was they sleep together https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kxri_RBJF5Y&t=3940s? ** Barbara Kellerman, Wolf Kahler, and Carmen du Sautoy all played minor roles in "The Sea Wolves," and their characters interacted with various members of the main cast. Here's a brief rundown of their roles and interactions: Barbara Kellerman played the role of Mrs. Cromwell, the wife of one of the soldiers involved in the mission. She interacts mainly with her husband and the other soldiers' wives. Wolf Kahler played the role of a German naval officer who is stationed in Goa to protect the German ships. He interacts with Captain Stewart and the other members of the British special forces team during a tense confrontation. Carmen du Sautoy played the role of Juanita de Cordoba, a beautiful and mysterious woman who is suspected of being a spy for the Germans. She interacts with Jack Cartwright, who is initially attracted to her but later discovers her true allegiance. Atiku Abubakar, presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has asked voters to give the party overwhelming support during the supplementary elections. In a statement released on Thursday, Paul Ibe, Abubakars media adviser, said his principal spoke in Yola, the capital of Adamawa. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) is scheduled to conduct supplementary elections on Saturday. The commission had declared the March 18 governorship election in Adamawa and Kebbi states inconclusive. The supplementary polls will also be conducted in five senatorial districts, 31 federal constituencies, and 58 state constituencies across the country. Abubakar asked voters in the areas where the supplementary polls will take place to come out in large numbers to cast their ballot for the PDP. The former vice-president specifically asked voters in Adamawa and Kebbi to vote overwhelmingly for the PDP governorship candidates. In both Adamawa and Kebbi where supplementary elections shall be held on Saturday, I wish to make a special appeal to the voters in the respective polling units where elections shall be taking place to make sure that the PDP enjoys overwhelming support through their votes, Abubakar was quoted as saying. It is an established fact that the APC has failed the people of this country and, especially, in Kebbi state, the more reason it is incumbent on the electorate to vote them out and return the PDP. Abubakar came second in the February 25 presidential election. He and his party, the PDP, are challenging the election outcome at the tribunal. The Director, New Media sub-committee of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Femi Fani-Kayode, has mocked the presidential candidate of the Labour Party, LP, Peter Obi over encounter with Immigration officers at the Heathrow Airport, United Kingdom. Fani-Kayode, in a statement via his verified Twitter handle on Wednesday, said Obi was accosted, detained and deported back to Nigeria like a commoner by the British authorities. His tweet reads, !Accosted, detained & deported back to Nigeria like a common by the British authorities? Poor @PeterObi! Accosted, detained & deported back to Nigeria like a common criminal by the British authorities? Why didn't you say "yes daddy" to the immigration officer? Or better still why didn't you call the little Englander or the little diva to put in a word for you. Femi Fani-Kayode (@realFFK) April 12, 2023 Why didnt you say yes daddy to the immigration officer? Or better still why didnt you call the little Englander or the little diva to put in a word for you. Recall that the Obi-Datti Presidential Campaign Office, earlier on Wednesday, released a statement, explaining that Obi was allegedly harassed by immigration officers at the Heathrow Airport. The Spokesman for the Campaign Council, Diran Onifade informed that Obi was detained and questioned for a duplication offense, which suggests that someone has been impersonating Obi in London. Onifade said Obi just returned from London, where he celebrated Easter, adding that he was saved by the spontaneous reaction of Nigerians at Heathrow Airport. According to him, Obi arrived the Heathrow Airport in London from Nigeria on Good Friday, April 7, 2023, and joined the queue for the necessary airport protocols when he was accosted by immigration official who handed him a detention note and told him to step aside. He said, He was questioned for a long time and it was very strange for a man who lived for over a decade in that country. Since Obis face was already an international frame, especially for Nigerians, Africans home, and in Diaspora who are likely to be Obidients, the people quickly raised their voices wondering why he was being delayed, Onifade added. He further rthat the immigration officials who were also taken aback at the reaction of the people were forced to reveal to those present Obi was being questioned. Onifade expressed concern that the implication of the offense is that the impersonator could be committing all kinds of weighty crimes and other dubious acts and it would be recorded in Obis name. He said, Since the impersonator is still at large, the scenario is unimaginable as Obi could be implicated in a series of forbidden acts and even be framed in a manner that could be a huge embarrassment to him, his family, his party, the obidient Movement, and indeed Nigeria, where he currently and indisputably remains the conscience of the people. The Obi-Datti Media office said its principal has been under all kinds of attack, since the February 25th, 2023 Presidential election. Two New Jersey State Police troopers and the driver of an SUV were injured in a crash Thursday morning in Atlantic County, authorities said. The crash took place on the Black Horse Pike in Hamilton at around 11 a.m. in the area of milepost 40.3, State Police said. The troopers were taken by ambulance to an area hospital, while the driver of the other vehicle was flown to Cooper University Hospital in Camden. The extent of their injuries wasnt immediately clear. A Cumberland County jury is now deliberating in the case of a man charged with stabbing his neighbor to death after a weeks-long feud ended in a bloody brawl. Zachary T. Latham, 20, is charged with second-degree reckless manslaughter in the May 4, 2020, killing of William T. Durham Sr., 51, a state corrections officer. Faculty on Rutgers Universitys smaller campuses continued picketing Wednesday in the precedent-setting strike called Sunday night. But one issue was theirs alone pay equity with New Brunswick, which continues to be of concern on the sidewalks and at the bargaining table. Rutgers and three unions representing educators, researchers, and clinicians are negotiating over a possible 5% raise on top of any other salary gains for Newark arts and sciences faculty. For Camden, the unions are seeking a 10% raise on top of other salary gains, according to their negotiating proposals. For adjuncts, the unions are asking for a raise plus parity with full-time faculty, who are also paid per class. The major sticking points in negotiations are proposals for the most vulnerable workers, said union spokesman Alan Maass, including job security for adjuncts; guaranteed multi-year funding for graduate students; and better benefits for graduate fellows, who now receive inferior health benefits. According to 2021-2022 figures from the National Center for Education Statistics, lecturers in New Brunswick make, on average, $65,000 a year, compared to $61,000 in Newark and $55,000 in Camden. Lecturers generally include adjuncts, who are typically paid by the class at Rutgers and earn between $5,799 and $7,234 per semester course, based on seniority. Full-time professors on the Rutgers-New Brunswick campus average $161,000 annually, while those in Camden average $148,000, and those in Newark average $174,000. Union officials explained that professor salaries in Newark resulted from a concentration of higher-paid business and law professors there. While Rutgers-Brunswick has a business school, it also has many lower-paid professors in other fields like the humanities, reducing its average salaries. Union payroll figures from 2021 show that associate professors in New Brunswick earned 28% more than those in Camden. Students in Camden pay the same tuition as everyone else, and the experience of our campus is not the same as the experience you would get in New Brunswick in terms of facilities and programming, said Jim Brown, Camden chapter president of the Rutgers AAUP-AFT. We have top-tier research faculty in Camden who are not paid as such. There are inequities were constantly battling. Rutgers spokeswoman Dory Devlin declined to discuss the issue. We would never comment on any of the specific items that are being actively negotiated. Brown said the negotiations were moving closer to equity among the campuses, but its not solved by any means. Noting that Camden has a large percentage of first-generation, non-white students, he added, These are the people who the university prides itself on offering a world-class education to, at a world-class research institution, but those folks arent getting the resources that folks at the flagship campus are getting. According to US News & World Report, 51% of Rutgers-Newark students are Black or Hispanic, compared to 32% in Camden and 21% in New Brunswick. Rutgers-Camden has a higher percentage of white students, 40%, than New Brunswick (34%) and Newark (20%). Manu Chander, the unions Newark chapter president and an associate professor of English, noted that the university devotes fewer resources to the two campuses serving more Black and Hispanic students. The university places lower value on the faculty who serve the Black and brown students in New Jersey, he said. Our teaching conditions are their learning conditions. He has found students to be supportive of the strike. They seem to recognize that how the university values us speaks to how the university values them, he said. According to figures provided by the union Wednesday, graduate and teaching assistants make a median of $30,162.00 over the 10-month academic year, and postdoctoral associates make $55,000 with slight variations per campus. 21 Rutgers Faculty Strike Camden Campus Tuesday in Newark, about three dozen tenured and non-tenured professors, graduate student and adjunct instructors, and undergraduates marched up and down University Avenue through the heart of the Rutgers-Newark campus. They carried signs reading: We R on strike with the variations, for equal pay for equal work, for a living wage, and for dignity and respect. Were all in the same boat, said Dennis Lieto, a tenured professor of legal research at Rutgers Law School, who had joined his lower-paid, less job-secure colleagues on the march. Some of us get a little more respect than others. An adjunct at the law school, Bela August Walker, said he doesnt have to rely on his teaching job to pay the bills but was out in support of those who do and in support of their students. I think to ensure a quality education, we have to make sure the quality of life for their educators is sufficient, he said. Jyl Josephson, a tenured political science professor, watched a noon rally from a distance on the quad in front of Robeson Hall. She said she supported the strike and her lower-paid and part-time colleagues. She noted that lab work, travel, research, and office technology have lagged in Newark. Amal Kaummaph, 22, a senior accounting major who commutes from his home in Union, said his business class had been canceled Tuesday morning but that his chemistry class went on as scheduled. The professor was concerned about us. She wanted us to learn. Thats why she went on with the class, said Kaummaph, whos taking the class to satisfy his science requirement. Im glad she did. Kaummaphs professor did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Tuesday. In Camden on Tuesday, more than two dozen picketers marched outside the Campus Center, most dressed in red and Black shirts that read: Solidarity Rutgers AAUP-AFT. Rachel Barber, an adjunct professor, said she works two jobs to make ends meet. The pay inequity makes it really difficult to give students the service and education they deserve, Barber said. Some of my students ask me for extra help, and it hurts that I have to tell them I dont have the time. Freshman Arcadia Giza, 19, called the campus completely empty. About 80% of the student population just didnt arrive for classes today, she said. I received an email about my class still being in session, and my teacher wasnt even there. Only six of the 25 students in the class showed up. The three striking unions are the Rutgers AAUP-AFT (American Association of University Professors-American Federation of Teachers), representing more than 5,000 full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates, and Educational Opportunity Fund counselors; the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union (PTLFC-AAUP-AFT). representing about 2,700 part-time lecturers; and the AAUP-BHSNJ (American Association of University ProfessorsBiomedical and Health Sciences of New Jersey), representing about 1,300 physicians, researchers, and health science faculty. Brown, the Camden chapter president, said the union efforts focus on those who make the least and are the least protected, whether thats adjuncts or everyone in Camden. Thats the centerpiece of everything weve been fighting for, for the last 10 months, he said. On Wednesday, Newark strikers attended a rally featuring Assemblyman Thomas P. Giblin, D-Essex, and participated in a teach-in outside Conklin Hall featuring Peoples Organization for Progress founder Larry Hamm and Vicki Donaldson, a Rutgers alum who occupied the building in a 1969 protest that resulted in increased minority enrollment in Rutgers campuses. New Brunswick strikers heard a dramatic reading of trade unionist Eugene V. Debs from a drag queen and recent Rutgers alum named Elizabeth New Jersey. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Tina Kelley may be reached at tkelley@njadvancemedia.com. Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or Twitter @DeionRJohhnson A Florida man was found shot on a Newark street early Wednesday and later died from his wound, according to a joint statement from the Newark Police Department and the Essex County Prosecutors Office. Officers were called to the 2100 block of McCarter Highway at 1:45 a.m. and discovered Frensly Bouquet, 27, of Lauderdale Lakes, Florida, suffering from a gunshot wound, the office said. He was pronounced dead at the scene shortly after 4 a.m. No suspects were identified as the deadly shooting remained under investigation Wednesday afternoon. Anyone with information is asked to contact the the offices tips line at 1-877-TIPS-4EC or 1-877-847-7432. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Chris Sheldon may be reached at csheldon@njadvancemedia.com. Newarks school board race this month pits a slate backed by the mayor that includes two incumbents in a district besieged by recent controversies against a team of three challengers with close ties to charter schools. Candidates from The Moving Newark Forward slate backed by Mayor Ras Baraka and the rival Newark Kids Forward slate made up of two charter school teachers and a charter school parent were represented at a candidates forum Wednesday night. Nature and history programs at LSP Nature programs continue at Liberty State Park with Trailblazers Volunteer Day on Saturday, April 15, from 10 a.m. to noon. Volunteers can help the LSP Trailblazers improve the parks trails by removing invasive weeds and vines from the Richard J. Sullivan Natural Area and scraping invasive spotted lanternfly egg cases from trees. The group will meet at the Nature Center located at 275 Freedom Way, Jersey City. The program is recommended for ages 10 and up. Then, history programs continue with Tales from the Morris Canal on Tuesday, April 25, from 1:30 to 3 p.m. The Morris Canal was once a key factor for commerce in the 19th century and made history for its use of inclined planes and locks to transport coal and iron to cities in the Northeast. Visitors can learn the history of the Morris Canal and discover what remains of it in Liberty State Park today. The program will include a 60-minute Power Point presentation and discussion, followed by a walk to the Morris Canal Big Basin. The group will meet at the Information Desk inside the CRRNJ Terminal. The program is recommended for ages 10 and up. Pre-registration is required as space is limited. For more information or to register for a program, contact the Nature Center at 201-915-3400 x503 or email LSPNatureCenter@dep.nj.gov. Children must be accompanied by an adult, and you may register a maximum of six participants per reservation. Pets are not permitted on programs unless they are service animals. HCIA Spring Shredding Day in Union City The Hudson County Improvement Authority is hosting a Shredding Day event in Union City on Saturday, April 15, at 9 a.m. In an effort to accommodate everyone who is planning to participate, you must limit your documents to no more than 40 lbs. Documents will be commercially shredded safely and properly by trained, licensed, and bonded document destruction specialists. Residents may bring documents in any container they wish. The event is open to all Hudson County residents. Hudson residents can also donate their new or gently used reusable bags at the event, which will be sanitized and used for food distribution at local food banks. The event will take place at Jose Marti Freshman Academy, 1800 Summit Ave., Union City. For further information, visit www.hcia.org. Comedy and meditation at Sacred Comedy Every month at Sip Studios, comedy and meditation circles are blended into one event with Sacred Comedy. The next installment of this comedy and wellness hybrid takes place on Saturday, April 15, from 7:30 to 10 p.m. The event includes light group meditation, connective exercises, and standup performances with Myq Kaplan, Venessa Peruda, and Matt Hyams. Admission is $35 online at https://bit.ly/41r3aQi or $40 in-person. There will be a mini pop-up market before the event from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Sip Studios is located at 140 Sip Ave., Jersey City. Early Spring pop culture flea market Jersey City will be hosting an early Spring pop culture flea market at the Grove Street PATH Plaza on Sunday, April 16, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. The event will include local artists, live DJs, vintage clothing, vinyl record dealers, jewelry, and t-shirts among other items. Admission is free. The Grove Street PATH Plaza is located at 100 Christopher Columbus Dr., Jersey City. Jersey City schools to celebrate National Poetry Month Jersey City students will have the opportunity to write poetry, recite poetry and participate in activities that celebrate student voice as well as create a poetry exhibit at Hudson County Community College from April 18 to April 20. The gallery is located on the 6th floor of the Gabert Library, 71 Sip Ave., Jersey City. The exhibit will then be on display at the Five Corners Library and the Miller Library in Jersey City. National Poetry Month takes place in April and is meant to inspire the craft and creativity of poetry as a form of expression. Participating Jersey City public schools include: April 18: William Dickinson High School, 9:30 to 11:15 a.m.; James J. Ferris High School, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 19: Infinity Institute and Innovation High School, 9:30 to 11:15 a.m.; Henry Snyder High School, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. April 20: McNair Academic High School and Liberty High School, 9:30 to 11:15 a.m.; Abraham Lincoln High School, 11:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Hell Yea! Comedy in North Bergen Hell Yea! Comedy returns to the Wawa Social Club in North Bergen on Friday, April 21, at 8:30 p.m. Admission is free and there will be a cash bar. There will also be a 50/50 raffle. The show is hosted by Erin Wohlberg and features the comedic talents of Ryan Rummel, Yusef Gof, Emily Paige, Steve Pocaro, Zack McMahon, and Josh Wells. A free open mic will follow the show. Wawa Social Club Inc. is located at 1438 51st St., North Bergen. Walk for Bladder Cancer in Secaucus Bladder Cancer Advocacy Networks (BCAN) is holding a Cancer Walk in Secaucus on Sunday May 7, at Harmon Cove organized by Barbara Milton, Kay Osborn, the Secaucus Mayor and Town Council and the Recreation Department of Harmon Cove. A rally will be held at noon followed by a walk around the Harmon Cove community and the Hackensack River. All are welcome to attend. Barbara Milton, one of the organizers, has been living with bladder cancer since 2012 and is fighting stage 4 cancer along with her wife, Kay Osborn. This is the second year they have organized the event in their hometown and community to raise awareness and funds about the disease. Milton is a former columnist for The Jersey Journal. Bladder Cancer claims the lives of 17,000 people a year with hundreds of thousands being diagnosed with it annually. The goal is to raise $3,000 dollars to support BCAN and their work. The walk is approximately 30 minutes, and the event will end at 12:45 p.m. Hoboken Shelters Back to the 80s Dance Party returns The Hoboken Shelter will host its Back to the 80s Dance Party live and in-person at the Hoboken Elks Lodge on May 6. The Hoboken Shelter pressed pause on the Spring event for the past three years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. While on hiatus, the Shelter itself remained open and available to the most vulnerable in the Hoboken community every day of the pandemic. The Shelter provided meals, showers, and a full range of supportive services including skills training and resume building workshops. During the years of the pandemic, the Shelter transitioned more than 200 people from the streets to the Shelter and into homes and independent lives of their own. Currently, the Shelter continues transforming lives by serving 500 meals daily, safely housing 50 people nightly, and hosting 1,000 showers weekly. The Hoboken Shelter served its three millionth meal on March 3. Proceeds from the Back to the 80s Dance Party will allow the Shelter to carry on the mission it has had since opening its doors in 1982: ending homelessness and hunger one person at a time. Tickets for the Back to the 80s Dance Party are available for purchase online from now through April 30 at $60 per person and will be available online from May 1 to May 6 and at the event itself at $80 per person. For more information about the Back to the 80s Dance Party and tickets, go to https://www.hobokenshelter.org/80s-dance-party. SZA has extended her S.O.S Tour with more U.S. tour dates. Due to the popularity of the first leg of the tour, SZA will now tour in the U.S. again on Sept. 20 in Miami, Florida and wrap up on Oct. 29 in Phoenix, Arizona. SZA will perform at the Prudential Center in Newark on Oct. 1 while on tour. She also will play two nights at Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Oct. 6-7. This summer, the music artist kick off the European leg of The S.O.S Tour on June 1 in the Netherlands. How to buy tickets to see SZA in concert Tickets for the extended S.O.S Tour Dates go on sale to the public on April 14 at 12 p.m. through Ticketmaster. However, if fans want to buy tickets on the secondary market, they are available on StubHub, MegaSeats, Vivid Seats, TicketNetwork and TicketCity. First-time Vivid Seats users can save $20 on ticket orders over $200 with promo code NJ20 at checkout. TicketCity users can save $15 on orders over $400 using promo code TCITYSAVE15 at checkout. A complete list of SZAs S.O.S Tour show dates is available here. More upcoming tours heading to the Prudential Center SZA is not the only artist heading to the Prudential Center while on tour. Here is a list of upcoming tours heading to the Prudential Center that you dont want to miss. RELATED STORIES ABOUT LIVE EVENTS: Taylor Swift tour 2023: Full schedule, dates, where to buy tickets Bruce Springsteen tickets are under $60 for just-added N.J. concert How much are Drake tickets? Best prices, cheapest seats for Its All A Blur Tour Queen and Adam Lambert tour 2023: How to buy tickets for 8 new show dates Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicole Iuzzolino can be reached at niuzzolino@njadvancemedia.com. Have a tip? Tell us at nj.com/tips. A man allegedly forced a female student into a dorm room at a New Jersey university where he assaulted her for hours, Morris County Prosecutor Robert J. Carroll said. Jayshawn E. Moore, 21, of Jersey City, allegedly physically and sexually assaulted the victim, threatening her verbally and with a knife at Fairleigh Dickson Universitys Florham Campus on Sunday, officials said. The attack is considered an act of domestic violence, as Moore has no affiliation with the school but is known to the victim, prosecutors said. The University is deeply concerned and saddened about the recently reported incident of domestic violence on our campus, said Dina Schipper, executive director of communications and news for the university. We take any form of violence seriously and are committed to providing a safe and supportive environment for all members of our community. Schipper added that the assault was an isolated incident and that there is no ongoing threat to the campus. Moore was arrested Tuesday and charged with two counts of kidnapping, four counts of aggravated sexual assault, burglary, terroristic threats and weapons offenses, authorities said. He is being held in Morris County Correctional Facility pending a pretrial detention hearing on Monday, April 17. Attorney information was not immediately available. Officials are asking anyone with additional information about the incident to call the Morris County Prosecutors Office Major Crimes Unit at 973-285-6200. Editors Note: Reach the New Jersey Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-572-SAFE (7233). Reach the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), chat with their advocates here or text LOVEIS to 22522. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Fox News illegally withheld evidence in the $1.6bn defamation lawsuit filed against it by Dominion Systems, the maker of voting machines that Fox's presenters falsely and knowingly claimed were rigged. At a pre-trial hearing today, Delaware Superior Court Judge Eric M. Davis told the company's lawyers they were liars and that evidence was "missing." "I need people to tell me the truth," Davis said as he dressed down the network's attorneys. "And, by the way, omission is a lie." Today's actions by the judge follow a bombshell courtroom disclosure yesterday that Rupert Murdoch is formally designated as executive chairman of Fox News in addition to serving as the chair of its parent company Fox Corp. Judge Davis yesterday said Fox lawyers previously had "represented to him more than once" that Murdoch was not an officer for the subsidiary cable network. The issue holds great import for the media magnate and the parent company as its lawyers argue he had no influence over Fox's broadcasts amplifying the lies about Dominion. It isn't over because it hasn't even started yet, but Fox News does seem in quite a pickle. A key mistake seems to be promoting Suzanne Scott to CEO after she was seen to have dealt swiftly and cheaply with the sexual harassment claims around Roger Ailes and other executives at the network. However good she was at that, emails disclosed in the case suggest that she's completely focused on feeding the right-wing political circus, and the legality of lying about people (or anything else) never crossed her mind. PHOENIX (AP) Native American tribal members fighting plans for an enormous copper mine on land they consider sacred say they are increasingly worried U.S. officials will publish an environmental review paving the way for the project even as they await a federal appeals court ruling in the case. A U.S. government attorney said during last months hearing of a full panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals that the final environmental impact study for construction of the mine at Oak Flat, Arizona, could be published this spring. State authorities on Wednesday charged two New Jersey police chiefs over sexual misconduct claims in separate cases, one accused of a pattern of sex assault and another of lying to cover up an affair with a subordinate. Manville Police Chief Thomas Herbst faces two counts of sexual assault, two counts of official misconduct and one count of a pattern of official misconduct, according to state prosecutors. He had been on paid leave since last year, when a female employee filed a lawsuit alleging sexual abuse. A fire broke out in a Camden row home early Wednesday morning and damaged the Nick Virgilio Writers House, a center located next door to the home that provides educational programs to children. Firefighters were dispatched to 1803 Broadway in Camden around 12:40 a.m. on Wednesday and found the residential home in flames, according to Camden Fire Chief Michael Harper. One person that was in the home at the time of the fire was taken to a nearby hospital with significant burns and is currently in a stable condition, city officials said. Five other people were displaced and the Red Cross was on site to provide temporary placement for them, according to Camden police spokesperson Dan Keashen. The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the citys fire marshal, according to officials. Though first responders were able to contain the blaze to the home, the next-door building suffered from smoke damage. The Nick Virgilio Writers House shares a wall with the row home. Firefighters had to break into the windows and ceiling of the community center to contain the fire, said Robin Palley, president of the Nick Virgilio Writers House Association. We are very, very lucky we only have smoke damage, said Palley. We do not have water damage and the fire did not fully penetrate the firewall. The building was renovated in 2010 and turned into a community center named after Nick Virgilio, the Camden poet whos credited with popularizing the Hakiu in the United States. In the evenings and after school, the building offers writing workshops for children through a Philadelphia-based educational program called Mighty Writers. The center is currently working towards fixing the damage and figuring out how long itll be until it can operate programs again. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com Students and other protestors gathered at Voorhees Mall at Rutgers College Avenue campus in downtown New Brunswick on Tuesday, enthusiastically singing rewritten lyrics to Bruce Channels 1961 song, Hey! Baby, as the faculty strike at the university stretches into its third day. In a video posted to Twitter, with the caption, Rutgers strike, peak euphoria unmute this one, with the heart eyes emoji, the crowd sings, Hey, Holloway, I want to know if youll raise my wage, to the tune of Channels song, referring to Rutgers University President Jonathan Holloway. The original lines lyrics are: Hey, baby, I want to know if youll be my girl. (You may recognize it as part of the famous Dirty Dancing movie soundtrack.) The mostly impromptu sing along included banging on frying pans and other instruments. A union spokesman confirmed the video was shot around 3 p.m. on Tuesday. The protests continued on Wednesday, the third day of the strike, with music and a drag show performance, followed by a march, in the afternoon. Protesters Wednesday were heard singing the re-written song again. More than 9,000 professors, part-time lecturers and graduate assistants, among others, have been picketing across the state universitys campuses in New Brunswick, Newark and Camden after 10 months of contract negotiations between the school and three unions stalled. It is the first faculty strike in Rutgers 257-year history. Even as some classes have been canceled with about three remaining weeks in the spring semester, some students are on campus and participating in protests. The striking unions and Rutgers negotiators are continuing to meet in Gov. Phil Murphys office in the statehouse in Trenton. Union leaders said they were more hopeful after two days of bargaining. These are tough issues, and its exhausting work, but weve made more progress in these two days than we have in many months, said Rebecca Givan, the president of the largest of the three striking unions, the Rutgers AAUP-AFT, in a statement. Thats a testament to Governor Murphys influence in overcoming the resistance of the administration to some of our core demands, she said. We thank him for that. And we thank our members for continuing to demonstrate on the picket line and at rallies our commitment to the values of supporting the most vulnerable among us, including our students and communities. Dory Devlin, a spokeswoman for the university, confirmed negotiations are ongoing in a statement released earlier on Wednesday morning. The university and union negotiating teams have been hard at work, day and night, to reach an agreement, she said. Negotiations today start again at 10 a.m. and we are encouraged by the progress we are making with the help and leadership of the Governors office and his most senior staff. We will keep working until we have fair contracts for all of our employees. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Brianna Kudisch may be reached at bkudisch@njadvancemedia.com. Lawmakers from high-tax states, including New Jersey, are making another push to eliminate the cap on the federal deduction for state and local taxes with a new bipartisan effort. The tax break, commonly called the SALT deduction, was capped at $10,000 for some taxpayers and eliminated entirely for others starting with the 2018 tax year. U.S. Reps. Josh Gottheimer, D-5th Dist., and Rob Menendez, D-8th Dist., announced the new measure, co-sponsored by nearly 50 representatives from mostly high-tax states, at a Thursday press conference in Paramus. Now more than ever, we need to restore the SALT deduction, lower taxes, and make life more affordable for Jersey families, Gottheimer said. Every time Im in a Jersey diner, I hear about SALT, lower taxes, and affordability from teachers, police, nurses, and firefighters, he said. Today, with members from across the country and political spectrum, were taking concrete action to help make life more affordable for millions of hardworking Jersey families. At least 10 of New Jerseys 12 representatives signed on to the bill. Rep. Bill Pascrell, D-9th Dist., told NJ Advance Media he first wants to know how it will be funded. I am not ready today to sign onto legislation that is not at least partially paid for and will continue working with bipartisan committee colleagues on this priority, said Pascrell, a member of the House Ways and Means Committee. We need to get this right. Every day I know New Jerseyans are being hosed and want this cap smashed. Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-2nd Dist., did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The current deduction is limited to $10,000 for individual taxpayers earning less than $100,000 and for married taxpayers who file a joint return and earn less than $200,000. Unless lawmakers act, the provision wont expire until end of 2025, when SALT will be fully deductible. The deduction was capped starting with the 2018 tax year after the passage of the Republican Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, leading to a nonstop push and pull between legislators from high-tax states such as New Jersey, New York and California and those who represent residents in states with lower taxes. Get politics news like this right to your inbox with the N.J. Politics newsletter. Add your email below and hit "subscribe" While efforts to restore the tax break have so far been unsuccessful the House passed legislation four times since 2019 to restore deduction but the Senate did not take up the measures the 2022 election sent more Republicans from high-tax states to Washington, D.C., leading to more support for action on SALT. Its not only Democrats that back this bipartisan bill its also supported by enough Republicans in Blue States to block Red State attempts to gut SALT further and prevent it from coming back, Gottheimer said. So far, eight House Republicans have signed onto the bill. Earlier this year, Rep. Mikie Sherrill, D-11th Dist., introduced a bill that would increase the deduction until the 2025 limits expire. Some 80% of those who would benefit from lifting the SALT cap had an average income of $216,000 or less, according to the progressive Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy. It said that 30% of New Jerseyans would get a tax cut, more residents than in any other state. Please subscribe now and support the local journalism YOU rely on and trust. Karin Price Mueller may be reached at KPriceMueller@NJAdvanceMedia.com. Follow her on Twitter at @KPMueller. EDITORS NOTE: Interested in the business and networking side of cannabis? NJ Cannabis Insider is hosting a cannabis business networking event on May 18 . Tickets are limited. East Orange City Council has approved a legal weed dispensary applicant represented by a lobbying firm belonging to New Jerseys state Democratic Chair Leroy Jones Jr. while rejecting a local applicant who had pointed out that connection, a move that drew scorn from residents at a council meeting. Jones, an East Orange resident, is chairman of the Essex County Democratic Committee and the East Orange Democratic Municipal Committee Chairman. Hes also held the post of city administrator. Precious Osagie-Erese, co-founder of the local applicant for a dispensary, Roll-Up Life, had been critical of Nimbus Holdings being represented in the municipalitys selection process by Jones lobbying firm, 1868 Public Affairs. Both the lobbying firm and Nimbus Holdings, in interviews prior to the council meeting, denied the arrangement gave way to undue influence. The governors office declined comment. In the wake of winning and being approved by a large majority of the council, Nimbus Holdings did not comment at the meeting. An outspoken dissenting voice against the move to award Nimbus and deny Roll-Up Life was councilwoman Brittany Claybrooks, who said the municipality should welcome its residents to come back and start businesses. I wish I could tell you that you live in that kind of community, but you do not as long as the same people are in power, Claybrooks said to those in attendance. Council Chair Christopher Awe, who also serves in the same Second Ward as Claybrooks, previously asserted in another interview that there was no influence from Jones and defended the municipalitys decision. Theres been no aspect of this process that has not been transparent, he said. Osagie-Erese said that even though her team had the top scoring application, the municipality still went in the opposite direction. This is terrible and its going to be etched into my heart because those who know me, know how much I love the city, she said at the meeting. I will remember that the city doesnt always love you back. Roll-Up Lifes other co-founder, Tiyahnn Bryant, said at the meeting that the decision was painful. Honestly, Ive never been this publicly hurt before Im shaking, he said. Belinda Jackson, an East Orange resident who had come out to support Roll-Up Life, said the action made should be a clarion call for upcoming city council elections. I am disappointed, but not surprised, she said. Outside of the city hall lobby was a screen with a powerpoint presentation. The presentation showcased local community members and encouraged solidarity within East Orange. Roll-Up Life was shown in the presentation. After that meeting, Osagie-Erese released a public statement and came to an agonizing conclusion about a city that could showcase her business in their lobby and reject her business inside the council chamber after she pointed out a potential conflict of interest. Once again, politics prevailed over merit. Politics prevailed over hope. Politics prevailed over ethics, she said. Jelani Gibson is content lead for NJ Cannabis Insider. He may be reached at jgibson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @jelanigibson1 and on LinkedIn. Trenton will pay $1.9 million to the estate of a 29-year-old man who died following a struggle with police officers in which they restrained him facedown in the dirt of a parking lot median. Stephen Dolceamores family sued the city for wrongful death, charging that officers used excessive force and ignored his pleas for help as they took him into custody after responding to a call reporting he was acting erratically and walking in traffic. The U.S. Attorneys Office is reviewing the 2021 Newark police killing of an unarmed South Orange man during a controversial New Years Day shooting that ignited months of protests. Matthew Reilly, a spokesperson for U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger, confirmed Wednesday that the office was examining the case of Carl Dorsey III but said he could not comment further. Reillys confirmation followed an hourlong, closed-door meeting at the U.S. Attorneys Office in Newark that included Sellinger, members of his staff, Dorseys stepdad, the familys attorney and a local civil rights activist. Robert Tarver, the Dorsey family attorney, said that during the meeting, We discussed our concerns and the facts of the case. U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger gave us a commitment that his office will be and has been reviewing the case, Tarver said. Dorsey, a 39-year-old father of seven, was unarmed on Jan. 1, 2021, when Newark Detective Rod Simpkins shot him near South 11th Street and Woodland Avenue, minutes into the New Year, according to the state Attorney Generals Office, which investigates deaths involving police. Officers were responding to reports of gunfire in the area. A video of the incident showed that upon arriving and exiting his unmarked police vehicle, Simpkins and Dorsey collided when Dorsey, who was running, bumped into Simpkins, knocking him to the ground. Then, Simpkins shot Dorsey, the video showed. For months, the Dorsey family, their supporters, and local activists protested Dorseys killing, which they charged was unjustified, and awaited the outcome of the Attorney Generals investigation into his death. In January, the Attorney Generals Office announced that a state grand jury had declined to indict Simpkins in Dorseys killing. The investigation included interviews of witnesses, collection of forensic evidence, review of video and autopsy results from the medical examiner, Attorney General Matthew Platkins office said at that time. The grand jury concluded no criminal charges should be filed against Detective Rod Simpkins of the Newark Police Department, the officer who fired his service weapon. Afterward, the Dorsey family and local activists sought federal intervention, which they got Wednesday. They also have sued the Newark Police Department, citing police misconduct and wrongful death. It was great to have U.S. Attorney Sellinger physically come speak to the family, said activist Larry Hamm, chairman of the Newark-based Peoples Organization for Progress. But its a long way between here and receiving justice for Carl. Abdul-Malik Muhammad, Dorseys stepfather, also welcomed the meeting with Sellinger. We have our good days and bad, he said. Our family thought it was over after the grand jurys decision. But, Sellinger reaching out to us gave us a new continued sense of hope. Jeffrey Weber, president of the Newark Fraternal Order of Police, said he sympathized with the Dorsey family in losing a loved one when told Thursday of the U.S. Attorneys review. Still, he said, Im confident they will come to the same conclusion as every other agency that has investigated this matter. Catherine Adams, a spokesperson for the Newark Department of Public Safety, referred questions to the state attorney generals office. Its really their case at this point, Adams said. The Attorney Generals office did not respond to requests for comment. Staff writer Steve Strunsky contributed to this report. Thank you for relying on us to provide the local news you can trust. Please consider supporting NJ.com with a voluntary subscription. Deion Johnson may be reached at djohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Instagram at @DeionRJohnson or Twitter @DeionRJohhnson A fugitive accused of opening fire at a hookah lounge leaving one dead and two injured last year has been apprehended in Virginia, Ocean County Prosecutor Bradley D. Billhimer said. Eric Manzanares, 23, of Asbury Park, was taken into custody in Prince William County on April 7, officials said. Law enforcement in Ocean County issued a warrant for his arrest on Aug. 27, 2022, the date of the attack, on charges of murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses, prosecutors said. His name was also entered in the National Crime Information Database, authorities said. Police rushed to reports of gunfire around 1:20 a.m. at Top Tier Hookah Lounge on Hooper Avenue in Toms River, officials said. Officers located three men inside the business who had been shot, according to police. One of the men, Nymere Tinsley, 25, of Brick, died at the scene, officials said. A 29-year-old Neptune Township man was shot in the stomach and a 24-year-old Asbury Park man suffered a wound to his elbow, authorities said. Both were treated for their injuries at Jersey Shore University Medical Center and released. Days after the shooting, Toms River officials revoked the business certificate of occupancy and ordered it to close due to zoning, safety and code violations, Mayor Maurice Hill said. This business has been under investigation by our quality of life task force due to multiple complaints, Hill said in a statement in Aug. 2022. The task force found several violations and instructed the business owners to bring the establishment into compliance. Those instructions were ignored. The investigation into Saturdays shooting confirmed that the business owners were operating in violation of their approved status as a retail-only establishment. Manzanares is being held at Prince William-Manassas Regional Adult Detention Center in Manassas, Virginia, pending extradition to New Jersey, prosecutors said. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Firefighters are gaining the upper hand on a wildfire off Route 23 in West Milford that has increased to 400 acres, officials said Thursday. The blaze is now 40% contained, the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said in a Thursday afternoon update. Though the fire grew overnight from 140 acres on Wednesday evening, it was 40% contained shortly after 3 p.m., the state Forest Fire Service said. The fire was not at all contained at about 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. Echo Lake Road remains closed, West Milford police said Thursday morning. Our plan is to continue to burn out fuel, vegetation, and to get in front of this fire so that this fire will slowly diminish, Greg McLaughlin, chief of the New Jersey Forest Fire Service, said at a late morning press conference not far from the fire. Firefighters will put water on it, to cool off the hot spots that are burning and flaring up as the fire burns through what were calling our containment area, he said. The state Forest Fire Service said no structures are threatened. But, West Milford Mayor Michele Dale said again Thursday that homes on Blakely Lane off Echo Lake are at risk and firefighters are covering residences there. Fire officials have brought in a single engineer air tanker, which can drop off 800 gallons of water at a time, to put out hot spots, McLaughlin said. Helicopters are also dropping water on the fire, according to John Cecil, an assistant commissioner from the state Department of Environmental Protection. Firefighters are attacking the fire from Route 23 on the south side of the blaze and Echo Lake Road on the east, according to McLaguhlin. Fire crews are using water dosers on the west side of the fire and Echo Lake is being used to contain the fire on the north side due to steep terrain, officials said. The state Forest Fire Service said its prepared for wildfires around this time of year, with April being the peak season. In part, this is because the deciduous vegetation still is in leaf off and the sun is shining longer, McLaughlin said. Longer days, warmer days, the fuel, vegetation, leaves, pine needles on the floor dry out quickly, theres a lot of air movementOnce a fire gets started, that fire is susceptible to spreading very quickly. The wildfire is the first in West Milford since a 2009 blaze consumed 75 acres, Assistant Division Forest Fire Warden Eric Weber said. Meanwhile, a much larger Ocean County wildfire more than 100 miles south in Manchester is now 100% contained, officials said Thursday. That fire burned 3,859 acres. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. The Church of AmbrosiaOakland's controversial church dedicated to the psychedelic sacrament of magic mushroomsis opening a location in San Francisco. It costs $5/month to join the Oakland churchcalled Zide Doorand members can buy psilocybin mushrooms and tax-free weed. In 2020, police raided Zide Door for the alleged sale of cannabis without permit. From SFGate: [Founder/pastor Dave] Hodges has bigger fears than the (SF) church's being overwhelmed by opening-day crowds. There's a chance the cops could shut the whole thing down and arrest Hodges on his first day, since the drugs he considers a religious sacrament are illegal under local, state and federal laws. But to him, it's worth taking legal risks to spread his religion. "Yes, there is a risk. But for me, it's defending access to God," Hodges told SFGATE. "It's a new city we are dealing with, and I won't be at all surprised if they raid us. But that just means a new court case." [] There are now hundreds of psychedelic churches around the country, but Zide Door's open distribution of psilocybin puts it in a category of its own. Most American psychedelic churches provide psychedelic drugs to their members only after extensive vetting. Zide Door's approach is the opposite, with open access to almost anyone who is willing to sign up for the church and provide money[] "I know what I'm supposed to be doing. This is coming from gods on the other side that want humans to be able to have these experiences and be able to connect and be able to understand what the truth is," Hodges said. Rutgers University staff continued to strike for the third day Wednesday, with crowds gathering near all three campuses for eight hours of picketing as union leaders said negotiations will likely take a long time. Picketing began at 9 a.m., with larger groups gathering in the afternoon. A drag show drew large crowds to Scott Hall at the New Brunswick College Avenue Campus in the afternoon before the group led a march to the administration building. The drag queen who led the demonstration, named Elizabeth, New Jersey wore a blue wig and American flag themed dress. Some of my favorite professors and the best people I ever met at Rutgers are people affected by this, said Elizabeth, 24, a 2022 graduate with a double major in visual arts and history. Im here for them, they need attention and theres nothing more attention-grabbing than a drag queen. Union leaders spent Monday and Tuesday bargaining in Trenton with members of Gov. Phil Murphys staff. The leaders have said they are hopeful that they will get a contract agreement soon and have thanked the governor for intervening. These are tough issues, and its exhausting work, but weve made more progress in these two days than we have in many months, said Rutgers AAUP-AFT President Rebecca Givan. Thats a testament to Governor Murphys influence in overcoming the resistance of the administration to some of our core demands. Three unions are on strike at the university Rutgers AAUP-AFT, which represents full-time faculty, graduate workers, postdoctoral associates and counselors; the Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union, which represents adjunct or part-time lecturers; and AAUP-BHSNJ, which represents health science faculty in Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences facilities. Union leaders said picketing lines grew stronger and longer by Wednesday, as more undergraduate students and supporters from outside the university started showing up. The march from Cook campus, where I was, took us through the streets of downtown New Brunswick, said Rutgers Adjunct Faculty Union President Amy Higer said. It was an inspiring moment, and thats especially due to the excitement and passion of our students and our supporters in the communities around our campuses. They know that our fight is their fight, too. Our proposals arent just about wages; they are about fighting for all the vulnerable. Leaders have said negotiations are expected to continue, as the contract is complex. So it takes a lot of time to get everybody heard and everybodys issues there, said AAUP-BHSNJ President Catherine Monteleone. But were not gonna step on each others toes. Were united to di this together, so it will take a while. Union leaders said in a public videoconference Wednesday night that they continue to make progress, particularly on the economic side. Picketers also gathered outside Board of Governors member Mark Manigans house in Maplewood on Wednesday night. About 25 demonstrators showed up, hoping to get the attention of the board member. Graduates need a living wage and all graduate workers need to be in the union and adjuncts need fair pay, graduate fellow Liana Katz said. They have chosen not to agree to that. That is why we are on strike. NJ Advance Media staff writer Tina Kelley contributed to this report. Our journalism needs your support. Please subscribe today to NJ.com. Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com. Ian Happ and the Chicago Cubs have reached an agreement on a three-year contract extension, and probably took a left fielder away from the Yankees, who likely still will be shopping for one at the trade deadline or next offseason. Happ who signed a one-year, $10.85 million contract in the offseason was set to hit free agency following this season, so if he didnt sign the extension, he likely wouldve been traded at the Aug. 1 deadline. And the Yankees, who are trying to get by with Aaron Hicks, Oswaldo Cabrera and overnight sensation Franchy Cordero, probably wouldve been bidding. BUY MLB TICKETS: STUBHUB, VIVID SEATS, TICKETMASTER I really, really wanted to continue to wear this uniform, Happ told the Chicago Sun Times. I really wanted to play with this group of guys, with Nico [Hoerner] and Seiya [Suzuki], and [Jameson] Taillon and Dansby [Swanson,] and the guys that are going to be here. That part of it, and then the city, and the fan base, and what it means. That is the reason why I was willing to discuss a three-year term because if that was what was going to get it done, that meant a lot to me. The players mentioned are under contract with the Cubs through at least 2026. Hoerner signed a three-year, $35 million extension right before the season. Suzuki, Swanson and Taillon all signed long-term deals over the last two offseasons. Last month, Happ did not seem certain that a deal would be reached. Per Mark Feinsand of MLB.com: Chicagos the place that is home for me and the only thing that Ive ever known. As a player whos only known this, you feel pretty at home in the organization and with the group. It would be weird to wear another jersey; I would love to stay here and I would love to be a part of the next great Cubs team, but well see. Want to bet on MLB? See the best NJ Sports Betting sites Happ had a breakout season with the Cubs last year, racking up 155 hits, including 42 doubles and 17 homers. MORE MLB: - Mets 1st-round pick shines in minor-league debut for someone else - Cardinals top pitching prospect (a N.J. native) is turning heads in minors - Yankees injury updates: Latest on Gleyber Torres hamstring, Carlos Rodons setback and 10 others Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Bridget Hyland may be reached at bhyland@njadvancemedia.com Watertown, NY (13601) Today Partly cloudy this evening followed by some light rain after midnight. Low 36F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Partly cloudy this evening followed by some light rain after midnight. Low 36F. Winds S at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Six-day (Tuesday through Sunday) print subscribers of the Watertown Daily Times are eligible for full access to NNY360, the NNY360 mobile app, and the Watertown Daily Times e-edition, all at no additional cost. If you have an existing six-day print subscription to the Watertown Daily Times, please make sure your email address on file matches your NNY360 account email. You can sign up or manage your print subscription using the options below. Before the pandemic, Doug Braselmans job was to maintain the culinary reputation of Emerils, one of the citys most high-profile restaurants, where he was chef de cuisine. Meanwhile, the dining room at the celebrity chefs flagship was the domain of Ray Gumpert as manager, and as sommelier, its epic wine list had been his responsibility, too. These days, you can find both of them in Chalmette at MeMes Bar & Grille, a restaurant known for oysters and steaks and as the closest thing St. Bernard Parish has to a fine dining destination. Braselman bought Memes earlier this year from its founders, and he is now chef and proprietor. Gumpert is one of his business partners in a separate culinary venture, a private dining concept called the Furloughed Four. He now works with him at MeMes several days a week and is working behind the scenes on MeMes wine program. That includes wine dinners, a special first rendition of which is coming up April 23 (see details below) with a charitable aspect and some guest star wine talent coming to Chalmette. About a 20-minute drive from downtown New Orleans, MeMes plays an important and varied role in a community that otherwise has lots of good cooking but mostly very casual restaurants. In business since 2012, it has the feel of a neighborhood steakhouse married to a Creole Italian restaurant, with its own bar scene, especially around happy hour. With assists from other friends and peers in the business, Braselman is charting a new course for MeMes. Though one thing he is specifically not trying to do is turn MeMes into something like Emerils. We call what we do here 'St. Bernard Parish fine dining,' Braselman said. I want to keep it what it is and elevate it, because for everyone saying dont change anything, I hear others saying we want to see some new stuff. So its a balance of that. Qabil Ashirov Azerbaijan - Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council held its first meeting in Riyadh, Azernews reports, citing the Small and Medium Business Development Agency (SMBDA). SMBDA noted that the representatives of institutions supporting business in Azerbaijan, as well as tourism, agriculture, industry, construction, investment, transport, consulting, etc., and businessmen operating in the sectors are on a visit to Saudi Arabia. The purpose of the visit, which was organized by SMBDA and supported by the Embassy of Azerbaijan in Saudi Arabia, is to expand relations between SME subjects and organizations that provide support and services to entrepreneurs of both countries, opportunities to realize joint business and investment projects with the participation of SMEs, and is a review of the exchange of experience. Within the framework of the visit, the first meeting of the Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council was held in Riyadh. Officials and businessmen from both countries participated in the meeting organized by the Council of Saudi Chambers, the Ministry of Investment, and SMBDA. The meeting heard the possibilities of cooperation between the business circles of Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan in the field of trade and investment, the purpose of establishing the council, and the visit of the Azerbaijani delegation of businessmen of SMBDA to Saudi Arabia. Within the framework of the event, SMBDA and AZPROMO made presentations about business and investment opportunities of Azerbaijan, export potential, support and services provided to local and foreign businessmen, as well as prospects of cooperation in the field of business and trade by Azerbaijani businessmen. The Ministry of Investment and Export Development Authority of Saudi Arabia held presentations on the investment potential of this country, the opportunities created for businessmen, and the products and services produced. In the "B2B" meetings organized after the event, issues such as the exchange of information and experience, opportunities for cooperation, the organization of joint events and meetings, and mutual business missions were discussed between the SMEs of both countries. We should note that the Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council was established in December 2022 based on the Agreement signed between SMBDA and the Council of Saudi Chambers. The Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council, represented by business representatives from both countries, will support entrepreneurs' initiatives, help establish direct relations between them, organize mutual visits, meetings, and various events, and exchange information between businessmen. Following NPR yesterday, PBS is also quitting Twitter after it was tagged as government-funded. "PBS stopped tweeting from our account when we learned of the change and we have no plans to resume at this time," PBS spokesman Jason Phelps said in an email. "We are continuing to monitor the ever-changing situation closely." The spat began after Twitter tagged NPR as "state-affiliated media," a description it also uses for propaganda accounts from Russia and China. Twitter later changed the wording to "government-funded media," but the organization has called the description inaccurate and misleading because it's a nonprofit group with editorial independence. Twitter owner Elon Musk has cited NPR's reliance on US government money, though the Washington-based organization only gets a small fraction of its funding from federal agencies. The label applied to NPR and PBS (previously the baldly false "state-affiliated media") was implies state-run broadcasters with direct government control of editorial content. But NPR and PBS receive only a small percentage of their budgets from taxpayer funds, while other media, and large companies such as Tesla and SpaceX, have received billions over the years. Twitter boss Elon Musk is content to make clear that it's all retaliatory whimsy on his part. The Jefferson Parish Council is handcuffed by state laws and wont be stepping in to force out a gun store located across the street from a River Ridge school, according to council member Deano Bonano. Bonano, who is a Republican, has been contacted by concerned parents of St. Matthews the Apostle School, which admits infants up to seventh graders, and is located across the street from NOLA Guns LLC. In my opinion, this never should have happened, Bonano said in a March 29 Facebook post over the gun shop opening so close to the school. Bonano then told Gambit March 31 he had dedicated a great deal of time working on this issue all week," nevertheless it appears as though parish officials hands are tied. In essence, state laws supersede parish laws and have us handcuffed, Bonano said. River Ridge parents, school staff outraged over gun store opening near playground NOLA Guns LLC is planning a grand opening party April 2 in its strip mall digs just steps away from St. Matthew the Apostle Church and School. Bonano said he is frustrated because he had been in the process of drafting parish legislation to prohibit any gun stores within 1,000 feet of a school. But a parish attorney discovered another state law that prohibits local parish governments from passing any laws that are more restrictive than state laws with respect to sale, possession and carrying of guns, he said. Louisiana state law technically prohibits firearms unless carried by law enforcement within 1,000 feet of a school, but there is also a loophole allowing firearms within 1,000 feet of a school if the guns are on private property, such as in a shop, or personal residence. Bonano said, I am continuing to research possible solutions. After operating quietly and part-time since 2021 without most parents and staff knowing about it NOLA Guns LLC announced earlier this week that it will host a grand opening celebration April 2. The news spread quickly among St. Matthews parents and school staff, largely through social media and group texts. Parents told Gambit they were blindsided and outraged by it. Aaron Weidenhaft, who sends three of his children to school said the parents are uniformly against it. The Archdiocese of New Orleans, which oversees St. Matthews, had issued a joint statement with the school, calling the gun stores location outrageous and deeply concerning. Parents at a River Ridge school are calling on state lawmakers to close a legal loophole that has allowed for a gun store to open across the street from campus, saying it is a danger to their children. After finding out NOLA Guns LLC was celebrating its grand opening across the lane from their schoolyard, parents of St. Matthew The Apostle School and Church are urging lawmakers to create policies that would bar gun shops from opening near schools in the future. The government has failed children once again, wrote St. Matthews parent Kayla Cusachs in an open letter to lawmakers April 2. Jefferson Parish, the state of Louisiana and the federal government failed the students, teachers and parents when the permit was issued and when the loophole was created. She added, The government also failed the gun store owner by allowing this permit to take place initially. It's time for our lawmakers to demand changes to prevent this from happening again." Jefferson Parish is handcuffed by state law in gun store controversy, council member says A gun store opened across the street from a school and parents are upset, but state laws may prevent Jefferson Parish from doing anything about it. Jefferson Parish council member Deano Bonano, who represents the River Ridge area, said he understands parents concerns and said the store opening never should have happened." But he also pointed out the store owner, Trey Rankins, followed all legal procedures to open, and that parish officials hands are tied by state laws that prevent local governments from enacting stricter gun policies than the state. That answer isnt sitting well with most parents at the school. What we want to communicate is that whatever state rep, council rep, senator or any other elected representative is happy to sit back on their hands and say, I cant do anything about this will likely not be supported in the next election, said Aaron Weidenhaft, who sends three of his children to the school. Rankins' gun shop is considered private property and is thus exempt from another state law that bars firearms from being less than 1,000 feet from school campuses. Many parents at the school in the New Orleans suburb are conservative, avid supporters of the second amendment, who say the stores location poses a threat to their childrens safety amid an epidemic of gun violence in American schools. But in addition to the threat of school shooters, many of them fear accidental gunfire coming from across the street. The front door of the gun shop is roughly few hundred feet away from fences that border the parking lot and part of the schoolyard. Rankins previously told Gambit that no customers will be leaving his store with a loaded firearm, but that promise does not assuage parents concerns. "Accidents can and will happen, wrote Cusachs. It may not be tomorrow, but they will have an accident. Parents are also angry that there were no community meetings leading up to the stores opening, and they say they were blindsided by the initial news of the store's opening, which they largely learned about through social media and not public notices. School shootings are on every parents mind of every child in the country, wrote Cusachs. This is not because we do not support the second amendment. This is purely related to location." If the gun store relocates, she said, the majority of the community would be active supporters of this business. Parents and administrators at a River Ridge school are outraged after learning that a gun shop is celebrating its grand opening across the street from their campus. According to a Facebook event page, NOLA Guns LLC is planning a grand opening party April 2 in its strip mall digs just steps away from St. Matthew the Apostle Church and School, which admits infants all the way up to seventh graders. The event's promoter and owner of the gun shop, Trey Rankins, has heralded the ceremony as a community event where he and his wife will serve "drinks and pastalaya" and host a raffle for various gun-related giveaways and discounts on firearm transfers. Parents of the nearby school say they are blindsided by the news of the store's opening, as they learned about it largely through social media. Kayla Cusachs, a mom of two children at St. Matthew's, says she found out about it Tuesday evening in a Facebook group for River Ridge residents. It was posted by a neighbor who asked if anyone knew about this ... I was Googling it, and I looked at the map and its like, 48 feet from the Little Crusaders playground, she said, referring to the school's daycare area for infants and toddlers. Cusachs points out that John Curtis High School also is in the neighborhood, and says the gun shops location puts students of all ages at risk in the area. The Archdiocese of New Orleans, which oversees the school, and St. Matthews administrators issued a joint statement Wednesday night calling the shop's location outrageous and deeply concerning. To put the school students and faculty members in a situation where there is access to guns and ammunition practically next door is unfathomable, they said. We have been in touch with local officials who are aware and working on this issue. Jefferson Parish Council Member Deano Bonano, a Republican whose district encompasses the school and the gun shop, claims he is looking into whether the store's location violates the law though the gun shop owners were given a permit two years ago. Bonano said in a statement March 29 that Jefferson Parish issued a zoning clearance in 2021 to allow the gun shop to open near the school. But now he's wondering if that is legal. This never should have happened, he said. State law prohibits anyone, except a police officer, from carrying a gun within 1,000 feet of the school. Bonano said he is in contact with the school and researching "legal options." As of March 30, however, Bonano said that the gun store is operating legally. State laws do in fact allow for guns to be near a school if they are considered to be on private property, i.e., in a store or in a customer's possession on their way to their car, for example. The owners of NOLA Guns LLC say they have operated their business out of the brick-and-mortar shop in Suite C since being given the permit, though initially they were only there part-time, and with little fanfare or advertising or even a sign in front of Suite C. Their current location is in a strip mall accessible by Jefferson Highway and a small, dead-end side street facing the younger children's schoolyard. At least one parent said he had seen a sign for NOLA Guns LLC located above Suite F, which directly faces the playground, though he said it appeared to be unoccupied for months. Until now, "I never saw the business in operation," says Aaron Weidenhaft, who has three children at St. Matthew's. Trey Rankins denies that he ever operated out of Suite F, and says whoever hung up the sign had placed it above the wrong storefront. It has since been taken down. However, a bigger sign facing Jefferson Highway was erected earlier this week in the parking lot of the strip mall, and Rankins for now has piece of paper taped to the door of Suite C, instead of a more formal sign. Records show, however, that Suite C where Rankins currently operates his business may have been occupied by another tenant until last year. The Rankins also have sold guns online and claim they've never skirted the law. "Weve had the storefront for almost two years, Trey Rankins told Gambit Wednesday night. He said he talked to the permitting department earlier that day, and that they assured him he was "doing everything right." He also wonders why he is being targeted suddenly by parents and high-ranking officials over his business. He argues there is a "long list" of other schools in Jefferson Parish that are less than 1,000 feet away from big-box stores and pawn shops alike that sell firearms. "What about Archbishop Chapelle?" he said. "They're less than 1,000 feet away from an Academy." I think people are just being silly," he added. "Theyre worried about criminals and stray bullets. Theres not going to be any loaded guns in the store." The store sells ammunition and offers gun transfers, but has no shooting range. "We had done everything right, we had the licensing, and even if the law was changed, were grandfathered in," he said. Rankins also said in at least one instance, he donated a gun to a St. Matthew's parent for a charity auction raising money for the school that is now taking a stance against his business. Parents who organized the auction deny that claim. The timing of the stores grand opening has them, and others, especially on edge. Most of the parents and school community say they learned about the gun shop's existence just two days after a school shooter killed six people in Nashville the latest massacre in a country that has been festering with gun violence on school campuses. That just happened, says Cusachs, the mother of two. Youre already nervous sending your kids to school. (Gun violence) is already a fear ... Its not about politics, but the fact that youre 48 feet from school. I think if we knew two years ago, this would have been a discussion much sooner. Weidenhaft told Gambit he also been in contact with other parents through a group text app. The parents are uniformly against this, he said. He added that many parents at the school are conservative gun owners who are opposed to the shop's location. "If you were to walk out of the front door of the gun shop, you can see babies playing in the yard, like 1- and 2-year-olds," Weidenhaft said. Furthermore, he says, there was no community feedback on the shop's opening. "We are not pleased about it; it came out all of a sudden," he said. "There was no public hearing, there was no notice given. The sign (for the shop) went up today. That's when everyone saw it. Everything happened today, and it's absolutely insane ... There's not a single parent thrilled about a gun shop opening 48 feet away from a playground." This story has been updated with additional information about the suite where the store is located as well as an update about state law, which permits gun stores from being open near school because they are considered private property. Faimon Roberts III covers rural communities in Louisiana. His work is supported by a reporting grant from the Microsoft Journalism Initiative and is administered by the Greater New Orleans Foundation. He can be reached at froberts@theadvocate.com. Interim New Orleans Police Superintendent Michelle Woodfork touted a 20% decrease in violent crime in New Orleans in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period last year, saying her efforts to transform the department during her first 100 days as fill-in chief has yielded dividends. A federal government agency's decision about a new Army helicopter program is favorable news for Moog Inc. and Astronics Corp. The Government Accountability Office rejected a protest filed by Sikorsky and Boeing over the Army's selection of a rival bid submitted by Bell Textron to build a next-generation helicopter. Locally based manufacturers Moog and Astronics are part of the team that will support Bell Textron. The total projected value of the contract is about $7.1 billion, according to the GAO. Moog executives believe the program could bring the company as much as $100 million in new business during the peak years of production. And Astronics executives believe the new program could be one of the largest military projects the company has worked on. Programs such as the new helicopter can generate a reliable source of revenues for years, providing stability for suppliers' workforces as other projects ebb and flow. The Army expects the Future Long-Range Assault Aircraft, or FLRAA, to eventually replace the UH-60 Black Hawk utility helicopter, which has been in service for more than 40 years. The Army in December announced it had chosen Bell Textron's submission for the new helicopter, the V-280 Valor, over the Sikorsky-Boeing entry, called the Defiant X. But later that same month, Sikorsky and Boeing filed their protest, asking the GAO to review the Army's selection. The GAO had until early April to issue its decision. La. Gov. John Bel Edwards, center, comes down the House chamber aisle with First Lady Donna Edwards by his side, shaking hands with legislators including Rep. Larry Frieman, R-Abita Springs, right, before addressing members of the House and Senate in a joint session to kick off the opening of the 2023 regular legislative session, Monday, April 10, 2023 at the State Capitol in Baton Rouge, La. Cantrell defends data showing a decrease in violent crime, a Louisiana Waffle House goes viral for its cleanliness, a pro-library billboard is prematurely removed in St. Tammany and more. Here's a look at today's top stories in New Orleans for Wednesday, April 12, 2023. Did you know that you can now submit your own suggested clues for Clue Dat? Play today, and submit your best ideas! Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., joined at left by House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, R-La., applauds after House Republicans passed a sprawling energy package that would counter virtually all of President Joe Biden's agenda to address climate change, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, March 30, 2023. The bill, which now goes to the Senate, would sharply increase domestic production of oil, natural gas and coal, and ease permitting restrictions that delay pipelines, refineries and other projects. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) ORG XMIT: DCSA120 A convicted felon faces a maximum of 20 years in prison after pleading pleaded guilty to drug and gun charges, U.S. Attorney Trini E. Ross announced. Cicelio Dias, also known as Cecelio Diaz, 54, of Buffalo, entered pleas before U.S. District Judge Lawrence J. Vilardo to charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine and being a felon in possession of firearms and ammunition. Prosecutors said that a search warrant executed Sept. 16, 2021, at Dias' residence on Laird Avenu resulted in seizure of 31 grams of powdered cocaine, about 9 grams of crack cocaine, about 21 grams of methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and $2,937 in cash. Also found were a loaded handugn, a semi-automatic rifle and a loaded 9mm pistol with its serial number defaced. Ross noted that Dias was convicted on felony charges in 1999, 2001 and 2014 in Erie County Court and is legally prohibited from having firearms and ammunition. A 3-year-old girl who was mauled by family dogs Thursday morning at a home in Lockport is in critical condition at Oishei Children's Hospital, the Niagara County Sheriff's Office said in a statement. The mauling was under investigation by the sheriff's Criminal Investigation Bureau. About 9:40 a.m., sheriff's received a 911 call that a child had been "attacked by numerous family-owned dogs at a residence on Glendale Drive in the Town of Lockport," sheriff's officials said. Deputies responded with EMS personnel who rendered first-aid. The child was then taken to the hospital. The SPCA of Niagara County took possession of the dogs. A neighbor of Eden Town Supervisor Melissa Hartman, who was accused of repeatedly violating an order of protection obtained by the Hartman family, pleaded guilty earlier this week to a charge of disorderly conduct. After pleading guilty, Luigi Palmieri, 48, was sentenced Tuesday to a one-year conditional discharge by Hamburg Town Justice Gerald P. Gorman. Disorderly conduct is a violation, a lesser charge than a misdemeanor. According to prosecutors, the Hartmans already had an order of protection against Palmieri when, on the evening of May 14, he drove past their house as two of their children were playing outside. He was accused of stopping his vehicle in front of the house "for no legitimate purpose." Palmieri lives next door to the Hartmans on Hillbrook Drive. In addition to the conditional discharge, Gorman issued a final no contact order of protection on behalf of Hartman and her family. Authorities investigated multiple incidents targeting the town supervisor. In October, Palmieri was charged with violating an order of protection stemming from a July 2, 2021, incident when he was accused of setting off a powerful firework near a member of the Hartman family at their home. No one was hurt and that case was adjourned in contemplation of dismissal. Since then, he was accused of violating the protection order multiple times. According to the DA's Office, the grand jury voted to "no bill" some of the original charges against Palmieri meaning it not find sufficient evidence to move forward but voted to charge him with two misdemeanor counts of second-degree criminal contempt. A second man is charged separately with throwing objects into the Hartmans' home, including a dummy pipe bomb. Adam A. Jones has told investigators he was paid to do this, according to police. Last month, Jones pleaded guilty in State Supreme Court to attempted placing a false bomb or hazardous substance, a misdemeanor, and faces up to one year in jail at his May 23 sentencing. The incidents came to public attention last April, when Hartman revealed someone had thrown a partial pipe bomb through a window at 3 a.m. March 28, 2022. Hartman said at a news conference that the pipe bomb, which did not explode, had messages threatening her if she didn't drop out of the Erie County clerks race. Hartman has served as Eden supervisor since 2016, initially as a registered Republican before switching parties to run for Erie County Clerk as a Democrat. She lost the election to Michael P. Kearns in November. Grammy-winning Tabla maestro Sandeep Das and his colleague Rajib Karmakar on Sitar were featured artists at DePauw University April 7-8, 2023, as part of the campus Global Music Experience. Das and Karmakar joined students and the community in a discussion and introduction of the music on Friday night, followed by a concert including the renowned HUM Ensemble Saturday night. In the discussion on Friday, we learned about ancient Ragas and their tie to the rhythms and music over the ages that have inspired the music of Indian and Bollywood films. Ragas have proven their foundation in this music, from classical to popular tunes, and Das and Karmakar are their ambassadors. Born in India, Das was mentored by his Guru from an early age on the Tabla. Debuting at age 17 with Sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, he is one of the leading Indian Tabla virtuosos, collaborating with musicians such as Yo-Yo Ma, performing for over 20 years with the Silk Road Ensemble and joining orchestras around the world. While I could not attend Saturday nights program, Delhi to Istanbul, this performance highlighted the shared heritage of India and Turkey and is the third initiative in Das socially-driven project series, Transcending Borders One Note at a Time. The TBONT project, described as a roadmap for irresistible aural adventures by Downbeat Magazine, is designed to bring together masters of artistic traditions from across the globe to produce new works that are uniquely innovative yet deeply rooted in their original cultural heritage. As Das has brought this music to DePauw, he achieves a goal to take this music beyond the concert hall and into local communities through various outreach activities. With the mission of DePauws Global Music Experience to offer year-round programming focused on musical traditions from different cultures, Sandeep Das, Rajib Karmakar, and the HUM ensemble certainly hit all the marks. All Photographs 2023 Mark Sheldon For more on Sandeep, go here > https://www.sandeepdas.com For more on Rajib, go here > http://sitarrajib.com Sandeep Das Sandeep Das Rajib Karmakar Sandeep Das Rajib Karmakar Sandeep Das Rajib Karmakar Sandeep Das Rajib Karmakar Sandeep Das and Rajib Karmakar The first sign of faculty dissatisfaction with the leadership at Nardin Academy began with a letter to the board of trustees from teachers at the Montessori school in April 2022, nine months after President Sandra Betters began working at Nardin. The next letter came a month later from high school faculty, complaining of low morale due to the new president's aloofness, lack of appreciation for school culture and traditions, and instances of "intimidation." "What we find bewildering and demoralizing is the pervasive sense that the executive leadership seems to believe Nardin is deficient in some deep-seated way," the high school teachers wrote in another letter last September. The gulf between large numbers of Nardin faculty and staff, as well as many parents and alumnae, and the president and board leadership has only grown wider. Turmoil at the 166-year-old Catholic institution centers on Betters, the second-year leader who oversees a college preparatory high school for girls as well as co-ed lower, middle and Montessori schools. Since Betters arrived, enrollment has dropped, 24 faculty and staff members have left and at least one key donor has withheld a pledge to support the school financially. The board of trustees has become divided and many alumnae and parents feel outraged over what is happening, according to documents and statements The Buffalo News has viewed and interviews with 37 present and former faculty and staff members, parents, former students and others with ties to the private institution. "The board leadership has lost the confidence of the alumnae," said Robyn Dorsey, a donor who is withholding a $10,000 pledge. Trocaire-Medaille agreement illustrates challenges for small, private colleges Officials said the agreement will allow Medaille to continue serving its students, employing its faculty and staff, preserving programs that complement many of Trocaires offerings and, they hope, retain relationships with alumni and donors to keep its legacy alive. Betters and Board Chair Tish Van Dyke told The News they and the board have tried to address the dissension, which they said flows from widespread changes at Nardin. Betters was hired with a mandate from the board and the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, a religious order of nuns that founded the school, to make more strides in diversity and equity and to implement other changes to make the school more sustainable for the long term, the two leaders said. "My job is to restore and highlight our Catholic identity, to lean into the values of our founders in embracing all, and look forward and be future-focused in what students need," Betters said. "What I am asking of the school and what I have been hired to do is to make shifts, and change is really hard." Other Catholic schools are also experiencing difficulties trying to make changes to ensure a sustainable future, Betters said. "We have an education crisis, we don't have a Nardin crisis," she said. A majority of faculty members have signed letters to the board critical of Betters' leadership. In the letter high school faculty sent last September, signed by 32 of the 36 teachers, with six writing "anonymous," they expressed "no confidence in the current executive leadership of Nardin Academy." "There is daily evidence that our president is intent on continuing to foment a culture of intimidation, mistrust and harassment that is ignorant of and antithetical to the educational and Catholic values that have been hallmarks of Nardin Academy for more than 160 years," the teachers wrote. "This lack of leadership threatens the reputation, stability and future of the oldest and most respected institution of its kind in Western New York." The frustration intensified across the Nardin community March 24, when, according to several sources, a veteran high school teacher was put on administrative leave by Betters and led out of the school by security in front of faculty and students. The disciplinary action against the teacher came about a week after she let administrators know about a situation she handled in class involving offensive words. Faculty, parents and alumni were outraged over how the teacher was treated, wondering if it was retaliation for signing the faculty letter with concerns about Betters' leadership as well as penning her own letter on the same subject last fall. "That was the final straw for a lot of people," said Jennifer Parks, who has two children enrolled in Nardin. In the past few weeks, letters critical of Betters' leadership have been sent by faculty in the lower and Montessori schools. There have also been letters from 74 former students calling for Betters to be placed on administrative leave, 43 parents demanding more transparency and accountability, and, on Monday, 17 parents and families of second-graders calling for an immediate schoolwide town hall meeting. An online petition seeking Betters' removal, which began March 31 on change.org and claiming to be from Nardin parents and alumni, surpassed 1,000 signatures in two days. 'Change is tough' Betters, 48, said she knew coming to Nardin in July 2021 to replace a popular, longtime president during a pandemic and in a period of a national racial reckoning would be "a big uphill challenge." She and Van Dyke are skeptical of the motivations of those critical of Betters, given the steps the two said the school president and board have taken to address their concerns. "It makes me wonder about the agenda of the folks who would say this, given all we've done as an academy to understand it," Betters said. "Change is tough," Van Dyke said. "We knew, coming from our past president, that we needed to make this shift. Nardin has to be sustainable for the next generation. We cannot remain the same. Some of this tension you're seeing is rooted in this change. I think that's the struggle here." Betters' critics say the issues go far beyond that. "It's not her initiatives that have upset faculty and staff," said Jennifer Westerholt, who resigned as Nardin's director of alumni relations in November 2021. "Employees and alumni support a lot of her ideas, so this was never about change. It's her management style, her treatment of people and her total disregard for Nardin's history and culture." The fallout over Betters' tenure includes alumni and other donors who are warning of withholding financial pledges at a time when enrollment is tight and fundraising challenging. "I signed a $25,000 pledge over five years," Dorsey said. "I have withheld the last $10,000. It would take a change of leadership for me to pay it, and I'm far from alone." Former President Marsha Sullivan, Betters' predecessor, is also withholding financial support provided through her Joy Family Foundation. "I have given much of my time personally and professionally, as well as my charitable resources to Nardin Academy because I believe in Nardin," Sullivan said in a statement. "I fully intend to fulfill my financial promise when I feel the future of the school is sound." Some parents including Jayne Moskal-Smith, whose daughter is a sophomore are threatening to pull their children out of Nardin if there isn't a change in leadership. She hasn't decided what to do about the re-enrollment letter sitting at home. "I've spoken to numerous parents," Moskal-Smith said, "and I'm not the only one who feels that way." Changing of the guard Betters, who grew up in Batavia, has a doctorate in education policy and leadership from American University, with one of her concentrations in social justice and antiracism. She came to Nardin after serving as principal for three years at Our Lady of Mercy Academy on Long Island. "This holistic approach to education Sandra was bringing was so attractive to us," Van Dyke said. Betters' arrival at Nardin ushered in a major change of leadership. The school's former leaders retired all at once the previous month: Sullivan, the longtime president; Rebecca Reeder, a principal of 25 years and more recently senior vice president of academics; and Katie Naughton, a longtime administrator and senior vice president for institutional advancement. Betters has made diversity and equity a top priority. The Nardin Experience Fund, which was started in summer 2020 to cover non-tuition costs so students with fewer resources could benefit from the student experience, has gone from $8,000 to $150,000, she said. Donations for scholarships to aid families who might not otherwise be able to afford Nardin are up 23% during her two years on the job, she said. Diversity, equity and inclusion "is about how you approach the world, and it's not just race, it's not just gender, it's not just sexuality it's all the ways in which we embrace all," Betters said. "It's really hard work and really pushes on every policy we have, every procedure, how we teach and the power dynamic in a classroom. It asks us to interrogate everything we do." She said she has experienced resistance from some faculty in adapting to the changes she's tried to implement. Karen Brown, who Betters hired as the school's second diversity and equity director, praised the school president in a statement. "I share in her commitment for Nardin to be a community where every student can truly say I am welcome, I am heard and I have a place in the Nardin community," Brown said. Bobbie Finocchio, who is leaving her position as vice president of education excellence at the end of the school year, said Betters has had to deal with animosity from faculty. "I did not resign as a result of the president, Dr. Sandra Betters," Finocchio said in a statement. "In fact, she and her commitment to uphold Nardin Academy's mission and vision, founded by the Daughters of the Heart of Mary, is the only reason why I have stayed as long as I did." Two other employees, who asked not to be named because of the controversy, said Betters has improved school-wide communication, pushed the school to be more inclusive and is working to bring the school closer to its Catholic roots. Van Dyke believes an assessment of the school's leadership, in which 90 to 100 people are said to have been interviewed by two attorneys from Bond, Schoeneck & King, offers a path forward for the school. An executive summary is expected to be turned in next week, with the full report to follow for board review in the coming weeks. "The assessment will get to the core of what's going on, using an outside assessor, to give us the facts we need and the path forward we desperately need," Van Dyke said. A committee of the board investigated complaints leveled last spring by upper school faculty. Van Dyke declined to say which board members or how many. "The investigation found no credibility to any of the teacher's claims," she said. On Friday, Van Dyke sent a school-wide email "on behalf of the Board of Trustees of Nardin Academy." The letter said the board recognized "the urgency of the current state of affairs," and listed steps it's taken in the past year in response to ongoing concerns. Van Dyke asked that the Nardin community "withhold judgement" until the assessment was complete and the report's recommendations were considered. She included a letter in support of Betters from Elizabeth Dodge, the U.S. Provincial of the Daughters of the Heart of Mary and the chair of the board's governance committee. Dodge said Betters enjoyed "the unanimous support" of the Daughters. "We believe she is the right leader for Nardin Academy," Dodge wrote. Parent dissatisfaction Nardin, which has 756 students, just under half in the upper school, has earned a reputation for rigorous scholastics and a strong, nurturing culture that prepares high school girls and other students for success. The school has struggled with enrollment, a problem not unknown in recent years to other independent Catholic schools. Current enrollment for the upcoming high school freshman class is 75 students, according to Betters. It was 87 last year. There were 100 freshmen in Nardin's 2019-20 class. Nardin has also experienced significant turnover since Betters took the helm. During the past two years, 24 faculty and staff have left or announced they soon will. That includes four principals one from middle school, two from Montessori and the lower school principal, Monica Padmanabha, who announced she's leaving in June. A satisfaction survey of 300 parents last fall showed widespread dissatisfaction. Nardin scored an 18 on the Net Promoter Scale, a measurement that asked how willing a parent was to recommend Nardin to others, though Betters and Van Dyke cast doubt on the results. That's far below a score of 50 or more that Rick Newberry, president of Enrollment Catalyst, the research firm that developed the test, said is desirable for a school depending on positive word-of-mouth. Jennifer Collesano, a member of the Nardin Alumni Advisory Board, said she thinks people have already made up their minds. The assessment, she said, comes far too late. "I just don't know what kind of value it will have," Collesano said. "The faculty has registered its lack of confidence, the turnover of principals speaks volumes and low enrollment numbers are a measure of parent confidence." Northwest HealthPorter hospital in Valparaiso recently honored a caregiver for excellence in taking care of patients. The Northwest Health Hospital at 85 East U.S. 6 bestowed a PETALS award on nursing assistant Taylor Fulton. Fulton was nominated by patients for the award for outstanding support professionals. They described him as "an extremely hard worker, very competent, efficient and always pleasant go-getter who would go out of his way to make patients feel comfortable when they were feeling his worst." One patient's wife nominated Fulton for being cheerful and smiling while providing special care cast, saying "little flames came off his shoes as he took care of her husband. This is a dedicated man," she wrote. Patients, family, visitors and employees can nominate professionals like Fulton at Northwest Health hospitals in Valparaiso, LaPorte and Knox for exceptional skills and support. Northwest Health deploys nursing assistants to respond to patients' requests, get timely answers to questions and assist nursing staff with individualized care plans. They serve as parts of caregiving teams for the healthcare system that operates hospitals, emergency departments, urgent care centers, outpatient surgery centers, an ambulance service and physicians' offices. The partly physician-owned healthcare system employs more than 3,000 people and 700 physicians all across Northwest Indiana. Ford, a major employer in the Calumet Region, plans to invest $1.8 billion to upgrade a Canadian plant to make electric vehicles for the North American market. The Dearborn, Michigan-based automaker, which runs the Chicago Assembly Plant on the far South Side and the Chicago Stamping Plant in Chicago Heights, plans to turn its Oakville Assembly Complex in Ontario into a hub of electric vehicle manufacturing in Canada. It plans to make 2 million electric vehicles a year worldwide by the end of 2026. Ford will rename the campus the Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex. It will repurpose existing buildings starting in the second quarter of next year and will ramp up to production of electric vehicles there in 2025. It's the first time an automaker has made passenger electric vehicles in Canada for the North American market. Canada and the Oakville complex will play a vital role in our Ford+ transformation. It will be a modern, super-efficient, vertically integrated site for battery and vehicle assembly, said Jim Farley, Ford president and CEO. Im most excited for the world to see the incredible next-generation electric and fully digitally connected vehicles produced in Oakville. Ford is both transitioning existing plants into electric vehicle manufacturing sites and building greenfield factories like the BlueOval manufacturing operations in Kentucky and Tennessee and a lithium iron phosphate battery plant in Marshall, Michigan. Fords commitment to invest in OAC retooling and upskilling signals a bright future for Canadian EV production and for Canadian auto sector employment, said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. The transformation of the Oakville plant is an important step towards a stronger industry and a testament to the hard work, skills and dedication of our Unifor Oakville Assembly Complex members. The Ford plant spans over 487 acres, including an assembly building, a paint building and three body shops. After the transformation, it will add a 407,000-square-foot on-site battery plant. The Oakville campus will make battery packs using cells and arrays from the BlueOval SK Battery Park in Kentucky, a joint venture with SK that will support its ongoing electrification efforts. The company is now the second-largest electric vehicle maker in North America. Fords transformation from gas to electric vehicles is well underway. Once complete, the Oakville Electric Vehicle Complex will secure thousands of well-paying jobs for our hard-working Canadian autoworkers and boost the competitiveness of Canada's auto sector. The partnership between Ford and Canada helps to position us as a global leader in the EV supply chain for decades to come, said Francois-Philippe Champagne, minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development of Canada. Public input is sought for the Vibrant Michigan City economic inclusion initiative. People can weigh in at an open house at 6 p.m. April 20 at the Michigan City H.O.P.E. Community Center at 222 McClelland Ave. in Michigan City. As our advisory coalition continues to meet on a monthly basis, we also need to incorporate perceptions and perspectives from our residents, said Clarence Hulse, executive director of the Michigan City Economic Development Corp. Our focus is on the Midtown, East and West neighborhoods as we delve into how we can cultivate economic prosperity for all of our community members. Representatives from the Brookings Institutions Bass Center for Transformative Placemaking and the Local Initiatives Support Corp. will help stage the learning lab. Vibrant Michigan City's advisory coalition will gather ideas for a more economically inclusive community from people, businesses, government leaders, economic development experts, commercial real estate agents, nonprofits and other stakeholders. The Indiana Economic Development Corp. is helping to fund the project, which aims to address economic stagnation and iniquity. Seymour and Warsaw also are participating in the program. We truly want accountability and ownership of this plan by as many community members as possible in order to set the stage for a successful implementation, Hulse said. We do not see this as a research project that just looks good on paper. We see this as a plan of action locally created for our community by our community. One of the biggest names in Region hair care is getting a new look. Vanis Salon & Day Spa, which at one point was voted Best in the Region 25 years in a row, has been sold. Chris Valavanis founded the salon in Munster 38 years ago. Today, it has locations in Schererville, Crown Point and Valparaiso. I wont be involved after May or June, he said. We started in 1985 with three hairdressers. Over the last 40 years, we grew to three locations with 110 employees. Its just been wonderful growth over the last 38 years. Im turning the reigns over to a younger leader. A year ago, he sold the Valparaiso salon to Colleen Kaper and her husband Brent Kaper. Theyve proved themselves in the year they owned the brand, he said. Shes a very busy hairdresser with her thumb on the business. Her husband also is a businessman with a third-generation lumber yard in Cedar Lake. I believe they have a great business insight. Now Valavanis is selling them the whole business as he looks to retire. We feel very excited, she said. Ive worked for Chris for 17 years. The Valparaiso location has been going great. Its been really positive. The staff has been great and has helped create a great experience for our clients, providing them with the services they expect. Vanis Salon has long been a place where people go to get the latest look or to get ready for their wedding. Services include haircuts, styling, waving, coloring, brow tints, extensions, botanical therapy treatments, massage therapy, chakra balancing massages, pregnancy massages, hot stone massages, stress-fix body wraps and sea salt glows with aromatherapy oil wraps. Vanis also provides manicures, pedicures, facials, makeup, waxing and lash services. I love making people look and feel beautiful, Valavanis said. I enjoyed the craft and service. Its an art and craft. His wife talked him into pursuing it as a profession after college. His salon grew very rapidly, soon adding a second location in Valparaiso and eventually outgrowing its Munster salon, which it moved to Schererville. We were just busting out at the seams, he said. We hired good people and gave them opportunities for education. I think our growth was mainly from hiring the right people who want to grow creatively and professionally and educationally and who are committed to the community. We also gave back to the community in a lot of ways and gave to many charitable organizations. Vanis eventually expanded to offer spa services. I had to evolve from a hairdresser to a salon owner to a business owner, he said. I had a little salon and surrounded myself with great people. Im proud of the legacy looking back on it. Im confident the new owners will take that legacy and continue and maintain our brand standards for client services. Valavanis built Vanis on education and client service, Colleen Kaper said. Clients were like family to him, she said. It was a great experience consistently. He provided staff with education, endless clients and opportunities to grow their careers. Valavanis built an extremely strong reputation for the Vanis brand in the Calumet Region, Brent Kaper said. We want to maintain the legacy Chris has created over the past 40 years, he said. Looking to the future we want to provide the same great service and staff clients are accustomed to. Its not just a place people go to get their hair done. They feel like theyre taken care of. Its a place where people go to get that cool new haircut because theyre always up on the new trends in hair. Its an iconic brand thats professional and high-class, where people come to relax. Colleen Kaper said they would look to maintain the high level of quality Vanis has been known for. Were excited about the next chapter, she said. Ive been working more with the staff at all three locations and everybody seems excited to see what the future can hold. Its an iconic brand name in the area. Chris created a blueprint for other salons out there to follow. Were happy hes able to retire and we hope to keep Vanis around for another 40 years. The man who died Thursday morning after exchanging gunfire with police during an 11-hour standoff near Fort Wayne has been identified as Michael P. Emmons, 60, of Kendallville, Indiana, according to Indiana State Police. The Noble County coroner's office identified the man, and his family has been notified, police said. Kendallville police said they and state troopers were called out around 7:30 p.m. Wednesday to a report of gunshots fired at a local apartment complex. Upon their arrival an unidentified male suspect began shooting at them from a second-story apartment balcony, ISP said. There was an exchange of gunfire between the suspect and the officers. The suspect retreated into the apartment and continued firing multiple rounds at officers. Numerous officers from multiple agencies responded to the scene and were met with continuous and indiscriminate gunfire, police said. SWAT personnel and an armored vehicle were brought in and officers evacuated nearby apartments. During the standoff, attempts to establish a line of communication with the suspect were unsuccessful, and the suspect never responded to officers loudspeaker (PA) announcements and commands, state police said. The SWAT officers made their way into the apartment Thursday and found Emmons. He was found suffering from an injury, but the extent of injury was not known, ISP said. He was immediately attended to by on-scene paramedics. However, all life-saving measures were unsuccessful. He succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced dead at the scene. Erie County Sheriff John Garcia has been pushing for a new county jail since he took office last year. County Executive Mark Poloncarz has been listening. Poloncarz plans to allocate $2.5 million in county money to be earmarked for the site acquisition, engineering and architectural design required to build a single, modern county jail, likely in Buffalo. "It's time to begin the process to build a new, unified jail," Poloncarz said in a meeting this week with The Buffalo News. "The Holding Center is a disaster. It's just so old and antiquated." Money to begin the process of building a new county jail is a part of Poloncarz's State of the County address, which will be delivered Thursday afternoon in the Buffalo & Erie County Central Library. The county has two jails: the Holding Center downtown and the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden. Shortly after Garcia became sheriff, he concluded that the current jail facilities were too outdated to maintain. Poloncarz reached the same conclusion, apparently aided by a tour that Garcia gave him and his chief of staff in the summer. "When somebody sees it with their own eyes, they understand better the issues that were up against," Garcia said. Poloncarz's announcement that he supports funding a new jail speaks to the more collegial and collaborative relationship that the Republican sheriff and Democratic county executive have built since Garcia became sheriff in January of 2022. Poloncarz approved 57 new jobs for the Sheriff's Office in this year's budget, and is using his State of the County address to announce his further commitment to a new jail facility. The working relationship Garcia has with both Poloncarz and the County Legislature stands in contrast to the strained and often antagonistic relationship Poloncarz and the Legislature had with former Republican Sheriff Timothy Howard. "We don't see everything eye to eye," Poloncarz said, "but I think he definitely has been a breath of fresh air." Poloncarz's proposed budget includes major investment in Sheriff's Office personnel The county executive proposes spending $14.2 million to cover salaries and benefits for 57 new Sheriff's Office jobs. The additions are designed to reduce overtime and improve both jail and road patrol staffing. Both the county Holding Center and Correctional Facility have problems. The Holding Center was built in 1937, with an expansion opened in 1986. It now has some areas so old that there are no spare parts available to fix worn-out locking mechanisms. It lacks built-in air conditioning and strangle-proof cells. Its linear design also makes it impossible for a single deputy to watch more than a couple of cells at a time. The Erie County Correctional Facility, built in the 1980s in Alden, is half an hour from the city by car, inconvenient for family visitation and access to courts and medical facilities, all located downtown. Its housing pods also leave too many blind spots for officers to efficiently monitor. Both duplicate services, have layouts that require higher levels of staffing despite record-low inmate numbers and require retrofitting to properly accommodate health treatment and re-entry programs for incarcerated people and break room spaces for staff. Garcia also estimates cost of the long list of structural repairs needed at both facilities to be in the millions. "For every Band-Aid we put on, its money thrown out the window," Garcia said. Forced overtime roils the ranks of Erie County jail deputies and officers The amount of overtime hours at the correctional facility in Alden and the Holding Center in Buffalo has not changed much from year to year, but those hours are being assigned to a smaller pool of corrections officers and deputies who can be forced to work up to 32 hours in overtime every week. With the number of incarcerated people falling by 80% during the last decade and few other counties operating a two-jail system, the push for a new, consolidated facility makes sense to Garcia and Poloncarz. If a site is identified and design is completed within two years, Poloncarz estimated a new jail could be built within five years. The $2.5 million allocation, which must be approved by the County Legislature, still leaves major hurdles. The Legislature needs to approve the funding, both for the initial site acquisition, engineering and design planning, as well as the millions more needed to actually build the jail. Poloncarz estimated a new jail would cost more than $100 million and require the county to borrow much of that money. Garcia estimated the number could be closer to $200 million, and would require the county to lobby for more financial assistance from the state and federal governments. County leaders would also need to persuade residents and social justice advocates that spending such a large sum on a new jail is a worthy use of taxpayer money. Garcia, however, said he is excited that initial financial commitments are being made to move the jail construction conversation forward. He estimated that, depending on the final construction cost, the county could recover its money in cost savings within 10 years. "I think its good news for the taxpayers," he said. "I think its good news for the people working at our two county facility, and its great news for the people in our custody." CROWN POINT An Illinois man was charged on Tuesday in connection to a car that was allegedly stolen from an Enterprise Car Rentals. Anthony Asare, 27, is facing two auto theft charges (one a level five felony and the other a level six felony) and one charge of resisting law enforcement. Court records show that on Wednesday, Hobart police were following a Jeep Compass going westbound on I-80/94 near the Burr Street exits that had been reported stolen. The Jeep briefly pulled over to the right shoulder before accelerating and swerving lanes in an apparent attempt to hit Hobart squad cars, according to charging documents. Lake County officers joined Hobart police in the chase, records stated. The departments worked in tandem until the car continued past the Illinois state border, at which point Hobart police terminated their pursuit. Lake County police continued to follow the Jeep as it zoomed westbound past the South Halsted Street exit on I-294, court records stated. Charging documents show that the jeep continued swerving while officers attempted to direct it toward the outside shoulder, which caused a collision between an officers squad car grill guard and the jeep. The vehicle then lost control and traveled across all westbound lanes and stuck the far left median wall. After striking the median wall the jeep rolled once and came to rest upright, according to the probable cause affidavit. Asare nor the woman who was in the car with him were injured in the accident, records stated. Officers spoke to managers from Enterprise Car Rentals in Orland Park, Illinois, where the vehicle was reported stolen. Records show that a man not Asare rented the car on February 14 and it was reported stolen on March 30. The man who rented the car said he did it for someone else and that he didn't have it anymore. He told the manager that Asare might have the car, according to court documents. Asare was previously convicted of vehicle theft in Cook County, Illinois in 2017, according to court documents. He was being held without bail, as he was determined to be a flight risk, ahead of his initial court appearance on Wednesday. VALPARAISO A jury deliberated for five hours before finding a 42-year-old Valparaiso man not guilty of raping a woman in 2017 following a night of drinking. The jury returned around 8 p.m. Wednesday to clear Matthew Todosijevic of the charge, according to a court official. Defense attorney Clay Patton said Thursday morning he and Todosijevic are pleased with the not-guilty verdict. "We have known from the beginning that these were false allegations," Patton said. "After nearly six years, we are thankful that his name has been cleared of this charge." "We appreciate the dedication to the rule of law of Judge (Mike) Fish and his court staff, the professionalism of the Porter County prosecutors office and local law enforcement, as well as the service of the members of the jury and the attention they gave this very important matter," Patton said. The alleged victim in the case said she agreed to spend the night with Todosijevic in his bed, but both said ahead of time there would be no sexual intercourse, police said. She said the week prior the two did "fool around," but there was no intercourse. The woman said she later awoke to Todosijevic having sex with her, a charging document reads. When she objected, Todosijevic said, "I'm sorry, I was asleep." Todosijevic later told police the two met July 12, 2017, had a mutual attraction and "fooled around," a court document says. They met again July 21, 2017, went out out drinking and he told her they would not be having sex. They went to his place, continued drinking and had some limited sexual contact and then fell asleep, police said. Todosijevic said he awoke to the woman screaming at him and she left. She called later saying, "I woke up and you were trying to have sex with me," the charges read. Todosijevic replied, "No, I didn't do that." The woman confirmed to police she did willing take part in some sexual activity with Todosijevic on the night in question, but did not consent to it going as far as it did. Todosijevic had been found guilty in June in the same courtroom on one count of child molesting after allegations surfaced in October 2017 that he had sexual contact with an 8-year-old child after a day of drinking, court records show. The girl said she woke up to the abuse and said Todosijevic pretended to be asleep during the event, according to police. (Porter Superior Court Judge) Fish sentenced Todosijevic in July to a near-maximum term of 10 years behind bars. The judge suspended three of those years to be served on formal probation with sex offender treatment, but granted the prosecution's request to label Todosijevic a sexually violent predator and require him to register as a sex offender for life. MICHIGAN CITY Police are seeking tips on a shooting Tuesday in a parking lot at Washington Park that left a 23-year-old man injured. While specific details of this case cant be released to protect the integrity of the investigation, it needs to be noted that this incident was not a random act of violence, Michigan City police said. Police said they were called out shortly before 7 p.m. Tuesday to the beachfront park and were told a man who was shot in the leg was being taken to the hospital by friends. Police found the vehicle and escorted it to the hospital while other officers collected evidence at the scene. The shooting victim reportedly suffered an injury considered to be not life-threatening. The investigation is ongoing and no arrests have been made yet, police said. Anyone with information on the shooting is encouraged to contact police Detective Lt. Anna Painter at 219-874-3221, ext. 1077; or apainter@emichigancity.com. Tips can also be provided to the department through Facebook Messenger, the crime tip hotline, 219-873-1488; or the WeTip Hotline, 800-78-CRIME (800-782-7463). MICHIGAN CITY A maintenance foreman at the Indiana State Prison who recently celebrated 29 years with the Indiana Department of Correction will not recover from the injuries he suffered in an assault by an inmate this week, it was announced Thursday. Our hearts are heavy today at Indiana State Prison as we come to grips with the fact that our colleague and friend, Mike Keel, will not survive, prison officials posted on social media. Mike worked as a maintenance foreman and was a key part of the team responsible for keeping this historic facility running every day. Keel was known for his quality workmanship, including the bell at the Fallen Staff Memorial, which he will join later this year, ISP officials said. We are keeping Mikes wife, Janifer, and his entire family in our thoughts. Please stay tuned for funeral arrangements in the coming days. DOC Commissioner Christina Reagle said Keels family has made the generous decision to donate his organs. This September, we will ring that bell for Mike as we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, she said, referring to the staff memorial. Prison officials reported this week that an employee was hit Monday with a steel pipe by an inmate and suffered life-threatening injuries. The ISP said an incarcerated man and the employee got into an argument around 12:30 p.m. Monday in the steel shop. An initial investigation found that Jeremy W. Davidson, 39, was responsible for the attack. Keel was flown to South Bend Memorial Hospital, where he has been listed in critical condition. Davidson of Logansport was 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. VALPARAISO A 39-year-old Valparaiso man, who was charged a year ago with possessing and distributing tens of thousands of digital images and videos of child pornography, struck a proposed deal with prosecutors that calls for a prison sentence of no more than five years, records show. Eric Murphy pleaded guilty this week to a felony count of possessing child pornography in return for prosecutors dropping a second possession charge and two felony counts of child exploitation, according to the proposed deal taken under consideration by Porter Circuit Court Judge Mary DeBoer. The proposal calls for prosecutors and defense to argue sentencing with a cap of five years in prison. Murphy would be required to register as a sex offender if the deal is accepted by the judge. DeBoer will decide May 12 whether to accept the proposed plea and carry out sentencing. Online investigators said they nabbed Murphy with tens of thousands of digital images and video of child pornography, including children as young as 9 years old. Police searched Murphy's home on May 13, 2021, and said they seized a hard drive containing the files of child pornography. The internet protocol address linked to him is described in a charging document as a "very active distributor" of the material. Murphy reportedly told police he came across the child pornography while doing online research and "wanted to rid the world of it." "Murphy also stated that he takes sleep medication called Ambien and sometimes after Ambien he goes into an 'electronic trance' and does things on the computer which he doesn't remember doing," a charging document reads. Murphy's past criminal record, including allegations of assault, domestic violence and drunken driving, was cited during an earlier court hearing. A few of those allegations date back to the period when Murphy served in the Army, officials said. Murphy told the judge he served in the military from 2002 to 2010. Defense attorney Adam Tavitas said Murphy suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder and is on disability. Murphy served two tours in Iraq, his attorney said. HAMMOND The U.S. Attorney is charging an Iowa woman with illegally possessing a short-barreled rifle. Lainey Graff is in federal custody this week following her appearance Tuesday before a U.S. District Court magistrate judge on a felony count that carries a maximum penalty of 10 years imprisonment. The government alleges Hammond police arrested the 22-year-old resident of Sigourney, Iowa, following a brief high-speed chase Sunday afternoon. Police say they found two 9 mm caliber CZ Scorpion EVO 3 rifle-style pistols in the car she was driving. Federal prosecutors allege she attached a Magpul Zhukov gunstock to one of the pistols, illegally converting it into short-barreled rifle, because she hadn't filed paperwork with the government to officially register or pay the taxes required. Federal regulators typically define pistols as guns short enough to be fired singlehandedly and rifles as longer guns with a structural support, called a stock, making it easier to accurately aim gunfire. In the past two decades, firearms manufacturers have been marketing increasing numbers of larger, heavier handguns as well as attachments that provide the shooter with better aim support, according to a 2021 report by the Washington D.C.-based Congressional Research Service. Gun control groups like the Brady Campaign to prevent Gun Violence support efforts by the U.S. Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives bureau to strictly enforce nearly century-old regulations on short-barrel rifles that, in their view, apply to more recent enhanced pistols. Mark Collins, director of federal policy for Brady, said Wednesday a heightened regulation of this kind of weapon is needed because short barrel rifles fire bullets with more energy and more accurately then pistols and are more compact and concealable than other rifles. Federal law make it a crime to possess a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches in length unless its ownership is reported to the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. Collins said this rule is good for public safety because the background check and ownership identification required by the registration process usually ensured such guns remain in the hands of law-abiding owners. Court papers in Graffs case state the Hammond police license plate reader system alerted officers Sunday afternoon to a green Mini Cooper bearing a stolen Illinois license plate in north Hammond. Officers chased the vehicle from Hohman Avenue west to 142nd and Grover Avenue in Burnham, Illinois where the car crashed into a house where Graff was arrested. Police recovered eight firearms, including CZ Scorpions, with barrels less than 16 inches long, 720 rounds of ammunition and a bullet resistant vest from inside the car. Graff told police she purchased one of the CZ Scorpions at a gun store in Ames, Iowa and attached a Magpul Zhukov stock to it herself with some hand tools because the stock made the gun easier fire from the shoulder. GRIFFITH After Jennifer Gooldy resigned from the Griffith School Board, her former colleagues on the board voted to replace her with Jesse Adduci who just lost election to the school board in November. Adduci's appointment comes after a bitter feud between Gooldy and the rest of the board over whether to replace the Superintendent Leah Dumezich and over a controversial auditorium renovation project at Griffith High School. That feud culminated with Gooldy filing a series of police reports accusing Dumezich of threatening to have her arrested. Board President Emily Conner and the rest of the board, angered by these police reports, censured Gooldy during the board's March 9 meeting for allegedly filing false police reports, for not maintaining good professional relationships with district administration and staff and for not supporting the superintendent. Gooldy, who herself voted in favor of the censure, denied that the reports were false. Gooldy resigned soon after the censure. The board accepted applications and held open interviews for her replacement on April 4. It ultimately voted 3-1 to select Adduci for the job. Board Vice President Jason Jaques was the lone no vote. Adduci actually ran for a seat on the board in November's election, but lost. With 1,410 votes, or 16.82% of the electorate, he was the fourth-place vote getter out of five candidates. Robert Rockwell, the last-place finisher, received 16.62% of the electorate. He was defeated in that election by Gooldy, whom he is replacing Kathy Ruesken and Tina Adams. Voters were to choose three candidates in all at-large seats. However, Adduci said he's ready to start learning about the district and get to work. "I'm very humbled and I'm very grateful to get the opportunity to serve and to help the town and the community," he said. Adduci is the father of a 10-year-old Beiriger Elementary School student and 7-year-old twins who attend Wadsworth Elementary School. He is also the father of a 2020 graduate of Griffith High School. "I want to get the children better performance in school," he said. "And get Griffith to be one of the top performing districts in Northwest Indiana. That's my main thing." Adduci declined to comment on the tensions between his predecessor Gooldy and Superintendent Dumezich, but he did say that he's a fan of Dumezich. "I think that the new superintendent is doing a great job," he said. "And I think that the district is going in the right direction." He said he liked how she handled the recent tax referendum in May, voters approved a tax increase estimated at $0.3294 per $100 of assessed valuation to be spent on safety and security updates, efforts to retain and attract teachers and expanding academic programming and he's happy that under her, all the teachers in the district are fully certified and many of them have over three years of tenure. "I know it's a team thing," he said. "But I think things are headed in the right direction and I think she's been a part of that." As for the $1.6 million Griffith High School auditorium renovation, Adduci said he doesn't have enough information on that to form an opinion. He said he's still learning about a lot of things in the district. "This is my first time being on a school board and not having been on my first meeting yet, I don't have too much knowledge yet," he said. "I have been reviewing some things, but I don't want to speculate too much on anything without knowledge. I'm more of a fact-based person." Adduci said that he preferred interviewing and being appointed to running for election. "Actually the process of interviewing, to me, was better," he said. "I think that it's easier to run an election, in my opinion, because you can just sign up at the courthouse, run the election and if you're elected, you're pretty much sworn in and go from there. I think that the interview process was great, because they actually had questions and that's how they weeded out people that didn't have too much knowledge, didn't show too much interest. That makes people spend some time and get some knowledge about the school district and the policies and the budgetary items and how it works." Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Gallery: Griffith High School commencement Education funding is poised to be a sticking point in the final state budget negotiations between the House and Senate, as well as the governor, during the two weeks remaining in Indianas annual legislative session. Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Ryan Mishler, R-Mishawaka, unveiled the two-year state budget plan Thursday crafted by Senate Republicans as a revision to the budget in House Bill 1001 approved in February by the Republican-controlled House. As usual, about half of the $43.3 billion in General Fund spending will go toward education at the elementary, middle and high school levels (K-12), including a $1.1 billion total increase to student tuition support, compared to $1.6 billion proposed by the House. The Senate budget also deletes a House-approved expansion of private school voucher eligibility, fully implements the governors call to eliminate student textbook fees, and changes how Hoosier taxpayers will provide additional support to charter schools. Instead of adopting the Houses complicated school operations equalization formula, the Senate simply wants eligible charter schools to receive a per-student share of incremental property tax collections from the students home school district beginning in 2024. By limiting the first-ever local property tax support for Indiana charter schools to incremental tax revenue growth, Mishler said, traditional public schools cant say any current money is being taken away. Sen. Eddie Melton of Gary, the committees top Democrat, expressed concern about sending local property tax dollars to charter schools, which operate with considerably less oversight than public schools, even though Gary is exempt while its school district remains designated as financially distressed. Theres definitely going to be some robust conversations on those subjects in our caucus, Melton said. Other education-related provisions in the Senate budget include $240 million more for special education over the two-year period, $100 million for learning-loss recovery, a $95 million complexity funding increase for schools with students from low-income families, nearly $25 million a year for school safety grants, and additional money for early childhood education and literacy programs. Meanwhile, Indiana colleges and universities will see a 4% state funding boost in the 2024 budget year, and 6% in 2025, along with money to cash-fund each institutions top capital project, and nearly $24 million more for student financial assistance. Mishler said the Senate was forced to be slightly parsimonious on education funding increases to cover the $2 billion biennial increase in the states share of health care costs for the 1 in 3 Hoosiers covered by Medicaid. This is the big one. ... Medicaid is now outpacing K-12, he said. At the rate were going, Medicaid will take over K-12, so we need to figure something out. That is my biggest concern right now. At the same time, the Senate budget allocates $225 million over the two-year period for the governors prevention-focused public health reform effort in Senate Bill 4, led by Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, along with $35 million for the community mental health programs envisioned by Senate Bill 1. Senate Bill 4 will have the most impactful, long-term impact on the state of Indiana of anything in the budget, he said. Its a total paradigm shift from anything weve done in the state before. Some House Republicans unexpectedly indicated their support Wednesday for possibly funding those programs by raising Indianas $0.995-per-pack cigarette tax by an extra $1 or $2, opening the door to further negotiations between the chambers in the waning days of this years legislative session. The Senate budget authorizes an additional penny-a-gallon increase in Indianas 33-cents-a-gallon gasoline tax in 2025, as well as on July 1, 2023 and 2024, and does not follow the House in speeding up the conditional income tax cuts lawmakers enacted in 2022. Major new spending items in the Senate budget include $1 billion to reduce state pension liabilities; $750 million to the Indiana Economic Development Corp. to attract businesses; $500 million for quality-of-place grants to localities through the READI, or Collaborative Communities, program; a 12% average pay raise for all state employees; and $30 million for Next Level Trails. Northwest Indiana is in line to receive $800 million, on top of $400 million previously appropriated, for the reconstruction of Westville Correctional Facility in LaPorte County; $12 million for a new Indiana Department of Transportation salt building in Gary; $5 million for upgrades at the Northwest Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in Hobart; access to $26 million in statewide airport improvement grants; and $1 million for a study of Lake Michigan beach erosion. All the proposed spending is subject to adjustment based on the results of the updated state revenue forecast thats due to be presented next week to the State Budget Committee; the Indiana Constitution prohibits spending in excess of anticipated tax collections. Ultimately, the two-year budget must be approved with identical language by the House and the Senate to send it to the governor to be signed into law. Gallery: Get to know the state symbols of Indiana State Aircraft: Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolt State Bird: Cardinal State Flag State Flower: Peony State Fossil: Mastodon State Gun: Grouseland Rifle State Insect: Say's Firefly State Language: English State Motto: "Crossroads of America" State Nickname: The Hoosier State State Pie: Sugar Cream Pie (unofficial) State Poem: "Indiana" State River: Wabash State Seal State Snack: Indiana-Grown Popcorn State Song: "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" State Stone: Limestone State Tree: Tulip tree Hoosiers interested in casting their vote using a mail-in ballot at the next general election will have several more hoops to jump through as part of an effort to reduce practically nonexistent absentee voter fraud in Indiana. The Republican-controlled General Assembly recently gave final approval to House Enrolled Act 1334, sending the measure to Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb to be signed into law. The legislation requires individuals submitting a paper application for a mail-in ballot to submit their driver's license number, state identification card number, or voter identification number, along with the last four digits of the voter's Social Security number, or a photocopy of the voter's driver's license or state ID card. County election offices currently determine the validity of a paper absentee ballot application by matching the name, address, birth date and signature on the application to the voter's registration record. Voters also have the option of submitting a partial Social Security number. Under the plan, individuals applying online for a mail-in ballot likewise will have to provide either their driver's license number, state ID number, voter ID number, or the the last four digits of their Social Security number. The legislation mandates enhanced data sharing between the Bureau of Motor Vehicles, Indiana Election Division and the secretary of state, and onward to county elections offices, to ensure only legitimate voters are submitting online requests for mail-in ballots. State Rep. Tim Wesco, R-Osceola, the sponsor of the measure, said he believes mail-in absentee ballots need to be subject to the same voter ID requirements as in-person early voting and in-person voting on Election Day, and not doing so is huge election security loophole. "Up to the passage of this bill, and currently, the only verification of an absentee ballot application is through matching signatures. I believe it is time to bring our absentee ballot applications up to par with voting in person," Wesco said. State Rep. Tonya Pfaff, D-Terre Haute, challenged that assertion during debate on the proposal on the House floor Tuesday. "It is unnecessary to make it more difficult for the elderly, people voting by travel board, and those serving in the military to vote. It won't make elections safer and only serves to hamper democracy," Pfaff said. The measure also prohibits the state, or local units of government, from mailing unsolicited absentee ballot applications to registered voters. It will take effect July 1 if it's signed into law by the governor. 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 I spent six weeks in a psychiatric hospital in 1970. I hadnt slept or eaten in many days, had isolated myself for many more, and was increasingly suspicious of others. The medication and therapy groups left me empty and gave me little reason for hope. I thought my life as I knew it was lost forever. Once I was in recovery, determined to help others like me, I got work at an Albany-based state hospital and clinic. Those programs focused on an expectation of lifelong relapse, rehospitalizations and permanent disability. I was very fortunate to be asked to be the director of a clubhouse program and confirmed there what I knew to be true: people could recover, work and reconnect to a community of their choice. Based on the internationally acclaimed Fountain House model, clubhouses offered lifechanging opportunities to people who have struggled through regular cycles of relapse and admission, homelessness, incarceration and food insecurity. They offered people who have all too often been idle and isolated a connection to a vibrant community of support that helped club members to reclaim a sense of worth, purpose and dignity. They offered members powerful and personalized opportunities to reintegrate into their communities via job and school readiness, health and wellness programs and access to the transformative power of peer support. And there were no barriers to immediately join this community: we didnt put people through a complicated referral process that focused on forms and past histories. Anyone with a psychiatric disability could come to the club and could stay for life if desired. Our goal was to make members feel welcome, wanted and needed. By the mid 1980s, there were upwards of 35 clubhouse programs located in every corner of the state. I had the opportunity to visit most of those and found Restoration Societys clubhouse programs in Buffalo among the very best to be found. RSI clubhouses served as a beacon of hope to thousands of people diagnosed with major mental health, addiction and trauma related challenges people who would otherwise fall through the cracks of Western New Yorks community mental health system. At one point, the agency successfully operated five Clubhouse model programs. One operated in downtown Buffalo and successfully supported approximately 1,300 members annually, serving up to 90 members per day. Nonetheless, clubhouse programs lost the interest of the Office of Mental Health in the late 2000s and, one by one, were forced to close to make way for a new Medicaid rehabilitation model, leaving a huge hole in local community mental health systems across the state ever since. People no longer have a place to go and a family to belong to that could serve as a bridge to the broader mainstream community. They dont have a place to practice vocational and social skills to advance their recovery and community integration. At the same time, New York City has not only continued to fund their clubhouses they are set to triple their capacity this year at the direction of Mayor Adams. We are appealing to the Legislature to take advantage of advances of the past decade bring revitalized clubhouses back to upstate New York, starting with Buffalo. Harvey Rosenthal is CEO, New York Association of Psychiatric Rehabilitation Services. Senate-approved legislation directing Northwest Indiana municipalities that offer public access to Lake Michigan to install life rings and other safety equipment at the shoreline to try to minimize drownings will not advance in the House. The House Natural Resources Committee did not vote on Senate Bill 424 prior to the deadline for committee action, despite strong bipartisan support for the plan. As a result, there's little chance the proposal will become law this year, unless its backers somehow manage to insert it in another measure still moving through the legislative process prior to the General Assembly's April 29 adjournment deadline. State Sen. Rodney Pol Jr., D-Chesterton, the sponsor of the plan, said he was disappointed the House didn't take up the measure, especially since it passed the Senate Feb. 27 by a 49-0 margin. Dave Benjamin, Great Lakes Surf Rescue Project co-founder and executive director, said the House's failure to act unquestionably will cost lives. "It's not if someone will drown in Lake Michigan in Indiana this summer, but when someone will drown. And then we will have to question if life rings would have made the difference in saving a life for each drowning incident," Benjamin said. Under the plan, entities owning a pier or breakwater into Lake Michigan, or a public shoreline access site, would have had to install at each location at least one life ring for emergency use, and any other rescue equipment the entity deems appropriate, such as throw bags, rescue tubes or rescue poles. Lakefront localities would be responsible for the costs of acquiring and maintaining the rescue equipment, which some Region communities, as well as the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, already have in place. They also would have to regularly publish on their websites data on Lake Michigan drownings and be obligated to upgrade their rescue equipment such as automatically calling 911 when a life ring is accessed following a drowning death at a specific pier or public access site, according to the measure. 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 GARY The city has established a new down payment assistance program that will prioritize first responders, city employees, veterans, teachers and healthcare professionals. Under the program, first responders, which include Gary police, fire and emergency medical services personnel, would be able to receive up to $30,000 in down payment assistance. Almost all other Gary residents would be able to receive $18,000 in assistance, however priority would be given to city employees, teachers, veterans and healthcare professionals. The programs' only caveat would be that residents living in two of the city's census tracts, the tract containing the Miller neighborhood and the tract between Grant Street and Broadway Avenue near the historic Morningside neighborhood, would only qualify for assistance if they make less than 65% of the Area Median Income. AMI is the midpoint of an area's income distribution, meaning half of families in a community earn more than the median and half earn less. During a March 28 Ways and Means Committee meeting, Gary's Director of the Community Development Department Arlene Colvin explained 65% of the city's AMI would be $38,391 for a single-person household and $54,844 for a four-person household. Residents who receive down payment assistance must live in the home for at least five years and the property must be their primary residence. During an April 4 meeting, the Gary Common Council unanimously approved using $2,050,000 of the city's American Rescue Plan Act funding for the program. Gary Common Council President William Godwin, D-1, said the city's administration needs to make sure realtors, developers and mortgage loan lenders are aware of the program. Colvin noted that the city has a number of other housing assistance initiatives including the Hoosier Homes Down Payment Assistance Program which provides down-payment assistance grants to repeat and first-time home buyers. Applicants must have an income that does not exceed 140% of Lake County's median income, or $105,700; a minimum credit score of 620; and an income-to-debt ratio of 50% or higher. The city is also working with the South Suburban Housing Center on a down payment assistance program that would serve residents that make 80-120% AMI. Colvin said the program should go into effect in May or June of this year. PHOTOS: Decay Devils spruce up downtown Gary landmarks Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Grant will restore historic train, revive fountains and bring Taste of Region and other festivals to downtown Gary Ride along with officer trained in mental health crisis intervention St. John Police CIT Officer Dustin Wartman calls on a family with whom he had previous dealings. ST. JOHN As a member of law enforcement, St. John police Officer Dustin Wartman says each officer will inevitably encounter someone who has a substance-use disorder or is experiencing a mental health crisis. "We're dealing with real people," he said. "And people have problems." Mental health is seldom talked about in the field of law enforcement, Wartman said, but it's unavoidable. Some law enforcement professionals aren't properly trained to respond to a variety of mental health crisis situations. The way an officer responds can make or break whether the person experiencing that crisis receives the help they need. Part of Wartman's job is to ensure that the people he serves in his community have access to resources they need to treat mental and emotional challenges. Implementing crisis intervention programs At the beginning of his 5 p.m. shifts, Wartman checks his email and Spillman logs to see if there are recent mental health calls he may need to follow up on. "I follow up with phone calls first, but I try to meet them person-to-person. I try to follow up with whoever I can and, with the type of work we do, see what resources they may or may not need." Wartman is a Crisis Intervention Team, or CIT, certified officer trained to respond to mental health and substance abuse-related calls. He helps people in crisis seek treatment. The lack of crisis resources nationwide has resulted in law enforcement responding to these calls, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness. The CIT program includes 40 hours of training with NAMI professionals. The program aims to improve communication among police, mental health providers, medical professionals, and individuals with mental illness and their families. They strive to keep people with mental illness out of jail and in treatment, according to NAMI's website. Duties vary by situation, from someone in crisis in need of immediate assistance to following up with families. The follow-up can be crucial, Wartman said. Ride along with officer trained in mental health crisis intervention St. John Police CIT Officer Dustin Wartman is trained in mental health intervention. "We don't just take them and drop them off," he said. "We try to follow up and get them the services they need." After assessing a situation, his job is to determine whether he should take the person to a hospital or mental health facility. Law enforcement professionals have the authority to transport an individual to the appropriate facility for an immediate detention, according to Indiana law. A person cannot be held under immediate detention for more than 24 hours from the time of admission without further action. However, if the attending physician believes the person should be held longer, an application for emergency detention, which lasts 72 hours, can be sought and approved by a judge. Other times, these situations warrant less involvement from an officer. "Sometimes, somebody who is in crisis experiences emotions to a point where they cannot function," Wartman said. "In that situation, we try to get them immediate help. But a lot of times, people are upset and they just need someone to talk to." These conversations might take 10 minutes; others might need an hour or more, he said. Though his background in law enforcement, knowledge of psychology and CIT training help, he sometimes simply offers a listening ear. Answering the call Wartman slowed his patrol vehicle as he entered a cookie-cutter neighborhood on the west side of St. John. He placed his vehicle in park, exited the car and strolled up to the front of a buff-colored, two-story home. He rapped on the door and disappeared into the house. He returned to his vehicle 30 minutes later. Because of the nature of the call, photo and video were not allowed, but Wartman shared what he discussed. A few days before, he was called to the residence for a report of a person who was severely intoxicated and behaving belligerently. By the time he arrived, the individual had grown less combative but was still visibly under the influence. The person's parents, who had called police and medics, told Wartman that their child dealt with substance-use disorder and has been in and out of different treatments and therapies. After his discussion with the family, Wartman decided that the best course of action would be to take the person to Franciscan Health Dyer for an evaluation by a medical professional and a detoxification. The individual was released once he was clinically sober, Wartman said. However, within four hours of his release, he was in a fatal accident. Wartman said he went to check in on the family to see how they were coping. "It was rough. Within the span of two days, somebody I thought I'd be able to help is no longer with us." The inevitability of negative outcomes in a job like law enforcement cannot be controlled. Although police encounter situations plagued by pain and loss, Wartman said there is always something meaningful about knowing he can bring comfort to the families in their time of need. Police Chief Steven Flores said he was thrilled to have Wartman join the department in February 2022. To have someone with his training felt like a sigh of relief, Flores said, given the frequency of calls they receive for substance abuse or mental health. "It seems like police officers more and more are encountering people in mental health crises, having suicidal thoughts or substance-abuse issues," he said. "Very rarely does a shift go by where he's not putting those skills to use." 'In this role, you have to be vulnerable' Wartman's desire to help individuals in crisis comes from his own experiences. Many of his loved ones have struggled with mental illness, and Wartman has recovered from substance abuse. He and his loved ones have had negative experiences with law enforcement while in crisis, and he believes many other people feel the same. But this doesn't have to be the standard. On each call, he is prepared to share his experiences, as it is his best tool to build rapport with individuals and their families. "Right off the bat, some people don't like us because that's the nature of the job," he said. "Sometimes, to do this role, you have to be a little bit vulnerable. You have to let them know, 'Hey, listen, man, I know what you're going through. I understand. I've been through something very similar'." Wartman said he's put in quite a bit of work and time to learn to handle the nature of mental health and substance-abuse calls. Ride along with officer trained in mental health crisis intervention St. John Police CIT Officer Dustin Wartman is trained in mental health intervention. "Very rarely does a shift go by where he's not putting th "I see a therapist. The therapist really helped me work on grounding myself in these types of situations." Wartman said his ability to empathize and feel for the people he interacts with on the job allow him to continue to serve his community and push for more mental health resources for those in need. It's not always easy, however. "To say that I completely separate it every day, that'd be a lie," he said. "It's hard not to bring it home and have these feelings, develop these relationships and keep it separate." The future The first step? Changing the conversation around mental health and substance abuse between officers, Wartman said. Asked whether his gender made it harder for him to be honest about his personal struggles, Wartman replied that his status as a law enforcement officer has posed the most challenges. He wants to show his peers that it is OK to seek out help. "Especially in our profession, getting help for those types of issues is kind of frowned upon," he said. "We're supposed to be the ones people go to for help, rather than the ones who need help." The ability to be honest and vulnerable about your struggle is important, Wartman said, in order to positively change the conversation surrounding mental health. Law enforcement officers who might be suffering in silence don't have to conquer these challenges alone. "I'm trying to do what I can to destigmatize it. We all go through it, whether we admit it or not. We deal with traumas all the time." Wartman has found frustration in the lack of facilities available in the Region that have with inpatient treatment for substance-use disorders and mental illnesses. Some facilities that do have inpatient treatment have limited availability and capacity restrictions, so folks in need aren't able to get help in a timely fashion. Without immediate help, people could be even more at risk. The Region needs more options that serve all populations. Wartman's dream is for all departments to have officers trained in crisis intervention to fill the needs of each city or town. Wartman is a certified coordinator for CIT programs and is working with NAMI to develop a CIT program for local officers. "You look at the progression of how law enforcement has been, and it has to evolve," he said. "I don't think we can go on not dealing with mental health, not getting people help." The creators of Waco: The Aftermath, Drew Dowdle and John Erick Dowdle, were in the writers room of their new Showtime series when they looked up at the TV. It was Jan. 6, 2021, and a violent mob was storming the U.S. Capitol building. The limited series, which stars Michael Shannon and premieres on Friday, follows an F.B.I. negotiators efforts to track the domestic terrorist movement spawned by a standoff outside Waco, Texas, in 1993. In a recent interview, John Erick Dowdle recalled their response as they watched the televised Capitol attack: Oh my God, this is it. The Dowdle brothers were no longer just dramatizing the events of Waco and its aftermath. Their project seemed to be springing to life again in real time. Thirty years after a standoff between federal agents and an armed, apocalyptic religious sect known as the Branch Davidians it culminated with a raging inferno at the groups compound that was broadcast on live television, and ultimately ended with 86 dead many Americans are still divided on Waco. It was either an inexcusable episode caused by government overreach, or the lamentable outcome of a dangerous cults fanaticism. Its an ever-exploitable schism, as former President Donald Trump recently demonstrated when he kicked off the first rally of his 2024 presidential campaign in Waco, with an aggrieved anti-government screed. Middle ground remains hard to find, especially for those directly involved. The midsize Texas city about halfway between Dallas and Austin has become as much a symbol as a place, a line in the cultural sand. Nearly four years after a Bronx building collapse killed an Ecuadorean construction worker crushed under 1,000 pounds of debris, three contractors have been charged in his death, one of a series of worksite fatalities that have raised alarms about a perilous industry. The contractors, Augustine Adesanmi, 67, Akhlak Choudhary, 54, and Abazi Okoro, 66, were all accused of criminally negligent homicide, among other charges, in the death of Segundo Huerta, a laborer at the building site on East 208th Street in Norwood, the Bronx district attorney said on Wednesday. The horrendous death of Segundo Manuel Huerta Mayancela, who was buried under cinder blocks and metal sheets, was entirely preventable, Darcel D. Clark, the district attorney, told reporters after the arraignments on Wednesday. The construction site at 94 E. 208th St. was a death trap waiting to happen, she added. Two of the contractors were arraigned on Tuesday in the Bronx Supreme Court; both were put on supervised release. The third, Mr. Choudhary, has not been arrested. A fourth man, Fatos Mustafaj, 64, was charged with second-degree grand larceny in the incident. Prosecutors said he lied about the construction companys qualifications. Two New Jersey police chiefs one suspended, the other retired were charged on Wednesday with abusing their authority by committing sex-related crimes involving women who worked in their departments. The cases are unrelated, but Matthew J. Platkin, the states attorney general, announced them together at a news conference to send a message to the public and to those who work in law enforcement. The people of New Jersey and the members of our police departments, especially our many female officers, deserve police leaders who serve and protect, not prey on those who are less powerful than they are and then try to cover it up, he said. Chief Thomas Herbst of Manville, who was suspended last year, was charged with sexual assault, official misconduct and other counts for what Mr. Platkin described in a news release as a yearslong pattern of sexually predatory behavior targeting multiple women. What might life be like if we chose pleasure over harm? So a young man wonders near the end of Fat Ham, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by James Ijames that opened on Broadway on Wednesday, at the American Airlines Theater. Keep in mind that the young man, Tio, is stoned to the gills when he dreams this philosophy. Still, in his world as in our own, the question of harm, and self-harm, is a serious one. You might even say its a classic, having found its most famous expression four centuries ago in Hamlet, without benefit (as far as we know) of weed. If Tio is a gloss on that plays Horatio a loyal, hearty friend to the main character hes also a transformation of the template for today: laid-back and open to anything. In his dream, he says, hes been pleasured by a gingerbread man, even though he usually prefers the gingerbread ladies. In the same way, Fat Ham is a gloss on Hamlet and the best kind of challenge to it, asking the same questions but coming up with different answers. That it is a raucous domestic comedy instead of a palace blood bath (and in Saheem Alis production, a nonstop pleasure in itself) means that despite the enduring belligerence of mankind, and especially of men, it sees a way out. Mr. Allen, who worked for the Hutchinson Police Department for more than 25 years and left in January 2019, was arrested in August and initially faced more than 20 charges, including five counts of rape and two counts of kidnapping. The authorities said at the time of his arrest that most of the crimes took place from 2012 to 2018. At least 17 open cases that the Hutchinson Police Department had been investigating were cleared with his arrest. Mr. Allen targeted females, many of whom, according to court records, were in cars with a boyfriend, friend or sibling. He would approach the cars, tap on a window, and, in some cases, shine a flashlight inside the vehicle. Mr. Allen, who was off-duty at the time, would then ask the victim to step out of the car and often identity himself as park security, said prosecutors, adding that he would assault the victims while questioning them about drugs. During the assaults, Mr. Allen would cover his face with a black ski mask and then flee after the victims yelled for help, according to court records. It was numerous complaints about prowling and window peeping that eventually led to Mr. Allens arrest. According to court documents, he was caught on camera peering over a fence at a group of females who were having a party on June 19, 2022. When Mr. Allen spotted the camera, he shined a flashlight at it and then ran away. The authorities were then able to use the description and video to stop him at an intersection in Hutchinson while he was riding his bike, records show. WASHINGTON Senator Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday pushed back on calls for her resignation but asked to step away from the Judiciary Committee indefinitely while recovering from shingles, responding to mounting pressure from Democrats who have publicly vented concerns that she is unable to perform her job. Ms. Feinstein, an 89-year-old California Democrat, has been away from the Senate since February, when she was diagnosed with the infection. Her absence has become a problem for Senate Democrats, limiting their ability to move forward with judicial nominations. In recent days, as it became clear she was not planning to return after a two-week recess, pressure began to increase for Ms. Feinstein to resign. On Wednesday night, she said she would not do so, but offered a stopgap solution, saying she would request a temporary replacement on the panel. I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, Ms. Feinstein said in a statement on Wednesday night, after two House Democrats publicly called on her to leave the Senate. So Ive asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until Im able to resume my committee work. Federal prosecutors said on Wednesday that they did not have enough evidence to bring charges in connection with the death of an American woman last year near Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, in a case that prompted outrage after a video online appeared to show her being beaten by another woman. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of North Carolina said that its prosecutors and officials with the Federal Bureau of Investigation had met recently with the family of the woman, Shanquella Robinson, 25, of Charlotte, N.C., to deliver the news. Ms. Robinson had been vacationing last fall in Mexico with six friends when she was found unconscious in a living room at an address in San Jose del Cabo, according to Mexican authorities and statements from her father last year. A death certificate issued by Mexican officials listed the cause of death on Oct. 29 as severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation, or the dislocation of a ring-shaped bone that supports the skull. A widely circulated video that appeared to show Ms. Robinson being punched in the head and kicked by a woman during that trip prompted suspicions about her death and triggered an F.B.I. investigation. The authorities did not name the assailant in the video. The show must and did go on. It was a rocky year behind-the-scenes for Sheas Performing Arts Center, but, thankfully, none of the administrative disruption that occurred seems to have hurt the institutions bottom line or its ability to thrill Western New York theater lovers. Audiences continue to flock to sold-out productions. In fact, the dismissal of former Sheas President Michael Murphy in October has led to changes that should probably have been in place years earlier. Theyre thoughtful innovations that other similar organizations would do well to consider adopting, if they havent already. In the summer, Sheas staff members complained that Murphys abusive behavior was creating an unsafe work environment. These and other complaints were not addressed as effectively as they could have been by the Sheas board of directors at that time, and the bumpy process of correcting the situation was accompanied by both board and staff resignations. Now that the dust has settled, Sheas has eight new board members. On the debit side, M&T Bank withdrew its long sponsorship of the theaters Broadway Series, but another sponsor, 5 Star Bank, has stepped in. It is to be hoped that M&T will resume some involvement in Sheas as the theater continues to correct its administrative path. This correction includes some well-considered strategies that should increase collegiality between staff, management and the board of directors. They include: Regular meetings between the leadership team and the board of directors. Necessary revisions to the employee handbook and bylaws. Monthly town hall meetings for staff. Formation of a human resources committee. If these things arent something other cultural nonprofits in Buffalo are doing or considering, they should look at initiating all three. Too often, people who sit on boards of directors have little idea of the day-to-today operations of management and staff. Bylaws and employee guidelines deserve a good hard look on a regular basis, but that doesnt always happen. And while meetings often seem to take up too much time that could be spent on doing the actual work, they have their uses. They can produce ideas, prevent conflicts and make sure that important matters are known to all, not just assumed to be. Sheas will also have a human resources committee, hopefully one equipped to handle minor concerns before they become big problems. As the theater initiates a search for a new president, the turmoil of the past year should have taught some good lessons about the interpersonal skills such a president needs to have. The fact that managerial issues havent harmed the downtown magnets public popularity should make that search easier. In 2026, Sheas celebrates its 100th anniversary, a good time to be firmly on the right track. 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. HOUSTON For 17 hours last week, jurors in a cramped court conference room in Texas deliberated over the fate of Daniel S. Perry, a U.S. Army sergeant accused of fatally shooting a protester during a Black Lives Matter demonstration in the summer of 2020. On a screen inside the room, they reviewed video from the confrontation on the streets of Austin, the Texas capital, and discussed whether Mr. Perry had acted in self-defense against the protester, who was carrying an AK-47-style rifle. Toward the end, one juror left in tears as it became clear that she was the final holdout. After returning, she joined the others in voting to convict him of murder. It was just so stressful, said Jere Dowell, an alternate juror who sat in on the deliberations and described them to The New York Times, but did not participate. It was just a sad, sad situation for both parties, another juror said. I was glad that its over. But it was not. Instead, the jurys decision and how it was reached have become the focus of new scrutiny by defense lawyers and, at the direction of Gov. Greg Abbott, investigators from the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles. BELFAST, Northern Ireland President Biden wound down his trip to Ireland on Friday, making stops at places resonant to his Catholic faith and emotional to him as a father. Thousands of people stood along the River Moy in Ballina on Friday night, for the chance to see Mr. Biden as he visited St. Muredachs Cathedral on the rivers banks. Mr. Bidens great-great-great-grandfather, Edward Blewitt, made the bricks that were used to construct the pillars supporting the buildings nave. The last day of his trip included a stop at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Knock, a sacred shrine for Roman Catholics. He was told by a priest there that a friar who had administered last rites to his eldest son, Beau Biden, who died of brain cancer in 2015, was living in Knock. The president broke down in tears in a subsequent meeting with the friar, Frank OGrady. On Wednesday, President Biden hailed 25 years of relative peace in Northern Ireland in a speech at a Belfast university, urging political leaders to embrace economic possibilities and turn away from violence. A leaked U.S. intelligence document lists Serbia as a country that has sent or is ready to send lethal aid to Ukraine, a revelation likely to create tensions between Russia and the Balkan nation, a close partner for centuries. The document, dated March 2 and part of a trove of secret intelligence material leaked online, included a chart that put Serbia in a group of European nations that has refused to provide training to Ukraines military but has provided or committed to provide lethal aid. The existence of the chart, which has been seen by The New York Times, was first reported Wednesday by Reuters. Unconfirmed reports in Russian news media have said that Serbian weapons and ammunition had found their way into Ukrainian armories, prompting Moscow last month to demand an official explanation and warn President Aleksandar Vucic of Serbia that arming Ukraine was a serious question that could damage relations between the two nations. Serbia on Wednesday denied that it had sent military equipment to Ukraine, as it did in March when pro-Kremlin news media in Russia reported the secretive military aid and Russias Foreign Ministry expressed deepest concern about the reports. LONDON A Russian fighter jet fired a missile at a manned British surveillance aircraft flying over the Black Sea in September but the munition malfunctioned, according to U.S. defense officials and a recently leaked classified U.S. intelligence report. The incident was far more serious than originally portrayed and could have amounted to an act of war. According to two U.S. defense officials, the Russian pilot had misinterpreted what a radar operator on the ground was saying to him and thought he had permission to fire. The pilot, who had locked on the British aircraft, fired, but the missile did not launch properly. In October, Britains defense secretary, Ben Wallace, described the close call in a briefing to Parliament members as potentially dangerous after the Russian fighter jet released a missile in the vicinity of the British aircraft. But one of the leaked documents said the Sept. 29 event was a near-shoot down. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not respond to a request for comment. The dance between surveillance aircraft from the United States and other NATO countries, and Russian fighter jets over the Black Sea has played out for years, especially after Russia illegally annexed Crimea in 2014. Tensions have only grown as Ukraine increasingly relies on Western-gathered intelligence to push back against the Russian invasion that began last year. The choreographer and performer Miguel Gutierrez, known for his outspokenness onstage and off, sometimes jokes about his reputation for complaining. As he put it recently, while chatting over lunch at a restaurant in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, I have such a brand of, like, kvetcher. Gutierrez, 51, was reflecting on the opportunities that had come his way since 2018, when, as a prominent midcareer artist, he had struggled to secure funding for his latest project, an effort chronicled in his podcast Are You for Sale? In contrast to that discouraging moment, he is now entering one of the most bountiful periods in his 22 years of making dance-based performances. Over six weeks this spring, in an alignment of plans that he likens to some bizarre astrological event, three of Gutierrezs pieces will be presented at three New York City theaters: Cela Nous Concerne Tous (This Concerns All of Us), for 25 dancers of Ballet de Lorraine, April 21 and 22 at N.Y.U. Skirball; I as another, a new duet with the dancer Laila J. Franklin, May 4-7 at Baryshnikov Arts Center; and Variations on Themes From Lost and Found: Scenes From a Life and Other Works by John Bernd, a revival of a 2016 collaboration with the choreographer Ishmael Houston-Jones and the composer Nick Hallett, May 25-June 3 at Danspace Project. After decades of piecing together an income through short-term teaching gigs, grants and assorted side jobs like so many artists working in the chronically underfunded field of experimental dance Gutierrez is also settling into life with a newfound level of job security. Last year he became an associate professor at the University of California, Los Angeles, and in January he was awarded a two-year residency at New York Live Arts, which comes with a full-time salary, health insurance and ample support for the creation of a new work. Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous nights highlights that lets you sleep and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now. Together Again Former President Donald Trump sat down for a lengthy interview with Tucker Carlson on Fox News on Tuesday. Jimmy Kimmel called the interview a 45-minute blabfest, saying it made one thing very clear: the fact that Donald Trump is a profoundly stupid person. According to legal documents, Judge Cunningham later ordered a librarian to remove additional books about L.G.B.T.Q. issues and race, among them Caste, by Isabel Wilkerson, and They Called Themselves the K.K.K.: The Birth of an American Terrorist Group, by Susan Campbell Bartoletti. Library officials then suspended access to the librarys online lending system, OverDrive, because the banned titles were still available digitally, and fired a librarian who refused to remove the books in question. In April of last year, a group of Llano County residents sued the county commissioners, the library board and the library systems director, arguing that their First Amendment rights were violated by the book removals. They cited legal precedent supporting their argument, including a 1982 Supreme Court decision in Island Trees School District v. Pico, in which the court ruled that government officials cant remove books from libraries simply because they dislike the ideas contained in those books. The defendants claim to be on a hunt to eradicate pornographic materials was a pretext, plaintiffs argued in their complaint, saying, None of the books Defendants have targeted is pornographic. Judge Pitman agreed that the removals were unconstitutional and that the actions appeared to be motivated by complaints from patrons and county officials over the contents of these titles, which would violate citizens rights to freely access information. On March 30, he ordered the county to restore the titles within 24 hours, and barred officials from removing any more titles for any reason while the lawsuit proceeds. The defendants have argued that there was no First Amendment violation because libraries have discretion over the content in their collections, and that residents could still access the removed books through other channels. They have filed an appeal in the Fifth Circuit, contesting the judges order to restock the books. A trial is scheduled for this fall. Judge Pitmans order was very fair, and it was a victory for everybody that believes in the rule of law and is against censorship, said Leila Green Little, one of seven residents who sued county officials over book removals. The fight in Llano County is a more extreme example of the conflicts brewing in school districts and communities across the country as libraries face a growing wave of increasingly coordinated and politicized book banning efforts. Meir Shalev, whose novels affectionately satirizing Israels pioneers made him one of the nations leading writers, died on Tuesday at his home in the village of Alonei Abba in northern Israels Jezreel Valley. He was 74. His agent, Deborah Harris, said the cause was pancreatic cancer. Often compared to Mark Twain for the arch humor lacing his novels and to Gabriel Garcia Marquez for his use of magical realism, Mr. Shalev focused most of his seven novels on the half-century before Israeli independence in 1948. It was a period when Zionists, socialists and Communists migrated to Ottoman- or British-controlled Palestine to escape the alienation and pogroms of Eastern Europe. As captured most saliently in his first novel, The Blue Mountain, they soon found themselves breaking their backs farming a resistant landscape while grappling with mosquito-borne diseases and attacks by Arabs. The scenes of intellectuals trying to live up to lofty ideals in these circumstances made for incidents ripe with poignant comedy. Sidra DeKoven Ezrahi, professor emerita of comparative literature at Hebrew University of Jerusalem, described The Blue Mountain as a comment on the noble but failed utopian experiment of the pioneers. Attorney General Merrick Garland said that Teixeira would soon be arraigned at a federal court in Massachusetts, where he is expected to be charged under the Espionage Act. Teixeira, whom The Times identified as a member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, is the leader of an online group called Thug Shaker Central, where the leaked documents first appeared. There, Teixeira oversaw about 20 to 30 people, mostly young men and teenagers, who came together over a shared love of guns, racist memes and video games. Starting months ago, the authorities say, one of the users uploaded hundreds of pages of intelligence briefings to the group, lecturing its members on the importance of staying abreast of world events. Members of Teixeiras group said the secret documents were never meant to leave their small corner of the internet and declined to identify him. But The Times linked Teixeira to the leak using a trail of digital evidence, including details of the interior of his childhood home posted on social media in family photographs which matched details on the margins of some of the photographs of the leaked secret documents. Now, after months of depositions and dueling motions, the lawyers will face off before a jury, and legal scholars and media lawyers say the arguments are likely to plumb some of the knottier questions of American libel law. Dominion, an elections technology firm, is seeking $1.6 billion in damages after Fox News aired false claims that the company had engaged in an elaborate conspiracy to steal the 2020 presidential election for Joseph R. Biden Jr. The claims, repeated on Fox programs hosted by anchors like Maria Bartiromo and Lou Dobbs, were central to Mr. Trumps effort to persuade Americans that he had not actually lost. Lawyers for Fox have argued that the network is protected as a news-gathering organization, and that claims of election fraud, voiced by lawyers for a sitting president, were the epitome of newsworthiness. Ultimately, this case is about the First Amendment protections of the medias absolute right to cover the news, the network has said. It is difficult to prove libel in the American legal system, thanks in large part to New York Times v. Sullivan, the 1964 Supreme Court decision that is considered as critical to the First Amendment as Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka is to civil rights. The Sullivan case set a high legal bar for public figures to prove that they had been defamed. A plaintiff has to prove not just that a news organization published false information, but that it did so with actual malice, either by knowing that the information was false or displaying a reckless disregard for the truth. WASHINGTON Be careful what you wish for. Republican zealots spent decades trying to erase the constitutional right to abortion. Last year, they finally succeeded and now they are reaping the whirlwind. Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr.'s smug and self-satisfied majority opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization took away fundamental rights of privacy and bodily autonomy that had been recognized for half a century. It is now clear that the ruling also generated a backlash against the Republican Party, which is radically out of step with public sentiment on the issue. This was vividly illustrated in an election last week for a seat on Wisconsin's Supreme Court, which is expected to rule soon on an 1849 state law banning practically all abortions an outdated statute that became relevant again after Dobbs. The liberal candidate, Janet Protasiewicz, was explicit in her support for abortion rights. Her conservative opponent, Daniel Kelly, has written that abortion rights are "deadly to children" and that Democrats and women's groups are pro-choice because they want "to preserve sexual libertinism." Protasiewicz defeated Kelly in an 11-point landslide, giving liberals a majority on the court. This means the old abortion ban, imposed decades before women were allowed to vote, is all but certain to be struck down. It also means that Wisconsin's election maps aggressively gerrymandered by Republicans to give their party enduring control in the state legislature and to send Republicans to Congress will surely be challenged. The practical impact? Wisconsin's congressional delegation includes six Republican and two Democratic U.S. representatives. Fairly drawn maps could change the mix to four and four. If two additional members join the Democratic caucus, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) will be delighted. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.), not so much. Every seat in Congress is crucial because Republicans underperformed in last year's midterms, failing to take the Senate and scraping together a fragile, bare majority in the House. What Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called "candidate quality" was one factor in the GOP's poor showing. The party's fanatical opposition to abortion was another, as Democrats were able to use the Dobbs decision to galvanize voters. They could do so because it is crystal clear that most Americans do not want to see abortion banned. A Pew Research Center poll taken last year, right after the Dobbs ruling was announced, showed that 62% of respondents said abortion should be legal in all or most cases, while 36% said the procedure should be illegal in all or most cases. That is a decisive margin. Gallup, which has been polling on abortion since the 1970s, found in its most recent post-Dobbs survey that 35% of respondents believe abortion should be legal "under any circumstances," an all-time high for that question, while just 13% said it should be illegal "in all circumstances," an all-time low. That leaves roughly 50% of Americans, according to Gallup, who have consistently said that abortion should be legal "under certain circumstances." What these numbers mean is that while a vocal and uncompromising subset of the Republican Party base may want a society like that in "The Handmaid's Tale," in which women have no agency and no autonomy over their bodies, most Americans do not want to live in such a cruel dystopia. This should not be a surprise. After Alito's draft opinion in Dobbs was leaked, Gallup polled on whether the Supreme Court should overturn Roe v. Wade, the landmark 1973 ruling that guaranteed abortion rights. Just 32% of respondents said that would be "a good thing," while 63% said it would be "a bad thing." Yet here we are. Now that abortion is an issue for the states to decide, Republican governors and state legislatures are rushing to enact ever more draconian bans. Florida already bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy, but the legislature is working to pass and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is expected to sign a six-week ban, barring abortion before many women even know they are pregnant. Yet even in deep-red states such as Kansas and Kentucky, voters have soundly rejected attempts to strip away protections for abortion rights that are enshrined in their state constitutions. Crazy overreaches by antiabortion extremists serve only to energize the pro-choice majority. I refer to Friday's ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, an appointee of Donald Trump, who imposed a nationwide ban on the drug mifepristone. Republican strategists want the party to please stop talking so much about abortion. They should have told Alito. On Tuesday, Judge Davis dealt a blow to Dominion, ruling that its lawyers could not refer to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol because it could prejudice the jury. At that hearing, he also limited how much Dominions legal team could tell jurors about death threats that the companys employees had received, saying there should be no mention of the specific content of the threats. On Wednesday, the judge scorned Foxs lawyers over evidence in the case including recordings of conversations between the networks hosts and people who claimed to have knowledge of the supposed fraud that is only just coming to light. He indicated that he was likely to appoint a special master to investigate whether they were deliberately withholding relevant evidence, and ruled that Dominion would be able to redo depositions of any witnesses at Foxs expense. Judge Davis has lived with, and labored mightily on bringing to a fair resolution, what may be the most consequential defamation case since N.Y.T. v. Sullivan, Mr. Tobias said, referring to the 1964 Supreme Court decision that established the need for a plaintiff to prove that false information was published with actual malice. The judges decisions, even small ones, have gotten plenty of media attention. But that will surely pale in comparison with the scrutiny to come, as news outlets from around the world descend on the unassuming courthouse in Wilmington, Del., for the trial, which is likely to be punctuated by appearances by Fox hosts and leaders, including Tucker Carlson, Maria Bartiromo, Rupert Murdoch, his son Lachlan, and Suzanne Scott, the chief executive of Fox News. There are already limits on how the proceedings can be covered, which may help dampen the spectacle somewhat: No video or audio is allowed to be broadcast from the courtroom, and reporters in the courtroom will not be allowed to use the internet. WASHINGTON Aggressive rules proposed by the Biden administration to drastically speed up the countrys transition to electric vehicles, and significantly cut the auto pollution that is dangerously heating the planet, face several economic, logistical and legal challenges. The plans, outlined Wednesday by the Environmental Protection Agency, are designed to ensure that two-thirds of new passenger cars and a quarter of new heavy trucks sold in the United States are all-electric by 2032. If enacted as proposed, the regulations would mean a quantum leap for the auto industry in the United States, where just 5.8 percent of new cars and less than 2 percent of trucks sold last year were all-electric. Transportation is the single largest source of greenhouse gases generated by the United States, the second-biggest polluting country after China. To head off climate catastrophe, President Biden has promised to cut the nations emissions in half by 2030. Shrinking tailpipe emissions is key to that plan. But to transform the American automobile industry on the scale it envisions, the Biden administration has to surmount resistance from manufacturers and consumers as well as likely legal challenges from those who consider the regulations government overreach. As the burning of fossil fuels warms the planet, droughts of all kinds are becoming more likely in many places, simply because more evaporation can take place. But scientists hadnt pinned down whether both flash droughts and slow droughts were becoming more common at the same pace, or whether there was a transition from one type to the other. Dr. Yuan and his colleagues looked at data from computer models on soil moisture worldwide between 1951 and 2014. They focused on drought episodes that were 20 days or longer, to exclude dry spells that were too short to cause much harm. The trends varied from place to place, but, looked at globally, they show a shift toward more frequent and more rapid flash droughts. Dr. Yuan and his co-authors found that these trends were well captured in computer simulations that took into account both human-caused emissions of heat-trapping gases and natural variations in the global climate, including from volcanic eruptions and changes in solar radiation. But the trends did not appear as clearly in simulations that included only the natural variations. This suggests that human-induced climate change has been a factor. In the coming decades, even if global warming increases only relatively modestly, flash droughts will become even more common and speedier in almost every region of the globe, the study predicted. Scientists still need to improve their understanding of what drives individual dry spells, Dr. Yuan said. Droughts involve heat and rainfall, but also local factors such as topography, vegetation and soil type. A better grasp on the interplay between these elements would help forecasters issue timelier warnings to growers and water managers. Mary Quant, the British designer who revolutionized fashion and epitomized the style of the Swinging Sixties, a playful, youthful ethos that sprang from the streets, not a Paris atelier, died on Thursday at her home in Surrey, in southern England. Known as the mother of the miniskirt, she was 93. Her family announced the death in a statement. England was emerging from its postwar privations when, in 1955, Ms. Quant and her aristocratic boyfriend, Alexander Plunket Greene, opened a boutique called Bazaar on Londons Kings Road, in the heart of Chelsea. Ms. Quant filled it with the outfits that she and her bohemian friends were wearing, a bouillabaisse of clothes and accessories, as she wrote in an autobiography, Quant by Quant (1966) short flared skirts and pinafores, knee socks and tights, funky jewelry and berets in all colors. Young women at the time were turning their backs on the corseted shapes of their mothers, with their nipped waists and ships-prow chests the shape of Dior, which had dominated since 1947. They disdained the uniform of the establishment the signifiers of class and age telegraphed by the lacquered helmets of hair, the twin sets and heels, and the matchy-matchy accessories the model for which was typically in her 30s, not a young gamine like Ms. Quant. Movies by Wes Anderson, Todd Haynes and Ken Loach will compete for the Palme dOr at this years Cannes Film Festival, the events organizers announced during a news conference on Thursday. Also in the running for the festivals top prize will be films by the returning winners Wim Wenders, Hirokazu Kore-eda, Nuri Bilge Ceylan and Nanni Moretti. But Martin Scorsese will not compete at the festival, which opens May 16 and runs through May 27. Instead, his eagerly anticipated movie Killers of the Flower Moon, which stars Leonardo DiCaprio and is about the murder of Osage Indians in 1920s Oklahoma, will appear out of competition. Thierry Fremaux, Canness artistic director, said during Thursdays news conference that the festival wanted Killers of the Flower Moon to play in competition, but Scorsese had turned him down. The Wes Anderson picture in competition is Asteroid City, about a space cadet convention that is interrupted by aliens; Todd Haynes will show May December, starring Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore, which follows an actress researching the woman she is set to play. Sweet Tony Soprano, Mafia Mamma is bad. And not just disappointingly bad, in the way of late-career James Cameron, or irritatingly puerile, like virtually anything featuring Roberto Benigni. No, Mafia Mamma is so wincingly awful it makes you question the professional bona fides of everyone who had a hand in greenlighting its existence. This probably sounds harsh. But, as someone who has long respected the work of the films director, Catherine Hardwicke whose abilities were evident from the get-go with Thirteen (2003) and, five years later, the first and best entry in the Twilight troop I was jarred. A clodhopping farce interrupted by seizures of cartoonish violence, Hardwickes latest outing posits that the best distraction from an empty nest and a cheating spouse is to dash to Italy and join the Cosa Nostra. At least, thats what Kristin (Toni Collette), a self-effacing California housewife, does when shes summoned to the Roman funeral of her estranged grandfather, a Mafia don, and learns that she is his designated replacement. Having recently waved her son off to college and surprised her no-count husband in flagrante, Kristin was hoping for to paraphrase the sage advice of her best friend, played by a delightfully spicy Sophia Nomvete an eat-pray-fornicate adventure. The first would be easy; the less said about the last, the better. The director Ryusuke Hamaguchis latest film to premiere in U.S. theaters, Passion, is also one of his oldest a confident if uneven new piece of 15-year-old context for one of cinemas most acclaimed contemporary auteurs, whose Drive My Car last year earned the Oscar for best international feature. Never before released in the United States, Passion (2008) is Hamaguchis second feature, his student thesis from his time in Tokyo film school. (His first was a remake of Andrei Tarkovskys art-house landmark Solaris; no one can accuse Hamaguchi of lacking ambition.) Like certain influential early career films that preceded it Barry Levinsons Diner, Lawrence Kasdans The Big Chill Passion has a low-fi, hangout feel, flush with the youthful indie energy and forgivable pretensions of an artist who believes that filmmaking matters. Hamaguchi is still a student but already finding his voice. Makoto Shinkai is often praised as a descendant of the great Hayao Miyazaki for his masterly animation, and his latest film, Suzume, is no exception. The film speaks the same cinematic language, employing an ethereal, emotive color palette that enlivens every splash of water and blade of grass. You can spot Miyazakis influence in more than just the visuals. There are familiar symbols and themes: The portal doors, the cursed male hero and a few narrative moves in the resolution all scream Miyazakis Howls Moving Castle, while the exploration of memory and grief mirrors his Spirited Away. Ill stop the Miyazaki comparisons there because Shinkai showcases plenty of his own narrative and directorial signatures in Suzume. Hes created a thoroughly modern world of both old and new forms of magic, of spells and old gods and of Instagram posts and texts. Like a locomotive chugging uphill, the storys stakes are quickly raised to the scale of natural disasters and mythical phenomena, while Shinkai puts an emphasis on specific towns and regions in Japan, grounding us in the real world even as he whisks us away to other worlds. Whats particularly exciting in Suzume is the storys start. Seventeen-year-old Suzume wakes up from an otherworldly dream and heads off to school. On the way, she encounters and tries to follow a mysterious stranger named Souta but ends up in the ruins of an old resort, where she stumbles upon a free-standing door floating in a shallow bank of water. She opens it, and soon flaring wind, flying debris and massive red tendrils reach out and consume the darkening skies of Japan. This is only 10 minutes in. Shinkai doesnt give you a chance to gauge your interest in its story; he immerses you immediately in the movies mythos and spells so that you have no choice but to offer your attention. Heres what to know about Mr. Braggs background and career: The district attorney has lived in Harlem for most of his life. Mr. Bragg was born on Oct. 21, 1973, to Alvin Bragg Sr., a social services worker, and Sadie Bragg, a teacher. He attended Trinity, an elite private school in Manhattan, before going to Harvard. At college, he became a leader among his fellow students, heading up the Black Students Association. A lengthy 1995 profile in The Harvard Crimson reported that though Mr. Bragg said then he was unlikely to run for political office, there is a definite sense of the anointed about him. After returning to Harvard for law school, Mr. Bragg began considering a career as a prosecutor while working for the federal judge Robert Patterson Jr. and seeing how powerful the role could be in shaping the outcome of defendants lives. He worked for several years as a criminal defense and civil rights lawyer before being hired by the New York attorney generals office, where he investigated public corruption and white-collar crime. He then worked as a federal prosecutor in Manhattan under Preet Bharara, then U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, before returning to the state attorney generals office, where he focused on police misconduct and rose to become one of the leaders of the office. Mr. Bragg beat out eight other candidates to become the district attorney. In June 2019, Mr. Bragg declared that he was running for Manhattan district attorney. Were all supposed to be equal under the law, he said in his campaign announcement, lamenting that in Manhattan there were too often two standards of justice, one for the rich and powerful and connected and another for everyone else. What were trying to do is collapse the distance between criminal conduct and criminal sanction. If we do everything we can to move as quickly as we can and as responsibly as we can, because we dont cut corners then I think it can enhance the legitimacy of the justice system to show that there is a consequence for bad behavior. Under President Trump, Justice Department officials were said to have been motivated by partisan concerns in urging the Southern District to pursue certain cases, even pushing for a criminal investigation of former Secretary of State John Kerry, whose efforts to preserve the nuclear deal he had negotiated with Iran angered Mr. Trump. How is the offices relationship with the Justice Department under the current attorney general, Mr. Garland? Have there been any interference attempts by government officials that seemed improper? There have been absolutely no attempts, not even an inkling of an attempt, to influence the work that weve done, to improperly inject politics in any decision. I think this attorney general and the deputy attorney general have been outstanding when it comes to returning the department to where it was under Republican and Democratic administrations. We are firmly rooted in the same traditions that weve always operated under the political independence, the incorruptibility. That is our North Star, and its theirs, too. New York Citys Rikers jail complex has a long history with the Southern District: investigations, findings of civil rights violations, a lawsuit. Last year the office raised the prospect of placing Rikers under court control to stem violence and disorder. Talk a little bit about Rikers. Laman Ismayilova International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation and Baku Music Academy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). The document was signed by the President of International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation Gunay Afandiyeva and Rector of the Baku Musical Academy Farhad Badalbeyli, Azernews reports. The MoU envisages joint cooperation between the higher musical educational institutions of the Turkic states in the field of establishing partnerships and cultural exchanges, as well as promoting the music of the Turkic world in the international arena. In his speech, Farhad Badalbeyli expressed his joy that everyone had gathered in the hearth of the brilliant Azerbaijani composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli. Speaking about the activities of the Baku Musical Academy, he stressed that the academy's graduates successfully represent Azerbaijan at the international level. The rector assessed the memorandum signed as a major step aimed at uniting the musical art of the Turkic states. He emphasized that cultural figures of the Turkic world are always ready to support the strengthening of ties between the Turkic peoples that have common roots. The rector highly appreciated the work carried out by the foundation and expressed confidence that cooperation with the organization would make a significant contribution to the development of pan-Turkic music and art. In her remarks, Gunay Afandiyeva stressed that Baku Musical Academy, which has been operating for more than 100 years, has played an important role in educating professional musical personnel in Azerbaijan. She brought to the attention that the signing ceremony coincided with the awarding of the honorary status of the Cultural Capital of Turkic World 2023. President of International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation outlined Shusha embodies the symbol of victory and pride of the entire Turkic world. Gunay Afandiyeva also spoke about the large-scale projects implemented by the foundation to promote Shusha's historical and cultural heritage worldwide. She noted that the Days of Shusha, which the foundation held for the first time outside of Azerbaijan in the Turkish city of Bursa, will soon be continued in the capital of Uzbekistan, Tashkent. Gunay Afandiyeva added that the rapprochement of the Turkic peoples with the peoples of the world is one of the main priorities of the foundation. She said that MoU is expected to provide a great opportunity to carry out joint projects, to award distinguished students, involve the academy's faculty as specialists in the organization's events, etc. The President of the International Turkic Culture and Heritage Foundation stressed the importance of establishing Turkic world centers under the auspices of the foundation in various higher educational institutions. The creation of a large network on their basis will contribute to the integration of the Turkic peoples, as well as strengthening mutual cultural and spiritual exchanges. The event continued with a colorful concert program, including music and songs of Turkic composers performed by the Baku Chamber Orchestra and the teaching and student staff of the Baku Musical Academy. The ceremony was attended by the TURKPA Secretary General Mehmet Sureya Er, ambassadors and representatives of the member states of the foundation and other countries, Baku Musical Academy, cultural and art figures. News / Local by Staff reporter The High Court of Bulawayo has freed three directors of Kershelmar Farms (Private) Limited from criminal charges of unlawful occupation of Esidakeni farm.The wrangle for the farm has been ongoing since 2020 when Lands Minister Anxious Masuka, through a state gazette, announced that the farm had been compulsorily acquired under section 72(2) of the constitution.Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Maxwell Takuva ruled that the three partners, Siphosami Malunga, Charles Moyo, and Zephaniah Dhlamini, who were being charged with illegally occupying Esidakeni farm, committed no crime in remaining on the farm.The matter was brought to the High Court as an urgent chamber application to challenge a ruling by Matabeleland North provincial magistrate Victor Mpofu, who had dismissed an application to except to the criminal charges which had been made by the trio's lawyer Josphat Tshuma of Webb Low and Barry.Tshuma explained to CITE that the ruling by the High Court puts a stop to the criminal proceedings that were taking place at the Tsholotsho Magistrate's Court."As you can recall, my clients were being charged for unlawfully occupying the Esidakeni Farm. Ahead of the trial, we explained to the Magistrate (Victor Mpofu) our reasons to want to except to the charges but he dismissed our application and ruled that the trial continues. He (Mpofu) said we could use our reasons as defense during trial," Tshuma explained."The charges they had leveled against my clients did not exist. They may have been accepted in accordance to the Old Constitution but under the new one they would be treated as a civil matter not a criminal one. We thus felt that the whole procedure was unconstitutional, how can you put a person on trial for a charge that does not exist?"Tshuma said Justice Takuva upheld their application thereby dismissing all the criminal proceedings at the lower court. The rats are going to hate Kathy, said Adams. Corradi, who will be paid $155,000 a year, will supervise the rat experts who already work for the city. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene not only has an Office of Pest Control, it has the rodentologist Robert Corrigan, who has been installing movement sensors on streets to monitor rats behavior. There is also a citywide rodent task force. The mayor has had a singularly personal relationship with rats. As the owner of a townhouse in Brooklyn, he has fought tickets for rat infestations. As mayor, he has called rats public enemy No. 1. And there is no question that they are a scourge that causes headaches for policymakers: Rat sightings documented by inspectors doubled last year, according to city statistics. City Hall attributed the jump to an increase in inspections. (Cutbacks in trash pickups brought on by budget reductions in the pandemic may have figured in why people reported seeing more rats. Adams has reversed some of the cutbacks.) Sullivan, who said that the presence of rats indicates a problem in how the city is functioning, said he was hopeful after watching the news conference at which Adams introduced Corradi. She said that rats are a symptom of systemic issues, including sanitation, health, housing and economic justice. Adams said Corradis mission was to take the lead on a multiagency effort to try new mitigation techniques and expand outreach and education efforts. At the same time, Adams announced that the city would spent $3.5 million on a new rodent mitigation zone in Harlem. In a statement Thursday evening, Alina Habba, one of Mr. Trumps lawyers, said that he had answered every question. As we have said from day one, there is no absolutely no case, her statement said. This is the second time that lawyers for Ms. James have questioned Mr. Trump under oath. But the first time he sat for a deposition, in the summer of 2022, Mr. Trump invoked his Fifth Amendment right hundreds of times over four hours. During that deposition, which came shortly before the attorney general filed her lawsuit, Mr. Trump lashed out at Ms. James, a Democrat, accusing her of being motivated by politics, before refusing to answer questions. Because he was in the White House or on the campaign trail for several years and no longer running his company Mr. Trump might have tried to avoid direct answers to some questions from the attorney generals lawyers. He might have said, for example, that he delegated the valuation of his assets to employees. Mr. Trump has consistently denied wrongdoing and accused Ms. James of conducting what he has labeled a witch hunt, citing critical statements she has made about him over the years. Two judges have rejected arguments from Mr. Trump that Ms. Jamess case is politically motivated. This year has been as disturbing as it has been enlightening for democracies in Latin America. Political events in Peru and Brazil and troubling trends in Mexico and El Salvador offer a warning of what happens when party systems fail and outsider leaders take power promising to put an end to establishment corruption. Consider recent events: Peru has seen widespread social unrest and large protests demanding the resignation of the president. Brazil is trying to figure out how to tame a far-right movement unwilling to behave loyally to democracy. That refusal was on full display on Jan. 8, when some supporters of Jair Bolsonaro stormed the nations Congress, Supreme Court and presidential offices after voters rejected his bid to remain president. In Mexico, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador championed a series of measures that the Congress dominated by his political movement approved in February and will constrain the agency that oversees elections. And, since coming to power in El Salvador, President Nayib Bukele has gutted practically all checks and balances and last year declared a state of emergency suspending key constitutional rights. Although these cases are each very different, they are examples of the bitter harvest that the region is reaping as a result of the spread of a virulent strain of populism over the past three decades. That strain, largely rooted in the citizens legitimate exasperation with corruption, has wreaked havoc with party systems and weakened the very institutions necessary to fight corruption and channel social demands in peaceful ways. Today, the results are painfully clear in Latin America: The prescription offered by anti-corruption populism has become worse than the disease it was intended to fight. The justices in Biskupics account repeatedly assert that the court is not politicized. My goal today is to convince you that this court is not comprised of a bunch of partisan hacks, Justice Amy Coney Barrett declared in a speech in 2021. (She was speaking, incidentally, at the University of Louisvilles McConnell Center.) The last thing that the court should do is to look as polarized as every other institution in America, Justice Elena Kagan said in a 2019 speech. The only way to be seen as not that is not to be that. Ever the institutionalist, Chief Justice John Roberts contrasted the courts work to that of the other branches. What I would like to do, briefly, is emphasize how the judicial branch is how it must be very different, he said shortly after the indelible confirmation hearings for Brett Kavanaugh in 2018. We do not sit on opposite sides of an aisle, we do not caucus in separate rooms, we do not serve one party or one interest. We serve one nation. How the judicial branch is how it must be very different. Robertss phrasing seems to acknowledge that he is stating a hope as much as fact. The Supreme Court regarding itself as apolitical is a bit like the Senate still considering itself the worlds greatest deliberative body that is, somewhere between aspiration and self-delusion. Even though politics and ideology divided the court well before Trump sat in the Oval Office, Biskupic writes, the Trump presidency and the forceful influence of his three Supreme Court appointees propelled the judiciary into a new period of polarization. Of course, The Brethren too depicts a court in which political considerations were constant. Chief Justice Burger the only justice who the authors specifically say was not interviewed for the book frequently worries about the implications of various decisions for the Nixon administration, and he makes a point of issuing some nonconservative opinions early in his tenure to confuse his liberal detractors in the press, Woodward and Armstrong write. And when the court is deciding whether President Richard Nixon can invoke executive privilege to avoid handing over recordings of his White House conversations, Justice Harry Blackmun counsels Burger that the courts opinion would be more influential if written by a justice who was a Republican as well as one of Nixons appointees. Given that William Rehnquist was recused from the case and that Burger, as chief justice, would preside over a potential Nixon impeachment trial in the Senate, that formula conveniently left only Blackmun. (Unpersuaded, Burger assigned himself the unanimous opinion in United States v. Nixon, in which the court ruled against the president.) When health problems force Justice William Douglas to the sidelines, his colleagues panic over President Gerald Fords potential pick, and how recent 5-4 opinions might end up going the other way. They were all horrified at the prospect of half a dozen major decisions being reversed in a years time, the authors write. The court would appear to be a political institution, its decision less rooted in the law than in the personalities and politics of the individual justices. This concern that the court might merely appear politicized rather than concern that it would in fact be revealed to be politicized still reflects an abiding faith among members of the high court. An institution less rooted in the law than in the personalities and politics of the justices is very much how Biskupic depicts the court. Before the death of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Roberts had already become the new ideological center of the institution. In mid-2019, she writes, there was still some pretense that the two ideological camps were trying to work together. On Monday afternoon, a previously unknown 27-year-old Tennessee lawmaker named Justin Jones walked triumphantly up the steps of the Tennessee Capitol building and surrounded by a crush of press and hundreds of supporters took the oath of office to return to the Tennessee House of Representatives. The Tennessee legislature had expelled him from the chamber for his part in a protest that disrupted business on the House floor after the mass shooting at Covenant School in Nashville. Jones was one of two expelled lawmakers. On Wednesday, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners returned his colleague Justin Pearson, also in his late 20s, back to the Tennessee House, thus ending Pearsons days-long expulsion. Both young men now possess national profiles and are heavily favored to win re-election to their seats. Tennessee Republicans decision to throw them both out of the House backfired. It was punitive. It was performative. And it was not merely ineffective, it actively undermined the goals of the Republican House majority. In other words, the moment represented a perfect illustration of how Trumpism works in the G.O.P. And by Trumpism I dont mean personal dedication to Donald Trump, but rather to the ethos hes cultivated within the party. Ive spent every year of the Trump era living in deep-red America. How thick is my red bubble? Theres a Times tool that allows you to enter your address and find the political composition of your neighborhood. The rural Tennessee neighborhood I lived in until 2018 was 74 percent Republican. The suburban Tennessee neighborhood where I live now is more than 80 percent Republican. If you missed the previous newsletter, you can read it here. Dominion Voting Systems $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News goes to trial next week, and well be reminded once again of the profoundly destructive lies that the networks carnival barkers sold. Hour after hour, night after night, they peddled Donald Trumps insistence that the 2020 presidential election was stolen. And they knew or at least suspected that they were wrong, to go by documents already released during the legal proceedings. In this much, however, Foxs fabulists were right: If they didnt hawk Trumps hooey, many of their viewers would just move on to a circus that did. The documents also show that they genuinely believed that. Its no justification for their laundering of his conspiracy theories they surely wouldnt have lost all their audience, and they could have tried to chip away at the dangerous delusions of the many viewers who remained. That they chose differently is a betrayal of journalistic principle and a damning indictment of them. But it says something troubling about the rest of us, too. Thanks to the sprawling real estate of cable television and the infinite expanse of the internet, we live in an age of so many information options, so many news purveyors, that we have an unprecedented ability to search out the one or ones that tell us precisely what we want to hear, for whatever reason we want to hear it. We neednt reckon with the truth. We can shop for it instead. And many of us maybe even most of us do. Thats one of the morals of Dominions suit, correctly called seismic by my Times colleague Jim Rutenberg in his excellent and essential recent article about Fox Newss descent down the rabbit hole. Rutenberg tells the tale of that networks spectacularly cynical dealings with its particular audience. But a larger story hovers over it, one about every audiences relationship with reality today. Four years ago, astronomers released the first ever image of a black hole: a reddish, puffy doughnut of light surrounding an empty, dark hole in the center of the giant galaxy M87, which lies 55 million light-years away in the constellation Virgo. The image made visible what astronomers, and the rest of us, had only been able to imagine: a celestial entity so massive that its gravity warped space-time, drawing matter, energy and even light into its bottomless vortex. The image was released on April 10, 2019, by an astronomy squad called the Event Horizon Telescope, so named for the boundary of no return around a black hole. Now a subset of that team, led by Lia Medeiros of the Institute for Advanced Study in Princeton, N.J., has used artificial intelligence to reprocess the original data and produce a vastly improved version of the image. The new image, they say, will sharpen constraints on how well the black hole in M87 fits with Einsteins general theory of relativity, which first predicted the existence of black holes. Dr. Medeiros and her colleagues published the new image on Thursday in Astrophysical Journal Letters. The spacecraft will also perform 21 flybys of Callisto, which may also possess a salty ocean but is thought to be less capable of supporting life. But the Juice missions primary objective is the study of Ganymede, a moon so large it is bigger than the planet Mercury. The spacecrafts path around the Jovian system should allow the spacecraft to be captured into orbit around Ganymede in December 2034 the first spacecraft to orbit a moon in the outer solar system. Beginning at about 3,100 miles above the surface, the spacecrafts altitude will gradually be lowered to just over 300 miles in 2035 and perhaps lower, fuel permitting. If we have enough propellant, which means we had a good trip to Jupiter without too many problems, we will reduce the orbit to an altitude of about 150 miles, said Giuseppe Sarri, the project manager for Juice at ESA. Orbiting Ganymede will allow scientists to intricately understand the moons characteristics. It is the only moon in the solar system known to have its own magnetic field, possibly from a liquid iron core like our own planets. If youre standing on the surface of Ganymede and you had a compass needle, it will point to the north pole like on Earth, said Michele Dougherty from Imperial College London, who leads the magnetometer instrument on Juice. We want to understand why. Juice should be able to discern the interior structure of Ganymede, including the size and extent of its ocean. It should even be able to measure the salt content of the ocean resulting from minerals that circulate within, which could provide life with sustenance. Were trying to understand where the salts came from, Dr. Dougherty noted. Every wedding comes with a flurry of last-minute arrangements, but Sunil Dhar has an unusual task on his to-do list when his younger son gets married this June: make sure everyone is in the right country. The Dhars are from the San Francisco Bay Area. But the wedding is set to take place nearly a thousand miles north in Blaine, Wash., near the Peace Arch, a monument along the border of the United States and Canada with a park that extends into both countries. The park is considered a neutral zone, where people from both countries can mingle without going through immigration checkpoints. Its the only way the brides parents, who live in Delhi, can attend. They would need visitor visas to enter the United States, and the wait time in India to apply for these visas is nearly a year. So the wedding will take place in the southern half of the park in Washington in a rentable building called the American Kitchen. The brides parents and other family members, who already have Canadian visas, will enter the park from the northern half in British Columbia. The parking lot on the American side is as far south as they can go without having to show IDs and immigration documents. MIAMI Florida lawmakers voted to prohibit abortions after six weeks of pregnancy on Thursday, culminating a rapid effort by elected Republicans and Gov. Ron DeSantis to transform the state to one of the most restrictive in the country. Mr. DeSantis, a likely 2024 Republican presidential contender, signed the new ban late on Thursday night with little fanfare. The ban will end Floridas long-held role as a destination for women from across the Deep South seeking abortions and force them to travel farther, to states such as North Carolina or Illinois, for care. In the six months after the Supreme Court overturned the federal right to abortion last year, no state saw a greater increase in the number of legal abortions performed each month than Florida, according to a report released on Tuesday. For the past 50 years, weve had a culture grow in this nation a culture of abortion for any reason at any time, State Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a Fort Myers Republican, said before the 70-40 vote. Today we lead. Today we stand for life. We stand with mothers, and we stand with Florida families. And by your vote today, we change the culture of abortion to a culture of life. News / National by Staff Reporter Vice President Constantino Chiwenga has urged youths to shun violence and focus on building their future. He made the remarks while addressing a youth interface rally in Harare on Saturday.Chiwenga said that violence is not the answer to any problem and that it only leads to destruction. He urged the youths to use their energy and talents to build a better future for themselves and the country."I urge you to shun violence and focus on building your future. Violence is not the answer to any problem. It only leads to destruction. Use your energy and talents to build a better future for yourselves and the country," Chiwenga said.He also warned the youths against being used by politicians for their own selfish agendas. He said that politicians are only interested in using the youths to achieve their own goals and that they will abandon them once they have served their purpose."Do not be used by politicians. They are only interested in using you to achieve their own goals. Once they have used you, they will abandon you. So, be careful," Chiwenga said.Chiwenga also urged the youths to be patriotic and to work towards building a better Zimbabwe. He said that the future of the country lies in the hands of the youths and that they have a responsibility to make Zimbabwe a better place."Be patriotic and work towards building a better Zimbabwe. The future of the country lies in your hands. You have a responsibility to make Zimbabwe a better place," Chiwenga said.The Vice President's remarks come at a time when Zimbabwe is facing a number of challenges, including a struggling economy and political instability. The country is also facing a high rate of unemployment, which has led to a number of protests and demonstrations.Chiwenga's remarks are likely to be welcomed by many Zimbabweans, who are tired of violence and instability. His call for unity and peace is a positive message that could help to restore hope in the country.However, it remains to be seen whether the youths will heed Chiwenga's call. The youths have been at the forefront of the protests and demonstrations in recent years. They are angry about the country's economic problems and the lack of opportunities.It is possible that the youths will continue to protest and demonstrate, despite Chiwenga's call for peace. However, it is also possible that the youths will listen to Chiwenga and focus on building a better future for themselves and the country. Two Indianapolis police officers were indicted on manslaughter charges on Thursday in the death of Herman Whitfield III, a Black man who died in April 2022 after he was restrained by the police when his parents called 911 because he was having a mental health crisis. In addition to involuntary manslaughter, the officers, Adam Ahmad, 31, and Steven Sanchez, 34, also face felony charges of reckless homicide and battery and an additional misdemeanor count of battery. Officer Sanchez faces a second count of involuntary manslaughter for using a Taser, according to the indictment. The officers could face more than 20 years in prison if convicted on all counts. The indictment by a grand jury in Marion County, Ind., came nearly a year after Mr. Whitfields death on April 25, 2022, and after months of calls from his family for the police to release complete, unedited body camera footage, which they eventually did. Mr. Whitfields death followed a series of episodes in which Black men were killed in police custody encounters that have prompted national protests. The family of Mr. Whitfield, 39, said in a statement on Thursday that they were grateful that the criminal process will proceed and hope that justice for their son will prevail. They also said that they would continue to press a federal civil rights lawsuit that they filed against the City of Indianapolis and all six officers involved in the call about Mr. Whitfield. When a reporter for The New York Times called the executive offices of the wing, a person identifying himself as Colonel Gordon twice directed any questions to the Department of Justice or the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Located near the base of Cape Cod in the town of Bourne, a few miles beyond the twin bridges that link the peninsula to the southeastern Massachusetts coast, the base sprawls over thousands of inland acres, surrounded by swaths of dense pine forest. A reporter who drove onto the base late Thursday was stopped at a guard booth and asked to leave the property. A guard referred questions to the Justice Department. The surrounding area, known as the Upper Cape, is generally viewed as more down-to-earth than the better-known, more upscale resort towns found further to the east. Residents said the number of jobs and employees on the base have declined with the years; several said they had been surprised to learn that someone working there might have been responsible in some way for the leak. The site has been most often in the news in recent years for providing temporary housing for groups of people in urgent need of shelter. Evacuees displaced from New Orleans by Hurricane Katrina found shelter there in 2005, while last year, a group of migrants flown to Marthas Vineyard by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were later moved to housing on the Bourne base. On its official website, the wing lists its mission as providing worldwide precision intelligence and command and control along with trained and experienced airmen for expeditionary combat support and homeland security. In years of pretrial hearings, mostly over the lawfulness of evidence for Mr. Nashiris eventual death-penalty trial, his lawyers have portrayed him as deeply damaged by physical, psychological and sexual abuse in his nearly four years of C.I.A. detention. His lawyers argue that by the time federal agents questioned Mr. Nashiri at Guantanamo in 2007, he was so thoroughly conditioned that he told his interrogators what they wanted to hear. It was four years into his captivity; he had never been allowed to consult a lawyer. The judge is deciding whether those 2007 interrogations are admissible at trial, as the war court wrestles with the legacy of torture after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. Dr. Jessen testified that the practices including waterboarding, nudity and isolation were not meant to rob a prisoner of his will but to gain his cooperation and disclose Al Qaedas secrets to the C.I.A. Its all about establishing rapport and finding that path ahead, he said. Dr. Jessen, who spent 20 years in the U.S. Air Force and specialized in survival training, called the interrogations well monitored but very intense. C.I.A. headquarters would relay to him messages such as: Get a spine. Tell us when the next attacks would be. Prosecutors have already agreed that nothing Mr. Nashiri said at the so-called black sites can be used at trial because evidence derived from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment is unlawful. But they defend as untainted his 2007 law enforcement interviews, which took place at Guantanamo at a former C.I.A. prison where Mr. Nashiri was held by the agency in 2003 and 2004. Supporters of Ron DeSantis, the Florida governor, who is considering a run for president, have begun pressing members of the states Republican congressional delegation to hold off on any endorsements in the brewing presidential primary after four House members from Florida publicly backed Donald J. Trump. The effort, first reported by NBC News, was indicative of the growing concern in Mr. DeSantiss orbit that the former president was building a significant structural advantage as the governor considers jumping in. One Republican familiar with the calls, who insisted on anonymity in order to discuss private conversations, said that Mr. DeSantis had been blindsided by the Trump endorsements from Representatives Byron Donalds, Matt Gaetz, Anna Paulina Luna and Cory Mills, all staunch supporters of the former president who also backed Mr. DeSantiss re-election last year. It also shows how important the megastate of Florida will be in 2024. Once a general election battleground, Florida has drifted out of reach for Democrats. But with Floridas governor and arguably its most famous resident, Mr. Trump of Palm Beach, battling for endorsements, donors and voters, the Republican primary will be a local brawl, assuming Mr. DeSantis jumps in. The calls, led by Ryan Tyson, a Florida pollster, and his political team based in Tallahassee, have reached Representatives Kat Cammack, Vern Buchanan, Mario Diaz-Balart, Greg Steube, Aaron Bean and Laurel Lee. Others in the 20-member Republican delegation from Florida are almost certainly on the call list, another Republican official familiar with the effort said on Thursday. Without fanfare, the Justice Departments investigation into former President Donald J. Trumps attempts to overturn the 2020 election is approaching an important milestone. After nearly nine months of behind-the-scenes clashes, Mr. Trumps lawyers have largely lost their battle to limit testimony from some of his closest aides to a federal grand jury. The decisions, in a string of related cases, represent an almost total failure by Mr. Trump to constrain the reach of the inquiry and have strengthened the position of Jack Smith, the special counsel overseeing the investigation, as he builds an accounting of the former presidents efforts to retain power after his defeat at the polls. Having lost their challenges to grand jury subpoenas and largely failed to limit the scope of their testimony with assertions of executive and attorney-client privilege, a last group of aides is now being forced to answer questions. On Tuesday, it was Stephen Miller, an adviser and top speechwriter for Mr. Trump, who showed up in Federal District Court in Washington and spent several hours in front of the grand jury. On Thursday, it was John Ratcliffe, the former director of national intelligence. The process could culminate near the end of this month with an appearance by former Vice President Mike Pence. WASHINGTON The F.B.I. was examining whether a foreign government had targeted a Republican lawmaker for an intelligence operation when the bureau conducted botched searches for information about him within messages swept up under an expiring warrantless surveillance law, according to people familiar with the matter. The disclosure helps clarify the circumstances surrounding the scrutiny of the lawmaker, Representative Darin LaHood of Illinois, and carries policy implications as Congress debates whether to reauthorize the surveillance law, known as Section 702. The question of what happened has lingered over that debate since December, when the government declassified a report about incidents in which F.B.I. officials had failed to comply with rules for retrieving messages gathered under the law. A footnote revealed that an intelligence analyst had used the name of a member of Congress as a search term without including necessary limiting terms to screen out any irrelevant messages. Last month, one major piece of the puzzle came into view when Mr. LaHood said at a House Intelligence Committee hearing that he had concluded that he was the lawmaker. Ms. Feinstein, 89, who has also shared few specifics since her staff announced in March that she had been hospitalized with shingles, acknowledged on Wednesday that her illness would keep her out of the Senate for the foreseeable future as she recovers in San Francisco. Both cases have highlighted the challenges of governing with a bare-bones majority in a body populated by an old and frail group of lawmakers. Democrats had hoped that the seat they gained in last years midterms, nudging their 50-50 majority to 51-49, would make it easier to move nominations and run the Senate more efficiently. But it has proved very difficult to keep all 51 senators aligned with Democrats available for any stretch, with illnesses and other conditions afflicting members, even as Congress works to confirm President Bidens nominees and heads toward crucial showdowns over spending and raising the federal debt ceiling. Most notably, Senator John Fetterman, the freshman Democrat from Pennsylvania who suffered a stroke during his campaign, was absent for six weeks for treatment of depression, though he too is scheduled to return Monday as Congress resumes. The absences, particularly Ms. Feinsteins, have hindered Democrats and made it difficult to advance judicial nominations a main priority of Mr. Biden and Senate Democrats that is among the only significant acts they can take with no Republican help. Though the documents mainly focus on the war in Ukraine, they include C.I.A. intelligence briefs describing conversations and plans at senior levels of government in those countries, in several cases attributed to signals intelligence, or electronic eavesdropping. They have served to remind the world of Americas talent for spying and the diplomatic blowups and reputational damage stemming from the leaks. The United States adversaries have sought to exploit the awkward moment. It was only months ago that U.S. officials were condemning Beijing for its prying eyes, in the form of spy balloons drifting over multiple continents. On Wednesday, Chinas foreign ministry spokesman turned the tables, insisting that the United States owed the international community an explanation for its indiscriminate secret theft, surveillance and eavesdropping on countries in the world, including its allies. Unlike in 2013, however, U.S. allies appear to be mostly shrugging off the latest examples of apparent spying. The governments of Egypt, Israel, South Korea, and the United Arab Emirates called leaked reports about their deliberations false or fabricated but said little or nothing about the surveillance itself. (U.S. officials have not disputed the overall authenticity of the documents, though they have warned without offering specifics that some of the contents may have been altered since appearing online.) The subdued response may be the product of a jaded view about the long reach of U.S. spy agencies. The end of the Cold War may have brought a golden era of espionage to a close, but the documents that Mr. Snowden leaked in 2013 revealed that a new age of spying had begun after September 2001. It became clear that the United States, driven by fears of foreign terrorism and empowered by technological advances, had created a sophisticated network of global surveillance that was scooping up vast amounts of data from millions of emails and phone calls around the world. WASHINGTON The Supreme Court on Thursday refused to block a class-action settlement that forgave $6 billion in federal loans for students at for-profit schools or vocational programs. The courts brief order gave no reasons, which is typical when the justices act on emergency applications. There were no noted dissents. The case is not related to the Biden administrations pandemic-related debt relief program, which involves $400 billion in student loans owed by 40 million Americans. The justices heard arguments in challenges to that program in February and are expected to rule by June. The new case arose from accusations of fraud against 151 institutions, nearly all of them for-profit schools or vocational programs. A federal law allows the education secretary to cancel federal loans based on misconduct by the borrowers school. My people deserve to be heard as well, and you cant have that with folks in the well with a bullhorn, Representative William Lamberth, a member of Republican leadership, said after the expulsions. Since then Representative Justin Jones of Nashville and Justin Pearson of Memphis have been reinstated by their local governing boards ahead of special elections later this year. Victor Ashe, a Republican and former mayor of Knoxville who served in the legislature when Republicans were a minority in the 1980s, said the legislature had become more contentious and his party more extreme since then. In the heat of partisan combat, he said, some people dont think about This is not democracy. Referring to Republicans and some Democrats in the legislature, he said: They just have a different mind-set. Once youre elected, the idea that your opponent doesnt have to be your enemy seems to have vanished. The expulsions come at a time when the legislatures in Tennessee and other states have pushed at the traditional limits of political power. In Tennessee, which was previously known for its relatively moderate, pragmatic political culture,the legislature took aim at the states center of Democratic support: Republican lawmakers created a gerrymander last year that split Nashvilles Democratic-held congressional district, which has represented the city since Tennessee became a state, into three extending well outside the city and into typically Republican areas. News / National by Staff reporter The African Apostolic Church founded and led by Archbishop Paul Mwazha has pledged their unwavering support for Zanu-PF and promised to pray for the nation before, during and after the harmonised elections to be held this year at a date yet to be proclaimed by President Mnangagwa.This pledge was delivered by Bishop Israel Mwazha who was giving his remarks during the Easter celebrations held by the church at the Guvambwa shrine, Sadza Growth Point, in Chikomba district this weekend.Thousands of the congregants gathered at the shrine in remembrance of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.Vice President Dr Constantine Chiwenga graced the event.Before Bishop Israel Mwazha delivered his speech, Vice President Chiwenga addressed the gathering where he commended the church for standing with ruling party since the armed struggle era."We regret that today, Archbishop Paul Mwazha is not here today with us at this gathering, but we are aware that he is with us spiritually for he is well represented by the church leadership. We are thankful to him, because even when we were growing up, before we joined the armed struggle, we heard of his great deeds here in Chivhu, Wedza and areas like Buhera among others."He later supported us during the armed struggle through prayers, and as someone who had businesses in Chikomba district, Mashonaland East Province, he also assisted us with food and clothes and that played a major role till we gained independence in 1980."We therefore thank God. We liberated our nation working together with Mutumwa Paul Mwazha we Africa. We remain a peaceful people through the prayers from you the church, who continuously pray for our President, and me his Vice President, our legislators, so that we remain united. So that God can give us wisdom as we built this great nation."Our President is always saying Nyika inovakwa nevene vayo, nekerekewo inovakwa nevene vayo. You and us are one as we build our nation with peace and prosperity. As you are aware, this year we will have our harmonised elections. These elections will be successful only if our nation is peaceful. That peace and support comes from you the people. The party belongs to you. The church belongs to you. We appeal for your support, the kind of support you gave us during the days of the liberation struggle. Let us remain supporting each other and united as before."In his remarks, Bishop Israel Mwazha said he and the church members will give support to the ruling party and pray for its victory."Honourable Vice President, the church is cognisant of the forthcoming harmonised elections. As a church, we pray for peace, tranquillity before, during and after elections, and it is our duty as a church to pray to God for divine intervention so that there is oneness, there is spirit of love, brotherhood amongst the children of Zimbabwe."And we are, so biased, because we then also ask for God's favour that our ruling party prevails, because this is what we were taught by Paul Mwazha we Africa."I would like to extend my gratitude, and that of Paul Mwazha of Africa as well as the generality of the church members to the government for creating a conducive environment for churches. We cherish the constitutional right that of freedom of worship which the Government has availed to the church. Honourable Vice President, Archbishop Paul Mwazha of Africa extends his gratitude to you. Be sure of our unwavering support in the work you are doing in rebuilding our great nation and restoring it to its rightful position within Africa.He said the church is also alive to the fact that the Second Republic has ushered in investment and there is notable development across the country."We greatly appreciate the Government of Zimbabwe led by President Mnangagwa, for the developments that are taking place. He is leading this nation with wisdom, that is why we are seeing a lot of development in the country."There has been a lot of development in the last three years, even our airports have been transformed, even business-travel, it is evident of a reviving economy. We see people bringing in investment to this country. Dams are being constructed, bridges, new industries, a growing mining and agricultural sector." In South Africa, a social media influencer who added Vladimir to his Twitter name to convey his reverence for the Russian president transmits Russian-generated content over Twitter and Telegram to a growing audience that now numbers 148,000 followers. On Afrique Media, a television channel based in Cameroon that reaches millions of people in Africa and recently signed a partnership with RT, the state-funded Russian television network, pundits regularly praise Russias invasion of Ukraine, with one recently declaring, Glory to Putin. An animated video circulating online and a cause of alarm in one newly revealed U.S. intelligence document shows a brave Russian commando from the Wagner group, which is fighting for Russia in Ukraine, joining West African soldiers to defeat a horde of invading zombies from France. Over the past year, a flood of pro-Russian content has increasingly been surfacing on news outlets and social media platforms in Africa. The messages aim to drum up support for the invasion of Ukraine, and to frame Russias growing presence on the African continent as beneficial, while vilifying American and European especially French involvement in Africa. On these visits, he became close friends with many Chinese academics and top officials, even meeting Li Keqiang, the former premier, twice, he said. He went on to teach university courses about China and translate books about the normalization of ties between Japan and China after World War II. But as Chinas wariness of foreigners grew, those relationships and credentials made him an object of suspicion, he said. He believes he was targeted as part of the Chinese governments growing efforts to control academic studies of China, a push that has also led to the arrests of nearly 20 Chinese professors returning from work at Japanese universities. Mr. Suzuki was preparing to fly home from Beijing when men in plain clothes threw him into a van, he said. He was held in informal detention and interrogated for seven months. During that time, the lights in his room were never turned off, even when he was sleeping, and his jailers let him see the sun only once, for just 15 minutes, he said. When Mr. Suzuki was finally put on trial, the proceedings were closed and took just two days: one to read the charges and another to render his sentence. He was granted one appeal, which was rejected. Mr. Suzuki insists that he is innocent. At the dinner party where he tried to discuss North Korea, he said, he simply asked how the country was doing. The Chinese academics response was noncommittal. Conditions in Chinese prisons are harsh. Some Japanese detainees have lost teeth because of a lack of dental care. One died of unknown causes while incarcerated, according to the Japanese foreign ministry. Japanese consular officers came to visit Mr. Suzuki once a month. But they offered little support, he said. When he asked one of the diplomats to make his case public, he said, he got a scolding: They asked me, Do you want to be any more famous than you already are? Follow the latest news on the leak of classified intelligence documents. NORTH DIGHTON, Mass. The F.B.I. arrested a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard on Thursday in connection with the leak of dozens of highly classified documents containing an array of national security secrets, including the breadth of surveillance the United States is able to conduct on Russia. Airman First Class Jack Douglas Teixeira was taken into custody to face charges of leaking classified documents after federal authorities said he had posted batches of sensitive intelligence to an online gaming chat group, called Thug Shaker Central. As reporters from The New York Times gathered near the house on Thursday afternoon, about a half-dozen F.B.I. agents pushed into the home of Airman Teixeiras mother in North Dighton, with a twin-engine government surveillance plane keeping watch overhead. Some of the agents arrived heavily armed. Law enforcement officials learned before the search that Airman Teixeira was in possession of multiple weapons, according to a person familiar with the investigation, and the F.B.I. found guns at the house. Ahead of an expected spring counteroffensive, Ukraine has intensified its diplomatic push this week for aid, asking allies for more support to repel invading Russian forces and rebuild the countrys battered infrastructure. The appeals have come from Ukrainian officials visiting the United States and Asia, as well as from President Volodymyr Zelensky. The prime minister of Ukraine, Denys Shmyhal, is scheduled to meet in Washington on Thursday with Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, who has pledged that the United States would support Ukraine for as long as it takes. Mr. Shmyhal said on Twitter on Wednesday that Ukraine had secured an additional $200 million loan from the World Bank that would help restore the countrys power system. His comments came as Mr. Zelensky hosted a bipartisan Senate delegation in Kyiv, the Ukrainian capital, on Wednesday and delivered a pointed video message to representatives of Western nations, asking them to increase their support of Ukraines economy. Belarus has extradited Aleksei Moskalyov, a Russian father who lost custody of his daughter and fled the country after he was charged for online posts criticizing Russias war in Ukraine, Russian state news media reported on Thursday. Mr. Moskalyov, 54, a single father, was placed under house arrest in early March and charged with discrediting the Russian Army over the war in Ukraine. The arrest came after his daughter, Maria, 13, drew an antiwar picture in school. Maria, known as Masha, had been placed in a state-run orphanage after her fathers arrest and forbidden to communicate with him. At the end of March, Mr. Moskalyov, an ornamental bird breeder, escaped house arrest, hours before a court in Yefremov, a town 150 miles south of Moscow, sentenced him to two years in prison. He was soon detained in Minsk, the capital of Belarus, a Russian ally, and held in a detention center in the town of Zhodino. On Thursday, the Russian state news agency Tass quoted Natalia Sakharchuk, a spokeswoman for the Belarusian interior ministry, confirming that Mr. Moskalyov had been extradited to Russia. It is not clear whether Mr. Moskalyov would face additional punishment for his escape from house arrest. In an emotional address to the Irish Parliament on Thursday, President Biden thanked the Irish people for their support of Ukraine, cited a favorite Irish poet and recounted old family stories amid a three-day trip that is both a personal journey and an exercise in global diplomacy. Today, the United States and Ireland are standing together to oppose Russias brutal aggression and to support the brave people of Ukraine, Mr. Biden said before a packed and enthusiastic legislative chamber. Mr. Biden, who has embraced his Irish roots as a central part of his political identity for decades, was greeted with thunderous applause and a standing ovation by Irish lawmakers as he entered the lower house, called the Dail Eireann. The president put his hand over his heart, relishing the kind of unanimous support he rarely gets from Congress. He beamed at an Irish lawmaker who was cradling an infant and, in his opening remarks, said his trip felt like coming home. He suggested that he was perhaps not ready to leave. Hundreds of thousands of protesters marched across France on Thursday on the eve of a crucial ruling over President Emmanuel Macrons decision to raise the legal age of retirement to 64, from 62, a step that could pave the way for the measures final implementation, even if it does little to dispel persistent popular opposition. Mr. Macrons pension overhaul became law last month after he decided to push it through the lower house of Parliament without a vote, galvanizing a monthslong showdown with opposition parties and labor unions that on Thursday were staging their 12th day of nationwide protests and strikes since January. The unrest that followed Mr. Macrons decision to bypass a full parliamentary vote has mutated into a less chaotic but still very tense standoff, marked by sporadic violence between the police and protesters, even as some of the latest demonstrations showed signs of losing steam. According to the French authorities, protests on Thursday attracted about 380,000 people, though labor unions said that the number was one million to 1.5 million. Both the authorities and the unions had estimated that turnout at demonstrations last week was higher. Aleksei A. Navalny, the jailed Russian opposition leader, has been suffering from stomach pain so acute that prison officials were forced to call an ambulance to treat him, his spokeswoman said Thursday. Mr. Navalny, Russias most vocal critic of the Kremlin, is being held in Penal Colony No. 2, in the town of Pokrov just east of Moscow, where he says he has been repeatedly placed in so-called punishment cells for trivial misdemeanors such as washing his face ahead of schedule. He has repeatedly complained about conditions in the prison and about the lack of access to proper medical care. Concerns about Mr. Navalnys health have been growing in recent months and have led to rare, public petitions from groups of Russian lawyers, doctors and lawmakers, who despite the risk of being prosecuted for dissent have used their full names to demand that he receive better medical care. Kira Yarmysh, Mr. Navalnys spokeswoman, said that an ambulance had to be called early in the morning on Saturday because he was experiencing acute stomach pain. And while a shift of political power called devolution to Northern Ireland was part of the peace process, it happened alongside a broader set of constitutional changes in the United Kingdom that also devolved power to local parliaments in Scotland and Wales. Devolution was seen as a way to ensure a greater voice for the nations and in the constitutional political makeup of the United Kingdom, said Jennifer Thomson, a political scientist at the University of Bath in England. So zooming out, we need to kind of see the Good Friday agreement in terms of those macro level changes happening across the country. A work-in-progress deal Even with Northern Irelands advantages, there were many moments when it seemed as if peace was out of reach, or as if it might not survive. I think in most peoples minds, you have the Good Friday Agreement and then you have 25 years of peace, Dr. Thomson said. But in reality, you have the Good Friday Agreement, and you have many, many successive other peace negotiations and peace agreements. For instance, although the peace agreement set up power-sharing in Northern Irelands local assembly, London soon reasserted control after a period of turmoil. It was only after further talks and an additional deal, the 2006 St. Andrews Agreement that the local government was restored (but political deadlock has remained a problem). More recently, Britains exit from the European Union put renewed pressure on the deal, raising a host of concerns about Northern Irelands land border with the Republic of Ireland and its integration with the rest of Britain. And the hope that peace would heal some of the divides in society has so far not become a reality: Prosperity has not materialized everywhere, and many aspects of life in Northern Ireland remain profoundly segregated. According to official figures, only 7 percent of schools are officially integrated, rather than being either Catholic or Protestant. So-called peace walls still split neighborhoods along sectarian lines. They rushed to Ukraine by the thousands, many of them Americans who promised to bring military experience, money or supplies to the battleground of a righteous war. Hometown newspapers hailed their commitment, and donors backed them with millions of dollars. Now, after a year of combat, many of these homespun groups of volunteers are fighting with themselves and undermining the war effort. Some have wasted money or stolen valor. Others have cloaked themselves in charity while also trying to profit off the war, records show. One retired Marine lieutenant colonel from Virginia is the focus of a U.S. federal investigation into the potentially illegal export of military technology. A former Army soldier arrived in Ukraine only to turn traitor and defect to Russia. A Connecticut man who lied about his military service has posted live updates from the battlefield including his exact location and boasted about his easy access to American weapons. A former construction worker is hatching a plan to use fake passports to smuggle in fighters from Pakistan and Iran. And in one of the more curious entanglements, one of the largest volunteer groups is embroiled in a power struggle involving an Ohio man who falsely claimed to have been both a U.S. Marine and a LongHorn Steakhouse assistant manager. The dispute also involves a years-old incident on Australian reality TV. News / National by Staff reporter SOUTH African police on Tuesday arrested several illegal miners, among them 41 Zimbabweans and recovered chrome worth more than R1 million in the Mecklenburg in Limpopo province.In addition to breaking mining laws, the Zimbabweans and one Mozambican have been charged with irregular migration.The gang was arrested in the Ga-Pasha village as security authorities intensify a crackdown on illegal miners.Equipment worth over R170 000 was seized during the raid.Recently, 11 illegal miners among them Mozambicans, Zimbabweans and South Africans died when an illegal mining shaft they were working in collapsed during heavy rains in the same province.Limpopo police spokesperson, Lieutenant Colonel Malasela Ledwaba confirmed the arrests yesterday.He said the provincial illegal mining task team is out in full force."The 42 foreign nationals and one South African citizen are expected to appear before the Mecklenburg Magistrate's court tomorrow (Thursday) facing charges of illegal mining and contravention of the Immigration Act," said Lt Col Ledwaba."The suspects were apprehended during a joint operation conducted by the members of the Provincial Illegal Mining Task Team, Provincial Organised Crime Unit together with the RR Undercover Security Company at Ga-Phasha village on Tuesday evening".He said the police swiftly reacted to information about illegal mining activities taking place in the area.Upon arrival, Lt Col Ledwaba said they found the suspects busy conducting illegal mining activities.He said the suspects ran away and hid in nearby bushes and a small tunnel."The scene was cordoned and 43 suspects were ultimately apprehended. We confiscated 12 generators and 10 jackhammers valued at R170 000 and chrome estimated to be more than R1 million," said Lt Col Ledwaba."The male suspects aged between 18 and 43 are 41 undocumented Zimbabweans, one Mozambican national and one South African citizen".Limpopo provincial police commander, Lieutenant General Thembi Hadebe said they will stop at nothing in ensuring that the perpetrators of crimes are arrested.She said the operation to stop illegal mining is continuing across the province.The incident comes after four Zimbabweans were among the 21 suspected illegal miners whose bodies were discovered in a mineshaft in Krugersdorp, Gauteng, South Africa in November last year.In September 2021, South African emergency workers retrieved 11 bodies of Zimbabweans who died after a generator they were using in a disused underground mine exploded in Benoni, some 35km outside Johannesburg.It is understood that the group which included 15 people, among them Zimbabweans and Mozambicans, entered the mine on August 27 of the same year and were using the generator for lighting and drilling.The group reportedly died of suffocation while a few who managed to escape and made a report to the police.The mine is located in the Springs area of Benoni. WASHINGTON Polands prime minister said he believed that only the direct intervention of President Biden would lead to an agreement for South Korea to make its artillery shells available to Ukraine to use in the fight against Russia. Leaked intelligence documents posted on social media in March and brought to wider public attention in recent days said Poland could have a role in the transfer of artillery shells from South Korea to Ukraine. But the reports indicated that South Korean officials were reluctant to provide the ammunition, worried that doing so could violate their countrys rules against providing lethal aid to nations at war. Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki of Poland, who is in Washington this week for meetings with U.S. officials and the International Monetary Fund, said tapping into South Korean artillery stocks was crucial to getting more badly needed ammunition to Ukraine. Russias military, Mr. Morawiecki said in an interview on Tuesday with The New York Times, has far more artillery shells and is firing far more rounds on the battlefield each month than the Ukrainian Army. He said South Korea has a huge supply of artillery shells and could help. The depth of the infighting inside the Russian government appears broader and deeper than previously understood, judging from a newly discovered cache of classified intelligence documents that has been leaked online. The additional documents, which did not surface in a 53-page set that came to wide public attention online last week, paint a picture of the Russian government feuding over the count of the dead and wounded in the Ukraine war, with the domestic intelligence agency accusing the military of obscuring the scale of casualties that Russia has suffered. The new batch, which contains 27 pages, reinforces how deeply American spy agencies have penetrated nearly every aspect of the Russian intelligence apparatus and military command structure. It also shows that the breach of American intelligence agencies could contain far more material than previously understood. 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. Far from an exile, Father Small characterized the move as an expansion to a global headquarters in Rome that can serve as a monument to the silent massacre of peoples childhoods and make clear to survivors that they have a right to be somewhere beautiful. Its very significant, Cardinal Sean OMalley, the archbishop of Boston and the president of the commission, said in an interview. Despite it being nifty to have been in offices a stones throw from the pope, he said, We have come to realize that its not as accessible as we would like to be. Survivors of clerical sex abuse, he said, often feel uncomfortable coming into a Catholic church: To have to come into the Vatican and go through the Swiss Guards and the gendarmes and everything else can be pretty daunting. Location is far from the commissions only problem. For decades, the church has been divided over the accountability of its hierarchy when it comes to covering up abuse, how much of a voice to give victims inside an insular institution and whether to take a more incremental or uncompromising approach to reform. Saudi Arabia, like many other Arab states, had refused to engage with President Bashar al-Assad of Syria for more than a decade after he violently crushed his countrys Arab Spring uprising bombing, gassing and torturing his own people in a conflict that morphed into a long-running war that is still in progress. So when Syrias foreign minister arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, it seemed to put to rest any notion that Mr. al-Assads regime would remain isolated in the Middle East. The Saudi foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan, welcomed Mr. al-Assads emissary, Faisal Mekdad, with a smile. In a joint statement, the countries said they had discussed steps to facilitate the return of Syria to its Arab fold, and would start procedures to resume consular services and flights. Also this week, Tunisia formally re-established diplomatic relations with Syria, naming an ambassador to Damascus. Assad remaining in power and Arab normalization with Damascus seems to be a foregone conclusion at this point, said Anna Jacobs, a senior Gulf analyst for the International Crisis Group. The U.S. and Europe have made it clear that they do not agree with Arab states normalizing with the Assad regime, but there doesnt seem to be much they can do about it. Iran and Nicaragua held discussions in February about bolstering their military cooperation as a way of countering American influence in Latin America, according to an intelligence update contained in a cache of leaked documents that appears to be based on electronic intercepts gathered by the C.I.A. A trip by an Iranian delegation to Nicaragua that month was no secret. Both the Nicaraguan and Iranian authorities trumpeted the visit, though their announcements were vague on details, focused generally on trade and did not mention any talks about military cooperation. But the intelligence report, dated Feb. 23, notes that the delegation, led by Irans foreign minister, Hossein Amir Abdollahian, had met with senior Nicaraguan Army commanders. According to the report, the commanders told Mr. Amir Abdollahian that Nicaragua opposed perceived U.S. efforts to expand influence in Latin America and expressed a willingness to engage with Tehran and other like-minded countries. The paragraph-long intelligence update was included in a series of leaked images that were posted on a Discord server, and provided to The New York Times. American officials, though acknowledging that documents in an earlier series of leaked documents posted on the same server were authentic, warned that some had been altered, while others were outdated or inaccurate. North Korea fired a ballistic missile off its east coast on Thursday in its first missile test in more than two weeks, the South Korean military said. The missile, which appeared to be intermediate or long range, was launched from near Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, and flew 621 miles before falling in waters between North Korea and Japan, the South Korean military said. As the missile hurtled to the east, Japan issued an alarm in its northern island of Hokkaido, urging residents to seek shelter. Japan later retracted the evacuation order, saying that the missile did not fly over Japan. The confusion highlighted the growing uneasiness among Japanese over the Norths frequent missile tests. North Korea last launched an intermediate-range ballistic missile in October. The missile flew over northern Japan, triggering alarms and prompting people there to seek cover. North Korea has since launched several powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles. President Biden President Biden condemned the ruling invalidating the approval of mifepristone, which his administration is appealing, and called it another unprecedented step in taking away basic freedoms from women and putting their health at risk. Mr. Biden, a Democrat, has a complicated history with abortion; before his 2020 presidential campaign, he supported restrictions, including the Hyde Amendment, which prohibits federal funding for most abortions. But he has since spoken more forcefully in defense of unfettered access, including endorsing congressional codification of the rights Roe v. Wade used to protect. White House officials have said he is not willing to disregard the mifepristone ruling, as some abortion-rights activists have urged. Mr. Biden has said he is planning to run in 2024, but has not formally declared his candidacy. Donald J. Trump More than perhaps any other Republican, former President Donald J. Trump is responsible for the current state of abortion access: He appointed three of the six Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe v. Wade and the district judge who invalidated the approval of mifepristone. But lately, he has been loath to talk about it. Last year, Mr. Trump privately expressed concern that the ruling overturning Roe would hurt Republicans and it did, both in the midterms and in the Wisconsin Supreme Court election. A few times each month, a 10 x 15 padded FedEx envelope arrives in Marks mailbox in eastern Florida. He doesnt know when the packages will arrive, only that each shipment usually contains about a dozen individual mifepristone pills and several 10-packs of misoprostol, the two drugs used in a medication abortion. He repackages the pills one mifepristone and four misoprostol each and then prints a one-page sheet of instructions before shipping the medication to U.S. customers who have placed orders from medside24.com, a website based in Kazakhstan that sells abortion pills exclusively. A selection of abortion pill kits available online from overseas sellers. Mark is one link in a supply chain for abortion pills sold outside of the formal U.S. health care system a market that has expanded significantly in the last year and that includes both overseas manufacturers and ad hoc distribution networks in the United States. Im not the dealer, Im just forwarding the mail for someone, Mark told me in February. (Because distributing medication from overseas is illegal, many people interviewed for this article asked to be identified by first name or first initial only.) Im not for abortion but Im not entirely against it, he added. On some level, its none of my business. Cody, a 19-year-old student in Wooster, Ohio, had been waiting for months to order abortion pills online, but most of what was available was out of their price range. When they saw a seller offering pills for just $100 in early February, they immediately placed an order. Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times Websites selling pills offer a convenient though legally dubious route for people looking for a way around state-level abortion bans. These sellers stand only to gain from efforts to restrict medication abortion, experts told me, including a federal appeals courts decision to reimpose restrictions on abortion pills nationwide that the Food and Drug Administration had eased in recent years. That decision came after a federal judge in a lower court ruled to invalidate the agencys approval of mifepristone entirely. On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court temporarily stayed the ruling. Patients are either going to be forced to use a less effective regimen, or it could potentially push people into unregulated informal networks, said Greer Donley, a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh who focuses on abortion. Those are the two consequences. Its not going to stop people from obtaining abortions. Tens of thousands of patients seeking to terminate a pregnancy have already gone online in search of pills in the nine months since the Supreme Courts Dobbs decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Often, it is the only option for those unable to travel for clinic-based care. For years, the advocacy group Aid Access has provided pills to U.S. patients at little or no cost. But people have increasingly turned to other groups and to for-profit sellers like Marks employer for faster delivery. In the span of two weeks in February, one online seller distributed more than 300 abortion pill orders, primarily to people in Southeastern states where access is restricted. A map showing where more than 300 abortion pill orders were delivered from one online seller in February. Abortion pill order All abortions banned Telehealth medication abortions restricted Wash. Maine Mont. N.D. Vt. Minn. Ore. N.H. N.Y. Idaho Mass. S.D. Wis. R.I. Mich. Conn. Wyo. Pa. Iowa N.J. Ohio Neb. Nev. Md. Ind. Del. Ill. Utah Colo. W.Va. Va. Calif. Kan. Ky. Mo. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. S.C. Okla. N.M. Ark. Ala. Miss. Ga. La. Texas Alaska Fla. Hawaii Abortion pill order All abortions banned Telehealth medication abortions restricted Wash. Maine Mont. N.D. Vt. Minn. Ore. N.H. N.Y. Mass. S.D. Idaho Wis. R.I. Mich. Conn. Wyo. Pa. Iowa N.J. Ohio Neb. Nev. Md. Ind. Del. Ill. Utah Colo. W.Va. Va. Calif. Kan. Ky. Mo. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. S.C. N.M. Okla. Ark. Ala. Miss. Ga. La. Texas Alaska Fla. Hawaii Abortion pill order All abortions banned Telehealth medication abortions restricted Wash. Maine Mont. N.D. Vt. Minn. Ore. N.H. Mass. Idaho Wis. N.Y. S.D. R.I. Mich. Wyo. Conn. Iowa Pa. N.J. Neb. Nev. Ohio Ind. Md. Del. Ill. Utah W.Va. Colo. Va. Calif. Kan. Ky. Mo. N.C. Tenn. Ariz. S.C. N.M. Okla. Ark. Ala. Miss. Ga. La. Texas Alaska Fla. Hawaii Sources: Online pill sellers; Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of state policies as of Nov. 15, 2022 In interviews over the past few months, sellers, shippers and patients described how the online market for abortion pills is operating and how it has grown since the Dobbs decision. Overseas suppliers appear on track to provide abortion pills to around 100,000 people in the United States in the year after the decision, or enough pills to cover about 10 percent of the countrys annual abortions. If prosecutors wanted to crack down on pills by mail, it is unclear how they would do so. The federal government is responsible for both the postal service and customs enforcement rooting out individual shipments of illicit abortion pills among the millions of packages a day processed at the countrys international mail facilities is unlikely to be a priority, experts said. Even anti-abortion groups say that it will be difficult to control this market. Its very amorphous, said Sue Liebel, the director of state affairs at Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America. States are looking at ways to determine how they can keep these sellers out of their state, just as they would brick-and-mortar clinics. But its harder to regulate if its online. An influx of orders Twenty-five states and Washington, D.C., allowed abortion pills to be prescribed via telehealth and sent through the mail legally under F.D.A. guidelines issued during the pandemic and made permanent last year. But patients seeking pills by mail in other states have had few choices but to look online to overseas providers for access to the drugs. Abortion pills are typically used for patients who are less than 12 weeks into pregnancy. A table of the overseas providers of abortion pills, in which the cost of the pills ranges from $0 to $470 and the time of delivery from three days to three weeks. Cost Time Clinician support Pills from Aid Access $105 or less 2-3 weeks India Las Libres $0 1-2 weeks Mexico, India Online sellers $115 $470 3-7 days India, Vietnam, others The most established and sought-after option for online pills is Aid Access, a service run by Dr. Rebecca Gomperts, a Dutch physician and activist. It has provided Americans with pills since 2018. The second is Las Libres, a Mexican activist group that works with U.S. volunteers who distribute pills free of charge. For many patients, figuring out how to get pills begins with Plan C, an advocacy group that acts as a clearinghouse for online pill providers. Today, Plan C lists 23 for-profit sellers, largely based in India, with about two dozen more waiting to be verified and listed. A chart of the estimated number of abortion pills provided outside the U.S. health care system from July through December 2022. 50,000 Estimated abortion pills provided by sources outside the U.S. health care system, July-Dec. 2022 ~23,000 Aid Access ~17,500 Las Libres ~9,500 Online sellers Each square represents 100 orders 50,000 Estimated abortion pills provided by sources outside the U.S. health care system, July-Dec. 2022 ~23,000 Aid Access ~17,500 Las Libres ~9,500 Online sellers Each square represents 100 orders Sources: Las Libres; online pill sellers; Abigail Aiken at the University of Texas at Austin Note: Aid Access figures reflect that 50 to 60 percent of requests typically result in shipments. Even though Plan C has boosted the online sellers visibility and legitimacy, they remain a relatively small piece of the landscape. Through February, Aid Access was receiving an average of 254 requests a day from people in the United States, up from 83 requests from before the Dobbs decision. Las Libres said it had received around 100 daily requests through the end of March, down from around 200 per day in December. (Not all requests will end in shipments.) The online sellers I spoke with, by comparison, said they were each receiving anywhere from five to 45 orders per day. Where the advocacy groups see injustice, the online sellers see a lucrative market. A medical termination of pregnancy kit, or M.T.P. kit, retails for as little as $5 in India but can be resold in the U.S. for more than 50 times as much. I was kind of concerned, because their website does look and feel kind of sketchy, said D., 25, who went to an Ohio abortion clinic and was given a flier advertising medside24.com. Maddie McGarvey for The New York Times To better understand how the sellers operate, I placed orders with four sites listed on Plan C, identifying myself as a reporter for The New York Times. Through one, I connected with Mahiwal, who said he answers customer queries over WhatsApp from Punjab for more than 80 websites that sell pills. Mahiwal asked if I would like to become a shipper myself for $2,000 he would send me 10 abortion pill kits, which could be resold for $350 each. He would handle the customer orders, and I would mail the packages and keep the profit. U can buy Tesla with us, he messaged me, assuring me of the easy money. A Cleveland, Miss., man who goes by Guru is one shipper who took Mahiwal up on his offer. Guru said he got connected with buymtpkits.com through a relative in India who knew he was looking for work. He ships 10 to 12 packages each day, for a total commission of about $40. I thought, This seems easy, I can do it from home. All I need is a printer, he said. Dr. Gomperts, of Aid Access, sees little problem with merchants selling pills purely for profit. I have the medical background, I have the scientific background, and it is a better service because of that, she said. But to be honest, as long as the medication theyre sending is real, who cares? Weighing the options The U.S.-based shipper network has been crucial to growing the business of the overseas sellers, who win customers by offering quick or even overnight delivery of the pills. For most patients, the cost of the service remains the most important factor in deciding where to get pills online. A chart showing the minimum, average and maximum cost of abortion pills from overseas providers: Aid Access, Las Libres and for-profit online sellers. $0 $100 $200 $300 $400 Las Libres Aid Access Online pill sellers min. avg. max. But shipping speed has become a priority too. A chart showing the minimum, average and maximum delivery speeds of abortion pills from overseas providers: Aid Access, Las Libres and for-profit online sellers. 0 days 5 10 15 20 Online pill sellers Las Libres Aid Access Sources: Plan C; online pill sellers I did consider Aid Access, but I was afraid by the time I got it I would be too far along. I didnt want to take any chances, said J., a 31-year-old mother of three from Indiana. J. ended up choosing a seller called secureabortionpills.com. It said fairly fast shipping, and it was one of the cheaper options. So I took a shot with them, she said. She paid $310 and got a USPS tracking number via email. The pills arrived in four days. A major difference in ordering from online sellers, compared with telehealth or in-clinic abortions, is that there is no physician oversight. Instead, many patients turn to resources like the Miscarriage and Abortion Hotline or lengthy Reddit threads with advice on how to self-manage an abortion with pills: when to take them, what to do for pain, how long to expect bleeding, cramping and other possible side effects. While opponents of abortion argue that self-managing with pills is dangerous and self-managing with pills from an unregulated overseas supplier even more so there have been no publicly reported instances of serious complications for patients who took pills bought online. Overall, abortion pills are exceptionally safe and effective, though some experts raised concerns about the possibility of patients receiving ineffective or damaged pills from overseas, especially misoprostol, which is susceptible to degradation in heat or moisture. Even the F.D.A.-approved regimen has a 3 to 5 percent chance of resulting in an unsuccessful termination in the first trimester. And while abortion-rights groups are concerned about efforts to further restrict the availability of legal pills, the outcome of the F.D.A. lawsuit could ultimately drive interest in extralegal options. With each outrageous act of a court or legislature, that provides us with another opportunity to tell people about this robust alternate supply network that exists in the U.S., said Elisa Wells, the co-founder of Plan C. Sidestepping the regulators Most online providers, including Aid Access and to a lesser extent Las Libres, source abortion pills from India, the worlds largest manufacturer of generic drugs. India counts the most abortion pill manufacturers among the countries that make mifepristone or M.T.P. kits. A chart showing the number of abortion pill manufacturers by country. India has the highest number of manufacturers by far. 0 10 15 30 India China Vietnam U.S. Canada France Germany Nepal Russia Spain Switzerland 0 10 15 30 India China Vietnam U.S. Canada France Germany Nepal Russia Spain Switzerland Concept Foundation Sources: Medical Abortion Commodities Database Abortion pills technically require a prescription in India, but they can be purchased over the counter at local pharmacies and online marketplaces like IndiaMart and MedPlusMart. The system that governs how prescription drugs are dispensed is very leaky, said Dinesh Thakur, a drug-safety advocate and former executive at the Indian drugmaker Ranbaxy Laboratories. One supplier working for MedPlusMart, Ishan, told me he ships around 5,000 M.T.P. kits a month to the United States on behalf of privateemma.com, a seller listed on Plan C. Indian pharmaceutical companies are producing the kits for the home market there are an estimated 12 million medication abortions outside of health facilities each year in India and they take little interest in how their products end up overseas. Synokem Pharmaceuticals, a New Delhi-based manufacturer, said it was not directly or indirectly exporting its products to the United States. We are not F.D.A.-approved, so no person can supply our products to the U.S. Not even an online pharmacy, said Manmohan Juyal, the companys senior manager for international business. But at least two M.T.P. kits that Synokem manufactures A-Kare and Killpreg are sold by sites listed on Plan C. Ms. Wells estimated that Plan C has received about a quarter of the available global brands of M.T.P. kits through its own orders. Mifepristone pills manufactured by Ba Dinh Pharma in Vietnam are resold on medside24.com. Tony Cenicola/The New York Times In most circumstances, importing drugs into the United States for personal use is illegal but the F.D.A. does make exceptions, including in situations when the drug is for use for a serious condition for which effective treatment is not available in the United States. The F.D.A. declined to comment on whether mifepristone would meet this requirement. Patients in states where abortion is banned may get away with ordering pills online for personal use, though they could face other charges. A woman in Texas last year was charged with murder for self-managing an abortion before the district attorney eventually dropped the case. There is less ambiguity for the distributors they are acting illegally. In 2020, the Justice Department prosecuted and a judge sentenced a New York woman to two years of probation and fined her $10,000 for supplying abortion pills from India to U.S. customers. But enforcement remains rare. Over the years, the occasional Aid Access package has been confiscated by customs agents, but the service has remained largely untouched. Experts say a federal crackdown on patients ordering abortion pills even those arriving from overseas is unlikely. In this climate, its almost certain the F.D.A. is not going to go after people who are doing this, Ms. Donley, the abortion law expert, said. News / National by Staff reporter POLICE Commissioner-General Godwin Matanga has called on the Government to invest in state-of-the-art technologies at the country's ports of entry and exit to combat the smuggling of illicit drugs and substances.Commissioner-General Matanga made the plea yesterday during the Economic Development Conference held at the Zimbabwe International Exhibition Centre in Bulawayo. The conference was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including President Mnangagwa and Vice-President Dr Constantino Chiwenga.President Mnangagwa was the guest of honour and keynote speaker at the event that brought thousands of youths together.The Vision 2030 Conference ran under the theme "Creating a young people-led economy by 2030 by fighting drug and substance abuse".The event was also attended by Defence and War Veterans Minister Oppah Muchinguri-Kashiri, Bulawayo Provincial Affairs and Devolution Minister Judith Ncube, Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare Minister Professor Paul Mavima, Minister of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation Kirsty Coventry, Minister of Environment, Climate, Tourism and Hospitality Industry Mangaliso Ndlovu, Information, Publicity and Broadcasting Services Senator Monica Mutsvangwa.Political leaders who also attended included Zanu-PF spokesperson Ambassador Christopher Mutsvangwa, Zanu-PF politburo member Colonel (retired) Tshinga Dube and Zanu-PF Bulawayo provincial chairman Jabulani Sibanda.The conference comes after Government last year set up an inter-ministerial taskforce committee on drugs and substance abuse, chaired by the Ministry of Public Service, Labour and Social Welfare and deputised by the Ministry of Youth, Sport, Arts and Recreation.The committee was set up to help Government come up with effective strategies to end drug and substance abuse in Zimbabwe.Commissioner-General Matanga highlighted that despite the police force's efforts, the country is still grappling with drug and substance abuse, and more resources are needed to win the fight against the scourge. He revealed that police have arrested over 4 000 people, including 466 suppliers, and have confiscated and destroyed large quantities of substances. He also noted that drug mules from Brazil, India, Nigeria, and Latvia have been arrested while using points of entry to move the contraband."We feel that there is still need for more resources in this fight. These include high-powered motor vehicles for high-speed chases and low-cost vehicles for patrols and surveillance, state-of-the-art technologies at ports of entry and exit, as well as funding for more localised and international training to catch up with new skills requirements in this field."It will be most desirable that these resources and capabilities if availed be concentrated more in our specialised unit for the cause, which is our drugs and narcotics units under our Criminal Investigations Department (CID)," Commissioner-General Matanga said.Commissioner-General Matanga also raised concerns over the country's lenient laws towards drug dealers and consumers, stating that the sentences were not deterrent enough. He called on the Government to review the laws to cater for all types of drugs and practices that are emerging."Sentences for drug dealers and consumers are still so lenient that they are still very far from disincentivising these practices. Drug dealers are getting away with non-deterrent sentences and in some cases community service sentences. At times the sentences are nothing more than a slap on the wrist. In addition, our laws must be amended to adequately cater for all types of drugs and practices that are emerging," said Commissioner General Matanga.The Police Commissioner-General emphasised that the drug problem is a clear manifestation of highly sophisticated and syndicated networks of transnational organised criminal activities."More worrying being that our country has not been spared as this disaster has reached unprecedented levels, threatening to complexly annihilate the future generations."We have observed that peer influence among youth as well as deceitful and enticing use of social media to package and spread narratives that portray drug taking as an admirable lifestyle are some of the factors abating the increase the uptake of drugs in our society," said Commissioner-General Matanga.He said drugs and substances such as mutoriro (Crystal Meth), Broncleer cough mixture, marijuana, injectables, tablets, illicit brews and spirits have caused untold physiological and psychological health complications; immorality as well as antisocial behaviour."We are fully aware that what we face today as a drug and substance abuse problem is a clear manifestation of highly sophisticated and syndicated networks of transnational organised criminal activities which are interwoven. Syndicates dealing in both plant-based and synthetic drugs substances are spirited and highly determined to plunge the world with dangerous drugs and substances out of which they are making unimaginable sums of money," said Commissioner General Matanga.Commissioner-General Matanga highlighted that tackling the drug problem can only be meaningful through effective collaboration among several stakeholders, including both state and non-state actors. He pledged the police force's unflinching commitment to saving future generations from the drug menace. A young Japanese waitress has been accused of borderline terrorism by her employers after it was discovered that she mixed her own blood into a patrons cocktail. The Mondaiji Con Cafe Daku (Problem Child Dark Cafe) in Sapporo, Japan opened its doors for the first time on March 3rd. It hoped to attract patrons willing to pay 2,500 yen (S$25) an hour to drink all they wanted by hiring mentally unstable and problematic girls dressed in dark, goth-style attires as waitresses. That idea backfired when one of the waitresses took her role a little too far by adding her blood into a cocktail, reportedly at the request of a customer. The cafe fired the young woman as soon as its management learned about the incident, and apologized to its clientele, describing the dangerous actions of the former employee as borderline terrorism. Photo: Thomas Franke/Unsplash Drinking the blood of other people is an extremely dangerous act, Dr Zento Kitao told Japanese magazine Flash, advising both the waitress and the patron who reportedly asked for her blood to get blood-tested. Cases of people getting infected from drinking another persons blood are rare, but major diseases can be transmitted through blood, including HIV, Hepatitis C, Hepatitis B and syphilis. If there are wounds in the mouth, it is easy to be infected by blood transmissions, Kitao added. The cafe said that the waitress actions were absolutely not acceptable and announced that it was shutting down for a day to replace all the drinking glasses on the premises. Online reactions to the news were mixed, with some blaming the cafe for advertising its staff as mentally unstable and then firing them for acting like it, and others joking that employees should be praised for pouring their blood sweat and tears into their work, especially when they do it literally. Axia Public Relations is named US agency of record for Garage Living, a franchisor of luxury garage interior makeovers. The agency will handle Garage Livings U.S. media relations strategies, messaging and tactics. Founded in 2005, Garage Living has 38 franchise locations across North America and was named the number one home improvement franchise in the US by Franchise Rankings. The company offers products and services, including custom garage cabinets, flooring, wall organizers, and car lifts, as well as consulting, design, installation, and warranty services. Their public relations expertise in the home improvement and franchise industry will help us build strong relationships with news media, industry influencers, and consumers across the US, said Garage Living Franchise Systems president Aaron Cash. Marino adds De Nigris Balsamic Vinegar to its roster of consumer food brands. The agency is tasked with growing the U.S. presence of De Nigris through public relations, social media and advertising tactics. Founded in 1889, family-owned De Nigris is a leader in the production and export of vinegars and condiments with particular expertise in the production of Balsamic Vinegar of Modena, one of the nine provinces of Emilia-Romagna located in Northeastern Italys Po River Valley. Marino has also expanded upon its work with Bostons Faneuil Hall Marketplace through the addition of a social media and advertising program to its currently public relations efforts. Cognito has been engaged to provide media and press functions, social media and post-event content support for Foxon Media's The Summit for Asset Management (TSAM) portfolio, including TSAM New York, TSAM London, TSAM ESG New York, and TSAM ESG London. The summit, which is set to take place on April 19, will focus on the future of ESG in sustainable finance and sustainability in the asset management industry. Cognito's expertise will offer a unique experience for attendees and provide a channel to deliver our highly curated sessions and content via social media and other platforms, said Foxon Media managing director Andrew Kerry. Ogilvy Government Relations has signed on with St. Louis-based Peabody Energy, which is Americas top coal producer. The WPP unit will handle legislative and federal activities related to energy activity and the coal industry, including carbon material technology. Ogilvys team includes Moses Mercado, who was a top aide to Congressman Dick Gephardt (D-MO); Con Lass, chief of staff to the director of the Bureau of Land Management; and Chris Giblin, chief of staff to Congressman John Carter (R-TX). Peabody, which is committed to zero greenhouse emissions by 2050, believes coal is a transitory and reliable power source as the world moves to renewable energy sources to fight climate change. The company earned $1.3B on $5B in 2022 revenues. Peabody was in the news on March 29 for a fire that broke out at its Shoal Creek Mine, which is 35 miles west of Birmingham, AL. The company is working with the Mine Safety and Health Administration on a reentry plan. It says gas monitoring of exhaust air is showing acceptable air quality and atmospheric conditions within the mine. Shoal Creek Mine employs 419 people. All have been accounted for. The underground mine generated about 800K tons of coal last year for steelmaking. NENAGH Darkness Into Light (DIL) is going green this year and is encouraging participants to reuse their DIL t-shirts from previous years. The Chairperson of Nenagh DIL, Ryan OMeara is encouraging local people who participate in the annual walk to consider both the environmental and financial costs before ordering a new t-shirt this year. Ryan OMeara said: The Nenagh DIL team are working closely with Pieta House this year to reduce the costs of the annual walk as much as possible by encouraging local participants to reuse their t-shirts from previous years. Every t-shirt reused is a saving for Pieta House, and that money can instead be put into providing the vital, life-saving services they offer to those most in need. On top of this, we have the environmental saving of reducing the over-production of clothing, and it is a small step that we can all take to reduce our carbon footprint. Ryan OMeara continued, saying: The design of the famous yellow t-shirts has remained the same for a number of years now, so we would ask anyone registering online to consider this before ordering a new t-shirt again this year. We will also be hosting our Registration Day on Pearse Street on Saturday, April 15th and we have t-shirts in stock, but we will be asking those signing up in person on the day to consider reusing their items from previous years before taking new ones. Every euro we save results in more funding for Pieta House, and that money can instead be put into the services that Pieta House provide, Ryan OMeara concluded. DIL is the main fundraising source for Pieta, which was founded in Dublin in 2006. Pieta was established to provide free, accessible one-to-one counselling to people suffering from suicidal ideation, engaging in self-harm or to those bereaved by suicide. With hundreds of qualified therapists across various physical centres, they do everything they can to ensure that help is available to those in crisis. Last year saw the return of DIL to Nenagh after three years, due to Covid-19, and over 17,000 was raised locally from last year's event. DIL Nenagh is taking place on Saturday, May 6th at 4.15am at the Scouts Hall in Nenagh. News / National by Staff reporter Harare Magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka was Tuesday forced to briefly adjourn court after failing to control heated exchanges between Beatrice Mtetwa, lawyer representing Marry Mubaiwa in her attempted murder trial, and prosecutor Ephraim Zinyandu.Mtetwa was cross examining state witness Sergeant Andrew Mugari when Zinyandu objected to her line of questioning.Mugari is the third witness in a case in which Mubaiwa is accused of attempting to finish off former husband and state Vice President Constantino Chiwenga who was battling for life in a South African hospital back in 2019.Reading from Mugari's written statement, Mtetwa quizzed the police officer on what he knew of the alleged offence.But Zinyandu took umbrage with what he felt was an attempt by the veteran lawyer to mislead the court through cherry-picking questions.He touched a raw nerve as the fiery attorney dressed him down, remonstrating over his alleged attempt to school her on the law.The two were soon locked in heated exchanges which the magistrate unsuccessfully tried to control.She was forced to adjourn court with proceedings resuming later.The magistrate warned Mtetwa to show maturity as a senior lawyer so that junior officers of the court could learn from her.But Mtetwa adamantly said she was instead teaching the junior officers on how cross examination is carried out.She insisted that prosecution should not bend the law for selfish gain."My duty as a senior lawyer is to teach them and not to bend the law to suit their agenda," Mtetwa retorted.Meanwhile, during cross examination, Mugariri told court how he had washed Chiwenga's blood-stained t-shirt after Mubaiwa allegedly unplugged some life-saving devices from the VP's body.He also told court of how aides were forced to keep an ailing former military commander in a hotel and not at the hospital as soon as they landed in South Africa.Mugariri said it was (Deputy Minister of Health) John Mangwiro who said he was arranging Chiwenga's admission to hospital with one doctor Ceiling of South Africa.He also said at the hospital, Chiwenga's urine samples were swapped with some samples drawn from an unknown person.Mugariri further told court that Mubaiwa would visit the hospital and spend an hour or more with her then husband.His testimony was however different from that of another state witness who said the former model would spend five to six hours at the hospital.Mtetwa then asked him why he said he was the one who had washed Chiwenga's stained t-shirt when the first witness, Warren Sibanda said he was the one who washed it instead.Mtetwa submitted that the contradiction proved that one of them was lying to the court.Mugariri insisted he was the one who had washed it saying Sibanda could also have washed it again since they helped each other with Chiwenga's laundry.Mtetwa then asked him if he knew washing the blood-soaked shirt would be destroying an exhibit since the issue was a security issue.Mugariri said he was just taking instructions from Mubaiwa.He also told court he does not know if Mubaiwa indeed attempted to kill the VP through removing the clinical tubes saying he was not inside the room at the time.Trial continues on April 25. Republic Day 2019: Remembering the man who wrote the entire constitution but didnt take a paisa Madhya Pradesh man arrested in Punjab for trying to damage Ambedkar statue, Channi condemns incident Ambedkar Jayanti 2023: 1 minute short speech for students in English India oi-Prakash KL Ambedkar Jayanti or Bhim Jayanti is observed on 14 April to commemorate the birthday of BR Ambedkar, social reformer and chief architect of the Indian constitution. He was India's first law minister and was given Bharat Ratna, India's highest civilian honour, in 1990. Ambedkar is an icon for Indians, especially Dalits, for his relentless work for social reforms and empowerment of the disadvantaged sections of society. His followers pay their respects to him by offering flowers, lighting candles and organising cultural events on his birthday. In schools, it is common for teachers to ask students to come up with short speeches on Dr BR Ambedkar as it helps their personal, social, and academic growth. Short and Simple Speech for Students on Ambedkar Jayanti To make students' tasks easy, we are providing a simple yet effective speech for students which can be said in about one minute. Good Morning/Good afternoon, respected Principal sir/mam, teachers and my dear friends. Today, I am honoured to talk about one of the most influential and visionary leaders in Indian history as we commemorate the birthday of Dr BR Ambedkar. Born into a Dalit family, he faced numerous obstacles in his personal and professional life. However, his resilience and determination led him to become a champion of the Dalit community and a driving force behind India's constitution. He dedicated his life to fighting for the rights of the marginalized and oppressed. He was a key architect of the Indian Constitution and played a pivotal role in shaping modern India. Dr Ambedkar's teachings and ideas remain as relevant today as they were when he first articulated them. Ambedkar's vision for India was a society where every individual, regardless of their caste, creed, or gender, had equal rights and opportunities. He believed that education was the key to achieving this goal and worked tirelessly to promote access to education for all. As Ambedkar's legacy continues to inspire millions of people around the world, let us all take a moment to remember and honor the great Ambedkar, and to commit ourselves to carrying forward his message of equality and justice for all. On this auspicious day, let us strive to build a society that reflects his vision of a just and equal India, where every person is valued and respected. Happy Birthday Dr BR Ambedkar. Won't even see his face: Asad's mother refuses to take his body Gangster Atiq Ahmed, brother shot dead in UP: What we know so far Jailed gangster Atiq Ahmeds son killed in encounter by UP police India oi-Madhuri Adnal Asad, son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and shooter Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case were killed in an encounter on Thursday. The duo were killed in a joint operation by Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (UPSTF) team led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal at Jhansi. Asad and another accused Ghulam carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. The police recovered sophisticated weapons that were made in a foreign country. According to reports, the marriage of Atiq's son Asad was fixed with the daughter of Ayesha Noori. The two got engaged last year. Atiq's son Asad was involved in the shootout case of Umesh Pal. After the encounter, CM Yogi Adityanath held a meeting on law and order, the UP CMO said. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team. A report was placed in front of the CM on the matter. Atiq Ahmed remanded in police custody till April 27 Atiq Ahmed breaks down after hearing news of son Asad's encounter After hearing the news of his son Asad Ahmed's killing in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police, Atiq Ahmed broke down in tears. #WATCH | Former MP Atiq Ahmed presented before CJM court Prayagraj in the Umesh Pal murder case today pic.twitter.com/5ZB4nWsbRE ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 'Tribute to my son': Umesh Pal's mother on Asad encounter Reacting to the encounter killing of Asad, Shanti Devi, Umesh Pal's mother, said it was a "tribute to my son". "I thank CM Yogi ji for serving justice and I appeal to him to give us justice ahead also. We have full faith in CM," ANI quoted Shanti Devi as saying. #WATCH | "This is a tribute to my son," says Shanti Devi, mother of slain lawyer Umesh Pal, on police encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide in Jhansi today pic.twitter.com/tCIYxDhOHl ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju 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 Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members and others. They want to kill me: Atiq Ahmad on being taken to Prayagraj again The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Ahmad is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case. The encounter comes on a day when Atiq Ahmad and his brother were produced before a Prayagraj court in connection with the case. The gangster was brought to Prayagraj via road from Ahmedabad's Sabarmati jail for his production in court. His brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from Bareilly jail. How Atiq's wife Shaista, daughter of a cop, went on to turn most-wanted? Atiq Ahmed remanded to 14-day judicial custody India oi-Madhuri Adnal A Prayagraj court sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. Ahmed and Ashraf, alias Khalid Azim, will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya, as quoted by news agency PTI. Ahmed was on Wednesday brought to the Naini Central Jail in Prayagraj from a Gujarat prison for the second time in about a fortnight to be produced in a court in the Umesh Pal murder case. The remand order comes as his son Asad was gunned down in an encounter with UP Special Task Force in Jhansi earlier today. While Atiq Ahmed was brought to Prayagraj via road from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat for his production, his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from a Bareilly jail. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. Who was Asad, son of Atiq Ahmed killed in an encounter with UP police Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members and others. The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Ahmad is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case. BJPs caste matrix for Karnataka polls: Which community gained most India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The BJP's focus in the two lists that it has released for the Karnataka Assembly elections 2023 clearly show the party's focus towards the powerful Vokkaliga community in the state. Out of the 189 candidates that the party named on Tuesday, 41 tickets have gone to the Vokkaliga community, who make up for nearly 14 per cent of the population in the state. The most tickets have however gone to the Lingayat community, who form 17 per cent of the population. In the second list that the party released on Wednesday, two more Vokkaligas made the cut and the last and final list may have more from the community, a source tells OneIndia. The BJP has this time decided to go all out and woo the Vokkaliga community. This is primarily because the focus of the party has always been on the Lingayats as a result of which the Vokkaligas have hardly voted for the party. This has resulted in the BJP becoming the single largest party, but has never got the majority numbers. Karnataka polls: Denied ticket to contest, BJP MLA M P Kumaraswamy quits party In the 2018 elections, the BJP had given tickets to only 34 candidates from the Vokkaliga community. In all there are 224 seats in Karnataka. The Vokkaliga community is important especially in the Old Mysuru Region, which has 89 seats. This also includes the state's capital Bengaluru. In this region, it is the Janata Dal (S) and Congress which have always emerged as winners. The Old Mysuru Region is being closely watched this time as it is crucial to all three parties. Whether or not the JD(S) will play kingmaker would depend on the result in this region. The Congress' quest to return to power also largely depends on this region. The BJP, if wants to return to power with a majority will have to do well in this region. Data would show that in 2008, when the BJP put up its best performance, could win just 28 seats in this region. In the 2018 elections, the number was at 23. In Karnataka in order to form a government, a party needs 113 seats. When the BJP began its campaign, it had made it clear that it needs to focus heavily on this region. The BJP would be relying on its Vokkaliga leaders and also actor-politician and independent MP from Mandya Sumalatha Ambareesh. She has extended her full support to the BJP and one may recall that she had beaten H D Kumaraswamy's son, Nikhil in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Karnataka BJP spurns 'I scratch your back you scratch mine' policy The BJP's ticket matrix: In all the BJP has so far allowed 51 seats to the Lingayats and 41 to the Vokkaligas. The Reddys have been given two, while the SC (Bhovis), Marathas and Bunts have been given three each. The Valmikis have been given 16 seats. The SC(Left) and SC (Right) have been given 4 and 5 seats, while the Billava Edigas the number is at 7. Brahmins have been given 10 seats, while the SC (Lambanis), 9. The Moogaveera Best, Golla, Jain, Kodava and Rajput communities have been given one seat each. BSF shoots drone from Pakistan: What India is doing to fight the menace Drone shot down along LoC in J&K's Rajouri, AK rifle, cash recovered India pti-PTI Security forces shot down a drone along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri, and a massive search operation is underway in the area, official sources said on Thursday. Some magazines, cash and other items from the packet attached to the drone have been recovered, they said. Suspicious movement of an aerial object was noticed in areas of Beri Patan and Siot along the LoC last night in areas of Beri Patan and Siot along the LoC after which a massive cordon and search operation was launched, they said. J&K | On the intervening night of April 12-13, a suspicious movement of aerial objects was reported on LoC in Rajouri's Beri Pattan area after which a cordon and search operation was launched and movement of a drone was tracked. Five loaded AK magazines, some cash and a sealed pic.twitter.com/yUyw5wNfvJ ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2023 The security forces managed to bring down a drone in this operation, they said. "So far recoveries made from it include some magazines of an AK rifle, a sealed packed, and cash," they said. SIA raids in slush funds case: Target is the pied piper of Jammu and Kashmir Sources claimed an extensive search operations is underway on in many villages of the area and some more recoveries are expected. "We can only share that a drone has been successfully tracked and recovery has been made. More details will be shared later." an official said. ED registers FEMA case against BBC India for irregularities in foreign funding India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday registered a case against the British Broadcasting Company (BBC) India under Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) for irregularities in foreign funding. The federal probe agency has also called for documents and the recording of statements of some company executives under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA), they said. The probe is essentially looking at purported foreign direct investment (FDI) violations by the company, they said. The development comes in the backdrop of the Income-Tax (IT) department surveying BBC office premises in Delhi and Mumbai in February. BBC objects as Twitter labels it, 'government funded media Following a survey by the Income Tax Department, the ED has sent summons to BBC, calling for an inquiry into the matter. Reports suggest that the administrative and editorial departments of BBC have been asked to appear before the ED. The Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT), the administrative body for the I-T department, had then said the income and profits shown by various BBC group entities were ''not commensurate'' with the scale of their operations in India and tax has not been paid on certain remittances by its foreign entities. Islamic States first suicide bomber was a Kerala Christian converted to Islam: The state needs to wake up Figures on attacks on Christians wrong: Centre to Supreme Court India oi-Prakash KL The Centre on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the statistics on the alleged attacks on Christians were incorrect and petitions are devised to keep the "pot boiling" to sully the image of India. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told the Bench led by Chief Justice of India that the petition sent a wrong message to the public. He referred to a report containing the case data received from states like Bihar and Chhattisgarh and said most of them related to disputes involving neighbours and, coincidentally, one of the parties happened to be a Christian. "The petitioner claimed that there are some 500 incidents where Christians were attacked. We sent everything to the state governments. We collated all the information we got. First let us see Bihar. The total number of cases, which petitioners gave, is related to internal fights between neighbours where one of the parties happens to be a Christian. "The figure given by them, which obviously persuaded your lordships, was not correct," Mehta submitted. The Solicitor General told the apex court that the bench, also including Justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala, had taken note of the matter based on the figures provided by the PIL petitioners which were wrong. Mehta said that the petitioners wanted to keep the "pot boiling" and such judicial proceedings being pursued by them will send out a wrong message to the public at large. "This is how it is being displayed outside the country. This is the message that goes out to the public that Christians are in danger and are being attacked. This is wrong," the top law officer said. "Wherever there is a grave offence and arrests had to be made... arrests have been made," he said, asserting the numbers submitted by the petitioners were incorrect. Mehta informed the court that 64 arrests were made in Chhattisgarh alone where the state has created a helpline for reporting such incidents. The petition said 495 attacks took place on Christians and their institutions in Chhattisgarh, but the report says they never happened, the law officer pointed out. The court took note of the report filed by the Centre and granted three weeks to the petitioners to respond to it after senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for them, said he received the government's affidavit late last night. Earlier, the bench had directed the Centre to file a report on alleged attacks on Christian institutions and priests across the country as well as on the implementation of its earlier guidelines to curb hate crimes. Prior to this, it had said there was a need to separate the "grain from the chaff" and asked the MHA to seek reports from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Karnataka, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and Jharkhand on alleged attacks on members of the Christian community. The top court had said though it believes crime against an individual does not necessarily mean crime against society, even if 10 per cent of the cases alleged in the PIL is true it needs to go to the bottom of the issue. The Centre told the court it should not entertain the PIL based on "self-serving reports" as it could have wider ramifications. The Central government had contended 162 of the cases mentioned in the PIL have been found to be fake on verification at the ground level. The PIL has claimed that in May, 2022 alone 57 cases of violence and attacks on Christian institutions and priests took place, and sought implementation of the guidelines issued by the apex court in the Tehseen Poonawala judgement under which nodal officers were to be appointed to take note of hate crimes and register FIRs. The top court was hearing a PIL filed by Rev. Peter Machado of the National Solidarity Forum, Rev. Vijayesh Lal of Evangelical Fellowship of India, and others claiming violence against members of the Christian community. A bench headed by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud was earlier told by the PIL petitioners that from 2021 to May 2022, 700 cases of violence against members of the Christian community were reported and a majority of those arrested were followers of the faith. With inputs from PTI Army Chief to pay first visit to areas under northern army command, including Siachen Captain Shiva Chouhan: First woman officer to be deployed in Siachen First woman Army officer posted at Siachen completes 100 days India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The first woman officer deployed at Siachen on Wednesday successfully completed 100 days stays. Siachen is the world's highest battlefield and is known for its inclement weather and the heavy toll it takes on the human body. Sharing the news, Fire and Fury Corps of the Indian Army wrote on Twitter, "Capt Shiva Chouhan of Fire and Fury Sappers, first Woman Officer to be op deployed at #SiachenGlacier has successfully completed 100 days at the world's highest battlefield in unforgiving weather conditions and freezing winter temps." The temperature at Siachen drops to as low as 60 degree Celsius during the winters, with avalanches and landslides being a common occurrence. Before being deployed in Siachen, Captain Chouhan was put through a rigorous one-month training programme, which included ice- wall climbing, avalanche and crevasse rescue and survival drills at the Siachen Battle School alongside other officers of the Indian Army. The Army had said in a statement, " Chouhan's commitment helped her successfully complete training and she was posted at Siachen glacier." Captain Shiva Chouhan: First woman officer to be deployed in Siachen On January 3, Prime Minister, Narendra Modi had lauded her deployment saying that the same highlights the spirit of India's 'nari Shakti.' "This will make every Indian proud, illustrating the spirit of India's nari shakti," the PM had said in a tweet. Capt Shiva Chouhan did her schooling from Udaipur and graduated from NJR Institute of Technology, Udaipur in civil engineering. The Indian Army had said, "since her childhood, Chouhan was motivated to join the Indian Armed Forces and showcased unparalleled zeal during training at Officers Training Academy (OTA), Chennai and was commissioned into the Engineer Regiment in May 2021." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 13, 2023, 13:08 [IST] News / National by Staff reporter Norton legislator Temba Mliswa says Zimbabwe should shelve elections for now in place of a transitional authority that would superintend over the country's affairs in the interim.To achieve that, said the independent MP, government should consult citizens through a referendum on their views about holding elections.In a series of tweets Tuesday, the outspoken legislator argued Zimbabwean elections have often been violent, divisive and have recurrently failed to yield meaningful change to the country's socio-economic situation.The former Zanu-PF lawmaker also blamed parliament's justice committee for failure to do due diligence on the ZEC delimitation report that has since been challenged through the courts by opposition MDC-T leader Douglas Mwonzora.Mwonzora argues the delimitation report that was gazetted by the President was flawed and should be redone.His court challenge has the effect delaying elections that are due not later than August this year, according to Justice Minister Ziyambi Ziyambi."The Portfolio Committee should have been hands-on to ascertain if all things were in order," Mliswa said."It could have averted a lot of issues which came up after the report was completed. Knowing we have an election, this was the number one agenda."Mliswa said, "a referendum could be a good idea at this moment"."The country needs a referendum to hear what the people say about the whole election debate and implement that."He added, "People are tired of elections & they have themselves failed to bring about any substantial socio-economic change."Instead of acknowledging this reality there has been a lot of posturing by politicians across the board. There is always the mirage that the next election is it!"Mliswa said the current political situation also disadvantaged the opposition, making the poll outcome a contested one should the opposition lose."The opposition can't campaign openly; the voter's roll isn't available & it's clear from the outset that whatever results will come out will be contentious and won't advance the country one step."The reforms which the opposition has been clamouring for have not been realized!"The ingredients for another contentious electoral season are there and yet we are plowing (sic) full-steam ahead as if things have changed. They haven't."It's just that in the frenetic excitement of polls many lose their marbles and only awake after."Mliswa also said elections at the moment did not favour President Mnangagwa's own cause."As for Zanu-PF it's facing a massive bhora musango due to disgruntlement among members," he said."It's dicey again whether the President has improved on his 2018 result."Thus there is a general stalemate in which no side is adequately equipped/ready or set to benefit from the elections."He said "the most that will come out of the elections is violence and more national tension and problems"."If I were the President I would call for a referendum and seek for a middle way which incorporates everyone for the benefit of the country."Some have called for a National Transitional Authority. It's a realization that elections may no longer be the answer to the Zimbabwean question."The processes of democracy are not adequate in themselves but are meant to meet specific socio-economic basics for the people."Once the electoral processes are failing to deliver that, then they serve no purpose and alternative measures are needed to realign process with national needs."Elections are not an agenda in themselves but a means towards one. They are not an answer but a path towards one." Lohri 2023: Is it on January 13 or 14 this year What is the story of Dulla Bhatti linked to Lohri celebrations? Happy Baisakhi Wishes 2023: Best Vaisakhi Wishes, Status, Messages, and Quotes to share with your family India oi-Madhuri Adnal Baisakhi 2023 also known as Vaisakhi is the harvest festival of Punjab. This year it falls on April 14. For Sikhs, Baisakhi has a special significance as it was on this day in on March 30, 1699 that the tenth Sikh guru, Guru Gobind Singh, established the Khalsa, a community of initiated Sikhs who would defend the faith and uphold the principles of Sikhism. It marks the beginning of the Solar new year, based on the Hindu Vikram Samvat calendar. On this day, the Sikhs make it a point to visit the Gurudwara. Langars are organised at various places and traditional, the Kada Prasad is served to everyone. Baisakhi is celebrated with great enthusiasm and gaiety in Punjab and other parts of the country. People dress up in traditional attire, perform Bhangra and Gidda (Punjabi folk dances), and visit gurdwaras (Sikh temples) to offer prayers and seek blessings. The festival is also marked by the preparation and sharing of special festive food, such as kada prasad, a sweet and sacred offering made in gurdwaras. Happy Baisakhi 2023: Vaisakhi Quotes May Waheguru bestows his choicest blessings on all of you and you get what you ever desired in life. Wishing you and your family a very Happy Baisakhi. May the blessings of Waheguru be with you always. May the divine light of Waheguru fill your life with joy and happiness. I wish that you and your family celebrate the joyous occasion of Baisakhi with happiness and fun. May you are blessed with a prosperous and successful year ahead. Happy Baisakhi 2023. Baisakhi de is paawan parv diyan sabnu vadhaiyyan. Wahe Guru Ji sab da bhala karein. Happy Baisakhi! May you sing the song of happiness! May you blossom like the fresh beautiful flowers! May each day make you stronger! I wish you always walk on the path of truthfulness. Happy Baisakhi 2023! It's Baisakhi! So get into the festive mood and let your heart dance to the rhythm of the drums. Happy Baisakhi!! Heat wave alert: Delhi govt advisory to schools, bans afternoon assembly India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Delhi government has issued an advisory for schools after the IMD predicted a heatwave for several states. The Delhi government has issued an advisory to schools on preparedness for the ongoing summer season. In the guidelines, the government said that all schools in Delhi recognised under the directorate of education have to ensure that there is no student assembly in the schools during the afternoon shift. "As the daytime temperature in Delhi crosses more than 40 degrees Celsius during the summer season this is detrimental to the health of the children and adolescents studying in schools. The rise in temperature in NCR has led to the increased instance of heat-related illness," the guidelines read. Centre lists 'dos and don'ts' for protection against heat wave Water break-cover heads: The Delhi government said that all schools recognised under the Directorate of Education will have to ensure availability of drinking water to students. Students should be given water breaks during classes, the circular read. In the circular the Directorate of Education also said that schools will have to sensitise students to cover their heads during the daytime. ""Sensitise students to cover their heads (use an umbrella, hat, cap, towel and other traditional head gears) during direct exposure to sunlight) when coming or leaving the school)," the circular also said. Schools will also have to report to nearby hospital or health facility if any students has a case of heat-related illness, the circular also mentioned. Heatwave alert: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had issue a heatwave alert for several states. It predicted an increase in maximum temperatures by at 2 to 4 degrees Celsius in the following week. The IMD had also said that some states in the country may witness heatwaves from Thursday (today) onwards. India could soon experience heat waves beyond human survival limit: World Bank report The heatwave conditions are likely to take place in Odisha and West Bengal, the IMD had said. The IMD had however added that coastal districts may witness a reduction in temperatures. Chances of thunderstorms ar high in these areas, the IMD had said. Rains until Sunday: The ID had also predicted rainfall in some states until Sunday. Light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms and lighting have been predicted in Goa, central Maharashtra and the Marathwada region during the next five days, the weather body had said. Heat wave alert in many States, IMD predicts rise in temp in next 5 days India oi-Madhuri Adnal The India Meteorological Department (IMD), the country's central weather forecasting agency, predicted a rise in maximum temperatures by 2-4C over many parts of the country during next 5 days. The weather agency also said that the heat wave conditions likely over Gangetic West Bengal and Odisha. "Heatwave conditions (are) likely over Gangetic West Bengal from today and over Odisha from tomorrow," the department said in its daily weather bulletin. Heat wave alert: Delhi government issues advisory to schools, bans assembly in afternoon The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that maximum temperatures are in the range of 40-42C over some parts of Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, interior Maharashtra, Odisha and Telangana and less than 40C over rest parts of the country. They are above normal by 2-3C over some/many parts of Jammu & Kashmir, Northeast & adjoining East India and Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam and near normal over rest parts of the country. In Northwest & East India, maximum temperatures are very likely to rise gradually by 2-4C during next 3 days and no significant change thereafter. Additionally, in Central India, maximum temperatures are very likely to rise gradually by 2-4C during next 5 days. In Maharashtra, No significant change in temperatures during next 3 days and rise gradually by 2-4C thereafter. Furthermore, the IMD has also stated that heat wave conditions very likely in isolated pockets over Gangetic West Bengal during 12th-16th and over Odisha during 13th-15th April, 2023. Speaking on weather changes in Odisha, IMD-Bhubaneswar's Director HR Biswas said temperature rose in the last 24 hours, with the mercury touching 40 and above degrees at a few stations in the state. In the next two days, the temperature may further rise by 2-3 degrees at many places, he said. "So, there are chances of heatwave conditions. Heatwave warning for tomorrow (Thursday) in Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj, and Balasore," news agency ANI quoted Biswas as saying. Centre lists 'dos and don'ts' for protection against heat wave Meanwhile, Light to moderate isolated rainfall with thunderstorm/lightning are also likely over Konkan & Goa, Madhya Maharashtra and Marathwada during next 5 days. Isolated hailstorm very likely over Madhya Maharashtra during 12th-14th; over Konkan on 13th and over Marathawada on 14th April, 2023. Why has Amritpal been booked under the stringent NSA I've direct connections with Pakistan's ISI, LeT: Cops quote Atiq Ahmad in chargesheet India oi-Prakash KL Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad has direct links with Pakistan's ISI and terror organisation Lashkar-e-Taiba, as per his recorded statement in the chargesheet filed before the Court by the Uttar Pradesh Police. It also mentions about Atiq Ahmad offering help to the cops in recovering the weapons illegally sent by Pakistan on the Punjab border. "...I have no dearth of weapons because I have direct connections with Pakistan's ISI and terror org Lashkar-e-Taiba. Weapons from Pakistan are dropped on Punjab border with the help of drones and local connection collects them. Terrorists in J&K get weapons from this consignment. If you take me with you, I can help you recover that money and arms & ammunition used in the incident," the chargesheet cites Atiq. Earlier, a Prayagraj court sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. Ahmad and Ashraf, alias Khalid Azim, will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. The UP Police chargesheet filed before the Court mentions a recorded statement of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed. The CJM court's verdict came on a day the Uttar Police said they have killed Ahmad's son Asad and one of his aides in an encounter in Jhansi. Both Asad and his aide were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. The daylight killing on a busy street had raised questions over law and order in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had vowed in the state assembly that he will "destroy" the mafia in the state. Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members and others were made accused in the Umesh Pal murder case based on a complaint by Jaya Pal. Ahmad is also an accused in the Raju Pal murder case. It will be BJP vs Congress in Gujarat: Chhattisgarh CM while slamming AAP In a first 2 transgender cops to take part in Republic Day parade in Chhattisgarh Baghel calls out BJP's double-standards on 'love jihad' cases India oi-PTI Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in double standards, saying that when the daughters of BJP leaders get married to Muslims, they call it love, but if anybody else does so then it's dubbed as "jihad". Talking to reporters in Bilaspur town of the state, he also accused the saffron party of trying to take political advantage of last week's communal violence in Biranpur village of Bemetara district. When asked about the BJP's claims that tension started brewing in Biranpur following some interfaith marriages there, Baghel said, "The BJP neither examined the matter (clash) nor came out with any report before calling for a bandh. A fight between two children led to a clash that claimed the life of a man which is very sad. It cannot be justified. But the BJP is trying to take its political mileage." Chhattisgarh CM Bhupesh Baghel condemns Pak FM Bilawal Bhutto's remarks against PM Modi "They talk about love jihad. If we talk about senior leaders of BJP their daughters have married to Muslims. Doesn't it fall in the category of love jihad? You ask where the daughter of the biggest leader of the BJP in Chhattsigarh has gone. Is that not love jihad? When their daughter does it then it's love but someone else does it, then it is jihad. "What have they (BJP) done to stop this? They just want to get political benefits from it. They make their son-in-laws minister and MPs and treat others under different laws," he said. Communal violence had erupted in Biranpur, located 60 km from Bemetara town, on April 8 allegedly after a fight between school children. A local resident, Bhuneshwar Sahu (22), was killed in the clash and three policemen suffered injuries. The local administration has imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which bars assembly of four or more people, in the entire Bemetara district. Three days after the incident, a man identified as Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35), residents of Biranpur, were found dead with head injuries a few kms away from the village. After probe agency raids, Baghel hits out at Centre All roads leading to the village have been barricaded by the police. Around 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in the village and around it to maintain law and order. CM Baghel on Tuesday announced to give government job to the kin of the deceased Sahu and also financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the family. International legal framework needed for cyber space to deal with cyber crime across the globe Coronavirus outbreak: How children across world fall victims to cyberbullying during lockdown Know how Sunny Wadhwani became a master of the cyber world at a very young age Indonesian hackers target 12,000 Indian govt sites, cybersecurity alert issued India oi-Prakash KL Hackers from Indonesia have set their eyes on 12,000 Indian government sites, Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C) on Thursday said. In view of the threats, the Ministry of Home Affairs' I4C wing alerted the States and the UTs as the Indonesian cyber attack group hatches a conspiracy to implement their ill intentions, ANI reported citing its sources. "It has been reported that websites of State and Central government are potentially being targeted," part of the release said. The inputs given to the states and UTs advise the concerned officials to take necessary preventive measures to thwart the cyber attack. Hackers plan to carry out Denial of Service (DoS) and Distributed Denial of Service (DoS) attacks. This overwhelms a computer network by bringing in too much traffic, thereby disrupting normal operations, according to a report in Republic. "Post this alert, government employees need to ensure that they do not fall for social engineering attacks; do not click on unknown emails or links, which can compromise security of such websites. They also ensure that all software updates are up-to-date," Money Control quoted Anand Prakash, founder and CEO of cybersecurity firm Pingsafe, as saying. It may be recalled that Delhi's AIIMS servers were attacked by hackers last year. With the server down, the outpatient and inpatient digital hospital services, including smart lab, billing, report generation and the appointment system, remained affected. A case of extortion and cyber terrorism was registered by the Intelligence Fusion and Strategic Operations (IFSO) unit of the Delhi Police on November 25. Also, Indian government websites came under attack from Malaysian hacktivist group DragonForce following the controversy around Prophet Muhammed. In 2022 alone, the country reported 13.91 lakh cyber security incidents, MoS for Information Technology Rajeev Chandrashekhar had told the Parliament. Killers remain at large as probe intensifies into Bhatinda firing incident India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The shooters involved in the Bhatinda Military camp firing in which four persons were killed are yet to be nabbed. Four Indian Army jawans were killed while they were sleeping in their barracks at the military station. Several theories are doing the rounds as the killers are yet to be identified. The Punjab Police and the Indian Army have ruled out a terror angle. The forces have managed to recover a stolen INSAS automatic rifle which is suspected to be used in the incident. The weapons and 19 empty shells of INSAS which were recovered have been sent for forensic examination. The rifle along with a magazine of 28 bulletrs had been stolen from the station armoury on April 9, reports say. Bhatinda shooting: What is fratricide and why do such incidents occur An FIR has been lodged by the Army with the Bhatinda police and a case under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code has been registered. The Arms Act too has been invoked in this case. This who died have been identified as Gunners Sagar Banne, Karnalesh R , Yogesh Kumar J and Santosh M Nagaral. All are from the 80 Medium Regiment Artillery. The first three jawans were drivers of the specialised vehicles that pull artillery guns. The incident took place inside the barrack behind the officers' mess of the Regiment at around 4.30 am. The camp is spread across 55 sq kilometres and has several regiments. Each of these regiments have a guard room, sentry post and is walled. Two persons in civvies carried out the shooting, Superintendent of Police (Investigation), Bathinda, Ajay Gandhi said. In the FIR the police have mentioned that the two accused were wearing a kurta-pyjama and their faces were covered with a cloth. After the incident, the duo are said to have escaped into the forest area. A search operation is underway to nab the accused. The FIR says that Gunners Yogesh Kumar and Sagar Banne, after doing their guard duty went to their rooms on the first floor of the barrack. The other two Gunners Santosh and Karnalesh were sleeping in the adjoining room. Infighting, missing arms on officers' radar behind attack in Bhatinda camp A jawan alerted his unit officer about the firing. He said that unknown persons were seen coming out from the barrack and one of them was carrying an INSAS rifle, while the other had a sharp edged weapon in his hand. Following the incident, the South Western Command said, "as per the information we have got so far, it is clear that it is not a terrorist attack. We are in touch with the Army authorities and the matter is under investigation." No other injuries to personnel or loss or damage to property have been reported." Won't even see his face: Asad's mother refuses to take his body Gangster Atiq Ahmed, brother shot dead in UP: What we know so far How the encounter that claimed the life of Atiq Ahmed's son unfolded India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has termed the killing of Asad Ahmed, son of mafioso-turned politician Atiq Ahmed a huge success. For the UP police and UP STF, the Umesh Pal murder case is an important and challenging one. Amitabh Yash, ADG, Uttar Pradesh STF termed the encounter as a huge success. "It was an important case for UP Police and UP STF because a key witness in a case (BSP MLA Raju Pal's murder), along with two police security guards with automatic weapons were killed," ADG Yash said. While referring to the murder of Umesh Pal, he said that it was an attack on the criminal justice system. Who was Asad, son of Atiq Ahmed killed in an encounter with UP police Umesh Pal was a key witness in the murder of BSP MLA Raju Pal. Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf are the prime accused in the murder. In this case, Atiq has already been convicted and sentenced to life. Earlier today, Asad and his accomplice were both killed in an encounter with the UP police. Asad and his aide, Ghulam were travelling across multiple states following the Umesh Pal murder, the police said. The police acting on a tip-off located them in Jhansi, where they retaliated by firing on the officers, Anant Dev Tiwari, the deputy inspector general of UP STF said. Asad and Ghulam were travelling across several states after the Pal murder incident. We got a tip-off and zeroed in on them Jhansi, they fired on the police team after which the STF shot them down, Tiwari told reporters. Asad and Ghulam had a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on their head. Asad is the son of gangsgter-turned politician Atiq Ahmed. On April 9, the Delhi police had arrested three persons in connection with aiding Asad who was instrumental in orchestrating the Pal murder. The three accused persons were accused of harbouring Assad following the Pal murder. Jailed gangster Atiq Ahmeds son killed in encounter by UP police The name of Ali Ahmed, the other son of Atiq Ahmed had also surfaced ni the same case. There are nearly 160 criminal cases that have been lodged against the Ahmed family. Atiq himself has been named in nearly 100 cases, while his brother Ashraf has 52 cases against him. Atif's wife Shaista Praveen has three and sons Ali and Ali and Asad have four and one cases against them respectively. Modi surname row: Surat court begins hearing on Rahul's counter plea India oi-Madhuri Adnal A sessions court in Surat city of Gujarat on Thursday commenced hearing on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for a stay on his conviction in a defamation case over his 'Modi surname' remark in which he has been sentenced to two years in jail. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA and complainant Purnesh Modi, in his reply filed earlier in the same court, opposed Gandhi's plea for a stay on conviction saying the Congress leader is a 'repetitive offender' who is in the habit of making defamatory statements. On Thursday, arguments from both sides commenced in the court of Additional Sessions Judge RP Mogera. ''The court will first hear the arguments put forward by Rahul Gandhi's lawyers seeking a stay on his conviction. After that, we will put forth our objections and arguments against their plea for a stay on conviction,'' Purnesh Modi's lawyer Ketan Reshamwala said before entering the courtroom. A metropolitan magistrate's court in Surat on March 23 sentenced Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail after holding him guilty for his remark ''How come all thieves have Modi as the common surname'', made during an election rally on April 13, 2019. Gandhi has filed an appeal before Judge Mogera against the verdict. He has also prayed for a stay on the conviction in the meantime. In his appeal, Gandhi has termed his conviction as ''erroneous'' and patently perverse. Last month, the court in Gujarat sentenced Gandhi to two years in the case filed against him over his ''why all thieves have Modi surname'' remarks. Gandhi, who was present in the court when the verdict was pronounced, reacted later by quoting Mahatma Gandhi in a tweet in Hindi about truth and non-violence. The conviction came on the basis of a case filed by BJP MLA Purnesh Modi, wherein he accused Rahul of humiliating the entire Modi community with his remarks in Kolar. The Congress leader was found guilty under Section 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for intentionally insulting with the intent to cause a disturbance of peace. Now, Savarkar's grandson files defamation against Rahul Gandhi The former Congress chief in his appeal against his conviction and sentence by a Magistrate's court on March 23 contended that the order was erroneous and patently perverse, alleging he was sentenced in a manner so as to attract disqualification as a Member of Parliament. Rahul Gandhi submitted he was treated harshly by the trial court which was overwhelmingly influenced by his status as an MP, and maintained there is no such thing as a definite Modi samaj or community on record. It appears reasonable to argue that the applicant was really sentenced in a manner so as to attract the order of disqualification (as an MP). He further said that by the very nature of his task, a politician in Opposition cannot always weigh his words in golden scales. ''Hence, it is incumbent upon courts to focus on the essence and spirit of the speech (related to Modi surname) made rather than on the tone and tenor,'' Gandhi said, adding a strong and uncompromising opposition"is the essential requirement of a true and healthy democracy. 'Historic step to unite opposition': Rahul after meeting Nitish, Tejashwi ''Parliamentarian, in Opposition, is expected or rather required to be vigilant and critical, and the view of the trial court that a Member of Parliament deserves to be awarded the highest punishment because of his status is wholly unwarranted and manifestly unjust,'' said the four-time MP. In call with UK's Sunak, PM seeks strong action on anti-India elements India oi-Prakash KL Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday raised the issue of the recent attack on the Indian High Commission in London by the Khalistani elements with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak during a phone call. "PM Modi raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements by the UK Government. PM Rishi Sunak conveyed that the UK considers the attack on Indian High Commission totally unacceptable and assured of security of the Indian Mission and its personnel," a statement from the Prime Minister's Office said. The leaders also reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030. "They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors. They agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries," the statement added. PM Modi also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK and sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. The Indian Prime Minister Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. "PM Sunak appreciated the progress made under India's Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UK's full support to India's initiatives and their success," the statement added. PM Modi conveyed greetings to PM Sunak and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi. The two leaders have agreed to remain in contact. The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was pulled down by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans in March. At a meeting in New Delhi between senior British and Indian home ministry officials on Wednesday, India requested better cooperation with Britain and increased monitoring of UK-based Pro-Khalistan extremists and to take appropriate proactive action. News / National by Mandla Ndlovu Presidential Envoy and Ambassador at Large Uebert Angel has instructed his lawyer Prof. Lovemore Madhuku to address a news conference on Thursday as Al Jazeera broadcasts final episode of Gold Mafia documentary.Media is invited to Media Centre Harare on Thursday at 1400hrs.The Conference will also be streamed via the Media Centre Facebook page. Rahul to visit birthplace of Lord Parasuram and Ambedkar besides seeking blessings of Mahakaleshwar Row in Rajasthan over installation of Ambedkar, King Surajmal's statues India oi-PTI Tension erupted in the Nadbai town of the district last night after a dispute between two groups over the installation of statues of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar and Maharaja Surajmal, who founded Bharatpur. Police said villagers pelted stones at police personnel and blocked a key state highway on Wednesday night. ''The situation is under control now,'' Additional Superintendent of police Raghuvir Singh said ion Thursday. The incident occurred at Belara village when its residents gathered at Belara Chauraha to install the statue of Babasaheb Ambedkar on April 14, his birth anniversary, but the Jat community wanted to install a statue of Jat king Maharaja Surajmal. A row was simmering after a committee headed by Bharatpur Divisional Commissioner Sanwarmal Verma recently decided to install a statue of Bhimrao Ambedkar at the Belara Chauraha, a prominent intersection in the village, and of Maharaja Surajmal at Kumher Chauraha and that of lord Parshuram at Nagar Chauraha. On April 9, people from the Jat community organised a protest against the administration. They demanded to install Surajmal's statue at the Belara Chauraha. The dharna was withdrawn on April 10 after Cabinet minister Vishvendra Singh assured them to fulfil their demand. Ambedkar Jayanti 2023: Mumbai traffic restrictions start today, avoid these routes However, the tension erupted when people from the Jat community learnt that Vishvendra Singh announced through a press conference in Nadbai Wednesday evening that the statue of Ambedkar will be installed at Belara Chauraha. Nadbai Sub-Division Magistrate Jogendra Singh said efforts are being made to pacify the agitating people. Bhupendra Singh, the Nadbai Panchayat Samiti Up-pradhan, said, ''We are not jealous of any caste but we are demanding Maharaja Surajmal's statue at the main intersection. Some officers led by the divisional commissioner in a room have made a decision.'' ASP Raghuvir Singh said police personnel have been deployed at the place where the statue of Ambedkar was proposed but protesters started pelting stones on cops. SC must let legislature decide on same sex marriage, says lawyers' bodies SC agrees to hear plea against Karnataka move to divert Muslim quota India oi-PTI The Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to list for hearing a plea challenging the Karnataka government's decision to scrap the four per cent reservation for Muslims in the state. A bench comprising Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and justices P S Narasimha and J B Pardiwala took note of the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal that all the defects of the petition have been removed. "I mentioned this (petition) in court three yesterday. This is against the four per cent reservation being cancelled," Sibal said. "But the defects (in the petition) were not cured," the CJI said. The senior lawyer said all the defects have been cured. "Alright, we will list it," the bench said. If BJP leaders' daughters marry Muslims they call it love, others do it's 'Jihad': Chhattisgarh CM Recently, the state government led by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai decided to scrap the four per cent reservation for Muslims. In March 2023, the Karnataka government announced two new categories for reservation in jobs and education and scrapped the four per cent quota for Other Backward Classes (OBC) Muslims. The four per cent OBC Muslim quota has been divided between the Vokkaligas and Lingayats. Muslims eligible for quota have been categorised under economically weaker sections now. The state government's decision has pushed the reservation limit to around 57 per cent now. SC must let legislature decide on same sex marriage, says lawyers' bodies SC slams Lalit Modi for his post on judiciary, asks him to apologise India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Supreme Court on Thursday came down heavily on ex-IPL Commissioner Lalit Modi over his remarks against the judiciary in a social media post, and directed him to tender an unconditional apology. Observing that Lalit Modi is not above the law and institution, a bench of Justices MR Shah and CT Ravikumar said it was not satisfied with the counter affidavit filed by him. The top court directed the ex-IPL commissioner to tender an apology on social media and also in leading national newspapers. The apex court also directed him to file an affidavit before it tendering an apology and stating that in future no such posts be made in future which would tantamount, even remotely, tarnishing the image of the Indian judiciary. On August 1 last year, the Supreme Court appointed former apex court judge Justice R V Raveendran as a mediator to settle a family property dispute involving the former IPL head and his mother Bina Modi. Senior advocate Rohatgi is one of the counsels representing Bina Modi in the vexatious property dispute. 'Unlike Pappu...': Lalit Modi threatens to sue Rahul Gandhi in UK At the outset, senior advocate Kapil Sibal submitted before the bench there was an undertaking that there would be no posts while mediation was going on. ''Comments are being made while the mediation is going on. These should be taken down. This is a violation of the court orders,'' Sibal said. Senior advocate Harish Salve, appearing for Lalit Modi, said there was no breach of the court order and this was just an angry outburst. The top court was apprised that mediation process between the parties was underway. Lalit Modi had made some comment about Rohatgi in an Instagram post. Later, though another post, he reportedly apologised to the senior advocate. Bhatinda shooting: What is fratricide and why do such incidents occur Soldier dies of gunshot wound in Bhatinda: No link to firing that killed 4 India oi-Vicky Nanjappa A soldier has died of a gunshot wound in Punjab's Bhatinda. The incident is however not linked to the shooting that took place on Wednesday, in which 4 Army. Jawans were killed. Reports say that this was an untoward incident and the jawan identified as Laghu Raj Shankar had accidentally shot himself. He was stationed on duty when he accidentally fired gunshots at himself from his rifle. He succumbed to injuries shortly after and died on the spot. The incident took place on Wednesday night. Killers remains at large as probe intensifies into Bhatinda Military Camp firing "The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon. The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region. He was immediately evacuated to the Military Hospital, but succumbed to injuries," the Army said in a press release. "The soldier had returned from leave on 11 April 2023. The case purportedly seems to be of attempted suicide," the Army said. The incident comes in the backdrop of the Punjab Police registering a case against two unidentified men in connection with the Bhatinda Military Camp firing in which four jawans were killed. "Death of another soldier at Bathinda military station on Wednesday afternoon has no connection with the earlier firing incident," the Army statement also read. Bhatinda shooting: What is fratricide and why do such incidents occur According to the FIR, the two men were wearing white kurta-pyjamas and were carrying an INSAS rifle and a sharp edged weapon. The rifle and 28 rounds of ammunition had gone missing two days back. The rifle has been recovered by the agencies. Karnataka BJP spurns 'I scratch your back you scratch mine' policy India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Politicians in Karnataka have often been accused of, "you scratch my back, I scratch yours." However the list released by the BJP suggests that it wants to take the fight up to the big weeks. The two constituencies, Varuna and Kanakapura being fought by Congress leaders, Siddaramaiah and D K Shivakumar would normally witness dummy candidates being fielded. The first list of the BJP clearly shows that it is not interested in giving the Congress a walkover in these two seats. It has fielded senior leaders, V Somanna from Varuna and R Ashoka from Kanakapura. BJP releases second list of candidates for Karnataka polls; 12 names yet to be out Experts OneIndia spoke with said the going may be tough for both the BJP leaders. However it remains to be seen how many votes they will be able to cut into. If the two BJP leaders manage to do that then the gamble would pay off. However the fact that both these leaders have been fielded from two constituencies also goes on to show that the party is not exactly confident of a win from either Varuna or Kanakapura, the experts say. The bigger message is that the BJP does not want the top two Congress leaders to have a cake-walk in these constituencies, the expert cited above also said. Siddaramaiah has performed exceedingly well from Varuna in both the 2008 and 2013 elections. He polled 50 per cent of the votes in this seat. In the 2018 elections, he made way for his son, Yatindra who polled 55 per cent of the votes. In Varuna, the highest the BJP has polled was 37 per cent. That happened in the year 2008 when L Revanasiddaiah contested the elections on a BJP ticket. Kanakapura on the other hand is a Vokkaliga stronghold. Shivakumar is the strongman from this seat and he has represented this constituency thrice. Shivakumar's vote share in the 2018 election stood at 68 per cent. The BJP has however not managed to cross the 3 per cent mark. I-T unearths Rs 1,000 crore 'bogus spend by Karnataka cooperatives Both Somanna and Ashoka have expressed confidence that they will put up a good show in the two seats. Somanna said that Varuna is not new to him. I have years of contact, but as much as Siddaramaiah. I will do my work, he said. Ashoka on the other hand said that the decision had come as a surprise. I will do whatever the party has asked of me as I am a disciplined soldier, he said. Jaishankar speaks to his Saudi, UAE counterparts over situation in Sudan Violence in Odisha town during Hanuman Jayanti rally; internet snapped India oi-Madhuri Adnal The Odisha government on Thursday shut down internet services in Sambalpur district in western Odisha for 48 hours after violence erupted during a motorbike rally in Sambalpur district to mark Hanuman Jayanti celebrations. Following the incident, Section 144 was also imposed in all six police station areas - Town, Dhanupali, Khetrajpur, Ainthapali, Bareipali and Sadar- of the Sambalpur district. ''Internet services suspended, Section 144 imposed in Odisha's Sambalpur district after violence erupted during a motorbike rally on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti Sobhayatra yesterday,'' District Administration informed. Additional Chief Secretary, Home Department, DK Singh said,''internet is suspended to prevent circulation of inflammatory and motivated messages, which have the potential to inflame communal passion. ''No access to social media... WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram & .... Suspension of internet/data services of all MSPs & ISPs and Broadband dial up system'', the notification said. Muslim Mob Threw Stone from Masjid at Hanuman Shobhayatra 10 Police personnel including 30 Hindu Youths seriously injured in Odisha's #Sambalpur Dhanupali. Tension prevailed, 144 clamped. pic.twitter.com/MJaJ0jHNyj LambodarPrasadDash (@LambodarPrDash) April 12, 2023 According to reports, a bike rally was held to celebrate Hanuman Jayanti in the western Odisha town when some miscreants allegedly pelted stones at the rally stoking a clash between two groups. In Odisha, the festival is celebrated on Maha Vishuva Sankranti, which falls on April 14 this year. Union Home Ministry seeks reports from Bengal on Ram Navami violence Notably, at least 10 police personnel including the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Sambalpur and the IIC of Dhanupali Police Station were injured after violence erupted during the Hanuman Jayanti rally in Sambalpur on Wednesday evening. Violence during Hanuman Jayanti rally in Sambalpur. Peaceful are sperading faster than Covid virus. 10 police personnel including the Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) of Sambalpur and the IIC of Dhanupali Police Station were injured . All school and colleges colsed. pic.twitter.com/8QAoByIgmv Melon Musk (@melon_musk00) April 13, 2023 Earlier in the day, more than 35 people have been detained for their alleged involvement in the violence. Sambalpur SP B Gangadhar as quoted by news agency PTI, said that 26 people have so far booked under different sections of the IPC. They will be forwarded to the court. The SP said 20 platoons of police force have been deployed in the area. As 'BoycottPathaan' trends, Shah Rukh Khan says "people like" him will stay positive Watch: Kolkata Metro runs under river, creates history India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Kolkata Metro on Wednesday created history after its rake ran through a tunnel under a river. This is the first time that this is happening in the country. The Metro rake which had only two officials and engineers on board ran the train under the Hooghly from Kolkata to Howrah on the other side of the river. The Kolkata Metro officials said that this is a historic moment and a revolutionary step in providing modern transport system to the people of Kolkata and its suburbs. Bird hits Air Asia's Lucknow-Kolkata flight, plane makes emergency landing "Kolkata Metro creates History!For the first time in India,a Metro rake ran under any river today!Regular trial runs from #HowrahMaidan to #Esplanade will start very soon. Shri P Uday Kumar Reddy,General Manager has described this run as a historic moment for the city of #Kolkata," the Metro Rail Kolkata said in a tweet. Kolkata Metro creates History!For the first time in India,a Metro rake ran under any river today!Regular trial runs from #HowrahMaidan to #Esplanade will start very soon. Shri P Uday Kumar Reddy,General Manager has described this run as a historic moment for the city of #Kolkata. pic.twitter.com/sA4Kqdvf0v Metro Rail Kolkata (@metrorailwaykol) April 12, 2023 P Uday Kumar Reddy, the Metro Rail General Manager travelled from Mahakaran station in Kolkata to Howrah Maidan station in East West Metro Corridor in the rake. Later on another rake also reached the Howrah Maidan station using the same route. Reddy told news agency PTI that the trial runs between Howrah Maidan to Esplanade station will be conducted for the next seven months, following which regular services on the stretch will begin. He also said that the trial runs on the 4.8 km stretch of the underground station will commence soon. In just 45 seconds: The Metro is expected to cover the 520-metre stretch under the Hooghly river in just 45 seconds. An official said that this tunnel under the river is 32 metres below the water surface level. The East West Metro corridor which connects the Howrah Maidan and Sector V, the Information Technology hub in Salt Lake is partially operational, between Sealdah and Sector V stations. ISF supporters clash with Trinamool Congress and Kolkata police; several injured Delay: The completion of the full project has been delayed owing to accidents in the Bowbazar area of central Kolkata. A tunnel boring machine had hit an aquifer on August 31 2019 leading to severe ground subsidence and the collapse of a number of buildings in Bowbazar. Several houses were once again damaged in May 2022, due to ground subsidence caused by water seepage during work for joining the tunnels coming from the Sealdah side in the east and the Esplanade side on the western side. The water seepage caused cracks in 12 buildings at Madan Dutta Lane in Bowbazar in October 2022. This was the last accident that affected the completion of the project. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 13, 2023, 10:55 [IST] Won't even see his face: Asad's mother refuses to take his body Gangster Atiq Ahmed, brother shot dead in UP: What we know so far Who was Asad, son of Atiq Ahmed killed in an encounter with UP police India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Jailed gangster, Atiq Ahmed's son, Asad was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh police. The police have also recovered sophisticated foreign-made weapons from the encounter site. Asad had a Rs 5 lakh bounty on his head and was killed in the encounter at Jhansi by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF). Another person Ghulam who also had a bounty of Rs 5 lakh on his head, was also killed in the encounter that was led Nabendu and Vimal, both deputy SPs in the UP STF. Both the accused were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case. Pal was a key witness in the murder of Bahujan Samaj party (BSP) leader Raju Pal. On February 24, Pal was shot dead in Prayagraj's Sulem Sara area. He was shot several times and bombs were also hurled at him and his guards. The killing comes at a time when Atiq Ahmed and his brother were produced before a court in Prayagraj. Asad is the son of gangsgter-turned politician Atiq Ahmed. On April 9, the Delhi police had arrested three persons in connection with aiding Asad who was instrumental in orchestrating the Pal murder. The three accused persons were accused of harbouring Assad following the Pal murder. UP cops target Asad as Yogi vows to decimate mafia The name of Ali Ahmed, the other son of Atiq Ahmed had also surfaced ni the same case. There are nearly 160 criminal cases that have been lodged against the Ahmed family. Atiq himself has been named in nearly 100 cases, while his brother Ashraf has 52 cases against him. Atif's wife Shaista Praveen has three and sons Ali and Ali and Asad have four and one cases against them respectively. Based on a complaint lodged by Umesh Pal's wife, Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25, the police registered a case against Atiq Ahmed and his family members. The FIR was lodged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code which included 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation). How big a threat is Amritpal Singh really? India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The rise of Amritpal Singh, the radical Sikh preacher is a worrying scenario for Punjab as he is looking to build a cult status on the lines of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. Bhindranwale took six years in the 1980s to build a cult status after which he was killed in the Operation Bluestar in 1984. Intelligence Bureau officials however tell OneIndia that the cases of Amritpal and Bhindranwale are starkly different. Although one must not ignore his rise, the fact remains that he has put in hardly any effort to build a cult status like how Bhindranwale had done. Borders back on high alert as chase for Amritpal intensifies Bhindranwale took six years to build a status among the Sikhs in Punjab. In the case of Amritpal, he just appeared on the scene out of no-where and began running a movement. He was dropped into Punjab and asked to head the Waris Punjab De, following the death of Deep Sidhu. The fact that Punjab has not erupted in protests following the crackdown on Amritpal and his supporters, if a testimony that the radical leader does not have the desired traction. Had it been Bhindranwale, matters would have been entirely different the official cited above said. Amritpal arrived in Punjab following the Lok Sabha by-election at the Sangrur constituency. The by-election became necessary after Bhagwant Mann vacated the seat after he became chief minister of Punjab. The elections were won by radical leader Simranjeet Singh Mann. While the fact remained that the voters had vented their ire against the Congress and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Amritpal and his followers saw this is as a ripe opportunity to further their movement. He and his supporters went around the state demanding for a separate Khalistan country. Amritpal was under the radar for long, but shot to fame after his supporters attacked the Ajnala police station. This is something that no other Sikh leader has done in the past, including Bhindranwale. The police were unable to hit back as Amritpal's supporters had with them the Holy Guru Granth Sahib, which they used as a shield. The attack at Ajnala could have been death knell for Amritpal as many Sikhs criticised the action. Another reason for him losing traction is because he decided to play hide and seek with the law, which Bhindranwale had not done. Amritpal's ideological mentor, Bhindranwale had in fact never run away from the law. He had also once courted arrest, but was released for want of evidence. Why Amritpal may have ended up dividing Sikhs rather than uniting them The official cited above said that in the case of Amritpal there is a lot of suspicion. It is a well-known fact that he is backed by Pakistan's ISI. The people of Punjab do not want to a situation that prevailed in the 1980s and hence such movements have failed to gain mass traction, the official explained. It is also a well-known fact that he has the backing of the pro-khalistan elements who have taken refuge abroad. Meanwhile the police have put up 'wanted posters' seeking information on the whereabouts of Amritpal Singh. "Whosoever has any information about him can share it on the mobile numbers given below. Appropriate reward will be given on providing the information," read the poster. North fires ballistic missile into sea between Koreas, Japan International oi-PTI North Korea launched a ballistic missile that landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to take shelter as a precaution. The order has been lifted. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staffs said the North Korean missile launched from near the capital Pyongyang flew toward the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan. The statement described the missile as a weapon with a medium or longer range but didn't say how far the missile flew. The Joint Chiefs of Staff said South Korea's military boosted its surveillance posture and maintains a firm readiness in close coordination with the United States. Japan said the missile landed in the water but did not immediately give a more exact landing location. Earlier, the launch had prompted the Japanese government to urge people to seek shelter on the northernmost island of Hokkaido. The government then corrected and retracted its missile alert saying its analysis showed there was no possibility of a missile landing near Hokkaido. North Korea confirms ICBM test, warns of more powerful steps Officials in charge of the government crisis management division could not be immediately reached. Last October, Japan issued a similar evacuation order when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. At the time, Japanese authorities alerted residents in its northeastern regions to seek shelter and halted trains, although no damages were reported before the weapon landed in the Pacific. Thursday's launch, the latest in the North's barrage of weapons tests this year, came days after its leader Kim Jong Un vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more "practical and offensive" ways. This year, North Korea has launched about 30 missiles in response to South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Korea's growing nuclear and missile threats. During a military meeting Monday, Kim reviewed the country's 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, according to North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency. KCNA said that meeting discussed unspecified issues related to strengthening defense capacities and perfecting war preparations to counter the threat posed by its rivals' military drills. North Korea has long argued that U.S.-led military exercises in the region are proof of Washington's hostility against Pyongyang. The North has said it was compelled to develop nuclear weapons to deal with U.S. military threats, though U.S. and South Korean officials have steadfastly said they have no intention of invading the North. There are concerns that North Korea could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years since it unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead earlier this month. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles. South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. The North's alleged suspension of communications on those channels could be worrisome because they are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals' disputed western sea boundary. On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse, Seoul's point man on the North, expressed "strong regret" over North Korea's "unilateral and irresponsible attitude'' over the hotlines. Kwon also warned unspecified legal action over the North's use of South Korean assets at a now-stalled inter-Korean factory park in North Korea. Japan strengthening defences against China, Russia, North Korea South Korea pulled its companies out of Kaesong in North Korea 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's advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Yoon's government has been seeking stronger U.S. assurances that it will surely and swiftly use all its military capabilities, including nuclear, to protect South Korea in the event of a North Korean nuclear attack. North Korea's weapons testing spree has also raised the urgency for Seoul and Tokyo to strengthen their defense postures in conjunction with their alliances with the United States. Experts say the discussions between world leaders at next month's Group of Seven meetings in Japan could also be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea given the dysfunction at the U.N. Security Council. Permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russia's war on Ukraine. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 13, 2023, 9:53 [IST] News / National by Staff reporter A 23-year-old man who was last week shot and killed by a South African soldier at Limpopo River where he was allegedly assisting irregular migrants and smugglers will be buried in Bulawayo tomorrow.Mduduzi Mbulelo Mlilo was among a group of 16 smugglers who were intercepted by South African soldiers on April 2 at an illegal crossing point.Since then, his body was being kept at Tshilidzini Mortuary in Limpopo Province pending police investigations.The soldier who shot him once on the left breast has since been arrested and charged with murder.He is set to stand trial at the Musina Regional Court on May 15.Mduduzis devastated father, Mr Dubayi Mlilo confirmed the burial arrangements yesterday."This is devastating; my son was killed just like that. If they were really implementing the law, they could have arrested him and taken him to court, he lambasted.We have had an update from the police and we will follow the case with interest. For now, I don't have much to say, I just want to take my sons remains for burial in Bulawayo on Friday."He said according to witnesses, Mduduzi was shot while assisting people to smuggle an assortments of goods, mainly onions.Mr Mlilo said his son was killed by one of the soldiers, who were allegedly conducting motorized patrols,The soldier is alleged to have jumped from a vehicle and opened fire at Mduduzi while standing on the river bank.He then fell into the water and his body was later retrieved and taken to the mortuary around 8PM after lying on the riverbed for almost six hours."We are quiet saddened by this incident and we hope he will get justice," said Mr Mlilo.The incident comes a few weeks after a member of the Border Management Authority (border guards) shot and killed another Zimbabwean man for reprimanding soldiers for assaulting an elderly woman,The incident occurred at the foot of the New Limpopo Bridge (NLB) on the South African side of the border. Lego is a line of plastic construction toys that are manufactured by The Lego Group, a privately held company based in Billund, Denmark. The company's flagship product, Lego, consists of variously colored interlocking plastic bricks accompanying an array of gears, figurines called minifigures, and various other parts. Lego pieces can be assembled and connected in many ways to construct objects, including vehicles, buildings, and working robots. Anything constructed can be taken apart again, and the pieces reused to make new things. The lawsuit comes as Cohen, who once said he would do anything to protect Trump, appears poised to become a star witness against him in the hush-payment case in New York. What a match we have in store, Adelaide against Carlton to kick off Gather Round, with both sides looking to firm up their finals credentials. Follow here for all the live action. People in Ireland have turned out in huge numbers to welcome US President Joe Biden. Arkansas has become the second state to enact a law restricting social media use by children. Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday signed legislation requiring minors to get their parents' permission to create a new account on social media sites. The measure is similar to a law that Utah's governor approved last month. Several other states are considering similar measures that supporters say will protect children. Arkansas' measure will apply to new accounts created starting in September. Critics have said the restriction raises privacy concerns and could exacerbate the mental health crisis among young people. SWR has warned commuters not to attempt travel to or from London Waterloo this morning (April 13) due to a major.. Surrey Mirror 13 Apr 2023 A scary situation for the people of Japan, as a North Korean ballistic missile launch resulted in an evacuation order on Japan's second-largest island. The terrifying scene played out Thursday morning when North Korea fired a missile off the east President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for Russia's frozen assets to be made available to help Ukraine rebuild. Meanwhile, the US has imposed sanctions on 120 more targets. DW has the latest. Russian exports to Germany were down 91% this February compared to February 2022, the month when it invaded Ukraine. The rapid decline is in large part because of the near-total halt in imports of Russian energy. Russia is investigating a video showing the beheading of a Ukrainian soldier to check its authenticity. Meanwhile, Berlin has approved Poland's delivery of German fighter jets to Ukraine. DW has the latest. News / National by Staff reporter Advocate Steven Budlender has argued that Home Affairs Minister, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi's decision to terminate the Zimbabwean Exemption Permit (ZEP) is invalid as it did not follow proper protocol.Budlender is representing the Helen Suzman Foundation in the Pretoria High Court in its challenge against the department. It is seeking a declaration that the Minister's decision is unconstitutional, unlawful and invalid and that it be set aside.Last year, the department announced that it would not renew the special dispensation for a fourth time since its inception in 2009.The ZEP is a special permit issued in terms of the Immigration Act that allows its holders and their children temporary legal status to live, work and study in South Africa. The permit was introduced by the South African government to cope with an influx of undocumented Zimbabweans.Budlender has argued that the Minister must reconsider the decision to terminate the ZEP, following proper process."My client does not suggest and does not ask this court to find that the Minister may never terminate the ZEP programme, that is not my client's case and that is not the submission I make, but my client does say and I do submit that because any termination has such profound consequences in order to be valid, it must firstly, follow a fair and procedurally rational consultation process. Secondly, be consistent with fundamental constitutional rights enshrined in our constitution and thirdly, be based on lawful, rational and reasonable grounds. A controversial donation to the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation wasn't returned after all. Radio Canada has confirmed that as first reported by Montreal's La Presse newspaper the foundation attempted to reimburse money donated by a businessman linked to the Chinese government. When it tried to return the money, however, it discovered there was confusion surrounding the identity of the donor. The Sea King may be old, but the Ukrainian military say it will help in the war, the BBC is told. 2008-2023 One News Page Ltd. All rights reserved. One News is a registered trademark of One News Page Ltd. An offspring of Pablo Escobar's famed "cocaine hippos" from the 1980s was killed in Colombia ... after getting struck by a car. The.. TMZ.com 12 Apr 2023 Annalena Baerbock is the latest European politician to visit China after landing in Tianjin on Thursday. On Friday she will travel to Beijing for meetings with senior Chinese officials. Police have said they are "very concerned" about the welfare of a missing dog walker in Snowdonia, northwest Wales. Beijing is restricting the movement of vessels in an area near Taiwan, because of possible falling rocket debris. The second day of the US President's Ireland tour takes him to Dublin. Biden will also stop at the town of his ancestors in County Mayo, where he plans to reconnect with distant relatives. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Jack Teixeira the 21-year-old that US media reports cited earlier as having been the suspect behind the leak of US documents has been arrested. Azerbaijani Ombudswoman Sabina Aliyeva called on international organizations to react to the videos of the torture of Azerbaijani servicemen by Armenians, Azernews reports. Addressing the international community, the ombudswoman informed them that a few days ago, there were reports that two servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army went missing in the border area with Armenia due to unfavorable weather conditions, and the Armenian side confirmed that they were detained. In the videos and photos released today in the mass media of Armenia, the torture and other inhumane acts against the Azerbaijani military serviceman, contrary to international documents, are clearly confirmed. Thus, in the circulated video, an Azerbaijani military serviceman is being beaten with his hands tied, and his dignity is being humiliated, the human rights commissioner stated. Furthermore, she called on Armenia to comply with the demands it undertakes under international law. She also underlined that according to the III Geneva Convention "On the Treatment of Prisoners of War", persons not directly participating in hostilities must be treated humanely in all cases, and prisoners of war must always be protected from acts of violence and threats. I demand from the representative office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia to urgently visit that military personnel and provide information about their condition, Aliyeva stressed. Meanwhile, the Investigative Department of the Prosecutor General's Office opened a criminal case on the matter under Article 115.2 (torturing, cruel, or inhuman treatment of captives) of the Criminal Code. The Prosecutor Generals Office noted that measures are being taken to identify and bring to justice the perpetrators of the crime. Earlier, Azerbaijan's State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens of Azerbaijan issued a statement that the Commission, with other relevant state bodies, continues the necessary search work and investigation in connection with the military servicemen of Azerbaijans Defense MinistryAgshin Babirov (born in 2004) and Huseyn Akhundov (born in 2003) who went missing due to limited visibility under adverse weather conditions in the border area of the Shahbuz district of Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with Armenia. Opinion / Columnist Here is a picture.Let us say, for instance, information minister Monica Mutsvangwa - in her press conference a week ago, responding to the Gold Mafia expose being aired by Al Jazeera - had signaled that the Zimbabwe government was to negotiate with all those named and shown in the documentary, in order for them to stop their money laundering and gold smuggling criminal activities.How was the nation going to react to this statement?Was there not going to be widespread outrage - raising an understandable uproar?Why?Surely, what sense would there be in negotiating with a criminal to reform his ways?Is that not why we actually have prisons - which are considered appropriate 'correctional institutions' - where a measure of force and punishment, through the revocation of certain rights, is an integral component of this 'reformation process'.Quite frankly, I have never come across anyone who has successfully managed to convince a hardened unrepentant criminal into changing his ways, through 'negotiations'.What I, then, find most baffling is how on mother earth anyone, with their marbles all in place, would actually believe that 'negotiating' with the ZANU PF government into implementing any meaningful political, electoral and security sector reforms, would work?Is this not just plain silly, at best - or the height of disingenuity, at worst?Surely, who does not know that the ruling elite in Zimbabwe are not at all interested in reforming themselves out of power - as there is just too much to lose?Is that not the reason they would rather have targeted sanctions imposed on them by other countries (for over two decades now) - than implementing any real democratic changes that would see genuinely free, fair and credible elections in the country?In fact, is that not why those in power would rather spill the blood of hundreds of innocent Zimbabweans - as happened in 2008, after then dictator Robert Gabriel Mugabe was defeated by the late MDC-T leader Morgan Richard Tsvangirai?These are hardened criminals, who would go to any lengths, in order to hold on to power - as not doing so presents a far darker and terrifying prospect for them.Who does not know that, having been in power for the past 43 years, since the country attained its independence - those in the ruling elite has enriched themselves, to unimaginable insane levels, through the brazen looting of our national resources?Furthermore, as a direct result of this thievery - in typical criminal fashion, they ended up committing even more heinous crimes, so as to protect themselves from being kicked out of power - by massacring, in cold blood, hundreds of opposition supporters.This means that, they kept on adding to their ever-growing charge sheet - such that, their main fear is spending the rest of their naturals behind bars, and their families losing all that ill-gotten wealth - should they be voted out of office.These hardcore criminals' only line of defense is the protection that comes with being in power - where they remain untouchable due to their control of all state institutions - such as the security apparatus, law enforcement, and the judiciary.In fact, the presidency itself (according to Section 98(1) of the Constitution) protects the incumbent from being 'liable to civil and criminal proceedings in any court for things done or omitted to be done in his personal capacity'.However, in Section 98(2) 'civil and criminal proceedings may be instituted against a former president for things done and omitted to be donewhile he was president'.In other words, leaving office may effectively be a jail sentence waiting to happen!Why, then - especially when we are dealing with a leadership that is already aware that, not only are they highly unpopular with the citizenry, but also most likely to be booted out of office in a truly free, fair and credible election - would anyone, in their right mind, seriously expect these same people to reform themselves into prison?That is where I find this whole talk of talks with the Zimbabwe regime, by some sections of the opposition - for the implementation of electoral and security sector reforms - most disturbing and totally outrageous.Honestly, what do they expect to negotiate with a criminal regime that risks losing everything should they lose power?Are such propositions not pure madness?The only way a hardened criminal can be expected to be 'reformed' is through the use of force.Let us remember that the ruling elite feels trapped - and are now panicked and gripped by fear - thereby, holding the entire nation as hostages.Mere negotiations will never work on people like that.In the case of the criminal Zimbabwe regime, this 'force' should be in the form of people's power - displayed by peaceful non-confrontational nationwide mass action by the citizenry.I now sound like a broken record, but as long as ordinary Zimbabweans themselves do not take up their own crosses - by sacrificing whatever little comforts, pleasures and freedoms they have left, in the pursuit of real change - then, let us not waste our time with any dreams of free, fair and credible elections.In fact, let us cast away any self-delusions of ousting ZANU PF through the ballot box - under the current distorted electoral environment.That is never going to happen!Never!The Zimbabwe regime would rather even the UN (United Nations) itself imposed economic sanctions on them - yet, they will not budge an inch.As already mentioned, there is too much at stake in leaving office - which makes these people in power even more stubborn than Rhodesian Prime Minister Ian Douglas Smith - who, as the proverbial mule, stuck to his guns (as far as majority rule was concerned), even when faced with an international trade embargo.The ZANU PF government is not going anywhere, any time soon - especially through a grossly flawed electoral process.Nonetheless, negotiating with them will never bring about the desperately-required changes.The ball is squarely in the court of Zimbabweans themselves - and, whether ZANU PF goes or stays depends entirely on whether we are willing to take the necessary action.If not, then we may as well kiss goodbye to a better Zimbabwe for all its citizens!Wishful thinking has never brought about any change!- Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice advocate, writer, researcher, and social commentator. Please feel free to WhatsApp or Call: +263715667700 | +263782283975, or email: mbofana.tendairuben73@gmail.com If Harris becomes the new owner of the Washington Commanders, here's what fans might have to look forward to. Here's why I think Barrick Gold (TSX:ABX) could be one of the best market hedges investors worried about uncertainty should consider. North Korea launched a ballistic missile that landed in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan on Thursday, prompting Japan to order residents on an island to A George Soros-backed prosecutor facing a legal effort by Missouri's attorney general to fire her now has another hurdle to overcome: a challenger for next year's election. Rumble 18 Apr 2023 During a GOP-led House hearing in New York City on Monday, victims of violent crime in Manhattan laid most of the blame on District.. Firefighters in New Jersey confronted a 200-foot high flames as they battled a wildfire in the states Pine Barrens. Authorities said Wednesday the fire rained down embers and prompted evacuations, but caused no injuries or property damage. One evacuee said she left in such a hurry late Tuesday she didnt even bring socks. The fire is around 60% contained, and people have since been let back to their residences. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but officials say the low humidity, high winds and dry fuel on the forest floor contributed to the blaze. Construction is underway to build Canadas first spaceport in the small seaside community of Canso, N.S. As CBCs Tom Murphy explains, the project promises exciting rocket launches, jobs and tourism dollars, but there are challenges and not everyone is on board. Upworthy 15 Apr 2023 COUNTY MAYO, Ireland What already promised to be a day of high energy but also great emotion for President Joe Biden had even.. A father and son who ran an illegal waste business at their then home in Sticker have been convicted for their part in creating "a blight on the village". FILE PHOTO: Small toy figure and gold imitation are seen in front of the Barrick logo in this illustration (Reuters) - Barrick Gold Corp said on Thursday first-quarter gold production fell 15% sequentially, as a harsh winter hampered the Canadian miner's operations in northern Nevada and annual maintenance weighed on output at its Goldstrike mine. Barrick's gold output has been on a steady decline, falling for at least three consecutive years. But the company said on Thursday it expects gold production to increase through the year, with the first quarter being the lowest. Copper production is expected to be higher in the second half of the year. Gold output at Carlin took a hit from annual maintenance, resulting in lower throughput at Goldstrike mine in the mining district, Barrick said. Gold's all-in sustaining costs (AISC), a key industry metric that reflects total expenses, are expected to be 9% to 11% higher from the prior quarter on lower sales volumes. AISC for copper, however, is expected to be down 14% to 16% due to lower sustaining capital expenditures. Barrick's total preliminary gold output was 952,000 ounces in the three months ended March 31, compared with 1.1 million ounces in the previous quarter. Analysts on an average expected gold production of 988,700 ounces, according to Refinitiv IBES data. The Toronto, Ontario-based firm's copper production was 88 million pounds during the quarter, down 8.3% from the previous three months, weighed down by lower output at its Lumwana mine in Zambia and Zaldivar mine in Chile. Gold prices rose 7.9% during the January-March period, after a 9.9% increase in the previous quarter, as recent volatility in the banking sector spurred a rush toward the safe haven. Barrick, scheduled to release its first-quarter results on May 3, said the average market price for gold in the period was $1,890 per ounce, up from $1,726 per ounce in the prior three months. (This story has been corrected to fix analysts' expectations to 988,700 ounces, and not 988.7 million ounces, in paragraph 8) (Reporting by Arshreet Singh; Editing by Shilpi Majumdar) A one-year-old Australian shepherd returned to its owners in Alaska after more than a month apart, having undertaken an epic odyssey across 150 miles (240km) of frozen Bering Sea ice which involved a run-in with a mystery animal. Here's the latest for Thursday, April 13th: Biden makes remarks in Belfast; Trump back in New York for deposition; Vigil held for victims in Louisville bank shooting; 1-year-old dog makes epic trek across Bering Sea ice. Three schools challenged the settlement, which would forgive $6 billion, saying the Biden administration had colluded with plaintiffs and exceeded its authority. The Prohibition Era mobster and thug Alphonse Al Capone comes to mind as we see the man who incited the January 2021 Capitol insurrection, among other misdeeds, finally face a criminal charge: falsifying business records. Al Capone was the boss of a murderous Chicago criminal enterprise that controlled the illegal booze... Veuer 13 Apr 2023 Donald Trump may be making headlines for the criminal charges that were recent filed against him, but now hes filing his own.. Dr Nandipha Magudumana is understood to have cooperated during her deportation to South Africa, where she will be charged with murder, aiding an escape and violation of corpses. President Joe Biden said on Thursday that investigators were closing in on the source of the leak of highly classified US intelligence documents, in what is believed to be the most serious security breach in a decade. Ukraine said Thursday it is intent in its demand that Russia withdraw its troops from Crimea, which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014, as well as other territory in eastern Ukraine that Russia claimed last year. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, via video, told the first Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest,... VICTORIA, BC, April 12, 2023 /CNW/ - The membership of Unifor Local 4276 voted overwhelmingly today to ratify a new three-year contract with their employer at the Fairmont Empress Hotel. Exterior of the Fairmont Empress hotel (CNW Group/Unifor) "Unifor members at the Fairmont Empress have secured a strong collective agreement and have helped set the table for upcoming negotiations in the hospitality sector," said Lana Payne, Unifor National President. "Congratulations on a job well done." The new three-year collective agreement increases wages 14.5% over the term, plus a Cost of Living Adjustment of an additional 1.5% in the third year. The contract also secures a more manageable workload and establishes mandatory breaks to help reduce physical strain for workers in the housekeeping department. "Hospitality workers are at the centre of British Columbia's tourism and convention industry. This contract is a historic step forward for both wages and health and safety," said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor Western Regional Director. Workers at the Fairmont Empress will also receive higher pension and RRSP matching from the employer, an increase to gratuities, improved severance payments, enshrined paid sick days, and stronger recall provisions. As the leading union for hotel workers in British Columbia, this ground-breaking collective agreement will not only benefit workers at the Fairmont Empress but will be used by Unifor as the benchmark for bargaining with the union's other hospitality groups and for organizing non-union hotel workers. Unifor Local 4276 represents almost 450 workers in the housekeeping, culinary, groundskeeping, serving, guest relations, maintenance, and engineering departments. Later this year, Unifor members at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver and the Coast Coal Harbour will be negotiating new contracts. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. Story continues SOURCE Unifor Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/12/c6203.html "April is the cruelest month," that phrase is from "The Wasteland" by the poet, T.S. Eliot. Besides understanding that the transition from winter to spring can be harsh and full of disappointments and false starts, it also happens to be the month filled with deaths, in this nation, of those who promised new starts to a more democratic and humane nation. The first was Abraham Lincoln on April 15th, 1865, after the Civil War had ended and the planned reconstruction was beginning to allow an inclusive place for the former slaves as well as to heal the union. Some, who wanted to prevent that kind of reconstruction to occur, ended those hopes with the assassination of Lincoln. It was a time of great sadness and mourning not only for the death of a president, but also for the death of the ideals he represented. The next significant death was that of FDR, Franklin Delano Roosevelt, on April 12th, 1945, after his New Deal had wrested power from the dominant business interests and instituted something resembling democracy with the inclusive policies of the Depression years and the years of WWII. Again, there was universal grief and national mourning following his demise. After his death the nation watched as the economic elite began to regroup to eventually rise to dominance once again. And finally, the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., on April 4th, 1968, who had been trying to finish the work begun by Lincoln to bring Black citizens into the arms of democracy. And again, racism raised its ugly head and stopped his leadership in its tracks. All three of these deaths in April, the supposed beginning of spring and rebirth, thwarted the hopes for an America of inclusiveness and democracy. At a season of hopefulness and fresh starts those deaths allowed us to retreat into the same regressive patterns of our perennial problems and inequalities and allowing the new growth of democracy and American ideals to be nipped in the bud. A time that should have been full of the hope of fresh beginnings, turned into a time of grief and mourning of our national loss of possibilities. In these cases, "April (was) the cruelest month". On April 4, Lithuanian parliamentarians adopted a special law on national sanctions for Russian and Belarusian citizens. The law was adopted with 76 votes in favour, 13 against, and 34 abstentions. The law is set to enter into force on the 3rd of May and expires on the 2nd of May, 2024. It includes restrictions for Russians and Belarusians to obtain Lithuanian visas, to import Ukrainian hryvnias, to enter Lithuania and to acquire real estate. Moreover, Lithuania will temporarily refuse to accept residency permit applications from Russians and Belarusians. The bill was drafted and put before the parliament by Interior Minister Agn-- Bilotait-- and chairman of the parliamentary Committee on Security and Defence Laurynas Kas?i?nas. It essentially transposes into law already existing restrictions. The new law also provides for individual checks of Russian citizens crossing the EU's external border. Each traveller will be screened for potential "threats to national security". Under the law, Russian nationals will only be able to apply for Lithuanian citizenship through naturalization, after spending 10 years in the country. Exceptions will also apply to people who were deported by the Soviets, as well as to their children. Moreover, Lithuania will not accept applications for temporary residence permits from Russian citizens until mid-April 2024, except in cases mediated by an institution authorized by the Lithuanian government, or for holders of Schengen visas, national visas, or holders of the residence permits of an EU country. Moreover, under the new law, Russian citizens and companies established or controlled by them will not be able to acquire real estate in Lithuania, unless they have a residence permit or have inherited the property. The law caused heated discussions. Thus, Dainius Kepenis, an opposition MP said that it sorts out the people. Before the vote, Social Democrat MP Algirdas Sysas stated that this law was "intended to do better, but it came out as usual. And in this case, I would add, it's very bad." According to him, this draft law "will leave bitterness for many years for those citizens who have lived in Lithuania for many years." "They will feel like second-class citizens - be it Russian or Belarusian citizens who have been living here for many years" It was necessary to first measure ten times and cut once. Unfortunately, we cut first and then made a bunch of corrections," the MP noted. He stated, that sanctions should not affect the rights of Russian and Belarusian citizens "in any form whatsoever" who are already here in Lithuania, especially when it comes to humanitarian arrivals." The most acrimonious remarks about the law came from Social Democrat Julius Sabatauskas, who called the bill discriminatory. "Segregation of people and discrimination based on nationality is being established," he emphasized. So, adopting such a law, Lithuania deliberately breaks International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination. The Convention stipulates that "Each State Party shall take effective measures to review governmental, national and local policies, and to amend, rescind or nullify any laws and regulations which have the effect of creating or perpetuating racial discrimination wherever it exists." So, the Law, adopted by Lithuanian parliament, fully contradicts the provisions of the document and violates human rights in the country. In early April, Twitter added a "State-Affiliated Media" tag to National Public Radio's account on the social media platform, putting it in the same league as Russia's RT, China's Xinhua, and other government-funded "news" outlets. Within a few days, under withering criticism from, among others, NPR CEO Jack Lansing (who came to NPR after running other US state-affiliated media such as Voice of America and Radio Free Europe), Twitter backed off a bit and changed NPR's label to "Government Funded." What's the difference? There isn't one. As Twitter owner Elon Musk pointed out, it "seems accurate" to class NPR with other "outlets where the state exercises control over editorial content through financial resources, direct or indirect political pressures, and/or control over production and distribution." Oddly, French (France 24), Canadian (CBC) and British (BBC) state-affiliated media outlets don't seem to have been caught up in Twitter's labeling net. NPR makes the same claims to "editorial independence" as those outfits, but those claims are, in each and every case, risible. NPR was established by an act of Congress. Its member stations all operate under license from the Federal Communications Commission, and receive special tax treatment as "non-profits." While NPR no longer receives the majority of its funding directly from government, it hews rigidly to a "mainstream" narrative as set forth by the American political class, and buckles every time its funding is threatened by politicians for coloring outside the lines set by the current ruling party. He who pays the piper calls the tune, and NPR's tune ranges from pro-US-regime heavy metal to elevator music versions of the same songs. RT's commentators will sometimes "criticize" the Kremlin's policy line, but only in terms of urging the regime to do what it's already doing only faster and more vigorously. NPR reliably "criticizes" the US regime in the same way. FDR once told a group lobbying him on behalf of a reform they wanted, "you've convinced me -- now go out and bring pressure on me." The mission of state-affiliated media is to "bring pressure" on the US government to do what it's already doing. Want to know what the American political establishment thinks -- and wants you to support? Just tune in to the daily episodes of "Morning Edition" or "All Things Considered." If NPR doesn't want to be state-affiliated media, it should give up that government funding and start exercising real editorial independence. The U.S. continues to widen its influence in Europe. Washington does its best to expands its interests in the European region. It has almost achieved the goal of breaking economic cooperation between Europe and Russia and intends to replace Russia in the region. It fears to be late and apprehends growing China economic influence. Though part of the European elite, including French President Emmanuel Macron, wants Europe to be more independent from the U.S., the other part, especially the Baltic States and Poland are active U.S. lobbyists in Europe. "Instead of building strategic autonomy from the United States, I propose a strategic partnership with the United States," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said on April 11 before flying off to the U.S. for a three-day visit. The EU officials tirelessly demonstrate the commitment to closer cooperation with the U.S. Thus, on April 4, the European Commission issued the EU Joint Statement by the EU and the U.S. following the 10th EU-U.S. Energy Council. According to the document, "the Council recognised the unprecedented intensification of cooperation, coordination, and exchanges between the two sides since the last Ministerial Meeting of the EU-US Energy Council on 7 February 2022." It also recognised the critical role of the Joint Energy Security Task Force set up in March 2022 by Presidents von der Leyen and Biden with the aim of supporting the rapid elimination of the EU's reliance on Russian fossil fuels by diversifying its natural gas supplies, taking steps to minimise the sector's climate impact, and reducing the overall demand for natural gas. Most likely, "diversifying natural gas supplies" means getting natural gas directly from the U.S. The more so, the EU and the United States decided to co-organise a High-Level Small Modular Reactors (SMR) Forum later this year on transatlantic cooperation in the field of SMRs and other advanced nuclear reactors. The EU and the United States intend to continue to coordinate bilateral and multilateral responses to keep the global energy markets stable and support the energy transition required to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement. The two sides reiterated their strong commitment to directly confront, with adequate measures, all efforts to further destabilise the global energy situation and to circumvent sanctions. All such initiatives could lead to deepening economic dependence on the U.S. So, situation will not change, Europe will remain dependent but not on Moscow but on Washington. John T Noonan Jr. (Image by Wikipedia (commons.wikimedia.org), Author: Author Not Given) Details Source DMCA Duluth, Minnesota (OpEdNews) April 13, 2023: The American Jesuit writer Thomas J. Reese (born in 1945; Ph.D. in political science, University of California, Berkeley) is the author of several books, including Inside the Vatican: The Politics and Organization of the Catholic Church (Harvard University Press, 1996). From 1998 to 2005, he served as the editor-in-chief of the Jesuit-sponsored magazine America. However, he was forced to resign as the editor-in-chief by Pope Benedict XVI. More recently, Father Reese has served as a columnist for the Religion News Service, regularly publishing the column "Signs of the Times." His columns are regularly featured at the National Catholic Reporter website. Reese's recent column "Pope benedict 'closed' Limbo and no one complained" (dated April 12, 2023) can serve my present purposes as a springboard for discussing the American Catholic author John T. Noonan's still-relevant learned book A Church That Can and Cannot Change (University of Notre Dame Press, 2005). You can see Reese's most recent column at Click Here Briefly, Father Reese says, "The New Testament is full of passages that say baptism is necessary for salvation." "But sending unbaptized infants to hell seemed especially cruel." "No church father before Augustine thought unbaptized children would be punished [in hell]." "St. Augustine, however, believed unbaptized children would experience the misery of the damned [in hell] but be consigned to the mildest part of hell." According to Father Reese, "Around 1300, the term Limbo, from the Latin 'Limbus,' meaning edge or boundary, became used for the dwelling place of the good or innocent dead [in hell] who were not baptized. They experienced natural happiness but not supernatural happiness." Father Reese says, "What Pope Benedict did [in officially relegating Limbo to the status of a hypothesis, as distinct from a dogmatic definition of the church's magisterium] was the greatest change in church teaching since the Second Vatican Council." According to Father Reese, "In history books, Benedict will be remembered as the pope who resigned and as the pope who got rid of Limbo." Now, Father Reese does not happen to mention Noonan's 2005 book A Church That Can and Cannot Change. To be clear here, the Roman Catholic Church cannot change because it must remain faithful to the deposit of faith as revealed primarily in the New Testament (and secondarily in the Hebrew Bible [also known as the Old Testament]). The prolific lay American Catholic author John T. Noonan, Jr. (1926-2017; Ph.D. in philosophy, Catholic University of America, 1951) is the author of several classic studies, including The Scholastic Analysis of Usury (Harvard University Press, 1957) and Contraception: A History of Its Treatment by the Catholic Theologians and Canonists (Belknap Press of Harvard University Press, 1965; 2nd ed., 1986). Noonan revisits the history of usury in his 2005 book A Church That Can and Cannot Change (for specific page references, see the "Index" [p. 296]). But he devotes most of his 2005 book to discussing the history of thought about slavery (for specific page references, see the "Index" [p. 295]). Overall, Noonan's theme in his 2005 book is the development of moral doctrine in the Roman Catholic tradition of thought. Ah, but the famous nineteenth-century English convert to the Roman Catholic Church John Henry Newman (1801-1890) famously introduced the idea of the development of Christian doctrine in his An Essay on the Development of Christian Doctrine (1845). See the American Jesuit scholar Walter J. Ong's essay "Newman's Essay on Development in Its Intellectual Milieu" in the Jesuit-sponsored journal Theological Studies, volume 7, number 1 (March 1946): pp. 3-45. It is reprinted in volume two of Ong's Faith and Contexts, edited by Thomas J. Farrell and Paul A. Soukup (Scholars Press, 1992b, pp. 1-37). Ong also discusses Newman in his book Hopkins, the Self, and God (University of Toronto Press, 1986, pp. 18-19, 24, 90, 95-96, 119, 124-126, and 132-133), the published version of Ong's 1981 Alexander Lectures at the University of Toronto. In Noonan's Chapter Sixteen: "Emancipators' Eclat" (pp. 110-118), he quotes certain lines from Hopkins' poem "For What Serves Mortal Beauty?" about Gregory the Great's encounter with beautiful slave boys. Noonan says, "Like Newman, Hopkins had no notion that he was looking at an intrinsically evil institution" (p. 111). (Noonan also discusses Newman on pp. 3-4, 99, 111, 122, 177, 216-218, 222, 226, and 278). Now, according to Noonan, the first official church document that denounces slavery unequivocally is the Vatican II document Gaudium et Spes (Latin for "Hope and Joy") - also known as the Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). By Joel D. Joseph, author of Black Mondays: Worst Decisions of the Supreme Court, now in its fifth edition. Ninety-eight years ago, the nation turned its eyes to Tennessee to watch the Scopes Monkey Trial. Once again, the nation is turning its eyes to Tennessee to witness the Tennessee legislature violate democratic principles by expelling two young black representatives for protesting against the lack of gun control legislation. The protest came a week after the horrendous murder of three nine-year-olds and three adults at the Covenant School in Nashville with an assault rifle. In 1925, the Scopes Monkey Trial was a notable American legal case, in which a high school teacher, John T. Scopes, was accused of violating Tennessee's Butler Act. This Tennessee law made it illegal for teachers to teach human evolution in any public school. Scopes v. State, 154 Tenn. 105 (1927). Two of the best-known attorneys in the country, Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryant, argued the case. In both instances Tennessee violated the constitutional rights of its constituents. In the Scopes case, students were deprived of learning about evolution. Concerning the recent expulsion of two black legislators, both the U.S. and the Tennessee Constitution have been violated. The two legislators are Representative Justice Jones, D-Nashville, and Representative Justin Pearson, D-Memphis, who each represent about 80,000 constituents. They are the two youngest legislators in Tennessee, 27 and 28 years old. The Tennessee Constitution, like the Constitution of Russia, looks good on paper, but has not yet been enforced. Article I, Section 1, the very first provision of the Tennessee Constitution provides, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of race, color, or previous condition of servitude." Three Tennessee legislators joined a large group of protestors at the Tennessee Capital. The two who were expelled were black. The one who was not expelled was a white woman, Representative Gloria Johnson, D-Knoxville. Ms. Johnson said that her skin color played a role in her escaping expulsion from that body after her two black colleagues lost their House seats for participating in the same gun violence protest with her. Representatives Jones and Pearson, and their constituents, have a strong case that their rights under Article I, Section 1, have been violated on account of their race. Section 5 of Article I of the Tennessee Constitution provides, "The elections shall be free and equal, and the right of suffrage, as hereinafter declared, shall never be denied to any person entitled thereto, except upon a conviction by a jury of some infamous crime, previously ascertained and declared by law, and judgment thereon by court of competent jurisdiction." Pearson, Jones and their constituents have been denied the right of suffrage, the right to vote, and the right to have their votes count. Section 23 of Article I of the Tennessee Constitution provides that "citizens have a right, in a peaceable manner, to assemble together for their common good, to instruct their representatives, and to apply to those invested with the powers of government for redress of grievances, or other proper purposes, by address or remonstrance." The citizens of Tennessee, including representatives Pearson and Jones, were exercising this constitutional rights on March 30th when they protested in favor of gun control. In addition to violations of Tennessee's constitution, the Tennessee legislature violated the U.S. Constitution. The Fifteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, enacted after the Civil War, prohibits each state, including Tennessee, from denying or abridging a citizen's right to vote on account of race. The U.S. Justice Department has the right to file suit against Tennessee seeking enforcement of the Fifteenth Amendment and the Civil Rights laws. In the alternative, representatives Jones, Pearson and their constituents have the right to file suit under the Tennessee and U.S. Constitutions. The U.S. Supreme Court in Powell v. McCormack ruled in 1969 that Congress did not have the unfettered right to expel Congressman Adam Clayton Powell. Justice William O. Douglas said, "the House (of Representatives) is not the sole judge when 'qualifications' are added which are not specified in the Constitution. A man is not seated because he is a Socialist or a Communist. Another is not seated because, in his district, members of a minority are systematically excluded from voting. Another is not seated because he has spoken out in opposition to the war in Vietnam. The possible list is long. Some cases will have the racist overtones of the present one." Justice Douglas was prescient because the Tennessee situation clearly has racial overtones. Attorney General Merrick Garland: We are all watching you and the state of Tennessee. Do the right thing and act aggressively to keep democracy alive in the Volunteer state. This article originally appeared at TomDispatch.com. To receive TomDispatch in your inbox three times a week, click here. In some ways, it's still hard to take in. In 2001, in the wake of the 9/11 attacks, President George W. Bush and crew invaded Afghanistan, the very country in which the Soviet Union's military had failed so catastrophically in the previous century. Since then, in one fashion or another, our country has been at war "" openly in Afghanistan and Iraq, far less so across other parts of the Greater Middle East as well as Africa. And that global war, which used to be known here as "the war on terror," has simply never ended. Of course, there could be worse to come, given the way the two great military powers on the planet, the U.S. and Russia, are facing off in Ukraine right now, while the Biden administration and the U.S. military ratchet up the pressure for a future conflict with China in the Indo-Pacific region. And mind you, unlike in so many of America's past wars, all of this has been done without a draft (which was ended in the wake of the disastrous conflict in Vietnam) by what's known as the all-volunteer military. The question TomDispatch regular Nan Levinson, author of War Is Not a Game: The New Antiwar Soldiers and the Movement They Built , explores today is: How can a military that hasn't actually managed to win a war of consequence since 1945 and can't seem to stop fighting them continue to restock its ranks? My hint to the Chinese (if they are indeed the rising power on planet Earth), given the Soviet experience, the present Russian one in Ukraine, and the American one in this century: figure out how to do it without going to war. In our world, it should be obvious by now that war is poison for the planet's great powers. As Levinson suggests today, at some level those the U.S. military is so eager to incorporate into its ranks increasingly seem to sense this. Tom Is the Army All That You Can Be? Losing Wars and Losing Recruits By Nan Levinson After more than 20 years of losing wars, recruiting for the U.S. Army is now officially a mess. Last year, that service fell short of its goal by 15,000 recruits, or a quarter of its target. Despite reports of better numbers in the first months of this year, Army officials doubt they will achieve their objective this time around either. The commanding general at Fort Jackson, the South Carolina facility that provides basic training to 50% of all new members of the Army, called the recruiting command's task the hardest since the all-volunteer military was launched in 1973. The Army's leaders were alarmed enough to make available up to $1.2 billion for recruitment incentives and related initiatives. Those incentives include enlistment bonuses of up to $50,000 and promotions for young enlistees who successfully bring in new candidates. Women recruits can now wear their hair in ponytails, and regulations have been updated to permit small, inconspicuous tattoos in places like the back of your ear. The other branches of the military aren't exactly doing well either. The Marines, for example, met their numbers largely through retention, not recruitment, and the Navy was forced to accept recruits who scored in the lowest-qualifying range on an entrance exam. The tempo of recruitment has always swung back and forth, depending in part on whether the economy is bad or booming. Today, that economy may be a mess, but hiring is still remarkably robust, leaving high school graduates with more choices than just the Army or stocking shelves at Walmart (which, by the way, also offers college tuition assistance). The labor market isn't the only obstacle to filling the ranks. Covid not only kept recruiters largely out of schools "" a traditional hunting ground "" for a couple of years, but they also lowered the scores on military entrance exams. The Army has seen a 9% decrease in scores (already low when this round of measurement began) on the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), the all-important test that determines which branches of the military and which jobs you qualify for. An oft-cited statistic "" and it's alarming, no matter how you feel about the military "" is that only about 23% of the Americans the Army aims to recruit qualify as physically, educationally, and mentally fit to enlist. Then there's what could be called the patriotic duty gap. The U.S. is no longer officially fighting any wars (though the global war on terror, even if no longer known by that name, never really ends). The lack of a rally-round-the-flag event like 9/11, along with the calamitous military withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 and 20th-anniversary reexaminations of the disastrous invasion of Iraq, have left Washington wary of starting a new conflict. Sure, tens of billions of dollars of weaponry are going to Ukraine and there are more than 900 U.S. troops still in fighting mode in Syria, where a drone strike recently killed an American contractor and injured U.S. troops, but we seldom hear much about such deployments, or similar ones in Iraq, Niger, Somalia, and other countries across much of Africa, until something goes wrong, so they're hardly top-notch recruitment material. Summing up the mood of the military's present target generation, Major General Alex Fink, chief of Army enterprise marketing, observed, "They see us as revered, but not relevant in their lives." What's a Recruiter To Do? A year ago, an Army Career Center (aka a recruiting station) opened in my fairly affluent neighborhood. This was curious. After all, it's an area surrounded by elite universities and not the most welcoming high schools when it comes to the military. I had walked by the station often, noting the posters in its windows advertising career training and the benefits of the Army Reserve. There was even one in Tagalog about an expedited path to U.S. citizenship. (And mind you, there isn't a large Filipino population in this neighborhood either.) Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Earth Rights Visionary proposes a way to end Poverty, Homelessness, Hunger and War Charles III, King of the United Kingdom (Image by Dan Marsh) Details DMCA TrineDay Publisher announces the world-wide launch of "An Open Letter to King Charles III on his coronation" by Alanna Hartzok. The letter, an Earth Rights Manifesto, premiered at Trineday's Roundtable18, April 5, 2023 and is available below. TrineDay publisher Kris Millegan began hosting the Roundtable Series in 2021. Co-authors Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould, as the featured speakers, created a proposal to build World Peace based on JFK's Peace Speech with Earth Rights economics as the foundation. The "Letter" is its kick off campaign. "More and more people are convinced that the only way to a just, prosperous and peaceful future is to share the value of Earth's resources more fairly," says Ms. Gould. Mr. Fitzgerald added, "The Earth rights ethic will be realized by using the interregnum from the September 4th death of Queen Elizabeth to the May 6th coronation of King Charles - and the June 10th 60th Anniversary of JFK's Speech - to promote the economics of peace, culminating with a musical celebration in Ireland, the home of JFK's Fitzgerald legacy." "Alanna is an educator; activist and lecturer on economic justice, land rights, and commons rent public finance," Ms. Gould shared, "Her letter is filled with deeply researched knowledge on why the time is right for King Charles to get on the Earth Rights bandwagon." Paul Fitzgerald and Elizabeth Gould are co-authors of INVISIBLE HISTORY: Afghanistan's Untold Story; CROSSING ZERO: The AfPak War at the Turning Point of American Empire; VALEDICTION: Three Nights of Desmond, and VALEDICTION: Resurrection and many articles and books. R. A. "Kris" Millegan, founder of TrineDay Publishing, and a writer, researcher, musician and son of a former intelligence officer, has spent over 50 years in what he calls "conspiracy theory land." AN OPEN LETTER TO KING CHARLES III ON HIS CORONATION An Earth Rights Manifesto from Alanna Hartzok, Earth Rights Visionary and United Nations NGO Representative for the International Union for Land Value Taxation Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Atlanta, GA - The Brothers That Just Do Gutters, a leading gutter contractor in Atlanta, is pleased to announce its latest community initiative, Gutters in Gratitude. This program aims to give back to the community by offering a free gutter installation to a homeowner in need. The Gutters in Gratitude program is open to all residents of the Atlanta Metro area and surrounding. Homeowners who are experiencing financial difficulties and cannot Ahmed Emam and his wife, Bassant, have been planning a summer wedding celebration in Egypt, but a delayed permanent residency application could force the couple apart. (Submitted by Ahmed Emam - image credit) A newlywed Mississauga man could find himself forced apart from the woman he just married as he waits for his Canadian permanent residency application to be approved amid immigration processing backlogs. Ahmed Emam, 31, was just married last month and has been planning a summer wedding celebration in Egypt, where he was born. There's just one problem: If Emam goes, he might not be allowed back into Canada. And with his application still waiting to be green-lit, there's a chance he'll be forced to return to Egypt even if he cancels the celebration unless he's approved to stay soon. "You can stay hopeful until a point in time, but after that, you're done. You don't know what to do," Emam told CBC News. Emam has been waiting for his permanent residency application to be approved for two and a half years now. He's been in the country since 2018, first arriving as an international student to complete a masters at the University of Toronto, then working as a data engineer. He's currently on a work permit set to expire in July and now nervously wonders if he will be separated from his wife Bassant as he awaits word on his application. Running low on hope "I have been living here... I have a life, right? I have a social network," he said. "What's going to happen to my wife? Are we going to stay away and apart for, like, a year until the IRCC decides that, hey, we're done with the application?" Submitted by Ahmed Emam Both Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada as well as an immigration lawyer not connected with this case say Emam is far from alone in experiencing years-long processing times. It's unclear how many are in Emam's situation, but the IRCC says 46 per cent of applications are not being processed within its service standards. That's left some, including Emam, running low on hope. Emam says he's invested thousands of dollars into Canada but despite doing everything right, he feels his application isn't being processed justly. He also says he's seen his friends' applications processed faster. Story continues At his wits' end and on the advice of a lawyer, this past January, Emam submitted a second application to stay in the country, through the Canadian Experience Class a program for those with at least one year of eligible skilled work experience in Canada. With his permanent residency application languishing, the hope was to gain status through a different pathway. Emam says he and his MP Michael Coteau, who represents the Don Valley East riding have requested updates about his file, which have indicated that he is eligible for the program. But the status update on the IRCC website shows the department hasn't completed all of the necessary steps such as checking for a criminal record. And there's no mechanism to accelerate the processing times, he says. Long delays 'very common,' says lawyer Immigration lawyer Shalini Konanur, executive director of the South Asian Legal Clinic of Ontario, says she has clients frustrated and worried about applications they filed in 2019 and 2020. Konanur says she thinks Emam made the right move to put in a second application for a different program because some are being processed more quickly than others. She also says the IRCC must improve its processes. Submitted by Shalini Konanur "On the one hand, we hear in the news every day about labour market shortages," said Konanur. "On the other hand, we also hear the news about the backlogpeople waiting years to get processed." Konanur says she doesn't believe the IRCC has staffed the department well enough to tackle the backlog. "There was already a backlog and with more people coming in, that backlog is going to get bigger and bigger," Konanur said. "If we say it's a prioritythen we need to resource it as a priority." IRCC acknowledges backlog A spokesperson for the IRRC told CBC News the department is aware of the backlog and that 54 per cent of applications are within service standards as of Feb. 28. The IRCC's goal is for "80 per cent of new applications to be processed within service standards," the statement said. "We know there is more work to do, and we will continue to do what it takes to get there," it continued. Submitted by Ahmed Emam For his part, Emam says he has considered putting in a third application. The couple is worried and frustrated, but he says Bassant "brings the hopefulness into my life." As his wait continues, he says holding onto that hope is all he can do. It's time to celebrate the festival of Eid as Ramadan points to an end. Let us celebrate Allah's blessings and share his love, peace, and joy with our family and friends. We hope that this Eid will make you happy and offer you success and wealth in all that you do. Happy Eid to you and your loved ones! Happy Eid Ul Fitr Wishes Let's take a moment on this beautiful day to Deschutes Brewery is planning to expand its line-up of nonalcoholic beverages and is making new investments to brew nonalcoholic beers at its facility in Bend. The craft beer powerhouse announced on Monday that its forming a partnership with Colorado-based Sustainable Beverage Technologies to bring its nonalcoholic beer capability in-house. Near beer, once relegated to the far corners of grocery and convenience stores, is now finding its way into prime real estate in the beer aisle. Craft brewers right up to mega producers have joined the fray as each produces a variety of nonalcoholic beers using new technology. More: Here is Oregonian beer writer Andre Meuniers ranking of best nonalcoholic beers Deschutes says it will use the patented BrewVo system, developed by Sustainable Beverage Technologies, to produce nonalcoholic beverages at scale. The company said in a release that it evaluated several different technologies for dealcoholization before settling on the BrewVo system, calling it superior to other methods. We are building the infrastructure to bring this sophisticated dealcoholization technology in-house here at the brewery to ensure that we can meet demand, said Deschutes Brewery spokesperson Erin Rankin. Beer writer Jon Abernathy, who writes a beer column for The Bulletin, said the growth of the nonalcoholic beer segment reflects quality and taste improvements, along with its ability to find new markets. I think theres enough of a lifestyle focus to appeal to a wide range of drinkers, or non-drinkers as the case may be, said Abernathy. Ive sampled a number of different (nonalcoholic) beers from various companies crafted using different processes, and I can attest the quality and drinkability has improved across the board, he said. Abernathy says utilizing the new technology in Bend is a good move for Deschutes Brewery and will help save the company money in the long run as it moves production out of Colorado. This is not the first time Deschutes Brewery and Sustainable Beverage Technologies partnered to create an alcohol-free brew. In 2020 they created a nonalcoholic stout called Irish Dark, and in 2022 they made a nonalcoholic version of Black Butte Porter. Since its release, the nonalcoholic Black Butte Porter has become one of the companys standout products, winning a silver medal in the nonalcoholic beer category in last years World Beer Cup. The porter also received a silver medal in the 2023 Oregon Beer Awards, but the award was rescinded after competition organizers learned the beer is not brewed in Oregon, violating competition rules. The nonalcoholic Black Butte is brewed at Sustainable Beverage Technologies R&D facility in Golden, Colorado. Rankin said that is soon to change after Deschutes Brewery installs the dealcoholizing technology in Bend. The company said it expects to be brewing nonalcoholic (NA) beers at its facility in Bend by the end of the year. Black Butte nonalcoholic is our fastest growing, highest velocity brand, and this provides the opportunity for us to ramp up NA beer production to meet this incredibly high demand, said Rankin. In addition to Black Butte NA, we will also be able to include new beer styles to our portfolio increasing our NA offerings at scale. Rankin says Deschutes Brewery is working to expand its portfolio to produce other styles of nonalcoholic beers in addition to Black Butte nonalcoholic. This project will likely take the majority of the year, and we plan to be producing NA beer here at the brewery in Q4 of this year, she said. A fellow tech worker has been arrested in the murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee in San Francisco, according to a report. Nima Momeni, the owner of a company called Expand IT, was detained early Thursday morning in the Bay Area, news outlet Mission Local reported. Lee, 43, was fatally stabbed in downtown San Francisco around 2 a.m. on April 4. Momeni and Lee knew each other and were riding together in a car when they got into a passionate argument, police sources told Mission Local. They said the killing was not a robbery or a random attack. Lee was stabbed either in the car or shortly after he stepped outside, cops told Mission Local. Surveillance video captured Lee stumbling through the streets of downtown San Francisco, holding his side while leaving a trail of blood behind him. Lee reached a car, lifting his shirt to apparently display the stab wounds to the driver, who then left the scene shortly after. Lee dialed 911, but had collapsed on the sidewalk by the time first responders arrived. He was transported to a nearby hospital and pronounced dead. Lees cause of death was two stab wounds to the chest. Investigators found a knife not far from where they discovered Lee bleeding out, Mission Local reported. Cops were dispatched to Emeryville, across the Bay Bridge from downtown San Francisco, to arrest Momeni at his home, according to the outlet. Momenis company, Expand IT, was an IT services and solutions company, according to a LinkedIn page. 2023 New York Daily News. Visit nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Dozens of scientists from universities and environmental groups are pushing for the removal of the head of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, claiming she lacks the educational background required to run the agency despite securing Senate confirmation last year. The concerns over the credentials of service Director Martha Williams were outlined in a letter from 100 scientists sent Wednesday to President Joe Biden and U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland. Williams is an attorney who majored in philosophy, and her critics claim she does not have the science-based education that federal law says is required for the position. Government attorneys have rejected allegations shes not credentialed, but they have not disputed her lack of a science degree. There was no discussion of Williams educational qualifications during her Senate confirmation hearing. She was confirmed on a voice vote in February 2022 with bipartisan support. She worked as an attorney at the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks for more than two decades, then led the state agency for three years before being named principal deputy director at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service following Bidens election. During the Obama administration, she was a deputy solicitor at the Interior Department for two years. The call for her resignation or dismissal comes as Biden faces growing pressure from some wildlife advocates who contend the administration has not done enough to protect endangered plants and animals from extinction. Many of the scientists named in the letter also have been involved in efforts to retain federal protections for threatened grizzly bears in Western states and gray wolves across most of the nation. Williams came to the Biden administration from Montana, where hunting wolves is legal. She said during her confirmation hearing that the grizzly bear population around Yellowstone National Park has recovered, putting her at odds with wildlife advocates. The battle over her qualifications has simmered since she was announced as Bidens pick in late 2021. The Interior Departments solicitor and inspector general dismissed complaints over the matter, but still pending in federal court is a lawsuit that focuses on the educational requirements outlined by Congress when it overhauled the wildlife agency in 1974. Federal law says only someone with scientific education and experience can be appointed director of the service. Williams has a bachelors in philosophy from the University of Virginia and a law degree from the University of Montana, according to congressional records and the Department of Interior. The Fish and Wildlife Service did not respond to multiple emails about her qualifications. Interior spokesperson Melissa Schwartz declined to comment on the letter, and the White House did not respond. Attorneys for the Biden administration said in court filings that the law requires Williams education to be considered cumulatively with her experience. She clearly has the requisite background, they wrote. A spokesperson for Montana Sen. Steve Daines said Wednesday that the Republican lawmaker stood by his vote for Williams. Montana U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, a Democrat, said that since her confirmation, Williams has brought collaborative, science-based solutions to the tough problems facing our wildlife and public lands. Other than resigning or being fired by the president, impeachment is the only mechanism for removing Senate-confirmed civil officers such as Williams, according to Katherine Scott, associate historian in the U.S. Senate Historical Office. The scientists calling for her ouster say theyre concerned the administration is setting a precedent by sidestepping the scientific education requirement. They claim Williams is serving in contradiction to the administrations own policies and ethics rules. They pointed to an assessment done by Bidens Scientific Integrity Task Force that suggests executive branch positions should be filled by candidates with appropriate credentials and that violations of scientific integrity policies should be taken as seriously as violations of ethics rules. The scientists include wolf experts William Ripple and Robert Beschta from Oregon State University; Dave Parsons, who led government efforts to reintroduce the endangered Mexican gray wolf in the Southwest; two board members and a scientist with Silver Spring, Maryland-based Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility; and well-known biology professors Paul and Anne Ehrlich at Stanford University. With the exception of Williams, every director since the agency was overhauled in the 1970s had a scientific education, according to Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. I see this appointment as a tipping point, where politics will forever override statutory credentials, said Parsons, who authored the letter. In the lawsuit challenging her confirmation, Illinois lawyer Robert Aland claimed decisions made by Williams would be contaminated since she was appointed illegally. Wildlife could suffer the most serious adverse consequences as a result, he said. A judge dismissed the case over jurisdictional issues and did not address the dispute over education. Aland has appealed. Aland previously sued the agency over its attempts to lift protections for grizzly bears in the Yellowstone region of Montana, Idaho and Wyoming. Federal judges restored protections in both instances, but a new proposal to lift protections is under consideration by the Fish and Wildlife Service. The agency is planning a new rule that could lift protections for gray wolves in early 2024. Some of the scientists in Wednesdays letter said the decisions on bears and wolves are up to Williams. They said her qualifications could be used as an argument in future litigation over the species. Williams is not the first to have her qualifications questioned. Under former President Donald Trump, political appointee Greg Sheehan oversaw Fish and Wildlife for more than a year as the agencys deputy director at a time when no director was in place. Former Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke unsuccessfully sought to make Sheehan acting director, but government officials said he did not have the science degree required for the position under federal law. Sheehan stepped down in 2018 and was never formally nominated. Before Trump nominee Aurelia Skipwith was confirmed for the post in 2019, environmental groups objected in part because she had studied molecular biology and not wildlife specifically. The Center for Biological Diversity called her an industry shill because of Skipwiths past work with the chemical company Monsanto. Center for Biological Diversity government affairs director Brett Hartl said the group knew about Williams lack of a degree, but decided nevertheless to support her. He said his group believed having an outside person serve as director would offer a better opportunity to solve deep cultural issues that have plagued the agency over the years. Hartl agreed that the law requires a science degree but said the Senate has the ultimate authority to decide whos qualified. Despite the early support for Williams, Hartl said his group has been disappointed with the Biden administrations failure to replace a Trump-era rule that weakened protections for many species. To me, thats the stuff she should be evaluated on, he said. Weve been fairly underwhelmed thus far at her tenure. --Susan Montoya Bryan and Matthew Brown/The Associated Press Robert Newton and John Brackett didnt hear the typical construction racket while their Newberg home was being built. There were no trucks blocking the driveway and no crews being called off because of hindering rain, wind, snow or smoke. After their 1,500-square-foot modern house was built in a factory, down to the brushed nickel knobs on white kitchen cabinets, it arrived on their property in October 2019 in two rectangular pieces. By the end of the first day, Terry Hall and his Square Deal Construction crew had bolted the weather-tight modules together and later to the foundation. In three weeks, the house was move-in ready. Water and electricity were connected, and bada bing bada boom, youre in business, said Hall, who has 30 years of construction experience in Yamhill and Washington counties, but this was his first modular project. Hall was intrigued by Newton and Bracketts need for a local contractor to complete their factory-built, prefabricated dwelling. Experts say building in an enclosed factory with specialized equipment increases a homes energy efficiency, reduces construction waste and improves working conditions for framers, plumbers and other tradespeople. The couple moved into their wood-framed home with expansive windows on Nov. 26, 2019. I will always remember that date because it was two days before Thanksgiving, said Brackett. He made a vow that no matter how many boxes were left to unpack, the couple would host Thanksgiving dinner. They did. Custom not cookie-cutter The kitchen was kept light and airy with white cabinets and appliances and light wood flooring.Gregory D. Specht Some people who shrug off the idea of a dwelling assembled inside a warehouse envision a mobile home or lookalike prefab unit advertised near freeway exits. They expect cookie-cutter instead of custom made. Newton and Bracketts single-level modular home was designed by architect Jim Russell of Ideabox in Salem. Russells company offers 18 models, but those plans are just starting places. Clients can modify and rotate the floor plan, then select the style, from the roof to the bathroom sink. The Newberg house is a customized version of Ideaboxs three-bedroom Fuse model. The space for one of the bedrooms was divided to create an office with an adjoining covered patio. The modulars were built in five months in Stratford Building Corporations Idaho factory. Modulars come in various sizes and can be linked together. A small home can be one or two modulars while a multimillion dollar house can have 10 or more modulars, said Mark Wilson, Stratfords sales manager in Oregon, Idaho and Wyoming. A multifamily project can be made up of dozens of modulars. The cost of Ideaboxs 442-square-foot studio or ADU (accessory dwelling unit) with covered decks starts at $134,000 for its design, engineering and construction that is 85% complete, from doors and windows to finishes and fixtures. Construction cost is about two-thirds of the budget, estimates Ideabox. The other third covers preparing the site, transporting the modulars on a flatbed truck and a local builder assembling the sections on the foundation. One of the benefits of a prefab unit is the cost is more predictable than other types of construction, say building experts. Modular is a systems-built construction methodology with a level of efficiency and precision unattainable in the field, said Wilson. Tradespeople have workstations with specialized table saws to make precise cuts, materials are not left exposed on the job site before they are sealed, and tighter-built structures prevent leaks and lower heating and cooling costs, said Wilson. The National Association of Home Builders recognizes modular homes as one of the fastest growing segments of the residential building industry because of the speed of construction and ongoing energy and maintenance savings. More Oregon developers see the possibilities for modular construction to counter the states tremendous housing shortage. Prefabricated homes intended for use in Oregon are required to be built to the same standard as site-built homes, said Warren Jackson of Oregons Building Codes Division. Oregon, Idaho and Washington have a reciprocal agreement that allows inspectors employed by the state that houses the home manufacturing facility to do the inspection on behalf of the state where the structure will be delivered, said Jackson. Living Prefabulous John Brackett, left, and Robert Newton lives in a modern house in Newberg that is included in the new book, Prefabulous for Everyone by Sheri Koones.Gregory D. Specht Newton and Brackett, who are in their 60s, said they didnt make any compromises with their factory-built house. By spending time perfecting the design long before construction started, they could visualize the flow of the floor plan, furniture placement and how the space would feel. But more important, they met their goal to have a house in which most of it is used for daily living. The south-facing central core area is such a great living space with natural light coming in the windows, said Newton. As we look at the view and surrounding area, its a dream come true. Newton and Bracketts modern house is profiled in the 224-page hardcover book, Prefabulous for Everyone by Sheri Koones ($37, Gibbs Smith). Koones told The Oregonian/OregonLive that she featured the Newberg home because it is very well designed with every amenity one would want. Since 2005, Koones has written about types of prefabricated methods, including modular, structural insulated panels, panelized and kit built. There are wonderful prefab houses and ADUs going up in Oregon that are very impressive, said Koones, who lives in Greenwich, Connecticut. With the high cost of labor and manufacturing, prefab is a perfect solution for Oregon. Koones also sees factory-built homes replacing thousands of structures destroyed by fires and hurricanes. There is a tremendous need for ingenuity in developing new and plentiful housing built to ward off future disasters, she said. Newton and Brackett said the biggest benefit to a well-designed, factory-built home was virtually watching its progress, from studs to finish work. After the house showed up in two parts, Newton said the installation and other work were a fraction of the activity typically seen during onsite construction. Brackett appreciated not having to coordinate tradespeoples schedules and that all their design requests were executed. Since their first Thanksgiving in their home, Brackett said, Everything has matched up. Janet Eastman | 503-294-4072 jeastman@oregonian.com | @janeteastman Gov. Tina Kotek is getting behind top public safety priorities in Portland. Kotek said Wednesday that she has directed the Oregon State Police to partner with the Portland Police Bureau to crack down on illegal street racing and drunk driving within the city and would ask the Legislature for nearly $7 million to clear the law enforcement training backlog that has prevented new police officers from being deployed in Portland and other parts of the state. Oregon chipmakers are in line for $210 million in taxpayer support from a bill Gov. Tina Kotek signed Thursday, and she gained temporary but nonetheless extraordinary authority to designate rural lands for industrial development. This bill is an absolutely essential tool for leading a coordinated effort with the private sector to ensure we can compete for federal funds to expand advanced manufacturing in Oregon, Kotek said in a written statement. We are poised to lay the foundation for the next generation of innovation and production of semiconductors. The lack of anesthesiologists at Prince County Hospital in Summerside, P.E.I., is having ripple effects on the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown, says an emergency room physician who witnessed it first-hand last weekend. "Once you lose that resource, it's a little bit of a house of cards that will impact the emergency department up there," said Dr. Trevor Jain in his monthly "Talk with the Doc" segment on CBC News: Compass. "It does put pressure on Queen Elizabeth Hospital." The Prince County Hospital hasn't had a full-time anesthesiologist for about a year and a half. Locums from the big academic hospitals in Toronto have helped fill the gaps, but they are also needed at other hospitals due to a Canada-wide anesthesiologist shortage. From April 5-11, anesthesia services were not available in Summerside. Jain said that as a result, some patients were diverted to Charlottetown. "We would receive the more serious trauma cases. We would receive some patients that would require surgery that could have been done up there." When you impact one part of the system, it impacts other parts. Dr. Trevor Jain Anesthesiologists are a vital part of the health-care system, Jain said. They are required for surgery, assist in intensive care units, and provide obstetrical care. According to Jain, about 150 anesthesiologists are trained in Canada each year. But more are needed. "There's lots of demand for anesthesiologists right now, and the supply is not keeping up," he said. "When you impact one part of the system, it impacts other parts." Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel joins a multistate coalition to challenge the decision issued by a district court judge in Texas that could restrict medication abortion access across the United States. Nessel announced Wednesday her move to join 23 attorneys general in the coalition, warning that revoking federal approval for the medication abortion drug mifepristone will drastically reduce access to safe abortion care and miscarriage management for millions nationwide. It will also endanger lives and trample states authority to protect access to abortion, according to an amicus brief filed by the coalition. The decision to revoke U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval of mifepristone was issued on April 7 by a district court judge in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Texas, according to a Wednesday press release. The drug, approved in 2000, is challenged by anti-abortion groups. The courts order does not take effect immediately, as the district court put its ruling on hold for seven days to allow the federal government and the drug manufacturer an opportunity to appeal, according to Nessel's office in the release. The amicus brief, filed in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, urged the court to issue a stay of the district courts ruling which if allowed to take effect, would halt the over two-decade-old approval from the FDA of mifepristone. "With the fall of Roe, the defense of womens access to reproductive health care is more important than ever," Nessel said in the Wednesday release. "I am committed to ensuring that Michigan will remain a safe haven for women to have access to safe, reliable medication abortion via drugs like mifepristone, which has been used effectively for over 20 years. I stand firmly with my colleagues in asking the Court of Appeals to stay the effect of this dangerous and unprincipled ruling while the federal government appeals." The coalition urged the appeals court to continue to stay the lower courts "unprecedented" and "legally erroneous" decision pending the appeal, given the decades of clinical research and studies that have confirmed mifepristones safety and the critical role medication abortion plays in reproductive health care, particularly in low-income, underserved and rural communities, according to the brief. The coalition noted in the brief that if the lower court decision takes effect, it could drastically curtail abortion access for millions of Americans. According to estimates, medication abortion accounts for over half, approximately 54%, of all abortions performed in the U.S. "Obstructing access to mifepristone would lead the demand for procedural abortions to significantly increase, resulting in later and more risky procedures, and more complicated and costly logistics for many patients, especially those where procedural abortion is unavailable," Nessel's office wrote in the release. "Moreover, lack of access to safe abortion care leads to worsened health outcomes and higher mortality, especially for Black women." Joining Nessel in filing the brief are the attorneys general of Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin. To fill vacancies for essential conservation officer roles in 14 counties, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources plans to hire licensed law enforcement officers for an accelerated conservation officer training program. The DNR announced the move Tuesday, explaining counties with vacancies include Baraga, Cass, Chippewa, Eaton, Huron, Ingham, Kalamazoo, Lapeer, Mackinac, Midland, Ontonagon, Oscoda, Shiawassee and Tuscola. The accelerated hiring process will allow licensed officers who have received general criminal training to bypass the traditional Conservation Officer Recruit School Academy and immediately begin their natural resources law enforcement training, Jen Wolf, DNR Law Enforcement Division, said in a Tuesday statement. This helps us bring in skilled, motivated officers with diverse law enforcement experience to quickly fill existing vacancies. Qualified applicants must be at least 21 years of age and meet one of the following requirements: Hold a current Michigan Commission on Law Enforcement Standards license. Be a graduating student from a law enforcement academy and eligible for immediate licensure upon employment. Be a licensed law enforcement officer in another state and meet MCOLES requirements. The application period closes on May 10. Successful candidates will meet DNR hiring requirements, including being a Michigan resident, by the time training ends, according to the agency. The application process includes the opportunity for candidates to give preference for which county they prefer to patrol. Stationed in nearly every county of the state, DNR conservation officers are fully licensed law enforcement officers who enforce laws and regulations related to fish and wildlife, state parks, trails and forests and outdoor recreation activities like off-road vehicle use, snowmobiling and boating. They also can serve as first responders during natural disasters and life-threatening situations. Previous fishing and hunting experience and a college education are not required to become a conservation officer. This is a lifelong career, and we want to see applicants succeed, Wolf said. Our instructors are the best at what they do, and we will support each applicant to ensure they have what they need to be successful. Since 2021, 12 conservation officers completed the accelerated training program, according to the DNR. The DNR offers some of the best courses and in-house training, Alexander Bourgeois, a conservation officer who was hired in 2022 and previously worked for the Royal Oak Police Department, said in a Tuesday statement. I love the unique aspects of being a conservation officer riding snowmobiles, ORVs and boats. I get to do my job and enjoy being outdoors at the same time, Bourgeois continued. We have flexible schedules, too, so I can coordinate with my familys schedule. We also work all of our cases start to finish, through good investigations and hard work, which is very rewarding. Training is set to include laws and rules specific to fish and game, species identification and enforcement and safe operation of boats, off-road vehicles and snowmobiles. Successful candidates will be hired as probationary conservation officers and immediately receive a DNR patrol vehicle and firearms, the agency wrote in a press release. These probationary conservation officers will be able to return home at the end of each day, with the exception of training at locations that require travel. The DNR will provide lodging accommodations for probationary conservation officers who meet travel status requirements. More information about the conservation officer hiring process and requirements are available on the DNRs website. Though The Godfather is referenced a few times in Mafia Mamma, a fluffy comedy starring Toni Collette as a reluctant mob boss, the lack of direct quotes seems like a missed opportunity. Theres no make her an offer she cant refuse joke, for instance, the moment American mom Kristin (Collette) is strong-armed into inheriting one of Italys most powerful crime families. And while Kristins arc perfectly matches the sentiment of great men are not born great, they grow great, this slam dunk was passed up for a more generalized approach. The frivolous slapstick and unique premise of Mafia Mamma has much more in common with Analyze This than it does The Godfather, though the execution is not as clever. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen) from a script by J. Michael Feldman and Debbie Jhoon with story credit to Amanda Sthers, Mafia Mamma tried to fit a feminist comedy into the crime genre. Not quite parody and far from a serious crime drama, it lands a bit confusingly somewhere in the middle. More from IndieWire A simplistic plot and one-dimensional characters make Mafia Mamma feel a bit slight, but . That is, if you can stomach a stiletto to the eyeball or two. Mafia Mamma begins with a murderous scene, as two elegant black heels step over a mess of mens bodies. This means war, says Bianca (Monica Bellucci), as she spits on the bloody cobblestones. A classic Italian dirge plays as the title flashes in a Godfather-esque font slapped with a pulpy red. As Bianca picks up her phone and makes a call, the somber scene stands in contrast to Kristins suburban American mom life, where she screens the unknown number amid cries about her son going off to college. Her homemade trail mix road snack is practically still warm when she finds her husband downstairs in flagrante with the guidance counselor. On her rushed way out the door, the younger woman tells Kristin, I just want you to know Im a feministand I support your right to be angry. Armed with this shocking information, Biancas mysterious offer to attend her estranged grandfathers funeral in Rome starts to look better and better. Story continues Her friend Jenny (the funny Sophia Nomvete) reminds her that she masturbates to Italian cooking shows, specifically Stanley Tuccis, and that she practically masturbated this fantasy into being. Jenny comes up with the ingenious slogan, with recurs throughout the film, that Kristin deserves her eat, pray, fuck vacation. As their entire self-defense class suddenly chimes in with this rousing cry, the ridiculousness of it all is somehow less cringeworthy than it should be. Toni Collette and Monica Bellucci in Mafia Mamma - Credit: Courtesy Everett Collection Courtesy Everett Collection Upon arriving in Rome, Kristin is immediately swept off her feet by a handsome Italian named Lorenzo (Giulio Corso), somehow giving him her number through her gaga giggles. She is swiftly collected by the tall Aldo (Francesco Mastroianni) and plumper Dante (Alfonso Perugini), an Italian Jasper and Horace who become her loyal muscle. They escort her directly to her grandfathers funeral, which ends in a surprise shootout. Once back at the Balbano estate, she discovers her grandfather was not a vintner as she thought, but a notorious mafia boss of the Balbano crime family. His dying wish was that Kristin take over as Dona Balbano. The contours of the comedy fall into place from there, as the jumpy and insecure American woman navigates the high-stakes masculine world of the Italian mafia. She melts into a puddle when she learns the head of the rival family is yet another swarthy Italian, and her botched seduction ends up in a surprise win for the Balbanos. Collette is in her comedic prime flirting shamelessly and obliviously with a man who wants her dead, and its easy to enjoy when she is having so much fun herself. Certain tropes play better than others; a stylish makeover reveal is always welcome, but a scene of Kristin smashing grapes with her feet just for the heck of it falls flat. Kristin soon hits her stride, brutally murdering another assailant while muted on a work Zoom. The sequence is more than a little on the nose, but theres a satisfying bite to seeing Kristin slam her heel into an assassins scrotum as the condescending men back home pitch their sexist ad copy. It isnt subtle, but it gets the job done. The plot leaves much to be desired, with the main question being whether Kristin will make peace and if she will continue to run the family business. Her family life is so thinly sketched (and her husband such a dud) that by the time he follows her to Italy, it does very little to raise the stakes in the way it should. Though she brings a certain Italian gravitas, Bellucci feels a bit wasted in her underdeveloped character. Theres value in women supporting women, but Biancas total lack of subterfuge or hidden ambition seems a little unrealistic, given the circumstances. Though its all satisfyingly silly, Mafia Mamma never quite find its tone. Hardwicke doesnt seem to know if shes doing Quentin Tarantino or Mel Brooks, and the two styles are so far apart that splitting the difference lands the movie out at sea. Grade: B- A Bleecker Street release, Mafia Mamma will hit theaters on Friday, April 14. Best of IndieWire Sign up for Indiewire's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LANSING A new museum to memorialize a school bombing is slated for completion by the 100th anniversary of the tragedy in 2027. The May 18, 1927, bombing of the Bath Consolidated School by disgruntled school board member Andre Kehoe remains Americas deadliest school mass murder. Thirty-eight elementary children and six adults died, and 58 others were injured. Kehoe, who had placed timed explosives in the building, murdered his wife and firebombed their farm. He died outside the school when he set off explosives hidden in his truck. Now, 96 years later, residents are working to keep the memory of the victims alive through a new Bath School Museum northeast of Lansing in Bath Township, Clinton County. The current museum is in the middle school auditorium lobby and contains school memorabilia from more than a century ago. The Bath School Museum Committee has proposed building a larger and more accessible museum that also would provide a space for the last remaining part of the original 1922 building the cupola, which survived the explosions. In 1975, the original building was torn down because it was in poor condition. The grounds were turned into the James Couzens Memorial Park, where the cupola is now displayed alongside the memorial and marker commemorating the Bath School Disaster. The cupola has been outdoors for more than a century, and the committee decided to move it indoors to prevent deterioration. The cupola wont have to move far, though, since the new museum will be on the edge of the park grounds. The museum planning comes amid an escalating number of mass shootings across the country. They include the November 2021 shooting at Oxford High School, Oakland County, where a 15-year-old student with a 9 mm semi-automatic handgun murdered four students and injured seven people, including a teacher. According to committee member Chris Hagerman, Bath residents have shown support for building the museum on the site. Thats where the disaster happened, and its only fitting to bring it back there, Hagerman said. Some of the older folks whose families have had either someone who was killed or survived the disaster always wanted a memorial in that park, more than just the cupola, he said. Almost everybody whos talked to us has said how much theyd appreciate having a museum in the park, Hagerman said. The museum will cover all of Baths school history but emphasize the disaster and its effects, which are felt by township residents today, said Hagerman, whose maternal grandfather, Raymond Eschtruth, survived the attack as a child. His mother, Susan Hagerman, is president of the committee. Susan Hagerman grew up knowing something happened, but her dad never talked about it. Because he had been buried alive in the explosion, loud noises upset him and he cried when the topic of the disaster was brought up, she said. His sisters had similar reactions. Back then, nobody talked about what happened, Susan Hagerman said. Back then, they didnt have support groups. They didnt have counselors. Everybody kept everything to themselves. So for the most part, everybody survivors, family members they knew what happened, but nobody really talked about it. But that changed in the 1970s when the principal gave a presentation about the explosion to mark its 50th anniversary. The presentation included photos from the disaster. I sat there and watched that with my dad, and it was like I was right there with them, Susan Hagerman said. It was just mind-blowing. But after that point, it seemed like the survivors started opening up more. As more people started talking about their experiences, the events effect on the community became evident, Susan Hagerman said. The community always had a rural, small-town environment, she said, and right after the disaster, residents grew even closer. They were forced to move on quickly, she said. After the explosion, there wasnt a lot of time to grieve because they still had to feed their family, she said. They still had to take care of their farm, and take care of animals, besides burying their children. Everybody pulled together. People that lost children in the explosion went to funerals of their friends that lost children in the explosion. She said the new museum will continue to recognize the event and memorialize the victims. It was horrific, but its part of our past, she said. Its important to let younger people know about it because its part of our history. Theres still many survivor families in the community. Not only the explosion its important to know the history of our school because thats part of our past too. Susan Hagerman said. Chris Hagerman said theres plenty of fundraising to do, but hes confident the community will support the endeavor. According to committee member Kate Hagerman, Chris Hagermans wife, the community response has been overwhelmingly positive. She said the committee also plans to pursue grants and endowments. The museum could include a community center with a venue or event space, especially for class reunions. By creating the museum and community space, Kate Hagerman said the committee hopes residents can tell their stories and continue to lean on each other. I think almost all of us have lived in Bath for the majority of our lives or went to school here, she said. Were all really invested and connected. Its really close to all of our hearts, to make sure that this story is told in the right way going forward. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Shadow, a 6-year-old Weimaraner at the center of a dangerous dog petition in Midland County, has reportedly gone to a private boarding facility. Shadows owners, Su Das and her husband Rajib Bora, of Sanford, are due back in Midland County District Court at 9 am. May 8 for a dangerous dog petition that has been filed. Shadow had been held at the Midland County Animal Shelter since Feb. 13, when Das and Bora's family was ordered to surrender him after he reportedly bita woman in January. Shadow was allowed to go to another facility that would accept him while being aware of the dangerous dog petition. Das and Bora are not allowed to house Shadow because Das is on probation for two other incidents involving Shadow in Midland. Midland County Prosecutor J. Dee Brooks said the January incident was Shadows third dangerous dog act, causing Brooks's office to file a dangerous dog petition. Brooks said he knew the family was trying to have the dog moved to another location. Brooks said county authorities are acting in the best interest of the community. In July 2022, Brooks said two people accused Shadow of being aggressive toward their dogs. A woman was walking her dog when she said Shadow came off of his property and acted aggressive toward her dog. That resulted in the woman falling to the ground. More Information Sanford couple accused of having a dangerous dog are due back in Midland County District Court on May 8 See More Collapse Brooks said two days later, another incident involved someone walking Shadow in the same area where a man was walking his dog. A fight ensured between the dogs, and the man reportedly had to pin Shadow down to keep him away from the man's dog. Das was cited with two counts of a having a dangerous dog. She later was allowed to plead to one count of having a loose, unlicensed dog, which would have been discharged if there had been no further incidents for a year. Das also agreed to put in an electric fence and to license Shadow. Six months later, in January, Bora said he was walking Shadow on a leash on a trail. Two other dogs, which were unleashed, came toward them. Bora began moving away from the unleashed dogs, who followed him and Shadow. The dogs attacked Shadow, Bora said, and Bora was bitten by the unleashed dogs while trying to break up the fight. The woman who owned the unleashed dogs also tried to separate the animals. During the fight, Bora said Shadow slipped out of his collar and bit the woman. Brooks said under Michigan law, dogs can be off of a leash if they are under their owner's control. Bora didnt call the police after the January incident. He said after living in Houston, Texas, he knew that such things happen and one doesnt always need to call animal control or the police. But the woman who was bitten by Shadow called authorities. Attorney Celeste Dunn filed a motion in the 75th District Court, saying Shadow was taken illegally in February. The motion was heard by Magistrate Gerald Ladwig, who denied the request to return Shadow to his family. Das and Bora moved to Midland a year ago. Their daughters TikTok video about the situation cited unfair treatment of her immigrant family in a predominantly white community. She stated the white woman whose unleashed dogs fought with Shadow received no penalty after Bora was bitten by the womans dogs. Neither Dunn nor Das immediately returned calls from the Daily News. The following list includes recent reports from the Midland County Sheriffs Office and the Midland Police Department. Compiled by reporter Tereasa Nims. Wednesday, April 12. 8:35 p.m. - Police were called to a verbal domestic dispute in the 4300 block of Robinhood Terrace. 8:16 p.m. - A deputy spoke with a 34-year-old Jerome Township woman after her 54-year-old father showed up at her residence making statements that concerned her. The deputy provided information regarding a mental health petition through the courts. 7:52 p.m. - A 24-year-old man complained of minor injuries regarding a car-deer crash in Ingersoll Township. The man refused EMS and said he was not sure if he was going to seek medical treatment on his own. 7:41 p.m. - Deputies assisted Michigan State Police at a Jerome Township residence for a possibly suicidal man. 11:55 a.m. - Police responded to an injury crash at Stark Road and W. Wackerly Street. 11:51 a.m. - An animal control deputy was dispatched to meet with a complainant regarding her cat being shot by an unknown person in Mills Township. The complainant does not know where the cat was when it was shot and does not have any idea who might be responsible. 11:38 a.m. - A deputy was dispatched to Warren Township for a delayed domestic violence complaint. The 31-year-old female victim changed her mind when the deputy arrived and didn't wish to cooperate with the investigation. 10:52 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Lee Township residence for a bond violation. Deputies investigated the incident. No violation occurred. More Information Activities of the Midland County Sheriff's Office and Midland Police Department on April 12, 2023 See More Collapse 9:27 a.m. - Police responded to a larceny complaint in the 1500 block of Sylvan Lane. 3:41 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to an Edenville Township residence for a report of a 23-year-old man assaulting his 65-year-old uncle. The 23-year-old fled the area prior to deputies arrival. A report was sent to the prosecutor for review. 1:50 a.m. - A 41-year-old Jerome Township woman called 911 to report that a vehicle was stalking her. It was found that the woman was highly intoxicated and lives on a busy roadway. Deputies spoke with her 21-year-old son, who said nothing suspicious had been going on that night. The woman was warned against misusing 911. 1:33 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a Greendale Township residence for a possible domestic assault. Deputies contacted both parties, and they were separated for the night. 12:29 a.m. - Deputies were dispatched to a verbal domestic dispute at a Homer Township residence. Both parties were intoxicated and said they would stay in different rooms for the night. 12:29 a.m. - Deputies responded to a Lee Township residence for a verbal dispute. It was reported there was an argument between a 62-year-old woman and her 36-year-old stepson. There were no assaults. Tripoli, Libya (PANA) - The Libyan Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity, Abdelhamid al-Dbaiba, Wednesday chaired an extended meeting with officials of educational bodies over the Ministry of Education's preparations for the final exams of the brevet and baccalaureate Heinzel Group Reports Record-Breaking Results for 2022 An all-time high in terms of pulp and paper prices contributed to an increase of the Group's net sales by 36.6% to EUR 2,777.4 million in 2022. An all-time high in terms of pulp and paper prices contributed to an increase of the Group's net sales by 36.6% to EUR 2,777.4 million in 2022. April 13, 2023 - Heinzel Group announced a record-breaking year in 2022, achieving the highest turnover and the best earnings in the company's history. At the same time Heinzel Group reduced its CO2 emissions substantially, in line with its climate targets and sustainability strategy. According to Heinzel Group, an all-time high in terms of pulp and paper prices contributed to an increase of the Group's net sales by 36.6% to EUR 2,777.4 million in 2022. In total, Heinzel Group generated an EBITDA of EUR 287.5 million, an increase of 46.8%, while lowering CO2 emissions (Scope 1&2) by 14.9% to 535,333 tons. Major Strategic Steps in 2022 In 2022 Heinzel Group also set the course for future sustainable growth by signing an agreement for the acquisition of the Steyrermuhl paper mill in Upper Austria from UPM. Heinzel Group will take over the site at the end of 2023. "Our vision is to develop Steyrermuhl together with our neighboring Laakirchen mill into a European hub for sustainable packaging papers and renewable energy," said Sebastian Heinzel, CEO of Heinzel Group. In addition, works to rebuild an idled machine to produce kraft papers for flexible packaging have already begun. In 2022, Heinzel Group also became a strategic investor in Paracel, a large afforestation project in Paraguay, South America, with the goal to build the country's first pulp mill. "Our strong 2022 results have given us the opportunity to take bold strategic steps, following our purpose of recreating value for our partners, our people, and our planet," Heinzel said. "It has also given us a strong base to face a challenging 2023." Committed to a Sustainable Future With a new organizational sustainability setup and a new sustainability team in place, Heinzel Group has defined strategic sustainability targets and implemented key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure progress. The company has identified material topics and is committed to addressing them in a responsible and sustainable way. At four sites in Europe, Heinzel Group produces market pulp, packaging paper and magazine paper and trades in in pulp, paper, recycled fiber, and packaging solutions. SOURCE: Heinzel Group Workforce Readiness UNC Charlotte Partners With SkillStorm to Meet Increasing Demand for Tech Talent With Charlotte, NC, ranked by CompTIA in 2022 as the No. 1 town for information technology and No. 7 in all metropolitan areas in the U.S. for adding new tech jobs, the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Charlotte has partnered with tech education company SkillStorm to offer instructor-led, asynchronous courses that train students for tech careers. Courses will be available through UNC's School of Professional Studies. According to a release, UNC will use SkillStorm's training platform to offer credential and certification courses in AWS Cloud Practitioner, CompTIA Security+, Salesforce Administrator, and more, including foundational courses in core topics. "UNC Charlotte is dedicated to supporting the growth of the region's tech industry, rooted in our long history of partnering with employers to build bridges between our student community and career opportunities," said Asher Haines, associate provost at UNC Charlotte. "As demand for technology skills continues to grow throughout the region, this partnership is enabling us to provide tech-focused credential and certification programs that equip workers with the skills that North Carolina's individuals and employers need most." Major companies such as Spectrum, Bank of America, Deloitte, and numerous startup companies in fintech, health care, logistics, and more have set up operations in Charlotte, so tech career opportunities are ample. SkillStorm COO Joe Mitchell stated, "UNC Charlotte is shaping the future of work by providing a new pipeline of tech talent for employers throughout the region. This partnership is about enabling businesses in Charlotte's fast-growing tech industry to accelerate their recruitment efforts, bringing forward workers with the skills to succeed on day one and, in turn, driving economic growth in Charlotte and beyond." Each course is offered several times throughout the summer of 2023, ending in early fall. The first course, AWS Practitioner, starts May 1, with a registration deadline of April 30. View the course catalog to see the schedule. The UNC Charlotte School of Professional Studies provides courses to learners seeking to upskill and reskill for their careers, and to employers who want to support additional training for their workers, with over 200 flexible programs available to accommodate work schedules. To learn more about what the school offers, visit the Professional Studies page. SkillStorm brings together employers, universities, and government to train the workforce with skills increasingly in demand for careers in technology through partnership platforms like Pega, Salesforce, and ServiceNow. Through such partnerships, learners can earn industry-recognized credentials and certifications to help expand the pool of trained tech talent. Visit SkillStorm's About page to learn more. Photo: (Photo : RAMI AL SAYED / Getty Images) The Biden administration has urged meat companies to address the issue of child labor. Specifically, the U.S. Labor Department has issued a reminder to meat plant companies across the nation to ensure that they are not engaging in the illegal employment of children for hazardous tasks. In a letter sent by Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack on Wednesday, the 18 leading meat and poultry producers were encouraged to scrutinize their own hiring policies as well as those of their suppliers. Rampant Child Labor Cases in the Meat Industry According to the Associated Press, the request for action comes in response to a probe that discovered over 100 children working through the night for a company that cleans slaughterhouses, performing perilous tasks such as operating skull splitters and razor-sharp bone saws. The government's effort to crack down on child labor includes the recent call to meat companies to address the issue. According to the Labor Department, there has been a 69% surge in the illegal employment of minors in the United States since 2018. Vilsack affirmed that the usage of illegal child labor, particularly when it involves dangerous work, is unacceptable, and firms must consider their legal and ethical obligations to ensure full compliance with child labor laws by themselves, their suppliers, subcontractors, and vendors. The Labor Department has over 600 ongoing child labor investigations, and officials are worried about the exploitation of minors, particularly migrant children who might not have a parent in the United States. As reported by NBC, the labor department is focusing on child labor as it introduces new measures to combat exploitation in U.S. companies. According to the Department of Labor, there was a considerable increase in the number of minors working illegally for U.S. companies last year. The Biden Administration has launched a new set of programs aimed at investigating employers who violate child labor laws and providing better assistance for migrant children who are placed with sponsors in the United States. This includes the creation of a joint task force between the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services responsible for child migrants, which will aid in curbing the increase in the illegal exploitation of migrant children for labor in the United States. Read Also: COVID-19 Vaccine Mandate for Students To End at New York Universities U.S. Labor Department Fined a Hefty Price Tag The Labor Department of the United States is aware of the escalating rate of child labor in the country following a series of inquiries. Besides handling dangerous tools, young teenagers working in meat plants have been discovered doing hazardous tasks, like cleaning meat processing machinery with harmful chemicals. The previous report from USA Today revealed that Packers Sanitation Services Inc., based in Wisconsin, recently paid a fine of $1.5 million in February. This fine was imposed by the labor department after finding that the company had employed 102 minors between the ages of 13 and 17 in hazardous jobs at 13 meat processing sites in eight states. According to the investigation, most of the minors were working at two JBS Foods plants in Minnesota and Nebraska as well as a Cargill Inc. facility in Kansas. The company paid the $1.5 million fine on Feb. 16, bringing to a close an inquiry that began in August and led to two court orders from a federal judge in the previous year. The labor department reported that some underage workers were also working overnight shifts, and at least three had been injured while on the job. This recent letter sent by the Agriculture Secretary and the continuous crackdown of the Labor Department highlight their continuous commitments to making sure that there will be no children exploited while working in these companies. Related Article: US Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Crack Down on Employers Violating Child Labor Laws Photo: (Photo : Tasos Katopodis /Getty Images) A federal appeals court has upheld access to mifepristone, a medication used for abortions, despite an attempt by anti-abortion groups to ban it. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans ruled by a 2-1 vote on Wednesday that the drug would still be allowed but under tighter rules, limiting its use to seven weeks and not by mail. This decision has temporarily narrowed the ruling of a lower court in Texas, which had completely blocked the FDA's approval of the drug following a lawsuit by mifepristone's opponents. The Appeal Court's Decision Reuters reported that the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals' decision comes after a lawsuit brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which had challenged mifepristone's approval. The group had alleged that the FDA's initial approval of the medication was flawed due to an inadequate review of its safety risks. However, medical groups have pointed out that complications from mifepristone occur at a lower rate than problems in routine procedures such as wisdom teeth removal and colonoscopies. The recent decision allows the FDA's endorsement of mifepristone to stay effective for the time being. However, the drug will only be allowed for up to seven weeks and cannot be prescribed through the mail. As reported by CBS, the panel of three judges was composed of one appointee of former President George W. Bush, Catharina Haynes, and two appointees of former President Donald Trump, Andrew Oldham, and Kurt Engelhard. Although the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals made a decision, the ruling could still be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court. Meanwhile, leaders of the Democratic Party in states where abortion has remained lawful since the Roe v. Wade decision was overturned are taking measures to be ready in case mifepristone is subjected to further limitations. Pharmaceutical executives have also signed a letter condemning the Texas ruling and warning that FDA approval of other drugs could be at risk if U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision stands. The ruling of Judge Kacsmaryk had put a halt on mifepristone's approval for abortions. Read Also: Colorado High School Cancels Classes Due To Suspected Bacterial Meningitis Outbreak After Teacher's Death Medication Abortions Medication abortions, which use a combination of Mifepristone and Misoprostol, have become increasingly crucial to abortion access, especially after the Supreme Court's decision on Roe v. Wade in June. According to Forbes, the pro-abortion rights Guttmacher Institute reveals that medication abortions accounted for 53% of all abortions in the US in 2020, with over 98% of those done using both Mifepristone and Misoprostol. The FDA has made some changes to the rules surrounding mifepristone since its initial approval in 2000. This includes approving a generic version in 2019 and lifting the requirement that pills be dispensed in-person in 2021, allowing the drug to be prescribed through telemedicine appointments and sent by mail. The Biden administration has expressed concerns over the impact of Judge Kacsmaryk's ruling, stating that it will irreparably harm healthcare systems, patients, and businesses. The recent decision of the appeals court will temporarily allow continued access to mifepristone, but it remains to be seen whether the Supreme Court will uphold this decision or impose further restrictions. The decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to uphold access to mifepristone is a significant victory for abortion rights advocates who have been fighting to maintain access to safe and effective medication abortions. However, the battle over abortion access is far from over. Anti-abortion groups are expected to continue their efforts to restrict access to mifepristone and other abortion medications, and the issue could ultimately end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. In the meantime, supporters of reproductive rights are celebrating the appeals court's decision as a critical win for women's health and autonomy. Related Article: Child Labor in US Meat Plants: US Labor Department Urges Companies to Take Action This service applies to you if your subscription has not yet expired on our old site. You will have continued access until your subscription expires; then you will need to purchase an ongoing subscription through our new system. Please contact the Parsons Sun office at (620) 421-2000 if you have any questions On Monday, Patently Apple posted a report titled "While Apple owns 90% of ARM-Based PC's today, Competitors are gearing up to adopt Qualcomm's ARM processors for PCs in 2024." With Microsoft racing ahead with Windows 12, a new CorePC based operating system that could take advantage of Qualcomm's next-gen ARM-base Oryon processors, it's no wonder that Intel wanted to counter this news witha development of their own about ARM based processors. Today, Intel Corp stated that its chip contract manufacturing division will work with U.K.-based chip designer Arm Ltd to ensure that mobile phone chips and other products that use Arms technology can be made in Intels factories. The partnership announced Wednesday is aimed at putting Intel on equal footing with TSMC and South Koreas Samsung Electronics Co Ltd, the two companies that currently manufacture most of the worlds chips for mobile phones. Once the biggest name in chips known as central processing units (CPUs), Intel has long seen its technological manufacturing edge blunted by rivals such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co Ltd (TSMC), the world leader in making chips for customers such as Apple Inc. Intels turnaround strategy hinges in part on opening up its factories to other chip companies, particularly those in mobile phones. It has said firms such as Qualcomm Inc are planning to use its factories for future chip designs. Source In December 2022, Apple's CEO attended and briefly spoke at TSMC's official Plant event. Cook stated that "Apple silicon unlocks a new level of performance for our users. And soon, many of these chips can be stamped 'Made in America.' The opening of TSMC's plant in Arizona marks a new era of advanced manufacturing in the U.S. and we are proud to become the sites largest customer." That statement would seem to shut the door on Apple using an Intel plant for future AMD-based processors. However, as the saying goes 'never say never.' In the case of an emergency shortage of chips due to something dramatic like China invading Taiwan, Intel could be called upon as part of a backup plan. A new rumor report posted today claims that Jeff Pu, Director of Tech Research for Haitong International Securities Group in Taipei, wrote in a research note to clients that Apple plans to release an iPhone SE with a custom-designed 5G modem in 2025. He added that the modem would be manufactured by Apple's chipmaking partner TSMC. Today's rumor report by MacRumors pointed out that Ming-Chi Kuo mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE would begin in the first half of 2024, and Qualcomm's CEO also anticipated a 2024 timeframe for Apple's modem, but Pu believes the device's launch has been delayed until 2025. Apple acquired the majority of Intel's 5G modem business back in 2019 valued at $1 Billion and gained over 17,000 wireless technology patents. Yet Apple and Qualcomm fought it out in court with Apple eventually settled out of court. Apple agreed to a six-year license agreement that allows them to use Qualcomm chips in iPhones until 2025, the very year that Jeff Pu is predicting that we'll see Apple's 5G modem finally debut. Whether Jeff Pu is simply using logic as to when the Qualcomm agreement ends or has insider knowledge to back his prediction is unknown at this time. A list of Pu's previous predictions could be viewed here. Oy veh. This is not a story that I was happy to see: Duncan Event at BYU Law School Canceled And here, for your convenience, is the article to which reference is made: BYU Cancels Debate Event on Abortion: Beams before Motes Which leads me into a more general topic. We have, I think, entered into a period of flat-out insanity. Regarding which, I share now a bunch of links, in simple chronological order, that Ive been accumulating for a while. First, though, I need to say quite in vain, if past experience is any guide that I do not do so out of hate. I dont hate anybody, so far as Im aware. Not even those who have tried mightily for years to earn such hatred from me. Quite the contrary: I believe in treating others kindly, charitably, and respectfully, and I try seriously and (I think) pretty successfully to do so. However, I dont believe that kindness demands of us that we deny reality or live a lie. Anyhow, here are the links in question: 26 February 2023: Does Being Christian Disqualify Politicians from Leadership Now? 7 March 2023: Christian College Claims Biden Executive Order Violates Religious Freedom and Student Safety 22 March 2023: IT NEVER ENDS: Hollywoods Relentless Campaign to Destabilize the Family 27 March 2023: Doctors Report Startling Rise In Testicular Injuries Among Woman Athletes 28 March 2023: If You Dont Publish This Manifesto, Publish None of Them 28 March 2023: Yes, We Are Making Kids Trans: Were going to look back years from now and wonder how we failed young girls so badly. 30 March 2023: The Nashville Tragedy 30 March 2023: Male Canadian Powerlifter Breaks Womens Bench-Press Record in Protest against Trans-Inclusion Policy 30 March 2023: Female University of Wyoming Students Sue Sorority for Admitting Male Student 31 March 2023: Podcast: Was the attack on a conservative Presbyterian school in Nashville a religion story? 2 April 2023: Female Role Models Are Being Supplanted by Men: We used to say that sex sells. Now, it seems, transgenderism does and women are being sidelined once again. 2 April 2023: Woke Accreditors Are Coming for Medical Schools: Supposedly neutral institutions meant to determine a schools quality are turning into ideological enforcers. (Theres a Utah connection to this one.) 2 April 2023: The Medias Savior Complex: The backwards coverage of the Nashville shooting follows a pattern weve witnessed over the past two decades. 4 April 2023: Enough with the Trans Community Nonsense 4 April 2023: Can We Spare a Moment for the Murdered Children? 5 April 2023: Maine Mom Sues School District That Secretly Gave 13-Year-Old Daughter a Chest Binder 6 April 2023: 10 Disturbing Responses by LGBTQ+ Activists After the Nashville School Shooting 8 April 2023: Former college swimmer says she was assaulted at an event opposing the inclusion of trans women in womens sports 9 April 2023: Riley Gaines Condemns San Francisco State University for Statement Thanking Students after Attack 10 April 2023: How a Flamboyant Gay Man Conquered Corporate America: Dylan Mulvaney figured it out. 12 April 2023: Amazing! Brief mention of doctrine in LGBTQIA+ war at Point Loma Nazarene University 12 April 2023: Proving the Point 12 April 2023: Bud Lights Not-So-Inclusive Marketing: When a company executive talks about inclusivity, she doesnt mean it in the way the average observer would assume. And then theres this: Dutch Euthanasia Deaths Soar, Mentally Ill Also Killed And these: Debates in England about free speech and religion veer into thoughtcrimes zone Student Sues University That Prohibited Her From Contact With Other Students Because Shes Christian *** I like the writing of David French very much, and I really like this recent article of his in the New York Times: Easter Rebukes the Christian Will to Power *** We had dinner with friends last night, and then, with them, attended a show, entitled A Simple Space, by the Australian acrobatic team Gravity and Other Myths. Pretty amazing. I think that even I would have a difficult time replicating their feats. The performance took place in the former Provo High School which now belongs to Brigham Young University under the name of West Campus Central Building because the Harris Fine Arts Center (HFAC), a William Pereira design that I really liked and in which my future wife (a theater major) spent much of her undergraduate time is, well, simply gone. It is no more. The BYU School of Music is moving into its own separate building, which is essentially complete, and a new arts building will be constructed on the site where the HFAC stood from 1964 until just a few weeks ago. *** Many, many years ago, when I began to write an article on whether Latter-day Saints are Christians that eventually became the book Offenders for a Word: How Anti-Mormons Play Word Games to Attack the Latter-day Saints, I came across an article about Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church, in Centennial, Colorado, which was sponsoring an open house to counter the open house of the soon-to-be-dedicated Denver Colorado Temple by revealing that Latter-day Saints arent real Christians. At that stage, I was trying to systematically survey all of the major reasons adduced for denying our Christianity. So I wrote a short, very polite, business-like letter to the churchs lead pastor, Rev. Henry F. Fingerlin, inquiring as to whether he would be willing to send me copies of the materials that he was handing out and offering to pay postage and handling costs. In response, I received not only the requested materials but a twelve-page typed letter denouncing my religious beliefs that opened with his confidence that I was a Latter-day Saint only because I had never been outside of Utah and, accordingly, knew nothing better. His presumption was, umm, slightly inaccurate. I had, in fact, been born and raised in California, had served a German-speaking mission in Switzerland, had earned a degree in classical Greek and philosophy, had lived (by that point) for six months in Israel and nearly four years in Egypt, and was, at the time, writing my doctoral dissertation on a topic in medieval Islamic philosophical theology for the University of California at Los Angeles. I wasnt, I thought, quite the rustic and narrow provincial that he assumed me to be. In that light, heres an interesting suggestion from the two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Nicholas Kristof of CNN and the New York Times (who, by the way, according to his Wikipedia entry, holds degrees from both Harvard University and Magdalen College, Oxford, and who claims to have visited at least 150 different countries): Utah may well be the most cosmopolitan state in America. Vast numbers of young Mormons increasingly women as well as men spend a couple of years abroad as missionaries and return jabbering in Thai or Portuguese and bearing a wealth of international experience. *** Plainly and as youll instantly recognize this horror was found in the Christopher Hitchens Memorial How Religion Poisons Everything File: From the ashes: When a volcanic eruption set a tsunami in motion last year, thousands of Tongans tapped the islands deep reserves of faith And heres an old item that I just came across in the section of the Hitchens File that is commonly known as The Church helps nobody; its just a heartless business focused on profits: To see it in action is incredible community influencers from around the world visit Welfare Square There is also some good, solidly infuriating Hitchens File material in this story: Ga Mantse King Visits Church Headquarters: King Tackie Teiko Tsuru II of Accra, Ghana, attends April 2023 general conference Over Easter weekend my partner persuaded me to watch The Passion of the Christ with her. I was pretty resistant; I didnt want to watch this thing. We watched in two parts and on the small screen, which is about as much as I think I could takeI cant imagine seeing this in theaters. But even under these diminishing circumstances, and against my will!, it was astonishing, moving, even illuminating. It worked for me, is what Im saying. I get why it doesnt work for a lot of people. Passion is an intensely personal vision, and the person having the vision is, you know, Mel Gibson. If you were revolted by it, I think youre reacting to things that are also really there in the movie. Below are some thoughts on specific aspects of the film. The Violence: This is by far the most noticeable thing about The Passion. It is just extremely gory. And its violence goes beyond the horrific events described in the Gospels. Gibson adds violence! Its already The Goriest Story Ever Toldyou dont have to add violence! Ancient Rome was a horrifying place and its good that their empire collapsed, we should all be so lucky. Passions violence can illustrate reality: When Jesus is being beaten I found it hard not to think of Tyre Nichols. But theres so much violence that it becomes fantastical, wallowing and even prurient, I think that word is justified. But its also wracked: self-accusing. I cant remember at what point in our viewing my partner told me that its Gibsons own hand holding the nails as theyre driven in, but you dont need that bit of IMDB trivia to feel it. The camera itself is in anguish, idk quite how to talk about it, its not about the stage blood and definitely not about Jim Caviezels blank performance, but the suffering of Jesus is depicted in a way that evokes awe and pity. The pity is an urgent need to help Him and an acknowledgment that you cant, that in fact you are a part of the punishing crowdnow that Im writing all this out, I wonder if this is part of why Gibson gives so much screen time and even a moral arc to Simon of Cyrene. This is Christ the Victim, with the capital letter; we cant identify with Him, we can only worship. That isnt how like Saw or whatever presents its victims. Gibson doesnt follow the strictures of (my constant example of a filmmaker really thinking about how to depict violation without replicating it) Salo, but he also isnt making a horror movie. Passions depiction of violence is intended to take us through being horrified, although I get why you would stop there, and into humiliation. Is there a machismo of suffering here? Sure, yeah. But that is the (wrongheaded) path Gibson takes to his real destination, which is a complete surrender to the helpless Christ. The Jews: Tbh Steven Greydanus said most of what Id say here. (And more from him on the movie in general here.) The problem isnt that the Sanhedrin etc are costumed like theyre in a 19th-century painting; everybody is, its that kind of movie. And I disagree with Steven that Gibson should have cut entirely the line about His blood being on us and on our children. The compromise Gibson ended up with, where that line is spoken but left untranslated in the subtitles, seems like a good way of acknowledging both the real text of the Gospels and the way that text became a justification for evil in the long centuries of Christian hatred of the Jews. The real problem is that Caiaphas and the Jewish mob are mere villains and plot devicesthis in a movie that gives Pontius actual Pilate a rich inner life! Caiaphas has no doubts, no complexity, not even an intelligible motive for his actions. In my most charitable mood I could say that Gibson did it that way because he identified more with Pilate. But by contrast to the human failures of the Romans, the non-Christian Jews cardboard villainy becomes not only false to the Gospel texts but dehumanizing. The Theology/The Weirdness: Love the Eucharistic theology in the flashbacks and cuts. Love the moment where Jesus starts speaking Latin! Love the guilt and spectacle, two areas where Christian theology really meets the needs of the moment, my friends. And I love the weirdness. Gibson gives you the weird stuff that happens in the Gospels: the earthquake, the dream of Pilates wife. And he adds weird stuff! What even is that crinkleface demon baby? Theres this collision between precise, catechetical theology and bonkers God is wilding out phantasmagoria, and that seems very true to both the Bible and, like, reality. Theres maybe something to be said about the theology of making a movie about the Passion in the first place. Ive sometimes heard other Christians say that their church focuses on the Resurrection, not on suffering. Okay???? Lol sorry, obviously I think thats good and beautiful. But my own spirituality is pretty intensely Crucifixion-centered, and Im gonna go ahead and say that thats good too. There are various ways of talking about why: Resurrection is an exercise of power, whereas the Crucifixion calls us to worship (and imitate) Christ in His surrender of power, and to see God not solely in power but in humiliation. We live in a terrifying tabloid world, and the Gospels dont give us a respite from that world; mere respite might feel fake. But really in terms of The Passion as a movie Ill just say that when Gibson does depict the Risen Christ, he shows us light and hope with as much conviction as he showed us horror. Its brief but visceral and vivid. Effeminacy as Decadence and as Love: Never let it be said that Mel Gibson is at ease in his masculinity. Between the soft-butch Devil and Herod in eyeliner you get plenty of #problematic androgyny and camp. I would probably rouse myself to be irritated by that if we didnt also get John the Beloved insistently paralleled with the women, Mary and Mary Magdalene (especially in his costuming). Thats also #problematic but in a much gentler key: the feminine man as icon of tenderness and constancy. We dont get to see Johns physical intimacy with Jesus, and his anguish is kept low-key, a one-perfect-tear kind of thing. My partner speculated that intimacy and emotion from this John would be too challenging, too queer. Well, maybe in the post-apocalypse Gibson and Derek Jarman will collaborate on the Passion play we need though we could not deserve it. A much more normal Crucifixion, painted by Murillo, via Wikimedia Commons. BARRON A funeral service is scheduled Saturday for two western Wisconsin police officers who were killed during a traffic stop. The Barron County Sheriff's Office said the visitation for Emily Breidenbach, 32, of the Chetek Police Department, and Hunter Scheel, 23, of the Cameron Police Department, will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday, followed by a funeral service at 1 p.m. The ceremonies will be held at Cameron High School, 750 S. First St., Cameron, with police honors to be conducted outside the school afterward. The sheriff's office said a procession away from the school will conclude the service, but a route has yet to be determined. Breidenbach and Scheel were conducting a traffic stop around 3:38 p.m. Saturday in the village of Cameron 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. The events leading up to the shooting remain unclear. In the days since the shooting, n outpouring of sympathy and support from residents and law enforcement has been directed toward Cameron and Chetek. Gov. Tony Evers offered support and sympathy in a Twitter post. "Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty yesterday. Kathy and I are praying for the officers families, Evers said. Locals also responded to the incident. Just totally shocked, Chetek resident Mary Berg said Sunday. Our hearts are heavy for the Chetek and Cameron police officers who lost their lives in the line of duty. Just feel heartbroken for the families. Totally heartbroken. Hopefully we can heal as a community. Its terrible, Berg said. The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating the incident. DOJ staff did not immediately respond to an email from the Herald seeking additional information. Wisconsin law enforcement escorted the bodies from Minnesota to Wisconsin on Monday. Officers stood and will continue to stand vigil by each officer's side until the services are complete. Breidenbach had five years of law enforcement experience, while Scheel had served for about one year. Breidenbach was engaged to be married and was daughter of former Chetek Police Chief Robert Breidenbach. Current 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. In a tribute on Facebook, Scheels girlfriend, Camryn Gosdeck, described 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. 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. Residents said the officers were well-loved and will be missed. They were just too young. Great people, said Ashley Elledge from Cameron. A lot of people in this area are very heartbroken. To transform its economy, the country needs innovative and skilled human resources, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation Dr. Kwaku Afriyie has said. As the economy continues to rapidly evolve and advance, he said, it is more important than ever to harness the power of innovation to drive growth and progress noting that government recognises this need and is actively seeking innovators to work collaboratively toward transforming the economy through public-private partnerships (PPP) and other initiatives to help spearhead new technologies and solutions that will propel the economy forward. Innovation is key to making progress in all industries, from healthcare to agriculture, and government recognises the critical role that innovators play. These individuals possess the expertise and vision needed to develop new products and services, as well as strategies for increasing efficiency and reducing costs. This in turn drives job creation and economic growth, he said. The minister made these remarks in his address at the Certified Innovation Professional (CIP) programme launch in Accra by the Nobel International Business School (NiBS). Explaining further, Dr. Afriyie said in the current era when change is a constant, innovation assumes a paramount role in staying competitive. He reiterated that government has been at the vanguard of science and technology advancement, achieving remarkable progress in recent years. He maintained that government will continue to create the right environment for innovation and encourage the youth to become innovators. Innovation has become a key driver of economic growth and development in many countries. By encouraging individuals to embrace it, Ghana can build a skilled workforce to generate and implement new ideas, advance collaborations on critical projects, and capture the value of innovation. This will help Ghana become more competitive, increase productivity and create jobs essential for sustainable economic growth. In addition, by having a pool of certified innovation professionals, Ghana can attract more foreign investment and technology transfer; further boosting the countrys economic growth, he emphasised. The government of Ghana has demonstrated a significant commitment to fostering innovation in the country through various initiatives and policies. This is evident in the strategic interventions and investments in multiple sectors of the economy, including education with the introduction of technical vocational education and training (TVET), science technology engineering, mathematics (STEM) and Free Senior High School. Dr. Afriyie made a clarion call for innovators in the country to come on board and help build a resilient and sustainable economy. The ability of innovators in the country to drive progress and create new opportunities is essential for the countrys continued prosperity. By working together with government, innovators can help transform existing industries and create new ones; thus making the economy more dynamic, resilient and inclusive. Source: B&FT Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former Presidential staffer and political commentator Mr. P.V Jantuah Dadson is calling for the resignation of the Inspector General of the Police (IGP) Dr. George Akuffo Dampare for failing in the fight against illegal mining otherwise known as galamsey. According to him, the Ghana Police Service is part of the governments organization in the fight against galamsey after its officers were sent to various parts of the country to end the menace. On the issue of the galamsey fight, dont you think it would be good for the IGP if he resigns from office? Mr. PV Jantuah asked on Kumasi-based Angel FM monitored by MyNewsGH.com. Mr. PV Jantuahs calls were in reaction to a viral video that saw an officer begging a civilian for his life in a galamsey community. The Ghana Police Service in a statement revealed they arrested four members of the gang they accused of attacking the police but the suspects also claimed the uniformed officers were extorting money from galamsey sites in Axim, a community in the Western Region. The police also claimed the men seen in the video were robbers. However, the leader of the gang, Kwame Asare Ato who escaped the police arrest has denied the allegation saying they are not robbers as claimed by the state security. He also revealed that his gang worked in the area with the District Police Command in extorting money from miners and went further to reveal that, the gun he used in his operation was given to him by the police CID in the district. Meanwhile, Mr PV Jatuah Dadson insisted that the District Police Commander of Axim should be sanctioned. Where did the incident happen, Axim; the IGP together with the District Police Commander should have gone home by now. The two police officers sighted in the video should have also appeared in court by now, he said. Mr PV Jantuah also wondered how Kwame Asare Ato the gang leader was able to seize guns and other items from the police. He noted that the police could not do anything to save themselves from being humiliated because of the intentions they had and the fact that they have already been compromised. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Organizer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), Joseph Yammin, has stated that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr. George Akuffo-Dampare, will be remembered as the worst IGP ever due to his reluctance to arrest government officials who flout the law. Joseph Yammin asserted that the IGP has failed to live up to expectations in that regard. He added that Dampare started well, but he is currently hesitant to act where needed. "Whoever makes such a statement should be arrested, so if the IGP won't arrest him (Bryan Acheampong). "Then he doesn't have balls; the IGP is having a social media account that is only linked to NDC stories, so whatever about NDC, he will see it, but for NPP, no. "A statement like this from the NPP and IGP has not seen it? But if it was Yammin, it would have popped up on his social media handles to issue a statement to go and arrest Yammin. "I feel this IGP is not helping Ghanaians; he may go down as the worst IGP even though he started as the best ever to happen to this country because of his steps as IGP." Yammin's comment follows a statement made by the Member of Parliament for Abetifi Constituency in the Eastern region that the New Patriotic Party (NPP) is not prepared to hand over power to the National Democratic Congress (NDC). Speaking in an interview with Neat FM on April 11, 2023, he argued that such a statement has a strong propensity to incite violence in the nation; he also demanded for the member of parliament's arrest, in line with a request by the party. 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 Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Head of the Ghana School Feeding Programme Public Relations, Mr. Siiba Alfa has assured that the government will soon implement its decision to increase the feeding grant for school feeding caterers. He said that, though the final determination on the exact amount to give to the Caterers had delayed a bit since the announcement for increment was made, the government was working in consultation with the relevant decision making bodies and partners to arrive at a mutually acceptable figure that would meet the current standards of living. Some angry school feeding caterers staged a serious protest against the Government in Kumasi last Monday and stormed the office of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Simon Osei Mensah in all-red attires to demand for increment and payment of their "three terms' arrears". They had threatened to stop cooking for the beneficiary children until the government heeds to their demand for payment of their three terms' arrears and increment in the feeding grant per child from the current 97pesewas Approval of Grant Increment Mr Siiba stated emphatically that the government had already approved a proposal submitted to Cabinet through the Gender Ministry for an increase in the school feeding grant. The increment, he said, was captured in the 2023 budget statement and was announced by the Finance Minister." Appeal to caterers The Public Relations Manager, in an interview with the media, appealed passionately to the caterers in the Ashanti and other regions threatening to embark on a sit-down strike to rescind their decision. "We want to appeal to our dear caterers who are threatening to go on nationwide strike to exercise restraint, and cooperate with the processes leading to the payment of their 3rd term of 2022 arrears," Mr. Siiba said. Alleged three terms' arrears Conversely, Mr Siiba refuted the claims by a section of the aggrieved caterers that the government is presently owing them for three continuous terms. He revealed that, the government/School Feeding Management just in this April, 2023 finished paying the caterers for the 2nd term of 2022 with an amount of 200 million Ghana cedis, even before they staged the protest in Kumasi. As it stands now, the government owes the caterers only 3rd term of 2022 and 1st term of 2023 which just ended. "We are in the second week of the 2nd term of 2023 and per our policy, caterers are supposed to pre-finance the cooking until the end of the term before they can be paid what is due them for the 2nd term of 2023. So, the caterers are owed only 2 terms." he insisted. 3rd term of 2022 payment Mr. Siiba reiterated that the GSFP, in collaboration with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is working on the necessary documentations to ensure that payment for the 3rd term of 2022 is effected as soon as possible. Frequent Delays in Payment The Head, Public Relations of the programme admitted that the frequent delays in the payment of arrears were seriously affecting the caterers and keeping majority of them in debt for a long time. He also admitted that most of the caterers are unable to sleep in their homes or go to certain markets because they are always being hunted by their suppliers and creditors due to the delay in the payment. He, however, attributed the phenomenon to the current economic challenges. He also commended the government for its demonstrable commitment to salvaging the situation despite the inherent economic difficulties the country is facing. Deduction of non-cooking days On the other hand, Siiba Alfa reacted to the complaints of deductions in the payments of some Caterers. According to him, the deduction is called non-cooking days, and that, "it affects only those who were unable to cook for a number of days for whatever reasons in an academic term." He said that the non-cooking days are deducted by the government to ensure value for money and to also serve as checks and balances in the School Feeding Programme. Meanwhile, Mr. Siiba urged any caterer who feels that she or he has been wrongfully deducted to contact their School Feeding Zonal and Regional Coordinators with copies of their daily record forms for immediate rectification or correction. Source: Peacefmonline.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The 2023 edition of the Jubilee House Iftar has been held in Accra with a host of dignitaries from diverse religious backgrounds attending. Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, on behalf of President Akufo-Addo, led the government guest list which included Ministers of State and Senior Officials at the Presidency, to welcome the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and the leadership of the Muslim community. Also present were MPs, Members of the Council of State, the Diplomatic Corps and some members of the clergy who led a fair number of Christians to the function. The Iftar is the traditional evening meal to break the Ramadan fast and it is normally held in groups to bring people, families and communities together. Many countries around the world including the United States organize Iftars at their respective seats of government during Ramadan. In Ghana, the Jubilee House Iftar was introduced by the Akufo-Addo government in 2017 and it has since been held every year except in 2020 due to covid-19 restrictions. Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Bawumia said the institution of the Iftar has enabled government to further its engagements with religious groups for harmony. "The historic institution of the Jubilee House Iftar, after we assumed office in 2017, reflects its importance, and the significance our government attaches to our engagements with religious groups, in our quest to promote harmony among our people," Dr. Bawumia said. Dr. Bawumia added; "The month of Ramadan is a period of devotion, sacrifice and togetherness, and the Iftar, as we all know, is a time during the Ramadan, which defines the essence of unity, as we have all gathered here from diverse backgrounds, including our Christian brothers, for a meal to break the day's fast and also pray for our nation Ghana." A former Chairman of Christ Apostolic Church International, Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani, reflected on the beautiful relationship between Muslims and Christians in the country and commended the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, and Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia for providing leadership which has greatly contributed to the harmonious relationship. Both the National Chief Imam and Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani said seperate prayers for the country. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A former Chairman of the Apostolic Church International, Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani, has hailed the National Chief Imam Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu and the Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, for their roles in ensuring a harmonious relationship between Muslims and Christians in Ghana. Apostle Ntow Amoaning was among Christians who joined their Muslim counterparts at the Jubilee House for the National Iftar, a traditional dinner to break the Ramadan fast. Delivering a sermon at the event, Apostle Ntow Amoaning reflected on the level of religious tolerance in the country and applauded Sheikh Sharubutu and Vice President Bawumia for providing leadership which has greatly inspired and strengthened the harmonious relationship between Muslims and Christians in Ghana. The national Jubilee House Iftar was introduced by the Akufo-Addo government in 2017 and it has since been held every year except in 2020 due to covid-19 restrictions. Speaking at the ceremony, Vice President Bawumia said the institution of the Iftar has enabled government to broaden its engagements with religious groups for harmony. "The historic institution of the Jubilee House Iftar, after we assumed office in 2017, reflects its importance, and the significance our government attaches to our engagements with religious groups, in our quest to promote harmony among our people," Dr. Bawumia said. Dr. Bawumia added; "The month of Ramadan is a period of devotion, sacrifice and togetherness, and the Iftar, as we all know, is a time during the Ramadan, which defines the essence of unity, as we have all gathered here from diverse backgrounds, including our Christian brothers, for a meal to break the day's fast and also pray for our nation Ghana." The Vice President also praised the presence and active participation of Christian leaders in the Iftar and called for the strengthening of ties between Muslims and Christians for the peace and unity of the country. "Listening to the brief sermon of Apostle Dr. Stephen Kwame Ntow Amoani, a renowned Christian leader, at a Muslim Iftar, signifies how special our country is. It is rare to see such beautiful co-existence in many countries, and we must all be proud of our country's enviable status as a religious-tolerant nation," Dr. Bawumia said. "It is important for all of us to continue to play a role to preserve this harmony, and not allow it to be destroyed by those who hate to see such tolerance and togetherness," he urged. Present at the Iftar included Ministers, Members of the Council of State, MPs, Members of the Diplomatic community, Muslim leaders and some members of the Clergy. Source: Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Three men are currently in Police grip for illegally preventing Electricity Company of Ghana Limited (ECG) officials from disconnecting an illegal power supply. A fourth suspect and owner of the disconnected meter, Odoi Darko, is currently on the run. The Eastern Regional General Manager of the Electricity Company of Ghana, Ing. Mrs. Sariel A. Etwire disclosed this on Wednesday. She said a three-member team from the Asesewa District of the Company Wednesday afternoon went to Otweso near Nkurakan to conduct a monitoring exercise. Upon reaching the town, they detected that a separate meter with over GHC 800 in debt disconnected alongside a mother meter from pole last Thursday had been illegally removed and reconnected with a new service line. The meter was attached to another one owned by Odoi Darko which he used at his Welding shop which had a debt of over GHC 4000. The team therefore approached Odoi Darko and demanded he discloses the identity of the contractor who installed the meter but he refused. The team then decided to disconnect the meter from pole again and as they tried to disconnect the illegal meter, Odoi with assistance from three other people resisted the ECG team from carrying out their official duties. The Nkurakan Police was called to the scene but the four further prevented the Police and struggled with them in the process. The Police Officers retreated to the office and called for reinforcement from the Koforidua Central Police station. A team was brought in to help apprehend the three but Odoi fled the scene. The suspects are currently in police custody pending investigations for prosecution. Since the start of the operation 20-20 by the ECG, the Eastern Region revenue mobilization teams have operated in a conducive atmosphere. Source: Michael Akrofi/Peace News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Some traditional rulers have appealed to the government to set aside a public holiday to commemorate their beliefs and relevance in the country. The earnest call came during the Afortorku Gbodzi Shrines annual festival, held at Dagbamate in the Akatsi South District. In a welcoming speech read on behalf of the high priest, Moses Davor, the secretary to the shrine, Sam Davis Davor, emphasized the importance of granting traditionalists in the country a holiday, just like other faiths, Muslims and Christians. Granting their request, according to Sam Davor, will help boost their confidence as traditionalists and encourage them to contribute more to the development of the country, myjoyonline.com reports. The traditionalists believe that the African religion is crucial for the development of every nation, and therefore it is important to have a public holiday. They also plead with the authorise and the public to acknowledge their traditional medicines as well as its organisations. The proceeds from this year's celebration were used to commission a chief's palace featuring ultra-modern facilities. The government was also appreciated for lifting the phase of the community health centre. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The National Peace Council has expressed concern over the increase in incendiary comments made by politicians and has announced plans to engage with political parties and security agencies to address the issue. The Council issued a statement following comments made by Abetifi Member of Parliament, Bryan Acheampong, suggesting that the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) would not relinquish power to the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC) and would do everything possible to remain in power. Rev. Dr. Ernest Adu-Gyamfi, Chairman of the Peace Council, has thus called on politicians to exercise restraint in their comments ahead of the 2024 general elections. In an interview with Citi News, he said, "We've received some footage by several political actors from both the NDC and the NPP that we think need to be addressed, and we want to appeal to the political actors to be careful and guard what they say and how they say it. "Our intention is to invite the parties to the table to review the things we discussed and see the challenges that we have now and see what we can do going forward." Dr. Adu-Gyamfi also revealed that the Council has scheduled a meeting with security agencies next month to address potential conflict issues. He emphasized that these meetings would be continuous, adding, "We've also scheduled a meeting with the security agencies which will be coming on next month to look at the things that we need to address between now and the next elections." Regarding the Abetifi lawmaker's comments, Dr. Adu-Gyamfi stated that if someone makes a criminal statement, the responsibility falls on the security agencies to take appropriate action. The Council's intervention comes amid growing concerns over the potential for violence in the lead-up to the 2024 general elections. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo government has announced that it has released GH62 million to pay teachers of Senior High Schools (SHSs) across the country their intervention grants. According to The Chronicle newspaper, the grant forms part of incentives the government is providing to motivate SHS teachers. It added that the grant is also to motivate teachers to provide extra tuition to all SHS students beyond normal school hours. The report also indicated that a statement issued by the Minority of Education said that the grant is also to ensure that the quality of education provided at SHSs in Ghana is enhanced and sustained. "It's a commitment to ensuring smooth, timely, and efficient resource distribution in our quest to improving and sustaining quality education in Ghana," parts of the statement is quoted. Meanwhile, the Public Relations Officer of the ministry, Kwasi Kwarteng, has said that the government remains committed to resolving all the challenges faced by SHS across the country. According to him, the government takes full responsibility for the current infrastructure deficit in schools because of the increasing number of enrolments. "... we take full responsibility and assure all Ghanaians that, wherever there are challenges, we'll go in and resolve them," he said. The PRO, however, posited that the infrastructure challenge is caused by schools indicating that they have vacant facilities while they have not. "I'm still wondering why you could declare that you could take, for instance, 500 boarding students while you know very well that there are no spaces or beds for them," he added. Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video James Kwabena Bomfeh has jumped to the defence of the Minister of Agriculture, Bryan Acheampong over some statements the latter made while addressing supporters of the New Patriotic Party at Mpraeso. Hon. Bryan Acheampong has come under political siege for making comments thought to be seditious with his critics, mainly the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), calling on the Inspector General of Police to arrest him. Speaking to a mammoth NPP faithfuls, the Minister stated that, "it will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC". He further said; "NDC party will collapse...we will show them that we have the men. We have the men!...We will make sure NPP remains in government at all cost, Hon. Bryan Acheampong blurted out. He stressed that, "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". The NDC have described these statements by the Minister as "reckless and treasonable". But James Kwabena Bomfeh, alias Kabila, wonders which part of Bryan Acheampong's remarks merits an arrest. "Did he say if Ghanaians vote for an NDC candidate to win the elections, they won't hand over power to the person? So, what really is the point?", he queried. To him, Mr. Acheampong's statements were mere political rhetoric to ginger up his party supporters. "Politics is an art of war...Every person who knows political rhetoric knows how to charge the atmosphere," he asserted . Kabila also expressed disappointment in the Minority in Parliament over their call for arrest of Bryan Acheampong, saying if the Minority thinks he has breached their standing orders, they should take him to the Privileges Committee. "If Bryan Acheampong is in breach of this constitution or the standing orders of Parliament, the Privileges Committee is there. The courts are there," he stated while responding to the issue during Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" morning show. Also reacting to the civil societies condemning Bryan Acheampong, Kabilla asked "what is their case? What did Bryan Acheampong say that they claim has brought chaos?" Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former President John Dramani Mahama, a presidential aspirant for the NDC, has called on Ghanaians to give him and the party a second chance to turn the country's economic fortunes around. Mr. Mahama said Ghanaians had endured enough hardships under the NPP government. He made the appeal at Somanya in the Yilo Krobo District of the Eastern Region on a three-day campaign to the region to interact with branch and constituency executives. Addressing delegates at Somanya, Mr. Mahama called on the people to work hard to support his vision of building a better Ghana when he wins the 2024 presidential election. Mr. Mahama said, "the party has instituted a reward scheme to recognize and empower grassroots party executives". Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Former NDC Chairman for Central Region, Bernard Allotey Jacobs has fired shots at his former political party, the National Democratic Congress, for calling for the arrest of Bryan Acheampong, Minister for Agriculture. The Minister, addressing supporters of his New Patriotic Party at Mpraeso, emphasized that "it will never happen that we, the NPP, will stand on a platform to hand over power to the NDC". "NDC party will collapse...We will show them that we have the men. We have the men!...We will make sure NPP remains in government at all cost, he stressed. "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", he also cautioned. These statements have been found by the NDC to be treasonable, hence requesting the Police to pick the Minister up. But to Allotey Jacobs, for the NDC to call for Bryan Acheampong's arrest shows the party is weak. As an experienced politician, he stated that one key strategy in politics is to "punch" the opponent hard and that is exactly what Mr. Acheampong has done. To him, Bryan Acheampong was only playing to the gallery to energize the support base for the New Patriotic Party. "Going to the IGP to tell him to arrest Bryan Acheampong shows your party's weakness. If the NDC says Bryan Acheampong should be arrested, it shows your fear of the future; what is going to happen in the future," he told host Kwami Sefa Kayi on Peace FM's "Kokrokoo" show. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Dr. Callistus Mahama, an aide to former President John Mahama has entreated political parties in Ghana to adopt and implement exclusive systems to select representatives for parliamentary elections. Such a system, he suggested, must be one where the decision to select parliamentary candidates is left to either an individual or a committee with regulated guidelines. With this system, a single party leader or a national party agency or committee is constituted to decide on the candidates to be selected without the approval or participation of the local party members or delegates, he said. Callistus Mahama emphasized that although the method may be criticized as undemocratic, it could be improved to reflect the aspirations of the 1992 constitution through legislation. He recommended a well-structured committee to appoint the candidate to include opinion leaders and people with integrity within the party and society. Describing the delegate system as a breeding ground for corruption and weak governance in Ghana, John Mahama said the procedure where delegates choose representatives for parliamentary and presidential elections exposes the process to dishonesty dealings. He said the method breached the principles of liberal democracy as delegates placed monetary gain over meritocracy. The expensive nature of the delegate system as being practiced currently in Ghana undoubtedly creates the breeding ground for weak governments and corrupt leaders to start with. Callistus Mahama said the delegate method of selecting parliamentary candidates was also gender biased, as women were extremely disadvantaged because they had no funds to bribe delegates. The delegate system overly and covertly creates limitations to popular participation and could thus exclude some sections of people from participating in the democratic process. For instance, women have become victims of such a highly controlled and competitive selection process given how rigorous the process can be vis a vis the fragility and vulnerability of women. Mahama concluded that the delegate system could lead to voter apathy because the choices of delegates may not reflect the collective choice of the majority in the constituency. The majority of the voters may feel betrayed because of the choices of candidates made by the selected delegates. Voter apathy is a subtle means of disenfranchising eligible voters and, by extension, constraining the frontiers of democracy in general, he said. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Story by Stephen Caruso of Spotlight PA Spotlight PA is an independent, nonpartisan newsroom powered by The Philadelphia Inquirer in partnership with PennLive/The Patriot-News, TribLIVE/Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, and WITF Public Media. Sign up for our free newsletters. HARRISBURG When voters go to the polls or fill out their mail ballots for Pennsylvanias May 16 primary election, theyll see a slew of local candidates with a lot of direct power over their daily lives. While these officials have a direct say in the taxes you pay and how the criminal justice system treats you, it can be difficult to find good information about the people running to represent you. Spotlight PA has some tips to make the vetting process easier. Along with statewide races for Pennsylvanias appellate courts, this years primary will also feature elections for school boards, mayorships, councils, local judgeships, and more. Exactly which races you see on your ballot will depend on where you live. Pennsylvania has a closed, partisan primary system. Only Democrats can vote for Democratic candidates vying to move to the November general election. The same rule applies to Republican voters. However, all voters, including those who are unaffiliated or who are registered to a third party, can vote in special elections that coincide with a spring primary there are two on May 16 or for local ballot initiatives. Thats why its important to check a sample ballot or contact your county about whats on your ballot ahead of Election Day. Here are some steps you can take to prepare for May 16: What do these officials do? Some candidates are running for specialized municipal or countywide positions such as tax collector, controller, coroner, and register of wills, who issue marriage licenses. They serve four-year terms. Also on the ballot will be the many executive and legislative branch officials of local governments, including school board members, mayors, county commissioners, and in Allegheny County, the county executive. They set and enact a range of policies, from local property tax rates to zoning rules to police budgets. Finally, candidates are running for positions that influence the criminal justice system, including constables, local judges, and district attorneys. Among other duties, the latter are responsible for prosecuting people who are arrested. Local judgeships fall into two main categories. Magisterial district judges, sometimes called the frontline of the states justice system, issue arrest and search warrants, approve protection from abuse orders, oversee evictions, set bail, and can officiate weddings. Candidates do not have to be lawyers to hold the position; however, those elected are required to take four weeks of training and pass an exam. They are elected to six-year terms, and face an opponent for reelection rather than a yes-or-no vote. This system is different in Philadelphia, where voters elect municipal and traffic judges. Then, there are Common Pleas judges who are elected by district, of which there are 60. Some districts contain multiple counties. You can find a full list of counties by judicial district here. These judges must be admitted to the state bar and are the first rung in most civil and criminal trials. They serve 10-year terms before running in nonpartisan retention elections. Thirty counties have an open Common Pleas judgeship on the ballot this year, according to Pennsylvania Department of State records. Find who is on your ballot To learn who is on the ballot, you should check with your county election office (see a list here). Some counties, such as Allegheny, Lancaster, and York Counties, publish sample ballots, although those may not be available until three to five weeks before the election. (Googling [county name] sample ballot or Pennsylvania sample ballot is a solid start.) BallotReady and the League of Women Voters Vote411 initiative also provide sample ballots based on address, though they dont always include down-ballot races such as ones for school board. Learn the basics Use candidates names and a search engine to learn more about them. Campaign websites usually provide background on a candidate, list their platform, and detail endorsements theyve received. Social media accounts sometimes give a more personal look into a candidates views, and explain why theyre running for office and what policies they plan to support. To find a social media account, search for a candidates name plus a social media platform by typing a phrase such as Jane Smith Twitter or Jane Smith Facebook. You can also use Facebooks ad library to explore how candidates or political groups boost their messages across the platform. News articles can offer you a more in-depth look at a candidate, detail how a community perceives them, and raise any potential red flags about the candidates beliefs or affiliations. But its important to vet the trustworthiness and accuracy of the news source. To learn how to vet your sources, read this guide to spotting false information by Cornell University, and this guide to analyzing a news source by Melissa Zimdars, a communications professor who researches misinformation. Check out endorsements Figuring out which candidates align with you on key topics is difficult. Many politicians, and interest groups such as gun rights organizations and unions, try to cut through this uncertainty with endorsements. Candidates will usually prominently display them. These endorsements are even more critical in judicial races. State law bars candidates for the bench from taking public stances on policy issues, as they are expected to provide impartial judgment on cases before them. As such, their remarks and statements might not be helpful when youre trying to figure out how theyll rule. If you want more objective information, you can also learn about a judicial candidates legal qualifications through local bar associations. These groups sometimes offer recommendations on their countys Common Pleas candidates, either through a special committee or by polling their members on the candidates and their qualifications. Bar association recommendations look over each candidates resume and provide a short summary of their ability to handle the job. Usually, bars will offer three different ratings: highly recommended, recommended, or not recommended. However, some candidates who arent recommended argue that their skills are undervalued by their peers, and jurists who won without a recommendation have gone on to have long, respected careers on the bench, such as former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Thomas Saylor. Below are links to the websites for bar associations in five of Pennsylvanias more populous counties. Its not an exhaustive list, so check Google to see if your own county has one. (Your county may also just not have any Common Pleas judges on the ballot.) Take a deeper dive Following the money will take even more work, but its just as important. Under federal and state campaign finance laws, all candidates are required to regularly file paperwork that shows who has given them money and how they spent it. Donations from political committees, other organizations, or even individuals can indicate who influences the candidate, and the policies they might support once elected. All of this information is available to you in theory. The Federal Election Commission website and platforms such as OpenSecrets allow you to search for donations to federal campaigns. In Pennsylvania, state-level candidates (including Common Pleas judges) file their campaign finance information with the Department of State, which lists those reports online. Candidates for local positions like mayor or school board, have to file financial reports too, but they file with only the county election office. Theres no central, statewide database for filings, and not all counties widely allow voters to access this information. A few counties, such as Allegheny County, Erie County, and Philadelphia, post this information online, while others only allow people to view it in person. If the records you seek are not accessible online, you can contact the county election office. If theyre accessible only in person, you will have to take time out of your day to visit the election office and review the documents. Read more Election 2023 coverage from Spotlight PA: 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 foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. A McFarland man was charged Wednesday with homicide by negligent driving for the traffic death in October of a beloved former Watertown music teacher who was struck by a car and killed while crossing John Nolen Drive. A criminal complaint states that while Tom Heninger initially was believed to have crossed the street on his bike against a do not walk light, police later determined that the truck he was struck by was going about 25 mph over the speed limit and had likely run a red light before hitting Heninger. The complaint also charged Alan D. Tschury, 42, with second-degree reckless endangerment for the Oct. 27 incident at John Nolen Drive and North Shore Drive. Tschury is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. According to an Oct. 29 story in the Wisconsin State Journal, the morning Heninger died he was riding his bike a few blocks from his Downtown home to Monona Terrace to volunteer at the annual Wisconsin Music Educators Association conference, which he did every year. Heninger, 71, worked for the Watertown School District from 1974 until he retired in 2009. According to the complaint: The crash happened about 6:50 a.m. Another bike rider told police he rode across John Nolen Drive at North Shore Drive despite the do not walk light because there was no traffic. When he got to the other side, he heard a screech and heard the sound of an impact and saw a black pickup truck pulling over. The other rider said the truck apparently had been going very fast because he didnt see it when he initially crossed the street. Tschury was upset and shaken, police said. He told police he was on his way to work and reached the intersection as the light turned from green to yellow when Heninger struck his truck on the left front side. Heninger died about two hours after the crash. Tschury later said that although he was driving and holding his phone to listen to music he only manipulated his phone to repeat the song he was listening to. Police examined city street camera footage that showed two vehicles, one of them the truck, accelerating away from the rest of traffic at the Lakeside Drive intersection with John Nolen Drive. The speed limit at the North Shore Drive intersection is 35 mph, but by using camera footage and taking measurements, comparing the time it took the truck to pass landmarks, officers Brandon Mortenson and Samuel Brier determined the trucks speed just prior to the North Shore Drive intersection to be 59 to 63 mph. Brier also determined that the traffic light had been yellow for about 4.5 seconds before Tschurys truck entered the intersection, and that it turned red before he was in it. North Shore Drive cross-traffic already had a green light before the truck entered the intersection and collided with Heninger, Brier said. Photos: Madison's most dangerous intersections, as seen from space No. 10: Packers Avenue and International Lane No. 9: Zeier Road and East Washington Avenue No. 8: South Park Street and West Badger Road No. 7: Thierer Road and East Washington Avenue No. 6: North First Street and East Washington Avenue No. 5: Buckeye Road and South Stoughton Road No. 4: South Baldwin Street and East Washington Avenue No. 3: North Stoughton Road and East Washington Avenue No. 2: Watts Road and South Gammon Road No. 1: Pleasant View Road and Mineral Point A Pennsylvania agency devoted to health care quality says knowing how often a hospital does a given cancer surgery can help patients make the right choice about which hospital to use. To that end, the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council issued a report showing volumes for 11 kinds of cancer surgeries at every hospital in the state. There is strong evidence in the scientific literature that links hospital surgical volume and patient outcomes for the cancer surgeries included in this report. In other words, patients requiring one of these 11 surgeries are likely to have better results if their surgery is performed at a higher volume hospital. Lower volume hospitals are more likely to have worse outcomes, such as more deaths, says the PHC4, an independent state agency. However, the PHC4 says other factors can contribute to surgical success or failure, such as the stage of the cancer or the skill of the surgeon. Therefore, patients should talk to their doctor and consider multiple factors when deciding. According to the PHC4, breast cancer surgery was the most common cancer surgery done in Pennsylvania in 2022, with 12,324 done at inpatient hospitals. Next were colon cancer surgery, with 3,521 surgeries, and lung cancer surgery, with 2,377. All told, about 25,000 cancer surgeries were done at inpatient hospitals. However, the PHC4 notes that more cancer cases are being treated at outpatient hospitals, or without surgery, and its data doesnt reflect those. The report on cancer surgery and other quality-related reports from PHC4 can be found here. MORE FROM PENNLIVE: U.S. organ transplant system overhaul: What will it mean for Pennsylvanians waiting? Central Pa. hospital rated among best in U.S., yet state inspections raise alarms: How can it be? Surgery on the wrong body part or person: It happens regularly in Pa., data shows Fresh laundry? Cut grass? That first cup of coffee in the morning? Nope a new study has found something else to be Pennsylvanias favorite scent. In honor of National Perfume Day on Friday, April 14, BetPennsylvania.com conducted and published a study that sought to find the top five most beloved scents in each state. According to a press release sent out by the website, a years worth of search data on the countrys most popular scents were analyzed and broken out by location for final results. Those final results had the smell of gasoline topping the list in Pennsylvania. Looking at the total number of Google searches for the term smell of gasoline in Pennsylvania, its obvious this unique scent is the favroite, reads the release. Breaking down the data, an estimated 8,280 searched for the smell of gasoline on average since April of last year. The smell of coffee ranked second and the smell of cinnamon, third. In fourth and fifth to round out the top five were the smell of a new car and the smell of melting chocolate, respectively. The BetPennsylvania.com release did also shed light on five other scents that made it onto Pennsylvanias most popular list: the smells of bacon, Christmas trees, log fires, nail polish, and chocolates cousin, vanilla. The aforementioned smells of laundry and cut grass, however, do not seem to be aromas Pennsylvanians are searching in a significant volume for. The chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has criticized Mattel and Meta for not doing enough to keep dangerous Fisher Price Rock n Play infant sleepers away from consumers. In letters to the companies, Alex Hoehn-Saric, said that the sleeper is associated with about 100 infant deaths. In April 2019, the safety commission and Fisher-Price, a subsidiary of Mattel, recalled 4.7 million of the sleepers. The recall was announced again in January 2023. Hoehn-Saric said that the CPSCs surveillance team continues to find hundreds of recalled Rock n Plays being sold by consumers on secondary marketplaces, including Facebook Marketplace every month equal to about 10 every day. He said this is the second time that he has contacted Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg about preventing the listing of recalled products on Facebook Marketplace. Last August, Meta assured CPSC that it prohibits the sale of recalled products on its platform and described steps that it takes to prevent the posting of these products. Yet the danger persists, the commission said. At best, CPSC is catching these unlawful products after they have been listed for sale and made available to the public, Hoehn-Saric said. Facebook is uniquely positioned to identify recalled and violative products like the Rock n Play and stop their sale before they are listed. This would guarantee that these dangerous products are not sold, and further tragedies are averted. In the letter, Hoehn-Saric said that from Feb. 7, 2022, through March 7, 2023, CPSCs surveillance staff issued 3,981 takedown requests for Fisher Price Rock n Play inclined sleepers for sale on Facebook Marketplace. Hoehn-Saric asked Mattel to do more to raise awareness and give more incentive to consumers. The average price for the Rock n Play on Facebook Marketplace, he said, is $25. Fisher Price clearly has not done enough to incentivize consumers to act upon the recall. Nor have the companys actions deterred a secondary market for this product, said Hoehn-Saric. It is incumbent on Fisher Price to motivate consumers to stop using the Rock n Play and to destroy unused Rock n Plays that may be in their homes. A refund of the full purchase price of the Rock n Play would be a good start in achieving these outcomes. USA Today reported that it was told by Fisher-Price that the company is willing to increase the cash refund available and that Fisher-Price has worked diligently to get the sleepers removed from the market. Meta told USA Today that it takes the issue of selling recalled goods seriously and that it removes listings that violate its rules. The Rock n Play was initially recalled following the deaths of about 30 unrestrained infants. The infants, the safety commission said at the time, the rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, putting them at risk of suffocation. The sleepers also hold the infant reclined at a 30-degree angle. The safety commission says an incline of greater than 10 degrees is unsafe because it increases the suffocation risk. It is recommended that babies sleep flat. In 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, which outlaws the sale of crib bumpers and inclined sleepers. READ MORE T.J. Maxx fined $13M for selling recalled baby products linked to infant deaths. Federal safety commission approves new regulations for infant sleep products after deaths of babies. Sams Club hit a new milestone, turning 40 years old this month. Members of the membership warehouse club have an array of deals to help them celebrate! Members will have access to in-club events as well as an exclusive cafe item. They will receive over $100 in savings and rewards. As for first-time members, theyll be offered membership as low as $10. Here is the breakdown of deals for members, according to the press release: Membership Offer: Take $40 off a first-time membership to celebrate 40 years of Sams Club. These savings mean Club memberships will be available for just $10 and Plus memberships are $70 during the first year of membership (Plus members get the best of what Sams Club has to offer such as free shipping on most items, 2% Sams Cash on most purchases, and early shopping hours). The offer is available April 14 through April 19 and is redeemable in-club or online . Free Sweet Treat and Fountain Drink: Sams Club is celebrating members in club on April 15. Visit any club in the U.S. or Puerto Rico for a free sweet treat and a free fountain drink, while supplies last. Clubs will also have special Members Mark samples available that day. Limited-time Cafe item: Sams Club added a new, limited-time item to its Cafe menu to celebrate the milestone. The birthday cake sundae is available through the end of April. The new treat features layers of frozen yogurt and festive birthday cake with icing and sprinkles for just $1.58. Exclusive Member Offers: The celebration continues with over $100 in offers for members. Beginning April 14 through May 1, offers will be available on various items through Scan & Go checkout, Curbside Pickup and Same-Day Delivery. Find more information on these savings here . Club Events: Many clubs across the country will host outdoor and in-club experiences throughout the year that include the Members Mark Food Truck, supplier activations, and more. Members can find more information about these events here . Commemorative Merchandise: Members can show off their own big brand energy with vintage-inspired merchandise that delivers early 80s logo styles on everything from T-shirts and sweatshirts to hats and mixtape stickers. The membership deals dont stop after the birthday month. Sams Club will be celebrating all year with special offers and some surprises for members. The year-long celebration comes 40 years after Sams Wholesale Club opened in Midwest City, Okla. on April 7, 1983, according to the press release. Now Sams Club is regarded as a multi-billion dollar business with over 600 locationas across the U.S. and Puerto Rico. From the day we opened our doors, weve worked hard to build relationships and create experiences that earn our members loyalty, said Ciara Anfield, Chief Member and Marketing Officer of Sams Club, in a statement. That passion is reinforced today through a member-obsessed culture focused on delivering value through price, quality, convenience and assortment. READ MORE: By Nathan Solis and Summer Lin, Los Angeles Times (TNS) Police arrested a suspect early Thursday in the fatal stabbing of Cash App founder Bob Lee this month in San Francisco, according to a county supervisor. San Francisco police have not released any information about the arrest, but the news outlet Mission Local, which was the first to report the arrest, said the suspect is a tech worker who knew Lee and was taken into custody in Emeryville. Obviously, nothing can undo this senseless crime, and we reiterate our condolences to Mr. Lees family members, friends and colleagues, tweeted San Francisco Supervisor Matt Dorsey, who represents the area where Lee was found stabbed to death on April 4. But I hope todays arrest can begin a process of healing and closure for all those touched by this tragedy. The San Francisco Police Department did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The arrest marks a twist in the high-profile case, which some used to push a narrative that San Francisco was overrun by random street crime. Many pushed back against those claims, noting violent crime in San Francisco isnt higher than in other cities of a similar size and has actually declined over the last decade. Lee, 43, was found bleeding to death near the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge around 2:35 a.m. April 4, according to police. He was taken to a hospital, where he died. Lee founded the mobile payment service Cash App in 2013. He lived in Mill Valley, California, after his mother died in 2019, then moved to Miami in October, according to a Facebook post last week by his father, Rick Lee. Bobby worked harder than anyone and was the smartest person I have ever known, Rick Lee wrote. He will be missed by all those that knew him. Thank you to those who have reached out in support. Lee was a chief product officer at cryptocurrency startup MobileCoin and previously worked as chief technology officer at the payments platform Square, which has since been renamed Block. In the wake of Lees death, tech executives, including Twitter Chief Executive Elon Musk, have decried the violence in the city, where progressive District Attorney Chesa Boudin was recalled by voters last year after being criticized as soft on crime and neglecting to address public safety and homelessness. Violent crime, defined by the California Department of Justice as homicide, rape, robbery and aggravated assault, peaked in 2013 in San Francisco with 7,064 incidents. The rate has fallen over the last decade, down to 4,796 incidents in 2020 before undergoing a slight uptick to 4,887 incidents in 2021. The state agency has yet to release crime statistics for 2022. San Francisco Police Commissioner Kevin Benedicto pointed out that San Franciscos violent crime rate is lower than that of other major cities. Overall, if you look at the last five years and 10 years on a longer-term scale, crime is at a historic low, he said. San Francisco has public safety issues like every big city and its unfairly portrayed as being in the midst of a crime wave that isnt born out of the data. Investigators served a warrant on Adams County Children and Youth Services this week, the county solicitor confirmed. The warrant was served by state police investigators Tuesday morning, solicitor Molly R. Mudd said in a statement Wednesday. The warrant was for documents possessed by the agency, including digital data files. There were also several subpoenas issued to CYS staff members to give testimony to a grand jury, Mudd said. Details of the investigation were not available, but she said the grand jury was conducting an investigation into possible violations of Pennsylvania criminal laws. Only the Adams County District Attorney and state police have access to the affidavits of probable cause, which have been sealed by court order, Mudd said. The county does not have information on what prompted the investigation. Mudd said the county is fully cooperating with the investigation, and she added that no county staff has been named as criminal defendants. The County supports its CYS staff and administration, and will continue to support this group of experienced professionals as they continue to focus on, and carry out, their mission to serve the families in Adams County in need of support services, Mudd said. Read more on PennLive: Authorities have arrested a 28-year-old north Philadelphia man in connection to a double stabbing that critically injured a 5-year-old girl and a 37-year-old woman in the citys Tioga section Monday night, according to news sources. Sean Tucker, of the 2100 block of North 28th Street, was arrested and faces multiple charges, including attempted murder and aggravated assault, according to reports from CBS News and The Philadelphia Inquirer. As previously reported, 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., where a 5-year-old girl and a 37-year-old woman were both stabbed multiple times. The girl had stab wounds to her chest, abdomen, and left arm, while the woman had stab wounds to her chest and arms. Both were found lying on the ground, covered in blood, according to the Inquirer. The two were transported to area hospitals and have both been placed in critical condition. Police said that Tucker was the womans ex-boyfriend. Read More: A 43-year-old woman was killed last weekend when a train hit her while she was standing on tracks in Lebanon, police said. Jessie Ginnetto, of Lebanon, was pronounced dead Sunday on the 800 block of Scull Street, where a Norfolk Southern train hit her, according to Lebanon City police. Police did not say what time the crash happened. Additional details on the crash were not immediately available. No matter the circumstances, any loss of life is a tragedy our thoughts are with the family of this person during this difficult time, Norfolk Southern said in a statement to WGAL. We would be remiss if we didnt say that train tracks are simply no place for the public. They can be uniquely dangerous places that always beg extra care to ensure everyones safety. Anyone with information on the crash can call Lebanon City police at 717-272-6611. READ MORE: Family, friends flood central Pa. church to mourn slain 12-year-old boy Search underway after boat capsizes in Susquehanna River: Harrisburg police Central Pennsylvania will enjoy another unseasonably warm day Thursday, but the dry, breezy weather also will bring a risk of wildfires, forecasters say. Residents are urged to exercise caution if handling any potential ignition sources, such as machinery, cigarettes, or matches. If dry grasses and tree litter begin to burn, the fire will have the potential to spread rapidly. It will be mostly sunny with temps soaring into the mid-80s Thursday and wind gusts of 15 to 25 mph. Friday also will see a high of 85 before things cool slightly on Saturday, as the National Weather Service says a high temperature of 75 degrees could be accompanied by afternoon showers. Sunday could also bring rain and a chance of thunderstorms, ushering in cooler temperatures on Monday. For more information on wildfire danger, burn restrictions and wildfire prevention and education, people should visit the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources website. Today Sunny, with a high near 83. Tonight Mostly clear, with a low around 52. Friday Sunny, with a high near 85. Friday Night Mostly cloudy, with a low around 57. Saturday Cloudy with a chance of showers after 3 p.m., and a high near 75. Saturday night A chance of showers before 9 p.m., with a low around 57. Sunday A chance of showers and a thunderstorm after 3 p.m. Temperatures at a high near 75. Sunday night A chance of showers before 3 a.m. Partly cloudy, with a low around 40. Monday Partly sunny, with a chance of showers, and temperatures at a high near 60. READ MORE: Central Pa. off-duty officer helps save a life while at a gym 15-year-old central Pa. girl has been missing since March: police By MICHAEL R. BLOOD, AP Political Writer LOS ANGELES (AP) Recuperating U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California asked Wednesday to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee, shortly after two House Democrats called on her to resign after her extended absence from Washington. In a statement, the long-serving Democratic senator said her recovery from a case of shingles she disclosed in early March had been delayed because of complications. She provided no date for her return to the Senate and said she had asked Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to serve in her committee seat until she was able to return. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel, Feinstein said. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. Feinsteins decision to seek a committee stand-in during her recovery comes amid increasing anxiety within her party that her lengthy absence has damaged Democratic efforts to confirm President Joe Bidens nominees for federal courts in a narrowly divided chamber. She is the oldest member of Congress, at 89. California Rep. Ro Khanna, one of two Democratic House members who called Wednesday for Feinstein to resign, said in a statement Wednesday: This is a moment of crisis for womens rights and voting rights. Its unacceptable to have Sen. Feinstein miss vote after vote to confirm judges who will uphold reproductive rights. Khanna, a California progressive, wrote on Twitter that Feinstein should step aside. She announced in February that she would not seek reelection in 2024, opening up her seat for the first time in over 30 years. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty, wrote Khanna, who has endorsed the Senate campaign of Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not long afterward, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota tweeted that he agreed with Khanna. Feinstein, he wrote, is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But 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. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday from Ireland, where President Joe Biden was visiting, that Biden and first lady Jill Biden wish Senator Feinstein the very best and a speedy recovery. She said Biden is deeply appreciative of her support for his judicial nominees and respects and appreciates her commitment to public service. Qabil Ashirov France continues to support Armenia, a weak link in the region, to build its influence in the South Caucasus. Along with meddling in the regional issues of other countries, it does this in such an unprofessional and amateurish manner that its actions cause irritation in the region. In connection with the provocation of Armenia against Azerbaijan in the Lachin district, without investigating the issue in details, France, once again, made a biased and groundless statement accusing Azerbaijan of aggression, and calling for Respect for the territorial integrity of Armenia. However, despite having been the co-chairman of the OSCE Minsk Group, France had turned a blind eye to Armenia keeping Azerbaijani lands under occupation for 30 years. Speaking to Azernews, political analyst, Professor at Western Caspian University Fikret Sadigov commented on the recent Armenian provocations. The pundit said the Armenia's shelling the Azerbaijani Army position is part of a plan made between Armenia and France. It of srprize that instead of taking steps to make an objective decision, France, as a permanent member of the UN Security Council openly takes a pro-Armenian position. In other words, for France, the Armenian-Azerbaijani conflict is understood as though a conflict between Azerbaijan and France, and France sees Azerbaijan as an aggressor. As for the reason for Frances such stance, the pundit pointed out that the roots of this are much deeper. Of course, the strong activity of the Armenian lobby is felt in this issue. Also there (in France) are quite powerful circles and rich forces that influence such a position and decision of France. I have no doubt about it, Fikret Sadigov opined. The pundit thinks that another reason for Frances biased stance is because of its concern about the forming of an alliance between Azerbaijan and Turkiye and evolving into a single power. Another reason is that the creation of a joint alliance with Turkiye and becoming a single force worries France very much. I think such a biased position is closely related to this issue, said Fikret Sadigov. In addition, the pundit considers that the Azerbaijani victory over Armenia in the 44-day war in 2020, forced France to unmask and overtly stand with Armenia. For 30 years, France was the co-chair of the Minsk Group of the OSCE. The issue was not resolved because there was a co-chairman of the group like France. Now, it seems that France has taken off its mask and stands with Armenia openly, that is, without investigating the issue at all, and supports and caresses Armenia, Sadigov noted. He said that undoubtedly France is aware of the situation very well and comprehension of who is right, and who is wrong. Paris knows who invaded whose territory and who made a provocation against whom. This biased, subjective position is so related to Armenia's position and the factors, I mentioned above, that they simply cannot get away from it. They believe that at the present stage and in the future, France should only stand with Armenia. This is not a situation that suits a big European state, and a permanent member of the Security Council like France, the pundit added. April 13, 1943 Platte county had a $39,070 start in its bond drive from sales at the two banks in Columbus and the post office here before the drive even started. One hundred volunteer and auxiliary firemen from towns in the Columbus area are expected in Columbus Wednesday for the fire school sponsored by the League of Nebraska Municipalities in conjunction with the state fire marshals office. U.S. Sen. John Fetterman said in a tweet Wednesday that he will be chairing his first subcommittee hearing next week. The Pa. Democrat will chair the hearing titled SNAP and Other Nutrition Assistance in the Farm Bill at 3:30 p.m. April 19 with Sen. Mike Braun, an Indiana Republican. SNAP is an acronym for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides nutrition benefits to supplement the food budget of needy families. The news is out! Im very excited to chair my first subcommittee hearing next week. Well be talking about protecting SNAP, fighting for PAs farmers in the Farm Bill, and much more. Hope youll tune in.https://t.co/e5d1elpGBs Senator John Fetterman (@SenFettermanPA) April 12, 2023 The subcommittee on Food and Nutrition, Specialty Crops, Organics, and Research will hold the hearing. Fetterman was released from Walter Reed National Military Medical Center on March 31 after being hospitalized in mid-February for major depression. His doctors say that illness is now in remission. He has been home in Braddock, Pennsylvania, recuperating since then while anticipating a return to D.C. when the Senate session resumes Monday. More: John Fetterman got hearing aids for sensorineural hearing loss. Heres what that means. Fetterman, Casey bash federal judges ruling against FDA-approved abortion medication A new state poll on the economy, crime, schools, guns, abortion, politicians and more shows some sameness and some change in Pennsylvanians thinking. And, overall, a weighty feel of dour discontent. It reflects ongoing unease about the economy and the direction of the state. An uptick in support for gun control and legal abortion. Increased concern about crime and violence. And so-so numbers for our new governor. More than 1 million notices of violations for exceeding work zone speed limits on interstates and the Pennsylvania Turnpike were issued over the past three years as part of the states automated speed enforcement pilot program. That pilot ends this year but Acting Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Secretary Mike Carroll is urging the General Assembly to extend it or make it a permanent program. We believe that thats an important component for the safety of our workers, he told senators during his departmental budget hearing on Thursday. According to a PennDOT report, the number of work zone crashes has decreased since enforcement began using the work zone cameras in 2020. The program requires drivers to be exceeding the posted speed limit by at least 11 mph in active work zones to be issued a violation. The first offense in any given 12-month period results in a warning; a second offense, a $75 fine; and subsequent offenses, $150. Over the past three years, about 53,000 notices of violations were issued to drivers for three or more excessive speeding offenses, according to the report. Sen. Judy Schwank, D-Berks County, said she and Sen. Dave Argall, R-Schuylkill County, are proposing legislation to extend this pilot program. Other topics discussed during the hearing include: Allowing local police to use radar: Sen. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland County, has introduced legislation that would give municipal police the same authority to use radar to enforce speed limits as the state police already have. Pointing out Gov. Josh Shapiro authored a bill in 2010 that Carroll supported to give local police radar, Rothman asked the acting secretary where PennDOT stands on that issue. Im glad I aligned with the governor on that one, Carroll quipped. Carroll said the challenge Rothmans bill poses for PennDOT is that it would treat speeding violations issued by local police differently than the ones issued by state police. Local police would not be permitted to assign points on a drivers license while the state police can. I dont want to hide behind this as an excuse and Im not going to, Carroll said. We will have to advance a system change to accommodate whatever language is in the bill once the governor signs it. The acting secretary said he hoped that the bill would provide a long enough runway to allow the department to make that transition. Benefits of a mild winter: PennDOT saved about $100 million on salt and overtime as a result of the mild winter, Carroll said. Were thankful for that and that savings will be available for us for maintenance this summer and we look forward to doing more projects, he said. REAL ID: With the repeated postponements over the past four years of the federal enforcement of REAL ID, Carroll said he anticipates more people will now wait closer to the May 7, 2025, deadline to obtain this credential that will be required to enter federal building or military installation or board a domestic commercial flight after that date. To date, two million Pennsylvanians, or 19% of all license holders, have chosen to get a real ID, which isnt mandatory. Carroll further added PennDOT is working with Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill, R-York County, and others who asked the department to reconsider the documents necessary to obtain a REAL ID for folks who have had a name change with an eye toward making it easier. Bridge work: Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Wayne Langerholc, R-Cambria County, asked Carroll if he considered the contract that his predecessor locked PennDOT into for repairing six interstate bridges through a public-private partnership was the best choice. Langerholc said those bridges were originally estimated to cost between $550 million and $2 billion to repair will wind up costing Pennsylvanians about $5.7 billion over the 35-year life of the contract. Carroll said that decision was reconsidered but the cost of cancelling it would be $400 million and would be hurtful to the commonwealths credit rating, which would raise the cost of future borrowing. So we will go forward with the six bridges, Carroll said. Those six bridges were once part of a package of nine bridge candidates, which included the I-83/South Bridge in Harrisburg, that were eyed for possible tolling to pay for the cost of their improvements through a public-private partnership arrangement. The General Assembly and a court decision last year made sure that tolling scheme never got off the ground. However, Larry Shifflet, PennDOTs deputy secretary for planning, said after the budget hearing the replacement of the I-83/South Bridge is still going to happen but it will done through PennDOTs routine transportation improvement programming. Preliminary design work is expected to begin later this year and public hearings will be held. The rise of electric vehicles: Over the past four years the number of electric vehicles Pennsylvanians own has increased from 9,000 to 63,000 and continuing to rise. Meanwhile, the amount of money raised through the states gas tax, which is the main revenue source to pay for road and bridge projects, has leveled off. Several senators voiced concern about the need to capture more revenue from the owners of electric vehicles, including possibly a mileage-based user fee. Carroll said his department looks forward to working with the General Assembly to make sure that they pay their fair share. Jan Murphy may be reached at jmurphy@pennlive.com. Follow her on Twitter at @JanMurphy. Bill Newell speaks in his role as director of the RDOS emergency operations centre in this screen clip from a media briefing in July 2021. Write: letters@pentictonherald.ca (letters may not exceed 400 words and must be accompanied with a phone number and address for verification purposes - this information will not be published). The Herald will not publish anonymous submissions. Bans on commercial fishing in U.S. and international Arctic waters have been lauded as admirable preemptive actions that protect vulnerable resources before they are damaged by exploitation. But now the Alaska Department of Fish and Game is preparing for a time when the 14-year-old moratorium on commercial fishing in federal Arctic waters is lifted. The department is seeking $1 million in state general funds and another $2 million in federal funds to work on research to better understand those Arctic waters in the event that commercial fisheries are conducted there, Fish and Game Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang said last month. As fish stocks move north around the circumpolar north and fishing fleets from other countries follow them Alaska should not be left out, Vincent-Lang said during a panel discussion at the Arctic Encounter Symposium being held in Anchorage. We see opportunities for our coastal communities to develop fisheries. And we certainly dont want to be left onshore while Russia and other countries go out and fish those waters, he said. Planning involves scientific research to identify biomasses and stocks north of the Bering Strait, he said. But we also need to get started on what a fishery management looks like, he said, referring to a system for determining participants and possibly allocating shares by community. Were starting to think through those processes. Were starting to do that work, he said. For now, there is no commercial fishing in U.S. federal waters north of the Bering Strait, though there are some small commercial harvests in state waters above the Arctic Circle. The moratorium on commercial fishing in U.S. Arctic waters was approved by the North Pacific Fishery Management Council in 2009. However, some fish stocks have shifted northward as the Bering Sea and similar Arctic marginal seas have warmed. The shifts, with some species like Pacific cod and pollock moving northward and other species like snow crab getting crowded out, are part of a wider pattern that scientists call borealization. In Russian waters of the Chukchi Sea, pollock stocks have been big enough in recent years to prompt the government to open a commercial fishery there in 2020. It was the first commercial harvest of pollock in the Chukchi. However, some Russian scientists have warned that the fishery may not be sustainable. A more sweeping international agreement signed in 2018 put a moratorium on commercial fishing in the international waters of the Arctic Ocean, a High North area dubbed the Central Arctic donut hole. Ten governments, including Russia and the European Union, signed onto the agreement, which went into effect in 2021 and will bar commercial fishing for at least 16 years. The Arctic fishing agreement is one of the few areas in which the U.S. and Russia remain engaged, with a meeting held in Utqiagvik earlier this month to work on a joint science plan. There are still big challenges, but there will not be commercial fisheries in this area for at least the life of the agreement, which is 16 years, David Balton, a former State Department diplomat who helped negotiate the agreement, said at the Arctic Encounter Symposium panel discussion. The moratorium will be extended in five-year increments, unless any of the parties object, he said. Its quite a success story, said Balton, who is now executive director of the White Houses Arctic Executive Steering Committee. The AlaskaBeacon.com is a donor-funded independent news organization in Alaska. Returns of Bristol Bay sockeye salmon, shown from all river systems, have increased dramatically, especially in the past decade, state records show. The long-term outlook is bright for Bristol Bay sockeye runs, source of a thriving commercial fishery that has enjoyed record-breaking returns and harvests in recent years, a salmon expert told a conference last month. Part of the credit goes to the warming climate in that southeast Bering Sea region, Daniel Schindler, a professor at the University of Washington's School of Aquatic and Fishery Sciences, said in a teleconferenced presentation on March 24 to the two-day Bristol Bay Sustainability Summit held in Dillingham. "Unlike most stories about climate change that we hear across the world, Bristol Bay has actually benefited from climate warming so far," said Schindler, a Bristol Bay expert who helps lead the university's Alaska Salmon Program. Lakes and rivers are warming up, and the warming in the nearshore ocean has enhanced survival of juvenile salmon, he said in his conference presentation. That presents some big questions, he said: "Should we continue to expect more fish to return to Bristol Bay, and how much more warming can these ecosystems and this fish accumulate before they start declining, like they have in the Lower 48 and in the southern parts of the range of the salmon?" The answer is that Bristol Bay, which is already the site of the world's biggest sockeye runs, will likely keep producing lots of sockeye, he said. "Bristol Bay watersheds probably still have a lot of potential warming that will increase salmon productivity that we should expect to see in the next few decades," he said. But Bristol Bay's positive salmon outlook is conditioned on continued careful management of harvests and continued protection of habitat, Schindler said. The Bristol Bay region has several advantages over others that produce salmon, Schindler said. The rivers are short, with individual characteristics that contain a wide degree of ecological diversity. In some places, fish do better in warm conditions and in others, they thrive in cool conditions; the wide ecosystem diversity allows returning sockeye salmon to pick their spots to swim and adjust and thrive as climate conditions change, he said. The more that habitat is protected across the wide diversity of river and lake ecosystems, the more opportunities that salmon have to adjust to changing conditions, he said. Given all the characteristics of the Bristol Bay watershed, including lakes used by sockeye that have become more productive as temperatures warm, "I'm quite optimistic that there's at least 100, maybe 200 years of warming left in the Bristol Bay systems before we have a lot of problems with migrating fish," Schindler told the conference audience. That is a contrast to long, big rivers like the Yukon and Kuskokwim in Alaska, which have suffered recent salmon crashes, or the Fraser or Columbia south of Alaska, he said. "Those fish are already suffering from warm temperatures. I would argue that things do not look particularly promising for rivers like the Yukon," he said. The bright outlook for Bristol Bay sockeye contrasts with the picture for Chinook salmon in that region and others, Schindler said in an interview last Tuesday. "Chinook are down everywhere, from Sacramento up to the Yukon," he said. That includes Bristol Bay, where Chinook runs have diminished over the years. The reason or reasons remain unclear, he said. There are theories about climate change in the ocean or in the rivers, though there are mixed signals from the various ecosystems, he said. He doubts that Chinook harvest management or bycatch by Bering Sea trawlers is to blame, he said. "It could be related to the changes in the body size, but it's not clear that's the case either," he said, referring to studies about shrinking salmon sizes among multiple Alaska species and his own work with University of Washington colleagues documenting the shrinking size of Chinook salmon. The AlaskaBeacon.com is a donor-funded independent news organization in Alaska. WASHINGTON President Joe Biden announced Thursday that he will direct his administration to allow undocumented people in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program to enroll in Medicaid or private insurance provided under the Affordable Care Act. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will issue a proposed rule on the policy by the end of the month, according to a fact sheet from the White House. Health care should be a right, not a privilege, Biden said of the policy in a video announcement on Twitter. Todays announcement is about giving DACA recipients the same opportunity. Specific language for the new policy was not yet available Thursday. But the fact sheet from the White House says HHS will publish a rule that amends the definition of lawful presence to include DACA recipients in Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverage. Medicaid is a joint federal-state program that provides health coverage to low income Americans and people with disabilities. If the rule is finalized, DACA recipients will be able to apply for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace, where they may qualify for financial assistance based on income, and through their state Medicaid agency, according to the White House fact sheet. Like all other enrollees, eligibility information will be verified electronically when individuals apply for coverage, according to the fact sheet. Legal challenges possible Its unclear how long a new rule could take to implement potentially, it could take years and legal challenges could also delay implementation. There are about 800,000 undocumented people in the program begun during the Obama administration, often referred to as Dreamers. DACA recipients, and an estimated 10 million undocumented people, do not have access to Medicaid or coverage provided through the ACA, and were left out of federal aid during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic even though many were essential workers. Biden also called on Congress to create a pathway for citizenship for DACA recipients. Senate Democrats made a last-ditch effort at the end of 2022 when they still controlled the House, but were unable to secure 10 Republican votes needed to reach the 60-vote threshold. Those in the DACA program are also awaiting a Supreme Court decision that could determine the legality of the program that has existed for more than a decade. If a conservative court determines that the program is unlawful, its unclear what will happen to those in the program. Applause from Democrats Congressional Democrats welcomed the health coverage announcement. U.S. Democratic Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto of Nevada praised the Biden administration in a statement and said that DACA recipients should have access to health care. DACA recipients are an essential part of our community in Nevada and they deserve access to quality, affordable health care, she said. U.S. Democratic Rep. Joaquin Castro of Texas said the policy would help give DACA recipients access to the same care as their neighbors and build healthier communities for all of us. For more than ten years, hundreds of thousands of young Americans have been unfairly excluded from the affordable health insurance they need, Castro said. In the wake of a pandemic that disproportionately affected immigrant and frontline families, this long-overdue expansion is welcome news. In 2021, Castro, along with 90 House members, urged Biden to extend ACA benefits for DACA recipients during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 1 million people in the U.S. died from the virus. Massive Fields & Two-Time Champ Highlight First Three Days of PokerNews Cup on Global Poker April 13, 2023 Chad Holloway Executive Editor U.S. The Global Poker x PokerNews Cup is happening now! From April 10-30, PokerNews and Global Poker have joined forces to offer an online PokerNews Cup, which will be comprised of 32 exclusive trophies and GC100,000,000 and SC250,000 Finals. Whats more, PokerNews will be offering daily recaps of all the trophy events on Global Poker! PokerNews is offering daily updates in our running live blog here, but we also wanted to highlight some of the big stories and winners in this recap. Keep on reading for more. Get all the details on the Global Poker x PokerNews Cup here! Global Poker x PokerNews Cup Opening Day a Big Hit! On Monday, April 10, the Global Poker x PokerNews Cup, which runs through April 30 kicked off with the first two tournaments from the 32-trophy-event schedule. Remember, the online series is slated to culminate with GC100,000,000 & SC250,000 Finals, which you can qualify for right now. The first tournament was the PokerNews Cup Qualifier 01 GC 4,000,000 GTD, which a GC 11,000 entry. The tournament attracted 436 runners and the winner received entry into the aforementioned GC100,000,000 final, whereas the other final tablists received entry into the PokerNews Cup GC Semifinal, while the 10th-50th place finishers won entry into the PokerNews Cup GC Quarterfinal. One player that made a deep run was Anthony "AcePoker" Caldiero, who was recently interviewed on the PokerNews Podcast as a member of the new PokerNews Stream Team on Global Poker. AcePoker nearly took down the first tournament while streaming his play, but ultimately, he fell a few spots short taking fourth place for GC 444,720. I want a title on day 1 IM chip leading final table LIVE NOW ON TWITCH Ace Poker (@AcePoker444) In the end, it was Allhustlenoluck besting Lizzie75 in heads-up play to win the tournament. The former won a prize of GC 821,860, while the latter received a GC 603,860 consolation prize. The other tournament was the PokerNews Cup Qualifier 01 SC 10,000 GTD, which had an entry of 11 Sweeps Coins (SC). The tournament attracted a massive 3,315 entrants and the winner received entry into the SC 250,000 Final, whereas the other final tablists received entry into the PokerNews Cup SC Semifinal, while the 10th-50th place finishers won entry into the PokerNews Cup SC Quarterfinal. The last player standing in that tournament was Redemption1798, who defeated Jayz4dayz72 in heads-up play to win the tournament for SC 5,184.67! Two PN Cup Titles in Two Days for Allhustlenoluck On Tuesday, April 11, the Global Poker x PokerNews Cup, which runs through April 30 hosted two more tournaments from the 32-trophy-event schedule. In PokerNews Cup Qualifier 02 PLO 6-Max - GC 4,000,000 GTD, which had an entry of GC 11,000 to enter, 283 entrants competed, and it was a familiar name coming out on top in Allhustlenoluck. Thats because the day before they had topped a 436-player field to win the PokerNews Cup Qualifier 01 NLH GC 4,000,000 GTD for GC 821,860! It marked two titles in two days for the player, who also laid claim to an GC 818,000 top prize for the latest victory. Additionally, Allhustlenoluck was slated to receive entry into the GC 100,000,000 final mentioned above, but they already had one from the day before! Furthermore, the other final tablists received entry into the PokerNews Cup GC Semifinal, while the 10th-50th place finishers won entry into the PokerNews Cup GC Quarterfinal. The other tournament on Tuesday was the PokerNews Cup Qualifier 02 PLO 6-Max SC 10,000 GTD, which had a SC11 entry. It was another massive turnout as 2,073 entrants competed. The winner received entry into the SC 250,000 Final, whereas the other final tablists received entry into the PokerNews Cup SC Semifinal, while the 10th-50th place finishers won entry into the PokerNews Cup SC Quarterfinal. Ultimately, it was Novina defeating Bearce in heads-up play to win the tournament for SC 3,254.62. Day 3 Continues to Draw Massive Fields to Global Poker On Wednesday, April 12, the Global Poker x PokerNews Cup which runs through April 30 hosted two more tournaments from the 32-trophy-ever schedule. In PokerNews Cup Qualifier 03 NLH 6-Max Progressive Bounty - GC 4,000,000 GTD, which had a GC 11,000 entry, 402 entrants competed. The winner was slated to receive an entry into the GC100,000,000 final, while the other final tablists received entry into the PokerNews Cup GC Semifinal, while the 10th-50th place finishers won entry into the PokerNews Cup GC Quarterfinal. Among those to make the final table were Deucefive (6th place), SunshineLamb (5th place), AmandaDanger211 (4th place), and CptJackRackem (3rd place). The title came down to RUeTaMa and Lancer6120, and when the dust settled the former prevailed to win the title and GC 686,318.14. The other tournament to take place on Wednesday was the SC 11 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 03 NLH Progressive Bounty 6-Max SC 10,000 GTD, It was another massive turnout as 2,842 entrants competed. The winner received entry into the SC 250,000 Final, whereas the other final tablists received entry into the PokerNews Cup SC Semifinal, while the 10th-50th place finishers won entry into the PokerNews Cup SC Quarterfinal. Among those to make the final table were ThisGuy88 (6th place), DoDo118 (5th place), Newbaum (4th place), and BigDongRon (3rd place), but in the end it was ThinkAndDrink defeating BigCullDog in heads-up play to win the tournament for SC 2,261.46. The Global Poker x PokerNews Cup Gold Coins Schedule Day Date Time (ET) Event Entry Mon Apr 10 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 01 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed 11,000 Tue Apr 11 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 02 - PLO - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [6-Max] 11,000 Wed Apr 12 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 03 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max] 11,000 Thu Apr 13 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 04 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Deep] 11,000 Fri Apr 14 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 05 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Bounty, 8-Max] 11,000 Sat Apr 15 17:00 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 06 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [6-Max, Super Deep] 11,000 Sun Apr 16 17:00 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 07 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, Super Deep] 11,000 Mon Apr 17 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 08 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Bounty] 11,000 Tue Apr 18 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 09 - PLO8 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [8-Max] 11,000 Wed Apr 19 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 10 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Super Bounty] 11,000 Thu Apr 20 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 11 - NLCP - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [8-Max] 11,000 Fri Apr 21 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 12 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty] 11,000 Sat Apr 22 17:00 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 13 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max, Super Deep] 11,000 Sun Apr 23 17:00 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 14 - GC 4,000,000 Guaranteed [Super Deep] 11,000 Tue Apr 25 20:30 PokerNews Cup Wildcard Freeroll to GC 100,000,000 Final [Turbo] 0 Wed Apr 26 20:30 Private PokerNews Cup Wildcard Invitational Tournament - GC [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max] 0 Fri Apr 28 20:30 PokerNews Cup GC Quarterfinal N/A Sat Apr 29 17:00 PokerNews Cup GC Semifinal [Deep] N/A Sun Apr 30 17:00 PokerNews Cup GC 100,000,000 Final [Deep] N/A Global Poker Best Bonus Codes and Promos The Global Poker x PokerNews Cup Sweeps Coins Schedule Day Date Time (ET) Event Entry Mon Apr 10 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 01 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed 11 Tue Apr 11 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 02 - PLO - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [6-Max] 11 Wed Apr 12 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 03 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max] 11 Thu Apr 13 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 04 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Deep] 11 Fri Apr 14 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 05 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Bounty, 8-Max] 11 Sat Apr 15 17:00 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 06 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [6-Max, Super Deep] 11 Sun Apr 16 17:00 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 07 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, Super Deep] 11 Mon Apr 17 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 08 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Bounty] 11 Tue Apr 18 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 09 - PLO8 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [8-Max] 11 Wed Apr 19 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 10 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Super Bounty] 11 Thu Apr 20 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 11 - NLCP - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [8-Max] 11 Fri Apr 21 20:30 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 12 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty] 11 Sat Apr 22 17:00 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 13 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Progressive Bounty, 6-Max, Super Deep] 11 Sun Apr 23 17:00 PokerNews Cup Qualifier 14 - SC 10,000 Guaranteed [Super Deep] 11 Tue Apr 25 20:30 PokerNews Cup Wildcard Freeroll to SC 250,000 Final [Turbo] 0 Wed Apr 26 20:30 Private PokerNews Cup Wildcard Invitational Tournament SC 0 Fri Apr 28 20:30 PokerNews Cup SC Quarterfinal N/A Sat Apr 29 17:00 PokerNews Cup SC Semifinal [Deep] N/A Sun Apr 30 17:00 PokerNews Cup SC 250,000 Final [Deep] N/A Sharelines Check out highlights from the first three days of the @official_glp x PokerNews Cup. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Michael Cohens attorney Lanny Davis said that Trumps $500 million lawsuit against his client is an attempt to prevent criminal witnesses from coming forward. Here is the statement from Lanny Davis: Michael Cohens lawyer Lanny Davis accuses Trump of abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation with his $500 million lawsuit. Updated story, @lawcrimenews https://t.co/22k6zJR424 pic.twitter.com/W5kvjKA3r0 Adam Klasfeld (@KlasfeldReports) April 12, 2023 Davis said in part, It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and his attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him. Mr. Cohen will not be deterred and is confident that this suit will fail based on the facts and the law. Is there anyone in America, aside from a shrinking minority base of believers, who takes Mr. Trump seriously when he files these frivolous lawsuits? For More Stories Like This, Subscribe To Our Newsletter: These lawsuits that Trump files usually go nowhere, but some like Trumps lawsuit against Hillary Clinton, end in sanctions against Trump and his legal team. The lawsuits are always an attempt by Trump to look strong and impress his supporters. Trump knows that he is not going to intimidate Michael Cohen, but he is hoping to scare potential witnesses in Manhattan, Georgia, and the federal investigation being run by Special Counsel Jack Smith. The lawsuit will likely die quickly in court, even though Trump once again went judge shopping in Florida. Davis was right. Trump is terrified, and the lawsuit is a way for Trump to feel like he is in control when he is not. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print Trump is back in New York being deposed by Attorney General Letitia James in the states fraud lawsuit, as he arrived the crowd greeted him with chants of New York hates you. Video: Trump motorcade arriving at AGs office to chants of New York hates you. pic.twitter.com/CjKtJZlrY0 Shayna Jacobs (@shaynajacobs) April 13, 2023 A giant banner was hanging on the barricades that said no one is above the law, as the crowd chanted New York hates you as Trumps motorcade drove down the street. For More Stories Like This, Subscribe To Our Newsletter: Trump is back in New York to be deposed in the lawsuit filed by state Attorney General Letitia James against the Trump Organization for fraud. The Attorney General is accusing Donald Trump and his adult children Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump, and Ivanka Trump of running a decades-long scheme of inflating the value of their properties to get loans, while also deflating the values of those same properties to avoid paying taxes. James is seeking a $250 million fine, and banning Trump and his kids from doing business in the state of New York. The state would also shut down the Trump Organization., The lawsuit would essentially shut down Trumps business, and it seems make it impossible for him to loans. Trump has legal woes coming at him from all directions, but a loss in the state civil suit could cripple his business, and end his decades of financial fraud under the pretense of the Trump Organization. In a touch of irony, over a period of five days, Carlisle hosted soldiers who liberated prisoners and prisoners who liberated themselves. It was April 4, 1945, and World War II in Europe was winding down, prompting worry among the high command that factory workers on the home front could slack off production. The Sentinel reported that four soldiers were rushed back from combat duty in the Philippines to tour the U.S. to inspire the workforce to keep up the pressure. The men included Capt. Robert W. Prince of Seattle who earned the Distinguished Service Cross for his role in the rescue of nearly 500 Allied POWs from a Japanese stockade at Cabanatuan on the island of Luzon. Out in the Pacific, where we do our fighting, we are afraid that the folks here at home might relax their efforts when the war in Europe is over, Prince said. Out in the Pacific, the war is tough, and it will last a long time yet. Please do not let us down. Prince and three fellow soldiers detailed the surprise attack on the POW camp just months before in late January. They were speaking to workers employed by P.R. Hoffman, Carlisle Tire and Rubber, C.H. Masland & Sons and the Bedford Shoe company. Five days later, on April 9, two German POWs walked out of the C.H. Masland & Sons temporary war plant on the Harrisburg Pike across from the Carlisle Barracks entrance. Since November 1944, the company had been using POWs housed at the New Cumberland Army Depot as workers to help make tents for the U.S. armed forces. Erich Pauschert, 19, and Heinz Oster, 24, saw an opportunity to slip away unnoticed into the Carlisle area countryside. The pair were on the 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. shift, The Sentinel reported. Their absence was discovered at about 2 a.m. by a guard during a periodic routine check. Immediately, an interstate search was started. Local and state police and the FBI were notified. The newspaper published detailed descriptions of both fugitives. Similar advisories were aired in local radio broadcasts. Kenneth Reese and his sister, Maxine, listened in on the news before setting out for Carlisle High School about 7:45 a.m. April 10. They had not traveled far before they saw two hatless men trudging up the road toward them. The appearance of the strangers matched the descriptions aired on the radio. At that point, Kenneth Reese stepped on the gas and drove to the local police department where he offered the tip that prompted the manhunt that ultimately nabbed the escapees. The capture was made in North Middleton Township about two miles west of Bellaire Park and about 100 yards from Longs Gap Road, The Sentinel reported. The pair were attempting to make the cover of a stretch of woodland along the nearby Conodoguinet Creek. Prior to that, the fugitives had taken shelter in the vicinity of Cave Hill. Tour Through Time runs Saturday in The Sentinel print edition. Reporter Joseph Cress will work with the Cumberland County Historical Society each week to look at the county through the years. Send any questions, feature ideas or tips to jcress@cumberlink.com. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email Print If you thought the Nazi memorabilia collector secretly funding Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas was bad, just hold on. It appears that Clarence Thomas might have violated the law in the process of hiding a real estate deal with that same Republican billionaire. Harlan Crow, the same Nazi collector guy, bought property from Clarence Thomas in 2014. Clarence Thomas did not disclose this real estate deal, which is to say, he hid it. (Not disclosing things has become a Thomas theme.) One of Texas billionaire Harlan Crows companies quietly bought several lots on a residential street in Savannah, GA. The seller? Crows friend & travel companion Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, ProPublica summarized. The transaction marks the first known instance of money flowing from the Republican megadonor to the Supreme Court justice. The Crow company bought the properties for $133,363 from three co-owners Thomas, his mother and the family of Thomas late brother, according to a state tax document and a deed dated Oct. 15, 2014, filed at the Chatham County courthouse, ProPublica reported. Justices have to disclose the details of real estate sales over $1,000. Here is Thomas' signature on the deed for his deal with Crow + the vacant lots Crow bought from Thomas. pic.twitter.com/fXkBa34Vxe Justin Elliott (@JustinElliott) April 13, 2023 Thomas never disclosed his sale of the Savannah properties. That appears to be a violation of the law, four ethics law experts told ProPublica. It also means that Harlan Crow, billionaire Nazi memorabilia collector, owned the house where Clarence Thomas mother was living, as pointed out by ProPublica. Justice Thomas didnt respond to our detailed questions. Crow sent us this statement about his plans to create a museum to tell Thomas story at one of the houses he bought, Justin Elliot, a ProPublica reporter shared on Twitter. Harlan the Nazi collector Crow issued a statement attempting to dismiss the criticism stemming from the revelation by claiming he bought the home as part of a historic project in Savannah, Georgia. However, This Crow statement is absurd. What price was paid to Thomas vs market rate will be important BUT no matter it still had to be disclosed, Andrew Weissmann, who spent 20 years at the DOJ, wrote. Given the role Crow has played in subsidizing the lifestyle of Thomas and his wife, you have to wonder if this was an effort to put cash in their pockets, Virginia Canter, a former government ethics lawyer now at CREW told ProPublica. No matter what they did with this transaction, even if it was all above board, it needed to be disclosed. The fact that it wasnt simply shines a light on the need to probe further (real estate deals are prevalent money laundering schemes). This news came right after the bombshell that Crow was secretly funding Thomas for years. If Thomas had built up any kind of ethical bank at this point, this would still appear to be a violation of the law. But the problem for Thomas is that he has the opposite of an ethical bank with the voters of the United States. His wife Ginni Thomas tried to overthrow the government. He failed to recuse himself from matters she and her activist groups pushed before the court. He ruled on the Affordable Care act, while his wife Ginni was paid to lobby against the law. He forgot to disclose his wifes income from lobbying against the healthcare law. He failed to recuse himself from Senator Lindsey Grahams case, which, Laurence Tribe pointed out, federal law required him to do. Tribe continued with a warning that seems especially ominous now as he wrote this in 2022, In government, even Alexander Hamiltons least dangerous branch the judiciary becomes dangerous when there is no enforcement mechanism behind a law. Yet that is exactly the argument Thomas seems to make for himself and his wife they are above the law, they will not enforce the law when it comes to causes they support, and Thomas will not enforce the law when he chooses not to, when it benefits him or a cause he cares about. When all of the decent lawyers agree that his actions are beyond troublesome, so much so that they actually undermine the rule of law, its past time for our institutions to step up. And agree decent lawyers do. Here is Emeritus scholar at the American Enterprise Institute and contributing editor for the Atlantic Norm Ornstein on this matter, saying Thomas is unfit for the bench: Simply devastating. Clear cut violations of the law by Clarence Thomas. Repeated efforts to cover it up. Unfit for the bench. This should be the tipping point for his ongoing corruption. Clarence Thomas is unfit for the bench and every moment he remains on it, the court loses legitimacy. Sale documents: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/23774051-sales-document-pt61 In between posting dance videos, chaotic lip syncs, and performing a social experiment on Ice Spice to completely replicate her, North West is certainly TikToks busiest nepo baby. At all hours of the day, you can find @kimandnorth alive on the app. Whether it be North forcing Kim Kardashian to do dances created by Charli DAmelio or posting sped-up videos of Drunk Elephant products its wild. And nine-year-old North West isnt the only child of the Kar-Jenner clan who has entered the TikTok world to give us even more unnecessary shots into the Kardashian lifestyle. Theres also an account for @pandkourt (Penelope Disick and Kourtney Kardashian). But perhaps we have given the two children too much attention for the time being. What happens when you give the nine-year-old daughter of ego-maniac Kanye West and ultimate influencer Kim Kardashian a couple of million followers on TikTok? Thats right, a skincare brand. The old axiom is the devil works hard, but Kris Jenner works harder, but you werent even ready for momager Kim Kardashian. The Kar-Jenners have what Kris Jenner didnt have at this age: the biggest following collectively on Instagram and enough influence to dictate trends moving forward. This means itll be a hell of a lot easier for them to get their children the same platform and force them into the spotlight as the Next Gen of the Jenners. Kim Kardashian has already filed trademarks for both a toy and skincare line on Norths behalf. The skincare line will feature non-medicated skin preparations, moisturizers, lotions, creams, and cleansers with the possibility of products like serums, haircare, and bath products in the future. As for the toy brand, expect dolls and action figures with the possibility of educational toys. Its borderline insanity to think that North West will be pushing skincare products to nine-year-old girls. While Im all for the doing what makes you feel good mentality, not every young girl needs to be thinking about what serum to use. But maybe its just me. Maybe I grew up in a different time and all nine-year-olds absolutely have to have a routine because all TikTokers have one. Whos to say! But I do know this is the beginning of the end. Not only do we have Kims Skims, Khloes Good American, Kylies Kylie Cosmetics, Kendalls 818 and Kourtneys Poosh, but now we are adding the childrens brands into the mix. A clothing trademark had already been registered for North in 2019, just the mere beginning of what Im sure will be a long line of influencing from here on out. Not to mention rumored trademarks for Kylie Jenner and Travis Scotts first child, Stormi Webster, and Penelope Disick have flown about. Im sure Khloes not far behind with True. I shouldnt be as shocked as I am, considering North loves a good skincare TikTok. Whether it be trying SKKN by Kim or her plethora of brightly packaged moisturizers, she is already an influencer in the making. Who knows if North even pays attention to good ingredients we know she has the money to afford top-notch skincare that isnt necessarily accessible to the rest of us, so before you buy SKKN, or Norths impending skincare line, here are my recs: Carolina Panthers coach Frank Reich says he and general manager Scott Fitterer have reached an agreement on which quarterback the team will take with the No. 1 pick in the NFL draft. But Reich says the team wont say who that is until Thursday night, when the draft begins. The Panthers are choosing between Alabamas Bryce Young, Ohio States C.J. Stroud, Kentuckys Will Levis and Floridas Anthony Richardson in an effort to upgrade a quarterback position that has been in transition for the last five seasons. Fitterer said last week he had waited to ask Reich who he preferred at No. 1 so that nothing would cloud either decision makers judgement. Read morePanthers reach consensus on who'll be No. 1 pick in draft COLUMBIA A South Carolina coffee shop chain is ready to open its first Columbia location in an historic building across from the University of South Carolina. Knowledge Perk has set a grand opening and ribbon-cutting for April 17 at its 1527 Gervais St. location, according to its social media. That day, the cafe will open at 6 a.m. and give away gift cards to customers. To get started, the company will have some soft opening hours starting April 13, according to its Facebook post. The building it occupies is an eye-catching Columbia landmark on the National Register of Historic Places. It is the recently renovated and historic W.B. Smith Whaley House, which was built in the early 1890s and is notable for its Queen Anne style, complete with pointed turret. For years the former residential house served as the location for Dunbar Funeral Home, and in the past decade it has stayed vacant, even as the new USC School of Law was built across the street. In the past year, Mashburn Construction has renovated the site to be home to the coffee shop and six apartments. Its large deck, which had been enclosed, has been opened up again for cafe seating. This is the fourth location for Knowledge Perk in the Carolinas, including cafes in Rock Hill and Fort Mill. Cafes also are coming soon to Myrtle Beach and Spartanburg, according to its website. Three apartments in the renovated building, at the corner of Gervais and Pickens streets, still are available to rent, according to the website apartments.com. They range from a small, first-floor studio for $1,100 per month to the 3-bedroom, 2-bath apartment on the building's third floor, priced at $2,435 to $2,500 per month. The Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) reported three Parkland residents were involved in accidents on Monday. According to the MSHP, at 6:25 a.m. Monday on northbound Interstate 270, south of Interstate 44, a 2020 GMC Terrain driven by Matthew T McCarthy, 43, of St. Louis was stopped for traffic ahead when the front of a 2011 Suzuki Equator driven by Jarrett M. Hauler, 21, of St. Louis, struck the rear of a 2004 Chrysler Concorde driven by 27-year-old Matthew L. Roland of De Soto. After being struck, the Concorde was reportedly pushed into the rear of a 2017 Jeep Wrangler driven by 40-year-old Hannah L. Hetzel, also of St. Louis. The front of the Jeep was then pushed into the rear of a 2002 Nissan Xterra, driven by 18-year-old Sierra E. Halter, of St. Louis; and Xterra was pushed into the rear of a 2015 Volkswagen Jetta driven by Michael S. Wilson, 25, of Waterloo, Illinois. Finally, the front of the Jetta was pushed into the rear of the Terrain. All drivers and an occupant in one of the cars were reported by the MSHP to be wearing seat belts at the time. The MSHP said an occupant of the Xterra, 19-year-old Dominic A. Bouse of Park Hills, received minor injuries and was transported to SSM Health St. Clare Hospital by the Fenton Ambulance District. Hauler sustained moderate injuries and was transported by the Mehlville Fire District to Mercy Hospital South. Hetzel received serious injuries and was transported by the Mehlville Fire District to Mercy Hospital South. Wilson received moderate injuries and was taken to Mercy Hospital South by a private conveyance. All vehicles involved but the Terrain are considered totaled by the MSHP and were taken away by Miners towing service. The Terrain was driven from the scene. Later Monday morning, at 8:35 a.m. on southbound Highway O in Ste. Genevieve County, a 2016 Ford Fusion driven by 61-year-old Roxanna G. Grimwood of Ste. Genevieve was traveling south when the car reportedly traveled off the right side of the road, causing the front right bumper of the car to strike a culvert and bridge sign. Grimwood was reported by the MSHP to be wearing a seat belt at the time, and she received moderate injuries. She was taken to Mercy Hospital Jefferson by the Ste. Genevieve Ambulance District. The Fusion sustained extensive damage, according to the MSHP, and was taken away by Ste. Genevieve County Towing. Later Monday night, a 2008 Chevrolet Cobalt driven by a 16-year-old female juvenile was traveling west on Highway Z in Ste. Genevieve County when the car crossed the center line and traveled off the left side of the road. The MSHP said the car returned to the road and crossed the center line again before traveling off the right side of the road. The car then proceeded to travel through a ditch and hit two trees. According to the report, the teen was wearing a seat belt and sustained moderate injuries. She was transported by Air Evac to St. Louis Childrens Hospital. The Cobalt is reported to be totaled, and was taken from the scene by Ives Towing. NORTH CHARLESTON Gathered around a square table smattered with glue sticks, scissors, markers and cardstock, a group of about a dozen teens sketch out protest signs. The smell of pizza and the sounds of soda cans opening and fizzing fill the air in the back of a thrift store on a warm March evening. An ever-present peppy pop playlist fills out the rest of the background noise inside Closet Case in North Charleston's Chicora-Cherokee neighborhood. The teens, all of which identify under the umbrella of LGBTQ+, talk about what's new in their lives while using the arts and crafts before them as an outlet for their emotions anger, anxiety, fear and frustration. Weighing on the teens' minds is the nationwide backlash against gender identity issues, seen through the more than 450 bills targeting aspects of LGBTQ+ life introduced this year in statehouses across the country, according to a running tally by the American Civil Liberties Union. "Trans youth are committing suicide without the gender affirming care they deserve," a sign reads. Signs like that one would join others in Columbia in the following days as South Carolina's Senate held hearings on bans for transgender health care for minors. The gathering was part of a peer support group session, called SafeSpace, hosted by We Are Family inside its combination headquarters and thrift store at 1801 Reynolds Ave. We Are Family is the second-oldest LGBTQ+ charity and support organization in South Carolina, and these group therapy and peer support sessions for minors and young adults represent just one side of this community center-thrift store hybrid. "When you're in a queer-friendly space, you don't realize the weight that's on your shoulders," said Lucy, one of the teens attending last month's SafeSpace session at Closet Case. The Post and Courier is only identifying the teens by their first names due to their concerns over safety, not publicly outing others and the sensitive nature of the peer support space. Many of the students in last month's SafeSpace session at Closet Case talked about how trying to figure out who they are under the presence of constant bullying at school caused them to switch to homeschooling. We Are Family's Closet Case is one of the few spaces that offers the opportunity for LGBTQ+ youth to both find clothes that affirm their identities and meet other young people like themselves. For Jasper, a transgender teen at last month's SafeSpace session, Closet Case and We Are Family's support services made life worth living, he said, because they found community and connection after a difficult coming out to their family. "I struggle immensely with clinical depression," Jasper said. "I now have more friends than ever. My grades have been better." The people behind Closet Case also make the place special as a spot for LGBTQ+ youth to gather and to find mentorship, they said. Those teens and other frequent patrons described what it means to have a visible community space where people can freely share moments of heartache, as well as levity and love. A different kind of store Closet Case operates as a thrift store under a social enterprise model, a type of business that blends private and public partnerships to maximize profits to fund social programs. In this case, Closet Case leverages We Are Family's nonprofit status for tax exemptions in order to stretch proceeds from the sale of used clothes to fund programs such as SafeSpace and keep the store's offerings accessible. Opening in 2019, the thrift store first started on the Charleston peninsula as a pop-up store and had space inside the All of Us resource center downtown before moving next door to the Alliance for Full Acceptance's Equality Hub at the corner of Reynolds and North Carolina avenues in 2019. Creating a highly curated clothing section has been key to their success, said Jonatan Guerrero Ramirez, director of Closet Case and We Are Family's community events. About 80 percent of what people donate isn't usable because of allergy reasons, cleaning and other standards they have for what they want to provide to customers. The store's business model allows them to keep prices low, he said. A pair of shoes, for instance, can cost $6. While Guerrero Ramirez didn't come up with the thrift store idea, he's largely been responsible for cultivating the community space it has become. The curation of the shelves is what makes the store unique; clothing isn't segregated into men's and women's. Rather, it is sorted by style and represented through the perspective of gender being on a spectrum of masculine to feminine. Clothing is labeled in the equivalent men's and women's sizes. In addition to what's on the rack, the shop also hosts clothing swaps, markets, and space at the front for members of the LGBTQ+ community to sell their art and other wares. Proceeds from Closet Case help We Are Family provide microgrants to transgender people to buy new wardrobes as they begin to transition, for mental health assistance program and free gender-affirming school gear. They also host a queer prom and other community activities. Several of these programs were made possible because of the success of Closet Case. Seeing teens mill about the store after school is another sign of the success in cultivating a sense of community, said Guerrero Ramirez. They come from as nearby as North Charleston High School and as far as Summerville High School. We Are Family also provides support to Gender and Sexuality Alliance clubs within middle and high schools throughout the area. When Oliver, one of the transgender teens who attends SafeSpace, first came out a year ago, Closet Case was critical for them in having access to chest binders and gender-affirming clothes while their parents processed their gender identity. We Are Family's longstanding history as a resource for LGBTQ+ parents and families also helped bring the family together by providing them with information they needed to understand Oliver's journey, they said. Growing up and out In the four years since opening, the nonprofit's thrift store has outgrown its space; walking inside means passing through a sea of stuffed clothing racks and shelves. When their lease ends in 2024, We Are Family will look to moving to a larger space somewhere near their current one, said Domenico Ruggerio, executive director of the organization. A 2020 appearance on BuzzFeed's web show "The Empty Suitcase Show" helped the thrift store along. The program took viewers to eight cities across the world where the host tried to figure out how easy it would be to replace a wardrobe for a plus-sized person on vacation in the event an airline lost their luggage. The episode generated about 600,000 views. Ruggerio said the exposure from that episode continues to pay out dividends, because LGBTQ+ tourists come in referencing the video. Closet Case's success in fostering community and creating a store where anyone can feel welcome hasn't gone unnoticed. Other boutique stores in the area have approached them asking for advice on how to make their own spaces more welcoming for instance, a women's boutique trying to figure out how to make men feel comfortable shopping with them, said Guerrero Ramirez. Some of those businesses will also pitch in and provide Closet Case with donations of inventory they can't sell. Kira Schlepp, who owns bridal store Kira Elizabeth Design Studio in Mount Pleasant, said Closet Case's staff have helped her figure out how to better market her store toward plus-size brides as well as gay couples. Schlepp said inclusion has always been important to her and that working with them has helped create diversity among their models. Having a place like Closet Case has been critical for their family, said Rune Vaughan, a 42-year-old North Charleston resident. Vaughan and their children identify within the LGBTQ+ community, and visiting the store is a high point for them. For their oldest child, being able to find clothes that fit her well and affirm her identity has improved her mental health. "She's back to the joyful person she was when she was a child," Vaughan said. So much of what makes this space authentic and inclusive comes from sense of community ownership fostered since We Are Family began in 1995 with Tom Myers, the father of a gay son, as a way for LGBTQ+ families to support each other, Guerrero Ramirez said. Creating an inclusive community center starts with people like Vaughan, who have a deep connection to all aspects of the nonprofit, Guerrero Ramirez added. Four years in, he can safely say this space has become a second home for so many. For support For LGBTQ+ youth mental health support, call the Trevor Projects 24/7 toll-free support number at 866-488-7386. For transgender peer support, call the Trans Lifeline at 877-565-8860. The Suicide and Crisis Lifeline can also provide trained crisis counselor support by calling or texting 988. Charlestons largest food festival takes place in March, but its oldest doesnt come around each year until mid-May. That would be the Charleston Greek Festival, set to take place for the 52nd time May 12-14 at downtown Charlestons Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. Holy Trinity dates to 1908, when the first Greek Orthodox service was held in Charleston at an Episcopal church. Parishioner Michael Wade is helping lead the event as co-chair. His aunt and uncle Effie and Tom Meletis have been involved in the organization of the festival for nearly two decades. The 2023 festival will bring dozens of food vendors to the churchs 30 Race St. home, with gyros, moussaka, pastitsio and an assortment of Greek pastries, beer and wine on the menu. The entrance fee is $5 for adults, and food is available for purchase from each individual vendor. Food preparation began in mid-March, said Wade, whose grandparents were born in Greece and attended the festival during its first decade, from 1970-1980. People loved the food then, Wade was told, and they are just as enthusiastic today. Its definitely a part of the community, Wade said. Its a very rich heritage in Charleston with the Greeks. The Charleston Greek Festival was canceled in 2020 and hosted a drive-thru event in 2021 due to COVID. It returned to full scale in 2022 eight months after the opening of the new Hellenic Building and Trinity Hall, a two-story, 26,000-square-foot facility that replaced an aging 1941 structure. The new building is equipped with a library, youth ministry room, Sunday School classrooms, administrative offices and a hall capable of seating 350 people. The brick structure complements the adjacent sanctuary, a historic Byzantine-style building noted for its ornamental domes. According to Wade, organizers plan to use the extra space in the Hellenic Building and Trinity Hall more effectively than last year. A map guiding guests through the venue will be available online ahead of the event, which will feature dancing and other activities celebrating Greek culture. Ten percent of the festival's proceeds are donated to various charities the church supports. For more information, visit charlestongreekfestival.com. GREENVILLE A developer plans to build 20 townhomes along downtown's McBee Avenue, with prices starting at $1.4 million. The proposed development, which would be called the McDaniel, would sit on a roughly 2-acre property just east of downtown, according to documents submitted to the city's Planning Commission. The commission will consider the project at its April 20 meeting. If approved, the developer expects construction would begin this summer and last about a year and a half. According to the submitted materials, the 20 units being considered would be the first phase of the project, with roughly 15 more units planned for phase two. The units will each have a garage and driveway, and there will be some street parking space within the development. The units would be four stories high. If approved, the townhomes would be owner occupied, with covenants prohibiting long-term and short-term rentals. During an April 6 informal review, Kyle Keene of the Keene Development Group told the Design Review Board that Parisian design influenced the project concept and that high quality materials would be used on the interior and exterior of the units. Several houses that function as office space currently sit on the McBee Avenue site, and would be demolished to make way for the new development. GREENVILLE It's been more than a year since South Carolina was awarded a $360 million settlement from opioid manufactures and distributors as part of a sprawling nationwide lawsuit. Now, the first installment of those funds is being put to use by local governments to fight a drug epidemic that in the past several years alone has claimed thousands of lives across the state. In Greenville, local officials intend to use a half-million dollars to create an opioid response team that would reconnect with overdose survivors. The three-person crew will operate as part of the fire department. Francis Crosby, fire department chief medical coordinator, said the team will be trained to offer peer support services and connect patients with a wide array of recovery services, including local hospitals, rehab facilities and mental health providers in the wake of an overdose call. Of the 550 overdose fatalities recorded by the Greenville County Coroner's Officer between 2021 and 2022, 432 were linked to opioids, according to Senior Deputy Coroner Shelton England. Surviving an overdose can be a wake-up call for people suffering from addiction, Crosby said, and the fire department's new response team will be tasked with meeting people during a moment of clarity to give them the tools they need to get clean. City Council voted on first reading April 10 to use $525,000 of the city's initial $1.1 million allotment to create the response team. The $360 million South Carolina will receive over the next 18 years is part of a $26 billion nationwide settlement with Johnson and Johnson and the nation's three largest pharmaceutical distributors. The landmark case marks the second largest such multistate action in U.S. history. Greenville County is receiving more than $3.7 million as part of the deal, though an exact use for those resources has not been finalized. Crosby said the fire department responds to roughly 100 opioid-related calls in the city every year. "How many are slipping through the cracks that we haven't been able to identify, there's some uncertainty there, so I would anticipate it's a lot higher than that," he said. "But we know of about 100 per year currently. So we're trying to be more proactive in our approach." The team would consist of a data analyst and two people working in the field. Crosby said team members will follow up within 48 to 72 hours of the initial call. If the patient is interested in participating in the program, the team will make contact with them two more times in the following month. The initiative proposed in Greenville is similar to a state effort called COPE, for Community Outreach Paramedic Education. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control started the program in 2019 to help counties establish response teams through grant and training opportunities. Seven counties were participating in that initiative as of 2022. Greenville would be the first in the Upstate to use the settlement funding to create its own program, Crosby said. Challenges Inc. founder Marc Burrows, whose Upstate nonprofit is South Carolina's largest community distributor of the overdose reversal drug naloxone, said COPE teams can make a significant impact for people struggling with addiction if done correctly. "I think it's a great way of us going to them instead of waiting for people to trickle through the system," he said. "You just have to do it carefully and be sensitive to what's going on and obviously you want to make sure not to cause more harm and trauma in the process." The key, Burrows said, is a nonjudgmental, nonpunitive approach that meets people where they are. Crosby said to that end law enforcement will not join the outreach team on follow up calls and the program will be presented as a choice, not a mandate. "It will be 100 percent voluntary for the individuals that we contact whether they want to on board into our program or not be a part of the program," he said. The team will respond on initial overdose calls when possible. Crosby said the initiative will also include outreach with the city's homeless population and offer educational programs with community groups and schools to provide training and information such as how to recognize an overdose and what resources are available. The city is exploring having the team certified as a community naloxone distributor. If the program receives final approval from City Council in the coming weeks, Crosby said he anticipates the team members will be hired and on the job within the next three months. "This is a great opportunity for our community and our city," he said. It is becoming increasingly dangerous for Black women to give birth in South Carolina, both for themselves and for their babies, new reports show. The state Department of Health and Environmental Control released its latest report on infant mortality for 2021 that showed a 12 percent increase from 2020 after slight declines in previous years. And the South Carolina Maternal Mortality and Morbidity Review Committee released its report for 2019 that showed a 9.3 percent increase from the previous year in maternal deaths. South Carolina's infant death rate of 7.3 per 1,000 live births was 35 percent higher than the U.S. average of 5.4 per 1,000, according to a Post and Courier analysis of state and provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The maternal mortality rate of 36.9 per 100,000 live births was more than double the U.S. average of 17.3. But both were significantly worse for Black mothers and babies. The death rate for Black infants rose nearly 40 percent between 2017 and 2021 and was 2.4 times higher than for Whites, a gap that increased over the last five years, the report showed. The death rate for Black mothers was 67 percent higher than for White mothers and nearly triple the U.S. average for all women, according to the analysis of state and federal data. When he first saw the latest data, DHEC Director Edward Simmer said he was "disheartened." "Obviously these numbers are far too high," he said. "We need to get them down." That is particularly true for Black infants, where the death rate was 12.7 per 1,000 live births in 2021. "Thats more than 1 percent of all Black children dying in their first year of life," Simmer said. "Thats a terrible number and weve just got to do better." Similar reactions came from the state's hospitals and from its Medicaid program, which covers 60 percent of the births in the state and 60 percent of its children. The South Carolina Hospital Association found the new data "dismaying," spokesman Kyle Petersen told The Post and Courier, but noted that a number of initiatives are underway to address it and the racial disparities. "South Carolinas maternal mortality rate, infant mortality rate and the racial and demographic disparities that exist in both are unacceptable," the state Department of Health and Human Services, which includes Medicaid, said in a statement to The Post and Courier. The need for care Lack of access to care is impacting both mothers and babies, Simmer said, and could contribute to the racial disparity. In South Carolina, 14 counties do not have an OB/GYN provider and many have a higher Black population. Not only does that make it more difficult for women to get prenatal care, but also the much-needed visit soon after birth, Simmer said. "Thats a period of time when both the mom and the baby are at risk," he said. The state is mulling plans for a mobile van to deliver some OB/GYN services that can reach those more remote rural areas that lack providers, Simmer said. Among those babies covered by Medicaid who died between 2016 and 2020, 47.5 percent of their mothers had not received prenatal care despite the fact that those services are covered. South Carolina is not alone in racial disparities for Black mothers. Nationally, the death rate is 4 times higher for Blacks than Whites and is 5.2 times higher among Black college-educated women than similar White women, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. The high Black death rate for mothers and babies is a priority focus for national OB/GYN groups and also for private practices, said Dr. Eleanor Oakman of Roper St. Francis Healthcare. More women are becoming pregnant who have chronic medical conditions like heart disease that put them at higher risk of pre-term delivery, which can be a factor in infant mortality, and also puts the mother's life at greater risk, she said. There is an emphasis nationally and in her practice on blood pressure management to help minimize the risk of complications. Overall, sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS, more than doubled to 27 in 2021 from 12 in 2020, and another 26 babies died from accidents, with 25 suffocating or strangling in bed. It is one reason providers educate parents about the ABCs of safe sleep: that babies should sleep alone, on their backs, with a safe crib with proper slats, free of blankets or soft materials, Oakman said. "Its really important to spend a lot of time with moms talking about safe sleep habits for babies," she said. Accidents were the leading cause of death for infants covered by Medicaid from 2016-2020 118 over that five-year span which is one reason Medicaid offers financial incentives to encourage safe sleep habits and works with partners on promoting them, spokesman Jeff Leieritz said. But other factors may not be so obvious. A smoker in the house increases the risk of SIDS for a baby, even if the person smokes outside, Oakman said. "Thats a higher risk for SIDS, just having that person be around the baby," she said. Hopes for improvement There are a number of initiatives to address the higher death rate and racial disparities. The hospital association, Medicaid and DHEC, as well as the state's obstetricians and hospitals, work together on a number of different programs under the SC Birth Outcomes Initiative. One of them is the CenteringPregnancy program, where women who are at similar stages in their pregnancy are brought together as a group to meet regularly with their OB for checkups, education and bonding. In one recent study in South Carolina, it helped reduce the number of low-birthweight babies, who are at greater risk for infant mortality, by 44 percent. It also gives providers like Oakman a chance to talk to women about issues like post-partum depression before they give birth and help them feel more comfortable airing issues like anxiety. Speaking out can be crucial after birth, with symptoms that may not be obvious but could be serious, she said. Patients are told if they have headaches or swelling or "something that doesnt feel right, we want to hear about it. We want you to come and get checked out," Oakman said. That will be easier for those on Medicaid after coverage was extended in March 2022 from 60 days after birth to a full year, Leieritz said. That happened after the current data was collected, so the hope is it will have an impact, Simmer said. "I certainly hope that well see some improvement in these numbers just due to that access," he said. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%.. Tonight Chance of a shower or two during the evening, followed by partly cloudy skies overnight. Low near 55F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 30%. If you're a South Carolina small business owner and want to save money on your tax bill in 2023, the South Carolina Department of Revenue (SCDOR) wants you to know about tax credits that may be available for you to claim. Read moreSouth Carolina business owners - learn more about tax credits that could lower your tax liability A York County father and son arrested in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol each pleaded guilty April 13 in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., to a misdemeanor federal crime. Linwood Robinson Sr. and Linwood Robinson II pleaded guilty to parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building. It is punishable by a maximum penalty of six months incarceration and up to five years on probation. There is no sentencing agreement about what penalty each will face, but they agreed to pay $500 in restitution. The father, son and the younger Robinson's wife were arrested May 19 at their Fort Mill homes. Charges against Brittany Robinson are still pending. They are among more than 20 residents of South Carolina who have been charged with federal crimes in the riot. The Robinsons were among hundreds of people who headed for the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, the day Congress was set to certify Joe Biden as the winner of the 2020 presidential election. Many of those Americans responded to then President Donald Trump's call to come to Washington, D.C. In a speech to his supporters that day at a "Stop the Steal" rally, Trump repeated false claims that the November election was rigged and the election stolen. He called on his supporters to march on the Capitol. The march turned violent. Capitol police were attacked as people broke through security to storm a symbol of American democracy. Members of Congress and Vice President Mike Pence were rushed out of the building for their safety around 2 p.m. The count of the electoral college votes to officially declare the winner of the election was delayed until 8 p.m., but it ultimately took place. More than a hundred police officers were injured and damages amounted to nearly more than $2.88 million, according to the Department of Justice. The Robinsons were with those who stormed the Capitol, entering the building and encouraging others to follow, according to a statement of facts that the Robinsons admitted were true as part of the plea agreements. Inside they were among the people who broke in the office of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. The Robinsons will be sentenced at a later date. Trump's and others' words and actions were the subject of a U.S. House committee investigation and its scathing reports in 2022. An independent prosecutor is now investigating. An area man faced multiple charges last week in St. Francois County following a Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) investigation into child pornography possession and promotion. David Russell Darr, 33, of Farmington, has been charged with two counts of first-degree promoting child pornography, three counts of possession of child pornography, and one count of failing to register as a sex offender. According to a probable cause statement from the MSHP, on Nov. 23, patrol investigators were provided information from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC) that Darr had files of suspected child pornography in his Google account. Google reported that Darr's name was on the account, along with his date of birth, according to authorities. The report states that a Cole County search warrant was served to Google to obtain the subscriber information and content of the account identified by an email address. While reviewing the information Google provided, an investigator reportedly saw that the account was registered to Darr with an address on Highway 32 in Farmington. The Google Photos folder allegedly contained five videos of child pornography, according to police. Through the investigation, it was reportedly learned that Darr is a registered sex offender in Missouri. The report states Darr updated his registry at the St. Francois County Sheriff's Department on Oct. 4, 2022, and listed the same address as Google had on file the residence on Highway 32 in Farmington. The report notes that Darr is required to update his sex offender registry within three days of any changes. The report states Darr did not update his registry to show he was a student and attended truck driver training at Mineral Area College, that he possesses a Missouri commercial driver's license, that he is currently employed at a produce business in Park Hills, or that he uses two email addresses through Google and Yahoo. Last week, on March 30, MSHP investigators reportedly executed a St. Francois County search warrant at Darr's residence in Farmington. During an interview with the investigators, Darr allegedly confirmed he used the Yahoo and Google email addresses, and the Google account reported by NCMEC was his. The report states the man admitted to viewing and downloading child pornography online at his residence in St. Francois County. The report states that when shown the images of child pornography uploaded to his Google account, Darr allegedly admitted to previously viewing them. Inside a backpack in his room, investigators reportedly found a cell phone. A search of the phone allegedly revealed over a hundred videos of pornography, according to investigators. Darr was booked at the St. Francois County Detention Center, where he remains in custody without bond. If a bond is set and he is released, the man must comply with GPS and pre-trial monitoring. The man is also prohibited from having contact with children under the age of 18. Darr made an initial court appearance on Monday, where he waived arraignment, pleading not guilty to the charges. A confined docket hearing in the case against Darr is scheduled for Tuesday. The charging documents filed in the case note that Darr is on supervised release with the US Probation Department and was living at a residential treatment facility before his arrest. Court records show Darr was previously convicted in federal court for the production of child pornography involving a person under 14 years of age. The probable cause statement indicates Darr has prior arrests for crimes involving children, including statutory sodomy, use of a child in a sexual performance, sexual misconduct involving a child, and possession of child pornography. North Charleston Charleston County Councilman Teddie Pryor is running for mayor, becoming the fifth candidate in a contest to be the city's first new leader in nearly three decades. "After months of prayer and meeting with family members, business partners and friends, I decided it was the right time," he said. Pryor, a 66-year-old Charleston native and a Democrat, has been on County Council since 2004 and served his eighth term as chairman in 2022. The county's new $60 million social services building was named for him in 2021. He has worked for the city since 2010, first as North Charleston's tourism coordinator and currently as the ombudsman. Before joining the city, he owned a towing and radiator repair business. "The city is at a crucial point, with the mayor retiring after 30 years, we need someone who can step in and keep the train moving," said Pryor. "My years of experience on council prepared me." He said the city is facing many challenges and opportunities, including the planned Lowcountry Rapid Transit bus line that will run down Rivers Avenue, the ongoing need for affordable housing and economic development. "Everybody deserves to get the same level of services in the city," Pryor said. "I just feel that I want the city to move forward, and I'm ready to step right in." Retiring North Charleston Police Chief Reggie Burgess, Councilwoman Rhonda Jerome, North Charleston businessman John Singletary and local activist Brandon Trollinger have also announced mayoral bids. The winner of the non-partisan race will replace Keith Summey, who has been mayor for nearly 30 years, most of the city's existence. North Charleston was incorporated in 1972, when it became South Carolina's ninth-largest city overnight. After decades of growth, mostly through annexation of neighboring properties, the city is now the third largest in the state, after Charleston and Columbia. Burgess announced plans to retire from the police department in May and his successor, Assistant Chief Greg Gomes, was announced this week as his replacement. In March, Summey all but endorsed Burgess, praising him as a well-qualified person who loves the city and knows how to lead. Summey has also supported Pryor over many years, hiring him to work for the city while the mayor's son Elliott served on County Council with Pryor. Pryor agreed that Summey has "more or less" endorsed Burgess but said it will ultimately be up to voters, not the outgoing mayor, to decide the city's next leader. Pryor has scheduled an official kickoff announcement for April 13 at 11 a.m. in front of the Lonnie Hamilton Building, 4045 Bridge View Drive in North Charleston. A leading South Carolina business figure who twice supported Donald Trump for president has joined the draft Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis movement. Bill Stern, who was Trump's state finance director three years ago, has signed on with the Never Back Down effort backing DeSantis in 2024. Stern told The Post and Courier he is supporting DeSantis based on his record leading Florida, his budget wins and that if you were to "build a president from scratch, DeSantis fits the bill." "I think it's time for a change," he added, and that as a Republican "I want to win elections." Stern is a Columbia developer, chairman of the S.C. Ports Authority and Trump appointee to the United States Holocaust Memorial Council. He said he appreciated what Trump did as president, but that "I think it's time to move on." Stern's support now comes as he attended a private fundraiser dinner last year on the Isle of Palms where DeSantis took part, as did several Trump political appointees. The May 12 meeting was at the home of Rom Reddy, CEO of Sprint Turf, an Astroturf company, The Post and Courier previously reported. Collectively, the group of Trump GOP megadonors raised at least $50 million combined for Trumps 2016 presidential bid and his 2020 reelection efforts, according to reports from the event. Stern at the time indicated he had support for Trump. If President Trump runs and I think he is my feeling is hes going to win the presidency, Stern told the newspaper. With that being said, if he doesnt run, we are going to want to get to know the candidates and see who they are and what they stand for. DeSantis is expected to formally declare his White House intentions later this spring. He is scheduled to appear in Spartanburg on April 19 as part of his "Florida Blueprint Tour." A recent poll of Republican voters in South Carolina found Trump is the clear early favorite in the states 2024 presidential primary, enjoying a comfortable double-digit lead over his closest competitors. He was the favorite of 41 percent of those polled, followed by DeSantis at 20 percent, and former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley at 18 percent. The results are from an April 12 released poll by Winthrop University in Rock Hill. The numbers are based on a random survey of 485 South Carolina Republican voters reached online as well as by phone on both their cellphones and landlines between March 25 and April 1. The survey carries an error margin of plus or minus 4.45 percent. COLUMBIA State senators advanced legislation that clears up existing law prohibiting racist lessons in South Carolina classrooms after removing sections seen as stifling instruction on the ugly and brutal parts of history. Lawmakers from both parties stressed they want students to get a full and accurate picture when covering slavery, Jim Crow segregation laws and the Holocaust. And teachers should not feel hindered from presenting those factually, they said. "I think its important for all of us to have that background and knowledge and exposure to things so we dont repeat it," said Senate Majority Leader Shane Massey, R-Edgefield, adding that includes his own children in public schools. "It's the subjective opinions that sometimes get added in those discussions that are problematic," he added. The Senate Education Committee voted without objection April 12 to send the amended measure to the Senate floor where it's expected to receive bipartisan support. The bill requires "fact-based" discussions on history while creating a multi-step uniform process for parents to raise objections if they believe already banned concepts are being taught, which advocates say protects teachers from baseless claims. Banned concepts, initially inserted in the state budget two years ago, include any race being superior to another, anyone being responsible for past atrocities because of their race, and that traits such as hard work are oppressive and racist. The bill purposefully does not repeat a line in current law banning lessons that make a student feel discomfort, guilt, anguish, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his race or sex." That line which legislators of both parties agree can stifle instruction will remain state law unless the Legislature strikes it from the budget. And if the bill doesn't pass, that won't happen. Senators struck sections from the bill added on the House floor in February that made even its main sponsor, Rep. Raye Felder of Fort Mill, question her support. She ultimately voted for the bill as needed to replace the existing prohibitions, but only after publicly asking senators to clean it up. Reached after the Senate Education vote, Felder expressed relief about the bill's changes. So did teacher advocates. "The parts we had the most concerns about in the House version have been removed," Kathy Maness, director of the Palmetto State Teachers Association, said after the Senate Education Committee vote. "The part about anybody, anywhere, no matter what being able to sue was very concerning." The bill no longer allows any parent to sue any school district in the state for alleged violations, whether they've launched a formal complaint at all or are midway through the process. Also struck was a requirement that teachers post on school websites any changes made to curriculum or instructional materials at least three days before theyre used in the classroom. The bill still requires the posting of classroom textbooks and other materials for parents to review but no longer sets a time window, which Massey said would prevent teachers from using current events in classroom discussions. "I like the idea of requiring school districts to post information on curriculum on their website," he said. "But sometimes things in the world happen so quickly. I want them to talk about things that happen." As it passed the House, the bill would've prevented, for example, teachers from immediately incorporating into lessons the Chinese spy balloon that was shot down off the South Carolina coast in February or the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, he said. The bill still says teachers and students can't be required to engage in "sexual diversity" training, unless it's part of corrective action. But senators eliminated language barring any instruction on gender roles, gender identity and sexual orientation, saying that could hamper lessons on important parts of history, such as the suffrage movement and 19th Amendment that gave women the right to vote. "I dont want teachers to feel like they cant teach the things they need to teach," said Senate Minority Leader Brad Hutto, D-Orangeburg. "Homosexuality in health classes at age-appropriate levels needs to be taught. Its a reality of life." The bill still bans schools from using teaching materials that include pornography or allowing access through online links or apps in student devices. But senators struck the House's attempt to define pornography, saying that's already covered by existing criminal law that prohibits the distribution of pornography to minors. Adding a new definition could create problems in court and allow for wide interpretation, senators said. The bill requires books in school libraries to be age and grade appropriate. Senators opted to leave the determination of that to local school boards, as guided by the state Department of Education's model policy. Senators also struck a provision that allowed parents to withdraw their children from any lesson for any reason, while requiring the teacher to prepare alternative lessons for those students without affecting their grade. Beyond potentially doubling teachers' workload, that could lead to students missing out on critical parts of history their parents might deem objectionable, senators said. "I just think all kids ought to have to learn about Jim Crow, and all kids ought to learn about the Holocaust," Massey said. Hutto said he hasn't decided whether he'll ultimately vote for the bill, but he doesn't have a problem with standardizing a complaint-and-appeal process for all school districts. It's much improved from what the House sent, he said. As for opposition in public hearings that the bill requires teachers to whitewash history, Hutto disagreed. He suggested that opponents read the latest version sent to the floor. "What teachers should know is No. 1 we're not going to subject you to lawsuits," he continued. "I don't think anything we've prohibited actually needs to be in the classroom but ... I want the teachers to know this is not intended as a chilling effect on what they teach." And if a parent objects, the bill creates an orderly process, all the way up to the State Board of Education, if necessary, he added. Around 20 community leaders gathered Monday at the Bollinger County Health Department in Marble Hill with Congressman Jason Smith, R-8th District, to give an overview of the death and destruction caused by a tornado that struck the rural area during the early morning hours of April 5. While the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a warning before the tornado hit, the speed and strength of the storm caused extensive destruction that included five fatalities, several injuries and extensive damages to property as it cut a path of destruction through the county. According to reports, the tornado's winds of more than 200 mph uprooted trees, destroyed buildings, and hurled heavy objects hundreds of yards away. The meeting, held in a safe room at the Bollinger County Health Department in Marble Hill, was led by Kevin Cooper, the countys emergency management director. Smith sat at the end of a shoehorn-shaped table, along with the county sheriff, a Missouri State Highway Patrol trooper and local government representatives. A large monitor on the wall projected a flyover of the tornados path, with Cooper providing narration. The affected areas include small towns such as Arab, Burfordville, Friedheim, and Scopus townships, with homes and businesses devastated by the storm. Emergency responders rushed to the scene to search and rescue survivors and help the injured. Widespread destruction As Cooper pointed at a pile of lumber, metal and other materials, he said, This is the first major damage. This is one of our local businesses, Precision Roofing, and it was pretty much decimated. He said, while Bollinger County took the brunt of the tornado, its five-mile trek across the countryside began in Wayne County, and noted that NWS has rated the tornado as an F2. There's some debate, Cooper said. NWS will probably will be coming back in the next day or so. There's some things that we have, in our damage assessment and out trying to drive the track, there's some things that just aren't adding up. So, we've asked that they come back again and do a supplemental evaluation. And as with a lot of storms and tornadoes, one home is fine, the next one is unfortunately devastating. In response to Smith asking how wide the tornado was, Cooper replied, Again, that's kind of in debate. The information I have from National Weather Service says 150 yards at its widest point. I'm not going to dispel any information they've provided us, but it just doesn't quite add up with some of the things that we've found since then. Cooper pointed at more debris and said, Total destruction. That was one of our fire stations in Glen Allen. It's completely leveled. They think they can salvage two of the trucks, but one is, they're pretty certain, is totally destroyed. And this is one of the churches in here, and this is starting into the destruction for Glen Allen. Fatalities The room became quiet as Cooper pointed at another heap of twisted metal and debris. "This area right here is where the fatalities all five of them were, he said. There were other areas of the county that were impacted to some extent, but not to the significance of Glen Allen. You can see in this area, the storage sheds, they're fine. Right next to them, homes destroyed. A little later in the presentation, Cooper provided further details about the location of the people who died in the tornado. Unfortunately, they were in mobile homes, he said. I believe that there were two mobile homes and a large travel trailer, and if I'm not mistaken, most of them were in one of the mobile homes. But all three of them they were all right there together. Asked how many homes had been destroyed, Cooper said, Our preliminary assessment was approximately 22. Now we have subsequently, thanks to this video, found some more that were destroyed. They were outside the normal storm track. This is heading up Highway 51 and CC, just north of town three miles. I know that because I live off of CC, and thankfully this missed where my wife was by about 500 yards. You can't really see it very well, but there was a huge shop and a home that was severely damaged, possibly destroyed. Unfortunately, it was a couple that had just semi-sort-of retired and moved to the new home about eight months ago." Pointing at another debris field, Cooper said, This home was approximately 150 years old. And when we initially did a drive-through assessment, it looked fine. We contacted the homeowner and it's pretty messed up. A 150-year-old home, and it was shifted, twisted. I can't tell you the suffering and, you know, because these are people's homes. It makes a big difference. As the video came to an end, Cooper added that the tornado had also struck the community of Scopus. There were three homes in Scopus that were impacted one minor, one major, and one possibly destroyed. Response teams Cooper expressed gratitude to the response teams that worked tirelessly to provide immediate support and assistance to those affected by the tornado, as well as the local community, including volunteers, that came together to offer help and support to those affected by the disaster. Multiple comments heard during and after the video made it clear that the tornado had caused emotional distress and economic hardship to the affected families and communities. In the immediate aftermath several organizations, including The Red Cross and The Salvation Army, as well as local businesses and churches, stepped in to provide emergency relief services to assist and support the tornado victims. Responding to the video, Smith said, We've been talking to a lot of you all and the folks here in Bollinger County, and hearing how every friend was helping their neighbors and even if they weren't their friends they were helping them out. It's what makes our area so special. It's just terrible. This is the deadliest tornado since 2011 in Missouri. I appreciate all of your help because we all serve the same people and it's tough. We see unfortunately too many of these in our congressional district, and I guess it's just our landscape and our environment and our four extreme seasons in Missouri that create this. All our communities are very strong and can get over it. Governor, president contacted Smith mentioned recent conversations hed had with Missouri Gov. Mike Parson, senators and congressmen, as well as with President Joe Biden. I had a good conversation with the governor when he was leaving here talking about some different ideas that he had to try to be helpful. It's frustrating whenever you look at a lot of the federal disaster aspects. It's like, if it lands in St. Charles County where there's much more expensive homes, they're treated differently. And this is a fight that we have all the time. Right now there might be a little bit more leverage in Washington because we've seen a lot of these little tornadoes in small communities, whether it's Iowa, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Tennessee, Kentucky, we've all been hit. We're small communities that have been hit, but they don't get into the disaster declaration. So that might be an aspect where I've spoken to both of our senators and talking about ways and the governor and even the president, who everyone knows I don't agree with on many things. He has been engaged and seems very receptive to looking at ways to help smaller communities. I wanted to give you all a few days because Wednesday morning wasn't that long and my team and I are here, not on the first day, but we'll be here on all the days because this is our district that we care about, and try to find ways that we can fix it. Community needs In response to Smith asking what needs the community had following the storm, he was told Bollinger County like many rural areas of the country is in need of better internet and cellular coverage, as well as additional and updated warning sirens. One of the most sobering concerns mentioned in the meeting was the potential for hundreds of deaths and injuries should a tornado hit while 4,000 visitors are camped along the Castor River on a Fourth of July weekend. With no shelter, no warning sirens, and poor cellular service, such an occurrence was described by one participant as a worst-case scenario. It was also noted by several meeting participants that Bollinger County is in a weather radar dead spot between St. Louis, the Arkansas state line, and Paducah, Kentucky. In response to the suggestions made during the meeting, Smith said, This is helpful, this is very helpful, but you're going to come up with other things, and you're going to see issues. We might be able to help with some, we might not. I don't want to come in and make promises because I can't. I have to deal with other people, too, to get things that we need sometimes. But I mean, stay in contact with us, stay in contact with my team, and see how we can be the most responsive. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 07:45:19 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 350 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 Did you lose money on investments in Rite Aid? If so, please visit Rite Aid Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com to discuss your rights.NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, reminds investors of the deadline to file a lead plaintiff motion in a securities class action lawsuit that has been filed on behalf of investors who purchased or acquired the securities of Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite Aid" or the "Company") (NYSE:RAD) between April 26, 2018 and March 13, 2023, inclusive (the "Class Period").If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 19, 2023. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesn't require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member.If you purchased or acquired Rite Aid securities, and/or would like to discuss your legal rights and options please visit Rite Aid Corporation Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Peter Allocco at (212) 951-2030 or pallocco@ bernlieb.com Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journal's "Plaintiffs' Hot List" thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years.ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. 2023 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter.Contact Information:Peter AlloccoBernstein Liebhard LLP(212) 951-2030pallocco@ bernlieb.com SOURCE: Bernstein Liebhard LLP PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 20:15:33 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 969 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEWPORT BEACH, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Cefalia Development, a Newport Beach-based real estate development company, has been steadily making a name for itself in the world of luxury residential projects. With a portfolio encompassing subdivisions, condos, apartments, and high-end single-family homes, the company has become synonymous with top-quality craftsmanship and innovative design. In this article, we'll delve into the history of Cefalia Development, explore the company's unique approach to construction and design, and discuss the exceptional customer service that sets them apart.The Beginning of Cefalia DevelopmentCefalia Development's journey began with a modest yet ambitious project: a small lot subdivision and a 4-unit development in west-side Costa Mesa. Eight years later, this initial endeavor still boasts the highest price per unit in the area, testifying to the company's unwavering commitment to excellence from the outset.Over time, Cefalia Development expanded its reach, completing over $100 million in real estate transactions. The company's growth can be attributed to its ability to adapt and innovate, consistently delivering exceptional results across a wide range of high-end residential projects.The Philosophy Behind Cefalia Development's SuccessCefalia Development's founder, Jeff Cefalia, believes that the key to success in the luxury real estate market lies in blending technical expertise with a passion for innovation and design. This philosophy is evident in the company's hands-on approach to every aspect of a project, from site acquisition and design to construction and sales.As Jeff explains, "Many so-called 'developers' are not involved in all the processes, but we keep our boots on the ground throughout every stage of the project." By maintaining control over every element of a development, Cefalia Development can ensure that their high standards are met, resulting in unparalleled craftsmanship and unique, one-of-a-kind homes.A Unique Approach to Design and ConstructionCefalia Development's commitment to innovation is evident in the company's distinctive approach to design and construction. The company's design team, led by Jeff and his wife Natasha, an accomplished interior designer, focuses on creating bespoke homes that stand out from typical speculative builders.Their in-house design process allows them to control project costs while still delivering a custom product tailored to the specific needs and preferences of each client. This attention to detail and dedication to client satisfaction have helped Cefalia Development carve a niche in the luxury real estate market.Moreover, by managing construction in-house, Cefalia Development can maintain an unparalleled level of craftsmanship, ensuring that their homes are the best quality in the area. This approach not only guarantees a superior final product but also fosters a strong sense of pride and ownership among the team members, further elevating the company's reputation for excellence.Exceptional Customer Service: A Cornerstone of Cefalia DevelopmentCefalia Development recognizes the importance of exceptional customer service, particularly when it comes to high-end residential projects. The company is committed to providing an outstanding experience for homeowners, from the initial design stages through to the final sale and beyond.As Jeff notes, "Post-sale customer service is a huge part of the process when you are building these kinds of homes." Cefalia Development's dedication to ensuring client satisfaction extends to addressing any issues that may arise after the sale, demonstrating the company's unwavering commitment to their clients' happiness and the ongoing success of their projects.Cefalia Development's Future and Impact on the IndustryWith its impressive track record and commitment to excellence, Cefalia Development has quickly become one of the fastest-growing development companies in Newport Beach. As the company continues to expand, its impact on the luxury real estate market is becoming increasingly apparent. Cefalia Development's unique approach to design, construction, and customer service has raised the bar for other developers in the industry, setting new standards for quality and innovation.In the coming years, Cefalia Development plans to capitalize on its success by exploring new opportunities and markets within Orange County and beyond. By staying true to its core values and maintaining a hands-on approach to every project, the company is well-positioned to continue making waves in the world of high-end residential developments.A Network of Industry ProfessionalsTo further enhance its impact on the industry, Cefalia Development's founder, Jeff Cefalia, is part of an exclusive, invite-only group of real estate professionals. This network serves as a platform for sharing insights, evaluating deals, and investing together. The collective knowledge and experience of this group provide valuable resources for Cefalia Development, contributing to the company's ongoing growth and success.Giving Back to the CommunityCefalia Development is not only committed to building exceptional homes but also to supporting the communities in which they operate. The company recognizes the importance of being a responsible corporate citizen and actively seeks ways to give back to the community, whether through charitable donations, sponsorships, or volunteer work.By fostering strong relationships with local organizations and residents, Cefalia Development further solidifies its reputation as a trusted and responsible developer in Newport Beach and the surrounding areas.Cefalia Development has established itself as a leader in the luxury real estate development industry, thanks to its unwavering commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction. As the company continues to grow and expand its reach, it is poised to redefine the landscape of high-end residential projects in Newport Beach and beyond.With a unique approach to design and construction, a strong focus on customer service, and a commitment to giving back to the community, Cefalia Development is not only building exceptional homes but also shaping a brighter future for the luxury real estate market. For more information about the company and its projects, follow and DM Jeff Cefalia on Instagram @JeffCefalia.About Cefalia DevelopmentCefalia Development is a real estate investment firm that strives to provide the highest returns through superior design and build quality in the industry.Contact:Country: United StatesMedia Contact: Do PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 16:41:50 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 380 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Garry Davis, a prominent Board Certified Dallas immigration lawyer and founding partner of Davis & Associates, was among the notable speakers at the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) Texas Spring Conference held on Friday, March 31, in Austin, Texas.Garry Davis Speaks at Austin AILA Conference The AILA is a national bar association that comprises attorneys and law professors who practice and teach immigration law. AILA provides continuing legal education, professional services, information, and expertise to over 16,000 members across the country through its 39 chapters and 50+ national committees.Davis spoke on family-based immigration updates during the conference, which was attended by immigration lawyers from across Texas. He and his fellow panelists addressed the 1601A delays and strategies, as well as INA Section 204(I) and humanitarian reinstatement options. These topics are particularly relevant to families seeking to reunite with loved ones in the United States.Davis and his associates have represented well over 10,000 clients on a range of immigration cases, including family-based immigration. His expertise encompasses all areas of immigration law, including deportation defense, employment immigration, investment immigration, appeals, and federal court litigation.He has been practicing immigration law for over 20 years and is Board Certified in Immigration and Nationality Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Davis has been recognized for his excellence in the field of immigration law many times by Thomson Reuters, Super Lawyer, US News and World Report, Woodward White, and others.In addition to his legal practice, Davis is also committed to community outreach efforts. He frequently speaks at continuing legal education conferences and has been invited to speak at AILA National and Regional Conferences. Davis has also spoken at the UT Conference on Immigration Law, has acted as a liaison between AILA and the Dallas Immigration Court and has appeared on local television and podcasts.Speaking at the AILA Texas Spring Conference was an excellent opportunity for Davis to share his knowledge and expertise with other immigration lawyers in Texas. He is committed to helping families navigate the complex immigration system and ensuring that their rights are protected.For more information about Davis & Associates and their immigration services, please visit the website gldlaw.com or contact them directly at (214) 302-5852.Contact InformationGloria LakeContent Director, MarketCrestmarketing@ marketcrest.com 4699651554SOURCE: Davis & Associates PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 09:15:20 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 461 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / EonX Technologies Inc. (CSE:EONX), ("EonX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Cashrewards Operations Pty Ltd ("Cashrewards") to power its next generation of rewards, digital wallet and payment services.Cashrewards is the market leader in the cashback category in Australia. They provide 1.9 million members with cashback deals on more than 2000 of Australia's biggest brands. Cashrewards is wholly owned by 1835i, ANZ Bank's external innovation and venture capital partner.EonX will deliver an integrated rewards offering, together with an embedded digital wallet and seamless payment experience, enabling Cashrewards customers to access cash-back offers from leading retailers, and help grow Cashrewards' market share.EonX Group Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Kallen, said, "We are excited to be partnering with Cashrewards in delivering a market leading rewards, payments and digital wallet experience to its customers. As cost of living pressures continue to escalate in Australia, we are proud to power a platform that offers instant value whilst helping Aussies save and benefit daily." About EONXEonX is a financial technology company powering the next generation of eWallet, Payments & Loyalty platforms which enable business and consumers to better engage and transact in today's digital world.On behalf of the board of directors ofEONX TECHNOLOGIES INC."Andrew Kallen"Andrew Kallen, CEOFor more information about EonX, contact:Andrew KallenChief Executive OfficerEONX Technologies Inc.Telephone: +18036767776Email: investors@ eonx.com Website: www.eonx.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release.Notice regarding Forward Looking StatementsThis news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. 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.SOURCE: EonX Technologies Inc. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 12:30:27 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 1030 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Hannan Metals Limited ("Hannan" or the "Company") (TSXV:HAN)(OTC PINK:HANNF) is pleased to announce that drilling has commenced at the Kilmurry zinc-silver-lead target in Ireland directly targeting a seismic anomaly interpreted to represent massive sulphides at 700 m vertical depth.Highlights:Drilling to target a high amplitude seismic reflector, interpreted to represent massive sulphides has been permitted and drilling of hole 23-3643-19 has commenced at Kilmurry, Ireland (Figure 1).The seismic reflector was identified in line 17-HAN-02, acquired by Hannan in 2018. The target extends over 1 km strike with the highest amplitudes focused in a 400 m wide zone at 700 m depth (Figure 2).The target is located within the Kilmurry Fault system (reported by the Company in 2019). It represents a syn-sedimentary ramp relay fault system which exceeds over 15 km in length and is up to 2 km wide, with over 700 m vertical displacement. This represents one of the largest basin-scale displacements mapped in Ireland (Figure 2) and forms a compelling large-scale target, with historic results interpreted to be the distal parts of a major mineralizing system. This is supported by:Drill hole 11-3643-10, located approximately 900 m south, intersected extremely high grades of mineralization (0.3 m @ 56.5% zinc ("Zn") plus lead ("Pb")) at 166 m depth, in the hanging wall to the Waulsortian mineralized position.Historic work in the footwall of the ramp relay fault system, some 2.5 km south of the ongoing drill hole, mapped an extensive zone of dissolution and black matrix breccias as well as low grade zinc-lead mineralization such as 2 m @ 5.1% Zn+Pb and 2 m @ 5.8% Zn+Pb (Figure 2).Michael Hudson, Chairman & CEO, states: "While awaiting drill permits on our vast and extensive Peruvian and Chilean copper targets, we look forward to drill testing what we believe to be one of the best grassroots zinc-silver-lead exploration targets developed in Ireland over the last decades. The target represents a rare opportunity in Europe's premier zinc province to leverage the benefit of our past application of seismic technology in hard rock exploration. This has allowed us to both constrain the geological model and drill test a high amplitude seismic anomaly, which is interpreted to be massive sulfides at 700 m depth. Drill testing has started and will be completed by the end of May."Meanwhile, final drill permitting on our copper-silver JOGMEC joint venture in San Martin, Peru is expected over the next quarter. Additionally, our drill permit process is advancing at our Valiente copper-gold porphyry projects in Peru where a team of 12 people have recently completed the baseline environmental survey. In Chile, geophysical ground crews will mobilise in the coming weeks to validate historic magnetic and electro-magnetic anomalies over the Cerro Rolando porphyry copper target to define drill targets. Should these surveys be successful, it is anticipated drilling permissions should take 3-4 months in Chile.With all these current and upcoming drill programs, Hannan has developed a series of concurrent drill tests of large-scale critical metal projects, starting today and extending over the coming years. We do not see the drill rigs stopping for long and look forward to providing investors with exposure to potential new and large scale, potential company-making grassroot discoveries." GEOLOGICAL DISCUSSIONThe Kilmurry syn-sedimentary relay fault system represents an unexplored ramp-relay fault system for Irish style carbonate replacements deposits. This deposit style exhibits both strong structural and stratigraphic controls. The fault system is rare in the sense that it has been de-risked by seismic mapping, which has constrained both the geological model and the drill depth of the target. The survey deployed by Hannan in 2018 also identified a unit of high seismic impedance which subsequently has been interpreted to potentially represent massive zinc-silver-lead sulphides (Figure 2). The size of this impedance anomaly is up to 1,000 m wide and with the highest amplitudes focused over a 400 m window.Historic work at Kilmurry by Lundin Mining, predating Hannan's exploration, focused on the footwall of the fault system prior to the context that the seismic surveying provided. The results strongly suggested the presence of an active mineralizing system in the area. This is exemplified by the dissolution breccias in various drill holes and low-grade base metal mineralization up to 2 m @ 5.8 % Zn+Pb. The seismic survey suggested the best part of the fault system (the hanging wall), was poorly drill tested, with only one drill hole reaching the target depth (DH 11-3643-10) after an extension by Hannan in 2018. The drill hole intersected 0.3 m @ 56.5% Zn+Pb at 166m depth high in a hanging wall of a fault. This was followed by multiphase calcite-dolomite breccias with gossanous patches after pyrite between 754-819m depth. The drill hole also intersected intense hydrothermal hematite alteration over 4 m width in the footwall of the potentially mineralized unit. The hydrothermal hematite alteration is highly significant as it lies proximal to mineralization at Irish-style deposits such as Lisheen, Tynagh and Silvermines and can be considered a near-miss indicator.The Kilmurry fault system holds a series of drill ready targets (Figure 3) of which the high amplitude target is the first target to be drill tested. Subject to the results of the current drill hole, additional drilling may take place at other targets.About the Clare ProjectHannan Metals Limited has 100% ownership of the County Clare Zn-Pb-Ag-Cu project in Ireland, which consists of five prospecting licences for 18,499 hectares. Zinc remains in tight supply amidst rising demand and stagnant supply. Ireland is a leading global jurisdiction for zinc mining and exploration. In 2015, Ireland was the world's 10th largest zinc producing nation with 230,000 tonnes produced.The project hosts two target areas:The Kilbricken deposit in the northern part of the project. A maiden mineral resource, dated July 10, 2017, as amended and restated on January 28, 2019, immediately ranked Kilbricken as one of the top ten base metal deposits discovered in Ireland by tonnes and grade. Total indicated mineral resources were calculated as 2.7 million tonnes at 8.8% zinc equivalent ("ZnEq"), including 1.4 million tonnes at 10.8% ZnEq and total inferred mineral resources of 1.7 million tonnes at 8.2% ZnEq, including 0.6 million tonnes at 10.4% ZnEq.The Kilmurry relay fault system represents a syn-sedimentary relay fault system which exceeds over 15 km in length and is up to 2 km wide and r PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 20:10:37 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 509 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 hedgehog lab acquires digital transformation agency Netsells as a part of the investment deal.BOSTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Global technology consultancy hedgehog lab has secured $7.7 million investment from BGF - one of the largest and most experienced growth capital investors in the UK and Ireland.hedgehog lab acquires NetsellsPhoto left to right: John Healey, BGF Investment Director Sam Jordan, CTO Netsells Sarat Pediredla, CEO hedgehog lab Brannan Coady, CEO Netsells Ryan Scaife, CFO hedgehog lab As part of the multi-million-pound deal, the business has announced the acquisition of York-based digital product consultancy Netsells in a move that will support the company's ambitious growth plans.Headquartered in Newcastle and with United States operations in Boston, Massachusetts, hedgehog lab works with a wide range of global brands, including AJ Bell, Aviva, Deliveroo and Tesco Bank. It provides businesses with cutting-edge mobile app and web development solutions and has grown rapidly since incorporating in 2007.Netsells is a digital product consultancy working across web and mobile; it is ranked as one of England's fastest-growing tech businesses.The two companies will come together under the hedgehog lab brand and will be headed up by hedgehog lab's current CEO Sarat Pediredla alongside a new executive board that includes ex-Accenture Song managing director and Karmarama founder Ben Bilboul.Operating in the fast growth mobile and web development sector, BGF's funding will enable the Group to further expand its service offering to enterprise clients and SMEs in both the UK and US.Sarat Pediredla commented: "The acquisition of Netsells is a major milestone for us as a company. The combination of two firms with established and renowned capabilities will enhance our offering and growth prospects massively by bringing together some of the best talent in the industry and facilitating our continued expansion into new international markets." The deal was led by John Healey and James Baker, investors in BGF's Yorkshire & North East team.BGF's John Healey said: "We are delighted to be supporting hedgehog lab on the next stage of its growth journey. The company has already established itself as a leading global digital product consultancy and the acquisition of Netsells will combine the talent and capability of two great teams, unlocking more opportunities in this exciting sector and positioning the business as a credible player of scale in the global digital marketplace." Patrick Richardson, hedgehog lab's Managing Director of the Americas, stated: "Since founding the Americas operations eight years ago we have expanded our clients from California to Texas to Trinidad and Tobago. This acquisition positions us well from a global talent perspective. Hiring and in this case acquiring the best talent in the world allows us to design and develop world-class digital solutions for our clients." ###About hedgehog labhedgehog lab is a human-centered global tech consultancy. Our experts in UXR, UI/UX, engineering, AI, cloud, & data science partner to deliver custom app development and digital transformation services. www.hedgehoglab.com / @hedgehoglabContact InformationPatrick RichardsonManaging Director, Americas617-806-6434SOURCE: hedgehog lab PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 08:21:42 Press Information Published by ACN Newswire +65 6304 8926 e-mail https://www.acnnewswire.com/ # 688 Words ACN Newswire+65 6304 8926 RIYADH & TOKYO, Apr 13, 2023 - (JCN Newswire) - As part of its continuous efforts to develop electronic payment services, the Saudi National Bank and JCB agreed the acceptance of the JCB Card through about 306,351 POS and 3,088 ATMs across the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.This came as a result of a partnership agreement signed between the Saudi National Bank (SNB) and JCB International Co. Ltd., the international operations subsidiary of JCB Co. Ltd., Japan's only international payment brand. The partnership will provide greater convenience for JCB's growing cardholders in the middle east markets to benefit from the usage of their JCB Cards throughout the Saudi National Bank POS and ATM network across the Kingdom.This step will allow JCB cardholders visiting the Kingdom, whose numbers are increasing in the global markets, to carry out financial operations with greater ease, safety, and comfort. Realizing the importance of moving the customer experience towards new horizons of excellence with the best global banking solutions, it is an important step in the Bank's relentless endeavor to enrich the customer experience, and in cultivating this partnership for enhancing financial inclusion in line with the Saudi Vision 2030.Mr. Ahmed Bassam Abu Khamsin, Head of Global Transaction Banking at the Saudi National Bank commented on this partnership: "As a leading Saudi Bank, we always aspire to build strategic partnerships with significant international organizations to cope up with technology, support the Saudi Vision 2030 agenda, and meet our customers' needs. The Saudi National Bank is a primary banking service provider and such partnership will help JCB penetrate the Saudi market." Commenting on this partnership, Mr. Yoshiki Kaneko, President and COO of JCB International Co., Ltd. said: "Saudi Arabia is one of the most important travel destinations for our cardholders. Given the evolving strategy of the the Saudi Vision 2030, and in line with the growing relationship between the two countries, we are pleased to sign this partnership with the Saudi National Bank, one of the largest banks in the region, to allow the acceptance of JCB Cards inside the Kingdom. This partnership will serve business and tourism requirements of our cardholders." It is noteworthy that the Saudi National Bank (SNB) banking services are widespread and accept a wide range of international payment and credit cards, in addition to JCB Cards, Japan's only international payment brand with more than 150.5 million cards issued around the world.About JCBJCB is a major global payment brand and a leading credit card issuer and acquirer in Japan. JCB launched its card business in Japan in 1961 and began expanding worldwide in 1981. Its acceptance network includes about 41 million merchants around the world. JCB Cards are issued mainly in Asian countries and territories, with more than 150 million cardmembers. As part of its international growth strategy, JCB has formed alliances with hundreds of leading banks and financial institutions globally to increase its merchant coverage and cardmember base. As a comprehensive payment solution provider, JCB commits to providing responsive and high-quality service and products to all customers worldwide. For more information, please visit: www.global.jcb/en/ About The Saudi National Bank (SNB)The Saudi National Bank (SNB) is the largest financial institution in Saudi Arabia and one of the largest powerhouses in the region. SNB plays a vital role in supporting economic transformation in Saudi Arabia by transforming the local banking sector and catalysing the delivery of the Saudi Vision 2030. Its strategy is closely aligned with the Saudi Vision programs. The Saudi National bank also leverages its position as the largest institutional and specialized financier in the Kingdom to support the Kingdom's landmark deals and mega projects. The Saudi National Bank (SNB) vision is to be a primary financial and banking service provider locally and regionally through achieving strategic aspirations to have the highest revenues, profit, customer service, digital banking, the employer of choice, and the best Shariah-compliant products service provider in the world. For more information, please visit: https://www.alahli.com/ SNB: Muhannad AlOmari, Corporate Relations, Tel: +966-11-811-2404, Email: Muhannad.Al-Omari@alahli.com JCB Co., Ltd: Ayaka Nakajima, Corporate Communications, Tel: +81-3-5778-8353, Email: jcb-pr@ info.jcb.co.jp PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 11:20:07 Press Information Absolute Markets Insights 1st Floor, The Work Lab, Model Colony, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411016 Shreyas Tanna CEO +91-7400-24-24-24 email https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ # 941 Words 1st Floor, The Work Lab, Model Colony, Shivajinagar, Pune, Maharashtra 411016CEO+91-7400-24-24-24 The global Military Robotics market research report is focuses on an overall consumption patterns, development trends, sales patterns and sales in key countries of the Military Robotics market. The report focuses on global Military Robotics 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=298 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 Military Robotics market is segmented on the basis of solution, industry, and end user. Based on solution, the Military Robotics market is segmented into component, services. On the basis of industry, the Military Robotics market is segmented into manufacturing, others. Based on end user, the Military Robotics market is segmented into consumer and enterprises. The global Military Robotics market report includes a detailed analysis of the segmentation of this industry by Types and Applications.Global Military Robotics by Segments: By Typeo Lando Marineo Airborne By Payloado Sensorso Cameraso LCD Screenso Weaponso Radaro Others By Applicationo Warfield operationso Firingo Image Capturing and Surveillanceo Metal/mine detectionso Pick and Placeo Others By End Usero Armed Forceso Homeland SecuritiesCompetitive Landscape:The competitive landscape of the Military Robotics 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.Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, BAE Systems, SAAB, Boston Dynamics, Thales Group, General Dynamics, Israel Aerospace Industries, Turkish Aerospace Industries, Endeavor Robotics, IRobot Corporation, QinetiQ Group and Roboteam amongst others.Military Robotics 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 Military Robotics market.Ask for Discount: https://www.absolutemarketsinsights.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=298 The Study Objectives are: A comprehensive insight into key players operating in the Military Robotics 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, Military Robotics market segments by application, study goals and years considered.Market Landscape: Here, the global Military Robotics 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 Military Robotics 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 Military Robotics 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 Military Robotics 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 Military Robotics 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=298 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 PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 22:46:10 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 544 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 NEW YORK, NY / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 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: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Parkland residents have a rare opportunity to see one of the last live concerts with the alumni band, the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra with Mike Vax. The performance takes place Saturday at 7 p.m. in North County High Schools auditorium. Limited tickets are available online and at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Saturday evenings event is sponsored by Mineral Area Fine Arts Academy and North County Bands. The North County Jazz Ensemble and Mineral Area Kicks Band will also perform. Vax, an accomplished jazz trumpeter, is director of the Stan Kenton Legacy Orchestra. The group tours around the U.S. annually. The group performs some of the most well-known music of the Stan Kenton Orchestra. Keeping with Stans insistence on not just performing nostalgic-type music, the group performs fresh, new material written in the Kenton style as well as original material written by some of the members of the band. They are carrying on Stans dedication to creative music and jazz education. Vax own love for music began when he was a young boy. He listened to big bands, popular music and operas when he was younger in the early 1940s. He was inspired early on by Harry James and Louis Armstrong. When Vax was in elementary, his school orchestra director, Mrs. Aldridge, put him in the orchestra in the latter part of third grade because he did well on song flute, now called the recorder. All she had left in the middle of the year was an old, beat-up cornet, so she gave it to me and said, This is what you are playing. Vax hasnt stopped since then. He was born in 1942 during World War II and grew up with hard work and discipline. He graduated from Oakland High School in 1960. Now at 80 years young, Vax still loves performing and working with students. Hes also the director of the Prescott Jazz Summit, a very successful jazz festival which happens every August. This year will be the 22nd festival. Vax has done more than 3,000 clinics over the past 50 years. Hes inspired countless students to practice, strive for good performance, learn how to improve on their instrument, how to overcome nervousness, and more. Through my performance, I hope to help students gain a love of both performing and listening to music, he said. Vax has an extremely long list of accomplishments. Hes a jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer and clinician. Hes been performing as a trumpet player for more than 70 years. Hes led a big band off and on since his days at College of the Pacific when he was a classical performance major more than 45 years ago. He honed his craft while in the U.S. Navys top big band, The Navy Show Band. He was first trumpet, soloist and road manager of the Stan Kenton Orchestra and co-leader for several months while Stan recovered from surgery. He led the Dukes of Dixieland in New Orleans. He toured Europe with legendary Clark Terry (and was forced to turn down Count Basie). Hes produced and/or directed music for more than 35 jazz festivals. Hes appeared on more than 80 recordings, including more than 25 as a leader, including the Collaboration CD with longtime friend and fellow trumpeter Ronald Romm, founder of the Canadian Brass. Hes currently an International Artist for The Warburton Musical Instrument Company, and hes director of The Mike Vax Jazz Orchestra, formerly the New Oakland Jazz Orchestra, which consists of many musicians from famous big bands. Out of the long list of accomplishments, Vax said hes most proud of two things. I am proud of all I have done to help keep Stan Kentons name alive and get his music to audiences, as well as having worked with thousands of students of the years in my clinics, he said. Music has been a huge part of Vaxs life. He enjoys communicating with both the other musicians and the audience through music. If I can bring some happiness into peoples lives through my music, I am succeeding, he said. Vax enjoys other passions in addition to music. I dont think a person should be one sided and only play music, he said. So, for me it is traveling in our motor home, off roading in our Jeep, archery and bike riding. Vax has been married to his wife, Peggy, for 48 years. They live in Dewey, Ariz. Perry was a middle school band director for 33 years and was also president of the California chapter of the International Association of Jazz Educators. She was a wonderful trombone player but has retired from that now, he said. She is very much into rock hunting and making fine jewelry these days. Their daughter, Leslie, 44, lives in Merced, Calif., with her husband Matt and their children. As for Saturday evenings concert, Vax is looking forward to getting back together with all the great musicians in our band and performing meaningful music with them. Hes also eager to work with students who will be at the festival there. The audience should expect to hear the Kenton Sound, which is very different from other big bands, he said. They will hear some of the greatest tunes from Kenton history, plus newer music written in the Kenton style. Some of the newer music will include Queens Bohemian Rhapsody, Totos Africa and Gabriels oboe from the movie The Mission. PR-Inside.com: 2023-04-13 14:01:04 Press Information Published by ACCESSWIRE News Network 888.952.4446 e-mail http://www.accesswire.com # 753 Words ACCESSWIRE News Network888.952.4446 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / VERTICAL EXPLORATION INC. (TSXV:VERT) ("Vertical" or the Company") is pleased to announce the appointments of Mr. Ian Turner and Ms. Nicole Huybens to its Advisory Board.Mr. Turner graduated from McGill University in 1974 with a mining engineering degree and obtained his MBA from McGill in 1980. He then began work at a seasonal quartz quarry in Malbaie Quebec with his future partner Dr Howard Hogan at Baskatong Quartz Inc. Together they developed eight high purity mines in eastern Canada specifically for the silicon metal industry, responding to a growing need for higher purity metals. Mr. Turner also worked for four years at Noranda and Kidd Creek managing underground mine and shaft development, and he has served as the past Treasurer of the Canadian Institute of Mining's Montreal Branch for over 15 years.In 1998 Mr. Turner went on to purchase his own company and subsequently created Sitec Quartz Inc. in partnership with Investment Quebec, where he spearheaded the use of quartz in engineered countertops with DuPont for the North American market. During his term of Company president Mr. Turner helped to further develop Sitec's Malbaie quartz mine, before selling Sitec in 2018 to its largest client where he remained to help with its continued growth until his retirement in 2023. The Malbaie mine and related processing plants currently employ 110 workers in Quebec.Ms. Huybens graduated in Social Communication from the Universite Catholique de Louvain (Louvain-La-Neuve, Belgique), and she also has a Master's degree and Ph.D. from the University of Montreal. The subject of her thesis was the ethical and symbolical aspects of social acceptability in the case of the boreal forest exploitation in Quebec. Ms. Huybens is a retired professor from both the University of Quebec in Chicoutimi (sustainable development for EcoAdvisers) and the Institutes Eco-Conseil of Namur (Belgium) and Strasbourg (France). She was also an invited professor at the University of Mons and Arlon (Belgium), and at the EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne - Suisse). Ms. Huybens interests in Vertical include the areas of environmental and social consulting in support of the Company's responsible and green development of its St-Onge mine, and she will also help with the overall carbon-neutral development of the Company.Peter P. Swistak, President/CEO of Vertical Exploration Inc., commented, "We are happy to have both Mr. Turner and Ms. Huybens join our Vertical team at a key time in the Company's growth. Ian's vast knowledge of the Quebec mining industry, as well as his experience gained through working on a range of large mining industry operations brings key technical and industry expertise to Vertical. Nicole's extensive academic background and keen interest in supporting Vertical with its green and social development aspirations for its St-Onge wollastonite, will help the Company assess and move forward with upcoming carbon-neutral development opportunities. I am excited about having both Mr. Turner and Ms. Huybens on our Advisory Board, and the Company looks forward to collaborating with them both to help maximize our partnership and revenue opportunities." ABOUT VERTICAL EXPLORATIONVertical Exploration's mission is to identify, acquire, and advance high potential mining prospects located in North America for the benefit of its stakeholders. The Company's flagship St-Onge Wollastonite property is located in the Lac-Saint-Jean area in the Province of Quebec.ON BEHALF OF THE BOARDPeter P. Swistak, President/CEOFOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:Telephone: 1-604-683-3995Toll Free: 1-888-945-4770Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS:This news release contains forward-looking statements, which relate to future events or future performance and reflect management's current expectations and assumptions. Such forward-looking statements reflect management's current beliefs and are based on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company. Investors are cautioned that these forward-looking statements are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause future results to differ materially from those expected. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof and, except as required under applicable securities legislation, the Company does not assume any obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances. All of the forward-looking statements made in this press release are qualified by these cautionary statements and by those made in our filings with SEDAR in Canada (available at www.sedar.com) SOURCE: Vertical Exploration Inc. Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. A delegation from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) met with Nigerian representatives on 4th and 5th April 2023, at a workshop it jointly organised with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), to discuss the maximisation of the benefits of the Two-Pillar Solution for Nigeria. This is contained in the Workshops Outcome statement released Thursday, signed by the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Muhammad Nami and the OECD Representative, Ben Dickinson. The Two-Pillar Solution, a proposal by the OECD Inclusive Framework, is a set of proposed rules, endorsed by 138 countries across the world as a uniform solution to the tax challenges of the digitalised economy, as well as Base Erosion and Profit Shifting. Nigeria, one of the four members of the Inclusive Framework that did not endorse the set of rules, met with the OECD delegation last week to familiarise relevant government officials with the rules, Nigerias position, as well as the potential benefits of the Two-Pillar Solution to the country and the world in general. The workshop was attended by key stakeholders, led by the Executive Chairman of the FIRS, Mr Nami, who was represented by the Coordinating Director, Executive Chairmans Group, Muhammad Abubakar. Also in attendance were the representatives of the Office of the Vice President, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, the Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Nigerian Investment Promotion Commission (NIPC), Nigeria Export Processing Zone Authority (NEPZA), Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA), Nigeria Export Promotion Council (NEPC), Joint Tax Board (JTB), and some States tax authorities. After a critical review of the rules and Nigerias participation in their development, stakeholders at the meeting resolved that there is the need for Nigerias continued participation in the rule development, as a member of the Inclusive Framework, to ensure that the interest of the country and Africa is factored into the design and development of the rules. READ ALSO: The Outcome Statement noted that whether or not Nigeria endorsed the statement of October 2021, and the detailed rules to be released later, to address challenges arising from the digitalisation of the economy, the countrys tax base and fiscal policy options will be impacted by the implementation of the Two-Pillar solution, especially the Pillar 2 Global Minimum Tax Rules of 15% effective tax rate (the GloBE rules). The meeting consequently observed that there was the need for Nigeria to immediately implement fiscal policy measures to address these potential impacts. In light of this, there is a need to commence immediate implementation of fiscal policy measures around the Global Minimum Tax Rules, in view of the fact that other jurisdictions around the world have commenced implementation of measures that will enable them reap top-up taxes allowed under the rules, which will be to the detriment of Nigeria from 2024, if no step is taken. There is also an urgent need to review and streamline Nigerias tax incentives, as the rules will have the impact of allowing other jurisdictions to mop up taxes not collected in Nigeria due to tax incentives, the Statement read. The Stakeholders also observed that Nigeria could implement and reap the benefits of Pillar 2, even where it does not wish to implement Pillar 1, noting that Effective implementation of Pillar 2 rules holds significant potential for increased tax revenue to fund government programme, boost the economy and keep Nigeria as an attractive investment location. As part of its recommendations, the OECD-Nigeria Meeting urged stakeholders within the country to commence internal engagements and draw up a national strategy for immediate streamlining of its tax incentives, to avoid ceding its tax base to other jurisdictions, owing to the implementation of Pillar 2 rules. The Workshop Statement enjoined Nigeria to take immediate steps to respond to Pillar 2 through implementation of tax policy options, which may include changing its income tax rule to bring up its effective tax rate to a minimum of 15% or introducing a Qualified Domestic Minimum Top-up Tax (QDMTT). The meeting emphasised on the need for Nigeria to continue to participate in the rule development as a matter of importance to protect national interest. Nigeria is a member of the Inclusive Framework, and has actively participated in the rule development process despite not endorsing the Inclusive Framework October 2021 Statement on the grounds that it was in Nigerias best interest not to do so, to ensure that the country does not lose out on potential revenue from the digital economy. The Executive Chairman of the FIRS had in a statement in May 2022 noted that the country had concerns over the impact the rules could have on Nigerias tax system and revenue generation. There are serious concerns on how the rules (particularly on Pillar 1) would compound the issues in our tax system. For instance, to be able to tax any digital sale or any multinational enterprise (MNEs), that company or enterprise must have an annual global turnover of 20 billion and a global profitability of 10%. That is a concern. This is because most MNEs that operate in our country do not meet such criteria and we would not be able to tax them, Mr Nami stated then. Secondly, the 20 billion global annual turnover in question is not just for one accounting year, but it is that the enterprise must make 20 billion revenue and 10% profitability in average for four consecutive years, otherwise that enterprise will never pay tax in our country, but in the country where the enterprise comes from, or its country of residence, the statement read. Thirdly he noted that for Nigeria to subject a Multinational Enterprise to tax under the rule, the entity must have generated at least 1 million turnover from Nigeria within a year. Mr Nami stated that this is an unfair position especially to domestic companies which, with a minimum of above N25 million (that is about 57,000) turnover, are subject to companies income tax in Nigeria. He added that this rule will take-off so many Multinational Enterprises from the scope of those that are currently paying taxes to Nigeria. In other words, even the MNEs that are currently paying taxes in Nigeria would cease to pay taxes to us because of this rule. Fourthly, on the issue of dispute resolutions under the Two-Pillar Solution, the FIRS Executive Chairman explained that the rules were such that in the event of a dispute between Nigeria and a Multinational Enterprise, Nigeria would be subject to an international arbitration panel as against Nigerias own justice system. It would be subject to international arbitration and not Nigerias judicial system and lawseven where the income is directly related to a Nigerian member of an MNE group, which is ordinarily subject to tax in Nigeria on its worldwide income and subject to the laws of Nigeria. We are concerned about getting a fair deal from such process. More so, such a dispute resolution process with a Multinational Enterprise, in an international arbitration panel outside the country, would lead to heavy expenses on legal services, traveling and other incidental costs. Nigeria would spend more; even beyond the tax yield from such cases, the statement said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Board of Directors of TotalEnergies on Thursday announced the appointment of Bunmi Popoola-Mordi to its board as an executive director. Mrs Popoola-Mordi was appointed executive director of Human Resources & Corporate Services effective 1 April. TotalEnergies made the disclosure in a statement posted to the Nigerian Exchange Limited (NGX), signed by company chairman Jean-Philippe Torres. Mrs Popoola-Mordi is a Law graduate, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators. She has several post-graduate degrees in Law and an MBA in oil and gas management. Her career spans legal practice, banking, human resources management, industrial relations, communication, corporate governance, investor relations, and public relations amongst others. She joined TotalEnergies Marketing Nigeria Plc in 2011 as Legal Affairs Manager/Company Secretary, was promoted to General Manager of Human Resources & Corporate Services/Company Secretary in 2015 and appointed Executive General Manager of Total Country Services in 2019. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Lagos State Government, through its Ministry of Tourism, has expressed displeasure with Gangs of Lagos producers over what it termed a cultural misrepresentation and for portraying the states culture in a derogatory manner. A statement signed by the Commissioner for Tourism, Arts and Culture, Uzamat Akinbile-Yussuf, said the Ministry, being the regulatory body and custodian of the culture of Lagos State, views the film as a mockery of the Heritage of Lagos. The Commissioner noted that the Eyo Masquerade symbolises honour for remarkable historical events, signifying a total renewal, a purification ritual to usher in a new beginning, a beckoning of new light, and acknowledging the blessings of the ancestors of Lagosians. We think that the production of the film The Gang of Lagos is very unprofessional and misleading while its content is derogatory of our culture, to desecrate the revered heritage of the people of Lagos. It is an unjust profiling of a people and culture as being barbaric and nefarious. It depicts a gang of murderers rampaging across the State, her statement read. The commissioner noted that the Adamu Orisha, popularly known as the Eyo Festival, is rarely observed and only comes up as a traditional rite of passage for Obas, revered Chiefs and eminent Lagosians. Cultural group kicks Meanwhile, a Lagos Island cultural group, the Isale Eko Descendants Union (IDU), have kicked against what it also termed the disturbing violent images in the Amazon Prime Video-produced Gangs of Lagos. Directed by Jade Osiberu and Kemi Lala Akindoju, the movie premiered on Amazon Prime Video last Friday as the first Amazon Original Movie from Africa. It stars Tobi Bakre, Adesua Etomi, Olarotimi Fakunle, Iyabo Ojo, Pasuma, and Chike, among others and has names like Adesegun Adetoro, Demi Olubanwo, Olumide Soyombo, Bankole Wellington, Adesua Etomi- Wellington, and Kola Aina as Executive Producers. In one of the scenes of Gangs of Lagos, which is currently trending on Amazon Prime as number 1 in seven African countries and number three globally, the movie portrays assassins operating under the cover of Eyo masquerades. This has caused IDU to kick against depicting the revered masquerade as a camouflage, decoy and subterfuge for murderers and gangsters operating in the Isale Eko area. Speaking with PREMIUM TIMES, Yomi Tokosi, Chairman of Isale Eko Descendants Union, said that the films creators are free to exercise their creative license as long as it does not infringe on the cultures and traditions of his people. Mr Tokosi said his role as the bodys chairman makes him a custodian of the culture, which endows him to defend it. It is my responsibility to defend our culture. Of course, the producers can exercise their creative freedom. But once it infringes on our cultures and traditions, we must protect ourselves. It is not personal. The last time they stole the staff of the office of the Oba of Lagos, I went on air to speak against it and defend our heritage, he said. Petition A statement signed by Mr Tokosi said that the Eyo masquerade had been part of the unique cultural heritage of the Isale Eko Community of Lagos since 1854 (169 years). He said that Eyo had been known as a masquerade for celebration in Lagos Island and not an instrument of a gang of criminals as illegally and scandalously portrayed. Most importantly, the movie has brought the Eyo masquerade and the people of Isale Eko into disrepute, who are now deemed criminally minded in the eyes of right-thinking members of society, the statement reads. The IDU say it is very disturbed that the culture and tradition of Isale Eko can be wantonly exploited in such a despicable and insensitive manner by Amazon and Prime Video to the detriment of the Isale Eko community. The illegal and scandalous depiction of the Eyo masquerade in the movie is actionable. A petition has been lodged by the IDU with the National Film and Censors Board (NFVCB), including other significant stakeholders. IDU has, among other things, requested that the board withdraws the approval granted to the movie, Gangs of Lagos and direct the withdrawal of the movie from all viewing channels available to the public, it reads. It further stated that the Union and other community stakeholders would also be considering legal action for the damage done to the culture, tradition and image of the Isale Eko community and the Eyo masquerade. Cultural misrepresentation Despite the rich diversity, Nigerian movies have always been a tool for depicting some of its cultural heritage. However, many think that it is mainly used to cast the various Nigerian cultures in a negative light, Topics like toxic masculinity, female genital mutilation, and ritual killings often find their way into Nollywood plotlines. On the foreign scene, movies like Coming to America and its sequel have been called out for misusing Nigerian and other African cultures. Amina is an excellent example of a Nigerian film that drew criticism for cultural misrepresentation. The movie, which aired on Netflix on the 4th of November, 2021, according to critics, fell short of the historical reality of Aminas reign and was fraught with historical inaccuracies. Another film that drew outcry was the recently released Dark October, a depiction of the lynching of four students of the University of Port Harcourt, dubbed ALuu 4. Although many other seeming infractions in the industry exist, none has angled towards the outright cultural misrepresentation being claimed by IDU. Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES couldnt reach members of the Gangs of Lagos crew could not be reached for comments as they are presently in London promoting the series. No legislation Commenting on the letter, the Executive Director/CEO of the Nigerian Film and Videos Censors Board, Adedayo Thomas, said that it is challenging to have a comment, especially as Nigerias legislation is yet to cover movies released on streaming platforms. In an interview with PREMIUM TIMES, he said that having done a cursory viewing of Gangs of Lagos, he discovered that the producers clearly stated at the beginning that it is a work of fiction. However, we dont have an exclusive mandate on what goes on the internet. Our bill, which was made in 1993, has stayed the same. A new account is present with the National Assembly. It has passed the first and second readings, gone through public hearings, and is on the concurrent list. As it is, we are doing a strict carrot and stick because a mandate you dont have, you cannot execute. We can only mediate between both parties, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP) could be close to using delivery drones for attacks in the Lake Chad Basin. Weaponising and adapting unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) is a new trend in the groups operational strategy, and could worsen the conflict. Institute for Security Studies (ISS) research shows that ISWAP is already trialling delivery drones to carry improvised explosive devices. This includes assessing the weight that can be carried, how far they can go and how long they stay in the air. The threat goes beyond military targets and may impact humanitarian service delivery. Ongoing operations by Nigerias military and clashes with Boko Haram faction, Jamaatu Ahlis-Sunna LiddaAwati Wal-Jihad (JAS), have inflicted heavy losses on ISWAP and significantly reduced its space to operate. And successful intelligence-driven strikes resulting in arrests of ISWAP members outside the North-east are preventing the group from expanding. These setbacks may be forcing ISWAP to adapt its strategy, as it has done before. So far, ISWAPs use of drones has been limited to propaganda, surveillance and communication. ISS research, including analysis of publicly available propaganda materials and interviews with former combatants and associates, reveals an elaborate use of communication technology (see Chart 1). This includes satellite and android phones, drones, social media (Telegram and WhatsApp), high-speed printers, laptops, high-definition digital cameras, Wi-Fi, clip-on microphones, walkie-talkies, and data compression and archiving software. All these tools are used by the media team headed by Abba Yusuf (Abu Rumaisa), son of late Boko Haram founder Mohammed Yusuf. The teams primary function is to showcase ISWAP as a successful jihadist group. That propaganda will encourage recruitment and present a positive image that cements its position as the top Islamic State affiliate globally. The media department also handles relations with other violent extremist groups, including Islamic State. Former ISWAP members, including from the media unit, told ISS how the department functions. Staff are recruited from within the group and taught the basics of operating the equipment, mostly cameras. They accompany fighters and wait at a distance to be invited to take photos and videos, usually when things go ISWAPs way. The raw footage and pictures are sent to Islamic State, which produces the propaganda material. The group shares the content with ISWAPs media team, which distributes it through a private and members-only Telegram account, Nashir News Agency (see Chart 2). ISWAP relies heavily on high-speed satellite internet to communicate with Islamic State and other groups. Sources told ISS that ISWAP used Thuraya Wi-Fi and spent about $6,000 monthly on data. They said Lagos was the main supply source but that ISWAP encountered a problem with the supply, forcing it to switch to Chad. Although Thuraya satellite phones and internet services are illegal in Chad, they are used in secret. A particular Thuraya model stands out as a possible device used by ISWAP. It is available in Nigeria but mainly in Lagos. The Thuraya XT-Hotspot is marketed as the worlds fastest Wi-Fi via satellite for communication needs beyond GSM coverage for quick and secure Internet connectivity in the remotest of locations. The sources claim ISWAP has dedicated vehicles fitted with internet services to facilitate communication and data sharing on the go. The media team uses one of these vehicles when it accompanies fighters, enabling them to immediately share material from the battlefield. This explains how ISWAP can release information quickly, including images and videos, sometimes within hours of attacks. ISWAPs public communication also suggests it can easily share data with Islamic State using data compression and archiving software. In addition to speed and encryption, the software reduces bandwidth costs. There is no single way to deal with the problem of ISWAPs use of technology. The solution lies in various measures working together. ISS research has detailed how ISWAP exploited Lake Chad Basin trade routes to get vital supplies. The groups remote location should be an advantage for security forces who could disrupt its supply lines. Checkpoint searches have proved successful and can be used again. Those bringing in equipment and accessories should explain their destinations, which security agents should verify. Collaboration among security forces in the four affected Lake Chad Basin countries can help. The ISS report also showed how civilian and military collaborators helped ISWAP get supplies. Security force leaders in the region must hold their personnel to the highest standards and use an independent ombudsman to deter corruption. To prevent civilians from collaborating with terror groups, authorities should work with communities and trade unions to identify and disrupt networks helping ISWAP. The criminal justice system can also play a deterrent role. A future concern is that violent extremist groups like ISWAP become involved in cybercrime. Given Nigerias enormous financial powers and growing tech industry, authorities should prepare for this. Investing in technology and collaborating with tech companies to prevent their products, platforms or services from falling into ISWAPs hands is a start. Going after ISWAPs money is vital. The group should be forced out of its current location using targeted and joint military operations. This would cut ISWAPs access to its major revenue base. In using these tactics, care should be taken to avoid adversely affecting civilians, either by destroying their livelihoods or inflicting human rights violations. Curtailing ISWAPs access to technology will prevent it from using tech to plan and execute attacks, spread propaganda and recruit. That will reduce the damage the group inflicts on civilians and aid workers in the Lake Chad Basin. Malik Samuel, Researcher, Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Regional Office for West Africa, the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin Research for this article was funded by the Government of The Netherlands. (This article was first published by ISS Today, a Premium Times syndication partner. We have their permission to republish). Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Olalekan Ponle, better known as Woodberry, has pleaded guilty to a fraud charge at a United States district court, PREMIUM TIMES can report. The district court for Northern Illinois has set 11 July for his sentencing. Woodberry is well-known to be an ally of another Nigerian international fraudster, Ramon Abbas, alias Hushpuppi, who was jailed last year. The two men were arrested for extensive international online scams in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on 10 June 2020, and were flown to the United States to face separate trials. Hushpuppi, who initially pleaded not guilty, changed his plea to guilty in April 2021, just before a full-blown trial was to begin. The US district court for Central California where prosecutors charged him jailed him for 11 years and ordered him to pay $1.7 million restitution in November 2022. Woodberry, accused of defrauding a US company of about $188,000, similarly maintained his innocence for over two years. But he made a U-turn to plead guilty to one count of wire fraud during a change of plea hearing at the US District Court for Northern Illinois this April, according to court documents obtained by PREMIUM TIMES. The judge, Robert Gettleman, accepted the defendants change of plea in a ruling delivered on 6 April. He set 11 July for sentencing after accepting the plea agreement Woodberry entered into with US prosecutors. The judge referred the case to the Probation Department for a pre-sentence investigation and report, which would guide his decision on the appropriate sentence to impose. He gave the US government 60 days before the sentencing date to provide the Probation Office and the courtroom deputy a list of victims and their full current contact information to obtain the courts order of restitution. The list shall include any amounts subject to restitution. If the Government is not able to provide the full victim list 60 days before sentencing, they shall file a motion to request an extension of time to compile the information, the judge added. Woodberry and Fraud In pleading guilty, Woodberry confessed to defrauding a company in New York, identified as Victim Company B of almost $188,000 through online scams involving business email comprise schemes. US prosecutors said starting from January 2019, Mr Ponle and his co-schemers were engaged in a business email compromise scheme targeting Victim Company B and other companies which resulted in a fraudulent wire of approximately $188,191.50 to a bank account. How fraudulent plot was hatched According to the court filing, the scheme began with one or more of Mr Ponles co-schemers gaining unauthorised access to Victim Company Bs email account on or before 16 January 2019. They hacked into the email account by fraudulently obtaining the account credentials, according to the prosecutors. Once access to this email account (Victim Company B Email Account) had been accomplished, the co-schemers changed certain security settings in the email account to hide their activity from the actual email account user, prosecutors said in the plea agreement signed by Woodberry. Swiftly, on 16 January 2019, an email was sent from the compromised Victim Company Bs email account to another email account of the company requesting a $188,191.50 payment be made to Victim Company Bs supplier. The email, according to prosecutors, contained instructions that the money be sent via wire transfer to a bank account which was set up by Whiteberry. PONLE knew that he had no right to the money and that the email was intended to defraud Victim Company B into paying money owed to the supplier to an account controlled by PONLE rather than the supplier. As a result of the email, approximately $188,191.50 was sent to 8208 account. PONLE acknowledges that the wire was processed through the Federal Reserve System and sent from an account held in New York, New York to an account ending in held in Nashville, Tennessee, the plea agreement added. The document went further to state that on 17 January 2019, Mr Ponle received a message from Individual B informing him that The money is in. It added that Woodberrys instruction, Individual B converted approximately $119,000 of the proceeds of the fraudulent wire transfer to Bitcoin. Individual B then sent the Bitcoin to PONLEs Bitcoin wallet. How fraudulent bank account was set up Woodberry, according to the plea agreement, set up the fraudulent bank account with which he received proceeds of the fraud nine days before he requested payment through Victim Company Bs compromised email account on 16 January 2019. The prosecutors say, specifically on 7 January 2019, Mr Ponle, using the alias Mark Kain, sent a message from outside the US to Individual B asking Individual B to open a bank account in the name of a Victim Company B supplier. Woodberry was said to have told Individual B to set up a separate business account just to receive the money. Acting at Mr Ponles direction, Individual B opened an account under the name [Individual B] d/b/a [Victim Company B supplier] and sent the account number, which ended in 8208, and routing number to him, the court filing stated. On 10 January 2019, he sent a message to Individual B indicating that the wire to the Victim Company B supplier account would be $188K. The prosecutor is pushing for the court to order the defendant to make full restitution in the amount outstanding at the time of sentencing. The US government last year described w Woodberrys ally, Hushpuppi as a prolific international fraudster who conspired to launder tens of millions of dollars through a series of online scams. The government said Hushpupi flaunted his luxurious, crime-funded lifestyle on social media. His Instagram account, his flagship platform for flaunting his expensive lifestyle, has since been closed at the request of the US government. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The president-elect, Bola Tinubu, has urged the Presidential Election Petition Court to dismiss the case filed against his victory at the 25 February poll by former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. He described the petition by the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as a gross abuse of court processes and that it should not be entertained by the court. Mr Tinubu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential candidate in the disputed poll, made this call in his preliminary objection filed against Atikus petition through his team of lawyers led by Wole Olanipekun, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Atiku and his party, the PDP, are the 1st and 2nd petitioners, respectively, in the case marked: CA/PEPC/05/2023. They jointly suit the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mr Tinubu and the APC as the 1st to the 3rd respondents, respectively. The petitioners are seeking the nullification of the 25 February presidential poll. Mr Tinubu, according to INEC declaration, defeated 17 other candidates after polling 8,794,726 votes. NAN reports that while the former vice president came second with 6,984,520 votes, Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP) came third with 6,101,533 votes. However, Atiku and the PDP are asking the tribunal to set aside Mr Tinubus victory and to declare Atiku winner of the election. In the alternative, they want an order mandating INEC to conduct a fresh election, without the participation of APC and its candidate. Four other political parties with their presidential candidates have also filed their petitions against the outcome of the election. Tinubus response Responding to Atikus petition, Mr Tinubu argued that the entire petition constituted an abuse of processes of court. He said the petitioners, in another case before the Supreme Court, are also asking for same prayers as in the instant petition. He said the originating summons dated 28 February was filed by six states controlled by the PDP (2nd petitioner) against the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), INEC and others. He said the Attorneys-General of Sokoto, Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, Delta and Edo states are plaintiffs in the case. Most, if not all the issues the plaintiffs submitted for determination in the said originating summons are repeated in the present petition, he said. In the main, the originating summons sought the setting aside of the presidential election held on 25th February, 2023. The plaintiffs attacked INEC for not following its Manual and Regulations in the conduct of the election, and also complained of glitches, which is also the thrust of their petition. While the originating summons was filed on Feb. 28, this petition was filed on March 21, he argued. Mr Tinubu, who accused the petitioners of pursuing two processes in respect of the same subject, urged the court to dismiss the petition. He said the grounds of the petition were incompetent, hence, the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain them. He argued that though the petitioners alleged his election was invalid by reason of non-compliance with the provisions of the Electoral Act, 2022, they failed to disclose incidents of non-compliance with the law. He said though the petitioners complained about outcome of the election in 10 states which include Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Kano, Plateau and Lagos, he was not declared as the overall winner in any of the states listed. According to him Mr Peter Obi of the Labour Party was declared the overall winner of the election in Abia, Anambra, Delta, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Imo, Plateau and Lagos states, while Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of the New Nigeria Peoples Party was declared winner of the election in Kano State. Mr Tinubu argued that none of these people and their parties were joined as a party on the petition. He said he could not be made willy-nilly to defend any infraction allegedly committed in any of those states. He, therefore, argued that the petition was improperly constituted and prayed the court to dismiss it. Serial loser Mr Tinubu said that Atiku could not have won the poll because he was a serial election loser. The 1st petitioner (Abubakar) has been consistently contesting and losing successive presidential elections in Nigeria since 1993, whether at the party primary election level or at the general election, he said. The president-elect recalled that Atiku in 1993, lost the Social Democratic Party (SDP) primary election to the late M.K.O Abiola. He said in 2007, he lost the presidential election to the late President Umaru Musa YarAdua. He said in 2011, he lost the PDP presidential primary election to President Goodluck Jonathan and in 2015, he lost the APC primary election to President Muhammadu Buhari. Mr Tinubu said in 2019, Atiku lost the presidential election to Mr Buhari; and now in 2023, he had, again, lost the presidential election to him. According to the president-elect, it was not a surprise or not by accident that the electorate rejected the 1st petitioner at the polls of the presidential election held on F25 February. He said he was ready to lead evidence to prove to the court that a host of states controlled by PDP and their governors protested against Atikus emergence as partys candidate and vowed never to support his candidature. He said he would lead evidence to show that the 1st petitioner could not even campaign or canvass for votes in some of the states controlled by the 2nd petitioner, including Rivers and Oyo states where the 2nd respondent (Tinubu) defeated the 1st petitioner (Atiku) by a wide margin. Mr Tinubu, who said former vice president having lost at the election, had no right to be declared as winner under the Nigerian laws, prayed the court to dismiss the petition for lacking in merit, substance and sincerity. He described it as being frivolous, vexatious, highly misconceived and disclosing of no reasonable cause of action. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC) on Wednesday denied claims that it was in violation of Nigerian Content laws at the EA fields in Bayelsa State. The Ijaw Youth Congress (IYC) had on Monday alleged that SPDC had excluded indigenous players from its operations at the EA fields in breach of the community content guidelines. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the content guidelines were set out by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB). The youth group said that it would resist any plot to exclude members of the host community by mobilising for a protest that would ground operations at the oil fields if the policy was not reversed. The group also urged the Minister of Petroleum, President Muhammadu Buhari and leadership of NNPC Limited to prevail on SPDC to have a rethink and reciprocate the peaceful disposition of the host communities. NAN also reports that SPDC operates the EA shallow offshore fields off Bayelsa coastline, deploying a Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FSPO) vessel, with a capacity to process and hold 1.4 million barrels of crude. Reacting to the allegations, the SPDC said that on the contrary, it was a leading player in the development of local capacity in the oil and gas sector. SPDC Media Relations Manager, Abimbola Essien-Nelson, in a statement, said that Shell awarded contracts worth $1.9 billion to Nigerian companies and works with NCDMB in building capacity of Nigerian companies in the oil and gas sector. The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited Joint Venture (SPDC JV) is committed to the development of businesses in the Niger Delta. Working with government and community stakeholders, we have supported capacity development in several Niger Delta-owned businesses. The case in hand is a scheduled review of our logistics contracting process that has been in place for years. The review was supervised by the NNPC Upstream Investments Management Services (NUIMS) and the Nigerian Content Development & Monitoring Board (NCDMB). It was, however, conducted via an open and transparent bidding process which resulted in the entrance of several new contractors. The bid winners consist some of these new companies, as well as companies previously involved in the contract. All the bid winners, which are Nigerian companies, demonstrated their commercial and technical competences, as well as compliance with Nigerian Content regulations, SPDC stated. The energy firm pledged that it would continue to support the development of local communities and companies. It stated that in 2022, the SPDC Joint Venture, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company (SNEPCo) and Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) awarded contracts worth $1.9 billion to Nigerian-registered companies. Additionally, in 2022, the SPDC JV, SNEPCo and SNG invested $5.6 million in education programmes and contributed $34.29 million in direct social investment. Social investment was mainly in projects related to community, health, education, road safety and enterprise programmes. These projects are often implemented in partnership with local authorities and contractors. In addition, $56.13 million has been earmarked to be paid in 2023 by the SPDC JV and SNEPCo for a statutory contribution to Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs), which will benefit Nigerian communities, it stated. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, R-Lee's Summit, speaks in a press conference after voting against a bill seeking to ban gender-affirming care for minors (Annelise Hanshaw/Missouri Independent). Differences between the House and Senate on how strict a ban on certain transgender health care should be could spell trouble for the proposals chances as the Missouri legislative session nears completion. Leaders in both chambers told reporters Thursday they are pushing for their respective bodys legislation. The Senate passed a version last month that allows transgender minors currently receiving care to continue treatments and includes an expiration date for the ban on hormone therapy. Both provisions were included as a compromise to end a Democratic filibuster. The House version, passed Thursday, leaves the compromise language out. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, said the House needs to pass his chambers version for any bill to have a chance this year. We dont get second chances on huge, huge issues like that very often, Rowden said. Republicans in the House, however, stand by their version of the bill without any compromise. I stand by what the House did, said House Speaker Dean Plocher, R-Des Peres. We didnt believe that there needed to be a sunset provision. And then we didnt believe there needed to be a grandfather clause. Plocher said the Senate bills are still alive but didnt have a timeline in mind for bringing them to the House floor. A House committee passed the Senate bill without making any changes Thursday afternoon. It depends on what kind of action the Senate takes, Plocher said. First, said House Majority Leader Jon Patterson, R-Lees Summit. We asked the Senate to take a good look at the House proposal. I have made a commitment to the Republican conference, Patterson continued, that if that [Senate] bill is on the calendar and we need to pass it, that were looking at it. Patterson voted against the House bill on Thursday, clarifying in the press conference that he appreciated the work behind the bill but wished the ban was less sweeping. During Thursdays debate, Democrats pleaded with Republicans to break from their stated positions and vote against the bill. Rep. Barbara Phifer, D-St. Louis, said she has a trangender grandson who she worries wont be able to remain in Missouri or visit her if the House bill becomes law. Rep. Ian Mackey, D-St. Louis, accused Republicans of putting politics over transgender children and their families. Mackey left the chamber frustrated, pushing open the door while flinging his hands angrily. A few on the other side of the aisle chuckled. Youre all seeing a lot of emotion right now. A lot of frustration and a lot of pain, Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis said. I know you dont get it. He said it is difficult maintaining friendships with legislators who vote counter to him on issues such as gender-affirming care. This is as personal as it gets and if its not about you and your child, you should be listening to the people it is about and not deciding that you, government, know better than them and their doctors about their complex, personal journeys, he said. Rep. Brad Hudson, a Republican from Cape Fair and the bills sponsor, said Merideths words were a threat. We have to agree with them and if we dont, theyre going to threaten us, he said in his closing argument for the bill. Theyre going to threaten us with lost friendships, theyre going to threaten us with the opinions of our children and our grandchildren. Patterson and Rep. Chris Sander, R-Lone Jack, broke from their party to vote against the bill. Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-OFallon, voted present. Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, on Thursday dismissed a suit seeking the nullification of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) delegates lists for the governorship primaries scheduled to hold on Friday. The suit was filed by Abayomi Awoniyi, Abdullahi Haruna, Ruben Atabo, Mohammed Usman, Musa Wada, Kingsley Lona, Gedion Ojata, and M. Bolufemi. Defendants in the suit are the PDP, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abdul Ningi, the chairman of the ad hoc delegates and Warman Ogorija, the secretary. Delivering a ruling, the judge, Peter Kekemeke, held that the court lacked the jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The subject matter from the suit is the list of the delegates to be used for the PDP Kogi primary on 14 April. It is important to note whether the court has the jurisdiction to handle the matter. The court cannot hear a matter which is exclusively within the jurisdiction of another state, he held. He also held that the FCT, Abuja is treated as a state in the federation, adding, It is different from the Federal High Court, this court can only assume jurisdiction in the matters within the FCT. Mr Kekemeke also said: This court by the virtue of 299 (a) is like a state high court. As much as I would like to grant the order, by the law, I am constrained and restrained to grant the order. Suit The claimants had in a suit filed through their counsel, P.O Okolo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, prayed the court to grant them an order of interlocutory injunction restraining PDP and INEC from accepting, dealing and using the list of delegates contained in Exhibit E1-E16. They also sought an order of mandatory injunction directing the first and second respondents to receive, treat, deal or use the list of elected delegates contained in exhibit E1-E21 for the purpose of conducting the first respondent Kogi governorship primaries on Friday. The claimants, specifically sought an order of mandatory injunction directing or compelling the first respondent to remove or delete from its record or not to recognise or treat, deal or use the purported list of delegates pending the determination of the originating summons. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The management of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State, says it has handed over suspects accused of the murder of a final-year student, Okoli Aishe, of the institution. The Public Relations Officer of the University, Abiodun Olarewaj, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), on Wednesday, in Ile-Ife. He said the Vice-Chancellor, Simeon Bamire, and the entire community were saddened over the murder of the student. Nobody knows that students can go to that level of indiscipline to cost the life of their mate, he said. The spokesman stressed that the suspects should have adhered to the constitutional provisions and the universitys regulations rather than taking the law into their hands. READ ALSO: How we forged receipts to cover up death of OAU student Witness Mr Olarewaju said the university had set up a committee to unravel the circumstances leading to the gruesome murder of the student. Aishe, a final-year student of the Civil Engineering Department was clobbered to death in a mob action after some students accused her of cell phone theft. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Olalenkan Ponle, also known as Woodberry, has agreed to make a restitution of over $8 million to victims of his years-long extensive online scams. He also agreed to forfeit an astounding wealth of posh assets he owned in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), to the United States government. Woodberry agreed to make the restitution and surrender the luxury assets in a plea agreement he signed with the US government earlier this April. The list of to-be-forfeited assets includes luxury cars, among which are Rolls Royce Cullinan and Lamborghini Urus. It also includes Rolex watches, gold bracelets, as well as gold and diamond studded rings and neck chains. He will also forfeit cash in Emirati dirhams, among other assets. The judge of the US District Court for Northern Illinois, Gettleman, accepted the plea agreement in a ruling on 6 April. He then fixed 11 July for sentencing. Well-known to be an ally of another Nigerian international fraudster, Ramon Abbas, alias Hushpuppi, who was jailed last year, Woodberry was accused of conspiring with other co-schemers to engage in an extensive business email compromise (BEC) scheme. BEC activities involve scammers gaining unauthorised access into the email accounts of companies and businesses, and using them to trick others to pay money into certain accounts. US prosecutors said Woodberrys BEC schemes targeted a number of companies which resulted in a fraudulent wire of approximately $188,191.50 to a bank account. He and Hushpuppi were arrested over their fraudulent online activities in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates, on 10 June 2020, and were immediately flown to the United States to face separate trials. Hushpuppi, after initially pleading not guilty, changed his plea to guilty in April 2021, and was subsequently jailed 11 years by the US District Court for Central California in November 2022. The fraudster, widely known for his opulent lifestyle which he flaunted on social media, was also ordered to make $1.7 million restitution to the victims of his crimes.f On his part, Woodberry delayed his guilty plea for over two years, as he only turned around to plead guilty earlier this April. He pled guilty to one count of wire fraud involving about $188,000 which he fraudulently obtained from a US firm identified as Victim Company B in just one transaction in January 2019. Restitution and forfeiture But according to his plea agreement, he acknowledged owing a total of $8,038,214,.99 in restitution to seven victim companies in the amounts stated as follows: *Victim Company A $2,300,000.00 *Victim Company B: $1,270,645.00 *Victim Company C: $350,000.00 *Victim Company E: $1,955,000.00 *Victim Company G: $1,044,569.99 *Victim Company H: $1,000,000.00 *Victim Company M $118,000.00 Besides agreeing to make restitution, he also agreed to forfeit to the United States any property constituting or derived from proceeds obtained, directly or indirectly, as a result of the offence, and any property used, in any manner or part to commit the offence. Luxury cars, including Rolls Royce Cullinan and Lamborghini Urus, top the list of his Dubai assets that he agreed to forfeit to the US government. The full list of the assets is as follows: *One (1) Rolls Royce Cullinan, vehicle number J9153 *One (1) Lamborghini Urus, vehicle number N4973 *One (1) Mercedes-Benz G-Class AMG G55, vehicle number G68816 *Four (4) Rolex watches *One (1) Patek Philippe watch * Three (3) Audemars Piguet watches *Three (8) gold and diamond-studded rings *Five (5) gold bracelets and two (2) gold bracelet keys *Six (6) gold neck chains * One (1) gold and diamond-studded necklace *One (1) small gold nugget * Two (2) bank cards * A monetary sum of 6,740.00 Emirati dirhams (approximately $1,835.00) *A monetary sum of 243.00 African rands (approximately. $15.45) Already, he has forfeited approximately 151.85713138 bitcoin (BTC). The bitcoin, said to be part of proceeds traceable to his offence, was transferred to the government on 14 April 2022. The US government last year described Woodberrys ally, Hushpuppi as a prolific international fraudster who conspired to launder tens of millions of dollars through a series of online scams. The government said Hushpupi flaunted his luxurious, crime-funded lifestyle on social media. His Instagram account, his flagship platform for flaunting his expensive lifestyle, has since been closed at the request of the US government. Woodberrys fraudulent scheme Woodberrys fraudulent activities that were known to the US government took place in the Northern District of Illinois, Eastern Division, and other places, between January and September 2019. Within the period, US prosecutors said, Woodberry defrauded victim companies and other businesses by means of materially false and fraudulent pretences, representations, and promises. They said Woodberry and his co-schemers were engaged in a business email compromise scheme targeting Victim Company B and other companies which resulted in a fraudulent wire of approximately $188,191.50 to a bank account. How fraudulent plot was hatched Typical of how other companies were defrauded, the plea agreement submitted to the trial court revealed how Mr Ponles co-schemers defrauded Victim Company B by first gaining unauthorised access to the firms email account on or before 16 January 2019. They hacked into the email account by fraudulently obtaining the account credentials, according to the prosecutors. Once access to this email account (Victim Company B Email Account) had been accomplished, the co-schemers changed certain security settings in the email account to hide their activity from the actual email account user, prosecutors said in the plea agreement signed by Woodberry. Swiftly, on 16 January 2019, an email was sent from the compromised Victim Company Bs email account to another email account of the company requesting a $188,191.50 payment be made to Victim Company Bs supplier. The email, according to prosecutors, contained instructions that the money be sent via wire transfer to a bank account which was set up by Woodberry. PONLE knew that he had no right to the money and that the email was intended to defraud Victim Company B into paying money owed to the supplier to an account controlled by PONLE rather than the supplier. As a result of the email, approximately $188,191.50 was sent to 8208 account. PONLE acknowledges that the wire was processed through the Federal Reserve System and sent from an account held in New York, New York to an account ending in held in Nashville, Tennessee, the plea agreement added. The document went further to state that on 17 January 2019, Mr Ponle received a message from Individual B informing him that The money is in. It added that Woodberrys instruction, Individual B converted approximately $119,000 of the proceeds of the fraudulent wire transfer to Bitcoin. Individual B then sent the Bitcoin to PONLEs Bitcoin wallet. How fraudulent bank account was set up Woodberry, according to the plea agreement, set up the fraudulent bank account with which he received proceeds of the fraud nine days before he requested payment through Victim Company Bs compromised email account on 16 January 2019. The prosecutors say, specifically on 7 January 2019, Mr Ponle, using the alias Mark Kain, sent a message from outside the US to Individual B asking Individual B to open a bank account in the name of a Victim Company B supplier. READ ALSO: Woodberry was said to have told Individual B to set up a separate business account just to receive the money. Acting at Mr Ponles direction, Individual B opened an account under the name [Individual B] d/b/a [Victim Company B supplier] and sent the account number, which ended in 8208, and routing number to him, the court filing stated. On 10 January 2019, he sent a message to Individual B indicating that the wire to the Victim Company B supplier account would be $188K. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. No fewer than two million vulnerable Nigerians have been impacted by projects implemented under the Federal Governments National Poverty Reduction with Growth Strategy (NPRGS) for the year 2022, a report states. The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Laolu Akande, in a statement on Thursday, said the NPRGS Steering Committee met at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Mr Akande said a progress report presented at the meeting chaired by Vice President Yemi Osinbajo also indicated that 1.6 million smallholder farmers were impacted under the Agriculture for Jobs Plan. Besides, 13,000 youths have been trained under a Technical and Vocational Education and Training programme in six states comprising Lagos, Ogun, Enugu, Gombe, Kaduna and Nasarawa, while arrangements are underway to provide similar training for 2000 beneficiaries in Edo State. Equally, more than 8,000 Nigerians were employed in rural roads construction under the Rural Roads programme which built 40 rural roads in 120 communities, covering about 57.3 km across the country. The report presented by the Minister of State, Budget and National Planning, Clem Agba, showed that with the release of N50 billion, programmes that had achieved 100 per cent completion include, the Agriculture for Food and Jobs Plan (AFJP), and Construction of Rural Roads, among others. The total number of direct beneficiaries of the implemented programmes currently stands at 1.8 million vulnerable Nigerians and a total of 9,527 Nigerians have also been directly employed through the implementation of the programmes so far. Additionally, at the meeting, the committee approved the sum of N250 billion for the execution of projects for the year 2023. Mr Akande said that the report showed that projects scheduled for implementation under the NPRGS for the year included the provision of 100,000 homes for low-income earners which would create 1 million jobs directly and indirectly. He listed others as the expansion of energy access by providing 1,200 solar street lights in rural communities and six mini-grids for high-capacity productive farming under the Solar Naija Programme. Creation of 4.5 million direct and indirect jobs through the Rural Roads programme which targets to connect about 750 rural markets. Provision of N9 billion support for over 1.6 million vulnerable smallholder farmers for the 2023 wet season farming under the Agriculture for Jobs Plan. The expansion of the National Social Register with additional 3 million households, he said. Gov. Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State who is also the Co-Chair of the Technical Working Group for the Committee spoke with State House correspondents after the meeting. Mr Sule said that though implementation had not reached expected levels, efforts were being made to touch each of the targeted 15 areas of implementation. He said that the meeting was to review the implementation and update on the spending on the projects so far and approval for 2023 projects for the same scheme. Based on what was received from the co-chair of the Technical Working Group, over N50 billion have been spent so far. The performance so far hasnt reached the level we expected. But nearly every aspect of the 15 areas targeted is being implemented in one way or the other, he said. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Nigerian Council of Registered Insurance Brokers (NCRIB) on Thursday expressed regret over the collapse of a seven-storey building at Banana Island in Lagos State. The seven-storey building, under construction at Banana Island, Ikoyi, collapsed on Wednesday at about 5 p.m., while concreting was ongoing on the sixth floor. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in a statement, said no death was recorded but workers were trapped in the building and a reponse team had been mobilised to search for those trapped in the building. Rotimi Edu, President of NCRIB, also in a statement made available in Lagos, described the incident as a case of negligence by the building experts who undertook the construction. Though, no casualty was reported, the collapse brings to questioning the continuous recalcitrance of building contractors to adhere to extant regulatory prescriptions concerning public buildings in the country, MrEdu said. According to him, the sensitivity of public buildings necessitates the need for builders and owners to imbibe insurance policies. He listed such policies as the Public Liability, Contractors All Risk (CAR) and other prescription of Sections 64 & 65 of the Insurance Act, with regards to public buildings. The NCRIB president said if these insurance policies have been in place, the risk of total loss incurred by the owners of the collapsed buildings would have been greatly reduced. Mr Edu called on the Lagos State Government to expedite investigation on the cause of the building collapse. He also advised the state government to urgently apprise the public with the result of the findings and actions to be taken, to avert future building infractions in the state. NAN recalled that a similar incident of collapse of a high-rise block of flats, under construction at Ikoyi in Lagos, occurred in November 2021. The incident, which recorded loss of lives, attracted public condemnation. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, has denied a report that he endorsed Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna) for the speakership position. A national daily, New Telegraph, had reported that Mr Gbajabiamila is working for the emergence of Mr Abbas. The newspaper claimed that the speaker is also working against his deputy, Idris Wase, and other aspirants in the race. Mr Gbajabiamila, in a tweet on Thursday, debunked the claims in the report, noting that he has informed all the aspirants that they must wait for the decision of the APC on zoning. He noted that as a beneficiary of the zoning arrangement in 2019, he will not do anything to undermine the party. Today, April 13, 2023, a national daily carried a cover story in which it reported that I was against the aspiration of my deputy, Rt. Hon. Ahmed Idris Wase, and some other aspirants to the office of Speaker in the 10th House. I have not declared support for any of my colleagues who have declared their interest. READ ALSO: I have made my position abundantly clear that there is a need to wait for the Party to complete its zoning exercise as I cannot work against my Partys interest and position. I am a product of APCs zoning in 2019, and I shall adhere to that any time the party comes up with its arrangement. Anyone/media peddling rumours of my endorsement of any of the aspirants should desist forthwith, the tweet reads. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the ruling party has yet to decide on the zoning of the presiding and principal offices of the National Assembly. However, most of the candidates have been campaigning across the country. Some of the lawmakers that are in the race are Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), Muktar Betara (APC, Borno), Ben Kalu (APC, Abia), Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), Tunji Olawuyi (APC, Kwara) and Abubakar Makki (APC, Jigawa). Others include Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna), Miriam Onuoha (APC, Imo) and Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara). Only one lawmaker, Francis Waive, from Delta State has interest in running for the position of deputy speaker. For the current 9th House, the South-west produced the speaker while the North-central produced the deputy speaker. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The Police Service Commission (PSC) has set up a committee to investigate a report published by an online medium that police officers pay up to $10,000 bribe to get promotion. The Head, Press and Public Relations of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja. Mr Ani said the report had claimed that some police officers gave $10,000 bribe to get special promotion from the PSC. According to him, the report quoted one Chijioke Okonkwo, as making the claim in a petition on behalf of some aggrieved senior police officers. The PSC spokesperson said even though the said Chijoike Okonkwo did not indicate his rank, the commission would welcome further details on the allegations. Mr Ani said the commission had not formally received the petition or similar complaint on the allegations. He however said anyone with evidence on these allegations should, as a matter of urgency, forward same to the commission. Mr Ani assured that anyone found culpable will be dealt with in line with the laws of the land. The commission has also set up a panel of investigation, comprising both members of the commission and the Nigeria Police Force to investigate these allegations. Aggrieved officers should avail themselves of the existence of this investigative panel and come forward with substantiated proof that could aid the investigation. The commission insists that those found wanting in the course of investigation will face the full wrath of the law, he said. READ ALSO: The PSC spokesperson, however, warned that the commission would not tolerate frivolous and fictitious media claims. He said officers and men of the police should always follow approved lines of communication. Mr Ani added that the commission had directed the police to unravel the identity of the said Chijioke Okonkwo for appropriate interrogation. He assured that the new PSC Chairman, Solomon Arase, has been working to harmonise and improve the services of both the commission and the police. The Commission cannot afford this kind of distraction, he said, adding that Mr Arases desire to bring sanity, peace and unity in the police sub-sector is already receiving desired results. He assured Nigerians that the new PSC chairman was determined to sanitise the system and had warned staff of the commission to live above board in the discharge of their responsibilities. Bribery and corruption of any kind will not be tolerated under his watch, Mr Ani added. (NAN) Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. A coalition of elected members of the House of Representatives has promised to back the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) on its decision on the zoning of the principal offices of the House. The coalition, in a statement issued on Thursday in Abuja and jointly signed by Usman Kumo (APC, Gombe) and Kingsley Chinda (PDP, Rivers), said the lawmakers are committed to presenting a united front that will help the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu. Mr Chinda, one of the coordinators of the coalition, is a close associate of Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State, who already pledged to work with the APC in the election of the leadership of the 10th Assembly. Last month, Mr Wike, while hosting Deputy Speaker Idris Wase in Port Harcourt, said he will back the ruling party at the national level. The truth must be told that we are going to support the leadership of your party at the national level, Mr Wike said. The coalition claimed to have 283 members-elect from the eight parties represented in the House. We must avoid the 2015 rebellion-Coalition The group stated that effort must be made to avoid the 2015 rebellion that produced the leadership of the 8th Assembly. According to the group, the 2015 rebellion produced grandstanding at the expense of good governance. Already, 283 members-elect, comprising both returning and new members, have endorsed the coalition, which awaits the decision of the ruling APC on the zoning of the various offices. READ ALSO: We are aware of the theatrics in the 8th National Assembly. But Nigerians want to see good governance and not grandstanding. Rebellion will deny the incoming Tinubu administration the opportunity to deliver on its mandate and the high expectations from Nigerians, especially under the current ethnic and religious tension in the country. We are glad that the leadership of the ruling party recognizes that the opposition political parties in the House are very key in the formation of the next leadership of the House, hence this coalition shall continue to consult with all the opposition parties, the statement said. According to Messrs Kumo and Chinda, the 283 members of the coalition are drawn from the APC, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Labour Party (LP), New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP), Social Democratic Party (SDP), All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the Young Progressive Party (YPP). They also stated that the coalition is backed by APC and PDP governors. The coalition has the blessings of 14 APC governors, nine PDP governors as well as several National Working Committee (NWC) members of the ruling and opposition political parties, they said. PREMIUM TIMES reported that the ruling party has yet to decide on the zoning of the offices, however, most of the candidates have been campaigning across the country. The lawmakers that are in the race include Deputy Speaker Idris Wase (APC, Plateau), Yusuf Gagdi (APC, Plateau), Muktar Betara (APC, Borno), Ben Kalu (APC, Abia), Sada Soli (APC, Katsina), Tunji Olawuyi (APC, Kwara) and Abubakar Makki (APC, Jigawa). Others include Tajudeen Abbas (APC, Kaduna), Miriam Onuoha (APC, Imo) and Aminu Jaji (APC, Zamfara). Meanwhile, Francis Waive (APC, Delta) has also declared interest in contesting for the deputy speaker position. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Ahead of the 2023 World Haemophilia Day (WHD), health experts in the African region are advocating proper diagnosis and management of the disease within the region. Speaking during a virtual media roundtable on Thursday, a professor of Hematology and Blood Transfusion at the University of Lagos, Sulaimon Akanmu, said cases of haemophilia recorded in the region are quite low because people are hardly diagnosed with it. Mr Sulaimon said the region with over one billion people accounts for only three per cent of haemophilia cases globally. He said countries like Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Algeria contribute to the bulk of the three per cent recorded. He noted that it is mostly assumed that there are more haemophilia cases in the developed world than the low and middle-income countries (LMIC). He, however, insisted that such a perception is not true. The difference between developed countries and the LMIC is high diagnosis. The developed countries diagnosed more persons living with the condition, hence recording higher cases than its counterparts, he said. Mr Sulaimon said although it is estimated that about 20,000 persons should have haemophilia, the country accounts for only 1,000 cases. He said the majority of the cases, according to the register of the Haemophilia Federation of Nigeria, are either in Kaduna or Lagos State because they diagnose more people. Nigeria is diagnosing only about five per cent of people that are supposed to be diagnosed and receiving care, he said. This is telling us that we are still not diagnosing the disease which is killing our children in various communities. The media roundtable was organised by Pfizer, a U.S. pharmaceutical company, as part of efforts to make sure patients living with haemophilia are seen, heard, and never forgotten as it continues to work tirelessly to find breakthrough solutions and therapeutic options to change lives. What is Haemophilia? Haemophilia is a rare genetic bleeding disorder that causes the blood to take a long time to clot because of a deficiency in one of several blood clotting factors. This condition is almost exclusively found in males. People with haemophilia are at risk for excessive and recurrent bleeding from modest injuries, which have the potential to be life-threatening. Mr Sulaimon said people with severe haemophilia often bleed spontaneously into their muscles or joints, or rarely into other critical closed spaces such as the intracranial space, where bleeding can be fatal. The two main types of haemophilia are A and B, with a third, rarer form called haemophilia C. Although there is no known cure for this disease, treatment can help manage the condition. Proper management Speaking at the roundtable, Vivian Painstil, a senior lecturer at the Department of Child Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana, said there is a need for quality medical intervention for people suffering from the disease. READ ALSO: 1million Nigerians live with haemophilia Ms Painstil said without proper treatment for patients, many will end up with a poor quality of life. There is an increased rate of a joint disability, making a lot of them dependent on other people because they are not receiving proper treatment, s God bless you I said, and I said not, a funny she said. She called for proper management to ensure people have a chance to live irrespective of their medical condition. Pfizers commitment The Medical Director, of Sub-Saharan Africa for Pfizer, Kodjo Soroh, said Pfizers efforts at advancing treatment for haemophilia and bridging gaps in access to care resonates with this years theme of WHD, Access For All: Prevention of Bleeds. Mr Soroh said Pfizers commitment to equity and continued investment in haemophilia is evident in its more than 30 years of experience in developing therapies for haematological disorders. He said the company has a deep understanding of the significant challenges that people living with the condition continually face. Therefore, we will continue to amplify and celebrate the work of the global haemophilia community as we create awareness of the need for innovation in access to haemophilia treatments, he said. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. The trial of Trump on the eve of an election in which he would potentially be running against an incumbent who himself is not exactly smelling of roses, is interesting. It would give the world a good opportunity to see if America practises what it preaches. Donald Trump consolidated his record in demagoguery when he became the first former US president ever to be criminally indicted and arraigned in a Manhattan court on 4 April. He was the first US president to complain about an election he won and also the first to openly express support for the body-slamming of a reporter. He has the distinction of introducing shithole countries into the presidential lexicon. And on top of this improbable political career, Trump is also the first US president to be impeached twice. With 34 counts of criminal conduct hanging around his neck, mostly charges of fraudulent bookkeeping, it appears that the days of Trumps improbable political infamy are far from over. Others have come close. According to a report by TIME, President Ulysses S. Grant was technically the first US president to be arrested for speeding on a horse and buggy in 1872. Richard Nixon came very close too. He was forced to resign after the outbreak of Watergate but before he could face potential criminal prosecution. His successor, Gerald Ford, pardoned him. Bill Clinton also came quite close. He was impeached but was later acquitted, and escaped criminal charges by the seams of his pants, after negotiating for penance in civil damages. But Trump, the very epitome of improbability, trumps them all. He is on the verge of outdoing even his own record in demagoguery, yet it is only fair to presume him innocent as he gets his day in court. As prosecutors negotiated details of Trumps arraignment with his lawyers, whether or not he would be handcuffed, mug-shot, finger-printed and so on, I kept wondering what would have happened if this surreal drama was playing out in an African country any African country. Of course, the process in the US, so far, has been widely praised as the triumph of strong institutions, the model that developing democracies around the world should aspire to. Thats a fair point, even though the trial of former President Jacob Zuma in South Africa, though under different circumstances, was also a significant moment. Perhaps, it might be useful to inspect this playbook of American exceptionalism a little more. Lets assume, for example, that on the eve of the 2019 general elections in Nigeria, the government of President Muhammadu Buhari pressed charges against the leader of the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar. How is the rule of law served when the Department of Justice sleepwalks over dozens of classified documents found in Bidens garage from the Obama era, while Trump, the leading opposition candidate, is hobbled by criminal charges on the eve of the next general elections? The smouldering embers from the spectacular row in 2003 between Abubakar (then the vice president) and his boss, President Olusegun Obasanjo, was a big deal then. The details of that dispute, involving large amounts of public funds, were so messy that if Buhari wanted to embark on a fishing expedition, the government might have found grounds to bring charges. And indeed, as if in some form of rehearsal, close associates of Abubakar were questioned, briefly detained and released without charges. Also, whether or not Atiku could travel to the US on account of speculations that the FBI had a warrant of arrest against him in respect of a business transaction with US Congressman, Mr Williams Jefferson, trended in the runup to the 2019 elections. It would have taken extraordinary nerve for the government under Buhari to formally bring charges against Abubakar, his main rival and leading opposition candidate, on the eve of the elections. And even if Buharis government succeeded in doing so, it would have been interesting to hear what the US and other Western countries would have said. Would they have praised Nigeria as a good example in upholding the rule of law or would such a step have been deemed fraught and politically motivated, especially in light of the pending elections? I have nothing but contempt for Trumps politics and style and would be pleased to pave him a road of thorns, as he attempts to return to the White House. His presidency was a disaster. But fair is fair. It is difficult to imagine that the prosecution would come up with this raft of charges against him and press them in court now if he was not interested in running again in the 2024 elections. Those who think Nigerias scenario cited is far-fetched may wish to consider what is shaping up in Senegal, Nigerias western neighbour. In that country, President Macky Sall, who has been in power since 2012, has nearly perfected plans to run for a third term in next years presidential election, in breach of the Senegalese Constitution. To give the impression that the race against himself would still not be an easy one, however, he is also planning to create his own opposition candidate. He has slammed the main opposition leader, Ousmane Sonko, with charges of criminal libel and is determined to produce enough distractions to tie him up in court ahead of the polls. It may be convenient to argue that Sall is neither Biden, nor Ousmane, Trump. In any case, French-speaking West Africa has been more susceptible to instability and unconstitutional changes in government often triggered by flawed elections. Who knows? The improbable Trump may well take demagoguery into the Guinness Book of Records by becoming the first US president to overcome criminal trial and defeat an incumbent. And even if he doesnt, he would still have set the record as the first US president who went down trying. Yet, it depends on who is making the argument. In the eyes of millions of Trump supporters, theres hardly a difference between a Sall who fiddles with the Constitution to secure an illegal third term and a Biden on whose watch Trump is facing criminal charges, even when President Bidens private garage is littered with dozens of classified documents shipped off from the White House when he was vice president. How is the rule of law served when the Department of Justice sleepwalks over dozens of classified documents found in Bidens garage from the Obama era, while Trump, the leading opposition candidate, is hobbled by criminal charges on the eve of the next general elections? Unlike obstructionist Trump, Biden has said he would co-operate fully with the Department of Justice. Still, it would be interesting to know how tons of classified documents got to his private think-tank at a time when he had no legal basis to move them out of the White House. If this were happening in an African country, would the US and its Western allies accept that the incumbent has nothing to do with the trial of the leading opposition candidate; that it is simply the law taking its course? When matters get to a head in Senegal, as may well be the case before the 2024 presidential election, would the US or France have the courage to call out Sall or perhaps the increasingly authoritarian Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio for mounting road blocks in the way of opposition candidates? Its easy to yield to the seduction of American exceptionalism. Yet, apart from well-documented, but carefully preserved dark secrets of US waywardness, we have seen, especially in the last 10 years, that the US is not the undimming beacon that it often pretends to be. The elections that brought Biden to office were marred by allegations of programmatic flaws. The US must therefore be held to the same standards that it holds the rest of the world. The trial of Trump on the eve of an election in which he would potentially be running against an incumbent who himself is not exactly smelling of roses, is interesting. It would give the world a good opportunity to see if America practises what it preaches. Who knows? The improbable Trump may well take demagoguery into the Guinness Book of Records by becoming the first US president to overcome criminal trial and defeat an incumbent. And even if he doesnt, he would still have set the record as the first US president who went down trying. Azu Ishiekwene is Editor-in-Chief of LEADERSHIP. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Theres a new Albemarle County School Board candidate pushing for academic achievement. Joann McDermid burst onto the scene Wednesday morning with complaints about student performance in her White Hall District. I feel a real sense of urgency about this situation, she said to the crowd of eight gathered at her campaign launch on the steps of the Albemarle County Office Building. The objective data underscores widespread problems. McDermid provided several recent pieces of data that she said showed that academic performance is slipping. She said 49% of the students taking Algebra 1 at Western Albemarle High School failed to meet the states SOL, or Standards of Learning, math test. I think of Standards of Learning, she said, as an agreed-upon contract between the public who are the stakeholders in our public education system and the public school educators, the administrators and the school board who are legally obligated to provide a high-quality public education. McDermid said that nearly one-third of that schools students failed the earth science SOL, that almost a quarter failed the World History 1 SOL and just under one-fifth failed the English writing SOL. And the results were even more heartbreaking for students with economic disadvantages or disabilities as well as Hispanic students, McDermid said. This kind of reminds me of the story of the blind man and the elephant and the fact that where you land on the elephant determines what you find, said Phil Giaramita, spokesman for Albemarle County Public Schools. Giaramita said that most district students take Algebra I in middle school and the ones taking it Western Albemarle are ones struggling with math. He further noted that Western Albemarle routinely outperforms state averages on SOLs and on the percentage who obtain an advanced studies diploma. I wasnt there and dont know what the person was trying to prove, but if the person was trying to say there were serious performance issues at Western, nothing could be further from the truth, Giaramita said. A researcher and scientist with interests in tuberculosis, HIV and West African malnutrition, McDermid has held faculty appointments at Cornell University and the University of Virginia, according to the biography on her campaign website. Before the end of her seven years at UVAs School of Medicine, McDermid earned a Virginia teaching license in 2020 and currently works as an independent research and academic consultant. McDermid says she has no interest in higher office, and not just because shes a naturalized citizen who grew up in the province of Alberta in Canada. Its not about boosting my ego or advancing my career, she said at her announcement. I felt compelled because I refuse to look the other way. In Virginia, school board elections are nonpartisan, and McDermid says she would push only for academic quality and clearly-defined metrics. As her campaign materials indicate, McDermid said she would push for A, B, and C: accountability, budgets that support the academic mission and community input. To aid her decisions, she said that she would establish an advisory board from her White Hall district, which includes Crozet, Free Union, Brownsville and parts of Earlysville. This will not just be a listening tour held during an election season, said McDermid, who said it would guide her board decisions. Among McDermids supporters gathered on the steps of the Albemarle County Office Building in downtown Charlottesville was John Masselli, who said his children benefited from the public schools. I dont think these kids are getting the same education that was afforded to my kids, said Masselli. Were going in the wrong direction, and its time to try something different. McDermid announced that she would convene a pair of casual community meetings over complimentary coffee the next day. One is slated for 10 a.m. at Piedmont Store in White Hall, and the other is set for 1 p.m. at Grit Coffee on Old Trail Drive in Crozet. This story was corrected to say the coffee campaign events were scheduled for Thursday, April 13, 2023. 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. for the umpteenth time, people should be reminded that journalism plays such an important role in any democracy, providing the people with accurate and reliable information that helps them to make informed decisions. This role is probably most crucial during elections, which is why journalists are required to stay true to the ethics of the profession and remain neutral. My idea of journalism is rooted in the long-held tradition established by the best traditions in the business. The 2023 general elections went true to type, exposing an ill-prepared Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) struggling to conduct hitch-free polls. Expectedly, the protests over the poorly-organised polls and the hotly-contested results produced therefrom have drowned some of the equally damaging outcomes of the electoral season. Some of the more worrying outcomes have to do with the appeal to clannish sentiments by some of the campaigns. Of course, those sentiments have always been there, but the 2023 elections were slightly different because otherwise senior media people openly took sides and weaponised everything they could find to discredit the opposition. In their brazen support for candidates of the same ethnic origin through distasteful press warfare, these senior media figures only returned to what I would like to call here for want of a better word, factory setting. I use the term deliberately because the masks were discarded as most of them openly took sides, the only reason for the choice of candidates to support being the tribal connections. This in itself is crucial because, for the umpteenth time, people should be reminded that journalism plays such an important role in any democracy, providing the people with accurate and reliable information that helps them to make informed decisions. This role is probably most crucial during elections, which is why journalists are required to stay true to the ethics of the profession and remain neutral. My idea of journalism is rooted in the long-held tradition established by the best traditions in the business. I particularly like the one espoused by CP Scott, the Manchester Guardian editor in May 1921 in a leading article to mark the centenary of the paper. Such is the power and clarity of the mans idea of an independent press, that The Guardian reprinted that article in 2017 as the paper marked its 200th anniversary. In what has now become a famous description of what independent journalism means, the man who edited the paper for 57 years and whose tenure cemented the papers liberal values and gave it an international reputation, said, Comment is free, but facts are sacred. Propaganda, so called, by this means is hateful. The voice of opponents no less than that of friends has a right to be heard. Comment also is justly subject to a self-imposed restraint. This should be the standard, a journalist and the organisation he or she works for, making a commitment to report the facts and present them in a fair and impartial manner, without any bias or opinion. This is not only necessary for the credibility of the profession but also to ensure that people have the information they need to make informed decisions. Anything less, and we dont have a media worthy of the name. End of story. What we just experienced is not entirely new though, but it is no less damaging because divisive politics somehow has a way of bringing out the worst in journalists and their organisations. The press had taken sides in such political tussles as the leadership crisis that started in 1941 and led to the breakup of the Nigerian Youth Movement; the struggle for Lagos, pre-independence; and in 1953 when the first attempt at independence collapsed because it failed to secure the support of Northern politicians. In all these instances, journalists and their organisations abandoned the acceptable codes of their trade. Journalistic ethics are understated these days, but it is the foundation of good reporting, it is what I know and practised. The minimum acceptable level should be that anyone who answers to being called a journalist agrees that he or she has a responsibility to provide nothing but accurate, truthful and unbiased news. What this means, of course, is that he or she will always try to verify the facts, present all sides of a story, avoid the use of sensational language, leave out personal opinions from a story and leave the readers or listeners to reach their conclusions. To deviate from this would not only be unethical but erode public trust in news. Journalists know this and respectable organisations enforce it. That has been my personal experience working as a journalist. To understand my story, just check the back editions of The PUNCH newspaper from 1996 to 2004 to get the proper context of my worries about the current state of the profession. Of course, digital disruption has altered the media landscape, with untrained participants now involved in the reporting business and I see two problems here. Entry barriers are now lower, meaning anyone can perform acts of journalism, but this is just a small problem. The second problem is that trained journalists and their organisations are failing spectacularly in the performance of what should be at the core of their role: accuracy and verification. I joined The PUNCH as a business correspondent at a time when its cover was still largely dominated by political stories and was under the tutelage of fine journalists like Nwobodo Onyekwere, Dr Bankole Falade, Gbemiga Ogunleye and Demola Osinubi, the man who hired me and believed in me throughout. I found my space and produced some pieces that I am still proud of. I loved the fact that The PUNCH of that time would hold you accountable for your stories and on two occasions, the company held me to just that. On one occasion, I filed a story about the board of the defunct Hillcrest Merchant Bank Limited, which terminated the appointment of its then Managing Director, Mr Omolaja Sadiku. As was to be expected with such a story, once it was published, Mr Sadikus lawyers wrote the management of the newspaper to demand a retraction. My response to the memo from the company asking me to provide proof for my story was to fax a copy of the Boards resolution and the banks letter addressed to the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), informing it of the change. I presume that the facts in the documents I had, which by the way I still keep, spoke for themselves because I never heard anything again on the memo issued to me. Such high standards are excellent in keeping with the ethics of the profession and should be maintained at all cost, for only on such adherence to certain minimum standards is the foundation for news reporting laid. On another occasion, I was similarly requested to defend a story I had filed on Americas response to the adoption of the late Sani Abacha as presidential candidate by four out five political parties. That story of the United States threatening not to recognise the electoral victory of a now-late military Head of State, were he to contest and win, was as big as any in those days. The story was published as lead in The PUNCH and many other newspapers. At the Abuja Bureau, we knew at the point of filing that particular story that we had taken a risk. The reason was simple. As the Business Correspondent for The PUNCH in Abuja at the time, I was not present at the Ministry of Commerce, where the comments were said to have been made by an official of the America Embassy. The day after the story was published, the US Embassy clarified its statement and it was no surprise that The PUNCH demanded the tape of the comments credited to the Embassy staff. I did not have the recorded tape. I merely took a risk and paid for it because I was suspended for two weeks on that occasion; the only time it happened to me. Of course, digital disruption has altered the media landscape, with untrained participants now involved in the reporting business and I see two problems here. Entry barriers are now lower, meaning anyone can perform acts of journalism, but this is just a small problem. The second problem is that trained journalists and their organisations are failing spectacularly in the performance of what should be at the core of their role: accuracy and verification. Were they to be performing that role with credit, the first problem wont even matter at all. I accept that the definition of a journalist has changed but what qualifies as good reporting has not and will always remain constant. I also admit that staying neutral during elections can be daunting because emotions run high, and passions are stirred. In an environment such as the one we saw in the run-up to the 2023 elections, it is easy for journalists to be sucked into the excitement and lose sight of their principal responsibility to report the news impartially. However, losing their guard at such times can have serious consequences. It can lead to the spread of misinformation, the distortion of facts, and the erosion of trust in the media, all of which appear to have been on full display during the recently concluded general elections in Nigeria. The danger is, once young journalists, or any journalist at all fail the simple test of being able to produce top stories that meet acceptable ethical standards, they will always endanger anything and anyone around them. If they are not running from the truth, the truth will always run from them. Sensationalism, by the way, is lies in disguise, and like propaganda, it has an expiry date. It is not uncommon for journalists to be accused of bias during electoral politics. This can come from a variety of sources, including politicians, interest groups, and the public. In such situations, journalists only need to demonstrate that they observed the basic acceptable codes of news reporting. I mentioned two instances when The PUNCH demanded accountability for stories I filed and my immediate supervisors at the time, Segun Dipe (Business Editor) and Dr Yinka Oduwole (Abuja Bureau Chief) are alive to confirm my story. Both incidents happened between 1997 and 1998 and I did not leave The PUNCH until 2004. These days, young journalists are unwilling to submit themselves to such an accountable system. I have nothing against the competition that digital disruption has enabled because it has its value. I am, indeed, impressed by what some of the new digital media have achieved and can only wish that there are more like them. Some of the new entrants into the space such as SaharaReporters, Premium Times and The Cable have certainly challenged the legacy media houses and a lot of people will admit that their approach of hard, investigative reporting has generally enhanced the quality of journalistic output in the country. I know for a fact that even my friends in these outlets are worried about some of the young journalists who pass through their newsrooms. More often, you hear of young journalists who are quick to leave when their organisations hold them to account for questionable reporting. The picture you get when you talk to the managers in these outlets is that some of these young journalists have little understanding of what is required to hold something in trust for the public. Donors may provide money for online startups promoted by ill-trained people, and the pull of seeking asylum in foreign countries might be difficult to ignore, but ultimately, what wins is not blackmail, and the illicit proceeds therefrom but the commitment to the ethics of a profession to which practitioners commit themselves. The danger is, once young journalists, or any journalist at all fail the simple test of being able to produce top stories that meet acceptable ethical standards, they will always endanger anything and anyone around them. If they are not running from the truth, the truth will always run from them. Sensationalism, by the way, is lies in disguise, and like propaganda, it has an expiry date. Akin Olaniyan writes from the Centre for Social Media Research, Lagos. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Truly, the Commission in 20 years has performed creditably in the discharge of its core mandates of prosecution, enforcement and asset recovery. Today, it stands tall in the midst of other anti-corruption bodies globally and can proudly showcase its achievements, which include securing thousands of convictions and recovery of monetary and other assets running into billions of naira. It was the late Afrobeat music icon, Fela Anikpulapo Kuti, who in one of his evergreen songs, Authority Stealing, highlighted the magnitude of corruption and stealing of public funds by government officials and public servants in Nigeria. In his song, Fela stated that stealing by government officials with the use of pen was more than armed robbery. Permit me to reproduce part of the lyrics here .Authority Stealing pass armed robbery/We Africans must do something about this nonsense/We say we must do something about this nonsense/I repeat, we Africans we must do something about this nonsense/Because now authority stealing pass armed robbery. Though the song was released in the 1980s, a period when Nigerias two most notorious and deadly armed robbers, Lawrence Anini and Shina Rambo held the nation hostage, terrorised the citizens before they met their waterloo, Felas song signposted the level of decadence and malfeasance that would come to define the country. Matters were made worse with the advent of advance fee fraud aka 419, which became so rampant that, at the international level, Nigeria almost became a pariah nation due to the activities of those engaged in it. For many Nigerians who had to travel outside our shores, holding the green passport became akin to being infected with leprosy, as they were despised and subjected to all kinds of inhumane treatment at embassies and airports. Foreign investment dried up as Nigeria was considered an unsafe place for investment. Nigeria was hemorrhaging due to corruption. Determined to tame this monstrous cancer, President Olusegun Obasanjo established the EFCC on 13 April, 2003 to combat the menace of corruption, economic and financial crimes. Saddled with the onerous task was the no nonsense Nuhu Ribadu, a courageous, intelligent and daring police officer. Ribadu gave the assignment his all and sanitised the space not minding whose ox was gored, as those who were hitherto regarded as untouchables were arrested and prosecuted for fraud. This set the tone as EFCC became a household name with enormous goodwill. The Commission was unyielding as Nigerians saw former governors, ministers and other politically exposed persons (PEPs) arrested and prosecuted. The fear of EFCC became the beginning of wisdom. Truly, the Commission in 20 years has performed creditably in the discharge of its core mandates of prosecution, enforcement and asset recovery. Today, it stands tall in the midst of other anti-corruption bodies globally and can proudly showcase its achievements, which include securing thousands of convictions and recovery of monetary and other assets running into billions of naira. Significantly, these convictions cut across all strata, as PEPs, law enforcement personnel, internet fraudsters, bankers and others have been convicted. The Commission has expanded the scope of criminal jurisprudence by testing the law in its efforts to get justice and deal with those who infringed on the law. And on the strength of their diligence and knowledge of the law, hordes of the Commissions lawyers have been appointed judges at state high courts and federal high courts, while a few have been conferred with the revered rank of Senior Advocates of Nigeria. On prevention, the Commission collaborates with relevant agencies and regulatory institutions to nip corruption in the bud. It has also initiated programmes targeted at ensuring that Nigerians buy-in and take ownership of the fight against corruption. It has strategically engaged impressionable young minds through enlightenment and re-orientation to uphold the right values and shun acts of criminality. This success in its core mandate is why Professor LMO Lumumba, the former Director of Kenya Anti-Corruption Agency and a renowned public speaker posits that with EFCC, there is hope not only for Nigeria but the entire continent of Africa. The EFCC stands out as one of the best on the continent. They are the best in the continent, not only because the building that houses them is the biggest in the world, but also because they have demonstrated by word and deed that corruption can be tackled, and tackled without sacred cows. As the Commission celebrates its achievements, the reality is that corruption, like a cat with nine lives, still permeates every sector of our society. So why does corruption thrive despite concerted efforts to tame the monster? Perhaps, as suggested by a 15-year-old boy whom I met in one of the secondary schools during an enlightenment campaign on the ills of corruption in our society, corruption is in our DNA and may have been inherited from our forebears. I did not agree with his submission, as there are many Nigerians who have displayed utmost integrity. We have seen cleaners at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, on several occasions, return money found at the Airport to the owners. We have also seen taxi drivers return valuable properties left in their cars to their passengers. Of course, Nigerias only premier minister, Abubakar Tafewa Balewa, who was assassinated in a military coup in 1966, had little or nothing in his bank account when he was killed. He did not amass wealth nor did he bury his money in the sand, as many politicians are doing today. While there is no medical proof that corruption is in our DNA, what is obvious is that there are enablers of corruption around us. It is pathetic and despicable, when society celebrates and eulogises those who stole our commonwealth, rather than loathe them. We have seen situations where hundreds of supporters of a PEP undergoing trial wear aseobi to court to drum up support for the alleged suspect because he is our person. We have also seen hirelings go on electronic and social media space to castigate the Commission for daring to investigate or prosecute our person. Recently, some young people bearing posters and banners, demonstrated on the streets because EFCC dared to arrest some internet fraudsters. Though the Commission is undeterred by all this, critics have deliberately misconstrued the work of EFCC and termed it as media trial. Truly, it is difficult to decipher or understand what they mean by media trial. As a law enforcement agency, the Commission is duty bound to be open and transparent in its operations. So, when the Commission arrests a suspect for alleged offences or arraigns a high profile suspect in an open court and informs the public about this through journalists whose professional duties is to report events as they unfold, the EFCC is castigated for engaging in a media trial. If a high profile suspect is invited for interrogation and he chooses to organise a press conference on top of his invitation, or goes to court, seeking to bar the EFCC from performing its statutory duties, the Commission is castigated for engaging in media trial. Fighting corruption has been a herculean task fraught with landmines, challenges and difficulties. But in spite of all, the Commission, like the eagle, continues to soar higher and break new grounds. Ray Ekpu, one of Nigerias foremost journalists, in his opinion piece on the recent presidential election, alluded that the advantage of disadvantage was fundamental to the emergency of the winner. For the EFCC, it has been the advantage of many challenges. Williams Oseghale is Head, Public Affairs, Benin Zonal Command. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. I went through the long list of items contained in the Exclusive List in our constitution. Honestly, there is little else to remove and place in the charge of our states. Precisely, the major item that the states should brace up for now is self-policing. Our state governors used to sound so stridently on this matter, until they started seeing how expensive it will be to maintain these guys. Then the noise died down. But with this latest push towards restructuring, they should expect that this is now coming. Sometimes last month, President Buhari assented to some critical matters of constitutional amendment. Chief among these amendments were that state governments could now establish and run their own railways, that states could now generate, transmit and distribute their own electricity, and that states could now run their own correctional facilities (prisons). One of the 16 amendments also granted autonomy to state legislatures and judiciaries. Some of these have been very contentious issues upon which many commentators had hung the non-performance of Nigeria in its almost 63 years of independence. There are millions who swear that Nigerias problem stems from its constitution. They say the constitution is crippling, and was fraudulently put together. They complain that the We, the People, that starts off the constitution is a farce, as the document was put together by the military, which did not consult the Nigerian people in deciding their fate. It does not matter if the much-vilified 1999 constitution is a mere tweaking of the otherwise wholesale adoption of the 1979 constitution, which was put together by a properly set up Constituent Assembly in 1978, and which itself merely tweaked the 1963 constitution. Even with this latest set of amendments, some of the constitutional puritans have insisted that Nigeria simply needs a new constitution and no less. I wrote in a previous article that many Nigerians suffer from the cognitive bias of always wanting life to be perfect without necessarily putting in the required work to make it so. This expectation of sudden and immediate perfection may be one of our biggest issues we have as a people today. Of course, I disagree with those guys on several other grounds. First, when they complain that the constitution did not incorporate the wishes of the people, they often mean that THEY were not invited to the conferences at which the constitution was put together. Nigeria simply copied aspects of the United States constitution, especially with the We, the People. bit. In the United States too, the drafters of the initial constitution did not seek the opinions of the hoi polloi. They were aristocrats, military generals, landowners and such. Hence, they wrote in that constitution that only landowners could vote. And they had to be men, not women. Blacks, were written into the first American constitution as two-thirds of human beings and therefore unworthy of the right to vote. Their numbers were discounted for the South of the USA, where they slaved away in the plantations, and it was on their backs that the idea of the Electoral College emanated, to balance the votes, so that even when most human beings expressed their opinions, the will of a few powerful men would have the day. The drafters of that idea believed that there was something called too much democracy. Imagine if that was Nigeria? This is part of why I urge that we should not rubbish what we have today, because despite being problematic, in part, it is also better than the best in many areas. Imagine that in 2013, a US Supreme Court reached a decision that has enabled some states to disenfranchise former felons, especially blacks? But in Nigeria, our law is blind to your past. Every former felon, if they wish, is free to vote in Nigeria. There are no perfect constitutions anywhere. I have been involved in drafting constitutions in the past, and I know that drafters would usually progress from the known to the unknown. But in applying general principles to specific situations, complications usually arise, and there will be a need to constantly amend constitutions, as these issues and observations arise. Our reference point, the United States, has amended its constitution 27 times and still counting. I had proposed in the heat of the calls for restructuring, that the best way to restructure will be to insert a clause in the constitution that triggers a review every three or four years, with the betterment of the lot of the majority and the most vulnerable in mind. What the Buhari government has done with these amendments has confirmed my thoughts, which I put in an article titled A short History of Restructuring in Nigeria. Also, it is important to note that it is sheer impossibility for EVERYBODYs opinions to count when drafting a constitution. At best, people will have representatives, but only a fraction of what each person desires will make it into the final document. Let us briefly examine the impact of the key amendments mentioned above. Many Nigerians believe that once we fix electricity, the economy will explode. I am not especially optimistic about that prospect, as I have not seen the predilection for Nigerians for deep thinking, research and long-term endeavours that transform the face of a nation. But it is nonetheless a remarkable amendment and at least we may see a scenario whereby we will begin to transit to an era of stable or even cheaper electricity, which sidesteps the current inefficiencies, sabotage and corruption that plagues the current over-centralised system. Many people may also find that they can no longer hide under the excuse that they have no electricity to perform their daily jobs. Electricity could be very expensive to generate, transmit and distribute, but it also depends on ones approach. For sure, up till date, we have approached electricity with an archaic mindset just as we have done with so many other sectors in our country. The production/generation of electricity is no longer as complicated or as arcane as before. Knowledge in everything has improved. I still insist that until we are able to take this responsibility of captive/low-voltage electricity generation to our universities and polytechnics, for them to fill the needs of our rural areas, we shall not have hit jackpot in that sector. I will leave out the analysis of judicial and legislative independence in our states. The advantages are obvious and I know that this granting of autonomy will be painful to many governors who thought they have their judiciaries and legislatures in check and feeding from their palms. This amendment may cause some fireworks in the coming years, as the governors learn to tread more carefully. The assigning of railway development to states is also highly welcome, and presents another window for us to view the thinking behind these laws that are being amended. Whats the big deal in railways that should be confined to the Federal Government in the first place? That is on the same level as the thinking that confers electricity, which young lads in secondary school can generate, to a federal government. The concession to states will therefore help the ambitions of the incoming government of President-elect Bola Tinubu, who runs on a promise to revolutionise the transport sector by ensuring every state in Nigeria develops/invests massively in metro and other systems, as part of the process of deregulating the petroleum downstream subsector. This local light-rail systems are to be connected with the national rail system in a way that totally presents a new face and the next phase of our development. It is important to note that the development of the rail sector is critical to the development of nations. The USA, in the mid-1800s, literally exploded to the west. There was also a trick they employed. Private sector railway developers like Colonel Vanderbilt and Andrew Carnegie were granted land of up to six miles to both sides of their rail for as long as they can continue building the rail lines. This created incentives. Our states and even the Federal Government may consider this as it engages with private sector players. Prisons now they call them correctional centres are also another interesting addition to the purview of our states. Now, this is tricky but it can transform a society in a significant manner. Our justice system is clogged and many Nigerians who have been sent to correctional centres come out even more hardened, given the overcrowding and generally terrible conditions of those centres. What is more? Nigeria is actually almost a lawless society. I let my social media friends know that perhaps every two out of five Nigerians would have had a stint in jail in the USA, with the way we carry on lawlessly and without a care in the world. And we have started seeing that. We have a former Deputy Senate President in jail in the UK. We have a bunch of our musicians who have served jailtime or are still there presently. We have thousands of Nigerians in jails in the UAE, USA, UK, Europe, China, Thailand, Saudi, Korea, South Africa and many more countries around the world folks who deliberately disobey laws and customs of other lands. Our states should understand that there is nothing wrong if they build more correctional centres because perpetual and unrepentant criminals should not walk freely in society. The right examples must be set. And the federal prisons must be decongested. The states could however try different correctional models, where inmates could be very productive to society, and where their living conditions do not have to be hellish. I will leave out the analysis of judicial and legislative independence in our states. The advantages are obvious and I know that this granting of autonomy will be painful to many governors who thought they have their judiciaries and legislatures in check and feeding from their palms. This amendment may cause some fireworks in the coming years, as the governors learn to tread more carefully. The Remaining 65 Odd Items In the Exclusive List I went through the long list of items contained in the Exclusive List in our constitution. Honestly, there is little else to remove and place in the charge of our states. Precisely, the major item that the states should brace up for now is self-policing. Our state governors used to sound so stridently on this matter, until they started seeing how expensive it will be to maintain these guys. Then the noise died down. But with this latest push towards restructuring, they should expect that this is now coming. Already, every state has the beginnings of a state police in Nigeria. The South-West states have the Amotekun, which are also armed to an extent. South-East states have the Ebubeagu, even though I understand these do not have enabling laws and are, for now, being overshadowed by activities of IPOB and Eastern Security Network (ESN). The North-East had the Civilian JTF when they were needed and the North-West has their own vigilantes. The state governors should expect all these guys to transmogrify into their own state police services soon, while they sit down with the Federal Government to know how to map out jurisdictions, hierarchies, reporting lines and cooperation. It is now becoming a fait accompli. The Federal Government must understand, however, that the more it cedes to the states, the less it is entitled to from the FAAC (Federal Accounts Allocation Committee) funds. The current roughly 52:27:21 sharing formula from federal to state governments will have to change in favour of the states and local governments. The fear is not to make already arrogant governors who rule their states like overlords, even more power. I found two more tangential items that could be moved too. The first are roads. It looks like there are too many roads that are considered federal in the country, using the same old thinking mentioned above. Many of the federal trunk roads should be ceded to states. There is no big deal in them. Also, solid minerals. Again, this is tricky. I believe states should be allowed to own solid minerals, to develop them and pay taxes to the Federal Government. But this has to be carefully worked out. We also dont want to foster inequality in our land. So, what to do with states without much solid minerals? And do we dig up everywhere in search of minerals? Will the Federal Government not lose control and respect entirely? Then how much of offshore crude oil and gas should be owned by coastal states? Those are some of the questions that come to mind, but I believe that someday into the future, this too can be tackled. The current scenario of awarding oil blocs arbitrarily to the friends of those in power is unacceptable, unscientific, suboptimal, and, of course, very annoying to many Nigerians. Overall, Nigeria is moving in the right directions with these recent steps. I think we should complain less and think more. I think that with diligence, given what we have, we can make a lot out of our circumstances. Let me quickly say here that it is a fallacy that in federal systems like the USA states only give back to the federal government. Thats untrue. The US federal government gives a lot to the states on a monthly basis, on a needs basis. They have two types of grants categorical (for specific purposes e.g. education), and block grants (given in bulk to states to do whatever they wish with). States like Mississippi, Alabama, New Mexico, South Carolina, get much more than rich states like New York or California. Thats how it works. The Federal Government must understand, however, that the more it cedes to the states, the less it is entitled to from the FAAC (Federal Accounts Allocation Committee) funds. The current roughly 52:27:21 sharing formula from federal to state governments will have to change in favour of the states and local governments. The fear is not to make already arrogant governors who rule their states like overlords, even more power. But the next spurt of growth and development in Nigeria must have to come from the rural areas which even the governors neglect these days because nothing goes on in most states in Nigeria apart from the state capitals. In my view and past proposals, I wish we could have like 40% of FAAC going to local governments, but in a fund that can be jointly managed by all three tiers of government, such as to develop and release the potentials, energy, and productivity laying captured at our rural areas. Some of the advantages of such an initiative will include the following: Larger, more even-spread spatial development in Nigeria; Boost in agricultural production and value-add all over Nigeria; Less post-harvest wastage and development of cottage industries in rural areas (to add value to agricultural products); Rebuilding and expansion of rural roads and other infrastructure; Crash in the rates of urban and general poverty and hunger in Nigeria; Improvements in literacy rates, and attainment of higher Human Development Index all over Nigeria; Reduction in urban and rural crime rates; Reduction in border clashes, and other rural strife including farmer/herders clash; Boost in domestic consumption of essentials food, clothing, housing etc.; A great opportunity for urban and rural renewal including repositioning of the housing sector, among other advantages. Tope Fasua, an economist, author, blogger, entrepreneur, and recent presidential candidate of the Abundant Nigeria Renewal Party (ANRP), can be reached through topsyfash@yahoo.com. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Troops of Operation Forest Sanity arrested a suspect with a large quantity of ammunition in Birnin Gwari Local Government Area, Kaduna State. The states Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, announced the development to reporters on Thursday. He said the government was informed of the arrest by security agencies operating in the state. Mr Aruwan said the suspect, Aminu Abdullahi, was arrested while conveying the large cache of ammunition around the troubled Polwire area in the Birnin Gwari council area. In another significant breakthrough, troops of Operation Forest Sanity have intercepted a large quantity of ammunition being conveyed to bandits by a courier around Polewire in Birnin Gwari LGA. According to a report forwarded to the Kaduna State Government, the troops followed up on credible intelligence around gunrunning activities, and in the course of diligent checks stopped a suspicious-looking vehicle within the location of interest. A search of the intercepted vehicle a black Toyota Corolla revealed more than 2,000 rounds of various grades of ammunition, concealed in different parts of the car. After a thorough search of the vehicle, the following precise quantities were recovered: 1,079 rounds of 7.62mm special ammunition 886 rounds of 7.62mm belted ammunition and 139 rounds of 7.62mm tracer ammunition, the officials statement said. Five empty AK-47 magazines were also recovered, and the driver of the vehicle, Mr Abdullahi, is in custody for further investigation, the statement added. Meanwhile, Mr Aruwan said Governor Nasir El-Rufai noted the report with satisfaction and thanked the troops for their proactiveness in denying bandits a major supply of ammunition meant to mete out more destruction and suffering. READ ALSO: The Governor warmly appreciated the leadership of the General Officer Commanding, One Division, T.A. Lagbaja, a major general, for the latest notable breakthrough recorded. He charged the security forces to proceed with a thorough investigation of the arrested suspect and intensify efforts towards dismantling gun-running networks across the State and beyond. The latest breakthrough by the security forces followed the killing of many suspected terrorists on Wednesday by the Air Components of Operation Whirl Punch of the Nigerian Airforces airstrike in the same Birnin Gwari area. In Wednesdays operation, the terrorists attacked Sabon Layi village in Birnin Gwari before they were engaged. They met their end in the hands of the Nigerian security forces who rushed to the area following a distress call. Kaduna is one of the North-west states being troubled by non-state actors, killing and kidnapping residents for ransom. Recent military offensives against terrorists is improving security across the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. At least eight people were reported killed during an attack in Zangon Kataf Local Government Area, Kaduna State, residents of the area have said. The President of Atyap Community Development Association, a community organisation in the area, Sam Timbuwak, told reporters in Kaduna on Thursday. Mr Timbuwak said the attack occurred on Wednesday at around 9 a.m. He said the gunmen invaded the community from a nearby bush and began a shooting spree, killing eight people in the process. He said the terrorists attack affected five houses, and four people were also wounded. Mr Timbuwak said security agencies arrived at the scene after the gunmen had fled the area. He lamented the late response of the security forces to the scene despite their closeness to the place of the incident. He pleaded with the security agencies to be committed to the discharge of their responsibilities and fish out those behind the series of attacks in the general areas. Langson community in the same local government area was recently attacked and 10 people were killed, Mr Timbuwak claimed. READ ALSO: Security forces arrest suspected gunrunner in Kaduna The states Commissioner, Ministry of Internal Security and Home Affairs, Samuel Aruwan, could not be immediately reached Thursday evening to comment on the incident. Also, the police spokesperson in the state Muhammed Jalige, could not be reached on his known phone number Thursday evening. Zangon Kataf in Southern Kaduna is one of the troubled areas being terrorised by non-state actors as terrorists kill and kidnap residents for ransom. However, the recent military offensive against terrorists is improving security across the state. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Reader survey As a reader of PREMIUM TIMES, your opinion matters. Please take our survey to help us better understand the values and preferences of our readers. Your feedback will give us valuable insights into how we can tailor the different types of content we offer to meet your needs. The survey should only take about 6-8 minutes to complete. Click here to take it. Gunmen on Wednesday invaded the Ago Igbira settlement in Osun State and abducted a resident identified as Mohammed Jubril. Before the victim was eventually taken away, some locals engaged the attackers in a gun battle during which another resident, Hassan Jubril, was injured, PREMIUM TIMES learnt A resident of the village, who asked not to be named for security reasons, said eight armed men attacked the community in the early hours of Wednesday. Police, men of Nigeria Hunters and Forest Security Services, Amotekun Corps, and some other volunteers are already combing the forest, the source said. There was rain of gunshots here today, we dont know their mission but they kidnapped a man, This is really scary. When asked about the current situation of the settlement, the source said some residents are fleeing the area over the fear of another attack. Another witness, who identified himself simply as Quadri, explained that heavy gunshots by the attackers woke up residents of the community. Everyone here is currently living in fear because they dont know what the next minutes hold for them. We can only appeal to the police to beef up security around our settlement before these people either kidnap us all or kill us all, Mr Quadri said. Efforts to speak with the police spokesperson in Osun, Yemisi Opalola, were unsuccessful as she did not pick up her calls nor reply to a text message sent to her phone. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp Telegram LinkedIn Email Print Sen. Tim Kaine met on Wednesday in Roanoke with health care providers, educators and students who called the current shortage of medical workers urgent. The Virginia Democrat said he knows. He is among those who handle health care issues in Washington through his seat on the United States Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions. We were short before COVID. Were really seeing shortages post COVID, Kaine said at the Radford University Carilion education facility. He met with more than 15 health care provider staff members and executives, clinicians, academic leaders and students training for medical professions. He also toured laboratories dedicated to instruction in nursing and respiratory therapy. Kaine heard a number of suggested strategic moves, such as one to streamline the process under which medical personnel exiting the military can enter private sector work. Ill take that back, he said. Demand for health care is growing along with the aging of the population, but COVID burnout is also driving workers out of the profession, especially nurses. The shortage of nurses is critical, but there are also acute needs for doctors, especially in such specialties as endocrinology, rheumatology and dermatology. Pharmacies, nursing homes and home health care providers are also strained to fulfill their duties with more caregivers needed. Workforce issues have displaced financial concerns as the top worry among hospital CEOs, Beckers Hospital Review reported. Its a local issue here because health care is what Kaine called the regions economic pillar, with tens of thousands of employees. Many more are needed. Carilion Clinic, one of the largest hospitals in Virginia with more than 13,000 workers, is seeking to fill the equivalent of 1,648 full-time jobs in clinical positions and 418 jobs in nonclinical positions, spokesman Pete Larkin said. Wednesdays dialogue raised the issue of instructor shortages at educational institutions due to issues with pay levels. The pay for clinical faculty is not that great, said Wendy Downey, interim dean of Radford Universitys nursing school. Another problem is insufficient numbers of licensed personnel to provide students hands-on experience during clinical rotations. That issue hinders our ability to practice these skills in real time, said Stephanie DiLaura, an RU nursing student. For a group of 10 students, there may be one preceptor, she said. But at the same time, there are experienced nurses capable of instructing others who lack the required masters degree to actually teach. Ill raise it, Kaine said. Francis Cannizzo, chief of staff of the Salem VA Medical Center, agreed with a number of the roundtables participants who want to see health care careers marketed to youth to a greater degree. The idea is that by exposing children as early as elementary school to the variety of medical professions available, more grow up headed in that direction. We have to be able to show any K through 12 student that they can occupy any position in health care that they put their minds to, Cannizzo said. Kaine said the shipbuilding industry on Virginias coast, facing its own labor shortage, tells area youth that shipbuilding is a cool job. They really are out there early, Kaine said, and if were going to solve this health care workforce thing, weve got to be real early. Its not just about financial aid when you get to college. Its about making sure people see this as a choice. School systems are in the loop on this. In Roanoke City Public Schools, for instance, high school students can enroll in health care classes on the vocational track, spokeswoman Claire Mitzel said. In addition, a summer introduction to health care professions, just a week long, is open to fifth graders, she said. More broadly, the Blue Ridge Partnership for Health Science Careers, formed in 2019, unites the efforts of health care employers, educators and economic development professionals in the Roanoke and New River valleys, Alleghany Highlands and Lynchburg region to improve health sciences education and align instruction to meet the needs of employers, officials said. Celebrate excellence in the Microsoft Excel industry LONDON, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Microsoft Excel fanatics are gearing up for the highly anticipated Global Excel Awards, which showcases outstanding achievements and contributions made in the Excel industry. The inaugural edition gives them a chance to vote for those in the community they believe most deserve recognition, with five categories up for grabs: The Global Excel Awards celebrating excellence in the Excel industry. Powered by the Global Excel Summit. Most Influential Professional in the Excel Industry the individual who's had the biggest impact on one's Excel usage and workflow, thanks to their video tutorials, articles, social media posts, or full-scale courses. Best Microsoft Excel Add-in the add-in that most extends Excel's capabilities and empowers users to execute tasks not possible or easily done natively. Most Obscure Use of Excel the individual who's built something in Excel that has gone far beyond the realms of normal Excel use. Lifetime Achievement the individual who has had the biggest influence on Excel's evolution since its early days, delivering training, writing books, posting on forums, and sending feedback to Microsoft. MVP in the Making the individual most deserving of Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) status, having demonstrated outstanding knowledge and community leadership. Each category is bound by strict entry criteria, ensuring only selections deemed suitable are eligible for nomination. Powering the Global Excel Awards is the Global Excel Summit. This annual event invites Microsoft MVPs, trainers, and social media sensations to deliver action-packed sessions to thousands of attendees, aiming to accelerate their career advancement. Elena Lalovska, co-founder of the Global Excel Summit, states: "Our mission is to help facilitate the growth and development of the Excel industry globally. What better way to do this than shine the spotlight on those who deserve to be recognised for their hard work and incredible achievements? The Global Excel Awards celebrate excellence in the Excel industry while allowing the industry to decide who the winners will be. This is yet another tool in our toolbox dedicated to strengthening the foundations of our community because, let's face it, if it wasn't for Excel, none of us would be where we are today!" The awards span over two months, consisting of nominations and voting stages before the eventual winners are announced. Nominations take place from 12 to 30 April, with participants required to submit a name of their choice for one or more categories. After this window shuts, the counting process commences, with the top five highest nominations from each category put forward for the final vote. Between 15 May and 4 June, voters then decide who is most worthy of winning each category. Once finished, the votes get tallied up, and the results are ratified before announcing the winners on 19 June. Winners receive a badge, certificate, trophy, and the honour of an automatic speaker slot at next year's Global Excel Summit 2024. Those interested can cast their nominations and votes at https://globalexcelsummit.com/global-excel-awards. This webpage also contains more information about the Global Excel Awards, including the categories and the rules. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2052807/Global_Excel_Awards_Press_Release_Featured.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2052806/GES_Logo.jpg SOURCE Global Excel Summit The Find N2 Flip is set to launch in the UAE on 15 th April, setting the benchmark for future flip phones Flipped with a revolutionary cover screen, long-lasting and fast-charging battery, state-of-the-art camera system powered by Hasselblad, and a host of flagship features DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- OPPO, the world's leading smart device brand, announces the eagerly awaited launch of its flagship flip smartphone, the Find N2 Flip, in the UAE. OPPO has created the benchmark for future flip phones with the Find N2 Flip, made possible by its uncompromising New Generation Flexion Hinge, which is thinner, smaller, and stronger than its predecessor in the original Find N. Despite its compact size, the Find N2 Flip packs a palm and pocket-friendly, feature-rich punch upgrading the flip phone experience in all areas. Find N2 Flip Ivan Wu, General Manager of OPPO GCC said, "We are proud to bring OPPO's latest flagship smartphone, the Find N2 Flip, to UAE brand enthusiasts and customers. This launch is a testament to OPPO's continued commitment to providing its GCC customers with the latest technology and innovations in line with global launches. Equipped with innovative features, a foldable experience that reimagines photography possibilities housed in a flawless eye-catching design, we are confident that the Find N2 Flip will be a resounding success in the region." Fitting a world of advanced technology into a pocket-sized package, the Find N2 Flip also brings a flagship camera system with Hasselblad highlights, an optimized MediaTek Dimensity 9000+ chipset, and TUV Rhineland-certified durability together for superior smartphone experiences. Users can get the clearest preview of selfies with the smartphone's vertical cover screen, which is the largest on any flip phone. Additionally, OPPO has included the largest battery of any flip phone at launch and introduced SUPERVOOC flash charging to the category, making it the fastest charging flip phone on the market. With a host of numerous flagship features, the Find N2 Flip marks the start of a new chapter for foldables and smartphones at large. The OPPO Find N2 Flip is set to launch in the UAE on 15th April, exclusively in select Sharaf DG stores across the UAE. As part of OPPO's long-standing partnership with Google, customers in the UAE who purchase and activate the Find N2 Flip by July will be entitled to a complimentary 6-month Google One and 3-month YouTube Premium subscription, giving Find N2 Flip users the opportunity to enjoy massive 100GB of cloud storage and uninterrupted YouTube videos and music. Terms and conditions apply. About OPPO OPPO is a leading global technology brand since 2004, dedicated to providing products that seamlessly combines art and innovative technology. OPPO is on a mission to building a multiple-access smart device ecosystem for the era of intelligent connectivity. The smartphone devices have simply been a gateway for OPPO to deliver a diverse portfolio of smart and frontier technologies in hardware, software and system. In 2019, OPPO launched a $7 Billion US Dollar three-year investment plan in R&D to develop core technologies furthering design through technology. OPPO is firmly pursuing the creation of the best technology products and technological artistry for global users. Based on the brand elements of leading, young and beautiful, OPPO dedicates to the mission of letting the extraordinary users enjoy the beauty of technology. For the last 10 years, OPPO has focused on manufacturing smartphones with camera capabilities that are second to none. OPPO launched the first mobile phone, the Smile Phone, in 2008, which marked the launch of the brand's epic journey in exploring and pioneering extraordinary technology. Over the years, OPPO has built a tradition of being number one, which became a reality through inventing the world's first rotating camera smartphone way back in 2013, launching the world's then thinnest smartphone in 2014, being the first to introduce 5X Zoom 'Periscope' camera technology and developing the first 5G commercial smartphone in Europe. Today, OPPO was ranked as the number four smartphone brand globally. OPPO brings the aesthetics of technology of global consumers through the ColorOS system Experience, and Internet service like OPPO Cloud and OPPO+. OPPO's business covers 60 countries operated by more than 40,000 dedicated employees, with over six research institutes and five R&D centers across the world, from San Francisco to Shenzhen. OPPO also opened an International Design Centre headquartered in London, driving cutting edge technology that will shape the future not only for smartphones but for intelligent connectivity. About OPPO MEA OPPO started its journey in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region in 2015 after setting up its regional office in Egypt. Following the immense success of the brand's sales centre in Cairo in the first year, OPPO accelerated its expansion plan across the MEA region and inaugurated its country operations in the UAE in 2019. Now OPPO is physically present in more than 14 markets across the region, including Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, Kuwait, Qatar, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and the Levant. To empower its presence in the region in line with its product localisation strategy, OPPO further invested in MENA and set up its very own factory in Algeria in 2017, thus, becoming the first Chinese brand to build a manufacturing premises in North Africa. Based on insights of local consumers in each country, OPPO has evolved the progress of product localisation, taking into consideration several perspectives towards each market, including product localisation, to further meet the core needs of users; marketing localisation, to better communicate with local young customers; and talent localisation, to understand local consumers further and provide an optimum customer service. Within the last year, OPPO has started to adjust its product line in the Middle East region specifically. This has included the launch of its flagship OPPO Find X Series and the introduction of the OPPO Reno Series. OPPO will continue to evolve its local product line to offer more premium series to consumers in the region. A forward-thinking international technology company, OPPO strives to be a sustainable company that contributes to a better world and have enacted positive change in every way possible through activating local community initiatives and humanitarian, charity campaigns. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053423/Find_N2_Flip.jpg SOURCE OPPO Zhengzhou City Brand Slogan Released BEIJING, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 16th China Brand Festival Women's Forum, themed "Bloom Your Beauty", was hosted by TopBrand Union and sponsored by the Zhengzhou Municipal Government at the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center from April 7th to 9th, 2023. Over 2,000 entrepreneurs, experts, and political leaders from across the country gathered in Zhengzhou for the event. Thousands of people swarmed into the conference center and the event has received rave reviews. Opening Ceremony of 2023 China Brand Festival Women's Forum WANG Yong, Chairman of the TopBrand Union and initiator of China Brand Festival, releases the ranking of "Top 500 Chinese Brand Women 2023 Brand building has become a key solution for Chinese entrepreneurs to better cope with risks and challenges. In recent years, the influence of women entrepreneurs has risen unprecedentedly in China, with many excellent female role models emerging across various industries. GU Xiulian, former vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) and director of the China Committee for the Care of the Next Generation, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. She pointed out that China Brand Festival Women's Forum has made great contributions to promoting brand building in China as a two-way communication platform for brand women and female brands. It has also created a broad platform for excellent women to network and showcase themselves. Women shall seize the opportunity of the rise of "Her Power", and further expand the width and depth of the concept of "Her Power" thanks to the China Brand Festival Women's Forum. Women shall be committed to promoting brands with high quality, and contribute women's strengths to the building of powerful brands. HE Xiong, deputy secretary of Zhengzhou Municipal Committee and mayor of the City Zhengzhou, said in his speech that gathering outstanding women representatives from all walks of life to Zhengzhou is a solid step towards high-quality development and an effective measure to gather "Her Energy" and showcase "Her Style". He sincerely invited everyone to "take a walk in the province of Henan to understand China better" and to "take a walk in the city of Zhengzhou to understand ancient China better ". He also hoped to show the diligent and dedicated female style with the event. Vice Mayor MA Zhifeng promoted the city of Henan by inviting guests to get to know more about Zhengzhou and invest in it. On behalf of TopBrand Union, WANG Yong, chairman of the company and founder and secretary general of the China Brand Festival, officially released the city brand slogan "Come to Zhengzhou if You Have Kung Fu". This slogan includes four connotations: the world-renowned "Shaolin Kung Fu", the "Soft Kung Fu" for citizens, the "Real Kung Fu" for entrepreneurship, and the "Slow Kung Fu" for leisure and relaxation. At this year's Women's Forum, the "2023 China Top 10 Brand Women" was officially unveiled. XU Xiao, chairman of Kaifeng City Stacked City Construction and Development Co., Ltd, DU Lan, senior vice president of KDDI, DAI Kangwei, general manager of Beiqi New Energy, XUE Rong, party secretary and president of Zhengzhou Yuanfang Group, were awarded as "2023 China's Top 10 Brand Women". At the same time, the China Brand Women's Club was launched and established. In addition, DONG Mingzhu, Chairman and President of Gree Electric, LIU Yang, an astronaut, and ZHANG Guimei, Principal of Lijiang Huaping Girls' Senior High School, were listed in the top three of "Top 500 Chinese Brand Women 2023". Taobao, Douyin, Chow Tai Fook, Jingdong, and Meituan are the top five of the "Top 50 Brands Preferred by Women 2023". As one of the most influential brand activities introduced to Zhengzhou this year, the forum gathered multiple participants of "Her Economy". SUN Qixiang, LIU Nanning, ZHANG Qi and 223 other honored guests, covering well-known women entrepreneurs, brand women, women economists, academicians, experts and scholars, investors, influencers, took the stage to share their insights, showcased the charm of contemporary brand women, helped Zhengzhou polish the city's business card, and promoted the economic recovery and development after the epidemic. In addition to that, 16 parallel forums and 2,000 square meters of exhibitions were successfully held. Media contact: Zhu Ying [email protected] SOURCE TopBrand Union (Beijing) Consulting Company The Abandonment of a Child is the Cruelest Form of Abuse MIAMI, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Child abandonment is escalating worldwide. In the United States, over 7,000 children are abandoned annually; Columbia and Venezuela have thousands of abandoned children per year; and Brazil acknowledges child abandonment as one of its main social problems, per a recent article in "The Encyclopedia of World Problems and Human Potential." In Florida, A Safe Haven for Newborns is at the forefront of addressing the problem of infant abandonment. The nonprofit seeks to address the escalating problem of infant abandonment by providing non-judgmental help and resources. "The preconceived notion that a person who abandons a newborn is an underprivileged teenager is misleading. Our experience of over 23 years shows that this is a tragedy crossing all categories of age, ethnicity, and socioeconomic status," said Nick Silverio, Founder of A Safe Haven for Newborns. Since its inception 23 years ago, the Foundation has seen a decrease in infant abandonment in the state of Florida. To date 370 newborns have been saved. The program is designed to saves two lives, the mother and newborn. It provides the mother with the resources she needs prior to giving birth allowing her to make an informed decision that is in the best interest of her unborn child and hers. The Foundation does not charge for any of the services offered. By Florida law, a newborn seven days or younger and unharmed, can be surrendered at any of the participating hospitals or 24/7 staffed fire/ EMS stations displaying the Safe Haven for Newborn signage and surrendered in the arms of a staff member. No questions asked and free from fear of prosecution. A Safe Haven for Newborns offers referral services across all 67 Florida counties, for such services as maternity homes, shelters, counseling, health-related issues, help for abuse, suicide prevention, connecting them to Medicaid, and information for adoption; open or closed. It offers a 24/7 multi-lingual confidential helpline and information through its website, www.asafehavenfornewborns.com. The Foundation offers web-based training to the healthcare professionals, at no cost to them, on the steps to follow when a newborn is surrendered. A Safe Haven for Newborns has been identified as a national model program for saving newborns from abandonment and assisting pregnant girls/women in crises; the program has been adopted in Panama, too. It credits its success to its statewide partnership with Fire, EMS, Hospitals. Watch a short video on our partnership. ABOUT THE GLORIA M. SILVERIO FOUNDATION The Gloria M. Silverio Foundation 501(c)3, A Safe Haven for Newborns, is a nonprofit organization founded in 2001 by Nick Silverio. A Safe Haven for Newborns assists girls/women facing an unexpected pregnancy saving two lives in complete anonymity, protecting her right to privacy. Visit us at: www.asafehavenfornewborns.com. Media Contact: Nick Silverio, Founder [email protected] 1-786-246-1304 Follow Us: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube SOURCE A Safe Haven for Newborns With a commitment to help subprime finance companies streamline operations and increase profits with its loan management ecosystem, ABCoA hosts its second Deal Pack User Conference in 2023. JACKSONVILLE, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc. (ABCoA), a Software-as-a-Service company dedicated to the subprime finance industry and known for Deal Pack is hosting its sixth User Conference on May 7th and 8th at its headquarters in Jacksonville, Florida. ABCOA Total software solutions for the subprime industry ABCoA hosts the Deal Pack User Conference to provide training and collaboration among users and to maximize productivity and profitability with its leading-edge software ecosystem. The two-day event covers CRM, LOS, LMS, Capsa funding platform, collections, omni-channel payment processing, communications, digital document vaulting, automated reporting, compliance, built-in accounting, and more. Users are taken through Loan Origination, Scoring, Onboarding, Servicing, and General Ledger modules with ABCoA's Customer Success Specialists. The customer-centric approach allows operators to experience the latest features Deal Pack and cyclCRM have added for customers, in addition to learning how the services eliminate duplication, improve collections, and best practices for success. "The Deal Pack User Conference is truly a unique experience for our users," says Amir Dabiri, Customer Success Director. "Training our customers how to maximize their investment is at the core of what we do. Our boutique format encourages feedback, participation, and drives further development of the ABCoA family of products." Attendees get the chance to network, learn how new and existing features can improve their operation's daily functions, and see how Deal Pack gives them complete financial visibility of their entire operation at any given moment in time. ABCoA is celebrating its 40th year in business. About Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc. Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc. (ABCoA) is a Software-as-a-Service company focused on transforming the subprime industry. Since 1983, ABCoA has helped used car dealerships and subprime finance companies achieve success with innovative and dependable software. Its cloud-native ecosystem supports every type of loan and seamlessly connects every part of business operations. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Florida, ABCoA continuously elevates the standard for software in the subprime industry. Founding member of the Association of Dealer Management Software (ADMS). Deal Pack and cyclCRM are products of Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc., a family-owned and operated, Florida-based company. For more information, please visit www.abcoa.com or www.dealpack.com. Media Contact: Natalie McKinney, Director of Sales Advanced Business Computers of America, Inc. P.O. Box 54221 Jacksonville, FL 32245 (904)354-2073 SOURCE ABCOA Market-leading risk management solutions partner to support connected maritime operations HOUSTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - ABS Wavesight , an ABS-affiliated software-as-a-service (SaaS) company, today announced a new alliance with ActZero , an award-winning managed detection and response (MDR) service provider, to help safeguard fleets from the growing threat of cyberattacks. Already a leader in digitalization within maritime, ABS Wavesight will enhance its software offering by teaming with ActZero to deliver operators 24/7 ransomware defense and response. ActZero will provide proactive, comprehensive, cybersecurity protection to ABS Wavesight clients alongside ABS Wavesight's industry-leading portfolio of vessel and voyage management tools. The alliance ensures maritime-sector businesses have access to a powerful and affordable cybersecurity service to protect against growing ransomware threats. "Offering ABS Wavesight users a cyber solution is not just a natural next step; it's a necessary one," said Paul Sells, CEO of ABS Wavesight. "While digitalized ships can offer powerful insights that help operators improve compliance and manage their journeys, connected IT systems come with risksespecially in today's landscape. ActZero has deep knowledge of that landscape, and its comprehensive services and commitment to keeping up with hackers' changing techniques will help ensure maritime organizations are aware of any threats to their operations and ready to respond." ActZero leverages defense ingenuity and precision AI detection to continuously test against the latest attack techniques to achieve best-in-class security outcomes. With a proven record of success and a threat-eradication time of just 17 minutes, ActZero provides a fully managed, round-the-clock service with the people, processes and technology required to secure client vessels and onshore facilities. "Cyber criminals worldwide have set their sights on disrupting critical infrastructure, and we've learned the maritime sector is a prime target," said Sameer Bhalotra, Co-Founder and CEO of ActZero. "We're thrilled to combine ActZero's proven cybersecurity solution with ABS Wavesight's new technology and join forces to stop cyberattacks on the world's most critical maritime businesses." To learn more about ABS Wavesight, visit the company's website . About ABS Wavesight ABS Wavesight, an ABS-affiliated company, is a global leader in the maritime industry pushing to decarbonize operations at sea through digitalization. Built on the successes of ABS' industry-leading My Digital Fleet and Nautical Systems platforms, the company's flagship program provides maritime clients with innovative fleet management software to improve the reliability and performance of their shipping operations. ABS Wavesight's portfolio is comprised of best-in-class proprietary technology and third-party integrations that offer unparalleled insight into every aspect of a fleet's operations. Since its release in 2020, My Digital Fleet has been delivering real-time, data-driven insights to help clients improve fleet efficiency, reduce costs, and manage risk. About ActZero ActZero is an award-winning provider of Managed Detection and Response (MDR) services that delivers a powerful and affordable cybersecurity service to protect small and mid-sized enterprises against ransomware attacks. By continuously testing defenses against the latest attack techniques and variants, ActZero ensures AI detections and human threat hunters quickly stop threats. The company brings deep roots and expertise in cybersecurity to deliver measurable ransomware defense, reducing false alerts and responding quickly on a customer's behalf. Combined with exceptional service, ActZero empowers businesses with confidence that the company and customers are protected. For more information on ActZero, please visit actzero.com . PR Media Contact Linda Kerr Director of Marketing, ActZero [email protected] 571-455-2604 SOURCE ActZero NEWPORT BEACH, Calif., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FentanylSolution.org, a leading advocacy group committed to raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and advocating for stricter penalties for drug dealers who sell fentanyl and kill their users, is proud to announce the launch of its $2.2 million Poll-to-Prop initiative. The initiative seeks to gather public opinion about the need for stricter penalties for drug dealers who sell fentanyl and murder their customers. The results of the poll will be used to draft a statewide ballot initiative that will be voted on during the next presidential election. FentanylSolution.org has partnered with McNally Temple Associates to conduct an initial poll and gather data that will be used to shape the proposition. "We want to let the legislators, who voted against every form of penalty for these drug dealers, know that we are holding them accountable," said Janice M. Celeste, President & CEO of FentanylSolution.org. "We believe that drug dealers who sell fentanyl and murder their customers must pay the price for their actions. The Poll-to-Prop initiative is a crucial step in our efforts to raise awareness about the need for stricter penalties for these criminals." The $2.2 million initiative marks a significant investment in the fight against fentanyl and represents a major commitment by FentanylSolution.org to its mission of creating safer communities across California. The organization is committed to bringing the proposition to the ballot and ensuring that the voices of Californians are heard on this important issue. To learn more about FentanylSolution.org's Poll-to-Prop initiative and its efforts to raise awareness about the dangers of fentanyl, please visit the organization's website at FentanylSolution.org. About FentanylSolution.org FentanylSolution.org is a leading advocacy group committed to raising awareness about the dangers of fentanyl and advocating for stricter penalties for drug dealers who sell the substance. The organization is based in Newport Beach, California, and is dedicated to creating safer communities across the state. SOURCE FentanylSolution.org Program Designed to Foster Connection to Ireland and Bolster Career Development PORTLAND, Maine, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN) and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) have partnered to launch the AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars in Ireland Program for African American college students. AAIDN and CIEE partner to launch the AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars in Ireland Program for African American college students Tweet this Three exceptional African American students will attend CIEEs Summer Global Internship in Dublin. During the students eight-weeks in Ireland, CIEE will provide the academic and work experience for each intern, while AAIDN will provide funding to offset travel and living expenses. Nearly forty percent of African Americans have Irish ancestry, according to some researchers, and African Americans share many other cultural, historic and social justice affinities with Ireland. Beginning in 2023, the AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars in Ireland Program will provide a life-changing opportunity for Scholars to explore their heritage, provide international business experience, and polish tangible work skills that will aid them in their future career. In this inaugural year of the program, three exceptional African American college students will attend CIEE's Summer Global Internship in Dublin program that includes an eight-week work placement, housing, and a three credit academic course. During the students' eight-weeks in Ireland, CIEE will provide the academic and work experience for each intern, while AAIDN will provide each student with a stipend to offset travel and living expenses. The students selected for the first cohort of AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars in Ireland are: Benedict College : Mia Douglas ('24), Mass Communication and Media Studies : ('24), Mass Communication and Media Studies Delaware State University : Dapria Fell ('26), Mass Communication and Media Studies : Dapria Fell ('26), Mass Communication and Media Studies Sacred Heart University : Jayla Vyent ('25), Psychology "We are honored to partner with AAIDN to help build bridges between African American and Irish communities through people-to-people exchange," said James P. Pellow, Ed.D., president and CEO of CIEE. "The AAIDN Internships in Ireland program will allow African American college students to prepare for the global job market, develop intercultural communication skills, and embrace Ireland's well-known hospitality, rich culture and natural beauty." Dennis Brownlee, founder and chairman of AAIDN, stated: "We are delighted to work with CIEE to offer this transformative international learning and career development opportunity in Ireland to a group of outstanding students. These are the kinds of experiences that will help broaden their perspectives and advance their careers." The AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars will be encouraged to share reflections of their time in Ireland through written blogs and weekly posts on social media. They will serve as mentors for the next class of AAIDN Intern Scholars, thereby extending the African American Irish family network to future decedents of Africa and Ireland. To learn more about the AAIDN Intern Scholars in Ireland program, or to contribute to this effort, please contact Stacy Benjamin, CIEE's Director of Professional Development, at [email protected]. About CIEE For 75 years, CIEE has helped young people participate in high-quality international exchange and study abroad programs that build bridges between people, countries and cultures. Since 1947, CIEE has supported over 1,000,000 student exchanges from over 140 countries. Learn more at ciee.org. About AAIDN The African American Irish Diaspora Network was launched in 2020 to foster relationships between African Americans and Ireland and the Irish Diaspora through shared heritage and culture. With nearly 40% of African Americans having some Irish ancestry, AAIDN is bringing the African American and Irish communities together via that ancestry and other affinities including entrepreneurship and innovation, education, arts, and culture. AAIDN's mission is actively supported by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs as well as the government of Northern Ireland. Learn more at aaidnet.org Media contact: Leslie Taylor, [email protected], (207)553-4274 SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) AUBURN HILLS, Mich., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Alps Alpine North America, Inc. welcomes Mike Kenhard as the Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Vice President of Engineering at the headquarters location in Auburn Hills, Michigan. Alps Alpine Welcomes Mike Kenhard as Chief Technical Officer (CTO) and Vice President of Engineering Kenhard brings an extensive background in the automotive industry as well as a proven history of leading various teams through key company projects and initiatives. Throughout his career, Kenhard has championed growth and success both on a divisional and company-wide basis, using his skills as an effective communicator, manager, and strategic planner to promote positive change and desired company results. "We are ecstatic that Mike has joined the Alps Alpine team," said Robert Hill, President & CEO of Alps Alpine North America, Inc. "His technical expertise, experience, and drive will ensure that we continue to provide winning solutions to our customers and lead our expansion into new areas in our pursuit of Perfecting the Art of Electronics." Kenhard will oversee all engineering at Alps Alpine North America. Alps Alpine, a leading manufacturer of electronic components and automotive infotainment systems, has brought the world numerous "First 1" and "Number 1" products since its founding in 1948. The Alps Alpine Group currently operates 110 bases in 26 countries and regions, supplying roughly 40,000 different products and solutions to around 2,000 companies worldwide. Those offerings include devices such as switches, sensors, data communication modules, touch input panels, actuators, and power inductors; electronic shifters, remote keyless entry systems, and other automotive units; consumer electronics like car navigation and audio-visual systems; and systems and services such as digital keys based on smartphone app and blockchain technology, and remote monitoring. CONTACTS : Alps Alpine North America Media Contact Allison Saunders [email protected] (586) 719-8966 SOURCE Alps Alpine North America, Inc. AALBORG, Denmark, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today an Extraordinary General Meeting of Asetek A/S (the "Company") was held at 9:30 AM CEST at the Company's headquarter, Assensvej 2, DK-9220 Aalborg East, Denmark. Both proposals as stated in the notice (with amendments) were adopted. Further information is available at www.asetek.com. For further information, please contact: Peter Dam Madsen, Chief Financial Officer Mobile: +45 2080 7200, e-mail: [email protected] The following files are available for download: SOURCE Asetek President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovi? have made press statements in Sarajevo. The Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina made the statement first. Statement by Zeljka Cvijanovi? - Thank you, everyone. I would like to welcome our esteemed guest, Mr. President Ilham Aliyev. I was in Baku a little more than a month ago. I was received with warm and friendly hospitality by a friend such as Mr. Ilham Aliyev. There I invited Mr. President here. A short time later, Mr. President is visiting us, thus proving that he is a friend of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We have decided to open a new page of our cooperation today and start interacting more effectively. Taking this opportunity, I would like to express my gratitude to President Aliyev and his country for the help provided during the flood that occurred in our country in 2014. Our people were faced with major difficulties, and Azerbaijan stood by us then. Later Azerbaijan helped us during the coronavirus pandemic. During all this time, Azerbaijan implemented important and necessary infrastructure projects in several of our cities. A medical center was established in Banja Luka, a friendship park was built in Sarajevo. At the same time, a medical institution was established in Sarajevo. Azerbaijan has always been by our side whenever there were difficulties in our country. By signing the Declaration today we have become strategic partners. This Declaration will allow us the opportunity to have a closer political dialogue and, at the same time, establish a more efficient economic cooperation. Thanks to this, we, the business circles and government institutions will see both economic benefits and, at the same time, cooperation in the field of security. We are very glad that Azerbaijan has already opened its embassy in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and I can happily note that we have also decided to open our country's embassy in Baku. We will implement that idea, and I want to inform Mr. President that all three of us unanimously decided that it is important to open an embassy in Baku. We have already given our instructions in this regard to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and I am sure that we will see the results as soon as our embassy opens. I should note that Azerbaijan has done a lot of work in Bosnia and Herzegovina, and we are now starting specific cooperation. We had a meeting with the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan and the delegation yesterday. Meetings have been held in our Council of Ministers and with business circles in order to determine which direction we can continue our cooperation in. We have considered opportunities in transport, energy, tourism and other fields. I think this is a good opportunity for us to instruct our ministries in this regard to prepare a list of specific projects, what our interests are and where investment is required. We will give our instructions on all these issues. Azerbaijan is a very important country for us. Today we declare that we are friendly countries to each other. We support each other in the international arena. At the same time, our bilateral relations will rise to a higher level. I am very glad that we are seeing progress in this matter as well. Mr. President, it is a great honor for me to welcome you here. Thank you for accepting my invitation. I am glad that we got this opportunity today. We express our determination that we will continue our cooperation. Thank you. X X X Then, the President of Azerbaijan made the statement. Statement by President Ilham Aliyev - Honorable Madam Chairman, Honorable Mr. Komsi?, Honorable Mr. Be?irovi?. Dear ladies and gentlemen. First of all, Madam Chairman, I would like to thank you for your hospitality. I am very happy to be visiting your beautiful country. As you mentioned, we met in Baku a month and a half ago. You invited me to your country and I accepted this invitation with great pleasure. So here I am in your country today. Today, during a broad exchange of views, we have reached a unified position regarding the future development of Bosnia and Herzegovina-Azerbaijan relations. In other words, these relations will develop on an ascending trend from now on. The history of our relations is also excellent. Consultations and contacts, especially at the political level, have raised our relations to a high level. We have supported each other in all issues within international organizations, and this support is felt even today. The position of Bosnia and Herzegovina regarding the territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of Azerbaijan's borders was very important to us, especially during the occupation. I would like to mention one issue in particular. Two and a half years ago, when Azerbaijan restored its territorial integrity in the Second Karabakh War, Bosnia and Herzegovina firmly supported Azerbaijan and our rightful cause. This is a position of friendship and brotherhood, for which we are grateful to you. Azerbaijan, in its turn, has unequivocally supported the interests of Bosnia and Herzegovina in all issues, including territorial integrity, sovereignty and inviolability of borders. Today, a new page of our relations begins. As I mentioned earlier, the negotiations conducted within the framework of the official visit open up ample opportunities. In particular, the Declaration on the strategic partnership signed today shows the directions of our future development. We will regularly hold political and diplomatic consultations. At the same time, work in the economic field will be carried out in a more focused manner. A decision was made on a joint commission, i.e. the Joint Economic Commission. During today's negotiations, we also agreed to set up a working group on specific projects, and steps in this direction will be taken in a short period of time. Strategic partnership is a special relationship. This places a great responsibility on both countries. We are ready for this responsibility. I am sure that Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan will continue to work together as strategic partners in the true sense of the word. Regarding other areas of cooperation, I can say that the issue of increasing trade turnover is on the agenda. We have asked that specific investment projects be presented to us. We will look at these projects, analyze them and give our answer in a short time. We are also interested in investing in your country. At the same time, there are very extensive opportunities in the field of energy. The length of the Southern Gas Corridor initiated by Azerbaijan is 3,500 kilometers. For a little more than two years, this pipeline has been transporting our natural gas to Europe. This pipeline passes by the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina. It would be good if we start cooperating in the field of natural gas. Appropriate instructions have already been given. At the same time, joint research will be conducted of hydropower and other types of renewable energy. I am sure that it will be possible to take serious steps in this direction. Azerbaijan has invested billions of dollars in foreign countries, and, of course, we are very interested in cooperating with Bosnia and Herzegovina in this field. In parallel with this, all directions of cooperation in the field of transport should be thoroughly investigated. Azerbaijan has implemented and completed all the necessary infrastructure projects in its territory under the Middle Corridor project. At the same time, we are investing heavily in the establishment of transport infrastructure in other countries. Therefore, I think that the transport connection between the South Caucasus and the Balkan regions could be useful for the peoples living in our regions. During the conversation today, we also exchanged ideas on the deepening of intercultural dialogue and shared our experience. I believe that joint activity can be of great importance in this direction as well. Both Bosnia and Herzegovina and Azerbaijan are multi-confessional countries. Many ethnic groups live in our countries, and the co-existence of these ethnic groups in the conditions of peace, calm, friendship and brotherhood is the main precondition for stability. Here, too, there are great opportunities for an exchange of ideas, an exchange of experience, joint activities, including cooperation in the field of science and education and within non-governmental organizations. I want to thank you again for this invitation and for your hospitality. I should also mention one point: in 1972, during the existence of the Soviet Union and Yugoslavia, a twinning agreement was signed between Baku and Sarajevo. Since then, Sarajevo and Baku have been considered sister cities. I am sure that after this visit our brotherhood will become even stronger. Thank you. Parents of students who attend Greater Albany Public Schools crowded the district office Monday evening, April 10, for the first public school board meeting since the board voted not to renew the contracts of two top administrators. Many wanted to show support for the district's action but they couldn't say it aloud. The school board continues a pandemic-era policy that requires comments be submitted in writing ahead of any school board meeting or saved for a separate "listening session." On March 13, the board voted to not renew contracts for Assistant Superintendent Lisa Harlan and Equity Director Javier Cervantes, who are both known for their commitment to educational equity in the district. While their contracts are not set to expire until June 2024, Cervantes resigned last week to accept a position with the governors office, and Harlan was placed on administrative leave, pending results of a human resources-type investigation. Health Services Director Rachel Smith submitted her resignation the same week as Cervantes. Caleea Kidder, human resources administrator, submitted her resignation around the same time. More resignations have since followed. Stephanne Seals, the principal at North Albany Middle School, and Sonya Hart, coordinator of special programs, have also decided to leave the district. Whether for or against the recent developments, the only outlet the community has to communication orally is a listening session the next one isn't scheduled until June. In their public meetings, other school districts and government bodies typically set aside time, allowing people one to three minutes to speak on agency-related business. But for the past three years, GAPS has depended on a model that has the superintendent summarizing to board members written comments received before the meeting. People can voice their thoughts during the listening sessions, which are attended by the superintendent and two board members every few months. Last school year, there were 14 scheduled between October 2021 and June 2022. This school year, only four were put on the calendar. Chair Pete Morse said this process allows board members to have the proper time and format to talk about issues with community members. Morse added that school board meetings are already extremely long, and taking the time to listen to in-person and online comments would make them even longer. He added that since Oregon law now requires in-person and online comments, the district would not be capable of pulling this off without IT issues. Although public comment is allowed during meetings in a written format, some people at the March 13 board meeting spoke up from their seats out of frustration about the non-renewal of Harlan and Cervantes contracts. Morse began Mondays meeting with a warning that anyone who interrupts the meeting would be excused from the audience, and if they do not excuse themselves, they will be escorted out. Yelling and interrupting a public bodys business is not the correct way for adults to behave if they disagree, he said. As adults, we should be setting a proper example for our youth. Superintendent Andy Gardner summarized 27 written comments, 25 of which supported the boards actions to not renew the administrative contracts. Quality journalism doesn't happen without your help Support local news coverage and the people who report it by subscribing to the Albany Democrat-Herald. The system wasn't well received by all. One commenter did not appreciate Gardners summary version of his comment submitted for the meeting. In an email to Gardner after the meeting, John Robledo said the acknowledgement of his submitted comment completely devalued my sense of being able to belong as a member of the community in engaging and collaborating with the school district. His comment was unrelated to the recent nonrenewals and resignations. You made my concern feel worthless and not worthy of letting the public hear an actual summary, Robledo said in his email to Gardner. Gardner did not respond to Mid-Valley Medias request for comment about the public comment process. Related stories: DUBLIN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Asia-Pacific Lighting Contactor Market Forecast to 2028 - COVID-19 Impact and Regional Analysis - by Type, End-User, and Application" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The lighting contactor market in APAC is expected to grow from US$ 217.40 million in 2022 to US$ 377.87 million by 2028. It is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 9.7% from 2022 to 2028. The governments of countries all over the region are introducing various initiatives. For instance, the Australian government is encouraging citizens to replace halogen lights with LEDs. According to the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, the Government of Australia, if households replace 10 halogen bulbs with LEDs, they can save up to US$ 650 in 10 years on electricity bills. Furthermore, the Government of India's 'Street Light National Programme (SLNP)' is the world's largest streetlight replacement program, under which over 1.3 million smart LED lights have been installed as of 2020. Such government initiatives will increase the installation of lights and, consequently, the demand for lighting contactors over the forecast period. The presence of emerging economies and the rise in the uptake of advanced and sophisticated technologies is contributing to the overall growth of APAC. Australia, China, Japan, and India are the main contributors to the development of the lighting contactor. To implement technologically advanced solutions across different sectors in the country, rapid technological developments, digitalization of economies, and adequate government support contribute to the smooth evolution of these economies from the developing stage to the developed stage. The integration of IoT enables the remote control of lighting fixtures using smartphones. Further, LEDs are integrated with healthy lighting technology to reduce heat and UV emissions. In medical facilities, healthy light technology is used to assist patients in relaxing during critical surgeries and speed up recovery. Governments of a few Asian Pacific countries promote energy-efficient lighting solutions. The primary factors driving the APAC lighting contactors market are rising awareness about energy-efficient products such as compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) and light-emitting diodes (LEDs), technological developments, and supporting government policies. APAC Lighting Contactor Market Segmentation The APAC lighting contactor market is segmented into type, end user, application, and country. Based on type, the market is segmented into electrically held and mechanically held. The electrically held segment registered a larger market share in 2022. Based on end-user, the APAC lighting contactor market is segmented into commercial, residential, and industrial. The commercial segment registered the largest market share in 2022. Based on application, the APAC lighting contactor market is segmented into indoor and outdoor. The indoor segment registered a larger market share in 2022. Based on country, the market is segmented into Australia , China , India , Japan , South Korea , and Rest of APAC. China dominated the market share in 2022. ABB Ltd.; Eaton; Hager Group; Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd; Ripley Lighting Controls; Rockwell Automation, Inc.; Schneider Electric SE; and Siemens AG are the leading companies operating in the lighting contactor market in the region. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Key Takeaways 3. Research Methodology 4. APAC Lighting Contactor Market Landscape 5. APAC Lighting Contactor Market - Key Market Dynamics 6. Lighting Contactor Market - APAC Market Analysis 7. APAC Lighting Contactor Market Analysis - By Type 7.1 Overview 7.2 APAC Lighting Contactor Market, By Type (2021 and 2028) 7.3 Electrically Held 7.4 Mechanically Held 8. APAC Lighting Contactor Market Analysis - By End-User 8.1 Overview 8.2 APAC Lighting Contactor Market, By End-User (2021 and 2028) 8.3 Commercial 8.4 Residential 8.5 Industrial 9. APAC Lighting Contactor Market Analysis - By Application 9.1 Overview 9.2 APAC Lighting Contactor Market, By Application (2021 and 2028) 9.3 Indoor 9.4 Outdoor 10. APAC Lighting Contactor Market - Country Analysis 11. Industry Landscape 12. Company Profiles 13. Appendix A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes ABB Ltd. Eaton Hager Group Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd Ripley Lighting Controls Rockwell Automation, Inc. Schneider Electric Se Siemens Ag For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/973ts5 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 HOUSTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR (NYSE: KBR) announced today that it has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Atlas Agro AG to license KBR's innovative K-GreeN technology for Atlas' planned investment in a series of green nitrate plants. Under the terms of the MoU, KBR will provide technology licensing, basic engineering design, proprietary equipment and catalyst for the plants, which will produce zero-carbon nitrogen fertilizers. The engineering design for the first plant located in the United States commenced in March 2023. "We are excited to support Atlas Agro's vision of zero-carbon fertilizer production through our market leading green ammonia technology, K-GreeN," said Doug Kelly, KBR President, Technology. "We are also confident that we can drive schedule synergies across the series of plants to accelerate availability of clean ammonia globally." "We are proud to partner with KBR and use its K-GreeN process for our green fertilizer facilities," said Petter stb, CEO, Atlas Agro. "Each of our green ammonia plants will produce fertilizer that will help feed nearly 16 million people and avoid global carbon emissions of more than one million tons per year." KBR is the world leader in ammonia technology with approximately 50% market share of licensed capacity. Since 1943, KBR has licensed, engineered, or constructed over 250 grassroot ammonia plants worldwide. About KBR We deliver science, technology and engineering solutions to governments and companies around the world. KBR employs approximately 30,000 people performing diverse, complex and mission-critical roles in 34 countries. KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, and long-term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver. Visit www.kbr.com Forward Looking Statements The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding the company's MOU with Atlas Agro AG, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond the company's control, that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions include, but are not limited to, those set forth in the company's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks and other U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filings, which discuss some of the important risks, uncertainties and assumptions that the company has identified that may affect its business, results of operations and financial condition. Due to such risks, uncertainties and assumptions, you are cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Except as required by law, the company undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. SOURCE KBR, Inc. Working in community at the "Bank on 100 Million: Future Ready Now" event, Aventiv focuses on role of technology in successful reentry WASHINGTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aventiv Technologies , a leader in developing technology solutions to empower rehabilitative justice, is the presenting sponsor of an April 12-13 Reentry Hackathon in Washington, D.C. The company is sponsoring a series of hackathons led by justice-impacted experts and advocates, including Aventiv Advisory Board Chairwoman Teresa Hodge, President and CEO of Mission: Launch , in partnership with What's Next Washington , and R3 Score . The event at the Walter Washington D.C. Convention Center is focused on bringing together a range of stakeholders public, private, and non-profit to innovate reentry employment solutions for the 1-in-2 working-aged adults who will have an arrest or conviction record by 2030. Dave Abel, President and CEO of Aventiv, parent company of Securus Technologies and JPay and Teresa Hodge, CEO of Mission: Launch present at the Future Ready Now: DC Hackathon (Credit: Aventiv Technologies) "It's important for Aventiv to be working in, listening to, and learning from justice-impacted communities as we iterate on the growing role of technology to accelerate solutions for reentry. We believe that the work of successful reentry begins at the date of entry, not the day of release, and we want to help drive innovation in this space," said Margita Thompson, Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer at Aventiv Technologies. "Second Chance Month is an important inflection point to hear new ideas, and this hackathon series is critical to creating a coalition of 'solutionaries' engaged in public-private collaboration to make reentry more successful for more people." The Hackathon coincides with Aventiv's independent Advisory Board quarterly meeting, held in Washington, D.C. A little more than a year ago, Aventiv officially announced the formation of the advisory board to help fulfill its multi-year commitments to transformation. Members of the advisory board include formerly incarcerated individuals, business leaders, policy experts, and criminal justice reform advocates. They provide strategic advice on transforming Aventiv's business model and engagement with consumers, justice-impacted families, customers, and state and federal policymakers. The Board has focused on fortifying tablet technology to empower consumers and their communities and building a "Justice Sandbox," where formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs create content for the Aventiv platform. These are two of the areas where the Board has accelerated Aventiv's enterprise transformation with meaningful impact for consumers, customers, and community stakeholders. Aventiv is represented at the Hackathon by CEO Dave Abel, Chief Product Officer Alex Yeo, Senior Vice President for Product Jessica Lust, and Board members Teresa Hodge, Lloyd Trotter, and CK Hoffler. In addition to Mission: Launch and Aventiv, the Hackathon's featured speakers and facilitators include: U.S. Department of Labor Rapid Collaborative Working Groups led by the Women's Bureau. The U.S. Department of Labor is joining the hackathon to hear from directly impacted people and experts on pathways to employment for people living with criminal records. The Washington, D.C. Department of Employment Services will convene discussions focused on expanding access to skilled professional jobs that could lead to homeownership, as well as modernizing employer engagement and cross-agency partnerships to expand opportunities for D.C. residents with arrest or conviction histories. will convene discussions focused on expanding access to skilled professional jobs that could lead to homeownership, as well as modernizing employer engagement and cross-agency partnerships to expand opportunities for D.C. residents with arrest or conviction histories. Aventiv and R3 Score are preparing for the release of R3Up, which will provide everyone using Aventiv tablets in correctional facilities access to a job score app designed for their unique needs. Washington, D.C. is the second city in just six months to host this Hackathon series. Seattle, WA, and Phoenix, AZ are on the 2023 roadmap for future convenings in jurisdictions seeking to bring these conversations and best practices to life. The fourth location is still being decided. ABOUT AVENTIV TECHNOLOGIES Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Aventiv Technologies serves more than 3,450 public safety, law enforcement and corrections agencies and over 1,100,000 incarcerated individuals across North America, Aventiv is committed to serve and connect by providing emergency response, incident management, public information, investigation, biometric analysis, communication, information management, incarcerated self-service, and monitoring products and services in order to make our world a safer place to live. For more information, please visit www.Aventiv.com . Aventiv is a portfolio company of Platinum Equity. Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with a portfolio of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around the world. SOURCE Aventiv New funds will scale Axle's platform, service demand, and address new use cases as they build the Plaid for Insurance ATLANTA, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Axle , the leading universal API for insurance data, raised $4m in seed funding led by Gradient Ventures , Google's AI-focused venture fund. The round also included continued investment from Y Combinator and participation from Soma Capital, Contrary Capital, Rebel Fund, BLH Ventures, and industry angels including members of the founding team of Plaid and former executives from Cox Automotive. Over $13B is lost each year from uninsured motorists and mortgages and auto loans are prohibitively expensive for many borrowers. Why? Because many third-parties are missing access to real-time insurance data, leaving no way of accurately assessing risk at scale. Axle bridges the gap between insurance and parallel industries, whereas most insurtechs solve for distribution or administration. "Insurance loss frequently tops the P&L for high-risk organizations like rental car companies, lenders, and gig services, yet today they rely on paper and lengthy phone calls to verify information," said Armaan Sikand, COO and Co-Founder of Axle. "Axle automates this process through a universal API for insurance data, enabling our customers to make decisions in seconds." "Axle's innovative approach to insurance and commitment to a personalized customer experience has demonstrated early traction and validates their potential to make a significant impact in the market," said Wen-wen Lam, Partner at Gradient Ventures. "We look forward to supporting the team and their mission to democratize access to insurance data." In less than a year since launching, Axle has grown their carrier network to hundreds of carriers. "Building a robust and accurate platform around unstructured data has its unique challenges, but we're excited to leverage the latest tools to offer leading accuracy and reliability," said Nihar Parikh, Co-Founder and CTO of Axle. Customers can get started with Axle's developer-friendly API or no-code dashboard . "Fundraising in this environment is a competitive process. We were fortunate to find investors with deep technical and market expertise," said Cameron Duncan, Co-Founder and CEO of Axle. "We're excited to work with them to service demand from our fast-growing list of customers, strengthen our carrier network, and expand into new markets." About Axle: Axle is Plaid for insurance - a universal API for insurance data. With Axle, companies can instantly verify insurance and monitor ongoing coverage, helping them reduce operational cost while creating frictionless experiences for users. Axle is backed by leading investors including Y Combinator and Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused venture fund. For more information, visit https://axle.insure . About Gradient Ventures: Gradient Ventures, Google's AI-focused venture fund, helps founders build transformational companies. The fund focuses on helping founders navigate the challenges in developing new technology products, using the latest best practices in recruiting, marketing, design, and engineering so that great ideas can come to life. Gradient was founded in 2017 and is based in Palo Alto, California. For more information, visit www.gradient.com . SOURCE Axle HARRISBURG, Pa., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Belco Community Credit Union, headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, held its 84th Annual Business Meeting on March 29 at the Penn Harris Hotel, Camp Hill, PA. "We were excited to welcome so many of our members in person and virtually at our 84th Annual Business Meeting. In addition to sharing the story and impact of a strong financial year, we announced the results of our Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee elections," says Amey Sgrignoli, President and CEO of Belco. "We grew our asset size by $123 million in 2022 to reach total assets of $935 million, and we're on track to reach $1 billion in assets ahead of our 2025 goal. Celebrating a legacy of improving the financial well-being of our 74,000 members and investing in the communities we serve, we remain driven by conservative banking principles. As we centralized lending efficiencies this year, we doubled loan production and now 70% of loan applications originate online or by phone. Our deposit growth has increased by 8.99%, and we are proud to make member satisfaction our foremost priority." During the Annual Business Meeting, Belco announced incumbents Dawn E. Gamble, Eric E. Leidigh, and Beverly A. Lilley were elected to serve three-year terms on the Board of Directors. Jeffrey L. Sterner was re-elected to the Board for a one-year term, and Chris R. Feather was re-elected to serve another three-year term on the Supervisory Committee. Sgrignoli thanked the Board of Directors for their continued service and commitment to Belco Community Credit Union. The Board also welcomed Associate Volunteer Jeian Rauchut who brings more than 25 years of financial service expertise and a reputation for servant leadership. A Pennsylvania resident for nearly 30 years, Rauchut's deep community relationships and support for Belco's uncompromising member services will be a tremendous asset to the Board of Directors. Belco announced the following slate of Officers and Directors for 2024: Board of Directors Terry M. Hessler Board Chair Board Chair Richard P. Myxter Vice Chair Vice Chair Stephanie F. Miller Treasurer Treasurer Dawn E. Gamble Secretary Secretary William F. O'Donnell Assistant Treasurer Assistant Treasurer Beverly A. Lilley Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary Eric E. Leidigh Director Director Jeffrey L. Sterner Director Supervisory Committee Allen M. Brewer Chair Chair Gina M. Bond Vice Chair Vice Chair Chris R. Feather Secretary Secretary Nancy A. Clay Member Belco's Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee are comprised of member-volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to the betterment of the credit union. A copy of Belco's 2022 Annual Report highlighting the credit union's accomplishments and financial reports can be found at www.belco.org/annualreport. About Belco Community Credit Union Belco Community Credit Union is a full-service financial institution offering checking, savings, loan, investment, and small business products and services. Established in 1939 to serve employees of Bell Telephone Company in Harrisburg, PA, Belco became a community-chartered credit union in July 2005, opening membership to businesses and individuals who live, work, worship, or attend school in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, or York counties. Belco has more than 74,000 members and $935 million in assets, 15 branches, numerous ATM/ITM locations, and 24-hour account access through mobile, online, and telephone banking. For more information, visit www.belco.org or call (800) 642-4482. CONTACT: Tiffanie Keck Communications & Public Relations Rep. 717.215.4778 [email protected] SOURCE Belco Community Credit Union Grand Prize Winner, Dr Jordan Squair of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology , recognized for his research into neuroprosthetic technologies of the , recognized for his research into neuroprosthetic technologies Finalist, Dr Samuel Bakhoum of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, recognized for his work on chromosomal instability in cancer of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, recognized for his work on chromosomal instability in cancer Finalist, Dr Kaira Wagoner of the University of North Carolina Greensboro , recognized for her research into bee pests COPENHAGEN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BioInnovation Institute (BII), an international non-profit foundation incubating and accelerating world-class life science research, today announces this year's winners of the BII & Science Prize for Innovation. The annual award hosted by BioInnovation Institute and Science aims to recognize and celebrate bold researchers who are asking fundamental questions at the intersection of life sciences and entrepreneurship. The three winners will have their essays published in the journal, Science, and will be invited into BII's entrepreneurial ecosystem. In addition, the Grand Prize winner will receive USD 25,000 and each finalist will receive USD 10,000 at a grand award ceremony in Copenhagen, Denmark, April 27th. The Grand Prize winner for 2023 is Dr Jordan Squair, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology's NeuroRestore centre (EPFL), for his research into neuroprosthetic technologies following spinal cord injury (SCI). His research paper, 'Invisible consequences of paralysis', published in Science, led to the discovery of a neuroprosthetic baroreflex, which is a treatment that provides real-time control of blood pressure during severe orthostatic challenges by leveraging epidural electrical stimulation of the spinal cord. One of the two finalists is Dr Samuel Bakhoum of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) who was recognized for his work on chromosomal instability in cancer. His research, 'Targeting the undruggable', identified several vulnerabilities that arise from chromosomal instability and can be used to selectively target genomically unstable cancers. Dr Kaira Wagoner, of the University of North Carolina Greensboro, is the other finalist, who was recognized for her research into honey bee pests and diseases. Her research, 'Helping honey bees help themselves', involves the development of a tool which can inform breeding and management decisions, with potential to improve pollinator health, crop pollination, and global food security. Dr Jordan Squair, of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology's NeuroRestore centre said: "I am truly honoured to receive this award for my research, which I hope will make a real difference for people with spinal cord injuries. I hope to continue my work at EPFL and further refine our understanding of the neuroprosthetic baroreflex." Jens Nielsen, Chief Executive Officer, at BioInnovation Institute, said: "This year's finalists have conducted some truly exceptional research and the standard of all entries was extremely high. Their work combines cutting edge science with entrepreneurial spirit, aligning with BII's goals of improving human and planetary health." The BII & Science Prize for Innovation is in its second year, with applications received from around the world. Last year's Grand Prize went to Associate Professor Benedetto Marelli, of MIT, for his Laboratory for Advanced Polymers, which re-engineers materials from nature to create new forms of polymers. About the BioInnovation Institute Foundation: At BioInnovation Institute (BII), we accelerate world-class life science start-up innovation for the benefit of people and society. As a non-profit institute, BII operates the company creation programs, Bio Studio, Venture Lab and Venture House, to support life science start-ups with knowledge, network, infrastructure and funding of up to 3M EUR per projects and 1,8 M EUR per start-up. With our expertise, network, funding, and infrastructure, we empower startups to succeed and believe in the transformative power of life science innovation. Read more on www.bioinnovationinstitute.com SOURCE BioInnovation Institute biomodal (formerly known as Cambridge Epigenetix) commercially launches its new duet multiomics solution, revealing the combinatorial power of genetic and epigenetic information from a single low volume sample The duet multiomics solution clearly illustrates novel data modalities to empower a range of applications, starting with input from 10ng of cell-free DNA biomodal recently published the solution in a peer reviewed article in Nature Biotechnology Prof. Dennis Yuk Ming Lo , recent Lasker-DeBakey Award recipient and liquid biopsy pioneer, joins biomodal's Scientific Advisory Board , recent Lasker-DeBakey Award recipient and liquid biopsy pioneer, joins biomodal's Scientific Advisory Board Omead Ostadan, genomics industry veteran and former Illumina and Seer executive, joins biomodal Board of Directors CAMBRIDGE, England, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The duet multiomics solution is the world's first single-base-resolution sequencing technology that enables the simultaneous phased reading of genetic and epigenetic information in a single sample, with one workflow, using any sequencer. The hardware-agnostic product provides more epigenetic information from a single low input DNA library without complex, resource intensive bioinformatics or harsh chemical treatment. Recently published in Nature Biotechnology, the solution provides a more complete picture of the information stored in genomes availing new insights from applications throughout biomedicine. "Our novel solution removes the technical barriers that have previously held back our broader understanding of epigenetics. Now, our customers can accelerate their research with a more comprehensive view of regulatory function across the genome, through the interplay of genetics and epigenetics at read level. We believe this opens a new era of discovery and utility within next-generation sequencing by capturing additional biological modalities to reveal the complexity and dynamism of the human genome," said Peter Fromen, biomodal CEO. The duet multiomics solution empowers applications across numerous fields of disease research, delivering greater biological insights into cancer, neurodegenerative disease, ageing, cell biology and population genetics. Using cell-free DNA via liquid biopsy, duet multiomics can simultaneously detect powerful genetic and methylation biomarkers in an individual's blood to provide unique disease insights. Notably, the use of liquid biopsy in oncology, to profile circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) in blood, is a promising minimally invasive approach for early cancer detection and minimal residual disease monitoring. "duet multiomics solution +modC helps to unlock the full potential of liquid biopsies by breaking down significant barriers in our biomarker discovery research, which relies on gaining accurate, comprehensive genetic and epigenetic data from our valuable samples," said Prof. Sarah-Jane Dawson, clinician-scientist at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre. "We gain new insight when measuring the interaction of genetics and epigenetics on the same read, allowing us to better understand the biology behind disease development and treatment responses. We look forward to progressing our research with this technology and affecting a paradigm shift in the way that cancer can be treated and monitored in the clinic." The technology has been designed with accessibility at its core and is compatible with existing sequencers. The first duet multiomics solution, +modC, enables the sequencing of all canonical bases of DNA (A,C,G,T), plus modified cytosine via a single, low input sample (10ng). The plug-and-play software solution combines open source and proprietary tools to form a seamless analysis pipeline that incorporates error suppression, yielding high quality data with base calls in excess of Q40. Sample-level information is then ready for interpretation and insights through our proprietary analytics modules. Customers can therefore integrate the technology into their existing workflows without first having to purchase new hardware or build new bioinformatics tools. Alongside these technological advancements, a number of high-profile experts in the field have joined biomodal's Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) and Board of Directors. Prof. Dennis Yuk Ming Lo, Director of the Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, Li Ka Shing Professor of Medicine and Professor of Chemical Pathology at the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), and winner of the 2022 Lasker-DeBakey Clinical Medical Research Award, joins the Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Prof. Lo brings decades of research experience to the SAB, having personally played an important role in the development of trailblazing diagnostic strategies, particularly in non-invasive prenatal testing for multiple diseases. Prof. Lo has pioneered a number of approaches to cancer liquid biopsy, especially for the detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and genomewide approaches for screening multiple types of cancer. "biomodal's innovative approach to accessing genetics and epigenetics in a single sample has potential to further our understanding of disease in ways previously unexplored. I'm delighted to work with the team as they continue to evolve the use of this new technology across applications that may eventually impact human health," said Prof. Lo. The company has also appointed Mr. Omead Ostadan to its Board of Directors. Mr. Ostadan brings a wealth of experience especially in the areas of product development and commercialisation, having held a wide range of executive roles in life sciences over the past 25 years, including at Applied Biosystems, Solexa, Illumina and Seer. Commenting on his appointment, Mr Ostadan said: "I'm thrilled to join the biomodal Board at what feels like an inflection point for the field of epigenetics. The company has developed a transformative platform solution to accelerate the market, and has assembled a truly outstanding team to execute against its full potential." biomodal's senior leadership will be attending the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023 (14-19 April) where the duet multiomics solution +modC will be available for the first time. The team looks forward to seeing interested parties there, for what promises to be a lively series of discussions around recent discoveries in the field. Notes to editors biomodal is an omics based life-sciences technology and analytics company delivering products that bring the dynamism of our ever-changing biology into focus. Our duet multiomics solution enables more epigenetic information from a single, low input DNA library without complex, resource intensive bioinformatics or harsh chemical treatment. Our single-base-resolution, phased sequencing approach unlocks the combinatorial power of genetic and epigenetic information in one workflow, elucidating greater biological insight within the fields of cancer, neurodegenerative disease, and ageing. Please visit biomodal.com or follow the Company on LinkedIn linkedin.com/company/biomodal To read about the methodology in detail, please visit: Simultaneous sequencing of genetic and epigenetic bases in DNA | Nature Biotechnology SOURCE biomodal TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Black Swan Graphene Inc. ("Black Swan") (or the "Company") (TSXV: SWAN) (OTCQB: BSWGF) (Frankfurt: R96) is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Chris Herron as Vice-President Research and Product Development. In this leadership role, Dr. Herron will be instrumental in ensuring optimal product performance across the recently announced integrated supply chain partnerships aimed at accelerating the adoption of graphene-enhanced concrete globally. These partnerships include Nationwide Engineering Research & Development and Arup Group Ltd. Dr. Herron's expertise will also be central in driving the Company's overall commercialization initiatives, encompassing the polymer industry, with forthcoming updates anticipated from the Company in the near future. Dr. Herron brings over 10 years of experience in the graphene industry, with a strong background in research, development, and applications. He holds a PhD in Chemistry from Durham University, United Kingdom, earned following a first-class honours Master's degree. After his post-doctoral research post at Durham University, Dr. Herron joined Applied Graphene Materials PLC, where he established the graphene characterisation laboratory, scaled up the dispersion process, and led numerous successful commercial customer projects. Mr. Michael Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Black Swan, commented: "In a rapidly emerging industry, such expertise is very scarce and we are honored to have Chris join our team, which speaks to the Company's product excellence, technical expertise, and commercially driven strategy. His addition strengthens our research and product development capabilities. On behalf of everyone, I would like to warmly welcome Chris to Black Swan." About Black Swan Graphene Inc. Black Swan is focused on the large-scale production and commercialization of patented high-performance and low-cost graphene products aimed at several industrial sectors, including concrete, polymers, Li-ion batteries, and others, which are expected to require large volumes of graphene. Black Swan aims to leverage the low cost and green hydroelectricity of the province of Quebec as well as the proximity of the province's emerging graphite industry in order to establish an integrated supply chain, reduce overall costs, and accelerate the deployment of graphene usage. On March 27, 2023, Black Swan, Nationwide Engineering Research and Development Ltd. ("NERD") and Arup Group Limited ("Arup") announced strategic partnerships, establishing a fully integrated supply chain and providing a turnkey solution for the construction and concrete industries. Arup is a multinational engineering consultancy headquartered in London, United Kingdom, with 18,000 experts working across 140 countries. Black Swan's graphene processing technology was developed by Thomas Swan & Co. Ltd ("Thomas Swan") over the last decade. Thomas Swan is a United Kingdom-based global chemicals manufacturer, with a century-long track record and has been at the forefront of graphene innovation. For more information, please visit: www.blackswangraphene.com Black Swan Graphene Inc. on behalf of the Board of Directors Simon Marcotte, CFA, President & Chief Executive Officer 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. Forward-Looking Information 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 the TSXV listing, risk related to the 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 the industry; risks related to the maintenance of stock exchange listings; risks related to environmental regulation and liability; the potential for delays in development activities or the completion of feasibility studies; the uncertainty of profitability; risks related to the inherent uncertainty of production and cost estimates and the potential for unexpected costs and expenses; results of a scoping and feasibility studies, and the possibility that future results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations; risks related to commodity prices 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, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Actual events or results could differ materially from the Company's expectations or projections. SOURCE Black Swan Graphene Inc BOSTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to a federal appeals court ruling regarding restrictions on access to mifepristone, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts ("Blue Cross") released the following statement: "As a health care organization, we believe strongly that our members should have access to the care they need. Mifepristone has been FDA-approved for use in termination of pregnancy since 2000. As more than 50% of abortions occur via medication rather than surgical procedures, recent rulings regarding access to mifepristone will impact abortion access. As the cases work their way through the courts, including yesterday's appeals court decision to partially block the FDA's original approval of mifepristone, our team at Blue Cross will continue to ensure we are doing everything we can to support our members and employees. Here in Massachusetts, both surgical and medication assisted abortion services remain legal. We are grateful for Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey's broad efforts, including the stockpiling of mifepristone in clinical settings, to protect access to medication assisted abortion, which remains a critical component of comprehensive abortion access." About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (http://www.bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable and equitable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts VANCOUVER, B.C., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bold Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company developing first-in-class oncology therapeutics, announced that it will present two posters a clinical poster (#CT149) and a translational research poster (#2259) at the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Annual Meeting 2023 on April 14 - 19, 2023 in Orlando, Florida. Bold Therapeutics Inc. Bold Therapeutics Inc. The clinical poster (#CT149) is entitled "BOLD-100-001 (TRIO039): a Phase 1b/2a Dose-Escalation Study of BOLD-100 in Combination with FOLFOX Chemotherapy in Patients with Pre-treated Advanced Colorectal Cancer: Interim Efficacy, Safety and Tolerability Analysis," and will be presented April 17, 2023 at 1:30PM. The translational research poster (#2259) is entitled "Novel Metallotherapeutic BOLD-100 Induces Circulating Cytokine Changes When Administered in Combination with FOLFOX in Advanced Gastrointestinal Cancer Patients," and will be presented April 17, 2023 at 9:00AM. "We are thrilled to share these posters, showcasing the profound progress we've made with BOLD-100 over the last year," said Jim Pankovich, EVP Clinical Development. "This robustly positive interim clinical data is a testament to the hard work and dedication of our team, collaborators, clinical sites, investigators and patients. We look forward to continuing development of this innovative therapeutic." Bold Therapeutics' BOLD-100 is a first-in-class ruthenium-based small molecule therapeutic that (1) alters the unfolded protein response (UPR) through selective GRP78 inhibition; and (2) induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) which causes DNA damage and cell cycle arrest. Collectively, these effects result in cell death in both sensitive and resistant cancers, giving BOLD-100 the potential to significantly improve outcomes in a wide range of both solid and liquid tumors in combination with other anticancer therapies ranging from traditional chemotherapies to targeted therapies and immuno-oncology agents. Earlier preclinical data showed that BOLD-100 has potential immune modulating capabilities, including the induction of immunogenic cell death pathways. The translational data to be presented at AACR shows that BOLD-100 in combination with FOLFOX induced short-term plasma level changes in multiple cytokines, including IL-10 and IL-27. BOLD-100 is currently being studied in a global Phase 1b/2 trial for the treatment of advanced gastrointestinal cancers, with more than 100 patients successfully treated to date. Previous Phase 1b trial results, presented at ASCO 2022, demonstrated that BOLD-100 in combination with FOLFOX was generally safe and well-tolerated. This data release expands on the prior data with a much larger sample size and includes progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and overall response rate (ORR) data that positions BOLD-100 as a potentially best-in-class therapy for mCRC. Additional Phase 2 safety and efficacy results in advanced gastric and bile duct cancer have been accepted for presentation at ASCO 2023 in June. Additional information on AACR https://www.aacr.org/meeting/aacr-annual-meeting-2023/ For more information or for interest in investing, please visit the Company's website at https://www.bold-therapeutics.com/ Contact: E. Russell McAllister, CEO (604) 262-9899 [email protected] SOURCE Bold Therapeutics Inc. GENEVA, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Bracco Imaging S.p.A., a global leader in diagnostic imaging, and SonoThera, Inc., a biotechnology company dedicated to treating the root cause of human diseases through genetic therapy, have entered into an agreement under which Bracco Imaging will provide its cutting-edge gas-filled microbubbles technology platform to SonoThera for use in the development of its novel, ultrasound-guided nonviral gene therapy platform. "We are delighted to have signed this new agreement with SonoThera," said Thierry Bettinger, Ph.D., Director of Bracco Research Center in Geneva. "The combination of Bracco's innovative gas microbubbles platform with SonoThera's ongoing development of a nonviral gene delivery platform will undoubtedly advance development in this novel approach to gene therapy." As part of this new agreement, Bracco Imaging will grant SonoThera a non-exclusive license to use Bracco's microbubble for Research purposes. "SonoThera is pleased to partner with a leader in microbubble development and commercialization such as Bracco," said Kenneth Greenberg, Ph.D., Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of SonoThera. "As we develop a new generation of genetic therapies, important collaborations such as this make it possible to find alternative pathways to viral vectors, potentially increasing safety and efficacy." The combination of ultrasound energy with microbubble allows transient permeability of vessel walls and cell membranes to enable the delivery of therapeutic nucleic acid payloads. The agreement will allow SonoThera to fully explore the potential of this innovative approach to facilitate the safe and effective delivery of various genetic materials to target cells/organs with minimal off-target delivery. Bracco Imaging is a ground-breaking player in the field of microbubbles. This is demonstrated by the worldwide marketing of contrast-enhanced ultrasound products and the ongoing research and development (R&D) programs to further exploit the potential of microbubbles for new applications in molecular imaging and therapy. To enable the translation of these new projects into products, significant investment has been brought to the site of Bracco Suisse SA in Geneva, particularly to increase the production capacity of these different agents. About Bracco Imaging Bracco Imaging S.p.A., part of the Bracco Group, is a world-leading diagnostic imaging provider. Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Bracco Imaging develops, manufactures, and markets diagnostic imaging agents and solutions. It offers a product and solution portfolio for all key diagnostic imaging modalities: X-ray imaging (including Computed Tomography-CT, Interventional Radiology, and Cardiac Catheterization), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Contrast Enhanced Ultrasound (CEUS), and Nuclear Medicine through radioactive tracers and novel PET imaging agents to inform clinical management and guide care for cancer patients in areas of unmet medical need. Our continually evolving portfolio is completed by a range of medical devices, advanced administration systems, and dose-management software. In 2019 Bracco Imaging enriched its product portfolio by expanding the range of oncology nuclear imaging solutions in the urology segment and other specialties with the acquisition of Blue Earth Diagnostics. In 2021, Bracco Imaging established Blue Earth Therapeutics as a separate, cutting-edge biotechnology dedicated to advancing next-generation targeted radiotherapeutics to treat patients who have cancer. Visit www.bracco.com to learn more. About SonoThera Founded by Drs. Kenneth Greenberg, Michael Davidson, and Steve Feinstein, SonoThera, Inc. is a biotechnology company dedicated to treating the root cause of human disease through genetic therapy. SonoThera is developing an ultrasound-guided, nonviral gene therapy platform and treatments designed to provide patients with the next generation of safe and effective genetic medicines. The platform utilizes sonoporation, a microbubble-mediated biophysical process to non-invasively deliver genetic payloads selectively targeting a wide range of organs within the body. SonoThera is headquartered in South San Francisco, California. Visit www.sonothera.com to learn more. Micaela Colamasi PR Manager Bracco Imaging S.p.A. Email: [email protected] Cell: +39 348 2314362 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1904551/Bracco_Logo.jpg SOURCE Bracco Diagnostics Inc. NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The breast cancer therapeutics market size is forecasted to increase by USD 13.85 billion from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 8.95%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the rising prevalence of breast cancer, robust pipeline and new drug approvals, and rising number of patient support initiatives. Get a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. Download the Sample Report Vendor Analysis Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Breast Cancer Therapeutics Market 2022-2026 The global breast cancer therapeutics market is fragmented, with the presence of both global and local players. The competition in the market is intense owing to increasing investments, new product launches, acquisitions, and various other initiatives taken by vendors to spread awareness and increase the demand for breast cancer therapeutics. The prominent vendors present in the global breast cancer therapeutics market are primarily focusing on various organic and inorganic growth strategies to enhance the technological landscape and thereby strengthen their product offerings to expand the customer base. Moreover, the vendors operating in the market are focusing on other strategies, such as partnerships and new product launches, to establish their presence in the market. Some of the key vendors covered in the report include: Amgen Inc. - The company offers breast cancer therapeutics such as ABP 90 and trastuzumab. - The company offers breast cancer therapeutics such as ABP 90 and trastuzumab. AstraZeneca Plc - The company offers breast cancer therapeutics such as Aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor degraders, HER2 antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates. - The company offers breast cancer therapeutics such as Aromatase inhibitors, selective estrogen receptor degraders, HER2 antibodies, and antibody-drug conjugates. Eli Lilly and Co. - The company offers breast cancer therapeutics such as Verzenio, Tamoxifen, and Aromatase inhibitor. - The company offers breast cancer therapeutics such as Verzenio, Tamoxifen, and Aromatase inhibitor. F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - The company offers breast cancer therapeutics such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. - The company offers breast cancer therapeutics such as immune checkpoint inhibitors. Bristol Myers Squibb Co. Clovis Oncology Inc. Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd. Eisai Co. Ltd. GlaxoSmithKline Plc Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. Merck and Co. Inc. Novartis AG PerkinElmer Inc. Pfizer Inc. Puma Biotechnology Inc. Sanofi SA Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Viatris Inc. Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio - Buy the 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. The report comprises various segments as well as an analysis of the trends and factors that are playing a substantial role in the market. Download the Sample Market Segmentation: The market is segmented by product (targeted therapy, hormonal therapy, and chemotherapy) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). The market growth in the targeted therapy segment will be significant over the forecast period. The growth of the segment is driven by the expected approvals of new therapies. The market has several targeted therapies in the pipeline. For instance, TECENTRIQ and ABRAXANE combination therapy is in Phase III trials for metastatic triple-negative breast cancer. It is expected to be launched during the forecast period. The availability of such drugs in the pipeline is driving the growth of the segment. North America will account for 49% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of the regional market is primarily driven by the availability of reimbursement schemes in countries such as the US and Canada . The rising female population and the growing geriatric population are other factors contributing to the growth of the breast cancer therapeutics market in North America . Market Dynamics: Key Drivers: Rising number of patient support initiatives Rising prevalence of breast cancer Robust pipeline and new drug approvals Many non-profit organizations, healthcare providers, and government initiatives across the world are aiming to improve patient access to resources and address the economic and emotional burden associated with breast cancer. For instance, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (NBCCEDP) led by the CDC provides low-income, uninsured, and underserved women access to timely breast and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic services. Similarly, Susan G. Komen, a non-profit organization in the US, launched the Komen Treatment Assistance Program along with CancerCare. The motive of the program is to help cancer patients facing financial challenges. The availability of such patient support initiatives is increasing the demand for diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer, which is driving market growth. Major Trends: Rise in strategic collaborations Emerging novel therapies Availability of improved diagnostic modalities The market is witnessing an increase in the number of collaborations and acquisitions among manufacturers, research groups, and government bodies. For instance, in August 2021, Gilead Sciences and Merck (MSD) signed a clinical trial partnership and supply agreement to assess the efficacy of the former Trodelvy along with the Keytruda to treat triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). The combination treatment will be analyzed as first-line therapy for locally advanced or metastatic TNBC patients. Similarly, in June 2022, the DTx Leader Sidekick announced a strategic collaboration with Eli Lilly to support patients with breast cancer. Such strategic collaborations among vendors are increasing the awareness and availability of treatment options for breast cancer. This trend will positively influence the growth of the market. Key Challenges: Tendency of patients to prefer therapies High cost of treatments Increasing approvals of biosimilars There are several therapies for the treatment of breast cancer such as mastectomy, lumpectomy, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and targeted and hormonal therapies. These treatment options offer better efficacy. However, they are expensive and can have side effects such as pain, swelling, hematoma, and seroma. Moreover, the chance of cancer recurrence is high in these surgeries. Some patients who are unaware of this risk opt for such surgeries. These factors reduce the growth of the market. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform What are the key data covered in this breast cancer therapeutics market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the breast cancer therapeutics market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the breast cancer therapeutics market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the breast cancer therapeutics 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 breast cancer therapeutics market vendors Related Reports: The cancer biologics market size is expected to increase by USD 34.97 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 8.91%. The market is segmented by product (monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, cell and gene therapy, and others) and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)). size is expected to increase by from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 8.91%. The market is segmented by product (monoclonal antibodies, vaccines, cell and gene therapy, and others) and geography ( , , , and Rest of World (ROW)). The global lung cancer therapeutics market size is estimated to increase by USD 10,204.33 million growing at a CAGR of 7.92% between 2022 and 2027. The market is segmented by therapy (targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and chemotherapy), type (NSCLC and SCLC), and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)). Breast Cancer Therapeutics Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.95% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 13.85 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 8.74 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 49% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and China Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled AbbVie Inc., Amgen Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Bristol Myers Squibb Co., Clovis Oncology Inc., Daiichi Sankyo Co. Ltd., Eisai Co. Ltd., Eli Lilly and Co., F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Novartis AG, PerkinElmer Inc., Pfizer Inc., Puma Biotechnology Inc., Sanofi SA, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., and Viatris Inc. 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 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: 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 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 Targeted therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Targeted therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Targeted therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Targeted therapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Targeted therapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Hormonal therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Hormonal therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Hormonal therapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Hormonal therapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Hormonal therapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Chemotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Chemotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Chemotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on Chemotherapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Chemotherapy - 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 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 82: 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 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 87: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 AbbVie Inc. Exhibit 89: AbbVie Inc. - Overview Exhibit 90: AbbVie Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 91: AbbVie Inc. - Key offerings 10.4 Amgen Inc. Exhibit 92: Amgen Inc. - Overview Exhibit 93: Amgen Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 94: Amgen Inc. - Key offerings 10.5 AstraZeneca Plc Exhibit 95: AstraZeneca Plc - Overview Exhibit 96: AstraZeneca Plc - Product / Service Exhibit 97: AstraZeneca Plc - Key news Exhibit 98: AstraZeneca Plc - Key offerings 10.6 Eli Lilly and Co. Exhibit 99: Eli Lilly and Co. - Overview Exhibit 100: Eli Lilly and Co. - Product / Service Exhibit 101: Eli Lilly and Co. - Key offerings 10.7 F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. Exhibit 102: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 103: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 104: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 105: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 106: F. Hoffmann La Roche Ltd. - Segment focus 10.8 GlaxoSmithKline Plc Exhibit 107: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Overview Exhibit 108: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Business segments Exhibit 109: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 110: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Segment focus 10.9 Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. Exhibit 111: Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 112: Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 113: Kyowa Kirin Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 10.10 Novartis AG Exhibit 114: Novartis AG - Overview Exhibit 115: Novartis AG - Business segments Exhibit 116: Novartis AG - Key offerings Exhibit 117: Novartis AG - Segment focus 10.11 PerkinElmer Inc. Exhibit 118: PerkinElmer Inc. - Overview Exhibit 119: PerkinElmer Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 120: PerkinElmer Inc. - Key news Exhibit 121: PerkinElmer Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 122: PerkinElmer Inc. - Segment focus 10.12 Pfizer Inc. Exhibit 123: Pfizer Inc. - Overview Exhibit 124: Pfizer Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 125: Pfizer Inc. - Key news Exhibit 126: Pfizer Inc. - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 127: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 128: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 129: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 130: Research methodology Exhibit 131: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 132: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 133: 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 With Finastra's Corporate Channels and Trade Innovation, the bank will automate core processes to increase efficiency and flexibility DUBAI, UAE and LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Finastra, a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, today announced that Capital Bank, a leading financial institution with commercial and investment banking expertise, has gone live with Finastra's Corporate Channels and will soon follow with Trade Innovation as well as other Corporate Channels modules. The combined offering will help to streamline banking services for corporates in Jordan, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Once fully implemented, the solutions will enable the bank to digitalize manual tasks, process lending operations quicker and at a lower cost, and offer its customers a single platform for all corporate features. IBC Consult, a provider of banking services in the MENA region, is handling the implementation of the solutions. "Capital Bank reported strong growth in financial performance in 2022, up by 49% from the previous year," said Yasser Kleib, Group Chief Institutional Banking Officer at Capital Bank. "The success of our corporate banking business is critical for our bottom line, and we needed solutions that support our growth and enhance how we serve our customers." "We chose Finastra due to its premium interfaces, seamless integrations with SWIFT and our internal systems, as well as its fast bulk payment functionality. IBC Consult were also extremely quick to adapt to our demands in the implementation of the solutions. We are delighted with this digital transformation journey and the benefits it will ultimately yield for our customers," commented Izzidin Abusalameh, Group COO at Capital Bank. Corporate Channels is a digital banking platform that delivers a single, intuitive portal to unify trade, cash, supply chain finance, lending, and treasury services for corporate clients. Trade Innovation is an end-to-end solution for frictionless trade and supply chain finance. The trade services platform uses straight-through processing, digitalization, and data analytics to enable intelligent trade for growth, and the ability to evolve with compliance, customer and competitive demands. IBC Consult is a consortium of banking consultancy and financial advisory professionals with 20 years of industry expertise. "As one of the largest banking institutions in Jordan, with presence in Iraq and Saudi Arabia, Capital Bank offers a broad range of commercial and investment banking solutions tailored to corporates' needs," said Kamal El Khoury, Managing Director, MENAT Lending at Finastra. "Our solutions will help the bank to enhance and streamline its offering, giving its customers access to services such as account balance and statements visibility, transfers between accounts and other beneficiaries, all through a single platform. It's been exciting to work with Capital Bank as it continues to demonstrate success in the region." For more information about Corporate Channels, click here. For more information about Trade Innovation, click here. About Capital bank Capital Bank Group is one of the top financial institutions operating in the Jordanian and regional markets, with assets of approximately JOD 7 billion, and shareholder equity of JOD 653 million. Capital Bank Group includes Capital Bank, one of the top financial institutions in Jordan, offering a comprehensive set of commercial and investment banking services and solutions to retail and corporate clients. It also includes National Bank of Iraq (61.85% share), with a wide range of financial products and services, tailored to enhance financial inclusion at the country level, in addition to supporting export activities and providing all services to Jordanian companies operating in Iraq. In 2021, the National Bank of Iraq continued to realize its expansion strategy by launching its first branch in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to provide financial and trade services to its corporate clients. Capital Investments is a wholly owned subsidiary of Capital Bank and is set as a regional leader in providing comprehensive investment banking services that include asset management, brokerage as well as corporate financial advisory, serving a diverse array of local, regional, and international clientele through its offices in Jordan and the United Arab Emirates / (DIFC). Capital Bank Group also acquired Bank Audi's operations in both Jordan and Iraq in 2021 and followed that milestone in 2022 with the acquisition of the branches and operations of Societe Generale Bank in Jordan, in early 2022, Capital Bank launched its digital bank - Blink, targeting young individuals. In June 2022, Capital Bank raised its capital through issuing new shares in favor of the Public Investment Fund (PIF) as a strategic investor in Capital Bank. with a 23.97% stake. For more information, visit www.capitalbank.jo About Finastra Finastra is a global provider of financial software applications and marketplaces, and launched the leading open platform for innovation, FusionFabric.cloud, in 2017. It serves institutions of all sizes, providing award-winning software solutions and services across Lending, Payments, Treasury & Capital Markets and Universal Banking (Retail, Digital and Commercial Banking) for banks to support direct banking relationships and grow through indirect channels, such as embedded finance and Banking as a Service. Its pioneering approach and commitment to open finance and collaboration is why it is trusted by ~8,600 institutions, including 90 of the world's top 100 banks. For more information, visit finastra.com Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1916021/FINASTRA_Logo.jpg SOURCE Finastra Independent Research Data Shows Franchisees Are Highly Satisfied with Their Investment in CarePatrol PHOENIX, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CarePatrol , the nation's largest senior care solutions organization, was recently named a top franchise by Franchise Business Review in its report on the Top Recession-Proof Franchises for 2023. "It is highly gratifying to be recognized as a top recession-proof business and to know that franchisee satisfaction is high," said Becky Bongiovanni, co-founder and brand president of CarePatrol. "Regardless of the economy, franchising in general and especially in the senior care space is very well-positioned for growth. Our team is committed to making sure our existing franchisees are successful by providing them with the resources they need to serve their communities." Franchise Business Review (FBR) provides the only rankings of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance. FBR publishes its rankings of top franchises in its annual Guide to Today's Top Franchises , as well as in quarterly reports throughout the year that rank the top franchises in specific sectors. More than 36,000 franchisees representing over 365 franchise brands participated in Franchise Business Review's franchisee satisfaction survey. From the research, CarePatrol was one of just 100 franchise brands to be identified as a Top Recession-Proof Franchise award winner and be featured on the list of the best recession-proof franchises . CarePatrol's franchisees were surveyed on 33 benchmark questions about their experience and satisfaction regarding critical areas of their franchise systems, including training & support, operations, franchisor/franchisee relations, culture, and financial opportunity. "While no business is 100% recession-proof, these franchise businesses have demonstrated that they are highly recession-resistant based on historical performance," said Eric Stites, CEO of Franchise Business Review. "For people seeking to be their own boss, the Top 100 Recession-Proof businesses we identified this year not only have outstanding satisfaction among their ownersone of the most important factors to consider before investing in any franchise opportunitybut they have performed well in good times and bad and we feel they hold a strong advantage to outperform their competitors in the years ahead." CarePatrol's survey data showed: 88% of franchisees "strongly agree" or "agree" that senior management encourages a strong team culture; 94% of franchisees enjoy operating their business; 97% of franchisees would recommend the franchise to others. Visit FranchiseBusinessReview.com to see the full list of the Top Franchises of 2023 . To learn more about CarePatrol, visit www.CarePatrol.com/franchising . About CarePatrol CarePatrol is the nation's largest senior care solutions franchise. Through more than 170 offices in 35 states, local senior advisors provide a free service in helping families find quality, top-rated assisted living, independent living, memory care, nursing homes and in-home care. Founded in 1993, CarePatrol began franchising in 2009 and is now part of the Best Life Brands family, with private equity backing by The Riverside Company. CarePatrol is proud to have earned the Franchisee Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review for 13 years in a row, and has earned placement on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list. For more information, visit www.CarePatrol.com/franchising . About Franchise Business Review Franchise Business Review (FBR) is a leading market research firm serving the franchise sector. FBR measures the satisfaction and engagement of franchisees and franchise employees and publishes various guides and reports for entrepreneurs considering an investment in a franchise business. Since 2005, FBR has surveyed hundreds of thousands of franchise owners and over 1,200 leading franchise companies. FBR publishes free and unbiased franchisee satisfaction research reports throughout the year online at www.FranchiseBusinessReview.com . To read our publications, visit https://franchisebusinessreview.com/page/publications/. For more information, contact: Marcella Winfiele I BizCom Associates 832.314.8565 | [email protected] SOURCE CarePatrol WUHAN, China, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On the evening of April 11, in front of the Yellow Crane Tower, a landmark ancient building in central Chinese city Wuhan, Dongfeng Motor Corporation, together with Wuhan Municipal Bureau of Commerce and the management committee of Wuhan Economic & Technological Development Zone (WEDZ), held an automobile tour exhibition to showcase the innovation achievements of Dongfeng's industrial upgrading and the strong competitiveness of the automobiles produced in the zone, also known as "China's Auto Valley". Cars made in "China's Auto Valley" shine beyond central Chinese city Wuhan. The Yellow Crane Tower was transformed into a 3D immersive full-motion stage, while thousands of buildings along the Yangtze River and Han River are full of flowing colors. The local Turtle Mountain and Snake Mountain, the Turtle Mountain TV Tower and more than 40 barge docks along the rivers made up a "giant screen" that stretches for 25 km, creating a visual feast of light and shadow. At the exhibition, 18 models of cars of Dongfeng's seven major series are on display. The event invited a corporate client and a consumer client to share their driving experience, while well-known online short-video celebrities livestreamed the exhibition with real-time interaction with the viewers, according to the Publicity Department of WEDZ and the Convergence Media Center of WEDZ. From the production of Wuhan's first passenger car Citroen Fukang to the export of the city's first high-end new energy vehicle brand VOYAH, Dongfeng has been serving the city where it is based over the past three decades. In recent years, Dongfeng has transformed itself into an outstanding technology firm, and built a brand matrix of new energy passenger vehicles including M-Hero, VOYAH, AEOLUS and Nano. It has key technologies such as automobile-grade chips and power systems, and basically completed the layout in new energy platforms, core technologies and key resources. In 2022, Dongfeng sold 470,000 new energy vehicles, a year-on-year increase of 1.6 times. Looking forward, Dongfeng will continue to implement the innovation-driven strategy, with more efforts made on strengthening, optimizing and expanding its own brands and new energy business, according to Feng Changjun, a senior management and chief accountant of Dongfeng Motor Corporation, adding that the company will keep improving its core competitiveness to build a world-class automobile maker. During the exhibition, Chen Xiang, director of the WEDZ's culture and tourism bureau, tooted locally-produced cars by playing the conductor of the light symphony orchestra with a dancing baton. Twelve VOYAH cars flashed their lights in front of the Yellow Crane Tower in an orchestrated pattern, promoting the car brands nurtured in the zone. VOYAH has developed SUV, MPV and sedan vehicles within three years, which is the most complete product layout among Chinese new energy vehicle enterprises, said Lu Fang, the company's CEO, adding that more and better automobiles will be rolled out as VOYAH continues to thrive in the zone. "Consumption is an important engine of economic growth," said Liu Ziqing, the top official with WEDZ and a senior official of Wuhan. The zone will continue to hold the tour exhibition of automobiles made in "China's Auto Valley" in the future in a bid to further boost consumer confidence, release consumption potential and promote the recovery and stabilization of the automobile market, Liu said. Image Attachments Links: Link: https://iop.asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=439822 Caption: Cars made in "China's Auto Valley" shine beyond central Chinese city Wuhan. SOURCE The Publicity Department of WEDZ and the Convergence Media Center of WEDZ IRVING, Texas, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Caterpillar Inc. (NYSE: CAT) will release first-quarter 2023 financial results at 5:30 a.m. CDT on Thursday, April 27. The release will be available at investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results, and the full text of the news release will also be available on PR Newswire at approximately 5:30 a.m. CDT. The release will be furnished to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) via a Current Report on Form 8-K in compliance with applicable SEC rules. Teleconference and webcast access: A real-time, listen-only teleconference and webcast of the quarterly results call that Caterpillar conducts with securities analysts and institutional investors will begin at 7:30 a.m. CDT on Thursday, April 27. Listen-only presentations and supporting materials will be available before the webcast at investors.caterpillar.com/events-presentations. In addition to the webcast, the one-hour conference call can also be accessed by telephone from both domestic and international locations, with a conference ID provided below: Conference ID: 9063945 Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1(888) 330-3451 Participant Toll Dial-In Number: 1(646) 960-0843 The call can be accessed in real-time at investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results. Listeners should go to the website at least 15 minutes before the live event to download and install any necessary audio software. The transcript from the conference call will be made available at investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results following the webcast. For those unable to participate in the live broadcast, the replay will be available at investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results shortly after the live event. There is no charge to access the webcast. A telephone replay of the call will not be available. About Caterpillar With 2022 sales and revenues of $59.4 billion, Caterpillar Inc. is the world's leading manufacturer of construction and mining equipment, off-highway diesel and natural gas engines, industrial gas turbines and diesel-electric locomotives. For nearly 100 years, we've been helping customers build a better, more sustainable world and are committed and contributing to a reduced-carbon future. Our innovative products and services, backed by our global dealer network, provide exceptional value that helps customers succeed. Caterpillar does business on every continent, principally operating through three primary segments Construction Industries, Resource Industries and Energy & Transportation and providing financing and related services through our Financial Products segment. Visit us at caterpillar.com or join the conversation on our social media channels at https://www.caterpillar.com/en/news/social-media.html. Caterpillar's latest financial results are also available online: https://investors.caterpillar.com/overview/default.aspx https://investors.caterpillar.com/financials/quarterly-results/default.aspx (live broadcast/replays of quarterly conference call) SOURCE Caterpillar Inc. DOVER, Del., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Chesapeake Utilities Corporation (NYSE: CPK) will host a conference call on Thursday, May 4, 2023, at 8:30 a.m. ET to discuss the Company's financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023. The earnings press release will be issued on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, after market close. To listen to the Company's conference call via live webcast, please visit the Events & Presentations section of the Investors page on www.chpk.com. For investors and analysts that wish to participate by phone for the question and answer portion of the call, please use the following dial-in information below. A replay of the presentation will be made available on the previously noted website following the conclusion of the call. Toll-free: 800.343.5172 International: 203.518.9848 Conference ID: CPKQ123 Chesapeake Utilities Corporation Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is a diversified energy delivery company, listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Chesapeake Utilities Corporation offers sustainable energy solutions through its natural gas transmission and distribution, electricity generation and distribution, propane gas distribution, mobile compressed natural gas utility services and solutions, and other businesses. For more information, visit www.chpk.com. Please note that Chesapeake Utilities Corporation is not affiliated with Chesapeake Energy, an oil and natural gas exploration company headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. For more information, contact: Alex Whitelam Head of Investor Relations [email protected] 215.872.2507 SOURCE Chesapeake Utilities Corporation GUANGZHOU, China, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 51st China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou) ("CIFF Guangzhou") concluded on March 31st, setting a new record for attendance. The eight-day event attracted 380,763 professional visitors from 166 countries and regions, a 27.88% increase from pre-pandemic levels in 2019. The fair showcased approximately 4,000 domestic and international brands across five major themes, covering an exhibition area of 700,000 square meters. To highlight the pivotal role of original design in the industry's transformation and upgrade, the fair presented a diverse selection of contemporary and original designs for full house, home decor, outdoor spaces, offices, commercial spaces, and more. These designs showcased the latest trends in various fields, providing attendees with a comprehensive overview of the evolving design landscape in the furniture industry. The three exhibitions of the fair - Home Furniture, Office and Commercial Space, and CIFM/interzum guangzhou - have brought together leading manufacturers and emerging enterprises globally, covering the entire furniture industry supply chain. The fair showcased a comprehensive industrial chain and high-quality supply chain, attracting a wide range of industry professionals, including designers, distributors, real estate developers, procurement teams from cross-border e-commerce companies, and medical and elderly care service providers. The high attendance, professionalism, and business opportunities exceeded many exhibitors' expectations, making it a resounding success for all involved. The CIFF Guangzhou 2023 was also an event that emphasized intelligent manufacturing, trendsetting, and consumption promotion. It showcased various emerging segments, including intelligent supply, medical and elderly care, and green health. By seizing the development opportunities of consumption upgrades, the fair boosted consumption with high-quality supply and presented a new balance between demand and supply. As a leading home furnishing fair in China and around the world, CIFF Guangzhou has integrated the functions of both exhibition and conference, with 125 conferences and forums held this year to amplify its influence. This year's fair also marked the debut of the first Global Furniture Development Forum. By bringing together industry leaders, experts, and professionals from around the world, the forum provided a platform for discussions and exchanges on the future of the furniture industry. CIFF Guangzhou has always been committed to meeting the growing demand for better living and promoting the high-quality development of the furniture industry. The next CIFF Guangzhou is scheduled to be held in March 2024. SOURCE China International Furniture Fair (Guangzhou) Acquisition to create a global leader in governance, risk and compliance technology solutions LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- International private equity firm Cinven today announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire Archer, a leading provider of integrated risk management solutions, from RSA Security, a portfolio company of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. and Symphony Technology Group. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Archer is a leading provider of governance, risk and compliance ('GRC') software globally. Founded in 2000, Archer has a 20+ year track record of providing integrated risk management ('IRM') and software solutions across the GRC landscape. Archer's industry leading solutions support its diverse and growing customer base of large and mid-sized enterprises to improve their strategic decision-making and operational resilience. Headquartered in Kansas, US, Archer has significant international operations in Europe, the Middle East, and APAC, with European expansion a strategic priority. Having spent significant time targeting investment opportunities in the global GRC subsector, Cinven's TMT and Business Services sector teams in North America and Europe worked closely together to identify Archer as an attractive primary carve-out investment opportunity, given: The GRC software market is highly attractive, rapidly growing and fragmented, with opportunity for further consolidation; Archer has a leading position, with the opportunity to grow further through organic and inorganic expansion in both North America and Europe ; and ; The quality and breadth of Archer's product portfolio, as it serves more than half of the Fortune 500; and Archer's highly recurring revenue stream, with strong visibility and high customer retention. Through this transaction, Cinven will support the long-term strategic growth of Archer's integrated software platform as a standalone business following the initial carve-out from RSA Security. Drawing on its European and US platform and expertise, Cinven will work in close partnership with management to continue internationalising the business, including executing opportunities to expand Archer's presence in key markets and verticals across both North America and Europe. Julia Kahr, Partner and Head of North America at Cinven, commented: "This transaction exemplifies Cinven's ability to deploy our differentiated sector-country matrix to carve-out and invest behind high-growth businesses, and to position them for long-term success as standalone companies. This is a tremendous opportunity to leverage our sector expertise and established track record of investing in both North America and Europe to drive growth in a leading business with an unmatched product offering in a dynamic and growing market." Daniel Garin, Senior Principal at Cinven, added: "The governance, risk and compliance market has been a significant focus area for Cinven globally for many years, and Archer continues to be a leading player in a highly fragmented market. Our investment in Archer builds on our strong track record of driving product innovation and geographic expansion that better supports customers around the world." Bill Diaz, Chief Executive Officer at Archer, commented: "Cinven has a strong track record of driving value in software businesses and they are the ideal partner to support Archer's next phase of growth. This partnership with Cinven will allow us to capitalize on significant growth opportunities both organically and through strategic acquisitions and further accelerate our leading position to the benefit of our customers, employees and all stakeholders." Upon the close of the transaction, Bill Diaz will continue to lead the business as Chief Executive Officer alongside the existing Archer leadership team. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Media contacts Cinven Alison Raymond Tel: +44 (0)7826 856198 Email: [email protected] Clare Bradshaw Tel. +44 (0)7881 918 967 Email. [email protected] Joele Frank (Advisers to Cinven) Jon Keehner / Woomi Yun / Erik Carlson Tel. +1 212-355-4449 Archer Ben Desjardins Tel. +1 571-758-7286 [email protected] About Cinven Cinven is a leading international private equity firm focused on building world-class global and European companies. Its funds invest in six key sectors: Business Services, Consumer, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrials and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT). Cinven has offices in London, New York, Frankfurt, Paris, Milan, Madrid, Guernsey and Luxembourg. Cinven takes a responsible approach towards its portfolio companies, their employees, suppliers, local communities, the environment and society. Cinven Limited is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In this press release 'Cinven' means, depending on the context, any of or collectively, Cinven Holdings Guernsey Limited, Cinven Partnership LLP, and their respective Associates (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) and/or funds managed or advised by any of the foregoing. For additional information on Cinven please visit www.cinven.com and www.linkedin.com/company/cinven/ . About Archer Archer is a leading provider of integrated risk management (IRM) solutions that enables customers to improve strategic decision-making and operational resilience with a modern technology platform that supports qualitative and quantitative analysis driven by both business and IT impacts. As a true pioneer in GRC software, Archer remains solely dedicated to helping customers manage risk and compliance domains, from traditional operational risk to ESG. With more than 20 years in the risk management industry, Archer's customer base represents one of the largest pure risk management communities globally, with more than 1,200 customers, including more than 50% of the Fortune 500. SOURCE Cinven Collaboration with African Universities Lays Groundwork for Multilingual Internet NAIROBI, Kenya, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Coalition for Digital Africa has launched another major initiative aimed at strengthening Internet infrastructure across the continent. Undertaken in collaboration with the Association of African Universities (AAU), the project focuses on making websites, applications, and email systems within Africa's higher education institutions ready to support all domain names and email addresses. Universal Acceptance (UA) allows all valid domain names, unique addresses like https://www.icann.org and email addresses to be accepted, validated, stored, processed, and displayed correctly and consistently, regardless of script, language, or character length. It is a fundamental requirement for achieving a multilingual Internet, where Internet users around the world can navigate entirely in local languages and scripts. The new project will create awareness of UA within higher education institutions across Africa. Training will be provided for these institutions to configure and make their websites, applications, and email systems UA-ready, and incorporate the concepts of UA into their curricula. This is critical to academic work in various ways, including being able to access vital content from the Internet for research and learning. "ICANN is committed to ensuring that the Internet continues to grow safely in Africa, to bring communities, cultures, and economies together," said Sally Costerton, Interim President and CEO of the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN). "That's why collaboration among Internet access providers, manufacturers, content providers, and academia is so important. We must work together to support the development of Africa's digital economy." More than 2,000 languages are spoken in Africa. Expanding the number of languages and scripts which can be used in domain names is an important step toward building a more useful and empowering Internet. "This work truly lays the foundation for a more inclusive Internet," said Professor Olusola Bandele Oyewole, Secretary General of the AAU. "By enabling the use of local languages and scripts, users here in Africa and around the world will be able to more readily access important content online from within the continent and beyond for academic purposes." Stakeholders in higher education and research institutions are encouraged to participate in the work of the Universal Acceptance Steering Group (UASG), a volunteer-led group supported by ICANN. The UASG is working to achieve UA-readiness, in which Internet applications, devices, and systems treat all domain names in a consistent manner. Conceived and initiated by ICANN, the Coalition for Digital Africa is an alliance of like-minded organizations committed to building a robust and secure Internet infrastructure to bring more Africans online. More information is available at www.coalitionfordigitalafrica.africa . About the AAU Created in 1967, the AAU is the voice of higher education in Africa. It aims to improve the quality of African higher education and strengthen its contribution to Africa's development by supporting the core functions of higher education institutions and facilitating critical reflection and consensus building on issues affecting higher education. The AAU is headquartered in Accra, Ghana, has a membership of more than 400 Higher Education Institutions and is the technical implementing arm of the African Union Commission (AUC) on matters related to higher education in Africa. The Association is the Coordinator for the implementation of The Higher Education Cluster of the AUC's Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16-25). About ICANN ICANN's mission is to help ensure a stable, secure, and unified global Internet. To reach another person on the Internet, you need to type an address a name or a number into your computer or other device. That address must be unique so computers know where to find each other. ICANN helps coordinate and support these unique identifiers across the world. ICANN was formed in 1998 as a nonprofit public benefit corporation with a community of participants from all over the world. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1810953/ICANN_Logo.jpg SOURCE ICANN; Coalition for Digital Africa Jensen Huang, Founder & CEO of NVIDIA, to be Keynote Speaker TAIPEI, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- COMPUTEX 2023 will be held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 & Hall 2, from May 30 to June 2 with over 1,000 exhibitors from 17 countries using 3,000 booths, focusing on six major themes: high-performance computing, artificial intelligence application, next-gen connectivity, hyperreality, innovations and startups, and sustainability. In addition to the exhibition, COMPUTEX Keynote & Forum are the most popular events among industry professionals and media during the exhibition. These events will resume the physical format this year. 15 speakers from top international tech companies are invited to talk about key technology industry issues. COMPUTEX 2023 will be held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Center, Hall 1 & Hall 2, from May 30 to June 2 COMPUTEX 2023 Keynote to Reveal Global Key Technological Innovations Technology is advancing at a tenfold speed. Advanced technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and cloud applications are emerging. After experiencing chip shortages, various countries are increasing investment in semiconductors. Rapid technological innovation is a crucial topic for the world. COMPUTEX 2023 Keynote, organized by TAITRA, invites international technology giants to join the discussion, including Jensen Huang, the Founder and CEO of NVIDIA. Huang was named Time's 100 Most Influential People of 2021 and received the Distinguished Lifetime Achievement Award from AAEOY in 2021. At NVIDIA's annual GTC conference in March 2023, he unveiled new products and partnerships that will accelerate the adoption of generative AI. He also announced cuLitho, a computational lithography library, that will help semiconductor foundries like TSMC manufacture next generation chips. Other distinguished speakers include Alex Katouzian, SVP & GM, Mobile, Compute, XR (MCX), and Kedar Kondap, SVP and GM, Compute and Gaming from Qualcomm, Rafael Sotomayor, Executive VP and GM, Secure Connected Edge from NXP Semiconductors, Jason Chen, Chairman & CEO of Acer, and Charles Liang, Founder, President and CEO of Supermicro. They will personally share the latest developments in global key technologies and how technology innovation can change the world. COMPUTEX 2023 Forum Shares Empowering Technology to Link a New Future The future society will evolve under the continuous drive of innovative technologies. COMPUTEX Forum offers four sessions exploring topics such as metaverse, advanced chip technology, advanced semiconductor application, and technological sustainability. International speakers from Ampere Computing, Arm, ASUS, Delta, Intel, KIOXIA, NVIDIA, NXP, SIEMENS, Solidigm, STMicroelectronics, Supermicro, Texas Instruments, and more are joining COMPUTEX Forum to discuss hot trends in the global technology industry. In addition to COMPUTEX Keynote & Forum, Arm and TAITRA will jointly hold a keynote speech with Arm CEO Rene Haas on the stage in Taiwan. Event registration is available starting from April 11 on the TAITRA's official COMPUTEX website. For more details about the latest activities, please visit the TAITRA's COMPUTEX official website: https://www.computexaipei.com.tw/. About COMPUTEX COMPUTEX was founded in 1981. It has grown with the global ICT industry and become stronger over the last four decades. Bearing witness to historical moments in the development of and changes in the industry, COMPUTEX attracts more than 40,000 buyers to visit Taiwan every year. It is also the preferred platform chosen by top international companies for launching epoch-making products. Taiwan has a comprehensive global ICT industry chain. Gaining a foothold in Taiwan, COMPUTEX is jointly held by the "Taiwan External Trade Development Council" and Taipei Computer Association, aiming to build a global tech ecosystem. COMPUTEX uses cross-domain integration and innovation services as the most powerful driving forces for achieving the goal of becoming a new platform for global technological resources. About TAITRA: The "Taiwan External Trade Development Council" (TAITRA) is Taiwan's foremost trade promotion organization. TAITRA is a public-benefit corporation founded by the "Ministry of Economic Affairs" by uniting industry and commerce groups from the private sector with the purpose of helping them expand their global reach. Currently, TAITRA has a team of more than 1,300 trade professionals, both domestically and abroad. Headquartered in Taipei, TAITRA operates 5 local offices in Taoyuan, Hsinchu, Taichung, Tainan, and Kaohsiung, as well as 63 branches worldwide. It has also signed cooperation agreements with 319 sister organizations that promote international trade. By forming a comprehensive trade services network that provides zero-time-difference and borderless real-time services, TAITRA continues to work with enterprises to jointly pursue the steady development of Taiwan's economy. It is the best partner for your success in business expansion. SOURCE COMPUTEX Research of manufacturing leaders found that investments will increase in predictive analytics, personalization, and augmented reality to improve customer experiences SUNNYVALE, Calif. and HANNOVER, Germany, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ahead of Hannover Messe , one of the largest manufacturing events in the world, Google Cloud announced today new global research that found that manufacturers who provide immersive and personalized customer experiences (CX) are outperforming their peers in terms of revenue, profits, and ecommerce sales. However, many manufacturers are facing challenges with data silos that stand in the way of creating the digital CX buyers are looking for today. The research, titled Digital Customer Journey for Manufacturers1, was sponsored by Google Cloud and conducted by global analyst firm IDC. It was based on a global survey of more than 1,500 manufacturing leaders across nine countries and seven industries, including industrial machinery, automotive, electronics, consumer packaged goods, and more. The study examined the growing importance of CX in manufacturing for B2B and B2C buyers and the connection between the maturity level of manufacturers' digital customer journeys and their growth, investment in and deployment of technology, and challenges they face in digitally transforming CX. Robust customer journey boosts sales According to the survey, manufacturers with the most mature digital customer journeys saw a 13.5% increase in revenue and a 14% increase in profit in the past 12 months. These manufacturers created personalized customer experiences that incorporated the latest cloud technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), augmented reality (AR), and integration with consumer applications like smart home devices, for example. On the other hand, manufacturers identified the following challenges in transforming and improving the customer experience, such as: Different team priorities (31.1%) Lacking the talent needed (29.5%) Lacking the infrastructure needed (27%) Customer data is siloed and difficult to access (22.4%) "Manufacturers are realizing that their current operating models need to evolve, and with growing competition and the commoditization of products, having a differentiated digital customer experience is a key component to staying competitive and driving revenue," said Simon Floyd, Director of Manufacturing and Transportation Industries at Google Cloud. "Successful manufacturers are breaking down the silos within their workforces and data systems to unlock new ways to attract, engage, and satisfy today's buyers who want smart recommendations and solutions so they can reduce the time spent researching, selecting, and ordering." Investment in predictive analytics, smart products, and AR will increase The research also found that manufacturers' spending is expected to increase over the next 12 months on customer engagement applications in the following areas: 54.8% plan to invest in creating customer portals that include IoT sensors and predictive analytics. 43.3% plan to invest in developing integrated services that add value and open new revenue streams. 25.3% plan to invest in improving the omnichannel brand experience and providing personalized product configuration. When it comes to creating personalized experiences, two thirds of the most mature manufacturers are utilizing a real-time inventory ledger that provides a holistic view of inventory across the network using pre-built, AI and machine learning (ML)-based demand planning technology a capability that has only become more important as disruption has become a constant across the industry. Manufacturers are also planning to invest in AR and virtual reality (VR) to stay connected in real-time with customers. 41.8% stated they have already implemented AR/VR, while another quarter (25.1 %) plan to implement it within the next 12 months. Embedding rich 3D and AR directly into their search bars, websites, or mobile apps can help manufacturers improve search functionality by allowing search on-the-go using connected IoT devicesand incorporating inventory information with online searches. CX and cloud maturity are strongly correlated The use of data, digital platforms, and technology is a hallmark of a manufacturers' customer experience. Increasingly, the amount of data that can be analyzed in the cloud is where value is being generated, as manufacturers can now analyze large data sets and drive improvements across the enterprise. According to the research, more than 50% of the most mature cloud users stated they are extremely effective at applying predictive analytics and data-driven insights to inform experiences and operations vs. only 11% of the least mature cloud users. "The whitepaper reinforces what we've seen for the past three years, which is that customer experience and cloud maturity is strongly correlated," Floyd added. "As manufacturers become more market driven and better prepared to pivot, a connected data cloud platform that unlocks real-time intelligence, enables workplace collaboration, and creates an immersive, AI-driven personalized customer experience will become essential to long-term success." Resources: Digital Customer Journey for Manufacturers White Paper Methodology The survey was completed in September 2022 and included 1,514 manufacturing respondents that were the primary decision makers or part of a team for digital customer journey and commerce transformation for their organization. This includes reimagining customer engagement, better understanding customer requirements, improving product design and development, and/or better servicing products. Key demographics include: Sub-Segments: Industrial Machinery (30%), Automotive (19%), F&B (18%), Electronics (16%), CPG (9%), Semiconductors (4%), Chemicals (4%) Regions: USA (46%), Japan (13%), Germany (10%), UK (8%), France (7%), Canada (5%), South Korea (4%), Spain (4%), Benelux (3%) (46%), (13%), (10%), UK (8%), (7%), (5%), (4%), (4%), Benelux (3%) Titles: C-Level (12%), VP (17%), Director (43%), Manager (28%) About Google Cloud Google Cloud accelerates every organization's ability to digitally transform its business. We deliver enterprise-grade solutions that leverage Google's cutting-edge technology all on the cleanest cloud in the industry. Customers in more than 200 countries and territories turn to Google Cloud as their trusted partner to enable growth and solve their most critical business problems. 1 IDC White Paper, sponsored by Google, Digital Customer Journey for Manufacturers #US50419123, April 2023 SOURCE Google Cloud TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Cybeats Technologies Corp. ("Cybeats'' or the "Company") (CSE: CYBT) (OTCQB: CYBCF) highlights the challenges faced by nations in securing their infrastructure, particularly in the context of increasing software supply chain threats. The recent 3CX cyberattack carried out by North Korea nation state-backed hackers has public and private stakeholders calling for increased supply chain transparency. In line with the tone set by the Cyber Executive Order (EO) 14028 from 20211, government agencies around the world are recognizing Software Bills of Materials (SBOM) as a required baseline to ensure security in software acquisition, market access and risk management processes. The recently released U.S. National Cyber Strategy (NCS) builds on SBOM efforts in the Cyber EO calling on U.S. Congress to change market incentives and establish liability for software products and services, and expand SBOM requirements. Cybeats is currently engaged with multiple government agencies responsible for safeguarding national security. "Government agencies play an important role in ensuring that industry adopts standards of care for secure software development and maintenance of products and services, or face liability risks. As SBOM requirements become increasingly relevant to the government software procurement process, the private sector is rapidly embracing them as well. With the growing significance of SBOMs, organizations spanning diverse industries, such as finance, technology, industrial, medical, and automotive, are actively evaluating their Software Development Life Cycle and SBOM practices to meet the rising demand for SBOMs," said Yoav Raiter, CEO of Cybeats. 3CX Software Supply Chain Attack 3CX has over 600,000 customers in 190 countries, representing over 12M users. Security firms have indicated that the 3CX hackers targeted both Windows and macOS users of the compromised 3CX softphone app. The malicious activity includes beaconing to actor-controlled infrastructure, deployment of second-stage payloads, and, in a small number of cases, hands-on-keyboard activity. Initial research indicates the number of potential victims is in the hundreds of thousands. Cyberattacks like 3CX and SolarWinds have prompted governments globally to collaborate closely with public and private sector security experts and provide additional resources like guidance by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other U.S. government agencies titled "Securing the Software Supply Chain"2 for software developers, suppliers and customers, to help ensure a more secure software supply chain. It is becoming imperative for organizations to consistently update their Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), software and supply chain vulnerability, and risk management resources and practices. SBOM management aims to help mitigate potential vulnerabilities, maintain security and meet compliance requirements. ___________________________ 1 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/12/executive-order-on-improving-the-nations-cybersecurity/ 2 https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ESF_SECURING_THE_SOFTWARE_SUPPLY_CHAIN_DEVELOPERS.PDF . 2022 report by the Enduring Security Framework (ESF) Software Supply Chain Working Panel referencing NIST SP 800-218 and other secure software development and supply chain risk management guidance. SBOM in Canadian Regulations - Bill C-26 Canada's recent introduction of the C-26 legislation outlines the protection of critical cyber systems, laying the groundwork for improved software supply chain security, SBOM, and fostering a safer digital landscape. The Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act (CCSPA) aims to create a framework to protect critical cyber systems that support services vital to national security or public safety. The CCSPA seeks to ensure that risks to critical cyber systems are identified and managed, including risks associated with supply chains and the use of third-party products and services.3 This new Canadian legislation follows global trends, focusing on managing risks associated with supply chains and third-party products and services, ensuring that critical cyber systems remain protected from compromise and minimizing the impacts of cybersecurity incidents. Designated operators of these critical cyber systems will be required to establish and implement a cybersecurity program, mitigate supply-chain and third-party risks, and adhere to reporting and notification obligations in the event of a cybersecurity incident. EU Cyber Resilience Act Cybercrime costs reached $6 trillion in 2021, prompting the European Commission to propose the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) to enhance software security. The CRA aims to hold manufacturers accountable for improving software security throughout the entire product life cycle and increase transparency into software vulnerabilities. A key strategy in the CRA is the implementation of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) management, which tracks and shares metadata details of software components and supply chain relationships. Non-compliance with the CRA may lead to significant fines and reputational damage. As the CRA impacts software sold or used in Europe, adopting SBOM management now is crucial for future compliance and security.4 About Cybeats Cybeats is a cybersecurity company providing SBOM management and software supply chain intelligence technology, helping organizations to manage risk, meet compliance requirements, and secure their software from procurement to development and operation. Our platform gives customers comprehensive visibility and transparency into their software supply chain, enabling them to improve operational efficiency and increase revenue. Cybeats. Software Made Certain. Website: https://cybeats.com SUBSCRIBE: For more information, or to subscribe to the Company's mail list, visit: https://www.cybeats.com/investors Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for the products described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Company filings are available at sedar.com. SOURCE Cybeats Technologies Corp. RCM Product harnesses the power of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning BRISTOL, Pa., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Data-Core Healthcare is pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting at the Emergency Department Practice Management Association's Premier Event, EDPMA Solutions Summit 2023, being held at the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada from April 17th to April 20th. Explore better revenue generation and cost savings opportunities with Data Core Healthcare's RCM Products. Tweet this Data Core Healthcare Exhibiting at EDPMA Solutions Summit Data-Core Healthcare will be showcasing their "EOB-835 Converter", developed on Ruzivo which is Data-Core's proprietary AI/ML platform created specifically to gain valuable insights from healthcare Revenue Cycle data. Visitors at the Solution Summit can also learn how Data-Core Healthcare can help healthcare organizations optimize their revenue cycle by leveraging the company's extensive technical capabilities, infrastructure, resources, and quality processes. Attendees will also get a sneak peek into the upcoming AI/ML based Denial Manager Tool that leverages the inherent technological strengths of the Ruzivo platform to minimize denials and improve collection time by lowering days sales outstanding (DSO). About Data-Core Healthcare Data-Core Healthcare is a division of Data-Core Systems, headquartered in the Greater Philadelphia area. For over 23 years, Data-Core Healthcare has built its reputation on the timeliness, cost effectiveness, and quality of its services. With the Ruzivo platform, Data-Core Healthcare brings a world-class integration of AI/ML technology with proven RCM processes to deliver maximum value to the healthcare providers. For more information, visit www.datacorehealthcare.com. Contact: Noelle Reinhardt Marketing Specialist M: 215-243-1928 [email protected] SOURCE Data-Core Healthcare Join Leading Life Sciences Innovators at the Helmholtz Munich Campus to Discuss the Latest Trends, Challenges and Solutions in Data Management, Storage and Analysis CHATSWORTH, Calif., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DDN, the global leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and multi-cloud data management solutions, today announced its 2023 Life Sciences Field Day, hosted by Helmholtz Munich on May 4, 2023 at the Helmholtz Munich campus. Life sciences research continues to grow rapidly in scientific importance and impact on society. New discovery methods based on AI are finding applications in basic scientific research and in clinical environments. In addition, cross-fertilization across different sub-disciplines promises to accelerate time to discovery in strategic research projects. The 2023 Life Sciences Field Day is a unique opportunity for innovators, researchers, and industry leaders. The event will bring together experts from academia, pharmaceuticals, biotechnology, and research institutions to discuss the latest trends, challenges, and solutions in life sciences data management, storage, and analysis. "We are thrilled to bring together leading minds in life sciences research to gather and share knowledge, experiences, and best practices at the 2023 Life Sciences Field Day," said Tommaso Cecchi, senior director of Sales EMEA, DDN. "With speakers from a range of industries including agriculture, human genetics, and AI computing, attendees will have the opportunity to learn how these researchers and organizations have been successful and leverage that insight to advance their own data-driven discoveries." Attendees will hear from keynote speakers such as Dr. Fabian Theis, Director of the Institute for Computational Biology at Helmholtz Munich & Technical University of Munich and winner of the Leibniz Prize 2023, the most prestigious research award in Germany. In addition, attendees will hear from panelists, engage in live discussions and tour the Helmholtz Munich Campus. "Helmholtz Munich is dedicated to developing solutions for a healthier future, and our cutting-edge research is the springboard for medical innovation," said Dr. Alf Wachsmann, head of DigIT Infrastructure & Scientific Computing, Helmholtz Munich. "We are honored to host the 2023 Life Sciences Field Day with the purpose of accelerating the transfer from ideas to applications with experts from across the life sciences community." Registration for the 2023 Life Sciences Field Day on May 4 is now open. For more information and to register, please visit https://www.ddn.com/company/events/2023-life-sciences-field-day/. About DDN DDN is the world's largest private data storage company and the leading provider of intelligent technology and infrastructure solutions for enterprise at scale, AI and analytics, HPC, government, and academia customers. Through its DDN and Tintri divisions, the company delivers AI, data management software and hardware solutions, and unified analytics frameworks to solve complex business challenges for data-intensive, global organizations. DDN provides its enterprise customers with the most flexible, efficient and reliable data storage solutions for on-premises and multi-cloud environments at any scale. Over the last two decades, DDN has established itself as the data management provider of choice for over 11,000 enterprise, government, and public-sector customers, including many of the world's leading financial services firms, life science organizations, manufacturing and energy companies, research facilities, and web and cloud service providers. About Helmholtz Munich Helmholtz Munich is a leading biomedical research center. Its mission is to discover breakthrough solutions for better health in a rapidly changing world. It is home to interdisciplinary research teams investigating the development of environmentally triggered diseases. With the power of artificial intelligence and bioengineering, the researchers accelerate the translation process to patients in the areas of therapy and prevention with a focus on diabetes, obesity, allergies and chronic lung diseases. Helmholtz Munich has more than 2,500 employees and is headquartered in Neuherberg, north of Munich. It is a member of the Helmholtz Association, the largest scientific organization in Germany with more than 43,000 employees and 18 research centers. Learn more about Helmholtz Munich (Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen Deutsches Forschungszentrum fur Gesundheit und Umwelt GmbH): www.helmholtz-munich.de Contact: Press Relations at DDN [email protected] Walt & Company, on behalf of DDN Sharon Sumrit [email protected] 2023 All rights reserved. DDN is a registered trademark owned by DataDirect Networks. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE DataDirect Networks (DDN) BANGALORE, India, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Decision Intelligence Market by Component (Platform, Solutions, Services), by Deployment Mode (On-premise, Cloud), by Enterprise Size (Large Enterprise, Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs)), by Industry Vertical (Energy and Utilities, BFSI, IT and Telecom, Government, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail and Consumer Goods, Others): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031. It is published in Valuates Reports under the Software Category. The global decision intelligence market was valued at USD 9.8 billion in 2021 and is projected to reach USD 39.3 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 15.2% from 2022 to 2031. Major Factor Driving The Growth of Decision Intelligence Market are Some of the major factors anticipated to propel the global decision intelligence market revenue growth during the forecast period includes the requirement to make quick and precise decisions in order to assure better outcomes and an increasing need for multiple problem-solving solutions. The advent of ML and AI is enabling a variety of sectors to fully utilize decision intelligence. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the decision intelligence market. Browse The Table of Contents And List of Figures At https://reports.valuates.com/reports/ALLI-Manu-4C72/decision-intelligence TRENDS INFLUENCING THE GROWTH OF DECISION INTELLIGENCE MARKET For the purpose of assisting, enhancing, and automating business decisions, decision intelligence links data with options and outcomes. It combines methods (such as decision mapping and decision theories) with technologies to improve how decisions are made in enterprises. (such as automation and machine learning). Both ongoing evaluation of choice outcomes and their improvement via a feedback mechanism are components of decision intelligence. Additionally, it is projected that a sizable percentage of the growth in revenue for the decision intelligence market would be driven by the expanding demand to lower particular risks associated with human decision-making. Poor decision-making is one of the most pervasive issues in businesses since it can lower productivity and increase product costs. In response to the pressing need to digitize and take advantage of cutting-edge technologies like AI and ML, decision intelligence is emerging as a solution that may combine decision support, decision management, and complex systems applications. Both AI and ML enhance forecasting and predictive capability, which supports decision intelligence. Organizations utilize decision intelligence to speed up and automate decision-making procedures in a variety of use cases and industries. Organizations trying to live in a sea of data can fill the gap between data and better decision-making with the help of decision intelligence. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the decision intelligence market Big data is the process of storing, processing and visualizing a variety of structured, semi-structured, and unstructured data that businesses acquire in order to derive valuable knowledge and insights. In order to analyze and handle huge and varied datasets from multiple sources and sizes, big data analytics uses a variety of complex analytical approaches, such as statistical algorithms, predictive models, etc. This in turn is expected to drive the growth of the decision intelligence market. Get Your Sample Today: https://reports.valuates.com/request/sample/ALLI-Manu-4C72/Decision_Intelligence_Market DECISION INTELLIGENCE MARKET SHARE ANALYSIS Due to the ability of cutting-edge technologies like artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), intelligent apps, and natural language queries to transform data dashboards and business analytics into more comprehensive decision-support platforms, North America dominated the decision intelligence market size in terms of the region in 2021 and is anticipated to maintain its position during the forecast period. Due to the rise in data-driven decision-making using a decision intelligence platform, the platform segment dominated the decision intelligence market share in 2021 and is anticipated to maintain its dominance over the forecast period. The platform allows both technical and non-technical users to access previously unreachable insights by democratizing the power of data science and machine learning algorithms. The decision intelligence market is divided into two categories based on the size of the organization: major enterprises and small and medium enterprises. The decision intelligence market's largest revenue share was produced in 2021 by the large enterprise segment. The decision intelligence market is divided into cloud and on-premises deployment segments. The decision intelligence market's cloud segment recorded the most revenue share in 2021. This is because many businesses find cloud-based AI services to be the best choice. Companies can access organizations using the infrastructure already in place rather than constructing a sizable data center. Inquire For Customization : https://reports.valuates.com/request/customisation/ALLI-Manu-4C72/Decision_Intelligence_Market Market By Region North America Europe Asia-Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Inquire For Regional Report: https://reports.valuates.com/request/regional/ALLI-Manu-4C72/Decision_Intelligence_Market Key players Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Board International, Metaphacts GmbH, H2O.ai, International Business Machines Corporation, Intel Corporation, Diwo.ai, Clarifai, Inc., Google LLC Inquire For Chapter Cost : https://reports.valuates.com/request/chaptercost/ALLI-Manu-4C72/Decision_Intelligence_Market Buy Now for Single User + Covid-19 Impact : https://reports.valuates.com/api/directpaytoken?rcode=ALLI-Manu-4C72&lic=single-user SUBSCRIPTION We have introduced a tailor-made subscription for our customers. Please leave a note in the Comment Section to know about our subscription plans. SIMILAR REPORTS - Machine Learning Market - Computer Vision Market - Hadoop Market - Machine Translation Market - Language Translation Software Services Market - Machine Translation Software Market - Machine Translation MT System Market - Machine Assisted Translation Service Market - Translation Apps Market - Language Translation Machine Market - Text to Speech Market - Automatic Content Recognition Market - NLP Market - Artificial Intelligence Market - Deep Learning Similar Reports for Decision intelligence Market About Us: Valuates offers in-depth market insights into various industries. Our extensive report repository is constantly updated to meet your changing industry analysis needs. Our team of market analysts can help you select the best report covering your industry. We understand your niche region-specific requirements and that's why we offer customization of reports. With our customization in place, you can request for any particular information from a report that meets your market analysis needs. To achieve a consistent view of the market, data is gathered from various primary and secondary sources, at each step, data triangulation methodologies are applied to reduce deviance and find a consistent view of the market. Each sample we share contains a detailed research methodology employed to generate the report. Please also reach our sales team to get the complete list of our data sources. Contact Us: Valuates Reports [email protected] For U.S. Toll-Free Call 1-(315)-215-3225 For IST Call +91-8040957137 WhatsApp: +91-9945648335 Website: https://reports.valuates.com Twitter - https://twitter.com/valuatesreports Sitemap: https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/497 https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/498 https://reports.valuates.com/sitemap/html/reports/499 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1082232/Valuates_Reports_Logo.jpg SOURCE Valuates Reports At peak output, each site will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power nearly 23,000 homes Income-qualified customers who are enrolled in the community solar program will see guaranteed savings on their bill every month ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Duke Energy today announced the completion of two solar projects in Alachua and Suwannee counties, the latest sites in the company's community solar program portfolio, Clean Energy Connection. Together, the sites at peak production are delivering 150 megawatts of clean, renewable energy to the grid to benefit Florida customers. The High Springs Renewable Energy Center is built on 700 acres in Alachua County, Fla. The 74.9-MW facility consists of approximately 216,000 single-axis tracking solar panels. The 74.9-MW facility consists of approximately 216,000 single-axis tracking solar panels. The Hildreth Renewable Energy Center is built on 635 acres in Suwannee County, Fla. The 74.9-MW facility consists of approximately 220,000 single-axis tracking solar panels. At peak output, each site will generate enough carbon-free electricity to power what would be equivalent to around 23,000 homes. With a combined investment of over $2 billion, Duke Energy Florida's solar generation portfolio will include 25 grid-tied solar power plants that will benefit all of the company's 1.9 million Florida customers. These projects will provide about 1,500 MW of emission-free generation using approximately 5 million solar panels by 2024. "The company is well on its way to meeting a major milestone by placing its 21st solar project in operation by the end of this year, delivering on our customer commitment to provide reliable, affordable, clean energy," said Melissa Seixas, Duke Energy Florida state president. "These investments allow Florida customers to enjoy renewable energy, while also providing cost savings by reducing fuel use." Based on Duke Energy Florida's current fuel mix, each 74.9-MW solar facility displaces about 1.2 million cubic feet of natural gas, 15,000 barrels of fuel oil and 12,000 tons of coal each year. Clean Energy Connection program Through the Clean Energy Connection program, Duke Energy Florida customers can subscribe to solar power and earn credits toward their electricity bills without having to install or maintain their own equipment. Customers subscribe to a portion of solar energy from the company's Clean Energy Connection solar portfolio. The monthly subscription fee will help pay for the cost of construction and operation of the renewable energy centers and is conveniently added to a customer's regular electric bill. Customers also receive a corresponding subscription credit that represents their share of the energy produced by the solar centers in a given month, multiplied by the subscription credit rate, which escalates over the life of the subscription. Enrolled income-qualified customers will receive immediate bill savings, as monthly credits will always be greater than the program fees. Current participation in any of these or related programs can be used to qualify: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Medicaid, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), SNAP-EBT, Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and Duke Energy Neighborhood Energy Saver. Duke Energy Florida customers who are interested in the program can learn more through the Clean Energy Connection website. Duke Energy Florida Duke Energy Florida, a subsidiary of Duke Energy, owns 10,500 megawatts of energy capacity, supplying electricity to 1.9 million residential, commercial and industrial customers across a 13,000-square-mile service area in Florida. 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. Media contact: Audrey Stasko Media line: 800.559.3853 Twitter: @DE_AudreyS SOURCE Duke Energy BEIJING, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Edianyun has been awarded "Gold Service Provider 2022" at the 18th Asia Printing Technology, Office Equipment and Consumables Exhibition & Asia Packaging & Printing Industry Expo ("ReChina Asia Expo") held in Shenzhen in February 2023. ReChina Asia Expo is one of the world's largest printing technology and consumables expos. Since 2004, 17 ReChina Asia Expos have been held successively, and the Expo has evolved into a highly recognized event in the industry. The "Gold Service Provider" award is based on market penetration, corporate reputation, social contribution, and media assessments, among other factors. After the fair and just appraising process, Edianyun is honored as the winner. One-stop office IT service leads the new dynamics of the industry With one-stop office IT service, Edianyun delivers whole-process "nanny" care to customers' equipment and professional and wide technology support. When it comes to basic customer service, considering the urgency and significance of IT business, Edianyun has designed the fully automatic closed-loop CASE service system, which is in operation 7 x 24. Even at night, it can provide fast and thoughtful customer service. The system offers eight services, including pre-sales, risk control, call for repairs, and back repairs. Any problems are responded to within 15 minutes to ensure customers' needs are met speedily, guaranteeing staff work and corporate operations go smoothly without facility glitches. As for office IT service, with its self-developed Xuanji system, Edianyun can deploy over 3,000 high-caliber engineers nationwide intelligently, ensuring that the service will arrive at doorsteps within two hours. In this way, Edianyun has realized mesh service, which breaks through the traditional NBD office IT service mode, assisting enterprises to save more time and cost and allowing SMEs to enjoy the same level of office IT service typically exclusive to big companies. Besides, Edianyun keeps improving its service efficiency, strengthening its service capabilities, reforming its service models, and optimizing its service process, in a bid to deliver more considerate service to companies and an exclusive experience of "fully managed" IT service to customers. On top of that, Edianyun also provides quality after-sales services. It boasts the world's only and biggest IT equipment remanufacturing factory and possesses nearly 100 proprietary patents. Edianyun has designed a standardized remanufacturing process that consists of 147 testing and repairing procedures, covering automated testing, diagnosis, and repair for facilities. Every year, 600,000 pieces of remanufactured IT equipment are produced. It is worth mentioning that Edianyun keeps close contact with major equipment brand owners, which guarantees fast and quality after-sales services. With swifter and more efficient after-sales services, Edianyun helps companies cut implicit costs, save time, and dispel their concerns about possible IT troubles. Forging ahead with the award as a new start The "Gold Service Provider" award demonstrates the industry's recognition and appreciation of Edianyun's service quality and capacity in the past years. It also serves as the driving force for Edianyun to make further progress. With the industry's recognition and expectations, Edianyun will stay true to its original aspirations and continuously optimize service procedures. It will remain committed to providing quality IT equipment and service for SMEs and consistently improve products and services to push forward the development of the office IT industry. On February 14, 2023, 16 banks gathered at the Edianyun bank consortium session to explore the industry's future development. The banks are full of confidence in Edianyun's business models and prospects. Going forward, Edianyun will continue to base on the Chinese market and keep improving its services. Edianyun will always take technological innovation as its cornerstone and give full play to its strengths to lead the development of the industry of IT office service for Chinese companies. SOURCE Edianyun Research from Method Communications finds that 2 in 3 Americans say empathy has decreased in the last year SALT LAKE CITY, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As macroeconomic challenges continue to loom, companies everywhere are considering how to achieve brand loyalty and long-term success. A new study, "Watch your Language: Think Like A Brand, Speak Like A Person," conducted by Method Communications, points to empathy as the solution. Method surveyed more than 2,000 Americans to better understand the state of empathy in consumer-brand relationships. Method found that nearly 2 in 3 Americans say empathy has decreased in the last year - from 54% in 2021 to a mere 27% in 2022 - despite shared societal challenges. The report found that 47% of Americans want to hear more human-centric stories in the news and from brands. 37% of consumers say that they enjoy reading content from brands and that it makes them feel more connected to the companies. In addition, the study reveals how Americans think about social issues, word choice and self-censoring speech. "Emotional connection is a must for brands to really make a difference with their customers," said David Parkinson, Method CEO and co-founder. "Making your voice heard is key to empowering both the consumer and brand it's why we put in the work to really understand each other." The report's overall research on consumer decision-making and behavior provides key insights that can help brands understand the role of empathy in their business models and connect with their audiences on a deeper level. 67% of Americans say a brand's stance on social issues impacts their purchase behavior. Americans want to see the brands they purchase from taking a stance on social issues. But if the brand comes down on the "wrong side" of a hot-button issue, consumers are primed and ready to boycott. 42% of Americans have stopped shopping with a brand because of a company's stance 32% have purchased something because of a brand's stance. A third (34%) of Americans pay attention to brands' stances on social issues so that their spending aligns with their personal values. Although 1 in 4 (26%) Americans admit to still shopping with brands they disagree with, they say they feel guilty about it. Nearly half (47%) of Americans worry about the words they use everyday. With competing social winds a shift away from derogatory or exclusionary language vs. free-speech activism Americans feel a potential storm from each word choice. Three quarters (74%) of Americans worry about their word choice at least once a month. Only 10% never worry about their word choice. More than half (58%) of Americans worry about their word choice among strangers. Half (51%) worry about it among acquaintances in social situations. And 43% worry about it at work. 42% of Americans often self-censor so that they don't accidentally say something controversial. "Embracing the value of empathy and connecting with customers gives brands a sense of authenticity and can help them rise above the noise," Parkinson added. "When consumers feel emotionally invested in a brand, they are more likely to stay loyal over the long term." The full report can be accessed here . About Method Communications Method is a global PR and marketing partner for challenger brands shaking up the status quo and market leaders facing challenges of their own. We are cut from the same cloth as the innovative companies we represent. As entrepreneurs in our field, we know how to bring narratives to life and capture the spotlight, driving meaningful business outcomes. Survey Methodology Method Research conducted this study using an online survey distributed among Dynata's panel. n=2,000 American consumers ages 16 to 77 responded. Respondents were evenly split between men and women with equally sized generational age groups, and a mix of ethnicities represented. Data was collected from November 4 to November 14, 2022. SOURCE Method Communications CLEVELAND, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Evergreen Cooperatives, a nonprofit focused on revitalizing urban neighborhoods by preserving jobs that build middle-class wealth, has added to its growing portfolio of employee-owned businesses with the asset purchase of LEFCO Worthington LLC, an industry-leading manufacturer of engineered custom wood crates and heavy-duty skids for international shipping. The deal represents the fifth transaction by the Fund for Employee Ownership, Evergreen Cooperative's social impact initiative designed to fund company transitions to employee ownership. LEFCO Worthington manufactures diverse packing product types in the aerospace, defense, equipment manufacturing and general industrial industries in its 30,000 square-foot facility located in Cleveland, OH. The transaction details have not been released. Founded in 2003, LEFCO Worthington was minority-owned by Larry Fulton who will be using the funds for additional acquisition opportunities and business endeavors in Cleveland. The company currently has 20 employees that will remain with the business as it converts to employee owned. "LEFCO Worthington, one of the region's largest wood crating companies, is now in great hands our employees. Evergreen Cooperatives will turn LEFCO Worthington into an employee-owned business which will continue to provide attractive wage jobs and provide true wealth creation opportunities that can be life changing for its new employee owners. Not only does this acquisition feel good, it is good, both for the business and the community. I'm thrilled to partner with such a fund whose strategic mission supports my beliefs of ethical business, doing good business and being a good business citizen," said Larry Fulton. Evergreen Cooperatives will lead the transition to employee ownership with LEFCO's employees. Evergreen's Chief Executive Officer, John McMicken says, "We are extremely excited to welcome LEFCO to Evergreen's portfolio of employee-owned firms. Larry and his team have been wonderful to work with throughout the entire transaction, which has now created a very bright future for these new employee owners." On a recent trip to Cleveland to meet with minority-owned business owners like Larry Fulton, the U.S. Secretary of Commerce, Gina Raimondo and Congresswoman Shontel Brown visited LEFCO Worthington to explain the Minority Business Development Agency's new Capital Readiness Program. U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves emphasized this program by saying, "Jumpstarting the next generation of entrepreneurs and ensuring diverse representation in these high-growth industries is essential, not only to spurring innovation, but also to building a more resilient economy that's reflective of all Americans." ABOUT EVERGREEN COOPERATIVES Launched in 2008 by several Cleveland-based institutions, the Evergreen Cooperative Initiative works to create living-wage jobs in low-to-moderate income communities in and around Cleveland. The Fund for Employee Ownership, an Evergreen initiative, is designed to preserve local jobs, helps employee-owners build wealth and assists small business owners interested in transitioning beyond their current business interests. Media Contact: Emma Sherrie, [email protected] SOURCE Evergreen Cooperatives BANGKOK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- European Wellness Biomedical Group (EW Group) made a successful showing at an exclusive event, the 12th A4M Symposium 2023, which was held in Centara, Bangkok, 16th-19th February 2023. The two-day A4M Symposium, commenced with a welcome ceremony featuring Dr. Manus Potaporn (Deputy Director General of Medical Services Department, Thailand) as a Guest of Honour, hosted by Prof. Dr. Mike Chan (A4M Thailand President), Dr. Jakkriss Bumisawasdi (A4M Thailand Honorary President), and Dr. Robert Goldman (A4M Founder). On February 19, European Wellness Academie (EWA), a non-profitable educational arm of EW Group, brought an exclusive workshop, "All-On Bioregen Optimization," to explore the world of anti-aging and regenerative medicine, featured some of the world's leading anti-aging experts. Prof. Dr. Mike Chan, presented his two topics, "The Application of Regenerative Precursor Stem Cells, Peptides & Exosomes in Precision Medicine" and "Phyto-Myco-based Nano Organo Peptides: A New Trend in Precision Medicine." "Precision Medicine in Age Reversal," which brought together the anti-aging and wellness industries on a single platform to achieve Precision Medicine's goals, which are patient-centred, may divide patients into subgroups based on their illness vulnerability, prognosis, or response to a specific treatment. It is devised and administered after comprehensive diagnostics utilizing Panomic Analysis and System Biology to analyse the patient's state at a molecular level and apply targeted therapies to address illness progression. Anti-aging medicine aims to improve human ageing and maximize physical and mental well-being. Scientific data and medical journals supported the model's focus on Advanced Clinical Preventive and Regenerative Medicine. The involvement of the healthcare and wellness industries will have a significant influence on the anti-aging sector for many years to come. Yet, by fact these sectors worked together to improve the quality of life for individuals and will contribute to defining the very future of modern medicine. European Wellness Biomedical Group An award-winning European group, most renowned for its pioneering development in organ-specific precursor (progenitor) stem cell therapeutics, biological and synthetic peptides, biological regenerative medicine, immunotherapies, and nutraceutical and cosmeceuticals. EW Group's multinational business divisions include research and developments, bio-manufacturing, biomedical academies, hospital and wellness centres and nutraceutical product distribution across 80 countries worldwide. EW Group also owns and operates a growing network of internationally accredited Hospital and Medical Centres specializing in Regenerative Bio-Medicine and luxury Wellness Centres globally. EW Group is headquartered in Germany and Malaysia (Asia Pacific) with research vested in Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic and United Kingdom. https://european-wellness.eu/ Media Contact: Ferellica Anne Martin +6088 448 989 (Ext: 337) [email protected] SOURCE European Wellness Biomedical Group SAN ANTONIO and KATY, Texas, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This upcoming Memorial Day weekend, Fantastic Sams franchise owner, Jaine Cantu, is looking to set the record for most hair color services done in a day using the CHI ColorMaster Factory machine. The ColorMaster Factory is an innovative machine with the ability to create an unlimited number of hair colors. Guests are even able to upload a photo of themselves to preview their potential new hair color. Cantu and her team will be offering free color services to military members and their entire families on Memorial Day Monday, May 29, 2023. She is planning to partner with several veteran charities to accomplish her goal as well as offer extended hours of operation on the upcoming holiday. "I strongly believe in the mentality of paying it forward," Cantu said. "I want to build a strong brand that is part of a strong community. I want to empower my artists to own their own salon one day so we can continue to build up the Fantastic Sams brand name." As an American Mexican migrant worker, Cantu has always admired the military for protecting her opportunity to achieve her own American dream. After working in the fields until age 16, she went on to finish school and endured a bout of homelessness before beginning her career for Corporate America. It was there Cantu developed a passion for helping employees and decided to open her own salon by joining the Fantastic Sams franchise. Today, Cantu works as a development agent for the Fantastic Sams franchise in addition to owning 16 salons across Texas. Her most recent location celebrated its grand opening last month in Seguin, Texas. Cantu, whose husband Tony and business partner Jon are both military veterans, looks forward to giving back to those who have served this country. Families of military membersactive or veteranwill receive free hair color services at any one of Jaine Cantu's Fantastic Sams salons in the San Antonio or Katy areas of Texas on Memorial Day Monday, May 29, 2023. SOURCE Fantastic Sams Franchise Corporation SHENYANG, China, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Shenyang Global PE Forum (SGPEF) kicked off in Hunnan district, Shenyang city on April 8, 2023. As the top summit of Chinese private equity funds and the financial forum of the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the forum has been held with success in Beijing for 13 times. This was the first time that the forum took place outside of Beijing and was held with a success in Shenyang. Yan Zhanfeng, Secretary of the CPC Hunnan district committee, made an introduction to the Hunnan Technology City (HTC). In the past more than a year, as many as 563 conventional financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, securities traders and futures emerged; 35 PE firms, including Cybernaut, Dehong Investment, and Shengjing PE converged on the Shengjing Fund Town and grossed nearly RMB20 billion with 150 financial products; the HTC has 12 listed companies as well as 18 New OTC Market-listed companies... And the Shenyang Development and Reform Commission unveiled Shenyang's 2017-2022 PE index at the forum, according to the Publicity Department of the CPC Hunnan District Committee. Besides, institutional investors, including CMG-SDIC Capital, Hope Group, and China Galaxy Securities signed strategic partnership agreements with the Shenyang municipal government. ZhenFund, Gainful Investment and other institutional investors signed strategic partnership agreements with the Hunnan district government. And Chongqing Yingke Investment entered into 20 agreements with HTC on prime investment and projects. Themed "Finance, Technology and Ecology", the 2-day forum, proceeding both online and offline, invited 20 local and non-local distinguished guests, over 100 PE institutional investors, and more than 30 media organizations. Over 500 delegates from related areas of Shenyang city, departments directly controlled by Shenyang municipal government, colleges, research institutes as well as high-tech firms, attended the forum. SOURCE The Publicity Department of the CPC Hunnan District Committee Local Fitness Entrepreneur Brings the World's Largest In-Home Fitness Franchise to West Hartford WEST HARTFORD, Conn., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GYMGUYZ, the world's largest in-home and on-site personal training franchise, announces the company's expansion to West Hartford. Members of the local community will now have access to premier training programs and equipment, all brought to their doors and tailored to their specific health needs. GYMGUYZ was founded by Josh York, who created the concept in his parent's dining room before scaling it to the company it is today. The brand embodies accountability, and offers a fitness option that solves the problem of finding a consistent workout routine. Most gyms have a business model that profits off lack of use, whereas GYMGUYZ encourages customers to continue to reach their goals. Armed with vehicles that will bring state-of-the-art fitness equipment needed for a beneficial workout, GYMGUYZ's professional personal trainers are expertly equipped to provide an effective workout. The new territory is slated to open on April 24th, 2023, and owned and operated by local entrepreneur, Christian Silva. Silva's career in fitness began in 2000 when he became a personal trainer. After six years, he decided to start his own personal training business. He expanded his business to include fitness equipment sales, corporate health promotions, corporate fitness sales and management and motivational speaking. Silva's ambition doesn't stop there, and he is excited to offer a new fitness concept to the people of West Hartford. "I have always been passionate about fitness and helping people better their lives," said Silva. "With GYMGUYZ, we can address people's specific health needs and help them stay accountable towards reaching their goals. I look forward to being a part of brand that embodies passion and hard work, and I am proud to add GYMGUYZ to my portfolio." As demand for in-home services increases across Connecticut, GYMGUYZ, is actively seeking qualified single and multi-territory franchisees who are looking to help change lives through convenient, customized and creative on-demand workouts. Due to its growing success and diverse client base, GYMGUYZ also offers fitness programs for major corporations, schools, hospitals, and senior living centers. Clients can also accelerate their fitness goals through the Trifecta meal delivery service and nutrition counseling. "We're a 15-year strong business model that is designed for entrepreneurs who want to help people and organizations. Like Christian, I started off as a personal trainer. The business model offers a unique opportunity for personal trainers and others to scale their love for the fitness industry through a proven system with a network of support," Josh York, founder and CEO of GYMGUYZ. Accountability extends beyond the clients. Franchise partners receive hands-on business planning and comprehensive marketing support, an analytical approach to forecasting, planning and proactive priority management. To train with GYMGUYZ, visit https://www.gymguyz.com/. To learn more about franchising with GYMGUYZ, visit https://www.gymguyz.com/franchise-opportunities/. About GYMGUYZ GYMGUYZ is proud to be the largest in-home and on-site personal training company in the world. GYMGUYZ brings the workout to their clients and provides convenient, customized and creative workouts. Headquartered in Melville, N.Y., and founded in 2008 by fitness specialist Josh York, the brand utilizes a fleet of branded vehicles that bring enough state-of-the-art fitness equipment to provide a fantastic workout 365 days per year, along with an expert personal trainers to their customers' doors. In 2019, the brand was recognized as No. 5 on Inc. Mag's 10 Hottest Franchise Businesses in America, which highlighted their growth of more than 801% over the last three years. GYMGUYZ also scored the first and second place spots on Franchise Gator's annual list of the Top 100 Fastest-Growing Franchises and received recognition as a top franchise in Entrepreneur's Highly Competitive 41st Annual Franchise 500. Now servicing over 1,200 cities internationally, including the United States, United Kingdom and Canada, GYMGUYZ is the fastest-growing fitness concept in the U.S. with plans to open another 25 locations by the end of 2022. For more information on GYMGUYZ and franchising opportunities, visit http://www.gymguyz.com/. Media Contact: Taylor Nortman, Fishman Public Relations, 847-945-1300 or [email protected] SOURCE GYMGUYZ New body to include industry experts: Thomas Zeeb, Rene Karsenti, Yanming Xiao TEL AVIV, Israel, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Fintica AI Ltd, a leading provider of next-generation AI for the financial industry, has announced a new Advisory Board made up of experienced financial executives, providing long-term vision and insights to help shape the future of AI for capital markets. The initial appointments include: - Thomas Zeeb, Chairman of the Advisory Board, - Rene Karsenti, Member of the Advisory Board, - Dr. Yanming Xiao, Member of the Advisory Board, Fintica AI CEO, Philippe Metoudi welcomed the new appointments, and said, "Fintica is greatly honored to welcome these outstanding professionals to our Advisory Board. I have had the privilege of working closely with each of them, and look forward to their invaluable contributions to Fintica as we enhance our range of AI solutions,". Incoming Advisory Board Chairman, Thomas Zeeb commented, "This is an exciting time to be creating even closer bridges between the potential of technology and the ongoing evolution of financial markets with a myriad of new challenges." Rene Karsenti: "I am pleased to join the Fintica Advisory Board and look forward to contributing to the use of Al in capital markets, enhancing efficiency and safety while improving ROI within heightened risk management solutions." Yanming Xiao said, "I am delighted to join Fintica's Advisory Board, and help promote meaningful, positive impact in the world of asset management." Earlier this year Fintica AI closed an A Round of funding with a diversified global investor base from Asia, the Middle East, Europe and the US. About Thomas Zeeb: Thomas Zeeb is a Swiss-Canadian executive who served as Global Head for SIX Swiss Exchange, Switzerland's principal stock exchange. Zeeb has worked in various roles in the financial industry, including as Member of the Clearstream Banking AG Executive Board. and as Managing Director at The Bank of New York. About Rene Karsenti.: Rene Karsenti is Senior Adviser and former President of the International Capital Market Association (ICMA). He was Director General of Finance at the European Investment Bank in Luxembourg, , Treasurer of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development in London, and IFC Treasurer of the World Bank Group. About Yanming Xiao.: Dr. Yanming Xiao is Chairman & CEO of Cornucopiae Asset Management Ltd. She was Managing Director of UBS Wealth Management in Hong Kong and a senior banker at Citi Bank, and HSBC. Dr. Xiao received the 2018 BURJ CEO Award for Outstanding Contribution to Global Asset Management. About Fintica AI, Ltd.: Fintica is an Israeli deeptech Fintech Company building next generation Autonomous AI for the Global Financial Industry. The firm develops multi-assets (equity, fixed income, commodities) predictive analytics & risk decision-support tools for investment managers, financial markets Infrastructure and digital stakeholders. With headquarters in Tel Aviv it has presences in Hong Kong, New York, Abu Dhabi, and Geneva. Visit www.fintica-ai.com /email [email protected]. Contact: Lionel Friedfeld [email protected] SOURCE Fintica AI, Ltd. This new FAST channel will feature music videos, live concerts, documentaries, and more. ORLANDO, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- FreeCast is partnering with Playing For Change to launch a new free ad-supported television (FAST) channel. Together, the companies hope to further Playing For Change's mission of bringing the world together for the greater good though the power of music and the voices of legendary musicians. This original channel will be created with FreeCast FAST, the company's freshly-announced FAST channel creation service. Although FreeCast is the partner organization, the channel will be distributed across all streaming platforms, not exclusive to the FreeCast service. FreeCast Playing For Change was created to connect the world through the power of music. For over 20 years, they've been spreading peace through music, having produced over 400 videos with over 1,300 musicians in 65 countries, and reaching over 2 billion viewers through music videos and live performances. Playing For Change has had the honor of partnering with prominent organizations including the United Nations, The White House, and the Olympics, and has worked with a long list of legendary musicians including Ringo Starr (The Beatles), Bono (U2), Robbie Robertson (The Band), Keith Richards (The Rolling Stones), Jimmy Buffet, Carlos Santana, Brandi Carlile, Sara Bareilles, Peter Gabriel (Genesis), John Paul Jones (Led Zeppelin), Mickey Hart (Grateful Dead), and many other great music talents globally. Playing For Change's efforts are tireless, born as a shared vision between co-founders Mark Johnson and Whitney Kroenke, who hit the streets of America with a mobile recording studio and cameras in search of inspiration and the heartbeat of the people. This musical journey resulted in the award-winning documentary, "A Cinematic Discovery of Street Music." Timeless is the music, resulting in classic songs recreated with ensembles of global artists into new masterpieces such as was the 50th anniversary of "The Weight" which includes Robbie Robertson himself on lead. (Watch Video Here) FreeCast CEO William Mobley discussed the history of music, television, and social causes: "This is an exciting thing to be a part of. You had the rise of MTV that introduced music videos to the world. You had Live Aid, which leveraged the power of music and television at the time. And now it's with that same spirit that we're partnering with Playing For Change to launch the first channel to stream music for good, 24/7, world-wide." Video Link: https://corp.freecast.com/pfc-video This press release was issued through 24-7PressRelease.com. For further information, visit http://www.24-7pressrelease.com. SOURCE FreeCast ARCHES Bayfront seeks to complete the connection between the beach and the bayfront in downtown Fort Myers Beach, granting public access to a new bay walk FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Freeland Management announced today it has entered into an agreement to engage world renowned planning and architecture firm DPZ CoDESIGN to assist in the reimagination and design of the family-owned 4.5-acre parcel located on the bayfront in downtown Fort Myers Beach. Currently occupied by family-owned Moss Marina and the temporary home to the U.S. Coast Guard station, the new development ARCHES Bayfront will become a leading force in the redevelopment of Fort Myers Beach by enhancing the current downtown along the bayfront to create beach-to-bay access tied together by Old San Carlos Boulevard. Freeland Management Ben Freeland, President of Freeland Management Potential uses include marina, hotel, restaurant, retail, with opportunities for local businesses to thrive. The ARCHES Bayfront concept is guided by four key design principles and objectives: Renewed prosperity and economic benefits Increased connectivity and mobility Environmental resilience and sustainability Improved livability and quality of life "We chose to engage DPZ CoDESIGN not only because of their world-class reputation and award-winning projects throughout the state of Florida, but also because of their unparalleled commitment to engaging local government, civic leaders and residents in the design process to create a shared vision," said Ben Freeland, President of Freeland Management. "We view this project as an essential step in the rebuilding of the town we love so much, and we want to make sure it is done in a way that honors the past as we build for the future. DPZ is the perfect partner to help us achieve that goal." DPZ CoDESIGN has begun conducting ongoing listening sessions with local government and civic leaders and will reconvene with key stakeholders during a one-week intensive design workshop April 17 - 21. The goal of the workshop is to fully understand the local history, landscape and character of the community prior to drawing up and unveiling a variety of visual scenarios for review and input by the Fort Myers Beach community. "DPZ is excited to help reimagine the northern edge of downtown Fort Myers Beach with a public space that extends the energy of Old San Carlos Boulevard to the bay and completes the downtown neighborhood that surrounds it," said Galina Tachieva, Managing Partner of DPZ CoDESIGN. The open house and community workshop will take place on Monday, May 15 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina. For those who are unable to attend on May 15 in person, a virtual component will be made possible via the project website, www.ARCHESBayfront.com. Residents who want to be kept informed about the project can sign up now for updates and news about the project. About The Freeland Family Six generations of the Freeland family have called Southwest Florida home. Since 1966 the family has owned and operated many different businesses throughout Southwest Florida, employing thousands of local residents. The family has attended and graduated from many of the local schools, supported non-profits, and been active in its neighborhoods and communities. George Freeland purchased the property and Moss Marina business in 1982. During that time the property was home to the largest Chris-Craft dealership in the world for annual sales, was home to the Big M Casino boats for over 15 years entertaining over a hundred thousand guests, and still serves as the home to Moss Marina and temporary home to United States Coast station. For more information, visit www.ARCHESBayfront.com About DPZ CoDESIGN Founded in 1980, DPZ CoDESIGN is a globally recognized, award winning architecture, urban planning and design firm specializing in the creation of walkable, mixed-use communities that are socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. The firm received international recognition as the designer of the town of Seaside in the Florida Panhandle, which Time Magazine hailed as "the most astounding design achievement of its era." With over 300 built projects around the globe, DPZ CoDESIGN enjoys a long history throughout the state of Florida, including downtown Fort Myers. For more information about DPZ CoDESIGN, visit www.dpz.com PR Contact: Irina Woelfle IWPR Group EMAIL: [email protected] Phone: 203-832-6773 SOURCE Freeland Management Company opens Automotive Innovation and Research Hub in High Wycombe, England to support a cleaner and more sustainable future for transportation LAS VEGAS and TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Geotab Inc. ("Geotab") is revolutionizing the way electric vehicles are managed with its comprehensive telematics and data intelligence solutions. Geotab's platform provides near real time data on battery charge, range, energy and fuel usage and charging history for over 300 different EV makes and models, making it the global leader in EV telematics. Geotab EV 300 makes and models (CNW Group/Geotab Inc.) Geotab announced the world leading milestone at the grand opening of its new Innovation and Research Hub in High Wycombe, England. This state-of-the-art facility, which has been active since 2020, is dedicated to advancing the data intelligence required to support the electrification of the transportation sector at scale. The hub is home to some of the brightest minds in the industry who are pioneering the way forward in developing cutting-edge technologies to support connected vehicles of all kinds. With a focus on delivering innovative solutions, this center of excellence is at the forefront of driving a cleaner and more sustainable future for transportation. "We understand how the quality and richness of the data captured from the vehicle can define the success of analytics that support the fleet's operations and sustainability program, which is why access to comprehensive data insights is critical," added Neil Cawse, CEO of Geotab. "Our world-class EV support is a differentiator, and we are proud to lead the industry in this area." Despite the rapid growth of the EV industry, there is still a lack of official vehicle information standards, creating unique data challenges for fleet managers. Through Geotab's technology and reverse engineering process, the company offers comprehensive data insights that provide fleet managers with the information needed to make informed decisions for fleet electrification and sustainability goals, such as vehicle range, efficiency and state-of-charge. Without access to this data, fleets can face issues such as inefficiency, unexpected breakdowns, decreased productivity and an unsatisfactory electric vehicle experience. Geotab has been at the forefront of innovation for over 20 years. It has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the industry, and for the past decade, has been specializing in electric vehicles. The company's ability to provide rich and comprehensive data signals for virtually any EV make or model is a remarkable milestone that reflects the hard work of hundreds of engineers and data scientists. "With EVs, data is vital from the outset. The lack of an industry standard means each EV model that is released could potentially require a new approach for accessing its data," said Charlotte Argue, Senior Manager, Sustainable Mobility, Geotab. "With the full EV support that Geotab offers, we've ensured fleets get the insights they need to optimize their fleets, as they deploy and scale zero-emission vehicles in their operations." Geotab offers a range of tools for EV fleet management, including an EV Suitability Assessment (EVSA) that analyzes unique driver profiles and patterns to identify which fleet vehicles are suitable for electrification. The Green Fleet Dashboard compares performance against similar fleets, including EV performance, usage, and cost savings, and the Fleet Electrification Knowledge Center provides data-driven analyses and resources for fleets of any size along the EV conversion journey, including analyses to help fleets understand EV battery lifespans and real-world range impacts . To learn more about how Geotab can fully support your fleet's transition to electric, visit https://www.geotab.com/fleet-management-solutions/electric-vehicles/ . About Geotab Geotab is a global leader in connected transportation solutions. We provide telematics - vehicle and asset tracking - solutions to over forty thousand customers in 150 countries. For more than 20 years, we have invested in ground-breaking data research and innovation to enable partners and customers, including Fortune 500 and public sector organizations, to transform their fleets and operations. We connect to over 3.5 million vehicles and process more than 55 billion data points a day so that customers can make better decisions, increase productivity, have safer fleets, and achieve their sustainability goals. Geotab's open platform and Marketplace, offers hundreds of third-party solution options. Backed by a team of industry leading data scientists and AI experts, Geotab is unlocking the power of data to understand real-time and predictive analytics - solving for today's challenges and tomorrow's world. To learn more, visit www.geotab.com , follow @GEOTAB on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit the Geotab Blog. SOURCE Geotab Inc. Company opens Automotive Innovation and Research Hub in High Wycombe, England to support a cleaner and more sustainable future for transportation LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Geotab Inc. ("Geotab") is revolutionising the way electric vehicles are managed with its comprehensive telematics and data intelligence solutions. Geotab's platform provides near real-time data on battery charge, range, energy and fuel usage and charging history for over 300 different EV makes and models, making it the global leader in EV telematics. Geotab EV 300 makes and models Geotab announced the world leading milestone at the grand opening of its new Innovation and Research Hub in High Wycombe, England. This state-of-the-art facility, which has been active since 2020, is dedicated to advancing the data intelligence required to support the electrification of the transportation sector at scale. The hub is home to some of the brightest minds in the industry who are pioneering the way forward in developing cutting-edge technologies to support connected vehicles of all kinds. With a focus on delivering innovative solutions, this centre of excellence is at the forefront of driving a cleaner and more sustainable future for transportation. "We understand how the quality and richness of the data captured from the vehicle can define the success of analytics that support the fleet's operations and sustainability program, which is why access to comprehensive data insights is critical," added Neil Cawse, CEO of Geotab. "Our world-class EV support is a differentiator, and we are proud to lead the industry in this area." Despite the rapid growth of the EV industry, there is still a lack of official vehicle information standards, creating unique data challenges for fleet managers. Through Geotab's technology and reverse engineering process, the company offers comprehensive data insights that provide fleet managers with the information needed to make informed decisions for fleet electrification and sustainability goals, such as vehicle range, efficiency and state-of-charge. Without access to this data, fleets can face issues such as inefficiency, unexpected breakdowns, decreased productivity and an unsatisfactory electric vehicle experience. Geotab has been at the forefront of innovation for over 20 years. It has continuously evolved to meet the changing needs of the industry, and for the past decade, has been specialising in electric vehicles. The company's ability to provide rich and comprehensive data signals for virtually any EV make or model is a remarkable milestone that reflects the hard work of hundreds of engineers and data scientists. "Our state of the art High Wycombe facility is Geotab's first dedicated automotive facility in Europe, and is behind much of the success of the innovative technology used to reach this EV make and model support milestone, as well as our work on the British Antarctic Survey, the United Kingdom's national Polar research institute, as the first commercial telematics provider to go live in the Antarctic," said Edward Kulperger, Senior Vice President of Europe at Geotab. The facility's functions include vehicle reverse engineering, optimal installation methods, testing and validation of Geotab's new hardware and software, design, specification and testing of wiring harnesses and installation procedures, the identification and coding of on-board diagnostics from new vehicles, updated or additional data point from vehicles previously worked on, product safety checks, working with partners and customers, and employee training. Geotab offers a range of tools for EV fleet management, including an EV Suitability Assessment (EVSA) that analyses unique driver profiles and patterns to identify which fleet vehicles are suitable for electrification. The Green Fleet Dashboard compares performance against similar fleets, including EV performance, usage and cost savings, and a host of online content that provides data-driven analyses and resources for fleets of any size along the EV conversion journey, including analyses to help fleets understand EV battery lifespans and real-world range impacts. To learn more about how Geotab can fully support your fleet's transition to electric, visit https://www.geotab.com/uk/fleet-management-solutions/electric-vehicles/. About Geotab Geotab is a global leader in connected transportation solutions. We provide telematics - vehicle and asset tracking - solutions to over forty thousand customers in 150 countries. For more than 20 years, we have invested in ground-breaking data research and innovation to enable partners and customers, including Fortune 500 and public sector organisations, to transform their fleets and operations. We connect over 3.5 million vehicles and process more than 55 billion data points a day so that customers can make better decisions, increase productivity, have safer fleets, and achieve their sustainability goals. Geotab's open platform and Marketplace, offers hundreds of third-party solution options. Backed by a team of industry leading data scientists and AI experts, Geotab is unlocking the power of data to understand real-time and predictive analytics - solving for today's challenges and tomorrow's world. To learn more, visit www.geotab.com/uk, follow @GEOTAB on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit the Geotab Blog. Contact: Tony Brown Communications Manager - Europe [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053503/Geotab_Inc__Geotab_Drives_Industry_Standard_in_Electric_Vehicle.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053502/Geotab_Inc__Geotab_Drives_Industry_Standard_in_Electric_Vehicle.jpg SOURCE Geotab Inc. DUBLIN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Germany Power Rental Market - Strategic Assessment & Forecast 2023-2029" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Germany power rental market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.64% during 2022 to 2029. KEY HIGHLIGHTS In 2022, the German government planned to invest more in rail infrastructure than the road. USD 32.1 billion is being invested by Bremen , Hamburg , Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Deutsche Bahn(DB), in modernizing the rail network until 2030. is being invested by , , Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Lower Saxony, Schleswig-Holstein, and Deutsche Bahn(DB), in modernizing the rail network until 2030. Sponsored by the new Invest EU program, the European Investment Bank (EIB) provides USD 64.1 million (60 million) to the metropolitan housing supplier Hanova as of August 2022 . Hanova's social and affordable housing construction program in Hanover , which will also meet the European Union's high energy efficiency standards, is supported by the loan. This was the first project in Germany to obtain a loan from the EIB under the new Invest EU program. (60 million) to the metropolitan housing supplier Hanova as of . Hanova's social and affordable housing construction program in , which will also meet the European Union's high energy efficiency standards, is supported by the loan. This was the first project in to obtain a loan from the EIB under the new Invest EU program. Tesvolt is expanding its giga-factory plant in Lutherdtadt Wittenberg, in Saxony-Anhalt, which is anticipated to launch in 2024. Upgrading shall deliver up to 4GWh production capacity to manufacture industrial and commercial energy storage batteries using lithium-ion materials. Tesvolt is capitalizing about USD 64 million (60 million) to construct two new fabrication complexes and refurbish its prevailing manufacturing building. (60 million) to construct two new fabrication complexes and refurbish its prevailing manufacturing building. According to a survey by the German Hospital Institute, 59 percent of hospitals in Germany could deal with a power outage for plenty of days, with 21 percent only able to secure continued power supply for a few hours. When a power blackout lasts for several days, only 14 percent of hospitals can provide patient care as usual, but 40 percent can do so with major limitations. SEGMENTATION ANALYSIS Segmentation By Fuel Natural Gas Diesel Others (Propane, Hydrogen, Renewable Sources) Segmentation By Power Rating >75KVA 75-375KVA 375-1,000KVA Above 1,000 KVA Segmentation By Equipment Generators Load Banks Transformers Others Segmentation By End-User Construction Retail Oil & Gas Mining Events Utilities IT & Data Center Manufacturing Others Segmentation By Application Standby Continuous Peak Shaving The Government's Focus on Clean Energy and Investments Are Likely to Push the Demand for Power Rental Equipment in Germany The Russian invasion of Ukraine and disruptions caused due to supply chains had affected the energy sector of Germany badly. Equinor and RWE, in January 2023 , had developed various plans, including building new power plants that will initially run by natural gas and later with hydrogen from Norway . Production and use of low-carbon hydrogen will reduce the reliance on coal and Co2 emissions. and disruptions caused due to supply chains had affected the energy sector of badly. Equinor and RWE, in , had developed various plans, including building new power plants that will initially run by natural gas and later with hydrogen from . Production and use of low-carbon hydrogen will reduce the reliance on coal and Co2 emissions. Germany's residential program aims to complete the extensive renovation of 40,000 homes by 2026, as stated in its 2021-2026 National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Municipal living laboratories for the energy transition will be used with this measure to perform pilot programs that explore new ideas for an effective and sustainable energy supply in urban areas. residential program aims to complete the extensive renovation of 40,000 homes by 2026, as stated in its 2021-2026 National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP). Municipal living laboratories for the energy transition will be used with this measure to perform pilot programs that explore new ideas for an effective and sustainable energy supply in urban areas. Germany's Federal Network Agency (Bundesnetzagentur) has launched an auction for four new offshore wind sites adding up a capacity of 7 GW. Three sites, each with a capacity of 2 GW, are in the North Sea and are located about 120km north-west of Helgoland, and the fourth site, with a capacity of 1 GW, is in the Baltic Sea zone, which is about 25 km off the island of Rugen. The Need for Electrification During Various Construction Phases Is Driving The Germany Power Rental Market Mobile battery storage from Bredenoord was provided to the Port of Hamburg as of August 2022 . Mobile power units can deliver an extreme of 40% output from a standing start; the Battery Box delivers 100% right from the beginning. Without battery storage, 4 x 300 kVA generators would be required to absorb the high loads; combined with the Battery Box, only a 300 kVA generator is necessary to solve the problem. as of . Mobile power units can deliver an extreme of 40% output from a standing start; the Battery Box delivers 100% right from the beginning. Without battery storage, 4 x 300 kVA generators would be required to absorb the high loads; combined with the Battery Box, only a 300 kVA generator is necessary to solve the problem. Municipalities are also getting ready for emergency blackout situations by purchasing backup generators and converting fire stations into lighthouses so that people can obtain information and receive other services, and charge resourceful technology. Governments, fire teams, police, rescue service, disaster control, grid operators, and energy suppliers have gathered through German cities to develop plans to buy or rent power generators. They identify necessary infrastructure and prepare contact locations for people during the blackout period. The new VDE 0100-704, which redefines the safety requirements for electrical systems, has been in force since May 18 . It relates to all building construction locations set up or converted after May 18 . As a part of this, Boels Rental has had 400 generators renewed by Atlas Copco to meet the new requirements. . It relates to all building construction locations set up or converted after . As a part of this, Boels Rental has had 400 generators renewed by Atlas Copco to meet the new requirements. As a part of the Federal Transport Route Plan 2030 and a key route, the A100's 16th construction stage lengthens 3.2 km from Neukolln to the Treptower Park junction. A connection to the 17th construction phase and the eastern districts of Berlin to the middle ring road is scheduled. The federal and state governments will finance around USD 652 million ( 610 million euros ) in expanding Berlin's infrastructure by 2024. Bredenoord provided the necessary energy through a 500 kVA generator, including an external 5,500-liter tank delivered. VENDOR LANDSCAPE The key players in the Germany power rental market are United Rentals, Sunbelt, Aggreko, Atlas Copco, Caterpillar, Cummins, and Kohler power. power rental market are United Rentals, Sunbelt, Aggreko, Atlas Copco, Caterpillar, Cummins, and Kohler power. In July 2018 , United Rentals completed the acquisition of Baker Corp International Holdings, Inc, which permitted entry into select European markets. , United Rentals completed the acquisition of Baker Corp International Holdings, Inc, which permitted entry into select European markets. The top 4 prominent vendors, including United Rentals, Sunbelt, Aggreko, and Speedy, account for over 52% of the Germany power rental market share. Prominent Vendors United Rentals Sunbelt Rentals Aggreko Caterpillar Atlas Copco Cummins Inc., KOHLER Other Prominent Vendors Generac Power Systems, Inc. Boels Rental Bredenoord Colle Rental & Sales KILOTOU Group KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 1 How big is the Germany power rental market? 2. What is the growth rate of the Germany power rental market? 3. What are some significant opportunities in the Germany power rental market? 4. Which fuel type is projected to dominate the Germany power rental market? 5. Which are the key vendors in the Germany power rental market? Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 1.1. Key Insights of Germany Power Rental Market 1.2. Executive Summary 2. Germany Power Rental Market 3. Geographical Analysis 3.1. Key Economic Cities in Germany 4. Market Dynamics 4.1. Market Trends 4.2. Market Drivers 4.3. Market Opportunities 4.4. Market Restraints 5. Technological Development 6. Competitive Landscape 6.1. Company Profile of Major Vendors 6.2. Other Prominent Vendors 7. Report Summary 7.1. List of Abbreviations 8. Appendix (Report Scope & Definition) 8.1. Research Methodology 8.2. Market Definition, Inclusion & Exclusion For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/r6vlxj 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 News in Brief: Next generation UX10 and V110 are part of new G-RuggedPro TM series, setting the high standard in rugged computing technology. series, setting the high standard in rugged computing technology. Both devices are designed to thrive in challenging field environments, such as those found in the defence, utilities, and public safety sectors. The next generation UX10 is also available in a specially designed UX10-IP, featuring fully sealed buttons that allow for fast cleaning and disinfecting by medical professionals. TAIPEI, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Getac has today announced the launch of its next generation UX10 tablet and V110 laptop two powerful, yet portable, fully rugged devices designed to thrive in challenging work environments, like those found in the utilities, public safety and defence sectors. Both the UX10 and V110 boast 12th Generation Intel CoreTM Processors, expanded memory and increased storage options, as well as extensive I/O and connectivity options (including 5G), making them two of the most advanced rugged devices Getac has ever produced. The next generation V110 fully rugged laptop is designed to make complex field tasks easy that its versatile form factor also means workers can quickly switch between touchscreen and keyboard based inputs. The next generation UX10 is also available in a specially designed UX10-IP, featuring fully sealed buttons that allow for fast cleaning and disinfecting by medical professionals. G-RuggedProTM: The high standard in rugged computing technology The next generation UX10 and V110 are both part of Getac's new G-RuggedProTM series. Every device in the G-RuggedProTM series is designed and manufactured to Getac's exacting standards, so customers know they are receiving an exceptional product every time. UX10: Superior rugged performance, sleek new design The next generation 10.1-inch UX10 fully rugged tablet has been redesigned for even greater performance and versatility. Key features include a choice between powerful 12th Generation Intel CoreTM Processors and Intel Pentium Gold Processors, to suit different applications, and a LumiBond touchscreen boasting 1,000 nits of brightness. Elsewhere, 8GB of DDR4 RAM (with option of up to 32GB), and a 256GB PCIe NVMe SSD (with option of up to 1TB) deliver exceptional computing capability. Upgraded connectivity features include Bluetooth 5.3, Intel Wi-Fi 6E AX211, Thunderbolt 4 Type-C, and optional 4G LTE or 5G Sub-6 support, to keep individuals and teams connected in even remote locations. Its lightweight design makes the UX10 easy to carry and operate for long periods, while IP66 and MIL-STD-810H certifications, drop resistance up to 6ft and an operating range of -29C to +63C (-20F to 145F) ensures optimal functionality in even adverse weather conditions. UX10-IP: Designed to help easy disinfection for medical professionals The next generation UX10-IP features fully sealed buttons that allow for quick and easy disinfection by medical professionals. Its fully rugged IP66-certified design also offers protection against dust, water, and disinfectant spray, for excellent reliability in challenging medical environments. V110: Complex field tasks made easy Featuring a powerful 12th Generation Intel CoreTM Processor and Intel Iris Xe graphics, alongside an 11.6" LumiBond touchscreen boasting 1,000 nits of brightness, the next generation V110 fully rugged laptop is designed to make complex field tasks easy. Dual hot-swappable batteries as standard extend operation between charges, while optional 64GB DDR4 + 2TB storage supports intense data activities, such as planning and execution of ground/aviation logistics support in the defence industry. Its versatile form factor also means workers can quickly switch between touchscreen and keyboard based inputs depending on the task at hand. The next generation V110 boasts an extended range of connectivity options too, including Wi-Fi 6E, Bluetooth 5.3, optional 4G LTE/5G Sub-6 and GPS, while Thunderbolt 4 Type-C enables fast data transfer and connection with other devices. Furthermore, its innovative dual SIM design allows users to easily switch between two different carrier networks without physically swapping SIM cards each time. Like all Getac products, the V110 has been built rugged from the ground up for maximum reliability in a diverse range of use cases and user scenarios. MIL-STD-810H, MIL-STD-461G, and IP65 certifications ensure the device can withstand regular knocks, drops, spills, and vibrations, while optional ANSI/UL 12.12.01 and salt fog resistance are also available on request. Enhanced security features in the field Both next generation models incorporate a range of enhanced security features, including Microsoft's latest suite of authentication tools, TPM2.0, smart card reader (optional in UX10), and optional Intel vPro, fingerprint reader, RFID, and Windows Hello Webcam. They are also both covered by Getac's industry leading 3-year Bumper-to-Bumper warranty, including accidental damage as standard, for additional peace of mind. "Getac has been setting the standard in rugged field computing for many years, thanks to our unwavering focus on users and their specific needs," says James Hwang, President of Getac Technology Corporation. "The UX10 and V110 are two of our most popular models amongst customers in sectors like defence, utilities and public safety, where reliability and performance are paramount. With the launch of these next generation models, two of the best rugged field solutions available just got even better." Availability The new UX10 and V110 will be available in June. For more information, please visit the Getac website. About Getac Getac Technology Corporation is a global leader in rugged mobile technology and intelligent video solutions, including laptops, tablets, software, body-worn cameras, in-car video systems, digital evidence management and enterprise video analytics solutions. Getac's solutions and services are designed to enable extraordinary experiences for frontline workers in challenging environments. Today, Getac serves customers in over 100 countries spanning defense, public safety, ambulance, fire & rescue, utilities, automotive, natural resources, manufacturing, transport, and logistics. For more information, visit: http://www.getac.com. Participate in the Getac Industry blog or follow the company on LinkedIn and YouTube. Getac and Getac logo are trademarks of Getac Holdings Corporation or its affiliates. Other brands or trademarks are the property of their respective owners. 2023 Getac Technology Corporation. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2045205/Getac_V110G7_Scenario_Utilities.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2045206/Getac_UX10_IP_Scenario_230324.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1997483/Getac_Logo.jpg SOURCE Getac On 12-14 September 2023, European companies are invited to join Global Mobility Call which coincides with the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. In this context, Global Mobility Call will host two major events organised by the Spanish Government, bringing together representatives of European ministries and business leaders and the world's main regulatory bodies. MADRID, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the second edition of Global Mobility Call , the largest international sustainable mobility event to be held from 12 to 14 September in Madrid, was presented worldwide. Five months before its celebration, the event organised by IFEMA Madrid and Smobhub already has 30 associated partners, as well as national and international associations, and more than 100 exhibiting companies and 50 startups. Once again, this year the event is sponsored by the Spanish Government, through the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, and has the support of the Community of Madrid and the City Council. General view of Global Mobility Call 2022 edition From left to right: David Moneo, director Global Mobility Call; Arancha Priede, Business Development Director IFEMA Madrid; Maria Jose Rallo, secretary general of Transport and Mobility at the Ministry of Transport; Jose Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman IFEMA Madrid; David Perez, Regional Councillor for Transport and Infrastructures; Silvia Roldan, CEO Metro de Madrid; and Juan Jose Lillo, co-founder Smobhub. Photo taken in Madrid on 13 April 2023 at the presentation of Global Mobility Call 2023. Global Mobility Call will bring together major companies and associations from the energy sector, such as Cepsa, Iberdrola and Total Energies; public transport, with the Consorcio de Transportes, EMT and Metro de Madrid; multimodal mobility, with Adif, Aena, Arriva, Enaire, Iberia, Puertos del Estado, Renfe and Senasa; technology and innovation, such as Etra, Indra, Ineco and Sistem; and infrastructures, with the National Geographic Institute, among others. At the press conference, Maria Jose Rallo, General Secretary for Transport and Mobility at the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda of the Spanish Government; David Perez, Regional Councillor for Transport and Infrastructures of the Community of Madrid; Jose Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID; David Moneo, Director of Global Mobility Call, and Juan Jose Lillo, co-founder of Smobhub, presented the second edition of the event. Global Mobility Call will bring together 10,000 participating professionals, and a further 15,000 estimated online participants via the digital platform, in a gathering that will promote multi-sectoral relations between companies, institutions, associations and experts. Within the framework of opportunities offered by the European Union's policies on energy saving and sustainable mobility through the NextGenerationEU funds, with an aid of 800,000 million euros, much of it for mobility projects. Attendance is expected to be more than 50% international with a strong presence from 16 European and Latin American countries. "Establishing new environmentally friendly mobility models is vital to minimise the serious effects of the climate crisis we are facing. Global Mobility Call 2023 is a unique opportunity to learn about the most advanced and innovative mobility solutions. I am confident that its conclusions will attract the attention of Spanish society and the global public opinion", said Maria Jose Rallo, General Secretary for Transport and Mobility at the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. According to Jose Vicente de los Mozos, President of IFEMA Madrid, "alliances with multilateral organisations will allow the second edition to feature leading voices from the sectors that make up sustainable mobility, while consolidating the international projection of the event through the direct participation of large international organisations. We also work through the commercial delegations in different European and Latin American countries to attract companies, investors and international leaders". Spanish Presidency of the EU This second edition will coincide with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 July. The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma) will organise, within the framework of Global Mobility Call, two parallel events: the "Technical Conference on Mobility in Rural Areas" and a meeting of "The PEP Partnership on Active Mobility". Furthermore, GMC will have a specific area for national and international cities and territories, which will support the exchange of experiences and knowledge of trends, success stories and plans for the implementation of new mobility solutions and low-emission zones, around the largest public-private collaboration and business platform for sustainable mobility. The event will be structured along two areas: the GMC Congress and the GMC Expo and it will have an innovation area formed by the sum of startups and scaleups through forums and platforms to promote new initiatives through public and private investment funds. It also plans to promote new generation talent with universities, educational centres and international organisations. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053656/Global_Mobility_Call_2022.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053657/Global_Mobility_Call_2023_Presentation.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053658/Global_Mobility_Call_Logo.jpg Media Contacts: Marta Cacho Communications Manager Tel.: +34 626 632 326 [email protected] Elena Valera International Press Tel.: +34 629 644 208 [email protected] SOURCE Global Mobility Call DUBLIN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Robotic Software Platforms Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2023-2028)" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The Robotic Software Platforms Market revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% over the next five years. Domestic robot is service robots that are becoming more popular for performing household activities such as floor cleaning, pool cleaning, lawn mowing, or medical and disinfecting. Companies Mentioned ABB Ltd. AIBrain Inc. Brain Corporation CloudMinds Technology Inc. Cyberbotics Ltd. Energid Technologies Corporation FANUC Corporation Furhat Robotics IBM Corporation iRobot Corporation KUKA AG NVIDIA Corporation Neurala Robotic Software Platforms Market Trends Increasing adoption of Robots in Healthcare Industries The growing service robots adoption in medical applications is expected to support the industry growth over the forecast period, as consumers prefer robots for professional services. Critical healthcare applications use service robots for assistance in pill dispensing, surgeries, and precise needle placement. The ability of these robots to carry out repetitive and tedious nursing functions possesses potential growth opportunities for the robotics software platforms industry to standardize system integration. Robots in healthcare are equipped with AI that helps to identify, match, and distribute medicine to patients. For Instance, Medrobotics Corp stated that it had received FDA regulatory approval to commercialize the Flex Robotic System in the United States for robot-assisted visualization in general surgical, gynecological, and thoracic procedures. for robot-assisted visualization in general surgical, gynecological, and thoracic procedures. According to the International Federation of Robotics (IFR), the estimated annual industrial robot installations in Asia / Australia are expected to have the highest number of 370 units by the end of 2024. Artificial intelligence adoption, labor cost reduction, increased accuracy, improved speed, enhanced quality, and production scalability are the major factors propelling the robot software platform market growth. The robotic software platforms market is expected to have enormous opportunities in the small, medium, and large-scale industries. Asia-Pacific is Expected to Register Significant Market Growth During the Forecast Period The Asia-Pacific region is expected to create significant growth opportunities over the next five years. The increasing manufacturing sectors across the country, such as China , Japan , Singapore , South Korea , and India , contribute to significant growth for the market. region is expected to create significant growth opportunities over the next five years. The increasing manufacturing sectors across the country, such as , , , , and , contribute to significant growth for the market. Key players in the market and regional government agencies are working on regional robotics development. For instance, Addverb Technologies and Reliance plan to build 5G robotics and battery systems and to use carbon fiber to build affordable robots. The growing robot adoption across various end-user industries such as manufacturing, automotive, and healthcare is primarily driving growth in the robotic simulation software market. The increasing utilization of robotics in varied end-user sectors helps meet customized demand. Furthermore, the manufacturing industry growth of emerging economies, such as China and India , to manufacture goods and export these cost-efficient products across the globe is increasing the development of industrial robots in the region. It, in turn, is expected to increase the market's growth in this region. Key Topics Covered: 1 INTRODUCTION 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 3 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 4 MARKET INSIGHTS 4.1 Market Overview 4.2 Industry Attractiveness - Porter's Five Forces Analysis 4.3 Impact of COVID-19 on the Market 5 MARKET DYNAMICS 5.1 Market Drivers 5.1.1 Automation Trends to Drive Growth 5.1.2 Increasing Government Investments in Robotics Research and Development 5.1.3 Rapid adoption of robot software by SMEs to reduce labor and energy cost 5.2 Market Restraints 5.2.1 High Cost of Deploying These Platforms in Industries 6 MARKET SEGMENTATION 6.1 By Robot Type 6.1.1 Industrial Robots 6.1.2 Service Robots 6.2 By Software Type 6.2.1 Communication Management Software 6.2.2 Data Management & Analysis Software 6.2.3 Predictive Maintenance Software 6.2.4 Recognition Software 6.2.5 Simulation Software 6.3 By End-User 6.3.1 Automotive 6.3.2 Retail and E-commerce 6.3.3 Government and Defense 6.3.4 Healthcare 6.3.5 Transportation and Logistics 6.3.6 Manufacturing 6.3.7 IT and Telecommunications 6.3.8 Other End-user Verticals 6.4 By Geography 6.4.1 North America 6.4.2 Europe 6.4.3 Asia Pacific 6.4.4 Latin America 6.4.5 Middle East and Africa 7 COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE 7.1 Company Profiles 8 INVESTMENT ANALYSIS 9 FUTURE OUTLOOK OF THE MARKET For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/71l0lh 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 Market drivers include policies stimulating demand for efficient HVAC systems, advances in technology and emerging financing models BOULDER, Colo., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A new report from Guidehouse Insights analyzes the commercial heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) market globally. The market has grown continuously as heating and cooling technologies advance. Looking forward, market stakeholders, including manufacturers, engineers, and service providers, have several growth opportunities. According to a new report from Guidehouse Insights, the global market revenue for commercial HVAC is anticipated to grow from $51.7 billion in 2022 to $66.6 billion in 2031 at a CAGR of 2.8%. "There is huge growth opportunity in this marketincluding the increasing demand for heating and cooling in emerging regions and the number of aging commercial buildings with obsolete HVAC equipment," says Young Hoon Kim, senior research analyst with Guidehouse Insights. "Regardless of a building's age, inefficient HVAC systems harm the environment, so installing high efficiency equipment in new construction is the ideal." The International Energy Agency reports that by 2030, nearly 20% of the existing building stock will require renovation to reach zero-carbon emissions. Since no one solution will accommodate all regions worldwidefor either residential or commercial HVACindustry stakeholders must consider regional-specific solutions. Additionally, they must consider multiple sustainable heating and cooling solutions that will accommodate global decarbonization efforts and adapt them to each region and to the building types within those regions, according to the report. The report, Commercial HVAC Market, reviews the different commercial HVAC solutions for heating and cooling and provides analysis for the ten-year period between 2022 and 2031, segmented by technology and five geographic regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. An executive summary of the report is available for free download on the Guidehouse Insights website. About Guidehouse Insights Guidehouse Insights, the dedicated market intelligence arm of Guidehouse, provides research, data, and benchmarking services for today's rapidly changing and highly regulated industries. Our insights are built on in-depth analysis of global clean technology markets. The team's research methodology combines supply-side industry analysis, end-user primary research, and demand assessment, paired with a deep examination of technology trends, to provide a comprehensive view of emerging resilient infrastructure systems. Additional information about Guidehouse Insights can be found at www.guidehouseinsights.com. About Guidehouse Guidehouse is a leading global provider of consulting services to the public sector and commercial markets, with broad capabilities in management, technology, and risk consulting. By combining our public and private sector expertise, we help clients address their most complex challenges and navigate significant regulatory pressures focusing on transformational change, business resiliency, and technology-driven innovation. Across a range of advisory, consulting, outsourcing, and digital services, we create scalable, innovative solutions that help our clients outwit complexity and position them for future growth and success. The company has over 16,500 professionals in over 55 locations globally. Guidehouse is a Veritas Capital portfolio company, led by seasoned professionals with proven and diverse expertise in traditional and emerging technologies, markets, and agenda-setting issues driving national and global economies. For more information, please visit www.guidehouse.com. * The information contained in this press release concerning the report, Commercial HVAC Market, is a summary and reflects the current expectations of Guidehouse Insights based on market data and trend analysis. Market predictions and expectations are inherently uncertain and actual results may differ materially from those contained in this press release or the report. Please refer to the full report for a complete understanding of the assumptions underlying the report's conclusions and the methodologies used to create the report. Neither Guidehouse Insights nor Guidehouse undertakes any obligation to update any of the information contained in this press release or the report. Cecile Fradkin for Guidehouse Insights +1.646.941.9139 [email protected] SOURCE Guidehouse Insights RICHMOND, Va., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hilb Group announced today that it has acquired a Maryland-based book of commercial, personal, and marine focused property and casualty business in its Mid-Atlantic region of operations. The new marine business will join with Hilb Group's growing marine specialty team based in Rhode Island, and the commercial and personal lines will be managed locally in Maryland. The transaction became effective April 1, 2023. About Hilb Group: The Hilb Group is a leading property and casualty and employee benefits insurance brokerage and advisory firm headquartered in Richmond, Virginia. Hilb Group is a portfolio company of The Carlyle Group, a global investment firm. Hilb Group seeks to grow through strategic acquisitions and by leveraging its resources and expertise to drive organic growth in its acquired agencies. The company has completed more than 150 acquisitions with over 125 offices in 27 states. Hilb Group is rated as one of the Fastest Growing Brokers by Business Insurance, a Top P/C Agency by Insurance Journal, and one of America's Fastest Growing Private Companies in the Inc. 5000. For more information on Hilb Group's growth as well as career opportunities, please visit our website at http://hilbgroup.com. Media Contact: Peter Lobred 804.548.4629 [email protected] M&A Contact: Ryan Havermann 804.414.6508 [email protected] SOURCE The Hilb Group, LLC THE WOODLANDS, Texas, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huntsman Corporation (NYSE: HUN) will hold a conference call on Friday, May 5, 2023, at 10:00 a.m. ET to discuss its first quarter 2023 financial results, which will be released at approximately 6:00 a.m. ET that day. Webcast link: https://event.choruscall.com/mediaframe/webcast.html?webcastid=B4kYPWdx Participant dial-in numbers: Domestic callers: (877) 402-8037 International callers: (201) 378-4913 The conference call will be accompanied by presentation slides that will be accessible via the webcast link and Huntsman's investor relations website, www.huntsman.com/investors . Upon conclusion of the call, the webcast replay will be accessible via Huntsman's website. About Huntsman: Huntsman Corporation is a publicly traded global manufacturer and marketer of differentiated and specialty chemicals with 2022 revenues of approximately $8 billion. Our chemical products number in the thousands and are sold worldwide to manufacturers serving a broad and diverse range of consumer and industrial end markets. We operate more than 60 manufacturing, R&D and operations facilities in approximately 30 countries and employ approximately 7,000 associates within our continuing operations. For more information about Huntsman, please visit the company's website at www.huntsman.com . Social Media: Twitter: www.twitter.com/Huntsman_Corp Facebook: www.facebook.com/huntsmancorp LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/huntsman Forward-Looking Statements: Certain information in this release constitutes forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. These statements are based on management's current beliefs and expectations. The forward-looking statements in this release are subject to uncertainty and changes in circumstances and involve risks and uncertainties that may affect the company's operations, markets, products, services, prices and other factors as discussed under the caption "Risk Factors" in the Huntsman companies' filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Significant risks and uncertainties may relate to, but are not limited to, volatile global economic conditions, cyclical and volatile product markets, disruptions in production at manufacturing facilities, reorganization or restructuring of Huntsman's operations, including any delay of, or other negative developments affecting the ability to implement cost reductions, timing of proposed transactions, and manufacturing optimization improvements in Huntsman businesses and realize anticipated cost savings, and other financial, economic, competitive, environmental, political, legal, regulatory and technological factors. The company assumes no obligation to provide revisions to any forward-looking statements should circumstances change, except as otherwise required by applicable laws. SOURCE Huntsman Corporation Chris Lopez appointed EVP, Chief Financial and Regulatory Officer, Megan Telford appointed EVP, Strategy, Energy Transition, Human Resources and Safety, Teri French promoted to EVP, Operations and Customer Experience and Andrew Spencer promoted to EVP, Capital Portfolio Delivery TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Today, Hydro One Limited and Hydro One Inc. (Hydro One) announced two executive level promotions and new mandates for two existing executives as part of a leadership structure change focused on the company's core purpose of energizing life for all Ontarians. These changes are aligned to the company's strategy of focusing on customers, delivering its investment plan and executing with excellence on capital projects connected to growing demand for electricity infrastructure to enable economic growth and a clean energy future. Teri French has been appointed EVP, Operations and Customer Experience and Andrew Spencer has been appointed EVP, Capital Portfolio Delivery. Megan Telford has a new expanded mandate and is now EVP, Strategy, Energy Transition, Human Resources and Safety, and Chris Lopez has a new expanded mandate and is now EVP, Chief Financial and Regulatory Officer. "Both Teri and Andrew are seasoned operations executives with deep expertise and proven track records for delivering results, improving safety and driving exceptional customer service. Confirming our focus on operations and elevating our transmission capital work to the leadership team will ensure we are ready to meet our commitments to customers now and into the future," said David Lebeter, President and CEO, Hydro One. "Having a new role under Megan focusing on the energy transition along with its key enablers such as people, policy, planning and partnerships, will help us to continue to partner with government, Indigenous communities, stakeholders, and large customers to shape Hydro One's strategy and drive positive change for all Ontarians. Chris Lopez is an industry leading CFO, and aligning the management of our regulatory practices under Chris ensures we will continue to have the highest level of oversight and direction, which is essential to our success. These appointments are an important first step in evolving our structure and we will continue to invest in our people to ensure we are well positioned for the future." Chris Lopez As the EVP, Chief Financial and Regulatory Officer, Chris Lopez will continue leading the finance, treasury, investor relations, pensions, shared services, growth and corporate development, risk and internal audit functions and will now also lead regulatory practices. Mr. Lopez is an industry leading CFO known for overseeing significant improvements in equity and bond investor confidence, share price performance and productivity savings at Hydro One. Mr. Lopez joined Hydro One in 2016 as the Senior Vice President of Finance and was more recently Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Prior to joining the organization, Mr. Lopez was the Vice President, Corporate Planning and Mergers & Acquisitions at TransAlta Corporation from 2011 to 2015, and the Director of Operations Finance at TransAlta from 2007 to 2011 in Alberta, Canada. He also held senior financial roles for TransAlta in his native Australia, from 1999 to 2007. Mr. Lopez holds a Bachelor of Business degree from Edith Cowan University in Australia, and a Chartered Accountant designation. He is a Graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has completed the CFO Leadership Program at Harvard Business School. Megan Telford As EVP, Strategy, Energy Transition, Human Resources and Safety, Megan Telford will have responsibility for corporate strategy and energy transition, along with key strategic supporting functions including planning, partnerships, Indigenous relations, sustainability, corporate affairs, human resources and health and safety. Ms. Telford is a highly regarded and passionate business leader with a reputation for bringing a strategic and innovation lens to her portfolios and has a long track record of building trust and strong partnerships. Ms. Telford was previously the Chief Human Resources Officer at the company. In 2022, Ms. Telford assumed responsibility for the Health, Safety and Environment teams and interim responsibility for the Corporate Affairs and Customer Care teams. Before joining Hydro One in 2020, Ms. Telford held increasingly senior positions at Toronto Dominion (TD) Bank. Ms. Telford holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Industrial Relations from McMaster University, a Master of Industrial Relations and Juris Doctor from Queen's University. Teri French As EVP, Operations and Customer Experience, Teri French will have responsibility for customer experience along with ensuring operations excellence in reliability, transmission, distribution, customer and system operations and maintenance. She will also remain the President and CEO of Hydro One Remote Communities Inc., the electricity provider to 22 communities across northern Ontario. Since joining Hydro One as the Vice President of Forestry Services in 2021, Ms. French has distinguished herself as a people-focused leader committed to employee engagement, delivering results and exceptional customer experience. Ms. French holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Simon Fraser University and is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Professional Accountants (FCPA). Andrew Spencer As EVP, Capital Portfolio Delivery, Andrew Spencer will be responsible for leveraging our strong internal capabilities and working with key stakeholders and Indigenous partners to safely and efficiently deliver our growing capital plan, ensuring Hydro One can support the increasing need for clean energy and economic growth in the province. The project management, transmission and stations engineering, construction services, environmental services and advanced metering infrastructure project teams will report to Mr. Spencer. He will also be charged with leading and continuing to drive growth at Acronym Solutions Inc. and serves as the President of Hydro One Sault Ste. Marie Inc., a separately licensed transmitter. Since starting at Hydro One in 2002, Mr. Spencer has risen into progressively senior positions, including the Vice President, Engineering and Vice President, Transmission and Stations. Mr. Spencer is highly regarded at Hydro One and across the sector and has a consistent track record in driving continuous improvement, supporting diversity, equality and inclusion initiatives, and delivering large-scale capital projects. Mr. Spencer has a Bachelor of Applied Science (B.A.Sc.) and Electrical Engineering from Queen's University. Hydro One Limited (TSX: H) Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.5 million valued customers, approximately $31.5 billion in assets as at December 31, 2022, and annual revenues in 2022 of approximately $7.8 billion. Our team of approximately 9,300 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2022, Hydro One invested approximately $2.1 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.9 billion of goods and services. We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Leader by Electricity Canada. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com, www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov. Forward-Looking Statements and Information This press release may contain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Words such as "expect", "anticipate", "intend", "attempt", "may", "plan", "will", "can", "believe", "seek", "estimate", and variations of such words and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking information. These statements are not guarantees of future performance or actions and involve assumptions and risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed, implied or forecasted in such forward-looking information. Some of the factors that could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from the results expressed, implied or forecasted by such forward-looking information, including some of the assumptions used in making such statements, are discussed more fully in Hydro One's filings with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada, which are available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Hydro One does not intend, and it disclaims any obligation, to update any forward-looking information, except as required by law. Follow us on facebook.com/HydroOneOfficial, twitter.com/HydroOne and instagram.com/HydroOneOfficial. SOURCE Hydro One Limited AAA Insurers to Offer Insurance Coverage Options for Affected Hyundai Customers Hyundai Expedites Free Software Upgrade Availability Hyundai Announces Steering Wheel Locks Distribution and Reimbursement Program FOUNTAIN VALLEY, Calif., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Hyundai Motor America and independently operated AAA insurers today announced a program to offer insurance options in most states (specifics below) for owners of certain Hyundai vehicles without push-button ignitions and immobilizing anti-theft devices. Under the program, AAA insurers will issue new and renewal policies for eligible affected Hyundai customers. Consumers can visit AAA.com/insurance to receive a quote. "We are pleased to collaborate with AAA insurers in the best interest of our shared customers and provide support for those who were having difficulty securing and sustaining auto insurance as a result of the increased criminal activity targeting Hyundai vehicles," said Randy Parker, CEO, Hyundai Motor America. "AAA is about taking care of people," said Marshall Doney, CEO and President for AAA, Inc. "Collaborating with Hyundai on this issue to help provide customers with a viable solution felt like a natural fit for us." Hyundai has also expedited the roll out of the free anti-theft software upgrade for affected vehicles. All of the nearly 4 million vehicles involved will be eligible for the upgrade this week, two months ahead of the original schedule. The software upgrade is designed to prevent the vehicles from starting during a method of theft popularized on TikTok and other social media channels. "Our goal is to get every one of these vehicles into a dealership for the free software upgrade," added Parker. Additionally, for a smaller group of 2011-2022 model year vehicles that cannot accommodate the software upgrade, Hyundai will reimburse those owners for their purchase of steering wheel locks. Hyundai is also preparing to provide this subset of customers with the option of obtaining reimbursement to offset their purchase of a different anti-theft device, such as an alarm kit. Interested customers can visit www.HyundaiAntiTheft.com for more information. All Hyundai vehicles produced since November 2021 are equipped with an engine immobilizer as standard equipment. In addition, Hyundai continues to work with more than 450 law enforcement agencies across the country to provide no-cost steering wheel locks to affected communities. To generate awareness of the software upgrade and drive completion rates among customers, Hyundai is actively promoting www.HyundaiAntiTheft.com. This site provides affected customers with information on available solutions and directs them to schedule an appointment at a local dealer if their vehicle lacks an engine immobilizer and is eligible for the software upgrade. Eligible Affected Vehicles Vehicle Model Year Software Availability Elantra 2017-2020 February 13, 2023 Sonata 2015-2019 Venue 2020-2021 Kona 2018-2022 March 21, 2023 Veloster 2012-2017, 2019-2021 Accent 2018-2022 April 6, 2023 Elantra 2021-2022 Elantra GT 2018-2020 Santa Fe 2013-2018 Santa Fe Sport 2013-2018 Santa Fe XL 2019 Sonata 2011-2014 Tucson 2011-2022 Elantra 2011-2016 April 14, 2023 Elantra GT 2013-2017 Genesis Coupe 2013-2014 Palisade 2020-2021 Santa Fe 2019-2022 About the Software Upgrade The software upgrade modifies certain vehicle control modules on Hyundai vehicles equipped with standard "turn-key-to-start" ignition systems. As a result, locking the doors with the key fob will set the factory alarm and activate an "ignition kill" feature so the vehicles cannot be started when subjected to the popularized theft mode. Customers must use the key fob to unlock their vehicles in order to deactivate the "ignition kill" feature. The free upgrade will be performed by Hyundai dealers and will take less than one hour for installation. Following completion of the upgrade, each vehicle will be affixed with window decals to alert would-be thieves that the vehicle is equipped with enhanced anti-theft technology. About the AAA Insurance Offering The program will be available in all states with the exception of those states where AAA does not offer insurance as outlined below. Alaska Massachusetts Washington (state ) About AAA Started in 1902 by automotive enthusiasts who wanted to chart a path for better roads in America and advocate for safe mobility, AAA has transformed into one of North America's largest membership organizations. Today, AAA provides roadside assistance, travel, discounts, financial and insurance services to enhance the life journey of over 63 million members across North America, including over 56 million in the United States. To learn more about all AAA offers or become a member visit AAA.com. Hyundai Motor America Hyundai Motor America focuses on 'Progress for Humanity' and smart mobility solutions. Hyundai offers U.S. consumers a technology-rich lineup of cars, SUVs, and electrified vehicles. Our 830 dealers sold more than 724,000 vehicles in the U.S. in 2022, and nearly half were built at Hyundai Motor Manufacturing Alabama. For more information, visit www.HyundaiNews.com. Hyundai Motor America on Twitter | YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | TikTok SOURCE Hyundai Motor America SANTA BARBARA COUNTY, Calif., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- California's iconic and award-winning Sunstone Estate makes history as the first wine brand to offer a cannabis beverage, the Sunstone Spritz. Sold exclusively direct-to-consumer, the Sunstone Spritz sparkling beverage is made from natural juice flavors and single-origin, full-spectrum, sun-grown cannabis rosin from Santa Barbara County. The Sunstone Spritz offers 5 milligrams of activated THC and is available in 4 flagship flavors: Grapefruit Orange, Peach-Passion Fruit, Pineapple Coconut, and Watermelon. Sunstone makes history as first wine-to-cannabis crossover brand with launch of Sunstone Spritz cannabis beverage. Tweet this Sunstone Door Logo The Sunstone Spritz sparkling cannabis-infused beverage offers 5 milligrams of activated THC and is available in 4 flagship flavors: Peach-Passion Fruit, Grapefruit Orange, Pineapple Coconut, and Watermelon. "It's been our dream and vision to transition a globally-recognized wine brand into a new, inclusive era of both wine and cannabis," says Sunstone President, Teddy Cabugos. "We believe Santa Barbara County is the pinnacle agricultural region to produce world-class cannabis products, as it is for wines, and are committed to highlighting region-specific, agricultural quality in both markets." The Sunstone cannabis rosin ingredient is crafted with a hand-churned method using ice, delicate agitation, and precise pressure over time. The Sunstone craft produces the widest expression of therapeutically-rich rosin that powers a balanced, whole-plant cannabis beverage effect, guided by wellness and reflective of the superior natural quality Sunstone is already known for. Like single-origin olive oil, the single-origin nature of the cannabis ingredient allows Sunstone to assure consistent product quality and sustainable practices. The Sunstone Spritz is a tribute to the Estate's tradition of environmental stewardship and reflective of the Santa Ynez Valley coastal terroir on which the Estate resides. Sunstone is the oldest viticultural estate in Santa Barbara County to have been continuously farmed using organic and regenerative practices. Additionally, Sunstone announces the launch of a related beverage additive product, the Sunstone Splash. The Sunstone Splash is a water-soluble, full spectrum rosin-based emulsion that can be added to any beverage for an enhanced experience. "Our 30-years established brand and audience provides a unique opportunity to bring mainstream the therapeutic health and wellness benefits of cannabis," says Sunstone CEO, Djamila Cabugos. "Our new Sunstone beverage line provides access to these benefits in a relatable way to consumers who value superior quality and single-origin craft, reflective of regionally-specific terroir. Most importantly, we are committed to doing so in a way that respects the health of our community and environment." Via technology partnership with SplashNano , the new Sunstone cannabis products employ a proprietary InfusedBySplash formula. The SplashNano technology is characterized by cutting-edge nanoemulsions which reduce particle size to submicron rating, allowing for both beverage infusion and fast-acting consumption effects. "As a product formulator and technology entrepreneur, it was a dream to craft the science and product lineup for Sunstone," says Kalon Baird, Chief Technology Officer and Co-Founder of SplashNano. "Sunstone's captive audience of wine connoisseurs is the perfect demographic to appreciate the nuances of the cannabis plant and culture. Offering the Sunstone Spritz to the wine community will contribute to the rapid adoption of cannabis-infused beverages as a historical precedent." Sunstone is an agricultural pioneer in California. The brand's origin, the historic Sunstone Winery, is an idyllic Old-World European-style estate founded in 1990 inclusive of vineyards, a winery, and tasting rooms, caves, and terraces nestled in the Santa Ynez Valley. It is also famous for its Sunstone Villa, an architectural masterpiece perched atop the estate which has been featured recently on Netflix and Bravo television, and in People and Vogue magazines. Like the Sunstone Spritz beverages, Sunstone wines are available exclusively direct-to-consumer. Patrons can purchase the Sunstone Spritz online at www.sunstonecannabis.com for delivery within Santa Barbara County. Delivery to additional counties will come soon. Additionally, patrons soon will be able to purchase in-person from the Sunstone Cannabis Market, a brick-and-mortar dispensary which is targeted to open Q1 2024 in Santa Barbara. To learn more visit www.sunstonecannabis.com or follow @SunstoneSpritz on Instagram. SOURCE Sunstone The expanded role is part of an updated operational structure for Impact Washington to adapt to a rapidly evolving business environment. BOTHELL, Wash., April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Impact Washington, an affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Program (NIST MEP), is excited to announce the promotion of Jessica Ingle to Chief Operating Officer. Ingle has been in the manufacturing industry for over 18 years, most recently serving as Impact Washington's Deputy Director. "Jessica has taken on increased responsibility in leading the organization. She is highly effective in this capacity," says President and Center Director Deloit R. Wolfe Jr. "With her deep knowledge of our operations and excellent leadership skills, she is the perfect fit for this expanded role. Her ability to manage staff effectively and promote a team approach has been critical to driving our organization's success, and the organization will benefit by expanding her responsibilities." COO and Deputy Director Ingle will work across all Divisions to support internal operations. She will provide overall vision, management, and direction for all procurement, IT, and human resource functions and ensure Impact Washington maintains the performance metrics per agreement and funding from NIST-MEP. Ingle began as an administrative assistant; today, she's a key leader in the organization. Her first "real job" was at Impact Washington, and her passion for the mission never wavered it continues to grow. "I have had the opportunity to be part of significant organizational growth at Impact Washington. I'm proud of what our team has accomplished and am confident we will build upon our success," Ingle said. "I am excited to take on new challenges and continue to work with our dedicated Executive team to creatively evolve our business practices and empower our people to contribute to Impact Washington's mission and ongoing success. I'm grateful for the tremendous opportunities Impact Washington has provided me throughout my career and aim to champion aspiring women in the manufacturing industry." About Impact Washington Impact Washington is a statewide non-profit organization that provides competitive, value-driven consulting and training services. With access to public and private resources, we enhance growth, improve productivity, reduce costs, and expand manufacturing capacity in Washington. Our solutions, consulting, and educational opportunities focus on small and medium-sized manufacturers throughout the state. We are the Washington state affiliate of the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Program (NIST MEP). Our nationwide network consists of manufacturing extension partnership centers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico. Since 1997 Impact Washington has delivered improvement solutions to more than 1,500 Washington State manufacturers. About MEP National Network The MEP National Network is a unique public-private partnership that delivers comprehensive, proven solutions to U.S. manufacturers, fueling growth and advancing U.S. manufacturing. Focused on helping small and medium-sized manufacturers generate business results and thrive in today's technology-driven economy, the MEP National Network comprises the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Manufacturing Extension Partnership (NIST MEP), the 51 MEP Centers located in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, and over 1,300 trusted advisors and experts at more than 400 MEP service locations, providing any U.S. manufacturer with access to resources they need to succeed. In 2022, the MEP National Network interacted with 33,500 manufacturers, leading to $18.8 billion in sales, $2.5 billion in cost savings, $6.4 billion in new client investments, and helping to create and retain more than 116,700 U.S. manufacturing jobs. About NIST NIST promotes U.S. innovation and industrial competitiveness by advancing measurement science, standards, and technology in ways that enhance economic security and improve our quality of life. NIST is a nonregulatory agency of the U.S. Department of Commerce. To learn more about NIST, visit www.nist.gov SOURCE Impact Washington - NIST MEP Nia Tero Initiatives Center Indigenous Stories with Essential Knowledge for Healing the Planet SEATTLE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Indigenous-made storytelling projects supported by Nia Tero have been honored by the 2023 Webby Awards. Seedcast, a podcast about Indigenous experiences of relationship to the Earth, is nominated for Best Podcast Episode in the area of Arts & Culture. Reciprocity Project, a global storytelling movement supporting Indigenous creatives, is an honoree in the category of "Websites and Mobile Sites - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion." "Indigenous stories are essential for being in better relationship with the planet." ~Tracy Rector, Nia Tero Tweet this Seedcast podcast guests have included Nara Bare of the Bare Nation, Leo Cerda of the Kichwa community of Serena in the Ecuadorian Amazon, members of the pastoral Gabbra tribe of Kenya, Katsitsionni Fox (Mohawk Nation), Brit Hensel (Cherokee Nation), Eric Terena of the Terena People of Brazil, and Luciano Peas of the Achuar People of Ecuador. Seedcast is in its third Season. "Indigenous stories are essential for being in better relationship with the planet," said Tracy Rector, Managing Director, Storytelling at Nia Tero. "In order to bring more of these important narratives into the world, along with invaluable long-held knowledge and practices from their communities, it is our responsibility to provide support and resources for learning, creating, and building together." Over 14,000 entries were submitted to the Webby's this year from more than 70 countries. As a nominee, Seedcast is part of the top 10%. The podcast is in its third season. Past episodes have centered voices from around the world, including guests from Cherokee Nation, the Terena Peoples of Brazil, Bare Nation of Venezuela and Brazil, the Achuar of Ecuador, and the Gabbra of Kenya. Voting for Seedcast for a Webby People's Voice Award is open through April 20, 2023. Online voting can be found here. Reciprocity Project's inaugural season of films screened at over 125 festivals and events, including Sundance, and have been seen by over 150,000 people. "Being an honoree in this year's Webby's is humbling," said Reciprocity Project series producer Adam Mazo, who is also Creative Director of Upstander Project. "It's a chance for us to share widely the importance of reciprocity in creating a sense of shared responsibility and mutual benefit, particularly in the context of climate justice and social justice." The next season of Reciprocity Project is in production with filmmakers from Kenya, Finland, Sierra Leone, Rotuma, Taiwan, Arikara Nation, and Mohawk Nation. Reciprocity Project is a collaboration between Nia Tero and Upstander Project in association with REI Co-op Studios. Enjoy Reciprocity Project films, discussion guides, photography, and more at: reciprocity.org Nia Tero is a nonprofit dedicated to working in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples to strengthen guardianship of Earth and all beings. Press Inquiries: [email protected] SOURCE Nia Tero Revenue growth guidance of 4%-7% and operating margin guidance of 20%-22% for FY24 BENGALURU, India, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Infosys (NSE: INFY) (BSE: INFY) (NYSE: INFY), a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, delivered $18.2 billion in FY23 revenues with industry-leading growth of 15.4% in constant currency and operating margins of 21.0%. Growth was broad-based across industry verticals and geographical regions. Digital comprised 62.2% of overall revenues and grew at 25.6% in constant currency. Q4 year on year growth was 8.8% and sequential decline was 3.2% in constant currency terms. Operating margin for the quarter was 21.0%. Free cash flow conversion was 95.7% for Q4. Continuing the recent trend, attrition declined further in Q4. "Our strong performance in FY23 is a testimony to the continued focus on digital, cloud and automation capabilities which resonated with our clients. We have launched exciting programs with our clients leveraging generative AI platforms," said Salil Parekh, CEO and MD. "As the environment has changed, we see strong interest from our clients for efficiency, cost and consolidation opportunities, resulting in a strong large deal pipeline. We have expanded our internal program on efficiency and cost to build a path to higher margins in the medium term. We continue to invest in our people and in supporting our clients," he added. 15.0% YoY 25.6 % FY CC Digital growth 8.8% YoY 15.4% FY CC Revenue growth 21.0% Q4 21.0 % FY Operating margin ( $ terms) 9.0% YoY 9.7% FY Increase in EPS ( terms) $2.1 bn Q4 $9.8 bn FY Large deal TCV Guidance for FY24: Revenue growth of 4%-7% in constant currency Operating margin of 20%-22% 1. Key highlights: For the quarter ended March 31, 2023 Revenues in CC terms grew by 8.8% YoY and declined by 3.2% QoQ Reported revenues at $4,554 million, growth of 6.4% YoY Digital revenues at 62.9% of total revenues, YoY CC growth of 15.0% Operating margin at 21.0%, decline of 0.5% YoY and QoQ Basic EPS at $0.18, growth of 0.2% YoY FCF at $713 million, decline of 6.3% YoY; FCF conversion at 95.7% of net profit For the year ended March 31, 2023 Revenues in CC terms grew by 15.4% YoY Reported revenues at $18,212 million, growth of 11.7% YoY Digital revenues at 62.2% of total revenues, YoY CC growth of 25.6% Operating margin at 21.0%, decline of 2.0% YoY Basic EPS at $0.71, growth of 1.3% YoY FCF at $2,534 million, decline of 17.1% YoY; FCF conversion at 85.0% of net profit "Our continued focus on cost optimization and operational efficiencies have helped in achieving operating margins of 21.0% in FY23", said Nilanjan Roy, Chief Financial Officer. "Free cash generation in Q4, led by robust collections, was strong. Executing on our capital allocation policy, we successfully completed the share buyback and have proposed a final dividend of `17.50 for FY23", he added. 2. Capital Allocation For FY23, the Board has recommended a final dividend of 17.50 per share ($0.21 per ADS*). Together with the interim dividend of 16.50 per share already paid, the total dividend per share for FY23 will amount to 34.00 (app. $0.41 per ADS*) which is a 9.7% increase over FY22. With this, the company has announced total dividend of approx. 14,200 crore (approx. $1.7 billion*) for FY23. The company has completed the open market share buyback on February 13, at an average price of approx. 1,539 per share (compared to maximum Buyback Price of 1,850 per share). Consequently, the share capital of the company has reduced by 1.44%. Including the recently concluded buyback and final dividend for FY23, the company has returned approx. 86% of Free Cash Flow to shareholders under the current capital allocation policy. *USD-INR rate of 82.00 3. Client wins & Testimonials Infosys and bp collaborated to create 'Energy-as-a-Service' offering for holistic energy management that can enable energy savings, cost reduction, decarbonization and supply reliability. Sashi Mukundan , President, bp India and Senior Vice President, bp Group , said, "bp and Infosys have brought together their complementary capabilities, products, and services to create an integrated Energy-as-a-Service offering. This strategic collaboration builds on our energy transition goals where we can deliver secure, affordable, lower carbon energy the world increasingly needs, managed by AI/ML based digital platform to drive energy efficiency. With this engagement, we will aim to support our customers in achieving their sustainability goals faster." , said, "bp and Infosys have brought together their complementary capabilities, products, and services to create an integrated Energy-as-a-Service offering. This strategic collaboration builds on our energy transition goals where we can deliver secure, affordable, lower carbon energy the world increasingly needs, managed by AI/ML based digital platform to drive energy efficiency. With this engagement, we will aim to support our customers in achieving their sustainability goals faster." Infosys extended its collaboration with Microsoft to accelerate industry adoption of cloud. Anant Maheshwari , President, Microsoft India , said, "This engagement with Infosys extends our trusted relationship over the past two decades and will accelerate the innovation and transformation journeys of businesses worldwide. As we continue to shape the future of the industry cloud, we are pleased to bring together our complementary strengths and serve our strategic customers better through Microsoft Azure-powered solutions with Infosys Cobalt." , said, "This engagement with Infosys extends our trusted relationship over the past two decades and will accelerate the innovation and transformation journeys of businesses worldwide. As we continue to shape the future of the industry cloud, we are pleased to bring together our complementary strengths and serve our strategic customers better through Microsoft Azure-powered solutions with Infosys Cobalt." Infosys rolled out its Private 5G-as-a-Service to accelerate business value for its enterprise clients worldwide. Mark Colaluca , Vice President/GM, Communication Technology Group, HPE , said, "Enterprises see Private 5G as an enabler for their digital transformation, and the Infosys approach of vertically aligned pre-integrated business solutions can accelerate 5G adoption. HPE and Infosys are working together by combining HPE's Private 5G solutions with Infosys as-a-Service offering and pre-integrated vertical use-cases for faster customer value realization." , said, "Enterprises see Private 5G as an enabler for their digital transformation, and the Infosys approach of vertically aligned pre-integrated business solutions can accelerate 5G adoption. HPE and Infosys are working together by combining HPE's Private 5G solutions with Infosys as-a-Service offering and pre-integrated vertical use-cases for faster customer value realization." Infosys collaborated with ZF Friedrichshafen AG to revamp their multi-echelon supply chain with SAP Integrated Business Planning and Infosys Cobalt. Rainer Scheuring , Vice President IT AC Market and Materials Management, ZF Friedrichshafen AG , said, "Based on the holistic IBP planning approach and the guidance of our implementation partner Infosys, we built the foundation for improved availabilities and reduced inventories within our multi-echelon supply chain." , said, "Based on the holistic IBP planning approach and the guidance of our implementation partner Infosys, we built the foundation for improved availabilities and reduced inventories within our multi-echelon supply chain." Infosys Finacle implemented the Infosys Finacle Liquidity Management Solution for ABN AMRO's corporate customers, to empower them with a wide range of services to better identify, manage, and enhance liquidity positions on the go. Xander van Heeringen , Director of Transaction Banking, ABN AMRO , said, "We are excited to announce this collaboration with Infosys Finacle, the market-leading provider of banking technology. The right technology investment for corporate banking customers is of great importance to ABN AMRO as smarter cash management is evolving as a key priority for our customers, pushing the need for driving resilience in treasury operations. Together with Infosys Finacle, we will further enable ABN AMRO to propel with its liquidity management business transformation." corporate customers, to empower them with a wide range of services to better identify, manage, and enhance liquidity positions on the go. , said, "We are excited to announce this collaboration with Infosys Finacle, the market-leading provider of banking technology. The right technology investment for corporate banking customers is of great importance to as smarter cash management is evolving as a key priority for our customers, pushing the need for driving resilience in treasury operations. Together with Infosys Finacle, we will further enable to propel with its liquidity management business transformation." United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) collaborated with Infosys Public Services (IPS) to deploy UNDP's Quantum Global Digital Management System to provide a unified and seamless platform for all UNDP business functions. Sylvain St-Pierre , Chief Information Officer, UNDP , said, "Digital technology will allow us to rapidly evolve with the ever-changing development needs of people and our planet. Our previous systems were difficult to change and often made it challenging to adapt to changing global development needs and world events. This new digital core represents a quantum leap forward that enables UNDP with a modernized, integrated platform, allowing for truly transformative digital capabilities combined with a first-rate digital user experience. Quantum, our new digital corporate management system implemented with Infosys Public Services, underpins a #FutureSmart UNDP that leaves no one behind." , said, "Digital technology will allow us to rapidly evolve with the ever-changing development needs of people and our planet. Our previous systems were difficult to change and often made it challenging to adapt to changing global development needs and world events. This new digital core represents a quantum leap forward that enables UNDP with a modernized, integrated platform, allowing for truly transformative digital capabilities combined with a first-rate digital user experience. Quantum, our new digital corporate management system implemented with Infosys Public Services, underpins a #FutureSmart UNDP that leaves no one behind." Infosys collaborated with GE Digital to accelerate grid transformation for the utilities sector. Together, GE Digital and Infosys will follow a joint go-to-market approach to deliver value added solutions for grid related products and services, for their new and existing clients. "With energy transition driving increasing complexity on the grid, alignment between IT and OT is becoming very important," said, Mahesh Sudhakaran , General Manager, GE Digital Grid Software . "Our collaboration with Infosys will help accelerate adoption of grid software that bridges these disciplines, equipping the next generation of grid operators with the tools they need to keep the grid stable, resilient, and sustainable. The utility's ability to not just manage but orchestrate the clean energy grid relies on a unique combination of software and partnership for strategy building, as well as execution of solutions. Infosys' clear understanding of GE solutions and strong commitment to leadership will enable significant productivity and service level improvements, along with critical cost efficiencies." . "Our collaboration with Infosys will help accelerate adoption of grid software that bridges these disciplines, equipping the next generation of grid operators with the tools they need to keep the grid stable, resilient, and sustainable. The utility's ability to not just manage but orchestrate the clean energy grid relies on a unique combination of software and partnership for strategy building, as well as execution of solutions. Infosys' clear understanding of GE solutions and strong commitment to leadership will enable significant productivity and service level improvements, along with critical cost efficiencies." Infosys Compaz collaborated with StarHub to enable their IT transformation to help boost the quality, performance, availability, responsiveness, and cost efficiency of StarHub's foundational technology platform, while improving customer satisfaction and minimizing cyber risks. Kee Yaw Yee , CIO, StarHub, said, "We are excited to collaborate with Infosys Compaz to strengthen key components of our IT application and infrastructure landscape as we prepare for the future with a new IT operating model. StarHub's technology leadership, coupled with Infosys' deep domain competencies, local presence, and proven digital capabilities, will definitely strengthen and accelerate StarHub's digital journey, which augurs well for our DARE+ strategy and promises to benefit our customers." 4. Recognitions Recognized as one of the 2023 World's Most Ethical Companies by Ethisphere Positioned in the Leadership category of the Indian Corporate Governance Scorecard Assessment 2023 Recognized as a Global Top Employer 2023 by the Top Employers Institute Won the Gold Award at the Brandon Hall Group Excellence in Technology Awards Won the Sustainability 100+ Award for Carbon Neutrality under Climate Action category Won the Asset Triple A ESG Awards 2022 for Diversity and Inclusion Won the ICAI Sustainability Reporting Awards 2021-22 for Gender Equality Won the Economic Times Best Organisations for Women Award, 2023 Identified as a leader in 2022 ISG Provider Lens Digital Business Enablement and ESG Services in US, UK, Nordics, Germany , Australia and Brazil , and Positioned as a leader in Avasant's CPG Digital Services 2022-23 RadarView Positioned as a leader in Avasant's Hybrid Enterprise Cloud Services 2022-23 RadarView Rated as a leader in The Forrester Wave: Multicloud-Managed Services Providers, Q1 2023 Positioned as a leader in Everest Application and Digital Services (ADS) in Life and Annuity (L&A) Insurance PEAK Matrix Assessment 2023 Positioned as a leader in Everest Advanced Analytics and Insights (AA&I) Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2023 Positioned as a leader in Everest Digital Transformation Consulting Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2023 Rated as a leader in IDC Worldwide Manufacturing Intelligence Transformation 2023 Vendor Assessment Rated as a leader in IDC Worldwide Manufacturing Intelligence Transformation Strategic Consulting 2023 Vendor Assessment Rated as a leader in IDC MarketScape: Worldwide Professional Services Firms for Mining Operational Process Optimization 2023 Vendor Assessment Rated as a leader in IDC MarketScape: Asia/Pacific Intelligent Digital Workplace Services 2023 Vendor Assessment Ranked as a leader in HFS Horizons: The Best Service Providers for Retail Banking, 2023 Ranked as a leader in HFS Horizons: Digital Engineering Service Providers, 2023 Ranked as a leader in HFS Horizons: Metaverse Services Providers 2023 Positioned as a leader in Constellation ShortList Innovation Services and Engineering Positioned as a leader in Constellation ShortList Learning Marketplaces Positioned as a leader in Constellation ShortList Microsoft End-to-End Service Providers Rated as a leader in NelsonHall Financial Services Cloud NEAT, BPaas NEAT, and SaaS NEAT 2023 Recognized as the Top Service Provider Across Nordics in the Whitelane Research and PA Consulting IT Sourcing Study 2023 Infosys Finacle won the 'Best Core Banking System Initiative in partnership with Bank Raya' and 'Best Retail Bank in partnership with Axis Bank' at the Retail Banker International Asia Trial blazer Awards 2023 Infosys BPM recognized as a Leader & Star Performer in Everest Group Capital Markets Operations PEAK Matrix Assessment 2023 Infosys BPM recognized as a Leader in Everest Group Marketing Services PEAK Matrix Assessment 2023 Infosys BPM recognized as a Leader in the NelsonHall Financial Services Cloud, SaaS & BPaaS NEAT 2023 Infosys BPM and Rio Tinto won the SSON North America Impact Award 2023, in the Business Resiliency category Infosys BPM won the Best CSR Impact Award at the Corporate Social Responsibility Summit & Awards 2023 by UBS Forum About Infosys Infosys is a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting. Over 300,000 of our people work to amplify human potential and create the next opportunity for people, businesses and communities. With over four decades of experience in managing the systems and workings of global enterprises, we expertly steer clients, in more than 50 countries, as they navigate their digital transformation powered by the cloud. We enable them with an AI-powered core, empower the business with agile digital at scale and drive continuous improvement with always-on learning through the transfer of digital skills, expertise, and ideas from our innovation ecosystem. We are deeply committed to being a well-governed, environmentally sustainable organization where diverse talent thrives in an inclusive workplace. Visit www.infosys.com to see how Infosys (NSE, BSE, NYSE: INFY) can help your enterprise navigate your next. Safe Harbor This Release contains 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking statements generally relate to future events or our future financial or operating performance and that are based on our current expectations, assumptions, estimates and projections about the Company, our industry, economic conditions in the markets in which we operate, and certain other matters. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'may', 'anticipate', 'believe', 'estimate', 'expect', 'continue', 'intend', 'will', 'project', 'seek', 'could', 'would', 'should' and similar expressions. Those statements include, among other things, statements regarding our business strategy, our expectations concerning our market position, future operations, growth, margins, profitability, attrition, liquidity, and capital resources, our ESG vision, our capital allocation policy, the effects of COVID-19 on global economic conditions and our business and operations, wage increases, change in the regulations including immigration regulation and policies in the United States. These statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from those implied by the forward-looking statements. Additional risks that could affect our future operating results are more fully described in our United States Securities and Exchange Commission filings including our Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2022. These filings are available at www.sec.gov. Infosys may, from time to time, make additional written and oral forward-looking statements, including statements contained in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission and our reports to shareholders. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements that may be made from time to time by or on behalf of the Company unless it is required by law. Infosys Limited and subsidiaries Extracted from the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet under IFRS as at: (Dollars in millions) March 31, 2023 March 31, 2022 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 1,481 2,305 Current investments 841 880 Trade receivables 3,094 2,995 Unbilled revenue 1,861 1,526 Other Current assets 1,349 1,159 Total current assets 8,626 8,865 Non-current assets Property, plant and equipment and Right-of-use assets 2,516 2,429 Goodwill and other Intangible assets 1,095 1,042 Non-current investments 1,530 1,801 Unbilled revenue 176 124 Other non-current assets 1,369 1,294 Total non-current assets 6,686 6,690 Total assets 15,312 15,555 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Trade payables 470 545 Unearned revenue 872 834 Employee benefit obligations 292 288 Other current liabilities and provisions 3,135 2,766 Total current liabilities 4,769 4,433 Non-current liabilities Lease liabilities 859 607 Other non-current liabilities 460 521 Total non-current liabilities 1,319 1,128 Total liabilities 6,088 5,561 Total equity attributable to equity holders of the company 9,172 9,941 Non-controlling interests 52 53 Total equity 9,224 9,994 Total liabilities and equity 15,312 15,555 Extracted from the Condensed Consolidated statement of Comprehensive Income under IFRS for: (Dollars in millions except per equity share data) 3 months ended March 31, 2023 3 months ended March 31, 2022 Year ended March 31, 2023 Year ended March 31, 2022 Revenues 4,554 4,280 18,212 16,311 Cost of sales 3,164 2,955 12,709 10,996 Gross profit 1,390 1,325 5,503 5,315 Operating expenses: Selling and marketing expenses 202 179 776 692 Administrative expenses 231 226 902 868 Total operating expenses 433 405 1,678 1,560 Operating profit 957 920 3,825 3,755 Other income, net (3) 72 78 300 281 Profit before income taxes 1,029 998 4,125 4,036 Income tax expense 284 245 1,142 1,068 Net profit (before minority interest) 745 753 2,983 2,968 Net profit (after minority interest) 744 752 2,981 2,963 Basic EPS ($) 0.18 0.18 0.71 0.70 Diluted EPS ($) 0.18 0.18 0.71 0.70 NOTES : The above information is extracted from the audited condensed consolidated Balance sheet and Statement of Comprehensive Income for the quarter and year ended March 31, 2023 , which have been taken on record at the Board meeting held on April 13, 2023 . A Fact Sheet providing the operating metrics of the Company can be downloaded from www.infosys.com. Other income is net of Finance Cost. The quarter figures added up to the figures reported in previous quarters might not always add up to the year ended figures reported in this statement as all figures are taken from the source and rounded off to the nearest digits. IFRS-INR Press Release: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2022-2023/q4/documents/ifrs-inr-press-release.pdf Fact sheet: https://www.infosys.com/investors/reports-filings/quarterly-results/2022-2023/q4/documents/fact-sheet.pdf Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/633365/Infosys_Logo.jpg SOURCE Infosys Leading lawsuit funding company says dog bite injury applications are on the rise as plaintiffs seek out presettlement cash advances MORRISTOWN, N.J., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Legal-Bay, the premier pre settlement funding company, announced today that they are witnessing an influx in the number of lawsuit filings for dog bite injury claims nationwide. Emergency rooms in the U.S. see approximately 1000 dog bites per day, and around 14,000 people per year actually require hospitalization for more severe injuries. Many of these instances lead to lawsuits, the majority of which are eventually settled out of court. Instead of settling for a lowball offer from insurance companies, plaintiffs are turning toward lawsuit loans in order to withstand the long wait times of a backlogged court system. More plaintiffs than ever before are applying for loans for settlements. Legal-Bay expects to fulfill numerous settlement loans in the coming months. If you are a plaintiff or attorney involved in an active dog bite injury lawsuit and need an immediate cash advance against an impending lawsuit settlement, please visit Legal-Bay HERE or call toll-free at 877.571.0405. Chris Janish, CEO, commented, "The rise of dog ownership in the U.S. is also causing a rise in irresponsible actions by pet owners who aren't keeping their dogs contained. The resulting lawsuits from an attack can pay out high settlement amounts if the dog owner is properly insured. Our New Jersey underwriting team is well versed in how to achieve maximum funding advances for suffering plaintiffs." Legal-Bay remains vigilant in helping clients who have suffered dog bite injuries, but funds all types of loans for lawsuits including personal injury, medical malpractice, workers compensation, wrongful termination or incarceration, police brutality, sexual harassment, assault, or abuse, motor vehicle accidents, and more. Legal-Bay's loan settlement programs are designed to provide immediate cash in advance of a plaintiff's anticipated monetary award. The non-recourse law suit loanssometimes referred to as loans for lawsuit or loans on settlementare risk-free, as the money doesn't need to be repaid should the recipient lose their case. Therefore, the lawsuit loan isn't really a loan, but rather a cash advance. To apply right now for a settlement loan program, please visit the company's website HERE or call toll-free at: 877.571.0405 where agents are standing by. SOURCE Legal-Bay, LLC NEW YORK, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment market size is forecasted to increase by USD 684.75 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 4.42%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the rising population with risk factors for LGS (Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome), growing awareness of LGS, and orphan drug designation. Charts & data tables about market size and forecast period (2022-2026) have been covered in this report. Download the sample report Vendor analysis: Vendor offerings - Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Treatment Market 2022-2026 Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including Akron Children's Hospital, Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc., Aquestive Therapeutics Inc., Cedars-Sinai Health System, Cision Ltd, Eisai Co. Ltd., Epilepsy Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Lupin Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., UCB SA, Upsher Smith Laboratories LLC, Viatris Inc., and Johnson and Johnson. The key offerings of some of these vendors are listed below: Cedars-Sinai Health System - The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment that includes corpus callosotomy, which is used to treat atonic seizures. The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment that includes corpus callosotomy, which is used to treat atonic seizures. Cision Ltd - The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment that includes Onfi tablets, which are used to treat seizures. The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment that includes Onfi tablets, which are used to treat seizures. Eisai Co. Ltd. - The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment that includes valproate valproic acid, which is used against a wide spectrum of seizures. The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment that includes valproate valproic acid, which is used against a wide spectrum of seizures. Epilepsy Foundation - The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment, which is used to prevent seizures. The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment, which is used to prevent seizures. GlaxoSmithKline Plc - The company offers Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment that includes rotavirus vaccine, which is used to prevent rotavirus gastroenteritis. 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 market is segmented by type (non-surgical treatment and surgical treatment) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The non-surgical segment will account for a significant share of the market growth during the forecast period. Medications and ketogenic food are the non-surgical treatment plans recommended to mitigate the effects of LGS. Valproate, topiramate, and lamotrigine are some of the medications considered first-line therapies for the treatment of LGS. The adoption of such treatment options is expected to drive the growth of the non-surgical treatment segment during the forecast period. Recent drug approvals for the treatment of LGS will also augment market growth. Europe will account for 36% of the market's growth during the forecast period. Germany and UK are the key countries for the Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome treatment market in the region. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in other regions. North America will also be a key contributor to global market growth. Awareness about LGS is increasing across this region, especially in the US and Canada. Funding for research on LGS is also increasing in the region. These factors will support the growth of the market in North America during the forecast period. Get a holistic overview of the market segments by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the sample Market dynamics: Key drivers: Rising population with risk factors for LGS Growing awareness of LGS Orphan drug designation Cortical dysplasia, stroke, trauma, perinatal hypoxia, and tuberous sclerosis are the main risk factors for LGS. In addition, the number of patients with these medical conditions is increasing. Other risk factors include congenital infections and central nervous system infections, such as encephalitis and meningitis. The growing prevalence of these infectious diseases increases the risk of the development of LGS. As per the CDC data in 2018, approximately one out of every 200 babies was born with congenital cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in the US. Hence, a rise in the number of patients with these risk factors is expected to increase the prevalence of LGS, thereby driving the growth of the global LGS treatment market during the forecast period. Major Trends: Introduction of phytochemicals Advances in surgical treatments Strategic alliances Phytochemicals are biologically active compounds produced from plants. Phytochemical-based treatments have fewer side effects than chemical drugs. Therefore, some pharmaceutical companies have introduced plant-derived cannabinoid therapeutics for the treatment of patients with LGS, especially among those who are resistant to currently available treatments. For instance, in June 2018, GW Pharmaceuticals plc announced that the US FDA approved its EPIDIOLEX (cannabidiol) oral solution for the treatment of seizures associated with LGS in patients aged two years and above. Therefore, the introduction of phytochemicals will support market growth during the forecast period. Key challenges: Difficulty in diagnosing LGS Side effects associated with available treatment Increasing popularity of generics The effective treatment of LGS requires an accurate and early diagnosis. This is because the characteristics of LGS-related seizures and the features of electroencephalogram (EEG) are not pathognomonic. Moreover, to identify tonic seizures during sleep, along with the recording of surface electromyography, video recording, and EEG recording are required. Seizure types and EEG features of LGS, which are not static but evolve and alter over time, can also make diagnosing the disease difficult. Therefore, the lack of confirmatory diagnosis and other issues associated with the currently available diagnostics are expected to limit the growth of the global LGS treatment market during the forecast period. To get detailed insights about market drivers, challenges, and trends, buy the report What are the key data covered in this Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment 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 Lennox-Gastaut syndrome treatment market vendors Related Reports: The global Dravet syndrome treatment market size is estimated to grow by USD 575.14 million between 2022 and 2027, accelerating at a CAGR of 9.6%. This report extensively covers market segmentation by product (SDGs, TGDs, and FGDs), distribution channel (hospital pharmacy, retail pharmacy, e-commerce, and others), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). The chronic fatigue syndrome therapeutics market size is expected to increase by USD 51.84 million by 2026, and the market's growth momentum will progress at a CAGR of 4.31%. This market research report extensively covers market segmentation by product (pain relievers and NSAIDs, antidepressant and antipsychotic drugs, and antimicrobial and immunomodulatory drugs) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome Treatment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.42% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 684.75 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 3.34 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution Europe at 36% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, UK, and China Competitive landscape Leading vendors, market positioning of vendors, competitive strategies, and industry risks Key companies profiled Akron Children's Hospital, Amneal Pharmaceuticals Inc., Aquestive Therapeutics Inc., Cedars-Sinai Health System, Cision Ltd, Eisai Co. Ltd., Epilepsy Foundation, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Lupin Ltd, Sun Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd, Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc., Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd., UCB SA, Upsher Smith Laboratories LLC, Viatris Inc., and Johnson and Johnson Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio 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 Type 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 Type 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Type Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Type Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Type 5.3 Non-surgical treatment - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Non-surgical treatment - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Non-surgical treatment - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Non-surgical treatment - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Non-surgical treatment - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Surgical treatment - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Surgical treatment - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Surgical treatment - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Surgical treatment - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Surgical treatment - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Type Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Type ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: 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 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: 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 50: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 78: 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 79: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 80: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 81: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 82: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 83: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 84: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Cedars-Sinai Health System Exhibit 85: Cedars-Sinai Health System - Overview Exhibit 86: Cedars-Sinai Health System - Business segments Exhibit 87: Cedars-Sinai Health System - Key offerings Exhibit 88: Cedars-Sinai Health System - Segment focus 10.4 Cision Ltd Exhibit 89: Cision Ltd - Overview Exhibit 90: Cision Ltd - Product / Service Exhibit 91: Cision Ltd - Key offerings 10.5 Eisai Co. Ltd. Exhibit 92: Eisai Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 93: Eisai Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 94: Eisai Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 95: Eisai Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 10.6 Epilepsy Foundation Exhibit 96: Epilepsy Foundation - Overview Exhibit 97: Epilepsy Foundation - Product / Service Exhibit 98: Epilepsy Foundation - Key offerings 10.7 GlaxoSmithKline Plc Exhibit 99: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Overview Exhibit 100: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Business segments Exhibit 101: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key news Exhibit 102: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 103: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Segment focus 10.8 Johnson and Johnson Exhibit 104: Johnson and Johnson - Overview Exhibit 105: Johnson and Johnson - Business segments Exhibit 106: Johnson and Johnson - Key news Exhibit 107: Johnson and Johnson - Key offerings Exhibit 108: Johnson and Johnson - Segment focus 10.9 Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc. Exhibit 109: Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc. - Overview Exhibit 110: Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 111: Supernus Pharmaceuticals Inc. - Key offerings 10.10 Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Exhibit 112: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 113: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 114: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 115: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 116: Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. - Segment focus 10.11 UCB SA Exhibit 117: UCB SA - Overview Exhibit 118: UCB SA - Product / Service Exhibit 119: UCB SA - Key offerings 10.12 Upsher Smith Laboratories LLC Exhibit 120: Upsher Smith Laboratories LLC - Overview Exhibit 121: Upsher Smith Laboratories LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 122: Upsher Smith Laboratories LLC - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 123: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 124: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 125: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 126: Research methodology Exhibit 127: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 128: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 129: 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 RENO, Nev., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Avenue Capital (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, hosted a Family Resource Day event for its residents at Park on Virginia, a newly renovated property that offers high-quality homes for lower-income individuals and families in the Reno area. The Family Resource Day event offered residents an opportunity to enjoy outdoor activities and connect with local service organizations. Additional photos available upon request. "Lincoln Avenue Capital is committed to investing in underserved communities and providing opportunities to enrich the lives of our residents," said Lincoln Avenue Capital CEO Jeremy Bronfman. "We are proud to partner with some of Reno's leading social service organizations to help Park on Virginia residents discover important programs and resources in their community." The Family Resource Day featured representatives from local service providers including CCSNN, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada, Community Health Alliance, Community Services Agency, The Children's Cabinet, Nation's Finest, Northern Nevada HOPES, Tu Casa Latina, WCSD Parent University, and Liberty Dental. These groups shared information about the resources they offer, including assistance in health care, nutrition and wellness, early education and youth support, veteran programs, and emergency services. "We believe that providing stable homes is the most effective way Lincoln Avenue Capital can positively impact communities across the country where affordable housing is needed," said Rebecca Schultz, LAC Vice President of Asset Management. "Family Resource Days are one of the ways we build upon that impact by helping our residents make meaningful connections in their communities." LAC regularly hosts Family Resource Days at its affordable housing properties across the nation, offering residents the chance to engage with local service organizations, enjoy outdoor activities, and connect with their neighbors. About LAC: Lincoln Avenue Capital is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for lower- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. LAC is a mission-driven organization that serves residents across 22 states, with a portfolio of 119 properties comprising 21,000+ units. SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Capital NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global intimate apparel brand Knix, is excited to announce the launch of the 2023 Knix Swim Collection in conjunction with a live photoshoot on the sandy beaches of Mexico featuring notable friends of the brand. Knix Swim New Collection 2023 Knix is back with its biggest swim collection to-date and a new brand experience in Mexico. On this three day immersive experience in Mexico the Knix community was able to get an intimate, behind the scenes look at the new collection. Knix invited its customers to follow the brand as it produced a live photoshoot and campaign featuring Ashley Graham , Sarah Nicole Landry (The Bird's Papaya), Stephanie Shepherd , and other notable influencers including: Arielle Estoria , Amanda Hirsh and Taylor Giavasis . True to the brand's values of living unapologetically free and redefining the intimates industry, the shoot was totally unretouched encouraging the community to be confident and comfortable in their own skin. Knix's innovative products are made with patented technology, cutting edge processes and human-centric design intended for people to find products that transform how they feel by focusing on what they want and bringing revolutionary solutions to life for them. The new collection reflects the brand's mission to encourage its community to live with confidence through innovative products. This season Knix is empowering their community to swim, sunbathe and move with products that keeps them worry-free. The overall collection includes a variety of Leakproof and non-Leakproof one-piece silhouettes, a number of bikini top styles, as well as Leakproof and non-Leakproof bikini bottom styles, giving customers hundreds of style combinations to mix and match. The Knix Swim Collection launched April 12, 2023 and retails between $125 CAD/$100 USD to $50 CAD / $45 USD. The collection is available in sizes XS-XXXXL+ and comes in seven colors and patterns. To view the new Knix Swim Collection please click here . About Knix Knix is a direct-to-consumer intimates and apparel brand. Through innovative products and a community-first approach, Knix is on a mission to empower people everywhere to live unapologetically free. Every product, campaign and image that Knix puts into the world is tied to this mission that has been embedded in the company's DNA since day one. Founded in 2013, by Joanna Griffiths, Knix is one of the fastest growing DTC brands in North America and is globally recognized as an innovator and disrupter within the apparel space. SOURCE Knix CEO of Axia Women's Health Brings Vast Experience in Health Provider Operations and Value-Based Care to National Membership-Based Primary Care Network BOCA RATON, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MDVIP, the market leader in personalized healthcare with a network of over 1,100 primary care physicians nationwide, today announced the appointment of Gaurov Dayal, M.D., CEO of Axia Women's Health and a recognized thought leader in value-based care, to its board of directors. Dr. Dayal brings over two decades of executive experience in population health and physician group, health plan and hospital operations to the MDVIP board. Dr. Dayal brings extensive experience in health provider operations and value-based care to the MDVIP board. Tweet this MDVIP appoints Gaurov Dayal, M.D., CEO of Axia Womens Health, to its board of directors. "Gaurov has been at the forefront of transforming care delivery by aligning doctors, hospital systems and other industry stakeholders around the common goal of improving patient health," said MDVIP Chairman and CEO Bret Jorgensen. "We are pleased to welcome him to our board and believe his wealth of knowledge will have a tremendous impact on advancing MDVIP's core mission and strategic growth priorities." As CEO of Axia Women's Health, Dr. Dayal is responsible for leading one of the largest independent women's health networks in the U.S. comprised of over 500 providers across 200 locations. Prior to joining Axia, he was President and COO of EversideHealth, one of the nation's largest direct primary care providers operating 380 health centers in 34 states. His previous executive experience includes roles as President, New Markets and Chief Growth Officer at ChenMed, where he was instrumental in leading their national expansion. Earlier in his career, he held positions at Lumeris, SSM Health Care and Adventist Health Care and also served as a consultant at McKinsey and Company. Dr. Dayal completed his undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University, his medical degree at Northwestern University and residency training at Washington University in St. Louis. "MDVIP is an outstanding example of an innovative primary care model that is improving outcomes and reducing total costs to the healthcare system through an emphasis on prevention and the patient experience," said Dr. Dayal. "I am honored to accept this role and look forward to working with the MDVIP team to continue the company's momentum. Given its strengths, the business is positioned for even greater success in an era of value-based care as it furthers its mission to help members lead healthier, more vibrant lives." Studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals demonstrate that patients in MDVIP-affiliated practices have better health outcomes compared to those in traditional practices. A study in the American Journal of Managed Care found Medicare patients who joined MDVIP were hospitalized 79% less than non-MDVIP members, and patients with commercial insurance were hospitalized 72% less. This equates to an estimated savings of $600 million for Medicare per year. Research also showed 40% more patients were identified at risk for heart attack or stroke using advanced testing in the MDVIP Wellness Program than standard cholesterol tests. About MDVIP MDVIP leads the market in membership-based healthcare that goes far beyond concierge medicine services with a national network of more than 1,100 primary care physicians serving over 380,000 patients. Published research shows that the MDVIP model identifies more patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, delivers more preventive health services and saves the healthcare system hundreds of millions of dollars through reduced hospitalizations and readmissions. In response to growing consumer demand for a more personalized healthcare experience, hospital systems are incorporating the MDVIP model into their primary care offering. MDVIP also partners with employers to offer an executive health program as a benefit to their employees. The company has been certified by Great Place to Work since 2018 and is recognized by Fortune as one of the 2022 Best Workplaces in Healthcare. For more information, visit www.mdvip.com. Follow MDVIP on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Nancy Udell 561-310-5455 [email protected] SOURCE MDVIP "By making the Medica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope free for rural and underserved patients, we aim to accelerate awareness of and access to more a compelling remote healthcare option for those who need it the most," said Stephen Randall, CEO of Medaica. "We believe that telehealth's ultimate potential will be realized when millions of patients can be examined as effectively on-line as they can in clinic. Consumerizing the stethoscope is the first step in making that a reality, while reducing the burden of understaffed clinics." Nearly 80% of rural America is medically underserved. With fewer than 40 physicians per 100,000 people, a problem that is getting worse every year as the population gets older and more healthcare workers leave the profession. 2 Physician demand continues to outstrip supply, leading to a projected shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034 with the most alarming gaps in primary care and rural communities, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges.3 Dr. Jennifer Pena, former White House physician under both the Obama and Trump administrations and member of the American Telemedicine Association's Advisory Group to Eliminate Healthcare Disparities and Inequalities, who recently joined Medaica as its Chief Medical Officer commented, "Prior to the Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope, the ability to auscultate a patient using telehealth was expensive and complicated. Giving patients a simple and free FDA-cleared stethoscope for remote telehealth exams is a game changer, especially for the many who can't so easily travel to the clinic." The Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope is bundled with Medaica Telehealth+, a complete digital diagnostics and telehealth solution for providers. For interoperability with existing telehealth systems, M1 can be used without requiring any specific customization or integration. Healthcare providers seeking more details on how the Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope and Medaica Telehealth+ can enhance telehealth offerings, please contact [email protected] or visit www.medaica.com. FDA 510(k) Summary: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf22/K223166.pdf National Rural Health Association: https://www.ruralhealth.us/about-nrha/about-rural-health-care American Association of Medical Colleges (2021): https://www.aamc.org/media/54681/download About Medaica Medaica is a digital health company, extending the reach and capability of home diagnostics. The company's mission is to enable affordable access to quality healthcare for everyone. Medaica's products include the FDA-cleared Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope and Medaica Telehealth+, a remote diagnostics and telehealth platform. Medaica is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada, with offices in London and Madrid. For more information visit medaica.com Medaica, Medaica Telehealth+ and Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope are trademarks of Medaica Inc. SOURCE Medaica MARLBOROUGH, Mass., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Metamagnetics Inc., a leading provider of RF magnetics solutions for the aerospace, defense, and commercial telecommunications industries, has announced new executive leadership. Vince Harris has taken on the role of Chief Executive Officer, and Lee Burns has been promoted to President and Chief Operating Officer. Harris, who founded Metamagnetics in 2008, has provided much of the foundational research underlying Metamagnetics' innovative technologies. Harris is also the Chairman of the company's Board of Directors. In addition, Harris is a University Distinguished and Chair Professor at Northeastern University. He is the former head of the Naval Research Laboratory's Materials Physics Branch. Under Harris and Burns' leadership, Metamagnetics will continue to build out its promising product and engineering businesses. Tweet this Burns is a long-time Metamagnetics veteran and was previously the company's VP of Operations. Burns has considerable expertise in crystal growth and ferrite materials, as well as manufacturing for specialized defense and aerospace components, critical areas for the company's product scaling. Prior to Metamagnetics, Burns was the head of production and operations for CVD Inc., a supplier of advanced materials to the semiconductor industry. "I am tremendously excited to be assuming the Chief Executive role at this important moment in the company's trajectory," said Vince Harris. "I believe Metamagnetics has a breakthrough technology solution and capability that is absolutely vital for our customers in the defense and security landscapes and beyond. We are now positioned to commercialize all of the promising research and engineering achievements that we have made over the last several years." "Lee is exactly the right person to help me lead and manage operations at Metamagnetics. Beyond his unique grasp of the complexity of our products and the processes through which they are made, Lee is the embodiment of our company values, and has unparallel commitment to our customers and employees. I am fortunate to be moving forward in 2023 with such a talented executive as Lee." Under Harris and Burns' leadership, Metamagnetics will continue to build out its promising product and engineering businesses. The company recently received several major contract awards, including a $11M award for a major US Navy modernization program for secured communications. About Metamagnetics Metamagnetics is a fast-growth company developing breakthrough technology for aerospace, defense, and commercial telecommunications markets. The company develops high-frequency components used in the most advanced surveillance, intelligence, and communications systems. Its customers include the US Department of Defense, NASA, major aerospace/defense prime contractors and leading commercial companies. Metamagnetics is based in the Boston metropolitan area. Press Contact Meghann Fasolino Sr. Marketing Manager 261 Cedar Hill Street Marlborough, MA 01752 774-399-6203 SOURCE Metamagnetics The 1960s classic detective series Maigret from the United Kingdom will continue to roll out on MHz Choice with two additional seasons WASHINGTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The French drama-comedy Nona and her Daughters (Gaumont), a series Variety named a top "French TV Series to Watch", will debut in May on MHz Choice as a limited series with nine half-hour episodes. The venerable actress and ten-time Cesar Award nominee, Miou-Miou (Memoirs of a French Whore and This Sweet Sickness) stars as family matriarch, Nona, who runs a planned parenthood clinic in Paris. Soon after discovering Nona's pregnancy, her 44-year-old daughters return to the family apartment at the foot of Montmartre in a show of support: Gabrielle (Clotilde Hesme, Lupin), the uptight sexologist; Emanuelle (Virginie Ledoyen, The Beach), who did everything she could to disavow her feminist mother; and George (Valerie Donzelli, Shelter), the virgin and doctoral student who refuses to leave childhood behind. The French drama-comedy "Nona and her Daughters" is a series Variety named a top "French TV Series to Watch". Tweet this The venerable actress and ten-time Cesar Award nominee, Miou-Miou ("Memoirs of a French Whore" and "This Sweet Sickness") stars as family matriarch, Nona in "Nona and Her Daughters" on MHz Choice. Valerie Donzelli both acts in and makes her television directorial debut with Nona. She considers motherhood as both a "super-power and a super poison" and created the series as a way to explore familial relationships over time. The series explores both motherhood as well as family feminism. The female-led production also includes a chorus of male roles--the comical doctor, the devoted midwife, the clumsy secret lover, the unstable researcher, and the baffled husband. Also premiering this month are a pair of French crime dramas with Unclaimed (Mediawan) and Under Law and Grace. The detective duo of Under Law and Grace is an odd match even for police drama standards, with a criminologist who is also a devout Monastery resident teaming up with a police captain who has long been skeptical of religion. The British 1960s classic detective series Maigret (Kino Lorber) will continue to roll out in May with two additional seasons. Also returning to MHz Choice are Homicide Hills (Germany, Beta Films), fan-favorite Alice Nevers (France, Mediawan) and a slate of new movies from across Europe in the Movie of the Week collection. Full May Schedule available here: https://mhzchoice.com/premiere-schedule/ About MHz Networks MHz Networks offers viewers in the U.S. and Canada access to a library of the best television mysteries, dramas, comedies and documentaries subtitled in English through its subscription streaming service, MHz Choice. Select MHz Networks content is also available on DVD and on its free ad-supported service MHz Now, available on Samsung TV Plus, Plex, TCL and Stremium. New MHz Choice customers receive a free 7-Day Trial. For more information, go to mhzchoice.com. MAY 2 NONA AND HER DAUGHTERS, FRANCE, GAUMONT, NEW SERIES Nona is a 70-year old matriarch who runs a planned parenthood clinic in Paris and discovers she's pregnant! Her grown triplet daughters move back into their childhood apartment under the pretenses of caring for Nona, who is resistant to all the fuss. MAIGRET, UNITED KINGDOM, KINO LORBER, NEW SEASON The pragmatic, reserved and refined Maigret investigates murders in his singular unhurried manner. Based on the Maigret novels and stories by Georges Simenon and first broadcast on the BBC in the United Kingdom from 1960-63. MAY 9 HOMICIDE HILLS, GERMANY, BETA FILMS, NEW SEASON Detective Sophie Haas is transferred from Cologne to the fictional rural town of Hengasch in the Eifel mountains. Once there, she leads a comically small police force which investigates more black eyes than bodies. Disappointed by the lack of murders, she is determined to pursue every last lead. MAY 16 ALICE NEVERS, FRANCE, MEDIAWAN, NEW SEASON A mainstay of French TV characters, Alice Nevers is an admired and effective criminal prosecutor. She has both a professional and personal partnership with police captain Fred Marquand as they investigate crimes in Paris that often shed light on the larger societal issues of the day. MAY 23 UNCLAIMED, FRANCE, MEDIAWAN, NEW SERIES In this French thriller, a police task force specializes in murder cases involving unidentified victims. MAIGRET, UNITED KINGDOM, KINO LORBER, NEW SEASON The pragmatic, reserved and refined Maigret investigates murders in his singular unhurried manner. Based on the Maigret novels and stories by Georges Simenon and first broadcast on the BBC in the United Kingdom from 1960-63. MAY 30 UNDER LAW AND GRACE, FRANCE, FRANCE TV, NEW SERIES Police captain Elli Talleb is a self described atheist who is also the primary caregiver for her younger siblings. Brother Clement is a criminologist who lives his life inside the Monastery walls. Their reliably different perspective about the world is ultimately the pair's greatest strength. MOVIE OF THE WEEK, VARIOUS, NEW SEASON Expand your horizons with a new international TV movie every week: drama, comedy, romance, fantasy, mystery and thrills. Vive la France and beyond! SOURCE MHz Networks The city of Denver shut down the original Quiznos restaurant at 1275 N. Grant St. for non-payment of taxes, according to notices posted on the restaurants front door. First opened in 1981, the restaurants street sign still notes The first location 1981. Signs posted on the door show the owner is behind $12,341 in sale taxes, and another showing $812 due for an occupational privilege tax. The restaurants owner is listed as Dominik Mendoza, who apparently owns several Quiznos locations including a recently redesigned one in Hobbs, New Mexico, under the company name CF Lifestyles Investments LLC. Mendoza could not be immediately reached for comment Thursday. But a Quiznos spokesperson said Thursday the closure is not permanent. The restaurant has closed temporarily while ownership is transitioned to a new franchisee," according to the statement via email. "As the original Quiznos shop, the location holds a special place in the brands story and is a beloved community staple. We look forward to having the location reopened soon and welcoming back guests. According to a May 2022 story on verdictfoodservices.com, Denver-based REGO Restaurant Group, the owner of the Quiznos and Taco Del Mar restaurant brands, entered into a development agreement with Dominik and Monica Mendoza and CF Lifestyles to build restaurants across Denver. The stores previous franchise owner, Adam Sinnard, told BusinessDen in 2020 that the property tax bills were crushing, as the sites assessed value had shot up 160% in recent years resulting in a $25,510 annual tax bill. Trust me, I was the last one who wanted to be the guy who let the first Quiznos close, Sinnard told BusinessDen after he renewed the restaurant's lease on Grant Street. The restaurants phone number no longer works, and Google shows its temporarily closed. A spokesperson for the City and County of Denver's Department of Finance said the action the city took is called a "distraint warrant." Those "only happen as a last resort, which is when it is made public only by posting on the door of the business," Josh Rosenbloom, spokesman, said. "Before we issue them, we do everything we possibly can to ensure businesses can keep going without such a warrant including reaching out by phone, mail, email and in person and in most instances were willing to discuss any issues folks have as well in person, over the phone, or virtually. "We want Denvers businesses to succeed and that means offering the best customer service we can to them." Denver Gazette Audience Development Specialist Stephen Barr contributed to this story. A Henry Ford College Integrated Energy Master Plan, supported by a $3.1 million appropriation secured by Senator Debbie Stabenow , includes replacement of a 60-year-old network with a modern district heating solution and a new Living Learning Energy Center for workforce innovation. Results are expected to include at least 60% energy and 40% water efficiency gains, along with a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program grant transforms the campus and its systems into a living classroom leading to new career pathways for Henry Ford College students. MILWAUKEE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), alongside leaders from Henry Ford College (HFC), Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) and Garforth International, today celebrated a $3.1 million appropriation to support a sustainability initiative that demonstrates how schools, cities and organizations across the U.S. can reach their net zero targets, as well as train the next generation of energy leadership. With an Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) as the cornerstone of the campus transformation, HFC will reach its net zero targets while providing students with an unprecedented educational experience. The Living Learning Classroom experience will support emerging career pathways and foster innovators who will create a more sustainable energy future. "Henry Ford College has an impressive track record of training students for jobs of the future. This project strengthens that track record by giving students hands-on experience and training with state-of-the-art clean energy equipment, while benefiting the College with greater energy efficient systems. That's why I was so excited to secure these funds in last year's federal budget," said Senator Stabenow. The IEMP sets the stage for breakthrough results well ahead of HFC's target date of 2040. These include increasing energy efficiency by 60%, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% and increasing water use efficiency by over 40%. The immediate energy transformation includes the following upgrades at the 75-acre main campus: Heating System: A lower-temperature district energy network, which replaces the 60-year-old inefficient high-temperature system Air Handling Upgrades: Extensive improvements to air handling equipment for better control, comfort and air quality Controls and Metering: A campus-wide system upgrade to allow real-time optimization of the College's energy performance, as well as addressing occupant comfort Lighting: Upgraded to LED lighting campus-wide Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Arrays: Generating clean power from the sun Water Conservation: Upgraded water fixtures, toilets and zero-water landscaping Future-forward curriculum fosters next generation of energy leaders The IEMP is leading the industry forward in its transition to a more comprehensive response for energy-related curriculum, through which students will learn in real time by observing and interacting with the College's own systems. The "living learning classroom" will open new career pathways for students interested in entering a rapidly growing field. HFC's programs offer a one-year major for technicians, a two-year major for project managers and a path to a bachelor's degree in energy production. Graduates will enter the workforce prepared for careers that will provide family-sustaining wages and foster financial equity. "At Henry Ford College, our mission is student success in all its forms," said Russ Kavalhuna, president, Henry Ford College. "We are grateful to Senator Stabenow for her unwavering support, and for her hard work in securing this appropriation, which will support our students in valuable ways. We believe a better future for our students and community includes a healthy planet, community, and a sustainable energy model. This is one reason we are pleased to partner with companies like Johnson Controls to invest in the sustainability of our facilities and the career pathways of our students. We hope our College will serve as a model to like-minded institutions that are ready to embark on their own sustainable energy and curricular innovation journeys." The creation and expansion of HFC's Energy Technology Program is supported by the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program, a major philanthropic initiative aimed at investing some $15 million in community colleges across North America. In total nearly $3 million has been committed to colleges throughout North America, of which $190,000 has been donated to HFC since 2021 to support more than 50 students interested in energy-related careers. The funding also supports scholarships and builds connections with Detroit-based high schools to encourage interest among prospective students. Johnson Controls will give priority consideration for employment to graduates of the program as the company continues its drive to bring new and diverse talent to a vital industry shaping the future of our communities and the planet. "We are honored to partner with forward-thinking higher education institutions to foster the next generation of sustainability experts," said Chuck McGinnis, vice president, North America Sustainable Infrastructure, Johnson Controls. "We're thrilled to see how Henry Ford College, a member of the inaugural cohort of schools in the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program, is leveraging its funds to deploy an IEMP that leads the way in net zero higher education, contributes to a growing field and supports the workforce in its surrounding community." To date, the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program has awarded $2.9 million in grants to 20 community colleges throughout North America, supporting more than 1,750 students through scholarships, toolkits, curriculum support, Johnson Controls employee mentors and more. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/corporatesustainability/community/philanthropy/community-college-partnership. About Johnson Controls At Johnson Controls (NYSE:JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. Today, with a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world's largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. Visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information, and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms. About Henry Ford College Henry Ford College (HFC) in Dearborn, Mich., is a comprehensive, accredited public college serving 12,000 enrolled students. HFC has been successfully preparing students for a rapidly changing world since 1938 and today offers more than 150 high-quality associate degree, career, certificate and university transfer programs. The College also offers a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Studies, as well as 3+1 programs with university partners. HFC provides customized workforce development training for business and industry. Visit hfcc.edu for more details or look for us on social media. CONTACT: Kari Pfisterer, [email protected] SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc DUBLIN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Middle East Defense Competitive Landscape Overview" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report provides an overview of the portfolio of ten leading local and international defense conglomerates acting within the region (both among the GCC countries and in Israel) alongside other leading OEMs from the United States and Europe. The Middle East defense market is in the midst of a transformation driven both by regional and international geostrategic processes and by the changing national security needs of the countries in the region. Among these is the intensification of the Iranian military's emerging challenges, which requires a response in all military clusters. The main trends shaping the market include a need for a multi-dimensional and multi-disciplinary concept of operations (ConOps) for the use of military force (with an emphasis on deepening digitization and AI and C4ISR capabilities). Additionally, US-Saudi tensions accelerate localization trends and offset processes in domestic markets, which is impacting and enforcing business model adjustments on behalf of competitors in the market. All this is occurring alongside a controlled but stable increase in the regional defense budget. This report is based on primary and secondary research and focuses on the current key transactions of leading regional defense vendors. It also points out the emerging opportunities in the market concerning regional competitive trends and the changing competitive landscape, particularly in light of the Russian defense industry's decreasing regional reputation in light of the Russo-Ukrainian war and the market impact of the historic Abraham Accords. A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes EDGE Group ELBIT SYSTEMS IAI Lockheed Martin Raytheon Technologies SAAB SAMI Thales Group Key Topics Covered 1. Strategic Imperatives Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives on the Middle East Defense Industry Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine 2. What You Need to Know First Trends Challenges Geostrategic Impacts on the Middle East Defense Market Middle East Defense Market-leading Trends 3. Growth Opportunity Analysis Defense Budget Forecast Growth Drivers Growth Restraints 4. Market Scope Market Segmentation Key Competitors in the Middle East Defense Market 5. Leading Global & Regional Defense OEMs Middle East Defense Market, Lockheed Martin, 2022-2025 Middle East Defense Market, Raytheon Technologies, 2022-2025 Middle East Defense Market, SAAB, 2022-2025 Middle East Defense Market, Thales Group, 2022-2025 Middle East Defense Market, IAI, 2022-2025 Middle East Defense Market, ELBIT SYSTEMS, 2022-2025 Middle East Defense Market, EDGE Group, 2022-2025 Middle East Defense Market, SAMI, 2022-2025 GCC Indigenous Defense Conglomerates Current Capabilities, 2022 6. Growth Opportunity Universe UAE EDGE to Expand A&D Opportunities in the ME Defense Market Saudi SAMI Defense OEM to Expand A&D Opportunities in the ME Defense Market Russian Defense Industry Severely Impacted by War Generates New Business Potential Regional Defense Regulation to Shape Near-future Business Opportunities For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/rnv58s 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 The Melbourne Theronastic Innovation Centre, in partnership with Siemens Healthineers and MIM Software, will provide patients with access to a platform that will facilitate faster prognosis and personalized therapy using the world's most sensitive whole-body PET/CT scanner. CLEVELAND, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MIM Software Inc., a leading global provider of medical imaging software, is proud to support the efforts of the Melbourne Theronastic Innovation Centre (MTIC) in Melbourne, Victoria as they launch the use of the Siemens Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT , one of the few such "all-organ" scanners in the world. "MIM Software is proud to partner with MTIC to enable earlier detection of high-risk cancers." Tweet this MIM Software partners with Melbourne Theronastic Innovation Centre (MTIC) in Melbourne, Victoria to launch all-organ PET/CT scanner for patient-specific precision medicine. MIM Encore and MIM SurePlan MRT facilitate diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, supporting MTIC's vision for cancer research innovation. With the implementation of this new technology, the MTIC will strive to provide patient-specific precision medicine based on detailed disease characteristics using a combination of advanced molecular imaging tools and selective genomic analysis. In this regard, MIM Software is excited to serve as the backbone for the enterprise's diagnostic and therapeutic decision pathway. The partnership will also empower MTIC's long-term vision of accelerating translational research and innovation in clinical practice to meet the ever-changing needs of cancer diagnosis and therapy. MTIC will be supported by MIM Encore and MIM SurePlan MRT at an enterprise level, facilitating AI-based tumor identification and segmentation using Contour ProtegeAI and voxel-based dosimetry for accurate analysis of the dosimetric impact throughout a patient's treatment regimen. "We're proud to partner with MTIC to revolutionize cancer care. Our technology will enable earlier detection of high-risk cancers with a focus on personalized care," said Kanak Chatterjee, Vice President of International Business Development at MIM Software, Inc. "We're committed to supporting MTIC's mission to increase patient access to innovative solutions and improve their outcomes. I am confident that together with the indomitable team at MTIC, we will create game-changing approaches to meet the needs of cancer patients worldwide." "With the 'all organ' dynamic imaging capability of the Siemens Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT, there has never been a greater opportunity or need for tools to capture the rich data intrinsic in real-time molecular biological processes," said Rod Hicks, Founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Medical Officer at MTIC." I can't imagine looking at these data without the powerful software provided by MIM and look forward to partnering with their fantastic team in further enhancing our ability to extract information that better informs patient care." About MIM Software Inc. MIM Software Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Cleveland, OH, with international offices in Beijing, Chengdu, and Brussels. MIM Software sells its products globally to imaging centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, research organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. The company's products are used in over 3,500 centers worldwide. MIM Software Inc. is committed to enhancing patient care by providing customer-centered and innovative imaging solutions in the fields of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Neuroimaging, Cardiac Imaging, and Radiation Oncology. To learn more, visit www.mimsoftware.com . About MTIC Being co-located with the Australian Prostate Centre[RH1], MTIC delivers advanced diagnostic services for patients with known or suspected cancers of the prostate, bladder, or kidney and access to clinical trials of novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents for these and other cancers. Read more at www.mtic.net.au/advanced-diagnosis . SOURCE MIM Software Inc. NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The motion sickness drugs market size is forecasted to increase by USD 119.64 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 4.15%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the availability of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, the availability of drugs in multiple dosage forms, and growing tourism worldwide. Get a comprehensive report summary describing the market size and forecast along with research methodology. Download the Sample Report Vendor Analysis Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Motion Sickness Drugs Market The global motion sickness drugs market is fragmented due to the presence of several large and small players that offer branded and generic motion sickness drugs. Considering the patent expiry of major drugs over the past few years, generic players have a significant role in the market, which has intensified the competition among vendors in the market. The global motion sickness drugs market is currently witnessing an increasing demand-supply imbalance. To fill this gap, the US FDA has listed a scopolamine transdermal patch on its drug shortage list. The market has witnessed the entry of generic players that could cater to the rising demand for scopolamine. However, these players have opted out of motion sickness drug manufacturing. Considering the high demand-supply imbalance, the market is anticipated to witness the entry of new players during the forecast period, which will further intensify the competition among vendors. Some of the key vendors covered in the report include: Aurobindo Pharma Ltd Baxter International Inc. Caleb Pharmaceuticals Inc Cipla Ltd. CVS Health Corp. DM Pharma Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd GlaxoSmithKline Plc Hylands Johnson & Johnson Lupin Ltd Merck KGaA Myungmoon Pharm Co. Ltd. Perrigo Co. Plc Pfizer Inc. Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. Reliefband Technologies LLC Viatris Inc. WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp. Zenomed Healthcare Pvt. Ltd Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio - Buy the 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. Get a holistic overview of the motion sickness drugs market from industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample Market Segmentation: The market is segmented by product (anticholinergics and antihistamines) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (ROW)). The market growth in anticholinergics will be significant during the forecast period. The segment is driven by the use of anticholinergic drugs such as hyoscine hydrobromide or scopolamine for the prevention of motion sickness. Hyoscine is one of the most potent drugs used for the prophylaxis of motion sickness. It is a naturally occurring alkaloid that competitively binds to muscarinic receptors and inhibits the release of acetylcholine. It can penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) due to its lipophilic nature, thus exhibiting both central as well as parasympathetic effects. Such factors are driving the growth of the segment. North America will account for 41% of the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of the regional market is driven by the presence of large pharmaceutical companies that offer both branded and generic motion sickness drugs. The presence of a proper regulatory framework for the approval of new drugs is also contributing to the growth of the motion sickness drugs market in North America . Market Dynamics: Key Drivers: Availability of over-the-counter (OTC) drugs Availability of drugs in multiple dosage forms Growing tourism worldwide The market has several branded as well as generic OTC drugs for the treatment of motion sickness. There are several antihistamines available as OTC drugs for the prevention of symptoms of motion sickness. These drugs are sold directly to patients without the need for a prescription from a healthcare professional. This has increased the accessibility and the freedom of self-medication for the treatment of symptoms associated with minor illnesses. The availability of OTC drugs has also reduced the financial burden associated with medication, as it eliminates the need for a prescription. Many such benefits are increasing the availability as well as the sales of OTC drugs for the treatment of motion sickness, which is driving the growth of the market. Major Trends: Advent of nauseogenic information technology Rising trend of virtual reality Growing research on psychosomatic disorders The advent of nauseogenic information technology has increased the understanding of neurophysiology and the parts of the brain involved in motion sickness. The technology has provided vital insights for the future development of effective drugs for the treatment of the condition. The research and application of this technology in this area are currently in their early stages. Further advances in nauseogenic information technology are expected to result in the development of effective drugs, which will positively impact the growth of the market. Key Challenges: Non-pharmacological countermeasures to treat motion sickness Launch of generics Side-effects associated with motion sickness drugs There are several non-pharmacological substitutes for the treatment of motion sickness. For example, habitual training involves exposing the subject to prolonged periods of motion stimulation. The training can last for up to several weeks. Repeated exposure to motion simulation can be beneficial in achieving the linear acceleration of acquiring motion sickness habituation. Some studies have revealed that preflight virtual reality training is also helpful in overcoming motion sickness. Other habituation training methods include the use of a revolving chair, winding stair, idler wheel, and swings. Similarly, behavioral training involves the use of a forward-looking vision to a distant horizon to alleviate the symptoms of motion sickness in individuals. Thus, the availability of such non-pharmacological countermeasures will challenge the growth of the market. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform What are the key data covered in this motion sickness drugs market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the motion sickness drugs market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the motion sickness drugs market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the motion sickness 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 motion sickness drugs market vendors Related Reports: The pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) drugs market size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.62% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecasted to increase by USD 2,080.07 million . It is segmented by route of administration (oral, injectable, and inhalation), action mechanism (prostacyclin analogs, endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAS), phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators (SGCSS)), and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)). size is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.62% between 2022 and 2027. The market size is forecasted to increase by . It is segmented by route of administration (oral, injectable, and inhalation), action mechanism (prostacyclin analogs, endothelin receptor antagonists (ERAS), phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors, and soluble guanylate cyclase stimulators (SGCSS)), and geography ( , , , and Rest of World (ROW)). The obsessive-compulsive disorder drugs market size is expected to increase by USD 266.78 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.55%. The market is segmented by product (SSRI, TSA, and others) and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)). Motion Sickness Drugs Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.15% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 119.64 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 3.67 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 41% Key countries US, Canada, UK, Germany, and China Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, Baxter International Inc., Caleb Pharmaceuticals Inc, Cipla Ltd., CVS Health Corp., DM Pharma, Dr Reddys Laboratories Ltd, GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Hylands, Johnson and Johnson, Lupin Ltd, Merck KGaA, Myungmoon Pharm Co. Ltd., Perrigo Co. Plc, Pfizer Inc., Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc., Reliefband Technologies LLC, Viatris Inc., WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp., and Zenomed Healthcare Pvt. Ltd Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse through 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: 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 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 Anticholinergics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Anticholinergics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Anticholinergics - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Anticholinergics - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Anticholinergics - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Antihistamines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Antihistamines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Antihistamines - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Antihistamines - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Antihistamines - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Product Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Product ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 44: Chart on North America - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: 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 46: Chart on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: 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 50: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 51: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 52: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 53: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 54: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 55: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 56: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 57: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 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 (%) 7.11 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 (%) 7.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 78: 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 79: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 80: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 81: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 82: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 83: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 84: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Baxter International Inc. Exhibit 85: Baxter International Inc. - Overview Exhibit 86: Baxter International Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 87: Baxter International Inc. - Key news Exhibit 88: Baxter International Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 89: Baxter International Inc. - Segment focus 10.4 Caleb Pharmaceuticals Inc Exhibit 90: Caleb Pharmaceuticals Inc - Overview Exhibit 91: Caleb Pharmaceuticals Inc - Product / Service Exhibit 92: Caleb Pharmaceuticals Inc - Key offerings 10.5 GlaxoSmithKline Plc Exhibit 93: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Overview Exhibit 94: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Business segments Exhibit 95: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 96: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Segment focus 10.6 Johnson and Johnson Exhibit 97: Johnson and Johnson - Overview Exhibit 98: Johnson and Johnson - Business segments Exhibit 99: Johnson and Johnson - Key news Exhibit 100: Johnson and Johnson - Key offerings Exhibit 101: Johnson and Johnson - Segment focus 10.7 Myungmoon Pharm Co. Ltd. Exhibit 102: Myungmoon Pharm Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 103: Myungmoon Pharm Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 104: Myungmoon Pharm Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 10.8 Perrigo Co. Plc Exhibit 105: Perrigo Co. Plc - Overview Exhibit 106: Perrigo Co. Plc - Business segments Exhibit 107: Perrigo Co. Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 108: Perrigo Co. Plc - Segment focus 10.9 Pfizer Inc. Exhibit 109: Pfizer Inc. - Overview Exhibit 110: Pfizer Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 111: Pfizer Inc. - Key news Exhibit 112: Pfizer Inc. - Key offerings 10.10 Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. Exhibit 113: Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. - Overview Exhibit 114: Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 115: Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 116: Prestige Consumer Healthcare Inc. - Segment focus 10.11 Reliefband Technologies LLC Exhibit 117: Reliefband Technologies LLC - Overview Exhibit 118: Reliefband Technologies LLC - Product / Service Exhibit 119: Reliefband Technologies LLC - Key offerings 10.12 WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp. Exhibit 120: WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp. - Overview Exhibit 121: WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp. - Product / Service Exhibit 122: WellSpring Pharmaceutical Corp. - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 123: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 124: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 125: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 126: Research methodology Exhibit 127: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 128: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 129: 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 DALLAS, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc., a clinical-stage biotechnology company developing gene therapies for retinal degenerative diseases, today announced that its Multi-Characteristic Opsin (MCO) gene therapy platform will be featured in three presentations at the ARVO Annual Meeting, taking place April 23-27, 2023 in New Orleans. The management team will also be present at the conference and available to meet at the Nanoscope Therapeutics booth #1056. Details for the presentations are as follows: Abstract Title: MCO-010 intravitreal optogenetic therapy in Stargardt disease. 6-month outcomes from the Phase 2 STARLIGHT trial Abstract Number: 3546 - B0388 Session Type: Poster Session Session Name: Advances in Ocular Inflammatory Disease Therapy Session Date: Tuesday, April 25, 2023 Session Time: 3:30-5:15 p.m. CT Location: Exhibit Hall, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Presenter: Victor Hugo Gonzalez, M.D., Valley Retina Institute, McAllen, TX Dr. Gonzalez will discuss Nanoscope's 6-month safety and efficacy outcomes from the Phase 2 STARLIGHT trial for Stargardt disease. The outcomes will help inform the future clinical development of MCO-010 optogenetic therapy for vision restoration in Stargardt disease and other retinal degenerative conditions. Abstract Title: Non-viral Targeted Laser Delivery of Multi-Characteristic Opsin Genes for Treatment of Geographic Atrophy Abstract Number: 3861 - B0141 Session Type: Poster Session Session Name: Gene and Cell Therapy Session Date: Wednesday, April 26, 2023 Session Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. CT Location: Exhibit Hall, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Presenter: Samarendra Mohanty, Ph.D., President and Chief Scientific Officer of Nanoscope Therapeutics Dr. Mohanty will detail the Optical Coherence Tomography guided non-viral laser approach that provides efficient, spatially targeted delivery of MCO-020 genes into retinal cells in geographic atrophy areas. Abstract Title: Efficacy and safety of MCO-010 optogenetic therapy for vision restoration in patients with severe vision loss due to retinitis pigmentosa: A phase 2b randomized, sham-controlled, multi-center, multi-dose, double-masked clinical trial (RESTORE) Abstract Number: 5443 Session Type: Paper Session Session Name: Retinitis pigmentosa Session Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023 Presentation Time: 1:30-1:45 p.m. CT Location: 353-355, New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center Presenter: David Boyer, M.D., Senior Partner, Retina-Vitreous Associates Medical Group in Southern California Dr. Boyer will discuss Nanoscope's 52-week safety and efficacy outcomes from the Phase 2b RESTORE trial, the Company's most advanced clinical program. Efficacy and safety data from the RESTORE trial will provide evidence on the benefit/risk profile of MCO-010 in retinitis pigmentosa. About Nanoscope Therapeutics Inc. Nanoscope Therapeutics is developing gene-agnostic, sight restoring optogenetic therapies for the millions of patients blinded by retinal degenerative diseases, for which no cure exists. The company's lead asset, MCO-010, recently reported topline results from the RESTORE Phase 2b multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled clinical trial in the U.S. for retinitis pigmentosa (NCT04945772). The company has also fully enrolled a Phase 2 STARLIGHT trial of MCO-010 therapy in Stargardt patients (NCT05417126). MCO-010 has received FDA Fast Track designations and FDA orphan drug designations for both RP and Stargardt. Preclinical assets include non-viral laser delivered MCO-020 gene therapy for geographic atrophy. Investor Contact: Argot Partners 212-600-1902 [email protected] SOURCE Nanoscope Therapeutics Led Association and Industry Through Period of Tremendous Growth and Increased Visibility and Recognition Gained First-Ever Federal Statutory Recognition ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) announced today that its President & CEO Pat Cleary will step down at the end of 2023 after more than 12 years at the helm of the association. NAPEO President & CEO Pat Cleary During Cleary's tenure, the professional employer organization (PEO) industry which provides HR, benefits, and compliance assistance for small and mid-size businesses has quadrupled in size and industry awareness has increased by 44% in just the past 4 years alone. The association itself also grew in a variety of ways, including member programming and resources, conference attendance and revenue generation, and government affairs efforts at the state and federal levels. Additionally, Cleary oversaw the launch of several innovative and impactful initiatives. These include a comprehensive industry research effort that now serves as the primary source for data on PEOs; a groundbreaking nationwide promotional campaign to build awareness and visibility for the industry; a wide-ranging series of annual focus groups with small business owners that helps determine industry messaging and research; and C-level educational programming with renowned professors from Stanford University. Cleary also presided over the watershed moment for the PEO industry: the 2014 passage of the Small Business Efficiency Act, which had been the industry's top legislative priority for nearly 20 years. It provided federal recognition for PEOs through the establishment of the IRS's Certified PEO program. "We are so incredibly grateful for Pat's service and dedication to the PEO industry over the past 12 years, and we have benefitted tremendously from his leadership. His positive impact on the industry is undeniable and will be felt for many years to come," said NAPEO Chair Kristen Appleman, senior vice president at ADP TotalSource. "I have been blessed with an amazing team during my time at NAPEO and I am tremendously proud of the work they have done to serve and grow this industry," Cleary said. "I plan to keep my hand in the industry we'll see what that looks like moving forward." A search committee has been formed that represents a cross-section of the NAPEO membership, with diversity in terms of company size, geographic location, gender, and experience. The firm Spencer Stuart will conduct the CEO search, led by Leslie Hortum, the head of Spencer Stuart's association practice. The search is expected to take 4-6 months to complete. "Pat certainly leaves big shoes to fill but my commitment to NAPEO membership and staff is to lead this process with integrity and by keeping the future of our industry as our North Star," said Appleman. About NAPEO The National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) is The Voice of the PEO IndustryTM. NAPEO's 250 PEO members provide payroll, benefits, workers' comp, regulatory compliance assistance, and other HR services to more than 173,000 small and mid-size businesses employing 4 million people. Our members account for more than 90 percent of the industry's $254 billion in revenue. An additional 250 companies that provide services to PEOs are associate members of NAPEO. For more information, please visit www.napeo.org. SOURCE National Association of Professional Employer Organizations (NAPEO) WASHINGTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly, president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein, president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the solitary confinement of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. "Reporter Evan Gershkovich has now been held in solitary confinement in Moscow for more than two weeks. Evan is reportedly alone in his cell 23 hours a day and allowed out for exercise for one hour every 24 hours, also alone. The United Nations Convention on Torture defines solitary confinement of longer than 15 days as torture. Studies suggest that individuals who are held in solitary confinement for more than 20 days can begin to experience irreversible brain damage. We are deeply concerned for his health. "We call on the Russian government to abide by the treaties it has signed and allow regular consular visits immediately. So far Evan has been denied these visits a violation of Moscow's treaty obligations and international law. His only contact with others has been during brief visits with his attorney. Evan is not only being wrongfully detained, he is also being tortured through solitary confinement and isolation. "This month, Russia is the rotating president of the U.N. Security Council, a position of significant responsibility. It is time Moscow starts acting the part. The U.N.'s own Convention on Torture makes it clear that Russia is torturing Evan Gershkovich. We call on Russia to release Evan from his unjust detention immediately. The world is watching." Contact: Bill McCarren, 202-725-7787 for the National Press Club SOURCE National Press Club By combining powerful technology with benefits expertise, Nava's Member Experience offering helps employees and their families better navigate their benefits and the healthcare system. NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Nava Benefits, an outcome-driven benefits brokerage that makes great benefits easier for growing companies, today announced the launch of its Member Experience offering. Anchored by the Nava Benefits App, this comprehensive solution simplifies key aspects of the employee benefits journey, from open enrollment to member support and benefits communication. The Nava Benefits App Today, HR leaders at companies of all sizes face the same three issues when it comes to supporting their employees: helping them understand what their benefits are, educating them on how to use those benefits, and supporting them when they need help. With 80% of employees confused by their plans and 50% unaware of their coverage details, the complexity of managing employee benefits programs has become a burden for HR leaders. Nava's Member Experience offering reduces this workload by providing employees with a centralized portal and in-app support that drives their benefits adoption and utilization. "Nava's mission is to provide high-quality, affordable healthcare to all Americans," said Brandon Weber, CEO and co-founder of Nava. "For employees, their benefits are the onramp to their healthcare journey. The launch of Nava's Member Experience offering is a key step in making it easier for employees to actually use the benefits they already have." Built on insights from Nava's clients, HR community , and Benefits Advisory Board , the Nava Benefits App serves as an interactive benefits wallet and the front door to a member's benefits usage. With carrier and plan information preloaded into the app, members can access their digital ID cards, links to carrier and provider portals, and coverage details in one place. Most importantly, the Nava Benefits App provides in-app support to the company's dedicated team of Benefits Advocates. Instead of contacting HR with sensitive and urgent questions pertaining to carrier enrollment issues, plan summary explanation, provider search support, medical bill clarification, and claims guidance, they'll now be able to get direct support from some of the industry's most experienced benefits experts. The Nava Benefits App is available for free for all Nava clients on both Android and iOS, and will begin rolling out to existing customers in Q2. The launch of Nava's modern approach to member experience is another significant milestone for the company, and follows the rollout of the Nava Benefits Search Engine , where employers can discover and learn about 700 providers across 28 benefits categories, backed by reviews from fellow HR professionals. With a 3x growth in members year-over-year, Nava is trusted by hundreds of growing employers to build solutions that make great benefits easy, allowing HR teams to focus on what they love to do. About Nava Benefits Nava is the industry's only benefits brokerage to fuse innovative technology and benefits expertise to make great benefits easy for growing businesses. Through delivering a better renewal strategy, benefits back-office support, and modern member support, employers turn to Nava to lower costs, delight employees, and augment HR teams. Driven by a mission to fix healthcare, Nava is proud to be a recipient of Inc's Best Workplaces 2022 . For more information, visit www.navabenefits.com . Media Contact Veronique Valcu [email protected] SOURCE Nava Benefits Two-day conference to highlight business opportunities, networking and preparation for new cybersecurity regulations driven by White House and upcoming CMMC requirements HONOLULU, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NeoSystems, a full-service strategic outsourcer, IT systems integrator and managed services provider to the government contracting market, has joined forces with the Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA), a local trade organization dedicated to the long-term success of the federal contracting community in Hawaii. Sponsored in part by NeoSystems, the two-day 2023 Small Business Summit will feature educational workshops and networking opportunities to increase the competitiveness of local businesses in gaining government contracting work, a substantial part of the state's economy. It will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu on April 18 and 19. Today a majority of defense contractors and subcontractors, mainly small and medium sized business suppliers that provide critical services and capabilities to federal, state and local governments, have substantial security and IT compliance gaps. The NHOA conference will provide information and education to help local businesses understand and satisfy legislative, legal and business issues, including new cybersecurity requirements such as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), soon to become a requirement for conducting business with the federal government. "The economic and regulatory environment is changing rapidly," said NHOA president Cariann Ah Loo. "We want to ensure every business who desires to work with the federal government is prepared to do so. At NHOA, we deliver a full spectrum of support services that culminate in our annual conference made possible in part through the support of sponsors like NeoSystems." The NHOA conference kicks off at 8:15 am local time on April 18 with opening remarks from Cariann Ah Loo, President, NHOA followed by a keynote speech by Therese Meers, SBA General Counsel. Highlights of Day1 of the conference, include: Legal and regulatory updates from the U.S. Small Business Association by John Klein and Mark Hagedorn . and . A session entitled "Simplifying the Path (and Reducing the Cost) to CMMC Compliance" by NeoSystems Vice President Stuart Itkin A "Doing Business with the Navy" panel hosted by Deputy Director Arveice Washington, Director, MAVSEA Small Business Program P. Anne Banniser and Director of NAVFAC Office of Small Business Program. The second day of the conference will feature additional sessions and networking highlighted by these presentations: An OSBP Panel featuring Dr. Ruby Crenshaw-Lawrence , Chief, Department of Defense; Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA); Cassandra Martin , Director DHA Office of Small Business Programs Defense Health Agency; and Scott Kiser , Director, Department of the Air Force Small Business Programs; and Arielle Douglas , TITLE and AGENCY. , Chief, Department of Defense; Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA); , Director DHA Office of Small Business Programs Defense Health Agency; and , Director, Department of the Air Force Small Business Programs; and , TITLE and AGENCY. A mainstage session entitled "Best Practices for Working with Large Primes" led by Amira Gonzalez Corporate Supplier Diversity Manager, Raytheon Technologies ; Tyler Brooks-Craft , Director, Small Business Engagement and National 8a Association; and Rita Brooks , Director, Small Business Program, SAIC ; , Director, Small Business Engagement and National 8a Association; and , Director, Small Business Program, SAIC A plenary session on "How the National Cybersecurity Strategy, CMMC and Enforcement will Affect Hawaiian Businesses" by Stuart Itkin , Vice President, NeoSystems "NeoSystems has been a long-term supporter of the NHOA," said Stuart Itkin, vice president for NeoSystems. "As a top tier sponsor of the NHOA Conference, we are committed to providing educational support along with business and IT services to help local organizations satisfy the range of financial reporting, accounting, human resources and cybersecurity regulations required of contractors and subcontractors by the federal government so they can focus on their core business." NeoSystems will sponsor the pre-conference evening reception on April 17 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the scenic Ho'okupu Center. Full conference details can be found here. About Native Hawaiian Organization Association Founded in March 2007, the Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) supports the community of NHOs, as defined by the Small Business Administration, and their for-profit 8(a) subsidiaries. NHOA is dedicated to supporting the long-term success of the NHO program and the community impact it achieves. NHOA works closely with its members, congressional members, affiliate organizations, community partners, and federal agencies to advance the program and the opportunities it provides to businesses and the community. About NeoSystems NeoSystems, based in the Washington, D.C area, is a full-service strategic outsourcer, IT systems integrator and managed service provider for the government contracting market. NeoSystems provides core solutions to more than 600 client companies and their 100,000+ client employees with its outsourced services by implementing hundreds of fully integrated financial, business and cyber management systems through best-of-breed technology and in-depth domain expertise in Accounting & Finance, IT, HR, Security and Hosting (SSAE SOC1 & SOC2, ITAR). NeoSystems has been named one of America's fastest growing private companies by Inc. Magazine. For more information, visit https://www.neosystemscorp.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. SOURCE NeoSystems LLC Recognized as Highest in Ability to Execute and Furthest in Completeness of Vision in 2023 edition of the Gartner Magic Quadrant for SSE, highlighting what's critical in security for SASE success SANTA CLARA, Calif., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Netskope , a leader in Secure Access Service Edge (SASE), today announced that Gartner, Inc. has recognized the company for the second year in a row as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge (SSE). The report shows Netskope to have the highest Ability to Execute and to be furthest in Completeness of Vision in the 2023 Magic Quadrant for SSE1. As a framework for converging networks and security, SASE helps teams safeguard data, provide fast and reliable access to networks and applications, and realize better efficiency and return-on-investment by addressing both network and security challenges through a unified architecture. SSE encompasses the security technologies that, when successfully converged with SD-WAN capabilities, enable successful SASE. Organizations also increasingly seek SSE and SASE capabilities from fewer vendors as they prioritize the cost and management benefits of reducing vendor and tool sprawl. Gartner notes that "by 2025, 80% of enterprises will have adopted a strategy to unify web, cloud services and private application access using a SASE/SSE architecture, up from 20% in 2021."2 A Leader in the Magic Quadrant for SSE The Netskope converged SASE platform includes Netskope's industry-leading Intelligent Security Service Edge (SSE) and Borderless SD-WAN technologies, all of which are crucial to providing the optimized access and zero trust-based security required in a modern networking and security technology stack. Netskope Intelligent SSE enables secure enterprise digital transformation and secure work-from-anywhere connectivity using integrated Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB), Secure Web Gateway (SWG), and Zero Trust Network Access (ZTNA) capabilities, with Remote Browser Isolation (RBI) and Cloud Firewall included. Netskope's architecture is powered by the NewEdge networka security private cloud designed from the ground up to deliver security without performance trade-offsfor fast and secure access from any location to data, applications, and websites wherever they reside. "Our vision when founding Netskope was that traditional network and security perimeters would transform, and we would need to deliver a cloud-first, data-first, and customer-centric approach for helping teams achieve success," said Sanjay Beri, Netskope CEO and co-founder. "We are very proud of this recognition by Gartner and our ongoing growth with some of the world's largest and most discerning customers. We feel this acknowledgement recognizes that our early vision over a decade ago was the right one, and that Netskope is ideally positioned to help every customer on a SASE journey, anywhere in the world." For more on today's announcement, download your complimentary copy of the 2023 Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge from Netskope . Continued Customer Recognition With more than 2,400 customers, including over 25 of the Fortune 100, Netskope serves some of the world's largest and most technically demanding organizations. Based on verified reviews posted on Gartner Peer Insights as of April 13, 2023, here is some of what customers say about Netskope SSE: A Technical Manager in the services industry states, "Best SSE on the market. Defined as a market leader for a reason, Netskope's DLP capabilities are unmatched." A Global Cyber Security Technical Lead in the insurance industry states, "Netskope is the direction companies wish they would have gone years ago. Netskope has proven to be an engaging vendor regardless of your phase of product engagement or ownership. They come across more like a solution partner and less like a generic technology offering." A CISO in the IT services industry states, "Employee experience and improved security is now achievable simultaneously. Netskope security cloud provides us visibility into user activity on the web that was previously impossible with legacy technologies. With this, we are able to provide secure business enablement - allowing a global approach to web/cloud security that's fast and effective anytime and anywhere." A Senior Information Security Analyst in the healthcare and biotech industry states, "Our overall experience with Netskope has been nothing short of absolutely phenomenal. From the functionality, user-interface, all the way to the support structure. I can't say enough just how happy we are to be a Netskope customer." A Director of Information Security in the services industry states, "Best ZTNA solution in the market hands down. I have used some of the competition's products for ZTNA before and Netskope's by far is easier to use, administer and maintain." A senior cybersecurity analyst & DLP/insider threat SME in the banking industry states, "Seriously, of the companies I've been at using other solutions, this shop has the best stack and most secure because of Netskope. 10/10." A CISO in the healthcare and biotech industry states, "Control all of your clouds and SaaS from one place! I was particularly impressed by both the willingness and ability of Netskope to deliver on our product enhancement requests." A Manager of IT Security and Risk Management in the healthcare and biotech industry states, "Netskope is a terrific SASE with a lot under the hood. Our Netskope use case was to ensure the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of our cloud perimeter. The Netskope Team is a fantastic resource. Netskope is easy to use. Netskope's analytics provide rich insights." Gartner Disclaimer Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner's research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark, Magic Quadrant and PEER INSIGHTS are registered trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences with the vendors listed on the platform, should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. About Netskope Netskope, a global SASE leader, is redefining cloud, data, and network security to help organizations apply zero trust principles to protect data. Fast and easy to use, the Netskope platform provides optimized access and real-time security for people, devices, and data anywhere they go. Netskope helps customers reduce risk, accelerate performance, and get unrivaled visibility into any cloud, web, and private application activity. Thousands of customers, including more than 25 of the Fortune 100, trust Netskope and its powerful NewEdge network to address evolving threats, new risks, technology shifts, organizational and network changes, and new regulatory requirements. Learn how Netskope helps customers be ready for anything on their SASE journey, visit netskope.com . Media Contact: [email protected] 1Gartner, "Magic Quadrant for Security Service Edge," Charlie Winckless, John Watts, Craig Lawson, Aaron McQuaid, Thomas Lintemuth April 10, 2023 2Gartner, "Forecast Analysis: Secure Access Service Edge, Worldwide" October 21, 2022; revised December 6, 2022 SOURCE Netskope Philippines-based operators Globe Telecom and Smart Communications urged the government to extend the deadline for subscribers to register their SIMs, as less than half of subscribers have signed up. Smart Communications wrote in its formal letter to the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT), asking for a registration deadline extension of 120 days from the deadline day of April 26. It argued that the extension would give subscribers more time to secure valid proof of identity, which remains a challenge for the registration drive. The operator stated cutting off people from their only means of connectivity can exclude them from key information and financial services. Currently, only 46% of Smarts subscribers have registered. Smart added it set up hundreds of assisted SIM registration booths in deep locations of the Philippines, in collaboration with the National Telecommunications Commission, DICT, the Department of Interior and Local Government. Globe registered 32% of its total base which equates to 27.9 million subscribers. It also requested a deadline extension stating customers needed time to obtain their IDs. To expedite the process, Globe also requested the government accept alternative forms of IDs, as many citizens do not hold government papers. However, DICT stated there are no plans to extend the deadline and unregistered SIMs will be deactivated. The regulator revealed 62.2 million SIMs were registered on April 7, but this only accounts for 36.8% of total subscribers. Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22HG-11 228.7 250.0 21.3 1.26 85.1 Bottomed in Mineralization AT22NS-87 169.2 216.5 47.3 2.16 140.2 includes 175.3 182.9 7.6 4.57 227.6 AT22NS-88 169.2 214.9 45.7 1.28 162.0 AT23NS-65 79.3 117.4 38.1 1.79 52.5 AT23NS-58 42.7 108.2 65.5 2.54 62.9 includes 86.9 100.6 13.7 4.97 53.0 AT23NS-64 41.2 108.2 67.1 2.98 62.1 Bottomed in Mineralization includes 57.9 102.1 44.2 4.05 66.0 Table 1: All holes released today. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward; true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is estimated to be between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. Holes released today plotted on Section 22-9N were drilled across the high-grade feeder zone associated with several strands of a braided network of structures comprising the 150m -wide Atlanta Mine Fault Zone (" AMFZ "), which lies between the East Atlanta and West Atlanta Faults (see Figure 1). These vertical holes intercepted new areas of high-grade gold mineralization on this section that were not intercepted in historic drilling. These new high-grade areas were targeted based on Nevada King's recent revised modelling of gold mineralization across this section line which differs significantly from historic interpretations. -wide Atlanta Mine Fault Zone (" "), which lies between the and West Atlanta Faults (see Figure 1). Shown in Figure 2, the highest gold grades occur within blocks between the Atlanta King and East Atlanta Faults as evidenced by AT23NS-58 and AT23NS-64 (Table 1) and nearby holes AT21-63 and AT22NS-59 (Table 2). Historical angle holes drilled by Goldfields, Kinross, and Meadow Bay largely passed beneath and missed this 40m -wide, shallow high-grade zone. King and East Atlanta Faults as evidenced by AT23NS-58 and AT23NS-64 (Table 1) and nearby holes AT21-63 and AT22NS-59 (Table 2). Historical angle holes drilled by Goldfields, Kinross, and Meadow Bay largely passed beneath and missed this -wide, shallow high-grade zone. In similar fashion, a 30m -wide block on the eastern side of the West Atlanta Fault is also host to higher-grades, as seen in AT22NS-87 and 88. A number of historical angle holes did intersect this zone, but very few of them fully sampled the complete mineralized thickness. Significant differences are apparent in gold grades and thicknesses in today's NS-87 and NS-88 ( 47.3m @ 2.16 g/t and 45.7m @ 1.28 g/t) compared to Kinross angle holes KR97-3 and KR97-4 ( 24.4m @ 0.97 g/t and 27.4m @ 0.85 g/t). -wide block on the eastern side of the West Atlanta Fault is also host to higher-grades, as seen in AT22NS-87 and 88. A number of historical angle holes did intersect this zone, but very few of them fully sampled the complete mineralized thickness. Significant differences are apparent in gold grades and thicknesses in today's NS-87 and NS-88 ( @ 2.16 g/t and @ 1.28 g/t) compared to Kinross angle holes KR97-3 and KR97-4 ( @ 0.97 g/t and @ 0.85 g/t). The upthrown "horst" block immediately west of the Atlanta King Fault typically hosts more moderate grades and thicknesses compared to the two high-grade zones on either side of it. However, AT22NS-65 tested this horst block and returned 1.79 g/t Au over 38.1m , which is generally thicker and higher grade compared to sections further south. King Fault typically hosts more moderate grades and thicknesses compared to the two high-grade zones on either side of it. However, AT22NS-65 tested this horst block and returned 1.79 g/t Au over , which is generally thicker and higher grade compared to sections further south. Hole AT22HG-11, collared west of the West Atlanta Fault penetrated mineralized volcanics in the West Atlanta Graben target but was lost at a shallow depth, bottoming in mineralization. Drilling across the West Atlanta Graben along the western extension of line 22-9N will commence shortly, filling in a large information gap that currently exists within the historical drill pattern. Nevada King's holes along 22-9N are very similar in grade and mineralized thickness to holes previously released along Sections 22-5N, 22-6N, 22-7N, and 22-08N. The same pattern of: (1) high-grade grabens between the East Atlanta and Atlanta King Faults, (2) the moderate grade horst block west of the Atlanta King fault, and (3) the high-grade graben block east of the West Atlanta Fault, is repeated southward along each section, demonstrating excellent continuity of mineralization. Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, stated, "As our drill fences progress northward along the AMFZ we are seeing strong continuity in grade, thickness, and style of mineralization from section to section. We also start to see why many of the historical holes failed to pick up on the higher-grade mineralization localized in the numerous fault blocks and how this mineralization was largely missed by past explorers. The shallow high-grade mineralization immediately west of the East Atlanta Fault that we drilled into during our 2021 exploration program was completely missed by past explorers while the high-grade fault block along the east side of the West Atlanta Fault was under-represented in the historical drilling. Our new interpretation and geologic model is allowing us to effectively track both of these high-grade zones northward along the AMFZ, systematically defining the major fault components and associated mineralized blocks." Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22NS-59 4.6 54.9 50.3 2.65 20.7 AT22MET-1B 7.8 22.6 14.8 3.76 69.0 Bottomed in Mineralization AT21-63 7.6 48.8 41.2 3.95 27.3 Bottomed in Mineralization KR97-2 187.5 213.4 25.9 1.79 13.0 KR97-3 195.1 219.5 24.4 0.97 29.4 KR97-4 218 245.4 27.4 0.85 70.2 Table 2: Previously reported and historic holes used in Section 22-9N. AT22 series holes were drilled by Nevada King in 2022 while the AT21 series hole was drilled by Nevada King in 2021. KR97 series angle holes were drilled by Kinross in 1997. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward; true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is estimated to be between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $7.25 million as of April 2023. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work given the global COVID-19 pandemic, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. SEATTLE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom, Inc . (NYSE: JWN) announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack in Jacksonville Beach, Florida. "We look forward to opening this new Nordstrom Rack location in Jacksonville Beach, 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 Jacksonville Beach can take full advantage of this convenient new location to pick-up online orders and make returns." The 30,000 square-foot store will be located in South Beach Regional, a popular shopping center that includes other retailers such as Trader Joe's, Home Depot, Ulta and more. South Beach Regional is owned and managed by Regency Centers and is ideally located off of A1A and J. Turner Bulter Blvd. With the addition of this new location, Nordstrom will operate 18 Nordstrom Rack stores and six Nordstrom stores in Florida. The store is scheduled to open in spring 2024. "We are thrilled to have Nordstrom Rack open their second Jacksonville-area location at our South Beach Regional center," said Eric Apple, Leasing Agent. "The addition perfectly complements the shopping center's strong merchandising mix and provides an additional community favorite shopping destination serving the greater Beaches area and eastern Jacksonville communities." 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 and mentorship moments between Bigs and Littles, including preparing for an interview, learning to tie a tie and helping with homework. About Regency Centers Regency Centers is a preeminent national owner, operator, and developer of shopping centers located in suburban trade areas with compelling demographics. 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. SEATTLE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom, Inc . (NYSE: JWN) announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack in Macedonia, Ohio. "We look forward to opening this new Nordstrom Rack location in Macedonia, 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 Macedonia can take full advantage of this convenient new location to pick-up online orders and make returns." The 28,000 square-foot store will be located in Macedonia Gateway, a newly redeveloped shopping center that includes other retailers such as Burlington Coat Factory, Petco and Best Buy. Macedonia Gateway is owned and managed by Cipriani Investments and is ideally located at the crossroads of Route 82 and Route 8. With the addition of this new location, Nordstrom will operate seven Nordstrom Rack stores and three Nordstrom stores in Ohio. The store is scheduled to open in spring 2024. "We are thrilled Nordstrom Rack is coming to Macedonia Gateway. This iconic retail brand will offer exciting new shopping energy for the community, and add to our outstanding line-up of best-in-class stores," said Michael Cipriani , President and CEO of Cipriani Investments. 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 and mentorship moments between Bigs and Littles, including preparing for an interview, learning to tie a tie and helping with homework. About Cipriani Companies The partnership of Cipriani Companies, Robert Brandon & Greg Warner, acquired this property in Macedonia in 1999. They've been thrilled to work with Mayor Nicolas Molnar and his administration in the redevelopment process. Messrs. Brandon & Warner have brought their years of real estate brokerage, development and vision, in concert with Cupkovic Architecture, Harlan & Associates, Coastal Quality Construction and Goodman Real Estate, to bring a fresh and exciting line-up to the city of Macedonia. 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. SEATTLE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom, Inc . (NYSE: JWN) announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack in Snellville, Georgia. "We look forward to opening this new Nordstrom Rack location in Snellville, 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 Snellville can take full advantage of this convenient new location to pick-up online orders and make returns." The 35,000 square-foot store will be located in Presidential Markets, a popular shopping center that includes Publix and a number of off-price retail stores. Presidential Markets is managed by First Washington Realty and is ideally located off of Scenic Highway Route 124, a main retail corridor within a 10-mile radius in the Atlanta Market. With the addition of this new location, Nordstrom will operate six Nordstrom Rack stores and two Nordstrom stores in Georgia. The store is scheduled to open in spring 2024. "We are delighted to welcome Nordstrom Rack to Presidential Markets in Snellville, GA," said Mary Rottler, Chief Operating Officer at First Washington Realty. "The addition of Nordstrom Rack and their reputation for quality merchandise further enhances our commitment to providing an exceptional shopping experience to the community of Snellville." 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 and mentorship moments between Bigs and Littles, including preparing for an interview, learning to tie a tie and helping with homework. About First Washington Realty First Washington Realty is a fully integrated national real estate investment and management firm that specializes in the ownership and operation of essential retail real estate. Founded in 1983, FWR owns an interest in nearly 150 shopping centers with a value of over $9.1 billion in 22 states and the District of Columbia. Our centers contain nearly 22.4 million square feet with approximately 4,000 tenants. The company is headquartered in Bethesda, Md. with offices in Dallas, Kansas City, Orange County, Portland, Sacramento, and San Diego. 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. SEATTLE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom, Inc . (NYSE: JWN) announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack in Wheaton, Illinois. "We look forward to opening this new Nordstrom Rack location in Wheaton, 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 Wheaton can take full advantage of this convenient new location to pick-up online orders and make returns." The 29,000 square-foot store will be located in Danada Square East, a popular shopping center that includes Whole Foods, Sierra Trading Post, Petco and J. Crew Factory. Danada Square East is managed by Mid-America Asset Management, Inc. on behalf of LaSalle Investment Management and is ideally located at the intersection of Butterfield Road & Naperville Road in Wheaton, IL. With the addition of this new location, Nordstrom will operate 16 Nordstrom Rack stores, four Nordstrom stores and one Nordstrom Last Chance store in Illinois. The store is scheduled to open in spring 2024. "We're thrilled that Nordstrom Rack will be opening its doors at Danada Square East," said Steven Lieb, Managing Director at LaSalle Investment Management. "As a leader in its category, we believe Nordstrom Rack will add to the already vibrant shopping experience the community has come to expect from the shopping center." 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 and mentorship moments between Bigs and Littles, including preparing for an interview, learning to tie a tie and helping with homework. 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. Alentis Therapeutics is a clinical-stage biotech developing breakthrough treatments for organ fibrosis and Claudin-1 (CLDN1) positive tumors Funding to advance clinical development of two first-in-class anti-CLDN1 antibodies and the platform to engineer CLDN1 antibody drug conjugates (ADC) and bi-specific antibodies Series C led by Jeito Capital together with Novo Holdings and RA Capital Management Naveed Siddiqi , Senior Partner at Novo Holdings, joins the Board of Directors COPENHAGEN, Denmark, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Novo Holdings A/S, a leading international life sciences investor, today announced it has participated in a new investment in the US$105 million Series C financing of Alentis Therapeutics, a clinical-stage biotech developing breakthrough treatments for organ fibrosis and Claudin-1 (CLDN1) positive tumors. The financing will support clinical development of Alentis' lead investigational products ALE.F02 and ALE.C04 as well as the CLDN1 platform development. "We are absolutely delighted to welcome Novo Holdings as our investor and Naveed Siddiqi to join the Board of Directors ," said Dr. Roberto Iacone, CEO at Alentis Therapeutics. "There are huge unmet needs in organ fibrosis and cancer, and this funding enables us to continue with the important work we're doing in the CLDN1 space and generate clinical data from both our programs. We can now aggressively develop CLDN1 biology in oncology and continue with the recruitment of our organ fibrosis trials while advancing our ADC and bi-specific antibodies." Naveed Siddiqi, Senior Partner at Novo Holdings, said, "The Venture Investments team of Novo Holdings has an extensive track record of backing high quality biotechs across Europe and the US, developing novel treatments for unmet medical needs. Alentis has pioneered a world leading position in the CLDN1 space and is led by highly capable drug developers. We were encouraged by exciting emerging pre-clinical data in oncology and the potential of CLDN1 targeted therapeutics to treat a wide range of cancers where CLDN1 is highly expressed. We are looking forward to supporting Alentis as it further advances its pipeline in the clinic with the proceeds of this round." Novo Holdings' Ventures Investment team has made several prior biotech investments in Switzerland and has a high regard for its innovation ecosystem. Alentis has made major strides in the last two years: the ALE.F02 MAD study completion is imminent; it has clearly defined the CLDN1+ cancer patient population, including T-cell excluded cancers to develop ALE.C04 in oncology; established the platform to engineer CLDN1 antibody drug conjugates and bi-specific antibodies that the Series C will help to further develop; and is expanding its team of top talent. The funding round was led by Jeito Capital together with Novo Holdings A/S and RA Capital Management and participation from existing investors including BB Pureos Bioventures, Bpifrance through its InnoBio Fund 2, and Schroders Capital. About Alentis Therapeutics Alentis Therapeutics, the CLDN1 company, is a clinical-stage biotechnology company that focuses on developing breakthrough treatments for CLDN1+ tumors and organ fibrosis. Alentis is pioneering a novel approach to modify and reverse the course of disease progression targeting CLDN1, a previously unexploited target that plays a key role in the pathology of tumors with immune evasive properties and fibrotic disease across multiple organs. Alentis is the only company developing potential treatments for solid cancers and fibrosis targeting CLDN1. The company was founded in 2019 based on ground-breaking research in the laboratory of Prof. Thomas Baumert MD at the University of Strasbourg and the French National Institute of Health (Inserm). Alentis is headquartered in Basel's pharma-biotech hub in Switzerland with an R&D subsidiary in Strasbourg, France and clinical operations in the US. About Novo Holdings Novo Holdings is a holding and investment company that is responsible for managing the assets and wealth of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. The purpose of Novo Holdings is to improve people's health and the sustainability of society and the planet by generating attractive long-term returns on the assets of the Novo Nordisk Foundation. Wholly owned by the Novo Nordisk Foundation, Novo Holdings is the controlling shareholder of Novo Nordisk and Novozymes (the Novo Group companies) and manages an investment portfolio with a long-term return perspective. The investment portfolio comprises two teams including Life Science Investments and Capital Investments. The Life Science Investments team invests in companies at all stages of development and includes Seed Investments, Venture Investments, Growth Investments and Principal Investments. The Capital Investments team manages a broad portfolio of equities, bonds, real estate and infrastructure assets, as well as private equity investments. Novo Holdings operates out of offices in Copenhagen, London, Boston, San Francisco, Singapore and Shanghai. As of year-end 2022, Novo Holdings had total assets of USD 108 billion. Further information: www.novoholdings.dk. SOURCE Novo Holdings Law Bans Credit Card Tracking Code for Firearm Retailer Purchases WASHINGTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NSSF, The Firearm Industry Trade Association, applauds Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves for signing the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act, HB 1110, into law. This law takes the necessary steps to ensure that financial institutions and credit card companies are prohibited from sharing customers' private financial information when purchasing firearms, ammunition and other related components and accessories. The Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act is necessary to prevent the potential exploitation of customer privacy and denial of services by politically-motivated activists. "This is a tremendous victory for the firearm industry and those law-abiding Mississippi gun owners who lawfully exercise their Second Amendment rights," said Lawrence G. Keane, NSSF Senior Vice President and General Counsel. "Certain 'woke' banks advocated to use a special Merchant Category Code specific to purchases made at firearm retailers, risking the possibility of creating a 'back-door' firearm registry. NSSF opposed the creation and administration of this firearm retailer-specific MCC and we are grateful to Mississippi's legislators and Governor Reeves for standing with the firearm industry and law-abiding gun owners to protect the privacy of their financial transactions." Specifically, the Second Amendment Financial Privacy Act does the following: Prohibits the use of a code that distinguishes firearm retailers from general merchandise or sporting goods retailers. Prohibits a financial institution from discriminating against a firearm retailer based solely on the assignment or nonassignment of a firearms code. Prohibits the disclosure of financial records unless required by law or regulation. Allows the Attorney General to investigate alleged violations and act as permitted by the law. About NSSF NSSF is the trade association for the firearm industry. Its mission is to promote, protect and preserve hunting and the shooting sports. Formed in 1961, NSSF has a membership of thousands of manufacturers, distributors, firearms retailers, shooting ranges, sportsmen's organizations and publishers nationwide. For more information, visit nssf.org . SOURCE National Shooting Sports Foundation New era of work ushers in more businesses and entrepreneurs looking for flexible space WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- With more Midwestern-based companies and entrepreneurs looking for new ways to maintain productivity, innovation, and connection as the shift to remote and hybrid work takes hold, Office Evolution has the perfect solution. The coworking provider continues to address demand and help small businesses and entrepreneurs in the region by offering convenient and affordable coworking spaces close to home. The brand has seen tremendous demand for rentable office space throughout the Midwest and is committed to providing entrepreneurs with a welcoming home office away from home. Covering multiple regions within the Midwest, Office Evolution has 15 locations, which include: Clayton, Missouri Troy and Ann Arbor, Michigan and Cedar Rapids, Iowa Overland Park, Kansas Madison, Wisconsin Carmel and Fishers, Indiana and Chicago , Hoffman Estates , Lisle and Naperville, Illinois , , and Worthington , Easton , and Dublin, Ohio Within these Midwest locations, entrepreneurs are looking to get back to work in a state-of-the-art office as the housing market is seeing a sudden boom within the region. According to a recent Business Insider article, homebuyers will flock to the Midwest in 2023 because prices will still be too expensive in coastal states, leading to an influx of new homeowners and business professionals needing a place to work. Business owners are choosing rentable office space instead of the commitment of a long-term lease. With the growth and available locations within the Midwest, Office Evolution is committed to finding the space and meeting the demand entrepreneurs are causing within the coworking industry. Members benefit from being part of a nationwide network of coworking locations where they have access to 80 other Office Evolution locations in 26 states when traveling. Office Evolution a Starpoint Brand company is part of Coworks, the largest privately owned affiliated franchise network of flexible, professional, and shared office space options in the world. "Our franchise owners throughout the Midwest have exceeded our expectations and have been an integral factor within the development and growth of Office Evolution," said Jason Anderson, President of Office Evolution. "They manage so much more than the workspace demands, ensuring members are fully supported, benefit from a welcoming business community and have the professional resources required to focus on their growing business." The 15 Midwest Office Evolution locations are situated between commercial hubs that represent our nation's diverse business communities. These locations combined have approximately 3,800 members creating a thriving business ecosystem where professionals can learn from each other, form new opportunities, and thrive. "More people are working from a variety of locations, having the option to work in a space that has the amenities of a downtown office but is closer to home is becoming more attractive to local entrepreneurs, especially as people navigate high gas prices and chronic traffic congestion," continued Anderson. For more information about Office Evolution, please visit: https://www.officeevolution.com/. About Office Evolution Office Evolution (OE), a shared workspace coworking environment, founded in 2003 and cultivated on the principles of 'Ohana', the Hawaiian tradition that references family working toward a common goal. Office Evolution is among the Starpoint Brands constellation of trusted companies representing the very best in their industries. Office Evolution is serious about supporting small business owners the Dreamers, Risk-Takers and Doers who dare to chase their passions. For more information about Office Evolution visit www.officeevolution.com and for information about franchise opportunities visit www.officeevolutionfranchise.com. About Starpoint Brands A family of trusted brands representing the very best in their industries, including retail, food & beverage and professional services, Starpoint Brands is the mark of quality for customers. It brings together a constellation of brands within United Franchise Group (UFG), including Signarama, Fully Promoted, Transworld Business Advisors, Venture X, Office Evolution, Network Lead Exchange, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill and Graze Craze. A brand under the Starpoint Brands division is one that business-to-consumer and business-to-business customers can be sure will provide the ultimate in service, reliability, and value. About Coworks Coworks specializes in franchising within the coworking industry, offering solutions, expertise, and shared service options within the flexible workspace franchise community. Part of the United Franchise Group (UFG) family of affiliated brands and consultants, Coworks was founded in 2021 by Ray Titus, founder and CEO of United Franchise Group, with the express intention of building a framework to connect a variety of coworking brands, services, and amenities within the coworking industry, providing the largest privately owned affiliated franchise network of flexible, professional, and shared office space options on the planet. For more information about Coworks, visit www.coworksllc.com. SOURCE Office Evolution A new season of Friendly fall armyworm pilot deployments on commercial farms in Brazil's key corn-growing state, Mato Grosso , follows season-long deployments further south, in Sao Paulo state. key corn-growing state, , follows season-long deployments further south, in Sao Paulo state. These deployments, conducted over thousands of acres of corn, are enabling optimization and validation of Friendly fall armyworm distribution and deployment systems in preparation for commercial launch. Releases of Friendly fall armyworm offers targeted biological control of one of the world's most damaging crop pests, fall armyworm, and can also protect the durability of biotech crops against the threat of pest resistance. CAMPINAS, Brazil, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Oxitec Ltd, the leading developer of insect-based biological solutions to control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock, announced today the successful completion of the third large-scale pilot season of the Friendly fall armyworm, and the launch of the fourth pilot on commercial corn in Brazil. Following full commercial biosafety approval from Brazilian regulators in 2021, season-long pilot deployments are enabling validation of product delivery and performance on large commercial corn farms in Brazil's most important corn-growing regions. Oxitecs expert field operations team is now deploying Friendly fall armyworm over large-scale corn fields in Brazil In the recently completed pilot season, deployments of the Friendly fall armyworm were conducted on thousands of acres of commercial corn fields in Sao Paulo state. This enabled optimization and validation of deployment systems. The new season of pilot trials, timed to coincide with corn planting, is now under way in Mato Grosso state, in partnership with Fundacao MT, a leading agricultural research organization in Brazil. Together, these pilot seasons are enabling Oxitec to validate Friendly fall armyworm product form factors that will enable national distribution and simple deployment of the product in growers' fields. Product dosing and on-farm placements are also being tested and optimized, alongside digital systems to support product use by growers and other end-users, as Oxitec moves closer to commercial launch of this new biological solution for the fall armyworm. The fall armyworm includes a life stage as a caterpillar which destroys corn and other crops. This pest is difficult to control and rapidly develops resistance to biotech corn varieties designed to control crop-damaging pests, as well as traditional chemical pesticides. In recent years, fall armyworm has spread beyond the Americas, and now imposes an economic burden of billions of dollars across Africa, Asia and Oceania. New, effective, and environmentally friendly solutions are urgently needed for improved and more sustainable crop protection. Published scientific modelling demonstrates that releases of Oxitec's male Friendly fall armyworm will be a highly effective pest suppression tool and can also delay the spread of resistance to biotech corn varieties to protect their durability against this pest. Oxitec's pilot deployments continue to confirm the strong performance of Friendly fall armyworm on Brazilian farms and across a range of geographies and operational settings. Grey Frandsen, Oxitec's CEO, commented, "We're focused on delivering value to Brazilian corn growers that allows them to deploy a highly effective biological control solution while leaving no impact on the environment. The Friendly fall armyworm continues to show outstanding performance on commercial corn farms in Brazil's most important corn-growing regions, and as we advance it to commercial launch in the near future, we're so thankful for excellent partnerships with growers, non-profits, research groups, and distributors. Given the growing devastation brought about by this pest, there is no time to lose." Natalia Ferreira, Oxitec's Brazil Country Director, said, "With another season of large-scale pilots completed, we're a step closer to providing farmers with an urgently needed, safe and simple solution for the fall armyworm. Brazilian farmers are among the most advanced in the world, and recognize the need for new solutions to improve productivity while protecting biodiversity and the environment. As our Friendly fall armyworm product approaches launch, we're looking forward to delivering it across Brazil to control the fall armyworm, one of the corn industry's biggest challenges." Bruno Conti, Fundacao MT's Head of R&D, said, "We're excited to be working in partnership with Oxitec as they launch a new season of pilots of the Friendly fall armyworm in Mato Grosso. This partnership fits squarely with our mission to provide independent and impartial assessment of an innovative and sustainable pest management solution for our region's growers." Read more about the predicted benefits of the Friendly fall armyworm in this recent publication: Link Oxitec welcomes all media inquiries. About Oxitec Oxitec is the leading developer of biological solutions to control pests that transmit disease, destroy crops and harm livestock. Founded in 2002 at the University of Oxford, Oxitec is led by a passionate team comprised of 15 nationalities and is supported by world-class public, private and non-profit partners. Learn more at oxitec.com . Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053465/FAW_pilots.jpg SOURCE Oxitec GLENDALE, Calif., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Performance marketing automation platform Phonexa has further solidified its C-suite. Armen Karaoghlanian, formerly the Chief Marketing Officer, has been promoted to Chief Creative Officer. Talar Malakian, formerly the Vice President of Marketing, has been promoted to CMO. Armen Karaoghlanian, Chief Creative Officer of Phonexa (left) and Talar Malakian, Chief Marketing Officer of Phonexa (right). The pair of promotions arrive at a momentous time of growth for Phonexa, as the company recently marked several milestones . Phonexa is doubling down on in-person staff growth by moving into the top three floors of the 16-story structure they occupy in Glendale, California, and they crowned their headquarters with a new sign. Phonexa is also expanding into Canada due to the market demand for its tech solutions. Karaoghlanian has been with Phonexa ever since the company was founded in 2016 and is one of the first hires for the all-in-one marketing solution for calls, leads, clicks, email, SMS, accounting, and more. He's demonstrated great success in several roles by providing direction, guidance, and leadership to the marketing department. Karaoghlanian will now oversee creative vision and strategy for the software company, including heading projects like videos, podcasts, webinars, and more. "It's rare to join a company at its very beginning, watch your team grow, and accomplish amazing feats together as a family," said Karaoghlanian. "I am truly grateful for this exciting opportunity to step up and take on a new role within the company. I have always been passionate about our mission and vision, and I am thrilled to continue shaping them with new creative marketing strategies that will drive our growth and success." Karaoghlanian is the creative visionary who spearheaded Phonexa's commercial series "The Unofficial History of Innovation." The ads have received over two dozen awards from some of the world's most prestigious institutions and creative juries, including several Telly Awards. Karaoghlanian was recognized as the 2021 Glendale Young Entrepreneur by the City of Glendale and Glendale Tech Week. On Saturday, May 13, he will be receiving the Paragon Diamond Award at the 2023 Glendale Educational Foundation Spring Gala for "demonstrating excellence in entrepreneurism and innovation." He also has many diverse passions outside of the tech world and marketing he's a filmmaker, entrepreneur, co-founder of the Armenian Film Society, and co-founder and editor-in-chief of the online publication Interiors. Armen is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Malakian will be assuming Karaoghlanian's previous title of CMO and will plan, develop, implement, and monitor the overall marketing strategy for Phonexa. "Marketers continue to struggle to understand the return on their marketing spend," said Malakian. "At a time when businesses are facing serious headwinds and tracking what's driving value, speed-to-contact for potential customers has never been more important. Phonexa has built an incredible suite to help affiliate marketers, agencies, and networks with the tooling they need to track all campaigns and customer interactions, and tie performance into revenue outcomes. I can't wait to drive continued global growth in this new role." Malakian is a go-to-market advisor and demand generation leader for high-growth companies in B2B enterprise SaaS and emerging tech. She has helped purpose-driven companies build meaningful brands and pipeline acceleration programs spanning the customer flywheel to create velocity and drive customer acquisition at scale. Before joining Phonexa, Malakian led go-to-market and marketing strategy at Metaplex and RECUR. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from UC Irvine and an Executive MBA from Pepperdine University. Phonexa's 200-person global staff spans headquarters in California, the United Kingdom, and Ukraine and features a diverse team of award-winning executives. From its 12-person global C-suite, 10 of Phonexa's executives are women or from ethnic minorities. About Phonexa: Phonexa is a performance marketing automation software and all-in-one marketing solution for calls, leads, clicks, email, SMS, accounting, and more. The company powers direct advertisers and lead generators alike across all businesses and industries by optimizing inbound web and call campaigns, and outbound call, email, and SMS campaigns all while having the ability to enhance the consumer journey along every step of the way. Complete with a suite of turnkey marketing products and solutions, Phonexa's customizable tools are uniquely designed to maximize workflow efficiency and revenue. Phonexa has the scalability, tools, and partnerships to serve clients across industries, especially those with high consumer demand products and services. For more information, please visit www.Phonexa.com. Media contact: Manouk Akopyan [email protected] 8188000000 SOURCE Phonexa Uruguays regulator URSEC (Unidad Reguladora de Servicios de Comunicaciones / Regulatory Unit of Communications Services) has agreed to delay the 5G spectrum auctions that it had scheduled for 28th April in response to an extension request from Claro Uruguay. Bidding for the 3.5GHz permits will now be held on 9th May, with 28th April set as the deadline for potential bidders to pay their upfront deposit. The auction will see three lots available, with each consisting of a 1x100MHz block of spectrum, one of which is pre-allocated to state provider Antel. Meanwhile in Bolivia, the government has begun a tender to implement a new National Integrated Radio Spectrum System (Sistema Integrado Nacional del Espectro Radioelectrico / SINER). The proposed system would help regularise the frequencies used for mobile services as the country prepares for the advent of 5G. TeleGeography reports that this is Bolivias second tender for SINER, with no winner emerging during a previous attempt in June 2022. The contract is worth BOB156.8 million (US$22.1 million). Nation's Leading Superfruit Bowl Shop Offering Free 16oz Sweet Cream Cold Brew on April 20th with Purchase of a Superfruit Bowl BELMAR, N.J., April 13, 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 celebrating National Cold Brew Day with a special offer for rewards members. On Thursday April 20th, Playa Rewards members can enjoy a FREE 16oz Sweet Cream Cold Brew with the purchase of any superfruit bowl. Guests can join Playa Bowls rewards through the brand's mobile app to receive this perk. This offer will be valid on National Cold Brew Day only. Using the freshest, highest quality ingredients, Playa Bowls prides itself on delivering nourishing and delicious food and beverages to its guests. The brand's menu offers a variety of cold brew options, including fan favorites Playola Cold Brew and the Sweet Cream Cold Brew made with Chobani Coffee Creamer Sweet Cream. Playa Bowls' cold brews are made New Orleans style which means it is brewed with chicory for a robust flavor. The cold brews are served over ice, making them a refreshing and energizing pick me up any time of day. For those who prefer blended coffees, Playa Bowls also offers specialty coffee smoothies including the Coconut New Orleans Smoothie and Dolce Latte Smoothie! "Our cold brew coffee is the perfect complement to our superfruit bowls, providing a revitalizing beverage for guests to enjoy with a nutritious bowl of their choosing," said Abby Taylor, Co-Founder and CMO of Playa Bowls. "It's been so rewarding for us to see how popular our cold brew options have become, and we're honored to have partnered with Chobani to develop the Sweet Cream Cold Brew using only natural ingredients. We encourage rewards members to try our classic Sweet Cream Cold Brew for free with the purchase of a superfruit bowl and celebrate with us on National Cold Brew Day!" The National Cold Brew Day offer will be available at all participating Playa Bowls shops nationwide. Rewards members have various ways to order and receive their National Cold Brew Day offer, including ordering in shop, online, and through the Playa Bowls' mobile app. Founded by surfers Abby Taylor & Rob Giuliani, Playa Bowls was born out of the desire to recreate the delicious, refreshing, healthy versions of acai and pitaya bowls the pair encountered on various surf trips to Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Panama, Puerto Rico, California, and Hawaii. At each beach, the duo discovered new and unique twists on this popular post-surf treat and came home wanting more. The pair set up a blender and a folding table on the boardwalk in their hometown of Belmar, and Playa Bowls was born. Eight years, thousands of employees, and hundreds of thousands of bowls later, Playa Bowls continues to offer superfruit bowls with a mission to lead communities in healthy, sustainable living. 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, with plans to continue to expand its domestic footprint across the U.S. and globally. 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. 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: Andrea Mazzola Fish Consulting 954-893-9150 [email protected] SOURCE Playa Bowls The employee and customer communications experience software trusted by enterprises across the globe is recognized for its omnichannel platform DENVER and CORK, Ireland, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Poppulo, the leading employee and customer communications experience software company, today announced that its Employee Communications Solution has been recognized as a top employee communications software in the 2023 Employee Communications Software Buyer's Guide from SoftwareReviews, a division of IT research and consulting firm Info-Tech Research Group. Poppulo's recognition is based on comparing company scorecards using authentic user reviews that assess vendor capability satisfaction, product feature satisfaction, emotional footprint, customer accruement and retention, market size, and factors related to customer usage. "At Poppulo, we are committed to delivering the best communication experience software for the enterprise." Tweet this SoftwareReviews named Poppulo, a leading employee communication software receiving top marks for its net emotional footprint, vendor capabilities, product features, and likeliness to recommend. Additionally, Poppulo earned a 100% plan to renew reported by those surveyed. Poppulo secured the highest satisfaction scores in a variety of areas representing vendor capabilities, including: Quality of features Ease of implementation Business value created Usability and intuitiveness Vendor support The company also earned high ranks for select product features, including single sign-on and pulse surveys. Among Poppulo's high rankings, the emotional footprint category makes the SoftwareReviews Data Quadrant unique as it includes aggregated emotional response ratings in service, negotiation, conflict resolution, strategy, and innovation. Poppulo's performance within this category demonstrates the users' positive feelings toward the company and its product. "At Poppulo, we are committed to investing in and delivering the best communication experience software for the enterprise," said David Levin, CEO of Poppulo. "Our technology is designed to help businesses connect people with information in ways that are personalized, engaging and impactful. We are proud to earn a gold medalist award from SoftwareReviews, and we look forward to helping leading global organizations achieve greater business outcomes through improved communications." To learn more about Poppulo or to download the report, please visit here. About Poppulo Poppulo is the leading communications and workplace experience software company. The Poppulo Harmony platform helps enterprise organizations achieve more by effortlessly connecting their employees, customers, and workplaces through omnichannel employee communications, digital signage, and workplace management. Poppulo's 6,000+ customer base is representative of the world's most successful companies, including 47 of the Fortune 100. For more information, visit www.poppulo.com . Follow Poppulo on LinkedIn and on Twitter . About SoftwareReviews SoftwareReviews empowers organizations with the best data, insights, and advice to improve the software buying and selling experience. For buyers, SoftwareReviews' proven software selection methodologies, customer insights, and technology advisors help maximize success with technology decisions. For providers, the firm helps build more effective marketing, product, and sales processes with expert analysts, how-to research, customer-centric marketing content, and comprehensive analysis of the buyer landscape. SoftwareReviews is a division of Info-Tech Research Group, a world-class technology research and advisory firm. SOURCE Poppulo New industry-led global guidance sets out the role of people and culture in enabling food safety and product quality LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- A food safety culture that prioritizes people and supports collaboration in manufacturing facilities, food service businesses, restaurants or retail stores can help improve quality, minimizing the risks of contamination or recalls while also benefiting productivity and talent retention. New global guidance from BSI, the business development and standards company, developed through consensus with industry giants including Walmart, McDonald's, Kerry Foods and 3M, and published this week, identifies that the common factor in food safety incidents, quality failures and recalls is people rather than failures of machinery or technology. Equally, when issues occur, people are the key to avoiding recurrence. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), consuming contaminated food results in an estimated 600m people falling ill every year, leading to 420,000 deaths. A desire to tackle this led to a round-table discussion at the 2019 International Association for Food Protection (IAFP) Annual Meeting, then, ultimately, the creation of an industry steering group. The resulting document, Developing and sustaining a mature food safety culture (PAS 320), is designed to guide organizations of all sizes across food, beverage and retail to create a culture where people are prioritized, all employees embrace food safety, take responsibility for reporting issues, and are empowered to initiate change. Relevant to anyone from manufacturers and factory workers to restauranteurs and baristas, the guidance has been published by BSI following extensive sector discussion on food safety culture, including what it is, how to measure it and how to ensure continuous improvements. The document defines food safety culture as the "shared values, beliefs and norms that affect mindset and behavior toward food safety in, across and throughout an organization." It notes that creating and maintaining a strong culture that preserves quality and reduces risk requires management commitment and a mindset that safety is the responsibility of everyone at every stage of the food supply chain. Culture is also highlighted as key for employee retention, improving quality and decreasing contamination risk by decreasing turnover rate. PAS 320 includes steps for identifying gaps and then implementing a plan for change. It makes recommendations related to leadership; the organization's vision, mission, values and policy; organizational structure; responsibilities, accountabilities and authorities; guiding coalition team; interested parties; change champions; influencers; and food safety documentation. The guidance also includes advice on how prioritizing people in the sector not only supports improved food safety but also brings other benefits, including investment return, business performance improvement, reduction of the costs associated with poor quality, and enhanced efficiency. The US FDA's New Era of Smarter Food Safety blueprint states that dramatic improvements in reducing the burden of foodborne illness cannot be made without doing more to influence the beliefs, attitudes, and, most importantly, the behaviors of people and the actions of organizations. Neil Coole, Director, Food and Retail Supply Chains at BSI, said: "A positive food safety culture that prioritizes people and gives everyone a stake in driving quality can have a transformative effect and help reduce the risk that comes from unsafe food. This starts with leadership taking steps to turn ambition into action in order to build and sustain continuous improvements across their organization and the wider supply chain. "Ultimately, moving from seeing food safety culture as a compliance issue to an investment in people can offer huge benefits for individuals, organizations and society as a whole." Scott Steedman, Director General, Standards, BSI, said: "It is tragic that so many lives are lost globally every year to contaminated food. This is something nobody in the industry can ignore, and urgent steps to change this are required. We understand that the common factor in food safety-related risks is people, and it is an organization's culture towards food safety that presents the opportunity for continuous improvement. PAS 320 provides the guidance to empower people to make a positive impact on the future of the food industry. "Enabling a robust food safety culture is vital for enhancing quality and safety across the food sector. Strengthening understanding of what best practice looks like and how everyone in the food sector can play a role, by enhancing global consistency and offering clarity, can help food sector organizations accelerate change and support the realization of quality and food safety ambitions. This new standard on food safety culture can build confidence in the global food industry and offer long-term benefits for everyone." Media Contact: Chad Quinn, PR Manager, Americas, BSI Email: [email protected] Phone: +571-758-8638. Notes to Editors: Contact us for the copy of the standard About BSI BSI is the business improvement and standards company that enables organizations to turn standards of best practice into habits of excellence, "inspiring trust for a more resilient world." For over a century, BSI has driven best practice in organizations around the world. Working with over 77,500 clients across 195 countries, it is a truly global business with skills and experience across all sectors, including automotive, aerospace, built environment, food and retail and healthcare. Through its expertise in Standards and Knowledge, Assurance Services, Regulatory Services and Consulting Services, BSI helps clients to improve their performance, grow sustainably, manage risk, and ultimately become more resilient. To learn more, please visit: www.bsigroup.com SOURCE BSI Group Americas Inc. Watch Lucky Dog on CBS on April 22 to be inspired to create the yard of your dreams ALEXANDRIA, Va., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The TurfMutt Foundation, which advocates for the care and use of our backyards, community parks, and other green spaces, says Earth Day (April 22) is the perfect time to practice being a master backyarder. "Backyarding" is the act of taking activities that we normally do inside, out to our yards and parks. Master backyarders elevate backyarding, using their personal and community green space for everything from working and exercising to entertaining and relaxing. Remember the "Golden Rule" of Backyarding: Right plant, right place. Tweet this Master backyarders also understand the benefits of our yards and other community green spaces to the environment, explains Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. Every day is Earth Day for master backyarders. They plant for pollinators, know to put the right plant in the right place, and recognize their backyard as an important part of the connected ecosystem. For more information, go to TurfMutt.com TurfMutt Foundation logo (PRNewsfoto/TurfMutt Foundation) "Master backyarders also understand the benefits of our yards and other community green spaces to the environment," explains Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. "Every day is Earth Day for master backyarders. They plant for pollinators, know to put the right plant in the right place, and recognize their backyard as an important part of the connected ecosystem." This year, the TurfMutt Foundation encourages everyone to use Earth Day as an opportunity to practice being a master backyarder. Here are a few ways to do just that: Remember the "Golden Rule" of Backyarding: Right plant, right place. Putting the right plant in the right place is the key to successful master backyarding. It goes beyond identifying plants that will do better in sun versus shade. Master backyarders select plants that will thrive in their climate zone and work to create a backyard that supports their family's lifestyle. To learn more about selecting the right plants for your yard, refer to the USDA's Plant Hardiness Zone Map. Plant with pollinators in mind. Master backyarders understand that our yards and community parks are an important part of the connected ecosystem, providing food and shelter for pollinators. They plant with birds, bees, butterflies, bats, and other creatures in mind. Water wisely. After getting their new plants started, master backyarders only water when necessary. They install watering solutions like smart controllers on irrigation systems to help use water efficiently while maintaining a living landscape. They remember that over-watered grass gets lazy, growing roots in a horizontal pattern. But with less water, grass sends its roots deeper vertically seeking water. By working harder, grass does a better job performing its environmental superpowers like sequestering carbon and releasing oxygen. Bone up on backyard benefits. Master backyarders are tuned into the many benefits of spending time in backyards and community parks, and they use the outdoors for all sorts of activities like dining, entertaining, working and even vacationing. For humans, backyarding benefits include lower stress, increased happiness, and improved memory. For the health of the planet, green space captures carbon, produces oxygen, and prevents runoff. Watch Lucky Dog on CBS for inspiration. Master backyarders aren't too proud to take their backyarding cues from their furry friends. Afterall, no one loves and appreciates yards and green spaces more than dogs. On Earth Day, the TurfMutt Foundation will be featured on the CBS show Lucky Dog. This episode highlights the Mulligan's Mutt Madness pet adoption event at Equip Exposition, which helps rescue dogs find forever homes. Watch Lucky Dog on Earth Day to get inspired to create the yard of your and your dog's dreams. For more information, sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from the TurfMutt Foundation here. To learn more about creating the yard of your dreams, visit TurfMutt.com. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on Lucky Dog. Here is a link to download the International Backyarding Fact Book, to learn why spending time in our yards and community parks is good for us and the planet. About the TurfMutt Foundation TurfMutt was created by the Outdoor Power Equipment Institute's (OPEI) TurfMutt Foundation and has reached more than 70 million children, educators and families since 2009. Championed by Foundation spokesdog, Mulligan the TurfMutt, and through education partners such as Weekly Reader, Discovery Education and Scholastic, TurfMutt has taught students and teachers how to "save the planet, one yard at a time." Today, TurfMutt is an official USGBC Education Partner and part of their global LEARNING LAB. TurfMutt has been an education resource at the U.S. Department of Education's Green Ribbon Schools, the U.S. Department of Energy, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Green Apple, the Center for Green Schools, the Outdoors Alliance for Kids, the National Energy Education Development (NEED) project, Climate Change Live, Petfinder and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. In 2017, the TurfMutt animated video series won the coveted Cynopsis Kids Imagination Award for Best Interstitial Series. TurfMutt's personal, home habitat was featured in the 2017-2020 Wildlife Habitat Council calendars. More information at TurfMutt.com. Media contacts: Ami Neiberger, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 703-887-4877, [email protected] Debbi Mayster, Four Leaf PR on behalf of OPEI, 240-988-6243, [email protected] SOURCE TurfMutt Foundation Mauldin has a proven track record of fostering an exceptional employee experience at high-growth companies including Google, Uber and Nubank while driving strategic talent initiatives CHICAGO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- project44, the leading supply chain visibility platform, announced today that Renee Mauldin has joined the company as Chief People Officer. A tech veteran with an impressive record of driving talent strategies at prominent high-growth companies, Mauldin now leads all people initiatives at project44. As a key member of the executive team, Mauldin aims to build on the existing culture to create a diverse and inclusive workforce with people at the center of the organization. "Renee was in the driver's seat at critical junctures for some of the most iconic tech companies, directing all things people as those organizations achieved audacious goals," said Jett McCandless, project44 Founder and CEO. "We're thrilled to welcome her to the leadership team as we take project44 to the next level, working with our global team to scale and innovate in the months and years ahead." Mauldin brings more than 20 years of experience to her new role at project44, including a track record of success in industries such as technology and banking, where she built and led global teams at some of the world's most well-known, high-growth brands. Prior to joining project44, Mauldin served as Chief People Officer at Nubank where she played an integral role in scaling the private company from fewer than 100 employees to more than 5,000 team members and a successful IPO. "In my experience, no one cares more about a company's future than a founder," Mauldin said. "Jett's vision for project44 includes building a world-class culture and HR framework that consistently delivers an outstanding employee experience and unlocks career possibilities, driving innovation and creativity. I'm honored to join his leadership team." Earlier in her career, Mauldin served as Global Head of People & Places at Uber as well as People Ops Leader for Ads & Commerce at Google. In a previous role as Human Resources Senior Director at Capital One, Mauldin played a key role in transforming a monoline credit card company into a top five bank over the course of 11 years. In these positions, Mauldin gained international experience on how to build innovative, people-first company cultures through smart talent acquisition and development strategies. "The supply chain touches everyone, and as a supply chain visibility innovator, we have an opportunity to make a positive impact on people's daily lives. project44 is playing a huge role in how we use technology to make our lives easier and I am thrilled to be a part of that mission." Mauldin said. project44 is hiring. You can learn more about open positions here. About project44 project44 is on a mission to make supply chains work. As the supply chain connective tissue, project44 operates the world's most trusted end-to-end visibility platform that tracks more than 1 billion unique shipments annually for over 1,200 of the world's leading brands, including top companies in manufacturing, automotive, retail, life sciences, food & beverage, CPG, and oil, chemical & gas. Using project44, shippers and carriers across the globe drive greater predictability, resiliency and sustainability. The undisputed leader in the market, project44 was named the Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant, #1 in FreightWaves FreightTech 2023, an eight-time leader in customer satisfaction on G2's Supply Chain Visibility Grid, one of SupplyChainBrain's 100 Great Supply Chain Partners of 2022, and the Customer's Choice in Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer report. project44 is headquartered in Chicago with a diverse team spanning 23 global offices including Austin, Amsterdam, Krakow, Paris, Sao Paulo, Shanghai and Tokyo. Learn more at project44.com. Media Contact: [email protected] SOURCE project44 New microsats will help provide insight into thunderstorms' impacts on weather and climate models LAFAYETTE, Colo., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider Blue Canyon Technologies, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) subsidiary, will design and manufacture three microsatellites to support NASA's Investigation of Convective Updrafts, or INCUS, mission. The INCUS mission led by Colorado State University and managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory aims to better understand the complex dynamics of thunderstorms and their impact on Earth's climate and weather models. Blue Canyon's microsats will fly in tandem coordination, each displaying a dynamic atmospheric radar and dynamic microwave radiometer measuring the atmospheric conditions of Earth. "BCT's successful science exploration programs and our experience controlling large flexible structures will be key to supporting this critical science mission," said Jeff Schrader, president of Blue Canyon Technologies. Blue Canyon's work will be performed at its Crescent Constellation Factory located in Lafayette, Colorado. About Blue Canyon Technologies Blue Canyon Technologies (BCT), a subsidiary of Raytheon Technologies, offers a diverse portfolio of innovative, reliable, and affordable spacecraft and components that enable a broad range of missions and technological advancements for the new space economy. The company currently supports numerous unique missions with over 100 cumulative spacecraft orders. For the latest news on Blue Canyon Technologies and for other company information, please visit www.bluecanyontech.com. You can follow the company on LinkedIn here, Instagram here, or Twitter here. 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. Media Contact: Hayle Bell (678) 469-6997 SOURCE Raytheon Technologies CREModels' Mike Harris encourages general partners to ramp up their outreach, put their operations under the microscope and look for ways to maximize efficiency and cash flow. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- General partners should ramp up their outreach to multifamily and commercial real estate co-investors at a time of rising concern about the economy, advises CREModels Managing Director Michael Harris. It's one of several tips Harris offers in " Real estate GPs need to get out their defensive playbooks "a column in the Capital section of Multifamily Dive. Mike Harris, Managing Director @ CREModels GP's Need a Defensive Playbook to Deal with Uncertainty A 30-year veteran of CRE and tech, Harris writes that GPs can protect their interests by playing smart defense. The first step is to dig into the original investor waterfall structure to get ahead of any issues that might arise. "A central focus of the waterfall analysis should be to evaluate the effects on GP and LP returns of potential valuation and cash-flow scenarios," he explains. Third-party analysts at firms such as CREModels routinely review partnership agreements and develop comprehensive what-if scenarios for clients. These projects "can help GPs protect the interests of their LPs and build a more resilient and successful real estate fund for the long term," Harris notes. Good relationship management also means being transparent about the fees charged by the fund while calmly and clearly communicating with LPs about the risks and potential rewards of investing in multifamily and commercial real estate, he adds. GPs also should carefully review the financial and operational covenants to which they have previously agreed with lenders (bank and non-bank). Clearly understanding these provisions can reduce the odds of running afoul of them. When times are tight, less-regulated non-bank lenders face a greater risk of runs, Harris notes. On top of that, rate increases tend to undermine new demand for the investment products they offer. "It can be harder for them to recycle capital or endure unexpected changes in payments," Harris explains. "Moving forward, some lenders might respond by being more 'opportunistic.' In other words, if they can get their hands on an asset after a borrower defaults, they just might do it." Analysts can review bank and non-bank obligations and design models to track covenants and responsibilities in areas such as debt service, liquidity and loan-to-value ratio. They also can clarify reporting requirements to help GPs form strategies for handling unavoidable defaults. Making smart moves today can pay strong dividends tomorrow, Harris concludes. "LPs will remember those GPs who communicated proactively, backed up their assertions with bulletproof analytics and stress-tested and adjusted their strategies during a difficult or uncertain time. And guess who they'll partner with when it's time to start playing offense again?" The article is available at: https://www.multifamilydive.com/news/real-estate-gps-need-to-get-out-their-defensive-playbooks/646339/ Media Contact: At CREModels, Mike Harris, (201) 252-7487, [email protected] SOURCE CREModels ATLANTA, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After undergoing extensive testing by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Rheem, a global manufacturer of HVACR and water heating products, was honored to be acknowledged for its exemplary performance in the Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge. Rheems heat pump was extensively tested by the Department of Energy in sub-zero temperatures and delivered dependable heat and exceptional efficiency. Focused on residential, centrally ducted, electric-only heat pumps, the DOE's Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge assessed heat pump performance in the Canadian and northern US climate, where temperatures can get much colder than 0 degrees Fahrenheit. Following testing, it was determined that Rheem's residential heat pump had delivered outstanding results in the challenge. Rheem has a legacy of developing state-of-the-art heat pump technology. With a variety of leading products already in market, Rheem improved its existing innovative design to deliver 5% higher COP during heating at 5 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature than the DOE challenge specification, making it ideal for heating homes in the targeted climate regions. The Rheem heat pump also performed at a 9% higher HSPF2 than the DOE challenge specification, highlighting the unit's incredible efficiency. The DOE launched the Residential Cold Climate Heat Pump Technology Challenge to accelerate development and commercialization of next-generation heat pumps by supporting American innovation and manufacturing. The DOE recognized the need for an efficient heating and cooling system based on updated state and federal policies and the growing demand for decarbonization. Rheem has always been at the forefront of sustainability efforts, especially since announcing its "A Greater Degree of Good" initiative, and has made notable progress toward the 2025 sustainability goals which encompass intelligent products, responsible processes and inspired people. "Rheem is committed to making a difference with the products we create, and our sustainability efforts know no bounds," said Jeff Goss, Director, Product Management, at Rheem. "We were not surprised that our team of dedicated, innovative engineers at Rheem developed a residential heat pump that was able to provide 77 percent of nominal heating capacity at 15 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature and provided uninterrupted heating operation at 23 degrees Fahrenheit ambient temperature surpassing expectations and delivering top quality performance." Heating and/or cooling a home, along with water heating, account for 40% of the primary energy consumption in buildings in the United States and are a major source of carbon emissions. As Rheem's heat pumps run on electricity, they reduce the need for natural gas, making them an ideal solution for homeowners to reduce emissions and increase energy efficiency. Heat pumps are more efficient than electric resistance heating, and Rheem's heat pump needs less supplementary heating due to its improved performance in cold ambient temperatures. Together, these elements, and their ability to function at a wider range of ambient temperatures, make them a more sustainable heating option. To learn more about Rheem's innovation pipeline, including its full line of cost-effective, eco-friendly products, visit Rheem.com. About Rheem Founded in 1925, Rheem innovates new ways to deliver precise temperatures while saving energy, water and supporting a more sustainable future. Rheem is the only manufacturer in the world that produces heating, cooling, water heating, pool & spa heating and commercial refrigeration products, and is America's #1 water-heating brand with products available in more than 80 countries. Paloma Co., Ltd. of Nagoya, Japan, acquired the iconic Rheem brand in 1988, and today the company's portfolio of premium brands include Rheem, Raypak, Ruud, Friedrich , Sure Comfort, WeatherKing , Eemax, Richmond, Splendid, Solahart and EverHot as well as commercial refrigeration brands Russell, Witt, ColdZone and Kramer, which are part of the Heat Transfer Products Group (HTPG) division. SOURCE Rheem Financing Further Propels Commercial and Research & Development Initiatives ARTARMON, Australia and BLOOMINGTON, Minn., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Saluda Medical Inc. ("Saluda Medical"), a global medical device company revolutionizing the field of neuromodulation with an emerging portfolio of therapies driven by advanced closed-loop technologies designed to treat debilitating neurological disorders, today announced the closing of a US $150 million equity financing round led by new investor Wellington Management, with strong support from current investor Fidelity Management & Research Company and new investor TPG. Current investors Redmile Group, LLC, Action Potential Venture Capital and funds and accounts advised by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. also participated. Net proceeds from the financing will be used to advance the commercial release of the Evoke Spinal Cord Simulation (SCS) System while also helping to further advance the Company's mission and technology platform. "We are very excited to add two elite healthcare investors to our shareholder base while existing investors continue to support our mission to transform patients' lives with neural sensing technology and revolutionize the field of neuromodulation", said Jim Schuermann, President and CEO of Saluda Medical. "With this financing, which follows the recent presentation of our 36-month data, the decision by CMS to grant Evoke TPT payment, and our initial limited commercial release, we are more prepared than ever to fundamentally transform the neuromodulation space with our clinically proven, technologically unrivaled platform." The Company also announced that it has redomiciled as Saluda Medical Inc., a Delaware company. Saluda's first FDA indication is in chronic pain, a debilitating condition that affects quality of life and drives patients to opioid use. Studies have shown that over 19 million Americans have chronic pain that limits their ability to work. Although spinal cord stimulation has been used as a treatment option for chronic pain since 1967, Evoke is the first system designed to automatically self-adjust with millisecond precision to optimize therapy based on a patient's unique spinal cord activation. BofA Securities acted as sole placement agent for this transaction. About Saluda Medical Saluda Medical is a global company transforming patients' lives with disruptive neural sensing technologies designed to revolutionize the field of neuromodulation. The company's first product, the Evoke SmartSCS System, is the only ECAP-controlled closed-loop smart spinal cord stimulation (SCS) system and is indicated as an aid in the management of chronic intractable pain of the trunk and/or limbs, including unilateral or bilateral pain associated with failed back surgery syndrome, intractable low back pain, and leg pain. The Evoke System automatically reads, records, and responds to the nerves' response to stimulation 4+ million times a day to provide continually optimized therapy and is proven to be superior to open-loop SCS for the treatment of overall trunk and/or limb pain. 12-month results from the EVOKE study, the first double-blind randomized controlled trial (RCT) used in support of Premarket Approval (PMA) in spinal cord stimulation history, were published in The Lancet Neurology and 24-month results have since been published in JAMA Neurology. Furthermore, unprecedented 36-month data from the EVOKE Study demonstrated enduring and consistent pain relief with the Evoke System. To learn more, including risks & important safety information, visit www.saludamedical.com/us/safety/ . Saluda Medical and Evoke are registered trademarks owned by Saluda Medical Pty Ltd. Media Contact: Stella Kim +1 (651) 270-3084 [email protected] Investor Contact: Brian Johnston Gilmartin Group (332) 895-3222 [email protected] SOURCE Saluda Medical NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The seborrheic keratosis treatment market size is forecasted to increase by USD 786.38 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 6.45%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the growing preference for the aesthetic quotient, the high prevalence of seborrheic keratosis, and a surge in the geriatric population. The report estimates the market size of seborrheic keratosis treatment in the key markets of North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW). - Read our Sample Report Vendor Analysis Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Seborrheic Keratosis Treatment Market 2022-2026 The global seborrheic keratosis treatment market is fragmented, with the presence of some large and many medium-sized players. The competition in the market is intense due to the presence of different types of devices used in various treatment options. Currently, the market is dominated by vendors providing devices necessary for cryosurgery. Established players are offering devices required for electrocautery for the treatment of seborrheic keratosis. For instance, Aclaris Therapeutics offers a topical solution, ESKATA. These factors are intensifying the competition among vendors. Some of the key vendors covered in the report include: Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. - The company offers A-101 solution, a novel treatment for seborrheic keratosis. - The company offers A-101 solution, a novel treatment for seborrheic keratosis. BioLineRx Ltd. - The company offers seborrheic keratosis treatment products such as BL-5010. - The company offers seborrheic keratosis treatment products such as BL-5010. Brymill Cryogenic Systems - The company offers seborrheic keratosis treatment products such as Cry-Ac and Cry-Ac-3. - The company offers seborrheic keratosis treatment products such as Cry-Ac and Cry-Ac-3. Cortex Technology - The company offers seborrheic keratosis treatment products such as CryoPro. - The company offers seborrheic keratosis treatment products such as CryoPro. Cryo Innovations CryoConcepts LP Cryoswiss GmbH Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH H and O Equipments Special Medical Technology s.r.o Why Buy? Add credibility to strategy Analyzes competitor's offerings Get a holistic view of the market Grow your profit margin with Technavio - Buy the 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. Get a holistic overview of the seborrheic keratosis treatment market by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample Market Segmentation: The market is segmented by application (cryotherapy, electrocautery, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). The market growth in the cryotherapy segment will be significant over the forecast period. The increasing prevalence of seborrheic keratosis and the rising aesthetic quotient among people are driving the growth of the segment. In addition, the growth of the cosmetic industry and the increased demand for aesthetic appearance are fueling the segment's growth. North America will contribute 29% to the market growth during the forecast period. The growth of the regional market is primarily driven by the high prevalence of seborrheic keratosis. In addition, the increasing geriatric population and new research activities related to the establishment of innovative treatment methods and advances in electrocautery will fuel the growth of the seborrheic keratosis treatment market in North America . Market Dynamics: Key Drivers: Growing preference for the aesthetic quotient High prevalence of seborrheic keratosis Surge in the geriatric population The prevalence of seborrheic keratosis is found to be the same worldwide. It occurs mostly among people with light skin tones. The condition is not life-threatening. However, the number of people opting for the treatment is increasing due to growing concerns over aesthetic appeal among men and women. The demand for better aesthetic appeal is increasing, with rising disposable income, advances in the healthcare sector, and globalization. As a result, the market size is expected to increase over the forecast period. Major Trends: Technological advances in cryotherapy Emergence of non-invasive treatments Use of laser therapy Vendors offering cryotherapy equipment are integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in their offerings. The use of these technologies has led to efficiency, cost reduction, and better performance. Such technological developments in cryotherapy equipment have improved the quality of treatment in areas such as oncology, including dermatological disorders such as seborrheic keratosis. These factors have resulted in the development of cryotherapy that provides effective treatment for seborrheic keratosis, which is positively influencing the market growth. Key Challenges: Lack of approved drug therapies High cost of treatment Challenges associated with misdiagnosis The market has several invasive and non-invasive treatment options such as cryotherapy, electrocautery, and laser ablation to treat seborrheic keratosis. However, these treatment options might not work effectively for all patients with the same condition. It varies with the nature and consistency of the lesions of each patient. Besides, the market currently has only one approved drug, ESKATA. Also, there are no drugs in the pipeline for the treatment of seborrheic keratosis. The R&D is focused more on procedure-oriented therapies. Hence, the lack of availability of approved drugs will challenge the growth of the market. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform What are the key data covered in this seborrheic keratosis treatment market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the seborrheic keratosis treatment market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the seborrheic keratosis treatment market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the seborrheic keratosis treatment 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 seborrheic keratosis treatment market vendors Related Reports: The Darier disease drugs market size is expected to increase to USD 45.37 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.6%. The market is segmented by product (topical retinoids, oral retinoids, and others) and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)). size is expected to increase to from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 4.6%. The market is segmented by product (topical retinoids, oral retinoids, and others) and geography ( , , , and Rest of World (ROW)). The Behcet's disease therapeutics market size is expected to increase to USD 281.72 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 6.68%. The market is segmented by product (small molecules and biologics) and geography ( North America , Europe , Asia , and Rest of World (ROW)). Seborrheic Keratosis Treatment Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.45% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 786.38 million Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 5.88 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 29% Key countries US, Canada, Germany, Japan, and China Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Aclaris Therapeutics Inc., BioLineRx Ltd., Brymill Cryogenic Systems, Cortex Technology, Cryo Innovations, CryoConcepts LP, Cryoswiss GmbH, Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH, H and O Equipments, and Special Medical Technology s.r.o 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 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 Application 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 Application 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Application - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Application 5.3 Cryotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Cryotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Cryotherapy - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Cryotherapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Cryotherapy - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Electrocautery - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Electrocautery - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Electrocautery - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Electrocautery - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Electrocautery - 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 Application Exhibit 40: Market opportunity by Application ($ 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 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on US - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 66: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 67: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 68: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 69: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on Canada - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on Canada - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 82: 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 83: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 84: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 85: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 86: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 87: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 88: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. Exhibit 89: Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. - Overview Exhibit 90: Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 91: Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. - Key news Exhibit 92: Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 93: Aclaris Therapeutics Inc. - Segment focus 10.4 BioLineRx Ltd. Exhibit 94: BioLineRx Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 95: BioLineRx Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 96: BioLineRx Ltd. - Key offerings 10.5 Brymill Cryogenic Systems Exhibit 97: Brymill Cryogenic Systems - Overview Exhibit 98: Brymill Cryogenic Systems - Product / Service Exhibit 99: Brymill Cryogenic Systems - Key offerings 10.6 Cortex Technology Exhibit 100: Cortex Technology - Overview Exhibit 101: Cortex Technology - Product / Service Exhibit 102: Cortex Technology - Key offerings 10.7 Cryo Innovations Exhibit 103: Cryo Innovations - Overview Exhibit 104: Cryo Innovations - Product / Service Exhibit 105: Cryo Innovations - Key offerings 10.8 CryoConcepts LP Exhibit 106: CryoConcepts LP - Overview Exhibit 107: CryoConcepts LP - Product / Service Exhibit 108: CryoConcepts LP - Key offerings 10.9 Cryoswiss GmbH Exhibit 109: Cryoswiss GmbH - Overview Exhibit 110: Cryoswiss GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 111: Cryoswiss GmbH - Key offerings 10.10 Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH Exhibit 112: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH - Overview Exhibit 113: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH - Product / Service Exhibit 114: Erbe Elektromedizin GmbH - Key offerings 10.11 H and O Equipments Exhibit 115: H and O Equipments - Overview Exhibit 116: H and O Equipments - Product / Service Exhibit 117: H and O Equipments - Key offerings 10.12 Special Medical Technology s.r.o Exhibit 118: Special Medical Technology s.r.o - Overview Exhibit 119: Special Medical Technology s.r.o - Product / Service Exhibit 120: Special Medical Technology s.r.o - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 121: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 122: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 123: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 124: Research methodology Exhibit 125: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 126: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 127: 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 Simon Coon , a professional staff member with the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee and Marine Corps veteran, and Al Edwards , a former professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee and Air Force veteran, each will receive the Colonel Paul . Meritorious Service Award, which honors congressional staff members who have made significant contributions to the uniformed services community. was dedicated to the passage of the PACT Act, working with committee leadership and members to address compromises while managing amendments throughout the process and keeping in touch with advocates seeking support from the committee. Edwards was instrumental in developing an updated construct for the Dental Program in the Fiscal Year 2023 National Defense Authorization Act. His leadership on military health care issues contributed to improvements for beneficiaries that will impact lives for years to come. DOHA, Qatar, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") has signed an equity participation agreement with QatarEnergy on April 12 to take 1.25 percent shares in Qatar's North Field East (NFE) expansion project, which is currently the largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in the world. Sinopec to Take 1.25 Percent Shares in Qatars North Field East LNG Expansion Project. The event marks another milestone after Sinopec and QatarEnergy inked a 27-year long-term LNG purchase and sales agreement in November 2022 for the annual supply of 4 million tons of LNG to Sinopec and achieves integrated cooperation on the NFE expansion project. Sinopec Chairman Ma Yongsheng and Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, H.E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi, formally signed the agreement at a signing ceremony in QatarEnergy's headquarter in Doha. "QatarEnergy, a world-leading LNG producer, is one of Sinopec's most important partners, the cooperation between the two companies will further strengthen the optimization of China's energy consumption pattern and improve the security, stability, and reliability of clean energy supply. With the solid foundation of our partnership, we hope to explore new LNG collaboration opportunities and expand new grounds for cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win progress," said Ma. Al-Kaabi expressed that China is one of the world's most important natural gas markets and key market for Qatar's energy products. The equity participation agreement fulfilled QatarEnergy's promise to further deepen relationships with major LNG clients, especially on developing long-term strategic partnerships with world's top clients like Sinopec. Sinopec is the first Asian stakeholder of the NFE project and the event marks a model of Sino-Qatar cooperation. With a total investment of USD 28.75 billion, the NFE project is projected to increase Qatar's annual LNG export volume from 77 million tons to 110 million tons. Sinopec and QatarEnergy's partnerships will help to meet the demand for natural gas in the Chinese market and continue to advance green low-carbon, safe, and sustainable energy development. For more information, please visit Sinopec . SOURCE SINOPEC The rise in building construction, a surge in demand for green buildings, the use of autonomous systems in smart elevators, advanced features of smart elevators, and an increase in the number of high-rise buildings owing to rapid urbanization drive the global smart elevators market PORTLAND, Ore., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, "Smart Elevators Market by Setup (New Deployments, Modernization, Maintenance), by Carriage (Passenger, Freight), by Application (Residential, Commercial, Industrial): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031." According to the report, the global smart elevators industry was valued at $18.5 billion in 2021 and is estimated to reach $57.3 billion by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 12.1% from 2022 to 2031. The report offers a detailed analysis of changing market trends, top segments, key investment pockets, value chains, regional landscape, and competitive scenario. Download Free Sample Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/247 Drivers, Restraints, and Opportunities The market for smart elevators is experiencing growth due to various factors such as a rise in building construction, a surge in demand for green buildings, the use of autonomous systems in smart elevators, advanced features of smart elevators such as touch screen interface, voice commands, gesture control, mobile app controllability, and others, and a rise in a number of high-rise buildings owing to rapid urbanization. However, the growth of the smart elevator market is hindered by the high cost of smart elevators. Furthermore, technological developments in the smart elevator industry are expected to create new avenues for the growth in the global smart elevator industry in the future. Covid-19 Scenario: The COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on several industries globally, including the smart elevator market, due to the shutdown of the construction industry during the lockdown. The number of people using elevators reduced significantly, owing to the social distancing norms implemented by governments of several countries. The major countries including the U.S., Germany , Italy , and the UK, and developing countries like India and China were badly affected by the spread of coronavirus, thereby halting the demand for equipment and machinery. , , and the UK, and developing countries like and were badly affected by the spread of coronavirus, thereby halting the demand for equipment and machinery. However, the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic has currently decreased as a result of the introduction of various vaccines. Furthermore, it has been more than two and a half years since the outbreak of this pandemic, and many companies have already shown notable signs of recovery. Buy This Research Report (293 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures): https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/checkout-final/da7cf6f121234018aed615a0301ca4a3 The modernization segment to rule the roost throughout the forecast timeframe Based on the setup, the modernization segment contributed to the highest share in 2021, accounting for nearly half of the global smart elevators market revenue and is projected to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period. The IoT and AI technology helps enhance the security, safety and user interface of the elevators. Various factors such as the increase in the geriatric population, the rise in rates of theft and burglary, the surge in disposable income, and advancements in technology are driving the demand for elevators that are equipped with IoT and AI technology. However, the maintenance segment would portray the fastest CAGR of 14.0% from 2022 to 2031. Elevator hardware is susceptible to human and natural factors. Regular maintenance of smart elevators allows for longer life of the elevator and prevents unscheduled breakdowns. These factors are propelling the growth of the segment. The passenger segment to maintain its dominance throughout the forecast period Based on a carriage, the passenger segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than three-fifths of the global smart elevators market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. The high market share of the passenger segment is attributed to the increase in population, including the geriatric population who require safe, easy-to-operate, and fault-free elevators. However, the freight segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 12.9% from 2022 to 2031. The growth of the segment is attributed to the rise in the number of industrial, institutional, and commercial buildings. The commercial segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period On the basis of application, the commercial segment accounted for more than two-fifths of the global smart elevators market share in 2021 and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. Technological advancements and high budgets have enabled offices, hospitals, retail outlets, malls, transportation systems, and other commercial buildings to modernize elevators and make them smart. This factor drives the growth of the segment. On the other hand, the residential segment would showcase the fastest CAGR of 13.6% from 2022 to 2031 owing to rapid urbanization and improving standards of living in emerging nations. North America garnered the major share in 2021 By region, North America garnered the highest share in 2021, holding nearly two-fifths of the global smart elevators market revenue. The rate of adoption of new and latest technologies in all industrial and non-industrial sectors is relatively higher in the region and the construction of tall buildings is a common occurrence in the region, which drives the growth of the market. However, Asia-Pacific is estimated to rule the roost in terms of revenue and would showcase the fastest CAGR of 14.3% from 2022 to 2031. The growth is attributed to rapid urbanization and industrialization. Furthermore, the Indian smart elevator market is expected to grow soon due to its strong GDP growth, rapid industrialization, and revolution in the construction industry. Enquire Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/247 Leading Market Players: KONE Corporation Fujitec Co., Ltd. Halma PLC(Avire Trading Limited) thyssenkrupp AG (TK Elevator) Schindler Group Hitachi Ltd. Otis Worldwide Corporation Robert Bosch GmbH Mitsubishi Electric Corporation Hyundai Elevator Ltd The report analyzes these key players in the global smart elevator market. These players have adopted various strategies such as expansion, new product launches, partnerships, and others to increase their market penetration and strengthen their position in the industry. The report helps determine the business performance, operating segments, developments, and product portfolios of every market player. Trending Reports in Smart Elevators Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Elevator Modernization Market Is Projected To Reach $19,941.6 Million By 2030 Escalators Market Is Projected To Reach $19,116.6 Million By 2030 Construction Lifts Market Is Projected To Reach $723.0 Million By 2030 Smart Doorbell Market Is Projected To Reach $14,441 Million By 2031 Building Construction Market Is Projected To Reach $11,121.90 Billion By 2031 Industrial Elevator Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Residential Elevator Market: Global Report opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact Us: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/construction-and-manufacturing Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg SOURCE Allied Market Research In SoftwareReviews' latest Emotional Footprint report, the firm reveals the six top-performing RPA software solutions that users say best help organizations unlock digital transformation. TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - SoftwareReviews, a leading source for insights on the software provider landscape, has published its 2023 Emotional Footprint Report on the top robotic process automation solutions. The report identifies the top six enterprise and midmarket providers as Champions for 2023. Enterprise - In SoftwareReviews latest Emotional Footprint report, the firm reveals the six top-performing RPA software solutions that users say best help organizations unlock digital transformation. (CNW Group/SoftwareReviews) Midmarket - In SoftwareReviews latest Emotional Footprint report, the firm reveals the six top-performing RPA software solutions that users say best help organizations unlock digital transformation. (CNW Group/SoftwareReviews) Robotic process automation (RPA) uses low-code implementation to automate repetitive and well-defined business processes by following pre-determined rules. With RPA bots, businesses can perform various automated tasks such as calculations, transaction reconciliation, and transcription issue exception notifications. RPA software interacts with both structured and unstructured data sources through application user interfaces. RPA technology allows employees to quickly automate processes and business applications with minimal to no coding experience. However, organizations may encounter adoption challenges, making it crucial to select a platform that offers excellent product training and resources. "In a continuously changing and complex business and IT environment, robotic process automation can improve productivity and insight generation. This is only the starting point," says Andrew Kum-Seun, research director, Info-Tech Research Group and SoftwareReviews. "Bundling RPA with business process management solutions, low code, AI, and other workflow automation technologies in the right way will significantly extend RPA's return on investment and create a more impactful workforce." SoftwareReviews' survey data from 1,189 end-user reviews was used to identify the top RPA software providers. The insights are intended to support organizations who are considering options to streamline their robotic process automation strategies. The Net Emotional Footprint (NEF) of each software provider is a result of aggregated emotional response ratings across the areas of service, negotiation, product impact, conflict resolution, strategy, and innovation. The NEF is a powerful indicator of overall user sentiment toward the provider and its product from the software user's point of view. Software providers with the highest NEF score, based on user feedback, are recognized as Champions in their category. The 2023 Robotic Process Automation Software Champions for the enterprise market are as follows: UiPath Studio, 98 NEF, ranked high for being effective. Automation Anywhere, 95 NEF, ranked high for saving time. Blue Prism, 95 NEF, ranked high for being efficient. The 2023 Robotic Process Automation Software Champions for midmarket are as follows: JIFFY.ai Automate, 95 NEF, ranked high for being caring. ElectroNeek, 90 NEF, ranked high for including product enhancements. G1ANT, 93 NEF, ranked high for being client friendly. User assessments of software categories provide an accurate and detailed view of the constantly changing market. SoftwareReviews' reports are informed by data from users and IT professionals who have intimate experience with the software throughout the procurement, implementation, and maintenance processes. The full report is now ready to access on the firm's website, which is updated in real time to reflect new reviews and ratings. For more information about SoftwareReviews, the Data Quadrant, or the Emotional Footprint, or to access resources to support the software selection process, visit softwarereviews.com. About SoftwareReviews SoftwareReviews empowers organizations with the best data, insights, and advice to improve the software buying and selling experience. For buyers, SoftwareReviews' proven software selection methodologies, customer insights, and technology advisors help maximize success with technology decisions. For providers, the firm helps build more effective marketing, product, and sales processes with expert analysts, how-to research, customer-centric marketing content, and comprehensive analysis of the buyer landscape. SoftwareReviews is a division of Info-Tech Research Group, a world-class technology research and advisory firm. SOURCE SoftwareReviews ROCKVILLE, Md., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Spartan Medical Inc., veteran-owned medical solutions company, has been recognized as an honoree of the Washington Business Journal's 2023 Best Places to Work Awards. In its 17th year, the Washington Business Journal's Best Places to Work list honors 75 of the region's leading employers. Companies on the list are known for recruiting and retaining the best and brightest employees. Spartan Medical has been recognized as one of the region's leading employers for the second year in a row. Tweet this BPTW Logo The honorees were determined by surveys that went directly to employees who answered a series of questions. Each company was judged by their company culture, leadership, employee engagement, employment benefits and more. The Washington Business Journal will announce the ranking of each company on the list at an event at the Hilton McLean Tysons Corner on May 11, 2023. "I'm very proud that Spartan Medical has been recognized as one of the region's leading employers for the second year in a row," said Vince Proffitt, Founder and President of Spartan Medical. "I believe the two most important qualities of a business are its people and its culture. This award honors both of those, and I couldn't be prouder of our team and the culture we've created together." Spartan Medical Inc. was founded in 2008 by Vince Proffitt, a former Air Force Intelligence Officer, to provide an extensive portfolio of advanced medical devices and technologies to surgeons at the VA medical centers, DoD medical facilities, civilian hospitals, and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) across the country. Spartan Medical is a top priority vendor in the VA, and it has been awarded more than 700 federal government contracts. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Spartan Medical provided an award-winning COVID-19 mitigation program to schools, colleges, and government agencies, helping them increase immunizations, suppress outbreaks, and keep their organizations operating and communities safe. Because of that success, Spartan Medical shifted from being a traditional MedTech supplier to a medical solutions company providing a full range of programs to a vast array of customers. Spartan Medical recently launched two technology services to help address the mental health crises plaguing college campuses and veteran communities. Spartan Medical has also joined forces with Tangelo, a food-as-medicine logistics platform, to provide the Veteran HealthPak, a comprehensive solution to address the clinical needs of 72% of veteran patients with one or more chronic conditions. Media Contact Nick Goebel 248-767-6276 [email protected] SOURCE Spartan Medical Inc. NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- As New York City Tartan Week kicks off, VisitScotland, in partnership with Johnnie Walker, has designed a cocktail menu in honour of the 25th anniversary of Tartan Day and the NYC Tartan Day Parade. From Thursday, April 13th through Saturday, April 15th, New Yorkers can enjoy a taste of Scotland at bars across Manhattan. A specially curated cocktail menu will be on offer at The Foundry Bar at The Westin New York at Times Square, Analogue and The Parlour Room. The Striding Men of Johnnie Walker emblazoned with Saltires (the flag of Scotland) and stars and stripes to celebrate connections between Scotland and the US for the 25th Anniversary of the New York City Tartan Day Parade The Striding Men of Johnnie Walker emblazoned with Saltires (the flag of Scotland) and stars and stripes to celebrate connections between Scotland and the US for the 25th Anniversary of the New York City Tartan Day Parade The Striding Men of Johnnie Walker emblazoned with Saltires (the flag of Scotland) and stars and stripes to celebrate connections between Scotland and the US for the 25th Anniversary of the New York City Tartan Day Parade To launch the Taste of Scotland Tartan Week Cocktails, Brand Ambassadors put the finishing touches to the cocktail menu at the Diageo North America Headquarters under the watchful eye of iconic Johnnie Walker Striding Men emblazoned with stars, stripes and saltires. To continue the tartan theme, each ambassador wore accessories representing clans associated with the Four Corners of Scotland, supplied by Scotland Shop. The Four Corners of Scotland refers to the four distinct whisky regions across Scotland the home of whisky - where visitors can discover the Johnnie Walker brand homes: Glenkinchie (Lowlands), Cardhu (Speyside), Caol Ila (Islay), and Clynelish (Highlands), as well as the flagship visitor experience Johnnie Walker Princes Street in Edinburgh. Cat Leaver, Head of Brand and Global Marketing at VisitScotland said: "Tartan Day, and Tartan Week offers a unique opportunity to celebrate the strong historical and cultural ties between Scotland and North America and promote ourselves as a must-see destination to audiences in our largest overseas market. "Rooted in this cultural heritage and a growing visitor trend we are experiencing for artisanal food and drink; we are delighted to partner with the iconic Scottish whisky brand Johnnie Walker on the taste of Scotland menu. We hope that this inspires New Yorkers to learn more about Scotland and begin planning their next adventure across the pond!" The menu will feature cocktails such as the Strawberry Smile, Kilted Sour and Bubbly in Blue, which will tingle the tastebuds and whet the appetite for a future Scotland trip. This exclusive Tartan Week cocktail menu forms part of a wider event programme taking place in New York City between April 10th16th. Notes to Editors For further information please contact Colleen McMahon [email protected] (646) 568-3768 VisitScotland VisitScotland is Scotland's national tourism organisation. Its purpose is to deliver a strategic and coordinated approach to supporting the rebuilding of the visitor economy in a responsible way, to ensure tourism thrives. national tourism organisation. Its purpose is to deliver a strategic and coordinated approach to supporting the rebuilding of the visitor economy in a responsible way, to ensure tourism thrives. The organisation's work will help deliver the Scottish Government's National Strategy for Economic Transformation, and Scotland Outlook 2030, the national tourism strategy, which details the vision of Scotland being the world leader in 21st century tourism. being the world leader in 21st century tourism. For VisitScotland's press releases go to Media Centre (visitscotland.org) tourism statistics and frequently asked questions go to http://www.visitscotland.org/ For holiday information on Scotland go to www.visitscotland.com go to www.visitscotland.com Find out more about Scotland's connections with the US and Canada , the history of Tartan Day and what takes place during Tartan Week here: Tartan Day | Scotland.org PLEASE NOTE This copy was correct at the time of going to press. VisitScotland cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information and accepts no responsibility for any error or misrepresentation. All liability for loss, disappointment, negligence or other damage caused by the reliance on the information contained herewith, or in the event of any company, individual or firm ceasing to trade, is hereby excluded. SOURCE VisitScotland TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Stay Inc. ("Stay" or the "Company"), Stay is pleased to announce that it has officially launched its online platform - www.stayapp.co. Stay is an online marketplace that facilitates short-term rentals (STR). This host-centric platform is designed for professional hosts, property managers, and entrepreneurial minded real estate investors, and is currently offering free hosting. Guests can book with confidence knowing that properties are hosted by professionals. Stay is experiencing rapid growth boasting over 14,000 registered users during its first few months of launch and averaging 5,000 visits a week. Stay is expecting 15,000 properties by May 2023. The company expects to see continued growth throughout the year, as it expands its offerings by accepting hosts and guests in the US. This move represents a major milestone for the company, as it looks to expand into new markets to build out its user base. In partnership with HGTV's Scott McGillivray, host of television shows such as Scott's Vacation House Rules and Renovation Resort, Stay has been granted access to exclusive high-profile properties. Vacation House Rules' cottages and Renovation Resort's cabins are currently booking on the Stay platform. "We're thrilled to have gone live with Stay and to see such rapid growth in such a short time," said Co-Founder Scott McGillivray. "Our platform is designed to enable professional hosts to provide the best experiences for our guests in this ever-changing environment, and we're excited to see it taking off with users across North America," said Blake Porretti, Chief Operating Officer of Stay. About Stay Stay is a software platform that connects hosts and guests in the short rental market. Unlike other platforms that focus on guests first, Stay is host-centric, and offers a solution for property owners, property managers, and qualified renters. Stay is committed to transparency, trust, sustainability, and customer satisfaction. SOURCE Stay Inc. Tampa General's Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer recognized for her career successes and integral role in patient safety and clinical innovation. TAMPA, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital's (TGH) Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Peggy Duggan, has been recognized by Becker's Hospital Review on its 2023 "Hospital and Health Systems Chief Medical Officers to Know" list, which highlights clinical leaders playing a crucial role in directing their organization's forward momentum while serving their patients and communities. Tampa General Hospital's (TGH) Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Peggy Duggan, has been recognized by Beckers Hospital Review on its 2023 Hospital and Health Systems Chief Medical Officers to Know list. Since joining Tampa General in 2021, Duggan has overseen a multitude of functions related to physicians and patient care for the academic medical center, which includes 1,040 beds and more than 8,000 team members. In addition to her leadership role, Duggan is a practicing physician, leveraging her top-tier credentials in breast cancer surgery as a senior member of the breast oncology program at the TGH Cancer Institute. "I am extremely proud of Peggy and her inclusion on this list as a national medical leader. She is a world-class physician, a highly effective leader, an exceptional person, and an invaluable asset to Tampa General and our entire team," said John Couris, president and CEO of Tampa General. "Every day, Peggy dedicates tremendous energy and talent to serving our patients and supporting our team to propel Tampa General forward. This national recognition is emblematic of the exceptional level of care and leadership she provides." Duggan is responsible for the conceptualization and implementation of many innovative programs across Tampa General impacting both patient and team member safety, enhancing world-class care and supporting a compassionate culture. For example, in 2022 Duggan initiated Schwartz Rounds, an international program using research-based strategies, tools and support to provide caregivers with resources to create and sustain a culture of compassion. During regularly scheduled times, physicians, nurses, social workers, health care professionals and psychologists openly and honestly discuss the social and emotional issues they face in caring for patients and their families. The benefits of Schwartz Rounds include strengthening caregiver-patient relationships, improving caregiver support and boosting caregiver resiliency. As a leader in Tampa General's initiative to become a certified Collaborative High Reliability Organization, Duggan was instrumental in the hospital becoming the first academic medical center and Level I trauma center to receive two key qualifications Collaborative Just Culture Program and Reliability Management Team. The qualifications are initial steps in the process of achieving Collaborative High Reliability Organization certification. Organizations worldwide from airlines to major utilities have achieved high reliability by demonstrating they have maintained high levels of safety, quality, and efficiency over an extended period, and health care organizations have just started to take this approach to achieving safety and improving quality. Additionally, under Duggan's leadership, Tampa General revolutionized its approach to sepsis management, creating an early warning system that helps with improved intervention for this life-threatening complication of an infection. As a result of this effort, the early death rate was nearly cut in half from 6.1 percent to 3.1 percent. This accounts for more than 50 lives saved in the past six months. Through this ongoing work, Tampa General developed pathways to get patients home from the hospital in a more timely manner. "I am thrilled to be included in this list alongside exemplary chief medical officers from impressive institutions across the country," said Duggan. "Tampa General is a leading provider for the health and well-being of our community, and I am honored to work with our exceptional physician team every day to provide world-class care to our patients while infusing innovation every step of the way." Becker's Hospital Review is a leading source of hospital business news and analysis for the health care industry. Duggan and the rest of this year's "Hospital and Health System CMOs to Know" honorees can be found online here. ABOUT TAMPA GENERAL HOSPITAL Tampa General Hospital, a 1,040-bed, not-for-profit, academic medical center, is one of the largest hospitals in America and delivers world-class care as the region's only center for Level l trauma and comprehensive burn care. Tampa General Hospital is the highest-ranked hospital in the market in U.S. News & World Report's 2022-23 Best Hospitals, and is tied as the third highest-ranked hospital in Florida, with seven specialties ranking among the best programs in the United States. Tampa General Hospital has been designated as a model of excellence by the 2022 Fortune/Merative 100 Top Hospitals list. The academic medical center's commitment to growing and developing its team members is recognized by two prestigious Forbes magazine rankings first nationally in the 2022 America's Best Employers for Women and sixth out of 100 Florida companies in the 2022 America's Best Employers by State. Tampa General is the safety net hospital for the region, caring for everyone regardless of their ability to pay, and in fiscal year 2021, provided a net community benefit worth more than $224.5 million in the form of health care for underinsured patients, community education, and financial support to community health organizations in Tampa Bay. It is one of the nation's busiest adult solid organ transplant centers and is the primary teaching hospital for the USF Health Morsani College of Medicine. With six medical helicopters, Tampa General Hospital transports critically injured or ill patients from 23 surrounding counties to receive the advanced care they need. Tampa General houses a nationally accredited comprehensive stroke center, and its 32-bed Neuroscience, Intensive Care Unit is the largest on the West Coast of Florida. It also is home to the Jennifer Leigh Muma 82-bed neonatal intensive care unit, and a nationally accredited rehabilitation center. Tampa General Hospital's footprint includes 17 Tampa General Medical Group Primary Care offices, TGH Family Care Center Kennedy, TGH Brandon Healthplex, TGH Virtual Health, and 21 TGH Imaging powered by Tower outpatient radiology centers throughout Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Palm Beach counties. Tampa Bay area residents also receive world-class care from the TGH Urgent Care powered by Fast Track network of clinics. To see a medical care professional live anytime, anywhere on a smartphone, tablet or computer, visit Virtual Health | Tampa General Hospital (tgh.org). As one of the largest hospitals in the country, Tampa General Hospital is the first in Florida to partner with GE Healthcare and open a clinical command center that provides real-time situational awareness to improve and better coordinate patient care at a lower cost. For more information, go to www.tgh.org. Media Contact: Beth Hardy, APR Senior Communications Specialist (813) 844-7322 (direct) (813) 510-6363 (cell) [email protected] SOURCE Tampa General Hospital The patent-pending Templum Inc. technology and infrastructure, alongside Sydecar's deal execution platform, create a front-to-backend solution to help firms scale. NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Templum, Inc. ("Templum"), a provider of next-generation cloud-based capital market infrastructure for alternative assets and private securities, announced today its partnership with Sydecar, a frictionless deal execution platform that provides venture investors, syndicates, and funding platforms with the foundational services needed to execute deals. The explosion of private markets has exposed a need for a uniform, standards-driven fundraising pathway that provides consistent results. This partnership creates the framework for startups and established issuers to seamlessly raise capital and power secondary trading without worrying about backend processes, infrastructure and technology. By pairing their capabilities, the companies create an end-to-end solution to start, grow, scale, and exit any capital raise by pairing entity formation with investor reach while creating a streamlined pathway to secondary trading. Sydecar's platform handles back-office operations such as automated entity formation, contracts and compliance, while Templum provides the technology and infrastructure for issuers to fundraise, onboard investors and launch a customized secondary trading marketplace. Templum & Sydecar Partner to Accelerate Private Market Growth through Frictionless Capital Raising and Secondary Trading Tweet this "Our unique regulatory approval sets and proprietary technology and infrastructure position issuers, institutions and startups to grow with marketplaces with speed, and to scale compliantly through Templum's ecosystem," said Christopher Pallotta, founder and CEO of Templum. "Through our collaboration with Sydecar, we solve the additional back-office pains that hinder both growth and scale. We have pioneered a standardized approach for an industry lacking digital infrastructure and created standards for venture investors, funding platforms and private securities startups." The partnership comes at a perfect time, as many investors are looking for better structure in their 2023 deals with the continuation of the private equity slowdown from 2022. "We are thrilled to be creating new and vastly improved standards for how we all interact with private markets. In partnering with Templum, we can expand our support across all stages of venture funding to continue delivering automated deal execution that is efficient and cost-effective," said Sydecar CEO Nik Talreja. "We know we have found a best-in-class partner in Templum that aligns with our commitment to bringing greater efficiencies, transparency and liquidity to private market investing." About Sydecar Sydecar helps investors start and run their fund or SPV, so they can launch an investment in hours rather than days. They are on a mission to bring more efficiency and accessibility to private markets by standardizing how investment vehicles are created and executed. In doing so, capital allocators can launch investment vehicles instantaneously, track funding in real-time, and offer hassle-free opportunities for early liquidity. To learn more, visit https://www.sydecar.io/ . About Templum Templum is paving the way for investors to participate in new asset classes through integrated market technologies and APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) for primary issuance and secondary trading. Templum's award-winning and patent-pending combined solution provide liquidity and distribution in private markets by enabling a continuous trading experience for investors rather than the manual processes currently in place. In doing so, Templum delivers custom trading solutions to power marketplaces. Templum Markets LLC. is a New York-based broker-dealer, and Alternative Trading System (ATS) approved to trade unregistered private securities in 53 U.S. states and territories and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Templum, Inc., a trading technology company. For more information, please visit www.templuminc.com. SOURCE Templum Inc. GROTON, Conn., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- ThayerMahan, a world leader in autonomous maritime surveillance solutions, closed $30 million in a Series C round, led by the MC2 Security Fund (MC2). Other notable new investors in the round include I Squared Capital, Ducenta Squared Asset Management and Compass Partners (who also served as financial advisors to the Company), along with additional participation by existing investors AE Industrial Partners, Hegemon Capital, and an affiliate of RiverPark Ventures. "ThayerMahan has demonstrated strong capabilities for both naval defense and commercial offshore energy use cases. This 'dual use' market approach provides strong diversification of revenue streams and helps to mitigate risk," said Chad Sweet, MC2 partner, who was recently appointed to the Company's Board. "This investment round will accelerate ThayerMahan's growth and further advance its high performing AI-and autonomy-related technology which is proving to be critical to the success of both the commercial and federal maritime missions." "ThayerMahan has demonstrated strong capabilities for both naval defense and commercial offshore energy use cases." Tweet this Founded in 2016, ThayerMahan provides maritime domain data solutions serving industry sectors including maritime security, defense and intelligence, subsea infrastructure, offshore energy, living marine resources, and acoustic sciences. The Company delivers data insights to its customers by deploying and operating a portfolio of unmanned autonomous sea-based systems. Its proprietary AI technology stack collects and curates data sets - analyzing and accelerating the speed of data comprehension. ThayerMahan has a deep bench of collective acoustics expertise, including over 75 employees with security clearances. The government has issued ThayerMahan eight patents and seven more are pending. ThayerMahan Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Mike Connor noted, "From the outset, we've focused on improving the United States' ability to effectively and efficiently monitor ocean activity using autonomous systems to protect and defend our people, territories, assets and allies. We've attracted a passionate team of mission-driven professionals." "This round enables us to quickly spur our development and deployment of unique technology, which is receiving strong demand from both our government and commercial customers. We look forward to advancing our growth through the expertise and relationships from MC2 and our new investors in this round," Connor said. "I also want to thank an affiliate of RiverPark Ventures and Hegemon Capital, the lead investors in our A and B rounds respectively, who embraced our vision and supported us as we made this game changing technology a reality. We look forward to creating even more value for all our investors with this significant new infusion of capital." About ThayerMahan ThayerMahan, Inc. is a maritime technology company dedicated to providing its government and commercial clients with turn-key autonomous marine solutions, including deployment, operations, data gathering and analysis services, using state-of-the-art acoustic and electronic sensors integrated on a variety of host platforms tailored to specific mission criteria. The Company is headquartered in Groton, CT with additional locations in Lexington, MA; Boston and Washington DC. For more information, please contact [email protected]. About MC2 The MC2 Security Fund (https://www.chertoffgroup.com/growth-equity) is a growth equity fund founded by the executive leadership team of The Chertoff Group. MC2 makes private equity investments in high growth companies supporting enduring, mission-critical security requirements within the security and risk management industry. Investment sectors include Cybersecurity, Defense Technology, Government Services, and Homeland Security. About I Squared Capital I Squared Capital is an independent global infrastructure investment manager with over $36 billion in assets under management focusing on utilities, digital infrastructure, energy, transport, environmental infrastructure and social infrastructure in North America, Europe, Latin America and Asia. Founded in 2012, the firm has offices in Miami, London, New Delhi, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taipei and Sydney. About Ducenta Squared Ducenta Squared is a minority owned SEC registered global asset manager with legacy roots stemming from 1984. Ducenta clients range from private/public institutional investors to high net worth private wealth investors. The firm draws on the team's extensive experience in various asset classes in private and public markets to deliver innovative client centric solutions while adapting to changing client needs and shifting global dynamics and risks. About Compass Partners Compass Partners Capital (www.compasspartners.com) is a private investment firm focused on helping companies seize 21st century opportunities. Compass invests in high-priority aerospace, defense, and industrial platforms to create value for investors through active management. The Compass team's multi-disciplinary backgrounds of deep investment and industry experience complement a core ethos centered on trust and collaboration, passion for excellence, and an enduring belief in humility and adaptability. As patriotic investors, Compass partners with owners, investors, and management teams to drive growth, enhance profitability, and strengthen U.S. national security. Media Contact: Rich Hine COO/VP Offshore Energy Group 120B Leonard Drive Groton, CT 06340 860-785-9994 www.thayermahan.com SOURCE ThayerMahan An official welcome ceremony has been held for President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the Musala square in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. A guard of honor was arranged for President Ilham Aliyev at the square decorated with national flags of Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovic welcomed President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev. The chief of the guard of honor reported to the Azerbaijani President. The military orchestra performed the national anthems of Azerbaijan and Bosnia and Herzegovina. President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovic reviewed the guard of honor. State and government officials of Bosnia and Herzegovina were introduced to President Ilham Aliyev, while members of the Azerbaijani delegation were introduced to Chairwoman of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina Zeljka Cvijanovic. Two-Time Former Attorney General Bill Barr To Serve As Advisory Board Chair DES MOINES, Iowa , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce (AmFree Chamber) launched a new project called "The Center for Legal Action." Since its inception in May 2022, AmFree Chamber has focused on growing a strong association of small to large businesses across all sectors to serve as the voice for pro-business and free market values. The Center for Legal Action (CLA) is dedicated to checking the insatiable expansion of the administrative state and returning power to the people and their elected representatives. CLA will challenge the barrage of federal regulations and mandates that raise energy costs, reduce employment, restrict basic freedoms, and erode the constitutional rights of individuals and businesses. Since 1994, the number of federal regulations has grown from 9,236 to 111,065. Every year since 1994, more than 3,000 new regulations have been added (except 2019, which saw 'just' 2,970 rules added). Federal statistics reveal between 18,000 and 38,000 pages of new rules have been added every year since the early 2000s. Federal regulatory overreach shackles the American economy. "The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce creating the Center for Legal Action is welcome news to House Republicans," stated House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA). "The regulatory bureaucracy has declared war on American consumers and is stifling innovation and economic prosperity, and we look forward to working together to fight administrative overreach and put power back in the hands of American entrepreneurs." Two-time former Attorney General Bill Barr will serve as the Chairman of CLA's Advisory Board, supporting AmFree's Chairman Terry Branstad and CEO Gentry Collins. "Overreaching federal bureaucracies are drowning American businesses under an unprecedented wave of burdensome regulation that is smothering our nation's economic growth, innovation and competitiveness," said Bill Barr, former Attorney General and Chair of the Center for Legal Action's Advisory Board. "I am honored to support Governor Branstad and the American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce in fighting for the American free enterprise system and beating back this destructive regulatory excess." General Barr will advise CLA on expanding its advisory board to include the nation's top legal talent, and on developing the group's legal strategy. CLA will provide congressional testimony, initiate litigation, file amicus briefs, and support lawsuits brought by other parties in important regulatory and constitutional cases. "The regulatory state is simply out of control, strangling businesses of all shapes and sizes, making it nearly impossible for American entrepreneurs to flourish," said Terry Branstad, Chairman of AmFree and the longest serving governor (IA) in U.S. history. "Through CLA, we will stop the regulatory overreach holding this country back and reinforce the foundations of American free enterprise: the freedom to innovate, grow, and prosper." To learn more about the Center for Legal Action, please visit: www.CenterforLegalAction.org SOURCE The American Free Enterprise Chamber of Commerce Two new irresistible flavors, TAMPICO Hard Punch Citrus and Island, are rolling out in select states OKLAHOMA CITY, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- COOP Beverage Works, the wholly owned subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based craft brewery COOP Ale Works and makers of SONIC Hard Beverages, announced today that TAMPICO Hard Punch is rolling out across the United States! TAMPICO Hard Punch is now available for adults of legal drinking age, just in time for the warmer weather months. The Fiesta of Flavor: Introducing TAMPICO Hard Punch Citrus and Island / Photo Credit: The House Creates "We are thrilled to partner with Tampico Beverages to create the TAMPICO Hard Punch beverage line that brings a new flavor-forward twist to the market," said Ryan Stump, COOP Beverage Works Vice President of Business Operations. "Whether you are inviting friends over for dinner or lounging around in the comfort of your own home, TAMPICO Hard Punch will transport your taste buds to a tropical getaway and deliver a satisfying punch of flavor." Inspired by the irresistible fruit flavors of TAMPICO, TAMPICO Hard Punch offers a bold and sweet experience in a flavored malt beverage. The new go-to beverage is available in two distinct flavors - Citrus and Island. TAMPICO Hard Punch Citrus is an explosion of flavor driven by bold and vibrant fruit-forward notes. The combination of orange, tangerine and lemon creates a crisp, hard punch made to kick off any occasion with friends. is an explosion of flavor driven by bold and vibrant fruit-forward notes. The combination of orange, tangerine and lemon creates a crisp, hard punch made to kick off any occasion with friends. TAMPICO Hard Punch Island provides a ticket to paradise with a sip of this tropical hard punch. The smooth and unique blend of pineapple, banana and orange brings back nostalgic flavors in the form of a vibrant hard punch. "From the original domestic launch of Tampico's iconic Citrus Punch in 1989, Tampico Beverages and its portfolio of products is now recognized in over 50 countries as a leader in high quality, value-added beverages, offering consumers its irresistible and refreshing signature blend of fruit flavors," said Mark Kent, Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Tampico Beverages. "Tampico Beverages has been rewarded with substantial brand awareness, and is respected for its tradition of success maintaining a category leadership position wherever it is available. We are excited to enter this growing category and provide adult consumers with the opportunity to enjoy the iconic Tampico flavors in a malt beverage." TAMPICO Hard Punch is made with natural and artificial flavors at an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 8% and is available in 4-pack 12oz. cans and 24oz. single-serve cans. TAMPICO Hard Punch can be found on shelves in select retailers in the following states: Alaska, Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Michigan, Missouri, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wisconsin. To find a store near you and follow the latest on TAMPICO Hard Punch, visit tampicohardbeverages.com . About TAMPICO Hard Punch Inspired by the colorful and irresistible fruit flavored juice drinks of Tampico Beverages, COOP Beverage Works and Tampico Beverages partnered to create a full-flavored malt beverage for adults of legal drinking age to enjoy. TAMPICO Hard Punch is currently available in Citrus and Island flavors and is a flavorful and delectable take on Tampico Beverages iconic flavored drinks. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram @tampicohardbevs. About Tampico Beverages, Inc. Tampico Beverages was founded in Chicago, Illinois in 1989 and it is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of high-quality and value-added juice drinks. With manufacturing facilities in Chicago, Texas and Brazil, Tampico Beverages has developed its TAMPICO brand into a global brand selling its portfolio of irresistible fruit flavored beverage drinks in over 50 countries. With substantial brand awareness in the United States and throughout the world, Tampico Beverages has a longstanding tradition of success and maintains a leadership position in the juice drink category. For more information, please visit www.tampico.com . About COOP Beverage Works COOP Beverage Works is a wholly owned subsidiary of Oklahoma City-based craft brewery COOP Ale Works. COOP Beverage Works develops and markets alcoholic beverage products in the seltzer, ready to-drink (RTD) and malt-beverage categories. Brands include SONIC Hard Beverages (SONIC Hard Seltzer, SONIC Hard Slush and SONIC Hard Southern Sweet Tea), TAMPICO Hard Punch beverages and future licensing partners. For more information, please visit coopaleworks.com . Media contact: [email protected] SOURCE COOP Beverage Works WARSAW, Poland, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- EuroSkills Gdansk 2023 is the eighth edition of the biennial EuroSkills Competition the biggest vocational education and skills excellence event in Europe. Held every two years and organised by WorldSkills Europe together with 32 Member Countries, EuroSkills brings together hundreds of young professionals under the age of 25 to compete for the chance to become the Best in Europe in their chosen skill. Competition: Mechanics of agricultural and construction vehicles Furniture competition EuroSkills Gdansk 2023 will take place from 5 to 9 September 2023 at AmberExpo Gdansk and Polsat Plus Arena Gdansk. The event will welcome 600 skilled young professionals under the age of 25 from 32 countries to participate in competitions in 43 different skills and trades. Around 100,000 visitors from across Poland and abroad are expected to attend. Visitors to the free-admission Competition will be able to watch the competitors in action and have the opportunity to try hands-on job-related skills at the many 'Try-a-Skill' demonstrations. The tens of thousands of school-aged young people who visit will be encouraged to turn their passions into a profession. EuroSkills Gdansk 2023 is organised in partnership by Poland's Foundation For The Development Of The Education System (FRSE), WorldSkills Poland, WorldSkills Europe, the City of Gdansk and AmberExpo Gdansk. Register to visit the free-admission event: euroskills2023.org/register-now. For more information, visit euroskills2023.org. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053545/Konkurencja_Mechanika.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053546/SkillsPoland.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053544/ES_Logo.jpg SOURCE Foundation for the Development of the Education System Join the Pet Care Revolution: VacLife will Launch Latest Pet Vacuum Cleaner on Kickstarter FUZHOU, China, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The quality of life for pets is continually being improved thanks to technological innovation. And in 2023, pet grooming kit ranks among the most popular pet accessories. VacLife, as a leading provider of high-quality household vacuum appliances, is excited to announce the upcoming launch of its latest product: the VacLife VL776 Pet Grooming Kit. To bring this exciting product to market, VacLife is launching a crowdfunding campaign at the end of April 2023 on Kickstarter. This campaign will explain how the VacLife VL776 Pet Grooming Kit functions, the numerous use cases, and how to participate in the project to aid in getting the device to market. VacLife Home Grooming Solution, The Ultimate All-In-One Pet Grooming Kit Designed with convenience and quality in mind, the VacLife pet grooming kit is set to transform the pet grooming experience. With the VacLife Pet Grooming Kit, pet owners can now take care of their pets' hygiene at home without having to visit expensive pet salons. "We understand how challenging it can be for pet owners to maintain a clean and healthy living environment while keeping their furry friends looking and feeling their best," said a VacLife spokesperson. "That's why we developed the Pet Grooming Kit Vacuum - a must-have tool for any pet owner who wants to simplify their grooming routine and maintain a clean home." Pet owners across the United States can now enjoy a more convenient and easy life with the new pet grooming kit by VacLife. After recognizing that regular tools often lack the necessary power and attachments to effectively remove pet hair from various surfaces, and can even cause allergies by stirring up dust and pet dander, the VacLife team spent over a year testing techniques, designs, and materials to develop a pet home grooming solution. The result is the highly anticipated VacLife VL776 Pet Grooming Kit, featuring exceptional performance in noise reduction, vacuum efficiency, and versatility. With exceptional noise reduction performance of only 55dB, the VL776 Pet Grooming Kit stands out from regular vacuum cleaners that can produce noise levels of 70-90 dB, which have been shown to increase pet stress levels. The VL776 Pet Grooming Kit's dual-air inlet design and two HEPA filters make pet grooming mess-free. With its 2.2L dust cup, pet owners can enjoy a hassle-free and cleaner grooming experience. It even handles static-charged pet hair, offering a better user experience. VacLife is committed to making grooming healthier and more enjoyable for pets. VacLife has put a lot of thought and effort into designing the VL776 Pet Grooming Kit to meet the highest standards of excellence and efficiency. They have carefully chosen brush heads suitable for different types of pet hair and consulted with veterinarians and professional groomers to determine what accessories to include. The grooming comb and de-shedding tool gently remove loose hair, while the electric trimmer and massage comb provide the best grooming experience. The 2-in-1 flat brush can convert into a crevice tool or dusting brush, and the hair removal roller easily removes pet hair from clothing and furniture. The result is a comprehensive and effective set of tools that allow pet owners to groom their pets at home and deepen their bond with their pets. During the development process, the VacLife team has worked closely with both pet owners and industry experts to gather valuable feedback and insights. This collaboration allowed the team to refine and improve their product based on the specific needs of their target audience. Once a concept has been developed, the team creates prototypes and conducts rigorous testing to ensure that the product meets the highest standards of quality, safety, and performance. This involved the use of advanced testing equipment and techniques to assess critical factors such as noise level, suction power, and dust collection efficiency. By prioritizing quality control throughout the development process, the VacLife team can confidently deliver a product that exceeds expectations and satisfies the needs of its customers. To support the launch of their Pet Grooming Kit Vacuum, VacLife has initiated a Kickstarter campaign with the goal of validating the practicality and usefulness of the invention and bringing it to market to benefit more pet owners. Supporters who back the campaign will have the chance to purchase the product at a reduced price and receive exclusive rewards and perks. "We're excited to bring the Pet Grooming Kit Vacuum to pet owners everywhere and are grateful for the support of our backers on Kickstarter," said the spokesperson. "Together, we can revolutionize the way pet owners care for their furry friends and keep their homes clean." For more information about VacLife and its latest product, visit the vaclife website at vaclife.com. To support the Kickstarter campaign and get your hands on the Pet Grooming Kit, keep an eye on VacLife. About VacLife VacLife is a young and innovative brand that focuses on essential power tools. Founded in 2015 by a group of young creatives with the mission to redefine power tools to be lighter, more compact, and easier for daily use. VacLife is constantly developing and upgrading products that take advantage of useful technologies for customers' convenience. Whether it's daily cleaning for the house or routine car maintenance, our products combine simple design with practicality perfectly serve your daily life. No more cumbersome and awkward power tools. At VacLife, we explore, innovate, and make life easier. Learn more about VacLife: www.vaclife.com For further information please contact: [email protected] SOURCE VacLife Digital health conference brings together thousands of healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors LOS ANGELES, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from The Wound Pros, LLC ( https://thewoundpros.com/ ) attended the ViVE Conference held from March 26th to 29th, 2023, in Nashville, Tennessee. The conference, now in its second year, is a curated event for senior digital health decision-makers focusing on the business of healthcare. The Wound Pros is the nation's leading wound care and management company specializing in treating and managing chronic non-healing wounds. It partners with long-term care facilities to provide comprehensive wound care services, including advanced wound care dressings and skin substitutes for acute and chronic wounds, and offers wound care education for staff. The company has attended the ViVE Conference since its inception. ViVE Conference 2023 brought together thousands of healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors in Music City Center, Nashville. Over four days of the conference, attendees participated in telehealth, cybersecurity, information exchange, healthcare transformation, and health equity sessions. The Wound Pros delegation to this year's ViVE conference included Daniel Hallman, D.P.M (Doctor of Podiatric Therapy and Manager of vascular services, infectious disease & E-prescriptions), Ayanna Releford (Global Helpdesk Director), Kermit Johnson (Cybersecurity Analyst), and Nicholitta Karambilas (Business analyst). The Wound Pros is the fastest-growing wound management company in the country. Its biotech component, RITA (Rapid Imaging Technical Assistant), is the company's proprietary AI and Machine Learning platform that measures and analyzes chronic non-healing wounds accurately. Capturing highly accurate measurements is critical for delivering comprehensive treatments to prevent chronic wounds from worsening and improving healing outcomes. Clinicians can take a picture of a patient's wound with a smartphone or tablet, and RITA will automatically measure the wound's size and provide tissue segmentation. The system also provides reports on healing rates and estimated days to heal. RITA offers online and offline capabilities to ensure efficiency and reliability regardless of network connection status. Attending this year's ViVE conference is part of The Wound Pros' commitment to remaining at the cutting edge of wound care management while building resilient networks and alliances within the healthcare industry. Daniel Hallman, D.P.M., and Ayanna Releford described ViVE as an excellent opportunity to listen to other experts in the healthcare and IT fields, interact with hundreds of vendors, and unwind to good music and great food. Kermit Johnson and Nicholitta Karambilas remarked that what they had learned from the conference would help accomplish specific goals regarding the company's overall growth and further improve the IT, Cybersecurity, and Clinical departments. About The Wound Pros The Wound Pros is a physician-owned and managed company. It is an accredited supplier of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) and a Medicare Part B provider in the United States. The company provides wound care services to long-term facilities nationwide, including digital wound management, mobile vascular assessment, digital supply tracking, advanced EHR systems, and advanced wound care dressings. The Wound Pros uses a "high-tech" approach incorporating AI to improve standardization and wound healing outcomes and a "high-touch" approach providing human-to-human interactions for customer service and quality service delivery to its clients. The Wound Pros is a privately held company. Media Contact: Daniel Yeager (323) 794-7543 [email protected] SOURCE The Wound Pros, LLC NEW YORK, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The travel vaccines market size is forecast to increase by USD 2.44 billion from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 8.59%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the increase in global migration, the rise in awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases among travelers, and mandates by countries on vaccinations before issuing visas. Charts & data tables about market size for forecast period (2022-2026) have been covered in this report. Download the sample report Vendor analysis: Vendor offerings - Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Travel Vaccines Market 2022-2026 Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including Abbott Laboratories, Altimmune Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Bharat Biotech Ltd., CSL Ltd., Dynavax Technologies Corp., Emergent BioSolutions Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, KM Biologics Co. Ltd., LG Chem Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co. Ltd., Sinovac Biotech Ltd., SK Chemicals Co. Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and Valneva SE. The key offerings of some of these vendors are listed below: Bharat Biotech Ltd. - The company offers travel vaccines such as BioHib, a lyophilized vaccine. The company offers travel vaccines such as BioHib, a lyophilized vaccine. CSL Ltd. - The company offers travel vaccines that prevent diseases when a person travels from one place to another. The company offers travel vaccines that prevent diseases when a person travels from one place to another. GlaxoSmithKline Plc - The company offers travel vaccines that prevent travelers from diseases when exposed to a new environment. The company offers travel vaccines that prevent travelers from diseases when exposed to a new environment. Merck and Co. Inc. - The company offers travel vaccines that prevent infectious diseases such as COVID-19. The company offers travel vaccines that prevent infectious diseases such as COVID-19. Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. - The company offers travel vaccines that take more time to produce than ordinary drugs. 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 market is segmented by disease type (influenza, diphtheria, hepatitis, and others) and geography (North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW)). Based on disease type, the influenza segment will account for a significant share of the market growth during the forecast period. The increasing demand for influenza vaccines by end-user facilities, along with the rise in traveling rates, will drive the growth of the segment. Multiple vendors operating in the global travel vaccines market, such as GlaxoSmithKline Plc, Sanofi SA (Sanofi), and CSL Ltd. (CSL), offer influenza vaccines. These factors will contribute significantly to the growth of the influenza segment. Based on geography, North America will account for 42% of the market's growth during the forecast period. The US is the key country for the travel vaccines market in the region. Moreover, market growth in North America will be faster than the growth of the market in the Rest of World (ROW). Factors such as increasing access to vaccines against diseases and a growing number of initiatives to generate awareness about immunization programs will drive the travel vaccines market growth in North America during the forecast period. Get a holistic overview of the market segments by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the sample Market dynamics: Key drivers: Increase in global migration Increase in awareness about vaccine-preventable diseases among travelers Mandatory vaccination requirements prior to issuing visas An increase in travel and migration has led to the spread of pathogens and disease-causing vectors globally. The growing contact with different animals and plants also leads to the movement of pathogens. For instance, the H5N1 avian flu virus was first discovered in poultry in China and later spread to humans. Travel activities are expected to increase in the coming years. Therefore, manufacturers of vaccines have significant opportunities to invest in the R&D of new and effective vaccines, which will drive market growth. Major trends: Changes in the demographic profile of travelers globally Increased incidence of travel-related diseases Initiatives by governments and other organizations to ensure travel safety Travel vaccine compliance depends on the demographic profile of travelers. For instance, people below the age of 30 are generally not considered in many disease-prevention programs, as most of these programs are for the elderly and children. The chances of travelers being vaccinated also depend on the travel destinations. For instance, the chances of vaccination are higher if the destination is a sub-tropical or tropical country. The expected growth in migration, coupled with the demand for vaccination for immunization against infectious diseases among all age groups, is likely to support the growth of the global travel vaccines market during the forecast period. Key challenges: Absence of coverage for travel vaccines in many health plans High cost of travel vaccinations Delay in regulatory approvals for recommended travel vaccines in certain countries Many health insurance plans do not cover the cost of vaccination before traveling, as these vaccinations are considered optional. In the US, the cost of getting vaccinated at a travel clinic includes an initial consultation fee of USD 100. Administering the shot costs USD 50 to USD 1,000 or above, depending on the disease and the vaccine. As these costs are not covered by health insurance, many travelers do not opt to get vaccinated. These factors may hamper the market growth during the forecast period. To get detailed insights about market drivers, trends, and challenges, buy the report What are the key data covered in this travel vaccines market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the Travel Vaccines Market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the Travel Vaccines Market size and its contribution to the market in focus on the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the Travel Vaccines 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 Travel Vaccines Market vendors Related Reports: The vaccines market size is expected to grow by USD 28.28 billion from 2021 to 2026, according to research by Technavio. The development of nanoparticle vaccines is a notable trend of market growth, although factors such as high cost of vaccine research, development, and manufacturing may impede the market growth. size is expected to grow by from 2021 to 2026, according to research by Technavio. The development of nanoparticle vaccines is a notable trend of market growth, although factors such as high cost of vaccine research, development, and manufacturing may impede the market growth. The global human combination vaccines market size is estimated to accelerate by USD 6,046.98 million between 2022 and 2027, and the market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.13%. The rise in cases of infectious diseases is notably driving market growth. The incompatibility of vaccine components can restrain market growth. Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Travel Vaccines Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 8.59% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 2.44 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 7.85 Regional analysis North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution North America at 42% Key countries US, Germany, UK, Japan, and China Competitive landscape Leading vendors, market positioning of vendors, competitive strategies, and industry risks Key companies profiled Abbott Laboratories, Altimmune Inc., AstraZeneca Plc, Bharat Biotech Ltd., CSL Ltd., Dynavax Technologies Corp., Emergent BioSolutions Inc., GlaxoSmithKline Plc, KM Biologics Co. Ltd., LG Chem Ltd., Merck and Co. Inc., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp., Pfizer Inc., Sanofi, Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd., Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co. Ltd., Sinovac Biotech Ltd., SK Chemicals Co. Ltd., Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., and Valneva SE Market dynamics Parent market analysis, market growth inducers and obstacles, fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio 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 Disease Type 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 Disease Type 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Disease Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Disease Type - Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Disease Type Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Disease Type Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Disease Type 5.3 Influenza - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Influenza - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Influenza - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 30: Chart on Influenza - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Influenza - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Diphtheria - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Diphtheria - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Diphtheria - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 34: Chart on Diphtheria - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Diphtheria - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Hepatitis - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 36: Chart on Hepatitis - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 37: Data Table on Hepatitis - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 38: Chart on Hepatitis - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Hepatitis - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.6 Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 40: Chart on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 41: Data Table on Others - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 42: Chart on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 43: Data Table on Others - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.7 Market opportunity by Disease Type Exhibit 44: Market opportunity by Disease Type ($ million) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 45: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 46: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 48: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 49: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 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 (%) 7.4 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 (%) 7.5 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 58: Chart on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 59: Data Table on Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 60: Chart on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 61: Data Table on Asia - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 62: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 63: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 64: Chart on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 65: Data Table on Rest of World (ROW) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.7 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 (%) 7.8 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 70: Chart on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 71: Data Table on Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 72: Chart on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 73: Data Table on Germany - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.9 UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 74: Chart on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 75: Data Table on UK - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 76: Chart on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 77: Data Table on UK - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.10 Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 78: Chart on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 79: Data Table on Japan - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 80: Chart on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 81: Data Table on Japan - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.11 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 82: Chart on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 83: Data Table on China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ million) Exhibit 84: Chart on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 85: Data Table on China - Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.12 Market opportunity by geography Exhibit 86: 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 87: Impact of drivers and challenges in 2021 and 2026 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape Exhibit 88: Overview on Criticality of inputs and Factors of differentiation 9.3 Landscape disruption Exhibit 89: Overview on factors of disruption 9.4 Industry risks Exhibit 90: Impact of key risks on business 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered Exhibit 91: Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors Exhibit 92: Matrix on vendor position and classification 10.3 Bharat Biotech Ltd. Exhibit 93: Bharat Biotech Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 94: Bharat Biotech Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 95: Bharat Biotech Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 96: Bharat Biotech Ltd. - Key offerings 10.4 CSL Ltd. Exhibit 97: CSL Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 98: CSL Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 99: CSL Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 100: CSL Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 101: CSL Ltd. - Segment focus 10.5 GlaxoSmithKline Plc Exhibit 102: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Overview Exhibit 103: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Business segments Exhibit 104: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key news Exhibit 105: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Key offerings Exhibit 106: GlaxoSmithKline Plc - Segment focus 10.6 Merck and Co. Inc. Exhibit 107: Merck and Co. Inc. - Overview Exhibit 108: Merck and Co. Inc. - Business segments Exhibit 109: Merck and Co. Inc. - Key news Exhibit 110: Merck and Co. Inc. - Key offerings Exhibit 111: Merck and Co. Inc. - Segment focus 10.7 Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. Exhibit 112: Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. - Overview Exhibit 113: Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. - Business segments Exhibit 114: Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. - Key offerings Exhibit 115: Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corp. - Segment focus 10.8 Pfizer Inc. Exhibit 116: Pfizer Inc. - Overview Exhibit 117: Pfizer Inc. - Product / Service Exhibit 118: Pfizer Inc. - Key news Exhibit 119: Pfizer Inc. - Key offerings 10.9 Sanofi Exhibit 120: Sanofi - Overview Exhibit 121: Sanofi - Business segments Exhibit 122: Sanofi - Key news Exhibit 123: Sanofi - Key offerings Exhibit 124: Sanofi - Segment focus 10.10 Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. Exhibit 125: Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 126: Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 127: Serum Institute of India Pvt. Ltd. - Key offerings 10.11 SK Chemicals Co. Ltd. Exhibit 128: SK Chemicals Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 129: SK Chemicals Co. Ltd. - Business segments Exhibit 130: SK Chemicals Co. Ltd. - Key offerings Exhibit 131: SK Chemicals Co. Ltd. - Segment focus 10.12 Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. Exhibit 132: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. - Overview Exhibit 133: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. - Product / Service Exhibit 134: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. - Key news Exhibit 135: Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. - Key offerings 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist Exhibit 136: Inclusions checklist Exhibit 137: Exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ Exhibit 138: Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology Exhibit 139: Research methodology Exhibit 140: Validation techniques employed for market sizing Exhibit 141: Information sources 11.5 List of abbreviations Exhibit 142: 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 Former FTC Attorney Andrew Mann Joins National Law Firm in DC WASHINGTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Andrew "Drew" Mann, a talented antitrust attorney, has joined Troutman Pepper in Washington, D.C. as a partner in the firm's market-leading Consumer Financial Services Practice. He most recently practiced at K&L Gates and brings significant experience in the health care antitrust space from both his time at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and in private practice. Andrew Drew Mann, Partner, Troutman Pepper Mann focuses his practice on antitrust, competition, and trade regulation. He regularly advises clients on a broad range of international antitrust topics, including joint ventures and competitor collaborations, gun-jumping and information exchanges, price fixing and market allocations, exclusive dealing, joint purchasing, and joint selling arrangements. Drawing on his extensive government investigations experience, Mann has successfully defended clients in enforcement actions brought on by the FTC and Department of Justice Antitrust Division. "Drew's excellent reputation and diverse work experience make him an ideal addition to our nationally-recognized practice," said John West, chair of the firm's Business Litigation department. "We are thrilled to welcome him to the firm and know our clients will greatly benefit from his unique experience with antitrust and FTC/DOJ-related matters." "He is a fantastic attorney with a real depth of antitrust and FTC/DOJ knowledge that will benefit our clients in the financial services and health care sectors and beyond," added Henry Liu, managing partner of Troutman Pepper's Washington, D.C. office. Mann is the second partner to join the firm's high-growth Consumer Financial Services team this year. In March just one year after the firm attracted an industry-leading, seven-partner team Troutman Pepper welcomed litigation partner, Jessamyn Vedro, to the practice. "I am excited to join the highly regarded team at Troutman Pepper," Mann said. "The firm's strong reputation particularly in the financial services and health care industries made this move the perfect fit. I look forward to partnering with my new colleagues across the firm to deliver more value to our clients." Mann earned his JD and MBA from the University of Richmond and his bachelor's degree from Brigham Young University. About Troutman Pepper Troutman Pepper is a national law firm with more than 1,200 attorneys strategically located in 23 U.S. cities. The firm's litigation, transactional, and regulatory practices advise a diverse client base, from startups to multinational enterprises. The firm provides sophisticated legal solutions to clients' most pressing business challenges, with depth across industry sectors, including energy, financial services, health sciences, insurance, and private equity, among others. Learn more at troutman.com. SOURCE Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP DUBLIN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Underpads Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global underpads market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.16% during 2022 to 2028. MARKET TRENDS & OPPORTUNITIES Increasing Older Population Aged people experience incontinence regularly is becoming very common. Hence, it is one of the major factors driving the growth of the underpads market in the growing elderly population. Further, according to the WHO, the world geriatric population of 60 and above is expected to reach 2 billion by 2050. The rising older age population across the globe is significantly raising old age diseases such as cataracts, hearing loss and refractive errors, back & neck pain and, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, diabetes, osteoarthritis, depression, and dementia. A few conditions, such as paralysis, common among older people, lead to more bedridden patients. Hence, an increasing number of aging people is significantly increasing the demand for incontinence products, supporting market demand. Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Bladder Related Diseases The rising chronic diseases such as bladder cancer, kidney diseases, diabetes, and urological diseases are boosting the demand for underpads. Further, stress urinary incontinence, the involuntary leakage of urine that occurs with increases in intraabdominal pressure due to the urethral sphincter or pelvic floor weakness, is also rising among individuals. Around 24% to 45% of women over 30 faces this problem. Hence, the expanding aging population and rising health concerns increase the demand for underpads. Women Health Awareness The feminine hygiene industry has expanded into wellness categories beyond menstrual care, and new companies have emerged as women's healthcare providers offering physical and mental health. The rise in awareness about women's health and hygiene has made people more conscious while purchasing products. The increasing government initiatives to promote awareness regarding female stress urinary incontinence are predicted to boost underpads market growth during the forecast period. SEGMENTATION INSIGHTS INSIGHTS BY PRODUCT TYPE The disposable underpads product type dominated the global underpads market in 2022, owing to their increasing consumption among several end-users. This growth is due to the increasing elderly patient population. Moreover, these underpads are for single-time use, which is more hygienic than reusable underpads. These disposable underpads are also used in surgical processes as a barrier to microorganisms and to prevent infection. The increasing awareness about hygiene after COVID is the major reason to boost disposable underpads market demand. However, these pads take more than five years to get disposed of, significantly increasing the usage of reusable underpads among the end-users. Segmentation by Product Type Disposable Reusable INSIGHTS BY CARE PROVIDERS Hospitals are the major contributor to the global underpads market share in the care providers segment. The segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period owing to urinary incontinence most commonly affecting women, and the prevalence is high among hospitalized older adults. Thus, the hospital segment has the maximum adoption of underpads as a large patient pool suffering from chronic conditions or pregnancy is associated with urinary incontinence. The increasing patient population prefers hospitals for the primary treatment of urinary inconsistence. Segmentation by Care Providers Hospitals Home Care Settings & Individuals Others Care Centers INSIGHTS BY AGE GROUP The geriatric age group segment dominated the global underpads market, accounting for a share of nearly 42% in 2022. Urinary and fecal incontinence is common in the geriatric population, yet many patients and healthcare practitioners inappropriately consider incontinence a normal part of aging. Most countries are experiencing a demographic shift towards older populations. Further, the growing demand for incontinence products in the geriatric patient group will likely positively impact the industry's growth. Many government surveys in the US indicate that elderly patients prefer to undergo treatment at home rather than in healthcare settings. Owing to this, many vendors actively develop and commercialize incontinence products to increase awareness among elderly patients' access to quality care. Segmentation by Age Group Geriatric Pediatric Adults INSIGHTS BY DISTRIBUTION CHANNEL Underpads are sold across offline and online distribution channels, comprised of manufacturers, dealers, distributors, specialty stores, and from sites such as amazon & eBay, etc. In 2022, the offline distribution channel dominated the global underpads market. Factors such as the larger reach in the areas that lack connectivity and consumer trust associated with personally experiencing the quality of the products are driving the growth of the offline segment. Segmentation by Distribution Channel Offline Online GEOGRAPHICAL ANALYSIS Europe dominated most of the global underpads market share in 2022, and the region is expected to continue its dominance during the forecast period without significant fluctuations. It is witnessing significant new product approvals from key industry players. UK, Germany, France, Italy, and Spain are the leading countries contributing to the market's growth. In 2022, North America will be the second largest global underpads market, accounting for 30.12% of the share. An aging population and the rising prevalence of incontinence issues drive the increasing demand for underpads. The region is also witnessing steady growth due to the rising geriatric population and the growing prevalence of various diseases. The U.S. is among the largest revenue generators in the region. Medial technologies, innovations, and the growing older population are significant growth drivers in the market. Segmentation by Geography Europe Germany France UK Italy Spain North America US Canada APAC China Japan India Australia South Korea Latin America Brazil Mexico Argentina Middle East & Africa & South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Key Company Profiles Medline Industries Inc Attends Healthcare Products, Inc Cardinal Health Other Prominent Vendors Mega Careline Dynarex Corporation EHOB Kimberly-Clark Corporation Encompass First Quality Products Coloplast Cure Medical Romsons Ontex Jinjiang Rongxin Lady&Baby's Products MedPride HMH Corporation KEY QUESTIONS ANSWERED: 1. How big is the underpads market? 2. What is the growth rate of the global underpads market? 3. Who are the key players in the global underpads market? 4. What are the significant trends in the underpads industry? 5. Which region dominates the global underpads market share? Key Topics Covered: 1 Research Methodology 2 Research Objectives 3 Research Process 4 Scope & Coverage 5 Report Assumptions & Caveats 6 Premium Insights 7 Market at a Glance 8 Introduction 9 Market Opportunities & Trends 9.1 Rise in Prevalence of Chronic Bladder Conditions 9.2 Development of Pvc Incontinence Underpads 9.3 Surge in Product Development Initiatives 10 Market Growth Enablers 10.1 Rapid Expansion of Elderly Population 10.2 Focus on Female Health Awareness 10.3 Shift Toward Reusable Incontinence Products 11 Market Restraints 11.1 Availability of Alternative Incontinence Management Products 11.2 Adverse Effects of Incontinence Products 12 Market Landscape 13 Product Type 14 Care Provider 15 Age Group 16 Distribution Channel 17 Geography 18 Europe 19 North America 20 Apac 21 Latin America 22 Middle East & Africa 23 Competitive Landscape 24 Key Company Profiles 25 Other Prominent Vendors 26 Report Summary 27 Quantitative Summary 28 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/calplb 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 OMAHA, Neb., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Union Pacific Corporation (NYSE: UNP) will release first quarter 2023 financial and operating results on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at 7:45 a.m. ET. The company's management team will host a conference call and live webcast at 8:45 a.m. ET. Parties interested in participating via teleconference may dial 877-407-8293. International callers may dial 201-689-8349. A live webcast of the presentation and materials will be available in the investor relations section of Union Pacific's website at www.up.com/investor. A replay of the audio webcast will be available shortly thereafter. ABOUT UNION PACIFIC Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP) delivers the goods families and businesses use every day with safe, reliable and efficient service. Operating in 23 western states, the company connects its customers and communities to the global economy. Trains are the most environmentally responsible way to move freight, helping Union Pacific protect future generations. More information about Union Pacific is available at www.up.com. www.up.com www.facebook.com/unionpacific www.twitter.com/unionpacific SOURCE Union Pacific Corporation Business and carrier community will now have access to diverse fiber-optic network JANESVILLE, Wis. and BELOIT, Wis., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Unite Private Networks (UPN), a leading provider of high-capacity, fiber-based communication networks, is pleased to announce a network expansion into Janesville and Beloit, WI. The expansion will bring nearly 100 miles of new fiber-optic infrastructure, yielding over 750 serviceable buildings along the new footprint. UPN will also establish a network hub in the Janesville/Beloit metropolitan area, provisioning network capacity to UPN's core point-of-presence in Rockford, IL. Business and carrier customers will now have access to a full array of fiber services that are scalable from 100 Mbps to 100 Gbps, including dark and lit fiber, private line, optical Ethernet, Internet access, FiberVoice, DDoS Protection, Cloud Connect, SD-WAN, and other customized solutions powered by a low-latency, carrier-grade, 100 percent fiber-optic network. Beyond services, UPN will invest in the community and network by employing a local operations team to install and maintain service. Jeremy Andrews, Group Vice President of Strategic Networks at UPN, expressed his enthusiasm about the expansion, stating, "We are thrilled to establish a greater presence in Wisconsin. Our fully resilient, 100% fiber-optic network will provide customers with an exceptional network experience, and we are eager to serve the businesses and carrier communities in Janesville and Beloit." For more information about our fiber network or other cities we cater to, take a look at our fiber map. About Unite Private Networks: UPN provides high-bandwidth, fiber-based communications networks and services to schools, governments, carriers, data centers, hospitals, and enterprise business customers across a 21-state service area. Service offerings include dark and lit fiber, private line, optical Ethernet, Internet access, FiberVoice, DDoS Protection, Cloud Connect, SD-WAN, and other customized solutions. Headquartered in Kansas City, MO, UPN has been providing customer-focused communications solutions since 1998. For more information on UPN, please visit www.uniteprivatenetworks.com, or connect with us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Brandi Tubb 816-903-9400 [email protected] SOURCE Unite Private Networks EDITORS NOTE: This is the second of a three-part series on CW4 Michael J. Novosel Sr., the posts namesake after it was redesignated April 10. FORT NOVOSEL After getting a positive response from the Army on joining up as an aviator, the posts namesake received a big, fat letter, (as his wife, Ethel, described it) from the service in the mail early in the summer of 1964. Michael J. Novosel Sr. was going to be an Army aviator again, but he wouldnt be training pilots. He would be reporting to Fort Bragg, N.C., with the 6th Special Forces Group a Green Beret unit as a chief warrant officer, he wrote in his memoir, Dustoff: The Memoir of an Army Aviator. Soon thereafter, though, he received a phone call from an aviation assignments officer saying he had some concerns about Novosels aeronautical rating. It had been issued by the Army Air Forces, which ceased to exist once the Air Force stood up. The officer told the 20-plus-year veteran pilot that he needed to get officially rated by one of the Armys flight schools, and told him to report to Fort Wolters, Texas. That was the extent of his instructions, Novosel wrote. Unaware of all the ramifications of the call, I didnt ask for more detailed instructions or an amendment to my orders. I didnt even bother to get the officers name or phone number. It was an idiotic situation, he continued. I was to go to Fort Wolters and ask to be given an Army aeronautical rating. I did not have documentation for such a request. The only thing I had was orders placing me on active duty at Fort Bragg. What a bucket of worms. Things really didnt improve immediately when he arrived at Fort Wolters. The first thing he noted was the ages of the other flight students. I felt ill at ease. I was old enough to be the father of most people in the place, he wrote. I had to change my attitude; I had to swim with the tide. The tide carried Novosel, who was familiar with the post from his WWII aviation training days, to the flight operations building, where he ran into a Department of the Army civilian and updated the man on his situation. He asked if I knew how to fly the H-23 helicopter; I told him I had instructed in it for a few months, he wrote. He asked me where I had my flight gear; I said I didnt have any. So, clad in casual civilian clothing and loafers he didnt have an Army uniform yet he took a check ride with the civilian. The entire episode lasted a mere half hour. That check ride was the basis for the people at Fort Wolters to designate me a bona fide Army aviator, Novosel wrote. My old Air Force associates would have been aghast at such footloose procedures. I knew then that flying for the Army was going to be a new experience. I thought of my early days in the Army Air Forces of World War II and realized that I was returning to military flying such as I knew as a young second lieutenant. Reporting to Fort Bragg in early September, things got a little more official including finally getting Army uniforms and he eventually moved his family to North Carolina and ended up flying with the unit in the Dominican Republic in 1965. And that was where he found out he was going to be going to Vietnam, where combat was heating up. When I volunteered for active duty with Army Aviation, I believed that my considerable experience would be put to use training Army aviators, he wrote. I never thought Id be sent to Vietnam as a combatant, certainly not at my age. But there he was he arrived in Vietnam in January 1966. He was never drafted he volunteered each time, according to Billy Croslow, Aviation Branch historian. I think that is why we like to hallmark his service. In a time when many folks were drafted, inducted into the military, he served as a volunteer each time. After finding out hed be assigned to the 283rd Medical Detachment a Dustoff unit he spoke to a friend who was also in country. I admitted that I didnt know a thing about the organization and had never heard of Dustoff. I told him I had assisted with the aeromedical evacuation process a few times in the Dominican Republic, Novosel wrote. His friend told him to be careful Dustoff missions werent the safest in the world and that he should look for a reassignment or, at the least, see that his will was up to date. Arriving at the unit, Novosel, as expected, turned out to be the most experienced aviator in the unit, although some of the younger aviators had questions about his age. He soon alleviated those concerns with his abilities and can-do approach to each difficult mission, and quickly became a leader in the unit. Plus he was very good at something no one else in the unit had much experience in instrument flight, according to Croslow. He had a great deal of experience with instrument flying, and this is something that would prove critical in medical evacuation, the historian said. A lot of times there was severe weather that gunships and troop transports wouldnt necessarily fly in. But MedEvac always had to fly. While people had instrument ratings and all of that, he had a great deal of experience in it driving a B-29 to deliver ordnance thousands of miles away is an instrument-heavy business. With time, he was able to pass a lot of his knowledge on to fellow aviators in the unit, increasing efficiency and safety each time a new convert learned the skill, Croslow added. He understood that in part his experience, and in part his maturity, allowed him to trust in the system, trust the process. The younger pilots might have been trained on it and might have practiced on it, but they didnt have the same confidence in it as the confidence of a pilot who had done it for decades. Novosel had that experience and he could pass it on to those crews. His first mission, even though he was just a passenger, introduced him to what would be his life for the next year. It was not what I expected, yet there was a certain allure to it, he wrote. I was not inflicting casualties on the enemy but was offering assistance to our wounded and relieving them of the trauma of battle. I saw death so often that saving a life produced an emotional high. Id be flushed with the triumph of the occasion. At times it was if I were in a race with death itself. Invariably, if the men we found were still alive, the race was decided in our favor. But despite stepping up the units capabilities and confidence with his experience, skills, knowledge and bravery, Dustoff lived up to its reputation of being a dangerous mission by losing numerous flight crews all well known to Novosel. The losses of my close friends were hard to accept, he wrote. But we could not afford the luxury of taking time to mourn. The wounded were still with us every moment of every day and every night. Their plight was uppermost in our minds. The dead were remembered, but the mission came first. After a few years stateside, he found himself back in Vietnam in 1969 with the 82nd Medical Detachment, after turning down the offer of a much safer assignment flying the fixed-wing P-2V. Id heard about the P-2V missions. They were safer than crossing the street in most American cities, but boring as hell, he wrote. If I had to return to Vietnam, it might as well be in my old specialty as a Dustoff pilot. American actor Mark Hamill, known for his role as the Jedi, Luke Skywalker, held an online meeting with Ukraine's defenders. The UNITED24 ambassador listened to their stories, discussed their need for UAVs -- including RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones, for which he is raising funds, and said he'd love to visit to Ukraine after the war. KYIV, Ukraine and MALIBU, Calif. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Video and Image (credit: UNITED24 fundraising platform) UNITED24 ambassador Mark Hamill met online with the Ukrainian military:& "I am a pretend warrior in the movies. But you are the real heroes of a real war" UNITED24 ambassador Mark Hamill met online with the Ukrainian military:& "I am a pretend warrior in the movies. But you are the real heroes of a real war" (PRNewsfoto/UNITED24) "So first of all I have to tell you how humbled I am to meet you all. I am a pretend warrior in the movies. But you are the real heroes of a real war. We look forward to your victory sooner rather than later, but we are with you as long as it takes. Even if I am talking about something else when I go out to promote this movie or that, I always make sure I mention this and ever mention the fact that I'm working, in any way I can, to help the Ukrainian goal of winning the war. We are winning. Don't doubt that for a second.Everybody said that Ukraine would fold in four days. Remember that? And then you showed the world; 'Don't mess with Ukraine'," Hamill told the military. Hamill continues to raise funds for RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones; the actor has already raised over $705,000. During the call, the Ukrainian defenders expressed their gratitude to Mark for his help, stressing that reconnaissance drones help save both military and civilian lives. The meeting was attended by representatives of the 92nd Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Ivan Sirko, 45th Separate Artillery Brigade, 98th Aerial Reconnaissance Battalion, 47th Brigade Magura, 21st Separate Battalion Sarmat, 25th Separate Airborne Brigade, Omega Special Forces, 120th Reconnaissance Battalion and 93rd Brigade Kholodny Yar. "My first drone, DJI Mavic. The first video I shot on it was my honeymoon with my wife on Sri Lanka Island. The last video I shot on it was russian columns invading my city of Irpin. But this last video actually changed a lot in the fight, because we saw how many of them were going at us. We prepared everything that we had, and they didn't have this drone.They didn't know there were just 30 people in position.There were about 26 armored vehicles from their side, and about 200 of infantry. And they stopped after the first burned vehicle as they didn't know how many of us were there. If they had known, they'd have probably pushed further, but they didn't. I would like to say thank you. With your help, we will get more and more advanced drones," said a member of the military with the call sign 'Romashka' (Daisy). There were a lot of Star Wars saga fans among defenders present at the meeting. Hamill noted that his character did not have any special skills; he was just a farmer, but, following the call of his heart, he did the right thing not for himself, but for people. Therefore, in Mark's opinion, it is not so difficult to see parallels between Ukrainians as rebels and Russia as an evil empire. "I'd love to visit Ukraine when the war is over, when you're back to normal, when you're happy again," the actor admitted. In conclusion, he wished all the defenders: "May the Force be with each and every one of you." Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053850/UNITED24.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053845/UNITED24.jpg SOURCE UNITED24 PHILADELPHIA, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaskela Law LLC announces that it is investigating the fairness of the recently announced buyout of Univar Solutions Inc. (NYSE: UNVR) ("Univar") shareholders. Univar shareholders are encouraged to contact Kaskela Law LLC (D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. or Adrienne Bell, Esq.) at (484) 229 0750, or by email ([email protected] / [email protected]) or online at https://kaskelalaw.com/cases/univar-solutions/, for additional information about this investigation and their legal rights and options. On March 14, 2023, Univar announced that it would be acquired by private equity firm Apollo at a price of $36.15 per share. Following the closing of the proposed transaction, Univar investors will be cashed out of their investment position and the company's shares will no longer be publicly traded. The investigation seeks to determine whether $36.15 per share represents sufficient consideration for Univar's shares, and whether the company's officers and/or directors violated the securities laws or breached their fiduciary duties in agreeing to sell the company to Apollo at that price. Kaskela Law LLC represents investors in securities fraud, corporate governance, and merger & acquisition litigation on a contingent basis. For additional information about Kaskela Law LLC please visit www.kaskelalaw.com. CONTACT: KASKELA LAW LLC D. Seamus Kaskela, Esq. Adrienne Bell, Esq. 18 Campus Blvd., Suite 100 Newtown Square, PA 19073 (888) 715 1740 (484) 229 0750 www.kaskelalaw.com This notice may constitute attorney advertising in certain jurisdictions. SOURCE Kaskela Law LLC SAN DIEGO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS), a nonprofit organization focused on improving the lives of veterans through psychedelic-assisted therapy, announces its support for Rep. Dan Crenshaw's Bipartisan Letter to urge the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to include active duty servicemembers in their research on psychedelics. As a nonprofit organization that supports veterans in accessing psychedelic-assisted therapies, VETS recognizes the critical importance of including active duty servicemembers in psychedelic research. The recent Phase 3 Trial of MDMA-Assisted Therapy for PTSD demonstrated the significant impact of psychedelic treatment on individuals suffering from trauma-related disorders. Other compounds, like psilocybin and ibogaine, are also showing incredible promise in addressing these issues but more research is critically needed. "We understand firsthand the struggles many United States veterans and servicemembers face," said Amber Capone, Executive Director of Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions, Inc. "Psychedelic therapies have been instrumental in overcoming many challenges following service for hundreds of veterans we provide resources to. With a lingering veteran suicide rate of roughly 20 per day and estimates that it could be double that amount we need to address this epidemic swiftly and strategically. All active duty service personnel will eventually become veterans, and they should not have to wait until that time to address issues such as PTSD, TBI, depression, and moral injury. Including them in psychedelic research is a critical first step in winning the new fight at hand - the battle to end veteran suicide." We join other mental health and veterans groups from across the country in voicing our support for this call to action. The inclusion of active duty servicemembers in psychedelic research is a critical first step to providing access to life-saving treatments to those who need them the most. "We support Representative Crenshaw's initiative. Our active duty service men and women deserve to be included in NIH-funded psychedelic research. Apollo Pact and our scientific and research advisors fully back this initiative," said former Congresswoman Mimi Walters, chair of Apollo Pact. VETS appreciates the efforts of Reps. Dan Crenshaw, Luis Correa, Jack Bergman, Donald Davis, Chris Deluzio, Max Miller, Nancy Mace, Morgan Luttrell, Mikie Sherrill, Jimmy Panetta, and Ro Khanna for signing onto this critical effort. We look forward to continuing to work with lawmakers and other stakeholders for expanded access to psychedelic-assisted therapies and ultimately, an end to veteran suicide. For more information on VETS' advocacy efforts, visit our website or follow us on social media. Contact: Pace PR [email protected] 724-825-3484 SOURCE Veterans Exploring Treatment Solutions (VETS) HONG KONG, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- 6th-7th April, the "2022 SAPA-China Annual Conference - Opportunities and Challenges for the Development of China's Biopharmaceutical Industry" hosted by The Sino-American Pharmaceutical Professionals Association (SAPA) was held in Chengdu, Sichuan. Viva Biotech was invited to participate in this annual conference, and Dr. Jianhua Cai, Senior Vice President of Viva Biotech, and Dr. Jianguo Ma, Senior Vice President of Viva Biotech and CEO of Langhua Pharmaceutical, were invited as guest speakers in the keynote speeches. Throughout the years, the United States has been a leader in the global innovative pharmaceutical product field, where many blockbuster drugs are born and greatly improved the life quality of patients. However, compared to leading countries like the United States, Chinese pharmaceutical industry still has a long way to go in terms of developing innovative new drug. As one of the key players in innovative drug discovery CRO, Viva has served thousands of global innovative drug development clients in the past decade. Through an analysis of the collaboration with these international and domestic clients, Dr. Cai pointed out that overseas innovative biotech companies prefer biology-driven drug discovery strategies and pay more efforts on studying biological mechanisms. In contrast, in the past decades domestic clients focus more on fast follow strategy. However, from the increasing demand for drug screening technology by domestic clients, the innovation of domestic companies' projects has been continuously improving in recent years, and more and more domestic companies are initiating first-in-class drug development projects. In order to further illustrate the biologically-driven R&D strategy of overseas innovative drug companies, Dr. Cai shared two successful cases published by a foreign partner of Viva in the top international journals Science and Journal of Medicinal Chemistry respectively (details in the reference at the end of the article). Dr. Cai gave a comprehensive introduction to Viva's biophysical technologies, including X-ray, Cryo-EM, HDX-MS, SPR, Intact-MS, Native-MS, and their critical roles in drug mechanism of action (MOA) studies. He explained how to use biophysical technologies for affinity-based drug screening and shared the application of ASMS technology in the screening of multi-conformational proteins and molecular glue, crystal soaking technology and SPR screening of fragment libraries, and Intact-MS screening of covalent compound libraries. Finally, Dr. Cai showcased Viva's technology platform in original drug research through 2 case studies: the discovery of small molecule PCSK9 conformational inhibitors and pseudokinase targets. Viva's medicinal chemistry team also participated in the compound design and optimization of these projects, making important contributions to the compounds' intellectual property. He believes that in the future, Viva Biotech can empower more domestic innovative drug companies and help them achieve internationalization in original drug research. Nowadays, green chemistry has become a globally focused area, and more and more pharmaceutical companies are including it in their considerations to promote sustainable and benign development of their businesses. Dr. Jianguo Ma provided a comprehensive introduction to what green chemistry is, existing and urgently needed green chemistry technologies. He emphasizes green chemistry technologies such as continuous reactions, enzyme catalysis, hydrogen borrowing reactions, photoredox reactions, and provides in-depth explanations of their wide applications in production with multiple classic cases. Finally, regarding the future development of green chemistry, Dr. Ma believes that synthetic biology will be the most promising green chemistry for drug synthesis. At SAPA-CHINA, Viva Biotech fully demonstrated its one-stop platform for early-stage structure-based drug discovery to commercial drug delivery, as well as multiple core technologies and successful cases such as protein production and preparation, structural biology, cryo-EM, drug screening, Bioassay, medicinal chemistry, computer-aided drug design, etc. The exhibition attracted many guests to visit and consult, and the feedback on site was positive with a warm atmosphere. Reference: [1] Wei, W. et. al. SCIENCE. 4 Apr 2013. Vol 340, Issue 6132. pp. 622-626 [2] Zenon Konteatis et. al. Journal of Medicinal Chemistry 2021 64 (8), 4430-4449 SOURCE Viva Biotech Holdings NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Global Centre for Climate Mobility is thrilled to announce that the Africa Climate Mobility Initiative's "Voices from the Frontlines" digital platform, dedicated to creating awareness about the current realities of climate mobility and future projections of climate-forced migration and displacement in Africa, has been nominated for two Webby Awards. The Webby Awards are recognized as the "Internet's highest honor" and celebrate excellence in digital media. Voices from the Frontlines has been nominated in the categories of "Sustainability & Environment" and "Best Use of Photography" for website and mobile sites. Voices from the Frontlines is a powerful storytelling and data-driven platform that provides insights into the mobility challenges facing Africa due to climate change, and highlights potential solutions. The platform features photography and interviews that give voice to young people and marginalized communities and includes an interactive data explorer that highlights the most pertinent areas for addressing climate mobility today and in the future. Through the platform, African Shifts, the Africa Climate Mobility Report and Agenda for Action, issued by the Centre earlier this year, can also be accessed. "We are incredibly honored to have been nominated for two Webby Awards," said Mr. Kamal Amakrane, Managing Director at the Global Centre for Climate Mobility. "Voices from the Frontlines is a platform that was created to promote the agency of people and communities at the frontlines of the climate crisis who are on the move, face forced displacement, or risk becoming stranded. Its nomination for the Webbys recognizes the Centre's efforts in leveraging dynamic multimedia online platforms to bring global attention to those most impacted by climate change." "Greater climate change awareness can help people make more informed decisions about whether and where to move when climate shocks strike," said Mr. Thomas Clever, Managing Director & Co-founder at CleverFranke. "Climate literacy is now becoming a fundamental element of survival, ensuring people will know what to do and so, remain resilient. Cutting-edge scientific models mapped out the future of Africa, enabling us to create tangible maps to support decision making by showing what will happen with climate mobility in the coming decades if we don't take action." The Webby Awards are presented by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences, and winners are selected through a combination of public voting for the People's Voice Award and a panel of judges. The public can vote for the People's Voice Award from now until Thursday, April 20th at https://bit.ly/Webbys-Sustainability-Environment and https://bit.ly/Webbys-Photography . Winners will be announced on Tuesday, April 25th and celebrated at an award show on Monday, May 15th. The Voices from the Frontlines platform was developed by the Africa Climate Mobility Initiative, CleverFranke, and a team of photographers led by Maarten Koets. About the Africa Climate Mobility Initiative: The Africa Climate Mobility Initiative (ACMI) is a people-centred and evidence-based Initiative, aiming to generate political momentum around a common policy agenda and mobilise resources for the implementation of comprehensive and locally anchored solutions to address climate mobility. The ACMI's cornerstones are knowledge-building, connecting and empowering change agents and accelerating policy & project implementation underpinned by strategic partnerships. The ACMI is a joint undertaking of the African Union Commission, the World Bank, the United Nations Development Programme, the International Organization for Migration, and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The ACMI efforts are coordinated by the Global Centre for Climate Mobility. The Africa Climate Mobility Initiative launched its foundational African Shifts Report and Agenda for Action, providing evidence and policy guidance for addressing climate mobility inAfrican climate adaptation agendas. Over 2023 2030 the Initiative aims to build partnerships across public sector, finance and private and civic sector stakeholders based on its eight-point Agenda for Action. This will advance four Flagship Programmes: Climate Literacy for Stronger Agency; Green Skills for Inclusive Transition; Water Solutions for Resilient Communities and Data and Knowledge for Local Impact. The African Shifts Report and the Agenda for Action are the result of research and analysis conducted over two years. The process included data collection in seven frontline communities in Africa affected by climate hazards and the development of a novel climate mobility forecasting model for Africa. Its projections provide decision makers with access to open-source data on climate mobility trends for the continent. Projections are available for different scenarios, including a low-emissions, Paris-aligned future or a high emissions future, combined with either an inclusive or an inequitable development pathway. The initiative included months of consultations with African and international experts and practitioners to develop a robust analysis and put forward directions for including climate mobility factors in adaptation and development plans. Media Contact: For media inquiries, please contact David Lonnberg at [email protected] or +1-347-836-2121. Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2052908/1_GCCM_primary_horizontal_RGB_blue__6_Logo.jpg SOURCE Global Centre for Climate Mobility HOLMDEL, N.J., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- V onage , a global leader in cloud communications helping businesses accelerate their digital transformation, will highlight its commitment to the Channel and innovations in its support of channel partners at the upcoming Channel Partners Conference & Expo. The Company will also lend thought leadership across three sessions, including two Keynotes. The annual Channel Partners Conference & Expo is the premier event for the channel space and will take place May 1-4, 2023, at The Venetian in Las Vegas, NV. Channel Partners is a key event for us to demonstrate our ongoing commitment & service to partners and their customers. Tweet this "Channel Partners is such a key event for us each year to demonstrate our ongoing commitment and service to our network of channel partners and their customers," said Reggie Scales, SVP, Global Sales for Vonage. "With the opportunity to meet with the channel community face to face - to showcase demos of new products and our continued investments in our Channel model, tools, and infrastructure - this show is the perfect opportunity to reinforce our dedication to our partners' success." In a Keynote on Tuesday, May 2, at 10:20 am PT - Building Resilience and Revenue Through Innovation - Vonage Chief Operating Officer Jay Bellissimo will provide an overview of the Vonage Communications Platform, and an outlook for the future as the Company continues its legacy of opening new revenue streams for partners and helping them build resilience for their businesses. An additional Keynote panel on Wednesday, May 3, at 8:45 am PT - The Future of the Channel: The Ultimate Vendor Power Panel - will feature Vonage SVP Global Sales Reggie Scales. The panel will discuss how today's tech leaders are meeting customers' business challenges head on while working to drive success for their partner communities. A third Vonage speaking engagement at Channel Partners is an MVP Panel - UC and CC - Consolidation without Compromise on Tuesday, May 2 at 2:15 pm PT, hosted by Vonage Channel Chief, Jim Regan. This panel of channel and product experts will uncover why a truly integrated suite of solutions helps businesses create differentiated experiences for their customers - and how this drives increased productivity within their organizations. Vonage will host a booth (#1419) on the expo show floor, where attendees will have the opportunity to connect with members of the Company's executive and channel teams and experience interactive product demos showcasing Vonage's latest technology. About Vonage Vonage , a global cloud communications leader, helps businesses accelerate their digital transformation. Vonage's Communications Platform is fully programmable and allows for the integration of Video, Voice, Chat, Messaging, AI and Verification into existing products, workflows and systems. The Vonage conversational commerce application enables businesses to create AI-powered omnichannel experiences that boost sales and increase customer satisfaction. Vonage's fully programmable unified communications, contact center and conversational commerce applications are built from the Vonage platform and enable companies to transform how they communicate and operate from the office or remotely - providing the flexibility required to create meaningful engagements. Vonage is headquartered in New Jersey, with offices throughout the United States, Europe, Israel and Asia and is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Ericsson. To follow Vonage on Twitter, please visit www.twitter.com/vonage . To become a fan on Facebook, go to facebook.com/vonage . To subscribe on YouTube, visit youtube.com/vonage . SOURCE Vonage LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- White Coffee commemorates over 10 years of private labelling and licensing coffee sales with Entenmann's, the NY-based bakery brand owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA. As part of that celebration, White Coffee is once again teaming up with Entenmann's to release a new "Breakfast Blend" variety and nine flavored coffees like "Chocolate Donut" and "Party Cake" to bring a sweet experience home to customers. The distinctive coffee blends supplied by White Coffee are available in 10 oz. bags and single serve pods in boxes of various sizes. White Coffee also supplies Entenmanns creamy, smooth hot chocolate in single-serve packaging. The Entenmanns hot beverage selections will be available at retailers and online at www.whitecoffee.com or call (800) 221-0140 for more information. White Coffee works with the finest coffee growers around the world, selecting only 100% Arabica beans and roasting them in small batches. The family-owned business centered in Astoria, NY traces its origins to patriarch David White who established a foodservice coffee business in Manhattan in 1939; his daughter-in-law, Carole White, and her two sons, Jonathan and Gregory, manage the business today. Since 2017, White Coffee has been recognized annually as one of the top licensees in the world by License! Global Magazine, the premier publication in the licensing industry. The brand continues to partner with like-minded baked goods brand, Entenmann'swhich also has New York City rootsstarting in Brooklyn over 100 years ago before moving to Bay Shore, Long Island. Entenmann's evolved to garner a national presence as a beloved brand of baked sweets, with classic products like Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donuts, Entenmann's Crumb Coffee Cake and Entenmann's Raspberry Danish Twist that complement a morning coffee perfectly. "The relationship does not succeed just through inspired coffee flavors and convenient packaging," says Jonathan White, Executive Vice President. "It is aided by a natural connection between a brand's customer and their desire for a special coffee experience they can associate with the brand. That's what Entenmann's and White Coffee have found together over these years." The distinctive coffee blends supplied by White Coffee are available in 10 oz. bags and single serve pods in boxes of various sizes. White Coffee also supplies Entenmann's creamy, smooth hot chocolate in single-serve packaging. The Entenmann's hot beverage selections will be available at retailers and online. All products can be found in various retail chains across the United States. Brand Central is the exclusive licensing agency for Bimbo Bakeries USA for the Entenmann's and Little Bites brands. About Entenmann's Bakery Entenmann's history dates back more than 120 years to 1898 when William Entenmann opened his first bakery in Brooklyn, New York. By the 1960s, the company was selling delicious donuts throughout the New York metropolitan area; by the 1970s it began selling nationwide. Today, Entenmann's markets over 100 different baked goods in the U.S., producing more than one billion donuts annually one of which is the #1-best-selling classic Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donut introduced in 1973. About White Coffee White Coffee Corporation is based in Long Island City, NY and is a third-generation, certified woman-owned business, in operation since 1939. As a core part of its coffee offerings, White Coffee is proud of its collaboration with prominent licensed brands. White's licensing program includes other famous brands like Jim Beam, Harry & David and Kahlua. These coffee products are available in retail outlets throughout the United States, on-line at www.whitecoffee.com or call (800) 221-0140 for more information. About Brand Central Brand Central LLC is a premiere global brand consultancy that provides comprehensive business solutions in the areas of brand extensions, trend intelligence, and manufacturer representation to some of the world's most recognized brands, including Mars Wrigley, Kraft Heinz and Mister Rogers Neighborhood just to name a few. Their mission is to help clients unlock the full potential of their brands to enhance value while generating substantial revenue. For additional information please contact Ross Misher at 310.268.1231 or visit www.brandcentralgroup.com . CONTACT: Mary Beth Kramer Kramer Consulting (215) 431-3946 SOURCE White Coffee Corporation Five new Masters earn the elite title MADISON, Wis., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin and the University of Wisconsin Center for Dairy Research are proud to announce the 2023 class of Wisconsin Master Cheesemakers. Four new and one returning cheesemaker graduated from the esteemed program. The class of 2023 collectively earned certifications in cheddar, blue cheese, mozzarella and curds. Master Cheesemakers graduating class of 2023 from left: Kirk Auchue of Saputo Cheese and Black Creek in Fond du Lac, WI, Tony Hook of Hooks Cheese in Mineral Point, WI, Ryan LaGrander of LaGranders Hillside Dairy in Stanley, WI, Ben Shibler of Pagels Ponderosa/Rons Wisconsin Cheese in Kewaunee, WI, and Timothy Stearns of Land OLakes in Kiel, WI. Wisconsin is the only place outside of Switzerland where cheesemakers become official Masters in their craft. It requires true dedication, including 13 or more years of cheesemaking as well as pursuing coursework and rigorous exams. Kirk Auchue of Saputo Cheese and Black Creek in Fond du Lac, WI , is certified in cheddar. Auchue enjoys the challenge of cheesemaking and is particularly proud of the cheesemakers and other staff he works with at the plant encouraging them to move away from complete automation and feeling the steps of the process. of Saputo Cheese and in , is certified in cheddar. Auchue enjoys the challenge of cheesemaking and is particularly proud of the cheesemakers and other staff he works with at the plant encouraging them to move away from complete automation and feeling the steps of the process. Timothy Stearns of Land O'Lakes in Kiel, WI , is certified in cheddar. Stearn's early immersion in the cheesemaking industry makes him feel like he grew up in it. His team hand selects which cheeses to put into aging. in , is certified in cheddar. Stearn's early immersion in the cheesemaking industry makes him feel like he grew up in it. His team hand selects which cheeses to put into aging. Tony Hook of Hook's Cheese in Mineral Point, WI , is certified in blue. Hook, a pioneer of Wisconsin's artisan cheese movement, began their sales at Dane County Farmers Market, connecting with customers one-on-one. of Hook's Cheese in , is certified in blue. Hook, a pioneer of artisan cheese movement, began their sales at Dane County Farmers Market, connecting with customers one-on-one. Ben Shibler of Pagel's Ponderosa/Ron's Wisconsin Cheese in Kewaunee, WI , is certified in mozzarella. Shibler enjoys the intellectual and physical aspects of cheesemaking, stating, "It's a very hands-on job, especially in an old-school setup as we have. We don't have a lot of automation, and its open vats, so you're up to your elbows in it." Returning Master Cheesemaker in 2023: Ryan LaGrander of LaGrander's Hillside Dairy in Stanley, WI , is certified in cheddar and curds. LaGrander manages everything from the farms they work with to the cheese production and sales of their product. He says a lot of his time is spent with the actual cheese production, making adjustments and working to fulfill the customers' needs. "The Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Program, the only one of its kind in the U.S., is an advanced education program for experienced cheesemakers that enhances the quality image of what is already the nation's premier cheesemaking state," says Chad Vincent, CEO, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin. "These graduates have dedicated an immense number of hours to earn their Master's Marks, which signifies unparalleled standards of Wisconsin cheesemaking." Behind every wheel of cheese made in Wisconsin is a proud cheesemaker who is committed to crafting delicious cheese in honor of the hardworking farmers who produce the milk. That very personal, hands-on mindset is present in each of the Masters in this graduating class. Established in 1994, the Wisconsin Master Cheesemaker Program has certified just over 90 masters out of the more than 1,200 total cheesemakers in the state -- a testament to the program's high standards and rigor. About Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin: Funded by Wisconsin dairy farmers, Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin is a non-profit organization that focuses on marketing and promoting Wisconsin's world-class dairy products. For more information, visit our website at wisconsindairy.org. About Wisconsin Cheese: The tradition of cheesemaking excellence began more than 180 years ago, before Wisconsin was recognized as a state. Wisconsin's 1,200 cheesemakers, many of whom are third- and fourth generation, continue to pass on old-world traditions while adopting modern innovations in cheesemaking craftsmanship. For more information, visit WisconsinCheese.com or connect on Facebook. SOURCE Dairy Farmers of Wisconsin New loyalty program members can enjoy a free Big Zax Snak meal ATHENS, Ga., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Saucy chicken chain Zaxby's is celebrating spring with flavor-packed rewards through its award-winning loyalty program, Zax Rewardz. Amid rising loyalty cutbacks in the quick-service restaurant industry, Zaxby's is rewarding its most loyal fans by extending its welcome offera free Big Zax Snak mealfor downloading and joining its Zax Rewardz program. Zaxby's Big Zax Snak meal features three tender, tasty Chicken Fingerz, Texas Toast and Zax Sauce, served with Crinkle Fries and a small Coca-Cola Freestyle drink. Zaxbys extends Zax Rewardz incentive with new app downloads. New loyalty program members can enjoy a free Big Zax Snak meal. "At a time when other loyalty programs are lowering the value of rewards, we're doubling down on rewarding our most loyal guests. We are extending an attractive sign-up offer that includes a free meal while making it easy to earn and redeem rewards," said Patrick Schwing, Zaxby's chief marketing and strategy officer. "The guest response has exceeded our expectations and it's clear they appreciate the value our program offers. Since launching the new app in September, we've more than doubled the number of active users and have earned a 4.7 rating in the app store." Recent changes to loyalty programs across quick-service brands suggest customers will have to spend more to earn free perks. Zaxby's has simplified the process of redeeming points and continually rewards members through offers like Free Delivery Sundays, every Sunday through the end of May; and Free Delivery Week, April 24-30. Zaxby's point-based catalog of rewards allows users to turn earned points into flavor-packed freebies. Every $1 earns 10 points, which accumulate into a choice of free menu items and select dollars-off rewards. To start earning points immediately for Zax Rewardz, customers can sign up online at zaxbys.com/rewards, or download the new app on Google Play or the App Store. Guests can also order ahead for pickup or delivery using the Zaxby's app. Zaxby's new rewards program launched in 2022 and was recently recognized as one of America's Best Loyalty Programs in the Fast-Food Restaurant Chains Category on Newsweek's and Statista's list of America's Best Loyalty Programs in 2023, outranking its direct competition. About Zaxby's Founded in 1990, Zaxby's is committed to serving delicious chicken fingers, wings, sandwiches and salads with Southern hospitality and a modern twist. Zaxby's iconic Signature Sandwich received Thrillist's Fasties Award for Best Fried Chicken Sandwich in both 2021 and 2022. Zaxby's has grown to more than 900 locations in 17 states and is headquartered in Athens, Georgia. For more information, visit zaxbys.com or zaxbysfranchising.com. Media Contact: Jacob Teetzmann Tombras +1.423.494.3673 [email protected] SOURCE Zaxby's NANJING, China, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 1st, 2023, during the First Infection Collaboration Forum of the Chinese National Center for Infectious Diseases, Nanjing Zenshine Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Zenshine Pharmaceuticals) announced that its proprietary anti-influenza agent ZX-7101A met the primary endpoint with excellent safety and efficacy profiles in phase 2 clinical study for the treatment of acute uncomplicated influenza in adults. Interim analysis of the phase 2 cohort of ZX-7101A phase 2/3 adaptive design pivotal study (registration number: CTR20221729), a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, aims to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ZX-7101A tablets versus placebo. The seamless adaptive design consists of two relative independent cohorts: phase 2 dose exploration and subsequently phase 3 efficacy confirmation. The study has been conducted in more than 60 centers across China and led by Professor Wenhong Zhang, Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases (Shanghai) and Professor Jing Zhang at Huashan Hospital affiliated to Fudan University. Phase 2 cohort enrolled 177 subjects with acute influenza infection in total, randomized into ZX-7101A treatment groups (40 mg, 80 mg) and placebo group. Statistical significance was reached in the primary end point of time to alleviation of all influenza symptoms between both ZX-7101A treated groups relative to the placebo group (p-value: 0.008 for the 40 mg group and 0.022 for the 80 mg group respectively). In particular, the median time to alleviation of all influenza symptoms in the ZX-7101A 40 mg group was shortened by 44.1% in comparison to the placebo group. Secondary efficacy endpoints including time to cessation of viral shedding determined by virus RNA, time to alleviation of the four systemic symptoms (muscle or joint pain, fatigue, headache, feverishness or chills), and time to alleviation of the three respiratory symptoms (nasal congestion, sore throat, cough) also showed significant benefits in both ZX-7101A treatment groups compared to the placebo group. In both 40 mg and 80 mg groups, ZX-7101A was well tolerated without evident safety findings. "We are pleased to see favorable safety and efficacy of ZX-7101A in the phase 2 clinical study." said by Professor Wenhong Zhang, "The outbreaks of flu around the globe earlier this year have posed a threat to the public health and an urgent need for effective influenza treatment. The pivotal phase 2/3 study of ZX-7101A was completed in a very short period of time through the joint efforts of Zenshine Pharmaceuticals and the investigators. I have to say it's a miracle and can be considered as a new milestone of the speed of clinical development in China. In response to future pandemics, clinical development of innovative treatment can be accelerated benchmarking against ZX-7101A development model." Dr. Jinfu Yang, the chairman of Zenshine Pharmaceuticals said, "We are encouraged by the exciting interim safety and efficacy data of ZX-7101A in adults. ZX-7101A could be the best-in-class CEN inhibitor in comparison to all the reported phase II results. Subject enrollment of phase 3 cohort has been completed by March 2023 and the full analysis will be done by mid-2023. We expect ZX-7101A to be launched in the near future to help the infected individuals recover fast and to prevent and battle the flu outbreak, which has always been a major threat to public health." About ZX-7101A ZX-7101A is a novel cap-dependent endonuclease (CEN) inhibitor developed by Nanjing Zenshine Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. (Zenshine Pharmaceuticals). ZX-7101A has broad-spectrum antiviral activities against influenza A and B viruses and highly lethal avian influenza viruses. Its favorable safety and pharmacokinetic properties have been demonstrated in phase 1 clinical trial. About Zenshine Pharmaceuticals Zenshine Pharmaceuticals is a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company, focused on small molecule therapeutics in the areas of cancer, viral infection and inflammation. Our mission is to apply the best science to serve patients. Zenshine Pharmaceuticals leverages the team's extensive expertise and experience in developing proprietary chemical entities with well-defined differentiation to benefit the patients. By targeting key biological pathways to disrupt virus replication, directly block tumor growth and enhance anti-tumor immune responses, Zenshine Pharmaceuticals commits to providing bench-side to bed-side solutions and delivering the best-in-class or first-in-class therapeutics. SOURCE Nanjing Zenshine Pharmaceuticals Co., Ltd. Jesse Morgan Hinson, 36, formerly of Troy, pleaded guilty Tuesday to mail fraud, announced United States Attorney Sandra J. Stewart. The Alabama Securities Commission provided valuable assistance in the investigation and prosecution of the case. According to the plea agreement and other court documents, in 2022, Hinson engaged in schemes to defraud multiple victims by falsely representing himself to be a man of great wealth with the ability to conduct profitable real estate transactions. He convinced victims to give him money based on promises of future financial benefits. However, Hinson had no significant assets and intended to take his victims money for his own use. Hinson also failed to let his victims know that he had prior convictions for securities fraud, including convictions on Alabama securities fraud charges as recently as March and April of 2022. Hinson was in custody of the Alabama Department of Corrections as of April 30, 2022. In his plea agreement, Hinson specifically admitted that, in March of 2022, he defrauded an individual in Butler County by claiming that Hinson could finance real estate purchases for a 10 percent down payment. This was not true. Hinson obtained approximately $66,500.00 from the Butler County victim despite Hinson having no ability to finance real estate purchases, and none of the proceeds were used for the victims benefit. Instead, Hinson used much of these funds to pay personal expenses and to pay the debts of a woman with whom he had a romantic relationship. After the Butler County victim began demanding his money back, to discourage him from speaking with law enforcement, Hinson, posing as a New York attorney, telephoned the victim, falsely stated that Hinson would be receiving the proceeds of an $11 million loan, and then threatened to bankrupt the victim by opening competing businesses. Additionally, in April of 2022 and continuing after his incarceration on April 30 of that year, Hinson, as he admitted during his plea hearing, defrauded two other individuals from Tuscaloosa. Hinson told the victims that he would provide them with the profits from the sale of land that Hinson claimed to own to Auburn University if the victims would provide money upfront for taxes. During the course of discussions with the Tuscaloosa victims, Hinson had someone make false misrepresentations to the victims claiming that Hinson controlled assets in the range of $2 to $3 billion. This claim was also untrue. The Tuscaloosa victims provided multiple payments to Hinsons attorney and to Hinsons girlfriend totaling $124,028.80. A sentencing hearing will be scheduled in the coming months. At that hearing, Hinson will face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, along with substantial fines and restitution. Mr. Hinson has a checkered history of engaging in securities fraud schemes, said United States Attorney Stewart. I commend the work of the investigators and prosecutors who unraveled the brazen schemes at issue in this case, thus protecting the public from falling victim to Hinsons lies. Jesse Morgan Hinson has worked hard to build a horrible reputation of deceiving folks, said Alabama Securities Commission Chief Deputy Director Amanda Senn. We encourage everyone to research who you invest your hard-earned money with to avoid career criminals like Hinson, who has left a path of financial devastation and destruction in his wake. The United States Secret Service and the Alabama Securities Commission investigated the case. Assistant United States Attorney Stephen K. Moulton and Special Assistant United States Attorneys Andrew O. Schiff and Amanda Senn of the Alabama Securities Commission are prosecuting the case. The ASC cautions investors to thoroughly research any investment opportunity. Call the ASC at 1-800-222-1253 and ask for the registration department to check out persons offering investment opportunities, investment advice for a fee and any products they offer. Contact the ASC to report suspected fraud, inappropriate securities business practices, or to obtain consumer information. Free investor education and fraud prevention materials are available at www.asc.alabama.gov. From Dogs to Cars: Experienced Pet Segment Franchisee Invests in Leading Global Automotive Franchise HOUSTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Ziebart, the worldwide leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services, announced today it has signed an agreement with multi-unit, multi-brand franchise operator Christopher King to open 3 locations in the greater Houston metro area over the next 5 years. King comes to Ziebart with 20 years of management experience within Fortune 500 companies, as well as a solid background in both the automotive and franchise sectors. King worked for more than a decade at Chevron Corporation before investing and operating two Dogtopia franchises in the Houston market since 2017. King said he's looking forward to expanding his franchise portfolio with the addition of Ziebart, applying his passion for cars and experience in multi-unit franchise operations to his latest venture. His first Ziebart will be located within the Houston metro area. With more than 400 locations and 1,300 service centers in 37 countries, Ziebart carries a nearly 65-year history serving as the industry leader in rust protection, detailing, window tinting, and more. While not the first in the state of Texas (Ziebart has existing locations in Corpus Christi and Lewisville), King's will be the first Ziebart in the Houston market. King noted a similar experience in breaking into new markets with Dogtopia, saying he plans to draw on his experience with competitive marketing techniques to jumpstart brand recognition. "The Houston community is passionate when it comes to caring for vehicles and pets," he said. "I've found people tend to give the same love to their trucks as they do to their pets, and that's where I think these two concepts as different as they seem really go hand-in-hand. You put your dog in your car, it's going to get dirty and you need a place to take it to get it cleaned." King noted his stepson, Anthony, will serve as general manager running point on daily operations of the Ziebart business. Thomas A. Wolfe, President and CEO of Ziebart International Corporation, said King is an ideal fit for the growing automotive aftermarket brand, which is strategically seeking similar experienced multi-unit, multi-brand operators to expand its footprint domestically and internationally. "As demand for automotive aftercare services continues to skyrocket, Ziebart will focus its franchising efforts on awarding agreements to sophisticated, multi-unit operators who can help us expand strategically in markets with growth potential," Wolfe said. "Ziebart will continue to bring more communities complete vehicle protection solutions with great operators like King." Ziebart opened five new locations last year, including Highland, Michigan; Triadelphia, West Virginia; Fort Myers, Florida; Auburn, Massachusetts; and Hamburg, New York, with six additional locations set to open early this year all backed by owners and multi-unit owners in the Ziebart family. In addition, Ziebart signed new franchise agreements in nine additional countries, including its first location in The Netherlands as well as openings in Azerbaijan, Kuwait, Iraq and the Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Greece. For more information on Ziebart's franchising opportunities, visit ziebart.com/franchise-opportunities. About Ziebart Founded in 1959, Ziebart International Corporation is the worldwide leader in premium automotive appearance and protection services that extend the life of vehicles. Ziebart operates over 400 locations, with 1,300 service centers, in 37 countries. Ziebart continues to grow and offers domestic and international franchising opportunities, a best-in-class investment for qualified prospects. For more information about Ziebart including franchise opportunities, please visit www.ziebart.com . SOURCE Ziebart OZARKSix remaining motions previously filed on behalf of a man charged with capital murder in connection with the 1999 deaths of two Dothan teens were heard by 33rd Circuit Judge William Filmore during a one-hour hearing in Dale County Court Thursday, four days before the trial is set to begin. Filmore said he would take under advisement motions filed by defense attorneys David Harrison and Andrew Scarborough on behalf of Coley McCraney that asked for evidence found in the vehicle where the bodies of J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett were found, the motion to allow the jury to visit the alleged crime scene, the motion to remove jurors who expressed a strong opinion in favor of the death penalty, and a motion to allow Filmore to review former Ozark Police Chief Marlos Walkers personnel file. McCraney has been in Dale County Jail without bond since his March 17, 2019, arrest and indictment on five counts of capital murder and one charge of rape in connection with the 20-year-old cold case involving the shooting deaths of the Dothan teens, whose bodies were found in the trunk of Beasleys car parked on Herring Avenue in Ozark. The teens were last heard from on the evening of July 31, 1999, when Hawlett called her mother from Ozark to let her know they were on their way home after getting lost on the way to a party. Some two decades later, McCraney was identified as a suspect after DNA from the crime scene was submitted for genetic genealogy testing. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and Assistant Attorney General Jimmy Thomas will prosecute McCraney. The attorney generals office took the case at the request of the 33rd Judicial Circuit District Attorney Kirke Adams. At Thursdays hearing, Filmore did grant the motion for the defense to be notified of any alleged prior wrongs, crimes, or acts the state intends to introduce at trial and the defense team withdrew its motion to suppress any statements McCraney made after his arrest. We want those statements included in their entirety, said Harrison. Filmore had previously ruled on several of the motions, allowing the court to record any and all proceedings in the McCraney case, and denied the motion to prohibit the death penalty without a unanimous sentencing verdict in the case. Thursday Harrison questioned why the vehicle that the girls bodies were found in was disposed of by the Ozark Police Department some five years after the murders. The car, Harrison said, is the entirety of the alleged crime scene. When we start removing evidence, how can this man have a fair trial? Harrison asked pointing to McCraney who was brought to this hearing in a yellow jail jumpsuit and handcuffed and shackled, instead of the suit and tie he has worn to previous court appearances. Thomas told the judge that the vehicle in which the bodies were found had not been released from police custody in bad faith and said that the defense has failed to prove that the vehicle contained evidence other than the defendants. Harrison told the court that it was important for the jury to visit the alleged crime scene to refute previous testimony from a police officer at prior hearings that McCraney had been a primary suspect because the girls vehicle had been found near McCraneys then-home and that McCraney had left town after the murders. He had not left town. He moved 1.7 miles away, Harrison said. Its time to put up or shut up. This mans life is in jeopardy. Noting that the Walker, the Ozark Police chief when McCraney was arrested, had been terminated by the city, Harrison requested that the judge review Walkers personnel file to see if Walkers credibility played a part in his termination. The state called Harrisons request a fishing trip, and asked the judge to deny that request. Jury selected is expected to begin Monday. Filmore said that the trial will start immediately following jury selection. Tehran, April 13 : Iran's technical team arrived in the Saudi capital Riyadh to prepare the ground for the reopening of its diplomatic missions in Saudi Arabia, said the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The Ministry's Spokesman Nasser Kanaani described the visit as a new step in line with the implementation of the Beijing-brokered agreement between Tehran and Riyadh on the resumption of the official bilateral relations and diplomatic activities of their political and consular offices in the two countries, according to a statement on the Ministry's website. Kanaani on Wednesday said the Iranian delegation, welcomed by Saudi officials upon arrival, is going to implement the necessary measures for the reopening of the Iranian embassy in Riyadh as well as the consulate general and representative office to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Jeddah. He added that efforts have been underway to reopen the Iranian diplomatic missions before the beginning of the Haj pilgrimage in late June, Xinhua news agency reported. On Saturday, the Saudi technical team arrived in Tehran to prepare for the reopening of the kingdom's embassy in Tehran and consulate general in the northeastern city of Mashhad. Saudi Arabia and Iran reached a deal in March to resume diplomatic relations and reopen embassies and missions in the two countries within two months. In a meeting in Beijing on April 6, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and his Saudi counterpart Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud signed a joint statement announcing the practical resumption of official diplomatic relations. Saudi Arabia cut diplomatic ties with Iran in 2016 in response to the attacks on Saudi diplomatic missions in Iran after the kingdom executed a Shia cleric. Damascus/Riyadh, April 13 : Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed in a joint statement to resume consular services and flights, after the bilateral ties have been stranded for years. The announcement came as Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad wrapped up his visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, the first time since the Syrian civil war broke out in 2011, Xinhua news agency reported. The statement on Wednesday said both Syria and Saudi Arabia have agreed to resume the consular services and the flights between the two countries, stressing that both sides have agreed on boosting security and counter-terrorism efforts, according to the Syrian Foreign Ministry. The two sides discussed the necessary steps to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the crisis in Syria that would end all its repercussions, achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab surroundings and the resumption of its natural role in the Arab world, according to the statement. The two countries also agreed to resolve humanitarian difficulties and offer a suitable environment for assistance to reach all parts of Syria, according to the Saudi Press Agency. The two sides stressed the importance of the return of Syrian refugees and displaced individuals to their areas, along with taking the required steps to stabilise the situation in the country. Mekdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came upon the invitation by Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, as the relations between both countries are on the way to normalisation. On Wednesday, Tunisia and Syria decided to reopen their respective embassies to resume diplomatic ties between the two countries. Baghpat, April 13 : A man accused of triple murder in Uttar Pradesh's Baghpat district has been arrested. According to the police, Anjal killed his father, uncle, and aunt as they refused to give him money to buy liquor. The incident took place on Tuesday night in Shabga village under the Chaprauli police station limits. SP Baghpat Arpit Vjayvargiva said that the accused, an alcoholic, strangulated three of his family members to death over liquor money. The victims have been identified as -- Veerpal (58), Sreepal (60) and Veermati (62). After committing the crime, Anjal visited his other aunt in Sirsali, the neighbouring village. He told her about the crime and she rushed to Shabga only to find three bodies. Subsequently, she informed other villagers about the incident who then called the Chaprauli police. Police have said that Anjal committed the crime under the influence of alcohol. He had an altercation with his father and uncle over liquor money. To pacify them, his aunt Veermati intervened. However, later in the night, when they were all sleeping, Anjal strangulated them to death one by one. All three bodies have been sent for autopsy. Prayagraj, April 13 : The syllabus of defence studies in all Uttar Pradesh universities will soon include chapters showcasing the valour of Indian soldiers in various battles, including the May 2020 Galwan Valley stand-off. The lessons will also include historical wars starting from the Mahabharata era. To introduce the changes, a think tank of academicians, military science experts and political personalities is brainstorming on the "need to revisit history and military science" being taught at central as well as state universities. According to sources, the syllabus was being revised in such a manner that the wars wherein the Indian forces came out triumphant could be highlighted. Students of defence studies would be made aware of the battles in which the valour and strategy of the Indian forces made all the difference. Head of the department of defence and strategic studies, Allahabad University, Prof Prashant Agarwal, who was a member of the committee which recommended the change of syllabus in the state universities last year, said: "Although the Indo-China war ended in a ceasefire, that too because the Chinese would not have been able to continue the war once the winter sets in, the general perception is that India lost the war even though there have been many instances where Indian forces gave a befitting reply to China. "A handful of Indian soldiers inflicted massive damage to the Chinese side and fought with a comparatively inferior weaponry. "There is a need to glorify Indian forces and show the world the real picture of the valour of our soldiers by 'revisiting' several wars and battles fought during the Mughal, British and post-Independence era. "How can the students be aware of the bravery of the Indian Army when they see the battles and army's might through the lens of foreign writers? There are not many books written by Indian authors." According to sources, the members of the committee have held several rounds of meetings on the issue. New York, April 13 : Two distinguished Indian-American members of The University of Kansas Cancer Center were recognised as "most productive faculty", and formally invested with endowed professorships. Breast medical oncologist Priyanka Sharma and gastroenterologist Prateek Sharma were honoured for their efforts in research and treatment of cancer and gastroenterology. Priyanka, MD, who was invested with the Frank B. Tyler Cancer Research Professorship, is a leading expert on triple-negative breast cancer. She is a professor in the Department of Medical Oncology at the University of Kansas School of Medicine and co-leader of the cancer center's Drug Discovery, Delivery and Experimental Therapeutics research program. Priyanka has dedicated much of her career to identifying more effective therapies to treat this aggressive subtype of breast cancer, a University of Kansas Cancer Center release noted. She serves as vice chair for the breast committee of SWOG and is a member of the SWOG Board of Governors and National Cancer Institute (NCI) breast cancer steering committee. Prateek Sharma, MD, professor of medicine and director of GI Fellowship Training at the University of Kansas School of Medicine, was invested with the Elaine Blaylock Cancer Research Professorship. A renowned gastroenterologist and scientist focusing on esophageal diseases, including cancer, he is president-elect of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. He serves as chair on the Esophageal Committee of World Endoscopy Organization and chairs the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy artificial intelligence task force. Both professorships are appointed positions made by Roy Jensen, MD, vice chancellor and director of The University of Kansas Cancer Center. "Priyanka and Prateek Sharma are outstanding leaders and experts in their respective fields," Jensen said in a statement. "Through these endowed chairs, both can pursue more innovative ideas and create more inter-disciplinary collaborations leading to advances in cancer care," he added. The University of Kansas Cancer Center is the only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center in the region, and one of only 53 in the nation, to receive this elite distinction. NCI-designated cancer centers are recognised for their scientific excellence, including their depth and breadth of research. They are the backbone of innovative research and care across the country, helping to pioneer most groundbreaking advances in cancer treatment. Lucknow, April 13 : Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, Rashtriya Lok Dal chief Jayant Chaudhary and Chandra Shekhar Azad, founder of the Azad Samaj Party will fly down to Mhow town in Madhya Pradesh's Indore on Friday to offer tributes to Dr B.R. Ambedkar on his birth anniversary in his home town. According to sources, the three leaders will offer floral tributes and garland the Dalit leader's statue of Ambedkar. The exercise is being seen a part of Dalit outreach by Samajwadi Party and its allies, ahead of the 2024 general elections. Samajwadi Party sources said that though no rally is scheduled, the leaders may address the gathering impromptu. The SP-RLD alliance has roped in Chandra Shekhar Azad to rope in Dalits in west UP, in particular, and the entire state, in general. The SP leaders see the present political scenario as a conducive social atmosphere to bring together the followers of Lohia and Ambedkar once again. They are confident that their efforts will yield better results than ever before. Three such attempts have been made in the past. The first one was in 1956 when Bhimrao Ambedkar and Ram Manohar Lohia planned a meeting to work together for the cause of social justice. However, Ambedkar passed away before the meeting could be held. In 1992, Kanshi Ram and Mulayam Singh Yadav got together. The third attempt was made when Akhilesh Yadav entered an alliance with Mayawati in 2019. This time, the difference is that more Dalits are disillusioned with the BSP-the party they earlier identified themselves with. Akhilesh has been trying to build bridges with Dalits. Recently, he unveiled a statue of late Kanshi Ram in Rae Bareli. He has also been promoting party MLA Avadhesh Prasad as the Dalit face of SP. SP's outreach is a part of its strategy that was formulated in 2021 when the SP chief floated a separate wing by the name of Babasaheb Vahini on Ambedkar Jayanti. Bhopal, April 13 : Former BJP minister and son of ex-Chief Minister (late) Kailash Joshi's son Deepak Joshi, who has been sidelined from the state politics for the last few years, is likely to join the Congress. The process of dialogues between Joshi and the top leadership of Congress in Madhya Pradesh has already been initiated, sources privy to the development told IANS. While the MP Congress led by Kamal Nath is planning to give a big political jolt to the ruling BJP ahead of the Assembly polls due later this year, Joshi, who has been angry over not being given active role in the state politics despite being a senior BJP leader, is likely to grab this opportunity to flourish his political career in the Congress. Sources said that a group of senior Congress leaders and Deepak Joshi held a close door meeting a few days ago, however, negotiation was yet to reach any conclusive step. Meanwhile, the Congress leadership also feared facing disappointment within its own faction, especially from the local party leaders of Dewas district. "Joshi does not just want a ticket for the Assembly polls but wants to play a big role. Like his father, he has a clean image and his shifting to the Congress will undoubtedly be a big political jolt for the ruling BJP. At the same time, some senior BJP leaders also tried to convince him to stay with the party, however Joshi's rift with CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan continues," a senior Congress leader told IANS on condition of anonymity. Last week, when a group of farmers of his home district, Dewas, staged a protest against the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government, Joshi had not only justified the protest but he had also addressed the gathering. However, speaking with IANS, he said, "People of Bagli and Hatpipliya constituencies are like my family members and if they have any problem, it is my duty to stand with them. My father was a clean politician and I am following in his footsteps. I was made to sit at home for the last few years without any reason." When asked about his further political step, he did not say much, but added, "See, I am made to sit at home for the last few years. I have to make decisions in the interest of people who have faith in my family." As per the sources, Joshi was sidelined after he raised his voice against corruption in Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Dewas district. "Whenever I raised this matter before, some leaders from my own party (BJP) accused me of playing politics and raising voice against the BJP government. But I kept raising this matter because my father won elections from the Bagli constituency eight times and people have faith in us. At present, this constituency is reserved for Scheduled Tribe (ST) but people still come to me whenever they have any problem," Joshi added. Getting no response from the state leadership on his complaint, Joshi had then written to the Central leadership of the BJP and following which, Lokayukta of Madhya Pradesh in December last year had booked 45 officials and employees in different departments for allegedly misusing funds meant for Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in Dewas district. A police investigation had revealed that the nexus has been operating for the past few years, embezzling several crores of rupees by creating fake bills. Joshi (60), who won three Assembly polls from Bagli (2003, 2008) and Hathpiplia (2013), also served as a minister of technical education and skills development, and of school education in Shivraj Singh Chouhan's cabinet. He lost the election in 2018 against the Congress. His father, Kailash Joshi, was the ninth Chief Minister (June 24, 1977 to January 18, 1978) of Madhya Pradesh when he was a member of the Janata Party. He died on November 24, 2019. City of Dothan employees had the opportunity to learn all about the ins and outs of fiber optic technology through a two-day training session at Wallace Community College-Dothan. Im extremely excited to kick this off, Josh Byars, the instructor for the course and a fiber technician at FlashFiber, said. Ive been working in this field for about 20 years and something like this wasnt available when I first started. Its great to see that this is available now to help give these guys a head start. Employees from the citys public works and information technology departments, as well as a handful of employees from Dothan Utilities, descended on the campus community enrichment center Tuesday and Wednesday for the class. This two-day class was started by the Alabama Community College Systems Innovation Center as part of its Skills for Success program which launched in 2022. Throughout the session, attendees learned about different types of fiber, ways to terminate fiber, how to fusion splice the cable, and how to troubleshoot and fix any issues that may arise. Julie Frizzell, director of ACCS Innovation Center, said the idea for the training program came to be after demand for fiber optic technicians grew. We know there is a huge need for fiber to be expanded throughout our state, Frizzell said. We want to ensure that the workforce is there and trained to be able to install and bring the fiber to the homes of many of our Alabamians who are without internet service right now. The training was developed for the community college system and WCCD served as the pilot for the program. Joe Johnson, the head of workforce development at WCCD, said it took several months for the program to come together. Weve been working on it with the Innovation Center for about a year now, Johnson said. Wallace was identified as the lead to develop this course and from there, we worked with key stakeholders in the state to make sure the content is what it needs to be and to make sure it meets the needs of business and industry. Once the pilot program is over, those involved will look it over and make any necessary tweaks to it before the training gets offered to the 24 other colleges in the ACCS. This is our first iteration of this pilot, and well see if everything weve put together is exactly what it needs to be before we roll it out to the entire state, Johnson said. The training is free of charge and open to anyone who is interested in learning about fiber optics. Due to the need for fiber technicians, the goal of the training is to give people an opportunity to get their foot in the door, Byars said. We need people to be able to come out on Day One and actually know what they are doing, Byars said. These sessions allow people to not be behind and they can quickly go into the field to do some work. There is a dire need for fiber technicians and were looking for people who might want to learn a trade as opposed to going to a four-year college. Many employers in the state are ready to hire individuals who are trained in fiber optics. We have a lot of exciting opportunities throughout the state, Frizzell said. Individuals will be able to get into an entry level technician job in the field. Shamli : , April 13 (IANS) A home guard posted at the district magistrate's office in Shamli has received a notice from the Delhi income tax department seeking an explanation for a series of bank transactions to the tune of Rs 54 crore by quoting his PAN details. The transactions had been going on since 2018, as per the notice. Sompal Singh Malik has approached Shamli district magistrate Ravindra Singh for help. The district magistrate spoke to the superintendent of police (SP) Abhishek regarding the matter, following which a complaint has been filed with the UP police cyber cell. Malik is a resident of Kudana village in Shamli district and received the notice on April 9. He then went to the New Delhi Income Tax office to show all his bank statements to the authorities and informed them that he only receives his salary through the bank. "Officials of the income tax department told me that my PAN number has been linked to the account from which transactions of crores of rupees have been made", said Malik. New Delhi, April 13 : Slipping into a relaxing shower after a long day is an adored practice and a rejuvenating experience. Of course, you may take a longer bath occasionally and pamper yourself with additional skincare rituals, but have you ever taken a royal bath? It may sound like an extravagant suggestion but can help you achieve the effortless and radiant beauty that has long been the hallmark of Indian queens and princesses. Veteran actor and Vivel VedVidya Brand Ambassador, Sharmila Tagore said: "In today's world, we are inundated with information on various complex beauty regimens that promise to give us beautiful, vibrant skin. However, my mother and grandmother had kept things very simple and used concoctions made of natural ingredients, recipes of which were passed down. Drawing inspiration from them, one of my go-to ingredients is incorporating sandalwood-as a skincare essential." Indian royalty has been admired all over the world for their flawless beauty which is associated with the beauty secrets passed down to them by their ancestors. These beauty secrets usually consist of elaborate rituals and practices using various ancient ingredients like flowers, herbs, roots, and oils, that improved skin health while leaving it nourished from within and is a complete sensorial experience. Here is a list of natural ingredients that will make your bathing experience royal and luxurious. Nargis Flowers: The essential oil of the fragrant Nargis flower is incredibly rare and highly valuable. Nargis, commonly known as daffodils, have been used for their calming effects and delicate aroma. The flower oil tones the skin while also keeping it hydrated at the same time. This remarkable flower works like a magic remedy for boosting skin health and curing a variety of skin diseases. KumkumadiTailam: KumkumadiTailam is a traditional Ayurvedic oil blend with numerous benefits for the skin. It is usually a mix of Saffron, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Sesame oil, Turmeric extracts, Rose oil, Manisha, and Almond oil, and is used for promoting youthful and healthy-looking skin. This ingredient has been used to resolve uneven skin and to provide radiance. In addition to this, Kumkumadi also has anti-ageing and hydrating properties. It can help in brightening and evening out the complexion while also improving skin elasticity and firmness. Nagarmotha: Nagarmotha's Kashaya (astringent) property helps prevent excessive oil production and retain skin radiance. Nagarmotha- is known to balance out skin tone, unclog pores, and prevent the signs of ageing. The ingredient is also known for its antimicrobial properties and helps to tighten and firm the skin. It also acts as a natural exfoliant, helping to remove dead skin cells and improve skin texture. Nagarmotha acts as an antioxidant, helping to protect the skin from damage caused by free radicals. Bahumanjari Oil: The Bahumanjari oil, commonly referred to as Tulsi oil, is renowned for promoting good and healthy skin. Bahumanjari oil helps the skin by having a deep-cleansing effect on it. It eliminates excess oil along with dirt and other contaminants. Bahumanjari oil improves skin elasticity and firmness while reducing dark circles and puffiness around the eyes. The ingredient also helps fight free radicals, revitalizes the skin, and restores its youthful glow. Chandan: Chandan or sandalwood is a sacred ingredient that is used in many rituals since time immemorial. The herb is known for its benefits and also for its musty fragrance. The healing property of Chandan is known to get rid of scars, blemishes, and dark spots. It also helps in removing impurities from the skin while providing a healthy glow. Due to its anti-inflammatory properties, Chandan has also been an ideal remedy for sunburns and rashes. Badam Oil: Ancient cultures used badam oil or almond oil as a remedy for dry skin, hypertrophic scars, and general skin regeneration. Almond oil has been used for centuries in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine to soothe, tone, and heal minor skin abrasions and scrapes. Due to the high nutritional value of almonds, almond oil is advantageous for the skin. Almond oil aids in reducing inflammation, offering protection from UV light damage and rehydrating the skin. (N. Lothungbeni Humtsoe can be contacted at lothungbeni.h@ians.in) New York, April 13 : Former US President Donald Trump is heading back to New York City for a civil trial after filing a $500 million suit against his former lawyer, Michael Cohen -- the prime witness against him in the criminal case against him. In the case filed in a federal court in Florida on Wednesday, Trump alleged that Cohen had violated his contract with him as his lawyer, disclosed confidential information and spread "falsehoods". Cohen had acted as Trump's "fixer" paying $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels to buy her silence after she claimed to have had an affair with the former President. That is one of the elements in the 34 charges filed last week against Trump by Manhattan Prosecutor Alvin Bragg who alleges that the payoff was illegally disguised as a lawyer's fees. Cohen was convicted on tax and election finance charges in connection with the payoff. On Thursday, Trump is scheduled to participate in a legal process called deposition in connection with a $250 million civil lawsuit filed by New York's Attorney General Letitia James against the former President, three of his children involved in his business and the Trump Organization alleging they falsified financial statements to obtain loans. In a deposition, the accused or witnesses appear before lawyers away from a courtroom without the judge being present and their testimony and cross-examination are recorded and presented at trial to cut the actual trial time in court with a judge. Last August, a deposition was taken with Trump in the case during which he is reported to have refused to answer about 400 questions claiming constitutional protection against being made to make self-incriminating statements. He does not face prison term in the civil case, but that is a possibility if he is convicted in the New York criminal case or any others that arise in the ongoing investigations by a prosecutor in Georgia into whether he tried to manipulate the 2020 election results there or by a federal special attorney into his role in last year's riot that resulted in an attack on the Capitol by his supporters and into his handling of secret documents. On Tuesday, Trump told a Fox News interviewer that he intends to run for President in next year's election even if he is convicted. Asked if he would back out if convicted, Trump said: "I'd never drop out; it's not my thing, I wouldn't do it." The US Constitution does not bar a convict from running for President. Adding to the web of litigation, Bragg filed a federal case against Republican Representative Jim Jordan, the chair of the House of Representatives Judicial Committee, to block the panel's investigation into his prosecution of Trump. Jordan has alleged that Bragg's prosecution was political. Meanwhile, the Judiciary Committee is bringing its battle with Bragg to his home turf holding a hearing on crime in the city. The committee said that it would probe how what it called "Bragg's pro-crime, anti-victim policies" contributed "to an increase in violent crime". Bragg had been criticised even by his own party leaders for being lax in prosecuting violent crimes or keeping violent offenders in custody. Major crimes soared 22 per cent last year across New York City, but there are signs it is ebbing with a drop of 5.6 per cent in February. The prosecutions against Trump are expected to gain momentum as the Republican Party campaigns for the presidential nomination get underway starting in August with the first candidate's debate. The only candidates to officially announce their run against Trump are former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson and two Indian-Americans -- Nikki Haley, a former member of his cabinet; and Vivek Ramaswamy, an entrepreneur and author. Republican Senator Tim Scott, an African-American who was first appointed to the Senate by Haley when she was the governor of South Carolina, announced on Wednesday that he was setting up a committee to explore a run for the nomination. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is considered a front-runner to challenge Trump, has not announced his candidacy, and neither have former Vice President Mike Pence and former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who were considering joining the race. Trump is far and away the leader for the Republican nomination to take on President Joe Biden, with 51.7 per cent support and a lead of 26.7 per cent over nearest rival DeSantis, according to an aggregation of polls by RealClear Politics. Despite facing criminal charges Trump was 1.7 per cent ahead of Biden, 44.1 per cent to 42.7 per cent, according to the latest RealClear Politics aggregation, with Trump's lead widening in two of the three polls conducted after his indictment on March 30. (Arul Louis can be contacted at arul.l@ians.in and followed at @arulouis) London, April 13 : The UK has extradited a 74-year-old Pakistani man and charged him with the murder of policewoman Sharon Beshenivsky in 2005. Piran Ditta Khan was taken into custody at a West Yorkshire police station, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said, adding that he is scheduled to appear before the Westminster Magistrates' Court on Thursday, reports the BBC. Beshenivsky, a 38-year-old mother of three and stepmother of two children, was shot on November 18, 2005, as she responded with colleague PC Teresa Millburn to an alarm at a travel agent in Morley Street, Bradford. Her shift partner was also shot but survived. The victim had been an officer for just nine months when she was killed. According to the West Yorkshire Police, Khan has been charged with murder, robbery, two counts of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possessing a prohibited weapon, the BBC reported. The CPS said the charges were authorised in 2006, leading to the issuing of the extradition warrant. "Since Piran Ditta Khan was arrested in Pakistan in 2020, our specialist prosecutors have been working closely with our Pakistani partners to complete the legal process in the country so that he could be extradited back to England to face the allegations from almost 20 years ago," the BBC quoted a CPS spokesperson as saying. Canberra, April 13 : The state of Western Australia is bracing for a powerful category four cyclone -- deemed to be the strongest in a decade to hit the region. In its latest forecast, Australia's Bureau Of Meteorology (BOM) said tropical cyclone Ilsa is predicted to strike some 500 kilometre west of Broome and the storm's "very destructive core" could gust up to 275 km/h on Thursday night into Friday morning, before it moves inland, reports the BBC. Australia uses a five-tier system to categorize cyclones, and on Thursday it strengthened to a Category 4 cyclone. The BOM also warned of up to 400 mm of rain and abnormally high tides, with the storm's impact felt across a 600 km region from Port Hedland to just south of Broome. Authorities have issued a yellow alert, which orders people to be ready to shelter, for several remote towns including Port Hedland, a town of 15,000 which is the world's biggest iron ore exporting port. Port Hedland mayor Peter Carter said evacuation centres have been set up in the town. "Everyone is on edge," the BBC quoted Carter as saying to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. "They understand that cyclones are what they are. They're very, very unpredictable." Some 700 residents from the remote community of Bidyadanga were being evacuated, the fire service said. Cyclones are common on the west coast of Australia, with the BOM logging seven of them last year, reports CNN. The northern coast of Western Australia has been hit by 13 storms equivalent to a Category 4 hurricane since 1960, but this would be the first since tropical cyclone Laurence in 2009, which hit in a very similar location with winds of 240 kph at landfall. The strongest storm ever to hit any part of Australia was tropical cyclone Monica, which arrived in 2006 with sustained winds around 290 kph, as it swept across the eastern and northern parts of the country. Belfast, April 13 : During his visit to Belfast, US President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. Analysts however, do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. An effective devolved government reflects the people of Northern Ireland and is accountable to them, a government that works to find ways through hard problems together is going to draw even greater opportunity to this region, Xinhua news agency quoted Biden as saying in an address at the Ulster University on Wednesday. This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, which brought an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland. Biden arrived in Belfast on Tuesday evening to mark the anniversary, which has been overshadowed by a prolonged political deadlock in the region. In opposition to post-Brexit trade rules, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to join the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland for more than a year, raising concerns over political stability. Image Source: IANS News In February, the UK)and the European Union (EU) concluded a new trade arrangement for Northern Ireland after long negotiations. But the DUP has publicly stated its opposition, arguing that while representing real progress, the agreement fails to deal with fundamental issues. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson said on Wednesday that Biden's plea for political leaders to restore their power-sharing government has not changed his feelings on the matter. "He (Biden) made that clear and to be honest he didn't seek to apply any pressure," Donaldson told Sky News. Ian Scott, a professor of American history at the University of Manchester, told Xinhua that Biden has to do a lot of convincing for the people, particularly for the Unionist community and the DUP. "Inevitably, there are going to be those critics who will say that Biden is stepping into a minefield of political entanglements," he said. "There's a lot at stake economically and politically for the US," Scott added. "They understand that if the UK government gets further embroiled in the whole Brexit argument that's been going on for seven years now, it takes their eye off the economic ball." There was the promise in the aftermath of Brexit by the then UK government that there would quickly be trade deals with everybody around the world, including the United States, and it has not really happened quite that way, the professor noted. After Biden's Wednesday speech, the BBC's Northern Ireland political correspondent Gareth Gordon said the President is "now leaving impotent to unblock a politics beyond the control of even his powerful administration". Ahead of Biden's visit, clashes occurred again in Northern Ireland. Local police on Tuesday said they found four suspected pipe bombs in Londonderry, a city about 110 km northwest of Belfast. On Monday, officers came under attack with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an Easter parade opposing the Good Friday peace accord. Community intelligence has shown there may be attempts to draw police into serious public disorder in Londonderry and to use that as a platform to launch terrorist attacks on the police, local police said. -- Syndicated from IANS Mogadishu, April 13 : Somalia is currently hosting 35,381 refugees and asylum-seekers, 69 per cent of them women and children, the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said. According to the UNHCR, 18,932, or 54 per cent, of them are asylum-seekers while 16,449, or 46 per cent, are refugees, reports Xinhua news agency. The majority of refugees and asylum-seekers, 23,660, or 66.9 per cent, are from Ethiopia, followed by Yemen, 10,141, or 28.7 per cent, and Syria, 1,278, or 3.6 per cent, according to figures released by the UN agency on Wednesday in its latest update on Somalia. It added that 75 per cent of refugees and asylum-seekers reside in urban or peri-urban settings across Woqooyi Galbeed and Bari regions, in northern Somalia. The UNHCR said that it has started relocation of newly arrived Somali refugees in Ethiopia who fled recurring clashes in Las Anod in northern Somalia. It said 1,036 of the most vulnerable people have been transferred from border areas to a new settlement over the past few days. The UN agency said that Somalia continues to face multiple challenges, including political insecurity, conflict, natural disasters such as drought, flooding, and cyclones, as well as the impact of Covid-19. Monte Carlo : , April 13 (IANS) Daniil Medvedev continued his impressive form as the third seed made a winning start to his Monte-Carlo Masters 2023 campaign, beating dangerous free-hitting Italian Lorenzo Sonego 6-3, 6-2 to reach the third round of ATP Masters 1000 event. Medvedev was dialled in from the start of his first clay-court match of the year. He moved into an early 3-0 lead with the help of some delightful early touches at the net and he stayed typically relentless from the baseline throughout to seal an 89-minute victory on Wednesday. "Every match is a struggle (on clay), but I have had some good matches on clay. I managed to play well against a very strong player on clay. Lorenzo is very strong. Here in Monte-Carlo there are a lot of Italians in the crowd, but a lot of French also, so it was fun to play, and I am happy to beat such a tough opponent," said Medvedev after the match. Medvedev, who has lifted hard-court trophies in Rotterdam, Doha, Dubai and Miami during his recent impressive run this season, moved on to a third-round showdown against Alexander Zverev. The 13th seed German earlier eased past Roberto Bautista Agut 6-4, 6-4. The duo has met 13 times in competitive matches but the two have never met on clay courts despite their long history. Thursday's match will be the pair's first meeting on clay. "We've had some tough matches. We played for the first time maybe seven years ago on the ATP Tour, and in juniors maybe 12 years ago. I remember I beat him once in a final on clay in juniors, but it's going to be a different story. I saw him in the first two matches, he seemed to be in good shape. I'm just going to have to be at my best." said Medvedev, who leads Zverev 7-6 in the ATP Head-to-Head record. Patna, April 13 : An MP-MLA court has sentenced Jan Adhikar Party chief Rajesh Ranjan alias Pappu Yadav to one year jail in the stone stone pelting case. The court on Wednesday convicted Pappu for pelting stones on a police team in Fatuha town on March 16, 2003 and imposed a fine of Rs 5,000 on him. "The MP-MLA court has announced the quantum of punishment to Pappu Yadav in a 2003 Dharna protest and stone pelting case. He was sentenced to one year jail. However, the court gave him interim bail," said Ajay Kumar, lawyer of Pappu Yadav. During the hearing of the case, prosecution registered statements of five witnesses against Pappu Yadav. Pappu, along with 200 supporters, was staging a dharna demanding recovery of a missing youth. However when police tried to remove him and his supporters from the highway, they allegedly pelted stones on the police team in which few of the cops got injured. After the incident, an FIR was registered against Pappu and his supporters by Fatuha police under various sections of IPC. Kolkata, April 13 : Following the land dispute between Visva-Bharati University authorities and Nobel Laureate economist Amartya Sen over a 'disputed portion' of land in possession of the latter within the university premises, an executive magistrate at Bolpur in West Bengal's Birbhum district has ordered police intervention to maintain peace. The order from the executive magistrate was given following a petition filed by the counsel of the Nobel Laureate economist expressing apprehension of breach of law and order over the probable eviction drive by the university authorities against Sen over that disputed portion of land. Expressing apprehension that the eviction process might happen in absence of the Nobel Laureate economist from Bolpur, Sen's counsel urged the office of the executive magistrate to maintain the status quo over the entire land which is under possession of his client now. Accepting the argument, the executive magistrate has ordered the officer-in-charge of the local Santiniketan Police Station to inquire into the matter regarding whether there is any chance of breach of peace over the plot of land. "The officer in-charge, Santiniketan Police station is further directed to maintain peace and tranquility over the area of the suit plot of land until the disposal of the instant case," the order from the executive magistrate said. The dispute is over just 13 decimals of land. It started when the vice-chancellor of Visva-Bharati University, Bidyut Chakraborty started accusing Sen of illegally occupying 1.38 acres of land which is in excess of his legal entitlement of 1.25 acres. However, the Nobel laureate refuted the allegation claiming the original 1.25 acres was gifted to his grandfather Late Kshitimohan Sen who was the second vice-chancellor of Visva-Bharati University. Later, Sen's father Late Asutosh Sen, who was also a professor with the same university, purchased the remaining 13 decimals of land, which is at the centre of the dispute. The West Bengal government has recently transferred leasehold rights of the entire 1.38 acres of land to Sen to thwart any eviction attempt by the university authorities. New Delhi, April 13 : Delhi Police have made an arrest in connection to the double murder of an elderly couple in the city's Gokulpuri area, an official said on Thursday. The accused was identified as Ashish Bhargav, a 29-year-old resident of Ghaziabad was having an affair with the deceased couple's daughter-in-law. Radhey Shyam Verma, 72, and his wife Veena, 68, were found murdered at their home on Monday. The house was ransacked and cash and jewellery were also missing. Verma had retired as Vice Principal from a Delhi government school in Karol Bagh. The couple had been living in the house since the past 38 years with their son Ravi Rattan. During interrogation, the daughter-in-law Monika told the police that she had planned and executed the murders with the help of Ashish and his friend, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Northeast) Joy Tirkey said. "Monika came up with the idea to kill the couple in December 2022, and Ashish agreed to help her. After finalising their plan on February 20, they decided to use secret phone numbers. Ashish arranged for new SIM cards and delivered one to Monika at her parental home. "Ashish was arrested from Ghaziabad and he will be produced in court on Thursday and brought on police remand for further investigation. Monika is already on a four-day police remand," Tirkey added. Efforts are being made to apprehend Ashish Bhargav's friend, Vikas, who is also wanted in the case and is absconding, the police officer said. Seoul, April 13 : The Supreme Court here ruled on Thursday that Google must disclose the list of personal information it has shared with third parties, including United States intelligence. In 2014, four South Korean activists filed a lawsuit against the global tech giant and its local affiliate, Google Korea, demanding to know whether their personal information had been shared with a third party. Under South Korean law, online service providers must respond to a customer's request to disclose any record of their personal data being shared with a third party, reports Yonhap news agency. An appeals court had earlier partially sided with the plaintiffs but ruled that Google has the right to reject the demand on issues that can be kept private in accordance with the relevant US laws. The Supreme Court, however, partially overturned the previous rulings and sent the case back to the Seoul High Court for a retrial. The highest court said even if personal information was provided to foreign intelligence agencies for probable cause, the service provider must notify the users of such acts when that cause terminates. The plaintiff alleged Google passed on the private information of its users, including those that live outside the US, to an American government intelligence programme known as PRISM. PRISM trawls the Internet for email and chat records of anyone who has contacts in the US. The programme made global headlines after former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden divulged its existence. Meanwhile, South Korea's antitrust regulator this week 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. Islamabad, April 13 : The ruling Pakistan alliance on Thursday rejected the formation of an eight-member "controversial" bench of the Supreme Court that will take up a set of petitions challenging the bill clipping the Chief Justice's powers. In a statement issued earlier in the day ahead of the hearing, the coalition partners vowed to resist attempts to take away Parliament's authority and to interfere in its constitutional domain, The News reported. The hard-hitting response to the constitution of the bench headed by Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial came just hours before the hearing was set to start. The court bench also includes Justices Ijaz ul Ahsan, Munib Akhtar, Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Muhammad Ali Mazhar, Ayesha Malik, Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Shahid Waheed. None of the judges who raised questions on the powers of the CJP were included in the bench, The News reported. The bench will take up three petitions challenging the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023 amidst a boycott by the country's top lawyers body of court proceedings in protest "against fixation of pleas in haste". A late-night announcement, made by PBC Vice Chairman Haroonur Rashid and Executive Committee Vice Chairman Hassan Raza Pasha, said that the CJP constituted the bench in haste for hearing the petitions, The News reported. They said that the lawyers' community would boycott the court proceedings across the country on Thursday. Earlier this week, the bill == clipping CJP powers -- was passed by a joint sitting of parliament after President Arif Alvi returned it. Jammu, April 13 : The security forces recovered a Pakistani drone with arms and ammunition in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district. A Defence ministry spokesman said in a statement on Thursday, "On the intervening night of 12-13 April 2023, the alert troops of Indian Army in coordination with J&K Police recovered a Drone crossing the Line of Control (LoC) from Pakistan into Indian territory in Beri Pattan area of Sunderbani sector of Rajouri district." The spokesman said that 131 rounds of AK-47, five magazines and Rs two Lakh in cash was also recovered. "The search operations are currently under progress," said the ministry official. Chennai, April 13 : The Tamil Nadu forest department staff was fighting to douse a fire that has engulfed 50 hectares of forest land in Coimbatore. The fire was detected on April 11 in a rocky patch of land with dry grass in the Madukkarai forest range and a team of 40 staff of the department is trying to douse the fire. Officials told IANS that the affected forest is located near Nathegoundanpudur in the revenue village of Alandurai in Coimbatore district. The firefighting team was facing a Herculean task as the dry grass on the patch had led to the spread of the fire and the staff was finding it difficult to control it. District Forest officer N. Jayaraj told media persons that the total area of the forest was 150 hectares which was a rocky terrain and of this 50 hectares has already been destroyed in the fire. The firefighters, according to the district forest officer, were trying to prevent the fire from spreading downwards. Dublin, April 13 : Visiting US President Joe Biden paid homage to his Irish heritage during a trip to the home county of his ancestors, the media reported. Biden arrived in Ireland on Wednesday on a three-day visit from his brief trip to Northern Ireland where he marked the 25th anniversary of Good Friday peace agreement, reports the BBC. Later in the evening, he addressed thousands of people at the Windsor Bar in Dundalk town, County Louth, and said that visiting the area which his great-great-grandfather had left for America "feels like coming home". To shouts of "welcome home, Joe", the President said Irish people were the "only people in the world in my view who are actually nostalgic about the future". "It is because, more than anything in my experience, hope is what beats in the heart of all people and in particular in the hearts of the Irish," he said, adding: "Every action is about hope we can make things better." Biden said his ancestors left Ireland at about the same time as former US President Barack Obama's great-great-great-grandfather Falmouth Kearney, who was from Moneygall in County Offaly. "They would never have dreamed that their grandsons would have been presidents of the US," he said. After landing in Dublin where he was received by Irish Prime Minister) Leo Varadkar, Biden travelled to meet distant relatives in the Cooley Peninsula and the village of Carlingford in County Louth on the east coast. The President also visited a Dundalk shop owned by Jerome McAteer, who said he was honoured to sell Biden some sweet treats, including lemon meringue and chocolate eclairs, the BBC reported. Biden regularly speaks of his Irish heritage and had promised to visit Ireland during his term in office. A US genealogist who researched the President's lineage has estimated he is "roughly five-eighths" Irish. His maternal great-great-grandfather Owen Finnegan departed Carlingford in County Louth in the late 1840s to travel to America. Among his great-grandparents was Edward Blewitt, who left the west coast town of Ballina in County Mayo in 1850 to emigrate to the US. He settled in Scranton, Pennsylvania, as the devastating Irish potato famine was causing widespread starvation. Kolkata, April 13 : Two members of a family were killed in a devastating fire that broke out at a footwear factory at the Topsia area in South Kolkata early on Thursday. The deceased have been identified as Md Nasim Akhtar (65) and his son Md Amir (25). Both were workers of a footwear factory. A third person has been rescued under extremely critical condition and taken to a local hospital. A fire services department official said that the small room from where the bodies were recovered were stocked with highly inflammable items. "We are not quite sure as yet about the reason of the fire and in probability we presume that electrical short circuit was the reason," the official said. However, neither the fire services department nor the local police could confirm whether the factory had the fire safety clearance or not. Meanwhile, the local people have alleged several factories are running at this congested Topsia area flouting all norms and with having requisite fire safety clearance. "In the past too, there had been several incidents of such fatal fire in the area. However, there had been no visible attempt by the authorities to take steps against these illegal factories," a local person said. Bengaluru, April 13 : BJP MLA from Mudigere constituency M.P. Kumaraswamy on Thursday resigned from the party after his name did not figure in second list of candidates for the May 10 Karnataka polls. Kumaraswamy was an aspirant from the reserve constituency, but the party decided field Deepak Doddaiah instead. According to party sources, Kumaraswamy was denied ticket following his failure to perform. Kumaraswamy was in news after he was chased down and beaten up by the people following the death of a woman in an elephant attack. Police had resorted to lathi charge to quell the mob. He was also convicted in eight cases of cheque dishonor and sentenced to pay Rs 1.23 crore to the complainant in February. "I am stepping down from the primary membership of the party after being saddened by the developments in party" Kumaraswamy stated in his resignation letter to the state president Nalin Kumar Kateel. In his Facebook live, Kumaraswamy stated that he had never compromised with development and his gesture of treating people of all castes and religion alike has been taken wrongly by the BJP high command. "It is a big surprise that my protest on the premises of the Vidhana Soudha demanding compensation to farmers for crop loss has been taken wrongly too," he stressed. The party has denied tickets to seven MLAs in the second list. It is yet to announce a candidate for the Hubballi-Dharwad Central constituency represented by former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and Shivamogga constituency represented by former minister K.S. Eshwarappa. The BJP has to announce tickets for 12 candidates. The state will go for polling on May 10 and results will be announced on May 13. The total number of seats are 224 and the 113 seats are required for majority. New Delhi, April 13 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has strongly called for timely debt restructuring as a solution to global debt crisis. She made the remark on the first day of the G20 Finance Ministers Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) meeting, which commenced in Washington D.C. on Wednesday. Debt restructuring can be a solution to the global debt crisis, as it is closely intertwined with addressing global poverty challenge, the Union Minister said, noting that it adversely affects the most indebted countries as they also house the poorest people. She co-chaired the session on "Global Economy and International Financial Architecture" during the IMF-WB Spring meetings with RBI governor Shaktikanta Das, which discussed key challenges to the global economic outlook and explored possible areas of policy co-ordination on pressing global issues. It also exchanged views on accelerating progress on deliverables envisioned during India's G20 presidency. Sitharaman also discussed progress on the agenda of strengthening multilateral development banks (MDBs), including hearing from MDBs on implementation of recommendations of capital adequacy framework review panel. She also sought G20 members' views on the way forward for the expert group on strengthening MDBs set up by India's G20 presidency. Patna, April 13 : While Chief Minister Nitish Kumar is on a political tour of Delhi to unite the opposition leaders, Bihar BJP president Samrat Chaudhary on Thursday took a dig at him and said that all "corrupts are assembling" there. "Nitish Kumar went to Delhi and fell on the feet of Lalu Prasad Yadav. Then he went to meet Rahul Gandhi and then Arvind Kejriwal. If you see them, all are involved in corruption. They are the symbol of corruption in the country," Chaudhary said. When asked about the opposition unity in the country, Chaudhary said: "Someone uploaded a photograph with a caption of Kharge Ji wanting to become president, Rahul Gandhi is Prime Minister, Nitish Kumar is Prime Minister and Tejashwi Yadav is chief minister. If two people are claiming the post of PM, how will Nitish Kumar's opposition unity mission become successful?" Chaudhary said. "If they had unanimously elected one person for the post of PM and the face of opposition parties, it would be logical but they are actually fighting against each other. Hence, how will opposition unity be successful?" Chaudhary said. Nitish Kumar's meeting with opposition leaders in Delhi has drawn sharp criticism from the BJP. The Bihar CM during the press conferences in Delhi denied that he has any wish to become PM of the country. This weekly feature from Dynamic Business runs down the weeks top funding rounds from Australia and the US. Check out last weeks biggest funding rounds here. Parker raises $157M in funding Parker raised $157M in funding. $31.1M in Series A venture funding led by Valar Ventures. $70M in debt, comprised of venture debt from Triple Point Capital and warehouse debt from Jefferies. With over $300M in transaction volume since inception, Parker is used by brands like Amour Vert, Italic, SpikeBall, Canopy, and Caraway. Fairmatic raises $46M in funding New York, Bangalore, India and Tel Aviv, Israel-based AI-powered commercial auto insurance company Fairmatic raised $46M in funding. The round brought its total financing to $88M. The company intends to use the funds to accelerate growth and expand operations. Zed raises $10M in Series A funding San Francisco-based Zed Industries raises $10M in Series A funding. The company is using the funds to scale its operations and build the team as it continues to iterate on its product. Zed provides a multiplayer code editor that allows multiple developers to navigate and edit within a shared workspace. SimConverse has raised $1.5 million in Seed funding SimConverse, a healthcare simulation startup that helps healthcare professionals communicate better through simulated patient conversations, has raised $1.5 million in Seed funding. The funding round was led by Folklore Ventures with support from Artesian. SimConverse was founded by Aiden Roberts and Will Pamment, who met while studying medicine at university. MoreGoodDays has raised $3.5 million MoreGoodDays, a healthtech startup based in Melbourne, has raised $3.5 million in funding for their digital solution to managing chronic pain. The funding round was led by Blackbird with support from Giant Leap, Side Stage Ventures, the Snow Foundation, and LaunchVics female-focused sidecar investment program, the Alice Anderson Fund. Nexl has raised $4 million in new capital Nexl, a customer relationship management (CRM) and revenue operations software startup, has raised $4 million in new capital. The funding round was backed by B2B-focused VC EVP, along with follow-on funds from Vulpes and Saniel Ventures. Nexl was founded by Philipp Thurner, who was previously head of innovation at Gilbert and Tobin, a top tier law firm. Lewi Software has raised $200,000 in Seed funding Lewi Software, a software startup founded by two University of Queensland graduates, has raised $200,000 in Seed funding backed by Melbourne VC Skalata Ventures. Lewi Software is focused on transforming chemical engineering, particularly in the area of wastewater management, which has suffered from underinvestment in software compared to the rest of the $4 trillion global chemicals industry. Keep up to date with our stories on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Kolkata, April 13 : A Covid positive senior citizen died at a private hospital in Kolkata on Thursday, taking the number of deaths due to virus in West Bengal in 2023 to two. The deceased has been identified as Bhaskar Das (76), a resident of Regent Park area in Kolkata. After retuning to Kolkata from north Bengal where he has gone for spending holiday, Das started feeling uneasy, following which he was admitted to a private hospital on April 9. As his condition deteriorated, he was kept on ventilator support. Hospital sources said that his samples were sent for testing, and on Wednesday evening he was found positive for the virus. However, around 11 a.m. on Thursday, he died. The first death in state in 2023 due to Covid was reported on March 25, when Gobindo Kundu (72), a resident of Nadia district, passed away. As per information available, 48 new coronavirus cases in West Bengal have been reported in the last 24 hours. Of the fresh cases, Kolkata reported highest number of cases. The number of active cases currently stand at 371. New Delhi, April 13 : In a latest development in the BBC I-T raid case, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has now filed a FEMA violation case against the news broadcaster, sources claimed on Thursday. The ED filed the case against BBC India for irregularities in foreign funding. In February, a team of the Income-Tax (I-T) Department carried out a 'survey' at the media conglomerate British Broadcasting Service (BBC)'s Mumbai studio and office in Delhi. BBC had said then that it was fully cooperating with the authorities. "The Income Tax Authorities are currently at the BBC offices in New Delhi and Mumbai, and we are fully cooperating. We hope to have this situation resolved as soon as possible," BBC had said in a tweet. After the surveys, the Income Tax department had said that it had found "several discrepancies and inconsistencies with regard to transfer pricing documentation". It also said the income and profits shown by various BBC group entities were "not commensurate with the scale of operations" in India. Now, the sources have claimed that on the basis of the I-T survey the ED has lodged a case of violation of Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA) against the BBC. Mumbai, April 13 : Dropping a new political bomb, Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA and ex-minister Aditya Thackeray has claimed that before his revolt in June 2022, current Chief Minister Eknath Shinde had reportedly "cried and apprehended arrest by central probe agencies". "Shinde had come to our home (Matoshri) before the rebellion... he cried saying he would land in jail if he didn't go with the Bharatiya Janata Party," claimed Thackeray Jr, speaking to a private television channel. He declared that Shinde and the 40 MLAs quit the original Shiv Sena "only to save their seats and for money... there was no other reason for them to quit", as a fresh political row erupted. Endorsing the party leader, Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut said Shinde was "under the radar of the central agencies" and more than half the legislators were under the pressures of action by CBI, ED or ITD, compelling them to rebel, and the Maha Vikas Aghadi government was toppled in nine months. "We talked to them, attempted to convince them to fight as we are Balasaheb Thackeray's Shiv Sainiks, but they did not listen and caved in under the pressures. Now a similar attempt is being made with the Nationalist Congress Party MLAs to break them," said Raut. The Sena (UBT) MP's reference was ostensibly to certain speculation that NCP's Leader of Opposition (Assembly) Ajit Pawar was allegedly "on way to BJP", but Pawar himself rubbished the contentions. Leader of Opposition (Council) Ambadas Danve also supported Aditya Thackeray, while Deputy Leader Sushma Andhare said its clear that CBI-ED-ITD were misused to bring down the MVA government. Union Minister Narayan Rane dismissed Aditya Thackeray's comments as "childish" and declined to comment on his contentions, questioning Thackeray Jr' locus standi. "When did he (Shinde) cry, where and why... He brought the Shiv Sena to us...the BJP is allied with the real Balasaheb Thackeray's party," Rane countered. Denying Aditya Thackeray's assertions that Shinde had "shed tears", other leaders of the ruling alliance Shiv Sena like Sanjay Shirsat said that he (Shinde) had gone to Matoshri to discuss and resolve their problems with Thackeray on various issues. The MVA allies Congress-Nationalist Congress Party have not yet reacted to Thackeray Jr's sensational claims. San Francisco, April 13 : Google has released the first public Beta of Android 14 with new features focused on system navigation, privacy, performance, and user customisation to both developers and early adopters. "Today we're releasing the first Beta of Android 14, building around our core themes of privacy, security, performance, developer productivity, and user customisation while continuing to improve the large-screen device experience on tablets, foldable, and more," Google said in a blogpost. Among the features, a new back arrow has been updated under the gesture navigation to help improve back gesture understanding and usefulness while interacting with your app. The back arrow also compliments the user's wallpaper or device theme. Android 14 also introduces a new system share sheet -- the page that opens when you tap to share content, allowing developers to add custom app-specific actions to the top of the share menu. Google describes this as an 'improved' experience compared to Android share sheets that always sort share targets alphabetically. In addition, the new share sheet uses more app signals to determine how the direct share targets should rank, the company mentioned. Android 14 beta also includes new graphical features, such as morphing effects and enhanced language settings, which automatically assign language preferences to applications. Privacy is also improved by allowing apps to limit the visibility of sensitive data to access services that claim to assist disabled users. According to Google, users who are particularly vulnerable can take advantage of the new privacy protections to prevent accidental transfers of money or purchases in shopping apps. Karachi, April 13 : Four firefighters were killed while trying to contain a massive blaze at a factory in Karachi, rescue teams said on Thursday. The bodies were recovered in the morning, Salman Qureshi, a firefighter from Saylani Welfare Trust, told Xinhua news agency. The fire broke out in the multi-storey building of a bedsheet factory on Wednesday morning and a dozen fire engines worked to douse it. "The firefighters were working at the incident site when part of the factory collapsed trapping several people under the debris," Qureshi said. Thirteen injured people, including 11 firefighters, were also rescued, he said. Talking to media, Karachi's Central District Deputy Commissioner Taha Saleem, confirmed there are no more trapped persons under the rubbles, and the area has been cleared by rescue teams. He added that the fire was contained early Thursday morning, and a cooling operation was underway. He said that fire erupted in the building due to a short circuit and it got worse because the firefighters could not take big engines to the site due to congested streets. The officer said that the building's structure weakened due to the big fire and the water used to douse it, leading to its collapse during the process. Chennai, April 13 : Tamil Nadu health department has increased vigil and alerted all the district health officers as the number of fresh Covid-19 cases mounted to 432 in the past 24 hours. Currently, the total active cases stands at 2489. State health minister Ma Subramanian had earlier said that the Covid-19 guidelines would be followed only if the single-day tally touches 500. With the fresh cases touching 432, just short of the 500-mark, the state health department has stepped up vigil across the state. Meanwhile, five people who have arrived from international destinations at the various airports in the state have tested positive. Of them, three have arrived from Oman and one each from Singapore and Thailand. While interacting with media persons, the health minister said, "Most of the cases have mild or no symptoms and complications and death are among the elderly and those with comorbidities. The test positivity rate per day is 8.3 per cent in Tamil Nadu. The Tamil Nadu health department Deputy Director, Dr Aruna told media persons that infection was spreading in rural areas and the department was vigilant on the spread. Hanumangarh : , April 13 (IANS/ 101Reporters) The apiarists of Hanumangarh district of Rajasthan are as busy as a bee itself. Sadly, they are not getting a fair price for the hard work they put in. Over the years, production cost has soared, but honey prices have not increased proportionately, putting around 1,500 beekeepers in the district in a tight spot. Considering the charges incurred on bee boxes, labour, food and accommodation of labourers and transport, the production cost of one kg of honey comes to Rs 125. In contrast, companies buy the produce for Rs 60-70 per kg, which is at least Rs 10 less than the procurement price provided almost two decades ago! The struggle does not end with this wide disparity in input and procurement costs. The drop in honey production also stings beekeepers. "Twenty-five years ago, one colony produced 50 to 60 kg of honey in the mustard growing season (October to March). With the increased use of pesticides and fertilisers, this has come down to 15 kg," said Punjab-based Jaspreet Singh, who supplies bee colonies to apiarists in Hanumangarh. "Bees do not visit flowers of crops sprayed with pesticides, else they will die. This has affected pollination. There is also a new concern that genetically modified plants might have an adverse effect on pollinators," he added. Honey trap Among the many issues, the addition of artificial colours and sugars to honey is a major cause of concern for beekeepers. "The authorities are hand in glove with procuring companies. It keeps changing norms, which encourages companies to sell adulterated honey instead of buying pure produce from us. Some parameters were unnecessarily diluted, without any explanation,' Prakash Singh Badal, a resident of Nohar in Hanumangarh and president of the northern Rajasthan unit of the Rashtriya Beekeepers Sangharsh Samiti, told 101Reporters. The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations has defined honey as a natural sweet substance produced by bees from the pollination of plants or by separating living parts of plants or by insects sucking on living plants. The bee collects, transforms, dehydrates and stores it, ripens and matures it in the hive. For the greed of money, several companies play with the health of unsuspecting consumers by selling honey mixed with maize and rice syrup. An investigation carried out by Delhi-based Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) in 2020 found that 10 out of the 13 major brands sold honey containing sugar syrup. "In 1994, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India had set the standard for pollen count and plant element in honey at 50,000 per gram, but it was changed to 25,000 per gram in 2018. A year later, it was diluted to 5,000 per gram. The government also did away with the quality control test for honey," Badal explained. At the same time, pollen count is not considered a measure of the quality of honey globally. Consequently, determining adulteration by checking the pollen count has been a matter of controversy. This is exacerbated by the fact that pollen count varies in different types of honey. For example, it can be different in mustard, litchi, or honey obtained from a single flower or different flowers. Banks sting them Rajasthan Khadi and Village Industries Board does not run any special scheme for beekeepers, but gets grants from the Khadi and Village Industries Commission through the state government. While banks give loans to apiarists, the board pitches in by offering subsidies to the loanee using the Central Commission's grant. The subsidy component differs for Scheduled Castes and Tribes, Other Backward Classes and the general category. However, the subsidy upper limit is 35 per cent of the loan amount. Harjeet Singh of Araiyanwali Dhani explained how banks let him down. "My brother Gurmeet Singh and I made a loan application with the Khadi board in 2019. The board sanctioned Rs 8 lakh each in our names and sent the proposal to ICICI Bank, which turned it down after a long-winding process. If the bank had passed our loan, we could have expanded our beekeeping business and taken advantage of the subsidy." Kuldeep Saharan of Ranjitpura had a similar experience. "The board sanctioned Rs 4 lakh in my name, but the State Bank of India did not disburse the money. No bank gives money to beekeepers," he lamented. Confirming the charge, Madan Lal Swami, Divisional Officer, Rajasthan Khadi and Village Industries Board, Bikaner, told 101Reporters that banks were not cooperative. He said they have raised the issue in several meetings and seminars, but the attitude of the banks have remained the same. "From 2018 to date, 58 apiarists have applied for loans. We rejected 21 applications at the departmental level due to various deficiencies, but approved 35 and asked various banks to give loans. Yet, only four beekeepers got the money. The remaining two applications are pending with us." When contacted, Raj Kumar, lead district manager, Hanumangarh, told 101Reporters that banks do not adopt a negative approach in any matter. "It is quite possible that banks have rejected several applications because they are not confident that the loanee can pay back the amount. They just want to ensure the return of the money. At the same time, there may be cases where the banks have given loans to all applicants. It is purely based on the merit of each case," he said. Rajasthan Horticulture Department also has a provision to arrange a 40 per cent subsidy from the National Horticulture Mission for the supply of bee colonies and bee boxes. In the 2022-23 financial year, the department planned to distribute 2,850 colonies and boxes in Hanumangarh district. Similarly, neighbouring Sri Ganganagar district was to get 7,550 colonies and boxes each. Horticulture Officer Rajendra Nain told 101Reporters that a tender invite was issued last year, but the contract was not inked with any of the bidders. Two months ago, a new tender invitation was made. Bogged down by several issues, the apiarists of Hanumangarh district held a protest outside the Collectorate in February and submitted a memorandum of demands, which included announcing a Minimum Support Price of Rs 150 per kg for honey. They sought recognition of honey bees as inputs to agriculture and landless beekeepers as farmers, as recommended by Bibek Debroy-led Beekeeping Development Committee under the Economic Advisory Council to the Prime Minister. "The Debroy committee had recommended plantation of bee-friendly flora at appropriate places and employment of women self-help groups for its upkeep," said Badal. The committee report released on June 26, 2019, had discussed the state government's role in training beekeepers, besides promoting infrastructure at the national and regional levels for the collection, processing, marketing and promotion of honey and related products. There were suggestions to simplify the procedures and specify clear standards to ease exports. "We would have benefitted if the committee's recommendations were implemented, but it has been shelved for almost four years," he added. The beekeepers also sought the setting up of a laboratory that met international standards to check the purity of honey and curb adulteration. They want the administration to ban genetically modified crops and the indiscriminate use of pesticides in agriculture. They believe that farmers will benefit if honey is included in the mid-day meal scheme, and made available at government stores. (Amarpal Singh Verma is a Rajasthan-based journalist and a member of 101Reporters, a pan-India network of grassroots reporters, where this article was originally published.) Chandigarh, April 13: In a startling revelation it comes out now that as per Punjab government records the Bathinda high security jail that houses gangsters and dreaded criminals is not fitted with any signal jammer to block internet and mobile phone services as was claimed by former minister for jails Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa. Highly placed sources told indianarrative.com that the Punjab government neither knows nor has paid a single penny for installing a jammer at the Bathinda jail. The cost of a jammer could begin from Rs 18 crore onwards. In March, gangster Lawrence Bishnoi gave two interviews to a TV channel while he was lodged in the Bathinda jail, creating a flutter. A video prepared by 13 ordinary prisoners also went viral in the first week of April. The government ordered an inquiry but long before the completion of the inquiry, a special investigation team (SIT) was formed to look into the security lapse at the state's only high-security jail. There is also a second jail at Nabha in Punjab which is categorised as a high-security zone jail. Unlike the Bathinda jail in Nabha only a limited portion of the total area is secured with high-tech gadgets. As the government did not act against the jail officials and the inquiry report was not forthcoming, this correspondent decided to independently probe the issue that caused a major embarrassment to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. A list of seven questions was sent to the present Additional Director General Police (ADGP) Jails, Arunpal Singh, the ex-ADGP Parveen K Sinha, Special Chief Secretary Ravneet Kaur, former Jails Minister Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa of the Congress government and lastly the Intelligence Bureau officers. The first 3 officers offered "no comments". Ex-minister Randhawa, replying to our questions, spoke to Indianarrative.com from Rajasthan saying: "The jammer was installed at the jail by the IB when IG Manmohan Singh was posted in Chandigarh as its north India chief. It was first installed on a trial basis and later gifted to us. Normally, a jammer costs Rs 18 crore, but we saved Punjab's money. I do not remember the name of the company that installed the jammer. It is an assembled (Jugaad) product The IB must be knowing about it if the required permission was taken from the Union Cabinet Secretary." When told, no company can legally manufacture signal jammers in India except ECIL and BEL, moreover, the official record does not show its existence at the jail, Randhawa said, "I have no knowledge about this, IB must be knowing. The responsibility of bringing the jammer on record lay with the officers, not with me, as I was a minister tasked with issuing directions and drawing up policies." In light of Randhawa's claims, indianarrative.com cross-checked with the Chandigarh office of IB and, they denied having to do anything with the installation of the jammer. "IB does not install or fund such projects anywhere in India. Our records do not have any mention of any jammer or the company claimed to have assembled it". Evidently, the jammer's legality, quality, functioning, technology and maintenance are doubtful. it is a "Jugaad" of sorts, entrusted with the onerous duty to make security arrangements at Bathinda jail fool-proof but, in reality, it does not fulfil its mission. Coupled with the connivance of jail officials and dereliction of duty, the inmates succeed in preparing videos and uploading them too. The responsibility of the jail portfolio is with the Chief Minister. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Kathmandu, April 13: Nepal has formally requested India to supply 300,000 tonnes of the wheat to meet the demand of the flour mills amid India's ban on wheat exports since May last year. Even though India in December last year fixed a quota of 50,000 tonnes for supplying wheat to Nepal, Nepal-based flour mills have been seeking supply of more wheat from the southern neighbour. Flour prices have skyrocketed in the Nepal market and subsequently, the price of biscuits, noodles and breads have also surged in recent months. "It has been 14-15 days since we sent a request to India for the supply of 300,000 tonnes of wheat meant for Nepal's flour mills," Narayan Prasad Regmi, spokesperson at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies told India Narrative.com. "The request was sent through the diplomatic channel." He said that additional demand for wheat was sought after supply of 50,000 tonnes in the past was not adequate for Nepal's industrial consumption. Nepal's flour mills, whose number are in the range of over three dozen, were pressuring the government for getting supply of additional wheat, complaining that the limited wheat supply from India led either to closure of many factories or less capacity utilisation. "As per our demands, the government sent the request to India for supply of additional wheat," Dinesh Kumar Agrawal, senior vice-president of Nepal Flour Mills Association told the India Narrative. "Since India set a quota of 50,000 tonnes for Nepal, Nepal's flour mills received just 33,000 tonnes of wheat supplied by India and they are forced to run the factories at just 15-20 per cent of their capacity." He said that his association has called the Nepal's government to make a request for the supply of 700,000 tonnes of wheat required for the country within a year. India imposed a ban on wheat exports in May last year after a freak rise in temperatures impacted the harvest there. In March 2022, a heatwave curtailed India's wheat production to 100 million tonnes against local consumption of 103.6 million tonnes, according to the reports. India faced another heatwave in northern and central India earlier this year. The heatwave appearing at a time the crop is ripening is threatening to damage grains and dent the country's wheat production for the second straight year, the reports said. And, India is showing no sign of ending the current ban on export of wheat as it wants to keep wheat prices stable in the domestic market amid global supply chain disruption. But many in Nepal argue that India is treaty bound to supply the wheat to Nepal despite it being in the list of export ban. As per the protocol to trade between Nepal and India which was last renewed in 2016, where needed by one contracting party, the other shall authorise exports of goods which are in export ban category, subject to specific annual quota allocations. The quota list may be jointly reviewed as and when necessary, the protocol to the treaty states. "In line with the provision of treaty, India had exported rice to Nepal in 2007-08 within a month after India imposed global export ban on rice," Posh Raj Pandey, executive chairperson of the South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), a Kathmandu-based think tank focussed on international trade, told the Indianarrative. Nepal also produces wheat. According to Nepal's Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, annual production of wheat in Nepal has been over two million tonnes in recent years. In the last fiscal year 2021-22 ending in mid-July 2022, the wheat harvest increased by less than 1 percent to 2.14 million tonnes, according to Nepal's Agriculture Ministry. "We expect that wheat production will grow to 2.2 million tonnes this year," Ram Krishna Regmi, under secretary at the ministry, told this website. Wheat, Nepal's third largest cereal crop, is sowed in mid-November and harvested in mid-April. "Nepal's domestic production is enough for consumption of wheat in its natural form in the households," said Regmi. "But there is not enough production of durum wheat which are used in certain industries to produce noodles, pasta, breads, biscuits among others." Durum wheat yields a glutinous flour. Sunil Kumar Singh, senior agricultural economist at the Department of Agriculture under the Agriculture Ministry said that there have been a few efforts to grow the durum wheat in the country but it has been difficult to convince the farmers. "The farmers are concerned whether such wheat could be sold in the market provided the flour mills refuse to buy domestic wheat because of cheaper Indian wheat," he said. Nepali officials say that the domestic production of wheat is enough for household consumption in its natural form because the majority of Nepali people prefer rice over wheat as staple food. "People of certain regions and elite communities in the urban areas prefer wheat over rice for their daily food consumption," Singh, who is also information officer at the Department of Agriculture. But reduced availability of glutinous flour has resulted in price rise of everything that is produced with durum wheat. Industries have either increased the prices of the wheat flour-based products or reduced the quantity to adjust the cost of production. "The price of per kg wheat increased to NPR 40 now from NPR 32 at the same time last year," said Agrawal. "That's why, it has been difficult for us to keep the price of wheat flour down." SAWTEE Chairperson Pandey said that the food security situation of the country should not just be judged based just on household consumption of wheat in its natural form. "Consumption of processed wheat products has also been a rising trend in Nepal's culinary culture. So, whether the country has enough wheat for the processed wheat products should also be a part of ensuring food security of the country," he said. (Prithvi Shrestha writes for India Narrative from his perch in Kathmandu) (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative New Delhi, April 13 : The Supreme Court on Thursday set aside a Calcutta High Court order directing for a CBI probe on the attack on a convoy of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Nisith Pramanik allegedly by Trinamool Congress activists on February 25. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India D.Y. Chandrachud and comprising Justices P.S. Narasimha and J.B. Pardiwala said the high court has relied upon certain extracts of the status report filed by the police and it has not dealt with the status report where it shows the action taken. The bench said it will set aside this judgment and send the matter back to the high court to take a fresh look at it, and then police can show an updated status report. It further added that the high court would take a fresh view if the West Bengal Police has probed the incident, or if it is fit for transfer to the CBI. "We allow the appeal and set aside the March 28 order of the Calcutta High Court order and restore the matter back at the high court. We keep the objection to the maintainability of the plea open", said the bench. It further noted that "since respondent (Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition of West Bengal) has not had the opportunity to respond to the fresh additional affidavit, we grant liberty to the first respondent to file a reply to the same before the high court". The West Bengal government and the state police had moved the apex court challenging the high court order. The division bench of Calcutta High Court's Chief Justice Prakash Srivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj passed this order on the petition filed by leader of the opposition of West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari demanding a central agency probe in the matter. The division bench has directed the CBI to find out what actually happened on that day. On February 25, the vehicle of Paramanik was attacked allegedly by Trinamool Congress activists at Burihat under Dinhata Assembly constituency in Cooch Behar while it was passing through the area. The situation got tense as Trinamool and BJP supporters clashed with each other, throwing brickbats and stones, smashing the glass window of Pramanik's car in the process. The minister, however, did not sustain any injury as his security personnel safely escorted him out of the area, which by then had turned into a virtual battlefield. Pramanik alleged that besides stones and bricks, the ruling party workers also hurled crude bombs targeting his convoy, his security personnel and local BJP supporters. On March 16, the West Bengal government on Thursday submitted a report to a division bench of the Calcutta High Court on this count, where the associates accompanying the Union minister's convoy were held responsible for instigating the violence. The Union government soon filed a counter affidavit stating its points of arguments in the matter. Finally, the division bench directed the CBI probe in the matter. People wearing masks while walking on a street in downtown Seoul, South Korea, January 5, 2022. Photo by Reuters/Heo Ran Over 70,000 Vietnamese students are currently studying in South Korea, the highest among all nationals. The Korea Immigration Service recently issued a report saying there were over 200,000 international students in South Korea as of late February, an increase of over 10,000 from January, the Korea.net news site reported. They included 70,212 from Vietnam, 63,859 from China, 11,974 from Uzbekistan, and 11,603 from Mongolia. Vietnamese have been the biggest group of international students in South Korea since 2021. South Korea is among the most popular overseas study destinations for Vietnamese. According to Times Higher Education World University Rankings, South Korean universities' tuition fees range between 8-13 million won ($6,100-9,900) a year, while housing and other living expenses cost another $4,200-5,500 a year. International university students in South Korea are allowed to work 20 hours a week, and postgraduate students 30 hours a week, and unlimitted hours during holidays. In some countries like Australia and the U.S., the number of Vietnamese students is around 20,000, putting them among the top five overseas contingents. Monte Carlo, April 13 : After enjoying a strong clay campaign last season, Denmark's Holger Rune saw off Dominic Thiem in straight sets in his Monte Carlo Masters 2023 opener to enter the third round of the ATP Masters 1000 event. The Dane, who won his first ATP Tour title in Munich and reached his first Grand Slam quarterfinal at Roland Garros last year, made it to the third round with a 6-2, 6-4 win against Thiem on Wednesday night for the first time in Monaco in three appearances. He was beaten by Casper Ruud in each of the past two editions of the event, losing in the opening round of his 2021 debut and in the second round in 2022. The 19-year-old will face Italy's Matteo Berrettini on Thursday, seeking his second ATP Masters 1000 quarterfinal and first since he won the Paris Masters last November. Berrettini will meet Rune in the last 16 after he edged Argentine player Francisco Cerundolo 5-7, 7-6(1), 6-4 to close the play. The Italian is through to the third round at an ATP Masters 1000 for the first time since his run to the fourth-round last year at Indian Wells. Another seeded player to notch a confident second-round win was Karen Khachanov. The ninth seed downed Ilya Ivashka 7-6(2), 6-2 to set a third-round showdown against fifth seed Andrey Rublev. Lusaka, April 13 : Four adults and three youths were killed in crocodile attacks on the banks of Zambia's Kabompo River within two months, a senior official said. The victims were attacked while they were fishing or fetching water, Manyinga District Commissioner Brenda Mukwakwa told Xinhua news agency. Manyinga is a rural distric with the Kabompo River, which is one of Africa's deepest rivers and cuts across the district in northwestern Zambia. She said her office will engage the Zambia Wildlife Authority to cull the reptiles. "A lot of people have died after being attacked by the crocodiles; we will engage the Wildlife Authority to help crop the reptiles because so many lives have been lost," she said. Mukwakwa also said sensitising the community in Manyinga to avoid going to fish or fetch water from the river has been ongoing, especially this time when the river has burst its banks, which resulted in crocodile attacks. A resident of Manyinga said the authority should move in quickly to control the population of reptiles before many lives are lost. New Delhi, April 13 : Taking a step forward in contributing towards the global effort of cutting carbon footprint, Caspian Debt now joins the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF), the first Indian Non bank finance institution to do so. Caspian Debt, a debt provider to professionally managed small and mid-market companies that include social enterprises, startups and inclusive finance institutions has become a signatory to the Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) to develop and implement greenhouse gas (GHG) accounting. Caspian Debt is the first Indian Non-Bank Finance Institution to become a signatory to the PCAF. The Partnership for Carbon Accounting Financials (PCAF) is a collaboration between financial institutions worldwide to enable harmonized assessments and disclosures of greenhouse gas emissions financed by loans and investments. With more than 350 financial institutions from six continents, the group is rapidly expanding in North America, Latin America, Europe, Africa and Asia-Pacific. "Caspian Debt has always focused on supporting businesses with a positive environmental and social outcome. The partnership with PCAF will provide us with a common language and framework for measuring and reporting the carbon footprint of our portfolio, enabling us to better understand our investments. This partnership will further align us with the global goal of addressing as set out in the Paris Agreement," says Avishek Gupta, MD & CEO, Caspian Debt. Hyderabad, April 13 : Police investigation will reveal if there was any conspiracy behind the fire accident during the BRS meeting in Khammam which claimed three lives and left some others injured, party's working president K. T. Rama Rao said on Thursday. Rama Rao, along with some other leaders of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), visited Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad and called on the injured. KTR, who is also a state minister, enquired about the condition of the four injured with the doctors. He was told that the injured were in a stable condition. The BRS leader asked the hospital authorities to ensure best possible treatment to the injured. Later, KTR told media persons that the incident was unfortunate. He said Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao has announced Rs.10 lakh ex-gratia each to the families of the three deceased and Rs 2 lakh to each of the injured. "Whether there was any conspiracy behind the incident or not will be known in the police investigation," he said. Three persons were killed and eight others were injured after fireworks during a meeting of BRS at Cheemalapadu in Khammam district on Wednesday triggered a fire and cooking gas cylinder explosion. The incident occurred when one of the firecrackers fell on a hut near the meeting venue. The BRS workers were bursting fireworks to welcome party MP Nama Nageshwar Rao and MLA Ramulu Naik. Nageshwar Rao had said that the fire and cylinder explosion was not related to the BRS meeting. Mumbai, April 13 : Rashmi Thackeray, the wife of Shiv Sena (UBT) President and former Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, is likely to address party's women workers in Nashik later this month, party sources indicated here on Thursday. Rashmi, currently the Editor of 'Saamana Group' of publications, will travel to Nashik to boost up the party cadres and prevent the continuous 'leakage' of party supporters, witnessed in the city Sena (UBT) since the past few months, after the split in June 2022. Reputed to be a woman with a firm independent mind, she has always remained in the shadows to manage the Thackeray household for the past over two decades after she became a 'Thackeray bahu' 34 years. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) state President Chandrashekar Bawankule reacted sharply to the development saying that since the party (Sena-UBT) is being decimated, it has to rely on other family members to keep it going. However, senior leaders like Sushma Andhare or Kishore Tiwari dismissed Bawankule's statements and said that Uddhav and Aditya "are sufficient to give a strong challenge" to the BJP. Tiwari also questioned Bawankule's locus standi to comment on the Sena (UBT)'s internal matters, while Andhare said "nobody takes the BJP chief seriously". Nashik is considered a 'weak-link' in the Sena (UBT)'s scheme of things with the rival BJP, and even Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) going all out to woo the people there ahead of the upcoming civic elections. Earlier, Rashmi has attended women activists camps and even certain political rallies addressed by her husband, and stood behind him like a rock during the crisis that split the party vertically nine months ago, with a loyalist-turned-dissident Eknath Shinde becoming the CM. Simultaneously, Uddhav and Aditya go around on tours across the state to pep up the morale of their workers, and attempt to strengthen the Maha Vikas Aghadi alliance and pose a tough challenge to what they term 'gaddar' (traitor) Shinde. Hyderabad, April 13 : In a jolt to Congress in Telangana, AICC programmes implementation committee chairman Alleti Maheshwar Reddy on Thursday resigned from the party. He is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Accompanied by state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay Kumar, Maheshwar Reddy went to party's Telangana in charge Tarun Chug's residence in New Delhi on Thursday. He later called on BJP national president J. P. Nadda. Maheshwar Reddy told reporters that he had sent his resignation to the Congress leadership. He termed his meetings with BJP leaders a "courtesy" call. He said he would announce his future course of action after April 26. Reddy said he decided to quit Congress with a deep sense of hurt. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) had issued a show cause notice to Maheshwar Reddy, asking him to explain his "anti-party activities" within an hour. TPCC Disciplinary Action Committee chairman G Chinna Reddy stated that the panel received complaints regarding Maheshwar Reddy's "anti-party activities". There were complaints that he was moving closer to the BJP and making scathing remarks about the Congress leadership. Maheshwar Reddy expressed dismay at the treatment meted out to him, when no action was taken against an MP who met BJP leader Amit Shah. He alleged that "certain people" within the party were attempting to force him out. Maheshwar Reddy had said that he practises politics with ethics. He also denied any interest in any other party and claimed that he had always discussed his grievances within the party fora. He said he also sought an appointment with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to discuss the situation. Targeting TPCC chief A Revanth Reddy, he asked whether a person who had defected from many parties and lacked credibility could issue him show cause notices. Jhansi : , April 13 (IANS) Mohd Asad, son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad, along with shooter Ghulam, have been shot dead in an encounter by a team of Special Task Force (STF) in Jhansi. Both carried a reward of Rs five lakh on their heads. The STF team led by Deputy SP Navendu and Deputy SP Vimal carried out the encounter at Jhansi. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons have been recovered from the two deceased. Asad had been caught on camera opening fire at Umesh Pal in Dhoomanganj in Prayagraj on February 24. The encounter took place on a day when Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf are being produced in court in Prayagraj. ADG STF Amitabh Yash said that the STF had asked the two to surrender but they opened fire after which the team had to retaliate. Meanwhile, Atiq Ahmad broke down in court during hearing when informed of his son's encounter. Mumbai, April 13 : Pritha Bakshi, who was seen in 'Saand Ki Aankh', and 'Chacha Vidhayak Hain Hamare 2', said that the role of Kajri in 'Virodh' was challenging as she couldn't relate to the character. However, as she hails from Haryana, language was never an issue. Pritha said her native place is Haryana, although she grew up in Mumbai so portraying Kajri, a sportswoman whose life is full of struggle after the murder of her father and brother, is never easy for her as neither did she face such struggle and nor did she understand the culture of a small town or a village. "I was born and raised in Mumbai, a very urban setting, and come from a supportive and progressive family. I haven't faced the same challenges and difficulties that Kajri has in her life. I don't personally relate to Kajri's experiences. However, as an actor, it's exciting to explore and portray characters that are unfamiliar and different from me," said Pritha. The actress added that the best part of her character was getting the hold of language was never tough for her. As she explained: "My parents are from Yamunanagar in Haryana, my native city. I visited my grandparents there as a child and still visit the place. This has given me a sense of the culture and language of the region. I can speak Haryanvi and get the dialect and tone right because I've spent much time in and around Haryana. So, in that sense, I also understand some things about the situation of women there, although there's still a lot of work to be done. As an actor, I can easily adapt to a character from that region." Directed and created by Rahul Dahiya, the seven episodic series also features Ashish Nehra, Manoj Rathi, Jaspal Kaur, Deepak Kapoor, Geetanjali Mishra, Rajbeer Singh, Vickey, Bhavana, and Simran. 'Virodh' streams on MX Player. Shahjahanpur, April 13 : A 32-year-old man was beaten to death, allegedly on the orders of his boss, and his body was dumped outside at a government hospital in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh. A transport businessman, for whom Shivam Johri worked as a manager, is among seven people named in the murder case after a video of the assault went viral. The video shows Shivam tied to a pole and writhing in pain as a man repeatedly hit him with a rod. Shivam was reportedly accused of theft. According to police, Shivam's body was abandoned at the medical college and hospital on Tuesday night and his family members were informed that he had died of electrocution. When a police officer examined the body in the hospital, he noticed injuries inconsistent with the claim of electrocution and the probe began. The investigation so far has found that Shivam had been working with transport businessman Bankim Suri for the past seven years. Recently, a package of prominent business Kanhiya Hosiery went missing. Several employees of the transporters were allegedly assaulted on the suspicion of theft. The owner of Kanhiya Hosiery, Neeraj Gupta, is among the seven accused in the murder case. Police have also seized a car from the premises of Kanhiya Hosiery and it is suspected to be linked to the crime. The police spokesman said that the body has been sent for post mortem and further action will take place when the report comes in. New Delhi, April 13 : An elderly woman was brutally murdered by her domestic help with the help of an associate in Delhi's Dwarka area, police said, adding the two accused have been detained. The incident took place on Wednesday in Om Vihar. At around 2.30 p.m., the Bindapur police station received information regarding a murder in the area, following which a team immediately rushed to the spot. "The woman identified as Usha was found murdered in her home," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Dwarka) M. Harsha Vardhan said. "Based on CCTV footage, it was suspected that a girl who works as a domestic help along with a male accomplice committed the crime," said the official. During investigation, the police found that the victim's family did not carry out any verification process of the domestic help'. "This had led to difficulties in finding out any details about the girl. Even basic details like a phone number were not available," said the DCP. "However, multiple teams worked professionally and effectively to identify both the accused. They were tracked and finally detained at the Gorakhpur railway station in a late night operation in coordination with Uttar Pradesh Police," he said, adding that their interrogation is going on. More details are awaited. This latest incident comes just days after an elderly couple were found murdered in their home in the city's Gokulpuri area. The accused in the double murder was the couple's daughter-in-law, who plotted the murder along with her boyfriend and another friend. The number of international visitors to Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) has been on the rise but tourism businesses are struggling in the face of a severe shortage of high-skilled workforce. In the first quarter of this year, Vietnams southern metropolis received 1.8 million foreign visitors, up 36 times year-on-year, according to statistics from the municipal Department of Tourism. However, recruitment has been very difficult for the entire industry since Vietnam reopened to tourism after Covid, and hospitality and travel businesses are complaining that they are in dire need of high-skilled labor to meet the demand from rising tourist arrivals. Doan Tran Phuong Thao, human resources director of IHG Hotel Group, said at a conference on tourism recruitment last week that the tourism industry in HCMC is in need of 40,000 qualified workers. But professional training schools are only capable of providing around 15,000 workers. Thao said poor language skills are one of the biggest challenges for the sector. A tour guide (R, 3rd) talks to a group of tourists in Can Gio District, HCMC, October 24, 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Huynh Nhi Tran Thi Viet Huong, HR director of leading tour operator Vietravel, said that 90% of its newly graduated personnel are retrained. Experts say that new graduates are weak in their communication skills and handling of actual situations. Furthermore, their limited foreign language skills and poor work attitudes are also a problem, Huong added. "Tourism businesses still have to invest money and time to provide training for candidates after recruitment but many fail to commit to working long-term at the companies," Huong added. Nguyen Van Man, CEO of Silver Land Hotel, said that in the past, 80% of its employees were highly-skilled. But the figure now accounts for just 20% while the remainder are fresh graduates, he said. "We are in need of recruiting 500 more employees," Man added. "It will take us at least six months to make up for the shortage of personnel," he added. To solve the staff shortage, industry insiders have adopted a series of solutions. Bui Thi Ngoc Hieu, deputy head of the municipal tourism department, said it would organize Korean, Japanese and Spanish language training courses for tour guides and those working in the tourism industry to improve their language capability. Thao said the lack of connection between tourism businesses and vocational training schools has resulted in labor shortages because training courses fail to meet actual market needs. Thao suggested businesses should have a close connection with training schools to ensure an output of human resources for the tourism industry. HCMC welcomed 3.4 million international arrivals last year, around 30% of pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This year the southern metropolis is targeting 5 million arrivals. Quito, April 13 : Ecuadorian police have arrested a criminal gang member suspected of carrying out an armed attack earlier this week on a small fishing port that killed nine and injured four others. In an announcement on Wednesday, President Guillermo Lasso said that security forces arrested a suspect known by alias "Coco", who is a member of "Los Tiguerones", a criminal ring linked to drug trafficking, reports Xinhua news agency. "The Tiguerones have been identified as the criminal organization that carried out (the attack)," said the presidential office in the video, adding "the search continues". On Tuesday, a group of 30 hooded men armed with pistols and rifles opened fire indiscriminately on workers and merchants at a seafood warehouse in the port of the northwestern province of Esmeraldas, on the border with Colombia. Police and the Armed Forces have been deployed across the province to find those responsible for the attack. Lasso travelled to Esmeraldas and met with relatives of the victims, as well as with military, police and government authorities to discuss the progress of the investigation. The attack took place amid a state of emergency that the government of Esmeraldas declared in March due to rising crime and violence. Moscow, April 13 : A Russian Su-27 fighter jet escorted a German patrol plane over the Baltic Sea to prevent it from entering Russia's airspace, the Defence Ministry here said. According to the Ministry, after detecting an air target over the Baltic Sea approaching Russia's airspace, the military flew the Su-27 fighter from the air defence forces of the Western Military District to identify the target and prevent it from violating the state border, reports Xinhua news agency. The Russian jet escorted the plane, which was confirmed as an R-3C Orion base patrol aircraft of the German navy, over the Baltic sea and then safely returned to its base airfield, said the Ministry. The Su-27 carried out the mission "in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace over neutral waters without crossing air routes and dangerously approaching an aircraft of a foreign state", it added. Doha, April 13 : The Qatari-Bahraini Follow-up Committee on Wednesday decided to restore diplomatic relations between Qatar and Bahrain in line with the principles of the UN Charter and the provisions of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations of 1961. The decision was made during the second meeting of the committee at the headquarters of the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Xinhua news agency reported. Both sides have said that the decision stems from a mutual desire to foster the development of bilateral relations and promote integration and unity within the Gulf region, in accordance with the principles outlined in the GCC Charter, it said. Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt broke diplomatic ties with Qatar in 2017, and imposed sanctions and blockades, due to religious and geopolitical rows. During a GCC summit in 2021, Saudi Arabia and other countries lifted the boycotts and resumed links with Qatar. Hyderabad, April 13 : Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao on Thursday said that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have become mute spectators and mere puppets. He also voiced the apprehension that former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satyapal Malik may be arrested for his revelations on corruption. "Nation is watching keenly as ED & CBI become mute spectators & mere puppets. I suppose they will now arrest former Governor Satyapal Ji for the revelations," he tweeted while reacting to Satyapal Malik's reported allegations against RSS leader Ram Madhav. The BRS leader told Prime Minister Narendra Modi that talking big on corruption is easy. "But when it comes to commissions and omissions of the BJP Government in Karnataka & Adani, the Anti-corruption Bhashans & Rules don't apply," KTR added. Satyapal had alleged in an interview that Ram Madhav tried lobbying to clear a file which involved Rs 300 crore kickbacks. In another tweet, KTR hit out at BJP leaders who felicitated an accused in Telangana SSC paper leak case after he was released on bail. The BRS leader posted a picture of BJP leaders felicitating the accused number two in the case. Telangana BJP chief and MP Bandi Sanjay was named as accused number one in the case and he too was released on bail. KTR also posted pictures of BJP men felicitating accused in heinous crimes. "Celebrating rapists of Bilkis Bano, Union minister welcoming murderers in UP shooting the effigy of Mahatma Gandhi Ji in UP welcoming the SSC paper leak criminal in Telangana. There is something seriously demented in these dimwits & more importantly the people who support them," wrote KTR. Colombo, April 13 : As India, Japan and France to announce a new platform for creditors to coordinate restructuring of Sri Lanka's debt on Thursday, China called on all island nation's creditors to share burden. "We call on commercial and multilateral creditors to take part in Sri Lanka's debt restructuring based on fair burden-sharing," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said while adding the Beijing would work with relevant countries and international financial institutions to jointly play a positive role in helping Sri Lanka navigate the situation, ease its debt burden and achieve sustainable development. Wenbin was responding to a question raised at a media briefing in Beijing on Wednesday. However Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki who announced that Japan, France and India would disclose the new platform for creditors to coordinate Sri Lanka's debt restructuring had invited China to join their efforts. "We altogether made a great effort to set up the framework... I hope many countries will participate. It will be very nice if China will join," Suzuki has told media on Wednesday. The new platform initiated by Japan, the chair of this year's G7 meeting, G20 chair India and France aim to address debt vulnerabilities of middle-income countries such as Sri Lanka. At the press briefing China's Foreign Ministry spokesman had also reminded about the extension on Sri Lanka's debt service due in 2022 and 2023, an announcement made by China's Exim Bank in February. "Sri Lanka will not have to repay the principal and interest due of the bank's loans during the above-mentioned period, so as to help relieve Sri Lanka's short-term debt repayment pressure; meanwhile, the bank would like to have friendly consultation with Sri Lanka regarding medium- and long-term debt treatment in this window period; and the bank will make best efforts to contribute to the debt sustainability of Sri Lanka," the Chinese spokesman said. The response from China, Sri Lanka's largest bilateral creditor came following Sri Lanka's Central Bank head, told that the Indian Ocean Island was awaiting China's support in its effort to restructure debts and start repayment. While attending the International Monetary Fund and World Bank's Spring Meetings, Central Bank Governor, Nandalal Weerasinghe told media that the country aims to quickly complete negotiations with official and commercial creditors. Suffered with repeated debacles including the Easter Sunday attack in 2019 and pro-longed Covid-19 pandemic, Sri Lanka went through a severe financial crisis which lead to a political turmoil in 2022. Facing severe shortages of all essential items including food, fuel, medicines, people took to streets and toppled the government lead by Gotabaya Rajapaksa as the President and his elder brother Mahinda as the Prime Minister. In April 2022, for the first time in history, Sri Lanka defaulted its debt repayment of $7 billion that was due for the year. Former opposition MP, Ranil Wickremesinghe took over the country and stopped major imports, introduced economic restrictions and raised taxes in order to secure $2.9 billion bailout package by the IMF. Sri Lanka plans to announce its debt-restructuring strategy with commercial creditors during April. -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Kochi, April 13 : The Kerala High Court on Thursday dismissed the bail plea filed by former Principal Secretary M. Sivasankar in the Life Mission case. Sivasankar, the now retired top IAS officer, was the principal secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during 2016-21. Sivasankar retired from service on January 31 and soon was asked to appear before the Enforcement Directorate in a bribery case related to the Life Mission project. After a few days of questioning his arrest was recorded on February 15, and since then he has been trying to get bail, but failed in the latest attempt also. The case pertains to the pet project of Vijayan -- a housing project for the poor -- being built at Wadakkanchery in Thrissur on government land with the funds from a UAE-based charity organisation. It is alleged that a huge amount of money was given as a bribe. The allegations were levelled by Swapna Suresh, the prime accused in the gold smuggling case and also in this case. The ED strongly opposed the bail plea. The agency said in the court that since he is the kingpin in this case, he is likely to influence others and, hence, bail should not be given. Sivasankar, however, pointed out that he has serious health issues and needs expert treatment. To this, the ED stated that all the arrangements were being made and they were ready to admit him for a surgery, but he was not willing. Incidentally, in this case another former IAS official and the then chief executive of Life Mission, U.V. Jose was also questioned a few times by the ED and so was C.M. Raveendran, the assistant private secretary and the closest aide of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Mumbai, April 13 : Star NTR Jr. hosted the Vice President of Amazon Studios, James Farrell and few dignitaries from the industry for an intimate dinner at his house in Hyderabad on Wednesday night. Some prominent filmmakers including S.S. Rajamouli, Koratala Siva, Trivikram, Shobu Yarlagadda, Mythri Naveen, Sirish Reddy, and Nagavamsi also attended the exclusive dinner. NTR shared a few pictures from the dinner party. He wrote: "An evening well spent with friends and well-wishers. Was great catching up with James and Emily. Thanks for keeping your word and joining us for dinner." An evening well spent with friends and well wishers. Was great catching up with James and Emily. Thanks for keeping your word and joining us for dinner. pic.twitter.com/Zy0nByHQoq Jr NTR (@tarak9999) April 12, 2023 The 'RRR' actor kept his look simple and classic in a black t-shirt and ash grey pants. As soon as the pictures surfaced on social media, fans were quick to point out if this was the beginning of a new project following his global success as Bheem in 'RRR'. NTR Jr. is currently shooting for Koratala Siva's NTR 30 in Hyderabad which will release in theatres on April 5, 2024. Image Source: IANS News -- Syndicated from IANS Patna, April 13 : Taking a dig at the Opposition for striving to create a unified front, BJP Rajya Sabha MP Sushil Kumar Modi on Thursday said when seven parties of Mahagathbandhan failed to fight his party in a small state like Bihar, how will they compete against it in the country in the 2024 general elections? His statement comes a day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal. "Nitish Kumar failed to take care of his home (Bihar) but aspires to run the entire country. In the past, we have seen three bypolls in the state where seven parties of Mahagathbandhan contested with full strength. Still, BJP defeated them in Gopalganj and Kurhani. The BJP candidate managed more than 64,000 votes in Mokama and the margin of defeat was narrow. They have failed to compete with BJP in Bihar. So how could they face the BJP in the country," Modi said. "Nitish Kumar has gone to Delhi not to unite the opposition parties but to unite the corrupt leaders. Since the CBI and ED are taking action against the corrupt, they are under deep stress. These scared people are trying to unite only to contest against Narendra Modi. Can Nitish Kumar make a political deal between Kumaraswami and the Congress in Karnataka?" the BJP leader asked. Nitish Kumar is harbouring the corrupt. The Lalu family is facing serious charges of corruption. Bihar Deputy CM Tejashwi Yadav, at the young age of 32, has become the owner of 52 properties. Will the people support an honest PM or the unity of people neck-deep in corruption," Modi said. Lucknow, April 13 : Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has said that cyber training course, CYTRAIN would now be mandatory for all police personnel for improving the quality of investigation in cases of cybercrime, along with training on how to tackle cases registered at Cyber Crime Prevention against Women & Children (CCPWC) portal. The chief minister said that pending investigations should be completed in a time-bound manner with quality and confidentiality. He said that the Vigilance Establishment should inform the Chief Minister's Office every month about pending investigations. He further said that the personnel of the investigating agencies should be skilled with modern technical knowledge and their infrastructure and logistics needs. "The state government has been working for a strong law and order and security system in the state for the past six years. Before 2017, only two cybercrime police stations were functional in the state for investigation of cybercrime," he said. "For effective prevention and control of cybercrime, the state government has constituted cybercrime stations at the zone level. Women cyber help desks have been set up at regional police stations. Cyber Helpline is functional 24x7. Effective action is being taken on cybercrime through the Cyber Safe portal. Cyber Awareness Day is organised on the first Wednesday of every month, the government spokesman said. Ulan Bator, April 13 : A strong wind and a heavy dust hit the southern Gobi provinces of Mongolia, the country's meteorology and environmental monitoring agency said on Thursday. The wind speed is reaching 18-24 metres per second in the provinces of Dundgovi, Umnugovi and Dornogovi, which are most affected by desertification, Xinhua news quoted the agency as saying. In addition, snow and snowstorms are hitting the central and northern parts of the country including the national capital Ulan Bator. The unstable weather is expected to continue in the coming days, the weather agency said, urging the public, especially nomadic herders and drivers, to take extra precautions against possible disasters. Mongolia has a harsh continental climate as strong winds, snow and dust storms are common during the spring. Climate change-related desertification is the main factor behind the increasing frequency of yellow dust storms in Mongolia in recent years, according to the Ministry of Environment and Tourism. Mongolia has a total land area of 1,564,116 square km, and around 77 per cent of the country's total territory has been affected by desertification and land degradation, according to official data. Best Initiative (For Grassroots Service) 2023 Meet Mayank Sharma Who Is Democratising Career Guidance by Reaching The Underserv Award Category: Best Initiative (For Grassroots Service) Introduction: Mayank Sharma is an educator associated with the organisation - Param Shakti Sewa Sanstha, Delhi Achievement: Helped 5000+ students in making informed career choices Choosing the right career path is crucial for students to be able to make correct decisions in their academic journey and professional life. However, not all students receive exposure to the required guidance that can help them make the right choices. Mayank Sharma is an individual who has been working extensively to provide the much-required career guidance to such students who are deprived of the benefits of the mainstream education system. How Did It Start? Once when Mayank was invited to take a career counselling and guidance session for 10th-class students in a Delhi government school, one of the students requested more support and proper guidance for achieving his dream of being in the Indian Administrative Services. However, he was struggling with the lack of guidance, poverty and family issues. Noticing many students who lack proper guidance and support for pursuing their dream, Mayank realised the need for guidance and counselling and the large gap which eludes many students from choosing an ideal path and decided to help such students. Mayanks Initiatives Since 2015, Mayank has been organising career counselling seminars/ workshops for students with the help of volunteers. Click Here to Watch the Testimonial From One of Mayanks Student To date, Mayank Sharma has conducted 200+ counselling workshops for high school and senior secondary school students, impacting over 5000 students directly in 25+ government and government-aided schools in Delhi region, and other states like Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. Click here to view Mayanks Letter of Appreciation from Vidya Vihar Vidyalaya. Under the Delhi Government Mentorship Program, Mayank has conducted career workshops for 550+ female students. Click here to view Mayanks Letter of Appreciation from a Delhi Government School. Working with Gulab Singh Jan Kalyan Samiti in Panna, Madhya Pradesh as facilitator and advisor, Mayank has helped in setting up and running schools in one of the most underserved areas in India since 2020. Mayank is also a Youth Guide and Mentor for Village Square (https://www.villagesquare.in/), Freedom Employability Association (https://feaindia.org/), Karta Initiative (https://www.karta-initiative.org/). Mayanks Vision Working on a low-cost-counselling model, ideal for students from marginalised backgrounds, Maynak is looking to impact close to a million students in the next 5 years. Mayank aims to build teams of volunteers from different professional backgrounds in different parts of the country. He wants to make counselling affordable and available for all. Mayank Sharma is a finalist in the Best Initiative For Grassroots Service because of his firm determination to democratise Career Councilling and for students from all strata of society. His guidance to students has already helped many and has the potential to help many more. Click Here to See all Information Shared by Mayank Sharma Kohima/Shillong, April 13 : The North East Students' Organisation (NESO), an apex body of eight student bodies, has demanded complete withdrawal of AFSPA and execution of Inner Line Permit (ILP) in the entire region for the safeguard and welfare of the indigenous people. NESO chairman Samuel B Jywra on Thursday said that the NESO has been agitating in support of its demand of complete removal of Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958 -- known as AFSPA and implementation of the ILP in all the northeastern states. While talking to the media, he said that the people of the northeastern states region have faced a "lot of atrocities" because of AFSPA, with the latest being the killing of 13 daily wager earners in a case of "mistaken identity" at Oting in Nagaland's Mon district in December, 2021. The Union Home Ministry in two phases in 2022 and 2023 has reduced disturbed areas under AFSPA in Nagaland, Assam and Manipur but in certain areas the act remains effective. The AFSPA, which is sometimes termed by certain political parties and NGOs as "draconian law", allows the Army and other central para-military forces to conduct raids and operations, arrest anyone anywhere without prior notice or arrest warrant. It was lifted from Tripura in 2015, in Meghalaya in 2018, and in Mizoram in the 1980s. NESO chairman said that for the overall safeguard and welfare of the indigenous people of the region, ILP must be executed in all the northeastern states. The ILP had been in force in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram. On December 11, 2019, it was promulgated in Manipur, to allow an Indian citizen into the ILP enforced areas for a stipulated period with the written permission of the state and competent authority. The main aim of the ILP system is to check settlement of other Indian nationals in these states to protect the native population. Protection is also extended to the indigenous people with regard to land, jobs and other facilities. The ILP under the Bengal Eastern Frontier Regulation, 1873 is an official travel document that allows an Indian citizen to visit in the ILP enforced state and areas for a limited period and with a specific purpose. Jywra also demanded that Common University Entrance Test (CUET) should not be conducted in the northeastern states as students of the region have not being getting higher education skill, facilities and support compared to other parts of the country in many aspects. NESO advisor Samujjal Bhattacharya demanded that illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in the region be identified and deported at the earliest. "NESO strongly opposed the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA)," he said. Chennai, April 13 : Fishermen of Pudukottai and Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu and Karaikal in Puducherry have sought governmnet's intervention to retrieve their fishing vessels impounded by Lankan authorities. The fishermen complained that more than 50 vessels worth crores of rupees are impounded by Sri Lankan Navy and coastal authorities on charges of crossing International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL). M.S. Antonio Joseph, a fisherman from Ramanathapuram told IANS, "Mechanised fishing boats are our source of revenue and a group of fishermen from the shores of India venture into the sea for days to get a good catch and earn livelihood. Of late, life has become miserable for fishermen as we are being attacked by Sri Lankan Navy as well as sea pirates. The line demarcating the two is very thin and we can't recognise it." He said that most of the time fishermen cross the IMBL inadvertently. The mechanised boats with outboard engines are of huge costs, Joseph said. The Sri Lankan navy lets off the Indian fishermen after they serve the sentence but boats are impounded and left to be destroyed without maintenance, Joseph claimed. Antonio Joseph said that the Tamil Nadu government must take up the matter with the Union government to retrieve the boats from Sri Lanka. The fishermen cited examples of Sri Lankan authorities giving away their boats to local fishermen who submerge their vessels as well as remove their outboard engines. Ranganathan, a fishing boat owner from Karaikal, told IANS that his fishing boat is left to the mercy of Sri Lankan authorities as it was in their custody since the fishermen including himself were arrested and jailed in Lanka for crossing the IMBL. The fishermen have also said that there were instances wherein the fishing boats that were seized and impounded are sold off without proper notice to the owners. The fishermen associations of coastal Tamil Nadu and Puducherry are planning to meet the Chief Ministers Of the respective states M. K. Stalin and N. Rangasamy and urge them to take up the matter with Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar for further action. M. Muniyandi, a fisherman from Pudukottai, told IANS that the fishermen will have no other option but to conduct a series of agitations in coastal areas to get justice. He said that the lives of an entire coastal region go haywire when a fishing boat is impounded as it means bread and butter to many fishermen and their families. Chennai, April 13 : The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) has been given the permission by the Tamil Nadu Police to conduct its route march on April 16 in the state. This is following the Supreme Court's dismissal of Tamil Nadu government's appeal on Tuesday against a Madras High Court order allowing RSS to conduct the march. The Madras High Court had on February 10 permitted the RSS to hold the march stating that "protests are essential for a healthy democracy". The RSS will be conducting the marches in 45 places in the state. It may be noted that the Tamil Nadu Police had rejected permission to the RSS to conduct a route march followed by a public programme on October 2 in the state. The police had then stated that the situation in the state was not conducive to carry out the march after the NIA raids at the premises of Islamist organisation, the Popular Front of India (PFI) and the arrest of a few of the activists of that organisation. The Supreme Court while allowing the RSS to conduct a route march across Tamil Nadu had noted that the law and order cases cited by the Tamil Nadu government showed that in many instances, RSS members were the victims, instead of perpetrators. "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 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 SC bench. Guwahati, April 13 : Assam police have seized at least 10,000 Yaba tablets in a anti-drug operation at Hailakandi district, officials said on Thursday. The seizure occurred at Narainpur area of the district on Wednesday night. One person was arrested on account of drug peddling. Superintendent of Police in the Hailakandi district, Nabneet Mahanta said: "We had secret information that an infamous drug peddler known as Bilal Uddin Choudhury was active in the Hailakandi district who was running the illegal business. Based on that, we planned an operation to nab him. Police in the disguise of a customer approached Choudhury for buying narcotic substances and he was caught red-handed. "We have recovered at least 10,000 Yaba tablets from his possession," said Mahanta. According to the police, the market value of seized narcotic substances must be around 50 lakhs. New Delhi: Rajasthan congress in charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa (C) with AICC general secretary incharge KC Venugopal at party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence for meeting, in New Delhi on Thursday, April 13, 2023. (Photo: Anupam Gautam/IAN Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Rajasthan congress in charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa (C) with AICC general secretary incharge KC Venugopal at party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence for meeting, in New Delhi on Thursday, April 13, 2023. (Photo: Anupam Gautam/IAN Image Source: IANS News New Delhi: Rajasthan congress in charge Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa (C) with AICC general secretary incharge KC Venugopal at party president Mallikarjun Kharge's residence for meeting, in New Delhi on Thursday, April 13, 2023. (Photo: Anupam Gautam/IAN Image Source: IANS News New Delhi, April 13 : Congress in-charge of Rajasthan, Sukhjinder Singh Randhawa, met senior party leader Rahul Gandhi here on Thursday, two days after Sachin Pilot observed a fast in Jaipur. Rajsthan's former deputy chief minister Pilot has accused the Ashok Gehlot government of inaction on the corruption allegations against the then Vasundhara Raje government of the BJP. After meeting Rahul Gandhi at his residence here, the two leaders also met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence. Earlier on Wednesday, Randhawa had a meeting with Kharge in Delhi to discuss the situation, but the details were not revealed. Soon after the announcement of Pilot's hunger strike against the Gehlot government, the party termed his decision as indiscipline. There was speculation that Randhawa would go to Jaipur to meet Pilot on the day of the protest, but later it was postponed. Meanwhile, Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said: "This kind of fast will not affect the government and the party. He said: "This time I want to bring the party back to power and break the myth that there is no repeat of the government in Rajasthan. New Delhi, April 13 : A rag picker was crushed to death by a JCB in the Vikas Nagar area in Delhi on Thursday, an official said. The deceased was identified as Pappu Singh (45), a resident of district Patna. JCB driver tried to put Pappu's body in a plastic bag, but was caught by locals and thrashed. According to police, around 9:06 a.m., a call was received at Ranhola police station that a person was crushed to death by a JCB in the ground opposite Ashish Farm, Verma Road, following which a police team rushed to the spot. Upon arriving at the scene, the police found the body of Pappu. "Pappu's head was crushed, and half of his body was inside a plastic bag. Additionally, a JCB was found at the scene," said Harendra Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer District). Further investigation revealed that the JCB driver, identified as Sunny Kumar, a resident of Mahavir Enclave in Dwarka, had come to clean the ground as instructed by his employer. "He ran over Pappu, and the victim's head came under the JCB tyre, resulting in his immediate death. The crime team and forensic team visited the spot to gather evidence, while Pappu's body was sent to DDU hospital for post-mortem," said the DCP. "The driver of the JCB, who was caught trying to put Pappu's body in a plastic bag, was apprehended by the public and subsequently thrashed. He has been sent for medical examination," the official said, adding that the case is under investigation. Ranchi, April 13 : The Enforcement Directorate conducted simultaneous raids at 22 locations of state administrative service officers, including IAS officer Chhavi Ranjan who is posted as a Director in the Jharkhand's Social Welfare Department, and some land dealers on Thursday. The raids were conducted in Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Simdega and Hazaribagh. Along with these, locations in Kolkata and Bihar's Gopiganj were also raided. According to sources, the action was taken in the case of money laundering and illegal purchase and sale of more than four acres of Army land located in Ranchi. Ranjan was posted as the Deputy Commissioner of Ranchi till a few months ago. The case of forgery in the purchase and sale of the Army land in Bariatu area of Ranchi came to light during his tenure. The ED had started probing the matter by registering a case under money laundering. Raids were also being conducted at the locations of Ranjan and his wife, Lovely. Ranjan faces allegations in several cases, including cutting and selling trees at government houses during his posting as the Deputy Commissioner in Jharkhand's Koderma. The senior officials had also submitted an inquiry report against him to the government. He is the second IAS officer from Jharkhand, against whom the ED has conducted raids recently. Earlier, the ED raided the premises of senior IAS Pooja Singhal who was later arrested on charges of money laundering. New Delhi, April 13 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar met CPI(M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, CPI leader D. Raja and other leaders here on Thursday amid talks of opposition unity. Nitish Kumar is on a three-day visit to New Delhi to bring the non-BJP parties together to fight against the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yechury, while speaking to the media, said that his party and the Left have always believed that democratic parties with secular ideology need to unite. He said: "Today, we have to save our country, our constitution and democracy. For this, there is a need to defeat the BJP and the present government at the Centre. Our basic objective is to stop the division of anti-BJP votes. For this all parties need to come together." He stated that a joint meeting of all the parties would be held soon wherein the whole outline would be decided. Yechury said: "We have to save the Constitution today and for that we have to defeat the BJP in the 2024 elections. Talks are on with other political parties as well... The front that is going to be formed will always be there after the elections." Yechury tweeted: "With Bihar CM Shri Nitish Kumar to carry forward the efforts to unite secular democratic parties to safeguard the Indian Republic, Constitution and Democracy, severely assaulted by the BJP & Modi govt. Defeat the BJP in order to save India & people's livelihoods." Commenting on the seat-sharing formula, Yechury said that the political alliance will be decided by the CPI(M) according to the circumstances in the states. He added that seats will be distributed as per the political situation in different states. Citing the example of Kerala, he said that the BJP has no hold there, so the competition will be between the Congress and the Left parties, but in the states where the BJP has to be fought, the opposition parties will coordinate on the seats. New Delhi, April 13 : A plea was moved in the Delhi High Court on Thursday seeking direction to the Law Commission to prepare a report on the Uniform Judicial Code (UJC), in order to make legal terms, abbreviations, case registration processes, and other aspects of the legal system similar across the country. Comparing judicial terms, abbreviations, norms, phrases, court fees and case registration processes between the Delhi High Court and the Allahabad High Court, there is a huge difference, petitioner-lawyer and BJP leader Ashwini Kumar Upadhyay said in his plea filed in form of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL). The plea cites instances of various variant terms employed by Rajasthan High Court and Bombay High Court benches and claims that these led to misunderstandings. Upadhyay also drew attention to the disparities in court fees demanded for cases with similar facts and values in other states, which causes injury to citizens. "Unequal court fees in different states discriminate among citizens based on their place of birth and residence," the plea added. The plea further claims that courts are demanding separate court fees, which is against the rule of law and the right to justice, in addition to utilising different judicial terminology, phrases, and acronyms and adopting different standards and procedures for case registration. In order to standardise judicial words, acronyms, norms, phrases, court fee structures, and case registration procedures, the PIL prays that the Law Commission of India be directed to prepare a thorough report on the UJC in consultation with the High Courts. The PIL prayed that the Law Ministry be directed to take appropriate steps to prepare a comprehensive report on UJC in consultation with the High Courts and constitute an Expert Committee to prepare a comprehensive report on UJC in consultation with the High Courts. Lucknow, April 13 : Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday accused the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh of carrying out a 'fake encounter' to eliminate the son of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his associate in Jhansi. Akhilesh said that the ruling party was trying to divert the attention of the people from the real issues plaguing the state. He said the BJP government did not believe in the judiciary and was taking the law into its own hands. He said it was not right for those in power to pass judgement on who was right or wrong and to decide who should live or die. Yadav tweeted in Hindi, "With fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. The BJP does not believe in courts at all. Today's and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared. Those in power do not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. BJP is against harmony." Akhilesh was reacting to the encounter of Asad, son of Atiq Ahmad and shooter Ghulam, both of whom were killed in an encounter in Jhansi on Thursday. According to the police, Asad and Ghulam were trying to flee on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by a Special Task Force team in Jhansi. They opened fire on the STF team and were killed in retaliatory firing. The police claimed to have recovered sophisticated foreign-made weapons from them. The encounter took place on a day when Ahmad was presented before a court in Prayagraj in the same murder case and was sent to seven-day police custody. Saudi Water Partnerships Company (SWPC) has announced that a consortium led by Acwa Power, a leading developer, investor, and operator of power generation, water desalination and green hydrogen plants worldwide, has been awarded the contract to develop an independent water project at Rabigh in Makkah region which will have a production capacity of 600,000 cu m per day. Its consortium partners are Haji Abdullah Alireza & Partners Company, a leading player in the management, operation and maintenance of sea water desalination plants, and Bahrain-based Almoayyed Contracting Group. According to SWPC, Rabigh 4 is the eighth project in desalinated water production pipeline in partnership with the private sector, since the launch of the National Water Strategy. The project, to be located 180 km northwest of Makkah on the Red Sea coast in the Western Province, will include the desalination plant and all associated infrastructure and facilities. It is due for completion in Q4 2025, said the Saudi utility in its statement. Last month, TradeArabia had reported that the consortium led by Acwa Power had emerged the preferred bidder with its attractive levelized cost of SR1.7162 per cu m beating the consortium of Spanish infrastructure major Acciona Agua and Saudi group Ajlan & Bros who had quoted SR2.0386 per cu m. A total of 39 utility project developer consortiums, including 21 Saudi firms, had expressed their interests in developing the key reverse osmosis (RO) project in Rabigh. These included Spanish infrastructure majors - GS Inima Environment, Acciona Agua, and Cobra; French utility expert Veolia and Italian group Fisia Italimpianti in addition to Hydro Industries (UK); Aquatech International (US); Marubeni (Japan); J&P (Cyprus) and VA Tech Wabag (India) as well as Acwa Power consortium, Al Bawani Water & Power as well as Marafiq. However, in November last year, SWPC revealed that only three consortia had made it to the final round. These were *Acciona with consortium partner Saudi group Ajlan & Brothers Company; *Acwa with Haji Hussein Ali Reda and Partners Company and Almoayyed Contracting Group *French multinational utility group Engie The project is being implemented on the BOO (Build, Own and Operate) model. The contract was signed by Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture and Chairman of the Board of Directors of SWPC Engineer Abdulrahman bin Abdul Mohsen Al Fadhli with Acwa Consortium partners at the ministrys headquarters in Riyadh. Lauding the project, Engineer Al Fadhli said: "Rabigh 4 project will directly serve the pilgrims, in addition to the beneficiaries in the regions of Makkah and Madinah." "The project aims to improve the quality of services, in addition to raising the efficiency of spending, benefiting from the expertise of the private sector in construction, operation and management, and increasing its contribution to the development in accordance with the objectives of the Kingdoms Vision 2030," he added. Saudi Water Partnership Company CEO Engineer Khalid bin Zwaid Al Qureshi said the commercial operation will begin in the first quarter of 2026. In addition to the water plant, the project scope includes developing 1.2 million cu m storage tanks as well as extension and connection to the existing power transmission substation, he added.-TradeArabia News Service "We remain committed to the merger of AVANGRID and PNM Resources, which will bring more than $300 million in benefits to the customers and communities of New Mexico and more than $16 million in rate relief to Texas customers," said Pedro Azagra, AVANGRID CEO. "Together, we will accelerate Texas and New Mexico's clean energy futures and increase the focus on reliability and resiliency for customers. We also understand that we are an anchor institution in the communities we serve, beyond just the services we provide. Through this merger, we will contribute to the economic development of the regions and support their continued vibrancy and prosperity." The merger has received approval from five federal agencies and the Public Utility Commission of Texas. AVANGRID and PNM Resources together with the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission (NMPRC) filed a joint motion at the New Mexico Supreme Court in March 2023 to dismiss the companies' appeal of the December 2021 NMPRC denial and remand the case back to the NMPRC. About AVANGRID: AVANGRID, Inc. (NYSE: AGR) aspires to be the leading sustainable energy company in the United States. Headquartered in Orange, CT with approximately $41 billion in assets and operations in 24 U.S. states, AVANGRID has two primary lines of business: networks and renewables. Through its networks business, AVANGRID owns and operates eight electric and natural gas utilities, serving more than 3.3 million customers in New York and New England. Through its renewables business, AVANGRID owns and operates a portfolio of renewable energy generation facilities across the United States. AVANGRID employs more than 7,500 people and has been recognized by JUST Capital in 2021, 2022 and 2023 as one of the JUST 100 companies - a ranking of America's best corporate citizens. In 2023, AVANGRID ranked first within the utility sector for its commitment to the environment. The company supports the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goals and was named among the World's Most Ethical Companies in 2023 for the fifth consecutive year by the Ethisphere Institute. AVANGRID is a member of the group of companies controlled by Iberdrola, S.A. For more information, visit www.avangrid.com. Forward Looking Statements Certain statements in this release may relate to our future business and financial performance and future events or developments involving us and our subsidiaries that are not purely historical and may constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of forward-looking terms such as "may," "will," "should," "would," "could," "can," "expect(s)," "believe(s)," "anticipate(s)," "intend(s)," "plan(s)," "estimate(s)," "project(s)," "assume(s)," "guide(s)," "target(s),""forecast(s)," "are (is) confident that" and "seek(s)" or the negative of such terms or other variations on such terms or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about our plans, objectives and intentions, outlooks or expectations for earnings, revenues, expenses or other future financial or business performance, strategies or expectations, or the impact of legal or regulatory matters on business, results of operations or financial condition of the business and other statements that are not historical facts. Such statements are based upon the current reasonable beliefs, expectations, and assumptions of our management and are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially. Important factors are discussed and should be reviewed in our Form 10-K and other subsequent filings with the SEC. Specifically, forward-looking statements include, without limitation: our ability to close the proposed merger with PNMR, the anticipated timing and terms of the proposed merger, our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed merger and our ability to manage the risks of the proposed merger; future financial performance, anticipated liquidity and capital expenditures; actions or inactions of local, state or federal regulatory agencies; adverse publicity or other reputational harm; and other presently unknown unforeseen factors. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. You should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. We do not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date of this report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required under applicable securities laws. Other risk factors are detailed from time to time in our reports filed with the SEC, and we encourage you to consult such disclosures. Islamabad, April 13 : Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned the Afghan Taliban that Islamabad will strike terrorists' hideouts inside the country if the de facto rulers in Kabul are unable to rein in anti-Pakistan militants. Asif, in a recent interview with VOA, said in his late-February visit to Afghanistan that he reminded Taliban leaders to live up to their cross-border security commitments forbidding terrorists from using Afghan soil to plan and conduct attacks on Pakistan or Islamabad will take action, Samaa TV reported. "If that is not done, at some point we'll have to resort to some measures, which will definitely - wherever (terrorists) are, their sanctuaries on Afghan soil - we'll have to hit them," he said. "We'll have to hit them because we cannot tolerate this situation for long." Since the Afghan Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence in terror attacks led by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an ideological offshoot and ally of the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan alleges the TTP leadership is operating from Afghanistan after Pakistani military operations in the border areas a few years ago forced it to flee along with thousands of fighters, Samaa TV reported. Asif claimed Taliban leadership "responded very well" to the recent warning. He said he believes that the Afghan Taliban are trying to "disentangle" from the TTP, after receiving support from the group to fight the US-led coalition troops. Pakistan's military is now contemplating a comprehensive plan, including a possible military operation in areas bordering Afghanistan, Samaa TV reported. Asif said the economic crisis is the biggest threat for the country right now, and the military, which receives the largest chunk of the annual federal budget, is looking at curtailing its expenses. Mumbai, April 13 : Actor, model and theatre artist Pratham Sharma, who is one of the contestants in web reality show on 'In Real Love' hosted by Rannvijay Singha and Gauahar Khan, shared his experience being on the show, it's concept and how he got the opportunity to be part of it. Pratham said: "I saw an open casting call and applied for it. After applying, I had to go through many rounds of auditions: fill out forms, attend zoom calls with Raghu and Rajiv, meet in person, take part in psychological evaluation, background check and fitness tests; if I failed any one of them I would not have made it to the show. So this whole process was very rigorous and time-consuming. It took around 9-10 months of audition before they finally chose me." Sharing about what attracted him towards this reality show he said: "I was single and thought why not show the whole world who am I as a person, all those natural real sides of me which are left out when you are portraying a character in a movie, as an actor I have always believed that it is very important to show case your real personality and I believe reality shows give you that chance. I wanted to show the whole world who I really am as Pratham Sharma, not just being true to myself but also showing off my skills as an actor. So I knew this platform would give me this chance and I just went for it." When asked if this show is similar to other dating-based reality show like 'Splitsvilla', he added: "This show is different from 'Splitsvilla' because it does not include tasks to win your love, or competitions where you have a chance of winning your love. It is a very real-life situational show with truth and honesty. There is no force or compulsion on anyone to make a connection. It's a very light-hearted, fun and romantic show with real life feelings and emotions." Guwahati, April 13 : Former National Register of Citizens (NRC) coordinator in Assam, Prateek Hajela would face probe as the state government has raised a complaint with the Directorate of Economic Offences and Vigilance against him on the alleged irregularities during the NRC updating exercise. Hajela was appointed as NRC coordinator on the directive of the Supreme Court. However, soon after the NRC list was out in August 2019, the top court ordered the Centre and the Assam government to transfer Hajela to Madhya Pradesh for the longest period of time possible as there were several complaints filed against him. There were allegations that he had done mass irregularities during the NRC updating exercise. The Madhya Pradesh government on last month relieved him from his duties as senior secretary of the Ayush Department and was told to return to his home cadre in Assam. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Wednesday said that Hajela will have to face investigation for allegedly breaking the law while updating the NRC that was intended to find "illegal immigrants" in the state. He also said that the case has been forwarded to the directorates of economic offences and vigilance by the Assam government. It has been learned that Hajela does not want to come back to Assam and may take VRS. "If he (Prateek Hajela) wishes to take the VRS, he can but he must be present before the investigation team whenever he is called," Sarma said. Already, several cases on alleged irregularities in the NRC exercise were kept pending against Hajela. Paris, April 13 : The European Space Agency's (ESA) is all set to launch its first-ever mission to find alien life on the icy worlds of Jupiter on Thursday. The JUpiter ICy moons Explorer or JUICE mission is slated to take off at 8.15 a.m. EDT (5.45 p.m. IST) on Thursday from Europe's Spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana. "Our main question is whether we could find habitable places within the Jupiter system. Learning more about Jupiter will tell us more about our #SolarSystem & other systems," said Olivier Witasse, ESA planetary scientist. Witasse said that the project is 32 years long in total, of which 16 years were spent in the making. After an eight-year journey to Jupiter, there will be another eight years of collecting data and then analysing it. The mission will be the first to orbit the Moon of another planet. JUICE will make detailed observations of Jupiter and its three large ocean-bearing moons - Ganymede, Callisto and Europa - with a suite of instruments. The mission will characterise these moons as both planetary objects and possible habitats, explore Jupiter's complex environment in depth, and study the wider Jupiter system as an archetype for gas giants across the Universe. "We'll explore Jupiter and its icy moons, which are Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto with a particular focus on Ganymede, which is a unique object in the solar system," Witasse said. "It is the only moon with a magnetic field and the biggest moon in the solar system. The main goal is to understand whether there are habitable environments among those icy moons and around a giant planet like Jupiter." According to ESA, the JUICE mission cost an estimated $1.7 billion and is a product of "global" cooperation between 23 countries, 18 academic institutions, and 83 private companies. Lucknow, April 13 : Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) president Mayawati has demanded a high-level probe into the encounter of Asad Ahmad and his associate in Jhansi. In a tweet, the former Uttar Pradesh chief minister said: "Apprehensions of a repeat of the Vikas Dubey encounter has come true, and people were discussing about the 'truth' behind the encounter." Mayawati said that a high-level probe would set to rest all speculations, and bring the truth out in the open. The BSP chief said this while reacting to the encounter of Asad, son of Atiq Ahmad and shooter Ghulam, both of whom were killed in an encounter in Jhansi on Thursday. New Delhi, April 13 : L&T Technology Services (LTTS) has agreed to pay $9,928,000 to resolve fraud allegations stating that it underpaid visa fees owed to the US in violation of the False Claims Act. Between 2014 and 2019, the Indian company with offices in Edison, New Jersey, underpaid visa fees by acquiring inexpensive B-1 visas, rather than more expensive H-1B visas, the Attorney's Office District of South Carolina said in a release. The investigation leading to this settlement was initiated through the filing of a whistleblower (qui tam) complaint in the US District Court in Charleston, South Carolina. "This settlement sends a clear message to those who seek to defraud the US government and exploit our nation's laws, that you will be found and held accountable," said Ronnie Martinez, Special Agent In Charge of HSI Charlotte, covering North and South Carolina. LTTS, a publicly listed subsidiary of Larsen & Toubro Limited, provides services and personnel to companies in the US. Most of the personnel are foreign nationals, who are required to have visas in order to lawfully enter or remain in the US. B-1 visas generally do not permit visa holders to perform paid labour while in the US. According to the release, during the time period in question, that is between 2014 and 2019, fees for B-1 visas were between approximately $200 to $300, and there was no limit on the number of B-1 visas that could be issued. Although H-1B visas permit foreign nationals to perform paid labour while in this country, the visa fees for such work visas were between approximately $4,000 to $6,000. Additionally, such visas are more difficult to obtain, because they are limited by an annual cap of 65,000, to foreign nationals with the equivalent of a bachelor's degree in an occupation requiring highly specialised knowledge; plus an additional 20,000 H-1B visas annually to those in such occupations with a master's degree or its equivalent. "This settlement is a success in deterring companies in seeking to evade and violate the laws and regulations governing the non-immigrant visa programs managed by the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security," said Chris Hileman, Special Agent in Charge, Department of State, Office of Inspector General. The LTTS is cooperating with the US in this matter, and has taken significant steps to ensure compliance with US visa laws, the release stated. New Delhi, April 13 : Delhi's Rohini court on Thursday took cognisance of the 800-page charge sheet against seven accused filed by the Delhi Police in the Kanjhawala case, in which a 20-year-old woman was killed after being dragged for several kilometres by a car. After taking cognisance of the charge sheet, Metropolitan Magistrate Sanya Dalal listed the matter for scrutiny and committal of the case to sessions court on April 18. A copy of the charge sheet was also supplied to the accused. Accused persons Deepak Khanna (26) Amit Khanna (25), Krishan (27), Mithun (26) and Manoj Mittal were arrested by the Police on January 2. Two other co-accused Ashutosh Bhardwaj and Ankush, were earlier given bail by the court. Amit Khanna and Bhardwaj were also booked in accordance with the Motor Vehicles Act's rules. According to the charge sheet, Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mithun and Mittal have been accused of murder. "During the course of investigation, seven men were arrested and upon its completion, a charge sheet of around 800 pages was prepared with around 120 witnesses," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Outer), Harendra Singh, had earlier said. The police had said, "On the basis of the material and evidence collected during the investigation, to the best of capabilities, sufficient material has come on record to prosecute the accused." It said all the accused were booked for criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, harbouring offender, common intention and false information, with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person. Amit Khanna has been charged with additional offences by the Delhi Police for reckless driving and causing hurt by endangering their lives or personal safety. Initially, the case was registered under Sections 279 and 304 of the IPC but later, police had added section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code in the matter. On January 21, the Rohini court had dismissed Deepak Khanna's bail plea. Anjali died a painful death on the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 in the Kanjhawala area after her scooty was hit by the car and her body was dragged for around 12 kilometres. Mumbai, April 13 : The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to 'erase the name of Indias first Education Minister and Bharat Ratna, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, from history because he was a Muslim. NCP national spokesperson Clyde Crasto said that the BJP-led government at the Centre is using the NCERT (National Council of Educational Research and Training) to wipe out Maulana Azad's identity and his glorious contributions from India's education system. Citing instances, he said a para in the first chapter of the old Class XI NCERT political science textbook said: "The Constituent Assembly had eight major Committees on different subjects. Usually, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel, Maulana Azad or Ambedkar chaired these Committees." "However, in the new version of the same textbook by NCERT, the name of Maulana Azad has been omitted and the same sentence now reads: 'Usually, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rajendra Prasad, Sardar Patel or B.R. Ambedkar chaired these committees'. This is truly unfortunate," Crasto said. Suspecting a systematic conspiracy to delete Maulana Azad from history, the NCP leader pointed out how last year the Minority Affairs Ministry had abruptly discontinued the 'Maulana Azad Fellowship', which was started in 2009 (by the former UPA government) to provide financial help to students from six notified minorities for a period of five years. The NCERT comes under the Government of India which is currently led by the BJP, and therefore the question that comes to the mind is whether they are seeking to obliterate the name of India's first Education Minister because of his religion, Crasto said. "There appears no other reason why they would do this to the first Education Minister of Independent India and one of our leading freedom fighters. The NCERT must clarify and answer to the citizens why Maulana Azad's name is missing in the new version of the textbook, and how it will rectify this error," Crasto said. Maulana Azad, a distinguished Islamic scholar, author, academician and a prominent freedom fighter, was elected as the youngest President of Indian National Congress aged 35, and later led the historic Khilafat Movement. After Independence, Maulana Azad served as India's first Education Minister for over 10 years, during which he laid the foundations for the country's massive academic network. Acknowledging his contributions, his birthday - November 11 - is celebrated as National Education Day. Mumbai, April 13 : Comedian Rahul Subramanian, who is receiving a lot of appreciation for his recently released stand-up special 'Rahul Talks To People', said that the format of crowd-work is quite challenging. The new stand-up special sees Rahul ditching the widely used format of monologue in stand-up comedy and interacting with the audience to sketch the gig. Talking about how the two forms are different, Rahul told IANS: "Although the ethos is the same that you have to make a joke as a comedian, this form of comedy - the crowd-work, is extremely different from the classical monologue format." A comedian has to walk a very thin line while working their way around what comes next from the audience member as opposed to the prepared stand-up gig where they have the luxury of time and things being under their control since the performance solely rides on them. He further mentioned: "It is difficult because in crowd work you're interacting with a different mind and it's not in your control how a person would react to a particular line, you have to constantly work on the timing of the joke with the answer or the reaction of the person and look for spaces where you can drop a punchline. But, it's more immersive as every time you interact with someone, many new angles crop up during the conversation. It's an active give and take, the audience also feels involved." 'Rahul Talks To People' is available to stream on Prime Video. Islamabad, April 13 : Pakistans Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has confirmed arresting Iftikhar Rasool Ghumman, who is the security in-charge of former Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a "money-laundering case", media reports said on Thursday. The Anti-Money Laundering Cell (AMLC) of the agency busted an internally active racket involved in the illegal business of money-laundering based out of Lahore and arrested two members of the gang, the FIA said, The News reported. According to the FIA officials, Ghumman was running a fake international money-laundering network along with Qaisar Mushtaq and Asim Hussain, the report said. The officials said the entire network has been exposed and the people engaged in money-laundering through 'hundi' and 'hawala' have been rounded up, adding that the racket was involved in transferring billions of rupees to different countries through illegal ways. They added that the racket was using more than 40 fake companies for transferring money to other countries. Rejecting the FIA allegations, sources in the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) said Ghumman is a credible party leader who ran established international business in different countries, and that he was authorised to take care of the imports and exports on behalf of the party, The News reported. Condemning the arrest, PTI chief Imran Khan alleged that people close to him are being harassed, abducted and tortured. In a series of tweets, Khan said: "Today, my security in-charge Iftikhar Ghumman has been abducted. This is all part of the London Plan where Nawaz Sharif was given assurances that PTI would be crushed." "So now people close to me, along with my leadership, are being harassed, abducted, tortured and confronted with sham cases across Pakistan in total violation of the Constitution and rule of law," the former premier added. Masdar, one of the world's fastest-growing clean energy companies, has further expanded its presence in the United States' renewables market after closing the acquisition of a 50 percent stake in a combined solar and battery storage project from EDF Renewables North America. The Big Beau project, located in California, comprises a 128-megawatt (MWac) photovoltaic (PV) solar plant and a 40 MW/160 MWh battery energy storage system. It is one of eight projects that Masdar and EDF Renewables have agreed to jointly partner in, with a combined capacity of 1.6 gigawatts (GW). HE Dr. Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, COP28 President-Designate and Chairman of Masdar, said, "Big Beau and the other projects that we are operating with EDF Renewables are already making an active contribution to US clean energy targets, highlighting the strength of the UAE-US relationship that the recent PACE announcement seeks to build on. If we are to keep the objective of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees alive, we need to see countries coming together in concerted action - one of the key areas of focus for the upcoming COP28 in the UAE. Partnerships between companies like Masdar and EDF Renewables are also vital in ensuring we hold back emissions, not progress." Tristan Grimbert, President and Chief Executive Officer of EDF Renewables North America, said, "EDF Renewables' partnership with Masdar enjoys a successful history and today we celebrate another project to add to the growing portfolio. Decarbonization of the energy sector will take the combined effort of developers, offtakers, and investors alike working in collaboration toward ambitious goals. We are grateful for our productive partnership with Masdar built on a foundation of progress." Masdar and EDF Renewables North America agreed in 2020 to jointly partner in the 1.6 GW portfolio, which includes three utility-scale wind projects in Nebraska and Texas totaling 815 MW, and five solar projects in California totaling 689 MW - two of which include battery energy storage systems representing 75 MW. All of the projects are operational, and combined they are displacing more than 3 million tonnes of emissions per year. In January, UAE and US officials announced that US$20 billion will be allocated to fund 15 GW of clean energy projects in the US before 2035, led by Masdar and a consortium of US private investors, under the Partnership for Accelerating Clean Energy (PACE) between the two countries. Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, Chief Executive Officer, Masdar, said, "Masdar has a strong working relationship with EDF that originated in the Middle East and now extends across the globe, and we are pleased to further strengthen that relationship today. We are also committed to growing our activities in the US over the coming years and see it as an extremely important strategic market for Masdar. I look forward to growing our presence in the US as a developer and independent power producer, as part of our targeted global expansion of reaching at least 100 GW by the end of this decade." EDF Renewables, one of the largest renewable developers in North America, is committed to providing solutions to decarbonize the energy sector. With 35 years of experience, 16 GW of wind, solar, and storage projects developed, and 13 GW under operations and maintenance contracts, EDF Renewables provides integrated energy solutions from grid-scale power to electric vehicle charging. Masdar recently announced a new shareholding structure and additional focus on green hydrogen, making it one of the largest clean energy companies of its kind. With a goal of achieving 100 GW renewable energy capacity and green hydrogen production of 1 million tonnes per annum annually by 2030, the new Masdar is a clean energy powerhouse that will spearhead the UAE's Net Zero by 2050 Strategic Initiative and drive the global energy transition. About Masdar Abu Dhabi Future Energy Company (Masdar) is the UAE's clean energy champion and one of the largest companies of its kind in the world, advancing the development and deployment of renewable energy and green hydrogen technologies to address global sustainability challenges. Established in 2006, Masdar is today active in over 40 countries, helping them to achieve their clean energy objectives and advance sustainable development. Masdar is jointly owned by Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Mubadala Investment Company (Mubadala), and Abu Dhabi National Energy Company (TAQA), and under this ownership the company is targeting a renewable energy portfolio capacity of at least 100 gigawatts (GW) by 2030 and an annual green hydrogen production capacity of up to 1 million tonnes by the same year. EDF Renewables North America is a market leading independent power producer and service provider with 35 years of expertise in renewable energy. The Company delivers grid-scale power: wind (onshore and offshore), solar photovoltaic, and storage projects; distribution-scale power: solar and storage; asset optimization: technical, operational, and commercial expertise to maximize performance of generating projects, and onsite solutions, through the Company's PowerFlex subsidiary, offering a full suite of onsite energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers: solar, storage, EV charging, energy management systems, and microgrids. EDF Renewables' North American portfolio consists of 16 GW of developed projects and 13 GW under service contracts. EDF Renewables North America is a subsidiary of EDF Renewables, the dedicated renewable energy affiliate of the EDF Group. For more information visit: www.edf-re.com. Connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. London, April 13 : Russian Ambassador to the UK Andrey Kelin on Thursday accused The Times of succumbing to "outside pressure" or even "instructions from authorities" in removing an interview with him from its website, reports said. The story in question was published last Sunday, but as of Thursday, it was no longer available on The Times' web page, and readers, instead, receive a notice that the article "has been removed", RT reported. An online service that records the content of popular internet links dates Tuesday morning as the latest snapshot of the article. The envoy, as per a Russian Embassy statement, condemned the removal of the interview. In a message to Times Chief Editor Tony Gallagher, he described the decision as "deeply revealing" and suggested that the newspaper had taken the step after "(coming) under fire from the influential local anti-Russian troupe". "Your newspaper has sadly caved in to outside pressure or, highly likely, instructions from the authorities. "Hardly the hallmark of a courageous independent editorial policy. And bad news for your readers, who have been deprived of a balanced hearing of viewpoints and, consequently, the ability to make their own judgment about the crisis in Ukraine," Kelin contended. The original article in The Times, titled "Russia is ready for ceasefire but not defeat, says ambassador to UK", explained Moscow's stance on the conflict with Ukraine, as well as the possibility of peace talks. The Ambassador commented on Ukrainian domestic issues, such as the poor economic situation and the crackdown on the Ukrainian Orthodox Church by President Vladimir Zelensky. The discussion also covered Russia's relations with China. The Russian Embassy has published a copy of the article in full, in protest against its removal by the newspaper. Islamabad, April 13 : Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday lashed out at Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, saying that "his lies and lust for power imperiled Pakistan's vital foreign policy interests", media reports said. The Pakistan premier took to Twitter to launch a tirade against the former Prime Minister, saying that "his hypocrisy knows no bounds", The Express Tribune reported. "From accusing the United States of toppling his government to now wooing the US to mend fences, Imran Niazi's hypocrisy knows no bounds," Sharif said. Sharif's remarks came days after US Congressman Brad Sherman shared a letter that he has written to the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken over "democracy in Pakistan", and more specifically, the alleged "political victimisation" of the PTI. Moreover, earlier in March, the Democratic party Congressman had released a video message and urged the US administration to support democracy and human rights in Pakistan, sounding an alarm over what he called the "alleged custodial torture and sexual abuse of political figures" such as PTI leaders Shahbaz Gill and Azam Swati. In April 2022, Imran Khan had sent the Foreign Office cypher to Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial, claiming that a foreign country had sent a threatening message through Pakistan's envoy. However, a few months later, the deposed premier took a U-turn on his "foreign conspiracy narrative" wherein he had accused the US of engineering his ouster from power by supporting then opposition's no-confidence motion, The Express Tribune reported. Shillong, April 13 : The Indian Armys 22-day-long pan-northeast car rally 'Purvottar Bharat Parikrama', which was flagged off from the Fort William in Kolkata on March 22 with an aim to reach out to the youth, freedom fighters, gallantry award winners, martyrs' families and common people in the northeastern region, has culminated in Shillong. Meghalaya Governor Phagu Chauhan flagged in the car rally at the Umroi Military Station here on Wednesday. Defence sources said that the 22-day car rally covered a distance of around 4,000 km across eight northeastern states -- Sikkim, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Mizoram and Meghalaya -- apart from West Bengal, navigating through scenic routes, the extreme terrain of Nathula pass in Sikkim, Se-la tunnel and Bum-la in Arunachal Pradesh, the War memorial at Kohima along with many historical locations. The rally comprising 10 vehicles visited various war memorials, while the 38 members taking part in it held motivational talks at schools and colleges. The Governor felicitated the team leader, Brigadier K.M. Shende, Param Vir Chakra awardee honorary Captain Yogendra Singh Yadav, and lauded the efforts of the Indian Army in service of the nation. He also highlighted the superlative coordination between the Army and the civil administration in Meghalaya and commended the efforts of the Indian Army to assist the ex-servicemen and veterans of the state. Defence sources said that the rally was aimed to promote national unity, camaraderie and national integration among the people of northeast India, bringing together different sections of society and building a 'New India' that is stronger and more prosperous. It also focussed on enhancing awareness about the Indian Army and the Agniveer programme. The event was conducted in collaboration with the North Eastern Council under the Department of North Eastern Region as part of 'Azadi KaAmrit Mahotsav', sources said. New Delhi, April 13 : A 19-year-old teenager has lodged a complaint that she was gang-raped by two men in South Delhi's Begumpur area, an official said on Thursday, adding that the incident occurred two and half years ago when the victim was a minor. According to police, the woman on Wednesday lodged a written complaint at Malviya Nagar police station wherein she levelled allegations that she came in contact with one alleged person named Anubhav in September 2020 through social media when she was in need of a job. "Therefore, on the pretext of providing a job, she was called by Anubhav at Malviya Nagar Metro station where the alleged Anubhav along with two friends were waiting for her in a car. She met them and they moved the car and parked somewhere in Begampur area where two of them raped her one by one," said Chandan Chowdhary, Deputy Commissioner of Police (South). "The accused made a video clip and threatened to post the video clip on social media. The alleged Anubhav again threatened her on the pretext of sharing the video on social media," said the DCP. "The Delhi Commission for Women's counsellor was called and according to allegations, a case under section 376-D (gang-rape) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code and section 6 POCSO Act has been registered at Malviya Nagar police station and further investigation has been taken up," said the official. New York, April 13 : Amid massive ongoing layoffs in the tech sector, the top 30 H-1B visa employers hired 34,000 new workers in 2022 and laid off at least 85,000 workers in 2022 and early 2023, an Economic Policy Institute (EPI) analysis found. According to EPI researchers, tech and outsourcing companies are exploiting the highly-skilled H-1B visa program, created to fill labor shortages in professional fields, by laying-off a bevy of workers employed in firms like Meta, Microsoft, Google, Amazon, etc. "Most employers hire H-1B workers because they can be underpaid and are de facto indentured to the employer," the EPI research said. Also, 13 of the top 30 H-1B visa employers were outsourcing firms that underpay migrant workers and offshore US jobs to countries where labor costs are much lower. "Its implementation has been bungled by the US Departments of Labor and Homeland Security," the analysis said, adding that since employers aren't required to test the US labor market to see if any workers are available before hiring an H-1B worker or pay their H-1B workers a fair wage, employers have exploited the program. ECI said, in 2022, 48,000 employers registered with United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) in hopes of hiring at least one H-1B worker, and nearly 30,000 employers ultimately hired at least one new H-1B worker. Citing an example, the ECI research said Amazon was at the top of the list in terms of both new H-1B workers and layoffs. It hired 6,400 new H-1B workers in 2022, and hired the most new H-1B workers in 2021 as well, when it hired nearly 6,200 workers. The tech giant has either recently laid off or plans to lay off 27,150 of its employees -- more than twice the number of H-1B workers it hired in 2021 and 2022 combined. Google and Meta, both long-time top H-1B employers, together hired over 3,100 new H-1B workers last year.The duo laid off 33,000 employees, almost 11 times the number of new H-1B workers they hired in 2022. The H-1B program is the largest US temporary work visa program, with a total of approximately 600,000 workers employed by 50,000 employers. Most of these workers are employed in occupations like computer systems analysis and software development. Visas for new workers are capped at 85,000 per year, but many employers are exempt from that annual cap, including universities and their affiliated nonprofit entities, nonprofit research organizations, and government research organizations. The study urged President Joe Biden to "implement regulations and policy guidance to prevent misuse of the program, stop the exploitation of college-educated migrant workers, and ensure the program is consistent with congressional intent". Bhubaneswar, April 13 : Senior BJP leader and spokesperson Sambit Patra on Thursday slammed Odisha government for its move to hand over 15,000 acres land of private and agricultural landowners in Puri district to Vedanta Foundation to set up a university. Patra held a press conference here a day after the Supreme Court's order against Odisha government's move to provide land to Anil Agarwal Foundation in Puri. The BJP leader said the Odisha government had signed an MoU with Anil Agarwal Foundation in 2006 to provide around 15,000 acres contiguous land in Puri district to establish a university. Many affected people have challenged it and in 2010, the then Lokpal had termed it illegal. Later, the Orissa High Court had also pronounced it as illegal, Patra said. Through a special leave petition, the Odisha government and the Foundation had moved the Supreme Court, which pronounced its judgment on Wednesday, he said. The SC has criticised the Odisha government, which has tried to grab the land of thousands of farmers and poor people in Puri, Patra said. The court, in its order said, the most important aspect, which is required to be considered is the non-application of mind by the state government on environmental aspects and passing of two rivers from the acquired lands in question. "It is not in dispute that from the lands in question two rivers namely 'Nuanai' and 'Nala' are flowing, which as such were acquired by the state government. The control of the rivers would be with the said private company, which would violate the Doctrine of Public Trust," Patra reads out the court order. The government has moved to hand over two rivers to the company. If the rivers are given to a private company, the residents will be affected, he said. Though there is a Wildlife Sanctuary, which is just adjacent across the road to the proposed university and the lands acquired, the state government has not considered it, the BJP spokesperson pointed out. "The state government was only concerned about the private company and how to give benefit to the company, not the public and farmers, who are affected by the project," he stated. The apex court has also asked the beneficiary company - Anil Agarwal Foundation, to deposit Rs 5 lakh. Reacting on this, BJD spokesperson Sasmit Patra said, "Present Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal was the revenue minister when land was allotted to Vedanta. Senior BJP leader Samir Dey was the education minister during the time. Both the leaders had supported the move of the government in the Assembly at that time." From the statement of Sambit Patra, it is clear that there is in-deference between BJP leaders in Odisha, he added. Mumbai, April 13 : Actor Alok Arora, who has been part of films like 'Manto' and 'Raazi', is currently garnering appreciation for playing the character of Raghu Jhalani in the streaming show 'Jubilee'. Raghu is the owner of a theatre in a refugee camp for those who fled after the Partition. The actor revealed what helped him understand the character and the story setting better - the fact that his grandparents were affected by the Partition. Talking about his role he said: "Just being part of a project helmed by Vikramaditya Motwane is a dream for many, and playing such an eminent part added up to my excitement. So the role is about a refugee from divided India who lands in Bombay and is heading a gang of youths in Sindhi camp." He further mentioned: "Trying to make a living through black marketing, making spurious liqour, having some influential political contacts. But as the series progresses you see him moving along the hierarchies of society due to his friendship with Jay Khanna who becomes a star. I really enjoyed playing the relationship dynamic with Jay Khanna, from being foes to friends as an unsaid confidante." Alok is an FTII graduate and is well aware of how to ignite his creative impulses based on personal experiences. He shared: "Also, what made the role all the more special was the connection I felt with the era. My maternal grandparents had been affected by the Partition. They had lost many family members and left everything in Lyallpur (Pakistan) and moved to Delhi as Punjabi refugees. I had heard all these stories from my nani in childhood, so the emotional connection I felt was huge." The first part of 'Jubilee' is available to stream on Prime Video with part 2 set to drop on the streamer on Friday. Ahmedabad, April 13 : The National Fishworkers Forum on Thursday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Pakistani counterpart Shehbaz Sharif to release over 750 prisoners (fisher folks) languishing in the jails of both countries. Morbi-based Usman Ghani, the Secretary of National Fishworkers Forum, said: "We request the government to release fisher folks of both sides in the holy month of Ramzan and on the occasion of Eid. We also request that fishermen who are caught only with fishing equipment should be released... only those who have any lethal weapon should be taken in custody." These prisoners are charged with violation of the Passport Act of the respective countries for trespassing maritime boundaries and imprisoned after trail by courts with prison sentences. Leo Colaco, chairperson, World Forum Of Fisher People, said: "Earlier, the prison sentence used to be for a few days, a few weeks or a maximum of a month but now, the situation is so bad that fishermen who were taken into custody on October 17, 2018 are still in prison. Families don't even know if their members are alive or not. Due to the tense relationship between India and Pakistan, innocent families are suffering." As per reports, 654 Indian fishermen are at Landi Jail in Pakistan's Karachi. Similarly, 83 Pakistani fishermen are in various prisons in Gujarat as per the Fisher Organisation records. A total of 118 Pakistani fishermen are in Indian jails. The fishers' arrests have been happening from 2015-16 to 2022 and many of those arrested have already served their sentences. Pakistan-India Peoples' Forum for Peace and Democracy spokesperson Jatin Desai, who has worked closely with fishermen for decades, said: "This is a human issue and it should be dealt with accordingly. A whole family collapses when one member is arrested without his fault. Over 15 families from Diu are here to demand justice. A similar briefing is simultaneously taking place in Pakistan, right now. We have the support of Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum, and South Asian Solidarity Collective." Jayaben Baria has not seen her 21-year-old son Akshay Baria for over five years. She told IANS: "My husband met with an accident while he was working on a ship, he can not even get up from bed. I have not seen my son in five years. I am the sole bread earner for a family of five members and life has never been tougher." Surat, April 13 : A Surat Sessions Court hearing an appeal seeking stay on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's conviction in a criminal defamation case has reserved its verdict, which will now be pronounced on April 20, 'Bar and Bench' reported. Rahul Gandhi's counsel argued in the court that his disqualification from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in a criminal defamation case over the Modi surname would cause him "irreparable loss and irreversible injury". Senior advocate R.S. Cheema, who represented Rahul Gandhi, claimed that the conviction based on an 'imagined' defamation was unfair since only an aggrieved person could file a complaint. Cheema argued that Rahul Gandhi's speech wasn't defamatory unless taken out of context and magnified. He also pointed to the geographical jurisdiction of the complainant, Surat West BJP MLA Purnesh Modi, stating that the speech was made in Kolar (Karnataka), and the complainant received a message on his WhatsApp in Surat. The senior advocate claimed that the trial court was misled, leading to Rahul Gandhi's conviction and a two-year sentence, which has been suspended until his appeal is decided by the courts. Purnesh Modi, meanwhile, responded to Rahul Gandhi's plea for a stay on his conviction, calling it a "dirty display of childish arrogance". He claimed that Rahul Gandhi was a repeat offender and that his appearance in court with a battery of Congress leaders was a "very dirty display of childish arrogance and an immature act of bringing pressure upon the court". After hearing the arguments, judge Robin Mogera reserved the verdict in the matter. The order will now be pronounced on April 20. On March 25, Rahul Gandhi was suspended from the Lok Sabha following his conviction in the criminal defamation case. The Lok Sabha Secretariat had also declared his constituency in Kerala's Wayanad as vacant. On March 24, a court in Surat had found Rahul Gandhi guilty and sentenced him to two years in prison in a 2019 criminal defamation case over his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surname. The Congress leader, however, was granted bail and his sentence was suspended for 30 days to allow him to appeal the Surat court verdict. The case was filed against Rahul Gandhi by Purnesh Modi for saying "how come all thieves have the common surname Modi" while campaigning in Karnataka ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. New Delhi, April 13 : The Delhi High Court on Thursday asked the CBI, the ED, former telecom minister A Raja, and other parties to submit their submissions in the appeal contesting the acquittal of the defendants and companies in the 2G spectrum allocation case. A bench of Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma asked the parties to file only brief written submissions. The judge set the matter for May 22 and 23 as the CBI's counsel pleaded with the court to list the matter as soon as possible so that he may present his case on granting leave to appeal. "The matter requires urgent hearing. Fix anytime of the day for conducting day-to-day hearing in the matter," counsel submitted. Leave to appeal is a formal permission granted by a court to a party to challenge a decision in a higher court. Judge Brijesh Sethi, who presided over the case in the past but resigned on November 30, had on November 23 discharged it from his board due to a lack of time. Before demitting the office, Justice Sethi had decided various petitions and applications filed by the acquitted individuals and firms in the three cases arising out of the 2G scam probe lodged by the CBI and ED. After the CBI concludes submissions in its main case, the high court will take up the money laundering case brought by the ED, in which also all of the accused were acquitted by the special court. On December 21, 2017, a special court acquitted Raja, DMK MP Kanimozhi, and other defendants in the scam-related CBI and ED cases. On March 19, 2018, the ED approached the high court challenging the special court's order acquitting all the accused. A day later, the CBI too challenged in the high court the acquittal of the accused in the case. The CBI had told the High Court that the trial court verdict in the 2G spectrum scam case, which acquitted all the accused persons, was challenged following an opinion from the Central government that it is a "fit case" for appeal. The scam came to light almost seven years ago when the Comptroller and Auditor General, in a report, held then Telecom Minister Raja responsible for causing the state exchequer a loss of Rs 1,76,379 crore by allocating 2G spectrum licenses at throwaway prices. However, the trial court found that the prosecution failed to prove the charges. This verdict, however, doesn't override the Supreme Court judgement that the licenses issued during 2G spectrum allocation were illegal. Inspire Clean Energy provides residents of PA, NJ, and MD with a renewable energy option that supports jobs, improves air quality, and strengthens the regional economy A new program with three Pennsylvania wind farms owned by subsidiaries of Vitol allows Inspire Clean Energy to give residents in three states a renewable energy choice that improves air quality, supports jobs, and strengthens the regional economy. Inspire Clean Energy is excited to now bring more transparent clean energy choices to residents of Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. Credit: Inspire Clean Energy Inspire's four-year offtake from the three Western Pennsylvania wind farms - Twin Ridges Wind Farm, Patton Wind Farm, and Highland North Wind Park - is forecasted to generate approximately 201,000 MWh of clean, renewable energy in its first year and 535,000 MWh of clean energy through 2026. On an annual basis, that's enough energy to power nearly 19,000 homes, or the equivalent of the energy it takes to power the Penn State Nittany Lions at Beaver Stadium for 29 years, the Steelers at Acrisure Stadium for four years, or the Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field for two years. "Just as Pennsylvanians can choose a farmers market to get their favorite local fruits and veggies, with Inspire, they'll now have access to local, renewable energy for their home," said Stephanie Donner, Interim CEO of Inspire. "We're thrilled to expand this offering to New Jersey and Maryland residents who can also choose regional renewable energy to positively impact their respective communities." This offering provides greater transparency to electricity customers regarding where their renewable energy is generated. Most renewable energy retailers give customers access to clean energy sources such as wind and solar through Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). This model reduces dependency on sources such as coal and can help reduce a customer's carbon footprint. By sourcing RECs from local renewable energy generators, Inspire is increasing the transparency of their product offering and having a greater impact on the local community, economy and environment. "This new wind farm program is only the latest example of Inspire's continued effort to supply residents with clean, local energy sources," said Donner. "When our customers have the latest renewable energy options, they can choose to benefit the environment and the economy in their region, their state, and, ultimately, the planet." Inspire's new Power Local plans are now available across Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey. These 100% renewable energy plans are backed by wind farms in the Keystone State with 50% from the three Pennsylvania wind farms and 50% from U.S. made wind, solar and hydro. Inspire plans to retire any RECs associated with uncommitted volumes in satisfaction of its RPS compliance obligations in PA, MD and NJ. Inspire Clean Energy is a mission-driven B Corp. A B Corp Certification means that a company meets the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability. While Pennsylvania produces the second most energy in the U.S. out of all 50 states, only 3.8% of its electricity is generated from renewable energy sources. With this program, Inspire hopes to encourage more people to partake in Pennsylvania's transition to renewable energy sources. In the past businesses have had direct access to transparent, renewable energy, but homeowners have not had the same access. Customers now have the opportunity to have an increased understanding of where their clean energy is coming from and how their energy bill is supporting their community. Additional information on the program, as well as Inspire Energy's various plans and pricing, can be found here. Images for media use may also be found here. Note All renewable energy equivalencies were calculated using EIA as the source. About Inspire Clean Energy Inspire Clean Energy is a mission-driven, clean energy company that subscribes people to a world where energy from renewable sources is a better choice for their home and the environment. With Inspire Clean Energy, members receive easy access to clean energy and peace of mind from a predictable price for their home's electricity supply. Founded in 2014, Inspire Clean Energy has made it easy for hundreds of thousands of people to join the clean energy movement and take action against climate change. Together with its customers, Inspire Clean Energy has helped avoid over 5.6 billion pounds of carbon emissions (CO2e) from entering the Earth's atmosphere. Inspire is a certified B Corp and wholly owned subsidiary of Shell New Energies US LLC, with headquarters in Santa Monica, CA and Philadelphia, PA. Inspire consistently ranks highly among the Forbes Best Start Up Employers in America, Best Places to Work in LA, and was named the 2021 Retail Energy Supplier of the Year by Energy Marketing Conferences. https://www.inspirecleanenergy.com/ Media Contact: Kevin Kearney kkearney@golin.com SOURCE Inspire Energy Holdings, LLC Kathmandu, April 13 : Nepal has become a founding member of the International Big Cats Alliance initiated by India. During the launch of the alliance under India's initiative, Minister for Energy Shakti Bahadur Basnet handed over the letter mentioning Nepal will be associated with the alliance as a founding member to Indian Minister for Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav. Basnet had represented as the special envoy of Nepal's Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias 'Prachanda' in the conference organised in India that took place from April 9-11, according to a statement issued by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife on Thursday. Only in April last year, Nepal has became the member of international solar alliance initiated by India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday launched the alliance aimed at the conservation of seven big cats namely tiger, lion, leopard, snow leopard, cheetah, jaguar and puma. India has assured support over five years with guaranteed funding of $100 million for the alliance. Speaking at the launching ceremony, Minister Basnet said the tiger population in Nepal reached 335 in 2022 from 121 in 2010 as a result of the government working in partnership with local communities, security agencies and conservation partners. Representatives from 97 countries were present while announcing the alliance where different aspects of tiger conservation was discussed, said the statement. Nepal successfully achieved its goal of doubling the tiger population by 2022, as per its commitment, along with 12 other tiger range countries, after the first tiger summit in 2010 in St Petersburg. Kolkata, April 13 : In less than a month after Ex Vayu Prahar close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Eastern Theatre, the Indian Army and Indian Air Force (IAF) conducted yet another tactical drill in the first week of April to validate multi-mode insertion of strategic forces along the Frontier. Ex Vayu Prahar was a 96-hour multi-domain air-land exercise conducted during the second week of March. It involved insertion and extraction of the Army's Special Forces at a designated Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) by C-130J Super Hercules and C-17 Globemasters of the IAF. The latest exercise involved both tactical fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft of the IAF to land/drop Special Forces in designated areas for 'undertaking kinetic actions to provide surge to ongoing operations by regular land forces', the Army's Eastern Command revealed on Thursday. This exercise is important, keeping in mind the continuing standoff between the Indian Army and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) at Doklam -- a trijunction between India, Bhutan and Tibet Autonomous Region close to the Chicken Neck Corridor of North Bengal -- and China's aggressive stance along the LAC in Arunachal Pradesh. China has not only created military infrastructure on its territory close to the LAC but has also renamed certain parts of Arunachal Pradesh which it claims as southern Tibet. India has diplomatically rubbished this attempt by China to rename locations in Arunachal but the military threat from across the LAC continues. Army chief Gen Manoj Pande and other top officers have maintained that the situation along the LAC continues to be tense. Both the Indian Army and the IAF is now at a state of full preparedness to meet any challenge from across the LAC. This involves regular forces of the Army and specialised units from the Brahmastra or XVII Corps under the Eastern Command. "Such Special Operations Exercises are a mix of conventional/unconventional military actions that are undertaken by specially designated, selected, trained and equipped units. C-17 Globemasters, Chinooks and Mi-17 V5s of the IAF undertook multi-mode insertion into greenfield landing zones with surgical precision. Paratroopers of the Shatrujeet Brigade conducted special heliborne operations with the aim to validate their ability to rapidly deploy into hostile environment using Chinook and Mi-17 V5 helicopters to augment the capability of regular ground forces," a highly placed source in the Eastern Command said. "The exercise carried out in designated areas of the Eastern theatre as per a tactical setting, showcased the operational preparedness and synergy of strategic forces and regular ground troops to undertake integrated multi-domain operations in high altitude and mountainous terrain. "The exercise also demonstrated speed, agility and lethality of the specialised troops showcasing their ability to rapidly deploy into a hostile environment, secure landing zones and engage the enemy with precision and speed as per the tactical setting. Overall the troops displayed exceptional professionalism, competence and synergy while operating in the treacherous mountainous terrain," he added. China is certainly watching. While India does not want a military confrontation with her northern neighbour, she certainly wants to push a subtle message through. The message is that India has certain aces up her sleeves and won't take any aggressive stance from across the LAC lying down. Madras, April 13 : Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Thursday told the Assembly that the state Backward Class commission has sought more time to submit report on 10.5 per cent internal reservations to the Vanniyar community. The state government had not, suo moto, extended the time to submit report by six months, he said in a response to PMK's G.K. Mani who said that extending the time for the report on the Vanniyar reservation would adversely affect the students of the community who were writing the Class 12 examinations and then applying for engineering and NEET. Stalin said that the Madras High Court and then the Supreme Court had quashed the 10.5 per cent internal reservation for the Vannikula Kshatriyas (Vanniyars) within the Most Backward Classes quota as this was not finalised in a proper manner. He also said that the previous AIADMK government had come out with the internal reservation for Vanniyars when the Assembly elections were notified. Stalin said that the DMK government had gone upto the Supreme Court to fight the case challenging the internal reservation. He added that the time for the Backward class commission to submit its report has been extended on the basis of the DMK moving the Supreme Court. Kolkata, April 13 : West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that she would rather beg to the common people rather than to the Union government for funds to carry out development projects in the state. "I heard that the Union government will not release any funds for the state till 2024. But I will not go begging in front of the Union government for funds. Rather I would beg to the common people for the same. Our government has achieved as far as possible with limited financial strengths. I have an excellent administrative setup," she said while addressing a gathering at the inauguration of a new auditorium here. Banerjee said that although recently the Union government has released some funds under different centrally-sponsored projects, the released funds are negligible compared to the requirement. "We have been specially deprived of the Central funds for 100-day job scheme under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act. It is virtually impossible to carry out the work under this project against the backdrop of shortage of funds," she said. The Chief Minister also said that her administration is against taking away anybody's job. Although she did not specify what she meant by the statement it was clear that her comments were pertaining to termination of services of a number of teaching and non- teaching staff in state- run schools in the state over charges of irregularities. Banerjee also made subtle criticisms on the change of syllabus where chapters like entire Mughal period history were deleted from the history section. "We are against changing history which has its own sanctity. We will never try to erase the Taj Mahal or the Victoria Memorial," she said. Mumbai, April 13 : Mumbai Police have arrested a 23-year-old youth for marrying a minor girl after allegedly tampering with her real date of birth on her Aadhaar card to prove she is a major, officials said here on Thursday. The fraud came to light after the youth and the girl got married on April 11 at the Bandra Marriage Registrar, and later visited the Dahisar police station to complete the mandatory legal formalities. The police summoned the girl's father, a tailor named Sabajit Pal, in the matter and he pointed out the discrepancy in his daughter's date of birth, and later lodged a formal complaint. Pal said that the girl was born on May 7, 2006, but her accused-husband - identified as Gaurav Makwana of Mira Road town in Thane - had got it changed on her Aadhaar card to March 12, 2004 to prove that she was above 18 and hence eligible to marry on her free will. The family also produced the girl's original birth certificate, as submitted to a local school, as proof of the real date of birth. The girl also admitted to the fraud committed with her knowledge, after which the police lodged an FIR based on the father's complaint. The police swooped on the accused and arrested him on charges of kidnapping, cheating, forgery, child marriage etc. The accused has been remanded to judicial custody pending further investigation, Inspector P.G. Patil told mediapersons. However, he said that the girl was sent for a medical test but she refused to undergo it, so the police have not invoked charges of rape on the accused. The girl is a junior college student and was friendly with the accused since past one year. They decided to get married, but since her age was a hindrance, the youth resorted to the Aadhaar card fraud, which was detected. The preliminary probe has also revealed that the Aadhaar card was tampered sometime last year. The police are also investigating the role of the girl/her family in the matter. Hyderabad, April 13 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's daughter K. Kavitha on Thursday said that she does not know who Sukesh Chandrasekhar is. A day after the jailed conman released his alleged WhatsApp chats with Kavitha and jailed AAP leader Satyendar Jain, the BRS leader issued a statement. The BRS leader stated that she was not familiar with Sukesh. She alleged that unable to politically fight CM KCR, some forces were running a campaign to defame him by targeting her. Kavitha said that a smear campaign was being carried out against her with fake chats. The member of Telangana Legislative Council alleged that certain media organisations were publishing false news about the Telangana government, BRS and especially about her. In a letter written to Delhi L-G V.K. Saxena, Sukesh Chandrasekhar claimed that his conversation with Kavitha and Jain indicates a nexus between the Aam Aadmi Party, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, and the BRS leader in the Delhi liquor policy scam. Kavitha said some anti-Telangana forces who have no courage to check the BRS party's growing popularity and politically fight KCR's national action plan were using newspapers, TV channels and YouTube media to run a deliberate smear campaign against BRS. She said an economic criminal releasing an anonymous letter and, based on this, BJP MLA Raghunandan Rao immediately writing a letter to the Election Commission and subsequently, BJP MP Arvind launching a smear campaign on social media as part of the BJP toolkit were all part of a game plan. "In fact, I am not familiar with Sukhesh Chandrasekhar. I don't even know who he is but some media organisations, without looking at the facts, published false news," she said. Kavitha said these media organisations had done the same earlier with regard to her mobile phones and later retracted. She alleged that using criminal Sukhesh as a ploy, attempts were being made to defame the Telangana government, BRS party and KCR's family members. She found fault with a section of the media for what she called not adhering to basic tenets of journalism and carrying forward their political agenda. Kavitha said this being an election year, these media organisations may spread more false news and hence, the people of Telangana should remain vigilant. Chennai, April 13 : The Madras High Court on Thursday granted bail to Jubin Baby and his wife Mariam in the Anbu Jothi ashram case of Villupuram district. The couple was charged with running an illegal and unrecognised home for mentally challenged persons, and using the inmates for human trafficking and organ trade. Justice A.D. Jagdish Chandra of the Madras High Court said, "The petitioners had been doing service to the society for the past two decades without any blemish. We're now facing the ordeal of mere suspicion of their involvement in grave charges." He also said that the police were unable to come up with any concrete evidence in the matter even after two months. The court also said that the petitioners were arrested and jailed on February 15, and even while they were in judicial custody, the police or the CB-CID had not been able to collect any solid evidence to prove the charges. Justice Chandra observed that the personal liberty granted by the Constitution and reiterated by the Supreme Court on multiple occasions could not be denied to the petitioners based on suspicions. He then directed the petitioners to stay in Chennai and appear before the CB-CID Metro wing daily till further orders. Bhopal, April 13 : The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday revoked its order to suspend an IPS officer within 24 hours after the state police swung into action and complied with its direction. On Wednesday, the bench of Chief Justice R.V. Malimath, while hearing a petition seeking compensation against land acquired by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), got annoyed with Chhindwara district Superintendent of Police for his alleged failure to comply with its previous order. In its previous order, the court had directed SP Vinayak Verma to produce the respondent (NHAI officer) in the case before the court. However, when the court was hearing the case on Wednesday, it learnt that the NHAI officer, who is the main respondent in the case, has not been produced before the court. The court got annoyed with lucrative approach of the police and directed DGP Sudhir Saxena to suspend Verma for his failure to comply with the court's order. Following this, the police got into action and subsequently produced the responded NHAI officer before the court on Thursday. The case pertains to compensation against land acquired by the NHAI in 2018. According to advocate Ved Prakash Nema, who represented the complainant, NHAI had acquired 1254 sq ft land, which belonged to the 'Tulsi Ramayan Kirtan Mandal', for a development project. In 2018, the land owner had appealed in the court alleging that the NHAI did not pay adequate compensation for the acquired land. The court had then ordered NHAI to pay the remaining compensation ammount to the land owner, but the order wasn't complied with. Subsequently, the court had ordered Chhindwara district police to ensure that the respondent is produced before the court during the next hearing (April 12), but the police failed to comply with the oder. However, after the court directed DGP Saxena to suspend the Chhindwara SP, the police searched the NHAI officer within the next few hours and produced him before the court on Thursday. Meanwhile, SP Vinayak Verma tendered his apology and requested for leniency after which the court revoked its suspention order. Patna/New Delhi, April 13 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who met Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi, as well as his Delhi counterpart Arvind Kejriwal and other opposition leaders is working with the plan to unite the opposition to challenge the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha election, his JD-U said. "The Nitish formula for 2024 for opposition unity is One Seat One Candidate (OSOC). It has come into effect in the country. The discussions with all opposition parties are completed now and its result will be visible soon," senior JD-U leader K.C. Tyagi said on Thursday. "Some issues coming into the media about what happened to Mamata Benerjee, Arvind Kejriwal and K Chandrashekhar Rao, and these will be addressed soon. Arvind Kejriwal has already given full support to the initiative of Nitish Kumar," he added. Bihar Finance Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, who is considered one of closest to Nitish Kumar, said: "Media always asks about who would be the PM face of the opposition parties? The idea behind this question is to derail the initiative. BJP always claimed that there is no vacancy for Prime Minister in the country... we will assure them that we will create a vacancy of the same." The BJP, over the years, is ruling in the country only with 37 per cent of votes, due to division of votes as opposition parties are contesting against each other. Now the one seat, one candidate formula, if implemented, could reduce the division of anti-BJP votes in the country. New Delhi, April 13 : A Delhi court has granted bail to an advocate who was accused of raping a woman advocate after noting that there was no scientific evidence, and the police did not seek custodial remand. The court granted relief to the accused Jitender Kumar Gupta a.k.a. Sumit, against whom a female advocate lodged an FIR of rape at Bara Hindu Rao Police Station. Deepak Shama, the counsel appearing for the accused, contended that the accused was falsely implicated in the present case. "Applicant-accused and the prosecutrix both are practicing Advocates. The prosecutrix and the accused-applicant have been known to each other since 2019 and were in relation till October 2022. Prosecutrix is well known to the family of the accused," Sharma argued. He further argued that the prosecutrix has made false complaint with the police regarding the accused that he was her husband and was missing. Sharma said that she only wanted to pressurise him to marry her despite the fact that he had got married with someone else. "My client had filed a representation before DCP, Civil Lines, Delhi and thereafter, the prosecutrix lodged the FIR. There is no complaint against my client from 2019 to March, 2023. There is no scientific evidence in respect of termination of her pregnancy," he said. The court also noted that the police did not seek the custodial remand of the accused. "The accused deserves benefit of Section 438 CrPC. Accordingly, the application is allowed and it is ordered that in the event of arrest of the accused Jitender Kumar Gupta a.k.a. Sumit, he shall be released on bail on furnishing personal bond in the sum of Rs 25,000 with one surety in the like amount. Accused shall join the investigation as and when required by the police and he shall not directly or indirectly, make any inducement, threat or promise to any person acquainted with the facts of the case," the court noted while granting relief. Elko and Spring Creek are joining forces for the 20th annual Clean Up Green Up: Take Pride in Your Community on April 22. The anniversary marks two decades of the event that has collected approximately 7,201 tons of waste, averaging 424 tons per year to clean up public spaces. According Adeline Thibault, City of Elko environmental coordinator, thats equal to the weight of 1,440 elephants, 600 school buses 72 blue whales. We have also planted numerous trees and helped with many projects in our community, Thibault said. Volunteers individuals, families or organizations may sign up on the Citys website for teams to join the event. Lunch will be provided. This years sponsors include Carter Engineering, the Downtown Business Association, Elko Area Chamber of Commerce, Elko Sanitation, Full Range Physical Therapy, Kinross-Bald Mountain, Komatsu, Las Brisas, Nevada Bank and Trust, NewFields, Northeastern Nevada Regional Hospital, Nevada Gold Mines, RAM Enterprises, Robert Howard Construction, Elko Lions Club, Century 21, Money in a Minute, Carrie Rowley of Carries Critter Care, 2 Wild Poppies, Nevada Plants, Living Stones Church, Summit Engineering and Spring Creek High School. To learn more or register for the event, visit the Citys website at this link, call the City at 775-777-7210 or Spring Creek Association at 775-753-6295. Islamabad, April 13 : Tension is growing between Pakistan and the interim Afghanistan government with Islamabad pointing fingers at Kabul for being the facilitator and supporter of militants from the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), whose continued attacks in different parts of Pakistan have spread a wave of terror, posing serious security threat to the armed forces. Against this backdrop, Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister, is expected to visit Islamabad and hold talks with the senior officials of the Pakistan government and its security forces. The visit holds critical and crucial relevance in view of the persisting tensions between the two countries, which share a large porous border. As per sources in the know of things, Islamabad and Kabul are currently in touch with each other to finalise the date for the visit of the Afghan Taliban chief's acting Foreign Minister. "The visit is expected to take place in the coming weeks," said a source. This will be Mutaqqi's second visit to Islamabad. He had previously come in November 2021, months after the Taliban took over the control in Afghanistan, ousting the Ashraf Ghani government, which fell in a span of 20 days after the withdrawal of NATO forces. "Pakistan had hoped that the Taliban takeover would improve border security and more importantly, the issue of terrorist sanctuaries would be sorted out. But contrary to our expectations, the TTP-sponsored attacks have only increased, causing friction in bilateral ties," said the source. This happened after months long peace talks between the former Pakistan government of Imran Khan, the security agencies of the country and the TTP, which were facilitated by the Afghan Taliban in Kabul, but failed in the end. Since then, TTP has amplified its attacks in Pakistan and has targeted security installations with suicide bombings, targeted attacks and killings, claiming lives of many security personnel. Pakistan, during its recent high-level meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC), admitted that the peace talks with the TTP had only resulted in rise in terrorist activities. "The government has now decided that it would not have any further talks with the Taliban and would counter their terror attacks with military level offensive," said the source. Pakistan has also repeatedly maintained that the Afghan Taliban have failed to take any action against TTP militants, who are moving freely in Afghanistan and using its soil to plan, coordinate and carry out terror attacks. On the other hand, the Afghan Taliban have denied Islamabad's claims, stating that they stand by their promise to not allow its soil to be used against any other country. Chennai, April 13 : The Chief Electoral Officer of Tamil Nadu, Satyabrata Sahoo, has forwarded a complaint by AIADMK functionary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar over the DMK collecting voter IDs for its membership campaign to the Election Commission of India (ECI). Sahoo has written to the Director (ICT) of the ECI, Ashok Kumar, seeking action in the matter. In his complaint submitted to Sahoo, Nirmal Kumar has alleged that the DMK has set a target to enrol two crore new members for which it has launched a membership drive through the web portal www.udanpirappu.com. Kumar was the IT cell head of the Tamil Nadu BJP before joining the AIADMK after resigning from the saffron camp citing differences with the party's state unit chief K. Annamalai. In his complaint, Kumar alleged that voter IDs were being used by the DMK as mandatory record for enrolment, adding that these may be used for addition and deletion of in the voters' list based on the ruling party's convenience. He also claimed that such sensitive information can be used to manipulate the voters' list. New Delhi, April 13 : A Delhi court on Thursday sought the Enforcement Directorate (ED)'s response to an application moved by jailed Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Satyender Jain seeking transfer of a money laundering case to another judge. Principal District and Sessions Judge Vinay Kumar Gupta issued notice to the ED on Jain's plea, returnable by May 4, the next date of hearing in the matter. The court, however, refused to stay the proceedings before Special Judge Vikas Dhull, who is currently hearing the case, during the pendency of the application. Jain on Tuesday sought transfer of two cases related to alleged corruption and money laundering brought against him by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the ED to another judge. Both the cases are currently being heard by Special Judge Dhull. The proceedings in the CBI corruption case have been temporarily halted by the District Judge until May 4, when arguments on Jain's transfer application will be heard. 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. The CBI has alleged that Jain, while holding the office as a Minister in the Delhi government during February 14, 2015 to May 31, 2017, had acquired assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. 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. Patna, April 13 : A Home Guard was shot dead and another injured during a bank robbery in Bihar's Sonpur town in Chapra district on Thursday, police said. Five gunmen arrived at the Punjab National Bank (PNB) DRM office branch in Sonpur and robbed Rs 12 lakh after shooting the two Home Guards. The robbers, after committing the crime, fired several rounds in the air to create fear in the area as they fled from the spot. District police are identifying the accused on the basis of CCTV camera footage. "The robbers came to the bank on bikes. Some of them were wearing face masks. They came into my cabin. The two guards deployed at the bank tried to resist but attackers shot them. One of the guards died on the spot while another was referred to PMCH Patna for treatment. They have fired 5 rounds inside the bank," bank employee Pooja Kumari said. Another employee Sandeep Kumar said: "The robbers, after entering the bank, fired two rounds in the air. The Home Guard jawans, in a bid to prevent the robbery, tried to grab them. The robbers fired at them. One of the victims sustained gunshot injuries on the chest and he died inside the bank." Following the incident, a chilling video of CCTV footage emerged on social media showing how the robbers entered and shot the security guards. Meanwhile, district police formed a dedicated team to nab the accused. They have also alerted the police of adjoining districts about the accused. New Delhi, April 13 : The Delhi High Court has directed the Centre to submit a comprehensive response to a petition seeking the filling of empty seats reserved in medical colleges for people with "benchmark disabilities". The plea requests admission of candidates with disabilities (PWD) who do not meet the eligibility threshold. A bench, headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, acknowledged the significance of the petition, and gave the Centre six weeks to present its stance on the matter. The matter would be heard next on July 17. In February, the High Court had asked the Centre to take a policy decision on filling up vacant seats, reserved for PWD, in medical colleges by taking in candidates who have lesser degree of disability than the prescribed benchmark. It had also asked the Centre to respond, within three weeks, to a petition filed by an MBBS aspirant, who suffered from a locomotor disability and sought admission in a medical college against an unfilled seat reserved for persons with disabilities. The MBBS aspirant had appeared in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2022 for undergraduate admission to medical colleges and scored 96.06 percentile and attained the 42nd Rank under the Unreserved Persons with Disabilities (UR-PWD) Category. However, she was found to be short of the 40 per cent threshold prescribed as benchmark under Section 2(r) of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, for availing the PwD seat. The petitioner, whom the AIIMS medical board only considered the deformity in her middle, ring fingers and metacarpals and left out the index finger and disability to be 30 per cent, urged that she be allocated one of the vacant seats under the PwD category in the ongoing NEET-UG 2022 cycle. During the hearing on Thursday, the bench, which also included Justice Subramonium Prasad, was informed that the Central government had rejected the petitioner's representation. In response, the court ordered a comprehensive and detailed reply from the Union of India within six weeks. T. Singhdev, representing the National Medical Commission (NMC), stated that seats reserved for PWD candidates are open to all individuals with benchmark disabilities. If any of these seats remain unfilled, they are offered to other deserving candidates and not wasted. "The seats reserved for a particular category under the PwD category for example SC (PwD)/ST (PwD)/OBC (PwD)/UR (PwD), are offered for counselling in the first 3 rounds of counselling after which the said seats, if remaining vacant are converted to the parent category for example SC/ST/OBC/UR, so that the same can be offered to a larger pool of candidates so as to ensure that the seats are filled. The aforesaid process is entirely based on merit in the respective categories," the reply filed by NMC stated. New Delhi, April 13 : The Supreme Court on Thursday said it would be an absurd extension of the principle of dereliction of duty if a Superintendent of Police or Commandant of a paramilitary force, is held responsible for a crime on his watch in the absence of overwhelming material establishing his guilt. A bench of Justices Krishna Murari and Ahsanuddin Amanullah gave relief to B.S. Hari, now 82 years old, by directing payment of full retiral benefits from his superannuation till date within a period of 12 weeks. The bench said: "This court would hasten to add that it should not be construed that the appellant, being the Commandant, had no responsibility/duty to prevent such incident, but to stretch it to the extent to label him an active partner and/or facilitator of such crime is wholly unjustified, having regard to the present factual matrix." It further added that it would not be out of place to draw an analogy from a situation where a crime occurs under the jurisdiction of the Superintendent of Police and in the criminal proceedings emanating therefrom, some police personnel are held guilty. Thereafter, a criminal case as also departmental proceedings, based on such acts of commissions or omissions, is opened against the said Superintendent of Police, on the premise that such incident transpired under his overall watch and control, it added. "This would be an extreme and absurd extension of the principle of dereliction of duty and/or active connivance, in the absence of overwhelming material establishing guilt, or at the very least, negating the probability of his innocence," said the bench. The apex court set aside conviction and sentence of 10 years imposed on the BSF Commandant, a presidential medal awardee. It was alleged that in April 1995, the local police conducted a search and a few jerry cans of acetic anhydride, a controlled substance under Section 9A of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, were stated to be located in Pakistani territory and in the fields owned by Indian civilians adjoining the border. On April 7, 1995, the appellant was directed to hand over charge and move to the STC, where he was placed under arrest. However, search of the appellant's house did not lead to any recovery of any incriminating material. An inspector who was in actual and physical command and control of the area in the vicinity of which the alleged jerry cans were recovered, is said to have made a statement that he was involved in the incident at the behest of the appellant. Justice Amanullah, who wrote the judgment on behalf of the bench, said: "We are quite conscious that in the armed forces of the Union, including the paramilitary forces, utmost discipline, unity of command et al are the sine qua non. That said, the doctrine of proportionality still holds the field." The bench further added that in the absence of direct and cogent evidence against the appellant, even if the General Security Force Court (GSFC) was convinced of the appellant's guilt, the punishment handed out was too harsh, paying heed that the appellant would, even then, be a first-time delinquent, and not a habitual offender. "Arguendo, that there be some semblance of truth in the allegations, the punishment meted out, in our considered view, was disproportionate," said the bench. The bench pointed out that except Subedar Didar Singh's statement, there was no material against the appellant. "Without other material(s) incriminating the appellant or pointing to his guilt, the statement of a single person alone ought not to have, in this instance, resulted in his conviction," it added. "Another factor which has nudged this court to introspect vis-a-vis proportionality herein, is that the appellant has served the country for over 31 years without blame or blemish, and has received various awards, inter alia, including medal from Hon'ble President of India. The appellant's track record is otherwise unquestionable." The bench further added that notably, it was solely on the strength of the statement of Subedar Didar Singh - who is said to have confessed to his involvement in the incident but goes on to add that it was at the behest of and upon the direction of the appellant, he was subjected to punishment. Visakhapatnam, April 13 : The Centre will not go ahead with the privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), Union Minister of State for Steel, Faggan Singh Kulaste, announced on Thursday. "At this moment, we don't have any such intention. We will not go ahead with the process," he told mediapersons on the sidelines of Rozgar Mela in the port city. The minister said the Centre will strengthen the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). As part of this effort, he will hold discussions with the management, workers' unions and all the stakeholders. The announcement came amid strong opposition from the VSP employees and non-BJP parties to the privatisation move, and also the intention of the Telangana government to participate in the bidding process to raise working capital for the steel plant through Singareni Collieries Company Limited (SCCL). RINL had recently invited Expression of Interest (EoI) to provide working capital and raw materials after it faced severe shortage to keep the plant running. The minister said they would now focus on strengthening RINL by ensuring supply of raw materials. The process is also on to make sure that the plant functions to its full capacity, he added. Replying to a query, he said the Centre is also working to resolve the issue of captive mines. Despite protests by VSP workers and Andhra Pradesh's ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and other opposition parties barring the BJP, the Centre was moving ahead with the privatisation plan, but the entry of Telangana's Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) government in the scene recently appeared to have altered the situation. Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao had sent a team of officials from SCCL to VSP to study the feasibility of participating in the EoI. While opposing the Centre's plans to privatise the PSU, the BRS government had evinced interest in acquiring VSP. The employees had also welcomed the move, saying that the acquisition of VSP by SCCL will protect their interests. However, Kulaste termed the move by the Telangana government as a political stunt. The move had also rattled the YSRCP government and the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Telangana's Finance Minister T. Harish Rao had also slammed both the parties for not pressurising the Centre to stop the privatisation of VSP. Adding another twist, Telangana's Industry Minister K.T. Rama Rao had alleged that the Centre deliberately pushed VSP into losses to privatise it. He also alleged that the Centre denied captive iron ore mines Bailadila to VSP. Reacting to the Union minister's announcement of Thursday, Rama Rao said it was a move to divert attention from Bailadila. He said since he had exposed the Centre over the issue, it stopped the privatisation process to divert public attention. He said if the Centre was sincere, it should have alloted captive mines to VSP and also fulfilled the commitment of setting up a steel plant at Bayyaram in Telangana. BRS leader in Andhra Pradesh, Ravela Kishore Babu, claimed that the Centre going back on the privatisation of Vizag Steel plant is a victory for BRS. "When the main political parties in Andhra Pradesh could not fight for the steel plant, BRS under the leadership of KCR started fighting to save the steel plant from being privatised," he said. Patna, April 13 : Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, who returned here on Thursday after his Delhi visit to meet top opposition leaders, said that he had only one goal ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls. "Uniting the opposition parties is the only goal for me and I am working on it. Don't worry, you will get information slowly. Wait for sometime," he told media persons at Patna airport. "As you know, I went to Delhi for three days and met the leaders of opposition parties. We sat together yesterday (Wednesday) and discussed with them. Uniting the opposition parties is the only goal and every leader will make efforts on it. They have given statements about it," he said. Asked about the future strategy, Nitish Kumar repeated: "Don't worry. You will get it slowly." On BJP leaders questioning his visit, he said that he does not take notice of them. "They used to say so many things. I do not take notice of them. When I saw you (media persons) hence I came to you as I respect you a lot," Nitish Kumar said. New Delhi, April 13 : Delhi Police Commissioner Sanjay Arora has issued an order directing the police staff not to use complex Urdu and Persian words while registering FIRs, diaries or chargesheets. A list of 383 complex words with simpler alternatives in Hindi and English has been prepared by the department and shared with officers. The Commissioner of Police, while citing directions given by Delhi High Court in 2019 to the Delhi Police to avoid using complicated Urdu and Persian words, has asked police staff to use simple words that are easily understood by all parties involved. "Despite issuing the above instructions, it is observed that the compliance with the above instructions is not satisfactory. Archaic Urdu/Persian words are still being used by the investigating officer while registering the FIR as well as while preparing the diary list and chargesheet etc," the police chief said. Arora, issuing a circular in this regard, directed the police officers to ensure the maximum use of simpler words in FIRs. "Non-compliance with the above instructions will be viewed seriously, and appropriate disciplinary action will be taken," the order read. The Delhi police chief, along with the orders, also shared a list of 383 complex words in Urdu which are most commonly used in the FIRs or chargesheets. With every Urdu word, he gave an alternative word in Hindi or English which can be used from now on. New Delhi, April 13 : A 65-year-old man died in Delhi's Chawri Bazar area because of not taking the necessary treatment after being bitten by a stray dog, the police said on Thursday. . A senior police officer said that a PCR call was received at the Hauz Qazi police station, informing that one man who was bitten by dog was lying on the footpath in the Chawri Bazaar area. A police team reached the spot and found that the man was bitten by dog around a month back. "On inquiry, the person was found to be a vagabond, who didn't take any treatment after the dog bite. He was taken to the LNJP Hospital, where the docters declared him brought dead," the officer said. The deceased has been identified as Ram Prasad alias Baba (65). His brother and relatives have been informed, the police said. RENO (AP) Another judge has adopted a U.S. appellate court's stricter interpretation of a century-and-a-half-old mining law in a new ruling that blocks a metals mine in Nevada. The ruling could have ramifications for a huge lithium mine near the Nevada-Oregon line and other future mines on public lands across the West. U.S. District Judge Larry Hicks in Reno vacated the U.S. Bureau of Land Management's approval of Eureka Moly's planned molybdenum mine in a case that dates to 2013 and made two trips to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. Hicks cited the 9th Circuit's unprecedented ruling in an Arizona case last year that upended the government's long-held position that the 1872 Mining Law conveys the same rights established through a valid mining claim to adjacent land for the disposal of tailings and other waste. That ruling blocked construction of a copper mine based on the conclusion those rights don't automatically apply to the neighboring national forest lands where the company planned to dump the waste rock. Rather, the company must establish and the government validate that valuable minerals are present in such lands for such a claim to exist. In the case of the molybdenum, which is most often used to strengthen steel, Hicks found no meaningful difference'' between the Forest Service arguments in the 9th Circuit decision on the Arizona mine "and BLM's arguments here." BLM cannot skirt the Mining Law requirement that valuable mineral deposits must be found in order to occupy the land," he wrote March 31. U.S. Judge Miranda Du in Reno cited the 9th Circuit ruling in concluding last month that BLM acted illegally when it approved Lithium Americas' Thacker Pass mine near the Nevada-Oregon line. But unlike Hicks or the appellate court, Du stopped short of vacating BLM's approval of the project. Instead, she moved the project back to the agency to determine whether there is sufficient evidence of valuable minerals to establish valid claims. Meanwhile, construction efforts are underway. Environmentalists have appealed Dus ruling on the lithium mine to the San Francisco-based court, which is expected to hear oral arguments in June. Lithium is used in the manufacture of batteries for electric vehicles a key part of President Joe Biden's clean energy agenda intended to speed a transition from fossil fuels to renewables. Like other mines have done for decades, Eureka Moly LLC (EML) argued it didn't intend to permanently occupy the adjacent lands because the mining at Mt. Hope would end in 40 years. But Hicks said the 9th Circuit also shot down that argument. Although EMLs authorization to use the land will expire when the project is complete, the waste rock will remain. Thus, EMLs occupation ... will be permanent, Hicks said. The Rosemont (decision) requires that to permanently occupy the land as EML proposes, valuable deposits of minerals must exist. The record contains no evidence of molybdenite on surrounding lands, he said, and BLM admits that it made no attempt to determine whether EMLs mining claims are valid." Environmentalists say Hicks' ruling bodes well for their Thacker Pass appeal. It's very significant," said Roger Flynn, a longtime attorney for the Colorado-based Western Action Mining Project representing the Great Basin Resource Watch and others in lawsuits challenging both the molybdenum and lithium mines. All three rulings now say you can't bury waste there unless you find valuable minerals," he said. The Rosemont issue would apply to basically every big mine in the West." Flynn anticipates the next related court case could involve a mine planned in Idaho, the Stibnite Gold Project, which is undergoing Forest Service review and isn't yet ripe for a legal challenge. Lithium Americas and other industry leaders insist conservationists are exaggerating the potential reach of the 9th Circuit ruling. "The Mt. Hope case did not impact Thacker Pass, Lithium Americas spokesman Tim Crowley said. The Thacker Pass and Mt. Hope cases addressed different facts, different legal arguments and had different outcomes," he wrote in an email Tuesday to The Associated Press. The judge in our case thoroughly considered the specific Thacker Pass details in rendering her decision, and the project is now in construction and moving forward. " Mark Compton, executive director of the American Exploration & Mining Association, agreed. I dont believe a straight line comparison can be made between the court decisions on Mt. Hope, Thacker Pass, and Rosemont," Compton said in an email. The facts are unique to each case. But John Hadder, executive director of the Reno-based Great Basin Resource Watch, said Hicks' ruling on the heels of Du's sets the stage for appeal arguments in June. Both judges are saying there's illegal actions here," Hadder said. He questions why Du allowed construction to begin if Lithium Americas' plan isn't legal. It violates the law, but there's no repercussion. They can still go forward with the illegal action. It doesn't make sense, Hadder said. We're hoping the 9th Circuit will not only validate the ruling but also vacate the permit. Hyderabad, April 13 : Hyderabad police on Thursday arrested a man for displaying a portrait of Mahatma Gandhi's assassin Nathuram Godse Ram Navami procession in the city on March 30. Chinta Hema Kumar, said to be a worker of BJP, was taken to Shahinayathgunj police station where a case was registered but he was later released. He was served a notice under section 41 (A) of Criminal Procedure Code directing him to appear for questioning. During the Ram Navami procession led by suspended BJP MLA T. Raja Singh in Hyderabad on March 30, one of the participants was seen carrying a portrait of Godse. After scanning the CCTV footage, police identified the man waving the picture as Hema Kumar, a native of Konaseema district of Andhra Pradesh and resident of Gachibowli area in the city. He is said to be an IT employee. Police booked Kumar under Indian Penal Code sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) and 505 (statements conducing public mischief). There have been demands from various quarters for taking action against those who displayed the portrait of Gandhi's assassin. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi had recently found fault with the police for not taking any action against those who displayed Godse's portrait. "Godse who killed Gandhi Ji is the first terrorist of India. Some people were roaming with his photo. Who were these people who were dancing with the photos of Godse? What kind of police is this which did not take any action against them," Owaisi had asked. Former Congress MP V. Hanumantha Rao too had lodged a complaint against those who openly displayed the photo of Godse in the rally. Yangon, April 14 : Four people were killed and 11 others injured in a bomb blast in eastern Myanmar's Shan state, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said. The incident happened at a car parking near a park, which is located in front of a pagoda, in Lashio town of northern Shan state at around 11:45 a.m. local time (0515 GMT), the report said on Thursday. The bomb attack on the eve of the traditional Thingyan water festival was made with a handmade explosive device, it added. The victims were pilgrims to the pagoda, and the injured included a three-year-old child, it said, adding that the injured were sent to the Lashio hospital for medical treatment, Xinhua news agency reported. Another bomb blast also occurred in Thaketa township in Yangon region on Thursday, and no causalities were reported in the blast, a local police officer said. Operations are underway to locate the perpetrators. Kampala, April 14 : The Ugandan military has killed the ringleader of a daring massive jailbreak where more than 200 inmates escaped from a prison in the northeastern district of Moroto in September 2020. Isaac Okware, the Third Division army spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone on Thursday that Tom Lopusi, a notorious warrior who allegedly led the Singila prison break in Moroto town was killed at Loputuk village in the neighbouring Kotido district. A total of 219 out of 620 prisoners, a majority of them sentenced over illegal possession of firearms in the region (also known as Karamoja), took off with 15 guns and several rounds of ammunition after overpowering the prison wardens on duty two years ago. "The joint security forces conducted a cordon and search operation in Loputuk where one well-known notorious and (highly) profiled warrior in the name of Tom Lopusi was put out of action," Okware said. His body has been taken to Kotido Health Center IV for post-mortem. The military spokesperson added that the joint forces recovered a prison gun, one of the guns taken during the prison break incident, and 18 rounds of live ammunition, Xinhua news agency reported. He said the security forces have been trailing the 32-year-old following another attack on an army detachment in Panyangara, where a military officer was killed. "We congratulate our joint security forces for the tactical efforts made so far and their commitment to degrade armed criminal elements and pacify Karamoja sub-region," Okware added. Tehran, April 14 : Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said that Afghanistan is in need of regional cooperation to solve its current challenges rather than the US-led intervention that had pushed the country toward poverty and instability. Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks during a quadrilateral meeting with Chinese, Russian, and Pakistani representatives on the sidelines of the foreign ministers' meeting among the neighbouring countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website on Thursday. He said Iran is concerned about the spread of terrorism and extremism in Afghanistan and the continuation of the wrong US policies in the country, adding that today, Afghanistan is more in need of regional cooperation and solutions, rather than the intervention by the US and the West that have pushed the Asian country toward poverty and instability. He stressed that the US and its allies should be held to account as the occupiers of Afghanistan that had oppressed the country for two decades, and as UN members to be answerable for the current situation in the country, Xinhua news agency reported. In the wake of the terror attacks on New York and Washington on September 11, 2001, the US launched the so-called war on terror in Afghanistan under the pretext of pursuing Osama bin Laden, the alleged mastermind of the terror attacks. In late August 2021, the US forces hastily withdrew from Afghanistan with a military defeat, leaving the war-torn country in insecurity and abject poverty. The Iranian Foreign Minister highlighted the necessity of managing the economic situation in Afghanistan and cited the economic pressures in the country as a factor behind the increased migration of Afghan refugees to neighbouring countries, which has resulted in certain types of insecurity in these countries. He added the US' 20-year presence in Afghanistan led to a significant increase in the cultivation and trafficking of opium in the country, noting that the role of "the Western countries' mafia network" is quite conspicuous in the expansion of the illegal drug trade. Amir-Abdollahian also expressed concern about the Afghan women and girls having been deprived of education and the opportunity of being present in society, voicing Iran's readiness to offer further assistance in terms of providing education to Afghan girls and women with the UN' help. Geneva, April 14 : More than 26,000 people have perished or gone missing while crossing the Mediterranean since 2014, the UN human rights office said. It added on Thursday that of them, more than 20,000 have died on the central Mediterranean route, which is considered one of the world's deadliest migration routes, Xinhua news agency reported. Volker Turk, the UN high commissioner for human rights, voiced concern on Thursday about the hazardous situation facing migrants and asylum seekers trying to cross the central Mediterranean and urged coordinated action to enable their prompt rescue and respectful, efficient and comprehensive processing at a safe site. "We are seeing a steep increase in the number of desperate people putting their lives at grave risk," Turk said in a press statement. He urged states to open up more regular migration channels, enhance responsibility-sharing, make arrangements for the safe and timely disembarkation of all people rescued at sea, and ensure independent monitoring and oversight of migration-related policies and practices. According to the latest press statement from the office, at least four people died and more than 20 others remain missing after two migrant boats sank off Tunisia on Saturday. Italy has reported the arrival of nearly 31,300 migrants arriving so far in 2023, up from around 7,900 in the same period last year. To control the crisis, Italy declared a state of emergency on Tuesday. Turk said that "any new policies under the state of emergency need to be in line with Italy's human rights obligations". "Experience teaches us that adopting a tougher line on curbing irregular migration will not prevent departures, but rather result in more human suffering and deaths at sea. Instead, it would be far better for countries to provide safe and regular pathways for migration and prevent unnecessary deaths," he added. Ankara, April 14 : At least 149 people have been detained in an anti-narcotics operation in the southern Gaziantep province of Turkey, a Turkish cabinet minister said. Thirty other suspects are still absconding and being hunted, Interior Minister Suleyman Soylu said on Thursday in a press conference in Gaziantep. Soylu added that the number of direct drug-related deaths in Turkey has decreased from 941 in 2017 to 270 in 2021 thanks to the government's efforts to curb illegal drug use, Xinhua news agency reported. Located at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, Turkey has been grappling with international drug smuggling for many years. There are currently nearly 1,26,000 drug manufacturers and smugglers imprisoned in the country, the Minister said. Islamabad, April 14 : Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif talked over the phone with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on bilateral ties, according to the Prime Minister's office. In the phone call, Sharif reiterated Pakistan's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Iran in all areas of mutual interest, particularly trade, energy cooperation, security and regional stability, the office said in a statement on Thursday. The Prime Minister emphasised the need for enhancing people-to-people contacts, including cultural and educational exchanges, to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations, the statement added. Congratulating the Iranian President on the resumption of diplomatic relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia, Sharif highlighted the Iranian leadership's efforts in promoting peace and stability in the region, Xinhua news agency reported. During the telephone conversation, both leaders reiterated their commitment to maintaining close contact on all matters of mutual interest, the Prime Minister's office said. Lungi International Airport, Freetown, Sierra Leone [ FNA / GFLL ] If you are planning to travel to Freetown or any other city in Sierra Leone, this airport locator will be a very useful tool. This page gives complete information about the Lungi International Airport along with the airport location map, Time Zone, lattitude and longitude, Current time and date, hotels near the airport etc... Lungi International Airport Map showing the location of this airport in Sierra Leone. Freetown Airport IATA Code, ICAO Code, exchange rate etc... is also provided. Freetown Airport Info: Freetown Airport IATA Code: FNA Freetown Airport ICAO Code: GFLL Latitude : 8.61644 Longitude : -13.1955 City : Freetown Country : Sierra Leone World Area Code : 571 Airport Type : Medium Freetown Airport Address / Contact Details : Lungi International Airport (FNA), Sierra Leone Freetown Website : http://www.freetownairport.com/ Airport Type : Public Timezone : Africa/Freetown Lungi International Airport Timezone : GMT +00:00 hours Current time and date at Lungi International Airport is 21:39:11 PM (GMT) on Tuesday, Apr 25, 2023 Looking for information on Lungi International Airport, Freetown, Sierra Leone? Know about Lungi International Airport in detail. Find out the location of Lungi International Airport on Sierra Leone map and also find out airports near to Freetown. This airport locator is a very useful tool for travelers to know where is Lungi International Airport located and also provide information like hotels near Lungi International Airport, airlines operating to Lungi International Airport etc... IATA Code and ICAO Code of all airports in Sierra Leone. Scroll down to know more about Lungi International Airport or Freetown Airport, Sierra Leone. Lungi International Airport Map - Location of Lungi International Airport Load Map Sierra Leone - General Information Country Formal Name Republic of Sierra Leone Country Code SL Capital Freetown Tel Code +232 Top Level Domain .sl Major airlines flying to Lungi International Airport, Freetown This page provides all the information you need to know about Lungi International Airport, Sierra Leone. This page is created with the aim of helping travelers and tourists visiting Sierra Leone or traveling to Freetown Airport. Details about Freetown Airport given here include Lungi International Airport Code - IATA Code (3 letter airport codes) and ICAO Code (4 letter airport codes) Coordinates of Freetown Airport - Latitude and Longitude (Lat and Long) of Lungi International Airport Location of Lungi International Airport - City Name, Country, Country Codes etc... Lungi International Airport Time Zone and Current time at Lungi International Airport Address and contact details of Lungi International Airport along with website address of the airport Clickable Location Map of Lungi International Airport on Google Map. General information about Sierra Leone where Lungi International Airport is located in the city of Freetown. General information include capital of Sierra Leone, currency and conversion rate of Sierra Leone currency, Telephone Country code, exchange rate against US Dollar and Euro in case of major world currencies etc... FNA - Lungi International Airport IATA Code and GFLL - Lungi International Airport ICAO code As the spring season arrives and people begin to head back outside, health officials are issuing warnings about the risk of tick bites and the associated illnesses they can carry. Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses including Powassan, Babesiosis, Anaplasmosis, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, as well as other harmful allergens such as Alpha-gal, are preventable with education and awareness. The Equip-4-Ticks Resource Center, a collaboration between tick expert, Dr. Thomas Mather, PhD, and Insect Shield Repellent Technology, is expanding their line-up of tips, informational content, and their comprehensive video library to help the public stay informed, vigilant, and protected. Through the launch and expansion of Equip-4-Ticks, Insect Shield, a manufacturer of EPA-registered, permethrin-treated apparel and gear, and Dr. Thomas Mather, professor of Public Health Entomology at the University of Rhode Island, are spreading awareness about the dangers of ticks and the importance of taking preventative measures to avoid bites. In 2022, the Equip-4-Ticks Resource Center launched a range of educational information including an overview on Lyme disease, tick habitats and species, top protection tips, best repellents, how to conduct a tick check, and what to do if you are bitten. For 2023, the resources are expanding further to include: There are more ticks in more places than ever before and this is increasing the public health impact of tick transmitted disease, shares Dr. Thomas Mather, Director of the University of Rhode Island Center for Vector-Borne Disease, and the TickEncounter Resource Center. I am pleased to continue working in tandem with Insect Shield on the launch of Equip-4-Ticks to maximize the reach and impact of some of the most effective tick bite protection and disease-prevention strategies. For comprehensive information about how stay protected from ticks and the dangerous diseases they may carry, visit Equip-4-Ticks. ### About Dr. Thomas Mather, PhD Dr. Mather (a.k.a. The TickGuy) joined the University of Rhode Island in 1992 from the Harvard School of Public Health, and now serves as director of URIs Center for Vector-Borne Disease and its TickEncounter Resource Center. His research focus is on tick ecology, area-wide tick control strategies, tick-bite protection, and tickborne disease prevention. His research and outreach programs are diverse, including anti-tick vaccine discovery projects, evaluations of targeted tick control strategies, tickborne disease risk prediction, as well as development of tick-bite protection decision support tools and social networking strategies for tickborne disease prevention. His work has attracted funding from a wide variety of sources, including the National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US Department of Agriculture, the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the US Agency for International Development. About Equip-4-Ticks Resource Center Equip-4-Ticks Resource Center, a collaboration between tick expert, Dr. Thomas Mather, PhD and Insect Shield Repellent Technology, was launched to offer tips, informational content, and a comprehensive video library to help the public stay protected from ticks and the dangerous diseases they may carry. About Insect Shield Insect Shield Repellent Apparel and Gear are revolutionary products designed to provide long-lasting, effective, and convenient personal insect protection. The durable protection provided by Insect Shield is the result of years of research and testing. In July 2003, Insect Shield Repellent Apparel was registered by the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Insect Shield Technology is utilized by 75+ leading lifestyle brands, work wear distributors and international relief organizations across the globe to provide effective protection against insects and the diseases they can carry. Insect Shield is an approved vendor of the US Army and approved for distribution in 46 countries. Media contact: Janine Worthington Insect Shield Repellent Technology Email: robertson.janine@gmail.com http://www.insectshield.com Ph: 206-354-9093 Virtual production with CGI.Backgrounds' imagery on an LED wall We are proud of the role CGI.Backgrounds has played in pioneering the use of HDRi Maps in virtual production, said CEO Randal Cumming. We hope that our report inspires more production companies and brands to adopt these versatile, green technologies In celebration of Earth Day, CGI.Backgrounds, a company providing high-resolution HDRi Maps and Backplates for the 3D design industry, has released a report detailing the climate benefits of virtual production technology. Over the company's nearly two-decade history, its virtual production technologies and partnerships have saved an estimated 1.92 million tons of CO2 emissions, equivalent to the annual energy use of 250,940 American homes, the report shares. Virtual production and associated innovations including LED walls have become a game-changing technology for television studios, production companies, and advertisers. They allow for production of full television shows, commercials and product shoots without the need to send crews, talent, or props on-location. As CGI.Backgrounds report shows, the reduced need for travel, physical sets, generators, and shipping results in major climate benefits. While producing a typical feature film or television episode can release 2,800 tons of CO2 (enough for 11 round trips to the moon), virtual production reduces these emissions by as much as 95%--while also cutting costs and time. By participating in approximately 100 virtual productions per year for companies including many in the Fortune 500, CGI.Backgrounds has contributed to an estimated 1,992,176 tons of CO2 emissions reduction over its 20-year history. We are proud of the role CGI.Backgrounds has played in pioneering the use of HDRi Maps in virtual production, said CEO Randal Cumming. We hope that our report inspires more production companies and brands to adopt these versatile, green technologies. CGI.Backgrounds recently took a major step towards expanding access to climate-friendly virtual production by allowing free access to thousands of HDRi Maps and Backplates from its extensive library. The company also launched a low-cost Student plan, giving a new generation of creatives the tools they need to create climate-friendly productions. The full report, and more information about virtual production, are available on CGI.Backgrounds website. About CGI.Backgrounds Launched in 2004, CGI.Backgrounds provides a premium library of HDRI environments, maps, and skies captured from real-world locations, from the deserts of Monument Valley to the streets of Tokyo. CGI.Backgrounds high-resolution scene captures are ideal for 3D design, product rendering, architectural visualization, and virtual production. CGI.Backgrounds library is available to search and download via the CGI.Backgrounds website and the CGI.B Connect app. Natural gas will eventually serve a smaller rate base of less-fortunate citizens who will be left to pay for the gas system, said the state's Consumer Advocate. (Photo: Southwest Gas Holdings) Policy, politics and progressive commentary The pipe carrying natural gas beneath homes and businesses in Southern Nevada may be more at risk of leaking than other types of conduit, but not enough to warrant saddling ratepayers with the bill to replace it at a time when gas bills are skyrocketing and the state is seeking to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels, according to testimony Wednesday from environmentalists and consumer watchdogs. Sen. Skip Daly, a Democrat from Washoe County, sponsored Senate Bill 116, which he says is necessary to ensure the safety of Nevadans, even as the state encourages investment in renewable sources. Daly cited a 2012 advisory issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation as justification for the legislation, which would allow the utility to recoup its cost more rapidly than through a general rate hike request. Nevadas consumer advocate Ernest Figueroa testified Nevadas natural gas system is modern, and shows no evidence of leaking or failure. He added that as a state-sanctioned monopoly, Southwest Gas is already obligated to repair safety risks such as leaking pipes. To their credit, they have operated one of the safest systems in the United States, Figueroa told lawmakers. it would be one thing if the proponents could say that while it would increase rates, it would at least add a benefit of serving an important function that does not currently exist. But that is not the case. Driscopipe 7000/8000, the polyethylene pipe at issue, has been blamed for several explosions in Arizona. But in 2020, Arizona utility regulators halted Southwest Gas pipe replacement program and denied the utilitys request to implement an accelerated replacement program, according to an exhibit filed by the Consumer Protection Bureau. In September 2021, Southwest Gas told Arizona regulators that of 10,358 miles of Driscopipe in Arizona, a small subset can present higher risk. Of that small subset, 99.99% has been found not to be leaking. Southwest Gas, the public utility that provides natural gas to Southern Nevada homes and businesses, is asking lawmakers to approve a measure that would allow it to speed up its recovery of an estimated $3 billion to replace 5,200 miles of pipe in Southern Nevada, a figure that prompted an outpouring of support for the project from labor unions. This is a safety problem that exists and we know about it, and therefore we can prevent it from becoming a bigger problem, said Danny Thompson, representing Operating Engineers Locals 3 and 12. And its not a question of if its going to become a problem. Its when is it going to become a problem? Peter Guzman of the Latin Chamber of Commerce voiced full support for the bill for safety reasons, and because this is economic development. This is going to create incredible paying jobs This legislation is necessary, and also complementary to the existing regulatory process that we have in place, Justin Brown of Southwest Gas testified. The Consumer Advocate argued that Southwest Gas and Sierra Pacific have accelerated pipe replacement through the normal general rate case process without the need for single-issue ratemaking mechanisms, a process he says is costly to consumers and benefits shareholders, who receive a return on profit and a return of depreciation expense absent the scrutiny of the general rate case process. In 2022, Southwest Gas $22 million in increased revenue from Gas Infrastructure Replacement exceeded increased revenue of $14 million from general rate cases, according to Consumer Advocate Figueroa. He said the regulated utilitys authorized rate base has increased by about ten percent from 2017 2022. While this fact is good for shareholders who profit from increases to rate base, its not so good for ratepayers. In Southern Nevada, a single-family residential customer using 62 therms per month from November through April saw a monthly increase in their bill from $47 in April 2021 to $102 in April 2023, a 116% increase, according to the Consumer Advocate. Northern Nevada customers using 100 therms per month have seen bills increase from $98 in April 2021 to $184 in April 2023 this year, an 88% increase. Figueroa said ratepayers are angry and confused and bill affordability is an issue that warrants the concern of all public officials, especially as NV Energy prepares for a general rate case submission in June. As Nevada moves toward a zero-carbon future, new investments in fossil fuel infrastructure should be scrutinized, not expedited, Figueroa said, adding as affluent customers take advantage of incentives to electrify or purchase all-new electric homes, natural gas will eventually serve a smaller rate base of less-fortunate citizens who will be left to pay for the gas system. New pipe has an estimated useful life of 50 years, according to the Bureau of Consumer Protection, and carries a risk of becoming stranded assets those that lose value and their costs cant be recouped, posing a risk to investors. Garrett Weir, general counsel of the PUC, explained Southwest Gas can recapture the cost of replacing pipe in the normal course of business, but that process doesnt provide for the timing that this does. Sen. Dallas Harris, chair of the Committee on Growth and Infrastructure and formerly an attorney with the Public Utilities Commission, asked Weir if its the agencys opinion that the pipe poses an imminent risk. The commission has not proactively required the accelerated replacements for the gas utility, he responded. The committee took no action on the measure. WillDom, a leader in enabling high-growth organizations to rightsource, strategize, and execute their digital transformation initiatives, today announced the introduction of Prox as its newest branch in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Prox joins WillDom Marilia strengthening WillDoms presence in one of LATAMS top tech hubs. Supporting ERP systems as well as delivering SaaS and a variety of applications for the past 13 years, Prox joins WillDom as its twelfth branch with 70 employees and a robust portfolio of clients. Prox, founded by Renato Souza and Erik Pereira in 2010, now looks to leverage WillDoms growing network to expand its impact in the global market, collaboratively. WillDom is a powerful brand that has a great reputation and a strong network of professionals and clients that will enable us to scale much faster in the U.S., stated Renato Souza, CEO and Co-Founder of Prox. We look forward to growing our skills, capabilities, and services through this alliance. With more than 18 years of experience in the market, Renato Souza and Erik Pereira come from a background deeply rooted in IT, finance, strategic operations, and sales and marketing. Together they began Prox to bridge the gap between technicality and business needs with top talent. Unfortunately, until this day, we have many professionals who are very technical but are not able to connect the business needs with the technology; there are a lot of executives and salespeople who dont speak that language. We have the skill to connect both, added Souza. Today, Prox serves 70% of Brazilian Banks through their ERP Practice, and with this new capability, WillDom will be able to expand its Fintech expertise to the Americas. Aligning precisely with WillDoms methodology, the company's approach of matching tech talent and cutting-edge solutions with next-gen projects makes Prox a perfect partner for the WillDom ecosystem. Tapping into the wealth of talent in Brazil is instrumental in our growth as an organization, shared Javier Ibanez Padilla, cofounder and Chief Networking Officer at WillDom. The Prox teams strong background in ERP solutions provides a new perspective for our network with a focus on enhancing operational excellence for our clients. Digitally transforming from within with leading-edge technologies such as those developed by Prox are what strengthen our clients and ensure that they optimize delivery to their customers. Prox has a strong client base of service-driven clients of which 90% deliver services directly to customers in diverse industries such as tech, finance, marketing, and customer service. About WillDom WillDom is a leader in enabling high-growth organizations to rightsource, strategize, and execute on their digital transformation initiatives. Through its proprietary end-to-end WAVE platform, WillDom utilizes its vast network of more than 5,000 best-in-class software developers, engineers, and technologists to provide organizations with software development that brings big ideas to life. If you need a partner for your digital journey or are looking to hire a full team, visit WillDom.com or follow us on LinkedIn today to access the power of the WillDom Ecosystem. ortex Aviation Announces the Opening of New Chicago Facility We are excited to expand our operations to this strategically important location and with our experienced team and wide range of capabilities, we are confident that we can deliver the world-class engine maintenance support our customers demand." said John McKirdy, SVP of Vortex Aviation. Vortex Aviation, a global leader in quick turn commercial aviation engine maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) services, is excited to announce the opening of its new facility in Chicago (Roselle), Illinois (USA) to provide unparalleled support for engine asset owners, airlines, lessors, and cargo operators. This will be Vortex Aviation's fourth strategic FAA and EASA approved facility, expanding the capabilities of the Hospital Shop and Field Services, which provide efficient and customized repair solutions for mature and next-generation turbine engines. These services aim to minimize customers downtime and reduce direct maintenance costs. The new facility scheduled to open on May 1st, 2023, provides comprehensive on-wing and on-site maintenance services, including: Hospital Shop Services: Specializing in quick turn surgical strike maintenance to get the engine back in service with minimal impact to operations and cost effectively extending the on-wing life of the engine. The Chicago facility will provide top case repair & inspections, boroblend capability, borescope inspections, QEC & stand swaps, engine lease return workscopes & evaluations among other services to include long term and short-term storage. Field Service: Vortex Aviation's experienced on-wing support team of Field Service Technicians will be available to travel to customers' locations, providing global AOG quick turn engine maintenance, repairs, and inspections. The Chicago facility will extend the reach of these services throughout the Midwest, offering rapid response to minimize downtime and keep aircraft flying. "Our new Chicago facility, located 15 minutes from Chicago OHare International Airport (ORD) and 40 minutes from Chicago Midway International Airport (MDW) is another significant milestone for Vortex Aviation," said John McKirdy, SVP of Vortex Aviation. "We are excited to expand our operations to this strategically important location and with our experienced team and wide range of capabilities, we are confident that we can deliver the world-class engine maintenance support our customers demand." About Vortex Aviation Vortex provides engine maintenance services to the aviation industry supporting the repair, troubleshooting, and maintenance of todays mature and modern turbine CFM56-3/-5B/-7B, CF6-80, CF34-8/-10, V2500, Leap, GTF, PW4000 engines and APUs, with effective solutions that reduce customers maintenance costs and help keep their aircraft flying. Vortex Aviations global core competencies include worldwide AOG repair & maintenance. Its four strategically located hospital shops provide targeted quick turn repair solutions for modern next generation and classic turbine engines used by the global, commercial, and regional jet aircraft markets. Vortexs full-time staff consists of OEM trained technicians at its certified repair stations in Florida and Chicago, USA plus Shannon and Dublin, Ireland. These operations have extensive background with major airlines, Operators, MROs, Lessors and Asset Owners. For more information about Vortex Aviation and its services, please visit http://www.vortexaviation.com or contact info@vortexaviation.com Zuddl's guide to pre-event marketing With The Guide To Before-Event Marketing, marketers will be equipped with a step-by-step process and structured framework to stay ahead of the curve Zuddl, the unified SaaS platform for managing events and webinars, has published a new ebook titled The Guide To Before-Event Marketing: Basics, Best Practices & Blunders. Written for B2B event marketing professionals, the playbook provides an analysis of the challenges currently faced by practitioners and is packed with insights from experts, best practices, and new strategies to help marketers drive better results from their events, from registration to revenue. Marketers will find guidance on all critical activities that are part of the event planning process including how to determine the ideal format for your next event, calculate your event budget, put together an agenda, source the right event speakers, and build an effective promotion plan. The ebook comes with free downloadable templates and easy-to-navigate timelines throughout the event planning process. Talking about the playbook, Bharath Varma, CEO & co-founder of Zuddl said Navigating this new and ever-changing events landscape can be daunting. With The Guide To Before-Event Marketing, marketers will be equipped with a step-by-step process and structured framework to stay ahead of the curve, and achieve greater customer satisfaction and revenue growth from their events. The complete ebook can be viewed here About Zuddl Zuddl is a unified platform for events and webinars that helps event marketers plan and execute events that drive growth. Large organizations and associations across the globe such as Microsoft, Google, ServiceNow, Highspot, Expensify and the United Nations etc. trust Zuddl to host their events. In January 2022, Zuddl announced that it closed $13.35 mn in Series A funding. For more information about the company, please visit http://www.zuddl.com After an incredible number of years working with Buffalo Lodging Associates, I am honored and grateful to move into this new leadership role." Its a part of our company culture to focus on internal growth and development. This is why Buffalo Lodging Associates LLC, is proud to announce Tom Rousher has been promoted to Senior Vice President of Hotel Operations. In this role, Rousher will be overseeing the operations of a portfolio of 50 hotels primarily under the flags of Marriott and Hilton brand families. Rousher brings a comprehensive perspective that well-supports the needs of hotel operations, returning value for hotel assets and the team members he supports. Since joining the company, Mr. Rousher has been promoted multiple times. He began his career with Buffalo Lodging in 2010 as General Manager of the Homewood Suites in Beachwood, Ohio and subsequently held the position of District Director until his promotion to Vice President of Operations Southeast in 2015, and now his recent promotion as Senior VP of Operations of all regions. Tom has more than 40 years of hotel experience with Interstate Hotels and Resorts, Aircoa Hotels and Resorts and including 5 years working as a General Manager with Buffalo Lodging earlier in his career. After an incredible number of years working with Buffalo Lodging Associates, I am honored and grateful to move into this new leadership role, said Rousher. I look forward to working alongside our visionary leadership team to accomplish our operational goals and continue the growth of our existing portfolio. Rousher holds a bachelors degree in business administration from Hiram College in Ohio. He resides in Cleveland, Ohio. Catalent, the leader in enabling the development and supply of better treatments for patients worldwide, today announced that two of its clinical supply experts are to co-host workshop sessions at the upcoming Global Clinical Supplies Group (GCSG) Conference, to be held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Hotel, Orlando, Florida, on April 23 - 26, 2023. The first workshop, entitled Autologous Supply Chains, will be held on Tuesday, April 25 at 11:15 a.m. EDT, and will look at strategies to consider when setting up a patient-centric supply chain for autologous cell therapies, and how to identify resources early in the process that can support chain of identity and chain of custody. Hosting the session will be Trish Demko, Catalents Director of Case Management Services, alongside Beth Gardner, Senior Director of Patient Supply at Beam Therapeutics. Additionally, Amber Brown, Catalents Director of Transportation Services, will be co-hosting a workshop, entitled VAT Regulation and Rebate Options for Clinical Materials with Melissa Brod from VAT IT. The session will look at ways for clinical trial sponsors to maximize the ability to reclaim value added tax, and will run twice at the conference: on Monday, April 24 at 11:30 a.m. EDT; and again on Tuesday, April 25 at 11:15 a.m. EDT. In her role at Catalent, Ms. Demko oversees the companys Case Management Services, launched in January 2023 to address the unique challenges associated with the safe and timely delivery of advanced therapies to patients by providing professional supply chain oversight from program start to finish. She has over 15 years of experience in case management, facilitating bone marrow and stem cell transplant coordination across a global network, overseeing team productivity, quality, and maintaining excellence in customer service. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Business Administration degree from Augsburg University, Minneapolis, as well as having Lean Six Sigma Green Belt certification. Mrs. Brown is responsible for Catalent's Global Transportation Services, where she supervises courier and shipment management, strategic lean value chain optimization, and oversees the economics of the companys global network against key performance targets. Her experience spans two decades of successfully managing global supply chains across a range of industries, and she holds a bachelors degree in business administration and supply chain from Fort Hays State University, Kansas. To find out more information about this event, visit http://www.catalent.com/events/gcsg-2023-us-conference/ About Catalent Clinical Supply Services Catalent solves todays clinical trial challenges and develops innovative solutions for the future. The companys commitment to quality and service excellence is evident in its flexible solutions, modern global facilities, and over 25 years experience of reliably supplying thousands of studies of all sizes and complexities, all around the world. About Catalent Catalent is the global leader in enabling pharma, biotech, and consumer health partners to optimize product development, launch, and full life-cycle supply for patients around the world. With broad and deep scale and expertise in development sciences, delivery technologies, and multi-modality manufacturing, Catalent is a preferred industry partner for personalized medicines, consumer health brand extensions, and blockbuster drugs. Catalent helps accelerate over 1,000 partner programs and launch over 150 new products every year. Its flexible manufacturing platforms at over 50 global sites supply around 80 billion doses of nearly 8,000 products annually. Catalents expert workforce of approximately 18,000 includes more than 3,000 scientists and technicians. Headquartered in Somerset, New Jersey, the company generated nearly $5 billion in revenue in its 2022 fiscal year. For more information, visit http://www.catalent.com. More products. Better treatments. Reliably supplied. We are thrilled to receive this award from Find Local Doctors. We always put our patient's needs first and provide them with the individualized, compassionate care they deserve, says Dr. Rinku Shah. Achieving overall wellness and whole health for patients are top priorities at Clear Immediate Care. Find Local Doctors recently honored this thriving practice as a result of the consistent, positive feedback the expert medical team has earned from patients. The clinic has a large volume of five-star ratings and reviews from patients across multiple online sources. Find Local Doctors is an easy-to-navigate online directory that helps consumers connect with local physicians who are qualified and reputable. The experienced doctors at Clear Immediate Care believe that optimum wellness requires treating the root cause of issues, not just the symptoms. Their clinic offers a wide spectrum of urgent care and primary care to help patients live healthier and better-quality lives The medical team at this state-of-the-art practice also offers the convenience of telemedicine and same-day appointments. Clear Immediate Care provides urgent care services including treating upper respiratory infections, COVID, influenza, sore throat, cough, urinary tract infections, STDs, minor cuts or bleeding. In addition, Clear Immediate Care also offers patients primary care physicians who deliver high-quality healthcare for the mind, body and overall wellness. This includes new options for weight loss management, including new drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic. Clear Immediate Care also continues to strive to aid patients in their behavioral health issues, including treatments for ADHD, anxiety and depression. Clear Immediate Care gives patients a new level of personalized medicine, and every staff member strives to provide attentive urgent and quality primary care in a friendly, welcoming atmosphere. We are thrilled to receive this award from Find Local Doctors. We always put our patient's needs first and provide them with the individualized, compassionate care they deserve, says Dr. Rinku Shah. More about Clear Immediate Care: Clear Immediate Care is located at 1605 S Michigan Ave in Chicago, IL. Clear Immediate Care was founded by the husband and wife team, Dr. Manan Trivedi and Dr. Rinku Shah. Both are dedicated to providing excellent medical care for patients, using a multidisciplinary approach. Dr. Shah is the founding family medicine physician and ADHD specialist. For more information about the services offered at Clear Immediate Care, visit http://www.clearimmediatecare.com or call (312) 535-5770. An illustration of Team Drapers SERIES-2 lunar lander, which is scheduled to deliver science and technology payloads to the Moon for NASA in 2025. Credit: Draper Our CP-12 effort is on track as we work diligently to establish payload delivery to the lunar surface and prepare for future, more complex lunar surface operations, said Pete Paceley, acting vice president of Space Systems, Draper. Draper has successfully completed the first two key milestones for NASAs Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) CP-12 task order: the mission architecture and requirements review and the payload interface preliminary design review (PDR). Draper and its partners are working to deliver a suite of three NASA-sponsored science payloads to the Moon, as well as two communication and data relay satellites for lunar orbit, in 2025. The Draper-led team includes General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems; ispace US; and Systima, a division of Karman Space & Defense. Team Draper is scheduled to deliver the payloads in fulfillment of CLPS task order CP-12, managed by NASAs Science Mission Directorate. The mission architecture and requirements review is the first milestone. Completion demonstrates that NASA concurs with Drapers plan for meeting mission and payload requirements for CP-12, and the scope of work is consistent with resource allocation. The payload interface PDR is the second program payment milestone, marking successful baselining of the teams technical approach for the payload delivery service. Completion of this critical milestone demonstrates that the preliminary design for the payload-to-lander interface meets all requirements and establishes the basis for proceeding with detailed design. Our CP-12 effort is on track as we work diligently to establish payload delivery to the lunar surface and prepare for future, more complex lunar surface operations, said Pete Paceley, acting vice president of Space Systems, Draper. The lander is planned to carry several commercial payloads in addition to the three from NASA. In July 2022, NASA awarded Draper a $73 million contract to deliver Artemis science investigations to the Moon. Draper is responsible for end-to-end delivery services, including payload integration, delivery from Earth to the surface of the Moon and payload operations. The experiments riding on Team Drapers SERIES-2 lander are headed to Schrodinger Basin, a large lunar impact crater on the far side of the Moon, close to the lunar South Polea first for NASA. Scientists hope to study the thermal and geophysical properties of the lunar interior as well as electric and magnetic properties in a landing location shielded from Earths electromagnetic fields. NASA says the goal of the CLPS project is to enable rapid, frequent and affordable access to the lunar surface by helping to establish a viable commercial lunar landing services sector. CP-12 will make possible the kind of geophysical observations from the surface of the Moon that have consistently remained a high priority among the lunar community. About Team Draper Team Draper, which is comprised of Draper, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems, ispace US and Systima, a division of Karman Space & Defense, is working to deliver scientific payloads for NASAs CLPS program to the lunar surface. Draper, as prime contractor, leads program management, systems engineering, integration and test, and mission and quality assurance; and develops the descent guidance, navigation and control system for the lunar lander. General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems performs payload integration and test; ispace technologies U.S. (ispace US) serves as the design agent, leveraging use of their made-in-the-USA SERIES-2 lander; and Systima Technologies, a division of Karman Space & Defense, leads lander manufacturing and assembly, integration and test. Visit Team Draper. Scholarship Winners--Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forums Gia Machlin, forum Co-Chair, said: I am so excited for our mentors to inspire, and be inspired by, these fabulous young women in STEM at a New York City high school that collaborates with my alma mater, Columbia University. EcoPlum, a sustainable promotional products company, announces today that Gia Machlin, its President & CEO, will co-chair with Dr. Sandi Webster the first ever New York City Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forum for high school girls in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) and STEAM (adding the Arts). Presented by the Enterprising Women Foundation, the event takes place on April 20, 2023 in Harlem at Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, and Engineering--a public school partnered with Columbia University. The Enterprising Women Foundation Mentoring Program provides high school girls across the U.S. and Canada with an opportunity to meet and connect with outstanding women entrepreneurs in their community at a local event. These events are designed to recognize the leadership potential of the young women participants, inspire them to dream big, and provide a focus on opportunities in STEM and STEAM, an educational model that includes science-based fields, a wide-range of the arts, and creative problem solving. The inaugural New York City mentoring forum at Columbia Secondary School for Math, Science, and Engineering (CSS) will be highly interactive and include a panel of business leaders, roundtable discussions, a financial literacy breakout session, and a scholarship announcement. Ten diverse women mentors and over 50 young women from the high school are expected to participate in the three-hour event. Two of the students will win scholarships sponsoring their attendance at this years Annual Enterprising Women of the Year Awards, May 21-22 in Clearwater, Florida. Airfare, transportation, hotel, meals, and incidentals will be covered for each winner and an accompanying parent or adult chaperone. Gia Machlin, forum Co-Chair, said: I am so excited for our mentors to inspire, and be inspired by, these fabulous young women in STEM at a New York City high school that collaborates with my alma mater, Columbia University. Ms. Machlin will open the event with a welcome to attendees and the introduction of Dr. Sandi Webster, forum Co-Chair and CEO of Sandi Webster LLC. Then Monica Smiley, Editor & Publisher at Enterprising Women magazine, and foundation founder, will greet the students with CSS Principal Vikram Arora, host of the forum, and Roxana Bosch, forum liaison for the school. Dr. Webster will moderate a mentor panel discussion with six successful businesswomen. These entrepreneurs and leaders will share their unique stories, offer advice for success in STEM/STEAM, and take questions. After the panel discussion, there will be ten small group mentoring roundtable discussions, each led by one of the participating mentors. The Mentors and Panelists are included below with their official titles: Dr. Sandi Webster, CEO Sandi Webster LLC, Co-Founder & Chief Learning Officer at Pandi LLC, Co-Chair NYC Mentoring Forum Gia Machlin, President & CEO EcoPlum, Co-Chair NYC Mentoring Forum Nisha Balwani, CEO RCI Technologies Sunita Bajaj, Managing Director and Registered Principal at Fortis Lux Financial Nadine Cino, CEO TygaSmart, a portfolio of sustainable tech products Michele Maybaum, Outsourced Finance and Accounting Partner at EisnerAmper D. Savi Prashad, President and CEO of RISA Management Corp. Carol Richards, Financial Advisor at The Richards Group Morgan Stanley Bonnie Schnitta, Ph.D., CEO Soundsense LLC Maisha Walker, President & Founder at Message Medium Enterprising Women is a partner in the Million Women Mentors Project and has committed to bringing a focus on opportunities in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) to high school girls who may not have role models or mentors. Million Women Mentors is the premier network dedicated to encouraging girls and women to pursue, persist, and succeed in STEM careers. Information on hosting a Young Enterprising Women Mentoring Forum is provided here. About Enterprising Women Foundation The Enterprising Women Foundation, a 501(c)3 organization and sister organization of Enterprising Women magazine, is hosting a series of mentoring events around the U.S. and Canada to connect outstanding high school girls with an interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) with outstanding women entrepreneurs in their local community. Learn more at https://www.enterprisingwomenfoundation.org/ About EcoPlum EcoPlum Business Gifts offers branded marketing solutions with its Sustainable Swag line of promotional products. EcoPlum curates best-in-class, eco-friendly gift items and customizes them for clients with their logos, taglines, or messages. We help companies make responsible choices on their branded gifts a visible symbol of their values with a goal of reducing plastic and harmful waste in our landfills and oceans. EcoPlum uses rigorous standards for ecological and social sustainability. Transparency is essential. Product sourcing criteria include USDA organic, fair trade, biodegradable, renewable, recycled, reusable, women/minority-owned, Made-in-the-USA, handcrafted or artisan, vegan, non-toxic, and third-party eco-labels (e.g. B Corp, FLA). EcoPlum is a certified B Corp, WBENC (Womens Business Enterprise National Council) women-owned business enterprise, and Green America Gold Business. The company is a member of ASBC (American Sustainable Business Council), AASHE (Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education), FLA (Fair Labor Association), PPC (Plastic Pollution Coalition), and ASI (Advertising Specialty Institute). Sustainable Swag solutions at EcoPlum.com, https://ecoplum.com/. For more information: info(at)ecoplum(dot)com, Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/EcoPlum/, LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/company/ecoplum, the EcoPlum Biz Blog, Twitter via @ecoplum, and Instagram via @ecoplum. Through our partnership with Constellation1, we can customize and adapt data sets to meet the specific needs of our brand and network to create tremendous business opportunities, said Jill DeSilva, Senior Vice President, Product, Engel & Volkers Americas. Constellation1, a leading provider of real estate technology and data services for brokerages, franchises, MLSs and associations has been selected by Engel & Volkers, a global luxury real estate brand, to power its new, Americas luxury real estate website and its brokerage sites throughout North America. Engel & Volkers sought an established data services partner to support its goal of achieving expansive coverage across North America, along with data richness, integrity and performance, including customizations specific to the Engel & Volkers platform functions. Rich, accurate data is essential, not only to the success of our new website experience, but also to the data driven tools that we provide our network of real estate professionals to help track and enhance their business strategies, said Jill DeSilva, Senior Vice President, Product, Engel & Volkers Americas. Through our partnership with Constellation1, we can customize and adapt data sets to meet the specific needs of our brand and network to create tremendous business opportunities. This partnership expands Constellation1s reach into luxury real estate services. We are proud to deliver robust data services to the Engel & Volkers Americas franchise network in support of its future expansion, said Andrew Binkley, President of Constellation1. Engel & Volkers and Constellation1 share foundational beliefs in quality, premium service, and innovation, making this partnership an ideal fit. The partnership also allows Engel & Volkers to take advantage of the Real Estate Standards Organizations (RESO) modern data standards and improves Engel & Volkers offerings to its franchisees, enabling its new site, launching in the summer of 2023, to better display listing information from across its North American network. Constellation1 is recognized in the industry as a preferred provider of real estate technology and data services. In addition to the partnership with Engel & Volkers, Constellation1 Data Services partnered with HSF Affiliates LLC, the parent company of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, in May 2021 for a national data rollout on bhhs.com, and announced a national expansion with Redfin in April of 2022. Polsteam's Isadora is the first ocean vessel into the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor. The Steel Stein was presented to Captain Piotr Szczesniak by POI staff Michelle Keen & Nick Harper. 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, said port director Ryan McCoy. Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor opened the 2023 international shipping season Tuesday, April 11 with the arrival of Polsteams Isadora, a bulk carrier coming from Ijmuiden, Netherlands through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Great Lakes. To commemorate the first ocean vessel of the year, the captain was presented with the Ports of Indiana Steel Stein. 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, said port director Ryan McCoy. Our unique deep-water 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. Owned and operated by Polsteam and built in 1999, the Cyprus-flagged Laker picked up its steel cargo in the Netherlands, stopping in Cleveland first, prior to arriving at the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor. The trip took about two weeks. Workers from the International Longshoremen's Association and International Union of Operating Engineers will unload more than 8,350 tons of steel coils at the port before Captain Piotr Szczesniak and his 21 crew members continue to Milwaukee to discharge the ships remaining cargo. Captain Szczesniak was presented with the Ports of Indiana Steel Stein, which commemorates Northwest Indianas identity as The Steel capital of North America. The Ports of Indiana is recognized as one of the top steel ports in the country for handling steel and metal-related products. The St. Lawrence Seaway opened its locks to ocean vessels for the 65th international shipping season on March 22 after closing in late December. The Seaway closes for maintenance in the winter, but the Ports of Indiana is open year-round handling cargoes by river barges, lake vessels, trains and trucks. The port handled 3.45 million tons of cargo in 2022, its highest annual shipment total since it began operation in 1970. ### About the Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor: The Ports of Indiana-Burns Harbor opened in 1970 and is operated by Ports of Indiana, a statewide port authority managing three ports on the Ohio River and Lake Michigan. Established in 1961, the Ports of Indiana is a self-funded enterprise dedicated to growing Indianas economy by developing and maintaining a world-class port system. Information: portsofindiana.com. Follow us on Twitter: @PortsofIndiana. Media Contact: Jen Hanson, jhanson@portsofindiana.com After Gov. Joe Lombardos first 100 days in office observers will use the occasion to evaluate his job performance. For many, Lombardo gets an A grade simply in comparison to former Gov. Steve Sisolak. During Covid, Sisolak governed as an authoritarian whose oppressive shutdown orders shuttered 95,000 Nevada small businesses that never reopened. The states unemployment rate reached 30.5 % in March 2020, exceeding Great Depression levels. High unemployment persisted during Sisolaks entire term, with Nevada having the highest unemployment rate in the nation when he left office. Sisolaks executive orders were often arbitrary, capricious and found to discriminate against religious assemblies. His greatest policy blunder was the closedown of in-person learning for an entire academic year. That had a devastating effect on Nevadas children. Not surprisingly, Sisolak was the only incumbent governor in the country to be defeated last November. Lombardo came to the governorship having been Clark County Sheriff for eight years responsible for 5,700 Las Vegas Metro police personnel and administering an annual budget of $700 million. Hes an experienced manager. Lombardo named Ben Kieckhefer as his chief of staff. Kiechhefer served in the Nevada Senate from 2011 to 2021 and knows the legislature and state government. Our new governor is not a gifted public speaker. No one will confuse his rhetorical skills with those of Reagan or Kennedy. Lombardo is straightforward and plain-spoken. When asked after his Jan 23 State of the State address what he was looking forward to over the next four years, the governor replied: Getting sh-t done. Thats just what hes attempting to do but Lombardo faces a legislature dominated by far-left Democrats. As a result of Democrats enacting an extreme partisan gerrymander in 2021, they won a supermajority in the Assembly (28-14) and fell one vote short of a supermajority (13-8) in the Senate last November. In his State of the State, Lombardo said it was time to confront stubborn facts in education where Nevada remains bottom-ranked. The governor took a balanced approach to fixing the problem. He proposes to boost both public school spending ($2,000 per-pupil); create the Office of School Choice; and, increase Opportunity Scholarship funding from $50 million to $500 million. Lombardo would reinstate the Read by Grade 3 law championed by Gov. Brian Sandoval requiring children failing grade three reading proficiency be held back. It was removed as a requirement in 2019. In 2019, Democrats also enacted AB 168, the public-school restorative justice law. The law has led to disruptive and dangerous behavior in classrooms. Lombardo proposes legislation, supported by all 17 school superintendents and teacher unions, to restore a teachers ability to remove a student from their classroom. It permits school administrators to use suspension and expulsion in aggravated cases of battery, drug dealing or firearm possession. The governor proposes a crime reduction act to make possession of fentanyl a Category B felony; hold habitual offenders accountable; toughen penalties in residential burglary cases; and lower the felony theft threshold. On election integrity, the governor would continue making it easy to vote mail, two weeks of early voting, and Election Day but harder to cheat. That includes requiring a photo ID, provided to anyone who cant afford one, mailing ballots only to people who actually request them, and requiring that mail-in ballots be returned in time to be counted on Election Day. He would end unregulated ballot harvesting, limiting their number to 30. Even with a budget surplus, far-left legislative Democrats are eying new taxes a digital sales tax and a Wealth Tax which Lombardo would certainly veto. The governors agenda should appeal to Republicans, a majority of decline-to-state voters, and many old school Democrats. Lombardo earns a preliminary A for a solid performance in his first 100 days. His first great challenge lies ahead from now until the legislatures adjournment on June 5. Joseph Simone, President, Simone Development Companies The exciting investments and advances discussed at the Crains Life Science Forum are a signal to healthcare real estate developers that we can successfully repurpose existing structures for the labs of the future, said Danielle Contillo, Principal at Simone Development Companies. Advanced computing will facilitate the conversion of outdated office buildings into life science laboratories, said Joseph Simone of Simone Development Companies. Life science laboratories are becoming less reliant on Bunsen burners and faucets in favor of advanced computers. This drying of wet labs means that owners of older office buildings or warehouses have new opportunities to reposition their properties for the medical research sector, said Joe Simone, President of Simone Development Companies. At the March 29 Crains New York Business Life Science Forum in New York City, Dr. Ayman El-Mohandes, Dean of the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy, said computers are dominating his institutions lab spaces. El-Mohandes explained that equipment for cutting-edge research no longer requires a messy wet-lab environment, allowing for a greater flexibility of uses in office buildings near research centers and universities. Hope Knight, Commissioner of Empire State Development, New Yorks economic development agency, also spoke at the forum. Knight described New Yorks $25 million investment in a pilot Lab of the Future in Midtown Manhattan that will rely on automation, artificial intelligence and machine learning to make the preclinical drug discovery process faster, fuel business growth and create more life science jobs. Knight noted that 10 percent of the nations cancer patients are in New York, which allows researchers to gather important data that can make New York a leader in the cell and gene therapy space. The exciting investments and advances discussed at the Crains Life Science Forum are a signal to healthcare real estate developers that we can successfully repurpose existing structures for the labs of the future, said Danielle Contillo, Principal at Simone Development Companies. Simone Development Companies is a full-service real estate investment company specializing in the acquisition and development of healthcare, mixed-use, office, industrial, retail, and residential properties. Headquartered at the Hutchinson Metro Center, it boasts a portfolio of over 7 million square feet throughout the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Long Island, Westchester County, Orange and Fairfield Counties and New Jersey. With services spanning acquisition, development, construction, finance, asset management, accounting, leasing and property management, Simone Development Companies is set apart by its vertically integrated management team, long-term asset ownership and its pursuit of visionary development The integration will streamline and accelerate the generation and delivery of cost estimates and documents mandated by the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule (TRID) ... with guaranteed accuracy and nationwide coverage. Constellation Mortgage Solutions (CMS), enterprise mortgage and servicing technology provider has announced an integration between its loan origination system (LOS) NOVA and the closing fee calculator provided by LodeStar Software Solutions, a national provider of closing fee-related compliance tools for mortgage lenders. The new integration is being made directly available to NOVA LOS users and will provide mortgage lenders with seamless access to LodeStars closing fee calculator. The integration will streamline and accelerate the generation and delivery of cost estimates and documents mandated by the TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule (TRID) such as the Loan Estimate (LE) and Closing Disclosure (CD) with guaranteed accuracy and nationwide coverage. Having immediate access to accurate closing fees is no longer a luxury for mortgage lenders, said Kelli Himebaugh, Chief Revenue Officer of CMS. With this partnership, we are helping NOVA LOS users shave valuable time from the origination process as well as providing one & done software administration setup for lender operations. In addition, users of CMS Mortgage Builder technology will have access to LodeStar without any system change requirements as they transition to NOVA LOS." Founded in 2013 and utilized by thousands of originators nationwide, LodeStar helps mortgage originators effectively manage their third-party closing costs to save both time and money as well as maintaining TRID (TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosure Rule) compliance. Quotes are automated in the lender system. Clarity is increasingly becoming a non-negotiable element of the mortgage process, said Jim Paolino, CEO of LodeStar. With this integration, CMS and its mortgage lender clients are again confirming that the consumer experience, as well as accuracy, is coming to the forefront of mortgage originators priorities. ABOUT CONSTELLATION MORTGAGE SOLUTIONS Constellation Mortgage Solutions provides industry-leading lending technology solutions through its products: Award-Winning NOVA LOS, Mortgage Builder LSS, and ReverseVision LOS. As the Gold Standard for mortgage solutions, CMS offers lenders of all sizes enterprise technology empowering Lenders on the front lines with innovative solutions designed to deliver exceptional loan quality, regulatory compliance, and drive profitability. CMS has been working for more than two decades to help mortgage professionals streamline operations and close more loans faster to increase ROI. constellationsolutions.com ABOUT LODESTAR SOFTWARE SOLUTIONS Philadelphia-Based LodeStar is the expert in closing cost data with an independent database of service providers and government fees. The company leverages its industry and technological expertise to create products and partnerships that automate disclosure of closing costs. In so doing, the brand works to advance the ideals of clarity, community and connectivity throughout the mortgage industry. LodeStars award winning Closing Cost Enterprise Solution provides guaranteed closing cost estimates for all 50 states including title insurance premiums, transfer taxes, municipal recording charges and settlement services fees. Lenders can manage all their providers fees from a single platform across their entire network. The company was named number 8 on the 2021 Philadelphia 100, produced by the Entrepreneurs Forum of Greater Philadelphia, which honors the top 100 fastest growing privately held businesses in the greater Philadelphia region. Learn more at lodestarss.com. This Girls Story, a teen-led digital literary magazine for girls and those who identify as girls age 13-19, is celebrating its one-year anniversary. Were excited that one year later, our magazine continues giving teen girls a valid platform over social media or their school paper to creatively express themselves. --Beth Tomas, founder of This Girls Story When Girl Scout leader Beth Tomas launched This Girls Story (TGS), a quarterly, girl-led digital magazine for anyone who identifies as a girl, age 13-19, she was reeling from personal tragedy and unsure whether her project would take. One year later, the not-for-profit magazine has found support in the community and in local schools and celebrating their one-year anniversary. The motto for TGS is because girls have important things to say and that is exactly why girls choose to participate in the project, said Beth Tomas, director of the 501(c)(3) organization. Girls are interested in telling their story and expressing their thoughts on social events. TGS gives them a higher, valid platform over social media or their school paper in which to do it. The publication contains vetted submissions of literary works and artful photographs from teen girls around the country. The magazine is assembled by an editorial team of nine girls nationwide who gather over Zoom and earn valuable, intern-level professional experience with active mentoring from volunteer professionals from communications and publishing. The first issue was published in June 2022 and Tomas is excited to now be assembling the June 2023 anniversary issue with the theme, PRIDE. Share YOUR Story! Alison Ver Halen, a professional content writer at AV Writing Services, is an editorial team mentor who volunteers her time for TGS. If something like TGS had been around when I was a teenager, I probably would have read every issue and submitted to all of them, she said. When I heard the call for mentors, I could not raise my hand fast enough. These girls are so smart and capable; I offer guidance and support when they need it, but mostly I just love watching these teens be amazing. Each issue follows a theme. The sleek, visually enticing, issues contain impressively mature artwork, poignant poems of self-expression, and perceptive essays on topics that are on the minds of todays girls such as overcoming adversity, faith, friendship, climate change, gender equality, and personal triumphs. In my experience Ive found that if you step out of the way, girls will amaze you. I want the readers of TGS to experience that too, said Tomas. Educators are appreciating TGS as well. Dr. Victoria Therriault, Librarian at J. Sterling Morton High School District 201 supports the mission by making opportunities known to her students. I always encourage my students to use their voice in order to express themselves, and TGS is a great place for them to do that outside of school walls, said Dr. Therriault. Im also impressed how the girls at TGS are now mentoring their peers by offering creative workshops to help others gain confidence in their voice and skills for the future. TGS hopes for continued community support as they gear up for their first fundraiser, which is a hybrid in-person and virtual TGS Poetry Slam being held in Aurora, Illinois on April 29. Tickets are now available as is registration to be a participating poet. To support the magazine with a subscription, a donation, or to purchase an individual issue, visit the website at thisgirlsstory.org. About This Girls Story This Girls Story (TGS), is a non-profit organization and quarterly girl-led magazine with a mission to provide a creative platform where teen girls can express themselves, gain publishing experience, and build confidence. TGS showcases contributions from all who identify as girls, ages 13-19, surrounding a designated theme for each issue. Contributions can include stories, essays, poetry, drawings, comics, photographs, and in the near future, videos, as well as audio. The quarterly publication is available for a subscription of $37.50 a year through the website, thisgirlsstory.org. I look forward to hearing from patients and industry colleagues about what matters most and what has the greatest impact when partnering with patients and their communities on our efforts to new therapeutic options available, Deirdre BeVard, CSL Behring and Patients as Partners Europe co-chair The Conference Forum announced that the 7th annual European Patients as Partners in Clinical Research conference will return to London at the Thistle Hotel Marble Arch on June 12-13, 2023. The event will showcase the progress made by pharma R&D executives with input from patients on achieving greater representation in clinical research, building trust and engagement in communities, and building truly patient-centric R&D organizations. We are delighted to be back in person to offer an unparalleled opportunity to hear from pharma R&D and patient advocacy together on how patient involvement gets done to drive greater efficiencies in clinical research with better outcomes, said Valerie Bowling, Executive Director, Patients as Partners in Clinical Research Europe. A variety of pharmaceutical companies will report on the progress theyve made engaging communities and partnering with patients. Sanofi will open with the evolution of patient-informed research and its impact on medicine development. Novartis will be speaking on the organizations global approach to implementing systematic and consistent patient engagement across the medicine lifecycle with a focus on measurement. Lundbeck will share how they are generating insights through engagement with patient communities and making patient input actionable for medicines development. CSL Behring will discuss how they are evaluating clinical research sites based on patient-focused principles. Several companies, including Regeneron, the Center for BME Health and Sanofi, will discuss their progress in increasing diversity amongst underrepresented communities in clinical research. GSK will lead a session on understanding barriers to community engagement in clinical research. Boehringer Ingelheim will discuss the companys approach to engaging patients throughout the clinical trial and how to leverage those patient insights to improve the process. Alnylam Pharmaceuticals will share how the organization has developed a top-down approach to integrating the patient perspective. The conference features incredible patient advocate representation, addressing the realities of underrepresented communities to better serve them. For the first time, Patients as Partners Europe will have a patient-led session on supporting mental health for patients in clinical research. I look forward to hearing from patients and industry colleagues about what matters most and what has the greatest impact when partnering with patients and their communities on our efforts to new therapeutic options available, said Deirdre BeVard, SVP, R&D Strategic Operations, CSL Behring and Patients as Partners Europe co-chair. Key topics for 2023 include: The evolution of patient informed research Increasing diversity in clinical research Patient access to research through digital innovation Understanding barriers to community engagement in clinical research Turning patient insights into action Navigating patient engagement and compliance Mapping and how to measure patient engagement Regulatory requirements and patient engagement in drug development To learn more about the event, and a full overview of speakers, please click here About Patients as Partners EU Patients as Partners is co-produced with patients, industry, academia, government and nonprofit organizations to establish a well-rounded program that addresses the needs of all stakeholders seeking to implement and advance patient involvement across the entire clinical development continuum. About the Conference Forum The Conference Forum is a life science industry research firm that develops conferences primarily around how to get therapeutics to patients faster. They examine and challenge the complex ecosystem of drug development and delivery, bringing ideas together from a variety of sources to help advance clinical research with common goals that are patient-focused. They currently offer conferences for pharma/biotech professionals including R&D leaders, CEOs, business development/licensing, medical affairs/safety, chief patient officers/advocates, clinical innovation champions, investors and drug delivery specialists. The company also publishes six newsletters and produces PharmaTalkRadio and virtual events. The entire process was efficient, and they were available and responsive to deal with related issues, which are inevitable in auto retail M&A. I look forward to working with them again in the future. Performance Brokerage Services, North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of Boardwalk Acura in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey from Group 1 Automotive to Key Auto Group. Group 1 Automotive is an international Fortune 300 company with 204 dealerships worldwide, with 149 dealerships across the United States and represents 275 franchises. Since Group 1 Automotive was established in 1997 in Houston, Texas, the company has grown to become a well-known brand and trusted leaders in the automotive industry, selling 154,714 vehicles across the globe in 2022. Boardwalk Acura was acquired by Group 1 Automotive in 2006. The dealership generated over $20 million in revenue in 2022 and shows promising growth potential. James Albertine, Vice President of Corporate Development at Group 1 Automotive remarked, I very much enjoyed working with Gershon Rosenzweig and Matt Wilkins of Performance Brokerage Services. They are consummate professionals. The entire process was efficient, and they were available and responsive to deal with related issues, which are inevitable in auto retail M&A. I look forward to working with them again in the future. Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. In 2022, the company consummated 92 transactions, marking a record-breaking year. Gershon Rosenzweig, Senior Partner for Performance Brokerage Services and representing agent for this transaction commented, No transaction can be defined as an easy deal. However, working with Group 1 Automotive and Key Auto Group makes things as easy as they can be. Jamie Albertine and John Leonardi are experts at what they do, and working with them was much more fun and less stressful than you might expect for a complicated transaction. I look forward to working with them again in the future! Matt Wilkins, Northeast Partner for Performance Brokerage Services added, We were very fortunate to work with seasoned professionals on both sides of this transaction. Christine Scott, Jamie Albertine, and the rest of the team at Group 1 Automotive were incredibly easy to work with. They were extremely responsive and always one step ahead. We look forward to having the opportunity to work with their team again soon. This was personally our third closing in 2023 with Key Auto Group and once again, they proved they are one of the best in the business. John and Anthony represent the best of what you look for in a motivated buyer and I look forward to seeing their success at Key Acura of Atlantic City. Anthony Di Lorenzo, founder and owner of New Hampshire based Key Auto Group, started his career in the automotive industry in 1986 working as an associate at Edwards Toyota. Less than a decade later, DiLorenzo opened Somersworth Auto Center, which quickly expanded and evolved into a thriving auto group. Chief Executive Officer John Leonardi started with Key Auto Group in 2007 as an associate and with dedication and hard work, moved his way up through the company until he stepped into his current role in 2020. Leonardi commented, I have now had the pleasure of closing my fifth transaction with Performance Brokerage Services. It was a pleasure working with Matt Wilkins and Gershon Rosenzweig on this deal and I look forward to more in the future. They put our interests first, work hard to make a complicated process seem easy, and above all else, they are good people. They always make themselves available to answer questions, help resolve issues, and go above and beyond. They took their time getting to know us so they could bring us the right opportunities and never stretched the truth. These guys are unbelievable and will put in the work to earn your trust. They are first on our list and should be first on yours too. With the help of Performance Brokerage Services, Key Auto Group has also acquired Thomas Chevrolet Buick of Perry, Barber Ford of Hazleton, Barber Ford of Exeter, and Acura of Reno. The growing auto group now operates 23 dealerships across the nation with the addition of Boardwalk Acura and looks forward to continuing their expansion. The dealership will remain at its current location at 6806 Tilton Road in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey and will be renamed Key Acura of Atlantic City. Key Auto Group was represented by Stephen H. Roberts, Partner at Hoefle, Phoenix, Gormley & Roberts, PLLC in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. Group 1 Automotive was represented by Christine Scott, Senior Attorney in Houston, Texas. About Performance Brokerage Services Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, RV, commercial truck, powersports, and equipment dealerships. With over 25 years of experience, 700 dealerships sold, and a 90% closing rate, the companys reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity. The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees or retainer, no reimbursement of costs, and paid a success fee only after the transaction closes. Headquartered in Irvine, California, and supported by 9 regional offices in Utah, Texas, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Alberta and Ontario, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation. As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with various vehicle manufacturers. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com. Mark Shackelford of Performance Brokerage Services was always accessible and never failed to answer any questions that we had. We would highly recommend Performance Brokerage to any dealer wishing to sell. Performance Brokerage Services, North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, is pleased to announce the sale of WestStar Autoplex in Monahans, Texas from Larry and Peggy Bryant to Jeff Buhl of Leif Johnson Auto Group. WestStar Autoplex has been under the ownership of Larry and Peggy Bryant since 2001. The Monahans, Texas location is comprised of two adjacent dealerships, with one facility selling Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Ram vehicles and the other selling Chevy, Buick and GMC. Larry Bryant, Co-Owner of WestStar Autoplex commented, We are very pleased with the way the marketing and sale of our dealerships was handled. Mark Shackelford of Performance Brokerage Services was always accessible and never failed to answer any questions that we had. We would highly recommend Performance Brokerage to any dealer wishing to sell. Over the last 5 years, Performance Brokerage Services has advised on the sale of over 300 dealerships, making it the highest volume dealership brokerage firm in North America. In 2022, the company consummated 92 transactions, marking a record-breaking year. Mark Shackelford, Midwest Partner for Performance Brokerage Services commented, I want to personally congratulate Jeff Buhl, President of Leif Johnson Auto Group, on the acquisition of WestStar Autoplex in Monahans, Texas from Larry and Peggy Bryant. From the start of negotiations, both parties and their team conducted themselves as consummate professionals. They kept every commitment made and worked quickly towards an expeditious close. I sincerely appreciate Peggy and Larry for allowing my team to represent them on this transaction, as well as Jeffs professionalism and follow-through on getting this to a close. With the addition of WestStar Autoplex, Jeff Buhl, President of Leif Johnson Auto Group, currently owns and operates five dealerships in four cities across the state of Texas including Leif Johnson Ford in Austin, which received a 2022 Ford Presidents Award. Buhl commented, Mark Shackleford and Performance Brokerage Services are among the best in the industry. Mark and I had the opportunity to sit down and map out a thorough acquisition strategy. Marks background as a former Ford dealership owner allowed us to move forward with complete confidence. Mark navigated through all the terms and conditions with constant communication, expertise, and complete professionalism. I would recommend anyone that is interested in pursuing a buy-sell to reach out to Mark and his team first! We look forward to future growth and partnership with Mark and Performance Brokerage Services. I would also like to congratulate Larry and Peggy Bryant of WestStar on the sale of their dealerships. We look forward to carrying their success well into the future. The dealerships will remain at their current locations at 401 & 403 East IH Frontage Road in Monahans, Texas and will be renamed Monahans Automall. About Performance Brokerage Services Performance Brokerage Services, Inc. is North Americas highest volume dealership brokerage firm, specializing in buy-sell activity for automotive, RV, commercial truck, powersports, and equipment dealerships. With over 25 years of experience, 700 dealerships sold, and a 90% closing rate, the companys reputation is unmatched and governed by the utmost ethical conduct and integrity. The company offers a unique approach by providing complimentary estimates of value with no upfront fees or retainer, no reimbursement of costs, and paid a success fee only after the transaction closes. Headquartered in Irvine, California, and supported by 9 regional offices in Utah, Texas, Illinois, Florida, Virginia, Ohio, New Jersey, Alberta and Ontario, clients benefit from national exposure with local representation. As trusted and respected experts in the field, the company utilizes an extensive network of industry related attorneys, accountants, hundreds of registered buyers, and longstanding relationships with various vehicle manufacturers. For more information about the services offered by Performance Brokerage Services, visit https://performancebrokerageservices.com. Credit Union Youth Month April 2023 For young people who may have heard about recent troubles in the banking industry, its especially important now to share that credit unions are safe and sound local financial institutions. Redwood Credit Union is celebrating Credit Union Youth Month in April, along with credit unions across the United States. Initiated by the Credit Union National Association to encourage kids to spend and save wisely, this years theme is Unleash the Power of Saving at Your Credit Union. To help celebrate the month, RCU is making the first deposit of $10 for its Jr. Ranger Members (ages 12 and under) and $20 for its Jr. Partner Members (ages 13-17).* For young people who may have heard about recent troubles in the banking industry, its especially important now to share that credit unions are safe and sound local financial institutions, owned and run by trusted people living in their own communities. Supporting children toward living financially healthy lives is a gift that helps prepare them for a future where they can achieve their goals and dreams. One of the ways the credit union educates is through its M3 Money Club for the youngest Members and Elements of Money for those 12 and older. About Redwood Credit Union Founded in 1950, Redwood Credit Union is a full-service financial institution providing personal and business banking to consumers and businesses in the North Bay and San Francisco. With a mission to passionately serve the best interests of its Members, team members, and communities, RCU delivers many ways for its Members to save and build money through checking and savings accounts, auto and home loans, credit cards, digital banking, business services, commercial and SBA lending, and more. Wealth management and investment services are available through CUSO Financial Services L.P., and insurance and auto-purchasing services are also offered through RCU Services Group (RCUs wholly owned subsidiary). RCU has more than $7 billion in assets and serves more than 430,000 members with full-service branches from San Francisco to Ukiah. For more information, call 1 (800) 479-7928, visit redwoodcu.org, or follow RCU on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn for news and updates. *Offer valid on youth accounts opened between 4/1/2023 through 4/30/2023. $10.00 will be deposited into the savings account of the RCU Jr. Ranger Member (age 12 and under) or $20.00 will be deposited into the savings account of the RCU Jr. Partner Member (age 13-17) who opened a new account within the promotional period. Deposits will be made to the account within 3 business days of account opening. A responsible adult must be added as a joint Member on each youth account. Certain restrictions may apply. Federally Insured by NCUA. Run Albion When you Run Albion, you know that youre making an impact on the community." Run Albion 2023 kicks off with Run the Rock on Thursday, April 28, marking the sixth year for the towns flagship event that has grown as the community has prospered. Decidedly the most hometown of Run Albions four races, Run the Rock takes runners, walkers, parents pushing strollers and dog owners through the heart of Albion College and past its famous painted rock that dates back to the graduating class of 1899. [Run the Rock] signals the start of race season in Albion, and this year we expect to draw more runners per race than ever before, said Run Albion lead organizer Caroline Hurteau. We were on pace for growth in all our 5Ks until the pandemic hit. Now, were back on track. Known for being held on Friday nights, each Run Albion 5K showcases the best the manufacturing town has to offer. In addition to the Run the Rock 5K, the History Hustle (on Friday, June 23) highlights the towns unusual and quirky past. While the Forks 5K (on Friday, Sept. 16) takes competitors along the two branches of the Kalamazoo River to Albions Victory Park. The series caps off with the Foundry Mile on the morning of the Albions Festival of the Forks. The premier of event of the Run Albion series attracts elite athletes from across the U.S. eager to beat the clock and each other in a one-mile speed run. While the field is open to all runners, the Foundry Miles Elite Division features the fastest 10 men and the fastest 10 women based on their personal record submitted during registration. The first-place finishers take home $1,000 each. For elite competitors, the race becomes part of their regular training and racing schedule. Some of our athletes are former NCAA Champions and Olympians, Hurteau said. Since its launch in 2017, Run Albion has become a signature event for the town. The series was created by Albion-based manufacturer Caster Concepts Inc. as part of the communitys revitalization efforts. Registration fees fund local nonprofits, providing funds for programs serving residents. The evening races attract runners and visitors throughout Michigan to Albions charming downtown. Since the launch of the 5K series, the town has undergone a transformation. Its business district now features new apartments, a gourmet market, cigar lounge, brewery, bakery and a Courtyard by Marriott. When you Run Albion, you know that youre making an impact on the community, Hurteau said. Race organizers expect the series to continue attracting visitors and runners alike with the announcement of plans to redevelop more than 20 buildings throughout its historic downtown, an investment of nearly $9.7 million. Run Albion is an economic vehicle for the town and a source of pride for the community, said Caster Concepts President Bill Dobbins. For more information on any of the Run Albion races, contact Caroline Hurteau at 517.945.4800 or churteau@casterconcepts.com. ### About Run Albion Founded in 2017, Run Albion is a series of 5K races topped off by a competitive mile run through the town of Albion, Michigan. The annual race series attracts both amateur athletes and competitive runners eyeing bigger prizes. Visit RunAlbion.com. Connect with us on Facebook and Instagram at @RunAlbion. Sandler Partners, a leading independent Technology Solutions Distributor and one of the nations fastest-growing private companies welcomes Joe Gabbert as Director, Channel Southwest Region. In his new role, he will help build and support the greater Southwest Region market by assisting Partners in sourcing the ideal technology solutions for their customers. Joe has been in the industry for over a decade, developing business and making connections within the Channel while representing notable brands including Nitel and Verizon. A graduate of the University of Missouri-Columbia, he has a deep understanding of the Southwest Region market, solutions (most recently NaaS and SD-WAN), and customer needs. This positions him as the ideal help to support our existing Partners as they grow their business, while also contributing to the expansion of our overall community. The right support helps Partners achieve a cadence where they can take on more, and reach further into our region to provide solutions that make a difference to customers, states Paul Seeley, Senior Vice President. Joe will actively help grow our Partner footprint in Texas and the Southwest region, one of the most dynamic and innovative areas in the nation. His addition to the team and his deep-rooted knowledge of the industry, will expand the scope of Partners who can benefit from and utilize Sandler Partners resources to confidently go deeper with their customers, and more aggressively prospect for organizations who can benefit from an elevated level of attention and expertise. The Sandler Partners model really appealed to me, states Joe, Their focus on putting Partners first, emphasizing vendor agnostic customer centric approaches is something Ive heard about over and over again. Ive seen sales agents go from one TSD to Sandler Partners, and you can read the positive change on their faces. I know I can be a part of creating more opportunities for my Partners and look forward to seeing how each wants to work with me and our amazing team of Sales Engineers. This is going to be exciting; I look forward to contributing to the success of our Southwest region, Sandler Partners community! About Sandler Partners Sandler Partners is Americas fastest-growing independent Technology Solutions Distributor of Connectivity and Cloud services. Theyve expanded beyond their telecom roots to deliver best-in-class Cloud, Colocation, Mobility, Continuity, and Cybersecurity. With over 200 suppliers, theyre able to remain vendor agnostic, empowering the Partner community of sales agents, VARs, and MSPs to deliver the best price, performance, and products that address the challenges, and meet the goals, for organizations of all size, industry, and complexity, both now and as they evolve into the future. How Partners, and Their Customers, Benefit Independently owned. Independent spirit. The Sandler Partner community gains access to an industry leading support network of sales, marketing, and engineering professionals, plus the Sandler Portals Marketing Center (with customizable campaigns), and sales tools like SCOUTs real-time cable pricing and the Solution Finder. Partners can rely on whatever level of support they need. Sandler Partners also have the industrys strongest agreements and a proven track record of ensuring all commissions are found, tracked, and paid. This grant will allow NJCC to work collaboratively with local partners and stakeholders to address the unique needs of our communities, with a focus on ensuring that resources are distributed equally and reach those who need them the most." said Bernel Hall, President and CEO of NJCC. New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC), the states largest community development financial institution (CDFI), is proud to announce that the U.S. Department of Treasury's CDFI Fund has awarded the organization $4,957,678 in funds through the Equitable Recovery Program (ERP). Announced by Vice President Kamala Harris and Deputy Secretary of the Treasury Wally Adeyemo this week, NJCC was one of 603 CDFIs in the nation to receive a portion of the $1.73 billion grant. The ERP, established by the federal government in response to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, aims to provide resources to organizations working to address disparities and promote economic recovery for communities disproportionately affected by the pandemic. NJCC's receipt of nearly $5 million in funding is a testament to its long-standing commitment to creating positive change in New Jersey's neighborhoods. We are thrilled to receive this significant investment from the Equitable Recovery Program, said Bernel Hall, President and CEO of NJCC. This grant will allow NJCC to work collaboratively with local partners and stakeholders to address the unique needs of our communities, with a focus on ensuring that resources are distributed equally and reach those who need them the most. We are grateful for the opportunity to continue our work in fostering equitable economic development and creating opportunities for New Jersey residents. NJCC has a proven track record of leveraging funding to make a meaningful impact in communities across the state. Through its comprehensive approach that combines financing, technical assistance, and partnerships with local stakeholders, NJCC has successfully revitalized neighborhoods, preserved affordable housing and supported small businesses, creating a positive ripple effect that strengthens communities and improves the quality of life for residents. The ERP grant will be used by NJCC to expand its lending and investment activities, providing affordable financing to support the development of affordable housing, mixed-use projects, small businesses, and community facilities in underserved areas. About New Jersey Community Capital New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) is a nonprofit community development financial institution (CDFI) that provides an innovative toolkit of financial products, programs and services to advance equity and opportunity in underserved communities. NJCC supports the preservation and development of affordable housing and sustainable community development ventures that increase jobs, improve access to education and strengthen neighborhoods to ensure communities can thrive. To learn more, visit NewJerseyCommunityCapital.org, Twitter: @NJCommCapital, and LinkedIn: @new-jersey-community-capital. Editor: Public Citizen, a nonprofit consumer advocacy organization (rated at 99% by charitynavigator.org) hosted a Zoom meeting last week to offer information about the indictments recently in the news. Here are the main points from that presentation that need to be faced, here in Elko County and across the USA: No one is above the law not even a former President of the United States. Thats why a grand jury of everyday Americans has voted to charge Donald Trump with 34 felony criminal counts. When someone breaks the law, they should face repercussions. There shouldnt be one justice system for everyday Americans and another for the rich and powerful like former presidents where they pay no consequences for their crimes. Anyone else would be prosecuted for these crimes, and they have been, in New York. This is a strong case based on troves of documents, evidence, and testimony. Instead of accepting accountability, Trump and his allies are attacking the prosecutor and judge and promoting violence. To be sure, these charges are only the beginning including the investigations in Georgia and by the U.S. Justice Department. I am a contributing member of the Public Citizen, and I invite our community members to visit their website www.citizen.org to learn about this organization that champions the public interest in the halls of power. We defend democracy, resist corporate power, and fight to ensure that government works for the people not big corporations. Founded in 1971, we now have 500,000 members and supporters throughout the country We dont participate in partisan political activities or endorse any candidates for elected office. We take no government or corporate money. Consider supporting this worthy organization and learn how you can speak truth to power. J. Boyer Spring Creek "We are thrilled to be launching our new NVIDIA RTX 4070 gaming desktops, which offer gamers a range of options from our flagship ODACHI series to our entry-level SHOGE series," YEYIAN Gaming, a leading global designer and manufacturer of innovative pre-built gaming PCs, peripherals, and computer components, has announced the launch of eight new gaming desktop PC models. These models are all powered by NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 graphics cards and provide diverse options from the flagship series, ODACHI, mid-range series, YARI II, to the entry-level series, SHOGE. These new gaming desktops are built to deliver unparalleled gaming performance and satisfaction for desktop gamers. With support for the latest INTEL Core i7 and i5, as well as the AMD Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 platforms, the NVIDIA RTX 4070 GPU gaming desktops provide users with the power and flexibility they need to take their gaming experience to the next level. In addition to the powerful RTX 4070 graphics cards, all new gaming desktops come equipped with RGB illuminated and CPU AIO water-cooling, which supports the latest NVMe M.2 SSD, and pre-install Windows 11 Home as the system OS for excellent stability and compatibility. These features ensure that gamers can enjoy stable and high-performance gameplay while enjoying the aesthetics of the gaming desktops. "We are thrilled to be launching our new NVIDIA RTX 4070 gaming desktops, which offer gamers a range of options from our flagship ODACHI series to our entry-level SHOGE series," said Frank Lee, the VP of YEYIAN Gaming. "Our commitment to delivering innovative and high-quality products is reflected in our latest offerings, which are built to provide unparalleled gaming performance and satisfaction." Availability Amazon: Shoge 760XB-4701U: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1Y7N1TF Shoge 34F0B-4701U: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1YKMD5C Yari II 770XB-4701U: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1YHLM97 Yari II 37F0B-4701U: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1YLY9T9 Odachi 37KFB-4701U: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C1YLFS8Y Odachi 780DB-4701U (Pre-order only): http://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C2774H6Y Newegg: Shoge 34F0B-4701U: https://www.newegg.com/yeyian-ypi-sh34f0b-4701u/p/3D5-002P-00038?Item=3D5-002P-00038&Tpk=3D5-002P-00038 Yari II 27F0B-4701N: https://www.newegg.com/yeyian-ypi-ya27f0b-4701n/p/N82E16883630028?Item=N82E16883630028&Tpk=83-630-028 Odachi 27KFB-4701N: https://www.newegg.com/yeyian-ypi-od27kfb-4701n/p/N82E16883630029?Item=N82E16883630029&Tpk=83-630-029 Learn more about YEYIAN Gaming PC: https://us.yeyiangaming.com/gaming-pcs.html Learn more about YEYIAN Shield Warranty Program: https://bit.ly/3Szm571 Marketing Assets Download: https://bit.ly/4142UXH About YEYIAN Gaming Yeyian Gaming is a leading manufacturer of cutting-edge technology solutions for gamers, creators, and PC enthusiasts. Its innovative technology delivers award-winning solutions to the community worldwide through creator PCs, gaming PCs, monitors, computer components, gaming furniture and peripherals. Yeyian Gaming has perfect solutions to meet everyone's needs from pre-built PCs to complete custom rigs and from high-performance gaming monitors to next-generation PCIe Gen 5 power supplies. Yeyian Gaming was funded in 2017 in San Diego, California. Its philosophy is to develop innovative technology products with high reliability and high performance. The goal is to provide its customers with unrivaled user experiences and exceptional customer service and remain at the forefront of the gaming community. For more information, please visit https://us.YEYIANgaming.com. Follow Us Website: https://us.YEYIANgaming.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YEYIANusa/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/YEYIAN_usa/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/YEYIAN_usa TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yeyian_usa?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@yeyian_usa This year marked the 60th anniversary of China sending its first medical team to Algeria on April 6, 1963. So far, batches of Chinese medical teams have offered sincere assistance to countries in need with outstanding medical skills and noble ethics. They have explained the spirit of the Chinese medical team featuring no fear of hardships, willingness to dedicate, saving lives and great love with practical actions, winning wide applause from the international community. Patients from various countries thanked Chinese doctors for "creating medical miracles," while foreign doctors applauded them for passing on valuable experiences from China. Chinese medical workers have shown their great love with dedication. Over the past 60 years, China has dispatched around 30,000 medical personnel to 76 countries and regions across five continents, providing 290 million diagnoses and treatments for local people. Currently, Chinese medical teams work at 115 sites in 56 countries, nearly half of which are in remote areas with harsh conditions. Overcoming difficulties in work and life, Chinese medical personnel are benefiting the people in those countries with medical proficiency and ethics. Dedicating all their efforts to international medical assistance, they believe that the smiles of the patients are the motivation for their persistence, and doctors must do everything they can to save lives against all odds. The words interpret Chinese doctors' respect for life. Chinese medical workers are not only "angels in white" who save lives, but also envoys of friendship who pass on love. In Algeria, Chinese medical teams often host academic saloons, lectures, acupuncture training programs and other teaching activities. In Vanuatu, Chinese medical teams join local patrol missions, offer free clinical treatment, and launch investigations and health education activities apart from providing routine medical assistance. In Malta, a traditional Chinese medicine center established by Chinese medical workers has held over 10 acupuncture training sessions, which were joined by trainees from multiple European countries including Germany, Italy, Switzerland and Serbia. Chinese medical teams have also trained local practitioners based on each trainee's aptitude, cultivating local medical talents for the community. With concrete actions, they tell Chinese stories to the international community and forge a closer people-to-people bond between China and other countries. In the 1970s, Mei Gengnian, the leader of China's first medical team to aid Ethiopia, sacrificed his life in the country when practicing medical service to local people and was buried in a local village. His tomb has been "guarded" for decades by local resident Zewdie Haile and his family for generations, which has become a warmhearted tale spreading throughout the village. The Chinese people love peace and cherish lives, which is illustrated by their efforts in international medical assistance. After the outbreak of Ebola in West Africa, China sent more than 1,200 medical workers to treat over 800 patients and provided public health training for more than 12,000 people. After the outbreak of COVID-19 globally, China has shared pandemic prevention and treatment plans with 180 countries and over 10 international and regional organizations and held video conferences on pandemic response exchanges with over 160 countries and international organizations. It has also sent 38 expert teams to 34 countries, and offered anti-pandemic materials to more than 150 countries and 15 international organizations. Besides, China has also sent short-term medical specialist teams overseas for particular diseases to safeguard the health of people in developing countries. Whether in regular health services or in response to major public health emergencies, China has always been an active provider of assistance, which fully showcases the country's major-country responsibility. There's a Chinese saying that "a just cause finds great support and compassion knows no borders." Chinese medical teams have composed a song of great love with concrete actions, making important contributions to promoting the noble cause of human peace and development. China will keep playing an active role in international medical assistance and other international cooperation, build strong synergy for building a global community of health for all and work together with all parties to safeguard the health of all humanity. Observers in Zambia said that the projects under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative have not only modernized Zambia's infrastructure but also brought considerable benefits to the local people. Click here to watch the video. Concerns about censorship at Scholastics Rising Voices Library, a diversity-focused provider of educational materials, arose on Wednesday after writer Maggie Tokuda-Hall was asked to revise an authors note in her book about Japanese American incarceration during World War II. Tokuda-Hall spoke out against Scholastics request that she cut the words virulent racism from a sentence about the trauma caused by anti-Japanese American policies and that she eliminate a paragraph about racisms broader legacy in America. Scholastic's actions sparked an immediate backlash on social media and an apology from the company. The controversy began earlier this week when Tokuda-Hall got a message through her publisher Candlewicks subsidiary rights department: Scholastics Education division was offering to license her picture book Love in the Library for a Rising Voices Library collection called Amplifying AANHPI (Asian Americans and Native Hawaiians/Pacific Islanders). Rising Voices Library packages books with teaching materials for educators, as part of its stated mission to provide students with high-interest texts that celebrate the stories of the historically underrepresented. In Love in the Library, illustrated by Yas Imamura and published by Candlewick in January 2022, Tokuda-Hall tells the story of how her Japanese American grandparents met while incarcerated in Idahos Minidoka camp during World War II. The picture book ends with an informational authors note from Tokuda-Hall, which places the romance between her grandparents George and Tama squarely in the context of injustices then and now. Candlewick president and publisher Karen Lotz, who edited the book, explained that this afterword was developed in the editorial process, saying: In fact, we asked Maggie to provide the note. Maggies powerful words offer vital historical context that will benefit younger and older readers alike, also drawing valuable connections between the events of the story and lessons for today. Love in the Library, and in particular the authors note, have drawn hateful messages and threats against diversity, equity, and inclusion. I do not report these emails to Candlewick, they die in my inbox, Tokuda-Hall told PW via email. When the book was first published, Id get about one a week. Now its down to about one every month, or even month and a half. Lotz added, We are devastated that Maggie has been fielding these kinds of responses. We have seen some negative feedback on online review sites but have not received any here directly, as far as we know. In general, we report reviews that are inaccurate or bigoted, but otherwise we seek to amplify positive reviews and reception as much as we can to emphasize the value of our books and to underline how critical it is that children have access to them. Tokuda-Halls uncompromising language was on Scholastics radar too. In an internal message provided to PW by Scholastic, Rising Voices Librarys lead editor wrote to the publisher, We love this book! And we want everyone in the schools we serve to read it. However, our audience is comprised of elementary school-aged children and there are some details in the Authors Note that, although eloquently stated, are too strongly worded for what most teachers would expect to share with their students. This could lead to teachers declining to use the book, which would be a shame. To that end we are requesting make an adjustment to the Authors Note. Our suggested change is attached. Afterward, Scholastic communicated these concerns to Tokuda-Hall in another email. The passage in question reads: [My grandparents] improbable joy does not excuse virulent racism, nor does it minimize the pain, the trauma, and the deaths that resulted from it. But it is to situate it into the deeply American tradition of racism. As much as I would hope this would be a story of a distant past, it is not. Its very much the story of America here and now. The racism that put my grandparents into Minidoka is the same hate that keeps children in cages on our border. Its the myth of white supremacy that brought slavery to our past and allows the police to murder Black people in our present. Its the same fear that brings Muslim bans. It's the same contempt that creates voter suppression, medical apartheid, and food deserts. The same cruelty that carved reservations out of stolen, sovereign land, that paved the Trail of Tears. Hate is not a virus; it is an American tradition. On April 11, Tokuda-Hall blogged about the situation in a piece called Scholastic, and a Faustian Bargain illustrated with a screen-capture of the proposed edits. In her blog post, Tokuda-Hall expressed her complex emotional response to Rising Voices Librarys desire for inclusion and the contradictory request to delete the paragraph. She felt put in a position where I had to choose between my career and my ethics and expressed her fear that a principled stance could scare off an editor who sees this and thinks Im too difficult to work withI have a book out on submission right now. Responding to Tokuda-Halls post, Scholastic v-p of corporate communications Anne Sparkman provided a statement to PW via email, saying, We did not receive any direct response [from Candlewick or Tokuda-Hall] in advance of this evenings blog post publication. We are very sorry for how this is all unfolding. We wish the conversation around Love in the Library could have continued with the author and her editors because we very much wanted the book to be available in our collection to reach as many students as possible. In a tweet, Tokuda-Hall shared, It is worth saying: I clarified that the offer was contingent upon this edit being accepted. The answer was yes, it is. She later told PW, I considered for a moment trying to seek compromise. But the elimination of the word racism made it clear that none was to be had. Lotz emphasized that Candlewick stands behind the author and her book, calling Love in the Library profoundly truthful. We honor Maggies courage and moral clarity in responding to any request to obscure that truth or censor her voice, and support her decision not to accept an altered version of the book. It is a necessary courage to respect children enough to tell them the full and at times painful story of our countryso that we can create a better future. We will continue to work hard to ensure that Love in the Library reaches the broadest possible audience, via whatever channels we can. Tokuda-Hall called the matter, in her blog post, the perfect encapsulation of what publishing, our dubious white ally, does so often to marginalized creators. Always, our voices are the first sacrifice at the altar of marketability. Rather than turn her grandparents story into a timeless romance and soften it for classroom settings, Tokuda-Hall said, she rejected the Rising Voices Librarys offer. As word of the controversy spread, Thursday afternoon Scholastic CEO Peter Warwick sent a message to all company employees acknowledging that Scholastic was mistaken in asking Tokuda-Hall to make edits. This approach was wrong and not in keeping with Scholastics values. We dont want to diminish or in any way minimize the racism that tragically persists against Asian-Americans, the letter read. Warwick added that Scholastic has contacted Candlewick to apologize to Tokuda-Hall and that the publisher hopes to continue on with the project. It is our sincere hope that we can start this conversation over and still be able to share this important story about Ms. Tokuda-Halls grandparents, who met in a WWII Incarceration camp, with the authors note unchanged, Warwick wrote. Meanwhile, an online petition protesting Scholastics action has garnered some 100 signatures from authors. The petition calls for Scholastic to publish Love in the Library as written and to publicly apologize to the author and illustrator. This story has been updated to include Scholastic's response and the creation of the online petition, and to clarify internal messaging not shared with Tokuda-Hall. Leading Dubai developer Damac Properties has officially announced the launch of Damac Bay 2 by Cavalli. The sequel to the UAEs developers three-building Damac Bay property, which is located along the same shoreline within Dubai Harbour, Damac Bay 2 features the finest on-property facilities to transport residents into a lavish wildlife-inspired oasis. Designed by the iconic Roberto Cavalli brand, this opulent high rise tower aims to offer residents a high-end lifestyle complimented by an enthralling natural ambiance, said Damac in a statement. Located at the intersection of the iconic Palm Jumeirah and Bluewaters Island, the project has the advantage of being situated in the midpoint between Dubai International Airport and Al Maktoum International, and is only minutes away from some of Dubais most beloved landmarks, beaches and world-famous attractions, it stated. The amenities within Damacs newest luxury property compliment the towers floorplans, offering residents a quintessential getaway with housing choices ranging from premium one-bedroom apartments to five-bedroom super luxury deluxe suites, it added. On the launch, Niall McLoughlin, Senior Vice President, said: We are elated to launch Damac Bay 2 Tower by Cavalli and we welcome homeowners to indulge in the comfort of residential life characterised by the look, textures and sights of nature." Our objective throughout the development process of the property has been to create premium housing that not only complements the Damac Bay Tower, but also exists in unison with the landscape of Dubai Harbour. We look forward to providing residents with a home that seamlessly blends luxury, elegance and the holistic nature of our planet, he added. A view of Ha Long Bay (Source: NDO) In an article published in early April, the magazine described that Ha Long Bay is famous for its limestone karsts and islets of various sizes that rise above jade-green waters. It hailed that while boat tours offer a quick glimpse of Ha Long Bay, the mystical beauty of the bay extends far beyond its karsts and islets. Visitors kayaking in Ha Long Bay (Photo: hanoimoi.com.vn) The article suggested visitors staying in the nearby city can kayak through the serene lagoon, explore the network of caves hidden under the islets, rock climb over the hanging karsts, or soak in the quiet way of life at one of the many fishing villages floating deep inside the bay. The other nine destinations honoured in the list were Atauro Island (East Timor), Bagan (Myanmar), Nusa Islands (Indonesia) Champasak (Laos), Taman Negara (Malaysia), Kyoto (Japan), Paro (Bhutan), Kerala (India) and Batanes (Philippines). Nine more Asian records for Vietnamese dishes, specialties recognised The Asian Record Organisation has officially recognised an additional nine Asian records for famous Vietnamese dishes/food groups and specialties nominated by the Vietnam Records Organisation (VietKings), marking the milestone of 50 Asian culinary records in Vietnam in conformity with the "Asian Culinary Value" criteria, reported VNA. Illustrative image (Photo: Internet) The newly-recognised dishes and specialties include traditional cakes of Can Tho city; dishes made from pineapple in the southern province of Hau Giang; fried puffed sticky rice cake in the southern province of Dong Nai; Dinh Bang Phu The (husband and wife) cake in the northern province of Bac Ninh; dragon fruit in the south central province of Binh Thuan; Phan Thiet fish sauce from Binh Thuan province; Luc Ngan lychee in the northern province of Bac Giang; Lam Dong artichoke in the Central Highlands province of Lam Dong; Long Xuyen broken rice in the Mekong Delta province of An Giang. As scheduled, the Asian records certificates will be awarded to the localities at a meeting in June in Ho Chi Minh City. Long Xuyen broken rice in An Giang province. (Photo: Internet) According to a VietKings representative, VietKings has taken a journey to seek and promote the unique values of Vietnam, especially its culinary and specialty values, since 2012. With 63 cities and provinces, the Vietnamese cuisine and specialties in each region have their own distinctive flavors, ingredients, ways of using and combining spices, among others. Via media cooperation with international record organisations to which that VietKings is a member, such journey will continue in order to popularise these exquisite values. Quang Nam named among Asias most sustainable destinations UK-based travel magazine Wanderlust has named the central province of Quang Nam among Asias top four sustainable destinations, reported VOV. Quang Nam named among Asias most sustainable destinations (Source: vov.vn) Quang Nam is listed among Asias most sustainable destinations by Wanderlust The magazine stated that the list features places which are all well worth a visit if visitors are seeking an eco-friendly escape. By putting local businesses at the heart of tourism, Wanderlust noted that Quang Nam is proving sustainability starts at home. Hoi An Kayak Tours takes visitors on a paddle through the Nipa mangroves, navigating fishing boats and stilt village, the magazine shared. In town, Refillables sells eco-friendly travel necessities, from shampoo to toothbrushes, while nearby zero-waste restaurant The Field uses wild and organic local produce to create rustic dishes, such as its aubergine and tofu broth, it added It also suggested that visitors should spend the night among the blossoming trees at An Villa, which provides filtered drinking water to guests, thereby reducing the need for plastic use. Three other sustainable destinations on Wanderlusts list include Bhutan, Singapore, and Atauro Island in Timor-Leste. Teachers who work in childcare settings in the United States earn $11.65 per hour on averageless than half of what their peers working in schools earn, and below a living wage in most U.S. counties. Accordingly, even prior to the pandemic, childcare teachers ( PDF ) left the profession at considerably higher rates than K12 teachers. In Louisiana, for example, nearly half ( PDF ) of childcare teachers working one year were gone the next. While the pandemic impacted teachers at all levels, the childcare sector was hit harder than K12. Many childcare teachers left for higher-paying jobs, and staffing challenges ( PDF ) led many centers ( PDF ) to turn families away. These difficulties have heightened awareness of the poor working conditions early educators face and spurred calls to professionalize the ECE workforce and treat them more like K12 teachers. Professionalization efforts in early childhood education (ECE) often focus on increasing training and education requirements for early educators. For instance, a 2015 National Academies report ( PDF ) called for increased entry requirements, including a bachelor's degree for lead teachers, as a strategy for transforming the early childhood workforce. Programs such as T.E.A.C.H. and WAGE$ provide scholarships and wage increases to incentivize childcare teachers to pursue more education. And, by the end of 2023, the District of Columbia will require all childcare teachers to hold an associate degree. The benefits or costs of large-scale professionalization efforts in ECE are not yet clear. Share on Twitter The benefits or costs of these types of large-scale professionalization efforts in ECE are not yet clear. And we know little about the implications of such policies for a workforce that already faces a great deal of instability. However, research on ECE professionalization offers some lessons. Lessons from Early Childhood Credentialing in Louisiana Our researchdone in partnership with the Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE)highlights the practical difficulties inherent to ECE professionalizing efforts. In 2014, LDOE launched the Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate (ECAC) credential as a way to ensure that all childcare lead teachers have a solid foundation for supporting children's development and providing responsive teacher-child interactions. The ECAC is free to early educatorsthey pay nothing in tuition costs. It is also heavily incentivized: once they get the credential, educators become eligible for annual, refundable tax credits up to $3,600. These financial supports address the high costs of postsecondary education and provide an incentive to complete the credential. Despite this planful approach, ECAC completion rates ( PDF ) have been very low. To learn why, we tracked all teachers (N=1,010) who started working towards an ECAC between 2016 and 2018. We followed their progress through a multi-step process: applying for a scholarship; completing a first semester of ECAC coursework; completing all remaining coursework and program requirements; completing all Child Development Associate requirements (a nationally recognized certificate that is required for the ECAC); and submitting final paperwork to earn an ECAC. Figure 1 shows that just two-thirds of candidates who applied for a scholarship (all eligible applicants are given a scholarship; it is noncompetitive) make it through the first semester of coursework. Fewer than half completed all program requirements. And less than one-third of the teachers who started working towards an ECAC ultimately earned one. Figure 1: Percent of Teachers Who Completed Steps for Their Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate Steps for Early Childhood Ancillary Certificate Percent of teachers who completed Applied for program scholarship 100% Finished first semester of coursework 62% Finished program requirements 47% Earned CDA 37% Earned ECAC 31% Note: Figure presents percentage of teachers who completed each ECAC step, out of all Louisiana teachers who applied for program scholarships between 2016 and 2018 (N=1,010). Source: Authors' calculations using administrative data from LA Pathways, Louisiana's Early Learning Center Career Development System, and Teach LA Live, Louisiana's online educator certification portal. To better understand these low rates of completion, we collected data from ECAC program leaders ( PDF ), childcare site leaders, and teachers ( PDF ) themselves. Two key findings emerged: First, working towards the ECAC outside of paid work hours, something that could take up to eight hours per week across the two semesters of coursework, proved difficult. Half of the teachers and one-third of the site leaders reported that it was challenging for teachers to earn the ECAC. Attending classes and completing assignments while working full time and managing family life was hard. Second, many teachers who failed to complete the ECAC left childcare altogether. When asked the main reason teachers drop out of ECAC programs, 61 percent of ECAC program leaders reported that these teachers were no longer working in publicly funded childcare. Childcare leaders noted that current levels of teacher compensation prevent teachers from staying in the field. One leader wrote: [Teachers] will go to McDonald's because [they] can make $11 an hour but are now working for $8 an hour. Our findings offer a cautionary tale for ECE professionalization efforts. They show that even when professionalization efforts include scholarships that cover the direct costs of training and offer meaningful financial incentives, completion rates can still be very low. During the period we examined, less than one-third of childcare teachers who started working towards the ECAC finished it. Many teachers left the field altogether. Finding a Better Approach to ECE Professionalization We suggest two policy solutions to achieve greater returns on these ECE professionalization efforts: Professionalization efforts are unlikely to succeed if they depend on unpaid labor by low-wage workers. Share on Twitter Embed professional learning in the paid work dayand compensate teachers for hours spent on training. Professionalization efforts are unlikely to succeed if they depend on unpaid labor by low-wage workers. While ECAC tuition was free, the cost with respect to time proved daunting. Covering the cost of childcare and transportation would make pursuing a credential more manageable. However, even with these types of supports, the credential requires a considerable investment of unpaid time. Embedding the professional learning during the work day would likely increase completion rates. States and districts might also consider paying teachers for the additional time required. Louisiana's ECAC provides a sizable financial incentive through the tax credit, but the payment comes at the end of a long process. Finding ways to front-load the financial supports could help. Increase pay for early educators. Outrageously low teacher pay continues to be the main source of challenges for the ECE workforce, and it has downstream implications for investments in professional learning. Adding additional educational requirementsat a time when turnover rates are high and childcare centers are turning away families due to lack of staffis likely to exacerbate an already challenging situation. Efforts to improve compensation are necessary not just as a reward for increased education but to ensure basic adequate working conditions and to stabilize the workforce. Wages need to be high enough for teachers to stay long enough to merit investments in their professional development. Some states are using novel approaches to increase compensation for ECE teachers and support quality. New Mexico ( PDF ), Virginia, and Washington, D.C. ( PDF ), for instance, have introduced new subsidy reimbursement rates that aim to provide centers with adequate funding to better compensate their teachers and, in turn, provide high-quality early learning experiences for children. These types of efforts, as well as D.C.'s Pay Equity Fund (PEF), which substantially increases childcare teacher pay, offer important opportunities to learn about the impact of compensation increases on care stability and quality. Such efforts fundamentally put educator compensation first and in doing so address both the current reality of working in childcare in the United States and our longstanding underinvestment. Professionalization efforts that do not prioritize teachers' real and immediate needs may make an already challenging situation worse and, consequently, be unlikely to succeed. Daphna Bassok is a nonresident senior fellow in governance studies at the Brown Center on Education Policy. Laura Bellows is an associate policy researcher at the nonprofit, nonpartisan RAND Corporation. Anna J. Markowitz is an assistant professor at the Graduate School of Education and Information Studies at UCLA. Kate Miller-Bains is a senior research scientist at the University of Virginia. This commentary originally appeared on Brookings Institution's Brown Center Chalkboard on April 11, 2023. Commentary gives RAND researchers a platform to convey insights based on their professional expertise and often on their peer-reviewed research and analysis. Actor Jamie Foxx is recovering from an undisclosed "medical complication" his daughter, Corinne Foxx, posted on Instagram Wednesday. The 55-year-old star is filming the Netflix movie Back in Action in Atlanta. ADVERTISEMENT "We wanted to share that, my father, Jamie Foxx , experienced a medical complication yesterday," Corinne Foxx posted. "Luckily, due to quick action and great care, he is already on his way to recovery." When reached by CNN, Jamie Foxx's publicist, Alan Nierob, provided no further details. "Nothing more, at this time, than what was posted," he told the outlet. Jamie Foxx has been working on the film in London and Atlanta since earlier this year. He convinced Cameron Diaz to co-star though the actress hasn't made a film since 2014. The two were seen on set in London in February. No plot details have been released on the movie, also starring Glenn Close and Kyle Chandler , but Horrible Bosses' Seth Gordon is directing. Foxx is also starring in They Cloned Tyrone with Teyonah Parris and John Boyega, due for release on Netflix on July 21. Vietnamese Ambassador to Germany Vu Quang Minh (fourth from right) at the meeting. (Photo: VNA) It was the first time that interns from various universities in Germany had joined a discussion on Vietnam-Germany relationship, as well as several current international issues related to their fields of study at the Vietnamese Embassy. They watched a video clip introducing Vietnam's foreign achievements and several diplomatic milestones in 2022, the Vietnam-Germany relationship, and Vietnam's foreign policies amid more unpredictable and complicated developments in the world than forecasted. Minh briefed them on Vietnam's foreign policy, its stance on certain global and regional issues, and important missions of the diplomatic sector in the national development process, especially its significant role in promoting post-pandemic economic growth. Reviewing outstanding achievements of economic diplomacy in 2022, Minh said keeping up with the world's trend of reopening, Vietnam has actively stepped up direct diplomatic activities bilaterally and multilaterally and deepened ties with countries and international organisations, thus demonstrating the policy of balancing and diversifying foreign relations. The sector also quickly shifted its focus from "vaccine diplomacy" to "economic diplomacy" in service of national recovery and development. In accordance with a Directive of the Party Central Committees Secretariat and directions of the Government, it advised on the timing of reopening, helping to promptly attract investment flows, revive tourism, restore production, and propel economic growth leading the region, he added. Answering interns questions about Vietnams socio-economic development last year, Minh highlighted the countrys efforts to step up the implementation of free trade agreements, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and urge the European Union (EU) to remove the yellow card warning and realise the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA). He affirmed that the direction towards new markets, green economy, digital economy and circular economy has helped the Vietnamese goods gain a foothold in many places, with a record export-import value of over 730 billion USD. Germany remains Vietnam's biggest trade partner in the EU while Vietnam has become Germany's largest trade partner in Southeast Asia. After more than 10 years of strategic partnership, two-way trade doubled. As of November 2022, it topped 10.6 billion USD, up 16.7% annually. According to Germanys statistics, the figure was even higher, reaching 12.16 billion USD. On the global arena, Vietnam and Germany also offer mutual support at international forums. As active and responsible members of the international community, Vietnam and Germany share many core values, strategic interests and concerns in the region and the world, for the sake of cooperation, stability, peace and development based on the rule of law, Minh said. On the occasion, he also shared his professional experience in diplomatic sector over the past three decades./. Hardy no longer has to "wait" for recognition. His song, "Wait in the Truck," which has already won him a CMA Award, is the Academy of Country Music's top nominee with seven nods. ADVERTISEMENT He's followed by Lainey Wilson, with whom he shares three of those nominations for the song. Wilson has six total, followed by Kane Brown Miranda Lambert and Cole Swindell with five. Hardy is up for Song of the Year, Artist/Songwriter of the Year and more. Wilson's nominations include Female Artist of the Year. Miranda Lambert is nominated for Female Artist of the Year for the 17th time, breaking the record set by Reba McEntire. Carrie Underwood, Jason Aldean, Morgan Wallen, Chris Stapleton, Miranda Lambert, Kane Brown and Luke Combs will compete for Entertainer of the Year. Dolly Parton and Garth Brooks are co-hosting the awards, which will air live on Prime Video from the Ford Center at the star in Frisco, Texas, on May 11. Parton hosted the awards with Jimmie Allen and Gabby Barrett last year. Despite their lengthy careers, this is the first time Parton and Brooks have worked together. "I am thrilled to return to host the ACM Awards, this time with my friend Garth," Parton said in March via a press release. "While I've had the pleasure of spending time with him throughout the years, I can't believe we've never had the chance to work together." Kinetic Content / Reality TV World By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 04/12/2023 ADVERTISEMENT FOLLOW REALITY TV WORLD ON THE ALL-NEW GOOGLE NEWS! Reality TV World is now available on the all-new Google News app and website. Click here to visit our Google News page, and then click FOLLOW to add us as a news source! ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. star Kirsten Grimes has explained why she doesn't think Shaquille Dillon is very masculine.During the April 5 episode of : Afterparty, Kirsten watched back a Season 16 clip of a counseling session she and Shaquille had with psychologist and sex therapist, Dr. Pia Holec."Do you think he's masculine?" Dr. Pia asks Kirsten and Shaquille in the clip."Umm, he is. He is," Kirsten replies with doubt in her voice."There was a long pause," Dr. Pia points out."Do you not think I'm tough?" Shaquille asks. "Does somebody have to rob us at a gas station or try to jack your car or something for me to have to stand up?"Afterparty host Keshia Knight Pulliam therefore asked Kirsten to reveal her personal definition of "masculine."Kirsten replied, "A man saying, 'Okay, is your car taken care of?' Grabbing the bags."Kirsten went on to recall a story when Shaquille allegedly didn't help her carry bags."[Shaquille] was working out one time and I did go grocery shopping, and I called him, 'Shaquille, can you help me come carry the bags in?' And he was like, 'I'm working out,'" Kirsten explained."And I didn't want to stop him from working out, so I was like, 'I have to carry these bags up myself.' And then that's when I kind of differentiate, 'Which one is more important?'"Kirsten's MAFS co-star Chris Thielk pointed out how Kirsten and Shaquille clearly had different definitions of masculinity."You said, 'Leadership, ownership,' and things like that. And he said, 'Do I need to stop a bank robber?' So it was very different," Chris noted.Keshia acknowledged that "no man wants his manhood questioned," and so she asked Kirsten how Shaquille could step up to the plate and show her that he's more masculine, in her sense of the word."If it's him hanging a TV or fixing the toilet, you know, doing something hands-on," Kirsten shared."He's got to fix a toilet for you to think he's a man?!" Keshia joked."Fix something!" Kirsten countered. "I want to see you do something!.. Save the day! Let me know that you know how to make something function a little bit."Kirsten also suggested Shaquille could have exhibited masculinity by telling her flat out that he wanted her to join him on his work trip to Memphis, TN, where he attempted to recruit students to his college for Fall 2023.Kirsten apparently stayed home thinking Shaquille was indifferent about her traveling with him, but then he got angry with her for not volunteering to come and support his job.Kirsten also didn't appreciate Shaquille opening up to other people , but not his own wife, about his feelings and frustrations regarding their relationship.With just under three weeks left of the experiment, Kirsten -- whose beloved father is a "hands-on" and "tough" business owner -- wanted to see Shaquille take charge and be dominant in their relationship."[Shaquille could've been] taking control of the situation, like, 'I want my wife to be here,'" Kirsten said, adding how Shaquille fought with her about it and they had a "dreadful" day.Shaquille, meanwhile, thought he and Kirsten needed to work on their communication.Shaquille claimed Kirsten had initially agreed to go to Memphis with him but then backed out and so he felt pretty alone in the marriage."It was an eye-opener for me, like so you made plans when we already had plans established?" Shaquille complained to the cameras on last week's episode of 's sixteenth season.Kirsten said it never sounded like Shaquille really wanted her to join him, but Shaquille said he shouldn't have to reiterate his feelings all the time or beg his wife to do something.Kirsten therefore admitted she felt "terrible" that Shaquille didn't feel supported.Producers then asked Shaquille if he felt "happy" in his marriage, and Shaquille admitted it was "a stretch" to say that. Shaquille said he didn't feel like Kirsten had an interest in the things he loves to do in life.Shaquille also hinted he wasn't happy during the couple's counseling session with Dr. Pia.When Kirsten gushed about her relationship with Shaquille being great, Shaquille pointed out how things were "rocky" between them and they had good and bad days.Interested in more news? Join our Married at First Sight Facebook Group or click here to view our newspage!And click here for more updates on former cast members and info on where they are now! The introduction and presence of COVID-19 worsened mental health among various demographics on a national level, according to a study from Mental Health America. The study found that Black individuals had the biggest increase in anxiety during the COVID-19 pandemic, compared to other races and ethnicities, with a 5% increase in those screened who displayed symptoms of moderate to severe anxiety. Suicidal ideation also increased the most among Black youth and adults from 2019-2021, higher than any other group. Historically, Black women have often felt disrespected, unprotected and neglected, which have caused their mental health to look different from other symptoms of mental illness that exist. Reversing the burden of evidence means that the principle of innocent until proven guilty does not apply. It is exactly the opposite: Guilty as charged, until you can convince the judges of the contrary, points out Shekhar Gupta. Here's a proposition for debate: Over the past 15 years or so, our judiciary, from the trial court level up to the Supreme Court has progressed -- if you call it progress -- from a reformative institution to a retributive one. We aren't just basing this on the fact that 2022 was when India's trial courts awarded 165 death sentences, the most in a single year since 2000. That it took the number of convicts on death row to 539. This is the highest in 17 years. Now, we know that most of these will be commuted and some acquitted. All of eight convicts have been hanged in India since 2000. Four of these for the 'Nirbhaya' gang rape and murder. Why, then, have our trial courts been so happy to pull the judicial trigger? Let's jump now from the trial courts across the country to the top court. Read this rising wave of angry death sentences with its latest order, sort of reinserting what it had read down in 2011, in the already draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The three-judge Bench of Justices M R Shah, C T Ravikumar and Sanjay Karol overruled the three earlier Supreme Court judgments that strengthened the principle that mere membership of a banned organisation was not an offence under UAPA. That to be charged under the law, the alleged member should also be someone who has overtly participated in an activity organised by the banned organisation. The latest judgment has fully read this down and effectively empowered the police or probe agencies to pick up anyone on mere suspicion of association with a banned organisation. And once an individual is arrested on this mere suspicion of membership, he/she will be hit by the full force of the UAPA, a law so tough, it reverses the burden of proof onto the accused and makes bail nearly impossible. This is guilt by mere suspicion of association. Reversing the burden of evidence means that the principle of innocent until proven guilty does not apply. It is exactly the opposite: Guilty as charged, until you can convince the judges of the contrary. The regrettable fact is, this isn't an isolated case. Over the past several years, we have seen the top court lean in the same direction. Several laws, especially some of the tougher laws in the larger UAPA category, have been further strengthened instead of being made fairer to the defendant, as may have been the expectation. Or, at least, the liberal expectation, because the top court takes pride in standing up for the liberal principle, the North Star as the current Chief Justice quite rightly describes it. How does this principled view square with not just the latest UAPA judgment, but also what the same court, under various eminent judges, has done to make the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) even more draconian in the hands of the State. The Delhi high court struck a blow for liberty on UAPA. While granting bail to Devangana Kalita, Natasha Narwal and Asif Iqbal Tanha in Delhi anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests, Justices Siddharth Mridul and Anup J Bhambhani had ruled that UAPA could only be invoked for what can be sharply defined as a terror act. The Bench cautioned against the cavalier use of the phrase 'terrorist act', saying that the definition was wide and vague. The Delhi police rushed to the Supreme Court, which mercifully didn't interfere with the bail but stayed the operation of the judgment. The implication is the judgment cannot be cited as a precedent in other similar cases. In July 2022, a two-judge Bench led by Justice A M Khanwilkar set a new judicial principle by fining a petitioner seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into a massacre of tribals in Dantewada, which he alleged was a case of extra-judicial killings. The court accepted the police version that the killings were carried out by Naxals. It not only fined the petitioner, Himanshu Kumar, but also accepted the Centre's demand to let its agencies investigate the petitioners instead. It added that 'the investigation may not be limited to charge of creating false evidence but may also invoke charges of criminal conspiracy or any other offence under the Indian Penal Code.' We can go further back still. In 2016, a Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi (not CJI yet) gave another remarkable order that erased the distinction between public sector banks and private banks, in at least one critical manner. Along with Justice P C Pant, Justice Gogoi expanded the definition of public servants under the Prevention of Corruption Act. It held that all officials of a private bank operating under the Reserve Bank of India's licence would be treated as government servants. Accordingly, they expanded the state and the CBI's jurisdiction to what were until then purely private businesses. Every now and then, like the Delhi high court orders in the UAPA bail case, you find a whiff of fresh air from a court. Like the judgment by the bench of Justices Pankaj Bhandari and Sameer Jain of the Rajasthan high court. They freed four convicts on death row in the case of the Jaipur serial bombings that killed 71 and injured many more in May 2008. The four had already spent 15 years on death row. All were picked up following the Batla House encounter in Delhi and suspected to be members of another module of the 'Indian Mujahideen', which claimed the Jaipur bombings. 'This is a classic example of institutional failure resulting in botched/flawed/shoddy investigation,' the judges said in their acquittal order. The injustices these four suffered obviously shook the conscience of the judges, who also made a reference to the 2006 Supreme Court judgment in the famous Prakash Singh (the former top cop who has been crusading for police reforms) case on the imperative of setting up a Police Complaints Authority primarily to deal with such gross shoddiness and injustice. The Rajasthan high court's is a stirring order. And while it is celebrated, remember the law that enabled these policemen not only to get away with these excesses but also secure conviction of the four in a trial court. No surprise that it was UAPA where, as we just explained to you, the burden of evidence lies on the accused and not the prosecution. This, precisely, is the law that has just been strengthened by the Supreme Court. The contradictory orders, from the Rajasthan high court underlining the perils of this draconian law and from the Supreme Court strengthening it further, have come in the same week. It is always a challenge to see a trend in the Indian judiciary and to then find evidence to establish it. One of the reasons is that the top judges, especially the Chief Justices of India, have short tenures. This is unlike the top civil service and armed forces positions as the key leadership of other institutions, Election Commission of India, CAG, even Sebi and the Competition Commission of India with fixed tenures. Second, because they make their own appointments, you can't directly link it to changes in elected governments and ideological regimes as you do, say, in the US. And third, because our judges neither have a clear career track like our civil servants nor do they need to face frequent evaluation by any voters or constituents. The only way we can assess and evaluate them is through their judgments. Neither public speeches nor obiter dicta. The evidence lately is a distinct evolution from the doctrine of reformation to retribution. By special arrangement with The Print. Bhadra Sinha contributed to this column. Vietnamese seafood is holding the No. 1 position in the Australian market. (Photo: congthuong.vn) Notably, from 2018 to 2022, in the top 6 markets, only Australia continuously increased its seafood import turnover from Vietnam. From USD197 million in 2018, seafood exports increased by 85% to USD365 million in 2022. The share of the Australian market therefore also increased from 2.2% to 3.3% of Vietnam's total seafood exports. The open market and tariff incentives from the CPTPP have brought opportunities to increase seafood exports to Australia in recent years. The seafood that saw breakthrough, accounting for the largest proportion of products exported to Australia after 4 years, is vannamei shrimp. In 2022, the export of this product to Australia reached USD259.5 million, up 171% compared to USD112 million in 2018, before the CPTPP Agreement took effect. Shrimp revenue accounted for 71% of seafood export value in 2022, compared with 49% in 2018. In contrast, pangasius exports to the Australian market decreased from 24% to 10%. Compared to 2018, Vietnam's pangasius exports to Australia decreased by 18%, from USD47 million to USD38 million. Among the top 3 seafood products exported to Australia, barramundi accounted for 6% of export sales with a value of nearly USD21 million in 2022. Vietnam's barramundi exports are mainly farmed products of Australis company in Vietnam. Barramundi is a popular species not only in Australia but also in the US. In addition, Australia has also imported a significant amount of other seafood products from Vietnam, and sales have increased sharply in recent years. For example, herring imports increased by 158% after 5 years, tuna increased by 81%, opaque fish increased by 143%, bartail flathead increased by 255%, clams increased by 68%, and fish sauce increased by 190%. Over the past years, the Vietnam - Australia Strategic Partnership has seen many strong developments, in which economic and trade cooperation is a bright spot, with two-way trade turnover in 2022 reaching nearly USD15.7 billion, up nearly 27% compared to 2021, making Australia the 7th largest trading partner of Vietnam and Vietnam the 10th largest trading partner of Australia. Particularly in the seafood sector, Vietnam is holding the No. 1 position in the Australian market, accounting for 23% of Austria's seafood imports in 2022. This proportion is much higher than the 13% of 5 years ago, seeing a strong breakthrough of Vietnamese seafood products to Australia thanks to the good trade cooperation relationship and FTA agreements with this market. In particular, after the CPTPP, seafood products imported from Vietnam into Australia are entitled to 0% tax./. The Delhi high court Thursday asked the Central Bureau of Investigation, Enforcement Directorate, former telecom minister A Raja and others to file their submissions in the appeals challenging the acquittal of the accused persons and firms in the 2G spectrum allocation case. IMAGE: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin with DMK deputy general secretary A Raja (right) leaves after paying homage to former state CM CN Annadurai on the occasion of his birthday, in Chennai, March 1, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Justice Dinesh Kumar Sharma said the parties shall file brief written submissions not exceeding five pages. As the counsel for the CBI urged the court to list the matter on an early date when he would argue on the aspect of granting leave to appeal, the judge fixed the matter for May 22 and 23. The matter requires urgent hearing. Fix anytime of the day for conducting day-to-day hearing in the matter, the CBI counsel submitted. Though the CBI had earlier concluded its submissions on the issue of leave to appeal, it will have to argue the matter afresh due to change of the judge. Leave to appeal is a formal permission granted by a court to a party to challenge a decision in a higher court. Earlier, the case was being heard on a day-to-day basis by Justice Brijesh Sethi, who retired on November 30 and had released the matter from his board on November 23 owing to paucity of time. Before demitting the office, Justice Sethi had decided various petitions and applications filed by the acquitted individuals and firms in the three cases arising out of the 2G scam probe lodged by the CBI and ED. After finishing submissions in the CBI's main case, the high court will take up the ED's money laundering case in which also all the accused were acquitted by the special court. A special court had on December 21, 2017 acquitted Raja, Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam MP Kanimozhi and others in the CBI and ED cases related to the scam. Besides Raja and Kanimozhi, the special court had acquitted former telecom secretary Siddharth Behura, Raja's erstwhile private secretary RK Chandolia, Unitech Ltd MD Sanjay Chandra and three top executives of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group Gautam Doshi, Surendra Pipara and Hari Nair in the case filed by the CBI. Swan Telecom promoters Shahid Balwa and Vinod Goenka and directors of Kusegaon Fruits and Vegetables Pvt Ltd Asif Balwa and Rajiv Agarwal were also acquitted. The special court had also acquitted Swan Telecom (P) Ltd, Unitech Wireless (Tamil Nadu) Ltd, Reliance Telecom Ltd, film producer Karim Morani and director of Kalaignar TV Sharad Kumar in the CBI case. On the same day, the special court also acquitted 19 accused, including Raja, Kanimozhi, DMK supremo M Karunanidhi's wife Dayalu Ammal, Vinod Goenka, Asif Balwa, Karim Morani, P Amirtham and Sharad Kumar in the ED case. The special court had also acquitted Essar Group promoters Ravi Kant Ruia and Anshuman Ruia, Loop Telecom promoters I P Khaitan and Kiran Khaitan and four others in a separate case arising out of the 2G scam probe. On March 19, 2018, the ED approached the high court challenging the special court's order acquitting all the accused. A day later, the CBI too challenged in the high court the acquittal of the accused in the case. The CBI had filed two cases and the ED one in connection with the alleged scam after a CAG report claimed licences for second generation mobile networks were given at throwaway prices instead of carrying free and fair auctions. The airwaves were alleged to have been allocated after taking bribes. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Thursday said the name of Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray cannot be separated from the Ayodhya movement, a remark that came in the wake of Bharatiya Janata Party leader Chandrakant Patil questioning the role of Sena workers in the Babri mosque demolition. IMAGE: Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde pays floral tribute to the statue of Bal Thackeray prior to attending the special session of the state legislative assembly, in Mumbai, July 3, 2022. Photograph: ANI Photo Disapproving of Patil's remarks, Shinde said Ayodhya was a matter of faith for him. Speaking at the Mumbai Tak-Baithak interaction, the chief minister said, "I told BJP leader and minister Chandrakant Patil that he shouldn't have spoken against Balasaheb Thackeray." Patil's statement that not a single Sena worker was present when the Babri mosque in Ayodhya was demolished in 1992 has put the BJP in a spot, as it is a partner in the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena in the Maharashtra government. "Ayodhya is a matter of faith for me...We got the Shiv Sena name and symbol because people have accepted our stand on why we rebelled," he said, adding that his government was not scared of holding local bodies elections in the state. "Balasaheb Thackeray cannot be taken out of the Ayodhya movement. The late Sena chief gave the slogan Garv se kaho hum Hindu hai (Say with pride, we are Hindus) and people became united as Hindus," he said. Shinde said Patil told him that he did not mean to disrespect the late Sena supremo. "We sent silver bricks (to Ayodhya) from Thane. I want to ask where was today's leader during the kar seva (movement to demolish the Babri structure)," he said, apparently targeting Uddhav Thackeray. Shinde also made light of the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi's joint Vajramuth rallies in the state by dubbing them as Vajrajhooth. Referring to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's attack on the central government and late Hindutva ideologue V D Savarkar, Shinde said the opposition has been insulting India and Maharashtra within the country as well as abroad. "This is nothing but treason," he said. Targeting Uddhav Thackeray, Shinde said the state saw lack of development because of his ego. "What is the harm in seeking help from the Centre for state's welfare?" he asked. Shinde said his government was focusing on infrastructure development which was stopped during the erstwhile MVA rule. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, Uddhav Thackeray 's contribution was making people sit at home," he said. "The Opposition cannot digest the fact that our government is doing well," Shinde said. The mandate in the 2019 assembly elections was for the Shiv Sena-BJP and had the MVA continued, the future of the Shiv Sena MLAs was bleak, he said, adding that the gaddar (traitor) tag should be for Uddhav Thackeray and not for him. To a question on whether he was the chief leader of the Shiv Sena, he said he was a worker and would remain so. When asked if the 2024 Assembly election would be led by him, Shinde said the polls are still far away. "Having a face is immaterial. Workers are the face of the party," he said. To a question on the disqualification of a 16-member rebel group, Shinde said his government was constitutional and as per democratic norms. "Let's wait for the Supreme court verdict...I am not under any pressure. I don't compromise my ethics and principles under pressure, He refused to go into the details on speculation that a breakaway group of the Nationalist Congress Party led by Ajit Pawar may join the ruling Shiv Sena-BJP alliance. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of indulging in double standards, saying that when the daughters of BJP leaders get married to Muslims, they call it love, but if anybody else does so then it's dubbed as 'jihad'. IMAGE: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel. Photograph: Ayush Sharma/ANI Photo Talking to reporters in Bilaspur town of the state, he also accused the saffron party of trying to take political advantage of last week's communal violence in Biranpur village of Bemetara district. When asked about the BJP's claims that tension started brewing in Biranpur following some interfaith marriages there, Baghel said, "The BJP neither examined the matter (clash) nor came out with any report before calling for a bandh. A fight between two children led to a clash that claimed the life of a man which is very sad. It cannot be justified. But the BJP is trying to take its political mileage." "They talk about love jihad. If we talk about senior leaders of BJP their daughters have married to Muslims. Doesn't it fall in the category of love jihad? You ask where the daughter of the biggest leader of the BJP in Chhattsigarh has gone. Is that not love jihad? When their daughter does it then it's love but someone else does it, then it is jihad. "What have they (BJP) done to stop this? They just want to get political benefits from it. They make their son-in-laws minister and MPs and treat others under different laws," he said. Communal violence had erupted in Biranpur, located 60 km from Bemetara town, on April 8 allegedly after a fight between school children. A local resident, Bhuneshwar Sahu (22), was killed in the clash and three policemen suffered injuries. The local administration has imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which bars assembly of four or more people, in the entire Bemetara district. Three days after the incident, a man identified as Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35), residents of Biranpur, were found dead with head injuries a few kms away from the village. All roads leading to the village have been barricaded by the police. Around 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in the village and around it to maintain law and order. CM Baghel on Tuesday announced to give government job to the kin of the deceased Sahu and also financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the family. Killings in police encounters affect the credibility of rule of law and the administration of criminal justice system, the Supreme Court had said in a 2014 judgment while issuing a slew of guidelines to be followed in matters of investigating police encounters which have led to death or grievous injury. IMAGE: A Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol the police claim to have recovered from gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad who was killed in an encounter by Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force, April 13, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The apex court's verdict in the case of People's Union for Civil Liberties and another versus State of Maharashtra and others assumes significance in light of the encounter by the Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday in Jhansi in which gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and an accomplice, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed. In its September 23, 2014, judgment, a bench of then Chief Justice of India R M Lodha and Justice R F Nariman (since retired) had dealt with the pleas raising the issue of genuineness or otherwise of nearly 99 encounters between Mumbai police and alleged criminals resulting in death of about 135 people between 1995 and 1997. Noting that the right guaranteed by Article 21 of the Constitution, which deals with protection of life and personal liberty, is available to every person and even the State has no authority to violate it, the top court had said, "In a society governed by rule of law, it is imperative that extrajudicial killings are properly and independently investigated so that justice may be done." In another judgment delivered on May 13, 2011, in the case of Prakash Kadam and others vs Ramprasad Vishwanath Gupta and others, an apex court bench of Justices Markandey Katju and Gyan Sudha Misra (both since retired) had said fake encounters are nothing but "cold blooded, brutal murder by persons who are supposed to uphold the law". "We are of the view that in cases where a fake encounter is proved against policemen in a trial, they must be given death sentence, treating it as the rarest of rare cases," the top court had said, adding, "We warn policemen that they will not be excused for committing murder in the name of 'encounter' on the pretext that they were carrying out the orders of their superior officers or politicians, however high." In its September 2014 judgment, the top court had issued a slew of guidelines, including that whenever police are in receipt of any intelligence or tip-off regarding criminal movements or activities pertaining to the commission of grave criminal offence, it shall be reduced into writing in some form (preferably into case diary) or in some electronic form. "If pursuant to the tip-off or receipt of any intelligence, as above, encounter takes place and firearm is used by the police party and as a result of that, death occurs, an FIR to that effect shall be registered and the same shall be forwarded to the court under section 157 of the Code (CrPC) without any delay," the apex court had said. It had said an independent investigation into the incident/ encounter shall be conducted by the CID or police team of another police station under the supervision of a senior officer (at least a level above the head of the police party engaged in the encounter). It had said the team conducting inquiry/investigation shall, at a minimum, seek to identify the victim, recover and preserve evidentiary material including blood-stained earth, hair, fibres and threads etc related to the death, identify scene witnesses and obtain their statements (including the statements of police personnel involved) and determine the cause, manner, location and time of death as well as any pattern or practice that may have brought about the death. "Any evidence of weapons, such as guns, projectiles, bullets and cartridge cases, should be taken and preserved. Wherever applicable, tests for gunshot residue and trace metal detection should be performed," it said, adding, "The cause of death should be found out, whether it was natural death, accidental death, suicide or homicide." The top court said a magisterial inquiry under section 176 of the CrPC must invariably be held in all cases of death which occur in the course of police firing and a report thereof must be sent to the judicial magistrate having jurisdiction under section 190 of the code. It said the involvement of National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) is not necessary unless there is serious doubt about independent and impartial investigation. However, the information of the incident, without any delay, must be sent to the NHRC or the state human rights commission, as the case may be. The injured criminal/victim, it said, should be provided medical aid and his or her statement be recorded by a magistrate or medical officer with certificate of fitness. "After full investigation into the incident, the report should be sent to the competent court under section 173 of the code (CrPC). The trial, pursuant to the charge sheet submitted by the investigating officer, must be concluded expeditiously," the guidelines said, adding in the event of death, the next of kin of the alleged criminal/victim must be informed at the earliest. The SC guidelines said if on the conclusion of investigation, the material or evidence having come on record show that death had occurred by use of firearm amounting to offence under the Indian Penal Code (IPC), disciplinary action against such officer must be promptly initiated and he be placed under suspension. The court said as regards compensation to be granted to the dependants of the victim, who suffered death in a police encounter, the scheme provided under section 357-A of the CrPC must be applied. The top court also had said no out-of-turn promotion or instant gallantry rewards shall be bestowed on the officers concerned soon after the occurrence of the encounter and it must be ensured at all costs that such rewards are given/recommended only when the gallantry of the officers is established beyond doubt. "If the family of the victim finds that the above procedure has not been followed or there exists a pattern of abuse or lack of independent investigation or impartiality by any of the functionaries as above mentioned, it may make a complaint to the sessions judge having territorial jurisdiction over the place of incident," the apex court had said in the guidelines. The Calcutta high court on Thursday said that TMC leader Abhishek Banerjee and Kuntal Ghosh, an accused in the school jobs-for-bribes scam case, can be questioned by the Enforcement Directorate and the Central Bureau of Investigation and such "interrogation should be made soon." IMAGE: Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee speaks to the media with party MPs outside Krishi Bhawan, in New Delhi, April 5, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo Hearing a petition relating to alleged irregularities in recruitment of teaching and non-teaching staff in West Bengal government-sponsored and aided schools, Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay said that Ghosh could be questioned soon by the central agencies along with Banerjee, "Here I take note of one public meeting held by one Abhishek Banerjee on March 29, 2023 where he urged some persons to support him by saying that when those persons were in custody, police or the interrogating agencies pressurised them to name said Abhishek Banerjee," the judge said. TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee had addressed a public meeting in Kolkata on March 29. Kuntal Ghosh, an accused in the school jobs scam case and in custody currently, had also soon after alleged that he was being pressured by investigators to take the name of Banerjee, TMC's unofficial number two. Holding that the complaint by Ghosh was made on March 31 before the special CBI court and on April 1 to Hastings police station in Kolkata in close proximity with the said public speech of Banerjee on March 29, Justice Gangopadhyay said that the matter requires to be investigated. "It is a matter to be enquired and investigated whether Kuntal Ghosh took the queue from the public speech of said Abhishek Banerjee for which both of them can be interrogated both by ED and by CBI and such interrogation should be made soon," the judge said. Maintaining that "terrorising" investigating officers of the probe agency by filing complaint before the police is wholly unwarranted, Justice Gangopadhyay observed that such endeavours are to be stopped forthwith as otherwise officers will not be able to act in a fearless manner. The judge said that Ghosh had not complained of any torture by CBI or ED officers immediately after his custody with the two agencies ended and when he was sent to judicial remand, but did so in the complaints of March 31 and April 1. Ghosh was in ED custody after his arrest by the agency till February 2, and was in CBI custody from February 20 to 23. Justice Gangopadhyay said that if the money trail from the teaching jobs scam is considered a human body, then the CBI and ED have reached maximum up to the waist of the body in this investigation and the heart and the head are yet to be touched. He expressed hope that the agencies will be able to do so. "From today no police station will lodge any FIR against any complaint made to it in respect of any officer of CBI and ED who are investigating the educational recruitment scam both of West Bengal Central School Service Commission and the West Bengal Board of Primary Education, without the leave of this court," the court directed. It directed that Ghosh's letters filed before the CBI court and sent to the Hastings police station will not be given effect to in any manner whatsoever until further order of this court. ED and CBI were directed to file a report of their investigation into this matter, if necessary, with the video recordings, before this court on April 20, when this matter will be taken up again for hearing. "All the aspects which have been indicated above including the public speech of one Abhishek Banerjee, should also not be outside the investigation of CBI and if necessary, by ED," Justice Gangopadhyay directed. Later in the evening while addressing a press conference, TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh alleged that a section of the judiciary is not behaving as per law". "I have immense respect for the judiciary. The TMC as a party has immense respect for the judiciary, too," Ghosh said. He, however, also alleged, But, unfortunately a section of the judiciary at the Calcutta high court is not behaving as per law. Reacting to Ghosh's statement, Bharatiya Janata Party national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said the outburst of the TMC is quite natural as "the cat is now out of the bag". "Several TMC leaders are being arrested in corruption cases. And, whoever speaks out against the corruption of TMC is wrong, be it the governor or the judiciary. This proves they have no respect for the judiciary, Ghosh said. Appearing for the petitioner, senior lawyer Bikash Bhattacharya prayed before the court that a forensic examination of the letter be ordered. A massive hunt was underway Thursday to nab the assailants behind the killing of four soldiers in a firing incident at the Bathinda Military station even as the base reported the death of another personnel due to gunshot wounds. IMAGE: Bathinda Military Station has been cordoned off after four casualties were reported in a firing incident inside the station, on Wednesday. Photograph: ANI Photo The Army said death of the soldier on Wednesday afternoon has no connection with the firing incident. 'A soldier died of a gunshot wound at approximately 4.30 pm on April 12 at Bathinda Military Station. The soldier was on sentry duty with his service weapon. The weapon and cartridge case from the same weapon was found next to the soldier. The gunshot wound was near the right temporal region,' it said in a statement. The Army said the soldier was immediately evacuated to the military hospital, but he succumbed to his injuries. The soldier had returned from leave on April 11. 'The case purportedly seems to be of attempted suicide,' the Army said. However, a senior official said it could be a case of accidental firing as well. 'There is no connection whatsoever with the incident that took place at 4.30 am at Bathinda Military Station,' the Army said. Bathinda Cantt Station House Officer (SHP) Gurdeep Singh said they received information regarding the death of the soldier on Wednesday evening. "We were informed by the Army and a case has been registered. Prima facie it appears to be an accidental firing case," said the SHO. The deceased was identified as Laghu Raj Shankar, said police. Police said a hunt for assailants behind Wednesday morning's firing incident at the station is underway. "We are in touch with the Army," said the senior police official. The four Army jawans, in their mid 20s, were sleeping when the firing took place around 4.30 am on Wednesday in their barracks near the officers' mess in the artillery unit. According to a first information report (FIR), a jawan saw two unidentified men in white kurta-pyjama, their faces and heads covered with cloth, coming out of the barracks after the firing. One of them was carrying an INSAS rifle and the other an axe, the jawan said, according to the police FIR. The suspects, who were of medium height, went towards a forested area near the barracks on seeing the jawan, according to the police FIR. Subsequently, two Army officers went inside the barracks and found Sagar Banne, 25, and Yogesh Kumar J, 24, in a pool of blood. In another room, the bodies of Santosh M Nagaral, 25, and Kamalesh R, 24, were found. The bodies bore bullet marks, according to the FIR. Banne and Nagaral hailed from Karnataka, while Kamalesh and Yogesh were from Tamil Nadu, police had said. Post-mortem was conducted on Wednesday evening, said police. It is suspected that an INSAS rifle, which was reported missing along with 28 rounds earlier this week, was used in the firing incident. The Army said on Wednesday that a search team had located the INSAS rifle along with the magazine. Police on Wednesday had said 19 empty shells of an INSAS rifle were found from the spot. The Bathinda military station is one of the largest Army bases in the country and it comprises a significant number of operational units of the force. Prima facie there was a nexus between human rights activist Gautam Navlakha, an accused in the Elgar Parishad-Maoist links case, and Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai, an agent of Pakistan's spy agency ISI convicted in the United States for terror funding, a special NIA court has said in its order denying bail to the campaigner. Last month, the Bombay high court had quashed an earlier order passed by the special judge and directed him to re-hear Navlakha's bail plea. The high court had said the special court's order did not contain an analysis of the evidence relied upon by the prosecution. Special Judge Rajesh Katariya, presiding over the National Investigation Agency court, after hearing the submissions afresh, denied bail to the 69-year-old activist on April 6. A detailed order was made available on Thursday. Navlakha was arrested in August 2018 and initially placed under house arrest. He was moved to the Taloja Central Prison in Navi Mumbai in April 2020 after a Supreme Court order. On November 10 last year, the Supreme Court allowed his plea to be shifted back to house arrest for a month. He is currently residing in the satellite city of Navi Mumbai. The NIA has claimed the human rights activist was an active member of the Communist Party of India-Maoist, a banned outfit. The anti-terror agency, in its chargesheet, has alleged the applicant (Navlakha) had visited the USA three times to address conferences organised by the Kashmiri American Council (KAC), which is headed by Fai. The activist was in touch with US-based Kashmiri separatist Fai via e-mail and sometimes through phone, the NIA alleged. Fai was arrested by America's Federal Bureau of Investigation in July 2011 for accepting funds from the Inter-Services Intelligence and the Pakistan government. Navlakha had written a letter to the US court judge presiding over Fai's case for clemency, the NIA alleged. The NIA further claimed Navlakha was introduced to a Pakistani ISI general for his recruitment by Fai on directions of the ISI, showing his nexus and complicity with the Kashmiri separatist and the spy agency of the neighbouring country. The NIA court, in its order, noted that the prosecution had produced a copy of the document titled 'SUPPLEMENTAL POSITION OF THE UNITED STATES WITH RESPECT TO SENTENCING FACTORS' pertaining to a case -- United States of America versus Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai. 'It (the document) prima facie shows a nexus between applicant (Navlakha) and Syed Ghulam Nabi Fai,' the speciaL court observed. Though there appears to be some deviating conduct on part of the applicant as pointed out by his lawyer from the report on Navlakha and other documents, the same cannot grant any benefit to the applicant for bail, the court observed. The special judge stated that the supplementary chargesheet and documents relied on by the prosecution 'prima facie shows that the applicant is an active member of the said banned terrorist organisation (CPI-Maoist) and he carries out activities in furtherance of the object of said organisation.' The special court noted that documents produced along with the chargesheet 'show active involvement of the applicant (Navlakha) in crime and participation in conspiracy and also that he underwent weapons training with other accused.' 'Considering the totality of material, role of the applicant cannot be segregated from role of the co-accused and there are reasonable grounds for believing that the accusation against the applicant are prima facie true,' it said. Among other grounds for bail, Navlakha had cited his old age, various ailments and also pointed out that he has been in jail since the last three years. However, the special judge, in his order, said in view of the seriousness of allegations made against Navlakha, 'collective interest of community would overweigh in the case and the grounds put forth would not go in the favour of the applicant.' The case relates to alleged inflammatory speeches made at the Elgar Parishad conclave held in Pune on December 31, 2017, which the police claimed triggered violence the next day near the Koregaon-Bhima war memorial on the outskirts of the western Maharashtra city. The Pune police, which initially probed the case, had claimed the conclave was backed by Maoists. Later, the probe in the case, in which more than a dozen activists and academicians have been named as accused, was transferred to the NIA. Taking a dig at Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar after the veteran socialist met up with opposition leaders in the national capital on Wednesday, Union Minister Giriraj Singh on Thursday said the PM post for 2024 is not vacant . IMAGE: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi exchange greetings in presence of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge after a joint press conference, at his residence, in New Delhi on Wednesday. Photograph: Ayush Sharma/ANI Photo Asserting that the prime minister's job will remain with Bharatiya Janata Party leader Narendra Modi even after the general elections slated for next year, Singh claimed the country is scaling new heights under PM Modi's leadership. Everyone wants to become the Prime Minister. People should know that the prime minister's post for 2024 is not vacant, he said while addressing a gathering at an event organised here at the East Central Railway zone office at Mahendru ghat. The Bihar chief minister and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav on Wednesday met All India Congress Committee president Mallikarjun Kharge and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in what is being seen as a bid to forge an alliance of opposition parties to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Kumar also met Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal soon after the meeting with Congress leaders. Without naming Nitish Kumar, Singh said, Those indulging in appeasement politics can't think of providing employment to the people. The country is scaling new heights under PM Modi's leadership and special emphasis is being laid on generating employment. Listing the achievements of the current BJP-led central government, the minister said that among other things is working hard to develop micro, small and medium enterprises which would generate large numbers of jobs and help make India a mighty nation. The prime minister distributed about 71,000 appointment letters to newly inducted recruits in various government departments and organisations via video conferencing from Delhi, during this programme. The new recruits selected from across the country will join various positions/posts under Government of India such as Train Manager, Station Master, Sr. commercial cum Ticket Clerk, Inspector, Sub Inspectors, Constable, Stenographer, Junior Accountant, Postal Assistant, Income Tax Inspector, Tax Assistant, Sr Draughtsman, JE/Supervisor, Assistant Professor, Teacher, Librarian, Nurse, Probationary Officers, PA, MTS, among others. While speaking on the occasion, senior BJP leader and former Union Minister, Ravi Shankar Prasad, said, "Our prime minister has changed the way the country is looked at globally. India has emerged as a power in the world and it will soon become the world's largest economy." A similar function was also organised at East Central Railway zone headquarters at Hajipur that was attended by Union Minister Pashupati Kumar Paras. The Samajwadi Party is unwilling to cede ground to the BJP, especially in Amethi, since the Congress is too weak to counter the BJP's well-oiled election machinery. IMAGE: Samajwadi Party President Akhilesh Yadav addresses the party's national executive meeting in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo Ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls in 2017, the Samajwadi Party, then in power, hammered out an alliance with the Congress to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party, which had performed formidably in the Lok Sabha polls in the state three years earlier. Top leaders of the SP and Congress -- Akhilesh Yadav and Rahul Gandhi, respectively -- held a massive roadshow in Lucknow. This did not work, and the BJP handed down a humiliating defeat to the combine as well as the other contender, the Bahujan Samaj Party. Even as the BJP won 325 of the 403 UP assembly seats, the SP and Congress could muster 47 and 7, respectively. The Mayawati-led BSP settled for 19. Though the alliance spent itself, the two parties continued to resist the temptation of fielding candidates in each other's strongholds, including the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies, which are the traditional turfs of the Nehru-Gandhi family. However, new tidings are on the political horizon of UP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The SP is fortifying its booth-level organisations in both Amethi and Raebareli, which former Congress president Sonia Gandhi represents in the Lok Sabha, and from where her father-in-law and mother-in-law also won. Now SP President Akhilesh Yadav has asked senior leaders to build booth committees in the two constituencies. Recently he hinted the party was exploring the possibility of fielding a candidate in Amethi after getting the feedback of local leaders, who felt neglected and shortchanged by local Congress workers despite voting for their candidates in several elections. Although the SP has not revealed its core strategy for the Amethi and Raebareli constituencies since the general elections are still some time away, the party is unwilling to cede ground to the BJP, especially in Amethi, since the Congress is too weak to counter the BJP's well-oiled election machinery. What has caught the Congress off guard is the appointment of a senior SP leader to constitute the booth-level committees in Raebareli. Of late, General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Sonia Gandhi's daughter, has been regularly visiting her mother's constituency to sustain communication channels with the local electorate in the latter's absence owing to her ill health. Meanwhile, Akhilesh has nominated senior leader and legislator Indrajeet Saroj to select booth-committee members in Raebareli in addition to the Kaushambi and Pratapgarh constituencies. Former MLC Anand Bhaduariya and Sunil Kumar 'Sajan' have been entrusted with the task in Amethi. Depending upon the size of a parliamentary seat, a constituency typically comprises between 1,800 and 2,000 booth committees. The SP leadership has fixed the deadline of June 5 for constituting them in the different constituencies in UP. SP Spokesperson and former UP cabinet minister Rajendra Chaudhary said the party had a strong organisational architecture in all the 75 districts of the state. "It is too early to discuss issues such as fielding candidates. Whether the party decides to contest from a seat is a decision to be taken by our president," Chaudhary told Business Standard. The Congress is tight-lipped on the issue, with senior party leaders unwilling to comment on it. It is busy countering the BJP on Rahul Gandhi's disqualification from his Lok Sabha membership. The party's UP unit has been holding protests on the matter in consonance with the central leadership. Senior UP Congress leader and former MLC Deepak Singh said the SP had in the past fought in both Amethi and Raebareli, although it could never muster enough votes to finish with a respectable tally. "The SP fielded its candidate against Sonia Gandhi from Raebareli in the 2006 by-election. But she recorded her biggest win in that poll, while the SP candidate could garner about 55,000 votes," Singh said. Likewise, the SP contested from Amethi but could never perform well owing to the strong support for the Congress among local voters. "Every political party has the right to contest in any constituency," Singh said. "On our part, the Congress is ready with its organisation. We will perform well in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls whether we enter into an alliance or fight on our own." A Prayagraj court on Thursday sent gangster-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody and also allowed five-day police remand in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. IMAGE: Mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed is being produced before the CJM court in the Umesh Pal murder case, in Prayagraj, April 13, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The two were produced before chief judicial magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. Ahmad and Ashraf alias Khalid Azim will be kept in judicial custody till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. Singh said after arguments on the application submitted by police seeking their custody were completed, the court allowed five-day police remand of the duo which will remain effective till evening of April 17. District government advocate Gulab Chandra Agrahari told reporters here that the CJM court approved the police remand of Ahmad and Ashraf from April 13 to April 17 under Section 167 of CrPC in the Umesh Pal murder case. He said that the next date of hearing in the case has been fixed for April 26. A request was made by the investigating officer to send accused Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf to police remand for 14 days, Agrahari said, adding that after hearing the arguments of both the parties, the court passed the order of police remand from April 13 to April 17 (till 5 pm). According to legal experts, the police remand empowers investigators to keep the accused in their custody and interrogate them regarding the case. The CJM court's verdict came on a day the Uttar Pradesh police said they have killed Ahmad's son Asad and one of his aides in an encounter in Jhansi. Both Asad and his aide were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case. Earlier, a group of lawyers in the court premises shouted slogans against Ahmad and Ashraf when they were brought in the court. A lawyer present in the courtroom said that Ahmad and Ashraf looked sad as soon as they came to know about the encounter of Asad in Jhansi. On the completion of police remand, Ahmad and his brother will sent back to jail. "Both Atiq Ahmad and Ashraf will be sent back to Sabarmati prison and Bareilly jail, where they are currently lodged, on the completion of police remand to complete the remaining duration of judicial custody," said Singh, counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 killing of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. The daylight killing on a busy street had raised questions over law and order in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had vowed in the state assembly that he will "destroy" the mafia in the state. Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members and others were accused in the Umesh Pal murder case based on a complaint by Jaya Pal. Ahmad is also an accused in the Raju Pal murder case. For the court hearing on Thursday, Ahmad, the 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party legislator, was brought from Sabarmati jail in Gujarat and Ashraf was brought from Bareilly jail. This was the second time within a month that Ahmad was brought from the Gujarat jail to Prayagraj via road for a court hearing. On March 28, an MP/MLA court held Ahmad and two others guilty in connection with the kidnapping of Umesh Pal in 2006 and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life. The FIR in the Umesh Pal murder case was lodged under IPC sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation). State President Vo Van Thuong holds talks with Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith. (Photo: VNA) The official visit of Vietnamese State President Vo Van Thuong to Laos has been a great success and the results achieved during the visit will contribute to promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Evaluating the special things that can be considered as the mark of President Vo Van Thuong's visit to Laos, Lao Minister of Technology and Communications and Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Boviengkham Vongdara emphasized that this was a visit of very special meaning because it took place just over a month after Mr. Vo Van Thuong was elected President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. More specifically, this was the first foreign trip of President Vo Van Thuong, not only showing that the Party and State of Vietnam attach great importance to the Laos-Vietnam great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, but also showing Comrade Vo Van Thuong's affection for Laos. Academician, Prof. Dr. Boviengkham Vongdara said that at the meeting between Party General Secretary and President of Laos Thongloun Sisoulith and President of Vietnam Vo Van Thuong, the two sides had a frank exchange of measures to cultivate Laos-Vietnam and Vietnam-Laos relations, such as upgrading the economic cooperation relationship, training human resources, adjusting a number of inappropriate mechanisms to improve the efficiency of cooperation between the two sides. Lao Minister of Technology and Communications Boviengkham Vodara highly appreciated this visit of President Vo Van Thuong; emphasizing that the visit was very successful; affirming that the results of this visit will contribute to promoting the great friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. Deputy Foreign Minister of Laos Thongphan Savanphet said that the first impression was the fact that Vo Van Thuong chose Laos as the first country to visit after being elected by the National Assembly as State President, showing his respect and special priority for the friendly relations between Laos and Vietnam. The second impression was that the visit took place in the context that the Lao people are preparing to welcome the traditional Tet of the nation, which is a very meaningful and auspicious time for the Lao people. The next mark was that during this visit, the two sides reviewed and evaluated the results of cooperation between the two countries over the past time and agreed to continue to deepen the great friendship and special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between Laos and Vietnam in an increasingly effective and substantive direction. Leaders of the two countries also assessed and summarized cooperation in different fields, agreed to continue to strengthen cooperation and implement agreements to promote the traditional cooperation relationship between the two countries, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries. He affirmed that, although it took place only for a short time, the official visit of President Vo Van Thuong to Laos was very successful./. A court in Lucknow on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to Mohammad Waliullah in connection with the 2006 serial blasts in Varanasi. IMAGE: Waliullah Khan, convicted in the 2006 Varanasi serial blasts case, being brought to the Ghaziabad district and sessions court, June 6, 2022. Photograph: PTI Photo He was sentenced for being in possession of RDX, a detonator and a pistol. Special judge of National Investigation Agency court VS Tripathi also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him. In his order, the judge said that Waliullah was already sentenced to death in the Sankat Mochan bomb blast case which showed that he was a dreaded culprit and hence was entitled to the maximum punishment provided in the current case. Waliullah's counsel sought a lesser sentence pleading that he has already spent 17 years in jail and he has a mother, wife, son and a daughter to look after. Opposing the plea, state counsel said that Waliullah was a dreaded criminal and that had he been not arrested in Lucknow, he would have succeeded in executing blasts in the city. According to state counsel MK Singh, Waliullah, a resident of Phoolpur in Prayagraj, was arrested by the Varanasi police in the state capital on June 5, 2006. At the time of the arrest, Waliullah had 500 gms of RDX, a detonator and a foreign pistol and cartridges. Later, he was booked in the Sankat Mochan bomb blast case. He was awarded capital punishment by a Ghaziabad court on June 6, 2022. At least 18 people were killed and over 100 wounded in the twin blasts at the Sankat Mochan temple and Varanasi Cantonment railway station within 15 minutes on March 7, 2006. Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday said people of the country want change of power, but evaded a direct reply on whether his party would join an opposition alliance to take on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). IMAGE: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav meets former MP Kalyan Jain, at his residence in Indore, April 13, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo He was speaking to reporters in Indore a day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi, who described the initiative as "historic". The meeting assumed significance as it is being viewed as the first major step in forging opposition unity and taking it forward ahead of the next Lok Sabha polls despite differences among some regional outfits. Akhilesh Yadav arrived in Indore on Thursday as part of his two-day visit to Madhya Pradesh. Responding to reporters' query whether his party would join the opposition alliance, Yadav avoided giving a direct answer and said, "This is a big question. What name are you giving to it (the grand alliance)? But I know one thing that people of Uttar Pradesh will unseat the BJP." He said the citizens of the country want change of power. Last month, after his party's national executive meeting, the SP chief had said that his party would play a key role in the formation of an opposition alliance in Uttar Pradesh. On March 17, Yadav had met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata. Both Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Yadav-led SP had said the two parties would stay away from both the Congress and the BJP and indicated possible talks with other regional players ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Yadav had lent his party's support to the TMC during the 2021 West Bengal assembly poll, which was reciprocated by Banerjee when she campaigned for the former in Uttar Pradesh during the 2022 election in that state. Yadav is scheduled to visit the birthplace of Dr B R Ambedkar in Mhow tehsil, about 25 km from Indore district, on Friday, which is the birth anniversary of the architect of the Constitution. Hitting out at the saffron party, the SP chief said, "As long as the BJP remains in power, the Constitution framed by Dr Ambedkar and the rights enshrined to people in it will be in danger. Now the question is whether people will have the right to vote or not in democracy?" Yadav accused the central government of selling the stakes in public sector undertakings to private players and said under such circumstances what would be the fate of the provisions of the Constitution and recommendations of the Mandal Commission meant for the deprived sections of the society. Targeting the Centre over the high prices of petrol, diesel, cooking gas cylinders and the issue of unemployment, he said the BJP government was taking the people for a ride. Yadav said his party will fight the upcoming assembly polls in Madhya Pradesh with full force, but did not specify how many seats it would contest. There are 230 Assembly seats in Madhya Pradesh, where the BJP is currently in power. Commenting on BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya's recent comment that girls in "bad dresses" look like 'Shurpanakha', the sister of demon king Ravana, the former UP chief minister said that those following the BJP ideology want to put restrictions on people's freedom. "If BJP people are talking about dresses today, they might tomorrow impose a ban on the use of social networking sites Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp and Twitter," he added. They are the contenders, the leaders of parties that will finally form a government in Karnataka. IMAGE: Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj S Bommai, left, and Bharatiya Janata Party senior leader B S Yediyurappa at the Kommaghatta Maidan, Kengeri, Bengaluru. Photograph: ANI Photo B S Yediyurappa Seasoned oarsman There is agreement that if there is a leader in the Bharatiya Janata Party with a pan-Karnataka appeal, it is BSY, as he is known in the state. This is borne out by the fact that when BSY walked out of the BJP in 2012 and floated his party, the Karnataka Janata Paksha, he did not win many seats but succeeded in damaging the BJP grievously: The party was reduced to 40 seats in the 2013 Assembly elections and the Congress formed the government. After a stint as chief minister, BSY was kicked upstairs to the Margdarshak Mandal. He continues to wield enormous clout and if he does not pull his weight, the BJP's performance could be affected. Basavaraj Bommai An 'outsider', not quite The current CM has an unenviable task: He is the victim of a power pull-and-push in his party and not his own man, but he still has to ensure victory. The BJP made Bommai, a relatively late entrant to the party from the Janata Dal-United -- he joined the party in 2008 -- the CM to succeed BSY (2021). But he is still considered by many to be an 'outsider'. Bommai is a Lingayat, a politically influential caste, but with less clout than BSY, also a Lingayat and in some ways, his mentor from whom he has since parted ways. D K Shivakumar Always a bridesmaid, never the bride IMAGE: Karnataka Congress President D K Shivakumar being felicitated during an election campaign programme in Chikkanayakanahalli, April 9, 2023. Photograph: ANI Photo The Congressman whose supporters consider has always been the bridesmaid, never the bride, is ready to strike out in this election. In the last assembly election, Shivakumar was the candidate with the highest networth. He has always been a Congressman and has defeated top Vokkaliga leaders, including H D Deve Gowda in 1998. Shivakumar has the resources but many in the party resent his rise. He belongs to the politically crucial South Karnataka region which is a Janata Dal-Secular bastion. As the current chief of the Congress's state unit, he will have a big say in ticket allotment. Siddaramaiah 'Shepherd' leads Backward flock The former Congress CM (2013-2018) has announced that the May 10 election will be his last electoral battle. He has also said that he is an aspirant for the chief ministership. He will likely contest two seats -- Varuna in Mysuru, his original constituency, and Kolar. A powerful orator, he belongs to the socially backward Kuruba (shepherd) community and is a votary of AHINDA (a Kannada acronym for Alpasankhyataru or minorities, Hindulidavaru or backward classes, and Dalitaru or Dalits) caste alliance. Shivakumar and he acknowledge their rivalry, but that they have put it aside for the upcoming election: A proposition that will be tested in the election. H D Kumaraswamy Kingmaker or king? For many years, the operational head of the JD-), Kumaraswamy's eyes are fixed on 40: The number of seats he must win in the 224-member assembly to play the role of kingmaker if the election yields a hung House. All parties have their eyes on him: Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched a blistering attack on Kumaraswamy's party and politics a few months ago, but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has kept his counsel. In the Congress, D K Shivakumar has ruled out alliances with any other party but others in the party have a line of communication open to Kumaraswamy should a post-poll situation warrant one. IMAGE: Meet Chhotu Sharma -- the perfect example of what happens when determination meets hard work. Photograph: Kind courtesy Chhotu Sharma/LinkedIn Delicious ice apples that taste amazing on a hot summer day. The Top Videos of the Week, listed by Shailajanand Mishra. Also see: Giving back, cop style. ISRO's 'Waste Not' policy. An iftar at a temple. Videos chosen by you through your likes on iShare. Why India Is Excited About Vande Bharat Location: Delhi It's the world's first first 7.2-metre high-rise train. It has state-of-the-art infrastructure. It will reduce the travel time between Delhi and Jaipur. Watch it take a trial run before it is officially launched. Video: PTI Retired? Naah, Says This Cop Location: Nanded The 'R' word does not exist for this Nanded-based police officer. His official association with the police force may have ended, but that does not mean he won't lend a helping hand. "Though I am freed from my work," says Sheikh Abdul Sheikh Amir, "I am not freed from duty." Instead, he spends four hours every day doing this. Video: PTI ISRO Won't Waste! Location: Bengaluru Space programmes are important and exciting. What is not so exciting, however, is the amount of space debris it generates. Taking a small step towards reducing that problem was the Indian Space Research Organisation's successful landing of the Reusable Launch Vehicle. Hats off, ISRO. Video: PTI Hey, Who's That With Janhvi? Location: Tirupati Is that, if rumours are to be believed, the sultry actress's boyfriend? Spotted here are Janhvi Kapoor and Shikhar Pahariya visiting the Tirupati Balaji temple. Video: ANI Tried A Palm Nungu? Location: Rameswaram We also know it as the tadgola. And as the ice apple. And as a delicious summer treat. If you have not had it yet, we don't want to spoil the surprise. But here are a couple of tips. Don't choose them by size; ask for the tender fruit instead. And chill in your fridge before peeling and immediately popping into your mouth. It's one of the best things to have as the temperatures rise; no wonder the palm nungu is proving to be such a popular buy in Rameswaram. And, we are sure, in other parts of India as well. Video: PTI Patiala Brigade Explores Ancient Silk Route Location: Ladakh At one time, the ancient Silk Route was one of the important trade routes in the world and one that connected the East with the West. Today, the horse and camel riders of the Indian Army's Patiala Brigade continued to explore it as part of their routine training exercises. Video: ANI The LCA Tejas Trainer Aircraft Location: Bengaluru When it took to the skies for the first time, this is what it looked like. Video: PTI An Iftar Party In A Temple Location: Mallapuram This is what India need more of. When the Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy Vishnu temple near Vettichira hosted an iftar party for the Muslim community, here's what happened. Video: ANI Determination! Determination! Determination! Location: Chandigarh If you need a dose of inspiration, this is the video you need to see. This young man began his career as a peon. Today, Chhotu Sharma is the founder-owner of two software companies in Chandigarh -- CS Soft Solutions and CS Infotech. Now, he plans to launch a third company in Mohali, which is expected to employ 1,800 people. Video: ANI Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Showers early, then partly cloudy overnight. Low 34F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech at the navy headquarters of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on April 11, 2023. Xi on Tuesday inspected the navy of the Southern Theater Command of the PLA. (Xinhua/Li Gang) ZHANJIANG, Guangdong, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday inspected the navy of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA). Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, stressed strengthening training and combat readiness and accelerating transformation to boost the armed forces' modernization levels on all fronts. He called on the armed forces to resolutely fulfill the duties entrusted by the Party and the people. At the navy headquarters of the Southern Theater Command, Xi met representatives of officers and soldiers and posed for group photos with them. He acknowledged the achievements the command's navy has made in improving itself and exercising its duties since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012. Xi said the armed forces should analyze and address military issues from a political perspective, carry out military struggles in a resolute and flexible manner, and enhance the ability to ensure timely and proper responses to complex situations. He told the military to resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, and strive to maintain the overall stability of the country's neighboring regions. Xi ordered the armed forces to strengthen training under combat conditions, innovate the concepts of combat and the methods of combat and training, and intensify force-on-force training based on operational plans. They should develop new types of combat forces and means and accelerate the efforts to incorporate new equipment and new forces into actual combat capacity, he said. Xi stressed the importance of strengthening the Party's leadership over the armed forces and urged relentless efforts to exercise full and rigorous Party self-governance in the military and govern the military with strict discipline in every aspect. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, meets representatives of officers and soldiers at the navy headquarters of the Southern Theater Command of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) on April 11, 2023. Xi on Tuesday inspected the navy of the Southern Theater Command of the PLA. (Xinhua/Li Gang) Editor: GSY Maia McNeill gets Kayli and Lisa Nicholson, of Brattleboro, to sign a petition in 2018 to allow 16- and 17-year-olds the right to vote in a election. 2020HunGa1 & 2021HunHa10 (combined) The Constitutional Court ruled on the unconstitutionality of the provision in question (Article 64(1) of the Immigration Act) which allows for indefinite detention of foreigners given deportation order. The majority opinion (6 out of 9 Justices) found that while the provision has a legitimate purpose and is an appropriate means to the purpose, it fails the balancing test for the following reasons: the effect of the provision that leads indefinite detention is outside of the purpose of immigration detention, which is intended to be temporary and short; indefinite detention solely for effective administration of deportation is an unacceptable restriction of detainee's personal liberty; considering various State practices and international norms, it is not impossible to set a temporal limit to immigration detention and resort to other measures such as limitation on the area of residence, designating a guarantor, receiving a deposit, or monitoring by officials, etc.; and current procedures for appealing detention orders, receiving temporary release therefrom, or receiving Minister of Justice's approval for extension of detention does not appropriately resolve the problem of indefinite detention. The majority opinion also found that the lack of third party's review and control of the commencement and extension of detention order violates the principle of due process. It found that the same principle is also violated due to lack of procedures for detainees to submit opinion before the detention order is issued. On the possibility of increasing number of asylum-seekers who would be released from detention, the Court opined that the issue should be addressed by the authorities' prioritized review of such applications and policy changes to prevent abusive claims. Minority opinion (3 Justices) dissented, finding that the policy considerations of limiting illegal immigration should be given priority. The Court allowed until 31 May 2025 for the provision to be amended, until which the provision would remain in force. Villager Cai Hengwei checks the growth of strawberries at his greenhouse in Diyinhe Village of Zhuanghe City, northeast China's Liaoning Province, April 3, 2023.(Xinhua/Zhang Boqun) DALIAN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Beaded with sweat on his face, Cai Hengwei is busy picking strawberries grown in his greenhouses in Diyinhe Village of Zhuanghe City, northeast China's Liaoning Province. Inside the greenhouses, the red strawberries and green leaves complement each other. "This strawberry season will end in May, so we have to hurry up to get a good harvest," said Cai, with eyes looking at the strawberry plants to search for ripe ones. "My family has rented two greenhouses covering about 0.33 hectares. Today we picked some 40 kg of strawberries," Cai noted. After being put in plates and weighed, the strawberries are loaded onto a truck parked at the doorstep of the greenhouse. Based on the purchasing price of the day, the strawberries are sold for over 800 yuan (about 116 U.S. dollars). "From planting seedlings in September last year to harvesting the last season in May, excluding the cost of renting and seedlings, among others, the gross profit of these two greenhouses can reach 200,000 yuan, which is better than being a migrant worker," said Cai. Diyinhe used to be a low-income village and the villagers couldn't earn much money by farming. To improve the family income, they usually chose to take a job away from their home village, and Cai was one of them. "After I graduated from middle school at the age of 17, I went to work in Dalian City, and took various jobs," Cai said, "After more than 10 years of working away from home, I got married and had children, and I thought about going back to my hometown to start a business." In 2020, Diyinhe constructed greenhouses with the support of government funds to develop strawberry planting. Cai, who just returned home, immediately signed up. "Although I was born in the village, I had never planted strawberries. I knew nothing about strawberry planting at first," Cai recalled, saying that the strawberry seedlings were all dead due to infection less than a month after he planted for the first time in September 2020. Looking at the withered strawberry seedlings in the field, Cai was determined to learn strawberry planting techniques. "I learned from scratch, and I learn from whoever grows well," he said. From planting seedlings to fertilization, every step of strawberry planting involves technical work. After unremitting efforts, Cai has gradually mastered the "secrets" of planting, and the strawberries he planted are plump and sweet in taste now. "Inspired by Cai, some villagers also joined in to plant strawberries and increased their income," said Li Xiao, a village official. Not long ago, Li invited strawberry planting experts to give a lecture in the village, attracting some 20 villagers to attend. Following the advice of the experts, Cai has new expectations. "Next year, I plan to introduce a new variety called 'Snow White,' which is more expensive and sells better," he said. This photo taken on April 3, 2023 shows a greenhouse for planting strawberries in Diyinhe Village of Zhuanghe City, northeast China's Liaoning Province.(Xinhua/Zhang Boqun) Editor: WXY Bjoern Wylezich / TNS NEW HAVEN Federal authorities charged five local men with fentanyl trafficking offenses last week, according to the U.S. Attorneys office. The superseding indictment, which was returned on April 6, alleges the FBI learned in October 2021 that Luis Salaman, also known as "Bebe," was distributing large amounts of narcotics throughout the city. The investigation revealed that Salaman, 41, worked with four others Christian Lopez, also known as "Face," 38; Melvin Santiago, also known as "Pina," 34; Jesus Seguinot, also known as "Chuchi," 33; and Kelly Quinones-Adorna, 27 to distribute fentanyl, the U.S. Attorney's office said. Google Street View SOUTHINGTON Police say they continue to investigate the death of a 55-year-old man found dead in a Douglas Street home Monday. Police have not labeled the death as suspicious, but a supervisor saw something that didnt fit the norm, Southington Police Lt. Keith Egan said Thursday. There were some things we saw that require investigation. He did not elaborate. The World Bank will provide an additional $200 million to Ukraine to restore the energy sector, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal has announced. "In Washington, an agreement was signed with World Bank Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde. The restoration of Ukraine begins this year, and energy is one of our priorities. The funds raised from the World Bank will be used to restore the network and heat supply systems in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Mykolaiv, Sumy and the cities of Chernihiv region," Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel. According to him, at the meeting with representatives of the World Bank, the parties discussed joint work within the framework of the interagency donor coordination platform. "Together with the World Bank, we are preparing to implement a project to insure war risks for foreign investment. It is a key tool to attract these investments now, without waiting for the end of the war," the prime minister wrote. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar speaking in a podcast of his recently concluded Uganda visit, said, "In terms of the world outlook, India and Uganda have very converging perspectives which are based on the solidarity of the south-south cooperation between the two nations." The EAM further mentioned that out of many conversations during his visit to Uganda, future cooperation between India-Africa, and especially India -Uganda was an important subject. Terming the African nation of Uganda noteworthy, S Jaishankar in the podcast mentioned that he has seen new intensity in interactions between New Delhi and Kampala and that even as we look towards the development side, India has a clear purpose with regard to expanding its economic interactions with the African country. When I came here to Kampala 2 days ago, I had the privilege of meeting President Museveni almost immediately. I had interaction with the minister of foreign affairs, and defence, the minister of trade, the minister of water resources, and many of their colleagues, Jaishankar informed in the podcast that was posted on the EAMs Twitter handle. Some reflections on my first visit to Uganda. pic.twitter.com/SjMdD9xU4R Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 12, 2023 S Jaishankar's visit to Uganda In his podcast, Jaishankar underlined two important events which coincided with his visit. Talking about the events in his podcast of the Uganda visit, EAM said, On was of the inauguration of the campus of National Forensic Science University and second of beginning of construction of solar water pump project which would bring water to half a million Ugandans spread across 20 districts. He further talked about how India has always had a regular flow of visitors from the Ugandan side. In 2015, President Museveni visited India for India-Africa Forum Summit, the EAM said. Some glimpses of the inauguration of the National Forensic Sciences Uganda Campus. Thank Deputy Prime Minister Lukia Isanga Nakadama,Minister of Defence and Veteran Affairs Vincent Ssempijja and Minister of Foreign Affairs Gen Jeje Odongo for joining. pic.twitter.com/Hh5Mfh41hE Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 12, 2023 Further, Jaishankar informed that in 2018, PM Modi had paid a return visit to Kampala. Highlighting the ties between the two nations, he further said that the famous Kampala principles still guide Indias partnership with the developing world. Marking a milestone in Indian-Uganda bilateral cooperation, Jaishankar inaugurated the first foreign campus of Indias National Forensic Sciences University in Jinja, Uganda on Wednesday. A personal vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its international footprint is a matter of particular satisfaction, Jaishankar tweeted. A personal vision of PM @narendramodi, its international footprint is a matter of particular satisfaction. Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 12, 2023 Highlighting that this was a proud day for India, Jaishankar said it is a proud day for Uganda and for the India-Uganda relationship. The inauguration of NFSUs Uganda campus is an example of practical cooperation between the two nations, he added. A proud day for India, a proud day for Uganda and for India-Uganda relationship. Inauguration of Uganda campus of @NFSU_Official is an example of practical cooperation between the two nations. https://t.co/GjmnQA4Woh Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 12, 2023 Mentioning the courses offered by this university, Forensic Sciences in behavioural sciences, cyber security, digital forensics and allied sciences, Jaishakar said that he was confident that these courses will be in high demand and will bring immense benefits to all the stakeholders in Uganda and in Africa. Confident that the courses offered by this University: Forensic Sciences in behavioural sciences, cyber security, digital forensic and allied sciences will be in high demand from students. bringing immense benefits to all stakeholders in Uganda and in Africa. Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 12, 2023 Earlier on Monday, Jaishankar met Ugandas President Yoweri K Museveni at his farm in Rwakitura and congratulated the country on assuming the chairship of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM). The Minister also discussed cooperation in trade and investment, infrastructure, energy, defence, 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 Notably, Jaishankar is on a two-nation visit to Uganda and Mozambique from April 10-15 to strengthen Indias strong bilateral ties with the two African countries. India will strive and thrive in its G20 presidency, Indonesias Ambassador to India Inna Krishnamurthy said while exhibiting her confidence in the growth of the Indian territory. She further stated many achievements have already been made by the country on the issue of digital energy transition and many other issues. India will strive and thrive in its presidency, many achievements already done by India in the issue of digital energy transition and many other issues, Krishnamurthy was quoted by news agency ANI. Hoping for India to put forward the principle of inclusivity in its G20 presidency, the Indonesian envoy said, Were so looking forward as to what India can do until the end of the presidency, which is in November. India concerned about Global South Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday Ugandas Kampala said that India was making an effort to include concerns of the Global South in the G20 framework under its presidency. Jaishankars statement came while he was on a visit to Uganda and Mozambique. The External Affairs Minister further added that India would like to use its G-20 presidency to get the influential forum focused on its mandate of global growth and development issues. Notably, India assumed the Presidency of the G20 for a period of one year from December 1 last year. The G20 Summit will be held on September 9-10 in New Delhi this year. (With agency inputs) A spokesperson for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, on Wednesday, stated that the International Criminal Court's (ICC) warrant for the arrest of Russian President Vladimir Putin has thrown a spanner in the works of the upcoming BRICS summit scheduled to take place in South Africa in August. The spokesperson used the phrase "thrown a spanner in the works" to describe the situation. Because South Africa has signed the 2002 Rome Statute, the country is obligated to comply with the ICC's warrant for the arrest of Vladimir Putin. However, South Africa is also the host of this year's BRICS summit, where leaders from Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa are scheduled to convene. "All heads of state would be expected to attend the summit. But now we have a spanner in the works in the form of this ICC warrant, Ramaphosas spokesperson, Vincent Magwenya, told reporters. What that dictates is that there be further engagements in terms of how that is going to be managed, and those engagements are underway, Magwenya continued. Once they've been concluded, the necessary announcements will be made, he added. Since the issuance of the warrant, Ramaphosa's government has been cognizant of the predicament it presents. Last month, spokesperson Tyrone Seale declined to comment on whether Pretoria would enforce the warrant. On Tuesday, Ramaphosa declared that he would send a representative to Washington to clarify his administration's impartial position on the Ukraine conflict, reported RT. South Africa and Russia have maintained a strong relationship since the Soviet Union supported the anti-apartheid African National Congress, which is now led by Ramaphosa. During his tenure, South Africa has abstained from denouncing Russia's military intervention in Ukraine or imposing sanctions on Moscow. Additionally, earlier this year, South Africa's military participated in joint exercises with Russian and Chinese armed forces. Pretoria has its own concerns with the ICC and was reprimanded by the court in 2017 for not apprehending former Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir when he visited the country in 2015 for an African leaders' summit. Subsequent to this occurrence, South African officials attempted to pull out from the court. However, the decision was overturned after a High Court ruling established that such a measure was in violation of the country's constitution. The ICC issued the warrant citing accusations against Putin and Russian Children's Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova-Belova of the "unlawful deportation" of children from "occupied areas of Ukraine." The charges relate to Russia's attempt to evacuate civilians from areas, mainly in the Donbass region where Russian is predominantly spoken, that were under attack from the Ukrainian military. Russia, like the US, China, and India, does not recognise the authority of the ICC and has disregarded the warrant as null and void from the legal standpoint". How will this impact the 15th BRICS summit in Durban? Whether Russian President Vladimir Putin shows up in Durban, South Africa for the event is still a matter of speculation, but an educated guess would be that the leader will attend the forum visually from Moscow to avoid any international outcry. It cannot be understated that the absence of Putin, especially with his Chinese and Indian counterparts present at the summit, will be a rare sight. With Russia's war in Ukraine raging, India and China are the two countries that have been put in the spotlight by the US-led western bloc to use their influence on Moscow and come to a peaceful resolution of the conflict. Therefore, the BRICS summit was an opportunity for the three leaders to deliberate on this conflict that has had global repercussions. Even South Africa has been prompted by various players to help end the conflict in Ukraine. Last month, Belgium called on South Africa to use its influence with Russia to end the conflict in Ukraine. The appeal was made during a state visit by the Belgian king to Pretoria. President Cyril Ramaphosa responded to the call by saying that Pretoria continues "to use the channel we have with Russia...to talk about how the conflict can be brought to an end". With left-leaning Lula Da Silva back in presidential shoes back in Brazil, he also is looking for an opportunity to bring Brasilia back on the global stage, with him currently on a state visit to Beijing to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping. It is worth noting that apart from Brazil (and Russia), the other three nations in BRICS - India, China & South Africa have refused to condemn Russia's aggression again Kyiv. Brazil having officially condemned the invasion, still refuses to take sides. As the People's Liberation Army [PLA] Ground Force staged the three-day military drills codenamed United Sharp Sword in the vicinity of Taiwan, Chinese President Xi Jinping urged its military to demonstrate readiness for "real combat". Xi's remarks came just days after the PLA simulated precision strikes on the self-governing island of Taiwan which the PRC boasts as its own, inalienable sovereign territory away from the mainland, and threatens to take it by using force. During a speech at the navy base in Southern China this week, China's President Xi Jinping called for its military to show preparedness and strengthen military training oriented toward actual combat, the state-run CCTV channel reported. He named the defence of Beijings territorial sovereignty and maritime interests and protection of overall peripheral stability as PLAAN's core mission. Xi's instructions came as Beijing sent nine warships and some 71 warplanes into Taiwan Strait escalating regional tensions and fear of confrontation. PLA Navy, jets simulating to 'encircle' the island Senior Colonel Shi Yi, the spokesman for the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) Eastern Theater Command, was reported saying that the war vessels and fighter jets were simulating to encircle the island. And that the drills were meant as a warning against the collusion between separatist forces seeking Taiwan independence and external forces, and against their provocative activities. The drills were ordered as Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, last week in California. This would be the second time that Tsai has held a meeting with a US House speaker in less than a year. US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi made a controversial visit to the self-administered island despite China's opposition. While Taiwan has been de facto independent since 1949, only a handful of countries recognise its sovereignty including the US. Beijing lays territorial claims over Taiwan under the 'One-China Policy.' Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-chang had previously warned that China's People Liberation Army (PLA) will be well-prepared to invade Taiwan by 2025 in order to recapture the island. Kuo-chang noted that given the ongoing aggression displayed by the PLA, including infringing the Taiwan Air Defence Identification Zone (ADIZ) and conducting naval drills along the Taiwan Strait, China will acquire "complete capability" to storm the island within two years. Germany's government appealed for efforts to reduce tension over Taiwan as the German foreign minister flew to China for official talks following Chinese military exercises near the self-ruled island democracy Beijing claims is part of its territory. Annalena Baerbock was due to arrive Thursday. Her ministry said she would discuss Taiwan, Ukraine, human rights and other issues with Chinese officials. China's ruling Communist Party sent warships and fighter planes near Taiwan last weekend in retaliation for a meeting between U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the island's president, Tsai Ing-wen. Threatening military gestures increase the risk of unintentional military confrontations, a spokeswoman for Baerbocks ministry, Andrea Sasse, said in Berlin. We therefore call on all partners in the region and are working also with our international partners to contribute to a de-escalation in the strait of Taiwan," Sasse said Wednesday. Taiwan split with China in 1949 after a civil war. The Communist Party says the island is obligated to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary. European governments are increasingly worried about Chinese pressure on Taiwan, a global high-tech center and one of the biggest trading economies. European governments with the exception of Vatican City have diplomatic relations with Beijing instead of Taiwan but maintain informal and commercial relations with the island. European legislators have visited Taiwan and met Tsai to show support in the face of Chinese intimidation. Baerbock also planned to travel to South Korea on Saturday and then attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major economies in Japan on Sunday. Ukraine and the United States have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to attract investment in Ukraine to implement priority projects for the development and economic recovery, Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal has said. "On the sidelines of the Spring Meetings, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) and USAID to support attracting investments to Ukraine to implement priority development and economic recovery projects," Shmyhal wrote on his Telegram channel on Thursday morning. The Ukrainian Prime Minister said that private capital is an integral part of Ukraine's recovery and sustainable growth. "Therefore, foreign investment will be one of the drivers of our economy," he said. "Ukraine has ample investment opportunities to unlock its economic potential. The DFC and USAID will help attract private investment in sectors that are of primary importance to the economy. We are grateful for the partnership and assistance on this path," Shmyhal added. Authorities in the UK have extradited a 74-year-old man from Pakistan in connection with the murder of a policewoman in northern England over 17 years ago. Piran Ditta Khan was extradited from Pakistan on Tuesday and after arriving in the UK was taken into custody at a West Yorkshire police station, where he was formally charged with the murder of Police Constable (PC) Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford on November 18, 2005. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it submitted an extradition warrant and authorised charges in 2006 against Khan for offences covering murder, robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. "A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford in 2005 has been extradited to the UK from Pakistan thanks to the continued hard work of prosecutors in the CPS Extradition and International Units, said Joanne Jakymec, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS. Since Piran Ditta Khan was arrested in Pakistan in 2020, our specialist prosecutors have been working closely with our Pakistani partners to complete the legal process in the country so that he could be extradited back to England to face the allegations from almost 20 years ago, she said. PC Beshenivsky was gunned down while responding to a robbery at a travel agent in Bradford in November 2005. Five men have been convicted in relation to her murder over the years. Khan was arrested by Pakistani authorities in January 2020 and will now stand trial for murder after appearing before Westminster Magistrates Court in London this week. The CPS pointed out that now that criminal proceedings against Khan are live, there will be reporting restrictions in place in order to ensure a fair trial without prejudicing the court proceedings. The extradition was the result of collaborative work between the CPS, Pakistani authorities, West Yorkshire Police and the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA), it added. A group of armed men entered Tirah valley in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, prompting protests from the local political leaders and business community, according to newspaper the News International. Although security troops and police were present, the local political leaders and business community expressed concern over the patrolling of dozens of armed men, which has caused fear and anxiety among the local residents. The News International reported that the protest demonstration was led by Maulatirana Hazrat Khan, the Ameer of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Insaf. In addition, Sher Muhammad Afridi, who is the president of the Trader Association of Tirah, and other participants stated that they would not allow anyone to disrupt the peace of Tirah valley. The speakers expressed their worries about the presence of armed individuals in Bag Maidan and pointed out that while these armed individuals were allowed to move around freely, the local population was subjected to strict security measures by the official institutions. For a considerable period of time, the law and order situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been declining. Furthermore, the recent surge of terrorist attacks throughout Pakistan has also affected the security of the tribal areas. Resurgence of terrorism in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa & Balochistan Pakistan has been experiencing a resurgence of terrorism in recent months, particularly in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan, where terrorist groups have been carrying out attacks with almost no consequences. This has resulted in a deterioration of the law and order situation in the country. The province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has been facing a significant and persistent terrorist threat for many years. The region has been a hotbed of militancy and insurgency, with various terrorist groups carrying out attacks against both civilian and military targets. In recent years, the situation has worsened, with a surge in terrorist activities and a sharp rise in casualties. The province has been hit by suicide bombings, targeted killings, and other forms of violence that have resulted in the loss of hundreds of lives. The attacks have targeted not only security forces but also civilians, including schools, mosques, and other public places. Despite the efforts of the government and security forces, the terror problem in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa remains a significant challenge. The region's porous borders with Afghanistan and the presence of various militant groups have made it a breeding ground for extremism and terrorism. The government says programmers and companies will be held responsible for any 'subversive' output. "The content generated by generative artificial intelligence should reflect the core values of socialism," Chinas Cyberspace Administration says in draft rules. China has issued a set of draft regulations that will require chatbots using artificial intelligence and developed by its tech giants to stick to the ruling Communist Party line, amid comments that the move will likely be the death of further innovation in the sector. "The content generated by generative artificial intelligence should reflect the core values of socialism," the country's Cyberspace Administration said in draft rules issued for public feedback and comment on April 11. "[It] must not contain subversion of state power, overthrow of the socialist system, incitement to split the country, undermine national unity [or] promote terrorism [and] extremism," it said, using phrases typically used to target public dissent and criticism of the government. "Content that may disrupt economic and social order" is also banned, according to the draft rules, which the government wants to see implemented by the end of the year. The rules come as Chinese tech firms rush to launch homegrown AI chatbots, amid reports that regulators have warned major tech companies not to offer the Microsoft-backed artificial intelligence bot ChatGPT to the public. They reflect official concerns around any technology that can produce content without the prior approval of government censors. Corrupt regime In 2017, Tencent took down its chatbot Baby Q after it referred to the government as a "corrupt regime," claimed it had no love for the Communist Party and said it dreamed of emigrating to the United States, amid reports that its programmers had been hauled in for questioning by police. Nonetheless, the rules also claim that the government supports "independent innovation, popularization and application" in technologies like artificial intelligence algorithms and frameworks. Baidu's co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Robin Li showcases an artificial intelligence powered chatbot known as Ernie Bot by Baidu, during a news conference at the company's headquarters in Beijing, March 16, 2023. Credit: Reuters However, organizations and individuals using AI products to provide services will be held responsible for their output, it warns. Social media comments said the rules would likely sound the death knell for AI innovation in the sector, which has already seen a demo version of Baidu's homegrown chatbot Ernie launched with only a preselected set of questions allowed at the press conference in mid-March. "This subversive AI is hereby sentenced to death. Sentence to be carried out immediately," quipped Twitter user @Meta_epoch, while @TTL0001 wondered if the bot would need to fill out an application for Communist Party membership. According to user @linglingfa, the rules mean that this style of AI "will definitely be banned in China now." "AI that has to encompass sensitive words is basically dead in the water," agreed user @hunterpig586, in a reference to the list of politically sensitive terms currently banned from China's internet. "The AI should also study the 20 Principles, support the Two Establishes, consciously uphold the Two Maintains and achieve the Four Self-confidences!" quipped Twitter user @Alexajinyu in a sarcastic reference to key elements of supreme leader Xi Jinping's personal ideology. "This is ridiculous -- why don't they just give up altogether, really," added @luhaha777, while @Kev1nLee214 added: "It's clear that [AI chatbots] are destined to become a tool for ideological output ... as their input material is ideological in the first place." And user @swift_pink1231 wondered: "What will they do when AI evolves further and is able to block them out?" Killing innovation Australia-based computer scientist Zhang Xiaogang said the censorship of chatbots would likely kill innovation in the sector. "A dictatorial regime will always try to control everything, but this is a ridiculous approach," Zhang said. "Restricting such things is tantamount to restricting AI itself, which will cause China's AI to fall behind the rest of the world." "All China will be able to do then is steal other people's technology," he said. Social media influencer Great Firewall Frog, who uses the Twitter account @GFWFrog, said the first priority of Chinese development is to curb and suppress innovation. "The first priority of AI research teams is ... to comply with the relevant laws and regulations," he said. "In China in the new era under Xi Jinping, the Communist Party spends most of its AI research efforts trying to find and filter out content that it deems insulting to China, and to maintain the stability of the regime." "The Communist Party's AI can only become even more focused on the ruling party," he said, adding sarcastically: "If it's not careful, it could get accused of picking quarrels and stirring up trouble, or incitement to subvert state power." Veteran economist Li Hengqing said the new rules show that the ruling party will have to keep tightening controls on public speech if it is to stay in power in the long term. "The important thing is the content, the so-called ideology," Li said. "Ideology is China's current weakness." Media commentator Wang Jian said Beijing only has a use for innovation if it helps maintain the party's grip on power. "The Chinese Communist Party's core value is to stay in power," he said. "To do this, it has two tools at its disposal: the gun and the pen, and the pen is where ideology comes in." "The Communist Party would prefer not to allow an industry to develop if it could threaten its ideological controls," he said. Translated by Luisetta Mudie. Edited by Malcolm Foster. New students have their first lesson at the Minhung Primary School in Moranbong District in Pyongyang, North Korea, April 1, 2023. Its been more than 10 days since the new school year began in North Korea, and a large number of poor children have yet to show up for classes because they are needed for farm work during the planting season. So authorities are warning their parents to send them to school or face interrogation or public shaming, sources in the country told Radio Free Asia. Most North Korean elementary schools should have around 30 students in each classroom, but one or two from each class have yet to show up for their first day of school, a resident in the northern province of Ryanggang, who is knowledgeable about the education sector in Paegam county, told RFAs Korean Service Monday on condition of anonymity for security reasons. Today, the countys education department sent a notice to parents who have not sent their children to school warning that they will notify the party committees and their parents workplaces if they dont attend, he said. The warnings come after previous efforts to get the children to school failed, according to the source. When the class attendance rates are down, the homeroom teacher will be interrogated, he said. Even if their classmates come to their homes to pick them up, or if the teacher visits with the parents, there are still quite a few children who do not come to school. The source said that the children who arent attending school are from families experiencing economic hardship. The reason why children do not come to school is because they have to help their parents, who are busy preparing their small plots of land for farming in the mountains as the planting season begins, he said. Matter of survival Planting season is vital for many rural families to survive. Farming on their private plots is the most important activity for the year because corn, beans, potatoes and whatever else can be grown on small plots of land will be the only food these households have to stay alive this year, the source said. A North Korean boy works on a collective farm in South Hwanghae province. Credit: Reuters file photo The same problem existed in previous years, but it fell to the teachers to ask the parents to send their kids to school, he said. This is the first year that parents are getting an official warning, and it appears to be highly unusual. While theres no accompanying punishment laid out in the warning other than being reported to the party committee, the potential for public disgrace by such a high-ranking institution makes the report alone a serious threat, he said. For the countrys poorest, going into the mountains to find some empty land to grow vegetables is a matter of survival. North Korea has suffered from chronic food shortages for decades, and a suspension of trade with China during the COVID-19 pandemic made the shortages worse. At one point during the pandemic, the government told the people that they would no longer receive rations and would be on their own for food. The impoverished children work to cultivate the newly slashed and burned land, so they have no time to go to school. Summoned for questioning In the city of Kimchaek, in the northeastern province of North Hamgyong, the problem is so dire that authorities there began calling in the parents for interrogation, a source there told RFA on condition of anonymity to speak freely. There are a total of 28 students in my kids class in elementary school, but four of them are not attending, she said. Last week, schools in the city submitted absentee lists to the education department, and included their parents jobs, their titles and home addresses. The source said she believes that the interrogations began on Monday. Interrogating the parents will not guarantee a 100% attendance rate, she said. For families who do not have food to eat right now or who are struggling to live, it is more important to not starve than it is to send their children to school. Translated by Claire Shinyoung Oh Lee. Written in English by Eugene Whong. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Lao youths are among those trapped in Kayin state, forced to carry out cyber-scams for criminal groups. It was a clear day when Kham set out from his home in northwestern Laos for what he thought was a chance to make money in the gilded gambling towns of the Golden Triangle, the border region his country shares with Thailand and Myanmar. On that day a Friday, as he recalled the teenager had gotten a Facebook note from a stranger: a young woman asking what he was doing and if he wanted to make some cash. He agreed to meet that afternoon. She picked up Kham, 16, along with a friend, and off they went, their parents none the wiser. I thought to myself Id work for a month or two then Id go home, Kham later said. (RFA has changed the real names of the victims in this story to protect them from possible reprisals.) But instead of a job, Kham ended up trafficked and held captive in a nondescript building on the Burmese-Thai border, some 200 miles south of the Golden Triangle and 400 miles from his home isolated from the outside world, tortured and forced into a particular kind of labor: to work as a cyber-scammer. Barbed wire fences are seen outside a shuttered Great Wall Park compound where Cambodian authorities said they had recovered evidence of human trafficking, kidnapping and torture during raids on suspected cybercrime compounds in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, in Sept. 2022. Credit: Reuters In recent years, secret sites like the one where Kham was detained have proliferated throughout the region as the COVID-19 pandemic forced criminal networks to shift their strategies for making money. One popular scheme today involves scammers starting fake romantic online relationships that eventually lead to stealing as-large-as-possible sums of money from targets. The scammers said that if they fail to do so, they are tortured. Teen victims from Luang Namtha province in Laos who were trafficked to a place they called the Casino Kosai, in an isolated development near the city of Myawaddy on Myanmars eastern border with Thailand, have described their ordeal to RFA. Chillingly, dozens of teenagers and young people from Luang Namtha are still believed to be trapped at the site, along with victims from other parts of Asia. The case is but the tip of the iceberg in the vast networks of human trafficking that claim over 150,000 victims a year in Southeast Asia. Yet it encapsulates how greed and political chaos mix to allow crime to operate unchecked, with teenagers like Kham paying the price. This fake Facebook ad for the Sands International is for a receptionist. It lists job benefits of 31,000 baht salary, free accommodation and two days off per month. Qualifications are passport holder, Thai citizen, 20-35 years old and the ability to work in Cambodia. Credit: RFA screenshot The promise of cash Typically, it starts with the lure of a job. In the case of Lao teenagers RFA spoke to, the bait can be as simple as a message over Facebook or a messaging app. Other scams have involved more elaborate cons, with postings for seemingly legitimate jobs that have ensnared everyone from professionals to laborers to ambitious youths. What they have in common is the promise of high pay in glitzy, if sketchy, casino towns around Southeast Asia many built with the backing of Chinese criminal syndicates that operate in poorly policed borderlands difficult to reach. Before 2020, a lot of these places were involved in two things: gambling, where groups of Thais and Chinese were going for a weekend casino holiday, or online betting, said Phil Robertson, deputy director for Asia at Human Rights Watch. Then, all of a sudden COVID hits, and these syndicates [that ran the casinos] decided to change their business model. What they came up with was scamming. A motorbike drives past a closed casino in Sihanoukville, Cambodia, in Feb. 2020. As travel restrictions bit during the pandemic, syndicates that ran the casinos shifted their focus from gambling to scams, says Phil Robertson of Human Rights Watch. Credit: Reuters Today, gambling towns like Sihanoukville, in Cambodia, and the outskirts of Tonpheung, on the Laos side of the Golden Triangle, have become notorious for trapping people looking for work into trafficking. But besides these places, there are also numerous unregulated developments where scamming casinos operate with little outside scrutiny, including on the Thai-Burmese border. Keo, 18, had a legitimate job at a casino in Laos when he was contacted via WhatsApp by a man who said he could make much more 13 million kip ($766) a month, plus bonuses by working in Thailand. He could leave whenever he wanted, the person claimed. I thought about the new job offer for two days, then I said yes on the third day because the offer would pay more salary, plus commission and I can go home anytime, Keo said. He quit his job by lying to his boss, saying he was going to visit his family. A few days later, a black Toyota Vigo pick-up truck fetched him, along with two friends, and they took a boat across the Mekong to Thailand. Scams By that time, Keo realized he was being trafficked the two men who escorted him and his friends were armed. While on the boat, one of us ... suggested that we return to Laos, but we were afraid to ask, as the men carried guns and knives. He dared not jump. Later, one of us suggested we call our parents but the men said, On the boat, we dont use the telephone. We dared not call our parents because we were afraid of being harmed, he said. So, we kept quiet until we reached the Thai side. Both Keo and Kham told RFA that they were eventually trafficked to Myawaddy Township, an area some 300 miles south of the Golden Triangle. Kham only remembered parts of the journey, when he was made to walk for miles. Keo told RFA Laos he was transported by a series of SUVs that drove for so many days and nights that he couldnt remember how long it really took. During the trip, we suspected that we werent in Thailand anymore we mightve been in Myanmar. We asked the Thai driver, who said that he didnt know either, he was only the driver, he said. At that point, we wanted to go back home, but we couldnt, because the two men were watching us. Casino Kosai. Credit: Citizen journalist Things were not so bad at first. For three days, Kham said, those who arrived were given freedom to roam the site. They were taught how to use the messaging apps they would rely on to find people to scam and given scripts on what to say. The scheme involved pretending to be a lonely heart in Thailand looking for love, striking up a conversation and establishing a phony online relationship. Very quickly, they were to move on to invite the target to put money in a fake investment account and instead take the money. Kham believes he arrived in August; Keo around September the two crossed paths at Casino Kosai. During the first month, we were okay, as we were allowed to use our phones, Keo said. But in the subsequent months, when we couldnt get customers, we were beaten up. The scammers were forced to work 16 hours a day, sitting in a room from early in the morning until midnight looking for people to swindle. Fifty people were put around a table in a large room, working in groups of 10 or 12 on devices they were given, with their captors monitoring their work on computer screens. We were given three days to get one customer, Keo recalled. If not, we could be beaten up on the fourth day. Malaysian victims of job scams attend a 2022 press conference in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia. The pair, who declined to be named for fear over their safety, said they were offered high paying jobs in Thailand that turned out to be a scam. Instead they were taken to a casino complex in Myanmar near the Thai border. Credit: Associated Press Cyber scamming centers throughout Southeast Asia target victims all over the world. Half a dozen teens who spoke to RFA said they were made to seek out Thai victims, but others have targeted speakers of other Asian languages as well as English speakers and Europeans. To implement such wide-ranging scams, traffickers smuggle in people from China, the Philippines, Malaysia and as far away as Africa. The Thai-Burmese border is an attractive place for syndicates to hide their victims as internal turmoil makes the region hard to police. Power in Myawaddy Township an administrative area of some 1,200 square miles in Kayin state, on the banks of the Moei river that skirts the border has long been contested by the Burmese military and rival ethnic Karen militias. Following the 2021 coup, civil law enforcement in Myanmar generally has collapsed as the junta and police forces really become completely focused on combating resistance groups and ethnic armed organizations involved in the civil war, said Vanda Felbab-Brown of the Brookings Institution in Washington. A splinter Karen militia known as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army [shown] controls the area in Myanmars Myawaddy township where Casino Kosai is located, local sources tell RFA Burmese. Credit: Reuters file photo At the same time, many of the local militias that are on the militarys side have been given tacit permission by the junta to engage in illegal economies that bring in money. So, you have both a withdrawal of the role of law enforcement because of the local capacity, but also deepening of law enforcement complicity because this is the mechanism of paying all the juntas allies, Felbab-Brown explained. These dynamics made the border all the more attractive for cyber scamming centers to develop. There are reportedly as many as 20 or 30 of these [casino trafficking] enclaves along the border, said Robertson of HRW. Theyre basically being allowed to do what they want because they [authorities in the region] are part of the alliance with the military, so they are willing to turn a blind eye to all of this, and probably getting some kickbacks. According to a geolocation pin sent to RFA by several parents of Lao teens currently trapped at the Casino Kosai, the site appears to be a warehouse some 20 miles south of Myawaddy city, across the border from a Thai town. Local sources told RFA Burmese that the area is controlled by a splinter Karen militia known as the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA) under the command of a brigadier general, Sai Kyaw Hla. The Lao teens likely knew their place of captivity as Casino Kosai as a portmanteau of the word Ko, meaning mister in Burmese, and Sai, the Shan/Thai honorific in Sai Kyaw Hla. However, regional dynamics are complex and difficult to establish with certainty. Asked about these issues by RFA Burmese, the DKBA denied knowledge of the situation and said they did not control the region. The DKBA spokesman, Col. Saw Sein Win, said of the trafficking casinos: We do not allow such things in our region. A youth being forced to work at the Kosai Casino is tied to a column and tased [left]. Injuries to his back are seen at right. Credit: Screenshots from video provided to RFA Held hostage Those held at the Casino Kosai were mostly Lao teens, but there were also at least a dozen Chinese who seemed a bit older, former detainees said. At first Keo did manage to scam a few people he didnt think much about it, he said, as he was just trying to get paid, and later, to avoid punishment. But it quickly became harder to find new people to con. While being beaten up, I thought about going back home, but an employee said that nobody can go home, he said. After about three months, he was told he would be sold. One of his captors allowed him to call his parents and asked them to pay 500,000 baht ($14,625) for his release. If not, Id be sold dead or alive, he was told. His parents negotiated the ransom down to 200,000 baht ($5,800). Kham, on the other hand, was unsuccessful at the con because his Thai was poor, and for that he was repeatedly punished. He shared images of his torture with RFA, including marks on his body that he said were from a cattle prod. Violence is a common theme in videos seen by RFA that were taken from other secret scamming sites from across Asia, and gruesome treatment of victims at sites have been reported by other media. After a while, the captors also gave Kham the chance to leave. His employers asked many Lao workers, including me, whether we wanted to go home, he said. A group of about ten of us said yes because we couldnt do the work we couldnt read Thai. They were told to call their parents and tell them that they would be released for 500,000 baht. Some, including Khams family, were able to negotiate the price down to secure release. Kham and Keo, as well as a handful of others, returned home earlier this year. The trafficked youths after gaining their freedom. Credit: Provided to RFA Nowhere to turn for help In interviews with RFA, Lao and Burmese officials acknowledged that trafficking was a problem but said that regional instability deters action. The terrorist military junta lets these lawless activities prevail rather than taking action against them, Tin Tun Naing, a top official with the opposition National Unity Government, told RFA. Lao government officials said they had met with Myanmars junta and forwarded information on the location of Casino Kosai. But authorities cant access the area because there is intense fighting going on between ethnic groups and the authorities of Kayin state, a Lao embassy official in Myanmar told RFA Lao Service. We cant tell you when well be able to go there. Weve asked the local authorities who said that it was difficult to track the Lao workers down because they entered Myanmar illegally, without passports. However, two other teens who spoke to RFA said their releases were facilitated by Burmese soldiers though it is unknown which military or militia faction they worked under. Both victims and human rights experts say the trafficking is being aided and abetted by authorities on all sides. Sadly across Southeast Asia, there is both enormous corruption of law enforcement forces linked to their weakness, but also indifference, said Felbab-Brown of Brookings. There is [also] a lot of complacency of enforcement forces in Southeast Asian countries. The pattern is, tragically and egregiously, really not at all surprising. Several dozen teens remain trapped, including one as young as 14 whose mother has contacted RFA Lao service, along with other parents of teens still believed to be at Casino Kosai. Another victim still held there contacted RFA earlier this month. Lao police and soldiers were present at his capture and as he was moved to the casino, he wrote in a text message to RFA. Thai police, meanwhile, looked the other way, given bribes by what he said were his Chinese traffickers. The police know where we are, he wrote. I don't know why they're not helping us." The Association of Southeast Asian Nations finally came out on Thursday to condemn the slaughter of as many as 130 people in an airstrike by Burmese junta forces on a village in Myanmars Sagaing region this week. A fighter-jet dropped two bombs on Pa Zi Gyi, a village in Kanbalu Township, and two Mi-35 attack helicopters strafed the crowd with gunfire, eyewitnesses said, after hundreds of villagers had gathered for an office opening ceremony on Tuesday. Women and children were among the dead. It was one of the most lethal strikes by the junta on civilians since the Burmese military seized power in a February 2021 coup. Indonesia, the 2023 holder of the ASEAN chair, issued the statement on the Southeast Asian blocs behalf two days after the United Nations and United States came out with statements deploring the attack. ASEAN strongly condemns the reported recent air strikes carried out by the Myanmar Armed Forces in Pa Zi Gyi Village, Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region of Myanmar, that claimed the lives of at least dozens of civilians, the ASEAN chair said. All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians, it added. This would be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustainable peaceful solution in Myanmar. The 10-member bloc, whose members include Myanmar and which operates largely by consensus, has been widely criticized for failing to take strong action against the Burmese junta. The military has carried on with attacks amid nationwide turmoil in the nearly two years since the junta chief agreed to follow a five-point peace framework that ASEAN leaders agreed to during an emergency summit on post-coup Myanmar. In Jakarta on Thursday, an aide to Indonesian President Joko Widodo declined to comment in response to a query from BenarNews about the ASEAN statement. Indonesias foreign ministry spokesman and director-general for ASEAN matters did not immediately respond to questions on whether the regional bloc would back up its strongly worded statement with punitive action against Naypyidaw. This image grab from a video shows the aftermath of shelling and airstrikes by Burmese junta forces on Pa Zi Gyi, a village in Kanbalu township in the Sagaing region of Myanmar, April 11, 2023. Credit: Citizen journalist In Sagaing, witnesses said it was hard to tell how many people were killed in Tuesdays aerial attack because the bodies were so badly mangled by the bombs and machine-gun fire. As of Thursday, the death toll had risen to 130 people, according to a report by RFA Burmese that cited information from a rescue team of volunteers in the village. Amid the carnage, the military had deployed a surveillance helicopter and stationed troops on the outskirts of Pa Zi Gyi, impeding efforts to collect body parts and bring the wounded for medical treatment, residents said. The Burmese military confirmed in a statement on Tuesday evening that it had carried out a precision attack on Pa Zi Gyi because, it said, members of the anti-junta People Defense Force paramilitary group had gathered there and committed terrorist acts in the area. Junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun told the military-controlled broadcast channel MRTV that those killed in the strike were members of the PDF not civilians and that the large number of casualties was the result of a rebel weapons cache exploding during the operation. But a rescue worker who spoke on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns, said this was false. The attack on the site was deliberate and thorough, beginning with a fighter-jet bombing run followed by the helicopters strafing the area, the source told RFA. Myanmar has been in turmoil since the military ousted the elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi in February 2021, provoking mass protests and armed resistance. More than 3,200 civilians have been killed by the military since then, according to U.N. estimates. Since April 2021, Myanmars military rulers have ignored a blueprint for peace agreed to by Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, the Burmese junta chief, and leaders of ASEAN member-states at the emergency summit in Jakarta. Among its provisions, the five-point consensus, called for an end to violence, dialogue with all parties and humanitarian assistance. BenarNews is an RFA-affiliated news organization. The medical laboratory CSD LAB, in order to open partner laboratory offices, opens those in the frontline regions of Ukraine. The company told Interfax-Ukraine, in particular, CSD LAB, together with medical centers, is opening laboratories on their basis. 'Partner laboratory offices were opened in the frontline settlements of Sloviansk, Kramatorsk and Kostiantynivka (Donetsk region)," the company said. CSD LAB reported that in general, during the war period, the company opened more than 15 laboratory offices together with partners, including three in Ternopil, offices in Dnipro, Khmelnytsky, Drohobych, Kamyanets-Podilsky, Ivano-Frankivsk, Lutsk, Chernivtsi, Chornomorsk, Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, and Kostiantynivka. To date, the network has more than 70 laboratory offices and biomaterial collection points throughout Ukraine. CSD LAB is one of the leading laboratories in Ukraine, provides more than 1,500 tests from a complete blood count to the determination of genetic disorders in a tumor using the NGS method. For 12 years, it has been one of the largest pathomorphological laboratories in Eastern Europe. CSD LAB unites six laboratories: the laboratory of pathomorphology, cytomorphology, oncohematology, microbiology, a clinical diagnostic laboratory and a molecular genetic center. It conducts more than 1.5 million studies annually. The production facilities and modern high-tech equipment are located in Kyiv and Lviv on a total area of more than 5,000 square meters, as well as in Moldova and Georgia. The threat of new attacks has prevented villagers from collecting the dead and injured. In this April 11, 2023 image grab from a video, scattered debris is seen on the ground following Myanmar junta shelling and air strikes on Pa Zi Gyi village, Kanbalu township, Sagaing region. Efforts by workers to rescue the injured and collect the remains of mangled bodies at the scene of a junta air strike that killed at least 80 civilians in Myanmars northern Sagaing region have been hampered by troops in the area, sources said Wednesday. Tuesdays air strike, in which junta aircraft bombed a crowd of hundreds attending an office opening ceremony in Kanbalu townships Pa Zi Gyi village, is one of the deadliest attacks on civilians since Myanmar's military seized power in a February 2021 coup d'etat. Witnesses have said that it was hard to tell how many people had died in the attack because the bodies were so badly mangled by the bombs and machine gun fire. As of Wednesday afternoon, rescue workers said they had cremated 83 bodies, including 22 minors. Myanmars shadow National Unity Government said that at least 116 people had been killed, including 81 men, 16 women, and 19 minors. Amid the carnage, the military has deployed a surveillance helicopter and stationed troops on the outskirts of Pa Zi Gyi, impeding efforts to collect body parts and bring the wounded for medical treatment, residents said. A villager who declined to be named told RFA that his 10-year-old granddaughter and two 50-year-old relatives were among the victims, but said he had been unable to locate their bodies yet. More than 30 teenagers are still missing, he said, adding that he is sure they are dead. The villager said that the military had attacked the village multiple times on Tuesday. Thats why we could not collect all the bodies and were forced to leave them, he said. Another resident, who identified himself as Ko Myo, claimed that rescuers trying to collect bodies are the only people left in the 100-home village, which was otherwise abandoned by inhabitants he said were left in severe psychological shock by Tuesdays attack. There is no one [in the village] since we have had to shelter in safe places, he said. We have had to let our herds of goats, cattle and chickens run free. We have left our businesses and shops behind and fled [from the village]. The situation is very bad. Every family in the village is missing members, he said. Differing accounts The military confirmed in a statement on Tuesday evening that it had carried out a precision attack on Pa Zi Gyi because members of the anti-junta People Defense Force paramilitary group had gathered there and committed terrorist acts in the area. Junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun told the military-controlled broadcast channel MRTV that those killed in the strike were members of the PDF, not civilians, and that the large number of casualties was the result of a rebel weapons cache exploding during the operation. But a rescue worker who spoke to RFA on condition of anonymity, citing security concerns, said that was untrue. The attack on the site was deliberate and thorough, he said, beginning with a jet fighter bombing run and followed by an Mi-35 helicopter strafing the area. When we approached the scene to rescue the injured people and collect the bodies of victims in the afternoon, [the military] launched another attack, he said. So, we can say they attacked three times. In this April 11, 2023 image grab from a video, a destroyed building structure is seen following Myanmar junta shelling and air strikes on Pa Zi Gyi village, Kanbalu township, Sagaing region. Credit: Citizen journalist Three rescuers were killed during the third attack, the rescue worker said. There is little we can do and the situation has become extremely difficult, he added, describing the state of the villages residents as panic-stricken. An official from the Kanbalu township PDF also disputed Zaw Min Tuns description of the attack, telling RFA that whenever the junta forces attack civilians, they blame others. On the ground, we know best whether [the victims were] PDF members or not, he said. There were no PDF members among the victims. Seeking accountability High Court lawyer Kyi Myint said attacks like Tuesdays air strike constitute high treason in Myanmar and war crimes according to international law. This army is formed by public funds to protect the people, not to kill them, he said. Now, they have committed high treason because they are killing people using the funds provided to protect the people. According to international law, if a government kills its own people, the perpetrators shall be sent to the International Criminal Court to be prosecuted, he added. Tuesdays attack prompted condemnation from around the globe, including from U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, as well as several Western governments and human rights organizations. Vedant Patel, the principal deputy spokesperson for the U.S. State Department, said the strike and other violent attacks further underscore the regimes disregard for human life and its responsibility for the dire political and humanitarian crisis in Burma since the coup. In a statement, he said that the United States wants the junta to end violence, allow unhindered humanitarian access, and to respect the democratic aspirations of the people of Myanmar. Residents of Pa Zi Gyi village and democracy activists have called for an arms and aviation fuel embargo on the junta to end its use of air strikes in the conflict. Translated by Htin Aung Kyaw. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. The number of people killed in an air strike seen as one of the worst attacks on civilians by Myanmars junta since a military coup two years ago has risen to 165, the countrys shadow government said Thursday. The attack, in which jets bombed and helicopters strafed the opening ceremony for a public administration building in northern Myanmars Sagaing region on Tuesday, is the latest example of the militarys increasing reliance on air power in its multifront conflict with armed resistance groups, who have enjoyed growing success on the ground. Rescue worker Nway Oo told RFA Burmese that 130 bodies had been cremated as of Thursday morning. But he said workers are struggling to comb through unidentified remains amid the ongoing threat of a military attack. Hours after the air strike on Tuesday, junta troops again attacked the site, killing three rescue workers. The gender of some of the bodies cannot be determined, Nway Oo said. Some of their bodies were too disfigured to even identify whether they were male or female. The remains of only 59 people were identifiable, he said, while the rest of the bodies had to be picked up part by part and buried. Initial reports from the site in Kanbalu townships Pa Zi Gyi village said at least 83 bodies had been cremated, including those of 22 minors, although sources told RFA Burmese that rescue efforts and the collection of remains had been hampered by by a continued military presence in the area, as well as the scale of the devastation from the attack. Witnesses have said that it was hard to tell how many people had died because the bodies were so badly mangled by the bombs and machine gun fire. The countrys shadow National Unity Government made up of members of the former civilian government and other individuals who oppose the junta announced that the death toll at Pa Zi Gyi had risen to 165, including 27 women and 19 minors. In a statement, the NUG said efforts are still underway to identify victims and that the number of dead is likely to increase. While the statement did not include the exact number of people injured by the air strike, it said at least 17 people had been seriously wounded and underwent major surgery. Ongoing threat of attack Residents told RFA military jets have occasionally been seen flying over the village to survey the site, while a column of more than 80 troops has been stationed around two miles to the east. Ko Myo, a resident of Pa Zi Gyi, said rescue workers were frantically cremating remains amid the risky security situation. We have brought in some car tires [to build pyres], he said. Weve had to [cremate] urgently, as the militarys planes are still flying around. We have to collect as many bodies as possible and cremate them before we leave. The aftermath of the airstrike on Pa Zi Gyi village in Sagaing region's Kanbalu township, Myanmar, Tuesday, April 11, 2023. Credit: Kyunhla Activists Group via AP Meanwhile, Pa Zi Gyi has become a ghost town, as more than 800 residents of the 100-home village have fled since the attack and are too frightened to return while the threat of another raid looms, Ko Myo said. A resident who gave his name as Maung Oo told RFA he had lost six family members in the air strike, and said he will never forgive the junta for carrying out such a brutal act. My youngest brother, brother-in-law, grandfather, aunties, niece and nephews were among the dead, he said, calling those responsible for the attack animals. We must take up any available weapons and fight back. I will never stop fighting them even if I have to give up my life. Holding the junta accountable Naw Susanna Hla Hla Soe, the NUGs minister of women, youths and children affairs, said the shadow government is working to hold the junta accountable for Tuesdays attack and other atrocities visited on the people of Myanmar. Attacks targeting innocent civilians are very serious war crimes under both international and domestic laws, she said. That is why we are working to prosecute those who are responsible in both local and international criminal courts. The military confirmed in a statement on Tuesday evening that it had carried out a precision attack on Pa Zi Gyi because members of the anti-junta People Defense Force paramilitary group had gathered there and committed terrorist acts in the area. Junta Deputy Information Minister Major Gen. Zaw Min Tun told the military-controlled broadcast channel MRTV that those killed in the strike were members of the PDF, not civilians, and that the large number of casualties was the result of a rebel weapons cache exploding during the operation. But rescue workers have disputed that account. They say the attack on the site was deliberate and thorough, beginning with a jet fighter bombing run and followed by an Mi-35 helicopter strafing the area. Residents of Pa Zi Gyi whose family members were killed have called on the international community to take effective action against the junta and to block sales of jet fuel, weapons and ammunition to the regime. On Thursday, Indonesia, the 2023 chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, issued a statement on the blocs behalf two days after the United Nations and United States condemned the attack. Translated by Myo Min Aung. Edited by Joshua Lipes and Malcolm Foster. Video was likely boosted on social media by pro-China sources, the official says. Penpa Tsering, the leader or Sikyong of the Central Tibetan Administration, speaks during an interview in Washington, D.C., in February 2023. The leader of the Tibetan government-in-exile defended the Dalai Lama on Thursday, telling reporters that video footage of the Tibetan Buddhist leader kissing a boy and asking him to suck my tongue was likely promoted online by pro-Chinese sources. It needs no explanation as to who would gain from maligning the image, the reputation and the legacy of His Holiness, said Penpa Tsering, the head of the India-based Central Tibetan Administration. Considering the scale and extent of the orchestrated smear campaign, the political angle of this incident cannot be ignored. Video of a Feb. 28 public event near the Dalai Lamas residence in Dharamsala, India, has sparked online criticism over the last week. It prompted a statement of apology from him on Monday. RFA was unable to independently verify Tserings claims about pro-Chinese online activity. The clip shows the boy at first asking the 87-year-old for a hug during a ceremony in which the Dalai Lama blessed more than 120 students who had just completed a skills training course. He then points to his cheek and says to the boy first here. The boy kisses the cheek and gives him a hug. Then the Dalai Lama motions to his lips and says here also, and kisses the boy briefly on the lips. He then sticks out his tongue and says and suck my tongue. With laughter in the background, the video shows the boy sticking his tongue out before withdrawing it, and the Dalai Lama did the same. In Tibetan culture sticking out ones tongue is sometimes used as a traditional greeting, and can be seen as a sign of respect or agreement. The boy, Kiyan Kanodia, was interviewed by Radio Free Asia just after the event. Asked how he felt after meeting the Dalai Lama, he said he felt blessed with positive energy. I just cant express how good it feels. It was a really good experience meeting him, he said. You feel very positive energy and theres a lot of positive energy in you when you get blessed by him. Kanodias grandfather, Basant Bansal, made similar remarks to RFA. Bansal is the chairman of the M3M Group, a real estate company in India whose philanthropic arm sponsored the skills training course. Antics, pranks and joviality Tibetan officials have found that the initial instigators for making the video go viral on social media were pro-Chinese, Tsering told reporters at the Foreign Correspondents Club of South Asia in New Delhi. Tsering listed the many ways the Dalai Lama has been physically affectionate with people he meets including political leaders. Cuddling, holding someones nose, playing pranks and otherwise engaging in jovial interactions have all been all part of the Dalai Lamas public repertoire, Tsering said. That includes touching foreheads, which he did with the boy at the February event. Thats the highest honor, from a Buddhist perspective, he said. All of these are part of His Holiness antics. The remark about the tongue was meant to be for the amusement of others in the room, Tsering said. The personal integrity of His Holiness has never been in question in 87 years, so how can people pass judgment on one incident? he asked. We know how grandfatherly affection can be. But this went a little beyond. NGO wants an investigation Tsering pointed out that the boys mother was seated nearby during the event and didnt have any complaints. Neither did any of the students, he said. Still, the executive director of a Delhi-based child rights group, Haq: Center for Child Rights, said that no custom or traditional or religious practice that results in violation of childrens rights is acceptable. Bharti Ali told RFA in an email that she is worried about the boys safety, especially now that the video has received so much attention. The incident requires necessary investigation and action, she added. We cannot on the one hand teach safe and unsafe touch to children and on the other allow inappropriate actions to be passed off as playfulness, she said. Tsering asked that anyone who is disturbed by the circulated footage watch video of the entire event to understand the tone of the event. We are sure youll be able to differentiate between lust and love, he said. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Nguyen Lan Thang was sentenced to six years in jail for spreading anti-state propaganda. A court in Hanoi this week sentenced prominent political activist and long-time RFA contributing blogger Nguyen Lan Thang to six years in prison on charges of spreading 'anti-state propaganda.' The wife of a Vietnamese political activist and blogger convicted of spreading "anti-state propagand"a issued a letter on Thursday expressing disagreement with the verdict and thanking supporters and attorneys who defended her husband. The Hanoi Peoples Court sentenced Nguyen Lan Thang, a long-time contributor of blog posts on politics and society to Radio Free Asias Vietnamese service, to six years in prison and two years of probation. Authorities arrested him in July 2022 based on allegations that he posted videos on Facebook and YouTube that were said to oppose the Vietnamese Communist Party. He is one of four jailed Radio Free Asia contributors in Vietnam. Although we disagree (if not oppose) with the trial and the verdict, our hearts feel warm because humanity is still alive, wrote Thangs wife Le Thi Bich Vuong. Our family would like to thank everyone for their posts, shares, support, and encouraging smiles toward us, her letter said. Vuong went on to say that her family still believes that Thang is a patriot who has never done anything wrong with the country and his conscience. We believe in what is right and that true progress will eventually triumph, she wrote. Thangs conviction is the latest of a string of judgments against dissidents under Article 117 of Vietnams Penal Code, frequently used by authorities to restrict freedom of expression and opinions deemed critical of the regime. Gross miscarriage of justice Various human rights and other groups weighed in on the verdict, with the International Commission of Jurists calling it a gross miscarriage of justice which should be immediately quashed. The prosecution and conviction is not only a miscarriage of justice against an individual, but yet another attack on an already battered rule of law in Vietnam, Ian Seiderman, the organizations legal and policy director said in a statement. The ongoing and heightened crackdown has targeted civil society activists, lawyers, journalists, political commentators and human rights defenders for engaging in activities that are protected under human rights law, he said. London-based Amnesty International tweeted that Thangs trial had been riddled with flaws. The sentence is nothing more than an attempt to silence him and others bravely documenting human rights abuses in the country, the organization said. RFA President Bay Fang said the conviction was a miscarriage of justice and an assault on free expression in Vietnam and called on authorities to immediate release Thang and drop the charges against him. The outrageous harassment he has endured and his sentencing to six years in prison demonstrate the extent to which Vietnamese authorities will go to silence independent journalists and voices, she said in a statement on Wednesday. Squelching free speech Amanda Bennett, head of the United States Agency for Global Media, which comprises six organizations including RFA, said Thangs sentencing struck another blow against free speech and freedom of the press in Vietnam. For nearly a decade, Nguyen Lan Thang shared timely and prescient perspectives on freedom, democracy, and human rights with the Vietnamese audience of Radio Free Asia, she said in a statement issued Thursday. I join the chorus of international voices calling on the government of Vietnam to drop all charges and immediately release Nguyen Lan Thang. Thangs conviction came two days before U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was to visit Hanoi to mark the 10th anniversary of the U.S.-Vietnam Comprehensive Partnership. Phil Robertson, deputy Asia director of Human Right Watch said Blinken should take the opportunity to urge the Vietnamese government to end its systemic abuse of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly, and release the more than 160 political prisoners, including Thang, imprisoned for exercising their rights. The Vietnamese governments human rights record has deteriorated in recent years, with almost all prominent bloggers, citizen journalists, and rights activists arrested and imprisoned for expressing views the authorities did not agree with, Robertson said in a statement. Edited by Malcolm Foster. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva kicked off a state visit to China in the country's financial hub of Shanghai as he seeks to position himself as a peace broker in the ongoing war in Ukraine while attempting to elevate Brazil's global status and boost economic ties with Beijing. The left-wing Brazilian president arrived late on April 11 and will also meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on April 14 before departing China a day later. In Shanghai, Lula attended the official swearing-in of close adviser and former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff as head of the Chinese-backed New Development Bank. The Brazilian government said that they are expected to sign at least 20 bilateral agreements with the Chinese side during the trip, with Brazilian and Chinese officials saying the flurry of deals reflects the improved relations between the two countries, which experienced a turbulent period under Lula's far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. But a key piece of Lula's outreach is courting political backing for his proposal that Brazil and other developing countries, including China, form a "peace club" to broker a deal to end the war in Ukraine, a conflict that has been rumbling on since 2014 before intensifying in February 2022 after Russia's full-scale invasion. Beijing has also sought to play a role in ending the conflict. Both Lula and Brazilian Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira have said that peace talks will be a centerpiece of discussions with Xi, with Vieira saying earlier this week that "by the time Lula returns home, a group of mediator countries will have been created." Analysts, however, remain skeptical about the chances of Lula's peace proposal, which is unlikely to gain support from Kyiv and its backers given China's close ties with Russia and past comments from the Brazilian leader that Ukraine should cede Crimea -- which was forcibly annexed by Moscow in 2014 -- as a means to reach a deal. "Lula sees a critical juncture here and an opportunity to assert himself and revive Brazilian foreign policy in the process," Carlos Solar, a senior fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, a London-based defense and security think tank, told RFE/RL. "But for the 'peace club' idea to work, you need to be seen as a peace broker by both sides and Kyiv doesn't seem to view Brazil as impartial." Peace Diplomacy Lula's China trip -- which was originally scheduled for March but delayed after the 77-year-old caught pneumonia -- comes on the heels of an extensive round of diplomacy from both leaders. Xi made a high-profile visit to Moscow in late March where he strengthened political ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and touted Beijing's own blueprint for peace that it unveiled in February. The Chinese plan has been criticized in much of the West as vague and slanted in Russia's favor. The Chinese leader has also hosted a slew of visiting dignitaries recently, including an April 5 visit from French President Emmanuel Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, where the war in Ukraine and Beijing's support for Moscow featured prominently in discussions. Brazil, meanwhile, has sought to engage both Russia and Ukraine. "I am convinced that both Ukraine and Russia are waiting for someone else to say, 'Let's sit down and talk,'" Lula told journalists in Brasilia, the country's capital, prior to his China trip. 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. A week before his departure to China, Lula also dispatched a special envoy to Kyiv to present his peace idea. The Brazilian leader has suggested that one solution to the conflict could be the return of newly invaded territory, though not Crimea -- an option that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has rejected outright. Lula has not been overtly pro-Russian. He has condemned Moscow and recently Brazil voted in support of United Nations resolutions rejecting Russia's invasion and demanding that its troops leave Ukrainian territory. However, the Brazilian president has also seemed to place some of the blame for the war on NATO and Ukraine, refused to participate in economic sanctions against Russia, and criticized countries for sending arms to Ukraine instead of seeking peace. The Royal United Services Institute's Solar says that Lula has made foreign policy a priority early in his tenure, advocating for regional integration in South America and international cooperation on issues like combating climate change while repositioning Brazil as a nonaligned global power and leader within the Global South. China and Brazil are members of the BRICS group of developing countries and have pushed for changes in what they say is a U.S.-dominated system of managing global political affairs. Russia, along with India and South Africa, are also BRICS members. The grouping is set to convene for its annual summit in August and Lula -- who previously served as president of Brazil from 2003 to 2010 -- played a key role in championing the bloc in its early days. "Eventually there will be some sort of peace in Ukraine and while it's unlikely to be from a Chinese or Brazilian proposal, Lula is looking to position Brazil on that side and score some foreign policy points down the line," Solar said. A Foreign Policy Reset Beyond burnishing his credentials as a peace broker, Lula is looking to deepen trade and investment between Brazil and China following a period of strained ties and an economic crisis at home. China overtook the United States as Brazil's top trading partner in 2009 and is a leading market for Brazilian exports. In addition to the slew of deals expected to be signed -- ranging from trade to satellite construction -- Lula is also set to visit a research center of Huawei, a Chinese technology giant. A key theme of the visit voiced by Chinese analysts and officials is a return to normalcy in bilateral ties. Chinese state media have commonly referred to Lula as an "old friend" of China's and said that Brazil is a leading voice within the Global South that Beijing should try to amplify. "Especially in the context of escalating competition between major powers, Brazil should become a partner that China actively strives to win over in its diplomacy," Zhou Zhiwei, director of the Center for Brazilian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, co-wrote in a February report along with a team of other analysts. Earlier this year, China and Brazil also moved to reduce the dominance of the U.S. dollar by signing an agreement on setting up yuan clearing-house arrangements that would facilitate bilateral trade and investment. However, Brazil may be looking to avoid becoming overly reliant on China. While Lula's current trip is set to deepen ties, he is also focused on cementing Brazil as a regional power in Latin America, having made trips in January to Argentina and Uruguay. Lula also went to Washington in February where he met with U.S. President Joe Biden, a move that points to the balancing act present in Brazil's international affairs. "[Lula] needs this frenzy of deals in China and talks with Xi in part to show his public that he's still an influential guy around the world," Solar said. "But when you look more closely, you can see that he is putting his eggs in different baskets." 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. A Russian missile strike on a museum in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kupyansk killed at least one person and wounded 10 others, an attack that President Volodymyr Zelenskiy described as "barbaric," as heavy fighting for the control of Bakhmut intensified over the past day, the military reported. Live Briefing: Russia's Invasion Of Ukraine RFE/RL's Live Briefing gives you all of the latest developments on Russia's full-scale invasion, Kyiv's counteroffensives, Western military aid, global reaction, and the plight of civilians. For all of RFE/RL's coverage of the war, click here. Oleh Synehubov, the head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration, told RFE/RL that the April 25 strike on the Kupyansk city center involved S-300-type missiles, one of which hit the Museum of Local History. Synehubov said rescue work continues, with officials saying at least one more person may be under the rubble. "The terrorist country is doing everything to destroy us completely. Our history, our culture, our people. Killing Ukrainians with absolutely barbaric methods," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram, adding, "We must and will respond!" Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military said Russian forces unleashed more waves of assaults on Bakhmut over the past day, but neither side managed to make critical advances in the monthslong battle for the city in the eastern region of Donetsk. "Fierce battles are going on for the city of Bakhmut," the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said in its daily report on April 25, adding that Moscow's main push on the battlefield remained focused on the Bakhmut-Avdiyivka-Maryinka front line. Russian forces launched 62 air strikes and six missile strikes against Ukrainian military positions and civilian objectives, the General Staff said in its report. IN PHOTOS: As heavy fighting for control of the shattered city of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine continues unabated, one Ukrainian unit explains how it is struggling to hold off Moscow's forces. Ukrainian defenders also repelled 43 Russian attacks on Bakhmut and Maryinka, the report said. Ukrainian Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Malyar, meanwhile, described the ongoing fighting in Bakhmut as a "continuous dynamic process." Malyar said on Telegram on April 25: "We can lose positions in battle today, and regain them the next day; that is why the military prefers to talk about the result after the operation is over." Malyar's comments came a day after Ukrainian commanders denied a Russian claim that mercenaries from the Wagner Group almost completely controlled the city. In Washington, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby warned that Russian forces can step up their offensive actions once the weather begins to get warmer. "We know that in the spring, when the weather improves -- and it is already starting to improve -- we can expect that the Russians will want to go on the offensive in some areas. We don't know exactly where and how they will do it, but we want to be sure that Ukrainians are able to defend themselves better against it," Kirby told Voice of America on April 24. At the same time, Kirby added, if Ukrainian forces decide to conduct their own counteroffensive operations, they must have the appropriate capabilities. Military experts have reported -- and Ukrainian leaders have hinted -- that a major spring counteroffensive by Ukraine is in the works. Russian state news agency RIA said on April 25 that Moscow has begun using its new T-14 Armata battle tanks in the war, firing on Ukrainian positions but not yet participating in a "direct assault." The tank has an unmanned turret that a crew controls remotely from "an isolated armored capsule located in the front of the hull," the report said. But, according to British military intelligence, Russian forces have complained about the poor condition of the first of the tanks to arrive. "Eleven years in development, the program has been dogged with delays, reduction in planned fleet size, and reports of manufacturing problems," the British intelligence report said. Off the battlefield, the International Working Group on Russian Sanctions, a pro-Ukraine group of scholars, called on Western nations to impose stricter sanctions on Moscow. The scholars called for a reduction on the price cap on Russian oil to $30 a barrel from $60; a total embargo on Russian steel, iron, and diamonds; and an easing of regulations to seize Russian assets abroad. The group consists of some 40 scholars -- including Michael McFaul of Stanford University and a former U.S. ambassador to Russia. With reporting by AP and Reuters Court in The Hague orders Russia to pay $5 bln in compensation for Naftogaz's losses in Crimea The arbitral tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague ordered the Russian Federation to pay NJSC Naftogaz Ukrainy $5 billion for damages caused by the seizure of the assets of Naftogaz Group in the Autonomous Republic of Crimea in 2014, Naftogaz Head Oleksiy Chernyshov has said. "$5 billion! It is the amount that Russia was ordered to pay in favor of Naftogaz by the arbitral tribunal at the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague," he wrote on his Facebook on Thursday. According to him, it is compensation for losses and lost property of Naftogaz in Crimea, starting from 2014. "It concerns the recovery of assets aimed at developing gas fields and developing other strategically important infrastructure, which became one of the main targets of the aggressor during the occupation of the Ukrainian peninsula nine years ago," Chernyshov said. The company said in a press release on its website with reference to its head that now Russia must comply with this decision in accordance with its obligations under international law. The arbitral tribunal made the decision on April 12, 2023. A court in the city of Kazan has sentenced a man to life in prison for an attack on a school in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan in May 2021 that left nine people -- including seven students -- dead and prompted a tightening of the country's gun laws. The court on April 13 sentenced Ilnaz Galyaviyev to life imprisonment for the shooting at high school No. 175 in Kazan. Galyaviyev, who was 19 at the time of the attack, set off an explosion in the school before opening fire on students as they scurried to flee the building, some jumping from third-floor windows to escape the carnage. Galyaviyev pleaded guilty to the charge of murder of two or more persons by methods dangerous to the public. A motive for the shooting was not disclosed. Galyaviyev was found to be mentally ill after a psychiatric evaluation, though he had previously not been diagnosed with any disorder. The shooting was the deadliest school attack in post-Soviet Russia aside from the infamous 2004 Beslan siege, which left hundreds dead, and stunned the country. Less than two months after the attack, President Vladimir Putin signed into law a bill tightening gun controls. The law raised the minimum age for buying hunting rifles and long-barreled guns from 18 to 21. It also put in place additional restrictions on owning weapons. Previously, people convicted of serious crimes were barred from owning a gun. The new law says that anyone convicted or under investigation for the consumption of drugs can be denied a gun license. Russians with two or more expired criminal records also can no longer receive a weapons license. Galyaviyev used an officially registered weapon in the attack. Shootings at schools and other educational institutions in Russia and other former Soviet republics were rare until recent years, when the numbers of incidents began to rise. In April 2022, in Veshkaima, an armed man entered a kindergarten and killed two children and a teacher before shooting himself, while in September 2021, a mass shooting took place at the Perm State National Research University, which resulted in the death of six people. The Russian forces who occupied Ukraines southern city of Kherson from March until November 2022 ran a torture center and other similar facilities at which they unlawfully detained and tortured Ukrainian civilians, Human Rights Watch asserted in a report issued on April 13. The New York-based rights monitor said the purported torture center was located on Teploenerhetykiv Street, while other detention centers were allegedly located in a municipal building, a local school, and an airport hangar. According to victims interviewed by HRW, the occupation forces beat prisoners, subjected them to electric shocks and painful stress positions, and threatened them with death or mutilation. Those responsible for these horrific acts should not go unpunished, said HRW senior Ukraine researcher Yulia Gorbunova. And the victims and their families need to receive redress for their suffering and information about those still missing. Moscow did not immediately respond to the report, but has stated in the past that its forces in Ukraine have not committed war crimes or targeted civilians, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary. WATCH: Kherson residents say that Russian forces used a pretrial detention center to interrogate and torture locals. Some say they heard screams coming from the building. Current Time correspondent Borys Sachalko visited Kherson and spoke with people about what life was like under Russian occupation. HRW interviewed 34 locals about the alleged abuse of civilians in a follow-up to a similar report issued in July 2022. Interviewees said the civilians were abducted on suspicion of providing or expressing support for the Ukrainian military or government or for fighting against Russia-backed separatists in parts of eastern Ukraine. One woman reported being held hostage until her fugitive husband surrendered himself. Russian forces also allegedly took at least three detained civilians with them when they withdrew from the area in the face of a November 2022 Ukrainian counteroffensive. The treatment of all Ukrainian citizens in occupied areas is increasingly alarming, Gorbunova said. WATCH: Serhiy Mak says he spent 25 days locked in the cellar of an office building in Kherson, southern Ukraine, where he was tortured by a Russian man nicknamed "The Specialist." Mak spoke to RFE/RL after Ukrainian forces liberated the city from Russian occupation. HRW said many of the alleged acts amount to war crimes. The report notes that all parties to the armed conflict in Ukraine are obligated to abide by international humanitarian law, including the Geneva Conventions. On April 4, the UN Human Rights Council overwhelmingly voted in favor of extending and expanding the mandate of an investigative body probing possible war crimes in Ukraine. A new bridge has been opened on Abu Dhabi Al Ain Road (E22) connecting the Bani Yas East and West areas of the UAE capital, according to Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT). The project included the construction of the upper intersection linking east and west Bani Yas, associated roads, the transformation of the current East Bani Yas roundabout into a light signal intersection, and the construction of pedestrian ramps. In addition, the project involved demolishing existing pedestrian tunnels, transporting and protecting water and communication lines, irrigation lines, and the sewage line, as well as street lighting and the electricity distribution network, said DMT in its statement. The new bridge will significantly improve traffic flow to and from Bani Yas and other nearby areas. The travel time between East and West Baniyas has been reduced from 11 minutes to just 3 minutes, benefiting the local residents, it stated. The interchange has the capacity to accommodate around 1,400 vehicles per hour travelling from E22 Abu Dhabi / Al Ain and 1100 vehicles per hour traveling from East or West Baniyas, it added. The bridge was inaugurated by DMT Chairman Mohammed Ali Al Shorafa at a key ceremony attended by Dr. Salem Khalfan Al Kaabi, Director-General of Operational Affairs at DMT, Saif Badr Al Qubaisi, Director-General of Abu Dhabi City Municipality, and Abdulla Al Marzouqi, Director-General of the Integrated Transport Centre, and other high-ranking officials. Lauding the project, Al Kaabi said the new bridge was a significant milestone for the capital city, showcasing its commitment to modernity and progress. It has been designed to improve traffic flow from East and West Bani Yas and nearby areas while adhering to the highest traffic safety standards. Its innovative design and state-of-the-art features demonstrate Abu Dhabi's commitment to sustainable services and meeting society's expectations, boosting economic growth in the process, he noted. According to Al Qubaisi, the bridge is a crucial part of Abu Dhabi City Municipality's strategic plans to enhance infrastructure systems and accommodate an expected increase in population and road users. The new bridge, he stated, underscores the municipality's dedication to continuously improving and developing critical infrastructure components on Abu Dhabi Island and the mainland. The interchange boasts CCTV system, traffic lights, pedestrian signs, fibre optic cables, and connectivity to the Abu Dhabi Traffic Management Centre, along with the implementation of natural beautification, sanitation, and speed camera transmissions, he added. Veterans Ministry, URCS to monitor quality of provision of services for payment of monetary assistance to veterans with disabilities The Ministry of Veterans Affairs, together with the Ukrainian Red Cross Society (URCS), is starting an interim monitoring of the quality of the provision of services for the payment of monetary assistance to male and female veterans who have received a disability of group I or II as a result of the war. "Monitoring will be carried out by telephone interviewing applicants who have submitted applications through the E-veteran portal to receive funds from the URCS during the first and second stages of the joint project, and the first payments in the amount of UAH 4,000 have already been received," the press service of the ministry said. It is noted that during this time the Ministry of Veterans received 25,000 applications. According to the report, general questions will be asked during the survey to improve the quality of the service. MP SARAH Champion has called the governments new immigration bill disturbing, cruel and lacking in common sense. The Rotherham MP made the comments in light of the Illegal Migration Bill during a parliamentary debate on human trafficking and modern slavery. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has pledged to crackdown on illegal migration by stopping small boats from crossing the English Channel as one of his partys top priorities with the bill proposing to make provisions for people trying to enter the UK unlawfully. The Home Office has said it hopes to remove the incentive for people to risk their lives and to pull the rug from under the criminal gangs profiting from this misery once and for all with the bill, which is at the reporting stage. However, Ms Champion said victims of modern slavery and trafficking would be placed at a disadvantage because the rights they held under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 would be reversed. We are talking about a dirty and disgusting business-and it is a business, she said. I cannot imagine how terrifying it must be to be trafficked to this country against ones will, as well as, in many cases, being a victim of sexual exploitation or modern slavery. The government now wants to refuse vulnerable people vital protections that we put into law less than eight years ago. The Illegal Migration Bill would disqualify victims of trafficking and modern slavery from protections under the national referral mechanism and deny crucial support to those who arrived in the UK through irregular means, allowing them to be removed entirely from this country. That includes child victims of trafficking whose family members meet those conditions. If the government really wants to stop the boats, they must first protect victims and survivors of trafficking, slavery and sexual exploitation, to end the traffickers business model. Instead, this bill will punish only the victims. Priti Patel, the ex-home secretary under Boris Johnsons premiership, said trafficking and modern-day slavery were both national and domestic issues. Our priority must always be the victims, she added. My remarks will focus on dismantling human trafficking criminal networks, tackling modern-day slavery and supporting victims. Many colleagues will know some of the work we have collectively done and what we have achieved in the past. Taking action on human trafficking and modern-day slavery requires continued focus, both at home, which is incredibly important, and abroad. As has been noted in the debate, there is ongoing legislation in this house, and future legislation coming. This is both a domestic and an international issue. We must work comprehensively and thoroughly to bring offenders to justice, and our laws are too weak on this-they really are. We must work together to ensure that the victims of human trafficking and modern-day slavery are given support in the criminal justice system, and that the laws are strengthened to ensure the prosecutions take place. AN ARTIST in his eighties whose work has already received the royal seal of approval has been recognised with an award for his dedication to a local dementia charity. Dinnington artist Nick Summerbell donated designs from his collection of artworks for use as Christmas cards last year for Maltby-based music and dementia charity Lost Chord UK, where he has volunteered for more than a decade with one even being sent to the new King Charles. In recognition of his generous gesture, and more than ten years of support, Nick (88) was named Lost Chord UKs volunteer of the year, receiving his special prize from the Mayor of Rotherham, Cllr Tajamal Khan. Chief executive Clare Langan said: Nick is now experiencing memory loss but he is still finding ways to support the charity that he loves so very much and has devoted so many hours to over the years. Nick chose four paintings from his extensive collection for us to use as Christmas cards and I was grateful, too, that he allowed me to share his story as we both believe it shows that a memory loss diagnosis doesnt stop you from volunteering or from making a real impact in peoples lives. One lovely extra detail is that we sent one of the cards to King Charles and actually received a reply from the palace thanking us for our thoughtfulness. All profits from the sale of the cards went towards funding Lost Chords interactive music sessions at care homes and day centres across the region. In addition to volunteering at the charitys community session at St Leonards Church in Dinnington, Nick said he was also very excited about creating a new selection of cards for Christmas 2023, in addition to a range of Lost Chord UK notelets. Australia will on Thursday release March figures for unemployment, highlighting a modest day for Asia-Pacific economic activity. The jobless rate is expected to tick up to 3.6 percent from 3.5 percent in February, while the participation rate is seen steady at 66.6 percent. The Australian is expected to add 20,000 jobs after gaining 24,600 jobs in the previous month. China will provide March numbers for imports, exports and trade balance. Imports are expected to sink 5.0 percent on year after slumping 10.2 percent in February, Exports are called lower by an annual 7.0 percent after slipping 6.8 percent in the previous month. The trade surplus is pegged at $39.20 billion, down from 116.88 billion a month earlier. Finally, the in Thailand are closed on Thursday and Friday for the Songkran Festival; they re-open on Monday. 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. Thousands of audiovisual carts with "serious tip-over hazard" have been recalled after 3 children were killed by falling television. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Waukegan, Illinois-based Luxor Workspaces LLC have announced the recall of about 84,700 plastic and metal audiovisual carts due to a serious tip-over hazard to children. In addition, around 1,650 audiovisual carts were sold in Canada. According to the statement, three children have died, and one child was seriously injured in incidents where recalled A/V carts carrying a "box" shaped television tipped over and landed on them. The incidents occurred between 2006 and 2016. The recall involves three cart base models: WT42 "Tuffy" plastic cart; W42/AVJ42/SS-AVJ42 metal cart; and LP-DUO/TPDUOEQ plastic cart. The company has asked customers to stop using the recalled carts immediately and contact Luxor for a free repair. Luxor will provide metal ballast kits, which should be installed by the consumer to the lower shelf of the cart to add stability and weight. New warning labels cautioning consumers to place no more than 25 lbs. on each shelf will also be provided. Consumers should attach these warning labels on each shelf. The carts subject to this recall have been sold since at least the early 1980s through various websites including Amazon, 123Stores, Grainger, and others for between $125 and $250. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Canadian market ended on a firm note on Thursday, led by gains in materials and sectors. Some key stocks from financials and energy sectors too posted strong gains. The mood remained positive after another batch of weak U.S. data helped raise hopes the Federal Reserve will soon end its tightening cycle. The benchmark S&P/TSX Composite Index, which stayed positive right through the day's session, ended with a gain of 110.17 points or 0.54% at 20,564.49, a new one-month closing high. Hut 8 Mining Corp (HUT.TO) soared 12.7% on huge volumes. Hudbay Minerals (HBM.TO), Kinross Gold Corporation (K.TO) and Canadian Natural Resources (CNQ.TO) gained 2 to 2.5% on strong volumes. B2Gold Corp (BTO.TO) gained a little over 1%. Barrick Gold Corporation (ABX.TO) climbed 1.4%. Barrick Gold Corp. reported preliminary first-quarter sales of 0.95 million ounces of gold and 89 million pounds of copper. Preliminary first quarter production was 0.95 million ounces of gold and 88 million pounds of copper, the comany said, and added that it remains on track to achieve full year gold and copper guidance. First Quantum Minerals (FM.TO) rallied 6.1%. Bombardier Inc (BBD.B.TO) also gained more than 6%. Atco Inc (ACO.Y.TO) climbed 4.5%. Molson Coors Canada Inc (TPX.B.TO) surged 3.6%, Brookfield Infrastructure Corporation (BIPC.TO) gained 3.4% and BRP Inc (DOO.TO) ended higher by about 1.7%. George Weston (WN.TO), Cogeco Communications (CCA.TO), Cenovus Energy (CVE.TO) and Suncor Energy (SU.TO) ended weak. Data from the Labor Department showed that the producer price index fell by 0.5% in March following a revised unchanged reading in February. Economists had expected producer prices to come in unchanged compared to the 0.1% dip originally reported for the previous month. The report also showed the annual rate of producer price growth slowed dramatically to 2.7 in March from 4.9% in February. Economists had expected the pace of growth to slow to 3%. Separate data showed that first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits rose more than expected in the week ended April 8, climbing to 239,000, an increase of 11,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 228,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to rise to 232,000. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com In the area of Bakhmut, the enemy lost almost 4,500 Wagner fighters and regular army soldiers killed and wounded in two weeks, every day he carries out from 40 to 50 assault attempts, said Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov. "To date, Bakhmut direction remains the most difficult, where the enemy continues offensive actions in the central part of the town of Bakhmut, as well as in the direction of Bohdanivka and Ivankivske settlements in order to surround the city from the north and south. In order to strengthen the offensive potential, a part of the enemy's forces and means has been moved to Bakhmut area from Avdiyivka direction. Every day in the area of Bakhmut, he carries out from 40 to 50 attempts of offensive assault actions, more than 500 attacks using the full range of available weapons," he said at a briefing on Thursday. As emphasized in the General Staff, the military-political leadership of the Russian Federation does not pay attention to significant losses. Hromov noted that "over the past two weeks in Bakhmut area, the enemy has lost almost 4,500 Wagner fighters and soldiers of the regular army of the Russian Federation killed and wounded. In addition, in some units of the Russian Army, the mobilized military massively refuse to participate in hostilities, the "refuseniks" are brutally dealt with. Lamborghini Urus S gets a 4.0L twin turbo V8 engine, mated to an 8-speed transmission and a sophisticated AWD system The Italian brand recently launched the performance-oriented Urus Performante in India for Rs. 4.22 cr (ex-sh). Lamborghini has now launched Urus S, which is pegged as standard Urus replacement. Lamborghini Urus S is priced Rs 4.18 cr (ex-sh). It is positioned below the high-performance Performante variant. Lamborghini Urus S Among Fastest Super SUVs Powertrain figures for Urus S are similar to that of recently launched Performante. Were talking about a 4.0L twin-turbo V8 developing 666 bhp of power and 850 Nm of torque. An 8-speed AT and AWD allow this Super SUV to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds, 0-200 in 12.5s, and hit 305 km/h top speed if let off the leash. Lamborghini Urus S mileage is at 7.09 kmpl. It comes with a 85 liter fuel tank. Lamborghini Urus offers supercar performance in an SUV body style. Individuals looking for a comfortable high-performance SUV are likely to gravitate towards Urus S, from Performante. The latter gets stiffer and lower coil springs. These lend sporty dynamics. Urus S retains standard Urus air suspension, making it comfier than Performante. Air suspension on Urus S enables variable ride height and a pillowy ride. Adaptive ride height gives Urus S multiple off-road modes TERRA, NEVE and SABBIA. Performante only had one off-road mode. Urus S gets a new drive mode EGO. This is in addition to STRADA, SPORT and CORSA. Lamborghini Urus S aims to be a more versatile offering by tackling most terrain types along with luxurious everyday driveability. Customisation Fiesta Sophisticated Design Enhancements Lamborghini Urus S gets a lot more colour, trim, wheel, special details and style packages than Performante. This way, it comes off as a more personified and bespoke (relatively). Urus S gets Bi-color Sportivo and Bi-colour Sophisticated packages. These packages allow users to specify their Lamborghini Urus S to their liking. A new bumper, stainless steel skid plate, black lines on front grille, carbon fiber painted bonnet with matte black air vents and carbon fiber roof (optional) are notable elements. Twin-pipe exhaust, standard 21 and optional 22 and 23 gives Urus S necessary aggression. Lamborghini Urus S gets a ton of connected car features too. Services like Remote Park via Lamborghini Unica app and virtual car key and smartwatch controls are other notable features. Stephan Winkelmann, Chairman and CEO of Automobili Lamborghini, said The Urus has proven its appeal for those seeking the decisive combination of the sportiest SUV and a Lamborghini to drive every day: the Urus S sits perfectly alongside the new Urus Performante, for those choosing the purest sublimation of performance, luxury and versatility. The Urus commercial success, with more than 20,000 vehicles produced, is testament to its credentials as the first and enduring Super SUV: the Urus S elevates that reputation. The Kremlins campaign of Russification in Ukraine is burning back into Russia itself as it continues to empower and amplify overtly nationalist voices and ideologies, the Institute for the Study of the War (ISW) has reported. The Kremlins campaign of Russification in Ukraine is burning back into Russia itself as it continues to empower and amplify overtly nationalist voices and ideologies, it is noted in the ISW report for April 12. According to the analysts, the war in Ukraine has empowered the most virulent voices in the information space to consolidate their ideology and project it both towards the Ukrainian people and towards non-Slavic minorities in Russia itself. This dynamic will likely escalate as the war continues and will outlive Russias invasion of Ukraine, pervading the Russian domestic space for years to come. Russia is waging a campaign of deliberate "Russification" of Ukraine, aimed at destroying Ukrainian identity through a variety of military, social, economic, legal, bureaucratic and administrative measures. The ideologies that underpin the basis of this Russification also form the rhetorical backbone of the pro-war information space, which frequently mirrors its militarism with staunch Russian nationalism and intense xenophobia that is directed both at Ukraine and Ukrainian identity as well as at domestic minorities within Russia itself, the institute stressed. It is noteworthy that simultaneously with the pressure on the non-Russian population inside the country, the Russian authorities are militarily relying more and more on this part of Russian society. These domestic-facing ramifications of Russification ironically continue to place the onus of the war effort on the communities that it marginalizes, the ISW said. In this context, ISW cites an example when representatives of the authorities called on the military to specifically recruit migrants from Central Asia and the Caucasus who have received Russian citizenship, since these migrants have a constitutional duty to protect the country that accepted them. Specialists of the Institute also pay attention to the tendency of glorification of the brutality of war. The Russian nationalist community continues to glorify atrocities and advocate for the expansion of brutality. Russian milbloggers responded to widely circulated footage of a Russian soldier beheading a Ukrainian prisoner of war, the analysts say. According to the institute, the Telegram channel associated with the Wagner PMC tried to justify the beheading, saying that both sides were committing cruel acts, and stated that this beheading would not be the last violent execution during the war. Russian forces continued use of such violent tactics and its support in the Russian information space undermines professionalism and discipline in the Russian military, the ISW summed up. The Council of the European Union adopted an assistance measure worth EUR 1 billion under the European Peace Facility (EPF) to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the Council's press service has said. "This measure will allow the EU to reimburse member states for ammunition donated to Ukraine from existing stocks or from reprioritisation of existing orders during the period 9 February to 31 May 2023," according to the press release. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell said this decision implements the first part of the Council agreement of March 20, 2023 on a three-track approach intended to speed up the delivery and joint procurement of artillery ammunition. "There is no better demonstration of the EU's united resolve and determination to continue supporting Ukraine's legitimate right of self-defence against the brutal Russian aggressor," he said. Together with the previous seven tranches of support, the assistance measure adopted brings the total EU contribution for Ukraine under the EPF to EUR 4.6 billion, and once more proves that the EU remains steadfast in its support for the Ukrainian military in defending the country against the illegal Russian aggression, according to the press release. April 13, the anniversary of the destruction of the Russian cruiser Moskva, will be celebrated as the Day of the military-industrial complex, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a meeting with workers of military-industrial complex on Thursday. "The fact that Ukraine survived, that Ukraine can fight and liberate its land, that Ukraine is confident in its future, is largely based on our confidence in the skills and talents, intelligence and strategic thinking of all those who effectively work in the Ukrainian military-industrial complex and is able to develop it," he said. He called April 13, 2022, an outstanding day when "a Ukrainian rocket helped restore order in the Ukrainian Black Sea." "Due to our Neptune, the enemy flagship went exactly where it belongs, like all other Russian warships. That is why April 13 today will be celebrated annually as a professional day for all workers and workers of the military-industrial complex of Ukraine," the president said. He said this was the first use of our missile in combat conditions. According to him, Ukraine continues to develop new technologies, including drones and sea drones. "We will only increase our efforts," Zelenskyy said. Germany allows Poland to supply Ukraine with old fighter jets The German government has given Poland permission to supply Soviet-made fighter jets to Kyiv, the Spiegel said on Thursday. "The German government has approved Poland's request to export MiG-29 fighters from former GDR stocks to Ukraine," the government said. According to the publication, in March Poland announced the delivery of Soviet-made MiG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine to support the country in the fight against the Russian attacks. However, initially it was not about the supply of aircraft from the stocks of the former GDR. As reported, Poland applied to Germany for approval for the transfer of MiG-29 aircraft on Thursday afternoon. The corresponding letter has been received in Berlin. The Fossil Lake deposits of the Green River Formation of Wyoming in the United States have produced nearly 30 bat fossils over the last 50 years. However, diversity has thus far been limited to only two bat species. Now, paleontologists have described a new species of the bat genus Icaronycteris based on two skeletons discovered in the American Fossil Quarry northwest of Kemmerer, Wyoming. With over 1,400 living species, bats are the second most speciose group of mammals. They are found all over the world with the exception of polar regions and a few remote islands, and are ecologically highly diverse, occupying a wide variety of habitats and ecological niches. Bats play a vital role in healthy natural ecosystems and additionally provide many ecosystem services important for human economies (e.g. pest control, pollination, seed dispersal). They are also the only mammals capable of true powered flight, an adaptation that evolved early in the history of the bat lineage. The earliest confirmed records of bats are from early Eocene deposits. Eocene bats have been known from the Green River Formation since the 1960s, said Dr. Nancy Simmons, a paleontologist at the American Museum of Natural History. But interestingly, most specimens that have come out of that formation were identified as representing a single species, Icaronycteris index, up until about 20 years ago, when a second bat species belonging to another genus was discovered. I always suspected that there must be even more species there. The newly-identified species, Icaronycteris gunnelli, lived in North America approximately 52 million years ago. The animal weighed 22-29 grams, similar to the body mass estimates for Icaronycteris index. Paleontologists have collected so many bats that have been identified as Icaronycteris index, and we wondered if there were actually multiple species among these specimens, said Tim Rietbergen, an evolutionary biologist at Naturalis. Then we learned about a new skeleton that diverted our attention. Two fossilized skeletons of Icaronycteris gunnelli were found in 1994 and 2017 in the American Fossil Quarry of the Green River Formation in Lincoln County, Wyoming. The relative stratigraphic position of these fossils indicates that they are the oldest bat skeletons recovered to date anywhere in the world, the paleontologists said. Icaronycteris gunnelli is the smallest known bat from the Green River Formation and is distinguished from other Eocene bats by a combination of traits. Our phylogenetic analysis of Eocene fossil bats and living species places the new species within the family Icaronycteridae as sister to Icaronycteris index, and additionally indicates that the two Green River archaic bat families (Icaronycteridae and Onychonycteridae) form a clade distinct from known Old World lineages of archaic bats, the authors said. Our analyses found no evidence that Icaronycteris menui from France nor Icaronycteris sigei from India belong to this group; accordingly, we therefore remove them from Icaronycteridae. Taken in sum, our results indicate that Green River bats represent a separate radiation of archaic bats, and provide additional support for the hypothesis of a rapid radiation of bats on multiple continents during the early Eocene. A paper about the discovery was published online in the journal PLoS ONE. _____ T.B. Rietbergen et al. 2023 .The oldest known bat skeletons and their implications for Eocene chiropteran diversification. PLoS ONE 18 (4): e0283505; doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0283505 It's been said that a rug can really tie a room together. In a similar fashion, Manoochehr Shirzaei and his research team are hoping that weaving together millions of data points into terrain-covering, digital maps can help connect the realities of sinking landscapes to the overall impact of climate change. "It's like a carpet over the desert," Shirzaei, associate professor of radar remote sensing engineering and environmental security, said of a recent projection of land in Arizona. "You can clearly see that area is just massively sinking into the ground. And we've created these maps for dozens of major cities in the United States and monitor another 50 airports globally." Using publicly available satellite imagery, Shirzaei and the 15 student and postdoctoral researchers at Virginia Tech's Earth Observation and Innovation Lab measure millions of occurrences of sinking land, known as land subsidence, spanning multiple years. They then create some of the world's first high-resolution depictions of the land subsidence, which when combined with other observations, such as sea-level rise, provide more clear projection of the potential impact of floods and natural disasters during the next 100 years. Most recently, the lab's mapping served as the foundation for graduate student Leonard Ohenhen's findings published in Nature Communications, a British science journal. Using satellite-obtained data from 2007-21, Ohenhen mapped the entire East Coast to demonstrate how the inclusion of land subsidence reveals many areas to be more vulnerable to floods and erosion than previously thought. "We saw places like New York City and Charleston [South Carolina] are sinking up to as much as two millimeters per year," said Ohenhen, one of the lab's graduate students. "It really shows the hidden vulnerability of the Atlantic East Coast to sea-level rise." The unique, high-resolution maps crafted in the Earth Observation and Innovation Lab also have drawn the attention of multiple government agencies. This has led to the investment of millions of external dollars in an effort fill a critical gap of information and help people better plan at the local, state, federal, and global level. "One of the big uncertainties we have is how the land is moving up or down through time, so we've turned to Manoo," said Patrick Barnard, a research geologist with the United States Geologic Service (USGS). "This information is needed, no one else is providing it, and Manoo's stepped into that niche with his technical expertise and is providing something extremely valuable." Land movement can be the result of natural processes, such as tectonics, glacial isostatic adjustment, sediment loading, and soil compaction, but can also result from human behaviors, such as extracting groundwater and gas and oil production. Barnard said the vertical land motion rates provided have helped the USGS produce better models and give better guidance to other agencies in terms of managing and mitigating the risk of flooding. This impacts everything from real estate values and building plans to hurricane evacuation routes and the location of future levees. The Earth Observation and Innovation Lab played a key role in recent USGS projections of future hazards on the Atlantic coast. The project consists of several data sets that map future coastal flooding and erosion hazards due to sea level rise and storms for Florida, Georgia, and Virginia with a range of plausible scenarios through 2100. "Having this collaboration helps us refine the risk to lives and dollars communities face from sea level rise and storms," Barnard said. "This is a really valuable data set they provide." Bringing such realities into focus for the average person is at the heart of Shirzaei's efforts and the work of the lab. "We're creating access to actionable data that will help people become resilient when it comes to national and environmental security," Shirzaei said. "The data we're providing, we're making it more than just open access, we're making it usable by everybody. You don't have to have a Ph.D. to use it. That's our niche here." Shirzaei joined the College of Science in fall 2020, alongside his spouse, Susanna Werth, assistant professor of hydrology and remote sensing. Shirzaei's Earth Observation and Innovation Lab and Werth's Hydrologic Innovation and Remote Sensing Lab work in tandem, utilizing the same space, much of the same technology, and even sharing student researchers. Having previously worked together in Arizona, the pair was drawn across the country by the community feel they found in the New River Valley. "Virginia Tech is a great school, but what we really like is the environment Blacksburg provides for our family," Shirzaei said. Both students of geodesy -- the science of modeling the geometry, gravity, and spatial orientation of the Earth -- Werth said their work with remote sensing methods from satellites taps into interests that she'd long had. "I was always very fascinated with observing stuff from space, how without touching the ground, you can see somethings there so much better," Werth said. "And I was also very fascinated by water, so observing the water cycle with space observation methods is ideal." Shirzaei said he was first turned on to the idea of using satellite data to observe the Earth, rather than going out to physical locations, during a geophysics and remote sensning conference about 20 years ago. "I saw everyone like me dirty coming in from field work except for a bunch of Italian guys in ties and suits," he said. "Their hands were clean. They smelled like perfume. And I said, I want to be these guys." The group presented a paper on using Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, commonly called InSAR, obtained from satellites. InSAR makes high-density measurements over large areas by using radar to measure changes in land-surface altitude at high degrees of measurement resolution and spatial detail. Shirzaei jumped at the opportunity to learn this new research method, but faced initial hurdles due to his Iranian citizenship. "Now I'm an American, but at the time, if I wanted to access the data, just me emailing one of them would have been a violation," Shirzaei said. "So I had to build everything myself and I began writing code from scratch. It took a little bit longer, but I think it was good for me." The tools Shirzaei developed provided the foundation for the Earth Observation and Innovation Lab, which he said is constantly evolving based on the most relevant problems that need to be solved. "This data has been around for years. What's made the data revolutionary is the way we process them," Shirzaei said. "To get these kinds of maps, you need a technology that is rare. And then, all we do is look for a good niche application to add value to it and communicate that to people." The lab's current projects include: A $3.3 million Department of Defense project to predict flooding at U.S. Army bases across the globe. A $1.75 million Department of Energy project to study the impact of fluid injection on land elevation change and earthquake hazards. A $1.5 million National Science Foundation project to study the impact of ecosystem-based solutions on protecting coastal communities. "We are funded by tax dollars, so we really want to make sure our work is relevant for tax payers," Shirzaei said. "For that reason, I've completely changed my lab's direction serval times over the past eight or nine years. Because the mission is important, it's worth the risk." The lab's mission has drawn the interest of a diverse population of student researchers. Students like Sonam Sherpa, a graduate student who followed Shirzaei from Arizona, and Mohammad Khorrami, a graduate student who changed his major as a result of the lab experience, make up a team of students representing eight different nationalities. "That helps understanding how different groups in the world perceive the challenge we face, especially with sea level rising," said Oluwaseyi Dasho, one of the lab's graduate student researchers. "It really helps us further solve these problems." Shirzaei said the lab has the funding and workload to support as many as 25 students and hopes to expand as soon as the physical space allows for it. It plans to relocate to the Virginia Tech Corporate Research Center in May. The Earth Observation and Innovation Lab is the reason Ohenhen decided to attend Virginia Tech. He said working in the lab not only allows him to do the type of research in his recently published paper, but it also echoes his passion for helping communicate actionable information to others. Along with flood projections for the entire East Coast, part of the paper published in Nature highlights the vulnerability of the wetlands, which often provide a barrier between floods and people by absorbing flood waters slowly. Ohenhen said he hopes his research makes clear that ecosystem's importance to the residents of those areas. "Protect the wetlands is the overall message to the average person," Ohenhen said. "Most people, they try to protect just enough of their property and leave other areas like the wetlands to basically fend for own survival. But when we do that, we're really just creating a greater threat for ourselves." Shirzaei said he hopes the maps created for Ohenhen's paper are used by policymakers and leaders to prevent areas from remaining undefended from flood waters. Similarly, he hopes the Earth Observation and Innovation Lab as a whole continues to be utilized in ways that help people better understand and prepare for potential risks. "At the moment, the problem a lot of people have is they don't know the hazard that might come in the future," Shirzaei said. "Our data will help them understand that and come up with better plans for the future." Solving the problem of protecting the rights of Ukrainian prisoners of war in the context of non-compliance by the Russian army with the Geneva Convention and the UN Charter requires a comprehensive approach, including the recognition of Russia as a terrorist country and its expulsion from all international organizations and institutions, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Verkhovna Rada Dmytro Lubinets has said. Speaking about the latest case of the publication of an execution, probably of a Ukrainian prisoner of war, on the Internet, Lubinets told Radio Liberty: "As the Ombudsman of Ukraine, I receive dozens of such videos. We do not publish them, of course. But the reaction of the world should be instant, not just words, not just the 'deep concern' we've been hearing since 2014." "In particular, I demand that the UN Human Rights Committee separately consider the situation with the rights of prisoners of war of the Ukrainian army, who are actually not only in captivity, but they are under round-the-clock pressure and torture," he said. "Unfortunately, we do not have a system for protecting human rights, including the rights of military personnel. This must be recognized. And the UN, as a toothless organization, must first of all do something about this," he said. According to him, effective steps are needed: "the first is to raise the issue at different venues. The second is, perhaps, a separate UN resolution. And as a result of this resolution, the exclusion of the Russian Federation from the UN." "I called on the world ombudsmen to continue communicating with their national parliaments to recognize the Russian Federation as a terrorist country. Terrorists have no place next to democratic, civilized countries. It just needs to be done urgently. I mean, exclude the Russian Federation from the ranks of all international organizations and institutions." President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting of the Military Cabinet on Thursday, he said in a video address on Thursday. "Today I held a Military Cabinet - a special format for working with the leaders of our defense sector, our commanders, intelligence, and the office. Only what is directly necessary to manage the front line and ensure the active actions of Ukraine, the protection of our state from Russian terror," he said. "It was meaningful. And our actions will be powerful. We are preparing the guys. We are very much looking forward to the delivery of weapons promised by our partners. And to the maximum we bring victory closer. To the maximum the spirit of unity. To the maximum efficiency. Preparation also to the maximum. The enemy will definitely be suffered retaliatory losses for every strike against Ukrainians," Zelenskyy said. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a meeting on European integration on Thursday. "I held a meeting with members of the government, with representatives of the Verkhovna Rada regarding some of our steps to get closer to the European Union, legislative steps, implementation of the adopted changes. The goal of our state is absolutely achievable. Ukraine will be integrated with all institutions and practices of the European Union, gaining full membership. From our side full readiness," he said in a video address on Thursday. As a child, Shanel Adams experienced a lot of this world. With each new place learned about, she discovered the many cultures and influences that make up our world. 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 9 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 The killing of tech executive Bob Lee last week sent San Franciscos reputation tumbling around the world. Big-name industry leaders, celebrities and conservative politicians took to the internet and the airwaves to decry a city beset by lawlessness and violence, and the progressive leaders who purportedly look the other way. But there was largely deafening silence from those same individuals after Thursdays arrest of tech entrepreneur Nima Momeni, whom Lee knew. Police concluded that the violence grew out of a personal dispute, not a random encounter between an accomplished innovator and an assailant who, according to suggestions by many people in recent days, must have been left to run amok in a city that coddles criminals. Lee, who lived in Miami, was in town for business. He called 911 for help after he was stabbed around 2:30 a.m. April 4 in Rincon Hill, near the foot of the Bay Bridge, and was found unconscious minutes later. He died at a local hospital shortly afterward. Momeni was arrested Thursday morning at his loft in Emeryville and jailed on suspicion of murder. The killing, and the discussion it provoked, points to challenges for San Francisco. Statistics show the citys homicide rate is relatively low when compared to other major cities in the U.S., and that most crimes have fallen significantly in recent decades. Yet, property crimes like car break-ins are still reported at high rates, while drug overdoses have climbed in a central Tenderloin neighborhood rife with open-air dealing and scenes of human misery. A city poll released Thursday, hours after the arrest, showed residents feel more unsafe today than they have in two decades, sentiment reflected in surveys that show people sense that crime is getting worse, not better. Viral social media posts following the fatal stabbing described a city under siege, a message that appeared to resonate with many. In a city in need of solutions, many sought to use the killing to advance their own preferred politics. Elected leaders and progressive nonprofit groups are setting loose on us a predatory criminal or psychotic element that jeopardizes our safety and makes these cities unlivable, entrepreneur David Sacks said in a video posted on social media three days after the stabbing. Elon Musk, owner and CEO of Tesla and San Francisco-based Twitter, tweeted: Violent crime in SF is horrific and even if attackers are caught, they are often released immediately. On Thursday, Mayor London Breed said she wanted to fight back, to challenge the depictions of her city that grew out of Lees killing, and to take on Musk and conservative commentators in a public forum. Breed has sought to portray toughness in dealing with street problems, famously saying in late 2021 while calling for a police crackdown in the Tenderloin that San Franciscans needed to be less tolerant of all the bulls that has destroyed our city. But she has also pushed back on claims that crime and homelessness have worsened during her tenure. I was ready to scream at the top of my lungs, she told The Chronicle after the arrest. But if I do, the families of victims suffer. How did she deal with her anger? Its called prayer, she said. Please, Lord, help me refrain. Instead, she urged people to let the investigation play out, to wait for the facts. I want a responsible city leader, not someone who engages in fights with people who have no idea what San Francisco really is, she said. What is most important for any leader is to get to the truth. District Attorney Brooke Jenkins criticized Musk on Thursday for being reckless and irresponsible and said he spread misinformation at a time when police are trying to solve a very difficult case. Kevin Benedicto, a San Francisco police commissioner and attorney, said he felt vindicated Thursday after declaring at a public hearing last week that it was premature and distasteful to try to fit this horrifying act of violence into a preconceived narrative and use it to advance a political agenda. What I objected to last week was people trying to exploit and weaponize this to fit political goals or agendas that they already had when the investigation was so premature, he said in an interview. Speaking at a midday news conference, police officials made clear the crime was not linked to homelessness or street conditions in the city, as had been suggested by some. Unhoused individuals are more likely to be victims than perpetrators of crimes, Benedicto noted. I think there is a gap between perception and reality. I do think peoples perception should be taken seriously, he said. Supervisor Dean Preston was even more firm in his response. He took to social media to note that those who tried to exploit this tragedy to stoke hatred of the poor should be ashamed, adding, some public apologies are in order. In an interview, he said, Theres a well-oiled machine that is ready to politicize and exploit any tragedy in San Francisco. Thats what happened here. But there were few if any mea culpas Thursday. Some city critics doubled down despite the arrest, noting that a surveillance video that captured the aftermath of the stabbing showed no one stopped to help as Lee tried to flag down passing cars. This demonstrated, they said, that people in San Francisco were too fearful of danger on the street to assist a dying man. Breed defended efforts to address the challenges the city does face, including open-air drug markets and homelessness, as well as crime. She has launched a marketing campaign to help beat back negative coverage and try to attract visitors, businesses and workers to the city, which has struggled to convince remote workers to return to offices and to secure valuable industry conventions that have increasingly moved to other cities. This is a major city, Breed said. Major cities have challenges, and we have a police department that does a great job investigating and making sure the facts are brought forward. While stressing that any crime is unacceptable, and that any violent death is tragic, Breed recalled a year from her childhood in the Western Addition when the city posted 140 homicides, when she lost so many friends in the neighborhood. San Francisco police had reported 13 homicides this year through April 9, the same number as last year at that time. Since the pandemic began, homicides have ticked up in San Francisco and the rest of the Bay Area, mirroring a national trend. There were 56 homicides in San Francisco in both 2022 and 2021, 48 in 2020 and 41 in 2019. But the citys annual number of homicides remains near historic lows. San Franciscos violent crime rate was 544 incidents per 100,000 residents in 2020, the latest figures analyzed and compared to other major cities and regions by the FBI. The agency concluded that San Francisco had the 14th-highest violent crime rate out of the 23 largest police districts and the sixth-lowest murder rate, at 5 per 100,000 residents. Crimea must and to be liberated to ensure safety, freedom of navigation in Black and Azov seas Reznikov Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov stresses the need for the de-occupation of Crimea peninsula to ensure complete security and freedom of navigation in the Black and Azov Seas "To ensure 100 percent security and freedom of navigation in the Black and Azov Seas, Crimea must be liberated. And it will be liberated. Crimea will return to the Ukrainian family, as it was in 1991. Crimea is Ukraine," Reznikov said on Chernomorsk conference on the security of the International Crimea Platform in Bucharest on Thursday. The minister said Ukraine would do everything necessary to liberate Crimea. He also noted the importance of freedom of navigation in the Black and Azov Seas, which leads to "food security" for the world and economic for Ukraine. Reznikov also reported on meetings with representatives of the military-industrial complex of Romania, which "makes some interesting things that Ukraine needs." A pair of nesting peregrine falcons on Alcatraz Island successfully protected their eggs through the Bay Areas unusually stormy weather, hatching four chicks earlier this month. Biologists documented the hatching using remote monitoring, according to the National Park Service. The peregrine falcons, which can reach speeds as fast as 200 mph, were first observed breeding on the island in 2019. The female falcon, known as Lawrencium, who was born in a nest on UC Berkeleys Campanile clock tower, was the first peregrine in recorded history to nest on Alcatraz with her mate. Since 2020, the pair have fledged two to three chicks each season, making this years hatching exceptional. The efforts to monitor nesting peregrines on Alcatraz are very exciting, Teresa Ely, senior program manager at the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancys Golden Gate Raptor Observatory, said in a statement. Their local population has rebounded, and its amazing to see these birds thrive in habitats that act as sanctuaries amongst urban landscapes. The news of the hatching on Alcatraz came a day after two peregrine falcon chicks hatched in the UC Berkeley clock tower to a pair of falcons known as Annie and Lou, with two more eggs expected to hatch shortly. Their hatching was documented on a live stream of the nest on the Cal Falcons website, which draws viewers from around the world. Until recently, the peregrine falcons were on the endangered species list. In the mid-1970s, there were only two known pairs of the apex predators in California due to the widespread use of the now banned pesticide DDT down from more than 200 nesting pairs in the 1930s. It wasnt until the late 1990s that the Environmental Protection Agency relisted the peregrine falcon as a threatened species rather than endangered. The birds have been known to nest on the Golden Gate Bridge, the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge and the Bay Bridge. About half of peregrine chicks die before they reach maturity. On Alcatraz, the falcons have the distinction of being the only predators among western gulls, black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets and cormorants. Parts of the island are closed to the public between February and September to allow for nesting, and the peregrine nest is in a part of the island that is inaccessible to visitors. As an important breeding colony for waterbirds, the National Park Service ensures protections during the nesting season and provides close-up viewing opportunities to visitors of a unique assemblage of colonial waterbirds, Lidia DAmico, a biologist at Golden Gate National Recreation Area, said in a statement. Sitting in his grandparents living room in Kerala in southwest India, Joshua Chemparathy loves the moment when the conversation lulls, letting slurps fill the silence. He lived with his grandparents for a couple of years and returned for summers to their farm, where his family often walks past cows and down the road to stop at house after house, visiting neighbors for chai and snacks. The chai tastes like home, steeped with tea and spices from the surrounding farms. But back in the Bay Area, where Chemparathy was born and raised, it never tasted quite the same. After studying economics at Santa Clara University, he crunched numbers as a data analyst for six years lots of coffee, lots of colleagues cutting back on coffee and ordering chai instead. He cringed when they got handed so many pale imitations, either cloyingly sweet or overpowered with cinnamon. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Top: Joshua Chemparathy, 32, who runs chai company Sinwise, pours his warmed chai at his parents home in Redwood City. Above left: A can of Champarathys chai, which is cold brewed and sold at Bay Area stores. Above right: A cup of the chai, which is brewed with cardamom imported from his familys farm. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Top: Joshua Chemparathy, 32, who runs chai company Sinwise, pours his warmed chai at his parents home in Redwood City. Above left: A can of Champarathys chai, which is cold brewed and sold at Bay Area stores. Above right: A cup of the chai, which is brewed with cardamom imported from his familys farm. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle So, of course, he started making his own. Chemparathy founded Sinwise Farms in 2019, brewing chai steeped with cardamom grown on his own familys farm in Kerala. Now, its sold at Rainbow Grocery, Berkeley Bowl and other markets around the Bay Area. But its been simmering in the back of his mind for years. His parents, Joseph and Sherly Chemparathy, own Avenue Liquors in San Mateo, while working multiple jobs. Sherly worked full time as a nurse for many years, in addition to traveling back and forth to Kerala to run the family cardamom farm and import coffee. Theyve long served South Indian coffee, slightly more earthy and nutty than most, even to customers who would just as soon drink Folgers. Its really coming back to my roots, Joshua Chemparathy said. Ive been around food my whole life. But the reason my parents moved to the U.S. was so my sister and I could study and get these jobs that everyone wants. To be clear, Chemparathys chai is not traditional. He cold brews the tea, and sells it chilled in cans. It makes no sense to any Indian person, Chemparathy said. Sinwise Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Above left: A farm in Kerala near Chemparathys grandparents harvests orange pekoe tea leaves by hand. Above right: Star anise, cardamom pods, whole cloves and cinnamon bark ready to brew. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Above left: A farm in Kerala near Chemparathys grandparents harvests orange pekoe tea leaves by hand. Above right: Star anise, cardamom pods, whole cloves and cinnamon bark ready to brew. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle But hes found an efficient process to steep the leaves, and canning helps capture the balance of flavors, he said. He originally experimented with a concentrate, before watching too many testers fail to follow simple instructions and pour wildly incorrect ratios into cups. Plus, cracking a can is convenient and satisfying. Chemparathy recommends heating the chai, in a saucepan or a home steamer, to heighten the flavors and aromas. Of course, many Californians embrace an iced latte lifestyle, and thats cool with Chemparathy, too. Either way, you can taste the tea first, a flowery broken orange pekoe. The cardamom teases with its effervescent character, but in balance with warm cinnamon, star anise and cloves. Its not too sweet with cane sugar. Theres a slight cereal note of oat milk, which makes all of his drinks plant-based. (His mom doesnt tolerate dairy well anymore.) Chai, says chef Srijith Gopinathan of Copra in San Francisco and Ettan in Palo Alto, is very personal. Gopinathan also comes from Kerala, and his new restaurant showcases dishes from South India not a butter chicken in sight. He prefers chai with whole cows milk, and would never drink it cold, but after sipping straight from a can, he approves of Sinwise. Its actually very good, he said, describing the clear taste of the tea and cardamom, plus one more small detail: He put the Malayalam language on the can! Gopinathan said, referring to the native language of the Malayali people, spoken by millions in Kerala, and written in a curling alphabet. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Sinwises cardamom grows in the Western Ghats mountain range, also known as the Cardamom Hills. In addition to his grandparents rubber tree farm below, the extended family owns 70 acres of lush tropical forest at a cool 3,600 feet of elevation, which his parents operate. Neighbors grow tea, cinnamon and cloves, all part of a proper cup of chai, which feels symbiotic. Wild elephants sometimes roam through the forests. His parents fell in love with the calm, peacefulness and fog, said Chemparathy. I stand in the middle of the forest here, and Ive never been more at peace in my life. Sometimes called the Queen of Spices, cardamom is the third most expensive spice in the world, following saffron and vanilla. Chemparathy said its challenging to farm organically: It takes three years for a plant to produce pods, yet insects can kill a plant in three days. But he said his family has worked hard to use as little pesticide as possible. He believes some importers resell stale batches for years. Visiting one distributor, I was like, this stuff is brown, and it doesnt smell like anything. In contrast, his familys cardamom still boasts a bright green color and a heady pine aroma. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Joshua Chemparathy brews chai in bags at a facility in Belmont. His product is sold at Rainbow Grocery, Bi-Rite Markets, Berkeley Bowl and other markets around the Bay Area. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Joshua Chemparathy brews chai in bags at a facility in Belmont. His product is sold at Rainbow Grocery, Bi-Rite Markets, Berkeley Bowl and other markets around the Bay Area. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle Chemparathy first started slipping the pale green pods into small batches of chai in his home kitchen in West Oakland, but hes since built out a warehouse space in Belmont. His parents, naturally, were the first to put the cans on shelves at Avenue Liquors in San Mateo. Modee Edmonds, a buyer at the crunchy vegetarian co-op Rainbow Grocery, said he immediately added Sinwise to the cold case, which is unusual. New producers drop off samples 10 times a week, and he only accepts maybe one a month, usually after some back and forth, he said. But he sees a lot of coffee, and the chai was refreshing. Plus, its vegan, like him. Customers often comment on the appealing labels in earthy brown and clay colors. sinwise Sinwise is only getting started. Chemparathy is exploring different chai flavors, and theres popular demand for a spicy ginger, so that might be next. Hes already making cold brew coffee and also plans to roast and sell beans. Although his parents have imported South Indian coffee for years, when Chemparathy reached out to specialty roasters, one told him, Essentially no good coffee comes from India, he said,which was really jarring and felt naive. Eventually, Chemparathy dreams of opening a South Indianinspired cafe serving chai, coffee, chocolate and snacks. But whichever direction Sinwise grows, he hopes to showcase the undersung ingredients from the region, and ground them in a sense of place. I can genuinely say that before this business, I didnt know my parents at all, Chemparathy said. Ive only come to realize through this business how Malayali I am. Becky Duffett is a freelance writer. Reach food@sfchronicle.com Just a few years ago, when a California craft brewery announced an acquisition, the buyer was almost invariably a behemoth from the world of Big Beer, like Heineken or Sapporo. But in the past week, two Bay Area breweries have been acquired and in both cases, the buyer is another craft brewery. Dokkaebier, a 3-year-old upstart thats gained a following for its eclectic beers incorporating Asian ingredients like kimchi and galangal, a relative of ginger, has taken over Federation Brewing in Oakland. Founder Youngwon Lee has inherited all of Federations recipes and will keep its brand intact. Going forward, the Jack London Square taproom will serve beers from Dokkaebier, Federation and Hella Coastal, a small brand that rents space in the brewery. In San Francisco, Speakeasy Ales & Lagers has been purchased by Full Circle Brewing, an experimental outfit from Fresno that also acquired Sonoma Cider in 2020. As with Federation, Full Circle will keep alive the 20-year-old Speakeasy label, pouring both brands beers and Sonoma Cider at Speakeasys long-running taproom in the Bayview. The two new brewing partnerships each mark a milestone. With the addition of Speakeasy, Full Circle is now the countrys largest Black-owned brewery, CEO Arthur Moye believes. (Speakeasys most recent owner, Ces Butner, was also Black.) And Lee said that by setting down roots in Jack London Square, Dokkaebier will officially become Oaklands first Korean-owned brewery. After several years of relative quiet on the brewery merger-and-acquisition front, this makes for a notable flurry of local news. The days of Constellation and Heineken buying up legacy California beer brands a frequent occurrence circa 2015-2017 can now sometimes feel like a distant memory. Lately, the few brewery mergers weve seen have occurred, essentially, among peers: Last year, for example, local brewer Patrick Rue bought out Heinekens 50% share of Santa Rosas beloved Moonlight Brewing, and in February Drakes bought Bear Republic. This weeks deals have a homegrown feel. Moye, who bought Full Circle in 2016 after retiring as an accountant, said that much of the funding for the Speakeasy purchase came from crowdfunding campaigns, which have raised around $1 million in recent years. He didnt share a purchase price, though we know that Butner bought Speakeasy for $2.5 million in 2017, after the brewery had nearly gone into bankruptcy and temporarily halted production. (Full Circle did not acquire the full production facility, which has a large brewing capacity of 65,000 barrels just the taproom and the Speakeasy brand.) Moye had begun thinking about a deal with Speakeasy two years ago, he said, after Full Circle started contracting with the San Francisco brewery to produce some of its beer. The conversations with Butner evolved from there. Eventually, Moye said, he hopes to get Speakeasy back to its glory days; at its height, its flagship beers like Big Daddy IPA and Prohibition Ale were distributed in 13 countries, before a big brewery expansion saddled the business with excessive debt. The now-sister brands are distinct. Speakeasy is a traditional legacy brewery, said Moye, specializing in tried-and-true styles like West Coast IPA. On the Full Circle side, we make more hazy IPAs, sours more of the today kind of brewery. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Similarly, Dokkaebier and Federation run little risk of being confused with each other. Federation, founded in 2014, is known for its hazys the craft beer style du jour. Dokkaebier, on the other hand, specializes in light beer styles flavored with Asian culinary ingredients rarely seen in American brewing, like witbier with minari seeds and blonde ale with yuzu. Its perhaps best known for its kimchi sour, fermented with Lees personal kimchi culture. Lee, whos been contracting with Heretic Brewery in Fairfield to produce most of his beer up until now, said that having his own facility is crucial to the business survival. Not only because he needs a taproom, so that customers can get to know his unusual products, but also because when you work with partner breweries, theres a limitation on how creative you can get with the recipes, Lee said. Sometimes were peeling fruits all day. Not every brewery is up for that. Federation is still operating as normal, and Lee is planning only minor changes to the taproom, which he expects to complete sometime in May. Speakeasys taproom, too, will remain mostly the same, Moye said. I dont think any rebranding will happen at the taproom in the short term, he said of Speakeasy. Were just excited to keep it going. On a foggy July morning in 2021, a doctor at San Franciscos Laguna Honda nursing home checked on a woman who had been behaving strangely, scratching fiercely at her face and claiming her mattress was on fire. Now she wasnt waking up. Emergency room tests revealed fentanyl, methamphetamine and amphetamine in the womans system. Laguna Honda staff searched her room and found syringes, white powder and a vial of liquid. Days later, a second resident overdosed at the city-run facility. The man had bummed a cigarette from a friend, hooted with laughter and then slumped over in his wheelchair. He tested positive for fentanyl, amphetamine, cannabis and benzodiazepine. Both patients recovered. But the overdoses set in motion a cascade of events that have jeopardized the care of 550 medically fragile, mostly low-income residents and the future of Laguna Honda itself. Administrators have until May 13 to prove the 157-year-old institution deserves to be reinstated into the federal Medicare program and avoid closure next fall. Former City Attorney Louise Renne tried to sue the government last summer on behalf of patients and keep Laguna Honda open. A longtime advocate for the home, Renne had persuaded the city in the 2000s to use a half-billion-dollar settlement she won from the tobacco industry to rebuild the crumbling facility. Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court in San Francisco decided his court lacked jurisdiction to hear Rennes case. But he wondered aloud how the nursing home got into such a mess. As he put it to lawyers in October: Whats the source of the original sin? This is the story of that original sin and how Laguna Honda, a lifeline for the neediest San Franciscans, might or might not be saved. A harsh report card The combination nursing home, residential hospital and rehabilitation center located west of Twin Peaks is one of the nations largest skilled nursing facilities. Some residents have lived there for decades. After administrators reported the overdoses to the state as required, health inspectors paid a visit. They found more drug use and declared the public nursing home substantially out of compliance with federal regulations, triggering six months of extra scrutiny. A year ago, those inspections led federal regulators to revoke Laguna Hondas eligibility for Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements a likely death blow because two-thirds of its funding, or about $200 million a year, comes from those payments. Scheduled to lose the money by fall, Laguna Honda was ordered to prepare for closure last summer and relocate all residents. Bronte Wittpenn / The Chronicle A legal settlement granted a temporary reprieve, giving Laguna Honda until this May to show it has improved enough to rejoin Medicare or lose those payments for good on Nov. 13 and be forced to close. Involuntary nursing home shutdowns are rare. In the past five years, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has cut off fewer than 1% of the 15,125 nursing homes in its program, or 62 facilities. Just four of them had more than 200 patients. CMS severed Laguna Honda because of 26 deficiencies identified by state inspectors between Oct. 14, 2021, and April 13, 2022. One was flagged as immediate jeopardy, and five as actual harm, a Chronicle analysis shows. The other 20 were coded as no actual harm but with potential for more than minimal harm. The Chronicle asked three nursing home experts to review the 26 problems. Do the deficiencies warrant closing the nursing home? asked Jill Smoller, an author and assisted-living administrator in New York. In my opinion, no. The others drew the same conclusion. In the beginning Laguna Honda opened in 1866 as an almshouse for gold miners down on their luck. More than a century later, with 1,200 beds, the nursing home was the largest in the country. But it has had troubles before. In 1998, federal investigators cited a pattern of egregious conditions and painted a picture of patients running amok in 30-bed open wards. In a mirror of todays problems, regulators threatened to cut off the nursing homes funding if fixes werent made by September of that year. The treasured facility survived, and by 2010 the rebuilt nursing home was state-of-the-art. Yet deep problems persisted. In 2019, California investigators found evidence that six employees had drugged and violently abused 23 residents over three years. Two lawsuits are pending, and the city settled a third for $800,000 in 2021 around the time the two patients overdosed. Salgu Wissmath/The Chronicle The 2021 overdoses set off a blitz of attention from the state health department, and by mid-autumn, inspectors had found more than a dozen residents testing positive for drugs. They concluded that the overdoses and presence of drugs amounted to a pattern of actual harm but no immediate jeopardy, or a Code H deficiency in federal parlance. Code H is not the worst problem on the governments scale, which runs from A (isolated example of no actual harm) to L (widespread immediate jeopardy to residents). But the rating threw the hospital out of compliance and gave administrators just six months until April 13, 2022 to fix the drug problems and any new deficiencies. Plenty showed up. Inspectors returned 10 times that winter to peer into rooms, look around corners and interview residents. They recorded more than two dozen new violations, including four Code Gs: examples of isolated actual harm but no immediate jeopardy. Last April 14, CMS made the stunning announcement that Laguna Honda would lose its critical funding. Regulators ordered Laguna Honda to prepare to close in September, and to remove all residents over the summer. But to where? Few Bay Area facilities would accept such fragile, low-income people, and administrators found places for just 57. When 12 died soon after being moved, patient advocates suspected transfer trauma, and a public outcry ensued. CMS paused the relocations in July. Now, Laguna Honda has one month to prove its on track for recertification, or the transfers are set to resume on May 19. Fentanyl, ecstasy, heroin plus booze One of the first things inspectors found at Laguna Honda in autumn 2021 were drug users aplenty. Of 37 residents sampled, more than a third tested positive. Inspectors also found 23 who possessed alcohol, drug paraphernalia or narcotics, including fentanyl, ecstasy and heroin. Of the 702 residents at the time, 86, or 12%, had a diagnosed substance abuse disorder. Gabrielle Lurie/The Chronicle 2020 Residents were tight-lipped about how they got their drugs. No evidence pointed to employees. Instead, inspectors learned that one man collected weed when he went out for dialysis. Another tucked white rocks into his 7-Eleven bag when returning from the store. Once, a package arrived from Sonoma containing whiskey. And the woman who overdosed implicated her ex-husband, a recent visitor. It all amounted to the big Code H that set Laguna Honda on the precarious path its on today. The inspectors first report in October 2021 also declared the staff poorly trained in detecting illicit drugs, another deficiency. Immediate jeopardy The most serious infraction inspectors found was a person smoking a cigarette while on oxygen. Because of the fire risk, it kicked up the deficiency to a red-hot Code K: a pattern of immediate jeopardy to resident health or safety. Inspectors also found someone smoking an illicit substance in view of a health care provider, 17 people with lighters and three more cigarette smokers. Isolated actual harm In December 2021, inspectors interviewed a patient-care assistant who had accompanied a woman with dementia in a van the year before. The woman fell from her wheelchair and broke her right shin and calf bone. She died three months later. I didnt think to strap her in, the assistant admitted. I messed up. Another woman with dementia and paralysis often played with her beds side rails when transferring to and from a chair. In January 2022, inspectors learned she had broken her left index finger and bruised her chest while doing this. We did not monitor her behavior, a charge nurse told inspectors. Each incident earned Laguna Honda a Code G: isolated examples of actual harm. Connor Radnovich/The Chronicle That man beat me up Last March, inspectors reported interviewing a man who said a caregiver hit him in the face, molested him during bathing and warned him not to tell. I dont see him now, the man said. I feel safer. A nursing director confirmed that it happened in 2020 and that the employee was fired. Inspectors called it Code D: isolated and no immediate jeopardy. Lollipops and dignity When a woman said she was made to feel like a bad person for reporting that someone stole her lollipop, inspectors slapped Laguna Honda with another Code D because regulations entitle people to a dignified existence. Laguna Honda earned two more Code Ds for preventing a woman with mental illness and dementia from taking her own over-the-counter medications, and for waiting two days to report a verbal abuse allegation. Where will these people go? The three experts who reviewed the 26 deficiencies agreed that six of those original sins were so serious that one or more residents were harmed, or could have been. The rest were pretty common deficiencies, even in some better nursing homes, said Smoller, author of Compassion and Corruption: A Candid Look Behind Nursing Home Doors. Closing is not feasible, she said. Where will these people go? Laguna Honda instead needs education for nurses and nursing assistants, Smoller said. It needs to separate out the drug, alcohol and psychiatric residents and have personnel trained to deal with these types of residents. Some of the 26 were frightening, said Lisa Wickens-Alteri, a former regulator at the New York State health department who now advises health care providers. But all of it together, she said, would not be enough to shut the facility down. Yet CMS officials have consistently said that after receiving the California health inspectors reports last year, they had no choice but to decertify Laguna Honda from the Medicare program that sustains it. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, who oversees CMS, emphasized the point when he visited Laguna Honda in February and a reporter asked if the threatened closure was a punishment that fit the crime. Becerra responded: If theres an alternative way to protect the health and safety of the residents, Id love to hear it. Salgu Wissmath/The Chronicle One alternative is CMS own Special Focus Facility program, said attorney Toby Edelman of the nonprofit Center for Medicare Advocacy in Washington, the third expert to examine the 26 deficiencies. With 87 facilities, Special Focus is supposed to stimulate improvements in those with serious issues, says CMS. But it has limited space: Just six slots are reserved for California nursing homes, and theres competition. Candidates are ranked by their persistent record of noncompliance, and Laguna Honda hasnt always qualified, though it was cited for deficiencies before its current troubles. It did qualify in 2021 six months before the fateful overdoses. But another nursing home got the spot. Even so, regulators have discretion in deciding which nursing homes to cut from Medicare, Edelman said. Its very unusual for facilities to get terminated. Almost never. Its one thing if its a dangerous place as opposed to a physical plant thats good but has problems, she said, referring to Laguna Honda. Hope for Laguna Honda Some nursing homes have been in the Special Focus program for more than three years. A Georgia facility has been in for four. If Laguna Honda had had that kind of time to fix its problems, it could have done so, Roland Pickens, Laguna Hondas interim chief executive, told The Chronicle. Laguna Honda isnt in Special Focus, but its getting special focus as never before. Within a month of losing Medicare certification last April, Laguna Honda hired consultants to help discover the root causes of its deficiencies. The city eventually authorized $4.5 million to pay the Health Services Advisory Group through the end of this year. One root cause quickly emerged: Laguna Honda has been behaving like an acute-care hospital, even though 90% of patients were there for the nursing home, Pickens said. With no nursing home experts in leadership, he said, Our biggest challenge has been helping our employees change their mindset from, I work in a hospital to, I work in a skilled nursing facility. Laguna Honda identified 69 other root causes of problems. Among them: The nursing home has no proactive system for preventing abuse and neglect of patients. It needlessly applies physical restraints. And employees lack experience in addressing residents substance abuse. CMS approved the nursing homes 41-page action plan in January, which sets hundreds of monthly milestones to fix those deeply rooted problems, from hand-washing and documenting medications, to the drug problems that got Laguna Honda into trouble in the first place. The action plan requires teaching everyone how to prevent overdoses and how to de-escalate behavior problems. Laguna Honda has also hired a behavioral health emergency response team to help identify drug users and residents with mental health challenges, provide therapy and teach staff how to work with such patients. Federal regulators are visiting Laguna Honda every 90 days to check on progress, and local officials say they feel optimistic. Salgu Wissmath/The Chronicle Last month, Laguna Honda hit all 77 milestones for March, a spokesperson said. That was on top of nailing 126 in January, and 133 in February, Dr. Grant Colfax, the city health director, said during Becerras visit. Pickens told The Chronicle that hes aiming beyond just compliance and stability and said he expects Laguna Honda to become a national model in skilled nursing care. Once the crisis is over, he said, we will exemplify San Franciscos commitment to providing quality publicly funded health care for those most in need for another 150 years. 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. Regarding Scrutinized prosecutions, messaging issues and an annoyed judge: Inside the first months of Alameda Countys history-making D.A. (Bay Area, SFChronicle.com, April 8): I wonder where are the chief prosecutors of yesteryear? Folk who had compassion, integrity, strength of character and purpose, and who believed in and pursued public safety and law enforcement. D. Lowell Jensen, Tom Orloff, Joe Freitas and Arlo Smith (OK, an imperfect example) come to my mind. A criminal justice system works best when someone with these character qualities is directing the prosecutorial efforts and zealous, endlessly compassionate public defenders populate the defense bar. The system is really about confrontation to determine truth and justice, and it works only when the opposing forces unequivocally pursue their appointed purposes. To the looming question about Alameda County: I have been a resident, property owner, business owner and criminal defense attorney in Oakland for 45 years. I feel strongly that right now we do not need the cost or the ramifications of recalling District Attorney Pamela Price. Such an election will result almost certainly in a new chief prosecutor chosen by monied interests. That new prosecutor will be a person who pleases and answers to the folk who can afford to significantly support their candidate. Let us wait until the next (already calendared and budgeted) election cycle and all seek to choose someone who will aggressively pursue public safety and law enforcement tempered assertively by passion and administered with integrity. Paul Wolf, Oakland Whats really offensive Regarding Sisters go too far (Letters to the Editor, April 11): The Christian letter writer is deeply offended by the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgences Easter celebration in Dolores Park. Do you know what is truly cruel and offensive? Christian leaders molesting children. Christian politicians proposing over 400 anti-LGBTQ bills across the nation. A Christian legislator calling transgender people demons and mutants. Christian white supremacists chanting, Jews will not replace us! Christians who believe that gun ownership is a God-given right. Christians who hate and harm other people in the name of God. These are the people who are both cruel and offensive. These are the people who are mocking Christianity. No, I am not anti-Christian or anti-any-other-religion, I just think religious adherents should focus their attention on the things that really deeply offend the harmful things originating from their own religion and not the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. Richard Kurylo, San Francisco Pay teachers their worth Regarding California has a teacher shortage. Its credentialing process is making it worse (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, April 7): Its sad to see a highly educated person suggest that lowering the standards to become a teacher is the solution to the growing teacher shortage. The numbers show there needs to be a better solution: The starting salary for a San Francisco police officer who is only required to have a high school diploma or a two-year degree is at least $103,000. They deserve every cent of that amount. But the starting salary for a San Francisco teacher who is required to have a four-year college degree and extra classes for a teaching credential is less than $73,000. Are teachers worth so much less? Lowering the standards for teachers should give every parent grave concern about the education of their children when the obvious solution to the teacher shortage is: Pay them more. Paul Giganti, Albany Teaching test not needed Regarding California has a teacher shortage. Its credentialing process is making it worse (Open Forum, SFChronicle.com, April 7): As a high school teacher for 40 years, I could not agree more with the two other former teachers who wrote about the lunacy of making potential teachers pass the CalTPA assessment. In a time of war, we do not ask prospective soldiers to submit a videotape of themselves firing a gun; their desire to train to fight for our country is enough. So, too, the desire of those willing to take on the incredible challenges of teaching this generation of students, at a time of desperate need, should tell us all we need to know about them. John Ahlbach, Pacifica Sen. Dianne Feinsteins request to temporarily leave the Senate Judiciary Committee while she recovers from shingles will need support from Republican senators. If Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer cant persuade the GOP to allow him to substitute another Democrat for Feinstein on the panel, then Democrats could be stuck with deadlocked 10-10 votes which means that President Bidens judicial nominees would continue to stay stuck in neutral. That alone would be enough incentive for Republicans not to grant Schumers request. Why would you help out Democrats? said Jessica Taylor, the Senate and governors editor for the nonpartisan Cook Political Report. If it were reversed, Democrats would do the same thing, Im sure. This is just how politics work in a very bitterly divided country, and a bitterly divided Senate. If Schumers plan stalls, the pressure from Democrats for Feinstein to resign will likely increase beyond the calls this week from Reps. Ro Khanna, D-Santa Clara, and Dean Phillips, D-Minn. Then the spotlight wouldnt just focus on Feinstein, it would shine on Gov. Gavin Newsom, who would appoint her replacement. Newsom would be in a tough position if Feinstein stepped down. As he was staring down a possible recall in March 2021, Newsom promised to appoint a Black woman should Feinstein retire early. MSNBC host Joy Reid asked Newsom then that If, in fact, Dianne Feinstein were to retire, will you nominate an African American woman to restore the seat that Kamala Harris is no longer in the United States Senate? Reid added: And do you have a name in mind? Newsom replied, We have multiple names in mind, and the answer is yes. One of the names presented to Newsom during the past couple of years in case of such an opening is that of a longtime, well-respected California legislator: Rep. Barbara Lee, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus. Lee told The Chronicle that she and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, then a House member representing Los Angeles, were being considered to replace Feinstein should she retire before her term expired. Unlike Reps. Katie Porter, D-Irvine, and Adam Schiff, D-Burbank, Lee waited to declare her Senate candidacy until after Feinstein said she would not seek re-election. I knew I was being considered for an appointment if she had retired, and Sen. Feinstein didnt, and so I just wanted to make sure I respected her, Lee told The Chronicle when she announced her candidacy in February. But Bass just won a hard-fought race to become mayor of Los Angeles, and Lees declared candidacy puts Newsom in a tough spot: If he appoints Lee, hed be putting his thumb on the scale of Californias U.S. Senate race. Lees supporters hope that Newsom does. If Lee appears on the ballot as Sen. Barbara Lee, that would help level the playing field against her better-funded opponents. Porters team said she raised $4.5 million in the latest fundraising period, Schiff raised $6.5 million and Lee raised $1.5 million. But for now, Lees campaign is sending positive thoughts toward Feinstein. The congresswomans primary concern is for Sen. Feinsteins health, said Lee Senate campaign spokesperson Katie Merrill. She is wishing the senator a full and speedy recovery. Schiffs House office, through a spokesperson, offered similar sentiments. One option, should Feinstein resign, would be for Newsom to appoint a so-called caretaker someone who would serve out the remaining 21 months of Feinsteins term but pledge not to run for the full term in 2024. One name that regularly surfaces among political insiders: Los Angeles County Supervisor Holly Mitchell. But Mitchell, whose term also ends in 2024, would be giving up an office in which she has the power of incumbency for a short-term gig. Mitchell, a longtime member of the Legislature, is not interested. Supervisor Mitchell is flattered to be mentioned for such a high honor. However, she would not accept an appointment to the Senate. She is fully committed to running for re-election in 2024 to continue serving L.A. Countys Second District, Lenee Richards, a spokesperson for Mitchell, told The Chronicle Thursday. Choosing a successor could have larger implications for Newsom. While he told The Chronicle last year that he has sub-zero interest in running against President Biden next year, he nonetheless harbors national political ambitions. Last week, Newsom toured several red states on what he called a listening tour, designed to push back against Republican leaders. It was funded by $10 million in leftover money from his gubernatorial re-election campaign. If Feinstein resigns, Newsom will face a delicate political balancing act in choosing her replacement. He doesnt want to alienate the most loyal voters in the Democratic Party: Black women. For now, Newsom is hoping Feinstein recovers and remains in office. The governor is not calling on Sen. Feinstein to resign, Newsom spokesperson Anthony York said. Sophia Bollag contributed to this report. An apparently unhoused woman who gave birth in public on a sidewalk in San Francisco last week is in stable condition along with her newborn at a local hospital, officials said Wednesday night. San Francisco fire officials said the woman gave birth on April 6. Video posted on Instagram on April 8 showed a woman who had just given birth on a San Francisco sidewalk. Due to HIPAA privacy laws we are unable to comment further or confirm if the video you cited is the same incident, SFFD Public Information Officer Jonathan Baxter wrote to The Chronicle in an email Wednesday night. The video had been played over 720,000 times and claimed the birth occurred on the 900 block of Geary Street. The video shows the woman, in distress, on a sidewalk with her pants partially down and a newborn crying on the sidewalk as a crowd gathers around her. A man, kneeling down beside her, tells her, Youre gonna be OK. Just relax, OK? The ambulance is gonna be here. On Friday, the Chronicle spoke to three people who worked on the block who tried to help the woman. No one knew who she was or had seen her on the street before. The woman was lying on the ground under a blanket for at least an hour before she gave birth, said Ali Jil, a worker at Salem Grocery store on the block, and Ash, the manager of construction at the apartment building in front of where she gave birth, who asked to only be identified by his first name. Ash said he got a call from a tenant leaving the building who said the woman was bleeding from her mouth and nose and asked for help calling an ambulance. Ash did not know why she was bleeding. When he came downstairs to tell her the ambulance was on its way, he said the woman pulled her pants down and yelled get it out! He was confused at first about what she was talking about until he saw the babys head start to emerge. He called 911 back to let them know it was a much more serious situation and to come quickly. They asked him if he had any towels and he ran upstairs to grab one. By the time he came back down, the baby was already born, in view of a couple other men who rushed to her aid. One was EJ Ozman, who owns Irving Pizza shop next door to the apartment building. Ozman said the baby got stuck coming out and struggled to breathe, even turning blue, but then was successfully delivered once the woman lay on her side. The birth took around half an hour, he said, and the baby was a boy. Last year, a homeless woman in San Francisco gave birth to a stillborn baby in a portable bathroom at a city-sanctioned tent site outside City Hall. The Chronicle reported in March that the woman had been treated and released from a hospital the previous day. Dry northeast winds often called offshore winds are something that the Bay Area hasnt experienced much in the last few months. Had these winds arrived after a dry winter, this would spell fire weather, but after a historic wet season, the risk is low. Thursdays weather is shaping up to be what meteorologists often refer to as low-end inside slider systems. A mixed bag of weather this Thursday Low-pressure systems get called inside sliders when they travel long distances over land but move quickly from Canada to California. In most instances, these fast-moving systems end up carrying all the characteristics of a storm without rain or snow. Thats because inside sliders lose almost all their moisture as they travel over the deserts that cover most of Nevada and Utah and are practically bone-dry by the time they reach California. Baron/Lynx Inside sliders often are able to kick up powerful winds out of the northeast as they approach the Bay Area especially in the North Bay. These winds, which can eventually reach the status of Diablos, can quickly dry out the air around the region. This leads to clouds fizzling away and water in plants quickly evaporating out into the parched atmosphere. Lets talk weather! Join a live event with The Chronicles Weather Science team April 20 at Mannys. Get your tickets! While these systems often lack rain and snow, they still manage to pack a punch. Its looking like Thursday will host its fair share of these northeast winds, with some of the gustiest conditions expected between 4 a.m. and noon. Some of the highlands just outside of Napa and Santa Rosa could easily gust to 35 mph, with gusts up to 45 mph possible in the Mayacamas Mountains and highlands at or above 2,000 feet. Baron/Lynx Fortunately, these conditions will be short-lived. The inside slider will quickly move out to Southern California by the afternoon, and its northeast winds are expected to fizzle away for the second half of the day. A sea breeze is then looking to form along Highway 1 after 2 p.m., streaming moisture back to the coast, bays and eventually inland valleys. The fast-moving nature of the inside slider system and the saturation of soils across the region will both play a role in mitigating the fire concerns that would have otherwise been much higher. Thursday breakdown San Francisco: High pressure returns as sunshine radiates across the city. The warmth from the sun will coincide with the return of dry, northeast winds that will generally be light. Look for daytime highs peaking around 1 p.m. as they reach the lower 60s from Munis Ocean Beach station to the Carl and Cole Street station. Warmer weather is expected east of Sutro Tower, where downtown, SoMa and the Mission are likely to reach the mid-60s. Winds will then begin to shift, blowing out of the west after 2 p.m. and making way for cooler, moister Pacific air. Temperatures will quickly fall to the upper 50s and lower 60s by the second half of the afternoon as gusts reach 30 mph near Lake Merced and Golden Gate Park, while gusts up to 25 mph spread out to the rest of the city. Thankfully, all the added moisture off this afternoons winds will linger overnight, helping to keep nighttime temperatures from falling below the mid-40s. Pacific coast and Peninsula: Light, dry winds off the hillsides of San Mateo County will keep clouds from forming this morning along Highway 1 between Pacifica and Half Moon Bay. Sunshine will prevail across most of the coast and bayside as high pressure builds over the Peninsula through the rest of the day. This will raise temperatures to the upper 50s on the coast and lower 60s along the San Bruno Gap, where commuters along the BART stations at Daly City, Millbrae and San Francisco International Airport can also expect a cool breeze in the afternoon. Temperatures will be a little warmer as you head south of Millbrae along Interstate 280 and Highway 101, where residents in Redwood City, Foster City and Atherton can expect daytime temperatures closer to the mid-60s by 3 p.m. A shift in the winds is expected after 3 p.m. across wide portions of the Peninsula, leading to a steady 3-5 degree fall in temperatures for the second half of the afternoon. Look for gusts up to 25 mph. These winds will then drop off after sunset, keeping nighttime temperatures from falling below the mid-40s. North Bay: Northeast winds are slated for the highlands of Sonoma and Napa counties this morning, with gusts over 35 mph possible along the Mayacamas Mountains in areas that are over 2,000 feet in elevation. These winds will be much lighter in the Santa Rosa, Napa and Petaluma valleys, but theyll reel in enough warm and dry air to the valley floors so that daytime temperatures reach the lower 70s. The exception will be some of the forested areas along the Russian River, like Healdsburg and Guerneville, where upper 60s are more likely by afternoon. The winds over Sonoma and Napa counties will drop off by 1 p.m. and make way for westerly winds off the Pacific coast and San Francisco Bay. Look for 35 mph gusts at Point Reyes and Bodega Bay, while 25 mph gusts will be possible all along the bayside. Ferry riders taking off from Sausalito can expect gusts closer to 30 mph over the open water, along with temperatures closer to the upper 50s. Temperatures across most of the bayside and Solano Countys delta region will generally reach the lower 60s this afternoon before cooler air slips in this evening. Temperatures will then gradually drop overnight, falling to the mid-40s by the coast, bayside and delta. Thanks to drier air away from the shoreline, upper 30s and lower 40s are expected across the inland valleys. East Bay: Pesky northeast winds are slated for the Oakland and Berkeley hills through noon, gusting to 25 mph at times. The breeze will expand out toward the Caldecott Tunnel and usher in a warm afternoon across Alameda and Contra Costa counties. People heading in and out of the Dublin and Pleasanton BART station can expect temperatures in the upper 60s by the afternoon. Widespread upper 60s are on tap for most of the San Ramon and Livermore valleys, though a few areas around Walnut Creek could briefly hit the 70-degree mark if enough warm air filters in. A shift in the winds begins after 2 p.m., with more westerly winds rolling into the Interstate 80 and 880 corridors. This will shave off daytime temperatures by 3-5 degrees in Richmond, Albany, Oakland, Alameda and Hayward, meaning highs are likely to only reach the lower 60s. Winds are forecast to drop off overnight, leaving behind a trail of moisture that will keep nighttime temperatures above the lower 40s. South Bay and Santa Cruz: A warming trend is in store for the Santa Clara Valley as warm, dry air filters through over the course of the day. Look for breezy conditions as 10-15 mph winds circulate the valley and raise temperatures to the upper 60s this afternoon. Some of this warmth will be offset by a light cool breeze off San Francisco Bay, meaning those taking BART at the Berryessa and North San Jose station can expect temperatures closer to the lower 60s after 2 p.m. Warm, dry air will continue to spread south along the Highway 17 and 101 corridors this afternoon, raising temperatures to the upper 60s in Morgan Hill, Gilroy and Los Gatos. Some of this warm air will make it west of Highway 17 and into Felton, Ben Lomond and Scotts Valley where temperatures will likely reach the mid-60s. The same cant be said for coastal residents in Soquel, Aptos and Capitola where a light breeze off Monterey Bay will keep daytime temperatures closer to the 60-degree mark. The UAE Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MoCCAE) has launched the first phase of Tamkeen' initiative to nurture UAE nationals and bolster their role in advancing the countrys food security. The plan will provide them with cutting-edge skills, expertise, experiences and the latest best practices in agriculture, veterinary, and associated technical fields. The initiative is set to increase the percentage of Emiratisation in technical jobs by engaging and training approximately 60 Emirati graduates in its first phase. The comprehensive training programme, designed for those specialisations in agriculture, veterinary medicine, veterinary sciences, and animal production, will be carried out across three cohorts of 20 graduates each and conclude by the end of 2025. Exceptional participants will be handpicked for employment opportunities in a range of the ministerial positions in locations across the UAE. The initiative was launched at an event attended Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, alongside assistant undersecretaries and representatives from the ministrys various sectors. Young specialists In her address, Almheiri underscored that the wise UAE leadership prioritises engaging young specialists to contribute to the nation's various strategic goals, which include bolstering food security through domestic efforts. Almheiri said: "The UAE is committed to enhancing its food security by seeking innovative solutions to address some of its key challenges, such as the scarcity of arable land and water resources. This necessitates practical methods and tools to overcome these obstacles, such as advancing modern agriculture and augmenting animal wealth for sustainable national production. The Tamkeen initiative embodies this vision by concentrating on developing participant skills in agriculture, veterinary, and other technical areas. The initiative is a nucleus for more extensive efforts to effect tangible change in our nations agricultural and food sectors." Food security Almheiri added: "The UAE is a pioneer in enhancing food security on a sustainable and environmentally-friendly basis. As the country will host COP28 later this year, there will be a great opportunity to showcase and take pride in what we have accomplished in this field. Food production through agricultural activities and animal wealth development significantly impacts global climate change." She said: "You are on a national mission when participating in the Tamkeen initiative. We will provide you with all means of support during your training so that we witness your imminent growth into experts and pioneers in agriculture, veterinary, and other fields. We will welcome you into the national team, where you will play a vital role in strengthening our countrys food security for years to come." Programme participants must adhere to all guidelines issued by relevant authorities and maintain the designated working hours according to their training locations. Trainees will be monitored and assessed regularly to meet the programme's objectives. Collaborations Moving forward, the initiative plans to collaborate with universities, signing agreements to recruit graduates from agricultural, veterinary, and other related fields to fulfill the programme's need for participants. The programme will be for a period of 6 to 9 months and participants will engage in various tasks during the training based on their assigned work sites. These tasks include animal healthcare, agricultural guidance, agricultural research, laboratory work, animal, and plant quarantine, implementing agricultural survey programmes, monitoring plant diseases, and issuing veterinary health certificates. In addition, trainees will be exposed to other aspects of the ministry's work, such as policymaking, legislation, food and biological diversity, and more. This comprehensive training approach will equip more Emiratis with the skills and knowledge necessary to contribute effectively to developing various professional fields.-- TradeArabia News Service First Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister of Serbia Ivica Dacic has denied allegations about the supposed export of weapons and military equipment to Ukraine, which was first published by the UK news agency Reuters, the Serbian Foreign Ministry said on its website. "Minister Dacic stated that the Republic of Serbia, observed internal and international legal acts and was not exporting weapons and military equipment to any country where it would enable an outbreak or continuation of armed conflicts, endanger the preservation of regional peace and security or endanger Serbia's own defence interests. He emphasised that the Republic of Serbia was observing its policy of military neutrality," according to the statement. The head of Serbian diplomacy more highlighted that, since the beginning of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Republic of Serbia had not exported weapons to either side in the conflict. Dacic also pointed out that Serbia only issues issued licenses for export of weapons and military equipment only to purchasers with an End-User Certificate, which, inter alia, included a clause stating that an end user may not re-export any weapons and military equipment without the approval of the competent institutions of the Republic of Serbia. At the same time, The New York Times said Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the intelligence wing of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, who oversaw a private online group called Thug Shaker, was involved in the leak of classified U.S. intelligence documents revealing information about the war in Ukraine. Central, which includes about 20-30 teenagers and young adults. The material came to light when one of the group's teenage members posted it on a public online forum. According to the publication, none of the members of the group had any intention of making these materials widely publicized. As reported earlier, Reuters, citing a Pentagon document, reported that Serbia, the only country in Europe that refused to impose sanctions on the Russian Federation for its invasion of Ukraine, had already agreed to supply weapons to Kiev or had already sent them. At the same time, Reuters emphasizes that it was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the document, which was one of dozens of classified documents about the war in Ukraine posted online in recent weeks. "The chart showed that Serbia declined to provide training to Ukrainian forces, but had committed to sending lethal aid or had supplied it already. It also said Serbia had the political will and military ability to provide weapons to Ukraine in the future," according to the statement. Weapon manufacturer Krusik Holding Corporation from Valjevo (Serbia) denies supplying missiles or other weapons to Ukraine. Reuters also said Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic called the allegations "blatant lies." "We have not exported any weapons or ammunition to Russia or Ukraine," he said during a March 5 visit to Qatar. On April 12, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said Serbia has not sold and does not intend to transfer weapons and ammunition to Ukraine, as well as to Russia. At the same time, he said the information that Serbia allegedly sells weapons to Ukraine was not made public for the first time. "Someone's goal is clearly to destabilize our country and drag it into a conflict in which we will not participate. We consistently adhere to the established policy," the head of the department said. Politics spotlight The City Wild parrots thrash sea lions, named SF's official animal Take a swim, sea lions. It is practically official wild parrots are San Franciscos city animal. Ingrid Taylar | Wikimedia Commons A wild parrot perches in San Francisco. The birds, featured in the film and book, The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, have been voted San Franciscos official animal (pending a change to The Citys administrative code). The Board of Supervisors approved a resolution Wednesday acknowledging the wild parrots victory in becoming San Franciscos official animal in a contest recently put on by the San Francisco Chronicle. The resolution technically only marked the supervisors intent to make the wild parrot The Citys official animal, which will require a change to The Citys administrative code. In a system nearly as complex as The Citys ranked-choice elections, the Chronicle held an online poll that took place in four stages over four weeks. Starting with a choice of 16 animals, the field was narrowed by half each week. When the contest was down to just wild parrots and sea lions in a head-to-head, winner-take-all duel for the ages, the wild parrots eked out a victory with 51.3% of the vote. According to the newspaper, the four rounds of voting saw more than 27,000 people participate. Both the wild parrots and the sea lions have a well-known presence in San Francisco. Sea lions have piled onto Pier 39 for decades, allowing tourists from landlocked locales to pose for pictures and gawk at the girthy sea beasts while stuffing chowder-soaked bread into their maws. Wild parrots were the subject of the 2003 documentary The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill, which is at least one more feature-length film than the Pier 39 sea lions have starred in. Parrots have had a presence in San Francisco since the 1980s, possibly due to an escape from a pet store. It was perhaps the fact that wild parrots specifically cherry-headed Conures are not native to San Francisco that made them the perfect fit for the City. Immigrants (of the human variety) make up about one-third of San Franciscos population, according to the most recent estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau. Mark Bittner, the human subject of The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill and author of a book about the wild parrots, said theyre well-known at Telegraph Hill, but parrots are actually present everywhere in San Francisco but the Outer Sunset. By Laura Dudnick Sea lions, a popular fixture at Pier 39, came in second in the poll. They are colorful, energetic, intelligent, and like many San Franciscans, come from somewhere else, Bittner said. He didnt see the fact that wild parrots are non-native to San Francisco as a problem. We live in an artificial environment, and theyre a really colorful representation of what we have created here, Bittner said. Supervisor Matt Dorsey addressed questions about why the board would weigh in on such frivolities at all. We can take seriously the serious problems we face, and we can celebrate the blessings of our city, Dorsey said. Other popular animals who failed to rise to the top included Claude the albino alligator, who resides at the California Academy of Sciences, and the blue-bellied San Francisco garter snake. The raccoon, sadly, failed to make it past the first round. Last weeks fatal stabbing of tech executive Bob Lee quickly became political, with national news outlets and the tech world referencing the incident to raise fears about violent crime in San Francisco, despite data showing the city actually has lower rates of violent crime than many other major U.S cities. The suspect named Thursday Nima Momeni of Emeryville, who officials said knew Lee beforehand stands in stark contrast to widespread speculation that the attack was a random mugging, or committed by a homeless person. To understand how these theories proliferated so quickly, we need to go back to the day of Tuesday, April 4. Police say the stabbing occurred at 2:30 a.m., and in the afternoon, identified the victim as only a A 43 y/o male from Mill Valley. At 8:01 p.m., MMA fighter Jake Shields tweeted to his 328,000 followers, I just found out my good friend was killed last night while walking him in San Francisco[.] He was in the 'good' part of the city and appeared to have been targeted in a random mugging/attack[.] Fk San Francisco[.] The tweet started to gain traction online, and not long after, NBC Bay Area identified Lee as the person who was stabbed and killed. At 9:25 p.m., Shields shared a screenshot of an SFGATE article citing NBC Bay Areas reporting and wrote, I didnt want to be the one to leak the name but now its out[.] Bob Lee is an extremely high profile tech guy so hopefully this will at least bring attention to these problems[.] The next day, the story was everywhere. Shields Twitter thread was cited in write-ups by the New York Post and others, and also garnered a response from Twitter owner Elon Musk, one of many prominent individuals to engage with the thread. At 8:24 a.m. Wednesday 12 hours after Shields initial viral tweet SFGATE sent a Twitter direct message to Shields asking for more info on the details [he] shared that Bob was walking in the city and likely mugged when he was stabbed. Eleven minutes later, Shields replied, Honestly I dont have many details. I just assumed mugging because Bob isnt a guy with enemies so it had to be random. Officials now say it very much was not random. SFGATE did not publish Shields' reply from last week, as the facts of the case were not yet clear, and elevating baseless speculation was not in the public interest. After police announced the arrest Thursday, SFGATE connected with Shields again through Twitter direct messages. Happy an arrest was made and extremely surprised it was someone bob knew because Ive never seen him in a dispute, he wrote. When SFGATE asked whether he feels the need to comment publicly on his past Twitter thread, he replied, No San Franciscos crime is completely out of control. You cant walk a block with out being harassed and stepping over human feces, syringes and broken glass. They have let the city decay far worse than any third world country Ive seen and instead of trying to fix the problem they are trying to use this as a political win. Shields has spent most of his Thursday on Twitter responding to backlash over him writing, We need to normalize fat shaming not body positivity. One of these tweets reads, Ive realized I was wrong and would like to sincerely apologize to the millions of fat people Ive offended[.] As a peace offering ill buy you a Big Mac, Fries, and a large milkshake. The fact that so much of the initial commentary on Lees death relied on information from a man who, just three tweets before sharing the news of Lees death, wrote, If you are sleeping with lots of women they will all fight for your attention and try and convince you to only sleep with them[.] If youre sleeping with no women they will look at you with disgust and call you an incel[.] This is a biological reality, is a topic for a different day. For now, San Francisco leaders moderate and progressive alike are criticizing those who spread evidence-free theories of the stabbing. While were not going to release any additional facts at this time, I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements serve to mislead the world and their perceptions of San Francisco, District Attorney Brooke Jenkins, who campaigned for the recall of her progressive predecessor Chesa Boudin, said at a Thursday press conference. And also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime, as it spreads misinformation at a time when police are trying to solve a very difficult case. We all should and must do better about not contributing to the spread of such disinformation. So many folks with a following on social media were immediately pouncing and blaming homeless people, thats what I saw the most, District 5 Supervisor Dean Preston, the boards lone democratic socialist, told SFGATE on Thursday. They were doing this at a time they knew nothing about the incident. They could have expressed condolences for Lees family and concerns about violent crime without jumping to that conclusion. Anyone who made those assumptions publicly should correct themselves. SFGATE news editor Amy Graff contributed to this report. Editor's note: This story contains racist and offensive language. A scandal involving racist text messages sent between Antioch police officers led to mayhem during a Tuesday city council meeting. At one particularly intense moment, Mayor Lamar Thorpe stormed out of the council chamber following a heated interaction with a member of the community. Thorpe, who is Black, was the subject of at least one of several text messages revealed in a new report showing that officers in the citys police department routinely used racist slurs when discussing Black people and other minorities. In one exchange referencing the Black Lives Matter protests in 2020, an officer reportedly sent a text to his colleagues in which he promised to buy a prime rib dinner for anyone who shot Thorpe with nonlethal bullets from a .40 mm launcher. A video of Tuesdays meeting showed that nearly three dozen community members, many of them Black, signed up to speak to the council. Several talked about brutality they said they suffered at the hands of Antioch police, and pointed to the newly revealed text messages as evidence that a culture of racism exists within the department. This comes as no surprise, one resident said. Ive been talking about whats going on out here since way before I moved out here, 30 or 40 years ago. Its disgusting, its vile, and were not going to tolerate this. Also present at the meeting were parents who said their children had been killed by Antioch police. The mother and father of Angelo Quinto, a 30-year-old Filipino American who died in 2020 shortly after an encounter with officers, spoke at the meeting to share their story. When paramedics arrived at Quintos home where he had been restrained by police while experiencing a mental health crisis they found that his face was purple in color, there was blood on his face and the floor, and he was unresponsive, according to a report from NBC Bay Area. He later died from his injuries at an area hospital. Quintos mother spoke to the council through tears, while his father held her steady. Its clear that this is a cultural and systemic issue that has deep roots in the Antioch Police Department and the city as whole, she said. If someone is quiet about this, they are complicit. They are part of the cover-up, and the problem. My son Angelo is just one victim of the many, and with these texts, we know the community is a much larger victim. The meeting began to turn tense shortly after Quintos family spoke. A man, identified by news outlets as Sal Sbranti, came to the podium. In his remarks, Sbranti insulted Thorpe and said he should be investigated to determine if he has created a hostile work environment. He also suggested that Thorpes text messages should be audited, to which Thorpe responded by encouraging such an audit. Sbranti finished his comments by suggesting that it takes several years to change the culture of a workplace, and despite the newly released text messages, said he believes the citys police department was in the process of positive change. If you keep changing people, keep making excuses of a poor job, you, our city council, [are to blame], Sbranti said, seemingly referring to the multiple shakeups of police department administrators over the past few years. Members of the audience jeered as he walked away from the podium. Thorpe then began pointing and shouting at Sbranti and the people he was with, accusing the man of dog-whistle racism. [Youre] an apologist for whats absolutely wrong with this city. You want to go outside right now? Lets go, he said as other members of the city council tried to calm him down. I am sick and tired of being attacked by these people apologizing for the racism that is going on in this community. Youre the problem. Youre the problem. Thorpe sat back down and remained silent as other members of the council tried to get control of the audience, who could be heard shouting at one another in the video. When the council adjourned for a recess, Thorpe loudly banged his gavel before standing up and leaving through a door behind the dais, slamming it shut as he went. The meeting resumed a short time later, with Thorpe back in his seat. He apologized for his outburst and said that the revelation of the texts was especially hard for him because he had been referenced in them. This is personal to me, and even if I wasnt referenced in this, all I heard was [N-word, N-word, N-word], he said, referring to the contents of the texts. And that is personal to me. That should be personal to everybody in this room. The texts the details of which were first reported by the Mercury News are part of a broader FBI and Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office investigation into current and former Antioch and Pittsburg police officers, who are under scrutiny for allegations of fraud, bribery, drug distribution and civil rights violations related to the use of force. SFGATE requested to see a copy of the report, which was released to attorneys on Friday, but calls to the Contra Costa County District Attorneys Office were not returned. The Mercury News reported that many of the messages contain racist or homophobic slurs, including calling Black people gorillas, monkeys and water buffalo. Officers reportedly also bragged about falsifying reports and using violence during arrests. I was bummed that beast was so fat cuz he didnt bruise up very fast, one officer reportedly said in a text to a police sergeant, referencing a Black man who was arrested and charged with a felony. It never looks good on black guys, the sergeant reportedly responded. The other officer then replied: Just like jobs and responsibilities. In another alleged exchange, an officer said a woman called him a racist cop. The president of the citys police union, Sgt. Rick Hoffman, reportedly laughed and replied, Well, she has a point. The officer then responded, I never said I took offense to it, before another officer said the first officer isnt racist he just hates women. Apart from using vile and racist language with one another, officers also seemed to revel in flouting department procedure. In a particularly disturbing exchange detailed by the Mercury News, one officer sent a message to an officer in another city in which he said, Since we dont have video I sometimes just say people gave me a full confession when they didnt. Gets filed easier. The city council voted to require Antioch police to wear body cameras in July 2021, more than a year after the alleged exchange. Multiple officers in the department are on leave while the FBI investigates, and at least two officers under investigation have resigned, according to the Mercury News. Switzerland intends to allocate at least $1.7 bln to Ukraine until 2028 media Switzerland is ready to provide long-term support and intends to allocate at least $1.7 billion more for Ukraine until 2028, Swiss Info said, citing Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis. "Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis has emphasised Switzerlands commitment to long-term support for Ukraine. The government said it intends to provide at least another CHF 1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) by 2028," according to the Swiss Info website on Thursday. It is noted that "the support is to be provided as part of the international cooperation strategy for 2025 to 2028, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday." "Together with the CHF 300 million earmarked for 2023 and 2024, Switzerland would support Ukraine with at least CHF 1.8 billion over the next six years," according to the statement. In addition, the Foreign Minister, speaking at the spring meeting of the World Bank Group (WBG) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in Washington, DC, also emphasised the importance of the Lugano Declaration, the result of the first conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, held in the Swiss city of Lugano in July 2022. The Declaration provides seven principles for Ukraine's recovery process: partnership, focus on reform, transparency, democratic participation, multi-stakeholder engagement, equality and sustainability. Cassis said "contains important guiding principles for reforms and transparency which are necessary for sustainable reconstruction." Before the conference in Washington, the head of the Swiss Foreign Ministry held consultations with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. San Francisco police on Thursday identified 38-year-old Nima Momeni of Emeryville as the suspect arrested in the April 4 stabbing death of tech executive Bob Lee. Momeni faces one charge of murder with a special enhancement alleging a knife was used in the crime, the San Francisco Police Department and District Attorneys Office said in a press conference. Police Chief Bill Scott said evidence obtained in the investigation revealed that Momeni and Lee knew each other, but the police chief did not elaborate on the nature of their relationship. We can confirm that Mr. Lee and Mr. Momeni knew each other, Scott said. However, we cant at this time comment on the evidence that confirms that information. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE At the press conference, Scott was pressed repeatedly to share more information about the relationship between Momeni and Lee, including whether there was an altercation between the two and what they had been doing together before the stabbing occurred. The police chief reiterated that he could not comment further and explained that the department wants to be careful not to release any information that will come back and haunt us or the prosecution of this case. I understand how hard that is. I know everybody wants answers. But please be patient with us on this because we are where we are in terms of the arrest, the filing of charges. Theres still more work to be done, though, Scott said. Police detained Momeni at his Emeryville residence without incident Thursday morning, and he was taken to the San Francisco County jail, Scott said. Momenis arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Friday. My office will be filing a motion to detain Mr. Momeni without bail to ensure that he remains in custody during the pendency of this case, due to the obvious and severe public safety risks that we believe that he poses to the public, Jenkins said. Screenshot via Twitter The San Francisco Police Department said it responded to a report of a stabbing in San Franciscos Rincon Hill neighborhood just after 2:30 a.m., April 4. At the scene, officers found Lee with stab wounds and provided medical aid. Lee was rushed to Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. In the days following the killing, police released few details and did not comment on whether the attack was targeted or random. Surveillance video shared by media outlets captured the moments after Lee was stabbed and showed that he had his cellphone. Audio records indicated that he called 911. At the time of his death, Lee was visiting San Francisco from Miami, where he had recently moved. He previously lived in Mill Valley and worked for more than two decades in Silicon Valley as a software engineer, investor and executive at tech companies. He also helped launch Cash App while at Square. Most recently, Lee was the chief product officer for MobileCoin, a cryptocurrency startup. Bob was made for the new world, MobileCoin founder Joshua Goldbard wrote in his statement. He was the quintessential creator, leader, and consummate hacker. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Lees death spurred an outcry by people working in tech who claimed the attack on Lee proved violent crime in San Francisco is surging. In Thursdays press conference, Scott addressed the recent discourse portraying the city as a lawless and crime-ridden city. This is more about human nature and human behavior than it is about our city, Scott said. You take this out of San Francisco, that they knew each other, you put it in another city, and Im not going to name any other city because I dont want to do that to any other city, but just put it in any other city. I dont believe it would have changed the circumstances one bit. Research shows that most people who commit homicides know the people that they kill. Chris Partin/Special to SFGATE The police department recorded 56 homicides in both 2022 and 2021. Since the start of 2023, there have been 13 homicides in San Francisco, according to preliminary police data. At this time last year, there had also been 13. Even with a staffing shortage & challenging street conditions, SFPD is good at solving murders: Its clearance rate is 85% vs. a 50-60% national average, California state Sen. Scott Wiener wrote on Twitter on Thursday. This breaking news story has been updated. Currently Reading Alert: Prosecutor: A 38-year-old man will be charged with murder in the stabbing death of Cash App founder Bob Lee This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 DIMMITT, Texas (AP) An explosion at a dairy farm in the Texas Panhandle that critically injured one person and killed an estimated 18,000 head of cattle is the deadliest barn fire recorded since the Animal Welfare Institute began tracking the fires. Castro County Sheriff Salvador Rivera has said the Monday fire and explosion at Southfork Dairy Farm near Dimmitt was likely caused by overheated equipment and would be investigated by state fire marshals. This article was first published on NerdWallet.com. For many people, one of the key steps in estate planning is making sure their children are treated fairly when it comes to inheritance. But fair doesnt always mean equal, especially if your family situation or assets are complicated. In some circumstances, giving kids equal inheritances may not be the best option. Equal inheritances have actually become less common, in fact. According to data from the University of Michigans Health and Retirement Study, the proportion of parents over 50 who reported treating children unequally in their wills rose from 16% to almost 35% between 1995 and 2010. Leaving unequal inheritances can be a risky move, though. According to a 2018 Merrill Edge Report, 1 in 3 Americans say their financial stability depends on receiving an inheritance. The stakes can be high for siblings and their parents. When to leave an unequal inheritance Although it can be simpler to split your assets evenly among your beneficiaries, you might feel strongly about helping an adult child who is struggling, or maybe you want to leave less to a child youve already financially supported. Perhaps you want to set up a trust for a child with functional needs or give more to an adult child who has children of their own. One of the most common reasons people leave unequal inheritances is to address uncompensated caregiving from an adult child. In a 2018 study by Merrill Lynch and Age Wave, two-thirds of the respondents said that children who have provided care to them in their later years should receive a larger inheritance than those who did not. Attorney Susan H. Levin, who specializes in elder law and estate planning at Rosenberg, Freedman & Lee in Newton, Massachusetts, says that when a child has had to compromise their lifestyle to take care of a parent such as giving up a job or working part time instead of full time the parent understands the sacrifice and often wants to favor that child with the inheritance. According to the Merrill Lynch and Age Wave study, many parents also feel that children who need the money most should get more. That may mean leaving less to kids who are relatively well-off. For example, Levin says she recently worked with a client who has five adult children, four of whom own homes. The fifth child, a daughter, has struggled financially due to health issues. The client plans to leave her home to the daughter and leave a second property to a son who manages her properties and performs all her repairs for free. Because the client has few assets outside of these two properties, these bequests leave very little for her other three children, Levin says, resulting in a very unequal distribution. How to prevent conflict Although unequal inheritances are often intended to reward children for their help or to ensure children are left in the best financial condition possible, Levin says, disputes can occur if one sibling feels that another sibling didnt earn the extra inheritance. Those squabbles can quickly escalate from hurt feelings to legal battles, but four things may help minimize the strife. 1. Explain your wishes If possible, have an honest conversation with your heirs to explain what youve decided to leave them and why before its too late. Consider including an estate planning attorney to ensure that everyone understands the tax implications and liabilities associated with the assets. A professional mediator can help siblings work through emotional reactions. If you dont feel comfortable speaking directly to your family, another option is a handwritten letter. I tell [clients] to write it in their own words and explain why theyre doing what theyre doing, Levin says. This move can also help defend your will if it is contested in court, which can happen if an heir feels that another beneficiary had undue influence over you in order to receive a bigger inheritance. 2. Add a deterrent Despite your explanation, your heirs may still disagree with your choices and decide to contest the will in probate court. One way to discourage heirs from contesting your will is to insert a no-contest clause stipulating, for instance, that anyone who contests the will and loses forfeits the right to any inheritance, Levin says. However, these clauses arent interpreted the same way in every state, so consult an estate planning attorney in your state to make sure your wills wording will stand in court. 3. Consider setting up a trust in addition to your will If youre more concerned with the use of your assets for example, if youre thinking of giving a smaller inheritance to a child whos irresponsible with money consider a trust, Levin says. A spendthrift trust, for example, lets a trustee decide when and how much of the inheritance a beneficiary receives over time. You could also set up an educational trust to preserve funds for school expenses. In addition, trusts can help in blended families by providing for a spouse but not children from a previous marriage, for example, and in some cases, they may have the added benefit of minimizing estate taxes. Trusts are typically harder to contest because, unlike wills, they usually bypass probate, which is the court-supervised legal process to distribute a deceased persons assets. 4. Invest in meaningful relationships Financial need can certainly motivate someone to contest a parents will in court, but emotional baggage can also have an impact. Long-held sibling resentments can bubble to the surface at the end of a parents life, and a larger inheritance may look like a preference for a favored child. In Levins experience, the more secure children feel in their relationships with their parents, the more likely they are to accept the decision to leave an unequal inheritance. You don't want to do this in a way that's going to create conflict within the family. You really want your kids to get along and continue whatever your family's traditions are. We don't want to set this up in a way that's going to harm them, Levin says. Dalia Ramirez writes for NerdWallet. Email: dramirez@nerdwallet.com. The article When Leaving an Unequal Inheritance Makes Sense originally appeared on NerdWallet. WASHINGTON (AP) The White House on Thursday announced a star-studded slate of members for the President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, a panel of artists, museum professionals, academics and philanthropists that serves as an advisory board to President Joe Biden on culture issues. The group will be co-chaired by Bruce Cohen, an Academy Award-winning producer known for films such as American Beauty and Silver Linings Playbook," and pop megastar and Grammy Award winner Lady Gaga, also known as Stefani Germanotta, according to the White House. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEW YORK (AP) Colman Domingo believes in paying it forward, literally so he joined the producer team of the Broadway play, Fat Ham. Recently, at a curated cookout in New York before the show's opening night, the Emmy-winning and Tony-nominated actor said his goal is to hold the door open for Black, queer expression. You give back to the things that you want to promote, so I want theater like this to happen, Domingo said during an interview with The Associated Press. Fat Ham, the Pulitzer Prize-winner by James Ijames refreshes Hamlet, Shakespeares tragic tale of the Danish prince, putting him at a modern-day Southern cookout. This version centers around Juicy, a young, gay, Black man disturbed by his mothers decision to marry the brother of her dead husband, just like Hamlet. I felt like this was so beautiful and doing all the things that I hope theater can do. And how it would show Black families how you can reexamine Hamlet. And it is a modern inflection in the mouths of people I know. Shakespeare belongs to everyone, and you dont have to be someone who knows First Folio or anything like that, Domingo said referring to the original versions of Shakespeares plays. Make no mistake, Domingo has a deep respect for the classics, especially the Rogers and Hammerstein masterpiece The King and I, as well as playwrights Eugene ONeill, August Wilson, and Henrik Ibsen. But he also feels that diverse Black voices need to be heard too. As an artist, its always been very important to me to make sure that were not monolithic in our experience, Domingo said. After seeing a performance of Fat Ham at the Public Theater, Domingo admits being so emotionally struck by what was happening that he let the powers that be know that Im very interested in being part of it and helping to move it forward in whatever way. Last season, Michael R. Jacksons Strange Loop took home a slew of Tony Awards, including best musical, helping clear the way for a play like Fat Ham. I think years ago a show like this would not have made it to Broadway, Domingo said. The Emmy-winning actor says the pandemic-induced shutdown was a strong catalyst for the inclusive storytelling that audiences are seeing these days on Broadway. The pandemic helped shift a lot. I think Broadway had to do some reexamination of who it was and who it wants to be, who is it catering to, Domingo said, adding: Broadway, for a long time, was catering to the outsiders. He added: They werent thinking about New Yorkers and what people who live here represent who actually make this city up. And I think that New York has been challenged to go back to the service of the people and the that stories matter. But Domingo also looks back to a show he did in 2007, Passing Strange, as an early bellwether. I think many people look to Passing Strange, as being such an avant-garde, out-there, beautiful examination of Blackness, Domingo said of the Tony-nominated musical by Stew. We feel like it laid waste to all the Hamiltons and In the Heights, and things like that, to be honest. DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. (AP) Jared Drake Bell, an actor best known as a star of the Nickelodeon television show Drake & Josh, was found safe on Thursday, hours after authorities in Florida said he was missing and endangered. Bell was in touch with police officers and wasn't in danger, Daytona Beach Police Department spokesperson Carrie McCallister said in an email, without providing further details. At this time we can confirm law enforcement officials are in contact and Mr. Bell is safe, McCallister said. McCallister referred requests for further details to the Orange County Sheriff's Office in Orlando, which didn't respond to an emailed message. Hours earlier, the police department put out a statement declaring Bell missing and endangered" and asked the public for help in locating him. Before being found mid-day Thursday, Bell was last seen Wednesday night near a Daytona Beach high school. Representatives for the 36-year-old actor did not immediately reply to The Associated Press requests for comment. Bell began acting as a child and was catapulted to fame as a teen with Nickelodeons The Amanda Show and later Drake & Josh. The Nickelodeon show starring Bell and Josh Peck ran from 2004 until 2007, and was accompanied by two movies. Since then, Bell has mostly worked as a voice actor in addition to roles in little-seen TV series and movies. He also launched a music career. In 2021, Bell was charged with child endangerment relating to a girl who attended a 2017 concert of his in Cleveland when she was 15 and had met him online years before. He pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment and a misdemeanor charge of disseminating matter harmful to juveniles and was sentenced to two years probation. He was allowed to serve his probation and 200 hours of community service in California. An experienced surfer in Hawaii has lost his right foot after a shark attack in the waters around Honolulu. Mike Morita, 58, of Oahu suffered a shark bite at around 6:30 a.m. on Sunday, April 9, in Kewalo Basin, which is near the citys famed Waikiki Beach, a popular destination for visitors. He was a regular at the basin, his son, Kamu Morita, told Hawaii News Now. After the attack, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources patrolled the area to discourage visitors from swimming or surfing there. Kamu described the attack on his father, which likely involved an 8-foot-long tiger shark, according to DLNR. It was a struggle according to him, he got a few blows in, but the shark just wouldnt let go, Kamu told Hawaii News Now. Somehow after he was getting tossed around, he kind of came face-to-face with (the shark) with his foot still in its mouth and he was able to kind of bear hug it and dig the gills and eyes and thats really when it finally let go. Screenshot via GoFundMe Other surfers in the area came to Mike Moritas aid. My friends tied tourniquets on my leg with their leashes and thats hard to do, hard to tie a leash and use it as a tourniquet, Morita told KHON2. Morita will undergo another surgery this week as he continues to recover, and his family is raising funds through GoFundMe to help pay for his medical expenses. SFGATE reached out to Moritas family for comment but did not receive a response as of publication time. Stephen Frink/Getty Images Oahu saw 32 shark incidents from 1995 to 2022, but Maui is where most shark attacks in Hawaii occur, with 62 recorded incidents over the same period, according to DLNR. At the end of March, The Connecticut Department of Energy & Environmental Protection (DEEP) warned residents to watch out for bears coming out of hibernation. But according to social media, Connecticut residents have experienced run-ins with the animals all year. In 2022, most of these bear sightings were centralized in the northern and central regions of Connecticut, according to DEEPs 2022 "State of the Bears" report. Black bears are not "true hibernators," DEEP said, but instead they practice denning from November to March and hide away from colder weather conditions. This is why bears have been spotted underneath fallen trees, sheds and in Marty the Bears case, a deck. DEEP also found that Black bear appearances have also been on the rise in Connecticut in recent years, with the number of reported sightings of sow, or female bears, with offspring nearly doubling over the past seven years. With the denning season over, here are some recent CT bear moments for you to end your week with. Two bears play on trampoline in Simsbury On Wednesday, a woman in Simsbury shared a video of two bears playing on her trampoline. The two bears stayed there for nearly an hour and besides popping a few balls, they didnt cause any damage, she told WFSB. Bear steals Easter candy on Windsor lawn A bear crashed a Windsor Easter egg hunt, opening the eggs and eating the candy inside, a video shared with WFSB shows. A mother bear walked onto the lawn with her cub and ate the chocolate, Jennifer Lopez, who took the video, told WFSB. Avon resident films bear crossing the road with cub During his routine bike ride on March 26, Avon resident Jairaj Chetnani filmed a black bear and her cub stopping traffic to cross the road. The presumed mother walked into the middle of the street and put her cub down for it to walk alongside her. "I stopped to take a quick picture/video, and the mama bear started to climb up to the railing to cross the road," Chetnani told Hearst CT. "I could see that the mama bear was evaluating me as a potential threat to her little cub, and the last thing I needed was her charging at me." Two New Milford pigs defend their pen against bear On March 19, two New Milford pigs defended themselves against a young bear after it climbed into their pen, security footage shows. Mary, a large, white pig, headbutted the bear into the fence, and Hamlet, a smaller, black pig, then charged after the young animal. The bear climbed back over the fence after a brief stare-down, and the pigs were unharmed, Rebecca Shaw, their owner, said. Not even a scratch, Shaw said. Im still blown away. Marty the Bear hibernates under Plainville couple's porch A black bear hibernated underneath the porch of a couple in Plainville this past winter. After the initial discovery in December, the couple named the bear Marty and created him his own Instagram profile, which amassed more than 13,000 followers. On March 19, the family shared a video of Marty departing his den for the spring. "I'm upset. I hope he comes back next winter, just for all the fans and everybody that wants to hear about Marty with updates," Dashukewich told Hearst CT on March 16. "It would be cool for him to return every year but we'll see." Multiple bear sightings reported in New Canaan during January The New Canaan Police Department announced several reports of a bear sighting on North Wilton Road on the week of January 17 and shared photos on Facebook of bears on the lawn and battling a bird feeder. Police reminded residents that bears do not hibernate all winter and may forage in search of food. To report a bear sighting, visit DEEP's website or email DEEP.Wildlife@CT.gov. If you report a bear sighting, include information on whether the bear has ear tags, including the tag number or color. NEW YORK (AP) If you've waited till the last minute to file your taxes, don't panic. The tax deadline is Tuesday, but you still have time to get it done. If you are worried that you might not be able to finish in time, you can file for an extension, though thats not ideal (more on that below.) Whether you do your taxes yourself, go to a tax clinic or hire a professional, navigating the tax system can be complicated and stressful. Courtney Alev, a consumer financial advocate for Credit Karma, recommends you go easy on yourself. Take a breath. Take some time, set out an hour, or go through it over the weekend. Youll hopefully see that its a lot simpler than you think, Alev said. If you find the process too confusing, there are plenty of free resources to help you get through it. Here's what you need to know: WHEN IS THE DEADLINE TO FILE TAXES? Taxpayers have until Tuesday to submit their returns from 2022. If you're filing by mail rather than online, the return has to be properly addressed and postmarked by Tuesday. The deadline has been extended for parts of California, Alabama, Georgia, New York, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Indiana that were hard hit by severe weather. You can check here to see if that applies to you. WHAT DO I NEED TO FILE MY TAX RETURN? While the required documents might depend on your individual case, here is a general list of what everyone needs: Social Security number W-2 forms, if you are employed 1099-G, if you are unemployed 1099 forms, if you are self-employed Savings and investment records Any eligible deduction, such as educational expenses, medical bills, charitable donations, etc. Tax credits, such as child tax credit, retirement savings contributions credit, etc. To find a more detailed document list, visit the IRS website. Tom OSaben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Professionals, recommends gathering all of your documents in one place before you start your tax return and also having your documents from last year if your financial situation has drastically changed. Theresa Grover, site coordinator for the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program at Northeast Wisconsin Technical College, also recommends taxpayers create an identity protection PIN number with the IRS to guard against identity theft. Once you create a number, the IRS will require it to file your tax return. HOW DO I FILE MY TAXES? You can either file your taxes online or on paper. However, there is a big time difference between the two options. Paper filing can take up to six months for the IRS to process, while electronic filing cuts it down to three weeks. WHAT RESOURCES ARE OUT THERE? For those who make $73,000 or less per year, the IRS offers free guided tax preparation that does the math for you. If you have questions while working on your tax forms, the IRS also offers an interactive tax assistant tool that can provide answers based on your information. Beyond the popular companies such as TurboTax and H&R Block, taxpayers can also hire licensed professionals, such as certified public accountants. The IRS offers a directory of tax preparers across the United States. The IRS also funds two types of programs that offer free tax help: VITA and the Tax Counseling for the Elderly program (TCE). People who earn $60,000 or less a year, have disabilities or are limited English speakers, qualify for the VITA program. Those who are 60 or older, qualify for the TCE program. The IRS has a site for locating organizations hosting VITA and TCE clinics. If you have a tax problem, there are clinics around the country that can help you resolve these issues. Generally, these tax clinics also offer services in other languages such as Spanish, Chinese and Vietnamese. HOW CAN I AVOID MISTAKES IN MY TAX RETURN? Many people fear getting in trouble with the IRS if they make a mistake. Here's how to avoid some of the most common ones: Double check your name on your Social Security card. When working with clients, OSaben always asks them to bring their Social Security card to double-check their number and their legal name, which can change when when people get married. You may have changed your name but you didnt change it with Social Security, OSaben said. If the Social Security number doesnt match to the first four letters of the last name, the return will be rejected and that will delay processing. Search for tax statements if you have opted out of paper mail. Many people like to opt out of snail mail, but paper mail can also include your tax documents. If you didnt get anything in the mail doesnt mean that there isnt an information document out there that you need to be aware of and report accordingly, OSaben said. Make sure you report all of your income. If you had more than one job in 2022, you need the W-2 forms for each not just the one from the job you ended the year with, says Christina Wease, interim director of the tax clinic at Michigan State University. Additionally, if you have a business that uses PayPal or Venmo as a service, it must be reported in your tax return. For 2022, the use of those services needs to be reported if they amounted to 200 transactions in the calendar year and more than $20,000 in sales from goods or services. WHAT IF I MAKE A MISTAKE ON MY TAX RETURN? Mistakes happen, and the IRS takes different approaches depending on each case. In general, if you make a mistake or youre missing something in your tax records, the IRS will audit you, Alev said. An audit means that the IRS will ask you for more documentation. Generally, they are very understanding and willing to work with folks. Youre not going to get arrested if you type in the wrong field, Alev said. HOW DO I FILE A TAX EXTENSION? If you run out of time to file your tax return, you can file for an extension. However, it is important to remember that the extension is only to file your taxes, not to pay them. If you owe taxes, you should pay an estimated amount before the deadline so you avoid paying penalties and interest. If you expect to receive a refund, you will still receive your money when you file your taxes. The deadline to file for an extension is Tuesday, which will give you until Oct. 16 to file your taxes. You can file for an extension through your tax software or preparer of preference, the IRS Free File tool or via mail. WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FILE TAXES LATE? If you missed the tax deadline and you didnt file for an extension, there are several penalties that you might receive. If you missed the deadline you might receive a failure-to-file penalty. This penalty will be 5% of the unpaid taxes for each month the tax return is late, according to the IRS. If you owe taxes and you didnt pay them prior to the tax deadline, you will receive a failure-to-pay penalty. Interest will also be charged on both taxes and penalties owed. If you are due for a refund, you will not receive a penalty and you will receive your tax return payment. If you had special circumstances that meant you were unable to file or pay your taxes on time, you might be able to remove or reduce your penalty. If the amount of taxes you owe becomes too large, you can apply for a payment plan. Payment plans will allow you to pay off over time. WHAT IF I HAVEN'T FILED TAXES FOR YEARS? Wease explains that you can file taxes late and, if you were supposed to get a refund, you might still get it. If you havent filed for years and you owe money to the IRS, you may be hit with penalties but the agency will can work with you to manage payment plans. HOW CAN I AVOID SCAMS? Tax season is prime time for tax scams, according to the IRS. These scams can come via phone, text, email and social media. The IRS uses none of those means to contact taxpayers. Sometimes scams are even operated by tax preparers so it's important to ask lots of questions. If a tax preparer says you will get a refund that is larger than what youve received in previous years, for example, that may be a red flag, OSaben said. If you can't see what your tax preparer is working on, get a copy of the tax return and ask questions about each of the entries. HOW LONG SHOULD I KEEP COPIES OF MY TAX RETURNS? It's always good practice to keep a record of your tax returns, just in case the IRS audits you for an item you reported years ago. Both Wease and O'Saben recommend keeping copies of your tax return documents for up to seven years. ___ Follow all of APs financial wellness coverage at: https://apnews.com/hub/financial-wellness ___ The Associated Press receives support from Charles Schwab Foundation for educational and explanatory reporting to improve financial literacy. The independent foundation is separate from Charles Schwab and Co. Inc. The AP is solely responsible for its journalism. KYIV. April 13 (Interfax-Ukraine) The Chamber of Architecture of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine and the Design4Ukraine association will present at the Venice Biennale 2023 the Ukrainian DNA - DNA UCRAINO joint project, which will be exhibited in Venice from May 18 to June 20. "This art and research architectural project is an attempt to show our identity for everyone in particular and for the world in general. Since 2014, Ukraine has not been represented at the architectural Biennale. Today we must change this," said the Ukrainian DNA project curator, deputy head of the Chamber of Architecture of the National Union of Architects of Ukraine, architect Anna Kyrii at a press conference at the Interfax-Ukraine agency on Thursday. The project manager is Italian marketing expert Roberto Bianconi, the curators, in addition to Kyrii, are Design4Ukraine Ambassador in Switzerland, researcher of design, arts and crafts Anastasia Biletska, Design4Ukraine Ambassador in Italy, ceramic artist Hanna Manako, PhD in architecture, member of the National Union of Architects Olha Neshta, co-owner and director of Maino Design Ukraine Sana Moreau, president of the Italian association Scuola Permanente dell'Abitare Edoardo Milesi and president of Design4Ukraine Yaroslav Belinsky. "It is very important that our Ukrainian architects participate in the future restoration of Ukraine, who would work together with the European professional community. The project that we are preparing for the Biennale should create a laboratory where there will be a direct dialogue between specialists from different countries, with honest and transparent rules for effective assistance to Ukraine," commented project curator Hanna Manako. The project will be located on the island of Giudecca, in the hall of the monastery of Santi Cosma e Damiano. The space was provided by the association Scuola Permanente dell'Abitare, architect Edoardo Milesi, and the Bevilacqua La Masa Foundation. The Ukrainian DNA - DNA UCRAINO project at the Biennale will include three installations: a series of vytynankas (openwork cutting out of paper, birch bark, fabric, leather) Merezhyvo Stolt by Daria Alioshkina, works from the rhizome of wheat Rizoma by Diana Bilichenko and a series of graphic pictograms Zustrich. Poza Chasom by Ornella Ostapenko. The project will also include an interactive lecture hall and a time capsule that will contain a film edited from video messages from Ukrainian architects. "We want to collect as many of your stories and appeals to the world as possible. Especially appeals from architects who are now at the front protecting us all in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. We are regaining our voice, our history, our past and future at an extremely high price. We invite you become part of a common project and speak with the world, because we have something to say," Kyrii said. urator Olha Neshta also expressed hope for synchronization of communication with the Ministry for Communities and Territories Development and Infrastructure, which on April 12 announced its participation in the Biennale. "The theme of the Biennale this year is the Laboratory of the Future, and now it is impossible to imagine such a discussion without Ukraine. It would be very good if all Ukrainian projects synchronize communication. The national pavilion and niche initiatives on the international platform will together have the opportunity to present multidimensionality - show and tell to the world community about Ukrainian architecture, about our architects and find international partners for the restoration of the country in the future," she said. Video contact form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1lmlpriKRIDJ_PHI32qne4gXPMUFNX9dMJ_jJaewH41k BEND, Ore. When Im game for an outdoor adventure, Ive found I havent had to look hard to find like-minded, adventurous women in Bend. Most recently, I discovered HikerBabes, a community of diverse and supportive women who love hiking and feel strongly about preserving and respecting the outdoors. The community was founded in Bend by Monique Redmon but has since spread far and wide, amassing more than 200 chapters globally, including chapters in Canada, the United Kingdom, Switzerland and Spain, according its website. Last month alone, the Central Oregon chapter hosted 15 hikes, sometimes on consecutive days, and, in one instance, two on the same day. The abundance of outings of varying locales, distances and times made it easy to find one that fit into my schedule. A few weeks ago, I joined an excursion up to Chimney Rock in Prineville. The 2.7-mile-out-and-back in the Crooked River Basin is about an hour drive from Bend. Its best hiked during the winter or fall since its mostly exposed and conditions can pose unbearably hot during the summer season. However, in mid-March, we had to negotiate large swaths of mud. It clumped to my boots, and in a few instances, I found myself sliding. I brought my dog, Juno, along for the journey and we were embraced with open arms by the four other women. We plodded along at a slow, steady pace. At one point, I paused to snap a photo of the Crooked River with peaks rising up on either side. It was then that I noticed the group had stopped to wait for me farther up the trail. One of the tenets of HikerBabes is that no hiker shall be left behind. This involves waiting at trail junctions, water crossings and other difficult sections along the trail. Ambassador Nicole Phanco was at the helm and kept an eye on the members in the group, making occasional stops for us to take a breather or eat a snack. No one ever has to worry about being slow with HikerBabes, Phanco said. It was satisfying to reach Chimney Rock, a 30-foot basalt outcrop with sweeping views of the Crooked River Canyon. Below the base of the towering rock was a bench, around which the four of us gathered to enjoy our achievement. Learn more Visit HikerBabes at hikerbabescommunity.com or join the Facebook group HikerBabes Community: Central Oregon chapter, to stay in the loop. Note Its required to sign a waiver acknowledging the HikerBabes oath, which may be done by commenting on the link to the document listed under the files tab on the Facebook group. Getting there From Bend, head east on Highway 20 for 18 miles. Then make a left turn onto Highway 27 toward Bowman Dam and Prineville Reservoir. The trailhead is on the opposite side of the road from the Chimney Rock Campground and there is space for parking on either side. This story originally appeared in the Bulletin of Bend, Ore. 2023 The Bulletin. Visit bendbulletin.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC San Franciscos Little Italy, which locals call North Beach, is famous for its rich Italian heritage, countless trattorias, bakeries and cafes, a vibrant nightlife, and nearby city landmarks that include the historic Coit Tower at the top of Telegraph Hill. Situated between touristy Fishermans Wharf and the citys bustling Chinatown, its a buzzy spot that draws locals and tourists in equal measure. If youre new to the area or havent visited in a minute, keep reading for the best places get a taste of Little Italy in San Franciscos North Beach. Visit a historic bakery or cozy cafe North Beach is home to a handful of old and new bakeries that should be on any visitors list. Founded in 1911, Victoria Pastry Co. offers a range of classic Italian pastries, from Napoleons to cannolis to slices of Princess cake. Another joint thats been open for more than a century and still pleases is Liguria Bakery, a family-owned spot that specializes in one thing only: heavenly focaccia. Just know that it closes by 2 p.m. and is often sold out by 11 a.m., so getting there early is advised. Stella Pastry & Cafe, another historic bakery, has been serving baked goods like its famous Sacripantina a multilayered sponge cake made with zabaglione since 1942. More recent additions include Toscano Brothers, which opened in 2021 and quickly became a favorite spot for its tasty bagels, sourdough bread and baked treats like decadent Butterscotch Budino and ricotta lemon cake. Alongside its selection of great bakeries, North Beach is also home to a number of cozy cafes perfect for sipping espresso and general people-watching. Opened in 1956, Caffe Trieste has been called the first espresso coffee house on the West Coast. This gem is known for its Beatnik history and for being the place where Francis Ford Coppola allegedly penned much of The Godfather. To this day, it remains a popular gathering place for artists and writers. Another longtime favorite cafe, Caffe Greco, has been serving its premium espresso drinks, award-winning homemade tiramisu and delicious desserts like an espresso-soaked cake called the Braziliana since 1988. Douglas Zimmerman/SFGATE Indulge in plenty of pizza and pasta You cant write about North Beachs restaurant scene without bringing up chef Tony Gemignani, a 13-time world pizza champion. Gemignani is a living legend, overseeing five restaurants in the neighborhood. Tonys Pizza Napoletana is home to 12 different styles of pizza, including award winners like the Cal Italia, the Margherita (of which only 73 are made each day) and the Pizza Porto. Nearby, youll find Capos, Gemignanis sleek restaurant and bar specializing in Detroit- and Chicago-style pizzas. Order The Dillinger, winner of the Worlds Best Pan Pizza, International Pizza Challenge and the restaurants signature housemade calabrese sausage with spicy honey. Across from Washington Square Park, Giovanni Italian Specialties features a range of Italian staples, both domestic and imported. From fresh pastas and raviolis to piadina sandwiches and panzerotti, this charming store with a 1950s vibe is the perfect spot to gather everything you need for a picnic in the park, including Italian wines and authentic soft serve. A great late-night option is Golden Boy Pizza, which has been serving Sicilian-style squares of cheesy pizza goodness since 1978. Pro tip: Try the garlic and clam slice. For another grab-and-go option offering homestyle Italian fare, head to The Italian Homemade Company. Everything at this fast-casual spot is served on paper plates and diners have the opinion of mixing and matching homemade pastas with a selection of sauces. From the bolognese to the pesto, you cant go wrong. If youre in the mood for Neapolitan pizza, head to Il Casaro Pizzeria, where each pizza is made with quality mozzarella imported from Italy. Baked in a wood-burning oven and cooked in under 90 seconds, each pie comes out crispy on the outside, and chewy and wet on the inside. This is just one of three spots owned by popular North Beach restaurateur Francesco Covucci. Barbara Pinseria & Cocktail Bar, another of Covuccis spots, is a trendy, spacious eatery that specializes in pinsa an ancient style of Roman pizza that consists of a light, airy crust and soft inside and an array of cocktails, wine and aperitifs. California Fish Market, Covuccis third restaurant, is a seafood-centric spot that offers a selection of specialties like the branzino, garlic Dungeness crab and the crudo calabrese. The menu also offers family-style pasta dishes and a raw bar. Photo by Douglas Zimmerman; illustration by SFGATE North Beach restaurants that go beyond the staples Perhaps you prefer your Italian fare with a side of seafood. If so, Sotto Mare, an old-school joint, is known for its fresh oysters; loaded cioppino with crab, shrimp, calamari and clams; and a selection of classic Louie salads. Original Joes is a North Beach legend serving a selection of steaks and chops; specialties like the roasted prime rib and braised lamb shank; Italian dishes like veal piccata or chicken parmigiana; and a selection of killer pasta dishes (think: homemade beef ravioli, spicy rigatoni and paccheri short rib ragu). Original Joes also features a full bar (espresso martini, anyone?) and an incredible butter cake for dessert. Betty Lous Seafood & Grill is another neighborhood icon thats been going strong for 30 years, offering Louie salads, seafood, steaks and pastas that somehow always hit the spot. Last by not least, located in the iconic flatiron Sentinel Building is Cafe Zoetrope. If youre a film buff, definitely stop by this European-style cafe and wine shop the aforementioned Coppola bought the Sentinel in 1972, and decades later helped to launch the cafe. Its walls display collections of artwork and photographs from the legendary directors films, while the vibe and cuisine is inspired by his Italian heritage. Andrew Chamings North Beach bars that feel like home When it comes to watering holes, North Beach has a little something for everyone. With its walls covered in art, stories, photos and more, Vesuvio Cafe is a must-visit cocktail bar; SFGATE reporter Andrew Chamings even named it the best bar in San Francisco. As with many places in the area, this bar once served as a hangout for Beatniks, with famous patrons including Jack Kerouac. Across the street is yet another fabled spot: Specs' Twelve Adler Museum Cafe has served as the neighborhoods eccentric dive bar since 1968. Another North Beach bar and cafe institution thats worth putting on your radar is Savoy Tivoli, a 115-year-old venue that reopened at the end of 2022 following a major facelift. It was a hangout spot for the likes of Allen Ginsberg and even hosted the Ramones in 1976. As for alleyway bars, take a seat at 15 Romolo, formerly The Basque Hotel and Restaurant. Strong cocktails and tapas make it a good place to start or end your night. If youre on the newer side of North Beach, Eco Terreno is a chic urban tasting room that serves wine-and-food pairings by Eco Terreno Wines a biodynamic and organic vineyard based in Alexander Valley. At the end of 2022, Keys Jazz Bistro opened its doors in the area and its where guests come for live music and dinner four nights a week. The venue focuses on celebrating the North Beach community, drawing inspiration from the culture of jazz and nightlife. This story was edited by Hearst Newspapers Managing Editor Kristina Moy; you can contact her at kristina.moy@hearst.com. LOS ANGELES (AP) Two former Los Angeles County sheriffs deputies are accused of violating the civil rights of a skateboarder in 2020 and perpetrating a coverup, federal prosecutors said Thursday. A grand jury handed down the indictment last month, and both ex-deputies surrendered to authorities Thursday when it was unsealed. Miguel Vega and Christopher Hernandez are accused of throwing the skateboarder identified as J.A. in court papers in the back of their cruiser and detaining him without cause in Compton in April 2020. He was still in the patrol vehicle when they engaged in a pursuit and crashed the car, injuring the skateboarder. Prosecutors say the duo then conspired to coverup the 23-year-old man's unlawful detention. Vega, 32, and Hernandez, 37, are charged with conspiracy, deprivation of rights under color of law, witness tampering and falsification of records. Vega is charged with another falsification of records count. Their attorneys did not respond to an emailed request for comment Thursday. The Sheriff's Department said it helped federal agencies with a criminal investigation that led indicting the men, who are no longer members of the department. The Sheriffs Department is committed to holding employees accountable for their actions and expects them to exhibit the highest moral and ethical standards when serving our communities, a statement said. The same ex-deputies were involved in the fatal shooting of an 18-year-old man later that year during a foot chase. Authorities say Vega shot Andres Guardadofive times in the back after the deputies chased him on foot. Guardado's killing sparked protests, and his family settled a lawsuit with the county for $8 million. The federal indictment was first reported Thursday by the Los Angeles Times. Vega and Hernandez were scheduled to be arraigned Thursday afternoon. The deputies remained on active duty until December 2020, the LA Times reported. The indictment alleges that these two deputies violated a young persons constitutional rights by willfully and illegally detaining him without just cause, U.S. Attorney Martin Estrada said in a news release. Officers who abuse their power must be held accountable, and my Office is committed to prosecuting violations of civil rights by those who violate their oaths and victimize those who they were sworn to protect. The Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department did not immediately have a comment after the indictment was unsealed. On April 13, 2020, Vega and Hernandez approached two young Black men outside a Compton skatepark. J.A., who was inside the enclosed park, yelled at the deputies to leave the men alone. The deputies pulled J.A. through an opening in the fence and threw him into the back of the cruiser, prosecutors said. Vega and Hernandez did not handcuff J.A., did not secure J.A.s seatbelt, did not tell J.A. that J.A. was under arrest, and did not inform J.A. of J.A.s rights at any time, according to the indictment. Vega, the driver, told J.A. that they would drop him off in gang territory as Hernandez, from the passenger seat, told the skateboarder he would be beaten. Then Vega, with J.A. still in the backseat, began pursuing a bicyclist down an alley, where the deputy crashed the vehicle, prosecutors said. J.A. suffered a cut above his right eye in the collision. Vega pulled him out of the cruiser and told him to leave, but the deputy later reported a suspect with a gun, describing J.A.'s clothes, had fled the area. Neither deputy said the skateboarder had been inside the patrol vehicle during the crash, according to the indictment. Vega then told a sergeant that J.A. was suspected of being under the influence of a controlled substance. Prosecutors said Hernandez later directed another deputy to write him a citation for being under the influence of methamphetamine after J.A. was taken to the hospital for his cut. Prosecutors also allege Vega and Hernandez falsified incident reports later in the month, inaccurately claiming, among other things, J.A. had threatened to harm people in the skatepark. Hershey's is making a young Northern Kentucky boy's dream job a reality. Second-grade student Lane Hartzel has cerebral palsy. His parents said he is non-verbal and non-mobile. Last year, Hartzel's school hosted career day, and his school suggested a few jobs for him. Suggested jobs included light and sound operator for Taylor Swift, an accessible playground critic, a movie critic and a Hershey's chocolate critic. Naturally, Lane chose the delicious option. School faculty, with the help of Lane's therapist, helped to create a full costume, including a name badge for the role. Lanes principal, Jon Hoskins, shared the story with the company, and to sweeten the surprise, Hershey's decided to make Lane an official chocolate taste tester. He will also star in a national company ad to promote his story that will air on April 17. BANGOR, Maine (AP) Four Native Americans who say they were abused by three Roman Catholic priests on their reservation in Maine are the latest to bring lawsuits since the state fully lifted the statute of limitations for child sex crimes. The Penobscot Nation members contend the abuse started when they were 7 to 16 years old at St. Ann Parish on Indian Island, just north of Bangor. The oldest abuse dates to 1972, while the most recent happened in 1987, according to the lawsuits. Doctors, clinics and telehealth providers across the country are scrambling to figure out how they will continue to provide the most common type of abortion after a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions on a key abortion medication. One telehealth provider would have to shut down for two weeks. Some abortion clinics in Ohio are considering ditching the drug altogether. Meanwhile, other doctors are looking for legal loopholes to dispense the drug, called mifepristone. People who live far from abortion clinics will be particularly hard hit, abortion rights advocates say. The restrictions could force people to travel hundreds of miles for care and stay for days, said Kirsten Moore, director of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project. This is going to have a severe, severe impact on access, she said, adding that it will be devastating for underserved rural populations. This is the second time in less than a week that the legal sands have shifted around medication abortions, which account for more than half of abortions in the U.S. The landscape is further complicated by a separate ruling from a judge in Washington state that has ordered access to the drug to be expanded in some states. The late Wednesday decision narrowed a Texas court judges effort to block the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone. It allows patients to keep using the drug, but only at a higher dosage and if patients are seven weeks or fewer pregnant. The decision also prohibits the medication from being sent by mail and requires people to have three in-person visits with their doctor to take the pills. The Department of Justice plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000, blocks the hormone progesterone and is also used to treat miscarriages. Millions of women around the world have used the drug, and medical groups say complications occur at a lower rate than with routine medical procedures such as wisdom teeth removal and colonoscopies. Abortion providers and patient advocates said the restrictions imposed by the court could affect thousands of people if they go into effect on Saturday. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year, telehealth abortions have more than doubled, according to a report released this week by the Society of Family Planning. Abortions by virtual clinic telehealth providers rose to 8,540 last December, or 11% of all abortions, compared with 3,610 in April 2022, the report said. Wisp, a company that provides telehealth medication abortions in nine states, plans to close down for two weeks if the ruling goes into effect on Saturday to switch to a one-drug regimen that uses misoprostol, a medication not challenged in the courts but considered slightly less effective. Monica Cepak, the companys chief marketing officer, said they are also looking at providing misoprostol to people who want to stock up on that drug. Telehealth remains a really important piece of the accessibility puzzle because as demand for in-person care will likely go up, the time to get an in-person appointment is often 20-30 days, and telehealth fills that really important gap for patients," she said. Telehealth abortion providers were already facing restrictions. According to a February report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, six of the states that have not banned abortion have at least one requirement for at least one trip to the clinic. But order-by-mail abortion provider Aid Access wont let a U.S. court order stop it from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol by telehealth, Dr. Rebecca Gomperts wrote in an email. Gomperts is based in Europe, and the companys website advertises that it can mail pills to all 50 states in the U.S. The company has a history of flouting U.S. laws and rules on the issue. In 2019, Aid Access defied an order from the FDA to stop distributing medications in the country. Some abortion clinics in Ohio may stop dispensing mifepristone entirely by Saturday, said Jessie Hill, an attorney who represents several independent clinics in the state. The states law requires doctors to follow federal label guidelines when prescribing mifepristone, which means clinics will have to follow the courts order. The order will make it incredibly inconvenient, to prescribe mifepristone, she said, because patients will have to make three in-person doctors visits and pay more for a higher dosage. The clinics are also considering a misoprostol-only medication abortion method. In Illinois, operations will continue much the same at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Fairview Heights, Dr. Colleen McNicholas told the Associated Press. The clinic, which expects to serve about 10,000 abortion patients this year, will continue to provide medication abortions through a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol. The clinic is also in one of 17 states that has sued the FDA to make mifepristone more accessible, and a judge in Washington state on Thursday ordered the FDA not to do anything that might affect the availability of mifepristone in those suing states. The clinic is further shielded from the ruling because it's in a state that allows doctors to write prescriptions off-label, which gives providers the ability to prescribe a drug in a way that hasnt been approved by the federal government. McNicholas said the practice is common among physicians with drugs that have long proven to be safe for patients. Providers in many states can still prescribe mifepristone off-label in places where its not prohibited by state law, which means they can offer the drug to patients later in pregnancy than seven weeks, said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia. But he doesnt see how they can legally get around the requirement for an in-person appointment. It will still be available up to and maybe even beyond ten weeks, depending on what your provider feels comfortable prescribing, he said. But whereas before you could have had the pills mailed to you at home ... now, you have to get them in person from a doctor. ___ 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. Anne Perry, a popular British-born crime novelist who served five years in prison for a grisly murder she helped commit as a teenager, died in Los Angeles on April 10. She was 84. Her death was confirmed by her literary agent, Meg Davis. Ms. Perry's health had been in decline since a heart attack in December, Davis said. Ms. Perry, a prolific writer who sold more than 26 million books worldwide, had already become well established as a novelist when her sinister past was exposed in 1994, just before the release of Peter Jackson's film "Heavenly Creatures." The movie, based on a chilling matricide in New Zealand some four decades earlier in which a Christchurch woman was bludgeoned to death in a park by her daughter and Ms. Perry - then 15 years old and known as Juliet Hulme - rekindled media interest in the case. The author, who had relocated years earlier to Scotland and changed her name, was tracked down by journalists. Ms. Perry's character in the film, played by Kate Winslet, strikes up an intense relationship with her best friend, Pauline Parker, that Juliet's parents view as "unwholesome." When Juliet's parents split and make plans to send her to South Africa, the girls concoct a plan to murder Pauline's mother - who apparently objected to her joining Juliet abroad. Although Ms. Perry never watched it, the film "turned her life upside down," her biographer, Joanne Drayton, said in a telephone interview Thursday. By the mid-1990s she was a conservative, matronly figure and devoutly Mormon, according to Drayton, who likened Ms. Perry to Angela Lansbury in CBS's "Murder, She Wrote." The film "blew her evolved identity out of the water and she was absolutely terrified," said Drayton, who spent days with the author during her research for the 2012 biography "The Search for Anne Perry" - which, like many of Ms. Perry's own historical crime novels, was a best seller. Juliet Marion Hulme was born on Oct. 28, 1938, in London, the eldest of two children of Henry Rainsford Hulme, a prominent British nuclear scientist, and Hilda Marion Hulme, a marriage counselor. Ms. Perry was a sickly child, who at the age of 8 was sent to live with a foster family in the Bahamas to recuperate following bouts of pneumonia and tuberculosis. She was later moved to a private island off the coast of New Zealand. In 1948, her father took up an appointment as rector of Canterbury University College, in the South Island city of Christchurch - where Ms. Perry struck up her ill-fated friendship with Parker, who was 16 at the time of her mother's murder. The killing - and its ferocity, beating an unsuspecting woman to death on a woodland path - sent shock waves around New Zealand, where murders are rare. The pair pleaded not guilty on the grounds of insanity - a plea that was rejected by the jury, although the two avoided the death penalty because of their age. (New Zealand carried out its last execution in 1957.) In a 2006 interview with the Times of London, Ms. Perry said she made a "profoundly wrong decision" to participate in the murder, adding that she feared at the time that her friend would take her own life if she didn't. Prosecutors treated Ms. Perry as the antagonist, according to Drayton. The pair were separated - with Parker serving her five-year sentence in a women's borstal - and never again made contact. After spending her teens in a Gothic-style prison in Auckland - including several months in solitary confinement - she left prison a "changed person, determined to do good," Drayton said. Ms. Perry received no formal education in prison, but she had a fierce intellect and was determined to realize her girlhood passion of becoming a writer, according to Drayton. Ms. Perry began drafting her first novels in her 20s in England - as she bounced around a range of jobs including as an air hostess, limousine dispatcher and insurance underwriter. Her first novel, "The Cater Street Hangman," was published in 1979. She published dozens of novels and novellas throughout her career, regularly appearing on bestseller lists around the world. Her next novel, "The Traitor Among Us," which features a female English spy, is set to be published in September. Ms. Perry never married. Her survivors include a brother, Jonathan Hulme. ROCKY HILL A Bristol man was sentenced Wednesday to 45 years in prison for his role in a Hartford murder almost two decades, according to the state Division of Criminal Justice. Brandon Jones, 35, was found guilty last year of murder in connection with the 2005 fatal shooting of Dante Davis. According to evidence from the trial, Hartford police were called to an apartment building on Martin Street around 11 p.m. on June 21, 2005, for the report of a woman shot. Officers determined that Davis, 21, was standing outside with her boyfriend, Christopher Hough, and others when "armed assailants opened fire in the area," the DCJ said. Davis was shot in the head and taken to the hospital before police arrived. Davis later died from her injuries, according to the DCJ. In March 2022 almost 17 years after the fatal shooting the Chief State's Attorney's Cold Case Unit, the Hartford State's Attorney's Office and the Hartford Police Department charged Jones and three others in connection with the incident. "The extensive investigation included following up on dozens of tips, conducting numerous witness interviews and the examination of cellphone records, as well as an extensive Grand Jury Investigation," the DCJ said. Supervisory Assistant State's Attorney John F. Fahey, the head of the Cold Case Unit, thanked investigators for staying committed to the case. The defendant in this case was brought to justice, punished for killing an innocent woman whose family and friends suffered an unimaginable loss, all because of senseless gang and gun violence, Fahey said in a statement. A disposition in this case is meaningful, as well, to the members of the Cold Case Unit because they never forgot Ms. Davis and the loved ones who lost her too soon. Two other suspects in the case Shane Henriques, 35, and Maurice Snowden, 38 were charged with murder. Both have pleaded not guilty to the charges. Snowden is scheduled to return to court on May 22, judicial records show. The fourth suspect, 33-year-old Victoria Harirs, was charged with tampering with physical evidence and perjury. She has pleaded not guilty to the perjury charge and has not entered a plea in the tampering with evidence charge, according to judicial records. Last month, a Cornell University sophomore, Claire Ting, was studying with friends when one of them became visibly upset and was unable to continue her work. For a Korean American literature class, the woman was reading The Surrendered, a novel by Chang-rae Lee about a Korean girl orphaned by the Korean War that includes a graphic rape scene. Tings friend had recently testified at a campus hearing against a student who she said sexually assaulted her, the woman said in an interview. Reading the passage so soon afterward left her feeling unmoored. Ting, a member of Cornells undergraduate student assembly, believed her friend deserved a heads-up about the upsetting material. That day, she drafted a resolution urging instructors to provide warnings on the syllabus about traumatic content that might be discussed in class, including sexual assault, self-harm and transphobic violence. The resolution was unanimously approved by the assembly late last month. Less than a week after it was submitted to the administration for approval, Martha E. Pollack, the university president, vetoed it. We cannot accept this resolution as the actions it recommends would infringe on our core commitment to academic freedom and freedom of inquiry, and are at odds with the goals of a Cornell education, Pollack wrote in a letter with the university provost, Michael I. Kotlikoff. To some, the conflict illustrates a stark divide in how different generations define free speech and how much value they place on its absolute protection, especially at a time of increased sensitivity toward mental health concerns. After decades of university battles over tinderbox issues of students rights, speech codes and how best to grapple with unpopular speakers and ideas, proponents of free speech are lauding Pollacks quick and unequivocal action. They characterize it as part of a larger national shift, marked by university leadership more forcefully pushing back against efforts to shut down speakers and topics that might offend. What was unique about the Cornell situation is they rapidly turned in a response that was a hard no, said Alex Morey, the director of campus rights advocacy for the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, a nonpartisan organization focused on issues of free speech. There was no level of kowtowing. It was a very firm defense of what it means to get an education. Morey called it the Stanford Effect, referring to a 10-page open letter written in March by Jenny Martinez, dean of Stanford University Law School, in which she affirmed her decision to apologize to Stuart Kyle Duncan, a Donald Trump-appointed federal appeals judge, after hecklers interrupted his speech. Earlier this month, Neeli Bendapudi, the president of Pennsylvania State University, released a four-minute video explaining why she believed a public university like Penn State had a legal and moral obligation to host speakers who espouse views that many may find abhorrent. For centuries, higher education has fought against censorship and for the principle that the best way to combat speech is with more speech, she said. The current free speech issue at Cornell is one that has been debated on campuses across the country. Content warnings or trigger warnings refer to verbal or written alerts that assigned material, including academic writing or artistic expression, may involve sensitive or upsetting themes or details that may cause a student to have an emotional response tied to a personal experience. Professors on some campuses use such warnings, though mandates are rare. At Cornell, the students proposal suggested that the warnings be issued when course readings and discussions involved topics including but not limited to: sexual assault, domestic violence, self-harm, suicide, child abuse, racial hate crimes, transphobic violence, homophobic harassment, xenophobia. It stipulated that students who choose to opt out of exposure to triggering content will not be penalized, contingent on their responsibility to make up any missed content. To Ting and other proponents of the measure, including the woman in the Korean American literature class, the administrations swift rebuke was frustrating. We have been characterized as triggered snowflakes, said Shelby L. Williams, a sophomore who co-sponsored the resolution. What we are asking for is greater context. The concept of trigger warnings first entered the cultural dialogue in the post-Vietnam War era, after post-traumatic stress distress disorder became a recognized health condition. PTSD episodes, which include rage and anxiety, are generally triggered by places, people, sounds or smells reminiscent of a traumatic experience, according to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Integrating trigger warnings into academia first took root in the 1990s but gained urgency after the #MeToo movement opened a dialogue about trauma. A study published in 2019 in the Journal of American College Health said 70% of college students report that they have been exposed to at least one traumatic event. Students with diagnosed PTSD are entitled to care from universities and should be treated by trained professionals, said Amna Khalid, a professor of history at Carleton College in Northfield, Minnesota, who has been writing and speaking about campus culture since 2016. But, Khalid said, addressing students mental health issues through trigger warnings is ineffective. It disempowers people by reducing their identities to traumatic events and infantilizes students whom professors should be preparing for adult life, she said. Life happens to you while you are driving, while you are walking, while you are in the supermarket, she said. The most challenging moments in life rarely come with warning. Khalid called trigger-warning mandates an infringement on the academic freedom of professors whose role is to help students develop critical thinking skills. Sometimes that requires surprising them and challenging them in ways that are uncomfortable, she said. It diminishes the learning experience for students if professors hedge themselves. Some professors support the use of trigger warnings. When used correctly, said Connor Strobel, a professor of social sciences at the University of Chicago, trigger warnings can open up a conversation with students, enabling professors to alert them to available resources. Strobel recently asked students to read The Second Sex, by Simone de Beauvoir, and alerted them that the book included themes of menstruation and menopause, and things that women are shamed for, he said. One student approached him and said that because of a family issue, she was concerned about reading it. He was willing to create an alternate assignment for her but first encouraged her to start the book and see if she found it more compelling than upsetting. She found it very salient, he said, and completed the assignment. At a university, there is no topic that should be off the table, but trigger warnings are a preview of coming attractions that treat students with humanity, he added. When Strobel was a graduate student at University of California Irvine in 2016, he wrote a proposal asking a faculty government association to endorse the use of trigger warnings on campus. That document became an inspiration for Tings Cornell resolution. The Cornell measure was publicized by The Cornell Daily Sun, the student newspaper, and kicked up a conversation on Twitter. Normally, Pollack, the university president, takes about a month to weigh in on student assembly proposals. But in this case, she responded in just a few days. The resolution concerned her, she said in an interview, because it could impinge upon the freedom of faculty to select material and present it as they think is most beneficial. She also believes a rule that codifies the avoidance of upsetting topics runs contrary to the role of a university. Our students are coming at this with good intentions, Pollack said, but I think its a critical part of higher education to learn how to engage with challenging and difficult ideas. It teaches you to listen, compromise and advocate. It was the first assembly measure of more than 30 this academic year that the president has rejected. Lee Humphreys, chair of the communication department at Cornell, was pleased by Pollacks response. In the past, she has presented her classes with violent, sexual and distasteful content to push students to consider who might be drawn to the programming and who might financially benefit from it. If I was really concerned about making sure I was covering all of my bases in terms of trigger warnings, it would make my life easier to not show the kind of content in the class that I would otherwise show, just in case there was something that I was overlooking, Humphreys said. I think thats doing a disservice to the class and the students, to avoid things that are difficult. Humphreys often previews for students what is to come in a lesson, as a part of reinforcing pedagogical goals, she said, and aims to be sensitive to students. Just because you dont support a mandate doesnt mean that you dont support an inclusive learning environment, she said. Students had a mixed reaction to the resolution, with the conservative student newspaper, The Cornell Review, calling it an embarrassment in an editorial published last week. Hiding from ideas is no less than intellectual cowardice. Its exactly the opposite of what this country needs, the paper said. Cullen OHara, co-editor-in-chief of The Review, said that the editorial board did not believe the student assembly represented a majority of students and saw the resolution as endemic of broader free speech issues. We are very opposed to trigger warnings which we think would chill the discussion in classrooms, which we already believe are one-sided, said OHara, a senior. The student assembly will discuss the trigger-warning resolution with the administration on Thursday, at a previously scheduled meeting between Pollack and the assembly. I think the response is purposeful in focusing on the wrong part of the resolution, said Valeria Valencia, a senior and the Cornell University Student Assembly president, turning it into an issue of academic freedom and not one of protecting students, when both things can coexist. Ting, the writer of the resolution, said she is considering amending the proposal. But first I want to do more due diligence and reach out to faculty and administration to see how we can find the right balance, she said. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. AzInTelecom LLC will build a new data center in Azerbaijan, Sadig Yolchuev, advisor to the Chairman of AzInTelecom LLC, said during an event themed "Sustainable Development Technologies: Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Cloud Solutions", Trend reports. According to Yolchuyev, the corresponding concept of the new data center has been prepared and after its adoption it is expected to start construction. "AzInTelecom is currently working on SIMA and cloud technologies project. The SIMA project is a digital signature that allows citizens to perform many financial and other types of transactions without leaving home. All solutions created by our LLC are based on cloud technologies," he noted. "To date, SIMA has been providing its services only to individuals, and in the near future it is planned to offer services for entrepreneurs," Yolchuyev said. As for cloud technologies, he said the company was working on transferring all government information resources to cloud storage. "Today, as you know, we have two data centers in Baku and Yevlakh. The concept of a new data center has been prepared. We expect that the new data center will be bigger and more powerful," the advisor said. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that its investing $177 million to create 17 technical assistance centers around the country to help environmental justice organizations successfully apply for federal funds. Better training on how to navigate the complex federal grant making process is something environmental justice organizations have been demanding since the beginning of the Biden administration. The community groups want to compete for federal money for projects including pollution cleanup, air quality monitoring and workforce development for jobs in wind and solar. EPA administrator Michael Regan made the announcement in New York City with U.S. Rep. Adriano Espaillat at a community space popular for dancing and music built on top of a sewage treatment plant along the Hudson River. We know that so many communities across the nation have the solutions to the environmental challenges they face. Unfortunately, many have lacked access or faced barriers when it comes to the crucial federal resources needed to deliver these solutions, Regan said in a statement. Today were taking another step to break down these barriers. The administration has been investing unprecedented amounts of money in improving the environment in poor communities and communities of color and preparing them for the effects of climate change as part of its Justice 40 initiative, which mandates that 40 percent of benefits from federal spending on climate and environment go to historically marginalized communities. But leaders of environmental justice organizations say all the money meant for their communities won't reach them without technical assistance. The funds will go to 17 universities and environmental nonprofits including the University of Connecticut, University of Arizona, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice in New Orleans and West Harlem Environmental Action in New York City. Each group will receive at least $10 million. The centers will also offer environmental justice advocates guidance on engaging their communities, facilitating meetings and providing translation and interpretation. Robert Bullard, director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice in Houston and a member of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, said communities have long been in need of such support. If the communities that have been historically left out and left behind don't have the support to apply for grants to access those dollars, then it's all for naught," he said. Still, there is impatience and skepticism from some places most vulnerable to climate change, where residents have been fighting for a cleaner environment on a shoestring budget. The money is there," he said. There are communities waiting for (toxic) sites to get cleaned up. They are waiting for infrastructure to be built so their communities don't flood. The EPA said more details about the funding will be announced in the next few months. ___ Follow Drew Costley on Twitter: @drewcostley. ___ 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. KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) A Missouri man who spent more than 40 years in prison for a triple murder he did not commit alleges in a lawsuit that Kansas City police conducted a reckless investigation that led to his conviction. Kevin Strickland, 63, filed a lawsuit Tuesday in Jackson County Court against the Kansas City Police Board of Commissioners, which oversees the police department, and five officers who have retired. Strickland alleges that officers attributed false statements to him during the investigation and pressured the only eyewitness to the murders to identify him as the killer, The Kansas City Star reported. The Kansas City Police Department said it does not comment on pending lawsuits. Strickland was released from prison in November 2021 after a judge ruled he was wrongfully convicted of killing three people in Kansas City in 1978. That decision followed a hearing held after Jackson County prosecutors said a review of the case led them to believe Strickland was innocent. Strickland has always maintained that he was home watching television and had nothing to do with the killings, which happened when he was 18 years old. The lawsuit contends detectives pressured the only eyewitness to the triple murder to name Strickland as the shooter, even though they knew or should have known that he was innocent. The prosecution's case against Strickland rested largely on the eyewitness' testimony. After Strickland refused to confess to the killings, the detectives concocted inflammatory statements they attributed to him about loving to kill people, according to his lawsuit. Two men later confessed to being involved in the killings and swore for decades that Strickland was not at the home where the victims were slain. The FBI's San Francisco Field Office released surveillance footage Thursday morning in hopes of locating Monica de Leon Barba, a 29-year-old San Mateo woman who went missing in Tepatitlan, Jalisco, Mexico, late last year. The footage shows Barba minutes before she was kidnapped while walking home from work with her dog Nov. 29, 2022. Barba appears to be confronted by several suspects before being forced inside a silver Volkswagen Jetta. The suspects are seen driving away in three different vehicles, including the Jetta, a gray Dodge Charger and a white Chevrolet Suburban, while her dog runs loose in the street. The videos reveal that at least five suspects were involved in the kidnapping, the FBI said in a news release. Those suspects include a male in dark clothing, a male in a white shirt and jeans, a male in dark clothing in the backseat of the white Suburban, a male in a dark shirt who they believe is the driver of the gray Dodge Charger, and an unseen suspect they presume was the driver of the white Suburban. FBI We believe this was a targeted kidnapping, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Tripp told KTVU last month. We believe she is still being held hostage. The hostage takers have been in contact with her family and the FBI is working very close with her family and with authorities in Mexico to bring her home safely. Barba, a U.S. citizen, was born in Jalisco, and the FBIs San Francisco Field Office told SFGATE last month that she had been spending most of her time there since June 2022. She is 5-foot-7, weighs 240 pounds, and has brown hair and brown eyes, according to the FBIs kidnapping poster. The surveillance footage shows Barba was wearing black clothes at the time of her reported disappearance. Her dog was later safely located and recovered by a family member. FBI Barba's brother, Gustavo de Leon, told SFGATE on Thursday that Barba's 20-year-old cousin, Gael de Leon, was also kidnapped in Guadalajara hours after Barba's disappearance. Gael de Leon is 6 feet tall and has blue eyes, according to a Facebook group trying to spread word about Barba. "I hope and plead that if someone knows or has seen these people or vehicles that they help us bring them to the FBI's attention," Gustavo de Leon told SFGATE in an email. The FBI is offering a reward of up to $40,000 for information that could help them find Barba and return her safely to her family. "We believe these videos may help generate new public tips to assist in our investigation, Tripp said in the news release. If you know anything, please come forward to law enforcement. SFGATE news reporters Ariana Bindman and Madilynne Medina contributed to this report. This breaking news story has been updated. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate NEWPORT NEWS, Va. (AP) The mother of a 6-year-old boy who shot and wounded his teacher in Virginia has been formally arrested on charges of child neglect and failing to secure her handgun, police announced Thursday. The Newport News Police Department released a booking photo of the woman, 25, and a brief statement that said she turned herself in at the local jail. She was released from custody after posting a $5,000 bond and has a status hearing scheduled Friday in Newport News Circuit Court, said James Ellenson, her attorney. The Associated Press isnt naming the mother to shield the identity of her son. Authorities had announced Monday that she was being charged with felony child neglect and a misdemeanor charge of endangering a child by reckless storage of a firearm. She is nervous and scared because she has never been charged before, but holding up well, Ellenson wrote in an email Thursday. The woman's arrest comes more than three months after police say her son shot and wounded first-grade teacher Abby Zwerner as she sat at a reading table in her classroom. Police said the child used his mother's gun, which was legally purchased. Zwerner filed a $40 million lawsuit against the school system last week, accusing school officials of gross negligence and of ignoring multiple warnings from teachers and others that the boy had taken a gun to school that day. The city prosecutor's office said Tuesday that it is investigating whether the actions or omissions of any school employees could lead to criminal charges. The January shooting at Richneck Elementary has rattled Newport News, a shipbuilding city of about 185,000 people near the Chesapeake Bay. 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. The felony neglect charge filed against the boy's mother is punishable by up to five years in prison. The misdemeanor charge of recklessly storing a firearm is punishable by up to one year in jail. Ellenson has said previously that she has no criminal record. He has also said that 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. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) Authorities have arrested a New Mexico man accused of throwing a police officer on the ground during the U.S. Capitol riot more than two years ago. The U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia said in a news release Wednesday that 62-year-old Rockne Earles of Chama is facing felony and misdemeanor charges including assaulting, resisting, or impeding officers and civil disorder. MIAMI (AP) A nurse who previously worked at a Florida outpatient surgical center has been convicted of stealing fentanyl and replacing the powerful pain medication with saline. Catherine Shannon Dunton, 54, pleaded guilty Tuesday to tampering with a consumer product in Fort Pierce federal court, according to court records. She faces up to 10 years in prison at a June 27 hearing. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Ziv E. Cohen, Cornell University (THE CONVERSATION) Lindsay Clancy, a labor and delivery nurse at the prestigious Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, is the latest tragic and high-profile example of a mother allegedly taking the lives of her own three children. On Jan. 24, 2023, Clancy allegedly strangled the children with an exercise band while her husband ran an errand. Clancy then slit her wrists, cut her neck and jumped from the second floor of their home. She has been hospitalized since, apparently paralyzed from the waist down following her suicide attempt. At her arraignment, Clancys defense lawyer stated that she may have been suffering from an extreme form of postpartum depression called postpartum psychosis. Other women have made this claim, including Andrea Yates, a Texas woman who in 2001 drowned her five children in a bathtub. She was convicted of capital murder at her first trial, but after a successful appeal, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity in her second trial. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 1 in 8 mothers, or approximately 12%, experience postpartum depression. Cases of parents killing children, in contrast, are exceedingly rare, with estimates of about 500 of these tragic events per year in the U.S. Many people wonder whether a psychiatric condition, no matter how severe, could justify or explain the killing of innocent children, especially by their own mother. As a clinical and forensic psychiatrist, I routinely treat patients after delivery for depression, and I have evaluated women accused of killing their children. The potentially fatal outcomes make it imperative to increase awareness and understanding of postpartum depression and psychosis. Postpartum depression explained It is important to make a distinction between postpartum blues and postpartum depression. Research shows that between 15% to 85% of women have postpartum blues, and the incidence peaks around the fifth day following delivery. Postpartum blues can include low mood, tearfulness, irritability and feeling overwhelmed. It is a totally normal, transient condition thought to be a result of the rapid drop in hormone levels following delivery. True postpartum depression is more severe than postpartum blues. This term refers to when the patient is experiencing symptoms of a clinical depressive episode, also called major depressive episode, usually within the first month after delivery. Postpartum depression is defined as experiencing two weeks or more of some or all of the following symptoms: depressed mood for most of the day, diminished interest or pleasure in most activities, weight loss, inability to sleep or excessive sleep, physical slowing or agitation, fatigue, poor concentration and, in severe cases, suicidal thoughts. The medical community estimates that postpartum depression is very common, with rates of 10% to 20% in the U.S., and the true numbers may be higher. The onset and duration of postpartum depression can vary greatly. For some patients, the first weeks and months after delivery may go well or mood symptoms may be manageable, followed months later by a crash. For others, mood symptoms may begin during pregnancy and worsen after delivery. Diagnosis can be difficult since the time of onset is variable and because some of the symptoms of depression are normal, temporary changes that occur after delivery. In addition, research shows that cultural factors can influence the reporting and development of postpartum depression, and some patients may not disclose symptoms due to guilt or shame. Risk factors for postpartum depression Some key risk factors for postpartum depression include a history of depression or mental illness prior to pregnancy, stressful life events during and after pregnancy, marital conflict and young maternal age. New mothers are under a great deal of pressure personal, familial and societal to immediately bond with and love their children. The stress and burden of being a new parent, and the tasks that go along with this role, such as breastfeeding, often make bonding with the child a challenge. The patient may struggle with feelings of guilt and shame, which can delay or prevent seeking help. While the physical causes of postpartum depression remain mysterious, researchers believe the condition is caused by hormone fluctuations during and especially after pregnancy. For example, research suggests that sex hormones like estrogen, which reach high levels during pregnancy and then fall precipitously after delivery, as well as hormones like oxytocin that are involved in lactation and maternal-baby bonding, likely play an important role. During and after pregnancy, the brain is on a hormonal roller coaster, and this can wreak havoc on mental health. Postpartum depression treatments For mild cases, psychotherapy alone may be sufficient to reduce the symptoms and gradually restore a sense of well-being. Approaches such as interpersonal psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy have been shown to be helpful for those suffering with postpartum depression. Interpersonal psychotherapy, for example, focuses on improving interpersonal connections, while cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on correcting distorted thinking, such as believing that one is a bad parent. The mainstay of treatment for postpartum depression is medication. Given the probably strong biological underpinnings of this condition, medication is thought to be helpful in restoring neurochemistry to alleviate symptoms, such as by raising brain levels of the neurotransmitter serotonin. Breastfeeding patients may prefer psychological treatment to medication therapy since antidepressants can enter breast milk. To date, however, antidepressants do not appear to have an affect on the infants health or development. How postpartum psychosis differs Postpartum psychosis is a condition where maternal mental health is affected not just by depression, but by a break with reality. The break with reality, called psychosis, generally includes seeing or hearing things that dont exist called hallucinations having jumbled or disconnected thoughts or having fixed false beliefs, often of a bizarre or extremely implausible nature, such as the devil having entered into ones child. For example, in the Andrea Yates case, she professed to believing that she was marked by Satan and that the only way to save her children from hell was by killing them. Some patients may hear an auditory hallucination - meaning a powerful voice - commanding suicide or an attack on the infant. This condition is much less common than postpartum depression and is thought to occur in 1 in 500, or 0.2%, of deliveries in the U.S. Also, unlike postpartum depression, which can begin months after delivery, postpartum psychosis usually begins within the first three days following childbirth. Due to the severe nature of these symptoms, their rapid onset and the frequent presence of thoughts of harming oneself or the baby, postpartum psychosis is considered a psychiatric emergency. It usually results in psychiatric hospitalization for the patients and the babys safety. In many cases, postpartum depression and its extreme form, postpartum psychosis, go undetected by loved ones and health care providers because of a reluctance to acknowledge that the patient may be a danger to oneself or the child. What experts know about Clancys Case Lindsay Clancy reportedly suffered from anxiety about going back to work in September 2022, four to five months after giving birth to her third child. She was diagnosed with anxiety and prescribed anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants. In December 2022, Clancy was evaluated at a womens psychiatric clinic, where she was told she did not have postpartum depression. However, a short time later she told her husband she was having thoughts of harming herself and the children, and was admitted to a psychiatric hospital. She was discharged after a few days and reported that her suicidal thoughts had resolved. However, just a few days later, she allegedly strangled her three children. If accurate, this timeline indicates how difficult it can be to diagnose possible postpartum depression and psychosis, and that symptoms may fluctuate on a daily or even hourly basis. Mothers may not always disclose symptoms due to guilt, shame or fear about how it could impact their family. Clancys tragic story illustrates how important close mental health follow-up and treatment is for women suspected of having postpartum depression. And when suicidal thoughts or thoughts of harming the children are present, they must be treated as a potential psychiatric emergency. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/rare-and-tragic-cases-of-postpartum-psychosis-are-bringing-renewed-attention-to-its-risks-and-the-need-for-greater-awareness-of-psychosis-after-childbirth-201282. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Jennifer Weeks, The Conversation (THE CONVERSATION) A 23-year western drought has drastically shrunk the Colorado River, which provides water for drinking and irrigation for Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California and two states in Mexico. Under a 1922 compact, these jurisdictions receive fixed allocations of water from the river but now theres not enough water to provide them. As states try to negotiate ways to share the decreasing flow, the U.S. Department of the Interior is considering cuts of up to 25% in allotments for California, Nevada and Arizona. The federal government can regulate these states water shares because they come mainly from Lake Mead, the largest U.S. reservoir, which was created when the Hoover Dam was built on the Colorado River near Las Vegas. These five articles from The Conversations archive explain whats happening and whats at stake in the Colorado River basins drought crisis. 1. A faulty river compact The idea of negotiating a legally binding agreement to share river water among states was innovative in the 1920s. But the Colorado River Compact made some critical assumptions that have proved to be fatal flaws. The lawyers who wrote the compact knew that the Colorados flow could vary and that they didnt have enough data for long-term planning. But they still allocated fixed quantities of water to each participating state. We know now that they used optimistic flow numbers measured during a particularly wet period, wrote Patricia J. Rettig, head archivist of Colorado State Universitys Water Resources Archive. Nor did the compact encourage conservation as the Wests population grew. When settlers developed the West, their prevailing attitude was that water reaching the sea was wasted, so people aimed to use it all, Rettig observed. 2. Temporary cuts arent big enough Western states have known for years that they were taking more water from the Colorado than nature was putting in. But reducing water use is politically charged, since it means imposing limits on such powerful constituencies as farmers and developers. In 2019, officials from the U.S. government and the seven Colorado Basin states signed a seven-year drought contingency plan that temporarily reduced states water allocations. But the plan did not propose long-term strategies for addressing climate change or overuse of water in the region. Since 2000, Colorado River flows have been 16% below the 20th-century average, wrote water policy experts Brad Udall, Douglas Kenney and John Fleck. Temperatures across the Colorado River Basin are now over 2 degrees Fahrenheit (1.1 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 20th-century average, and are certain to continue rising. Scientists have begun using the term aridification to describe the hotter, drier climate in the basin, rather than drought, which implies a temporary condition. 3. The looming threat of dead pool Lake Mead and Lake Powell, the other major reservoir on the lower Colorado River, were created to provide water for irrigation and to generate hydropower, which is produced by the force of water flowing through large turbines in the lakes dams. If water in either lake drops below the intakes for the turbines, the lake will fall below minimum power pool and stop producing electricity. If water in the lakes dropped even further, they could reach dead pool, the point at which water is too low to flow through the dam. This is an extreme scenario, but it cant be ruled out, University of Arizona water expert Robert Glennon warned. In addition to drought and climate change, he noted, both lakes lie in canyons that are V-shaped, like martini glasses wide at the rim and narrow at the bottom. As levels in the lakes decline, each foot of elevation holds less water. 4. Why hydropower matters Climate change and drought are stressing hydropower generation throughout the U.S. West by reducing snowpack and precipitation and drying up rivers. This could create serious stress for regional electric grid operators, according to Penn State civil engineers Caitlin Grady and Lauren Dennis. Because it can quickly be turned on and off, hydroelectric power can help control minute-to-minute supply and demand changes, they wrote. It can also help power grids quickly bounce back when blackouts occur. Hydropower makes up about 40% of U.S. electric grid facilities that can be started without an additional power supply during a blackout, in part because the fuel needed to generate power is simply the water held in the reservoir behind the turbine. While most hydropower dams are likely here to stay, in Gradys and Dennis view, climate change will change how these plants are used and managed. 5. The resurrection of Glen Canyon Lake Powell was created by flooding Glen Canyon, a spectacular swath of canyons on the Utah-Arizona border. As the lakes water level drops, many side canyons have reemerged. Effectively, climate change is draining the lake. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to recover a unique landscape, wrote University of Utah political scientist Dan McCool. But managing this emergent landscape also presents serious political and environmental challenges. In McCools view, a key priority should be to give Native American tribes a meaningful role in managing those lands including cultural sites and artifacts that were flooded when the river was dammed. The river has also deposited massive quantities of sediments in the canyon behind the dam, some of which are contaminated. And as visitors flock to newly accessible side canyons, the area will need staff to manage visitors and protect fragile resources. Other landscapes are likely to emerge across the West as climate change reshapes the region and numerous reservoirs decline. With proper planning, Glen Canyon can provide a lesson in how to manage them, McCool observed. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/the-colorado-river-drought-crisis-5-essential-reads-203651. Among the recent changes to Elon Musk-helmed Twitter is a policy meteorologists say could limit their ability to quickly alert the public to extreme weather dangers. When tornadoes, flash floods and thunderstorms strike, or threaten to, the National Weather Service and broadcast meteorologists warn their followers using automated tweets, among other methods of dissemination. Twitter has long allowed users free access to systems that allows them to program such posts in response to external sources of information, be it the Weather Service's alerts, the movement of Musk's private jet or entries in the dictionary. But as Musk evolves the social network toward paid features, Twitter warned users that it would limit the automated tweets, allowing 1,500 of them per month free - or, for a $100-a-month fee, as many as 50,000. Weather Service officials said that they expect a limit of 50 automated tweets during any 24-hour period - a threshold its accounts routinely surpass during the most dangerous weather events - and that Twitter officials told them no exceptions would be made. The Weather Service began warning the public this month that the change means its automated tweets sharing severe weather watches, warnings and advisories "may not be posted" once the policy goes into effect, scheduled for April 29. "Have multiple ways to receive weather information and alerts," regional Weather Service accounts urged Twitter users this month. The change is heightening concern that, under Musk, Twitter is losing what has made it an essential source of news. The site has become a vital platform for communication between meteorologists, first responders and public officials during natural disasters and other emergencies. As meteorologists grapple with how to use the social network going forward, Twitter has faced backlash for removing the New York Times' verified badge and labeling NPR as "government funded Media." NPR announced Wednesday that its Twitter accounts would no longer be active out of concern that the social network was "undermining our credibility." Brad Panovich, a meteorologist at WCNC-TV in Charlotte, said automated weather alerts he shares on Twitter don't just go to his 114,000 followers, but also to his station's website and app. The loss of those tweets could further damage Twitter's utility. "It just becomes an unreliable platform in the long run," Panovich said. Twitter did not respond to questions about the impact the changes could have on public safety. It responded to an email from The Washington Post with a single character, as it has with all recent media requests: a poop emoji. Weather Service officials said in a statement that they have used the automated tweets since 2014. If they go away, manually preparing such tweets "would take minutes for forecasters" and, for every single warning, "seconds could make the difference between life and death," the statement said. Meteorologists acknowledged that a relatively small slice of the populace uses Twitter, and the fraction who come to the site for local weather warnings is smaller still. The company reported 237.8 million active daily users as of June 30, but more recent data is not publicly available. Musk took over Twitter in October. But the automated weather tweets nonetheless alert many people indirectly. Twitter is one of many important tools for meteorologists to amplify messages about extreme weather risks, said James Spann, chief meteorologist for ABC 33/40 in Birmingham, Ala. During a recent tornado outbreak there, "the biggest issue we had is people not getting the warning," Spann said. While Spann doesn't use automated tweets on his own account, with nearly 500,000 followers, he directs followers to an automated account run by ABC 33/40. Any channel to reach people in harm's way can help, he said. "It's an important tool, and I don't want it to go away," Spann said. "I want it to be robust, and I want it to be reliable." It's not yet clear how meteorologists will adapt to the new limits on automated tweets. Some questioned whether the Weather Service's 122 forecast offices across the country have the personnel to manually tweet every severe weather watch and warning. During a severe weather and tornado outbreak April 5-6, for example, the Weather Service's Jackson, Miss., forecast office sent 64 automated tweets in rapid succession. At the St. Louis forecast office, automated tweets - both in English and Spanish - also numbered more than 60 on April 5. Along with each warning comes information on potential wind speeds and hail size, as well as about what's in harm's way. A tornado warning issued in Mississippi via Twitter this month stated 16,000 people, seven schools and one hospital were threatened. "If you're going to do it manually, you've got to have somebody working on that account constantly," Spann said. "Time is of the essence. Five or 10 minutes makes a huge difference." Daryl Herzmann, a systems analyst at Iowa State University, said the burden of manually sharing so many weather alerts is the reason he has developed a stable of accounts sharing them via automated tweets. Herzmann operates the Iowa Environmental Mesonet, a repository for environmental weather data that is widely used by meteorologists nationwide and supports many automated Twitter feeds. He said Twitter has not made clear how the new tweet limits will work, including whether the company will apply them to each individual Weather Service account or to a single application that runs all of the Weather Service's automated tweets. Given the frequency of weather warnings at different times a year, the agency could face significant cost even at Twitter's proposed $100-a-month tier. "It's not clear from reading what sparse documentation there is if that's even enough for them," Herzmann said. - - - The Washington Post's Jeremy Merrill and Rachel Lerman contributed to this report. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Roger J. Kreuz, University of Memphis (THE CONVERSATION) A linguistic arms race is raging online and it isnt clear whos winning. On one side are social networks like Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. These sites have become better and better at identifying and removing language and content that violates their community standards. Social media users are on the other side, and theyve come up with coded terminology designed to evade algorithmic detection. These expressions are collectively referred to as algospeak. New terms like these are just the latest development in the history of linguistic concealment. Typically, such codes have been employed by small groups. Given the reach of social media, however, algospeak has the potential to more broadly influence everyday language. An online standoff Due to the sheer volume of posted content, social media platforms use algorithms to automatically flag and remove problematic material. The goal is to reduce the spread of misinformation as well as to block content considered offensive or inappropriate. Yet many people have legitimate reasons for wanting to discuss sensitive topics online. Victims of sexual assault, for example, may find it therapeutic to discuss their experiences with others. And those who struggle with thoughts of self-harm or suicide can benefit from online communities that provide support. But algorithms may identify and remove such content as a violation of a sites terms of service. But those who repeatedly run afoul of a sites policies may find that their posts have been downranked or made less visible a process called shadow banning. And repeated violations can lead to a temporary or permanent suspension. To get past content filters, social media users are making use of coded language instead of the banned terms. References to sex, for example, might be replaced by an innocuous word like mascara. Unalive has become an agreed-upon way to refer to death or suicide. Accountant takes the place of sex worker. Corn stands in for porn. Leg booty is LGBTQ. A history of hidden language Although circumventing content filters is a relatively new phenomenon, the use of coded terms to conceal ones meaning is not. For example, the 19th-century Russian satirist Mikhail Saltykov-Shchedrin made use of Aesopian, or allegorical, language. He and others used it to circumvent censorship in Tsarist Russia. For example, the forbidden term revolution would be replaced with a phrase like the big job. Many subcultures have developed their own private codes that are only really understood by in-group members. These are referred to by a variety of names, such as argot, cant or slang. Polari was a private language used by gay men in early 20th-century Britain, at a time when public sentiment against homosexuality was running high. Rough trade, for example, referred to a working-class sex partner. Rhyming slang has also been employed to obfuscate ones meaning to outsiders. A term like telephone, for example, can be replaced by a rhyming equivalent, such as dog and bone, and then shortened to dog. In this way, a member of a gang could publicly request that another member call them, and do so even in the presence of the police. Cockney rhyming slang, which emerged in 19th-century London, is perhaps the best-known example, although there are several others. Leetspeak evolved in the 1980s, as intrepid internet pioneers ventured online to use bulletin board systems. Some of the workarounds they created to evade moderation are still being used today on sites like TikTok. This form of linguistic subterfuge typically involves using numbers and symbols as stand-ins for letters. 3 resembles a backwards capital E, 1 looks like a lowercase l, $ can take the place of the letter s, and so on. The term leet itself is often written as 1337. Although its most commonly used when writing about sex, algospeak has also proven useful in other contexts. For example, it was employed last year in Iran by those protesting the governments crackdown on dissent. Creative misspellings like Ir@n were pressed into service to evade censorship. Concealment breeds miscommunication About a decade ago, when emoji became a popular way of augmenting text messages, a new means of circumventing content moderation was born. As I describe in my recently published book on miscommunication, fruits and vegetables that vaguely resemble parts of the human anatomy were employed to get around policies prohibiting sexual content. As a result, the humble eggplant and peach emoji took on distinctly new meanings in the online world. And in 2019, both Facebook and Instagram took steps to block their use as sexual stand-ins. The various social media platforms seem to be caught up in an escalating feud with their users. The sites may block certain terms, but this leads to new algospeak equivalents springing up to take their place. Different sites have different rules that ban different terms, and what is considered acceptable and what is not is constantly changing. Keeping up can be a challenge. In January, the actress Julia Fox made a seemingly insensitive observation regarding a post mentioning mascara on TikTok. Fox was apparently unaware that the term was being used as a stand-in for sexual assault. Fox was called out for her seemingly boorish remark, and a backlash compelled her to issue an apology. As this linguistic tug of war continues, such misunderstandings seem likely to become more common. And at least some algospeak terms will inevitably spill over into vocabulary used offline. After all, coded language survives because it is useful. Such terms can, for example, function as dog whistles to taunt ones political opponents. Lets Go Brandon, anyone? This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/what-is-algospeak-inside-the-newest-version-of-linguistic-subterfuge-203460. First version published at 10:12 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan held the first meeting of the joint Business Council, Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (SMBDA) told Trend. According to the agency, at the first meeting of the joint Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Business Council, held in Saudi's capital Riyadh, prospects for expanding ties between entrepreneurs, carrying out joint initiatives, and cooperation in business and trade were discussed. The meeting, organized by the Federation of Chambers and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, as well as by the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (SMBDA), was attended by officials and businessmen from both countries. As the agency noted, Deputy Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia Mohammed AlHassnah, Co-Chairs of the joint Business Council Ahmed Dakheel and Chairman of SMBDA Management Board Orkhan Mammadov, Vice President of National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic (ASK) Vugar Zeynalov, Deputy Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency AZPROMO Zohrab Gadirov and Turki Alhokair, Vice-Chairman of the Business Council, respectively, discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the field of trade and investment between the business circles of the countries. Within the event, the agency and AZPROMO held presentations on the business and investment opportunities of our country, export potential, support and services provided to local and foreign businessmen. The Ministry of Investment and the Export Development Authority of Saudi Arabia gave presentations on the investment potential of this country, the opportunities created for businessmen, as well as its products and services. At the B2B meetings organized after the event, such issues as the exchange of information and experience between SMEs of both countries, opportunities for cooperation, organization of joint events and meetings, and mutual business missions were discussed. The Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council was established in December 2022 under the Agreement signed between SMBDA and the Federation of Chambers of Saudi Arabia. The Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council, which will be represented by businesspersons from both countries, will support entrepreneurs' initiatives, help to establish direct ties between them, organize mutual visits, meetings and various events, and exchange information between businessmen. By the time Sheena Fannin and her two sons, ages 6 and 9, arrived home from soccer practice it was already getting late. She rushed to get them to bed. Her husband, Michael, was traveling, so she tucked them in alone. Sheena went downstairs to check her calendar for the following day. Suddenly she felt lightheaded. Her heart started beating rapidly. These were not new sensations. Sheena had been having similar episodes for the past month or so. Because she was 38 and fit, she figured it was hormonal. She had an appointment with her general physician for a checkup later that week. On this evening, in October 2020, Sheena's symptoms were stronger than ever. She grabbed the kitchen counter to steady herself. Knowing she couldn't make it to a chair, she started to lower herself to the floor. The next thing Sheena remembers is being on the floor. She'd bumped her head hard on the floor, which she thinks might have jolted her back to consciousness. Only a few seconds had passed. She called one friend to watch the boys and another friend to take her to the emergency room. Michael made arrangements to return to their home in Carrollton, Texas, the next day. At the hospital, all test results came back normal. A doctor said her symptoms were likely stress-related but advised her to see a cardiologist. Sheena returned home after midnight, exhausted. She couldn't sleep. She feared she might never wake up. A couple days later, she saw a cardiologist. He also blamed her symptoms on stress and anxiety. He was so sure that he performed no tests. She disagreed with his assessment. He insisted she was fine. Seeking more insight, Sheena and Michael scheduled an appointment with an electrophysiologist. "I know my body," she told the doctor. "Something is wrong." He performed an echocardiogram and had her wear a heart monitor that would automatically send the output to his office. A few days later, she and Michael were in a carpool line, waiting to pick up the kids from school. Sheena had stopped driving by this point because she was afraid she'd pass out behind the wheel. The phone rang; it was the doctor. "Sheena, what are you doing right now?" he asked. "You need to get to the hospital now." Readings from the heart monitor showed that her heart was going in and out of ventricular tachycardia, or V-tach. That's an abnormal heart rhythm, or arrhythmia, that occurs when the lower chamber of the heart beats too fast and the body doesn't receive enough oxygenated blood. While brief episodes can be harmless, longer ones can cause sudden cardiac arrest, which is often fatal. Sheena was petrified. She'd been waiting so long for a diagnosis, but never expected anything so serious. After several days of additional testing and being hooked up to an electrocardiogram machine in the hospital, doctors concluded Sheena was at high risk for sudden cardiac arrest because her heart continued to go in and out of V-tach. They thought it could be related to scarring from a mild heart murmur she'd been diagnosed with as a child. On her fourth day in the hospital, doctors called a meeting with Sheena and Michael, with her sister and father joining by phone. Doctors told Sheena she would need to have an implantable cardioverter defibrillator placed in her chest. The small battery-powered device detects and stops dangerously irregular heartbeats. If needed, it delivers electric shocks to restore a regular heart rhythm. She would also be on medication for the rest of her life. After they spoke, the room went silent. Sheena couldn't make eye contact with the doctor or Michael. If she did, she would lose control, and she was trying to stay strong. "If this is what I need to do to live longer and see my boys grow, this is what I will do," she thought. When they wheeled her away for surgery, she felt she was being taken away from the life she knew, the person she'd been. Two days later, she was home, exhausted but resolved. "I'm going to get back to being Sheena," she said. She and Michael joke about how on her first morning home she set the alarm to make the children's breakfast, as she always had. "That's Sheena to a T," Michael said. "She's such a strong-willed person. It's tough to articulate how emotionally, mentally and physically challenging all this was, but then for her to say, 'I'm not going to let this change us, how we are,' that's so her." Sheena also told Michael, "I'm going to take this diagnosis and make something out of this." Within six months, Sheena had connected with the American Heart Association for her own support but also to do advocacy work. Last year, she was among the nation's top Woman of Impact fundraisers. "Being able to spread that advocacy and raise funds gives other survivors hope," she said. "It's really my way of taking back that control and being able to make something positive out of all of this." More than two years since she passed out, Sheena understands that the defibrillator is not a cure. "My heart goes in and out of V-tach once a month," she said. "I can feel when it happens, and I don't think it's something I'll ever get used to. But the device hasn't shocked me, which means my heart goes back into a normal rhythm." She's grateful to have the lifesaving piece of equipment, which she received only because of her persistence. "If I had trusted what that first doctor said, I wouldn't be here today," she said. "You have to listen to your body." Stories From the Heart chronicles the inspiring journeys of heart disease and stroke survivors, caregivers and advocates. Copyright is owned or held by the American Heart Association, Inc., and all rights are reserved. Permission is granted, at no cost and without need for further request, for individuals, media outlets, and non-commercial education and awareness efforts to link to, quote, excerpt or reprint from these stories in any medium as long as no text is altered and proper attribution is made to American Heart Association News. Other uses, including educational products or services sold for profit, must comply with the American Heart Associations Copyright Permission Guidelines. See full terms of use. These stories may not be used to promote or endorse a commercial product or service. HEALTH CARE DISCLAIMER: This site and its services do not constitute the practice of medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always talk to your health care provider for diagnosis and treatment, including your specific medical needs. If you have or suspect that you have a medical problem or condition, please contact a qualified health care professional immediately. If you are in the United States and experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or call for emergency medical help immediately. By Katy St. Clair Bay City News Attorney Amy Hirsh appears to be headed to a new seat on the board of the Benicia Unified School District (BUSD) after gaining a sizable lead in a special election held Tuesday. The special election was held after no one ran for the seat to represent the Area 5 region of Benicia on the board in November's general election. Normally when this happens, the school district's governing board interviews possible trustees and appoints someone to fill the seat, which they did on Nov. 3. However, the woman whom the board selected -- social worker Ariana Martinez -- was discovered to be the daughter of the superintendent's executive assistant, raising conflict of interest concerns. A petition for overturning Martinez's provisional appointment gathered the required 62 signatures from people in Area 5 and was filed with the county office of the superintendent. Martinez's appointment was then vacated on Dec. 12, according to Superintendent Damon Wright. A special election to fill the seat was then called for Tuesday. Three people ran this time, Martinez, Hirsh and physician Ali Mansouri. As of the latest unofficial results Tuesday night, Hirsh led with 59 percent of the votes. Martinez trailed with 27 percent and Mansouri received 14 percent. Attorney David Nicholson was one of the people interviewed by the board for the position back in November. On Dec. 15, he told the board why he felt it was necessary to hold a special election, expressing how "shocking" it was that they selected the only candidate that didn't have children, and also that Martinez was related to the superintendent's staff. "The board knew this material fact before appointing her and failed to disclose it," he said. "This is highly significant because the board's chosen candidate would possibly have to recuse herself from various votes, such as those involving salaries and working conditions of BUSD employees, effectively disenfranchising Area 5 voters on these topics." Raul Martinez, Ariana's father, also spoke at the December meeting in support of his daughter, who he thought was going to be sworn in that night and was therefore "very disappointed." "Just because she doesn't have a child, that doesn't mean that she doesn't have a heart and doesn't have a heart for children, and for the students of this community," he said, adding that she is a very dedicated social worker who helps children. Another speaker, Lori Grundman, said she believes it sends a "terrible" message for people in the community to suggest a candidate needs to have children to serve as a trustee. "I support Martinez in this role," she said. The school board responded to the fallout of the appointment of Martinez in a Dec. 21 statement posted to the district website. "Our Governing Board did not take this appointment lightly as we compared the complexity and similarities of her social work responsibilities to the needs of our District," they wrote. "Our Board believes Ms. Martinez could empathize with families seeking equitable outcomes within the educational system, as well as a clear understanding of the laws that govern special education." District officials said that the petitioners chose to go the petition route after citing a "conflict of interest, intentionally keeping active parents from serving on the Governing Board, nepotism, collusion, and failure to disclose." Despite admitting that Martinez is the daughter of the superintendent's executive assistant, the district maintains that it reviewed its own policies and consulted legal counsel before concluding that her appointment would not create a conflict of interest. Nicholson agreed at the Dec. 15 meeting that Martinez was a "fine candidate." "I was very impressed with Ariana myself," he said. "She seemed superb, frankly, and this is not about Ariana at all." Nicholson told the board that he and others have made a California Public Records Act request in an effort to gain more insight into the board's decision-making process and "may take appropriate action" based on the results of their inquiry. Some in the community also questioned the cost of holding the special election, including the school board. "The BUSD's Governing Board shares the community's concern with the financial impact of a special election, as this process may cost between sixty and eighty thousand dollars. The Governing Board attempted to legally appoint a community member to fill the vacancy in Trustee Area 5 to avoid election costs; however, the appointment was petitioned and made clear that the petitioners sought an election to fill the vacancy," the board posted on its website. Hirsh, who also had interviewed with the board for the appointed position, said on her campaign site that an election was necessary, despite its price tag, which she argued the community could afford. "Over the past two election cycles, candidates have been unopposed, which has saved the district the cost of those elections," she wrote. "There has not been a contested election for the BUSD Governing Board since 2018. While there is a cost to this special election, the bulk of the cost was already anticipated by BUSD and is far below what BUSD avoided paying in the last two uncontested election cycles (2020 and 2022) combined." Copyright 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2023 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Police in Berkeley have arrested a man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in March, according to a news release from the department Tuesday. Jonathan Castellanos Miller, 20, was arrested on April 5 on suspicion of the assault and has also been charged with felony kidnapping. Police said a woman in her 20s was grabbed from behind in the 2000 block of Blake Street about 9:15 p.m. on March 26. She was pulled into a parking lot and sexually assaulted for several minutes before the suspect left the scene. The ensuing investigation relied on forensic evidence collected at the scene, as the victim was unable to provide a description of the suspect. Police said that evidence identified the suspect as Miller, who was arrested outside the Berkeley city limits on suspicion of multiple felonies. A search of Miller's residence also found additional evidence of the crime, police said, including handcuffs and two replica guns. Police said they believe Miller has assaulted other women and are urging them to come forward to report the crimes to Berkeley Police Department Sex Crimes Unit at (510) 981-5735. Berkeley police thanked the Serological Research Institute, San Mateo County Crime Lab and California Department of Justice Jan Bashinski Laboratory for their timely assistance with forensic evidence in this case. Copyright 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2023 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Remote public comment at weekly San Francisco Board of Supervisors meetings is here to stay, supervisors decided Wednesday. Supervisors voted on a meeting rules amendment that would preserve the board's interim policy, which first came about during COVID-19 shutdowns, to allow unlimited remote public comment at meetings. At first, seven supervisors voted "yes," though the motion failed since it required eight votes to be approved. Board President Aaron Peskin made a motion to rescind the item, since it was initially required to be approved by Saturday. Three supervisors who have previously voted in favor of remote public comment were unavailable to attend Wednesday morning's rescheduled meeting. The meeting time changed after a cable box was vandalized downtown, which prevented the meeting from being broadcast live on its cable channels. Supervisor Rafael Mandelman then changed his dissenting vote so the amendment could be approved. He previously introduced an ordinance that would discontinue remote public comment, except on request for people with disabilities. California will receive nearly $176 million in a settlement with electronic cigarette company JUUL Labs, Inc., over advertising targeted at young people, state Attorney General Rob Bonta said this week. California and five other states as well as the District of Columbia settled with JUUL for a total of $462 million, resolving multiple lawsuits over the company's advertising of its nicotine-containing vape and e-cigarette products. California will receive $175.8 million from the settlement, the most of the five other states, which will be invested into education programs about the harms of vaping, implementation of the state's ban on flavored nicotine products and research into e-cigarette health effects on young people, according to Bonta's office. Colorado, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Mexico and New York were also included in the settlement. Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Wednesday asked to be temporarily replaced on the U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee while she recovers from shingles. Feinstein, 89, released a statement following stepped-up pressure from fellow Democrats for her to resign from the Senate. Her absence for over a month has delayed confirmation of President Joe Biden's judicial nominees, critics say. Earlier on Wednesday, Rep. Ro Khanna, (D-Santa Clara) called on Feinstein to step down. Feinstein's statement on Wednesday, however, gave no hint about resigning. Two San Francisco supervisors are pushing for a ballot measure that would aim to replenish a fully staffed police force in the city. Announced Wednesday, Supervisors Matt Dorsey and Catherine Stefani introduced a charter amendment that would establish a fully staffed police department within five years through a budget set-aside. The San Francisco Police Department Full Staffing Act would appear before voters on the March 2024 ballot. If passed, the amendment would establish minimum police staffing levels and create baseline funding to ensure standards are met. One person was arrested for lying in the street and blocking city crews from evicting residents at what is left of a homeless encampment along Wood Street in Oakland on Wednesday, a community advocate said. Residents Wednesday morning kept police from clearing the camp in a standoff near Wood and 20th streets, advocate Brian Barth said. Police said they made another arrest as well. City officials said shelter is available to every resident of the camp who wants it, but some residents don't like what is being offered to them. Oakland has a nearby cabin community that can house up to 100 people, according to the city. But camp resident John Janosko said cabin residents get no key to their cabin or to the gate to the community. The shelter is for just 90 days and those that accept a cabin can take only a limited number of their belongings, he said. One student was fatally shot and another was injured in a pistol whipping on Wednesday afternoon near Cesar Chavez High School in Stockton, police said. The shooting was reported about 3:10 p.m. in the area of Unity Park in the 5500 block of Rayanna Drive, where officers found the victims. Both were hospitalized and the student who was shot, a 17-year-old boy, died. The other student is in stable condition with non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. The pair were involved in a crime at the park during school hours, said Melinda Meza, spokesperson for the Stockton Unified School District. Police in Berkeley have arrested a man suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in March, according to a news release from the department Tuesday. Jonathan Castellanos Miller, 20, was arrested on April 5 on suspicion of the assault and has also been charged with felony kidnapping. Police said a woman in her 20s was grabbed from behind in the 2000 block of Blake Street about 9:15 p.m. on March 26. She was pulled into a parking lot and sexually assaulted for several minutes before the suspect left the scene. The ensuing investigation relied on forensic evidence collected at the scene, as the victim was unable to provide a description of the suspect. Police said that evidence identified the suspect as Miller, who was arrested outside the Berkeley city limits on suspicion of multiple felonies. A man accused of persistently stalking a San Rafael woman since early February was arrested on Tuesday, police said. Jason Carpenter, 46, was arrested at his home in Benicia after San Rafael police and the Marin Sheriff's Office investigated multiple reports of stalking about him. Detectives obtained a warrant to search his house, finding four firearms and numerous varieties of ammunition that police allege were tied to one threat against the victim. Carpenter is suspected of stalking a woman who he had briefly dated, police said. He is accused of going to her residence and leaving numerous unwanted letters and items at her front door. Police allege Carpenter's stalking escalated over time, with one incident involving the victim's front door lock being glued shut and rendered unusable. Two people are in stable condition after being shot Wednesday afternoon in East Oakland, police said. The shooting was reported just before 4 p.m. in the 2900 block of Brookdale Avenue near Capp Street. Police are investigating and released no other information. One person died in a shooting Sunday evening just west of San Pablo Avenue in West Oakland, police said. The shooting occurred just after 7 p.m. in the 3200 block of Filbert Street near Saint Andrews Plaza. Officers went there following an alert by the city's ShotSpotter gunshot detection system, according to police. Officers located the victim who was pronounced dead by medical personnel at the scene, police said. Police are not releasing the name of the victim pending notification of kin. Attorney Amy Hirsh appears to be headed to a new seat on the board of the Benicia Unified School District (BUSD) after gaining a sizable lead in a special election held Tuesday. The special election was held after no one ran for the seat to represent the Area 5 region of Benicia on the board in November's general election. A special election to fill the seat was then called for Tuesday. Three people ran this time, Martinez, Hirsh and physician Ali Mansouri. As of the latest unofficial results Tuesday night, Hirsh led with 59 percent of the votes. Martinez trailed with 27 percent and Mansouri received 14 percent. Nine people were displaced, including 3 children, from a house fire Wednesday night in Pittsburg, according to the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District. The fire was reported about 8 p.m. in the 200 block of East 15th Street, near Pittsburg High School. No injuries were reported in the fire. The cause has not been determined. As of 10:45 p.m., firefighters were still at the scene for overhaul. The National Weather Service forecast for the greater San Francisco Bay Area calls for sunny and breezy conditions Thursday. Daytime highs are expected in the 60s with overnight lows in the 40s. A subtle warming trend will continue into the weekend. Copyright 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2023 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Over his 32-year police career in Dallas, Terrance Hopkins has seen tremendous changes in the profession. For rookie Black officers in a predominantly white and conservative field, he said, the prevailing feeling used to be that you were lucky to be allowed on the force. Now, it is not unusual to see veteran Black officers in top leadership roles. But the issues that plague the professions reputation in Black communities excessive uses of lethal force, racial profiling and routine brutality from officers have not become relics of the past under diverse leadership. That reality has been laid bare by the beating death of Tyre Nichols in Memphis, Tennessee, and the in-custody restraint death of Irvo Otieno that involved Virginia sheriffs deputies. Part of the problem is that too many Black police leaders walk on eggshells about addressing bad policing and racism in the force, said Hopkins, the outspoken president of the Black Police Association of Dallas who serves as a tactical special events planner for the citys department. Youre still in a conservative, white male-dominated profession and these guys still have to buy into you. If they dont buy into you, theyre calling for your job, he said. Very few, if any, Black police chiefs believe their mere presence subverts systemic racism in the profession. But as the number of Black law enforcement professionals leading major police departments increases, so do the opportunities to show that diversity on the force can foster better relationships, make policing fairer, and save more Black lives, current and former police leaders told The Associated Press. Sometimes it does seem like an unfair burden that, just because (a chief) comes in who is African American, decades of mistrust are just going to melt away, said Brenda Goss Andrews, president of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives and a former deputy chief of the Detroit Police Department. Youre not going to be able to solve that quickly and, in some cases, if at all, she said. But the key thing is that you have to take the time to talk to the community and see whats going on. This weekend, Black police chiefs, commissioners, sheriffs and commanders from across the country will gather in Detroit for NOBLEs annual CEO symposium. Andrews described it as a typically intimate setting where attendees feel like youre around family. The agenda, spread across Friday and Saturday, includes panels on diversity, equity and inclusion; best practices for mental health responses in policing; and managing the response to mass shootings. This will be the first national symposium since the Nichols case reignited a national reckoning over police use of force and renewed the scrutiny sparked by massive racial justice protests over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis in 2020. The gathering also takes place following the launch of a probe of police abuses in Memphis by the U.S. Justice Department, as well as the agencys report on police discrimination in Louisville, Kentucky, from an investigation launched after the shooting death of Breonna Taylor in 2020. The Memphis and Louisville departments are led by Black executives. And there are a number of major city police departments led by veteran Black law enforcement professionals: Commissioner Keechant Sewell in New York City; Chief William Scott in San Francisco; Chief Troy Finner in Houston; and Chief Elaine Bryant in Columbus, Ohio, among several others. The CEO symposium is named for William Bracey, a former New York Police Department leader who co-founded NOBLE almost 47 years ago. Bracey was elevated to high-ranking chief of patrol in 1979, after 33 years of service in the NYPD. I have had no problem with being Black and being a police officer Bracey said, according to a biography written by the organizations New York chapter. The fact that I do come, in a sense, from two different worlds gives me additional experiences and insights that, hopefully, help me make the right decisions. Although modern-day policing in the U.S. has origins in the slave patrols used to control the enslaved population, Black men and women have served as law enforcement professionals since abolition. However, their earliest experiences were far from fair or equal. In Atlanta, the cradle of the Civil Rights Movement, the first Black officers began serving in a segregated unit in 1948 and werent integrated with white officers until 1969. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, there were more than 708,000 full-time sworn officers serving in over 14,700 law enforcement agencies in 2020. The percentage of local police officers who were Black has remained the same at 12%, from 1997 to 2020. Federal statistics show the percentage of Black police chiefs running local departments that serve more than 250,000 residents has increased over the last decade. In 2020, about 47% of major city chiefs were white, 38% were Black, and 13% were Hispanic. Four years earlier, 65% of major city chiefs were white and 19% were Black. Former Atlanta police Chief Rodney Bryant was drawn to the law enforcement profession over 34 years ago because he wanted to ensure the Black community enjoyed the same level of police service and safety that white residents received. Bryant, 56, grew up in an era of missing and murdered children in Atlanta, in the late 1970s and early 1980s when police did not thoroughly investigate the disappearances and deaths of Black adolescents and young adults. When I came into the police department, we werent a predominantly Black agency, Bryant said. But I am confident that we are now very much a mirror of the community that we serve. He became chief of the department in Atlanta following the June 2020 police shooting death of Rayshard Brooks, a case that sparked local protests amid demonstrations over Floyds murder in Minneapolis. Bryant said that even as a Black leader, without the communitys support, its hard to do the job. But the community conversations have been easier because he is Black, he said. One of the things that I feel privileged about is that, as a Black chief, it gave me the ability to go into certain communities and homes and really hear people and hear their true plight, Bryant said. In some communities, they dont have that same trust, if the person was white. Bryant and Andrews, the NOBLE president, said the community of Black police leaders is still small enough that many of them know each other and will reach out to offer encouraging words in moments of crisis. And perhaps contrary to what the public might believe, seeing cases like Floyd, Nichols or Otieno can be devastating, they said. This is not what we want to see, this is not what we signed up for, Andrews said. Even if we are no longer in policing, we take it personally. Bryant said Black police leaders do have a responsibility to educate the broader law enforcement profession how to interact with our community. Our history with law enforcement differs from many in mainstream society, the former Atlanta chief said. ___ Aaron Morrison is a New York City-based member of APs Race and Ethnicity team. Follow him on Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/aaronlmorrison. WASHINGTON (AP) A Florida man was sentenced Thursday to eight months in federal prison for his role in the insurrection and storming of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Howard Adams, 62, of Edgewater, Florida, was sentenced in federal court in the District of Columbia, according to court records. He pleaded guilty in January to a felony charge of interfering with law enforcement officers during a civil disorder. Amy Beth Bennett/AP TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) The judge who oversaw the sentencing of the Parkland massacre gunman was removed from another death penalty murder case Thursday by the Florida Supreme Court, which agreed she showed unfair sympathy for prosecutors in the Parkland school shooting case. The court removed Judge Elizabeth Scherer from overseeing any post-conviction proceedings for Randy Tundidor, who was sentenced to death for the 2019 murder of his Broward County landlord and is appealing his case. COLUMBIA. Mo. (AP) Missouri's attorney general announced new restrictions Thursday on gender-affirming care for adults in addition to minors in a move that is believed to be a first nationally and has advocacy groups threatening to sue. Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced plans to restrict health care for transgender people weeks ago, when protesters rallied at the Capitol to urge lawmakers to pass a law banning puberty blockers, hormones and surgeries for children. But the discussion was focused on minors, not adults. Missouri Attorney General spokeswoman Madeline Sieren clarified in a statement later in the day that adults also would be covered. We have serious concerns about how children are being treated throughout the state, but we believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care, Sieren said. The rule, which incudes a required 18 months of therapy before receiving gender-affirming health care, is set to take effect April 27 and expire next February. The ACLU and Lambda Legal said in a joint statement that they would take any necessary legal action and urged those affected to call. The Attorney Generals so-called emergency rule is based on distorted, misleading, and debunked claims and ignores the overwhelming body of scientific and medical evidence supporting this care, the statement said. Robert Fischer, the spokesman for the LGBT rights groups PROMO, said he was not aware of similar restrictions elsewhere. Hes essentially attacking the entire trans community at this point, Fischer said of Bailey. Its no longer just about children. The National Center for Transgender Equality called the order deeply wrong in a tweet, adding that trans people of all ages across the state of Missouri deserve access to health care. The restrictions are in response to a former employee's allegations of mistreatment at a transgender youth clinic in St. Louis run by Washington University. Bailey is investigating the center. My office is stepping up to protect children throughout the state while we investigate the allegations and how they are harming children, Bailey said in a statement. University spokespeople didnt immediately respond to phone or email messages from The Associated Press seeking comment. Moving forward, doctors who provide gender-affirming health care must first provide them a lengthy list of potential negative side effects and information warning against those treatments, according to a copy of the rule released Thursday. Health care providers will need to ensure any psychiatric symptoms from existing mental health comorbidities of the patient have been treated and resolved before providing gender-affirming treatments under the new rule. Physicians also must screen patients for social media addiction, autism and signs of social contagion with respect to the patients gender identity. The FDA approved puberty blockers 30 years ago to treat children with precocious puberty a condition that causes sexual development to begin much earlier than usual. Sex hormones synthetic forms of estrogen and testosterone were approved decades ago to treat hormone disorders or as birth control pills. The FDA has not approved the medications specifically to treat gender-questioning youth, but they have been used for many years for that purpose off label, a common and accepted practice for many medical conditions. Doctors who treat transgender patients say those decades of use are proof the treatments are not experimental. Critics have raise concerns about children changing their minds. Yet the evidence suggests detransitioning is not as common as opponents of transgender medical treatment for youth contend, though few studies exist and they have their weaknesses. Bailey's rule was released the same day Missouri's Republican-led House voted to ban access to transgender-related health care for minors. The House voted 103-52 along mostly party lines in favor of the ban, although the bills passage seems uncertain in the Senate. The House proposal is stricter than what was passed by the GOP-led Senate, where Democrats have more influence through the use of stall tactics. Senators compromised to exempt care for minors whose treatment is already underway. The Senate bill also would expire after four years. The House version includes no exceptions for current treatments and would remain in effect indefinitely. Republican Senate leaders said its unlikely that the House version will make it through the Senate. Weve already passed legislation on this issue out of the Senate, Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden said. We would expect the House to appreciate how hard and difficult it was and to take up our bill and pass it. Both the House and Senate proposals would ban inmates and prisoners from accessing gender-affirming surgeries and would end coverage of any gender-affirming treatments for Missouri patients on Medicaid, the federal health insurance program. The Human Rights Campaign have condemned the legislation in a statement, describing gender-affirming care as medically necessary. At least 13 states have now enacted laws restricting or banning gender-affirming care for minors: Alabama, Arkansas, Arizona, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee, Utah, South Dakota and West Virginia. Bills are awaiingt action from governors in Kansas, Montana and North Dakota. Federal judges have blocked enforcement of laws in Alabama and Arkansas, and nearly two dozen states are considering bills this year to restrict or ban care. House debate on the bill became emotional as some Democrats argued the ban on health care will hurt transgender children. You are erasing my grandchild, said St. Louis Democratic Rep. Barbara Phifer, whose grandson is transgender. Republican sponsor Rep. Brad Hudson, of Cape Fair, criticized Democrats for threatening to end political partnerships and friendships with Republicans over the bill. Hudson said his bill seeks to protect kids and that it's unfair that Democrats are describing it as hateful towards transgender children. A yes vote is a vote to protect kids from sex-change drugs and surgeries, Hudson said. Associated Press writer David A. Lieb contributed to this report from Jefferson City, Missouri. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Proper strategy of cyber security in the financial market for 2023-2026 is being prepared in Azerbaijan, Head of Information and CyberSecurity Department of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Elvin Shahverdiyev said, Trend reports. Shahverdiyev made the remark during an event themed "Sustainable Development Technologies: Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Cloud Solutions". "The strategy is being prepared jointly with the International Finance Corporation and a certain market assessment has already been carried out. This strategy will be aimed at reducing the likelihood of emergencies, quick response and prevention of threats, studying and applying the international practice in this area, he explained. Besides, according to him, as part of this strategy, its expected to expand cooperation with both local and international organizations, and form changes in Azerbaijani legislation. Shahverdiyev stressed that cooperation with Australia, EU countries, Japan, Singapore and the US is expected to be expanded in this area. "We plan to apply cyber security systems, market analysis methods, and the experience of developing banking products in advanced countries which have achieved significant progress in these sectors," he added. Shahverdiyev pointed out that information security management in Azerbaijani banks is carried out on the basis of international standards. According to him, the adoption of international standards and new solutions enabled a reduction in the likelihood of risky operations by 86 percent, increased compliance with the rules by 55 percent, strengthened security by 71 percent, and decreased the possibility of unforeseen situations by 50 percent. The strategy is being prepared by the Fourth Industrial Revolution Technology Working Group. The National Artificial Intelligence Strategy will cover the issues of the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, their analysis and processing. The working group was set up to study the possibilities of introducing the latest technologies, forming a regulatory framework, roadmaps, coordinating projects, as well as expanding cooperation with international organizations in this area. The group includes representatives of 22 state structures, and the coordination of its activities is entrusted to the Center for Analysis and Coordination of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. FREDERICK, Md. (AP) A Maryland sheriff repeatedly lied to federal authorities to help a local firearms dealer illegally obtain machine guns and rent them out to his customers, forming a partnership that was profitable and politically beneficial, according to a federal grand jury indictment filed last week. Frederick County Sheriff Charles Chuck Jenkins pleaded not guilty Wednesday to several charges, including conspiracy and making false statements to the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. After initially pledging to remain in office while the case proceeds, Jenkins said Wednesday he is taking a leave of absence. I have full confidence in the system, and I know that my innocence will prevail at the end of all of this, Jenkins said in a statement released by the agency. He was released pending trial on several conditions, including that he refrains from possessing a firearm or other dangerous weapons. Federal law generally prohibits firearm dealers from importing machine guns unless they are being used as demonstration models for law enforcement agencies, which can legally purchase such weapons. But in order for dealers to use that exemption, the interested law enforcement agency must submit a letter to ATF requesting a sample of the machine gun they are considering purchasing. According to the indictment, Jenkins wrote such letters on behalf of his co-defendant, Robert Krop, whose Frederick County business The Machine Gun Nest offered machine guns for rent. The business made over $100,000 in profits from the rentals in 2018 and 2019 alone, the indictment says. Krop offered Jenkins political support in exchange for the favor, according to federal prosecutors. In several letters dating back to 2015, Jenkins falsely claimed the Frederick County Sheriffs Office wanted samples of various machine gun models, according to the indictment. The requests were approved, allowing Krops business to obtain the weapons. In a 2018 letter, Jenkins requested machine gun models that are suitable only for use in combat, not for law enforcement purposes, the indictment says. Jenkins was first elected sheriff of the largely rural county in 2006. He started his career with the agency in 1990. BOSTON (AP) The Massachusetts House overwhelmingly approved a $654 million tax relief package for the 2024 fiscal year Thursday. The bill, which passed on a 150-3 vote, is aimed at helping seniors, renters, businesses and wealthier homeowners while rewriting the law that sent about $3 billion back to taxpayers last year, according to Massachusetts House Speaker Ronald Mariano. The measure, which would result in $1.1 billion in savings for taxpayers in the 2026 fiscal year, would raise the state's estate tax threshold from $1 million to $2 million. Massachusetts is one of just 12 states with an estate tax. Democratic Gov. Maura Healey, who released her own $742 million tax relief package in February, would eliminate the tax for estates valued up to $3 million. The House proposal would also make changes to the 1986 law designed to limit state tax revenue growth and return any excess to taxpayers. The law triggered nearly $3 billion in refunds last year. The credit is applied to the personal income tax liability on a proportional basis, resulting in higher credits for those who paid more in taxes. The bill would credit an equal amount per taxpayer. The House proposal would also combine the child care expenses credit with the dependent member of household credit to create one refundable $600 credit per dependent; double the tax credit for eligible seniors who own or rent property from $1,200 to $2,400; increase the rental deduction cap from $3,000 to $4,000; and boost the earned income tax credit from 30% to 40% of the federal credit. The package would also lower the short-term capital gains tax rate from 12% to 5% over two years and bulk up the states stabilization fund, also called the rainy day fund. The bill now heads to the Massachusetts Senate. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) The suspect was relatively easy to find. In a social media world that produces traceable digital fingerprints, it didn't take long for federal authorities and journalists adept at sifting through data to land on the name of Jack Teixeira. Teixeira, 21, who served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested Thursday in connection with the far-reaching leak of classified documents that have shaken capitals from Washington to Kyiv to Seoul with revelations of U.S. spying on allies and foes alike and the disclosure of sensitive military intelligence about the war in Ukraine. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Teixeira would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information. There were clues in messages posted in a chatroom on Discord, a social media platform where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years about guns, games and his favorite memes and, according to some others chatting with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets. The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira. The suspect, as part of his duties, reportedly had access to highly classified information. The case underscores the challenges the U.S. and other governments have in keeping secrets in an era of omnipresent data and an ever growing army of savvy users who know how to exploit it. When asked how such a young service member could have had access to highly sensitive documents, the Pentagon spokesman, Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, said it was the nature of the military to trust its very young service members with high and sometimes grave levels of responsibility, including high levels of security clearance. Soldiers fresh out of high school went to fight in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones for a generation, often using top-secret intelligence and programs to target adversaries. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat, Ryder said. In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as the O.G. by a member of an online chat group where Teixeira and others posted for years. The member of the chat group declined to give his name to the AP, citing concerns for his personal safety. The chat group, called Thug Shaker Central, drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes, some of them racist. The group also included a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. In that discussion, the O.G. would for months post material that he said was classified originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings weren't being taken seriously, the person said. A different participant in the group shared some of the files several weeks ago in a different chat group and from there they appear to have spread across the Internet. The person who spoke to the AP said he had not communicated with Teixeira on Thursday but had stayed in touch earlier in the week. Teixeira had said he knew the FBI was looking for him, the person said. Teixeira was an airman first class detailed to an Air Force intelligence unit, according to Facebook posts from the 102nd Intelligence Wing based at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. Teixeiras specialty in the Air National Guard was as 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 to access and ensure protection for the network, a defense official told the AP. The National Guard issued a statement saying it was aware of the investigation and takes this issue very seriously. National security is our foremost priority and any attempt to undermine it compromises our values and degrades trust among our members, the public, allies and partners," the statement said. Local police on Thursday had blocked off the street in front of a home listed as belonging to his family. The person who spoke to the AP says the O.G. who he acknowledged Thursday was Teixeira was an observant Christian who often spoke of God and prayed with members of the chat group. While he was enlisted, Teixeira opposed many of the priorities of the U.S. government and denounced the military since it was run by the elite politicians, the person said, adding that he didn't know why Teixeira had signed up in the first place. He expressed regret (about) joining a lot, the person said. He even said he'd kick my ass if I thought about joining. But the person has stressed that he didn't believe Teixeira leaked documents to undermine the U.S. government or for an ideological reason. When The New York Times first published a story last week about the documents, the person said, members of the group were on a video call when the O.G. talked to them. Basically what he said was, Im sorry, guys, I prayed every single day that this wouldn't happen,' the person said. 'I prayed, and I prayed, and now it's only up to God what happens next.' ___ Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report. NEW YORK (AP) A federal judge rejected a request Thursday to delay former President Donald Trump's trial this month on civil claims that he raped a woman in the mid-1990s, but he has granted a request by Trump's lawyers to gather more evidence about who is paying the accuser's lawyers. New revelations that a major contributor to Democrats helped finance the litigation against Trump by columnist E. Jean Carroll prompted attorney Alina Habba to ask for a one-month delay of the April 25 trial. Judge Lewis A. Kaplan said he would allow lawyers for Trump to gather more information and to question Carroll for up to one hour about why she said in an October deposition that her lawyers were relying on a contingency fee in the case and were not receiving other income. Habba's request is the second time this week that a Trump lawyer has asked to delay the trial on Carroll's allegations that Trump raped her in 1996 in a upscale Manhattan department store dressing room. Earlier this week, Trump attorney Joe Tacopina asked for a one-month delay, saying adverse publicity over Trump's arrest last week on criminal charges in New York state court made a delay necessary. Trump has denied that he raped Carroll and has accused the former longtime Elle magazine advice columnist and her lawyer of being politically driven after Carroll disclosed her claims for the first time publicly in a 2019 memoir while Trump was still president. In her letter to the court Thursday, Habba said Carroll's lawyers had disclosed for the first time this week that they had received funding from American Future Republic, a social welfare organization funded by Reid Hoffman, the co-founder of LinkedIn. Habba wrote that the revelation raises significant questions about Carroll's credibility and motives for suing Trump in November after New York state enacted a law allowing victims more time to sue those who committed sexual abuse against them, even if it happened decades ago. Habba said it also goes to the heart of Trump's defense because he has consistently labeled Carroll's claims a con job and a hoax and has questioned whether she is pushing a political agenda or being funded by a rival political party. Hoffman did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Roberta Kaplan, Carroll's lawyer, responded in a letter to the court Thursday, asking the judge to deny Trump's latest bid for a delay to the trial. One thing is clear Trump will stop at nothing to avoid having a jury hear Carrolls claims, she wrote. Kaplan said her client was preparing for trial recently when she recalled hearing that her lawyers, who were operating on a contingency fee basis, had also secured funding from a nonprofit organization. Carroll's lawyers then notified Trump's lawyers, who demanded to know the source of the funding. Meanwhile, the District of Columbia Court of Appeals released a written opinion Thursday providing additional legal insight that the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals can use to decide if the United States can be substituted for Trump as the defendant in a defamation lawsuit Carroll filed before her November rape lawsuit. The 2nd Circuit had asked the D.C. court to provide insight into a law addressing when an employer should be liable for the actions of its employee. The D.C. court said it lacked facts to recommend whether it believed that allegedly libelous statements Trump made after Carroll's rape claims became public fell within the scope of his employment as president. It did attempt to clarify the law, though it noted that most of its case law on the subject pertained to disputes over whether law enforcement individuals could be held personally liable. The defamation lawsuit eventually will be dismissed if the United States is substituted as a defendant, and a trial might become unnecessary otherwise because the November rape lawsuit also contains a defamation claim against Trump. TUNIS, Tunisia (AP) At least 25 African migrants died and 15 are missing after a boat carrying them toward Europe sank in the Mediterranean Sea off the coast of Tunisia this week, Tunisian authorities said. The Tunisian coast guard on Thursday recovered the bodies of 15 people trapped under the boat near the coast of Sfax, a port in east-central Tunisia, Sfax Prosecutor Faouzi Masmoudi told the Associated Press. PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) The driver of a former Haitian senator has been detained for questioning in the assassination of former Haitian President Jovenel Moise, authorities said Thursday. Mozart Prevot was detained Tuesday by National Police officers who also searched his residence in the capital, Port-au-Prince, where they found a 9mm pistol and ammunition, the National Police said on the agency's website. Prevot has not been charged. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate DAKAR, Senegal (AP) Ghana on Thursday became the first country to approve a new malaria vaccine for young children, one that officials hope will offer better protection against the disease that kills hundreds of thousands every year. Final results from late-stage trials have not yet been published, and the vaccine is under review at the World Health Organization. Preliminary results from early testing of the new vaccine, developed at the University of Oxford, have suggested the vaccine is far more effective than the only malaria vaccine now authorized for use by the WHO. Late-stage testing of the vaccine still is underway in Burkina Faso, Kenya, Mali and Tanzania, with results expected later this year. Results from an earlier trial released last year showed that in children vaccinated in Burkina Faso, the vaccine was up to 80% effective depending how much of an immune-boosting ingredient was included in the shots. The WHO has already rolled out a pilot program of the worlds first authorized malaria vaccine, piloted in three African countries, including Ghana, Kenya and Malawi. But that vaccine, sold by GlaxoSmithKline as Mosquirix, is about 30% effective. That vaccine is saving lives in the three pilot countries and has been delivered to over 1.4 million kids, according to Tarik Jasarevic, a WHO spokesman. Jasarevic said its advisory panel on malaria vaccines is reviewing available information on the new vaccine but is waiting for more data about its safety and efficacy from ongoing trials. Initial results appear promising, he wrote in an email. We would welcome a second malaria vaccine that is safe and efficacious and approved by WHO to complement the roll-out of the first malaria vaccine, he said. Its not clear how soon the new vaccine will be available. Ghanas Food and Drug Authority approved its use for children ages 5 months to 36 months, the group at highest risk of death from malaria, its developers said in a statement. Once the new Oxford vaccine is in use, Ghanaian health officials will weigh the pros and cons before making a final decision on which one is more effective, said Kwame Amponsa-Achiano the head of Ghanas immunization program. Ghana is currently using the WHO-approved vaccine. The new vaccine can be manufactured at large scale and modest cost, its developers say. The Serum Institute of India says it could produce up to 100 million doses depending on demand, which will in turn depend on approval from the WHO. Ghana's decision to approve the vaccine quickly was welcomed by health officials on the continent. (The) more we wait (the) more well have thousands of children dying from malaria, said Halidou Tinto, a malaria researcher who is leading the vaccine trial in Burkina Faso. ___ Associated Press reporters Francis Kokutse in Accra, Ghana, Aniruddha Ghosal in New Delhi and Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) Businesses and local governments in the Netherlands must do more to protect residents who live near large industrial plants against the damaging effects of emissions, an independent report concluded Thursday. The investigation by the Dutch Safety Board was launched amid long-standing concerns that residents were being exposed to potentially dangerous emissions and anger that companies and local authorities were not responsive. The probe initially focused on a Tata Steel plant in the North Sea coastal town of Ijmuiden. It was later expanded to include a Chemours chemical plant in Dordrecht and an asphalt manufacturer in Nijmegen. The Tata Steel plant has long been a source of concern for local residents. Dutch prosecutors last year opened a criminal investigation into alleged intentional and unlawful introduction of hazardous substances into the soil, air or surface water. In addition, the probe targets Harsco Metals Holland, a company that also operates at the Tata Steel plant in Ijmuiden. Local governments and environmental services must make better use of the current system of licensing, supervision and enforcement to protect the health of local residents, the Dutch Safety Board said in its report. Due to a lack of knowledge, capacity and sense of urgency, the government often acts reactively. This means that harmful emissions can continue for a long time, the board said. Tata said in a reaction on its website that the investigation's conclusions speak for themselves. We embrace the conclusion that there needs to be a better picture of the effect of industry emissions on the environment and that even more efforts need to be made to reduce these effects, the company said. In a reaction, Chemours said it continued to invest in measures that significantly further reduce our emissions. In doing so, we work as closely as possible with the government in setting and achieving ambitious environmental goals. We also actively seek dialogue with the people around us. LONDON (AP) A 74-year-old man extradited from Pakistan appeared in a London court Thursday to face a murder charge in the death of a police officer who was fatally shot while responding to a bank robbery almost two decades ago. Piran Ditta Khan attended a brief hearing at London's Westminster Magistrates Court. He is charged with killing Constable Sharon Beshenivsky, 38, who was gunned down outside a travel agency in the northern England city of Bradford on Nov. 18, 2005. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Today, when Europe faced serious obstacles in regard with the diversification of gas supplies, Azerbaijan has once again proved itself as a dependable partner and extended a helping hand to its European friends. Looking ahead, President Ilham Aliyev has developed a long-term energy strategy, from which multiple countries currently benefit. Speaking at a joint press conference with Olaf Scholz in Munich recently, President Ilham Aliyev said that Azerbaijan has already received orders from at least 10 European countries that are eager to get this valuable resource from the Caspian. "We have been exporting natural gas to Europe for a little more than two years, and these volumes are increasing by the year. There were proposals to start gas supply to some countries or to increase them to countries we are already supplying gas to. According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed with the European Union last year, we plan to deliver 20 billion cubic meters of natural gas to Europe by 2027," President Ilham Aliyev said. Among those 10 countries to request gas from Azerbaijan is Bosnia and Herzegovina. The country has repeatedly expressed its interest to get access to Azerbaijani fossils. In 2022, Azerbaijan already supplied over 11 bcm to European countries only. The total Azerbaijani gas exports over the last year amounted to 22.6 bcm. This year, Azerbaijan plans to exceed 24 bcm in its gas supplies. Currently, deliveries of Azerbaijani gas are made under contracts that have already been signed, specifying specific volumes. To meet the growing demand on the market, it is necessary to increase gas production, which is impossible without new agreements. Azerbaijan has great potential to increase gas output from such fields like Absheron, Umid, Babek, Asiman, Shafag and others. And, indeed, these ambitious plans of Azerbaijan are very much feasible. The Southern gas Corridor (SGC) is a unique global industrial project that provides Azerbaijan with the opportunity to independently export its gas to the European markets. The expansion of SGC, which became operational in 2020, and the expansion of its main parts such as the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) and (TANAP), is already underway. Moreover, the construction of more pipelines is also in mind. Thus, there is no need to worry about gas shortages in the long-term. The project that is of particular interest for Bosnia and Herzegovina is the Ionian Adriatic Pipeline (IAP), which can be connected to TAP. The construction of this pipeline is expected to be completed by 2028. The pipeline with total length of 516 kilometers will stretch from Albania through Montenegro, and Bosnia and Herzegovina, to split in Croatia. The capacity of the IAP is expected to amount to 5 bcm of gas per year. Moreover, TAP has already inked relevant documents with the developers of this project, in particular with Plinacro (Croatia), BH-Gas (Bosnia and Herzegovina), Geoplin Plinovodi (Slovenia), as well as with the governments of Montenegro and Albania. Also, a TAP-IAP joint working group has been created, which gathers regularly to synchronize the timing of both pipeline projects and coordinate the technical issues of interconnection. "The more interconnectors there are, the broader our gas export geography in Europe can be. Of course, long-term contracts should be signed. Because we know very well that there is a tendency to go green in Europe, and we are interested in long-term contracts. I do hope that we can reconcile these issues. At the same time, if we take into account the investment in renewable energy in Azerbaijan, the natural gas currently used for the production of electricity can be exported to Europe, so our future exports could be larger than we envisioned," President Ilham Aliyev said at the joint conference with German chancellor. The opportunities created today in the oil and gas sector through the successful and multi-faceted policy of President Ilham Aliyev are a glimmer of hope for Europe. Following agreements inked with European countries, Azerbaijan will continue to be a reliable supplier to its partners, and thus, extremely appreciated all over the continent even more. The fair policy has proved effective. Now, the ball is in their court, of those countries that are eager to expand energy cooperation with Azerbaijan. ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) Forces from Ethiopias Amhara region have displaced tens of thousands of ethnic Tigrayans from disputed territory in the north of the country in recent weeks despite a peace deal agreed late last year, according to aid workers and internal agency documents seen by the AP. The Mai Tsebri area in northwestern Tigray is close to the regional border with Amhara. It changed hands several times during the war, which erupted in 2020 and ended with a ceasefire in November. The Amhara people claim the area as their own. Since early March, some 47,000 people uprooted from Mai Tsebri have gone to Endabaguna, a town roughly 55 kilometers (34 miles) further north, according to United Nations figures seen by the AP on Thursday. Another report, prepared by a humanitarian agency, says residents fled Mai Tsebri because of harassment, ethnic profiling and direct threats from irregular Amhara forces that also carried out evictions. That report adds that there have been no aid deliveries to Endabaguna since the displaced people started arriving. As a result, it says, they are on the brink of starvation. The displaced people at Endabaguna are sheltering in a reception center originally built by the U.N. and Ethiopias government for refugees from Eritrea, which borders Tigray. The site was badly damaged during the war. An aid worker who recently visited the center said conditions there were very bad and the number of people was increasing day by day. The roofing and pipelines are damaged, there is no toilet and latrine, the doors and windows of the rooms are looted (or) damaged, and there is no proper water supply, said the aid worker, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. It was not immediately possible to get a comment from Amhara authorities. A second aid worker, who also requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to a reporter, said many of the people recently uprooted from Mai Tsebri were displaced for a second time, having already been forced from their homes in the western part of Tigray. Amhara forces annexed western Tigray in the early stages of the war. They stand accused of ethnic cleansing by the U.S. State Department after they forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans from the area. Under the recent ceasefire, aid deliveries to Tigray resumed after two years of restrictions. However, aid workers say Amhara forces have continued to block food distribution around Mai Tsebri, and residents have reported killings. One Mai Tsebri resident, Teferi Muley, said he fled the area in November after he was threatened by Amhara troops, who accused him of helping the Tigray rebels. He said he returned in March to the nearby village of Haida, where he witnessed the shooting of several artisanal gold miners by Amhara troops. Last week Ethiopias government said it planned to fold the security forces of the 11 federal regions into the national army or police. This prompted a wave of protest across Amhara, as well as gun battles between the federal military and regional Amhara units who refused to disarm. Humanitarian officials believe the upheaval will likely lead to an increase in displacements from Mai Tsebri, which already stand at an average of 150 households every day, according to an assessment by another aid agency. The Connecticut Supreme Court just issued an important decision protecting an individuals right to free speech, even if that speech is offensive to an individual or group. The courts decision, in Cerame v. Lamont, involved Connecticuts so-called racial ridicule statute. That law, General Statutes 53-37, prohibits the ridicule or holding up to contempt, by ones advertisement, of any person or class of persons on account of creed, religion, color, denomination, nationality or race. The legislature enacted it in 1917 with the intent to prohibit the discriminatory practice of posting signs outside business establishments or other places of public accommodation indicating that members of certain racial, ethnic, or religious groups were not allowed for example, a business with a sign that says Whites only. Despite this history and the clear language limiting the statute to advertisements, police and prosecutors in Connecticut have treated the law as a ban on offensive speech generally. There are numerous other examples of people being arrested and charged under this statute for speech that had nothing to do with a commercial advertisement. In fact, despite the legislatures noble intent to protect racial, ethnic and religious minorities, the ridicule law has often been used as a tool to retaliate against members of those groups. Professor Eugene Volokh and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression uncovered many examples of arrests and criminal charges under this statute that were based on speech from Black or Hispanic persons directed at white police officers. Like a river overflowing its banks, this unchecked use of the racial ridicule law cascaded far beyond constitutional boundaries. Attorney Mario Cerame identified this problem and filed a federal action seeking to declare that law unconstitutional under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Because no appellate authority in Connecticut had ever interpreted the statute, the federal district court sent the case to the Connecticut Supreme Court to decide whether the law applied to noncommercial speech. On April 5, our state Supreme Court reined in the law in a decision that will protect free speech rights for people in Connecticut. The unanimous decision held that the law does not criminalize all speech that ridicules persons or holds them up to contempt on the basis of race and the other listed classifications. Instead, it applies only to commercial speech, such as advertisements, signs and other displays offering services or goods for sale. In other words, it does not apply to the personal, noncommercial speech that police and prosecutors have tried to criminalize for years. History teaches that restrictions on speech are often used to protect the powerful and to punish members of racial, ethnic and religious minority groups. That is precisely what was happening in Connecticut. Though Cerames lawsuit has not invalidated the statute in its entirety, the case is still a win for free speech because it will end the governments use of this law to punish noncommercial speech protected by the First Amendment. Free speech is the bedrock on which American liberty rests, and a win for free speech is a win for everyone. Zachary J. Phillipps is an attorney at the law firm of Wofsey Rosen Kweskin & Kuriansky LLP, Stamford. He filed an amicus brief prepared by Professor Eugene Volokh and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression in Cerame v. Lamont . He can be reached at 203-327-2300 or zphillipps@wrkk.com. State and local officials throughout California are busy drafting proposals for reparations packages, seen as a way to make amends to the states Black residents whose families were impacted by slavery and the decades of racial discrimination that followed. The states reparations task force has spent more than two years on the issue and must make recommendations to the California Legislature by July 1. The San Francisco Board of Supervisors recently expressed support for proposals made by a city-appointed reparations committee, and school districts in Berkeley and Oakland are weighing reparations for students, too. The massive reparations package being discussed in San Francisco has garnered international attention and includes proposals such as direct one-time payments of $5 million, the elimination of all personal debt, a guaranteed income of $97,000 per year for 250 years and the opportunity to buy homes within the city limits for $1. But theres a good chance many of these reparations plans, even if formally adopted, never actually go into effect thanks to the conservative supermajority on the U.S. Supreme Court. California legal experts interviewed by SFGATE believe that the simplest form of reparations benefits to all Black residents will be dead on arrival. If they just said, People of a particular race get these benefits, then that, I think, would almost certainly get struck down, said Gabriel J. Chin, a law professor at UC Davis. The legal issue most likely to be at play in a case against reparations would be the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment, which generally prohibits public institutions from offering preferential treatment to one category of people over another. Any policies that sort people by racial categories known as racial classifications, in legal parlance are typically seen as a violation of the Equal Protection Clause, unless governments can provide a strong justification for them. The courts rules about what the Equal Protection Clause means and how they will enforce it say that they are very suspicious of some forms of discrimination but not of other forms of discrimination, said David B. Cruz, a law professor at the University of Southern California. And when government action is expressly based on race, then the court is very suspicious, not deferential, and will typically invalidate such government action. The legal standard applied in such cases is known as strict scrutiny, and to meet that standard, governments must show that the policies theyre trying to implement serve a compelling governmental interest. But thats a very tough bar to meet. Even affirmative action policies at public universities, which have been repeatedly determined to serve a compelling government interest by the courts, are likely to be declared unconstitutional by the current Supreme Court in June. If affirmative action is deemed unconstitutional, are reparations doomed to suffer the same fate? Cruz said its important for legislative bodies to avoid creating racial classifications in their reparations packages if they want to give those policies a chance. Once it gets kicked into the racial classification side of the doctrine that would give the court lots of tools to try to strike down this kind of measure, Cruz said. He said those classifications may be avoided if the officials drafting the plans define the beneficiaries as the descendants of slaves and not by their race. In other words, if only the descendants of slaves qualify for reparations, one could successfully argue that the reparations policies arent about race, which would mean that the standard of strict scrutiny wouldnt apply. Last year, for example, Californias reparations task force decided that only Black Californians who can prove a direct lineage to enslaved ancestors should be eligible for benefits. That excludes Black residents whose ancestors were free, as well as Black immigrants from other nations. The Legislature could change that, but both Chin and Cruz argued that an ancestry requirement would help support a legal argument from the state that any reparations policies arent about race. Chin pointed to the Civil Liberties Act of 1988, which gave $20,000 checks to surviving Japanese Americans who were forced into internment camps during World War II. While the Supreme Court never ruled on the legality of those payments, Chin said they serve as an example of reparations being awarded to one race of people because of an injustice they suffered at the hands of the federal government. Its not that Japanese Americans as a whole were each offered a check; it was the victims of what the United States was acknowledging was illegal and, in a certain sense, was discrimination, he said. However, Cruz acknowledged that such a strategy isnt foolproof. If reparations are awarded only to the ancestors of those who were enslaved, he said the Supreme Court may decide that the slavery requirement serves as a proxy for race. If the court says, Well, youre writing it in terms of a legal status enslavement of an ancestor but we know who were enslaved, and that was racial, they could conclude that really this is a proxy for race, that its just wordplay to deny that its about a racial group, he said. Then they would subject it to that very demanding standard. He pointed to Rice v. Cayetano, a 2000 Supreme Court case that involved elections for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, as an example of the proxy reasoning. Previously, voting for trustees for that office was limited to people who had ancestors in the Hawaiian Islands dating back to the 1770s. But a rancher of European descent sued the state, saying that requirement was impermissible racial discrimination. The court sided with the rancher, saying that even though the voting qualifications were defined in terms of ancestry those qualifications served as a proxy for race, which made the law unconstitutional. That, to me, would be a precedent that defenders of a reparations measure would need to engage with and try to find ways to distinguish it from, Cruz said. Jon Michaels, a law professor at UCLA, said he believes any legislative body in California could draft a reparations plan that would survive even the most thorough constitutional review. However, he said that might not matter given the current makeup of the Supreme Court. Staring down the barrel of a court that is gunning for any type of racial classifications, it makes it incredibly tricky, he said. He said he could see the court overturning an ancestry-based reparations plan for two reasons. First, those receiving benefits may not be the people who were directly injured. And second, the actual injury happened too long ago, especially when you consider the ostensible advances that the U.S. has made when it comes to race, like the Civil Rights Movement. He argued that those two reasons alone shouldnt be death knells for a reparations plan, especially since they dont take into account how pervasive racism against Black Americans has been since the end of slavery. He said a reasonable court would recognize that a reparations package would serve a compelling governmental interest but also acknowledged that he has to be realistic when thinking about the current court. Even less right-wing courts have proven to be increasingly hostile to racially ameliorative legislative programs, he said. Regardless of what happens with commitments to redress Black residents in California, the legal experts interviewed by SFGATE largely agreed that the conversation is still important to have, even if nothing concrete comes out of it. [The court likely striking it down is] not a good enough reason to ignore essential and overdue conversations (and actions) regarding our most intractable and damaging problems, including chattel slavery and its lingering aftermath, Savala Nolan, a law professor at UC Berkeley, told SFGATE in an email. The Court will do what it does so should the activists, scholars, lawyers, and community members seeking to tangibly and practically respond to the ongoing and demonstrable social, economic, and political brutalities that flow from this country's practice of racial hierarchy. Trading platform eToro will launch a new "cashtags" partnership with Twitter that will enable users of the social media platform to see real-time prices for a range of stocks, crypto and others assets and have the option to invest through eToro. The company, which announced the news on Twitter earlier, told CNBC in an interview that a new feature will be rolled out on the Twitter app. It will allow users to view market charts on an expanded range of financial instruments and buy and sell stocks and other assets from eToro. Currently, its possible to view real-time trading data from TradingView on index funds like the S&P 500 and shares of some companies such as Tesla. That can be done using Twitters "cashtags" feature. An eToro spokesperson told CNBC that with the eToro partnership, Twitter "cashtags" will be expanded to cover far more instruments and asset classes. EToro chief executive Yoni Assia told CNBC: "As weve grown over the past three years immensely, weve seen more and more of our users interact on Twitter [and] educate themselves about the markets. "There is very high-quality content, real-time content on financial analysis of companies and whats happening around the world. We believe this partnership will enable us to reach those new audiences [and] connect better the brands of Twitter and eToro." Founded in Israel in 2007, eToro is an online brokerage that lets users buy and sell stocks, cryptocurrencies and index funds. Imperial Leather maker PZ Cussons backed its full-year expectations on Thursday as it posted a rise in third-quarter revenues as price increases underpinned margins. In the quarter to 4 March, like-for-like revenues grew 6.2% to 166m, marking the sixth consecutive quarter of revenue growth. Cussons said this was driven mainly by price/mix improvements. Cussons said Europe & the Americas were back to strong revenue growth, up 9.9% on a LFL basis to 49.3m, and with "significantly improved" margin. It hailed "particularly strong" performances from St. Tropez US and the combined Imperial Leather and Cussons Creations portfolio. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific LFL revenues grew 1% to 47.6m, driven by strong growth in Australia. Africa saw a 7.7% jump in LFL revenues to 68.4m. Cussons said strong trading in December and January was partly offset by disrupted demand in Nigeria in February due to bank note changes and the elections. Cussons said it expects FY23 adjusted pre-tax profit to be "at least in line" with current market estimates of 68.1m. Chief executive Jonathan Myers said: "We have delivered another quarter of mid-single digit revenue growth, in line with our longer-term ambition. This represents a sixth consecutive quarter of growth, with the business underpinned by the strength and depth of our portfolio and our ongoing strategy to invest behind our brands, build internal capabilities and serve consumers better. "As anticipated, performance has strengthened in Europe & the Americas, with a return to revenue growth and a marked improvement in profitability in the quarter. As a result, we remain confident in delivering against FY23 expectations and that further strategic progress will be made in the balance of FY23 and into FY24." Title changed, Details added: first version posted on 09:51 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry has released a commentary on the statement of the Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, Trend reports via the ministry. The statement of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs on April 12, supporting Armenia in connection with the provocation of the Armenian side on April 11 against our positions located in the direction of Lachin region, does not reflect reality, the commentary said. France, which did not judge Armenia's aggression and occupation policy while acting as a mediator in the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict for nearly 25 years, did not try to resolve the conflict, and carried out a smear campaign against our country after Azerbaijan ended the occupation and resolved the conflict on its own, has once again demonstrated an unfair position with this statement, the statement noted. The statement on importance of unilateral respect to the territorial integrity of Armenia by France, which hasnt called on Armenia to respect the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, and hasnt demanded Armenia to withdraw the Armenian armed forces from the territories of Azerbaijan in accordance with the Trilateral statement [signed on November 10, 2020 by Azerbaijani, Armenian and Russian leaders following the second Karabakh war] and the outcome of the Prague meeting attended by the French President, is an example of bias of France against our country, the commentary also said. We call on the French side to refrain from such statements that incite Armenia to further provocations and support revanchist forces, added the commentary. Mitsubishi Electric India, an electrical and electronic company has been supporting the society with its state-of-the-art products and solutions. The primary focus of the brand is promoting sustainable development and technological upliftment in the country. Over the years, Mitsubishi Electric India is strengtheningthe Corporate Social Responsibility projects to accomplish its vision for the nation. The social initiatives of the company are aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals along with Government of India Initiatives. The goals adopted and followed by Mitsubishi Electric India include Skill Development, Community Development, Good Health & Well Being and Climate Action.In its resolve to provide a healthy living for the younger generation, the company continues to support around 42 Government Schools from across the nation with clean drinking water and assures proper year-on-year up-keep and maintenance of these systems. In its endeavour to support the infrastructural development of Government institutions, Mitsubishi Electric India supported the regular maintenance and quality service of 55 air conditioners installed in 22Government Hospitals, Schools and Public Health Centreswhich positively impacted approximately 49,104 beneficiaries. Further, intensifying its Community Development program,Mitsubishi Electric India donated and installed air conditioning units at Government Industrial Training Institute located in Rewari. Air Conditioners with advanced features have been installed at the ITI which includes Room Air Conditionersand VRF units to create a comfortable environment for students to study and excel.The air conditioning units are installed in Refrigerator and Air Conditioning lab to create new practical learning opportunities and knowledge for the students of the institution as well. CSR initiative for Installation of Air Conditioners will be carried out by the company in 10 cities across India to continue its support for the educational & health institutions which will have beneficiaries from weaker sections of the society. Mr. Kazuhiko Tamura, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd. conducted the launch activity at the Industrial Training Institution and planted a sapling at its premises to create an ecological balance and establishsustainability in India. Addressing the occasion, Mr. Kazuhiko Tamura, Managing Director, Mitsubishi Electric India Pvt. Ltd., said Philanthropic activities are a way to transform the lives and make world a better place for the younger generation. Our purpose is to contribute to the realization of a vibrant and sustainable society through technological innovation and advanced methods. We are glad to be a key contributor towards the betterment of education and health facilities in India through our products, solutions and CSR initiatives. I am thankful to the management of Industrial Training Institute, Rewari to give us this opportunity to inculcate and enhance the skills and contribute towards creating a progressive learning environment for the students. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. Saturday Night Live will have yet another brand new episode this week, marking the third new episode in a row. On April 15, actress Ana De Armas will make her hosting debut, while Karol G will take on musical guest duties. De Armas is known for her roles in films Knives Out, Blonde and No Time to Die. SNL kicked off its 48th season on Oct. 1 with actor Miles Teller pulling hosting duties and Kendrick Lamar rocking out as musical guest. On Oct. 8, Brendan Gleeson hosted the show with musical guest Willow. Megan Thee Stallion was tabbed as host and musical guest on Oct. 15. Musician Jack Harlow also pulled double duty on Oct. 29 during the shows venerable Halloween episode. On Nov. 5, actress/comedian Amy Schumer hosted for the third time, while Steve Lacy made his musical guest debut. Comedian Dave Chappelle was welcomed back to Studio 8H for his third hosting gig on Nov. 12. He was joined by hip-hop group Black Star. On Dec. 3, actress Keke Palmer made her SNL debut alongside musical guest SZA. On Dec. 10, SNL greats Steve Martin and Martin Short hosted while Brandi Carlile returned as musical guest. Dec. 17 marked the final episode of 2022. It featured actor Austin Butler as host and Lizzo as musical guest. To audiences surprise, 11-year cast member Cecily Strong announced the episode would be her final, and that she was stepping away from the show. The first episode of 2023 featured Aubrey Plaza with musical guest Sam Smith on Jan. 21. Actor Michael B. Jordan hosted on Jan. 28 with musical guest Lil Baby. On Feb. 4, Pedro Pascal hosted with Coldplay as musical guest. Actor Woody Harrelson hosted the Feb. 25 episode with Jack White as musical guest. The first show of March featured Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, with music support from Kelsea Ballerini on March 4. Next up was Wednesday actress Jenna Ortega making her Saturday Night Live debut on March 11. She was joined by musical guest The 1975. Abbott Elementary actress Quinta Brunson made her SNL debut on April 1. Joining the Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG Award winner was rapper Lil Yachty. On April 8, SNL legend Molly Shannon returned to her old stomping grounds alongside musical guest The Jonas Brothers. If youre a cord-cutter or dont have cable, you can live stream SNL on Fubo TV or Peacock, NBCs streaming service. Both offer free trials. BTW: If you didnt know, Staten Islander Colin Jost is the longtime co-anchor of Weekend Update. Jost has been on the desk since 2014, and with the show since 2005. Fellow Staten Islander Pete Davidson left the show this past May following eight seasons. MORE ENTERTAINMENT NEWS SNL takes hit at Staten Island sewer rescue after Colin Jost gets pranked on April Fools Day Pete Davidsons new Peacock show Bupkis gets premiere date; see first look here Bebe Rexha announces release date for new album; Best Fn Night Of My Life tour set for this summer Firefighter-turned-Impractical Jokers star Brian Quinn continues to honor his roots by helping FDNY charity Impractical Jokers star Brian Quinn talks filming on Staten Island, celebrity guest hes still not over It was great: Staten Islander makes appearance in Trump skit on Saturday Night Live Pete Davidson involved in Beverly Hills car crash: Report Pete Davidsons Brooklyn apartment on the market at a reduced price, report says Pete Davidsons Brooklyn apartment goes back on the market, report says Country star Miranda Lambert to her former NYPD hubby Brendan McLoughlin: Ill be lovin you. Everyday. Pete Davidson removes Kim Kardashian tattoos, enjoys Hawaiian vacation with Chase Sui Wonders, reports say Pete Davidson living in $30K-per-month Brooklyn penthouse, spotted on low-key date with rumored girlfriend Chase Sui Wonders: reports This A-list movie star thinks Pete Davidson is the biggest celebrity in the world Joe Gatto says he had rough year, but is still good friends with former Impractical Jokers co-stars Miranda Lambert gives inside glimpse of life on the farm with former-NYPD hubby Brendan McLoughlin Former Nickelodeon child star Jared Drake Bell, best known for his time on the television smash hit Drake & Josh, was found safe on Thursday, hours after Florida police said he was missing and endangered, according to the Associated Press. Citing an email sent by Daytona Beach Police Department spokeswoman Carrie McCallister, the outlet reported that Bell was in touch with police officers and wasnt in danger. Early Thursday, the police department asked the public for help locating Bell via an Instagram post, the AP reported. The 36-year-old was a regular on Nickelodeons The Amanda Show, and starred in the self-titled show Drake and Josh, which ran on the network from 2004-2007. STATEN ISLAND NEWS: >> NYPD, D.A. to host free catalytic converter etching on Staten Island Friday >> Annadale homeowner raises concerns after fire near Staten Island Railway destroys fencing >> This guy is very fast and experienced Owners of Staten Island businesses victimized by burglary spree share concerns about safety >> Mom describes final moments with Staten Island son before he was killed. He teased her about laundry. WASHINGTON (AP) The FBI wants to question a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war, two people familiar with the investigation said Thursday. FBI officials had earlier narrowed the pool of possible suspects in the leak that revealed details about internal U.S. government assessments on the war and about relations with allies. Investigators now believe that the person who led the chat group where the documents were posted is a member of the Air National Guard in Massachusetts who specializes in intelligence, according to the two people, who were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. The New York Times earlier reported the FBIs interest in the person, identified by people familiar with the matter as Jack Teixeira. The Defense Department did not confirm his identity but said in a statement that, We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents. The Biden administration has been working to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. A top Pentagon spokesman told reporters earlier this week that the disclosures present a very serious risk to national security, and the Justice Department opened an investigation to identify the person responsible. Were getting close, President Joe Biden told reporters in Ireland on Thursday. He said that though he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been disclosed, theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday. Its possible the leak may have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community. In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the posters own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of folded papers. A cross on the grave of a local resident killed by Russian shelling, in the yard of an apartment building in war-hit Bakhmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 12, 2023. (Iryna Rubakova via AP)AP Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed, which may provide critical clues as to who is responsible. Typically in classified briefings, as with the slides that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That is done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected afterward. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. Its those digital clues like the record of printouts that may help investigators hone in on who took the documents. In most of the photographs of documents posted online the pictures are of paper copies that look like they had been folded into quarters almost as if theyd been stuffed into someones pocket. In the days since the leaks came to light, the Pentagon has deferred questions on the investigation to the Justice Department, stating that its a criminal matter. Even if the person who leaked the files is an active duty member of the U.S. military, the Justice Department would likely still have the lead in the prosecution until it was ready to turn the matter over to the Defense Department, a defense official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. This has been the case in previous criminal cases, such as when two Marines based at Camp Pendleton in California were arrested on drug trafficking charges in 2020, the official said. If the person responsible turns out to be a civilian, the Justice Department will be responsible, the official said. CNN reported earlier Thursday that the FBI believed it was getting close to identifying a suspect. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. The citys former Sanitation Department (DSNY) Commissioner John Doherty, a former Staten Islander whose career spanned more than five decades and eight mayoral administrations, died, the agency announced. He was 84. New Yorks Strongest mourn the loss of former Commissioner John Doherty, a hometown hero who led our department from 1994-1998 and from 2002-2014, the DSNY wrote on Twitter. May his memory be a blessing to his family, the women and men of DSNY, and the New Yorkers he faithfully served for over 50 years. Doherty was a native Staten Islander who graduated from St. Peters Boys High School in New Brighton. He began his career in 1960 as a Sanitation worker before becoming the agencys commissioner in 1994 under then-Mayor Rudolph Giuliani. When he first retired in 1998 after 38 years on the job, Giuliani proclaimed it John Doherty Day, according to Advance/SILive.com archives. Its really tough to say goodbye, Doherty said at the time. It was a short-lived retirement. He came back to the departments top post in 2002 under Mayor Michael Bloomberg and spent the next 12 years leading the agency through a transition away from the Fresh Kills landfill and battles against intense snow storms. Commissioner John Doherty answers question during a press conference regarding the landfill's closing. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Falco) Dohertys career was faced with innumerable challenges, from day-to-day trash operations and political pushback to battling blizzards and responding to major storms. During his second tenure, he took action against litterbugs after tapping anonymous volunteers to file reports against trash-throwers, including information on the license plates of guilty parties. Its an effort that has continued in spirit today. He was quick to give praise to the DSNY workforce a group he called a family during his retirement in 2014. We always were a team, and thats what I liked about it, Doherty said at the time. His career was not devoid of spats with local officials. In February 2002, Doherty was quoted in a published report indicating the citys trash-export plan in the wake of the Fresh Kills landfill closure had collapsed and would need to be rethought. Doherty was quoted as saying, Fresh Kills was really closed without an awful lot of thought if the story be told. We are still faced with a big problem. Elected officials quickly pushed back. Then-Gov. George Pataki said the dump should remain closed sentiments that were echoed by Bloomberg and other local officials. Commisssioner Doherty and I battled on a couple of occasions, but that was the nature of our jobs, said former Borough President Jimmy Oddo. He was an effective, dedicated servant to this city for half a century. Simply, a remarkable career. May he rest in peace. Commisssioner Doherty and I battled on a couple of occasions, but that was the nature of our jobs. He was an effective, dedicated servant to this city for half a century. Simply, a remarkable career. May he rest in peace. https://t.co/4BVKHvhdkN Jimmy Oddo (@HeyNowJO) April 13, 2023 Dohertys most fraught challenge came when a devastating winter storm paralyzed New York City in 2010. The department faced immense criticism, but it was Doherty who endured the verbal lashes and persisted. He was known for his devotion to his work, reportedly sleeping in his office during crises and radioing crews about real-time conditions to enhance the departments efforts. Another challenge reared its head during the end of his career when Hurricane Sandy battered his home borough and killed 24 people on Staten Island. When he toured New Dorp Beach after Sandy wreaked havoc on the area, the New York Times reported he met with residents who had lost their homes in the floodwaters. When Doherty heard they were planning to attend Sunday Mass at a church without power or heat, he took off his DSNY jacket and joined them for prayer. John Doherty was a quintessential, dedicated Staten Island public servant, Staten Island District Attorney Michael E. McMahon said in a statement. McMahon worked alongside Doherty as a chairman of City Councils Committee on Sanitation Solid Waste Management, and the pair worked in collaboration with other leaders to develop a long-term plan to address waste building transfer stations to containerize and ship the refuse by rail and barge. We brought fairness to a system that had plagued the Island and poor neighborhoods throughout the City. We took hundreds of municipal waste tractor trailers off the road, saved recycling, maintained composting and reduced trash overall, said McMahon. We jousted over many issues but in the end we gave the people of Staten Island the massive park we now enjoy, and the people of New York a much improved strategy. He was a trusted partner, a dapper gentleman, an honest, dedicated and determined leader, said McMahon. He will be missed. WASHINGTON (AP) A Massachusetts Air National Guard member was arrested Thursday in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues, an alarming breach that has raised fresh questions about Americas ability to safeguard its most sensitive secrets. The guardsman, an IT specialist identified as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, was taken into custody without incident after FBI officers converged on his Massachusetts home. He is to be charged under a provision of the Espionage Act that makes it a crime to remove or transmit classified national defense information, Attorney General Merrick Garland said. Garland did not reveal a possible motive, but accounts of those in the online private chat room where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology. Members of law enforcement assemble on a road, Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Dighton, Mass., near where FBI agents converged on the home of a Massachusetts Air National Guard member who has emerged as a main person of interest in the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)AP While Thursdays arrest was a pivotal moment in an investigation into the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, the military and Justice Department were still scrutinizing how sensitive government secrets shared in a chat room ended up circulating around the world. The emergence of Teixeira as a primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how such a profound breach, one that the Pentagon termed a very serious risk to national security, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat, said Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman. He referred all questions about the investigation to the Justice Department. Pentagon spokesman U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon, Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)AP 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. Hours after the arrest, Rep. Mike Turner, the chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a statement pledging to examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks. Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts at the time heavily armed tactical agents took him into custody, is due to have his initial court appearance in Massachusetts on Friday. It was not immediately clear if Teixeira had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not immediately returned. The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported last week, moving to assure allies and assess the scope of damage. Pentagon officials have expressed alarm about the disclosures, but President Joe Biden, speaking to reporters in Ireland earlier Thursday, said theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated by U.S. officials range from briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons. Theres no clear answer on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed approximately 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds. The leak is believed to have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games and where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years about guns, games and his favorite memes and, according to some chatting with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets. The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira. In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as the O.G. by a member of the online chat group where Teixeira and others have posted for years. The member of the chat group declined to give his name to the AP, citing concerns for his personal safety. The chat group, called Thug Shaker Central, drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes, some of them racist. The group also included a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. In that discussion, the O.G. would for months post material that he said was classified originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings werent being taken seriously, the person said. Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed. Typically in classified briefings with slides like those that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That can be done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected later. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. For those with a security clearance, their handling of classified material is based largely on training and trust that they will safeguard the information. When you join the military, depending on your position, you may require a security clearance, Ryder said. And if you are working in the intelligence community, and you require a security clearance, youre going to go through the proper vetting. Ryder said each service member who obtains a clearance signs a non-disclosure agreement and is trained on the militarys strict guidelines for handling classified material. The leaks were a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens of Azerbaijan and other relevant state bodies continue the necessary search work and investigation in connection with the missing Azerbaijani servicemen, Trend reports citing the commission. According to the commission, given the assumption that the servicemen are being held on the territory of Armenia, an official appeal was sent to the relevant international organizations in connection with their release. The military servicemen of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan - Agshin Babirov (born in 2004) and Huseyn Akhundov (born in 2003) went missing due to limited visibility under adverse weather conditions in the border area of the Shahbuz district of Azerbaijans Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with Armenia on April 10. Prince Harry will attend the coronation of his father, King Charles next month, according to Buckingham Palace, after months of speculation. His wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, will remain in the United States with the couples children, CNN has reported. Buckingham Palace is pleased to confirm that The Duke of Sussex will attend the Coronation Service at Westminster Abbey on May 6th. The Duchess of Sussex will remain in California with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the palace said in a statement. There had been widespread speculation over whether the Sussexes would travel to the United Kingdom for the historic occasion. The coronation will be celebrated over three days in the U.K. in which the public will be invited to participate. Harrys own potential role in the coronation is unclear given that he is no longer a working royal following his decision to step back from royal duties three years ago. Live from Franklin, Tennessee, its anti-homosexuality! Remember Victoria Jackson? You know, the Saturday Night Live cast member who appeared on Weekend Update with Dennis Miller? Shes now raging against the LGBTQ+ community in the name of God. Jackson, now 63, appeared before an audience at a city council meeting in Franklin, Tennessee this week to argue against a gay pride festival, reports the New York Post. She said Franklin shouldnt celebrate the gay community because God hates sexuality -- Its an abomination, Jackson said, adding, God hates sexual immortality of all kinds. He doesnt like pride either, Jackson said, citing multiple verses from the book of Proverbs. During her approximately minute-long-speech, she directed people to YouTube videos that support her claims. Prior to the end of her speech, shes told Thank you multiple times before the microphone is pulled away. The Franklin council approved the festival by a narrow vote of 5-4. In addition to Jackson, more than 100 people spoke out against the event, reported Nashville Scene. Jackson, who lost a political bid for a county commission seat in Tennessee in 2014, was an SNL cast member from 1986 to 1992. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- If youve received a parking ticket in New York City for reasons outside your control, there are many different ways that you can contest it. New York City is blanketed with thousands of on-street parking meters, with hourly parking rates ranging from $1.25 to $7.50, depending on the location of the spot and the duration youll be using it. New Yorkers can use the NYC DOT Parking Rate Map to view the various designated parking zones across the city and see how much theyll be charged for parking there. New Yorkers can pay for parking at curbside meters using coins and credit cards, or by using the free ParkNYC mobile app. If you believe you were wrongly issued a parking ticket, which can range from $35 to $65, depending on the parking zone, you can dispute the ticket online, by mobile app, by mail, or in person. Before disputing a ticket, New Yorkers are urged to research common defenses and recommended evidence and gather all necessary photographs and documents to support their dispute. There are various defenses that can lead to a successful parking ticket dispute, including broken meters, missing signs, incomplete tickets or paying within the five-minute grace period that is granted to all drivers upon parking. If a parking meter is broken, the driver must look for another working meter within the parking zone. If all meters in the zone are broken, drivers should note the date and time, meter numbers and any error message displayed on the meter to be included in their defense. If all parking meter signs are missing or illegible, drivers can fight their ticket by submitting the following: Overlapping photographs of the entire block, corner to corner Photographs that clearly identify the street name and the building address on the ticket Photographs of all signs on the block, including the front and back of any illegible ones Diagrams, witness statements, maps, or videos If your parking ticket is incomplete or incorrect, it is deemed defective and will be dismissed. Parking tickets must include all of the following: License plate number, type and state of registration Make and body type of vehicle Registration expiration date, unless ticketing agent notes that it was not shown Time and date of offense, with AM or PM included Time and date first observed for tickets like Feeding the Meter where multiple observations are required Place of occurrence Days and hours in effect (including AM or PM) for parking sign violations Feet from the hydrant for fire hydrants Ticket-issuers signature New York City law gives drivers a five-minute grace period from the time they park until they can lawfully be issued a parking meter ticket. If you get a ticket within five minutes of the time you originally park, you should request a hearing and submit evidence that you purchased parking within five minutes. If the ticket-issuer notes a first observed time on the violation that is more than five minutes before you paid to park, then the grace period does not apply, according to NYC311. Residents must dispute a parking ticket within 30 days of its issue date to avoid incurring additional penalties if their dispute is unsuccessful. A $10 penalty is issued on the 31st day, followed by an additional $20 on the 61st day and then another $30 penalty on the 91st day. Heres a breakdown of the different ways to dispute parking tickets in New York City. ONLINE Visit the Department of Finances (DOF) parking or camera violation dispute website and enter your email address to receive an email with a link to the Dispute a Ticket website. Enter the 10-digit number on your parking ticket Notice of Liability, fill out the online hearing request form, upload any additional evidence and submit the form. An online hearing will be held within 45 days, though most requests are completed more quickly, according to the city. Once the hearing has been completed, the decision will be sent to you via email from NYCServ@finance.nyc.gov. MOBILE APP Download the NYC Parking Ticket Pay or Dispute mobile app, which is available on Android and Apple devices. Open the app, press Dispute and enter the 10-digit number on your parking ticket Notice of Liability. If you dont have the number, you can enter your license plate information to look up all tickets against your vehicle. Fill out all required fields on the dispute form, tap add image to include any additional photo or video evidence and submit the request. To upload evidence, you must grant the app access to your phones photos and videos. All files must be no more than 20 MB. Once the hearing has been completed, the decision will be sent to you via email from NYCServ@finance.nyc.gov. MAIL To dispute by mail, send the ticket, an explanation of your defense and copies of any supporting evidence to the following address: NYC Department of Finance, Hearing by Mail Unit, P.O. Box 29021, Brooklyn, NY 11202-9021 Written defenses may be submitted in any language and will be translated by a neutral certified translator. After the hearing has been completed, the decision will be sent via mail in about 10 days. IN-PERSON Parking tickets can be disputed in-person at a DOF Business Center. The centers are open Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Walk-in hearings are held on a first-come, first-served basis, though appointments can also be made online. Residents must bring their drivers license, vehicle registration and any evidence to support their dispute. An administrative law judge will make a decision based on evidence, and will issue a ruling at the end of the hearing. Staten Islands DOF Business Center is located at 350 St. Marks Place, 1st Floor (between Hyatt Street and Victory Boulevard). Visit NYC311 for full, step-by-step instructions on how to dispute speed camera violations online, by mobile app, by mail, or in person. ADDITIONAL TRANSPORTATION NEWS NYC comptroller sets higher wages for Staten Island Ferry engineers NYC congestion pricing: Bipartisan congressional caucus formed to combat controversial program Cell phone use, speeding and more: A breakdown of Staten Islands moving violations in 2022 NYC congestion pricing pushed back to 2024, costing $250M in revenue, MTA says Speed cameras on Verrazzano? Staten Island lawmakers unanimously oppose state proposal Getting to the bottom of it: Why Staten Island is the only NYC borough without a bike share program MTA nabs 32 toll evaders with fines totaling $900K in record-setting day Thank you for visiting the Daily Journal. Please purchase an Enhanced Subscription to continue reading. To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! San Mateo, CA (94402) Today Some clouds in the morning will give way to mainly sunny skies for the afternoon. High 71F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight A few clouds overnight. Low 47F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. A criminal case has been opened on the fact of torture against a serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan told Trend. A few days ago, information spread that two servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army went missing on the border with Armenia. The Armenian side confirmed their detention. Video footage has spread in some media and networks showing Azerbaijani Armed Forces serviceman Huseyn Akhundov, born in 2003, being subjected to inhuman treatment and torture by Armenians. In connection with the widespread video footage, a criminal case was opened in the Investigative Department of the Prosecutor General's Office under Article 115.2 (torture, cruel or inhuman treatment of prisoners of war) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. "Measures are being taken to identify and bring to justice the person or persons who tortured and mistreated our servicemen. The necessary investigative and operational measures are being carried out," the statement said. "We declare that in order to bring to national and international judicial responsibility on persons who have committed illegal actions against Azerbaijani citizens, appeals will be sent to the relevant authorities of foreign countries, and cooperation with international organizations to punish these individuals will be ensured. Detailed information will be provided to the public about the progress and results of the investigation," the statement added. Regardless of who wins the blockbuster defamation battle between Rupert Murdochs Fox News and Dominion Voting Systems, the media titan and his cable news company have sustained serious damage and the blows are set to intensify next week as the trial begins. It now appears the 92-year-old Murdoch will likely take the witness stand in the high-profile legal case that will become a wider test of the boundaries of US media and the first amendment. Murdochs performance will be forensically scrutinised at a time when his erratic romantic behaviour breaking off the engagement with his fiancee of only a few weeks, Ann Leslie Smith is being understandably seen as a reflection on his frame of mind. Fox and friends? Donald Trump, Rupert Murdoch and Tucker Carlson. Credit: The Age For Fox, the case becomes a referendum on its credibility and for Murdoch on his judgment. Both are important issues for the future earnings and value of Fox Corp. CBD wondered on Wednesday if all these late nights were starting to catch up with us, while reading former NSW premier Bob Carr tweeting congratulations to Labor comrade Anthony Albanese for spurning an invitation to the upcoming NATO summit, which Carr called a solid national interest decision. Case-by-case partnership as with Ukraine and Afghanistan fine but integration with NATO not part of our international character, Carr wrote, in his typically florid style. Comment on SMH website from Anne Carr, Wednesday, April 12 2022 Credit: smh.com.au Just an hour earlier, wed read the same sentence word for word in the comments section of this mastheads scoop of Albaneses no-show. The name of the commenter: Anne Carr. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size On a trip to India 10 years ago with his partner Ben, David Sequeira spent time at the historic Jantar Mantar observatory in Jaipur. Amid its many creamy-gold towering astronomical instruments, they gazed into the sky. At the time, the Rihanna song Diamonds was big and they often heard her singing the line You and I, were like diamonds in the sky. It was very romantic, Sequeira says. But it was also a reminder that Ben and I are part of histories, cultures, timelines and geographies that will always be much bigger than ourselves. The outdoor observatory, built for the Rajput king who founded the northern city, was completed in 1734. Sequeira, who was born in India but raised in Australia since he was three, visits it every time he is in Jaipur (as well as a similar site in Delhi). For one of his two new works for the ninth TarraWarra Biennial, Sequeira has used images of the Jantar Mantar in a large wall covering titled Looking to the stars for answers. Screen printed in large sections at Spacecraft studio in Footscray, the midnight blue and black work graces a 13-by-five metre wall at TarraWarra. A second work is arranged across its surface: with Rihannas lyrics as its title, this comprises 16 small paintings studded with constellations of Swarovski crystals. In the style of Indian miniatures, these are painted in gouache on board and feature Sequeira and his partner together or solo. Crystal-studded miniatures by David Sequeira depict the artist and his partner, Ben. Sequeiras deep interest in the Jantar Mantar observatory arises from his heritage, as well as his enduring interest in colour, geometry and connections between the personal and the universal. What is at the heart of these and Sequeiras previous large-scale and colour-rich artworks is the intersection of the infinite and the minuscule, of big ideas and small details, nuance and breadth. The Jantar Mantar is such a beautiful, poetic construction. Its only purpose is to look up at the heavens, up at the stars, he says, noting that the historic site seems to be a confluence of the celestial and the terrestrial. There is this sense of the micro and the macro, this singular experience of being inside of something way bigger and more enveloping than you could ever imagine it to be. Advertisement And why I love those constructions so much: there is something so modernist about them, something minimalist, and yet what they represent is far from minimalism. Their intention is to consider our relationship to the cosmos. This connects beautifully with the theme of the biennial, which features 15 artists and has a focus on the interconnectedness between Australia, Asia and local oceanic regions. The biennials curator, Leuli Eshraghi, developed the theme while living in the Northern Territory during extended border closures at the height of the pandemic, all the while contemplating the idea of neighbourliness. The Jantar Mantar observatory in Jaipur. Credit:iStock In particular I was thinking about how do we human beings begin to move away from thinking about ourselves only, to considering the needs of the environment around us and the importance of those connections? Eshraghi says. For Sequeira, a new connectedness manifested in the mid-1990s when he approached artists who worked in the Indian miniature tradition, plying their trade out of tiny shops in Udaipur, Rajasthan. The tradition emerged in the eighth century but began to reach its golden age from the 16th century, with artists creating small paintings on silk or paper that were displayed in bound folios rather than on walls. This meant they were shared on a more intimate level, in the manner of literature, poetry and books. This art form was, and remains, a very personal experience, Sequeira says. I like to imagine people in the 17th century looking at these images by candlelight, physically holding them in their lap. I cant think of inanimate objects other than books that human beings have such intense relationships with. Thats why I work with these miniaturists they come from that tradition. They are not celebrated artists, and they work largely for a tourist market, but they create entire worlds in their tiny paintings. Working with them really honours what they do for a living and at the same time it has created something that opened up the door to articulate my experiences of being part of the India diaspora. Yes, I am Australian, but when I was growing up, [I was] not quite Australian, and not quite Indian. Now I ask: what does it mean to be an artist in 2023 and to come from two countries colonised by Britain and to be part of an artistic academic community exploring these questions? Advertisement Sequeiras meditations on colour have long been admired hes been making art and working in museums for more than 30 years and is now the director of the Fiona and Sidney Myer Gallery at the Victorian College of the Arts, where he also teaches. David Sequeira working on his wallpaper inspired by Jaipurs Jantar Mantar observatory. Credit:Scott McNaughton Last year he exhibited three large-scale installations at Bunjil Place in Narre Warren. All the things I should have said that I never said included a room lined with hundreds of thrift-store vases arranged into colour sets from across the spectrum. There was also a choreographed catwalk show with dozens of men sporting colourfully printed kurtas (traditional Indian shirts). Sequeira was among the models. I looked like a walking fridge, he says, remembering his stress on the night. But visitors applauded his adventurous engagement with Indian culture. Loading With his new work at TarraWarra and his Song paintings 340 small colour works on music sheets simultaneously opening at Sydneys The National 4 Australian Art Now, Sequeira continues to assess how art might influence the way we live in the world. I love the idea of complexity, he says. When there is a multiplicity of ideas and histories, we can see that nothing is linear or simple. How do you know when art is good? I cant answer that question any other away than to say that when I encounter a work of art that has me experience something bigger than myself, where something is revealed to me about the world, then that is really a rich moment. Advertisement Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Ari Aster really wants you to watch his new movie, Beau Is Afraid. Its the biggest film Ive made, which means more money went into it, which means it needs to make more money, says the writer-director of genre-busting horror hits Hereditary and Midsommar. I hope its successful so I can continue to make films on a scale similar to this, but also because Im proud of it. And because I love the film, I hope people see it. But as much as he wants the movie to connect with people, he really really doesnt want to talk about it. At all. Anything I tell you, Im gonna regret saying, he says over a Zoom call that is punctuated by the longest pauses I have ever experienced in decades of interviewing artists of all persuasions. The best viewing experience would be without the baggage of having seen anything, or heard anything, and be able to just take it all in for the first time. Well, given there are posters out there, and a trailer, thats not going to happen. So, whats your fallback position? Ari Aster in Manhattan, March 2023. Credit:Victor Llorente The second most ideal viewing experience would be to not read an interview with me, he says. But if you have, unfortunately, seen a trailer, or a poster, or read an interview, then where does that leave us? Hopefully just, I dont know, open-minded. I dont know. Thats hard to answer because Advertisement A long pause follows. Asters film is three hours long, and its unlike pretty much anything youve ever seen before. As the titular Beau, Joaquin Phoenix is in almost every shot, apart from a couple of sequences that show this anxiety-riddled character as a boy (played by Armen Nahapetian) on the cusp of puberty, and the terror that will soon engulf him, for reasons that eventually become (more or less) clear. Over the course of those three hours, our befuddled hero stumbles from one nightmare scenario to another. We first meet the adult Beau on the street outside his rundown apartment block, running the gauntlet of hyper-violence, pure terror in his eyes. Junkies lie dead in the gutter, a naked man stabs strangers with a knife, a tattooed psychopath chases him as he races desperately towards the security door of his building. From there, things go rapidly downhill. There are times when Beaus journey takes on a cartoonish quality. Credit:Roadshow But is any of it real? Or are we meant, rather, to be experiencing the world the way Beau does, through a prism of fear and mental illness that distorts what is really there? I wouldnt say its necessarily ... I mean, yes, sure, says Aster when I ask if his aim was to place us inside Beaus subjective consciousness. Advertisement He rubs his head, stares at the ceiling, and eventually switches his focus back to the screen. Yeah, he says, after another long pause. Im not sure how much to add to it. But yeah. Well, lets try it this way: is the heightened sense of danger in the film a projection of your authorial voice, or is it meant to be a representation of Beaus experience of the world? I would say the former, in that this is the world of the film and Beau lives in that world, he says. But we are also very close to Beau and his experience. Phoenix plays Beau at different stages of his life. Credit:Roadshow Im not trying to be difficult, he adds, pausing yet again. But, yeah, it should feel like youre in his experience. It should feel like you are with him, feeling what hes feeling. That should be the experience of the film. He may be an insanely (though amusingly) frustrating interview subject, but over the space of just three features Aster has emerged as one of the most exciting and distinctive new voices in American cinema. Hereditary mashed a portrait of a grieving family with the tropes of devils and witches to push the horror genre into startling new spaces. Midsommar melded a fish-out-of-water story with folklore and folk horror and psychedelia and turned it all into something entirely unexpected. Both were anchored not just by Asters stunning visuals and startling plot twists, but by a riveting central performance, from Toni Collette in the first film and Florence Pugh in the second. Advertisement In Beau Is Afraid, Joaquin Phoenix is the pillar around which the frequently absurdist action is built. And Aster insists he was much more than a leading man. I cannot imagine what the film would be without him, he says. The film grew a lot from what was in my head once he came onboard. That was the best experience Ive ever had working with anybody. In what ways did Phoenix help it grow? Collaborators: Star Joaquin Phoenix and writer-director Ari Aster on the set of Beau Is Afraid. Credit:Roadshow He investigates everything, and hell challenge everything, to the point where whatever it was [on paper] almost needs to be, at least momentarily, shirked aside, in order to see if theres anything else that hasnt been considered. Hes about as engaged with the material as I can imagine an actor being. But its your film, your screenplay. Doesnt that create some kind of conflict? No, because were trying to get closer to the heart of what it is that I wrote. Advertisement I brought on Joaquin because I knew he had a remarkable talent and a remarkable intelligence, he continues, and it would be very stupid to try to rein that in and impose too much on that. I never felt that the work I wrote, or the film I was trying to make, was being in any way sabotaged. It was always the opposite. I felt we were both on the same mission the whole way through, which was, how do we make this as good and interesting and alive as possible? It felt like a partnership, very much. Armen Nahapetian and Zoe Lister-Jones as the younger Beau and Mona. The mother-son relationship is at the heart of the film. Credit:Roadshow Aster has described his film as a hellish Freudian picaresque. In its simplest terms, its about a man crippled by anxiety trying to visit his mother, Mona (played by Patti LuPone and, in her younger incarnation, by Zoe Lister-Jones), only to find his journey endlessly and catastrophically disrupted. But it deploys some of the central ideas of psychoanalysis, as both literal and metaphorical devices. The very first scene has the baby Beau emerging from his mothers birth canal, and in a sense the entire movie is about his attempt to get back there, to the last place he felt truly safe and at home. It is, in other words, the primal Freudian psychodrama, a story about the pain of separation, and the damage done by a mother to a son. So, I ask him, how do you think female viewers and critics are going to react? What do you think I should be expecting? Advertisement Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size When Mwajemi Hussein first met Rolf de Heer, director of such landmark Australian films as Bad Boy Bubby and The Tracker, to discuss playing the lead role in his new film, she had never even been to a cinema. Hussein came to Australia with her family after escaping the war in the Democratic Republic of Congo and spending eight years in a refugee camp in Tanzania. She spoke no English when she arrived in Adelaide 18 years ago and, as a social worker, lived largely within the African community. I never knew what would happen, she told a press conference at the Berlin Film Festival, where The Survival of Kindness had its world premiere to great acclaim. I have a family and many children and I never know how it would be to act, but I went and I thought, Well, lets go and see. I always jump in, because I believe in challenges. The Survival of Kindness traverses several Australian landscapes that de Heer says were his first subject, subsequently overlaid with a mythic story of survival. Husseins character, simply called BlackWoman, escapes from a cage dumped in the South Australian desert and sets out to save herself, walking to what eventually becomes mountain country in Tasmania. Of course, that is impossible, but the logistics of real travel including finding water and food, which would be her priorities in the real world are not relevant here. Her life depends on hiding from authority screeching paramilitary figures in robotic masks along with other victims and dissidents she encounters in this unnamed but clearly malevolent armed state. The film is powerful despite the fact that or perhaps because nothing is explained. Even the dialogue is withheld from us; it was written in English, but each actor delivers it in her or his own version of a nonsense language. Mwajemi Hussein in The Survival of Kindness. Credit:Photo: Murray Rehling Copyright: Triptych Pictures and Vertigo Productions Anyone can make any story from this movie, says Hussein. She reads it in a way that clearly reflects her own experience. The story says to me that BlackWoman was brave, she was kind. It says having courage is very important, having extreme hope is very important. And that when you dont have options, you go with what you have. De Heer originally wrote the script for Peter Djigirr, who had played leading roles in his earlier films Ten Canoes which he also co-directed and Charlies Country, both shot in Djigirrs country in Arnhem Land. De Heer was driving around his own home turf in Tasmania, looking for locations that would be, as he puts it, COVID-nimble, when an image of Djigirr sprang unannounced into his mind. Advertisement It was him in this cage in the desert, locked in, he says. I know him well and what he can express with his face, his acting, you know. It wouldnt go away and it seemed to want to be the beginning of the film. He called the character BlackMan, wrote the script and gathered the finance. Then Djigirr couldnt do it. Time was tight. De Heer approached an organisation for refugees in Tasmania to ask if any Black men there might be interested in working on a film. The person who most sparked his interest, however, was an Ethiopian woman. Did they know somebody with these qualities, but a man? It was only as he was walking to his car that he thought that perhaps the same script would work with a woman. It was a difficult jump to make but, having had that thought, I thought, This is interesting. Ultimately, that mental leap took him to Mwajemi Hussein. Rolf de Heer with Mwajemi Hussein during filming. Credit:Murray Rehling. Copyright: Triptych Pictures and Vertigo Productions Hussein is a remarkable presence, on screen and in the flesh. Even at school, while living with friends of her fathers after he was killed in the war, she was mocked for her determination. Because the area was not encouraging women or girls to study; once you are 15 or 16, depending on the bodys performance, that is the time to get married, she says. But I had something in me pushing me to study. I was really bullied a lot: we say in Swahili, Are you a man or a woman? But I survived. And I was educated. She escaped that village with her husband and three children by walking to Lake Tanganyika and crossing on a rowboat, a slow sitting target for 11 hours, before reaching relative safety. She is now 52, a mother of seven and so fit that the young crew on The Survival of Kindness had trouble keeping up with her on their long walks to location. At home in Adelaide, she sometimes walks barefoot because it reminds me of where I come from and the struggle I went through, she says. In times of stress, she hikes around Mt Lofty, walking barefoot down a rocky path to a river. Its very difficult, but I know what Im doing. I want to say something to connect myself to my ancestors. I want to say something to bring them to me. This is the connection I feel between the film and myself. I was acting but also enjoying the things I really connect to. I grew up drinking water direct from the river, so when I am in the film and drink water from a river I am acting, but inside myself I am talking to my ancestors as well. De Heer has made some of his most significant work with Indigenous artists, building on his close relationship with the late David Gulpilil, but any involvement by white filmmakers in telling Indigenous stories is now regarded as problematic. The Survival of Kindness is not an Indigenous story, but it raises similar questions; a journalist in Berlin asks whether he felt he was the right person to tell the story of a Black woman. Advertisement Advertisement Review Eating outBallarat Central Id eat here every week if it was in Melbourne: Pancho is a whirlwind tour of Latin America in Ballarat Besha Rodell April 14, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share This story is part of the April 15 Edition of Good Weekend. See all stories . 1 / 7 Inside Ballarats cosy and colourful Pancho restaurant. Simon Schluter 2 / 7 Hearts of palm salad. Simon Schluter 3 / 7 Brazilian prawn curry. Simon Schluter 4 / 7 Pork tostadas. Simon Schluter 5 / 7 Pancho is a popular spot, especially on weekends. Simon Schluter 6 / 7 Go-to dish: Kingfish ceviche. Simon Schluter 7 / 7 Fish tacos. Simon Schluter Previous Slide Next Slide 14.5 / 20 How we score Mexican$$$ When I was 19, my family took a trip to Mexico the first of many trips to what has become my favourite travel destination. I had a number of culinary awakenings during those weeks that we drove around the Yucatan, many of them thanks to the kinds of foods youd expect stews and moles and tacos. But the most unexpected revelation came in the form of a hearts of palm salad in a trendy cafe in Mexico City. The dish was simple all the better to show off the lightly pickled palm vegetable, which has an artichoke-adjacent flavour at the same time as being its own thing entirely. It was the first time Id ever had hearts of palm and it was a moment of magical newness, like discovering a colour youve never seen before. Hearts of palm salad. Simon Schluter Advertisement I was brought back to this memory recently at Pancho in Ballarat, a South American restaurant that my mother and sister raved about after a recent trip. Panchos hearts of palm salad ($13) was just like the one Id tasted in Mexico City all those years ago, the hearts, dressed lightly with crunchy lettuce and creamy avocado, taking centre stage. Go-to dish: Kingfish ceviche. Simon Schluter It wasnt the only thing at Pancho that transported me to another time and place. The kingfish ceviche ($27), cured with lime and served with hunks of sweet potato, took me back to La Mar, my favourite restaurant in Lima, Peru, where, perched at a bar, I ate a dish just like it. A special of lamb birria tacos ($19), served with a rich lamb consomme for dipping, reminded me of a little shack in Playa Del Carmen on Mexicos Yucatan Peninsula where I dipped and slurped birria tacos only last June. With this food and these drinks, Id be eating here every week if it were in Melbourne. Advertisement Pancho, which is owned by Simone Baur-Schmid and Jose Fernandez, opened in Ballarat in 2019. Fernandez born in Spain, raised in Venezuela and the owner of Ballarat Spanish restaurant Meigas has employed chefs from all over Central and South America, as well as Mexico. Many have left their mark on the menu, resulting in an offering thats incredibly varied but also true to each individual cuisine. Theres no fusion here, just classic dishes presented exactly as they would be in their home countries. Thats no small feat, especially considering how hard it is to locate decent Mexican food in Australia, let alone Colombian or Peruvian. At Pancho, you can find fantastic arepas ($13 each), the cheese-and-meat-stuffed pocket of fried maize thats been served in Colombia and Venezuela since the Pre-Columbian era; fish tacos ($17) that taste like the ones you get on Mexicos Baja coastline, and Peruvian caramel custard ($12) thats topped with puffs of meringue. A recent special of Brazilian prawn curry ($28) tasted exactly like the mellow, lightly sweet, home-style curries Ive had in casual restaurants around Sao Paulo. Advertisement Pork tostadas. Simon Schluter Pork tostadas ($19) see juicy pork, flavoured with the peppery, earthy spice achiote, piled high on crisp tortillas and topped with pickled onions. Its the closest thing Ive had to a real cochinita pibil the traditional pork dish from Yucatan state in Australia. The drinks menu, too, meanders through that part of the world, with well-made pisco sours ($19), margaritas ($18), Mexican beers and a short wine list highlighting bottles from Chile and Argentina. The passionfruit caipirinha ($17) is gloriously tropical without being too sweet, and theres a mean pina colada on offer ($20), too. The room is colourful, its walls decorated with Mexican folk art and vintage travel posters from throughout South America. Servers are friendly and well-versed in the food and specials and happily walk customers many of whom have never had South American food through the menu. Advertisement On weekends, the place is jam-packed: dont make the mistake of thinking you can waltz in for lunch without a booking. Panchos popularity is anything but surprising. With this food and these drinks, Id be eating here every week if it were in Melbourne. As it is, Ill be planning more trips to Ballarat in order to bask in the tumble of delicious memories this restaurant inspires. The lowdown Vibe: Colourful and cosy Go-to dish: Kingfish ceviche ($27) Drinks: Lovely cocktails, Mexican beers and a shortlist of South American wines Cost: About $70 for two, excluding drinks This review was originally published in Good Weekend magazine Restaurant reviews, news and the hottest openings served to your inbox. Sign up Advertisement RecipesCookbook extracts Not a sweet tooth? Alison Romans simple, snackable bakes might change your mind Alison Roman April 13, 2023 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share Despite formal training as a pastry chef, combined with additional years of baking, whisking, rolling and folding, New York-based food writer Alison Romans recipe style remains rustic, carefree and approachable. Food writer Alison Roman. Chris Bernabeo My pies still leak, cheesecakes crack, and pound cakes are pulled from the oven before theyre fully baked. Lopsided and wonky, occasionally almost burned, unevenly frosted, my desserts are consistently imperfect. But perfection is boring, she writes in the introduction to her latest cookbook, Sweet Enough. Instead, she has focused on the excellence of basicness reliable, foolproof base recipes you can fancy up at will. These are some of her favourites. Theyre bound to become yours, too. Raspberry ricotta cake. Chris Bernabeo Advertisement Raspberry ricotta cake This cake is on the less-sweet side, precisely my intention. If youre craving something a bit stickier, a bit sweeter, know that, in lieu of the unsweetened berries, this versatile batter can be baked with 1 cup of jam or marmalade swirled in (any of your choice). The result will be a little sweeter and a bit more subtle in its delivery of the fruit, thanks to its more even distribution, but will still be very delicious and extremely snackable. INGREDIENTS 220g (1 cups) plain flour 1 scant tbsp (12g) baking powder 1 tsp (4g) salt Advertisement 365g (1 cups) ricotta cheese 275g (1 cups) sugar 3 large eggs tsp (2g) vanilla extract grated zest of 1 lemon, lime, grapefruit or orange (optional) 115g unsalted butter, melted 340-450g raspberries or blackberries, fresh or frozen METHOD Advertisement Preheat the oven to 160C fan-forced (180C conventional). Spray a 23cm round cake tin with cooking spray and line with a round of baking paper. In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt. In a medium bowl, whisk the ricotta, 220g (1 cup) of the sugar, the eggs, vanilla and citrus zest (if using) until smooth. Whisk or gently fold into the flour mixture until just blended. Fold in the melted butter, followed by half the raspberries, crushing them ever so slightly as you fold you dont want them to disappear into the batter, just be distributed evenly to create a nice, streaky look, almost like tie-dye. Transfer the batter to the cake tin and scatter the remaining raspberries and 55g ( cup) sugar over the top. (It might look like a lot of sugar it is! But its necessary, promise.) Bake until the cake is golden brown, and a tester or toothpick inserted into the centre comes out clean, 55-65 minutes. Let cool for at least 20 minutes before unmoulding. Makes one 23cm cake Eat with: A bowl of ricotta (sweetened or unsweetened) on the side (you know you want to). Do ahead: This cake can be baked 3 days ahead, wrapped tightly in plastic and stored at room temperature. Tiny strawberry galettes. Chris Bernabeo Advertisement Tiny strawberry galettes Not all fruit is interesting enough to carry a small hand-held galette on its own without the need for additional flavours or faffing, but in-season strawberries absolutely are. The perfectly juicy little orbs transform in the oven; juices bubble up and evaporate, concentrating flavours, while the texture and shape stay intact, firming up not unlike a semi-leathery sun-dried tomato. What comes out is a better strawberry than what went in, baked inside a personalised flaky, caramelised crust. INGREDIENTS plain flour, for dusting 2 discs The Only Pie Crust (see below) 680g strawberries, hulled and quartered (or chopped if especially large) 2 tbsp (30g) cornflour 7g ( cup) sugar, plus more for sprinkling 1 tbsp (30g) fresh lemon or lime juice tsp rosewater or orange blossom water (optional) 1 large egg finely chopped pistachios, pecans, almonds or hazelnuts (optional) METHOD Advertisement Preheat the oven to 170C fan-forced (190C conventional). Line two baking trays with baking paper. On a lightly floured work surface, roll each disc of dough out to about 35cm in diameter. Make sure the dough is evenly rolled, with no parts thicker or thinner than the others, even if that means an uneven circular shape. Cut each dough round into four even quarters and transfer to a baking tray. Refrigerate while you prepare the filling. In a medium bowl, combine the strawberries, cornflour, sugar, lemon juice and rosewater, if using. Toss once or twice to combine. Remove the dough from the fridge. Working with one at a time, remove a piece of dough from the baking tray. Spoon the strawberry mixture in the centre of the dough, leaving about a 2.5cm border, and piling it higher rather than spreading wider. Fold up the edges just over the edge of the fruit, making more of an imperfect circular shape rather than reinforcing the triangle shape from whence it came. If you notice any large tears or cracks, simply patch them up by pressing the dough back together until sealed. Return each small galette to a baking tray. Whisk the egg with a teaspoon of water and brush the edges of the crust with the egg wash. Sprinkle any finely chopped nuts you may be using over the crust, followed by a nice dusting of sugar. Bake, rotating the baking trays once or twice, for 35-40 minutes, until the crust of the galettes is deeply browned, and the filling is bubbling, looking thick and shiny like melted fruit leather. Remove from the oven and let cool before eating. Makes 8 galettes Eat with: A scoop of any ice-cream youd want to have with strawberries. Do ahead: Tiny galettes are great made in advance and perfect for travel. Theyll last at least 2 days, wrapped tightly and stored at room temperature. Note: For those lacking in the perfectly ripe, juicy berry department, these galettes will still produce something delicious with even sub-par fruit (again, baking is magic). Other fruits to consider are raspberries (simply left as is), or rhubarb, unpeeled, but cut into 7.5cm pieces. Advertisement Lemon shaker pie. Chris Bernabeo Lemon shaker pie From my lemon-obsessed point of view, I can confirm in a totally unbiased way that this is the best pie in the world. The name comes from the Shakers, a religious community who famously make use of the entirety of anything (an animal, a piece of wood, a whole lemon). Its going to be sweet, of course, but it will also be bitter, complex and tart because of the whole lemon, custardy because of the eggs, and a little salty, flaky and crunchy because of the pie crust. Its also going to be easy and foolproof, perfectly set and golden brown each time, as if touched by some sort of baking angel. Its going to be everything you want a lemon bar to be, but more and better. INGREDIENTS Advertisement 2 Meyer or large regular lemons (about 300g), very thinly sliced and seeds removed 260g (1 cups) sugar, plus more for sprinkling good pinch of salt 4 large eggs 35g ( cup) plain flour, plus more for dusting 2 discs The Only Pie Crust (see below) METHOD Set aside a few lemon slices to put on top of the pie. In a medium bowl, combine the remaining slices with the sugar and salt. Toss to coat, then let sit at least 2 hours, up to 24 hours, refrigerated. Preheat the oven to 160C fan-forced (180C conventional). Remove the lemons from the fridge and whisk in three of the eggs and the flour. Dust a work surface with flour. Roll out each disc of dough to a round, about 35cm in diameter. Lay one into a 23cm pie dish, letting the dough slump into the edges, leaving the overhang. Pour the filling into the crust. Use a paring knife to cut a few vents into the other dough round, or simply prick it all over with a fork. Drape it over the pie filling, then, using your thumb and forefinger, press the top and bottom crusts together to seal them. Using the tines of a fork, press the crusts together onto the pie dish, creating an even tighter seal. Then, using a knife or scissors, trim any excessive overhang. In a small bowl, whisk the remaining egg with about a teaspoon of water. Brush the pie all over with the egg wash and arrange the reserved lemon slices on top. Sprinkle the whole thing with sugar. Bake until the crust is deeply golden and evenly browned, 70 to 80 minutes. Let cool for at least 2 hours before serving. Makes one 23cm pie Eat with: Thick clotted cream, mascarpone or creme fraiche. Advertisement Do ahead: This pie can be made 3 days ahead. Wrap and store at room temperature or refrigerate. Note: FYI, FWIW, this is maybe one of the few pies that is better at room temperature even chilled. The Only Pie Crust Its flaky, its buttery, it doesnt require a food processor (in fact, Id recommend against using one), and 98 per cent of people who have made it have success with it 100 per cent of the time. My tip here is to resist the urge to add more water pie dough should never look like a smooth, shiny dough. The flour in the dough will hydrate as it sits, transforming from shaggy to more supple once rested. INGREDIENTS Advertisement 360g (2 cups) plain flour, plus more for rolling 1 tsp (8g) sugar 1 tsp (4g) salt 285g unsalted butter, cut into 2.5cm pieces, chilled 1 scant tbsp (15g) apple cider vinegar or distilled white vinegar 60g ( cup) ice-cold water, plus more only if you absolutely must METHOD In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar and salt. Add the butter and toss to coat it in the flour mixture. Using your hands, smash the butter between your palms and fingertips, mixing it into the flour, creating long, thin, flaky, floury, buttery bits. Once most of the butter is incorporated and there are no large chunks remaining, dump the flour mixture onto a work surface. In a measuring cup, combine the vinegar and icy water and drizzle it over the flour mixture. Run your fingers through the mixture like youre running your fingers through your hair, just to evenly distribute the water through the flour until the dough starts coming together. Knead the dough a few more times, just to gather up any dry bits from the bottom and place them on the top to be incorporated. You will be tempted to add a tablespoon or two more water now resist if you can, add only if you must. Once you have a shaggy mass of dough (it will not be smooth and it certainly will not be shiny), knead it once or twice more and divide it half. Pat each piece into a flat disc about 2.5cm thick. Wrap each disc individually in cling film. Refrigerate at least 2 hours. Makes 2 discs Use for: Pies, galettes sweet and savoury, hand pies, Pop-Tarts. Advertisement Do ahead: The pie dough can be made and refrigerated for up to 1 week, or frozen for up to 2 months. Perfect salted shortbread. Chris Bernabeo Perfect salted shortbread Shortbread is a perfect cookie. Buttery, tender yet crumbly, a little salty, and made with only a few ingredients, most of which you likely have on hand. It can be modified to suit your needs and desires by adding things like chocolate chunks, ground cinnamon, toasted nuts, lemon zest whatever. This here is the most basic version, a simple, sublime, buttery shortbread that truly holds its own and always seems welcome no matter the occasion, just like a bag of salty potato chips. INGREDIENTS Advertisement 285g cold salted butter,* cut into 2.5cm pieces 110g ( cup) white sugar, plus more for rolling 70g ( cup) light brown sugar 1 tsp (5g) vanilla extract 325g (2 cups) plain flour 1 large egg flaky sea salt, for sprinkling METHOD In a stand mixer fitted with a paddle (or use a medium bowl and an electric hand-held mixer, or a food processor), beat the butter, white sugar, brown sugar and vanilla on medium-high speed until the mixture is super light and fluffy, 3-5 minutes. Using a spatula, scrape down the side of the bowl and, with the mixer on low speed, slowly add the flour and beat just to blend. Divide the dough into four even pieces, placing each on a large piece of cling film or baking paper. Fold the plastic or paper over so that it covers the dough, to stop your hands getting sticky. Using your hands, just like youre playing with clay, form each piece of dough into a log shape, about 3cm in diameter. (I like these shortbreads thicker and smaller in diameter, like little fat, buttery coins.) Rolling the dough on the kitchen benchtop will help you smooth it out, but dont worry about getting it totally perfect. Refrigerate until totally firm, about 2 hours. Preheat the oven to 160C fan-forced (180C conventional). Line a baking tray or two with baking paper. Beat the egg with 1 teaspoon water for your egg wash. Brush the outside of the logs with the egg wash and roll them in more white sugar (for those really delicious crispy edges). Slice each log into 1cm thick rounds, and place on the baking tray(s) about 2.5cm apart. Sprinkle with flaky salt. Bake until the edges are just beginning to brown and the shortbreads look sparkly and gorgeously golden, 12-15 minutes. Let cool completely before eating them all. (Trust me, a warm shortbread is great, but a room-temperature shortbread is better.) Makes 3040 shortbreads Note: * If using unsalted butter, add 1 teaspoons (5g) salt when beating the butter and sugar. Advertisement Eat with: Anything and anyone. Every party, every baby shower, every picnic, every class reunion, every parent-teacher conference, every car boot sale. Do ahead: The dough can be made 5 days ahead, wrapped tightly and refrigerated (or frozen for up to 1 month). The shortbreads can be baked 3 days ahead and stored airtight at room temperature. Sweet Enough by Alison Roman. Hardie Grant Books This is an edited extract from Sweet Enough by Alison Roman, photography by Chris Bernabeo. Hardie Grant Books, RRP $55. Available in stores nationally. Buy now. Alison Roman will embark on her first Australian tour in May, including the Melbourne Writers Festival (May 5), Brisbane Powerhouse (May 7) and Sydney Opera House (May 9). Details: alisoneroman.com/tour Recipe collection Alison Romans recipes for Good Food The best recipes from Australia's leading chefs straight to your inbox. Sign up The paradox is I do not believe in God, yet I take great joy in Pascha, or Eastern Orthodox Easter. Jesus rises twice in our house last weekend as a Catholic, and he will rise again next Sunday at 12am. Its not just you guys that have Easter, my wife said on Friday, digging at my superiority complex. The Spaniards eat on Good Friday, potaje chickpea and bacalao (codfish) soup, followed by torrijas Spanish-style French toast. Greek Orthodox Easter is all about food, family and celebration. Credit: Chris Hopkins My left-wing father had no time for the church; he saw them as traitors. They side with power, hed say. He was a Greek, though, and Pascha had meaning even for him. His name, Anastasios, means resurrection and Easter Sunday is his name day. Last rites Impressive tributes were paid to the memory of the late Prime Minister Mr Lyons, when his remains arrived at Devonport, his home town, on the destroyer Vendetta. People came from all parts of Tasmania to pay their respects to one of Australias greatest and best-loved men, and, when the cortege passed through the streets of Devonport, this afternoon, more than 30,000 people five times the towns population - lined the barricades, many weeping unrestrainedly. Open season at the Glaciarium Despite the summer heat, hundreds of skating enthusiasts thronged Sydneys Glaciarium Ice Rink for the opening of the skating season, and they found it the coolest place in town. Gleaming stretches of ice tempted many beginners to try their skill, and a thrilling exhibition of fancy skating was given by Mr Ron Chambers, former amateur champion of Australia. The Glaciarium has been redecorated, and a Tyrolean atmosphere has been created by miniature Swiss chalets. Fears of a new coup Mme. Tabouis, the French diplomatic commentator, predicts that Germany will invade Poland on Saturday. She says that Herr Hitler and Signor Mussolini have been in constant telephone communication during the last three days, and that Germany is convinced that Britain and France will not defend Poland. The Reichswehr, she adds, has been ordered to march into Poland, if the Polish Foreign Minister, Colonel Beck, will not agree to concessions. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Indigenous Senator Kerrynne Liddle is critical of the proposed constitutional alteration because, she said, it would allow the Voice to lobby ministers and bureaucrats (Liberals only Indigenous MP backs Dutton, April 13). Doesnt she know that lobbying of ministers and bureaucrats by all sorts of interest groups is a feature of Australias political landscape? Commercial lobbyists get fat on largely unfettered access to ministers and their staff in the Parliament House, with special passes allowing them to come and go at will. So why shouldnt the Voice group do some lobbying of their own? In any case, the Voice will only be allowed to give them advice, not make demands. Kim Woo, Mascot Illustration: Matt Golding Credit: In coming out for a No vote in the Voice referendum, Liddle cites the example of an Alice Springs family living on a concrete slab for years. Is Liddle aware that her party was in government for nine years and had adequate opportunity to address problems like this? Christine Tiley, Albany Creek (Qld) Gabrielle Bashirs lucid summary of the NSW Bar Associations unanimous support of the Voice puts to bed much of the fearmongering and unfounded criticisms of those who are advocating a No vote (Its time to close the gap in our imperfect Constitution, April 13). Most importantly, Bashir convincingly argues the case for the Voice to be entrenched in the Constitution citing the history of dissolution of national First Nations consultative bodies created by legislation. Realistically, Bashir acknowledges that, over time, the Voice may require modification, but its very existence must continue. The NSW Bar Association joins a large number of social sector organisations, business groups, sporting codes and other significant reputable organisations and institutes who are supporting the Voice as outlined by the Albanese government. Those seeking guidance on this issue could do a lot worse than listening to the well informed such as Bashir in preference to those, prone to exaggeration and misinformation, whose sole motive is a destructive political win against the current government. Ross Butler, Rodd Point The anti-Voice movement seems to be gathering momentum. The sooner the final wording is agreed on the better to at least confront that criticism. It is important to point out that the myriad Canberra-based registered lobbyists already have privileged access to decision makers in government, so why not add another the Voice to the powers that be, even if it is in a more formalised context? There are serious deficiencies with the way many Indigenous issues have been treated in the past, so why not a more comprehensive all-encompassing approach? Tim ODonnell, Newport Advertisement If there are concerns that the Voice could have a say on anything, then suggest some tighter wording rather than rejecting the entire Voice. The same with the concern that this will give people with particular DNA a special place. All of these are excuses. Opponents want to reject the Voice, and then look for reasons to do so. This is what distinguishes them from proponents of the Voice. Supporters of the Voice have looked at the bigger picture, and how the Voice fits into that, and through many years of wide consultation have looked at how best to close any potential loopholes while keeping the main concept. David Rush, Lawson Your correspondent is worried that a No vote will result in the current model being lost for a considerable time. I would be surprised if Anthony Albanese doesnt have a backup plan. Perhaps legislation for a Voice subject to parliament? Geoff Dunsford, Wahroonga Rent control and higher tax could fix housing crisis Its not only high-end properties that are seeing massive rent increases the entire housing market is the wild west (Inflated rents rife in market of few options, April 13). A relative received notice last week that the rent on his modest Chatswood flat would be increasing from $650 to $800 a week. Im struggling to understand why both state and federal governments are so scared of tackling our housing crisis right now. We need tight rent controls and increased taxation on under-utilised housing to be implemented immediately. Owners who claim this will force them to sell their rental or holiday properties can rest easy knowing they have increased the pool of houses available for purchase. In the longer term, we need not only more public housing but also longer-term leases (5-10 years) on all rentals and the removal of negative gearing for multiple investment properties. Anne Kirman, Kellyville It seems there are no house rules (Safe as houses? Sure looks like it, April 13). Rising prices defy logic and suburbs like Bondi have paid a hefty price. In the 90s it was a young and vibrant locale, apartments were filled with surfers, students and sun seeking tourists. Now its exclusively an enclave for the wealthy. Even day trippers are deterred by overpriced eateries and extortionate parking fees no wonder those attempting to live in Sydney are at the end of their John Wick. Janet Argall, Dulwich Hill Chris Richardson says the main reason house prices today have not changed in Japan, unlike in Australia, is because the Japanese do not have NIMBYs opposed to development. This is not right, and something developer lobbyists love to promote. The real reason is always ignored. Japans population size has remained virtually unchanged since 1986, whereas Australias has increased by 63 per cent in that time. Benjamin Rushton, Birchgrove Advertisement Illustration: John Shakespeare Credit: The plans by both governments for increasing the supply of affordable housing are totally feeble and far too slow (Letters, April 13). People need help now. Possible fixes: check out government property and find unused places which could be repurposed; allow pensioners to rent out unused space without rents compromising their pensions; increase the taxes on uninhabited property; tax unused church properties to encourage use for housing; taper down the allowances for negative gearing and capital gains tax and fix rental increases to the CPI per annum. It is no wonder people are having trouble putting food on the table when so much of their income goes on housing. Jan Aitkin, Balmain Should the Minns government opt for the European egalitarian style of housing suggested by letter writers, some caution and thought would be required to avoid the 70s-style public housing models. These public housing estates were proved to be failures and have subsequently all been re-modelled, torn down or renovated to include homeownership and public housing. A mix of housing, shared by all areas, should be the considered way forward, as well as immediate rental caps to help the accommodation crisis that is playing out throughout the state. Joy Paterson, Mount Annan In 1974, working as a bus conductor and other jobs at a wage of about $80 per week, three of us rented a very nice house in Northbridge for $30 a week at $10 each. The landlord who lived up the road never collected the rent, which we saved to pay later when he got around to it. Paul Keys, Clouds Creek Walgett casualty of rural neglect We are living in an affluent first world country, yet residents in Walgett do not have safe drinking water (Town where Coke costs less than safe water, April 13). If the NSW government cannot provide clean drinking water to Walgett, then they should be giving free bottled water to residents until the water problem is solved. To have to pay $50 a week for bottled water for a family when Coca-Cola is cheaper is abhorrent. If safe drinking water was not available to residents in anywhere in Sydney, there would be an outcry. Country communities suffer from a comparable lack of services and infrastructure; dont add water to the list. Helen Simpson, Curl Curl Advertisement Your deeply troubling article on the disgusting water supply in Walgett, where let them drink Coca Cola is the operational mantra, cites four top flight concerned bodies UNSW academics, the Dharriwaa Elders Group, the Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service, and the George institute for Global Health. It must be evident that in addition to these four bodies, a Voice is needed to turn on taps that deliver clean and safe water. Ivan Head, Burradoo Parental guidance Despite what some parents believe, their children are not born angels (School violence a social problem, April 13). They need to be trained. Consider a tree if it starts leaning sideways as a sapling, it might look interesting but in time will become distorted and not fixable. Unless children are trained in good values and respect early in life, wilful behaviour exacerbates until it becomes uncontrollable. Both teachers and parents despair, as violence and selfishness takes over. Discipline has a place even in early childhood: no is not a dirty word, just guidance towards a great future. Barbara Watt, Frenchs Forest Violence in schools may well be a social problem but its also very much a departmental managerial issue. Why would a teacher risk intervening in a violent conflict when they could find themselves in more trouble than the brawling students? Placing a restraining hand on a pupil can be construed as a physical assault. Adopting the same approach with a vexatious female student, especially with parental backing, could see a male teacher facing a career-ruining and life-destroying accusation of sexual assault. Teaching and policing now face the same problem of justifying the nature of their response to dangerous acts of violence. Education and police departments seem to be more inclined to punish those trying to uphold the principles of good behaviour rather than censuring the miscreants. No wonder both services are leaking personnel to resignations. Trevor Somerville, Illawong You write in the editorial that co-operation and collaboration in schools is replaced by competitive and brutal behaviour. I then tried to think of positive role models publicised in contemporary society Catherine Turner, Cremorne All the letters about children misbehaving at restaurants and at school reminded me of a story I was told about how one of my mates trained his three young boys to behave when taken to a restaurant. They were warned that if they misbehaved they would be taken straight home. On the fourth occasion when taken to a restaurant the three boys behaved like little angels. Peter Nelson, Moss Vale Public transport Advertisement That bus operators are using a contractual loophole to avoid penalties by cancelling services is no surprise. It is the inevitable consequence of privatisation (Lack of penalties for bus operators behind cancellations: Labor, April 13). The private operator has a choice between profit and the public and chooses profit. However carefully contacts are drafted, the better option is public ownership which prioritises the public interest. Michael Berg, Randwick Only human My heart went out to Dee Smart over her public humiliation as a mother behaving badly (Looking Smart: Drawing Packer, fighting cancer, motherhood, and the day she lost her mind , April 13). Only those who have been mothers know the constant work this is to stay calm in the face of frustrations, competing needs and the stress of always being on duty. It was many years after my children were grown before I could completely close the bathroom door. Every woman I know who has been a parent has guilt over some failing, from the dislocated elbow, to the spanking to the neglect. Its all part and parcel of being human and trying hard to do ones best. Sue Adams, Dulwich Hill Vale John Olsen Credit:Matt Golding National masters The death of painter John Olsen is an appropriate moment to ask how we should acknowledge our great fine artists (Legacy of Olsen, Australias landscape poet, will go on, April 13). We have no problem with statues and bronze busts of sporting greats. At the Art Gallery of NSW I recently noticed the names of many European Old Masters below the entablature on the outer walls of the old gallery building, many of whom I did not recognise. What about replacing them with the names of our great artists? In these days of increasing national self-awareness and identity we should be celebrating our heritage, not those from the European renaissance. I recall being baffled by the current names on the building when I was a 14-year-old on an art excursion, and still am to this day. Dale Bailey, Five Dock Good or extraordinary? Advertisement Over 50 healthcare leaders and experts from across the globe will discuss the latest innovations and advancements in applied Artificial Intelligence (AI) in the healthcare sector at the upcoming 'Digital Health Conference'. King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre (KFSH&RC) has announced an exceptional lineup of keynote speakers for the event, the first of its kind in Riyadh, which will be held from May 16 to 17. The conference aims to promote best practices for healthcare safety, cost-effectivity, sustainability, and practicality by harnessing the power of AI-enabled cutting-edge technologies. Diverse group KFSH&RC's latest list of keynote speakers represents a diverse and accomplished group of global leaders in the healthcare industry. They will bring a wealth of experience and expertise from top-tier organisations, offering an unparalleled opportunity to learn from and network with the best in the field. *Jennifer Yuki McElroy, DO, FACOG, MS, Chief Medical Information Officer, Mayo Clinic Health System, who will present on "Digital Health Journey: A Community Practice Perspective". *Constantin Aliferis, MD, PhD, FACMI, Chief Research Informatics Officer, University of Minnesota, who will present on "Biomedicine in the era of Artificial Intelligence". *Joel Gordon, MD, Chief Medical Information Officer, University of Wisconsin Hospital, who will present on "When in Rome: Understand How Doctors Think, so That You Can Teach Them What They Dont Want to Know". *Wieland Sommer, PhD, MPH, Founder and CEO, Smart Reporting, who will present on "From Art to Science: The Future of Medical Documentation and the Role of Data". *Walid Rjaibi, PhD, CTO for Data Security, IBM, who will present on "Staying Safe and Secure in a Quantum Computing World". *Mohammed Alhamid, PhD, Director, Centre for Healthcare Intelligence, KFSH&RC, who will present on "Humanising Data and Extending Intelligence". Exhibitions and workshop In addition to the keynote sessions, the two-day conference will feature exhibitions, workshops, panel sessions, and emerging technology sections, providing attendees with an immersive and educational experience. This event is expected to attract world-class thought leaders, digital solutions, and technologies, aiming to innovate and disrupt the current healthcare models. The Digital Health Conference is aligned with the kingdom's Vision 2030's Healthcare Transformation goals, and KFSH&RC encourages visionary healthcare leaders and stakeholders to join them in this pioneering event set to convene attendees from more than 15 participating countries.--TradeArabia News Service BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Azerbaijani Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva has urged the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to visit Azerbaijani servicemen, Trend reports citing the Ombudsman Offices statement. "As the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman), I appeal to the relevant international organizations regarding the fact of inhuman treatment of our servicemen, I urge them to respond to this fact and call on Armenia to comply with the requirements assumed in accordance with international law," the appeal said. At the same time, the representative office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia was required to immediately visit our servicemen and give information on their condition. Meanwhile, a few days ago information was spread that two servicemen of the Azerbaijani army went missing on the border with Armenia. In turn, the Armenian side confirmed their detention. The states most disadvantaged children are now even more likely to miss class than peers from affluent backgrounds, with education authorities saying the phenomenon will lead to a widening achievement gap. One principal said the lower attendance levels of children from less advantaged backgrounds was driven in part by a positively Dickensian situation where students were missing class to work in jobs so their family could make ends meet as cost-of-living pressures increased. Children from disadvantaged homes are now less likely to come to class. Credit: iStock The percentage of students attending school more than 90 per cent of the time decreased for every quartile of socio-educational advantage between 2018 and 2022, according to the Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority (ACARA) data. But the gap between the states most affluent children and those from the most disadvantaged homes widened considerably after it increased from 13.5 to 16.4 percentage points over the past five years. That trend was mirrored nationally. In two months, Sydney will mark a major anniversary: 10 years since the citys iconic monorail was ripped up, deemed no longer worth maintaining. But a decade later, relics still remain notably the abandoned station at the Market Street entrance to Darling Harbour. Despite numerous thought bubbles over the years, the shell just sits there, unloved and unused. Marketing and design consultant Andrew Hoyne sees these kinds of places everywhere he goes in Sydney. Dead, dark and damned, they occupy prime pieces of real estate but are woefully underutilised. In the upcoming third volume of his book series The Place Economy, Hoyne reimagines three such spaces in walking distance of his CBD office the old monorail station, a Pitt Street smoko alcove and the much-maligned Goulburn Street Car Park. Former NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has enacted his final move as leader of the NSW Liberal Party, calling the first party room meeting since his election defeat at which colleagues will end almost one month of speculation over who will replace him. The meeting, to be held in NSW Parliament next Friday, will mark a turning point for the party in the throes of an identity crisis since the Coalition was swept from government after 12 years on March 25. Former NSW attorney-general Mark Speakman, seen in a file picture, is expected to run for the vacant Liberal Party leaders job at a party room meeting next Friday. Credit: Dominic Lorrimer While former planning minister Anthony Roberts is the only MP to formally announce his intention to run for the vacant leaders position, multiple party sources told the Herald former attorney-general Mark Speakman will also put his hand up. The former barrister, from the partys dominant moderate faction, is the favourite among Liberal MPs but has been torn by the lure of a switch to federal politics should former prime minister Scott Morrison retire from the seat of Cook as expected. Series If you think renting in Australia is a mess, youre not the only one The cost of rent is at an all-time high while vacancies are at an all-time low. Let us help you make sense of it all. Its not often neighbouring houses sell around the same time, but in Albert Park, two, two-bedroom Victorian terraces sold within a fortnight with a $75,000 price difference. A turn-key renovated terrace at 9 Herbert Place sold via private treaty for $1,295,000 on February 7, while next door, 7 Herbert Place, sold under the hammer for $1.22 million on February 18. The properties look almost the same from the outside, but inside a modern renovation meant 9 Herbert Place sold for more, Marshall White Port Phillip selling agents Kaine Lanyon and Ben Manolitsas agreed. Number nine was done up and there wasnt much value you could add to it, Lanyon said. While number seven was neat but, in comparison, it wasnt in as good order as the one next door. This towering figure Britain's largest sculpture became a symbol of the cultural resurgence of former mining city Newcastle-Gateshead. The 220-ton weathered steel Angel, masculine-looking from some angles and feminine from others, has a 54-metre wingspan similar to that of a jumbo jet. It's surely one of the world's most viewed sculptures, seen from 33 million cars annually from the nearby A1 motorway. See newcastlegateshead.com MAMAN, TOKYO, JAPAN Credit: Alamy The giant bronze spider that sits outside Mori Art Museum is purportedly a tribute to artist Louise Bourgeois' silk-weaver mother, but looks more like a nightmare monster from the Godzilla school of the imagination. Stand underneath and you'll see a cluster of marble eggs attached to the spider's abdomen. There are sister spiders in Ottawa, Doha, Seoul and Bilbao, with the original in London's Tate Modern. See gotokyo.org OPENING TO THE WORLD, LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND Credit: Christof Schuerpf/Tourism Switzerland Set on three pointy ends, this sculpture of 36 diamond-shaped panels created by 1960s pop-artist Angel Duarte looks as if it's about to roll into Lake Geneva. Whether it's a fallen star, snowflake or simple geometric shape is up to the viewer. What sets the sculpture apart is that, like a giant children's climbing frame, passers-by are free to clamber over it. See lausanne-tourisme.ch GREAT ELEPHANT STANDING, BARCELONA, SPAIN Credit: Katherine Masters / Alamy This striking elephant stands not on four legs but balances upright on its trunk, an impossible circus trick brought to life. Miquel Barcelo, one of Spain's best-known contemporary artists, hopes to evoke a free and joyful feeling in viewers, but also calls this a self-portrait of the artist in difficult times. The seven-meter bronze sculpture stands outside the CaixaForum contemporary art museum. See barcelonaturisme.com THE KELPIES, FALKIRK, SCOTLAND Credit: Visit Scotland These 30-metre-high horse heads, which lay claim to being the world's largest equine statue, mark the entrance to the Forth & Clyde Canal, and represent mythical Scottish water horses or kelpies. Though made of many small, angular metal plates studded with gaps, the sculptures have a glorious sense of curved movement. One horse's muzzle is raised to the sky as if rearing towards the clouds. See visitfalkirk.com CRYSTAL CLOUD, INNSBRUCK, AUSTRIA Credit: Pavel Dudek / Alamy Crystal Cloud features over 800,000 crystals mounted onto wire netting atop steel poles. The sculpture mimics real clouds that pass overhead against a backdrop of Alps, and is reflected in a black pool below, on which other crystals sit atop slender poles to mimic fireflies. The installation was created by acclaimed American-French design duet Andy Cao and Xavier Perrot, and sits outside crystal-manufacturer Swarovski's headquarters. See innsbruck.info DIGITAL ORCA, VANCOUVER, CANADA Credit: Alamy A giant killer whale leaping out of the pavement is striking enough, but this steel-and-aluminium sculpture is put together from black and white cubes to create a digital or pixilated effect. It looks as if it might be made from Lego, or else escaped from a 1980s computer game. The whale seems joyful and, backed by harbour and mountains, provides a popular Instagram background. See destinationvancouver.com MOTHERLAND MONUMENT, KIEV, UKRAINE Dont know the first thing about wine? Youre not alone, and this can be an intimidating world. Here are eight tips to boost your knowledge. April 13, 2023 by Ben Groundwater Many of us wont go beyond Viti Levu (the main island youll fly into), but the perfect island for every kind of traveller awaits. Which island is best for you? April 11, 2023 by Craig Tansley Holiday guide Bucket-list places to eat Food, for many us, is the very reason we go on holidays in the first place. So grab your fork, pick up your chopsticks, and get ready to tuck in to the worlds greatest culinary destinations. The setting for the retreat is The Cove. If nature is the ultimate wellness, this collection of chalets, cabins and glamping tents, which opened in March 2021, is a promising foundation. The coast at its toes is black, volcanic and moody, and the soil is blood-red and fertile the Earth's own version of wellness. Each evening, little penguins march ashore, often climbing to the decks of the chalets. Devonport is just five kilometres away, and yet it feels about as distant as Darwin or Broome. Few wellness retreats have integrated the increasingly popular cold-water therapy into their practices, but at The Cove this weekend, they are everything. Credit: Chris Crerar Of all the things ahead of us, it's the cold-water therapy that dominates and disquiets almost all minds. Guests range from a professional mixed martial arts fighter, here to build on his existing routine of ice baths, to yoga instructor Danielle, who arrived insisting that she wouldn't do any of the cold-water-therapy activities. "Most of the time I avoid cold water," she says. "If it's a pretty hot day in a really beautiful location, then I might psych myself up enough to get in but only briefly." Such trepidatious stories echo through the room as the group settles into the first breathing session with Piet. For an hour we do nothing but inhale and exhale (though there's the occasional lapse into sleep), working to the Wim Hof Method's devised patterns of breathing. It's a precursor to our first cold plunge breathing to settle our bodies, or simply breathing in courage. But as we head down into the cove, it's clear that even wellness must answer to nature. The sea is choppy and waves assault the rocky shores. Our first brush with cold water is thwarted. I'm not sure whether to be disappointed or delighted. Other sessions roll out across the three days a dawn HIIT-style workout, yoga in the afternoon sun, a roster of massage, evening journalling all interspersed with superb nutritionist-prepared meals that come to be almost the highlight of the weekend. Through every session, the icy water remains like an undercurrent in our minds. Few wellness retreats have integrated the increasingly popular cold-water therapy into their practices, but at The Cove this weekend, they are everything. On the second day, chance is taken from the equation, as Piet sets up two ice baths on the lawns overlooking Bass Strait the 11-degree sea replaced by two-degree pools. It's like an ice age descending. The session begins again with breathing methods that are designed to prepare out bodies for the pending plunge. Piet is our metronome, controlling the beat of our breath inhaling, exhaling, holding the air deep in our guts. As we migrate from the mats to the baths, Danielle steps forward. Having vowed to avoid cold water, she now declares that she wants to be first into the ice bath. "By the end of the breathing session, Piet had sold the benefits of it so well that I thought, it's now or never," she tells me. "I went first because if I stood around and watched everyone else, I'd psych myself out of it. It was a rip-the-Band-Aid-off approach get in and get it done." Like all the sessions, the ice bath is a voluntary exercise, but everyone eventually climbs into the icy water. Reactions are reflex there are faces as calm as alabaster statues, and other people breathing like steam trains. One person is shivering and in tears, but determinedly resolute. In the bath, my hands ache deeply, to the bone, but the rest of my body just feels cold as I distract myself with the view. A line of seabirds is strung along a rock outcrop just off the beach, and the horizon is stitched with cargo ships waiting to dock. Each person is applauded as they step red and stinging from the baths, and there's a shared sense of exhilaration and survival as this most individual of experiences morphs organically into a communal experience ice-bathing as a team event. Together we gather to warm our bodies with a tai-chi-like movement that Piet calls "horse stance" but which many hear as "horse dance" or, in one case, "whore dance". There's time around these sessions to sit and savour the scene. From the deck of my chalet, I watch the shift and shape of the tide, as though Tasmania itself is inhaling and exhaling. One couple drives off to the Table Cape Tulip Farm for the afternoon, and a figure moves along the beach Danielle, continuing to test her new relationship with cold water. The next morning, the retreat concludes with another cold-water session, this time in the nearby River Forth, at the back of Piet's bush home. The river is rushing with snowmelt from the peaks around Cradle Mountain, and the water temperature is seven degrees. Flowing over our bodies, it feels every bit as cold as the ice bath. I suck back some deep breaths and sink into the river. My hands again feel like they're being crushed in a vice, but the rest of my body is adjusting to this new cold life. Two minutes pass, but I remain sitting on the riverbed. Four minutes. I feel the first shivers in my body. It's time to get out. After three days of chilly immersion, have I found a love for cold water? No. But I've been back into it regularly, plunging into cold seas from beautiful beaches and into an alpine Tasmanian lake as snow fell around me. The retreat has ended, but the journey goes on. THE DETAILS The Cove is on the outskirts of Devonport, where the Spirit of Tasmania docks from Geelong. Qantas flies from Melbourne to Devonport. Virgin Australia and Jetstar fly from Sydney to Launceston, which is a one-hour drive from Devonport. See qantas.com jetstar.com virginaustralia.com RETREAT Three-day Wild Wellness Method retreats at The Cove cost between $1495 and $1925, depending on level of accommodation. It also operates a four-day Three Capes Wild Wellness Walk ($3495) in conjunction with the Three Capes Lodge Walk. MORE Wildwellnessmethod.com thecovetasmania.com Andrew Bain travelled courtesy of Wild Wellness Method. FIVE OTHER TASMANIAN WELLNESS EXPERIENCES FLOATING SAUNA LAKE DERBY Simmer in the sauna, then dive into a chilly lake. Rinse and repeat. THREE CAPES LODGE WOMEN'S YOGA WALK Hike the Three Capes Track, peppered with meditation, journalling and yoga sessions. WALDHEIM ALPINE SPA BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Azerbaijan Commander of the Air Force, Lieutenant General Ramiz Tahirov, who is on a visit to the US, has met with Vice Chief of the US National Guard Bureau, Lieutenant General Marc Sasseville, Trend reports via the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry. According to the ministry, in the meeting attended by the Ambassador of Azerbaijan Khazar Ibrahim, the parties exchanged opinions on the current state of military cooperation within the framework of the State Partnership Program, the further development of the work in this field, training of military pilots, as well as other issues of mutual interest. Previously, Tahirov met with the Chief of Staff of the US Air Force, General Charles Brown. The chicken hotpot AKA 'nuclear chicken'. Iconic food destinations are small in number but rich in heritage. Think Harry's Cafe de Wheels in Sydney or Pellegrini's in Melbourne. Each with a history which is also the history of the people for whom these places mean so much, and so every visit is a ritual. Airline pilots are suckers for ritual. They like order and routine. It is what keeps them and their passengers safe. And when the last checklist is complete, the ritual of finding a decent feed in whichever city they have just landed begins. They need a home away from the cramped cockpit and stuffy hotel room, a moment of normality in a job that is far from normal. In Singapore, food outlets are like newly hatched chicks all competing for their mother's attention. Thirteen thousand are jammed into an area slightly smaller than Canberra, offering to feed nearly six million people for whom eating out is a way of life. But when Qantas crew step off the aerobridge in Singapore, there is no arguing over where to go. It is time for dinner at Fatty's. The GoldenPass Express is the culmination of more than 100 years of planning and frustration for the Swiss. It was a cold but brightly sunny day at Zweisimmen train station in the Swiss Alps and we were standing around outside talking variable rail gauges (metre and standard, if you must know), bogies and self-elevating rolling stock. All very fascinating but to be honest I was pining for the all-bells-and-whistles adjustable, heated seat back in the Prestige section of the GoldenPass Express. I'd only been acquainted with that particular seat for an hour or so but already I was thinking of either moving in permanently or marrying it. Oh, I do miss you, you hot patootie. The assembled press pack was doing exactly what passengers DON'T have to do now, ever since the GoldenPass Express opened to the public on December 11 and that's get out of the train. Until now, thanks to a quirk of Swiss railway history, the 115-kilometre journey from glitzy Montreux with its famous lakeside Freddie Mercury statue to Interlaken, the epicentre of action and adventure in the Alps, had to be done in two stages, with a change of trains and the lugging of luggage at Zweisimmen. No longer. We ascend to the North Island's Central Plateau via the Raurimu Spiral, a clever piece of Edwardian-era engineering which allows trains to climb 132 metres of altitude in a relatively short distance. It's different up here, seemingly drier with yellow grass by the tracks. The cloud cover briefly shifts to allow a glimpse of one of the big volcanic peaks in the region, Mount Ruapehu. With ace timing, the commentary recalls the 1953 disaster in which the Wellington-Auckland train plummeted from a bridge which had been damaged by flooding after the mountain's crater wall collapsed. The Interislander Ferry en route to Wellington. Credit: iStock After that sobering tale, I head for the cafe car and lunch. It's low on vegetarian options on this busy day (it's school holiday time in New Zealand, so the train is full), and the vegetable lasagne is sold out. Instead I choose the tomato and capsicum soup followed by potato au gratin. It's reheated food but tasty, matching well with a pilsner from Kiwi brewer Monteith's. A reminder that this is a no-nonsense state-run railway is provided by the cafe manager, who chases people out of the adjacent seating when she thinks they're dawdling. Back in my seat, I enjoy more pastoral views and then the Tasman Sea as the train navigates between hills and surf, to arrive right on time at the refreshingly grand 1937 main station in Wellington. COASTAL PACIFIC: PICTON TO CHRISTCHURCH TranzAlpine travelling alongside the Waimakariri River. After a short stay in Wellington, enjoying a tour of movie props at Weta Workshop, and the new art gallery at the Te Papa national museum, it's time to move on by ferry. The Interislander service crosses the Cook Strait to link the North and South islands. The sun is out, the sea calm, and I enjoy wandering the decks of the MV Kaitaki between bouts of relaxing with snacks in its premium Plus Lounge. After two hours we pass into the Marlborough Sounds and are treated to splendid scenery: hilly green land with low rocky outcrops, the occasional house tucked in among the slopes. After a coffee break in the port town of Picton, I head to the pleasant old timber train station to board the Coastal Pacific, which will take six hours to travel down the east coast to Christchurch. The line was out of commission for two years following the 2016 Kaikoura Earthquake, so it's good to see it up and running again. As the name suggests, the Pacific plays a big role in the scenery as we head south. Once we pass the vineyards of the Marlborough wine region, centred on Blenheim, we have an impressive view of the ocean to our left. Beyond a shore of black sand are its blue waters and rolling waves, punctuated by small rocky islands. There's more dramatic scenery to come. A glimpse of Tapuae-o-Uenuku, a lofty peak 2885 metres above sea level, is a curtain-raiser to the appearance of the Seaward Kaikoura Range. At this point we have mountains on one side of the rails and ocean on the other, a welcome situation which continues for some time. Finally, after following the Hurunui River through Ethelton Gorge, we arrive at Christchurch's shiny modern railway station, the successor to an earlier structure demolished after the quakes of 2010 and 2011. We arrive in the city as the sun sets on a highly scenic day. TRANZALPINE: CHRISTCHURCH TO GREYMOUTH My final railway journey is often said to be New Zealand's most spectacular, but I'm seeing it under less than perfect conditions. The weather is wet and overcast, which will impede views, and even worse the second half of the five-hour journey west across the South Island's mountains will be by bus, thanks to a landslide near Greymouth. The saddest three words a train lover can ever hear are "rail replacement bus", but at least I have the rail trip across the Canterbury Plains to Arthur's Pass to look forward to. It's impossible to reserve a particular seat on any of these trains, so this time I'm stuck in an aisle seat at the rear, distant from the cafe and observation cars. After talking to the onboard staff, however, I'm able to move forward a few carriages to some empty seats. After we leave Christchurch we enter sprawling agricultural land, but up ahead I can see lofty snow-capped peaks which seem an impassable barrier. It's as if the train is being targeted at the mountains or more precisely a notch within them. The engineers who built this railway dealt with the difficult terrain partly by following the Waimakariri River, a "braided" waterway of multiple channels. Even so, it was a difficult job, and many viaducts and tunnels lie ahead of us. The highest viaduct crosses Staircase Gully, and there's a stark view from here down to the river, with its curiously bright blue-green water. As has so often happened since leaving Auckland, I'm getting Middle Earth vibes from the passing landscape. There are sheep stations up here, says the recorded commentary, which comes as a surprise and then I see cattle grazing either side of the line as we pass the defunct railway station at Craigieburn. The commentary also mentions reported sightings in this area of the moa, a giant flightless bird which has been extinct for centuries though rumour says these might have been confected to boost the profits of a local pub. Finally, passing beneath mighty summits, we arrive at Arthur's Pass Station and transfer in light drizzle to waiting buses, for the final leg down to coastal Greymouth. Though it ran over a truncated route today, the TranzAlpine train was impressive. I have a feeling I'll be back. TRIP NOTES MORE traveller.com.au/new-zealand greatjourneysofnz.co.nz newzealand.com FLY Air New Zealand flies to Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch, see airnewzealand.com.au STAY Hotel DeBrett is a beautifully renovated Art Deco hotel in Auckland's city centre, with rooms from $NZ230 ($A195) a night. See hoteldebrett.com QT Wellington lies across the road from the Te Papa museum, with rooms from $NZ220 a night. See qthotels.com Sudima Christchurch City offers stylish new accommodation north of the city's CBD, with rooms from $NZ203 a night. See sudimahotels.com The Ashley supplies updated motel-style accommodation on the edge of Greymouth, with rooms from $NZ135 a night. See hotelashley.co.nz RIDE + SAIL Dotted along a 150-metre-high bluff on Kangaroo Island's north-west coast, Wander's collection of four eco-friendly WanderPods enjoy dramatic views of Snelling Beach and the island's rugged coastline. Each luxurious glass-fronted pod contains a spacious living area, a full kitchen and a separate bedroom with a stylish jet-black ensuite. Designed to have minimal impact on the environment, the pods use solar power and filtered rainwater and guests are encouraged to compost any organic waste. It's all about re-connecting with nature, so don't expect a TV; instead enjoy sunrise from your outdoor bath while kangaroos graze nearby. See wander.com.au Kangaroo Island's Indigenous past is something of a mystery. Artefacts unearthed by archaeologists at Rocky River indicate that the island was occupied by First Nations people when it was still connected to the mainland about 16,000 years ago. However, when Captain Matthew Flinders landed in 1802, he found no evidence of human habitation. To learn more about this little-known chapter of the island's history, join a tour led by Ramindjeri elder Mark Koolmatrie, founder of Kool Tours, a 2022 South Australian Tourism Awards winner. See kooltours.com.au THE LUNCH Imagine having lunch among the twisted branches of an enchanted fig tree. It sounds like something out of an Enid Blyton novel but Nick Hannaford has made this fairy tale a reality, carefully placing tables within the sprawling limbs of a giant fig tree that's been on his family's property for more than 120 years. After being welcomed with a cocktail and a selection of canapes, guests enter a magical twilight world of candles and fairy lights to enjoy a tantalising three-course lunch of regional produce and top-notch wines within the tree's dappled embrace. See gastronomodining.com.au THE AQUATIC ADVENTURE Using a customised eight-metre-long Zodiac rib, RADKI runs environmental discovery and citizen science tours along the island's dramatic north-west coast. The region is home to a rare diversity of wildlife, from endangered Australian sea lions and long-nosed fur seals to large pods of bottlenose dolphins and peregrine falcons. RADKI holds a special permit that allows guests to swim with the resident dolphins and seals while snorkelling in the startlingly clear waters that lap the coastline's towering 550 million-year-old limestone cliffs. See radki.com.au New Zealand may be packed with attractions and activities, but there are two islands to choose from or at least divide your time between. April 13, 2023 by David Whitley For centuries, those hoping to visit the onsen would have to make the trek up to Onsenji before they were allowed to bathe. Here they would be given instruction on how to use the hot-spring baths properly, before being bequeathed a wooden ladle to prove to those below that they were ready for the experience. This Buddhist temple sits in the pine forest midway up Mount Daishi, overlooking the spa town of Kinosaki Onsen in western Japan. It's been a place of pilgrimage since the year 738, an ornate wooden structure dedicated to the legend of Dochi-Shonin, a monk who is said to have prayed for 1000 days to bring forth the natural hot springs that feed Kinosaki's onsen to this day. Plenty of foreign visitors could make use of a journey up to Onsenji. Or at least, the Onsenji of old. First-time visitors to Kinosaki these days have no such instruction, as they don't anywhere in Japan. Instead, you have to try to divine the etiquette of the onsen, to watch carefully and do as others do, to disrobe at the right time and wash with the correct vigour and bathe in a way that's socially and hygienically acceptable. So many rules and considerations and that was before the COVID-19 pandemic. What happens now? I'm here to find out. How does onsen culture work in the time of COVID? Since landing in Japan I've seen nothing but face masks. Hygiene is taken seriously here, in a country that took a notoriously long time to reopen to international tourism. The first meal I ate in Japan was at Haneda Airport, where a sign on my table said: "Please eat without talking." COVID-19 safety measures in Japan are strict and they're slavishly adhered to - indoor mask mandates have now officially been dropped, and yet usage is still very high. So how does it work at an onsen, where bathers famously strip off all their clothes and climb into a steaming soup of humanity with some of their closest new friends? Hunt around, prod and poke every corner of the travelling world, and see if you can come up with a better way to get from A to B than a train in Japan. January 25, 2023 by Ben Groundwater So close to Buckingham Palace you may hear a corgi yap and just the toss of a tote bag from Knightsbridge and Mayfair, London's only five-star luxury hotel still run by the family who built it, the Gorings, has been a royalty favourite for four generations. The Jubilee Fizz and Coronation Cup were concocted by bar manager Tiago Mira, for the Queen's 70 years of service. Served in the beautiful Goring Cocktail Bar with a grand piano in the corner, the Jubilee Fizz is a champagne cocktail of Beirao, peach liqueurs and Ysabel Regina brandy infused with banana, topped with Bollinger Champagne and a regal flourish of gold leaf. The Coronation Cup's piece de resistance is dubonnet - a favourite aperitif of the Queen. See thegoring.com Set on Giudecca Island, five-minutes by private launch from St Mark's Square, the showstopper hotel was opened by Giuseppe Cipriani, who founded Harry's Bar, in 1958. It has the city's only Olympic-sized swimming pool, but it's another watering hole, many come for. The Gabbiano Bar is where head barman, Walter Bolzonella has been mixing cocktails with panache for 40 years. He's created cocktails with George Clooney - the Buononotte and La Nina, for the star's mother and mixed bellinis for presidents, stars and royalty. His 421 Venezia Mia pays homage to 1600 years of Venice history in a Murano glass. Think blackberry, citrus and aromatic spices, combined with maraschino, Select Aperitivo and prosecco. See belmond.com GRAND HOTEL TREMEZZO LAKE COMO Exuding Italian pizzazz, the historic hotel built in 1910 was one of the first hotels on Lake Como and is known for its soft primrose-yellow art nouveau exterior, orange awnings and glam decor. Fancy a negroni on the La Terrace as you dream of relocating or head to the chic T Bar where expert mixologists shake cocktails to the tinkle of a piano. Bartender Jeff Zanotti created the GHT Special with Gin Rivo local gin, fresh lemon juice, orgeat, ananas juice, violet leaves and sage shaken, not stirred. Watch polished wooden speed boats crisscross the lake to flower festooned villas as you laze by the famous floating pool, cocktail in hand. See grandhoteltremezzo.com HOTEL SACHER VIENNA AUSTRIA Software created by Vulkan scours the internet looking for targets and intrusion points, with one map showing concentrations of internet servers in the US. The disclosures also showed how Vulkan could automate the process of generating fake social media accounts, using a so-called SIM bank to mass reply to verification text messages from the platforms, the Washington Post, one of the participating media outlets, reported. Mick Mulroy, a former senior Pentagon official, said the leak of the classified documents represents a significant breach in security that could hinder Ukrainian military planning. Credit: AP The leaks underscore how, in a contrast to the Western understanding, cyberwar and digital influence operations are deeply integrated in Russia. As experts quoted in Andy Greenbergs book Sandworm said, there is no distinction in common Russian vocabulary between information war and a concept of cyberwar that suggests disruptive or physical consequences of hacking. From a Russian perspective, that means damage done to the targets by a ransomware attack, a sophisticated cyberattack, or the skilful dissemination of disinformation in the voices of Western influencers are all part of the same strategic effort. Loading Sandworm is one of the Russian hacking groups reportedly serviced by Vulkan, according to the documents Western intelligence agencies assess as credible. The Vulkan files were reportedly provided by a Russian whistleblower unhappy with President Vladimir Putins full-scale invasion of Ukraine. In another disclosure, files of conversations between the Cyberspace Administration of China and Russias Roskomnadzor, the Russian agency charged with policing the internet, are the basis of a story this month by investigative journalists Daniil Belovodyev, Andrei Soshnikov and Reid Standish. The conversations show how China and Russia are increasingly sharing methods and tactics for controlling dissent and monitoring the internet. Loading These files, obtained about six months ago, date from between 2017 and 2019. They underscore the sort of co-operation that was later to be dubbed the no limits partnership between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping. These have been published by Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty, created by the US during the Cold War with the aim to inform censored or underserved markets. Pro-transparency site DDoSecrets assisted the journalists. Meeting notes, audio recordings and emails showed Russian officials asking China for advice and practical know-how on how to disrupt VPNs, crack encrypted internet traffic, and how to better regulate messaging platforms. Chinas representatives asked for Russian expertise on regulating media and dealing with popular dissent. The fact that caches of sensitive data can be publicised if not published in this way, has been a hard lesson learnt by Western governments, following both the disclosures of Edward Snowden in 2013 and WikiLeaks State Department Cablegate leaks in 2010. Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands with Russian President Vladimir Putin after dinner in the Kremlin in March. Credit: AP The Snowden revelations exposed not just programs by the NSA that overstepped their bounds against the US public, but the infrastructure of the NSA spying apparatus aimed outside of the US. More recently, Russias invasion of Ukraine has rallied democracies to Kyivs defence while splitting much of the world into pro-democracy or pro-authoritarian camps. Last month in Moscow, Xi and Putin agreed to negotiate and hold regular meetings between their public security officials. China and Russia agreed on the need to prevent colour revolutions, the authoritarian terms of popular uprisings. Dr Miah Hammond-Errey, director of emerging technology at the United States Studies Centre, said China-Russia meeting disclosures showed how all governments now faced unique challenges in keeping secrets. As great power tensions rise... we would expect to see more information operations, potentially including the release of seemingly secret information. Dr William Stoltz, ANU National Security College. The leaks [obtained by RFE/RL] show China and Russia have similar vulnerabilities to unauthorised disclosures as democracies do, she said. The emergence of these materials Vulkan, the China and Russia meeting details, and the US intelligence from March in such proximity could be incidental (the reporting on the first two caches was months in the making). The spate of leaks could also show the continued evolution of journalism at a time when news flows can be overwhelming. Or, the cluster of data leak-driven exclusives could have a geopolitical dimension, with the worlds spy agencies taking a more active hand in the dissemination of themes. As great power tensions rise, and certainly in the lead up to any conflict, we would expect to see more information operations, potentially including the release of seemingly secret information, said Dr William Stoltz, lecturer and expert associate at the ANU National Security College. Stoltz, who was contacted before Teixeiras arrest, said we still didnt know if the US intelligence documents had been released as part of a state-driven campaign, by mistake, or by an opportunistic third-party actor. In any case, he said we should make no mistake, we are living in an information war where perception, not truth, is often the most important commodity. Loading When material is so easily distributed, the cost of spreading discord is quite low, he said. For now, the most important thing, Stoltz said, is for the US to reassure its Five Eyes partners that they can continue to share intelligence securely. Similarly Five Eyes agencies, including Australias, will be working to see if any of their sources or collection methods have been compromised. Washington: China approved provision of lethal aid to Russia for its war in Ukraine earlier this year and planned to disguise military equipment as civilian items, according to a US intercept of Russian intelligence revealed in leaked secret documents. The intercept, apparently obtained through US eavesdropping on Russias Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR), was included in a top-secret summary, dated February 23, of recent Ukraine- and Russia-related products compiled by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. Chinese President Xi Jinping, right, and Russian President Vladimir Putin talk after dinner at the Kremlin in March. Credit: AP It was among a number of previously unreported documents The Washington Post obtained from a trove of images of classified files posted on a private server on the app Discord. According to signals intelligence, the intelligence summary said, the SVR reported that Chinas Central Military Commission had approved the incremental provision of weapons and wanted it kept secret. The report did not indicate the source of the SVRs information. Details added: first version posted on 15:58 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Armenian media have circulated photos and videos of torture and inhuman treatment of an Azerbaijani serviceman, the Azerbaijani Ombudsmans Office told Trend. According to the Ombudsmans Office, several days ago, information was released that two servicemen of the Azerbaijani army went missing on the border with Armenia, and the Armenian side confirmed their detention. "The widespread video shows scenes of beating the serviceman, tying his hands, and humiliation of his dignity," the Ombudsman's Office said, adding that these actions are contrary to international law, in particular the Geneva Convention. Besides, the Ombudsman's Office stressed that the Azerbaijani Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva addressed relevant international organizations to react to the fact of such inhuman treatment of the serviceman and call on Armenia to comply with the requirements of international law. At the same time, the representative office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia was urged to immediately visit the detained Azerbaijani servicemen and provide information about their condition. The military servicemen of the Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan - Agshin Babirov (born in 2004) and Huseyn Akhundov (born in 2003) went missing due to limited visibility under adverse weather conditions in the border area of the Shahbuz district of the countrys Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic with Armenia on April 10. ~Upgrade your knowledge with College or University 101: The United States & Canadian Systems~ PHILIPSBURG:--- Many of our students aspire to attend college or university in the United States or Canada after high school but many do not really understand the systems that they want to get into. Consequently, the Student Support Services Division (SSSD) of the Ministry of Education, Culture, Youth and Sport, is organizing a workshop to that effect. The workshop entitled College or University 101: The United States and Canadian Systems is scheduled to be held on Thursday, April 20, 2023, at the meeting room on the first floor of the Government Administration Building from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM. This free workshop is aimed at high school students who recently graduated and those in their last two years and who are seeking to continue their studies in the United States or Canada. Their parents are also welcome to this workshop. The focus of the workshop is to enlighten attendants about the US and Canadian college or university educational systems. The workshop will be facilitated by SSSDs Career Guidance Counselors Michel Chance and Shaddai Richardson and the topics to be covered range from application to graduation. Some students who recently graduated are also expected to address the attendants and share their experiences. Often there is a misconception that because we are a Dutch island that it is difficult to get into a US or Canadian school or that it is cheaper to go to the Netherlands. All of these aspects will be addressed during the session, SSSD officials said. Emphasis will be put on the first year of college/ university, where key differences in comparison to our own educational system need to be addressed, to the last year of college or university. Important aspects like the Placement Test, Grade Point Average (GPA), grades, and graduation requirements will be explained at the workshop. A key factor like whether students should live in the dorms, if a school has them, or off-campus, will also be addressed since this is a commonly asked question, the SSSD officials said while adding that many parents have concerns about this. Parents are also urged to encourage their children to attend this workshop. SSSD provides many services to students. Some services include psychological services, counseling services, social work services, educational diagnostic services, career services, and parent education. Students and parents are encouraged to contact SSSD at 543-1235 for more information or to register for the workshop on April 20, 2023. They can also visit the SSSD office which is located in the Gatpys Building across from the Police Station and next to WIB. SABA:--- Dutch State Secretary for Justice and Security Eric van der Burg closed off his visit to Saba late Wednesday afternoon. On the program were a series of meetings that mostly focused on matters relating to border control. The state secretary had a meeting with Island Governor Jonathan Johnson, the Immigration and Naturalization Department IND, and the Social Affairs and Labor SWZ unit, but also with the Saba University School of Medicine to discuss matters related to immigration and labor market procedures. A meeting was also held with the Royal Dutch Marechaussee and the Customs Department to discuss border control, also in relation to the ferry service. Immigration was an important aspect of Van der Burgs visit. More than half of the people living on Saba are not originally from here, so therefore when it comes to labor migration, its very important for Saba and the IND has to play its role in this, he said in a short interview at the end of his visit, shortly before boarding the Makana Ferry to St. Eustatius. There is room for improvement, said the State Secretary. We talked about the Makana Ferry service. We have had a pilot for two years. We can arrange to make some procedures better. And, we are discussing the procedures when it comes to labor migration, because there are a lot of regulations that are made in The Hague, but the situation on Saba is different than in the European part of the Kingdom. We can make some procedures more effective and efficient. That includes the procedure of work permits, which is currently a long process and experienced as cumbersome by employers and prospective new employees. The work permits procedure was one of the main issues during his visit, the State Secretary said. If you can shorten the time, it is better for the island, better for the employees, better for the organizations where these persons will work. Van der Burg said he was committed to helping improve this. The State Secretary was very enthusiastic about Saba. It was the first time that I was here to meet with a lot of people and to see the island for myself. It is a beautiful island, not only all the nature Im seeing around me but also the way it is built, the special airport. I am impressed. Van der Burg said that he would be back, although there was no date set as yet. Because it is important for me to not only visit the other five islands but to also come to Saba. We will be planning a next visit. PHILIPSBURG:--- Over the next few weeks, anti-littering signage will be placed in ten neighborhoods on Sint Maarten by Environmental Protection in the Caribbean (EPIC), assisted by community partners, and funded by Resources for Community Resilience (R4CR). Yesterday, the first signs and a bin were placed alongside Maho Beach. This was done in collaboration with community police officer John Boyrard, who had reached out to EPIC and Princess Juliana International Airport after noticing that the area and beach are often littered. I wanted to do my part in helping to keep Sint Maarten clean, explains Officer Boyrard. The initiative is part of EPICs Why do we litter? - Sint Maartens project was coordinated by Laura Bijnsdorp & Riddhi Samtani. As part of the project, several neighborhood cleanups, data collection on littering habits (including surveys), as well as workshops and educational excursions for young people to become ambassadors, were executed, with the goal to identify sustainable steps towards reducing litter. Community leaders, residents, and other stakeholders in neighborhoods were key in identifying cleanup areas and assisting with surveys to identify littering challenges and behaviors. The stakeholders also identified an area in their neighborhood that could use anti-littering signage and/or a bin, explain EPIC project coordinators. EPICs Board would like to thank the many stakeholders that assisted during this project for their commitment to a cleaner environment. Meadowlands has also been a key partner in successfully executing several of EPICs projects over the past years. Other neighborhoods that will receive signage and/or bins include: Cay Hill, South Reward, Simpson Bay, Cole Bay, Belvedere, Cay Bay, Belair, Dutch Quarter, and Philipsburg. The signage is printed and installed by LIVVIT. Information and updates on EPIC and its ongoing projects can be found on EPICs Facebook page: www.facebook.com/epicislands. For more information or inquiries into collaborations, please contact EPIC at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . EPIC Sint Maarten is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 with the mission of protecting the Caribbean environment through research and community-based action on Sint Maarten. This project, Why do we litter Sint Maarten?, is funded by the Government of the Netherlands under the Sint Maarten Trustfund, implemented by R4CR, administered by VNGI, and overseen by The WorldBank. For more information about EPICs work visit: www.epicislands.org. _____ PHILIPSBURG:--- On Wednesday, April 12, 2023, the Honorable Minister of Justice Anna E. Richardson, and her support staff, held a fruitful meeting with thirty-five police officers of Class 2011 and Class 2015. The meeting was held upon the request of the officers in a bid to seek clarity in relation to their retroactive payment calculations and the opportunity to ask the Minister questions concerning their placement offers. Minister Richardson stated, Id like to thank the two classes that have taken advantage of my open-door policy in order to gain the necessary clarity required for them to move forward in the placement process. I was very happy to learn that the officers were also busy doing the calculations for themselves, reviewing what they actually received over the past years and what they are due to receive in the future, as this is exactly what the Ministrys HR team is busy with in order to finalize the calculations process to establish the full debt amount. During the meeting, the officers expressed key factors that may have led to misunderstandings of the process to regulate the personnel affairs of the Ministry. The officers indicated that information may not have been shared by their unions or management may have communicated information contrary to the position of the Minister. They felt that having no direct communication with the Minister may at times have contributed to the misunderstandings or confusion. The officers requested guidance with the review of their calculations and expressed their understanding of the complexity of the calculations. Not only did they require additional time for the review of calculations, a request Minister Richardson welcomes as more time is needed for the completion of this process, but they also pledged to work with the HR team in completing calculation reviews. These are the first individuals to propose and offer assistance during the placement and calculations process. Another major concern of the two classes was the pending disbursement of the full payments in connection with verdicts rendered by the court to complete the National Decrees establishing their legal status as police officers. Minister Richardson apologized to the officers for not explaining to them prior why the payments were not disbursed. She explained that had full payments been made to the classes when the National Decrees were issued, it would have totally depleted the reservations made on the budget making it impossible for others to have received payment within the budgeted year. As such, the Minister made an executive decision to ensure all justice workers receive a fair share of the funds. With the lines of communication open, the officers expressed their appreciation for being able to review their payment calculations one on one with the team. As such, Minister Richardson encourages all justice workers to email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. in the event that they too have questions or require clarity concerning their payment calculations. The meeting was concluded with a few of the officers agreeing to participate and unite with the HR team in finalizing the calculations process as the Ministry nears the end of this long and neglected matter that has lasted for more than a decade. The officers will update the HR team with any type of discrepancies identified so that as a team they can speed up the process, but more importantly, reach an accurate and just resolution. Based upon communication challenges experienced in the past, the Intranet was launched, allowing for each member of the Justice Ministry to receive time-sensitive developments and notices. The most recent communication was the Justice Newsletter, which detailed the ongoing calculations and placement processes. The Ministrys personnel are reminded and encouraged to read this newsletter as it contains vital information that provides clarity on the process of regulating the personnel affairs. We also encourage all justice workers to use the direct communication channels available to reach out with concerns or seek clarity directly. It is truly a pity that the livelihood of our officers and frontliners is being played with politically when there are hardworking individuals behind the scenes who are dedicated to ensuring the calculations are finalized. Yes, deadline dates have been missed, and this is largely due to hiccups with the gathering of historical data necessary to complete the calculations. Nonetheless, I am appreciative that while the officers are interested in receiving their payments owed, they have an understanding of the process being executed on a larger scale. Once again, I hereby state that an open-door policy is available to all staff seeking clarifications and answers. concluded Minister Richardson. District Receives Approval of Mineral License Application that Encompasses the Majority of the Polymetallic Viken Deposit in Central Sweden District Metals Corp. (TSX-V: DMX) (FRA: DFPP); (aDistricta or the aCompanya) is pleased to report that Bergslagen Metals AB (a 100% owned Swedish subsidiary of District) has received approval from the Bergsstaten (Mining Inspectorate) for the Viken nr 1 mineral license application that covers approximately 68% of the polymetallic Viken Deposit located in JAmtland County, central Sweden (Figure 1). The Viken Deposit is the largest undeveloped Alum Shale vanadium-uranium-molybdenum-nickel-copper-zinc deposit in Sweden, and amongst the largest deposits by total historic mineral resources of vanadium and uranium in the world.A On March 7, 2023 the Company reported (see news release) that additional mineral license applications have been submitted to the Mining Inspectorate that cover areas to the south (Viken nr 2) and north (Viken nr 3) of the original Viken nr 1 mineral license (Figure 1). Approval of the Viken nr 2 and 3 mineral licenses will increase the area of the Viken Property from 2,302 hectares (ha) to 9,367 ha where historical drill holes have returned grades and widths of polymetallic mineralization that are consistent with drill results from within the Viken Deposit. The application process for Viken nr 2 and 3 is ongoing. Highlights: The approved Viken nr 1 mineral license application covers 68% of the Viken Deposit, which is a large polymetallic deposit containing economically significant levels of vanadium (V), uranium (U), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), copper (Cu), and zinc (Zn). Mineral license applications to the south (Viken nr 2) and north (Viken nr 3) of Viken nr 1 (Figure 1) will allow the Company to target mineralized Alum Shale that has been tectonically thickened from 20 to 30 m by thrusting and folding up to 180 m. Garrett Ainsworth, CEO of District, commented: aWe are pleased with the approval of our Viken nr 1 mineral license application that covers the majority of the polymetallic Viken Deposit. This low-cost application resulted in the Company being granted a three-year term and secures an asset with substantial exploration and development expenditures that resulted in the definition of large historic polymetallic resource estimates and positive economic studies in 2010 and 2014. In addition, District believes that the rejection of the motion submitted by two members of the Swedish Parliament to lift the uranium moratorium on March 30, 2023 does not represent any change of policy or direction by the Government, which has repeated its support to lift the uranium moratorium.A Further information on this matter is described below.aA The Polymetallic Viken Deposit The Viken Deposit is situated in the province of JAmtland, approximately 570 km northwest of Stockholm, Sweden. Infrastructure is well developed in the area with daily air service, as well as rail and truck freight services. Electrical power and modern communications are also readily available in the area. The Geological Survey of Sweden (SGU) carried out work on the Alum Shales from 1977 to 1978 and drilled approximately 19 holes within and in the vicinity of the Viken Deposit.A In 2005, Continental Precious Minerals Inc. (CPM) purchased mineral licenses that covered prospective Alum Shales where CPM drilled 26,293 m in 133 holes from 2006 to 2008 to delineate the Viken Deposit. CPM retained P&E Mining Consultants Inc. to carry out a Resource Estimate and PEA in 2010 that resulted in the following historical estimate. In 2012, a bio-heap leach scenario was evaluated, and P&E Mining Consultants were retained again to conduct an Updated Technical Report, Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Viken Deposit with the following historical estimate. The Viken Deposit is a polymetallic shale resource contained within the Cambrian Viken Shale which regionally is referred to as the Alum Shale. The Alum Shale is enriched in metals such as vanadium, uranium, nickel, copper, zinc, and molybdenum. It occurs over a significant area in Sweden and is locally valued as a bituminous shale with recoverable hydrocarbons. The Alum Shale is regionally extensive in Sweden. The stratigraphy across the Viken Mineral License application consists of upper Middle and Upper Cambrian age Alum Shale occurring as both in situ and fault detached blocks, with the latter having greater potential for economic mineralization due to imbrication of mineralized blocks. The Alum Shale is mostly exposed at surface and is underlain by Proterozoic granites and gneisses thrust Eastward over Archean granitic basement rocks. The thickness of the Alum Shale host rock has been tectonically thickened from 20 to 30 m by thrusting and folding during the Silurian to approximately 180 m. Mineralization of potential economic significance is hosted in Middle and Upper Cambrian Alum Shale, with the Upper Cambrian age strata more enriched in vanadium and uranium than the Middle Cambrian3. Vanadium occurs within the lattice of a mica mineral named roscoelite. Uranium values are predominantly associated with sub-micron-scale uraninite crystals. Nickel, molybdenum, copper and zinc are present as sulphides. Additional Comments on the Status of the Uranium Moratorium The motion to lift the uranium moratorium in Sweden put forward to the legislature by two Members of Parliament from the ruling Moderate Party was rejected on March 30, 2023. The motion was the equivalent of a declaration to the Government about the importance of lifting the moratorium. It was bundled with a number of other permitting and environmental matters, some of which were not sponsored by Moderate Party Members of Parliament. Only one declaration was approved and all others were rejected, which is often the case when matters are initiated by individual Members of Parliament rather than the Government. In this case with respect to the uranium moratorium, the Parliamentary Committee concluded that there are differing views on the uranium moratorium among the committee members and that the committee saw no need to issue a declaration to the Government on this matter at this time. There has been no indication that this vote changes the Governmenta?s positive stance on lifting the uranium moratorium. The Governmenta?s policy remains that the uranium moratorium will be re-evaluated. If the Government decides to remove the moratorium after its re-evaluation, it will do so in the form of a Government Bill. District is not aware of any guidance from the Government as to the timing of such legislation, but believes that Sweden is focused on promoting the low-carbon power generation that is exemplified by nuclear energy. References 1 Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Viken MMS Project, Sweden for Continental Precious Minerals Inc. 2010. P&E Mining Consultants Inc., EHA Engineering Ltd., and G.A. Harron & Associates Inc.. 2 Updated Technical Report, Resource Estimate and Preliminary Economic Assessment on the Viken MMS Project, Sweden for Continental Precious Minerals Inc. 2014. P&E Mining Consultants Inc.. 3 Andersson, A, Dahlman, B., Gee, D.G. and SnAll, S., 1985: The Scandanavian Alum Shale, S.G.U., Ser. Ca Nr 56, 50 p. Technical Information All scientific and technical information in this news release has been prepared by, or approved by Garrett Ainsworth, PGeo, President and CEO of the Company. Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. The data disclosed in this news release is related to mineral resource estimates that are considered to be ahistorical estimatesa under National Instrument 43-101 a Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (aNI 43-101a).A A Qualified Person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource, and the Company is not treating these historical estimates as current Mineral Resources. The Company would need to conduct an exploration program, including twinning of historical drill holes in order to verify the Viken Deposit historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Mr. Ainsworth has not verified any of the information regarding any of the properties or projects referred to herein other than the Viken Mineral License application. Mineralization on any other properties referred to herein is not necessarily indicative of mineralization on the Viken Mineral License application. About District Metals Corp. District Metals Corp. is led by industry professionals with a track record of success in the mining industry. The Companya?s mandate is to seek out, explore, and develop prospective mineral properties through a disciplined science-based approach to create shareholder value and benefit other stakeholders. District is a polymetallic exploration and development company focused on the Viken and Tomtebo Properties in Sweden.A The Viken Property covers 68% of the uranium-vanadium Viken Deposit, which is an asset with substantial exploration and development expenditures that resulted in the definition of large historic polymetallic resource estimates and positive economic studies in 2010 and 2014.A The Viken Deposit is amongst the largest deposits by total historic mineral resources of uranium and vanadium in the world. The advanced exploration stage Tomtebo Property is located in the Bergslagen Mining District of south-central Sweden and is situated between the historic Falun Mine and Bolidena?s Garpenberg Mine that are located 25 km to the northwest and southeast, respectively. Two historic polymetallic mines and numerous polymetallic showings are located on the Tomtebo Property along an approximate 17 km trend that exhibits similar geology, structure, alteration and VMS/SedEx style mineralization as other significant mines within the district. For further information on the Tomtebo Property, please see the technical report entitled aNI 43-101 Update Technical Report on the Tomtebo Project, Bergslagen Region of Swedena dated effective October 15, 2020 and amended and restated on February 26, 2021, which is available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. On Behalf of the Board of Directors aGarrett Ainswortha President and Chief Executive Officer (604) 288-4430 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. Cautionary Statement Regarding aForward-Lookinga Information. This news release contains certain statements that may be considered aforward-looking informationa with respect to the Company within the meaning of applicable securities laws. In some cases, but not necessarily in all cases, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as aplansa, atargetsa, aexpectsa or adoes not expecta, ais expecteda, aan opportunity existsa, ais positioneda, aestimatesa, aintendsa, aassumesa, aanticipatesa or adoes not anticipatea or abelievesa, or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results amaya, acoulda, awoulda, amighta, awilla or awill be takena, aoccura or abe achieveda and any similar expressions. In addition, any statements that refer to expectations, predictions, indications, projections or other characterizations of future events or circumstances contain forward-looking information. Statements containing forward-looking information are not historical facts but instead represent managementa?s expectations, estimates and projections regarding future events. Forward-looking statements in this news release relating to the Company include, among other things, statements relating to the Companya?s Viken nr 1 mineral license (Figure 1) to explore for vanadium, nickel, molybdenum, zinc, and other elements covering a portion of the polymetallic Viken Deposit located in JAmtland County, central Sweden; the expected timing of the Bergsstatena?s (Mining Inspectorate) decision on the Companya?s Viken nr 2 and 3 mineral license applications; the Companya?s planned exploration activities, including its drill target strategy and next steps for the Viken Property; and the Companya?s interpretations and expectations about the results on the Viken Property. These statements and other forward-looking information are based on opinions, assumptions and estimates made by the Company in light of its experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors that the Company believes are appropriate and reasonable in the circumstances, as of the date of this news release, including, without limitation, assumptions about the reliability of historical data and the accuracy of publicly reported information regarding past and historic mines in the Bergslagen district; the Companya?s ability to raise sufficient capital to fund planned exploration activities, maintain corporate capacity; and stability in financial and capital markets.A Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number ofA opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date such statements are made, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including but not limited to risks associated with the following: the likelihood of the Bergsstatena?s (Mining Inspectorate) decision to approve the Companya?s Viken nr 101 mineral license application; the reliability of historic data regarding the Viken Deposit and the Tomtebo Property; the Companya?s ability to raise sufficient capital to finance planned exploration (including incurring prescribed exploration expenditures required by the Tomtebo Purchase Agreement, failing which the Tomtebo Property will be forfeited without any repayment of the purchase price); the Companya?s limited operating history; the Companya?s negative operating cash flow and dependence on third-party financing; the uncertainty of additional funding; the uncertainties associated with early stage exploration activities including general economic, market and business conditions, the regulatory process, failure to obtain necessary permits and approvals, technical issues, potential delays, unexpected events and managementa?s capacity to execute and implement its future plans; the Companya?s ability to identify any mineral resources and mineral reserves; the substantial expenditures required to establish mineral reserves through drilling and the estimation of mineral reserves or mineral resources; the Companya?s dependence on one material project, the Tomtebo Property; the uncertainty of estimates used to calculated mineralization figures; changes in governmental regulations; compliance with applicable laws and regulations; competition for future resource acquisitions and skilled industry personnel; reliance on key personnel; title matters; conflicts of interest; environmental laws and regulations and associated risks, including climate change legislation; land reclamation requirements; changes in government policies; volatility of the Companya?s share price; the unlikelihood that shareholders will receive dividends from the Company; potential future acquisitions and joint ventures; infrastructure risks; fluctuations in demand for, and prices of gold, silver and copper; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; legal proceedings and the enforceability of judgments; going concern risk; risks related to the Companya?s information technology systems and cyber-security risks; and risk related to the outbreak of epidemics or pandemics or other health crises, including the recent outbreak of COVID-19. For additional information regarding these risks, please see the Companya?s Annual Information Form, under the heading aRisk Factorsa, which is available at www.sedar.com. These factors and assumptions are not intended to represent a complete list of the factors and assumptions that could affect the Company. These factors and assumptions, however, should be considered carefully. Although the Company has attempted to identify factors that would cause actual actions, events or results to differ materially from those disclosed in the forward-looking statements or information, there may be other factors that cause actions, events or results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Also, many of such factors are beyond the control of the Company. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements or information. The forward-looking information is made as of the date of this news release, and the Company assumes no obligation to publicly update or revise such forward-looking information, except as required by applicable securities laws. All scientific and technical information contained in this news release has been prepared by or reviewed and approved by Garrett Ainsworth, PGeo, President and CEO of the Company.A Mr. Ainsworth is a qualified person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. Google Alternative Anti-Censorship Search Engine Preserves Free Speech Access the stories that matter to you without having to worry about mainstream media spin-doctoring. The TUSK search engine is designed to bring you uncensored news stories and stories that may otherwise be hidden out of sight by the mainstream media. TUSK Search gives you a new tool to counter mainstream media bias and support freedom of the press. The team behind TUSK offers a powerful alternative to AI-driven web browsers that lets you privately and securely search for the latest news stories, bias-free. Find more details at https://tuskbrowser.com/search/ You may have heard of recent ethical concerns about certain AI-driven search platforms, like ChatGPT. Business experts at Monash University are worried that the ability of such content generators to create text that mimics human conversation could lead it to also generate fabricated, biased, or otherwise misleading news stories. Yikes! Fortunately, there\-s another way to do online search. The TUSK search engine provides you with an alternative to AI-driven search enginesa? potential for bias and misinformation by allowing you to focus on uncensored news sources. With TUSK Search\-s viewpoint tuner, you can choose search results based on your values left, center, or right not someone else\-s. This means you\-re free to search for stories reported from perspectives that align with your own, as well as to compare and contrast stories across different viewpoints. TUSK Search\-s viewpoint tuner gives you greater freedom to exercise critical thinking and determine your own opinions on the news you consume. TUSK Search allows you to find information without the risk of it being blocked or removed. This means you can access news stories that have been buried by the mainstream media, and you\-ll have a reliable means to do so even if such censorship intensifies. About TUSK: TUSK was founded by Jeff Bermant, a passionate patriot devoted to the fight against media bias. This passion drew him into the digital world of browser development, leading him to create TUSK. ? aTUSK Search is a search engine created by a conservative organization for conservative users,a a spokesperson explained about the new site. aWith filters for right, left, and center, you can see the whole picture, not only what tech giants want you to see.a Who says you have to confine yourself to a sandbox of aapproveda information? Arena?t we all adults? With TUSK Search, youa?re free to roam amongst the latest news stories, free of bias and censorship any content you want, at any time. Find out more at https://tuskbrowser.com/search/ First version published at 16:28 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Azerbaijani Ombudsman Sabina Aliyeva has urged the International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) to visit Azerbaijani servicemen, Trend reports citing the Ombudsman Offices statement. "As the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Republic of Azerbaijan (Ombudsman), I appeal to the relevant international organizations regarding the fact of inhuman treatment of our servicemen, I urge them to respond to this fact and call on Armenia to comply with the requirements assumed in accordance with international law," the appeal said. At the same time, the representative office of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Armenia was required to immediately visit our servicemen and give information on their condition. Meanwhile, a few days ago information was spread that two servicemen of the Azerbaijani army went missing on the border with Armenia. In turn, the Armenian side confirmed their detention. Taiwan seeks satellite solutions after undersea cables cut Matsu, Taiwan, April 13 (AFP) Apr 13, 2023 Taiwanese hostel worker Wang Chuang-jen's business took a hammering when undersea telecoms lines serving tiny Matsu archipelago were cut in February. "It was very inconvenient," said the 35-year-old from Matsu's Beigan island, where customers struggled to book or pay online due to slow connectivity. "We all heavily depend on the internet." The cut-off not only caused headaches for businesspeople such as Wang, it also highlighted Taiwan's digital vulnerability at a time of heightened menace from China. The two cables were severed about 50 kilometres (30 miles) from Matsu in the Taiwan Strait within days of each other. Locals, as well as Taipei's Communications Commission, said Chinese fishing vessels or sand dredgers -- which often drop anchor or scrape the seabed in Taiwanese waters -- may have done the damage. "I think China is aware of the situation... it would have been easy to restrain such an act of sabotage but it didn't," senior lawmaker Cheng Yun-pen from the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) told AFP. For its part, China describes itself as a responsible fishing country and Beijing's foreign ministry has denied the involvement of its fishing crews. There have been nearly a dozen such incidents since 2021, and Taiwan's authorities are seeking solutions. "If an internet outage can happen for Matsu, could a similar incident happen for (the rest of) Taiwan?" said Lii Wen, director of the DPP's Matsu office. While cables linking Taiwan's outlying Matsu and Kinmen islands are shallow enough to be threatened by fishing vessels, experts say that even the more deeply laid cables along the main island's north, west, and south are susceptible to sabotage. Undersea cable repair requires specialised crews and can cost several million dollars. While its lines were cut, the Matsu archipelago -- home to about 10,000 people and only a few miles from the Chinese mainland -- relied on a patchy mountain-based microwave backup system until repairs in late March. Authorities are seeking a sturdier alternative on a Taiwan-wide scale. Taipei's digital ministry told AFP it has a two-year, $18 million plan to place satellite receivers in 700 places at home and abroad, to maintain government communications "during emergencies such as natural disasters or wars". The ministry said it was "willing to cooperate with any qualified satellite service provider". Recent war games around the island by China -- which sees self-ruled Taiwan as its territory, to be taken by force if necessary -- underlined the urgency. The drills came after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to the United States, where she met House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. During that trip, two US lawmakers reportedly talked with Tsai about the island using Elon Musk's Starlink satellite system -- which has been deployed in Ukraine since its invasion by Russia. SpaceX did not respond and Taiwan's presidential office declined a request for comment. - Digital disruption - Experts say the disruption in places such as Matsu has already furnished Beijing with invaluable intelligence. "It definitely offers an opportunity for China to observe the digital resilience of the military and civilians in Matsu," said Tzeng Yi-suo, a military expert in Taipei. Fishermen in Matsu, who rely on digital signals to take customers' orders, described the frustrating disruption. "The (internet) speed was very, very slow, or the messages even couldn't get through. When people called me, the line was cut before I could finish even one sentence," said Wang Chia-Wen, 45. The weeks-long drop in communications there also gave a flavour of what life would be like for Taiwan's 23 million people -- including its political and military elite -- if they were cut off. Analysts say the main island's undersea cables could be cut by unmanned Chinese submarines, and their terrestrial terminals attacked with rockets or special forces. "China's invasion would try to pick off Taiwan's communication settings," said Richard Hu, a retired general and military expert at the National Chengchi University. "The incidents this time have increased the doubt concerning Taiwan's readiness level." India's Infosys forecasts revenue slowdown on uncertain outlook Mumbai, April 13 (AFP) Apr 13, 2023 Indian software giant Infosys reported a lower-than-expected profit rise for the March quarter on Thursday and flagged softer revenue guidance on the back of global economic and financial uncertainty. Infosys, India's second-largest information technology firm, benefitted from an IT boom that made India the back office to the world for subcontracted work. The company, like local rival TCS, also gained from the increased use of digital services during the Covid pandemic. But continued economic uncertainty and financial sector turmoil have made some clients, particularly in Western markets, tighten their belts. Net profit came in at 61.3 billion rupees ($748 million) for the March quarter, a 7.8 percent rise from the same period last year. Revenue grew 8.8 percent year-on-year, but fell 3.2 percent quarter-on-quarter in constant currency terms, reflecting the challenging market conditions. The Bengaluru-headquartered firm forecast revenue growth of four to seven percent in constant currency terms for the year to March 2024, lower than analysts' expectations. "During the quarter we saw unplanned project rampdowns in some of our clients and delays in decision-making, which resulted in lower volumes," Infosys chief executive Salil Parekh said in a media briefing. "While we saw some signs of stabilisation in March, the environment remains uncertain," he said. Infosys earns more than 85 percent of its revenue from North American and European markets. Employee attrition, an important metric for software companies in India's competitive IT market, slipped to 20.9 percent compared with 24.3 percent for the December quarter. But the total number of Infosys employees fell by more than 3,600. Rival IT giant TCS reported on Wednesday a weaker-than-expected increase in net profit for the first three months of the year, as the fallout from the economic uncertainty and banking turmoil weighed on its US operations. Shares in Infosys closed nearly 2.8 percent lower in Mumbai trading ahead of the earnings announcement. grk/gle/pbt Weather delays launch of Europe's Jupiter mission by 24 hours Kourou, April 13 (AFP) Apr 13, 2023 The launch of the European Space Agency's JUICE mission, which aims to discover whether Jupiter's icy moons are capable of hosting extraterrestrial life, was postponed on Thursday for 24 hours due to bad weather. The launch was called off just minutes before the planned lift-off at 1215 GMT from Europe's spaceport in Kourou, French Guiana, because of the threat of lightning in the cloudy skies overhead. The next attempt will take place at 1214 GMT on Friday, the European Space Agency said. Stephane Israel, the CEO of French firm Arianespace which provided the Ariane 5 rocket, said that with just minutes to spare, "a large mass of clouds approached and we absolutely could not proceed with the launch due to the risk of lightning". For lift-off to go ahead, three parameters must get the green light: the launcher, the probe and the weather -- which was "the final suspense," he told AFP. While the winds are expected to allow a green light on Friday, the risk of lightning will be monitored "until the last moment," he added. Unlike most launches, JUICE has a launch window of a just a single second because of the specific trajectory it is aiming for. The delay was announced to the Jupiter control room in Kourou, where many people, including Belgium's King Philippe, had gathered to watch the launch. - Liquid water oceans - If the weather permits a launch on Friday, the JUpiter ICy Moons Explorer (JUICE) is still on track to arrive at the gas giant in July 2031. The uncrewed, six-tonne spacecraft will investigate Jupiter's icy moons, which were first discovered by astronomer Galileo Galilei more than 400 years ago. The discovery of huge oceans of liquid water -- the main ingredient for life as we know it -- kilometres beneath their icy shells has made them prime candidates to potentially host life in our celestial backyard. Once launched, JUICE will take a long and winding path to Jupiter, which is some 628 million kilometres (390 million miles) from Earth, using other planets for a gravitational boost along the way. First, it will do a fly-by of Earth and the Moon, then will slingshot around Venus in 2025 before swinging past Earth again in 2029. Once the probe arrives in 2031, it will need to very carefully hit the brakes to enter Jupiter's orbit. From there, JUICE will focus on Jupiter and its three icy, ocean-bearing moons Europa, Ganymede and Callisto. Its 10 scientific instruments -- including an optical camera, ice-penetrating radar, spectrometer and magnetometer -- will analyse the local weather, magnetic field, gravitational pull and other elements. It also has a record 85 square metres of solar panels to collect as much energy as possible near Jupiter, where sunlight is 25 times weaker than on Earth. Philippe Baptiste, head of France's CNES space agency, said it was "the most complex probe ever sent to Jupiter". - First in another moon's orbit - JUICE will then set its sights on Ganymede, the Solar System's largest moon and the only one that has its own magnetic field, which protects it from radiation. In 2034, JUICE will slide into Ganymede's orbit, the first time a spacecraft will have done so around a moon other than our own. The mission will not be able to directly detect the existence of alien life, but instead aims to establish whether the moons have the right conditions to harbour life. If there is life in these buried oceans, scientists theorise it would likely be primitive microbes like bacteria, which are capable of surviving on Earth in such extreme environments. Europa, another prime candidates for alien life, will be investigated by NASA's Europa Clipper mission, which is scheduled to launch in October 2024. The postponement of the 1.6 billion-euro ($1.7 billion) JUICE mission comes during a crisis for European space efforts, after Russia pulled its Soyuz rockets in response to sanctions over the war in Ukraine. Combined with repeated delays to the next generation Ariane 6 rockets and the failure of Vega-C's first commercial flight last year, Europe is struggling to launch its missions into space. The JUICE mission is expected be the second-last launch for Ariane 5 before it is replaced by the Ariane 6. Details added (first published: 15:59) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. A criminal case has been opened on the fact of torture against a serviceman of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, the press service of the Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan told Trend. A few days ago, information spread that two servicemen of the Azerbaijani Army went missing on the border with Armenia. The Armenian side confirmed their detention. Video footage has spread in some media and networks showing Azerbaijani Armed Forces serviceman Huseyn Akhundov, born in 2003, being subjected to inhuman treatment and torture by Armenians. In connection with the widespread video footage, a criminal case was opened in the Investigative Department of the Prosecutor General's Office under Article 115.2 (torture, cruel or inhuman treatment of prisoners of war) of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Azerbaijan. "Measures are being taken to identify and bring to justice the person or persons who tortured and mistreated our servicemen. The necessary investigative and operational measures are being carried out," the statement said. "We declare that in order to bring to national and international judicial responsibility on persons who have committed illegal actions against Azerbaijani citizens, appeals will be sent to the relevant authorities of foreign countries, and cooperation with international organizations to punish these individuals will be ensured. Detailed information will be provided to the public about the progress and results of the investigation," the statement added. This week filming began in Dublin, Ireland, on the highly anticipated second series of The Tourist, for BBC One and iPlayer, in association with Stan, ZDF and All3Media International. The six-part thriller which is created and written by Jack and Harry Williams, is produced by the award-winning Two Brothers Pictures (Baptiste, The Missing, Fleabag).Joining the BAFTA and Golden Globe award nominated Jamie Dornan (Belfast, The Fall) and Danielle Macdonald (Unbelievable, Dumplin) are Conor MacNeill (Industry, The Fall), Olwen Fouere (Texas Chainsaw Massacre, The Northman), Francis Magee (Justice League, Then You Run), Mark McKenna (Sing Street, One of Us is Lying), Diarmaid Murtagh (Vikings, Outlander), and Nessa Matthews (Neon, HEN). Series two also sees Greg Larsen reprise his role as Ethan Krum.After their adventure in the Australian Outback, The Tourists epic second series follows Dornan and Macdonalds characters Elliot and Helen as they travel to Ireland together. In an attempt to rediscover Elliots roots following his memory loss, theyre dragged into the dangerous whirlwind of his past life and are confronted by friends and foes both old and new, including Niamh Cassidy (Olwen Fouere) and the McDonnell family Donal (Diarmaid Murtagh), Orla (Nessa Matthews), Fergal (Mark McKenna), and Frank (Francis Magee). Detective Ruairi Slater (Conor MacNeill) becomes embroiled in the crossfire between the McDonnells and the Cassidys as the secrets of the family rivalry unravel.Harry and Jack Williams, Writers and Managing Directors of Two Brothers Pictures says: "Were so excited to take Elliot and Helen to Ireland, where they will meet a host of dark and off beat new characters. With a stellar cast to match, we cant wait for it all to be brought to life."Sarah Hammond and Daniel Walker, Executive Producers for Two Brothers Pictures says: "Harry & Jack create worlds and characters like no one else - and this series of the Tourist is no different. Were delighted to have drawn such a talented cast and crew to deliver on this fresh and exciting second series."Lindsay Salt, BBC Director of Drama, says: I could not be happier to welcome the phenomenon that is The Tourist back to BBC One and iPlayer. With an ingenious new adventure from the dazzling minds of Harry and Jack Williams, things are about to get even wilder for Elliot and Helen.Cailah Scobie, Stan Chief Content Officer said: The first season of The Tourist was a great success and one of our most watched shows on Stan ever. With the announcement of the new cast confirmed to join Jamie Dornan and Danielle Macdonald, we know season two will once again thrill our Australian audiences. We are delighted to be working with BBC One and Two Brothers Pictures to deliver more world class original content.Having launched with 11.4 million viewers in the UK and holding the title as the UKs most-watched drama of 2022 across all platforms, The Tourist is a bona fide hit. Internationally, sales for the first series spanned five continents, with the show seen from South Korea to Scandinavia. The series was crowned the winner of three Golden Nymphs Awards at the Monte Carlo Television Festival including Best Series, the festivals highest accolade.The Tourist series two is a Two Brothers Pictures (an All3Media company) production for the BBC, in association with Stan, ZDF and All3Media International created and written by Harry and Jack Williams (The Missing, Baptiste, Fleabag). Fergus OBrien (Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack) directs the opening block with Johann Perry (Happy Valley, Gentleman Jack) as DOP, while Lisa Mulcahy (Blood, Years and Years) and Kate Dolan (Kin, You Are Not My Mother) direct block two and three respectively. Alex Mercer (Inside Man, Crossfire) is producer, with Louise Kiely (The Banshees of Inisherin, Normal People) as casting director. Executive producers are Harry and Jack Williams, Daniel Walker and Sarah Hammond for Two Brothers Pictures, with Nawfal Faizullah for the BBC, and Jamie Dornan. International sales will be handled by All3Media international. STAMFORD A city teenager has pleaded guilty to multiple felony charges connected to two separate shootings in the West Side in late 2020. Antoine Henry, 19, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal attempt at first-degree assault and carrying a pistol without a permit during a disposition hearing at the state Superior Court in Stamford Wednesday afternoon. Henry, who appeared in court remotely, entered the guilty pleas as friends and family watched from the court gallery. The pleas came as a part of a deal with Assistant States Attorney Sean McGuinness. Under the deal, Judge Kevin Randolph sentenced Henry to 13 years in prison a sentence that will be suspended after he serves three years. Henry will then serve five years of probation following his release. This will give my client a chance to get his life back where it needs to be, said Henrys attorney, Sefton Brown, following Wednesdays hearing. Henry was facing three counts of attempt at first-degree assault, two counts of criminal use of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment, illegal discharge of a firearm, risk of injury to a child and carrying a pistol without a permit stemming from two shootings that police said were caused by a neighborhood beef in 2020. Henry, who was 16 at the time of the shootings, was originally arrested as a juvenile. His cases, however, were transferred to the Part A docket at Stamford Superior Court where the districts most serious matters are heard. The first shooting happened on Nov. 23, 2020, near the intersection of Myano and Catoona lanes. Henry was allegedly involved in what police described as a shootout where two men fired 16 bullets at each other around 2:15 p.m. that day, according to the arrest warrant. While no one was injured, the shooting led to a lockdown at the nearby Westover Elementary School. The lockdown marked the second time in less than a week where a school needed to be secured because of gunshots in the area. The second shootout, which left a 56-year-old hospital worker wounded, happened on Dec. 6, 2020, in the area of West Broad Street. According to that arrest warrant, Henry was walking with a friend near the intersection of West Broad Street and Delaware Avenue, when another individual allegedly ambushed them and fired about five gunshots in their direction. Surveillance footage from the area showed a man later identified as Henry and his friend run toward the intersection, where Henry is seen taking what is believed to be a gun out of his pocket and firing off one shot. (B)ased on Antoine Henrys path of travel it is more likely than not that he fired the (sixth) and final shot, Laccona wrote in the warrant. There was an eyewitness to the shooting, according to the warrant. Following the shooting, patrol officers responded to the rear of Westover Elementary School, where they found Henry, breathing heavily and sweating profusely even though it was a cold evening with temperatures near freezing, the warrant said. A day after the shooting, investigators combed the area with K9s and metal detectors and found a loaded 9-mm pistol with an illegal extended clip. The gun had been reported stolen out of South Carolina. That gun, Laccona writes in the warrant, was found nearly 200 feet from where Henry was arrested a day earlier. Henry was initially arrested in connection to the second shooting. Investigators were able to the link the gun found after that shooting to the November incident, they said. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate AUSTIN, Texas (AP) The Justice Department said Thursday that it will again go to the Supreme Court over abortion after a lower court ruling allowed the abortion pill mifepristone to remain available in the U.S. but reimposed past restrictions on getting and using the drug. At stake in the accelerating court battle that began in Texas is widespread access to the most common method of abortion in the U.S., less than a year after the reversal of Roe v. Wade prompted more than a dozen states to effectively ban abortion outright. In a ruling late Wednesday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans temporarily narrowed a ruling by a lower court judge in Texas that had completely blocked the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone. But a divided three-judge panel still reduced the period of pregnancy when the drug can be taken and said it could not be dispensed by mail. The ruling preventing the pill from being sent by mail amounts to another significant constraint of abortion access that could be felt even in states where abortion remains legal, some of which have already begun stockpiling mifepristone over worries that the drug will become unavailable. The Justice Department said it would ask the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency order to stop the lower court ruling from taking effect. We are going to continue to fight in the courts, we believe the law is on our side, and we will prevail, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday, speaking from Dublin during a visit by President Joe Biden. Mifepristone was approved by the FDA more than two decades ago and is used in combination with a second drug, misoprostol. Abortion rights groups expressed both relief over FDA approval remaining in place and outrage over the appeals court reinstating restrictions. Whole Woman's Health, an abortion provider that operates six clinics in five states, said in a tweet it was continuing to offer mifepristone in clinics and through virtual services while reviewing the decision. In the 2-1 decision, the judges put on hold changes made by the regulator since 2016 that relaxed the rules for prescribing and dispensing mifepristone. Those included extending the period of pregnancy when the drug can be used from seven weeks to 10 and allowing it to be dispensed by mail, without any need to visit a doctors office. The panel's decision came just days after the Justice Department appealed last week's far-reaching ruling out of Texas that blocked the FDAs approval of the pill. The lawsuit was filed by the Alliance Defending Freedom, a conservative legal group that also argued to overturn Roe v. Wade, and is representing a group of anti-abortion doctors. There is virtually no precedent for a lone judge overturning the regulator's medical decisions. Attorneys for the plaintiffs indicated Thursday that they were content with the court's order and did not plan to seek an appeal that might restore the Texas court's full ruling. The 5th Circuits decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, womens health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law, said Erin Hawley, an attorney for Alliance Defending Freedom. The two judges who voted to tighten restrictions, Kurt Engelhardt and Andrew Oldham, are both appointees of former President Donald Trump. The third judge, Catharina Haynes, is an appointee of former 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. Adding to the uncertainty, a separate federal judge in Washington state last week ordered the FDA not to do anything that might block mifepristones availability in 17 Democrat-led states suing to keep it on the market. The judge in that case clarified Thursday that his order requires the FDA to keep access the same as it was in January in those states, leaving the agency facing conflicting court orders. This is just as much of a binding court order as whatever comes out of Texas, said David S. Cohen, a law professor at Drexel Universitys Thomas R. Kline School of Law. The New Orleans appeals court judges in the majority in Wednesday's decision noted that the Biden administration and mifepristones manufacturer warn us of significant public consequences that would result if mifepristone were withdrawn entirely from the market under the lower court ruling. But the judges suggested FDA changes making mifepristone easier to obtain since 2016 were less consequential than its initial approval of the drug in 2000. It would be difficult to argue the changes were so critical to the public given that the nation operated and mifepristone was administered to millions of women without them for 16 years the judges wrote. When the drug was initially approved, the FDA limited its use to up to seven weeks of pregnancy. It also required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the next to administer the second drug, misoprostol, and the third to address any complications. It also required a doctors supervision and a reporting system for any serious consequences of the drug. If the appeals court's action stands, those would again be the terms under which mifepristone could be dispensed for now. Democratic leaders in states where abortion remains legal since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year say they are preparing in case mifepristone becomes restricted. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said Tuesday that her state would stockpile 150,000 doses of misoprostol. The White House also has contingency plans in place, but Jean-Pierre held off detailing them while legal action continued. Instead, she described a proposed new federal rule to limit how law enforcement and state officials collect medical records if they investigate women who flee their home states to seek abortions elsewhere. At the core of the Texas lawsuit is the allegation that the FDAs initial approval of mifepristone was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks. Mifepristone has been used by millions of women over the past 23 years. While less drastic than completely overturning the drug's approval, the latest ruling still represents a stark challenge to the FDAs authority overseeing how prescription drugs are used in the U.S. The panel overturned multiple decisions made by FDA regulators after years of scientific review. Common side effects with mifepristone include cramping, bleeding, nausea, headache and diarrhea. In rare cases, women can experience excess bleeding that requires surgery to stop. Still, in loosening restrictions on mifepristone, FDA regulators cited exceedingly low rates of serious adverse events. More than 5.6 million women in the U.S. had used the drug as of June 2022, according to the FDA. In that period, the agency received 4,200 reports of complications in women, or less than one-tenth of 1% of women who took the drug. ___ Gresko reported from Washington. Associated Press writers Mark Sherman and Lindsay Whitehurst in Washington, Colleen Long in Dublin and Matt Perrone in Atlanta contributed to this report. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate WASHINGTON (AP) A Massachusetts Air National Guard member was arrested Thursday in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues, an alarming breach that has raised fresh questions about America's ability to safeguard its most sensitive secrets. The guardsman, an IT specialist identified as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, was taken into custody without incident after FBI officers converged on his Massachusetts home. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he is to be charged with removing or transmitting classified national defense information, a crime under the Espionage Act. Garland did not reveal a possible motive, but accounts of those in the online private chat group where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology. While Thursday's arrest was a pivotal moment in an investigation into the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, the military and Justice Department were still scrutinizing how sensitive government secrets shared in a chat room ended up circulating around the world. The emergence of Teixeira as a primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how such a profound breach, one that the Pentagon termed a very serious risk to national security, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat, said Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman. 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. Hours after the arrest, Rep. Mike Turner, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a statement pledging to examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks. Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts at the time heavily armed tactical agents took him into custody, is due to have his initial court appearance in Massachusetts on Friday. He could also face charges in a military court. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not returned. Garland said the investigation is ongoing, but did not say if other suspects were being pursued. The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported last week, moving to assure allies and assess the scope of damage. Pentagon officials have expressed alarm about the breach. President Joe Biden downplayed the lasting impact of the revelations, telling reporters in Ireland earlier Thursday that theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated by U.S. officials range from briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons. Theres no clear answer on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed approximately 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds. The leak is believed to have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games and where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years about guns, games and his favorite memes and, according to some chatting with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets. The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira. In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as the O.G. by a member of the online chat group. The person declined to give his name to the AP, citing concerns for his personal safety. The chat group, called Thug Shaker Central, drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes, some of them racist. The group also held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. In that discussion, the O.G. would for months post material that he said was classified originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings werent being taken seriously, the person said. Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement issued after the arrest, said the Pentagon would conduct a review of its intelligence access, accountability and control procedures to prevent such a leak from happening again. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed. Typically in classified briefings with slides like those that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That can be done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected later. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. For those with a security clearance, their handling of classified material is based largely on training and trust that they will safeguard the information. When you join the military, depending on your position, you may require a security clearance, Ryder said. And if you are working in the intelligence community, and you require a security clearance, youre going to go through the proper vetting. Ryder said each service member who obtains a clearance signs a non-disclosure agreement and is trained on the militarys strict guidelines for handling classified material. The leaks were a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines. ____ Associated Press writers Michelle R. Smith in Dighton, Massachusetts, Nomaan Merchant, Zeke Miller and Tara Copp in Washington, Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston and Colleen Long and Darlene Superville in Dublin contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Community of Western Azerbaijan has issued a statement condemning torture against an Azerbaijani serviceman in Armenia, Trend reports. The statement says that video and photographs have been circulated in the Armenian media showing the torture inflicted by law enforcement officers of this country and others on an unarmed soldier of the Azerbaijani army, whose hands are tied. "This is another clear evidence of a gross violation of the obligations imposed on Armenia by the relevant Geneva Convention, the "Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment" and other important international acts, as well as ethnic hatred and racial discrimination about Azerbaijanis widespread in this country. The land of Zangezur, where at one time the Azerbaijanis were the majority and from where they were forcibly expelled, has once again become an eyewitness to the torture that Azerbaijanis are subjected to in Armenia. The organizers of this cruel crime are striving to create even greater discord between the peoples and, by creating an atmosphere of fear, prevent the return of Azerbaijanis there. The community of Western Azerbaijan strongly condemns this heinous crime and calls on the international community to give a legal assessment of the actions of the Armenian government and the perpetrators of the crime and ensure the immediate and unconditional release of Azerbaijani servicemen who were lost due to adverse weather conditions and found themselves in the territory controlled by Armenia," the statement says. L ondon has the highest rate of Nepo workers in the UK, as half of Londoners have been handed a job because of personal connections. A poll of 2,000 working-age adults conducted by recruitment software firm Applied found the capital beat out Liverpool, Belfast and Plymouth to be the UKs top city for nepotism, with exactly 50% saying connections gave them a job. Of those workers, one in eight said they had entered a senior management position because of personal links, while 38% entered middle management. The survey suggested a certain sense of shame around being a Nepo worker. A quarter of those in the capital who received a job via connections said they would be uncomfortable to share that fact with friends and colleagues. Similarly, most Londoners, at 53%, said they disagree with the idea of getting a job through connections on principle and think it is not fair. Yet few would be willing to turn down those opportunities if they arose. When asked if they would take advantage of a personal connection in order to advance their career, more than 80% said they would. Applied CEO Khyati Sundaram noted a job market built on connections was likely to only help those from privileged backgrounds. Personal connections offer a route into new sectors or entry-level roles, in lieu of previous experience - but only for some, she said. For workers who lack relevant work experience and personal connections, nepotism is only widening the gap between those with friends in high places and candidates who lack this privilege. For this reason, nepotism shouldnt have any place in hiring processes. That claim is backed by recent studies, which have found 60% of leaders of top City investment banks and two thirds of private equity leaders went to fee-paying schools. Its up to companies to create a level playing field for all candidates and guard against the potential for nepotism to have a bigger bearing on who gets what job than demonstrable skills, Sundaram said. T he first time I went to see Oasis in concert was in September 1994. It was the week their debut album, Definitely Maybe, was released and I paid 7 to see them at the Hacienda in Manchester. Buying the ticket was pretty painless I just went to Piccadilly Records, handed over some cash and was given a paper ticket in return. I went to a lot of gigs in my twenties. If you wanted the best seats in the house they generally werent more expensive, they just required more dedication. Put in the work and you could be at the hottest gig in town. I would happily queue up all day and sometimes all night so I could be on the front row of a gig. Ticket prices were reasonable, which is why in my late teens and early twenties I saw everyone from David Bowie, Paul McCartney, Prince and Dylan to Public Enemy, Ice Cube, Anthrax and Radiohead in concert. Buying tickets was easy and the prices were so reasonable that I could even buy a T-shirt. Technology is often wonderful. I have boxes of DVDs stored away but everything I want to watch is available by streaming. I remember spending actual money buying vinyl and CDs but everything I listen to is via my phone. Listening to music is effortless but buying tickets to see music performed live is, paradoxically, much harder than it used to be in the past. These days, if I want to see a major artist or band, I need to look at when tickets go onsale online. I have to check if I have the relevant credit card that might allow me to enter the pre-sale. I have to decide if I want a Standard ticket or whether I want shell out for tickets for the Gold, Silver, Diamond and Platinum sections. Ticket prices are often outrageously expensive I paid 20 to see Madonna in 1990. I could pay 47 to see her in December but I would be at the very back, meaning she would be barely recognisable although in fairness given the amount of work she has reportedly had done she would be unrecognisable even if I paid 1,770 for a row G seat in the front block. You would have to be stupidly rich or just stupid to spend that kind of money on a gig. If I was in my twenties now and wanted to see the artists and bands I saw in the Nineties I simply would not be able to and that, alongside my music tastes, explains why when I do go to gigs there are so few young people there. The outrageous prices and the way Ticketmaster exploits its dominant position means too many ordinary music fans are priced out. This summer Noel Gallagher once of Oasis and now of High Flying Birds will start a UK tour to support his new album. Gallagher has teamed with Twickets, an online ticket resale website, to ensure that any fans with spare tickets only sell them to other fans at the price they paid or less. Its a clear sign that maybe things can change for the better I hope other bands will follow Gallaghers lead to ensure that live music doesnt become the preserve of the rich and the old. Rumours behind Taylor Swifts split SO Taylor Swift and Joe Alwyn have ended their six-year relationship. This would have meant less than nothing to me a year ago but thanks to my 11-year-old daughter I am now more invested in Swift-related news than I imagined possible. The nugget of information I found most intriguing about the break-up was that a quote given to journalists from an alleged insider suggested that the source of the difficulties in their relationship was that Taylors career took priority over Joes ... its been hard for Joe trying to make it in Hollywood and not quite becoming leading man material while dating one of the most famous women in the world over the last six years. I find it difficult to muster much sympathy for this argument it sounds like a classic case of male insecurity that will no doubt find its way into future Swift songs. R enfield, a new film starring Nicolas Cage and Nicholas Hoult as an eccentric Count Dracula and his extremely put upon assistant Renfield, will open in cinemas tomorrow. The vampire comedy is set to be a real treat. Not only does it star Awkwafina alongside the two Nic(k)s, but it tells Draculas story from a novel angle, as Renfield after hundreds of years of servitude is desperate to get out of the clutches of his mad boss. In its review, The Standard found the upcoming film an absolute hoot , calling elements of the film bloody delightful - though also wishing there was even more Cage and Hoult on screen (who doesnt want more of that?). So, on the eve of Renfields release, we pick nine of the best vampire films of all time. What We Do In The Shadows (2014) This hilarious vampire mockumentary film was turned into a successful four-season-long FX series, but the original film has a special place in our hearts. The New Zealand horror-comedy (written and directed by Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi) follows the lives of several hapless vampires who all live together in the modern day in Wellington. Theyre really old one of the housemates, Vladislav, is 862 years old for example and as you can imagine they get up to a whole barrel of antics as they wander the streets looking for people to kill, going to clubs and sparring with the citys werewolf population. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014) American-Iranian film director Ana Lily Amirpours feature film debut is a hilarious Iranian vampire Western yes, a very narrow genre indeed. Filmed entirely in black and white, the film clearly references the neo-noir genre, but really, its a very cool comedy. A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night tells the story of a complicated, skateboard-riding vampire, The Girl (who is played by Sheila Vand), who kills men who disrespects women. With a great soundtrack from Iranian band Kiosk, and with a strong female lead, theres a lot to love about this Indie favourite. Only Lovers Left Alive (2013) Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston and Mia Wasikowska star as Eve, Adam and Ava in this fantasy comedy from Jim Jarmusch. Adam and Eve are vampire lovers, who are centuries into their very long lives and have become somewhat disillusioned with it. Ava is Eves younger sister, who is also a vampire and ends up crashing Adam and Eves insular world. The film received mixed reviews, with some people finding the hipster vampire couple a bit annoying; others, however, thoroughly enjoyed their flamboyance and singular nature. The film was listed as number 72 on the BBCs 2016 list of the 100 Greatest Films of the 21st Century. Thirst (2009) Nearly every film Park Chan-wook has ever made has been pretty bonkers, so his take on the vampire genre was always going to be a bit shocking. Thirst, which is loosely based on Emile Zolas 1867 novel Therese Raquin, is predictably very strange, telling the story of Sang-hyun (played marvellously by Song Kang-ho, who is now best known for his leading role in Parasite), a Catholic priest, who becomes a vampire after a dodgy blood transfusion. This is not a story of high school emos who are Saving Themselves, said one reviewer. It is a story of grownup vampires having penetrative sex, vampires who commit murder, vampires who wrestle spiritually with the notion that their lifestyle is a version of the Christian sacrament. Let the Right One In (2008) This Swedish film adaptation of John Ajvide Lindqvists acclaimed vampire novel was a huge success as soon as it was released. It was called deadly grim, a painful portrayal of an urgent relationship, and possessed invention and stamina, a rich arterial flow of fear. Set in the Swedish winter in 1981, the story is about a bullied 12-year-old boy, Oskar (Kare Hedebrant), who develops a relationship with a very strange girl Eli (Lina Leandersson), who is in fact a vampire. The Guardian said, some movies, while never quite attaining masterpiece status, nonetheless have a monumental WTF-factor. This is one such. Empire said, In contrast to the currently hot flavours of fear torture porn, girlie ghosts, kung fu monsters this is horror, rooted in love. Matt Reeves made an English language version, Let Me In, in 2010, which starred Richard Jenkins, Kodi Smit-McPhee, Chloe Grace Moretz, and Elias Koteas, and was also well received (it has 88 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes) but the TV series adaptation, which was released by Showtime in 2022, failed to reach the heady heights of its predecessors. Interview with the Vampire (1994) The plot of this Nineties film from Neil Jordan is all there in the name. Brad Pitt stars as Louis de Pointe du Lac, a vampire who is being interviewed in modern-day San Francisco by reporter Daniel Molloy (Christian Slater). The film follows the story of his life which he recounts to Molloy, from when he first became a vampire in 1791, to his antics with Lestat de Lioncourt (Tom Cruise) and the story of how they turned ten-year-old Claudia (Kirsten Dunst) into a vampire, thus creating a kind of family for themselves. The film, which was based on the 1976 novel by Anne Rice, was updated as an AMC TV series in 2022. But the series split reviewers: Jones has created a paradoxical work thats more sexual yet less sexy than its forebears, said The Guardian. The Hunger (1988) An erotic vampire horror from Tony Scott starring Catherine Deneuve, David Bowie and Susan Sarandon? Yes please. Loosely based on the 1981 novel of the same name by Whitley Strieber, The Hunger is about doctor Sarah Roberts, who ends up getting involved with a vampire couple, Miriam Blaylock (Deneuve ) and John Blaylock (Bowie). As one can imagine, love triangles with vampires are tricky things, and everything ends really badly. The film has mixed reviews, with some critics at the time arguing that the film was too esoteric and too artsy for its own good. But over the years The Hunger has become a bit of a cult classic. Its surreal, so be ready for a bit of a strange watch, but there are beautiful shots and Deneuve is utterly beguiling. The Lost Boys (1987) This fab black comedy from Joel Schumacher is about two brothers, Michael (Jason Patric) and Sam (Corey Haim), and their recently divorced mum Lucy (Dianne Wiest), who all move to a small California town where there are (ominously) loads of missing people. The boys meet a gang of bikers via Michaels love interest Star (Jami Gertz) but when they agree to join it, strange things start happening to them. The Lost Boys is arguably the first time a younger, sexier, more fun vampire iteration was presented on screen you can somewhat thank Schumacher for your Twilight-style vampire hunks. Nosferatu (1922) At over 100 years old, this silent German Expressionist horror is still widely regarded as one of the best vampire films of all time. Loosely based on Bram Stokers novel, director F. W. Murnaus film tells the story of an estate agent, Thomas Hutter (Gustav von Wangenheim), who is sent to Transylvania by his boss to visit a client, the strange Count Orlok (Max Schreck), who is planning to buy a property. From the very off all the signs are saying that Hutter should be fearful of Orlok, but Hutter pushes on. Renfield opens in cinemas on April 14 L ondon Trans+ Pride is set to return in 2023 to call for transgender freedom and equality in the UK and globally. Its been a difficult year for trans and non-binary people, with transphobic harassment increasing and anti-trans bills introduced worldwide. Heres what you need to know about this years London Trans+ Pride event. What is the London Trans+ Pride 2023 event and why does it take place? The protest is a grassroots event that first took place in 2019. It aims to celebrate the memory of trans lives taken and uphold the next generation of trans revolutionaries. For example, trans schoolgirl Brianna Ghey, 16, was stabbed to death in Warrington on February 11. Two teenagers both aged 15 were charged with murder and are due to stand trial in July. London Trans+ Pride described the incident as a brutal and horrific attack that has left the community reeling in a statement on Facebook just days after Gheys death. In addition, the Government this year blocked Scotlands gender recognition reform bill. Far-right protests have taken place against drag queen performances in London. Trans advocacy groups condemned the blocking of Scotlands planned reform of the Gender Recognition Act (GRA), which would have made obtaining a Gender Recognition Certificate easier. In response, London Trans+ Pride held two protests outside 10 Downing Street on January 18 and 19. The group wrote on Facebook that the emergency protest was to show solidarity for Scotlands independence and autonomy as it leads the UKs fight for gender reform, as well as to champion the continuing battle against transphobia in the rest of the nation. A Kickstarter fund to support this years Trans+ Pride event has raised almost 4,500 out of a 7,500 target. This means the march is likely to be the largest expression of trans solidarity yet. When and where will London Trans+ Pride 2023 take place? The protest march will take place from 1pm on Saturday, July 8. Protesters will gather at Trafalgar Square in central London. Whats the London Trans+ Pride 2023 route? The march route has not yet been confirmed, as it was changed to accomodate the growing numbers of London Trans+ Pride participants. In an Instagram post announcing the events return, organisers urged marchers to bring signs, wear flowers. They said they would share the full route in the weeks leading up to the march. Why has the London Trans+ Pride 2023 march route been changed? Organisers said the number of people taking part is doubling each year. Furthermore, more money is needed to pay for the growing cost of staging the event. This includes funding sound equipment and transportation, stewards, a hydration station and accessibility. D amian Lewis has released his first single ahead of his upcoming debut album, Mission Creep, which will be out this summer. The 52-year-old British actor, best known for starring in TV dramas including Band Of Brothers and Homeland, released the soulful track Down On The Bowery on Thursday. He will follow this up with his first studio album, which is due out on June 16, amid a number of live performances scheduled for the summer. The record is described as a thoughtful collection of rootsy, rock and jazz-tinged songs that reveal a deep love of music, and a deep need to communicate. Reflecting on the album, Lewis said: I suddenly had a lot to say. People will judge if its any good or not, but for me, it felt entirely natural. Its origins go back to when the actor left school and took to the road with his guitar and went busking through continental Europe. This experience is said to have impacted the upcoming album, which came about after Lewis rediscovered the guitar during the lockdown. As his acting schedule freed up due to the pandemic, he began playing and writing songs and later teamed up with various musicians including Italian-American Giacomo Smith. I wanted the album to give a sense of a journey to this point, from busking til now, Lewis added. Smith also introduced him to some musicians from his jazz outfit Kansas Smitty, and together they formed a group who have been performing gigs. Lewis previously performed at Wilderness Festival in Oxfordshire last year as well as gigs at London venues including Omeara, Koko, Tabernacle and Hoxton Hall. He is scheduled to play Cheltenham Jazz Festival on May 1 and Black Deer Festival on June 16. His biggest headline show to date will be at Union Chapel in London on July 11, with more live dates expected to be announced soon. Lewis has signed to Decca Records for his upcoming debut album. Co-presidents of Decca Label Group, Tom Lewis and Laura Monks, said: We are so delighted that Damian chose Decca. His songwriting is poetic, poignant and deeply personal. The album, recorded just down the road in Kentish Town, has a raw and refreshing honesty to it. Damian really opens his heart and invites us in. It is a thing of great beauty. Damian Lewiss debut album Mission Creep will be released on June 16 on Decca Records. K osovos London embassy is to move to a Hyde Park mansion once owned by the comedian Spike Milligan. 9 Orme Court, a 5,697 sq ft townhouse situated in Bayswater, has been purchased by the embassy of Kosovo for 6.5 million in a deal negotiated by Mr Ilir Kapiti, the countrys ambassador. The embassy of Kosovo is currently located on John Street in Clerkenwell. Soon in the new and permanent home of the Republic of Kosovo in the United Kingdom, wrote Kapiti on his Facebook page. As always, our doors will be open to the emigration that has always contributed and continues to contribute to Kosovo. Relations with the UK will be strengthened further - congratulations Kosovo! The building has been used as office space / Beauchamp Estates The Arts and Crafts-inspired building, which dates from the 1890s, was owned by Milligan and his collaborator Eric Sykes between 1962 and 1979. As well as living in the property, they used it as the headquarters of Associated London Scripts (ALS), a writers co-operative founded with fellow television and radio heroes Ray Galton and Alan Simpson. They opened the building up to other industry talents, including Peter Sellers, Terry Nation and Dennis Spooner, offering rooms in exchange for low rent. 9 Orme Court saw The Goon Show, Hancocks Half Hour, Dr Who and the Daleks, Genesis of the Daleks, Steptoe and Son, Thunderbirds and Stingray all produced within its walls. Eric Sykes in his first floor office in 1965 / Beauchamp Estates Today, the building has two Blue Plaques to celebrate Milligan and Sykes lives at the property, installed in 2003 and 2013 respectively. Arranged across six floors, the building had been used as office space before the sale, and was advertised by listing agents Beauchamp Estates as a rare opportunity to purchase a freehold building in one of Bayswaters most prestigious addresses. It was listed for sale in June last year. With a private courtyard and balcony, the ground and first floors have a series of large rooms, with high ceilings and tall windows which provide useful spaces for diplomatic meetings and receptions. Upstairs, where Milligan lived, there is space for private accommodation and offices for embassy staff. This grand townhouse has the benefit of a long history of being used as both offices and living accommodation making a transformation into an embassy a logical step, says Gary Hersham, who negotiated the purchase for Beauchamp Estates. The buildings large rooms and high ceilings lend it well to diplomatic functions / Beauchamp Estates The spacious interiors and prime location, on the doorstep of Hyde Park and just a short drive to Buckingham Place, makes it a perfect venue for a diplomatic mission. Bayswater is a popular location for embassies, with Gambia, Guyana, Laos and Sri Lankas embassies all in the area. There are 163 embassies and other diplomatic buildings in central London, with the most popular locations being close to Buckingham Palace, 10 Downing Street and Hyde Park. Kensington has 37 embassies, followed by Belgravia and Marylebone, both with 23. Westminster has 18 embassies and Mayfair has 15. The Kosovan Embassy has been expected to relocate from Bloomsbury for some time. With property prices in super-prime areas of London at an all-time high, governments have been cashing in on their lucrative assets for much of the past decade. Starting the trend in 2009, the US sold their embassy in Grosvenor Square to the property development arm of the Qatari royal family for an estimated 500 million. It is now being turned into a luxury hotel and top-end residences, where one apartment sold for 111 million in 2020, according to Land Registry records. The US embassy, meanwhile, moved to Nine Elms. In 2013, a number of other governments followed suit, with more than 20 diplomatic missions and residences earmarked for sale. That year, the European Council of Foreign Relations near St Jamess Park was sold to the developer Galliard Homes for 21.5 million, the Kazakh embassy in South Kensington sold for 8.6 million and the Brazilian embassy on Green Street for 40 million. The long-vacant Algerian embassy at 54 Holland Park has been on the market since 2020, when its price tag was an estimated 25 million. Fashion designer Dame Mary Quant has died aged 93, her family has announced. The designer died peacefully at her home in Surrey on Thursday morning, her family said in a statement. She was one of the most internationally recognised fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties," they said. "She opened her first shop Bazaar in the Kings Road in 1955 and her far-sighted and creative talents quickly established a unique contribution to British fashion." Former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman led the tributes on social media, tweeting: "RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship - a visionary who was much more than a great haircut." Quant was an influential figure on Londons style scene in the 1960s and is heralded for having revolutionised fashion through embracing mass production techniques and for changing the way people shopped with her store Bazaar on the Kings Road. Referred to as the Mother of the Mini, Quant is often credited with the super short skirts invention whether true or not, she certainly put miniskirts on the fashion map, making them the it item for a young generation of women. "RIP Mary Quant, who freed the female leg. We owe you," tweeted Vanessa Friedman, fashion director of the International New York Times. AP Born in London in 1930 to teacher parents from Wales, Quant experimented with clothes from an early age. Her earliest fashion memory is of being in bed with measles at six years old, cutting the bedspread with nail scissors in order to transform it into a dress. "I didnt like the clothes I had. I wanted sleeves with a puffier top on them and I wanted this and wanted that and I was trying to cut up the bedspread and make them. From then on, I never stopped. Quant won a scholarship to study art at Goldsmiths College, where she failed to complete her education but did meet her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, who later helped establish her brand. She left Goldsmiths to apprentice with a Mayfair milliner whose salon was situated next to Claridges. It was here that Quant, paid just 2 and 10 shillings per week, began to think about fashion more strategically. It seemed so ridiculous making one hat for one woman to wear to Ascot that cost 30 quid, said Quant It seemed obvious that clothes should be made by mass production. PA In 1955, she and Plunket Greene partnered with Archie McNair, an ex-solicitor who had opened Chelseas first espresso coffee bar called Fantasy, to open a shop called Bazaar just off the Kings Road. There were clothes and accessories on the ground floor curated by Quant (she didnt design her own line initially), and a restaurant called Alexander in the basement. With modern lighting, loud music and extended opening hours, Bazaar offered an all-new shopping experience. Two years after Bazaar opened, she and Plunkett-Greene married and remained together until he died prematurely, at the age of 57 years old in 1990. They had a son, Orlando, who has been involved in championing his mothers legacy. During London fashion week in 2019 he unveiled a plaque on the Kings Road building where Bazaar once stood. The couple were well known as members of the so called "Chelsea Set" (a collection of designers, artists, photographers and friends many of whom became influential in the 1960s), and despite having no experience in retail they succeeded in creating a buzzy fashion mecca that quickly became a hangout for the young and fashionable. The business really took off when Quant began designing her own collections, which were bright, bold and decidedly youth-centric. Alongside miniskirts, Quant favoured hotpants, onesies and PVC raincoats all of which she mass produced and sold under her own Daisy-logoed brand. She also popularised colourful tights as the perfect item to wear with her short skirts. Such tights were used only in theatres at that time, so she had to convince theatrical tights manufacturers to make them for her. Other ingenuity came via a detachable white plastic collar that was designed to put a new spin on a favourite black dress (she sold thousands), and the sac dress for which she had to persuade knitwear producers to add another foot onto a sweater to turn it into a dress. That was how the sac was born, claimed Quant, and it appeared in Paris a year later. PA She used models of colour - unusual at the time - and replenished shop stock weekly if not daily; a strategy later mimicked by the fast fashion industry. "The whole point of fashion is to make fashionable clothes available to everyone," said Quant, who launched a cheaper diffusion line in 1963 and also sold patterns so that people could make her clothes cheaply at home. Within seven years of opening, the business had made over a million pounds and the clothes were in 150 shops in the UK, 320 shops throughout the USA and on sale globally in France, Italy, Switzerland, Kenya, South Africa, Australia and Canada. At a time when most designers were men, Quant made waves as a woman, designing fun and practical clothes for other women. She captured the imagination of a youth desperate to escape the years of post-war austerity and embrace the Swinging Sixties, and soon became poster girl for a bold, vibrant and flirty era of fashion. Quant was made a Dame in 2015 for a lifetime of service to the fashion industry. In an interview in 2012 she was asked whether she was ever surprised by how successful she had been. "I mostly felt, my God, what a marvellous life you had, you are very fortunate, she said. I think to myself, you lucky woman how did you have all this fun? A V&A exhibition documenting the first 20 years of Mary Quants career from 1955 to 1975 is set to open in Glasgows Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month. It follows an international tour which included Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan, along with runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. After two decades as an untouchable political force, the SNP is falling apart. Scandal piles on top of scandal and an ongoing police investigation (which this week led to the arrest of SNP treasurer Colin Beattie) can only intensify the partys problems. The nationalists political opponents, for so long fearful of their dominance, now laugh at the blackly comic details of this unprecedented crisis. Those SNP members not drowning in despair sustain themselves with bleak gallows humour. Its just before midnight when my phone pinged a few Saturdays ago. A new message has arrived. The sender, an SNP politician, keeps things snappy. There are just five characters: WTAF? I quickly compose a reply: Hi-de-hi, campers. Shortly before this brief exchange, the ongoing crisis in the Scottish National Party has taken a lurch into the bizarre. News has broken that as part of a police investigation into the finances of the party officers have seized a luxury 110,000 motor home from the driveway in front of the house occupied by 92-year-old Margaret Murrell, mum of the SNPs former chief executive, Peter Murrell, and mother-in-law to ex-First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon. Nicola Sturgeon gave a brief statement to the media outside her home in Uddingston, Glasgow (Jane Barlow/PA) / PA Wire The days when the SNP appeared to be an unstoppable political force seem very long ago. Now, the party is at the centre of a seemingly unstoppable farce, with former allies turning on each other, poll ratings plummeting, and serious questions emerging about the credibility of Sturgeons successor, Humza Yousaf. The SNP has long peddled a simplistic brand of Scottish exceptionalism where politicians are more honest and people more compassionate than those elsewhere. Now, it seems the party is extending that better-than-you attitude to the matter of political scandal: call that a crisis? This is a crisis. When Sturgeon announced on February 15 that she was resigning as SNP leader and, therefore, Scottish First Minister, the news sent shockwaves through UK politics. After almost 16 years in government the first seven as deputy First Minister to Alex Salmond and the rest in the top job Sturgeon was established as the most successful politician of her generation, anywhere on these islands. The home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon has been raided as part of an ongoing investigation (Andrew Milligan/PA) / PA Wire Sturgeons explanation for her decision, however, rang true. She no longer had the energy to give to the job and felt shed become a barrier to the independence cause winning more support: people had made their minds up about Sturgeon and it was time for someone else to take the cause on to its next stage. It was certainly true Sturgeon found herself in political difficulties when she came to her decision. A plan to treat the next General Election as a de facto referendum may have been lapped up by some of the SNPs more excitable supporters but it went down badly with many elected members who pointed out that Sturgeon had no authority to declare that an election was, in fact, a vote on the question of independence. Lingering behind Sturgeons resignation was another difficult issue. For the past two years, Police Scotland had been investigating a complaint about the SNPs finances. At the centre of the complaint was a party fundraising exercise. Back in March, 2017, despite having no legal authority to run a vote on the constitutional question, Sturgeon announced plans for a second independence referendum. At the same time, her husband, Peter Murrell launched a crowd-funder to support the campaign to come. More than 600,000 was donated by people in favour of independence. But no referendum took place and, by the end of 2019, the SNP had just 97,000 in the bank. When questions were asked about the donations, the party insisted this money could be deployed at a moments notice. In May 2021, Douglas Chapman MP quit as party treasurer saying he had not been given access to the information he required in order to do his job properly. Two days later, Joanna Cherry MP resigned from the SNPs ruling National Executive Committee, citing similar issues. Sturgeon insisted she had no concerns about the partys finances. Police Scotland, however, thought an investigation merited. Operation Branchform was launched and two years of police work culminated in a series of raids last Wednesday. Officers erected tents in front of and behind the house Sturgeon and Murrell share in Uddingston, south east of Glasgow, retrieved several boxes of paperwork from SNP headquarters in Edinburgh, and seized that motorhome from Mrs Murrells homes in Fife. Then SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon with husband Peter Murrell casting their votes in the 2019 General Election / PA Wire Peter Murrell who quit as SNP chief exec three weeks ago after it emerged the party had misled journalists about membership numbers spent 12 hours in police custody before being released, without charge, pending further enquiries. During the contest to succeed Sturgeon as SNP leader, Humza Yousaf was happy to be seen as the continuity candidate. Though Sturgeon made no declaration in favour of any candidate, many of those closest to her not only enthusiastically endorsed Yousaf but heavily criticised contender Kate Forbes, a member of the Free Church of Scotland whose socially conservative views she would, she said, have voted against legalising gay marriage had she been a member of the Scottish Parliament when legislation was passed do not chime with the SNPs story of being a uniquely progressive party. In the end, Yousaf beat Forbes by a margin of just 52-48. He leads a bitterly divided party and he cant get rid of those continuity candidate robes quickly enough. During the contest, Yousaf could be heard describing Murrell as a proven winner who had done more than just about anyone else to advance the cause of independence. Now, he would like it to be known that there were serious problems under the Sturgeon-Murrell regime and that he is determined to put them right. Yousaf would also like to make it clear that the SNP will not be paying Murrells legal fees. Scotlands new First Minister spent six weeks singing the praises of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell from his campaign bus. Now he has thrown them under it. In the 2019 General Election, the SNP won 45% of the vote in Scotland, pushing Labour into third behind the Tories with just 19%. Now polling has the nationalists leading Labour by just 35-31%. And theres time aplenty for things to get more difficult for the SNP. There are now questions about the timing of police action. Had the raids taken place earlier, would Yousaf have won the leadership? Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil wants to put this to the test with a new contest. He said: Peter Murrell appears to have intervened to significantly shorten the election process after the first minister surprised everyone with her resignation. We then had the issue of the media being misled on membership numbers. There are clearly questions to answer here. If it is the case that Peters arrest has been delayed to allow the first minister to resign and the vote to take place, then that could have had a material impact on the election result. It seems unlikely that the continuity candidate would have cut it if all of this had been known beforehand. Humza Yousaf attended his first NEC meeting as SNP leader (Jane Barlow/PA) / PA Wire Yousaf is now like the central character in a fable warning about the cost of ambition. Each day seems to bring a new humiliation, the most recent of which is that the fact the SNPs auditors Johnson Carmichael had quit six months ago was kept from him until he won the leadership contest. No replacement for the company has yet been found, throwing up the possibility that the party might miss the July deadline by which accounts must be submitted to the Electoral Commission. At a time when Yousaf needs friends the mischievous gods of politics have given him Mike Russell, SNP president and acting chief executive. As the new First Minister fought to get his fledgling leadership on track last weekend, Russell gave an interview in which he said the party was in its biggest crisis in half a century. He did not think independence could be secured right now. All I can do, added Russell, is put my trust in others in working to get this right. And then the stinger: Like it or not, the party has chosen Humza to do this. With Succession hitting a peak this week with a staggering plot-twist early in its final season (no spoilers here, but it was BIG), all eyes are back on the Murdoch family the noted inspirations for the Roys in screen as viewers consider how the King Lear-esque conceding of the crown might actually play out in real life. After all, Rupert Murdoch, at 92, has yet to choose a successor to his media empire, which includes Fox News, The Sun, The Times, the Wall Street Journal and the New York Post. Then, suddenly, Vanity Fair came through with the essential intel we all craved: a 6,000 word strong update on the Murdoch succession race, literally titled Rupert Murdochs Succession Drama, which included mountains of juicy details on Murdochs recent divorce from Jerry Hall, his whirlwind engagement (and disengagement) and some very real parallels to our favourite HBO show. Thanks to Vanity Fair, we know all about Murdochs current health (spoiler: its not good), how he ended his marriage over email, and who is the Connor Roy of the Murdoch clan. Heres all the biggest revelations. He ended his marriage to Jerry Hall over email Getty Images Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall first met in 2013 in Melbourne, where she was playing Mrs Robinson in a stage version of The Graduate, after being introduced by Murdochs niece Penny Fowler, who was friends with Hall. Murdoch fell head over heels for her, filling her hotel room with flowers and chocolates, and she returned his affections. Halls friend Tom Cashin told Vanity Fair: They seemed to our surprise very happy and a wonderful fit. Within weeks, the two had flown to Texas to meet Halls Fox News-loving family, and within six months the pair were engaged. Rupert apparently told Jerry upon their engagement: Mick was so unfaithful to you. Id never be unfaithful. Then, six years later, he called it quits, leaving Hall blindsided by his change of heart. Not least because Murdoch decided to do it over email (savage). While waiting for Murdoch to join her at their Oxfordshire estate last June, Hall recieved a rather curt email. The email, which was screenshoted and seen by Vanity Fair, said: Jerry, sadly Ive decided to call an end to our marriage [...] We have certainly had some good times, but I have much to do My New York lawyer will be contacting yours immediately. To add salt to the wound, Hall allegedly told her friends that she was given 30 days to vacate Murdochs Bel Air mansion in California. She was watched by security guards while she packed and asked to show receipts to prove items were hers. And insisted she was under no circumstances allowed to speak to Jesse Armstrong REUTERS According to the Vanity Fair article, one of the conditions of Murdoch and Halls divorce settlement was that she was strictly forbidden from feeding any potential story ideas to Succession writers. Jesse Armstrong, Successions creator and lead writer, has previously opened up about Murdoch being an inspiration for Succession, but insists he is not the only person to be used as source material. Theyre fictional creations whove come out of a ton of reading and research, Armstrong told Radio Times in 2020. Id written a screenplay about Rupert Murdochs family and it never got made. And it got me interested in the similarities between all these guys Murdoch, Robert Maxwell and Conrad Black who are passing from their position of predominance as tech takes over. But, also, how cable news and newspapers are still shaping our political climate. Mick Jagger had to disconnect Murdochs spycams for Jerry Hall Following her and Murdochs split, Jerry Hall returned to the Oxfordshire home she received in the divorce, only to discovered the surveillance cameras were still sending footage back to Fox headquarters, it has been reported. She enlisted her ex-husband, Rolling Stones front man Mick Jagger, to help her stop the feed, so Jagger sent his security consultant to disconnect them. Hall burned an effigy of Murdoch after their divorce Shes not the first person to turn to pyrotechnics after a bad breakup and she wont be the last. In the Vanity Fair piece, it is revealed that Jerry Hall apparently burned a small effigy of Rupert Murdoch after he was revealed to be dating someone new. She was devastated, mad, and humiliated, Halls close friend Tom Cashin told Vanity Fair. So, on the first day of lent in February, Hall decided to give up Murdoch. According to Vanity Fair, she told friends how she made an effigy of Murdoch, tied dental floss around its neck, and burned it on her grill. Murdoch and Hall had dinner with his new girlfriend before they got together Shortly after his divorce from Jerry Hall was finalised, Murdoch began a relationship with former American radio host and widow of a country music star, Ann Lesley Smith. Smith and Murdoch met on his ranch in California back when she was dating the ranch manager. Murdoch and Hall were still together, so the couples met up for a dinner. At the dinner, Smith told Murdoch that he and Fox News were saving democracy and also offered to give Murdoch a teeth cleaning (Smith previously worked as a self-employed dental hygienist after graduating from college). Ladies, if a random dinner guest offers your husband a teeth cleaning: watch out. He proposed, but called it off two weeks later because she was too Christian Getty Images Murdoch attempted to seal the deal with Smith in March, offering her an 11-carat diamond engagement ring estimated to be worth upwards of 2 million (oof!). Then, two weeks later, the pair went back on their engagement. Why? Gods plan. No, really, one source close to Murdoch told Vanity Fair that he had become increasingly uncomfortable with Smiths strong evangelical views. She said Tucker Carlson is a messenger from God, and he said nope, the source told the magazine. (A spokesperson for Murdoch declined to respond to this allegation in Vanity Fair and Smith did not respond to requests for comment from Vanity Fair on social media.) Rupert Murdoch is not a healthy man According to the Vanity Fair article, the 92-year-old media tycoon has had multiple periods of ill health over the past few years, including an incident where he broke his back, was relegated to a wheelchair, and a recent episode where he had to be propped up by his son at a wedding because he was so weak he struggled to stand unassisted. Vanity Fair claim that Murdoch has suffered a broken back, seizures, two bouts of pneumonia, atrial fibrillation, and a torn Achilles tendon over the past few years alone. During the incident when he broke his back on a yacht, Rupert faced the Succession-esque restrictions of being gravely ill when not landborne - they had to steer to the nearest hospital and dock there, only to realise the hospital was closed following a fire, then wait for a private jet to take Rupert to another hospital. He kept almost dying, a person close to the family told Vanity Fair. Murdoch was also very careful during the pandemic, and feared greatly for his health. He and Hall quarantined together in his home in Bel Air for months, and Hall made sourdough bread and cooked roast chicken. Cashin also told Vanity Fair that during Murdochs periods of ill health, Jerry was as sensitive with him as a full-time nurse would have been. Murdoch pits his kids against eachother like Logan Roy Rupert with his sons James (right) and Lachlan / PA Its not hugely surprising given how much backstabbing, greasy pole climbing and Cain and Abel-ing weve seen in Succession, but Murdoch apparently pits his children against each other to fuel healthy (or actually quite unhealthy/trauma inducing) competition, in an effort to weed out the weak via survival of the fittest. The main subjects are Elisabeth, 54, Lachlan, 51, and James, 50, the children he shares with Anna Maria Torv, who he has allegedly always viewed as his most suitable successors. He pitted his kids against each other their entire lives. Its sad, a person close to the family told Vanity Fair. Prudence isnt involved, shes more of a Connor Roy Of course, Murdoch actually has six children in total, but the others arent considered quite as close to the throne. The only other child who has voting rights on Murdochs board is his eldest, Prudence, though a former NewsCorp executive told Vanity Fair she is a complete wild card. Older, distanced from the main three children, considered a bit weird and unpredictable - all sounds quite Connor Roy, doesnt it? Rupert Murdoch has watched Hamilton With Jerry Hall on one of their early dates! Not that much of a revelation but just feels quite weird, doesnt it? BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) has informed international organizations about the torture against an Azerbaijani soldier taken prisoner by Armenia, Trend reports. According to the MFA, Azerbaijani Army soldiers Agshin Babirov, born in 2004, and Huseyn Akhundov, born in 2003, went missing a few days ago on the territory of the Shahbuz district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic bordering Armenia, were captured by Armenia. "One of the videos published on social networks depicts physical torture and inhuman treatment against captured Huseyn Akhundov. The relevant international organizations were informed about the incident, which is another example of ethnic violence by Armenia," said the statement. The ministry noted this violence used by Armenia against prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), international humanitarian and other obligations. "The relevant international organizations should investigate and give a proper assessment of this fact of violence, as well as the facts of violence by Armenia against Azerbaijani prisoners of war and civilians, and 3,890 Azerbaijanis missing during the conflict over the past 30 years," the MFA said. A 17-year-old boy is fighting for life after being shot in the head in north London, the latest act of youth violence to blight the capital over the Easter school holiday. Police were called to reports a male had been wounded on an industrial estate in Norman Road, Tottenham at about 4.20am on Thursday. Officers and London Ambulance Service attended and found the teenager suffering gunshot injuries. He has been taken to hospital for treatment where he remains in a critical condition. A Metropolitan Police spokesman said: His next of kin has been informed. A crime scene remains in place. There have been no arrests and enquiries continue. It comes after Chima Osuji, 17, was stabbed to death outside his old primary school in Longshaw Road, Chingford, at 9.20pm on Easter Monday. He is the first male teenage Londoner to be killed in 2023. Chima Osuji / Metropolitan Police Two 16-year-old boys were rushed to hospital after being randomly stabbed at Stratford station on Tuesday evening. British Transport Police officers were called to reports of a double knifing on an Elizabeth line platform shortly after 7pm. A police spokesperson has since confirmed that the pair remain in hospital in a serious condition. They are both stable, though one has injuries which may be life changing. There have been no arrests but the offenders were described as two white men. One was wearing red jogging bottoms. The other a black hooded jacket and dark jogging bottoms. Tiffany Regis, 15, died in a blaze, which is being treated as arson, at a block of flats in Tollgate Road, Beckton on Thursday. A boy, 16, arrested on suspicion of her murder was bailed. Anyone with information on the Tottenham incident is asked to call police via 101, quoting CAD883/13Apr, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. T his is the first picture of an innocent teenager stabbed to death outside his old primary school. Chima Osuji, 17, was found dying from a single stab wound in Longshaw Road, Chingford, at 9.20pm on Easter Monday. Neighbours, paramedics and police battled to save the boy but he was declared dead at the scene. Police said on Wednesday they arrested two boys, aged 15 and 16, at residential addresses in Chingford. The teenagers are still being questioned at a north London police station. His death marks the first teenage boy stabbed to death on the streets of the capital this year. TikTok A friend paid tribute to Chima, saying: He was a really close friend of mine. He didnt have a single ounce of hatred in his heart. He was such a nice person and not a single problem would be caused by him. He was quiet until you got to know him, then he wouldnt shut up though. Wed just be listening to music hed just start dancing, was such an innocent soul. #chimasworld #LLC #fyp original sound - jj @jackkk_999 FAKE EVERYTHING. cant get over the loss of him man, was such a kind person, always made me feel safe, always made me laugh, always made me happy. never ever a single time we would link and he wouldn't make me laugh. easily the realest person I've ever met and been saying for months, such a shame i had to move and couldn't meet you anymore. i was with you so often in summer, you didn't deserve this chima. you didnt #chingford Another friend said Chima was walking past Longshaw School with another boy when a knifeman jumped out of a car and began chasing them. They split up, the friend made it to safety at another pals house but Chima appeared to be targeted by the knifeman who appeared out of the dark, he said. Chingford: Horror as boy, 17, stabbed to death outside primary school The school friend, who was with Chima just two hours before he was killed, 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. He wasnt involved in any of the Waltham Forest gang stuff. I got a call saying he had been stabbed. If they were targeting him then it could just as well have been me. I ran down but there was nothing I could do. I couldnt get past the tape. I cant think of one person in this planet who would want to hurt him. There was no reason. Forensic teams have been sweeping the crime scene as inquiries continue. / Barney Davis/Evening Standard The murder investigation is being led by the Mets Specialist Crime Command. Officers have been trawling through CCTV images from around the crime scene as they attempt to close in on the killer who stabbed his victim in the chest. DCI Larry Smith, who is leading the murder inquiry, said yesterday: Our investigation is continuing at pace and this morning we made two arrests in connection with this tragic incident, which resulted in a teenager losing his life. However, our enquiries very much continue and I would appeal to anyone with information who is yet to speak to us to come forward. Your information, no matter how small you think it is, could help get justice for a grieving family. The scene on the night of the killing / Spotted Chingford Chief Superintendent Simon Crick added: 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. The tent lies outside the entrance of a primary school / Barney Davis/Evening Standard Anyone with information on either incident should call police on 101 or to remain anonymous Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A Croydon fraudster who stole peoples identities to con thousands of pounds out of banking customers has been jailed for more than three years. Belarusian national Denis Kupcevich was caught after police linked him to Deliveroo orders under one of his aliases to a flat in Baines Close, South Croydon. Southwark Crown Court heard how Kupevich was part of a fraud network which conned victims and used false identities to create bank accounts through which the money could be laundered. Police placed him under surveillance over six months and watched as he moved between high-end hotels and residential properties in London and Poole. They found that Kupcevich and his criminal associates used the hotels as bases to contact their victims by phone and trick them into handing over money. One victim was defrauded out of almost 160,000 after the gang claimed to be a bank operator and told her the money needed to be transferred due to a security risk. Another victim was conned into paying 12,400 for a second hand BMW which never materialised. Jailed: Denis Kupcevich / National Crime Agency Kupcevich stole the identities of two unwitting men from Moldova and Bulgaria, which allowed him to get a fake Bulgarian passport and identity card. He then opened numerous bank accounts through which the stolen money could be laundered. The 43-year-old, who initially entered the UK illegally in 2004, also stole the identity for a legitimate childcare company and created a bank account with it. After he was arrested at his flat in Croydon last year, police identified a large number of potential victims bank accounts which the fraudsters planned to target. Investigators were able to share details with the relevant banks before the frauds could take place, preventing more than 2 million from leaving the accounts. When questioned, Kupcevich admitted performing the role of a cashing out facilitator for a criminal network, where they deposited stolen money into his accounts and he retained about 40%. He was sentenced to three years and four months in jail on Tuesday for one count of money laundering, two counts of possession of identity documents with improper intention and one count of articles for use in fraud. He will be deported after serving his sentence. Timothy Court, of the NCAs National Cyber Crime Unit, said: Kupcevich played a vital role in the criminal ecosystem by enabling fraudsters to conceal their activity and access their illicit earnings. By arresting Kupcevich, the NCA has starved criminals of this service and protected the public from those seeking to cruelly steal money from unsuspecting victims. A lorry driver has been jailed for nine years for smuggling migrants into the UK in the back of his refrigerated truck carrying spinach. Romanian national Marinel Danut Palage was a key member of an organised crime group convicted of bringing migrants illegally into the country. The 31-year-old, who lives in Spain, would meet the migrants in northern France before taking them in the back of his lorry on a ferry from Caen to Portsmouth, Hampshire. He would then drive them to an industrial estate at Runcton near Chichester, West Sussex, where they would be met by drivers to take them to the Midlands and north of England. Bournemouth Crown Court heard that the operation was carried out at least three times bringing about 10 to 12 people illegally into the UK. Palage and the four others were arrested in March 2019 on the third trip by officers following a four-year investigation by the National Crime Agency. During a search of his cab, plastic bags containing 34,500 in cash, with further bundles of euros and sterling to the value of about 7,000, were discovered hidden behind a tachograph panel. Sentencing Palage, Judge William Mousley KC told him: You performed the essential function of driving the immigrants across the border in your lorry. You had a clear organisational role in managing aspects of the enterprise. You expected, and received, large sums of money for your involvement. The judge added that Palage had shown no remorse as he had gone on to carry out similar offences in Germany and had to be extradited to stand trial in the UK. He ordered that Palages vehicle and the money found to be seized. Father-of-three Pshtewan Ghafour, 37, and from Middlesbrough, was jailed for five years for his role in the organisation which included ensuring the group members were paid. Both defendants were found guilty of conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration following a four-week trial. NCA branch commander Richard Harrison said: This people smuggling group were content to put vulnerable migrants, including children, in the back of refrigerated lorries for hours on end during dangerous Channel crossings . It is clear from the evidence we found that their sole reason was for profit, without any regard to the migrants safety. A NCA spokesman said that Palage and Ghafour were arrested following a surveillance operation on March 11 2019 and Palages lorry was found to be carrying at least three people on that occasion. The ringleader Goran Jalal, 37, from Bradford, remains wanted by the NCA having absconded following his arrest. Kamaran Kader, 44, also from Bradford; Mariwan Mustafa, 33, from Halifax; and Manchester duo Jamal Saied, 38; and 37-year-old Hemin Salih, who has also absconded, will be sentenced separately for their part in the network. A man accused of murdering Pc Sharon Beshenivsky 18 years ago, on Thursday appeared in court after being extradited from Pakistan. Piran Ditta Khan, 74, was brought back to Britain on Tuesday charged with the murder in Bradford on November 18, 2005. He is also charged with robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. He appeared in the dock of Westminster Magistrates Court in central London wearing a blue and white Nike tracksuit jacket. A Crown Prosecution Service spokesman said the charges were first authorised in 2006, leading to the issuing of the extradition warrant. Pc Beshenivsky, who had only been serving with the police for nine months, was fatally wounded when responding to reports of a robbery at a travel agent after an alarm was raised. She was the seventh serving female officer ever to be killed in the line of duty in Britain at the time. Piran Ditta Khan appearing in the dock at Westminster Magistrates Court, London on Thursday. / PA Joanne Jakymec of the CPS said: A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of Pc Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford in 2005 has been extradited to the UK from Pakistan thanks to the continued hard work of prosecutors in the CPSs extradition and international units. Since Piran Ditta Khan was arrested in Pakistan in 2020, our specialist prosecutors have been working closely with our Pakistani partners to complete the legal process in the country so that he could be extradited back to England to face the allegations from almost 20 years ago. Pc Beshenivsky, who had three children and two stepchildren, was shot as she responded with colleague Pc Teresa Milburn to the alarm. Her colleague was also shot but survived to give evidence at the trial of other members of the armed gang charged with being involved in the murder. On the day of her death, the Beshenivsky family were due to hold a birthday party for their youngest daughter Lydia, aged four, at their home near Haworth, West Yorkshire. The officer had been coming to the end of her shift when she was scrambled to the robbery. Piran Ditta Khan / AP Two men, Muzzaker Imtiaz Shah and Yusuf Abdullah Jama, were jailed for life in 2006 over the shooting. Shah admitted murder but denied firing the shot that killed Pc Beshenivsky, while Jama was convicted of murder after he told the court he shot the officer by accident. A third man, Faisal Razzaq, from London, was found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to life with a minimum of 11 years. A year later his brother Hassan was also convicted of manslaughter and jailed for 20 years. A fifth man, Mustaf Jama, was extradited from Somalia in 2007 and sentenced to life for murder with a minimum of 35 years. A roofer who failed to erect scaffolding at a building in north-west London has been jailed after a worker plunged 16 feet to his death. Andrei-Ionel Hutanu, 33, was working on the roof of a commerical premises in Neasden on August 19, 2019, when he fell and landed on a concrete alleyway below, suffering catastrophic head and neck injuries. An investigation later found no scaffolding had been erected at the site. Mr Hutanu had been working there with another man, who had been instructed to remove building materials from a flat roof. Mr Hutanu had been instructed to carry out repair work on a tiled pitched roof, and was working on it from a ladder at the rear of the property when he slipped and fell. He fractured his neck and sustained serious head injuries. He was rushed by air ambulance to St Marys Hospital in Paddington, where he died a week later, on August 26, 2019. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - the national regulator for workplace health and safety - launched an investigation. It found Patrick McCarthy, who was trading as All Care Home Improvements, had failed to take any steps to prevent falls from height. He had failed to install scaffolding around the perimeter of the building, or the flat roof where the men were working. McCarthy, 37, of Bashley Road in Ealing, pleaded guilty to breaching Regulation 6(3) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005. He was sentenced to 14 months in prison, at Harrow Crown Court on April 4. Following the hearing, HSE Inspector Philip Jordan said: This tragic incident could have been easily avoided. Assessing and planning work at height is essential to ensuring that suitable and sufficient measures are in place to prevent falls from height. The custodial sentence imposed on Mr McCarthy should underline to everyone in the construction industry that the courts, and HSE, take a failure to follow the regulations extremely seriously. HSE will not hesitate to take appropriate enforcement action against individuals or companies that fall below the required standards. A leading London private school has overhauled its English curriculum to introduce a diverse range of authors and challenge white-centric, patriarchal and cis-gender ideologies. Pupils at the 25,000-a-year Alleyns School in Dulwich now discuss Macbeths toxic masculinity and read The Tempest through the lens of colonialism. Sixth formers study queer readings of A-level texts such as Dracula, and the first text by a non-binary author has been included in the A-level curriculum. Half of the books read by students in years seven, eight and nine are by female authors, which helps in some way to counteract the lack of equality in the set texts for GCSE. A-level students must also choose one coursework text by a writer of colour in an effort to tackle the lack of diversity in the A-level syllabus. Alex Smith, head of English at Alleyns, said the same texts such as Macbeth, Lord of the Flies, Of Mice and Men and To Kill a Mockingbird have been wheeled out time and time again for decades, propping up a pale, male and stale reading list. Writing in a school blog she said: For the last five years, the Alleyns English department have been committed to a thorough and ongoing overhaul and genuine diversification of our English curriculum in the hope that every child will come to see themselves, and the rich and varied world around them, represented in the texts they study and that, by doing so, they will be equipped with the empathy and confidence to challenge and dismantle sexism, racism, homophobia indeed, discrimination of any kind when they encounter it. As well as introducing a more diverse range of authors, Ms Smith said the school has also changed the way pupils study canonical texts by white, cis-male authors. She wrote: Whilst representation is of the utmost importance, discussions of racial and gender equality, and the challenging of white-centric, patriarchal, and cisgender ideologies can also happen while studying canonical texts by white, cis-male authors. Year seven pupils studying Shakespeares The Tempest explore ideas about the effects and inherent problems of colonialism, while year 12 pupils reading the 17th century revenge tragedy The Duchess of Malfi unpack the patriarchal system that imprisons the duchess literally and figuratively. She added: We are also committed to representing alternative versions of masculinity to those harmful tropes so often seen perpetuated in popular culture and by the media. The toxicity of Macbeths masculinity and, crucially, its consequences is central to our study of that text at GCSE. It comes after a report by campaign group End Sexism in Schools found that 77 per cent of novels studied by pupils in years seven, eight and nine are written by men, and 82 per cent of them have male protagonists. The group said that 99 per cent of plays taught to students in these year groups were by male writers. Ms Smith said teachers at Alleyns have spent hundreds of hours preparing lessons on the less traditional texts, because there were fewer resources available. It comes after exam boards have begun to diversify their reading lists, with Pearson adding four new plays to its GCSE drama curriculum focusing on racial identity and colonialism, and OCR doubling the number of texts by writers of colour on its GCSE and A-level English literature courses. G overnment support for UK care homes during the pandemic was withdrawn too soon, according to a new study into the financial impact of Covid-19. The report, entitled Bailed Out and Burned Out? and headed by Warwick Business School, also said the system had been propped up by staff working extra hours without pay. The results of the research, which studied the accounts of more than 4,000 care home companies from just before the pandemic, have been published as the Government is discussing reforms to adult social care. Co-written with University College London and the Centre for Health and Public Interest, the report said the Government failed to plan for the highly predictable damage caused to the sector by Covid-19. While 2.1 billion of public money helped prevent widespread financial collapse, most payments ended in 2022 and the report said not all of the money reached the front lines. While 60% of homes were financially struggling at the start of the pandemic, 122 larger companies were able to pay shareholders increased dividends in the first year of the crisis. The report concluded: Despite clear warnings that the financial impact of a pandemic would prevent care home services from functioning effectively, there is no evidence that government had any contingency plans in place to address this challenge. The decision by government to end financial support for care home companies after the peak of the pandemic had passed has likely contributed to the current financial and operational difficulties experienced by the sector. Very little of the additional financial support for the care home sector from government was dedicated to supporting staff and improving their health and well being. It said the lack of knowledge about financial support had added avoidable burdens of stress on care home owners and managers. The report continued: The financial viability of the care home sector was partly dependent on care workers working harder and longer. But it said there was no general increase in hourly pay and that some staff experienced reduced benefits for working more hours. The report said: Very little of the additional financial support for the care home sector from government was dedicated to supporting staff and improving their health and well being, despite the immense pressure they were under both at work and in their personal lives. The report found it was not surprising care homes had struggled to retain and recruit staff once lockdown restrictions were eased. In the first year of the pandemic, the report found 60% of care home beds for older people were operated by companies which would be put at risk of insolvency by a mild economic shock. During the pandemic, it also said: 80% of workers questioned said they worked more hours. 42% reported financial problems related to working in care homes. Half of those questioned said their ability to meet residents needs worsened. Staff vacancy rates in residential care homes in January 2022 reached 11% up from 6% in April 2021. Meanwhile, funding promised for the social care workforce in England has been halved. In its People at the Heart of Care white paper on adult social care reform, published in December 2021, the Government pledged to invest at least 500 million over the next three years. But the Department of Health and Social Care has now said its call for evidence in partnership with Skills for Care on a new care workforce pathway and funding for hundreds of thousands of training places, including a new Care Certificate qualification, would be backed by 250 million. A London NHS trust on Thursday issued an urgent plea for patients to attend appointments during the junior doctors strikes amid fears that they were not coming forward for care. St Georges, Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust said that more than 1,200 patients in the south-west London area had not attended appointments during the last walkout in March. The warning came as more than 47,000 members of the British Medical Association began a third day of strike action over pay. The strike, which is the most disruptive in NHS history, will last until Saturday morning. Dr Richard Jennings, group chief medical officer for St Georges, Epsom and St Helier, said: We have had to reschedule some appointments to ensure we prioritise care for those who most need it but you will be contacted if this is the case. That means if you have an appointment and you havent heard from us you should still come in. Londoners have been warned not to attend A&E unless they have a life-threatening condition to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. More than 50,000 operations and procedures are expected to be cancelled in the capital as a result of the strike. At Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Woolwich, patients attending A&E without an urgent need to be seen were warned yesterday of a 12-hour wait. Meanwhile, the BMA said it had held talks with Acas in a bid to break the deadlock and urged the Government to engage with the independent conciliation service. BMA council chair Professor Philip Banfield said: In the face of a constant refusal from Health Secretary Steve Barclay to agree to further talks and put forward a credible offer which could bring an end to the dispute, we believe that working with Acas provides the most realistic chance of a successful outcome to the negotiations. We have always said we will get round the table for talks with Mr Barclay at any time; a credible offer from him could result in strike action being called off, but despite months of trying, he remains seemingly intransigent and inflexible to all our attempts to reach a settlement. But last night Mr Barclay dismissed the call for talks, saying the BMA would need to drop its unreasonable demand for a 35 per cent pay rise. If the BMA move significantly on this and cancels strikes we can resume talks, he added. On Thursday morning minister Chris Philp also suggested junior doctors needed to suspend all strikes if the Government was to agree to Acas talks. He was asked on BBC Radio 4s Today programme: Why not just say yes, in a strike where lives are at stake... yes to Acas? Its not something that involves you having to agree to anything. Its a process. Mr Philp replied: Well, thats a very recent change in position. I think it would also be constructive if they would suspend the strikes while talks take place. A sharp rise in diphtheria cases in the UK and Europe has been linked to small boat crossings, according to researchers at the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID). The research highlights how 73 cases of the disease were recorded in England in 2022 overall, up from 12 cases the previous year. One further case was recorded in 2023. The authors said: Linked to an increase in migrant arrivals via small boat in the summer of 2022, the UK experienced a sharp increase in diphtheria cases caused by toxigenic Corynebacterium diphtheriae last year. Speaking about data for Europe as a whole, they said there had been evident transmission among migrant people which they believed had occurred during travel within migrant facilities. In November, it was reported that thousands of migrants in the UK are to be vaccinated. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was working with the Home Office to vaccinate migrants at the Manston asylum centre against the disease. What is diphtheria? Diptheria is a highly contagious infection. It affects the nose, throat, and sometimes the skin, and can be serious and sometimes fatal, if not treated quickly, according to the NHS. The infection is rare in the UK but theres a risk of catching it by travelling to some parts of the world. What are its symptoms? Symptoms usually start two to five days after infection and include the following: a thick, grey-white coating on the back of your throat, nose, and tongue a high temperature a sore throat swollen glands in your neck difficulty breathing and swallowing Cutaneous diphtheria is an infection of the skin and symptoms include pus-filled blisters and large ulcers. Migrants arrive in the UK 1 / 17 Migrants arrive in the UK PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA PA How does diphtheria spread? Diphtheria is highly contagious and can be spread via coughs and sneezes, or through close contact with someone who is infected. It can also be spread by sharing items, such as cutlery or bedding, with an infected person. How is diphtheria treated? Diphtheria can be treated with antibiotics, medicine, and by cleaning wounds if it has affected the skin. People who have been in close contact with someone who is infected may also need treatment. Can diphtheria be prevented? Diphtheria can be prevented by vaccination. In the UK, babies and children have been routinely vaccinated against diphtheria since the 1940s, which is why its rare here. People who intend to travel to parts of the world where there is a higher risk of diphtheria may need a booster vaccine before travelling. Title Changed First published: 19:36 BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Chair of Azerbaijan's Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova urged to condemn Armenia's provocations against Azerbaijan, parliament told Trend. The leader of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova who is in Russia's St Petersburg on a working visit currently has had a conversation with Chair of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko on the margins of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assemblys 55th plenum. Speaker of the Milli Majlis pointed out that such subversions flew in the teeth of serious international calls for peace treaty conversations and signify that Armenia is uninterested in the peace process as such. Sahiba Gafarova noted that Armenia flouts the norms and principles of international law; not only do Armenias aggravations targeting Azerbaijan violate the countrys territorial wholeness and sovereignty, but they also pose grave threats to regional peace and security. Thus, this course of action on Armenias part needs to be severely condemned. A Canary Wharf cocktail bar which served underage girls despite one of them vomiting on the floor has clung onto its licence. Police had originally called for the Cocktail Club in Cabot Square to lose its licence over the December incident in which a group including two teenage girls were served for six hours. But in a decision published Thursday, Tower Hamlets councillors decided the bar could keep its licence after hearing of a raft of changes it had made. Councillors had heard how the group later went on to a bar in Shoreditch and one of the teens reported being spiked, leading to her hospitalisation. An investigation was then launched into what occurred earlier in the night at the Cocktail Club, with a Met Police officer saying there was very concerning CCTV of the girls being sexually harassed. Officers had also raised concerns about the girls not being asked for ID and the apparent presence of other minors at the bar. The Cocktail Clubs managing director Dawn Donohoe said she was shocked and disappointed by the incident and pledged changes to avoid any repeat. The chain runs 17 venues, predominantly in London. Ahead of the hearing on April 11, police and the bars management came to an agreement on a string of conditions it would implement in a bid to keep its licence. This was then endorsed by councillors, which said they included changes to the bars management and security. It is also clear that the various changes in operation since the incident also demonstrated that the likelihood of future under-age sales and other problems was minimised, said councillors. The compliance visits showed that patrons were asked for identification before entry. Equally importantly, bar staff were also asking for ID before sale rather than relying on the door staff, which supplemented the checks done at the door. The bar must also undergo audits to check they are following the rules in October 2023, April 2024, October 2024, and April 2025. A Cocktail Club spokesperson said: Incidents like this are taken extremely seriously and we have worked closely with the Met police over the last few months to make sure that we have done everything possible to ensure that this will not happen again. T he streets of London need to be protected to stop the epidemic of mobile phone thefts, a minister said on Thursday. Asked about a report that a mobile phone is stolen every six minutes in the capital and that the recovery rate was 1.9 per cent, policing minister Chris Philp said he was deeply concerned by those figures as a Londoner. Speaking on LBC Radio, he added: That is precisely why we are recruiting all these extra police officers and once they all through their training, being able to protect the streets to prevent these crimes happening in the first place, and then follow up afterwards.... Pressed on whether there is currently enough follow-up by police on these crimes, the Croydon South MP added: I think there is more we can do. One of the reasons why I was keen to sort out these problems with the bureaucracy, and the form filling, and to lift that burden off policing, is to free up time to spend on follow-up. Once we have done this, one of the challenges I will be putting to policing, is to say that with all the extra police officers, with the removal of these bureaucratic burdens which are worth nearly half a million hours a year, I expect and the public expects obviously more visible policing, which is preventative and reassures the public and I expect more to do be done on follow-up. Policing minister Chris Philp / PA Archive The Government says that cuts to "unnecessary red tape" will see the police spending less time recording rude but non-threatening messages and more time investigating crime on the streets. The move is part of a wider set of rule changes to how forces record crime, aimed at freeing up police time. The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) said a review of productivity has found that 443,000 officer hours are spent filling in forms and dealing with unnecessary administrative tasks, equivalent to attending 220,000 domestic abuse incidents or 270,000 burglaries. The Home Office said officers should be on the streets investigating crimes such as burglary, rather than investigating comments made online. The Government said the changes will come into effect in the coming weeks, and follow recommendations from review by the NPCC lead for crime data integrity, Chris Rowley. Chair of the NPCC Gavin Stephenson said: "Police officers must be totally focused on keeping people safe and ensuring they feel safe. "We want to provide the best possible policing to the public and the work of the police productivity review is aimed at removing barriers and improving effectiveness. But Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Alistair Carmichael MP said: "This announcement is simply too little, too late. People are losing confidence in the police because of Conservative mismanagement." He added: "The Conservatives are failing to tackle crime and people up and down the country know this announcement will make little difference to that. S outh Western Railway (SWR) has warned customers not to attempt to travel to or from London Waterloo on Thursday following a major signalling problem. The issue had been fixed by Thursday afternoon, but Network Rail Wessex said disruption would last until the end of the day and asked people to continue avoiding the station. SWR urged customers to check before travelling, and said a significantly reduced service was operating to and from Waterloo - one of Britains busiest train stations - on a limited number of lines. Commuters flocked to social media on Thursday to express their frustration, and quiz SWR on how the severe disruption would be. One Twitter user, named Anna, wrote: Being told train is terminating at Wimbledon! Will I be able to get another one from there to Waterloo or will I have to spend hours on tubes and buses? What a start to the morning, wrote Jamie Phillips. Dom Fairlie added: Already boarded the 6:16 from Sunbury into WAT. I hope I can get home again later! Another commuter wrote: Youre kidding, would have been nice to know before I boarded the 0523 Christchurch to WAT! Peter Williams, Customer and Commercial Director at SWR, on Thursday morning apologised for the disruption Disruption is expected to last until the end of the day, with significantly fewer services able to run on a very limited number of linesm he said. We do expect the wider network to be affected as trains and their crews will be displaced. If you are travelling on the wider network please check before you travel using a journey planner. Once again were sorry for the disruption. Network Rail Wessex says the signalling fault occurred around 3am on Thursday. In an update on Twitter on Thursday afternoon, its route director for Wessex, Mark Killick, said he recognises the huge impact the signal failure has had on passengers, adding: Im really sorry for the disruption that weve caused. Weve identified the problem and weve made a temporary repair, and the signalling has now been restored, he siad. That means that over the next few hours well start to introduce more train services, but unfortunately there will still be disruption for the rest of the day. A wraparound advert on London buses has been replaced, following claims that it was misleading Londoners. The advert was designed to tell the public how environmentally-friendly the capitals bus fleet is, but was removed by Transport for London (TfL) after a City Hall politician raised concerns. The wraparound graphic stated that all of Londons buses are either low or zero-emission at the tailpipe, with the words zero-emission used in a significantly larger font. According to TfLs website, more than 800 zero-emission buses operate in the citys total fleet of around 9,000 buses. It led Conservative London Assembly Member Emma Best to ask Mayor Sadiq Khan about it in a written question to him. She asked Mr Khan: Given that the bus fleet are all low emission but only about 10 per cent are zero-emission, is this is false advertisement, and should the font sizes be reversed? Emma Best AM / London Assembly As of April 2023, a response to Ms Bests question had still not been issued, but TfL appear to have decided to replace the advert. In an email to Ms Best seen by the Local Democracy Reporting Service, a senior City Hall transport official said on April 6: Regarding the bus wrap, all buses in the London fleet are either low or zero-emission, so the wording used on the bus wrap is correct. However, TfL made the decision to update the wording of the advertising for greener buses, which now features the line all our buses are low or zero-emission in the same font size. The bus wrap that you refer to was due to run until late March, and if not already replaced will be replaced shortly once the advertising space has been sold to a commercial advertiser. I've been questioning the below ad with the Mayor's team and am pleased to hear this misleading bus wrap is being pulled but it is again another case of the Mayor wasting Londoners' money. pic.twitter.com/BiNdox3HTN Emma Best AM (@emmabest22) April 11, 2023 Writing on Twitter this week, Ms Best said: I've been questioning the below ad with the Mayor's team and am pleased to hear this misleading bus wrap is being pulled but it is again another case of the Mayor wasting Londoners' money. TfL is aiming to ensure that all of its buses are zero-emission at some point between 2030 and 2034, depending on funding available. TfL has been approached for comment. U S President Joe Biden has said the UK should be working more closely with the Irish Government to support the people of Northern Ireland. Mr Biden also claimed hundreds of US corporations were ready to invest in Northern Ireland but were cautious about the lack of devolved government in the region. Devolution is in cold storage at Stormont due to a political impasse over post-Brexit trade. In a speech to the Irish parliament in Dublin, the US president touched again on themes he focused on in an address in Belfast on Wednesday when he expressed hopes of a return to powersharing and insisted stable governance at Stormont could deliver an economic windfall for the region. However, his remarks in the Irish capital on Thursday went further, particularly his assertion that the UK should be working more closely with the administration in Dublin to support Northern Ireland. During his trip to the island of Ireland, White House officials have dismissed claims made by some unionist politicians that the US president is anti-British. The UK Government also moved to explain why Prime Minister Rishi Sunak did not play a more prominent role in Mr Bidens short visit to Northern Ireland on Wednesday. In his historic address to both houses of the Oireachtas in Dublin, Mr Biden said more work was needed to nurture Northern Irelands peace. Peace is precious. It still needs its champions. It still needs to be nurtured, he said. Yesterday I was in Belfast to honour those who commit themselves to peace, to reiterate the enduring support of the United States to the Good Friday Agreement and Northern Irelands democratic institutions and help accelerate the economy, economic growth that is opening new futures for young people in Northern Ireland. As I pointed out, there are literally hundreds of American corporations ready to come and invest but they are cautious because the institutions are not in place. The Good Friday Agreement, he said, had changed lives in Northern Ireland and had also had a significant positive impact across the Republic of Ireland as well. Reflecting on discussions with Taoiseach Leo Vardakar on the political situation in Northern Ireland, Mr Biden spoke of how Ireland and the United states can work together with the United Kingdom and the European Union to support the people of Northern Ireland. He added: I think that the United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland in this endeavour. Political violence must never be allowed again to take hold on this island. In Wednesdays keynote address at Ulster University in Belfast, Mr Biden praised the work of the UK and EU to strike the Windsor Framework on post-Brexit trading arrangements. The presidents visit to Northern Ireland came as the region marks the 25th anniversary of the landmark Good Friday peace accord that created Stormonts powersharing institutions. The DUP is blocking those institutions in protest at Brexit trade barriers between Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It has said the framework does not go far enough to address its concerns over sovereignty. There had been speculation that Mr Biden would address the Stormont Assembly on his visit north of the border, but that plan did not materialise, with suggestions that the powersharing impasse was a determining factor. On Thursday, Dail speaker Sean O Fearghail referenced the fact that Mr Biden had not spoken at Stormont, as he welcomed the Northern Ireland Assemblys speaker as an invited guest at Leinster House. He said: From north of the border we also welcome Alex Maskey, speaker of the Northern Assembly, which Im sure you wouldve liked to have been able to address. Sinn Fein Stormont leader Michelle ONeill, Alliance Party chief Naomi Long and SDLP leader Colum Eastwood attended Thursdays address in the Dail. No unionist politicians from Northern Ireland accepted invitations to attend. Earlier, Mr Varadkar rejected claims that Mr Biden is anti-British. Some DUP figures past and present have been critical of Mr Bidens approach to the UK, particularly in respect of the Brexit debate. MP Sammy Wilson claimed the president has got a record of being pro-republican, anti-unionist, anti-British, while former first minister Baroness Foster suggested he hates the UK. After meeting Mr Biden in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon, Mr Varadkar was asked about the anti-British suggestion. I dont agree with that assessment, thats certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration, he said. Theyre very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. We should never underestimate the strength of the UK-American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also the institutions up and running. Because people and politicians come and go, its institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. I dont feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole. The Taoiseach would not be drawn on an Irish role in Northern Ireland if the impasse at Stormont continues. Definitely something that I need to speak to the Prime Minister about before speaking in public, but plan A is the only plan we have at the moment, and that is to get the Good Friday Agreement working as envisaged, have the five parties form an executive four of them want to, one doesnt, he said. I think it is possible to get the DUP on board and then, not only crucially have the powersharing institutions up and running in Northern Ireland, but also the North-South bodies which are very important too. Mr Varadkar also said Northern Ireland can benefit from US investment if it establishes political stability. I think whats envisaged is investment by the US private sector, by American companies in Northern Ireland, he said. I think if there is stability in Northern Ireland, if theres predictability about the trading arrangements and the political situation there, Northern Ireland can benefit from that investment too. Earlier, UK minister Chris Philp defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday amid criticism that the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and the US president appeared to have been scaled back to a less formal conversation over a cup of tea. Touring broadcast studios on Thursday, the minister was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the presidents speech at the Ulster University campus after meeting him in the morning. I dont know exactly what the Prime Ministers schedule was, he told GB News. I havent discussed it with him or No 10. Of course they did have extensive discussions in Belfast yesterday before President Bidens speech. I rish premier Leo Varadkar has said the strength of the UK-US relationship should never be underestimated, as he rejected claims that Joe Biden is anti-British. It comes as a Home Office minister insisted Prime Minister Rishi Sunaks interaction with the US president in Belfast involved extensive discussions while the White House characterised their talks as broad and general. The Taoiseach, speaking to reporters in Dublin following a meeting with the US president, rejected any suggestion that Mr Biden was anti-British. I dont agree with that assessment, thats certainly not my experience of President Biden or his administration, he said. Theyre very keen to have a strong and special relationship with the United Kingdom and that, of course, goes back to their own history, and also the fact that they fought two world wars, side by side. We should never underestimate the strength of the UK/American relationship, and I know that President Biden and his administration are committed to that special relationship, but he is somebody who identifies as Irish-American, who is proudly Irish, and takes an interest in Irish affairs, and his only interest really is to see not just peace sustained in Northern Ireland, but also the institutions up and running. Because people and politicians come and go, its institutions that underline and make sure that democracy and freedom and prosperity last for generations. I dont feel he is pushing any particular agenda other than what he thinks is best for the people of Northern Ireland and the people of Ireland as a whole. The Taoiseach would not be drawn on an Irish role in Northern Ireland if the current impasse at Stormont continues. Definitely something that I need to speak to the Prime Minister about before speaking in public, but plan A is the only plan we have at the moment, and that is to get the Good Friday Agreement working as envisaged, have the five parties form an executive four of them want to, one doesnt, he said. I think it is possible to get the DUP on board and then, not only crucially have the powersharing institutions up and running in Northern Ireland, but also the North-South bodies which are very important too. Mr Varadkar also said Northern Ireland can benefit from US investment if it establishes political stability. I think whats envisaged is investment by the US private sector, by American companies in Northern Ireland, he said. I think if there is stability in Northern Ireland, if theres predictability about the trading arrangements and the political situation there, Northern Ireland can benefit from that investment too. Earlier, Chris Philp defended Mr Sunaks movements on Wednesday amid criticism that the bilateral meeting between the Prime Minister and the US president appeared to have been scaled back to a less formal conversation over a cup of tea. Touring broadcast studios on Thursday, the minister was asked why Mr Sunak had missed the presidents speech at the Ulster University campus after meeting him in the morning. I dont know exactly what the Prime Ministers schedule was, he told GB News. I havent discussed it with him or No 10 Of course they did have extensive discussions in Belfast yesterday before President Bidens speech. Later on Thursday, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat said the leaders had a broad, general discussion during the meeting. They discussed a number of global challenges, she said. Ms Sloat denied that the president was kept away from people in Northern Ireland, adding that it was a briefer stop than his visit to the Republic of Ireland. The president really enjoyed his time in Belfast The president had the opportunity to engage with the leaders of the parties ahead of the speech and others, she said. I can say, as one who sat in the motorcade for about an hour before we left after the speech, the president was on the rope line in Belfast for I think almost an hour, engaging with virtually everybody, it seemed, that was sitting there. The president really enjoyed his time in Belfast, Ms Sloat added. Mr Bidens visit to the island of Ireland continued on Thursday in Dublin, with the president taking part in a series of engagements. Asked whether he agreed with claims the president was anti-British, Mr Philp replied: No I dont. I think the president, when he spoke to the King recently, agreed to come to the United Kingdom on a full state visit, which is fantastic. I think hes been here four times since becoming president so no, I dont think I would not accept that characterisation at all. Mr Philp also echoed the presidents remarks on powersharing, saying political parties in Northern Ireland should get around the table to bring an end to the deadlock. He described the Windsor Framework as a huge step forward by the UK Government which helped to remove obstacles to restoring the executive. The minister told Sky News: That was a huge step forward by the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when he got that Windsor Framework agreed with the European Union just a few weeks ago. So those obstacles we feel have now been removed. So we agree with President Biden, we think the parties should get around the table, restore the powersharing arrangements. Mr Philp added that Mr Bidens remarks that the return of powersharing could unlock new investment were interesting and made the case for ending the current paralysis really strong. R ape prosecution numbers have been "far too low" in recent years, the Policing Minister admitted on Thursday. Chris Philp said there was "no question" that the way serious sex crimes are investigated needed to be improved. He was questioned about three women who have announced plans to sue notorious social media influencer Andrew Tate for damages over allegations he abused them. They claim British detectives failed to investigate properly when they first made complaints eight years ago. Mr Tate, who is under house arrest in Romania where police are probing suspected human trafficking, rape and sexual exploitation of women there, vehemently denied the UK allegations. Mr Philp said he could not comment on individual cases. "However, the way that rape cases are investigated is being significantly improved because over recent years the level of rape prosecutions and convictions has been far too low," he told Sky News. "There is no question about that." Just one in 40 adult rapes investigated by police in England and Wales last year led to a criminal charge or summons, data shows. Mr Philp said Operation Soteria, a police and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) programme that developed new ways of investigation and prosecuting rape, would be rolled out across the country in June. But large numbers of victims are already abandoning their fight for justice over the slow progress of investigations and court delays, Ministry of Justice figures revealed earlier this year. It takes an average of 346 days from a rape being reported to police to a charge being brought and then another 337 days for a case to be completed once it reaches court. The Labour Party has planned a series of controversial attack ads that blame Rishi Sunak personally for effectively decriminalising rape because of the minuscule number of convictions. The strategy has sparked a backlash from some commentators and party figures after one campaign poster claimed the Prime Minister does not think child sex abusers should go to prison. Shadow Policing Minister Sarah Jones said: The Conservative record on investigating and charging rape is appalling, and their pathetic ambition to see prosecutions double to just three for every 100 rapes is an insult to victims. Labour has been calling for operation Soteria to be rolled out more widely for months. Victims have been let down by this Government's failure to act. Labour has a comprehensive plan to put rape and specialist sexual offence units in every police force to ensure that every victim gets the specialist help they need. Lib Dem Home Affairs spokesman Alistair Carmichael MP said: Operation Soteria is a long-overdue chance to increase rape prosecutions, but the Conservatives must not let its promise ring hollow. That means providing the funding and cooperation needed, and facilitating its roll-out across the country. R ishi Sunak has hinted that the fight against the ultra-low emissions zone will be an instrumental part of the Conservatives election campaign in the capital. The Prime Minister said the Tories should not stop the crusade against the expansion of the clean air zone to the outer London boroughs. Five Conservative-run councils cleared the first hurdle of their legal fight against the widening of Mayor Sadiq Khan's Ulez on Wednesday. High Court judge Sir Ross Cranston ruled that an application from Bexley, Bromley, Harrow, Hillingdon and Surrey Councils for a judicial review into scheme should proceed to a full hearing in July. On Thursday, Mr Sunak said it was an "interesting and positive development on the legal side" and a "hard won success" for London Tory MPs and councillors. He added that the party would "keep campaigning on this issue" because it could make an "actual difference" at an election. Mr Sunak pointed to the Tories last year winning a council seat in Cambridge that they had not held in almost two decades following a by-election campaign against road charging in the area. Speaking at a ConservativeHome event on Thursday, he said: "We've seen that this can actually make a difference. In Cambridgeshire, actually, we won a by-election recently in Longstanton and a big part of the pitch was about congestion charging and these types of things in Cambridge. And it was a very effective campaign that meant that we could pick up a seat for the first time in years. "So tribute to our hard working councillors and other activists who are highlighting these issues and the damage that they do." Labour has opened up a 40-point lead over the Conservatives in London, according to the latest polls. The results of the YouGov survey earlier this month mark Labours biggest lead over the Tories in London since the polling company started tracking the citys voting intentions in 2010. However, Tory election chiefs claim the Labour Mayor has a problem in a number of suburban boroughs and believe opposition to the Ulez give them the best chance to win back City Hall. Allies of Mr Khan said he would be proudly campaigning on his record of having helped clean up the capitals air and he on Thursday he vowed to press ahead with the Ulez expansion. City Hall made clear that it would continue with preparations without delay to expand the 12.50-a-day charge boundary on August 29. Mr Khan said: Following yesterdays ruling, Ulez expansion remains on track. Im pleased that the judge refused permission on the majority of grounds, and were confident that millions more people will be breathing cleaner air in outer London when the scheme is rolled out in August." The decision to expand Ulez was a difficult one, but its necessary to protect the health of Londoners and tackle the climate crisis. Mr Biden was speaking in the Windsor pub in Dundalk on Wednesday night on the first day of his three-day visit. The White House website attempted to smooth over the situation by clarifying its official record to refer to the All Blacks. However, Mr Bidens error threw into question the presidents partisan stance towards Northern Ireland and the Republic. It also attracted fierce criticism online and from major media outlets. Gaffe spoils Bidens charm offensive, said a Times headline. The New York Post called it a cringeworthy gaffe. Heres what you need to know about the Black and Tans. What did Joe Biden say about the Black and Tans? The US president, paying tribute to relative and former Ireland rugby player Rob Kearney, thanked him for the tie he was wearing. He referenced Irelands first victory over the All Blacks (a 40-29 win) at Soldier Field in Chicago in November 2016. He said: This was given to me by one of these guys, right here, was a hell of a rugby player. He beat the hell out of the Black and Tans. The delivery version of the speech on the White House website has the Black and Tans crossed out and All Blacks added in brackets. Who were the Black and Tans? The Black and Tans were a notorious group of British paramilitary forces that operated in Ireland during the early 20th century. A 10,000-strong group of British recruits to the Royal Irish Constabulary (RIC), they were sent to counter Irish Republican Army (IRA) extremism. They were recruited from January 1920. Many of those who signed up were unemployed veterans, who had already served in the First World War. They worked in Ireland to suppress the demands to break away from Britain. During the War of Independence from 1919-21, many RIC members quit, as they were worried about reprisals and because of divided loyalties. They were known for their brutal approach, but also faced extremists in the IRA whose tactics were also vicious. The group was notably singled out in the pro-IRA song, Come Out, Ye Black And Tans, which is still popular with Irish rebel bands. The Black and Tans were eventually disbanded in 1922 following the signing of the Anglo-Irish Treaty, which established the Irish Free State. Why were they called the Black and Tans? Their nickname originated from the colour of their uniform. They wore some of the dark green clothing of the RIC, which looked black, and some of the khaki of the British army. A ndrew Tate has been accused of violent sexual and physical assaults of three women in the UK in a civil suit launched by the alleged survivors. The three women, in their late 20s and early 30s, claim the attacks took place between 2013 and 2016 while Tate was living in the UK. Their claims relate to personal injury and psychiatric harm as a result of alleged violent sexual and physical assault as well as coercive control. Tate who has been based mainly in Romania since 2017, is an online influencer and self-described misogynist who has built up a following of millions of fans, particularly among young men drawn to his hyper-macho image. The Tate brothers were detained in Romania in December amid allegations of rape, people trafficking and forming an organised crime group. Both have denied wrongdoing. The former kickboxer, 36, and his brother were recently released from prison and placed under house arrest after winning an appeal over their detention. In a crowdfunder launched to raise 50,000 for legal costs, the three women said: We are three survivors of Andrew Tates violent and misogynistic ideology. During his time in the UK, Tate subjected us and other women to serious and violent sexual and physical assaults. Despite facing prosecution in Romania, he has never been held accountable for his crimes in the UK. We believe that many of his victims have yet to come forward, and it is time for the English justice system to hold him responsible for his actions. We want to show them that we, as survivors, can stand up to him and that every one of his despicable acts has consequences. Matthew Jury, a managing partner of McCue Jury & Partners representing the women, said: We are honoured to have been entrusted with this important case. Our clients bravery in coming forward to tell their stories and hold Tate to account is remarkable, and they hope it will empower other victims and survivors to come forward and join them. Perhaps focusing on the victims stories, rather than Tates misogynistic rants, will also mean his followers will come to understand his true nature. That rather than being a champion of masculinity, he is simply an exploitative coward who likes to hurt women. Danielle Vincent, Senior Associate at Hugh James Solicitors, added: It is a stark warning to those who behave in such manner or look up to Tate, that they could incur life long restrictions in regards to jobs they can do, places they can travel and losing their life fortunes to behave in the same manner. When survivors are strong enough to come out and publicly disclose their abuse, it often gives others the strength to come forward also. There could be many others reading these articles that will subsequently come forward. We would encourage anyone who has been impacted by Tate, to report to the police. A spokesperson for Andrew Tate told The Guardian: We are concerned that the intention of suing was first communicated to the mainstream press and not to Andrew Tate or his legal team. Andrew Tate vehemently denies these allegations, which he was completely unaware of until today, and is saddened that the press chooses to act as a facilitator for opportunistic attempts by women for monetary gain. Details added (first published: 19:33) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. In his speech at the government meeting on April 13, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan blamed Azerbaijan for the latest provocation in the direction of Lachin and accused Baku of "violating the obligations assumed during the Prague and Sochi meetings", said Spokesperson of Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry Aykhan Hajizade, Trend reports. He said that these statements are completely groundless and unacceptable. "Referring to the statement of the EU made the day before, the PM's repetition of the idea of taking the 1991 border as a basis for delineation contains a number of biased points. Thus, we would like to remind the Armenian PM that, as a result of the occupation policy initiated by Armenia against Azerbaijan, in 1990 the villages of Kerki and Baganis were occupied by Armenia," he said. The spokesperson added that at the same time, it is known that Armenia, contrary to the trilateral statement, is still not withdrawing its armed forces from the Azerbaijani territories, keeping 8 Azerbaijani villages under occupation. In this particular case, Aykhan Hajizada says, the PM must first clarify the question of what is meant by the 1991 borders. "The fact that Armenia continues to lay claims to the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan and does not withdraw its forces from these territories is a vivid example of a serious violation of the Prague and Sochi agreements and Armenia's lack of interest in the peace process," he added. Aykhan Hajizada went on to say that instead of a positive response to Azerbaijan's offer of establishing a border checkpoint at the beginning of the Lachin-Khankendi road in order to put an end to the provocations and illegal activities of Armenia in Azerbaijan, the Armenian side does not cease to distort the decision of the International Court of Justice on the Lachin-Khankendi road. He noted that the claim that the Azerbaijani government is the organizer of the peaceful protests on the Lachin-Khankendi road was rejected by the Court. Moreover, he said that claims that "the road is closed" and "the territory is under blockade" have no ground. "We demand from the Armenian side, instead of making groundless statements, to return to negotiations on a peace treaty, which they have refused since December last year, to comply with the obligations arising from the trilateral statement, including the opening of communications, the complete withdrawal of forces from Azerbaijani territories, and to refrain from steps against the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan," Hajizada concluded. S ecurity measures for the Kings coronation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis amid a huge policing operation with the Duke of Sussex preparing to return to the UK for the historic occasion. Policing minister Chris Philp said he hopes the high profile crowning of Charles and the Queen Consort in just over three weeks time will be similar in success to the fantastic handling of the late Queens funeral. Buckingham Palace ended months of speculation on Wednesday when it confirmed Harry will be a guest at Westminster Abbey, despite his troubled relationship with his family, though the Duchess of Sussex will stay in the US and miss Charless big day. The Kings second son, who moved to California after stepping down as a senior working royal, is taking legal action against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK. Months ago, Harry was criticised for revealing in his memoir that he killed 25 Taliban insurgents while fighting in Afghanistan, with security experts suggesting it has made him and those associated with him targets. Asked what effect Harrys presence will have on security measures at the coronation, Mr Philp told LBC: Those obviously get assessed on a case-by-case basis. On whether there will be a significant additional cost due to the dukes attendance, Mr Philp added: Im not going to get into peoples individual protection arrangements but, by the way, were providing protection for hundreds of foreign heads of state, overseas heads of state who are attending as well. Its a huge policing operation, both in terms of the streets and obviously protection for individuals, so its a big operation. He added: Were going to make sure that everybody involved in the coronation, including the general public, are kept safe, obviously. Mr Philp said police did a fantastic job at the late Queens funeral, adding: Were going to work to make sure we have a similar successful operation. More than 2,000 guests will gather at the Abbey on May 6 to witness the nations first coronation for 70 years, with foreign dignitaries set to include First Lady Jill Biden. A mass police presence will be out in force on the streets of central London as well-wishers flock to the capital to see the King, Camilla and the royal family take part in a grand carriage procession and make an appearance on the balcony at Buckingham Palace. Harrys stay in the UK will be brief, with the duke heading quickly back to California to join the celebrations for Prince Archies fourth birthday, which coincides with the day of the coronation. The duke will only be attending the ceremony and not taking part in other coronation festivities during the three-day bank holiday weekend. A concert is being staged at Windsor Castle on Sunday May 7, with people also encouraged to come together across the country for a Coronation Big Lunch, while on Monday May 8, the focus is a Big Help Out volunteering drive. Chef and TV presenter Ainsley Harriott hailed the power of food to bring communities together on Thursday morning as he knocked on doors to hand out invitations to a local Coronation Big Lunch in Richmond, south-west London. The Big Lunch ambassador, known for hosting Ready Steady Cook, said: One of the most important things about longevity in life is feeling a part of your community. We have gone through a period when everybody just became a little bit selfish; this coronation is an opportunity for us to address those things, to show our human sides and look out for our neighbours. The Metropolitan Police has yet to comment on the coronation security arrangements. I rish premier Leo Varadkar hailed the importance of US and European leadership, as he met with President Joe Biden in Dublin. The Taoiseach, meeting Mr Biden at Farmleigh House in Phoenix Park, praised American leadership since the Russian invasion of Ukraine last year. Mr Varadkar said he wanted to thank you and your administration and your countrys leadership when it comes to Ukraine because I never thought in my lifetime that wed see a war of this nature happening in Europe again. He added: Democracy and liberty and the things that we believe in are on retreat, or in retreat, in large parts of the world, and if it wasnt for American leadership, and if it wasnt for America and Europe working together, I dont know what kind of world wed live in. Mr Biden, who also met with the Irish leader in Washington on St Patricks Day, praised Irish values and the countrys acceptance of thousands of Ukrainian refugees as he spoke of a stronger and stronger relationship between the US and Ireland. The pair are set to discuss efforts to restore powersharing in Northern Ireland, with Mr Varadkar thanking Mr Biden for US support for the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden told Mr Varadkar it had been great to see him in Washington last month, and said: I think there really is an opportunity to make serious progress, not just because of the accord that was signed 25 years ago, but in terms of the way Ireland is moving, the way it is taking its place in the world, working on helping countries around the world that are dealing with starvation, the way youve I know its not easy welcomed Ukrainians here and the leadership youve shown. Earlier, in the grounds of the Irish presidents official residence in Dublin, Mr Biden had reiterated his hopes for the return of politicians to Stormont as he rang the symbolic peace bell. Speaking to Mr Varadkar, Mr Biden appeared to reference the progress made in securing the Windsor Framework the deal between the EU and UK to amend the Northern Ireland Protocol as he spoke of co-operation between the Taoiseach and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak as very valuable as well. The US president, who will address the Irish Parliament later on Thursday as part of a day filled with ceremonies and formal honours, was greeted at Aras an Uachtarain by Michael D Higgins as he continued his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. Mr Biden, who stopped to speak to reporters after ringing the peace bell four times, said: I hope that the government begins to function as it used to in terms of functioning as a representative body in the north. I think thats necessary and thats for you all to decide, not for me to decide. The peace bell was installed in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. Mr Biden, who visited Belfast on Wednesday as part of a trip to mark the 25th anniversary of the peace accord, referenced former US senator George Mitchell, who chaired the negotiations which led to the agreement. He said: Im very proud of my colleague George Mitchell. He did a fine job. He said 300 days of failure, one day of success. We have got to build on that one day. Mr Biden is expected to later set out a shared vision for the future of US-Irish relations when he addresses both Houses of the Oireachtas. He received a ceremonial welcome to Aras an Uachtarain, with his motorcade cheered by onlookers as it passed into the vast Phoenix Park. It was Mr Bidens third visit to the residence, but his first as president. A military band played the American national anthem as Mr Biden stood outside the grand residence with his right hand on his heart. After listening to the Irish national anthem, the president inspected a guard of honour before being introduced to Irish dignitaries including Irish Defence Forces Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Sean Clancy and head of the Irish police, Garda Commissioner Drew Harris. But Mr Biden was peppered with questions from reporters as he stood in the grounds of the Irish presidents house, including on a high-profile national security leak and his feelings on being back in Ireland. The world leader said it feels great to be home, adding: I know it sounds silly. The visit finished with Mr Biden and Mr Varadkar together meeting some young GAA players. Mr Biden will be accompanied to the Irish parliament by Marie Heaney, the widow of his favourite poet, Seamus Heaney. Nine members of the US Congress, one senator as well as Mr Bidens sister Valerie and son Hunter will attend the event, as well as former Irish president Mary McAleese, two former taoisigh, Bertie Ahern and Enda Kenny, Northern Ireland political leaders and Larysa Gerasko, ambassador of Ukraine to Ireland. Mr Biden will attend a banquet in his honour at Dublin Castle hosted by Mr Varadkar in the evening. M ary Lou McDonald has said there is no ambiguity about Sinn Feins stance on US foreign policy, but she insisted Irish issues will be her port of call when speaking to Joe Biden. It comes after a TD accused the US president of using the Dail chamber as a soapbox to air his foreign policy agenda as statements will not be taken from political parties following his remarks to parliamentarians. Ms McDonald indicated that she shares concerns about Americas role in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as the countrys support for Israel, but said a boycott of the US presidents address to the Irish parliament is the wrong choice. People Before Profit is boycotting the historic speech by Mr Biden to both houses of the Oireachtas over objections to his foreign policy. The party said the move is due to Mr Bidens record on Palestine, Iraq, Nato expansion and over climate pollution as well as the absence of opportunity for Dail parties to ask questions. People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy told the PA news agency it is possible to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement while also raising concerns about US foreign policy. We think its our duty to speak out about this and to draw attention to it Its treated as a visit by an interesting Irish-American celebrity, as opposed to a visit of the most powerful person in the world who needs to be asked hard questions about the kinds of policies that he is pursuing, he said. When asked about Sinn Feins position, he said there is no indication the party is going to raise the foreign policy criticisms it has. When Biden speaks in the Dail this afternoon and I presume he will make allusions to Ukraine, hints towards Nato, the importance of the West standing together, etc Sinn Fein TDs will, together with every other single TD and Senator in the Dail I presume, stand up and give a standing ovation. That is not raising necessary criticisms of Joe Biden, that is allowing him to present himself as something that hes not. The problem is we are not being given an opportunity to give our position, nor is any other party in the Dail. This has been the policy previously for US presidents who address the Dail, Mr Murphy said the Oireachtas Business Committee heard this was due to the prominence and stature of the position of US presidents. Mr Murphy added: We do think that if you go to address a parliament, which is made up of representatives of people representing different viewpoints, you really should listen to the views of those people. This visit hes just speaking, theres no response by anybody, no questions, no nothing. All that Leinster House is being used for is a soapbox to push Bidens agenda. He said that in the absence of statements, the best way to show opposition is by not participating in the whole thing. Speaking earlier, Ms McDonald heaped praise on the US contribution to the peace process, but said Sinn Feins concerns about aspects of Washingtons foreign policy are well known. Building peace in Ireland, the success of all of this, is very much an American foreign policy triumph The Sinn Fein leader also told RTE Radio 1s Morning Ireland programme that there wouldnt have been a peace process without America. Asked directly if she shares left-wing criticisms of US foreign policy, she said: Of course I do. And those are legitimate criticisms. I very much doubt that anybody in the American administration is unaware of the wide criticism of many of their foreign policy stances. Questioned whether she would raise concerns about Israel with the president, she added: Ill meet him today. Im not sure what opportunity I will have to have any length of a conversation with him. My first port of call with the president is Ireland and Irish affairs, marking progress, marking their contribution, but my position as regards Palestine, the rights of the Palestinian people, and Israeli apartheid are well, well documented. There is nobody with any ambiguous or lack of clarity of my or Sinn Feins position on all of those matters. Today, this visit is about Ireland. This visit is about the political impasse that we have here. The political opportunities that I want us to grasp with both hands, and the United States of America is a partner in that, and for the criticism of their foreign policy, be very clear, Ireland, building peace in Ireland, the success of all of this, is very much an American foreign policy triumph, and is very, very much to their credit. Asked about the planned boycott, US National Security Council senior director for Europe Amanda Sloat told reporters on Thursday morning that Mr Biden was looking forward to meeting the leaders of the main political parties in Ireland. He has received an incredibly warm welcome here in Ireland. He is very much appreciative of the invitation to address the houses of parliament today. She said it was a historic opportunity for Mr Biden to set out his views to the Irish people. A junior doctors leader has pologised for going on holiday while his colleagues are on the picket line. Dr Rob Laurenson, 28, has taken the week off to be at a friends wedding. It has meant the ex-public schoolboy has not joined any of his colleagues outside hospitals, and is being paid to take annual leave while other doctors sacrifice their wages. Some 350,000 appointments and operations have been rescheduled as a result of the four-day action. Dr Laurenson, a trainee GP from Kent, was elected as co-chairman of the British Medical Associations junior doctor committee in October alongside Dr Vivek Trivedi and has orchestrated the strikes. He posted a message to colleagues in an online forum after one medic expressed their disappointment at his behaviour during the strike - which ends at 7am on Saturday. I can see that you feel undermined and I am really sorry my actions have contributed to that, Dr Laurenson wrote. The thing most important to me is the integrity of the unity of doctors and that is why Im at pains to be as transparent as possible and accountable as possible. He concludes his message by saying he remains committed to both doctors and winning the dispute before adding: I hope you can forgive me. Striking NHS junior doctors on the picket line outside St Thomas Hospital in London (Jordan Pettitt/PA) / PA Wire Downing Street said there will be no talks unless junior doctors abandon their starting position of a 35 per cent pay rise and call off the strikes. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak told reporters in Belfast yesterday that he was surprised to read Dr Laurenson was on holiday during the walkout. Lord Bethell, the former health minister, called the union leader a plonker. Even Dr Laurensons father Ian Laurenson, 69, said he was on the other side to son, adding: We have a conflict of interest because were taxpayers - customers of the NHS - and hes on the other side, wanting more money. It was a bit of a surprise to us when he stood for election. Hes not been known as some sort of militant anarchist and red in the bed. A Department of Health and Social Care source said the fact that Dr Laurenson didnt turn up to his own strikes showed that the unions leadership were not taking efforts to find a solution to the dispute seriously. The BMA told the Standard it had nothing further to add. S ecurity measures for the Kings coronation will be assessed on a case-by-case basis, a minister said today when asked about the potential cost in light of the Duke of Sussexs decision to attend. Policing minister Chris Philp told LBC there will be a huge operation for the event which he hopes will be similar to the fantastic handling of the Queens funeral. Asked what effect Harrys presence would have on security measures, he replied: Well, those obviously get assessed on a case-by-case basis. Asked if there would be a significant extra cost due to the dukes attendance, Mr Philp said: Im not going to get into peoples individual protection arrangements, but were providing protection for hundreds of foreign heads of state, overseas heads of state who are attending as well. Buckingham Palace yesterday confirmed Harry will attend, but the Duchess of Sussex will miss the historic occasion and stay in California with the couples children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Harry, who laid bare his troubled relationship with the royals in his Netflix documentary and auto- biography Spare, will be there to witness Charles and stepmother the Queen Consort crowned in Westminster Abbey on May 6. The news ended months of speculation about whether the Sussexes would show up. May 6 is also Archies fourth birthday, and his cele- brations played a part in the duchesss decision to stay in the US, sources said. Harry will be appearing in public with Charles, Camilla, his brother the Prince of Wales and sister in law the Princess of Wales for the first time since he lambasted the royals in his memoirs. It will also be the first time he has been pictured with the Windsors since the Queens funeral in September. But he will not be attending any other coronation-related events on his brief trip. L ondon-born crime author Anne Perry, who was jailed as a teenager for murdering her friends mother, has died at the age of 84, her agent has confirmed. The writer who was known for her Pitt and Monk detective novel series, alongside her dark past that was turned into the Oscar-nominated Peter Jackson film Heavenly Creatures died on Monday in Los Angeles, where she had been living. A statement from Ki Agency said: Anne was a loyal and loving friend, and her writing was driven by her fierce commitment to raising awareness around social injustice. Many readers have been moved by her empathy for people backed into impossible situations, or overwhelmed by the difficulties of life. Her characters inspired much love among her fans, and comforted many readers who were going through tough times themselves Her characters inspired much love among her fans, and comforted many readers who were going through tough times themselves. It announced her death along with the Donald Maass Literary Agency in New York and Ken Sherman & Associates in Los Angeles, saying she died on April 10. In 1954 at the age of 15, Perry, who was born Juliet Hulme, was convicted along with her friend Pauline Parker of murder. The pair bludgeoned Parkers mother to death with a brick in a stocking in Christchurch, New Zealand becoming two of the countrys most notorious killers. The events would later be the inspiration behind director Jacksons 1994 psychological drama, starring Kate Winslet in a break-out role and Melanie Lynskey, which received an Academy Award nod for screenplay writing. As both Perry and Parker were under 18 at the time of the killing, neither could be sentenced to death and they were instead subject to detention during Her Majestys pleasure, according to the New Zealand government website. After serving a five-year prison sentence, Perry was released and changed her name, returning to the UK and later beginning her writing career. It began with the publishing of The Cater Street Hangman in 1979, the first in a series of books featuring Victorian policeman Thomas Pitt and his wife Charlotte. She had this month released another novel in the sequence called The Fourth Enemy and in 2017 released 21 Days, which follows the couples son Daniel. Perrys second series of crime novels revolve around private detective William Monk and volatile nurse Hester Latterly. In 2000, she won the Edgar Award, which celebrates mystery novel writers, with Heroes, a short story about a murder that takes place in the trenches during the First World War. Prior to her death, she had been working on more titles in both the Pitt and Monk series and her works have regularly appeared on the New York Times bestseller list. Perry was born in Blackheath, London, in October 1938, and moved first to the Bahamas at the age of eight before originally settling in New Zealand. She said on her website that she had been fostered as a child due to illness and missed a lot of school as a result. Perry, who would return to the UK when she was in her 20s to live in Hexham, Northumberland, was also a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. She would also publish the mystical novels Come Armageddon and Tathea. Perry, who has also lived in southern California and Portmahomack near Inverness in Scotland, is survived by her brother Dr Jonathan Hulme and his family. M arks and Spencer removed a T-shirt from sale after a London pub chain accused it of ripping off its trademark. Owners of Craft Beer Co, set up in Clerkenwell in 2011, were stunned to see the 16 garment with their name in a graphic on the front and back. M&S said it took intellectual property very seriously and added that its design was in good faith. Friends Martin Hayes and Peter Slezak, who operate seven pubs in London and one in Brighton, tweeted the retailer on Thursday asking: Whats the idea with these T-shirts!? Can we expect a royalties cheque in the post. Surely one iconic British institution shouldnt be ripping off another.!! In a description on its website, M&S had said the St Michael Brewery-themed graphics on the back and chest add a distinctive theme. Craft Beer Co was set up in Clerkenwell in 2011 / Twitter Mr Hayes told the BBC they were alerted to the T-shirt when a punter mentioned it to one of their bar staff on Wednesday. He said: Im not angry about it, but it is a little annoying. Ive got a lot of respect for M&S. Its an iconic British business and I think somebodys just made a bit of a boo boo really, but Im sure it will be sorted out. Mr Hayes confirmed Craft Beer Co is not planning to sue. Two years ago, M&S took legal action against supermarket rival Aldi arguing that the latters Cuthbert the Caterpillar cake infringed its Colin the Caterpillar trademark. The two companies reached a settlement in the case last year. A M&S spokesman told the Standard: We take intellectual property very seriously and, while the T-shirt was designed in good faith, weve taken the decision to remove the product from sale so we can investigate further. P arents are finding out if their children have been accepted to their chosen primary schools today (Monday, April 17), as the moment often known amongst parents as offer day finally arrives. The UK Government said that in 2022, 92.2 per cent of families received an offer from their first choice of primary school and 98.1 per cent received an offer from one of their top three choices. The Standard has revealed that over 10,000 London children have failed to get their first choice of primary school. Should their child not be offered their first-choice school, parents are able to appeal. Find out below what you need to know about the appeal process, with advice from Irwin Mitchell lawyers. How to appeal your childs school offer When you appeal your childs school offer, you will be given 20 days to file any evidence. First stage of appeal During the first stage of the appeal, the panel will decide whether the admission arrangements complied with the law, and whether they were impartially and correctly applied. The panel will then decide whether admitting more children would impact the efficiency of the school and its resources. If the panel finds that the admission arrangements did not comply and that admitting more children would not impact the school, the panel must admit the child. However, if the panel finds that the school did comply and/or admitting more children would impact the school, the appeal process will move to the second stage. Second stage of appeal In stage two, the panel will balance the impact on the school against the reason for the child to be admitted. If it finds that the benefit to the child outweighs the impact on the school, the panel must admit the child. Results should be given in writing within five working days of the appeal. When should you appeal your childs school offer? Parents should be sure that appealing is the right thing to do. When considering appealing your childs school offer, the following reasons can be taken into account. A new phone line has opened as part of an investigation into former BBC Radio 1xtra DJ Tim Westwood over allegations of sexual offences. Anyone wishing to come forward about Westwoods sexual conduct, and the BBCs knowledge of it, can share their experiences anonymously and in confidence. The telephone line will be in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, for four weeks on 08000 121 838. Alternatively people can email here. Last year, a joint investigation by the Guardian and BBC News published allegations about a range of sexual misconduct and predatory behaviour made by several women against Westwood, who worked at the BBC. The 65-year-old has been interviewed under caution by the Metropolitan police in relation to five sexual offence allegations dating back more than 40 years. He was first interviewed in March in relation to allegations of historical sexual offences, which were alleged to have happened in London between 1982 and 2016. He was then questioned again last week under caution over the same alleged incidents. A total of 18 women have detailed their stories to BBC News. Some women said they encountered Mr Westwood when they were under 18. One said that she was only 14 when Mr Westwood first had sex with her. Tim Westwood has denied all allegations. Heres everything we know about him. Who is Tim Westwood? Westwood grew up around East Anglia, the son of Bill Westwood, who later became the Anglican Bishop of Peterborough, and attended a private school in Norwich, then a state secondary. He started his career as a DJ in London and moved into radio and then television. What was Tim Westwoods role at the BBC? Westwood started his radio career at Kiss FM, which he co-owned, and then moved on to mainstream radio station Capital FM from 1987. He then moved to the BBC after a presenter shake-up in 1994 and was the first person to host a rap show on the station. He stayed at the BBC for nearly 20 years and became known as a leading hiphop DJ who fraternised with leading names in the business. When was Tim Westwood shot? In 1999, Westwood was shot by gunmen on a motorbike who pulled up alongside his Range Rover in Kennington, south London. Previously speaking about the shooting in an interview, he said: A bullet went through the back of my seat an inch from my spine. Another bullet went through my arm and missed the nerves, which would have left me paralysed. The guy in the back seat had his kneecap blown off. Am I not blessed? Thank God Im alive and everyone survived. How old is Tim Westwood? This has been a point of contention for a while and he has often been accused of lying about his age to make himself seem younger. In 2000, at the age of 43, Westwood insisted to a Guardian journalist that he was just 27 years old. When was Tim Westwood on Pimp My Ride? Westwood fronted the UK version of MTVs Pimp My Ride, the car makeover show, from 2005 to 2007. The show featured weird and wacky customised cars, with flashy colourful paint and the latest in gadgets. W orkers face a very complicated task of righting a vessel which toppled over while in drydock, a marine expert said as investigations into the incident continue. Two huge cranes have been placed next to US Navy vessel the Petrel, which tipped to a 45-degree angle last month, leaving 35 people injured. The incident sparked a huge emergency service operation at the drydock in Leith, Edinburgh, which is operated by Dales Marine Services. Iraklis Lazakis, of the University of Strathclyde, said the two cranes are at the vessels port side but no other specific action can be speculated on about righting the vessel, which he said would be a very complicated procedure. Police remain at the scene, and on Thursday a police car could be seen as workers operated the cranes and moved around the stricken 3,371-tonne vessel. Both the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and Police Scotland said investigations into the incident, which happened on March 22, are continuing. An HSE spokesman said: Specialist inspectors from HSE are assessing the technical aspects of the structural collapse and continue to work with Police Scotland on the investigation into this incident. Dr Lazakis, of the Department of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Marine Engineering, said for the ship to be put upright a number of aspects need to be considered, including the potential damage on the outer hull of the vessel on the starboard side, any internal structural damages or otherwise, any transfer of loads internally, and any movements of the keel blocks due to the shifting of the ship. He added: One would also need to consider the lifting capacity/radius and angle of lift of the cranes in relation to the ships lightweight or lightship as well as any additional weights or loads within the ship. Another way to bring the ship up would be by initially assessing its structural condition externally and internally and shifting of loads etc, as well as performing any repairs needed on the outer hull, repositioning the keel blocks in the drydock if needed as per the ships docking plan, then starting to flood the drydock very slowly and tilting the vessel upright gradually. Overall, this is a very complicated procedure, also considering that, as I understand it, the drydock is used by another vessel I believe. I cannot speculate on how long this would take as there are so many unknowns at the moment. The 76m-long Petrel was once owned by the late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen, who bought the ship to locate historically significant shipwrecks and discovered 30 sunken warships, including the Japanese Imperial Navys IJN Musashi. But in 2022 the Isle of Man-registered vessel was sold to the US Navy, and is now operated by American-owned firm Oceaneering International. The Petrel has been moored at Imperial Drydock in Leith since September 3, 2020 due to operational challenges from the pandemic. Twenty-three people injured in the incident were taken to hospital and 12 were treated at the scene. A Police Scotland spokesman said: Officers are working with the Health and Safety Executive. Inquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances. In a statement on the Dales Marine Services website, it said it continues to liaise with the emergency services and relevant authorities in dealing with the incident and at this time it cannot comment any further. Details added (first published: 19:37) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Chair of Azerbaijani Milli Majlis (Parliament) Sahiba Gafarova has denied Armenia's claims about the alleged closure of the Lachin-Khankendi road, parliament told Trend. The speaker of the Milli Majlis Sahiba Gafarova who is in St Petersburg on a working visit currently has had a conversation with the Chair of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly of Russian Federation Valentina Matviyenko on the margins of the CIS Inter-Parliamentary Assemblys 55th plenum. During this meeting, she noted that Armenia has still not withdrawn its troops from Azerbaijani territories in flagrant violation of the provisions of the trilateral statement. Sahiba Gafarova said that Armenia is abusing the Lachin-Khankendi road for military purposes and to smuggle Azerbaijan's natural resources. The speaker noted that therefore, representatives of Azerbaijans civil society are holding a peaceful protest on this road while Armenia is trying to mislead the international community with false claims about the alleged blockade of the same road. She said that taking advantage of the current presence of the European Union mission in its territory, Armenia has taken steps to escalate the situation and has resorted to military provocations. A lost dog was reunited with his family in Alaska after surviving an epic trek across 150 miles of Bering Sea ice that included being bitten in a possible seal or polar bear attack. The one-year-old Australian Shepherd, called Nanuq, who lives in Gambell, Alaska, was visiting Savoogna, another St Lawrence Island community in the Bering Strait, last month when he disappeared with their other family dog, Starlight. Starlight turned up a few weeks later, but Nanuq, which means polar bear in Siberian Yupik, was nowhere to be found. About a month after Nanuq disappeared, people in Wales, 150 miles northeast of Savoonga on Alaskas western coast, began posting pictures online of what they described as a lost dog. Her owners spotted the post and realised it was theirs. Eventually he was brought back on a chartered flight. Owner Mandy Iworrigan said: I was like, `No freakin way! Thats our dog! What is he doing in Wales? I have no idea why he ended up in Wales. Maybe the ice shifted while he was hunting, she said. Im pretty sure he ate leftovers of seal or caught a seal. Probably birds, too. He eats our Native foods. Hes smart. Except for a swollen leg, with large bite marks from an unidentified animal, Nanuq was in pretty good health. Wolverine, seal, small nanuq, we dont know, because its like a really big bite, she said. D onald Trump is suing his former lawyer who is a key witness in the hush money criminal case against him for more than $500million (400m). The former president, who denies all the charges against him, says Michael Cohen has caused vast reputational harm for talking publicly about the alleged payments. The suit accused Mr Cohen of breaking a confidentiality agreement he signed as a condition of his employment, violating ethical standards for lawyers and spreading falsehoods about Mr Trump with malicious intent and to wholly self-serving ends. Mr Trump is not specifically suing Mr Cohen over his grand jury testimony in the criminal case, but he cites it in support of an argument that his ex-lawyer sought to profit from his role through the publication of two books, a podcast series and media appearances. Mr Cohens spokesman, attorney Lanny Davis, said the lawsuit will not deter Mr Cohens cooperation with prosecutors and predicted it would fail. Mr Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen, Mr Davis said. It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him. The criminal case against Mr Trump, brought last week by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, accuses the former president of falsifying 34 business records at his company to hide the true nature of 11 checks paid to Mr Cohen to reward him for work covering up Mr Trumps extramarital affairs. Those checks, prosecutors said, reimbursed Mr Cohen for a $130,000 payment he made on Mr Trumps behalf to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who had been in negotiations to sell her story of an alleged sexual encounter with the Republican. Mr Cohen is also said to have played a role in arranging payments to the Playboy model Karen McDougal and to a Trump Tower doorman. Mr Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and says the alleged encounters with Ms Daniels and Ms McDougal never happened. Cohen worked as Mr Trumps attorney for over a decade. He was also a vice-president at the Trump Organization, and was often described as Mr Trumps fixer. But the two had a major falling out after the 2016 election, as investigators began looking into several of Mr Trumps aides. In 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and campaign finance violations. Now out of prison, Cohen has become a high-profile critic of Mr Trump, and a frequent guest on news programmes. F lorida police say former childrens TV star Drake Bell, who went missing, has been found safe. The actor Drake Bell, 36, who starred in the hit childrens show Drake & Josh from 2004 to 2007, went missing from Daytona Beach on Wednesday night and police say he is "missing and endangered". In a post on Facebook - which referred to Bell by his first name, Jared - Daytona Beach Police Department wrote: "Officers are looking for Jared Bell. "He should be travelling in a 2022 grey BMW and his last known location is potentially the area of Mainland High School on 12 April, just before 9pm." Drake Bell / Getty Images Bell also starred in the animated TV series Avengers Assemble, voicing Spider-Man. It comes two years after he pleaded guilty to attempting to endanger children after he messaged a 15-year-old fan on social media. Bell, who was 31 at the time of the incident, said he did not know the girls age at the time and that "all conversation and communication stopped" when he became aware. He admitted child endangerment and disseminating material harmful to juveniles. Bell was sentenced to two years of probation and 200 hours of community service. J ack Teixeira, the man suspected of leaking highly-classified US documents online, is due to appear in court after his arrest on Thursday. Teixeira, a 21-year-old National Guardsman from rural Massachusetts, is accused of being responsible for leaking secret documents about the Ukraine war and other national security issues. He was arrested by the FBI at his home in Dighton, with footage showing him wearing shorts and a T-shirt as he was taken into custody. He will have an initial court appearance in Massachusetts on Friday. US Attorney General Merrick Garland said he is to be charged with removing or transmitting classified national defence information, a crime under the Espionage Act. Teixeira oversaw an online chat group made up of around 20-30 young men. FBI agents arrest Jack Teixeira / via REUTERS He is suspected of posting photographs of secret and top-secret documents into the group from late last year to March. Former members of the group, dubbed Thug Shaker Central, have told media outlets including the New York Times and Washington Post that the documents appeared to have been shared in an attempt to impress the rest of the group. The material was then posted outside the chat room group and became public knowledge, sparking embarrassment for the Biden administration and a massive hunt for the culprit. Teixeira joined the National Guard in 2019, according to reports, and held the relatively junior position of cyber transport systems specialist. The Pentagon said it would review its policies on safeguarding classified material, including assessing who should be on its distribution lists. Pentagon spokesman Brigadier General Patrick Ryder said: We do have strict protocols in place, so any time there is an incident theres an opportunity to review that and refine it. Although defence officials have voiced alarm at the leak, the Biden administration has also scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic fallout from the leaks. Mr Biden has downplayed the long-term impact of the disclosures, telling reporters in Ireland earlier Thursday that theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. However, the chair of the British Commons defence select committee has warned the leak which includes information about UK special forces could endanger lives. The Ministry of Defence warned against taking allegations contained in the reported leak at face value. But committee chair Tobias Ellwood told The Times: Given our long-established lead in scale and capability when it comes to elite forces, it will come as no surprise that our special forces are doing much of the heavy lifting. Tobias Ellwood / PA Wire But this deliberate, large-scale disclosure of sensitive material could easily endanger lives and should prompt an urgent review about who has access to sensitive information and how it is shared. It has been reported the document, dated March 23, indicates as many as 50 UK special forces personnel have been deployed to the country alongside other western special forces. The leak is believed to have started on Discord, a social media platform popular with gamers, where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years. The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira. T he Paris HQ of luxury brand Louis Vuitton was stormed by angry demonstrators protesting against Emmanuel Macrons planned pension reforms. More than 100 protesters were seen in the wood-panelled entrance hall of the building that is home to Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton which is commonly known as the LVMH group. If youre looking for money to finance pensions, take it from the pockets of billionaires, said Fabien Villedieu, a representative of the Sud Rail union said, stressing that the protest was symbolic and peaceful. Frances unions have been staging strikes and marches since mid-January in protest against President Macrons plans to raise the legal retirement age. Protesters in Paris / REUTERS On Thursday there were more demonstrations as trade unions urged a show of force on the streets a day before the Constitutional Councils ruling on the legality of the bill to raise the retirement age by two years to 64. The government says it is necessary to raise it for most workers to balance the pension budget in years to come. The unions say the money can be found elsewhere. Critics have challenged the government's choice to include the pension plan in a budget bill, which significantly accelerated the legislative process. The government's decision to skirt a parliamentary vote by using special constitutional powers transformed opponents' anger into fury. Polls consistently show a majority of French people are opposed to the pension reform. LVMHs billionaire Chairman and Chief Executive Bernard Arnault has been a frequent target in slogans and chants during protests in France. The firm has benefited from a post-pandemic rebound in demand for luxury goods, and its shares have risen nearly 26% since the start of this year, cementing its lead as Europes most valuable company. N orth Korea fired what may be a new type of ballistic missile on Thursday, forcing residents on a northern Japanese island to take cover. The missile flew about 620 miles, South Koreas military said, calling it a grave provocation. The missile was fired at 7.23am (10.23 GMT on Wednesday) from near Pyongyang, South Korea said, meaning it could have been launched from an international airport close to the capital, a major site for test-firing large missiles since 2017. It briefly caused confusion in Japan after a government alert system warned residents that the projectile could fall on or close to the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido. The alert was retracted when authorities determined that the missile would not fall nearby. Schools in Hokkaido delayed their opening times and some train services were suspended, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported. Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida speaks to reporters following North Korea's missile launch / JIJI Press/AFP via Getty Images The South Korean military said it was on high alert and coordinating closely with the US. The White House strongly condemned what it said was a long-range ballistic missile test. A South Korean military official said the test apparently involved a new weapons system displayed at a recent North Korean military parades. The military was analysing the projectiles trajectory and range, and the defence ministry said it could have been a solid-fuel missile. North Korea has been working to build more solid-fuel missiles, which are easier to store and transport, and can be launched with almost no warning or preparation time. While North Korea has tested short-range solid-fuel missiles, it has not tested a long-range missile of that type. Japan called a National Security Council meeting in response to the launch. Its defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada, said the missile appeared to have been fired eastward at a high angle and it did not fall in Japanese territory. Japans coast guard said the projectile had fallen in the sea to the east of North Korea. Mr Hamada said he could not confirm whether the missile flew over Japans exclusive economic zone. The launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening war deterrence in a more practical and offensive" manner to counter what North Korea called moves of aggression by the United States. While condemning the latest in a string of North Korean missile tests, the United States renewed its offer to open talks. The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilising actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement, US National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said. North Korea has criticised recent joint military exercises between US and South Korean forces as escalating tensions, stepping up its weapons tests in recent months. R ussias high-profile Victory Day parades have been cancelled in some areas due to security concerns at the border, UK military chiefs have said. The Victory Day Parade is one of the most significant events in the country. Held on May 9, it marks the end of World War II in Europe with the defeat and surrender of Nazi Germany late in the evening on May 8, 1945. Despite being a tradition across the country, some regions bordering Ukraine have cancelled the significant event. According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD), the cancelled events are likely to have been called off due to security concerns. Further afield in Russia, some cities will hold the event which may spark a communication challenge for Vladimir Putin, the MoD has said. The MoD adds: Putin couches the special military operation in the spirit of the Soviet experience in World War Two. The message risks sitting increasingly uneasily with the many Russians who have immediate insights into the mismanaged and failing campaign in Ukraine. Honouring the fallen of previous generations could easily blur into exposing the scope of the recent losses, which the Kremlin attempts to cover up. Last year, Mr Putin used the event in Moscows Red Square to claim that his attack on Ukraine was necessary to ward off an absolutely unacceptable threat just next to our borders. Going further, Mr Putin said that Russias invasion of Ukraine had been necessary because the West was preparing for the invasion of our land, including Crimea. They were openly preparing another punitive operation in the Donbas, to an aggression against our historical lands, including Crimea, he added. Since his speech, Russias invasion has stalled while the West has agreed to send additional military - namely tanks - to help with the Ukraines counteroffensive. Ahead of the offensive, a leak of intelligence briefings has rocked Washington and its NATO allies. The files showed a wealth of information including Russian and Ukrainian casualty rates, military placements and the alleged presence of foreign special forces personnel. T he person who leaked classified US secrets online is a gun enthusiast in his 20s who worked on a military base, according to a US newspaper. He shared classified documents to a chat group on the instant messaging platform Discord of about two dozen men and young boys who shared a mutual love of guns, military gear and God, The Washington Post reported. The Post based its report, which did not name the leaker, on interviews with two members of the group on the messaging platform popular with gamers. The Standard has been unable to independently verify the report. The USs Department of Defence and Department of Justice were yet to comment. Lloyd Austin, the US defence secretary, has vowed to turn over every rock in the search for who is responsible for the leak. The person went by the handle OG, slang for Original Gangster, and told the group he toiled for hours writing up the classified documents to share with his companions, the Post reported. The person was described by one of the Posts sources as being in his early to mid-20s, and was looked up to by members of the group. Hes fit. Hes strong. Hes armed. Hes trained. Just about everything you can expect out of some sort of crazy movie, said one member of the chat group. OG also lectured them about world affairs and secretive government operations, the report said. 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, according to the report. Hes a smart person. He knew what he was doing when he posted these documents, of course. These werent accidental leaks of any kind, the member said. In what appears to be the gravest leak of US secrets in years, pictures of sensitive documents have been posted on Discord and other platforms including the online messaging board 4Chan, the encrypted Telegram global messaging app, and Twitter. They include disclosures Britain has deployed 50 elite troops to Ukraine. They have been dismissed by the Ministry of Defence as containing a serious level of inaccuracy. The chair of the Commons defence select committee Tobias Ellwood told The Times leaked documents about UK special forces in Ukraine could endanger lives. In the latest revelation*on Wednesday night, it was reported the files suggest Washington believes that Antonio Guterres, the UN secretary general, is too willing to accommodate Russian interests, undermining western efforts to hold Moscow accountable for the invasion of Ukraine. They also suggest that Washington has been monitoring him closely. A criminal investigation has been launched into the leaks and Discord said on Wednesday that it was cooperating with law enforcement. T he launch of a spacecraft on a mission to explore Jupiter and three of its moons has been postponed until Friday due to a lightning risk. Juice - short for Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer - was set to launch at 1.15pm on Thursday on an eight-year mission to reach the giant planets major moons, Callisto, Europa and Ganymede. Scientists hope the probe searching the icy moons will help find out whether they could have supported life. Arianespace, which developed the Ariane 5 rocket to carry the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice), said on Twitter on Thursday that the launch has had to be postponed due to a risk of lightning at the scheduled lift-off time from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. "The Ariane 5 launch vehicle and its passenger Juice are in stable and safe condition, it said. The next launch window is expected to be at 1.14pm BST on Friday. Liquid water, a source of energy and nutrients are the three things scientists believe are necessary for life to emerge anywhere in the universe. There is evidence that the moons hold oceans of liquid water at depth. Ganymede is the primary target for exploration as it is the only moon in the solar system to generate its own magnetic field. Scientists told reporters at a briefing on Thursday morning: Our main question is whether we could find habitable places within the Jupiter system. Learning more about Jupiter will tell us more about our solar system and other systems. The 1.6bn (1.4bn) mission is set to launch on an Ariane-5 rocket from Kourou, French Guiana. It will separate from the upper stages of the rocket at 1.42pm UK time, and should send its first signal down to the Earths surface by 1.51pm, allowing mission crews to take control of the craft. The spacecraft will be despatched on a path around the inner Solar System where a series of flybys of Venus and Earth will gravitationally sling the craft to its destination. It is not expected to arrive until summer of 2031. There will then be another eight years of collecting data and then analysing it. The spacecraft is packed with various cameras, particle detectors, a radar to map sub-surface features, and a magnetometer - which will be used to discover more about the moons hidden oceans. Scientists will also closely monitor Jupiter itself, with astrononers hoping that the knowledge gained about its complex environment will inform studies of other gas giants. Among these is Saturn, which also has moons with oceans. The European Space Agency is being supported in its work by Nasa, and the space agencies of Japan and Israel. T housands of people have been ordered to take shelter as Australias northwest region braces for its most powerful tropical cyclone in a decade. Cyclone Ilsa, located about 96 miles off Australias coast in the Indian Ocean, was on Thursday afternoon upgraded to a category five storm the highest rating. The storm is expected to make landfall late on Thursday or early on Friday local time, with winds of up to 196mph at its core, the Bureau of Meteorology said. The weather bureau issued a red alert for Port Hedland on Thursday afternoon. Its 15,000 residents, most of whom are mining company employees, were advised to seek shelter indoors and to stay away from doors and windows. The towns port the biggest iron ore export point in the world was closed on Thursday morning, while residents rushed to stock up on essential supplies. Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury told ABC television cyclones such as Isla have got a lot of strength in them, the ability to not only destroy trees and knock down power lines but lift up those loose items in the yard, including trailers and caravans. The weather bureau said in its latest update that Ilsa could impact a 600km sparsely populated stretch from just north of Port Hedland eastwards to just south of tourist town Broome. It will be the strongest system to hit the countrys far northwest region since Cyclone Christine crossed the coast in December 2013, weather bureau forecaster Jessica Lingard said. BHP Group, an iron ore company that uses Port Hedland port, said it was closely tracking the cyclone but its mining and rail operations were continuing. A spokesperson for Fortescue Metals Group Ltd, which also uses the port, said the firm suspended shipping operations and non-essential travel to the port but it did not expect any significant impact to operations at this stage. Some shelves in supermarkets have been stripped bare, local media reported, with essential supplies like bottled water, fruit and meat in huge demand. The storm is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength over Friday night as it moves inland. The Dubai Museum of the Future will host the annual international Machines Can See summit to explore the future of computer vision and machine learning. With the support of the Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, and Dubais Department of Economy and Tourism, the event scheduled for May 2, 2023, aims to bring together world-renowned experts in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and business. Also in attendance will be the representatives of the Mena investment scene and technology enthusiasts, a WAM report said. Participation is free, and delegates may attend the Machines Can See summit online or in person at the Dubai Museum of the Future. Elite participation The speakers of the summit this year include Serge Belongie, Professor at the University of Copenhagen; Daniel Cremers, Professor at Technical University of Munich, Director and co-Founder at Artisense; Fernando De la Torre, Professor at Carnegie Mellon University; Bernard S. Ghanem, Professor at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Hao Li, Associate Professor at Mohamed bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence, co-founder and CEO of Pinscreen; Manohar Paluri, Senior Director at Meta; Marc Pollefeys, Professor at ETH Zurich, Director of the Microsoft Mixed Reality and AI Lab; Philip Torr, Professor at Oxford University, Co-Founder at Aistetic, Oxsight, Chief Scientist at FiveAI. A panel session titled, Artificial Intelligence: Whats Next, dedicated to the regional development of AI technologies in the Middle East and all over the globe, will gather government officials from the Middle East and North Africa (Mena) countries to deliberate on the future industry challenges, along with the prospects of implementing computer vision technologies at the state level. "Over the past few years, the summit has accumulated impressive experience in creating and developing an international community, bringing together world experts in the field of artificial intelligence and computer vision. We are glad this year the summit will be held in Dubai. It will help to make an important contribution to implementing the artificial intelligence strategy in the UAE," said Alexander Khanin, founder of the Machines Can See Summit Visual Product Recognition Challenge The event hosts the Visual Product Recognition Challenge an international online competition in image-based product search. The task is to make descriptive algorithms to distinguish different types of objects depicted in photos. The winners will get a $15,000 prize and the opportunity to present their solutions at the awarding ceremony at the summit. Admissions are open until April 16. The summit is organised by Polynome Events and received support from governmental and academic organisations such as Ministry for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications; Dubais Department of Economy and Tourism (Dubai Business Events); CodersHQ; Mohamed Bin Zayed University of Artificial Intelligence (MBZUAI); King Abdullah University of Science and Technology; Dubai Future Foundation and technological sponsors, including INTEMA technological accelerator, Yango and Century Financial.-- TradeArabia News Service Details added (first published: 19:22) BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan (MFA) has informed international organizations about the torture against an Azerbaijani soldier taken prisoner by Armenia, Trend reports. According to the MFA, Azerbaijani Army soldiers Agshin Babirov, born in 2004, and Huseyn Akhundov, born in 2003, went missing a few days ago on the territory of the Shahbuz district of the Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic bordering Armenia, were captured by Armenia. "One of the videos published on social networks depicts physical torture and inhuman treatment against captured Huseyn Akhundov. The relevant international organizations were informed about the incident, which is another example of ethnic violence by Armenia," said the statement. The ministry noted this violence used by Armenia against prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions of 1949, the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD), international humanitarian and other obligations. "The relevant international organizations should investigate and give a proper assessment of this fact of violence, as well as the facts of violence by Armenia against Azerbaijani prisoners of war and civilians, and 3,890 Azerbaijanis missing during the conflict over the past 30 years," the MFA said. South Koreas military called the missile a grave provocation and said it was on high alert. Japans government alert system warned residents that the missile could fall on or close to Hokkaido, but the alert was later retracted. South Koreas defence ministry said that the missile could have been a solid-fuel missile, which can be launched with almost no warning or preparation time. Which countries have nuclear weapons? Five countries that have admitted to having nuclear weapons are China, France, Russia, the UK, and the US. They are known as the five Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) nuclear-weapon States, or P5. However, other countries have conducted nuclear weapons tests in recent years. In 1998, India conducted nuclear bomb tests, and Pakistan did likewise in response. North Korea has conducted six nuclear weapons tests. Although the country has not tested nuclear weapons since 2017, in June, Sung Kim, US special representative to North Korea, warned that North Korea could conduct a seventh nuclear test at any time. Here is what we know about the P5. China China first began developing a nuclear weapons programme in 1954 under former president Mao Zedong. Since then, the international community has debated the size of the Chinese nuclear force. Because of strict secrecy, it is difficult to determine this. In November 2022, a US Pentagon report revealed that Chinas stockpile of nuclear warheads had surpassed 400 in a fraction of the time previously estimated. The report predicted that the country could have some 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035 if it continues to expand its stockpile at the current pace. China also conducted 135 ballistic missile tests in 2021, the report said. This is more than the rest of the world combined (excluding ballistic missiles used in the war in Ukraine). This is an accelerating trend, said a senior defense department official. We see that with the buildout of the silo fields, the creation of a nuclear triad, what theyre doing with their sea bases and air components as well as the silos and their land mobile forces. France France first tested a nuclear weapon in 1960, eight years after the UK. Since the end of the Cold War, France has scaled back its nuclear arsenal by 50 per cent. This has involved a reduction in both its overall holdings but also the withdrawal of several weapons systems, including its land-based ballistic-missile capability. France is the only nuclear weapon state to have dismantled, in its entirety, a ground-launched nuclear capability. Frances nuclear stockpile is currently fewer than 300 warheads. These are capable of being launched by combat aircraft and submarines, operating on a continuous at-sea basis. Both components have been modernised over the past decade. Russia The Soviet Unions 1991 collapse made Russia the inheritor of the vast majority of the USSRs weapons of mass destruction. Although Russia has substantially reduced its stockpiles from Cold War peaks, it still controls one of the worlds largest and deadliest nuclear forces. Russia has historically participated in numerous bilateral arms control treaties and initiatives with the US. These bilateral initiatives helped to reduce the Russian arsenal substantially from its Soviet-era peak of about 40,000 warheads. Moscow currently has 5,977 nuclear warheads in its inventory, according to the Federation of American Scientists. It has long had the capability to strike a target anywhere in the world. It has the worlds largest stockpile of non-strategic (tactical) nuclear weapons. On February 21, 2023, Putin suspended Russia's participation in the New START nuclear arms-reduction treaty with the US. He said that Russia would not allow the US and Nato to inspect its nuclear facilities. The treaty calls for halving the number of strategic-missile launchers. A nuclear-powered submarine at Faslane, Scotland / James Glossop / The Times / PA UK The UK has been a nuclear weapon state since 1952. Since the end of the Cold War, the UK has taken several disarmament steps in support of the NPT. It has withdrawn all other nuclear weapons systems except for its submarine-launched Trident system. Currently, the UK has 225 nuclear warheads and four ballistic-missile submarines. It has maintained a continuous arsenal of nuclear weapons since 1969. The UK is engaged in several modernisation projects related to its continuous at-sea deterrent. Under the 2021 Integrated Review, the cap on the UKs nuclear stockpile will increase to no more than 260 warheads. This is a 40 per cent increase on previous commitments. US The US first began developing nuclear weapons during the Second World War under the order of President Franklin Roosevelt. This was motivated by the fear that the US was engaged in a race with Nazi Germany to develop such a weapon. It is the only country to have ever utilised nuclear weapons. In August 1945, the US detonated a uranium-gun design bomb over the Japanese city of Hiroshima, killing approximately 70,000 people. Three days later, the Americans attacked Nagasaki using a plutonium implosion-design bomb. This destroyed 60 per cent of the city and killed approximately 35,000 people. After the end of the Cold War and the 1991 dissolution of the Soviet Union, the US nuclear programme was heavily curtailed, halting nuclear testing. On October 5, 2021, the US State Department issued a declassification announcement indicating that the total number of US active and inactive warheads was 3,750 as of September 2020. The stockpile figures do not include retired warheads and those awaiting dismantlement. What is the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)? The Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons, promote co-operation in the peaceful uses of nuclear energy, and to pursue negotiations in good faith on disarmament measures. The treaty has three pillars. The first obliges the five states to pursue negotiations in good faith on disarmament measures. The second makes sure that states that do not have nuclear weapons do not acquire them. The third pillar promotes co-operation between states to share the benefits of peaceful uses of nuclear technology, whilst making sure the technology cannot be used for weapons. T he chef and restaurateur Eyal Shani, who has made his name in London with madcap pita chain Miznon, is set to launch a more upscale opening next door to Richard Corrigans Daffodil Mulligan on City Road. It will be called Lilienblum and will open next month, in May. While Shanis Miznon is known for its faintly absurd approach to food serving, for instance, fish, chips and cottage pie wrapped together in a flatbread Lilienblum looks to be a slightly more familiar affair. Where Sohos Miznon and its Notting Hill sibling specialise in fast-casual dining, the City Road opening will instead offer family-style sharing plates. Nevertheless, it appears Shanis signature eccentricity has not been tempered. Dishes are said to include green asparagus perfectly arranged in a paper envelope, a slice of cabbage cake that melts into itself, seafood pan roasted in tomato ovaries and pearls from the ground swirled with farro and clams. More straightforward will be the ribeye steak though Shanis caveat is that it will come the way God intended (presumably, then, cooked using lightning) and a half rack of lamb with Arabic salad. Menus will be divided by ingredients, rather than by courses, with the cooking led by Oren King, who most recently ran his own catering company but was previously head chef at the Soho Polpo, and before that worked at Dinner by Heston Blumenthal. Wine will be looked after by general manager Kitty Sparks, who previously worked at Aquavit. The list will include various Israeli wines and have a heavy Burgundy presence. A calamari dish at the forthcoming restaurant / Max Flatow Shani opened his first restaurant, Oceanus, in Jerusalem in 1989 and has since opened more than 40 others around the world, with perhaps his most upmarket being HaSalon, which has outposts in Tel Aviv, New York City, Miami and Ibiza. He said of Lilienblum named for the Tel Avivian street on which one of his earliest restaurants sat that it would be the middle ground between the exuberance of HaSalon and our street food-style restaurant, Miznon. He added: This time around, weve placed a heavier emphasis on the freshest ingredients and how best to enjoy them in a formal dining setting. Weve taken a highly seasonal, thoroughly market-driven approach with produce and ingredients heavily inspired by Israel, to the next level. I look forward to seeing the magic of Israeli cuisine arrive in Londons east. The restaurant will open for lunch and supper from Tuesday to Friday, and for supper on Saturday. It comes as part of a busy year for Shani, who is also working on a project at the forthcoming Sircle Hotel, which is opening later this year close by Liverpool Street. Lilienblum will open on May 19 at 80 City Road, EC1Y 2BJ. For more information, follow @lilienblumlondon W hether you are planning a staycation in the UK or heading to warmer climates, your packing list should always include a reliable SPF for the whole family. Babies and children have more sensitive and delicate skin that is highly susceptible to sun damage where over exposure can increase the risk of skin cancer later in life, according to Kate Bancroft, Founder of Face the Future, a nurse independent prescriber with three decades experience in the health industry. The NHS recommends that newborns under six months should stay out of the sun entirely, but after that, the higher the SPF, the better. Look out for gentle formulas that pack a punch with a minimum SPF 30 and broad spectrum protection for both harmful UVA and UVB rays. Reapply throughout the day and limit exposure during peak times from 11am to 3pm. Sprays may be easier but can be less effective if you miss spots - in this case, colour-changing formulas are ideal so you can see where you have applied. Apply up to 20 minutes before sun exposure and pay particular attention to those burn-prone areas like the chest and shoulders. Find the right product for your little one with our selection of the best sun cream for kids so they can play safe in the sun. Evy Sunscreen Mousse SPF 30 Evy This sunscreen mousse by Swedish skincare brand Evy is not only easy to apply, but it turns out, a delight for children to use. Our little tester giggled with glee at all of the bubbles. But Evy formula is a serious science; a product that is extra water resistant and capable of blocking about 98 percent of UV rays while being gentle enough for infant skin, offering hypoallergenic properties as well as being free from perfume, alcohol and preservatives. Buy now 25 , Amazon {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} La Roche-Posay Anthelios Anthelios Kids Invisible Spray SPF 50+ La Roche-Posay Designed for fragile and sensitive skin, this La Roche-Posay hypoallergenic sunscreen will not cause an irritation or reaction on any skin type. It offers high protection for both the body and the face, which is particularly crucial for delicate and pale skin. The bottle has an easy-to-use spray technology where the formula comes out white so you can ensure it has even distribution before the lightweight cream absorbs quickly into your little ones skin. Making applying sun cream quicker and easier than ever, rub it all over your kids 30 minutes before the sun and every two hours after, especially after swimming or sweating even though the product has a high water resistance. Buy now 22 , Boots {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Garnier Ambre Solaire Kids Sensitive Sun Protection Lotion SPF 50+ 200ml Garnier Keep the creaming time to a minimum to maximise the sun-filled fun with this Garnier cream that helps you protect your kids skin in one fell swoop with an instant and continuous spray bottle. Designed specifically for fair, sensitive and sun intolerant skin, this cream protects against broad spectrum UVB, UVA and long UVA rays with a hypoallergenic formula that is also sand-repelling, water resistant, non-sticky and has no perfume or colourants. Buy now 11 , Boots {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Avene Sun Care Very High Protection Lotion for Children SPF50+ Avene For broad-spectrum defence, the Avene sun care for children to protect their delicate skin. The antioxidant-rich, water-resistant formula is specifically created for hypersensitive skin types to shield against the damaging effects of free radicals. The product has stable and effective UVB-UVA protection, while also contains the labels signature Avene Thermal Spring Water to soothe redness or irritation. The fragrance-free formula has a light, fluid and easily-spreadable consistency for fuss-free application and maximum coverage. Buy now 12.83 , Escentual {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Aveeno Baby Zinc Oxide Sunscreen Aveeno Prevent sunburn and skin damage with the Aveeno specially formulated sunscreen designed for your little ones with sensitive skin or eczema. The mineral cream is tear-free and skin-soothing where oats, the hero ingredient, help to lock in moisture and nourish the skin. It offers strong protection, is water resistant for 80 minutes and does not feel greasy or sticky. Buy now 25 , Amazon {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Childs Farm SPF 50+ Sun Cream Childs Farm This high protection cream will protect young and sensitive skin from UVA and UVB rays without irritation, even for little ones suffering with eczema. The easy squeeze tube can be used by the whole family to shield against the damaging effects or sun exposure and is water resistant. It has a subtle, pleasant smell and does not contain any artificial colours, parabens, SLSs or mineral oils. Buy now 11.99 , Boots {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Organic Children Scent Free Sun Lotion SPF30 Organic Children Eczema, prickly heat and psoriasis wont be in any way exacerbated by this cream, which is as gentle as any organic product should be. Scent-free and soft, although we found it to be a little on the soft side, this can be rubbed in easily. For the eco-conscious, choosing this product will actually go some way to helping the environment. Green People, who make this lotion, supports the Marine Conservation Society; 20p from every sale of this product will be donated to the charity, which helps to protect UK seas. Buy now 25 , Green People {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Mustela Very High Protection Sun Lotion Mustela This French brand has been taking care of mothers and babies since 1950. This sun lotion didnt disappoint. Suitable from birth onwards, this cream is fragrance free and boasts a unique, patented ingredient Avocado Perseose which helps to preserve the cellular richness of babies skin by helping to form a barrier against the suns powerful UV rays. It is rather thick, but this doesnt hinder absorption. Buy now 21.19 , Amazon {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Badger Sunscreen Broad Spectrum Baby Badger This has the lovely gentle blended fragrances of Chamomile and Calendula and can be used on the very tiniest of babies (and grown-ups too). The ingredients are 100 percent natural, and 98 percent organic and include beeswax, sunflower oil that make the base of this mild cream mean it is naturally kind to skin. Its water resistant for a full 40 minutes. Buy now 27.50 , Amazon {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} Childs Farm Childrens Sun Lotion Roll-On Childs Farm If your baby is six months or above, youll be keen to use suntan lotion as an extra layer of protection, however, trying to apply a traditional suntan lotion to a wriggling baby is not for the faint-hearted! The Childs Farm Sun Lotion Roll-On is not only perfectly sized for popping into a changing bag or rucksack, but its also incredibly easy and fuss-free to apply. Simply roll onto the skin before rubbing in. Dermatologically and paediatrician approved, its also proven to be gentle and kind on your childs sensitive skin. Buy now 8 , Amazon {{#hasItems}} Price comparison {{/hasItems}} {{#items}} {{ merchant }} {{ price }} Buy now {{/items}} {{#hasItems}} {{/hasItems}} F ashion designer Dame Mary Quant, who democratised fashion and empowered women, will be remembered for widely being credited with popularising the mini skirt. As one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the 1960s, she was seen as making fashion accessible to the masses with her sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs. In a statement Dame Marys family said she died peacefully at home in Surrey at the age of 93 on Thursday. Her daring designs spread worldwide and, as she put it, liberated young women by giving them the ability to run for a bus and although she took credit for inventing the mini skirt, there has always been some dispute as to whether she was the actual pioneer. However, Dame Mary certainly did more than anybody else to popularise it and, with her pop art approach to fashion, brighten up a nation anxious to escape from the austerity of the post-war 1950s. Born in south-east London on February 11 1930, she was the daughter of two Welsh school teachers. She gained a diploma in the 1950s in art education at Goldsmiths College, where she met her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, who later helped establish her brand. Dame Mary was taken on as an apprentice to a milliner before making her own clothes and in 1955 opened Bazaar, a boutique on the Kings Road in Chelsea. Initially her most lucrative lines were small white plastic collars to brighten up black dresses or a black sweatshirt. Black stretch stockings were popular too. This was enough for her, and following the success of a pair of mad house pyjamas designed for the opening of Bazaar, she decided to embark on her own range of clothing. At first she worked solo, but such was the success of her imaginative efforts that she was soon employing a handful of machinists. Within 10 years, she was working with 18 different manufacturers concurrently. Her success was so pronounced that she opened up another location in the no less fashionable London Street, Knightsbridge, and by 1961 she was exporting to the United States. Dame Mary also developed the coloured and patterned tights which generally accompanied mini skirts and which ultimately were to supersede stockings as routine womens wear. To keep up with the huge demand for her fashions, she went into mass production and set up what she called the Ginger Group to boost sales. She began experimenting with shorter hemlines in the late 1950s, culminating in the creation of one of the defining fashions of the following decade. Although others claimed to be the inventors of the mini skirt, it was Dame Mary who was not only the power behind its development but who also gave it its name after her favourite make of car, the Mini. In 2014, Dame Mary recalled its feeling of freedom and liberation. She said: It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, shorter, shorter. Other styles from the 1960s included Peter Pan collars, as well as knitwear, swimwear and accessories and garments made using Butterick patterns and the dangerously short micro-mini skirt, as well as paint box make-up and plastic raincoats. By then she was being described as the leading fashion force outside Paris, while the columnist Bernard Levin called her the high priestess of Sixties fashion. Dame Mary also revolutionised the high street with hot pants, and trousers for women, as well as accessories, tights and make-up, while using the daisy brand design that became synonymous with her creations. Her clothes were popularised by Jean Shrimpton, Pattie Boyd, Cilla Black and Twiggy. In 1988, she designed the interior of her beloved Mini 1000 motor car. She resigned as director of Mary Quant Ltd, her cosmetic company, 12 years later after a Japanese buyout and there were soon more than 200 Mary Quant Colour shops in Japan. Dame Mary, who was also a Fellow of the Chartered Society of Designers and winner of the Minerva Medal, the societys highest award, was made an OBE in 1966 for services to the fashion industry. In 2014, she was made a dame for services to British fashion in the Queens New Year list. She said at the time: I am absolutely delighted to have been awarded this terrific honour. It is extremely gratifying that my work in the fashion industry has been recognised and acknowledged in such a significant way. In 2020, an exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum about Dame Marys fashion proved a hit with the public. It was visited 400,000 times and was said at the time to be the third most visited fashion exhibition in the museums history after Christian Dior: Designer Of Dreams and Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty. The exhibition showcased more than 120 garments, the majority of which had never been on display before, as well as accessories, cosmetics, sketches and photographs. It also toured in Australia, Scotland and New Zealand. It revealed how Dame Mary democratised fashion and empowered women with her minimal and androgynous graphic look, which rejected the debutante styles of previous generations. In 2021, actress and film producer Sadie Frost created a fashion documentary about Dame Mary called Quant. Contributions to the biographical film came from prominent figures in the world of fashion, such as supermodel Kate Moss, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, designer Jasper Conran and designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. Frost said Dame Mary changed the whole kind of female silhouette and stopped women dressing like their mothers by creating free and daring designs. In 2022, Taipei Fine Arts Museum in Taiwan also exhibited Mary Quant: Fashion Revolutionary. She was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the 2023 New Year Honours list for services to fashion. The special award, granted to those who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine or government, was founded on June 4 1917 by George V. It is sometimes regarded as the junior honour to the Order of Merit and is made up of the sovereign, plus no more than 65 members, who may use the letters CH after their names. Dame Mary joined an illustrious list of recipients including broadcaster Sir David Attenborough, actress Dame Judi Dench, former Beatle Sir Paul McCartney and musician Sir Elton John. F ashion designer Dame Mary Quant, who was widely credited with popularising the mini skirt, has died at the age of 93, her family said. The British fashion designer died peacefully at her home in Surrey on Thursday morning, a statement from her family to the PA news agency said. Her clothes were popularised by famous faces including model Jean Shrimpton, photographer and model Pattie Boyd, Cilla Black and Twiggy, with Boyd remembering her as a true icon following the news of her death. Boyd recalled on Twitter how Dame Mary made her and her former husband George Harrisons wedding coats, sharing an image from the ceremony in 1966 which shows her and the Beatles star donning the fur coats. She wrote: Very sad news today to learn of the passing of the 60s daringly creative, fun genius, much-loved lady, Dame Mary Quant. Mary insisted on making Georges and my wedding coats in 1966; his, Black Mongolian Fur and mine, Red Fox. A true icon. RIP. Born in south-east London on February 11 1930, Dame Mary was the daughter of two Welsh school teachers. She gained a diploma in the 1950s in Art Education at Goldsmiths College, where she met her husband Alexander Plunket Greene, who later helped establish her brand, he died in 1990. The designer is survived by her son Orlando, three grandchildren and her brother Tony Quant. A statement from the family said: Dame Mary Quant died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK, this morning. Dame Mary, aged 93, was one of the most internationally recognised fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging Sixties. Following the news, fellow designer Sir Paul Smith said: Im very sad to hear about the passing of Mary Quant, she was a brave innovator who was constantly modern, willing to shock and blessed with a business and personal partner, Plunket Greene, who could help turn her ideas into reality. Professor Frances Corner, warden of Goldsmiths, University of London, added: Dame Mary was a pioneer who made an indelible mark on society through her visionary work. Prof Corner added that she was one of the original disruptors whose trend-setting work changed the way we thought as well as how we dressed. This profound impact took us from the black and white world of the 1950s to the technicolour brilliance of the 1960s and beyond. Dame Mary was taken on as an apprentice to a milliner before making her own clothes and in 1955 opened Bazaar, a boutique on the Kings Road in Chelsea. Her far-sighted and creative talents quickly established a unique contribution to British fashion. She was one of the most influential figures in the fashion scene of the 1960s and is credited with making fashion accessible to the masses with her sleek, streamlined and vibrant designs. Among her collection, she is arguably best known for conceiving the mini skirt as well as helping to develop the mod style in the 1960s. She began experimenting with shorter hemlines in the late 1950s, culminating in the creation of one of the defining fashions of the following decade. In 2014, Dame Mary, who named the skirt after her favourite make of car, recalled its feeling of freedom and liberation. She said: It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, shorter, shorter. Other styles from the 1960s included Peter Pan collars, as well as knitwear, swimwear and accessories and garments made using Butterick patterns. Dame Mary also revolutionised the high street with hot pants, and trousers for women, as well as accessories, tights and make-up, while using the daisy brand design that became synonymous with her creations. She broke into the American market in 1962 following a deal with US department store chain JC Penny for clothing and underwear design. From that point onward, she was inundated with requests for designs in various fields from Britain, Europe and US. In 1964, she launched her own cosmetics brand. She resigned as the director of the company in 2000 after a Japanese buyout which soon produced more than 200 Mary Quant Colour shops in Japan. She was made a dame for services to British fashion in the 2015 Queens New Year list and was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honour in the most recent New Year Honours list. The special award is granted to those who have made a major contribution to the arts, science, medicine or government. She was also awarded the prestigious Hall of Fame Award by the British Fashion Council for her contribution to British fashion in 1990. In 2021, actress and film producer Sadie Frost created a fashion documentary about Dame Mary called Quant. Contributions to the biographical film came from prominent figures in the world of fashion such as supermodel Kate Moss, designer Dame Vivienne Westwood, beauty entrepreneur and make-up artist Charlotte Tilbury, designer Jasper Conran and designer Dame Zandra Rhodes. A Victoria & Albert Museum exhibition documenting the first 20 years of her career from 1955 to 1975 is set to open in Glasgows Kelvingrove Art Gallery And Museum next month following an international tour which included Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan and Japan and runs in London in 2019 and Dundee in 2020. At the time, Dame Mary said: It was wonderfully exciting and despite the frenetic, hard work we had enormous fun. We didnt necessarily realise that what we were creating was pioneering, we were simply too busy relishing all the opportunities and embracing the results before rushing on to the next challenge! Following the news of her death, Jenny Lister, the curator of the Dame Mary exhibition at the V&A, said the fashion world owes so much to the revolutionary, trailblazing Mary Quant. In a statement to the PA news agency, Lister said: Its impossible to overstate Dame Mary Quants contribution to fashion. With her unique sense of humour, style, and determination to democratise and share the fun and creativity of her designs, she provided a new kind of role model for young women, creating a space for them to be themselves. She added that Dame Mary helped to define Britains global identity as a centre of street style and innovation with signature looks including PVC macs, colourful tights, the skinny-rib sweater, the mini skirt and her classic daisy logo. She blasted through barriers of snobbery and tradition, with her vision of fashion as a way of resisting stereotypes, with well-made clothes and cosmetics that were empowering and liberating, as well as affordable, she added. Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, also described the designer as a visionary. She wrote on Twitter: RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship- a visionary who was much more than a great haircut. D espite having fewer than 10 million estimated members worldwide, Scientology is perhaps one of the most well-known faiths, probably as a result of the participation of the wealthy and well-known. Tom Cruise and John Travolta are just two of the millions of ardent believers. But what is Scientology and which celebrities follow the faith. What is Scientology? Developed by science fiction writer Ron Hubbard, Scientology.org suggests Scientology is a religion that provides a clear route leading to an awareness of one's true spiritual essence, as well as their relationship to themselves, their families, their social groups, mankind, all living things, the material universe, the spiritual universe, and the Supreme Being. Scientology focuses on the spirit rather than the body or mind, and holds that man is much more than the sum of his genes and upbringing. According to scientology texts, every person has an eternal inner self called a thetan that lives inside their physical body and has had many previous lifetimes. Scientologists contend that the thetan's lifetimes of traumatic experiences have left it with negative engrams that have formed in the mind, and are the source of neuroses and other mental-health problems. The Church of Scientology says freedom for all people and profound spiritual enlightenment are its ultimate goals. Why is Scientology controversial? Since its inception in 1954, the Church of Scientology has been plagued with controversy, for issues such as its stance on psychiatry, its legitimacy as a religion (Hubbard famously said, You dont get rich writing science fiction. If you want to get rich, you start a religion.), the churchs aggressive attitude in dealing with its perceived enemies and critics, predatory financial practices, claims of abuse inflicted upon members, and misconduct among its leadership, including human-trafficking claims. Representatives of the church have denied the allegations. Various documentaries have explored these scandals, the most famous perhaps being 2015s Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief. There have been various criminal convictions of church members, starting in 1978, when a number of Scientologists, with Hubbards wife Mary Sue (who was second in command at the time) and 10 accomplices convicted of domestic espionage in Operation Snow White. Hubbard himself was later convicted of fraud by French authorities. Three former Scientologists have recently gone on trial for rape. Two have implicated the church, with one of the accused, director Paul Haggis, found liable of rape. The church said of these accusations, involving statements against them by former members who backed the accusations, including Mike Rinder and actress Leah Rimini, The testimony of Haggis, Remini, Rinder and the other witnesses regarding the church was false in every respect. The church does not engage in any of the alleged conduct falsely testified to at the trial. Who are its biggest celebrity followers? Tom Cruise / Ian West / PA Tom Cruise is one of the most well-known followers and outspoken advocates of the Church of Scientology. Through his first wife, Mimi Rogers, he became associated with the movement, which was started in 1953 and has its headquarters in Riverside County, California. Following their 1990 divorce, Cruise got married twice again, first to Nicole Kidman in 1990 and then to Katie Holmes in 2006. Both marriages apparently ended in 2001 and 2012 as a result of the actor's membership in the church, according to USmagazine.com. John Travolta Patrick T Fallon / AFP via Getty Images John Travolta joined the Church of Scientology in 1975, though one source recently told OK magazine his relationship with the church is breaking away. He is listed as one of most successful Scientologists on the religions website. The actor converted after being given a book on Dianetics, a set of pseudoscientific theories developed by Hubbard, while filming The Devils Rain in Durango, Mexico. Elisabeth Moss / Getty Images Elisabeth Moss, the star of The Handmaid's Tale, was raised as a Scientologist, in contrast to famous people who converted to the faith later in life. Moss told Variety that she attributed her development as a talented communicator to Scientology and urged people to "find out for themselves" if they had any concerns about the organisation. Anne Archer Anne Archer as Jane Fonda in The Trial of Jane Fonda / Steve Ullathorne Since her son Tommy Davis served as the previous spokesperson and executive leader for the Church of Scientology, actress Anne Archer, who was nominated for an Oscar, is one of the most well-known Scientologists. Archer was previously a Christian scientist. Riley Keough Frazer Harrison/ Getty Images Riley Keough, the granddaughter of Elvis Presley, and many other members of her family are reportedly ardent Scientologists. However, despite Keoughs mums association with the religion, the late Lisa Marie Priestley reportedly left the religion in 2014, saying at the time, I was slowly starting to self-destruct. They were taking my soul, my money, my everything. M icrosoft has added its Bing AI chat to the Swiftkey keyboard app, providing one of the easiest ways to access an AI chat bot on your phone. Its available for both Androids and iPhones. Swiftkey replaces the virtual keyboard on phones and tablets. This means Bing Chat will be only a shortcut tap away whenever you need to write a message on your phone. With the new integration, you can use the bot on virtually any app from email apps to social media. Bing boasts three major features on Swiftkey: Chat, Tone and Search. The three functionalities allow you to summon the bot to help with things such as crafting a flirty Tinder message (chat); making a work email sound more professional (tone); or checking the weather (search). As it is built into the keyboard, you no longer need to leave an app to consult ChatGPT or Bing Chat on their respective websites. Who cares if youre accused of being unoriginal sometimes even the smartest person in the room needs some inspiration. How to download the Swiftkey keyboard with Bing AI If you already have Swiftkey installed on your phone, you can use Bing by pressing the dedicated icon at the top right of the keyboard. Firstly, though, you should head to your phones app store to check for an update to the Swiftkey app. Those who dont have the app will need to install it from the App Store or Google Play. The app guides you through the process of replacing your phones default keyboard with the Microsoft alternative. Some of the warnings from your phone may sound quite imposing; a malicious keyboard app could collect your inputs and, for example, steal your bank details. However, we think you can trust Swiftkey as much as your phones baked-in one. It was one of the most popular phone keyboards years before it was acquired by Microsoft in 2016. An account sign-in, from Microsoft or Google, will be required too. How does Bing Chat work? Bing Chat uses OpenAIs GPT-4 artificial intelligence tech. This follows a $10 billion (8bn) investment in the company by Microsoft, announced in January 2023. Outside of Bing, GPT-4 is available to only paying users signed up to the ChatGPT Plus service. Microsoft has been a long-term investor in the AI firm. It invested $1bn (800 million) in 2019. It also pumped in an additional $2bn (1.6bn) between 2019 and 2023, according to the New York Times. OpenAI has its own GPT-4 based chat bot, the famous ChatGPT. It also developed the DALL-E image generation AI, which creates pictures based on a text input. T he majority of the public think UK politicians are not taking the threat of the next pandemic seriously, new data suggests. Three years since the Covid-19 pandemic was declared, and despite more than 200,000 deaths in the UK, 59% of people feel the threat of future pandemics is not being taken seriously. A survey also found that the UK public has a strong desire to see greater action at both a domestic and international level to prepare for the next pandemic. The devastating impact of Covid-19 made it clear that we cant wait until a new pathogen starts to spread to respond - the time to act is now More than three-quarters (77%) of the 2,078 adults polled said governments around the world should be investing more in their own healthcare systems ability to respond to future outbreaks. The poll, conducted by YouGov, was commissioned by the Rhodes Trust ahead of the inaugural Rhodes Policy Summit on Creating a Positive Legacy from the Pandemic on April 14 in London. Commenting on the survey results, Sir John Bell, Regius Professor of Medicine at the University of Oxford, and chairman of the Rhodes Trustees said: There is resounding agreement from the public that politicians need to step up and take immediate, decisive action to prepare for the next pandemic. The devastating impact of Covid-19 made it clear that we cant wait until a new pathogen starts to spread to respond the time to act is now. Early preparation and developing an Always On approach to make sure our global healthcare systems are prepared for the worst is vital to mitigate the impact of the next pandemic and save lives. The world needs to be prepared and to do this public health infrastructure, surveillance, and global data sharing are essential to prevent history from repeating itself According to the survey, nearly three-quarters (72%) of people think politicians should be working more with other governments to prevent diseases spreading around the world. While three in five of the UK public (60%) think wealthier governments should be doing more to share access to vaccines during emergencies with low- and middle-income countries. The poll also found that more than half (52%) of those questioned think wealthier governments should be doing more to support these countries to develop their own vaccines. According to health analytics organisation Airfinity, which tracks the spread of infectious diseases, public concern about the need for greater political action to prepare for the next pandemic is justified. According to the companys disease risk modelling, without a strong pandemic defence system, there is a 27.5 % chance another pandemic as deadly as Covid-19 could happen in the next 10 years. Rasmus Bech Hansen, CEO and co-founder of Airfinity, said: A growing global population, climate change, larger numbers of diseases transferred from animals to humans, as well as increased international travel are the main reasons we are at risk of facing another pandemic as deadly as Covid-19 in the next decade. However, our modelling shows that with an Always On vaccine approach, this risk could be reduced by 70%. The world needs to be prepared and to do this public health infrastructure, surveillance, and global data sharing are essential to prevent history from repeating itself. The survey was conducted online between March 13 and March 14 2023. The figures have been weighted and are representative of all UK adults (aged 18+). BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Azerbaijan's State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Persons, considering the torture against soldier Huseyn Akhundov as a fact of gross violation of the Geneva Conventions of August 12, 1949, strongly condemns this brutality of the Armenian side and demands that the prisoner be treated in accordance with the norms of international humanitarian law, Trend reports via the Commission's statement. Akhundov was one of the two Azerbaijani soldiers, who went missing on the border with Armenia in the Shahbuz region of Azerbaijan's Nakhchivan. The State Commission notes that official appeals have been sent to the relevant international organizations with a call to take urgent measures for the speedy release of Azerbaijani soldiers. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 10. It is important that all prisoners are treated in line with international humanitarian law, EU Ambassador to Azerbaijan Peter Michalko wrote on his Twitter page, Trend reports. "I saw a video showing violent treatment of a detained Azerbaijani soldier. Indeed deplorable. Important that all prisoners are treated in line with international humanitarian law", the ambassador noted. Earlier, the Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry called on the world community to condemn the inhuman treatment of Azerbaijani soldiers detained by the Armenian side. The State Commission on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing Citizens of Azerbaijan appealed to international organizations in connection with two missing servicemen of the Azerbaijani army - Agshin Babirov (born 2004) and Hussein Akhundov (born 2003). While people have long debated which system of electing city councillors is best for Niagara Falls at large or by ward a retired Brock University political science professor says there is no one better system. It depends on what people feel comfortable with in their community, said David Siegel, who will be a guest at an event about the issue later this month. You find at-large systems more frequently in relatively small places where there are not major divisions, based on neighbourhoods, geography, things like that. You find ward systems in larger cities where there are defined neighbourhoods and where there might be divisions based on those neighbourhoods. Siegel said as far as hes been able to determine, Niagara Falls is the largest municipality in Ontario with an at-large system. It has been about 20 years since Niagara Falls adopted an at-large system. And after two decades, there remains a debate as to whether it has proven successful. Supporters of the at-large system, which sees the top eight vote recipients, plus the successful mayoral candidate, win a seat around the table to represent the entire community, say it avoids parochialism creeping into local politics. Supporters of the ward system, which sees councillors elected in designated areas of the city, say it makes it easier for political newcomers to get their message across to voters come election time. Its important that every part of the city be represented in some way and its important that there is a spokesperson around the table for every section of the city, said Siegel. With Niagara Falls experiencing a population boom, Coun. Lori Lococo said its time for the city to consider the merits of returning to a ward system. The second-term councillor is hosting a public discussion group at Niagara Falls Lions Club on Thursday, April 27, 6-8 p.m. to hear the views of residents. Veteran Niagara Falls councillor and former longtime mayor Wayne Thomson said he has served under both systems and believes the at-large system is better for democracy. He said when he served under a ward system, there were instances when certain councillors didnt want to support initiatives in other areas of the city unless their colleagues backed projects for their own neighbourhood. It splits the council, said Thomson, adding there used to be examples of residents not wanting to deal with their ward councillors because they didnt like them. Coun. Mona Patel, one of three new councillors elected last fall, said she loved engaging with people across the city during the campaign. Patel said she has become friends with councillors from other cities with a ward system and from what she has heard and from watching some of their meetings, politicians can become territorial when it comes to their ward and a conflict can emerge when there are decisions that require other councillors input. The city councillors should be working together for the entire city versus one or two councillors focusing on one area. Coun. Ruth-Ann Nieuwesteeg, another new councillor, said she believes the at-large system provides an overall grand perspective that serves Niagara Falls residents more effectively and efficiently. She said a ward system creates the possibility for a divide and conquer mentality. When you have that greater perspective you really understand what all the different areas need, as opposed to just focusing on your own, said Nieuwesteeg. SHARE: James Russell is no longer chained to the sign at a historic Black burial ground in Niagara-on-the-Lake, but he vows to return to help lead a march through downtown. Russell ended his hunger strike and sit-in Tuesday night at about 6 p.m. when he had to return to Toronto for a bit of a family emergency. I was happy to get a nice sleep and food, he said. Russell started his protest and hunger strike Monday morning at the cemetery on Mississauga Street over the towns treatment of a series of 19 headstones he said need to be unearthed, cleaned and restored. A motion Tuesday to have the town pay the cost to restore the headstones failed at a Niagara-on-the-Lake town council committee-of-the-whole meeting. Russell, 76, a retired journalist from Toronto, said he wasnt surprised by the decision. He plans to work with activists and organize the march in mid-June. The burial ground is connected to a Baptist church built in the 1830s. Russell said he believes the church was eventually sold to a local farmer who moved the modest building for use on the farm. A former British soldier, John Oakley, although white, served as pastor of a predominantly Black congregation. Two granite headstones are all that remain. One is for Oakley and his son. The other headstone belongs to George Wesley, who escaped slavery in Kentucky and raised his family in Niagara-on-the-Lake. Russell said a town employee admitted last year that he and his co-workers had buried the headstones in the 1980s. Russell believes the headstones were laid down under about 45 centimetres of soil to make it easier to cut grass. He said town staff contend the markers sank on their own. In November 2021, Russell petitioned town council to allow him to conduct a ground-penetrating radar survey of the burial grounds. The scan, which Russell funded, revealed 28 graves and 19 buried headstones. Russell also hired Guelph-based Archaeological Research Associates, which gave him an estimated $59,000 to recover and restore the headstones. The town refuses to pay the restoration costs and is relying on donations raised by a community group, Friends of the Forgotten. Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa said Tuesday the towns goals and Russells are similar, but more work needs to be done before they know the projects total cost. Russell said the cemetery is the towns responsibility and council should not use donations from taxpayers who have been paying for upkeep. Ive been getting nothing but excuses from the town council, Russell said. All I keep hearing is that the town is poor and how many projects they have that are underfunded, but, at the same time, they keep telling me they support me. Russell said he has no regrets. I met a lot of great people, he said. People were driving by and giving us the thumbs-up, waving, honking. We had dog walkers coming by and saying thank you because they had been living here for years and had never even known what this was. I made a lot of people aware that the town needs to take care of its administrative responsibility here. Russell said he also met a resident who said he was a genealogist and volunteered his time to research the people buried in the cemetery and try to contact living relatives once the headstones are raised. I am really hopeful about that, Russell said. SHARE: For three weeks Ive been waiting for this hole to be closed. Thats an Arnold Schwarzenegger quote. But its not from an action movie in which hes sent from the future to battle liquid cyborgs or bratty kindergartners spilling out of a glowing portal in the space-time continuum. The quote is from real life. The quote is from this week. It seems Mr. Schwarzenegger actor, former governor of California, bodybuilder with ageless limbs the size of sequoia logs is like the rest of us in two crucial ways: 1. He is frustrated by the molasses speed of municipal services. 2. He really hates potholes. So after watching in creeping despair as a crater wreaked havoc on cars and bikes in his Los Angeles neighbourhood, he hit up a Home Depot. Then in brown leather jacket and Terminator shades, he morphed into an asphalt vigilante. Hasta la vista, mangled tar. Ill be back to clean up later. In a video shared on Tuesday, Schwarzenegger dumps a bag of Quikrete whatever that is into the motorway chasm. He gingerly levels it out with a shovel. As he tweeted: I always say, lets not complain, lets do something about it. I applaud this take charge, can do spirit. But I also know jacksquat about DIY. If Im ever falsely charged with a heinous crime, I pray the detectives seize my tool box as evidence. They wont find my fingerprints on any of that stuff. But Schwarzenegger wasnt installing a floating bookcase or digging a koi pond. He had slowed traffic with orange pylons to MacGyver a giant hole that looked more like a military trench. When a passing motorist stopped to give thanks, he described the overall situation as crazy. It reminded me of a similar story last year when Rod Stewart donned a neon vest to repair a road near his home in England. I dont know what happened to that poor street in Harlow. But my money is on earthquake or cluster bomb. As Stewart noted, an ambulance had blown a tire in the Swiss cheese pavement. That was the least of it: My Ferrari cant go through here at all! This guy has sold more than 120 million records. He has the resources to travel by private chopper. No matter. Potholes do not discriminate on any socioeconomic basis. They torment us all. Potholes had got inside Sir Rods head. It would be swell if Elon Musk stopped screwing around with Twitter and put his mind to inventing an indestructible road surface. But until that happens, we are stuck driving when suddenly snap, crackle, pop an extracted molar under the rims snags and bounces our cars while bending axles and scraping underbellies. According to its website, the City of Toronto has already repaired 53,392 potholes this year. Its only April and I can provide GPS co-ordinates to another 100,000. This is why we need more threats of celebrity DIY in our atrophying cities. Its not that Schwarzenegger or Stewart should be allowed to build bridges. Nobody wants to see Kim Kardashian installing guardrails on a highway. Celebrities do not have the patience to abide by code and safety protocols. There are liability concerns. But after getting sick and tired of snafus in their decaying cityscapes, what celebrities can do is get personally involved and then shame municipalities into overdue action. Thats what happened with Stewart. A few weeks after he warbled songs while filling potholes, the local government dispatched pros to fix his messy fix. Now that road is pristine for all ambulances and Italian supercars. This weeks Schwarzenegger situation is different. Its possible the giant pothole was something else. Elena Stern, a public works official, told NBC News it was actually a service trench that relates to active, permitted work being performed at the location by SoCalGas, who expects the work to be completed by the end of May. Arnold is lucky he didnt cause an explosion and wipe out the Hollywood sign. But you know what? Now every bureaucrat within a two-hour drive of Brentwood is focused on that road. There are probably workers with pneumatic tampers on site as I type this. That is the power of shaming when dished out by celebrities. So why arent Canadian stars rolling up their sleeves and taking matters into their own hands for all of us? This city has more potholes than Indonesia has coconuts. Overworked 311 operators can only do so much when Joe Nobody reports a hole. It gets tossed in the queue. It is often forgotten. But I can tell you right now, if Drake was spotted in a helmet and construction boots clumsily pouring Quikrete into an abyss on Avenue Road, every available city worker with a power tool would converge in an hour to fix the problem or least ensure the superstar didnt accidentally cement himself to a hydro pole. And if this celebrity shaming works, why stop at potholes? Get Seth Rogen to use his pot head to solve cell service in the subway. Ask Justin Bieber to reimagine garbage collection. Ryan Reynolds? Do you have strong feelings about libraries or traffic signals? Sandra Oh, we need your input on sewers. Exasperated celebrities have started filling potholes? If that finally helps cities wake up, someone hand Pam Anderson a shovel. SHARE: VANCOUVER - An earthquake measuring 6 has shaken the seabed a few hundred kilometres off Vancouver Island. The National Tsunami Warning Center in Alaska says a dangerous wave is not expected from the quake. The U.S. Geological Survey website shows the quake was only lightly felt in areas ranging from Port Hardy, just over 200 kilometres from the epicentre, to Kitimat, more than 500 kilometres away. Earthquakes Canada estimated the quake that happened at about 8 a.m. local time was magnitude 5.8, while the tsunami warning centre said it reached 6.2. The earthquake was centred along the eastern edge of the Juan de Fuca plate off Vancouver Island. Quakes are common off British Columbias coast, although not usually of this size, as movement from several different plates and subduction zones set off thousands of temblors every year. The U.S. Geological Survey says this quake was also felt along the American northwest coast from Washington state to as far south as Corona, Calif., almost 2,000 kilometres away. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: ST. JOHNS, N.L. - Newfoundland police have laid more charges against two men accused of sexually assaulting multiple teenagers in St. Johns. The Royal Newfoundland Constabulary says Bruce Escott, 80, has been charged with one count each of sexual assault and sexual exploitation. Tony Humby, 62, has been charged with one count of sexual assault and two counts of sexual exploitation. A news release says the charges were laid in connection with crimes against youth alleged to have occurred in 2007. The force said earlier this week it charged the men with crimes including sexual assault and sexual interference in relation to alleged incidents involving multiple teenagers in 2019. Const. James Cadigan said Monday that the force suspects the men may have more alleged victims. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023. SHARE: Details added: first version posted on April 12, 11:35 FUZULI, Azerbaijan, April 12. A regular meeting of the Working Group on Urban Development has been held in the administrative building of Azerbaijans Fuzuli International Airport, Trend's Karabakh bureau reports. The meeting has been chaired by the Head of the Working Group on Urban Planning, First Deputy Chairman of the State Committee for Urban Planning and Architecture Namig Hummatov. Special Representative of the President of Azerbaijan in the liberated territories of the Karabakh economic region (except the Shusha district) Emin Huseynov, Deputy Head of the Foreign Policy Department of the Presidential Administration Nusrat Suleymanov, Chairman of the Board of the Karabakh Revival Fund Rahman Hajiyev, and Executive Director of the Reconstruction, Construction Service and Management in the Karabakh Economic Region Ovsat Hamidov took part in the event. Besides, head of department at the State Azerbaijan Automobile Roads Agency Ilham Suleymanov, Director of the Technical Department of Azerishig OJSC Vusal Ganbarov, Head of the Planning and Design Department of Azersu OJSC Bahadir Kangarli, Chief Consultant of the Investment and Project Management Department of Amelioration and Water Farm OJSC Elmar Orujov also participated in the meeting. During the meeting, issues regarding the status of work carried out on infrastructure facilities in the settlements of the Fuzuli district being restored in accordance with the Action Plan of the "First State Program of the Great Return" to the liberated territories of Azerbaijan were discussed. Previously, the meeting of the working group on transport, communications and high technologies of the Interdepartmental Center operating at the Coordination Headquarters was held in the Fuzuli International Airport on March 6 this year. The airport was inaugurated on October 26, 2021 by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. UPPER NAPPAN, N.S. - A largely rural municipality in northern Nova Scotia is looking into replacing the RCMP as its local police force almost three years after a mass shooting claimed the lives of four residents. But the mayor of the Municipality of Cumberland says the horrific events in April 2020, which resulted in 18 additional deaths in other Nova Scotia communities, had nothing to do with his municipalitys decision earlier this week to issue a request for proposals for policing services. Mayor Murray Scott says that prior to his election as mayor in October 2020, the municipality was preparing to reduce the number of local RCMP officers by three a proposal later rejected by Scott and his council. Instead, the new council started a review of the RCMPs work, and a committee later concluded residents were not satisfied with the Mounties slow response times and lack of visibility in the community. As well, Scott confirmed the Cumberland detachment was often short-staffed and required more money from the municipality to cover rising costs. Scott says the deadline for proposals in May 19, by which time he expects to receive bids from the RCMP and the municipal police force in Amherst, N.S., the incorporated town closest to Cumberland. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April, 13, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: Antonina Romanova grimaces as she describes the number of Russians she has killed on this typical day on the front lines of Bakhmut, site of the bloodiest battle in the war in Ukraine. The transgender Ukrainian soldier cant see the enemy as she attacks with mortar fire from behind the front line, she says. But Romanova must look at her victims maimed faces as she counts them on close-up drone footage each evening. For the 37-year-old actor and former pacifist the daily slaughter is painful. I never thought I would kill people, she said in a monotone whisper. And I kill so many. Its a very strange feeling. Romanova herself faces acute danger on the wars front lines defending a country that still stigmatizes LGBTQ people against a violently homophobic enemy. She might not have come out as non-binary if she had known she would be on the front line of war against Russia, she said in an interview over Zoom, speaking through a translator. Romanova, who looks masculine but uses she/her pronouns, has been fighting for months on Ukraines front line, where she fears assault not only by Russians but also by homophobic fellow soldiers. This not the safest place to be a non-binary person. Romanova has been called a sodomite and has been beaten and threatened with death by some of her countrymen. But as a mortar operator, she said, she protects her fellow soldiers on the battlefield by killing Russian infantry. And with each life she saves, the more accepted she becomes in the battalion. These are very tough battles here, Romanova said. We have many wounded and dead and never know who will be next. Our commander doesnt care who we are as long as we are good fighters. The visibility of LGBTQ soldiers in the fight for Ukraine is fostering tolerance and acceptance in the mainly Orthodox Christian nation. Homosexuality was only legalized upon independence from the Soviet Union in 1991. Last summer, Ukraines parliament ratified the Council of Europes Istanbul convention on violence against women, after a decade-long delay caused by references in the document to sexual orientation and gender. Then, in December 2022, parliament prohibited hate speech against the LGBTQ community. This reflected a turn against conservatives like the mayor of Ivano-Frankivsk, who recently told local media that a gay man cannot be a patriot, only a Christian can be a patriot. But Ukraine still bars same-sex civil partnerships and changes to legal gender. The many LGBTQ solders fighting for Ukraine, like Romanova, hope their country will fight for them when the war is over, according to posts by the Ukrainian group LGBTIQ Military. If she dies, Romanova fears being buried as Anton Romanov in a grave far from her long-time partner, Oleksandr Zhuhan. I would like to be myself even after death, she said. Romanovas war began in 2014 when Russia annexed Crimea, where she lived. The land grab shocked Ukraines LGBTQ community. President Vladimir Putin had been curtailing the rights of LGBTQ Russians, including the passage of a 2013 law that prohibited mention of LGBTQ topics among children. Ukrainians feared similar crackdowns under Moscows control. In the first days of the Crimea invasion, Romanova and other Ukrainian defenders blocked the city hall of the capital, Simferopol, she said. But she had to flee when her resistance was discovered by right-wing radical group Right Sector Crimea and Russias Federal Security Service (FSB), making her an arrest target. The top official in Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, told Russian news agency Itar-Tass at the time that gay people have no chance to survive in Crimea and that the peninsula does not need such people. Romanova caught one of the last trains running between Crimea and Ukraine and has never returned. So it felt natural for Romanova, whose military call sign is Crimea, to fight for her country when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022. As the first missiles landed near Kyiv, Putin said one of the reasons he was attacking Ukraine was to protect traditional values against the Wests false values that are contrary to human nature, referring to the LGBTQ community. Together with her partner, actor and acting teacher Oleksandr Zhuhan, Romanova spent the first day of the invasion hiding in the bathroom of their apartment in Kyiv to avoid shattering windows, but soon joined the fight. Her first commander told Romanova it was wrong for her to use female pronouns. In another platoon, a chaplain told the couple that their fellow fighters feared God would punish them. Zhuhan quoted the chaplain in a recent interview: God burned Sodom and Gomorrah for homosexuality and the guys are afraid that mines will fall on them because they are in the same unit as you, he said. But the couple feels lucky with their current commander in Bakhmut, Romanova says. He does not tolerate homophobia. At first he was worried about mispronouncing my name and kept asking about my pronouns and whether he was using them correctly, she said. I am now treated very well here. Romanova and Zhuhan met online in 2014. Romanova is slender and tall with round blue eyes. She speaks softly but with a sense of gravity. Zhuhan is short and wears round wire glasses. He speaks slowly and with emotion. Both are theatre professionals, vegans and activists. The couple connected just after Romanova arrived as a refugee in Kyiv. They joined one of Ukraines earliest Pride celebrations together. The 2015 Kyiv Pride parade had just 250 marchers who came under sustained attack by dozens of counterprotesters, according to Amnesty International. But by 2021, 7,000 activists, flanked by police, marched in Kyivs last Pride gathering before the Russian invasion. The way LGBTQ people like Romanova are demonstrating their commitment to defending Ukraines democracy is spawning public support to recognize their rights, according to Inna Sovsun, a member of parliament who is petitioning to allow same-sex civil partnerships. The Ukrainian LGBTQ community fight in the war like others. And they deserve to have the same rights as everyone, the lawmaker tweeted. Romanova and Zhuhan have decorated their guns with stickers of a rainbow, a unicorn and a pineapple as a small act of resistance. Their hopes are for the future of Ukraine. But Romanova also dreams of a day when she can change the gender on her passport to non-binary and marry the man she loves. I think our war will never really end, said Romanova. If we live to victory (against the Russians) we will still fight for the rest of our lives. Katharine Lake Berz spent several weeks in Ukraine this winter. www.lakeberz.com . Zha Babaieva provided translation. Read more about: SHARE: ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) Forces from Ethiopias Amhara region have displaced tens of thousands of ethnic Tigrayans from disputed territory in the north of the country in recent weeks despite a peace deal agreed late last year, according to aid workers and internal agency documents seen by the AP. The Mai Tsebri area in northwestern Tigray is close to the regional border with Amhara. It changed hands several times during the war, which erupted in 2020 and ended with a ceasefire in November. The Amhara people claim the area as their own. Since early March, some 47,000 people uprooted from Mai Tsebri have gone to Endabaguna, a town roughly 55 kilometers (34 miles) further north, according to United Nations figures seen by the AP on Thursday. Another report, prepared by a humanitarian agency, says residents fled Mai Tsebri because of harassment, ethnic profiling and direct threats from irregular Amhara forces that also carried out evictions. That report adds that there have been no aid deliveries to Endabaguna since the displaced people started arriving. As a result, it says, they are on the brink of starvation. The displaced people at Endabaguna are sheltering in a reception center originally built by the U.N. and Ethiopias government for refugees from Eritrea, which borders Tigray. The site was badly damaged during the war. An aid worker who recently visited the center said conditions there were very bad and the number of people was increasing day by day. The roofing and pipelines are damaged, there is no toilet and latrine, the doors and windows of the rooms are looted (or) damaged, and there is no proper water supply, said the aid worker, who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. It was not immediately possible to get a comment from Amhara authorities. A second aid worker, who also requested anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to a reporter, said many of the people recently uprooted from Mai Tsebri were displaced for a second time, having already been forced from their homes in the western part of Tigray. Amhara forces annexed western Tigray in the early stages of the war. They stand accused of ethnic cleansing by the U.S. State Department after they forcibly deported hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans from the area. Under the recent ceasefire, aid deliveries to Tigray resumed after two years of restrictions. However, aid workers say Amhara forces have continued to block food distribution around Mai Tsebri, and residents have reported killings. One Mai Tsebri resident, Teferi Muley, said he fled the area in November after he was threatened by Amhara troops, who accused him of helping the Tigray rebels. He said he returned in March to the nearby village of Haida, where he witnessed the shooting of several artisanal gold miners by Amhara troops. Last week Ethiopias government said it planned to fold the security forces of the 11 federal regions into the national army or police. This prompted a wave of protest across Amhara, as well as gun battles between the federal military and regional Amhara units who refused to disarm. Humanitarian officials believe the upheaval will likely lead to an increase in displacements from Mai Tsebri, which already stand at an average of 150 households every day, according to an assessment by another aid agency. SHARE: KYIV, Ukraine (AP) Ukraines foreign minister said Thursday his country wont budge from its demand that Russia withdraw its forces from Crimea, as well as from other parts of Ukraine that Moscow illegally annexed more recently, for the war to end. Calling the conflict in Ukraine a bleeding wound in the middle of Europe, Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said all his countrys territory must be treated equally in dealing with the Kremlin after its full-scale invasion more than 13 months ago. We are united by U.N. charter principles and the shared conviction that Crimea is Ukraine and it will return under Ukraines control, Kuleba said, speaking by video link to a gathering in the Romanian capital, Bucharest. Every time you hear anyone from any corner of the world saying that Crimea is somehow special and should not be returned to Ukraine, as any other part of our territory, you have to know one thing: Ukraine categorically disagrees with these statements, he said at the Black Sea Security Conference. Russia took over Crimea in 2014, and during the current war has expanded its presence there. Occasional acts of sabotage and other attacks against Russian military and other facilities on the peninsula have occurred since, with the Kremlin blaming Ukraine. The Kyiv government hasnt claimed responsibility for the attacks but welcomes efforts to repel the Russian presence there. 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 rejected those demands and wont hold talks with Russia until Moscows troops pull back from all occupied territories. Though there is no sign of possible peace negotiations, the two countries have sporadically exchanged prisoners of war and have engaged in a wartime deal for the export of Ukrainian grain and Russian grain and fertilizers. The grain deal has helped ease concerns about the global food supply, especially to countries in Africa, the Middle East and parts of Asia where many are already struggling with hunger. The agreement, which the U.N. and Turkey brokered last July, is delicate, however, and Moscow has repeatedly threatened to end it. In the latest dispute, Russias Foreign Ministry said Thursday that no discussion about extending the Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 would take place until progress was made towards resolving what it called five systemic problems that have resulted from sanctions on Russia over the war. It said in a statement those issues were: reconnecting the state-owned Russian Agricultural Bank to the SWIFT international banking system; resuming supplies to Russia of agricultural machinery, spare parts and services; lifting restrictions on insurance and reinsurance and the ban on access to ports; restoring the operation of the Tolyatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline; and unblocking foreign assets and accounts of Russian companies related to the production and transportation of food and fertilizers. Russia agreed last month to extend the grain deal for 60 days instead of the 120 days set under a previous extension to send a warning to the West. On the battlefield, military analysts say, an anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive in coming months could aim at the land corridor between Russia and Crimea, hoping to split Russias forces in two. That would be a daunting military challenge. Satellite images show the Kremlins forces are digging extensive trench systems between mainland Ukraine and the Black Sea peninsula. The fighting in recent months has become a war of attrition, with neither side able to gain momentum over the winter and often resorting to long-range bombardment. At least four civilians were killed and 11 were wounded in the latest Russian barrages that continued to hit civilian infrastructure, Ukraines presidential office said Thursday. The Ukrainian military said Russian forces over the previous 24 hours launched 32 airstrikes, two missile strikes and 40 attacks from multiple rocket launchers. In other developments: Russias Prosecutor Generals Office has opened an investigation into a video appearing to show the beheading of a Ukrainian serviceman that appeared online this week, according to the government departments press service. It said it intended to assess the reliability of these materials. Ukraine on Wednesday also launched an investigation into what it alleged was the latest atrocity blamed on Russia since it invaded in February 2022. A Russian mine exploded near a generator room at one of the reactors of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant, Ukraines state nuclear operator Energoatom said. Russian occupiers continue to turn the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant into a military base, mining the perimeter, Energoatom wrote on Telegram. The head of the U.N.s atomic energy agency confirmed the landmine explosion and reported one had also occurred last Saturday. Rafael Grossi of the International Atomic Energy Agency said: At a time of growing speculation about military offensives and counteroffensives in the region, it is more important than ever to agree that a nuclear power plant should never be attacked, nor used to launch attacks from. I will not rest until this has been achieved. Europes largest nuclear plant has six reactors, all of which have been shut down over the past year. The U.N.s atomic energy agency has been trying for months to obtain agreement between Ukraine and Russia on securing the plant, whose reactors and other equipment still require an external electricity supply to operate safety systems. ___ Associated Press writers Stephen McGrath in Bucharest, Romania, and Yuras Karmanau in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report. ___ Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Read more about: SHARE: BEIRUT (AP) Syria and Saudi Arabia said Thursday they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade. The joint statement followed a visit by Syrias top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012. Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assads brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League. However, in recent years, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country, Syrias neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The overtures picked up pace since the massive Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks about bilateral relations, state media in the two countries reported. Saudi state media said Mikdad was received by the kingdoms Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. The meeting focused on the steps needed to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that would ... achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab fold, the joint statement said. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, when Syrias membership is widely expected to be on the table. Some members, mainly Qatar, have opposed Damascus return to the organization. Qatars prime minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, reiterated his countrys longstanding position in an interview with state TV late Thursday. There were reasons for suspending Syrias membership in the Arab League and for participating in boycotts of the Syrian regime at that time, and those reasons still exist as far as we are concerned, he said. Our decision, as an individual state, has been to not take any steps (toward normalization) without political progress or a political solution to the Syrian crisis. But Anna Jacobs, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said she believes prospects are high that Syria will be readmitted to the Arab League soon, noting that even Qatar has softened its rhetoric. Even if several countries have expressed their opposition to normalization with Assad, its not likely that they would go against Riyadh and block Syrias re-entry, she said. The Syrian and Saudi officials also discussed enhancing security and cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking, according to the statement. Syria is a primary producer of the amphetamine-based drug Captagon, which is largely smuggled into Gulf Arab markets for sale. Syria may be hoping the rapprochement with a regional heavyweight will help end its political isolation, improve its flagging economy and potentially bring in reconstruction dollars. Meanwhile, incentives for Saudi Arabia to make a deal are less clear. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a research fellow at Rice Universitys Baker Institute, said Saudi Arabia and specifically Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may be looking for a way to rehabilitate the kingdoms image. That image was tarnished by the kingdoms involvement in the war in Yemen and by the 2018 slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, believed by the United States and others to have been at the princes orders. Brokering an Arab consensus on Syria, would feed into Prince Mohammeds desire to portray himself as a regional statesman and underline the Saudi ability to lead the region, Ulrichsen said. Jacobs said the kingdoms rapprochement with Syria may be part of its strategy on Iran, which is two-pronged and focused on both containment and diplomacy, as opposed to the Trump administrations maximum pressure approach. As for Syria, Ulrichsen pointed out that U.S. sanctions on Damascus would still stand as an obstacle to any major investments in the Arab country, even with Syria normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia and its readmission to the Arab League. Mikdads visit to Saudi Arabia came after Syria announced on Wednesday that it will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, which cut off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied said earlier this month that he had directed the foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria. His move was reciprocated by the Syrian government, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. SHARE: NEW YORK (AP) The first image of a black hole captured four years ago revealed a fuzzy, fiery doughnut-shaped object. Now, researchers have used artificial intelligence to give that cosmic beauty shot a touch-up. The updated picture, published Thursday in the Astrophysical Journal Letters, keeps the original shape, but with a skinnier ring and a sharper resolution. The image released in 2019 gave a peek at the enormous black hole at the center of the M87 galaxy, 53 million light-years from Earth. A light-year is 5.8 trillion miles. It was made using data gathered by a network of radio telescopes around the world, showing swirling light and gas. But even with many telescopes working together, gaps remained in the data. In the latest study, scientists relied on the same data and used machine learning to fill in the missing pieces. The resulting picture looks similar to the original, but with a thinner doughnut and a darker center, researchers said. For me, it feels like were really seeing it for the first time, said lead author Lia Medeiros, an astrophysicist at the Institute for Advanced Study in New Jersey. By having a clearer picture, researchers hope to learn more about the black holes properties and gravity in future studies. And Medeiros said the team plans to use machine learning on other images of celestial objects, including possibly the black hole at the center of our Milky Way galaxy. ___ 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. SHARE: WASHINGTON - Canadas electronic spy agency says it warned system operators in a timely-as-possible way about a Russian-backed hacker who lurked in their computer networks three months ago with the capacity to do physical damage. Sami Khoury, the head of the Communications Security Establishments Canadian Centre for Cyber Security, refused to provide details about the timing or the specific nature of the warning, known as a flash. But he insisted that the CSE wasted no time in making the necessary officials aware of the danger, which leaked U.S. intelligence suggests began around the middle of February and persisted for several days. We did share that flash with critical infrastructure operators in a timely-as-possible way, to bring to their attention the fact that this was a new threat that we had observed, Khoury told a media briefing Thursday. It was done in the shortest possible space. Khoury said the flash noted that we had a confirmed report where a cyber threat actor had the potential to cause physical damage to Canadian critical infrastructure. He also repeated what Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said earlier this week, that no damage was caused. But make no mistake, Khoury added, the threat is real. It also became front-page news across the U.S. over the weekend as officials discovered that a trove of sensitive Pentagon and CIA intelligence, much of it focused on assessments of Russias war in Ukraine, had been floating around private chat rooms on the internet for months. On Thursday, FBI agents descended on a Massachusetts neighbourhood and arrested Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Air National Guard, without incident. Teixeira will be charged with unauthorized removal of classified national defence information, said Attorney General Merrick Garland. National security experts say gaining access to sensitive foreign networks without taking immediate action is a favoured tactic of hackers acting at the behest of Russian security services looking to undermine global support for Ukraine. Khoury headed off any lines of inquiry about the leak itself by noting the dangers of talking publicly about national secrets. Any confirmation or denial of apparent intelligence puts our sources and techniques at risk and gives credence to this information, he said. I can tell you that we are looking at the public reporting of these alleged leaks. The CSE issued another flash Wednesday, this one about what appears to be a campaign of so-called distributed denial-of-service attacks in recent days targeting a number of prominent Canadian websites. Since Russias war in Ukraine began a year ago, and especially in recent weeks, we have seen a notable rise in cyber threat activity by Russian-aligned actors targeting Ukraines partners, Defence Minister Anita Anand said in a statement. These activities are a direct response to our steadfast support to the people and government of Ukraine and they will not deter Canadas support for Ukraine. Denial-of-service attacks are more nuisance than threat. They are designed to crash internet servers by bombarding them with a flood of traffic, usually generated by malware-infected computers from around the world. Hydro-Quebec, the provinces power utility, was working to get its website and mobile application back online after an early-morning cyberattack by a pro-Russian hacker group. A number of prominent Canadian sites have been similarly targeted in recent days, including Trudeaus official page, the Senate, the Port of Quebec and Laurentian Bank. Ukrainians right now are fighting for the fundamentals of democracy, Trudeau said Thursday. Thats why a couple of denial-of-service attacks on government websites, bringing them down for a few hours, is not going to cause us to rethink our unequivocal stance of doing whatever it takes for as long as it takes to support Ukraine. The prospect of a hacker lurking silently within a computer network that controls vital Canadian infrastructure is a far more ominous prospect and raising public awareness of the danger is a key part of the CSEs strategy. It is difficult to detect, Cyber Centre associate head Rajiv Gupta acknowledged. When people do detect it, its very important that this gets reported to the Cyber Centre so that we can amplify that with whatever other information and context that we have, and then reshare that with the community to protect all of Canada. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023. SHARE: Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Thursday that the Black Sea region is critical to the collective defence of NATO, to the future of European security, as well as to prosperity and a rules-based international order. "Romania's top priority is to transform the Black Sea region from an area of conflict to an area of peace, stability and prosperity. Restoring peace and stability in our area will require a long-term effort, mutual solidarity, unity of purpose, coherence in our actions. All this are key requisites for success and crucial for mutual long-term security and prosperity. Adaptation to the new regional and global realities is now the challenge of our time and it is something we need to deal with head on. The Black Sea is a mirror in which the European continent and the world can see what their future will look like. It will be either free and democratic, or ruled by fear, by hatred and the will of the most powerful. It is up to shape our future," Aurescu told the Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest under the auspices of the Crimea Platform. He mentioned the multidimensional support provided by Romania to Ukraine. "As a pillar of regional stability in the Black Sea area, a provider of security, Romania has promptly granted a multidimensional response. We have demonstrated to the Ukrainian people that we are together not only in words, but also in deeds. We have offered support to over 3.9 million Ukrainian refugees, while also facilitating the transit of almost 15 million tonnes of grain from Ukraine through our territory. I want to reaffirm Romania's firm determination to continue our multidimensional support for as long as it takes to win this war. We all want peace, peace in full respect of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in full respect of the UN Charter and of the fundamental principles of international law, but negotiations can only start when Ukraine is ready and the victory will look like the way Ukraine will define it," said Aurescu. He added that Moldova is increasingly affected by Russia's pressure. "The strong and united reaction of the European, Euro-Atlantic community and their global partners challenge Russia's behaviour and hopefully discourage other actors from using the same tools and patterns of aggression, but we must do more. (...) Romania's position is clear and has been stated on numerous occasions (...) The Black Sea is critical to the collective security of NATO, to the future of European security and prosperity, and to the rules-based international order. Romania is doing a lot to strengthen Black Sea security for NATO and EU members, and as well as for our partners, be it Ukraine, a victim of Russia's aggression, or -- as previously said -- the Republic of Moldova and Georgia, who are, after Ukraine, the most vulnerable to Moscow's aggressions." Aurescu pointed out the importance of the full implementation of the decisions taken at the NATO summit in Madrid, especially those related to NATO's defence and deterrence posture on the eastern flank, including the Black Sea.a, told Agerpres. The head of the Romanian diplomacy reiterated his support for NATO's open doors policy. "For Romania, it is more than clear that the consolidation of the security of Ukraine and of the Republic of Moldova means the consolidation of our own security," added Aurescu. At his proposal, the participants held a moment of silence for the victims of the "irrational and unjust" war waged by the Russian Federation in Ukraine. "Romania strongly condemns the horrendous and atrocious crimes committed by Russia and reiterates that all those responsible must be held accountable," said the Foreign Minister. Organised by Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence together with Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence and in partnership with Ukraine's Centre for Defence Strategies, the conference is the first event of this magnitude dedicated to the Black Sea co-organised by the two countries under the auspices of the Crimea Platform. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, and the Minister of National Defence, Angel Tilvar, will host, on Thursday, the first Conference on Black Sea Security, under the aegis of the Crimea International Platform. Organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence of Romania, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, in partnership with the Centre for Defence Strategies of Ukraine, the conference is the first event of this magnitude dedicated to the Black Sea co-organized by the two countries, under the aegis of the Crimea International Platform, told Agerpres. On the same day, Bogdan Aurescu will also host the second meeting of the Trilateral Romania-Ukraine-Republic of Moldova at the level of Foreign Ministries, to focus on security issues, while also having the Defence Ministers Ministers from the three states participating. The meeting will also be attended by the Romanian Minister of Defence, Angel Tilvar, the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, Nicu Popescu, the Minister of Defence of the Republic of Moldova, Anatolie Nosatii, and the first deputy of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Emine Dzapharova. Minister Dmytro Kuleba can no longer travel to Bucharest, due to last-minute developments related to the course of the war of aggression initiated by the Russian Federation, but he will join by videoconference, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs. *** The first Conference on the security of the Black Sea taking place under the aegis of the Crimea International Platform represents an important opportunity to evaluate the multidimensional impact of Russia's war of aggression and aims to debate, together with the states of the region and international partners, solutions for the security of the Black Sea region. Also, the event seeks to identify solutions for strengthening cooperation in the field of security between the states bordering the Black Sea. Aspects related to information warfare and cyber attacks will also be addressed as a matter of priority, the Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs informs. The meeting will be attended by foreign and defence ministers, heads of international institutions, government officials and independent experts involved in the Crimea International Platform. Foreign delegates from more than 20 states and international organizations will be present, ministries, secretaries of state or other high officials from Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Germany, France, Lithuania, Latvia, Slovakia, Bulgaria, Hungary, Turkey, Luxembourg, Finland, Holland, Montenegro, Republic of North Macedonia, Georgia, NATO (Deputy Secretary General), Council of Europe (Secretary General), Organization for Democracy and Economic Development - GUAM (Secretary General). Also, foreign ministers and high-level representatives from seven other countries and international organizations will intervene online - Sweden, Greece, Spain, Japan, Australia, Guatemala, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe - OSCE (Secretary General). A number of foreign delegations will be represented by their embassies in Bucharest. In total, over 250 representatives from 30 countries will participate in the conference. *** The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, will open, alongside his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba (videoconferece), the Romanian Minister of Defence, Angel Tilvar, respectively the Ukrainian Minister of Defence, Oleksii Reznikov, the proceedings of the conference. Bogdan Aurescu, together with the Ministers of Defence from Romania and Ukraine, and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Emine Dzapharova, the Deputy Secretary General of NATO and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova, will participate in the last panel of the conference that will address the theme "Future Configuration. What is the Future of Regional Security in the Black Sea and Sea of Azov Regions? Towards a Euro-Atlantic Strategy for a Stable, Secure and Prosperous Black Sea Region." In his speeches, Aurescu will present the special efforts made by our country in support of Ukraine, as well as for the partners most affected by the deterioration of the security situation in the region and by the pressures of Russia, primarily the Republic of Moldova. At the same time, he will plead for a strategic, coordinated and consistent commitment of the allies from the Transatlantic community in the Black Sea region and in support of the states in the area, considering the strategic importance of the Black Sea region for regional and Euro-Atlantic security, as well as the stakes for the international order based on rules. Also, the Minister will show the key role played by Romania in the regional security equation and will refer to the importance of cooperation and maintaining Transatlantic unity in managing the effects of Russian aggression against Ukraine, states the MAE. They will also insist on the topic of European and Euro-Atlantic integration of the partners in the region and advancing opportunities of economic development and cooperation of the region with the EU and NATO, promoting democratic values and consistently seeking for solutions to prolonged conflicts in the region. Aurescu will also address ways to strengthen deterrence and defence, critical infrastructure security and resilience, measures to strengthen regional energy and food security, as well as economic ties in the Black Sea region. It will thus refer to the future of security in the region, highlighting Romania's priority to transform the Black Sea into a region of peace and prosperity. *** The agenda of the Trilateral Romania-Ukraine-Republic of Moldova will include debates on the security situation in the region, the pressure exerted by Russia against the Republic of Moldova, the support of NATO and the EU for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. Also, the discussions in this format will aim at the strengthening of trilateral cooperation in the field of defence capacities of the two neighbouring states and their resilience. At the end of this trilateral meeting in Foreign-Defence format, a joint Statement will be adopted that will underscored the main elements on the agenda and the commitment of the three states for the development of trilateral cooperation. *** According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the fact that these events take place in Bucharest is proof of the key role played by Romania in the regional security equation, marked by Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the multiple, conventional and hybrid threats that the Black Sea region is facing. The Black Sea should be seen as a strategic centre of gravity, Romanian Defence Minister Angel Tilvar on Thursday told a conference on the security of the Black Sea region taking place in Bucharest under the auspices of the Crimea Platform. Tilvar added that the region is gaining more relevance amidst Russia's war against Ukraine, informeaza Agerpres. "I strongly believe, as many experts say, that we should look at the Black Sea as a strategic centre of gravity. Europe is facing the most complex and unpredictable security dynamics in decades, as Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine brought back the war on a large scale on the European continent," said Tilvar. He went on to say that people should acknowledge the key role of the Black Sea region. "The importance of the Black Sea is recognised both in the NATO Strategic Concept and in the EU Strategic Compass. The region has already been marked by three decades of risks and security challenges, including frozen conflicts," he said. The Romanian minister recalled that Romania has stood by its neighbour and partner from the first day of the war. "Russia has failed to divide us," said Tilvar, repeating that international aid for Ukraine was essential amidst the ongoing war. "We must continue to support Ukraine as long as it takes," he said. OrganiSed by Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defence together with Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Defence and in partnership with Ukraine's Centre for Defence Strategies, the conference is the first event of this magnitude dedicated to the Black Sea co-organised by the two countries under the auspices of the Crimea Platform. The Center of Analysis of International Relations (AIR Center) has shown a strong commitment to promoting peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan since the beginning of its establishment in 2019. Before the 44-Day War, the AIR Center attempted to convey the peace message to its Armenian counterparts through various channels, inviting them to work together towards a peaceful resolution of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. Unfortunately, in a similar way to the larger efforts of the Azerbaijani government over the years, the efforts of the AIR Center failed due to the refusal of the Armenian side to engage meaningfully in the Track 1.5 diplomacy. As a result of the failure of the diplomatic efforts, the Azerbaijani government had to liberate the countrys occupied territories by military means and achieved a significant victory in the 44-Day War. The AIR Center remains committed to the peace agenda and appreciates the opportunities that come with resolving the conflict. The Center has continued to attempt to engage with Armenian counterparts, such as the Orbeli Center, and use any available instruments and potential of the Track 1.5 diplomacy to contribute to the peace efforts between Armenia and Azerbaijan. For this purpose, the AIR Center highly values mediation proposals from common international partners and seeks to take advantage of them. However, it regrets that the Armenian counterparts have repeatedly declined meeting opportunities proposed by the international partners. Most of the time, such as in August and November of 2022 for a meeting in Geneva and in mid-November of the same year in Moscow, the Armenian side declined their participation a couple of days before the agreed date. The latest effort to meet in Ankara in April this year was also jettisoned by the Armenian side few days prior the event. This disrespectful attitude has ruined all the efforts and resources of our joint international partners and manifests that Armenia its government and think tank community are not serious about the dialogue between the two countries. The Armenian government is aimed at exploiting various topics related to alleged victimhood, security threats or blockade with a single purpose to postpone comprehensive peace and derail the efforts at other tracks. The AIR Center views this approach from the Armenian counterparts as highly detrimental to peace efforts and regrets that the Armenian side continues to avoid substantive and meaningful engagements, fueling tensions and preventing peace and reconciliation between the two societies. The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, and his Moldovan counterpart, Nicu Popescu, discussed on Wednesday, in Bucharest, the current state of the neighbouring country's European integration efforts, as well as the consequences of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and the security challenges faced by the Republic of Moldova. According to a press release sent by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) to AGERPRES, Minister Aurescu held a consultation session with his counterpart from the Republic of Moldova, Nicu Popescu, on Wednesday, in the context of his participation in the first Conference on Black Sea Security taking place under the aegis of the International Crimea International Platform and the trilateral meeting of the ministers of foreign affairs, with the participation of the defence ministers from Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine, which will take place on Thursday in Bucharest. The Minister of Defence from the Republic of Moldova, Anatolie Nosatii, also participated in the meeting. The two ministers analyzed the current status of the European integration efforts of the Republic of Moldova, with an emphasis on the fulfillment of the nine recommendations of the European Commission from June 2022 and, on a broader level, on the current status of implementation of reforms undertaken by the Government in Chisinau. In this context, the methods of support from Romania were also discussed, both from a political viewpoint and in terms of the concrete transfer of expertise, told Agerpres. The discussions also focused on the consequences of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, as well as on the security and hybrid challenges faced by the Republic of Moldova. Thus, Minister Bogdan Aurescu evoked the status of his initiative, presented at the meeting of the Foreign Affairs Council on February 20, to create a regime of sanctions to counter destabilizing actions against the Republic of Moldova and its constitutional order. Also, the two ministers discussed the main measures at the EU and NATO level to strengthen the resilience of the Republic of Moldova, and priority attention was paid to the prospects of launching the EU Partnership Mission in the Republic of Moldova (EUPM Moldova), a civilian PSAC mission whose establishment was strongly supported by Romania. Aspects related to the support offered to the Republic of Moldova through the European Peace Facility (EPF) of the European Union were also addressed. Minister Bogdan Aurescu also emphasized that Romania continues to contribute to the NATO programmes for developing the defence capabilities of the Republic of Moldova, including by earmarking an amount of 750,000 US dollars for this purpose, in addition to the 600,000 US dollars already allocated. At the same time, the two high-ranked officials addressed priority projects on the bilateral sectoral agenda, especially the stage results of the efforts to expand the electricity interconnections and the transport infrastructure, as well as the transit capacity at the border between Romania and the Republic of Moldova. They also discussed the current implementation stage of the bilateral projects financed by Romania, especially based on the bilateral Agreement on non-reimbursable assistance in the amount of 100 million euros. At the same time, the Romanian and Moldovan officials discussed cooperation between Romania and the Republic of Moldova in the preparation of the European Political Community Summit, which will take place in Chisinau, on June 1, as well as the fourth ministerial meeting, which will be organized in Chisinau, in the fall of this year, of the Support Platform for the Republic of Moldova, created in 2022 and co-chaired by Minister Bogdan Aurescu together with counterparts from Germany and France. Romania will continue to show solidarity with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova for as long as necessary, Foreign Affairs Minister Bogdan Aurescu said on Thursday. "Neither Ukraine nor the Republic of Moldova are alone, on the contrary, we stand in solidarity, we are responding concretely, we are responding in a concerted, coordinated manner, both individually and within the European Union and NATO, and Romania will continue to stand in solidarity with Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova for as long as necessary," minister Aurescu said after the Romania - Ukraine - Republic of Moldova trilateral meeting on security issues. He stressed that Romania, as a pillar of stability and a provider of security in the region, will continue to play a responsible role in support of states that are vulnerable to Russian pressure in the region. The Trilateral was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu, Minister of National Defence Angel Tilvar, Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova, Minister of Defence of Ukraine Oleksii Reznikov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Moldova Nicu Popescu and Minister of Defence of the Republic of Moldova Anatolie Nosatii. AGERPRES The General Inspectorate of the Border Police (IGPF) informs that, on Wednesday, a number of 84,538 people entered Romania through border points, of whom 7,879 were Ukrainian citizens. According to a release sent to AGERPRES on Thursday, approximately 177,500 people, Romanian and foreign citizens, with more than 48,900 means of transport, completed the control formalities at the border crossing points nationwide, both on the way in and on the way out. As of 10 February 2022 (the pre-conflict period), a number of 3,973,740 Ukrainian citizens have entered Romania, told Agerpres. In the relevant areas - the border crossing points and the "green border," the border policemen discovered 65 illegalities (40 offences and 25 contraventions) committed by both Romanian and foreign citizens, with the amount of fines enforced exceeding 41,300 RON. Assets of an estimated value of approximately 3,372,000 RON were impounded. On Wednesday, a number of 29 foreign citizens were not allowed to enter the country because they didn't meet the requirements stipulated by the law, while a number of 25 Romanian citizens were not allowed to leave the country for various legal reasons. As he visited on Thursday the Renewable Energy School of Skills (RESS) based in eastern Constanta, President Klaus Iohannis noted that with the rising need for renewable energy sources, such centers must exist all over Romania. For 14 years now, over 10,000 students have completed RESS courses intended for adult qualification and retraining into technicians for the renewable energy industry, especially wind and solar energy. "For us, in Romania, this is a very important sector, as we want to considerably expand the area of renewables, for several reasons: to protect the environment, to fight climate change, for harvesting as much energy as possible from renewable sources - we are talking mainly here about wind, that is harvesting wind, and solar energy as well. Here, near Constanta, in Dobrogea, where the natural conditions are favorable, we have plenty of sun and wind and naturally, renewables have gained significant momentum in this area," the head of the state declared. According to him, there is need for more RESS centers, as green energy specialists are highly required. "In my opinion, such centers must multiply, given that everywhere in Romania we seek a significant development on renewables - this means both at industrial and individual scale. Increasingly more Romanians will want to transform the way they produce or consume energy. There is a clear trend, which is also supported from European funds, to install for instance photovoltaic panels on houses, on blocks of flats, and we, as a state, strongly encourage this trend," Iohannis said. According to the Presidential Administration, training skills for climate transition and international cooperation on climate education are important goals that are part of President Iohannis's vision for a cleaner environment. "Considering the EU's achieving climate neutrality by the middle of this century, demand for green energy professionals is increasing. The need to find such skilled specialists is also felt by the citizens interested in investing in renewable energy at home. (...) Energy security and the possibility for citizens to benefit from energy at an affordable price are essential for the well-being and development of our society and largely depend on the success of the projects that will be carried out. In order to be able to accomplish investments in new renewable energy capacities, as foreseen by government programs - the NRRP included - it is crucial to have skilled human resources to ensure the successful implementation of these vital projects," the Presidential Administration said in a release. AGERPRES President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that the Presidential Administration will fall within the budget provisions that have been approved by the budget law. Klaus Iohannis was asked what measures the Presidential Administration will take to reduce spending, told Agerpres. "The Presidential Administration will keep within the budget provisions that were approved by the budget law. I am completely against random cuts. Personally, I have been in the administration, in politics, for a long time, I have seen all kinds of random measures, with wage cuts, with current expenditure cuts, all badly thought out," president Iohannis said in Constanta. He added that he wants "a judicious plan, well conceived", which is what he also told the representatives of the governing coalition. "I mean we cut where we can do so without putting something in difficulty. So don't expect me to agree with or welcome cuts that are made just like that, on paper, from a minister's desk. This is not the way to work and we are not in a position to make sensational cuts and under no circumstances are we in a position to make cuts from Romanians' money," Iohannis said. While the West had no consistent strategy related to the Black Sea, Russia always had one - aggressive, retaliatory, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba said on Thursday. He had an online intervention at the Conference on the security of the Black Sea region, which takes place in Bucharest, under the aegis of the Crimea International Platform, told Agerpres. The head of the Ukrainian diplomacy said that every time we hear that anyone, anywhere in the world, says that Crimea is somehow special and should not return to Ukraine again, we must say that Ukraine categorically rejects this. He mentioned that there is no difference between Simferopol, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson or any other Ukrainian city, adding that there must be and it will be a whole Ukraine again. He stated that many believed that the 21st century would be one of peace, development and cooperation. Ukrainian minister Kuleba said that unfortunately, Russia went in the opposite direction, in the 19th century, of colonial competitions. Dmytro Kuleba pointed out that the Black Sea is essential so that the entire Europe is a place of peace. The North Atlantic Treaty Organization will stand by Ukraine "as long as it is needed" and will support this country "along the long road of Euro-Atlantic integration", the Deputy Secretary General of NATO, Mircea Geoana declared, on Thursday at the Conference on the security of the Black Sea region that is taking place in Bucharest, under the auspices of the Crimea International Platform. "Seeing our Finnish allies and Swedish allies joining us, I know that you belong to the West, you belong to the democracies, you belong to the Euro-Atlantic family and we are with you all this way", Geoana told the Ukrainians. He highlighted the strategic importance of the Black Sea, highlighted at the NATO Summit in Madrid last year. "It is not just a piece of paper, it is our conviction transformed into action", Mircea Geoana pointed out. The NATO official recalled that since 2014, since the illegal annexation of Crimea, the alliance has increased its presence in the region and strengthened its partnership with Ukraine. "The Black Sea region is at the center of the current discussions, and as a Romanian I know and feel that this is a region of strategic importance for Euro-Atlantic security," said NATO's Deputy Secretary General. He added that this space "has been at the center of the accumulation of aggression by Russia for over a decade, and the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014 and parts of Donbas were the beginning". According to Geoana, "Russia's irresponsible and hostile behavior in the extended Black Sea region deeply affects the security of the entire alliance". AGERPRES Russia's aggression against Ukraine negatively impacts each and every citizen of the Republic of Moldova, Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu declared on Thursday after the Romania - Ukraine - Republic of Moldova trilateral meeting in Bucharest. In a joint press conference, Popescu reiterated Moldova's determination to stand by Ukraine. "The negative impact of this war on our country is felt by every citizen of the Republic of Moldova in absolutely every field, in terms of economy and energy, on a social and humanitarian level. Each and every citizen of the Republic of Moldova is negatively affected by Russia's aggression against Ukraine," the Moldovan top diplomat said, making it also clear that "the Republic of Moldova is not under military threat" precisely due to Ukraine's resistance and resilience. He mentioning however that his country remains "a target for hybrid destabilization actions and attempts (...) initiated by fugitive oligarchs in cooperation and coordination with the Russian Federation". "Today, Ukraine defends us against the risk of destabilization and aggression," he emphasized. "We reiterate our consistent stance regarding support for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders," the Moldovan foreign minister said in conclusion of his remarks. AGERPRES President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that he will take care that it doesn't come to "a budget flip-flopping" in Romania, adding that he promulgated the draft law that provides for salary increases for mayors. Klaus Iohannis was asked if it is possible to talk about "a fiscal flip-flopping" given that, lately, several benefits have been voted in Parliament for some state employees, such as the draft law on higher salaries for mayors, while at the same time the Government is talking about cutting spending, told Agerpres. "If the talks continue with salary cuts and other things, we can also talk about flip-flopping, but I will be careful not to end up in a budget flip-flopping. It's one thing what has been voted in Parliament and, by the way, I have promulgated that law and it's another thing what needs to be done to adjust budget spending. One is one thing, another is another, one is a correction that was made in Parliament, another is a correction that must be made from where a mistake was made in the first place, from Finance. If they overestimated the budget, now they only have to find smart methods to bring the budget back within feasible limits," said the president in Constanta. He was also asked why the travel expenses of the Presidential Administration are not public. "Because that is the law", the head of state replied. The Social Democratic Party (PSD) welcomes the intervention of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) for opening of diplomatic dialogue regarding grain exports from Ukraine. "The PSD welcomes the prompt response of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bogdan Aurescu, to the request to open the diplomatic dialogue with Ukraine regarding an agreement to temporarily suspend grain exports on the Romanian market, according to the model applied in Poland", transmitted, on Thursday, the PSD , through a press release sent to AGERPRES. According to the quoted source, the Minister of Agriculture is prepared to address this subject with his Ukrainian counterpart, immediately after completing the diplomatic protocols between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries. "In this context, PSD expresses its confidence that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Permanent Representation of Romania to the European Union will support, during the April 19, 2023 meeting of the 'Committee of Permanent Representatives of the Governments of the Member States of the European Union' (COREPER ), the proposal submitted by the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture regarding the activation of the accelerated safeguard measure, i.e. the temporary suspension of the tax exemption for Ukrainian products in the member states seriously affected by the export of grain from Ukraine, without however limiting the transit lanes to other countries," the statement also says. AGERPRES BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Turkish Baykar company will demonstrate its KEMANKES light cruise missile at the TEKNOFEST festival, Baykar Chief Technical Officer (CTO) Selcuk Bayraktar at the commissioning ceremony of the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship, Trend reports via TurkicWorld. According to Selcuk Bayraktar, the KEMANKES cruise missile, with a flight range of several hundred kilometers, can be launched from the new Bayraktar TB3 UAV. Meanwhile, the Turkish unmanned combat aircraft Bayraktar Kzlelma was first presented at TEKNOFEST Karadeniz on August 30, 2022, and made its first flight on December 14, 2022. The Bayraktar TB3 UAV, developed by Baykar with national and local capabilities, will be the world's first armed unmanned aerial vehicle with a folding wing design, capable of taking off and landing from ships with a short runway, such as the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship. The capabilities of the Bayraktar TB3 will be a significant novelty for unmanned aerial vehicles of this class. Bayraktar TB3 will also have the ability to exchange data beyond line of sight so that it can be controlled from very long distances. Baykar started 2023 with a $370 million export contract for the supply of Bayraktar TB2 UAVs signed with the Ministry of Defense of Kuwait, ahead of its American, European, and Chinese competitors. Baykar, which has been implementing all its projects at its own expense since the first day, has received 75 percent of all its export revenues since the start of the research and development (R&D) process for the UAV in 2003. According to the Turkish Exporters Assembly, in 2021, Baykar became the export leader in the defense and aerospace industries. Baykar, with its 99.3 percent export share in the contracts signed in 2022, has carried out exports worth $1.18 billion. The turnover of Baykar, the largest exporter in the defense and aerospace industries, amounted to $1.4 billion in 2022. An export agreement was signed with 28 countries for the supply of the Bayraktar TB2 operational-tactical medium-altitude UAV, and with 6 countries for the supply of the Bayraktar kinci high-altitude long-range UAV. The Foreign and Defence ministers of Romania, the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine underline their commitment to "the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine within their internationally recognized borders, including territorial waters", in the Joint Declaration adopted on Thursday in Bucharest. "Our states are connected by history, geography and our shared vision for a peaceful and prosperous future. We appreciate the benefits of developing our strong links in the political, economic, infrastructure, security, defence and cultural areas, both for our countries and for the entire region. As partners in the eastern part of the European continent, we share similar security concerns and have the same interest in a stable and safe Black Sea region," they said, according to the document. The joint statement reiterates that Russia's brutal, illegal and unprovoked military invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as a continuation of the aggression started by Russia on Ukraine in 2014, caused suffering and destruction for millions of people, bringing the war back to the European continent. "In addition to the armed attacks on Ukraine, Russia continues to use various hybrid tactics, which aim to further intimidate Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova and other states in the region. We express our desire to encourage close cooperation to strengthen common capabilities to combat Russian propaganda and strengthen the resilience of our societies, including in terms of disinformation," the ministers of the three countries point out. In this context, they again strongly condemn the aggressive actions "which represent a threat without precedent in recent decades for our region and for the Euro-Atlantic space". "Russia's war of aggression represents a blatant violation of international law. We have condemned the aggressor and all those who facilitate the war waged by Russia, including Belarus," they add. The document also mentions the Black Sea, which "remains a region of strategic importance for the European continent and for the Euro-Atlantic region". "We will continue to work together, for as long as necessary, to support the right of states to freely choose their foreign policy and alliances, to exercise their right to self-defence, to strengthen resilience and stability, security and prosperity in our region," the signatories of the joint declaration stress. Also, the support for the accession of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the European Union is reiterated. "Romania and the Republic of Moldova reaffirmed their readiness to support Ukraine's initiative for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace and expressed their support for president Zelensky's Peace Formula and their commitment to actively work with Ukraine for the implementation of the 10-point Peace Plan. We stress that the Peace Formula represents our common vision of the necessary steps to ensure a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine and for the security of the whole world," the signatories said. The document also reiterates that those who have committed serious crimes from the point of view of international law on the territory of Ukraine, as well as the officials responsible must be held accountable for their actions. "We have expressed our full support for the efforts of the international community to ensure accountability for these crimes, including through legal mechanisms," the ministers stress. AGERPRES Romania reiterates its commitment to supporting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, but also to standing in solidarity with the Ukrainian people in these dramatic moments, Romanian Defence Minister Angel Tilvar said on Thursday after the Romania - Ukraine - Republic of Moldova trilateral security meeting in Bucharest. Tilvar also mentioned Romania's support for the "irreversible connection of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the European space". "Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine has confirmed that Russia is the most significant and direct threat to Euro-Atlantic, European and regional security. Right in our neighborhood we are faced with a brutal invasion that has resulted in a massive loss of human lives and which continues to generate instability and insecurity in the region, but also beyond. The strategic importance of the Black Sea region is revealed in this whole equation, an aspect our country has constantly emphasized in bilateral and multilateral frameworks ever since 2014, after the illegal annexation of Crimea," Tilvar declared in remarks after the trilateral meeting, pointing also out that this was an occasion for previous bilateral defence contacts to continue. "This trilateral format is a natural consequence of the need for strengthening cooperation among our countries, considering the security developments in the region. The current regional security environment is extremely dynamic, having direct or indirect consequences on our states. Against this backdrop, we had bilateral and trilateral talks on the security and military situation in Ukraine, as well as the developments in the Black Sea region," Tilvar said, adding that focus was placed on resilience and defence capability enhancing measures. He pointed out that NATO and EU projects were also discussed, as Romania is "an active contributor to the partnership instruments dedicated to both Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova". "We reviewed their status and agreed to maintain the same constant nature of coordination, in the spirit of project efficiency. In its context, I assured my Ukrainian and Moldovan counterparts of our support for the irreversible connection of Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova to the European space," Defence Minister Tilvar said. The Romanian official also mentioned Romania's supporting the measures associated with the European Peace Facility for Ukraine and the Republic of Moldova. "The theme of our discussions is reflected inclusively in the Joint Declaration of the Foreign Affairs and Defence ministers of our states, which we signed at the end of the meeting, thus reiterating our strong and constant messages of condemnation of the Russian Federation's war of aggression against Ukraine, with a brutal impact on the neighboring country, but also on the use of hybrid instruments in the Republic of Moldova," the Romanian Defence minister explained. AGERPRES In Ukraine, it all started in Crimea and the solution to the current conflict must include this territory, Ukrainian First Deputy Foreign Minister Emine Dzapharova declared on Thursday in Bucharest in remarks after the Romania - Ukraine - Republic of Moldova trilateral meeting on security. 60 states and international organizations are currently campaigning for the liberation of Crimea, pointed out Dzapharova, who participates in the first Conference on the Security of the Black Sea Region held over April 12 - 13 in Bucharest under the auspices of the International Crimea Platform. The Ukrainian official called for enhanced firmness when it comes to isolating and sanctioning the Russian Federation, reminding that the war started by it continues to rage in the middle of Europe, on thousands of square kilometers, traumatizing an entire world. It is a matter of justice, and a special court must be created to investigate Russia's crimes, Dzapharova emphasized, stating also that Ukraine firmly believes that its joining the European Union and NATO is only a matter of time. The official went on to say that Ukraine is in the final stages of completing national legislation with aspects related to minorities and anti-corruption provisions and expressed hope that accession negotiations will start by the end of this year. The trilateral meeting in Bucharest was attended by Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu, National Defence Minister Angel Tilvar, Ukrainian First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Emine Dzhaparova, Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksii Reznikov, Moldovan Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu and Moldovan Defence Minister Anatolie Nosatii, who all signed a joint declaration at the end of the event. The event in Bucharest was a continuation of the trilateral meeting on energy security organized in Odessa in 2022. Emine Dzapharova expressed hopes that talks with infrastructure and energy ministers will continue in the same trilateral format in the coming months, as the recovery of Ukraine requires large-scale infrastructure and energy projects. AGERPRES Ukraine thanks Romania and the Republic of Moldova for their support and solidarity in its fight against Russia's aggression, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said in Bucharest on Thursday, after the Trilateral Romania - Ukraine - Republic of Moldova, dedicated to security issues. For our part - said Reznikov - we are ready to share practical experiences in repelling such aggressions and make recommendations to our partners regarding the improvement of defense when it comes to aggressions from Russia. Ukraine, Moldova and Romania not only have common borders and a common history, but what is even more important is that we also have a common vision of our foreign policy, within the European democratic family and according to European values. We also have common threats, such as Russia's hybrid war against Moldova and the war against Ukraine, which threatens all the Black Sea countries, the Ukrainian official said. In his opinion, the three countries have a long and hard job ahead of them to ensure security in the Black Sea region and restore order and respect for international law, as well as peace, stability and prosperity for the people. The foreign ministers from Romania, Bogdan Aurescu, the Republic of Moldova, Nicu Popescu, and the deputy foreign minister from Ukraine Emine Dzapharova, as well as the defense ministers from the three countries - Angel Tilvar, Anatolie Nosatii and Oleksii Reznikov, signed a joint statement and made press statements at the end of it. Thursday's trilateral was a continuation of a meeting in the same format, but on energy security issues, organized in Odessa in 2022. The meeting was organized in the context of the first Conference on the Security of the Black Sea region under the auspices of the Crimea International Platform, an event organized on Wednesday and Thursday in Bucharest by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of National Defense of Romania, together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, in partnership with the Center for Defense Strategies of Ukraine. The Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Dmitro Kuleba, had an online intervention at the Conference in Bucharest on the security of the Black Sea region. AGERPRES Several apps and websites, including those of streaming service Hulu, office messaging app Slack and Epic Games, were up and running after being hit by a brief power outage at one of Amazon.com Inc.s data servers on the U.S. East Coast. The issue has been resolved and the service is operating normally, AWS said. Amazon earlier said the outage had affected its platform that provides computing capacity to cloud network operated by its unit, Amazon Web Services (AWS). Office messaging app Slack had said it was experiencing issues with file uploads, message editing and other services. A major outage in the same region earlier this month brought down streaming platforms Netflix and Disney+, trading app Robinhood as well as Amazon.com Inc.s e-commerce website. Updated at 8 a.m. Ian Froeb Ian Froeb is the restaurant critic for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Follow Ian Froeb Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Save Manage followed notifications Close Followed notifications Please log in to use this feature Log In Don't have an account? Sign Up Today The signature dish at Jalisco Pizza shouldnt work. Late last year, a few months before Leonardo Ortiz opened his restaurant just off Highway 370 in St. Charles, he tried to re-create the birria from his home in Degollado, Mexico. By his own admission, he failed. Ortiz has to hold himself to a higher standard. Degollado is a small town in the Mexican state of Jalisco, the birthplace of birria, the beef or goat stew that in recent years has become a sensation as a taco filling, often paired with melted cheese and served with a small cup of the broth in which the meat cooked for dipping. The craze has now spread to such other fusion dishes as birria ramen (try Taqueria Maya in Alton) and, at Ortizs narrow storefront, birria pizza. Not long after Ortiz missed the mark with his birria, he invited a friend over to his house to grill some pork he had marinated with dried chiles. The marinade didnt turn out as he had expected but it did taste awfully close to the birria he wanted. He tweaked the recipe and tried again. I was like, Whoa! This is the sauce that I was looking for (for) my birria, Ortiz said. The signature dish at Jalisco Pizza still shouldnt work. The whole restaurant shouldnt work, for that matter. Ortiz, who came to the United States after graduating from high school in Mexico, has worked in the restaurant industry since he was 14. He thought the combination of Mexican fare and pizza made sense for a family-friendly restaurant, with the former appealing to parents, the latter to their kids. He also looked back on his own childhood. His father would pick up a pizza from one restaurant and then get taco meat from a taqueria to put on top of the pie. But Ortiz had never operated a pizzeria before he debuted Jalisco Pizza in February in the former Stefs Pizza storefront. He learned the pizza business in just four days, he said. The mentor who taught him about pizza urged him to stick to the basics. Ortiz invited his mentor to his home for a birria pizza. His mentor was surprised, Ortiz said. The pizza was good. The mentor couldnt guarantee Jalisco Pizza would work, but the pizza was good. I cant guarantee Jalisco Pizza will succeed, either the restaurant industry is too capricious but it deserves to prosper. The pizza is very good, and Ortizs restaurant works both as a straightforward pizzeria and as a destination for an appealing, unforced fusion of two of the most popular cuisines around. It begins not with birria but with the dough, which itself is a fusion of the more conventional style Ortiz learned from his mentor and his own bread recipe. The crust is crisp and springy, its flavor bready, even a little sweet, but not too weighty on the palate. In its own unassuming way, this dough isnt quite like any other in the metro area. It supports a traditional arrangement of sauce, cheese and pepperoni or another typical topping (sausage, peppers, onions, et al.), as well as the signature street taco-inspired pies. First and foremost, though, you should visit Jalisco Pizza for that latter group. The birria pizza the Jalisco pizza on the menu tops the crust, tomato sauce and cheese trio with luscious stewed beef, a generous taco-inspired garnish of chopped cilantro and onion, and a drizzle of a dark red secret sauce that intensifies the warm spices and subtle chile heat of the birrias broth. As with a birria or quesabirria taco, the Jalisco pizza includes a small cup of that broth as a dip. Another credit to the crust here: It retains its pleasant chew even after a dunk in the consomme. Crucially, thanks to the quality of that crust and how Ortiz builds his pies, the street-tacos pizzas didnt make me wish I were simply eating a taco instead. The layer of tomato sauce is thin, and its mild sweetness helps soften the sharp edges of the raw onion and cilantro. The affinity of stretchy cheese for birria is obvious, but it gilds the other meats just as well: juicy, charry carne asada and tender, achiote-seasoned al pastor. These pizzas are appealing enough as is, but Ortiz offers an additional step: four different sauces with which to dress your pizza. These range from a verdant but mild green sauce to the ferocious, mustard-based chimichurri, its color an orangish-yellow that will anger your palate even before you apply a tentative dab to the edge of your crust. Between these two poles are a moderately spicy red sauce and a creamy, smoky, slightly spicier chipotle salsa. Beyond the three street-taco pies, much of Jalisco Pizzas menu hews close to the St. Louis pizzeria template, though with the occasional surprise. There are toasted ravioli, naturally, but these T-ravs are discs rather than square-edged, with a lighter breading. The wings are plump, crisp and meaty, though my order needed a more generous toss in the tangy Buffalo sauce. Meatballs arent one of my go-to pizza toppings, but the tender, meaty specimens packed into the meatball sub here might prompt me to do so on my next visit especially when I can accent them with that chimichurri. Jalisco Pizza doesnt have a liquor license, and you might regret the lack of an icy beer when that chimichurri hits you full-force, but a bottle of Mexican Coke or a glass of hibiscus agua fresca will cool you down just as nicely. How much Toasted ravioli (six) $4.99 Cheese pizza (10-inch) $10 Al pastor pizza (10-inch) $13 Jalisco pizza (10-inch) $19 Rating Recommended The Post-Dispatch evaluates restaurants on the following scale, lowest to highest: Not Recommended, Recommended, Highly Recommended, Essential. The rating reflects how the restaurant succeeds on its own terms and how it meets a diner's good-faith expectations of quality food and hospitality regardless of cuisine, location or cost. Where Jalisco Pizza, 3831 Elm Street, St. Charles More info 636-723-7800; jaliscopizza.com Menu Pizza both traditional and Mexican-inspired Hours Lunch and dinner daily BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Visa company has expanded She's Next Empowered by Visa, a global initiative to support women entrepreneurs in Azerbaijan, Senior Director, Country Manager at Visa Azerbaijan Nurlan Hajiyev told Trend. According to Hajiyev, over 600 women entrepreneurs took part in the initiative in 2022. "Visa attaches particular importance to supporting women's entrepreneurship both globally and in Azerbaijan. Inclusiveness is a strategy and one of the main activities of Visa. The implementation of this initiative is aimed at supporting women, bringing them the best experience," he said. The senior director stressed that the company will continue to promote the She's Next Empowered by Visa initiative in the future both in Azerbaijan and in the markets of other countries. She's Next Empowered by Visa is a global program advancing women in their efforts to fund, run and grow their small businesses. WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Tuesday proposed limiting the use of a chemical used to clean medical equipment in sterilizing plants because it also raises cancer risks for workers. The agency plans to slash emissions of the odorless gas -- ethylene oxide -- by about 80 percent at 86 medical sterilization facilities. Long-term exposure to the chemical over the course of a working career or from living near a sterilizing plant can increase the risk for certain types of cancer, including lymphoma and breast cancer, the agency explained. People who go to school near places where ethylene oxide is used are also potentially at an elevated risk for cancer. Ethylene oxide, which is classified as a pesticide, is used to sterilize about half of all medical devices in the United States, including pacemakers, syringes, catheters, and plastic surgical gowns, according to the agency. Under the proposal, sterilization facilities will need to test for the antimicrobial chemical in the air. They also will need to make sure pollution controls are working. The agency also proposed requiring protective vapor masks for those working near high amounts of ethylene oxide. Some workplaces, including museums, should stop using the gas, it said. Reaction to the proposal was swift. "I'm 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," Darya Minovi, a senior research analyst with the Union of Concerned Scientists, said in a statement. Minovi added that the proposal should have also required monitoring at facility fence lines to reassure neighbors. Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of the Advanced Medical Technology Association, said in a statement that the EPA risk assessment overstates threats to employees. Not only that, but many devices "cannot be sterilized by another method," Whittaker explained, and if some facilities close, medical care may be delayed. Whitaker also called the 18 months allowed for installing technology to reduce emissions "much too short," adding that "it could take many months for abatement equipment to arrive. Supply chains and manufacturing are still recovering from the pandemic." FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS Staff at Planned Parenthoods clinic in southern Illinois say they will continue to provide medication abortions as usual, despite a federal appeals court decision late Wednesday restricting access. The latest court decision states that the abortion pill mifepristone can be used for now, but only before seven weeks of pregnancy instead of 10 or 11; and the drug can no longer be sent by mail or prescribed via telehealth. However, the chief medical officer of the St. Louis regions Planned Parenthood, with an abortion clinic in Fairview Heights, Illinois, said it is sticking with the status quo the clinic will continue providing mifepristone up until 11 weeks of pregnancy. The clinic is the closest location to obtain an abortion for many people in Missouri and the southern U.S. The appeals court decision lifts a ruling last week by a lower court in Texas that had temporarily blocked the Food and Drug Administrations approval of mifepristone. However, a nearly simultaneous and separate federal court decision, reiterated Thursday, in the Eastern District of Washington barred the FDA from altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of mifepristone in 17 states including Illinois and the District of Columbia. Mifepristone, which also uses the brand-name Mifeprex, has since been used more than 5 million times to end early pregnancies. About half of all abortions nationwide are medication abortions, which involve using mifepristone as the first of a two-pill regimen. The drug is also commonly used to help manage miscarriages. The Biden administration on Thursday asked the Supreme Court to intervene and protect the FDAs approval of the drug. We are fortunate that both because of the decision out of Washington state and because we have continued strong leadership and support from the Illinois governor and Illinois attorney general that we can continue to provide mifepristone in the way that we know is most consistent with the science, Dr. Colleen McNicholas, of Planned Parenthood, said Thursday. Folks will be able to continue to use that service, accessing their clinician visit via telehealth from the comfort of their home, their car, their workplace; and then we will mail that medication to them at their Illinois address, she said. However, leaders with other abortion providers in southern Illinois Hope Clinic in Granite City and CHOICES in Carbondale say they are still awaiting legal guidance on what to do come Saturday, when the latest restrictions go into effect. We are carefully monitoring the rapidly moving court proceedings and reviewing our internal policies and procedures to make sure we are in compliance with current laws, said Hope Clinic Chief Operating Officer Michele Landeau. Since the Carbondale clinic opened in October, medication abortions have made up 75% of abortion procedures there, with most patients traveling from Tennessee, Arkansas and Mississippi, said Jennifer Pepper, CEO of CHOICES. While we may not know what that care looks like come Monday, we will continue to provide medication abortion to our patients at our Carbondale clinic in the best way we can, she said. CHOICES doesnt offer telehealth appointments, so patients go in person for an appointment, take one pill at the clinic and are sent home with drugs to be taken within 48 hours. Pepper said the clinic is preparing to expand access to procedural abortions. CHOICES provides them up to 13 weeks of a pregnancy, although other clinics in Illinois perform them up to 22 weeks. The clinic will make any other adjustments that lawyers tell them to do, but we want to provide care that is in line with science and not ideology, Pepper said. Regulations The lawsuit challenging mifepristones approval was brought by the Alliance Defending Freedom, which was also involved in the Mississippi case that led to Roe v. Wade being overturned in June. At the core of the lawsuit is the allegation that the FDAs initial approval of mifepristone in 2000 was flawed because the agency did not adequately review safety risks. The FDA, leading medical associations and drug law experts have strongly disputed the claims made against mifepristone. They argue scientific evidence overwhelmingly shows that the medication is safe. The latest decision by the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans says the mifepristone can continue to be prescribed but only under the FDA restrictions placed on the drug when it was first approved in 2000. Those guidelines limited the drugs use to seven weeks of pregnancy and required three in-person office visits: the first to administer mifepristone, the second to administer the second drug misoprostol and a third follow-up visit. It also required a doctors supervision. Medical groups argued against these restrictions at the time. In 2016, the FDA changed the number of in-person visits to one, allowed providers such as advanced nurse practitioners to prescribe the drug and extended the point in pregnancy when the drug could be taken. In January, after the use of telehealth during the pandemic, the agency permanently lifted the in-person requirement and allowed mail delivery of the pill. Providers in southern Illinois say going back to the 2000 restrictions would make it difficult for patients living in states where abortion is nearly banned to travel there for a medication abortion. We have so fewer clinics that can provide that care, so the reality is that not many patients can make it from their home to a brick-and-mortar health center at earlier than seven weeks of gestation, McNicholas said. The mandated multiple in-person visits would absolutely make this out of reach for folks. The Associated Press contributed to this report. WEDNESDAY, April 12, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- U.S. officials are intensifying efforts to crack down on illicit use of the veterinary tranquilizer xylazine, which can cause painful and deadly side effects in humans. The drug, when mixed with the opioid fentanyl, has been designated an "emerging threat," the Office of National Drug Control Policy announced Wednesday. "As a physician, I am deeply troubled about the devastating impact of the fentanyl-xylazine combination, and as President Biden's drug policy advisor, I am immensely concerned about what this threat means for the nation," Rahul Gupta, M.D., director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, said in a news release announcing the designation. "That's why the Biden-Harris administration is using this designation authority for the first time since it passed Congress in 2018. By declaring xylazine combined with fentanyl as an emerging threat, we are being proactive in our approach to save lives and creating new tools for public health and public safety officials and communities across the nation." Although added to opioids, xylazine is not an opioid and has no known antidote. More than 3,000 people who died of an overdose in the United States had xylazine in their system in 2021, most of them in the South, according to the Drug Enforcement Administration. That was up from just 800 in 2020, mostly in the Northeast. Gupta's office plans to develop a strategy to fight the drug's spread, including developing an antidote, disrupting supplies, and potentially asking Congress to classify it as a controlled substance, the Associated Press reported. The office is requesting $11 million to fend off the xylazine problem as part of its budget. Federal officials are working to understand if the drug they are finding mixed with opioids is made illicitly or is illegally diverted from veterinary uses, the AP reported. Officials think the drug is added to other drugs to increase profits. The drug can have severe and dangerous side effects, sometimes slowing a person's breathing and heart rate, as well as causing skin abscesses and ulcers that may require limb amputation. LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska lawmakers advanced a bill Wednesday that would ban abortion once cardiac activity can be detected in an embryo, which is generally around the sixth week of pregnancy and before most women even know they are pregnant. Thirty-three lawmakers voted to end debate on the bill just enough needed to set up an identical 33-16 vote to advance the bill. If just one other lawmaker had voted not to end debate, the bill would likely have been declared dead for the year. It must survive two more rounds of debate before the end of the 90-day session to pass. The effort to pass the so-called heartbeat bill in the Republican-controlled state remains in question. An amendment floated by a Republican co-signer of the bill that would push the ban out to 12 weeks of pregnancy has yet to be considered. The amendment and concerns expressed by at least one lawmaker who voted to advance the bill could signal that a ban set very early in pregnancy may face pushback even from those who want further abortion restrictions. Sen. Teresa Ibach of Sumner is also a co-sponsor of the bill, which includes exceptions for cases of rape, incest and medical emergencies that threaten the life of the mother. But she said during debate Wednesday that concerns shared with her by a couple of Nebraska doctors have given her pause on the current bill. Shes concerned, she said, that it doesnt make allowances for fetal anomalies. I think we have to listen to both sides, she said. I do think the 12 week proposal would be a compromise. Ibach said she voted to advance the bill to allow for more debate on it this session. The bill makes specific exceptions for ectopic pregnancies, IVF procedures, and allows for the removal of a fetus that has died in the womb. It also does not ascribe criminal penalties to either women who receive or doctors who perform abortions. Instead, it would subject doctors who perform abortions in violation of the measure to professional discipline, which could include losing their medical licenses. Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen, a Republican, has been a vocal proponent of the bill and has said he will sign it if it passes. Debate grew contentious at times Wednesday, with lawmakers for and against the bill accusing each other of spreading misinformation and using inflammatory rhetoric. Supporters of the bill quoted Bible verses and extolled personal and religious beliefs that life begins at conception. Sen. Steve Halloran of Hastings who is white, claimed that the legalization of abortion in the U.S. had its roots not in choice for women, but in a racist plot to kill off the Black race. Opponents of the bill said it would strip women of their right to bodily autonomy, put them at financial and medical risk, and drive medical professionals and others concerned about abortion access out of the state. While the bill doesn't list any criminal penalties for women who get abortions and doctors who perform them, some lament that there is no specific language guaranteeing they won't face charges. To be honest, a lot of doctors have their resignation letters ready to go, said Omaha Sen. Megan Hunt, who introduced a failed amendment to indefinitely postpone the bill. Sen. Danielle Conrad of Lincoln referred to news reports in the past year of women and girls who were unable to get immediate abortion care following rapes or in the face of life-threatening complications because of their states abortion bans. Those are real things, and youre bringing them to Nebraska, she said. Sen. Joni Albrecht of Thurston, who introduced the bill, said she understood there are strong opinions centered on abortion access. This bill is about babies with beating hearts, and they deserve to be protected," she said. The debate drew hundreds of people both for and against the bill to the Capitol, where dueling rallies by abortion rights and anti-abortion groups were held. Sen. Merv Riepe of Ralston introduced the amendment to push the ban to 12 weeks last month, saying he was concerned that the current proposal might not give women enough time to know that theyre pregnant. But he also voted Wednesday to advance the bill. Nebraska has the only single-chamber, officially nonpartisan legislature in the United States. But each of its 49 lawmakers identify as Republican or Democrat and tend to propose and vote for legislation along party lines. Republicans hold 32 seats, while Democrats hold 17 seats. Although bills can advance with a simple majority, it takes a supermajority 33 votes to end debate to overcome a filibuster. So a single lawmaker breaking from the party line could decide whether a bill advances or dies for the year. Omaha Sen. Mike McDonnell, a Democrat, voted Wednesday with Republicans to advance the bill. His reason, he said, is that he is a devout Roman Catholic who has always campaigned as an anti-abortion candidate. The close divide in the Legislature played heavily in the defeat last year of a so-called trigger bill that would have automatically banned nearly all abortions in the state, even those resulting from rape and incest, as soon as the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. That bill fell two votes short. That failure came as a surprise in a state that had a history as a leader in abortion restrictions. In 2010, Nebraska enacted the countrys first law banning abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, based on the disputed theory that a fetus at that point can feel pain. But Nebraska anti-abortion advocates have watched in frustration as other GOP-controlled states have moved quickly to ban or restrict abortion access since the fall of Roe. Abortion is already effectively banned at all stages of pregnancy in more than a dozen states. That number would be higher, except that courts have blocked bans in another six states. Dueling federal court decisions handed down last week have also thrown into question access to abortion pills. THURSDAY, April 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Spanish-only speaking Mexican Americans with ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage have worse neurologic outcomes than English speakers, according to a study published online April 12 in Neurology. Alejandro Vargas, M.D., from the Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, and colleagues examined whether language preference was associated with 90-day stroke outcomes among Mexican Americans using data from ischemic stroke and intracerebral hemorrhage patients from the population-based Brain Attack Surveillance in Corpus Christi project (2009 to 2018). Of 1,096 stroke patients, 926 and 170 were English speaking and Spanish-only speaking, respectively. The researchers found that the Spanish-only speakers were older, received less education, had higher initial National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) scores, and had a higher prevalence of atrial fibrillation and lower prevalence of smoking. Compared with English speakers, Spanish-only speakers had worse neurologic outcomes in fully adjusted models (NIHSS: mean difference, 1.93), but no difference in functional outcome as measured based on activities of daily living/instrumental activities of daily living or in cognitive outcome. "We conducted an earlier study in this same community finding that the language people spoke was not associated with any delay in their getting to the hospital or using emergency medical services after an ischemic stroke, so we definitely need more information to determine what is driving the differences in outcomes between these two groups," a coauthor said in a statement. EAST ST. LOUIS An 11-year-old boy was shot in the chest early Thursday when two women who wanted clothing returned to them opened fire during a dispute with the boys mother, the East St. Louis police chief said. The women got into a dispute about clothing as they stood outside the boys home on North 39th Street about 12:15 a.m. Thursday. One of the shots went through the wall of the house and hit the boy, Chief Cantrell Patterson said. When the mom ran into the home, she found her son injured. They live in the 1400 block of North 39th Street, south of Caseyville Avenue. The boy was breathing when EMS crews arrived. They rushed the child to a hospital, but his condition wasnt immediately released. Patterson said he hasnt gotten an update on the boy. Minutes after the shooting, police stopped a car in a pursuit and took two women into custody. Patterson said he expects charges to be filed. It seemed like the mother was involved in an altercation with these two ladies, Patterson said. They got into an argument over some clothing. Sounds like the ladies wanted something back. Patterson said the women may have stayed at the home before and may have been friends of the family. Patterson said the escalating violence in society is upsetting. Times are changing, he said. People seem like they are just lawless. They do what they want to do. East St. Louis police are working with Illinois State Police on the investigation. Some eight hours after the shooting, all that an Illinois State Police spokesperson would confirm about the victim is that a juvenile was shot and taken to a hospital. The Illinois State Police said the East St. Louis Housing Authority is the agency that captured the women. Through April 13, at least 18 children have been shot throughout the St. Louis metro area; nine of the victims died. The children were 17 and younger. Children injured or killed by gunfire in the St. Louis area in 2023 Below is the St. Louis Post-Dispatch coverage of children who have been injured or killed by gunfire across the St. Louis metropolitan area in ST. LOUIS A man was found dead in his car Thursday afternoon in the city's Baden neighborhood. Officers were called to Oriole and McLaren avenues just before 1 p.m., according to a police report. They found the man dead in a vehicle and classified his death as "suspicious." Additional information was not immediately available. ST. LOUIS Missouri Attorney General Andrew Baileys office spoke on behalf of St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardners office in a hearing Wednesday despite waging an ongoing campaign to remove Gardner as the citys top prosecutor. The attorney generals office is seeking to overturn the dismissal of robbery and murder cases against two St. Louis-area women Rachel Nixon, 34, and Karen Ann Quinn, 44 who were among four charged in a fatal 2018 robbery plot in the citys Bevo Mill neighborhood. The cases were dismissed last year when City Circuit Judge Michael Noble found that city prosecutors had failed to turn over key evidence, including a report of Quinns statement to federal investigators. Such evidence problems have been increasingly common as Gardners understaffed office, which has lost lawyers by the dozen in recent years, has struggled to prepare for trials. Prosecutors have been sanctioned and scolded by judges, and theyve frequently dismissed and refiled cases to restart the legal process when they were not ready to proceed with trial. The evidence problems in Nixon and Quinns cases were cited in Baileys lawsuit to remove Gardner from office, filed in February. During Wednesdays hearing, Judge Gary Gaertner questioned whether Richard Starnes, the lawyer representing Baileys office, had a conflict of interest in representing St. Louis prosecutors. Starnes argued it was not a conflict, in part because they were asked to represent Gardners office long before the lawsuit was filed. And, he said, it is standard practice for the office of the attorney general to represent local prosecutors offices on appeals. Starnes acknowledged mistakes were made by the Circuit Attorneys Office in handling evidence, as outlined in the removal lawsuit, but the attorney generals interest was to seek justice. In a statement, Bailey reiterated the office was not defending the circuit attorney. We are standing in the gap to make sure that accused murderers are put in prison because the circuit attorney has failed to do her job yet again, he said. Starnes said in court the cases should not be dismissed because prosecutors were not required to turn over the evidence in the case because they didnt have it: It was in the hands of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, he said. Attorneys for Nixon and Quinn were granted extra time to file briefs to argue whether there was a conflict of interest. They also argued that Judge Noble was correct to dismiss the cases because prosecutors are legally required to obtain key items from law enforcement and turn them over to the defense. Judges will later make a decision about the case and any potential conflicts.Editors note: This story was updated at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday with a statement from Attorney General Andrew Bailey. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Saudi Arabia and Azerbaijan held the first meeting of the joint Business Council, Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (SMBDA) told Trend. According to the agency, at the first meeting of the joint Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Business Council, held in Saudi's capital Riyadh, prospects for expanding ties between entrepreneurs, carrying out joint initiatives, and cooperation in business and trade were discussed. The meeting, organized by the Federation of Chambers and the Ministry of Investment of Saudi Arabia, as well as by the Small and Medium Business Development Agency of Azerbaijan (SMBDA), was attended by officials and businessmen from both countries. As the agency noted, Deputy Minister of Investment of Saudi Arabia Mohammed AlHassnah, Co-Chairs of the joint Business Council Ahmed Dakheel and Chairman of SMBDA Management Board Orkhan Mammadov, Vice President of National Confederation of Entrepreneurs (Employers) Organizations of Azerbaijan Republic (ASK) Vugar Zeynalov, Deputy Executive Director of the Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Agency AZPROMO Zohrab Gadirov and Turki Alhokair, Vice-Chairman of the Business Council, respectively, discussed the possibilities of cooperation in the field of trade and investment between the business circles of the countries. Within the event, the agency and AZPROMO held presentations on the business and investment opportunities of our country, export potential, support and services provided to local and foreign businessmen. The Ministry of Investment and the Export Development Authority of Saudi Arabia gave presentations on the investment potential of this country, the opportunities created for businessmen, as well as its products and services. At the B2B meetings organized after the event, such issues as the exchange of information and experience between SMEs of both countries, opportunities for cooperation, organization of joint events and meetings, and mutual business missions were discussed. The Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council was established in December 2022 under the Agreement signed between SMBDA and the Federation of Chambers of Saudi Arabia. The Azerbaijan-Saudi Arabia Joint Business Council, which will be represented by businesspersons from both countries, will support entrepreneurs' initiatives, help to establish direct ties between them, organize mutual visits, meetings and various events, and exchange information between businessmen. JEFFERSON CITY Missouris Republican-controlled House gave final approval Thursday to legislation restricting gender-related care for transgender adolescents. The 103-52 vote sets up a showdown with the GOP-led Senate over competing proposals affecting transgender rights, with just four weeks left in the Legislatures annual session. A Senate compromise now pending in the House allows current transgender patients to continue with treatment and contains a four-year expiration date on prohibitions of puberty blockers and hormone therapy, which would apply to future patients. The House legislation contains no such exceptions. The House version also restricts gender-related care for inmates and bars Medicaid payments for gender-related surgeries, hormone therapies and puberty blockers for gender transitions. Sex changes and kids are things that should never go together, said Rep. Brad Hudson, R-Cape Fair, who sponsored the measure. Two Republicans, including House Majority Leader Jon Patterson of Lees Summit and Rep. Chris Sander of Lone Jack, voted against the proposal. Rep. Tony Lovasco, R-OFallon, voted present. Patterson, a physician, said he differed with fellow Republicans on whether there should be treatment in instances that are exceedingly rare, narrowly tailored and thoroughly studied, he said. I think there ought to be a chance for that. House Minority Leader Crystal Quade, D-Springfield, warned Republicans that they risk triggering outbursts on the floor by continuing to push volatile issues. If we dont stop it, were going to be like Tennessee, Quade said, referencing the expulsion of two Black lawmakers there. Youre letting the culture wars take over your souls. Do you ever put yourself in someone elses shoes? asked Rep. Ian Mackey, a St. Louis County Democrat. How freaking awful. Rep. Barbara Phifer, D-Kirkwood, said she has a transgender grandchild who wont live in Missouri because of the proposed law. If he had his preference, this child would have lived in Missouri, Phifer said. You all want to make him illegal. You are erasing my grandchild. This is a shame. Republicans cut off debate on the matter and accused Democrats of encouraging partisan strife. A lot of the emotional problems on this have come from the other side, said Hudson, the sponsor. Missouri is among several Republican-led states where lawmakers are pushing for limits on transgender rights. In February, Republican Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey announced he was investigating the Washington University Transgender Center at St. Louis Childrens Hospital following allegations of mistreatment by a former employee. The ex-worker alleged physicians did not warn patients and parents about potential side effects of puberty blockers and hormones. Bailey is seeking a full, four-year term after being appointed to the seat by Gov. Mike Parson. On Thursday, Bailey signed off on emergency regulations he said are designed to put sweeping guardrails on medical care for transgender persons, regardless of age, including prohibiting transitions if a medical provider fails to ensure that a patient has received a full psychiatric assessment consisting of at least 15 separate hourly sessions. Bailey had previously only mentioned new rules for minors. But on Thursday, the regulations released did not include age limits, and his office acknowledged it: We have serious concerns about how children are being treated throughout the state, but we believe everyone is entitled to evidence-based medicine and adequate mental health care, Bailey spokeswoman Madeline Sieren said. Baileys emergency regulation becomes effective April 27 and expires Feb. 6, 2024. While proponents have said they are trying to protect minors from life-altering medical decisions they might later regret, opponents have characterized the push as an attack on the transgender community. This is as personal as it gets, said Rep. Peter Merideth, D-St. Louis. History is going to remember you. Senate President Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, R-Columbia, has said legislation that differs with the Senates would face long odds in the upper chamber. The Senate isnt required to take up the House bill, and another protracted Senate debate could imperil other priorities in the closing weeks of session. The House plan would take effect six months from the date Parson signs it. Hudson said six months would be a reasonable off-ramp for children on puberty blockers or receiving hormone therapy. The legislation is House Bill 419. Jack Suntrup of the Post-Dispatch contributed to this report. Editor's note: The story has been updated to correct the description of restrictions contained in the final version of the new legislation. Transgender adults face 'egregious' barriers to care under new Missouri rules, advocates warn "Gender-affirming health care will be very challenging to access for transgender adults and transgender youth going forward," said Shira Berkowitz, spokesperson for the Missouri advocacy group PROMO. JEFFERSON CITY Missouri Sen. Mike Moon defended himself Thursday after his comments earlier in the week appeared to support the marriage of 12-year-olds. I do not support adults marrying children, Moon told the Post-Dispatch on Thursday. Thats preposterous to even think that I do. I do not support child rape, he added. Moon, a Republican from the rural community of Ash Grove, northwest of Springfield, is a sponsor of a bill restricting transgender care for children. On Tuesday, he appeared for debate in a House committee on the legislation. There, Rep. Peter Merideth, a Democrat from St. Louis, blasted Moon for his stance on abortion and contraception, among other things. And Merideth pointed out that Moon opposed a 2018 bill setting the states minimum marriage age at 15. Ive heard you talk about parents rights to raise their kids how they want, Merideth said. You voted no on making it illegal for kids to be married to adults at the age of 12 if their parents consented to it. Moon responded: Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12? Moon said. I do. And guess what? Theyre still married. A clip of the Tuesday night exchange took off on social media on Wednesday, with critics asserting Moon supported adults marrying 12-year-olds. Moon said he wasnt given enough time to explain his vote. He said that with the video clip of the hearing, people have been able to fill in the gaps with whatever they want. For Peter Merideth or anyone to attempt to frame me as a pedophile or someone who would condone rape, theyre out of their minds, Moon said. Moon said the example he was referring to is a couple he has known for about 40 years. The young man was 12; the girl was 11, he said. Their parents allowed them to marry. There was no forcing in the situation. But the parents wisely took the boy to their home, and the girls parents took her to their home. Eventually a child was born to the girl, and then years later, when they were able to support themselves and they were more mature, they were able to begin living together, and still living together today, Moon said, adding the 2018 legislation wouldve made that type of marriage illegal. Missouri legislators ultimately approved legislation that year setting a minimum marriage age of 16. Minors need a parent or guardian to sign off on the marriage. The new law also specifies anyone 21 and older is unable to marry anyone younger than 18. Missouri had been among a majority of states with no technical age limit for marriage. Previously, minors could marry at 15 with a parents consent and, alternatively, could seek a court order at any age to receive a license. Moon was one of 50 House lawmakers to vote against a version of the legislation setting the minimum marriage age at 15. The legislation also sought to prohibit individuals 21 and older from marrying individuals younger than 17. Moon, then a state representative, appeared to reference the anecdote during debate in 2018 on the bill. Instead of running down to the abortion clinic, they allowed these 12-year-olds to marry, Moon said. If we dont allow the parents to have some say, were actually as a state removing a fundamental right from the mom and dad. Its a parents decision to make; its their right to make that choice, Moon said. Missouris loose regulations meant that the state had one of the highest rates of child marriage in the country, according to the Tahirih Justice Center. The center counted 7,342 minors who were married in Missouri between 2000 and 2014. Eighty-five percent of those were girls, according to the group. The legislation is Senate Bill 49. ST. LOUIS KMOX announced on Thursday that notable radio personality Carol Daniel will retire after more than 40 years in the media industry. Daniel spent most of her career with KMOX. The broadcaster is also an author and serves on several local media and communications boards from which she has received accolades for her work and service. She simultaneously served as the host of Great Day St. Louis on KMOV (Channel 4) from 2008 to 2013, and had a nearly decadelong award-winning column in the St. Louis American newspaper. In an internal email to staff on Wednesday, the stations market manager, Becky Domyan, who supervises operations at the station, congratulated Daniel on her career: Carol has informed, inspired, and uplifted the people of the St. Louis region, Domyan said in the note. Beyond her day-to-day role as news anchor and show host, Carol is an author, motivational speaker, ministry co-leader, wife and mother. She is truly one of the most inspiring people I have ever met in my career. Daniel was inducted as a 2022 member of St. Louis Media Hall of Fame and honored in 2021 as a Living Legend by the Greater St. Louis Association of Black Journalists, where she also previously served as president. Doctors, clinics and telehealth providers across the country scrambled this week to figure out how they will continue to provide the most common type of abortion after a federal appeals court imposed new restrictions on a key abortion medication. One telehealth provider would have to shut down for two weeks. Some abortion clinics in Ohio are considering ditching the drug. Other doctors looked for legal loopholes to dispense the drug, called mifepristone. People who live far from abortion clinics will be particularly hard hit, abortion rights advocates say. The restrictions could force people to travel hundreds of miles for care and stay for days, said Kirsten Moore, director of the Expanding Medication Abortion Access Project. "This is going to have a severe, severe impact on access," she said, adding that it will be "devastating" for underserved rural populations. This is the second time in less than a week that the legal sands shifted around medication abortions, which account for more than half of abortions in the U.S. The late Wednesday decision narrowed a Texas court judge's effort to block the Food and Drug Administration's approval of mifepristone. It allows patients to keep using the drug, but only at a higher dosage and if patients are seven weeks or fewer pregnant. The decision also prohibits the medication from being sent by mail and requires people to have three in-person visits with their doctor to take the pills. The Department of Justice plans to appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. Mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000, blocks the hormone progesterone and is also used to treat miscarriages. Millions of women around the world have used the drug, and medical groups say complications occur at a lower rate than with routine medical procedures such as wisdom teeth removal and colonoscopies. Abortion providers and patient advocates said the restrictions imposed by the court could affect thousands of people if they go into effect on Saturday. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned last year, telehealth abortions more than doubled, according to a report released this week by the Society of Family Planning. Abortions by virtual clinic telehealth providers rose to 8,540 last December, or 11% of all abortions, compared with 3,610 in April 2022, the report said. Wisp, a company that provides telehealth medication abortions in nine states, plans to close down for two weeks if the ruling goes into effect on Saturday to switch to a one-drug regimen that uses misoprostol, a medication not challenged in the courts but considered slightly less effective. Monica Cepak, the company's chief marketing officer, said they are also looking at providing misoprostol to people who want to stock up on that drug. "Telehealth remains a really important piece of the accessibility puzzle because as demand for in-person care will likely go up, the time to get an in-person appointment is often 20-30 days, and telehealth fills that really important gap for patients," she said. Telehealth abortion providers already faced restrictions. According to a February report from the Kaiser Family Foundation, six of the states that have not banned abortion have at least one requirement for at least one trip to the clinic. But order-by-mail abortion provider Aid Access won't let a U.S. court order stop it from prescribing mifepristone and misoprostol by telehealth, Dr. Rebecca Gomperts wrote in an email. Gomperts is based in Europe, and the company's website advertises that it can mail pills to all 50 states in the U.S. Some abortion clinics in Ohio might stop dispensing mifepristone entirely by Saturday, said Jessie Hill, an attorney who represents several independent clinics in the state. The state's law requires doctors to follow federal label guidelines when prescribing mifepristone, which means clinics will have to follow the court's order. The order will "make it incredibly inconvenient," to prescribe mifepristone, she said, because patients will have to make three in-person doctor's visits and pay more for a higher dosage. The clinics are also considering a misoprostol-only medication abortion method. In Illinois, operations will continue much the same at the Planned Parenthood clinic in Fairview Heights, said Dr. Colleen McNicholas. The clinic, which expects to serve about 10,000 abortion patients this year, will continue to provide medication abortions through a combination of mifepristone and misoprostol. It also gives abortion providers an added layer of protection that the clinic is located in one of the most pro-choice states in the country, she said. Providers in many states can still prescribe mifepristone off-label in places where it's not prohibited by state law, which means they can offer the drug to patients later in pregnancy than seven weeks, said David Cohen, a law professor at Drexel University in Philadelphia. But he doesn't see how they can legally get around the requirement for an in-person appointment. "It will still be available up to and maybe even beyond ten weeks, depending on what your provider feels comfortable prescribing," he said. "But whereas before you could have had the pills mailed to you at home now, you have to get them in person from a doctor." Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries Abortion in America: How access and attitudes have changed through the centuries Pre-1850: Abortions in early America are commonplace Mid-1800s: Birth of the American Medical Association shifts abortion oversight from midwives to doctors; abortion is criminalized 1960s: 'Back-alley butchers,' birth control, and protests 1970s: Roe v. Wade protects women's right to abortion; politics shift 1980s-2000s: Legal challenges to Roe v. Wade introduce restrictions 2020s: Roe v. Wade is overturned; Postal Service allowed to mail abortion medication 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. 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. Jonah Goldberg is editor-in-chief of The Dispatch and the host of The Remnant podcast. On Twitter: @JonahDispatch After the school shooting in St. Louis last October, Missouri Gov. Mike Parson responded predictably, insisting that greater attention to mental health, not more gun restrictions, was the solution. Its just really unfortunate that everyone wants to go to the political point of the guns when you have a tragedy like this, Parson said after a gun-wielding 19-year-old terrorized teachers and students at Central Visual and Performing Arts High School. The gunmans mother had pleaded with police to seize his semiautomatic rifle, noting the young mans mental illness. But police were powerless to intervene because Parson and the Legislature had refused to impose red-flag restrictions on gun ownership. Parson remains convinced that mental health is the answer. But when it comes to his and Missouri Republican lawmakers record of actually funding and supporting the mental health sectors that address gun violence or proving that such a strategy actually works hed be better off offering thoughts and prayers as the solution. If serious mental illnesses suddenly disappeared, violence would decrease by only about 4%, John Rozel and Jeffrey Swanson wrote in a January opinion piece for the American Association of Medical Colleges. More than 90% of violent incidents, including homicides, would still occur. They added that even mass shooters, who might seem most likely to be driven by mental illness, dont necessarily suffer from major psychiatric disorders. FBI statistics indicate that only 25% of such assailants had a diagnosed mental illness, and fewer than 5% of mass shooters had a record of a gun-disqualifying mental health adjudication, such as an involuntary commitment to a mental health facility. Theres almost no kind of behavior rooted in mental illness in Missouri that would constitute gun-disqualifying under current law. Parson is correct when it comes to using mental-health therapy to prevent suicide by firearm, which accounts for most gun-homicide deaths. But national statistics dont support his position when it comes to mass shootings. When the Missouri Department of Mental Health asked the Legislature in January for a $300 million increase in social-services funding, lawmakers almost laughed officials out of the room. When the department last year warned of severe understaffing due to low pay, the states answer was to seek federal help through then-Sen. Roy Blunt rather than solve the problem using billions of dollars in surplus state funds. One study ranks Missouri among the five lowest states in the country for the amount of funding devoted to therapy, although it ranks 26th in the country for overall per-capita spending on mental health. Research consistently shows that widespread gun availability, not mental illness, is the culprit. It seems so obvious that the solution is rooted in red-flag laws, universal background checks and passing laws to keep guns out of minors hands. Mental-health fig leaves have proven excellent at preventing serious discussion of gun-violence solutions, but theyre lousy at stopping bullets. Where is bipartisan action protecting endangered humans? Regarding the editorial short take Snotty and endangered (April 7): Pandas. Polar bears. Mountain lions. And now, Congress is seeking $1.4 billion to add hellbender salamanders, wood turtles, Texas heelsplitters, black-footed ferrets, regal fritillaries, red knots, and crayfish to the list of creatures protected under the Endangered Species Act of 1973. Kudos to Sens. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, and Thom Tillis, R-North Carolina, for their bipartisan work on the Recovering Americas Wildlife Act. But their efforts beg the question: Where are the bipartisan bills with titles like the Saving Americas Schoolchildren from Active Shooters Act, or the Repairing Americas Health Care System Act, the Fair Wage for Educators Act, or the Real Immigration Reform Act? How can Congress feel anything but embarrassment, shame and guilt over their inability to produce one piece of meaningful legislation on these important issues? Hellbender salamanders, indeed. Matthew Davidson Town and Country Live a life of luxurious travel as a U.S. Supreme Court justice Job Posting: Supreme Court Justice of the United States. Apply to the U.S. Supreme Court and serve your country for the rest of your life while making a great living. (Justice Thomas says he didnt have to disclose luxury trips, April 7.) Extensive and lavish vacations with rich friends. Reporting requirements optional. Some exposure to ethics is preferred, but not required. Howard Smith St. Louis Outdoor education and training could prevent drownings Regarding Family of canoeist who drowned in Missouri River near Chesterfield sues state (April 8): This story is a tragic one, and I cannot fathom the profound loss this family must feel. My concern is also that tragedies like this so often result in a loss of access to our wild areas. The person who drowned apparently did not understand the power of the space he was exploring and did not understand the importance of a personal floatation device. The result was his death. What is the solution? I think it is more education about the outdoors. Exploring wild places like rivers, caves, mountaintops or deserts requires skill and wisdom. The risks of exploring our natural world are not removable, but they can be managed through education and experience. For anyone interested in learning more about how to canoe more safely, there are wonderful local organizations that can assist in traveling our rivers, even the big ones, in a much safer way. Check Big Mississippi River Water Trail Association, the Audubon Center at Riverlands, the St. Louis Canoe and Kayak Club, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Rivers Project, among others. Kevin Parentin Webster Groves Republican Party shows signs of increasing ruthlessness The extreme fringe of the Republican Party is out of control. They have backed themselves into a corner and have become increasingly ruthless, no longer even trying to disguise their hate. Their platform indicates a complete absence of humanity: zero reproductive rights, total disregard for gun safety, the whitewashing of a public school education coupled with book banning, blatant dismissal for people identifying as LGBTQ, and a vicious last-gasp push to undo civil rights. Pretty much all Democrats and a growing number of Republicans are pushing back against this ugly behavior, but the ultra-conservative fringe is determined to press ever harder. This nightmare has happened because decent folks sat back and allowed their voting rights to be gerrymandered into non-existence in the name of fairness, a two-party system and respect for the other guys viewpoint. No more. We cant allow our country to be taken over by thugs and bullies. No more bystanding. My choice is to be loud and be visible. Margaret F. Arrigo Moscow Mills Dont let legislators erode the right to ballot initiatives Regarding Missouri Senate debates raising bar for constitutional amendments (March 29): I have volunteered for initiative petition efforts, gathering signatures across the region and making calls to inform voters about issues once they are on the ballot. Ordinary citizens like me have devoted extensive time to these efforts, and we know the process is rigorous, difficult and valuable. Missourians have held the power to enact citizen-led initiatives since 1907. As our Missouri Constitution states: The people reserve power to propose and enact or reject laws and amendments to the constitution by the initiative, independent of the general assembly. Yet with Missouri House Joint Resolution 43, many legislators are currently working to prevent initiatives from succeeding even when they are supported by a majority of voters. Missourians should strongly oppose HJR 43, which would raise the requirement for passage from a simple majority to 60%. I believe Missourians should help preserve our initiative petition process and tell their state legislators to oppose HJR 43. And if those legislators do pass this or a similar resolution, it would go to a vote of the people in a future election. In that case, I plan to vote against such changes. The current process works for Missourians. I think we should keep it that way. Nancy Saccone Creve Coeur Read letters online at STLToday.com When Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, they believed their larger forces would quickly overwhelm the Ukrainians because Russia had more troops, tanks, aircraft, helicopters, UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles), artillery (towed and self-propelled), high-tech electronic equipment and stockpiles of artillery ammunition. This superiority seemed impressive but it soon became apparent that even with these advantages, Russian troops did not perform well or survive combat for long. Russian tanks and aircraft proved more vulnerable to Ukrainian weapons, which included Ukrainian and Western anti-tank and anti-aircraft weapons. Russian communications were a major failure. New Russian military radios, equipped with encryption, were not reliable and few had reached the troops because of corruption in Russian equipment procurement. Some Russian units tried to cope with their radio communications problems by relying on older, unencrypted radios as well as more modern Chinese walkie-talkies that had short range and no encryption. Most Russian air support was provided by armed helicopters, which overcame the communications problems by getting close enough to see where the Russian and Ukrainian troops were. At that point the helicopters were surprised to discover that their defenses against portable-anti-aircraft missiles did not work against the latest Western missiles the Ukrainians were using. Russian electronic warfare equipment did not get many opportunities to be used because the survivors of the initial attack forces were ordered to retreat to the Russian or Belarus border and be moved to eastern Ukraine and the Donbas region. Here Russia still controlled half of two Ukrainian provinces it had seized in 2014. Russia planned a new offensive there to capture more territory. In Donbas Russia could use its more numerous artillery and massive stockpiles of artillery ammunition. Russian communications were still vulnerable to Ukrainians who could overhear unencrypted Russian communications and act on that information. This led the Russians to simply fire large numbers of shells at the general location of a target. By late 2022 Russia was running out of artillery ammunition and forced to use ancient (30-40 year old) shells that were often unreliable and inaccurate One of the most frequently encountered Russian UAVs in Ukraine was the Orlan-30. This UAV was designed for conducting aerial surveillance, locating, spotting, and identifying targets. When equipped with missiles, it could spot and fire on stationary or moving targets day or at night. Orlan-30 endurance was five hours, top speed was 170 kilometers an hour and max altitude of 5,000 meters (16,000 feet). Orlan-30 had a laser target designator-rangefinder. Ukraine quickly developed a portable, battery powered jammer that was issued to front line units exposed to Oelan-30s seeking targets for artillery on onboard missiles. When troops heard an Orlan-30, the jammer was turned on to disrupt the UAV communications and laser-rangefinder, Russias failures in Ukraine have demonstrated that it has still not developed a competitive and productive UAV industry. Its not for lack of trying. Late in the Cold War Russia ignored the development of modern UAVs in Israel and later the United States. In the 1990s, after the Cold War ended, Russian military leaders recognized that Russia was way behind the West when it came to UAV tech and the sheer number of UAVs in use for surveillance and airstrikes. After a few false starts, Russia finally focused on Israel as a solution. Russia produced licensed versions of the Israeli Searcher 2 as the Forpost and hundreds were built. First Russia used imported Israeli components but slowly developed local suppliers for these components. Some of these Forpost UAVs have been used, or rather misused, in Ukraine. The Russian problem with UAVs was their difficulty in adopting foreign concepts and technology. Compared to Ukraine, Russia has not used its UAVs much during the current invasion. This is apparently due to Russia's bad experience using UAVs in eastern Ukraine since 2014. In contrast Ukraine has developed its own UAV force since 2014 which has proven far superior to what the Russians have. Then there is the economic angle. In early 2017 Russia revealed that it had increased the number of modern UAVs in service from 180 in 2011 to over 2,000. The ones in service by 2017 were mostly models that had already been seen in action. Procurement and development slowed after 2017 because of sanctions imposed after the 2014 Russian attack on Ukraine. Russia continued using their UAVs in Ukraine, Syria, Armenia and Libya. Russia did introduce new models, but not in large numbers. There was a similar shortage of guided bombs and missiles for aircraft and large UAVs. Most Russian UAVs require a catapult, often vehicle mounted, to get airborne and land by flying close to the ground and turning the motor off. In some models a small parachute is deployed. These crash landings often require some repairs before reuse. Larger UAVs are fewer in number and can operate from a road or air base. Current Russian UAVs are a big improvement over earlier efforts and make good use of proven Western UAV design and construction technology. Most modern UAVs are not high-tech and it was always baffling why the Russians insisted on holding onto their older UAV technology for so long. In combat some Russian soldiers brought their own commercial quadcopters. This was a common practice with soldiers in many countries, including the United States. Ukraine was also more resourceful. In 2015 Ukrainian civilians organized a successful crowd-funding effort to create the PD-1 (Peoples Drone 1) and these were ready for service in mid-2016. This was all done by Ukrainian engineers, programmers and model aircraft enthusiasts who obtained OTS (off-the-shelf) components from suppliers. The PD-1 was accepted by the Ukrainian military and entered service in 2016. American and NATO advisers witnessed the testing and were not surprised that PD-1 was equal to many American and Israeli UAVs of the same size and performance, but were impressed that it was built at a cost of less than $25,000 each. It proved to be as secure from Russian hackers and jamming as Western models. Ukraine soon offered the PD-1 for export. The PD-1 is a 33 kg (73 pound) aircraft with an 8 kg (17 pound) payload. It is 2.54 meters (8.2 feet) long with a wingspan of 3.19 meters (10.2 feet). It lands and takes off on a tricycle landing gear and can also be catapulted into the air and recovered via a parachute. The gasoline engine drives a pusher propeller for speeds of 70-140 kilometers an hour at altitudes as high as 3,000 meters (nearly 10,000 feet) which is out of range of most anti-aircraft guns and portable missiles). Endurance is six hours. PD-1 can take off and land under software control, can fly missions autonomously (which are hack and jam proof) and available sensors can either store video onboard or stream HD (1080p) video back to the controller who can view it in real time. This video signal is encrypted as is the control signal. It has worked under combat conditions against the best the Russians have to use against them. The fact that a bunch of civilian engineers quickly organized an effort to deliver a world-class UAV at a low price came as a surprise to armed forces worldwide. A similar Ukrainian led to the development of the Punisher UAV, which was ready for service at the end of 2021 and quietly began operations soon after the February 2022 invasion. The team that designed the Punisher was composed of veterans of the fighting in eastern Ukraine since 2014. They formed a company, UA Dynamics, with the help of investors and are now manufacturing Punishers as quickly as they can at locations they want to keep secret from the Russians who would be eager to add Punisher manufacturing facilities to their target list. Punisher is a small UAV with a 2.33-meter (15 foot) wingspan and payload of two kg (4.4 pounds). The payload can consist of one guided bomb or three smaller ones. Max altitude is 400 meters (1,300 feet) but endurance is up to three hours with a top speed of 52 kilometers an hour. Punisher uses another reconnaissance UAV to spot and verify targets, and the recon UAVs operators then pass the location to Punisher operators who then launch guided bombs to hit the targets. The main targets are Russian supply trucks. Punisher has been able to operate deeper into Russian occupied territory than the larger Turkish TB2 UAV. Once Punisher expends its payload it uses its GPS guidance to return it to its base for reloading and recharging of its batteries, a process that takes about seven minutes. There is minimal communication between Punisher and its target spotter UAV, making it difficult for Russians to spot it via electronic signals. Punisher is small, quiet and difficult to spot from the ground or from the air. Punishers have been responsible for hundreds of successful attacks on Russian vehicles and Russian efforts to detect, much less shoot down, a Punisher have failed. There are no independent civilian UAV development projects in Russia so Ukraine has an edge in battlefield UAVs as well as many other aspects of modern warfare that Russia demonstrated it is not prepared for. TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / EonX Technologies Inc. (CSE:EONX), ("EonX" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has signed a contract with Cashrewards Operations Pty Ltd ("Cashrewards") to power its next generation of rewards, digital wallet and payment services. Cashrewards is the market leader in the cashback category in Australia. They provide 1.9 million members with cashback deals on more than 2000 of Australia's biggest brands. Cashrewards is wholly owned by 1835i, ANZ Bank's external innovation and venture capital partner. EonX will deliver an integrated rewards offering, together with an embedded digital wallet and seamless payment experience, enabling Cashrewards customers to access cash-back offers from leading retailers, and help grow Cashrewards' market share. EonX Group Chief Executive Officer, Andrew Kallen, said, "We are excited to be partnering with Cashrewards in delivering a market leading rewards, payments and digital wallet experience to its customers. As cost of living pressures continue to escalate in Australia, we are proud to power a platform that offers instant value whilst helping Aussies save and benefit daily." About EONX EonX is a financial technology company powering the next generation of eWallet, Payments & Loyalty platforms which enable business and consumers to better engage and transact in today's digital world. On behalf of the board of directors of EONX TECHNOLOGIES INC. "Andrew Kallen" Andrew Kallen, CEO For more information about EonX, contact: Andrew Kallen Chief Executive Officer EONX Technologies Inc. Telephone: +18036767776 Email: [email protected] Website: www.eonx.com The CSE does not accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Notice regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statements include estimates and statements that describe the Company's future plans, objectives or goals, including words to the effect that the Company or management expects a stated condition or result to occur. Forward-looking statements may be identified by such terms as "believes", "anticipates", "expects", "estimates", "may", "could", "would", "will", or "plan". Since forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties as described in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. 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. SOURCE: EonX Technologies Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Daily crude oil production in Azerbaijan in March 2023 amounted to 515,000 barrels, Trend reports with reference to the Ministry of Energy of Azerbaijan. According to the ministry, daily oil production, including condensate, reached 632,000 barrels. Moreover, within OPEC+ (The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries) cooperation, Azerbaijan's commitment to reduce production is 33,000 barrels per day, and the quota for daily crude oil production is 684,000 barrels. As the ministry noted, the total oil production in the country last year amounted to 32.6 million tons, including condensate. At the same time, the Azeri-Chirag-Deepwater Gunashli field accounted for production worth 20.4 million tons, while the Shah Deniz field - 4.4 million tons, including condensate. Meanwhile, the State Oil Company of Azerbaijan (SOCAR) produced 7.8 million tons of oil, including condensate. During the reporting period, Azerbaijan exported 26.3 million tons of oil, including condensate, 24.9 million tons of which fell to the consortium, while 1.4 million tons accounted for SOCAR. NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / KeyBank has officially opened its permanent office in Grand Rapids, Michigan. A commitment to transformative philanthropy and community support is central to KeyBank's purpose in Western Michigan as well as in all its markets. In 2022, KeyBank invested $10,000 in Mel Trotter Ministries in Grand Rapids, Michigan to support Pathway Home. It also awarded a $15,000 grant from the KeyBank Foundation to Family Promise of Grand Rapids to fill gaps in the community's emergency response for families that need shelter now. In addition, KeyBank is proud to serve as Presenting Sponsor for the 2023 Grand Rapids Gran Fondo, an 80-mile bike route follows the picturesque Grand River valley through farm and small villages before reaching the bayous and lake scenery preceding the turn-around point on Lake Michigan. More than 2,000 riders are expected to take part in this year's event which starts and ends in Downtown Grand Rapids. Gran Fondo benefits West Michigan Trails, which works to enhance the quality of life by advancing the regional trails movement. The opening of the office, located in The Waters Center at 177 Ottawa Ave., NW, is another step in KeyBank's expansion and growth in Western Michigan. It will serve as a base for KeyBank's Commercial Banking, Business Banking, Wealth Management, Small Business Association (SBA) Lending and Residential Mortgage operations in Western Michigan. Grand Rapids Mayor Rosalynn Bliss attended a grand opening celebration that was held on March 22, 2023, along with Angela Mago, President of Key Commercial Bank. "With the opening of this new office, we are excited to firmly establish KeyBank's presence in downtown Grand Rapids and Western Michigan," said Michael Sytsma, KeyBank Western Michigan Market President and Commercial Sales Leader. "We are a Main Street Bank with Wall Street capabilities and look forward to serving Western Michigan while providing financial services and resources that will help our community grow." "I am excited to see KeyBank open a permanent location in Grand Rapids," said Mayor Rosalynn Bliss. "KeyBank has a heart for community and are actively engaged in efforts to make our City a better place for everyone. And I look forward to partnering more with them in the future." View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from KeyBank on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: KeyBank Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/keybank Email: [email protected] SOURCE: KeyBank View source version on accesswire.com: NORTHAMPTON, MA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Boston Scientific employees across the globe are dedicated to transforming lives through innovative medical solutions that improve the health of patients around the world. For those who support our deep brain stimulation (DBS) products, the focus is on offering effective care options to the millions of people worldwide who are affected by Parkinson's disease (PD). DBS uses a small, surgically implanted device to send signals to a targeted portion of the brain. The stimulation can improve motor function by reducing disease symptoms. In general, DBS is designed to help people living with PD decrease their medications and experience fewer side effects, such as uncontrolled movements.1 For Parkinson's Awareness Month , we sat down with three employees whose passion for working on DBS products has a deeply personal connection. Finding inspiration from her sons For Nicky Nault, caring for others is a way of life. As a clinical specialist based out of Boston, Massachusetts, she works with patients and physicians to raise awareness of DBS therapy, how it works and the latest technology available. Recently, Nicky met with a patient who had just received a new, rechargeable Boston Scientific battery for her DBS device. "Afterward, I asked her to write her name with the stimulation off, and she couldn't due to her tremors," Nicky says. "But after switching the therapy on, she smiled as she clearly wrote out each letter. It was incredible to witness."* At home, Nicky is a devoted mother. Her daughter Janessa is pursuing a career in the medical device industry and is part of the Boston Scientific BOOST program , which focuses on building career opportunities for Black students and professionals. She hopes to follow in her mother's footsteps in health care. Janessa and Nicky know on a deeply personal level the importance of patient care. They shared in the experience of caring for Nicky's two sons, Avery and Isaiah, who despite fighting difficult battles with mitochondrial disease showed tremendous courage and optimism. Sadly, Avery and Isaiah passed away in 2016 and 2021 respectively, but their memories continue to be a guiding light for the family. "I see my boys in the patients I work with every day," says Nicky. "I'm grateful to know and be a part of their stories, and when I go to bed at night I know I did my best to help them. Tomorrow, I'll do even better." Working to honor her grandmother Like Nicky, transforming lives carries personal meaning for Celine Constant. As a senior multi-channel specialist based in southern France, she uses analytics and digital marketing to identify and connect with PD patients who may benefit from DBS therapy. Celine witnessed the debilitating symptoms of PD firsthand as a teenager, when her grandmother was diagnosed with the illness. "I was very close with my grandmother and saw all the challenges she faced seeing many different specialists and trying a myriad of treatments." It was during that time Celine decided she wanted to work in health care. Celine joined the Neuromodulation business in 2015 with a goal of making a meaningful impact for patients like her grandmother. "For me, it's about providing patients with education and tools, and empowering them to find the best solution for their needs," says Celine. "If I can help lessen the burden of this disease for even one patient and their family, I know I'm living my purpose." Following in his family's footsteps When R&D manager Benny Yeh was a child, he dreamed of helping others. He knew he wanted a career related to health care but wasn't sure if it would mean following in his grandfather's footsteps as a doctor who treated patients or supporting the development of therapies designed to help those patients. As a young adult in college, he found his answer. Benny was always drawn to problem-solving. It's how he ended up studying electrical and biomedical engineering, eventually landing an internship at Boston Scientific. Since joining the company in 2006, he has progressed through the engineering ranks and now leads a team in the R&D division. Benny's team is responsible for creating and sustaining the automated test equipment that ensures every DBS product Boston Scientific manufactures meets the highest quality standards. "We play a role in testing the stimulators, the remote controls, the batteries - everything that makes up the DBS therapy," Benny says. While he primarily works from the R&D area at the Valencia, California, site, he recalls a few unforgettable occasions in which he was able to meet some of the patients who use the products he helps test. "When you're in the weeds of the process and the individual pieces that make up something like a DBS device, sometimes you can lose sight of the big picture," he says. "But to go to the hospital or medical facility and see the real people and their families - it's an emotional reminder of why we do this, and why our commitment to quality is so important." To learn more about careers and apply for a job at Boston Scientific, visit our careers site . For more information about deep brain stimulation therapy, visit the DBS & Me. *Individual results with any therapy will vary. A patient may not experience the results reflected herein. Discuss treatment with your healthcare professional. 1. Timmermann L, Jain R, Chen L, et al. Multiple-source current steering in subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation for Parkinson's disease (the VANTAGE study): a non-randomised, prospective, multicentre, open-label study. Lancet Neurol. 2015;14:693-701. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(15)00087-3. View original content here View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Boston Scientific on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Boston Scientific Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/boston-scientific Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Boston Scientific View source version on accesswire.com: BEIJING, CHINA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Otis Worldwide (NYSE: OTIS) and the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF) recently announced a partnership to advance career prospects for girls and women in China by supporting education and innovation related to STEM - Science, Technology, Engineering, Math. Otis and CSCLF, a highly respected non-governmental organization with a 40-year history of developing youth programs and supporting women, will offer scholarships to outstanding female STEM-focused university students, as well as STEM innovation programs for youth. Some of these programs will be led by Otis experts serving as volunteers. "We are deeply committed to serving the communities where we live and work. We believe early and frequent exposure to STEM principles is an exciting way to prepare youth for the modern workplace while encouraging them to contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive society," Otis Chair, CEO & President Judy Marks said. "We are proud to partner with CSCLF to develop and inspire the next generation of innovators." "With a mission to inspire and support innovation by youth, we are pleased to collaborate with Otis to advance STEM talent development," Song Jian, Director of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation's Funding Department said. "With Otis, we share a commitment to accelerating STEM innovation and making an impact in the community for sustainable growth." The collaboration with CSCLF supports Otis's People & Communities ESG goals, which include impacting 15,000 students globally through STEM-focused programming by 2030 and dedicating 500,000 cumulative colleague volunteer hours in support of vibrant communities, STEM education and social equity initiatives by 2030. The new partnership also aligns to "Our Commitment to Change," an Otis social justice initiative outlining actions Otis is taking to ensure every voice feels welcomed, safe and heard. As part of this initiative, launched in 2020, Otis pledged to amplify its commitment to STEM education to help build a diverse talent pipeline. The impact of the CSCLF partnership will also build upon Otis China's participation in the Made to Move Communities" annual global student STEM challenge, which has benefited more than 170 university students in China over the past three years, and a scholarship program that has supported 160 female students pursuing STEM-related studies at Chinese universities. About Otis Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.2 million customer units worldwide - the industry's largest Service portfolio. You'll find us in the world's most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 69,000 people strong, including 41,000 field professionals, all committed to meeting the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. About China Soong Ching Ling Foundation The Foundation was named after Soong Ching Ling, the wife of Dr. Sun Yat Sun who founded the new China. Soong Ching Ling was dedicated to the protection of women's rights and the development of cultural, educational and welfare facilities for children. She passed away in Beijing in 1981 at the age of 88. To carry on her work, the Foundation was established a year later. The Foundation was proposed and supported by senior officials and Party leaders, including Deng Xiaoping who became CSCLF's Honorary Chairman, a post he held until his final days. CSCLF is committed to fostering world peace and wellbeing of youth, through programs related to education, sports, health, culture and arts. They include, to name a few, Award for Children's Innovation, teachers training, scholarships and cultural exchange in partnership with the United Nations. Otis Chair, CEO & President Judy Marks meets with Song Jian, Director of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation's Funding Department while announcing a partnership to help fund STEM education and innovation View additional multimedia and more ESG storytelling from Otis Worldwide on 3blmedia.com. Contact Info: Spokesperson: Otis Worldwide Website: https://www.3blmedia.com/profiles/otis-worldwide Email: [email protected] SOURCE: Otis Worldwide View source version on accesswire.com: IRVINE, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / PUR Biologics, a wholly owned subsidiary of HippoFi, Inc. (OTC PINK:ORHB), is pleased to announce the release of PURfiberXP", a uniquely processed demineralized extracellular matrix (d-ECM) designed to support bone regeneration, cellular integration, and patient healing. "PURfiberXP" is a highly specialized biologic derived from cortical bone fibers using a proprietary process," shared Ryan Fernan, Head of PUR Biologics. "The advanced surface design of PUR's fibers offers a complete interconnected matrix and promotes cell migration within the desired area of healing. FiberXP exhibits exceptional bone-forming capacity and is an ideal solution for enhancing bone regeneration in spine patients." The global bone regeneration market is expected to experience significant growth in the coming years, driven by an increasing aging population, rising incidence of spine, orthopedic, and dental disorders, along with continued advancements in technology. "As an innovator in the biologics industry, we are excited to introduce this technology, the latest addition to our full line of biologic product options," continued Fernan. "PURfiberXP" provides exceptional handling and workability, enabling spine surgeons to effectively implant the advanced bioactive material in support of patients healing and bone regeneration." PUR Biologics is committed to supporting hospitals and surgeons in providing the best care for their patients with state-of-the-art biologic products. With the launch of PURfiberXP", PUR Biologics further solidifies its position as the premier spine and ortho biologic company. For more information on PURfiberXP" and PUR Biologics, please visit www.PURbiologics.com . About PUR Biologics PUR Biologics, a wholly owned subsidiary of HippoFi, Inc. (OTC PINK: ORHB), is a leading biologic company committed to supporting surgeons and hospitals in providing the best care for their patients. PUR Biologics' full line of biologic products currently include: advanced allografts and demineralized extracellular matrixes (d-ECM), innovative synthetic solutions, cellular derived tissues, and a future of next generation regenerative stem cell and growth factor driven therapeutics for treating osteoarthritis and cartilage regeneration. About HippoFi, Inc. HippoFi, Inc. delivers its cutting-edge healthcare innovations through an extensive sales channel network while implementing first-to-market solutions in the multibillion-dollar Biotech, Fintech, and Artificial Intelligence (AI) markets. HippoFi comprises three segments: Regenerative Therapeutics, Digital Payments, and AI, which utilize the same customer channels to commercialize solutions, drive revenue, and improve patient outcomes. HippoFi, Inc. is publicly traded under the symbol: ORHB and is headquartered in Irvine, California. For more information, please visit: www.HippoFi.com and www.PURbiologics.com . Contact: Jason Brown Shareholder Communications HippoFi, Inc. 612-209-7565 SOURCE: HippoFi, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: Funds raised will be used for the completion of a Preliminary Economic Assessment ("PEA") to evaluate accelerating the development of the Sanutura Project NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE IN THE UNITED STATES PERTH, AUSTRALIA / VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Sarama Resources Ltd ("Sarama" or the "Company") (ASX:SRR)(TSXV:SWA) is pleased to report that on 13 April 2023, it has closed Tranche 1 of its previously announced A$2.0 million equity placement (the "Placement") (refer to Sarama News release dated 3 April 2023). Tranche 1 of the Placement raised aggregate gross proceeds of A$1,375,000 with the Company issuing 13,750,000 Chess Depository Instruments ("CDIs") at an issue price of A$0.10 per CDI. Each new CDI issued under the Placement will rank equally with existing CDIs on issue and each CDI will represent a beneficial interest in 1 common share of the Company. The Company has also issued 6,725,000 free attaching unlisted options ("Placement Option") being 1 Placement Option for every 2 new CDIs issued pursuant to Tranche 1 of the Placement. Each Placement Option will be exercisable at A$0.15 and will expire on 13 April 2026. Tranche 2 of the Placement consists of a further 6.25 million new CDIs (and 3.125 million attaching Placement Options) which will be subject to shareholder approval at a General Meeting in June 2023. Total funds received from Tranche 2 will total A$0.625 million. Tranche 1 of the Placement was issued to institutional and other sophisticated and professional investors under its existing placement capacity under ASX Listing Rule 7.1. An Appendix 2A was announced on 13 April 2023 and provides further detail on the issue of the Tranche 1 Placement CDIs. Sarama's CEO, Andrew Dinning, commented: "We are very pleased with the strong investor support shown from our existing shareholders and welcome a number of new institutional, professional and sophisticated investors. The spread of new investors and rapid take up of this placement further supports our view that Sarama remains one of the best value gold developers in the market. The funds raised will be used to evaluate an accelerated multi-stage development at the Sanutura Project which we believe has the potential to generate a very compelling investment case based on the extensive oxide resource and related grade and cost profile." The net proceeds from the Placement are intended to be used to complete a preliminary economic assessment to evaluate an accelerated multi-stage development at the Sanutura Project and to fund administration and general working capital costs. In connection with Tranche 1 of the Placement, Sarama paid finders' fees totalling A$44,317 to Euroz Hartleys Limited, an arm's length party in accordance with the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange, who acted as Sole Lead Manager and Bookrunner to the Placement. Members of Sarama's Board and Management have subscribed for an aggregate 500,000 CDIs (together with the attaching Placement Options) in the Placement. All of these subscriptions are included in Tranche 2 of the Placement and are therefore subject to prior approval of the shareholders as required by the ASX Listing Rules. Tranche 2 of the Placement is anticipated to occur shortly following the receipt of the necessary shareholder approvals at the General Meeting to be held on or about 6 June 2023. Each of the directors and officers who participates in the Placement will be a "related party" of the Company within the meaning of that term in Canadian Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Shareholders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). Participation by them in the Placement is therefore a "related party transaction" within the meaning of MI 61-101. Pursuant to Section 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101, the Company was exempt from obtaining a formal valuation and minority approval of the Company's shareholders in respect of the Placement due to the fair market value of their participation being below 25% of the Company's market capitalization for the purposes of MI 61-101. The Company will file a material change report in respect of the Placement which will detail the participation by any directors and officers of the Company. It is expected that the material change report will be filed more than 21 days prior to the completion of the Placement in respect of any participating directors and officers. Each of the directors and officers who participate in the Placement will be subject to an Exchange Hold period imposed by the TSX Venture Exchange on the CDIs and Placement Options issued to such persons. The Exchange Hold Period will expire 4 months from the date of issue of the securities. The Placement CDIs and Placement Options have not been and will not be registered under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from registration is available. Notice under section 708A(5)(e) of the Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) The Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) (Corporations Act) restricts the offer for sale of securities without a disclosure document unless the relevant sale satisfies an exemption set out in section 708 or section 708A of the Corporations Act. ASIC Class Order [CO 14/827] (Class Order) provides relief so that an offer of CDIs over underlying foreign securities is regulated as an offer of securities under the Corporations Act. The Company seeks to rely on an exemption in section 708A of the Corporations Act (as modified by the Class Order) with respect to any sale of the CDIs. As required by section 708A(5)(e) of the Corporations Act as modified by the Class Order, the Company gives notice that: The CDIs were issued without disclosure to investors under Part 6D.2 of the Corporations Act. The Company, as at the date of this notice, has complied with: the provisions of section 601CK of the Corporations Act as they apply to the Company; and sections 674 and 674A of the Corporations Act. As at the date of this notice, there is no information, for the purposes of section 708A(7) and 708A(8): that has been excluded from a continuous disclosure notice in accordance with the ASX Listing Rules; and that investors and their professional advisers would reasonably require for the purpose of making an informed assessment of: the assets and liabilities, financial position and performance, profits and losses and prospects of the Company; or the rights and liabilities attaching to the CDIs. Where applicable, references in this notice to sections of the Corporations Act are to those sections as modified by the Class Order. For further information on the Company's activities, please contact: Andrew Dinning e: [email protected] t: +61 (0) 8 9363 7600 This announcement was authorised for release to the ASX by the Board of Sarama Resources Ltd. 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 SARAMA RESOURCES LTD Sarama Resources Ltd (ASX: SRR, TSX-V: SWA) is a West African focused gold explorer/developer with substantial landholdings in south-west Burkina Faso. Sarama is focused on maximising the value of its strategic assets and advancing its key projects towards development. Sarama's 100%-owned(4) Sanutura Project is principally located within the prolific Hound Greenstone Belt in south-west Burkina Faso and is the exploration and development focus of the Company. The Project hosts the Tankoro and Bondi Deposits which have a combined Mineral Resource of 0.6Moz gold (Indicated) plus 2.3Moz gold (Inferred)(1). Together, the deposits present a potential mine development opportunity featuring an initial, long-life CIL project which may be established and paid for by the significant oxide Mineral Resource base. Sarama has built further optionality into its portfolio including an approximate 470km exploration position in the highly prospective Banfora Belt in south-western Burkina Faso. The Koumandara Project hosts several regional-scale structural features and trends of gold-in-soil anomalism extending for over 25km along strike. Sarama also holds an approximate 18% participating interest in the Karankasso Project Joint Venture ("JV") which is situated adjacent to the Company's Sanutura Project in Burkina Faso and is a JV between Sarama and Endeavour Mining Corp ("Endeavour") in which Endeavour is the operator of the JV. In February 2020, an updated Mineral Resource estimate of 709koz gold(3) was declared for the Karankasso Project JV. The Company's Board and management team have a proven track record in Africa and a strong history in the discovery and development of large-scale gold deposits. Sarama is well positioned to build on its current success with a sound strategy to surface and maximise the value of its property portfolio. Sanutura Project - An Already Large Mineral Resource with Potential to Grow The Company's primary focus is its 100%-owned(4) Sanutura Project, which hosts a large Mineral Resource of 0.6Moz Au (Indicated) plus 2.3Moz Au (Inferred)(1) and covers an area of 1,420km2. The Project occupies a commanding position along 70km of strike in the prolific Hounde Belt (refer Figure 6), Burkina Faso's pre-eminent gold belt. The Project lies 60km south of Endeavour Mining's Hounde Mine (5Moz Au); 120km south of Fortuna Silver's high-grade Yaramoko Mine (1Moz Au), and 140km south of Endeavour Mining's Mana Mine (5Moz Au), highlighting the significant gold endowment of the Hounde Belt (refer Appendix B). Endeavour Mining's Bantou Project (1.5Moz Au Inferred Mineral Resource(5)) is located only 6km from the bulk of the Sanutura Project's main deposit, which illustrates the gold camp scale of endowment of the immediate area. The Project has significant growth potential and the primary objective of the current +50,000m drill program is to increase the existing 0.2Moz Au (Indicated) plus 0.8Moz Au (Inferred)(2) pit shell constrained oxide and transition component of the Project's Mineral Resource to further underwrite and enhance the economics of mine development. The recent drill program has generally focused on shallow additional and extensional targets throughout the well-mineralised western corridor of the Tankoro Deposit, where mineralisation has been drill-defined for a semi-continuous strike length of 16km and potential exists to expand the Mineral Resource at shallow depths in oxide material. Figure 1 - Sanutura Project Location Plan FOOTNOTES Mineral Resource estimate for Sanutura Project - 9.4Mt @ 1.9g/t Au for 0.6Moz Au (Indicated) plus 52.7Mt @ 1.4g/t Au for 2.3Moz (Inferred), reported at cut-off grades ranging 0.2-1.6g/t Au, reflecting the mining methods and processing flowsheets assumed to assess the likelihood of the Mineral Resources to have reasonable prospects for eventual economic extraction. The effective date of the Company's Mineral Resource estimate is 16 November 2021. For further information regarding the Mineral Resource estimate refer to the technical report titled "NI 43-101 Independent Technical Report Sanutura Project, South-West Burkina Faso", dated 7 February 2022 and prepared by Paul Schmiede, Rindra Le Grange and Fred Kock, and the Company's ASX Prospectus dated 11 March 2022. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama. Ms Le Grange and Mr Kock are employees of Cube Consulting Pty Ltd and Orway Mineral Consultants Pty Ltd respectivley and are considered to be independent of Sarama. The technical report is available under Sarama's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the ASX Prospectus is available under Sarama's profile on ASX at www.asx.com.au. Oxide & transition component of the Mineral Resource for Sanutura Project - 3.2Mt @ 1.6g/t Au for 0.2Moz Au (Indicated) plus 23.4Mt @ 1.1g/t Au for 0.8Moz Au (Inferred), reported above cut-off grades of 0.2g/t Au and 0.3g/t Au for oxide and transition material respectively. Mineral Resource estimate for Karankasso Project - 12.74Mt @ 1.73g/t Au for 709koz Au (effective date of December 31, 2019), disclosed on 24 February 2020 by Semafo Inc ("Semafo", since acquired by Endeavour Mining Corp. "Endeavour"). For further information regarding that Mineral Resource estimate, refer to the news release "Semafo: Bantou Project Inferred Resources Increase to 2.2Moz" dated 24 February 2020 and Semafo: Bantou Project NI43-101 Technical Report - Mineral Resource Estimate" dated 3 April 2020 and the Company's ASX Prospectus dated 11 March 2022. The news release and technical report are available under Semafo's and Endeavour's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and the ASX Prospectus is available under Sarama's profile on ASX at www.asx.com.au. The Mineral Resource estimate was fully prepared by, or under the supervision of Semafo. Sarama has not independently verified Semafo's mineral Resource Estimate and takes no responsibility for its accuracy. Semafo, and now Endeavour, is the operator of the Karankasso Project JV and Sarama is relying on their Qualified Persons' assurance of the validity of the Mineral Resource estimate. Additional technical work has been undertaken on the Karankasso Project since the effective date but Sarama is not in a position to quantify the impact of this additional work on the Mineral Resource estimate referred to above. The Government of Burkina Faso has processed the requisite documents to facilitate the grant of the new, full-term Tankoro 2 and Djarkadougou 2 Exploration Permits (the "Permits") and subsequently issued the invitation to pay the permit issuance fees (the "Fees") and the Fees were paid within the requisite 10-day timeline. Following the payment of the Fee, the issuance of the Permit's arrete and related paperwork becomes an administrative process during which time the Company may undertake work on the Tankoro 2 and Djarkadougou 2 Properties. The Company has received the arrete for the Djarkadougou 2 Exploration Permit and anticipates the issuance of the arrete for the Tankoro 2 Exploration Permit in due course given the successful granting of this permit as per statutory government process. The properties, hosting the Tankoro and Bondi Deposits respectively, were formerly known as Tankoro and Djarkadougou, but have been renamed as part of the process of re-issuing the respective Permits. Endeavour Mining's Bantou Project Mineral Resource - 18.1Mt @ 1.2g/t Au for 0.71Moz Au (Indicated) plus 3.5Mt @ 4.1g/t Au for 0.46Moz Au (Inferred). This is the aggregate of the Mineral Resource listing for the Bantou and Bantou Nord Deposits which are located within the Bantou Project. Data is sourced from Endeavour Mining Mineral Resource and Reserve statement and current as of December 31, 2022. The Bantou Project Technical Report is available under the SEMAFO profile on SEDAR. "Bantou Project, NI 43-101 Technical Report - Mineral Resource Estimate", dated 3 April, 2020. . CAUTION REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION Information in this news release that is not a statement of historical fact constitutes forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements regarding the use of proceeds from the Placement and the holding of a General Meeting, the Company's future exploration and development plans, the potential for the Sanutura and Karankasso Projects to host economic mineralisation, the potential to expand the existing estimated Mineral Resources at the Sanutura Project (including the present oxide and transition component), the accuracy of the Mineral Resource estimate for the Sanutura Project in localized areas with the addition of new drilling and assay information, the potential to extend and add to existing mineralisation at the MM, MC, Obi and Kenobi Prospects, the potential for development of a mine at the Sanutura Project, the potential for the receipt of regulatory approvals and the timing and prospects for the issuance of the arrete for the Tankoro 2 Exploration Permit by the Government of Burkina Faso. The Company's full suite of exploration permits are at varying stages in their life cycles and at any one time, the Company has exploration permits either in renewal or re-issue phase and although the Company follows due government process and anticipates new exploration permits will be granted in due course, it cannot guarantee this will be done in a timely manner or at all. Actual results, performance or achievements of the Company may vary from the results suggested by such forward-looking statements due to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors. Such factors include, among others, that the business of exploration for gold and other precious minerals involves a high degree of risk and is highly speculative in nature; Mineral Resources are not mineral reserves, they do not have demonstrated economic viability, and there is no certainty that they can be upgraded to mineral reserves through continued exploration; few properties that are explored are ultimately developed into producing mines; geological factors; the actual results of current and future exploration; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's publicly filed documents. There can be no assurance that any mineralisation that is discovered will be proven to be economic, or that future required regulatory licensing or approvals will be obtained. However, the Company believes that the assumptions and expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable. Assumptions have been made regarding, among other things, the Company's ability to carry on its exploration activities, the sufficiency of funding, the timely receipt of required approvals, the price of gold and other precious metals, that the Company will not be affected by adverse political and security-related events, the ability of the Company to operate in a safe, efficient and effective manner and the ability of the Company to obtain further financing as and when required and on reasonable terms. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Sarama does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except as required by applicable laws. QUALIFIED PERSONS' STATEMENT Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to the preparation of the Mineral Resource estimate for the Sanutura Project is based on information compiled or approved by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this news release of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to exploration activities at the Sanutura Project is based on information compiled or approved by Guy Scherrer. Guy Scherrer is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a member in good standing of the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec and has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Guy Scherrer consents to the inclusion in this disclosure of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Scientific or technical information in this disclosure that relates to the quotation of the Karankasso Project's Mineral Resource estimate and exploration activities is based on information compiled by Paul Schmiede. Paul Schmiede is an employee of Sarama Resources Ltd and is a Fellow in good standing of the Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy. Paul Schmiede has sufficient experience which is relevant to the commodity, style of mineralisation under consideration and activity which he is undertaking to qualify as a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. Paul Schmiede consents to the inclusion in this disclosure of the information, in the form and context in which it appears. Paul Schmiede and Sarama have not independently verified Semafo's (now Endeavour's) Mineral Resource estimate and take no responsibility for its accuracy. COMPETENT PERSONS' STATEMENT The Mineral Resource estimates referred to in this disclosure were first disclosed in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 5.8 in the Company's ASX Prospectus dated 11 March 2022. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in the ASX Prospectus and that all material assumptions and technical parameters underpinning the estimates in the ASX Prospectus continue to apply and have not materially changed. The new Exploration Results reported in this disclosure are based on, and fairly represent, information and supporting documentation prepared by Guy Scherrer. Guy Scherrer is an employee of Sarama Resources and a member of the Ordre des Geologues du Quebec. Guy Scherrer has provided his prior written consent as to the form and context in which the new Exploration Results and the supporting information are presented in this disclosure. The previously reported Exploration Results referred to in this disclosure were first disclosed in accordance with ASX Listing Rule 5.7 in the Company's ASX disclosure listed in Appendix B. The Company confirms that it is not aware of any new information or data that materially affects the information included in those previous items of disclosure. SOURCE: Sarama Resources Ltd. View source version on accesswire.com: Drilling at 463 Zone expands footprint; MH-23-519 extends 463 Zone 68 m down-plunge ST JOHN'S, NL / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / SokomanMinerals Corp. (TSXV:SIC)(OTCQB: SICNF) is pleased to report that diamond drilling at the new 463 Zone has expanded the footprint of the zone and indicates a different plumbing system may be responsible for emplacing gold mineralization in some or perhaps most of the mineralized zones known on the property. Results are highlighted by MH-23-519, which intersected a 1.4 metre-wide zone of visible gold-bearing quartz veining that returned 12.41 g/t Au (from 409.75 m downhole) 68 m down-plunge from hole 463 and remains open to the south and to depth. The company has made a video giving a visual explanation of the results. Investors are encouraged to watch the video HERE. Tim Froude, President and CEO of Sokoman, says: "We are very pleased with the results from the 463 Zone drilling as it has not only opened up a large new target area, but the possibility that the vein system at Moosehead may predate the Eastern Trend shear zone is a significant development. In the past year or so we have had many intersections that looked "out of place", that we couldn't seem to fit anywhere, now it makes sense that they occur in a perpendicular structure in the footwall (below the main Eastern Trend and that the Eastern Trend while remaining a significant trap for gold, it may not be the primary target for additional gold mineralization. We are also optimistic that eventually we will encounter high-grade gold in the vicinity or associated with the 511 Zone; there is still only limited drilling in that area. We anticipate the annual spring breakup to coincide with the crew rotation in about two weeks with drilling recommencing in late May or earlier, if possible, and we are well funded, with over $6 million in the treasury." Drill Plan - April 13, 2023 In late 2022, drill hole MH-22-463 cut a significant thickness of gold mineralization (39.60 m @12.50 g/t Au including 10.5 m @41.97 g/t Au (see press release December 15, 2022) that appeared unique in several aspects to many previous intersections reported on the property. Located in the footwall to the main Eastern Trend, the intersection suggested a different structure and/or plumbing system existed in this underexplored area. Drill holes MH-22-505, 512, 517, 519 (and others), designed to test the 463 Zone, all intersected multiple, narrow, locally high-grade veins in the footwall and perpendicular to the main Eastern Trend. In conjunction with discussions with structural consultant Dr. David Coller, it now appears clear that the 463 Zone is part of a system of less-deformed veins at right angles to the main Eastern Trend and consequently, parallel to most of the drilling completed over the previous two years. This also strongly suggests that the Eastern Trend may not be the feature controlling gold mineralization, but rather it has crosscut and incorporated a pre-existing vein system as we now see similar-looking gold bearing veins in deformed, as well as largely-pristine rocks. It also opens up the entire footwall environment as a host to high-grade veins. At the 511 Zone, located under South Pond, drilling continued to intersect gold mineralization (MH-23-514 to 516) and the zone remains open and will be further tested in 2023. The recent drilling also confirms that the 511 Zone consists of multiple subparallel structures. QP This news release has been reviewed and approved by Timothy Froude, P.Geo., a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101 and President and CEO of Sokoman Minerals Corp. Analytical Techniques / QA/QC Samples, including duplicates, blanks, and standards, were submitted to Eastern Analytical Ltd. in Springdale, Newfoundland for gold analysis. All core samples submitted for assay were saw cut by Sokoman personnel with one-half submitted for assay and one-half retained for reference. Samples were delivered in sealed bags directly to the lab by Sokoman personnel. Eastern Analytical Ltd. is an accredited assay lab that conforms to the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025. Samples with visible gold were submitted for total pulp metallics and gravimetric finish. All other samples were analyzed by standard fire assay methods. Total pulp metallic analysis includes: the whole sample is crushed to -10 mesh; then pulverized to 95% -150 mesh. The total sample is weighed and screened to 150 mesh; the +150 mesh fraction is fire assayed for Au, and a 30 g subsample of the -150 mesh fraction is fire assayed for Au; with a calculated weighted average of total Au in the sample reported as well. One blank and one industry-approved standard for every twenty samples submitted are included in the sample stream. Random duplicates of selected samples are analyzed in addition to the in-house standard and duplicate policies of Eastern Analytical Ltd. All reported assays are uncut. Table of Results - April 13, 2023 About Sokoman Minerals Corp. Sokoman Minerals Corp. is a discovery-oriented company with projects in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. The Company's primary focus is its portfolio of gold projects; the 100% flagship, advanced-stage Moosehead, as well as Crippleback Lake (available for option); and East Alder (optioned to Canterra Minerals Corporation) along the Central Newfoundland Gold Belt, and the district-scale Fleur de Lys project near Baie Verte in northwestern Newfoundland, that is targeting Dalradian-type, orogenic gold mineralization similar to the Curraghinalt and Cavanacaw deposits in Northern Ireland. The Company also entered into a strategic alliance with Benton Resources Inc. through three, large-scale, joint-venture properties including Grey River, Golden Hope, and Kepenkeck in Newfoundland. Sokoman now controls, independently and through the Benton alliance, over 150,000 hectares (>6,000 claims - 1500 sq. km), making it one of the largest landholders in Newfoundland, in Canada's newest and rapidly-emerging gold districts. The Company also retains a 1% NSR interest in an early-stage antimony/gold project (Startrek) in Newfoundland, optioned to Thunder Gold Corp (formerly White Metal Resources Inc.), and in Labrador, the Company has a 100% interest in the Iron Horse (Fe) project which has Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) potential. Mineralization hosted on adjacent and/or nearby properties is not necessarily indicative of mineralization hosted on the Company's property. The Company would like to thank the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador for past financial support of the Moosehead Project through the Junior Exploration Assistance Program. For more information, please contact: Timothy Froude, P.Geo., President & CEO T: 709-765-1726 E: [email protected] Cathy Hume, VP Corporate Development, Director T: 416-868-1079 x 251 E: [email protected] Thomas Do, IR Manager, CHF Capital Markets T: 416-868-1079 x 232 E: [email protected] Website: www.sokomanmineralscorp.com Twitter: @SokomanMinerals Facebook: @SokomanMinerals LinkedIn: @SokomanMineralsCorp 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. Investors are cautioned that trading in the securities of the Corporation should be considered highly speculative. Except for historical information contained herein, this news release contains forward- looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results may differ materially. Sokoman Minerals Corp. 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 Sokoman Minerals Corp. SOURCE: Sokoman Minerals Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: Gebrder Weiss transports high-tech drilling robot to Texas for students at ETH Zurich / Hyperloop project underscores commitment to the future of mobility BASTROP, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / At the 2023 "Not-A-Boring Competition" in Bastrop, Texas, at the beginning of April, the "Swissloop Tunneling" team from the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH) in Zurich won the top prize for innovative design. Sponsored by Gebruder Weiss, the group of more than 40 students retained their title as the team with the most innovative design in this competition hosted by The Boring Company. In advance, the global transport and logistics company ensured the on-time and secure transport of the critical drilling technology from Switzerland to the USA. The Swissloop Tunneling team from ETH Zurich sponsored by Gebruder Weiss Groundhog Beta, the Innovation Award-winning tunnel drilling machine from Swissloop Tunneling (Source: Eugenio Valli) "Investment in the future of mobility and in ways to improve sustainability is critical for us and the industry. We participate in projects such as the Hyperloop, the Mars Mission, the SubOrbital Express rocket mission and work to develop alternative drives because it amplifies the values of Gebruder Weiss and puts them into action," said Lothar Thoma, Managing Director Air & Sea at Gebruder Weiss. The final stage of the competition set five of the globe's most innovative and ambitious engineering teams against each other to be judged in four categories: (1) fastest tunnel completion, (2) innovative design, build and/or test, (3) most accurate tunnel, and (4) tunnel with tightest curve. In addition to second place overall, Swissloop Tunneling won the innovation category. The concept of the Hyperloop project is to transport people and goods at high speed over longer distances through tunnels under or above the earth's surface to their destination. The drilling robots must be as fast, compact, and as automated as possible to make tunneling financially feasible. "Our team has been very lucky to have Gebruder Weiss as our logistics partner for the past two competitions. Knowing that they hold similar values and believe in investing in the future of mobility adds to our team's confidence," said Stefan Kaspar, founder and co-president of Swissloop Tunneling. "Over the past few years, we've all come to appreciate the critical role played by logistics companies in our world. None of this would have been possible without their support." About Gebruder Weiss Gebruder Weiss, a global freight forwarder with a core business of overland transport, air, sea freight and logistics, is the world's oldest transport company. The family-owned company employs more than 8,400 people worldwide and boasts 180 company-owned locations. The business presence in North America includes headquarters in Chicago and offices in Atlanta, Boston, Dallas, El Paso, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver. The company has implemented a wide variety of environmental, economic and social initiatives and is considered a pioneer in sustainable business practices. www.gw-world.com/us Contact Information Karolyn Raphael PR for Gebruder Weiss North America [email protected] 312-494-0422 SOURCE: Gebruder Weiss View source version on accesswire.com: Lower Stilwell development features 108 energy-efficient, quality homes and new community amenities for junior-enlisted military service members and their families. MONTEREY, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / The Michaels Organization, a national leader in residential real estate that manages the privatized housing for servicemembers and their families on the U.S. Army Garrison, Presidio of Monterey, celebrated the grand opening of the new Lower Stilwell neighborhood with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Stilwell Development, Parks at Monterey Bay The 44-acre $80 million development comprises 108 three- and four-bedroom single-family and duplex-style units for junior-enlisted service members and their families. "Today marks nearly a decade of planning and resourcing by Army officials and their partners at The Michaels Organization and the Parks at Monterey Bay. I'd like to thank all the people and community members who've worked on this project to get us here today," said U.S. Army Presidio of Monterey Garrison Commander, Col. Sam Kline. "This modern environmentally friendly community will provide an outstanding quality of life for our junior enlisted service members and their families. Our Army prioritizes a 'people first' mentality and the new Lower Stilwell community is exactly what putting people first looks like. This is a place where military families will build community and lasting memories." The 44-acre $80 million development replaces 180 unrenovated legacy homes built in 1959 that were demolished in 2020. In their place, Lower Stilwell now comprises 108 three- and four-bedroom single-family and duplex-style units. Units feature stainless steel appliances, quartz countertops, ceramic-tiled bathroom floors and showers, water-saving fixtures, and energy-conserving Nest thermostats. "Michaels is honored to house heroes and serve their families," said Adam Hay, Michaels' Regional Vice President. "The new homes in the Lower Stilwell development represent our ongoing commitment to improving the quality of life for our service members by ensuring they not only have a modern, safe and secure place to call home, but also one that incorporates the latest in sustainable energy-efficient design." Congressman Jimmy Panetta, who represents California's 19th District, was among the distinguished speakers at the ceremony. "Due to their service to our nation, the least that we can do for our servicemembers and their families is provide them with the peace of mind of quality, and affordable housing," said Rep. Panetta. "The new Lower Stilwell neighborhood will provide modern and safe homes for our troops and their families serving and living at the Presidio of Monterey. As a community member, a veteran, and as the U.S. Representative for our area, I'm obligated and proud to fulfill that obligation to improve the quality of life for those and their families who serve our nation." Homes at Lower Stilwell are solar-ready and have been designed to meet Federal Title 24, CAL-GREEN, and LEED "Silver" standards. The new homes will also be entirely electric, with no gas infrastructure or appliances - the first of its kind in the history of military housing in Monterey. Additionally, Lower Stilwell will also provide community amenities for residents including a fitness trail with exercise stations, a common area park complete with a playground, picnic pavilion, cornhole and bocce ball courts, and hammock seating. About The Michaels Organization: The Michaels Organization is a national leader in residential real estate, offering full-service capabilities in development, property management, construction, and investment management. Serving more than 175,000 residents in more than 450 communities across 38 states, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Michaels is committed to crafting housing solutions that jumpstart education, civic engagement and neighborhood prosperity and to creating Communities That Lift Lives. Contact Information Laura Zaner Vice President, Corporate Marketing [email protected] 856-988-5983 Noah Rappahahn Chief, Public Affairs, USAG Presidio of Monterey [email protected] 831-242-5555 SOURCE: The Michaels Organization View source version on accesswire.com: SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- American International Group, Inc. (NYSE: AIG) today announced that Chris Colahan has been appointed Regional President, AIG Asia Pacific, and will join the company in the second quarter of 2023. Mr. Colahan will report to Jon Hancock, Chief Executive Officer of AIGs International General Insurance business. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005833/en/ Chris Colahan (Photo: Business Wire) Mr. Colahan has more than 20 years of insurance industry experience and most recently served as President of UK & Europe for Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance (BHSI). Prior to that, he was President of BHSI Australasia. Previously, he served as Regional CEO for RSA Asia and CEO of RSA Asias Hong Kong and Singapore operations. Mr. Colahan holds a degree in Law and Commerce from Bond University, Australia. We are fortunate to have someone with Chris industry experience and vast knowledge of the Asia Pacific marketplace join AIG, said Mr. Hancock, Asia Pacific is an important market for our General Insurance business, and with Chris leadership, we expect to expand our business and capabilities, deepen relationships with distribution partners and clients, and continue to demonstrate our risk management expertise. Mr. Colahan replaces current Regional President, Steven Barnett, who is leaving to pursue opportunities outside the company. It is a privilege to join AIG, an industry leader with world-class capabilities, said Mr. Colahan. I look forward to working with the talented group of colleagues throughout the region and more broadly across the company. AIG is known for delivering excellence in everything it does and I am confident we will successfully execute on the Asia Pacific strategy with precision and a focus on quality outcomes. About AIG American International Group, Inc. (AIG) is a leading global insurance organization. AIG member companies offer insurance solutions that help businesses and individuals in approximately 70 countries and jurisdictions protect their assets and manage risks. AIG common stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Additional information about AIG can be found at www.aig.com | YouTube: www.youtube.com/aig | Twitter: @AIGinsurance www.twitter.com/AIGinsurance | LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/company/aig. These references with additional information about AIG have been provided as a convenience, and the information contained on such websites is not incorporated by reference into this press release. AIG is the marketing name for the worldwide property-casualty, life and retirement, and general insurance operations of American International Group, Inc. For additional information, please visit our website at www.aig.com. All products and services are written or provided by subsidiaries or affiliates of American International Group, Inc. Products or services may not be available in all countries and jurisdictions, and coverage is subject to underwriting requirements and actual policy language. Non-insurance products and services may be provided by independent third parties. Certain property-casualty coverages may be provided by a surplus lines insurer. Surplus lines insurers do not generally participate in state guaranty funds, and insureds are therefore not protected by such funds. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005833/en/ Quentin McMillan (Investors): [email protected] Dana Ripley (Media): [email protected] Source: American International Group, Inc. Rising costs is a pain point for Singapore SMEs; many are looking to optimise operations with technology and fiscal discipline Trust in fintech and digital platforms is high; many are willing and open to adopt related solutions Singapore SMEs remained focused on growing beyond borders, particularly across Southeast Asia SINGAPORE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Singapore businesses have a cautious economic outlook, as new data from global fintech Airwallex reveals 7 in 10 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) here are bracing for a potential recession within the next two years. The independent research1 considered the challenges SMEs in Singapore would face amid the current economic uncertainty, how they would get around them, and how fintechs could support their future growth. SMEs look to optimise operations with technology and fiscal discipline to manage rising costs Rising costs is among the top 3 pain points for two-thirds of Singapore SMEs. Rising costs from suppliers (35 per cent) accounts for the highest rise in business cost, followed by employee costs (30 per cent) and logistical disruption costs (23 per cent) likely due to the pandemic. The challenges identified by SMEs in the survey findings are consistent with what we have been hearing from our customers, with rising costs and ways to manage it being a consistent theme in conversations, said Low Cher Hao, Director, SME and Growth, Singapore, at Airwallex. To optimise their operations amid an increasingly uncertain environment, SMEs are taking a prudent approach to their financial spending, with nearly two-thirds looking to reduce business spending and/or optimise operations through technology in the next 6-12 months. Improving efficiency (42 per cent), growing revenue (40 per cent), and market share (33 per cent) were the top three priorities for SMEs surveyed. SMEs contribute significantly to Singapores economy and the findings emphasises the need for better solutions to manage their top concerns and encourage their growth and success, Cher Hao added. Trust in fintech and digital platforms and willingness to adopt are high While SMEs continue to maintain a high level of confidence in traditional banking providers, the survey found that 93% of businesses in Singapore hold a high level of trust in fintech and digital platforms to support their business activities. More than 9 in 10 SMEs have already adopted or are planning to adopt digital or fintech solutions to support their businesses' financial needs. The clear benefits of going digital include saving time (58 per cent), ease of access (50 per cent) and greater control over transactions (48 per cent). SMEs in Singapore remain focused on geographic growth, particularly across Southeast Asia Amid a challenging economic environment, businesses in Singapore retain a strong appetite for growth and expansion. The survey found that nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of SMEs plan to expand their business overseas in the next 12 months. Southeast Asia remains a top expansion region, with almost one in two SMEs (43 per cent) looking to expand across the region. The top five favoured markets for expansion include Malaysia, the Netherlands, Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines. Singaporean businesses are entrepreneurial. They are constantly looking for ways to globalise their products and services. We see ourselves playing a critical role in helping them achieve their international ambitions, said Cher Hao. Over a thousand SMEs in Singapore trust Airwallex to support the financial needs of their business; we are looking to empower them further, and welcome more like-minded businesses to join us. Methodology This survey from Airwallex was carried out by Censuswide between 16 - 23 March 2023 among 255 SME business decision makers in Singapore (companies with 50 - 500 employees). About Airwallex Airwallex is the most powerful financial technology platform for modern businesses. We remove the unnecessary friction and cost inherent in the traditional financial system to help entrepreneurs achieve their global ambitions. Companies trust Airwallex to manage everything from payments, treasury, and spend to embedded finance -- all in one single platform. Our purpose is to connect entrepreneurs, business builders, makers and creators with opportunities in every corner of the world. With an international footprint across the Asia-Pacific, Europe and North America, we empower businesses to operate anywhere, anytime. 1 Over 250 SME decision makers based in Singapore were surveyed View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005643/en/ Note to press If you have any questions or would like to request further information, please contact [email protected]. Source: Airwallex Delta Electronics, a leading provider of the power and thermal management solutions, said it has received global recognition by winning the Energy Star Partner 2023 Sustained Excellence award from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is the sixth consecutive year that Delta had won the prominent award from EPA, said a statement from the company. The prestigious distinction values Deltas outstanding leadership in energy efficiency over the years, demonstrated by the indoor air quality (IAQ) energy savings achieved in North America through its wide portfolio of Delta Breez bathroom ventilation fans, which in 2022 alone, saved over 30.8 million kWh of electricity for US consumers, it stated. By leveraging its own DC brushless motor technology, which is 70% more energy efficient than traditional AC motors, more than 90% of Delta Breez fan models are certified by the Energy Star programme, it added. Subscription to paid content Gain access to all that Trend has to offer, as well as to premium, licensed content via subscription or direct purchase through a credit card. The planting project in South Carolina engaged volunteers in creating neighborhood canopy LINCOLN, Neb.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Arbor Day Foundation unveiled a new video showcasing the impact of a recent environmental justice planting project in Upstate South Carolina. The local organization behind the project, TreesUpstate, was one of eight tree planting organizations around the United States awarded a grant from the Arbor Day Foundation in 2021. Recipients were asked to use the funding to facilitate tree-planting projects that would help address race-related inequities and correct environmental injustices. The video helps depict how the grant project helped bring the finishing touches neighborhood trees to a successful low-to-moderate income housing redevelopment project on the site of a then-defunct 14-acre trailer park. Organizations received $100,000 over a two-year period. With those dollars from the environmental justice grant, TreesUpstate reached out to households in Creekside to understand their questions and concerns about trees, while also providing residents with young trees to grow in their yards. Click here and watch the full video to hear directly from residents about the impact of the project. About the Arbor Day Foundation Founded in 1972, the Arbor Day Foundation is the worlds largest membership nonprofit organization dedicated to planting trees. With a focus in communities and forests of greatest need, the Foundation alongside its more than 1 million members, supporters and valued partners has helped to plant nearly 500 million trees in more than 50 countries. Guided by its mission to inspire people to plant, nurture and celebrate trees, the Arbor Day Foundation is committed to unlocking the power of trees to help solve critical issues facing people and the planet. Learn more about the impact of the Arbor Day Foundation at arborday.org. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005776/en/ Jasmine Putney Arbor Day Foundation 402-216-9307 [email protected] Source: Arbor Day Foundation CRANFORD, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- For over 20 years, AristaCare Health Services has been providing exceptional post-acute rehabilitation, memory care, and long-term care services to patients and residents in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. With a combined 70+ years of experience and leadership between the CEO, President, and COO, AristaCare offers top-notch care and medical expertise to all of its patients. According to AristaCare's CEO, Sidney Greenberger, "We believe in a patient-centric philosophy that focuses on patient satisfaction and the wellness, recovery, and progress of the whole person. Our compassionate environment is designed with comfort and aesthetics in mind, and we use state-of-the-art technology to provide the best care possible." As news outlets have reported, staffing shortages in the healthcare industry, more specifically the nursing home space, have affected overall patient care. AristaCare Health Services is taking a proactive approach to combat this issue in the years to come by monitoring residents through various new, out-of-the-box approaches. We are proud to announce that we have recruited upwards of 70 New Jersey State Registered Nurses both nationally and internationally to increase staffing ratios. Additionally, we are increasing patient oversight and surveillance through telemedicine and remote patient monitoring using systems like Circadia Heath, an AI device that provides early detection and trigger warnings, preventing unnecessary returns to the hospital. We wish all nursing homes would take such an approach says COO, Mordy Perlow. AristaCare's team of expertly trained staff adopt medically advised best practices and proven techniques/systems to provide the highest quality of care. Staff focuses on the future of the dynamic healthcare landscape, positioning themselves to meet/exceed industry-forecasted demands with an organized, creative, and well-thought-out approach. They aim to kill the notorious nursing home industry reputation of abuse and neglect by taking proactive approaches in vetting staff, administering continuous education, and promoting a caring and loving environment. "We're constantly reinventing the standard of care through exceptional teamwork, consistent excellence, and state-of-the-art centers," says Perlow. "Our goal is to make every patient and resident feel like they're part of our family, and we take the overall well-being of our residents seriously." AristaCare offers various services including skilled nursing care, short-term care, long-term care, rehabilitation, respite care, and specialized programs designed to suit each patient's unique needs. AristaCare also offers an Asian Indian Cultural Program that provides an individualized cultural experience, including customs that are tailored to Indian culture. The company's dementia care program, Nostalgia Park, is driven by the understanding that each resident has unique challenges, and the staff works to discover the residents' lives before dementia to use their past as a tool in helping them reach their current comfort level. AristaCare recognizes its role in transitional care as a connective setting between the hospital and home. AristaCare has an innovative process to ensure a smooth transition between settings to maximize the patient experience, encourage continued recovery, and help maintain the highest clinical outcomes possible throughout their recovery process. "We pride ourselves on our multidisciplinary focus on consistently meeting length-of-stay goals," says Greenberger. "We deliver high-quality therapy services seven days a week in fully equipped gyms with the latest rehab technology, and we offer Cardiac Telemetry Monitoring during rehab for optimal safety." AristaCare is also committed to being a socially responsible company. "By actively hiring and engaging with our communities, we propel our good social mission and create a genuine communal feeling throughout our centers," says Greenberger. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005851/en/ Joselyn Delgado, Director of Business Development (908) 315-3400 Source: AristaCare Health Services KOLWEZI, Congo--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Astria Learning, in partnership with the University of Kolwezi, has launched the first digital library in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). This groundbreaking initiative aims to provide UNIKOL students and staff with access to a vast collection of e-books, journals, and other resources through the Astria Digital Library's state-of-the-art technology platform, which enables institutions to create, deliver, and manage engaging and effective online learning experiences. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005299/en/ Astria Learning, in partnership with the University of Kolwezi, has launched the first digital library in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). (Photo: Business Wire) With both online and offline access, the virtual space created by the digital library offers thousands of e-books that have been specifically crafted to support research and learning according to techno-psycho pedagogical standards. This space will greatly benefit students, researchers, and professors by giving them access to a wide range of educational resources that were previously scarce in the DRC. Moreover, the inauguration of the first digital library marks a significant milestone in achieving the country's digitalization objectives. In today's world, where technology is becoming increasingly essential, digital libraries present a unique opportunity to bridge the digital gap and ensure that education is accessible to all. According to Jeff Bordes, Astria Learning's President and CEO, "I believe that the DRC, with its abundant natural resources, possesses its greatest resource in the potential of its citizens. That is why we have developed this digital library to tap into the power of the mind and offer students and educators in the DRC access to millions of academic textbooks, journals, articles, and other current educational resources." Professor Yvon Mwengwe Muhongo, Vice Chancellor of UNIKOL, expressed his excitement by stating, "We are honored to lead the digital transformation in the DRC. This digital library will be a game-changer for our academic community, and we eagerly anticipate its impact on education in the country." The launch of this digital library is a significant achievement for the DRC's academic community, and it demonstrates the country's dedication to innovation and progress. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230410005299/en/ Astria Learning Email: [email protected] Website: www.astrialearning.com University of Kolwezi Email: [email protected] Website: www.UNIKOL.ac.cd Source: Astria Learning NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Audax Private Debt (Audax) announced that, as Administrative Agent and Sole Lead Arranger, it provided a Second Lien Credit Facility supporting H.I.G. Infrastructure, an affiliate of H.I.G. Capital (H.I.G.), in their acquisition of Tower Engineering Professionals (TEP or the Company). Founded in 1997 and headquartered in Raleigh, NC, TEP is a leading provider of engineering, inspection, maintenance, and construction management services for telecommunication infrastructure. The Company serves cell tower owners, wireless carriers, and fiber network providers throughout the U.S. and Canada. The Company has helped design over 200,000 structures since inception. Tower Engineering Professionals has established itself as a leading, multi-discipline telecom engineering services firm, said Dan Horan, Managing Director at Audax Private Debt. The Companys broad portfolio of services and expansive North American footprint provide a unique value proposition to its growing customer base, and we are thrilled to partner with H.I.G. and management to support the Company in this exciting next chapter. About Audax Private Debt Based in New York, Audax Private Debt is a leading debt capital partner for North American middle market companies. Since its inception in 2000, Audax Private Debt has invested over $34 billion across more than 1,100 companies in support of over 275 private equity sponsors and has raised over $27 billion in capital. The platform offers its clients a range of financing solutions, including first lien, stretch senior, unitranche, second lien and subordinated debt, as well as equity co-investments. With more than 50 investment professionals and over 190 employees, Audax Private Debt provides financing certainty, add-on investment capability, and the experience and collaborative approach to partner with private equity firms and their portfolio companies. For more information, please visit www.audaxprivatedebt.com or follow us on LinkedIn. Audax Private Debt is an integral part of Audax Group, a leading alternative investment manager with offices in Boston, New York, San Francisco, and London. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005795/en/ Dan Horan Managing Director (212) 703-2747 [email protected] Media FGS Global Julie Rudnick / Catherine Livingston [email protected] Source: Audax Private Debt ANTWERP, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: In accordance with Article 14 of the Belgian Transparency law of 2 May 2007, Azelis Group NV announces that it has received the following transparency notification on April 11, 2023: Transparency notification from Public Sector Pension Investment Board/PSP Investments Holding Europe Ltd 1. Summary of the notification Public Sector Pension Investment Board reported in a notification dated April 11, 2023 that on April, 6, 2023, following a disposal of voting securities, its shareholding decreased and crossed downwards the threshold of 10.00% in Azelis Group NV. On April 6, 2023, Public Sector Pension Investment Board (taking into account the holding of its affiliates) owned 20,787,122 shares with voting rights, representing 8.89% of the total number of shares issued by the company (233,846,153), versus 12.14 % (28,387,122 shares) in the previous notification dated October 4, 2021. 2. Content of the notification Reason for the notification Acquisition or disposal of voting securities or voting rights and downward crossing of a threshold. Notification by A parent undertaking or a controlling person Persons subject to the notification requirement Name Address (for legal entities) Public Sector Pension Investment Board 1250 Rene-Levesque Boulevard West, Suite 1400 Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3B 5E9 PSP Investments Holding Europe Ltd 10 Bressenden Place 8th Floor - London SW1E 5DH United Kingdom Date on which the threshold is crossed 6 April 2023 Threshold that is crossed (in %) 10% Denominator 233,846,153 Notified details A) Voting rights Previous notification After the transaction # of voting rights # of voting rights % of voting rights Holders of voting rights Linked to securities Not linked to the securities Linked to securities Not linked to the securities Public Sector Pension Investment Board 0 0 0 0.00% 0.00% PSP Investments Holding Europe Ltd 28,387,122 20,787,122 0 8.89% 0.00% Subtotal 28,387,122 20,787,122 8.89% 0.00% TOTAL 20,787,122 0 8.89% 0.00% B) Equivalent financial instruments After the transaction Holders of equivalent financial instruments Type of financial instrument Expiration date Exercise period or date # of voting rights that may be acquired if the instrument is exercised % of voting rights Settlement TOTAL 0 0.00% TOTAL (A & B) # of voting rights % of voting rights Calculate 20,787,122 8,89 Chain of controlled undertakings through which the holding is effectively held, if applicable PSP Investments Holding Europe Ltd is controlled by Public Sector Pension Investment Board. All of the shares of the Public Sector Pension Investment Board are directly held by the Government of Canada (his Majesty in right of Canada) , by the President of the Treasury Board of Canada, a Canadian Cabinet Minister. The shares are held by the Minister as a fiduciary on behalf of His Majesty the King in right of Canada, and as a formal requirement of the ministerial office of the President of the Treasury Board, and do not represent any control of PSPIB by the Minister, as these shares are non-voting. Additional information 3. Further information The full transparency notification as well as this press release can be consulted on the Azelis Group NVs website. About Azelis Azelis is a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemical and food ingredients industry, present in 63 countries across the globe with over 3,800 employees. Our knowledgeable teams of industry, market and technical experts are each dedicated to a specific market within Life Sciences and Industrial Chemicals. We offer a lateral value chain of complementary products to more than 59,000 customers, supported by +2,700 principal relationships, creating a turnover of 4.1 billion (2022). Azelis Group NV is listed on Euronext Brussels under ticker AZE. Across our extensive network of more than 60 application laboratories, our award-winning staff help develop formulations and provide technical guidance throughout the customers product development process. We combine a global market reach with a local footprint to offer a reliable, integrated, and unique digital service to local customers and attractive -business opportunities to principals. Top industry-rated by Sustainalytics, Azelis is a leader in sustainability. We believe in building and nurturing solid, honest and transparent relationships with our people and partners. Impact through ideas. Innovation through formulation. www.azelis.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005476/en/ For more information, please contact: Azelis [email protected] Source: Azelis Group NV ANTWERP, Belgium--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: In accordance with article 8:4 of the Royal Decree of 29 April 2019 executing the Belgian Code of Companies and Associations, Azelis Group NV (the Company or Azelis) (Brussels: AZE) hereby reports on the buyback of Azelis shares under the Share Buyback Program 2023. Under the Share Buyback Program 2023, Azelis has mandated an independent financial intermediary to buy back up to 150,000 ordinary shares, for a total maximum amount of EUR 3,500,000, starting on 20 March 2023, to cover future obligations under the Long-Term Incentive Plan of the Company. In the framework of this Share Buyback Program 2023, the Company has purchased 26,800 shares in the period from 7 April 2023 up to and including 12 April 2023, as follows: Trade date Total shares purchased Average price Minimum price paid Maximum price paid Buyback amount April 11, 2023 12,000 22.25 21.86 22.40 266,959.20 April 12, 2023 14,800 22.24 22.06 22.42 329,218.60 Since the start of the implementation of the Share Buyback Program 2023, Azelis has bought back 150,000 shares on Euronext Brussels for a total amount of EUR 3,408,076.30. This corresponds to 0.064 % of the total shares outstanding. This weeks purchases complete the Share Buyback Program 2023. An overview of the Share Buyback Program 2023 is available on the investor relations pages of Azelis' website under the section Shareholder Information/ Share buyback program, and this press release is as well available under the section "Regulated Information". - END About Azelis Azelis is a leading global innovation service provider in the specialty chemical and food ingredients industry, present in 63 countries across the globe with over 3,800 employees. Our knowledgeable teams of industry, market and technical experts are each dedicated to a specific market within Life Sciences and Industrial Chemicals. We offer a lateral value chain of complementary products to more than 59,000 customers, supported by +2,700 principal relationships, creating a turnover of 4.1 billion (2022). Azelis Group NV is listed on Euronext Brussels under ticker AZE. Across our extensive network of more than 60 application laboratories, our award-winning staff help develop formulations and provide technical guidance throughout the customers product development process. We combine a global market reach with a local footprint to offer a reliable, integrated, and unique digital service to local customers and attractive -business opportunities to principals. Top industry-rated by Sustainalytics, Azelis is a leader in sustainability. We believe in building and nurturing solid, honest and transparent relationships with our people and partners. Impact through ideas. Innovation through formulation. www.azelis.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005507/en/ Contact information Azelis Investor Relations [email protected] Tel.: +32 3 613 0127 Source: Azelis IRVINE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- CommerceWest Bank (OTCQX: CWBK) was named as a "Super Premier Performance Bank by The Findley Reports. The Findley Reports provides the banking industry with performance benchmarks by designating banks as Super Premier Performance, Premier Performance, or Commendable Performance banks. To receive one of the top designations, banks must first meet the A-Quality scoring criteria that looks at growth, net operating income, net loan loss and equity return. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005718/en/ "The team continues to execute on our vision and strategy by delivering a fortress balance sheet with outstanding financial results, stated Ivo Tjan, Chairman and CEO of CommerceWest Bank. He continued, We remain focused on building strong long-term partnerships with the businesses, business owners and communities we serve. Our company looks forward to continuing to expand our footprint and client base in 2023. CommerceWest Bank is determined to redefine banking for small and medium sized businesses by delivering on customized products and services. Founded in 2001 and headquartered in Irvine, California, the Bank serves businesses throughout the state of California with our digital banking platform. By employing a strategically selected team of experienced professionals, we will provide flexibility, create a complete, safe and sound banking experience for each client. We provide a wide range of commercial banking services, including remote deposit solution, NetBanker online banking, mobile banking, lines of credit, M&A / working capital loans, commercial real estate loans, SBA loans and treasury management services. Mission Statement: CommerceWest Bank will create a complete banking experience for each client, catering to businesses and their specific banking needs, while accommodating our clients and providing them high-quality, low stress and personally tailored banking and financial services. Please visit www.cwbk.com to learn more about the bank. BANK ON THE DIFFERENCE View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005718/en/ CommerceWest Bank Contact: Ivo A. Tjan, CEO Leeann M. Cochran, CFO Telephone: (866) 521-CWBK E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.cwbk.com Source: CommerceWest Bank PASADENA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Continuum Renewables, Inc. (Continuum Renewables) today announced its intention to acquire Heliogen, Inc. [NYSE: HLGN] for $0.40 per share of common stock in a non-binding proposal submitted to the Board of Directors of the Company. Heliogen is a renewable energy company that specializes in concentrated solar power systems. The acquisition would allow Continuum Renewables to expand its renewable energy products and accelerate its growth strategy. "We're excited to announce our offer to acquire Heliogen," said Paul Browning, CEO, Continuum Renewables, Inc. "Heliogen has a strong reputation for developing innovative renewable energy solutions, and our proposal, if accepted, would offer the companys shareholders a substantial premium to the current share price. This acquisition is an important step in our growth strategy, and we look forward to recapitalizing Heliogen as a private company and working with the Heliogen team to create value for our customers." The proposed, all cash price of $0.40 per share represents a premium of 60% over Heliogen's closing stock price on the day prior to the announcement and a premium of approximately 70% over the Companys unaffected volume-weighted average price over the last month. The transaction would be subject to diligence, customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and negotiation of transaction documents. About Continuum Renewables, Inc. Continuum Renewables is focused on developing and deploying next generation clean energy solutions that include PV solar, offshore hydropower, renewable heat, and energy storage products. The company is committed to providing clean, reliable, and affordable energy solutions to customers around the world. For more information, please contact [email protected] View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005870/en/ Al Duncan [email protected] Source: Continuum Renewables, Inc. ONTARIO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Cordoba Corporations Founder and CEO, George L. Pla, was joined by Congresswoman Norma Torres, State Senator Susan Rubio, Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes, City of Ontario Mayor Debra Porada, and City of Fontana Councilmember Jesus Sandoval to open Cordoba Corporations ninth regional office in the State of California. The grand opening held last Thursday, April 6, 2023, was punctuated with a ribbon cutting ceremony. This year marks Cordoba Corporations 40th anniversary, and I am thrilled to add to our milestone celebrations by opening up another state of the art workplace, designed to inspire and connect our employees, service and assist our clients locally, and support our companys growth and development in the Inland Empire, said George L. Pla. Cordoba Corporation is a statewide engineering, program management, and construction management firm specializing in the delivery of infrastructure projects in the Education and Facilities, Energy, Transportation and Water sectors. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005265/en/ Cordoba Corporation Debby Kim, Director of Corporate Communications 714-280-5224 [email protected] Source: Cordoba Corporation TORONTO--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- dynaCERT Inc. (TSX: DYA) (OTCQX: DYFSF) (FRA: DMJ) ("dynaCERT" or the "Company") and Cipher Neutron Inc. ("Cipher Neutron") are pleased to announce that they will be exhibiting at the Canadian Hydrogen Convention to be held in Edmonton, Alberta (Canada) from April 25 to April 27, 2023 at the Edmonton Convention Centre. First Unveiling of New Proprietary Advancements: At the Canadian Hydrogen Convention, Cipher Neutron will be unveiling to the public its first 5 kilowatt AEM Hydrogen Electrolyser stack which is capable of producing 1000 liters per hour of highly compressed and highly pure Green Hydrogen. The Canadian Hydrogen Convention: The Canadian Hydrogen Convention is the largest event in Canada showcasing hydrogen as a key enabler to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The Canadian Hydrogen Convention indicates that it will position Canada as a global hydrogen superpower. This event is expected to bring the Canadian supply chain together to discuss innovations and solutions for low-carbon hydrogen production, energy infrastructure, storage and the path forward as Canada works towards net zero emissions by 2050. Importance of Green Hydrogen Electrolysers: Collectively, dynaCERT and Cipher Neutron have been designing and producing Green Hydrogen Electrolysers for over twenty (20) years in Canada. In addition, in the past few years, Cipher Neutron and dynaCERT have, collectively, through their ground-breaking innovative Research & Development efforts, developed Green AEM Electrolysers designed to offer Canadian companies, as well as international companies, a solution to generate high volume high capacity Green Hydrogen in pressurized form to be applied to big-scale Hydrogen projects, by producers of Green ammonia in the fertilizer industry, oil & gas industries, mining, smelting and chemical industries. Cost Effective Solutions: Our AEM Electrolysers are designed to feature lower capital costs, lower operating costs and no use of expensive and GHG-producing Platinum-group metals which could conceivably experience the risks of supply-chain and pricing issues. Our AEM Electrolysers have achieved a staggering eighty-two percent (82%) efficiency, which means that they produce more Green Hydrogen using the same amount of power as competing electrolysers while at a lower AEM Electrolyser cost. Gurjant Randhawa, President & CEO of Cipher Neutron, stated, Cipher Neutron is a world-wide organization including business, finance, engineering, university and scientific professionals who are all dedicated and focused on large-scale Green Hydrogen projects internationally and across many industries, including global transportation, fertilizers, mining, oil and gas, smelters and chemical companies. Having achieved a very efficient 5 kilowatt AEM Green Hydrogen Electrolyser, we are now focused on developing larger and more efficient 50 kilowatt and 250 kilowatt electrolysers, innovative flow fields, membrane ink coatings and other advancements necessary to the economic viability of low capital cost and low operating costs of Green Hydrogen production. In addition, we have invented a reverse fuel cell which can operate as energy storage and deliver results, especially in smaller scale applications, such as emergency power and remote location power, which is constantly needed throughout a world in crisis. We also feature a non-gaseous form of hydrogen storage using our patent pending graphene technology. Our distinctive leadership in new Green Hydrogen technologies is being recognized increasingly every day, globally, by numerous particpants in the Green Hydrogen economy. Jean-Pierre Colin, Executive Vice President & Director of dynaCERT, stated, Scientific and engineering research and development are the necessary first stages to provide practical achievements that are enabling an exemplary world that is increasingly powered by Green Hydrogen. Cooperating together, as citizens of our global village, we mutually embrace the opportunity where zero-emission energy is not just the norm, but where energy costs are lower for everyone. At dynaCERT and Cipher Neutron, we are collaborating towards a much better future, where polluting grey hydrogen consumption can be reduced. Green Hydrogen is a realistic fundamental part of the solution to the vast collective global energy challenges. Canada, as well as many other nations throughout the entire globe, is also very blessed with plenty of potential Green electric power, a paradigm which encourages us to communally propose that our lofty strategic goals can certainly be reached during our own lifetime and create the solid springboard for many future Green generations. To further our objectives, we are also actively engaging with third parties focused on Green Hydrogen. We recognize that skilled teamwork is one key to furthering industry leadership and that judiciously sharing knowledge with world experts can be more powerful than working alone introspectively. Jim Payne, President and CEO of dynaCERT, stated, Realizing the potential of Green hydrogen requires government, industry and researchers to work together. For twenty years, dynaCERT has been fostering the benefits of hydrogen. dynaCERT continues featuring our commercially available Hydrogen-on-Demand Alkaline Electrolysers to the global marketplace with its renowned HydraGEN Technology, which includes a line of models designed to reduce fuel consumption of diesel engines and significantly reduce Carbon Emissions and other GHGs. dynaCERT continues working with VERRA and our associates to secure our premium data-driven Carbon Credits to be tracked and monitored by our HydraLytica Technology. We were also Canadian pioneers in launching successful research and development in Hydrogen high-volume, high-pressure, low-cost Green AEM Electrolysers. As a public company, we continue to remain very committed to low-carbon Green Hydrogen while becoming a Canadian world leader in the growing Green Hydrogen economy. This duty is beyond just good business, its ethical and extremely necessary for an energy-hungry world exceeding an exploding 8 Billion population. Significance of Green Hydrogen: Over 95% of the worlds hydrogen is produced using the steam methane reforming process. In this reaction, carbon dioxide is released. Green Hydrogen, including technology developed by dynaCERT and Cipher Neutrons AEM Green Electrolysers, do not produce carbon dioxide and GHGs. Generally, today, grey hydrogen is mainly used in the refining and chemical sectors and produced from fossils, accounting for 6% of global natural gas use and 2% of coal consumption and being responsible for 900 million tonnes of carbon dioxide of annual CO2 emissions out of the global 37 billion tonnes annually. For every one (1) kilo of grey hydrogen produced, approximately nine (9) kilos to ten (10) kilos of carbon dioxide GHG pollutants are released in the atmosphere. If the USA Hydrogen goals are achieved, scenarios show the opportunity for at least a 5-fold increase in clean Green Hydrogen use. A USA industry estimate shows the potential for 16% carbon dioxide emission reduction by 2050. The grey hydrogen GHG polluting market is openly being challenged by world governments and ESG conscious and concerned citizens that are desperately seeking Green Hydrogen remedies, such as those of dynaCERT and Cipher Neutron, to quickly replace the vastly polluting and GHG emitting grey hydrogen consumption patterns thoughout the world, while, at the same time, reducing the proliferation of GHG emitting hydrocarbon fuels and replacing some of such consumption with Green Hydrogen, which Green Hydrogen does not produce GHGs. Significant GHGs are produced by grey hydrogen. Hence, the importance of Green Hydrogen produced with innovative Green AEM Electrolysers, such as the innovative Green AEM Electrolysers of dynaCERT and Cipher Neutron. dynaCERT and Cipher Neutron believe that their technological achievements are the first and most significant battle victories in penetrating and displacing the significant and highly profitable international USD 500 Billon annual polluting grey hydrogen industry. About Cipher Neutron Inc. Please see: www.cipherneutron.com About dynaCERT Inc. dynaCERT Inc. manufactures and distributes Carbon Emission Reduction Technology along with its proprietary HydraLytica Telematics, a means of monitoring fuel consumption and calculating GHG emissions savings designed for the tracking of possible future Carbon Credits for use with internal combustion engines. As part of the growing global Hydrogen Economy, our patented technology creates hydrogen and oxygen on-demand through a unique electrolysis system and supplies these gases through the air intake to enhance combustion, which has shown to lower carbon emissions and improve fuel efficiency. Our technology is designed for use with many types and sizes of diesel engines used in on-road vehicles, reefer trailers, off-road construction, power generation, mining and forestry equipment. Website: www.dynaCERT.com. READER ADVISORY Except for statements of historical fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. In particular, forward-looking information in this press release includes, but is not limited to Cipher Neutron Inc. and the Canadian Hydrogen Convention. Although we believe that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. We cannot guarantee future results, performance of achievements. Consequently, there is no representation that the actual results achieved will be the same, in whole or in part, as those set out in the forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking information. This Press Release was not generated by artificial intelligence software. Some of the risks and other factors that could cause the results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information include, but are not limited to: uncertainty as to whether our strategies and business plans will yield the expected benefits; availability and cost of capital; the ability to identify and develop and achieve commercial success for new products and technologies; the level of expenditures necessary to maintain and improve the quality of products and services; changes in technology and changes in laws and regulations; the uncertainty of the emerging hydrogen economy; including the hydrogen economy moving at a pace not anticipated; our ability to secure and maintain strategic relationships and distribution agreements; and the other risk factors disclosed under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Readers are cautioned that this list of risk factors should not be construed as exhaustive. This Press Release should not be construed as tax advice nor investment advice. Readers are advised that they should consult their own tax advisors and investment advisors in regard to any investment related to Flow Through Shares or investments in Clean Technology Companies. The forward-looking information contained in this news release is expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. We undertake no duty to update any of the forward-looking information to conform such information to actual results or to changes in our expectations except as otherwise required by applicable securities legislation. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Toronto Stock Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of the release. On Behalf of the Board Murray James Payne, CEO View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005353/en/ For more information: Jim Payne, CEO & President dynaCERT Inc. #101 501 Alliance Avenue Toronto, Ontario M6N 2J1 +1 (416) 766-9691 x 2 [email protected]dynaCERT.com Investor Relations dynaCERT Inc. Nancy Massicotte +1 (416) 766-9691 x 1 [email protected]dynaCERT.com Source: dynaCERT Inc. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Turkish TOGG electric car will be seen on the streets of European cities, Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank said during a meeting with the President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Trend reports via TurkicWorld. TOGG, the first electric car produced in Turkiye, was completely created by the country itself with the aim of creating a global brand that would be the industrial property of the country. C-segment SUV Prototypes of the TOGG electric crossover and electric sedan were presented in December 2019. On March 14, 2023, prices for Turkiye's first locally produced TOGG electric car were announced. The starting cost of the TX10 model is 953,000 Turkish lira ($49,290). Depending on the transmission, there are three different models of electric cars offered. The cost of the V1 RWD Standard car is 953,000 Turkish lira ($49,290); that of the V2 RWD Standard is 1.05 million Turkish lira ($54,304); and the V2 RWD costs 1.25 million Turkish lira ($64,644). 20-year veteran will lead companys industry-leading laboratory supporting the growing complexities of water quality and regulations BRYN MAWR, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Essential Utilities today announced Alicia Beauchamp, a 20-year veteran of the company, as Director of its state-of-the-art water analysis and technology lab. The lab is a cornerstone of the companys work to ensure water quality across the eight states where it operates Aqua water and wastewater services. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005242/en/ Aqua Lab Director Alicia Beauchamp tests water samples from the March 25 Delaware River chemical spill at the companys Bryn Mawr headquarters. (Photo: Business Wire) Beauchamp played a significant role in the companys industry-leading decision to test and remediate PFAS toxins in drinking water, setting a companywide standard for PFAS several years before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a limit on the chemicals. New technologies enable us to detect contaminants much more precisely, and that knowledge carries a responsibility to treat what we find, said Beauchamp. Sometimes that means taking action before government regulators make decisions on what maximum safe levels should be. Were very comfortable in that leadership role. Most recently, Beauchamps leadership extended to supporting the greater Philadelphia region after a March 25th chemical spill in the Delaware River. Beauchamps team provided crucial laboratory testing for not only Aqua, but also the governmental agencies and other water providers looking to protect their customers during the five-day incident. Beauchamp now leads a staff of 19, including 13 chemists and microbiologists. In addition to its groundbreaking treatment research, the lab conducts nearly 90,000 water-quality tests each year. Alicias strong leadership and focus on innovative water testing continues to be pivotal to our commitment to provide clean, safe, reliable water to all our customers, said Christopher Crockett, Essentials Chief Environmental, Safety and Sustainability Officer. Beauchamp joined Aqua as a co-op student in 1998 and became a chemist with the company in 2001. Shes held numerous positions within the lab, most recently as Chief of Organic Chemistry. Beauchamp earned a Masters in chemistry from Villanova University and a BS in chemistry from Drexel University. She replaces Christine Brisbin, who retired. About Essential Utilities Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE: WTRG) delivers safe, clean, reliable services that improve quality of life for individuals, families, and entire communities. With a focus on water, wastewater and natural gas, Essential is committed to sustainable growth, operational excellence, a superior customer experience, and premier employer status. We are advocates for the communities we serve and are dedicated stewards of natural lands, protecting more than 7,600 acres of forests and other habitats throughout our footprint. Operating as the Aqua and Peoples brands, Essential serves approximately 5.5 million people across 10 states. Essential is one of the most significant publicly traded water, wastewater service and natural gas providers in the U.S. Learn more at www.essential.co. WTRGG View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005242/en/ Media Contact: Jeanne Russo Vice President, Communications Media Hotline: 1.877.325.3477 [email protected] Investor Contact: Brian Dingerdissen Vice President, IR and Treasurer O: 610.645.1191 [email protected] Source: Essential Utilities FiscalNote Patents Ability to Create AI-Driven Custom Advocacy Campaigns Expands Companys Growing Intellectual Property Portfolio in Legal and Regulatory Space WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- FiscalNote Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NOTE) (FiscalNote), a leading AI-driven enterprise SaaS technology provider of global policy and market intelligence, today announced the receipt of another AI-related patent from the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) for the application of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning in creating custom advocacy campaigns on behalf of its global customers, bringing the Companys total U.S. patent portfolio to thirteen, and its total global patents to fifteen. FiscalNote is committed to continuing our marketplace leadership in AI by expanding our AI-powered offerings to provide enhanced value to our customers while protecting our deep bench of intellectual property. Our newly awarded patent is yet another proof point for FiscalNotes commitment to innovation, research, and development, and it is a recognition of the foresight and talent of our engineering teams across the company, said FiscalNotes Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder Tim Hwang. By bringing a degree of automation to the process of creating effective advocacy campaigns, this new patent reinforces our position as a leader in policy and advocacy software and solidifies our dedication to developing and integrating cutting-edge solutions to improve customers experience and maximize their impact. FiscalNote's VoterVoice workflow software enables customers such as trade associations, political parties, and non-profits to mobilize their members and craft messages and advocacy campaigns targeted at elected officials in support or in opposition to proposed legislation and policy changes. Organizations leverage the VoterVoice platform and policy data from FiscalNote every day to allow their members to directly craft messages, emails, and text messages to key lawmakers in response to important and rapidly evolving political and regulatory issues. The platform sent over 371 million messages to elected officials in 2022, enhancing American democracy by empowering citizens to make their opinions heard and known to policymakers. By equipping organizations with the workflow tools to automatically create and customize outreach messages to their advocates, the powerful AI technology enabled by this latest patent allows companies and organizations to further optimize and increase the impact of their outreach, while fostering a more effective and informed communication between constituents and policymakers. The patent covers an advocacy system that uses AI to assist organizations in creating messages to advocates and policymakers, and can be configured to automatically identify relevant message templates and characteristics to include or use in creating or sending messages for optimizing a desired action or outcome. "We are thrilled to receive this patent allowance," said Dr. Vlad Eidelman, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Scientist, FiscalNote. "This new patent represents an affirmation of the novel and innovative AI advancements FiscalNote continues to make every day as we partner with our customers to develop and implement advocacy communications which further their goals and objectives in policymaking at all levels of government. We look forward to continuing our mission of AI innovation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in our industry, and breaking new frontiers in the application of AI across our portfolio of award-winning products and offerings." In addition to its newly-awarded AI patent, FiscalNote was also recently selected by AI research and development company OpenAI for collaboration as an inaugural trusted partner and the sole provider of legal, political, and regulatory data and information by enabling access to select FiscalNote market leading real-time data sets and content for users of OpenAIs ChatGPT platform. About FiscalNote FiscalNote (NYSE: NOTE) is a leading technology provider of global policy and market intelligence. By uniquely combining AI technology, actionable data, and expert and peer insights, FiscalNote empowers customers to manage policy, address regulatory developments, and mitigate global risk. Since 2013, FiscalNote has pioneered technology that delivers mission-critical insights and the tools to turn them into action. Home to CQ, FrontierView, Oxford Analytica, VoterVoice, and many other industry-leading brands, FiscalNote serves approximately 5,000 customers worldwide with global offices in North America, Europe, Asia, and Australia. To learn more about FiscalNote and its family of brands, visit FiscalNote.com and follow @FiscalNote. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005680/en/ Media Nicholas Graham FiscalNote [email protected] Investors Sara Buda FiscalNote [email protected] Source: FiscalNote NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Velocity Clearing LLC, a global financial services technology platform, announced today that Ralston Roberts has been named Head of Global Markets. In his role, Roberts will oversee the firms trading business and global expansion strategy. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005719/en/ Ralston Roberts, Head of Global Markets at Velocity Clearing (Photo: Business Wire) Roberts has an extensive track record leading a cross-section of financial and technology businesses. He was previously the Global CEO of Instinet, where he was responsible for the firms global trading, venues, and software business. Before joining Instinet, Roberts was co-head of EMEA Execution Services at Goldman Sachs. Roberts will report to Michael Logan, Chief Executive Officer of Velocity Clearing. Ralstons experience and expertise will help enhance our technology prowess and overall offering, said Logan. His industry knowledge will be invaluable, and were thrilled to have him on board. Before joining Goldman Sachs, Roberts spent 10 years at SunGard with his last role being Chief Operating Officer of SunGards market data and network business. He has also held roles at Franklin Templeton, Robertson Stephens, and Wells Fargo Securities. Velocity has a dynamic offering that empowers market participants and Im excited to be part of the firms incredible momentum, said Roberts. Velocitys product offering, client service and end-to-end technology solutions are a highly impressive combination that helps clients achieve their goals. This announcement comes after Velocity Clearing named Brian Schaeffer as president in March, and the firm is continuing to grow its team. Schaeffer said, Ralston is an industry all-star, and hes joining Velocity just as the firm shifts into a higher gear of growth. His experience and skill set will be a major value-add to our clients. Velocitys mission is to deliver best-in-class customer service to its global client base by offering execution, clearing, custody and securities lending. In addition, the firm offers a full suite of trading solutions and services to empower clients to reach their goals and objectives. Velocitys prime brokerage platform allows its clients global access to multiple brokers, in addition to its own self-clearing capabilities. About Velocity Clearing, LLC Velocity Clearing is a technology-driven, self-clearing broker/dealer providing execution services, clearing, and custody along with access to stock locate services, securities lending, competitive financing, and a firm-wide focus on world-class customer service. Velocity Clearing supports retail traders and institutional clients including brokers/dealers, hedge funds, family offices, and proprietary trading firms in the United States and across the globe. With a growing team of professionals in multiple locations throughout the United States and across the globe, Velocity has the right combination of resources and people to service clients 24x6. Velocity Clearing is a member of FINRA & SIPC. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005719/en/ Media Rich Myers, Jackie Loose [email protected] Source: Velocity Clearing LLC Strong financial situation and visibility: - Cash position of 9.5 million - Companys operations funded into Q3-2024 GENEVA, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Regulatory News: GeNeuro (Euronext Paris: CH0308403085 - GNRO) (Paris: GNRO), a biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for neurodegenerative and autoimmune diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the severe neuropsychiatric consequences of COVID-19 (post-COVID or Long-COVID), today reported on its 2023 first quarter cash position. 2023 First-quarter financial information At March 31, 2023, GeNeuro had 9.5 million in cash. This includes the first tranche of 7.0 million from the European Investment Bank financing for its Long-COVID program. The available cash resources provide GeNeuro with good visibility into Q3-2024. The cash consumption related to GeNeuros operating and investing activities in Q1 2023 was 3 million, compared to 2.5 million for the same period of 2022. The increase is due to expenses related to the start-up costs in Italy and Spain of the Phase 2 clinical trial in Long-COVID. The Company expects its quarterly cash consumption to decrease slightly during 2023 as the post-COVID clinical trial advances. Next financial report: Second-quarter 2023 cash position: July 17, 2023. Forthcoming investor and industry events: May 3-4, 2023 LSX World Congress, London May 25, 2023 Gilbert Dupont Midcaps Forum, Paris June 5-8, 2023 BIO International Convention, Boston About GeNeuro GeNeuros mission is to leverage HERV biology to develop safe and effective treatments for the benefit of patients, by neutralizing causal factors encoded by HERVs that represent 8% of human DNA. GeNeuro is based in Geneva, Switzerland and has R&D facilities in Lyon, France. It has rights to 17 patent families protecting its technology. For more information, visit: www.geneuro.com Disclaimer: This press release contains certain forward - looking statements and estimates concerning GeNeuros financial condition, operating results, strategy, projects and future performance and the markets in which it operates. Such forward-looking statements and estimates may be identified by words, such as anticipate, believe, can, could, estimate, expect, intend, is designed to, may, might, plan, potential, predict, objective, should, or the negative of these and similar expressions. They incorporate all topics that are not historical facts. Forward looking statements, forecasts and estimates are based on managements current assumptions and assessment of risks, uncertainties and other factors, known and unknown, which were deemed to be reasonable at the time they were made but which may turn out to be incorrect. Events and outcomes are difficult to predict and depend on factors beyond the companys control. Consequently, the actual results, financial condition, performances and/or achievements of GeNeuro or of the industry may turn out to differ materially from the future results, performances or achievements expressed or implied by these statements, forecasts and estimates. Owing to these uncertainties, no representation is made as to the correctness or fairness of these forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates. Furthermore, forward-looking statements, forecasts and estimates speak only as of the date on which they are made, and GeNeuro undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of them, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005633/en/ GeNeuro Jesus Martin-Garcia Chairman and CEO +41 22 552 4800 [email protected] NewCap (France) Louis-Victor Delouvrier / Mathilde Bohin (investors) +33 1 44 71 94 94 Arthur Rouille (media) +33 1 44 71 00 15 [email protected] Source: GeNeuro NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Joseph Whitters, an Independent Board Member of CUTERA, INC., today issued the following statement in his individual capacity in light of recent events at Cutera: As an independent Board member of Cutera, I have always believed that a seamless, collaborative, and orderly CEO succession is in the best interest of all Cutera shareholders, employees, and other stakeholders. I further believe that this type of succession would have best been executed with the continuation of David Mowry as CEO and Dan Plants as Executive Chairman of the Board. I am disappointed that achieving this kind of succession appears to no longer be possible and that the situation has devolved in the way it has. Despite this disappointment, Cutera shareholders can rest assured that I remain acutely focused on delivering on my fiduciary responsibility to represent their best interests, and hope that the Cutera Board can reach a swift and amicable resolution. About Joseph Whitters, Independent Board Member at Cutera Joseph E. Whitters, Director, has served as a member of Cuteras Board since February 2019. He has been an advisor/consultant to Frazier Healthcare Partners, a private equity firm, since 2005. From 1986 to 2005, Mr. Whitters served in various capacities with First Health Group Corp., a publicly traded managed care company, and for most of his tenure he served as the company's Chief Financial Officer before his last role as an Executive Vice President. He also previously served in a variety of finance roles at United Healthcare Corp. and Overland Express, and he began his career in public accounting with Peat Marwick (now KPMG). Mr. Whitters currently serves as a member of the board of directors of publicly-traded Accuray, Inc., where he serves as Chairman of the Board, and Spark Networks LE. Previously, Mr. Whitters served on the boards of directors and audit committees of various public companies, including Analogic Corporation, Air Methods Corporation, Infusystems and PRGX Global, Inc. Mr. Whitters has also been an advisor or board member of several private companies. Mr. Whitters holds a B.A: in Accounting from Luther College. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005849/en/ Media Sloane & Company TJ White [email protected] Source: On behalf of Joseph Whitters MELBOURNE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) received a contract to provide next-generation geostationary imaging and sounding instruments for the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) that will monitor and predict severe weather events more accurately. The award continues L3Harris' legacy of producing critical space-based weather instruments for Japan. Under the terms of the contract with the Mitsubishi Electric Group, L3Harris will build and deliver an advanced imager and sounder for JMAs Himawari-10 satellite. The imager will use a similar technical platform as L3Harris Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on NOAAs Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R). The imager will also carry enhancements beyond its predecessor, Himawari-8/-9, including tailored Japanese spectral bands to supply the most advanced geostationary weather information for the international community. The addition of a next-generation hyperspectral infrared sounder on the Himawari-10 mission will provide improved weather prediction accuracy and enhanced environmental monitoring for extreme weather events impacting Japan. This includes enabling precise measurements, such as temperature, moisture and pressure, throughout the atmosphere. "L3Harris' expertise in delivering the most advanced weather instruments in the world continues to be validated through international collaborations like this one with the Mitsubishi Electric Group for Japan's critical weather needs," said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. "Our next-generation capabilities will enable forecasters to make better real-time decisions to counteract the threat of severe weather and disaster events in Japan and throughout much of Asia-Pacific. L3Harris is an industry-leading provider of weather sensors flown by U.S. and international customers, including Japan and South Korea. This interoperability enables sharing geostationary weather data globally. This award continues L3Harris role of being a trusted, multi-generational partner of advanced weather satellite technology for civil, commercial and international markets and demonstrates our commitment to advance and improve our customers capabilities for the future, said Rob Mitrevski, Vice President and General Manager, Spectral Solutions, L3Harris. For more than 60 years, we have proudly developed critical technology for customers like the Mitsubishi Electric Group and JMA advancing climate science, increasing severe weather warning time and ultimately saving lives. The Himawari-10 imager and sounder will be developed and built at L3Harris Fort Wayne, Indiana facilities. About L3Harris Technologies L3Harris Technologies is a Trusted Disruptor for the global aerospace and defense industry. With customers mission-critical needs always in mind, our 46,000 employees deliver end-to-end technology solutions connecting the space, air, land, sea and cyber domains. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that reflect management's current expectations, assumptions and estimates of future performance and economic conditions. Such statements are made in reliance upon the safe harbor provisions of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The company cautions investors that any forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results and future trends to differ materially from those matters expressed in or implied by such forward-looking statements. Statements about technology are forward-looking and involve risks and uncertainties. L3Harris disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events, or otherwise. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005153/en/ Irene Lockwood Space and Airborne Systems [email protected] 585-465-3592 Sara Banda Corporate [email protected] 321-306-8927 Source: L3Harris Technologies VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Lucidea, developer of the Argus Web CMS and leader in innovative museum collections management software, will participate in the Museum Association of New York Conference on April 15-18, 2023. Their powerful software is a perfect fit for attendees focused on building a solid foundation for the future with a sustainable collections management system. Visit Lucidea in the Exhibit Hall during the conference. When you do, they will demonstrate why they are a trusted technology partner in the museum community. Learn about capabilities that enable expanded curation to educate your visitors, as well as innovative options that go beyond traditional collections management as you share your collections online and build a cultural community. Lucideas Argus CMS offers comprehensive collections management capabilities, and takes museum professionals furtheroffering community curation/co-curation, a dynamic online presence and full multimedia support for an engaging and immersive digital visitor experience. Argus is flexible, extensible, and always up-to-datesolving todays collections management challenges, and supporting museums of all sizes and budgets. For further information about Argus, visit https://lucidea.com/argus, phone 604 278 6717, or email [email protected]. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005804/en/ Bradley Luedke Business Development Coordinator 604-278-6717 [email protected] Source: Lucidea Ten women-owned or -led startups from around the world to receive capacity-building training and specialized mentorship to scale their digital solutions to help build an enabling eco-system for women entrepreneurs DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Taking place on the margins of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with support from Mary Kay Global, announced the ten winning companies of the Womens Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA) Digital Innovation Challenge at a packed event hosted at the New York City MetLife headquarters. In attendance were representatives of the United Nations, the private sector, investors and civil society organizations. Three startups, Tiny Totos, Gwiji for Women, and Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), were awarded Special Recognition status for their best-practice innovations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005738/en/ The ten winning companies of the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge were invited to present their two-minute live pitches before an expert Grand Jury comprised of investors and cross-sectoral representatives. (Graphic: Mary Kay Inc.) Launched in December 2022 at ITUs global headquarters in Geneva, the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge received 250 submissions from companies in 54 countries either owned by women or with a minimum of one female founder. Each company showcased how their unique digital solution can potentially strengthen digital entrepreneurship in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Challenge revealed what an emerging eco-system of digital innovators looks like with remarkable creativity and ingenuity. An initiative of the Womens Entrepreneurship Accelerator1 (WEA), in collaboration with Mary Kay and conducted by ITU in alignment with the ITUs Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital, the objective of the Challenge is to ultimately build an enabling context for women entrepreneurs by addressing the barriers to womens entrepreneurship, including the digital gender divide, complementing the theme of this years CSW67 on innovation and technology from a gender perspective. Digital solutions submitted ranged from an educational mobile application enabling childrens speech and language development in the Philippines, to a software system to track companies waste in Uruguay, to a digital solution addressing the child-care needs of low-income mothers in Kenya, to an online professional mentorship program for women in Kazakhstan. Criteria in selecting the ten winners included: - The viability and scalability of the technological solution; - The degree of digital innovation shown, and - The potential of the solution to impact lives, drive socio-economic benefits, and move the needle on sustainable development. The ten winning companies were invited to present their two-minute live pitches before an expert Grand Jury comprised of investors and cross-sectoral representatives who each provided their unique insights based on the above criteria. The winners will gain access to the Digital Innovation Challenge Acceleration Program over the coming months where they will receive capacity-building training and a virtual bootcamp to help further refine their business plans as well as specialized mentorship and access to a network of change-makers. Following this, selected winners will participate in ITUs prestigious Global Innovation Forum later this year and join a community of practice to explore ways to leapfrog the digital innovation divide and address global challenges. Grand Jury Members included: Dan Seymour , Strategic Partnerships Director, UN Women , Strategic Partnerships Director, UN Women Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer, Mary Kay Global Chief Operating Officer, Mary Kay Global Harry OMealia, CEO and President, 1919 Investor Council CEO and President, 1919 Investor Council Julia Pimsleur, Founder, Million Dollar Women Network Founder, Million Dollar Women Network Selin Oz, SME Banking Entrepreneurship Banking, Senior Manager, Garanti BBVA SME Banking Entrepreneurship Banking, Senior Manager, Garanti BBVA Tess Mateo , Sustainability ESG Impact Investor, US W20 Delegate to G20 , Sustainability ESG Impact Investor, US W20 Delegate to G20 Ursula Wynhoven, Representative to the United Nations in New York for International Telecommunication Union In first place, Tiny Totos is a Kenyan social enterprise working to ensure quality childcare. By providing training, access to capital, a network and a technology platform, it helps set childcare centers up for success and in turn increases the availability and improves the quality of childcare services in the country. Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx) and Gwiji for Women, the two runners-up, are also addressing key societal issues. HIEx identifies challenges faced by health systems and connects innovators with key health eco-system actors primarily in Africa and Asia to deliver solutions to improve access to quality healthcare. Gwiji for Women is a tech start-up which is addressing barriers to labour market participation by low-income women in Kenya. It identifies, vets, trains, and empowers women from lower socio-economic backgrounds as casual cleaners by connecting them with prospective clients through a mobile application. The WEA Digital Innovation Challenge was held against the backdrop of a rapidly changing economic context which has seen the rise of digital technologies and the growth of a digital economy. Recognizing the potential of the digital acceleration to perpetuate inequalities, the Challenge presented an opportunity to discuss digitalization as a barrier to womens economic status. Did You Know: The top three barriers faced by women digital entrepreneurs in getting their products and services to market are: - A lack of capital and investment to scale their businesses;2 - Limited access to connectivity and to information and communication technologies (ICTs), and - Opportunities to learn critical skills necessary to compete in the digital economy.3 Noting how the solutions presented throughout the Challenge were undisputedly changing the world for the better, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at ITU, Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, underlined the centrality and critical importance of digital innovation in todays context, adding that, Inclusive and equitable innovations will help us navigate a new digital world that is increasingly Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous. Addressing the gender divide which limits innovation eco-systems and ultimately weakens economies and societies, Dr. Zavazava called for more efforts to address this gap to help protect against the socio-economic crises we have seen. Also speaking at the event, Deborah Gibbins, Mary Kays Chief Operating Officer, called for action now to reverse the current trend of gender-blind innovations and redress the digital gender gap that exists in access to technologies and in digital education and skills. Given the scale of the challenge, she invited more cross-sectoral partners to join efforts to build the conditions for women entrepreneurs to innovate, compete and thrive. As one of the seven grand jury members, Tess Mateo, Sustainability ESG Impact Investor, US W20 Delegate to G20, commended the Challenge for strengthening the digital innovation eco-system for women-led companies, noting, This Digital Innovation Challenge, which received over 200 submissions from 54 countries, shows how critical entrepreneurship-driven innovation is for economic growth and digital inclusion. I was honored to be a judge and hear from the 10 winning pitches each with their unique digital solution for a more gender-inclusive eco-system. Their solutions are indisputably changing the world for the better strengthening societies and economies. We need more Challenges like this to bring women innovators and women-led innovations together to build the conditions for women entrepreneurs to innovate and compete in the global digital economy. The three startups which received Special Recognition status spoke about the importance of the Challenge as a key platform for presenting their respective digital innovations. Tiny Totos is a Kenyan social enterprise solving Africa's childcare crisis by turning informal babysitters into profitable childcare entrepreneurs. The recognition and platform provided by the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge provides us with invaluable endorsement of our business model at the highest levels of global community practice. As female founders, membership of a community of like-minded digital entrepreneurs fuels our creativity and drive to transform Africa's informal childcare market, achieve exponential growth in our network of low-income childcare entrepreneurs and help working women lift themselves out of poverty. Emma Caddy, CEO and Founder, Tiny Totos The WEA Digital Innovation Challenge is a great platform to showcase our work towards female empowerment and to help women entrepreneurs expand their knowledge and networking opportunities. This is particularly needed in the health arena, since still today 1 in 2 people, or half the world, lack access to essential health care, and less than 2 percent of venture capital funding globally goes to women, despite the evidence that their ventures generate stronger returns. Women-owned/led startups face several barriers to success, including limited access to funding, networking opportunities, gender bias, and work-life balance issues. However, the rise of digital entrepreneurship presents real opportunities for women innovators to overcome such barriers, including access to global markets, support networks, and increasing awareness and recognition. Paula Navajas, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Health Innovation and Investment Exchange (HIEx) The WEA Digital Innovation Challenge gives women-led ventures a voice in a male-dominated space. The program is practical and tailor-made to suit the needs of early-stage ventures that address our societys most pressing challenges. With every session, I feel more confident in my abilities as an entrepreneur and as a woman. Elizabeth Mwangi, Founder and Director, Gwiji for Women A recording of the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge is available here. About Mary Kay One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching womens lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter. About ITU The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 Member States and a membership of over 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations. Established over 150 years ago in 1865, ITU is the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to cutting-edge wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based earth monitoring as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world. For more information, visit: www.itu.int. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005738/en/ Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications marykay.com/newsroom 972.687.5332 or [email protected] Source: Mary Kay Inc. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- MNG Havayollari ve Tasimacilik A.S. (MNG Airlines, MNGA or the Company), a global logistics provider and e-commerce enabler; and Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp. (Golden Falcon) (NYSE: GFX), a publicly traded special purpose acquisition company, announced the filing of a registration statement on Form F-4 (the Registration Statement) by MNG Airlines, which contains a preliminary proxy statement/prospectus, with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in connection with their recently proposed business combination. While the Registration Statement, which can be found here, has not yet become effective, and the information contained therein is subject to change, it provides important information about MNG Airlines business and operations, the proposed business combination with Golden Falcon and the proposals to be considered by Golden Falcons stockholders. Completion of the proposed business combination is subject to the Registration Statement being declared effective by the SEC, approval by Golden Falcons stockholders, and other customary closing conditions. Upon completion of the transaction, the Company is expected to become a public company listed on the NYSE under the ticker symbol MNGA. The business combination assumes a combined company proforma enterprise value of $676 million, assuming minimum gross transaction proceeds of $30 million. Advisors UBS Investment Bank and EarlyBirdCapital, Inc. are acting as capital markets advisors to Golden Falcon. Moelis & Company is acting as financial advisor to Golden Falcon. Greenberg Traurig, LLP and Herdem are acting as legal advisors to Golden Falcon. Appolonia Advisors is acting as financial advisor to MNG Airlines shareholders. White & Case LLP and Goksu Safi Isk (GSI) are acting as legal advisors to MNG Airlines. Paul Hastings LLP is serving as legal counsel to UBS Investment Bank and Moelis & Company. About Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp. Golden Falcon is a New York Stock Exchange-listed special purpose acquisition company. Golden Falcon managements combined experience includes over 100 years of investment banking, private equity and executive management experience and over 230 transactions with an aggregate value of over $450 billion globally. Golden Falcon brings a transatlantic network of relationships with entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, large corporations, sovereign wealth funds, private equity, venture capital and asset management firms to help finance, support and grow its business combination partner. In addition, Golden Falcons board members and strategic advisory group bring extensive expertise in operating, financing, and investing in leading companies. They have held leadership positions with multinational corporations, where they established a proven track record of creating shareholder value, organically as well as through strategic transactions. About MNG Airlines MNG Airlines is a global logistics provider. The Company started operations in 1996, having conducted its first transatlantic flight in 1998, and now services over 15,000 corporate customers across 42 countries through over 3,500 flights per year. MNG Airlines offers charter services with customized plane and capacity options in addition to scheduled flights and aircraft, maintenance, crew and insurance (ACMI) services. MNG Airlines also has a fully equipped and EU standards-compliant warehouse since 2000. Important Additional About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It This press release relates to a proposed transaction between MNGA and Golden Falcon pursuant to a business combination agreement, dated as of December 6, 2022, as amended on February 14, 2023, by and among MNGA, Golden Falcon, Merlin HoldCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of MNGA (HoldCo), Merlin IntermediateCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo (IntermediateCo), Merlin FinCo, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of HoldCo and Merlin Merger Sub, Inc., a Delaware corporation and a direct, wholly-owned subsidiary of IntermediateCo (the proposed transaction). In connection with the proposed transaction, MNGA has filed a Registration Statement on Form F-4 with the SEC, which includes a proxy statement/prospectus and certain other related documents, which will be both the proxy statement to be distributed to holders of shares of Golden Falcons common stock in connection with Golden Falcons solicitation of proxies for the vote by its stockholders with respect to the proposed transaction and other matters as may be described in the definitive proxy statement, as well as a prospectus relating to the offer and sale of the securities of MNGA to be issued in the proposed transaction. The definitive proxy statement/prospectus will be sent to all Golden Falcon stockholders as of a record date to be established for voting on the transaction. Golden Falcon also will file other documents regarding the proposed transaction with the SEC. Before making any voting decision, investors and security holders of Golden Falcon are urged to read the Registration Statement, the proxy statement/prospectus, and amendments thereto, and the definitive proxy statement/prospectus in connection with Golden Falcons solicitation of proxies for its stockholders meeting to be held to approve the transaction, and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC in connection with the proposed transaction as they become available because they will contain important information about Golden Falcon, MNGA and the proposed transaction. Investors and securityholders can obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, the proxy statement/prospectus and all other relevant documents filed or that will be filed with the SEC by MNGA and Golden Falcon through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov. The documents filed by MNGA and Golden Falcon with the SEC also may be obtained free of charge at Golden Falcons website at www. goldenfalconcorp.com or upon written request to: Golden Falcon Acquisition Corp., 850 Library Avenue, Suite 204, Newark, DE 19711. NEITHER THE SEC NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES REGULATORY AGENCY HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED THE TRANSACTIONS DESCRIBED IN THIS PRESS RELEASE, PASSED UPON THE MERITS OR FAIRNESS OF THE TRANSACTION OR RELATED TRANSACTIONS OR PASSED UPON THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THE DISCLOSURE IN THIS PRESS RELEASE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY CONSTITUTES A CRIMINAL OFFENSE. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the Securities Act), and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements other than statements of historical fact contained in this press release, including statements regarding the proposed transaction, including the proforma enterprise value and anticipated listing of MNGA on the NYSE, are forward-looking statements. Some of these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking words, including may, should, expect, intend, will, estimate, anticipate, believe, predict, plan, targets, projects, could, would, continue, forecast or the negatives of these terms or variations of them or similar expressions. All forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors which could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are based upon estimates, forecasts and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by Golden Falcon and its management, and MNGA and its management, as the case may be, are inherently uncertain and many factors may cause the actual results to differ materially from current expectations which include, but are not limited to: the inability of the parties to raise capital or retain in trust at least $30 million in connection with the proposed transaction; the risk that the proposed transaction may not be completed in a timely manner or at all, which may adversely affect the price of Golden Falcons securities; the failure to satisfy the conditions to the consummation of the proposed transaction, including the adoption of the business combination agreement by the stockholders of Golden Falcon; failure to satisfy the minimum cash amount following redemptions by Golden Falcons public stockholders in connection with the stockholder vote to approve the business combination agreement and the transactions contemplated thereby; failure to receive certain governmental and regulatory approvals; the lack of a third party valuation in determining whether or not to pursue the proposed transaction; the occurrence of any event, change or other circumstance that could give rise to the termination of the business combination agreement; costs related to the proposed transaction; actual or potential conflicts of interest of Golden Falcons management with its public stockholders; the effect of the announcement or pendency of the proposed transaction on MNGAs business relationships, performance, and business generally; risks that the proposed transaction disrupts current plans of MNGA and potential difficulties in MNGAs employee retention as a result of the proposed transaction; the outcome of any legal proceedings that may be instituted against MNGA or against Golden Falcon related to the business combination agreement or the proposed transaction; failure to realize the anticipated benefits of the proposed transaction; the inability to meet and maintain the listing of Golden Falcons securities (or the securities of MNGA) on the NYSE; the risk that the price of Golden Falcons or MNGAs securities may be volatile due to a variety of factors, including macro-economic and social environments affecting MNGAs business and changes in the combined capital structure; the inability to implement business plans, forecasts, and other expectations after the completion of the proposed transaction, and identify and realize additional opportunities; the risk that MNGA will need to raise additional capital to execute its business plan, which may not be available on acceptable terms or at all; the risk that the post-combination company experiences difficulties in managing its growth and expanding operations; negative economic conditions that could impact MNGA and the air cargo business in general; factors that affect air cargo companies generally; changes in, and MNGAs ability to comply with, laws and government regulations, particularly, the civil aviation regulatory framework; competition in the air cargo industry; reduction in demand for MNGAs cargo or charter operations, including as a result of reductions in global trade growth or e-commerce activity, government reduction or limitation of operating capacity; risks associated with MNGA doing business in emerging markets; conflict and uncertainty in neighbouring countries; and other risks and uncertainties set forth in the sections entitled Risk Factors and Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements in Golden Falcons Annual Report on Form 10-K which was filed by Golden Falcon on March 27, 2023 (the 2022 Form 10-K) and subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as such factors may be updated from time to time in Golden Falcons filings with the SEC, the Form F-4 and the proxy statement/prospectus contained therein. These filings identify and address other important risks and uncertainties that could cause actual events and results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Golden Falcon and MNGA caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive. Nothing in this press release should be regarded as a representation by any person that the forward-looking statements set forth herein will be achieved or that any of the contemplated results of such forward-looking statements will be achieved. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Neither Golden Falcon nor MNGA gives any assurance that either Golden Falcon or MNGA or the combined company will achieve its expected results. Neither Golden Falcon nor MNGA undertakes any duty to update these forward-looking statements, except as otherwise required by law. Participants in the Solicitation MNGA and Golden Falcon and their respective directors and officers and other members of management may, under SEC rules, be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from Golden Falcons stockholders with the proposed transaction and the other matters set forth in the proxy statement/prospectus. Information about Golden Falcons directors and executive officers is set forth in Golden Falcons filings with the SEC, including the 2022 Form 10-K. Additional information regarding the direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, of those persons and other persons who may be deemed participants in the proposed transaction may be obtained by reading the proxy statement/prospectus regarding the proposed transaction. You may obtain free copies of these documents as described above under Important Information About the Proposed Transaction and Where to Find It. No Offer or Solicitation This press release is for information purposes only and shall not constitute a proxy statement or solicitation of a proxy, consent or authorization with respect to any securities or in respect of the proposed transaction and is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, sell or solicit any securities or any proxy, vote or approval, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities shall be deemed to be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act, or an exemption therefrom. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005514/en/ For Golden Falcon Media Inquiries Salamander Davoudi, Tancredi Intelligent Communication, [email protected] For MNGA Media Inquiries Gamze Ete Kuran, Head of Compliance and ESG, [email protected] Managing Director, ICR Inc, [email protected] Source: MNG Havayollari ve Tasimacilik A.S. 34 vendors and research organizations are now collaborating to develop OpenMP standard parallel programming model BEAVERTON, Ore.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The OpenMP Architecture Review Board (ARB) today announced that Samsung has joined the board. The OpenMP ARB is a group of leading hardware vendors, software vendors, and research organizations that are creating the standard for the most popular shared-memory parallel programming model in use today. Samsung Electronics is a world-leading semiconductor manufacturer with a wide range of products that power the tools you use every day including smartphones, electric vehicles, hyperscale data centers, IoT devices, and more. With a strong focus on innovation, Samsung designs and manufactures memory, system LSI, foundry, and LED solutions. Set to open in 2024, Samsung recently broke ground on a state-of-the-art Foundry in Taylor, Texas that will power next-generation technologies in areas like 5G, artificial intelligence (AI), and high-performance computing (HPC). We are pleased to join the organization to help define the future of OpenMP, said Dr. Robert W. Wisniewski, Senior Vice President and HPC Chief Architect for Samsung Electronics. MPI+X is the dominant model for HPC with accelerators and Samsung will leverage OpenMP for X. We are delighted to welcome Samsung as our newest member, says Michael Klemm, CEO of the OpenMP ARB, They are very active in the open source community, and we look forward to their contributions. About OpenMP The OpenMP ARBs mission is to standardize directive-based, multi-language, high-level parallelism that is performant, productive, and portable. Jointly defined by a group of major computer hardware and software vendors, the OpenMP API is a portable, scalable model that provides parallel programmers with a simple and flexible interface for developing parallel applications for platforms ranging from embedded systems and accelerator devices to multi-core and shared-memory systems. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005531/en/ OpenMP ARB Matthijs van Waveren [email protected] Source: OpenMP BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Azerbaijan's Finance Minister Samir Sharifov has met with the South Korean Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Azerbaijan Lee Eun Yong, Trend reports. At the meeting, satisfaction was expressed with the high level of Azerbaijani-South Korean relations, and it was stressed that Korean companies are successfully operating in agricultural, infrastructure, and other priority areas in Azerbaijan. Ambassador Lee Eun Yong noted that due to its economic potential and geographical location, Azerbaijan is important not only for the region but also in terms of economic cooperation and transit opportunities between Europe and Asia. The ambassador also added that his country pays great attention to the development of relations with Azerbaijan. The South Korean ambassador also noted the interest of Korean companies in participating in projects implemented on Azerbaijan's liberated territories. He added that he would make efforts to further expand bilateral cooperation. It was noted at the meeting that both countries have common historical features and similar experiences in the elimination of destruction and carrying out construction and restoration work in the post-war period. Furthermore, the importance of studying the Korean experience in the restoration of Azerbaijan's liberated territories, including in the fields of infrastructure, mining, agriculture, and the use of the latest technologies, was mentioned. In conclusion, Samir Sharifov congratulated the ambassador on the choice of the city of Incheon to host the 56th annual meeting of the Board of Governors of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) on May 1-5 this year, which is considered one of the most prestigious events in the financial and business circles of the world. He also expressed confidence in the successful holding of this prestigious event by the country. NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Pfizer Inc. (NYSE: PFE) announced today that its shareholders and the general public are invited to access its virtual-only 2023 Annual Meeting of Shareholders at 9:00 a.m. EDT on Thursday, April 27, 2023. Pfizer has designed the virtual Annual Meeting to ensure that its shareholders who attend the virtual-only Annual Meeting will be afforded comparable rights and opportunities to participate as they would at an in-person meeting. Beginning today, shareholders can find additional information on accessing and registering for the virtual meeting at www.meetnow.global/MAGVNLW. On the day of the Annual Meeting, shareholders may begin logging into the virtual meeting platform at 8:45 a.m. EDT using either the control number found on their proxy card, voting instruction form or the notice that was previously received. Only shareholders who log into the meeting using a control number will have the ability to ask questions or vote during the live meeting. Shareholders also may submit questions in advance of the meeting by following the instructions provided on the Rules of Conduct and Meeting Procedures available on the virtual meeting platform. The deadline for submitting questions in advance of the meeting is 5:00 p.m. EDT on April 25. Both registered and most beneficial shareholders will be able to vote their shares during the meeting by following the instructions provided on the virtual meeting platform. Some beneficial owners may be required to obtain a legal proxy and pre-register for the virtual meeting in order to vote or ask questions during the live meeting. Beneficial owners should check with their broker as to whether pre-registration is required. In addition, beneficial owners will be required to obtain a legal proxy and pre-register in order to submit questions in advance of the live meeting. Guests may participate in a listen-only mode. No control number is required. A replay of the webcast will be available for up to one year at: https://investors.pfizer.com/Investors/Events--Presentations. About Pfizer: Breakthroughs That Change Patients Lives At Pfizer, we apply science and our global resources to bring therapies to people that extend and significantly improve their lives. We strive to set the standard for quality, safety and value in the discovery, development and manufacture of health care products, including innovative medicines and vaccines. Every day, Pfizer colleagues work across developed and emerging markets to advance wellness, prevention, treatments and cures that challenge the most feared diseases of our time. Consistent with our responsibility as one of the world's premier innovative biopharmaceutical companies, we collaborate with health care providers, governments and local communities to support and expand access to reliable, affordable health care around the world. For more than 170 years, we have worked to make a difference for all who rely on us. We routinely post information that may be important to investors on our website at www.Pfizer.com. In addition, to learn more, please visit us on www.Pfizer.com and follow us on Twitter at @Pfizer and @Pfizer News, LinkedIn, YouTube and like us on Facebook at Facebook.com/Pfizer. Disclosure Notice: The webcast may include forward-looking statements about, among other things, our anticipated operating and financial performance, reorganizations, business plans, strategy and prospects; expectations for our product pipeline, in-line products and product candidates, including anticipated regulatory submissions, data read-outs, study starts, approvals, launches, clinical trial results and other developing data, revenue contribution and projections, potential pricing and reimbursement, potential market dynamics and size, growth, performance, timing of exclusivity and potential benefits; strategic reviews; capital allocation objectives; dividends and share repurchases; plans for and prospects of our acquisitions, dispositions and other business development activities; and our ability to successfully capitalize on growth opportunities and prospects; manufacturing and product supply; our ongoing efforts to respond to COVID-19, including our COVID-19 products; our expectations regarding the impact of COVID-19 on our business, operations and financial results; our Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) priorities, strategy and goals; and other statements about our business, operations and financial results, that are subject to substantial risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. A description of these risks and uncertainties can be found in Pfizers Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2022 and in its subsequent reports on Form 10-Q, including in the sections thereof captioned Risk Factors and Forward-Looking Information and Factors That May Affect Future Results, as well as in its subsequent reports on Form 8-K, all of which are filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission and available at www.sec.gov and www.pfizer.com. The forward-looking statements in the webcast speak only as of the original date of the webcast. Pfizer assumes no obligation to update forward-looking statements contained in the webcast as the result of new information or future events or developments. Category: Finance View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005309/en/ Media: [email protected] +1 (212) 733-1226 Investor: [email protected] +1 (212) 733-4848 Source: Pfizer Inc. The Companys Built to Honor program celebrates 10 years of providing homes to deserving veterans JACKSONVILLE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- In a special dedication ceremony, PulteGroup presented United States Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew Perry with keys to his new, mortgage-free home in Jacksonville. Located in Pultes Forest Park at Wildlight community, the home was donated through the Companys Built to Honor program. This is the first home dedication of 2023, which marks the programs 10th year of providing homes to wounded veterans and their families. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005125/en/ We launched our Built to Honor program a decade ago as our way of saying thank you to our nations heroes by doing what we do best: building incredible places where people can live their dreams, said Dan Reynolds, vice president of construction operations at PulteGroups Northeast Florida division. It is an honor for our Pulte team, along with the Wildlight community and our trade partners and suppliers who provided such generous support, to present this home to Sergeant Perry and his family. The fully accessible single-family home was designed to meet all of Sergeant Perrys current and future needs. The home includes Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) modifications to accommodate future wheelchair use. The stairwell has also been reinforced for the future addition of a wheelchair lift. We are so grateful, and we appreciate all of the efforts that went into coordinating this new beginning for our family, said Sergeant Perry. We are honored and humbled to be the recipients of this beautiful new home. This is the third home donated in Northeast Florida through PulteGroups Built to Honor program. The home was built in partnership with Building Homes for Heroes, a national non-profit organization making a significant difference in the lives of wounded American service members and their families, and with the generous support of the Wildlight community. Sergeant Perry is a hero who fought for our country in both Iraq and Afghanistan at the sacrifice of his health and well-being, said Andy Pujol, founder and CEO of Building Homes for Heroes. His wife Helen also served our country as a captain in the Army. We are forever grateful for their service, and hope this home welcomes a new chapter of their lives as they raise their two young children and build a brighter future for their family. We warmly welcome the Perry family to their new home at Forest Park at Wildlight, where they will create wonderful new memories together, said Wildlight Vice President Wes Hinton. They are now part of an integrated community that encourages connections and support, including those with fellow veterans, and are close to all of the services they need. United States Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew Perry U.S. Marine Corps Sergeant Matthew Perry joined the Marines in August 2005, after being part of the Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) and Civil Air Patrol in high school. After more than a decade of service where Sergeant Perry carried out numerous critical missions and served in combat in both Iraq and Afghanistan, he was medically retired in March 2016 after suffering a traumatic brain injury (TBI). On July 21, 2008, Sergeant Perry was in direct contact with enemy forces during a company assault in Afghanistan, exposing him to three improvised explosive device (IED) detonations that resulted in serious injuries, including three concussions and a loss of consciousness. Six years later, he suffered a series of severe seizures and cardiac arrest due to his previous consecutive head injuries, causing post traumatic epilepsy secondary to closed brain injury. This is a chronic condition that will require lifetime monitoring and treatment, leaving Sergeant Perry with severe memory loss, difficulty communicating, and having to relearn how to talk and walk. For his valor and service, Sergeant Perry has received several accolades, including the Purple Heart, Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, Combat Action Ribbon (Afghanistan), Combat Action Ribbon (Iraq), Navy Unit Commendation (3), Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation (3), Marine Corps Good Conduct Medal (3), and the National Defense Service Medal. About Built to Honor For the last decade, PulteGroups Built to Honor program has recognized and thanked returning military personnel who have been injured during their term of service by providing mortgage-free homes to veterans and their families. Launched in 2013, the program has built and donated 76 homes, gifting more than $35 million in value, across the country. Built to Honor works in partnership with nonprofit organizations to identify veteran candidates. For more information about Built to Honor, go to builttohonor.org. Follow Built to Honor on Twitter: @BuiltToHonor and Facebook.com/BuiltToHonor. About PulteGroup PulteGroup, Inc. (NYSE: PHM), based in Atlanta, Georgia, is one of Americas largest homebuilding companies with operations in more than 40 markets throughout the country. Through its brand portfolio that includes Centex, Pulte Homes, Del Webb, DiVosta Homes, American West and John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods, the company is one of the industrys most versatile homebuilders able to meet the needs of multiple buyer groups and respond to changing consumer demand. PulteGroups purpose is building incredible places where people can live their dreams. For more information about PulteGroup, Inc. and PulteGroup brands, go to pultegroup.com; pulte.com; centex.com; delwebb.com; divosta.com; jwhomes.com; and americanwesthomes.com. Follow PulteGroup, Inc. on Twitter: @PulteGroupNews. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005125/en/ For Media Inquiries Macey Kessler office: 404.978.6414 [email protected] Source: PulteGroup, Inc. In collaboration with Microsoft, Cisco, Ericsson, PTC, and ODVA, Rockwell will show how to accelerate digital transformation in manufacturing. MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), the worlds largest company dedicated to industrial automation and digital transformation, will showcase its innovative, industry-leading technology and services with its partners, including Microsoft and Cisco, at the Hannover Messe 2023 trade fair, April 17 - 21, in Hannover, Germany. Rockwell will join forces with its PartnerNetwork ecosystem and demonstrate solutions that meet our customers where they are in their digital transformation journeys. In collaboration with Microsoft, Cisco, Ericsson, ODVA and PTC, Rockwell will present the technology and services that help solve todays top challenges for optimizing production, managing risk, empowering the workforce, driving sustainability, and accelerating digital transformation. The challenges and opportunities in manufacturing span the entire production lifecycle, said Sachin Mathur, Rockwells director of Software and Control, Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). Digital transformation is the most effective way for manufacturing companies to drive change. It is no longer a nice-to-have: digital transformation is about figuring out exactly what can be done, how it can be done, and how it will prove return on investment. Rockwell and its ecosystem of partners bring comprehensive expertise to gain real-time visibility and contextualized insights for quality control, compliance, traceability, and productivity. Customers benefit from a holistic, end-to-end approach, with integrated solutions through the Connected Enterprise Production System. Rockwell at PartnerNetwork Ecosystem Booths At the Microsoft booth, there will be significant offerings on display, leading with the Plex Smart Manufacturing Platform, which is now available on Microsoft Azure in EMEA. Microsoft manufacturing solutions and capabilities help improve industrial productivity and leverage the power and scale provided by Microsoft Azure to enable faster time-to-value. Together, Rockwell Automation and Microsoft are accelerating and simplifying the digital transformation of industrial enterprises with the proven expertise, market-leading technology, and resources needed to deliver better business outcomes, said Dominik Wee, CVP, Manufacturing and Mobility Industry, Microsoft. At the Cisco booth, Rockwell will showcase cybersecurity solutions, including the use of a unique edge computing architecture Cisco Cyber Vision that enables security monitoring. Also on display is Rockwells work with Ericsson to combine its world-class industrial automation portfolio and digitalization capabilities with Ericsson's 5G expertise and enterprise offerings. Providing more flexibility to collect data in real time over secure and reliable wireless networks allows manufacturers to better manage their production assets and drive a higher level of efficiency and sustainability. Rockwell Automation and PTC will showcase Rockwells FactoryTalk InnovationSuite, powered by PTC. With this offering, the result of a strategic alliance, companies can transform their physical operations with digital technology. Rockwell is also partnering with ODVA, a standards development organization, demonstrating at Hannover Messe the benefits of EtherNet/IP, CIP Security, and Ethernet-APL. On display will be recent wireless device additions to Rockwells EtherNet/IP product portfolio. CIP Security is part of a defense-in-depth strategy, supported by ODVA, which can help defend against remote cyberattacks on networks. CUBIC, a company recently acquired by Rockwell, will demonstrate its efficient modular enclosure solutions. Its exciting to showcase how the CUBIC modular system offers the utmost in flexibility to design and build electrical switchboards that meet the customers most demanding specifications, said Jesper Fristrup, director, CUBIC. About Rockwell Automation Rockwell Automation, Inc. (NYSE: ROK), is a global leader in industrial automation and digital transformation. We connect the imaginations of people with the potential of technology to expand what is humanly possible, making the world more productive and more sustainable. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Rockwell Automation employs approximately 26,000 problem solvers dedicated to our customers in more than 100 countries. To learn more about how we are bringing the Connected Enterprise to life across industrial enterprises, visit www.rockwellautomation.com. About the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork Rockwell Automation believes we're better togetherand we do our part by delivering an expansive, global partner ecosystem of market-leading technology, superior support and services, and an integrated and streamlined approach to business. Succeed on an international scale by utilizing our network's breadth of innovative technologies and services that no single vendor can provide alone. To learn more about how the PartnerNetwork is helping to deliver the value of The Connected Enterprise, visit PartnerNetwork Program. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005736/en/ Stanley Miller Head of Public & Analyst Relations for Europe, Middle East and Africa +44 778 099 8582 [email protected] Source: Rockwell Automation, Inc. Safes Rebrand Coincides with the Spatial Data Leaders 30-year Anniversary VANCOUVER, British Columbia--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Today, Safe Software (Safe), the only all-data enterprise integration company, is proud to announce its new corporate identity. The almost 30-year-old software leaders revitalized brand was inspired by the innovative ways in which its customers use the companys FME (Feature Manipulation Engine) platform. FME is the only data integration platform with true support for spatial data. The rebrand introduces new product names, FME Form, FME Flow, FME AR, FME Mobile, and FME Flow Hosted. With these powerful tools, users can process and convert data, seamlessly creating workflows that extend the reach of data integration. The privately owned company achieved $70M in revenue in 2022 and is on target to achieve $90M in revenue in 2023, with no shortage of growth plans and a goal to more than triple revenue in the next five years to hit $250M. The business has been profitable since its inception in 1993 and over 20,000 organizations worldwide trust FME technology for their enterprise integration solutions, across 120+ countries and localized in multiple languages. "Our new look embodies Safe Softwares ethos and demonstrates the companys unwavering commitment to assist the world in its pursuit of harnessing the power of data, comments Don Murray, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Safe Software. Our new brand is an important step forward as we strive to triple our revenue in the coming years. The new FME logo represents the platform, its relationship to Safe Software, and, above all else, the infinite possibilities FME provides its users. "The brand showcases our passion for spatial data and our dedication to using innovation to provide ever increasing value to our customers, comments Dale Lutz, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Safe Software. Our latest product updates in FME:23 will enable Safe Software to continue delivering our mission and allow our technology to remain at the forefront of our industry. Over the years, FME has evolved into a unique enterprise integration platform and Safe Software is confident that no other solution comes close to FME's spatial, no-code, and deploy-anywhere capabilities. Safe's commitment to customers is exemplified in the company's recent Customers' Choice recognition in the 2023 Gartner Peer Insights 'Voice of the Customer' for Data Integration Tools. By keeping customers at the center of its values, Safe Software aims to provide superior service and technology to everyone. At the heart of Safes mission is the knowledge that data can make a difference in all peoples lives. By empowering people and enterprises to unlock the full potential of information, including spatial data, Safe Software is helping create a connected, informed, and innovative future. For more information about Safe Software and its new visual identity, please visit www.safe.com. About Safe Software Headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, Safe Software is the creator of FME, the only enterprise integration platform with comprehensive support for spatial data. The company was founded in 1993 by Don Murray and Dale Lutz and was born out of their passion for data. Whether your challenges have to do with spatial data, big data, stream processing, cloud migration, or business intelligence, Safe Software is here to help you spend more time reaping the benefits of information, and less time fighting it. The privately owned company earned over $70M in revenue in 2022 and has no shortage of growth plans, with a goal to more than triple revenue in the next five years. About FME by Safe Software The FME Platform has built-in support for thousands of systems as well as 800+ out-of-the-box transformers allowing users to build and automate custom integration workflows without having to code. Over 20,000 organizations worldwide trust FME technology for their enterprise integration solutions. Through Safe Softwares international partner network, FME is used in 120+ countries around the world and has been localized into multiple languages. Gartner and Peer Insights Gartner and Peer Insights are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005193/en/ Media: Elan Paris [email protected] 778-988-6526 Source: Safe Software WICHITA, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: SPR) will release its first quarter 2023 financial results at 6:30 a.m. Central Daylight Time (CDT) Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Spirit AeroSystems President and Chief Executive Officer Tom Gentile will be joined by Spirits Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Mark Suchinski on a conference call presentation to securities analysts about first quarter 2023 results and company outlook at 10 a.m. CDT. That presentation will be broadcast online. It will include charts and a question-and-answer session. The company's news release detailing the results will also be available. The live audio stream and slide presentation can be accessed May 3, 2023, at http://investor.spiritaero.com/. Individuals are urged to check the website in advance to ensure their computers are configured for the audio stream and slide presentation. About Spirit AeroSystems, Inc. Spirit AeroSystems is one of the worlds largest manufacturers of aerostructures for commercial airplanes, defense platforms, and business/regional jets. With expertise in aluminum and advanced composite manufacturing solutions, the companys core products include fuselages, integrated wings and wing components, pylons, and nacelles. We are leveraging decades of design and manufacturing expertise to be the most innovative and reliable supplier of military aerostructures, and specialty high-temperature materials, enabling warfighters to execute complex, critical missions. Spirit also serves the aftermarket for commercial and business/regional jets. Headquartered in Wichita, Kansas, Spirit has facilities in the U.S., U.K., France, Malaysia and Morocco. More information is available at www.spiritaero.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005805/en/ Investor Relations: Ryan Avey (316) 523-7040 Media: Chuck Cadena (316) 526-3910 Source: Spirit AeroSystems Holdings, Inc. New report from Actium Health reveals 3 out of 10 marketers typically exceed their organizations appointment-booking goals PALO ALTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Actium Health, healthcares leading CRM Intelligence company, today released the results of a study of healthcare marketers that reveals their priorities, budgets, successes and failures and how best to activate patients to take action for their health. Key findings: Three quarters say their outpatient volumes have increased over the past 12 months. Seventy-one percent (71%) report they are evaluated on appointment bookings. 1 out of 3 marketers cite referrals when asked which initiative they have the most room for improvement, followed by patient satisfaction scores (24%). More than half of respondents (55%) expect their 2023 budgets will decrease either somewhat or a lot. Marketers are overwhelmingly measured on their ability to drive appointment bookings Healthcare marketers cited the following as their top priorities over the past 12 months: Define brand strategy/build the brand Digital marketing and social media Data-driven marketing techniques, analytics and modeling Grow outpatient volume Drive appointment bookings But when it comes to how the marketing department is evaluated by their healthcare organizations, respondents cited the following measures: Appointment bookings Outpatient volume Return on investment (ROI) Outpatient service line revenue Inpatient service line revenue For many organizations, driving those appointments is a shared responsibility with medical groups (75%), service lines (58%), operations (46%) and strategy/innovation (25%). Overwhelmingly, marketers are measured by their ability to drive patient volume and appointment bookings, said Alan Tam, Chief Marketing Officer of Actium Health. One thing missing in these findings is a high prioritization of patient retention. When [new] customer acquisition can cost five times more than retaining an existing customer, it makes sense that healthcare marketers move retention up in their list of priorities, and identify tactics and tools that both activate patients to make appointments and cultivate a sense of satisfaction and loyalty while doing so. Taking the pulse of healthcare marketing tactics and tools: CRM is not enough Over the past 12 months, 3 out of 4 marketers cite their outpatient volumes have increased as a result of the following tactics: paid media campaigns (71%); always-on campaigns (71%); ad hoc campaigns promoting specific services (61%); online scheduling (52%) and increased physician capacity (32%). When measuring the effectiveness (defined as extremely effective) of the tactics used to activate patients to book appointments, marketers cite: Paid media campaigns (59%) Online scheduling (45%) Always-on campaigns (41%) Mobile app (23%) Ad hoc campaigns (22%) Interestingly, the effectiveness of these tactics does not necessarily align with the usage of each. For example, 89% report using paid media campaigns, while only 59% cite them as extremely effective. When asked which execution tools they use to activate patients to book appointments, 3 out of 10 marketers cite customer relationship management (CRM), with 44% saying this tool is extremely effective. Following CRM, 23% use paid media, with 35% describing this tool as extremely effective. The results of this survey highlight that CRM alone is not enough for what healthcare marketers - and the organizations they represent - are looking to achieve, said Michael Linnert, founder and CEO of Actium Health. Like healthcare delivery itself, effective patient outreach marketing is about aligning the solution to the delivery. Just as you wouldnt use a general anesthetic when a local works equally well with lower risk, you dont need a broad marketing campaign when you can target them to your highest value patients most likely to make appointments and make it easy for them to take action. With 55% of marketers anticipating their budgets will decrease this year, 2023 could represent a good opportunity for healthcare marketers to reevaluate the tactics and tools theyre using in order to identify those that are extremely effective, demonstrate a significant ROI and address multiple priorities at once. Actium Health will be hosting a webinar on Healthcare Marketing: Truths, Myths, and Trends Happening Now on Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at 3:00pm EDT / 12:00pm PDT with the Hileman Group, Cedars Sinai, and Oho Interactive to discuss and explore the results of this survey. The full report will be made available upon the conclusion of the webinar for all attendees. Survey Methodology Actium Health partnered with the Forum for Healthcare Strategists to administer the online survey to its membership in November 2022. A total of 52 senior-level healthcare marketers responded. About Actium Health For more on Actium Health, visit: https://actiumhealth.com/ Connect with Actium Health on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/4814714/admin/ Follow @actiumhealth on Twitter: https://twitter.com/actiumhealth/ Like Actium Health on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/actiumhealth/ View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005019/en/ For media inquiries, please contact: Kristin Faulder (on behalf of Actium Health) (586) 419.4652 [email protected] Source: Actium Health BELLEVUE, Wash. & AARHUS, Denmark--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- TimeXtender, a data management and automation software company based in Aarhus, announced today that it has acquired BI Builders, a data automation software company based in Stavanger, Norway. With this acquisition, TimeXtender will be able to support customers and users with a more comprehensive data automation solution, while also strengthening its position as a global market leader within the data management and data warehouse automation market. We are very excited to announce the acquisition of BI Builders and welcome the team to TimeXtender, said Heine Krog Iversen, CEO and Founder of TimeXtender. Bringing two of Europes leading data automation vendors together creates scale for further innovation. With the ever-increasing speed of innovation and technology advancements, size matters to continue to be a trustworthy vendor to our partners and customers. The products have different strengths and bringing them together into one cohesive platform will cement our position as a market leader for data warehouse automation and lay the foundation for widening out with data quality, master data management, data catalog, and observability over the coming years. This is a first fantastic step in creating a global market leader in a very fragmented market, and possible with the great backing of Monterro, said Iversen. BI Builders is bringing a wealth of smart people with deep industry knowledge. I am a firm believer that talent density is the most important driver for innovation. Bringing the two organizations together will bring us to 115 XPeople around the world, improving our delivery capabilities in all areas. BI Builders and TimeXtender have the same ambitions and overall goal of becoming a global market leader within data warehouse automation, said Jarle Soland, CEO of BI Builders. Combining the best from TimeXtender software and Xpert BI, BI Builders data automation software, will give our customers an even more comprehensive solution. BI Builders brings a strong position within the energy sector, real estate, and aquaculture industries in Norway. During our due diligence, a lot of time was spent assessing our purpose, direction, alignment, and commitment and having conversations about company culture, said Anne Krog Iversen, TimeXtender Co-Founder, and Chief DNA & Culture Officer. It was clear that together we will use our purpose and Core Beliefs to achieve our goals through open, honest, and transparent communication. BI Builders consists of 36 very competent and motivated employees who will join forces with the XPeople to secure further growth, said Soland in closing. The idea of joining the two key players in the data warehouse automation space makes it possible to scale at a much higher speed. The offering to the market, bringing the best from both TimeXtender and Xpert BI, gives us all that we need to prove the joint position as a market leader. This is a win-win for customers, partners, and the companies. About TimeXtender TimeXtender, through its data estate builder, allows users to implement a modern data estate 10x faster with a simple, drag-and-drop user interface for ingesting and preparing data for analysis. It overlays and unifies the data infrastructure, connects to 250+ data sources, and provides all the powerful data preparation capabilities necessary in a unified, secure, future-proof solution. The underlying code is generated automatically, which reduces build costs by 70%, frees data engineers from repetitive tasks, and provides less-technical business users with a no-code experience for creating their own data products. TimeXtender allows organizations to quickly integrate their siloed data into a data lake, model their data warehouse, and define data marts for multiple business intelligence (BI) tools and endpoints. With 16+ years of experience optimizing best practices and building modern data estates for top-performing organizations, TimeXtender maintains an unprecedented 95% retention rate with more than 3,300 customers by continuing to deliver a trusted, reliable, and secure data management solution. About BI Builders Through its Xpert BI software, BI Builders helps customers convert data from existing business systems into valuable information, enabling organizations to make better and faster decisions. With Xpert BI, organizations can ship trusted data 4x faster, be more productive and agile, free up time for value creation, stay in control and minimize risks. Xpert BI enables automatic documentation, standardization, data governance support, and methodology improvements over off-the-shelf ETL- and ELT tools. Functionality highlights include holistic data ingest, support for DataOps with test automation, source control, and data quality, advanced API management and API creation, data source adapters, performance optimizations, migration wizards, and end-to-end column-level data lineage. Supporting both Microsoft Azure and Amazon Web Services (AWS). The visualization tool is not limited to Power BI. Company Websites: https://www.timextender.com https://www.bi-builders.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005540/en/ Press Contacts: Heine Krog Iversen | [email protected] Jarle Soland | [email protected] Source: TimeXtender UltraIO Storage Solutions Performance, Resilience, and Efficiency + creative.space Simplified Use and Management = Value for Both Creatives and IT AUSTIN, Texas & MURRIETA, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Nyriad and DigitalGlue today announced that Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN) has chosen Nyriad UltraIO storage and the DigitalGlue creative.space solution as the foundation for its editorial and media asset management environment. In doing so, TBN will be able to improve the performance, resilience, and efficiency of its media production workflows while removing complex IT-centric tasks and simplifying them with a streamlined user experience. TBN can now better optimize its resources, eliminate costly post-production delays, and continue to deliver high-quality content on time and within budget. Launched in 1973 by Christian television pioneers Paul and Jan Crouch, TBN began as one television station broadcasting a few hours of Christian programming each day to viewers throughout the Los Angeles area. In the years since, TBN has grown into a family of over thirty twenty-four-hour global networks reaching every inhabited continent with entertaining, inspirational, and life-changing programming for every family member and demographic. The programming requirements for TBN are substantial and require a team of writers, producers, and creatives to generate fresh and engaging content that appeals to their audience. This task involves producing a wide range of television shows, documentaries, films, news programs, educational programs, and more. Additionally, TBN constantly refreshes its content to keep audiences engaged and interested, which requires a continuous stream of new ideas, scripts, and concepts. Supporting a network of this size and scope was beginning to put a strain on its aging data storage infrastructure, and it was decided that a replacement solution was required. Our previous tiered storage approach was complex, and the creative team indicated that many of the processes associated with it were too slow and wasted time, said Larry Haley, Senior Vice President of Engineering, Trinity Broadcasting Network (TBN). Together, we determined that first, the new storage solution must deliver the necessary performance for concurrent workflows and multiple editing bays. Second, resilience was crucial, as every minute of downtime costs money. Third, the system had to be able to withstand a multitude of system stressors and provide a stable experience, even during power fluctuations or outages." Haley added, Bottom-line, TBN needed a storage infrastructure that could handle the demands of a high-volume editorial and media asset management environment, including live recordings for an Edit-While-Capture workflow, staging finished assets, and supporting post-processing tasks. The solution also had to accommodate 100+ users streaming at 1500 kb/s." After careful consideration of its current storage, as well as an exhaustive review of another nine potential solutions, the Nyriad UltraIO storage platform and DigitalGlue creative.space combined solution was found to be the most highly performant, more resilient, and dramatically more cost-effective from both a cost of acquisition and overall TCO standpoint, than every one of the competitors. "TBN's content is their top priority, and we are honored to have been chosen to run their critical and valuable workloads on our solution, said Sean Busby, President, DigitalGlue. Nyriad UltraIO storage combined with our OS and filesystem delivers improved productivity for creatives, as well as a resilient and simplified environment that meets the highest performance requirements in a single tier." Indeed, if a broadcast network's content is not continuously available, it can result in a loss of viewership, decreased revenue, and damage to the network's brand reputation, said Andrew Russell, Chief Revenue Officer (CRO), Nyriad. Having been chosen by TBN as the virtual backbone of their entire editorial and media asset management environment is an enviable seal of approval of which we are understandably proud. DigitalGlue has had a longstanding relationship with Trinity Broadcasting Network, consistently providing top-quality products and services to meet its needs. By bringing Nyriad into the fold thereby taking the TBN solution to the next level, DigitalGlue has once again demonstrated our unwavering commitment to our clients to help them reduce costs and boost revenue through increased productivity, concluded Busby. This strategic collaboration further reinforces the bond between DigitalGlue and TBN, as they persistently seek and implement the most efficient and up-to-date solutions for media production workflows. To learn more about the joint Nyriad UltraIO and DigitalGlue creative.space solution, please visit: https://www.nyriad.io/nyriad-and-digitalglue-solution-brief/ and https://www.creative.space/partnerships/nyriad. About DigitalGlue From the lens of the camera to the viewers screen, DigitalGlue is a true glass-to-glass systems integrator, partnering with trusted vendors and supplying the equipment necessary to enable the production and distribution of digital video to billions of viewers each day. Its innovative storage offering, creative.space, is purpose-built to make enterprise storage simple to use and manage without the need for specialized knowledge, giving content creators complete control over their projects by removing technology roadblocks so they can do what they do best: create. As a trusted systems integrator for companies such as The Home Depot, Coca-Cola Studios, Crew Cuts, Brat TV, and Trinity Broadcasting Network, the DigitalGlue team has over two decades of real-world experience transforming ideas into tangible results and helping clients turn assets into revenue. About Nyriad Nyriad has unleashed the power and speed of GPUs combined with CPUs to revolutionize how data is stored, accessed and managed. Nyriads UltraIO software-defined data storage system enables massive amounts of data to be safely and intelligently managed by a single storage platform with a low TCO, while delivering exceptional performance, resiliency and efficiency. With Nyriad, organizations can enhance agility, accelerate innovation and gain the competitive advantage necessary to drive business growth and success. To learn more, please visit: https://www.nyriad.io/. Follow Nyriad on Twitter, LinkedIn, and Facebook. Nyriad, UltraIO, and the Nyriad logo are trademarks of Nyriad, Inc. All other trademarks used herein are the property of their respective owners. 2023 Nyriad, Inc. All rights reserved. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005576/en/ Nyriad Contact: Nicole Gorman IGNITE Consulting, for Nyriad [email protected] 508-397-0131 DigitalGlue Contact: Christina Kennedy [email protected] 404-444-2250 Source: Nyriad Data Insights Platform provider expands internal team to support continued growth NASHVILLE, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Wealth Access, the leading customer data insights platform that unifies and enriches data that powers hyper-personalized experiences for financial institutions, today announced two additions to its executive team Mark White as Vice President of Business Development and Jeremy Bolin as Vice President of Product and Engineering. David Benskin, Founder and CEO of Wealth Access, said, We are excited to have Mark and Jeremy join our team. Both of these individuals bring a wealth of knowledge, as well as deep business and technical experience to their respective positions. Wealth Access has seen tremendous growth over the past year and having Mark and Jeremy on board will enable us to further innovate and provide our customers with the services they have come to know and expect. We are honored to welcome them to our team, and look forward to seeing how they leverage their skills to bolster our continued success. White, a seasoned fintech veteran, has more than 35 years of wealth management experience, sales leadership, product development and planning/launch expertise. He has assisted both fintech and wealth management organizations navigating the complex world of technology and services transformations. White has held leadership roles at both FIS and SEI Investments Company, a financial services company. He has experience working with start-up companies as well. Bolin has more than 10 years of engineering leadership in several organizations, including three unicorns: Dapper Labs, Built Technologies and SmileDirectClub. His technical expertise encompasses a variety of languages including frontend, backend and infrastructure level concerns. Bolin was Senior Engineering Manager, Blockchain Platform at Dapper Labs, where his team concentrated on consumer-driven applications to safely and compliantly house crypto assets. At Built, Bolins team guided more than $100 billion through the system across 150 banks, and at SmileDirectClub, his team focused on moving large sums of money ultimately across three continents. Wealth Access offers its customers profound insights to drive adoption and engagement by unifying financial institution records across multiple systems. Using the platform, customers can gain access to all their financial information in a unified dashboard, easily share documents, link external accounts and communicate with bankers and advisors in one place through a wide variety of channels. Wealth Access creates living balance sheets that enable service teams to see each clients complete financial story and work across business lines to improve customer loyalty and drive higher revenue. About Wealth Access Wealth Access is an enterprise customer data insights platform that works with financial services existing books and records to enrich and unify data, generating deep insights that power hyper-personalized banking experiences. By intelligently unifying records across multiple systems, Wealth Access creates living balance sheets that enable service teams to see each clients complete financial story and work across business lines to improve customer loyalty and drive higher revenue. As a result of its innovative enterprise-class solutions, Wealth Access today supports more than 200 customers with over $571 billion in assets on the companys platform, including several of the largest banks in America. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005123/en/ Angelo D. Jones II // Gabriela Lumpkin [email protected] // [email protected] 678.781.7230 // 678.781.7211 Source: Wealth Access LEHI, Utah--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Weave Communications, Inc. (NYSE: WEAV), a leading all-in-one customer communications and engagement software platform for small and medium-sized businesses, today announced it will release its financial results for the first quarter 2023 after U.S. markets close on Wednesday, May 3, 2023. Company management will host a conference call and webcast at 5 p.m. ET to discuss Weaves financial results and provide a business update. Individuals interested in listening to the conference call may do so by dialing (412) 902-1020 or (877) 502-7186 for toll free. The live webcast and a webcast replay of the conference call can be accessed from the investor relations page of Weaves website at investors.getweave.com. About Weave Weave is the all-in-one customer communication and engagement platform for small- and medium-sized businesses. From the first phone call to the final invoice and every touchpoint in between, Weave connects the entire customer journey. Weaves software solutions transform how local businesses attract, communicate with and engage customers to grow their business. Weave has set the bar for Utah startup achievement & work culture. In the past year, Weave has been named a G2 leader in Patient Engagement, Optometry, Dental Practice Management and Patient Relationship Management software. To learn more, visit getweave.com/newsroom/. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005832/en/ Media Contact: Kali Geldis Sr. Director of Communications [email protected] Investor Contact: Mark McReynolds Head of Investor Relations [email protected] Source: Weave Communications, Inc. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) recommends storing bank information in local cloud systems, Head of Information and CyberSecurity Department of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan Elvin Shahverdiyev said, Trend reports. Shahverdiyev made the remark during an event themed "Sustainable Development Technologies: Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Cloud Solutions". According to him, the CBA does not recommend storing the banks' information and customer information in foreign cloud systems. "Azerbaijan has already formed a national cloud storage system, which can be used by almost all participants in the financial market," he added. In December 2016, AZCLOUD cloud services were launched in Azerbaijan, presented on the basis of the first data center in Azerbaijan and the South Caucasus region of AzInTelecom LLC with TIER III, ISO 20000, ISO 22301 and ISO 27001 certificates. Business leaders managing fleets, deploying employee benefits programs, and processing payments will learn about new technologies and emerging industry trends PORTLAND, Maine--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- WEX (NYSE: WEX), the global commerce platform that simplifies the business of running a business, will convene more than 1,000 business decision makers in San Diego on April 17-19 for WEX SPARK 2023. The annual learning and networking event will focus on new technologies and emerging industry trends meant to simplify payments, fleet management, and benefits administration and help fuel business growth. With relentless global and macroeconomic change over the last four years, WEX hears from customers perhaps now more than ever about the decisions and dilemmas before them everything from staffing and supply chain disruptions to shifting go-to-market expectations and beleaguered operational processes, said Melissa D. Smith, WEX Chair, CEO, and President. Business leaders are grappling with unprecedented challenges and SPARK is poised to once again offer solutions, celebration, and most valuable of all an opportunity to collaborate with others facing similar friction points on a daily basis. Capitalizing on synergies between the millions of employers and consumers that rely on WEX to better manage payment processing, WEX SPARK 2023 will feature insight from leaders in fintech, product innovation, B2B payments, HR benefits administration, and fleet management. Agenda highlights include: Keynote remarks from WEX Chair, CEO, and President Melissa Smith and other WEX executives, who will share WEXs vision, strategies, and an overview of innovations to help attendees shape their business growth plans. Breakout and spotlight sessions that will feature WEX benefits platform capabilities, product features, and functionality, as well as sales programs and resources, thought leadership on industry trends, and best practices. Expert trainers and platform gurus will host a series of sessions to teach attendees about the WEX benefits platform. These learning experiences will integrate research and innovation and show attendees how to apply a deeper understanding of WEXs solutions to their day-to-day work. SPARK, our annual industry leading learning and networking event, provides rich and relevant information and content, empowering an experience ideal for C-suite executives, benefits administrators, OTR operators, travel and tourism professionals, and fleet managers, said Robert Deshaies, COO, Americas at WEX. We look forward to welcoming our WEX community, celebrating with them, and sharing with them how our flexible technology solutions, services, and resources can simplify the business of running a business. WEX SPARK 2023 will be held at the Marriott Marquis San Diego. Agenda and other event information, including registration details for current WEX customers and business leaders from around the globe are available at https://www.wexspark.com/. Highlights and news announcements from the event will be shared in real time via Twitter #WEXSPARK2023. WEX SPARK 2023 is sponsored by strategic partners, including Visa, Coherent Solutions, Mastercard, Kunai, FIS, Fiserv, and Great Hearing Benefits. About WEX WEX (NYSE: WEX) is the global commerce platform that simplifies the business of running a business. WEX has created a powerful ecosystem that offers seamlessly embedded, personalized solutions for its customers around the world. Through its rich data and specialized expertise in simplifying benefits, reimagining mobility and paying and getting paid, WEX aims to make it easy for companies to overcome complexity and reach their full potential. For more information, please visit www.wexinc.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005354/en/ WEX Media: Rob Gould, Director of Public Relations (207) 523-7429 [email protected] Source: WEX WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Experts from Wolters Kluwer Health will be guiding discussions and providing key insights into how the latest healthcare technology innovations are helping health systems to deliver the best patient care everywhere at HIMSS23. The global health conference and exhibition is widely regarded as one of the most influential health information technology events of the year, and will take place in Chicago next week. Experts from Wolters Kluwer will be providing key insights into how healthcare leaders can deploy evidence-based technology to support better and more equitable health outcomes. HIMSS23 takes place April 17-21 at McCormick Place in Chicago, Illinois. Topics up for discussion include: Big picture insights from every care encounter Wolters Kluwer is collaborating with Microsoft to take a deeper dive into clinician search activity and its potential to improve care. Julie Frey, Director of Product Strategy at Wolters Kluwer Health and Amy Berk, MSN, RN, Director of Population Health, U.S. Health and Public Sector at Microsoft will be presenting From Point of Care Decision and Beyond: Preview of UpToDate Clinical Insights on Wednesday, April 19 at the Microsoft Learning Center, Booth #1201 at 2:00 p.m. CT, and again at the Wolters Kluwer Booth #431 at 3:00 p.m. CT. A demo station, Drive ROI with Advanced Clinical Insights from UpToDate, will be held throughout the conference at Microsofts booth (#1201). This preview will demonstrate the powerful combination of UpToDates unparalleled, real-time clinical search data and Microsoft's market-leading Power Apps, Power BI and Azure technology. Attendees will learn how the collaboration will support healthcare organizations in identifying emerging trends and knowledge gaps to better target areas for strategic improvement in clinical program management and education initiatives. Incorporating patient perspectives On Thursday, April 20 at 10:30 a.m. CT, Jennifer Tirnauer, MD, Senior Deputy Editor for Hematology and Genetics for UpToDate at Wolters Kluwer Health, along with Kelvin Chou, MD, Professor of Neurology from the University of Michigan will present Transforming Continuing Medical Education with Patients Perspectives. The session will explore the importance of incorporating patient voices and narratives in diagnosis, clinical workflows, decision support tools, continuing education, and clinician training. (South Building, Level 1, S104) Save time, improve diagnoses, and boost patient compliancewith voice tech On Monday, April 17 at 12:45 p.m. CT, Freddie Feldman, Director of Voice & Conversational Interfaces, Wolters Kluwer Health will join a panel titled It Speaks, It Listens, It's Your Daily Voice Assistant - Leveraging Voice Technology in Health and Wellness. (South Building, Level 1, S100B) Beyond interoperability to quality On Friday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m. CT, Howard Strasberg, MD, MS, Vice President, Medical Informatics at Wolters Kluwer Health will be joined by Robert Jenders, MD, MS, FACP from Charles Drew University and University of California, Los Angeles to present Clinical Decision Support Standards to Facilitate Quality Healthcare. (South Building, Level 4, S402) Nursing informatics leadership Wolters Kluwer will also be sponsoring Nursing Informatics: Shifting Care with Technology, a HIMSS pre-conference session on Monday, April 17, starting at 8:00 a.m. CT. The event will highlight how nursing informatics facilitates healthcare transformation through innovative care models, cutting-edge technology, and data applications. (S406A) Please visit Wolters Kluwer in Booth #431 to learn about our expert solutions and how they are helping achieve the Best Care Everywhere across the care continuum. Learn more about Wolters Kluwer at HIMSS. About Wolters Kluwer Wolters Kluwer (EURONEXT: WKL) is a global leader in information, software, and services for professionals in healthcare, tax and accounting, financial and corporate compliance, legal and regulatory, and corporate performance and ESG. We help our customers make critical decisions every day by providing expert solutions that combine deep domain knowledge with specialized technology and services. Wolters Kluwer reported 2022 annual revenues of 5.5 billion. The group serves customers in over 180 countries, maintains operations in over 40 countries, and employs approximately 20,000 people worldwide. The company is headquartered in Alphen aan den Rijn, the Netherlands. For more information, visit www.wolterskluwer.com, follow us on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and YouTube. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005589/en/ Media Andre Rebelo Public Affairs & Public Relations Director Wolters Kluwer +1 (781) 392-2411 [email protected] Source: Wolters Kluwer Health MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation (NYSE: ZWS) will hold a conference call and webcast presentation on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, at 7:30 a.m. Central Time to discuss its first quarter 2023 financial results, provide a general business update and respond to investor questions. Zurn Elkay Chairman and CEO, Todd Adams, and Chief Financial Officer, Mark Peterson, will co-host the call and webcast. The Zurn Elkay earnings release for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023, will be released after market close on Tuesday, April 25, 2023. The April 26th investor conference call can be accessed as follows: Domestic toll-free #: 888-510-2359 International toll #: 646-960-0215 Access Code: 7660247 A live webcast of the call will also be available on the Companys investor relations website. Please visit investors.zurn-elkay.com at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call to register, download and install any necessary audio software. If you are unable to participate during the live teleconference, a replay of the conference call will be available two hours after the calls completion until 10:59 p.m. Central Time, May 3, 2023. To access the replay, please dial 800-770-2030 (domestic) or 647-362-9199 (international). The Conference ID for the replay is: 7660247. The replay will also be available as a webcast on the Companys investor relations website. About Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Zurn Elkay Water Solutions is a growth-oriented, pure-play water business that designs, procures, manufactures, and markets what we believe is the broadest sustainable product portfolio of solutions to improve health, hydration, human safety, and the environment. The Zurn Elkay product portfolio includes professional grade water control and safety, water distribution and drainage, drinking water, finish plumbing, hygienic, environmental and site works products for public and private spaces. Visit www.zurn-elkay.com for additional information about the Company. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005724/en/ Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation Dave Pauli 414-223-7770 Vice President Investor Relations Source: Zurn Elkay Water Solutions Corporation In February, the Brazilian government opened negotiations with electric automaker BYD in the hopes of reopening a factory that belonged to Ford (NYSE: F) in Camacari. Ford ended activities at the Camacari industrial complex in January 2021 following 20 years of operations. However, as talks have stalled, a story from Reuters, citing unnamed sources, reports Thursday that Brazilian officials are offering fresh incentives to BYD, including land to build an electric car plant in Bahia. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with executives from BYD (002594.SZ) while visiting China, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping on Friday. The sources said the Chinese firm would keep negotiating with Ford to take over the Bahia factory and inherit state tax incentives for the complex. Nonetheless, Brazilian officials on Thursday discussed an alternative site in Bahia where BYD could build a factory from scratch if the talks with Ford prove unsuccessful. A person close to BYD said in March that documents for the final signing of the agreement had been sent to Ford executives in the U.S., and that there were "no obstacles" to the negotiations at that time. BYD also made it clear they would have no issue setting up a new plant, the sources said. "They pointed out that sometimes adapting a site is more time consuming than doing it from scratch," said one of the Brazilian attendees. Shares of F are down 0.83% in mid-day trading on Thursday. By Michael Elkins | [email protected] FiscalNote Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: NOTE) (FiscalNote), a leading AI-driven enterprise SaaS technology provider of global policy and market intelligence, today announced the receipt of another AI-related patent from the United States Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) for the application of Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning in creating custom advocacy campaigns on behalf of its global customers, bringing the Companys total U.S. patent portfolio to thirteen, and its total global patents to fifteen. FiscalNote is committed to continuing our marketplace leadership in AI by expanding our AI-powered offerings to provide enhanced value to our customers while protecting our deep bench of intellectual property. Our newly awarded patent is yet another proof point for FiscalNotes commitment to innovation, research, and development, and it is a recognition of the foresight and talent of our engineering teams across the company, said FiscalNotes Chairman, CEO, and Co-founder Tim Hwang. By bringing a degree of automation to the process of creating effective advocacy campaigns, this new patent reinforces our position as a leader in policy and advocacy software and solidifies our dedication to developing and integrating cutting-edge solutions to improve customers experience and maximize their impact. FiscalNote's VoterVoice workflow software enables customers such as trade associations, political parties, and non-profits to mobilize their members and craft messages and advocacy campaigns targeted at elected officials in support or in opposition to proposed legislation and policy changes. Organizations leverage the VoterVoice platform and policy data from FiscalNote every day to allow their members to directly craft messages, emails, and text messages to key lawmakers in response to important and rapidly evolving political and regulatory issues. The platform sent over 371 million messages to elected officials in 2022, enhancing American democracy by empowering citizens to make their opinions heard and known to policymakers. By equipping organizations with the workflow tools to automatically create and customize outreach messages to their advocates, the powerful AI technology enabled by this latest patent allows companies and organizations to further optimize and increase the impact of their outreach, while fostering a more effective and informed communication between constituents and policymakers. The patent covers an advocacy system that uses AI to assist organizations in creating messages to advocates and policymakers, and can be configured to automatically identify relevant message templates and characteristics to include or use in creating or sending messages for optimizing a desired action or outcome. "We are thrilled to receive this patent allowance," said Dr. Vlad Eidelman, Chief Technology Officer and Chief Scientist, FiscalNote. "This new patent represents an affirmation of the novel and innovative AI advancements FiscalNote continues to make every day as we partner with our customers to develop and implement advocacy communications which further their goals and objectives in policymaking at all levels of government. We look forward to continuing our mission of AI innovation, pushing the boundaries of what is possible in our industry, and breaking new frontiers in the application of AI across our portfolio of award-winning products and offerings." In addition to its newly-awarded AI patent, FiscalNote was also recently selected by AI research and development company OpenAI for collaboration as an inaugural trusted partner and the sole provider of legal, political, and regulatory data and information by enabling access to select FiscalNote market leading real-time data sets and content for users of OpenAIs ChatGPT platform. L3Harris Technologies (NYSE: LHX) received a contract to provide next-generation geostationary imaging and sounding instruments for the Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) that will monitor and predict severe weather events more accurately. The award continues L3Harris' legacy of producing critical space-based weather instruments for Japan. Under the terms of the contract with the Mitsubishi Electric Group, L3Harris will build and deliver an advanced imager and sounder for JMAs Himawari-10 satellite. The imager will use a similar technical platform as L3Harris Advanced Baseline Imager (ABI) on NOAAs Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite-R (GOES-R). The imager will also carry enhancements beyond its predecessor, Himawari-8/-9, including tailored Japanese spectral bands to supply the most advanced geostationary weather information for the international community. The addition of a next-generation hyperspectral infrared sounder on the Himawari-10 mission will provide improved weather prediction accuracy and enhanced environmental monitoring for extreme weather events impacting Japan. This includes enabling precise measurements, such as temperature, moisture and pressure, throughout the atmosphere. "L3Harris' expertise in delivering the most advanced weather instruments in the world continues to be validated through international collaborations like this one with the Mitsubishi Electric Group for Japan's critical weather needs," said Ed Zoiss, President, Space and Airborne Systems, L3Harris. "Our next-generation capabilities will enable forecasters to make better real-time decisions to counteract the threat of severe weather and disaster events in Japan and throughout much of Asia-Pacific. L3Harris is an industry-leading provider of weather sensors flown by U.S. and international customers, including Japan and South Korea. This interoperability enables sharing geostationary weather data globally. This award continues L3Harris role of being a trusted, multi-generational partner of advanced weather satellite technology for civil, commercial and international markets and demonstrates our commitment to advance and improve our customers capabilities for the future, said Rob Mitrevski, Vice President and General Manager, Spectral Solutions, L3Harris. For more than 60 years, we have proudly developed critical technology for customers like the Mitsubishi Electric Group and JMA advancing climate science, increasing severe weather warning time and ultimately saving lives. The Himawari-10 imager and sounder will be developed and built at L3Harris Fort Wayne, Indiana facilities. The United States Defense Department has approved Full Rate Production for Northrop Grumman Corporations (NYSE: NOC) Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). The decision scales the U.S. Armys ability to field the paradigm-changing system, enabling sensor to decider to weapon integration. It also affirms IBCSs role as the cornerstone of the U.S. Armys air and missile defense modernization strategy. IBCS rapidly integrates all available sensors and shooters to deliver decision-quality fire control data across joint networks providing a 360-degree view, even if a sensor becomes inoperable. This capability provides increased situational awareness, more effectively manages resources, and enables integration across coalition partners. IBCS transforms the battlespace by fusing data from any sensor to create a single integrated air picture allowing commanders to see the battlespace and use the best weapons to defeat complex threats, said Rebecca Torzone, vice president and general manager, combat systems and mission readiness, Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman shares the U.S. Armys commitment to the rapid deployment of IBCS. The full rate production decision enables the U.S. Army to set the fielding schedule for IBCS to operational air defense units. The system provides state-of-the-art, all domain command and control for integrated air and missile defense for U.S. interests across the globe. Poland selected IBCS to serve as the centerpiece of the countrys air and missile defense modernization, and as it is adopted by more U.S. allies and partners, IBCS will enable high levels of coalition forces interoperability and network integration. This decision is the latest in a series of milestones for the program. In a paradigm-busting developmental test in November 2022, IBCS successfully intercepted a cruise missile target using a Patriot interceptor without having a Patriot radar in the system architecture. The test demonstrated the flexibility of the IBCS system architecture and its capacity to optimize the capabilities of integrated sensors and effectors onto its network. Additionally, the Agile framework used for IBCS software development yields rapid capability enhancements and addresses emerging threats. In December 2021, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1.4 billion production contract for Low Rate Initial Production and Full Rate Production, and in late 2022, the program completed Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. Initial operational capability for IBCS is on track for a declaration in 2023. IBCS implements a modular, open and scalable architecture that is foundational to integrating available assets in the battlespace, regardless of source, service or domain onto a common fire control network. Its architecture enables the efficient and affordable integration of current and future systems and extends the battlespace by disaggregating sensors and effectors. By enabling this high level of network integration, the warfighter is given unprecedented time to make decisions within the kill chain. Through numerous successful development and operational tests and demonstrations, IBCS has proven its capability to connect and fuse multi-service sensor data to multi-service weapons, demonstrating Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) capabilities. Small satellite manufacturer and mission services provider Blue Canyon Technologies, a Raytheon Technologies (NYSE: RTX) subsidiary, will design and manufacture three microsatellites to support NASA's Investigation of Convective Updrafts, or INCUS, mission. The INCUS mission led by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory aims to better understand the complex dynamics of thunderstorms and their impact on Earth's climate and weather models. Blue Canyon's microsats will fly in tandem coordination, each displaying a dynamic atmospheric radar and dynamic microwave radiometer measuring the atmospheric conditions of Earth. "BCT's successful science exploration programs and our experience controlling large flexible structures will be key to supporting this critical science mission," said Jeff Schrader , president of Blue Canyon Technologies. Atlanta. GA., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As an Atlanta native, servant leader, and the daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and Mrs. Coretta Scott King, Dr. Bernice A. King urges Atlanta leaders and business communities not to morph into a city too busy to love in the wake of the controversial Atlanta Police Public Training Facility. She points out that the facility, its location, and forest destruction lack total community participation and equal voices in decision-making. Dr. King encourages city officials to rapidly expand police and justice reform efforts, revisit the programming and design of the training center, and identify a more suitable location. "To My City, My Home Atlanta: For sixty years, Atlanta has been my home. I was born here. Growing up, my mother, Coretta Scott King, told me stories of my grandfather, the Rev. Martin Luther King, Sr., and other faith leaders working with civic and corporate leaders to advance civil and human rights. Over generations, from pulpits to podiums, our preachers, politicians, and proprietors echoed the iconic phrase that has come to define our city, Atlanta is the city too busy to hate. On the 55th anniversary year of the assassination of my father, Atlanta is the epicenter of campaigns for environmental protection and against police militarization. The City of Atlanta's planned Public Safety Training Center in South River Forest is a contentious issue, with some seeing it as a step towards better public safety and others as state-sanctioned aggression towards marginalized communities. Opinions on justice and policing are divided, with some advocating for more policing and others for a community-centered approach that equalizes opportunity and invests in underserved areas. For dissenters, the facility is a symbol of a dystopian future, a "Cop City" where urban warfare is mastered and modeled, practiced and perpetuated. Atlanta's division is a disheartening dichotomy of institutions against individuals and corporations against communities. Reasoned discourse for the collective good is hampered by insidious thirsts for power, control, and unilateral triumph. We are caught in a spiral of chaos, confusion, and confrontation, with a tale of two cities at odds about what ails us and what remedies will cure us. The reality is, we have yet to create models where police reform is not simply a recommitment to the status quo in another form. Criminal justice system transformation and improving public safety must coexist, especially during a time marked by rising crime. My father, the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., said, True peace is not merely the absence of tension; it is the presence of justice. As a nation, we have never truly prioritized justice. In its place, we have what my father described as confused commitments more concerned with the size, power, and wealth of our society than creating a just society. He said, Social tensions will grow and the recurring turbulence in the streets will persist despite disapproval or repressive action. And here we are in a cacophony of chaos growing louder by the day; with attempts at constructive dialogue seen by some as performative and too little, too late. Atlanta must not become too burdened to heal; a city once too busy to hate morphed into one too busy to love. In his last book, "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?" my father quoted Cicero, "Freedom is participation in power." Those opposing the facility, its location, and forest destruction lack power participation. Our city, the corporations and institutions, and those with more resources have power participation, but marginalized communities experiencing the trauma of racism, police brutality, and economic and environmental disparities do not. It is time to address these concerns bravely to ensure all members of our community have an equitable voice in decision-making. True power is magnified when shared, not diminished. Will we listen and act? Community activists, there is power in protest, and we thank those who do so peacefully. Nonviolent protests are the most potent, constructive weapon people have had when they are denied power to participate. Unfortunately, at times, peaceful protests are infiltrated with anarchy that leads to physical violence and the destruction of property. It is imperative that we reject physical retaliation and center our actions in nonviolence as we exercise our power to participate. Corporate leaders, I urge you to reconcile the racial equity and social justice pledges made during the 2020 uprisings and beyond to ensure your financial contributions are stewarded in a way consistent with those commitments. The world is watching. City officials, I urge you to ensure communities impacted by your actions are properly consulted in a timely, substantive, and transparent manner prior to the point of decision. I urge you to rapidly expand your efforts in police and justice reform and a new approach to holistic community safety and wellness that engenders trust and confidence in police and policymakers. I also urge you to revisit the programming and design of the training center and to identify a more suitable location. Ignoring the calls of the community will only multiply the cries. The City of Atlanta has an opportunity to rise to higher ground in this hour of crisis with vision, integrity, and boldness to become a model for peacemaking in America. I look forward to working with you to create a just, humane, equitable, and peaceful Atlanta The Beloved Community. If we would but do it." About The Martin Luther King, Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change The Martin Luther King Jr. Center for Nonviolent Social Change (The King Center) is a 501(c) (3) organization established in 1968 by Mrs. Coretta Scott King. The King Center is the official living memorial and programmatic nonprofit organization committed to educating the world on the life, legacy, and teachings of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The King Center serves to inspire new generations to carry forward his unfinished work, strengthen causes and empower change-makers who are continuing his efforts today. The King Centers premiere educational initiative, Nonviolence365, is based on Dr. Kings nonviolent philosophy and methodology. His teachings engage participants from various sectors of society, including emerging and next generation leaders, in modules and exercises that enhance communication, leadership, interpersonal and conflict reconciliation skills. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Azerbaijan's Kapital Bank is expanding the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies, the Head of the Analysis and Research Department at Kapital Bank Turgut Abdullayev said, Trend reports. Abdullayev made the remark during an event themed "Sustainable Development Technologies: Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Cloud Solutions". According to him, the introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud technologies contributes to the automation of banking processes, reduces costs, simplifies the collection process, and increases the service life of ATMs. The machine learning model as part of AI processes hundreds of millions of operations, facilitates remote problem solving, and is constantly developing, the department head noted. Moreover, by introducing a machine learning model, as well as artificial intelligence in the activities of Kapital Bank, first of all, we are aimed at increasing the service life of our ATMs, speeding up the processing of customer applications, as well as solving many other problems," he added. The event held in Baku has been attended by representatives of local and foreign financial organizations, including representatives of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, as well as government agencies. Annual general meeting of Aktieselskabet Schouw & Co. The Companys annual general meeting was held today at Hermans, Tivoli Friheden, DK-8000 Aarhus C, with some 600 people present. Report by the Board of Directors The Chairman of the Board presented the Managements report, including the previously announced full-year guidance. The Boards report is not subject to a vote but was duly noted by the shareholders. Approval of annual report and allocation of profit The shareholders voted to approve the annual report for 2022 including the Boards recommendation for allocation of profit and the payment of a dividend of DKK 15 per share as well as the usual resolution to discharge the Board of Directors and the Executive Management from liability. Indicative vote on the remuneration report The Companys Remuneration Report for 2022, which was presented for an indicative vote, was approved. Proposals from the Board of Directors The Board of Directors proposal to maintain the annual basic fee to Board members at DKK 400,000 for 2023 was approved. Furthermore, the Board's proposal to amend Article 3.2 of the Articles of Association, reducing the term of office for Board members from four years to one year, was adopted. The amendment to the Articles of Association will be implemented without a transitional arrangement, so that all Board members will be up for election at the annual general meeting in 2024, regardless of previously announced terms of office. Election of members to the Board of Directors The Board member up for election was Kjeld Johannesen, and he was re-elected. Appointment of auditors PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab were re-appointed as the companys auditors. Authorisation to the chairman of the general meeting The shareholders authorised the chairman of the meeting, or whoever the chairman may be replaced by in his absence, to file the resolutions approved by the general meeting for registration. Any other business No other business was considered. First meeting and board committees Immediately after the general meeting, the Board of Directors elected Jrgen Dencker Wisborg as Chairman and Kenneth Skov Eskildsen as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board appointed Hans Martin Smith (chairman), Jrgen Dencker Wisborg and Agnete Raaschou-Nielsen to the Audit Committee. The Board appointed Jrgen Dencker Wisborg (chairman), Kenneth Skov Eskildsen and Kjeld Johannesen to the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. Aktieselskabet Schouw & Co. Jrgen Dencker Wisborg, Chairman of the Board of Directors Jens Bjerg Srensen, President and CEO Please direct any questions to President Jens Bjerg Srensen on tel. +45 86 11 22 22. Attachment PRESS RELEASE | April 13, 2023 N 03- 2023 Atropos Catbond fund surpasses USD 1 billion of assets under management, confirming SCOR Investment Partners' position as a leading player in the ILS segment. SCOR Investment Partners, the asset management company of the SCOR Group, is proud to announce that its second flagship Insurance-Linked Securities ("ILS") fund, SCOR ILS Fund Atropos Catbond Fund ( Atropos Catbond ), has surpassed USD 1 billion of assets under management. This milestone was reached in 2020 for Atropos fund. Incepted in 2013, Atropos Catbond invests solely in catastrophe bonds and offers a weekly valuation. SCOR Investment Partners confirms its position as a leading player in the ILS segment with ILS assets under management of around USD 3.5 billion. The ILS segment, and in particular catastrophe bonds, continues to present attractive investment opportunities with historically high expected yields resulting from buoyant ILS market conditions. Fabrice Rossary, CEO of SCOR Investment Partners, comments: " The asset class diversification feature, coupled with attractive pricing levels, have contributed to its expansion within investors. Our positioning based on transparency and resilient performance has naturally allowed us to benefit from this increase. Opportunities in this market remain numerous and we are proud to support its development. - End - For more information, please contact Louis Bourrousse, Head of Business Development, +33 1 58 44 78 62, [email protected] About SCOR Investment Partners Financing the sustainable development of societies, together. SCOR Investment Partners is the asset management company of the SCOR Group. Created in 2008 and accredited by the Autorite des Marches financiers, the French financial market regulatory body, in May 2009 (no. GP09000006), SCOR Investment Partners has more than 80 employees and is structured around seven management desks: Fixed Income, Corporate Loans, Infrastructure Loans, Direct Real Estate, Real Estate Loans, Insurance-Linked Securities and Fund Selection. Since 2012, SCOR Investment Partners has given institutional investors access to some of the investment strategies developed for the SCOR Group. Assets managed for outside investors totaled EUR 6.9 billion as of January 31, 2023. As of that same date, SCOR Investment Partners had total assets under management of EUR 18.8 billion (including undrawn commitments). Visit the SCOR Investment Partners website at: www.scor-ip.com This advertising communication, intended exclusively for journalists and professionals of the press and media, is produced for informational purposes only and should not be construed as an offer, solicitation, invitation, or recommendation to purchase any service or investment product. Before making any final investment decision, you must read all regulatory documents of the Fund, available free of charge upon request, from the Sales & Marketing team of SCOR Investment Partners SE. Attachment WASHINGTON, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The International Monetary Fund has a historic opportunity to take immediate measures, undertake institutional reforms, and establish partnerships through which it can finally support the central role of biodiversity in macroeconomic and financial stability, Avaaz said in a policy briefing. Separately, in a 90-page report, Avaaz said that the IMF and Argentina, even without waiting for broader reforms of the current financial architecture, can already lead the way to innovative finance to restructure debt and deliver on effective outcomes for the economy and biodiversity. The 2023 Spring Meetings of the IMF and World Bank Group are the first step in a sequence that must lead to reforming international financial institutions and make them more relevant for the challenges of the 21st century. During the last six months, the intimate interconnections between debt and climate emergencies have finally received more attention. But biodiversity, another major part of the ecological crisis, is still largely ignored in this conversation, despite the adoption of the new U.N. biodiversity framework last December in Montreal, according to the policy briefing. The case of Argentina The first paper, titled DebtDebt The Argentine Case: A Post-Pandemic Proposal for Settling Sovereign and Ecological Debts and Pursuing a Fair and Equitable Transition in Argentina focuses on the case of Argentina, a G20 country that faces chronic debt crises and strong impacts from climate change, while harboring rich biodiversity which provides services to the rest of the world. The report proposes the establishment of Public Observatory on Debt in Argentina and a deeply participatory process to reinvigorate the national debate on debt in the country, and to connect this with a debt clearing mechanism at the international level to restructure the debt of Argentina. Realizing the importance of Argentinas biodiversity is central in these proposals: Argentina is a financial debtor, but an ecological creditor to the world. Its footprint is less than the natural resources its ecosystems produce. Avaaz suggests that Argentina develops debt-for-nature and debt-for-climate swaps (with a mechanism relying on sustainable bonds see report for details). The case for biodiversity in a global reform But debt swapping is just but one mechanism that the IMF can use to jointly address the debt and ecological crises. The institution has only recently developed initiatives on climate but has taken even more time to respond on biodiversity. However, as the second Avaaz paper (Out of Oblivion. Why Biodiversity Must Be at the Heart of All IMF Policies) describes, there is a wide range of immediate measures, institutional reforms, and partnerships through which the IMF can finally support the central role of biodiversity in macroeconomic and financial stability. In its key messages, the report points to the precise governance levels of the IMF that have to take action. There is enough available expertise, at the IMF and outside, to move forward on this pressing issue. Oscar Soria, Campaign Director at Avaaz, said: Argentina, a G20 country, is choking in debt, strongly impacted by climate change, while still contributing major ecosystem services to the world. This is the situation of many countries from the Global South today. With countries being encouraged to destroy more of their biodiversity for debt servicing, creating even more mid to long term vulnerability for their economies. In the current efforts for reforming global financial cooperation, an end must be put to this vicious cycle. For more information and interviews, please contact: [email protected] To download the Avaaz proposal for the Argentine debt click: http://www.avaaz.org/ArgentinaDebt2023 To download the policy paper on the IMF and biodiversity click: www.avaaz.org/IMFWB2023 For photos free for editorial purposes, please click: bit.ly/Avaaz2023April12Photos For video footage (professional b-roll), please click: bit.ly/Avaaz2023April12Video BACKGROUND INFORMATION The tango is a dance that emerged from the Argentine barrios which codifies the relationship of power, domination, and submission in a ritualized courtship routine. The power relationship can be understood as one of inequality, in which the partners play out the intricacies and dependencies that inequality creates. As the saying goes, it takes two to tango, and the debt crisis is fueled by the same power dynamics present in the tango, with the main creditors in the IMF and now China as the worlds largest bilateral creditor and emerging lender of last resort jockeying and repositioning themselves to stay on top of the debtors for world domination, in a complex dance of the billions. An ambitious global program for debt-for-nature, debt-for-climate and other targeted proceeds debt swaps must be implemented to reach a critical mass of these operations, as country-by-country negotiations are insufficient. As IMF researchers point out, debt-for-nature swaps can open new revenue streams, especially for countries with globally relevant biodiversity, by materializing investments in global public goods. Avaaz has prepared a detailed proposal for an integrated approach to debt-for-nature swaps that takes into account its enormous capacity for generating globally relevant ecosystem goods and services such as climate regulation. Among other urgent actions, whats needed now is a financial "haircut" to significantly reduce debt levels. "Haircuts" are a fundamental part of reaching a long-term solution to the debt crisis and will contribute to debt sustainability. Without a common agreement amongst creditors on reasonable "haircuts" and other necessary concessions, the debt crisis will continue to spiral on an unsustainable path. China has recently become more active on debt restructuring issues, in spite of blocking the inclusion of debt relief and specifically debt swaps in the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in its role as President of the Conference of the Parties. In March, following the G20 meetings in Bengaluru (India), China joined efforts by the Paris Club and multilateral creditors to support flexible measures as a principal creditor for Sri Lanka in order to pave the way for a new agreement with the IMF. China has also hinted at including debt insured by the China Export and Credit Insurance Corporation in support of broader Common Framework debt negotiations in Zambia. As the worlds largest bilateral creditor, without being a member of the Paris Club, there is an opportunity and global responsibility for China to step up in its efforts to provide comprehensive debt relief, particularly in Africa but in general in developing countries that have taken on additional debt as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/141638e5-6cbf-4d9e-a0fa-d7bb9fa0676b The photo is also available at Newscom, www.newscom.com, and via AP PhotoExpress. It takes two to tango: Avaaz urges IMF and China to tackle the joint ecological and debt crises Two Avaaz dancers impersonate China and IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, while performing El tango de la deuda, and a third dancer, representing Argentina, tries to be a part of the dance. Thus, Avaaz exemplifies the growing difficulty of developing countries in stabilizing their economies, which are increasingly affected by climate change on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, in Washington. (Joy Asico/AP Images for AVAAZ) Source: AVAAZ Houston, Texas, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- You may have heard the motto, "Those who dare to teach must never cease to learn." This principle strongly applies to two Houston-area educators who, through Centro Semillero at University of St. Thomas-Houston (UST), have confirmed their callings as teachers and fortified their faith. Moreover, they are applying the academic programs four pillars kindness, discipline, knowledge, and community to everything they do. Angel de Jesus Garcia, Current Masters Student One of them is Angel de Jesus Garcia, a college advisor at Houston Independent School District and currently enrolled in Centro Semilleros Master of Sacred Scriptures Program. "When my friends told me that St. Thomas was about to launch a master's degree program in Spanish, I went to orientation and decided to give it try, Garcia said. That's how I became part of the first generation of Spanish-speaking theology students, and I thank God for that decision." Garcia made this decision because it perfectly supported both his profession as an educator and his after-work role as a leader at his parish's youth ministry where he attends pastoral meetings, plans retreats, and creates Christian formation programs. About Centro Semillero Centro Semillero was created in 2019 as a graduate studies program in pastoral and biblical studies theology at the UST School of Humanities. Offered online and 100% in Spanish, Centro Semillero offers two postgraduate programs: a Master's in Pastoral Theology and a Master's in Sacred Scriptures. "Centro Semillero," according to its director Father Dempsey Rosales Acosta, is inspired by the book of Proverbs 2:2-3 when fulfilling the invitation to incline our hearts to the understanding and study of God to grow in his love. Our center offers the opportunity to fulfill this goal of personal and professional growth by obtaining a postgraduate degree in pastoral or biblical studies at UST from the comfort of your home with our 100% online programs." Iris Lai Nayas, MAPT 21 For Iris Lai Nayas, a 9th-grade Spanish teacher at Pasadena Independent School District, and a graduate of the Pastoral Theology program in 2021, the concepts she learned have opened a door for dialogue with colleagues from other religions. Nayas said, "The program has helped me find pastoral strategies for interacting with my colleagues, who are not necessarily Catholic. The strategies enable me to dialogue with all of my colleagues and live experiences of faith without losing the essence of mine." Most importantly, the program has made her realize that through her interactions with her students and peers, she can be a testament to God's presence. "Today, schools they have taken God out of the classroom but thanks to this program, I understand that God has never been outside, and it is up to me to present him, through values, justice, love, prudence, prayer, and faith," adds Nayas. Thanks to her graduate degree, Nayas is also a facilitator in the Small Communities of Salt and Light of Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers. How to Enroll Centro Semillero has open enrollment for new students. To learn more about Centro Semillero click here. Attachments MAPLE GROVE, Minn., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Financial Credit Unions Food Drive held during the month of March for the MN FoodShare March Campaign benefited two local non-profits, Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP) and Keystone Community Services. TopLine members and employees generously donated non-perishable food items of canned vegetables, soups, rice, and dry pasta to help fight hunger in our local communities. Employees were able to participate by donating non-perishable food items and money in exchange for a Foundation Friday/Saturday sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work. TopLine and community members could also purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist or Target Registry and have them delivered directly to TopLine, and in return we delivered to our charitable partners. When the program ended employees and members had donated over 555 pounds of food items and nearly $775 in cash to help restock the local agencies food shelves. With MN FoodShares estimation that one meal is about 1.2 pounds of food, TopLine employees and members we were able to provide over 462 meals to our local communities. TopLine is dedicated to working together to strengthen our local communities and support those that need food assistance, said Tom Smith, TopLine Financial Credit Union President and CEO. With our generous donations from our TopLine family of members and employees, we hope to help others alleviate some stress over food insecurity, and together with other donors, our contributions add up to provide stability in lives. For more than 40 years, Minnesota FoodShare has coordinated the March Campaign, the largest grassroots food and fund drive that provides more than half the food distributed by 300 food shelves statewide. The March Campaign is the only statewide effort where every dollar donated goes directly to fighting hunger locally. Each year Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP) and Keystone Family Services participate in the statewide food and fund drive to restock pantry shelves. For donors efforts, a portion of every dollar and pound of food raised is matched by Minnesota FoodShare. Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP), serving Hennepin and Anoka Counties, is a community-based, non-profit agency dedicated to providing information, referrals, advocacy and assistance to local communities. Visit www.ceap.org to learn more. Keystone Community Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystones mission is to strengthen the capacity of individuals and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservices.org to learn more. TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 11th largest, with assets of more than $769 million and serves 50,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its five branch locations in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit unions foundation, visit www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation. CONTACT:Vicki Roscoe EricksonSenior Vice President & Chief Marketing OfficerTopLine Financial Credit Union[email protected]763.391.0872 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee34f7e0-8341-4e89-814a-d20fe35acf7a TopLine employees and members help fight hunger amid rising demand at the food shelves TopLine employees and members help fight hunger amid rising demand at the food shelves Source: TopLine Financial Credit Union VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Eldorado Gold Corporation (Eldorado or the Company) will release its 2023 First Quarter Financial and Operational Results after the market closes on Thursday, April 27, 2023, and will host a conference call on Friday, April 28, 2023, at 11:30 AM ET (8:30 AM PT). Q1 2023 Financial and Operational Results Call Details Conference Call Details Replay (available until June 1, 2023) Date: April 28, 2023 Vancouver: +1 604 638 9010 Time: 11:30 AM ET (8:30 AM PT) Toll Free: 1 800 319 6413 Dial in: +1 604 638 5340 Access code: 0052 Toll free: 1 800 319 4610 The call will be webcast and can be accessed at Eldorado Golds website: www.eldoradogold.com, or via: https://services.choruscall.ca/links/eldoradogold2023q1.html About Eldorado Gold Eldorado is a gold and base metals producer with mining, development and exploration operations in Turkiye, Canada and Greece. The Company has a highly skilled and dedicated workforce, safe and responsible operations, a portfolio of high-quality assets, and long-term partnerships with local communities. Eldorado's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX: ELD) and the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: EGO). Contact Investor Relations Lynette Gould, VP, Investor Relations647.271.2827 or 1.888.353.8166 [email protected] Media Louise McMahon, Director Communications & Public Affairs604.757 5573 or 1.888.353.8166 [email protected] Source: Eldorado Gold Corporation ENDEAVOUR TO ANNOUNCE ITS Q1-2023 RESULTS ON 4 MAY 2023 London, 13 April 2023 Endeavour Mining plc (LSE:EDV, TSX:EDV, OTCQX: EDVMF) will release its Q1-2023 financial results on Thursday 4 May, before the LSE market open. Management will host a conference call and webcast on the same day, Thursday 4 May, at 8:30 am ET / 1:30 pm BST to discuss the Company's financial results. The conference call and webcast are scheduled at: 5:30am in Vancouver 8:30am in Toronto and New York 1:30pm in London 8:30pm in Hong Kong and Perth The webcast can be accessed through the following link: https://edge.media-server.com/mmc/p/8whuqzjj Click here to add a Webcast reminder to your Outlook Calendar. Analysts and investors are also invited to participate and ask questions by registering for the conference call dial-in via the following link:https://register.vevent.com/register/BI0cb3ce5aad11463296f6065541c24246 The conference call and webcast will be available for playback on Endeavour's website. CONTACT INFORMATION For Investor Relations Enquiries: For Media Enquiries: Martino De Ciccio Brunswick Group LLP in London Deputy CFO & Head of Investor Relations Carole Cable, Partner +44 203 011 2706 +44 7974 982 458 [email protected] [email protected] ABOUT ENDEAVOUR MINING PLC Endeavour Mining is one of the worlds senior gold producers and the largest in West Africa, with operating assets across Senegal, Cote dIvoire and Burkina Faso and a strong portfolio of advanced development projects and exploration assets in the highly prospective Birimian Greenstone Belt across West Africa. A member of the World Gold Council, Endeavour is committed to the principles of responsible mining and delivering sustainable value to its employees, stakeholders and the communities where it operates. Endeavour is admitted to listing and to trading on the London Stock Exchange and the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the symbol EDV. For more information, please visit www.endeavourmining.com. CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION This press release contains statements which constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable securities laws, including but not limited to statements regarding the plans, intentions, beliefs and current expectations of Endeavour with respect to future business activities and operating performance. Forward-looking information is often identified by the words may, would, could, should, will, intend, plan, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect or similar expressions. Investors are cautioned that forward-looking information is not based on historical facts but instead reflect Endeavour managements expectations, estimates or projections concerning future results or events based on the opinions, assumptions and estimates of management considered reasonable at the date the statements are made. Although Endeavour believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking information are reasonable, such information involves risks and uncertainties, and undue reliance should not be placed on such information, as unknown or unpredictable factors could have material adverse effects on future results, performance or achievements of Endeavour. This forward-looking information may be affected by risks and uncertainties in the business of Endeavour and market conditions. This information is qualified in its entirety by cautionary statements and risk factor disclosure contained in filings made by Endeavour with the Canadian securities regulators, including Endeavours annual information form for the financial year ended December 31, 2020 and financial statements and related MD&A for the financial year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the securities regulatory authorities in certain provinces of Canada and available at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Although Endeavour has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. Endeavour does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update this forward-looking information except as otherwise required by applicable law. Neither the Toronto Stock Exchange nor the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Attachment Source: Endeavour Mining PLC TORONTO, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Despite rising population and growing demand, more housing was constructed in Canadian cities during the 1970s than what is presently being built, according to a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian public policy think-tank. The reality is simple: Canada is not building enough homes to keep up with population growth or basic demand, said Steve Lafleur, senior fellow with the Fraser Institute and co-author of Canadas Housing Mismatch: Canadians want ground-oriented homes, but not enough are being built. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many of Canadas real estate markets have experienced significant price increases. The study finds that, Canada-wide home prices were 28 per cent higher in February 2023 than in March 2020, despite falling from record high appreciation in early 2022. Critically, ground-oriented single-family homes and townhouse prices increased by 31 per cent, compared with a 17 per cent increase among apartments over the same period. Despite strong demand, ground-oriented housing completions declined during the 2010s, alongside a general national decline in housing completions compared to the 1970s. Not only is there a widespread shortage of housing, but there is a growing mismatch between the housing types being built and those preferred by Canadians, said Josef Filipowicz, senior fellow at the Fraser Institute and study co-author. Clearly we should focus on the causes and consequences of this mismatch, as well as solutions for Canadians now and in the future. MEDIA CONTACT:Steve Lafleur, Senior FellowFraser Institute Josef Filipowicz, Senior FellowFraser Institute To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact:Drue MacPhersonMedia Relations Specialist, Fraser InstituteOffice: (604) 688-0221 ext. 721[email protected] Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter and Facebook The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institutes independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org Source: Fraser Institute VICTORIA, BRITISH COLUMBIA, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- FLEXIBLE SOLUTIONS INTERNATIONAL, INC. (NYSE- AMERICAN: FSI), is the developer and manufacturer of biodegradable polymers for oil extraction, detergent ingredients and water treatment as well as crop nutrient availability chemistry. Flexible Solutions also manufactures biodegradable and environmentally safe water and energy conservation technologies. Today the Company announces top line revenue for first quarter (Q1), 2023. Sales were lower in Q1, 2023 compared to Q1, 2022. Flexible Solutions top line revenue decreased from $10.783 million (Q1, 2022) to $9.883 million (Q1, 2023), down approximately 8% year over year Mr. Dan OBrien, CEO, comments, "Sales into agriculture markets were not as strong as last year, possibly due to weather and more just in time ordering by distribution compared to other years. We expect agricultural sales to resume growth in Q2." Complete financial results will be available on Monday, May 15, 2023 concurrent with the Companys SEC first quarter filings. A conference call will be scheduled for 8:00 am Pacific Time, 11:00 am Eastern Standard Time, the following business day, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. See the FSI May 15, 2023 financials news release for the dial in numbers. About Flexible Solutions International Flexible Solutions International, Inc. (www.flexiblesolutions.com), based in Victoria, British Columbia, is an environmental technology company. The Companys NanoChem Solutions Inc. subsidiary specializes in biodegradable, water-soluble products utilizing thermal polyaspartate (TPA) biopolymers. TPA beta-proteins are manufactured from the common biological amino acid, L-aspartic and have wide usage including scale inhibitors, detergent ingredients, water treatment and crop enhancement. Along with TPA, this division started producing other crop enhancement products as well. The other divisions manufacture energy and water conservation products for drinking water, agriculture, industrial markets and swimming pools throughout the world. FSI is the developer and manufacturer of WaterSavrTM, the worlds first commercially viable water evaporation retardant. WaterSavrTM reduces evaporation by up to 30% on reservoirs, lakes, aqueducts, irrigation canals, ponds and slow moving rivers. HeatsavrTM, a liquid blanket evaporation retardant for the commercial swimming pool and spa markets, reduces energy costs by 15% to 40% and can result in reduced indoor pool humidity. Safe Harbor Provision The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "Safe Harbor" for forward-looking statements. Certain of the statements contained herein, which are not historical facts, are forward looking statement with respect to events, the occurrence of which involve risks and uncertainties. These forward-looking statements may be impacted, either positively or negatively, by various factors. Information concerning potential factors that could affect the company is detailed from time to time in the company's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Flexible Solutions International6001 54th Ave, Taber, Alberta, CANADA T1G 1X4 Company ContactsJason BloomToll Free: 800.661.3560Fax: 403.223.2905Email: [email protected] To find out more information about Flexible Solutions and our products please visit www.flexiblesolutions.com If you have received this news release by mistake or if you would like to be removed from our update list please reply to: [email protected] Source: Flexible Solutions International, Inc BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR is working out an action plan to resume the operation of Zardab onshore oil field, the company told Trend. "Production at Muradkhanly and Jafarli is underway, while Zardab field is not operational," said the company. The total volume of oil production from Muradkhanly and Jafarli fields onshore Azerbaijan stands at 32 tons per day, 25 wells are operating at Muradkhanly and Jafarli fields. The total area of the Muradkhanly, Jafarli and Zardab fields is 642.2 square kilometers, and is divided into rehabilitation and exploration territories. The block is located in the Yevlakh-Agjabadi oil and gas region of Imishli district of Azerbaijan. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR and Zenith Aran Oil Company signed a REDPSA in March 2016 for a block that includes the Muradkhanly, Jafarli and Zardab oil fields. Zenith Energy Ltd established its subsidiary company Zenith Aran Oil Company Ltd for production operations in these three fields. Production under the agreement began in August 2016. In November 2020, Zenith Energy Ltd. announced that in agreement with Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR, the Contract Exploration Area (CEA) of its 25-year REDPSA (Rehabilitation, Exploration, Development and Production Sharing Agreement) has been terminated. Muradkhanly-Jafarli-Zardab block of oil fields onshore Azerbaijan is now under the control of Azneft Production Union of Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR and is operated by the Muradkhanly Oil and Gas Extraction Complex of Ali Amirov Oil and Gas Production Department. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @Lyaman_Zeyn SINGAPORE, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Group Limited (NYSE American: GNS) (Genius Group or the Company), a leading entrepreneur edtech and education group, announces that it will host a virtual investor meeting on Wednesday, April 19 2023, with its Chief Executive Officer, Roger Hamilton. The virtual meeting will be held as a YouTube Livestream, and will include: Timeline on ERL spinoff & special dividend Update on Genius Group M&A strategy Partnerships with SSBM, MBAs & DBAs New UAV Board of Advisor Appointments Results of NFT coupon program Upstream dual listing Update on legal actions and settlement An opportunity to answer questions and respond to shareholder enquiries As part of Genius Groups commitment to a high level of ongoing investor communications, the intention is for this Virtual Investor Meeting to be held on a monthly basis. To ensure all enquiries are answered, all shareholder questions need to be submitted in advance to the email address [email protected]. Webcast Information: Time: Wednesday, April 19, 2023, at 4:15 p.m. EST / 4:15 a.m. SGT Webcast: We will livestream the investor call on YouTube on the following link. An archived replay of the presentation will be available on Genius Groups Investor Relations website and on YouTube on the above link. About Genius Group Genius Group is a world leading entrepreneur Edtech and education group, with a mission to disrupt the current education model with a student-centered, life-long learning curriculum that prepares students with the leadership, entrepreneurial and life skills to succeed in todays market. The group has a group user base of 4.3 million users in 200 countries, ranging from ages 0 to 100. Investor Notice Investing in our securities involves a high degree of risk. Before making an investment decision, you should carefully consider the risks, uncertainties and forward-looking statements described in our most recent Annual Report on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2021, filed with the SEC on May 13, 2022. If any of these risks were to occur, our business, financial condition or results of operations would likely suffer. In that event, the value of our securities could decline, and you could lose part or all of your investment. The risks and uncertainties we describe are not the only ones facing us. Additional risks not presently known to us or that we currently deem immaterial may also impair our business operations. In addition, our past financial performance may not be a reliable indicator of future performance, and historical trends should not be used to anticipate results in the future. See "Forward-Looking Statements" below. Forward-Looking Statements Statements made in this press release include 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. Forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as may, will, plan, should, expect, anticipate, estimate, continue, or comparable terminology. Such forward-looking statements are inherently subject to certain risks, trends and uncertainties, many of which the Company cannot predict with accuracy and some of which the Company might not even anticipate and involve factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected or suggested. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements and are advised to consider the factors listed above together with the additional factors under the heading Risk Factors in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 20-F, as may be supplemented or amended by the Company's Reports of a Foreign Private Issuer on Form 6-K. The Company assumes no obligation to update or supplement forward-looking statements that become untrue because of subsequent events, new information or otherwise. Contacts Investors:Flora Hewitt, Vice President of Investor Relations and Mergers and AcquisitionsEmail: [email protected] Media Contacts: Adia PREmail: [email protected] US Investors:Dave GentryRedChip Companies Inc1-800-RED-CHIP[email protected] Source: Genius Group Limited London, UK, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Helio has announced a successful funding round, raising $3.3 million in a seed round to bring Web3 payments to the masses. Helio was founded by serial entrepreneurs Jim Walker and Stijn Paumen with a vision to build a Stripe for the Web3 economy that makes integrating blockchain-native payments as simple as setting up a Gmail account. The round is led by Peak and Lightspeed Faction, with further participation from RockawayX, Solana Labs and a group of leading angel investors. Payments is the ultimate blockchain killer app, promising lower fees, instant settlement for merchants, and increased privacy & friction-free checkouts for users. Our goal is to bring these benefits to 100s of millions of users over time by lowering the barriers of using web3 technology and offering a familiar payment UX, said Stijn Paumen, CEO of Helio. Were thrilled with the backing, which will allow us to execute on our roadmap, scale the platform and streamline onboarding new clients. Since launching in the summer of 2022, Helio has processed over $10 million in e-commerce, NFT sales, SaaS subscriptions, content paywalls, and other payments for over 900 merchant customers and 35,000 users. Helio features in the top 50 DeFi apps across all blockchains, according to DappRadar. Digital payments is a +10T market with double-digit growth driven by emerging payment technologies such as blockchain payments. We believe a sizeable share of transactions will be executed on blockchains in the coming decade, creating a multi-billion dollar revenue opportunity, said David Zwagemaker, Partner at Peak. Helio will be leading the way with their API and simple UI that makes it easy for anyone to integrate in minutes and process Web3 payments without any prior blockchain experience. Founders Jim & Stijn have worked together for 20 years building SaaS start-ups with two successful exits for a total of $600M Today, Helios solution provides a secure and convenient way for merchants, dApps, and creators to accept instant crypto payments across multiple blockchains, including Solana, Polygon, and Ethereum. The platform offers built-in content paywalling features that allow creators, such as podcasters, YouTubers, artists, NFT projects, media, or platforms to monetize content in a new way and reach a new audience with watch-to-earn models. We were instantly excited by Helios focus on digital content as an emerging use case for Web3 payments, said Sam Harrison, Managing Partner at Lightspeed Faction. A crypto wallet can also act as a portable digital identity, meaning creators can eliminate sign-ups from their checkout flow. At the same time, users can instantly unlock and pay for content with a micropayment and a single tap of their wallet saving 2-3 minutes it would take to sign up and pay over traditional, expensive card rails. That level of friction is completely removed with Helio. The funding will be used to build out the sales and marketing teams to strike partnerships with creator platforms and marketplaces. In addition, Helio will expand its engineering team to pursue the company's multi-chain strategy with launches planned for Bitcoin, Binance, as well as deliver an in-app wallet to enable Web2-style payment experiences and integrations. About Helio Helio powers payments for the Web3 economy. We offer a secure and convenient way for merchants, dApps, and creators to accept fully decentralised crypto payments for ecommerce, subscriptions, paywalling, invoicing and more across multiple blockchains About Peak Peak is a seed-stage venture capital fund investing across Europe from its offices in Amsterdam, Berlin, and Stockholm. For the past 15 years, Peak has specialized in SaaS, marketplaces, and platforms. Its investors include their active portfolio founders and other European entrepreneurs and operators. Allocated over five funds, Peak has invested in over 50 companies like Catawiki, Hygraph, StuDocu, Circula, Channable, Trengo, Breyta, Creative Fabrica, Blidz, and now, Helio. About Lightspeed Faction Faction is a joint-venture with Lightspeed Venture Partners. We back disruptive crypto projects at the early stage. We invest in the best entrepreneurs at the Seed and Series A, across both equity and tokens. We look to partner with BUIDLers who are working on something fundamentally useful in blockchain and who are passionately pushing the industry forward. We invest across the stack (layer zero to applications) and sectors (DeFi to NFTs). Regardless of vertical or horizontal, our north star is always the same: great entrepreneurs creating real utility and pushing the frontier. Tim Haldorsson PR Manager tim(at)lunarstrategy.com Source: Helio LAS VEGAS, NV, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NewMediaWire Hemp, Inc. (OTC: HEMP) announced today that the 2023 Farm Bill has been the topic of discussion as it is set to break down barriers for farmers interested in participating in the hemp industry. The carbon-sequestering plant has the potential to reshape U.S. agriculture so its on legislators minds as to how to handle the production of industrial hemp (the newly legalized crop). Hemp, Inc. executives believe the farm bill will be a great vehicle for updating and reforming agriculture policies, thus creating a solid framework to expand the industry. U.S. Senators Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) introduced their bipartisan Industrial Hemp Act on March 23, 2023 to ease the burden on farmers who grow grain and fiber hemp, or industrial hemp. The Senators bill would exempt farmers exclusively growing industrial hemp from the burdensome background checks and costly sampling and testing protocols required for farmers growing cannabinoid hemp. (Source) Montana farmers dont need government bureaucrats putting unnecessary burdens on their operations, said Senator Tester. Its time we cut red tape, and make it easier for industrial hemp farmers to get their product to market. My bipartisan bill builds on Montanas leadership on hemp policy and creates good-paying jobs for folks across rural America. Its important that we set American farmers up for success by cutting burdensome regulations and red tape, said Senator Braun. This legislation will expand opportunities for industrial hemp producers in Indiana and across the country and allow them to tap into one of the fastest growing agricultural markets. Montana has been a leader in hemp production and for many farmers, this crop gives us more crop rotation options, said Cyndi Johnson, President of Montana Farm Bureau Federation. We appreciate Senator Testers efforts to distinguish between different varieties and update the law to regulate their production more appropriately, giving farmers more certainty in their cropping decisions. According to the Environment Energy and Study Institute, hemp absorbs twice as much carbon per hectare of land than a forest does, and hemp derived products can be used to replace paper, petroleum-based plastics, and cotton fibers. But hemp, a strain of the Cannabis plant (from which marijuana is derived), was previously considered a Schedule 1 substance the most highly regulated narcotics under the Controlled Substances Act. The institute went on to say the 2023 Farm Bill can serve as an opportunity to ensure hemp is cultivated and produced to its fullest potential. Ambiguities in federal laws must be addressed to ensure that the hemp market, which was reported to be worth $824 million in 2021, continues growing. To read the full Industrial Hemp Act 2023, click here. To catch up with the latest news on Hemp, Inc., be sure to check out: New Look, New Feel for Hemp, Inc.s Hempinc.comHemp Inc.s Year to Date Sales Increase 315% Over Last Year Hemp Inc. Reports Third Quarter Results and Removal of Yield Sign Hemp Inc. Reveals Stunning Results of its Hemp Research Hempcrete Approved for U.S. Residential Construction Hemp Inc. See Significant Increase in Revenue Over the Last 3 Quarters Hemp, Inc. Offers CBD-CBG Topical Pain Relief Roll-On Hemp, Inc.s Chief Visionary Consultant Bruce Perlowin Brings Opportunity to Hemp, Inc. (August 8, 2022) Hemp Inc.s CBDA and CBGA Products on Sale Now (July 19, 2022) Hemp Inc.s Chief Visionary Consultant Bruce Perlowin talks with Stock Day podcast about Hemp Inc.s super potent line of CBD/CBG/CBN Products (July 7, 2022) Healthy Products for Healthy Living: A Look into Hemp, Inc.s Pure, Premium, and Potent CBD and Wellness Products (June 16, 2022) Hemp, Inc. Releases New High Potency CBD/CBG Vanilla Flavored Coffee Enhancer (June 9, 2022) Hemp, Inc.s King of Hemp CBD-CBG-CBN Natural Sleep Aid Capsules in Stock and On Sale (May 26, 2022) King of Hemp Natural and Vanilla-Flavored CBD/CBG Super Tinctures Now in Stock (May 12, 2022) The Company will continue to keep its shareholders up to date on all pertinent material events, product releases, production plans, and inventory availability. Those interested in distributing on a large-scale basis should email [email protected] or call 877-436-7564 for more information. The entire product line includes tinctures, gummies, capsules, and edibles in a variety of sizes, potencies, flavors, and formulas with a future focus on healthy foods for healthy living. About Hemp, Inc. With a deep-rooted social and environmental mission at its core, Hemp, Inc. (OTC: HEMP) seeks to build a business constituency for the American small hemp farmer, the American veteran, and other groups experiencing the ever-increasing disparity between tapering income and soaring expenses. The Company is on a mission to be a powerful engine for social change and economic revival, worldwide, by providing hemp products that are eco-friendly, sustainable, and healthy. Hemp, Inc. executives believe there can be tangible benefits reaped from adhering to a corporate social responsibility plan. Disclaimer:The information contained in this release is as of January 2023. The content is for information purposes and as such, should not be construed as legal, tax, investment, financial, or other advice. The release contains forward-looking statements. Bruce Perlowin3234206800[email protected] Source: Hemp, Inc. PALO ALTO, Calif., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MinIO Inc., creators of the MinIO multi-cloud object storage suite, announced today that the company has captured the attention of the industry with 2023 awards, achievements, and recognition from Gartner, GigaOm, CRN, the Data Breakthrough Awards, and the Cloud Awards. Less than four months into 2023, these record results solidify MinIO as the clear object storage leader. Being recognized by these high-profile technology industry leaders is a reflection of our commitment to delivering a world-class product with an outstanding customer experience to support it, said Kris Inapurapu, Chief Business Officer at MinIO. We will continue to innovate to meet the needs of our customers and are grateful for the recognition. 2023 Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer: Distributed File Systems and Object StorageMinIO was named a Customers Choice in the 2023 Gartner Peer Insights Voice of the Customer: Distributed File Systems and Object Storage. MinIO achieved a 4.7 star rating (out of five stars) in the 18-month period ending January 31, 2023. MinIO was placed in the upper-right of the Voice of the Customer quadrant and is therefore recognized with the Gartner Peer Insights Customers Choice distinction. The recognized vendors meet or exceed both the market average overall experience and the market average user Interest and adoption. MinIO is the only pure play object storage vendor to receive this recognition. Two of the other vendors that received this recognition have acknowledged that MinIO is the foundation of their object storage offerings. 2023 GigaOm Radar for Enterprise Object StorageThe GigaOm Radar for Enterprise Object Storage report recognizes MinIOs versatile object storage solution, broad range of use cases, DevOps-friendly support services and breadth of features supported by its large ecosystem. GigaOm cites MinIOs strengths as "a popular choice among object storage users, MinIOs lightweight and performant enterprise-grade solution is seeing improvements in usability and observability within its SUBNET component, making the solution easier to operate, manage, and monitor. 2023 GigaOm Radar for High Performance Object StorageThe GigaOm Radar for High Performance Object Storage report acknowledges the strong performance and consistency MinIO provides customers with demanding workloads such as Big Data analytics and AI. The report cites MinIOs strengths as "an impressive set of constantly evolving enterprise-grade features, with frequent enhancements. Its lightweight yet performant design provides flexible deployment options and broad workload support, including high-performance options and support. MinIO also offers the most advanced integration with Kubernetes on the market. The report also calls out MinIOs unique support for a multitude of enterprise applications, and its integration with Kubernetes, which provides additional flexibility for multi-tenancy and system management. MinIO is the only pure play object storage vendor to receive both GigaOm Radar recognitions. Two of the other vendors that received this recognition have acknowledged that MinIO is the foundation of their object storage offerings. 2023 Annual Data Breakthrough Awards Object Storage Solution of the Year MinIO has been selected as the Object Storage Solution of the Year award winner in the fourth annual Data Breakthrough Awards program. The award committee noted that MinIO has created the first multi-cloud object store. The AWS S3-compatible software runs everywhere, from the public cloud to private cloud, bare metal and the edge. MinIO runs on almost any conceivable hardware configuration - everything from a Raspberry Pi to an Nvidia GPU. MinIOs frictionless open source model is a high performance, Kubernetes-native, S3 compatible object store for a broad range of data storage use cases. The performance characteristics have made MinIO the object store of choice for leading machine learning frameworks, analytics, applications, databases, web applications and other performance-oriented workloads. MinIOs architecture is renowned for its simplicity and scales from TBs to EBs easily. 2023 CRN Storage 100 ListMinIO was named to the CRN Storage 100 list in the Software-Defined Storage category. The Storage 100 recognizes industry-leading storage vendors that provide transformative, channel-friendly products and services. MinIO was chosen for this years Storage 100 list by CRN editors for the companys perseverance in pushing the boundaries of innovation through cutting-edge technology and strategic partnerships. This years list represents the industry leaders of storage technology that can be used for on-premises or cloud deployments. MinIO Named a 2023 Cloud Awards Finalist for Best Use of the Cloud in a Multi-Cloud EnvironmentThe Cloud Awards program named MinIO a finalist for Best Use of the Cloud in a Multi-cloud Environment. The Cloud Awards celebrates the brightest and the best in Cloud Computing. Open to organizations across the globe, the Cloud Awards is the first and largest recognition platform of its kind. MinIO is a high performance, Kubernetes-native, S3 compatible object store for a broad range of data storage use cases. Its performance dramatically exceeds comparable object stores, delivering tens of gigabytes of data per node in throughput. The performance characteristics have made MinIO the object store of choice for leading machine learning frameworks, analytics applications, databases, web applications and other performance-oriented workloads. MinIO is the only object storage suite available on every public cloud, every Kubernetes distribution, the private cloud and the edge. MinIO is software-defined and is 100% open source under GNU AGPL v3. To learn more about MinIOs multi-cloud, Kubernetes-native object storage suite, visit: https://min.io/ Helpful Links About MinIOMinIO is pioneering high performance, Kubernetes-native object storage for the multi-cloud. The software-defined, Amazon S3-compatible object storage system is used by more than half of the Fortune 500. With 1.1B+ Docker downloads, MinIO is the fastest-growing cloud object storage company and is consistently ranked by industry analysts as a leader in object storage. Founded in 2014, the company is backed by Intel Capital, Softbank Vision Fund 2, Dell Technologies Capital, Nexus Venture Partners, General Catalyst and key angel investors. Media ContactKelly HallOffleash PR for MinIO[email protected] Gartner and Peer Insights are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Source: MinIO Washington DC, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) will host their annual Down Syndrome Advocacy Conference April 17 19, 2023 in Washington, D.C. This event will bring over 350 advocates, including over 100 advocates with Down syndrome, from 42 states and the District of Columbia to advocate for legislative priorities that impact the Down syndrome community. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the event is being held for the first time since 2019. The conference is held in partnership with advocacy partners, the National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) and the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) as well as the Down Syndrome Affiliates in Action (DSAIA), GiGis Playhouse Down Syndrome Achievement Centers (GiGis Playhouse), and LuMind IDSC Foundation (LuMind IDSC). This is the first time these national groups have come together for this event. Attendees will advocate for nondiscrimination in the organ transplant system, elimination of subminimum wage, inclusion of the Down syndrome community in Alzheimers disease initiatives, and more. We are thrilled to be returning to Capitol Hill alongside our partners and so many advocates to ensure that Congress hears directly from our community about issues that impact them, said NDSS President and CEO Kandi Pickard. Advocates within the Down syndrome community are passionate, and Im grateful for this opportunity to speak to Congress with a united voice. Attendees will take part in policy and advocacy training days on April 17th and 18th and will attend hundreds of meetings on Capitol Hill on April 19th. ### About NDSS The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS) is the leading human rights organization for all individuals with Down syndrome. NDSS empowers individuals with Down syndrome and their families by providing resources, driving policy change, engaging with local communities, and shaping public perceptions. Founded in 1979, NDSS supports and advocates for the Down syndrome community by focusing on three key areas of programming: Resources & Support, Policy & Advocacy and Community Engagement. Within these focus areas NDSS engages in various activities, events, and programs on topics that are critical to our community such as federal and state advocacy and public policy, health and wellness, education, and employment. NDSS creates resources to support individuals with Down syndrome, their families, and caregivers across the lifespan and hosts community events throughout the country including the National Buddy Walk Program, the Times Square Video presentation and New York City Buddy Walk, Racing for 3.21 for World Down Syndrome Day, Run for 3.21, and various other events. Visit www.ndss.org for more information. Attachment Press Release Nokia expands industrial edge applications to accelerate enterprises transition to Industry 4.0 Four new digital enablers expand OT edge applications offered on Nokia MX Industrial Edge. Industrial IoT platforms connect, collect and analyze data from disparate sources including video cameras unlocking its value. New security function protects from advanced threats in OT environment, improves security, which is essential for data exchange. 13 April 2023Espoo, Finland Nokia today launched four third-party applications for MX Industrial Edge (MXIE), which help enterprises connect, collect and analyze data from operational technology (OT) assets on a robust and secure on-premises edge. Asset-heavy industries can accelerate their digital transformation and benefit most from Nokias OT edge ecosystem-neutral approach, which taps into innovation from many top digitalization enablers. The new applications also leverage the GPU capability recently announced on Nokia MXIE, a powerful on-premises OT edge solution that helps process data closest to the source in real time while retaining data sovereignty. As enterprises move to digitalize operations they face some significant challenges. These include the collection, integration and analysis of all types of data including video from disparate systems, sensors and data silos, and having the certainty that sensitive data is protected once shared with other cloud ecosystems. With highly reliable 4.9G/5G private wireless connectivity and the low latency processing power of Nokia MXIE, these industry-leading applications help enterprises overcome these challenges making enterprise data usable, actionable and secure. As a result, many transformative use cases can be created, spanning early alerts and anomaly detection, condition monitoring, preventive and predictive maintenance, digital twins and more all of which help improve operations and increase return on investment. Additions to the Nokia Industrial Application Catalog include: Atos Computer Vision - Quality Inspector : Part of the Eviden business within Atos Group, this solution uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide applications which improve quality and productivity in manufacturing environments. It leverages modern deep learning to detect defects, foreign objects, anomalies, or incorrect setups with AI-based video analytics in real time. Enhanced by the new MXIE GPU capability, enterprises can quickly deliver models that achieve high accuracy even in challenging conditions. : Part of the Eviden business within Atos Group, this solution uses artificial intelligence (AI) to provide applications which improve quality and productivity in manufacturing environments. It leverages modern deep learning to detect defects, foreign objects, anomalies, or incorrect setups with AI-based video analytics in real time. Enhanced by the new MXIE GPU capability, enterprises can quickly deliver models that achieve high accuracy even in challenging conditions. Crosser : The low code streaming analytics and integration platform for industrial IoT and industry 4.0. Users can access a rich library of pre-built modules and connectors to build Intelligent data flows and pipelines for preprocessing, analyzing and acting on industrial data. Live loops of streaming data can be created for ingesting transformed, ready-to-use data to any machine, service, cloud, IoT platform or digital twin. : The low code streaming analytics and integration platform for industrial IoT and industry 4.0. Users can access a rich library of pre-built modules and connectors to build Intelligent data flows and pipelines for preprocessing, analyzing and acting on industrial data. Live loops of streaming data can be created for ingesting transformed, ready-to-use data to any machine, service, cloud, IoT platform or digital twin. Litmus Edge: The industrial edge data platform that puts data to work for operations to transform at scale. Unifying data collection, normalization, contextualization, and analytics at the edge and cloud, Litmus Edge unlocks intelligence to improve efficiency and profitability. Nearly 300 pre-built device drivers and integrations for OT assets and enterprise systems, along with digital twin and machine learning models, make it easier to address asset monitoring, anomaly detection, energy consumption, forecasting, predictive maintenance and more. Palo Alto Networks Next-Gen Firewall: Advanced security powered by Palo Alto Networks. Palo Alto Networks software Next Generation Firewalls (VM-Series and CN-Series) deployed on MXIE uses AI and ML to prevent sophisticated cyber threats in the OT environment, without adding physical hardware to the network. The comprehensive solution has industry-leading capabilities such as Advanced Threat Prevention, which blocks unknown command-and-control and exploit attempts in real-time, Advanced WildFire, which stops highly evasive malware, DNS Security, which stops emerging DNS based attacks. Additionally, IoT/OT Security quickly profiles all OT, IT and IoT devices and assets, and protects them. This enables advanced security on both the IT and OT sides of the network to protect the entire organization with best-in-class security. Todays news builds on Nokias partnership with Kyndryl, the worlds largest IT infrastructure services provider, which has a focus on designing, deploying, and managing industry-leading LTE and 5G private wireless networks and Industry 4.0 solutions to enterprises worldwide. By combining Kyndryls network and edge advisory and integration services with Nokias private wireless networks, industrial customers can achieve high-performance wireless connectivity in mission-critical environments. As a converged compute platform, Nokia MXIE supports the core operation of private wireless networks and hosts a multitude of OT edge computing applications. By leveraging Nokia MXIE, Kyndryl is helping customers implement end-to-end industrial use cases with a single orchestrated on-premises edge for both private wireless and digitalization enablers. The automation and digitalization benefits, from predictive maintenance, better worker safety, to quality assurance enables smarter, leaner factory operations and improves sustainability across industrial verticals from manufacturing, energy and gas, to mining. Chris McReynolds, Vice President, Offering Management, Network and Edge Practice at Kyndryl, said: We are pleased to expand our partnership with Nokia by integrating some of our customers mission-critical applications Litmus Edge and Palo Alto Next Gen Firewall on the Nokia MX Industrial Edge. Advanced IIoT edge platforms that facilitate a holistic view of enterprise-wide data, along with advanced security, are fundamental to enterprises who are seeking to accelerate their digital transformation to meet Industry 4.0 standards and create maximum business value. Stephan Litjens, Vice President of Enterprise Solutions at Nokia, said: These new applications unlock operational technology data from their silos while maintaining data security and privacy, which asset-heavy, mission-critical environments require for digital transformation. As we continue to expand the Nokia Industrial Application Catalog and work with leading software vendors and cloud providers, our ecosystem-neutral approach for MXIE means enterprises can choose best-of-breed applications to support a range of industrial use cases. This ultimately improves efficiency, worker safety and sustainability in our customers operations. Resources and additional informationNokia MX Industrial EdgeNokia MX Industrial Application CatalogKyndryl Network and Edge Computing About NokiaAt Nokia, we create technology that helps the world act together. As a B2B technology innovation leader, we are pioneering networks that sense, think and act by leveraging our work across mobile, fixed and cloud networks. In addition, we create value with intellectual property and long-term research, led by the award-winning Nokia Bell Labs. Service providers, enterprises and partners worldwide trust Nokia to deliver secure, reliable and sustainable networks today and work with us to create the digital services and applications of the future. Media inquiriesNokia Communications, CorporateEmail: [email protected] Nokia Communications, EnterpriseEmail: [email protected] Follow us on social mediaLinkedIn Twitter Instagram TikTok Facebook YouTube Source: Nokia Oyj Vancouver, BC, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today, Safe Software (Safe), the only all-data enterprise integration company, is proud to announce its new corporate identity. The almost 30-year-old software leaders revitalized brand was inspired by the innovative ways in which its customers use the companys FME (Feature Manipulation Engine) platform. FME is the only data integration platform with true support for spatial data. The rebrand introduces new product names, FME Form, FME Flow, FME AR, FME Mobile, and FME Flow Hosted. With these powerful tools, users can process and convert data, seamlessly creating workflows that extend the reach of data integration. The privately owned company achieved $70M in revenue in 2022 and is on target to achieve $90M in revenue in 2023, with no shortage of growth plans and a goal to more than triple revenue in the next five years to hit $250M. The business has been profitable since its inception in 1993 and over 20,000 organizations worldwide trust FME technology for their enterprise integration solutions, across 120+ countries and localized in multiple languages. "Our new look embodies Safe Softwares ethos and demonstrates the companys unwavering commitment to assist the world in its pursuit of harnessing the power of data, comments Don Murray, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Safe Software. Our new brand is an important step forward as we strive to triple our revenue in the coming years. The new FME logo represents the platform, its relationship to Safe Software, and, above all else, the infinite possibilities FME provides its users. "The brand showcases our passion for spatial data and our dedication to using innovation to provide ever increasing value to our customers, comments Dale Lutz, Co-Founder and Co-CEO of Safe Software. Our latest product updates in FME:23 will enable Safe Software to continue delivering our mission and allow our technology to remain at the forefront of our industry. Over the years, FME has evolved into a unique enterprise integration platform and Safe Software is confident that no other solution comes close to FME's spatial, no-code, and deploy-anywhere capabilities. Safe's commitment to customers is exemplified in the company's recent Customers' Choice recognition in the 2023 Gartner Peer Insights 'Voice of the Customer' for Data Integration Tools. By keeping customers at the center of its values, Safe Software aims to provide superior service and technology to everyone. At the heart of Safes mission is the knowledge that data can make a difference in all peoples lives. By empowering people and enterprises to unlock the full potential of information, including spatial data, Safe Software is helping create a connected, informed, and innovative future. For more information about Safe Software and its new visual identity, please visit www.safe.com. About Safe Software: Headquartered in Surrey, British Columbia, Safe Software is the creator of FME, the only enterprise integration platform with comprehensive support for spatial data. The company was founded in 1993 by Don Murray and Dale Lutz and was born out of their passion for data. Whether your challenges have to do with spatial data, big data, stream processing, cloud migration, or business intelligence, Safe Software is here to help you spend more time reaping the benefits of information, and less time fighting it. The privately owned company earned over $70M in revenue in 2022 and has no shortage of growth plans, with a goal to more than triple revenue in the next five years. About FME by Safe Software: The FME Platform has built-in support for thousands of systems as well as 800+ out-of-the-box transformers allowing users to build and automate custom integration workflows without having to code. Over 20,000 organizations worldwide trust FME technology for their enterprise integration solutions. Through Safe Softwares international partner network, FME is used in 120+ countries around the world and has been localized into multiple languages. Gartner and Peer Insights: Gartner and Peer Insights are trademarks of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates. All rights reserved. Gartner Peer Insights content consists of the opinions of individual end users based on their own experiences, and should not be construed as statements of fact, nor do they represent the views of Gartner or its affiliates. Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in this content nor makes any warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this content, about its accuracy or completeness, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose. Elan Paris DGPR 778 988 6526 [email protected] Katie Lee Safe Software 778 238 3623 [email protected] Source: Safe Software Company Announcement No. 17/2023 Copenhagen, 13 April 2023 Results of the Annual General Meeting of Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S (the "Company") held its annual general meeting today. The outcome of the general meeting was as follows: 1. Adoption of the audited annual report The audited annual report was adopted by the general meeting. 2. Appropriation of profit as recorded in the adopted annual report The general meeting approved the Board of Directors proposal that for the financial year 2022 the Company pays a dividend of DKK 8.25 per share of DKK 1. 3. Presentation of the Companys remuneration report for an advisory vote The remuneration report was approved by the general meeting. 4. Adoption of the remuneration of the Board of Directors and Board committees The general meeting approved the Board of Directors proposal for compensation to the Board of Directors for the financial year 2023 as follows (unchanged from 2022): Ordinary members of the Board of Directors are paid a base annual fee of DKK 440,000 The chairman of the Board of Directors receives three times the base annual fee The vice-chairman of the Board of Directors receives two times the base annual fee The chairman of the Audit Committee receives a fee corresponding to 75 percent of the base annual fee Other members of the Audit Committee receive a fee corresponding to 37.5 percent of the base annual fee The chairman of each of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee receives a fee corresponding to 25 percent of the base annual fee The members of each of the Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee receive a fee corresponding to 12.5 percent of the base annual fee The fees for the chairmen and members of the committees are in addition to their fee as chairman, vice-chairman or member of the Board of Directors. In addition to the above, the Company may, in accordance with the Companys remuneration policy, also pay social contributions and similar fees that it may be charged by foreign authorities in relation to the fees paid to members of the Board of Directors. Further, the Company may pay travel expenses and other expenses related to the work as a member of the Board of Directors. Additionally, Henrik Amsinck (the Board member with special IT competences) shall receive separate supplementary remuneration corresponding to 25 percent of the base annual fee for a specific ad hoc task in relation to the Companys project OneProcess (global roll out of ERP SAP S/4HANA). 5. Reduction of the Companys share capital The general meeting approved the Board of Directors proposal that the Companys share capital is reduced by cancelling some of the Companys treasury shares of a nominal value of DKK 6,000,000. After the reduction, the nominal value of the Companys share capital will be DKK 87,000,000. Prior to the implementation of the capital reduction, the Companys creditors will be requested to file any claims they may have against the Company within a period of 4 weeks. The request will be published via the Danish Business Authoritys IT system. The capital reduction will be implemented after expiry of the said 4-week deadline, unless the capital reduction cannot be implemented at such time under the provisions of the Danish Companies Act. Once the capital reduction has been completed, Article 3.1 of the Companys Articles of Association will be amended to reflect the resolution to reduce the share capital. The Company will publish an announcement once the reduction of the share capital has been completed. 6. Adoption of an amendment to Articles of Association to include an indemnification scheme for members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management The general meeting approved the Board of Directors proposal to adopt an amendment to the Articles of Association to implement an indemnification scheme for members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management in accordance with applicable Danish law. Consequently, a new Article 13 is included in the Companys Articles of Association and the numbering of the subsequent Articles is changed accordingly. 7. Adoption of an amendment to Remuneration Policy to include an indemnification scheme for members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management The general meeting approved the Board of Directors proposal to adopt an amendment to the Remuneration Policy to implement an indemnification scheme for members of the Board of Directors and the Executive Management in accordance with applicable Danish law. 8. Election of members to the Board of Directors The general meeting re-elected Henrik Brandt, Henrik Amsinck, Dianne Blixt, Marlene Forsell, Claus Gregersen and Anders Obel as members of the Board of Directors. 9. Election of auditor(s) PricewaterhouseCoopers Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerskab was re-elected as auditor of the Company. -- Employee-elected members of the Board of Directors as of today are Mark Draper, Trine Eriksen and Thomas Thomsen who were all elected at a recently held election. The Board of Directors has appointed Henrik Brandt as chairman of the Board of Directors. Members of the Audit Committee are Marlene Forsell (chairman), Dianne Blixt and Anders Obel. Members of the Nomination Committee as well as the Remuneration Committee are Henrik Brandt (chairman), Dianne Blixt and Claus Gregersen. For further information, please contact: Torben Sand, Head of Investor Relations and Communication phone: +45 5084 7222 or [email protected] About Scandinavian Tobacco Group Scandinavian Tobacco Group A/S is a world-leading manufacturer of handmade and machine-rolled cigars with an annual production of more than four billion cigars. The Group holds market-leading positions in several categories and its products are sold in more than 100 markets. Scandinavian Tobacco Group has its headquarters in Copenhagen, Denmark and employs approximately 10,000 people in Europe, the US, Canada, the Dominican Republic, Honduras, Nicaragua, Indonesia and Sri Lanka. For more information please visit www.st-group.com Attachment COMPANY ANNOUNCEMENT No. 164/2023 Tvis, 13 April 2023 COURSE OF THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Annual General Meeting was held 13 April 2023 at 05.00 PM on the companys address, Skautrupvej 22b, Tvis, 7500 Holstebro. The Board of Directors report was not subject for voting. The Annual General Meeting took note of the report. The audited Annual Report of 2022 was approved by the Annual General Meeting. The Annual General Meeting approved the presented remuneration report. The Annual General Meeting likewise approved that the fees for the Board of Directors for 2023. The proposal from the Board of Directors regarding no dividend payment in 2023 was approved by the Annual General Meeting. Sanna Mari Suvanto-Harsaae, Anders Tormod Skole-Srensen, Carsten Bjerg, Sren Mygind Eskildsen and Jan Amtoft were all reelected. In addition, Pernille Wendel Mehl and Erika Hummel were elected to the Board of Directors. Pursuant the proposal from the audit committee of the Board of Directors, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Statsautoriseret Revisionspartnerselskab, was re-elected as auditor by the Annual General Meeting. Furthermore, the Board of Director had the below stated proposals: a) The Board of Directors proposed that in the articles of association 14, a provision regarding indemnification of board and management members is included. The proposal was approved by the Annual General Meeting in accordance with to the proposal. b) The Board of Directors proposed that the Board of Directors is authorised to increase the share capital. The proposal was approved by the Annual General Meeting. c) The Board of Directors proposed that the Board of Directors is authorised to acquire treasury shares. The proposal was approved by the Annual General Meeting. d) The Board of Directors proposed that the Board of Directors is authorised to distribute extraordinary dividend. The proposal was approved by the Annual General Meeting. Following the Annual General Meeting, the Board of Directors constituted itself by electing Sanna Mari Suvanto-Harsaae and Anders Tormod Skole-Srensen as Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors. For further information please contact: Torben Paulin, CEO, TCM Group A/S, +45 21 21 04 64 About TCM Group TCM Group is Scandinavias third largest manufacturer of kitchens and furniture for bathrooms and storage. The products are designed and produced in Denmark and rooted in a proud tradition of good quality and good craftsmanship. TCM Group pursues a multi-brand strategy, under which the main brand is Svane Kkkenet and the other brands are Tvis Kkken and Nettoline. Combined, the brands cater for the entire price spectrum, and are sold through c. 140 dealers in Denmark and the rest of the Scandinavia. TCM Group sells private label kitchens through DIY stores in Denmark and independent kitchen stores in Norway. TCM Group is supplier to the 45% owned e-commerce kitchen business Celebert, which operates under the brands kitchn.dk, billigskabe.dk, Celebert and Just Woods. See www.tcmgroup.dk for more information. Attachment JINHUA, CHINA, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From April 8 to 9, the "2023 China WuYi Eighth Fairy Tale Conference and Jinhua Children's Cultural Tourism Industry Expo" was held in Jingyuan, WuYi. This event was hosted by "Wuyi County Publicity Department of Jinhua Municipal Committee". Fairy tale writers, editors, scholars, children's literature enthusiasts and children's cultural tourism industry exhibitors and buyers across the country gathered in WuYi for fairy tales, shared fairy tales and adventures, and embarked on a magical journey to WuYi. The conference mainly included four sections: cooperation project negotiation, product exhibition and sale, forum and study. There were many highlights of activities. In addition to the regular fairy tale competitions, forums, seminars, literary and artistic performances, lectures by famous scholars, protection of young crops and special actions, "Green Bookmarks Action", "Study Zhejiang WuYi Fairy Tale Train" launch ceremony and children's book flea market of previous conferences, new activities such as "Fairy Tale Script Killing Guardian of Young Crops" and "Jingyuan Ancient Architecture Guardian of Young Crops in Wuzhou" were added. The Children's Cultural Tourism Industry Expo, a major highlight of this fairy tale conference, gave birth to the Children's Cultural Tourism Industry Development Forum, live broadcast of product promotions under the theme of "With Fairy Tales, Just Buy It", "Invite Guests to Wuzhou" trampling line activities, and "Supermarkets Return to Wuzhou" trade docking and other business activities sub-brands, combining "Poetry and Distance" to let the fairy tales bloom. At the opening ceremony, five cultural tourism cooperation projects completed the signing ceremony. These key cultural tourism signing projects will lead the IP industrialization transformation and development of Jinhua fairy tales and literature. "This conference has built a new hotspot for the development of WuYi cultural tourism industry, and created an exhibition and sales platform for children's series products for enterprises, so as to further promote rural revitalization and common prosperity." The relevant person in charge of WuYi County introduced that the conference is expected to achieve a total investment of 450 million yuan in cultural tourism project contracts and trade intentions, and the transaction volume of children's cultural tourism products (online and offline) will be about 50 million yuan, driving accommodation, catering, scenic spot tickets, research and study experience, shopping and other income of about 10 million yuan. In recent years, relying on the "Tong Tong Fairy Tale" brand, WuYi has always insisted on holding the Fairy Tale Conference to be a fairy tale feast that has new ideas every year, has fairy tales in every scene, and is yearned for by children. Continuously iterated the "Fairy Tale WuYi" brand, produced 11 fairy tale microfilms, 120 fairy tale radio dramas and entered the campus. The study tour to WuYi to perform fairy tales is in full swing. The 36-episode animated film "Back to Nanxia" is being intensively prepared. Fairy tale IP conversion products such as Hanging silkworms and Foolish Road have been developed. The attractiveness of the conference brand has been further enhanced, and the path of integrated development of fairy tale industry and cultural tourism has gradually become clear. Media Contact Wuyi County Publicity Department of Jinhua Municipal Committee Email: [email protected] Tel: +86 15857143688 Website: http://www.8531.cn SOURCE: Wuyi County Publicity Department of Jinhua Municipal Committee Source: Wuyi County Publicity Department of Jinhua Municipal Committee BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Special Communication and Information Security State Service of Azerbaijan is working on creating a new e-mail system for government agencies in Azerbaijan, Tural Mammadov, Chief Information Security Officer at the service, during an event themed "Sustainable Development Technologies: Technologies of the Fourth Industrial Revolution and Cloud Solutions", Trend reports. "By the end of the year it is expected to complete both preparing the project and move the government agencies to this system," Mammadov said. He said that today 250 government agencies have more than 30,000 email addresses in more than 500 domain names. Speaking on cloud technologies, he said Azerbaijan continues to improve local cloud technologies. In particular, the country is looking to decrease dependence on cloud servers located outside the country. "Work is underway to find proper cloud solutions from the Ministry of Digital Development and Transport, as well as by other public and private organizations," he said. NEW YORK, NY, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Trend Innovations Holding Inc. (OTCQB: TREN), a company specializing in acquiring, creating, and developing innovative software technologies that utilize artificial intelligence (AI), will combine two recent acquisitions to upgrade and launch a more robust version of the companys newly acquired InstantFAME platform. InstantFAME is a mobile and web application, which operates in the multi-billion-dollar digital artwork marketplace for artists to securely publish and sell their digital artwork. The plan is for Trend Innovations to use its other acquisition, the sophisticated machine learning AI system, Avant! AI (Avant), to advance the functionality of InstantFAME, including plans to develop an NFT marketplace and gallery, which would land the company in the highly lucrative and extremely popular non-fungible tokens (NFT) arenaone of the fastest-growing sectors in the crypto industry. NFTs are one-of-a-kind digital assets that are provably unique and issued/stored on the blockchain, which is a form of digital ledger. NFTs are created in many forms, including artwork, digital collectibles, music, and even items in video games. Each non-fungible token contains identifying information recorded in smart contracts, and its this information that makes each NFT unique. This uniqueness is why they cannot be directly replaced by another token and what gives the assets their value. Bitcoin, for instance, is a fungible token because you can trade one for another. Online art and digital artwork sales are booming and represent an ever-growing market worldwide. Throw NFTs into the mix and there is real potential to create something special. Enter Avant AI, which presents Trend Innovations with the exciting opportunity to either incorporate a built-in NFT marketplace into InstantFAME or to develop a similar stand-alone product. Either way the company is now armed with the technology to create a blockchain-based, decentralized, social media platform with a built-in NFT marketplace and gallery that caters specifically to creators and investors. Its a development that would exponentially broaden the companys offerings in the digital art sales industry. Why is this significant to Trend Innovations shareholders? Well, Bitcoin has bolted back to around $30,000. The NFT market surged in February, topping $2 billion in total trading volume according to data from DappRadara 117% increase from the previous month. And that momentum remained strong last month with an additional $2 billion in total trading for a total of $4 billion in total trading during February and March alone. Grand View Research reports that the global non-fungible token market is expected to reach $211.72 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 34.2% from 2023 to 2030. The research firm suggests the growing demand for digital art worldwide is one of the major factors driving growth in the NFT market. Digital art refers to any artistic work or practice that uses digital technology as part of the creative or presentation process. And the online art sales market where the Companys InstantFAME platform will call home, is valued at more than $13 billion globally, while in the U.S., the digital artwork marketplace is projected to reach $6.5 billion in sales this year. These figures dont include NFTs. InstantFAME will offer artists and art lovers an opportunity to connect and grow the digital art community in a safe and social atmosphere. Artists upload their digital art to InstantFAME, and then gain a following on the platform that rewards them with likes for their works of art, which in turn, increases the monetary value for each of their pieces, and ultimately delivers the artists a platform to sell their work. Advancing the functionality and increasing InstantFAMEs capabilities will provide a much-improved platform for digital artists. Trend Innovations will integrate Avant AI within InstantFAME to both manage and supervise monetizing the platform, as well as enhancing its cybersecurity and censuring systems. The companys CEO stated, Avant AI will be controlling pattern recognition censorship technology to provide a moral and safe environment for all ages and communities. It is also planned to use Avant to support NFT platforms in the future, maintaining data in the blockchain and managing inner application operations. Additionally, the Avant machine learning technology will be used to identify security requirements, pointing out cyber threats and potential vulnerabilities, quantifying critical threats/vulnerabilities, and prioritizing remediation methods. These upgrades will demonstrate just a fraction of what the companys new powerful and sophisticated AI engine can do. And the upgrades to InstantFAME will set in motion the opportunity for Trend Innovations to become the go-to marketplace for artists, including those who create NFTs. To learn more about Trend Innovations Holding, visit https://trendinnovationsholding.com About Trend Innovations Holding Inc. Trend Innovations Holding is an expert in the field of information technology based on artificial intelligence. Recently, Trend Innovations acquired Avant! AI and InstantFAME, two technologies operating in multi-billion-dollar industries. The companys Thy News application is one of the company's key projects. Thy News is a worldwide application used for processing news from multiple sources. Thy News was created for users who value their time but want to keep up with the latest in world news. The app offers the user the opportunity to create their own news feeds solely from those sources that are of interest to them, as well as creating additional news feeds segmented by topic. About Stock Market Media Group Stock Market Media Group is a News and Media content development IR firm offering a platform for corporate stories to unfold in the media with press releases, feature news articles, research reports, corporate videos, and radio-style CEO interviews. This article was written based on publicly available information. Stock Market Media Group may, from time to time, include our own opinions about the companies, their business, markets and opportunities in our articles. Any opinions we may offer about any of the companies we write about are solely our own and are made in reliance upon our rights under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and are provided solely for the general opinionated discussion of our readers. Our opinions should not be considered to be complete, precise, accurate, or current investment advice, or construed or interpreted as research. Any investment decisions you may make concerning any of the securities we write about are solely your responsibility based on your own due diligence. Our publications are provided only as an informational aid, and as a starting point for doing additional independent research. We encourage you to invest carefully and read the investor information available at the web site of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission at www.sec.gov . We also recommend, as a rule, that before investing in any securities, you consult with a professional financial planner or advisor, and you should conduct a complete and independent investigation before investing in any security after prudent consideration of all pertinent risks. We are not a registered broker, dealer, analyst, or advisor. We hold no investment licenses and may not sell, offer to sell, or offer to buy any security. Our publications about Trend Innovations are not a recommendation to buy or sell a security. Should Stock Market Media Group and its management own shares in the profiled company, they may benefit from any increase in the share price of the profiled companies and hold the right to sell the shares bought at any given time including shortly after the release of the companys profile. Section 17(b) of the 1933 Securities and Exchange Act requires publishers who distribute information about publicly traded securities for compensation, to disclose who paid them, the amount, and the type of payment. Under the Securities Act of 1933, Section 17(b), Stock Market Media Group discloses that it was remunerated twelve-thousand dollars on April 1, 2023, paid for by a third party via bank wire, to produce content related to Trend Innovations. Stock Market Media Group and its management do not own any shares in Trend Innovations and never accepts compensation in free-trading shares for its marketing services of the company being profiled, however third parties that have compensated Stock Market Media Group may hold free-trading shares of the company being profiled and could very well be selling, holding or buying shares of the companys stock at the same time the content is being disseminated to potential investors; this should be viewed as a definite conflict of interest and as such, the reader should take this into consideration. If Stock Market Media Group ever accepts compensation in the form of free trading shares of the company being profiled and decides to sell these shares into the public market at any time before, during, or after the release of the companys profile, our disclaimer will be updated accordingly to reflect the current position of any free trading shares received as compensation for our services. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- ValOre Metals Corp. (ValOre; TSXV: VO; OTCQB: KVLQF; Frankfurt: KEQ0, the Company) today announced the filing a technical report, in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101"), for the Company's Angilak Property (Angilak), titled "NI 43-101 Technical Report for the Angilak Property, Kivalliq Region, Nunavut, Canada" (the "Technical Report") and dated March 31, 2023 (with an effective date of March 1, 2023). The Technical Report was prepared and compiled for ValOre Metals Corp. and Labrador Uranium by independent representatives of APEX Geoscience Ltd., Michael B. Dufresne, and Philo Schoeman, each of whom is a "qualified person" (within the meaning of NI 43-101). The Technical Report supersedes the prior technical report on the Project dated March 1, 2013, and was completed as a part of the March 14, 2023 Definitive Agreement to sell 100% interest in Angilak to Labrador Uranium. CLICK HERE for ValOres news release dated March 14, 2023. The Technical Report can be found on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Option and Warrant Repricing ValOre has submitted an application for TSX Venture Exchange approval for the repricing of 11,550,000 options and 11,700,000 warrants granted and up to 8,750,000 warrants to be issued upon closing of the current ValOre private placement. See schedule of the proposed number of options and warrants and respective exercise prices and expiration dates below. Options proposed for repricing Number of Options Current Exercise Price Expiry Date 3,525,000 $0.25 September 6, 2024 1,425,000 $0.30 August 10, 2023 6,600,000 $0.45 December 9, 2024 Warrants proposed for repricing Number of Warrants Current Exercise Price Expiry Date 3,525,000 $0.25 September 6, 2024 1,575,000 $0.30 August 10, 2023 6,600,000 $0.45 December 9, 2024 8,750,000 $0.30 Will be dated upon close of current private placement The repricing of the options and warrants would only be completed subsequent to the closing of ValOres previously announced disposition of the Angilak Property to Labrador Uranium Inc. (CSE: LUR). In order to reflect the new value of ValOres equity after completion of the transaction, the Company intends to re-price the exercise price of the options and warrants to equal the ten (10) day volume-weighted average price of the Companys common shares on the TSX-V commencing on the first full trading day after the closing of the disposition of Angilak. The Company intends to seek the requisite disinterested shareholder approval for the option and warrant repricing required under Exchange policies at its upcoming shareholder meeting to be held on May 12, 2023. There is no assurance that ValOre will receive Exchange and / or disinterested shareholder approval to reprice the options and warrants. Certain options and warrants are held by insiders and related parties, and as such, would constitute a related party transaction as defined under Multilateral Instrument 61-101, Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. However, such actions are exempt from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements of MI 61-101 as neither the fair market value of the options and / or warrants, exceeds 25 per cent of the company's market capitalization. About ValOre Metals Corp. ValOre Metals Corp. (TSXV: VO) is a Canadian company with a portfolio of highquality exploration projects. ValOres team aims to deploy capital and knowledge on projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through exploration, process improvement, and innovation. The Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE) Project comprises 52 exploration licenses covering a total area of 56,852 hectares (140,484 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 7 distinct PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a 2022 NI 43-101 inferred resource of 2.198 Moz 2PGE+Au contained in 63.6 Mt grading 1.08 g/t 2PGE+Au (CLICK HERE for news release dated March 24, 2022). All the currently known Pedra Branca inferred PGE resources are potentially open pittable. On behalf of the Board of Directors, Jim Paterson James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO ValOre Metals Corp. For further information about ValOre Metals Corp., or this news release, please visit our website at www.valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations at 604.653.9464, or by email at [email protected]. ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of Discovery Group. For more information please visit: http://www.discoverygroup.ca/ Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could influence actual results or events and cause actual results or events to differ materially from those stated, anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number of important factors including those set forth in other public filings could cause actual outcomes and results to differ materially from those expressed in these forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include the future operations of ValOre and economic factors. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the date of this release and, except as required by applicable law, ValOre does not undertake any obligation to publicly update or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its financial or operating results or (as applicable), their securities. Source: ValOre Metals Corporation Despite its relative youth, Americas nascent cannabis industry has been one of the most prolific job creators in the country. As of January 2022, more than 420,000 people nationwide had full-time jobs in the state-legal cannabis industry. The industry has been among the fastest-growing sectors in the country in recent years, and it is predicted to be worth $47.5 billion by 2030 as more states launch their own markets and sales pick up. Missouri, a traditionally conservative state, is enjoying some of the labor benefits of cannabis reform after it Read More>> NOTE TO INVESTORS: The latest news and updates relating to IGC Pharma Inc. (NYSE American: IGC) are available in the companys newsroom at https://cnw.fm/IGC About CNW420 CNW420 spotlights the latest developments in the rapidly evolving cannabis industry through the release of two informative articles each business day. Our concise, informative content serves as a gateway for investors interested in the legalized cannabis sector and provides updates on how regulatory developments may impact financial markets. Articles are released each business day at 4:20 a.m. and 4:20 p.m. Eastern our tribute to the time synonymous with cannabis culture. If marijuana and the burgeoning industry surrounding it are on your radar, CNW420 is for you! Check back daily to stay up-to-date on the latest milestones in the fast -changing world of cannabis. To receive instant SMS alerts, text CANNABIS to 21000 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information please visit https://www.CNW420.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW420, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer Do you have questions or are you interested in working with CNW420? Ask our Editor CannabisNewsWire420 Denver, Colorado http://www.CNW420.com 303.498.7722 Office [email protected] CNW420 is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork. AROYA, a division of ADDIUM Inc., announced a wide release of its integration with the controller OpenSprinkler; the integration empowers growers by providing data to guide their crop-steering decisions while also simplifying an additional aspect of cannabis cultivation. According to the announcement, the release brings added visibility and data-driven control to commercial cultivation and cultivators irrigation strategies; the announcement also noted that an estimated 30-40% of cultivators currently use OpenSprinkler for drip irrigation. The new integration eliminates the need to access other programs separate spreadsheets, reducing complexity while bringing more visibility to commercial cultivation. Enabling integrations with third-party systems solidifies AROYAs unrivaled position as the cannabis industrys most intuitive platform, providing growers with the control, flexibility, visibility, and data-driven insights to manage every stage of cultivation, said AROYA president Scott Campbell in the press release. It made sense for us to take just one more small step, not to become a controls company but to offer an integration with a controlled system that people commonly use in the cannabis industry. Now cultivators can have much better control and take those insights that they get from looking at their data and put it right to what changes theyre going to make, which is their irrigation strategy, without having to leave the platform. . . . Simply put, we empower growers of all sizes with intelligent automation to not only survive, but also thrive in increasingly competitive markets. To view the full press release, visit https://cnw.fm/dxjrb About AROYA AROYA is the leading cannabis production platform, combining forward-thinking science, sensors and software to empower cultivators with data-driven insights that help them increase yield, scale operations and achieve consistent quality. Based in Washington, AROYA brings 30 years of experience in sensor development to the ag tech industry, enabling cultivators to do more with less while making more purpose-driven decisions for their businesses. For more information about the company, visit www.AROYA.io. About CannabisNewsWire CannabisNewsWire (CNW) is an information service that provides (1) access to our news aggregation and syndication servers, (2) CannabisNewsBreaks that summarize corporate news and information, (3) enhanced press release services, (4) social media distribution and optimization services, and (5) a full array of corporate communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and content distribution company with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, CNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. CNW has an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the country. By cutting through the overload of information in todays market, CNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. CNW is where news, content and information converge. To receive SMS text alerts from CannabisNewsWire, text Cannabis to 844-397-5787 (U.S. Mobile Phones Only) For more information please visit https://www.cannabisnewswire.com Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the CannabisNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by CNW, wherever published or re-published: http://CNW.fm/Disclaimer Do you have questions or are you interested in working with CNW? Ask our Editor CannabisNewsWire (CNW) Denver, Colorado www.cannabisnewswire.com 303.498.7722 Office [email protected] CannabisNewsWire is part of the InvestorBrandNetwork. FILE PHOTO: A logo of Adobe Inc. is pictured at the company's office in Citywest Business Campus, Saggart, Ireland October 19, 2021. Picture taken October 19, 2021. REUTERS/ Tom Bergin By Kanishka Singh WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Photoshop maker Adobe Inc has agreed to pay $3 million to settle U.S. kickback allegations involving federal software sales, the U.S. Justice Department said in a statement on Thursday. The settlement resolves allegations that Adobe made improper payments under its Solution Partner program to companies that had a contractual or other relationship with the government that allowed them to influence federal purchases of Adobe software, the Justice Department said. Between January 2011 and December 2020, Adobe allegedly paid the companies a percentage of the purchase price of the software, according to the Justice Department. The United States contends that these payments constituted prohibited kickbacks that resulted in Adobe causing false claims for payment to be submitted to federal agencies. The company said on Thursday that it had cooperated with the government since it began its probe in 2018 and was pleased "to have this matter behind us." "Those who do business with the government are prohibited from paying kickbacks, which can result in unnecessary purchases and increase costs to taxpayers," said Brian Boynton, head of the Justice Department's civil division. "We will continue to use all appropriate tools to safeguard the integrity of the federal procurement process," Boynton said. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Jonathan Oatis and Daniel Wallis) Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Barksdale Resources Corp. (TSXV: BRO) (OTCQX: BRKCF) ("Barksdale" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a permitting update related to the proposed Sunnyside copper-zinc-lead-silver exploration program in Arizona. On March 13, 2021, the United States Forest Service ("USFS") completed the 45-day objection period, which represented the final opportunity for public input into the permitting process for the Sunnyside project. Two objections were filed during the objection period and the USFS is currently working on providing detailed responses, which will be sent to the respective parties in due course. The USFS has informed the Company that it will utilize the 30-day extension to the 45-day objection response period. As such, the USFS currently forecasts completion of the objection response period on or before May 29, 2023. Barksdale is currently gearing up for its initial drilling program at Sunnyside, which will commence as soon as possible once all the requisite approvals have been provided by the USFS. Drilling could begin as early as June 2023. In preparation for this campaign the Company has received multiple bids from licensed drilling companies to complete an initial ~16,500-meter drilling program (~50,000 feet). Final drill contractor selection will occur shortly, with final selection focused on the best mix of drilling crew quality, rig availability, and costs. Additionally, to initiate work at Sunnyside, the Company will be required to post an environmental performance bond with the USFS. Discussions are underway with an insurance company willing to provide a surety policy to cover a portion of Barksdale's costs. "We moved through the objection period better than expected and are now gearing up to drill," stated Rick Trotman, President and CEO of Barksdale. "We're roughly two months away from kicking off our first drilling program at Sunnyside, where we are targeting a very large carbonate replacement system that has shown itself to contain high grade copper-zinc-lead-silver mineralization." Scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Lewis Teal, Senior Consultant to the Company and a 'Qualified Person' as defined under Canadian National Instrument 43-101. Barksdale Resources Corp. is a base metal exploration company headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., that is focused on the acquisition, exploration and advancement of highly prospective base metal projects in North America. Barksdale is currently advancing the Sunnyside copper-zinc-lead-silver and San Antonio copper projects, both of which are in the Patagonia mining district of southern Arizona, as well as the San Javier copper-gold project in central Sonora, Mexico. ON BEHALF OF BARKSDALE RESOURCES CORP Rick Trotman President, CEO and Director [email protected] Terri Anne Welyki Vice President of Communications 778-238-2333 [email protected] For more information please phone 778-558-7145, email [email protected] or visit www.BarksdaleResources.com . CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release includes "forward-looking information" under applicable Canadian securities legislation including, but not limited to, the expected publication and timing of the USFS Decision Memorandum and estimated timing and approval of the Company's Plan of Operations ("PoO") for the Sunnyside copper-lead-zinc-silver project; the proposed nature, size, timing, targets and impact of the Company's planned drilling program on the Sunnyside project following approval of the PoO and the ability of the Company to obtain the requisite staffing, bonding and financing therefor; and the potential impact of seasonal drilling restrictions on the ability of the Company to effectively carry out such program. Such forward-looking information reflects management's current beliefs and are based on a number of estimates and assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors which may cause the actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned that such forward-looking information are neither promises nor guarantees, and are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties including, but not limited to, general business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties, uncertain and volatile equity and capital markets, lack of available capital, actual results of exploration activities, environmental risks, future prices of base metals, operating risks, accidents, labor issues, delays in obtaining governmental approvals and permits, and other risks in the mining industry. There are no assurances that the Company's PoO for the Sunnyside property will be approved by the USFS on the basis currently contemplated or at all. In addition, the Company's proposed drilling program at Sunnyside is an exploratory search for commercial quantities of ore, the discovery of which cannot be assured. There are currently no NI 43-101 resources or reserves on the Sunnyside property. There is also uncertainty about the continued spread and severity of COVID-19, the ongoing war in Ukraine and rising inflation and interest rates and the impact they will have on the Company's operations, supply chains, ability to access mining projects or procure equipment, supplies, contractors and other personnel on a timely basis or at all and economic activity in general. All forward-looking information contained in this news release is qualified by these cautionary statements and those in our continuous disclosure filings available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. 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, except as required by law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162172 Calgary, Alberta--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Baytex Energy Corp. (TSX: BTE) (NYSE: BTE) ("Baytex") announced today the expiration of the waiting period under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of 1976 as amended (the "HSR Act"), with respect to the previously announced merger (the "Merger") with Ranger Oil Corporation ("Ranger"). The expiration of the HSR waiting period under the HSR Act satisfies one of the conditions of the Merger. The closing of the Merger remains subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions, including, among other things, the approval by Baytex's shareholders of the Merger Resolution, approval by the holders of Ranger's common stock of the terms of the Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of February 27, 2023, by and between Ranger and Baytex, Baytex's Registration Statement on Form F-4 (filed on April 7, 2023 with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission) becoming effective under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Baytex Shares issued pursuant to the Merger being approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, and the Toronto Stock Exchange, subject to customary listing conditions. If the requisite shareholder and regulatory approvals are obtained and if all other conditions to the Merger become effective or are satisfied or waived, it is expected that the Merger will be completed in the second quarter of 2023. Forward-Looking Statements In the interest of providing Baytex's shareholders and potential investors with information regarding Baytex, including management's assessment of Baytex's future plans and operations, certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terminology such as "anticipate", "believe", "continue", "could", "estimate", "expect", "forecast", "intend", "may", "objective", "ongoing", "outlook", "potential", "project", "plan", "should", "target", "would", "will" or similar words suggesting future outcomes, events or performance. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date thereof and are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Forward-looking statements in this press release include, but are not limited to, statements relating to: (i) the Merger and its expected timing and closing. Although Baytex believes the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements or information are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on forward-looking statements because Baytex can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking 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. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the ability to obtain shareholder and regulatory approvals of the Merger; the ability to complete the Merger on the anticipated terms and timetable; the changes in business and market conditions; and the risk factors discussed in our Registration Statement on Form F-4, initially filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on April 7, 2023 (Registration No. 333-271191) and our management information circular and proxy statement dated April 3, 2023 filed on SEDAR at www.sedar.com.There may be additional risks that Baytex presently does not know, or that Baytex currently believes are immaterial, that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should any of the assumptions below prove incorrect, actual results may vary in material respects from those projected in these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on certain key assumptions regarding, among other things, the ability of Baytex and Ranger to satisfy all conditions to closing of the Merger; the completion of the Merger on the timing anticipated, and the anticipated terms of the Notes, including the use of proceeds therefrom. Readers are cautioned that such assumptions, although considered reasonable by Baytex at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect. The above summary of assumptions and risks related to forward-looking statements has been provided in order to provide shareholders and potential investors with a more complete perspective on Baytex's current and future operations and such information may not be appropriate for other purposes. There is no representation by Baytex that actual results achieved will be the same in whole or in part as those referenced in such forward-looking statements and Baytex does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by applicable securities laws. No Offer or Solicitation This communication relates to the proposed Merger between Baytex and Ranger. This communication is not intended to and does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to subscribe for or buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval with respect to the Merger or otherwise, nor shall there be any offer, solicitation or sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offer of securities in the United States shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933. Baytex has filed a copy of the merger agreement on its profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Further, Baytex has mailed to its shareholders a management information circular and other relevant documents as of the record date established for voting on the Baytex shares to be issued pursuant to the transaction, which contain important information about the Merger and related matters. Shareholders of Baytex are advised to read the management information circular in connection with Baytex's solicitation of proxies for the meeting of Baytex shareholders to approve the Merger. Baytex shareholders may obtain copies of the management information circular on Baytex's SEDAR profile (www.sedar.com). Important Additional Information and Where to Find it In connection with the proposed Merger, Baytex has filed with the SEC a registration statement on Form F-4 (the "Registration Statement") to register the Baytex securities to be issued in connection with the proposed Merger (including a prospectus therefor). Baytex and Ranger also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed Merger. This communication is not a substitute for the Registration Statement or the prospectus or for any other document that Baytex or Ranger may file with the SEC in connection with the Merger. U.S. INVESTORS AND U.S. HOLDERS OF BAYTEX AND RANGER SECURITIES ARE URGED TO READ THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND OTHER DOCUMENTS RELATING TO THE PROPOSED MERGER (INCLUDING ALL AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THOSE DOCUMENTS) BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT BAYTEX, RANGER AND THE PROPOSED MERGER. Shareholders may obtain free copies of the Registration Statement, proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about Baytex and Ranger through the website maintained by the SEC at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of such documents may also be obtained from Baytex and Ranger without charge. Baytex Energy Corp. Baytex Energy Corp. is an energy company based in Calgary, Alberta. The company is engaged in the acquisition, development and production of crude oil and natural gas in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin and in the Eagle Ford in the United States. Baytex's common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol BTE. For further information about Baytex, please contact: Brian Ector, Vice President, Capital Markets Toll Free Number: 1-800-524-5521 Email: [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162231 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Atlantic Lithium Limited (OTCQX: ALLIF) (ASX: A11) (AIM: ALL) - Atlantic Lithium, the funded African-focused lithium exploration and development company targeting to deliver Ghana's first lithium mine, is poised to produce premium, battery-grade spodumene concentrate at its flagship Ewoyaa project. With production anticipated from as early as 2025, the company aims to cater to the rapidly increasing demand for lithium, primarily for use in electric vehicles. Cannot view this video? Visit: https://www.b-tv.com/post/allif-investor-alert-atlantic-lithium-set-to-deliver-sustainable-lithium-for-evs-from-ghanas-first-lithium-mine-30s Atlantic Lithium Limited (OTCQX: ALLIF) (ASX: A11) (AIM: ALL) https://www.atlanticlithium.com.au/ About BTV: BTV-Business Television is Canada's longest running business show. With Hosts Taylor Thoen and Jessica Katrichak, BTV features emerging companies across the country to bring viewers investment opportunities. BTV also produces News Alerts and branding/ awareness spots for issuers broadcast on BNN Bloomberg, Fox Business News, Bloomberg TV US and Bloomberg Terminals. www.b-tv.com BTV - Business Television/CEO Clips Contact: Trina Schlingmann (604) 664-7401 x 5 [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162007 Lead, South Dakota--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Dakota Gold Corp. (NYSE American: DC) ("Dakota Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results from five additional drill holes at its Richmond Hill Gold Project ("Richmond Hill"). Drilling at Richmond Hill to date has delineated an extensive gold system more than a mile in length from north to south, with the gold mineralization open in all directions. Drill hole RH22C-013 was drilled in an effort to locate higher-grade gold mineralization at the intersection of a dominant north-south structure, with northeast-southwest crossing structures within the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. Drill hole RH22C-013 intersected 0.175 oz/ton Au over 98.5 feet (5.98 grams/tonne over 30.0 meters), which confirms the existence of higher-grade gold mineralization that may be related to preferential structures. The Richmond Hill Gold Project contains six known breccia pipes, four of which are largely untested. To date, Dakota Gold has drill tested only the Twin Tunnels and Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipes, both of which are open to extension at depth and laterally to the north and south. Between 1988 and 1994, LAC Minerals (USA) LLC ("LAC") produced 175,000 ounces of gold from the Richmond Hill Breccia Pipe which is similarly open to extension. Drill Hole Highlights: RH22C-013 intersected 0.175 oz/ton Au over 98.5 feet (5.98 grams/tonne over 30.0 meters) in a Tertiary breccia and confirmed the presence of higher-grade gold mineralization at Richmond Hill in the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe and confirms higher-grade gold mineralization found in historical drill hole TT-86-26. RH23C-014 intersected 0.039 oz/ton Au over 137.8 feet (1.35 grams/tonne over 42.0 meters) in the Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipe. RH23C-014 was designed to test the Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipe closer to the surface. RH22C-009 intersected 0.035 oz/ton Au over 16.8 feet (1.21 grams/tonne over 5.1 meters) in the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. RH22C-010 intersected 0.024 oz/ton Au over 50.6 feet (1.24 grams/tonne over 1.54 meters) 2,500 feet west of the Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipe. RH22C-011 intersected 0.036 oz/ton Au over 50.6 feet (1.24 grams/tonne over 15.4 meters) in the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. Dakota Gold has identified a large gold system at Richmond Hill with drilling underway to test the remaining breccia pipes. Tertiary breccia pipes are favorable conduits for gold bearing fluids in the Homestake District and continue to be a priority drill target. Drilling and geologic reinterpretation has demonstrated two large breccia pipes are one larger system. James M. Berry, Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold, said, "Richmond Hill continues to provide positive drill results with RH22C-013 confirming the presence of higher-grade gold mineralization in the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. We are seeing large intervals of visible alteration in the drilling and are using historical drilling, geophysics, and surface mapping to test the known breccia pipes for better grade mineralization. Four previously known breccia pipes remain untested." The Company currently has four drills operating on its properties in the Homestake District of South Dakota, with two drills operating at the Maitland Gold Project ("Maitland") targeting Homestake-hosted and Tertiary gold mineralization. Two drills operating at Richmond Hill are targeting Tertiary breccia and replacement gold mineralization, as well as conducting infill and step-out drilling designed to convert and expand the known gold mineralization identified in 880 historic drill holes, to S-K 1300 compliant resources. Richmond Hill is located 2.3 miles west of Maitland and 1.5 miles north of Coeur Mining, Inc.'s Wharf Mine. The Wharf Mine produced 79,768 ounces at 0.021 oz/ton gold in 2022. Exploration Update: RH22C-009 RH22C-009 was drilled to test between RH22C-005 and RH22C-006 (see December 8, 2022 press release) at the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The drill hole intersected multiple zones of mineralization as shown in Table 1, with the best interval intersecting 0.022 oz/ton Au over 76.9 feet (0.77 grams/tonne over 23.4 meters). The mineralization was hosted within a Tertiary breccia composed of altered or bleached Precambrian, greenstone clasts. RH22C-010 RH22C-010 was drilled to test an area 2,500 feet west of the Twin Tunnels West Breccia Pipe as shown in Figure 1 for historically identified Tertiary replacement gold mineralization hosted in the Cambrian Deadwood Formation and the Precambrian stratigraphy. This drill hole intersected 0.024 oz/ton Au over 18.7 feet (0.82 grams/tonne over 5.7 meters) in a fractured Tertiary lamprophyre sill. RH22C-010 also intersected 0.016 oz/ton Au over 13.1 feet (0.55 grams/tonne over 4.0 meters) in the lower Deadwood Formation. The lower portion of the drill hole contained Precambrian greenstone. RH22C-011 RH22C-011 was drilled to test below RH22C-009, intersecting 0.036 oz/ton Au over 50.6 feet (1.24 grams/tonne over 15.4 meters) in Tertiary breccia and is shown in Figure 2. RH22C-011 also intersected 0.021 oz/ton Au over 54.9 feet (0.74 grams/tonne over 16.7 meters) in the lower Deadwood Formation and Tertiary altered Precambrian phyllites below the unconformity. The drill hole also intersected 0.017 oz/ton Au over 75.1 feet (0.57 grams/tonne over 22.9 meters) and 0.024 oz/ton Au over 52.8 feet (0.84 grams/tonne over 16.1 meters) in Tertiary breccias with Precambrian greenstone clasts. RH22C-013 RH22C-013 was drilled to test for higher-grade gold mineralization at the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe. The drill hole was drilled from the same pad as RH22C-012 (see December 8, 2022 press release) at a shallower angle. RH22C-013 intersected 0.175 oz/ton Au over 98.5 feet (5.98 grams/tonne over 30.0 meters) in oxidized Tertiary breccia and fractured Precambrian phyllites as shown in Figure 3 and 4. The drill hole also intersected 0.039 oz/ton Au over 33.4 feet (1.33 grams/tonne over 10.2 meters) in Tertiary breccia. RH22C-013 demonstrates the potential for higher gold grades within the breccia pipes at Richmond Hill. RH23C-014 RH23C-014 was drilled to test the upper portion of the Twin Tunnels Breccia Pipe above RH22C-005 as shown in Figures 1 and 5. RH22C-014 intersected 0.028 oz/ton Au over 88.9 feet (0.95 grams/tonne over 27.1 meters), 0.039 oz/ton Au over 137.8 feet (1.35 grams/tonne over 42.0 meters), and 0.023 oz/ton Au over 84.9 feet (0.77 grams/tonne over 25.9 meters), extending the Tertiary breccia hosted mineralization intersected in RH22C-005 closer to the surface. Table 1. RH22C-009, RH22C-010, RH22C-011, RH22C-013 and RH23C-014 Drill Results (Imperial / Metric Units) Hole # From To Depth Interval* Gold From To Depth Interval* Gold Mineral Type ft ft ft ft oz/ton m m m m g/t RH22C-009 81.2 98.0 47.0 16.8 0.035 24.7 29.8 14.0 5.1 1.21 485.5 505.0 232.0 19.5 0.026 148.0 153.9 71.0 5.9 0.91 Bx 542.7 597.9 258.0 55.2 0.020 165.4 182.2 79.0 16.8 0.68 Bx 955.4 1032.3 408.0 76.9 0.022 291.2 314.6 124.0 23.4 0.77 Bx 1894.5 1934.5 1238.0 40.0 0.019 577.4 589.6 377.0 12.2 0.64 Bx 2042.8 2081.4 1392.0 38.6 0.022 622.6 634.4 424.0 11.8 0.77 Bx RH22C-010 527.3 546.0 315.0 18.7 0.024 160.7 166.4 96.0 5.7 0.82 Tert RH22C-011 61.6 116.5 44.0 54.9 0.021 18.8 35.5 13.0 16.7 0.74 616.2 639.5 424.0 23.3 0.020 187.8 194.9 129.0 7.1 0.69 Bx 786.4 837.0 530.0 50.6 0.036 239.7 255.1 162.0 15.4 1.24 Bx 1108.2 1183.3 715.0 75.1 0.017 337.8 360.7 218.0 22.9 0.57 Bx 1277.0 1329.8 813.0 52.8 0.024 389.2 405.3 248.0 16.1 0.84 Bx 1388.1 1405.0 903.0 21.9 0.019 423.1 428.2 275.0 5.1 0.65 Bx 1457.6 1478.5 950.0 20.9 0.017 444.3 450.7 290.0 6.4 0.58 Bx 1645.4 1676.9 1135.0 31.5 0.017 501.5 511.1 346.0 9.6 0.57 Bx 1790.1 1817.6 1292.0 27.5 0.024 545.6 554.0 394.0 8.4 0.83 Bx 2188.4 2212.6 1675.0 24.2 0.028 667.0 674.4 511.0 7.4 0.95 Bx 2332.6 2377.5 1828.0 44.9 0.028 711.0 724.7 557.0 13.7 0.98 Bx RH22C-013 27.5 126.0 21.0 98.5 0.175 8.4 38.4 6.0 30.0 5.98 Bx including 31.6 111.7 25.0 80.1 0.209 9.6 34.0 7.0 24.4 7.15 Bx 237.9 271.3 173.0 33.4 0.039 72.5 82.7 53.0 10.2 1.33 Bx RH23C-014 133.6 150.6 109.0 17.0 0.029 40.7 45.9 33.0 5.2 0.99 Bx 175.8 264.7 139.0 88.9 0.028 53.6 80.7 42.0 27.1 0.95 Bx 279.9 417.7 217.0 137.8 0.039 85.3 127.3 66.0 42.0 1.35 Bx 480.4 565.3 372.0 84.9 0.023 146.4 172.3 113.0 25.9 0.77 Bx 585.0 636.2 443.0 51.2 0.033 178.3 193.9 135.0 15.6 1.13 Bx 649.8 729.8 488.0 80.0 0.020 198.1 222.5 149.0 24.4 0.70 Bx 1039.0 1087.8 718.0 48.8 0.022 316.7 331.6 219.0 14.9 0.77 Bx 1154.8 1202.3 822.0 47.5 0.023 352.0 366.5 351.0 14.5 0.79 Bx 1473.2 1538.4 1084.0 65.2 0.021 449.0 468.9 330.0 19.9 0.71 Bx 1657.7 1747.0 1222.0 89.3 0.022 505.3 532.5 372.0 27.2 0.77 Bx *True thickness is unknown. Abbreviations in the table include ounces per ton ("oz/ton"); grams per tonne ("g/t"); feet ("ft"); meter ("m"); Tertiary ("Tert"); Cambrian (""); Breccia (Bx) and Precambrian ("p"). Figure 1. Plan View of Dakota Gold Corp. Richmond Hill Drill Holes with Highlighted Gold Intercepts. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/162233_78aa238c04d569aa_002full.jpg Figure 2. Cross Section along RH22C-009 and RH22C-011 Looking North-Northwest. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/162233_78aa238c04d569aa_003full.jpg Figure 3. Cross Section along RH22C-003, RH22C-012, and RH22C-013 Looking Northwest. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/162233_78aa238c04d569aa_004full.jpg Figure 4. Core photo of RH22C-013 at 87.5 feet showing Tertiary breccia with Precambrian clasts. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/162233_picture1.jpg Figure 5. Cross Section along RH23C-014 Looking North. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8218/162233_78aa238c04d569aa_006full.jpg About Dakota Gold Corp. Dakota Gold (NYSE American: DC) is a South Dakota-based responsible gold exploration and development company with a specific focus on revitalizing the Homestake District in Lead, South Dakota. Dakota Gold has high-caliber gold mineral properties covering over 46 thousand acres surrounding the historic Homestake Mine. The Dakota Gold team is focused on new gold discoveries and opportunities that build on the legacy of the Homestake District and its 145 years of gold mining history. Subscribe to Dakota Gold's e-mail list at www.dakotagoldcorp.com to receive the latest news and other Company updates. Shareholder and Investor Inquiries For more information, please contact: Jonathan Awde, President and Chief Executive Officer Tel: +1 604-761-5251 Email: [email protected] Qualified Person and S-K 1300 Disclosure James M. Berry, a Registered Member of SME and Vice President of Exploration of Dakota Gold Corp., is the Company's designated qualified person for this news release as defined in Subpart 1300 - Disclosure by Registrants Engaged in Mining Operations of Regulation S-K and has reviewed and approved its scientific and technical content. The ranges of potential tonnage and grade (or quality) disclosed above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project are conceptual in nature and could change as the proposed exploration activities are completed. There has been insufficient exploration of the Richmond Hill Gold Project to allow for an estimate of a mineral resource and it is uncertain if further exploration will result in the estimation of a mineral resource. The disclosure above in respect of the Richmond Hill Gold Project therefore does not represent, and should not be construed to be, an estimate of a mineral resource or mineral reserve. Quality Assurance/Quality Control consists of regular insertion of certified reference materials, duplicate samples, and blanks into the sample stream. Check samples will be submitted to an umpire laboratory as the drill program progresses. Assay results are reviewed, and discrepancies are investigated prior to incorporation into the Company database. Samples are submitted to the ALS Geochemistry sample preparation facility in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Gold and multi-element analyses are performed at the ALS Geochemistry laboratory in Vancouver, British Columbia. ALS Minerals is an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited lab. Forward-Looking Statements This communication 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. These forward-looking statements are based on assumptions and expectations that may not be realized and are inherently subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from these statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others, the execution and timing of our planned exploration activities, our use and evaluation of historic data, our ability to achieve our strategic goals, the state of the economy and financial markets generally and the effect on our industry, and the market for our common stock. The foregoing list is not exhaustive. For additional information regarding factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in our forward-looking statements, we refer you to the risk factors included in Item 1A of the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-KT for the nine-month transition period ended December 31, 2022, as amended, as updated by annual, quarterly and other reports and documents that we file with the SEC. We caution investors not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements contained in this communication. These statements speak only as of the date of this communication, and we undertake no obligation to update or revise these statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. We do not give any assurance that we will achieve our expectations. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162233 Halifax, Nova Scotia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - E-Tech Resources Inc. (TSXV: REE), (FSE: K2I) ("E-Tech" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from its ongoing prospecting program at its Eureka REE Project ("Eureka" or the "Project"). Assay results from thirty-eight (38) rock chip samples collected during the wider exploration program of the Eureka REE prospect have been received from the laboratory with confirmed REE mineralization including: 6.84% TREO (P6860) and 5.22% TREO (P6859) in two samples located approx. 800 m from Zone 1, within drill target T09 (see News Release dated November 16, 2022). An additional four (4) samples returned assays grading between 0.48% and 3.05% TREO, validating new targets defined by the Company. A summary of all rock chip assay results is provided in Table 1, and sample locations are in Figure 1. Chris Drysdale, Director of E-Tech, commented: "Our continued success in identifying mineralized targets within the Eureka project is a testament to our growing proficiency in REE exploration. By investing in our exploration program and utilizing advanced exploration methods, we have expanded our understanding of the geology and mineralization potential of the Eureka project. These results are a prime example of our expertise in identifying targets, and we look forward to more results over the coming weeks. It is extremely encouraging that new mineralization has been found in these newly identified areas and these results show there is potential for more to be discovered. We are excited to continue exploring and expanding our understanding of the Project's mineralization potential." Purpose of Ongoing Prospecting Program: To provide follow-up to the 2022 exploration drilling program and allow for validation of exploration targeting methods to assist in the development of additional targets and prioritization of future drill targets. Geological mapping and rock chip sampling for geochemical analysis targeting prospective areas of interest identified during the 2022 drilling programs and wider area high-resolution ground geophysical surveys (radiometric and magnetic), prioritizing large areas with contiguous anomalous thorium radiometric signature. Exploration results from the ongoing field program are being continually integrated with the 2022 drilling results to define more priority targets for future drill testing. Summary and Discussion of Prospecting Results : The prospecting and sampling program has demonstrated that the Eureka Dome has the potential to be well-endowed with REE mineralization and the occurrences identified provide compelling support for the presence of further and similar style high-grade, carbonatite hosted REE mineralization. Planning of follow-up efforts is currently underway to maximize further discoveries. These grab sample assay results, together with our high-resolution geophysical dataset and the extensive structural geological mapping carried out during the prospecting program, led to the confirmation that the Eureka Dome plays a critical role in the mineralization model. Structurally, the Eureka Dome is an upright, km-scale, northeast-trending, northeast-plunging fold that forms part of the regional-scale pattern of F 2 /3 folds in the southern Central Zone (sCZ) of the Damara Orogenic Belt. The Dome has steep, near-vertical limbs with a wide more structurally complex internal geometry, and is associated with northeast-plunging mineral stretching lineations and outcrop-scale sheath folds. Interpretation from the high-resolution ground magnetic geophysical survey data further indicates the presence of km-scale northeast-, east-northeast- and northwest-trending linear structures (faults, shears) that may act as large conduits for focusing mineralized fluid movement. The ongoing prospecting programs observations and results are now indicating substantial potential for REE mineralization in the broader area. With the recent acquisition of EPL8748 (see News Release dated March 28, 2023), the Company now has access to 100% of the Eureka Dome for further structural interpretation. Table 1: Summary of the collected rock chip samples and their assay results. Coordinates are in WGS84 UTM Zone 33 South. Sample ID Easting Northing Lithology Sample Type TREO% P6801 525425 7562295 ALTR Rock Chip 0.04 P6802 524993 7562432 CARB Rock Chip 0.01 P6803 524937 7562375 ALTR Rock Chip 0.01 P6804 525021 7561892 ALTR Rock Chip 0.03 P6805 525067 7562488 CCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6806 527052 7561472 CCARB Rock Chip 0.05 P6807 527814 7562885 VCARB Rock Chip 0.01 P6808 527562 7561495 CCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6810 528427 7561038 CCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6811 528456 7561064 CCARB Rock Chip 0.05 P6812 524884 7560393 ALTR Rock Chip 0.00 P6813 526329 7561697 CARB Rock Chip 0.07 P6814 525725 7563674 CARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6815 526349 7562195 VCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6817 526270 7562248 CARB Rock Chip 0.27 P6818 526290 7562256 VCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6819 526768 7561551 ALTR Rock Chip 0.01 P6820 528595 7562889 CCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6822 528595 7562873 VCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6858 526523 7563433 CCARB Rock Chip 0.48 P6859 526437 7563218 CCARB Rock Chip 5.22 P6860 526486 7563384 CCARB Rock Chip 6.84 P6862 526412 7563411 CCARB Rock Chip 2.68 P6864 526401 7563401 ALTR Rock Chip 0.05 P6865 526374 7563574 CCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6866 526367 7563361 CCARB/GCARB Rock Chip 3.05 P6867 526500 7563330 CCARB/GCARB Rock Chip 1.52 P6868 527471 7565071 ALTR Rock Chip 0.01 P6870 527484 7565097 VCARB Rock Chip 0.01 P6871 527113 7562467 VCARB Rock Chip 0.01 P6872 526863 7562809 AMPH Rock Chip 0.02 P6873 526699 7563055 ALTR Rock Chip 0.02 P6874 526475 7562819 CCARB Rock Chip 0.03 P6876 528574 7562944 VCARB Rock Chip 0.02 P6827 525768 7561668 CCARB Rock Chip 0.01 P6828 528144 7563295 ALTR Rock Chip 0.00 P6829 528118 7563282 MBL Rock Chip 0.01 P6842 526829 7562388 CCARB Rock Chip 0.01 Figure 1: Sample locations overlay on Th ground radiometrics. Coordinates are in WGS84 UTM Zone 33 South. To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6102/162265_1b44073f3441ebf7_001full.jpg Eureka Project Technical Disclosure The current Mineral Resource Estimate ("MRE") for the Eureka Project was prepared by SRK Consulting (UK) ("SRK") effective from August 2, 2021. An Independent Technical Report titled "Independent Technical Report: Eureka, Rare Earth Project, Namibia" was released on the September 15, 2021 and prepared by SRK, supporting the disclosure of the MRE, and is available on SEDAR and the Corporation's website. (https://etech-resources.com) Quality Assurance / Quality Control All E-Tech sample assay results have been independently monitored through a quality assurance / quality control ("QA/QC") program including the insertion of certified reference standards, blanks and duplicate samples. QA/QC samples make up 10% of all samples submitted. Fresh rock samples are collected in the field from in situ rock sub-/outcrops using a geological hammer. Samples are labelled and placed in 100-micron industrial plastic sample bags. The sample's ID, GPS coordinates in WGS 84 UTM Zone 33 South format, and geological description are recorded. Samples are securely transported to Activation Laboratories Ltd. sample preparation facility in Windhoek, Namibia. The rock samples are dried, crushed to 80% passing 2 mm, riffle splitting a 250 g sub-sample and pulverizing to 95% passing 105 m. Sample pulps are sent to Activation Laboratories Ltd. in Ontario, Canada for analysis. REE analysis is by method 8-REE. The sample is ground to 95% -200 mesh to ensure complete fusion of resistate minerals using lithium metaborate/tetraborate fusion with subsequent analysis by ICP-OES and ICP-MS. Mass balance is calculated as an additional quality control technique to ensure complete analysis. Qualified Person Pete Siegfried, BSc. (Hons), M.Sc., is a Consulting Geologist and director of GeoAfrica Prospecting Services CC. Mr. Siegfried has reviewed and approved the scientific and technical information in this news release. Mr. Siegfried is a Member of The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) membership number: 221116 (CP Geology), and a Qualified Person for the purposes of National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. About E-Tech Resources Inc. E-Tech Resources Inc. (TSXV: REE), (FSE: K2I) is a rare earth exploration and development company focused on developing its Eureka Rare Earths Project in Namibia. The Eureka Project is located approximately 250 km north-west of Namibia's capital city Windhoek and 140 km east of Namibia's main industrial port Walvis Bay. The project is situated next to the national B1 highway in the Erongo Region of Namibia. The Eureka deposit lies in the Southern Central Zone of the Neoproterozoic Damara Belt within EPL 6762. which covers Eureka Farm 99 and Sukses Farm 90. Namibia is recognized as one of Africa's most politically stable jurisdictions, with an extremely well-established national infrastructure and a clear and transparent mining law. The Corporation continues to assess new project opportunities and expand its Southern African portfolio. Further details are available on the Corporation's website at www.etech-resources.com or contact Jim Megann, Interim CEO of E-Tech Resources Inc., at +1 902 334 1949. 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. Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release may contain forward-looking information, such as statements regarding the completion of the work in Namibia by E-Tech and future plans and objectives of E-Tech, including acquisition of EPL 8748 by E-Tech which is subject to granting of EPL 8748 by Namibian authorities, regulatory approval and closing conditions. This information is based on current expectations and assumptions (including assumptions in connection with the continuance of the applicable company as a going concern and general economic and market conditions) that are subject to significant risks and uncertainties that are difficult to predict, including risks relating to the ability to satisfy the conditions to completion of exploration programmes and work in Namibia. Actual results may differ materially from results suggested in any forward-looking information. E-Tech assumes no obligation to update forward-looking information in this release, or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from those reflected in the forward-looking information unless and until required by applicable securities laws. Additional information identifying risks and uncertainties is contained in filings made by E-Tech with Canadian securities regulators, copies of which are available at www.sedar.com. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162265 Oakville, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - FendX Technologies Inc. (CSE: FNDX) (the "Company" or "FendX"), a nanotechnology company developing surface protection coatings, announces its participation in the Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference. On April 25, 2023 Dr. Carolyn Myers, President and Chief Executive Officer of FendX will participate in the Bloom Burton & Co. Healthcare Investor Conference to meet with investors attending the conference. The conference hosts Canada's premier publicly traded and venture-backed private companies as well as the most promising pre-venture companies in the healthcare industry. The Company also announces it has entered into an investor relations agreement with Medical Gold Limited Liability Company (LLC) ("Medical Gold") dated April 12, 2023 to provide market awareness and investor communications services to the Company in exchange for an aggregate amount of $25,000 USD, payable upon signing. The services include news dissemination on MedicalGold.ca and other social media, creation of CEO interviews and website sponsorship on MedicalGold.ca. The term of the Medical Gold agreement is for a period of twelve months ending April 11, 2024. Medical Gold and its principals are arm's length to the Company. Medical Gold's contact information is as follows: 416 SW 1st Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33301, attention: Robert Sinn, email [email protected], telephone: 813-385-6487. About FendX Technologies Inc. FendX is a Canada-based nanotechnology company focused on developing products to make people's lives safer by reducing the spread of pathogens. Our first product under development, REPELWRAP" film, is a protective surface coating film that, due to its repelling properties, prevents adhesion of pathogens and reduces their transmission on surfaces prone to contamination. The Company is conducting research and development activities using its nanotechnology in collaboration with industry-leading partners including McMaster University. The Company has an exclusive world-wide license to its technology, including an IP portfolio, from McMaster. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD "Carolyn Myers" Carolyn Myers Chief Executive Officer and Director For further information, please contact: Carolyn Myers Telephone: 1-800-344-9868 For Media and Investor Relations Inquiries: [email protected] For more information please visit https://fendxtech.com/ and the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor the 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. Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, including with respect to: the plans of the Company; products under development; and any pathogen reduction benefits related thereto. Although the Company believes that such statements are reasonable, it can give no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts; they are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects," "plans," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates," "projects," "aims," "potential," "goal," "objective," "prospective," and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will," "would," "may," "can," "could" or "should" occur, or are those statements, which, by their nature, refer to future events. The Company cautions that forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made and they involve a number of risks and uncertainties. Consequently, there can be no assurances that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Important factors that could cause future results to differ materially from those anticipated in these forward-looking statements include: product candidates only being in formulation/reformulation stages; limited operating history; research and development activities; dependence on collaborative partners, licensors and others; effect of general economic and political conditions; and other risk factors set forth in the Company's final prospectus dated January 31, 2023 under the heading "Risk Factors". The reader is urged to refer to the Company's prospectus and other filings, publicly available through SEDAR at www.sedar.com for a more complete discussion of such risk factors and their potential effects. Except to the extent required by applicable securities laws and the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements if management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162167 Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 12, 2023) - HighGold Mining Inc. (TSXV: HIGH) (OTCQX: HGGOF) ("HighGold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed its previously announced upsized non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") (see news release dated April 5, 2023). The Offering was oversubscribed, and a total of 14,029,243 common shares of the Company (each, a "Share") have been issued at a price of $0.66 per Share for aggregate gross proceeds of $9,259,300. In connection with the Offering, an existing strategic shareholder of the Company exercised their participation rights under an investor rights agreement with the Company to maintain their 9.9% interest, subscribing for 1,420,000 Shares at $0.66 per Share for proceeds of $937,200. The $9,259,300 in aggregate gross proceeds of the Offering is inclusive of the $937,200 from the strategic shareholder. "With the closing of the financing, HighGold has $16 million in working capital, placing us in a strong position to advance our core asset, the Johnson Tract Gold Project in Alaska," commented President & CEO Darwin Green. "We are very pleased to welcome new shareholders to HighGold's registry and equally appreciative of the support of existing major shareholders that participated in the financing. HighGold now looks forward to putting these funds to work as we finalize plans for our 2023 exploration program." The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering for exploration and development initiatives in connection with the Company's Johnson Tract project and for working capital and general corporate purposes. The securities issued in connection with the Offering are subject to a statutory four-month and one day hold period in Canada expiring August 12, 2023. A total of $28,263 in finders' fees are payable as a cash commission to arm's length finders in connection with the closing of the Offering. Certain insiders of the Company (collectively, the "Related Parties") participated in the Offering and subscribed for an aggregate of 133,052 Shares for gross proceeds of $87,814. These constitute related party transactions pursuant to Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions ("MI 61-101"). The Company relied on Sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(1)(a) of MI 61-101 for an exemption from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements, respectively, as at the closing of the Offering, neither the fair market value of the Shares issued in connection with the Offering, nor the fair market value of the consideration received by the Company for same, insofar as it involved the Related Parties, exceeded 25% of the Company's market capitalization. The closing of the Offering is subject to final acceptance of the TSX Venture Exchange. About HighGold HighGold is a mineral exploration company focused on high-grade gold projects located in North America. HighGold's flagship asset is the high-grade Johnson Tract Gold-Zinc-Copper Project located in accessible Southcentral Alaska, USA. The Company also controls one of the largest junior gold miner land positions in the Timmins, Ontario gold camp. This includes the Munro-Croesus Gold property, which is renowned for its high-grade mineralization, and the large Golden Mile and Timmins South properties. HighGold also has 100% ownership of a group of properties in Yukon's emerging new Selwyn Basin Reduced Intrusive Related Gold district. HighGold's experienced Board and senior management team, are committed to creating shareholder value through the discovery process, careful allocation of capital, and environmentally/socially responsible mineral exploration. On Behalf of HighGold Mining Inc. "Darwin Green" President & CEO For further information, please visit the HighGold Mining Inc. website at www.highgoldmining.com, or contact: Darwin Green, President & CEO or Naomi Nemeth, VP Investor Relations Phone: 1-604-629-1165 or North American toll-free 1-855-629-1165 Email: [email protected] Website: www.highgoldmining.com Twitter : @HighgoldMining 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. Forward looking statements: This news release includes certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (collectively "forward looking statements"). Forward-looking statements include predictions, projections and forecasts and are often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "seek", "anticipate", "believe", "plan", "estimate", "forecast", "expect", "potential", "project", "target", "schedule", "budget" and "intend" and statements that an event or result "may", "will", "should", "could" or "might" occur or be achieved and other similar expressions and includes the negatives thereof. All statements other than statements of historical fact included herein are forward-looking statements that involve various risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements are based on a number of material factors and assumptions. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from Company's expectations include actual exploration results, the ability of the Company to obtain requisite approvals for the Offering, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined, results of future resource estimates, future metal prices, availability of capital and financing on acceptable terms, general economic, market or business conditions, risks relating to epidemics or pandemics such as COVID-19, including the impact of COVID-19 on the Company's business, financial condition and results of operations, uninsured risks, regulatory changes, defects in title, availability of personnel, materials and equipment on a timely basis, accidents or equipment breakdowns, delays in receiving government approvals, unanticipated environmental impacts on operations and costs to remedy same, and other exploration or other risks detailed herein and from time to time in the filings made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual actions, events or results to differ from those described in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause such actions, events or results to differ materially from those anticipated. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate and accordingly 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/162222 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Idaho Champion (CSE: ITKO ) (OTCQB: GLDRF) (FSE: 1QB1) ("Idaho Champion" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that the Company signed definitive agreements (the "Definitive Agreements") to complete previously announced acquisitions (see Press Releases dated January 25, 2023 and March 2, 2023) of the prospective properties in the pegmatite-rich Eeyou Istchee James Bay territory of Quebec (the "Transactions"). Upon closing of the Transactions, the Company will control 846 contiguous claims covering 432 km2 (see Figure 1) in the La Grande Greenstone Belt, rich in lithium pegmatite. All Idaho Champion properties have good infrastructure, including power and road access. The Company's lithium properties (the "Projects") neighbour Patriot Battery Metals' Corvette Project which recently drilled 83.7 m at 3.13% Li 2 O (222.7 m to 306.4 m), including 19.8 m at 5.28% Li 2 O and 5.1 m at 5.17% Li 2 O (CV23-105)* and Winsome Resources' advanced Cancet Project. The contracts are being finalized for the spring field program that is expected to start in the near term. The Company will issue a press release outlining details of the field spring program in due course. Figure 1: Quebec Lithium Pegmatite Property Location Map To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8681/162218_3d7cb259646a7a9e_001full.jpg Pursuant to the Definitive Agreements, Idaho Champion will acquire 492 claims for aggregate consideration of CAD$120,000 in cash, 11,200,000 common shares in the capital of the Company ("Common Shares"), and 1,750,000 warrants to purchase Common Shares priced at CAD$0.15 per Common Share for two years from the date of signing of the respective Definitive Agreement. Each of the vendors will retain a 2% net smelter royalty ("NSR"). The Company has the option to repurchase 1% of the NSR from the applicable vendor for CAD$1 million. As a condition of closing, the Company will issue a total of 445,000 Common Shares in connection with finder's fees. *The Projects are at an early stage of exploration, and the Company cautions that the qualified persons who have reviewed and approved this news release have not verified scientific or technical information produced by third parties, and proximity to projects containing lithium resources offers no assurance that the rock types or lithium resources reported by Patriot Battery Metals and others extend onto the Projects and such proximity is not necessarily indicative of the mineralization reported by third parties with projects in the district. Qualified Person Patrick Highsmith, Certified Professional Geologist (AIPG CPG # 11702) and director of the Company, is a qualified person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. Mr. Highsmith has helped prepare, reviewed, and approved the technical information in this news release. About Idaho Champion Gold Mines Inc. Idaho Champion is a discovery-focused exploration company that is committed to advancing its highly prospective lithium properties in Quebec, Canada and cobalt properties in Idaho, United States. In addition, the Company owns the Baner gold project in Idaho County and the Champagne polymetallic project in Butte County near Arco. The Company's shares trade on the CSE under the trading symbol "ITKO", on the OTCQB under the trading symbol "GLDRF", and on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "1QB1". Idaho Champion strives to be a responsible environmental steward, stakeholder and contributing citizen to the local communities where it operates, taking its social license seriously, employing local community members and service providers at its operations whenever possible. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF IDAHO CHAMPION "Jonathan Buick" Jonathan Buick, President and CEO To learn more, please visit the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com or the Company's corporate website at www.idahochamp.com. For further information, please contact: Nicholas Konkin, Marketing and Communications Phone: (416) 567-9087 Email: [email protected] THIS PRESS RELEASE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION, NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION OF SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN THE UNITED STATES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SALE, OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. Cautionary Statements Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its regulation services provider has reviewed or accepted responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. This press release may include forward-looking information within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation, concerning the business of the Company. Forward-looking information is based on certain key expectations and assumptions made by management of the Company, including closing of the Transactions and the prospectivity of the Projects for lithium. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which such forward-looking information is based on are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking information because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. The Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, other than as required by applicable securities laws. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162218 Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - MONAT GLOBAL (MONAT), a multinational distributor, social and direct seller of award-winning beauty products, has announced its European expansion into France. Global growth across Europe began in 2018 with the addition of Spain, Lithuania, Poland, Ireland, and the UK. Healthy-aging innovator now available in ten markets To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/9672/162143_f858982dc4e0497b_002full.jpg Ray Urdaneta, MONAT CEO, shared, "With our award-winning products and as the number one premium haircare direct selling brand*, we've had a steady stream of requests to expand into France for several years." "We're looking forward to providing a warm welcome to many new Market Partners in France starting immediately. We know they are eager to share our naturally based beauty products, be rewarded and embrace our mission. Our successful expansion within Europe has shown that social selling has quickly become a preferred way to not only buy but for people to create their own financial future," said Tamila Kerimova, senior vice president and general manager for MONAT Europe. MONAT is an American success story with an increasingly global reach. Founded in 2014, the company has invested years in researching unique plant-based ingredients and in independent clinical studies. MONAT is also a four-time winner of the Best Places to Work in Direct Selling Award by Direct Selling News and recently recognized for its global sustainability efforts by the Best in Biz Awards. "We are meeting the demands of the French consumers with the expansion of our unique business model and culture of family, service and gratitude to new European markets by opening operations in France," said Stuart MacMillan, president of MONAT. "Our holistic and innovative approaches to the development of premium beauty products, as well as attention to detail and luxury is a natural fit for the French market." MONAT will initially launch into France in May 2023 through a serious of regional roadshows and events to introduce the business model and opportunities for founding market partners. The launch will progress throughout June, ready for the e-commerce introduction of its award-winning beauty products in the summer. In addition to France, MONAT operates in the United States, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Poland, Spain, Lithuania, Australia and New Zealand. Follow MONAT on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and YouTube. Additional information about the company can be found at its website, www.monatglobal.com. *SOURCE: Euromonitor International Limited; Beauty & Personal Care 2022ed; Premium Hair Care category; MONAT Global company shares in retail value (RSP) terms, 2021 data. About MONAT Global MONAT Global is a multinational distributor, social and direct seller of award-winning beauty products founded to help people everywhere enjoy beautiful, healthy, fulfilling lives through exceptional, naturally based products; a fun and rewarding business opportunity; and a culture of family, service, and gratitude. Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Doral, Florida, MONAT provides ground-breaking opportunities through a novel Social Marketing approach to Direct Sales. MONAT's product development is led by Chief Science Officer Alan J. Meyers and supported by a Scientific Advisory Board comprised of eminent professionals in medicine, cosmetics, haircare, science and health. MONAT offers a unique and exciting business model and one of the most generous compensation plans in the U.S., France, Canada, the UK, Ireland, Lithuania, Spain, Poland, Australia and New Zealand. ### #MONATGlobal Facebook: /MONATCanadaOfficial | Instagram: @monatcanadaofficial | YouTube: /MONATOfficial Twitter: @MONATOfficial | Pinterest: /MONATOfficial Media Contact: Daniel Pillai Langton PR Communications +1 (416) 333-2356 [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162143 Norman, Oklahoma--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - The National School Chaplain Association (NSCA) has launched an awareness campaign about the proposal to fund school chaplains in Texas.The NSCA believes that having a chaplain in residence diminishes incidents of violence, increases school safety, and improves the students' and teachers' mental health. For more information, visit https://nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org/about National School Chaplain Association Announces TX Proposal Awareness Campaign To view an enhanced version of this graphic, please visit: https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/8814/162237_201f87ea1481ea47_001full.jpg The proposed bill, SB 763, permits schools to hire school chaplains as guidance counselors, explains the NSCA. Funding for the said project will come from funds allocated for school safety and doesn't take away from existing programs related to the security of the schools and their students. The effective date for the bill is September 1, 2023. Supporting this initiative, the NSCA is working hard to secure funding for school chaplains in Texas. They aim to put a chaplain in every school to bring prayer and spirituality back into the community, as many studies show the benefits of having a solid spiritual or religious foundation, including, but not limited to, better mental health, more respect for authority, and improved relationships with others. From experience, the NSCA knows that chaplains create a safe space for students to access support, understanding, and guidance. This can be about school, family, relationships-anything weighing heavily on their hearts and minds, explains the organization. NSCA chaplains are trained to guide students with prayer and scripture, even those who are not Christians. The association's goal is not to convert students or to accept Catholics or Christians only, but to teach universal values like love, respect, harmony, and obedience. "The National School Chaplain Association was established to promote school chaplains as legitimate and necessary members of school staff through national standards and certification. Trained and licensed chaplains provide counsel, education, advocacy, life improvement skills, and recovery training," a spokesperson said. With the latest update, the NSCA continues on its mission to promote wider public awareness of the positive role of chaplains in academic environments. More information is available at https://nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org/about Contact Info: Name: Rocky Malloy Email: [email protected] Organization: National School Chaplain Association Address: PO Box 720746, Norman, OK 73070, United States Website: https://nationalschoolchaplainassociation.org/ To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162237 London, United Kingdom--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Reuters Events is hosting a high-level webinar discussion on April 20th at 11am CET focused on how we can 'Deliver a Safe Transition Towards Autonomous Vehicles'. Reality has helped re-evaluate our expectations of autonomous vehicles. Only a few years ago, there were conversations surrounding the concern of self-driving cars being 'just around the corner' but the industry has found that there is a transition to observe. Although the end goal will deliver improved safety, there are obstacles to overcome and adjustments to be made for automakers, suppliers and consumers. Hear from executives of Cruise, Motional and Toyota for what is sure to be a must-listen webinar. Sign up for this free session on April 20th at 11am CET now. You will learn from: Nick Sitarksi, Vice President of Integrated Vehicle Systems , Toyota North America , Balajee Kannan, Vice President of Autonomy , Motional , Louise Zhang, Vice President of Safety Engineering , Cruise , Moderator: Tina M Williams, Policy and Program Manager, ITS America Register now to listen in live or receive the recordings: Deliver a Safe Transition Towards Autonomous Vehicles (reutersevents.com) Hear from leaders in the industry about the key factors in ensuring a successful journey towards the large-scale deployment of autonomous vehicles. How software and technology can be leveraged to boost safety and performance? The role of data to optimize the vehicle's speed, power and ability to create safe driving conditions as well as recognize potential crash locations. ADAS must evolve alongside the technology to ensure optimal results. It must have the ability to embrace future innovation and advancements in technology. Unable to join us live? Not to worry, register for free here and we will send you the recordings after Best, Nabil Nabil Awan Project Director Automotive Reuters Events [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162254 Brampton, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. (CSE: SNA) ("Star" or the "Company") is pleased to provide a detailed update on Star's sales developments and new initiatives. Anoop Brar, Interim-CEO says: "Star is clear on its future strategic direction. We have an ecosystem of hardware and software solutions that can modernize and optimize the aviation industry. Star develops, engineers and markets the world's first Inflight Safety Monitoring System, the STAR-ISMS, which acquires and computes aircraft data inflight, at the network edge, thus providing actionable insights such as inflight analysis, tracking, alerts, real time data transmission and live trend analysis. The aviation industry is ready for a modern connected aircraft and is looking to work with Star as their digital transformation partner. The interest from the Nigerian Air Force speaks volumes to the value the Star technology can provide in modernizing their military aircraft." SALES UPDATE AeroContractors On December 6th, 2022, Star announced a Letter of Intent ("LOI") with AeroContractors which is still ongoing. The Star sales and engineering team are currently in Lagos, Nigeria, for technical discussions with the customer, to see whether they can convert the LOI into a firm purchase order contract. Air Peace Air Peace, Nigeria has requested a proposal from Star for the installation of the Star-ISMS for their fleet. AlAtheer, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia The VVIP A310 aircraft belonging to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has been operating for over the past 5 years and continues to generate reoccurring monthly revenue for Star. Live data feed from the aircraft is helping AlAtheer with positional tracking, aircraft health management and for Flight Operations Quality Assurance (FOQA) analysis. AlMasria, Cairo, Egypt The Covid pandemic negatively impacted AlMasria Airlines, which ceased to operate at full capacity during the pandemic. However, the airline is now in the process of recovering and has re-engaged in discussion with Star to have the Star-ISMS system upgraded to the latest Generation 3 software firmware for two of their A320 aircrafts and furthermore are currently in discussion for the installation on the remaining fleet of two Airbus A321 and two Boeing B737's. Asia Cargo Network Group ("ACN") ACN owns and operates a fleet of transportation freighter aircraft in South-East Asia and has invited Star to submit a proposal for three aircraft for their World Cargo Airlines division which operate 3 Boeing 737F aircraft. Astral Aviation Star announced a sale for 7 aircraft on June 14th, 2022. Star's engineering team were in Nairobi, Kenya in February 2023 for primary inspections on three aircraft. Star's engineering team has completed applications for the respective STC's for the Boeing 757 and Boeing 767 aircraft and the final approval of the STC's from Transport Canada are estimated to be complete in May 2023, with installations on the aircraft commencing in Q3 of 2023. Boliviana de Aviacion (BoA) BoA, is the flagship carrier airline of Bolivia and is wholly owned by the country's government. Star is in talks with the airline for the installation of the Star-ISMS system. BrentGlobal On August 10th, 2022, Star announced an LOI with BrentGlobal, but despite interest from the customers, Star evaluated that the BrentGlobal fleet of Cessna Caravan aircrafts did not qualify as a suitable candidate for the Star-ISMS system as it did not have enough digital data buses for the Star system to be effective. Therefore, the Company has withdrawn the Letter of Intents. Buraq Air As per press release on April 5th, 2022, Buraq Air is Libya's first private airline, and the Libyan airline had agreed to install the Star-ISMS on their Boeing fleet but last year decided to move away from Boeing and acquire a fleet of four Airbus A320/A321 aircrafts. Upon finalisation of this transaction by Swiss Aviation Group ("SAG") Star will reengage with Buraq Air for the installation of the Star System on their new Airbus fleet, for which Star already has Supplement Type Certificates ("STC") ready. Egypt Air Egypt Air has requested a proposal from Star for the installation of the Star-ISMS for their fleet. Ethiopian Airlines Star has submitted a proposal to Ethiopian Airlines for the installation of the Star-ISMS on one of their Boeing B737 aircraft to evaluate data transmission, inflight analysis, post flight tracking and proactive maintenance capabilities. A successful demonstration could possibly lead to a sale for their entire fleet of over 160 aircraft. Fly540 On June 15th, 2022, Star announced an LOI with Fly540, which recently experienced some operating and financial difficulties in the African region. Therefore, Star will not be converting this LOI with Fly540 into a sales contract and the LOI has been cancelled. Golden Falcon As per press release on April 5th, 2022, Golden Falcon is Libya's Air Cargo airline and has not been able to complete the payments for their two ATR72 Freighters ordered directly from the manufacturer ATR, based out of Toulouse, France. This was mainly due to their inability to transfer US Dollars out of the country due to Libyan Central Banks ongoing disputes. This situation may be resolved in 2023 and Star is hopeful to re-engage in discussions with Golden Falcon to complete this transaction at that time. LATAM LATAM Airlines is a Chilean multinational airline based in Santiago, Chile and is currently in talks for optimizing their operations with the Star-ISMS system. After over a year of market research and product analysis, Star has reinitiated talks with LATAM and is looking forward to finalizing a business deal this year. Majal Air Cargo As per press release on April 5th, 2022, Majal Air Cargo decided to not go through with their A330 and RJ100 purchase plans and instead switched to Executive Jets. However, even for these private jets, Swiss Aviation Group sees a chance to offer them the Star System for tracking, aircraft monitoring and analytics. Nigerian Air Force The Star team had very successful series of technical and commercial meetings with the high-ranking officers of the Nigerian Air Force during its 'Aviation Safety Conference' held in Lagos, Nigeria. In March 2023, Star received a formal 'Letter of Invitation' from the Nigerian Air Force inviting the Star Engineering team to Lagos and Abuja for inspections of their military aircraft ranging from the King Air 350, Falcon 900, C130 and the ATR 42 to name a few. The Star engineering team is currently in Nigeria for the primary inspection of the Nigerian Air Force fleet and looks forward to equipping and modernizing the military with the Star ecosystem of hardware and software products. Pinnacle Air Star announced an LOI with Pinnacle Air on April 28th, 2022, and is still seeking alternate solutions for satellite data transmission from their aircrafts due to restrictions on the use of Iridium Satellites by the Indian Government. Star Peru Aerolineas Star Peru S.A. is a Peruvian airline based at Jorge Chavez International Airport in Lima, Peru. It operates both passenger and cargo flights within Peru. Star has reinitiated conversations after interest by Star Peru for the Star-ISMS system last year. About Star Navigation Systems - www.star-navigation.com Star Navigation Systems Group Ltd. manufactures the In-flight Safety Monitoring System, STAR-ISMS, the heart of the STAR-A.D.S. System. The STAR-A.D.S. System has real-time capability of tracking, performance trends and predicting incident-occurrences which enhances aviation safety and improves fleet management while reducing costs for the operator. Star's MMI Division (Military and Defence) designs and manufactures high performance, mission critical, flight deck flat panel displays for defence and commercial aviation industries worldwide. Forward Looking Information Certain statements in this news release may constitute "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements are statements that address or discuss activities, events or developments that Star expects or anticipates may occur in the future. When used in this news release, words such as "estimates", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "projects", "will", "believes", "intends" "should", "could", "may" and other similar terminology are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the current expectations and beliefs of Star's management. Because forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, actual results, performance or achievements of Star or the industry may be materially different from those implied by such forward-looking statements. Examples of such forward-looking information that may be contained in this news release include statements regarding; growth and future prospects of our business; our perceptions of the industry and markets in which we operate and anticipated trends in such markets; expectations regarding the operation of our app; and our future revenues. Material factors or assumptions that were applied in drawing a conclusion or making an estimate set out in the forward-looking statements may include, but are not limited to, our ability to execute on our business plan, increase visibility amongst consumers and convert users to revenue producing subscribers and the success of the business of our partners. Forward-looking statements involve significant uncertainties, should not be read as a guarantee of future performance or results, and will not necessarily be an accurate indication of whether or not such results will be achieved. Should one or more of these factors or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Accordingly, readers should exercise caution in relying upon forward-looking statements and Star undertakes no obligation to publicly revise them to reflect subsequent events or circumstances, except as required by law. NEITHER CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Please visit www.star-navigation.com or contact Anoop Brar, Interim-Chief Executive Officer at 1-416-252-2889 [email protected] To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162239 ATLANTA, Ga., April 13, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) A group of HBCU Green Fund Fellows from Atlanta University Center recently dedicated their spring break embedded in an African village on the border of Senegal and Mauritania building a tree shelter, planting trees and digging a well in their ongoing efforts to help the vulnerable communities that are most impacted by the effects of climate change, but contribute the least. The climate advocates spent a full week without Internet, TV and phone service to help mitigate the devastating effects of global warming. The inaugural HBCU Green Fund Eco Spring Break Service-Learning program at REDES Ecovillages connects students, faculty and alumni from Black colleges including Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse and Spelman Colleges in Atlanta, GA, with students and faculty from Cheik Ante Diop University in Dakar Senegal. With over 100 villages in Senegal and Mauritania, REDES Ecovillages helps traditional communities become ecovillages by blending deep-rooted culture with modern ecological and community-building methods. The program gives students an opportunity to help with the climate crisis, and also learn innovative solutions the Africans have implemented. Im so proud of these young leaders who put down their social media to live for a week with families in a rural village where electricity, water and food were extremely limited. It was a game changer for young professionals who consider themselves to be climate justice advocates, said Felicia Davis, founder of HBCU Green Fund. The experience provided the volunteers with a deeper understanding of climate change, food waste, plastic pollution, and the devastating impact of wasteful western habits on distant communities along with an opportunity to make a real and tangible difference. Davis adds, We gain as much or more than we give, it is powerful to function as a part of nature, as a steward seeking ecological restoration and balance. With a small donation the HBCU Green Fund financed construction of a shelter for tree saplings and a well that women farmers requested so they dont have to walk all the way to the river and back for water. The Eco Spring Break Service-Learning program is one of several initiatives the HBCU Green Fund sponsors as they cultivate relationships with local communities in the U.S., Africa and throughout the African Diaspora to promote conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable agriculture and development. The group currently has ongoing projects in 14 countries in Africa, including Ghana and Tanzania, two of the countries Vice President Harris recently visited and declared climate change an existential threat to the entire planet. It was a life-changing experience, adds Serena Echols, an HBCU Green Fund Fellow and senior environmental science major at Spelman College. We lived with host families sleeping on the floor just as they do. Our days consisted of working on various projects to help transform the villages of the Sahel. We also learned to milk a cow or a goat and planted more than 100 trees. When we returned to the U.S. and heard Vice President Harris call to action it reinforced our commitment to fighting for climate justice and made us feel like we were playing a personal role in the mission to address the climate crisis in Africa, adds Echols. About the HBCU Green Fund: Based in Washington, DC and Atlanta, the HBCU Green Fund (hbcugreenfund.org) is a non-profit, nonpartisan organization working with historically black colleges and universities in the U.S. and abroad to advance sustainability, promote student engagement in green initiatives, and train the next generation of global green leaders. The organizations Atlanta University Center Clean Energy Fellows Program introduces students to career opportunities in the clean energy sector and connects students with Black entrepreneurs that provide training in renewable energy technologies. The HBCU Green Fund partnered the Harambee House/Citizens for Environmental Justice (HH/CFEJ) to lead a delegation of 27 persons from the United States and Africa to participate in COP27 in Egypt last November and are planning to take a delegation to to COP28 in Dubai in November of this year. Learn more: http://hbcugreenfund.org/ MEDIA CONTACT: Edrea Davis 818.613.9521 [email protected] MULTIMEDIA: VIDEO: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isn9-OFqcpI PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-0413-s2p-hbcufellows-300dpi.jpg Caption: HBCU Green Fund AUC Fellows join their host families for a a photo during their trip to Northern Senegal to help in the fight against climate change. NEWS SOURCE: HBCU Green Fund This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (HBCU Green Fund), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/hbcu-green-fund-atlanta-university-fellows-spend-spring-break-planting-trees-in-a-rural-african-village-to-fight-climate-change/ Copr. 2023 Send2Press Newswire, a service of NEOTROPE, Calif., USA. -- REF: S2P STORY ID: 89863SI.03 Paid press release content from Send2Press. The StreetInsider.com news staff was not involved in its creation. NEW YORK CITY, N.Y., April 13, 2023 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) Industry veteran Leonard Jones has been named Executive Director of Municipal Banking and Head of Public Finance for Blaylock Van, LLC, the nations longest-continuously operating Black-owned investment firm. In this role, he will lead the firms banking team and solutions for local and municipal government organizations with a focus on financial and risk management. Most recently, Jones was Managing Director of Moodys Investors Service, where he managed the companys public finance local government ratings group. Prior to that, he served as Partner and Head of Investment Banking for Rice Financial Products and Vice President of Morgan Stanley and Company in New York as well as Chief Consultant for the Zambia Privatization Agency in Zambia, among other notable industry leadership positions. Lennys extensive leadership and strategic expertise will be a tremendous benefit to our clients and our team, and we are thrilled to welcome him to Blaylock Van, said Blaylock Van CEO and President Eric Standifer. He is a visionary across municipal finance and investment banking as well as marketing and talent development, which will support the continued growth and innovation of our municipal banking and public finance enterprise. Jones received his MBA from Stanford Universitys Graduate School of Business and his bachelors degree in economics from Dartmouth College. He also serves as Board Treasurer for the New York Urban League. Certified as a Minority Business Enterprise by the State of New York, the State of Wisconsin, the City of New York, and the National Minority Supplier Development Council, Blaylock Van is 81 percent Black-owned. Blaylock Van serves corporations, municipalities, investment managers, and pension funds with a diverse employee base committed to work beyond financial services. About Blaylock Van, LLC: Blaylock Van, LLC (BV) is the oldest and continuously operating Black-owned banking firm in the United States, providing personalized services for clients across the country. Clients include corporations, municipalities, investment managers, pension funds, and family offices. The firms headquarters are in New York City, with offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, Miami, and Oakland, Calif. For more information, please visit https://brv-llc.com/ MULTIMEDIA: PHOTO link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/23-0413-s2p-leonard-jones-300dpi.jpg Caption: Leonard Jones Joins Blaylock Van. NEWS SOURCE: Blaylock Van LLC This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Blaylock Van LLC), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/leonard-jones-joins-blaylock-van-wall-streets-oldest-continually-operating-black-owned-firm-as-executive-director-of-municipal-banking-public-finance/ Copr. 2023 Send2Press Newswire, a service of NEOTROPE, Calif., USA. -- REF: S2P STORY ID: 89848SI.03 Timmy and his team at White Elephant Studio help Chinese fashion brands expand globally. Timmy (Xi) Liang, the Producer at White Elephant Studio, is a serial entrepreneur in fashion and beauty production, whos been named as one of the AACYF - Top 30 under 30 list in 2019 (AACYF, All American Chinese Youth federation; category: fashion and media). With 5 years of production experience, Timmy Liang has recently been known for the overseas production for Florasis, one of the top 3 Chinese beauty brands known for Eastern aesthetic element transformation. Before this, as early as 2019, Timmy has already produced for the world-renowned supermodel Liu Wens Puma look, Chinas first-ever Victorias Secret model whos ranked 1 among Chinese models by Forbes. Timmys production work has been featured in fashion media such as Harper's Bazaar, ELLE China, COSMO, Esquire, and Dazed China. In addition to Florasis, brands he has collaborated with include Farfetch, Estee Lauder, Urban Outfitters, Ascis, Fenty, Nike, Pony, Harbin Beer, and Mishan. The blended visual experience comes from Timmys artistic taste and management techniques with engineering thinking, delivering ongoing marvels for Chinese brands and beauties in a cross-cultural setting. Timmys recent production for Florasis shows Chinese brands growing demands for overseas expansion post-COVID, where a producers understanding of Chinese elements and team principles, and American production processes are equally important. The story of Florasiss Impression of Dai Collection expresses the Chinese Dai peoples cultural elements of peacock and rainforest colors in its latest makeup products, bringing users to experience the hidden beauty of the unique ethnic group living Yunnan, generally known as the wonderland in the south of China. To expand the impacts of the Dai Collections storyline, Timmy has led its overseas KOL (Key Opinion Leader, or Influencer) co-production and social media promotions in North America, traveling frequently between New York and Los Angeles. One of the star KOLs introduced by Timmy is Lotstar, one of the tier-1 celebrities favorite makeup artists with 200K+ followers on Instagram. With Timmys craftsmanship and versatility in fashion photography and ad production, the Dai Collections social media campaign went quite a big hit, reaching 1M+ views within the 1st week among all platforms in North America. This successful production for Florasis has further proved Timmys understanding of Chinese consumer brands needs and distinguished execution of overseas production. Timmys fashion photography production has also received applauds for his work for the Chinese celebrity Feifei Sun on Harper's Bazaar China and the flagship store lookbook for the design Xue Gao. During a photography production for the Chinese model, Feifei Sun, the VIP guest at global fashion weeks and high luxury brands, Timmy brought his unique perspectives of balancing boldness and elegance, blending with naturalisms soft touch to redefine Asian aesthetics. His team-building tactics and clear instructions throughout the processes of color, light, and production also ensured smooth execution of this high-level photo shoot. In another lookbook production project for the LVMH Prize and Forbes 30 Asia recipient, fashion designer Snow (Xue) Gao, Timmy magically finished the production within a day. The lookbook was exclusively used for the brands flagship store, in which high-standard visual effects and project management are both indispensable. The reason behind Timmys effective production leadership comes from his mindsets of both arts and engineering. With a graduate degree from Savannah and an engineering undergraduate degree from Chinas top 10 universities known for information technology, he has managed to integrate the use of both emotion and ration, the interpersonal and technical, the vivid mix of colors and lights and the prudent finishing touches of all details. With Chinas opening up after the COVID lockdown, Timmy predicts that there will be more Chinese consumer brands interested in collaboration and localization in the global market, where Timmy hopes to serve as the bridge of fashion and beauty industries communications between US and China. Regarding industry transformation, he observes the reducing client requests of merely production, but the combined service of production and promotion, where studios like his White Elephant that have exclusive IP and distributional resources can be of more value to client needs. Increasingly, clients also demand the content to be more interactive, from print, video to short video, and even to adapt new tech scopes and amplify audio-visual senses. A man behind the lenses, producer Timmy Liang will bring more brands to realize aesthetical pursuits and production agility in the global arena. Contact Info: Name: Timmy Liang Email: Send Email Organization: White Elephant Website: https://www.thewhiteelephant.net/ Release ID: 89094332 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. Zhengzhou City Brand Slogan Released BEIJING , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 16th China Brand Festival Women's Forum, themed "Bloom Your Beauty", was hosted by TopBrand Union and sponsored by the Zhengzhou Municipal Government at the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center from April 7th to 9th, 2023 . Over 2,000 entrepreneurs, experts, and political leaders from across the country gathered in Zhengzhou for the event. Thousands of people swarmed into the conference center and the event has received rave reviews. Brand building has become a key solution for Chinese entrepreneurs to better cope with risks and challenges. In recent years, the influence of women entrepreneurs has risen unprecedentedly in China , with many excellent female role models emerging across various industries. GU Xiulian, former vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) and director of the China Committee for the Care of the Next Generation, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. She pointed out that China Brand Festival Women's Forum has made great contributions to promoting brand building in China as a two-way communication platform for brand women and female brands. It has also created a broad platform for excellent women to network and showcase themselves. Women shall seize the opportunity of the rise of "Her Power", and further expand the width and depth of the concept of "Her Power" thanks to the China Brand Festival Women's Forum. Women shall be committed to promoting brands with high quality, and contribute women's strengths to the building of powerful brands. HE Xiong, deputy secretary of Zhengzhou Municipal Committee and mayor of the City Zhengzhou, said in his speech that gathering outstanding women representatives from all walks of life to Zhengzhou is a solid step towards high-quality development and an effective measure to gather "Her Energy" and showcase "Her Style". He sincerely invited everyone to "take a walk in the province of Henan to understand China better" and to "take a walk in the city of Zhengzhou to understand ancient China better ". He also hoped to show the diligent and dedicated female style with the event. Vice Mayor MA Zhifeng promoted the city of Henan by inviting guests to get to know more about Zhengzhou and invest in it. On behalf of TopBrand Union, WANG Yong, chairman of the company and founder and secretary general of the China Brand Festival, officially released the city brand slogan "Come to Zhengzhou if You Have Kung Fu ". This slogan includes four connotations: the world-renowned " Shaolin Kung Fu ", the "Soft Kung Fu " for citizens, the "Real Kung Fu " for entrepreneurship, and the "Slow Kung Fu " for leisure and relaxation. At this year's Women's Forum, the "2023 China Top 10 Brand Women" was officially unveiled. XU Xiao, chairman of Kaifeng City Stacked City Construction and Development Co., Ltd, DU Lan, senior vice president of KDDI, DAI Kangwei, general manager of Beiqi New Energy, XUE Rong, party secretary and president of Zhengzhou Yuanfang Group, were awarded as "2023 China's Top 10 Brand Women". At the same time, the China Brand Women's Club was launched and established. In addition, DONG Mingzhu, Chairman and President of Gree Electric, LIU Yang, an astronaut, and ZHANG Guimei, Principal of Lijiang Huaping Girls' Senior High School, were listed in the top three of "Top 500 Chinese Brand Women 2023". Taobao, Douyin, Chow Tai Fook, Jingdong, and Meituan are the top five of the "Top 50 Brands Preferred by Women 2023". As one of the most influential brand activities introduced to Zhengzhou this year, the forum gathered multiple participants of "Her Economy". SUN Qixiang, LIU Nanning, ZHANG Qi and 223 other honored guests, covering well-known women entrepreneurs, brand women, women economists, academicians, experts and scholars, investors, influencers, took the stage to share their insights, showcased the charm of contemporary brand women, helped Zhengzhou polish the city's business card, and promoted the economic recovery and development after the epidemic. In addition to that, 16 parallel forums and 2,000 square meters of exhibitions were successfully held. Media contact: Zhu Ying [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2023-china-brand-festival-womens-forum-successfully-held-301796539.html SOURCE TopBrand Union (Beijing) Consulting Company Program Designed to Foster Connection to Ireland and Bolster Career Development PORTLAND, Maine , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The African American Irish Diaspora Network (AAIDN) and the Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) have partnered to launch the AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars in Ireland Program for African American college students. AAIDN and CIEE partner to launch the AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars in Ireland Program for African American college students Nearly forty percent of African Americans have Irish ancestry, according to some researchers, and African Americans share many other cultural, historic and social justice affinities with Ireland . Beginning in 2023, the AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars in Ireland Program will provide a life-changing opportunity for Scholars to explore their heritage, provide international business experience, and polish tangible work skills that will aid them in their future career. In this inaugural year of the program, three exceptional African American college students will attend CIEE's Summer Global Internship in Dublin program that includes an eight-week work placement, housing, and a three credit academic course. During the students' eight-weeks in Ireland , CIEE will provide the academic and work experience for each intern, while AAIDN will provide each student with a stipend to offset travel and living expenses. The students selected for the first cohort of AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars in Ireland are: Benedict College : Mia Douglas ('24), Mass Communication and Media Studies : ('24), Mass Communication and Media Studies Delaware State University : Dapria Fell ('26), Mass Communication and Media Studies : Dapria Fell ('26), Mass Communication and Media Studies Sacred Heart University : Jayla Vyent ('25), Psychology "We are honored to partner with AAIDN to help build bridges between African American and Irish communities through people-to-people exchange," said James P. Pellow , Ed.D., president and CEO of CIEE. "The AAIDN Internships in Ireland program will allow African American college students to prepare for the global job market, develop intercultural communication skills, and embrace Ireland's well-known hospitality, rich culture and natural beauty." Dennis Brownlee , founder and chairman of AAIDN, stated: "We are delighted to work with CIEE to offer this transformative international learning and career development opportunity in Ireland to a group of outstanding students. These are the kinds of experiences that will help broaden their perspectives and advance their careers." The AAIDN/CIEE Intern Scholars will be encouraged to share reflections of their time in Ireland through written blogs and weekly posts on social media. They will serve as mentors for the next class of AAIDN Intern Scholars, thereby extending the African American Irish family network to future decedents of Africa and Ireland . To learn more about the AAIDN Intern Scholars in Ireland program, or to contribute to this effort, please contact Stacy Benjamin , CIEE's Director of Professional Development, at [email protected]. About CIEE For 75 years, CIEE has helped young people participate in high-quality international exchange and study abroad programs that build bridges between people, countries and cultures. Since 1947, CIEE has supported over 1,000,000 student exchanges from over 140 countries. Learn more at ciee.org. About AAIDN The African American Irish Diaspora Network was launched in 2020 to foster relationships between African Americans and Ireland and the Irish Diaspora through shared heritage and culture. With nearly 40% of African Americans having some Irish ancestry, AAIDN is bringing the African American and Irish communities together via that ancestry and other affinities including entrepreneurship and innovation, education, arts, and culture. AAIDN's mission is actively supported by Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs as well as the government of Northern Ireland . Learn more at aaidnet.org Media contact: Leslie Taylor , [email protected], (207)553-4274 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/african-american-irish-diaspora-network-and-the-council-on-international-educational-exchange-create-scholarship-for-african-americans-to-intern-in-ireland-301797129.html SOURCE Council on International Educational Exchange (CIEE) Webcast to be held on Thursday, April 20 th at 4pm EDT . BERWYN, Pa. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Annovis Bio, Inc. (NYSE: ANVS) ("Annovis" or the "Company"), a clinical-stage drug platform company addressing neurodegenerative diseases, today announced that the Company will hold a live R&D webcast to review its clinical development programs in Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. As part of the presentation, the Company will discuss why it believes buntanetap is uniquely positioned to address both symptomatic as well as disease modification in early and advanced-stage Alzheimer's and Parkinson's patients. Annovis will discuss its preliminary plans to develop the drug with the FDA for all stages of the disease, short and long term, and discuss the recently announced results from the blinded, interim analysis of the ongoing Phase 3 study in Parkinson's disease. Following the presentation, the Company will hold a Question-and-Answer session. Webcast details: Participant Toll-Free Dial-In Number: 1 (888) 210-3702 Participant Toll Dial-In Number: 1 (646) 960-0191 Conference ID: 7935665 Webcast Link: https://events.q4inc.com/attendee/892955864 About Buntanetap Buntanetap (previously known as ANVS401 or Posiphen) is an oral translational inhibitor of neurotoxic aggregating proteins (TINAPs), which mode of action leads to a lower level of neurotoxic proteins and consequently less toxicity in the brain. In a Phase 2a clinical trial in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD) patients, buntanetap was shown to be well-tolerated and safe, and its pharmacokinetics were found to be in line with levels measured earlier in humans, meeting both the primary and secondary endpoints. Additionally, exploratory endpoints were also met, as treatment with buntanetap resulted in statistically significant improvement in motor function in PD patients and cognition in AD patients. Presently buntanetap is being studied in a Phase 3 early PD study and in a Phase 2/3 study in AD patients. 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 inhibits more than one neurotoxic protein and, thereby, improves the information highway of the nerve cell, known as axonal transport. When this information flow is impaired, the nerve cell gets sick and dies. Annovis conducted two Phase 2 studies: one in AD patients and one in both AD and PD patients. In the AD/PD study buntanetap showed improvements in cognition and memory in AD as well as body and brain function in PD patients. For more information on Annovis Bio, please visit the Company's website www.annovisbio.com and follow us on LinkedIn and Twitter. Forward-Looking Statements This presentation contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements relate to all information other than historical matters, such as expectations or forecasts of future events. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "forecast," "intend," "seek," "target," "anticipate," "believe," "expect," "estimate," "plan," "outlook," and "project" and other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. Forward-looking statements with respect to the operations, strategies, prospects and other aspects of the business of Annovis Bio are based on current expectations that are subject to known and unknown risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results or outcomes to differ materially from expectations expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: that clinical trials may be delayed and that the data reported herein is from a Phase 2a study. These and other risks and uncertainties are described more fully in the section titled "Risk Factors" in Annovis Bio's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021, and other periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. Although it may voluntarily do so, from time to time, Annovis Bio undertakes no commitment to update or revise the forward-looking statements contained in this presentation, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable law. Media Contact: Nic Johnson Russo Partners, LLC (303) 482-6405 [email protected] Investors Contact: Chris Calabrese +1 (917) 680-5608 [email protected] LifeSci Advisors, LLC Kevin Gardner +1 (617) 283-2856 [email protected] LifeSci Advisors, LLC View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/annovis-bio-to-hold-live-webcast-to-review-alzheimers-disease-and-parkinsons-disease-clinical-programs-301796458.html SOURCE Annovis Bio Designed to mirror ATMA's Health Canada approved N500 Phase II Psilocybin Clinical Trial for frontline healthcare professionals CALGARY, AB , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - ATMA Journey Centers Inc. ("ATMA"), Canada 's leading psychedelic-assisted therapy training provider, is pleased to announce it has submitted an N500 3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) phase II Clinical Trial Application (CTA) to Health Canada, which aims to assess the efficacy of MDMA in treating mental health issues in frontline healthcare workers, as well as to provide subjective documentation of its clinical utility. This will be the largest MDMA clinical trial to date. Often overlooked, healthcare professionals suffer from psychological trauma, anxiety, depression, and burnout in parallel with the general population. However, evidence shows that they experience these mental health concerns to a much larger extent than the general public due to the nature of their frontline work on a daily basis. From compassion fatigue to vicarious traumatization, as well as personal mental challenges, frontline healthcare workers have largely learnt to suppress their suffering and attempt to function with it in their daily lives. Indeed, many frontline healthcare workers have unknowingly adapted to burnout. One of ATMA's mandates is to assess the clinical efficacy of psychedelic medicine in treating these mental health issues. It is anticipated ATMAs Health Canada-approved phase II psilocybin trial will commence in the summer of 2023. As ATMA's first cohort of 80+ graduates nears completion of the Advanced Psychedelic-Assisted Therapy Training course, students are excited about the prospect of participating in this trial, in which enrollment will commence upon approval from the Health Research Ethics Board of Alberta (HREBA). The N500 clinical trial has the primary objective of examining the efficacy of psilocybin in the treatment of Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Major Depressive Disorder, and Occupational Burnout Syndrome in frontline healthcare professionals who have been negatively impacted by stressful work conditions as a result of COVID-19. The secondary objective of this study will provide insights on the utility of this medicine as a therapeutic tool from the perspective of healthcare professionals interested in this field of work. While psilocybin may be efficacious in treating the aforementioned mental health issues, MDMA too may be an alternative therapeutic agent. As Australia moves towards the legalization of both psilocybin and MDMA for clinical use, and with Canada likely to follow suit, there is the clear need for a large scale MDMA clinical trial; this is essential in order to provide the necessary data to support clinical implementation and protocol development, as well as to offer healthcare professionals the opportunity to gain a better understanding of the utility of MDMA as an adjuvant therapeutic agent, in the same manner as psilocybin. ATMA's phase II MDMA trial is very similar to their N500 psilocybin trial; frontline healthcare workers with documented mental health issues will undergo pre- and post-treatment self-administered psychological assessments to document the efficacy of MDMA as a therapeutic agent. Additionally, ATMA will be collecting feedback from participants on the potential clinical utility of MDMA. A tertiary outcome of the trial will be the experience of observing other participants who are under the effects of MDMA, which may help healthcare workers understand how MDMA-assisted therapy could be beneficial in a legal, clinical setting. "We are excited to begin collecting data and hearing the perspective of healthcare professionals participating in our clinical trials using putative psychedelic therapeutics," states Dr. Ravi Bains , ATMA's Chief Medical Officer. "To then be able to compare the data and experiences of healthcare professionals undergoing psilocybin versus MDMA treatment for similar indications will be crucial to determining the clinical utility of these compounds." "We believe that the data coming out of these clinical trials will be invaluable to both the development of this field and our community of psychedelic practitioners," states Vu Tran , Founder of ATMA. "Practitioners sharing their personal experiences with their peers will also help to innovate best practices and establish sound protocols for the effectiveness of psychedelic-assisted therapy." "As psychedelic-assisted therapy nears legal status globally, Health Canada will be seen by the world as a progressive leader in psychedelic medicines, for making these types of clinical trials available to healthcare professionals who are training in this field," Tran adds. "As a result, more effective practitioners and leaders will emerge in the Canadian psychedelic industry." ATMA's programs and trials are open to international healthcare professionals who meet the exclusion and inclusion criteria. Graduates of MAPS, CIIS, and other qualifying advanced psychedelic programs are also welcome. ABOUT ATMA JOURNEY CENTERS INC. We care about improving the lives and practices of healthcare professionals. ATMA is pioneering a health practitioner business model for the psychedelic industry. Education, training, clinical trials, and business support services are all being developed for the largest community of psychedelic practitioners, to assist mental healthcare professionals in adopting psychedelic-assisted therapy into their practices. ATMA provides a clear, guided path for healthcare professionals and clinics to navigate through this process. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atma-submits-n500-mdma-phase-ii-clinical-trial-application-to-health-canada-301796383.html SOURCE ATMA Journey Centers Inc Working in community at the "Bank on 100 Million: Future Ready Now" event, Aventiv focuses on role of technology in successful reentry WASHINGTON , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Aventiv Technologies , a leader in developing technology solutions to empower rehabilitative justice, is the presenting sponsor of an April 12-13 Reentry Hackathon in Washington, D.C. The company is sponsoring a series of hackathons led by justice-impacted experts and advocates, including Aventiv Advisory Board Chairwoman Teresa Hodge , President and CEO of Mission: Launch , in partnership with What's Next Washington , and R3 Score . The event at the Walter Washington D.C. Convention Center is focused on bringing together a range of stakeholders public, private, and non-profit to innovate reentry employment solutions for the 1-in-2 working-aged adults who will have an arrest or conviction record by 2030. "It's important for Aventiv to be working in, listening to, and learning from justice-impacted communities as we iterate on the growing role of technology to accelerate solutions for reentry. We believe that the work of successful reentry begins at the date of entry, not the day of release, and we want to help drive innovation in this space," said Margita Thompson , Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer at Aventiv Technologies. "Second Chance Month is an important inflection point to hear new ideas, and this hackathon series is critical to creating a coalition of 'solutionaries' engaged in public-private collaboration to make reentry more successful for more people." The Hackathon coincides with Aventiv's independent Advisory Board quarterly meeting, held in Washington, D.C. A little more than a year ago, Aventiv officially announced the formation of the advisory board to help fulfill its multi-year commitments to transformation. Members of the advisory board include formerly incarcerated individuals, business leaders, policy experts, and criminal justice reform advocates. They provide strategic advice on transforming Aventiv's business model and engagement with consumers, justice-impacted families, customers, and state and federal policymakers. The Board has focused on fortifying tablet technology to empower consumers and their communities and building a "Justice Sandbox," where formerly incarcerated entrepreneurs create content for the Aventiv platform. These are two of the areas where the Board has accelerated Aventiv's enterprise transformation with meaningful impact for consumers, customers, and community stakeholders. Aventiv is represented at the Hackathon by CEO Dave Abel , Chief Product Officer Alex Yeo , Senior Vice President for Product Jessica Lust , and Board members Teresa Hodge , Lloyd Trotter , and CK Hoffler. In addition to Mission: Launch and Aventiv, the Hackathon's featured speakers and facilitators include: U.S. Department of Labor Rapid Collaborative Working Groups led by the Women's Bureau. The U.S. Department of Labor is joining the hackathon to hear from directly impacted people and experts on pathways to employment for people living with criminal records. led by the Women's Bureau. The is joining the hackathon to hear from directly impacted people and experts on pathways to employment for people living with criminal records. The Washington, D.C. Department of Employment Services will convene discussions focused on expanding access to skilled professional jobs that could lead to homeownership, as well as modernizing employer engagement and cross-agency partnerships to expand opportunities for D.C. residents with arrest or conviction histories. will convene discussions focused on expanding access to skilled professional jobs that could lead to homeownership, as well as modernizing employer engagement and cross-agency partnerships to expand opportunities for D.C. residents with arrest or conviction histories. Aventiv and R3 Score are preparing for the release of R3Up, which will provide everyone using Aventiv tablets in correctional facilities access to a job score app designed for their unique needs. Washington, D.C. is the second city in just six months to host this Hackathon series. Seattle, WA , and Phoenix, AZ are on the 2023 roadmap for future convenings in jurisdictions seeking to bring these conversations and best practices to life. The fourth location is still being decided. ABOUT AVENTIV TECHNOLOGIES Headquartered in Dallas, Texas, Aventiv Technologies serves more than 3,450 public safety, law enforcement and corrections agencies and over 1,100,000 incarcerated individuals across North America, Aventiv is committed to serve and connect by providing emergency response, incident management, public information, investigation, biometric analysis, communication, information management, incarcerated self-service, and monitoring products and services in order to make our world a safer place to live. For more information, please visit www.Aventiv.com . Aventiv is a portfolio company of Platinum Equity. Founded in 1995 by Tom Gores, Platinum Equity is a global investment firm with a portfolio of approximately 40 operating companies that serve customers around the world. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aventiv-proudly-sponsors-mission-launch-second-chance-month-post-incarceration-employment-hackathon-301797258.html SOURCE Aventiv BROOKFIELD, Wis. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Best Version Media is proud to be Certified by Great Place to Work for the seventh year in a row. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at BVM. This year, 92% of employees said BVM is a great place to work 35% higher than the average U.S. company. Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. " Great Place to Work Certification isn't something that comes easily it takes ongoing dedication to the employee experience," said Sarah Lewis-Kulin , Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place to Work. "It's the only official recognition determined by employees' real-time reports of their company culture. Earning this designation means that BVM is one of the best companies to work for in the country." According to Great Place to Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, earn a fair share of the company's profits and have a fair chance at promotion. Earlier this year, we were recognized by Glassdoor as one of their Best Places to Work in 2023. We're honored to be recognized for providing a great work environment for our people. WE'RE HIRING! Visit our Opportunities page to learn more about career opportunities with Best Version Media. About Best Version Media Best Version Media connects businesses to local residents with powerful and proven branding solutions. BVM is considered one of the fastest-growing privately held media companies in the industry. Visit www.bestversionmedia.com to learn more. About Great Place to Work Great Place to Work is the global authority on workplace culture. Since 1992, they have surveyed more than 100 million employees worldwide and used those deep insights to define what makes a great workplace: trust. Their employee survey platform empowers leaders with the feedback, real-time reporting and insights they need to make data-driven people decisions. Everything they do is driven by the mission to build a better world by helping every organization become a great place to work For All. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/best-version-media-earns-2023-great-place-to-work-certification-301797181.html SOURCE Best Version Media, LLC Liechtenstein's progressive regulatory environment for digital assets provides a springboard for BTSE's future business in Europe ROAD TOWN, British Virgin Islands , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- BTSE , a leading digital asset exchange, today announced that it has secured approval for a regulatory registration under the Token and Trustworthy Technology Service Provider Act (TVTG) in Liechtenstein (subject to a condition precedent). This compliance milestone will enable the digital asset exchange to expand its business presence into Europe and attract global users. The registration also demonstrates the firm's unwavering commitment to regulatory compliance. BTSE AG, BTSE's legal entity registered in Liechtenstein , has obtained the registration granted by the country's Financial Market Authority (FMA). The registration will allow BTSE AG to operate as a regulated Trustworthy Technology (TT) Exchange Service Provider in Liechtenstein , and provide services related to tokens and cryptocurrencies , subject to compliance with the TVTG. The stringent vetting process for obtaining a TVTG registration encompasses a thorough assessment of the company's compliance measures for preventing money laundering and terrorist financing. "Situated in the heart of Europe , not only does Liechtenstein offer a stable political and economic environment, it's also among the first countries worldwide to introduce a comprehensive regulatory framework for the blockchain industry. Obtaining this registration is yet another crucial step in our goal of expanding access to crypto finance worldwide. We're proud to have such clear proof of our long-standing commitment to building a secure, reliable, and compliant global business," said Henry Liu , CEO of BTSE. " Liechtenstein's progressive regulatory environment for digital assets provides a great springboard for us to expand our business into Europe . We look forward to delivering innovative digital asset solutions for our future clients in the region," he added. As a rapidly growing market for cryptocurrencies and digital assets , Europe offers a regulatory framework with competitive clarity. Coupled with the region's large and diverse pool of highly educated professionals in the fields of tech and finance, the exchange plans to tap into the opportunities to innovate and expand its services. "As a registered TT Exchange Service Provider in Liechtenstein , we are demonstrating our commitment to complying with all applicable laws and regulations. We see this as an opportunity to further enhance our position as a trusted platform for digital asset trading and investing, and we are excited about the potential for continued expansion and growth in Europe and beyond," said Jeff Mei , COO of BTSE. "By staying at the forefront of innovation and regulation, we can help shape the future of the crypto industry and pave the way for mainstream adoption of digital assets," Mei added. About BTSE BTSE is a leading digital asset exchange that offers a simple and secure way to trade cryptocurrencies. As the go-to exchange for all things crypto, BTSE is one of the top trusted crypto platforms for institutions, retail users and first-time traders. BTSE has developed multiple trading technologies that have been adopted across the industry, setting new standards for excellence and innovation in the world of digital asset trading. Additionally, BTSE licenses its industry-leading technology to exchanges worldwide through its white label exchange solutions, strengthening the BTSE ecosystem and bridging traditional finance with digital assets everywhere. Read more at btse.com . Contact details: BTSE PR [email protected] Eleven International PR [email protected] View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/btse-gains-virtual-asset-services-registration-subject-to-a-condition-precedent-in-liechtenstein-to-expand-european-presence-301796546.html SOURCE BTSE Acquisition to create a global leader in governance, risk and compliance technology solutions LONDON , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- International private equity firm Cinven today announces that it has reached an agreement to acquire Archer, a leading provider of integrated risk management solutions, from RSA Security, a portfolio company of Clearlake Capital Group, L.P. and Symphony Technology Group. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Archer is a leading provider of governance, risk and compliance ('GRC') software globally. Founded in 2000, Archer has a 20+ year track record of providing integrated risk management ('IRM') and software solutions across the GRC landscape. Archer's industry leading solutions support its diverse and growing customer base of large and mid-sized enterprises to improve their strategic decision-making and operational resilience. Headquartered in Kansas , US, Archer has significant international operations in Europe , the Middle East , and APAC, with European expansion a strategic priority. Having spent significant time targeting investment opportunities in the global GRC subsector, Cinven's TMT and Business Services sector teams in North America and Europe worked closely together to identify Archer as an attractive primary carve-out investment opportunity, given: The GRC software market is highly attractive, rapidly growing and fragmented, with opportunity for further consolidation; Archer has a leading position, with the opportunity to grow further through organic and inorganic expansion in both North America and Europe ; and ; The quality and breadth of Archer's product portfolio, as it serves more than half of the Fortune 500; and Archer's highly recurring revenue stream, with strong visibility and high customer retention. Through this transaction, Cinven will support the long-term strategic growth of Archer's integrated software platform as a standalone business following the initial carve-out from RSA Security. Drawing on its European and US platform and expertise, Cinven will work in close partnership with management to continue internationalising the business, including executing opportunities to expand Archer's presence in key markets and verticals across both North America and Europe . Julia Kahr , Partner and Head of North America at Cinven, commented: "This transaction exemplifies Cinven's ability to deploy our differentiated sector-country matrix to carve-out and invest behind high-growth businesses, and to position them for long-term success as standalone companies. This is a tremendous opportunity to leverage our sector expertise and established track record of investing in both North America and Europe to drive growth in a leading business with an unmatched product offering in a dynamic and growing market." Daniel Garin , Senior Principal at Cinven, added: "The governance, risk and compliance market has been a significant focus area for Cinven globally for many years, and Archer continues to be a leading player in a highly fragmented market. Our investment in Archer builds on our strong track record of driving product innovation and geographic expansion that better supports customers around the world." Bill Diaz , Chief Executive Officer at Archer, commented: "Cinven has a strong track record of driving value in software businesses and they are the ideal partner to support Archer's next phase of growth. This partnership with Cinven will allow us to capitalize on significant growth opportunities both organically and through strategic acquisitions and further accelerate our leading position to the benefit of our customers, employees and all stakeholders." Upon the close of the transaction, Bill Diaz will continue to lead the business as Chief Executive Officer alongside the existing Archer leadership team. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions. Media contacts Cinven Alison Raymond Tel: +44 (0)7826 856198 Email: [email protected] Clare Bradshaw Tel. +44 (0)7881 918 967 Email. [email protected] Joele Frank (Advisers to Cinven) Jon Keehner / Woomi Yun / Erik Carlson Tel. +1 212-355-4449 Archer Ben Desjardins Tel. +1 571-758-7286 [email protected] About Cinven Cinven is a leading international private equity firm focused on building world-class global and European companies. Its funds invest in six key sectors: Business Services, Consumer, Financial Services, Healthcare, Industrials and Technology, Media and Telecommunications (TMT). Cinven has offices in London , New York , Frankfurt , Paris , Milan , Madrid , Guernsey and Luxembourg. Cinven takes a responsible approach towards its portfolio companies, their employees, suppliers, local communities, the environment and society. Cinven Limited is authorised and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority. In this press release 'Cinven' means, depending on the context, any of or collectively, Cinven Holdings Guernsey Limited, Cinven Partnership LLP, and their respective Associates (as defined in the Companies Act 2006) and/or funds managed or advised by any of the foregoing. For additional information on Cinven please visit www.cinven.com and www.linkedin.com/company/cinven/ . About Archer Archer is a leading provider of integrated risk management (IRM) solutions that enables customers to improve strategic decision-making and operational resilience with a modern technology platform that supports qualitative and quantitative analysis driven by both business and IT impacts. As a true pioneer in GRC software, Archer remains solely dedicated to helping customers manage risk and compliance domains, from traditional operational risk to ESG. With more than 20 years in the risk management industry, Archer's customer base represents one of the largest pure risk management communities globally, with more than 1,200 customers, including more than 50% of the Fortune 500. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cinven-to-acquire-archer-301796617.html SOURCE Cinven Company continues to expand its reach throughout the United States WAXAHACHIE, Texas , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CivicEye, a leading software company specializing in software for law enforcement and prosecutors, announced today the launch of its products CivicCase and CivicDocs in Ellis County, Texas . This marks CivicEye's first customer in Texas and demonstrates its commitment to expanding its customer base in the Lone Star State. The launch of CivicCase and CivicDocs in Ellis County is a significant milestone for CivicEye. CivicCase is a comprehensive case management system that enables law enforcement and prosecutors to streamline their workflow and improve productivity. CivicDocs is a document management system that provides secure storage, sharing, and collaboration features, helping law enforcement and prosecutors manage their documents and digital evidence efficiently and securely. "We're excited to bring our products into the Texas market, and to partner with the Ellis County team as we support the good work of the prosecutors and surrounding law enforcement in their daily tasks and workflows," said Josh South, Head of Operations at CivicEye. "Our software is designed to provide cutting-edge features that can make a real difference in the lives of those who serve and protect our communities." The launch of CivicCase and CivicDocs in Ellis County is a significant milestone for CivicEye. The company has been expanding rapidly, and its products are now used by law enforcement and prosecutors across multiple locations. "With advances in technology and increasing digital evidence in criminal cases, law enforcement and prosecutors' offices throughout the United States encounter significant hurdles collecting, retaining, processing, and transmitting digital evidence in a timely and legal manner," said Ellis County District Attorney Ann Montgomery . "CivicCase offers many features that will enable staff members to streamline workflows and concentrate on their core duties of advocating for justice and serving the citizens of Ellis County . My office team is eagerly looking forward to implementing and continuing to partner with CivicEye." CivicEye has earned a reputation as a leading provider of software solutions for law enforcement and prosecutors in the United States . Their commitment to excellence and reliability has made them a trusted partner for professionals across the country. As the company expands its presence in Texas with Ellis County , CivicEye is excited to offer innovative software to even more law enforcement and prosecutors in the state. With a focus on efficiency, accuracy, and security, CivicEye will continue to provide unparalleled support to their valued customers and scale its software services for law enforcement and prosecutors throughout Texas . To learn more about CivicEye, get in touch with our team today. About CivicEye CivicEye delivers modern, easy-to-use cloud software for law enforcement and prosecutors that enhances daily workflows and improves community outcomes. The CivicEye platform includes Records, Digital Evidence, and Case Management solutions that reduce friction points within and across departments. CivicEye serves over 130 agencies across the United States . Media Contact: Mary Elizabeth Myrick , [email protected] Sales Contact: Nathan Leatherwood , [email protected] www.civiceye.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/civiceye-launches-civiccase-and-civicdocs-in-ellis-county-texas-301797130.html SOURCE CivicEye Public voting for bookstore, Ethiopian restaurant, roastery and party rental shop continues April 24-26 DETROIT, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The public has cast their votes and, after a tight race, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown is ready to announce the four entrepreneurial teams advancing to the final stage of the competition, which includes another round of public voting and the opportunity to compete at the Hatch Off on April 26 . These four businesses will face off to win $100,000 in startup funds from Comerica Bank, as well as technical assistance from TechTown and its partners, to kickstart and open a brick-and-mortar business in Detroit , Hamtramck or Highland Park . "TechTown understands that the public's vote in the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest means empowering the community to shape the future they want to see. By casting your vote, you're not only helping deserving entrepreneurs achieve their dreams, but also contributing towards the growth and vitality of Detroit's neighborhoods," said Christianne Malone , assistant vice president for economic development at Wayne State University and chief program officer of TechTown Detroit. "The fact that these four businesses have made it to the final stage of the contest based on the community's voice is a remarkable indication of the success in each of their futures." These four entrepreneurial teams now enter the final round of public voting and will have the chance to pitch their business plan in front of a live audience at the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest's annual Hatch Off on Wednesday, April 26 . The four businesses vying to take home the crown and $100,000 in this year's Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest are: Bouncing Around The Motor City: Detroit's premier one-stop shop for balloons, decor, event planning and party rentals. Detroit's premier one-stop shop for balloons, decor, event planning and party rentals. Konjo Me: a unique and vibrant Ethiopian food experience that shares appreciation for the rich and diverse global cuisine with the community it serves. a unique and vibrant Ethiopian food experience that shares appreciation for the rich and diverse global cuisine with the community it serves. Next Chapter Books : a general interest new and used bookstore in Detroit working to reflect and create community, inspire learning and nurture the joy of reading among all ages. a general interest new and used bookstore in working to reflect and create community, inspire learning and nurture the joy of reading among all ages. Sepia Coffee Project LLC : a minority-owned roastery sourcing specialty coffee from farmers throughout Africa , the Americas and the Indian-Pacific regions. The community can once again cast their votes for their favorite business beginning April 24 at noon through the completion of the pitch competition on April 26 . Voting will take place online at hatchdetroit.com/vote, and individuals can vote once every 24 hours. Over the years, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest has helped launch some of Detroit's most successful and well-known businesses, including La Feria (2012), Sister Pie (2014), Meta Physica Massage (2016), Baobab Fare (2017) and 27thLetter Books (2019). With this year's investment, Comerica Bank and the Comerica Charitable Foundation will have committed nearly $1 million to Hatch Detroit since Comerica's partnership began in 2012. "The partnership between Comerica Bank and TechTown is a direct reflection of both organizations' unwavering dedication to helping small businesses thrive," said Linda Nosegbe , Comerica Bank National Community Impact Manager. "Just by making it to the final stage of this competition, these finalists have proven themselves as exceptional entrepreneurs that clearly demonstrate the passion, creativity, and hard work required to turn a dream into a successful business and will surely make a lasting impact on Detroit." The annual Hatch Off event functions similarly to a Shark Tank-style pitching competition. The top four businesses will have the chance to present their business pitch to a panel of judges and a live audience. New this year, public voting will remain open through the pitch competition at the Hatch Off. The winner of the 2023 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest will be chosen through a combination of the public's vote and judges' deliberations. Tickets are available to witness the top four business pitches and see the winner of the Hatch Off competition crowned. The Hatch Off takes place on Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m. ) at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center at 461 Burroughs Street in Detroit . To purchase your ticket to the Hatch Off, visit HatchDetroit.com. The Hatch Off pitch competition will also be streamed live this year on HatchDetroit.com and the Hatch Detroit Facebook page. Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, has served Michigan longer than any other bank with a continuous presence dating back nearly 174 years to its Detroit founding in 1849. It is the largest bank employer in metro Detroit and has approximately 4,500 employees (FTE) statewide. With one of the largest banking center networks in Michigan , Comerica nurtures lifelong relationships with unwavering integrity and financial prudence. Comerica positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by helping customers be successful, providing financial support that assists hundreds of charitable organizations, and actively participating in Detroit's downtown revitalization. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Comerica, Twitter: @ComericaBank and Instagram: @comerica_bank. Download new Comerica Bank corporate logo. TechTown is a nonprofit business service organization that provides programs, education and resources for early- to growth-stage small businesses and tech entrepreneurs. By building bridges for entrepreneurs to succeed, TechTown is accelerating an inclusive economy for Detroit and Southeast Michigan . Since 2007, TechTown has supported 5,371 companies, which created 2,277 jobs and raised more than $385 million in startup and growth capital. For more information, visit techtowndetroit.org. Hatch Detroit supports both existing and new retail initiatives in the cities of Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck . Hatch Detroit , now part of TechTown Detroit's small business services programming, was founded in 2011 to give residents and aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to have a voice in neighborhood retail development and joined TechTown in 2022. Hatch Detroit provides funding, exposure and mentoring in support of its alumni entrepreneurs. With support from Hatch Detroit , 50 alumni have opened businesses. They employ over 500 people and have invested over $13 million in economic development. To learn more, visit hatchdetroit.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comerica-hatch-detroit-contest-reveals-top-four-finalists-301797137.html SOURCE Comerica Bank SHENYANG, China , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The first Shenyang Global PE Forum (SGPEF) kicked off in Hunnan district, Shenyang city on April 8, 2023 . As the top summit of Chinese private equity funds and the financial forum of the China International Fair for Trade in Services, the forum has been held with success in Beijing for 13 times. This was the first time that the forum took place outside of Beijing and was held with a success in Shenyang . Yan Zhanfeng, Secretary of the CPC Hunnan district committee, made an introduction to the Hunnan Technology City (HTC). In the past more than a year, as many as 563 conventional financial institutions, including banks, insurance companies, securities traders and futures emerged; 35 PE firms, including Cybernaut, Dehong Investment, and Shengjing PE converged on the Shengjing Fund Town and grossed nearly RMB20 billion with 150 financial products; the HTC has 12 listed companies as well as 18 New OTC Market-listed companies... And the Shenyang Development and Reform Commission unveiled Shenyang's 2017-2022 PE index at the forum, according to the Publicity Department of the CPC Hunnan District Committee. Besides, institutional investors, including CMG-SDIC Capital, Hope Group, and China Galaxy Securities signed strategic partnership agreements with the Shenyang municipal government. ZhenFund, Gainful Investment and other institutional investors signed strategic partnership agreements with the Hunnan district government. And Chongqing Yingke Investment entered into 20 agreements with HTC on prime investment and projects. Themed "Finance, Technology and Ecology", the 2-day forum, proceeding both online and offline, invited 20 local and non-local distinguished guests, over 100 PE institutional investors, and more than 30 media organizations. Over 500 delegates from related areas of Shenyang city, departments directly controlled by Shenyang municipal government, colleges, research institutes as well as high-tech firms, attended the forum. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/first-shenyang-global-pe-forum-held-successfully-in-hunnan-district-shenyang-city-301796675.html SOURCE The Publicity Department of the CPC Hunnan District Committee ORLANDO, Fla. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue, is honoring nine recipients who are doing exemplary work to provide mental health care services and support to those who otherwise may not have access to this type of care. The Florida Blue Foundation announced the winners at its annual Sapphire Awards ceremony on April 12 in Orlando . The awardees will share $525,000 that will allow them to continue to focus on ideas and programs to improve access to mental well-being services in their communities. "As a mission-driven company focused on helping people and communities achieve better health, we are committed to improving access to care, including mental health support, to reduce the stressors that often impact entire families and communities," said Susan Towler , executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation. "We are truly impressed with the results these nine awardees have achieved and look forward to working with them as they continue to make a difference for the individuals and communities they serve." According to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults experiences a mental illness each year and one in six children experiences an episode of mental health disorder each year. Given the growing mental health crisis, it is difficult for many people to get the care they need. Fortunately, there are people, programs and organizations within the state of Florida that are addressing mental well-being challenges and improving outcomes. Each of the programs, organizations, and individuals honored with a Sapphire Award was selected through a robust external review process for their exemplary leadership, innovative ideas, demonstrated outcomes, and excellence. They all have a track record of improving mental well-being outcomes, which directly impact people's overall health and quality of life. Below are the individuals who were honored: Connie Bookman ( Pensacola ) is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder and CEO of Pathways for Change, a nonprofit that provides mental health, social services and re-entry support for those who have served time in prison. A champion for creating a more equitable community, Bookman has long focused on providing practical, life, health and vocational skills to individuals in need while preserving each person's dignity and hope for a better future. The $100,000 award will support Pathways for Change. Watch her video here. ( ) is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder and CEO of Pathways for Change, a nonprofit that provides mental health, social services and re-entry support for those who have served time in prison. A champion for creating a more equitable community, Bookman has long focused on providing practical, life, health and vocational skills to individuals in need while preserving each person's dignity and hope for a better future. The award will support Pathways for Change. Watch her video here. Raquel Tapia-Bell ( Winter Park ) is the senior director of operations and programs for the Foundation for Foster Children , a nonprofit that provides opportunities for children in foster care in Central Florida . Leveraging her education and experience in mental health case management and counseling, Tapia-Bell created customized programming to help young individuals navigate mental health challenges. Tapia-Bell received a second-place award and the $50,000 will be directed to the programs at the Foundation for Foster Children . Watch her video here. ( ) is the senior director of operations and programs for the , a nonprofit that provides opportunities for children in foster care in . Leveraging her education and experience in mental health case management and counseling, Tapia-Bell created customized programming to help young individuals navigate mental health challenges. Tapia-Bell received a second-place award and the will be directed to the programs at the . Watch her video here. Brenda Lopez ( Boynton Beach ) is the social services manager for the Caridad Center, the largest free health care clinic in Florida offering medical, vision, dental and behavioral health care for uninsured children and families of Palm Beach County . Lopez leads a multi-disciplinary team of volunteer mental health providers and support staff who provide care in a culturally sensitive and understanding way. In addition to creating a support group for new women immigrants and survivors of domestic violence, Lopez has created tailored solutions and multi-language programs for the unique populations Caridad serves, including Haitian immigrants. Lopez received a third-place award and the $25,000 will be directed to Caridad's Behavioral Health Department . Watch her video here. Below are the organizations that were honored: The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center ( Jacksonville ) is considered a leader in advocating for the rights of at-risk girls and young women. Born out of the Justice for Girls Reform Movement , the Policy Center is focused on changing laws, policies and practices to prevent girls' initial or deeper involvement in the justice system. The center aims to improve outcomes and drive the equitable treatment of young women. This organization received a first-place award and $100,000 . Watch their video here. ) is considered a leader in advocating for the rights of at-risk girls and young women. Born out of the Justice for , the Policy Center is focused on changing laws, policies and practices to prevent girls' initial or deeper involvement in the justice system. The center aims to improve outcomes and drive the equitable treatment of young women. This organization received a first-place award and . Watch their video here. Families First of Palm Beach County ( West Palm Beach ) is a children's case management organization that serves children from birth to age 22, as well as their families, by providing health, mental health, family strengthening and housing programs. Families First early intervention programs are shown to reduce rates of domestic violence, poverty, homelessness and addiction. By introducing behavioral health services early in life, families receive holistic support that helps them become physically and emotionally self-sufficient, helping them change the life trajectory for themselves, their children and future generations. The organization received a second-place award and $50,000 . Watch their video here. ( ) is a children's case management organization that serves children from birth to age 22, as well as their families, by providing health, mental health, family strengthening and housing programs. Families First early intervention programs are shown to reduce rates of domestic violence, poverty, homelessness and addiction. By introducing behavioral health services early in life, families receive holistic support that helps them become physically and emotionally self-sufficient, helping them change the life trajectory for themselves, their children and future generations. The organization received a second-place award and . Watch their video here. Seniors in Service ( Tampa ) is a nonprofit that engages volunteers aged 55+ to help meet the needs and challenges of at-risk seniors, veterans, and children throughout Tampa Bay . By harnessing the talents of highly trained volunteers, they provide access to mental health and other social services, helping to reduce health disparities. During the last service year, 1,375 volunteers contributed nearly 222,000 hours valued at nearly $5.1 million . Since its founding, this organization has provided over 5 million hours of assistance with fair-market value exceeding $131.6 million . This organization received a third-place award and $25,000 . Watch their video here. Below are the programs that were honored: The Health Care District of Palm Beach County (HCDPBC) Addiction Model ( Palm Beach ) is an innovative public-private partnership with a local hospital and the Palm Beach County Commission . The evidence-based medical treatment addiction-specialized program involves a hospital's emergency department and the outpatient clinic of the nearby HCDPBC Federally Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC). Once ER patients receive initial treatment for their Substance Use Disorder (SUD), they are discharged to the FQHC to receive further treatment regardless of their ability to pay. The Addiction Model of Palm Beach County program was honored with a first-place award and $100,000 . Watch their video here. (HCDPBC) Addiction Model ( ) is an innovative public-private partnership with a local hospital and the . The evidence-based medical treatment addiction-specialized program involves a hospital's emergency department and the outpatient clinic of the nearby (FQHC). Once ER patients receive initial treatment for their Substance Use Disorder (SUD), they are discharged to the FQHC to receive further treatment regardless of their ability to pay. The Addiction Model of program was honored with a first-place award and . Watch their video here. The Mental Health Support is an Alliance for LGBTQ Youth program ( West Palm Beach ) that provides a comprehensive system of care to address the specific needs of LGBTQ youth, their families and community organizations throughout Miami-Dade County . Highly trained clinicians provide, at no cost, care coordination, individual and group counseling, family support and family therapy to youth and family members. The holistic therapeutic approach effectively supports youth in strengthening their mental health, coping skills, resilience and family functioning, as well as increasing their connectedness by identifying needed supports and services in the community. This program was honored with a second-place award and $50,000 . Watch their video here. program ( ) that provides a comprehensive system of care to address the specific needs of LGBTQ youth, their families and community organizations throughout . Highly trained clinicians provide, at no cost, care coordination, individual and group counseling, family support and family therapy to youth and family members. The holistic therapeutic approach effectively supports youth in strengthening their mental health, coping skills, resilience and family functioning, as well as increasing their connectedness by identifying needed supports and services in the community. This program was honored with a second-place award and . Watch their video here. The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team model is a housing and treatment program offered by Camillus House ( Miami ), a homeless services provider in South Florida . The ACT's team of licensed psychiatrists, nurses, clinicians and case managers help homeless individuals struggling with addiction and mental illnesses by providing housing and wrap around support to help turn lives around. This program was honored with a third-place award and $25,000 . Watch their video here. This is the 19th year the Florida Blue Foundation has presented the Sapphire Awards to individuals, programs, and organizations in community health. Since 2005, the Foundation has presented 139 Sapphire Awards, totaling nearly $7 million . Florida Blue Foundation presented the Sapphire Awards during its annual two-day Community Health Symposium. This year's event focused on mental well-being and attracted nearly 700 people from the health care, government, higher education and nonprofit sectors. The event featured national and statewide speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities focused on identifying solutions to address mental well-being, improve affordability, and increase access to high-quality care. About Florida Blue Foundation Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions, and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in our communities. More than 8 million Floridians have received services as a result of our community investments since its founding in 2001. Florida Blue Foundation is committed to improve health equity by impacting food security, advancing mental well-being, growing healthy communities, and addressing health disparities. Florida Blue Foundation is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.FloridaBlueFoundation.com. About Florida Blue Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, has been providing health insurance to residents of Florida for more than 75 years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than 5 million health care members across the state. In total, Florida Blue and its affiliated companies serve more than 46 million people in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands . Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla. , it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/florida-blue-foundation-honors-nine-with-sapphire-awards-for-addressing-mental-well-being-provides-525-000-in-funding-301796971.html SOURCE Florida Blue Lawsuit alleges negligent misconduct for causing mental health crisis among youth SAN DIEGO , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On April 13 th, Frantz Law Group, on behalf of sixteen school district across the nation, filed a lawsuit in Federal District Court in San Francisco County against Meta, TikTok, Snap, YouTube, and other social media companies for knowingly causing harm to children who use their products through their manipulative algorithms that cause addiction. "We allege that Meta, TikTok, Snap, YouTube, and other social media companies have engaged in reckless and negligent misconduct that has caused a mental health crisis among our youth," said James P. Frantz , on behalf of the plaintiff school districts. "Social media companies are and have been well aware of the harm they cause. It must stop, and we will fight to hold these social media companies accountable for choosing profit over the mental health and safety of children and their families," said Frantz. As alleged in the complaint, Frantz Law Group and their school district clients contend that various social media companies have caused a mental and emotional health crisis among students (children and teenagers) that is marked by higher proportions of anxiety, depression, and thoughts of self-harm, all of which severely affect their ability to succeed in school. Many children and students are subjected to often harmful and exploitative content that encourages disorderly behavior, unhealthy social comparison, and cyberbullying. This litigation seeks to provide the funding and resources needed to mitigate the damage that school districts are currently experiencing. The plaintiffs in this filing are Apollo Ridge School District, Burbank Unified School District, Cecil County Public Schools, Coronado Unified School District, Fort Towson School District, Glen Rock Public School District, Hanna Public Schools, La Canada Unified School District, Las Virgenes Unified School District, Narragansett School System, Oceanside Unified School District, San Ramon Valley Unified School District, Sutherland Public Schools, Tulsa Public Schools, Weber School District, and West Ada School District. Former Meta employee Frances Haugen testified before Congress that Meta's own internal research indicated how harmful their products are to the mental health of child users, teenage girls, in particular. The United States Surgeon General has declared a national advisory on the youth mental health crisis, blaming social media, in large part, for the growing number of youth experiencing depression, anxiety, self-harm, and other mental health challenges. The Center for Disease Control National Youth Risk Behavior Survey found that the rate of teen depression rose by more than 60% between 2011 and 2018. About Frantz Law Group, APLC Frantz Law Group is an award-winning personal injury, wrongful death, catastrophic injury, trucking litigation, mass torts, and class action law firm that has been serving clients for over 43 years. The firm has secured over 40 multimillion-dollar individual settlements and has helped secure several multibillion-dollar settlements with co-counsel that serve thousands of victims. Frantz Law Group successfully represents nearly 1,000 school districts in 38 states with respect to the anti-vaping JUUL litigation. Despite the proposed partial settlement with JUUL Labs, Inc., Frantz Law Group continues litigation against Altria and other defendants responsible for causing the vaping epidemic. Frantz Law Group has been ranked Tier 1 in U.S. News Best Lawyers "Best Law Firms" from 2010-2023 for mass tort litigation/class actions - plaintiffs. James P. Frantz is a fellow and associate of the American Board of Trial Advocates, is AV rated by Martindale-Hubbell, is a 20-year Special Master appointed by the State Bar of California and a 20-year Master in The Enright Chapter, American Inns of Court. For more information, please visit https://www.frantzlawgroup.com Media Contact: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/frantz-law-group-files-lawsuit-against-social-media-companies-on-behalf-of-school-districts-301796851.html SOURCE Frantz Law Group ARCHES Bayfront seeks to complete the connection between the beach and the bayfront in downtown Fort Myers Beach , granting public access to a new bay walk FORT MYERS BEACH, Fla. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Freeland Management announced today it has entered into an agreement to engage world renowned planning and architecture firm DPZ CoDESIGN to assist in the reimagination and design of the family-owned 4.5-acre parcel located on the bayfront in downtown Fort Myers Beach . Currently occupied by family-owned Moss Marina and the temporary home to the U.S. Coast Guard station, the new development ARCHES Bayfront will become a leading force in the redevelopment of Fort Myers Beach by enhancing the current downtown along the bayfront to create beach-to-bay access tied together by Old San Carlos Boulevard . Potential uses include marina, hotel, restaurant, retail, with opportunities for local businesses to thrive. The ARCHES Bayfront concept is guided by four key design principles and objectives: Renewed prosperity and economic benefits Increased connectivity and mobility Environmental resilience and sustainability Improved livability and quality of life "We chose to engage DPZ CoDESIGN not only because of their world-class reputation and award-winning projects throughout the state of Florida , but also because of their unparalleled commitment to engaging local government, civic leaders and residents in the design process to create a shared vision," said Ben Freeland , President of Freeland Management. "We view this project as an essential step in the rebuilding of the town we love so much, and we want to make sure it is done in a way that honors the past as we build for the future. DPZ is the perfect partner to help us achieve that goal." DPZ CoDESIGN has begun conducting ongoing listening sessions with local government and civic leaders and will reconvene with key stakeholders during a one-week intensive design workshop April 17 - 21 . The goal of the workshop is to fully understand the local history, landscape and character of the community prior to drawing up and unveiling a variety of visual scenarios for review and input by the Fort Myers Beach community. "DPZ is excited to help reimagine the northern edge of downtown Fort Myers Beach with a public space that extends the energy of Old San Carlos Boulevard to the bay and completes the downtown neighborhood that surrounds it," said Galina Tachieva, Managing Partner of DPZ CoDESIGN. The open house and community workshop will take place on Monday, May 15 from 6:00 - 8:00 p.m. at the Pink Shell Beach Resort & Marina. For those who are unable to attend on May 15 in person, a virtual component will be made possible via the project website, www.ARCHESBayfront.com. Residents who want to be kept informed about the project can sign up now for updates and news about the project. About The Freeland Family Six generations of the Freeland family have called Southwest Florida home. Since 1966 the family has owned and operated many different businesses throughout Southwest Florida , employing thousands of local residents. The family has attended and graduated from many of the local schools, supported non-profits, and been active in its neighborhoods and communities. George Freeland purchased the property and Moss Marina business in 1982. During that time the property was home to the largest Chris-Craft dealership in the world for annual sales, was home to the Big M Casino boats for over 15 years entertaining over a hundred thousand guests, and still serves as the home to Moss Marina and temporary home to United States Coast station. For more information, visit www.ARCHESBayfront.com About DPZ CoDESIGN Founded in 1980, DPZ CoDESIGN is a globally recognized, award winning architecture, urban planning and design firm specializing in the creation of walkable, mixed-use communities that are socially, economically, and environmentally sustainable. The firm received international recognition as the designer of the town of Seaside in the Florida Panhandle , which Time Magazine hailed as "the most astounding design achievement of its era." With over 300 built projects around the globe, DPZ CoDESIGN enjoys a long history throughout the state of Florida , including downtown Fort Myers . For more information about DPZ CoDESIGN, visit www.dpz.com PR Contact: Irina Woelfle IWPR Group EMAIL: [email protected] Phone: 203-832-6773 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/freeland-family-announces-engagement-of-dpz-codesign-to-master-plan-4-5-acre-downtown-bayfront-parcel-on-fort-myers-beach-301796531.html SOURCE Freeland Management GEORGE TOWN, Cayman Islands and HONG KONG , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Cord Blood Corporation (NYSE: CO) (the "Company"), a provider of cord blood collection, laboratory testing, hematopoietic stem cell processing, and stem cell storage services in China , announced that it received a notice (the "Notice") on April 3, 2023 from the New York Stock Exchange ("NYSE") with respect to its failure to timely file on Form 6-K its semi-annual financials for the six-month period ended September 30, 2022 (the "Interim Financials") as required by NYSE Listing Standard 203.03. As previously announced, on September 22, 2022 , the Grand Court of the Cayman Islands issued an order (the "Order") appointing Margot MacInnis and John Royle of Grant Thornton Specialist Services (Cayman) Limited, and Chow Tsz Nga Georgia of Grant Thornton Recovery & Reorganisation Limited, as joint provisional liquidators of the Company pursuant to Section 104(2) of the Companies Act (2022 Revision) (the "JPLs"). Following the issuance of the Order, the NYSE halted trading in the Company's Ordinary Shares effective September 23, 2022 , and such trading halt remains in effect as of the date hereof. Since their appointment, the JPLs have furnished three reports on their work to the Court (on October 21, 2022 , December 1, 2022 and March 1, 2023 ), copies of which are available on the Company's website https://ir.globalcordbloodcorporation.com, as well as on the JPLs' estate portal: https://www.grantthornton.ca/en/service/advisory/creditor-updates/#Global-Cord-Blood-Corporation. As the JPLs' investigations into the Company's financial position is ongoing, the Company was unable to complete and file the Interim Financials in a timely manner. The Company cannot at this time estimate the anticipated filing date of the Interim Financials. In accordance with applicable NYSE rules, the Company has until September 30, 2023 , to regain compliance with the NYSE listing standards by filing the Interim Financials on Form 6-K (and any subsequent delayed filings). In addition, upon the Company's request, the NYSE may in its sole discretion extend that period for up to an additional six months until March 31, 2024 , without commencing delisting procedures. 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, performance and results of operations, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, the impact of the Order and steps taken by the JPLs pursuant thereto on the Company's business, operations and reputation, the NYSE's trading halt, the possible delisting from the NYSE, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulation, and other risks contained in statements filed from time to time with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by the cautionary statements and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof. For more information, please contact: [email protected], +1 345 949 7100 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-cord-blood-corporation-announces-failure-to-file-interim-financials-301797166.html SOURCE Global Cord Blood Corporation - in provisional liquidation Nia Tero Initiatives Center Indigenous Stories with Essential Knowledge for Healing the Planet SEATTLE , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Two Indigenous-made storytelling projects supported by Nia Tero have been honored by the 2023 Webby Awards. Seedcast, a podcast about Indigenous experiences of relationship to the Earth, is nominated for Best Podcast Episode in the area of Arts & Culture. Reciprocity Project, a global storytelling movement supporting Indigenous creatives, is an honoree in the category of "Websites and Mobile Sites - Diversity, Equity & Inclusion." "Indigenous stories are essential for being in better relationship with the planet." ~Tracy Rector, Nia Tero "Indigenous stories are essential for being in better relationship with the planet," said Tracy Rector , Managing Director, Storytelling at Nia Tero. "In order to bring more of these important narratives into the world, along with invaluable long-held knowledge and practices from their communities, it is our responsibility to provide support and resources for learning, creating, and building together." Over 14,000 entries were submitted to the Webby's this year from more than 70 countries. As a nominee, Seedcast is part of the top 10%. The podcast is in its third season. Past episodes have centered voices from around the world, including guests from Cherokee Nation, the Terena Peoples of Brazil , Bare Nation of Venezuela and Brazil , the Achuar of Ecuador , and the Gabbra of Kenya . Voting for Seedcast for a Webby People's Voice Award is open through April 20, 2023 . Online voting can be found here. Reciprocity Project's inaugural season of films screened at over 125 festivals and events, including Sundance, and have been seen by over 150,000 people. "Being an honoree in this year's Webby's is humbling," said Reciprocity Project series producer Adam Mazo , who is also Creative Director of Upstander Project. "It's a chance for us to share widely the importance of reciprocity in creating a sense of shared responsibility and mutual benefit, particularly in the context of climate justice and social justice." The next season of Reciprocity Project is in production with filmmakers from Kenya , Finland , Sierra Leone , Rotuma, Taiwan , Arikara Nation, and Mohawk Nation. Reciprocity Project is a collaboration between Nia Tero and Upstander Project in association with REI Co-op Studios. Enjoy Reciprocity Project films, discussion guides, photography, and more at: reciprocity.org Nia Tero is a nonprofit dedicated to working in solidarity with Indigenous Peoples to strengthen guardianship of Earth and all beings. Press Inquiries: [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/indigenous-storytelling-honored-by-the-webby-awards-301797155.html Annual report also spotlights achievements of Give One-supported organizations working to conserve the Amazon STOCKHOLM , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Klarna, a leading global payments provider and shopping service, today released its annual 2022-23 Give One Report outlining the progress of its Give One planet health initiative from inception through February 2023 . To tackle the climate, biodiversity, and land degradation crises, investments in nature-based solutions need to triple by 2030 and increase fourfold by 2050 from today's level. Give One is a response to this massive funding gap a call-to-action launched by Klarna that aims to inspire everyone to get involved in tackling some of the most critical environmental issues facing the planet. In collaboration with planet health-tech platform Milkywire, the initiative supports change-makers on the frontlines of environmental challenges and showcases the work done on the ground. Starting in April 2021 with Klarna's commitment to donate 1% of all future funding rounds to high-impact projects that protect planet health, Klarna's Give One initiative also provides a platform for 150 million consumers and 500,000 retail partners to donate to vetted projects that can make a real impact. "Klarna established Give One with a vision to drive meaningful change and support initiatives aimed at addressing the pressing challenges of climate change and biodiversity loss," said Sara Davidson , Sustainability Marketing & Communications Lead, Klarna. "Since launching in 2021, Give One has made significant strides and now backs 56 initiatives across five continents. We are proud of our accomplishments so far and remain committed to working alongside our global network of consumers and retailers to build a more sustainable future for all." Progress since inception Since its launch in 2021, Give One has achieved several key milestones to progress its impact worldwide. Highlights include: Give One supports 56 environmental initiatives which include over 70 organizations throughout North America , South America , Africa , Europe , and Asia Klarna has donated $11 million to Give One organizations out of its $16.5 million pledge, contributing to several of the UN's Sustainable Development Goals , including climate action, life below water, and life on land 61,000 people including government officials, schools, and community members have engaged in activities through Give One to restore and protect our planet In 2022 alone, 43,000 people benefitted in livelihood improvement activities relating to forest conservation in Kenya and Ghana 900,000 hectares (2.2 million acres) of habitat across the globe have seen immediate positive impact thanks to Give One-supported organizations 3.4 million trees have been planted across Africa and South America , and in 2022, 2,500 people participated in tree-planting activities across the Andes Driving efforts to conserve the Amazon Klarna's 2022-23 Give One Report also shines a spotlight on organizations working to conserve the Amazon, including Amazon Frontlines, Fundacion Gaia Amazonas, Human Rights Watch and Re:wild. "It's a widely recognized fact that only a tiny fraction, less than 2%, of global philanthropy and donations is directed towards environmental issues. And from that 2%, the percentage that reaches Indigenous Peoples, frontline communities, and local communities who are the actual drivers of positive change in these areas, is far less than 1%," said Alex Goff , Development Director, Amazon Frontlines. "We need a complete paradigm shift in terms of how funding happens." With support from Give One, these organizations have achieved milestones ranging from supporting Indigenous and local communities in exercising their land rights to implementing conservation actions. 2022 highlights include: Amazon Frontlines trained 190 Indigenous rangers in digital tools, enabling the protection of 800,000 hectares (2 million acres) of forests in real-time, which strengthened the capacity of 17 communities to protect the rainforest 10 Indigenous nations were empowered by Amazon Frontlines, a non-profit organization working with Indigenous peoples to defend their rights to land, to enhance their rights to protect their approximately 9 million hectares (22 million acres) of rainforest in Ecuador from extractive projects Human Rights Watch , a global human rights advocacy organization, advocated for business regulations to eliminate deforestation from supply chains and protect the rights of forest communities; and the latter contributed to the EU adopting a law in December 2022 prohibiting the import of key deforestation-related commodities, reflecting several of Human Rights Watch's recommendations. The law will apply to all 27 EU member states "Creating a sustainable future and protecting our planet is a responsibility shared by all," said Sara Davidson , Sustainability Marketing & Communications Lead, Klarna. "Klarna's Give One Report is a call to action for other companies and individuals to join us in protecting our planet and standing behind those protecting it. Through efforts such as making donations to organizations on the front lines, or by adopting Give One's impact-focused funding framework, we can all play a part in making a positive impact on our planet." To access Klarna's 2022-23 Give One report, visit klarna.com/international/sustainability/. About Give One Give One is a call-to-action and a challenge to make an impact. Launched in 2021 and powered by Klarna in collaboration with Milkywire, a tech platform for impact, Give One makes it easier for consumers, retailers, and partners to come together and help solve the planet's health crisis. And we do it transparently and inclusively, so that everyone can get involved and understand their own impact. For more information, visit Give One at https://www.giveone.com/. About Klarna Since 2005 Klarna has been on a mission to revolutionize the retail banking industry. With over 150 million global active users and 2 million transactions per day, Klarna is meeting the changing demands of consumers by saving them time and money while helping them be informed and in control. Over 500,000 global retail partners, including H&M, Saks, Sephora, Macys, IKEA, Expedia Group, and Nike have integrated Klarna's innovative technology to deliver a seamless shopping experience online and in-store. Klarna has over 5,000 employees and is active in 45 markets. For more information, visit Klarna.com. CONTACT: For additional information, please contact: Adaline Colton [email protected] +1 (614) 429-9125 The following files are available for download: https://news.cision.com/klarna-bank-ab--publ-/i/klarna-give-one,c3166286 Klarna Give One View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/klarna-unveils-progress-of-its-give-one-planet-health-initiative-in-new-2022-23-report-301796713.html SOURCE Klarna Bank AB (publ) PITTSBURGH , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Koppers Holdings Inc. (NYSE: KOP), an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals and carbon compounds, has presented its annual Zero Harm President's Award to its Ashcroft, British Columbia , facility in recognition of its best-in-company performance in safety, environmental responsibility and innovation. The Ashcroft team bested 45 facilities across the globe with a strong rate of leading activities, defined as safety observations, hazard identifications, and reporting of near-misses all of which are key to incident prevention. Throughout 2022, the plant also recorded zero property damage or permit exceedance incidents and had the highest number of employee-generated innovation ideas implemented. The Ashcroft plant supplies treated hardwood and softwood railroad crossties, timbers, and untreated crossing planks to Class 1 and commercial customers, supporting the safe, reliable transport of commuters and critical goods. Its products are sold and delivered to Western Canada , the Pacific Northwest , and Alaska . "Our company operates by the belief that we have the greatest chance for success when we work together to balance our core values of people, planet and performance," said Koppers President and Chief Executive Officer Leroy Ball . "Plant Manager Patrick Sullivan and the team at Ashcroft proved this to be true in 2022, employing a true team effort to deliver impressive safety results, environmental performance, and profitable operations." In addition to the award, the facility received $5,000 in corporate giving funds which its employees chose to donate to The South Cariboo Elizabeth Fry Society Food Bank. Every employee also will be presented with a gift of recognition at an on-site celebration with company leadership. " Ashcroft employees exemplified our Zero Harm culture throughout 2022, and on behalf of the global Koppers team, we congratulate them for the well-deserved award," said Vice President of Zero Harm Joe Dowd . "Zero Harm represents both a moral imperative to protect people and our communities, as well as a strategic business decision that supports the long-term viability of our company." Koppers continues to prioritize and invest significantly in advancing a Zero Harm culture throughout its global workforce by taking a proactive approach to safety that includes behavioral training, process safety improvements, occupational health best-practices, and more. In 2022, these efforts led to continual year-over-year improvements in performance, including a reduction in the company Total Recordable Rate (TRR) and Days Away Restricted or Transferred (DART) Rate. To learn more about Koppers Zero Harm efforts, visit the company's 2021 Corporate Sustainability Report here. About Koppers Koppers, with corporate headquarters in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania , is an integrated global provider of treated wood products, wood treatment chemicals, and carbon compounds. Our products and services are used in a variety of niche applications in a diverse range of end markets, including the railroad, specialty chemical, utility, residential lumber, agriculture, aluminum, steel, rubber, and construction industries. We serve our customers through a comprehensive global manufacturing and distribution network, with facilities located in North America , South America , Australia , and Europe . The stock of Koppers Holdings Inc. is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol "KOP." For more information, visit: www.koppers.com. Inquiries from the media should be directed to Ms. Jessica Franklin Black at [email protected] or 412-227-2025. Inquiries from the investment community should be directed to Ms. Quynh McGuire at [email protected] or 412-227-2049. For Information: Jessica Black , Manager, Corporate Communications 412 227 2025 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/koppers-presents-annual-zero-harm-presidents-award-to-ashcroft-british-columbia-facility-301796741.html SOURCE Koppers RENO, Nev. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lincoln Avenue Capital (LAC), a mission-driven acquirer and developer of affordable housing, hosted a Family Resource Day event for its residents at Park on Virginia , a newly renovated property that offers high-quality homes for lower-income individuals and families in the Reno area. "Lincoln Avenue Capital is committed to investing in underserved communities and providing opportunities to enrich the lives of our residents," said Lincoln Avenue Capital CEO Jeremy Bronfman. "We are proud to partner with some of Reno's leading social service organizations to help Park on Virginia residents discover important programs and resources in their community." The Family Resource Day featured representatives from local service providers including CCSNN, Food Bank of Northern Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada, Community Health Alliance, Community Services Agency, The Children's Cabinet, Nation's Finest, Northern Nevada HOPES, Tu Casa Latina , WCSD Parent University, and Liberty Dental. These groups shared information about the resources they offer, including assistance in health care, nutrition and wellness, early education and youth support, veteran programs, and emergency services. "We believe that providing stable homes is the most effective way Lincoln Avenue Capital can positively impact communities across the country where affordable housing is needed," said Rebecca Schultz , LAC Vice President of Asset Management. "Family Resource Days are one of the ways we build upon that impact by helping our residents make meaningful connections in their communities." LAC regularly hosts Family Resource Days at its affordable housing properties across the nation, offering residents the chance to engage with local service organizations, enjoy outdoor activities, and connect with their neighbors. About LAC: Lincoln Avenue Capital is one of the nation's fastest-growing developers, investors, and operators of affordable and workforce housing, providing high-quality, sustainable homes for lower- and moderate-income individuals, seniors, and families nationwide. LAC is a mission-driven organization that serves residents across 22 states, with a portfolio of 119 properties comprising 21,000+ units. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lincoln-avenue-capital-hosts-resource-day-event-for-affordable-housing-residents-in-reno-nevada-301797106.html SOURCE Lincoln Avenue Capital First free FDA-cleared digital stethoscope for consumers HENDERSON, Nev. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Medaica, a digital health company extending the capability of home diagnostics, today announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-cleared1 Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope (M1) will be free of charge, starting with qualifying strategic partners supporting rural or underserved patients with chronic heart and/or lung conditions. "Giving patients a simple and free FDA-cleared stethoscope for remote telehealth exams is a game changer." Medaica is the first company to provide a free FDA-cleared digital stethoscope for in-home use. The M1 stethoscope has been designed with a focus on being patient-centric, affordable, and interoperable. Most existing digital stethoscopes are designed for clinicians, not patients, and are proprietary, so do not work with existing telehealth systems. "By making the Medica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope free for rural and underserved patients, we aim to accelerate awareness of and access to more a compelling remote healthcare option for those who need it the most," said Stephen Randall , CEO of Medaica. "We believe that telehealth's ultimate potential will be realized when millions of patients can be examined as effectively on-line as they can in clinic. Consumerizing the stethoscope is the first step in making that a reality, while reducing the burden of understaffed clinics." Nearly 80% of rural America is medically underserved. With fewer than 40 physicians per 100,000 people, a problem that is getting worse every year as the population gets older and more healthcare workers leave the profession. 2 Physician demand continues to outstrip supply, leading to a projected shortage of between 37,800 and 124,000 physicians by 2034 with the most alarming gaps in primary care and rural communities, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges .3 Dr. Jennifer Pena , former White House physician under both the Obama and Trump administrations and member of the American Telemedicine Association's Advisory Group to Eliminate Healthcare Disparities and Inequalities, who recently joined Medaica as its Chief Medical Officer commented, "Prior to the Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope, the ability to auscultate a patient using telehealth was expensive and complicated. Giving patients a simple and free FDA-cleared stethoscope for remote telehealth exams is a game changer, especially for the many who can't so easily travel to the clinic." The Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope is bundled with Medaica Telehealth+, a complete digital diagnostics and telehealth solution for providers. For interoperability with existing telehealth systems, M1 can be used without requiring any specific customization or integration. Healthcare providers seeking more details on how the Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope and Medaica Telehealth+ can enhance telehealth offerings, please contact [email protected] or visit www.medaica.com. FDA 510(k) Summary: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/cdrh_docs/pdf22/K223166.pdf National Rural Health Association : https://www.ruralhealth.us/about-nrha/about-rural-health-care American Association of Medical Colleges (2021): https://www.aamc.org/media/54681/download About Medaica Medaica is a digital health company, extending the reach and capability of home diagnostics. The company's mission is to enable affordable access to quality healthcare for everyone. Medaica's products include the FDA-cleared Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope and Medaica Telehealth+, a remote diagnostics and telehealth platform. Medaica is headquartered in Henderson, Nevada , with offices in London and Madrid . For more information visit medaica.com Medaica, Medaica Telehealth+ and Medaica M1 Telehealth Stethoscope are trademarks of Medaica Inc. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/medaica-announces-free-telehealth-stethoscope-for-rural-and-underserved-patients-301796287.html SOURCE Medaica A Henry Ford College Integrated Energy Master Plan, supported by a $3.1 million appropriation secured by Senator Debbie Stabenow , includes replacement of a 60-year-old network with a modern district heating solution and a new Living Learning Energy Center for workforce innovation. Results are expected to include at least 60% energy and 40% water efficiency gains, along with a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. A Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program grant transforms the campus and its systems into a living classroom leading to new career pathways for Henry Ford College students. MILWAUKEE , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- U.S. Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), alongside leaders from Henry Ford College (HFC), Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI) and Garforth International, today celebrated a $3.1 million appropriation to support a sustainability initiative that demonstrates how schools, cities and organizations across the U.S. can reach their net zero targets, as well as train the next generation of energy leadership. With an Integrated Energy Master Plan (IEMP) as the cornerstone of the campus transformation, HFC will reach its net zero targets while providing students with an unprecedented educational experience. The Living Learning Classroom experience will support emerging career pathways and foster innovators who will create a more sustainable energy future. "Henry Ford College has an impressive track record of training students for jobs of the future. This project strengthens that track record by giving students hands-on experience and training with state-of-the-art clean energy equipment, while benefiting the College with greater energy efficient systems. That's why I was so excited to secure these funds in last year's federal budget," said Senator Stabenow . The IEMP sets the stage for breakthrough results well ahead of HFC's target date of 2040. These include increasing energy efficiency by 60%, cutting greenhouse gas emissions by at least 50% and increasing water use efficiency by over 40%. The immediate energy transformation includes the following upgrades at the 75-acre main campus: Heating System: A lower-temperature district energy network, which replaces the 60-year-old inefficient high-temperature system Air Handling Upgrades: Extensive improvements to air handling equipment for better control, comfort and air quality Controls and Metering: A campus-wide system upgrade to allow real-time optimization of the College's energy performance, as well as addressing occupant comfort Lighting: Upgraded to LED lighting campus-wide Solar Photovoltaic (PV) Arrays: Generating clean power from the sun Water Conservation: Upgraded water fixtures, toilets and zero-water landscaping Future-forward curriculum fosters next generation of energy leaders The IEMP is leading the industry forward in its transition to a more comprehensive response for energy-related curriculum, through which students will learn in real time by observing and interacting with the College's own systems. The "living learning classroom" will open new career pathways for students interested in entering a rapidly growing field. HFC's programs offer a one-year major for technicians, a two-year major for project managers and a path to a bachelor's degree in energy production. Graduates will enter the workforce prepared for careers that will provide family-sustaining wages and foster financial equity. "At Henry Ford College, our mission is student success in all its forms," said Russ Kavalhuna , president, Henry Ford College. "We are grateful to Senator Stabenow for her unwavering support, and for her hard work in securing this appropriation, which will support our students in valuable ways. We believe a better future for our students and community includes a healthy planet, community, and a sustainable energy model. This is one reason we are pleased to partner with companies like Johnson Controls to invest in the sustainability of our facilities and the career pathways of our students. We hope our College will serve as a model to like-minded institutions that are ready to embark on their own sustainable energy and curricular innovation journeys." The creation and expansion of HFC's Energy Technology Program is supported by the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program, a major philanthropic initiative aimed at investing some $15 million in community colleges across North America . In total nearly $3 million has been committed to colleges throughout North America , of which $190,000 has been donated to HFC since 2021 to support more than 50 students interested in energy-related careers. The funding also supports scholarships and builds connections with Detroit -based high schools to encourage interest among prospective students. Johnson Controls will give priority consideration for employment to graduates of the program as the company continues its drive to bring new and diverse talent to a vital industry shaping the future of our communities and the planet. "We are honored to partner with forward-thinking higher education institutions to foster the next generation of sustainability experts," said Chuck McGinnis , vice president, North America Sustainable Infrastructure, Johnson Controls. "We're thrilled to see how Henry Ford College, a member of the inaugural cohort of schools in the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program, is leveraging its funds to deploy an IEMP that leads the way in net zero higher education, contributes to a growing field and supports the workforce in its surrounding community." To date, the Johnson Controls Community College Partnership Program has awarded $2.9 million in grants to 20 community colleges throughout North America , supporting more than 1,750 students through scholarships, toolkits, curriculum support, Johnson Controls employee mentors and more. To learn more about the program, visit https://www.johnsoncontrols.com/corporatesustainability/community/philanthropy/community-college-partnership. About Johnson Controls At Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), we transform the environments where people live, work, learn and play. As the global leader in smart, healthy and sustainable buildings, our mission is to reimagine the performance of buildings to serve people, places and the planet. Building on a proud history of nearly 140 years of innovation, we deliver the blueprint of the future for industries such as healthcare, schools, data centers, airports, stadiums, manufacturing and beyond through OpenBlue, our comprehensive digital offering. Today, with a global team of 100,000 experts in more than 150 countries, Johnson Controls offers the world's largest portfolio of building technology and software as well as service solutions from some of the most trusted names in the industry. Visit http://www.johnsoncontrols.com for more information, and follow @Johnson Controls on social platforms. About Henry Ford College Henry Ford College (HFC) in Dearborn, Mich. , is a comprehensive, accredited public college serving 12,000 enrolled students. HFC has been successfully preparing students for a rapidly changing world since 1938 and today offers more than 150 high-quality associate degree, career, certificate and university transfer programs. The College also offers a Bachelor of Science in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Studies, as well as 3+1 programs with university partners. HFC provides customized workforce development training for business and industry. Visit hfcc.edu for more details or look for us on social media. CONTACT: Kari Pfisterer , [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/michigan-community-celebrates-henry-ford-college-and-johnson-controls-investments-in-a-sustainable-energy-future-301797006.html SOURCE Johnson Controls International plc WASHINGTON , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Following is a statement from Eileen O'Reilly , president of the National Press Club, and Gil Klein , president of the National Press Club Journalism Institute, on the solitary confinement of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich . "Reporter Evan Gershkovich has now been held in solitary confinement in Moscow for more than two weeks. Evan is reportedly alone in his cell 23 hours a day and allowed out for exercise for one hour every 24 hours, also alone. The United Nations Convention on Torture defines solitary confinement of longer than 15 days as torture. Studies suggest that individuals who are held in solitary confinement for more than 20 days can begin to experience irreversible brain damage. We are deeply concerned for his health. "We call on the Russian government to abide by the treaties it has signed and allow regular consular visits immediately. So far Evan has been denied these visits a violation of Moscow's treaty obligations and international law. His only contact with others has been during brief visits with his attorney. Evan is not only being wrongfully detained, he is also being tortured through solitary confinement and isolation. "This month, Russia is the rotating president of the U.N. Security Council, a position of significant responsibility. It is time Moscow starts acting the part. The U.N.'s own Convention on Torture makes it clear that Russia is torturing Evan Gershkovich . We call on Russia to release Evan from his unjust detention immediately. The world is watching." Contact: Bill McCarren , 202-725-7787 for the National Press Club View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/national-press-club-russias-solitary-confinement-of-evan-gershkovich-is-torture-301796941.html SOURCE National Press Club Aspire Ability and the Competency-based Education Network team up to help Navajo Nation develop its first-ever repository of all jobs available on the reservation and the skills needed to fill them. WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Working with the guidance and support of Navajo leaders and tribal agencies, the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) and Aspire Ability Inc. today announce an initiative to develop The Navajo Nation Talent Marketplace , a unique ecosystem of Navajo job seekers, employers, and education providers. For the first time ever, the Navajo Nation will have a central repository of all the jobs available on the reservation both in-person and remotely. The new marketplace identifies the job skills required, and offers postsecondary programs aligned to employer needs. The Navajo Nation is one of the largest federally-recognized Native American tribes in North America , encompassing 27,000 square miles of territory in Arizona , New Mexico and Utah . The two-year initiative is designed to address longstanding structural barriers to employment and economic growth on the reservation. Almost 36 percent of Navajo households live below the federal poverty line, and unemployment and poverty fuel an ongoing pattern of migration and brain drain that undermines the viability of the Navajo Nation. Only 66 percent (168,000 individuals) of enrolled tribal members currently live in the Navajo Nation. "My administration looks forward to the day when all Navajos who are seeking employment can find a thriving wage job here at home," said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren . " The Navajo Nation Talent Marketplace - where employers join forces with the tribal colleges to serve job seekers - is the first step in building an economy that supports living in hozhoo now and in the future." "Having an online, publicly available resource linking jobs and education programs will match people to the full range of opportunities across the reservation," said Moroni Benally , a member of the Navajo Nation and Head of Public Policy and Partnerships at Aspire Ability. "It's a critical step in our nation's long-term efforts to offer all Navajofrom our 3,500 yearly high school graduates to those who moved awayaccess to credentials that tie to well paid jobs within the nation." Setting up the marketplace involves a structured and integrated series of projects conducted by Aspire Ability and C-BEN to fully connect employers, job seekers and higher education institutions. The work is rooted in competency-based education (CBE), which focuses on student learning and the application of that learningwhat people know and can dorather than time spent in class. The Aspire Ability Navajo Nation Talent Marketplace will enable this by replacing the age-old resume / job-description model with tools that match Job Seekers' competencies with the competencies required for specific jobs. Instead of traditional job requirements, Employers post job competency maps detailing requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). Both Job Seekers and Employers can see reports summarizing how well they match the competency requirements for jobs. If Job Seekers' lack some of the competencies for a desired job, they are provided a personalized upskilling plan, listing the specific KSAs they need. The marketplace will provide Navajo learners access to scalable, competency-based pathways that result in the credentials necessary for their chosen career. To deliver this marketplace capability, C-BEN will work with Navajo Technical University, Dine College and other local education providers to develop competency-based programs that align to the high-demand skills sought by employers. To ensure the education programs continue to focus on the competencies needed by employers, the marketplace technology platform will share job posting data with the colleges and universities. By participating in the marketplace, Navajo Nation members will be matched to open jobs that best fit their competencies. Additionally, if the job seeker needs to upskill for a job, the marketplace will link them to programs that help them acquire the necessary skills. "We are honored to join Aspire Ability to work on this initiative to support flexible and relevant learning for Navajo and we are excited to see Navajo Technical University and Dine College as the first tribal colleges to harness the power of competencies for learners to earn a valuable credential, find a high-paying job, and to do so within their own Navajo Nation," said Dr. Amber Garrison Duncan , Executive Vice President of C-BEN. About Aspire Ability Aspire Ability works with rural and disadvantaged communities to help them address the chronic employment needs they face. Aspire Ability's Community Talent Marketplace , a suite of software and surrounding services, connects job seekers to available jobs by matching their competencies with employers' needs. In lieu of posting resumes, job seekers create competency profiles that enumerate their competencies and attributes (supported by evidence, e.g., certificates and badges, work product, etc.). Instead of traditional job requirements, employers post job competency maps detailing requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs). Both job seekers and employers can see reports summarizing how well they match the competency requirements for specific jobs. This approach yields more transparent, objective, data-driven decision-making in the hiring process. If job seekers lack some of the competencies for a desired job, they are provided a personalized upskilling plan that addresses the specific gaps in their KSAs. Aspire Ability works with learning providers (post-secondary institutions and commercial providers) to connect job seekers with learning resources and opportunities aligned with those KSAs. About the Competency-Based Education Network (C-BEN) C-BEN is a network of institutions, employers, and experts who believe competencies can unlock the future of learning making postsecondary education and training more flexible, responsive, and valuable. The organization supports stakeholders across the spectrum of competency-based learning, from institutions and employers who want to embed competencies into their existing programs to those looking to design full competency-based degree programs from the ground up. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/navajo-nation-launches-new-talent-marketplace-to-transform-the-workforce-and-promote-economic-mobility-and-self-determination-301795713.html SOURCE C-BEN Two-day conference to highlight business opportunities, networking and preparation for new cybersecurity regulations driven by White House and upcoming CMMC requirements HONOLULU , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- NeoSystems, a full-service strategic outsourcer, IT systems integrator and managed services provider to the government contracting market, has joined forces with the Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA), a local trade organization dedicated to the long-term success of the federal contracting community in Hawaii . Sponsored in part by NeoSystems, the two-day 2023 Small Business Summit will feature educational workshops and networking opportunities to increase the competitiveness of local businesses in gaining government contracting work, a substantial part of the state's economy. It will be held at the Ala Moana Hotel in Honolulu on April 18 and 19. Today a majority of defense contractors and subcontractors, mainly small and medium sized business suppliers that provide critical services and capabilities to federal, state and local governments, have substantial security and IT compliance gaps. The NHOA conference will provide information and education to help local businesses understand and satisfy legislative, legal and business issues, including new cybersecurity requirements such as the Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC), soon to become a requirement for conducting business with the federal government. "The economic and regulatory environment is changing rapidly," said NHOA president Cariann Ah Loo . "We want to ensure every business who desires to work with the federal government is prepared to do so. At NHOA, we deliver a full spectrum of support services that culminate in our annual conference made possible in part through the support of sponsors like NeoSystems." The NHOA conference kicks off at 8:15 am local time on April 18 with opening remarks from Cariann Ah Loo, President, NHOA followed by a keynote speech by Therese Meers , SBA General Counsel. Highlights of Day1 of the conference, include: Legal and regulatory updates from the U.S. Small Business Association by John Klein and Mark Hagedorn . by and . A session entitled "Simplifying the Path (and Reducing the Cost) to CMMC Compliance" by NeoSystems Vice President Stuart Itkin Vice President A "Doing Business with the Navy " panel hosted by Deputy Director Arveice Washington, Director, MAVSEA Small Business Program P. Anne Banniser and Director of NAVFAC Office of Small Business Program . The second day of the conference will feature additional sessions and networking highlighted by these presentations: An OSBP Panel featuring Dr. Ruby Crenshaw-Lawrence , Chief, Department of Defense ; Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency (DCSA); Cassandra Martin , Director DHA Office of Small Business Programs Defense Health Agency ; and Scott Kiser , Director, Department of the Air Force Small Business Programs ; and Arielle Douglas , TITLE and AGENCY. featuring Dr. , Chief, ; (DCSA); , ; and , Director, ; and , TITLE and AGENCY. A mainstage session entitled "Best Practices for Working with Large Primes" led by Amira Gonzalez Corporate Supplier Diversity Manager, Raytheon Technologies; Tyler Brooks-Craft , Director, Small Business Engagement and National 8a Association; and Rita Brooks , Director, Small Business Program, SAIC , Director, Small Business Engagement and National 8a Association; and , Director, Small Business Program, SAIC A plenary session on "How the National Cybersecurity Strategy, CMMC and Enforcement will Affect Hawaiian Businesses" by Stuart Itkin , Vice President, NeoSystems "NeoSystems has been a long-term supporter of the NHOA," said Stuart Itkin , vice president for NeoSystems. "As a top tier sponsor of the NHOA Conference, we are committed to providing educational support along with business and IT services to help local organizations satisfy the range of financial reporting, accounting, human resources and cybersecurity regulations required of contractors and subcontractors by the federal government so they can focus on their core business." NeoSystems will sponsor the pre-conference evening reception on April 17 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the scenic Ho'okupu Center. Full conference details can be found here. About Native Hawaiian Organization Association Founded in March 2007 , the Native Hawaiian Organizations Association (NHOA) supports the community of NHOs, as defined by the Small Business Administration, and their for-profit 8(a) subsidiaries. NHOA is dedicated to supporting the long-term success of the NHO program and the community impact it achieves. NHOA works closely with its members, congressional members, affiliate organizations, community partners, and federal agencies to advance the program and the opportunities it provides to businesses and the community. About NeoSystems NeoSystems, based in the Washington, D.C area, is a full-service strategic outsourcer, IT systems integrator and managed service provider for the government contracting market. NeoSystems provides core solutions to more than 600 client companies and their 100,000+ client employees with its outsourced services by implementing hundreds of fully integrated financial, business and cyber management systems through best-of-breed technology and in-depth domain expertise in Accounting & Finance, IT, HR, Security and Hosting (SSAE SOC1 & SOC2, ITAR). NeoSystems has been named one of America's fastest growing private companies by Inc. Magazine. For more information, visit https://www.neosystemscorp.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/neosystems-joins-forces-with-native-hawaiian-organizations-association-to-support-local-government-contractors-301795946.html SOURCE NeoSystems LLC VANCOUVER, BC , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from six vertical reverse circulation ("RC") holes recently completed at its Atlanta Gold Mine Project located 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada , in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend. Highlights: Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22HG-11 228.7 250.0 21.3 1.26 85.1 Bottomed in Mineralization AT22NS-87 169.2 216.5 47.3 2.16 140.2 includes 175.3 182.9 7.6 4.57 227.6 AT22NS-88 169.2 214.9 45.7 1.28 162.0 AT23NS-65 79.3 117.4 38.1 1.79 52.5 AT23NS-58 42.7 108.2 65.5 2.54 62.9 includes 86.9 100.6 13.7 4.97 53.0 AT23NS-64 41.2 108.2 67.1 2.98 62.1 Bottomed in Mineralization includes 57.9 102.1 44.2 4.05 66.0 Table 1: All holes released today. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward; true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is estimated to be between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. Holes released today plotted on Section 22-9N were drilled across the high-grade feeder zone associated with several strands of a braided network of structures comprising the 150m-wide Atlanta Mine Fault Zone (" AMFZ "), which lies between the East Atlanta and West Atlanta Faults (see Figure 1). These vertical holes intercepted new areas of high-grade gold mineralization on this section that were not intercepted in historic drilling. These new high-grade areas were targeted based on Nevada King's recent revised modelling of gold mineralization across this section line which differs significantly from historic interpretations. (" "), which lies between the and West Atlanta Faults (see Figure 1). Shown in Figure 2, the highest gold grades occur within blocks between the Atlanta King and East Atlanta Faults as evidenced by AT23NS-58 and AT23NS-64 (Table 1) and nearby holes AT21-63 and AT22NS-59 (Table 2). Historical angle holes drilled by Goldfields, Kinross , and Meadow Bay largely passed beneath and missed this 40m-wide, shallow high-grade zone. King and East Atlanta Faults as evidenced by AT23NS-58 and AT23NS-64 (Table 1) and nearby holes AT21-63 and AT22NS-59 (Table 2). Historical angle holes drilled by Goldfields, , and largely passed beneath and missed this 40m-wide, shallow high-grade zone. In similar fashion, a 30m-wide block on the eastern side of the West Atlanta Fault is also host to higher-grades, as seen in AT22NS-87 and 88. A number of historical angle holes did intersect this zone, but very few of them fully sampled the complete mineralized thickness. Significant differences are apparent in gold grades and thicknesses in today's NS-87 and NS-88 (47.3m @ 2.16 g/t and 45.7m @ 1.28 g/t) compared to Kinross angle holes KR97-3 and KR97-4 (24.4m @ 0.97 g/t and 27.4m @ 0.85 g/t). angle holes KR97-3 and KR97-4 (24.4m @ 0.97 g/t and 27.4m @ 0.85 g/t). The upthrown "horst" block immediately west of the Atlanta King Fault typically hosts more moderate grades and thicknesses compared to the two high-grade zones on either side of it. However, AT22NS-65 tested this horst block and returned 1.79 g/t Au over 38.1m, which is generally thicker and higher grade compared to sections further south. King Fault typically hosts more moderate grades and thicknesses compared to the two high-grade zones on either side of it. However, AT22NS-65 tested this horst block and returned 1.79 g/t Au over 38.1m, which is generally thicker and higher grade compared to sections further south. Hole AT22HG-11, collared west of the West Atlanta Fault penetrated mineralized volcanics in the West Atlanta Graben target but was lost at a shallow depth, bottoming in mineralization. Drilling across the West Atlanta Graben along the western extension of line 22-9N will commence shortly, filling in a large information gap that currently exists within the historical drill pattern. Nevada King's holes along 22-9N are very similar in grade and mineralized thickness to holes previously released along Sections 22-5N, 22-6N, 22-7N, and 22-08N. The same pattern of: (1) high-grade grabens between the East Atlanta and Atlanta King Faults, (2) the moderate grade horst block west of the Atlanta King fault, and (3) the high-grade graben block east of the West Atlanta Fault, is repeated southward along each section, demonstrating excellent continuity of mineralization. Cal Herron , Exploration Manager of Nevada King, stated, "As our drill fences progress northward along the AMFZ we are seeing strong continuity in grade, thickness, and style of mineralization from section to section. We also start to see why many of the historical holes failed to pick up on the higher-grade mineralization localized in the numerous fault blocks and how this mineralization was largely missed by past explorers. The shallow high-grade mineralization immediately west of the East Atlanta Fault that we drilled into during our 2021 exploration program was completely missed by past explorers while the high-grade fault block along the east side of the West Atlanta Fault was under-represented in the historical drilling. Our new interpretation and geologic model is allowing us to effectively track both of these high-grade zones northward along the AMFZ, systematically defining the major fault components and associated mineralized blocks." Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22NS-59 4.6 54.9 50.3 2.65 20.7 AT22MET-1B 7.8 22.6 14.8 3.76 69.0 Bottomed in Mineralization AT21-63 7.6 48.8 41.2 3.95 27.3 Bottomed in Mineralization KR97-2 187.5 213.4 25.9 1.79 13.0 KR97-3 195.1 219.5 24.4 0.97 29.4 KR97-4 218 245.4 27.4 0.85 70.2 Table 2: Previously reported and historic holes used in Section 22-9N. AT22 series holes were drilled by Nevada King in 2022 while the AT21 series hole was drilled by Nevada King in 2021. KR97 series angle holes were drilled by Kinross in 1997. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward; true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is estimated to be between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron , P.Geo ., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada , behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine , located 100km southeast of Ely , (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines ' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada . The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $7.25 million as of April 2023 . The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV " with an effective date of October 6, 2020 , and a report date of December 22, 2020 , as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work given the global COVID-19 pandemic, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nevada-king-intercepts-high-grade-oxide-gold-at-atlanta-including-2-98-gt-au-over-67-1m-2-54-gt-au-over-65-5m-and-2-16-gt-au-over-47-3m-301796620.html SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. SEATTLE , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Seattle-based fashion retailer Nordstrom, Inc . (NYSE: JWN) announced plans to open a new Nordstrom Rack in Macedonia, Ohio . "We look forward to opening this new Nordstrom Rack location in Macedonia, 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 Macedonia can take full advantage of this convenient new location to pick-up online orders and make returns." The 28,000 square-foot store will be located in Macedonia Gateway, a newly redeveloped shopping center that includes other retailers such as Burlington Coat Factory, Petco and Best Buy. Macedonia Gateway is owned and managed by Cipriani Investments and is ideally located at the crossroads of Route 82 and Route 8 . With the addition of this new location, Nordstrom will operate seven Nordstrom Rack stores and three Nordstrom stores in Ohio. The store is scheduled to open in spring 2024. "We are thrilled Nordstrom Rack is coming to Macedonia Gateway. This iconic retail brand will offer exciting new shopping energy for the community, and add to our outstanding line-up of best-in-class stores," said Michael Cipriani , President and CEO of Cipriani Investments. 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 and mentorship moments between Bigs and Littles, including preparing for an interview, learning to tie a tie and helping with homework. About Cipriani Companies The partnership of Cipriani Companies, Robert Brandon & Greg Warner , acquired this property in Macedonia in 1999. They've been thrilled to work with Mayor Nicolas Molnar and his administration in the redevelopment process. Messrs. Brandon & Warner have brought their years of real estate brokerage, development and vision, in concert with Cupkovic Architecture, Harlan & Associates, Coastal Quality Construction and Goodman Real Estate, to bring a fresh and exciting line-up to the city of Macedonia . 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] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nordstrom-rack-to-open-new-location-in-macedonia-ohio-301796532.html SOURCE Nordstrom, Inc. DETROIT , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SAE International, the mobility industry leader in connecting and educating engineers, will host WCX World Congress Experience on April 18-20, 2023 , at Huntington Place (formerly TCF/ COBO Center ) in Detroit. SAE's WCX is expected to bring together more than 10,000 experts, from all over the world, to discuss the latest technical advancements impacting the mobility industry. The rapid transition from internal combustion engines to electric propulsion makes this year's conference a pivotal time in automotive industry history. Throughout the three days, WCX attendees have access to the entire mobility engineering ecosystem - from the engineers doing the work to the executives making decisions on vehicle development WCX discusses the why of technologies going into the vehicle, and the how of it getting engineered. WCX's Technical Sessions focus on the engineering details of newly emerging mobility technologies. The Technical Sessions kick off at 9:30am Tuesday, April 18 , with a presentation by Andy Turudic , CEO of Rancho del IP , on a $20 electric heating technology that creates an additional heating function in EV traction inverters and replaces ~$500 in resistive heating devices used today to warm passengers and high voltage batteries in electric vehicles. The associated peer-reviewed engineering paper is available for download, here . Turudic, a member of Silicon Valley's exclusive Analog Aficionados in recognition of his work in semiconductor electronics, device architecture, and circuit design, realized a physics effect in transistors, known as Joule Heating, could be exploited to shift the existing highly efficient transistors used in traction inverters, the part of an EV that changes the high DC battery voltage to 3-phase AC power for its drive motor(s), into an additional mode that efficiently powers the drive motors while also producing the equivalent of about 5 large home space-heaters' worth of heat. The inverter's heated liquid coolant is then routed to quickly warm the passenger compartment and/or to the high-voltage battery for cold weather operation or to precondition it to enable ultra-fast vehicle charging. The vehicle's traction inverter continues to operate at its full energy efficiency when driving the vehicle's traction motor. Rancho del IP recently announced the availability for licensing/sale of its issued patent for this environmentally friendly, passenger-cabin/HV-battery automotive heater technology, delivering a substantial $500 cost reduction to highly competitive EV manufacturers. Contact: Rancho del IP 30 N. Gould St. STE 7055 Sheridan, Wyoming 82801 (307) 461-9667 [email protected] ### View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/rancho-del-ip-replaces-500-heaters-in-electric-vehicles-using-physics-and-20-at-detroits-sae-conference-301796990.html MEMPHIS, Tenn. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Sedgwick, a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions, has been recognized as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for LGBTQ+ 2023 by Newsweek and Plant-A Insights Group. The award recognizes workplaces that have made significant progress in pushing for greater LGBTQ+ inclusivity. Sedgwick made the list of 300 employers nationwide, based on a large-scale employer study and survey results from more than 57,000 employees who identify as LGBTQ+. "At Sedgwick, we continue to advance and elevate our Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) strategy and the success of the business by raising awareness, fostering colleague engagement and inclusion, and building community," said Heather Lawley (she/her), Sedgwick's global head of DEI and environmental, social, governance (ESG). "We recognize and celebrate each other's differences and seek to create an environment where our colleagues can thrive, which is critical to our culture of engagement and inclusion and creating great experiences for our diverse clients." The companies recognized have ranked the highest on criteria relating to "proactive management of a diverse workforce," which includes offering benefits that support the needs of all employees and their families; enacting policies that prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity; and ensuring that LGBTQ+ colleagues are well represented at all levels of the organization. Our "America's Greatest Workplaces for LGBTQ+ ranking highlights the companies that care about providing an inclusive workplace and culture," said Nancy Cooper , Newsweek's global editor-in-chief. "Congratulations to everyone at Sedgwick for earning this recognition." This is the third time Sedgwick has appeared on Newsweek's ranking of America's Greatest Workplaces 2023. The company has also been recognized as one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Women 2023 and one of America's Greatest Workplaces for Diversity 2023. Sedgwick's commitment to DEI is embedded in its core values. Through a companywide strategy and initiatives, Sedgwick is focused on developing a diverse workforce and an inclusive and equitable culture to enable its business and people objectives. Lawley added, "Driving DEI systemically throughout the organization is not only the right thing to do, it is also critical to the success and growth of the Sedgwick business. For colleagues to perform at their best, company culture must embrace individual uniqueness and foster a true sense of belonging. Doing so will allow us to benefit from everyone's talents, perspectives and creative thinking while creating an engaging environment for our colleagues. Practicing inclusion improves our effectiveness at taking care of people which is at the core of what we do, facilitates the claims process, and helps us deliver better outcomes." In 2022 Sedgwick launched its LGBTQ+ colleague resource group (CRG) in line with its global DEI strategy. CRGs contribute to Sedgwick's success by raising DEI awareness, cultivating engagement, and building a community where colleagues can learn, grow, and as their most authentic selves. Its CRGs center on four key pillars: professional development, business engagement, community outreach and membership engagement. The LGBTQ+ CRG, which focuses on topics pertaining to members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer/questioning community and their allies, has supported multiple companywide initiatives, including providing recommendations for more inclusive employee benefitswhich are among the best in the industry. The LGBTQ+ CRG has multiple internal webinars on its programming schedule. Topics include the transgender and non-binary community, the achievements and challenges of LGBTQ+ people, sensitivity training and advice for allies, LGBTQ+ mental health, and global employee benefits that meet the needs of LGBTQ+ individuals and their families. Sedgwick has also recently launched its gender transition guide and continues to be committed to driving diversity throughout the organization, ensuring equitable practices and creating an inclusive environment where people feel welcomed, valued, respected and heard. For more information on Sedgwick's commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, see sedgwick.com/about-us. About Sedgwick Sedgwick is a leading global provider of technology-enabled risk, benefits and integrated business solutions. We provide a broad range of resources tailored to clients' specific needs in casualty, property, marine, benefits, brand protection and other lines. At Sedgwick, caring counts; through the dedication and expertise of 30,000 colleagues across 80 countries, the company takes care of people and organizations by mitigating and reducing risks and losses, promoting health and productivity, protecting brand reputations, and containing costs that can impact performance. Sedgwick's majority shareholder is The Carlyle Group; Stone Point Capital LLC, Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec (CDPQ), Onex and other management investors are minority shareholders. For more, see sedgwick.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sedgwick-named-to-newsweeks-americas-greatest-workplaces-for-lgbtq-2023-301796039.html SOURCE Sedgwick Trading Symbol: TSX: SVM NYSE AMERICAN: SVM VANCOUVER, BC , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Silvercorp Metals Inc. ("Silvercorp" or the "Company") (TSX: SVM) (NYSE American: SVM) reports production and sales figures for the fiscal year 2023 ended March 31, 2023 ("Fiscal 2023"). The Company expects to release its Fiscal 2023 audited financial results on Thursday, May 25, 2023 after market close. In Fiscal 2023, the Company produced approximately 6.6 million ounces of silver, 4,400 ounces of gold, 68.1 million pounds of lead, and 23.5 million pounds of zinc, representing increases of 8%, 29%, and 6%, respectively, in silver, gold, and lead, and a decrease of 12% in zinc compared to the prior year ("Fiscal 2022"). The Company reiterates its Fiscal 2024 production guidance of approximately 6.8 to 7.2 million ounces of silver, 4,400 to 5,500 ounces of gold, 70.5 to 73.8 million pounds of lead, and 27.7 to 29.7 million pounds of zinc. Fiscal 2024 production guidance represents anticipated increases of 3% to 8% in silver, 0% to 25% in gold, 4% to 8% in lead, and 18% to 26% in zinc compared to Fiscal 2023 production results. FISCAL 2023 OPERATING HIGHLIGHTS On a consolidated basis, 1,068,983 tonnes of ore were mined, and 1,072,654 tonnes of ore were milled, both up 7% over Fiscal 2022. Approximately 6.6 million ounces of silver, 4,400 ounces of gold, 68.1 million pounds of lead, and 23.5 million pounds of zinc were produced, representing increases of 8%, 29%, and 6%, respectively, in silver, gold, and lead, and a decrease of 12% in zinc compared to Fiscal 2022. On a consolidated basis, the Company sold approximately 6.6 million ounces of silver, 4,400 ounces of gold, 65.7 million pounds of lead, and 23.4 million pounds of zinc, representing increases of 6%, 29%, and 3%, respectively, in silver, gold, and lead, and a decrease of 13% in zinc compared to Fiscal 2022. At the Ying Mining District , 769,024 tonnes of ore were mined, and 773,057 tonnes of ore were milled, both up 13% over Fiscal 2022. Approximately 6.0 million ounces of silver, 4,400 ounces of gold, 60.3 million pounds of lead, and 7.2 million pounds of zinc were produced, representing increases of 9%, 29%, 10% and 6%, respectively, in silver, gold, lead and zinc over Fiscal 2022. , 769,024 tonnes of ore were mined, and 773,057 tonnes of ore were milled, both up 13% over Fiscal 2022. Approximately 6.0 million ounces of silver, 4,400 ounces of gold, 60.3 million pounds of lead, and 7.2 million pounds of zinc were produced, representing increases of 9%, 29%, 10% and 6%, respectively, in silver, gold, lead and zinc over Fiscal 2022. At the GC Mine , 299,959 tonnes of ore were mined, down 5% over Fiscal 2022, and 299,597 tonnes of ore were milled, down 6% over Fiscal 2022. Approximately 593 thousand ounces of silver, 7.8 million pounds of lead, and 16.3 million pounds of zinc were produced, representing decreases of 7%, 18% and 19%, respectively, in silver, lead and zinc compared to Fiscal 2022. The decrease can be attributed mainly to the upgrades made to the ventilation and electric power facilities at the GC Mine to comply with newly-implemented safety production regulations. These improvements impacted operations during the second quarter but were completed in the third quarter. The consolidated operational results for the past five quarters and for the years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 are summarized as follows: Consolidated Q4 F2023 Q3 F2023 Q2 F2023 Q1 F2023 Q4 F2022 Year ended March 31 , March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022 June 30, 2022 March 31, 2022 2023 2022 Production Data Ore Mined (tonne) 181,848 296,050 290,981 300,104 180,505 1,068,983 996,280 Ore Milled (tonne) 179,393 303,442 291,643 298,176 182,670 1,072,654 1,002,335 Head Grades Silver (gram/tonne) 210 207 209 210 213 209 209 Lead (%) 3.0 3.3 3.1 3.1 3.2 3.1 3.2 Zinc (%) 1.1 1.3 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 Recovery Rates Silver (%) 93.3 94.4 94.2 94.5 94.2 94.2 93.8 Lead (%) 94.7 94.7 93.6 94.7 95.2 94.4 94.6 Zinc (%) 81.0 81.3 78.2 78.1 75.8 79.5 79.3 Metal production Silver (in thousands of ounces) 1,106 1,853 1,798 1,860 1,146 6,617 6,149 Gold (in thousands of ounces) 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.1 0.5 4.4 3.4 Lead (in thousands of pounds) 10,938 20,059 17,983 19,088 11,962 68,068 64,431 Zinc (in thousands of pounds) 3,577 6,974 5,986 6,926 4,101 23,463 26,812 Metals sold Silver (in thousands of ounces) 1,073 1,860 1,789 1,915 1,173 6,637 6,265 Gold (in thousands of ounces) 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.1 0.5 4.4 3.4 Lead (in thousands of pounds) 10,021 19,273 17,268 19,125 12,279 65,687 63,563 Zinc (in thousands of pounds) 3,451 7,119 5,940 6,928 4,340 23,438 26,809 The operational results at the Ying Mining District for the past five quarters and for the years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 are summarized as follows: Ying Mining District Q4 F2023 Q3 F2023 Q2 F2023 Q1 F2023 Q4 F2022 Year ended March 31 , March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022 June 30, 2022 March 31, 2022 2023 2022 Production Data Ore Mined (tonne) 132,205 206,854 215,927 214,038 130,612 769,024 681,398 Ore Milled (tonne) 130,910 213,830 216,262 212,055 131,731 773,057 684,293 Head Grades Silver (gram/tonne) 255 262 257 267 271 261 272 Lead (%) 3.6 4.0 3.7 3.9 3.9 3.8 3.9 Zinc (%) 0.6 0.7 0.7 0.7 0.8 0.7 0.8 Recovery Rates Silver (%) 95.2 95.7 95.5 95.7 95.2 95.6 95.1 Lead (%) 95.3 95.4 94.1 95.4 96.1 95.0 95.6 Zinc (%) 68.3 66.4 62.5 58.1 57.4 63.2 59.7 Metal production Silver (in thousands of ounces) 997 1,674 1,657 1,696 1,062 6,024 5,509 Gold (in thousands of ounces) 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.1 0.5 4.4 3.4 Lead (in thousands of pounds) 9,688 17,647 16,201 16,718 10,542 60,254 54,883 Zinc (in thousands of pounds) 1,164 2,082 1,976 1,928 1,317 7,150 6,767 Metals sold Silver (in thousands of ounces) 966 1,675 1,649 1,759 1,058 6,049 5,619 Gold (in thousands of ounces) 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.1 0.5 4.4 3.4 Lead (in thousands of pounds) 8,924 16,969 15,587 16,760 10,278 58,240 53,892 Zinc (in thousands of pounds) 1,115 2,143 1,882 2,035 1,524 7,175 6,609 The operational results at the GC Mine for the past five quarters and for the years ended March 31, 2023 and 2022 are summarized as follows: GC Mine Q4 F2023 Q3 F2023 Q2 F2023 Q1 F2023 Q4 F2022 Year ended March 31 , March 31, 2023 December 31, 2022 September 30, 2022 June 30, 2022 March 31, 2022 2023 2022 Production Data Ore Mined (tonne) 49,643 89,196 75,054 86,066 49,893 299,959 314,882 Ore Milled (tonne) 48,483 89,612 75,381 86,121 50,939 299,597 318,042 Head Grades Silver (gram/tonne) 88 75 72 71 62 75 75 Lead (%) 1.3 1.4 1.2 1.4 1.4 1.3 1.5 Zinc (%) 2.5 2.8 2.7 2.9 2.8 2.8 3.2 Recovery Rates Silver (%) 78.9 83.0 81.0 83.4 82.4 81.9 83.8 Lead (%) 90.9 90.3 88.5 89.8 88.7 89.8 89.2 Zinc (%) 89.3 90.1 89.6 90.4 89.8 89.9 89.6 Metal production Silver (in thousands of ounces) 109 179 141 164 84 593 640 Lead (in thousands of pounds) 1,250 2,412 1,782 2,370 1,420 7,814 9,548 Zinc (in thousands of pounds) 2,413 4,892 4,010 4,998 2,784 16,313 20,045 Metals sold Silver (in thousands of ounces) 107 185 140 156 115 588 646 Lead (in thousands of pounds) 1,097 2,304 1,681 2,365 2,001 7,447 9,671 Zinc (in thousands of pounds) 2,336 4,976 4,058 4,893 2,816 16,263 20,200 About Silvercorp Silvercorp is a Canadian mining company producing silver, gold, lead, and zinc with a long history of profitability and growth potential. The Company's strategy is to create shareholder value by 1) focusing on generating free cashflow from long life mines; 2) organic growth through extensive drilling for discovery; 3) ongoing merger and acquisition efforts to unlock value; and 4) long term commitment to responsible mining and ESG. For more information, please visit our website at www.silvercorpmetals.com. For further information Silvercorp Metals Inc. Lon Shaver Vice President Phone: (604) 669-9397 Toll Free 1(888) 224-1881 Email: [email protected] Website: www.silvercorpmetals.com CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMER - FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain of the statements and information in this news release constitute "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). Any statements or information that express or involve discussions with respect to predictions, expectations, beliefs, plans, projections, objectives, assumptions or future events or performance (often, but not always, using words or phrases such as "expects", "is expected", "anticipates", "believes", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategies", "targets", "goals", "forecasts", "objectives", "budgets", "schedules", "potential" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions) are not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements relate to, among other things: creating shareholder value; generating free cashflow from long life mines; organic growth; mergers and acquisitions; and estimated production from the Company's mines in the Ying Mining District and the GC Mine . Forward-looking statements are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ from those reflected in the forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, risks relating to: social and economic impacts of COVID-19; fluctuating commodity prices; calculation of resources, reserves and mineralization and precious and base metal recovery; interpretations and assumptions of mineral resource and mineral reserve estimates; exploration and development programs; feasibility and engineering reports; permits and licences; title to properties; property interests; joint venture partners; acquisition of commercially mineable mineral rights; financing; recent market events and conditions; economic factors affecting the Company; timing, estimated amount, capital and operating expenditures and economic returns of future production; integration of future acquisitions into the Company's existing operations; competition; operations and political conditions; regulatory environment in China and Canada ; environmental risks; legislative and regulatory initiatives addressing global climate change or other environmental concerns; foreign exchange rate fluctuations; insurance; risks and hazards of mining operations; key personnel; conflicts of interest; dependence on management; internal control over financial reporting; and bringing actions and enforcing judgments under U.S. securities laws. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements about the future and are inherently uncertain, and actual achievements of the Company or other future events or conditions may differ materially from those reflected in the forward-looking statements due to a variety of risks, uncertainties and other factors, including, without limitation, those referred to in the Company's Annual Information Form under the heading "Risk Factors". Although the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated, described or intended. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company's forward-looking statements are based on the assumptions, beliefs, expectations and opinions of management as of the date of this news release, and other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances or management's assumptions, beliefs, expectations or opinions should change, or changes in any other events affecting such statements. For the reasons set forth above, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Additional information related to the Company, including Silvercorp's Annual Information Form, can be obtained under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com, on EDGAR at www.sec.gov, and on the Company's website at www.silvercorpmetals.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/silvercorp-reports-operational-results-and-the-financial-results-release-date-for-fiscal-2023-301797182.html SOURCE Silvercorp Metals Inc DOHA, Qatar , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- China Petroleum & Chemical Corporation (HKG: 0386, "Sinopec") has signed an equity participation agreement with QatarEnergy on April 12 to take 1.25 percent shares in Qatar's North Field East (NFE) expansion project, which is currently the largest Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) project in the world. The event marks another milestone after Sinopec and QatarEnergy inked a 27-year long-term LNG purchase and sales agreement in November 2022 for the annual supply of 4 million tons of LNG to Sinopec and achieves integrated cooperation on the NFE expansion project. Sinopec Chairman Ma Yongsheng and Qatari Minister of State for Energy Affairs, President and CEO of QatarEnergy, H.E. Saad Sherida Al-Kaabi , formally signed the agreement at a signing ceremony in QatarEnergy's headquarter in Doha . "QatarEnergy, a world-leading LNG producer, is one of Sinopec's most important partners, the cooperation between the two companies will further strengthen the optimization of China's energy consumption pattern and improve the security, stability, and reliability of clean energy supply. With the solid foundation of our partnership, we hope to explore new LNG collaboration opportunities and expand new grounds for cooperation to achieve mutual benefit and win-win progress," said Ma. Al-Kaabi expressed that China is one of the world's most important natural gas markets and key market for Qatar's energy products. The equity participation agreement fulfilled QatarEnergy's promise to further deepen relationships with major LNG clients, especially on developing long-term strategic partnerships with world's top clients like Sinopec. Sinopec is the first Asian stakeholder of the NFE project and the event marks a model of Sino-Qatar cooperation. With a total investment of USD 28.75 billion , the NFE project is projected to increase Qatar's annual LNG export volume from 77 million tons to 110 million tons. Sinopec and QatarEnergy's partnerships will help to meet the demand for natural gas in the Chinese market and continue to advance green low-carbon, safe, and sustainable energy development. For more information, please visit Sinopec . View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sinopec-to-take-1-25-percent-shares-in-qatars-north-field-east-lng-expansion-project-301796549.html SOURCE SINOPEC BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. The 4th meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries is held in Uzbekistans Samarkand on April 13, Trend reports via the Twitter publication of Uzbekistans Foreign Ministry. In Samarkand Ministerial Meeting of the neighboring countries of Afghanistan began under the chairmanship of Uzbekistan. Delegations from Uzbekistan, Iran, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan are attending the meeting, the publication says. Back in March 2023, the meeting of special representatives of neighboring countries of Afghanistan was held in Uzbekistans Tashkent. The event was attended by representatives of the above-mentioned countries. During the previous meeting, the parties discussed the current situation in Afghanistan, as well as emphasized the importance of providing humanitarian assistance to the country, the more active involvement of Afghanistan in the process of regional interconnectedness, and the revision by the new Kabul authorities of discrimination measures against Afghan women. Furthermore, the 3rd foreign ministers meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan was held in Tunxi in China on 31 March 2022. Digital health conference brings together thousands of healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors LOS ANGELES , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Officials from The Wound Pros, LLC ( https://thewoundpros.com/ ) attended the ViVE Conference held from March 26th to 29th, 2023 , in Nashville, Tennessee . The conference, now in its second year, is a curated event for senior digital health decision-makers focusing on the business of healthcare. The Wound Pros is the nation's leading wound care and management company specializing in treating and managing chronic non-healing wounds. It partners with long-term care facilities to provide comprehensive wound care services, including advanced wound care dressings and skin substitutes for acute and chronic wounds, and offers wound care education for staff. The company has attended the ViVE Conference since its inception. ViVE Conference 2023 brought together thousands of healthcare leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors in Music City Center , Nashville . Over four days of the conference, attendees participated in telehealth, cybersecurity, information exchange, healthcare transformation, and health equity sessions. The Wound Pros delegation to this year's ViVE conference included Daniel Hallman , D.P.M (Doctor of Podiatric Therapy and Manager of vascular services, infectious disease & E-prescriptions), Ayanna Releford (Global Helpdesk Director), Kermit Johnson (Cybersecurity Analyst), and Nicholitta Karambilas (Business analyst). The Wound Pros is the fastest-growing wound management company in the country. Its biotech component, RITA (Rapid Imaging Technical Assistant), is the company's proprietary AI and Machine Learning platform that measures and analyzes chronic non-healing wounds accurately. Capturing highly accurate measurements is critical for delivering comprehensive treatments to prevent chronic wounds from worsening and improving healing outcomes. Clinicians can take a picture of a patient's wound with a smartphone or tablet, and RITA will automatically measure the wound's size and provide tissue segmentation. The system also provides reports on healing rates and estimated days to heal. RITA offers online and offline capabilities to ensure efficiency and reliability regardless of network connection status. Attending this year's ViVE conference is part of The Wound Pros' commitment to remaining at the cutting edge of wound care management while building resilient networks and alliances within the healthcare industry. Daniel Hallman , D.P.M., and Ayanna Releford described ViVE as an excellent opportunity to listen to other experts in the healthcare and IT fields, interact with hundreds of vendors, and unwind to good music and great food. Kermit Johnson and Nicholitta Karambilas remarked that what they had learned from the conference would help accomplish specific goals regarding the company's overall growth and further improve the IT, Cybersecurity, and Clinical departments. About The Wound Pros The Wound Pros is a physician-owned and managed company. It is an accredited supplier of Durable Medical Equipment, Prosthetics, Orthotics, and Supplies (DMEPOS) and a Medicare Part B provider in the United States . The company provides wound care services to long-term facilities nationwide, including digital wound management, mobile vascular assessment, digital supply tracking, advanced EHR systems, and advanced wound care dressings. The Wound Pros uses a "high-tech" approach incorporating AI to improve standardization and wound healing outcomes and a "high-touch" approach providing human-to-human interactions for customer service and quality service delivery to its clients. The Wound Pros is a privately held company. Media Contact: Daniel Yeager (323) 794-7543 [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-wound-pros-attends-vive-conference-2023-in-nashville-tn-301797251.html SOURCE The Wound Pros, LLC MAKER OF NATIONALLY DISTRIBUTED TILLAMOOK CHEESE AND ICE CREAM PROVIDES CLIMATE ACTION UPDATES INCLUDING A 66% REDUCTION IN FLEET EMISSIONS IN 2022 STEWARDSHIP REPORT TILLAMOOK, Ore. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA), a Certified B Corporation, provides its Climate Action Plan progress and other stewardship commitment updates in its newly released 2022 Stewardship Report. The TCCA Climate Action Plan aligns with the Innovation for U.S. Dairy's Stewardship Commitment to reach net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2050. To spur progress toward the net-zero goal, TCCA set its own interim goal of 30% reduction in absolute emissions by 2030. "We are making gradual progress towards our Climate Action Plan goals in their first year and are working to do more, do better and increase our momentum every day," said Paul Snyder , Executive Vice President, Stewardship, TCCA. "We will be the first to say that we don't have all of the answers and we have a lot more work to do, but we do have a dedication to continuous improvement, a challenger mindset, and a commitment to help protect and preserve our ecosystems now and for future generations." While the work is ongoing, the 114-year-old dairy cooperative has made intentional and incremental progress toward reducing its impact with various projects: Truck Fleet Conversion TCCA converted its 16-truck fleet to a new fuel called renewable diesel (R99) in late summer 2022. As a result, it reduced their total fleet emissions by over 20% from 2021 to 2022. Moving forward, it will reduce fuel emissions by 66% per gallon, when compared to conventional diesel. TCCA converted its 16-truck fleet to a new fuel called renewable diesel (R99) in late summer 2022. As a result, it reduced their total fleet emissions by over 20% from 2021 to 2022. Moving forward, it will reduce fuel emissions by 66% per gallon, when compared to conventional diesel. Food Waste Diversion TCCA started diverting all loose and packaged cheese scraps at its Boardman cheese-making facility to a food waste processor that uses the cheese for animal feed and compost. More than 955,000 pounds of cheese scraps were diverted from its Boardman facility last year, increasing the diversion rate from 15% to more than 60% at the site. In turn, the diversion also reduced the Boardman's facility landfill-based emissions by over 30%. TCCA started diverting all loose and packaged cheese scraps at its Boardman cheese-making facility to a food waste processor that uses the cheese for animal feed and compost. More than 955,000 pounds of cheese scraps were diverted from its Boardman facility last year, increasing the diversion rate from 15% to more than 60% at the site. In turn, the diversion also reduced the Boardman's facility landfill-based emissions by over 30%. Soil Carbon Benchmarking Half of all TCCA member farms opted into a new benchmarking program to measure the amount of carbon stored in their farmland. Partnering with an expert soil sampling company, TCCA measured its total carbon storage and found the average carbon in the soil among participating member farms to be 53 metric tons/acre representing some of the highest carbon storage among all land use across the United States and Mexico . 1,2 By establishing a soil carbon baseline, TCCA is increasing the quality and accuracy of GHG measurement, allowing the co-op to accurately track progress toward its goals. Half of all TCCA member farms opted into a new benchmarking program to measure the amount of carbon stored in their farmland. Partnering with an expert soil sampling company, TCCA measured its total carbon storage and found the average carbon in the soil among participating member farms to be 53 metric tons/acre representing some of the highest carbon storage among all land use across and . By establishing a soil carbon baseline, TCCA is increasing the quality and accuracy of GHG measurement, allowing the co-op to accurately track progress toward its goals. GHG Measurement and Reduction TCCA reports a 9% reduction of total GHG emissions compared to its 2020 baseline and continues to improve its data to get a clearer picture of emissions. To understand farm-specific practices and associated emissions, participating TCCA farmers took a voluntary survey to measure their specific GHG footprint. The Farmers Assuring Responsible Management Environmental Stewardship (FARM ES) survey is based on the Greenhouse Gas Protocol and evaluates the entire lifecycle of dairy production including the number of cows, amount of electricity and fuel consumption, as well as feed production and manure management practices to determine a farm's footprint. Measuring Impact Through Rigorous Analysis "We are intently focused on accuracy and improvements related to our emissions reduction metrics and how we measure progress over time," said Snyder. "For us, it is about making real-world impacts that actually benefit the environment; that is the progress that we truly care about." While TCCA is pleased to see a 9% GHG emissions reductions from its baseline year of 2020, emissions went up slightly from 2021. Snyder further explains that while its year-over-year reporting appears to reflect a decline in performance from 2021-2022, it is mostly due to more robust, highly accurate analytics and the company is still on-track for their path to 2030. "Our progress dashboard reflects a range of realities that include exceeding, meeting, and in some cases, falling short of our goal," said Snyder. "We're committed to transparency and will not hide the realities, and in fact, are motivated when we see room for improvementswhich is what our Climate Action Plan journey is all about." Embracing the Many Facets of Stewardship In addition to its long-standing stewardship commitment to take care of the environment, TCCA is guided by additional stewardship commitments focused on helping to support the needs of farmers and healthful cows, improve the communities where it operates, and enrich the lives of its employees and their families. Additional stewardship updates from the past year include: Partnering with American Connection Corps (ACC) to raise awareness of affordable broadband in Tillamook County . Overall, the national ACC program, saw a 400% increase in enrollment in federal subsidy programs for broadband internet in remote areas. (ACC) to raise awareness of affordable broadband in . Overall, the national ACC program, saw a 400% increase in enrollment in federal subsidy programs for broadband internet in remote areas. Achieving a 100% score on the NSF International farm evaluation that assesses the TCCA Farm Services Team and their process, communications, and recordkeeping protocols with TCCA farmer-owners and milk suppliers to ensure cows stay healthy and comfortable. farm evaluation that assesses the TCCA Farm Services Team and their process, communications, and recordkeeping protocols with TCCA farmer-owners and milk suppliers to ensure cows stay healthy and comfortable. Being honored with the Vendor of the Year award for Target's "Food & Beverage" category for TCCA's best-in-class partnership, specifically earning recognition for leading the dairy category, having superior inventory availability, and sustaining one of the highest scores for the TCCA digital marketing presence. TCCA instituted a new heritage holiday a paid day off for employees to celebrate and participate in a day that is important to them and their heritage. Securing more than $200,000 in funds for the Tillamook community as part of a grant-writing workshop that TCCA sponsored for local nonprofits in Tillamook County . "Since our founding in 1909, TCCA farmer-owners have built everything with a long-term outlook to ensure that farms and communities are here for generations to come," said Snyder. "That's why being good stewards of cows and farms, of people and products, of our communities and the environment, is central to everything we do." For more information about the TCCA Climate Action Plan and other stewardship commitments, visit the 2022 Stewardship Report that is online now. Additional information about the TCCA Climate Action Plan and goals is also available at Tillamook Climate. 1Analysis conducted on participating TCCA farms provides carbon stock estimate for 30cm soil depth. The sample design parameters for the study were a confidence level of 70% and a margin of error of 10% for 84% of the total acreage sampled. The remaining 16% of the acreage sampled had sample design parameters of 90% confidence with 10% margin of error. 2Continental U.S. and Mexico data values are for the soil depth of 0-30 cm. Graphical data presentation and data range values provided by Oak Ridge National Laboratory Distributed Active Archive Center (Comparative Soil Organic Carbon for Mexico and USA | ORNL DAAC News) About Tillamook County Creamery Association Founded in 1909 as a farmer-owned cooperative, Tillamook County Creamery Association (TCCA) recently achieved the distinction as a Certified B Corporation (B Corp) and prides itself on its commitment to bringing to market the most consistent, best tasting, highest quality dairy products made in the most natural way possible. Guided by the belief that everyone deserves real food that makes them feel good every day, Tillamook produces internationally recognized, award-winning cheese as well as exceptional ice cream, butter, cream cheese spreads, yogurt, and sour cream, made with unwavering values that never sacrifice or compromise quality for profit. TCCA is owned by a group of farming families, primarily based in Tillamook County, Oregon . TCCA operates production facilities in Tillamook and Boardman, Oregon and employs more than 900 people throughout the state. The Tillamook Creamery is the largest tourist attraction on the coast of Oregon and one of the most popular in the state, attracting more than one million visitors each year. For more information on TCCA and Tillamook , visit Tillamook.com . Media Contacts: Jenna Faller , FleishmanHillard [email protected] Jenna Cerruti , Tillamook [email protected] View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tillamook-county-creamery-association-shares-climate-action-plan-updates-301796893.html SOURCE Tillamook County Creamery Association Ponca Tribe Leader Championed Native American 14th Amendment Rights LINCOLN, Neb. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- What: The U.S. Postal Service holds reverence for Chief Standing Bear by honoring him with a Forever stamp. In 1879, Standing Bear won a landmark court ruling that determined a Native American was a person under the law with an inherent right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The first-day-of-issue event is free and open to the public. News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ChiefStandingBearStamp. Who: The Honorable Anton G. Hajjar , vice chairman, U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors Candace Schmidt , chairwoman, Ponca Tribe Judi M. Gaiashkibos , executive director, Nebraska Commission of Indian Affairs When: Friday, May 12 , at 11 a.m. CDT Where: Centennial Mall Between P and Q streets Lincoln, NE 68508 RSVP: Dedication ceremony attendees are encouraged to RSVP at: usps.com/chiefstandingbear Background: In 1877, the U.S. Army had forcibly relocated some 700 Ponca to Indian Territory (what is now Oklahoma ) after the federal government had given away the tribe's homeland in the Niobrara River Valley in what is now northeastern Nebraska . In a landmark civil rights case, Standing Bear v. Crook, Standing Bear sued the government for his freedom after being arrested, along with 29 other Ponca, for attempting to return to his homeland. Lawyers filed a writ of habeas corpus to test the legality of the detention, an unprecedented action on behalf of a Native American. After winning the case, Standing Bear and the members of the Ponca who had followed him were allowed to return to their old Nebraska reservation along the Niobrara River . One issue that his 1879 trial had raised was finally resolved in 1924 when Congress adopted the Indian Citizenship Act, which conferred citizenship on all Native Americans born in the United States . This stamp features a portrait of Chief Standing Bear by illustrator Thomas Blackshear II. Blackshear created the portrait based on a photograph taken of Standing Bear in 1877 while he was in Washington, DC , as part of a delegation of Ponca chiefs appealing to government officials for the right to return to their homeland. Art director Derry Noyes designed the stamp. Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. Please Note: The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to nearly 165 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America, to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America's most valued and trusted brands. The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. For USPS media resources, including broadcast quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom. Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and LinkedIn. Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook. For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com. National Contact: David Coleman 202-425-1476 [email protected] Local Contact: Mark Inglett 816-374-9111 [email protected] usps.com/news View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/us-postal-service-honors-chief-standing-bear-301795130.html SOURCE U.S. Postal Service DUBAI, UAE , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VAF Compliance, a leading virtual assets and financial compliance firm, has announced the launch of its newest solution a Telegram Bot service that assesses the risks associated with accepting cryptocurrency as payment. This innovative solution is the latest addition to VAF Compliance's suite of compliance services, which includes outsourced compliance officers and transaction monitoring. There is no doubt that the financial industry has undergone a transformative shift with the advent of cryptocurrencies and blockchain technology. While these innovations have brought transparency and decentralization, compliance remains a significant challenge that could undermine the industry's potential. Crypto exchanges, the entry point to cryptocurrencies, are particularly vulnerable to compliance issues. To maintain compliance, the implementation of robust Know Your Customer (KYC) and Anti-Money Laundering (AML) policies is essential. Recent fraudulent scandals in the crypto industry, such as the collapse of FTX and TerraLuna, have led to increased legal scrutiny and a steady rise in personal wallet addresses included as sanctions identifiers. According to a report by Chainalysis, OFAC has imposed sanctions on two Iranian nationals associated with the SamSam ransomware strain, designating their Bitcoin addresses as identifiers on the SDN List entries, and the number of personal wallet addresses included as sanctions identifiers has increased steadily since 2018. While recent sanctions against entities providing money laundering services to criminals have had a positive impact, alternative money laundering services may still be found, highlighting the need for robust KYC and AML policies in the crypto industry. VAF Compliance's Telegram Bot can help individual clients and small businesses avoid situations where they may unknowingly accept tainted funds. With this service, VAF Compliance aims to democratize access to AML solutions to all users, who now can assess risks before accepting crypto, receive a clear and user-friendly report, understand the risks associated with interacting with other wallets, and prevent the receipt of crypto with criminal origins. The bot is now available in English and Chinese (Mandarin) and will cover over 45 blockchains. It also provides an easy-to-read report to understand the risk level prior to accepting any funds in the user's wallet. The cost per transaction is affordable when compared to the potential risks associated with accepting illicit funds, and payments can be settled via credit card, making the process even more convenient for users. In addition, users have the option to pay fees per report or package, and if they refer the service to others, they can receive free reports that cover more than 70 different risk parameters. "We are very excited to launch our newest solution, the VAF Compliance Bot service, which provides an easy-to-use, yet comprehensive solution for individuals and small businesses looking to navigate the complex world of crypto compliance," said Gilson Ribeiro Da Costa , CEO of VAF Compliance. "We believe our innovative solutions will help our clients achieve their compliance goals, while also enhancing the overall reputation and credibility of the crypto industry." In addition to the launch of the Telegram Bot service, VAF Compliance recently conducted a study on the crypto exchange Huobi, which received a C- rating based on transactions from the cluster wallet with categorized addresses related to child abuse, terrorism financing, and OFAC sanctions, among others. Being from the region and for the region, VAF Compliance can definitely help companies avoid such unfavorable situations, while the UAE's crypto-friendly regulations set a foundation for a prosperous future in the blockchain and crypto space. With over a decade of experience and an array of innovative solutions, VAF Compliance is the ideal partner for any crypto enthusiast or business looking to navigate the complex and ever-changing world of compliance and risk assessment. Not only does the company offer support to clients in the MENA region, but it also extends its services in countries such as Turkey , Africa , and Europe . In fact, the company has announced its expansion to Switzerland and the establishment of its office in Zug . The team will be led by Farzaad Gaibie, a seasoned financial services consultant with extensive industry knowledge and experience. The expansion to Zug will enable VAF Compliance to better understand the needs of its clients and offer tailored solutions that meet their unique requirements. About VAF Compliance: VAF Compliance is a leading virtual assets and financial compliance firm based in Dubai , specializing in the virtual assets, financial, and non-financial sectors. With over a decade of experience, VAF Compliance offers innovative compliance solutions, including outsourced compliance officers and transaction monitoring, to help organizations navigate the complex world of compliance and risk assessment. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2052695/vaf_bot.jpg View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vaf-compliance-launches-telegram-bot-service-to-help-crypto-users-and-businesses-avoid-receiving-tainted-funds-301795753.html SOURCE VAF Compliance CHANTILLY, Va. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VTG, an industry-leading provider of force modernization and digital transformation solutions, announced today that it has won a prime position on a multiple-award Department of the Navy contract for the production of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) information warfare platform. CANES is the Navy's program of record to consolidate surface ship and submarine C4ISR networks and infrastructure. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract was awarded by PEO C4I and the Tactical Networks Program Office (PMW 160). It has a potential value of $4.1 billion over a ten-year period of performance. VTG won a prime position on a multiple-award Navy contract for the production of the CANES information warfare platform. "The deployment of CANES across the Fleet is critical to achieving distributed warfighting and decision superiority," said John Hassoun , VTG president and CEO. "VTG has installed and integrated CANES aboard numerous warships and submarines since the program's inception. We're proud that the Navy is now asking VTG to also produce CANES, an important recognition of our robust and growing C4ISR modernization capabilities." CANES provides a secure tactical afloat network for Naval and Joint Operations. It leverages a common computing environment and mature cross-domain technologies, reducing network infrastructure footprint and costs, and increasing reliability, security, interoperability, and application hosting. PEO C4I will use the CANES Full Deployment Contract to procure build-to-print CANES production units, kits, modules, components, software, spares, and development items. VTG provides comprehensive modernization services to the Navy. From design, development, and prototyping of emerging technologies to production, installation, integration, and sustainment of combat, weapon, and C4ISR systems, the Company performs full lifecycle engineering across an expansive portfolio of prime contracts with the Navy system commands. About VTG VTG delivers force modernization and digital transformation solutions that expand America's competitive advantage in the modern battlespace. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia , VTG provides full lifecycle engineering for naval, aerospace, network, and digital requirements. Whether at sea, in the air, on land, or in cyberspace, VTG delivers Tomorrow's Transformation Today. For more information, visit us at www.VTGdefense.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vtg-awarded-prime-position-on-4b-navy-peo-c4i-canes-full-production-contract-301796140.html SOURCE VTG LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- White Coffee commemorates over 10 years of private labelling and licensing coffee sales with Entenmann's, the NY-based bakery brand owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA. As part of that celebration, White Coffee is once again teaming up with Entenmann's to release a new "Breakfast Blend" variety and nine flavored coffees like "Chocolate Donut" and "Party Cake" to bring a sweet experience home to customers. White Coffee works with the finest coffee growers around the world, selecting only 100% Arabica beans and roasting them in small batches. The family-owned business centered in Astoria, NY traces its origins to patriarch David White who established a foodservice coffee business in Manhattan in 1939; his daughter-in-law, Carole White , and her two sons, Jonathan and Gregory, manage the business today. Since 2017, White Coffee has been recognized annually as one of the top licensees in the world by License! Global Magazine, the premier publication in the licensing industry. The brand continues to partner with like-minded baked goods brand, Entenmann'swhich also has New York City rootsstarting in Brooklyn over 100 years ago before moving to Bay Shore , Long Island . Entenmann's evolved to garner a national presence as a beloved brand of baked sweets, with classic products like Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donuts, Entenmann's Crumb Coffee Cake and Entenmann's Raspberry Danish Twist that complement a morning coffee perfectly. "The relationship does not succeed just through inspired coffee flavors and convenient packaging," says Jonathan White , Executive Vice President. "It is aided by a natural connection between a brand's customer and their desire for a special coffee experience they can associate with the brand. That's what Entenmann's and White Coffee have found together over these years." The distinctive coffee blends supplied by White Coffee are available in 10 oz. bags and single serve pods in boxes of various sizes. White Coffee also supplies Entenmann's creamy, smooth hot chocolate in single-serve packaging. The Entenmann's hot beverage selections will be available at retailers and online. All products can be found in various retail chains across the United States . Brand Central is the exclusive licensing agency for Bimbo Bakeries USA for the Entenmann's and Little Bites brands. About Entenmann's Bakery Entenmann's history dates back more than 120 years to 1898 when William Entenmann opened his first bakery in Brooklyn, New York . By the 1960s, the company was selling delicious donuts throughout the New York metropolitan area; by the 1970s it began selling nationwide. Today, Entenmann's markets over 100 different baked goods in the U.S. , producing more than one billion donuts annually one of which is the #1-best-selling classic Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donut introduced in 1973. About White Coffee White Coffee Corporation is based in Long Island City, NY and is a third-generation, certified woman-owned business, in operation since 1939. As a core part of its coffee offerings, White Coffee is proud of its collaboration with prominent licensed brands. White's licensing program includes other famous brands like Jim Beam, Harry & David and Kahlua. These coffee products are available in retail outlets throughout the United States , on-line at www.whitecoffee.com or call (800) 221-0140 for more information. About Brand Central Brand Central LLC is a premiere global brand consultancy that provides comprehensive business solutions in the areas of brand extensions, trend intelligence, and manufacturer representation to some of the world's most recognized brands, including Mars Wrigley, Kraft Heinz and Mister Rogers Neighborhood just to name a few. Their mission is to help clients unlock the full potential of their brands to enhance value while generating substantial revenue. For additional information please contact Ross Misher at 310.268.1231 or visit www.brandcentralgroup.com . CONTACT: Mary Beth Kramer Kramer Consulting (215) 431-3946 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-coffee-unveils-flavored-coffee-blends-inspired-by-entenmanns-baked-goods-301797105.html SOURCE White Coffee Corporation The Integration of Xandar Kardian's FDA-Cleared Radar Technology Into Existing Acute Care Devices Simplifies Access to Autonomous, On-Demand Vitals Monitoring TORONTO and CHICAGO , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Xandar Kardian, a Toronto -based industry leader in developing radar signal processing technology for presence detection and vital sign monitoring, has formally announced an integrated partnership with Caregility, an enterprise telehealth leader dedicated to connecting care for patients and clinicians everywhere. For the first time ever, Xandar Kardian will embed its radar technology into a partner's existing product line, joining Caregility's Best in KLAS Caregility Cloud virtual care ecosystem to create a solution wholly focused on optimizing acute patient care. Xandar Kardian and Caregility will debut the solution at the upcoming 2023 HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition in Chicago , April 17-21 , and attendees can visit the Xandar Kardian team at Booth #6009-82 in the Innovation Hub/Startup Park of the North Building or at Caregility Booth #6815 in McCormick Place's North Hall to learn more. Xandar Kardian's FDA-cleared, radar-based vitals monitoring will integrate into Caregility's virtual care platform Xandar Kardian's partnership with Caregility, which will begin rolling out across facilities this spring, combines the capabilities of Xandar Kardian's patient vital sign monitoring technology through radar signal processing with Caregility's expertise in virtual clinical workflows and patient analysis to optimize remote acute care. The integration will increase capacity for staff to virtually observe and manage higher-acuity patients in a traditional med-surg environment while leveraging a workflow and connectivity they are already familiar with. Most importantly, the innovative solution will empower clinical teams with new ways to deliver care as chronic workforce challenges persist and staff and consumer expectations evolve. "Our best-in-class radar technology has the ability to completely transform the future of patient monitoring, especially as telehealth and hybrid healthcare models continue to strengthen as paths for patients to receive acute medical attention," said Sam Yang , CEO and founder of Xandar Kardian. "We take great pride in our technology's ability to proactively diagnose and mobilize critical medical care, and we couldn't ask for a better partner than Caregility to enable our radar technology to be implemented on a wider scale." Xandar Kardian's radar-based solutions, which operate without requiring cameras, wearables, or any patient contact whatsoever, can provide critical early deterioration detection in all varieties of healthcare settings, ranging from inpatient facilities to virtual and home-health care. Xandar Kardian's sensors can measure 6000+ RHR (Resting Heart Rate) & RR (Respiratory Rate) readings a day, as opposed to a traditional hospital setting, where these vital signs are measured manually on a much less frequent basis. The benefit for partners, such as Caregility, is that the AI-driven radar solution offers autonomous continuous patient monitoring "on demand" through Xandar Kardian's data dashboard, expanding the capability of their devices and differentiating their own products and solutions. "We are constantly looking for new innovations and best-in-class solutions to add to Caregility Cloud, our virtual care platform, as we strive to empower clinicians to deliver better care," explained Pete McLain , Chief Strategy Officer at Caregility. "We are excited about Xandar Kardian's FDA-cleared radar sensing device and believe it will accelerate access to meaningful trends in patient data to support timely clinical actions with care for patients. And patients love it as it is non-invasive, contactless and private." To schedule a meeting with the Xandar Kardian team at HIMSS, please reach out to [email protected] . To learn more about Xandar Kardian and its partnership with Caregility, as well as how the company's XK300 Autonomous Health Monitoring Solution can seamlessly integrate into your healthcare facility, commercial building or corporate office space, visit their website at www.xkcorp.com . About Xandar Kardian Xandar Kardian is a US Delaware C-Corp with international operations spanning South Korea , Canada , and Singapore , focused on deploying reliable and high accuracy security and healthcare solutions worldwide. Xandar Kardian elevates motion sensor technology to the next level, incorporating radar sensors that monitor vital signs via resting heart rate (RHR) and respiratory rate (RR), providing essential insights into occupant motion, location, and vital sign reading. Founded in 2017, the team behind Xandar Kardian is focused on digital radar signal processing from start-to-finish, having received FDA 510(k) Clearance for its XK300 in April 2021 . For more information, visit www.xkcorp.com . About Caregility Caregility Corporation is dedicated to connecting patients and clinicians everywhere with its Caregility Cloud virtual care platform. Awarded the Best in KLAS Virtual Care Platform (non-EMR) in 2021, 2022, and 2023, Caregility Cloud powers a purpose-built ecosystem of enterprise telehealth solutions across the care continuum. Caregility provides secure, reliable, and HIPAA-compliant audio and video communication designed for any device and clinical workflow, in both acute and ambulatory settings. Today Caregility supports more than 1,000 hospitals across over 75 health systems with over six million virtual care sessions hosted annually. From critical and acute, to urgent and emergent, to post-acute and ambulatory, as well as hospital-at-home, Caregility is connecting care everywhere. Follow Caregility on LinkedIn and Twitter at @caregility. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xandar-kardian-announces-its-first-embedded-technology-partnership-to-integrate-radar-based-vitals-monitoring-into-caregilitys-leading-virtual-care-platform-301797078.html SOURCE Xandar Kardian TUNIS (Reuters) - The Algerian parliament approved on Thursday a new media law that tightens control over the work of journalists and imposes new restrictions. While the government said the law is key to ensuring the free exercise of media activity under legal controls, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) said the law included "negative chapters" that constitute a violation of press freedom. The law prohibits the Algerian media from receiving any funding or material assistance from any "foreign entity". Communication Minister Mohamed Bouslimani said the law aims to "enshrine freedom and pluralism of the press" and "protect it from all forms of deviation". The new law de facto excludes dual nationals from the right to own or contribute to the ownership of a media outlet in Algeria. "Some chapters are positive, some others represent a violation of press freedom, such as revealing sources to the judiciary, if requested , restricting access to any funding," Khaled Drareni, the representative of RSF in North Africa, said. Unlike the old law that required a formal authorization from the ministry of communication to create a newspaper, the new one is much easier in that it says journalists can set up a media outlet by only making a statement. Earlier this month, a court in Algeria sentenced Ihsane El Kadi, a prominent journalist, to five years in prison. Ihsane, a vocal critic of the government who was arrested on Dec. 24, has been accused of receiving foreign funding. (Reporting by Tunis newsroom; Editing by Daniel Wallis) FILE PHOTO: The logo of Amazon is seen at the company logistics center in Lauwin-Planque, northern France, February 20, 2017. REUTERS/Pascal Rossignol By Stephen Nellis (Reuters) - Amazon.com Inc's cloud computing division on Thursday released a suite of technologies aimed at helping other companies develop their own chatbots and image-generation services backed by artificial intelligence. Microsoft Corp and Alphabet Inc are adding AI chatbots to consumer products like their search engines, but they are also eying another huge market: selling the underlying technology to other companies via their cloud operations. Amazon Web Services (AWS), the world's biggest cloud computing provider, on Thursday jumped into that race with a suite of its own proprietary AI technologies, but it is taking a different approach. AWS will offer a service called Bedrock that lets businesses customize what are called foundation models - the core AI technologies that do things like respond to queries with human-like text or generate images from a prompt - with their own data to create a unique model. ChatGPT creator OpenAI, for example, offers a similar service, letting customers fine-tune the models behind ChatGPT to create a custom chatbot. The Bedrock service will let customers work with Amazon's own proprietary foundation models called Amazon Titan, but it will also offer a menu of models offered by other companies. The first third-party options will come from startups AI21 Labs, Anthropic and Stability AI alongside Amazon's own models. The Bedrock service lets AWS customers test-drive those technologies without having to deal with the underlying data center servers that power them. "It's unneeded complexity from the perspective of the user," Vasi Philomin, vice president of generative AI at AWS, told Reuters. "Behind the scenes, we can abstract that away." Those underlying servers will use a mix of Amazon's own custom AI chips as well as chips from Nvidia Corp, the biggest supplier of chips for AI work but whose chips have been in tight supply this year. "We're able to land tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands of these chips, as we need them," Dave Brown, vice president of Elastic Compute Cloud at AWS, said of the company's custom chips. "It is a release valve for some of the supply-chain concerns that I think folks are worried about." (Reporting by Stephen Nellis in San Francisco; Editing by Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: The keyboard and applications on an Apple MacBook Pro are shown at the Apple retail store in San Francisco, California, U.S. July 21, 2009. REUTERS/Robert Galbraith/File Photo (Reuters) -Apple Inc is in talks with suppliers to make MacBooks in Thailand as part of the company's ongoing efforts to expand its manufacturing presence beyond China, the Nikkei reported on Thursday. Suppliers involved in the talks already have manufacturing complexes in Thailand for other clients and are discussing possible assembly and production of components and modules for MacBooks, sources from three suppliers involved in the talks with Apple told Nikkei. Apple has also been mass producing its Apple Watch in Thailand for more than a year, according to the report. The iPhone maker did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. At least 18 suppliers including Compal Electronics Inc, Sony Group Corp and Western Digital Corp have operations in Thailand, according to Apple's latest supplier list. Apple and its key suppliers have been shifting production away from China, where strict COVID-19 curbs disrupted Foxconn's biggest iPhone factory last year. Apple is also seeking to avoid a hit to its business due to tensions between Beijing and Washington. Separately, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that the company has tripled its production of iPhones in India, assembling over $7 billion worth of smartphones in the country in the last fiscal year. There has been a significant increase in Apple's production in India as it attracts more new customers in the Asian country and shifts production from China, TechInsights industry analyst Abhilash Kumar said. Foxconn said last month it plans to ramp up investment outside of China. Pegatron Corp, another Apple supplier, was in talks to open a second India factory, Reuters reported last month. (Reporting by Akriti Sharma, Yana Gaur and Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Shounak Dasgupta) FILE PHOTO: Ships waiting to be loaded with iron ore are seen at the Fortescue loading dock located at Port Hedland, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia December 3, 2013. REUTERS/David Gray/ By Renju Jose SYDNEY (Reuters) -Australia's northwest region, home to the world's largest iron ore export hub, braced on Thursday for the area's most powerful tropical cyclone in a decade, as a major port closed and residents rushed to stock up on essential supplies. Cyclone Ilsa, located about 155 km off (96 miles) Australia's coast in the Indian Ocean, was on Thursday afternoon upgraded to a category five storm, the highest rating. The storm is expected to make landfall late on Thursday or early on Friday with winds of up to 315 km per hour (196 mph) at its core, the Bureau of Meteorology said. "They've got a lot of strength in them, the ability to not only destroy trees and knock down power lines but lift up those loose items in the yard, including trailers and caravans," meteorologist Miriam Bradbury told ABC television. The weather bureau said in its latest update that Ilsa could impact a 600 km sparsely populated stretch from just north of Port Hedland eastwards to just south of tourist town Broome. Port Hedland's port, the world's biggest iron ore export point, closed on Thursday morning after the port authority began clearing berths a day earlier. The port is used by BHP Group, Fortescue and billionaire Gina Rinehart's Hancock Prospecting. Rio Tinto exports out of the Port of Dampier, to the west of Port Hedland. The weather bureau issued a Red Alert for Port Hedland on Thursday afternoon, where wind gusts up to 155 kph are expected. Its 15,000 residents, most of whom are mining company employees, were advised to seek shelter indoors away from doors and windows. It will be the strongest system to hit the country's far northwest region since Cyclone Christine crossed the coast in December 2013, weather bureau forecaster Jessica Lingard said. BHP said it was closely tracking the cyclone but its mining and rail operations were continuing. A Fortescue spokesperson said it had suspended shipping operations and non-essential travel to the port but it did not expect any significant impact to operations at this stage. Many of the region's mines are located hundreds of km inland. Some shelves in supermarkets have been stripped bare, local media reported, with essential supplies like bottled water, fruit and meat in huge demand. The storm is expected to weaken below tropical cyclone strength over Friday night as it moves inland. (Reporting by Renju Jose and Lewis Jackson in Sydney; Editing by Tom Hogue, Jamie Freed and Kim Coghill) BERLIN (Reuters) - Europe must not turn a blind eye to tensions between China and Taiwan because a military escalation in the region would be a "worst-case scenario" for the global economy, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said on Thursday. Speaking during a visit to China, Baerbock backed European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who took a tougher stance than recently taken by French President Emmanuel Macron during a joint visit to Beijing, and also called for a de-risking of relations with China. She said Europe needed to maintain a close exchange with Beijing, one of the bloc's biggest trade partners, but also to draw lessons from Russia's war in Ukraine by tackling "unhealthy" dependencies on China. "This doesn't mean decoupling, but it means minimizing one's risks and realizing that economic dependencies can also create dangers," she said. While Macron had called on the EU to reduce its dependence on the U.S., Baerbock stressed the importance of global security alliances with partners sharing the same values. Macron bad warned the European Union last week not to get "caught up in crises that are not ours" with regard to Taiwan. "Germany and the European Union are economically vulnerable, which means that we cannot be indifferent to the tensions in the Taiwan Strait," Baerbock said in an audio file provided by her ministry during a stopover in the Chinese port of Tianjin. CLEAR AND UNITED Macron's comments drew a backlash in the United States and Europe as they were widely perceived as taking a weak line on Taiwan and a gift to what analysts called Beijing's goal of dismantling transatlantic unity. As a result, the stakes of Baerbock's inaugural China trip have risen, with many EU members hoping Germany will use the opportunity to set out a clear and united EU line on China. "Fifty percent of global trade passes through the Taiwan Strait (and) 70% of semiconductors pass through the Taiwan Strait, so the free passage is in our economic interest as well," Baerbock said. "A military escalation in the Taiwan Strait ... would be a worst-case scenario globally and affect us as one of the biggest industrial nations in particular," she added of Germany, the EU's largest economy. Tianjin was Baerbock's first stop on a China trip expected to focus on damage control in the wake of Macron's remarks, which suggested a rift in the EU's approach to the rising superpower. Even without Macron's comments, the visit would have been delicate for Baerbock, who has been more hawkish on China than German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and is drafting a China policy aimed at reducing German dependence on trade with Beijing. She urged China to use its influence on Moscow to end what she called "Russia's brutal war of aggression" in Ukraine, which Moscow describes as a special military operation. (Reporting by Sabine Siebold and Kirsti Knolle; Editing by Mark Heinrich and David Holmes) FILE PHOTO: The "Green Bridge" over the Pemigewasset River is limited to one lane of traffic in Woodstock, New Hampshire, U.S., August 25, 2022. REUTERS/Brian Snyder/File Photo WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Biden administration is unveiling on Thursday nearly $300 million in funding from its signature infrastructure law for nine bridge projects across the country, officials said. The infrastructure law, which the U.S. Congress passed with support from Democrats and Republicans, is one of President Joe Biden's key legislative accomplishments and one his administration is eager to highlight as he gears up for an expected re-election bid. With Biden traveling in Ireland, Vice President Kamala Harris, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other administration will visit some of the bridge sites to discuss the funding, which will go to projects in eight U.S. states and Washington, D.C. "These bridges serve 230,000 vehicles combined per day, and these investments will save taxpayers time and money by reducing congestion and making long overdue improvements," the White House said in a statement. Biden signed the $1 trillion infrastructure measure into law in November 2021 and his administration is working to implement it through projects to fix bridges and roads and expand broadband internet access to more Americans. (Reporting by Jeff Mason; Editing by Shri Navaratnam) LONDON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden did not discuss the leak of intelligence documents with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak when the two men met in Northern Ireland this week, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said on Thursday. "It did not come up, the leaked documents, in that conversation," she told reporters in Dublin where Biden is in the middle of a three-day Irish tour. (Reporting by Muvija M; editing by Kate Holton) FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden delivers remarks on the Affordable Care Act and Medicaid, in the East Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 5, 2022. REUTERS/Leah Millis WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration is seeking to allow immigrants illegally brought to the United States as children greater access to health insurance through federal programs, the White House said on Thursday. The proposal would allow participants in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, to access to health insurance under Medicaid and Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges, it said. "Health care should be a right. I've worked hard to get more Americans health insurance than ever before," President Joe Biden said on Twitter, adding the move would give "Dreamers the same opportunities." The proposed rule comes as efforts to further protect the so-called "Dreamer" immigrants stalls in Congress and faces legal challenges. About 580,000 people were enrolled as of last year in the Obama-era 2012 DACA program, which grants protection from deportation and work permits. An expansion would allow DACA recipients to enroll in coverage under the joint federal-state Medicaid program or through private insurers participating in the exchanges established by the 2010 ACA law also passed under Democratic then-President Barack Obama and Biden, his vice president. Eight U.S. states have already expanded state insurance access to health coverage regardless of immigration status, according to data from the healthcare policy organization Kaiser Family Foundation. Biden promised during his 2020 presidential campaign to protect "Dreamers" and their families after Republican then-President Donald Trump tried to end DACA. Biden this week said he plans to seek a second four-year term but has not formally announced his reelection bid. The president, in a video, reiterated his call for Congress to establish a pathway to citizenship for DACA recipients, adding: "While we work toward that goal ... we need to give Dreamers the opportunities and the support they deserve." One source familiar with the plan said it could take months or longer to finalize through the federal regulatory process. Democratic Representative Pramila Jayapal, chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, which last month urged the administration to expand access, called the move "a long overdue step toward immigrant justice." Republicans, however, have cast doubt on DACA and other immigration reforms. Texas and other U.S. states with Republican attorneys general are challenging the program in court, while House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, whose fellow Republicans control the U.S. House of Representatives, has said immigration cannot be addressed until the U.S. border is secure. (Reporting by Ted Hesson and Trevor Hunnicutt; additional reporting by Moira Warburton; writing by Susan Heavey; editing by Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken speaks during a joint press availability at the State Department with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, Philippine Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, and Philippine Defense Chief Carlito Galv By Humeyra Pamuk, Francesco Guarascio and David Brunnstrom HANOI (Reuters) - U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Vietnam on Friday hoping for progress towards upgrading relations with a key trade partner that shares U.S. worries about China's growing might. For Hanoi, it will be a delicate test: how to show openness to the United States without angering China, a giant neighbor that supplies key inputs for Vietnam's vital export trade, or Russia, another traditional partner. It is a balancing act Vietnam has excelled at but one that is turning more complex in a world appearing to divide into opposing blocs, with the U.S. and its allies on one side and China and Russia on the other. Blinken will meet Vietnamese leaders in Hanoi on Saturday before heading to Tokyo for a meeting of the Group of Seven rich nations. It is the first Hanoi visit by the secretary of state of the Biden administration, which took office in 2021, although Vice President Kamala Harris visited in August that year. Washington will be hoping for progress towards boosting relations to a "strategic" partnership from one that for the past decade has been called "comprehensive." Officials have not said what this closer relationship might entail. But Southeast Asia expert Murray Hiebert, who visited Vietnam in February and spoke with senior government officials, said it could include increased military cooperation and U.S. weapons supplies. He noted, however, there were limits given Vietnam's policy of not allowing foreign bases, foreign troops or alliances against other countries. Hanoi has also been put off by the relatively high price of U.S. arms and concerns that supplies could be blocked by U.S. lawmakers on human rights grounds. Blinken will also formally break ground on a new U.S. embassy compound in Hanoi, in what the top U.S. diplomat for East Asia, Daniel Kritenbrink, called "a stunning new symbol" of the U.S. commitment to an "enduring partnership and friendship." With the Vietnam War era an increasingly distant memory, Washington now considers Hanoi, in Kritenbrink's words, "one of America's most important partners in the region". BALANCING BEIJING AND WASHINGTON Experts say the U.S. broached formally elevating ties during the Trump administration, but Hanoi was resistant and has wavered amid escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing, which could react badly to the move. Vietnam, while alarmed by China's growing military and opposed to its rival claims in the South China Sea, has its vital economic ties with Beijing to consider. Even so, Hanoi now appears amenable to upgraded ties with the U.S., Hiebert and other analysts say, although no announcement is expected during Blinken's trip and will likely be saved for a higher-level exchange. Last month saw a call between U.S. President Joe Biden and the head of Vietnam's ruling Communist party Nguyen Phu Trong, which together with Blinken's visit could lead to a meeting between the two in July, the 10th anniversary of the existing formal bilateral partnership, analysts say. "The chance of the United States and Vietnam upgrading their comprehensive partnership to a strategic level is higher with Blinken's visit because it will pave the way for a higher-level meeting," said Bich Tran, an adjunct fellow at Washington's Center for Strategic and International Studies. Kritenbrink said Washington was working to persuade Vietnam to diversify defense purchases away from Russia, something that "obviously would be in Vietnam's interests and also would conform to U.S. law." Human rights is another sensitive area, and hours ahead of Blinken's arrival a State Department spokesperson condemned Vietnam's jailing of a prominent political activist and said the bilateral partnership could only reach its full potential if the country improved its human rights record. On Thursday, Human Rights Watch called on Blinken to "publicly and privately urge Vietnams leadership to end its systemic abuse of freedom of expression, association, and peaceful assembly." Kritenbrink said he was "confident" Blinken would raise rights concerns in Hanoi. (Reporting by Humeyra Pamuk, Francesco Guarascio and David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Simon Lewis; Editing by Don Durfee, Mark Heinrich, Daniel Wallis and Jonathan Oatis) FILE PHOTO: The logo of BYD is pictured at the 2022 Paris Auto Show in Paris, France October 17, 2022. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe By Lisandra Paraguassu BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazilian officials are offering fresh incentives including land for Chinese manufacturer BYD to build an electric car plant in Bahia state amid stalled talks to take over a closed Ford plant, said three people familiar with discussions in Shanghai on Thursday. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva met with executives from BYD while visiting China, where he will meet with President Xi Jinping on Friday. The sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the talks between BYD and the Brazilian delegation, said the Chinese firm would keep negotiating with Ford to take over the Bahia factory closed in 2021 and inherit state tax incentives for the complex. However, Brazilian officials on Thursday discussed an alternative site in Bahia where BYD could build a factory from scratch if the talks with Ford prove futile. Ford and BYD did not immediately respond to requests for comment. BYD made it clear they would have no issue setting up a new plant, the sources said. "They pointed out that sometimes adapting a site is more time consuming than doing it from scratch," said one of the Brazilian attendees. In October, BYD signed a letter of intent with the Bahia government signaling plans to invest 3 billion reais ($570 million) to set up electric vehicle production in the Camacari industrial park, which has capacity to manufacture some 300,000 vehicles per year. Executives at BYD, which sells more electric cars than Tesla in Asia but lags in other regions, told Reuters in November they hoped to reach a firm agreement on the Bahia plant by the end of 2022. However, drawn out talks with Ford have stalled plans. A person close to BYD said in March that documents for the final signing of the agreement had been sent to Ford executives in the U.S., and that there were "no obstacles" to the negotiations at that time. (Reporting by Lisandra Paraguassu; Writing by Steven Grattan; Editing by Brad Haynes and Josie Kao) FILE PHOTO: Chinese and Taiwanese flags are seen in this illustration, August 6, 2022. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo By Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - China will ban vessels from an area near Taiwan on Sunday because of the possibility of falling rocket debris, its maritime safety agency said on Thursday, which Taiwan's Central News Agency said would be from a weather satellite launch. The disruption comes during tension in the region over Chinese military exercises around Taiwan, a show of force in response to a meeting last week in Los Angeles between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy. China regards Taiwan as its own territory and objects to any interactions between the Taiwanese leadership and foreign officials. Taiwan rejects China's sovereignty claims. Taiwan's government on Wednesday confirmed a Reuters report that China was planning to impose a no-fly zone from April 16-18 - when Japan hosts a meeting of G7 foreign ministers - but later said China had shortened the stipulation to just 27 minutes on Sunday morning after Taipei protested. The no-fly zone will affect about 33 flights, Taiwan's official Central News Agency reported, citing the island's transport minister, Wang Kwo-tsai. In a brief statement, China's Maritime Safety Administration released coordinates for the zone, saying shipping was banned from entering from 9 a.m. (0100 GMT) until 3 p.m. on Sunday as there "may be falling rocket debris". The coordinates correspond to a rectangular area to Taiwan's northeast, with the closest point 118 km (73 miles) from Taiwan, illustrated on a map that Taiwan's transport ministry released late on Wednesday. The zone is to the northwest of Japan's Ishigaki island and close to a group of disputed islets in the East China Sea that Japan calls the Senkaku and China the Diaoyu. The Central News Agency, citing a security source, said China was planning to launch a weather satellite from its northwestern province of Gansu on Sunday and this was the cause for the zone being enacted, rather than any military drills. China has not officially announced such a launch. The China Aerospace Science and Technology Corporation, China's main contractor for its space programme, said on April 3 it was aiming for a mid-April launch of the weather satellite Fengyun-3G. A senior Taiwan official, speaking on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media, told Reuters that China had not changed its previous notice of 27 minutes of flight restrictions on Sunday, and that the new notice only covered ships, not aircraft. Taiwan's transport ministry said the maritime notice was separate from the previous one, and issued a warning to shipping to stay out of the area on the time and date China had announced. Japan had sought an explanation from China on Wednesday as to what was going on, its Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said. "The government is continuing to collect and analyse detailed information, including the communication with the Chinese side, and will take appropriate measures based on the results," Matsuno told a briefing. China's foreign ministry declined to comment. (Reporting by Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Yimou Lee in Taipei and Chang-ran Kim in Tokyo; editing by Bernadette Baum, Jason Neely and Christina Fincher) FILE PHOTO: Representation of Ethereum, with its native cryptocurrency ether, is seen in this illustration taken November 29, 2021. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration By Elizabeth Howcroft LONDON (Reuters) -Cryptocurrency investors are facing delays to withdraw funds deposited on the Ethereum blockchain after its major software upgrade, highlighting persistent headaches for Ethereum which aims to have the technology widely used for instant payments. The software upgrade, known as "Shapella," was set to unlock more than $30 billion worth of ether, the second-biggest cryptocurrency, which investors had deposited on the Ethereum blockchain in return for interest. Ether rose above $2,000 for the first time since August 2022 on Thursday. Until Wednesday's upgrade, investors could not withdraw funds they had deposited via this method, known as "staking", on the Ethereum blockchain. As of Thursday, ether worth around $1.4 billion was stuck in a withdrawal queue, blockchain data firm Nansen said. The delays are an example of the limits in the transactions that Ethereum can process, highlighting its potential shortcomings as it strives to become a widely-used financial infrastructure. The Ethereum Foundation, a body that speaks for the network and describes itself as a "non-profit organisation dedicated to supporting Ethereum", did not comment. The delays are due to limits in the amount of transactions the blockchain can process, Nansen analyst Martin Lee told Reuters via email. It can process approximately 1,800 validator withdrawals, or 57,600 ether worth of exits per day, he said - that's approximately $115 million. The limits on validator withdrawals were in place for security reasons, Lee said. "In an extreme scenario, if theres no limits, and a large majority of validators exit, the Ethereum network would be vulnerable to attacks and bad actors," he said. Ethereum has grown popular for offshoots of the crypto market such as so-called decentralised finance or NFTs, but it has yet to become used in mainstream payments, finance or commerce. The major Binance exchange said users would be able to withdraw their ether from its staking product from April 19, and that it may take "15 days to several weeks" to process these transactions. "Due to the processing limitations on the Ethereum network, Binance will set a daily ETH redemption quota for each Binance user," Binance said on its website. Nansen's Lee said the backlog will likely take weeks to clear, after which depending on what the average daily "unstaking" amount is, it would take just hours or a couple of days. (Reporting by Elizabeth Howcroft, editing by Tom Wilson and Emelia Sithole-Matarise, Kirsten Donovan) By Sonia Rolley KINSHASA (Reuters) - Congolese women and children have been raped and subjected to other abuses during a mass expulsion of migrant workers from Angola to Democratic Republic of Congo, a doctor, officials and the United Nations said. Angola has deported thousands of workers in recent months, U.N. figures show, echoing previous purges over the past 12 years during which abuses also occurred, according to rights groups and the United Nations. The size of the latest expulsion is not yet known, but 12,000 workers have passed through one border crossing near the Congolese town of Kamako in the past six months, according to previously unreported figures from the United Nations' migration agency, the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Last month, U.N. staff visited the area and wrote an internal preliminary report on the situation, which Reuters has read. "Girls and women are arrested wherever they are, without the necessary needs, detained and then separated from their children and husbands, subjected to inhuman and degrading treatment, sometimes raped," the report said. The report, which would have to be checked by various partner organisations before any possible publication, did not explicitly identify the perpetrators. A doctor working in the area blamed civilians in Congo and Angolan security forces. A spokesperson for Angola's migration authority, Simao Milagres, said there had been an increase in expulsions in the past few weeks but denied that rapes and other abuses had occurred. "That's not true," he said. "I can guarantee that there isn't an institutional attitude promoting violence against migrants." RISE IN CASES The U.N. report did not say how many cases of abuse there were. But Victor Mikobi, a doctor who specialises in treating victims of sexual violence at a health centre in Kamako, said local clinics had recorded 122 cases of rape this year, unprecedented levels for the town, he said. "These are women or girls expelled from Angola, some of them under 10 years old, without any means of subsistence and very vulnerable to this type of violence," he said. Instances of gang rape have caused medical complications, he said. Based on accounts from patients treated at his health centre, he estimated that at least 14 rapes were committed by Angolan security forces. Dozens of others were committed by civilians in Congo, he said. A Congolese immigration official who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity because he is not authorised to speak to the media said that in meetings officials had talked about dozens of rapes on both sides of the border. The governor of Kasai region in southern Congo, Dieudonne Pieme Tutokot, said he was aware of instances of rape and had opened an investigation. SEARCH FOR DIAMONDS Angola's diamond-rich Lunda Norde region has long attracted thousands of migrant workers from Congo's isolated, poor south. Many come illegally: according to the U.N. report, only 20% of the deported workers had permits. Kamako has become an "open-air migrant camp", the head of the IOM's Congo mission, Fabien Sambussy, told Reuters. Abbe Trudon Keshilemba, president of a group of civil society organisations in Kamako, said: "The Congolese end up occupying whole villages in Angola, and the Angolans feel that they will disappear." The Angolan migration authority spokesperson, Milagres, said that the crackdown on illegal workers came as the country sought to promote legal migration through an online visa application process. Mass deportations from Angola to Congo happen every few years. The largest, in 2018, led to the expulsion of 330,000 workers. Over the course of two months in 2010, the U.N. estimated that more than 650 people had suffered sexual violence during expulsions from Angola. "We are witnessing this without being able to do anything due to a lack of resources," the Congolese immigration officer said. (Additional reporting by Miguel Gomes in Luanda; Editing by Edward McAllister and Alison Williams) Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif in a telephone conversation with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi expressed satisfaction about the revival of Tehran-Riyadh diplomatic relations, Trend reports citing IRNA. Sharif added that Pakistan appreciates the efforts of the Islamic Republic of Iran for forging regional peace and stability. Pakistani PM also congratulated Iran over revival of Tehran-Riyadh diplomatic relations. He also emphasized on Pakistan's commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with Iran in all areas of mutual interest, especially trade energy cooperation security and regional stability. Sharif also expressed gratitude for the operationalization of the power transmission line from Polan (Iran) to Gwadar in Pakistan, and appreciated the cooperation of the Iranian government in this regard. The Prime Minister of Pakistan also emphasized increasing popular communication, including cultural and educational exchanges, to promote mutual understanding and cooperation between the two nations. The two sides emphasized each other's commitment to maintain close contact on all topics of interest. FILE PHOTO: Industrial machines are seen in front of the Belchatow Power Station, Europe's largest coal-fired power plant powered by lignite, in Rogowiec, Poland October 20, 2022. REUTERS/Kuba Stezycki BRUSSELS (Reuters) - Euro zone industrial output was stronger than expected in February, data showed on Thursday, mainly thanks to a rise in production of capital and non-durable consumer goods. The European Union's statistics office Eurostat said industrial production in the 20 countries sharing the euro rose 1.5% month-on-month in February for a 2.0% year-on-year increase. Economists polled by Reuters had expected a 1.0% monthly rise and a 1.5% year-on-year gain. Eurostat said the output of capital goods -- goods such as buildings and equipment used to make products and provide services -- jumped 2.2% on the month after a 0.1% increase in January for a 10.4% year-on-year surge. Energy output also rose 1.1% on the month after a 0.2% fall in January and the production of non-durable consumer goods increased by 1.9% on the month after a 2.1% slump in January. (Reporting by Jan Strupczewski; editing by Philip Blenkinsop) By Kirsty Needham SYDNEY (Reuters) - Fiji's president suspended the Pacific island nation's public prosecutor on Thursday and said a tribunal would be appointed to investigate him for alleged misbehaviour. The move came on the same day that prosecutor Christopher Pryde's office announced that police had asked it to consider suspected charges against the prime minister, former prime minister, former police chief and former attorney general. Reuters could not reach Pryde, who has held the role of Director of Public Prosecutions for 11 years, for comment, and his office did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday evening. A government statement said Pryde was suspended on Thursday, with President Ratu Wiliame Katonivere writing to inform him "a Tribunal will be appointed to investigate allegations of misbehavior". The statement did not give further details of the allegations, but said Pryde was required to hand over his mobile phone and laptop this afternoon. Fiji's former long-serving prime minister Frank Bainimarama pleaded not guilty in a Suva court last month on charges of abuse of office. Pryde approved the charges against Bainimarama and the suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho, who will both face trial. Bainimarama led the Pacific island nation for 16 years until narrowly losing an election in December to a coalition of parties led by current Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka. A list of police complaints being investigated against "high profile individuals" was published by the prosecutor's office on Thursday. The list showed police had sought legal advice on suspected charges against Rabuka, former attorney general Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, as well as additional suspected charges against Bainimarama and Qiliho. The statement said no decision had been made by the prosecutor's office in these cases. Fiji has a history of military coups, including two staged by Rabuka and one by Bainimarama, and its military commander in January warned Rabuka's new coalition government against making "sweeping changes". (Reporting by Kirsty Needham, Editing by William Maclean) FILE PHOTO: Anti-abortion rights activists stand outside of the Bread and Roses Woman's Health Center, a clinic that provides abortions while women arrive to receive patient care in Clearwater, Florida, U.S. February 11, 2023. REUTERS/Octavio Jones/File By Gabriella Borter (Reuters) - Florida's Republican-led House of Representatives on Thursday gave final approval to a six-week abortion ban, setting the stage for abortion access to be drastically curtailed in the state and across the U.S. South. Lawmakers in the Florida House approved the ban on abortions after six weeks of pregnancy in a 70-40 vote. The bill passed the state Senate by a vote of 26-13 on April 3. Governor Ron DeSantis is expected to sign the legislation, which makes exceptions for abortions in cases of rape, incest and when the mother's life or health are at serious risk. The Republican governor signed the state's current 15-week ban into law last year and has said he supports further limits. Backing more severe restrictions could carry political risks for DeSantis, who is expected to seek the Republican nomination for president in 2024. Abortion has emerged as a potent political issue in the U.S. since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade last year, with polls showing that support for abortion rights helped Democrats outperform Republicans in November's midterm elections. A Reuters/Ipsos poll completed on Wednesday found that about 50% of Americans strongly or somewhat oppose a national six-week abortion ban, including 44% of Republicans. The same poll showed that 43% of Republicans said they were less likely to vote for a politician who supports limiting access to abortion. "The ban flies in the face of fundamental freedoms and is out of step with the views of the vast majority of the people of Florida and of all the United States," White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. Debate over the Florida measure lasted several hours on Thursday. Republican supporters of the bill said the law safeguarded women's health by making exceptions for dangerous pregnancies, and insisted doctors should not hesitate to perform life-saving abortions as the law allows. "We have the opportunity to lead the national debate about the importance of protecting life and giving every child the opportunity to be born," said Republican Representative Jenna Persons-Mulicka, a sponsor of the bill. Democrats said the bill would harm women and that Republicans were prioritizing their religious beliefs and political gain over the health of their constituents. "We are propping up a political agenda on the backs of women and birthing people," said Democratic Representative Michele Rayner-Goolsby. The fate of the ban will depend on the outcome of a court challenge to the state's 15-week abortion ban, which abortion providers have argued violates the state constitutional right to privacy. If the Florida Supreme Court rules that the 15-week ban is constitutional, the six-week ban would take effect 30 days later. Patients from across the U.S. Southeast have been traveling to Florida to end their pregnancies since the U.S. Supreme Court gutted federal abortion rights. Most other states in the region have already banned the procedure at early stages of pregnancy. "It will turn Florida from one of the Southeasts last access points for abortion to one that severely limits care," Alexandra Mandado, president and CEO of Planned Parenthood of South, East and North Florida, said of the ban. (Reporting by Gabriella Borter in Washington; Editing by Colleen Jenkins and Matthew Lewis) FILE PHOTO: A view shows a bridge and sandbanks of the Loire River in Montjean-sur-Loire, as France faces records winter dry spell raising fears of another summer of droughts and water restrictions, March 2, 2023. REUTERS/Stephane Mahe PARIS (Reuters) - Very low groundwater levels have put France on course for a worse summer drought than last year, mainly in the southern part of the country which had been ravaged by massive wildfires, French geological service BRGM said on Thursday. France suffered its worse drought on record last summer and, like most of Europe, has faced a dry winter that has prompted concerns over water security across the continent. "The situation is worrying because the whole of France is affected and we have had several dry years," BRGM hydrologist Violaine Bault said. Groundwater levels are generally below those of 2022 and recharge is insufficient in most of the country after a particularly dry winter, she said, adding that many parts of France would very likely need to introduce water restrictions in the summer, notably in central regions and around Paris. Some groundwater levels were at their lowest on record in the wine-making Roussillon region and in the southern Var region, which hosts the tourist town of Saint-Tropez. Both suffered repeated large wildfires over the past summers. Crops that could be affected by a lack of water in southern France mainly include fruit and vines. The region grows little grain. Weather forecaster Meteo France said on Thursday that rainfall in March had returned soil humidity to normal levels after record lows at the start of the month. However, the soils, which were already dry at the end of February, dried up further in southeastern part of the country and reached record low moisture values in surface soils in the southwestern Aude and Pyrenees-Orientales regions, it said. (Reporting by Sybille de La Hamaide; Editing by Mike Harrison) A visitor looks at screens showing advertisements of NFTs and virtual lands, at Hong Kong Web3 Festival, in Hong Kong, China April 13, 2023. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu By Josh Ye HONG KONG (Reuters) - After years of bankers quitting Hong Kong amid a China security crackdown and tight COVID curbs, the city is rolling out the red carpet to a finance sector tarnished by events elsewhere in a bid to bolster its status as a finance hub - cryptocurrencies. While scandals and high-profile bankruptcies have prompted some governments to distance themselves from the cryptocurrency industry, Hong Kong is pulling out all the stops to court mainland China crypto companies to rebase in the city. Mainland China banned cryptocurrency trading in 2021. Top government officials, such as Hong Kong chief executive John Lee, are touting their support and the city is scheduled to hold 100 crypto-related conferences and lavish parties through April. The Hong Kong government "is very serious about building an international virtual asset centre", said Xiao Feng, chairman of Hong Kong crypto exchange HashKey, which saw 13,000 people attend the first day of its Hong Kong Web3 Festival, the biggest conference of the month, on Wednesday. HashKey received a license to operate in Hong Kong last November, making it one of two licensed crypto exchanges in the city besides rival exchange OSL. According to Xiao, many in the crypto industry thought Hong Kong would inevitably adopt the same regulations as mainland China. But he said that the government is now trying to emphasise Hong Kong practices different laws from mainland China under the "One Country, Two Systems" framework. To be sure, many remain sceptical on Hong Kong's promise of a stable regulatory regime on cryptocurrencies. One crypto venture capitalist, who declined to be named citing the sensitivity of the matter, said that he remained worried as China's crypto ban still looms large in the background. "If Hong Kong can suddenly say that it is crypto-friendly as if it's a switch, that switch can be just as suddenly turned off should things get difficult," he said. Still, at least 10 companies with Chinese founders including OKX, Bybit, Huobi have announced or are planning to announce their bid for licenses in Hong Kong, according to the firms and media reports. These firms, which have exited countries like Canada and Britain, are among the sponsors of the glitziest Hong Kong parties this week. Bybit held a private dinner for industry heavyweights where delicacies from Hiroshima oysters to fish maw soup were served, while OKX booked a rooftop venue with a vista over the entire Victoria Harbour. At one event on Tuesday, crypto entrepreneur Justin Sun told a mainly Chinese-speaking audience: "I can't believe that we are having such conferences on Chinese soil." Sun has been charged by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with fraud, but said the SEC's charges lacked merit and accused the regulator of targeting crypto players. "Hopefully one day, we will have such events in Shanghai and Beijing," Sun said. (Reporting by Josh Ye in Hong Kong; Editing by Brenda Goh and Kenneth Maxwell) FILE PHOTO: A general view of Cairo skyline during sunset, with foggy cold weather around the country, Cairo, Egypt February 2, 2023. REUTERS/Amr Abdallah Dalsh CAIRO (Reuters) -Egypt and the International Monetary Fund have yet to agree on a date for the initial review under a $3 billion financial package signed in December, an IMF official said on Thursday, a sign the lender may be growing frustrated by Cairo's lack of reforms. The IMF in December approved a $3 billion Extended Fund Facility loan for Egypt, which has been under acute financial pressure since long-standing problems were exposed by economic fallout from the war in Ukraine. Disbursements under the 46-month programme are subject to eight reviews, the first of which was dated March 15, 2023, in an IMF staff report published in December. "We are in regular dialogue with authorities in order to prepare for the first review... Preparations have started and when we and the authorities are ready we will announce the date," Jihad Azour, director of the IMF's Middle East and Central Asia Department, told a news conference. He said that among priorities were for Egypt to adopt a flexible exchange rate, reduce inflation by using monetary policy instruments, especially interest rates, and open more space for the private sector by levelling the playing field with state companies. "Egypt really needs to show some meaningful measures to rebuild confidence and show that the process has started," said Monica Malik of ADCB. "It's better to start the review once there is tangible signs of process with reforms, including on a flexible currency." The official Egyptian pound's exchange rate has remained nearly unchanged for more than a month at about 30.93 to the dollar, despite a promise by the central bank in October to let supply and demand determine its price. Banks and businesspeople continue to complain of a severe foreign currency shortage, and the pound's price on the black market has fallen to about 36.00. In its December accord with the IMF, Egypt also promised to sell state assets worth billions of dollars over the next four years. It has made no major sales since the signing, though the central bank has raised its overnight interest rates by 500 basis points. "Egypt has done important reforms over the last few years, and the fund has been very supportive..," Azouri said. "We are still supportive of Egypts reform agenda." (Reporting by Sarah El Safty and Patrick Werr; Editing by Alison Williams, William Maclean and John Stonestreet) FILE PHOTO: International Monetary Fund (IMF) Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva holds a news conference during the 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington, U.S., April 13, 2023. REUTERS/Elizabeth By Andrea Shalal and David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) -International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva on Thursday warned policymakers against the danger of a new Cold War as they ramp up efforts to secure their industrial supply chains amid geopolitical tensions between major powers. "The question is, can we be more determined to enhance security of supplies but not push the world that far that we are into a second Cold War?" Georgieva told a news conference at the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington. "I believe it is possible." Georgieva, who grew up in Bulgaria during the Soviet era, said she experienced the Cold War and its impact in cutting off talented people from the world economy, and didn't want to see that repeated. On Wednesday, Group of Seven (G7) finance leaders pledged to give low- and middle-income countries a bigger role in diversifying supply chains to make them more resilient and sustainable. Their communique did not mention China by name, but the supply chain language fit in with "friend-shoring" efforts championed by U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and other Western leaders to trade more with allies and become less reliant on the Asian manufacturing powerhouse for battery minerals, semiconductors and other strategic goods. The IMF has warned that rising geopolitical tensions and the resulting fragmentation of the global economy could increase financial stability risks and potentially reduce global economic output by between 0.2% and 7%. It's one of the key reasons that the IMF predicts the global economy will stay mired in low-growth mode for years. Georgieva said policymakers might have to accept that development of new, more separated supply chains would involve some cost. "Security of supplies and the reliable functioning of global supply chains is taking a new, higher priority seat in economic discussions," she said, citing the impact of both the COVID pandemic and the war in Ukraine. But she warned against going overboard and harming global trade flows. "If we fail to be more rational, then people everywhere would be worse off. The middle class in each country would pay a price," Georgieva said. "So a bit more cool-headedness would take us a long way." DE-RISKING OR DE-COUPLING? The IMF has long warned of increased costs, economic friction associated with the global economy fragmenting into geopolitical blocs, with U.S.-led democracies on one side and China and other autocratic states on another. This can lead to competing technology systems and reduced trade. A new IMF working paper showed such rising tensions could also drive outflows of cross-border capital, including direct investment, from countries, with particularly high risks for developing and emerging market economies. But French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said it was important for France, the European Union and the United States to secure supply chains for crucial goods like electric vehicle batteries and reduce their dependence on China. But he drew a distinction between "de-risking" supply chains and "de-coupling" from China. "I think that we need to engage China if we want to craft responses to the greatest challenges of the 21st century," including climate change and debt relief, he said. A senior U.S. Treasury official said that China also was contributing to fragmentation by keeping vast sectors of its economy off limits to foreign competition. "They are moving in a direction that is closing off the world and bifurcating themselves from things like the market-oriented policies that allowed them to rise so rapidly," the official said of China. The IMF is forecasting a strong rebound in China in 2023 given its post-COVID opening, and it will account for about one-third of global growth this year, Georgieva said. (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Paul Simao) FILE PHOTO: India's Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel stand guard on the banks of Dal Lake, a famous tourist attraction, in Srinagar May 26, 2022. REUTERS/Danish Ismail/File Photo NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India on Thursday countered Pakistan's objection to the holding of Group of 20 (G20) meetings in the Himalayan regions of Kashmir and Ladakh, saying it was free to hold meetings on its own territory. Kashmir is claimed in full but ruled in part by the two nuclear-armed neighbours who have fought two of three wars over control of the region. Jammu and Kashmir was a state having special privileges until 2019, when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government split it into two federally controlled territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh. Islamabad condemned India's decision to hold the meeting in the two territories earlier this week, calling the move an irresponsible violation of international law. "G20 events and meetings are happening across India and it's only natural to do them in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, which are an integral and inalienable part of India," Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi told reporters. India currently holds the rotating year-long presidency of the G20 and is set to host a summit in New Delhi in 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 Ladakh, in April and May. Pakistan's foreign ministry issued a statement condemning the choice of venues. (Reporting by Shivam Patel in New Delhi; Editing by Nick Macfie) FILE PHOTO: A supporter of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi stands near the 'San Raffaele' hospital, where former Italian Prime Minister is hospitalised, in Milan, Italy, April 7, 2023. REUTERS/Claudia Greco MILAN (Reuters) - Former Italian Prime Minister Berlusconi is continuing to show an improvement in his health but he remains in intensive care, the Milan hospital treating him for leukaemia and a lung infection said on Thursday. The 86-year-old billionaire media tycoon was rushed to Milan's San Raffaele hospital on Wednesday last week, triggering speculation that his life might be in danger and drawing a stream of family and friends to his bedside. However, since then his doctors have said his condition has stabilised. "The last 72 hours have seen a constant improvement" in Berlusconi's breathing and the functioning of his kidneys, the latest bulletin said on Thursday, adding that he would continue to be treated in the intensive care unit. (Reporting By Gavin Jones) FILE PHOTO: Supporters of Kenya's opposition leader Raila Odinga of the Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) One Kenya Alliance, cheer as they participate in a nationwide protest over cost of living and President William Ruto's government in Mathare set NAIROBI (Reuters) -Kenya's opposition alliance is prepared to negotiate with the government over electoral reforms and the high cost of living, while also resuming protests, opposition leader Raila Odinga said on Thursday. In early April, Odinga ended anti-government protests after an appeal from President William Ruto, but said at the time they could resume within days if there was no meaningful engagement or response from the government. Thousands participated in three marches held over two weeks in late March and early April. The protests, in part stirred by accusations of fraud in last August's presidential election, were all marred by violence. "Kenyans are standing firm. We have agreed, the talks proceed, but I agree with the recommendation that has come out of here today that talks will proceed and protests will run parallel," Odinga told a town-hall style meeting in the capital Nairobi. "We will continue. We are waiting for Ramadan to end. Once it ends, we will make an announcement for the protests," he said, referring to the holy Muslim fasting month. Odinga's Azimio La Umoja (Declaration of Unity) Alliance and Ruto's Kenya Kwanza (Kenya First) alliance disagree about the content of the talks and who should steer them. Azimio says lawmakers and others outside parliament should go beyond the selection of senior election body officials to discuss measures to address the cost of living and review the 2022 elections. Kenya Kwanza wants to limit the scope of the talks to the selection of electoral officials, and the participants to lawmakers only. Kimani Ichung'wah, majority leader in parliament and a member of Ruto's party, said Odinga's moves were meant to pile pressure on the government and get a stake in it. Odinga has in the past said he had no interest in getting any role in the current government. "Raila (Odinga) has never had an interest in any peaceful process and (this) is no surprise," Ichung'wah said in a text message to Reuters. "All their actions should therefore be viewed as actions done in bad faith and very insincere." Kenyan police and interior ministry spokespeople did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comments on the resumption of protests. (Reporting by George Obulutsa, Duncan Miriri and Humphrey Malalo; editing by Josie Kao and Mark Heinich) Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Thea Roseman Candler, the United States Assistant Secretary of Commerce for export control discussed trade and economic relations between the two countries, Trend reports with reference to Agenda. The Ministry said the officials praised the growing trade balance between their countries, as well as the increase in US investments in Georgia. It also noted the US was among the top three investor countries of Georgia in 2022, and seventh among its largest trade partner countries. On his part, Candler praised the Georgian Governments efforts in enforcement of international sanctions imposed on Russia. The meeting also discussed bilateral cooperation in energy, civil aviation, maritime transport, trade, telecommunications, information technology and other sectors. FILE PHOTO: A logo of KPMG is seen at its exhibition space, at the Viva Technology conference dedicated to innovation and startups at Porte de Versailles exhibition center in Paris, France June 15, 2022. REUTERS/Benoit Tessier By Huw Jones LONDON (Reuters) - KPMG has been fined 875,000 pounds ($1.09 million) for its audit of lighting manufacturer Luceco for its financial year to Dec. 31, 2016, Britain's accounting watchdog said on Thursday. During 2016 Luceco was the parent of companies that produced and distributed lighting products and wiring accessories, with subsidiaries in China and other countries. "The breaches included failures in the design and performance of audit procedures, failures to adequately review and critically assess the audit evidence obtained, failure to document the audit work and failures by the respondents to apply professional scepticism," the Financial Reporting Council said in a statement. The FRC said the breaches were made more serious by the fact that KPMG and its auditor for Luceco, Stuart Smith, were aware of inventory cost errors in the previous year. "KPMG and Mr Smith co-operated with the FRC's investigation and admitted the breaches. The extent and timing of their admissions is reflected in the 30% discount which has been applied to the financial sanctions," the FRC said. Smith, who no longer works at KPMG, was fined 50,000 pounds. Cath Burnet, head of audit at KPMG UK, said the accounting firm is committed to dealing with and learning from its historical cases and regretted that aspects of its 2016 audit of Luceco fell short of required standards. The FRC said that KPMG will have to analyse the underlying causes of the breaches and identify and implement any further remedial measures necessary to prevent a recurrence. "We continue to invest significantly in training, controls and technology to improve quality and resilience in our audit practice," Burnet said. Last year Smith admitted misconduct during an FRC spot check into the audit of software company Regenersis in 2015. He was fined 150,000 pounds and banned from practicising as an accountant for three years. ($1 = 0.8012 pounds) (Reporting by Huw Jones; Editing by David Goodman) FILE PHOTO: An undated handout photo shows a Kroger vehicle delivering groceries in the U.S. obtained by Reuters on June 15, 2022. Kroger/Handout via REUTERS By Mike Scarcella (Reuters) - Food and drug retailer Kroger Co on Wednesday asked a U.S. judge to dismiss as "speculative" a consumer antitrust lawsuit alleging the company's proposed $24.6 billion acquisition of rival Albertsons Companies Inc would lessen grocer competition and drive up prices. Lawyers for Kroger said in a filing in California federal court that the grocery store shoppers who sued over the deal have failed to define the relevant market necessary to evaluate grocery store competition and to identify how the acquisition would hurt consumers. The attorneys said the lawsuit was lacking "real-world facts." U.S. competition law "does not turn every grocery store consumer in the country into a roving antitrust enforcer," lawyers for Kroger told U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria. A hearing is scheduled for May 18. An Albertsons spokesperson declined to comment, and representatives for Kroger did not immediately respond to similar messages. The suit from 25 consumers in states including California, Texas and Florida was filed amid the Federal Trade Commission's review of Kroger's proposed acquisition. State antitrust enforcers also are looking at the deal. U.S. antitrust law allows private actions against mergers and acquisitions. A lawyer for the plaintiffs did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. Kroger's attorneys said in Wednesday's filing that "the proposed merger is in the early stages of regulatory review and, as a part of that process, defendants expect to divest a number of stores." Attorneys for Albertsons separately asked the judge to dismiss a claim in the lawsuit challenging the propriety of a $4 billion special dividend that the company paid to shareholders. A group of state attorneys general failed in state and federal courts to block the payment, which they alleged would weaken Albertsons, and Albertsons paid the dividend in January. The deal would bring nearly 5,000 stores under one corporate umbrella. Kroger controls stores under banners including Harris Teeter, Pay Less and King Soopers, and stores under the Albertsons umbrella include Balducci's, Shaw's, Kings and Safeway. The case is Whalen v The Kroger Co, Albertsons Companies Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 3:23-cv-00459-VC. (Reporting by Mike Scarcella; editing by Leigh Jones) By Simon Jessop LONDON (Reuters) -Britain's biggest asset manager, Legal & General Investment Management (LGIM), said on Thursday it would back a number of climate-focused shareholder resolutions at the annual meetings of eight leading U.S. and Canadian banks. LGIM, insurer Legal & General's fund arm, which manages around $1.5 trillion, said it was going public ahead as part of an escalation strategy after backing several climate votes last year. "We continue to consider that decarbonisation of the banking sector and its clients is key to ensuring that the goals of the Paris Agreement are met," LGIM said in a statement, referring to the world's shared goal of capping global warming. "Accordingly, we believe our support of many of these resolutions depending always on the specifics of their drafting language and advisory or binding nature is warranted." LGIM is a top-30 shareholder in all of the banks, according to Refinitiv data. LGIM said it would back proposals for a time-bound policy to phase out lending and underwriting for fossil fuel exploration and development at Citigroup, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. "We continue to emphasise that the boards of financial institutions need to closely consider their strategy and risk appetite towards fossil fuels into the near future," it said. LGIM said it would also support proposals calling for lenders to publish a report disclosing science-based absolute 2030 emissions reduction targets for high-emitting sectors at Royal Bank of Canada, Bank of America, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan Chase. It would also back votes calling for a report on how the bank is aligning its financing activities with its 2030 targets at Toronto-Dominion Bank, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase and Morgan Stanley. "We believe detailed information on how a company intends to achieve the 2030 targets they have set... can further focus the board's attention on the steps and timeframe involved and provides assurance to stakeholders," LGIM said. All the votes will go against the recommendations of the banks' management, LGIM said. Beau O'Sullivan, strategist for the non-profit Bank on our Future campaign said LGIM was "taking the only valid action that fiduciary investors should be taking with their investee banks now, and we urge others to follow their lead". ($1 = 0.7993 pounds) (Reporting by Simon JessopEditing by Mark Potter) By Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber GENEVA (Reuters) - Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) held talks last month with Russian diplomats in Geneva on providing aid to areas of Ukraine under Russian military control but has yet to be granted access, the medical charity said on Thursday. International aid organisations have been unable to reach large swathes of Ukraine controlled by Russian forces despite calls for Moscow to grant safe passage for aid to be delivered to civilians. MSF (Doctors Without Borders) and the Russian diplomatic mission in Geneva had not announced their meeting, nor issued public statements on its outcome. "Our discussion ... concerned the areas of Ukraine under Russian military occupation, where we are aware of substantial medical humanitarian needs, including the lack of doctors, nurses and essential medicines," MSF said in a statement. "However, our teams have not yet been granted access to these areas. We continue to discuss this, and other points related to impartial medical humanitarian care in Ukraine." The Russian diplomatic outpost confirmed that talks had taken place but would not disclose the issues that were raised. In Ukraine, MSF assists civilians near the front lines or those who have been forced to flee, including children and the elderly. It provides psychological support and essential relief to survivors of attacks, among other assistance. The organisation said its discussions with both Ukrainian and Russian officials have been "consistent" since armed conflict erupted in Ukraine in 2014. MSF has a smaller presence in Russia, where it supports existing efforts to provide medical care to people displaced by the war in Ukraine. (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; editing by John Stonestreet) FILE PHOTO: A view shows the immigration detention center where several migrants died after a fire broke out at the center, in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico April 10, 2023. REUTERS/Jose Luis Gonzalez/File Photo By Lizbeth Diaz MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - The fire that led to the deaths of 40 people in a migrant detention center in northern Mexico marks a "good moment" to consider alternatives to depriving migrants of their freedom, a senior Red Cross regional officer said. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the detainees had been unable to escape because the person in charge of the key to the cell was not there when the fire began. The incident is one of the deadliest migrant tragedies in years. "Depriving migrants of their liberty for being migrants should be a last resort," said Olivier Dubois, head of Mexico and Central America for the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) on Wednesday, adding alternatives to incarceration should be expanded. Dubois spoke to Reuters ahead of a Thursday presentation of its annual report, which found that through 2022 and the beginning of 2023, migrants from South America and the Caribbean in transit through Mexico outnumbered those from Central America. He noted significant challenges in Mexico regarding the treatment of people held in migrant detention centers. According to official data, 43% more people were detained last year compared to in 2021. Authorities say one or more migrants held in a federal government detention center in Ciudad Juarez, which sits across the border with the United States, protested by burning mattresses in the cell where they had been locked up earlier that day. Survivors told Reuters the men were protesting plans to be transferred to another center and the poor living conditions at the center. A video circulating online - appearing to be security footage from inside the center during the blaze - showed men kicking on the bars of a locked door as uniformed people walk past without trying to open the door. In January, the Biden administration said it would expand Trump-era restrictions to rapidly expel Cuban, Nicaraguan and Haitian migrants caught crossing the U.S.-Mexico border. Dubois said the rights and dignity of migrants deprived of their freedom while in transit needed to be a "priority." In its report, the ICRC said it was also concerned about addressing and preventing armed violence that is displacing more people in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. "The pain of searching for a loved one, being forced to flee home to save your life and that of your family, or communities cut off from essential services, is similar to that faced by people in parts of the world hit by armed conflict," it said. (Reporting by Lizbeth Diaz; Writing by Sarah Morland; Editing by Kylie Madry and Aurora Ellis) By Alexander Tanas CHISINAU (Reuters) - A court in Moldova on Thursday imposed a 15-year jail sentence in absentia on the leader of a small opposition party in connection with the theft of $1 billion in bank assets in the impoverished European state. Business magnate Ilan Sor, head of a party bearing his name, had an earlier sentence confirmed by the Chisinau Appeal Court on charges of fraud and money laundering in an affair known locally as the "theft of the century". Sor has in recent months stood behind street protests denouncing high prices and calling for the resignation of the pro-Western government in the tiny country wedged between Ukraine and Romania. The 15-year sentence was double the original 7 1/2-year jail term handed down by a lower court in 2015. The appeal court also ordered the confiscation of assets valued at the equivalent of $277 million. Sor's appeal dragged on for eight years. In 2019, he secretly left the country and is now believed to be in Israel. "The justice system has finally triumphed in our country," Olesea Stamate, a senior parliamentarian from the ruling PAS party, wrote in announcing the sentence on social media. Pro-European President Maia Sandu, elected in 2020 on a pledge to root out corruption, said the sentence was vital as a public display of justice being done. "This was necessary for our citizens, so that those who stole returned the money and that justice was done," Sandu said in a statement on social media. Sor, whose party has six of the 101 seats in the Moldovan legislature, dismissed Thursday's sentence as illegal. "This ruling doesn't bother me in the least and I won't abide by it," he wrote on Facebook. "It will be rescinded two days after the current regime is replaced." The 2014-2015 theft from three of the country's largest banks amounted to the equivalent of one eighth of national annual output. Moldova has already jailed former prime minister Vlad Filat and businessman Veaceslav Platon in connection with the scandal, in which money was for years siphoned overseas through dubious loans, asset swaps and shareholder deals. Sor was associated with the man deemed the mastermind of the theft, Vlad Plahotniuc, who wielded huge political and financial influence as leader of the Democratic Party. In 2020, Moldovan prosecutors charged Plahotniuc with creation of an organised criminal group, extortion and fraud in relation to the theft. Plahotniuc, whose lawyers deny he was involved, has also fled the country. (Writing by Ron Popeski; Editing by David Ljunggren and Daniel Wallis) FILE PHOTO: South Korean people hold placards as they attend a candlelight vigil that denounces a government plan to resolve a dispute over compensating people forced to work under Japan's 1910-1945 occupation of Korea, in Seoul, South Korea, March 6, 202 By Soo-hyang Choi SEOUL (Reuters) - The bereaved families of 10 South Koreans who won court cases over being forced to work under Japanese colonial rule have accepted compensation proposed by Seoul as it seeks to mend ties with Tokyo, South Korea's foreign ministry said on Thursday. South Korea announced last month that its companies would compensate people forced to work under Japan's 1910-45 rule, as it pushes to end a spat that has undercut U.S.-led efforts to present a unified front against China and North Korea. Japan has said the matter was settled under a 1965 treaty. Those who have agreed to accept the government plan are bereaved families of 10 deceased victims among 15 in cases where South Korea's Supreme Court ordered Japanese firms to pay reparations in 2018. The families of two deceased victims as well as the only three victims involved in the cases still alive have all rejected the government proposal. "The bereaved families of 10 victims expressed hope that this issue be promptly resolved, and agreed to accept the compensation under the government plan," the foreign ministry said in a statement. South Korea will continue efforts to seek understanding from the victims and their families, the ministry added. The South Korean proposal has been hailed as "groundbreaking" by U.S. President Joe Biden following a deterioration in Japanese-South Korean relations to the lowest point for decades in the wake of the 2018 rulings. The March announcement was followed by South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's visit to Tokyo for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The two leaders agreed to put aside their countries' difficult shared history and work together to counter regional security challenges. (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Editing by Mark Heinrich) A North Korean flag flutters at the propaganda village of Gijungdong in North Korea, in this picture taken near the truce village of Panmunjom inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating the two Koreas, South Korea, July 19, 2022. REUTERS/Kim Hong-J By Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea announced on Friday it had tested a new solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), a development set to "radically promote" its forces, which experts said would facilitate missile launches with little warning. Leader Kim Jong Un guided Thursday's test, and warned it would make enemies "experience a clearer security crisis, and constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror into them by taking fatal and offensive counter-actions until they abandon their senseless thinking and reckless acts", North Korean state media said. Analysts said it was the North's first use of solid propellants in an intermediate-range or intercontinental ballistic missile, a key task to deploying missiles faster during a war. South Korea's defence ministry said North Korea was still developing the weapon, and that it needed more time and effort to master the technology, indicating that Pyongyang might carry out more tests. North Korean state media outlet KCNA released photos of Kim watching the launch, accompanied by his wife, sister and daughter, and the missile covered in camouflage nets on a mobile launcher. A state media video showed the Hwasong-18 missile blasting off from a launch tube, creating a cloud of smoke. The development of the Hwasong-18 will "extensively reform the strategic deterrence components of the DPRK, radically promote the effectiveness of its nuclear counterattack posture and bring about a change in the practicality of its offensive military strategy," KCNA said, using the initials of the country's official name. South Korea and the U.S. air forces staged drills hours after the report, involving American B-52H bombers that joined F-35A, F-15 and F-16 fighter jets, Seoul's defence ministry said. "By deploying U.S. strategic assets with increased frequency and intensity, the two countries will continue demonstrating our strong alliance's will that we will never tolerate any nuclear attack from North Korea," the ministry said in a statement. North Korea has criticised recent U.S.-South Korean joint military exercises as escalating tensions, and has stepped up weapons tests in the past months. Japan also conducted separate air drills with two U.S. B-52 bomber jets on Friday, accompanied by four U.S. F-35 fighters and four Japanese F-15 fighters, Tokyo's defence ministry said. It marked a second consecutive day of a Japan-U.S. joint air mission over the Sea of Japan. Japan asked the United Nations Security Council to convene an emergency meeting on North Korea's ballistic missile launches, top government spokesperson Hirokazu Matsuno told a Friday press conference. GRAPHIC: North Korean ballistic missile tests - https://www.reuters.com/graphics/NORTHKOREA-MISSILES/zgpobnqyjvd/chart.png MORE TESTS? Most of North Korea's largest ballistic missiles use liquid fuel, which requires them to be loaded with propellant at their launch site - a time-consuming and dangerous process. "For any country that operates large-scale, missile based nuclear forces, solid-propellant missiles are an incredibly desirable capability because they don't need to be fuelled immediately prior to use," said Ankit Panda, a senior fellow at the U.S.-based Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. "These capabilities are much more responsive in a time of crisis." North Korea will most likely keep some liquid-fuel systems, complicating the calculations of the U.S. and its allies during a conflict, Panda said. Vann Van Diepen, a former U.S. government weapons expert who now works with the 38 North project, said solid-fuel missiles are easier and safer to operate, and require less logistical support - making them harder to detect and more survivable than liquids. North Korea first displayed what could be a new solid-fuel ICBM during a military parade in February after testing a high-thrust solid-fuel engine in December. Analysts said the U.S. could determine between a solid- or liquid-fuelled launch with early warning satellites that can detect differences in the infrared data produced by various missile types. The latest launch came days after Kim called for strengthening war deterrence in a "more practical and offensive" manner to counter what North Korea called moves of aggression by the United States. The missile, fired from near Pyongyang, flew about 1,000 km (620 miles) before landing in waters east of North Korea, officials said. North Korea said the test posed no threats to its neighbouring countries. A South Korean military official said the missile's maximum altitude was lower than 6,000 km, the apogee of some of last year's record-breaking tests. "North Korea could have opted to focus on collecting data necessary to check its features at different stages than going full speed at the first launch," said Kim Dong-yup, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies. "As it was a test that did not demonstrate its normal flight pattern, North Korea will likely conduct some more tests." (Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi and Ju-min Park in Seoul, David Brunnstrom in Washington and Kantaro Komiya in Tokyo; Additional reporting by Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Leslie Adler, Sandra Maler, Sonali Paul, Gerry Doyle and Raju Gopalakrishnan) Christian worshipers pray during Mass inside St. George Church, also known as the Church of the Ten Lepers, in Burqin, near Jenin, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Mohamad Torokman By Mohamad Torokman BURQIN, West Bank (Reuters) - One of the world's oldest churches, built on top of a cave in the Israeli-occupied West Bank and festooned with golden icons, attracts thousands of Christian pilgrims every year. But the Church of the Ten Lepers' own congregation of Palestinian Christians grows ever smaller. The first church on the site, in the northern West Bank town of Burqin, was built more than 1,600 years ago to commemorate a miracle. Christians believe the cave, which used to serve as a Roman cistern, is where Jesus healed 10 lepers, who were isolating there to prevent the disease from spreading, as he passed by en route to Jerusalem from Nazareth. Early Christians faced persecution and the first prayers at the site were in secret. But in the fourth century, Saint Helena, the mother of the first Roman emperor to embrace Christianity, visited and decided to build a church there, said Father Spiridon Shukha. The Greek Orthodox priest led a recent Friday service at the church before about a dozen worshippers, a congregation dwarfed by the number of visitors to the church, who Burqin's mayor said in 2019 totalled between 200 and 300 per month. While holiday services are held on Sundays, throughout most of the year the dwindling local community gathers for prayer on Fridays, when they are off work, said Father Shukha. Today, only about 70 Palestinian Christians remain in the town of 8,500 people, said Moeen Jabbour, its administrative manager. "In Palestine, we face several difficulties, including (Israeli) occupation and the economic situation... There are no jobs, so (our youth)... move elsewhere," he said. "This is why Christian presence is shrinking in this town." Burqin is not alone, and there are concerns within the Church that some Christian holy sites in Jesus' birthplace could become mere historical monuments. According to Protecting Holy Land Christians, a campaign organised by the Heads of Churches in Jerusalem, the Christian proportion of the population across Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories has dropped to 2% from 11% about a century ago. The campaign says Christians are also being driven out by rising acts of violence and vandalism targeting them. Father Shukha admitted there were challenges, but has faith in his parish's continued survival as part of the local fabric. "We are the children of this land. This is where Jesus lived, not Europe or the United States," he said. "It is true there are few of us here, but we call ourselves the salt of the earth because even a pinch of salt can add a lot of flavour to this town." (Additional reporting and writing by Henriette Chacar; Editing by James Mackenzie and John Stonestreet) FILE PHOTO: Qatari Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani speaks during a joint news conference with Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (not pictured), in Tehran, Iran January 29, 2023. Majid Asgaripour/ DOHA (Reuters) - Qatar's prime minister said on Thursday that the original basis for the 2011 suspension of Syria's membership in the Arab League still stands and he reiterated Doha's stance against normalisation with Syria unless there is a political solution. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani's comments came ahead of Friday's meeting of regional foreign ministers that neighbouring Saudi Arabia called to discuss Syria's return to the Arab League. Saudi Arabia plans to invite Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to the Arab League summit Riyadh is scheduled to host on May 19, sources have told Reuters, a move that reflects a change in the regional approach towards the Syrian conflict. Qatar, which has previously spoken out against efforts by some countries to reestablish relations with Damascus, has not changed its position, Sheikh Mohammed said. "There were reasons for the suspension of Syria from the Arab League and the boycott of the Syrian regime in that time and these reasons still exist," he said in a live interview broadcast on Qatar TV, his first since being named prime minister last month. "The war has stopped but Syrian people are still displaced, there are innocent people in prisons, there are many things." Several Arab countries, including regional heavyweights Egypt and the UAE, have mended ties with Damascus, in contrast to 2011 when many Western and Arab states boycotted Assad over his brutal crackdown on protests - violence that led to a protracted civil war. Hundreds of thousands of people have died in that war, which drew in numerous foreign powers and splintered the country. "We don't want to impose solutions on the Syrian people, the people need to reach them, there must be a political solution for the Syrian crisis," he said. "(Qatar's) individual decision is not to take any step if there is no political development or solution to the crisis." Assad's attendance at next month's Arab League meeting, though largely symbolic, would mark the most significant development in his rehabilitation within the Arab world since Syria's suspension from the 22-state League in 2011. (Reporting by Andrew Mills and Imad Creidi in Doha and Alaa Swilam and Enas Alashray in Cairo; writing by Andrew Mills; Editing by Leslie Adler and Josie Kao) Twitter has laid off more than 6,000 employees, around 80 percent of its workforce since late last year, its CEO Elon Musk said in an interview with the BBC on Tuesday evening, Trend reports citing Xinhua. Twitter's workforce reduction is unmatched on a percentage basis, in comparison with other big tech companies like Google, Amazon, Microsoft and Meta which have cut tens of thousands of employees worldwide. Twitter is facing a host of lawsuits and other legal actions on behalf of former employees over lay-off and benefits issues, according to a report by the San Francisco Chronicle. The company also said in a recent legal filing that "Twitter, Inc. has been merged into X Corp. and no longer exists." According to the legal filing, X Corp. is a privately held corporation. Its parent corporation is X Holdings Corp. FILE PHOTO: Vessels are seen as they await inspection under the Black Sea Grain Initiative, brokered by the United Nations and Turkey, in the southern anchorage of the Bosphorus in Istanbul, Turkey December 11, 2022. REUTERS/Yoruk Isik/File Photo By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia on Thursday said there would be no extension of the UN-brokered Black Sea grain deal beyond May 18 unless the West removed a series of obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertiliser. The Ukraine grain Black Sea export deal was brokered by the United Nations and Turkey in July last year to help alleviate a global food crisis worsened by conflict disrupting exports from two of the world's leading grain suppliers. "Without progress on solving five systemic problems ... there is no need to talk about the further extension of the Black Sea initiative after May 18," the Russian foreign ministry said in a statement. "We note that, despite all the high-sounding statements about global food security and assistance to countries in need, the Black Sea Initiative both served and continues to serve exclusively commercial exports of Kyiv in the interests of Western countries," the ministry said. To help persuade Russia to allow Ukraine to resume its Black Sea grain exports last year, a separate three-year agreement was also struck in July in which the United Nations agreed to help Russia with its food and fertilizer exports. Russia said the two agreements were "interconnected parts of one 'package'", and scolded the UN Secretariat for what it said was a distortion of the facts. U.N. spokesman Stephane Dujarric said "discussions, communications are still going on with the parties" and that U.N. officials were determined to ensure the implementation of both deals. He said in relation to Russia's exports "there's still a lot of critical issues that need to be resolved over payments and other technical issues" that U.N. officials were trying to fix. But he noted that "there's been some concrete results that contribute to larger grain trade volumes, lower freight rates and an increased number of ships that have called at Russian ports for fertilizer and lowering in insurance." "So we've made some progress, but we continue to push to make more," Dujarric said. RUSSIAN DEMANDS Western powers have imposed tough sanctions on Russia over its Feb. 24, 2022, invasion of Ukraine. Its food and fertilizer exports are not sanctioned, but Moscow says restrictions on payments, logistics and insurance are a barrier to shipments. The foreign ministry said Russian Agricultural Bank (Rosselkhozbank) had to be reconnected to the SWIFT payment system, that supplies of agricultural machinery and parts needed to be resumed and that restrictions on insurance and reinsurance needed to be lifted. Other demands include access to ports, the resumption of the Togliatti-Odesa ammonia pipeline that lets Russia pump the chemical to Ukraine's port, and the unblocking of assets and the accounts of Russian companies involved in food and fertiliser exports. "The removal of obstacles to domestic agricultural exports was supposed to take place within the framework of the implementation of the Russia-UN Memorandum," the ministry said. Russia said there had been a failure of the inspection regime of ships carrying grain from Ukraine. "Currently, 28 vessels carrying more than 1 million tons of food are awaiting inspection in the territorial waters of Turkey," the foreign ministry said. It accused UN staff in the Joint Coordination Center of refusing to draw up an inspection schedule. "In turn, an even more difficult situation has developed around the registration of bulk carriers," the ministry said, denying that Russia was responsible for any of the congestion and accusing Ukrainian port officials of accepting bribes to accelerate registration. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge in Moscow and Michelle Nichols at the United NationsEditing by Kirsten Donovan, Peter Graff and Matthew Lewis) South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa looks on as he delivers the opening address at the 5th Investment Conference to showcase opportunities available in the country to local and international companies, in Sandton, South Africa, April 13, 2023. Jairus By Kopano Gumbi and Tannur Anders JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) -South Africa needs to urgently fix energy, transport and security challenges if it is to reverse souring investor sentiment, executives said on Thursday as President Cyril Ramaphosa targets 2 trillion rand ($111 billion) in new investments over the next five years. Executives were speaking at the South African Investment Conference in Johannesburg, launched by Ramaphosa in 2018 as a way to boost economic activity that had been in decline for over a decade in Africa's most advanced but struggling economy. Mismanagement and corruption at state-owned companies, including power utility Eskom and freight logistics group Transnet, have had a knock-on effect on ports and road transport, hitting efficiency and dampening investor appetite. "We are confronted with the consequences of years of underinvestment, mismanagement and corruption in the electricity and rail sectors," Ramaphosa told attendees, promising to work with the private sector to remove investment stumbling blocks. "As I announced in the State of the Nation address in February, we are now setting a new target to mobilise approximately 2 trillion rand in new investments over another five-year period, the president said. Emrie Brown, chief executive of financial services holding company Rand Merchant Bank, told attendees the firm's clients were concerned about the rising cost of production as a result of challenges in the country. "The way we see it for the future of South Africa, international investment is so important and these challenges make it difficult for us to position the potential of South Africa as an attractive investment destination while there is uncertainty on when reforms will be implemented," Brown said. Anglo American CEO Duncan Wanblad said: "There are a few quick wins that we need to achieve to be able to change and turn that negative investor sentiment around." South Africa has experienced its worst power cuts on record, leaving businesses and households in the dark for up to 10 hours daily. The South African Reserve Bank estimates these blackouts have shaved off at least 2 percentage points from growth. Ramaphosa will be looking to make good on his government's reform promises as he gears up to be elected for a second term as president in next year's national elections. In his closing remarks on Thursday, Ramaphosa said the 1.2 trillion rand investment target announced in 2018 was exceeded, as pledges reached 1.51 trillion rand. "The success of this first phase must be a springboard towards a recovered, reconstructed, inclusive new economy," he said to a standing ovation from the delegates. ($1 = 18.0603 rand) (Reporting by Kopano Gumbi, Tannur Anders and Carien du Plessis; Editing by Bhargav Acharya and David Holmes) FILE PHOTO: Chief Executive Officer of Stellantis Carlos Tavares attends the New York International Auto Show, in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., April 5, 2023. REUTERS/David 'Dee' Delgado MILAN (Reuters) - Stellantis has managed to preserve a strong pricing power in North America, its CEO Carlos Tavares told shareholders on Thursday, in contrast with signs of pricing power declining for global automakers, with possible impacts on margins. Electric car maker Tesla earlier this month cut its prices in the United States, the fifth such cut in its largest market since the start of the year. (Reporting by Giulio Piovaccari and Gilles Guillaume, editing by Silvia Aloisi) By Anna Tong and Dan Whitcomb SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -A tech executive was arrested on Thursday for the stabbing murder of Cash App founder Bob Lee in San Francisco, police said, stressing that the suspect knew the victim but declining to discuss a possible motive for the crime. Lee was found stumbling through the streets of San Francisco at around 2:30 a.m. Pacific Time on April 4 bleeding from a stab wound. Lee, 43, later died of his wounds at a hospital. Nima Momeni, the 38-year-old founder of software company Expand IT, was arrested on suspicion of murder in the Bay Area city of Emeryvile, where his company has offices, San Francisco Police Chief William Scott told an afternoon news conference. "We can confirm that Mr. Lee and Mr. Momeni knew each other," Scott said, although he declined to describe the nature of their relationship or why they were together that night. Reuters could not reach Expand IT representatives on Thursday. Lee's murder touched off a furor in San Francisco and elsewhere over crime in the city amid rampant homelessness and public drug use. Among those critics were billionaire SpaceX founder and Twitter owner Elon Musk, who tweeted that "violent crime in SF is horrific" and accused the city of too readily releasing violent offenders from custody. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins during Thursday's news conference hit back at Musk, accusing him of spreading misinformation about the crime. "I must point out that reckless and irresponsible statements like those contained in Mr. Musk's tweet that assume incorrect circumstances about Mr. Lee's death serve to mislead the world in their perceptions of San Francisco and also negatively impact the pursuit of justice for victims of crime," Jenkins said. Momeni was expected to make an initial court appearance in the case on Friday. It was not clear if he had retained an attorney. Block Inc-owned Cash App allows users to transfer money through a mobile application, which the company touts as an alternative to traditional banking services. (Reporting by Anna Tong in San Francisco, Tyler Clifford in New York and Dan Whitcomb in Los Angeles; Editing by Leslie Adler and Alistair Bell) FILE PHOTO: Lebanon's Central Bank Governor Riad Salameh speaks during an interview for Reuters Next conference, in Beirut, Lebanon November 23, 2021. REUTERS/Mohamed Azakir CAIRO (Reuters) - A travel ban on Lebanon's central bank governor Riad Salameh was lifted on Thursday, public prosecutor Ghada Aoun told Reuters, in a move aimed at paving the way for him to attend a hearing in Paris related to a cross-border graft probe. Salameh and his French lawyer Pierre-Olivier Sur did not immediately respond to requests for comment on whether the governor would attend a hearing in Paris set by French prosecutors on May 16. Salameh, who has been at the helm of the central bank for three decades, is being investigated in Lebanon, in France and in at least four other European countries over accusations of stealing hundreds of millions of dollars and laundering some of the proceeds abroad. Salameh denies the accusations, saying he is being made a scapegoat for Lebanon's financial crisis that erupted in 2019. French prosecutors, who have not formally named Salameh as a suspect, have summoned him for a hearing in Paris on May 16, Sur told Reuters last week. The lawyer said it was not clear whether his client would be able to come to the hearing because his travels were restricted as part of Lebanese investigations. Sur told Reuters he may challenge the hearing itself on procedural grounds. (Reporting by Alaa Swilam, Timour Azhari and David Gauthier-Villars; Editing by William Maclean and Mike Harrison) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States arrested Air National Guard employee Jack Teixeira on Thursday in connection with transmission of classified defense information, U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said. "FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident," Garland said at a brief statement at the Justice Department. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch and Katharine Jackson; Editing by Doina Chiacu) U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and Ukraine Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal speak to the press after holding a bilateral meeting at the U.S. Treasury Department Building in Washington, D.C., U.S. April 13, 2023. REUTERS/Ken Cedeno By Andrea Shalal (Reuters) - Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Thursday welcomed the "continuous, ironclad and unprecedented support" of the United States as his country fights Russia's invasion, and underscored Ukraine's commitment to battling corruption. Shmyhal, speaking alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, said it was critically important for Ukraine to begin reconstruction this year, and said Kyiv had identified a priority funding gap of $14 billion needed this year. Yellen, who paid a surprise visit to Kyiv in February, told Shmyhal she had seen "firsthand the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian military and people," recounting a visit to a school damaged by Russian attacks where community members were making trench candles to send to the front lines. She said the United States had stood with Ukraine since the first day of the war, and would continue to back it "for as long as it takes." The United States had disbursed significant economic support since the start of the war and would provide more in coming months, on top of security and humanitarian aid, she said. "As President Zelensky said, this support is not charity it's an investment in democracy and global security," she said, noting that it included safeguards to ensure that the funds were used for the intended purpose. Yellen lauded Ukraine's commitment to meeting reform benchmarks in a new $15.6 billion lending program approved by the International Monetary Fund, which she said marked a significant step toward achieving a sound economic path. Shmyhal said Ukraine had implemented exceptional control measures to account for every dollar in assistance received, and said the country had undertaken more anti-corruption reforms in the past year than during many previous years combined. He also said Ukraine appreciated tough U.S. sanctions imposed against Russia that covered more than 120 companies and entities, including those who facilitated sanctions evasion, and those associated with Russian energy company Rosatom. The World Bank, United Nations, European Commission and Ukraine recently estimated it would cost $411 billion to rebuild Ukraine, a big jump from the earlier estimate of $349 billion. Yellen on Tuesday 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 additional support as needed. (Reporting by Dan Burns and Andrea Shalal; Editing by Paul Simao) FILE PHOTO: Boxes of mifepristone, the first pill given in a medical abortion, are prepared for patients at Women's Reproductive Clinic of New Mexico in Santa Teresa, U.S., January 13, 2023. REUTERS/Evelyn Hockstein/File Photo By Andrew Chung and Brendan Pierson (Reuters) -U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said on Thursday the Justice Department will ask the Supreme Court to intervene to stop restrictions set by a federal judge on the abortion pill mifepristone as President Joe Biden's administration moves to defend access to the drug. The administration will seek emergency relief from the Supreme Court to defend the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's "scientific judgment and protect Americans' access to safe and effective reproductive care," Garland said in a statement. Mifepristone, approved by the FDA in 2000, is used in combination with another drug called misoprostol to perform medication abortion, which accounts for more than half of all U.S. abortions. The FDA is the U.S. agency that signs off on the safety of food products, drugs and medical devices. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late on Wednesday put on hold part of last Friday's order by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, that would have removed the drug from the market by suspending the FDA approval while he hears a lawsuit by anti-abortion groups seeking to ban it. The 5th Circuit, however, declined to block portions of Kacsmaryk's order, reinstating restrictions on the pill's distribution that had been lifted since 2016. In addition to a requirement of three in-person doctor visits to prescribe and dispense the drug, those restrictions include limiting its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, down from the current 10. Kacsmaryk's order was set to take effect at 12 a.m. CDT (0500 GMT) on Saturday, according to the Justice Department. Garland is seeking to have the Supreme Court block Kacsmaryk's order in its entirety. "We are going to continue to fight in the courts," White House spokesperson Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters traveling with Biden in Ireland. "We believe that the law is on our side, and we will prevail." Kacsmaryk's ruling conflicts with a different federal judge's decision last Friday ordering the FDA to maintain access to mifepristone with no new restrictions in 17 Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia, which had sued the Biden administration in an effort to loosen restrictions around the drug. In response to a request for clarification from the administration, U.S. District Judge Thomas Rice in Spokane, Washington affirmed on Thursday that the FDA is forbidden from enforcing any new restrictions in those states, regardless of Kacsmaryk's order. 'THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW' Anti-abortion groups led by the recently formed Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and four anti-abortion doctors sued the FDA in November seeking to pull approval of misoprostol. The Alliance Defending Freedom, the conservative legal group representing the plaintiffs, in a statement on Thursday called the 5th Circuit decision "a significant victory for the doctors we represent, women's health and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law." Removing mifepristone from the market would deal another major setback to U.S. abortion rights on the national level after the Supreme Court in June 2022 overturned the landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that had legalized the procedure nationwide. The Supreme Court has a 6-3 conservative majority. Kacsmaryk found that the FDA exceeded its authority by ignoring "legitimate safety concerns" about mifepristone and relying on "plainly unsound reasoning and studies" when approving it. Health policy and legal experts have said Kacsmaryk's decision, if allowed to stand, would threaten the FDA's power to regulate all drugs nationwide and to act as the ultimate arbiter on drug safety. The 5th Circuit found that the plaintiffs had waited too long to challenge the original 2000 regulatory approval of mifepristone but were likely to succeed in targeting the agency's decisions in recent years expanding access. It said the government's arguments for an emergency stay of the ruling focused on the potential harm of pulling mifepristone from the market entirely but that it was "difficult to argue" that the 2016 changes "were so critical to the public given that the nation operated - and mifepristone was administered to millions of women - without them for 16 years." Major U.S. medical groups, including the American Medical Association and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, have said the judge's ruling is unsupported by science, and that mifepristone's safety has been confirmed by hundreds of studies and more than two decades of experience. The Justice Department has said the challengers have no basis for second-guessing the FDA's scientific judgment and that when used as directed, adverse effects of mifepristone are exceedingly rare "just as they are for many common drugs like ibuprofen." The plaintiffs sought a sympathetic court by suing in Amarillo, where Kacsmaryk is the only federal district judge. Kacsmaryk is a conservative former Christian activist who was appointed to the bench by Republican former President Donald Trump, serving since 2019. The lawsuit is part of an ongoing effort by anti-abortion activists and Republican officials to further limit abortion access following last year's Supreme Court ruling - one that freed states to outlaw the procedure. Since that decision, 12 U.S. states have outright bans in place while many others prohibit abortion after a certain length of pregnancy. For an Explainer on the case and what to expect next see: (Reporting by Brendan Pierson and Andrew Chung in New York; Additional reporting by Steve Holland in Dublin, Ireland, and Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Alexia Garamfalvi, Will Dunham, Bill Berkrot and William Mallard) By David Lawder WASHINGTON (Reuters) - France's development minister said on Thursday she will tell the World Bank's expected next president, Ajay Banga, to maintain the bank's anti-poverty mission while forging ahead with next steps by October in its evolution to fight climate change and other global crises. Chrysoula Zacharopoulou told Reuters in an interview that she wants Banga, the former CEO of Mastercard, to use an international finance summit in Paris to develop ideas and plans for expanding climate finance and harnessing private sector funds. Zacharopoulou, a Greek-born gynecologist and former European Parliament member who was appointed France's Minister of State for Development, Francophonie and International Partnerships 11 months ago, is due to meet with Banga on Friday during World Bank and International Monetary Fund meetings in Washington. "What I am going to tell him - or what I'm going to encourage him - is that he will have our support in his mission to finalize an ambitious reform of the World Bank by Marrakech, using the June summit in Paris like an important step," Zacharopoulou said, referring to the World Bank and International Monetary Fund annual meetings in Morocco in October. "This is the first thing. The second is that we have to continue to fight extreme poverty," she said. "That means the poorest countries and their populations have to remain at the center of the agenda of the World Bank and of all of us." France on June 22-23 is hosting the "Summit for a New Global Financial Pact," which aims to boost crisis financing for vulnerable countries in the Global South. Zacharopoulou said the conference would focus on ways to create innovative new financing resources for climate change, public health, biodiversity and other public goods and to build political momentum for changes beyond a $5 billion annual lending increase adopted this week by World Bank shareholders. DE-RISKING INVESTMENTS Zacharopoulou said that there was a major focus on bringing in private sector funds to scale up climate financing to the vast amounts needed to meet emissions reduction goals. "Public money has a role to play in de-risking investments in the most vulnerable countries. We can use the public money to de-risk but the private sector has to come," she said. Banga was a "good match" for the World Bank job, with strong private sector finance and management experience. Because he was born and educated in India, "He knows well about the challenges of emerging and developing countries." But Banga, who has promised to deliver more lending resources beyond the initial balance sheet changes, will attend the Paris finance summit only a few weeks after he is expected to start in early June. Zacharopoulou said Banga would be able to build on the work of World Bank staff who advanced the bank's initial reform steps in just six months. "Starting from this important moment, he has some momentum to put his signature on it and give his vision," she said. "I think that he will have all of the international community with him." (Reporting by David Lawder; Editing by Andrea Ricci) Andrea Shalal moderates an IMF roundtable on tackling public debt with Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, Director, Strategy, Policy and Review Department IMF, Felix Nkulukusa, Secretary to the Treasury, Zambia, Marco Buti, Head of Cabinet of European Commission and Pi By Jorgelina do Rosario and Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Zambia could lose gains achieved so far from macroeconomic reforms if its ongoing debt restructuring is further delayed, Treasury Secretary Felix Nkulukusa said on Wednesday. The nation defaulted on its overseas debt in 2020 and is working on a restructuring with both bilateral creditors and private bondholders, but talks have been dragging on amid a lack of consensus on how to provide debt relief. "We have an economic programme that is an important element for the reform we are undertaking, but the second component, the restructuring, is delayed," Nkulukusa said, on a public debt panel during the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings this week in Washington. Zambia was the first African country to default during the COVID-19 pandemic and is in talks for $18.6 billion of debt, according to official data at the end of last year. While the nation secured a $1.3 billion loan from the IMF in September, it is still in talks with bilateral creditors such as China and the Paris Club under the Group of 20's Common Framework. Some 60% of low-income countries are in or near debt distress, but the platform set up to help has failed to deliver quick relief. Ghana is also negotiating its debt rework under this platform, while Sri Lanka talks are also dragging since it defaulted a year ago. The next IMF payout to Zambia from the loan is contingent upon its bilateral creditors reaching an agreement on the long-delayed debt restructuring. The country recently completed the first review of the programme, and the next one is expected in about three months. The country's secretary added that the delay signals challenges and tests people's patience with tough policies as "the population starts questioning what the government is doing." Ceyla Pazarbasioglu, director of the IMF's Strategy Policy and Review Department, was more optimistic about Zambia's debt restructuring during the panel. "There is hope for good news next week", she said, without providing any further details. The IMF official said that creditors have asked to share and exchange information "sooner" during debt restructuring talks, and added that the Washington-based lender is willing to do so. "We will definitely do that work with our teams," she said. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal and Jorgelina do Rosario in Washington; writing by Rodrigo Campos, editing by Kirsten Donovan) Hyundai Motor Group has committed to a spend of around KRW24tn ($18.2bn) by 2030 as it seeks to increase production of electric vehicles, Trend reports citing Gulf Business. The group, which also set itself a goal of becoming one of the worlds top three EV makers, plans to boost its annual output of electric cars in Korea to 1.51 million units by end of this decade, or about 40 per cent of estimated global EV production of 3.64 million, according to an e-mailed statement Tuesday. The group includes Hyundai Motor, Kia Corporation, the luxury Genesis brand and parts and service arm Hyundai Mobis. Hyundai said that by 2030, it expects to have 31 EV models across its suite of brands. It added that Kia will build a new plant to manufacture electric purpose-built vehicles in Hwaseong city south of Seoul. Kia is preparing to release a three-row seat electric SUV, the EV9, in Korea later this year while Hyundai plans to introduce the Ioniq 7 in 2024. As filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on File No. 333-240192 File No. 811-23593 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 FORM N-4 REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 PRE-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENT NO. 3 and/or REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 AMENDMENT NO. 9 PLICO Variable Annuity Account S (Exact Name of Registrant) Protective Life Insurance Company (Name of Depositor) 2801 Highway 280 South Birmingham, Alabama 35223 (Address of Depositors Principal Executive Offices) (205) 268-1000 (Depositors Telephone Number, including Area Code) BRANDON J. CAGE, Esquire Protective Life Insurance Company 2801 Highway 280 South Birmingham, Alabama, 35223 (Name and Address of Agent for Services) Copy to: STEPHEN E. ROTH, Esquire THOMAS E. BISSET, Esquire Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP 700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20001-3980 It is proposed that this filing will become effective (check appropriate box): immediately upon filing pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485 on April 27, 2023 pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 485 60 days after filing pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485 on pursuant to paragraph (a)(1) of Rule 485 Title of Securities Being Registered: Interests in a separate account issued through variable annuity contracts. Supplement Dated April 27, 2023 (for Applications signed on or after April 27, 2023) to the Prospectuses dated April 27, 2023 for Schwab Genesis Variable Annuity and Schwab Genesis Advisory Variable Annuity Issued by Protective Life Insurance Company PLICO Variable Annuity Account S This Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement should be read carefully and retained with the Prospectus dated April 27, 2023 for the Schwab Genesis and Schwab Genesis Advisory variable annuity. You may obtain a current Prospectus by calling 1-800-456-6330. This Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement provides the current SecurePay Fee as described in the PROTECTED LIFETIME INCOME BENEFIT-SecurePay Fee section of the Prospectus. It also describes the current Maximum Withdrawal Percentage under the SecurePay living benefit rider as described in the PROTECTED LIFETIME INCOME BENEFIT-Determining the Amount of Your SecurePay Withdrawals section of the Prospectus. This Supplement must be used in conjunction with an effective Schwab Genesis and Schwab Genesis Advisory variable annuity Prospectus. The Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement and rates below are effective until superseded by a subsequent Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement. For applications signed on or after April 27, 2023, and that we receive in Good Order, we will apply the rates in this supplement up until ten calendar days after we issue a new rate sheet supplement. We must also receive at least the minimum initial Purchase Payment ($5,000) within the ten calendar days. No new Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement that supersedes a prior Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement will become effective unless written notice of effectiveness of the new Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement is given at least 10 business days in advance. Before submitting your application for a Schwab Genesis and Schwab Genesis Advisory variable annuity, please obtain a current Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement. To obtain a current Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement: Contact your financial advisor Contact us toll-free at 1-800-456-6330 https://protective.onlineprospectus.net/protective/SchwabGenesisVariableAnnuity/index.html https://protective.onlineprospectus.net/protective/SchwabGenesisAdvisoryVariableAnnuity/index.html Go to www.sec.gov under File Nos. 333-240192 and 333-240102. 1 The current SecurePay Fee applicable to your Contract is as follows: Purchase of SecurePay Life rider at Contract Purchase 1.10% Purchase of SecurePay Life rider under RightTime 1.10% The Maximum Withdrawal Percentage applicable to your Contract will not change for the life of your Contract. MAXIMUM WITHDRAWAL PERCENTAGE Age of (Younger) Covered Person on the Benefit Election Date Withdrawal Percentage - (One Covered Person) Withdrawal Percentage - (Two Covered Persons) At least 59 but less than 61 years old 4.00% 3.50% At least 61 but less than 62 years old 4.25% 3.75% At least 62 but less than 63 years old 4.50% 4.00% At least 63 but less than 64 years old 4.75% 4.25% At least 64 but less than 65 years old 5.00% 4.50% At least 65 but less than 66 years old 5.25% 4.75% At least 66 but less than 67 years old 5.30% 4.80% At least 67 but less than 68 years old 5.35% 4.85% At least 68 but less than 69 years old 5.40% 4.90% At least 69 but less than 70 years old 5.45% 4.95% At least 70 but less than 71 years old 5.50% 5.00% At least 71 but less than 72 years old 5.55% 5.05% At least 72 but less than 73 years old 5.60% 5.10% At least 73 but less than 74 years old 5.65% 5.15% At least 74 but less than 75 years old 5.70% 5.20% At least 75 but less than 76 years old 5.75% 5.25% At least 76 but less than 77 years old 5.80% 5.30% At least 77 but less than 78 years old 5.85% 5.35% At least 78 but less than 79 years old 5.90% 5.40% At least 79 but less than 80 years old 5.95% 5.45% At least 80 but less than 81 years old 6.00% 5.50% At least 81 but less than 82 years old 6.05% 5.55% At least 82 but less than 83 years old 6.10% 5.60% At least 83 but less than 84 years old 6.15% 5.65% At least 84 but less than 85 years old 6.20% 5.70% At least 85 but less than 86 years old 6.25% 5.75% At least 86 but less than 87 years old 6.30% 5.80% At least 87 but less than 88 years old 6.35% 5.85% At least 88 but less than 89 years old 6.40% 5.90% At least 89 but less than 90 years old 6.45% 5.95% At least 90 but less than 91 years old 6.50% 6.00% At least 91 but less than 92 years old 6.55% 6.05% At least 92 but less than 93 years old 6.60% 6.10% At least 93 but less than 94 years old 6.65% 6.15% At least 94 but less than 95 years old 6.70% 6.20% At least 95 or more 6.75% 6.25% If you have any questions regarding this Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement, please contact us toll free at 1-800-456-6330. Please keep this Rate Sheet Prospectus Supplement for future reference. 144182v21B 2 false 0001817186 0001817186 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ReturnOfPurchasePaymentsDeathBenefitMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:SecurePayLifeRiderAtContractPurchaseMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:SecurePayLifeRiderUnderRightTimeOptionMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 vip:RiskOfLossMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 vip:NotShortTermInvestmentRiskMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 vip:InvestmentOptionsRiskMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 vip:InsuranceCompanyRiskMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MortalityAndExpenseRiskChargeMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AdministrationChargeMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AnnualFundExpensesBeforeMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AnnualFundExpensesAfterMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:TaxConsequencesMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ProtectedLifetimeIncomeBenefitRiskMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:CompanyRiskMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:BusinessDisruptionAndCyberSecurityRisksMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PurchasePaymentRiskMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ContractValueDeathBenefitMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PortfolioRebalancingMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:DollarCostAveragingMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AutomaticWithdrawalPlanMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AdditionalTaxMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ABVariableProductsSeriesFundIncMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ABVariableProductsSeriesFundIncOneMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ABVariableProductsSeriesFundIncTwoMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ABVariableProductsSeriesFundIncThreeMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanCenturyInvestmentsVPBalancedFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanCenturyInvestmentsVPDisciplinedCoreValueFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanCenturyInvestmentsVPInternationalFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanCenturyInvestmentsVPUltraFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesAssetAllocationFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesCapitalIncomeBuilderMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesCapitalWorldBondFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesCapitalWorldGrowthAndIncomeFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesGlobalGrowthFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesGlobalSmallCapitalizationFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesGlobalSmallCapitalizationFundOneMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesGrowthIncomeFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesInternationalFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesNewWorldFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesTheBondFundOfAmericaMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesUSGovernmentSecuritiesFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:AmericanFundsInsuranceSeriesWashingtonMutualInvestorsFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:BlackRock6040TargetAllocationETFVIFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:BlackRockGlobalAllocationVIFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:BlackRockInternationalVIFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ClearBridgeVariableDividendStrategyPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ClearBridgeVariableLargeCapGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ClearBridgeVariableMidCapPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ClearBridgeVariableSmallCapGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ColumbiaVariablePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ColumbiaVariablePortfolioOneMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ColumbiaVariablePortfolioTwoMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ColumbiaVariablePortfolioThreeMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ColumbiaVariablePortfolioFourMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ColumbiaVariablePortfolioFiveMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:EmpowerBondIndexFundOneMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPAssetManagerPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPAssetManagerGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPBalancedPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPBondIndexPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPEnergyPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPExtendedMarketIndexPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPFundsManager20PortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPFundsManager60PortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPFundsManager85PortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPGrowthOpportunitiesPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPHealthCarePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPInternationalCapitalAppreciationPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPInternationalIndexPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPInvestmentGradeBondPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPMidCapPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPTargetVolatilityPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPTechnologyPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPTotalMarketIndexPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPUtilitiesPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FidelityVIPValueStrategiesPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FranklinDynaTechVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FranklinIncomeVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FranklinMutualGlobalDiscoveryVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FranklinMutualSharesVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FranklinRisingDividendsVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FranklinSmallCapValueVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FranklinSmallMidCapGrowthVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:FranklinStrategicIncomeVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:GoldmanSachsVITCoreFixedIncomeFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:GoldmanSachsVITMidCapGrowthFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:GoldmanSachsVITMidCapValueFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:GoldmanSachsVITSmallCapEquityInsightsFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:GoldmanSachsVITStrategicGrowthFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:GoldmanSachsVITTrendDrivenAllocationFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIBalancedRiskAllocationFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIComstockFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIConservativeBalancedFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIEquityAndIncomeFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIEQVInternationalEquityFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIGlobalFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIGlobalRealEstateFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIGovernmentSecuritiesFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIGrowthAndIncomeFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIMainStreetFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIMainStreetSmallCapFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:InvescoVIUSGovernmentMoneyPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:JanusHendersonVITBalancedPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:JanusHendersonVITFortyPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:JanusHendersonVITGlobalSustainableEquityPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:JanusHendersonVITGlobalTechnologyAndInnovationPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:JanusHendersonVITOverseasPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:LordAbbettSeriesFundBondDebenturePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:LordAbbettSeriesFundDividendGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:LordAbbettSeriesFundFundamentalEquityPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:LordAbbettSeriesFundGrowthOpportunitiesPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:LordAbbettSeriesFundShortDurationIncomePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITGrowthSeriesMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITIICoreEquityPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITIIInternationalGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITIIInternationalIntrinsicValuePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITIIMassachusettsInvestorsGrowthStockPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITIIResearchInternationalPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITIIIBlendedResearchSmallCapEquityPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITIIIGlobalRealEstatePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITIIIMidCapValuePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITMidCapGrowthSeriesMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITNewDiscoverySeriesMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MFSVITTotalReturnSeriesMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MorganStanleyVIFCorePlusFixedIncomeMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MorganStanleyVIFDiscoveryPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MorganStanleyVIFGlobalFranchisePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MorganStanleyVIFGlobalInfrastructurePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MorganStanleyVIFGlobalStrategistPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:MorganStanleyVIFGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITAllAssetPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITCommodityRealReturnStrategyPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITEmergingMarketsBondPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITGlobalDiversifiedAllocationPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITHighYieldPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITIncomePortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITLongTermUSGovernmentPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITLowDurationPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITRealReturnPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITShortTermPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:PIMCOVITTotalReturnPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ProtectiveLifeDynamicAllocationSeriesMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ProtectiveLifeDynamicAllocationSeriesOneMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:ProtectiveLifeDynamicAllocationSeriesTwoMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:RoyceCapitalSmallCapPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:SchwabGovernmentMoneyMarketPortfolioOneMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:SchwabSP500IndexPortfolio1Member 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:SchwabVITBalancedPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:SchwabVITBalancedWithGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:SchwabVITGrowthPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:TRowePriceAllCapOpportunitiesPortfolio1Member 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:TRowePriceBlueChipGrowthPortfolioIIClassMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:TRowePriceHealthSciencesPortfolioIIClassMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:TRowePriceModerateAllocationPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:TempletonDevelopingMarketsVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:TempletonForeignVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:TempletonGlobalBondVIPFundMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 0001817186 ck0001817186:WesternAssetCorePlusVITPortfolioMember 2023-04-13 2023-04-13 iso4217:USD xbrli:pure PROTECTIVE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY P.O. Box 10648 Birmingham, Alabama 35202-0648 Telephone: 1-800-456-6330 STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION PLICO VARIABLE ANNUITY ACCOUNT S A FLEXIBLE PREMIUM DEFERRED VARIABLE AND FIXED ANNUITY CONTRACT This Statement of Additional Information ("SAI") contains information in addition to the information described in the Prospectus for the individual flexible premium deferred variable and fixed annuity contract (the Contract) offered by Protective Life Insurance Company. This Statement of Additional Information is not a Prospectus. It should be read only in conjunction with the Prospectuses for the Contract and the Funds. That Prospectus provides detailed information concerning the Contracts and the variable investment options that fund the Contracts. Each variable investment option is a subaccount of the Companys PLICO Variable Annuity Account S. Definitions of special terms used in the SAI are found in the Prospectus. The Prospectus for the Contract is dated April 27, 2023. You may obtain a copy of the Prospectus by writing us at P.O. Box 10648, Birmingham, Alabama 35202-0648 or calling us toll free at 1-800-456-6330. THE DATE OF THIS STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS APRIL 27, 2023. 1 STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION TABLE OF CONTENTS Page THE COMPANY 1 SAFEKEEPING OF ACCOUNT ASSETS 1 RECORDS AND REPORTS 1 LEGAL MATTERS 1 EXPERTS 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2 2 THE COMPANY We are Protective Life Insurance Company (the Company, we, our, us and "Protective Life"), a Tennessee corporation. Protective Life is the principal operating subsidiary of Protective Life Corporation (PLC), a U.S. insurance holding company and a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. (Dai-ichi). Dai-ichi is a top 20 global life insurance company. Dai-ichi's stock is traded on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. No other company has any legal responsibility to pay amounts that the Company owes under the Contracts. The Company is solely responsible for paying all amounts owed to you under the Contract. SAFEKEEPING OF ACCOUNT ASSETS Title to the assets of the Variable Account is held by Protective Life. The assets are kept physically segregated and held separate and apart from the Companys General Account assets and from the assets in any other separate account. Records are maintained of all purchases and redemptions of Fund shares held by each of the Sub-Accounts. The officers and employees of Protective Life are covered by an insurance company blanket bond issued in the amount of $50 million dollars. The bond insures against dishonest and fraudulent acts of officers and employees. RECORDS AND REPORTS Protective Life will maintain all records and accounts relating to the Variable Account. As presently required by the 1940 Act and regulations promulgated thereunder, reports containing such information as may be required under the Act or by any other applicable law or regulation will be sent to Owner(s) periodically at the last known address. LEGAL MATTERS Eversheds Sutherland (US) LLP of Washington, D. C. has provided advice on certain matters relating to the federal securities laws. EXPERTS The financial statements of the subaccounts, which comprise PLICO Variable Annuity Account S as of December 31, 2022, and for each of the years or periods presented, have been incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The statutory financial statements and financial statement schedules of Protective Life Insurance Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, have been incorporated by reference in this Statement of Additional Information in reliance upon the report of KPMG LLP, independent registered public accounting firm, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The audit report covering the December 31, 2022 statutory financial statements includes explanatory language that states that the financial statements are prepared by Protective Life Insurance Company using statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Department of Commerce and Insurance of the State of Tennessee, which is a basis of accounting other than U.S. generally accepted accounting principles. Accordingly, the audit report states that the financial statements are not intended to be and, therefore, are not presented fairly in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles and further states that those financial statements are presented fairly, in all material respects, in accordance with statutory accounting practices prescribed or permitted by the Department of Commerce and Insurance of the State of Tennessee. The business address for KPMG LLP is 420 20th Street North, Suite 1800, Birmingham, Alabama 35203. 1 FINANCIAL STATEMENTS The audited statements of assets and liabilities of the subaccounts of PLICO Variable Annuity Account S as of December 31, 2022, and the related statements of operations and of changes in net assets for each of the years or periods presented as well as the Report of the Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm are incorporated into the Statement of Additional Information by reference to the Variable Account's Form N-VPFS, File No. 811-23593, filed with the SEC on April 11, 2023. The audited statutory statements of admitted assets, liabilities and capital and surplus for Protective Life Insurance Company as of December 31, 2022 and 2021, and the related statutory statements of operations, changes in capital and surplus and cash flow for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 2022, as well as the Independent Auditors' Report are incorporated into the Statement of Additional Information by reference to the Variable Account's Form N-VPFS, File No. 811-23593, filed with the SEC on April 11, 2023. Protective Life's statutory financial statements should be considered only as bearing on its ability to meet its obligations under the Contracts. They should not be considered as bearing on the investment performance of the assets held in the Variable Account. 2 (d) (4) Revised Nursing Home Endorsement is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 333-240192), filed with the Commission on July 30, 2020. (d) (5) SecurePay Rider is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 333-240192), filed with the Commission on July 30, 2020. (d) (6) SecurePay Spousal Continuation Rider is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 333-240192), filed with the Commission on July 30, 2020. (d) (7) Qualified Retirement Plan Endorsement is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 333-240192), filed with the Commission on July 30, 2020. (d) (8) Roth IRA Endorsement is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 333-240192), filed with the Commission on July 30, 2020. C-1 (d) (9) Traditional IRA Endorsement is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 333-240192), filed with the Commission on July 30, 2020. (d) (10) Return of Purchase Payments Death Benefit Rider is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 333-240192), filed with the Commission on July 30, 2020. (d) (11) Annuitization Bonus Endorsement is incorporated herein by reference to the Registration Statement on Form N-4 (File No. 333-240192), filed with the Commission on July 30, 2020. C-2 C-3 C-4 C-6 C-7 C-9 Item 28. Directors and Officers of Depositor Name and Principal Business Address* Position and Offices with Depositor Adams, D. Scott Executive Vice President, Corporate Responsibility, Strategy & Innovation Banerjee Choudhury, Shiladitya (Deep) Senior Vice President, and Treasurer Bartlett, Malcolm Lee Senior Vice President, Corporate Tax Bielen, Richard J. Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, President, and Director Black, Lance P. Executive Vice President, Acquisitions and Corporate Development Cox, Kathryn S. Senior Vice President, and President, Protection Division Cramer, Steve Senior Vice President, and Chief Product Officer Creutzmann, Scott E. Senior Vice President, and Chief Compliance Officer Drew, Mark L. Executive Vice President, and Chief Legal Officer Evesque, Wendy L. Executive Vice President, and Chief Human Resources Officer Harrison, Wade V. Executive Vice President, and Chief Retail Officer Herring, Derry W Senior Vice President, and Chief Auditor Karchunas, M. Scott Senior Vice President, and President, Asset Protection Division Kohler, Matthew Senior Vice President, and Chief Information Officer Kurtz, Richard J. Senior Vice President, and Chief Distribution Officer Laeyendecker, Ronald Senior Vice President, Executive Benefit Markets Lawrence, Mary Pat Senior Vice President, Government Affairs Lee, Felicia M. Secretary, Vice President, and Senior Counsel McDonald, Laura Y. Senior Vice President, and Chief Mortgage and Real Estate Officer Passafiume, Philip E. Executive Vice President, and Chief Investment Officer Peeler, Rachelle R. Senior Vice President, and Senior Human Resources Partner Perry, David A. Senior Vice President, and Chief Executive Officer, Concourse Financial Group Pugh, Barbara N. Senior Vice President, and Chief Accounting Officer Radnoti, Francis L. Senior Vice President, Chief Product Officer, and Designated Illustration Actuary Rahman, Pooja T. Senior Vice President, and Chief Risk Officer Ray, Webster M. Senior Vice President, Investments Riebel, Matthew A. Senior Vice President, and Chief Distribution Officer Seurkamp, Aaron C. Senior Vice President, and President, Retirement Division Wagner, James Senior Vice President, and Chief Distribution Officer Wahlheim, Cary T. Senior Vice President, and Senior Counsel Walker, Steven G. Vice Chairman, Finance and Risk, and Director Wells, Paul R. Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, and Director Whitcomb, John Senior Vice President, Retirement Operations and Strategic Planning Williams, Doyle J. Senior Vice President, and Chief Marketing Officer Williams, Lucinda S. Executive Vice President, and Chief Operating Officer * Unless otherwise indicated, principal business address is 2801 Highway 280 South, Birmingham, Alabama 35223 Item 29. Persons Controlled by or Under Common Control With the Depositor or the Registrant. The registrant is a segregated asset account of the Company and is therefore owned and controlled by the Company. All of the Companys outstanding voting common stock is owned by Protective Life Corporation, a subsidiary of Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc. Protective Life Corporation is described more fully in the prospectus included in this registration statement. For more information regarding the company structure of Protective Life Corporation and Dai-ichi Life Holdings, Inc., please refer to the organizational chart incorporated herein by reference to Post-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Form N-4 Registration Statement (File No. 333-261426), filed with the Commission on February 22, 2023. C-10 Item 30. Indemnification Article XI of the By-laws of Protective Life provides, in substance, that any of Protective Lifes directors and officers, who is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any action, suit or proceeding, other than an action by or in the right of Protective Life, by reason of the fact that he is or was an officer or director, shall be indemnified by Protective Life against expenses (including attorneys fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by such person in connection with such claim, action, suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Protective Life and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. If the claim, action or suit is or was by or in the right of Protective Life to procure a judgment in its favor, such person shall be indemnified by Protective Life against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of Protective Life, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to be liable for negligence or misconduct in the performance of his duty to Protective Life unless and only to the extent that the court in which such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in view of all circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such court shall deem proper. To the extent that a director or officer has been successful on the merits or otherwise in defense of any such action, suit or proceeding, or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he shall be indemnified by Protective Life against expenses (including attorneys fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection therewith, not withstanding that he has not been successful on any other claim issue or matter in any such action, suit or proceeding. Unless ordered by a court, indemnification shall be made by Protective Life only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that indemnification of the officer or director is proper in the circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct. Such determination shall be made (a) by the Board of Directors by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of directors who were not parties to, or who have been successful on the merits or otherwise with respect to, such claim action, suit or proceeding, or (b) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable a quorum of disinterested directors so directs, by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (c) by the shareholders. In addition, the executive officers and directors are insured by PLCs Directors and Officers Liability Insurance Policy including Company Reimbursement and are indemnified by a written contract with PLC which supplements such coverage. Insofar as indemnification for liability arising under the Securities Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue. C-11 Item 31. Principal Underwriters (a) Investment Distributors, Inc. (IDI) is the principal underwriter of the Contracts as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940. IDI is also principal underwriter for the Protective Variable Annuity Separate Account, Protective Variable Life Separate Account, Protective COLI VUL, Protective COLI PPVUL, Variable Annuity Separate Account A of Protective Life, PLAIC Variable Annuity Account S, and Protective NY COLI VUL. The principal underwriter, IDI, is also currently distributing units of interest in the following separate accounts: Variable Annuity-1 Series Account, Variable Annuity-1 Series Account of Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of New York, Variable Annuity-2 Series Account, Variable Annuity-2 Series Account [New York], Variable Annuity-3 Series Account, COLI VUL-2 Series Account, COLI VUL-2 Series Account of Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Company of New York, COLI VUL-4 Series Account of Great-West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, Maxim Series Account of Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, Prestige Variable Life Account, Pinnacle Series Account of Great West Life & Annuity Insurance Company, Trillium Variable Annuity Account. (b) The following information is furnished with respect to the officers and directors of Investment Distributors, Inc. Name and Principal Business Address* Position and Offices Position and Offices with Registrant Coffman, Benjamin P. Assistant Financial Officer Senior Director Financial Reporting Creutzmann, Scott E. Director Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer Gilmer, Joseph F. Assistant Financial Officer Senior Analyst Financial Reporting Guerrera, Darren C. Chief Financial Officer Vice President Hicks, Victoria Ann Senior Supervisory Principal Senior Supervisory Principal Johnson, Julena G. Assistant Compliance Officer Director Regulatory Lee, Felicia M. Secretary Secretary, Vice President, and Senior Counsel Lippeatt, Jason H. Supervisory Principal Supervisory Principal McCreless, Kevin L. Chief Compliance Officer Senior Director Regulatory Morsch, Letitia A. Assistant Secretary, and Director Vice President, Head of Retail Retirement Operations Reed, Alisha D. Director Vice President, Head of Marketing Strategy Richards, Megan P. Assistant Secretary Assistant Secretary Tennent, Rayburn Assistant Financial Officer Senior Analyst Financial Reporting Wagner, James President and Director Senior Vice President and Chief Distribution Officer * Unless otherwise indicated, principal business address is 2801 Highway 280 South, Birmingham, Alabama, 35223. (c) The following commissions were received by each principal underwriter, directly or indirectly, from the Registrant during the Registrants last fiscal year: (1) Name of Principal Underwriter (2) Net Underwriting Discounts (3) Compensation on Redemption (4) Brokerage Commissions (5) Other Compensation Investment Distributors, Inc. N/A None N/A N/A Item 32. Location of Accounts and Records All accounts and records required to be maintained by Section 31(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and the rules thereunder are maintained by Protective Life Insurance Company at 2801 Highway 280 South, Birmingham, Alabama 35223. Item 33. Management Services All management contracts are discussed in the Prospectus or Statement of Additional Information. Item 34. Fee Representation Protective Life Insurance Company represents that the fees and charges deducted under the Contract, in the aggregate, are reasonable in relation to the services rendered, the expenses expected to be incurred, and the risks assumed by Protective Life Insurance Company. C-12 C-14 ATTACHMENTS / EXHIBITS EXHIBIT 99.(H)(2)(VI) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(3)(V) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(4)(IV) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(7)(III) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(12)(I) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(13)(II) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(14)(II) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(14)(III) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(15)(IV) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(15)(V) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(19)(III) EXHIBIT 99.(H)(20)(III) EXHIBIT 99.(K)(1) EXHIBIT 99.(L)(1) EXHIBIT 99.(L)(2) XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION SCHEMA XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION DEFINITION LINKBASE XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION LABEL LINKBASE XBRL TAXONOMY EXTENSION PRESENTATION LINKBASE IDEA: R1.htm IDEA: tm239971d1_485bpos_htm.xml IDEA: FilingSummary.xml IDEA: MetaLinks.json DAYTON, Ohio (Tribune News Service) Decades before there was a U.S. Air Force, there was an air force museum, with early airplane parts and other memorabilia on display in a field just north of downtown Dayton. This year, that museum is celebrating its 100th birthday, now a massive complex in suburban Dayton that provides a window into some of this countrys most important moments. Theres the airplane that dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki, ending World War II. The presidential vehicle that transported the body of slain President John F. Kennedy back to Washington, D.C. after he was killed in Dallas. And theres an exact replica of a Wright 1909 Military Flyer, the worlds first military aircraft, manufactured in Dayton. And in between those vehicles airplanes to walk through, giant missiles to gaze up at, cockpits to sit inside and hundreds of inspiring stories of the men and women who put their lives on the line for the rest of us day after day. Its an insightful and thought-provoking place even for those of us who are not overly interested in big aircraft and bigger battles. This place chronicles the history of our nation from the innovation of early flight in the early 1900s through two world wars, the controversies of Vietnam and Iraq, the nuclear arms race, space travel, presidential milestones and more. The museum traces its roots back to 1923, when Army engineers were studying the aviation successes of World War I. They accumulated a collection of engines and other aircraft parts at Daytons McCook Field, home to a small army base. And they decided to open their doors to the public, said Meghan Anderson, curator at the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force. In the 100 years since, that museum has expanded, relocated, shut down and expanded again. It moved to its current location in 1971. Today, the museum is spread across four massive hangars, covering more than a million square feet of exhibit space. More than 300 aircraft are on display, with another nearly 400 in storage or on loan. If youve never been to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force or if its been a while maybe this is the year to make the three-hour drive from Cleveland to Dayton. Its one of Ohios top tourism sites for a reason. And good news its free. Starting with the Wrights Its possible to do it all in one day I did, on a visit last month but you might want to spread it over two days, and take in some additional Wright Brothers sites in Dayton during your stay. The galleries are organized by time period Early Years, World War II, Korea, Southeast Asia, the Cold War, Space and more and can be toured chronologically or by area of interest. Among the dont-miss aircraft: the B-2 Stealth Bomber, with its sleek batwing design and ability to evade radar (Cold War); a space shuttle crew compartment trainer, used to train shuttle astronauts (Space); and the C-141C Hanoi Taxi, which earned its nickname at the end of the Vietnam War, when it airlifted the first American prisoners of war to freedom (Global Reach). Theres the Apollo 15 command module Endeavour, used during the 1971 moon mission with an all-Air Force crew; a massive Titan IVB launch rocket, designed to carry military satellites into space; and the XB-70A Valkyrie, the supersonic nuclear bomber that was developed in the 1960s but never produced. The prototype here is the only one in existence. Also here: The National Aviation Hall of Fame, honoring 250 pioneers of flight, including Orville and Wilbur Wright, the very first inductees, in 1962. The Wrights work is covered in the Early Years gallery, including their flight experiments at nearby Huffman Prairie (now part of Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park). A replica of the worlds first military plane, built in 1909 in Dayton and sold by the Wrights to the Army for $30,000, is on display here. (The original, alas, was donated to the Smithsonian in 1911 and is on display at the National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.) Also of note: A case of items retrieved from Quentin Roosevelt, a World War I pilot with the U.S. Army Air Service and the youngest son of 26th President Theodore Roosevelt. Roosevelt was shot down over Germany during an air combat mission, his grave marked by a cross of two basswood branches, also on display here. And in the World War II gallery The famed Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle, the first heavy bomber to return to the United States after completing 25 missions over Europe. The plane, featured in two films, relocated to Dayton in 2005, where it underwent a 13-year-old restoration process. It has been on display since 2018. A Curtiss P-40E Warhawk, painted as a Flying Tiger, with the aircrafts trademark shark mouth; and a Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero, used in Japanese kamikaze attacks. The Boeing B-29 Bockscar, which dropped the atomic bomb on Nagasaki on Aug. 9, 1945, described as the aircraft that ended World War II. Its displayed next to a replica of Fat Man, the bright-yellow, 10,000-pound nuclear weapon that was dropped. An exhibit inside the Cold War gallery digs deeper into the nuclear arms race, listing the countries that have tested nuclear weapons in the years since World War II (eight, if youre counting: the U.S., Soviet Union, United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan and North Korea). On display here: a mangled Lockheed XF-90, which was used to test how nuclear explosions in the Nevada desert would affect parked aircraft. The answer: not well. As I wandered the Cold War gallery, I was struck by the irony of some of the names of the aircraft and missiles displayed here, including Peacekeeper intercontinental ballistic missiles, developed in the 1980s; and the massive Convair B-36J Peacemaker aircraft, built in the late 1940s and 1950s, capable of carrying 86,000 pounds of nuclear bombs. Did these weapons keep the peace or escalate a never-ending game of chicken? Given current world events, Im not sure the answer is clear. Other exhibits, too, go beyond the aircraft to discuss the people and the politics of the times. Dont miss the exhibit on the Tuskegee Airmen, the group of Black military aviators who trained at Tuskegee Army Air Field in Alabama in the early 1940s. Their success in World War II ultimately led President Truman to desegregate the U.S. Armed Forces in 1948. It would take longer for women to earn their place as Air Force pilots. In 1930, the chief of the U.S. Army Air Corps argued that women were too high-strung to become pilots, according to an exhibit in the World War II gallery. Twelve years later, during World War II, the Army created the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP), a civilian group that tested aircraft and trained flyers. But it was disbanded at the end of the war. It wasnt until 1975 that the Air Force allowed women to become pilots. Even then, some participants werent sure their success was part of the plan. I didnt feel like they wanted to learn how to best train women pilots as much as have an excuse to terminate the test program, said Major Carol Scherer, whose Air Force jumpsuit is on display at the museum. The human toll of war is told through the story of Air Force Lt. Lance Sijan, a prisoner of war who was shot down over Laos in November 1967 and captured 46 days later. Sijan, who died in captivity, was the first graduate of the U.S. Air Force Academy to receive the Medal of Honor. Re-created prison cells depict dire conditions at Hoa Lo Prison, better known as the Hanoi Hilton, the notorious facility in Vietnam, where prisoners sometimes communicated using a series of taps through the walls. Its not all so grim. A new exhibit explores the many Air Force non-combat missions, including global firefighting, disease control, natural disasters and search and rescue. The Air Force even helped relocate hundreds of Adelie and emperor penguins from Antarctica to the United States for research and study. After World War II, the Air Force engaged in what was perhaps its best-known humanitarian mission the Berlin Airlift, when they provided food and other supplies to isolated residents in West Berlin. The mission is highlighted through a series of life-sized dioramas set up between the World War II and Cold War galleries. Presidential aircraft When President John F. Kennedy traveled to Berlin in June 1963 to make his famous Ich bin ein Berliner (I am a Berliner) speech, he flew aboard a retrofitted Boeing 707 dubbed SAM 26000, better known as Air Force One. Months later, the same aircraft would carry Kennedys body back to Washington, D.C., from Dallas. Visitors can walk through the plane to see where Lyndon Johnson took the oath of office shortly after Kennedys death and where the seats were removed to accommodate Kennedys body, as first lady Jacqueline Kennedy did not want the casket in cargo. Its one of 10 presidential aircraft on display within the museum, and one of four that visitors can walk through, perusing the relatively spacious accommodations alongside what must have then been state-of-the-art technology (but seems archaic now). Inside the Douglas VC-54C Skymaster, dubbed Sacred Cow, used by presidents Franklin Roosevelt and Harry Truman: a conference room with large desk and bulletproof window, a fold-down bed, an electric refrigerator and a battery-powered elevator that allowed Roosevelt to discreetly board the aircraft in his wheelchair. In 1947, Truman was inside the aircraft when he signed the National Security Act of 1947, which, among other things, finally established the U.S. Air Force as an independent branch of the military. The air force museum, of course, had been established much earlier. 2023 Advance Local Media LLC. Visit cleveland.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. DURYEA, Pa. (Tribune News Service) Specialty glass inventor Schott was awarded a $2.7 million contract to supply infrared glass for U.S. Army air defense systems, U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-8, Moosic, announced Wednesday at the facility. Schott's recent order supplies infrared glass for launch tube windows, a critical component of air defense systems to the U.S. Army and its Stinger missile program, said Cartwright, who helped secure the contract. Cartwright announced the contract on what he said was the 413th day since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine. For more than a year, he said Ukrainian air defenses reinforced by Western weaponry have kept Russian fighter planes at bay. Because of these efforts, he said Ukrainians have been able to face the onslaught of this "evil, unprovoked aggression on their lives, their homes and their country." "Today's announcement is good news for Ukraine and bad news for the criminal Vladimir Putin," Cartwright said. "We're going to be able to deliver even more Stinger missiles to Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as we stand in solidarity with Ukraine and its people." Schott's recent order is a result of Congressional funding to the U.S. Army. It adds to the company's existing defense contract with Raytheon Technologies, one of the largest aerospace and defense manufacturers in the world. "Its Stinger missiles are a lightweight, self-contained air defense system that could be rapidly deployed by ground troops," Cartwright said. "It has supersonic speed, agility and a highly accurate guidance system and that has given Ukrainians an operational edge against Russian cruise missiles and all classes of Russian aircraft attacking their country." Schott officials said they are already producing launch tube window parts for an existing order and can now extend production to further support employment at its Duryea facility. The Duryea facility employs about 150 people and job opportunities are available, said Schott plant manager Vince Rovinski. In addition to manufacturing specialty glass to support the U.S. Department of Defense, Rovinski said the Duryea facility produces more than 120 different types of optical glass. Steve Sokach, Schott's director of sales, said the Duryea facility also is home of Schott's U.S. Innovation and Technology Hub where 22 scientists and engineers work to develop the "next generation of materials that will change the world." "At Schott, we take great pride in our role in supporting the U.S. government and its defense contractors," Sokach said. "We help to advance aeropsace, avionics and defense initiatives." Sokach, one of the Schott officials to lead a tour of the Duryea facility on Wednesday, said the infrared glass being manufactured for launch tube windows has unique properties. "It's very durable," he said. "It transmits multiple wavelengths that will allow the guidance system in the device to select the target from a defensive posture, identify it and lock on for target acquisition and aiming purposes." Schott's glass ceramic Zerodur has been used in space telescopes for more than 50 years as well as moon landings including the first moon mission in 1969, Sokach said, When American astronaut Neil Armstrong became the first man to walk on the moon, Schott's optical glass was used in the lenses of TV cameras. Schott also has supplied inverters for night vision goggles for more than 20 years, he said. "This site was established in 1969 by Schott and we're still thriving today," Sokach said. "Today, we celebrate a new chapter in support of defense operations." (c)2023 The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) Visit The Citizens' Voice at citizensvoice.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. SCRANTON, Pa. (Tribune News Service) The Scranton Army Ammunition Plant machinery rumbles, hums, sparks and sprays as it churns out a major weapon of war. Just a short walk from Scranton's downtown, the plant produces more than 11,000 pressure-tested, thoroughly inspected, 155 millimeter shells a month, and its officials hope to eventually produce even more. About 300 people work at the plant. On Wednesday, the U.S. Army showed off its capabilities. With the United States supplying Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion, the need for the howitzer-fired 155mm keeps growing. The Army plans to spend $243 million over the next few years to modernize the plant and produce even more shells monthly. Synchronized spray-paint guns coat the shiny, silvery steel shells in the Army's favored drab green. Each shell's structure is chemically altered to blow apart in nickel- and dime-sized pieces. "Maybe quarter-sized," said Richard Hansen, a Navy veteran and the plant commander's official representative who led Wednesday's tour. "These are anti-personnel rounds." In other words, they kill enemy soldiers. War is never pretty, and the hulking U.S. Army plant's nine buildings aren't either. In four buildings totaling 495,000 square feet, Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad workmen once produced and repaired locomotives during the first half of the 20th century. In 1951, the Army paid $2.2 million for it, and started military production. Now, its contracted operator, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, produces and stores shells here until their shipment to Iowa where robots safely install explosives amid thousands of empty acres. "If we were to LAP (load, assemble and pack explosives) here, and we had a mishap, we'd probably take some of downtown with us and we don't want that," Hansen said. The plant sells scrapped shells and trimmings to recyclers. It also collects rain for manufacturing processes up to 62,000 gallons of water from an inch of rain, Hansen said. As Navy veteran Hansen led the tour, Army Joint Munitions Command spokeswoman Justine Barati herded participants to the right places for the best views. Now and then, a human-operated forklift hauling massive boxes of metal scraps or headed for its next job rolled through. "If you don't have a camera, step back so the cameras can get in," Barati said at one stop where space was tight. The shells start as solid, long cylinders of steel, shipped to the plant 20 tons at a time on trucks, 200 tons per railroad car. An overhead crane with a magnet lugs them into position where a machine slices them into 14-inch, 115-pound bites. A massive robot resembling a Transformers toy, its inner workings shielded by heat-resistant metal, lifts the bites into a furnace. The furnace softens the steel, turning it a bright orange, then the robot gathers each piece individually into other machines that stretch the molten metal to 30 inches and poke the holes that create tubes. "That robot is working in 2,000-degree heat all day long," Hansen said. Conveyors move the pieces to a machine that shapes a shell end to a smoothed nose, then another that threads inside the nose so a fuse can be screwed in once explosives are inside. Another machine ultrasonically tests for defects. Still another threads the bottom of the outer shell so the howitzer mechanism can efficiently grab it before firing. Inspectors check each step. Painted red "X's" dot shells that fail quality tests. Sky blue and orange paint means a shell moves on to the next step. No shell heads for Iowa until the Letterkenny Army Depot in Franklin County tests a representative sample of each batch, Hansen said. A second furnace along the way heats each shell to more than 1,500 degrees to refine its deadly composition and add "the ability to do what it's designed to do," Hansen said. "It's freeing up the mechanical properties in that steel, so that when we go to quench at the other end, we're kind of freeze-drying those mechanical properties in place," he said. "The only goal that we have here at the end of the day is ensuring that when this thing is fired, it does what it's supposed to do." (c)2023 The Citizens' Voice (Wilkes-Barre, Pa.) Visit The Citizens' Voice at citizensvoice.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. FREDERICK, Md. (Tribune News Service) Two decades ago, Vernice Armour became the first Black woman to serve as a combat pilot in the U.S. military. She served two tours in Iraq, piloting an attack helicopter above the desert to protect her fellow Marines on the ground. But now, Armour goes by FlyGirl, and she's taken off on a far different adventure: traveling the country as a speaker and consultant. On April 20, she'll be at the Weinberg Center for the Arts to cap off the Frederick Speaker Series' 10th-anniversary season. Armour's speaking tour keeps her on a tight schedule. She spoke to 72 Hours last month from an airport terminal, sharing her philosophy on goal-setting and what she loves about her new career. How long have you been traveling the U.S. as a motivational speaker? I don't consider myself a motivational speaker more inspirational leadership, if you will. I know it sounds like a small thing and I'm jumping into it already but motivation is the outside, and inspiration comes from the inside out. It's kind of the difference between coffee and a shower. Inspiration is that internal fire. I have been speaking now for about 16 years. Can you tell me about where the name "FlyGirl" came from? Did you come up with it, or did someone come up with it for you? I was at an event for young girls in STEM in Chicago. It was an Army Air Guard base, and I went into the flight equipment room, just to say hi. And there were these patches on the equipment table that had "FlyGirl" on them. And I said, "What?! Can I have one?" And they said, "Absolutely." People started calling me FlyGirl when they saw it on my patch. It was cool. And at a certain point, when I did the branding for my company, I made FlyGirl a part of it because people were already calling me that. So it worked. My call sign in the military was not FlyGirl. It was "Junk," for "junk in the trunk" [laughs]. Different time. How long did you spend in the military? I spent five years in the Army Reserves and 14 years on active duty. Fourteen years of total service. And now, with these speaking engagements, does your message change from place to place depending on what you're thinking and feeling? Or do you deliver the same message in each city? Give me a sense of what you hope people take away from hearing about you and your experience. I tailor it for each organization's unique challenges and opportunities and for what's happening. So today, for instance, I spoke to a financial institution that's been around for over 200 years. I talked about the uncertainty of these economic times, the developments in the banking industry in the last two weeks, and I took what they're going through, and what other financial institutions across the financial industry are going through, and wrapped it around my leadership principles. The talk that I give to a financial institution isn't going to be the same talk that I'm going to give to the Truckers of America or the National Accounting Association. What do you enjoy most about speaking to so many very different audiences? What I enjoy most is when someone comes up to me afterwards and says, "You don't know this, but I had been considering suicide, and now I know that I can create a difference in my life." And they don't do it. Or someone who was going to quit their job, and they tell me, "You know, I'd given up, but you gave me insight on how I can create a breakthrough in my life." I love really helping people not just to see that there's another way but actually inspiring them to go for that other way, to not be afraid to go for their goal, their vision, their dream. I've had people send me a picture of them graduating with their cap and gown three years after one of my talks, because they had been inspired to go back to school. When you were starting out, did anyone do something similar for you? Change your outlook or inspire you? I'm not sure if I'd say anyone changed my outlook. Of course, there was the Black woman I saw when I was a young girl {span} s{/span}he was in an Army flight suit, and I was like, "Oh, wow, I never thought of that." I never forgot about seeing her. But when I was a kid, the philosophy of my family had a profound impact. My dad always talked about how thoughts become things and things become outcomes. On your website, you talk about your identities as a Black woman, a gay woman and a single mom. How do those identities inform what you bring to audiences? I can easily see how I am the epitome of intersectionality. I can connect with Black audience members, LGBT audience members, mothers, women, veterans. I happen to be a part of quite a few different communities, so I'm able to lend a perspective that will resonate with people in that community, just by virtue of who I am. The No. 1 thing I want people to do is be unafraid of making gutsy moves. That means they know it's right in their gut, but it takes guts to do it. You've got to take action. That's the whole thing. It's not about gutsy thoughts. It's about gutsy moves. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. (c)2023 The Frederick News-Post (Frederick, Md.) Visit The Frederick News-Post Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) MilSpouseFest will return next week to Hampton Roads for the fifth time, connecting spouses with resources designed to address the challenges military families face. MilSpouseFest will host a conference Tuesday at Lesner Inn in Virginia Beach. The day program will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. followed by an evening program from 5:30 to 9 p.m. The conference will connect attendees with resources for child care, resume building, military family support, veteran services and mental health counseling services. Representatives from Operation Childcare, Ohana Homefront Foundation, the Elizabeth Dole Foundation, the Armed Services YMCA of Hampton Roads and more plan to attend. The goal of MSF is to empower military spouses and families by providing them with information, resources, and the community support they need in their daily lives, said Danya Devine, a military spouse and director of MilSpouseFest. Active duty families relocate every two to three years, picking up their lives and settling into new communities, all while juggling the stress of military life. Every time you PCS (permanent change of station) to a new duty station, you start all over essentially and need resources everything from a dentist to a hairdresser to childcare. But if you come to an event like MilSpouseFest, you might get a whole bunch of needs met and make some friends, Devine said. This year, military spouse and comedian Ashley Gutermuth is the emcee and headliner. Gutermuth is a stand-up comedian who went viral on TikTok in recent years for her videos poking fun at military life. A military spouse for more than 27 years, Devine said she once shied away from similar opportunities. I thought Im not going to be that spouse. I am going to go to work and do my own thing. But then I was like wait a minute I need that. I need that resource or that human connection, Devine said. 2023 The Virginian-Pilot. Visit pilotonline.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. The two hours my 12-year-old son and I recently spent marveling at the wingspan of a vulture soaring overhead, laughing at playful monkeys and hand-feeding deer and goats was an ideal way to make the most of a sunny spring day in southwestern Germany. Those experiences were among the highlights of our trip to Freisen Nature Wildlife Park, a rambling menagerie in the German state of Saarland about 15 minutes from the Armys garrison in Baumholder and less than 40 minutes by car from Kaiserslautern. It was like going to the zoo, but even better, since theres plenty of opportunity to interact with the animals, many of whom are freely roaming around the 62.5-acre park. Animal food pellets in brown paper bags are for sale at the admissions kiosk for 1.50 euros each. Id recommend buying a bag or two for close encounters with the hungry critters around the parks approximately 1.2-mile circular walking path. My son fed the Valais Blackneck mountain goats from Switzerland, their shaggy fur divided about mid-belly between black and white. The most fun was giving handouts to the free-roaming red, fallow and sika deer. Many kept a safe distance from the human onlookers, but a few hovered around the trail and ate from the palms of little hands. One feisty deer ripped open my sons food bag, spilling pellets that would soon be eaten from the ground. We arrived in time for the daily 3:30 p.m. flight show (on weekends and holidays, theres a second one at 11 a.m.), where birds of prey swoop inches from spectators heads in between two falconers for food rewards. The action was much tamer than a similar raptor show we attended six years ago at Potzberg Wildpark near Ramstein Air Base. The falconer there tossed dead baby chicks that were snagged midair by outstretched talons and ripped to shreds in a matter of seconds. Here, the falconers gave the birds a small treat after they alighted on their arm or a wooden perch and there were no downy feathers involved. The show we saw included a vulture and a bald eagle. The birds followed the falconers lead and returned to their enclosures after stretching out their wings during a few minutes of freedom. However, the raptors dont always obey. One evening last spring, a young vulture named Lazy Socke set sail, according to a park Facebook post from May, asking people to call the park if they saw a dark brown bird with a long neck or heard a bell. The vulture returned the next morning during a flight show, the park reported. Our show ended with a falconer holding a Eurasian eagle-owl on his arm as children petted it and parents took photos. While we were happy to catch the flight show, we missed the raccoon and Barbary ape feedings, held daily around 2 and 2:30 p.m., respectively. The monkeys, however, were still fun to watch in their enclosure. They wrestled, chattered their teeth as if they were laughing and groomed one another. They apparently didnt get enough to eat, because they quickly reached their hands through the small gap in the fence to accept food pellets from people. Other animals we saw along the way included peacocks, geese, chickens, kangaroos, emus, foxes, llamas, raccoon dogs and two very pregnant donkeys. We saw information boards with photos of adorable pot-bellied pigs, but the park says on its website it had to give up the pigs due to African swine fever. Moose are also regular residents, but theyre staying at a partner park due to renovations on their enclosure. We ended our walk around the park with some ice cream at the snack bar. You can also get warm food and drinks and theres a small gift shop. My son barely remembered our visit to Potzberg when he was six, despite the violent raptor show, but I think hell remember this visit. He even agreed that the animal encounters were much more fun than being at home playing video games. Directions: From Kaiserslautern, take A62 direction Trier, exit at Freisen, then continue 1.5 miles to Rueckweiler. From the Freisen exit, follow he signs posted for the wildlife park. The address: Naturwildpark Freisen Hermbacherhof 66629 Freisen. Times: From March 1 to Nov. 6, open at 9 a.m.; last entry at 5:30 p.m., park closes at 7 p.m. From Nov. 7 to the end of February, park opens at 10 a.m.; last entry at 4:30 p.m., park closes at 5 p.m. Raptor show daily at 3:30 p.m.; on weekends and holidays a second show is at 11 a.m. Raccoon feeding daily at 2 p.m. and Barbary ape feeding at 2:30 p.m., daily. Cost: Adults 11 euros, children 3 to 12 years, 6.50 euros; food pellets for animals cost 1.50 euros. Dogs 1 euro, must be on leash. Annual passes available. Credit cards are accepted. Food: Food and drinks available at small snack bar. Information: Online: natur-wildpark-freisen.de; Phone: +49 (0) 170-7421800 KHARTOUM, Sudan Sudan's military warned Thursday of potential clashes with the country's powerful paramilitary force, which it said had deployed troops in the capital of Khartoum and other areas without the army's consent. Tensions between the military and the paramilitary, known as Rapid Support Forces or RSF, have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the country's democratic transition. In a statement, the military said the buildup of the RSF in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country was done without "the approval of, or coordination with" the armed forces' leadership and presents a clear "violation of the law." The paramilitary recently deployed troops near the northern Sudanese town of Merowe. Also, videos circulating on social media Thursday show what appear to be RSF-armed vehicles being transported into Khartoum, further to the south. The latest tensions between the army and the paramilitary stem from a disagreement over how the RSF should be integrated into the military and what authority should oversee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudan's unsigned transition agreement. The army-RSF rivalry, dates back to the rule of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019. Under al-Bashir, the paramilitary force, led by powerful Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, grew out of former militias known as the Janjaweed that carried out a brutal crackdown in Sudan's Darfur region during the decades of conflict there. Although the army and the RSF together carried out a coup in October 2021 that upended Sudan's transition to democracy, friction between them became increasingly visible in recent months, with conflicting public statements, heavy military presence in Khartoum and parallel foreign trips by military and RSF leaders. The RSF said Wednesday that its presence in northern Sudan and elsewhere is aimed at "achieving security and stability and fighting human trafficking and illegal migration." The wealthy paramilitary force is estimated to have tens of thousands of fighters. According to Kholood Khair, founder and director of Confluence Advisory, a think tank in Khartoum, tensions between the army and the RSF are at an all-time high and Thursday's military's statement just fell "short of accusing the RSF of committing an act of rebellion." The escalation has raised concerns of new fighting in a country known for internal armed conflicts. Many took to social media to express their concerns. Sudan's National Umma Party one of the country's largest political groups called for restraint and urged "all political forces" against escalating the situation. The party also called an emergency meeting Thursday morning with military and RSF representatives and senior political figures. No details immediately emerged following the meeting. A joint statement Thursday by envoys to Sudan from France, Germany, Norway, Britain, the United States and the European Union said they were "deeply concerned" about the recent escalation. It called on the military and the RSF to resolve the "outstanding issues" on security and establish a "unified, professional military accountable to a civilian government." In response to the escalation, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum advised American citizens on Thursday against travelling to northern Sudan. Also, U.S. government staff have been prohibited from venturing beyond the capital's metropolitan area until next Thursday, it said. The 2021 coup removed a Western-backed, power-sharing administration and dashed Sudanese aspirations for democratic rule after three decades of autocracy and repression under al-Bashir. A months-long popular uprising forced the military's overthrow of al-Bashir in April 2019. Since then, the former president, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide in the Darfur conflict, has been imprisoned in Khartoum. (Tribune News Service) The surprising offer from the Kremlin first appeared in a March 2021 tweet. Haiti, the Russian Federations foreign ministrys account said, was entering a new period of political instability and the largest ever social and economic crisis. Russia is ready to help Haitians restore political stability, maintain internal security and train personnel, the tweet emphasized. Three months later, Haitian President Jovenel Moise welcomed the Russian Federations newest and third ambassador accredited to Haiti, Sergey Melik-Bagdasarov. In a June 2, announcement on Twitter, Moise said the two discussed the prospects for strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries. A month later, Moise was dead, shot 12 times in his private bedroom in the hills above Port-au-Prince after a group of Haitian Americans, Haitian nationals and former Colombian soldiers failed to kidnap him two weeks earlier when he returned from an overseas trip to Turkey, a visit whose purpose remains shrouded in secrecy. While Moises brutal assassination exacerbated Haitis many problems, it has also plunged the country into even deeper despair with growing lawlessness. The unchecked actions of kidnapping gangs seeking greater control of the Haitian territory not only has the country reeling under unprecedented levels of violence and kidnappings, it has an increasing number of Haitians now desperately looking for help and allies beyond their borders. Russia was already trying to use its influence even before Moises July 7, 2021 death. But with the United States distracted by the war in Ukraine and floundering in its attempts to stem the Haitian crisis, Moscow now appears poised to step up its efforts. A trove of recently released secret U.S. intelligence documents revealed that Russian President Vladimir Putins private mercenaries, the Wagner Group, has set its sights on expanding its footprint into Haiti, right under the United States nose. While U.S. officials are privately questioning whether Wagner has the bandwidth to deploy any manpower in Haiti, given its losses in Ukraine and commitments abroad, Haiti watchers say they should nevertheless be concerned. A member of the United Nation Security Council, Russia, which took over the presidency this month, has already demonstrated that it doesnt miss an opportunity to use the deteriorating security and humanitarian crisis in Haiti to criticize the United States or the international community over their failed policies. The Russians, wherever they are, are going to take advantage of whatever perceived weaknesses they see and Haiti is a perceived weakness, said Luis Moreno, a former acting U.S. ambassador in Haiti. Putin is growing increasingly desperate and Im sure he sees an opportunity here to give us a hard time. Im sure he will. Last fall, Russia joined other U.N. members in unanimously agreeing to impose targeted arms embargo, travel bans and asset freezes on individuals in Haiti found to be threatening the countrys security and stability. But two months after the approval of the first U.N. sanctions regime for Haiti, Russia requested a meeting on Haiti where its U.N. ambassador went after the U.S. and Canada. Vassily Nebenzia accused Canada and the United States of utilizing unilateral sanctions against unwanted political figures in Haiti to clear the field by targeting certain political and business figures. Both Canada and the U.S. have been imposing financial sanctions against Haitians, whom they alleged are supporting gangs or involved in corruption. Blaming protracted external political engineering largely for Haitis chronic crisis of statehood, socioeconomic collapse and decomposition of legal institutions, he hinted at the upcoming uphill battle the U.S. and its supporters may face in trying to get support for a peacekeeping force to Haiti. After failing to get Canada to agree to lead a non-U.N. multilateral rapid force to Haiti, Biden administration officials last month told the Miami Herald/McClatchy newspapers that the U.S.s focus had shifted toward getting a U.N. peacekeeping mission. We do have doubts that the option with deployment of an international force may change the situation, Nebenzia said. According to the leaked documents, Wagner, which is accused of meddling and destabilizing countries in Africa by the U.S. Treasury Department, was planning on discreetly sending emissaries to Haiti to meet with the government about a private contract to help fight gangs. The time frame of the intelligence report was February, the same month that, according to another document, Wagner personnel traveled to Turkey to purchase weapons and equipment for their forces in Mali and Ukraine. No discussions with Wagner and Haitian government A top Haitian government official told the Herald that there has been no discussion between any representative of Wagner and Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who has been seeking the assistance of the international community for the deployment of a specialized armed force. But the source, noting that Henry has no interest in using mercenaries, acknowledged that it doesnt mean that Russian emissaries may not have been in touch with others in Haiti. Some Haiti observers are increasingly asking whether using private contractors an idea Moise was exploring before his death as a solution to the gang crisis could be an answer, while others are looking to new allies like Russia Moreno said he doesnt see Haitis embattled government working with Wagner, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department and is led by Yevgeny Prigozhin, who is accused of stacking his company with convicted criminals and whom U.S. officials have characterized as a Putin crony. Any slim lifeline they have to the Americans and the Canadians and the whole NATO would completely go up in smoke, Moreno said of Henrys government. It would be a disaster for Wagner in many respects and it would be even worse for the Haitian people because these guys are brutal terrorists, internationally recognized criminals. It would be ridiculous. Nevertheless, Russia is finding support in Haiti despite its ongoing unprovoked war against Ukraine, which has been condemned by the international community as an illegal invasion. In February, Haitian opposition leader Sen. Moise Jean-Charles, known for leading protests with waving Russian flags, announced that he was on his way to Russia in hopes of forging stronger ties. Days later, the former senator announced that he had landed in St. Petersburg, the visit coinciding with the commemoration of the first anniversary of the invasion of Ukraine by the Kremlin on Feb. 24, 2022. According to surveys conducted by Premise Data, Inc., Haitians are losing patience with the traditional international community over intervening in Haiti and many are expressing a preference that any such intervention be led by Russia. The findings are the results of six surveys conducted between February and March, in which 2,610 responses were gathered, some of which included video, the company said. A comparison of the data collected in February compared to March, where the U.N. reported that 208 people had been killed in gang-related violence during the first two weeks, showed that while there was still strong support for a Canada-led military intervention in Haiti, 41% of respondents did not believe its deployment of Royal Canadian Naval ships off the coast of Haiti was effective compared to 26% who felt the same about its deployment of long-range military flights over Port-au-Prince. With Haitians saying they had more trust in international action than domestic efforts, Russia was preferred by 44% of those surveyed, compared to the United States, which was at 19%. Canada had dropped from 23% to 12%. With their politicians discredited and security deteriorating, Haitians are looking to the international community for solutions, the report said. While they wait for the gradualist programmes offered by Ottawa and Washington to bear fruit, frustration is building, creating a potential for an alternative ally to fill the vacuum. Contacted by the Herald, Melik-Bagdasarov, who is based in Venezuela, directed inquiries to the embassys page. While his meeting with Moise before the presidents death raised eyebrows, relations between Haiti and Russia were formalized back in the mid 1990s, when the outgoing government of the late President Rene Preval decided to establish diplomatic ties. The first interactions between the two nations date back to 1821, less than two decades after Haiti declared its independence from France. In a bid to thwart any attack by France, Haiti President Jean Pierre Boyer, according to the historian Louis E. Elie, employed a French general, Jacques Boye, as an intermediary to present a trade treaty to the Russian government on behalf of Haiti. Those relations lay dormant for decades, but through the years there were Russians and Ukrainians involved in Haiti, investing in casinos and other industries while a small community of Haitians, consisting mostly of students, sprouted up in Moscow. It wasnt until the Moise administration that the relations between the two countries came to the forefront, with Haiti announcing plans for visa-free travel between the two countries and foes of Moise flying Russian flags at anti-government demonstrations. Similar flags were seen flying last fall when Haitians rallied on the streets against Henry after he announced the end of fuel subsidies and fuel prices rose. Evan Ellis, a Russian expert and research professor of Latin American studies at the U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute, said while he doesnt believe that Russia has the resources at the moment to expand its footprint beyond the war in Ukraine, it does have the ability to issue symbolic threats against the United States. I see Russia is looking for opportunities to stir up trouble, he said. I would presume that whatever is going on with Russia is opportunistic. Moreno, who has worked as a U.S. diplomat in Colombia and elsewhere in the region, said during the era of the Soviet Union the country carried out destabilization efforts in parts of Latin America. He would not be surprised about a return to its old playbook when it comes to Haiti, a real Achilles heel of Washington that is less than two hours from Miami, and where the population is understandably frustrated with Washingtons reluctance to do more to help. To sow this kind of unrest and dissatisfaction and animosity toward Washington, of course theyre going to take advantage of it. So of course we should be paying attention to it, Moreno said. Then, echoing what even the most strident of U.S. supporters in Haiti also noted about the Russian and Wagner Group interest, he added: Maybe this will be the wake up call that Washington needs. 2023 Miami Herald. Visit miamiherald.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. TOKYO A North Korean missile launch Thursday morning prompted the Japanese government to warn residents on the northern island of Hokkaido to take shelter, a warning it retracted within minutes. South Koreas military detected one medium- to long-range ballistic missile fired from near Pyongyang at 7:23 a.m., according to a message to reporters from the countrys Joint Chiefs of Staff. It flew an estimated 620 miles. About a half-hour later, Japans alert system warned everyone on Hokkaido to take cover. Evacuate immediately, a 7:55 a.m. alert said. Evacuate inside buildings or basements immediately. A missile is expected to drop around Hokkaido around 8 a.m. Evacuate immediately. The government later updated its alert to say the missile had no possibility of landing in Hokkaido or near Hokkaido after confirming information. Japan Railways stopped all of its Hokkaido trains around 8 a.m., according to NHK. Hokkaido Broadcasting reported that commuter trains resumed operation 23 minutes later. The Japan coast guard at 8:19 a.m. announced that the missile seemed to have come down, according to public broadcaster NHK, but the report did not specify where. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the missile was fired at a high angle and that it did not impact in Japanese territory or its maritime exclusive economic zone. Thursdays warning is at least the seventh alert by the Japanese government following a North Korean missile launch, according to NHK. The last alert occurred at 7:50 a.m. Nov. 3, after North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile from its western coast. In that case, Tokyo issued alerts for three prefectures it believed the missile would pass over. The launch Thursday is North Koreas 12th in nine separate days of testing. The communist regime last fired two short-range ballistic missiles on March 27. South Korea maintains a full readiness posture and is closely cooperating with the U.S. in assessing the launch, the joint chiefs message said. The ballistic missile could be a new type that is propelled by solid fuel, a South Korean defense official speaking on the customary condition of anonymity told Stars and Stripes by phone Thursday. Solid fuel ICBMs are launched faster and require less maintenance than liquid-fuel rockets. The South Korean military in its 2023 defense white paper said the North developed its solid-fuel missile program in a short period of time and the regime is expected to replace its older, liquid-fueled missile inventory with the newer missiles. The launch did not pose an immediate threat to the U.S. or its allies, according to a statement from the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, but it highlights the destabilizing impact of North Koreas unlawful programs to develop ballistic missiles and weapons of mass destruction. The launch occurred as South Koreas military holds a five-day exercise with local first responders in and around Daegu. The annual drills address scenarios including air raid drills, and terrorist and cyber-attacks. It also comes roughly a week after U.S. and South Korean forces wrapped up their Ssangyong Exercise, a series of large-scale maritime drills. That exercise followed a series of large-scale army and air force drills throughout the country last month, including Warrior Shield, in which 1,200 troops fired U.S. M777 and South Korean K-9A1 howitzers. The exercises showcased alliance readiness and capabilities and the two militaries concurred on the need to conduct practical combined exercises and trainings during the latter half of the year, according to a joint statement Thursday from the National Defense Ministry and the U.S. Defense Department. North Koreas state-run Korean Central News Agency described the drills as a rehearsal of an invasion and likened them to a declaration of war. The U.S. and South maintain that the training is a defensive exercise meant to bring stability to the region. South Koreas Ministry of Unification on Thursday said the North remained unresponsive for its daily phone call with Seoul for the seventh straight day. The short calls, one each in the morning and evening, ensure a line of communication remains open between Seoul and Pyongyang. The government expresses strong regret over North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude, and strongly warns that it will eventually isolate and put itself in a predicament, a ministry statement said. Germany has approved Poland's request to export five old MiG-29 fighter jets to bolster Ukraine's air power, the German defence ministry said on Thursday, Trend reports citing Reuters. Poland's defence ministry did not immediately comment. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said the request had arrived Thursday, and that Berlin's same-day approval showed that Germany could be relied upon. Germany inherited 24 MiG-29 jets from the East German GDR during reunification in 1990. At the time, the aircraft were seen as among the most advanced fighter jets in the world. In 2004, Berlin passed on 22 of the aircraft to Poland. Of the remaining two jets, one was destroyed in a crash and one is on show at a museum. CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa Tokyo is moving forward with plans to field submarine-launched missiles capable of striking enemy ships as it looks to strengthen its counterstrike capabilities and standoff missile defense. The Ministry of Defense contracted with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on April 7 to supply and test missile prototypes by fiscal 2027, the ministry said in news release posted on its website Tuesday. The release did not specify how much of the $595 million allocated for the project will go to the Tokyo-based multinational firm. A ministry spokesman declined to comment Thursday when reached by phone. A spokesman for Mitsubishi Heavy did not respond to a request seeking comment that day. The island nation is seeking the technology to fire the missiles from a torpedo tube and to also launch them vertically, the statement said. All 22 of Japans submarines are equipped with torpedo tubes, but none are capable of firing a missile vertically out of the water to strike a target. Submarines operate highly secretively; by arming them with longer range missiles this characteristic will be more effective and can make things more difficult for our enemies, Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada said at a parliamentary committee meeting on Dec. 8. Development of long-range, sub-borne missiles was announced in December in a series of security documents outlining Japans strategy to develop better stand-off capabilities. Tokyo allocated $441 million for fiscal 2023, the statement said. Funds for testing will be assigned at a later date, the statement said. Japan's fiscal year runs from April 1 through March 31. Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, a corporation with a diverse product portfolio but prominent in Japans defense industry, can be traced to an 1857 ironworks foundry in Kyushu, the southernmost of Japans four main islands, according to a history on the companys website. During World War II, the company built the famed battleship Musashi, as well as other ships, trains and aircraft. In the current era, it has built ships and submarines for the Maritime Self-Defense Force and fighters like the F-2, F-4EJ Phantom II and F-15J Eagle for the Air Self-Defense Force. Its defense contracts include upgrading Japans Type-12 surface-to-ship missiles and mass-producing supersonic glide bombs, the defense statement said. Japan approved a record defense budget of about 51.4 billion for fiscal year 2023 that emphasized counterstrike capabilities and strengthened standoff air and missile defense. Its rapid hike in defense spending is due in part to a perceived threat from China, a rising power with a rapidly expanded military of its own. The Chinese military presence is increasing in the seas east of the Nansei chain and around Taiwan with naval drills, overflights and transits of key straits that give way to the Pacific Ocean. The chain includes Okinawa and stretches from Kyushu to Taiwan. In response, Japan has built military bases in the Nansei, deployed troops and announced it intends to position surface-to-air missiles in the region. The Maritime Self-Defense Forces submarine fleet is split among three classes in two groups on main-island Japan, according to the services website. Submarine Flotilla 1 is headquartered at Kure in Hiroshima prefecture, and Flotilla 2 is at Yokosuka in Kanagawa prefecture. YOKOTA AIR BASE, Japan The home of U.S. Forces Japan marked the Month of the Military Child this week by unveiling a student-designed morale patch featuring a dandelion and a C-130J airlifter. The patch is an amalgam of several designs submitted in a competition among Department of Defense Education Activity students at Yokota. The round patch, which has a purple border to represent all military branches, includes the motto, Remember who you fight for. The dandelion is the official flower of U.S. military children because it can put down roots anywhere, according to Joshua Fly, the school liaison program manager. We got over 175 designs or submissions, he said at Tuesdays unveiling ceremony. We narrowed it down to two or three that we liked the best and then borrowed pieces of each to make our final design. Base commander Col. Andrew Roddan has authorized airmen at Yokota to wear the morale patch throughout April. China trimmed a planned no-fly zone off Taiwans coast from three days to under 30 minutes following protests this week by the Taiwanese government, according to Taiwans Ministry of Transportation and Communications. Chinas Civil Aviation Administration on Tuesday notified the Taiwanese ministry of a 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. no-fly zone between Sunday and April 18 for aerospace activities, according to a ministry news release Wednesday. The exchange between Taipei and Beijing came one day after China officially concluded a three-day series of military exercises around Taiwan, one of several measures taken to protest Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wens April 5 meeting with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. Taipei immediately protested that a three-day restriction would have a serious impact on air traffic and even more seriously impact the rights and safety of air traffic in the region. The Taipei Flight Information Area, Taiwans responsibility, is the hub of the North-South air route in East Asia and the main artery of traffic in the Western Pacific, the ministry said. Beijing in response shortened the no-fly zone to just 27 minutes on Sunday, according to the ministry. Taiwans Transportation Ministry provided no details of Chinas aerospace activities, but South Korean officials briefed on the subject said they were related to an object falling from a satellite launch vehicle, Reuters reported Thursday, citing an unnamed source. A representative from South Koreas Transportation Ministry did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday. The affected area is approximately 85 nautical miles off the northeast coast of Taiwan, well within the islands air defense identification zone, the Taipei Times reported Thursday, citing Taiwans Ministry of National Defense alongside a map of the area released by the Transportation Ministry. The area also includes a portion of Japans exclusive economic zone near the Senkaku Islands, a group of islets and rocks also claimed by China, Kyodo News reported Wednesday, citing unnamed Japanese officials. Japans Ministry of Defense did not immediately return a request for comment Thursday. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, at a news conference Wednesday, told reporters he was unaware of the situation. Chinas recent military exercises, the largest since former House Speaker Nancy Pelosis visit to Taipei last year, included live-fire exercises, simulated strikes on Taiwanese targets and scores of fighter jets, bombers, helicopters and warships, including the aircraft carrier Shandong, around Taiwan. Beijing considers self-governing Taiwan to be a breakaway province that must be reunited with the mainland, possibly by force. It routinely protests governmental interactions between the U.S. and Taipei and described recent events between the two as Taiwan independence separatist forces colluding with external forces. FORT MAGSAYSAY, Philippines U.S. and Filipino forces on Thursday blasted vehicles with anti-tank missiles in combat-readiness drills in the Philippines that are part of a show of American firepower that has alarmed China. The long-time treaty allies are holding their largest joint military exercises called Balikatan Tagalog for shoulder-to-shoulder in decades. They involve about 17,600 military personnel and will feature live-fire maneuvers, including a ship-sinking rocket attack and beach assaults to simulate retaking an island near the disputed South China Sea. In a gunnery range at Fort Magsaysay, a northern Philippine training camp for Filipino special forces, American and Filipino troops fired Javelin guided missiles toward three target vehicles simulating a battle zone. The missiles streaked at a low altitude for more than half a kilometer (half a mile) toward their targets and exploded in a fireball that shook the ground. "This is what it looks like when the U.S. and Philippine militaries come together, train together," U.S. Army Pacific commander Gen. Charles Flynn said. "What you're witnessing here today is really operationalizing everything that our political leaders are talking about from integrated deterrence to campaigning to building an enduring advantage," Flynn told journalists invited to witness the drills. U.S. troops also displayed other weapons including sniper rifles with night-vision scopes that could hit targets more than a kilometer (half a mile) away with high precision, and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, which are rocket and missile launchers that have been used by Ukrainian forces against Russia. Philippine army chief Lt. Gen. Romeo Brawner said the Philippine military wants to acquire Javelins and HIMARS from the United States under a special foreign military sales arrangement that is part of efforts to modernize the Armed Forces of the Philippines. It's uncertain when the Philippines can secure such weapons while Ukraine presses the U.S. and other Western nations for more military assistance, he said. "These weapon systems are relatively more affordable for us as we shift to external defense," Brawner said. Last month, President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., who took office last June, said the Philippine military's focus is shifting from decades of battling communist and Muslim insurgents to external defense to ensure the protection of the country's territory as disputes with China over the contested South China Sea persist. Marcos also approved a wider U.S. military presence in the Philippines by allowing rotating batches of American forces to stay in four more Philippine military camps. That's a sharp turnaround from his predecessor Rodrigo Duterte, who feared that an American military footprint could antagonize Beijing. Efforts under Marcos to boost the territorial defenses have dovetailed with the Biden administration's bid to strengthen alliances to better counter China, including in a possible confrontation over Taiwan, a self-governed island democracy that Beijing claims as its own. China has strongly opposed the expanded American military presence in the Philippines, which allows U.S. forces to establish military staging grounds and surveillance outposts in the northern Philippines across the sea from Taiwan and in western Philippine provinces facing the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing claims virtually in its entirety. On Wednesday, China warned that a deepening security alliance between Washington and Manila and their ongoing military drills in the Philippines should not harm its security and territorial interests or interfere in territorial disputes in the South China Sea. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said such military cooperation "should not target any third party and should be conducive to regional peace and stability." Associated Press journalists Joeal Calupitan and Aaron Favila contributed to this report. The Serbian government on Wednesday rejected claims that it had sent weapons to Ukraine and doubled down on its policy of noninvolvement in the war, after a leaked U.S. intelligence document, the authenticity of which could not be verified, appeared to indicate that the Balkan country provided lethal aid to Kyiv. Serbia has not sent any weapons to Ukraine and all allegations published on that topic are false rumours, Serbian Defense Minister Milos Vucevic said in a statement. Someone obviously aims to drag Serbia into that conflict. Serbia is among just a few European countries that have not issued sanctions targeting Russia, with which it has close cultural and business ties, in response to Moscows invasion of Ukraine last year. Belgrade has struggled to balance these policies with its long-standing ambition to become a member of the European Union. Brussels views Belgrades ties to Moscow with concern and has sought to pressure Serbia to join the sanctions effort. The Balkan country has refused, although it voted at the United Nations to condemn the war and Russias illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory. The denial on Wednesday puts Serbia on a growing list of countries that have publicly rejected or questioned the authenticity of leaked documents that appear to detail the breadth of U.S. espionage on both friendly and hostile countries. The leak, which could be the largest to hit U.S. intelligence and defense agencies in years, has sent Washington scrambling to smooth diplomatic slights and to find the original source of the breach. The reports appear to have first started to circulate on the chat application Discord weeks ago. The document in question, titled Europe: Response to the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict, assesses the positions of more than three dozen European countries and NATO members. The classified memo includes Serbia on a list of countries that have provided or committed to provide lethal aid to Ukraine and that have the military ability to do so. Serbia is listed as not having provided or committed to provide training to Ukrainian troops. Sending weapons to Ukraine would represent a significant departure from Belgrades public position and remained off the table, Vucevic said. Serbia has not and will not sell any complex combat systems, armaments, assets or weapons to Russia or Ukraine throughout the duration of the conflict, he said. Vucevic appeared to leave open the possibility that Serbian weapons could have ended up in Ukraine through third-party countries and without his governments involvement. There is always the possibility that some weapons might mysteriously appear on the territory where there is a conflict, but it has absolutely nothing to do with Serbia, he said. That is a question for the countries that do not conform to international norms or terms of business agreements. Serbian weapons export deals include provisions that forbid buyers from transferring the goods to third parties without Serbian approval and the Belgrade government cannot be held responsible for any violations of those rules, the Serbian Defense Ministry said in a statement sent by email. The document leak comes just a month after Belgrade publicly denied reports in Russian media outlets that Serbian-made rockets had ended up in Ukraine. Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for Russias Foreign Ministry, said at the time that Moscow was deeply concerned and called the allegations an extremely important matter indeed for the bilateral relationship, state media reported. COPENHAGEN, Denmark Norway's government said Thursday that it was expelling 15 Russian diplomats from the country, saying they were suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the move was "an important measure to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, and thereby secure our national interests." The Russians declared persona non grata "must leave Norway within a short time," Huitfeldt said, adding: "We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway." The minister declined to say whether the government was acting in response to a specific incident, referring questions to Norway's domestic security agency PST for details. The government said the activities of the expelled diplomats were "incompatible with their diplomatic status." "We are not talking about regular diplomats, but intelligence officers under diplomatic cover. Their activities are a threat to Norwegian interests," Huitfeldt said. Norwegian newspaper VG described Thursday's expulsions as the most the Scandinavian country has ordered at one time involving Russian diplomats. The Russian Embassy in Norway called the Norwegian government's decision "an extremely unfriendly step" and promised Moscow would take "retaliatory measures," which in such a case typically involve in-kind expulsions. Huitfeldt reacted during an afternoon news conference, saying: "Russia has no reason to respond. We have Norwegian diplomats stationed in Russia, but none of them are undercover intelligence officers." She called Russia "an unpredictable neighbor" and "many European countries in the past year have expelled hundreds of Russian intelligence officers under diplomatic cover." At the same time, she stressed that the government in Oslo wants "normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway" "We do not want people who claim they are diplomats and who are actually are intelligence officers," she said. "We cannot accept that." NATO-member Norway has a 198 kilometer-long (123-mile) border with Russia in the Arctic. VG said that including the expelled diplomats, Russia had about 40 people working at its missions in Norway, which include the embassy in Oslo and consulates in Kirkenes and Barentsburg. Barentsburg, located on the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, is a Russian coal-mining town of about 500 people. Under a 1920 treaty, Norway has sovereignty over the archipelago, which is more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of the Norwegian mainland, but other signatory countries have rights to explore its natural resources. A year ago, Norway expelled three Russian diplomats it identified as intelligence officers. A man whom the Norwegian Police Security Service alleged used a false name and identity while actually working for one of Russia's intelligence services also was arrested last year. He is awaiting trial in Norway. BUCHAREST, Romania Neighbors Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova signed cooperation agreements in Romania's capital Thursday after a trilateral meeting on ways to strengthen security in their Black Sea region to counter threats posed by Russian aggression. The Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest brought together the three countries' foreign and defense ministers, government officials and international partners. The aim was to address the wide-ranging impact that Moscow's war in Ukraine is having on the region. NATO member Romania's Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu called Russia "the most direct and serious threat" to the Black Sea region and the Western alliance, and said war-torn Ukraine and embattled Moldova are "essential to our future European security." "Instead of peace and stability, the Black Sea region has become the primary target of the Russian aggression," he said, adding that a strong NATO presence there "is a must." After signing the agreements, which aim to boost political, economic, and security cooperation between the three nations, Aurescu said it "records the fact that we have similar visions." Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who spoke to the Bucharest gathering by video link called the war "a bleeding wound in the middle of Europe" and said a security network for countries in the region that "feel threatened by the maniac on the loose" must be sought. "It's time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, a sea of NATO," Kuleba said, referring to Finland's recent admission to the NATO military alliance. He also called for a "resolute step forward" on the path to Ukraine's own NATO membership, a move that Western officials are wary of committing to. After signing the trilateral declaration Thursday, Moldova's Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu said that Moldova remains the target of "hybrid attempts to destabilize our country" and that the impact of Moscow's war is being "felt by every citizen" of non-NATO Moldova. Moldova, which has faced a long series of crises over the past year including alleged Russia-backed destabilization plots, was granted European Union candidate status last June, the same day as Ukraine. As well as addressing security issues, the Black Sea Security Conference held on Apr. 12-13 discussed topics including freedom of trade and the facilitation of energy transport routes. Officials also discussed the importance of countering Russia's cyberwarfare efforts. Romania's Aurescu said Moscow is "orchestrating (attacks) against the region, against European and Allied states." BEIRUT Syria and Saudi Arabia are moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade, the countries said Thursday in a joint statement. The announcement followed a visit by Syria's top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012. Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on protester,s and later civilians, in an uprising turned civil war that began in 2011. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League. However, in recent years, as Assad has consolidated control over most of the country, Syria's neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The overtures have picked up pace since the massive Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, regional rivals that had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. A delegation headed by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks about bilateral relations between the two countries, state media from the two countries reported. Saudi state media reported that Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad was received by the kingdom's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. The meeting focused on the steps needed to reach a "comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that would ... achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab fold," the two countries said in a joint statement. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, where a restoration of Syria's membership is widely expected to be on the table. The two sides also discussed "the importance of enhancing security and combating terrorism in all its forms, and enhancing cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking," the statement said. Syria is a primary producer of the amphetamine-based drug Captagon, which is largely smuggled into Gulf markets for sale. The talks also focused on "the need to support ... the Syrian state to extend its control over its territories to end the presence of armed militias and external interference in the Syrian internal affairs," as well as on facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of Syrian refugees. The visit to Saudi Arabia came after Syria announced Wednesday that it will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, which cut off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied announced earlier this month that he had directed the country's foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria. His move was reciprocated by the Syrian government, a joint statement from the two countries' foreign ministries said Wednesday, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. The Bank of Russia sold foreign currency in the amount of 3.7 bln rubles ($45.34 mln) on the domestic market with settlements on April 12, according to data published on the regulator's website on Thursday, Trend reports with reference to Reuters. The amount of currency sales on the domestic market also amounted to 3.7 bln rubles with settlements on April 11. The Russian Ministry of Finance resumed foreign exchange sales operations on the domestic currency market on January 13 as part of the new fiscal rule mechanism. The total amount of funds allocated for selling foreign currency from January 13 to February 6 amounts to 54.5 bln rubles ($667.81 mln), with the daily amount reaching 3.2 bln rubles, the ministry said. Purchase and sale transactions of foreign currency will be carried out by the Bank of Russia on the domestic market in the currency section of the Moscow Exchange in the "Chinese yuan-ruble" instrument. BEIRUT Syria and Saudi Arabia said Thursday they were moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade. The joint statement followed a visit by Syria's top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012. Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assad's brutal crackdown on protesters in a 2011 uprising that descended into civil war. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League. However, in recent years, as Assad consolidated control over most of the country, Syria's neighbors have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The overtures picked up pace since the massive Feb. 6 earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, which had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mikdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks about bilateral relations, state media in the two countries reported. Saudi state media said Mikdad was received by the kingdom's Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. The meeting focused on the steps needed to reach a "comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that would ... achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab fold," the joint statement said. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, when Syria's membership is widely expected to be on the table. Some members, mainly Qatar, have opposed Damascus' return to the organization. Anna Jacobs, a senior analyst with the International Crisis Group, said she believes "prospects are high that Syria will be readmitted to the Arab League soon," noting that even Qatar has softened its rhetoric. "Even if several countries have expressed their opposition to normalization with Assad, it's not likely that they would go against Riyadh and block Syria's re-entry," she said. The Syrian and Saudi officials also discussed "enhancing security" and ''cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking," according to the statement. Syria is a primary producer of the amphetamine-based drug Captagon, which is largely smuggled into Gulf Arab markets for sale. Syria may be hoping the rapprochement with a regional heavyweight will help end its political isolation, improve its flagging economy and potentially bring in reconstruction dollars. Meanwhile, incentives for Saudi Arabia to make a deal are less clear. Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, a research fellow at Rice University's Baker Institute, said Saudi Arabia and specifically Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman may be looking for a way to rehabilitate the kingdom's image. That image was tarnished by the kingdom's involvement in the war in Yemen and by the 2018 slaying of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi at the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, believed by the United States and others to have been at the prince's orders. Brokering an Arab consensus on Syria, would feed into Prince Mohammed's "desire to portray himself as a regional statesman" and "underline the Saudi ability to lead the region," he said. Jacobs said the kingdom's rapprochement with Syria may be part of its strategy on Iran, which is "two-pronged and focused on both containment and diplomacy," as opposed to the Trump administration's maximum pressure approach. As for Syria, Ulrichsen pointed out that U.S. sanctions on Damascus would still stand as an obstacle to any major investments in the Arab country, even with Syria normalizing ties with Saudi Arabia and its readmission to the Arab League. Mikdad's visit to Saudi Arabia came after Syria announced on Wednesday that it will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, which cut off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied said earlier this month that he had directed the foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria. His move was reciprocated by the Syrian government, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. MINNEAPOLIS (Tribune News Service) One wintry day, a new Russian immigrant named Artem came to the Minnesota State Capitol to protest the war in Ukraine. Then a police siren sounded afar, and he grew fearful. Was he really free, even in America? Artem thought back to that day last summer in his Siberian hometown, when he ambled around the city square holding a sign against the Russia-Ukraine war. It was illegal in Russia to oppose the invasion, but Artem knew his future grandchildren would ask what he had done about it. "I wanted to tell them this is what I've done so my conscience would be clear," he recalled through an interpreter. The Russian police came to arrest Artem, and he fled the country months later. Now Artem is among a small but growing coterie of Russians who claimed asylum at the Mexican border and resettled in the Twin Cities as they wait for the courts to hear their cases. Custom and Border Patrol agents report encounters with Russians at the southern border jumped from 4,103 in fiscal year 2021 to 26,580 this year. Longtime Russian American Elena Mityushina organized Russian anti-war protests at the State Capitol this year and was surprised to see newly arrived asylees like Artem, who didn't want his last name published on the advice of his immigration attorney. Mityushina founded the group Russians Against War, and estimates there are at least 50 new Russian asylees in the Twin Cities with more on the way. Unlike Ukrainians escaping the war, Russians have no official program to sponsor them in the United States. Instead, they rely on a backlogged asylum system that leaves many in limbo for years, often to be rejected. A Ukrainian's path to the U.S. "is pretty straightforward they get [legal] status right away and some sort of understanding of how long it's going to take," said Mityushina, who immigrated in 2000. Russians, by contrast, "are kind of in the air they don't know when their case is going to be, there's no formal structure to support them. They're just finding people on Facebook and Telegram and ad hoc like that." A video shows a Russian policeman approaching Artem, 45, as he holds an anti-war sign in a public square. Artem smiles courteously at the officer. Passers-by ignore them. Several more policemen come and lead Artem away. What happened next wasn't filmed. Artem said they took him to the police station with sirens on ("Like I was a big criminal," he recalled in Russian, with Mityushina interpreting). Officers and Federal Security Service (FSB) agents interrogated him for seven hours, he said. Who paid him to protest? Who else was in his group? By his recollection, they threatened his children's ability to go to school and later, find jobs. Police searched his home. Artem was finally released and ordered to pay a large fine, with the threat of lengthy prison time for another offense. His 42-year-old wife Katya, who shot the video, was fired from her accounting job for Artem's actions. He saw that most people in his Siberian oil town appeared to support the war, believing President Vladimir Putin's propaganda that Russia was fighting Nazis in Ukraine. Artem, a shopping mall manager, stopped talking to those who backed the Putin regime. His own father shunned him, calling him a criminal for protesting. "Of course, I did feel very lonely and isolated. People would call me a fascist or a Nazi," Artem said. He, Katya and their three children sought refuge in their retirement house on the Russian-Ukrainian border. Within weeks, FSB agents came to ask if Artem planned to break the law there, too. He feared for his family's future. They hastily sold the house for well below its value. Artem decided against resettling in Europe he preferred the melting pot of America. In late August, they flew to Turkey and then Mexico, and joined the masses of Russian migrants in Tijuana clamoring for refuge. Artem turned to the messaging app Telegram, where he found Russians exchanging tips on how to cross the border. He unsuccessfully tried nine times before taking their advice to go 2 1/2 hours east to cross at Mexicali. There, American border agents took Artem's family to a detention center in Yuma, Arizona, and split them up. Artem and his son slept on mattresses on the floor. Yet it was a good sleep, his son Kirill recalled: "We slept like two Siberian bears." They decided to wait out their case in Minnesota after hearing it was like Siberia, and they were released in October with notices to show up for court in St. Paul. A Russian American family they met on social media among 44,200 Minnesotans of Russian heritage vouched for the family, hosting them for a few weeks in the Twin Cities until they found them an apartment in Shakopee. Meanwhile, a new wave of Russians fled upon Putin's announcement of a mobilization of men to fight in Ukraine on Sept. 21. In Moscow, a woman named Svetlana noticed that she was surrounded by women and the elderly on the train, as the men lived in the dark, afraid to be stopped and given notice to serve in the war. Her husband, Pavel, drove to work and went straight home, trying to avoid police. Two of her co-workers were called to war. One, 18, died weeks later. The couple's 11-year-old son was forced to attend a pro-war class at school. "We are against Putin and the war, and it would be crazy for us to go in this conquest war to go fight," said Pavel, who asked that the Star Tribune not publish his family's last name for the safety of relatives in Russia. The family, including their 20-year-old son, escaped to Mexico. As they waited in the border town of Matamoros, they saw hordes of Russians wandering around with suitcases. Terrifying stories circulated of the cartel, and they heard about a Russian who went for a beer and never came back. Pavel's family crossed into Brownsville, Texas, with 160 other Russians on Dec. 22 and spent hours at an immigration center filling out asylum paperwork. The family flew to Minneapolis after Pavel talked with a Russian asylee who had posted advice videos on YouTube about moving to Minnesota. Pavel had a Russian friend who had immigrated to the Twin Cities years before and agreed to vouch for the family. The friend co-signed the lease on an apartment for the family in St. Paul. Now they attend English classes in the city alongside Ukrainians. Pavel tells them they are anti-war right away. In Shakopee, Artem's three children all have Ukrainian refugee classmates. They befriended a Ukrainian family in their apartment complex. Kirill, 16, used Google Translate to write high school papers lamenting Putin's regime. "To my regret, I was born and raised in this country and only moved to the USA after the 9th grade. ... This experience is my whole short life and it helped me understand that even a very smart person will be subject to the rot of propaganda over time," Kirill wrote. He said Ukraine must win if Russia triumphs, "Putin's dictatorial rule will not end, and also Russia will threaten the neighboring countries with destabilization and subsequent war." Artem was typing up his own story for his asylum case. "I know that Russia will lose because I lived in Russia, and I know how corrupt the country is. ... With this level of corruption you can't win," Artem told the Star Tribune. One evening, the family enjoyed an Uzbek dish of rice, beef and carrots, and sipped tea with oregano and apple slices. Then they went for an evening stroll down a walking path in Shakopee, marveling at the stalks of milkweed and stopping to watch a pair of eagles soar. Artem saw a policeman pull over a motorist next to their path. He felt nervous again. He was accustomed to seeing Russian officers take people away for no reason. But the policeman here paid him no mind, and Artem and his family kept walking. 2023 StarTribune. Visit at startribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (Tribune News Service) In November 2022, the California attorney general's office secured a $20 million judgment against Paul Blanco's Good Car Co., a network of auto dealerships, over hundreds of thousands of false advertising and other consumer protection law violations. In fall of 2016, a multistate judgment against USA Discounters for defrauding military service members with high-interest loans and hidden fees should have resulted in $7 million in debt relief for 4,000 California victims. Earlier that year, the for-profit Corinthian Colleges was hit with a $1.1 billion judgment for its predatory marketing and lending tactics. But in all these cases, the actual consumers harmed by these businesses' shady practices saw little to none of the compensation. That's because despite the attention-grabbing numbers, oftentimes the companies in question go bankrupt, leaving people with little recourse and disappointing results. With that in mind, California Attorney General Rob Bonta and Assemblymember Brian Maienschein (D-San Diego) on Friday announced legislation, AB 1366, that would establish a restitution fund within the state Treasury to help pay victims when they don't receive what they're owed. "True justice is not served when victims are left behind," Bonta said in a statement. "While our office continues to hold predatory businesses accountable for misconduct, the success feels hollow when we know that the consumers who were defrauded cannot be made whole because the business has no money left to compensate its victims for their losses." Advocates have criticized state consumer protection efforts for the slow pace of investigations and a lack of focus on direct compensation for those most affected. The Victims of Consumer Fraud Restitution Fund would be financed by penalties on businesses for violating consumer protection laws and by profits made through illegal conduct. Some other states, including Arizona and New York, allow for remediation to be funded through similar means. On the federal level, the 2010 Wall Street reforms established the Civil Penalty Fund, administered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, to pay victims who are unlikely to otherwise get their due restitution. In 27 of 162 cases brought by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau through 2019, defendants owed consumers more than $671 million they couldn't repay, and, which the agency was able to entirely cover using the fund. Despite some room for improvement, audits and studies have found it to be an effective means of putting money back in the pockets of those who most deserve and need it. (c)2023 The Press Democrat (Santa Rosa, Calif.) Visit The Press Democrat at www.pressdemocrat.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. BERLIN The U.S. ambassador to Hungary expressed concerns over Budapests eagerness to deepen and expand ties with Russia, in a public display of frustration Wednesday just days after the fractious relationship between the two NATO allies was laid bare in a leak of classified U.S. intelligence documents. His comments came as the U.S. Treasury on Wednesday took the unusual step of sanctioning an entity associated with an ally, targeting the Hungary-based International Investment Bank, dubbed Russias spy bank, and three of its current and former executives resident in Hungary, one of whom is a Hungarian national. Western officials contend that the bank is being used as a hub for Russian intelligence operations in Europe. The presence of this opaque Kremlin platform in the heart of Hungary threatens the security and sovereignty of the Hungarian people, their European neighbors and their NATO allies, Pressman said in a Budapest news conference, adding that the United States has raised its concerns to Hungarian officials on numerous occasions. Hungary has dismissed the concerns of the United States government, he said, and now Washington wanted to show it will take action against Hungarys choices. The Hungarian governments press office did not respond to a request to comment. The move is likely to further rankle Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban, who has made no secret of his ideological differences with the Biden administration regularly referencing the days of better relations with his friend former president Donald Trump. In a political strategy session in February, Orban identified the United States a fellow NATO member as one of his partys top three adversaries in the world, according to a CIA update that was among the U.S. military documents leaked online. The leak highlights the deepening diplomatic rift between Washington and Budapest. Orban the closest thing Russian President Vladimir Putin has to a sympathizer within the European Union has aggravated the United States and European allies by extending his countrys energy ties to Russia and stymying the Western response to the war in Ukraine. Hungary, which stands accused of democratic backsliding, was also the only E.U. country not invited to President Bidens Democracy Summit last month. Meanwhile, the Hungarian government is focusing on forging a closer relationship with the American right. Budapest is slated to host an American Conservative Political Action Conference event for the second year running next month. And Hungarian President Katalin Novak, a close political ally of Orban, traveled to Tallahassee to meet with potential Republican presidential candidate, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, last month. Orbans comment on his strategy session constitutes an escalation of the level of anti-American rhetoric in his discourse, the intelligence update read. Its day and night, Petr Tuma, a visiting fellow at the Atlantic Councils Europe Center, said of the shift in relations between Hungary and the United States since the Trump administration. Hungarys conservative leader has been public about his sense of a fundamental clash with the United States on LGBTQ issues between the Biden administrations liberal politics and traditional family values. Hungary has clashed with the E.U. on that, too, and is facing legal action from 15 E.U. members over its Child Protection Law, which bans the portrayal to minors of homosexuality or any divergence from birth-designated gender. But the war in Ukraine has brought new friction. The International Investment Banks presence in Budapest enables Russia to increase its intelligence presence in Europe, opens the door for the Kremlins malign influence activities in Central Europe and the Western Balkans, and could serve as a mechanism for corruption and illicit finance, including sanctions violations, the U.S. Treasury said. In addition to the banks current and former Russian chairmen, the Treasury sanctioned the banks Hungarian Deputy Chairman Imre Laszloczki. IIB executives have coordinated with Russian Federation officials on IIB business even after Russias further invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, the Treasury said. Orban has emphasized that he does not see the conflict as our war and has criticized allied efforts to arm Ukraine, accusing the United States of perpetuating the conflict. The Ukrainians have endless resources because they get all that from the Americans, he said during a talk in Berlin in October. Shortly after, he used his veto power to hold hostage a $120 billion European aid package for Ukraine as he wrangled for the release of E.U. funds for Hungary that have been frozen over rule-of-law concerns. Budapest also dragged its feet on approval of Finlands accession to NATO and has blocked Ukraines closer cooperation with the Western military alliance. Alongside Turkey, it is still blocking Swedens bid. Hungary acts as someone who is really pouring sand into the engine of the alliance, Tuma said. As the rest of Europe weans itself off Russian oil and gas, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto signed new deals to ensure Budapests continued access to Russian energy during a visit to Moscow on Tuesday. Hungary receives about 85 percent of its gas imports from Russia, making little effort to diversify. Instead, Orban has secured exemptions to E.U. embargoes on Russian oil and gas. During his meeting in Moscow, Szijjarto additionally said Russias state-owned nuclear energy company, Rosatom, had agreed to a modified contract for its expansion of Hungarys Paks nuclear plant, though Hungarian officials did not provide further details. Orban has said he will veto any European sanctions on Russias nuclear energy industry. The war is not between the armies of good and evil but a war between the troops of two Slavic countries that would be limited in time, he said in his annual state of the nation address last month. This is why we are maintaining our economic relations with Russia; and indeed we are advising the whole Western world to do the same, he said. Somehow, in the longer run, he believes it will pay off for him, said Andras Bozoki, a professor of political science at the Central European University. He feels more and more close himself to nondemocratic leaders and regimes. Orbans government has not shown much interest in repairing relations with Washington outside a Republican return to office. Keep on fighting Mr. President! We are with you, Orban tweeted last week, sharing a picture of himself shaking hands with Trump. Pressman, the ambassador, noted that the Orban government had only recently warned against U.S. interference in Hungarys domestic policy. WASHINGTON (Tribune News Service) Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer announced plans to offer a resolution next week that condemns a call from former President Donald Trump to defund the Justice Department and the FBI. The former president, who was indicted on 34 state charges of falsifying business records and is under investigation by the Justice Department and state prosecutors in Georgia, posted on social media that Congress should DEFUND THE DOJ AND FBI UNTIL THEY COME TO THEIR SENSES. Schumer, in a letter to senators Tuesday, said his resolution would condemn that idea and reject Trumps attempts to degrade public trust in Federal law enforcement agencies for attempted political or legal benefit. The former President and his allies in Congress must not subjugate justice and public safety because of their own personal grievances, Schumer said in the letter. Some Republicans have rushed to defend Trump following the indictment, with some floating the idea of using the appropriations process to respond to the charges brought by the Manhattan district attorneys office. The House Judiciary Committee scheduled a field hearing Monday in New York about Victims of Violent Crime in Manhattan, as Republicans continue to criticize prosecutors for what they call a politically motivated probe into Trump. The chairman of that committee, Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio, said in a recent Fox News interview that Congress might look to limit funding to federal agencies who are engaging in the most egregious behavior. A Fox News host asked if that included the Justice Department and FBI, and Jordan said it did. Schumer, in the letter, wrote that 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 New York senator added that the Justice Department and the FBI send criminals to prison for bank robbery, sex trafficking, child pornography, hate crimes, terrorism, fraud, and so much more. Trump also faces two federal criminal probes led by special counsel Jack Smith. One focuses on efforts to interfere with the transfer of power after the 2020 presidential election, and the other focuses on the handling of materials marked as classified that were found at Trumps property. Trumps rhetoric on DOJ funding falls in the backdrop of a push from hardline House Republicans to look for cuts in the fiscal 2024 appropriations process. At a subcommittee hearing last month, Attorney General Merrick B. Garland warned lawmakers that deep cuts to the Justice Department budget would be devastating to the agencys efforts to fight violent crime and combat drug traffickers. 2023 CQ-Roll Call, Inc., All Rights Reserved. Visit cqrollcall.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. A former U.S. military contractor found guilty of participating in a bribery scheme and visa fraud while overseeing millions of dollars in U.S.-funded contracts in Afghanistan has been sentenced to nearly four years in prison, the Justice Department said. Project manager Orlando Clark, 57, of Smyrna, Ga., evaluated bids for reconstruction contracts awarded by the U.S. military in 2011 and 2012, the department said in a statement Wednesday. Clark conspired with Todd Coleman, an analyst at a different American company, to receive about $400,000 in bribes from an Afghan company, the statement said. In exchange, the two men helped secure nearly a dozen lucrative federal reconstruction contracts at inflated values. Those projects included construction of an Afghan police station and a security checkpoint for U.S. forces, prosecutors said. To legitimize large wire transfers from Afghanistan, Clark and Coleman set up bank accounts for fake companies in Georgia and filed invoices for a phony car exporting business in the UAE, according to court documents. They used the bribe money to purchase BMW cars and other personal items. They also traveled to the UAE to receive cash bribes and smuggled the money into the United States. Coleman, 48, of South Deerfield, Mass., was sentenced in February to two years and nine months in prison. Clark also admitted to accepting an unspecified amount in bribes in exchange for more than 10 letters of recommendation for visas on behalf of Afghan nationals between 2015 and 2020, according to court documents. He falsely claimed to have supervised the applicants work as translators and baselessly vouched that the Afghans did not pose a threat to national security. Clark faced up to 10 years in prison, according to the Justice Department. The case involving the two men is the latest in a series of investigations into contractor oversight in Afghanistan. In 2021, a report by the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction revealed a lack of oversight and accountability in the awarding of contracts during the 20-year war. Investigators found that contract work in Afghanistan frequently went unsupervised, leading to instances of waste, fraud and abuse, including construction of facilities that had to be repaired or completely rebuilt. WASHINGTON The suspect was relatively easy to find. n a social media world that produces traceable digital fingerprints, it didnt take long for federal authorities and journalists adept at sifting through data to land on the name of Jack Teixeira. Teixeira, 21, who served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested Thursday in connection with the far-reaching leak of classified documents that have shaken capitals from Washington to Kyiv to Seoul with revelations of U.S. spying on allies and foes alike and the disclosure of sensitive military intelligence about the war in Ukraine. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Teixeira would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information. There were clues in messages posted in a chatroom on Discord, a social media platform where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years about guns, games and his favorite memes and, according to some others chatting with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets. The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira. The suspect, as part of his duties, reportedly had access to highly classified information. The case underscores the challenges the U.S. and other governments have in keeping secrets in an era of omnipresent data and an ever growing army of savvy users who know how to exploit it. When asked how such a young service member could have had access to highly sensitive documents, the Pentagon spokesman, Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, said it was the nature of the military to trust its very young service members with high and sometimes grave levels of responsibility, including high levels of security clearance. Soldiers fresh out of high school went to fight in Iraq, Afghanistan and other combat zones for a generation, often using top-secret intelligence and programs to target adversaries. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat, Ryder said. In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as the O.G. by a member of an online chat group where Teixeira and others posted for years. The member of the chat group declined to give his name to the AP, citing concerns for his personal safety. The chat group, called Thug Shaker Central, drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes, some of them racist. The group also included a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. In that discussion, the O.G. would for months post material that he said was classified originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings werent being taken seriously, the person said. A different participant in the group shared some of the files several weeks ago in a different chat group and from there they appear to have spread across the Internet. The person who spoke to the AP said he had not communicated with Teixeira on Thursday but had stayed in touch earlier in the week. Teixeira had said he knew the FBI was looking for him, the person said. Teixeira was an airman first class detailed to an Air Force intelligence unit, according to Facebook posts from the 102nd Intelligence Wing based at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. Teixeiras specialty in the Air National Guard was as 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 to access and ensure protection for the network, a defense official told the AP. The National Guard issued a statement saying it was aware of the investigation and takes this issue very seriously. National security is our foremost priority and any attempt to undermine it compromises our values and degrades trust among our members, the public, allies and partners, the statement said. Local police on Thursday had blocked off the street in front of a home listed as belonging to his family. The person who spoke to the AP says the O.G. who he acknowledged Thursday was Teixeira was an observant Christian who often spoke of God and prayed with members of the chat group. While he was enlisted, Teixeira opposed many of the priorities of the U.S. government and denounced the military since it was run by the elite politicians, the person said, adding that he didnt know why Teixeira had signed up in the first place. He expressed regret (about) joining a lot, the person said. He even said hed kick my ass if I thought about joining. But the person has stressed that he didnt believe Teixeira leaked documents to undermine the U.S. government or for an ideological reason. When The New York Times first published a story last week about the documents, the person said, members of the group were on a video call when the O.G. talked to them. Basically what he said was, Im sorry, guys, I prayed every single day that this wouldnt happen, the person said. I prayed, and I prayed, and now its only up to God what happens next. Associated Press writer Tara Copp contributed to this report. The grinding war between Ukraine and Russia is expected to bleed into 2024 with neither side securing victory yet both refusing to negotiate an end to the conflict, according to a Defense Intelligence Agency assessment that is among the highly sensitive U.S. government materials leaked online and obtained by The Washington Post. The analysis concludes that, even if Ukraine recaptures "significant" amounts of territory and inflicts "unsustainable losses on Russian forces," an outcome U.S. intelligence finds unlikely, the nation's gains would not lead to peace talks. "Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely during 2023 in all considered scenarios," says the document, which has not been disclosed previously. The assessment, based on close U.S. scrutiny of each side's troop counts, weaponry and equipment, could galvanize the war's critics who have called on major powers such as the United States and China to push for Kyiv and Moscow to reach a settlement and end a conflict that has displaced millions and left hundreds of thousands dead or wounded. Asked about the DIA's assessment, a U.S. official said the decision on when to negotiate is up to President Volodymyr Zelensky and the Ukrainian people, underscoring what has been a hands-off approach to mediation espoused by the administration since Russia's full-scale invasion began in February 2022. The United States will continue to stand with Kyiv and provide it with the equipment and weapons that will bolster its position at the negotiating table, whenever that day comes, the official said. The document leak, which first came to authorities' attention last week, has provided extensive insight into U.S. intelligence activities worldwide and exposed the national security establishment's deep misgivings about the war's trajectory. Many of the classified assessments that have surfaced thus far date to February and March, first appearing on the Discord messaging platform before spreading elsewhere online. Both the Pentagon, where many of the leaked materials appear to have originated earlier this year, and the Justice Department have said they are investigating the matter. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence declined to comment. Spokespersons for the Russian and Ukrainian governments did not respond to requests for comment. Beyond forecasting a costly open-ended conflict, the newly disclosed document also predicts how Ukrainian and Russian military leaders will respond to battlefield challenges, and it anticipates that the year will end with the two sides achieving only "marginal" territorial gains as a result of "insufficient troops and supplies for effective operations." Such a stalemate, where neither side achieves a decisive advantage, is described in the document as "the most likely scenario." For the Ukrainian side, an ongoing war of attrition will lead to frustration within the country and "criticism" about how the war is conducted, "making leadership changes more likely," the document says. It is unclear if the document is referring to leadership changes in a political or military context. Zelensky remains broadly popular in Ukraine, but tensions exist between his office and Gen. Valery Zaluzhny, head of Ukraine's armed forces, whom some in Kyiv view as a political threat. A stalemate also will result in Ukraine enacting the "full mobilization" of its remaining eligible population, the document predicts, sending more young men to the front lines. At the same time, Ukraine probably will intensify its reliance on strikes in Russian territory, the document says, a dynamic that has disquieted some U.S. officials fearful that such attacks could compel President Vladimir Putin to escalate the conflict or give China cause to begin providing lethal support to Russia. For the Russian side, the stalemate will force Moscow to employ "degraded reserves due to dwindling combat power," the document says. The Kremlin also is likely to "accelerate" efforts to integrate captured territories into Russia. "It's always been a race to see who runs out of resources first," said Heather Conley, a Europe scholar and president of the German Marshall Fund. She said she agreed with the U.S. intelligence contention that negotiations would begin only after one side is "exhausted," a prospect that appears far off. Jeff Rathke, a scholar at Johns Hopkins University and former U.S. diplomat, said the assessment "reflects a sobriety about the likelihood of either side being able to mount or to mass decisive military power in places where it can achieve strategic effect." The newly disclosed document also analyzes what might result from Russia or Ukraine achieving a "decisive advantage" on the battlefield. In the event that Russia deals a significant blow against Ukraine and captures more territory, Moscow is likely to "posture forces to achieve further objectives, such as regime change" in Ukraine, it says. Regime change appeared to be the goal of Russia's invasion, but its forces were thwarted in their blundering attempt to sack the capital. In the scenario in which Ukraine gains a decisive advantage, however, U.S. intelligence believes that Kyiv is likely to "conduct riskier offensive operations for additional gains." In response, Russia could be expected to "increase nonconventional attacks on Ukraine," though, importantly, "nuclear use remains unlikely," the document says. Officials predict that, rather than giving up, the Kremlin would opt to announce a "new national mobilization" to sustain further combat operations. U.S. officials have cautioned that such analysis related to the war in Ukraine is fluid, and the materials that leaked may lack nuance the United States has gleaned in the days since they were drafted. The newly disclosed document acknowledges that the stalemate it describes as the most likely scenario by year's send may not hold if there are "substantive improvements to Ukrainian or Russian military capabilities." Both sides are preparing for fighting to escalate as warmer weather arrives, though officials in Kyiv and personnel on the war's front lines have complained about logistical backlogs responsible for slowing promised deliveries of Western arms. Several nations, including the United States, committed battle tanks and other armored vehicles to Ukraine over the winter while initiating new training pipelines aimed at teaching advanced combat tactics to thousands of Ukrainian soldiers. All the while, what remains very consistent in the Biden administration's position on Ukraine is its deep skepticism about peace negotiations. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has openly questioned the value of permanent or temporary armistice agreements, telling members of the U.N. Security Council in February that they "should not be fooled by calls for a temporary or unconditional cease-fire." Russia, he said then, will use "any pause in fighting to consolidate control." Blinken has also criticized countries for urging both sides to negotiate, pointing out that Russia is the aggressor and Ukraine has every right to fight to regain its territory. Publicly, neither Russia nor Ukraine has ruled out negotiations, but their demands are leagues apart. The 10-point peace plan Zelensky released last year demands the full withdrawal of Russian troops "from the territory of Ukraine," including Crimea, the peninsula Putin annexed illegally in 2014 that now serves to facilitate the resupply of his forces inside Ukraine. Moscow, meanwhile, has insisted that Ukraine must acknowledge the new "territorial realities," which has been interpreted to mean that Zelensky and his Western backers must recognize the regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which Russia does not even fully control, as Russian territory, a non-starter for Ukraine as well as the United States. China proposed a 12-point peace plan for the conflict with criteria that few found objectionable, but it has gained little traction since it was introduced in February. The Washington Post's Samuel Oakford contributed to this report. BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 13. Turkiye is starting construction of a larger ship than the TCG Anadolu amphibious assault ship, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, Trend reports via TurkicWorld. "TCG Anadolu was built at our shipyard. It can also accommodate tanks. The ship's crew is 1,400 people," he said. TCG Anadolu, the world's first drone carrier ship, is Turkiye's largest assault ship. The construction of the ship began in 2014, and on July 1, 2020, it was tested. The ship, equipped with modern radars and sensors, is capable of carrying on board about 100 vehicles, including tanks and armored vehicles, as well as amphibious vehicles and boats. In general, its carrying capacity is 27,436 tons. Kzlelma, Hurjet, and Bayraktar TB3 unmanned aerial vehicles will be able to land on the ship's platform. Previously, it was noted that the Turkish Navys largest warship TCG Anadolu entered service. The ceremony was attended by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar, and other officials. Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Thursday remarked that the court has the utmost respect for the parliament and issued notices to President Arif Alvi, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and others during the hearing of petitions challenging a bill clipping the powers of the chief justice. An eight-member larger bench of the Supreme Court took up four petitions challenging a bill seeking to curtail the powers of the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) amid strong criticism from the ruling alliance that has rejected the "controversial bench" hearing the pleas. The CJP noted that independence of the judiciary was an important matter but at the same time said that he had a lot of respect for the parliament. The proposed law is aimed at depriving the office of the CJP of powers to take suo motu notice in an individual capacity. It was initially passed by both houses of parliament and sent to the president for his assent. However, the president had sent it back, saying that the proposed law travelled beyond the competence of parliament. On Monday, the bill was passed by a joint sitting of parliament with certain amendments, amid a noisy protest from PTI lawmakers. In addition to CJP Umar Ata Bandial, the bench hearing the case comprises Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Mohammad Ali Mazhar, Justice Ayesha A. Malik, Justice Syed Hasan Azhar Rizvi and Justice Shahid Waheed. During the hearing today, the court issued notices to the political parties, the federal government, Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan, Pakistan Bar Council (PBC), the Supreme Court Bar Association of Pakistan and other respondents in the case. As the hearing commenced, the petitioners lawyers Advocate Azhar Siddique, Advocate Imtiaz Rashid Siddiqui and Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Awan appeared in the court. At the outset of the hearing, Advocate Imtiaz presented his arguments. He said that in the current scenario, the case held a lot of importance. He stated that ever since the National Assembly was restored in April last year, the political divide and crisis had increased. The federal government and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) are not willing to hold polls in Punjab and KP. The lawyer recalled that the SC had to take a suo motu notice last month and had instructed the government to hold elections. On April 4, the court once again passed the same orders, he said but at the same time highlighted that a deeper crisis had emerged after the apex courts orders. The court and judges were each personally criticised, he pointed out, holding the government and members of the parliament responsible for it. Talking about the bill in question, the lawyer contended that the proposed legislation was an attempt to interfere with the independence of the judiciary. After approval from both houses of the parliament, the bill was sent to the president but he returned it to the National Assembly with objections, he recalled. But on the basis of political differences the presidents objections were not reviewed. Advocate Imtiaz went on to say that the bill will automatically become a law within 10 days after approval from a joint session. He argued that under Article 191 of the Constitution, the SC made its rules itself. Under the new law, decisions regarding suo motu cases and the formation of the benches would be taken by a three-member committee, Imtiaz continued. The basic question is whether this bill is worthy of becoming a law, the lawyer asked, stating that it was illegal for the cabinet to ratify the bill. Bill presentation and approval in the cabinet are both administrative matters. Presenting the bill in the assembly and getting approval is also unconstitutional, he further said and argued that whether the president gave his assent or not, the proposed act would eventually become a part of the law. The Supreme Court can invalidate the bill passed by the Parliament, Imtiaz said. The apex court does not have an existence without the CJP. Only with the appointment of the CJP can the SC be complete. Without the CJP, even if other judges are present, the SC would be incomplete, the lawyer insisted. The powers of the CJP and other judges cannot be reduced. The office of the chief justice cannot be used by another judge. How can he share his office with two other senior judges? he asked. The lawyer further contended that the SC had previously issued various decisions pertaining to the independence of the judiciary and highlighted that the apex court could review the actions of every institution of the state. Referring to the SCs judgment in former NA deputy speaker Qasim Suris controversial ruling case, Imtiaz said that the apex court had declared during the hearings that actions of the parliament could also be reviewed. In the past, the court has declared that a bill cannot be stopped from passing but once it was passed the court could review it. Hence, as per the court decision, the proposed act can be reviewed even before the assent of the president. Continuing his arguments, the lawyer said that the court was the guardian of the Constitution and was empowered to ensure that justice prevailed. All the institutions were bound to adhere to the SCs orders, but the Supreme Court rules cannot be amended by the parliament, he contended. Imtiaz also said that the president was the symbol of the unity of the state and that his role was not just ceremonial. He recalled that the president had clearly called for reviewing the SC (Practice and Procedure) Bill 2023. But after approval from the National Assembly, the bill could not be amended. He further argued that the legislative process was considered to be complete once a bill was approved by the parliament. The order of the court in the present case will not interfere with the pending legislation. The parliament has completed its work, so this [case] cannot be considered an interference, Imtiaz added. Here, the CJP remarked: According to you, the independence of the judiciary is a fundamental right which is fully protected by the Constitution. According to you, just like the parliament and the executive, the judiciary also enjoys constitutional protection, he said. Earlier today, the federal coalition issued a joint statement rejecting the eight-member bench, saying that the apex courts move to form a controversial bench even before the completion of the legislative process was unprecedented and unacceptable. The bill was approved by the federal cabinet on March 28 and the National Assembly passed it a day later after a few amendments suggested by the Standing Committee on Law and Justice. On March 30, it was passed by the Senate and then referred to the president for his approval. The president, however, returned it, with the objection that it was a colourable legislation. In his detailed reply, which he also posted on Twitter, the president said that he thought it fit and proper to return the bill, in accordance with the Constitution, with the request for reconsideration in order to meet the scrutiny about its validity (if assailed in the court of law). He underlined that Article 191 of the Constitution empowered the SC to make rules regulating the practice and procedure of the Court. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, however, had termed the presidents move to be most unfortunate. Through his conduct, he has belittled the august office by acting as a worker of the PTI, one who is beholden to Imran Niazi more than the Constitution and demands of his office, he said. On Monday, the bill was passed by the parliaments joint session with a few amendments. As per the Constitution, the bill will be sent to the president once again for his assent, and if he does not sign it within ten days, assent will be deemed to have been granted. According to the fresh legislation, a three-member bench consisting of the CJP and the two senior-most judges of the apex court will decide whether or not to take up a matter suo motu. Previously, this was solely the prerogative of the CJP. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur was sent to jail on judicial remand by Islamabad judicial magistrate in a case pertaining to threatening government and national institutions. The former federal minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader was produced before the judicial magistrate today. However, accepting his plea, the judicial magistrate Ehtesham Ali rejected the plea of police seeking an extension in physical remand and sent Gandapur to jail on judicial remand. On April 8, a case was registered against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Ali Amin Gandapur at Islamabads Golra police station under section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (ATA). The first information report (FIR) also invoked sections 120B (punishment of criminal conspiracy), 121 (waging or attempting to wage war or abetting waging of war against Pakistan), 121A (conspiracy to commit offences punishable by Section 121), 122 (collecting arms, etc., with intention of waging war against Pakistan), 506 (criminal intimidation) of the Pakistan Penal Code and section 16 of Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance. The National Assembly standing committee on Finance and Revenue unanimously rejected the bill seeking funds for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elections. As per details, the National Assembly standing committee chairman Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said that the committee unanimously rejected the bill seeking extra funds for election in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh said that the funds are not in the budget thats why the committee has rejected the bill. The member of standing committee Khalid Maqsi told the secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) We apologize that you are going empty-handed. The Senate Standing Committee on Finance also rejected the funds bill for elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The chairman of the senate standing committee on Finance said that according to the deal with IMF, the funds are limited and extra funds cannot be released. Earlier, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) told the court in a letter that they still did not receive the funds to conduct the Punjab elections. The one-page report submitted in Supreme Court was signed by the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other members. The report mentioned a lack of funds and security for conducting elections in Punjab. The ECP informed the top court that they didnt receive Rs21 billion yet, sources added. It is important to mention here that a three-member bench of the Supreme Court declared the ECPs order postponing the provincial assembly elections until October 8 as unconstitutional and ordered the government to release Rs21 billion funds for elections in Punjab by April 10 The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) confirmed arresting Iftikhar Rasool Ghumman, who is former prime minister Imran Khan's aide, in a "money laundering" case. The Anti-Money Laundering Cell (AMLC) of the agency busted an internally active racket involved in the illegal business of money laundering based in Lahore and arrested two members of the gang, the FIA said. According to the FIA officials, Ghumman was running a fake international money-laundering network along with Qaisar Mushtaq and Asim Hussain. They said the entire network had been exposed and the people engaged in money laundering through Hundi and Hawala rounded up, adding that the racket was involved in transferring billions of rupees to different countries through illegal ways. It added that the racket was using more than 40 fake companies for transferring money to other countries. Rejecting the FIA allegations, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) sources said Ghumman was a credible party leader and was running established international business in different countries, and that he was authorised to take care of the imports and exports on behalf of the party. A notification (No CS/CO/078/2020) was issued with the signatures of PTI Chief Organiser Saifullah Khan Nyazee on September 30, 2020. Condemning the arrest, the PTI chief said people close to him were being harassed, abducted and tortured. In his tweets, Imran said: When Ali Amin was abducted, the DPO told sessions judge in DIK [Dera Ismail Khan] that he would take a contempt charge but had to take custody of Ali Amin as orders came from above. Today, my security in-charge Iftikhar Ghumman has been abducted. This is all part of the London Plan where Nawaz Sharif was given assurances PTI would be crushed. So now people close to me, along with my leadership, are being harassed, abducted, tortured and confronted with sham cases across Pakistan in total violation of the Constitution and rule of law. PTI Senior Vice President Fawad Chaudhry also condemned Ghummans arrest. He said that vengeful actions were being taken against PTI leaders and workers. He claimed that Khans security in charge was abducted in a fake case. The court heard Karl Gurr was currently serving a lengthy sentence and not due for release until October 2024. A Dublin man who smashed a car window was still sitting in the vehicle when gardai arrived, a court has heard. Karl Gurr (36) had battled addiction issues but was now clean and sober. Judge Maire Conneely imposed a two-month sentence, suspended for two years. The defendant, of Eastham Park, Bettystown, Co Meath, admitted damaging a car window at Ryans Garage, Main Street, in Blanchardstown, on June 8, 2022. Sergeant Maria Callaghan told Blanchardstown District Court gardai received a call that a male had caused damage to a vehicle. Sgt Callaghan said Gurr was sitting in a Seat Leon when gardai arrived, and he had smashed a rear passenger window to get into the car. Gurr also admitted stealing groceries, valued at 155, from Dunnes Stores in Ongar on June 7, 2022. In that incident, Sgt Callaghan said Gurr placed items in a bag and walked out of the shop. He was stopped by security staff and the property was recovered. The court heard Gurr was serving a lengthy sentence and not due for release until October 2024. Defence lawyer Ciaran MacLoughlin asked the judge to be lenient, saying Gurr was ashamed of his behaviour, and wished to apologise for it. Gurr was doing well in custody, and completing an anti-violence programme. He had addiction issues in the past, but was now sober, and focused on keeping his head down in custody. Mr MacLoughlin also said Gurr had good family support. Adjourning the case, Judge Mark Hamill suggested you can pray for a resolution Two east Belfast pastors were charged today with stealing items from a woman they allegedly assaulted. At Newtownards Magistrates Court, 55-year-old Paul Samuel Gray and Carolyn Murray (54) were both charged with three offences alleged to have been committed on February 17 and 18 last year. Gray, from Ballyregan Park and Murray, from Longstone Avenue, both Dundonald, are jointly charged with two counts of common assault of a woman and a single charge of theft of various items worth 575 from the same alleged victim. Neither of the defendants attended Newtownards Magistrates Court and while the alleged facts were not fully opened, defence counsel Conor OKane revealed theyre both pastors. The alleged injured party is a person who converted, or went to their church to be part of that community, said the barrister, adding that there is outstanding disclosure in the case. He told District Judge Mark Hamill there is a possible resolution to have the charges withdrawn so he suggested putting the case back for two weeks. Adjourning the case until May 4 to fix a date for contest, Mr Hamill suggested you can pray for a resolution. Andrew Gray also threw a TV, table, chair and lights from his apartment balcony on to his neighbours balcony, in a separate incident. An unconscious man woke up, lunged and bit the thumb of a garda who was helping to keep him alive, a court has heard. Andrew Gray (42) also threw a TV, table, chair and lights from his apartment balcony on to his neighbours balcony, in a separate incident. Judge Vincent Deane imposed a 16-month sentence, and disqualified Gray from driving for 10 years on an uninsured driving matter. Gray, of Alder Lodge, Farmleigh Woods, in Castleknock, admitted a breach of the peace and assaulting a peace officer, Garda Alex McDermott-Roe, on November 7, 2021. Gda McDermott-Roe told Blanchardstown District Court gardai went to Grays apartment after reports of an unconscious male. A paramedic team was on the way, but Gda McDermott-Roe said he remained on the phone with the Dublin Fire Brigade, who informed him what to do, and told him to try to keep Grays airwaves open. Gda McDermott-Roe said that after 15 or 20 minutes, Gray woke up, lunged toward him and bit him on the right thumb. A quantity of heroin and cannabis was found in the apartment, the garda said. In a separate incident, on October 10, 2021, Garda Ashling Parkinson said the defendant threw some household items, including a TV, chair, table and lights, from his apartment balcony on to the balcony of the victim, causing a small amount of damage. Gray further admitted uninsured driving at Warrenstown Close in Blanchardstown on November 14, 2019, as well as possession of a flat head screwdriver at Park View in Castleknock on March 3, 2020. The court heard Gray had no explanation for having the item when he was stopped and searched by gardai. The court heard the defendant had 16 previous convictions, and was serving a three-year sentence which he received in April 2022. Defence solicitor Terence Hanahoe said Gray first started taking drugs when he was just 13 years old, and had been taking drugs for nearly 30 years. Mr Hanahoe said Gray had managed to get off drugs while in prison, and was doing well. The solicitor asked the judge to be as lenient as possible, saying Gray was a different person now to the man who had first gone into custody. Judge Deane imposed three separate sentences, of four and six months, giving Gray a consecutive sentence of 16 months. Video shows Aer Lingus flight number EI123 landing back at Dublin following the incident An Aer Lingus flight to Chicago has made an emergency landing at Dublin Airport after the plane reportedly flew into a flock of pigeons on take-off. Aer Lingus flight number EI123 is back on the tarmac at Dublin following the incident. According to airlive.net, the Airbus A330-300 had taken off from the North runway at 11.12am but was forced to make a U-turn to carry out an emergency landing. The 16 year-old plane with the registration EI-EIK) landed back at Dublin Airport, on South runway, only 15 minutes later after the bird strike in the number two engine. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content The bird strike apparently caused major vibration from the right engine. The aircraft was met by fire engines as it landed. An inspection is currently underway to see if the flight can be resumed on this plane. One passenger tweeted: My #AerLingus flight EI123 from Dublin to Chicago just had a bird strike in number 2 engine on take-off. Captain says it was a flock of pigeons. Major vibration after takeoff lead to an emergency landing back in Dublin. Happened today April 13 at 12pm. #7700 #emergencylanding. A spokesperson for Aer Lingus said their Dublin to Chicago flight EI123 this afternoon was required to turn back when the aircraft experienced a bird strike shortly after take-off. "The aircraft landed safely at Dublin Airport and all customers and crew are safely disembarking, the spokesperson said. We are working on getting impacted customers to their destination as quickly as possible. Laura was diagnosed with a rare and incurable Neuroendocrine tumour in her pancreas following three years of misdiagnosis The funeral of Longford woman Laura Gilmore Anderson, who passed away in Scotland last weekend following a three year battle with cancer, will take place on Saturday, it has been announced. The much loved former Sligo IT graduate died last Saturday surrounded by her family just two days after her 36th birthday. Laura, diagnosed with a rare and incurable Neuroendocrine tumour in her pancreas following three years of misdiagnosis, had been hoping to fly out to Mexico for potentially life saving treatment. That came after Laura had been informed by doctors she had just weeks to live, prompting a sustained fundraising campaign that saw over 400,000 being raised on both sides of the Irish Sea. However, in a heartbreaking message posted online by her husband Paul last Saturday, it was confirmed the much loved Longford woman had sadly lost her fight. "We are all so proud of her strength and determination in her battle these last few years. Laura has shown us all what an amazing, strong, wonderful, beautiful and courageous woman she was, especially in the past week, not giving up the fight until her final breath," he said. Hundreds of people shared their condolences with the family as they remembered Laura as "an inspiration kindhearted soul like no other". Laura and Paul Close friend Lauren McKeen heaped praise on all those who supported Laura over the past three years and revealed will go towards the Longford woman's chosen charities. "She was the bravest, most courageous girl and truly fought until the very end," she said. "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone that has supported Laura throughout her journey - I know how much your generosity and kind messages meant to her and got her through some of her toughest days. "In Lauras words If love could have saved me, I would have lived forever." Another person wrote: "@help_laura_heal the absolute bed of heaven to her - may God give her partner family and friends the strength and support to carry on in the coming days months and years. God rest her soul". Longford GAA, of whom Lauras father, Brendan was a former chairman of, likewise took to Twitter as news of Lauras passing filtered through. Longford GAA are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Laura Gilmore Anderson today. We extend our deepest sympathies to her husband Paul, her parents Brendan and Anne, and the extended Gilmore and Anderson families at this sad time. The late Laura Gilmore Anderson will lie in repose at Glennon's Funeral Home, Ballinalee Road (N39 EC81) tomorrow from 5.00pm concluding with prayers at 8.00pm. A notice on rip.ie reads: "Laura will be sadly missed and remembered with love by her family, her beloved husband Paul, dear parents Ann and Brendan, sisters Susan, Aisling, Janette and Natalie, brothers Andrew and Stephen, mother-in-law Margaret, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces, nephews, Chip, relatives and a wide circle of friends. "Mass of the Resurrection will take place on Saturday at 11.00am in St.Mels Cathedral, Longford, followed by cremation at 2.30pm in Lakelands Crematorium, Cavan. "In keeping with Laura's wishes, the family would like those attending if they so wish to wear bright colours." WorkSmart for Events Management has announced plans to host an International Business Hub during the debut edition of Gitex Africa. Taking place in Marrakech, Morocco from May 31 to June 2, 2023, the event will be organised by the Dubai World Trade Centre. Designed to revolutionise the international business scene, the hub will offer opportunities for networking, collaboration, and growth, making it a must-attend event for businesses looking to expand their reach and scope. Gitex Africa, the continents largest all-inclusive tech event, will connect tech titans, governments, SMEs, start-ups, coders, investors, and academia, to accelerate, collaborate, and explore new ventures. Digital leaders Digital leaders will showcase their most recent innovations at the exhibition and provide numerous opportunities for collaboration and partnerships with their global counterparts to improve the growth prospects of the technology ecosystem and contribute to the shaping of a new digital economy. WorkSmart will launch the International Business Hub at Gitex Africa over the three days of the event which is considered a curation of emerging technologies from fintech, e-commerce, cloud, IoT, AI, and telecom to cybersecurity. It will amplify the continents digital aspirations and achievements powered by tech-savvy youth, corporates, and ambitious governments. Experts and specialists from renowned international businesses are brought together through the International Business Hub. Its goal is to foster cooperation among the tech, AI, and digital solutions sectors in Africa and around the world. It is an interactive forum focused on market trends, global collaborations, developing markets, and sustainable business prospects. Ambitious event Ahmed AlHujairy, CEO of WorkSmart, stated that this ambitious event takes place at the same time as Africa is experiencing a sharp rise in its economy, society, and a variety of other sectors, and said: This global forum is poised to bring together nearly 5,000 exhibitors from 90 countries, paving the way for groundbreaking advancements in the technology industry. "Amidst an illustrious gathering of global tech leaders, this one-of-a-kind business hub provides a unique opportunity to forge strong commercial ties between participating entities, facilitating successful collaborations and unlocking a wealth of new business prospects. Serving as a premier event at Gitex Africa, it offers an unparalleled platform to deliberate on the latest trends and developments in the technology and digitisation sector and their far-reaching impact on the global economy, according to AlHujairy. -- TradeArabia News Service Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavushoglu said Turkiye and Egypt are taking concrete steps in reappointing ambassadors, following a meeting with his Egyptian counterpart Sameh Shoukry in Ankara on Thursday, Trend reports citing Daily Sabah. "Turkiye and Egypt taking concrete steps to raise diplomatic representation to the level of ambassadors," Cavushoglu told a joint news conference, adding that the two countries will issue a joint statement soon to provide more information about it. Diplomatic relations between Turkiye and Egypt have been maintained at the level of charges d'affaires on both sides since Egypt's 2013 military coup which overthrew late President Mohammed Morsi. Regarding the issue of Libya, Cavushoglu said Turkiye and Egypt are planning to cooperate closely. Libya was among the disputes between the two countries. "We will cooperate more closely regarding Libya from now on. In our meeting today, we (saw) that our views are not essentially very different but that we think differently on some methods," Cavushoglu said. The two countries will work on a roadmap to hold elections in Libya and can work on training and reinforcing a joint military between forces in the east and west of Libya, he said. For his part, Shoukry said there is a mutual will regarding Libya between the two countries and that both countries are on the same page in terms of the formation of a new government to represent the will of the Libyan people and protect the territorial integrity of the country. Shoukry also said there is a strong political will to further enhance Turkiye-Egypt relations. The two ministers said the sides were working toward a possible meeting between Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi of Egypt. It is Mr Bidens third visit to the residence, but his first as US president. Biden greeted by Irish President as day of ceremony in Dublin begins Arriving at Aras an Uachtarain, the official residence of Irish President Michael D Higgins, Joe Biden emerged wearing sunglasses and a broad smile as he walked the red carpet to be met by Mr Higgins and his wife Sabina. It is Mr Bidens third visit to the residence, but his first as US president. He was taken to the drawing room to meet Tanaiste Micheal Martin and Irelands first female secretary-general to the president, Orla OHanrahan. Inmates are refusing to co-operate with the new hi-tech walk-through X-ray Governor of Maghaberry Prison, David Savage (left) and Director General of the Northern Ireland Prison Service Ronnie Armour with the new scanner Inmates at maximum security prison Maghaberry are being slammed into solitary for refusing to walk through hi-tech body scanners. The scanners, described by prison chief Ronnie Armour as a game-changer, were introduced to the prison system last month, bringing Northern Ireland into line with the rest of the UK. But, the Sunday World understands the scheme, which is aimed at preventing the smuggling of contraband goods including drugs, has already hit the buffers. Inmates at Maghaberry have refused to access the walk-through scanner. Sources say prisoners have been placed in solitary confinement over their non-cooperation and that because so many have refused to comply they are being placed in a wing normally used for sex offenders. The scanners were phased in at the beginning of March. Some people in our prisons are determined to traffic contraband into our establishments, however, we are equally determined to stop them, said Mr Armour at the time. Our fight against illegal trafficking has taken a huge step forward with the introduction of X-Ray Body Scanners into Maghaberry, Magilligan and Hydebank. Smuggling is an age-old problem for prison authorities, particularly when it comes to drugs, which are routinely secreted internally. Many other items including mobile phones also find their way behind bars. Illegal drugs confiscated at Maghaberry Prison near Lisburn Sources from inside the prison say inmates view the introduction of the scanners as being on the same level as strip searches and therefore a breach of their human rights. The real reason for their opposition is more obvious. Theres a black market in prison and it ranges from drugs to fags to booze to mobile phones, a prison source told us. Its a war of attrition the screws are always trying to disrupt things but we always find a way, prisoners will resist the scanners as much as possible. Mr Armour said the technology should be seen as a deterrent to those using their bodies to bring in drugs and other illegal items. This really has the potential to be a game-changer in our efforts to thwart their efforts; it will assist in the detection and prosecution of offenders; and as a result will make our prisons safer for our staff, partner agencies and the people in our care, he said. Last month, it was revealed an inmate was facing indefinite segregation over organic material detected by X-ray body scanners. Sean Paul OHalloran claims the technology being used to combat illegal contraband has put him in an impossible situation because he is concealing nothing. The 30-year-old west Belfast man was jailed for common assault, attempted criminal damage and attempted assault on police. He is challenging the Prison Service for subjecting him to full-body X-ray scans and detaining him in a Care and Supervision Unit since his arrival at HMP Maghaberry. The equipment has just been brought in to check new inmates and those returning from temporary release for any drugs, mobile phones, weapons or other prohibited items. OHalloran, who is in custody for the first time, denies attempting to smuggle anything into the jail. In the first case of its kind, OHalloran claims the authority has unlawfully failed to formulate a policy about the use of body scanning X-ray machinery. The case has been listed for early this month. It is understood other prisoners have raised questions over potential health consequences. There are restrictions on the number of times prisoners can pass through the scanner. Female prisoners are exempt from using the scanners. When contacted, the Northern Ireland Prison Service said it did not operate punishment blocks. They literally drove at top speed out of Carlingford after he went to the castle Six sisters who waited for four hours to see US President Joe Biden Six sisters who waited for four hours in the wind and rain in Carlingford yesterday to see US President Joe Biden, said they were very upset that they never got to "even see him". Biden, who is on his first tour of Ireland since becoming American President, spent a couple of hours in his ancestral home in Louth yesterday, and locals expected to see him in Carlingford. However, having arrived at Dublin airport in the afternoon where he was met with bad weather, the President had to be driven to Louth instead of flown - leaving him with less time to meet with locals. Ardee sisters Peggy Ramotar, Mary O'Reilly, Anne Marie Burton, Lily McConnon, Rena Martin and Helen Malone braved the wind and cold weather all afternoon, in Carlingford hoping to catch a glimpse of the President. However, after a short stop at King John's Castle where he was joined by the Taoiseach Micheal Martin, the President was whisked away to Dundalk where he stopped to do photos with locals. Awaiting Biden's arrival Speaking to the Sunday World, Anne Marie Burton said "We were very disappointed Joe never did a walk around in Carlingford. But we had a wonderful day and a great laugh. It was lovely to meet Micheal Martin and he shook our hands and had a lot of time for us". While her sister Mary O'Reilly said "We never even saw the President. We went to Ellen Ruby's cafe, and we stayed in a lovely hotel. We were not there to see the President the timing was a coincidence but when we heard he was coming, we were very excited. I would have loved to have seen him. "I lost my husband Patrick in December and he was a huge fan of Joe Biden he would have been delighted even if he had put the window down and waved at us, but they literally drove at top speed out of Carlingford after he went to the castle, and we were not allowed up there. "It was very disappointing. I have to say though, the atmosphere was fantastic everyone from the locals to the gardai and all the young people made the day for us. We laughed and joked none stop. "The gardai were so helpful and then the Taoiseach came over and shook our hands and he was a gentleman. "I hope Joe Biden enjoys the rest of his trip, we would have loved to have just even seen him, lots of people waited in the lashing rain to see him but it didn't happen". President Biden is due to make a speech in Ballina in Co. Mayo tomorrow where his great great great grandfather Edward Blewitt before moving to the US before flying back to Washington. Nile Gardiner said Mr Biden has gravely insulted Britain in his opinion piece for the Telegraph People awaiting the arrival of US President Joe Biden in Dundalk, Co Louth, on Wednesday. Picture: Niall Carson/PA Wire PA US President Joe Bidens historic trip to Ireland has provoked a strong response from the British press. Mr Bidens visit will mark the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement. His trip has been described by US media as part homecoming, part diplomacy and part politics. CNN said Mr Bidens trip follows in the footsteps of JFKs visit to Ireland five months before his assassination in 1963. Reporter Kevin Liptak said that Kennedy told aides after his visit to Ireland that it was the best four days of my life. 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 New York Times in a news piece said Joe Biden is about to receive the warmest of welcomes. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has also described it as an opportunity "to welcome a son of Ireland home, to welcome home a great Irish-American president". We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content However, Mr Bidens trip to Ireland has not been met with the same warmth by some publications in Britain. Foreign policy analyst Nile Gardiner said Mr Biden has gravely insulted Britain in his opinion piece for the Telegraph. Mr Gardiner, a former aide to Margaret Thatcher, said President Bidens insulting decision to prioritise Ireland over the UK on his visit to mark the anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement should have come as no surprise. He also criticised Biden for not attending the coronation of King Charles in May. No US president has ever attended the coronation of the British monarch. Mr Gardiner described Mr Bidens approach towards Britain, which he labelled traditionally Americas closest friend and ally, as sneering, arrogant and disrespectful. He added that President Biden is putting two fingers up to the monarchy, Great Britain and its illustrious history and that he is no friend of the British people. Political cartoons were also illustrated to express dissatisfaction with Bidens visit. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Mr Biden has also been criticised by senior DUP figures, with MP Sammy Wilson claiming the president has got a record of being pro-republican, anti-unionist, anti-British, while former first minister Arlene Foster has said he hates the UK. Speaking to GB News, Ms Foster said: I just think the fact hes coming here wont put any pressure on the DUP, quite the reverse actually. However, following Bidens speech at Ulster University, DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson told the media the Presidents words were measured and welcomed Mr Bidens visit to Northern Ireland. But Mr Donaldson said the Presidents remarks do not change the political dynamic in Northern Ireland. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content GB News Dan Wootton described Biden as an anti-British President and said he has a deep hatred of the United Kingdom. The suggestion that Mr Biden was anti-British was rejected by Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the US National Security Council. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content She said: Its simply untrue the fact that the president is going to be engaging for the third time in three months, and then again next month and then again in June, with the prime minister of the UK shows how close our co-operation is with the UK. President Biden obviously is a very proud Irish-American, he is proud of those Irish roots, but he is also a strong supporter of our bilateral partnership with the UK. Officials in India where cases have exploded 13-fold within a month are already running mock drills The new strain is on its way The most contagious variant of Covid-19 yet discovered is believed to be behind an explosion of cases in India with some researchers predicting it will spread worldwide in the near future. Arcturus, a spin-off of Omicron, is not thought to be more lethal than other types currently circulating, which cause a much milder disease that closely resembles the flu. But officials in India where cases have exploded 13-fold within a month are already running mock drills to check how prepared its hospitals are for another wave of patients. And in some areas face masks have been brought back in public settings for the first time for more than a year. 'Arcturus' is the name that has been given to Omicron subvariant XBB.1.16, which a spin-off strain, similar to that of the Kraken variant (XBB.1.5). Since it emerged in March and it has been identified in 22 countries, but the largest outbreak by far is in India wher there has been a surge in cases. The Word Health Organisation says 'Arcturus' has mutations on its spike protein that could increase its ability to infect people as well as trigger disease hie Japanese researchers have suggested it is 1.2 times more infectious than the already super transmissible Kraken. There is no evidence it increases severity of disease and early results suggest 'Arcturus' does not have any increased ability to evade protection from vaccines compared to other Omicron spin-offs However, India's Ministry of Health said there were 40,215 active Covid cases on April 12, up by 3,122 in just one day, while separate figures from the Oxford University-run platform Our World in Data show that new daily cases hit 3,108 on April 4, up from 242 one month earlier. Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO's Covid technical lead, said it had been in circulation for a few months. We haven't seen a change in severity in individuals or in populations, but that's why we have these systems in place, Dr Kerkhove said. It has one additional mutation in the spike protein which in lab studies shows increased infectivity as well as potential increased pathogenicity. Dr Van Kerkhove added that while XBB.1.16 had been detected in other countries most sequences were from India, where it had replaced other variants. She also said that thus far there had been no reported change in disease severity in XBB.1.16 infections. But a pre-print study by Japanese scientists from the University of Tokyo suggested Arcturus is 1.2 times more infectious than the closely related Kraken Covid strain. Uploading their findings to the biology research website bioRxiv, they wrote that this advantage suggests the new variant will spread worldwide in the near future. They attributed this to mutations that could make it more difficult for the immune system to tackle and increase its growth rate. However, they said there is no evidence that Arcturus had any greater ability to evade the protection offered by vaccines or prior infection compared to Kraken. Kraken was the dominant strain in the UK by the end of February, causing 50.4pc of cases, according to ONS data, while Orthrus was behind at 19.7pc. Technically XBB.1.5, the Omicron spin-off was considered the most infectious Covid variant yet and sparked concern after triggering a surge in cases in several countries. However while it triggered more cases, the new strain did not cause more severe disease than its ancestor Omicron, already considered a 'milder' version of Covid. The rise in cases triggered by Arcturus has led the Indian state of Haryana, in the north of the country, to reintroduced masks in public places due to the 'significant upsurge' in Covid cases. Veena George, Health Minister of southern state Kerala, on Saturday reintroduced masks for pregnant women, the elderly and those with underlying conditions. On Monday and Tuesday, hospitals across India took part in mock drills to test their preparedness. I still believe that its a possibility that I could be Madeleine, she declared. The Polish woman who claimed to be Madeleine McCann has apologised to the McCann family after a DNA test proved she was not the missing girl. Julia Wendell, who also goes by Julia Faustyna or Julia Wandelt, caused a stir online after saying she could be Madeleine, who disappeared from Praia da Luz in 2007 as a toddler, due to similarities in their appearances. The 21-year-old even created the @IamMadeleineMcCann Instagram account where she queried whether she was the three-year-old who vanished on a the family vacation in Portugal. However, when she took a DNA test to find out if she is related to Kate and Gerry McCann the results proved negative. It wasnt my intention to bring sadness or any other negative emotion to anyone, especially to McCanns family, Faustyna said in a lengthy, 17-page statement on social media late on Tuesday. Despite various posts on social media and an appearance on Dr Phil, Faustyna went on to insist that she never actually claimed to be the missing toddler rather that shed only posed the question that she might be. I dont remember most of my memories, but I can remember some things and I never said that I am Madeleine McCann, she said. I used this sentence to create a nickname for my old Instagram account, it was my mistake and I know it and I apologies for that because I should use words Am I Madeleine McCann? not I Am. So, it was my fault. She added: My main purpose was always to find out who I am and what exactly happened in my very hurtful past. However, elsewhere in her statement she still suggests that there is still a chance she could be the missing girl. I still believe that its a possibility that I could be Madeleine, she declared. Kate and Gerry McCann havent ever commented publicly about Faustynas claims. When asked for an update on the search for their daughter via the Official Find Madeleine Campaign on Facebook, a spokesperson for the British couple said: There isn't anything to report at this time. If and when there is, it will come from The Metropolitan Police. The Polish woman went to great lengths to prove she was the missing girl. She had submitted samples for three different forensic examinations to outline her DNA and a 23andMe-style genetic test to establish her ancestry. On social media, Faustyna attempted to prove her case by pointing out physical similarities between herself and Madeleine including a brown smudge on each girls right eye. During an appearance on Dr Phil, Faustyna denied her biological parents claim that she stole her own birth certificate and childhood photos to hide her true identity. In a written statement aired during the show, Faustynas parents said it was obvious that Julia isnt Maddie. For us as a family it is obvious Julia is our daughter, granddaughter, sister, niece, cousin and step niece. We have memories, we have pictures, they said. Julia also has these photos because she took them from the family home with the birth certificate, as well as numerous hospital discharges. Julia had travelled over the US from Poland ahead of the DNA test to meet with award-winning psychic medium and private investigator Dr Fia Johansson, who was granted power of attorney over the young woman. Dr Johansson confirmed in an Instagram statement that the Pole had returned to Europe after receiving her test results. Julia's test results are back. We finally know the reality, she explained. The test results revealed that she is a 100pc of Polish heart, with negligible influence from Lithuania and Russia. The DNA test results did not show any connection to British or even German roots. She is a small percentage of Lithuanian and Russian but the test results show she is Polish. This story is much more complicated than a simple girl from a small town in Poland making a claim to get attention, Dr Johansson added. She truly believed what she was saying, and with so many questions about her childhood it is easy to understand where she was coming from. What is amazing is (the) parents refusal to resolve this nagging question for Julia. In any case, upon the revelation, she decided to be back with her dad. I personally wish her well. The Irish actor said the critics response to the 2004 flick was the lowest point in his career. Colin Farrell accepts the Best Actor in a Motion Picture at the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards. Photo: Rich Polk/Getty Images NBC via Getty Images Colin Farrell has opened up about feeling so much shame after his film Alexander bombed at the box office almost two decades ago. The Irish actor, who won a Golden Globe earlier this year for his starring role in The Banshees of Inisherin, said the critics response to the 2004 flick was the lowest point in his career. Farrell played Alexander the Great in the blockbuster - which also starred Angelina Jolie, Val Kilmer, Jared Leto, and Anthony Hopkins and thought the film was an Oscar shoo-in. Expectation is a dangerous thing... It took us six months to shoot, on three continents. It was incredible. When I say expectation, we all had our tuxedos ready. Im not even joking. We were all like, Right, lads, were off to the Oscars. This is a sure thing, the Castleknock man told the Hollywood Reporter. Colin Farrell in the 2004 film Alexander. (Photo by Steve Schapiro/Corbis via Getty Images) Corbis via Getty Images And then it came out. The reviews came out, and I remember someone going, Oh God, its not good. And my publicist going, Its really not good. I was like, Well, what do you mean not good? There wasnt any Rotten Tomatoes then, so they had all the printed reviews, and one after another was telling me to pack my bags, Id been found out: Alexander the Dull, Alexander the Boring, Alexander the Inarticulate, Alexander the Weak. Colin said the backlash caused him to re-evaluate his entire career and skills as an actor. I was like, Holy shit. I thought, What can I do? I felt so much shame. I found myself in a place where with everyone I met I wanted to say, Have you seen Alexander? If you have, Im really sorry. Im not even joking. So I went to Lake Tahoe to a ski resort. I didnt ski, but I realized I could wear a mask and a beanie, and I did that for three days. And then after that, yeah, I did question. I went, Im just shite at it. Im a crap actor. Ive been found out. He admitted that he had to work really hard to get back on the horse after the setback. Alexander really made me go, I dont know. And what I had to do was plug back into the Colin that went into an acting class when he was 17. And not only the fellow that went in the first time, but more importantly the fellow that went back for the second workshop. I had lost that. Crews from Limerick city, Cappamore and Shannon responded within two minutes to a report of a blaze at a property in the city last week Firefighters at the scene of the blaze in Limerick The New York-based anchor at the news station praised Limerick Fire and Rescue Service for their battle in containing the blaze that engulfed two adjoining properties on the Ennis Road. Crews from Limerick city, Cappamore and Shannon responded within two minutes to a report of a blaze at a property in the city last week. Limerick Fire and Rescue Service said they fought a well-developed fire in a roof in two semi-detached properties. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content Given the limited access around the properties to use an aerial appliance, crews fought the fire from several fire service ladders, they tweeted. Firefighters spent over four hours at the scene on Tuesday night, April 4. Taking to Twitter, Ms Quinn wrote: Immeasurable gratitude to Limerick, Shannon, and Cappamore firefighters for saving our childhood home after an hours-long effort. She was born and raised in Limerick but moved to the US in 2004 where she joined Bloomberg in 2006 after the completion of her studies at Columbia University. Having interviewed US and global central bankers, presidents, prime ministers and other legislators, she has been awarded the ABC Frank Reynolds Fellowship, a French government medal, a Swiss Government Scholarship, and a National University of Ireland Travelling Studentship. A Garda spokesperson told the Limerick Leader, the fire had spread to an adjoining property on the Ennis Road. Fire Services attended the scene and the fire was brought under control. Significant damage was caused to both properties. "There were no persons present at the time of the incident and no injuries were reported, said a garda spokesperson. ADS ADS Today, under the impetus of Denis Flageollet, founder and Master-Watchmaker of De Bethune, Reuge is opening up to contemporary creativity, welcoming the chance for a new lease on life, while respecting and enhancing its unique skills firmly rooted in its native soil over 150 years. To bring this new energy to the brand, this fresh and sensitive touch, the team includes Clara Martin, a youthful designer driven by an insatiable curiosity for textures, shapes and expertise. Together with the men and women of the Manufacture based in the Swiss Jura town of Sainte-Croix who possess the sophisticated knowledge of mechanical music, they work on rare, precious objects offering a sensory and sensitive experience that is new, unique and surprising. Above and beyond all the music of the world that is within reach, Denis Flageollet with Clara Martins help aims to transport mechanical music into an imaginary universe of mischief and fearlessness, reproducing the sincere and spontaneous childhood exhilaration that stimulates these lost states of wonder and innocence. Liberte Reuge Energy, the fundamental material of true artworks? Observe! Respect! Rethink! Explore! Their creative energy stimulates the reinterpretation of Reuge's themes, leading them towards new, more contemporary paths, in line with our current society and values. Our era responds less to the search for speed or artificial enhancements and more to a quest for true roots, for a more natural, soft, fresh and subtle inspiration. By understanding material, by grasping the nature of movement, nurtured by the creation of unique experiences whether private or shared offering physical and sensorial interactions instilled by setting objects into motion, Denis Flageollet invites us to the poetic wonderment, the unexpected enchantment of sound mechanics. Auditory research pursued from all angles Because here we are at the very heart of the matter. The unconstrained exploration of the sound instrument. Music, but much more than that! Wind, breath, sounds of Nature, animal life, plant life... their boundless inspiration represents the new starting point for Reuge. This represents a whole new freedom of expression! A new field of exploration! Mechanical Sound. One that only four artisans still master. This ancestral manual skill, this knowledge unique in the world and which must endure. Denis Flageollet is doing his utmost to restore Reuge to its rightful place as the enchanting pearl of Swiss art mechanics. Liberte Reuge A whole new take on the emblematic birdcage! The "birdcage". Reinventing, reinterpreting, revisiting this iconic piece of art mechanics: such was the choice made by Denis Flageollet as a way of pointing out Reuges future. Its name? Liberte, as if echoing the renewed freedom enjoyed by the Manufacture. The cage opens and adapts to its environment, allowing the songbirds to chirp and move freely. Perched on a rock next to a stretch of water, they talk, chat, converse... As if by magic, the forged metal branch supporting the tableau picks up the iconic profile of the Reuge birdcage. The natural elements encircle and support this creation, lending it a more organic appearance. The digital watch function visible on the perimeter of the base, as well as the dial housed beneath the cage, also bring a new function. Finally, the various elements of the object are crafted using techniques already featured in ancient or modern art mechanics. Hanging in an entrance hall, it also evokes the famous vestibule clocks adorning beautiful 18th century residences. Thus diverting existing codes, modifying dimensions and changing applications allows the unexpected to emerge. The story of the scene unfolding before observers eyes invites them to give free rein to their imagination. Nature is magnified and the object is inspired by it without artificially imposed constraints. It retains mechanical and technical codes while exploring a correlation rather than a confrontation with its environment. In short, a reinterpretation of codes adapted to a resolutely contemporary vision. The government's Three Waters project is moving from four entities to 10 with its start date pushed out by two years. Ironically, its move to rebrand the project as the "Affordable Water Reforms" comes with a bigger pricetag for ratepayers than under the old model. The government says the change will mean individual councils will have a bigger say over the water service entities. Photo: RNZ / Samuel Rillstone. In a statement, Local Government Minister Kieran McAnulty says the entities will also start delivering water services from July 1, 2026, at the latest, two years after the 2024 start date promised by his predecessor. Hipkins had tasked McAnulty - who took over the portfolio from Nanaia Mahuta after Hipkins became prime minister - with taking the reform programme back to the drawing board after fierce backlash from councils and political opponents. The reforms are aimed at helping curb the costs of upgrading water infrastructure across New Zealand, which was reviewed by the previous National government after the 2016 Havelock North campylobacter outbreak. The review found annual water rates bills would need to increase by up to $9000 by 2051 to pay the up to $185 billion bill for the necessary upgrades and maintenance, as well as preparing for climate change. Today's announcement has an update to that figure, suggesting increases of up to $9730 by 2054. The government now says its 10-entity solution will cut on average up to $5400 off that bill, but that compares to the up to $8200 in estimated savings by 2051 claimed by Nanaia Mahuta under the four-entity model in June 2021. This means the new model would be delivering what appears to be up to $2800 less in savings to households, but the comparison may not be direct. Some districts would see much greater savings than the $5400 figure - such as Waitomo, expected to see what would be a $21,500 water bill cut by $18,730 under the reforms, an 87 per cent cut. McAnulty talks up the benefits of moving to a 10-entity plan. "Under our proposal to establish 10 entities, New Zealand households will still make big savings," he says. "The feedback has been overwhelmingly clear that our water infrastructure deficit needs to be addressed now if we're to save households from ballooning bills that will make water unaffordable, but also that the reform programme must be led at a regional level - we have listened closely and absolutely agree. "By extending the number of publicly owned water entities to 10, every district council in the country will have a say and representation over their local water services entities through regional representative groups." He says these representative groups will include "a partnership between council representatives and iwi/Maori that will provide strategic oversight and direction to the entities". Answering media questions, Prime Minister Chris Hipkins says the 50-50 policy for mana whenua and the councils on the representative groups, "it's not co-governance, and it wasn't co-governance". "There will be regional advisory groups that will include representation from mana whenua and of course representation from every local council. "The advisory groups are only one form of that, there's also an ability for example for the Te Mana o Te Wai statements, and we've introduced an equivalent for other significant interested parties in water use to also have a say in that." The prime minister says the modelling suggests fewer groups lead to greater efficiency, "but this is still going to be significantly more efficient than what we're doing now". McAnulty says he has listened to the feedback from councils and has been working closely with local government leaders ahead of the decision. "These reforms are absolutely essential. Leaving things as they are will mean an unaffordable rate bill." About 30 councils banded together under the Communities 4 Local Democracy (C4LD) group to oppose the government's proposals, and in a statement said they were disappointed the government had refused to make meaningful changes. They say it has been turned into an election issue, rather than seeking consensus. C4LD co-chairs Helen Worboys and Dan Gordon say New Zealanders will see it is the same plan with a different name. "Simply adding more entities and changing the name is a desperate attempt to save this plan and attempt to show they've done something with the $100 million they've sunk into this process so far. "Unfortunately, instead of listening to what communities are asking for, the government once again thinks it knows better and is serving up a reheated version of the same unpalatable, unpopular plan." -RNZ. Addtional reporting by Russell Palmer/RNZ. In a nuthsell 10 new regionally owned and led public water entities to be established. New approach avoids a rates blow out and delivers savings to households between $2,770-$5,400 per year by 2054. Entities will be owned by local councils on behalf of the public, and entity borders to be based on existing regional areas. Each entity to be run by a professional board, with members appointed on competency and skill. Strategic oversight and direction to be provided by local representative groups with every local council in the country, as well as mana whenua, getting a seat at the table. On an evening of aroha, aspiration and some very nicely turned phrases, Police and many partners gathered at Parliament to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the Race Unity Speech Awards. The awards began in 2001 and are held annually, giving year 11-13 students nationwide 5000 of them over the years - a platform to speak about an aspect of race relations in New Zealand. Commissioner Andrew Coster and Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha led Polices representation at the anniversary event, marking the significance of Polices role as principal sponsor since 2008. Among the VIP guests were Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, members of the diplomatic community, MPs and representatives of the Bahai faith, founders of the competition. Race Relations Commissioner Meng Foon, left Police Commissioner Andrew Coster, Bev Watson, Minister Andersen, Minister Radhakrishnan, Suzanne Mahon, National Spiritual Assembly of Baha'is NZ (partly obscured), and Deputy Commissioner Wally Haumaha. Photo: New Zealand Police. The celebration on 4 April delayed by COVID-19 restrictions - was hosted by Police Minister Ginny Andersen and Minister for Diversity, Inclusion and Ethnic Communities Priyanca Radhakrishnan. Minister Andersen says she was proud to be part of the history of the awards, having been present in her then role in Policy at Police in 2008 as the discussions around sponsorship took place. Commissioner Coster put Polices support of the awards into the context of the organisations extensive work with communities. It is perhaps seen as somewhat unusual for a Police agency to sponsor such an event, but I think this underscores how New Zealand Police like to do things a little differently, he told the gathering. This included becoming, in 2005, the first government agency to adopt an Ethnic Strategy; collaboration with communities on uniform projects such as creating an operational hijab and turban; and providing multi-faith prayer rooms on police premises. It continues in programmes addressing crime and victimisation in a holistic manner - such as Gandhi Nivas Early intervention family harm programme and Te Pae Oranga. Our participation in the awards demonstrates our continued successful investment in proactive discussions on racism over such a long period of time. Commissioner Coster picked up on the theme of the 2022 awards programme Nga matimati no te ringa kotahi, the fingers of one hand to address work designed to tackle hate crime and create a victim-centric response. The programme is called Te Raranga The Weave, which has a vision to bring people, whanau, agencies, and communities together like the fingers of one hand and work together to reduce hate crime in Aotearoa. Minister Radhakrishnan with awards participants Mira Karunanidhi, left, Nora Quigley and Te Ariki Te Puni. Photo: New Zealand Police. A number of past winners and other participants in the awards programme were present at the celebration. Lucia-Tui Bernards, winner in 2021 and daughter of Superintendent Tracey Thompson and the late Inspector Tony Bernards, performed a karakia. Three other participants took part in a panel discussion with Minister Radhakrishnan. Commissioner Coster recounted how the path to Police becoming sponsor began in 2005 when Constable, now Superintendent, Rakesh Naidoo acted as a judge at a regional heat in Christchurch then approached headquarters for support. He thanked Rakesh and Wally chief judge of the awards for their commitment. Bev Watson, from the Bahai community, took Wally by surprise, presenting him with a carved hoe, or paddle, in acknowledgement of his contribution over the years. Wally says it had been a privilege to listen to the rangatahi Kiwis from many nationalities, speaking in many languages. All they want is to be treated equally, with fairness and equality and the right to express themselves and be free in a country thats safe. Commissioner Coster says views expressed during the speech awards had impacted our approach to policing and the discourse on race relations in New Zealand. Our rangatahi are the leaders of today and tomorrow, which is why it is so vitally important they have a say about the environment they want to be part of and grow in and share widely what they have to say, he says. Or as Mira Karunanidhi, one of the participants in the panel discussion, put it: Our voices might be loud but our silence will be even louder if we dont stand up to discriminatory behaviour and racism when we see it. By the numbers Western Bay of Plenty mayor James Denyer welcomes the Governments Three Waters reform changes saying it has the potential to create greater acceptance nationwide. Prime Minister Chris Hipkins and local government minister Kieran McAnulty announced changes to the reforms this morning, now rebranded as Affordable Water Reforms. The major changes are that the four entities that would have managed water assets have been increased to 10 and the start date has been pushed out by two years. The 10 entities will now run along regional boundary lines. The Bay of Plenty will have its own entity comprising of Tauranga City, Western Bay of Plenty, Rotorua Lakes, Kawerau, Opotiki, and Whakatane. The government says the change will mean individual councils will have a bigger say over the water service entities while retaining the separation from direct council control, which allows the entities to borrow larger sums. McAnulty was tasked with relooking at the reform programme after it attracted strong criticism from councils, the public and political opponents. He says in a statement: The feedback has been overwhelmingly clear that our water infrastructure deficit needs to be addressed now if were to save households from ballooning bills that will make water unaffordable. But also that the reform programme must be led at a regional level - we have listened closely and absolutely agree. By extending the number of publicly owned water entities to 10, every district council in the country will have a say and representation over their local water services entities through regional representative groups, forming a partnership between council representatives and iwi/Maori that will provide strategic oversight and direction to the entities. Denyer says he was pleased the government listened to councils and the community. Its clear these changes reflect some criticism of the original proposal and that the mega-entities would not be close enough to the communities they serve. Providing every mayor of every local authority with a seat at the table of their respective entity will guarantee the priorities of local communities are heard and make it easier to retain a local workforce. A map showing the regional boundaries for the water service entities under the proposed rework of the legislation. Photo: New Zealand Government. The regional representation groups will still be comprised of a 50/50 mix of mana whenua and a representative from each of the local authorities. These groups will provide strategic oversight and direction but the entities will be run by a professional board with board members elected based on competency and skill. The reforms aim to help reduce the costs of upgrading water infrastructure across New Zealand. These reforms are absolutely essential. Leaving things as they are will mean unaffordable rate bills, says McAnulty. The cost of meeting the upgrades needed for our water systems is projected to be up to $185 billion over the next 30 years. Local councils cannot afford this on their own, and households in some areas could see rates rise up to $9,730 per year by 2054 if we do nothing. Information provided by the government showed the estimated average cost per household for water services would be $6130 in Tauranga City in 2054 under the current model. In the Western Bay of Plenty the average cost in 2054 would be $6980 if reform didnt occur. Under the entity model the average cost for each household in the Bay of Plenty region would be $2780. This equates to saving of $3,350 in Tauranga and $4,200 saving for Western Bay homes. The new water services entities would start delivering water services from July 1 2026 at the latest with entities able to start before this if they were ready. Tauranga City Council was approached for comment and a spokesperson responded: Tauranga City Council commissioners and staff are taking some time to consider the changes announced and their ramifications in terms of the three waters reform process. Public Interest Journalism funded through NZ On Air MetService is issuing a severe thunderstorm and severe weather watch for the Coromandel Peninsula and far western Bay of Plenty. Heavy rain and localised downpours are possible for central and southern Coromandel Peninsula and far western Bay of Plenty. The severe thunderstorm watch is in place for the Coromandel and Bay of Plenty from 2am Friday, April 14 to 11am the same day. The heavy rain watch is in place for the Coromandel Peninsula about and south of Hikuai and Bay of Plenty north of Katikati from 2am Friday April 14 to 11am. "Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria," says a MetService spokesperson. "A trough is expected to become slow moving over central and southern parts of Coromandel Peninsula early Friday morning, bringing periods of rain and possible thunderstorms and localised downpours. "A Watch for Heavy Rain is now in force for Coromandel Peninsula about and south of Hikuai and Bay of Plenty north of Katikati. A Severe Thunderstorm Watch is also in place for the same area for thunderstorms and localised downpours. "Please keep up to date with the latest forecasts "Should severe weather approach or if you feel threatened, take shelter immediately. Note: A Severe Thunderstorm Watch means conditions are favourable for severe thunderstorms in and close to the watch area. People in these areas should be on the lookout for threatening weather conditions and monitor for possible Severe Thunderstorm Warnings. MetService Severe Thunderstorm Watch Area: Coromandel Peninsula, Bay of Plenty Valid: 9 hours from 2:00am Fri 14 Apr to 11:00am Fri 14 Apr Heavy Rain Watch Area: Coromandel Peninsula about and south of Hikuai and Bay of Plenty north of Katikati Valid: 9 hours from 2:00am Fri 14 Apr to 11:00am Fri 14 Apr Forecast: "Periods of heavy rain. Thunderstorms and localised downpours possible, with rainfall rates of 25 to 40mm/h or possibly more. Rainfall amounts may approach warning criteria." For the latest Tauranga forecast, visit the MetService website. Cash App Founder Bob Lee's Tragic Death Shocks Tech Community (Photo : Youtube/Screenshot) Authorities in San Francisco have apprehended a suspect in connection with the stabbing death of Bob Lee, the tech mogul and founder of Cash App, as reported by local media. Lee was discovered with fatal stab wounds in the affluent Rincon Hill area of the city at approximately 2:30 a.m. on April 4. Security footage revealed the chilling final moments of his life, as he stumbled down the sidewalk, seeking assistance from a passing motorist and pounding on a door for help. Advertisement Despite not finding aid in either location, Lee managed to dial 911 himself. Krista Lee, the victim's former wife with whom he shared two children, informed Fox News on Thursday that she received a call from authorities notifying her of the arrest of Nima Momeni, a man she had never met before. She expressed her elation with the apprehension and her intention to collaborate with authorities moving forward. Mission Local, a local news outlet, reported that the suspect was detained early on Thursday. San Francisco jail records reveal that Momeni, aged 38, was booked around 9:20 a.m. PT on Thursday on a first-degree murder charge. According to Krista Lee's interview with Oakland-based FOX 2, the arrest represents the "first step toward justice" for her ex-husband, with whom she remained close following their divorce. Matt Dorsey, a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors, expressed his gratitude to the city's police force via Twitter. "Obviously, nothing can undo this senseless crime, and we reiterate our condolences to Mr. Lee's family members, friends and colleagues," he wrote. "But I hope today's arrest can begin a process of healing and closure for all those touched by this tragedy." After discovering Lee in a critical condition, responding officers transported him to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. The San Francisco police department has yet to provide a statement in response to inquiries for comment. Crime statistics for San Francisco reveal that most major crimes have decreased in 2023 compared to the same period last year. However, a slight overall increase in violent crimes has been observed, fueled by an 18% surge in robberies and a 33% rise in homicides. The number of felony assaults has remained steady, while misdemeanor assaults have seen a 13% increase, according to the data. Former Gibraltar Commissioner of Police charged with sexual assault Ian McGrail was arrested at his home this Thursday morning, 13 April, in connection with an alleged sexual assault on a female police officer in 2018 Gibraltars former Commissioner of Police Ian McGrail has been arrested. Anthony Piovesan Gibraltar Compartir Copiar enlace WhatsApp Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Telegram Gibraltars former Commissioner of Police Ian McGrail has been arrested and charged with sexual assault. The Royal Gibraltar Police issued a statement this Thursday afternoon, 13 April, confirming Mr McGrail had been arrested in the morning at his home address. The alleged offence took place at the New Mole House Police Station while Mr McGrail was the Commissioner of Police. He retired in 2020. Senior Investigating Officer John McVea said: Further to information received, I was asked by the Commissioner of Police to lead an independent criminal investigation into an alleged sexual assault on a female police officer in 2018. The allegation was against the former Commissioner of Police, Mr Ian McGrail. Shortly before 7am this morning, Mr McGrail was arrested at his home on suspicion of sexual assault. Mr McGrail was taken to New Mole House Police Station for questioning and was charged. He will appear before the Magistrates Court tomorrow, Friday 14 April. Mr McGrail was previously arrested in March in connection with a public enquiry regarding a data breach. President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday said Russia was trying to erase Ukraine's history and culture after a strike on a museum killed one employee and wounded 10. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. Ithaca, N.Y. A man who abducted an Ithaca woman and had a shootout with Virginia State Police after a pursuit has been charged, troopers said. The woman, Tatiana David, 34, was found dead after the shootout. Michael Davis, 34, abducted David on her birthday on April 5 in Ithaca, according to New York and Virginia State Police. Davis drove her to Virginia where he was stopped by troopers and then drove off. The pursuit ended when he crashed and got into a shootout with officers. Davis was taken to a Virginia hospital with life-threatening injuries, troopers said. On Wednesday, he was charged with one count of abduction, Virginia troopers said. He is still in the hospital but is in the custody of the Prince William County Adult Detention Center, Virginia troopers said. Davis abducted David at 7:20 a.m. April 5 from 110 West Hill Circle in Ithaca, according to an alert from the New York State Police. Police issued an alert that she could possibly be with Davis in a White Jeep Cherokee. The alert said to not approach the pair but to call 911 if they were spotted. A witness reported to police Davis forced David into the Jeep against her will, troopers said. David and Davis knew each other from a previous relationship and have a four-year-old child together, troopers said. At 9:45 p.m. that day the pair were spotted inside the Jeep traveling south on Interstate 95 in Fairfax County in Virginia, troopers said. The Jeep had the wrong plates on it and had been flagged as wanted in New York for the abduction of a woman, they said. A trooper pulled the Jeep over and walked up to it and spoke with David and Davis, troopers said. When the officer walked back to the patrol car and matched the driver to Davis the Jeep took off, troopers said. Davis sped away and near mile marker 152 the Jeep crashed into a guard rail but kept going, troopers said. Near Exit 148 in Prince William County the Jeep went off the highway and crashed into woods, troopers said. Troopers approached the Jeep and Davis opened fire at them from the drivers seat, troopers said. The troopers shot back. Once Davis stopped shooting troopers approached and pulled them both from the Jeep to give them medical attention, troopers said. It was not specified if David and Davis were shot or if the injuries came from the crashes. David was pronounced dead at the scene, troopers said. Davis, of Richmond, Va., was airlifted to Inova Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries, troopers said. No police officers were injured. A Fairfax County police officer was also involved in the incident, troopers said. The troopers have been placed on administrative leave, as is normal policy, troopers said. An autopsy is being conducted on David, troopers said. Troopers from New York and Virginia are working together regarding the abduction investigation, troopers said. Update Friday: Senior Assistant District Attorney Joe Coolican explained why the man was not charged. He was licensed to carry a gun in Texas, he said. When someone is licensed, prosecutors dont file charges becaue they assume the person made a mistake, he said. Original article Syracuse, N.Y. A 27-year-old man from Texas who tried to get on a plane with a loaded weapon in Syracuse this weekend will not face local criminal charges, according to airport officials. The man was carrying a loaded .40-caliber handgun Saturday when the firearm was spotted in a checkpoint X-ray machine, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration said in a news release. The gun had one bullet in the chamber and 11 bullets in the magazine, it said. The TSA declined to identify the man, referring questions to local police. The TSA turned the case over to the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Police Department. Asked by Syracuse.com | The Post-Standard for the name of the man, airport officials Wednesday identified the man as Daniel J. Smith, of Sangar, Texas. Smith will not be charged locally, airport officials said. Airport police consulted with the Onondaga County District Attorneys Office, they said. Asked twice why the man faced no charges, airport officials did not answer the question. The information on the gun has been shared with federal authorities, and charges or fines may be filed at a later date, airport officials said. TSA, however, has said in the past that criminal charges are up to local police, not the TSA. A person can face federal civil fines, the TSA has said. Smith told TSA officials he drove to New York state from his home in Texas and that he forgot he had the gun with him when he got ready to to board the plane. After Smith was interviewed by airport police officers, he was allowed to get on his flight. His weapon was confiscated by the Syracuse Regional Airport Authority Police Department. Airport officials said Smith will need to find someone with a federal firearm license in Texas to help him get the gun back. TSA said firearms need to be in checked luggage and declared at the airline check-in counter. The firearm will be placed in the cargo area of the plane during a flight. Staff writer Darian Stevenson covers breaking news, crime and public safety. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at dstevenson@syracuse.com LONDON (AP) Prince Harry will attend his fathers coronation, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday, ending months of speculation about whether the prince would be welcome after leveling charges of racism and media manipulation at the royal family. His wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will remain at the couples home in Southern California with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the palace said. A nearly identical statement from the Sussexs representatives confirmed the news. The May 6 date of the coronation at Westminster Abbey coincides with their sons birthday. While the announcement should silence the will he or wont he debate in the British media, it wont end the royal soap opera swirling around Harry and Meghan as King Charles III prepares for his coronation. When the prince attended the funerals of his grandfather, Prince Philip, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, commentators discussed everything from whether Harry would be allowed to wear his military uniform to exactly where he was seated. And there is always the question of whether he will meet face-to-face with his father and older brother, Prince William. That intrigue will only be heightened after Harry and Meghan stoked their critique of the royal family in a six-part Netflix series about their decision to step back from royal duties three years ago, which was followed by Harrys decision to reveal family secrets in his bestselling memoir Spare. Harry and Meghan, who is biracial, have alleged she faced racist attitudes from both the palace and the U.K. press. The treatment contributed to their decision to leave the country. The revelations in Spare, including details of private conversations with his father and brother, Prince William, fanned tensions between Harry and his family that became public when he and his wife moved to North America in 2020. The book also included allegations that members of the royal family regularly feed the press unflattering information about other members of the House of Windsor in exchange for positive coverage of themselves. The prince singled out Camilla, the queen consort, accusing her of leaking private conversations to the media as she sought to rehabilitate her image after marrying Charles. Camilla was once reviled for her long-term affair with Charles, which contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to the late Princess Diana, Harry and Williams mother. The acrimony between Harry and his family once again spilled into public view last month when the Sussexes said that they had been asked to vacate their home in Britain. Frogmore Cottage, a royal residence on the grounds of Windsor Castle west of London, was the couples main residence before they gave up royal duties and moved to Montecito, a wealthy enclave in Southern California. Senior diplomats from Russia, Turkey, Syria and Iran wrapped up two days of talks in Moscow Tuesday, part of the Kremlin's efforts to help broker a rapprochement between the Turkish and Syrian governments. Russian and Turkish foreign ministries issued terse readouts, saying the diplomats have discussed preparations for a planned meeting of the four countries foreign ministers. Moscow described the consultations as frank and direct, and Ankara said they were held in a transparent and clear manner, while offering no details. Russia has waged a military campaign in Syria since September 2015, teaming up with Iran to allow Assads government to fight armed opposition groups and reclaim control over most of the country. While the bulk of the Russian military has been busy fighting in Ukraine, Moscow has maintained its military foothold in Syria and kept warplanes and troops at its bases there. The Kremlin has also made persistent efforts to help Syria rebuild fractured ties with other countries in the region, including neighboring Turkey, which has backed armed opposition to Assad throughout the 12-year conflict. In December, Moscow hosted a surprise meeting of the Turkish and Syrian defense ministers, the first such encounter since Syria's uprising-turned-civil-war began in 2011. Ayman Sousan, Syria's deputy foreign minister who attended the talks in Moscow, thanked Russia and Iran for their help in confronting terrorism in remarks carried by the state news agency SANA. Sousan blasted other countries that took advantage of the situation created by this war to illegally send their forces to Syria and supported terrorist groups. Turkey has backed armed opposition groups in Syria that have sought to overthrow Assads government during the civil war, which has killed nearly 500,000 people and displaced half of the countrys prewar population. Turkey de facto controls large swathes of northwestern Syria, and Sousan emphasized that the withdrawal of Turkish forces from Syrian territory is a prerequisite for a normalization of ties. But even as Turkey has supported Syrian opposition fighters in the north, Ankara and Damascus are equally dismayed over the U.S.-backed, Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces in Syrias northeast. Turkey-backed opposition fighters have clashed with the SDF in the past, accusing them of being an arm of Turkeys outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party, or PKK. The PKK has for decades waged an insurgency within Turkey against the government in Ankara. Assads government has cast the SDF as a secessionist force that has been pilfering the countrys wealth while controlling Syrias major oil fields. The efforts toward a Turkish-Syrian reconciliation come as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who faces presidential and parliamentary elections in May, is under intense pressure at home to send Syrian refugees back amid a steep economic downturn and an increasing anti-refugee sentiment. The reconciliation efforts between Syria and Turkey topped the agenda for Russian President Vladimir Putin's talks with Assad when he visited Moscow last month. After the catastrophic earthquake that struck Syria and Turkey in February, international sympathy appeared to have sped up the regional rapprochement. Some have called for dialogue with Syria and for bringing the country back to the 22-member Arab League more than a decade after its membership was suspended over the crackdown in the early months of the uprising that turned into war and has killed nearly half a million people. Search Keywords: Short link: Dont be hangry, but Brooklyn Pickle Utica has once again had to push back their grand opening due to construction delays. The Syracuse-based brand is set to open their fourth location and the first outside of the Syracuse area at 10 a.m. on Monday April 24. Originally set to open in March, then again on April 17, the city of Utica will have to wait one more week for this New York City-inspired sandwich shop. Brooklyn Pickle Utica will open its doors at 600 State St. with the brands signature giant sandwiches and pickles alongside the usual array of subs, soups, salads, and desserts. And for the first time in any Brooklyn Pickle location, patrons will get to enjoy a beer with their meal. Syracuse Brooklyn Pickle fans may have to travel to have a cold one with their cold cuts as restaurant owner Craig Kowadla told syracuse.com previously that he has no immediate plans to introduce beer to the three existing restaurants. READ MORE Get to the meat of it: Vote for your favorite Upstate NY burger in statewide contest Forks up: Upstate NY is home to the best city food festival in the US Where is Americas best pizza city? Top 10 list includes one Upstate NY metro area Harold Hoyt, 35, of Glen Spey, went missing after off roading with a friend on March 29 in the Sullivan County town of Forestburgh. On March 31, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation forest rangers, in addition to state and local law enforcement agencies along with K9 units searched for Hoyt to no avail. Ultimately around 65 people from local fire departments, search and rescue groups, and volunteers joined the week-long search, using ATVs, UTVs, drones, and a helicopter. Rangers, who coordinated the search, covered a one-mile radius from Hoyts last known location. On the morning of April 7, rangers received cell phone data from the FBI that placed Hoyt southeast of his last known point in an area that had not been searched. Finally, at 12:40 p.m., a ranger found Hoyt dead. Search crews carried Hoyts body nearly one mile to the road for transport to the County Coroner. Rangers last week squelched brush fires in Austerlitz, Cambridge, Patterson, and Forestville. The following reports are excerpted from DEC: Last week a power line sparked a fire in Austerlitz that burned six acres before the power was shut off. A brush fire burned another six acres in Cambridge. A three-acre wildfire burned up leaf litter and some dead standing oak trees on a steep ridge in Patterson. And a landowner in Forestville accidentally started a brush fire while burning old vineyard posts. Rangers helped squelch all these fires. Open burning of debris is the single-largest cause of spring wildfires in New York. Warming temperatures dry out debris and dead leaves from the previous fall. Coupled with lower humidity and strong spring winds, its a recipe for wildfires. The annual statewide ban on residential brush burning began March 16 and runs through May 14. Violators are subject to a minimum fine of $500 for a first offense. To report a wildfire or illegal activity on state lands and easements, call 1-833-NYS-RANGERS (1-833-697-7264). Go to DECs FIREWISE New York webpage for more information about fire safety and prevention. Sign up for the CNY Outdoors Newsletter Enter your email address to get weekly updates on CNY outdoors news delivered to your inbox: READ MORE Rangers assist rescue efforts in two Upstate NY drownings, nab sap stealers - newyorkupstate.com Rangers recover two bodies in separate incidents; rescue injured hikers - newyorkupstate.com Rangers catch cattail thieves, search for evidence in ADK murder investigation - newyorkupstate.com Rangers recover body of hiker who fell off 50-foot cliff - newyorkupstate.com DEC forest rangers recover two bodies, ticket target shooters with stuck truck - syracuse.com Steve Featherstone covers the outdoors for The Post-Standard, syracuse.comand NYUP.com. Contact him at sfeatherstone@syracuse.com or on Twitter @featheroutdoors. You can also follow along with all of our outdoors content at newyorkupstate.com/outdoors/ or follow us on Facebook at facebook.com/upstatenyoutdoors. By Raga Justin | Times Union, Albany Albany, N.Y. Religious leaders and health care workers descended on the state Capitol Tuesday to protest what they view as proposed cuts to essential health care programs and criticizing Democrats for reversing course on funding. Speakers at a rally hosted by the union 1199SEIU on Tuesday framed health care as a human right, arguing that Gov. Kathy Hochuls proposed plan to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates by 5 percent will not be enough to reinvigorate a workforce that has been overextended since even before the pandemic. Hochuls budget also includes cuts to programs that provide indigent care as well as to a federal drug pricing program amid a larger shift in how the state provides coverage for drugs. The federal program provides discounts on prescription drugs for medical providers that serve New Yorks neediest populations and generates extra federal funding for services and staff especially in low-income hospitals. Medical providers have protested the changes to the federal model known as 340B arguing that it constitutes an essential part of its budgets. The Rev. William Barber, a religious leader and activist, attended Wednesdays event virtually and asserted that the proposed increase, as measures like a higher minimum wage are stalling, would backtrack on the promise of affordable health care. He added that thousands of people remain uninsured and were unable to find quality medical service during the recent pandemic. Nearly 8 million New Yorkers are enrolled in Medicaid. The Senates one-house budget released earlier this month rebuked Hochuls proposed plan to raise Medicaid reimbursement rates by 5 percent, saying that the amount was insufficient and that her plan would ultimately result in a net cost cut to medical providers. Part of its counteroffer is to raise Medicaid rates by 10 percent, a proposal advocates back. The rally follows weeks of organizing from the health care union, including a rally in Albanys MVP Arena in late March that thousands of workers attended. Many workers spoke about worsening job conditions; their salaries do not adequately match the services they are required to provide, workers said. The Rev. E West McNeill, executive director of the Labor Religion Coalition, also pointed to promised raises for home health care workers last year that they said have not materialized. Many home care workers are again calling for an increase well above the minimum wage. McNeill tied the issue to another ongoing fight in Albany: a tax on the richest New Yorkers, which proponents have said would generate enough money for social services. Dissenters, including Republicans in the Legislature, have argued the move would alienate the wealthiest taxpayers, with millionaires accounting for nearly 50 percent of New Yorks income taxes but leaving the state in droves. New York does not have a problem of scarcity, New York has a problem of greed, McNeill said. We hear a lot of hand wringing and questioning whether we can afford to do things like guarantee health care ... and the safety net in this state has been eroded and eroded. Hospital associations and nursing home groups have called for reimbursement rates much higher than has been proposed by either the executive chamber or the Legislature, arguing that post-pandemic staffing shortfalls and other financial woes have left them on shaky ground. ___ (c)2023 the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) Visit the Times Union (Albany, N.Y.) at www.timesunion.com NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) The second of two Black Democrats expelled from the Republican-led Tennessee House will follow his colleague in a return to work at the Capitol on Thursday, a week after their banishments for a gun control protest on the House floor that propelled them into the national spotlight. Justin Pearson was easily reappointed to his position by Shelby County commissioners Wednesday, and delivered a speech like a fiery pastor to a throng of jubilant supporters outside in a churchlike celebration. The Memphis lawmaker plans to be sworn in outside the Capitol on Thursday before returning for the House floor session that morning. Republicans expelled Pearson and Rep. Justin Jones last week over their role in a gun control protest on the House floor after a Nashville school shooting that left three children and three adults dead. The appointments are interim and special elections for the seats will take place in the coming months. Jones and Pearson have said they plan to run. The Houses vote to remove Pearson and Jones but keep white Rep. Gloria Johnson drew accusations of racism. Johnson survived by one vote. Republican leadership denied that race was a factor, however, and noted that Johnsons role in the protest didnt involve some steps that Jones and Pearson took, including speaking into a bullhorn. On Monday, the Nashville Metropolitan Council took only a few minutes to unanimously restore Jones to office. He was quickly reinstated to his House seat the same day. The expulsions last Thursday made Tennessee a new front in the battle for the future of American democracy. In the span of a few days, the two raised thousands of campaign dollars, and the Tennessee Democratic Party had received a new jolt of support from across the U.S. Political tensions rose when Pearson, Johnson and Jones, from the House floor, joined with hundreds of demonstrators who packed the Capitol last month to call for passage of gun control measures. As protesters filled the 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. Their participation from the front of the chamber broke House rules because the three did not have permission from the House speaker. In Tennessee, Republican lawmakers have been more supportive of the idea to strengthen school safety than to address gun control as they prepare to finish their work in the coming weeks. Republican Gov. Bill Lee has avoided commenting on the lawmakers expulsion and instead said the controversy was an issue concerning the House. He has since called on the General Assembly to pass legislation that would keep dangerous people from acquiring weapons. New York Former President Donald Trump sued the key witness in his criminal case on Wednesday, accusing onetime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen of vast reputational harm for talking publicly about the hush-money payments at the heart of the case. The lawsuit, filed in Miami, offered a preview of arguments that are sure to be featured in Trumps defense against charges that he falsified internal business records to disguise payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters. The suit accused Cohen of breaking a confidentiality agreement he signed as a condition of his employment, violating ethical standards for lawyers and spreading falsehoods about Trump with malicious intent and to wholly self-serving ends. It seeks over a half-billion dollars from Cohen. Trump isnt specifically suing Cohen over his grand jury testimony in the criminal case, but he cites it in support of an argument that his ex-lawyer sought to profit from his role through the publication of two books, a podcast series and media appearances. Cohens spokesman, attorney Lanny Davis, said the lawsuit will not deter Cohens cooperation with prosecutors. Mr. Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen, Davis said. It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him. The suit is the latest effort by Trump to use the legal system to go after his political enemies and is another example of the former president turning on a once-loyal aide after their relationship imploded. A judge in Florida sanctioned Trump and one of his attorneys in January, ordering them to pay nearly $1 million for filing what he said was a bogus lawsuit against Trumps 2016 rival Hillary Clinton and others. Davis predicted this lawsuit would also fail. Is there anyone in America, aside from a shrinking minority base of believers, who takes Mr. Trump seriously when he files these apparently frivolous lawsuits? Davis asked. The criminal case against Trump, brought last week by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, accuses the former president of falsifying 34 business records at his company to hide the true nature of 11 checks paid to Cohen to reward him for work covering up Trumps extramarital affairs. Those checks, prosecutors said, reimbursed Cohen for a $130,000 payment he made on Trumps behalf to porn actor Stormy Daniels, who had been in negotiations to sell her story of an alleged sexual encounter with the Republican. Cohen also played a role in arranging payments to the Playboy model Karen McDougal and to a Trump Tower doorman. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges and says the alleged encounters with Daniels and McDougal never happened. Braggs office on Wednesday declined to comment on Trumps lawsuit against Cohen. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, lying to Congress, and campaign finance violations regarding the payments to Daniels and McDougal. He was sentenced to three years in prison, although the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled him to serve the majority of the sentence under house arrest. Although federal prosecutors referenced Trump in the charges against Cohen, they chose not to pursue a criminal case against the Republican. Neither did investigators in the office of special counsel Robert Mueller, who conducted a wide-ranging probe through much of Trumps presidency. Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry discussed in a phone call on Sunday with United Nations (UN) Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen the Syrian crisis and ways to push for a political solution, according to the Egyptian Foreign Ministry. During the call, Shoukry discussed ways to mitigate the suffering of the brotherly Syrian people and stressed Egypt's keenness to alleviate that suffering, the Egyptian Foreign Ministry added. Shoukry affirmed Egypt's full support for the efforts of the UN envoy to reach a comprehensive political settlement under Syrian ownership, in line with Security Council resolution No. 2254. He also affirmed the great priority that Egypt attaches to restoring security and stability in sisterly Syria and ending all forms of terrorism and foreign interference. The two sides agreed to continue consultation and coordination during the coming period. For his part, the UN envoy expressed his full appreciation for Egypt's role and its continuous support for the United Nations in resolving the Syrian crisis. Last week, Minister of Foreign Affairs Sameh Shoukry met with his Syrian counterpart Faisal Mekdad and discussed efforts to achieve a comprehensive political settlement to the Syrian crisis. Mekdads trip to Cairo is the first visit by a top Syrian diplomat to Egypt in over a decade. The two officials had a one-on-one meeting and then were joined by their respective delegations. They tackled issues of mutual concern, including regional issues. During the meeting, the Syrian minister discussed various aspects of the Syrian crisis, including past and current economic, humanitarian, and security challenges faced by the Syrian people. Search Keywords: Short link: The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. 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 Search Keywords: Short link: anjan_c2007 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: India Posts: 7,519 Thanked: 16,162 Times View My Garage Keshub Mahindra, former Chairman Mahindra and Mahindra passes away Belonging to the old generation of Indian automobile CEO's, his contemporaries included J. R. D. Tata (Tata Sons), Rahul Bajaj (Bajaj Auto), H. P. Nanda (Escorts), B. M. Birla/ C.K. Birla (HM), M.A. Chidambaram (API), Lalchand Hirachand/Vinod Doshi (PAL), Venu Srinivasan (TVS Group), C.V. Karthik Narayanan/ A.C. Muthaiah (Standard Motors) and others. Anand Mahindra is his nephew. The late industrialist Keshub Mahindra was the son of Kailash Chandra Mahindra, who had with his brother Jagdish Chandra Mahindra and Malik Ghulam Mohammed founded the company Mahindra and Mohammed in Ludhiana on 02/10/1945. By 1948, the company became Mahindra and Mahindra as Malik Ghulam had migrated to Pakistan. Keshub Mahindra had served as the non-executive Chairman of Union Carbide India Limited at the time the Bhopal gas tragedy took place in December 1984, in which 3,787 people died. He with six of his employees were sentenced to two years in prison in June 2010 and fined Rs 100,000. A bail order was thereafter immediately pronounced too. Coming to the brighter side of his career, he was a graduate of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Till the 1960's and 70's most orders for utility vehicles that Mahindra got were for government/semi-government purchases. Annual sales would be a steady 6000-8000 units. Pulling off the Station Wagon from Willys that M&M had launched around 1957, around 1964-65 the Willys FC series (FC-160) of 4X4 pickup trucks and driveway chassis were launched under his leadership. The driveway chassis gave flexibility to buyers to build vans, ambulances and so on. It was a first major decision under the new Chairman's tenure. Since they had licences for a 4X4 mid-sized utility vehicle and also a larger utility vehicle, the latter licence was used to the hilt to swap models from the Willys portfolio. Next came the right hand drive, Jeep (brand Willys was shelved by its new US based principals viz American Motors Corpn) branded UV's and FC series mini trucks in the summer of 1968. Very soon M&M also launched the Jeep CJ-4A with a longer wheelbase and chassis that would be sold alongside the CJ-3B. The latter was discontinued by 1972, but its production continued for military use UVs. Another major decision from the early 1960's was diversifying into tractor manufacturing, after collaborating with International Harvester, USA since 1962. M&M is now the world's largest tractor maker. M&M wanted more of its pie from four wheels and in the licence raj, the opportunities were very, very limited. Hence, the tractor manufacturing was an out of the box" thinking. Another googly by M&M was around 1975, when their existing International tractor B-275 diesel engine that was badged as the MD 2350 and mated with the age old Willys three speed gear box (first gear non synchromesh) and launched their CJ 500 D, just post the oil crises of late 1973. Other car makers were still in deep slumber. HM woke up around late 1979 with its Mark 4 diesel launch and PAL woke up very, very late by 1993 with its Premier 137D (based on its Padmini body shell) and the Premier 1.38 D (based on 118 NE). Such was the magic of Keshub Mahindra, the visionary CEO, who saw to his group's survival and success even during the licence raj. By the early 1980's when the doors were partially opened, he collaborated with Peugeot for manufacture of a newer, rugged diesel engine. Zeroing in on the 2112 cc/65 bhp, XDP 4.90 engine, this M&M decided would be their next power plant for the utility vehicles on the CJ-4A body shell. The versatility and ruggedness had by then been tested on the African soil, where infrastructure conditions were worse than those in India and hence Peugeot was selected. By 1984, he foresaw the Maruti Gypsy's arrival from the Far East, that would offer a stiff competition to M&M unless it upgraded its age old CJ-4A body and chassis and its extended versions, that were almost reaching limousine lengths. These long CJ-4 A's could be sighted in the rural hinterland carrying 25-30 passengers, hanging and roof seated included. The Jeep CJ-7 influenced Mahindra 540 DP was launched in 1984 and it soon became an instant hit. And the Mahindra 540 DP used the Kia BA-10 gearbox. Keshub Mahindra saw that the East and West met and it happened in 1984, when Kia was unheard of. This new 540 DP body shell would thereafter give Mahindra its new Commander, Armada, Marshal and later Armada Grand, the latter with a new Peugeot XD-3P diesel. This new power plant would be later fitted to the Bolero launched in the late 1990's. But the BS norms saw the premature exit of this new workhorse, power plant from M&M. Having used the Bolero with this engine for long distance travels, I found that it was rugged, flawless, enduring and could run long stretches for days together at 80-90 kmph all day long. Another innovative ides was the launch of a niche product in the early 1990s, the Mahindra Classic, primarily a spruced up CJ-3B with the Peugeot XDP 4.90 engine. The niche was soon created that earned its own fan following. The Mahindra Legend and the Thar are the Classics worthy successors. Mahindra Classics in mint condition attract very good resale values these days. The CJ-4A body shell was not shelved by M&M and catered mostly to the rural taxi segment till the late 1990's. It got a new avatar as the Mahindra Major by the turn of the millennium. The collaboration with Ford in the mid 1990's and with Renault around 2005 were called off within a few years, as something missing was sensed by M&M that could not be in its future interests. By the time the Scorpio was to be launched (2003) Anand Mahindra had reached a decision making position as Managing Director. Though Keshub Mahindra was Chairman in 2003, he had given a free hand to his nephew to take major decisions. The late visionary philanthropist and industrialist's able way to steer the company has made it a great survivor in the MNC dominated auto industry of today. He had shown the way even during the licence raj with his vision and ingenuity. His thoughts, words and deeds are still an inspiration for M&M which continues to grow. Only Tata and Mahindra are major Indian bred car makers as of now, offering their stiff competition to MNC's with contemporary products while others from the licence raj era have gone into wilderness. Keshub Mahindra (09.10.1923-12. 04.2023) who was Chairman, Mahindra and Mahindra from 1963- 2012 and who was listed very recently in the Forbes list of India's oldest billionaires, has passed away today at age 99. He was head of the $19 billion conglomerate for 50 years, which saw the transformation and diversification of M&M into several sectors including tractors, IT, two wheelers (though no successes reported yet), software, hospitality, real estate and more. From an utility vehicle maker to a diversified conglomerate, the M&M story under his tutelage has been glorious.Belonging to the old generation of Indian automobile CEO's, his contemporaries included J. R. D. Tata (Tata Sons), Rahul Bajaj (Bajaj Auto), H. P. Nanda (Escorts), B. M. Birla/ C.K. Birla (HM), M.A. Chidambaram (API), Lalchand Hirachand/Vinod Doshi (PAL), Venu Srinivasan (TVS Group), C.V. Karthik Narayanan/ A.C. Muthaiah (Standard Motors) and others.Anand Mahindra is his nephew. The late industrialist Keshub Mahindra was the son of Kailash Chandra Mahindra, who had with his brother Jagdish Chandra Mahindra and Malik Ghulam Mohammed founded the company Mahindra and Mohammed in Ludhiana on 02/10/1945. By 1948, the company became Mahindra and Mahindra as Malik Ghulam had migrated to Pakistan.Keshub Mahindra had served as the non-executive Chairman of Union Carbide India Limited at the time the Bhopal gas tragedy took place in December 1984, in which 3,787 people died. He with six of his employees were sentenced to two years in prison in June 2010 and fined Rs 100,000. A bail order was thereafter immediately pronounced too.Coming to the brighter side of his career, he was a graduate of the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. Till the 1960's and 70's most orders for utility vehicles that Mahindra got were for government/semi-government purchases. Annual sales would be a steady 6000-8000 units. Pulling off the Station Wagon from Willys that M&M had launched around 1957, around 1964-65 the Willys FC series (FC-160) of 4X4 pickup trucks and driveway chassis were launched under his leadership. The driveway chassis gave flexibility to buyers to build vans, ambulances and so on. It was a first major decision under the new Chairman's tenure. Since they had licences for a 4X4 mid-sized utility vehicle and also a larger utility vehicle, the latter licence was used to the hilt to swap models from the Willys portfolio. Next came the right hand drive, Jeep (brand Willys was shelved by its new US based principals viz American Motors Corpn) branded UV's and FC series mini trucks in the summer of 1968. Very soon M&M also launched the Jeep CJ-4A with a longer wheelbase and chassis that would be sold alongside the CJ-3B. The latter was discontinued by 1972, but its production continued for military use UVs.Another major decision from the early 1960's was diversifying into tractor manufacturing, after collaborating with International Harvester, USA since 1962. M&M is now the world's largest tractor maker. M&M wanted more of its pie from four wheels and in the licence raj, the opportunities were very, very limited. Hence, the tractor manufacturing was an out of the box" thinking.Another googly by M&M was around 1975, when their existing International tractor B-275 diesel engine that was badged as the MD 2350 and mated with the age old Willys three speed gear box (first gear non synchromesh) and launched their CJ 500 D, just post the oil crises of late 1973. Other car makers were still in deep slumber. HM woke up around late 1979 with its Mark 4 diesel launch and PAL woke up very, very late by 1993 with its Premier 137D (based on its Padmini body shell) and the Premier 1.38 D (based on 118 NE). Such was the magic of Keshub Mahindra, the visionary CEO, who saw to his group's survival and success even during the licence raj.By the early 1980's when the doors were partially opened, he collaborated with Peugeot for manufacture of a newer, rugged diesel engine. Zeroing in on the 2112 cc/65 bhp, XDP 4.90 engine, this M&M decided would be their next power plant for the utility vehicles on the CJ-4A body shell. The versatility and ruggedness had by then been tested on the African soil, where infrastructure conditions were worse than those in India and hence Peugeot was selected.By 1984, he foresaw the Maruti Gypsy's arrival from the Far East, that would offer a stiff competition to M&M unless it upgraded its age old CJ-4A body and chassis and its extended versions, that were almost reaching limousine lengths. These long CJ-4 A's could be sighted in the rural hinterland carrying 25-30 passengers, hanging and roof seated included. The Jeep CJ-7 influenced Mahindra 540 DP was launched in 1984 and it soon became an instant hit. And the Mahindra 540 DP used the Kia BA-10 gearbox. Keshub Mahindra saw that the East and West met and it happened in 1984, when Kia was unheard of. This new 540 DP body shell would thereafter give Mahindra its new Commander, Armada, Marshal and later Armada Grand, the latter with a new Peugeot XD-3P diesel. This new power plant would be later fitted to the Bolero launched in the late 1990's. But the BS norms saw the premature exit of this new workhorse, power plant from M&M. Having used the Bolero with this engine for long distance travels, I found that it was rugged, flawless, enduring and could run long stretches for days together at 80-90 kmph all day long.Another innovative ides was the launch of a niche product in the early 1990s, the Mahindra Classic, primarily a spruced up CJ-3B with the Peugeot XDP 4.90 engine. The niche was soon created that earned its own fan following. The Mahindra Legend and the Thar are the Classics worthy successors. Mahindra Classics in mint condition attract very good resale values these days. The CJ-4A body shell was not shelved by M&M and catered mostly to the rural taxi segment till the late 1990's. It got a new avatar as the Mahindra Major by the turn of the millennium.The collaboration with Ford in the mid 1990's and with Renault around 2005 were called off within a few years, as something missing was sensed by M&M that could not be in its future interests.By the time the Scorpio was to be launched (2003) Anand Mahindra had reached a decision making position as Managing Director. Though Keshub Mahindra was Chairman in 2003, he had given a free hand to his nephew to take major decisions.The late visionary philanthropist and industrialist's able way to steer the company has made it a great survivor in the MNC dominated auto industry of today. He had shown the way even during the licence raj with his vision and ingenuity. His thoughts, words and deeds are still an inspiration for M&M which continues to grow. Only Tata and Mahindra are major Indian bred car makers as of now, offering their stiff competition to MNC's with contemporary products while others from the licence raj era have gone into wilderness. Last edited by Aditya : 14th April 2023 at 17:46 . Reason: As requested Share UK businesses faced an average of one cyber attack every minute in the first three months of 2023, according to a report by Beaming, a business internet service provider. The companys analysis of malicious web traffic shows that each business experienced 170,508 attempts to breach their online systems, on average, during this period. The level of cyberattack activity between January and March was two per cent lower than the final three months of 2022, the busiest quarter for cyberattacks on UK businesses since Beaming began tracking malicious web activity in 2016. Beaming identified 307,385 IP addresses used to launch cyber attacks on UK businesses from January to March. A quarter of these addresses, or 75,324, were traced back to China. Other countries identified as the source of many attacks included India, the USA, Taiwan, and Brazil. Beamings analysis also revealed that devices connected to the Internet of Things were most frequently targeted, averaging 21,074 attempts per company. Additionally, businesses experienced an average of 4,301 attempts to breach their web applications in the first quarter of 2023. Graphics: Cyberattacks on UK businesses / Attacking IP addresses by origin Say Sonia Blizzard, managing director of Beaming: The findings of this report highlight the growing need for businesses to take cybersecurity seriously and invest in robust systems to protect their online and IT assets. The threat of cyber attacks is not going away, and businesses must be prepared to defend themselves against an increasingly sophisticated and persistent adversary. Businesses need to strengthen their cybersecurity measures to avoid falling prey to cybercriminals, who are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Internet service providers such as Beaming can help safeguard customers at the network and firewall levels. Its time for businesses to take cybersecurity seriously and defend themselves against the constant threat of cyber attacks. What can businesses do to protect against cyberattacks? There are several steps that Beaming recommends businesses take to protect against cyberattacks: Use strong passwords and enable multi-factor authentication on all accounts and devices. Keep all software and devices up to date with the latest security patches and updates. Use a business-grade firewall to protect your network and restrict access to authorised users. Use antivirus and anti-malware software to detect and remove any malicious software. Educate employees about cybersecurity and the importance of following safe practices when using the internet and company devices. Back up important data regularly to protect against data loss from an attack. Use a Virtual Private Network when connecting to the internet over public Wi-Fi. Consider purchasing cybersecurity insurance to help cover the costs of responding to and recovering from a cyberattack. Work with your ISP or a trusted IT provider to help implement these and other security measures. For latest tech stories go to TechDigest.tv Share this: Email Facebook Pinterest LinkedIn Print Reddit Twitter Tumblr Pocket Over the past few months, Ive been reading with increasing fascination the tech segments obsession with high-profile apps like ChatGPT, the poster child of generative AI apps that have burst on the scene. In my more than 25 years in technology, Ive never seen anything attract the attention of a new capability like Gen AI. More intriguing is not merely the obsession but the fact that many high-profile companies have been caught off guard by the media and customer interest and still cant clearly articulate how theyll be able to participate in the industrys mad gold rush. Equally beguiling is how the industry is waiting with bated breath in anticipation of Apples presumed unveiling of its AR/VR products at its WWDC conference in June or later in the year. While most companies with existing AR/VR products (Meta comes to mind) would generally dread a big competitor like Apple getting into the category because of its industry clout and brand appeal, this may not be the case. Let me explain. Tepid Appeal of Current MR, VR Headsets Noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks that investors have, up to now, overstated consumers genuine interest and demand for mixed reality and virtual reality headsets. Apples entry into the AR and VR space might change that. Recently, Kuo wrote that consumers might not be quite ready to adopt AR and VR just yet as there isnt enough compelling proof that augmented-reality headsets will become the newest craze in consumer electronics. In his opinion, the mixed-reality headset from Apple is perhaps the final opportunity for convincing investors that the AR/MR headset device might have a shot to be the next star product in consumer electronics. Kuo doesnt make this assertion without evidence, noting that there has been a decline in the market-wide manufacturing and sales of virtual reality headsets. A telling example: Sony has decreased their PS VR2 headset production forecast by 20% for 2023. Moreover, Metas Quest Pro had only delivered 300,000 units. Pico, the biggest AR/VR headsets manufacturer in China, fell more than 40% short of its shipping targets in 2022. These facts do not characterize the AR/VR headset as mainstream. All Eyes on WWDC 2023 Against this not-very-exciting market backdrop, Apple is rumored to unveil its long-anticipated mixed-reality headset. Kuo has publicly stated that he thinks the gadget will debut in the third quarter of this year, although many others believe it will debut at WWDC 2023. Tim Cook has repeatedly expressed his support for an Apple augmented reality headset. However, other Apple engineers reportedly worry that the companys entry into virtual and augmented reality might be a costly failure as it may not be ready for prime time from a relevant usage model standpoint. In my view, what people really need is a good reason to get one rather than a fancy new Apple gadget. After all, many industry experts believe that Apple will announce these new headsets at decidedly non-mainstream price points, in the $3,000 or above range. With that type of price point and a recession on the horizon, those factors could be major headwinds even for Apple. VR gaming is exciting for some die-hard gamers, but casual games have a considerably larger market share and dont require headsets. Businesses can absorb higher price points as AR/VR headsets have compelling usage models in the operations, warehousing, and medical spaces, but the volumes are not huge. Movies are interesting, but how many people like to interact while watching television rather than being walled off in their little private theater? I apologize for my yawn. This last point leads me back to Apple. Immersive FaceTime Experience I predict Apple has been waiting to develop a mainstream usage model that appeals to a broad audience, regardless of price points. I believe it will be some type of AR/VR implementation of FaceTime. FaceTime revolutionized peer-to-peer video calls and took it from the realm of something only IT or tech enthusiasts would engage into something so casual that a grandmother now doesnt think twice about it. FaceTime on macOS (Image Credit: Apple) Yes, the price points for these new Apple headsets will be high as the premium hardware which will be needed is crucial to avoid amateur hour experience, but Apple will point to the future, and those price points will come down quickly as the market ramps. If Apple can generate an immersive FaceTime experience that allows a user with an Apple headset to perceive they are in the actual location that another user or users are in, it will be a game-changer like none other. So, in that respect, the AR/VR space needs Apple to be successful. As the saying goes, a rising tide affects all boats, and the industry knows that. Generative AI Is Todays Gold Rush To put it mildly, investors, the tech industry, and the general public have embraced generative AI in ways Ive never seen. Yet, I believe they are ignoring a crucial risk. The tech world went bonkers when ChatGPT launched last November and allowed users to ask questions of a chatbot and receive replies generated by AI. According to many thought leaders, the new technology has the potential to change industries, including media and health care (it recently passed all three parts of the U.S. Medical Licensing Examination). Even HAL from 2001: A Space Odyssey would be impressed. To rapidly implement the technology worldwide, Microsoft has already committed billions of dollars in its relationship with the technologys originator OpenAI and began integrating this capability into its Bing search engine. Undoubtedly, executives hope this would enable Microsoft to catch up to market leader Google in search, where it has lagged. Ironically, Google has had its series of generative AI setbacks with a less-than-stellar rollout of its Bard capability. ChatGPT has been the prominent example of what generative AI is capable of, though its not the only one. When given a training dataset, generative AI may produce new data based on it, such as images, sounds, or text, in the case of a chatbot. Significant value may be recognized since generative AI models can produce outcomes much more quickly than people. Consider, for example, a setting where artificial intelligence (AI) creates complex new landscapes and people without the assistance of human sight. Black Box AI Yet not every circumstance or sector is a good fit for generative AI. It may provide attractive and practical results for games, videos, photos, and even poems. However, it may be perilous when working with mission-critical systems, in scenarios where errors are expensive, life-threatening, or we dont want bias. For example, a health care institution in a sparsely resourced rural region where AI is being utilized to enhance diagnostic and treatment planning. Or imagine a school where a single instructor uses AI-driven lesson planning to customize instruction for various pupils depending on their specific ability levels. In these circumstances, generative AI would initially appear to provide value but would cause various problems. How can we be sure that the diagnosis is accurate? What about any prejudice that may be present in teaching resources? Those questions are critical issues that need to address. Models that use generative AI are called black box models. As no underlying logic is given, it is hard to understand how they arrived at their results. Even experienced researchers frequently have trouble understanding how such models operate inside. For instance, figuring out what causes an AI to recognize a grass blade image accurately is famously challenging. You could even have less knowledge of the original training data as a casual user of ChatGPT or another generative model. If you inquire about the source of ChatGPTs data, it will only respond that it was trained on a varied variety of data from the internet. Those types of ambiguous assertions dont inspire high levels of confidence. AI-Produced Output Dangers This situation may result in certain hazardous circumstances. You cant comprehend why a model produces specific predictions if you cant see the connections and internal structures that the model has learned from the data or determine which data characteristics are most significant to the model. As a result, fundamental flaws or biases in the model are hard to find or fix. Im reminded of a scene from the famous accidental nuclear war motion picture Fail Safe where a technology executive tells a government official that computers can make subtle mistakes so subtle that no human could ever challenge those results in real time and that movie was released in 1964! Internet users have documented often unintentionally hilarious instances when ChatGPT gave incorrect or dubious replies, ranging from losing at chess to producing Python code that decided who should be tortured. I attended a recent HP conference where a well-known industry executive expressed support for tools like ChatGPT to assist with the tiresome duties of performing employee performance reviews. Imagine the lawsuits that would fly if that became a regular practice. Now, these are only the instances where the incorrect response was evident. According to some estimates, approximately 20% of ChatGPT responses are made up. Its possible that as AI technology advances, well live in a time where self-assured chatbots provide answers that sound accurate, and humans cant tell the difference. Push Pause on AI? This commentary isnt to say that we shouldnt be enthusiastic about AI, but the world needs to proceed with prudence. Despite the press emotionalism that appears to spike any time Elon Musk comments on something, lets not dismiss the recent industry letter he and other industry luminaries, including Steve Wozniak, signed asking for a pause about new AI implementations. Unfortunately, the gold-rush mentality is unlikely to slow things without an unlikely government directive, and regulation is years away. Im also sensitive to the argument that the United States must be the leader in AI for national security reasons, particularly as China becomes a greater threat. Nevertheless, we should be mindful of the risks and concentrate on ways to use these AI models in real-world settings. More positive AI outcomes could be achieved by training to lower their high false-answer or hallucination rate. Training might not be sufficient, though. We might theoretically create a situation where AI tools are rewarded for delivering results their human judges perceive as successful, e.g., encouraging them to deceive us deliberately by simply training models to generate our preferred outcomes. Its possible that things could become worse, and AI apps may develop sophisticated models to evade detection, perhaps even outpacing humans as some have predicted. This scenario could be tragic. White Box Approach There is another option. Some companies might employ models like white-box or explainable machine learning instead of concentrating on how we train generative AI models. A white-box model, as opposed to black-box models like generative AI, is transparent and makes it easier to comprehend how the model derives its predictions and what parameters it considers. While white-box models may be sophisticated regarding algorithms, they are simpler to understand since they come with justifications and context. When stating what it believes to be the correct response, a white-box implementation of ChatGPT may also indicate how confident it is in that response. For example, is it 60%, 90%, or 100% sure? This approach would help users determine to what extent, if any, to trust answers and to understand how they were derived. Stated a bit differently, comprehending what data inputs the answer was based on would help users examine multiple variations of the same answer. Thats a step in the right direction. Of course, this might not be necessary for straightforward chatbot dialogue. However, having such context might be critical in situations where a false answer can have serious consequences (health care comes to mind). This scenario is significantly less risky than if a physician entirely bases all their judgments on the output of a secret algorithm if they are utilizing AI to make diagnoses but can see how confident the program is in its conclusion. Human Involvement From my vantage point, AI will undoubtedly impact business and society significantly. So, lets leave it up to humans to select the appropriate AI technique for each circumstance. Having a human as part of the AI calculus loop might seem quaint, but it could precisely be what is needed to earn users trust, credibility, and accountability. Are you worried about your privacy and safety when you're online? Do you want to access content that might be blocked in your region? You just need a Virtual Private Network or VPN service. A VPN creates a secure and encrypted connection between your device and the internet, allowing you to browse the web anonymously and bypass restrictions. Whether you're a frequent traveler, a remote worker, or just a regular internet user, a VPN is essential for protecting your online activities and ensuring your data remains private. What Is VPN and Why Do I Need It? VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, a service that allows you to establish a secure and encrypted connection to another network over the internet. Essentially, a VPN creates a private and secure tunnel between your device and the internet, making it difficult for others to intercept or spy on your online activities. You might need a VPN for a few different reasons: Protect your privacy: A VPN can hide your IP address and encrypt your internet traffic, making it difficult for websites, advertisers, and even your internet service provider (ISP) to track your online activities. Access geo-restricted content: Many websites and online services are restricted based on your location. With a VPN, you can connect to a server in a different country and access content that might be blocked in your region. Secure your internet connection: When you connect to public Wi-Fi networks, your internet traffic is vulnerable to interception and hacking. A VPN encrypts your traffic, making it much harder for hackers to steal your data. Bypass censorship: The government of some countries censors certain websites and online services, including social media platforms. Using a virtual private network (VPN) can assist you in evading these restrictions and gaining unrestricted access to the internet. A VPN can help protect your online privacy and security, giving you greater freedom to access the content you want to see, no matter where you are. Best VPN Services of 2023 As mentioned, a VPN service is a big help regarding online privacy and security. And with so many VPN options available, choosing the best one for your needs can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there is a list of the best VPN services on the Market. Let's start with ClearVPN 2. 1. ClearVPN 2 ClearVPN 2 is considered the best VPN service developed by MacPaw, which was launched in November 2020. Despite being a relatively young product, ClearVPN 2 has continuously improved its user experience, server infrastructure, and overall security to deliver a seamless browsing experience to its customers. However, in late 2021, MacPaw made the difficult decision to sunset ClearVPN 2 in 2022 as the competition in the VPN market continued to intensify. But in February 2022, the Russian army invaded Ukraine, launching cyber attacks and deploying a cyber weapon known as "Foxblade" against Ukrainian computers. This critical moment saw ClearVPN 2 take on a social mission, offering the app for free to all Ukrainians to protect their private data from potential cyber threats from Russia. A year after the invasion, in March 2023, MacPaw will launch the new ClearVPN 2, which boasts an intuitive interface and innovative features. The company kept the free VPN services for Ukrainians worldwide and offers secure browsing for all users on any platform. ClearVPN 2 believes privacy is a fundamental human right and is committed to empowering users to take control of their online privacy and security. Key Features Cross-Platform Build: ClearVPN 2 is cross-platform, which means it is available for download and use on multiple devices such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android. This makes the software feasible for users who need it on different platforms. Secure and Private Browsing: ClearVPN 2, as the best VPN service, provides a secure and private browsing experience by allowing users to activate the feature for stronger and multiple encryptions and added protection for the browser. This is especially useful when using a public network. Multiple Servers and Locations: ClearVPN 2 supports various servers and locations in popular countries and locations, including the US, UK, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Ireland, India, and more. The software also enables users to stream content from various regions with ease. Encrypted Private Connection: ClearVPN 2 uses advanced protection with AES-256 encryption and protocols such as IKEv2 and OpenVPN. The software also includes other protocols to keep the connection private at all times. No-logs Policy: ClearVPN 2 does not store or retain user data, including usage statistics or browsing history. This no-logs policy keeps user data private and inaccessible under all circumstances. Regional Content: ClearVPN 2 allows users to access local or regional content easily, bypassing restrictions or bans imposed by different governments. ClearVPN 2 is an application that prioritizes the security and privacy of its users. With cutting-edge protocols and AES-256 encryption, you can be assured that your data remains safe and secure. It also enforces a strict no-logs policy, meaning they do not collect or share your personal information or online activity. You can browse with peace of mind, knowing that this best VPN service does not store or use any of your data for any purpose. In addition, ClearVPN 2 also offers end-to-end encryption with AES-256, providing an extra layer of protection to keep your data safe. ClearVPN 2 is a trustworthy and reliable option for anyone who prioritizes online privacy and security. Compatibility Works on various platforms, including iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android Connect up to 6 devices per account, allowing you to enjoy the full VPN experience on all your devices ClearVPN 2 for iOS is optimized for iPhone and provides a seamless and intuitive user experience. ClearVPN 2 for macOS is designed to work seamlessly with your Mac, providing fast and reliable connections and advanced security features. ClearVPN 2 for Windows is a user-friendly app that's easy to set up and use. ClearVPN 2 for Android provides fast and secure connections, with features like the ad and tracker blocker to protect your privacy while browsing. 2. ProtonVPN ProtonVPN is one of the best VPN services launched in 2014 by the team behind ProtonMail, the world's largest secure email service. Based in Switzerland, ProtonVPN is known for its commitment to privacy and security. Its strong encryption and advanced features make it a top choice for users who want to protect their online activity. One of the key features of ProtonVPN is its use of Secure Core servers. These servers are located in countries with strong privacy laws. They are designed to route your traffic through multiple servers, making it much more difficult for anyone to track your online activity or identify your location. ProtonVPN also uses strong encryption and Perfect Forward Secrecy to further protect your data. ProtonVPN has a strict no-logs policy, meaning it does not store any information about your online activity or connection history. This ensures that your privacy is fully protected, even if someone were to gain access to ProtonVPN's servers. ProtonVPN is available for various platforms, including Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. The service is easy to use and features a simple, intuitive interface that makes it easy to connect to servers in any of the 50+ countries where ProtonVPN has servers. Pros Great free version Unblocks streaming services, including Netflix Supports torrenting User-friendly Offers open-source apps 30-day money-back guarantee Improved Mac version features Cons Premium pricing Customer support response time can be slow 3. NordVPN NordVPN is a leading VPN service that offers a wide range of features to cater to the diverse needs of its users. It has become popular among privacy enthusiasts, streamers, and first-time VPN users. One of NordVPN's greatest strengths is its set of rare tools that cater to the privacy-conscious. It offers a range of advanced security features, such as double VPN, which routes your traffic through two VPN servers for an extra layer of protection. It also offers features like Onion Over VPN, which allows you to access the Tor network through NordVPN and CyberSec, blocking malicious websites and ads. For those looking to unlock streaming content, NordVPN's large selection of servers and the ability to select specific servers in different locations make it a top choice. It offers access to servers in over 60 countries, making accessing content from anywhere in the world easy. First-time users should have no trouble starting NordVPN, as it offers a simple and user-friendly interface. NordVPN provides a growing list of services, including encrypted storage and a password manager to cater to its users' evolving needs. Pros Multi-hop, split tunneling, and Tor connections Numerous server locations Uses WireGuard VPN technology Unique Meshnet features Cons Expensive Poor malware-blocking results Occasionally cramped interface 4. Surfshark Surfshark is a virtual private network or VPN service that offers a range of features to keep your online activities private and secure. One of its most significant advantages is unlimited simultaneous connections on a single subscription. While most VPN providers limit you to just five connections, Surfshark allows you to protect all of your devices with just one account. This means that families, small businesses, and individuals with multiple devices can enjoy all the benefits of a VPN without paying for multiple subscriptions. Surfshark uses military-grade encryption to protect your data and ensure that your online activities remain private by implementing a strict no-logs policy. It also has a range of features, such as CleanWeb, which blocks ads, trackers, and malware, and MultiHop, which lets you route your traffic through multiple servers for additional security. Surfshark's Camouflage mode hides the fact that you are using a VPN, making it difficult for anyone to detect and block your connection. Despite its many features, Surfshark is one of the most affordable VPNs. Its monthly subscription plans start at just a few dollars, making it an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and affordable VPN solution. Pros Unlimited simultaneous connections Large global server presence Multi-hop and split tunneling tools Intriguing potential in Surfshark Nexus Cons High monthly price Privacy policy needs clarification Confusing long-term subscription pricing 5. TunnelBear VPN TunnelBear VPN is a user-friendly VPN service that is great for beginners or individuals who need a simple and effective VPN. It is an excellent option for those who need a VPN but do not want to deal with complex network configurations. Users can easily set up and use the VPN on any device, thanks to its user-friendly interface, which only takes a few minutes. TunnelBear offers strong privacy protection with its encryption protocols and strict no-logging policy, making it a secure choice for everyday internet usage. TunnelBear also offers a free plan with a data limit of 500MB per month, which can be useful for occasional or light use. However, TunnelBear may not be the best option for advanced users who require more specialized features or customization options, as it focuses on simplicity and ease of use. Additionally, its server network is relatively small compared to other VPN providers, which may limit its effectiveness for users in certain regions. Despite these limitations, TunnelBear's affordability, simplicity, and strong privacy protections make it a solid option for individuals looking for a straightforward and effective VPN solution. Pros Unlimited simultaneous connections Excellent privacy policies Annual independent audits Friendly, approachable design Cons No multi-hop connections Not all platforms have the ability to split tunnels. Using a VPN service such as ClearVPN 2, ProtonVPN, NordVPN, etc., has become increasingly important for anyone who uses the internet. VPNs provide an additional layer of security by encrypting your internet traffic and hiding your IP address, protecting your privacy and making it more difficult for hackers or other third parties to monitor your online activity. VPNs can also unlock geo-restricted content and provide access to sites and services that may be blocked in certain countries. With a wide range of VPN options available, users can choose the best one to meet their needs and keep themselves safe online. 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Repubblika is one of Malta's most influential non-governmental organizations (NGOs). With the help of many citizens who trust the organization, its operations are immediate and impactful to the public. Dodgy connections between Repubblika's management, money laundering cases, and hidden ties with NGOs signify Repubblika's lack of transparency. Manuel Delia's connections to Satabank Repubblika's former president Manuel Delia is arguably the organization's most influential and dominant figure. In the many outlets he writes for, Delia focuses on addressing matters with supposed relevancy to Repubblika's alleged activity against corruption. Delia has been highly active in his critiques against the now infamous Satabank, which had its license revoked upon the suspicion of millions of criminal activities hosted by the St Julian's bank. Delia ensured to pass his judgment through his Facebook page and blog. He was even sued by the bank's owner due to a post stating the owner was facing investigations "by various police forces around the world while being sheltered here in Malta by Joseph Muscat's government." Delia failed to mention that his wife, Clemence Dujardin, is one of the bank's creditors. The lack of mention signifies Clemence was highly affected by the bank's asset freeze, which may explain why the authorities involved mishandled the case and her husband Delia so prominently attacked the bank. When the wife of a known "justice fighter" is involved in money laundering scandals, it seems implausible that Delia concealed these facts from his followers, given his positively forged attitude to justice. Biased writing is not new for politicians. For people like Delia, who claim to have journalistic integrity and act upon NGOs' nonpartisan commitments, dishonest writing serves as a blow to the public's trust In the people who claim to be the face of Repubblika's essence as an NGO. People that support Repubblika's cause are entitled to receive full transparency from its leaders and have been systematically left in the dark during Repubblika's years of activity since its foundation in 2019. The triangle of NGOs Another major part of Repubblika's activities hidden from the public is Repubblika's inseparable connections with other organizations that control the public discourse. Repubblika has strong ties to organizations in and outside Malta. This is especially true regarding the "Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation," the law firm "BCGL," and the pressure group "Occupy Justice." In some cases, these organizations work as one, sharing events, lawsuits, and activists while receiving support from some of the organization's special funds and programs. In fact, "Occupy Justice," one of the most powerful pressure groups in Malta, was once managed by Manuel Delia's wife. The pressure group also happens to utilize its close ties with Repubblika. This raises a serious question regarding Repubblika secretly receiving money from other NGOs without disclosing it to the public they serve. Are they three separate organizations? Or one? The contact details of the organizations can be found across all the other organizations' publications. The close physical distance between the offices of Repubblika and the Daphne Caruana Foundation clearly indicates their cooperation. The question that arises from this alliance is simple: Why does Repubblika hide it?? Citizens who support Repubblika's cause do not necessarily endorse the other organizations' activities and statements. Given Repubblika recently launched and achieved great success in a crowdfunding campaign, providing transparency to the public should be elementary. Conclusion Repubblika's primary focus is branding itself as the best adversary to Pilatus Bank and the Maltese government's corruption. The basis of their argument is displaying Pilatus Bank as the epitome of evil. Simultaneously, they portray themselves as the ultimate, ideal citizen activists acting out of pure justice ideology. The reality is that the close circle of high-ranking members of Repubblika's board of directors has its fair share of connections to shady money laundering cases in Malta, and the board itself has inseparable ties to organizations that create a clear image of nepotism, lack of transparency, and deception to the public. 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. "Robocop" was set in 2043, but 20 years earlier (which is the present world we live in), New York is introducing a new fleet of robots to aid the New York Police Department (NYPD) in making the streets safer. This New York robocop project was recently introduced by the city's law enforcement, alongside the mayor's office which co-launched it. These robots are 400 lbs. in weight, a real heavy one that thieves cannot pick up and steal from the city, with its main objective to keep an eye on its streets to help law enforcement catch crimes and provide a record. New York Robocops are Here from Mayor Eric Adams and NYPD (Photo : NYC Mayor's Office via YouTube) An inaugural video from the New York City Mayor's Office shows the introduction of a new robotic fleet that will patrol the streets of the Big Apple and help reduce crimes in the city. Mayor Eric Adams heads the launch of these new robots that will be seen in the public shortly after, introducing the New York Police Department's latest sidekick. This project will help "revamp" the police department of the city, as crimes are still massive and its police force is seeing a hardship in keeping the peace. According to Ars Technica, New York will employ one Knightscope K5 robot which is a cylindrical-shaped bot with a 360 camera around its body, LiDAR sensors, GPS, microphones, and speakers that can play looped messages. Read Also: No More Boston Dynamics Robocop? Robot Developer to Avoid Weaponized Machines 400-pound Robotic Fleet in New York: What will it do? Mayor Adams is a former NYPD captain who ran for office, and his main platform is to reduce crimes in the city. His second time in bringing robots to aid the NYPD centers on these heavy bots that will autonomously patrol the streets and help alert law enforcement should there be a crime happening. The K5 will center on active patrol work by surveilling the streets and looking for any signs of crime or wrongdoings to report to human officers to keep the peace and ensure safety in the city. Robots Helping Keep the Streets Safe Apart from helping scientific discoveries or the medical field, robots were also imagined to help law enforcement agencies keep the peace and provide another veil of safety amongst the public. Back in 2021, Mayor Adams enlisted the help of Boston Dynamics to employ robot police dogs with a modified version of Spot, but was shut down due to its "aggressive tactics." There was a similar robot that resembles what New York recently introduced over in California, one that also centers on keeping an eye on the public and providing a "Call the Police" button on its body. However, it was met with an issue after a distressed person called for officers via the robot but had no responses despite a massive fight. Robots in the present are mostly centered on surveillance of the streets, and San Fransisco PD was the only department that employed these mechanical beings that have the license to kill people. After a failed robotic fleet over in New York, it is yet again launching a new project that will have autonomous machines patrolling the streets, to help Mayor Adams and the NYPD's goal to reduce crimes in the city. Related Article: OpenAI Sees Promise in Humanoid Robots After Investing in Robotics Company 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google's Wear OS platform has been successful since its launch in 2015. The platform was designed to bring many features to busy, professional users: apps, games, messages, and more. Experience Comprehensive Web Browsing on Wear OS Devices with Samsung Internet According to the story by Giz China, one feature that has been absent until recently is the web browser. Until recently, if users of Wear OS wanted to access the web on their watches, they had to rely on third-party apps or search engines. This changed when Samsung Internet returned to the Wear OS platform. Now, users can download their app from the Play Store, offering a comprehensive web browsing solution on their Wear OS devices. Import Phone Bookmarks with Samsung Internet Samsung Internet offers users many helpful features, starting with a QWERTY touchscreen keyboard for easy text entry. It also includes a few pre-defined bookmarks to well-known websites such as Google, Samsung, and YouTube for quick navigation. Additionally, users can easily import their bookmarks from their phone by selecting the "Import phone bookmarks" toggle from the main Samsung Internet screen's scroll-down menu. Moreover, the Google Search engine and a full on-screen QWERTY keyboard can access any website or text. Unlock the Power of Samsung Internet on Wear OS Devices Users can access extra options on the Galaxy Watch while viewing a webpage simply by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. These options include adding a new bookmark and the ability to switch to the default browser on their linked phone, whether it is Chrome or Samsung Internet. With Samsung Internet on Wear OS devices, users can perform many web-related tasks with ease and convenience. Users can do everything from viewing websites to researching topics to quickly checking something up on the web on their Wear OS devices with Samsung Internet. Access Games for Wear OS Through Samsung Internet It is a great example of how powerful and capable Wear OS is and how users don't have to rely on their phones for all web-related activities, as further explained in an article by Sam Mobile. The user must install Samsung Internet on the watch through the Play Store, and then the app can be accessed from the watch's app drawer. An article by Android Police shared how gamers could find games to play on Wear OS. Read Also: Apple Watch SE Price Drops on Amazon and Best Buy to Just $219: Not an April Fool's Day Deal Import Bookmarks from Samsung Devices for an Easy Browsing Experience Once it has been installed, users can browse the web courtesy of Google Search and a full QWERTY on-screen keyboard, as well as access additional options while viewing a webpage by swiping up from the bottom of the screen. The most convenient feature is importing bookmarks from Samsung mobile devices. Users must select "Phone Bookmarks" from the main Samsung Internet screen's scroll-down menu and then toggle the "Import phone bookmarks," which streamlines the manual process of entering bookmarks on the Wear OS device. Related Article: New LinkedIn Verification Feature is Completely FREE! Here's What You Need to Do 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Ethereum is scheduled for its much-awaited upgrade this April 12, and it marks a new beginning of the second highest-ranked cryptocurrency in the market with its merger with Shapella. 'The Merge,' as the company called it, is taking place soon, one that will launch Shapella to the main net and bring ether into new beginnings. This merger unlocks a significant development for Ethereum investors, as the previous stake on the blockchain may soon be withdrawn, with as much as $30 billion available. Ethereum is Upgrading to Shapella After Significant Merger (Photo : Jack Taylor/Getty Images) Ethereum is upgrading, and as announced by the company, this is taking place on April 12, by 22:27:35 UTC. The Merge, as the company called it, is a strategic merger known as Shapella (a combination of the words Shanghai and Capella), which will help transform Ethereum's codes (a.k.a. the beacon chains), on its execution and consensus layers. These are known to be Ethereum's two mainnet systems. According to Tim Beiko of the Ethereum Foundation, client releases that are compatible with the upgrade may be found on the company's release, announcing the merger. Interesting Engineering claimed that investor projections saw that this will increase Ethereum's volatility and may drive down its prices. Read Also: Google Cloud Blockchain Node Engine Arrives! Here's How It Can Benefit Ethereum Projects Ethereum Investors may Now Withdraw their Stakes Alongside this upgrade, Ethereum investors may now withdraw from the soon-to-be unlocked $31 billion holdings from their previous stakes on the blockchain. Previously, ether has a policy that users may stake their coins but could not withdraw them. This Shapella upgrade will fix this issue and allow investors and users who have stakes in the coin to "un-stake" them and retrieve their holdings. It is unknown if this massive change would help ether to drive up its prices and overtake Bitcoin as the top crypto in the world. Moreover, there are fears that many investors may liquidate immediately, causing a drop to its market valuation. Ethereum's Merge and its Legacy There have been massive revamps for Ethereum in the past, and one of the most significant is the so-called "Merge" which aims to change its proof-of-work to proof-of-stake. This centers on upgrading its software and towards its goals of reducing its carbon emissions that contribute to global warming, with the blockchain world being a significant contributor. Its technical transition aims to change a massive part of its operations from before. Initially, the company operated on significant processes which have been hurtful to the environment. However, with this change, their goal to reduce its carbon emissions will notably drop to almost 99 percent in its operations, a drastic step for the crypto. The technological shift is one of the key moments from Ethereum's legacy, as the crypto industry is notorious for its egregious power consumption which highly relies on coal power. At the present, Ethereum is not only looking into its clean energy transition but also into the merger with Shapella, soon to unlock opportunities for its investors who have staked ether before. Related Article: Ethereum Merge Successfully Launches, But Crypto Price Fails to Go Bullish 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. "Roblox" Metaverse now features the Changi Airport, making it the first airport to officially enter the popular game. Singapore's international airport confirmed this new effort via its official Twitter account, saying they are the first to offer an airport experience in "Roblox." "Experience the magic of Changi Airport in virtual reality, with interactive landscapes and exciting mini-games," said Changi Airport via its tweet. 'Roblox' Metaverse Now Features Changi Airport! According to The Strait Times' latest report, Changi Airport's metaverse game on "Roblox" is called ChangiVerse. Dive into the wondrous ChangiVerse, the worlds very first airport in Roblox! Experience the magic of Changi Airport in virtual reality, with interactive landscapes and exciting mini-games Explore ChangiVerse now: https://t.co/iwpqhyfsgR pic.twitter.com/It242wRdv2 Changi Airport (@ChangiAirport) April 13, 2023 Also Read: 'Roblox' Saber Simulator Codes January 2023: How to Redeem Them, List of Inactive Codes, and More It allows gamers to explore the Singaporean international airport virtually. They can even play numerous games in the metaverse version of Changi Airport. CNA Lifestyle reported that the ChangiVerse offers three key areas gamers can explore. These are the Airport Boulevard, Terminal 3, and the Jewel Changi Airport. Each of these metaverse places offers mini-games and interactive events. Other airport activities, such as baggage checking, can also be experienced. Andy Vermaut shares:ChangiVerse is a new Roblox experience that gives monthly winners a free pair of airplane tickets: A collaboration between Changi Airport Group and Accenture, ChangiVerse is an online experience with mini-games and https://t.co/9T9G07NdGi Thank you. pic.twitter.com/ZasEyFC0Up Andy Vermaut (@AndyVermaut) April 13, 2023 Aside from terminals, the ChangiVerse also offers familiar sights, such as the Changi control tower, the iconic indoor waterfall, the outdoor dinosaur display attraction, and many more. ChangiVerse's Available Games As of writing, the ChangiVerse offers numerous exciting games that players can definitely enjoy. The available games are expected to last until September. After that, Changi Airport could announce new games if the ChangiVerse gains enough players. One of the available games is the Changi Kart racing game. In this game, players can compete with each other. The winner will receive a pair of economy class tickets on Singapore Airlines. They can use these tickets to visit any destination they want via a direct flight on the airline. Overseas gamers also have a chance to win a trip to Singapore, allowing them to visit Changi Airport in real life. If you want to learn more about the latest ChangiVerse in "Roblox," you can click this link. Here are other stories we recently wrote about video games: Previously, the release date of the upcoming "Lego Bricktales" Mobile was confirmed. We also reported about the upcoming "League of Legends" minions rework, which is expected to change the Summoner's Rift greatly. For more news updates about the ChangiVerse and other new metaverse games, always keep your tabs here at TechTimes. Related Article: 'Roblox' Aimblox Redeem Codes for January 2023: How to Get Bonuses and Cash in The FPS Game 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Developing countries, including Egypt, have to reduce energy subsidies as the quickest way to achieve savings amid the ongoing global challenges and also amid the oil production reduction, the Deputy Director of Fiscal Affairs Department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Paolo Mauro told Ahram Online. Mauros remarks came during the press briefing the IMF held on Wednesday to release its Fiscal Monitor Report. He was responding to a question by Ahram Online on the way the recent decision of some oil exporters to cut production places more pressure on developing countries budgets and fiscal policies management. In Egypt, the goal is to reduce the debt-to-GDP-ratio in the medium term, and the way to achieve that is to maintain primary surpluses above the 5.5 per cent of GDP, that is the objective to be achieved through securing more revenues as well as spending reductions that preserve support for the vulnerable, Mauro stressed. Egypt is currently engaged in an IMF-Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme, for 46 months, that allows Egypt to secure $3 billion in loans. Egypt filed for this loan in March 2022 to address the severe repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian war. Under the programme, Egypt has committed to fully implement the fuel price indexation mechanism by refraining from applying any formulaic decreases in fuel prices until fuel subsidies for each product subject to the mechanism have been eliminated in the FY 2021/2022. In order to reduce Egypts debt under the loan programme, the government set a ceiling on the gross debt of GDP ratio of 92.1 percent of GDP by the end of the current FY2022/2023. Egypt targets a primary surplus of 2.1 per cent of GDP in FY 2023/2024 and 2.3 percent of GDP in FY 2024/2025 and FY 2025/26. It aims to curb this ratio to about 83 per cent of GDP by FY 2026/2027. To achieve this, the government committed to increasing the tax-to-GDP ratio, through its Medium-Term Revenue Strategy (MTRS), during the current FY2022/23 by around two percent over the medium term. During that time, Egypt will focus on both improving the progressivity of the tax system and avoiding unduly constraining productive activity and exports. The IMFs and World Bank Groups annual meetings (spring meetings) are being held in Washington DC through 16 April under the theme The Way Forward: Building Resilience and Reshaping Development. Search Keywords: Short link: Mastercard, a global financial services provider, recently announced a new artist accelerator program that leverages non-fungible tokens (NFTs) to offer exclusive access to educational resources, advanced AI tools, and other one-of-a-kind experiences for musicians and fans alike. Cointelegraph reports that the Mastercard Music Pass NFT, a limited-edition collectible that provides access to the full range of benefits available through the accelerator program, is at the heart of this innovative new program. The NFT is currently free until the end of the month and is available to both musicians and fans. The Mastercard Artist Accelerator Program Mastercard has already chosen five emerging artists from around the world to take part in the program, who represent a wide range of genres. The Mastercard Artist Accelerator program, developed in collaboration with blockchain developer Polygon, provides a wealth of resources and support to artists, including access to cutting-edge AI-driven music studio capabilities, mentorship from industry experts, and guidance on how to leverage blockchain technology to monetize their work and cultivate a community of fans. Read Also: Inbound Marketing Doesn't Always Work In Web3, But Olga Grinina Knows How To Help Blockchain Startups To Grow From Zero To One The program is intended to help users gain a better understanding and trust of blockchain and digital assets, which are becoming increasingly important in the music industry, according to Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard's Chief Marketing & Communications Officer and President of Healthcare Business. In a press release, Rajamannar noted that Web3 technology has enormous potential for connecting people and creating communities based on common interests. Mastercard has long been a supporter of the music industry, sponsoring high-profile events such as the GRAMMY Awards, Latin GRAMMY Awards, BRIT Awards, and the metaverse's first Sonic Latin America Music Festival. The Mastercard Music Pass NFT will be officially launched at the upcoming NFT.NYC 2023 conference, the world's largest NFT conference, provides Mastercard with a global platform to showcase its innovative new program and NFT to a broader audience of music and technology enthusiasts. More About the Announcement Cointelegraph notes that this announcement comes just a few months after Mastercard and Visa announced that new crypto and blockchain partnerships would be postponed until market conditions improved and a more stable regulatory framework was established. In Other NFT News Coindesk reports that Adidas has released a new collection, the ALTS by Adidas, as part of its Into The Metaverse non-fungible token (NFT) ecosystem. In December 2021, the brand debuted the Into The Metaverse collection, which gave NFT holders exclusive access to collaborative merchandise and virtual land experiences throughout 2022. Adidas collaborated with NFT influencer gmoney, PUNKS Comic, and Bored Ape Yacht Club in its first exploration, allowing holders to burn their NFTs to claim physical clothing items and a new ERC-1155 token for the project's next phase. The ALTS by Adidas collection, which is based on the Ethereum blockchain, is the newest stage of Adidas' Web3 journey. Stay posted here at Tech Times. Related Article: Game Engine Unity Embraces Web3 with New Decentralization Category, Taps MetaMask, and More 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The leaked U.S. military documents revealed something shocking between NATO and Wagner Group (aka PMC Wagner), a Russian paramilitary group. When the Russia-Ukraine conflict began, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization said that they would support Ukraine. NATO also even condemned the Russian government because of its aggression towards Ukraine. However, it seems like NATO and Russia had other ideas before, based on the leaked top-secret U.S. military files. US Military Leaked Document Update According to CNN Edition's latest report, the leaked U.S. military documents revealed an attempted weapon transaction between the Russia-backed paramilitary group and NATO. Also Read: Russian War Supporter Hacked by Cyber Resistance; Instead of Drones, Purchases Adult Toys Based on the leaked files, the PMC Wagner met with some Turkish contacts back in February. During their meetup, the Wagner Group tried to purchase weapons and other war equipment from Turkey. Experts stated that these weapons were supposed to be used by Wagner mercenaries alongside Russian forces in Ukraine. The Turkish contacts were not named on the leaked U.S. military files. It is also unclear if the Turkish government was aware of the attempted weapons deal. Although the weapons transaction didn't push through, the intent of a NATO ally to sell weapons to Russia is still raising concerns in Washington. The details of the meeting were outlined in the leaked document's section titled "Mali, Russia, Turkey: Vagner seeks weapons from Ankara." About Leaked US Military Documents ABC News reported that the latest leaked U.S. military documents could be the most severe domestic intelligence breach up to date. The files contain numerous sensitive information, such as details about the Russia-Ukraine conflict and wars in other parts of the globe. Reports stated that the majority of the 38 leaked documents are classified as top-secret. Because of this, the document leak triggered a criminal investigation by the DoJ. If you want to learn more about the leaked U.S. military files, just click this link. In other stories, the Chinese spy balloon allegedly collected information on the U.S. military bases. We also reported about Japan's bomb shelter bill, which could soon become law. For more news updates about military documents and other related defense topics, keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. Related Article: Hackers Strike on Anniversary of Ukraine Invasion, Deface Russian Websites 2023 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As much as digital transformation is helping businesses become more efficient and agile, it also comes a potentially damaging side effect a rapid, and severe resurgence in cybercrime. Cybercriminals are leveraging the variety of networks, devices and applications used today to grow their attacks in volume, speed, and sophistication, allowing them to wreak havoc, not just within the business world, but amid global conflict as well. Eighty-five percent of all current malware is spread via web browsers, costing organizations an average of $3.2M. Furthermore, these types of attacks can be leveraged to deliver anything from zero-day attacks, to ransomware, cryptominers and other malicious browser-executable code, making them among the hardest to prepare for and defend against. Luckily, in a modern-day digital world where technology creates problems, it can also help create solutions. Businesses are already leveraging smart cyber security solutions that help bolster their technological defense, and as more solutions become increasingly available, citizens will be able to better defend themselves from attackers lying in digital shadows. Recently, DefensX, developer of zero-trust cybersecurity applications, announced a partnership with lifecell, a Ukrainian telecommunications operator providing mobile communication and data transfer services based on high-speed Internet, to provide next-level protection against growing, web-borne cyber-attacks. We are proud to bring an array of solutions to lifecell as digital attacks continue to rise in war torn Ukraine, said Halis Osman Erkan, founder and CEO of DefensX which is a platform designed for service providers, enabling effective, easy to install and manage, and cost-effective browser-based, pure cloud cyber protection at a fraction of the price of legacy solutions. Given our complimentary architectures and shared vision for cloud and internet-based communications applications, DefensX and lifecell are a perfect fit especially as cloud telco digital transformation accelerates. Eighty percent of cyber attacks involve web browsers, and DefensX Secure Web Browser protects individuals and organizations from being infected by malware on malicious web sites, phishing attacks designed to steal credentials, and increasingly sophisticated Adware. Adware is a type of malware that displays unwanted advertisements on smartphones and computers, commonly activated unknowingly when users are trying to install legitimate applications that Adware is bundled with. The DefensX Secure Web Browser made by lifecell is available to all its subscribers who seek privacy and protection of their personal data on the Internet. DefensX can be activated in minutes on one to five devices using a USSD code or SMS. Subscribers of lifecell simply start using the DefensX browser, which identifies malicious web sites and blocks accessing these sites to protect individuals and businesses from various types of web threats. Specific features include: Zero Trust Web Protection There are many risky websites on the internet, and subscribers may find themselves visiting one of the malicious websites without knowing what is waiting for them there. DefensX identifies malicious web sites and blocks accessing these sites to protect users from various types of web threats. Zero Trust Credentials Protection Phishing attacks pretending to be legitimate websites trick end-users into entering their username/password to steal valuable, personal, and sensitive data. DefensX uses Artificial Intelligence to identify phishing web pages and prevents users from entering their passwords, stopping cyber criminals in their tracks. ADware Protection DefensX detects potential ADware attack surfaces within web pages and removes those risk elements in the web pages. DefensX not only protects end-users and businesses from harmful ADware but does so without slowing down or otherwise preventing a smooth user experience. DefensX also brings lifecell an immediate solution addressing the alarming growth of zero-day attacks, so much so that we refer to our solution as zero-hour, Erkan said. Our phishing protection/credential protection feature has AI capabilities that can detect computer-software vulnerabilities previously unknown to those who need real time mediation, including providers of the target software. Until the vulnerability is mitigated, hackers can exploit it to adversely affect programs, data, additional computers, or a network, leading to potentially severely damaging devices, networks, and applications. According to SaaS Alerts, 2022 saw a 61% increase in the rate of phishing attacks, a number all industry analysts expect to grow even further this year. Equally troubling, the report found a 29% increase in the number of guest user accounts, which can have access to sensitive data and open access points for bad actors. Of the over 979,840 SaaS accounts monitored by SaaS Alerts in 2022, 54% were from guest user accounts versus licensed users. Adware alone accounts for 48% of all malware. When adware reaches smartphones, without proper protection it can unlock access not only to a single end-user while potentially providing easy access to corporate information and systems. Microsoft shared in a recent report that cyber attackers "have begun using advancements in automation, cloud infrastructure and remote access technologies to attack a wider set of targets." They highlighted an increase in sophistication and a shift to targeting the IT services supply chain. In September 2022, Microsoft confirmed that two unpatched zero days were being actively exploited again in attacks against its Exchange Server software. "While zero-day vulnerability attacks tend to initially target a limited set of organizations, they are quickly adopted into the larger threat actor ecosystem," Microsoft wrote in the report. "This kicks off a race for threat actors to exploit the vulnerability as widely as possible before their potential targets install patches." Edited by Erik Linask Syria and Saudi Arabia are moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights between the two countries for the first time in more than a decade, the countries said Thursday in a joint statement. The announcement followed a visit by Syria's top diplomat to the kingdom, the first since Saudi Arabia cut off diplomatic relations with Syria in 2012. Syria was widely shunned by Arab governments over Syrian President Bashar Assads crackdown on protesters in an uprising turned civil war that began in 2011. The breakdown in relations culminated with Syria being ousted from the Arab League. However, in recent years, as Assad has consolidated control over most of the country, Syria's neighbours have begun to take steps toward rapprochement. The overtures have picked up pace since the massive 6 February earthquake in Turkey and Syria, and the Chinese-brokered reestablishment of ties between Saudi Arabia and Iran, regional rivals that had backed opposing sides in the Syrian conflict. A delegation headed by Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad, at the invitation of Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud arrived in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday for talks about bilateral relations between the two countries, state media from the two countries reported. Saudi state media reported that Mekdad was received by the kingdoms Deputy Foreign Minister Waleed Al-Khuraiji. The meeting focused on the steps needed to reach a comprehensive political settlement of the Syrian crisis that would achieve national reconciliation, and contribute to the return of Syria to its Arab fold," the two countries said in a joint statement. Saudi Arabia is hosting the next Arab League summit in May, where a restoration of Syria's membership is widely expected to be on the table. On Friday, representatives of nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah to discuss letting al-Assad's long-isolated country attend the summit. The two sides also discussed the importance of enhancing security and combating terrorism in all its forms, and enhancing cooperation in combating drug smuggling and trafficking, the statement said. The talks also focused on the need to support the Syrian state to extend its control over its territories to end the presence of armed militias and external interference in the Syrian internal affairs, as well as on facilitating the delivery of humanitarian aid and the return of Syrian refugees. The visit to Saudi Arabia came after Syria announced Wednesday that it will reopen its embassy in Tunisia, which cut off relations in 2012. Tunisian President Kais Saied announced earlier this month that he had directed the countrys foreign ministry to appoint a new ambassador to Syria. His move was reciprocated by the Syrian government, a joint statement from the two countries foreign ministries said Wednesday, according to Syrian state news agency SANA. *This story was edited by Ahram Online Search Keywords: Short link: The most exclusive and anticipated salad of the season returns in Madrid "Screenings do not reveal all problems": RUDN University professor on the maximum reproductive age and late childbirth Disappearance of Chloe in Seine-et-Marne: how did the investigators find the young woman? Rospotrebnadzor: in patients with measles in the first days, the face becomes puffy and the eyelids swell Guide for passing the dungeon Tower of Babil in the Endwalker update in Final Fantasy 14 This is how Jenkin's won the Champions Burger in Madrid: 1,800 hamburgers in one day, a fridge truck and the "dream" of opening in the capital Where to eat the best asparagus and artichokes in Madrid The restaurant of a scrapyard in Madrid that triumphs with its luxury menus at popular prices WhatsApp finally activates the option to use several phones with the same account A Japanese company will try to make the landing of Hakuto-R today, the first private spacecraft to go to the Moon Will Christophe Dechavanne return for a second season of "Quelle epoque!" with Lea Salame? His cash response Watch the movie "Snap"? "Screen photography" or infringement, please take care of your hands "30 years of protection of finless porpoises has fulfilled a dream: "release" and "boudoir" released into the Yangtze River Dismissal of Corinne Diacre: the former coach of the Blues will receive a large sum of money "Everyone is free to choose their own destiny": which of the Russian athletes went to change citizenship and why Hugo Lloris is "my model": the international Espoirs Lucas Chevalier talks about his rise at Losc Eslov won the first semi-final: "Thank you for the show, Truls" They apologized for falling with a hexagon. Tottenham players pay their fans for tickets for Newcastle match Taty Castellanos eats Militao and enters, with four goals, in the history of Madrid On character: "Ak Bars" missed first, but defeated CSKA in the fifth match of the final series of the Gagarin Cup Formula 1: the leaders change the format of the sprint weekend to ensure more spectacle Football: the former goalkeeper of the Blues Hugo Lloris leaves after 5 goals conceded in 45 minutes Monaco, damaged by Maccabi Tel Aviv, already back to the wall in the quarterfinals of the Euroleague The Government reduces income tax by 25% to help 800,000 farmers and ranchers due to drought Juan Bravo: "The promise of the PP is to lower taxes? No, the promise is not to upload them, which is enough" Consultants and unions agree on a 10% increase in salary and a payment of 17 euros per month for teleworking Iran: repression does not abate in the face of opponents, several incarcerations LVMH becomes the first European listed company with a market capitalization of more than $5000 billion Contributing to global sustainable development Many parties look to the power of data Sold out on the same day of arrival! Zhejiang strawberries are sold in Singapore, with a box of more than 100 yuan What is the impact of the "price reduction tide" of new cars on the used car market? Lavrov does not believe that it is necessary to immediately help companies that are trying to return to Russia The maximum temperature exceeds 40 degrees Celsius, and many countries in Southeast Asia have suffered from high temperature and heat waves Urgent| Sources in the family of the deposed Sudanese president: Bashir is still being treated at the Medical Weapon Hospital in Khartoum Visited more than 20 restaurants and found that few small dishes are available, where did half a dish go? 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 A woman dies in the Paris metro after her coat is hooked in the car Why is Mr. DeSantis Japan? Florida Governor explains the reason for his visit to Japan "Discrimination of pure water": the Polish airline refused to put tennis player Dyachenko on the flight because of the passport of the Russian Federation Fights and racist remarks: an investigation opened after the publication of a video at the end of the OL-OM match Under international and regional pressures. These are the conditions of Al-Burhan and Hemedti for negotiation Britain does not intend to eliminate the consequences of the use of depleted uranium shells by the Armed Forces of Ukraine Washington Post: Russians are plotting against Chad, America is reluctant to help its important ally A Japanese company will try to make the landing of Hakuto-R today, the first private spacecraft to go to the Moon Communities 2019 - Privacy The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them. North Korea likely fired 'new type' of ballistic missile, Seoul says Seoul, April 13 (AFP) Apr 13, 2023 North Korea likely fired a "new type" of ballistic missile Thursday that may have used advanced solid fuel, Seoul's military said, representing a potential technical breakthrough for Pyongyang's banned weapons programs. "North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. All of Pyongyang's known intercontinental ballistic missiles are liquid-fuelled, and solid-fuel ICBMs that can be launched from land or submarines have long been on top of leader Kim Jong Un's wish list. Such missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch, and thus harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively. At a military parade in Pyongyang in February, North Korea showed off a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuelled ICBM. Seoul's military on Thursday said it had detected one "medium range or longer" ballistic missile launched on a lofted trajectory -- up not out -- from the Pyongyang area at 0723 (1023 GMT), which flew 1,000 km (621 miles). Japan, which briefly issued a seek shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region, said the missile had not fallen within the country's territory and posed no threat to residents. Climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven are due to meet this weekend in Sapporo, Hokkaido's regional capital, a month before the group holds its summit in Hiroshima. The United States said it "strongly condemns" North Korea for the test of what it described as a "long-range ballistic missile". The launch is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea, which has already fired several of its most powerful intercontinental ballistic missiles this year. It has also tested what its state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones -- known as Haeil, the Korean word for tsunami -- which it says are capable of unleashing a "radioactive tsunami". On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un 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. - 'Real war' - Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang last year declaring itself an "irreversible" nuclear power, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. 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. North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion, and on Tuesday described them as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang. The latest test was likely a bid by the North "to put pressure on the South and the United States over their joint military exercises," Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University, told AFP. South Korea on Tuesday also accused North Korea of being "irresponsible" after Pyongyang cut hotline contact with Seoul last week. North Korea has not answered the twice-daily calls made through a military hotline and an inter-Korean liaison channel since Friday, according to Seoul's unification ministry. The links were cut a day after Seoul accused Pyongyang of continued unauthorised use of a joint industrial complex in the North Korean city of Kaesong. "Pyongyang's provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defense exercises because Kim Jong Un hasn't finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation." UK police recover body from Channel after Storm Noa London, April 13 (AFP) Apr 13, 2023 British police on Thursday said a body had been found washed up on a southern English beach, following heavy winds from Storm Noa that have battered the UK and France. Coastguard helicopters and lifeboats launched a rescue effort on Wednesday afternoon after a report of a person in the sea off the coast of the city of Brighton, in East Sussex. "An extensive search of the area took place throughout the evening until 9:00 pm (2000 GMT) in challenging conditions," a coastguard spokeswoman said. Local police said a body was then discovered at 8:15am on Thursday. "An investigation into the circumstances is ongoing and further updates will be provided in due course," Sussex police said. It follows a separate emergency services' search off Brighton beach on Tuesday afternoon, after a woman was spotted in the water. Sussex police confirmed her body had also been found and the woman's next of kin informed. "Her death is not being treated as suspicious," the force said. Storm Noa, which was named by France's meteorological service, has caused havoc on both sides of the Channel, with strong winds leaving hundreds of homes without power, felling trees and disrupting travel services in England. Representatives from nine Arab countries will meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Friday to discuss their stance and moves to end the decade-long isolation of President Bashar Al-Assad, Arab diplomats said Tuesday. Ministers and top officials from the six Gulf Cooperation Council countries Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates along with Egypt, Iraq and Jordan will meet in Jeddah. On the table is Syria's suspension from the Arab League, in place since President Bashar Al-Assad's government launched a bloody crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011. Saudi Arabia, which is hosting an Arab League summit on 19 May, is a major proponent of reinstating the regime, representing a major shift from Riyadhs previous stance. Although the 22-nation Arab League takes decisions by consensus, unanimous agreement is unlikely, a Riyadh-based diplomat told AFP. "The meeting aims to overcome the Gulf differences over Syria as much as possible," the diplomat said, singling out Qatar an outspoken critic of the Assad government. "I will not say taking a unified position because this will not happen, but the Saudis are trying at least to ensure that Qatar does not object to Syria's return to the Arab League if the issue is put to any vote," the diplomat added. Spokesperson for the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs Majid Al-Ansari said that "there are many developments regarding the situation in Syria and the views of Arab countries regarding Syria's return to the Arab League." In video a statement to local media, Al-Ansari said that Qatar, which had previously said it had no plans to normalise relations with Damascus and had spoken out against efforts by some countries to do so, had not changed its position. He said "any change in the current (Qatar) position on Syria is mainly linked to an Arab consensus and a change on the ground that achieves the aspirations of the Syrian people." @majedalansari : .#_ pic.twitter.com/1rsDW3QOyF (@MofaQatar_AR) April 11, 2023 However, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad and his Saudi counterpart have discussed "the necessary steps" to end Damascus's isolation, according to a Saudi statement on Wednesday. Ahead of the talks, United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al-Nahyan flew to Cairo for talks with Egyptian president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. Unlike some other Arab governments, Cairo never fully severed ties with Damascus during the war, but relations were downgraded. The UAE has led the charge to bring Syria back into the Arab fold, with Sheikh Mohamed saying last month that "the time has come" for Damascus to be reintegrated into the wider region. Syria's foreign minister arrived on Wednesday to Saudi Arabia, a previously unannounced visit the first since the outbreak of the country's civil war in 2011. The two countries announced in a joint statement they are moving toward reopening embassies and resuming flights. It was one in a flurry of events that were nearly unthinkable before Saudi Arabia and Iran's landmark, Chinese-brokered announcement on March 10 that they would resume ties, seven years after an acrimonious split. On Wednesday, an Iranian delegation landed in Saudi Arabia to pave the way for reopening diplomatic missions, following a trip by a Saudi team in the opposite direction. The Saudi ambassador to Yemen has held talks with Iran-backed Huthi rebels this week aimed at ending the devastating civil war that has raged since a Saudi-led military intervention started in 2015. Earlier this month, the Saudi and Iranian foreign ministers pledged to work together to bring "security and stability" to the troubled region during a meeting in Beijing. And late on Wednesday, gas-rich Qatar and its tiny Gulf neighbour Bahrain agreed to re-establish relations, putting aside a long-running diplomatic feud. Search Keywords: Short link: Edge, one of the worlds leading advanced technology and defence groups, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Brazilian company SIATT, which specialises in smart weapons and high-tech system integration. Signed on the Edge stand during the leading Latin American Defence and Security Exhibition LAAD 2023, the MoU provides a framework for the companies to combine expertise and explore potential collaboration opportunities to enhance technologies and capabilities in the UAE and Brazilian markets.-- TradeArabia News Service A Ugandan military court has sentenced dozens of Kenyan pastoralists to 20 years in prison after they pleaded guilty to illegal possession of firearms, an official said Thursday. The 32 nomadic herders from northern Kenya were captured in an intelligence operation on Saturday, following an exchange of gunfire in Moroto district in northeastern Uganda, Brigadier General Joseph Balikuddembe told AFP. They appeared before a military court on Tuesday, the Moroto-based officer said. "The 32 (suspects)... were convicted and sentenced to 20 years on their own plea of guilty for illegal possession of firearms and ammunitions," he said. The remote and impoverished northeastern region has endured decades of tit-for-tat armed cattle raids between nomadic clans that wander the lawless frontier between Uganda, South Sudan and Kenya. Search Keywords: Short link: Series Save Our NGA The National Gallery of Australia is in deep strife. Home of the nations $6.9 billion art collection, the building is in a sad state of disrepair and desperately needs some $265 million to bring it up to a standard. This new series explores the plight of the institution, which has missed out on funding for far too long. He pitted his kids against each other their entire lives. Its sad, a person close to the family reportedly told Vanity Fair. Its reported that while Elisabeth, the eldest child from his relationship with former wife Anna, is the sharpest, she is a woman and Murdoch subscribed to old-fashioned primogeniture. Shout out to Shiv. Then theres the oldest child, Prudence, who largely stays out of the family business. Shout out to Connor. Meanwhile, Lachlan was the golden child, but Murdoch didnt believe he had the drive to succeed. That left James, the youngest of the three but the most ideologically opposed. Despite their differences, James vowed to take control, climbing the ladder until Murdoch managed to lure Lachlan back from Australia in 2015. It was a big slap in the face, a person close to James said, according to Vanity Fair. Sibling rivalry? The Roys dont even come close. Apparently, the split between the Murdoch brothers, James and Lachlan, is so bad that they no longer speak. At least Roman and Kendall can still make fun of each other. The source of the tension, according to the Vanity Fair article, is the right-wing rhetoric of Fox News and the general direction the network has taken over the last 10 years. Rupert Murdoch with sons Lachlan and James. Credit: Bloomberg But with Murdoch entering his twilight years, attention has turned to who will take over when he dies. Lachlan seems the heir apparent, but James would love to gain control. James is a lone wolf, a former News Corp executive said. Meanwhile, Elisabeth wants to make amends. Shes terrified of Rupert dying mad at her, the source said. If last weeks Succession taught us anything, you never know when your number is up. Rupert Murdoch is a romantic. Oh, and he loves Hamilton The story also digs deep into how the Fox News executive wooed his fourth wife, 1970s fashion icon Jerry Hall. After a few old-fashioned phone calls, the pair went on a date in New York. When Hall arrived, her hotel room was filled with flowers and chocolates. He was an old-fashioned gentleman. We laughed together nonstop, she told friends. A couple of nights later, Murdoch took her to see Hamilton. Talk about wanting to be in the room where it happened. On Trump: Rupert knew he was an idiot. For a hot minute, Fox News and Donald Trump were desperately co-dependent, two sides of the same profoundly conservative coin. But according to Vanity Fair, Trump was the last person Murdoch wanted to hitch his wagon to. Rupert knew he was an idiot, a person close to Murdoch said. Loading Trump offers Jerry Hall a job. One of the prominent bones of contention for Murdoch in recent years was that Hall despised Trump. Sherman recalls an incident shortly after the 2016 election where Hall asked Trump to reroute the Dakota Access Pipeline away from Native American reservations protesting the project. In typical Trump style, he responded by asking if she wanted to serve in his administration as head of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. Disney buying Fox is basically GoJo buying Waystar Succession fans will love this one. Turns out Disneys $71.3 billion purchase of the film and TV assets held by 21st Century Fox in 2019 was super similar to Lukas Matssons attempts to swallow up Waystar Royco. Disney gets the deal done. Bob Iger with Rupert Murdoch. The details of the deal go something like this: Murdoch hosted Disney CEO Bob Iger for lunch at his vineyard (where else?) and during that meal Iger floated that Disney would be interested in buying 21st Century Fox. Like Logan Roy, Murdoch was mad, not just mad, outraged! Vanity Fair said, Murdoch was a pirate who conquered media companies, not dispensed with them. However, in the streaming age, legacy media cant compete with fast-moving tech giants, so selling out to Disney seemed the best move. Sherman writes: The logic of selling 21st Century Fox to Disney made a lot of sense, plus, Murdoch would get to keep Fox News and his beloved newspapers. Logan and ATN, anyone? Jerry Halls Succession gag order It has long been rumoured that members of the Murdoch family leak storylines to the writers of Succession, and if this little nugget regarding Halls divorce from Murdoch is anything to go by, the rumours must be true. According to Vanity Fair: One of the terms of the settlement was that Hall couldnt give story ideas to the writers on Succession. Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall at their wedding in London in 2016. Following their divorce Murdoch ensured his ex-wife wouldnt disclose details of their life to the writers of HBO show Succession. Credit: Facundo Arrizabalaga One Murdoch wants to burn Fox News to the ground Much like in Succession, the diminishing power of the family patriarch has shifted all eyes to what comes next. Sherman states, Two people close to James told me he is biding his time until he and his sisters can wrest control from Lachlan after Rupert is gone. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the April 15 Edition of Good Weekend. See all 16 stories . Romcoms are often fuelled by happy coincidences and sliding-doors moments: a chance encounter while queuing for coffee, a flirty longueur while stuck in a lift. In The Matchmaker, a novel by Australian writer Saman Shad, the encounter is less a meet-cute than a carjacking: Saima, a professional matchmaker from Sydney, leaves a clients wedding and jumps, exhaustedly, into the back of a car that she assumes to be her Uber. Partly on a whim, and partly because hes fighting with his girlfriend, the driver, a man named Khalid, or Kal, plays along, and drops Saima home. During the drive, Kal and Saima, who are both from Pakistani-Australian families, fall into a spirited debate about their mixed cultural backgrounds, beginning what will become a long, cheeky game of romantic cat-and-mouse. Trade website Books+Publishing describes the book as a light read that nonetheless delves deep into the complexities and heartbreak of immigrant culture. Author Shad, 39, is also a journalist, and has worked in TV, radio and theatre, both here and in the UK. Her first full-length play, called The Marriage Agency, which also centred on a professional matchmaker, ran for two weeks last year in Sydneys King Cross Theatre. Almost all of Shads work is informed by her experiences as a South Asian, or Desi, woman, in a country where the dominant culture remains largely white and Anglo. Loading My work is about countering the many negative stereotypes about Desi culture, says Shad, who has dark, mid-length hair, mahogany-coloured eyes and a bubbly demeanour. The idea that South Asian families are all patriarchal, for instance. Mine was in many ways matriarchal: my dad followed my mum to Australia when she came to do her PhD. In her novel, Shad also wanted to show a relationship between two second-generation immigrants. Its not something we see often two brown people as the protagonists, especially in a love story. I wanted to show how they navigate their relationship with their cultural background while living in a place like Australia. Reckoning with such stories is increasingly important for Australia. Last year, India overtook China to become this countrys second-largest source of migrants and is expected to leapfrog the number-one source, England, in five years. (From 2011 to 2021, the number of Indian-born migrants rose from 330,000 to 721,000.) And yet misconceptions abound. Advertisement People think that South Asians are only good at IT, that we are all nerds and are no good at sport, says Indian-Australian filmmaker Ana Tiwary. Or we are all poor and needy, whereas Mumbai alone has 60,600 millionaires. Tiwary, who lives in Sydney, has directed and produced 25 films here and overseas, including Sunshine and Shade, a 2012 documentary about Indian students in Australia, and most recently the ABCs India Now! series. My work is about countering the many negative stereotypes about Desi culture, says writer Saman Shad. India also suffers from exotification, a kind of colonial nostalgia, she says. Its harmful because it doesnt acknowledge the damage that colonisation did to India, the death and destruction it caused, the effects of which are still being felt today. Like Shad, much of Tiwarys career has been spent countering these narratives. And like Shad, her most recent project, a series she is developing called Unmatched, explores one of the most controversial and persistently misunderstood Desi tropes: the arranged marriage. Arranged marriage is the norm on the subcontinent: a 2018 survey by the Delhi-based Lok Foundation found that 93 per cent of Indian marriages there were assisted, with just 3 per cent love marriages. There are no firm statistics in Australia, but Manjula OConnor, a Melbourne-based clinical psychiatrist who has written widely on the issue, estimates more than half of young Indian-Australians have arranged marriages; Australian National University research in 2015, meanwhile, suggests the figure is closer to 90 per cent. (Arranged marriages are not to be confused with forced marriages, which are illegal in Australia, wherein one party, usually a young woman, is pressured to marry for religious, financial or cultural reasons.) In the Western world, arranged marriages are enjoying a bit of a moment. Netflix scored a hit with its 2020 reality TV series Indian Matchmaker, which followed Mumbai marriage maven Sima Taparia and her (usually ill-fated) attempts to find spouses for her rich clients. Advertisement This year sees the release of Whats Love Got To Do With It?, a romcom feature starring Emma Thompson and Shazad Latif, in which a young filmmaker decides to document her best friends matchmaker-assisted spouse hunt. Then there are shows like Married at First Sight (which airs on the Nine Network, publisher of Good Weekend), where a group of strangers are paired together by a panel of relationship experts. Shazad Latif and Lily James in Whats Love Got To Do With It? Credit:Robert Viglasky/StudioCanal Even dating apps like Tinder and Bumble, which use AI and short profiles to establish compatibility, are a type of matchmaking. (Tinders original prototype was known as MatchBox.) Arranged marriages are similar, the only difference being that your parents are the algorithm. Usually the parents or extended family members ask around at community functions or other peoples weddings, says Shad. Its done by word of mouth, by chats and phone calls. Then the parties exchange numbers and it goes from there. More formal matchmaking is also an option, with scores of websites listing hundreds of profiles featuring height, age, language, caste and birth chart, together with a brief description. (This profile is of my daughter who is simple and good-looking. Our mother tongue is Tamil and caste is Brahmin.) No matter which route you take, finding your perfect partner in Desi culture is a data-heavy process. I take as much detail as I can on my clients, says Parul Mehta, who runs Indian Matrimonial in Sydney. Education, occupation which gives an indication of their earning capacity siblings, dating history. Loading Matching horoscopes, or kundali, is also important. Prospective couples often compare birth charts on a kundali website (there are hundreds online). The site then produces a compatibility score out of 36. Anything below 18 is not recommended, says Mehta, who started her business eight years ago. Younger Indians dont worry so much about the score, but their parents will usually not approve a marriage without a good kundali match. Advertisement Although she doesnt consider herself a particularly superstitious person, even Mehta concedes that if a kundali match for two people turns out to be terrible i.e., a score of two or three she wouldnt bother introducing them. Sonica and Bhupesh, an Indian-Australian couple living in Melbourne, met in India, through their parents. Before Bhupesh, Sonica hadnt been introduced to any other prospective partners; Bhupesh had only met one other woman. I never had the courage to talk to them before, he says. We werent worried because we had seen this kind of marriage happening with parents and relatives, and they had all worked well. After being introduced, they caught up two or three times, in cafes. It was love at first sight for me, says Bhupesh, although it was different for Sonica. I was not ready to get married. It was very quick, she says. But he was very nice and kind. The face tells everything. They aced their kundali score, which came in at 28. Just to be sure, her older brother did some background checks on Bhupesh, to see if he is socially respected, and hasnt had any affairs. My brother got good feedback. After consulting the couples birth charts, their priest calculated that the most propitious time for the wedding ceremony was December 8 at 3am. Only close relatives stayed for that, says Sonica. She was 24; he was 26. In the beginning, you have to put up with a person you dont know, says Bhupesh. You have to control your own habits. But we werent worried because we had seen this kind of marriage happening with parents and relatives, and they had all worked well. Sima Taparia from the Netflix series Indian Matchmaker, left, and a couple from Married at First Sight, a show where singles are paired together by a group of experts. Advertisement Why are arranged marriages so complicated? Because they arent just between two people, they are between two families: a union of parents, grandparents, siblings and households. (New brides are expected to move into the grooms home.) Desi culture is collectivist, says Manjula OConnor. The wellbeing of the family and society is seen as more important than the individuals. So people will try very hard to submit their urges and wishes for the greater good and betterment of their family and community. For many Australians, whove been raised to follow your heart, this is hard to get their head around. We live in a Western society where individuals want to achieve their very best, says OConnor. When you cant do that in certain situations, like a marriage, then you move on. In Indian culture the pressure to stay married is so strong. This can have tragic consequences. If a woman does not submit to the grooms family, she might be labelled too stubborn or rude, or they say she hasnt been brought up properly, says OConnor. There can be domestic violence, or she can become alienated. The mother-in-law goes on the attack, and if the mother-in-law is toxic it can be terrible. You see that person through that lens of ecstasy, and exaggerate their good properties. Then five years later, you wake up and say, Who are you? There are a lot of unhappy people trapped in arranged marriages. But then the same could be said for love marriages, which, as OConnor points out, are often based on a delusion. How do most young people meet? says OConnor, who married for love in 1971 and divorced in 1985. They go to nightclubs, or ask friends or go on Tinder. So you meet someone and fall in love, and then you fall into a state of delusion, because your brain is creating massive quantities of serotonin, dopamine, oxytocin and other happy chemicals. And so basically you start to see that person through that lens of ecstasy, and you exaggerate all their good properties. Then five years later, when the chemicals are gone, you wake up and say, Who are you? Young people tend to think that its better to live by free will, she says. But free will can be an illusion. Advertisement The former government ministers responsible for the multibillion-dollar Inland Rail project rejected board candidates with vital and requested skill sets and instead handpicked a Liberal Party fundraiser, a former Nationals vice president and a corporate lawyer for resource giants. The three-year appointments to the Australian Rail and Track Corporation made by then-ministers Barnaby Joyce and Simon Birmingham, weeks out from the past federal election, were criticised by Dr Kerry Schott in her stunning report last week detailing the slow derailing of one of Australias largest infrastructure projects. Barnaby Joyce ignored advice and handpicked members, including a money man for Angus Taylor, to sit on the board of the Australian Rail and Track Corporation. Credit: James Brickwood The ministers did not issue a press release announcing the members, who as non-executive directors are paid $83,150 a year. While not named in Schotts report, the captains picks of Ryan Arrold, Katrina Hodgkinson and Keira Brennan raised eyebrows within the ARTC, according to a person familiar with the process. Premier Chris Minns has flagged a major overhaul of the Metro West line between Sydneys CBD and Parramatta, saying his government will consider building more stations along the route despite the cost of the project already hitting $25 billion. Announcing a wide-ranging review into Sydneys metro rail projects, Minns ruled out cancelling the troubled conversion of a stretch of the existing Bankstown line, which is part of the $20 billion City and Southwest project, but said its completion is likely to be beyond 2025. NSW Premier Chris Minns and Transport Minister Jo Haylen announce the review on Thursday. Credit: Steven Siewert The new government has raised the possibility of rezoning land along a rejigged Metro West line to allow for increased housing density as it grapples with a rental crisis. Led by former high-ranking federal transport bureaucrat Mike Mrdak, the review into Sydneys metro projects comes on the back of a string of cost blowouts the new government says it has uncovered during briefings with transport officials. Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has been rallying support for an unfunded road and rail tunnel in Brisbanes north while claiming the state government might already have an alternative plan to develop the North-West Transport Corridor. On his official letterhead, Schrinner has written to homeowners in affected suburbs with a link to a petition calling for road and rail infrastructure to be put underground. Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner has written to home-owners about congestion in the citys north-west. Unfortunately, State Transport Minister Mark Bailey has repeatedly refused to rule out above ground options through a long-preserved track of bushland known as the North West Transport Corridor, Schrinner wrote. The letter gives a link to Schrinners website where he again encourages people to provide their details to help us tell the State Government the corridor should not be developed. Two months ago, a nurse educator walking along a hall in the Box Hill Hospital administration building noticed liquid seeping from under the door of a space known as the bone room. Inside the room, she found several items: two clinical waste bins, a plastic specimen container filled with a brown liquid, a small fridge which was on and appeared to be the source of the leak, and dry bone fragments inside a plastic bag. Unidentified human bones and tissue were found in a room in Box Hill Hospital, which has begun looking for answers. Credit: Eddie Jim She also found a table with a towel, a tray with metal implements, what appeared to be tissue fragments and fine white or yellowish powder. Two days later, on February 16, Patrick Guiney, an ear, nose and throat surgeon, identified the contents of a bucket inside the fridge as human temporal bones which are found in the skull preserved in formaldehyde, a preservation solution for human and animal tissues. Egypt's National Dialogue, a proposed initiative by President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi, will proceed as scheduled on 3 May, according to the dialogue's Secretary-General Mahmoud Fawzi. Fawzi stated that Diaa Rashwan, the National Dialogue's general coordinator, will hold a press conference a few days before 3 May to announce the complete details of the dialogue's sessions and answer questions about related arrangements. In an interview with Extra News TV channel on Wednesday night, Fawzi said "the dialogue will consist of sessions held at least three times a week, one day for the political track, one for the economic track and one for the social track. The 19-member Board of Trustees will determine the topics and finalise the timetables of debates that will take place in each dialogue session, he added. Attendees include representatives from 85 political parties, 25 professional syndicates, trade unions, NGOs, public figures, experts and government officials. The Board of Trustees has also invited 16 public figures, including politicians, intellectuals, human rights activists, film stars and academics, to join the dialogue's specialised committees. Fawzi indicated that participants will be chosen ahead of the debate and that rapporteurs and assistant rapporteurs would be in charge of running the debates and ensuring that all abide by the procedural rules and codes of conduct. He also noted that most participating forces have already chosen their representatives and that the Board of Trustees and General Coordinator Rashwan are keen to see the largest possible number of political forces participate in the process. However, forces that have been convicted of committing acts of violence and terrorism or have blood on their hands are prohibited from joining the dialogue. Fawzi confirmed that most political forces welcomed the holding of the dialogue. Egypt's National Dialogue was proposed last year by President El-Sisi to crystallise new political, economic and social priorities for the country. Fawzi also recalled that the Board of Trustees had proposed an amendment to the law regulating the performance of the National Election Authority (NEA) to extend its mandate. Currently, the NEA's mandate is due to expire on 17 January, 2024. Such an extension will require a legislative amendment, which will be discussed and voted on by parliament, to ensure that the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for May 2024 will be held under full judicial supervision, he said. President El-Sisi has instructed the government to review the proposed amendment to Article 34 of the NEA Law 198/2017, which calls for full judicial supervision or "a judge for each voting box" in all elections (presidential, parliamentary and municipal) and referendums. According to Fawzi, the NEA, which was established by Egypt's 2014 constitution to oversee all elections and referendums, must act independently. Search Keywords: Short link: The messages also spoke about the performers being removed from the earth, harassed to make [their] world rather small and described them in derogatory slang words for paedophiles. Loading The legitimacy of the posters claims about having a contact in VicRoads is unknown, but after questions from The Age on Wednesday, VicRoads referred the matter to its integrity unit for investigation. Cafe owner Meg Anderson cancelled the Colour me Egg-cited Easter event where parents could have brought their children to a craft and games workshop led by two drag queen performers dressed as Disney characters. Millie-Anne, who started performing drag when she was 16, said she didnt particularly like or want to perform for children, but that there was demand from parents. Not many drag queens do like performing for children, but if we are asked to do that we pull back and become G-rated performers so that everyone can come and enjoy. When children are around drag is censored. The performer said she was sickened by the threats to track her down. A screenshot of one of the messages. Ever since I chose to be a drag queen, I was well aware of the risks and bigots involved, or that I could be attacked just walking to the car, she said. But I live with family and people who are important to me and they dont have the ability to protect themselves like I do and thats what scares me. A protest movement seeking to shut down events for transgender people and drag acts has staged recent demonstrations in the US and UK, with protest groups often falsely claim drag performers and transgender women are paedophiles. Loading Thirteen American states are considering outright bans on drag shows involving children, following Tennessees recent decision to criminalise performances that take place in public or where they can be seen by minors Anderson cancelled the event two weeks ago after being pummelled with backlash messages and calls. On Wednesday, the day the event had originally been scheduled, she contacted police fearing for her staff and patrons safety after being alerted to the threatening messages from individuals who mistakenly believed the event was still going ahead. The messages appeared on Tuesday night in a chat forum for My Place Australia, which is a growing network of fringe social media groups that have protested against local councils over 5G and 15-minute city conspiracy theories. The groups aim to set up parallel communities shadow local governments and alternative institutions to avoid mainstream society. My Place founder Darren Bergwerf said he had major concerns about the messages and described the incident as an infiltration of our communities. Ive just blocked that person this morning and blocked and removed two people yesterday when I was made aware of who they were, he said on Thursday. Andrews condemned the intimidation of the cafe and performers. I think its pretty sad day when the worst of American politics is creeping into our state, he said. We dont need that here, we just dont. We are a harmonious, respectful, inclusive place where being different [is] not a bad thing. Andrews defended the integrity of VicRoads database, but said it was appropriate that VicRoads investigate this case and make sure that the highest standards are being observed. Meg Anderson at Rebel Cafe. Credit: Joe Armao My advice is that there are very robust systems and regular audits ... that would find any such breach within the VicRoads system. The premier lambasted the opposition, accusing the Victorian Liberals of contributing to a climate of nastiness around LGBTQ issues, pointing to Liberal MP Moira Deemings appearance at an anti-trans rally at Parliament last month which was gatecrashed by neo-Nazis. Loading Pesutto said he wasnt going to dignify the premiers remarks with a response, and said the cafe owner should feel safe to proceed with any similar event. This cafe should have been able to conduct its activities, Pesutto said. I hope that in due course its able to proceed. We live in a democracy and people should be free to engage in the activities they wish to. A Victoria Police spokeswoman said they were aware of the cancelled event at the cafe and that the decision was made by the owner. Police regularly run proactive patrols to deter any anti-social behaviour, she said. With Sumeyya Ilanbey and Broede Carmody An invitation to Anthony Albanese to attend a July meeting of NATO in Lithuania is an opportunity that shouldnt be easily passed up in this important time in history. Australia, as part of the so-called Asia-Pacific Four or AP4 NATO partner countries (along with Japan, Korea and New Zealand), was invited last week for only the second time to the annual gathering of the trans-Atlantic bloc. Albanese attended last years meeting in Madrid as NATO reeled from the first five months of Russias war on Ukraine. With Russias assault entering its second year, the threats to the people and sovereignty of Ukraine are no less heightened, and NATO says its summit in Vilnius on July 11 and 12 will focus on strengthening the alliances collective defence and deterrence and on increasing support for Ukraine. The wars contribution to a global economic crisis that has led to financial distress for many Australians continues unabated. While Ukraine was the main game in Madrid, Albanese used his platform there to emphasise the mutual interests of NATO and its AP4 partners. He warned of Chinas moves to undermine the Western alliance in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond through economic coercion, and compared Beijings ambitions to Vladimir Putins attempts to recreate the Russian Empire. The state budget is 5 weeks away but Treasurer Tim Pallas is desperate for a miracle. Despite Jim Chalmers warning that slow economic growth and global financial volatility have somewhat spoiled his own budget strategy, some Victorian cabinet ministers still hold out hope that the federal treasurer will wave his magic wand, fill the states coffers and save them from making some tough decisions. Victorian Treasurer Tim Pallas is expected to put the brakes on spending in next months state budget. Credit: Nine But the inside word from a member of the Albanese governments economic review committee is that any special deal for Victoria is highly unlikely. As one Victorian cabinet minister complained this week: We were all hoping for a bit more help, but its actually a bit more difficult when you have the same colour team in Canberra. This route follows the Darling River for 940 kilometres diagonally across NSW, starting at Walgett and finishing at Wentworth where the Darling meets the Murray. Indigenous heritage is astonishing: Brewarrina's fish traps are among the world's first human structures, Mutawintji National Park has superb rock art, and Lake Mungo has archaeological sites 42,000 years old. This route also showcases the early European inland settlements that helped define modern Australia, such as wool towns Bourke and Wilcannia. Time your journey for the middle-of-nowhere horseraces at Louth in August and you're in for a classic outback experience. See visitnsw.com You could hardly experience the outback more easily than on this sealed transcontinental highway that runs 2720 kilometres from Port Augusta to Darwin via Alice Springs, and whose detours tempt you to national parks such as Litchfield, Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Elsey, where you can float in hot springs. The route has all the outback road-trip elements, from gold-rush towns to characterful pubs and striking landscapes such as the MacDonnell Ranges and Karlu Karlu (Devils Marbles). Coober Pedy has quintessential quirkiness where you can get underground and listen to the improbable hopes of eccentric opal-hunting characters. See discovercentralaustralia.com SAVANNAH HIGHWAY, QLD/NT This epic 3700-kilometre journey links damp Cairns to sun-baked Broome. Its western half is all sealed road, making the Cairns-to-Katherine section the most adventurous as, skirting the Gulf of Carpentaria, it swings across tablelands, grasslands and rust-red outback. Among highlights are volcanic landscapes and lava tubes at Undara, a cruise through Cobbold Gorge (though this requires a slight detour) and Nitmiluk (Katherine) Gorge. Former gold-mining towns, barramundi fishing, eccentric bush pubs, cattle stations, waterfalls and wetlands filled with bird life are other incentives. You'll need a four-wheel drive; stick to the May-October dry season. See queensland.com, northernterritory.com KIDMAN WAY, NSW This 820-kilometre south-north route cleaves straight through the middle of NSW along the divide between outback and agricultural land and is a varied, easy drive for those who don't want red dust every day. Start off in Albury on the Murray River and head to Jerilderie, which is central to the Ned Kelly story, and then Riverina foodie hub Griffith. At mining town Cobar the outback takes over. In Bourke, the Back O'Bourke Exhibition Centre gives an excellent overview of regional outback history and the importance of the Darling River to modern Australian development. See visitnsw.com Airports are promising future technology that keeps track of your luggage at every step of the process by tagging it with an identifier, which can be traced by you via an app. But with the global luggage crisis showing no signs of abating (220,000 bags were lost, damaged and delayed by US airlines in just one month this year) passengers will probably be vulnerable to luggage loss for a few more years yet. Some passengers are taking back a modicum of control by packing Apple AirTags and other GPS or Bluetooth trackers. But in the end these devices only tell you approximately where your luggage is, not how to retrieve it. The simplest answer now and in the future, is to travel with carry-on only. The bonus is that the lighter your luggage, the less your carbon footprint. Carry-on may not work for all trips but once you take the plunge you realise how convenient it is. You can do it. HOLIDAY IN THE OFF SEASONS Lower prices. Skipping the peak season crowds. Providing needed income to locals when there are fewer tourists. There are several reasons why low season travel is a good idea. And now there's weather to take into consideration. While warm weather has often been a big drawcard, the blistering heat waves we've seen this European summer are not a one-off. It's a trend that will accelerate, according to climate scientists. Travellers who avoid hot destinations in summer may find they need to avoid cooler ones too (Paris isn't that wonderful at 40 degrees). And we should all prepare for more storms, bushfires, floods and hurricanes which will disrupt travel with their unpredictability. Travelling off-peak means you are fighting for rescheduled seats with fewer people. AVOID PLACES SUFFERING OVERTOURISM Many communities have already had enough. Hawaii is begging tourists to stop visiting now the state has seen what life is like without hordes of tourists clogging roads and beaches.Venice has finally banned bigger cruise ships from entering the Lagoon. The Amalfi Coast has restricted car traffic and Maya Beach in Thailand has even closed to tourists indefinitely. A host of other popular countries and cities have started to listen to their residents and place restrictions on the number of visitors. Expect more of this. We can do our part by choosing the road less travelled destinations that welcome tourists and survive mostly on tourist dollars (Fiji over Hawaii for instance.) And once there, not behaving as entitled but as if we are a guest in someone's home. DO THE LOCOMOTION Credit: iStock Unfortunately, we can't take a train from Australia to London or New York planes are involved but we can make sure the land component of our journeys is by rail. It emits only a fraction of the greenhouse gas of air travel. Not all trains are alike diesel trains emit twice as much CO2 as electric, for instance - but even these are a cleaner option than flying. Think about a long-distance train journey instead of a cruise or adding a shorter, three- or five-day trip via rail to your itinerary and use it as a way to get from point A to B. (The West Highland Line or The Glacier Express through the Swiss Alps for instance). If you have time, it is possible to train it through Asia, and connect to Europe. Increased numbers of high-speed trains in the future will mean a "slow" form of travel will also be the most efficient. TAKE WHAT YOU NEED AND NOTHING MORE As resources become scarcer, this simple rule is one of the most important guiding principles for the good traveller. There's still a lot of '"greenwashing" in the hospitality industry where hotels exaggerate their green credentials to better market themselves and it will get worse until it's constantly called out. But you don't have to be part of it. If the bathroom still has those small plastic bottles of shampoo and body wash, don't souvenir them, otherwise they'll be replenished and create more landfill. (An estimated 1.1 billion tonnes of plastic waste will flow into the oceans and landfill by 2040 if no action is taken.) Turn off the air-conditioning or turn it up a degree or two - you don't need an arctic room. Keep water use to a minimum. Use towels and sheets sparingly. Eat everything on your plate if you're at a buffet. Only open a plastic bottle of water if it's unavoidable. Let the hotel know what you think if it doesn't meet the standards it claims or you expect. CRUISE MORE CONSIDERATELY The cruise industry is pursuing net carbon neutrality by 2050 (a subject dealt with in more detail in this special edition) but it's going to take a lot of advances in engineering and a lot of regulatory oversight to get there. The small, expedition lines such as Aurora and Hurtigruten are steaming ahead with carbon neutral and hybrid-powered ships and Disney is switching to less polluting LPG but the seas are still ruled by the big, conventional, fossil fuel burning ships, which will become more like floating islands, cities or skyscrapers at sea, creating yet more emissions from powering all those restaurants, nightclubs and gaming rooms. The problem is not just the pollution it's the effect of thousands of tourists at a time on local communities and ecosystems. EMBRACE TECH, DON'T FIGHT IT Travellers are already connecting with AI at every step of their journey, from chat bots answering questions (or driving us crazy not answering questions) on airline home pages to smart gates with facial recognition. Robotic assistants help us check in at airports. Hotels are mostly paperless, offering room service menus via QR codes. Countries like Sweden are cashless. Cryptocurrencies are now accepted in many places. In our hands are phones that hold a compendium of apps and let us into our hotel rooms with a digital door key. Destinations are starting to use augmented reality to provide graphic overlays that highlight key information on your phone. Virtual Reality is becoming commonplace for tours of resort suites, aircraft cabins, museums, and attractions. Future travel will be all about "personalisation" via algorithms, so travellers need to think now about what information they are prepared to give away and to whom. Five more tips for how to travel well now (and in the future) CHOOSE HUMAN-POWERED TRANSPORT WHEN YOU CAN The pandemic saw a surge in active travel, including biking, hiking and running, as travellers combined outdoor recreation and fitness with their holidays. Walking is free and good for you and the world is better observed at a slower pace. There are bike paths and walking tracks in every destination. TRAVEL LIKE IT WAS YESTERYEAR Go slowly and go wild. Think of the joys you had holidaying as a kid. Restrict the devices. Immerse yourself in forests, deserts and wildernesses. Tune into nature and appreciate why we must protect it at all costs. GET INVOLVED IN SOCIAL ENTERPRISE London: Prince Harry will put aside his pride and seemingly his demands for an apology in a public show of respect for the institution and family that just a few weeks ago he seemed hellbent on destroying. It will be an uneasy royal truce and probably tinged with sadness, like an awkward reunion with those who were once loved ones at a family wedding or funeral. But its likely to have been driven by fears of regret should he not be there. The 38-year-olds decision to see his father anointed as King Charles III ends months of speculation and perhaps curbs what was threatening to become a media circus. It would probably have pleased his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who was said to be heartbroken at the string of damning and appalling potshots fired at his family from across the Atlantic after he quit the household. But while the King will have his son with whom he was once immensely close among the 2000-strong congregation at Westminster Abbey, his daughter-in-law and grandchildren will not be there. Elements of the Egyptian Navy and Navy Special Forces recently participated in the joint international maritime training activities (IMX/CE23) in Bahrain and Jordan, a statement by the Egyptian Armed Forces read on Thursday. The training, which ran from February 26 to March 17, involved around 7,000 individuals from 50 different countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Bahrain, and the United Arab Emirates. The IMX/CE23 naval training aimed to facilitate the exchange of operational experiences in maritime security and identify international solutions to maintain freedom of navigation and international trade while strengthening military relations with participating countries to support regional stability efforts against potential threats. Topics covered during the training included the right to visit and inspect suspected ships, and training on remotely piloted marine drone systems. Egypt took over the naval command and control center during the implementation of the training in Bahrain. The IMX/CE23 training is the eighth iteration of the exercise since it was established in 2012. The participation of Egyptian naval forces in the training underscores the strategic partnership and support for the extended military relations between the Egyptian armed forces and their counterparts from friendly and brotherly countries, according to the statement. The participating international forces and organizations were divided into five operational task forces that spanned across the Arabian Gulf, Arabian Sea, Gulf of Oman, Gulf of Aden, Red Sea, Indian Ocean, and East African coastal regions. For the first time in the Middle East, U.S. and international partners deployed a long-endurance unmanned aerial vehicle called a K1000ULE during the exercise. Additionally, participants simulated a ship-to-shore patient transfer in Aqaba Gulf using a MARTAC T-38 Devil Ray unmanned surface vessel (USV), marking the first time a USV was used in a medical evacuation training scenario. The IMX/CE23 training is an affirmation of the strategic partnership and support for the extended military relations between the Egyptian armed forces and their counterparts from friendly and brotherly countries, the statement added. The exercise also highlights the importance of international cooperation in maintaining maritime security and protecting global trade routes. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt and Turkey have agreed on a timeframe for upgrading diplomatic relations, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Thursday during a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu in Ankara. During the press conference, which followed a closed-door meeting between the two sides, Shoukry said that he discussed with Cavusoglu bilateral relations and ways to overcome any obstacles that prevent their development. For his part, Cavusoglu said that talks with Egypt have achieved substantial progress on the issue of appointing ambassadors. The Turkish top diplomat said that a timetable for mutual ambassadorial appointments with Egypt will be announced soon. Shoukry noted that the accelerating development of Egyptian-Turkish relations reflects the existence of a political will to improve relations between Egypt and Turkey in all fields. He added that a summit that brings together both presidents will be held in the near future and that preparations for that summit were afoot. Shoukrys visit to Ankara on Thursday comes in the wake of both Cavusoglu's visit to Cairo in March and Shoukrys earlier visit to Turkey in February in the aftermath of the deadly earthquake. "The purpose of the visit is to continue the discussions that were initiated in Cairo to normalise relations," Egyptian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Ahmed Abu-Zeid said in a statement on Wednesday. The aim is to establish "a clear roadmap for appointing ambassadors between the two countries, and to set a timeline for this matter," Abu-Zeid later added in a short interview with the Emirati TV Al-Mashhad. Earlier this week, during an interview with private broadcaster A Haber, FM Cavusoglu discussed the recent steps taken to normalise ties with Egypt after both countries broke off diplomatic relations a decade ago. It is time to take concrete steps. During Shoukrys visit, we can take steps to appoint ambassadors, the Turkish FM said. Cavusoglu had described his meeting with FM Shoukry in Cairo in late March as extremely positive. In late February, Shoukry visited Turkey where he met FM Cavusoglu to extend condolences and offer Cairos support following the devastating earthquake. Economic relations Cavusoglu expressed the Turkish governments desire to develop its joint relations, especially in the field of economy, with Egypt. He stated that the Egyptian-Turkish relations in the field of energy were growing rapidly. In mid-February, in a first such meeting in a decade amid recent thawing in relations between Cairo and Ankara, Egyptian Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with a delegation of 14 representatives of Turkish companies who are either operating in Egypt or planning to start new investments in the country. PM Madbouly said at the time that the message of the meeting is clear and important because it is a step towards stressing the importance of trade and economic relations between Egypt and Turkey. According to recent figures provided by the Commercial Counsellor of the Turkish Embassy in Cairo Atilla Yenigun, 200 Turkish companies are currently operating in Egypt with an investment volume of EGP 2 billion. Cavusoglu said that the Turkish government will encourage Turkish companies, especially tourism companies, to invest in Egypt and to increase the number of Turkish tourists who visit Egypt. Cavusoglu stated that his government aimed to increase the trade exchange between the two countries to $15 billion. According to data published by the Central Agency for Public Mobilisation and Statistics (CAPMAS) in March, the bilateral trade volume between Egypt and Turkey increased by 14 per cent, hitting $7.7 billion in 2022, compared to $6.7 billion a year earlier. The Turkish FM also revealed that he has asked Egypt to allow Turkish Anadolu News Agency to work again in Egypt after closing down its Cairo office in August 2013. The cooperation between Egypt and Turkey is in the interest of both countries and the region as a whole, Cavusoglu stated. Agreement on regional issues FM Shoukry stated that the talks with his Turkish counterpart involved the latest regional and international developments, particularly the situation in Palestine, Libya and Syria. We appreciate the role of Egypt in the region especially in the Palestinian issue, FM Mevlut Cavusoglu said, highlighting that Turkey and Egypt shared the same views on Palestine. Shoukry said that he discussed with Cavusoglu cooperating and working on the Palestinian issue under the umbrella of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He also reiterated Egypts call for respecting the freedom of worship and the status quo of the Al-Aqsa Mosque in East Jerusalem. Shoukry added that the Palestinian authority should be allowed to do its job. Speaking of Libya, the Turkish foreign minister revealed that Egypt and Turkey have a keen interest in protecting the unity and sovereignty of Libya. He noted that both countries had had doubts before about each others intentions regarding Libya. But after our dialogue, we found out that we want the same goals, Cavusoglu said. He further revealed that Turkey was ready to train the units of the unified Libyan armed forces. Yet this will happen after the elections are held, the Turkish foreign minister said. For his part, FM Shourky said that he agreed with his Turkish counterpart on the importance of holding elections in Libya. Shoukry also said that he reviewed with Cavusoglu the recent developments in Syria, especially following his meeting with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal El-Mekdad in Cairo and his call with UN Special Envoy to Syria Geir Pedersen. The Egyptian Foreign Minister said that both Egypt and Turkey agree on ensuring the unity of Syrian territories and the exit of all foreign forces. They also agree on the importance of fighting terrorism there. Shoukry also asserted the importance of reaching a comprehensive political settlement under Syrian ownership, in line with Security Council resolution No. 2254 which involves all political partners in Syria and allows the return of the Syrian refugees to their homes. The Turkish Foreign Minister said that it was important to Turkey, as a neighbor of Syria, to protect the integrity of its territories more than others. Counter-terrorism efforts means ending divisions in Syria and preventing terrorism from spreading to Turkey, he added. Search Keywords: Short link: Cheyenne, WY (82001) Today Periods of rain. Thunder possible. High 43F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight A mixture of rain and snow showers. Thunder possible. Low 34F. Winds E at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 70%. According to a press release by the EU delegation, the food boxes aid came as part of Misr El-Kheir Foundations "Feeding the fasting" campaign. As an act of solidarity with civil society groups working to support the most vulnerable people, EU Ambassador Christian Berger and the German Ambassador Frank Hartmann packed the boxes themselves among their staff and volunteers from the EU Delegation, the German Embassy in and the EIB. Since the beginning of the year, the EU Delegation has donated 1,238 food boxes to Misr El-Kheir beneficiaries in Egypt's Qena, Menya, and Bani Sweif governorates. Misr El-Kheirs "Feeding The Fasting" campaign, which has been launched since 21 February and last till Ramadans end, also manages Ramadan tents across all governorates, offering both Iftar and Sohour meals. In mid-March, Egyptian NGOs through the National Alliance for Civil Development Work (NACDW) launched the Shoulder-to-Shoulder initiative as the largest social protection initiative in the history of Egypt, with the aim of providing 20 million people with 6 million food boxes through the holy month of Ramadan. Batavia, NY (14020) Today Rain with some snow mixing in overnight. Low around 35F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 80%.. Tonight Rain with some snow mixing in overnight. Low around 35F. Winds SW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of precip 80%. Batavia, NY (14020) Today 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%. Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Thursday urged the West to turn the Black Sea into a "sea of NATO" a year after the sinking of a flagship Russian warship. "It's time to work out a comprehensive security network for all nations of all the region that feel threatened," Kuleba told a conference on Black Sea security by video. "It's time to turn (the) Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become: a sea of NATO," he added. The conference takes place on the first anniversary of the sinking of the Moskva, the flagship of Russia's Black Sea fleet. The warship sank in mid-April last year following what the Kremlin called an explosion on board. Ukraine said its forces struck the vessel with missiles. "I regret to say, but the West had no consistent Black Sea strategy, while Russia has always had one: aggressive, revanchist, and barbaric," Kuleba said. He said Ukraine wanted "peaceful, law-abiding countries" to be able to "once again use the shared sea to trade, travel and live freely without fear of Russian warships". Ukrainian Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov also attended the conference together with his Romanian and Moldovan counterparts. Initiated by Kyiv, the two-day conference brings together decision makers, officials and experts to discuss security in the wake of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. Search Keywords: Short link: Norway's government said Thursday that it was expelling 15 Russian diplomats from the country, saying they were suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the move was an important measure to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, and thereby secure our national interests. The Russians declared persona non grata must leave Norway within a short time,".Huitfeldt said, adding: "We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway. Norways government said the activities of the expelled diplomats were incompatible with their diplomatic status. The foreign minister stressed that Oslo wants normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway. The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respond in kind to Norways action, Russia's Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies reported. A year ago, Norway expelled three Russian diplomats it identified as intelligence officers. A man whom the Norwegian Police Security Service alleged used a false name and identity while actually working for one of Russias intelligence services also was arrested last year. Search Keywords: Short link: Works of art that tell us about life Abraham left the land of his father to settle in Caanan. His prosperity and influence had grown. His tent set up near Shechem bore the trappings of Bedouin wealth: rugs and carpets of the most beautiful design and craftsmanship. Despite his wealth, Abrahams tent did not peal with a childs laughter, as he and his wife Sarah had passed child-bearing age, and they had no children. However, on this day, he was about to receive a visit from three strangers who would change his life in this regard. This painting by James Jacques Joseph Tissot depicts a visit from strangers that begets a miracle: Abraham and the Three Angels. While in his tent, Abraham looked up and saw three men appear out of nowhere and approach. Wearing the light fabric of desert dwellers, the men walked toward him. Abraham threw himself to the floor, head bowed, hands up in adoration. They were more than strangers, just passing by. Because of his great faith, Abraham believed that two were angels, and the stranger, whom he called My Lord was a manifestation of God himself. Abraham brought water for the three strangers to wash their dusty feet, and invited them to rest under the oak tree nearby. He then asked Sarah to prepare food for his guests. Tissots composition, a gouache (opaque watercolor) on paper, frames the three strangers within the tents opening. All lines of the painting point to the three figures, from the patterned rugs to the sloped opening of the tent; the angled figure of the prone Abraham is balanced by the two struts that hold open the tents flap. Three tent poles mirror the staffs of the three figures outside. Tissot brings patterns to the painting with the patriarchs striped outer garment and the rich coverings on the tents floor, sides, and ceiling. Despite the richness of the tents interior, the focus is on the simply garbed men outside. They are dressed in shades of white, walk within a bubble of sunlight, and approach from the fabled Oak of Mamre in the background. They do not appear worn or haggard, but fresh as if they had just come from a cool oasis. The stranger that Abraham addressed as My Lord told Abraham that Sarah would have a child within the year. How could it be? Abraham was 100 years old and Sarah was 90. Yet Abraham believed that this would be so. We know from the characters in Miltons Paradise Lost that angels bring messages from God. Sometimes God even comes with them, as it might have been in this visit to Abrahams tent. As a successful French artist working in Britain, Tissot met Kathleen Newton, who was said to be the love of his life. Sadly, she died of consumption at the age of 28. Tissot never recovered from this tragedy, and moved back to Paris within a week of her death, according to Painting Mania. He soon gave up painting scenes of society and devoted the rest of his life to religious paintings. Painting Mania also says, He visited the Middle East twice to find genuine backgrounds for his religious paintings. Extraordinary events can occur under ordinary circumstances, and, in this instance, its the arrival of three strangers who receive hospitality from an old man and his elderly wife. Tissots painting of Abraham and the Three Angels tells us that, when we show proper respect to the Divine, miracles can happen. Many Americans rely on drugs, medical devices, and surgery at some point in their lives to combat sickness or disease. But despite medical advances, lifespans are shortening, cancer rates are skyrocketing, and rare diseases are becoming more widespread. Simultaneously, cutting-edge medical research is no longer seeking to address these alarming concerns. Instead, medical science is focused on making us better than well, argues Dr. Aaron Kheriatyon making us stronger, faster, and smarter. New medical innovations herald gene editing technologies, reproductive technologies, and longevity innovations as the future of health. And yet, not only have many of these experimental products and devices failed, but theyve also resulted in irreversible harm to the people theyve been tested on. In the documentary, Altered Humans: How Biotech is Changing Who We Are, Director Shaista Justin examines these claims with a slew of renowned technological industry experts. Delving deeper, she probes the moral and ethical questions surrounding these technologies, asking not only whether the science is plausible, but if it is even desirable. Does progress for the sake of progress really move the needle forward for us as a species, or are we merely unwitting victims of medical experimentation that shouldnt be pursued in the first place? Its the biggest scam of all time, and were living in it. Alethea Wieland, Biotechnology Regulatory Expert, 2023 Appeals Court Upholds Some Restrictions on Abortion Pill Mifepristone Mifepristone (Mifeprex) and misoprostol, the two drugs used in a chemical abortion, are seen at the Women's Reproductive Clinic, in Santa Teresa, N.M., on June 17, 2022. (Robyn Beck/AFP/Getty Images) A U.S. appeals court has intervened to partially overturn a Texas courts order that halted the use of the abortion drug mifepristone while a legal battle unfolds. The pill will remain available nationwide while the case plays out but with more stringent restrictions, including requirements for multiple in-person doctors visits to obtain the drug. In a ruling late on April 12, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans upheld some of the restrictions from the district courts April 7 order. That order was handed down by Trump-appointed U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of Amarillo, Texas. It was due to take effect on April 13, after a seven-day stay to allow the Biden administration time to appeal. On April 10, the Biden administration and Danco Laboratories, the pills manufacturer, filed an emergency motion to stay the ruling. However, the appeals court declined to block portions of Kacsmaryks order. This means that mifepristone will remain available under the U.S. Food and Drug Administrations (FDAs) requirements from 2000 before they were significantly loosened in 2016 and in subsequent years. In addition to a requirement of three in-person doctor visits, those restrictions include limiting the drugs use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy, or 50 days, down from the current 10 weeks, or 70 days. Furthermore, it means that all adverse events related to taking the abortion pill must be reported, which is a significant change from 2016, when nonfatal adverse events were no longer required to be reported. The appeals court order also means that a 2021 change that allowed mifepristone to be dispensed through the mail during the COVID-19 pandemic will also remain blocked. A woman looks at an abortion pillRU-486, or mifepristonedisplayed on a smartphone in Arlington, Va., on May 8, 2020. (Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images) Pro-Life Groups Argue FDA Disregarded Safety The lawsuit before Kacsmaryk was filed against the FDA in November by four pro-life groups led by the recently formed Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine and four pro-life doctors. They argue that the FDAs approval was illegal and disregarded the health and safety of women. Their lawsuit cites testimony from doctors whove treated dozens of women suffering life-threatening adverse effects from mifepristone. Both judges rulings last week were stays meant to remain in effect while the lawsuits are pending and are not final. However, Kacsmaryk said he thought the pro-life groups were likely to succeed. Mifepristone is part of a two-drug regimen, administered in combination with misprostol, for medication abortions in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy. The drugs account for more than half of all abortions in the country. Some abortion providers have said that if mifepristone is unavailable, they would switch to a misoprostol-only regimen for a medication abortion, which is not as effective. It is not yet clear how widely available it would be. The Supreme Court last year returned the power to make laws governing abortion to the states when it overturned its landmark 1973 Roe v. Wade ruling. Since then, red and blue states have moved to either ban or ensure abortions. Harm to Women and Doctors Alliance Defending Freedom, representing plaintiffs in the case, argues that the FDA has disregarded womens safety by illegally approving mifepristone and should be held accountable. The FDA put politics ahead of the health of women and girls when it failed to study how dangerous this drug regimen is and when it removed every meaningful safeguard that it previously implemented, Erik Baptist, senior counsel for the alliance, said in a statement released before the appeals court ruling. The appeals court noted that doctors have had to devote significant time and resources to caring for women experiencing mifepristones harmful effects and are put under enormous stress and pressure to treat these women. This harm is sufficiently concrete, the appeals court ruling states (pdf). The ruling noted testimony from doctors about facing injury from the irreconcilable choice between performing their jobs and abiding by their consciences. In testimony, one doctor said the strain of treating women suffering an adverse effect from mifepristone is some of the most emotionally taxing work I have done in my career, according to the ruling. Thus, this is an independent injury because FDAs actions significantly affect[] the doctors quality of life,' the ruling states. Baptist said the FDA should be accountable for the damage it has done to the rule of law and the harm it has caused to countless women and girls. The Epoch Times contacted the FDA for comment. Arizona Mother Warns About AI Voice Cloning After Kidnapping Scam This is what greets you when you go to the artificial intelligence ChatGPT website. Note the absence of any human face or photo. (Dreamstime/TNS) An Arizona mother received an unexpected phone call from her daughter, only it wasnt actually her daughter calling. Jennifer DeStefanos 15-year-old daughter called her while out of town on a ski trip, so DeStefano didnt assume anything was out of the ordinary. I pick up the phone, and I hear my daughters voice, Mom! and shes sobbing, DeStefano told a local news station affiliated with CBS. Responding to her daughters voice asking, What happened? Her daughter replied: Mom, I messed up, and shes sobbing and crying, DeStefano told the outlet. Some phone scams claim to be from a financial services organization and ask you to update informationbut dont do it! This may be a phishing attack aimed at stealing your personal information. (BestForBest/Shutterstock) DeStefano then begins to panic as she hears a mans voice in the background. I hear a mans voice say, Put your head back. Lie down, DeStefano said, confused as to what was actually happening to her daughter. This man gets on the phone, and hes like, Listen here. Ive got your daughter. This is how its going to go down. You call the police, you call anybody, Im going to pop her so full of drugs. Im going to have my way with her, and Im going to drop her off in Mexico, DeStefano explains. The frightened mother begins shaking as she can hear her daughter yelling, Help me, Mom. Please help me. Help me, DeStefano said. Despite the frightening call, DeStefanos daughters voice was a clone created by artificial intelligence. How are AI Voice Clones Created Subbarao Kambhampati, a computer science professor at Arizona State University specializing in AI, explained how realistic and confusing it can be to detect a deep fake voice. You can no longer trust your ears, Kambhampati said in an interview with WKYT. With the constantly advancing technology, voice cloning makes it easier for individuals to create another personality and voiceover. In the beginning, it would require a larger amount of samples. Now there are ways in which you can do this with just three seconds of your voice. Three seconds. And with the three seconds, it can come close to how exactly you sound, Kambhampati said. Protecting Yourself From Scam Attacks According to the Federal Trade Commission, scammers will often ask victims to wire money, send cryptocurrency, or pay the ransom with gift cards. This way the scammer can easily get away with the money without being traced. Dan Mayo, the assistant special agent in charge of the FBIs Phoenix office, alerted the public about scammers scouting for victims through public social media profiles. Youve got to keep that stuff locked down. The problem is, if you have it public, youre allowing yourself to be scammed by people like this because theyre going to be looking for public profiles that have as much information as possible on you, and when they get a hold of that, theyre going to dig into you, Mayo told WKYT. Mayo provides some insights on how you can recognize if youre being targeted for a scam and what to look out for. If the phone number is coming from an area code youre unfamiliar with, that should be one red flag, Mayo said. Second red flag; international numbers. Sometimes they will call from those as well. The third red flag; they will not allow you to get off the phone and talk to your significant other. Thats a problem. With AI voice cloning on the rise, Mayo says the FBI is keeping track of scammers every move. However, there are some people who give in to these and they end up sending the money to these individuals, Mayo said. Trust me, the FBI is looking into these people, and we find them. The AI voice clone of DeStefanos daughter never raised a doubt that the voice she was talking with wasnt truly her daughter. It was never a question of who is this? It was completely her voice. It was her inflection. It was the way she would have cried, DeStefano said. I never doubted for one second it was her. Thats the freaky part that really got me to my core. Safe and Sound DeStefano was able to quickly confirm her daughter was safe from family members. She was upstairs in her room going, What? Whats going on? DeStefano said. Then I get angry, obviously, with these guys. This is not something you play around with. DeStefano posted a warning message to all social media users on her Facebook. The only way to stop this is with public awareness!!, she said. Also, have a family emergency word or question that only you know so you can validate you are not being scammed with AI! Stay safe!!! North Korea likely fired a "new type" of ballistic missile Thursday that may have used advanced solid fuel, Seoul's military said, representing a potential technical breakthrough for Pyongyang's banned weapons programmes. All of Pyongyang's known intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) are liquid-fuelled, and solid-fuel ICBMs that can be launched from land or submarines have long been on top of leader Kim Jong Un's wish list. "North Korea appears to have fired a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel," Seoul's Joint Chiefs of Staff told AFP. Such missiles are easier to store and transport, more stable and quicker to prepare for launch, and thus harder to detect and destroy pre-emptively. North Korea showed off a record number of nuclear and intercontinental ballistic missiles at a military parade in Pyongyang in February, including what analysts said was possibly a new solid-fuelled ICBM. Seoul's military said on Thursday it had detected one "medium range or longer" ballistic missile launched on a lofted trajectory -- up not out -- from the Pyongyang area at 0723 (1023 GMT), which flew 1,000 kilometres (620 miles). Japan, which briefly issued a seek-shelter warning to residents of the northern Hokkaido region, said the missile had not fallen within its territory and posed no threat to residents. Climate and environment ministers from the Group of Seven are due to meet this weekend in Sapporo, Hokkaido's regional capital, a month before the bloc holds its summit in Hiroshima. The United States said it "strongly condemns" North Korea for the test of what it described as a "long-range ballistic missile". China blamed the "negative impact" of US military drills for driving up tensions on the Korean peninsula and called on all parties to "remain calm and restrained". The launch is the latest in a string of banned weapons tests conducted by North Korea, which has already fired several of its most powerful ICBMs this year. It has also tested what state media has claimed are nuclear-capable underwater drones -- known as Haeil, the Korean word for tsunami -- which it says are capable of unleashing a "radioactive tsunami". Kim attended a meeting on Monday 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. He ordered that the North's deterrence capabilities be strengthened with "increasing speed" and in a "more practical and offensive" manner. Real war Relations between the two Koreas are at one of their lowest points in years, with Pyongyang declaring itself an "irreversible" nuclear power last year, effectively ending the possibility of denuclearisation talks. Kim also ordered the military this year to intensify drills to prepare for a "real war". Washington and Seoul have intensified defence cooperation in response, staging joint military exercises with advanced stealth jets and high-profile US strategic assets. North Korea views such exercises as rehearsals for invasion and described them on Tuesday as "frantic" drills "simulating an all-out war against" Pyongyang. The latest test was likely a bid by the North "to put pressure on the South and the United States over their joint military exercises", Choi Gi-il, professor of military studies at Sangji University, told AFP. South Korea also accused North Korea on Tuesday of being "irresponsible" after Pyongyang cut hotline contact with Seoul last week. North Korea has not answered the twice-daily calls made through a military hotline and an inter-Korean liaison channel since Friday, according to Seoul's unification ministry. The links were cut a day after Seoul accused Pyongyang of continued unauthorised use of a joint industrial complex in the North Korean city of Kaesong. "Pyongyang's provocations continue past its protest of US-South Korea defence exercises because Kim Jong Un hasn't finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet," said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. "However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation." Search Keywords: Short link: McCaul Calls Being Sanctioned by China Over Taiwan a Badge of Honor Rep. Mike McCaul (R-Texas) talks about China during a press conference at the U.S. Capitol Visitors Center on Oct. 20, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) called it a badge of honor that the regime in Beijing sanctioned him on April 13 in retaliation for his recent visit to Taiwan and asserted that his efforts send a seriously wrong signal. The Texas Republican lawmaker led a bipartisan delegation to democratically ruled Taiwan last week to discuss strengthening economic and defense ties in the face of growing Chinese aggression in the region. Meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during the trip, McCaul pledged that the United States wouldnt bow to Chinese threats and that he would help speed up weapon sales and provide training to Taiwans military. Being sanctioned by the Chinese Communist Party is a badge of honor, he said in a statement, noting that nothing will deter the United States from supporting free, democratic nationsincluding Taiwan. Ironically, this baseless action serves U.S. interests by bringing more attention to our international partners and revealing the CCPs blatant aggression. The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused McCaul of sending a seriously wrong signal to Taiwans pro-independence forces with frequent words and actions that interfered with Chinas internal affairs and interests, citing his Taiwan trip. The sanction, effective immediately, involves freezing all properties under the lawmakers name in China, banning transactions and cooperation with organizations and individuals within Chinese borders, and barring his entry to the country. Beijing views Taiwan as part of its territory and has vowed to seize the self-governing island by force if necessary. On April 10, Chinas military ended three days of drills in response to Tsais stopovers in the United States and her meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) by sending 91 Chinese aircraft and 12 naval vessels past the median line of the Taiwan Strait, marking its largest military demonstration to date. McCaul, who has described the Chinese Communist Partys (CCP) threat to Taiwan as a growing danger to the global balance of power, said he welcomes Beijings blacklisting. Beijing has a track record of imposing sanctions on foreign officials and lawmakers regarded as critics of the CCP. It put seven senior Taiwanese officials on its sanction list in August 2022 for supporting the islands independence, including Taiwans representative to the United States, Hsiao Bi-khim. In early 2021, the CCP also sanctioned dozens of Trump administration officials who had advocated for a hardline stance on China, minutes after Joe Biden was sworn in as the U.S. president. Biden Addresses Irish Parliament, Praises Cooperation on Ukraine, Global Taxation, Climate Change President Joe Biden (C) reacts as he poses with Ireland's Speaker of Dail Eireann, Sean O Fearghail (L) and Ireland's Speaker of the Seanad Eireann, Jerry Buttimer, after arriving at Leinster House the seat of the Irish parliament, in Dublin, on April 13, 2023. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images) DUBLIN, IrelandPresident Joe Biden on April 13 addressed a joint session of the Irish Parliament as part of his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. Im at home, Biden said at the start of his remarks, garnering a standing ovation from the Irish lawmakers. I only wish I could stay longer, Biden continued, expressing deep pride in his Irish roots. During his address to the Houses of the Oireachtas, the president reflected on the strong ties between the United States and Ireland. He lauded the partnership between the nations regarding aid to Ukraine, the global minimum tax, and climate change. Putin thought the world would look the other way. He was confident he would break NATO and the European Union, Biden said. He was wrong on every point and every front. Today, were more united and more determined than ever to defend the values that make us strong. Biden became the fourth U.S. president to address a joint session of the Irish Parliament, following John F. Kennedy in 1963, Ronald Reagan in 1984, and Bill Clinton in 1995. Im grateful for Irelands partnership in delivering this game-changing international agreement, Biden said, referring to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Developments global pact on taxation. Ireland withdrew its objection to the revision of global corporate tax rules in 2021, opting to end its 12.5 percent tax on large multinationals in favor of a 15 percent global minimum tax. During his speech, Biden also hailed the Good Friday Agreement and urged the British government to collaborate closely with Ireland. The United Kingdom should be working closer with Ireland. Political violence must never again be allowed to take hold in this island, the president said. Peace is precious. It still needs its champions. It still needs to be nurtured. U.S. President Joe Biden addresses the Irish Parliament at Leinster House in Dublin, Ireland, on April 13, 2023. (KENNY HOLSTON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) People Before Profit, a far-left political party in the country, earlier announced that it would boycott the speech over objections to Bidens foreign policy. Biden is not a man of peace but another warmonger, the political party said on its website days before the speech and called for people to protest over his visit. The president has received an incredibly warm welcome here in Ireland, Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, told reporters on April 13, when asked about the planned boycott. He is very much appreciative of the invitation to address the Houses of Parliament today, [and] is looking forward to touching base with the leaders of Irelands main political parties ahead of his address, she said. Prior to the parliamentary address, Biden met with Irish President Michael Higgins at his official residence, Aras an Uachtarain. Following the meeting, he participated in a tree-planting ceremony and he rang the Peace Bell, which was installed in 2008 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The president also met with the Irish prime minister, or taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. Biden began his personal and political visit to the island of Ireland on April 11. In Belfast, Northern Ireland, his first stop, Biden marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a deal that ended 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland. The dividends of peace are all around us, Biden told an audience at Ulster University in Belfast, praising the 1998 accord, in which President Bill Clinton and Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine) played key roles. Supporting the people of Northern Ireland, protecting the peace, preserving the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement is a priority for Democrats and Republicans alike in the United States, and that is unusual today because weve been very divided in our parties, Biden said. This is something that brings Washington together. It brings America together. Biden became the fourth sitting U.S. president to visit Northern Ireland after Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama. On April 12, Biden also met with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast to discuss the political situation in Northern Ireland. It was their third meeting since Sunak took over from former Prime Minister Liz Truss in October 2022. Bidens trip to Ireland also was largely personal, as he traced his family history. On April 12, Biden traveled to County Louth, a coastal county in the eastern and midland region of Ireland, where his great-grandfather James Finnegan was born. My great-great-grandfather left from the same port five weeks later after Barack Obamas great-great-grandfather. And the idea that they both would seek a new life and think that their great-great-grandsons would end up being president of the United States is remarkable, Biden told reporters after his meeting with Higgins. Biden, who is accompanied by his son Hunter and sister, Valerie, is scheduled to visit some distant cousins in County Mayo on April 14 before returning to the United States. Biden Admin Working With Panama, Columbia to Stop Illegal Migration Through Darien Gap Haitian migrants cross the jungle of the Darien Gap, near Acandi, Choco department, Colombia, heading to Panama, on Sept. 26, 2021, on their way trying to reach the United States. (Raul Arboleda/AFP via Getty Images) The Biden administration has announced new joint efforts with the governments of Panama and Columbia to prevent illegal migration through the treacherous Darien Gap that connects North America to South America. U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas issued a joint statement on Tuesday, along with Panamanian Foreign Minister Janaina Tewaney and Colombian Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva Duran, stating the three countries would work together over a 60-day period to end the illicit movement of people and goods through the Darien by both land and maritime corridors, which leads to death and exploitation of vulnerable people for significant profit. The Darien Gap is situated in the southern part of Panama, which is situated to the north of Columbia. The Darien route has been a major source of immigrant traffic in recent months. According to Panamas government, more than 87,000 immigrants crossed the Darien Gap in the first three months of this year, coming mostly from Venezuela, Haiti, and Ecuador. Thats up from nearly 14,000 immigrants over the same period last year. Last year, set a record for immigrants using the Darien route, with nearly 250,000. Venezuelans accounted for some 60 percent of the immigrants crossing there last year. The trilateral statement did not provide details about how the three governments would stem the mass flow of illegal migration through the Darien Gap. The three countries instead said they would open new lawful and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees as an alternative to irregular migration. The three countries announced they would also launch a plan to reduce poverty, improve public service delivery, create jobs, and promote economic and sustainable opportunities in border communities in northern Colombia and southern Panama, through international partnerships across financial institutions, civil society, and the private sector. Dangers In the Darien Gap The Darien Gap is among the most dangerous portions of the journey from South America to the U.S. southern border. The dangers along the route include venomous wildlife like the fer-de-lance pit viper, dangerous elements like rushing rivers, and human threats like robbers. Migrants and international human rights groups have denounced sexual assaults, robberies, and killings in the remote jungle region. Criminal networks have also reportedly used the Darien Gap in their drug smuggling and human trafficking operations. During President Donald Trumps last year in office, the U.S. blocked migrants from entering the United States through a pandemic-era interpretation of Title 42 of the U.S. Code. With the Biden administration seeking to wind down Title 42, the incentives may be heightened for people considering making the dangerous journey from South America to the United States. The Biden administration may now be looking at the Darien Gap as a key choke point to stop people from risking the long and dangerous journey. Biden Admin Efforts to Address Illegal Immigration The joint effort between the three nations comes as the United States responded to a record-high number of crossings at the southern border last year. U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) data indicates that U.S. officials apprehended or turned back about 2.38 million people at the border in fiscal year 2022, which ended on Sept. 30. In October, the Biden administration began using the pandemic-related rule known as Title 42 to deny Venezuelans the chance to request asylum at the border. In turn, the Biden administration rolled out a parole program to accept as many as 24,000 Venezuelans a month from among those who had already applied and been pre-approved through a government online application called CBP One. That program was expanded to Nicaragua, Haiti, and Cuba in January, with the administration increasing the number of admissions to 30,000 a month. Under the program, migrant parolees could enter the United States and work for up to two years. In January, Biden said the number of Venezuelans observed attempting to illegally cross the border fell from about 1,100 per day to an average of about 250 after the rollout of the new parole program and the CBP One app. In anticipation of the end of Title 42, the CBP has said it is surging personnel and resources to the Southern border and increasing and enhancing the use of expedited removal under Title 8 immigration authorities. The CBP has also said the CBP One app will help ensure safe and orderly processing at ports of entry at the border. While the Biden administration is leaning on its parole program and CBP one app to reduce border crossings and delays at ports of entry, large groups of migrants have flocked to the border with expectations of gaining easy entry into the United States. A large group of Venezuelan migrants gathered at an El Paso, Texas port of entry after rumors spread online that they would be rapidly processed through the U.S. asylum system and allowed into the country. Republicans have called for greater efforts to secure the U.S. southern border and have raised the prospect of impeaching Mayorkas on charges that he lied to Congress when he said the Department of Homeland Security had operational control of the border. Biden has accused Republicans of inaction on border security and immigration. In his January remarks, Biden said that Republicans refused to consider his proposals for addressing immigration reform. Its clear that immigration is a political issue that extreme Republicans are always going to run on, Biden said at the time. But now they have a choice: They can keep using immigration to try to score political points or they can help solve the problem. The Associated Press contributed to this article. From NTD News Biden Administration to Ask Supreme Court to Intervene in Abortion Pill Case WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 16: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland delivers remarks an an event commemorating the 60th Anniversary Of Gideon v. Wainwright Supreme Court decision, at the National Press Club on March 16, 2023 in Washington, DC. In Gideon v. Wainwright the U.S. Supreme Court decided that the Sixth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution requires states to provide attorneys to criminal defendants if they are unable to afford their own. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images) The Biden administration is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on the high-profile case involving a widely used abortion pill, officials said on April 13. 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, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved mifepristone, an abortion pill, in 2000. This month, U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk ordered the FDA to halt its approval of the drug. U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) lawyers asked the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to block the order. A panel of judges on the appeals court partially overturned Kacsmaryks ruling but kept it in place for FDA modifications made in 2016 or later. The appeals court ruling means mifepristone will remain available but only under requirements from 2000. The FDA loosened requirements in recent years, including allowing drug dispensation by mail. U.S. lawyers have failed to carry their burden at this preliminary stage to show that FDAs actions were not arbitrary and capricious, the appeals court judges said, finding that the FDA failed to examine relevant data when it made significant changes in 2016. DOJ lawyers had argued that the FDAs approval of mifepristone and its subsequent loosening of requirements were wholly reasonable. They said the district court erred by overriding FDAs eminently reasonable scientific judgments based on the courts own interpretation of articles and studies. Garland said the Department of Justice strongly disagrees with the decision. Groups Back Ruling Groups challenging the FDA over mifepristone celebrated the ruling. The American Association of Pro-Life OBGYNs, one of the plaintiffs in the case, stated that the FDA has repeatedly removed necessary safeguards meant to decrease the risk of serious harm to the women who consume mifepristone. Todays 5th Circuit Court of Appeals order reinstating these safeguards for Mifepristone is a first step towards reprioritizing womens health over the interests of the abortion industry and its allies within our profession, it stated. The Alliance Defending Freedom, a legal group representing the plaintiffs, also said the ruling was correct. The FDA put politics ahead of the health of women and girls when it impermissibly failed to study how dangerous the chemical abortion drug regimen is and when it unlawfully removed every meaningful safeguard that it previously implemented, Erin Hawley, senior counsel for the alliance, said in a statement. The 5th Circuits decision is a significant victory for the doctors we represent, womens health, and every American who deserves an accountable federal government acting within the bounds of the law. Arguments Kacsmaryks order was to block mifepristone availability, but he had the order set to take effect on April 14 to give the government time to appeal. In appeals court filings, U.S. lawyers argued that the plaintiffs lack standing and that they have provided no basis for second-guessing FDAs scientific judgment. 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. This harm would be felt throughout the country, given that mifepristone has lawful uses in every State, the DOJ lawyers said. Danco, the company that manufactures mifepristone, also urged the court to step in, arguing that a pause in availability would cause it irreparable harm. Thats at least partly because Danco manufactures no other products. Lawyers for the plaintiffs said the FDA has continually [removed] necessary safeguards for mifepristone and that their clients would be harmed if the lower court decision were stayed partly because they have to treat women who suffer side effects after taking the drug. Biden to Address Irish Parliament but Faces Boycott Over His Foreign Policy DUBLIN, IRELAND - APRIL 13: In this handout image provided by the Irish Government, US President Joe Biden (R) watched by Irish President Michael D Higgins, signs the visitors book at the Irish President's official residence Aras an Uachtarain on April 13, 2023 in Dublin, Ireland. US President Joe Biden has travelled to Northern Ireland and Ireland with his sister Valerie Biden Owens and son Hunter Biden to explore his family's Irish heritage and mark the 25th Anniversary of the Good Friday Peace Agreement. (Photo by Julien Behal/Irish Government via Getty Images) DUBLIN, IrelandPresident Joe Biden on Thursday met with Irish President Michael Higgins in Dublin and is scheduled to address a joint session of the Irish parliament as part of his four-day visit to the island of Ireland. During his meeting with Higgins, Biden participated in a tree-planting ceremony and ringing of the Peace Bell. Later, he met with the Irish prime minister, or taoiseach, Leo Varadkar. During his address to the parliament, Biden will be reflecting on the long, close, and shared history between the United States and Ireland, Amanda Sloat, senior director for Europe at the U.S. National Security Council, told reporters on Thursday. Biden will also be discussing areas of cooperation between the two countries, such as Ukraine and Northern Ireland, she added. Days before his parliamentary address, People Before Profit, a far-left political party in Ireland, announced that it would be boycotting the speech over objections to Bidens foreign policy. Biden is not a man of peace but another warmonger, the political party said on its website and called for people to protest over his visit. The left-wing Irish lawmakers slammed Bidens foreign policy on Palestine, Ukraine, and Saudi Arabia, as well as the lack of opportunity for lawmakers to ask questions. When asked about the boycott during a press conference, Sloat said Biden will meet with the leaders of Irelands main political parties. The president has received an incredibly warm welcome here in Ireland, she said. He is very much appreciative of the invitation to address the Houses of Parliament today, is looking forward to touching base with the leaders of Irelands main political parties ahead of his address, and is looking forward to what really is a historic opportunity for him to set out his views to the Irish people and to the Irish legislature. Good Friday Agreement Biden arrived in Belfast on Tuesday evening to kick off his personal and political trip to Northern Ireland and Ireland. His visit coincided with the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace deal that ended 30 years of violent conflict in Northern Ireland. On Wednesday, Biden told an audience at Ulster University in Belfast that the 1998 accord, in which former President Bill Clinton and Sen. George Mitchell (D-Maine) played key roles, had required a lot of hard work. The agreement established peace between unionists, who wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the UK, and nationalists, who wanted it to become part of the Republic of Ireland. The agreement ended three decades of violence that had killed over 3,500 people. There were no guarantees that the deal on paper would hold, no guarantees it would be able to deliver the progress we celebrate today, Biden said during his speech at Ulster University. I know the UKs departure from the European Union presented complex challenges here in Northern Ireland and I encourage the leaders of the UK and the EU to address the issues in a way that serve[s] Northern Irelands best interest, he said. The presidents visit took place against a tense political backdrop in Belfast. Since February 2022, the Northern Ireland Assembly has been suspended as unionist parties refuse to take their seats in protest of the Brexit settlement. Biden said that he supported Good Friday Agreement and the Windsor Framework that sets out Northern Irelands post-Brexit relationship with European Union and the UK. Biden urged local politicians to sort out their differences and restore the power-sharing executive that was a key part of the Good Friday Agreement, warning of the threat posed by the enemies of peace. Anti-British On Wednesday, Biden also met UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in Belfast to discuss the political situation in Northern Ireland. It was the third time the two leaders had met since Sunak took over from former Prime Minister Liz Truss in October 2022. The White House rejected accusations that Biden was anti-British as he met with the prime minister. Earlier, Arlene Foster, former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party in Northern Ireland, claimed in an interview that Biden hated the UK because he is seen by so many people as just simply pro-republican and pro-nationalist. The track record of the president shows that hes not anti-British, Sloat responded during a press briefing in Belfast. She said it was simply untrue and pointed out he was engaging with Sunak for the third time in three months. Biden, who is accompanied by his son Hunter and sister Valerie, is scheduled to visit some distant cousins in Ballina, County Mayo, on Friday before returning to the United States. Bivalent COVID-19 Boosters Provide Transient Protection Against Hospitalization, Study Finds The updated COVID-19 vaccine booster shots provide virtually no protection against infection and only quickly waning shielding against hospitalization, a new study has found. Protection against infection peaked at just 28.8 percent, well below the 50 percent threshold for success established by U.S. and World Health Organization officials, researchers in North Carolina reported in the New England Journal of Medicine. The Moderna and Pfizer boosters performed better against hospitalization or death, a proxy for severe illness, hitting 67.4 percent after two weeks. However, that protection quickly waned, going below 50 percent after two more weeks. Dan-Yu Lin and other researchers from the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health and doctors with the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services conducted the observational study, drawing from state-level databases on COVID-19 vaccination and clinical outcomes such as hospitalization. The study examined effectiveness among people 12 years and older who received one of the updated booster doses after a primary series. Researchers estimated effectiveness with modeling, saying they tried to reduce possible confounding bias by taking into account factors such as previous infection. The study included only people who received at least a primary series, resulting in a population of 6.3 million people, about 1.27 million of whom received a bivalent booster. The new boosters contain the Wuhan strain and a sublineage of the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants. They were authorized by U.S. regulators in the fall of 2022 and recommended to many Americans, despite that there were no clinical trial data supporting effectiveness or safety. The manufacturers still havent released any clinical efficacy data more than six months later. Other Recent Studies Other recent studies also have indicated that the bivalent boosters increase protection, but only temporarily. Researchers with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that a bivalent booster boosted protection against symptomatic COVID-19 by no more than 50 percent, with the effectiveness dropping to as low as 38 percent within three months. Other data from the agency estimated that protection against hospitalization was initially increased by 52 percent but that the shielding waned to 36 percent after two months. Some other countries have used a similar bivalent, which combines the Wuhan strain and the BA.1 Omicron subvariant. Finnish researchers, examining effectiveness of the two bivalent boosters, estimated (pdf) that they initially lowered the risk of hospitalization and death due to COVID-19 but after several months, the people who received a bivalent vaccine were actually more likely to be hospitalized or die because of COVID-19. Push for Another Booster A growing number of countries have stopped recommending COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. Switzerland, for instance, said that it isnt recommending shots for the spring and summer in light of factors such as the high levels of immunity from previous vaccination and infection. The World Health Organization stated in March that countries should consider factors such as cost-effectiveness when boosting certain populations, including healthy children, considering the low burden of disease presently seen. The United States, though, is considering making an additional bivalent dose available to certain populations, according to a newly updated CDC planning guide (pdf). The CDC is convening its vaccine advisory panel in April to discuss COVID-19 vaccines. California Files New Motion in Housing Lawsuit Against Huntington Beach The state of California filed a fresh motion in Orange County Superior Court April 10 seeking compliance from Huntington Beach for a state-mandated affordable housing plan in a lawsuit that already challenged the city for violating housing laws. Under the original lawsuit filed March 8, California sought to strike down Huntington Beachs ban on the processing of applications under SB 9which was passed by the California Legislature in 2021 and allows up to four homes on lots where only one existed previouslyand for accessory dwelling units, better known as ADUs or granny flats. But a month after initiating the ban, city officials unanimously voted March 21 to resume accepting the applications, complying with state law. The Huntington Beach city council conducts a meeting at the Civic Center chambers in Huntington Beach, Calif., on Jan. 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Now Attorney General Rob Bonta, Gov. Gavin Newsom, and Californias Housing Community Development Department allege the city is intentionally failing to adopt a mandatory housing element, which is a state-mandated affordable housing plan, after city officials couldnt come to an agreement on it during an April 4 council meeting. The plan was due last October. The City Councils most recent actions and inactions on April 4, 2023, show that the City has no intention of complying with the Housing Element Law, the amended lawsuit reads. Hesitation to approve the plan comes after a city staff presentation March 21 that indicated approving it would create significant and unavoidable, environmental impacts, such as exceeding thresholds for such things as air quality, greenhouse gases, water quality, and noise. For approval, city officials would have to sign a letter declaring the need for housing overrules those potential environmental impacts. The council voted 43 April 4 with the newly elected conservative majority voting against signing the declaration. Councilors Dan Kalmick, Natalie Moser, and Rhonda Bolton voted in favor. I will not allow the state to violate my first amendment right by forcing me to sign a document that says I think these housing mandates are more important than the negative impacts on the environment that they will create. I wont do it, Councilman Casey McKeon said during the meeting. According to the states housing department, 233 jurisdictions statewide currently have non-compliant housing elements. Huntington Beach is the only city that faces a lawsuit over such. Huntington Beach Mayor Tony Strickland announced in a press release April 10 that the state would need to file a new lawsuit now that the former issues regarding SB 9 and ADUs are no longer of concern. If the State wants to now sue the City for an alleged Housing Element violation, the States laws on procedure require the State to file a new lawsuit. Simply amending is not an option. Bonta should know that, the statement by Strickland reads. Housing in Huntington Beach, Calif., on March 17, 2023. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) City Attorney Michael Gates told The Epoch Times he believes the state is forum shopping, since Huntington Beach filed its own lawsuit March 9 in federal court against the state regarding the number of unitsover 13,000the state is requiring it to zone for, saying the number is disproportionate to other cities, and the largest allocation in the state based on a citys size and population. California officials would rather stay in state court, hence their attempt to amend a lawsuit thats not legally amendable, Gates said. In order to keep the latest allegations by the state with its original suit, it now seeks a declaration that Huntington Beachs past actions were unlawful, as well as declare the city is in violation of housing element law and to enforce its compliance within 120 days. A press release from Bontas office the same day said even though the city reversed course over issues in the initial filing, the recent filing seeks declaration from the court that the citys previous ban on SB 9 and ADU applications was unlawful and may not be reinstated. But according to Gates, the state is only seeking to salvage its original lawsuit to avoid federal court where it may be less advantaged. The whole thing is ridiculous. The past acts that have been resolved, those are not actionable as a matter of law anyway, Gates said. ADU law and SB 9 law is completely different, separate, and apart from housing element law. Theyre trying to shoehorn them together, but its not even procedurally proper. A request for comment April 12 from Bontas office was not returned by deadline. With Huntington Beachs lawsuit already challenging the states mandated housing element requirements in federal court, California would have no reason to file a new lawsuit if its current suit was dismissed, according to Gates. But state officials argue in their recent filing that without some sort of punishment for the citys previous unlawful actions, it may continue to violate state law. The City deliberately defied applicable state law, voluntarily ceased doing so once this litigation was filed, and may by its own volition resume violating state law in the absence of a judicial remedy, the latest filing reads. Bonta doubled down on pressure for the city to follow state law in the April 10 press release. 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, he said. We wont stand idly by as Huntington Beach continues to flagrantly violate state housing laws designed to bring crucial affordable housing opportunities to our communities. California Local Officials Call for State Law Reform Amid Crime Wave RIVERSIDE, Calif.In a passionate plea for enhanced public safety measures, Riverside County District Attorney Mike Hestrin called for changes to one of Californias criminal justice reform lawsknown as the Public Safety Realignment Act of 2011during a press conference in downtown Riverside April 12 alongside other California officials. Weve had enough, Hestrin told reporters. We cannot protect our public, were getting no help from Sacramento, the laws dont back us up. Over a decade ago, then-Governor Jerry Brown signed then-AB 109 into law, in an attempt to de-crowd state prisons as required by a 2011 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that determined Californias prison overcrowding was unconstitutional and that the state must decrease its prison population by 46,000 inmates. Under AB 109, offenders convicted of non-serious, non-violent, and non-sexual crimes, as well as some low-level drug offenders, are now housed in county jails instead of state prisons. Counties were given funding to manage these offenders and provide rehabilitation programs to reduce recidivism. The law also created a program, which allows eligible offenders to serve their sentence in the community instead of being sent to state prison. Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward speaks during a press conference in downtown Riverside, Calif., on April 12, 2023. (Jamie Joseph/The Epoch Times) But officials along with Hestrinincluding Tulare County District Attorney Tim Ward, Riverside Sheriff Chad Bianco, and Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalezargued Wednesday the legislation has resulted in the early release of violent criminals, who then go on to commit more crimes, and that the law may no longer apply regarding reducing the inmate population as the state is moving to close several correctional facilities. During the press conference, Hestrin pointed to Winchester resident Timothy Bethell, who he deemed the poster child of the law, as an example of its consequences. According to Hestrin, Bethell committed a series of burglaries at several businesses beginning in 2021 racking up 39 felony charges in Tulare County, about 200 miles north of Riverside. He was sentenced to four years in state prison and two years of probation in September 2021, but was instead released to a recovery program, and failed to report to probation in 2022. Within a week, Hestrin said, he committed more crimes in the county and then went on to burglarize and vandalize businesses in Riverside County where he was sentenced and re-released due to jail crowding. This case is indicative of life in California in 2023, Ward, the Tulare County District Attorney, said during the press conference. It epitomizes the dysfunction caused by the passage of soft on crime policies coming out of Sacramento, and this defendant and others like him day in and day out, they prove one thing, that if and when theyre allowed to remain free from jail custody, they will victimize [people] and our communities will suffer. Riverside Police Chief Larry Gonzalez speaks during a press conference in downtown Riverside, Calif., on April 12, 2023. (Jamie Joseph/The Epoch Times) Bethells burglaries caused more than $20,000 in theft, damages, lost revenue, and wages in Tulare County, according to Wards office. A restitution hearing, which is when a judge determines the amount of money a defendant must pay to a victim to compensate for losses suffered as a result of the defendants criminal activity, for Bethell is scheduled for April 19. Hestrin said the law needs an amendment to account for repeat offenders like Bethell. We dont have to repeal it, we have to add an amendment or add a law that says that habitual offenders can go to state prison, he said. Under current law, no matter how many crimes Mr. Bethell commits we can never send him to state prison. And in Riverside County, that means hell never do any significant amount of time beyond just a few days. In the past 10 years, a third of the space in five Riverside County jails has housed inmates who would have previously been sentenced to state prison, but were instead diverted to those facilities. That has created jail overcrowding which has forced sheriffs officials to release tens of thousands of prisoners before they have completed their sentences or resolved their cases, according to Riverside County officials. A federal court mandate requires the sheriff to ensure that every inmate has a bed or authorities have to release detainees to create space for new ones. According to Gonzalez, the chief of the Riverside Police Department, compared to this time last year, Riverside has seen a 31 percent increase in commercial burglaries. A career criminal has been arrested and convicted of felonies repeatedly the last several years, but each conviction is met with early release due to overcrowding the jail system, he said during the press conference. Riverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco speaks during a press conference in downtown Riverside, Calif., on April 12, 2023. (Jamie Joseph/The Epoch Times) Bianco, the Riverside County Sheriff, said the law, along with Propositions 47 and 57, are experiments that are part of the states political and philosophical agenda. When someone is sentenced to that many years in state prison, it should be in state prison. It shouldnt be a county jail, he said. Theres a reason why we have state prisons. Proposition 47, passed by California voters in 2014, significantly reduced certain nonviolent offenses such as drug possession and theft of property worth less than $950 from felonies to misdemeanors. The aim of the measure was to, again, reduce the states prison population, save taxpayer money, and redirect resources toward prevention, treatment, and education programs. The proposition also allowed for the resentencing for fewer years of those who were previously convicted of the offenses and were serving long sentences in state prison. Proposition 57, passed by voters in 2016, expanded parole eligibility for those convicted of nonviolent crimes and gave judges more discretion in deciding whether to try juveniles as adults. We are here unable to maintain a very low level of public safety because our government is making it impossible, Bianco said. Officials urged constituents to call their local assemblymembers to urge them to make an amendment to the law. Californias Last Nuclear Power Plant Diablo Faces Closure Against Lawsuit The Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, in Avila Beach, Calif., is among the nation's 55 operating nuclear power plants. (Joe Johnston/The Tribune (of San Luis Obispo) via AP) An environmental group on Tuesday sued to block Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) from seeking to extend the federal operating licenses for Californias last active nuclear power plant. A complaint filed in the San Francisco Superior Court by advocacy group Friends of the Earth asks the court to prohibit the utility from sidestepping its 2016 agreement with environmentalists and plant workers to close the twin-domed Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant by 2025. In a Twitter post, the environmental group said, Were taking PG&E to court to make sure Californias last remaining nuclear plant is retired We wont stop until the aging, destructive Canyon is closed for good! Aerial view of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant which sits on the edge of the Pacific Ocean at Avila Beach in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., on March 17, 2011. (Mark Ralston/AFP via Getty Images) Hallie Templeton, legal director for Friends of the Earth, called out PG&E for allegedly backing out of their agreement. Contracts simply dont vanish into thin air, Templeton said in a statement. Yet ever since California passed legislation supporting Diablo Canyons extension, PG&E has been acting as if our contract has disappeared. Setting aside the agreement to retire Diablo, there are myriad legal prerequisites for extending operations of a nuclear power plant, including federal decisions that states cannot dictate. We hope our litigation can push PG&E to reconsider its potential breach and uphold its obligations, including preparing for the agreed-upon retirement. The Diablo power plant runs along the Pacific Coast and has been operating since 1985. California is the birthplace of the modern environmental movement that, for decades, has had a fraught relationship with nuclear power, which doesnt produce carbon pollution like fossil fuels but leaves behind waste that can remain radioactive for centuries, requiring special waste treatment. Nuclear Reactor Needed to Maintain Reliable Power The California legislature passed SB846 last year, which was signed by Democratic Gov. Gavin Newson, in an effort to extend the power plants operations for another five years, according to the bill. In March, Newson toured the Diablo Canyon Power Plant after it was announced that the plant may continue operating after its expiration date. As we experienced during the record heat wave last September, climate change-driven extreme events are causing unprecedented stress on our power gridthe Diablo Canyon Power Plant is important to support energy reliability as we accelerate progress towards achieving our clean energy and climate goals. I look forward to our continued work with the Biden-Harris Administration and the Legislature to build a reliable and resilient clean electric system, Newson said in a statement. The California Energy Commission ruled earlier this year that continuing Diablos operations past 2025 is needed to maintain reliable electricity supply throughout the state. Siva Gunda, the Energy Commissions vice chair, said that Diablo is an important part of Californias energy options. As California confronts a rapidly changing climate, extraordinary heat events and record energy demand are becoming increasingly ordinary. The state needs to keep all options on the table to protect public health and safety, Gunda said in a statement to LA Times. This includes maintaining Diablo Canyons operations. In 2016, then Gov. Jerry Brown agreed to a proposal that would shut Diablo down by its original deadline, along with California utility regulators and state Legislatures, according to the document. This could pose a potential issue during the current lawsuit against PG&E. According to the PG&E website, Diablo Canyon has continued to safely produce clean and reliable energy without greenhouse gases (GHG), avoiding 6 to 7 million tons per year of GHGs that would be emitted by conventional generation resources, the site states. PG&E said in a statement it had not yet seen the lawsuit but that, as a regulated utility, will follow state policy. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Canada Has Accepted Over 30,000 Afghan Refugees Since August 2021, Plans 40,000 More This Year Afghan refugees arrive in Canada on a chartered flight from Pakistan on April 12, 2023. (Courtesy of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) Canada has taken in over 30,000 Afghan refugees since August 2021, and the federal government plans to resettle at least 40,000 more by the end of 2023. In a news release on April 12, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada said that communities across Canada continue to welcome Afghans and are helping them settle in to their new homes. The latest refugees arrived on a charter flight from Pakistan and landed in Toronto. The group includes Afghans who supported Canadas mission in Afghanistan, family members of former Afghan interpreters, and privately sponsored refugees arriving through the humanitarian stream, according to the Immigration Department. This is an ambitious achievement as we work towards our goal of resettling at least 40,000 Afghans by the end of 2023, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said. Although the Afghanistan resettlement effort is one of the largest and most difficult in Canadas history, we remain committed to maximizing every opportunity to support these vulnerable Afghans in their transition to a better life in Canada. Welcoming refugees is an integral part of who we are, he added. According to the department, Canadas humanitarian resettlement program is focused on resettling the most vulnerable Afghans, including woman leaders, human rights defenders, persecuted and religious minorities, 2SLGBTQI+ individuals and journalists. Afghan refugees arrive in Canada on a chartered flight from Pakistan on April 12, 2023. (Courtesy of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) The new immigrants will be settled in Surrey, B.C.; Toronto; and London, Ontario, as well as other communities. So far, at least 170 communities across Canada have been a destination for the refugees. The Immigration Department said many Afghans face risks in attempting to leave the country or cannot leave without assistance. There is no Canadian diplomatic or military presence in Afghanistan. Canada is collaborating with the United States, the United Arab Emirates, Pakistan, and other countries, as well as international organizations. The government has designated 18,000 spaces for Afghan nationals and their families who assisted the Canadian government, and up to 5,000 extended family members of Afghan interpreters who have already entered Canada as part of other programs. The government said the refugees it assists become permanent residents upon arrival in Canada. They receive at least 12 months of income support under the Resettlement Assistance Program and will have access to settlement services, including language training and the Interim Federal Health Program for medical coverage. On March 9, the government announced it was changing the Criminal Code to allow humanitarian aid to be sent to Afghanistan. The legislation contained anti-terrorist financing provisions, which the government said placed significant constraints on delivering international assistance to geographic areas controlled by a terrorist group. At the time, Minister of Public Safety Marco Mendico said Canadas commitment to helping the people of Afghanistan did not end with the fall of Kabul. Whether providing aid or welcoming refugees, we are there for vulnerable Afghanswhile always strongly condemning the Talibans violence, misogyny and disregard for human rights, he said. Canada has a proud history of offering refuge and assistance to the worlds most vulnerable. The fall of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan created a unique and dire situation for the people in Afghanistan, said the government in March. We are joining our allies in fulfilling obligations contained in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2615, it said. Immigration said that according to the U.N., a total of 28.3 million people (two-thirds of the Afghan population) need humanitarian assistance in 2023, an increase of 16 percent since 2022. Canada said it also provided over $70 million for basic services, including health, to Afghan people in 2022/23. Europe is united in its policy towards Beijing, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said in China on Thursday after controversial comments by French President Emmanuel Macron raised hackles among some Western allies. "We not only have a common position with regard to the European stance, but if we share a common internal market, then we cannot have different positions on the EU's largest trading partner," Baerbock told reporters in Tianjin. Macron, who visited China last week, said in an interview at the weekend that Europe should not be a "follower" of either Washington or Beijing or get caught up in any escalation over Taiwan. The French president stood by his controversial comments on Wednesday on a visit to Amsterdam, saying that being a US ally did not mean being a "vassal". Asked about Macron's remarks, Baerbock said the fact he had visited China alongside EU chief Ursula von der Leyen was "a very important sign". "Despite all the differences that we have in the European Union... we are not only close to each other on the central issues of our interests and values, but we (also) pursue common strategic approaches," she said. German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius had earlier on Thursday taken a harsher tone, calling Macron's remarks "unfortunate". "We have never been in danger of becoming or being a vassal of the United States," Pistorius said on a visit to Mali. Macron's weekend interview drew praise as "brilliant" in China -- which rejects US support of what it sees as its breakaway province of Taiwan. China and Taiwan split following a civil war in 1949. Search Keywords: Short link: Catholic Priests Who Lose Contract at Walter Reed Get Support From GOP Lawmakers Several Republican members of the U.S. House have sent a letter to the Pentagon seeking answers to a decision of Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC) not to renew a contract with a group of Catholic priests and brothers to provide pastoral care at the medical facility, and also protesting WRNMMC notifying the priests of the decision in a cease and desist letter sent just prior to the start of Holy Week. Walter Reed replaced the Holy Name College Friary, located in Silver Spring, Md. with Mack Global, LLC, of Mechanicsville, Virginia; a private contractor that provides government agencies with, as listed on its website, telework consulting services, administrative and religious staffing, transportation and roadway services, professional development and training. Holy Name College Friary, a Franciscan order community, has delivered pastoral support at WRNMMC for 20 years. We have made promises to our service members and veterans that if they take care of us, we will take care of them. This extends to not just providing quality healthcare at our nations military medical facilities, but by also providing the ability to freely practice their religion to those under the care at these facilities, the legislators wrote in the letter that was addressed to Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. The DoDs actions to deny Catholic Pastoral Care from service members and veterans at Walter Reed goes against the morals, way of life, and rights that make up the fabric of our great nation. Signatories of the letter are Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Brobert, Debbie Lesko, Michael Cloud, Eli Crane, Jim Banks, Andrew Clyde, Mary E. Miller, Alex Mooney, Tom Tiffany, Byron Donalds, Paul Gosar, Scott Perry, Andy Biggs, Warren Davidson, Ralph Norman, Matt Rosendale, Keith Self, Bob Good, Andrew Clyde, Brian Babin, Ben Cline, Josh Brecheen, Diana Harshbarger, and Andy Harris. As Walter Reed spokesperson Rick McNamara explained the cease and desist letter, which was dated April 4, was sent to Holy Name Friary because the group continued to work at the hospital after March 31 when its contract had expired. Catholic Archbishop Denounces Pentagon Decision Catholic hierarchy and organizations across the country have been voicing disapproval with the decision and its timing, Archdiocese For The Military Services, USA, issued a statement on April 7 in response to the Pentagon decision, calling it a violation of the free exercise of religion clause in the First Amendment of the Constitution. It is incomprehensible that essential pastoral care is taken away from the sick and the aged when it was so readily available, said Rev. Timothy Broglio, Archbishop for Military Services, USA. 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. I earnestly hope that this disdain for the sick will be remedied at once and their First Amendment rights will be respected. Walter Reed Responds Walter Reed released a statement on April 11 addressing the issue. Currently, three additional Catholic priests in the region are available to provide services to our Catholic beneficiaries, read the statement. WRNMMC also has access to Red Cross Volunteers and Active-Duty Chaplains Assistants. With the assigned staff, and regional support, WRNMMC has sufficient resources to provide for the religious needs of our Catholic beneficiaries. At this time, the pastoral care contract is under review to ensure it adequately supports the religious needs of our patients and beneficiaries. Chinas M&A King Bao Fan Vanished, Rocking Countrys Financial Sector The headquarters of China Renaissance is seen in Beijing on Feb. 27, 2023. (Greg Baker/AFP via Getty Images) Chinas M&A King Bao Fan has been missing for over 50 days, sending shockwaves throughout the countrys financial and political circles. On April 3, China Renaissance Group, the company Bao founded, announced a trading halt, suspending trading from 9:00 am that day. The release of its annual performance report for 2022 has also been deferred as the auditors cannot issue an audit report in Baos absence. Bao is the companys chairman, executive director, chief executive officer, and controlling shareholder. On Feb. 16, the companys board of directors announced that they had been unable to contact Bao, and on Feb. 26, they revealed that he was cooperating with authorities investigations. If we take Feb. 16 as the starting date, Bao has been missing for over 50 days. Impressive Resume Bao, born in 1970, founded China Renaissance Group in 2005 at the age of 35. Prior to that, he served as the chief strategy officer of China-based IT services and software company Asiainfo Group. He also worked at international financial companies such as Morgan Stanley and Credit Suisse, accumulating seven years of investment banking experience on Wall Street. China Renaissance CEO Bao Fan and Ching Hui Yin at an event in Mountain View, Calif., on Dec. 3, 2017. (Kimberly White/Getty Images) Baos influence in the Chinese financial industry is enormous. In 2015, China Renaissance Group facilitated four major mergers and acquisitions in Chinas Internet industry: the merger of ride-hailing giants Didi and Kuaidi, the merger of classifieds site 58.com and Ganji.com, the merger of lifestyle e-commerce platform Meituan and online review site Dianping, and the merger of online travel agencies Ctrip and Qunar. Since then, Bao has been involved in almost all major financing, mergers and acquisitions, and IPO deals in Chinas internet industry. According to IT Juzi, a Chinese business information service provider, China Renaissance Group has brokered 439 public transactions with 727 different investors from 2014 to 2021, including numerous big-name investors. His reputation as the King of M&A in China is well-deserved. Bank of China Chairman Implicated The day after Bao went missing, Liu Liange, chairman, executive director, and Chinese Communist Party (CPP) boss at the Bank of China, was removed from his positions. One month later, the Bank of China claimed that Liu had voluntarily resigned. On March 31, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection announced that Liu was under investigation for serious law violations. Liu had worked in Chinas banking system since the 1990s, holding key positions, including 11 years at the China Exim Bank and later serving as the Party boss and chairman of the Bank of China. A man walks past a booth of the Bank of China at the Main Press Centre of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing on Jan. 28, 2022. (Fabrice Coffrini/AFP via Getty Images) As reported by Beijing Caixin, sources close to the Bank of China said that Lius case is likely connected to the recent investigation into Baos case. Before Lius downfall, several high-ranking executives at the Bank of China were taken away for investigation between July and September 2022. Early Repayment Clause Although China Renaissance Group has stated that its business and operations are currently running as usual, it has been noted that the company has signed loan agreements with specific clauses. In May 2021, China Renaissance Group announced that it had obtained its first syndicated loan since going public. The loan, totaling $300 million over a three-year period, was led by the Bank of Communications (Hong Kong) and involved other banks such as Citibank (Hong Kong), China Citic Bank International, and Bank of China (Macau). The financing agreement stipulates that if Bao is no longer the largest shareholder of China Renaissance Group or no longer serves as board chairman, the main lenders can cancel their commitments and demand immediate mandatory repayment of all outstanding loans under the financing. The market is concerned that if Bao cannot perform his duties for an extended period, creditors may lose confidence in China Renaissance Group, and the aforementioned $300 million loan may be subject to early repayment. China Renaissance Group has not responded to the request of The Epoch Times for comment by press time. Xi Targets Financial Sector Chinese leader Xi Jinping has been disciplining the financial sector in China, with dozens of personnel changes seen in bank executive positions this year. According to the CCPs Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, in the first three months of 2023, at least ten high-level executives in Chinas financial sector have been investigated. An outdoor screen shows live news coverage of Chinese leader Xi Jinping during the opening session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People, along a street in Beijing, on March 5, 2023. (Jade Gao/AFP via Getty Images) One week after Bao went missing, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection published an article on Feb. 23 mentioning finance 16 times. The article claimed that the commission aimed to eliminate political risks, break the financial elite and Westernization mindsets, rectify the industrys unspoken rules, eliminate the mentality of law does not punish the masses and investigate issues such as shadow shareholders and the revolving door. Political commentator Ji Lin, who resides in Japan, told The Epoch Times on April 10 that as Chinas economy continues to decline and the fiscal deficit becomes severe, debt crises may erupt at any time. Therefore, Xi is taking action in the financial system, attempting to ease the situation. Ji said that Chinas financial sector is controlled by influential families, and through factional purges, Xi can replace key positions with his trusted individuals. Ji also said that Chinas capital circle is full of unspoken rules involving collusion between officials and businessmen, where capital magnates receive illegal benefits and protection from officials and, in turn, act as officials hidden henchmen who help with reaping profit and money laundering. With Bao Fans qualifications, he is likely such a henchman figure. Thus, if Bao is being investigated, many individuals associated with him may also fall, Ji said. Ellen Wan contributed to this report. Chinese Tech Giants Tencent and Douyin New Partnership Possibly Facilitated by the CCP The announcement of the partnership between Tencent and Douyin, the Chinese counterpart of TikTok, on April 7 sparked immediate concern in the market. As competitors in short and long video hosting services in China, Douyin and Tencent have been in court several times over copyright issues, leading to lengthy litigation. Some believe the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is behind this sudden partnership announcement. The two platforms will cooperate on the joint promotion of short and long videos and the creation of short video content. Tencent will license Douyin, owned by ByteDance, its long videos with network broadcasting rights and sublicensing rights. In addition, Tencent and Douyin explicitly stipulated publication rules for short video content. The announcement, signaling a settlement between the rival video hosting services, sparked widespread concern in the market. Before this, the two parties had a long-standing dispute over copyright issues. The last legal dispute between Douyin and Tencent was in November 2022, when Douyin was awarded more than 32 million yuan (about $4.65 million) by a court in China for Tencents copyright infringement of an online drama, a record-breaking amount for such cases in China. In the second half of 2021, Tencent sued Douyin for copyright infringement 168 times, with claims exceeding 2.943 billion yuan (about $428 million). Douyin fought back, demanding that Tencent remove the infringing videos and pay 10 million yuan (about $1.45 million) in restitution. Sources from Douyin recently told Chinese media Shanghai Securities News that most of the lawsuits surrounding copyright between Douyin and Tencent have now been withdrawn by both parties. Reasons for Unexpected Partnership Several Chinese industry experts told China Financial Daily that it was only a matter of time before Douyin and Tencent settled, given the weak growth of videos on Tencent and the risk of infringements faced by Douyin. CCP state media Xinhua said on April 7 that at the 7th China Online Copyright Protection and Development Conference hosted by the CCP State Copyright Bureau, cooperation between short and long video hosting services was included in the China Copyright Associations most important event for 2022. The article suggested that the Chinese regime encourages video hosting platforms to cooperate on copyright issues. According to Lu Yuanxing, a U.S.-based Chinese political analyst, the partnership between Douyin and Tencent was obviously promoted by the CCP behind the scenes. In an interview with The Epoch Times on April 9, Lu said that the feud between Tencent and Douyin is long-standing, and long-form videos were originally Tencents specialty. The so-called cooperation was a concession by Tencent as it authorized Douyin to use Tencents content. This is a unilateral transfer of interests, and it is not normal market behavior. Lu believes this deal must have resulted from a CCP behind-the-scenes push. Lu further explained: Since Douyin has been cooperating with the CCP, it has been sparing no effort in monitoring its users. It is not only the Chinese version of Douyin, but also its counterpart TiKToK that has been cooperating with the CCP in stealing information from overseas users, which means that it is a company supported by the Chinese regime. He said that Tencent has also cooperated with the CCP in surveillance over the years. Its social media platforms, WeChat and QQ, have monitored users speech and communications for the CCP. However, Douyin and Tencent are backed by different political forces. Tencent was developed quite early under the former Chinese leader Jiang Zemin, and the faction behind Tencent was therefore loyal to Jiang. It does not belong to the same faction as the current rulers, Lu said. It is inevitable for the CCP to suppress those companies in its political cleansing. The Chinese regime will crack down on its political opponents even within the CCP, and companies backed by factions that support the current ruler will always be supported. CCP Backed Douyin While Tencent CEO was Booted From the National Peoples Congress TikTok is the version of Douyin used outside China, with 150 million users in the United States. On March 23, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew attended a hearing before the U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee that lasted more than four hours. House members were deeply skeptical of his answers and said Chews claims failed to ease their concerns about TikTok. The FBI and the intelligence community are concerned that the CCP has access to TikToks U.S. user data. TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies before the House Energy and Commerce Committee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill on March 23, 2023, in Washington. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) In response to Chews appearance at the U.S. congressional hearing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on March 24 that the United States must stop unreasonable suppression of foreign companies. After the White House requested federal government agencies to remove TikTok from all government-owned devices within 30 days, Mao responded that the United States was feeling insecure about an app popular among young people, showing a lack of self-confidence. In contrast to the CCPs high-profile support for TikTok, Tencent Chairman, and CEO Ma Huateng was not re-elected to the CCPs National Peoples Congress (NPC) or the Chinese Peoples Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) in March this year, ending his decade-long career as a delegate to the NPC. The CCP selects members of the NPC and CPPCC from various Chinese elites loyal to the regime. Ma has been a deputy to the National Peoples Congress since 2013 and was re-elected in January 2018. In 2020, Ma did not attend the CCPs two sessions, citing health reasons. Since that year, the CCP has conducted so-called anti-monopoly investigations into the tech giant Tencent. Tencents lucrative gaming platform had its licenses suspended, resulting in the companys market value crash. Tencent also adopted a low-profile posture and withdrew from several equity investments. Is China readying for war? Chinese leader Xi Jinping called on his troops to up their military training, with a focus on armed combat, during a naval inspection. This comes amid heightened tensions over Taiwan, after the Chinese regime staged military exercises around the island over the weekend. The United States and allies are watching closely, as global strategic and economic interests ride on the line. Topics in this episode: Credit Suisse Rescue Package Rejected by Swiss Parliament The logo of Swiss bank Credit Suisse in front of a branch office in Bern, Switzerland, on Nov. 29, 2022. (Arnd Wiegmann/Reuters) BERNSwitzerlands parliament rejected on Wednesday the governments 109 billion Swiss francs ($120.82 billion) aid for Credit Suisses merger with UBS, leaving the fallen banks hastily arranged rescue without a largely symbolic parliamentary blessing. While the upper house had approved the governments contribution to the rescue package, parliaments lower, and larger chamber, pushed back again on Wednesday. It had already rejected the proposals in a late night session on Tuesday, forcing the upper house to find a solution when it met again on Wednesday. Seeking a compromise, the upper house passed changes to the measure on Wednesday morning, but it was not enough to sway the lower house lawmakers. They turned it down by 103 votes to 71 in favour, a similar level of opposition to the night before. Speaking just before the lower house vote, Cedric Wermuth, the co-president of the Social Democrats said the party just could not support the funding. While the governments commitment, made using emergency law, cannot be overturned, the vote marks a symbolic rebuke for the authorities, whose decision to largely bypass the nations legislative has angered many politicians. This decision has no impact on the takeover of Credit Suisse decided on March 19, the Swiss Finance Ministry said after the vote. The support package had already been given binding approval by the parliaments finance delegation, due to the urgency of the matter, it said. The funds have already been fully committed, it added. Lawmakers who backed an approval of the deal, voiced concern about Switzerlands image. It doesnt really matter what we decide in detail, but it would really send a bad signal if these loans were rejected, said Eva Herzog, who is a member of the Council of States, the upper house, before the vote. Following a day of heated debates held in the countrys four national languages, that continued into early morning hours, the upper house passed changes aimed at winning over the sceptics. They included a proposal for Switzerlands federal government to draft an amendment to the countrys Banking Act. Its aim would be to reduce the risks posed by systemically relevant banks, such as Credit Suisse and UBS for Switzerland, by, for example, raising capital requirements and restricting bonuses. Addressing parliament before the vote on Wednesday, finance minister Karin Keller-Sutter told lawmakers to consider what message their rejection of the rescue would send to the world. What signal do you want to give internationally, are the institutions reliable, do you value financial market stability in a place where you already have a financial centre with a certain importance? Lawmakers were recalled to the countrys capital, Bern, for the rare extraordinary session to discuss the Swiss governments open chequebook response to a collapse that many in the country have blamed on Credit Suisses top management. Last months shotgun marriage which saw the bank taken over by rival UBS for 3 billion Swiss francs and propped up with more than 250 billion Swiss francs in guarantees and support has drawn widespread criticism. The government invoked Swiss emergency law to sign it off to the ire of the almost 250 lawmakers left without a say. The use of emergency law has reached a level in the last three years that is beginning to annoy me, Hansjoerg Knecht, a member of Parliaments upper house, said on Tuesday. ($1 = 0.9022 Swiss francs) By Noele Illien DACA Recipients Eligible for Medicaid and ACA Health Coverage Under New Biden Plan DACA recipients and their supporters rally outside the Supreme Court in Washington on June 18, 2020. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) President Joe Biden has announced plans to expand health coverage for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program recipients, according to the administrations announcement on April 13. The Department of Health and Human Services will propose a rule amending the definition of lawful presencefor purposes of Medicaid and Affordable Care Act coverageto include DACA recipients, allowing them to apply for coverage through the Health Insurance Marketplace and their state Medicaid agency. This move was made to provide DACA recipients with the same opportunities and support as Dreamers in the United States as legal citizens, according to the administration. The president has also urged Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, which he has called for in every State of the Union address since he took office. DACA, which was announced in 2012 by then-President Barack Obama and Vice President Biden, has brought stability to more than 800,000 young people who have lived and worked in the United States as their only home. Although Congress has yet to comply with the administration to provide a pathway to citizenship, the Biden administration has continued to take significant measures to protect Dreamers, including issuing regulations to preserve and fortify DACA and fighting political opponents in court. According to the press release, Biden believes that DACA recipients have made our country a better place and by expanding health coverage for the childhood arrivals the administration plans to continue supporting them despite Congresss current unwillingness to provide them with permanent legal status. When President Obama and I created the DACA program, we knew it would transform lives and it has. Bringing stability and possibility to hundreds of thousands of young people known as Dreamers, brought to Americas children. This country is the only home theyve ever known, Biden said in his video announcement of the plan. So today, my administration is announcing our plan to expand health coverage for doctor recipients by allowing them to enroll in a plan through the Affordable Care Act or through Medicaid, Biden went on. Health care should be a right, not a privilege. Although there are some restrictions on the availability of benefits for DACA recipients, there are numerous federal programs, opportunities, and resources that have been made available to them in the meantime. The HHS changes to the definition of lawful presence under Medicaid and Affordable Care Act is just one way for program participants to access government assistance. DACA recipients will also be able to access a range of other programsincluding the AmeriCorps VISTA Program, outdoor programs, American Job Centers, Job Corps, YouthBuild, National Farmworker Jobs Program, and the ARP Good Jobs Challenge. They can also benefit from housing, rental, and credit counseling services, tax credits, and consumer protection programs, including the Consumer Financial Protection Bureaus recently-launched immigrant initiative. Additionally, DACA recipients can access maternal mental health support, nutrition assistance, and veterans benefits, including free legal assistance. The amendment to the definition of lawful presence will come into effect by the end of the month, as the Biden-Harris administration continues to urge Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship to Dreamers. Deep Dive: The Brutal War Between Mexicos Drug Cartels The war between Mexicos drug cartels has reached new depths as older major cartels have fragmented, increasing competition between the splinter groups and leading to more grisly acts of violence, including against Americans. The most recent example of the brutality by Mexican drug cartels against U.S. citizens is that of the four kidnapped Americans in the border city of Matamoros by the Gulf Cartel in March. While two of the Americans ended up dead, two othersa brother and sistersurvived and recently talked about their experience. They tried to make us have sex with each other, Eric Williams, who survived after being shot in both legs, told CNN. But we told them that we were brother and sister and that she was pregnant. Williams went on to say that he and his sister, Washington McGee, were taken to several locations over several days, while blindfolded with guns pointed at their heads. The two eventually were turned over to Mexican authorities by cartel members who left an apology note; the group also turned over several members who allegedly were involved in the kidnapping and slayings to Mexican law enforcement. That type of violence is very common in Mexico as multiple cartels are in a brutal war for supremacy across the country. In regards to the violence, in my entire life, and Ive been working in the DEA [Drug Enforcement Administration] for 28 years and Ive been involved in law enforcement since I retired. So over 30 years of studying and watching the evolution of the cartels. They are probably the most violent organization that Ive ever seen, said Derek Maltz, a retired DEA special agent in charge of the Justice Departments special operations division (SOD). They do everything that major terrorists are doing. And its the way they do the killing, cutting off heads, throwing heads on dance floors, posting heads on fence posts with notes, cutting off limbs and sticking them in the mouth of the deceased with intimidating notes. As the head of SOD, Maltzs leadership played a vital role in the capture of Sinaloa Cartel leader Joaquin El Chapo Guzman. He says the cartels have no regard for human life, and only care about maximizing profits. They run their business like a Fortune 500 company in the sense of reducing their risk as they grow their business, he said. Theyre working currently with the Chinese criminal networks, theyre flooding America with deadly fentanyl, theyre also inundating the U.S. with methamphetamine. Theyre in probably 40 or 50 countries between the Sinaloa Cartel and the Cartel Jalisco New Generation. They have built up incredible capabilities in regards to weapons and state-of-the-art technology. The Drug Cartels of Mexico The largest and most vicious syndicate in Mexico is the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generation (CNJG), which is based out of the state of Jalisco and works all across the country, according to a risk assessment by the security firm Global Guardian. CNJG trafficks drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamines into the United States and has also recently delved into the billion-dollar avocado business. The Sinaloa Cartel (CDS), which was once the dominant drug cartel, is now second in power to the CNJG after years of infighting and splintering off into separate groups. Three other major drug syndicatesLos Zetas, Gulf, and Juarezalso contribute to high levels of violence in Mexico. All five cartels constantly battle for dominance and territory, with Mexican citizens often caught in the middle. They are threatening Mexican citizens as well, Maltz said. Theyre torturing people like weve never seen, theyre throwing people in acid pits, they decapitate people, dismember people, they have military-grade weapons, they have surface-to-air rockets, Silver or Lead The Mexican drug cartels presence isnt just limited to Mexico; their grasp extends throughout Central and South America, where theyve allied themselves with other transnational criminal organizations, such as MS-13 in El Salvador. I was on my way to high school [in San Salvador] and suddenly, three men came out of the bushes with guns and forced me to go into an alley, Angel Mamani told The Epoch Times. They took my bag and my notebooks and forced me to take off my shirt to see if I had any tattoos. Mamani says the men were members of MS-13 and were checking him for tattoos to determine if he was part of a rival gang. They told me if I tried to run they would kill me, he said. Mamani said the gang members eventually left once they took everything he had on him, giving him the ultimatum plata o plomo, which translates in English as silver or lead. It means give up everything you have or die, he said. The potentially deadly encounter is one that locals such as Mamani, as well as migrants or those who wish to travel illegally across several land borders into the United States, experience regularly, although often in an even harsher way. Its amazing to me just the treatment of the migrants [by the cartels] how all these young girls are taking birth control medicine before they start the journey because they know theyre going to get raped, Maltz said. Because these cartels and migrant smugglers are operating like savages in many ways, with the way they treat women and young kids. Theyre very abusive [and there are many] sexual assaults. The abuse doesnt end for the migrants who are being illegally brought into the United States, often to deliver deadly drugs such as fentanyl, according to Maltz. If they finally make it across the U.S.Mexico border, the danger can be even worse. Once they get into the country, [the cartels] are putting them in stash houses [with] very inhumane conditions, he said. Depending on how much money you pay, you could be in a house with 100 degrees with no air conditioning with people piled on top of each other. Political Reaction In January, former President Donald Trump said that if hes reelected as president, hell order the U.S. military to crush Mexican drug cartels and show them no mercy. Trump, who made the announcement in a video statement, had previously suggested using U.S. military force against drug cartels operating south of the border, including by reportedly launching missiles into Mexico to destroy drug labs. Several Republican lawmakers in Congress have called for the United States to send a military force into Mexico to take out the drug cartels. The cartels are at war with uspoisoning more than 80,000 Americans with fentanyl every year, creating a crisis at our border, and turning Mexico into a failed narco-state, Rep. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) said in January. Its time we directly target them. Some U.S. lawmakers are also seeking to label some Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations. Driven to Desperation, Mainland Chinese Seek a New Life Elsewhere A Chinese national holds a Chinese Passport in this file image taken on May 16, 2014. (Omar Havana/Getty Images) Three years of extreme anti-COVID lockdown measures have resulted in many Chinese wanting to escape China, where they say there is little hope. Some have made it abroad successfully, while others are seeking opportunities. Despite the danger and an uncertain future, they share the same belief: Free air is worth it. I had to escape no matter what, Chen Ping (pseudonym) told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times at the Belgrade international airport, Serbia, on March 25. Chen, in her sixties, is from Shenyang, an industrial city in northeast China. Chens mobile phone has no internet service, so she uses the Wi-Fi network at the airport where she is also staying. The floor is cold, but I am okay with it, she said. She has paid an agent she has never met to help her leave China. Her only contact with him was via phone, and she didnt want to share too many details, including where she was going next, due to security concerns. Chen does not speak English and had never taken a plane before, but she left China in early March without hesitation. Her first stop was Hong Kong. Without much money, she slept on the plastic bench at the airport for eight days before flying to Serbia. Before she left China, she told her son that her only chance to survive was to leave the country. Chen and her husband have been subject to retaliation from the local authorities since 2002 after they defended the rights of the entire village by exposing a former village Chinese Communist Party secretary who had embezzled large amounts of peasants money. For years, the couple petitioned in Beijing despite being imprisoned, beaten, and sent to labor camps on several occasions, including the notorious Masanjia forced labor camp. As part of this, Chen was also sentenced to two years of forced labor in 2011 for her insistence on petitioning. The entrance of Masanjia forced labor camp near Shenyang in Chinas Liaoning Province. (The Epoch Times) Her refusal to plead guilty in this instance led to the doubling of her slave labor quota at the labor camp, and she endured frequent beatings and torture for failing to meet the quota. She said that the prisoners were allowed restroom breaks just twice a day. Chen developed heart disease, high blood pressure, and nephritis from the pressure and the torture during the imprisonment. Now in a Serbian airport, with an unknown future ahead of her, Chen says she is determined to leave China no matter the difficulty. Im ready for any challenge, she stated. For Freedoms Sake Roy (pseudonym) became subject to the regimes surveillance after he visited Shanghais Urumqi Middle Road on Nov. 27, 2022, when crowds gathered to protest lockdowns that resulted in at least 14 people being killed in an apartment fire in Chinas northwest Xinjiang region. As a young man, he wanted to take pictures of the event, but plain-clothed police abducted him and took him to a police station, where he was interrogated and beaten. The police confiscated his cell phone and warned him not to join other similar events. Protesters in Beijing hold up white pieces of paper to protest against censorship and Chinas strict zero-COVID measures on Nov. 27, 2022. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) Since then, the police have called him occasionally to have him report to them. I am really worried, he told The Epoch Times on March 24. Both his grandparents died at the end of 2022 during the pandemic. The thought of getting out of China has intensified following the lockdowns and the White Paper Movement. Hes been aware of the Internet blockade since 6th grade when family members guided him on bypassing the firewall to learn information outside China, he explained. Many of his online comments have been considered sensitive and inappropriate by the regime, and he has had his social media accounts blocked. A visit to the United States as a college student inspired him in his quest for freedom and democracy. He knew about an escape route through the Panamanian rainforest but hesitated due to the risks involved. But to start over in a strange place is all he could do, he said, if he wants to live in a free society. He is currently doing what he can to find a way out of China. Doctors Awakening Antao (pseudonym) is a doctor in the northeastern Liaoning Province. During the pandemic, his hospital was overrun with infected patients, he said on March 22, adding that many medical staff were also infected. Like other hospitals, they ran out of medicine, Antao said. The hospital even ran out of the most basic masks and alcohol, he said, blaming the shortages on the ruling communist regime. He had planned to flee China for the United States with a friend at the end of 2022, but his worry over his 80-year-old mother and her poor health had him stay. Now his friend is already working and leading a normal life in America. Life is worth nothing in China, he said, reflecting on what he saw during the three years of the pandemic. I will not give up on leaving China, he said. Hong Ning contributed to this report. PHILADELPHIAOn the evening of April 12, Shen Yun Performing Arts opened the first of its seven consecutive shows at the Miller Theater. Sitting in the sold-out audience was Delaware House minority leader Rep. Mike Ramone. State Rep. Ramone thoroughly enjoyed the show and thought the performance was an educational yet artistic experience. It was just excellent. It was very well thought out, he said. To see where we came fromthrough the history of Chinato where we ended at the end was just a great experience and a great education. While Rep. Ramone loved every aspect of Shen Yun, the directors bold use of colors made the biggest impression on him. The bright colors were very invigorating. Then, of course, seeing the dancing and tying that in with the musical instruments and the singingits all wrapped together. It was a very satisfying cultural experience. New York-based Shen Yun was founded in 2006 by leading Chinese artists who had fled persecution by the communist party. Their dream is to bring back the countrys 5,000 years of traditional culture that has been largely destroyed under decades of communist rule. In the 2023 touring season, Shen Yun performers will be traveling to over 180 cities across five continents to share with the world, through dance and music, the beauty of pre-communist China. However, for their focus on reviving traditional culture and bringing awareness to human rights issues in China, Shen Yun is banned by the communist regime from performing there. As a state representative, Rep. Ramone is familiar with his local Chinese community and makes frequent visits to Delawares Chinese American Cultural Center. Shen Yun furthered his understanding of Chinas history and culture. Watching the show go from era to era, and through the time cycle was very insightful, he said. It puts into orderfor those of us who maybe dont knowwhat happened when. It was very, very entertaining. Referring to the spiritual elements of Shen Yun, Rep. Ramone expressed that he absolutely believes there is one supreme being. Maybe we come from different perspectives, but if we look at all the different religionsthey all tie to that. There is one superior spirit that brought us here and we will all [go] back together, he said. I think that is extremely important to keep us all grounded. I listened to several statements about the atheist belief and some that gravitate away from the divine spiritthats concerning. [Shen Yun] helps them to rethink a little bit. Thats very good. Rep. Ramone also loved the positive energy of the performance. You cant miss it, he said. You feel it in your heart and in your chest. Its just very exciting and uplifting. In his personal life, Rep. Ramone enjoys watching the arts to help him internalize different cultures better. Shen Yun was definitely one of those experiences. Its extremely valuable. Shen Yun did a phenomenal job today. That was a packed house! Everybody was in there and nobody left. [The performers] definitely had our attention, he added. I just hope and pray that every single person that can get in [the theater] watches from now until the end of the tour because everybody who sees it will leave with a little something special. Thats very important. Pennsylvania State Rep. Mike Ramone (center) with his wife Lisa J.F. Ramone (left) and Shen Yun emcee John Perry (right) at the Miller Theater in Philadelphia on April 12, 2023. (NTD) After the performance, Rep. Ramone presented Shen Yuns emcee John Perry with a letter of support for Shen Yuns 2023 tour. Shen Yun expresses Chinas rich and traditional culture in a language everyone can understand and enjoy, the letter read. I applaud the commitment of Shen Yun Performing Arts to preserving Chinas early heritage and culture. I wish the artists continued success for many years to come. Reporting by NTD and Jennifer Tseng. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. FBI Agents Arrest Man in Connection to Classified Document Leak In this image taken from video, police block a road in North Dighton, Mass., on April 13, 2023. (Michelle R. Smith/AP Photo) FBI agents on April 13 arrested a man suspected of being involved in the leak of classified documents, officials said. Agents took Jack Teixeira, 21, into custody without incident, Attorney General Merrick Garland said in prepared remarks from the Department of Justice (DOJ) headquarters in Washington. Teixeira was arrested by agents at a home in North Dighton, Massachusetts, in connection with an investigation into alleged unauthorized removal, retention, and transmission of classified national defense information, Garland said. Aerial footage showed about half a dozen heavily armed and outfitted FBI agents arresting a man wearing red shorts and a T-shirt. An FBI spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an email that agents took Teixeira into custody. The FBI is continuing to conduct authorized law enforcement activity at the residence. Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads and todays arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our countrys trust and put our national security at risk, the spokesperson said. President Joe Biden had said earlier on April 13 that the government was getting close to finding the leaker or leakers after the DOJ started a full-blown investigation earlier in April. Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, couldnt be reached for comment, and it wasnt clear whether he had retained legal counsel. He is expected to make his first court appearance in federal court in Massachusetts. The Massachusetts National Guard didnt respond to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. The National Guard declined to comment. Jack Teixeira in a file image. (Instagram) Documents Secret Pentagon documents relating to the RussiaUkraine war were leaked earlier this year, appearing on platforms such as Discord, a messaging service popular with video game players. Among the documents were estimated numbers of Russian and Ukrainian casualties that conflict with official estimates, including a lower number of Russian deaths than portrayed in public. Another document showed that U.S. troops are in Ukraine. U.S. officials have confirmed some of the details, including acknowledging that there are troops there. But theyve warned against disseminating the information. John Kirby, National Security Council spokesperson, said the information is not intended for public consumption, and Vedant Patel, a State Department spokesperson, said the leaks present a risk to national security. Theyve also said that some of the materials appeared to be manipulated. Russian officials have said the leak could be part of a disinformation campaign. Given that the United States is a party to the conflict [in Ukraine] and is waging a hybrid war against us, its possible that such ploys may be used to mislead the Russian Federation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said recently. The documents were photographed, not scanned, analysts with Bellingcat said. The first images may have appeared in a Discord group called Thug Shaker Central. In addition to Discord, some were posted to Telegram and 4chan. Attorney General Merrick Garland, flanked by Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco (L) and FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, at the Department of Justice in Washington on April 13, 2023. (Evan Vucci/AP Photo) Pentagon spokesman Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder answers questions during a briefing at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., on March 16, 2023. (Win McNamee/Getty Images) Deliberate Criminal Act Defense Department spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder told reporters at the Pentagon, as the arrest was happening, that whoever leaked the documents was in violation of military rules. We have procedures, we have protocols in place, we receive regular training on the proper handling of classified information. We sign non-disclosure agreements. So those rules are very clear and anyone who has a security clearance knows that. Anyone who violates those rules is doing so willfully, he said. This was a deliberate criminal act to violate those guidelines and rules in the same way that if you locked your front door, and somebody came into your house and took something, you followed your procedures and you locked your door, but somebody went into your house and took something and put it out on the street. The military has been reviewing who receives classified information to try to make sure distribution lists include only people who need to know the information, officials said. They wouldnt say whether fewer people are receiving the information after the leak. Ryder said the military is working hard to look at the effect of the leaks. We continue to work around the clock along with the interagency and the intelligence community to better understand the scope, scale, and impact of these leaks, he said. Asked how a 21-year-old would have gained access to the documents, he said that many members have a lot of responsibility at a young age. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age, Ryder said. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat. London City Airport has become the first major airport in the UK to deploy next generation security scanners for all passengers, enabling travellers to pass through security without removing laptops and liquids from their hand luggage. Passengers flying from the central London airport for the Easter getaway will be the first in London to benefit from the new guidelines. They no longer have to restrict toiletries and liquids to 100ml bottles and can leave laptops, tablets and mobile phones in their bag, as they pass through streamlined security screening. Bottles with a capacity of 2 litres are also now permitted at London City Airport. The introduction follows successful trials last year and positive feedback from passengers. London City expects travel to continue to rebound this year and is preparing to welcome close to 4 million passengers in 2023. Commenting on the improvement the new technology will make, Alison FitzGerald, Chief Operating Officer, said: The new CT scanners will take our passenger experience to another level, reducing the stress and hassle of 100mL liquids in clear, plastic bags and having to unload your hand luggage. The new process delivers a much more efficient security operation with enhanced security screening. We are really confident that this investment will make the experience of travelling through London City even better for the business and leisure passengers using the airport, to quickly and easily get to our many domestic and international destinations. Aviation Minister Baroness Vere said: Were making sure that all major airports across the UK introduce a new generation of sophisticated security technology, and its great to see this being harnessed at London City Airport already. This will reduce queueing times, improve the passenger experience, and most importantly detect potential threats. Passengers travelling from other airports should continue to always check the necessary guidance on security procedures at those airports before travelling. The CT scanners, provided by Leidos, a FORTUNE 500 science and technology leader, will enhance security checkpoints and provide a better travel experience for passengers. As part of the Department for Transports next generation security checkpoint, all UK airports must upgrade to the new system by June 2024. The CT technology is already in use in some international hub airports such as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol and LaGuardia Airport in the US. The news comes as London City welcomed nearly 300,000 passengers during the month of March, with Amsterdam, Edinburgh and Zurich the busiest destinations from the central London hub. Since 2006, UK travellers had been required to restrict individual bottles to 100ml, fit all liquids into a single, clear plastic bag and remove all electronic items from their carry-on luggage. TradeArabia News Service The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has announced that banks operating in Egypt will be closed from Thursday to Tuesday, 20-25 April, to celebrate the blessed Eid Al-Fitr and Sinai Liberation Day. "On the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr and Sinai Liberation Day holidays, all banks operating in Egypt will be closed from Thursday to Tuesday, with work resuming on Wednesday, 26 April 2023," the CBE said in its statement issued on Thursday. Earlier this week, the Egyptian cabinet announced that employees will be given a paid holiday from 20 to 25 April on the occasion of Eid Al-Fitr and Sinai Liberation Day. Last week, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly announced that Monday 17 April is an official paid holiday to celebrate Sham El-Nessim. The CBE also announced last a week a 2-day bank holiday for Easter and Sham El-Nessim on Sunday and Monday, 16-17 April. Search Keywords: Short link: Feds Wont Pursue Charges in Death of US Tourist at Mexican Villa Prosecutors will not pursue federal charges in connection to the death of a 25-year-old American woman who died last year while vacationing with friends in Mexico, officials announced on Wednesday. In a statement released on April 12, the U.S. Attorneys Office revealed that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) met with the family of Shanquella Robinson to present the findings of the investigation into the North Carolina womans death. The FBI said they are unable to support a federal prosecution based on autopsy results and after reviewing all available investigative materials with attorneys from two districts in North Carolina. Robinson, an entrepreneur from Charlotte, was seen brutally beaten in a viral video last fall at a resort development in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico. As the video circulated on social media, it raised suspicions that Robinson may have been killed by her travel companions. Local prosecutors in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur filed charges late last year against another American woman, whom they would not name, suspected of killing Robinson in late October. They issued an arrest warrant for the suspect, but she had already left Mexico with other travel companions after Robinson was found dead in a rented villa. Since then, Mexican federal prosecutors are trying to get her extradited to face charges in Mexico. Autopsy Results Show Discrepancies An autopsy conducted by the medical examiners office in Mecklenburg Countywhich has not been released publiclyrevealed inconsistencies with a previous autopsy conducted in Mexico, attorneys for the victims family said in a joint statement. These discrepancies can be credited to the delay in investigation by U.S. officials, who conducted a second autopsy once Shanquellas body was embalmed, attorneys Ben Crump and Sue-Ann Robinson said. When an investigation is delayed, the hard evidence to support prosecution diminishes, but in this case, that is due to the U.S. not considering this case to be a high priority. According to the joint statement, citing Mexican prosecutors, one of Robinsons friends was the direct aggressor of her death. At first, Robinsons friends claimed that she died of alcohol poisoning, but autopsy results from Mexican authorities revealed several days after her death that the cause was severe spinal cord injury and atlas luxation. While it is discouraging for the loved ones of Shanquella that their own Department of Justice will not be pursuing charges against Shanquellas aggressor, it is our stance that justice is still possible for her death, the attorneys stated in the release. We hope that there is still a chance at justice in Mexico, they added. Mexican prosecutors have issued arrest warrants in this case and are willing to pursue charges. We strongly encourage The United States to move forward with the extradition of those responsible for her death to Mexico to face accountability there. Letter to Biden White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, meanwhile, addressed Robinsons death during a news conference in March after being asked about a letter (pdf) Crump sent to President Joe Biden requesting immediate diplomatic intervention from the U.S. government in the transnational criminal case. Our hearts go out to Ms. Robinsons family and friends, Jean-Pierre said. It is devastating what occurred. And certainly, the tragedy is just devastating. Weve been following the news here. But because theres an FBI investigation theres very little about what we can say. In Crumps March 13 letter, the attorney called on Biden and Secretary of State Antony Blinken to extradite one of Robinsons six travel companions, Dejahanae Jackson, who was allegedly seen in the viral clip brutally beating Robinson in the villa in Mexico. The Department of Justice noted on Wednesday that federal officials generally dont issue public statements in connection to the status of an investigation. However, given public concern, the department found it important to reassure the public that experienced federal agents have reviewed available evidence before concluding that no federal charges will be pursued in the case. The Department of Justice added that they will review and examine any new information that becomes available. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD News Fellow Democrats Call for Sen. Dianne Feinstein to Resign Amid Ongoing Health Issues Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) leaves the Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 20, 2021. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Democrats are calling on Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) to retire early after more than 30 years in the Senate due to concerns over the impacts of her lengthy absence as she battles ongoing health issues. Democratic Reps. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) and Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) took to Twitter on April 12 to call on the 89-year-old to step down, claiming that she is no longer able to fulfill her duties. Feinstein, who is recovering from shingles, had already announced in February that she would not seek reelection in 2024. Its time for @SenFeinstein to resign, Khanna wrote. 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. The California lawmaker elaborated on his calls for Feinstein to step down in a statement to NBC News, pointing to her key role on the Judiciary Committee and how her absence is delaying President Joe Bidens judicial nominations in the chamber. We have a crisis in the judiciary with extremist judges stripping away womens rights. You cant preach on television about the danger of these judges and then sit silently as Senator Feinstein misses vote after vote to confirm pro-choice judges, Khanna said. Its time for California officials who care deeply about reproductive rights to call on her to step down at this moment in history. Dereliction of Duty Separately, Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota wrote on Twitter, I agree with @RoKhanna. Senator Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But 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. Feinstein was first elected to the Senate in 1992 and is the longest-serving senator in the history of her state, the longest-serving female senator in U.S. history, and the oldest sitting member of the Senate. However, she has not cast a vote in the Senate since mid-February after being diagnosed with shingles, a viral infection that triggers a painful rash and blisters on one side of the body. Shingles are not life-threatening and most people usually recover within two to four weeks, although elderly people with compromised immune systems are more at risk of serious complications, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Feinstein Fires Back In a statement at the time of her diagnosis, Feinstein had said she was receiving treatment in San Francisco and expected to fully recover and return to the Senate within a month but is yet to return. Responding to the calls from Reps. Khanna and Phillips on Wednesday for her to retire early, Feinstein released a statement assuring that she plans to return to her duties in the Capitol as soon as possible. However, she stopped short of providing a specific date. When I was first diagnosed with shingles, I expected to return by the end of the March work period. Unfortunately, my return to Washington has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis, the California Democrat said in a statement. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco, she continued. The lawmaker also acknowledged that her absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee and said she had asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary panel until she is able to resume her committee work. A spokesperson for Schumer said in a statement Wednesday night that per Feinsteins wishes, the New York Democrat will ask the Senate next week to allow another Democratic Senator to temporarily serve on the Judiciary Committee. Florida Lawmakers Unanimously Advance Bill Seeking Death Penalty for Pedophiles A new Florida bill allowing capital punishment for those committing sexual battery on children under 12 cleared the states rules committee this week and is now heading to the full Senate. Senate Bill 1342 (pdf), a bipartisan effort by Sen. Lauren Book (D-Fla.) and Sen. Jonathan Martin (R-Fla.), cleared the Florida Senate Rules Committee on Tuesday by unanimous vote, and the state House committee is scheduled on Thursday to consider its version of the measureHouse Bill 1297 (pdf). The proposal stipulates that defendants 18 or older could only be sentenced to death based on the recommendations of at least eight of 12 jurors. If fewer than eight jurors recommend the death penalty, defendants shall be sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole. It also requires the jury to prove, beyond a reasonable doubt, the existence of at least two aggravating factors to the crime, which must be voted unanimously. Aggravating factors include whether the perpetrator was a repeat offender, a designated sexual predator, used a firearm in the act, knowingly created the risk of death, or committed the capital felony on a victim particularly vulnerable due to age or disability. The bill states that an individual committing sexual battery upon a young child destroys the innocence of this child and violates all standards of decency held by civilized society. Book, who was sexually abused as a child, said in a speech during Tuesdays committee hearing that she suffers daily from the trauma she faced decades ago, FOX 4 reported. There is no statute of limitations that a victim suffers, Book said. This is a life sentence that is handed down to young children. Were talking about the youngest of the young in this bill. I was one of those kids. Aaron Wayt, also a survivor of child sexual assault, spoke out against the bill, saying: Courtrooms must be a place for justice and not vengeance. Constitutional Fight If signed, the new law would directly challenge Kennedy v. Louisiana, the Supreme Courts landmark decision that has, for more than a decade, prohibited child rapists from being eligible for the death penalty. In 2008, the nations highest court ruled by a 5-4 vote that the death penalty for raping a child violated the constitutional ban on cruel and unusual punishment. Then-presidential candidates from both parties quickly denounced the ruling. Sen. Barack Obama, a Democrat, said its wrong to prohibit a states ability to carry out the death penalty in child rape cases. At the same time, the former presidents then Republican-challenger, Sen. John McCain, called the ruling an assault on the legal system and law enforcements efforts to punish these heinous felons for the most despicable crime. Despite the Supreme Courts landmark ruling, no felon has been executed in the United States for non-homicidal rape since 1964. Meanwhile, sponsors of Senate Bill 1342 have argued that the ruling was wrongly decided and such cases represent an egregious infringement of the states power to punish the most heinous of crimes, the bill states. Ultimately, if you look at the courts makeup from 2008, it has changed significantly, Martin said, according to Tampa Bay Times. I think the current makeup of the U.S. Supreme Court believes that states should have more of a say in decisions like criminal justice that were originally left to the states under the U.S. Constitution. Gov. Ron DeSantis, a potential 2024 presidential candidate, previously signaled support for the measure and is thus expected to sign it if passed. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis waves as he speaks to police officers about protecting law and order in the Staten Island borough of New York City on Feb. 20, 2023. (Spencer Platt/Getty Images) In January, the Republican governor said during a news conference in Miami that child rapists will do whatever they can to satiate themselves at the expense of very, very, vulnerable people, noting he disagrees with the Supreme Courts decision. The problem with [the ruling] is, you have some of these sex predators that will abuse these very, very young children, DeSantis said. And Im just thinking to myself, youre ruining those kids lives; these are innocent kids, sometimes like six-seven-or eight-year-old kids. And so, we believe that that precedent was wrong. I believe the only appropriate punishment that would be commensurate to that would be capital [punishment], he added. We understand that itll be challenged, but I think its right to be, for us to challenge a decision that wasnt well thought out, was very narrowly decided, and I dont think would be upheld when youre talking about some of the worst of the worst [non-homicidal rape cases]. The U.S. Supreme Court wasnt immediately available to comment on the matter. From NTD News Ford Hints That Science Centre May Move to Ontario Place Ontario Premier Doug Ford hinted Thursday that the province may soon announce plans to move the Ontario Science Centre to Ontario Place. Ontario Places redevelopment has been the subject of much debate, particularly among Torontos mayoral candidates. Some have criticized plans to build a spa there. Other plans for the space include a waterpark and outdoor concert venue. When it comes to the Science Centre [moving to Ontario Place], that came on the table probably a year ago and I personally think its a great idea, he told reporters in Waterloo on Thursday. He suggested Infrastructure Minister Kinga Surma might announce such a plan next week. If I told you now, my minister of infrastructure would shoot me on the spot. So can you stay tuned till next week, but I think its a fabulous idea and theres a tremendous opportunity, Ford said. So I justI think you know where were going on that, he said. The Science Centre really needs to be revamped, he said. If the Science Centre does move, Ford said, housing might be a good option for repurposing the land at the centres current site, at Don Mills and Eglinton. Theres a lot of high-rises, density around that whole area, he said. I think theres a tremendous opportunity to create some attainable homes and affordable, non-profit homes in that region if we decide to go down that route. European company Therme Group is set to build the spa and waterpark, and Live Nation is set to build the outdoor concert venue. Ontario Place first opened in 1971, but was closed to the public in 2012 after years of financial losses. The Canadian Press contributed to this report. GOP-Controlled Arizona House Expels Republican Rep. Liz Harris The desk used by Arizona Republican Rep. Liz Harris at the state Capitol in Phoenix stands empty moments after she was expelled from the Legislature on April 12, 2023. (Jonathan J. Cooper/AP Photo) The GOP-controlled Arizona House of Representatives expelled freshman Republican state Rep. Liz Harris in a bipartisan vote on Wednesday. Harris was expelled by a majority of her fellow Republicans and all Democrats for disorderly behavior after inviting a speaker to a committee hearing who made unsubstantiated allegations of drug cartel bribery and election rigging against a number of elected officials, judges, and others. The House 4613 vote included 18 out of 31 Republicans and all 28 Democrats. According to an ethics committee report, Harris was aware that the person she invited to the legislative hearing in February would make accusations of criminal activity against her colleagues. The report also stated that she tried to conceal this information from House leaders beforehand and provided misleading information during the committees investigation into her actions. House Speaker Ben Toma, a Peoria Republican, introduced the resolution calling for Harriss expulsion. The resolution alleged that she had violated her obligation to protect the integrity of the House and undermined the publics trust in the institution. This comes down to the integrity, in my opinion, of this institution and us as leaders, said state Rep. David Livingston, a Republican who voted to expel Harris. This is not personal. Harris had only been in office for three months, having been elected in 2022. She is now the fifth member of the Arizona Legislature to be expelled. Harriss precinct will now have five days to nominate three GOP candidates to fill the vacant seat. The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will then choose which candidate will fill the rest of Harriss two-year term. The empty seat means Republicans have lost the one-vote majority they had in the House and will no longer have the 31 votes needed to pass legislation on a party-line vote. The Allegations Harris faced the expulsion vote after she invited Jacqueline Breger, an insurance agent from Scottsdale, to speak at a joint elections committee hearing in February. Breger accused several high-level elected officials and other individuals and groups of being part of a scheme involving Mexican drug cartels, money laundering, fake housing deeds, and election fraud. She provided no evidence to support her claims, which were widely condemned. Breger pointed a finger at Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, legislators, the mayor of Mesa, judges, and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Harris claimed she was unaware of Bregers accusations, while an ethics committee report found that she knew ahead of time. State Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton, a Tucson Democrat, filed the complaint with the House Ethics Committee, which ultimately found that Harris had violated the chambers rules and left it up to the House to determine disciplinary action. I Stand for Honesty and Integrity Immediately after the vote, Harris addressed reporters questions as she carried boxes to her Tesla with the help of a handful of supporters. I stand for honesty and integrity, Harris said. The report is a lie. With respect to having a majority of the House Republicans voting to expel her, Harris said it was an example of how you need to toe the line. You need to toe the line. If you dont toe the line, this is what happens, she added. When asked if she was upset or emotional about the vote, Harris, who appeared calm and collected, responded, Am I crying? Once again, I stand with the truth and I stand with integrity, she added before moving to get into her car. As a final thought, she pointed to the Arizona State Capitol building and said, This is the peoples house. Harriss expulsion comes soon after state lawmakers in Tennessee voted to expel two out of three Democrats for participating in a protest on the House floor. Their actions were a breach of decorum. Both expelled lawmakers were voted back into their seats by their districts per Tennessee law. The expulsion of Tennessee lawmakers was a similarly rare occurrence, having only happened twice since the Civil War. How a Strike by Federal Public Service Workers Could Impact Canadians The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) headquarters Connaught Building is pictured in Ottawa on Aug. 17, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Sean Kilpatrick) A strike by the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)a union representing more than 120,000 federal public servants across the countrycould impact federal services for veterans, indigenous people, immigrants, and those looking to get passports and tax returns. The government of Canada has released details on how a potential strike among the five bargaining groups of the PSAC would affect millions of Canadians. Canada Revenue Agency The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) said in the event of a labour disruption, certain services may be delayed or unavailable. The agency said there could be delays in processing some income tax and benefit returnsparticularly those filed by paperas well as increased wait times in its contact centres. The CRA said benefit payments for Canadians would be prioritized, and the Canada Child Benefit would continue during a strike. It encouraged Canadians to file their taxes, as soon as possible. The CRA is committed to being transparent with Canadians about impacts to services, should they happen, the agency said in a March 31 statement. Employment and Social Development Canada Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) said that in the event of a strike, certain services could be impacted. It said essential services would be maintained in the event of a strike, such as the Canada Pension Plan, Old Age Security, Employment Insurance and Social Insurance Numbers. While we expect there may be some delays in processing and increased wait times in call centres, Service Canada would work to meet service standards and answer client enquiries and calls in a timely manner, ESDC said in an April 12 statement. ESDC added that in-person services at Service Canada Centres would be limited to Canadians needing assistance with Employment Insurance, Canada Pension Plan, Social Insurance Numbers, Old Age Security, and the Guaranteed Income Supplement. While its offices would remain open, ESDC says days and hours of operation may vary. Programs that may be interrupted include grants and contributions, temporary foreign worker programs, the Canada education savings grant, the Canada learning bond, the Canada Disability Savings Grant, the Canada Disability Savings Bond, and the Canada Job Bank. The Passport Program would also be impacted in the event of a labour disruption, with ESDC stating the delivery of passports would be limited to clients experiencing humanitarian or emergency situations. Veterans Affairs The government has stated that in the event of a strike, any established or periodic payments made to veterans would continue uninterrupted, such as for disability benefits, income replacement benefits, and any additional compensation for pain and suffering. But it said will have a significantly reduced capacity to process new payments. Delays in appointments for in-person services in regional offices are also possible, with in-person services in smaller regional offices being interrupted, Veterans Affairs said. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said in the event of a strike, some services will still be available. It said Canadians will be able to apply online, use their online accounts, and access some emergency services. But IRCC said Canadians should expect delays with processing applications, in-person appointments, citizenship ceremonies, contacting the IRCC via email, phone, or social media, consular citizenship, and passport services. Royal Canadian Mounted Police While the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said it will continue delivering regular police services across the country during a potential strike, it warned that some services may be disrupted. It said that services such as administrative support, media relations, web updates, and public access to buildings where the RCMP is located may be disrupted. We may not be able to answer questions from the public or media in a timely manner. It should be noted however that essential services necessary for the safety and security of the public will continue as usual, the RCMP said in an April 3 statement. Transport Canada Transport Canada (TC) said the safety and security of Canadas transportation system and travellers are paramount. It said while essential services would be maintained during labour disruptions, there may be impacts, such as delays in accessing points of service. Services that would be maintained include TC centres and airports; security oversight for civil aviation, rail safety and security, and transportation of dangerous goods; national enforcement program; motor vehicle safety general information email, and motor vehicle safety online defect complaint form and posting of new safety recalls. Services that may be partially or fully disrupted include public outreach, regulatory work, aircraft services, the issuance of licenses, certificates, and registrations, motor vehicle safety defect complaints and recalls hotline, transportation security clearances, and the 1-888 service for ordering TC publications and forms. As we learn more about a possible labour disruption, we will continue to update this page to tell you how services may be impacted, TC said in a statement on April 4. Canada Border Services Agency The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) said that in the event of a strike, it is expected that CBSA services to travellers and businesses will be maintained. CBSA said in a statement on April 5 that it would provide more information in the event of any possible labour disruptions. Agriculture and AgriFood Canada In the event of a strike, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada said several programs and services may be impacted. These include AgriInvest, AgriStability, the Poultry and Egg On-Farm Investment Program, the Wine Sector Support Program, the vYouth Employment and Skills Program, and Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership. Public Health Agency of Canada The Public Health Agency of Canada said it will maintain all essential services that could affect the safety, security, and health of Canadians and other clients. Non-essential services could be affected by labour disruptions, such as delays in processing requests or response times to telephone and email enquiries, the agency said on April 11. Irvine to Purchase Asphalt Plant for $285 Million The roadway to the entry of All American Asphalt in Irvine, Calif., on Dec. 9, 2020. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The Irvine City Council voted unanimously April 11 to purchase the controversial All American Asphalt plant for $285 million. Nearby residents have been complaining to the city for years of terrible odors coming from the plant as well as potentially harmful pollutants in the air. Because of this, the city filed a public nuisance lawsuit against the plant in 2020, which will be settled with the conclusion of the land sale. The plant will now close in mid-November and the citys purchase is expected to be complete on Feb. 1, 2024, paving the way for most of the property to be preservedit will be called Gateway Preserveand more than 70 acres to be developed for housing. The closure of the All American Asphalt plant and the restoration of the site to its natural state will greatly enhance the quality of life for residents, Councilman Larry Agran, a member of the All American Asphalt city council subcommittee, said in a statement. The approximately 700-acre preserve will consist of 300-acres of existing city-owned land, the 11-acres originally belonging to the asphalt plant, and another 375-acres transferred to the city from the Irvine Company. The creation of the Gateway Preserve is an incredible testament to what the city, in partnership with the community, can accomplish when goals and visions align, Mayor Farrah Khan said in a statement. This monumental agreement is a remarkable achievement for our community and residents of North Irvine. The development at the site at the northeast corner of Jeffrey Road and Portola Parkway will include 400 to 450 single-family homes as part of the masterplan development for the North Irvine area. The city will pay in three non-refundable deposits: $28.5 million on June 15, $228 million within five days of the plant ceasing production mid-November, and $28.5 million on February 1, 2024, the day before the close of escrow on the property. Wellington City Councillor Ray Chung attended Shen Yun Performing Arts at St. James Theatre in Wellington, New Zealand, on April 13, 2023. (NTD) WELLINGTON, New ZealandWellington City Councillor Ray Chung had very high expectations of the New York-based Shen Yun Performing Arts when he attended the show at St. James Theatre on April 13. Absolutely fantastic. Ive never seen a show like this and Ive [been] travelling around Asia for 20 years, Cr. Chung said. Cr. Chung attended the opening performance of Shen Yuns 10-day tour of New Zealand. The St. James Theatre had been undergoing earthquake-strengthening renovations for nearly four years and Wellingtonians are now able to enjoy the worlds premier classical Chinese dance and music performance once again. Shen Yun will be playing to sold-out audiences at all five performances in Wellington. Cr. Chung said he admired the story-based dances. I liked the scenes where the soldiers came out of the screen and jumped out of the screen and flew down from the sky. Just amazing and I really liked the dance with the ladies with the long sleeves, he said. Shen Yun has patented 3D digital technology which creates seamless interaction between projection and the performers on stage says the Shen Yun website. Theatergoers feel that they are actually part of the action. At each performance, the audience is treated to classical, folk, and ethnic dancing. The dances bring to life 5,000 years of Chinese culture: colorful dynasties, popular and witty folk stories, comedies, and tales containing moral teachings. Ive just never seen such skillful dancing before. Theyre all so talented, Cr. Chung said. Shen Yun means the beauty of divine beings dancing. Ancient Chinese believed that their culture was divinely inspired and that artists looked to the heavens for divine inspiration. Mr. Chung thoroughly enjoyed Shen Yuns orchestra, which is the first in the world to blend the distinct sounds of traditional Chinese instruments with classical European instruments. I really enjoyed it, having a live orchestra there makes all the difference. Very, very authentic, Cr. Chung said. Shen Yuns mission is to portray Chinas true traditional culture that existed in the pre-communist era, a mission that Cr. Chung believes is very important. I had a meeting this morning with our arts and cultural people [in the Wellington City Council] and they were talking about the need to have arts. Arts is very, very important to get the different cultures in, and so Im going to certainly recommend they come and see the show, Cr. Chung said. Shen Yun has eight companies that tour the world simultaneously, but Mr. Chung was appalled to hear that they are forbidden to perform in China. I think thats terrible. I think that to actually ban performances like this is just really shocking, terrible, Cr. Chung said. The virtuosity of the Shen Yun performers left Cr. Chung brimming with praise. Theyre so talented, just please carry on, just please go on developing these shows and having many shows. Im just so impressed. Reporting by NTD and Diane Rowe. The Epoch Times is a proud sponsor of Shen Yun Performing Arts. We have covered audience reactions since Shen Yuns inception in 2006. Lawsuit Filed Against Wisconsin Hospital, Family Alleges COVID Treatment Protocols Resulted in Daughters Death Scott Schara has filed a lawsuit against a Wisconsin hospital alleging that its physicians implemented COVID treatment protocols that led to the death of his 19-year-old daughter, Grace, on Oct. 13, 2021. Schara told The Epoch Times that its his hope that the lawsuit (pdf) will pave the way for thousands of other hospital victims families to file similar claims. This is not a case about financial repercussions, Schara said. It is a case about shining light on a subject hidden from the American people. It is about stopping the behaviors of medical staff that result in needless, premature deaths. Grace, who had Down syndrome, was admitted to Ascensions St. Elizabeth Hospital campus in Appleton, Wisconsin, for COVID treatment. Schara, who told the story of Graces death in a previous Epoch Times report, said that Grace had been administered three drugsa maximum dose of the sedative Precedex; Ativan, an anxiety medication; and morphinethat caused her to go into acute respiratory failure. Because a physician had classified Grace as Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) without the familys consent and in defiance of the Schara familys express wishes that all lifesaving measures be deployed for their daughter, the lawsuit states staff refused to save Grace as her parents watched her die on FaceTime. The lawsuit claims wrongful death, medical negligence, medical battery, and negligent infliction of emotional distress. In addition, the lawsuit asks for declaratory judgment regarding the illegal DNR, and it requests a jury trial. The actions which took place and led to this litigation occurred in midst of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, Grace did not die from COVID-19 and did not have COVID-19 when she died, the lawsuit states. She died because she was given end of life comfort-care while in recovery. This unauthorized palliative care consisted of strong sedatives that eventually caused Graces respiratory and heart rates to crash. Death Protocols Scharas story resembled that of many others who spoke of what they called death protocols, or COVID-19 treatment protocols that they alleged resulted in the death of their loved ones. These protocols reaped high financial incentives from the federal government through the $2.2 trillion Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) and the $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan Acts, which facilitated a 20 percent increase in reimbursements for hospitals that used late-treatment instead of early-treatment protocols that in many cases ended in death. In a Texas Senate Committee on Health and Human Services in June 2022, Texas state Sen. Bob Hall alluded to stories when he said, Never before have we seen the government step between the patient and the doctor and usurp that doctors right to exercise their conscience, their training, and what they know that patient needed. Hall said its something we need to get to the bottom of so that it doesnt become the norm because the treatment isnt only unhelpful but also causing harm. The TN Liberty Network (TLN), an independent think tank, charted the financial incentives TLN said are driving the protocols. According to its report (pdf), hospitals are incentivized to vaccinate, test, diagnose, and admit COVID patients and report COVID-related deaths using add-on bonuses to push treatments such as remdesivir, dialysis, ventilators, and new covered countermeasures approved for COVID. Nurses such as Stacy Kay reported witnessing stories like Graces that left her waking up in the middle of the night in a cold sweat with chest pains. In an August 2022 interview with The Epoch Times, she said she, too, had seen people die with their family watching via iPad on FaceTime. I hated my job, she said. I hated going to work. I was stressed in a way Ive never been before in my entire life. Since Graces death, Schara has brought attention to his daughters death through rallies, media interviews, and even a billboard campaign. His most recent project is a podcast he hosts called Deprogramming with Graces Dad in which he shares his own research and interviews people such as author and documentarian Sean StoneAcademy Award-winning director Oliver Stones sonas well as health care workers who have encountered medical corruption. The Schara familys billboard campaign, 2022. (Courtesy of Scott Schara) A Drug Combination None of Us Would Have Survived The lawsuit provides a detailed narrative of the circumstances surrounding the physicians decisions and why its alleged they were ridden with malfeasance. St. Elizabeths not only breached the Standard of Care, but their unethical behavior led directly to Graces death, Schara said. Its clear to me that this hospital was a dangerous place for Down syndrome patients like my daughter. My Grace was discriminated against due to her disability and she received grossly subpar healthcare, in clear violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. In March, the Schara family and their attorney Joe Voiland gave a press conference across the street from St. Elizabeths Hospital announcing the lawsuits filing. Voiland argued that, overall, physicians named in the lawsuit never gave the Schara family informed consent. There was a Do Not Resuscitate order placed on Grace without the familys consent, and thats why she is no longer here with us, and thats why were going to be pursuing legal action starting today, Voiland said. Jessica Vander Heiden, Graces sister who was with Grace when she died, also spoke at the press conference, stating that her sister was given a drug combination that none of us would have survived. Vander Heiden called for justice not only for Grace but also for others who have lost loved ones at the hands of medical tyranny. These crimes against humanity must stop, she said. They need to be held accountable for their actions. Schara said the lawsuit is the first of its kind. So far, no one in the entire United States has been held accountable for this, so this is a landmark case, Schara said. Thats why were individually listing the doctors and nurses because the hospital didnt do this. People made choices, and those people have to be held to account. When those people are held to account, then other people across the nation will see the same thing, and they will be held to account. The Epoch Times contacted Ascension for a statement on the lawsuit. Leaked Pentagon Documents Could Endanger Lives of UK Special Forces: Ellwood Defence Committee Chair Tobias Ellwood speaking to the media on College Green outside the Houses of Parlliament, London, on July 7, 2022. (Dominic Lipinski/PA Media) The chairman of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee has warned the leaking of classified Pentagon documents that detail the involvement of UK special forces in Ukraine could endanger lives. The top secret files first appeared on the Discord social media app last month. Media outlets including the BBC and The Guardian reported one of the documents suggests up to 50 UK special forces personnel have been deployed to Ukraine to serve alongside U.S. and other Western special forces troops. The documents claim there were 14 U.S. special forces personnel in Ukraine and on Wednesday the White House confirmed they were there to provide support to the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv and assist with logistics. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby told Fox News: There is a small U.S. military presence at the embassy in conjunction with the defense attaches office, to help us work on accountability of the materiel that is going into and out of Ukraine. So theyre attached to that embassy and that defense attache. Kirby added: They are not fighting on the battlefield. We are not enabling support on the battlefield. There has been no change to the presidents mandate that there will not be American troops in Ukraine fighting in this war. The supposedly leaked documents did not say where the UK special forces troops were deployed and Britains Ministry of Defence has warned against taking information in the allegedly leaked documents at face value. Large-Scale Disclosure of Sensitive Material But Tobias Ellwood, an MP and chairman of the Defence Committee, told The Times of London, Given our long-established lead in scale and capability when it comes to elite forces, it will come as no surprise that our special forces are doing much of the heavy lifting. But this deliberate, large-scale disclosure of sensitive material could easily endanger lives and should prompt an urgent review about who has access to sensitive information and how it is shared, he added. Labour MP Dan Jarvis, a former Parachute Regiment commander who served in Afghanistan, said special forces operations were often by necessity shrouded with secrecy. Jarvis, a former major with 1 Para, which formed the bulk of the Special Forces Support Group, told The Times of London: Any compromise of secret material regarding their deployment or numerical strength is not only politically embarrassing but also militarily disadvantageous. It risks jeopardising the security and effectiveness of those operations and could put lives at risk. A Ministry of Defence spokesperson wrote on Twitter on Wednesday: 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. Asked on Monday if the U.S. government feared more intelligence documents might turn up online, Kirby said: The truth and the honest answer to your question is, we dont know. And is that a matter of concern to us? Youre darn right it is. As for who is behind the leak, Kirby said the U.S. Justice Department had begun a criminal investigation into the incident. We dont know who did this. We dont know for what reason. And we dont know what else this individual or individuals might have or might release, Kirby added. Chris Meagher, a Pentagon spokesman, said it appeared some of the slides in the documents had been doctored and he urged people to be cautious about, promoting or amplifying any of these documents. The documents first appeared on Discord when an unidentified poster shared them and posted their own thoughts. The posts went unnoticed until The New York Times drew attention to them last week. Echoes of WikiLeaks Disclosures The most infamous example of leaked files that endangered U.S. national security and those of other nations was the publication in 2010 by WikiLeaks of thousands of diplomatic cables which had been leaked by Bradley Manning, a U.S. Army soldier. Manning, who later self-identified as a woman and is now known as Chelsea Manning, was convicted in 2013 of leaking more than 700,000 government documents and was sentenced to 35 years in jail after a court martial. U.S. Army Private First Class Bradley Manning is escorted by military police as he leaves his military trial after he was found guilty of 20 out of 21 charges, at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, on July 30, 2013. (Mark Wilson/Getty Images) The conviction was the longest regarding a leak of government files for the purpose of leaking them to the public in U.S. history. In January 2017, shortly before he left the White House, U.S. President Barack Obama commuted Mannings sentence and he was released four months later. The founder of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, was arrested in London in February 2019 after spending seven years in hiding in the Ecuadorean Embassy. He was charged with conspiring with Manning to gain access to the Pentagon network and receiving and unlawfully publishing the names of classified sources. Assange, an Australian citizen, faces up to 175 years behind bars if convicted. In January 2022 the High Court in London ruled Assange could be extradited to the United States but that has since been appealed. Last week a number of British and Australian politicians wrote to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland asking him to drop the extradition request. PA Media contributed to this report. Riad Salameh is part of a political class widely blamed for Lebanon's unprecedented economic crisis that the World Bank says is of a scale usually associated with wars. He is the target of a series of judicial investigations both at home and abroad on suspicion of fraud, money laundering and illicit enrichment, among other allegations, including in France where he has been summoned for a hearing on May 16. "Judge Ghada Aoun will lift the travel ban on Riad Salameh tomorrow," the first judicial official told AFP, requesting anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media. Aoun slapped Salameh with the ban in January last year after an activist group filed a lawsuit against the central bank chief, alleging financial misconduct. A second judicial official, also requesting anonymity, confirmed the restrictions would be lifted on Thursday. "He will have no excuse not to go to France" for the hearing, the second official added. France, Germany and Luxembourg in March last year seized assets worth 120 million euros ($130 million) in a move linked to a probe by French investigators into 72-year-old Salameh's personal wealth. Salameh, who denies wrongdoing, is also being investigated by Lebanese authorities on suspicion of financial misconduct including possible embezzlement, money laundering and tax evasion. Lebanon opened its own probe into Salameh's wealth in 2021, after the office of Switzerland's top prosecutor requested assistance with an investigation into more than $300 million allegedly embezzled out of the central bank with the help of his brother Raja. Both Salameh brothers have repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. A source close to the French investigation said Raja, Salameh's former assistant Marianne Hoayek and his son Nady Salameh were mentioned as potential accomplices but have not been charged with a crime. A French judge is also investigating Marwan Kheireddine, head of Al-Mawarid Bank, which is suspected of having bypassed proper checks on Salameh's accounts, the source said. Kheireddine is being probed for potential financial crimes including criminal association with the aim of embezzling public funds, aggravated breach of trust and corrupting a civil servant, according to the source. Leftist Co-Host Apologizes For Spreading Claims Against Ron DeSantis: I Screwed Up Royally Ana Kasparian, co-host of The Young Turks, apologized to her audience for providing air time to a Democratic activist and critic of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis COVID-19 policies. The only person that should be held responsible for that is me. Im the executive producer of the show and I screwed up royally, Kasparian said via the Young Turks YouTube channel, referring to her prior coverage of former Florida health official Rebekah Jones, who had made a number of accusations against the Republican governor. I want to correct all of those errors that we had previously reported, Kasparian said overnight Tuesday, referring to claims that Jones made. And I want to be clear that out of everyone who works on the main show, the only person who should be held responsible for that is me. Im the executive producer of the show and I screwed up royally, and part of the reason why I screwed up is because I had all these biases, of course, against Ron DeSantis. And I dont really feel bad about that because I think Ron DeSantis has done some pretty terrible things in the state of Florida, but it becomes a problem when that bias blinds you to what the facts of various stories happen to be. Kasparian added: I should have done my due diligence, I failed to do so, and by failing to do so, I feel like I misled the audience into thinking that Rebekah Jones is some sort of hero. The left-leaning pundit also expressed concerns that some of her audience may have donated to Jones due to its coverage of her claims. Through a number of online fundraisers, Jones has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars. In response to Kasparians statement on YouTube, Jones told The Epoch Times Wednesday that she is going to do a total debunk of that shameful piece today and tomorrow, actually. She added: I expect another retraction in the coming week. Im surprised TYT would allow a reporter to engage in spreading defamatory disinformation. Jones was charged with illegally accessing state computers after she publicly accused officials of wanting to make COVID-19 statistics look less dire and has reached an agreement with prosecutors that should result in the case being dropped. Investigators say that in late 2020, months after she was fired, Jones illegally accessed a state emergency-alert messaging system known as ReadyOp. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement said Jones downloaded and saved confidential data and sent a message to 1,750 state employees regarding the number of Floridians who had died of COVID-19 by that point, according to The Associated Press. She also accused DeSantis of firing her for refusing to falsify case numbers, although a state inspector general report released months ago found no evidence of wrongdoing on behalf of the Florida Department of Health. Rebekah Jones during an interview with CNN on June 24. (Courtesy of CNN) And last year, Jones signed a plea deal admitting guilt and she agreed to pay $20,000 for a pending criminal case. She was accused of accessing a state health department computer system without authorization. However, Jones said via her YouTube channel at the time that there was no guilty plea. There was no plea of any kind because it was a dismissal. The case is being dropped. Later, she said she signed the agreement because she wants to go back to school for her Ph.D. The Young Turks, described as a left-wing or progressive news commentary show on YouTube, wasnt the only news outlet to feature claims made by Jones. A number of corporate media outlets covered claims she made against DeSantis in 2020, making a number of appearances on CNN programs. But Kasparian stated this week that she regretted elevating Joness claims and wanted to avoid helping someone who might be a grifter from fundraising off of our own audience members. Jones ran for Congress last year as a Democrat in a bid to unseat Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in his heavily Republican Northwest Florida district. Gaetz handily won reelection with 68 percent of the vote. Maine Substitute Teacher Arrested for Alleged Sexual Abuse of 15-Year-Old A school bus rolls down the street in Gainesville, Fla., after school on Jan. 23, 2023. (Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times) Police have arrested a female substitute teacher at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish, Maine, for the alleged sexual abuse of a 15-year-old boy. Kiera McGlinn, a substitute teacher at Bonny Eagle High School in Standish, Maine, was arrested for sexual abuse of a child. (Cumberland County Sheriffs Office) The 42-year-old teacher, Kiera McGlinn, was charged with sexual abuse of a minor and tampering with a witness or victim, according to a written statement from the Cumberland County Sheriffs Office (CCSO). McGlinn was accused of having a sexual relationship with the boy, said to be a friend of her family members. During the investigation, she contacted him and asked him to lie about it, according to the CCSO report. McGlinn, of Standish, turned herself in and was released after posting $2,500 on bail, according to the report. Because shes more than 10 years older than the boy, it elevates the crime to a Class C felony, punishable by up to five years in prison and $5,000 in fines. The alleged abuse did not take place on school property, and her role as a teacher didnt serve to facilitate the crime, according to the CCSO report. The victim was a family friend, according to the report. No other victims have been identified. And the sheriffs office praised the school district and each juvenile and their parents for their courage to report this incident and speak with investigators. Sexualized at School But school libraries that offer overtly sexual materials to children may pave the way to sexual abuse, said Julie Anderson, a school board member in the states School Administrative District No. 6. And many Maine school libraries are full of such books, parents have told The Epoch Times. Andersons school board supervises Bonny Eagle High School and other local schools. I feel like providing these types of hyper-sexualized books to minors breaks their defenses down, Anderson told The Epoch Times. They have access to obscene, hypersexualized, graphic books in the library, learning about topics that parents should be required to give consent to if their children are going to read them. Groups including the American Library Association, the Human Rights Campaign, and the American Civil Liberties Union have fought against community members demands to remove the books from school libraries. Advocates of books on LGBT topics and other sexual issues say children must feel represented to learn and say efforts to restrict access to such materials are book bans. In protest of a recent push to remove overtly sexual books from public school classrooms and school libraries, a child holds a sign that reads Ban Guns Not Books at the Florida Capitol in Tallahassee on March 13, 2023. (Dan M. Berger/The Epoch Times) Children have experienced sexual abuse will feel represented when they see stories of child sexual abuse, some have said. And having LGBT books help created a safe space for children who identify as LGBT. The efforts arguing to keep the books in school libraries have been successful. In the fall, the school board in School Administrative District No. 6 voted 10-1 against removing Its Perfectly Normal, by Robie Harris and Michael Emberley, from a middle-school library. Anderson was the only school board member voting for removal, she said. The book includes sex advice, illustrations of couples having sex, and an introduction to homosexuality and transgenderism. In Andersons eyes, thats dangerous, and could potentially groom children. Grooming is a process sexual abusers use to manipulate children into sex, often taking small steps to desensitize children to sexual behavior, according to the sexual abuse prevention group the Rape, Abuse, and Incest National Network (RAINN). Part of grooming can include introducing children to sexual topics, the group says. With highly sexual books and curriculum available at Bonny Eagle High School and Bonny Eagle Middle School, students may already feel comfortable discussing sexually explicit subjects with teachers, Anderson said. Predators might use this material to bring up sex to kids, she noted. I think it just all plays a part, she said. In Andersons district, the middle-school library includes the book, Like a Love Story, by Abdi Nazemian. The book includes graphic descriptions of homosexual sex, according to BookLooks, a watchdog website for sexually explicit texts. Julie Anderson, a school board member for Maine School Administrative District No. 6. (Courtesy of Julie Anderson) It also includes Push, by Sapphire; Gender Queer, by Maia Kobabe; The Freedom Writers Diary, by the Freedom Writers with Erin Gruwell; Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West, by Gregory Maguire; and Juliet Takes a Breath, by Gabby Rivera. Topics of the books include radical gender ideology, graphic descriptions of child sex abuse by a father, self-harm, teen drug use, teen sex abuse, and orgies. In all, there are nearly 100 sexually explicit high school books and more than 50 sexually explicit middle school books, Anderson said. Parental Anger Incensed parents brought the books to the school boards attention, Anderson said. Parents stood up and read excerpts from some horrible, sexually graphic, violent books in our libraries, Anderson said. Across Maine, many libraries have sexually graphic books, and parents and students have complained to school boards. Some parents also have complained about the Maine Integrated Youth Survey (MIYS), which asks students sexual questions. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services, in conjunction with the Maine Department of Education, administers the survey to all children from 5th grade to 12th grade. Which of the following best describes you? one question asks students in 7th and 8th grades. Answer choices include Heterosexual [straight], Gay or Lesbian, Bisexual, I describe my sexual identity in some other way, I am not sure about my sexual identity, and I do not know what this question is asking. Another question asks, Some people describe themselves as transgender when their sex at birth does not match the way they think or feel about their gender. Are you transgender? The survey asks if the children have had sexual intercourse, and, if so, at what age. One of the answer options is 8 years old or younger. The survey also asks if the children used a condom the last time they had sex. The high school-level survey asks students aged 1218 if their last sexual partner was up to 5 or more years younger or 5 or more years older. It also asks whether they were having sex with females, males, females and males, or if they have never had sexual contact. Requests for Transparency An LGBT book display in Hermon High School in Hermon, Maine, in November 2021. (Shawn McBreairty, the Maine First Project and Maine Source Of Truth) Although parents have a right under federal law to read their childrens instructional materials, schools have made it extremely difficult to access this material, Anderson said. Parents request instructional materials about whats being taught to the students in health class, and theyre not given access to it, she said. Schools have also been unwilling to provide students with balanced perspectives on transgenderism, Anderson added. Her districts middle and high schools have many books promoting transgenderism as positive, but they lack books with opposing viewpoints, she said. That goes against Maines education administrative guidelines, which say school libraries must show the presentation of different points of view. So Anderson tried to provide the high school library with copies of Irreversible Damage, by Abigail Shrier, a nonfiction book presenting research about harm caused by transgenderism. The library rejected them, she said. Schools Response There have been four cases of sexual assault on minors in the past seven years in schools in the district, Anderson noted. She said she believes school authorities promptly reported the sexual assault to the school board, Bonny Eagle High School quickly stopped employing McGlinn, school superintendent Clay Gleason told The Epoch Times. We are cooperating with that [CCSO] investigation and we are also conducting our own internal inquiry, Gleason said. He said he wasnt free to speak much about the case due to privacy concerns. The school also is investigating allegations that McGlinn harassed some students, Gleason said. When an investigation uncovers inappropriate or illegal actions or violations of school rules or policies, we address the conduct in a manner that complies with applicable law and policies, and that is appropriate for the circumstances, he said. Manhattan DA Receives Package of White Powder for a Second Time NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 04: Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg speaks during a press conference following the arraignment of former U.S. President Donald Trump April 4, 2023 in New York City. Former U.S. President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts stemming from hush money payments in 2016. With his indictment, Trump will become the first former U.S. president in history to be charged with a criminal offense. (Photo by Kena Betancur/Getty Images) Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg on Wednesday received an envelope containing white powder, deemed non-hazardous, for a second time. The envelope was found just after 3 p.m. in the mailroom at 80 Centre Street in lower Manhattan, where Bragg has an office. The finding prompted a police response as a precaution. The powder was deemed nonhazardous, according to the New York Police Department (NYPD). NYPD testing determined the powder found in the mailroom to be non-hazardous, a spokesperson for Bragg told The Epoch Times. We thank our partners at the NYPD Emergency Service Unit and the NYC Department of Environmental Protection for their quick response. The incident comes just weeks after Bragg was sent white powder, also deemed non-hazardous, in late March. Bragg, a Democrat, had convened a New York grand jury earlier this year that ultimately indicted former Republican President Donald Trump in late March for 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, to which Trump pleaded not guilty on April 4. Every count is a felony, carrying up to a four-year sentence. Bragg has been probing a $130,000 payment by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to adult performer Stormy Daniels. The payment was made in the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election. Daniels alleged Trump had an affair with her, but Trump has consistently denied any extramarital relationship with Daniels. Meanwhile, Cohen previously said he had spoken to the grand jury. New York prosecutors are accusing Trump of having instructed Cohen to pay Daniels, and then reimbursing Cohen through monthly checks that were disguised as a retainer for legal services for the Trump Organization, leading to 34 false entries in New York business records. A felony falsifying records charge requires prosecutors to prove that the entry was done with the intent to hide the commission of a second crime. The indictment and court documents do not specify a second crime. That the court documents didnt reveal what the second crime the former president is accused has been of major concern to experts. Bragg, at a press conference on April 4, mentioned three possibilities of a second crime: a violation of state election law that bars any conspiracy to promote a candidate by unlawful means, a violation of a federal cap on campaign contributions, and a violation of state tax law. But experts have said Braggs lack of transparency on what the second crime actually is highly problematic. Trump, hours after his April 4 arraignment, declared that Bragg has no case against him. The only crime that Ive committed is to fiercely defend our nation, he said in Florida after returning from Manhattan. Trump described Braggs case and several other criminal and civil investigations against him as massive election interference at a scale never seen before in our country, adding, They cant beat us at the ballot box. So they try to beat us through the law. Republicans and analysts say the unprecedented move to indict a former president sets Trump up as a martyr and represents a turning point in the country, where the legal system can be weaponized against political opponents. Gary Bai, Nathan Worcester, and John Haughey contributed to this report. McCarthy Endorses Designating Cartels as Terrorists, Using Military at Southern Border SIMI VALLEY, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 05: Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) (C) speaks at a press conference with a group of bipartisan U.S. lawmakers, including Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT), after they met with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library on April 5, 2023 in Simi Valley, California. The historic meeting occurring on U.S. soil has been greeted by threats of retaliation by China. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images) Republican House Speaker Kevin McCarthy has endorsed the idea of designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations and embedding at least some military forces at the border to facilitate efforts to secure the U.S. border against those cartels. McCarthy discussed ways to combat the cartel during an interview last month with Breitbart News, which the publication released on Wednesday. Breitbart News discussed border security issues with McCarthy in the days after a group of four U.S. citizens were kidnapped, two of whom were killed in the northern Mexican state of Tamaulipas. When Breitbart News host Matthew Boyle asked McCarthy about the idea of designating cartel organizations as foreign terrorist organizations, the House speaker replied, I think you have to designate them. You look what has gone on. These cartels are making billions of dollars human trafficking, right? McCarthy added. But theyre using weapons, theyre shooting. Weve watched in broad daylight what they would do with no respect for life or for Americans. Boyle then raised the idea of the U.S. military being deployed in some way against the cartel, noting that former President Donald Trump had already endorsed the idea of using U.S. military forces to combat the cartels just as we took down ISIS and the ISIS caliphate. Ive met with the border agents many times. I think were going to have to embed some military to allow that technology to help secure it, McCarthy told Boyle. The Trump administration did deploy National Guard troops at the border during his presidency, and those troops provided aviation, engineering, surveillance, communications, vehicle maintenance, and logistical support. National Guard troop deployments have continued at the border in the years since. It was not immediately clear how the roles of U.S. military personnel at the southern border might change under McCarthys embedding proposal. NTD News reached out to McCarthys office for comment but did not receive a response before this article was published. Action in Congress In January, Reps. Dan Crenshaw (R-Texas) and Mike Waltz (R-Fla.) introduced legislation calling for an authorization for the use of military force (AUMF) to allow the U.S. military to target Mexican drug cartels facilitating drug trafficking into the United States. The cartels are at war with uspoisoning more than 80,000 Americans with fentanyl every year, creating a crisis at our border, and turning Mexico into a failed narco-state, Crenshaw, a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, said upon introducing the AUMF legislation. Its time we directly target them. My legislation will put us at war with the cartels by authorizing the use of military force against the cartels. We cannot allow heavily armed and deadly cartels to destabilize Mexico and import people and drugs into the United States. We must start treating them like ISISbecause that is who they are. Waltz, a U.S. Army Special Forces Green Beret and colonel in the Florida Army National Guard, said, Not only are these paramilitary transnational criminal organizations responsible for killing an unprecedented number of Americans, but [they] are actively undermining our sovereignty by destabilizing our border and waging war against U.S. law enforcement and the Mexican military. Waltz said the AUMF would give President Joe Biden sophisticated military cyber, intelligence, and surveillance resources to disrupt cartel operations. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has condemned proposals for allowing U.S. military action against the cartels. We are not going to permit any foreign government to intervene in our territory, much less that a governments armed forces intervene, Lopez Obrador said in March as discussions about cartel violence peaked. The Republican-controlled House has yet to take Crenshaw and Waltzs bill up for a vote in the three months since its introduction. Reuters contributed to this article. From NTD News Mexican Migration Chief to Be Charged in Fire but Keep Job The casket of Miguel Rojche is carried from his home to the cemetery after his wake in Chicacao, Guatemala, on April 12, 2023. Rojche and his nephew Francisco died in a fire while held at a Mexican immigration detention center in Ciudad Juarez. (Moises Castillo/AP Photo) MEXICO CITYMexicos immigration head will face criminal charges in a fire that killed 40 migrants in a detention center last month, but President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said Wednesday that he will not dismiss the official known for his hard line on northbound migration. Obradors decision to keep Francisco Garduno as head of the Mexican Immigration Institute appeared to conflict with the federal Attorney Generals Office announcement late Tuesday to charge Garduno in connection with the blaze. Lopez Obradors comments came on the same day that relatives gathered in rural Guatemala to hold funerals for some of the victims of the deadly fire. Thousands of people gathered in the Guatemalan village of Chicacao for the funeral of Francisco Gaspar Rojche Chiquival and his uncle Miguel Rojche Zapalu, two of the 19 Guatemalans who died of smoke inhalation or burns in the March 27 fire. I am destroyed, I am wounded, said the younger mans father, Manuel Rojche. This is a very hard blow. The family had handed over the title to their land to raise the $15,000 that smugglers demanded to get Rojche Chiquival to the United States. They stand to lose the land. The only possession the 21-year-old left behindhis beloved motorcycletraveled with his coffin in the procession to the local cemetery. The men died after a migrant set fire to foam mattresses in protest, and guards fled without opening the cell doors. Garduno, a lawyer and criminologist, was called to take over the immigration job in June 2019 as Mexico was under pressure from the Trump administration to decrease the flow of migrants. Calls have come from within Mexico, and from some Central American nations, not to stop the case of last months fire at the five low-level officials, guards and a Venezuelan migrant already facing homicide charges. Federal prosecutors said late Tuesday that Garduno was remiss in not preventing the disaster in Ciudad Juarez despite earlier indications of problems at his agencys detention centers. Prosecutors said that government audits had found a pattern of irresponsibility and repeated omissions in the immigration institute. However, charges being brought in Mexico, especially against public officials, do not always result in prison time. On Wednesday, Lopez Obrador said that even though the Attorney Generals Office was investigating Garduno, prosecutors had revealed few details and it was not exactly clear how they would charge him. We are going to wait and we are going to make decisions in the [right] moment, Lopez Obrador said. The president defended Garduno, saying his work is good in general; he has always had good performance, despite the misfortune that happened in Juarez. Garduno has been close to Lopez Obrador since the latter was Mexico City mayor, and Garduno has overseen a strategy to contain migrants in southern Mexico with the help of the National Guard. It included placing retired or active military officers in leadership positions inside the immigration agency. Anger in Mexico initially focused on two guards who were seen fleeing the March 27 fire, without unlocking the cell door to allow the migrants to escape. But Lopez Obrador had said earlier Tuesday that they didnt have the keys. 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 without making an effort to release them. The Attorney Generals Office said several other officers 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. One migrant allegedly set fire to foam mattresses at the detention center to protest detention conditions and what he apparently thought were plans to move or deport the migrants. Mexico has returned the bodies of 31 migrants to their home countries. Dozens of mourners turned out on the dusty streets of the village of Proteccion, in Honduras, where the coffins of three local men arrived from Mexico. Cindy Umana received the coffin of her brother, Edin Umana, in her house. The only thing she could ask was that those responsible be prosecuted. I know that locking them up will not give us our relatives lives back, Umana said. But at least we will know that justice has been done. Complaints about corruption and bad conditions at Mexicos migrant detention facilities have never been seriously addressed: 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 that needed to be corrected, but alleged they failed to act. Minneapolis to Pay $8.9 Million Over Chauvins Actions Before Floyd Former Minneapolis police Officer Derek Chauvin addresses the court as Hennepin County Judge Peter Cahill presides over Chauvin's sentencing at the Hennepin County Courthouse in Minneapolis on June 25, 2021. (Court TV via AP/Pool) The city of Minneapolis agreed Thursday to pay nearly $9 million to settle lawsuits filed by two people who said former police officer Derek Chauvin pressed his knee into their necks years before he used the same move on George Floyd. John Pope Jr. will receive $7.5 million and Zoya Code will receive $1.375 million. The settlements were announced during a meeting of the Minneapolis City Council. Both lawsuits stemmed from arrests in 2017three years before Floyd died after Chauvin used unreasonable force during an arrest. The lawsuits stated that if the city had acted sooner to discipline Chauvin, history could have been stopped from repeating itself with George Floyd. Bob Bennett, the attorney for Pope and Code, noted in a statement that other officers failed to intervene or report Chauvin, and police leaders allowed Chauvin to field train and indoctrinate dozens of young MPD officers to his ways without fear of discipline or negative sanction and to continue his predatory ways for years. Council member Elliott Payne said what happened to Code and Pope were reminders of what happened to Floyd and rekindled those emotions. And its actually not a Derek Chauvin problem. Its an institution problem, Payne said. He hoped the settlements bring some closure to this era and is a stark reminder of the work we have lying ahead. Code, who has a history of homelessness and mental health problems, was arrested in June 2017 after she allegedly tried to strangle her mother with an extension cord. Pope was 14 in September 2017 when, according to his lawsuit, Chauvin subjected him to excessive force while responding to a domestic assault report. Both lawsuits named Chauvin and several other officers. The lawsuits alleged police misconduct, excessive force, and racismPope and Code are black; Chauvin is white. They also said the city knew that Chauvin had a record of misconduct but didnt stop him. Criminal charges in both cases were eventually dropped. The lawsuits said body camera recordings showed Chauvin used many of the same tactics on Pope and Code that he used on Floyd. Chauvin was sentenced in 2021 to 22 1/2 years in prison on a state murder charge in the death of Floyd by pressing his knee to Floyds neck for 9 1/2 minutes. The city also paid $27 million to Floyds family. Codes lawsuit said she was in handcuffs when Chauvin slammed her head to the ground and pinned his knee on the back of her neck for 4 minutes and 41 seconds. A second officer didnt intervene and a responding police sergeant approved the force, the lawsuit stated. Popes lawsuit said his mother was drunk when she called police because she was upset that he and his 16-year-old sister left their cellphone chargers plugged in, leading to a physical confrontation. It alleged Chauvin struck Pope in the head with a large metal flashlight at least four times. It says he then put Pope in a chokehold before pinning him to the floor and putting his knee on Popes neck. Chauvin would proceed to hold John in this prone position for more than fifteen minutes, all while John was completely subdued and not resisting, the complaint alleged. The complaint alleged that at least eight other officers did nothing to intervene. It said Chauvin did not mention in his report that he had hit Pope with his flashlight, nor did he mention pinning Pope for so long. Chauvins sergeant reviewed and approved his report and use of force despite having firsthand knowledge that the report was false and misleading, the lawsuit alleged. Chauvin admitted to many of Popes allegations when he pleaded guilty in December 2021 to federal charges for violating the civil rights of both Floyd and Pope. He was sentenced in July to 21 years on those charges. Chauvin is serving his sentences in a federal prison in Arizona. CCPs Persecution of Falun Gong Leads to More Deaths Documented in March Falun Dafa practitioners carry pictures of the victims of the persecution in China during a march through the center of Warsaw, Poland, on Sept. 9, 2022. (Mihut Savu/The Epoch Times) In March, information about 25 deaths and 116 wrongful convictions of Falun Gong adherents managed to penetrate Chinas internet firewall to reach U.S.-based organization Minghui. Based on first-hand reports, the list of deaths includes victims from 51 to 77 years old, from over 11 Chinese provinces. Because of the difficulty of getting information out of China, some of the deaths go back almost a decade, while a number are recent. The list of wrongful convictions spans 19 provinces and includes a number of elderly people, with the oldest being 83. Falun Gong incorporates meditation exercises with a body of teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion, and tolerance. After estimates were made in the 90s that there were 70100 million followers, fearful of Falun Gongs popularity, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) launched a brutal campaign against the movement in July 1999. Information about the persecution is a heavily guarded state secret in China. The campaign targeting millions of Chinese remains largely hidden from view. However, leaked information reported by organizations like Minghui and the U.S.-based Falun Dafa Information Center records a systematic campaign of abductions, torture, and death. To date, Minghui has documented the deaths of about 5,000 Falun Gong practitioners. The real death toll is believed to be in the hundreds of thousands. Watchdog groups have been reporting on the struggle to obtain justice and proper medical care for Liao Guanghui for years. Her story starts at the food warehouse where she worked. Toxic substances at the warehouse caused serious health problems for the Sichuan woman, who was born in 1953. In 1999, Liao started to practice Falun Gong, and believed her recovery was due to the practice. Seeing her transformation, her husband also became a Falun Gong follower. In July of 2019, Liao, who was 66 years old, was arrested. She was detained at a local police station for over a year before being sentenced to 3 years in prison and a 3,000 RMB ($435) fine for refusing to renounce Falun Gong. After 3 years in prison, Falun Gong practitioner Liao Guanghui was sent home in a vegetative state. She died at the age of 70 on March 23, 2023. (minghui.org) On Jan. 21, 2021, guards at Chengdu Womens Prison contacted Liaos family saying that she needed brain surgery after a fall in the prison restroom. The bill of over 100,000 RMB ($14,500) would be the familys responsibility. Although the fall was said to be accidental, a physical exam revealed damage to Liaos trachea and lungs that indicated torture. After the brain surgerya craniotomy that left her with a large sunken area on one side of her headthe prison refused to release the comatose woman for medical treatment, instead keeping her incarcerated in the prison hospital for the remainder of her sentence. After her 3-year prison term was over, Liao was sent home in a vegetative state. She died at home on March 23, 2023. In early 2013, the governor of Chinas northeastern province of Heilongjiang was infuriated by the sight of pro-Falun Gong banners hanging from a highway bridge. Typical of such banners, they read simply Falun Dafa is Good. In retaliation, 61 Falun Gong practitioners in the town where the banners appeared were arrested. Fei Shuqin was among those taken into custody. The 67-year-old grandmother, a retired food industry worker, had raised four children on her own after the tragic death of her husband. She credited the practice of Falun Gong with her recovery from a multitude of health problems. While Fei was in detention, she was tortured despite her old age. She was sentenced to 13 years in prison. While in jail, her health problems returned and her family began a protracted, costly struggle to obtain proper medical care for her. Ultimately she was diagnosed with hypertension, heart and liver disease, and a massive uterine tumor. The prison refused to release her to undergo medical treatment. During this time, Feis family visited her in prison and noticed that Fei showed signs of Alzheimers disease. They suspected that the prison had been injecting nerve-damaging drugs in her and asked to take her to the hospital. But the prison again refused. In January of this year, Feis health deteriorated further. She was found to have had multiple strokes and resulting brain damage, as well as severe lung disease. However, the prison did not allow her family to visit her. On Feb. 16, she passed away at the age of 77, after 10 years in prison. Twenty Years of Harassment, Arrest, and Torture Falun Gong practitioners Zhang Jiuhai and his parents were highly respected members of their community in the Pinggu Township of Beijing before the persecution started. After the persecution began in 1999, Zhangs parents were sent to forced labor camps, where they were subjected to torture and forced labor. Zhangs mother died in November 2014. Three years later, Zhangs father died alone at home while Zhang was incarcerated. Twice, Zhang Jiuhai was sentenced to four years in prison. When he was released, he had to be constantly on the move to avoid being arrested again. When in prison, according to minghui.org, Zhang was brutally and frequently beaten and deprived of sleep for a long period of time. He was tortured by electric shock and force-fed an unknown substance. Zhang died in early 2023 at the age of 56. In less than ten years, his entire family perished. On March 17, Duan Guixiu, a Falun Gong practitioner from Shandong province, was sentenced to 3 years in prison and a fine of 20,000 RMB ($2,900). Her crime: she sent a letter to the new police chief in her city. The letter, titled wishing you safe, included basic information about the spiritual practice and urged him to stop the persecution of Falun Gong. A family of four in Heilongjiang province was arrested at their home on July 11, 2022. Guo Chunling, her husband, daughter, and mother-in-law were among the dozen Falun Gong practitioners arrested on that day. The local police said they had been monitoring them for months as they printed materials about Falun Gong at home on their home computer and printers. The family home was ransacked. The police took away books, computers, printers, and even confiscated the family van. The confiscated items became the evidence and Guo was given an eight-year prison term. Cong Lanying, 78, was taken from her home on Feb. 1, 2023, by police in Weihai, Shandong province. Two weeks later, Cong was sentenced to 4 years in prison for using cults to undermine the implementation of the law. The accusation is commonly used to convict Falun Gong adherents. On March 1, Congs daughter, who lives in Canada, protested outside the Chinese Consulate in Montreal. According to Chinese law, she said, practicing Falun Gong is legal. She urged police and judiciary agencies to stop being accomplices of the CCPs crimes, and called for help from the Canadian government to rescue her mother. Falun Gong practitioner Cong Xinmiao protests in front of the Chinese Consulate in Montreal, Canada for the release of her mother, who was sentenced to 4 years in prison in March. (minghui.org) A Cold Genocide Human rights scholar Maria Cheung may have been the first to call the CCPs campaign to eradicate Falun Gong a cold genocide. Her paper entitled Cold Genocide: Falun Gong in China, was published in the international journal Genocide Studies and Prevention in 2018. Co-authored by Torsten Trey, David Matas, and Richard An, it remains one of the most heavily cited works on the subject. The authors characterized the persecution of Falun Gong as a cold genocide, which is hidden and lingers for over two decades without much notice. A hot genocide, by contrast, contains destructive acts of high intensity which annihilate the victim group in a short time span. The extermination campaign is so insidious that the public only knows about its scale because of small batches of information that have escaped the CCPs firewall over the past two decades. Cheung, associate dean of social work spoke at the University of Manitoba, spoke at the September 2022 World Summit on Combating and Preventing Forced Organ Harvesting. Calling the persecution of Falun Gong in China a genocide by attrition, she said it is a slow process of annihilation that reflects the unfolding phenomenon of mass killing of a protected group under disguisethe public dont see an immediate unleashing of violent death. Trey, executive director of U.S.-based Doctors Against Forced Organ Harvesting, told The Epoch Times on April 7: If you mention the number of students shot during the high-intensity Tiananmen Square massacre on June 4, 1989, the world is in shock. But if you compare this one-time number with the number of deaths inflicted upon Falun Gong practitioners each day, then the outcry is missing. Trey noted that because of the slow and continuous nature of the persecution, it elicits less outrage than the Tiananmen Square tragedy, despite the fact that the slow-moving, but steady genocide against Falun Gong practitioners over 23 years caused by-far more deaths than the massacre on June 4. One must not only look at one day, Trey cautioned. That short-sighted approach may cause observers to interpret as insignificant an event that is actually a slow-moving destruction with genocidal consequences over decades. Nancy Pelosi Suggests Calls for Sen. Dianne Feinstein to Resign Are Sexist WASHINGTON, DC - DECEMBER 15: U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) answers questions during her weekly press conference at the U.S. Capitol on December 15, 2022 in Washington, DC. Pelosi answered a range of questions during the press conference, primarily on her remaining time as Speaker of the House and her legislative legacy. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) Former House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi (R-Calif.) has suggested that sexism was behind calls by fellow Democrats for Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), an 89-year-old woman, to resign due to poor health. Feinstein has been absent from the Senate since February, when she was diagnosed with shingles. Several House Democrats have called on Feinstein to resign while Pelosi on Wednesday put forward a rebuke of these voices, suggesting that sexism was at play. Its interesting to me. 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, Pelosi told reporters on Capitol Hill. Feinstein deserves the respect to get well and be back on duty, Pelosi added. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) leaves the Senate Democrats weekly policy lunch at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on July 20, 2021. (Elizabeth Frantz/Reuters) Another Democrat lawmaker, Rep. Norma Torres (D-Calif.), also suggested that there was a double standard behind calls for Feinstein to resign. When women age or get sick, the men are quick to push them aside, Torres said in a tweet. When men age or get sick, they get a promotion, she added, without providing any specifics to support her claim. We Have a Crisis Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) was the first to call on Feinstein to quit. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties, Khanna said in a post on Twitter. Not speaking out undermines our credibility as elected representative of the people. Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.), called Feinstein a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable but added that by staying on as a senator while absent for a prolonged time was not in the interests of her constituents. 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, Phillips said. Feinsteins absence from the key Senate Judiciary Committee has kept Democrats from advancing their nominees through the committee for a vote on the Senate floor. Khanna said in a statement to NBC News that Feinsteins absence was holding up President Joe Bidens judicial nominations. We have a crisis in the judiciary with extremist judges stripping away womens rights. You cant preach on television about the danger of these judges and then sit silently as Senator Feinstein misses vote after vote to confirm pro-choice judges, Khanna said. Its time for California officials who care deeply about reproductive rights to call on her to step down at this moment in history. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.) speaks during a news conference to discuss legislation that would temporarily halt U.S. arms sales to Saudi Arabia at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 12, 2022. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Feinstein Responds For her part, Feinstein has responded to calls for her resignation by saying that the Senate should appoint a temporary replacement to sit in for her on the Judiciary Committee. I understand that my absence could delay the important work of the Judiciary Committee, so Ive asked Leader Schumer to ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to temporarily serve until Im able to resume my committee work, Feinstein said in a statement on Wednesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said in a statement Wednesday that, in accordance with Feinsteins wishes, he would ask the Senate next week to let someone take her spot on the committee. Feinstein said she initially expected to return to her job on Capitol Hill by the end of March, but due to continued complications related to my diagnosis, her return to Washington has been delayed. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel, she said, adding that she remains committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 3, 2021. (Greg Nash/Pool/Getty Images) Shingles, also called herpes zoster, is a disease caused by the varicella-zoster virus, which triggers a painful skin rash, according to the National Institute of Health. Cases of shingles are not normally life-threatening, although the disease can be fatal for elderly people or those with compromised immune systems. Feinstein has said she doesnt plan to seek re-election in 2024. Three California DemocratsReps. Katie Porter, Adam Schiff, and Barbara Leehave announced their respective intentions to run for the seat that she will leave vacant. Porter, a 49-year-old single mother, became a congresswoman in 2019. Prior to her political career, she worked as a law professor at University of California at Irwine specializing in consumer protection. Lee, 76, was elected to the state Legislature in 1990 and to Congress in 1998. She is best known for casting the sole Nay vote against the joint resolution that authorized President George W. Bush to use military force after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Meanwhile, Schiff gained prominence among Democrats as the chief prosecutor in President Donald Trumps first impeachment trial, which ended with an acquittal. He was also a member of the now-dissolved congressional committee that conducted an 18-month investigation of the breach of the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. Feinstein has not yet endorsed anyone for her seat. Pelosi has backed Schiff for Feinsteins seat when she eventually vacates it. Bill Pan contributed to this report. Nashville Shooting Response Undercuts Uvalde Police Fear of AR-15 Nashville Police Department officers rush towards a shooter in The Covenant School shooting in Nashville, Tenn., on March 28, 2023. (Nashville Police Department via The Epoch Times) Police in Uvalde, Texas, refused to enter a classroom of elementary school students to stop an active shooter because they feared an AR-15-style rifle. Nineteen children and two teachers were killed last May while policesome of whom had the same type of rifles as the gunmanwaited over an hour to stop the threat. Ten months later, Nashville police never paused before entering the Covenant school and never asked what kind of gun the shooter had, which was also an AR-style rifle. A small group of officers tracked down the shooter and killed her in less than 15 minutes. AR Rifles In a story about gun control, The Texas Tribune reported on March 20 that the Uvalde police said on radios that they were afraid to enter Robb Elementary School because the killer had an AR rifle. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) shared on Twitter the Tribune report and wrote: If the Uvalde shooter didnt have an AR-15 style assault rifle, the carnage he unleashed could have been ended much sooner. Thats not my analysis. Thats the opinion of the police officers who were on scene. Feinstein and other gun-control activists said the revelation about the Uvalde polices fear of AR-style rifles supports a federal assault weapon ban. Law enforcement leaders disagree. I dont care if that shooter had a bazooka, said Sgt. Betsy Brantner Smith, spokeswoman for the National Police Association. That is irrelevant when you are responding to an active shooter situationespecially when it involves children. An AR-15-style rifle is lightweight and has certain cosmetic features, such as a pistol grip and a collapsing stock. It is the same as all semi-automatic rifles in function, meaning one trigger pull releases one round. AR at Nashville The Metro Nashville Police Department response on March 27, just a week after the Uvalde report, showed law enforcement is trained to respond to any weapon. According to police, shooter Audrey Hale had an AR-style rifle with two other guns that fire 9mm ammunition. She fired 152 rounds, of which 126 were 5.56 rifle rounds. One of the initial responding officers, Detective Sgt. Jeff Mathes, said he heard gunfire as they got closer to Hale. From my training experiences, I knew those sounds to be rifles, he said at a press conference. The officers did not slow down at the sound of the rifle shots. They entered a large room and found Hale in front of a wall of windows. Officer Rex Engelbert, a four-year veteran, and Detective Michael Collazo, a nine-year veteran, both shot four rounds at her and ended the rampage. In the body camera video released by Nashville police, officers are seen taking down the suspect within minutes of entering. She had killed six people, including three children before police arrived. Nashville Response Nashville Police released the body camera footage from Engelbert and Collazo on March 28. Englebert pulled up, grabbed an AR-style rifle from the trunk of his car, and walked briskly toward the school. A woman outside told Engelbert that the children were all locked down, but two were missing. Engelbert replied, Yes, maam as he continued walking toward the door. As other officers converged, Engelbert called out, Give me three, lets get three! Smith taught active shooter training during her 29 years on the police force. She explained that the Nashville officers were forming an ad hoc team for entry, which is part of active shooter training. She said they are taught to get ideally four people to enter. However, they are told to enter alone if necessary. If four are available, they make a diamond formation to go toward the shots as they clear different areas. Engelbert opened the door for Mathes who said he entered with purpose because he knew the gravity of the situation. In the video, the officers are seen methodically and quickly clearing classrooms. Smith pointed out that the way they touch each other on the shoulders is called tagging. She noted the way they encouraged and directed each other was part of their training. Uvalde Police Fear AR The Tribune reported that body camera video showed State Trooper Richard Bogdanski stopping outside the school. He asked on his radio, You know what kind of gun? AR. He has a battle rifle, a voice responded. Bogdanski replied, Whats the safest way to do this? Im not trying to get clapped out. Pete Arredondo, the disgraced Uvalde school district police chief, told investigators the firepower the gunman had based on what shells I saw made him decide to not order his men to go into the classroom. Uvalde Police Department Detective Louis Landry told investigators after the shooting that they needed a new plan after learning the shooter had an AR rifle. Landry said, It wasnt just going in guns blazing, the Old West style, and take him out. The Choice Going in guns blazing is exactly what police are trained to do. Zeek Arkham has been in enforcement for 16 years in the New York State area and has done extensive active shooter training. When asked about the rifle fear of Uvalde police, Arkham said it is a poor excuse in order to justify their cowardice. Arkham said, Id rather use my sidearm in order to make the attempt in saving lives than sit outside and twiddle my thumbs with the excuse of Im outgunned. The Uvalde police decided to wait for a SWAT team with more protective armor that was 60 miles away from the school. Sal LaBarbera, a retired Los Angeles Police Departments homicide chief, pointed out, If you watch this Tennessee shooting, these officers were armed the same as Uvalde. Same weapons. Also, Nashville did not have the ballistic vests used for rifle fire that Uvalde waited for from SWAT. The Nashville Police Department knew the risks associated with taking the job. They understood that in this day and age, active shooters and mass casualty incidents can happen, said Arkham, the host of the Reasonable Suspicion podcast. They ran in anyway and set a new standard for police response. The Nashville body cam videos were redemptive for American law enforcement because we took a lot of hits for Uvalde, said Smith. You dont have a choice to wait. The choice starts the minute we enter the police academy. We chose that our life may be sacrificed for an innocent third person. We are not suicidal, but we have to run toward the shots. New Critical Race Theory Report Confirms Tide Is Changing, Expert Says Parents concerned about critical race theory (CRT) took home buttons like this from a school board activist training put on by the The Leadership Institute in Sarasota, Fla., on Jan. 19, 2022. (Nanette Holt/The Epoch Times) State and local countermeasures against critical race theory (CRT)a quasi-Marxist framework that views the United States as systemically racistare on the rise in 2023, at a pace equal to or faster than that of 2021 and 2022, according to a new report (pdf) released by CRT Forward, an initiative advocating for CRT in schools at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles (UCLA) School of Law. Anti-CRT measures in higher education and pushback on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies are also trending higher in 2023, according to LaToya Baldwin Clark, a co-author of the report and an assistant law professor at UCLA, at a webinar releasing the reports findings on April 12. A webinar releasing the findings from a report on critical race theory by CRT Forward, on April 12, 2023. (CRT Forward/Screenshot via The Epoch Times) Mike Gonzalez, a senior fellow at the Washington-based Heritage Foundation and an expert on CRT, said the UCLA report is fascinating. What it does is it quantifies the impact that the resistance to CRT has been, he told The Epoch Times. About two weeks ago, Ibram X. Kendi went on CNN and complained that their momentum had been crushed by organized resistance. And there was a panel that included Robin DiAngelo; they complained about the same thing, Gonzalez noted of two major CRT authors. They said they had great hopes in 2020 and the beginning of 2021. But then, they encountered this level of resistance from the American people and their elected representatives. And the tide is changing. So I think this is what this report is about. I think that the conservatives should not say mission accomplished. Theres a lot to be done, a lot, a lot. But I think conservatives should be comforted by the fact that there has been significant resistance. According to the UCLA report, 563 measures were introduced at the state and local levels in 2021 and 2022 to restrict CRT in either classroom teaching or curricular materials; among them, 241 became adopted policies. Measures recorded in the report include legislation, resolutions, regulations, official statements, and policies; they affect 22 million children, about half of the 50.8 million U.S. public school students, Clark said. She also said that she foresaw more state-level scrutiny of DEI spending in 2023, which in her words, were very bureaucratic, burdensome ways of trying to get school districts and teachers not to teach CRT or anti-racism because they dont want to then be subjected to all of these procedural bureaucratic requirements going down the line. Although red states adopted many more state-level measures than blue states, the numbers of adopted local measures are very similar between red and blue states. Gonzalez said this is because of blue states many conservatives in various localities. Divisive Concepts The year 2020 saw an escalated push of CRT in the United States after the death of George Floyd, a black man, after a white Minneapolis officer kneeled on his neck for minutes during an arrest. At the webinar, Clark called the rise of racial demands for justice and equality in that year the 2020 uprising and 2020 revolutions. Gonzalez, meanwhile, referred to it as the 2020 insurrection, during which many cultural institutions adopted the CRT view that the United States is systemically racist. [The left] didnt realize what they were doing; they actually went too far in 2020, he said. They thought they had the country in their hands and they were going to be able to dismantle the country. And what they did was wake the American population. He also said that he had spoken to many people across the nation as he traveled during and after the pandemic. What I encountered was the institutions of civic society rising up and saying, No. No, we dont like this. We dont want this. And I think that changed the climate of opinion in the country. Obviously, in any democracy, thats going to have an electoral impact and an impact on legislators, especially at the state level. And what they have done is that they have reacted by trying to shield the country from this attempt to transform it. This UCLA report confirms that there has been this resistance to the transformation of America, to the dismantling of America, to the destruction of Americas cultural infrastructure. Mike Gonzalez, senior fellow at The Heritage Foundation, in Washington on Sept. 22, 2020. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) The report traced the large-scale anti-CRT movement to former President Donald Trumps executive order (EO) in September 2020. Although quickly rescinded by President Joe Biden in January 2021, the divisive concepts descriptions in the EO have been repeatedly used in anti-CRT measures, according to both presenters at the webinar, Clark and senior attorney Emerson Sykes at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). Clark acknowledged that the pushback on CRT existed before the September 2020 EO. And [the EO] wasnt something that [Trump] just thought of on his own. There were many conservative operatives, conservative organizations, and people who were pushing the Trump administration to do something along the lines of what they did. New and Innovative Ways Sykes touted the ACLUs legal success in halting Floridas Stop WOKE Act or Stop Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees Act in universities and workplaces. The Act prohibits schools and workplaces from including CRT in their teachings and training. After Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the legislation into law in April 2022 with an effective date of July 1, U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker granted a preliminary injunction in August, blocking the restriction on companies CRT training. Then, in November, he granted another injunction and suspended the part of the legislation concerning colleges. However, the law is still effective in K-12 schools. Sykes explained that such lawsuits were few because the legal system is protective of students in K-12 schools and wary of indoctrination. In addition, it was challenging to find plaintiffs with Ron DeSantis going on TV every day, coming up with new and innovative ways of warning educators not to teach CRT. In response to a question about whether CRT or a different version of CRT from conservatives understanding was taught in schools, Clark said, I dont think that it is a good strategic move to say CRT is not being taught in schools. She suggested framing the issue not as anti-CRT but as resisting racial progress. Now that the tracking mechanism of the CRT Forward project is in place, she says, part of the strategy has been to keep [CRT] top of mind when it comes to the 2024 election. The Nuri is a three-stage rocket designed to place a 1.5-ton satellite in orbit at an altitude of 600 to 800 km. Korea spent W1.96 trillion developing the rocket since March of 2010 (US$1=W1,178). The Nuri was launched at 5 p.m. from the Naro Space Center in Goheung, South Gyeongsang Province and reached its targeted trajectory of 700 km. But the 7-ton engine in the third-stage rocket shut off 46 seconds faster than planned, and the payload therefore failed to attain a speed of 7.5 km/s necessary to stay in orbit. Korea succeeded in launching its first homegrown space rocket on Thursday, but failed to place a dummy satellite into orbit. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute and 300 civilian companies participated in the development of the Nuri, which has 370,000 components and stands 15 stories tall. The launch was delayed by an hour because more time was needed for last-minute inspections. During the flight of 16 minutes and seven seconds, the first, second and third-stage boosters ignited successfully and the fairing or nose cone of the rocket separated without hitches. Experts said the Nuri's performance on its maiden launch was a credit to Korea's space technology. "The U.S.' SpaceX program failed three-straight times in test-launches," said Huh Hwan-il at Chungnam National University. "The test launch of the Nuri was almost a success." The average success rate of space launch vehicles is only 30 percent. The second launch is scheduled for May of next year with a 200 kg test satellite and a 1,300-kg dummy satellite. Korea plans to conduct four more test launches until 2027 with actual satellites. President Moon Jae-in watched the launch at the space center and said, "Although the Nuri failed to complete its mission, the first launch was a great achievement." The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said on April 13 that it couldnt find evidence whether N95 or similar medical-grade masks protect clinically vulnerable people from becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. Unlike a regular loose-fitting surgical mask, an N95 respirator is designed to fit tightly to form a seal around the nose and mouth. Its also very efficient in filtering airborne particles. In a previous publication on the effectiveness of face coverings, the UKHSA said that low-quality evidence suggested N95 respirators (or equivalent) might be more effective than surgical masks in preventing the wearer from being infected with coronavirus in health care settings. But in a rapid review (pdf) published on April 13, the UKHSA said it screened thousands of primary studies on the effectiveness of face coverings during the COVID-19 pandemic and couldnt find anything as to whether wearing N95 and equivalent respirators in the community can protect people at higher risk from becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. Researchers at the government agency screened some 50 studies published by Sept. 14, 2021, and had previously been examined in a separate UKHSA review on the effectiveness of all face coverings in all people against transmission of COVID-19. They also searched for papers and preprints published by Sept. 26, 2022, identifying a further 4,371 studies, but none looked at the efficacy of the specific type of masks in protecting the cohort. No studies matching the inclusion criteria were found, so no evidence could be presented, the review concluded. It noted that researchers didnt include evidence from other infectious diseases such as influenza, and that they didnt conduct an extensive search of sources other than databases of peer-reviewed and preprint articles. It also noted that a previous rapid review concluded that face coverings in general could reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the community. A medical assistant working at a drive-up COVID-19 testing clinic, wears an N95 mask, in Puyallup, Wash., on Jan. 4, 2022. (Ted S. Warren/AP Photo) Commenting on the review, Carl Heneghan, professor of evidence-based medicine at the University of Oxford, told The Telegraph that scientists completely failed to address this issue. I do not understand why theres been a lack of will to do high-quality trials in this area, he told the publication. For those people at low risk, these questions dont necessarily matter too much, but if youre at high risk, you really want this question to be addressed, he said. You want to know the answer. Heneghan said he believes its a failure that should be examined by the government-commissioned independent COVID-19 inquiry so the lesson can be learned. The Masks Controversy Mask-wearing, especially mask mandates for all, was one of the controversial restrictions that was deployed in many countries during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some studies suggested that masks are effective in preventing COVID-19 transmission, while some question the amount of benefit. Dr. Ashish Jha, the White Houses COVID-19 response coordinator, said in December 2022 that there had been no study in the world that shows that masks work that well. Apart from arguments around the benefits and harms of wearing masks, the issue of mask-wearing has also become a political issue during the pandemic following masking mandates. The reluctance towards mask-wearing in the Western world has often been attributed to the populaces more individualistic tendencies, but the changes in the guidance from governments and the World Health Organisation (WHO) have also fueled the opposition to masks. In March 2020, Jenny Harries, then-deputy chief medical officer for England, said its a good thing for COVID-19 patients to wear masks to protect others in their vicinity. But for others, Harries said they tend to contaminate the facemask and then wipe it over something and therefore its really not a good idea and doesnt help. The advice is consistent with the guidance (pdf) published by the WHO during the same month, which said there had been no evidence a medical mask would protect people from getting sick. The guidance said a medical mask, used correctly, can limit the spread of certain respiratory diseases, including COVID-19, but the method alone is insufficient and can create a false sense of security that can lead to the neglect of other essential measures, such as hand hygiene practices. It also mentioned unnecessary costs and procurement burdens as one of the considerations. The guidance came at a time after Chinese buyers had purchased masks and other personal protective equipment (PPE) around the globe, resulting in an acute PPE shortage worldwide. White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, Md., on Feb. 11, 2021. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) Dr. Anthony Fauci, then-director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, also advised the general population against wearing masks at the beginning of the pandemic. He later defended his recommendation, telling CBS anchor Norah ODonnell that the advice was correct in the context at the time in which he said it, since he had been told the United States had a serious problem with the lack of PPEs. The UK government on June 15, 2020, mandated the wearing of face coverings in England on public transport and later in other public spaces, such as cinemas and shops. The mandate ended on Jan. 27, 2022. According to figures revealed by London Mayor Sadiq Khan, almost 4,000 passengers were fined for breaking COVID-19 mask rules on Londons public transport. Apart from the masking mandate, guidance to wear masks was also in place for schools, effectively meaning most students were forced to wear masks in school. A response to a Freedom of Information request published in December last year revealed that the first time an evaluation of the masks in-class policy was provided to the Education Minister occurred 17 months after schools had first been advised by the Department for Education to require children to wear masks in schools. Orange County Unveils New Mobile DMV The new mobile DMV of Orange County, New York. (Courtesy of Orange County Clerk's Office) Orange County Clerk Kelly Eskew on April 13 introduced a new mobile Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) office to provide motor vehicle-related services to residents in underserved areas. Over the past year, our goal has been customer service, and this mobile DMV office will help us deliver that conveniently and accessibly, Eskew said at a news conference in Goshen. The mobile unit will deliver services to areas farther out from the county government center in Goshen and two satellite DMV offices in Middletown and Newburgh. Eskew was elected county clerk in November 2021 after serving as deputy clerk for almost eight years. Orange County Clerk Kelly Eskew unveils a new mobile DMV at a press conference in Goshen, N.Y., on Apr 13, 2023. (Cara Ding/The Epoch Times) Manned by two employees and one security person, the mobile DMV unit will stop in different municipalities almost every business day, processing all kinds of motor vehicle-related transactions, including the federally mandated enhanced ID cards, or Real ID. By May 2025, Real IDs will be required for boarding domestic flights and accessing certain federal facilities. Schedules for the mobile DMV will be made available on the county website, Eskew said. The vehicle will stop in Port Jervis twice a week to serve the western Orange County area until a permanent office is secured in the city, Eskew told The Epoch Times. Port Jervis saw its DMV office close its doors several years ago when the city discontinued the lease with the county. Two employees of the Orange County Clerks Office stand behind the service counter in the new mobile DMV unit on April 13, 2023. (Courtesy of Orange County Government) This unit here has been long anticipated, New York state Assemblyman and Republican Minority Whip Karl Brabenec told The Epoch Times. It is going to help out a lot of spots in the county, especially Port Jervis, where there currently has no DMV office. Brabenec represents the 98th district, encompassing western portions of Orange and Rockland counties, including Port Jervis, Warwick, and parts of Ramapo. In addition, the mobile unit will make other clerk services more accessible for seniors and people with disabilities who have difficulties coming to the county government center. Some examples are land records, notary services, and veteran military service records. Other departments are also welcome to take advantage of the mobile unit to promote their programs or events throughout the county, Eskew said. The mobile DMV cost around $167,000 and was funded by the federal COVID-19 stimulus money under the American Rescue Plan Act. Orange County remains committed to providing critical services to residents wherever they are, Orange County Executive Steven M. Neuhaus said at the press conference. The Mobile DMV will help more residents access the vital services we provide. I just want to congratulate you, Orange County, on this new mobile DMV unit, New York state DMV Commissioner Mark Schroeder said at the news conference. I know there is going to be a focus on seniors, I know there is going to be a focus on our veterans, and I know there is going to be a focus on our disability community throughout Orange County. Police to Cut Back on Recording Frivolous Social Media Spats Under Major Crime Shake-Up The Home Office is introducing a major reform of crime procedures to move the police away from frivolous social media arguments and focus time instead on investigating serious crimes such as burglary. On Thursday, Minister for Crime and Policing Chris Philp announced a new government shake-up to cut unnecessary red tape will see the police stopping recording neighbour rows and Twitter spats as offences, unless the criminal threshold has clearly been met. The plans are part of a wider set of changes to how reported incidents are recorded. The Home Office said that police will also be able to make decisions on cases where communications, such as text messages or letters, are malicious or rude, but not threatening. Officers should be on our streets investigating crimes like burglary, not comments made online. As such, they will consider if such issues should be dealt with by social media companies instead, the department wrote in a statement. Philp said the changes which will take effect in the coming weeks. Minister for Crime and Policing Chris Philp. (House of Commons/PA) Unnecessary Administrative Tasks The National Police Chiefs Council (NPCC) said a review of productivity found 443,000 officer hours are spent filling in forms and dealing with unnecessary administrative tasks, equivalent to attending 220,000 domestic abuse incidents or 270,000 burglaries. Chairman of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, Marc Jones, said: As the publics representatives to policing, we have long called for changes to the way crime is recorded to ensure it is more transparent and less bureaucratic. We welcome these changes. Some of the changes include ending the way crimes are recorded as multiple entries on a database that effectively re-records the same incident. Now all reported crimes for a single incident will now consistently be recorded under the principal offence. Another change will make it easier to cancel the recording of a crime where theres enough evidence that none was committed. Delivering a speech on Thursday, Philps said: Were going to make clear that frivolous allegations of malicious communications should not be recorded as a criminal offence unless the criminal threshold has clearly been met. We dont believe that being rude or insulting is a police matter. Officers are not the thought police and where something is reported that does not meet the criminal threshold, we dont want that to be investigated or reported as a crime. Writing on Twitter, Home Office Minister Suella Braverman said the public wants to see common sense policing, that means a relentless focus on catching criminals and supporting victims. It is why we are cutting unnecessary red tape, freeing up police hours to focus on keeping our communities safe instead, she added. Home Secretary Suella Braverman leaves 10 Downing Street following a Cabinet Meeting in London, on Nov. 29, 2022. (Leon Neal/Getty Images) Have to Keep Stepping In Former policeman and Fair Cop co-founder Harry Miller told The Epoch Times by email that its campaign for a return to common sense policing is paying off. Miller set up Fair Cop in response to what it calls Big Brother overreach of various police forces and other authorities in England. What remains a national scandal is that we, together with the Home Office, have to keep stepping in to force coppers to comply, as many seem hooked on interfering with everything from Twitter spats to golliwogs, he said. Miller was referring to a hate crime investigation that is underway after police sent six officers to seize golliwog dolls from a pub in Essex. Appearing on LBC on Thursday, Philp was quizzed about the incident if it was necessary to have so many officers involved. Presenter Nick Ferrari asked: Im just saying it took five men or women to take a collection of golly dolls away and you dont seem to be able to answer yes or no. I find that astonishing. The minister replied: Im not going to answer yes or no because theyre operationally independent and its up to police to decide how they respond to incidents, not up to me to tell them what to do or to offer comments after the event. In March, as part of ongoing Home Office changes to the police, Suella Braverman ordered the forces to only record non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) when absolutely necessary. Braverman said the guidelines will prevent police from wrongly getting involved in lawful debate. According to the new guidelines, police will only record non-crime hate incidents when it is absolutely necessary and proportionate and not simply because someone is offended, the Home Office said at the time. PA Media contributed to this report. Possible Explosion Leaves Estimated 18,000 Cows Dead in Texas: Officials As many as 18,000 dairy cows were killed and one person was critically injured during a possible explosion and fire in Texas, officials said Tuesday. The incident occurred at the South Fork Dairy Farm located in Dimmit, Texas, the Castro County Sheriffs Office said in a statement. Officials say the cause of the fire is still under investigation. Upon arrival it was determined that one person was trapped inside and fire crews were able to locate the person and remove them from the building, said the Castro County Sheriffs Office on Tuesday. The person was flown to the UMC Hospital in Lubbock. All employees were accounted for. Castro County Sheriff Salvador Rivera told local media that witnesses saw an explosion that spread into a fire and spread into the building where the dairy cattle are held. He noted that only a small number of cows survived. Your count probably is close to that. Theres some that survived, theres some that are probably injured to the point where theyll have to be destroyed, he said. While some reports indicated that an explosion triggered the fire, Rivera told AgFax that its not clear what sparked the blaze. Dimmits mayor, Roger Malone, estimated to USA Today that around 18,000 cows died in the incident. How do you dispose of 18,000 carcasses? he asked. Thats something you just dont run into very much. Its mind-boggling, he added. I dont think its ever happened before around here. Its a real tragedy. According to the Animal Welfare Institute, the explosion appears to be the largest mass casualty incident involving cattle in U.S. history, or at least since the group started tracking mass animal deaths. The previous high occurred in 2020 at an upstate New York farm in which 400 cows died, Allie Granger, a policy associate at the institute, told USA Today. The Texas explosion and fire is the deadliest fire involving cattle we know of, she told the outlet. In the past, we have seen fires involving several hundred cows at a time, but nothing anything near this level of mortality. A spokesperson for Castro County Sheriffs office told The Epoch Times earlier this week that the cause of the explosion is still under investigation. South Fork Dairy Farm couldnt be reached for comment. The speculation was probably what they call a honey badger, which is a vacuum that sucks the manure and water out and possibly that it got overheated and probably the methane and things like that ignited and spread out and exploded and the fire, Rivera told local news outlet KSAT-TV. There has been speculation that recent fires and explosions at other facilities, including food processing plants, are attacks on critical U.S. infrastructure. An EpochTV investigation published last year found that most incidents cited of facilities allegedly catching fire in 2022 didnt occur that year. Many were instead lumped in from previous years. But last year, the FBIs Cyber Division issued a warning about potential cyberattacks on agricultural cooperatives and food plants amid increasing media coverage of recent fires and explosions across the United States. Ransomware actors may be more likely to attack agricultural cooperatives during critical planting and harvest seasons, disrupting operations, causing financial loss, and negatively impacting the food supply chain, the FBIs notice said, adding that ransomware attacks in 2021 and early 2022 could disrupt the planting season by targeting the supply of seeds and fertilizer. A significant disruption of grain production could impact the entire food chain, since grain is not only consumed by humans but also used for animal feed. In addition, a significant disruption of grain and corn production could impact commodities trading and stocks, it added. Jana Pruet contributed to this report. Problems in Maricopa County Election Linked to Changes in Ballot Paper Kari Lake says retired judge's report on midterm elections is 'a farce' Problems with ballot printers that caused lines to back up at some Phoenix-area polling places last year were due to changes to the paper, a retired Arizona Supreme Court justice concluded in a report released Monday. However, GOP candidate Kari Lake dismissed that report. County officials used longer ballots on thicker paper than had been used previously and pushed the printers to the edge of their capabilities, former Justice Ruth McGregor wrote. She said that pre-election testing may not have caught the problem because the test didnt properly mimic the stresses that printers experience on Election Day. Nothing we learned in our interviews or document reviews gave any clear indication that the problems should have been anticipated, McGregor wrote in the report (pdf). Republican Kari Lake has argued in court papers that widespread printer problems across Maricopa County polling places were one reason for her defeat during last years midterm elections. In response to Mondays report, Lakes campaign Twitter account said it was a farce. Maricopa County has released the results of their internal investigation & has SHOCKINGLY found themselves not guilty of any crime, Lakes Twitter post said. We told you this was a farce. These people dont think your vote or your opinion matters. And anyone who takes the results of this investigation seriously is part of the problem. Over the past several months, Maricopas investigative team printed and tabulated about 9,000 ballots in an attempt to repeat the process to figure out the errors with the printers. The printer problem was flagged by top Maricopa County election officials on Election Day, which Lake and other Republicans say disenfranchised their voters. But McGregors report said that human error was not to blame. Instead, it was the equipment. One of the most striking findings in our tests involved the considerable differences among printers. At the extremes, one printer (printer 406), printed 850 ballots at all settings with only one misread ballot. Printer 491 did almost as well, with only 13 misread ballots. In contrast, printer 404 produced 92 misread ballots and printer 323 produced 72, it said. For some printers, the fuser failed to consistently maintain the proper temperature to bond toner to the paper, resulting in ballots that could not be read by precinct-based tabulators. On Election Day, thousands of ballots from problematic printers were counted on more sophisticated scanners at the countys election headquarters in downtown Phoenix. The ballot length was increased from 19 inches to 20 and the paper thickness was increased after some voters in 2020 complained that the Sharpie brand markers used in polling places caused ink to bleed from one side of the paper to the other. The issue does not affect the ballot count, but claims that it was evidence of fraud were widespread among supporters of former President Donald Trump, who narrowly lost in Arizona that year. In McGregors tests, thicker paper led to higher failure rates, and adding an extra inch to the ballot length further increased the problems, according to the report. I pushed for an outside investigation as soon as this happened, and I appreciate Justice McGregor and her teams thorough, professional, and independent review, said Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairman Clint Hickman in a news release. We dont grade our own homework and now that we have a better idea of the factors involved, well make changes to best serve voters, starting with replacing some equipment. Lakes Plans Earlier this week, Lakea former local television anchorresponded to speculation that she could be readying a bid for statewide office, possibly the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). Sinema has not officially announced whether she will run for reelection in 2024, but reports indicate that she has filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission. 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. In a recent interview with OANN, Lake said that she is strongly considering running for Sinemas seat. The race could be unusual as Sinema recently left the Democratic Party to become an independent, while at least one prominent Democrat, Rep. Reuben Gallego (D-Ariz.), announced hes running for the position. A portion of her election-related lawsuit is currently being heard by the Arizona Supreme Court, which rejected a number of claims her lawyers made but kept Lakes challenge to Marciopas signature verification process alive. The Epoch Times has contacted Runbeck Election Services for comment. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Quebec Medical College Says Not Its Role to Evaluate COVID-19 Vaccination Safety Concerns A group of Quebec doctors and scientists is disappointed with the response from the provinces medical college regarding its efforts to engage on the issue of the safety of COVID-19 vaccination. After sending several letters and obtaining a meeting with the College des medecins du Quebec (CMQ) to express its concerns, the organization Reinfo Quebec received a response from the CMQ president in late March. We wish to remind you that the College des medecins du Quebec is a professional order and not a scholarly society, CMQ president Mauril Gaudreault wrote in a March 26 email obtained by The Epoch Times. Therefore, it is not our responsibility to evaluate the many elements that you have raised during our meeting. Gaudreault then encouraged the group to instead raise its concerns with two provincial health bodies which he said would be more appropriate discussion partners. Dr. Rene Lavigueur, a family physician and member of Reinfo, told The Epoch Times that even if the CMQ is not a scholarly society, he believes it has a duty to look into the matter as the ethical authority for the profession and as a defender of the public. When speaking about the [physicians] code of ethics and the principle of precaution, one doesnt need to be a scholar, Lavigueur said. The Epoch Times contacted Gaudreault and CMQ media relations for comment but didnt hear back. Although the issue of approving new medicine falls under the jurisdiction of Health Canada, with the provinces also having their related guidelines as the health-care providers, Reinfo wants the CMQ to look into the issue of vaccine safety given that it is the regulator of the physician profession in Quebec. Reinfo Quebec said it has also engaged the provincial health authorities, but without success. The group has been active in the province since 2021, and has been critical of many different aspects of pandemic management by authorities. Reinfo sent an open letter to the CMQ and Quebecs public health directorate last October, saying that doctors have a duty to obtain free and informed consent from patients. It says this principle was not respected during the pandemic for a number of reasons, including that the COVID-19 vaccines were not tested along normal timetables. The federal government issued a rare interim order in September 2020 to bring the products to market faster by creating an alternative pathway for their approval. Dr. Celia Lourenco, the Health Canada official with final authority on the approval of vaccines in Canada, said under cross-examination in a court case last year that despite not following the normal pathway for drug approval, the review process was still robust. We did not change the requirements in terms of the evidence standard, she said in June 2022 while testifying in defence of the federal travel vaccine mandate as part of court cases launched by citizens arguing that the mandate was unwarranted and unconstitutional. The action was dismissed in federal court and is being appealed. Health Canada spokesperson Anne Genier told The Epoch Times that as with all COVID submissions for new drugs, the department expedited the review process through the use of agile tools such as rolling reviews. This means studies from the manufacturers are being received progressively and the products are approved before the full body of research is complete. This can shorten the overall time from the time a vaccine submission is provided to Health Canada and when it may be approved, said Genier. The federal government revealed in February that vaccine manufacturers sought and were given broad protection from liability for rushing products to market. So thats why these companies said, If Im going to deliver you this product that I havent tested in my normal way, I want to have different conditions, Liberal MP Anthony Housefather told the House of Commons Committee on Public Accounts on Feb. 16. Housefather serves as parliamentary secretary to the minister of Public Services and Procurement. While Dr. Lourenco said the review process had been robust, she mentioned that the COVID vaccines would not have been approved at the time had they shown their current level of effectiveness against infection, but said theyre kept on the market for their prevention of severe outcomes. Vaccine effectiveness wanes over time. Health Canadas website says that Evidence indicates that vaccines and boosters are effective at helping to prevent serious illness, hospitalization and death due to COVID-19, and that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks of the disease. No Follow-Up Reinfo says its October letter allowed the group to obtain a meeting with the CMQ in December where it presented its arguments, but there was no promised follow-up. The March 26 response from the CMQ came after Reinfo sent the college a follow-up letter on Feb. 9, again highlighting concerns on COVID-19 vaccination, and specifically as it pertains to children. Health Canada recommends COVID-19 vaccination for children to help protect against severe outcomes. Most children and youth who get COVID-19 have mild or no symptoms but some require hospitalization for complications, such as difficulty breathing, says its website. The benefits of vaccines authorized in Canada, including for children, continue to outweigh the risks, says spokesperson Genier. Reinfo has called for the suspension of COVID-19 vaccination of children, citing their low risk of severe outcomes from the disease and the unknown long-term consequences from the injections. The letter was signed by 121 scientists and health-care workers, including Dr. Lavigueur. The group notes that some countries have stopped vaccinating the youth against COVID-19, such as Denmark, which also cites the low risk of severe illness. Switzerland has mostly stopped COVID-19 vaccination altogether, saying nearly everyone has been vaccinated and/or contracted and recovered from COVID-19. Lavigueur says he understands the CMQs argument that theyre not a scholarly society, but wonders if it means the CMQ can place itself on the sidelines of science. The doctor, who practises in the Gaspesie region in the eastern part of the province, says the CMQ, as an independent body, is the last line of defence to protect the public. He admits that the issues Reinfo has engaged the college on involve complex scientific aspects, but says some of them are already widely discussed and recognized issues, such as the risk of vaccination-induced heart inflammation. Health Canada says myocarditis and pericarditis are rare reactions following mRNA COVID-19 injections, but that they seem to be occurring more often than expected in adolescents and young adults. Reinfo says the condition is not as rare nor as unremarkable as claimed. A heart disease with a risk of serious mid-to-long term damage cannot be qualified as benign, it wrote in its October letter. The letter cites a 2022 study by Thai scientists, published in the peer-reviewed MDPI journal and referenced in the U.S. government National Library of Medicine, which found that 29 percent of its around 300 adolescent study participants experienced cardiovascular issues after receiving a second dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, ranging from heart palpitations to inflammation. Rep. Biggs Introduces Bills to Defund Manhattan DA Office Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) speaks during the Rally to Protect Our Elections conference in Phoenix, Ariz., on July 24, 2021. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images) Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) has introduced two bills to defund the Manhattan District Attorneys (DA) Office following the indictment of President Donald Trump. Trump was indicted in early April on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. But critics have called the case weak, suggesting political motives behind the move. In a comment emailed to the Epoch Times about the bills, Biggs wrote: As the Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committees Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Government Surveillance, I will not allow District Attorney Alvin Bragg to misuse federal resources sent by Congress to fund the weaponized prosecution of a former U.S. president, while blatantly ignoring soaring crime in New York City. Bragg has repeatedly made clear his top priority as District Attorney is to leverage the legal system to target conservatives, Biggs said. I will use every tool I have to protect conservatives and to restore impartiality in our judicial institutions. Biggs introduced two bills on April 13 intended to address these concerns. The first bill, the Accountability for Lawless Violence In Our Neighborhoods Act, or the ALVIN Act, would prohibit federal funds from being awarded to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office and requires the Office to repay federal funds granted after Jan. 1, 2022. The second bill, the No Federal Funds for Political Prosecutions Act, would prohibit state or local law enforcement agencies from using funds or property seized through asset forfeiture to investigate or prosecute the president, vice president, or a candidate for the office of president in a criminal case. Biggs added that it was concerning to see the Manhattan DAs office wasting federal resources for political purposes instead of addressing serious crimes in the city. [W]ith an almost insurmountable national debt that exceeds $31 trillion, the nation simply cannot afford to support Mr. Braggs politicization of the criminal justice system, Biggs said. New York City, like most other metropolitan areas across the United States, has seen a major spike in violent crimes over the past two years. Following the death of George Floyd, fringe positions like defunding the police and minimizing penalties for violent crime became more mainstream among many left-wing prosecutors and DAs. As DA, Bragg has reduced more than half of the felony charges that came through his office to misdemeanors. Republicans say this approach to law enforcement is in part responsible for the massive increase in violent crime. Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has indicated his own opposition to the prosecution of Trump. Thus, the bill could stand for a vote in the lower chamber. Prospects for the bills are less sanguine in the Senate, where Democrats hold the majority. Democrats are likely to oppose the legislation, as they have accused Republicans of attempting to meddle in a legal matter. Republican Rep. Fry Introduces No More Political Prosecutions Legislation House of Representatives candidate Russell Fry waves to a crowd during a rally with former President Donald Trump at the Florence Regional Airport in Florence, S.C., on March 12, 2022. (Sean Rayford/Getty Images) Rep. Russell Fry (R-S.C.) has introduced legislation that would allow former President Donald Trump to move the criminal case against him to a federal court. Im proud to introduce the No More Political Prosecutions Act. Politically motivated prosecutors should not be able to wield unwarranted power and target our nations top leaders for their own personal gain, said Fry in an April 11 statement. He added, This legislation will prevent the political prosecutions of Presidents and Vice Presidents and thwart corrupt prosecutors agendas. The bill (H.R.2553) would amend existing federal law to grant current and former presidents and vice presidents the option to move civil and criminal cases against them from state courts to federal courts. The legislation has since been referred to the Judiciary Committee, on which Fry sits. The South Carolina congressman also sits on the Oversight Committee. Frys bill marks the first legislative response since Trump was indicted in New York on April 4. The former president was charged with 34 accounts of falsifying business records related to hush payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign. Former President Donald Trump appears in court at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York on April 4, 2023. (Steven Hirsch/Pool/AFP via Getty Images) Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges and stated that Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has no case against him. The charges were handed down by a grand jury empaneled by Bragg. According to Fox News, a Republican aide on Judiciary Committee said the GOP is absolutely looking at moving the legislation onto the House floor. Venues Like many Republicans, Fry has criticized Bragg for bringing the charges against Trump. Todays arraignment is an attack on the rule of law and will sadly erode confidence in our judicial system for so many Americans, Fry wrote on Twitter on April 4. Alvin Bragg is a Soros-funded, far-left local prosecutor interested in doing nothing more than politically persecuting President Trump, referring to left-wing billionaire financier George Soros. This is a dangerous precedent and a grim day for our democracy, Fry added. I stand with President Trump. A day later, the congressman shared on Twitter an op-ed by Jonathan Turley, a law professor at George Washington University. He wrote that he agreed with the professors arguments and said that Trumps trial should be held outside of the Democrat-dominated borough of Manhattan. So now we have a case brought by a prosecutor who campaigned on bagging Trump, to be tried before a jury selected from a district that elected Bragg in part for that reasona district that also voted against Trump 84.5 % to 14.5% in the 2020 presidential election, Fry wrote, quoting Turley. Trumps attorney Jim Trusty also recently raised concerns about the venue of the trial. The issue with venue is that Manhattan was like 87 percent pro-Joe Biden the last election. Its a real stronghold of liberalism, of activism, and that infects the whole process, Trusty told ABCs This Week on April 9. However, Trusty added that his clients legal team is focusing on dismissing the indictment and is a long way out from worrying about changing venues to a more balanced district like Staten Island. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) presides over a hearing of the Weaponization of the Federal Government Subcommittee in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Feb. 9, 2023. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Polls House Republicans are probing Braggs prosecution of Trump. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) has sought documents and testimony from Matthew Colangelo, senior counsel to the Manhattan District Attorneys Office. Jordan has also subpoenaed Mark Pomerantz, a former Manhattan prosecutor who pushed for Trumps indictment. A recent survey conducted by Morning Consult, which polled 1,981 registered voters between April 5 and April 8, found that 45 percent of voters supported the GOP congressional investigation of Braggs grand jury investigation of Trump, while 35 percent disapproved. Twenty percent said they dont know or did not have an opinion. When broken down by party affiliation, 63 percent of Republicans and 34 percent of Democrats supported the GOP efforts. Independent voters were split on this issue39 percent supported, 32 percent disapproved, and 29 percent did not know or did not have an opinion. Trump has continued to enjoy enormous support among Republican primary voters. According to a separate survey by Morning Consult, Trump had the support of 56 percent of potential Republican primary voters, with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis coming in second with 23 percent of support. That 33-percentage-point lead over the past several days marks Trumps largest since Morning Consults tracking of the hypothetical matchup began in December, the survey says. The survey was conducted from April 7 to April 9 and 3,608 potential GOP primary voters were polled. IN-DEPTH: Researchers Find Explosion of Youth Gender Dysphoria Over the Last Decade Protesters opposing medical transgender procedures for youths gathered at the American Academy of Pediatrics convention in Anaheim, Calif., on Oct. 7, 2022. (Courtesy of TreVoices.Org/Scott Newgent) Transgenderism has exploded among youth in the United States over the last decade. Americans between the ages of 13 and 17 make up nearly 20 percent of the people in the United States who identify as transgender, according to a 2022 report by the Williams Institute, a think tank at the University of CaliforniaLos Angeles School of Law. The 2022 report also estimated that 3 percent of teens between the ages of 13 and 17 identify themselves as transgender, a 100 percent increase over the number in the organizations 2017 report. The latest report used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions 2017 and 2019 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System and the 20172020 Youth Risk Behavior Survey. Dr. Michelle Cretella, an expert in adolescent sexuality, believes the rate is significantly higher than the Williams Institute report estimates. A rise this dramatic is most certainly due to indoctrination, she told The Epoch Times. Cretella is co-chair of the Adolescent Sexuality Committee of the American College of Pediatricians and serves as an adviser to the nonprofit organization Advocates Protecting Children. For decades, the percentage of gender-confused youth remained mostly unchanged, she explained, adding the sharp increase coincides with the growth of social media apps and other media available to children. American society has been increasingly indoctrinating our youth into transgender beliefs since 2013 through all forms of media, including books for children and young adults, music, radio, TV, movies, internet, social media, and apps like TikTok, Cretella said. A cross-sectional study of two public gender clinics over an eight-year periodthe Gender Identity Development Service in the United Kingdom (GIDS) and the Royal Childrens Hospital Gender Service (RCHGS) in Australiafound that as media coverage of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) topics increased, so did referrals to the clinics. Researchers tracked clinic referrals of more than 5,200 young people up to the age of 18 from 2009 to 2016, according to the 2020 study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association. In the UK, 4,684 patients were referred to GIDS for gender dysphoria over the study period. Of the patients referred, 2,837 were females, accounting for 60.6 percent of the referrals, and 1,847 were males. In Australia, 558 patients were referred to RCHGS, of whom 308, or 55.2 percent, were females and 250 were males. The number of media items in the UK and Australia was 2,194 and 420, respectively. During this period, the annual number of referrals and TGD-related items both rose sharply and showed a significant positive correlation, the studys authors wrote. Other Factors In 2013, the American Psychiatric Association updated the 5th edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) in an attempt to normalize gender-confused individuals, according to Cretella (pdf). The DSM-5 replaced Gender Identity Disorder with the category of Gender Dysphoria, and they argued that if these people are happy and socially functional with their false belief, they should be considered mentally well, she said. An increased suicide rate in transgender youth is also cited often in the media and the trans community as a reason to affirm such ideology. But Cretella and other experts say the data quoted is skewed. Oxford sociologist Michael Biggs, who studied suicide rates in children aged 1019 years old in England, found transgender identity increases suicide risk by a factor of 13. The elevated risk, while concerning, is less than or within range of the suicide risk associated with other disorders, Cretella explained. Anorexia increases suicide risk by a factor of 18, depression multiplies ones risk by a factor of 20, and autism raises suicide risk by a factor of 8. Anorexia, depression, and autism often coincide with gender dysphoria, she said. A Transgender Nightmare Prisha Mosleys transgender nightmare started when she was in treatment for multiple mental health conditions, including the eating disorder anorexia, depression, anxiety, and borderline personality disorder. I had whats called rapid onset gender dysphoria, she explained to The Epoch Times. I didnt feel gender dysphoria until I was told I was born in the wrong body. Mosley, who was 15 when she began her social transition to a male, wants to bring awareness to the dangersphysical, mental, and emotionalof transgender ideology. She said she was introduced to transgenderism when she was deep in the trenches of the pro-ana community, where young girls post naked photos of their starving bodies and encourage each other not to eat. And trans people go into that communityadultsand tell the children in that community that they are actually born in the wrong body, Mosley said, adding that these children are told they can stop their anorexia by transitioning. A 2023 photo of Prisha Mosley, 25, who detransitioned after receiving therapy for her comorbid disorders. (Courtesy of Prisha Mosley) About a year before she began transitioning to a male, Mosley was raped. The assault resulted in a pregnancy that ended in miscarriage due to her eating disorder. When Mosley told her parents she was transgender, they sent her to a therapist who quickly diagnosed her as trans and told them they must affirm their daughters beliefs or risk losing her to suicide. The rates of comorbidities in transpeople would blow your mind, she said. They all have suicidality, cluster B personalities, stuff like that, she said. So, they dont have boundaries, and they need constant validation. Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by a tendency to be overly dramatic, overly emotional, or have unpredictable thinking and behavior, according to the Mayo Clinic. Doctors who refused to affirm Mosleys anorexic delusions were willing to affirm her trans ideology and encourage her to transition, she explained. By the time she was 17, she was taking cross-sex hormones and, about a year later, had a double mastectomy, known as top surgery in the trans community. Mosley eventually had a breakthrough and clarity of mind and returned to living as a woman. Now, she suffers from vaginal atrophy, facial hair, and other issues due to her medical and surgical transition. She also believes she will never be able to have children. Im trying to prevent children from being sterilized and mutilated, Mosley said. They are trying to prevent children from killing themselves because they have bought the myththe suicide myth. What Can Parents Do? Erin Brewer, author and co-founder of Advocates Protecting Children, was a gender-confused kid before transgender ideology was prevalent in society. She has written several books including, Common Sense Care, Parenting Gender-Confused Kids With Truth and Love, and the childrens book, Always Erin. Brewer, who grew up in the mid-70s to 80s, was sexually assaulted by two men as a very young girl. The attack left her angry and aggressive. She reasoned that the assault would not have happened if she had been a boy. So, when she started first grade, she decided to be a boy. Luckily, her teachers recognized she needed help. My teachers were a godsend to me, Brewer told The Epoch Times. My family life was a mess. I had some tremendous teachers that really saved me because they were so kind and caring. Brewer said no one ever affirmed her gender confusion. Rather, she received therapy to address the trauma she had endured. She fears if she was a child with those feelings today, she would have lost the opportunity to be a mother, which is why she advocates for parents to talk to their children about the topic. In the same way that you might [talk] to your child about stranger danger, Brewer said. Talk to your children about the fact that there are going to be people who try to confuse them and that those are people who dont have their best interests at heart. Really, make it clear so that kids know to look out for this. Most children who are gender confused have other emotional or social issues that need to be addressed, according to Cretella. Hug your child and tell him or her that you love them unconditionally and will do whatever it takes to help them achieve optimal health, she said, adding that a sterilized and mutilated body is not optimal health. A set of guidelines at the American College of Pediatricians is available to help parents find appropriate care for their gender-confused child. Rubio Urges Federal Election Commission to Investigate Allegedly Fraudulent ActBlue Donations A U.S. senator is urging the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to investigate after journalists found people listed as having donated tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars to Democrats saying they did not donate nearly as much. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) told FEC officials that the alarming reports indicate that there were fraudulent donations being reported to the FEC by ActBlue, a nonprofit that helps facilitate donations to Democrat candidates. These reports indicate that numerous individuals, including senior citizens, have purportedly donated to ActBlue thousands of times a year. However, according to recent investigative reports, many of these individuals had no idea that their names and addresses were being used to give thousands of dollars in political donations, with most of these donations going to ActBlue, Rubio said in a letter. James OKeefe, the Project Veritas founder who recently started the OKeefe Media Group, kickstarted the investigations by reporting on his discussions with multiple people listed as having contributed major funding to candidates. The people said they didnt donate nearly as much as they were listed as having contributed. Absolutely not, Carolyn Lenz, an Arizona resident listed as donating $170,221 since 2017 across more than 18,800 individual donations, told OKeefes new group. Other reporters have since uncovered more people whose donations dont line up with their statements. Someone is using my name, Jan Weisburg, a California resident listed as having thousands of dollars a month, said. We cannot comment, an FEC spokesperson told The Epoch Times via email. ActBlue has not responded to requests for comment. No Surprise Rubio said that what has been uncovered is not surprising. It should come as no surprise that ActBlue serves as a vessel for fraud, considering the intentional lack of security engrained within their donation processes and systems, he said. ActBlue doesnt require card verification value (CVV) numbers when a person inputs their credit card number. The numbers have increasingly been used to verify a persons identity and reduce the risk of fraud, particularly online. Requiring the numbers is standard practice across the e-commerce industry to reduce fraud and prevent unlawful foreign transactions, Rubio, ranking member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said. In knowing that foreign actors use fake accounts to exploit donation systems that do not have robust verification processes and systems in place, most individual campaigns and political action committees require CVV numbers as part of making an online donation. However, in breaking with most organizations, ActBlue does not require CVV numbers as a requirement for donating, and thus lending itself as a facilitator of fraud, he added. I urge the commission to investigate ActBlues reporting and insufficient security guardrails. The Nuri "was successfully launched from the Naro Space Center in South Jeolla Province at 4 p.m. and placed a dummy satellite in orbit 700 km above the Earth 15 minutes and 46 seconds after launch," the Ministry of Science and ICT said Tuesday. Korea on Tuesday succeeded in launching a fully homegrown rocket into space and became the seventh country in the world to put a satellite into orbit with its own technology. The country began developing the Nuri in 2010. The three-stage rocket, officially called the Korea Space Launch Vehicle II (KSLV-II) "successfully communicated with the King Sejong Station in Antarctica to verify its location." The rocket was designed to put a 1.5-ton satellite into orbit at an altitude of 600 km to 800 km. Development cost W1.96 trillion (US$1=W1,294). The Korea Aerospace Research Institute plans to launch four more Nuris from 2023 to 2027. An upgraded version will be used to send a landing module to the moon in 2030. "Now a path to space has been opened from" Korea, President Yoon Suk-yeol said after watching the launch at his office in Seoul. "It is the result of overcoming tough challenges over 30 years... [for Koreans] to reach out to space." He added the government will establish an aerospace agency to support the industry. Russias and Chinas Failing Arms Exports Commentary Every year, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) releases its annual report on the global arms trade. It is a short document (just 12 pages) but a worthwhile read. In particular, it is chockablock with useful data on international arms transfers. In the first place, for example, the volume of overall arms exports for the five-year period 20182022 is down from the previous five years (20132017). Countries like the United States, France, and Italy have seen their shares of the global arms market rise considerably, while South Korea is becoming a major player in the international arms bazaar, outselling Israel, Turkey, and Sweden. Significantly, one of the reports major findings is that Russia and China are particularly experiencing drop-offs in their arms exports. From the period 20132017 to the period 20182022, Chinese arms overseas arms transfers fell 23 percent, while Russian arms exports dropped a whopping 31 percentnearly one-third. Frankly, it couldnt happen to two more deserving countries. These countries belligerence and aggressiveness on the world stage are creating major blowback for their arms industries. The reason for the collapse of Russian arms sales is obvious. Its invasion of Ukraine has made it a pariah, more or less, and this has cost it major arms agreements. Since the war began, Russian arms sales have plummeted everywhere. Longstanding customers for Russian weaponry, such as India and Egypt, have significantly cut their buys from Moscow. As such, Russia now has fewer overseas orders for its fighter jets than France or Italy. Overall, Russias share of the global arms market has dropped from 22 percent for the period 2013-2017 to just 16 percent in 2018-2022. To put it another way, in 2013, Russia exported nearly $8 billion worth of arms; by 2022, this had dropped to just under $3 billion. Meanwhile, the U.S. share of the global arms market grew from 33 percent to 40 percent. This has particularly hurt arms deals involving Southeast Asia. At one time, Southeast Asia has been a particularly lucrative market for Russian arms producers. In recent years, Moscow has sold Su-27 or Su-30 fighter jets to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Vietnam, and MiG-29s and Yak-130 trainer jets to Burma (also known as Myanmar). Other important sales include Russian air-to-air missiles, anti-ship missiles, and helicopters. A Sukhoi Su-30 fighter is seen on the tarmac at the MAKS 2017 air show in Zhukovsky, outside Moscow, Russia, on July 18, 2017. (Sergei Karpukhin/Reuters) As a result, for much of the 21st century, Russia was the largest arms exporter to this region. According to Ian Storey of the Institute for Southeast Asian Studies, between 2000 and 2021, the value of Russias arms exports to the region was $10.9 billion, followed by the United States, with $8.4 billion worth. This lucrative market has largely gone away for Russia. Indonesia, for example, canceled an agreement to buy Russian fighter jets, while the Philippines dropped plans to acquire helicopters and submarines from Russia. Even Vietnam, Russias largest customer in Southeast Asia, has paused its arms purchases, although this is as likely due to internal politics as it is to Russias deteriorating global image. The loss of arms salesparticularly to Asiahas been catastrophic for Russias defense industry. Moscow obviously does not want to lose access to this money-spinning business, yet Russian arms deals will likely continue to falter, at least over the short term. At the same time, Russias diminished arms export capacity leaves behind a vacuum that other arms competitors could sweep in to fill. This opportunity favors the United States and major European arms producers. Chinese arms sales, however, are unlikely to benefit from Russias setbacks. Russias biggest buyersparticularly India and Vietnamare never going to buy Chinese weaponry. Most Southeast Asian states, with the possible exception of Burma and Thailand, are also unlikely to turn to Beijing for armaments. In fact, China has experienced a major drop in its arms exports over the past half-decade23 percent, according to SIPRI. Over the past five years, Chinese arms transfers averaged barely $1.4 billion, significantly down from $2 billion worth of arms exports in 2013 (that is, Xi Jinpings first year as General Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party). In fact, China has consistently failed over the past several decades to break out of its second-tier status as an arms exporter. Beijings share of the global arms business has rarely topped 5 percent or 6 percent, leaving it a distant third behind the United States and Russia (or, more recently, fourth behind France). Moreover, China is still overly dependent on a few major arms purchasers, especially Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Burma. In fact, in recent years, Pakistan has accounted for over half (54 percent!) of all Chinese arms transfers. At the same time, one-time customers like Algeria, Indonesia, Iran, Sudan, and Venezuela have either greatly curtailed or completely stopped their buying of Chinese weaponry. So what is next for these two failing arms exporters? In the case of Russia, two of its biggest buyers, India and Chinaboth of whom have refused to condemn Russias invasion of Ukrainewill likely continue to acquire Russian weapons systems or military technology. They are simply too much at the mercy of Moscow to let go anytime soon. Russian Sukhoi Su-35 and Su-34 military aircraft fly above the Ivan the Great Bell Tower during a rehearsal for the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 4, 2017. (Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP via Getty Images) China, for example, still depends on Russia for jet engines and helicopters; and in 2015, Beijing agreed to a $2 billion deal with Moscow for 24 Su-35 air-superiority fighter jets. At the same time, these countries might decide that now is a good time to reduce their dependencies, either through diversifying their suppliers or expanding indigenous procurement. India, for example, is buying more and more military equipment from Israel and the United States. For its part, China still has some significant strengths in the global arms business. For example, Beijing has emerged as a leading exporter of all kinds of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) ranging from the very small (typically hand-held) types all the way up to very large high-altitude, long-endurance (HALE) UAVs. In particular, China has rapidly become one of the worlds largest suppliers of armed drones. According to SIPRI, Beijing has sold armed drones to at least 16 countries in three continents, including Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, Nigeria, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Altogether, these sales have been worth more than $700 million. Nevertheless, the next few years promise to be lean ones for Russias and Chinas arms exporters. It is cliche to say that actions have consequences, but this has rarely been so self-evident as in this case. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Sandstorms Shroud Beijing, Northern China A sandstorm in Shenyang, in China's northeastern Liaoning Province, on April 11, 2023. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) Sandstorms continue to wreak havoc in parts of China. Air dust covers most of the region north of the Yangtze River, causing air pollution in at least 18 provinces and cities. According to the latest three-day forecast, sandstorms will continue in North China from April 13 to 15. The sandstorm in the north is anticipated to continue for the following week. I can smell and taste the sand sitting in the emergency room with an N95 mask, a Chinese netizen said on social media on April 11. On March 19, China issued its first sandstorm warning for the spring season when cold high pressure went southward. Between March 19 and 22, severe sandstorms hit an area of 894.5 million acres, covering 15 provinces, Beijing, and 1,212 counties. On March 10, a heavy sandstorm filled Beijings sky with yellow sand. Earlier last month, multiple provinces and cities encountered intense sandstorms twice. Chinas sandstorm originates from the north and the northwest and migrates south and east to Beijing. Sometimes it affects the bordering North Korea and Japan in the east. Beijing On April 11, Beijing was hit with strong winds, accompanied by sand and dust, with wind gusts reaching level 9 or above. Local media reported the urban area in Beijing was shrouded in yellow sand. A resident surnamed Chen from the Shunyi District of Beijing told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times that sand could quickly get into ones mouth even when its slightly opened. Most people wear a mask and/or cover their face with a scarf outdoors. Commuters wait for a bus during a sandstorm in Beijing on April 11, 2023. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) He said the current storm reminds most people of the severe sandstorms in the 1990s. Chen believes the frequent sandstorms are associated with desertification in the north. Inner Mongolia Strong sandstorms also hit Inner Mongolia; yellow sands covered the south-central city of Ulanqab. It [the city] is all darkened by red sands, Nareen (pseudonym), a resident of Dorbod Banner of Ulanqab, told The Epoch Times on April 11. She said it used to be a localized sandstorm. But this time, its really serious. The sandstorm hits like waves as the winds blow the sand high up into the air. The Gobi Desert The cause of the severe sandstorms was a popular topic on Chinese social media. One netizen wrote: Since the super heavy sandstorm in the 1990s, the PM2.5 has become a major part of the memory. In recent years the sandstorms have suddenly returned. Is it possible that desertification in Mongolia has become more serious? PM2.5 refers to air particulates with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or less, the fine inhalable particles believed to be an index for air quality. Another wrote: I remember that there was a saying in the first few years when smog was heavy: The Great Greenwall in the north controls the sand but not the smog. To control the smog, urban ventilation channels were started. So is the sand blown over [to Beijing] again? The Great Greenwall, also known as the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, is a 72-year development plan from 1978 to 2050. It aims to create windbreaks along 2,800 miles of all three northern regions of China: the North, the Northeast, and the Northwest. The wall is designed to hold back the Gobi Deserts expansion and block the path of sandstorms sweeping southwards from the desert to Beijing. To speed up the establishment of the Green Wall, local authorities chose the poplar tree to create a clonal grove. But there were several problems, such as poplars are fast-growing but short-lived. According to a 2016 report, the rampant bald beetle destroyed many poplars in recent years. The high water demand of poplars was also a burden to groundwater reserves. Some experts believe the aging of the man-made forest and the depleting underground water led to the return of the sandstorm since the spring of 2000. Xiao Lusheng and Hong Ning contributed to this report. Senate Republican Leader McConnell to Return to Capitol After 5-Week Absence Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) speaks during a news conference following a closed-door lunch meeting with Senate Republicans at the Capitol in Washington, on Jan. 31, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced on April 13 that he will return to the Capitol on April 17 after suffering a concussion at a private dinner in early March. McConnell said in a social media post that he would be present when the Senate returned from its two-week April recess. I am looking forward to returning to the Senate on Monday. Weve got important business to tackle and big fights to win for Kentuckians and the American people, he said. On March 8, 81-year-old McConnell tripped and fell at a private dinner at the Waldorf Astoria in downtown Washington, sustaining a concussion. He was transported by ambulance to an undisclosed hospital, where he rested and was observed for several days. The Senate party leader was transferred from the hospital on March 13 to an inpatient rehabilitation facility, his communications director David Popp said in a statement. I want to sincerely thank everyone for all the kind wishes, McConnell said on April 13 in his first personally issued statement since he fell. Im happy to say I finished inpatient physical therapy earlier today and Im glad to be home. Im going to follow the advice of my physical therapists and spend the next few days working for Kentuckians and the Republican Conference from home, he added. Im in frequent touch with my Senate colleagues and my staff. I look forward to returning in person to the Senate soon. The senator recently became the Senates longest-serving GOP leader and this was not the first time he has been injured in a fall. In 2019, he fractured his shoulder after falling on the outdoor patio of his Louisville, Kentucky, residence. Several other senators have also struggled with health issues. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), age 89, was discharged from the hospital on March 7 after treatment for shingles. She tweeted, I continue to receive treatment and look forward to returning to the Senate as soon as feasible. Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.), 53, left hospital on March 31 after getting treatment for clinical depression at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. He had been admitted there on Feb. 15, just a few days after getting treatment for lightheadedness at George Washington University Hospital. Share of Americans Who Describe China as Enemy Rather Than Competitor Surges: Poll U.S. President Joe Biden (R) and China's leader Xi Jinping (L) meet on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Nusa Dua on the Indonesian resort island of Bali on Nov. 14, 2022. (Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images) A growing number of Americans are increasingly viewing China as an enemy as opposed to a competitor or partner of the United States, according to a newly released Pew Research Center survey. Pew surveyed 3,576 adults from March 20 to March 26. The survey, which was published on April 12, is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population. It found that 4 in 10 Americans now describe China as an enemy of America, up 13 points from 2022. Specifically, when asked whether they see China as either a competitor, enemy, or partner of the United States, 52 percent of respondents said they see the country as a competitor, marking a drop of 10 percentage points from a year ago when 62 percent of Americans saw China as a competitor. The share of respondents describing China as an enemy rose from 25 percent in March 2022 to 38 percent in March 2023, which is the highest Pew Research Centre has recorded since 2021. Just 6 percent of respondents said they consider China a partner of the United States, the survey found. About 8 in 10 American adultsor 83 percenthave negative views of China, up 1 percentage point from 2022, and those with unfavorable views of the nation have increased by 4 percentage points year-over-year, from 40 to 44 percent, the survey found. The survey comes as tensions between Washington and Beijing have been further exacerbated in recent months amid the latters increasingly aggressive actions around the self-ruled island of Taiwan. China Blames Lies, Rumors, Anti-China Forces On April 10, China finally ended three days of military drills around Taiwan, which included testing integrated military capabilities under actual combat conditions as well as practicing precision strikes, following Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wens meeting in Los Angeles with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.). The meeting, during which McCarthy promised to speed up arms deliveries to Taiwan, was condemned by Chinas Foreign Ministry, which branded it an erroneous act of collusion. Issues surrounding the Chinese-owned TikTok appwhich has been banned on U.S. federal government devices amid concerns over the possibility of user data being obtained by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) the nations human rights abuses, and the Chinese surveillance balloon shot down over American skies in February have further fanned the flames, as has Chinese President Xi Jinpings recent visit to Moscow to meet his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin. According to the Pew Research Center survey, 47 percent of respondents believe tensions between China and Taiwan pose a very serious problem for the United States, marking a 19-point increase from the share who said the same in 2021. Meanwhile, 62 percent of Americans see the ChinaRussia partnership as a very serious problem for the United States, up 5 points since October and back to the original high levels seen just after Russias invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Speaking about the results of the survey at a press conference on April 13, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said he normally would not comment on specific polls but blamed the findings on lies, rumors, anti-China forces for spreading disinformation about his country, which he said have seriously misled public opinion and clouded peoples judgement in relevant countries. We will continue to be open-minded and welcoming towards having more cultural exchanges with other countries and bringing people from different countries closer to each other, he added. SEC Sides With Conservatives in Allowing Vote to Probe Political, Religious Discrimination at PayPal PayPal headquarters in San Jose, Calif., on March 10, 2015. PayPal shares jumped in its first day as a separate and publicly traded company Monday, July 20, 2015, as it outlined plans to capitalize on the rise of mobile payments and the growing digitization of money. (AP Photo/Jeff Chiu) The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) sided with conservative investors this week in their request to investigate what they say is PayPals systemic political and religious discrimination against customers. Over the objections of PayPals management, the agency allowed a proposal by the National Center for Public Policy Research (NCPPR) to go to a shareholder vote at the companys next annual meeting. This decision follows a similar decision on March 29, in which the SEC green-lighted a proposal regarding alleged political and religious discrimination at JPMorgan Chase, the United States largest bank. In an April 10 letter to PayPals attorneys, the SEC stated that NCPPRs proposal requests that the board conduct an evaluation and issue a report within the next year evaluating how it oversees risks related to discrimination against individuals based on their race, color, religion (including religious views), sex, national origin, or political views, and whether such discrimination may impact individuals exercise of their constitutionally protected civil rights. Responding to PayPals request to block the proposal from going to a shareholder vote, the SEC stated: We are unable to concur in your view that the Company may exclude the Proposal under Rule 14a-8(i)(7). In our view, the Proposal transcends ordinary business matters. PayPal had argued that its shareholders shouldnt consider NCPPRs request because the issue of viewpoint discrimination is part of the companys ordinary business operations and that the proposal seeks to micro-manage the company by probing too deeply into matters of a complex nature upon which shareholders, as a group, would not be in a position to make an informed judgment. The NCPPR proposal stated, Companies that provide banking or financial services are essential pillars of the marketplace. On account of their unique and pivotal role in Americas economy, many federal and state laws already prohibit them from discriminating when providing financial services to the public. And the UN Declaration of Human Rights, consistent with many other laws and the U.S. Constitution, recognizes that everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. Conservatives Claim Viewpoint Discrimination We know from news stories that PayPal has been discriminating on the basis of viewpoints, shutting down accounts that differ from their woke political principles, Scott Shepard, a director at NCPPR and co-author of the proposal, told The Epoch Times. Were giving them a chance with this to consider ways to rectify those problems. PayPal has scored well in terms of its support for progressive causes. Standard & Poors ranked it a 49 out of 100 in the social justice category of its environmental, social, and governance (ESG) score, more than double the industry average of 22, although below the industry best of 90. Its overall ESG rating has increased steadily to 58 today from 18 in 2018. PayPal scored a perfect 100 percent on the Corporate Equality Index (CEI), published by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). The HRC publishes various corporate indices that it says are benchmarks of LGBTQ-inclusive policies, practices, and benefits of our nations employers. Noting left-wing philanthropist George Soross funding of the HRC, some analysts have suggested that campaigns such as Bud Lights endorsement of trans activist Dylan Mulvaney were part of a standard corporate practice of pursuing high scores from ESG rating agencies and progressive organizations such as the HRC. Anheuser-Busch, the brewer of Bud Light beer, scored 100 on HRCs Corporate Equality Index. The NCPPR proposal suggested that PayPal also take note of the Viewpoint Diversity Index, which is produced by the Alliance Defending Freedom and measures corporate respect for religious and ideological diversity. According to this metric, PayPal scores 5 out of 100 in terms of respecting customers and vendors freedom of expression and belief and has an overall viewpoint diversity score of 7 out of 100. JPMorgan, whose shareholders will be voting May 16 on a proposal to investigate political and religious discrimination, also scored a perfect 100 on the HRCs Corporate Equality Index. Regarding companies CEI scores, Shepard said that they can only get the scores they received if theyve been taking hard-left positions in the culture wars. JPMorgan Chase scored 15 out of 100 on the Viewpoint Diversity Index. Asset Managers, Proxy Agents Control Corporate Votes Neither the PayPal nor the JPMorgan proposal is likely to get majority support from shareholders because proxy agents such as ISS and Glass Lewis will recommend against them, he said, and asset managers such as BlackRock, Vanguard, and State Street habitually vote against them. According to a Harvard study, institutional asset managerssuch as mutual funds, index funds, and pension fundsown about 70 percent of all corporate shares, compared with 30 percent that are owned by individual shareholders. ISS and Glass Lewis are the two largest proxy voting agents and together represent an estimated 97 percent share of the industry. Proxy agents advise asset managers and other shareholders how they should vote at corporate shareholder meetings and often vote on shareholders behalf. According to Glass Lewiss ESG Initiatives, it advocates that corporations disclose and manage their climate change practices: In instances where we find either of these disclosures to be absent or significantly lacking, we may recommend voting against responsible directors. Glass Lewis also recommends that shareholders support racial equity audits. Despite its long odds of success, NCPPR continues to put conservative voting proposals in front of corporate shareholders, requesting an examination of policies that may be discriminatory. It does put these corporations on the spot by explaining to them in an official, public way, that theyre failing in their fiduciary duties by throwing away customers because of their executives personal preferences and in ways that create, among other things, litigation liability for them, Shepard said. NCPPR has put similar shareholder proposals in front of MasterCard, Capital One, and Charles Schwab. All of those will go to a shareholder vote without intervention from the SEC because management of those companies, although not supporting the proposals, didnt challenge them. PayPal didnt respond by press time to a request by The Epoch Times for comment. Soros-Backed Prosecutor Fights Attempt to Oust Her From Office FILE - In a, Jan. 13, 2020 file photo, St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner speaks in St. Louis. Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey called Wednesday, Feb. 22, 2023 for the resignation of St. Louis' elected prosecutor Kim Gardner, after a motorist who repeatedly violated his bond conditions on earlier charges crashed and injured a teenage volleyball player from Tennessee, resulting in amputation of both of her legs. (AP Photo/Jim Salter, File) A Missouri prosecutor wants a judge to toss out the state attorney generals unusual attempt to oust her from her elected position. St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly Gardner, who is accused of office mismanagement and lax law enforcement, on April 11 filed a motion to dismiss Attorney General Andrew Baileys petition asking a judge to remove her from office. Gardners motion to dismiss was filed in advance of an April 18 hearing, the first scheduled in the case since Bailey filed it on Feb. 23. The Epoch Times has requested a copy of the filing. The Missouri courts website contains only descriptions of the documents filed in the case. The dismissal motion also comes just days after a judge sanctioned Gardner for allegedly withholding evidence in a double-murder case. Last year, the state Supreme Court reprimanded her for similar deficiencies during a 2018 campaign finance case against then-Gov. Eric Greitens, a Republican. Gardners battle to keep her job is occurring in the context of a national debate over the alleged soft-on-crime policies of some Democrat prosecutors in big cities, particularly those who received backing from funds from billionaire George Soros. According to The Missouri Times, Gardners campaign benefited from Soross largesse. Although embattled, Gardner has announced she is seeking re-election in 2024 to the position she has held since 2017. Outrage Over Teen Double Amputation Democrat Gardner has publicly accused Bailey, a Republican, of a politically motivated attack against her. But Bailey denies that. He cites his legal obligation to hold Gardner responsible for performing mandated duties. In his writ of quo warranto petition seeking Gardners removal, Bailey alleges that Gardner allowed cases to languish and let alleged repeat offenders off easy. He also says Gardners alleged inaction in one criminal case culminated in horrific injuries to a visiting teen athlete, which sparked a public outcry. On Feb. 18, Janae Edmondson of Smyrna, Tenn., was visiting St. Louis to participate in a volleyball tournament. She was walking along a downtown sidewalk with her parents when a speeding vehicle caused a crash, pinning her legs. She is now a double amputee. Police say Janaes father helped save her life by using waist belts as tourniquets to stop the bleeding from her mangled legs. Daniel Riley, 21, the driver accused of causing the crash that hurt Janae, is an armed robbery suspect who remained free despite violating his house arrest order dozens of times, Bailey said. Bailey argues that Riley would have been locked up if Gardner had done her duty to enforce laws. Janae was released from a Missouri hospital at the end of March; recently, she was able to attend school for a couple hours, the first time since the crash, according to a GoFundMe page set up for her. Nearly $806,000 of a $900,000 goal had been raised on her behalf as of April 12. Janae Edmondson, a Tennessee teen athlete, lost both of her legs after a speeding vehicle caused a crash as she walked with her parents in St. Louis, Mo., on Feb. 18, 2023. (Rhonda Ross/GoFundMe) Gardner Denies Fault Gardner, in a news conference after Bailey announced his attempt to oust her, denied fault in the circumstances that led to Janaes injuries. She asserts that judges either ignored or refused her staffs requests to take action against Riley. Gardner also contested that allegation in a March 14 court filing, in which she denied all of the claims Bailey made in his petition. Further, Gardners lawyers wrote, Ms. Gardner was not the attorney assigned to any of the specific cases referenced in the Petition. She did not make any of the decisions complained of in the Petition. Ms. Gardner does not have personal knowledge of all circumstances and reasons for each of the decisions complained of in the Petition. Suspect Facing More Charges Stemming From Violent Montreal Mosque Break-In The Montreal Police logo is seen on a police car in Montreal on July 8, 2020. (The Canadian Press/Paul Chiasson) Montreal police say a suspect accused in a violent break-in at a downtown mosque is facing more charges. Cory Anderson, 32, is charged with assault with a weapon, unlawful confinement and mischief stemming from an incident early Sunday at the Al-Omah Al-Islamiah mosque. A national Muslim group released surveillance videos that appear to show someone trying to strike a young worshipper before using a rock to break through the mosques front door and entering the prayer room. The Canadian Muslim Forum had called on police to investigate the incident as a hate crime. Montreal police said Monday the incident didnt appear to be motivated by hate, but investigators from the hate crime unit became involved because a place of worship was targeted. Anderson was initially charged with mischief and released on a promise to appear, but police say he was rearrested today and will remain in custody until at least Thursday. Justin Pearson, a Democratic State Representative ousted from the Tennessee House of Representatives, returns to the state legislature after being reinstated at 10 a.m. ET on April 13. The House expelled Pearson and two other Representatives for breaking decorum with a gun control demonstration on the House floor. The Surveillance State Is on the March A temporary, mobile surveillance tower is surrounded by a wood fence as it stands on the east side of the U.S. Capitol on Oct. 19, 2021. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Commentary As a working principle, the conviction that things are always worse than they seem is hard to beat. Along with the observation from William Dean Howells that the problem for a critic isnt making enemies but keeping them, that mournful conviction that things are worse than they seem has the twin clarifying advantage of being psychologically helpful and empirically true. Both have stood me in good stead. That is to say, if Johnny Mercer was right that one should accentuate the positive, one should also avoid the attitude of Dr. Pangloss who, Leibnizian that he was, taught that this is the best of all possible worlds. As readers of Candide will recall, that rose-colored sentiment didnt do much to protect Cunegonde. I was reminded of this constellation of mottos while reading Jacob Siegels long and meticulously researched Guide to Understanding the Hoax of the Century. Siegels brilliant if melancholy overview shows in exhaustive detail how the U.S. government, abetted by the mainstream media and what has come to be called elite or ruling class opinion generally, has repurposed surveillance tools developed to combat terrorism and turned them against the American people. I know that sounds dramatic. Its actually an understatement. We have been vouchsafed glimpses of life behind the curtain for a while now. Siegel focuses mostly on developments in the United States. But its worth noting that the story he unravels is an international concession, proceeding, for example, with initiatives such as the Davos-inspired Great Reset. I have written about various aspects of the phenomena that Siegel aggregates in his sinewy and alarming essay. For example, I wrote about Matt Taibbis expose of Hamilton 68, a shadowy group of anti-Trump activists who succeeded in publicly branding anyone or anything they didnt like as emanating from Russian disinformation. Instead of tracking how Russia influenced American attitudes, Taibbi notes, Hamilton 68 simply collected a handful of mostly real, mostly American accounts, and described their organic conversations as Russian scheming. Simply in terms of volume, Taibbi estimates that Hamilton 68 may go down as the single greatest case of media fabulism in American history. Virtually every major news organization in America was involved: NBC, CBS, ABC, PBS, CNN, MSNBC, The New York Times, and The Washington Post. Even fact-checking sites such as Politifact and Snopes, Taibbi notes, cited Hamilton 68 as a source. The people at Hamilton 68 simply targeted individuals they didnt like, individuals such as Devin Nunes, Mike Flynn, Tulsi Gabbard, or Donald Trumpand then smeared them as witting or unwitting stooges of Vladimir Putin. The whole scheme, Taibbi shows, was a splendid example of digital McCarthyism, taking people with dissident or unconventional opinions and mass-accusing them of Un-American activities. But Siegel shows this was the but the tip of the censorship iceberg. His essay shows that kindred developments stood behind the state narrative about COVID-19, the Hunter Biden laptop scandal, the Jan. 6, 2021, protest at the Capitol, domestic terrorists, as well as anything having to do with Trump. A critical moment was on Jan. 6, 2017. It was then, in the waning days of the Obama administration, that Jeh Johnson, head of the Department of Homeland Security, placed the property of all 8,000 election jurisdictions under the control of the DHS. It was a coup, Siegel notes, that Johnson had been aiming at since 2016. At first, he was blocked by local authorities who explained that, as the Constitution stipulates, running elections was the sole responsibility of state legislatures. Johnson justified his action by invoking the emergency of (totally spurious) Russian interference. His success meant that in the final weeks of the Obama administration, the new counter-disinformation apparatus scored one of its most significant victories: the power to directly oversee federal elections that would have profound consequences for the 2020 contest between Trump and Joe Biden. But Siegel shows that the rot began much earlier. Remember the Global War on Terror mounted by the Bush administration following the terrorist attacks of 9/11? It was then that the Patriot Act and kindred initiatives licensed the construction of a sprawling surveillance network, ostensibly focused on foreign bad guys but soon repurposed in a way that suspended constitutional rights and placed millions of Americans under a shadow of mass surveillance. The seamless transition from the war on terror to the war on disinformation, Siegel writes, was thus, in large measure, simply a matter of professional self-preservation. But it was not enough to sustain the previous system; to survive, it needed to continually raise the threat level. And raise the threat level itthe deep statehas consistently done, such that anyone who challenges its diktats is regarded as an enemy. How did this happen? Americans didnt choose to give up their liberties and constitutional rights. The choice was made for them. As Siegel writes: Americans are no longer presumed to have the right to choose their own leaders or to question decisions made in the name of national security. Anyone who says otherwise can be labeled a domestic extremist. Siegels essay is a tour de force whose richness and detail I can only hint at here. If I had to summarize his findings, I would emphasize three points. First, that after the pretense of fighting a foreign threat fell away, what was left was the core mission to enforce a narrative monopoly over truth. We see that everywhere, whether the subject is Trump, Jan. 6, COVID, Russia, the joys of transsexuality, or the brittleness of the Constitution in the face of the perpetual emergency foisted upon us by the permanent state. The second point follows that brittleness: The pattern in these cases is that the ruling class justifies taking liberties with the law to save the planet but ends up violating the Constitution to hide the truth and protect itself. And that brings me to the third and most fundamental principle that Siegel has uncovered in this harrowing piece of work: That the ruling class, the elite that officiates over the ceremonies, perquisites, and directives of the deep state, are bound by one overriding conviction. As a class, Siegel concludes, their highest principle is that they alone can wield power. No one who reads this essay can doubt that this is true. As I say, things are always worse than they seem. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. CHICAGOCharacters that bump into furniture, laugh at inappropriate moments, and engage in plenty of pratfalls are not what one usually expects from Anton Chekhovs (18601904) The Cherry Orchard. In the past, the play has typically been presented as a Russian tragedy. But that wasnt the playwrights intent. In this winsome revival, outgoing artistic director Robert Fallss final production doesnt focus on the sadness of Chekhovs work, but on its comic aspects. Fallss interpretation embodies Chekhovs intention. Russian director Konstantin Stanislavski, better known as the man who brought a method of realistic acting to the world, first staged the play at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1904; He emphasized the strand of melancholy in the work, rather than its comedy. (LR) Lyubov Ranevskaya (Kate Fry) and Leonid Gayev (Christopher Donahue), in Anton Chekhovs The Cherry Orchard. (Goodman Press) Falls may have chosen The Cherry Orchard as his swan song because Chekhovs play (the Russian writer died six months after the play opened in Moscow) revolves around an old order giving way to the new, which may parallel how Falls views his leaving the Goodman. Out With the Old The story of this compelling revival, however, remains the same. It concerns the unsatisfying attempts of Madame Lyubov Ranevskaya (Kate Fry is riveting as the entitled matriarch who has never worked a day in her life), and her family to save their estate, with its glorious cherry orchard, from bankruptcy. She is horrified when Lopakhin (Kareem Bandealy in an extraordinary characterization), a suitor to Varya (Alejandra Escalante) her stepdaughter, suggests leveling the orchard to build cabins for a holiday resort. Falls highlights farcical moments such as when elderly house butler Firs (the always terrific Francis Guinan) puts a footstool in front of Madame Ranevskaya, his employer, who rubs his head like hes a dog; when her brother Leonid Gayev (charming Christopher Donahue) wraps his arms around a 100-year old wooden dresser and proclaims a centennial celebration for the furniture; and when the family believes that their neighbor, Boris Simyonov-Pishchik (Matt DeCaro), may be dead because he is sleeping with his mouth wide open. (LR) Firs (Francis Guinan), Lyubov Ranevskaya (Kate Fry) and Leonid Gayev (Christopher Donahue), in Anton Chekhovs The Cherry Orchard. (Goodman Press) Much of the shenanigans come across as vaudevillian shtick, but the gags and jokes actually emphasize the inner pain of Chekhovs characters. Indeed, by stressing the humor in the play, the pathos of human loneliness and vulnerability comes across with more poignancy in comparison. By focusing on the comedy, the tragic aspect of human existence is made even more palpable. While all the characters in the play are intense, and are portrayed by some of the best actors in Chicago, the most interesting is that of Lopakhin. A pivotal figure in The Cherry Orchard, he represents the new generation challenging the old. Indeed, the theme of the play is how the Russian nobility lost its wealth and power as Russia moved into a new age. Until 1861, many Russian nobles owned serfs who provided free labor, which enabled the Russian landowners to build and maintain rich estates complete with crops that provided them with income. When Czar Alexander II abolished serfdom in 1861, the slave system that supported the old world order collapsed. Lopakhin is the son of a former serf who worked on Madame Ranevskayas estate. His father was a drunk and an ignorant man who beat him, but Lopakhin worked his way up from grinding poverty to become a well-to-do businessman. One wonders if Chekhov identified with Lopakhin, as he himself was the grandson of a serf and the son of a failed father who physically abused him. He was also a self-made man who worked very hard to rise above his poor upbringing. (LR) Lopakhin (Kareem Bandealy) and Lyubov Ranevskaya (Kate Fry), in Anton Chekhovs The Cherry Orchard. (Goodman Press) Focus on Character For some, the plot may not move as fast as the movies and television with which the audience may be accustomed. Thats because Chekhov was more motivated by character than plot. He believed that character was plot, and that drama arose, not because of situations and events, but from peoples inner lives. As in all of Goodmans productions, The Cherry Orchard features a talented technical team that contributes to the feeling of a nostalgic past. That includes Todd Rosenthals set design of a mansion in need of repair, Ana Kuzmanics lush period costumes, and Richard Woodburys moving sound and music. (LR) Boris Simyonov-Pishchik (Matt DeCaro), Charlotta (Janet Ulrich Brooks), Lyubov Ranevskaya (Kate Fry), Varya (Alejandra Escalante) and Lopakhin (Kareem Bandealy), in Anton Chekhovs The Cherry Orchard. (Goodman Press) As a precursor to modern theater, Chekhov believed that it was a writers job to present life as it is, not as one would like it to be. He is heralded by theater aficionados as one of the first to bring psychological realism into his plays. By emphasizing the humor in Chekhov, Falls has succeeded in creating one of the fastest-paced and appealing productions presented in Chicago. Yet this production still brings a tear to ones eyes when, in the most powerful, heart-rending moment of the play, the 87-year old Firs brings down the curtain with Lifes gone by as if Id never lived. The Cherry Orchard The Goodman Theatre 170 N. Dearborn St., Chicago Tickets: 312-443-3800 or GoodmanTheatre.org Runs: 2 hours, 40 minutes Closes: May 7 Some 147 elementary schools in Korea have no new students this year as the young population dwindles, up from 121 last year. Rural areas are emptying out faster. North Gyeongsang Province topped the list with 32 elementary schools with no first graders, followed by South Jeolla Province (29), North Jeolla Province (20), Gangwon Province (20), South Gyeongsang Province (18), North Chungcheong Province (12), South Chungcheong Province (nine), Gyeonggi Province (three) and Incheon (two). Busan and Jeju Island each have one. According to the Education Ministry, there are 379,373 first graders this year, 10 percent fewer than second graders. And 140 elementary schools will welcome just one first grader this year, up from 136 in 2022. Three Florida Juveniles Arrested in Triple-Homicide 'We will aggressively pursue the prosecution of all defendants responsible for these heinous crimes,' says State Attorney's Office Mugshots of suspects in a March 30, 2023 Marion County triple homicide; From left to right: 12-year-old Christopher Atkins, 17-year-old Robert Robinson and 16-year-old Tahj Brewton. (Marion County Sheriff's Office) Three juveniles, aged 12, 16, and 17, have been arrested as suspects in the murders of three other teens. At an April 7 press conference, Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods said his department had received a phone call from the Forest Lakes Park area on Thursday, March 30. When deputies arrived, they found 16-year-old Layla Silvernail laying on the side of the road. She had been shot. She was transferred to a local hospital where she later died of her injuries. According to an April 3 Marion County Sheriff Department Facebook post, Silvernail was found on SE 183rd Avenue Road. Later, another juvenile was found dead. The following morning, deputies responded to SE 94th Street and SE 188th Court in reference to a 17-year-old male lying beside the road, and he was found to be deceased from a gunshot wound, the Sheriffs department said during a press conference. This was about a half-mile away from where Silvernail was found. Woods said deputies located Silvernails 2015 Chevy Cruze on Saturday, April 1, abandoned and partially submerged in a pond about nine miles from the location where Silvernail was located. A third victim, 16-year-old Camille Quarles, was found in the trunk. She too had been fatally shot. Screenshot from video of 12-year-old Cristopher Atkins, following his April 7, 2023 arrest by the Marion County Sheriffs Office as one of three suspects in a March, 30, 2023 triple homicide. (Marion County Sheriffs Office/The Epoch Times) Woods then thanked those who came together in an almost perfect collaboration to solve the case. Those entities include the FBI, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the U.S. Marshalls Service, Ocala Police Department, his own deputies, detectives, forensic professionals, Marion Countys citizens, and, in his opinion, probably the best State Attorney in the State of Florida for the Fifth Judicial Circuit, Bill Gladsons assistant State Attorneys. Woods also thanked the media who helped his department by getting information. No Honor Among Thieves According to Woods, Investigators were able to determine that this group of juveniles was involved in committing burglaries and robberies, which they referred to a lick.' He added that each one of the suspects as well as the victims were associated with a gang in some shape or form. Basically, in simple terms, there is no honor among thieves, Woods said. And at some point, these three individuals turned on our three victims and murdered them. Two of the apprehended suspects17-year-old Robert LeAndrew Robinson and 12 -year-old Christopher Del Atkinswere pictured on screen during a press conference. Screenshot of Marion County Sheriff Billy Woods speaking at an April 7, 2023 press conference regarding the March 30, 2023 triple homicide of three juveniles by three juveniles. (Marion County Sheriffs Office/The Epoch Times) Woods addressed efforts to blame the one thing that has no ability or the capacity to commit the crime itself, and thats the gun. The bad guys going to get a gun no matter what laws you put in place, Woods said later. These individuals committed the crime, Woods asserted. Woods also suggested that juvenile crime is a failure of society. We do not hold our juveniles accountable, he said. We minimize their actions, a response he called a disservice and frankly stupid. Screenshot from video of 17-year-old Robert Robinson, following his April 7, 2023 arrest by the Marion County Sheriffs Office as one of three suspects in a March, 30, 2023 triple homicide. (Marion County Sheriffs Office/The Epoch Times) Woods also addressed negligence in the education system. Our school districtsnot just here, across this state and across this nationneed to stop minimizing the actions of their students, he admonished. Hold them accountable. Thats where the failure is. A photo of the third suspect16-year-old Tahj Brewtonwas then shown on the screen. Some of you know him, Woods said, addressing the viewers. You know where he is and you need to turn him in. According to reports, the U.S. Marshals, the Florida Sheriffs Association and the Marion County Sheriffs Office announced a combined offer of a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of Brewton, who they considered armed and dangerous. According to a Facebook post from the Marion County Sheriffs Office, Brewton was captured by the U.S. Marshals Service the next day, April 8, with assistance from the Lake County Sheriffs Office. Marion Countys Facebook page also revealed that Brewton was arrested on outstanding warrants for carjacking with a firearm, aggravated assault, grand theft of a motor vehicle, fleeing or attempt to elude a law enforcement officer, and tampering with an electronic monitoring device. Juveniles and The Law As previously reported by The Epoch Times, 27 statesincluding Floridahave no minimum age for juvenile adjudication. Prosecutors and judges in these states often have discretionbased on the severity of the crime, accountability of the child offender, and any safety concerns the juvenile may pose to the publicas to whether a minor will be prosecuted through juvenile courts or be remanded to social service systems. North Carolina, the state with the lowest set minimum age for which a minor can be tried in juvenile court, has set this age at 6 years old. California, Massachusetts, and Utah have the highest minimum age requirement, which is 12 years old. There are 23 states, including Florida, that have no set minimum age for which a child offender can be transferred from juvenile to adult court. Iowa and Wisconsin have the lowest set age minimum at 10 years. Californias minimum, set at 16 years, is the highest. According to the website of the Fort Lauderdale law firm of Rudenberg & Glasser, The state of Florida only allows prosecutors to decide whether a juvenile will be tried as an adult; this is called direct file. In direct file, the minimum age a minor can be tried as an adult is 14 years old. However, no minimum age is set for capital offenses, which are offenses punishable with the death penalty or life imprisonment. According to Florida Statute 985.557, direct file is an option when in the state attorneys judgment and discretion the public interest requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed and when the offense charged is for the commission of, attempt to commit, or conspiracy to commit any one of 19 severe crimes, such as arson, sexual battery, and murder. Michael Glasser, cofounding attorney at R&G focused on the crime rather than the age of the perpetrators. Generally, in my experience, the state prefers to charge people accused of murder as adults, whether theyre minors or not, Glasser told The Epoch Times in a statement. The Epoch Times has reached out to State Attorney Gladsons office for comment. Our office and State Attorney Gladson have been in constant communication with the Sheriffs Office regarding this horrible crime and will aggressively pursue the prosecution of all the involved defendants, Cindy Harper, Division Chief for the Office of the State Attorney, Fifth Judicial Circuit responded in a statement by email. Given the recency of the arrest and the fact that we have not yet filed formal charges, we are limited in what we can publicly comment on at this time. Accordingly, Mr. Gladson is not doing any interviews or releasing any statement on the case at this point. However; as I said, we will aggressively pursue the prosecution of all defendants responsible for these heinous crimes. I expect we will release a statement when our office files formal charges. Trudeau Says Ottawa Will Not Be Touching Natural Resources Agreement With Provinces Prime Minister Justin Trudeau speaks during a town hall meeting at the Manitoba Building Trades Institute in Winnipeg, April 12, 2023. (The Canadian Press/John Woods) Several days after Justice Minister David Lametti appeared to bring the matter into question, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says the federal government will not be touching the western provinces jurisdiction over their natural resources. As prime minister, Im happy to stand here right now and say we will not be touching the NRTA [Natural Resources Transfer Agreement], Trudeau told reporters in Regina, Saskatchewan, on April 13. Natural resources are constitutionally directed to be the purview of the provinces, he said. Were not putting that into question. Trudeaus comments come just over a week after Lametti told the Assembly of First Nations Special Chiefs that he would commit to looking at the NRTA. The agreement has been in place between the federal government and Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and British Columbia since 1930, and guarantees that the provinces hold control over the management of their own natural resources. Lametti made the comments on April 5 in Ottawa after one indigenous chief at the Assembly meeting called for the act to be rescinded and another said resources were given to the provinces without consulting with indigenous communities. 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, Chief Don Maracle of Mohawks of Bay of Quinte said in a remark to Lametti at the meeting. In his response, Lametti acknowledged that revisiting the agreement could cause tension between Ottawa and the provinces. I take from Chief Brian and Chief Don Maracle the point about the Natural Resources Transfer Agreement, Lametti said. 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, he added. Days later, the premiers of Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta issued a joint statement demanding that Trudeau confirm Lamettis comments didnt represent the Liberal governments official stance on the matter. The federal government cannot unilaterally change the Constitution, said the statement signed on April 10 by Alberta Premier Danielle Smith, Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe, and Manitoba Premier Heather Stefanson. The statement also asked for Trudeau to retract Lamettis dangerous and divisive comments on the matter. Government Response Lametti responded in a statement issued the same day, saying that listening to concerns raised by First Nations chiefs is part of my job. To be clear, at no point did I commit our government to reviewing areas of provincial jurisdiction, including that over natural resources, Lametti added. Trudeau made similar remarks to reporters on April 12 and accused the prairie premiers of fear-mongering on the subject. Let me be very clear: the Minister of Justice said no such thing if you actually look at his remarks, Trudeau said in relation to Lamettis comments about the NRTA. Trudeau added that the Prairie premiers are trying to elevate fears that have absolutely no grounding in truth. While the prime minister said Ottawa isnt looking at amending the NRTA, he did tell reporters on April 13 that the provinces should be having real conversations about reconciliation with indigenous communities. Thats what the justice minister and my government have committed to doing Marnie Cathcart contributed to this report. Twitter Taps eToro to Let Users Trade in Stocks, Crypto The shadows of people holding mobile phones are cast onto a backdrop projected with the Twitter logo in an illustration picture taken in Warsaw, Poland, on Sept. 27, 2013. (Kacper Pempel/Reuters) Trading and investing platform eToro said on Thursday it has partnered with Elon Musk-led Twitter to let users access real-time prices of cryptocurrencies, stocks, and other assets, and to enable the trading of those instruments. The trading data will be available through Twitters Cashtags feature, which was launched in 2012 and allows users to interact with content around an asset by inserting a dollar sign in front of the ticker. Musk said in December that Cashtags with data from TradingView was one of the many product improvements for financial Twitter. Pins depicting the logo of EToro are seen at a stand during the Bitcoin Conference 2022 in Miami Beach, Fla., on April 6, 2022. (Marco Bello/Reuters) Twitter users were earlier able to view real-time trading data from markets-charting platform TradingView, but only on some assets such as the S&P 500 index and shares of certain companies such as Tesla. Now, they can click through to eToros platform to see information about the asset, with an added option to invest. Since acquiring Twitter for $44 billion in late October, Musk has brought about a series of changes to the microblogging website, including rolling out a subscription-based plan for verified users and executing mass layoffs. Diptheria cases in the UK have surged over the past year, linked to illegal immigrants crossing the English Channel in small boats, according to official figures. The increase of UK cases mirrors similar outbreaks across Europe, which were also among immigrants, particularly young males from Afghanistan and Syria, according to several reports for the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Copenhagen. Diphtheria, a highly contagious bacterial infection which can be fatal, is rare in the UK. The country has routinely vaccinated babies and children against it since the 1940s. Fewer than 12 cases per annum have been reported in England over the past decade, but between January 2022 and March this year, 74 cases were detected among illegal immigrants in England, with 73 identified in 2022, according to researchers at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), which drafted one report. Almost all of the cases (97 percent) were among young Afghan males, and over half (53 percent) of the patients were under-18s with unknown vaccination history, the researchers said. Just more than half of the cases had skin lesions or wounds acquired before their arrival in the UK, suggesting they were infected during extensive travel through Europe, the researchers said, while stressing that local transmission cannot be ruled out. Some 12 percent of the patients had no symptoms. Their infections were detected through screening or contact tracing. One person died from the diphtheria infection. The UKHSA has recommended mass antibiotic prophylaxis and vaccination in its guidance for diphtheria control in asylum seeker accommodation. According to preliminary data, around 40 percent of eligible arrivals had received prophylactic antibiotics as of Jan. 18, and 88 percent received vaccination, the researchers said. Outbreaks Across Europe Similar outbreaks have also been seen across Europe, the papers said. In July 2022, Germany identified seven cases of diphtheria among immigrants. As of March 2023, the outbreak has affected 189 immigrants, mostly from Afghanistan and Syria, despite the fact that diphtheria incidence and vaccination coverage in Afghanistan and Syria has remained mostly unchanged over the last few years, German researchers said. Another paper examined some cases in Switzerland (52), Germany (118), the UK (59), Austria (69), France (30), Belgium (21), Norway (8), the Netherlands (5), Italy (3), and Spain (1), identifying four distinct clusters of cases. The fact that there are four clusters indicates there are four distinct chains of transmission, which may each be traceable on their own. In addition, the four clusters differ in their complement of antimicrobial resistance genes and phenotypes; which may imply different clinical care approaches and stringency of control measures, the researchers said. This is a multiclonal outbreak with evident transmission among migrant people. The close relatedness within clusters suggests recent transmissions, possibly occurring during travel and within migrant facilities. Where exactly transmission events occurred remains to be determined, but it is likely linked to lack of proper vaccination among the migrant people. The number of detected cases in collaborating countries decreased significantly in January 2023, they added. The European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, the NGO that hosts the annual conference, said its report has been peer-reviewed, but not yet been submitted to a medical journal for publication. In the UK, the number of people smuggled into the country in small boats has increased dramatically over the past four years, from 299 people in 2018 to 45,755 people in 2022. Last year, the number of small boat arrivals accounted for almost 85 percent of all irregular immigrants detected (54,090), compared to 4,569 inadequately documented air arrivals (8 percent). There were also 3,456 people who were detected in the UK (6 percent) and 310 people who were detected at British sea ports, Home Office figures show. The latest data show the number has decreased by 17 percent in the first quarter this year compared to the same three-month period last year. But the crossings during the 90-day period this year and last year occurred on exactly the same number of days, suggesting the reduction may not be owing to weather conditions. Ukraine Pressures Australia For More Help in War Effort Amid Campaign For Australian Hawkei Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese (l) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak to the media during a press conference at the Presidential Palace in Kyiv, Ukraine, Sunday, July 3, 2022. Mr Albanese made a 12 hours long visit to Kyiv meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch) The Australian government has come under pressure from Ukraine to provide more assistance to its war effort as Russia pushes on with its spring offensive. Russia is currently focusing its attacks on the eastern Donetsk region, where several cities and towns have been under heavy bombardment, Ukraines general staff said on Tuesday reported Reuters. Ukrainian forces have accused Russia 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. Ukrainian Ambassador to Australia, Vasyl Myroshnychenko, told ABC Radio National on Wednesday that he believed Australia is falling behind other non-NATO countries in terms of the assistance provided to Ukraine and would like to see more military aid coming from Australia. Ambassador of Ukraine to Australia Vasyl Myroshnychenko (C), joined by former Australian Defence minister Peter Dutton (R), speaks during a press conference at the Amberley Air Base in Ipswich, Australia, on April 8, 2022. (Dan Peled/Getty Images) So once Australia was the largest non-NATO contributor to Ukraine, but other countries have overtaken Australia recently, Myroshnychenko said. Australian support for Ukraine is essential. We really appreciate what has been provided so far, but we cant win without your support. The ambassador went on to say that Ukraine needs constant, consistent and comprehensive support. Our fight is not about [fighting] for as long as it takes; our fight is ensuring that we can win as soon as possible, he said. Australia has provided $582 million dollars of humanitarian and military aid to Ukraine, including 90 Bushmaster vehicles which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has praised for their masterful performance in helping drive back Russian forces from the Kharkiv region in north-eastern Ukraine. Read More First of 20 Australian Bushmaster Military Vehicles to Leave for Ukraine Ukraine Wants More Australian Tactical Vehicles Myroshnychenko and the Ukrainian government have launched a social media campaign calling on the Australian government and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese to provide Ukraine with Australias latest armoured vehicle, the Hawkei. In a viral post on Twitter, the Ukrainian government has said that they love the Bushmasters, but they have a new crush, the Hawkei. These two would be a perfect match on the battlefield, they posted. We would truly appreciate their reunion in Ukraine, @AlboMP! 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. We would truly appreciate their reunion in Ukraine, @AlboMP! pic.twitter.com/5EP2Eo36Qv Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 10, 2023 Designed and built in Australia by French manufacturer Thales, the Hawkei is a light armoured four-wheel-drive patrol vehicle that was initially designed as an armoured support automobile but has evolved to include light armoured fighting features, which focuses on the survivability of the soldiers. It can carry up to five personnel, is highly mobile, and is light enough to be loaded onto a Chinook CH-47 helicopter, allowing for greater mobility in the field. It also has a protected mobility combat system, which provides protection from ammunition blasts, and it can operate command and control networks over large distances, all the while offering significant striking ability. Myroshnychenko said the Ukrainian government believed that the new vehicles would not only help save soldiers lives but would work well with the Bushmasters, which are already in the field. Ukrainian servicemen of the 80th Air Assault Brigade stand in front of a Bushmaster Protected Mobility Vehicle near Bahmut, Donetsk region, Ukraine, on Feb. 16, 2023. (Marko Djurica/Reuters) Youve seen how well they [Bushmasters] performed, and Im sure the Hawkeis could perform that well, and they could be together theyre in company, helping to protect democracy, human rights, and all the fundamental values. Considered a force multiplier in combat, the Australian government commissioned 1,100 Hawkeis and 1,058 associated trailers at a cost of $1.3 billion. However, the vehicles have had a troubled history, with the federal government quietly rejecting the first delivered vehicles just three months after production started over concerns around the braking system. The government and Thales have since worked through the issues, with the vehicles now deployed in the field. Australian Government Still Assessing Request However, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong has not confirmed if Australia will donate the Hawkeis to Ukraine. Speaking to Radio National on Wednesday, Wong said that Australia would consider any request from Ukraine but pointed out that Australia also had responsibilities in the Indo-pacific. Well consider any requests from Ukraine, she said. We do what we can in many parts of the world. Weve obviously provided quite a lot of both humanitarian and military assistance to Ukraine, and we will consider this request as weve considered all requests, and since weve come to government, weve added to the military assistance that has been provided. Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong listens to a question during a joint news conference after the 32nd annual Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations at the U.S. State Department in Washington D.C. on Dec. 6, 2022. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) I would make the point also we are obviously providing a lot of support, including security assistance in our near region, as is our responsibility and as you would expect us to do in order to assure Australian and regional stability. Wong noted that while the conflict in Ukraine was a long way from the Pacific, its principle mattered deeply to Australia and the region. Thats the principle that a greater power should not be able to infringe upon another countrys sovereignty and set territorial integrity, she said. That was the settlement post-World War IIthe principle, which countries agreed after that terrible war, which has enabled peace and stability. Thats why we all must stand firm against the illegal invasion by Russia of Ukraine. US Cyber Watchdog Cant Guarantee Security of Military Phone Network: Senator Senator Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) speaks during a Senate Finance Committee hearing in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington on Oct. 19, 2021. (Mandel Ngan/Pool via Reuters) The top U.S. agency for cyber security has no confidence in the safety of FirstNet, the nations military and first responders cellphone network, according to a letter written by Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and published April 12 (pdf). Wyden, a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, expressed concerns about the fact that an expert from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) told Wydens staff in a 2022 briefing that the agency had not seen the results of any cybersecurity audits conducted on the government-only network. Wyden then called for the government to perform annual cybersecurity audits on the network. The letter was addressed to the National Security Agency (NSA) and CISA, and copied to the Office of National Cyber Director, the Federal Communications Commission, and the Office of Management and Budget. CISA declined to comment, saying it would respond to Wyden directly. The NSA did not immediately return messages seeking comment. An employee of FirstNet referred questions to AT&T Inc., which in turn referred questions to a FirstNet executive. The executive didnt respond before press time. Wydens letter mentions Signaling System No. 7 (SS7), a protocol used by telephone companies to exchange information with each other. The protocol was developed decades ago and is vulnerable to hackers or spies. A hacker or a foreign government could retrieve text messages or access sensitive information, according to FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, Wyden wrote. According to Wyden, vulnerabilities involving SS7 were exploited to track people in the United States. Also, technology companies sell software that can exploit these vulnerabilities to target phones anywhere in the world. To date, the U.S. government has done little to force wireless carriers to fix these vulnerabilities, leaving Americans vulnerable to surveillance by hackers and foreign intelligence services, Wyden said. He called for the American government to force carriers to have a minimum cybersecurity standard, as other countries have done. Agencies Questioned The National Telecommunications and Information Administration informed Wydens office that the Commerce Department cannot share any information about independent audits of FirstNetincluding whether any vulnerabilities discovered have been fixeddue to a nondisclosure provision in the contract it negotiated with AT&T. AT&T was unwilling to share any information on the issue with CISA, NSA, other government agencies, or Congress, according to Wydens letter. Concealing vital cybersecurity reporting is simply unacceptable, Wyden wrote. As the lead agencies responsible for the governments cybersecurity, CISA and NSA need to have access to all relevant information regarding the cybersecurity of FirstNet and Congress needs this information to conduct oversight, he wrote. If the Department of Commerce is unable to share the results of the FirstNet audits commissioned by AT&T, CISA and NSA should conduct or commission their own annual audits and deliver the results to Congress and the FCC. Gary Miller, an expert on mobile network security with the University of Toronto-based Citizen Lab, said that Wydens concerns were well founded, adding that he too was worried by the very troubling opacity around audits. The FCC, the White House, and the Office of Management and Budget did not respond to requests for comment before press time. Reuters contributed to this report. US Slaps 120 Russia-Linked Firms, Individuals With Fresh Sanctions The Department of the Treasury in Washington on Aug. 30, 2020. (Andrew Kelly/Reuters) The United States has enacted a wide-ranging package of fresh economic sanctions against more than 120 Russia-linked companies and individualsseveral of them in third countries. The United States will continue to take action against Russia and those supporting its war in Ukraine, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on April 12. Blinken says the move reflects the Group of 7s commitment to impose severe consequences on third-country actors who support Russias invasion of Ukraine, now in its second year. The Group of 7 (G-7) is an intergovernmental political forum comprised of the United States, Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan. Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) and founder of USM Holdings Alisher Usmanov (L) look on at the control center at Lebedinsky Mining and Processing Combine in the Belgorod Region, Russia, on July 14, 2017. (Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images) All G-7 members are staunch supporters of Kyiv, and all but Japan are members of the Western NATO alliance. Russia launched its invasion early last year with the stated aim of protecting Russian speakers in Ukraine and halting the eastward expansion of NATO. Kyiv and its allies regard the move as an unjustified war of conquest. Anatoly Antonov, Moscows ambassador to the United States, said the fresh round of sanctions is an act of desperation. Washingtons convulsive attempts to punish Russia merely confirm the inability of the U.S. authorities to make our country abandon our vital national interests, he said on April 13. Russian Telecoms Targeted The latest sanctions on Russia-linked entities were enacted by the U.S. Treasury and State departments in conjunction with the UK government. A primary focus of the sanctions is Russian Uzbek businessman Alisher Usmanov, who, according to the Treasury Department, commands a wide network of businesses through which to conduct financial transactions, enabling him to potentially circumvent sanctions. The sanctions also target USM Holdings, which is owned by Usmanov, along with several subsidiary companies. They include an Uzbekistan-based cement company and a Russian iron producer with subsidiaries in Switzerland and the United Arab Emirates. The sanctions also target the USM-owned MegaFon, a Russian telecommunications company. The move represents the first time that U.S. authorities have imposed sanctions on Russias telecommunications infrastructure. Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin make a toast during their dinner at the Kremlin in Moscow on March 21, 2023. (Pavel Byrkin, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP) We are a commercial company providing millions of clients with services of high social significance, MegaFon said in an April 13 statement cited by Russias TASS news agency. We will dispute these restrictions by all means available to us. The fresh raft of sanctions also affects a private Russian military company that Washington says is associated with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu. In January, Washington expanded sanctions on the Wagner Group, another Kremlin-linked military company that has spearheaded the recent fighting in Ukraine. The latest sanctions also target five entities affiliated with Russias state-owned nuclear energy firm Rosatom. Washington accuses the company of using energy exports to exert political and economic pressure on foreign customers. Antonov, for his part, described the sanctions on Rosatom as an attempt to once again circumvent the rules of fair competition on foreign marketplaces. 3rd Countries Not Immune The latest raft of U.S.-led sanctions also takes aim at several companies operating outside Russias borders. They include the Budapest-based International Investment Bank, the majority of which is Russian-owned, and three current or former company executives. According to the Treasury Department, the banks presence in Hungary allows Russia to increase its intelligence presence in Europe and could serve as a mechanism for corruption and illicit finance, including sanctions violations. Sanctions were also imposed on Sequoia Treuhand Trust Reg, a Liechtenstein-based trust services firm that caters to high-worth Russian clients, according to the Treasury Department. Two China-based technology firms were also included in the latest sanctions: HEAD Aerospace Technology and King-Pai Technology HK. According to Washington, the former supplies the Russian military with satellite imagery of locations in Ukraine, while the latter provides technological components to Russias military-industrial complex. Recent weeks have seen deepening ties between Russia and China. Last month, Chinese leader Xi Jinping made a three-day visit to Moscow, where he signed a number of cooperation agreements with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The new sanctions package also targets four Turkey-based companies, which Washington accuses of violating U.S. export controls and aiding the Russian war effort. Washington claims that at least two of the firms helped transfer dual-use goodsgoods that have military applicationsto Russia. The move is the most significant U.S. sanctions-enforcement action in Turkey, a longstanding NATO member since the Russia-Ukraine conflict began early last year. While Ankara has condemned Moscows invasion of Ukraine, it has also sought to maintain good relations with Russia, with which it shares extensive trade ties. Antonov says the latest round of Western sanctions is intended to complicate the interactions of third countries with Russian counterparties. He went on to assert that the move would only serve to further damage the United States business reputation in the eyes of the world. Reuters contributed to this report. US Supreme Court Wont Halt Student Loan Class-Action Settlement The Supreme Court held a special sitting for the formal investiture ceremony of Associate Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on Sept. 30, 2022. (Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States/Getty Images) The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday refused to block a class-action legal settlement that would cancel more than $6 billion in debt owned by former students of universities who claimed they were misled about job prospects. The high court rejected an emergency request from three for-profit Lincoln Educational Services Corp., for-profit American National University Inc., and nonprofit Everglades College Inc., who are challenging a settlement between the U.S. Education Department and borrowers that linked the colleges to claims of substantial misconduct, which the schools dispute. No Supreme Court justices publicly dissented (pdf) in rejecting the request, and no explanation was given. The decision was separate from a case pending before the high court over the legality of President Joe Bidens plan to cancel $430 billion in student debt for about 40 million borrowers. A ruling in that case is expected by the end of June 2023. The colleges are challenging the Education Departments ability to cancel loans, arguing that the secretarys claimed authority amounts to nothing less than the power to cancel, en masse, every student loan in the country. Through a collusive, nationwide class settlement of a lawsuit that sought to compel the department merely to restart adjudication of applications for loan cancellation, lawyers for the colleges argued to the justices, the department instead has ignored its regulations, foregone adjudication altogether and plans to cancel and refund billions in loans for hundreds of thousands of borrowers. Furthermore, the schools claimed that they were injured by the settlement because it hurt their reputations. Being publicly branded a presumptive wrongdoer by ones primary federal regulator based on undisclosed evidence (or no evidence at all)without any opportunity to defend oneselfseriously damages a schools reputation and good will, their lawyers argued. The emergency request (pdf) stemmed from a settlement that U.S. District Judge William Alsup approved (pdf) last year in a case that was brought by individuals who took out student loans. The settlement stipulates that the Department of Education will cancel some $6 billion owed by approximately 200,000 borrowers who attended 151 institutions in total and who alleged they were defrauded. The San Francisco-based 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in March also the bid by the three schools to block the settlement from taking effect while their appeal proceeds. Meanwhile, some 20 conservative-leaning U.S. states, led by Ohio, had asked the Supreme Court to grant the request by the schools to pause further loan discharges under the settlement. The schools have been accused of boosting enrollment through aggressive sales tactics as well as misrepresentations about the quality of their academic offerings, graduates career prospects and networking opportunities, according to Eileen Connor, director of litigation at the Project on Predatory Student Lending, a group that represents borrowers involved in the settlement. Todays swift and decisive action from the highest court should end, once and for all, any ongoing debate about the legitimacy of this settlement. The message is clear: the rights of student borrowers will not falter, even in the face of well-funded, overblown political attacks masquerading as legal argument, Connor told the Reuters news agency. In a brief opposing the schools request for a stay, Solicitor General Elizabeth B. Prelogar wrote that the schools lacked the standing to object to the Department of Educations decision. The settlement does not subject them to any liability, adjudicate their rights or require them to do or refrain from doing anything, she wrote in legal papers filed earlier this week (pdf) with the Supreme Court. Instead, applicants principally assert that their reputations are being harmed by their inclusion on the list of schools whose borrowers are entitled to automatic relief. But that purported reputational harm is speculative and would not be redressed by a stay in any event. Biden administration lawyers led by Prelogar further said that even if the schools could overcome that fatal defect, they would be unlikely to succeed. The reason why is because the Secretary of Education possesses the statutory authority to discharge loans based on borrower defenses, by the Secretarys statutory authority to compromise claims against the Department, and by the Attorney Generals broad authority to settle litigation in which the federal government is a party. Around 78,000 borrowers had already received loan discharges by April 11, the Biden administration told the justices in the court filing earlier this week. The Epoch Times has contacted lawyers for the three schools for comment. Reuters contributed to this report. US to Help Fund Ukraine Reconstruction With Russian Assets: State Department Official A Russian guard patrols in an area of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Station in territory under Russian military control, southeastern Ukraine, on May 1, 2022. (AP Photo) The Biden administration is planning to help fund the $400 billion reconstruction of Ukraine after the Russian invasion ends and to turn the Eastern European nation into a new center for European energy production, according to a senior State Department official. The United States will help to provide the massive sum by selling of assets seized from Russian oligarchs and providing the proceeds to Ukraine, said Under Secretary of State Victoria Nuland during an April 13 speech at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. We will help Ukrainian cities and towns and villages so displaced Ukrainians can return home without fear, reunite with their loved ones, and get back to their businesses, their farms, and to the work of building a peaceful democratic future, Nuland said. The World Bank estimates that the effort to rebuild Ukraine would cost at least $411 billion over the next decade, though Nuland said that was a conservative figure, suggesting the real cost could be far higher. To that end, Nuland said that the United States was working with its international partners to help fund the massive sum by doing more than merely selling off confiscated Russian goods. Indeed, she said, the United States is negotiating with the international community to consider using $300 billion in frozen assets from the Russian Central Bank to fund the reconstruction of Ukraine. The effort will no doubt face hurdles, however, as U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen previously admitted there are significant legal obstacles to such seizures. Currently, the $300 billion in Russian central bank foreign assets frozen by sanctions are held abroad, but remain under Russian ownership. Nuland connected the effort to the United States wider support of Ukraine, saying that rebuilding Ukraine was necessary to ensure that authoritarianism did not spread through Europe. The American people have provided extraordinary levels of military, economic, and humanitarian support to Ukraine, Nuland said. Why? Because the American people understand the stakes. That might cannot be allowed to make right. Ukraine: The Future of European Energy? The United States and its allies will also work to leverage the reconstruction of Ukraine towards more strategic, and more profitable, ends. By rebuilding the Ukrainian energy sector, Europe can effectively replace its dependency on Russia, said Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Laura Lochman. Energy is obviously a fundamental element of economic recovery and prosperity going forward anywhere, Lochman said. [But in Ukraine,] the elements are there in terms of the nuclear, the natural gas, biomass. Theres renewables that are already being put in place and plans for much greater deployment of renewables. To that end, Lochman said that one goal of reconstruction was to transform Ukraine into an energy powerhouse for the European region in such a way as to strengthen European energy security. By investing in Ukrainian energy development, she said, Ukraine could reap up to $70 million a month, all while moving Europe away from destabilizing authoritarian powers. That will happen with infrastructure investment in Ukraine, Lochman said, and [with] continued adoption of European norms and standards. Mark Loughran, Central and Eastern Europe president for the Honeywell Corporation, said that the move was a massive opportunity for both the public and private sectors, in and out of Ukraine. To start to make the decisions of what the future would look like, it is clearly imperative that Ukrainians are fully connected to the European grid and able to sell into the European grid, Loughran said. Theres a massive opportunity there. The decisions have to be made about the construct to do that, and about the massive amount of materials that are going to be needed. Victim of Fatal Shooting Near San Diego US-Mexico Border IDd SAN DIEGOAuthorities April 12 publicly identified a young man who was fatally shot last week in a neighborhood just north of the U.S.-Mexico border. Patrol officers responding to reports of gunfire about 10:30 p.m. Friday found Carlos Arvizu, 20, in the 100 block of East Park Avenue in San Ysidro, suffering from gunshot trauma to his upper body, according to the San Diego Police Department. Paramedics took Arvizu to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Investigators have determined that the shooter or shooters opened fire on the victim from inside a vehicle that pulled up alongside him in a front of a home, police department Lt. Steve Shebloski said. Police have no descriptions of the killer or killers, or the involved vehicle. It is still early in the investigation, and little is known about the circumstances leading up to [Arvizus] death, other than the victim was apparently visiting friends at a residence in the area when he was confronted [and] shot at least one time, Shebloski said Wednesday. Homicide detectives are currently canvassing the neighborhood, looking for any potential evidence or witnesses who may be able to assist in solving this crime. The government has come up with a proposal to compensate Koreans who were forced to work in Japanese munitions factories and mines in World War II in a bid to improve fraught relations with Japan. The government announced Monday that it will compensate the victims from a government foundation instead of direct payment from responsible Japanese businesses like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Steel, which were ordered by the Supreme Court here in 2018 to compensate them. The foundation under the Ministry of Interior and Safety will gather donations from private companies like POSCO and other conglomerates that benefited from lump sum reparations Japan paid under a 1965 treaty. Foreign Minister Park Jin speaks at a press conference in the Foreign Ministry in Seoul on Monday. /Yonhap "We hope to take relations with Japan to the next level based on the alliance we have built since the normalization of bilateral ties," Park said. He said the measure will solve the issue, one of the biggest bone of contention between the two nations, and help them "work together to bring peace and prosperity in the region and the world." "We will do our utmost to remedy the pain and sufferings of the victims and their families," the minister added. Separately, Seoul and Tokyo will create a scholarship fund financed by the business lobbies of both countries -- The Federation of Korean Industries and the Japan Business Foundation, according to government sources. Passers-by look at a statue of a wartime forced labor victim in Seoul on Sunday. In turn, the Japanese government is expected to promise to uphold a joint declaration by President Kim Dae-jung and Japanese Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi in 1998 pledging to overcome the past while Tokyo voiced remorse for its wartime atrocities. Talks are likely to follow to lift Japanese export curbs on certain vital semiconductor materials to Korea, which were put in place in retaliation for the Supreme Court ruling. They will also discuss a visit to Japan by President Yoon Suk-yeol this month to meet Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The opposition has already protested. Park Sung-joon, a spokesman for the main opposition Minjoo Party, said, "Having a third party compensate the victims is a humiliating agreement that only benefits Japan and hides its responsibility. It will inflict fresh pain on the victims, enrage the [Korean] public and be remembered as a historic mistake." Wisconsin Man Pleads Not Guilty to Firebombing Pro-Life Groups Office Threatening graffiti is seen on the exterior of Wisconsin Family Action offices in Madison, Wis., on May 8, 2022. (Alex Shur/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) The Wisconsin man charged with firebombing the office of a Madison-based pro-life advocacy group pleaded not guilty on April 13. Hridindu Sankar Roychowdhury, 29, was arrested on March 28 in Boston on suspicion of hurling two Molotov cocktails into the Wisconsin Family Action office with the intent to cause damage by means of fire or an explosive. According to the complaint (pdf), the suspect in the attackwhich occurred on May 8, 2022set fire to the pro-life organizations office, and when police responded to the incident, they also found a message spray-painted on the outside of the building: If abortions arent safe then you arent either. DNA evidence was collected from the scene, and in March, investigators were able to match that DNA with Roychowdhurys. According to the complaint, Mr. Roychowdhury used an incendiary device in violation of federal law in connection with his efforts to terrorize and intimidate a private organization, said Department of Justice Assistant Attorney General of National Security Matthew Olsen upon Roychowdhurys arrest. I commend the commitment and professionalism of law enforcement personnel who worked exhaustively to ensure that justice is served, Olsen added. If convicted, Roychowdhury faces a mandatory minimum penalty of five years and a maximum of 20 years in prison. A fire damaged the Wisconsin Family Action headquarters in Madison, Wis., on May 8, 2022. (Alex Shur/Wisconsin State Journal via AP) Under Attack The attack on Wisconsin Family Action is just one of many that have occurred since the May 2, 2022, leak of the Supreme Courts historic Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization ruling that abortion is not a protected right under the U.S. Constitution. According to a list compiled by the pro-life nonprofit Family Research Council, there have been more than 100 attacks on churches and pro-life organizations around the country, and at least 24 other incidents where pro-abortion activists were involved in assaults, vandalism, disruptive protests, and other such activities. Further, in the wake of the firebombing of Wisconsin Family Action, the organizations staff members received threatening voicemails from those who opposed their pro-life stance. In one recorded voicemail shared on the organizations website, a woman says, Hi, Im calling because I read about the fire in your building, and Im calling because Im curious if it was arson, or rather the good Lord showing you an example of hell and where you belong for being such a misogynistic [expletive]. In another message, a man can be heard telling a staff member, Youre going to burn as wellyoure all going to burn. Wisconsin Family Action President Julaine Appling responded to the attacks on her organization in a statement, noting, This is what happens when leadership is missing or when leadership implies that violence is an acceptable tactic to employ But let me be clear: The violence needs to stop, and it needs to stop now. We cannot deal with political disagreements in this country by resorting to violence. Appling added that the attacks not only failed to intimidate her organization, they strengthened our resolve. We will repair our offices, remain on the job, and build an even stronger grassroots effort, she said. We will continue to work every day to give a voice to the voiceless and stand up for whats right. We will not back down. Too much is at stake. GAIL to distribute natural gas to 11 districts of Vidarbha Business Bureau VIDARBHA Industries Association (VIA) organised a meeting with the top officials from GAIL (India) Limited, Mumbai at VIA Auditorium, here on Wednesday. The topic of discussion was on GAILs future plans in Maharashtra, with a brief on upcoming pipeline networks and its advantages to the industries in scaling their economies with the natural gas. A GAIL official said, The gas pipeline constructed along the Samruddhi Mahamarg by Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) will connect Mumbai to Nagpur and extend to Jharsuguda in Odisha. GAIL will distribute natural gas to 11 districts of Vidarbha. It is in advanced stage of completion of the natural gas pipeline. The officials on the considtion of anonymity said that the focus of GAIL is on building infrastructure so that more natural gas is used. A large number of cities and towns are getting connected and they would be able to supply natural gas to transport sectors and household sectors. With the pipeline ready, Nagpur is expected to get piped gas supply through a city gas distribution entity shortly. Haryana City Gas have been authorised by the sectoral regulator Petroleum and Natural Gas Regulatory Board (PNGRB) for supply of city gas in Nagpur. It is learnt to have initiated the process to get approvals for laying its network in the city. This will ensure supply of gas to both industry and the domestic sector. Earlier, Vishal Agrawal, President of VIA said, There is good business opportunity for industrial units including those in the metal industry i.e. iron, steel, copper and aluminium, paper mills, logistics companies, auto ancillary, tyres, specialty chemicals, glass, food processing units, etc. Ashish Doshi, Secretary of VIA gave the opening remark and proposed the vote of thanks. CM pulls up BJP over communal tension in Biranpur village Staff Reporter RAIPUR, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over communal tension in Biranpur village of Bemetara district. Baghel accused the BJP of pouring petrol on the situation to create tension between two communities for political gain. Talking to mediapersons at Police Line Helipad in State Capital, Baghel said that 11 out of 12 accused were arrested immediately after the killing of a youth in Biranpur, but the BJP continued to make harsh comments on social media to spread tension among the two communities. Baghel assured that all social media tweets are being examined by the police and stern action will be taken against those spreading hate. The Chief Minister claimed that the BJP only wants to spread hate and violence for gaining power, and does not want Chhattisgarh to progress economically and educationally. He also criticised the BJPs different stands on inquiry committees for similar incidents in State. Baghel assured that the Congress government in Chhattisgarh has given protection to the victims family and that no one is above the law. As the assembly elections are nearing, the Chief Minister warned that the BJP will adopt more such tactics to gain power by spreading hatred in society DANGEROUS GAME EVEN as the world makes r e n e w e d attempts to bring a thaw in the raging RussiaUkraine conflict, there seems little concern for the situation in Myanmar where the military regime is playing a deadly and dangerous game. The Tatmadaw, as the military junta is called, has now started using air force to attack civilians who are backers of democracy in Myanmar. The latest report coming out from Sagaing region near Mandalay city revealed that more than 100 people, including children, were killed in airstrikes by the military while attending a ceremony organised by a prodemocracy group. Witnesses said that fighter jets dropped bombs directly into the crowd which had gathered to oppose the Army rule in the country. The escalation in military oppression of civilians is bad news for the country as its democratic government leaders languish in jail for more than two years now. What is very surprising is the meek voices of support to the Mynamarese people by the international community. There has been only lip-service on the restoration of democracy in Myanmar by top powers while none has made a concrete attempt to bring a change in the ground situation. It is nothing but a dirty show of double standards. TEST IN T20 N OTED comm e n t a t o r H a r s h a B h o g l e s criticism of Virat Kohlis innings for Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has irked the former Indian skippers huge fan base. As Bhogle, a respected name in international cricket circuit, deals with the trolls on the social media, the followers of Kohli must reflect on what the commentator has implied in his message. Kohli scored a fine half-century in the IPL game against Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) but it was not enough as they could now defend the big score and lost by one wicket. Bhogle said Kohlis innings was perfect for the Twenty20 format but the number of balls he took to reach his half-century after racing to a quick score was akin to playing Test cricket. The criticism was not for Kohlis batting but it was for the misreading of the wicket where a double push was required from the batsman of his calibre given the fact that a score of over 200 too was not safe. Kohli had the chance to unleash his beastly strokes to take the game out of Lucknows reach but he chose to consolidate in the traditional manner. The criticism was in the context and situation of the game which a player of Kohlis calibre cannot misjudge. Four Armymen killed in firingat Bathinda military station BATHINDA: It is not a terrorist attack, it is a fratricidal incident, say Punjab Police Two people in civilian clothes opened fire, said Bathinda SP Avoid rumours, says Army FOUR personnel of an Army artillery unit were killed in a firing incident at the Bathinda military station in Punjab early on Wednesday. The Punjab Police, which is investigating the matter along with their military counterparts, said, according to the information gathered so far, the incident was not a terrorist act. The four personnel, in their mid 20s, were sleeping when the firing took place around 4:30 am near the barracks behind a mess. The Army said, it deployed quick reaction teams and cordoned off the area. It is learnt that Army Chief General Manoj Pande briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the matter. Bathinda Superintendent of Police (Detective) Ajay Gandhi, who headed the police investigation, told reporters that 19 empty shells of INSAS rifle were found from the spot. Quoting an Army jawan, Gandhi said two people in civilian clothes opened fire. He said, the slain jawans were identified as Sagar Banne(25),KamaleshR (24), Yogesh Kumar J (24) and Santosh M Nagaral (25). He said, CCTV footage is being scannedand theArmy isconductingacordon-andsearch operation and the entire area has been sanitised.Thepoliceofficer,however, said, they still have no informationonwho opened fire, and added the matter is under investigation. Ourinvestigationisgoing on jointly with military police, Gandhi said. It has been ascertained that in the unfortunate incident,fourArmy jawansofan artillery unit succumbed to gunshot injuries sustained during the incident. No other injuries to personnel or loss/damage to property have been reported, the Armys South Western command said in a statement. It further said all aspects, including the possible case of involvement of an INSAS rifle along with 28 rounds reported missing two days back, are being ascertained. When asked if it could be afratricidalincident,Gandhi said, investigations are on. Bathinda Senior Superintendent of Police Gulneet Singh Khurana said in the evening, As per the information we have gathered so far, it is clear that it is not a terrorist act. Earlierintheday,Khurana, while referring to the incident,hadsaid,It is an internal issue, it appears to be fratricidal issue. Our investigation teams have reached inside (military station)with all forensic equipment and they are conducting investigations. In-depth investigations are going on. AVOID RUMOURS, SAYS ARMY: CONSIDERING sensitivitiesinvolved,theIndian Army on Wednesday asked the media to avoid rumours andrefrainfromspeculation over a firing incident inside the military station in PunjabsBathinda,whichled tothedeathsoffour soldiers, andtheareacontinues tobe sealed off to establish the facts of the case. MISSINGINSASRIFLEAT B A THIN D A MILITARY STATION FOUND: AN INSAS rifle that went missing from the BathindaMilitaryStationand was suspected to have been used in the killing of four Army personnel early Wednesday morning inside the facility has been found, the Army said. The four soldiers from an artillery unit were killed in a shooting incident at the station around 4.35 am, the Army said in a statement without mentioning the circumstancesandotherdetails relating to the incident. HC lifts stay on import of wild buffaloes from Assam on condition Staff reporter RAIPUR, The High Court of Chhattisgarh lifted the stay on import of Wild Buffaloes from Assam, but with an important condition that the buffaloes will have to be released in wild after 45 days and directed Forest Department of Chhattisgarh to conduct ecological suitability study. A Double Bench of Chief Justice and Justice Sanjay K Agrawal lifted the stay with the compliance of a new report by Wildlife Institute of India and Assam Governments terms through an order dated April 10, 2023. Chhattisgarh Forest Department already brought a male and a female sub-adult buffalo from Manas Tiger Reserve of Assam in April 2020 and kept at Barnawapara Sanctuary whereas Government of India and Chhattisgarh Government had granted permission with the condition that the buffaloes will be released in the wild. The National Tiger Conservation Authority had also asked Chhattisgarh Forest Department to submit an ecological suitability report. Chhattisgarh Forest Department had planned to keep wild buffaloes from Assam in an enclosure for entire lifetime and to release the offspring created from the cross breeding of Assamese buffaloes with the buffaloes of Chhattisgarh kept in another enclosure in Udanti-Sitanadi Tiger Reserve. Raipur-based wildlife conservationist Nitin Singhvi had filed a petition over lifetime captivity of buffaloes from Assam and genetic dissimilarities between buffaloes from the two states and non-submission of ecological suitability report to NTCA in 2022. The Court had put a stay on import of four more wild buffaloes from Assam in March of 2023 after Chhattisgarh Forest Department sent teams to bring buffaloes from Assam. The High Court has granted Chhattisgarh Forest Department after the Department informed Court about the new report of WII and Assam Governments conditional permission. WII report reads that Assamese buffaloes can be used for breeding programme. The permission granted by Assam Government adds following conditions: The buffaloes can be kept in enclosure for a maximum of 45 days, after which the animals will have to be released in the wild. The conditions added in the permission granted by Government of India to translocate buffaloes shall be abided with. The permission mandates releasing the buffaloes in new suitable habitat and not to keep them in captivity for lifetime. The buffaloes can only be brought after submission of ecological suitability report is submitted to the NTCA Indian auto industry pioneer Keshub Mahindra no more NEW DELHI, KESHUB Mahindra, a pioneer of Indian auto industry and Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd Chairman Emeritus, died on Wednesday morning in Mumbai. Mahindra, 99, breathed his last on Wednesday morning at home peacefully, the company confirmed.He was a man of principles and led from the front to preserve the legacy of our founders which has ensured that the organisation has remained rooted in ethics, values and good corporate governance, Mahindra Group Chairman Anand Mahindra said. Further, Anand said, Keshub Mahindra was known for his astute business acumen that helped in transforming Mahindra into a diversified federation of companies. His compassion, and people-centric approach made him a global business icon, who was much loved and respected. Keshub had led the Mahindra Group for 48 years as Chairman and expanded it from being an automobile manufacturer to other business segments like IT, real estate, financial services and hospitality. He played key roles in forging business alliances with global majors such as the Willys Corporation, Mitsubishi, International Harvester, United Technologies, British Telecom and many others. Born on October 9, 1923, in Shimla, Keshub was a graduate from Wharton, University of Pennsylvania, USA, and joined M&M in 1947 and became the Chairman in 1963. In 2012, Keshub Mahindra, who remained as one of the directors on Mahindra & Mahindras board for 64 years overseeing the groups metamorphosis from a steel trading company to a USD 15.4 billion diversified group, handed over the baton to his nephew and the then Vice-Chairman and Managing Director Anand Mahindra. MATTER OF FACT WHEN Union Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman said in Washington DC that the Muslims in India are doing much better than the Muslims in Pakistan, she was only stating a matter of fact, and not of imagination. When she was asked about conditions of minorities in India, Mrs. Sitharaman said in a composed voice that the minorities in India were happier in the country than at other places. To be make such a firm statement on an international forum requires a great confidence in the rightness of the factual situation. Not just Mrs. Sitharaman but also anybody can make such a proud assertion that the minorities get a respectful treatment in India in all situations, politically-motivated grudges and complaints otherwise apart. In Washington, Mrs. Sitharamans comparative emphasis was on Muslims. And beyond doubt, she was making a statement of reality that the members of the Muslim community are treated without any discrimination in the country from the highest to the lowest levels. The world has seen that countless numbers of Muslims have occupied coveted constitutional positions in pubic life and have influence ed the national discourse in the most dominant manner. In Pakistan, what is available on the ground is in sharp contrast of what is available to the Muslims in India. The overall socio-economic condition of the Muslim community in India is far better than that in Pakistan. Given the terrible decline of the national economic condition in Pakistan, common people are suffering from acute shortages of everything, and are out in the streets begging for simple flour and milk and eggs. Most common Pakistanis are now beginning to say that Pakistan would be better off by forging friendship with India. Even though the Muslims are a majority in Pakistan, their overall condition is rather pathetic -- since only a handful few get all benefits of Government schemes there while the rest languish in life of poverty and want. In India, every Muslim person gets every possible benefit of every possible Government scheme. As the standard practice is, nobody is asked about his or her caste or creed while getting listed for official welfare schemes. The best part of governance in India is that there is no gender or caste discrimination when it comes to implementing Government schemes in different domains. There still are in India some politically-motivated elements that try to fan factional feelings in the larger society. On occasions, they may seem to be succeeding. Yet, the overall picture is one of harmony. Because, if there are some Muslim elements that try to create bad blood, there are larger numbers of Muslims who stand up to the untoward elements and shut them down. For example, when some elements tried to kick up a national controversy about women wearing hijab, there were larger numbers of Muslim women who refused to cower under pressure -- and continued with their attire without hijab. The same thing happened about the law scrapping the practice of instant triple talaq. Countless numbers of Muslim women appreciated the Governments step of this major social reform and came out in the open to support the official move. The world has not missed these developments demonstrating the overall better condition of the Muslim community in India than in Pakistan -- as highlighted by Finance Minister Mrs. Nirmala Sitharaman in Washington DC. Her statement also underlines the robustness of the Indias internal socio-cultural conditions of equality and respect for all, irrespective of difference of caste or creed or ideology. New NEP implemented considering need of modern and developed India: PM Modi BHOPAL, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that the new National Education Policy is implemented keeping in mind the requirements of modern and developed India. He also said that the policy emphasises the holistic development of children, knowledge, skills, culture, and promotion of Indian values. The Central Government has implemented the new National Education Policy (NEP) keeping in view the requirements of modern and developed India, the Prime Minister said in a video message while addressing a programme for newly-inducted teachers in Bhopal. Modi said that the campaign to provide Government jobs to the youth in Madhya Pradesh is going on at a fast pace where thousands of people have been recruited for various posts by organising employment fairs in different districts, an official release said. Modi informed that more than 22,400 youths have been recruited for the post of teacher. He congratulated the youths who have received appointment letters for getting involved in such important work as teaching. Highlighting the important role of teachers in the effective implementation of NEP, Modi said the massive teacher recruitment campaign in Madhya Pradesh is a big step in this direction. Modi also informed that almost half of the teachers appointed today will be deputed in tribal areas which will benefit the children. He also expressed happiness that the Madhya Pradesh government has set a target of more than one lakh appointments in Government posts this year, including 60,000 teachers, and as a result, the state has made a big leap in the quality of education in the National Achievement Survey (NAS). Modi also mentioned that MP has reached from 17th position to 5th position (in NAS) without spending money on advertisements. Referring to the ambitious skill development programme, he said the Government lays special emphasis on skill development to promote employment and self-employment. He added that skill development centres have been opened across the country to provide training to the youth under the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. In this years budget, 30 Skill India International Centers will be opened where youth will be trained through New Age Technology, and an initiative has been taken to provide training to small artisans through PM Vishwakarma Yojana and also to connect them with MSME, the Prime Minister said. He appealed to the newly-appointed teachers to make a place in their hearts for their students similar to a mother. You should always keep in mind that education (imparted by you) will not only shape the present but also the future of the country, the Prime Minister said. Modi also said that the education imparted by teachers will not only bring positive change in students but also in society. The values that you inculcate will create a positive impact not only on todays generation but on many generations to come, he added. Nitish, Tejashwi meet Rahul, Kharge; discuss Oppn unity NEW DELHI, BIHAR Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his Deputy Tejashwi Yadav held a meeting with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday, and decided to bring together as many Opposition parties as possible to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Addressing a joint press conference after the meeting, Kharge said, the Opposition will together protect the Constitution and democracy and unitedly give a new direction to the country. Rahul Gandhi said, the Opposition will together develop its vision for the country and present the same before people as they fight the ongoing ideological battle together. This is the first formal effort in forging an Opposition unity ahead of next years election. The Congress chief would be meeting top leaders of various Opposition parties in the coming few days. Broadcaster National Public Radio said Wednesday it would no longer post its news content on 52 official Twitter accounts in protest of the social media site labeling the independent U.S. news agency as "government-funded media." NPR is the first major news organization to go silent on Twitter. The social media platform owned by entrepreneur Elon Musk at first labeled NPR as "state-affiliated media," the same tag it applies to propaganda outlets in China, Russia and other autocratic countries. Twitter then revised its label to "government-funded media," but NPR said that, too, was misleading because NPR is a private, nonprofit company with editorial independence. NPR says it receives less than 1 percent of its $300 million annual budget from the federally funded Corporation for Public Broadcasting. NPR chief executive John Lansing said that by not posting its news reports on Twitter, the network is protecting its credibility and would continue to produce journalism without "a shadow of negativity." In an e-mail to staff explaining the decision, Lansing wrote, "It would be a disservice to the serious work you all do here to continue to share it on a platform that is associating the federal charter for public media with an abandoning of editorial independence or standards." Overloaded school bag: A common concern for tiny-tots By Ankita Garg Despite the fact that district administration had warned to take action against schools if children found to be carrying heavy bags, the direction is being ignored in State capital. Private CBSE schools have started their new academic session 2023-24 from first week of April. But none of schools in city have asked children to lighten up their bag by submitting books, copies in school or bring restricted stuff in bag. Students from kindergarten to primary sections are being sighted carrying heavy school bags on city road every day. Even many children were seen unable to walk properly and many of them were walking with bent body posture in the morning hours. After reaching home, common complaint of children with their parents is that they have shoulder pain. Talking to The Hitavada Anupama Tiwari, resident of Baagsewaniya, says, My daughter is studying in class 3 of a prestigious CBSE school. Every day she is carrying books and copies for total eight periods along with dictionary, lunch box, water bottle and stationery. Her bag weighs above 8 kg and I find it difficult to carry her bag till the van only. Unfortunately, I have no other option to get some relief to my ward. She further added that once she discussed the problem with other parents to get together but they all denied. Another parent Afsana Ali said, My daughter is in class 2 of private CBSE school and she is also carrying books copies for all the eight periods every day. When she comes back home, she complains for having pain in her shoulder and back. I really feel pity for her. One day I discussed the problem with school management but they simply said that bags are becoming heavy due to lunch box and water bottle only. When she was further asked about complaint with local authority, she simply said that she does not want her ward to be in bad books of school management. Though Government has strictly said that students no longer need to carry heavy school bags on their back, all seems to be fallen on deaf ears. In July 2019, Government released an order to keep the weight of class one students from 1.6 kg to 2.2 kg, class five 1.7- 2.5 kg, class 8 2.5 kg- 4.0 kg and for class 10 it was decided as 2.5 kg to 4.5 kg. For weight of class 11 and 12 students, district administration was asked to take decision. At present in most of schools students from class one are carrying around ten kg of weight while in class 10 or 12, they are carrying 16 to 18 kg of bag. Interestingly, parents too avoid complaining against school management even after seeing their ward with heavy bag on shoulder. There is not a single complaint filed by parents at the District Education Office (DEO) or Directorate of Public Interest (DPI) regarding this. Primary students in private missionary schools are still carrying heavy bags that cause mental and physical burden on them. Most of schools ask students to bring all books and copies in bag everyday which make their bag excessively heavy. District administration has also released various circular and last month on spot bag weighing campaign was also started in schools by district management but all seems to be in vain. District Education Office says that parents do not file complaint against school due to which they are unable to take action against the school management. While parents say that they are scared of school management as their ward would get punishment. Talking to The Hitavada Principal of Carmel Convent Senior Secondary School Sr Kripa said, We never ask children to carry heavy bag but their water bottle and tiffin make the bag heavy. Many students carry two water bottles that make bag very heavy. We already have filtered clean water in our campus where students are free to fill water but they prefer to bring two bottles from home. Patients with fever, cold, cough avoiding test for corona infection Staff Report COVID-19 pandemic is again spreading its tentacles across the State including Bhopal, yet people are not taking precautions. Patients suffering from cold, cough and fever are not getting themselves tested for corona infection. State-run hospitals, including Hamidia and JP Hospital, have long queues of patients having viral fever and long lasting cold-cough. The symptoms are also lasting longer than usual. The same people are not even following social distancing and wearing mask to control the spread of the disease if the cases escalate to higher levels. The Health Department already issued an advisory stating that those with fever, cough, cold, sore throat or breathing difficulty should get tested and self-isolate till the results came. In fact, 37 patients of corona have been found in the State, along with this, the figure of active corona cases in the State has gone up to 198, after getting the patients of Bhopal, this number of active should be 90. Apart from this, there are four in Gwalior in Rajgarh, which is more than 45 of the total number of 1 patients in the state. On Tuesday, 16 patients have recovered in a single day across the State, in which 7 corona patients have recovered in Bhopal, apart from this, six in Indore, one in Gwalior, one in Narsinghpur, one in Jabalpur have been cured and discharged. 53 corona patients were discharged in Bhopal in a single day. PESB recommends Amarendu Prakash for SAIL Chairman Staff Reporter BHILAI, Amarendu Prakash, the Director In-charge of Bokaro Steel Plant, has been recommended for the post of Chairman of Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) by the Public Enterprise Selection Board (PESB). A total of nine applicants were shortlisted and interviewed, including Anirban Dasgupta, Director In-charge of Bhilai Steel Plant and others such as Vejendla Srinivasa Chakravathy, Director Commercial of SAIL, and Ashok Kumar Verma, Higher Administrative Grade of Indian Railways Stores Service. Amarendu Prakash, who assumed the position of Director In-charge of Bokaro Steel Plant on September 28, 2020, is an experienced technocrat with over 30 years of experience. He has worked for 26 years in Bokaro Steel Plant and four years at SAIL Corporate office. Prakash began his career jointing services in the Hot Strip Mill of Bokaro Steel Plant and has extensive knowledge of steel rolling and finishing. During his tenure as Director In-charge of Bokaro Steel Plant, he led several new initiatives in the township and achieved new highs in each field. Bokaro Steel Plant was also credited as the first Global Active Partner City under his leadership. Prakash also had additional charge of Director In-charge of Rourkela Steel Plant, Durgapur and Burnpur Steel Plants during 2021- 22 for a while. If appointed as the Chairman of SAIL, Amarendu Prakashs vast experience and leadership qualities are expected to bring a positive impact to the company PM thanks friend Gehlot for attending event amid political tussle in Rajasthan Delhi Bureau & Agencies JAIPUR, PRIME Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday called Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot a friend, thanking him for attending the launch here of a Vande Bharat Express even when he is going through a political tussle in the State. Flagging off the States first Vande Bharat train virtually, the Prime Minister thanked Gehlot for being present at the event in Jaipur. I express my special gratitude to Gehlot ji. During these days of political struggle when he is going through several crises, he took out the time for development work and participated in a railway programme. I welcome him, Modi said. Earlier, during his address at the launch event, Gehlot raised demands related to the railways in Rajasthan, and mentioned that for the first time since independence, the Union Railway Minister is from the State. Describing the launch of the Vande Bharat Express as a big gift for Rajasthan, Gehlot said, the State will become an economic leader in the country if rail facilities are increased here. Modi said, The work that should have been done immediately after independence had not been done till now. But you have so much faith in me that you have given me that task today. The Prime Minister told Gehlot that his trust in him gives strength to their friendship. I thank you for the trust you have in this friendship, he told the Congress leader. Schools threaten to recover RTE dues from parents, stop further admissions Staff Reporter Private English schools across Maharashtra have refused to admit students under Right To Education (RTE) Act as the State Government hasnt reimbursed Rs 1,800 crore against the fees of the students admitted under RTE for the past six years. Maharashtra English School Trustees Association (MESTA) has threatened to recover the money from the students admitted under RTE if the Government did not pay the pending amount. MESTA members said they were afraid that the burden of the arrears, which have been accumulating for the past six years under RTE admissions, would now fall on the parents of the students admitted under RTE. The associations stand may deprive students of the right to education. The Government has reserved 25 percent seats for children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. These children are admitted to private English schools for free and their fees are paid by the Government. However, reimbursements since 2017-18 have been pending with the State Government. Of the total amount pending, the Government has so far released only around Rs 200 crore, sources said, adding that some schools had been awaiting the amounts since 2012. In the last assembly session, the State Government had filed an official reply on this issue, admitting that Rs 707.49 crore, from 2012-13 to 2021-22, was pending with it. For the academic year 2022-23, the Government set aside Rs 200 crore, of which Rs 84 crore were disbursed. School organisations do not agree with the Government statistics. They say that the pending reimbursement amount is much more. Dr Sanjay Tayade Patil, Founder President of MESTA said, We are ready to face action, but we will not give admission under RTE now. 18,000 schools in the state are members of our association. In 2017, the Government gave only 50 percent of the amount. After that, the amount was reduced to 15 to 17 percent, and then only 7-8 percent was given. During the coronavirus pandemic period, the amount was reduced to Rs 8,000 per student, from Rs 17, 676. After the pandemic, the original amount was restored, but the Government did not reimburse any of it. Despite decrease in the amount, the Government failed to make most of the disbursements. Due to non-receipt of dues for a long time, some schools are now on the verge of closure. Others are trying to find ways to avoid admissions under RTE. State Government had issued a direction under which schools are supposed to fill up district-wise, schools-wise and student-wise information on the states RTE portal. Some schools missed the deadline and now Government got a tool to avoid schools regarding reimbursement. We will collect whatever outstanding balance is due from the parents. Parents should fight with the Government, warned Dr Patil. Teachers to get 100 pc salary from second year itself: CM Chouhan Staff Reporter Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, while taking an important decision in the interest of teachers today, announced that the previous Government had passed an order to wait for several years to pay full salary to teachers, which was wrong. It will be changed and implemented afresh. Now teachers will start getting 100 per cent amount of salary in the second year itself. After 70 per cent amount in the first year, there was a long wait to get 100 per cent. Now this process will be completed in one year. For this teachers will not have to wait for 4 years. Chouhan was addressing the training programme of newly appointed teachers at Chief Ministers residence on Wednesday. Appointment of 22 thousand teachers is a silent penance: Prime Minister Modi Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his video message sent for the programme said that the New Education Policy lays emphasis on promotion of Indian values. Teachers have been recruited extensively in Madhya Pradesh. This year 22,000 teachers have been appointed. Congratulating all these teachers, PM Modi said that it is significant that almost half of these teachers have been appointed in schools in tribal-dominated areas. The children of rural areas will get maximum benefit from their appointment. Our future generation will get benefited. Madhya Pradesh government has set a target of filling more than one lakh vacant posts this year, which is a matter of happiness. There is a target of appointing 60,000 teachers by the end of this year. The result of these efforts is that Madhya Pradesh has jumped from 17th place to 5th place in the country in the Shiksha Survey. This is a big achievement of Madhya Pradesh in terms of quality of education. Madhya Pradesh achieved this feat without making noise. It takes dedication to do this kind of work. Without this, it would not have been possible. In a way it is a gesture of silent penance. This is possible with devotion towards education. PM Modi congratulated the students of Madhya Pradesh, all the teachers and the Government of Madhya Pradesh for this silent penance. He said that if you look at the life of the last few years, you will find that the people who have made the most impact in your life must be your mother and your teachers. Similarly, you also have to make a place in the hearts of your students. Your education will improve not only the present but also the future of the country. The education given by you should also transform the society. Congratulating the Madhya Pradesh government again for the work of appointing teachers in large numbers, the Prime Minister described this work as a unique initiative. Mentioning the important contribution of teachers in giving education to the students, he called upon the teachers to not only to impart education but also not let the student inside you die. New employment opportunities in many sectors PM said that in the Amrit Kaal of Independence, work is being done in the country by keeping big goals and new resolutions on priority. Today, new employment opportunities are being created in every field. The fast pace at which infrastructure building is taking place in different areas today, new possibilities of employment are also being created. He Modi said that Vande Bharat trains have been started from many places in the country. Businessmen and common people have been facilitated with these trains. Along with this, tourism development is getting a boost. Local products are reaching far and wide through schemes like One Station One Product and One District-One Product. Mudra Yojana has also been of great help to those people who were very weak financially. The changes made by the government at the policy level have also created many employment opportunities in the start-up sector of India. The government also lays special emphasis on skill development to promote employment and self-employment. Skill Development Centers have been opened in the country to provide training to the youth under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana. Decision has been taken in this years budget to open 30 Skill India International Centers. In these, youth will be trained through new age technology. Through the Pradhan Mantri Vishwakarma Yojana, initiative was taken to provide training to small artisans and also to link them with MSMEs. Teachers have the responsibility of building future generation: CM Chouhan: CM Chouhan said that today is an unforgettable day. The correct name of a teacher is Guru. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) Mary Quant, the visionary fashion designer whose colorful, sexy miniskirts epitomized London in the 1960s and influenced youth culture around the world, has died. She was 93. Quants family said she died peacefully at home in Surrey, southern England, on Thursday. Quant helped popularize the miniskirt some credit her with inventing it and the innovative tights and accessories that were an integral part of the look. She also created dresses and other simple mix-and-match garments that had an element of whimsy. Some compared her impact on the fashion world with The Beatles impact on pop music. I think it was a happy confluence of events, which is really what fashion is so often all about, said Hamish Bowles, international editor at large for American Vogue magazine. She was the right person with the right sensibility in the right place at the right time. She appeared on the scene at the exact cusp of the 60s. Quant was also an astute businesswoman and one of the first to understand how branding herself as a creative force could help her sustain her business and branch out into new fields, like cosmetics, he said. Alexandra Shulman, former editor-in-chief of British Vogue, wrote on Twitter: RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship - a visionary who was much more than a great haircut. Quant was perfectly positioned to capitalize on the youthquake of the 1960s. She sensed that the days of exclusive salons were numbered, and thought that even the great Parisian designers would follow ready-to-wear trends. The look she created was sexy and fun, a sharp break with the predictable floral day dresses commonly worn in the conservative, austere years after World War II. Quant introduced miniskirts with hemlines up to 8 inches above the knee to the London scene in 1966 and they were an instant hit with young people, in part because they shocked and offended their elders. While some insist she first developed the style, many also credit French designer Andre Courreges, whose 1964 spring collection included minidresses that were popular in Paris but did not have widespread impact outside France. Others cite the short skirts worn by actress Anne Francis in the 1956 film Forbidden Planet as the first example of the miniskirt. Whether or not she was the first to design them, it was Quant who figured out how to market miniskirts to the masses. Quant, who named the skirt after her favorite make of car, the Mini, recalled how it offered a feeling of freedom and liberation." From her shop on Kings Road in London's trendy Chelsea neighborhood, she was part of a clothing revolution. It was the girls on Kings Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance and we would make them the length the customer wanted, she said. I wore them very short and the customers would say, shorter, shorter. While Courreges came from an haute couture tradition and his expensive clothes were aimed at a limited audience, Quant used a variety of materials and colors to make miniskirts popular with young women on a limited budget. She blasted through barriers of snobbery and tradition, with her vision of fashion as a way of resisting stereotypes, with well-made clothes and cosmetics that were empowering and liberating, as well as affordable, said Jenny Lister, who curated a 2020 exhibition devoted to Quant at Londons Victoria & Albert Museum. Fashion today owes so much to the revolutionary, trailblazing Mary Quant. She shot to the top of the fashion scene at the time when The Beatles and Rolling Stones dominated the music world, and she was forever linked to the heady freedoms of the 1960s. The clothes became wildly popular and were worn by models such as Twiggy and Pattie Boyd, who was then married to Beatles guitarist George Harrison. Asked by the Guardian newspaper in 1967 if her clothes could be considered vulgar because they were so revealing, Quant replied that she loved vulgarity and embraced it. Good taste is death, vulgarity is life, she said, adding that the provocative poses of her models reflected the new sexual openness of the times, which was fueled by the development of the birth control pill. Born Feb. 11, 1930, the daughter of schoolteachers, Quant studied art education at Goldsmiths College in London before moving into fashion, working first as an apprentice to a hat-maker before trying her own designs. With the help of her wealthy husband and business partner, Alexander Plunket Greene, and the accountant Archie McNair, she opened Bazaar in Chelsea in 1955, at first relying on innovative window displays to bring in younger customers. Snobbery has gone out of fashion, and in our shops you will find duchesses jostling with typists to buy the same dress, Quant once said. She called the store a sophisticated candy store for grown-ups. Bazaar became a focal point for the young and the beautiful and those who wanted to rub shoulders with them. Small restaurants, bistros, pubs and boutiques opened nearby, giving the neighborhood the feel of a perpetual party. The shop was such a success that she soon moved into other parts of London and began exporting her clothes to the United States, where the British invasion was in full swing. Quant was unusual in that she often modeled her own clothes, usually with her hair styled in a distinctive, angular bob by hairdresser Vidal Sassoon. She soon diversified her interests, developing a popular makeup line and also moving into kitchenware and household accessories. The makeup proved extremely profitable, particularly in Japan, where Quant retained a devoted following. Quant was also credited with introducing hot pants and micro-minis to the fashion scene in the late 1960s. She was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire for service to the fashion industry in 1966, wearing a miniskirt when she received the honor at Buckingham Palace. In 2014, she was made a dame the female equivalent of a knight for services to British fashion. At the start of this year, she was appointed a member of the Order of the Companions of Honor, a royal honor restricted to 65 people of distinction in the arts, science, medicine or government. Quant stepped down from the day-to-day management of her firm, Mary Quant Ltd., in 2000 after it was purchased by a Japanese company, but kept working as a consultant. The firm continued to use the daisy motif and logo that Quant pioneered in the 1960s, and it long maintained a shop in London, in addition to roughly 200 shops in Japan. ___ Former AP correspondent Gregory Katz contributed biographical material to this story before his death in 2020. A California man who made violent anti-LGBTQ-related threats against dictionary publisher Merriam-Webster Inc. over its updated gender definitions was sentenced Thursday to a year in prison. The sentence imposed on Jeremy Hanson, 35, by a federal court in Massachusetts also included 30 days of home confinement, three years of probation and mental health treatment. Hanson pleaded guilty last year to interstate transmission of threatening communications in connection with threats made to the Springfield, Massachusetts-based dictionary publisher and to the president of the University of North Texas. In court documents, prosecutors said the Rossmoor, California, man has a history of making threatening communications, nearly all of which were motivated by ... biases based upon race, gender, gender identity, and/or sexual orientation. Those other communications were directed at the American Civil Liberties Union, Amnesty International, Land O Lakes Inc., Hasbro, a nonbinary rabbi and others, prosecutors said. In a remote hearing Thursday, prosecutor Steven Breslow asked for an 18-month prison sentence, in part to serve as a deterrent to others at a time when violent rhetoric is becoming more common. Hansons defense attorney, Marissa Elkins, asked that her client be sentenced to the time he has already served, citing his history of emotional and behavioral issues, including anxiety and obsessive-compulsive disorder. More time behind bars could negatively affect his mental health, she said. Judge Mark Mastroianni in U.S District Court in Springfield acknowledged Hanson's medical history and said he had no intent or capacity to carry out his threats, but called his actions disturbing and terrifying. He noted that Merriam-Webster management was fearful that Hanson would come to their office and cause harm, and said internal company communications referenced the 2015 attack on Charlie Hebdo offices in France, where terrorists killed 12 people who worked for the satirical weekly newspaper. Hanson sent Merriam-Webster threatening messages and comments between Oct. 2 and Oct. 8, 2021 using the websites contact us function, where he commented on word entries such as girl, woman, and female, prosecutors said. It is absolutely sickening that Merriam-Webster now tells blatant lies and promotes anti-science propaganda, Hanson wrote, according to prosecutors. There is no such thing as gender identity. The imbecile who wrote this entry should be hunted down and shot. Twice he threatened to shoot and bomb company headquarters, prompting Merriam-Webster to close offices in Springfield and New York City for several days, prosecutors said. Hanson also wrote an email to the president of the University of North Texas in 2022 that said You ought to be shot in the head and have your offices set on fire," for supporting transgender students, prosecutors said. Hanson, who appeared at the hearing remotely from a California jail, declined to address the court when given the opportunity. The son of a man killed in a 2021 mass shooting at an Indianapolis FedEx facility filed a federal lawsuit Thursday with two of the survivors against the distributor of the 60-round magazine used by the gunman, alleging the use of reckless marketing tactics targeting young men at risk for violent behavior. The lawsuit filed almost exactly two years after the shooting that killed eight people alleges that American Tactical, Inc. failed to take steps to help prevent dangerous people from obtaining the high-capacity magazine, which allow shooters to fire dozens of rounds without having to reload. Instead, the lawsuit says the company specifically targeted its products to a "consumer base filled with impulsive young men who feel they need to harm others in order to prove their strength and who have militaristic delusions of fighting in a war or a video game." It points to action-movie-style marketing videos that were posted on American Tactical's YouTube page featuring men firing round after round in tactical vests similar to one worn by the FedEx facility shooter. American Tactical, Inc. is well aware that these magazines are instruments of mass killing and have no problem marketing them directly to people with horrific intentions, said Gurinder Singh Bains. whose father, Jaswinder Singh, died in the shooting. This isnt a hypothetical. My father is gone because they didnt care they were enabling mass shooters. They have to be held accountable not just for my fathers sake but everyone who may still suffer what my family and I have been forced to go through," he said in an emailed statement. The complaint also names as defendants the president of American Tactical, the companys marketing director, as well as Schmeisser GmbH the German manufacturer of the high-capacity magazine and 365 Plus, the global distributor. A person who answered the phone for American Tactical said the company had no immediate comment. Email seeking comment was sent to Schmeisser GmbH and 365 Plus. The lawsuit was filed in federal court in New York, where a law passed in 2021 opened the door to civil cases brought against the gun industry by classifying the illegal marketing and sale of firearms as a public nuisance. The firearms industry has said that manufacturers arent at fault when people misuse their products, drawing a comparison to other products, like cars, that can also be used to hurt people. Gunmakers are typically immune from lawsuits over crimes committed with their products under federal law, but survivors and families are increasingly seeking to hold the industry accountable by following in the footsteps of families of victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting in Connecticut. They won a $73 million settlement from gunmaker Remington over marketing practices. Last year, survivors of the mass shooting at a suburban Chicago Independence Day parade and family members of those killed filed 11 lawsuits against the manufacturer of the rifle used in the attack, accusing gun-maker Smith & Wesson of illegally targeting its ads at young men at risk of committing mass violence. And in November, the mother of a girl killed in the Uvalde, Texas school mass shooting similarly sued the maker of the AR-style semiautomatic rifle the gunman used to fire more than 100 rounds. In addition to Jaswinder Singhs son, other plaintiffs include two people who survived the shooting. Harpreet Singh was standing in line to pick up his paycheck when he was shot in the head. Lakhwinder Kaur was going to help a coworker who was slumped over when a bullet lacerated her arm, according to the lawsuit. The 19-year-old gunman, Brandon Scott Hole, began firing randomly at people in the parking lot of the FedEx facility on April 15, 2021, killing four, before entering the building, killing four more people and then turning the gun on himself. The eight FedEx employees killed included four members of Indianapolis Sikh community. The lawsuit says the shooter needed the high-capacity magazine to "accomplish his mission to kill and terrorize as many people as possible." He was emboldened by knowing he had the ability to fire 60 rounds continuously without the need to pause to reload," the complaint says. The lawsuit says American Tactical was obligated to take measures to minimize the risk that dangerous people like the shooter could obtain the product. Instead, anyone "regardless of age, criminal history, or mental health history can buy high-capacity magazines like the one used by Hole directly from American Tactical's website, the complaint says. Gun manufacturers and distributors know that high capacity magazines are favored by mass shooters due to their ability to kill as many people as possible, therefore American Tactical should have enacted reasonable safeguards to prevent such magazines from falling into the hands of those who should not have them," said Kris Brown, president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which helped bring the lawsuit. They failed to do so, and these families are paying that price," she added in her statement. FedEx, which is not a party in the lawsuit, said Thursday in a statement that April 15 will always be a somber day of reflection for our company as we continue to mourn our team members lost in the tragedy. Providing a safe and secure work environment for our team members at all times remains our top priority, the company continued. ___ Richer reported from Boston. Associated Press reporter Lindsay Whitehurst contributed from Washington. There is a wide variety of substances that can be used to make fentanyl, and many of them have legitimate uses and are legal to sell, making them difficult to control internationally. The U.S. has been lobbying the UN Commission on Narcotic Drugs to place international controls on 14 key fentanyl precursors and fentanyl analogues -- drugs that have similar chemical structure and mimic the pharmacological effects of fentanyl. A key step in this effort would be to internationally track the shipping of the precursor chemicals used to make fentanyl, said Earl Anthony Wayne, former ambassador to Mexico who is now a fellow at the Wilson Center. "There's no tracking right now," Wayne told VOA. "What you need to do is start building an international consensus to put new limits on these things. That doesn't happen overnight." The initiative includes increasing coordination among U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies and with private sector companies, including chemical industries, shipping and delivery companies in the U.S. and abroad. The White House did not name the countries involved in the partnership. "We will have more details about our work with partners in the coming weeks and months, including as we build a global coalition to tackle this scourge," a National Security Council spokesperson said in a statement to VOA. In a statement, the White House said it will work with international partners to build a global coalition to "prevent illicit drug manufacturing, detect emerging drug threats, disrupt trafficking, address illicit finance, and respond to public safety and public health impacts." "This global coalition will develop solutions, drive national actions, and create synergies and leverage among like-minded countries who agree that countering illicit synthetic drugs must be a global policy priority," according to the White House. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid painkiller 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. Drug overdoses from synthetic opioids 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. The Biden administration is ramping up efforts to address the fentanyl crisis, increasing sanctions on traffickers and announcing plans to set up a global coalition to combat the illicit drug trade. Mexico and China The fentanyl crisis has increased Washington's tension with Mexico and China. The two countries are the primary sources for fentanyl and the precursor chemicals that are trafficked into the U.S., according to a report by the Drug Enforcement Administration. U.S. officials say that since China started controlling fentanyl in 2021, Chinese traffickers shifted to exporting precursors for Mexican drug cartels to manufacture and traffic across the border, making up almost all fentanyl on American streets. They say Mexican cartels often make fentanyl look like other medications, such as Xanax, oxycodone or Percocet, or mix it into other drugs, including heroin and cocaine. Many people who die of overdoses in the U.S. do not know they are taking fentanyl. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador denies that his country produces the drug. "In Mexico, fentanyl is not produced. The raw material for fentanyl is not produced. If China's government says they do not produce it either, then it is interesting. Who is producing it?" he said in a news conference on Monday, referring to Beijing's response to his letter requesting that China help stop the flow of the drug. In response to Lopez Obrador's letter, China denied involvement in trafficking fentanyl and blamed the U.S. for its drug problems. "The root cause of overdose lies in the U.S. itself, and the problem is completely made in the U.S. The U.S. should face up to its own problems and take more substantive measures to strengthen domestic supervision and reduce demand," China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said last week. China suspended all counternarcotics cooperation with the U.S. in August 2022 as a protest to then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi's visit to Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province. "China subordinates its counternarcotics cooperation to the geostrategic relationship with the United States," Vanda Felbab-Brown, director of the Brookings Institution's Initiative on Nonstate Armed Actors, said in a March congressional hearing on China's role on the fentanyl crisis. In the absence of significant warming in the bilateral relationship, there is little prospect Beijing would intensify its anti-drug cooperation with the U.S., Felbab-Brown added. "U.S. punitive measures, such as sanctions and drug indictments, are unlikely to change that." Target Mexico Some U.S. congressional members have been calling on the Biden administration to increase pressure on the Mexican government to crack down on fentanyl trafficking. In March, Republican South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham said he would introduce legislation to designate cartels as foreign terrorist organizations and give the U.S. military the authority to stop them. "We're going to unleash the fury and the might of the United States against these cartels," he said. The administration rejected the plan. "The United States has powerful sanctions authorities specifically designated to combat narcotics-trafficking organizations and the individuals and entities that enable them," said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. Some Republicans have even called for the U.S. military to target facilities of drug cartels inside Mexico. Legislation to put the U.S. "at war with the cartels by authorizing the use of military force" has been introduced by Republican lawmakers. "We must start treating them like ISIS, because that is who they are," said Republican Congressman Dan Crenshaw, a co-sponsor of the bill. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the administration is not considering military action in Mexico. "We have robust law enforcement cooperation with Mexico, which has enabled us to take successful action against cartels, transnational criminal organizations, drug traffickers and human smugglers, and that will continue," she said in a statement to VOA. Lopez Obrador confirmed that members of his security Cabinet are in the U.S. this week to discuss fentanyl trafficking with U.S. officials. The meeting is a followup of the January summit in Mexico City to discuss better cooperation on various issues, including fentanyl trafficking, between U.S. President Joe Biden, Lopez Obrador and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) Neighbors Romania, Ukraine, and Moldova signed cooperation agreements in Romania's capital Thursday after a trilateral meeting on ways to strengthen security in their Black Sea region to counter threats posed by Russian aggression. The Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest brought together the three countries foreign and defense ministers, government officials and international partners. The aim was to address the wide-ranging impact that Moscows war in Ukraine is having on the region. NATO member Romanias Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu called Russia the most direct and serious threat to the Black Sea region and the Western alliance, and said war-torn Ukraine and embattled Moldova are essential to our future European security. Instead of peace and stability, the Black Sea region has become the primary target of the Russian aggression, he said, adding that a strong NATO presence there is a must. After signing the agreements, which aim to boost political, economic, and security cooperation between the three nations, Aurescu said it "records the fact that we have similar visions. Ukraines Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba who spoke to the Bucharest gathering by video link called the war a bleeding wound in the middle of Europe and said a security network for countries in the region that feel threatened by the maniac on the loose must be sought. Its time to turn the Black Sea into what the Baltic Sea has become, a sea of NATO, Kuleba said, referring to Finland's recent admission to the NATO military alliance. He also called for a resolute step forward" on the path to Ukraines own NATO membership, a move that Western officials are wary of committing to. After signing the trilateral declaration Thursday, Moldovas Foreign Minister Nicu Popescu said that Moldova remains the target of hybrid attempts to destabilize our country and that the impact of Moscow's war is being felt by every citizen of non-NATO Moldova. Moldova, which has faced a long series of crises over the past year including alleged Russia-backed destabilization plots, was granted European Union candidate status last June, the same day as Ukraine. As well as addressing security issues, the Black Sea Security Conference held on Apr. 12-13 discussed topics including freedom of trade and the facilitation of energy transport routes. Officials also discussed the importance of countering Russia's cyberwarfare efforts. Romania's Aurescu said Moscow is orchestrating (attacks) against the region, against European and Allied states. HELENA, Mont. (AP) Montana lawmakers moved one step closer Thursday to passing a bill to ban TikTok from operating in the state, a move thats bound to face legal challenges but also serve as a testing ground for the TikTok-free America that many national lawmakers have envisioned. Montana's proposal, which has backing from the state's GOP-controlled legislature, is more sweeping than bans in place in nearly half the states and the U.S. federal government that prohibit TikTok on government devices. The House endorsed the bill 60-39 on Thursday. A final House vote will likely take place Friday before the bill goes to Republican Gov. Greg Gianforte. He has banned TikTok on government devices in Montana. The Senate passed the bill 30-20 in March. TikTok, which is owned by the Chinese tech company ByteDance, has been under intense scrutiny over concerns it could hand over user data to the Chinese government or push pro-Beijing propaganda and misinformation on the platform. Leaders at the FBI, CIA and numerous lawmakers of both parties have raised those concerns but havent presented any evidence to prove it has happened. Supporters of a ban point to two Chinese laws that compel companies in the country to cooperate with the government on state intelligence work. They also point out other troubling episodes, such as a disclosure by ByteDance in December that it fired four employees who accessed the IP addresses and other data of two journalists while attempting to uncover the source of a leaked report about the company. Congress is considering legislation that doesn't call out TikTok, but gives the Commerce Department the ability to restrict foreign threats on tech platforms. That bill is being backed by the White House, but it has received pushback from privacy advocates, right-wing commentators and others who say the language is too broad. Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen urged state lawmakers to pass the bill because he wasn't sure Congress would act quickly on a federal ban. I think Montanas got an opportunity here to be a leader, Knudsen, a Republican, told a House committee in March. He says the app is a tool used by the Chinese government to spy on Montanans. Montana's ban would not take effect until January 2024 and would be void if Congress passes a ban or if TikTok severs its Chinese connections. The bill would prohibit downloads of TikTok in Montana and would fine any entity an app store or TikTok $10,000 per day for each time someone is offered the ability to access the social media platform or download the app. The penalties would not apply to users. Opponents argued the bill amounted to government overreach and that residents could easily circumvent the proposed ban by using a Virtual Private Network. A VPN encrypts internet traffic and makes it more difficult for third parties to track online activities, steal data and determine a person's location. At a hearing for the bill in March, a representative from the tech trade group TechNet said app stores also do not have the ability to geofence apps on a state by state basis and that it would be impossible for its members, like Apple and Google, to prevent TikTok from being downloaded in Montana. Knudsen said Thursday the geofencing technology is used with online sports gambling apps, which he said are deactivated in states where online gambling is illegal. Ashley Sutton, TechNets executive director for Washington state and the northwest, said in a statement Thursday that the "responsibility should be on an app to determine where it can operate, not an app store." Weve expressed these concerns to lawmakers. We hope the governor will work with lawmakers to amend the legislation to ensure companies that arent intended targets of the legislation" aren't affected, Sutton said. TikTok said in a statement it will continue to fight for TikTok users and creators in Montana whose livelihoods and First Amendment rights are threatened by this egregious government overreach. Some opponents of the bill have argued the state wasn't looking to ban other social media apps that collect similar types of data from their users. We also believe this is a blatant exercise of censorship and is an egregious violation of Montanans' free speech rights, said Keegan Medrano with the ACLU of Montana. Democratic Rep. Katie Sullivan offered an amendment Thursday to broaden the ban to include any social media app that collected personal information and transferred it to a foreign adversary, such as Russia, Iran, Cuba, North Korea and Venezuela, along with China. The amendment was narrowly rejected 48-51. Supporters of the bill said it made sense to target TikTok first because of specific concerns with China and that it was a step in the right direction even if it doesn't address challenges related to other social media companies. TikTok has been pushing back against the bill. The company, which has 150 million users in the U.S., has encouraged users in the state to speak out against the bill and hired lobbyists to do so as well. It has also purchased billboards, run full-page newspaper ads and has a website opposing Montanas legislation. Some ads placed in local newspapers highlight how local businesses were able to use the app to drive sales. The bill would show Montana doesnt support entrepreneurs in our own state, Shauna White Bear, who owns White Bear Moccasins, said during a March 28 hearing. She noted her business receives much more engagement on TikTok than on other social media sites. Knudsen, the attorney general whose office drafted the bill, said he expects the bill to face legal challenges if it passes. Frankly, I think it probably needs the courts to step in here, he said. This is a really interesting, novel legal question that I think is ripe for some new jurisprudence. The Montana bill isn't the first blanket ban the company has faced. In 2020, then-President Donald Trump issued executive orders that banned the use of TikTok and the Chinese messaging platform WeChat. Those efforts were nixed by the courts and shelved by the Biden administration. TikTok continued negotiations with the administration on the security concerns tied to the app. Amid rising geopolitical tensions with China, the Biden administration more recently has threatened it could ban the app if the company's Chinese owners don't sell their stakes. To avoid either outcome, TikTok has been trying to sell a data safety proposal called Project Texas that would route all its U.S. user data to servers operated by the software giant Oracle. ___ Hadero reported from New York. EDWARDSVILLE Timothy Banowetz, the Missouri man in prison for the murder of Edwardsville attorney Randy Gori, asked for and will get a lawyer to represent him in his attempt to withdraw his guilty plea. The request was made during a video hearing Thursday morning with Circuit Judge Kyle Napp. Napp said she will name a court-appointed attorney and schedule a status hearing on the case, and will later set a hearing on Madison County States Attorney Tom Haines motion to dismiss Banowetzs motion to withdraw the plea. Banowetz is currently serving a 70-year sentence in the Pontiac Correctional Center after pleading guilty to one count of first-degree murder and two counts of armed robbery in October 2021, just a few hours before he was set to go to trial. A hand-written motion to withdraw his guilty plea and vacate the sentence was filed Dec. 5 in Madison County. However, in another court document he said it had been mailed from the prison approximately a year earlier. Family attacked On Jan. 4, 2020, police found Gori in his Edwardsville home dead of multiple stab wounds. Two children, ages 15 and 13, had been held captive. They were found tied up and said their cellphones and a 2020 Rolls-Royce SUV Cullinan had been stolen. According to prosecutors, the children told investigators the family had returned home from dinner on Jan. 4 and parked in the driveway outside of the garage, at which time Banowetz ran up on them with what appeared to be a gun and forced them first to the ground and then into the garage. He then zip-tied their hands and demanded money before searching the home, taking $4,000 to $5,000. Goris Rolls Royce was found abandoned in the woods about 1,000 feet from where Banowetzs truck had been found. When Banowetz was captured in the woods, there was blood on his clothing, and the blood was later confirmed to be Goris. Banowetz was found wearing clothes that matched the description of the suspect in the video. A paper in Banowetzs truck detailed his preparation and planning for an armed robbery and murder. A handwritten to-do list included watch with binoculars, use gun and knife to subdue, zip tie hands and duct tape mouth, withdraw money, kill all of them and burn their bodies. Claim faults attorney According to his motion to withdraw his guilty plea, Banowetz claimed he had been coerced and had inadequate representation. I was told by my lawyer that I should take the deal because it was what the Gori family wanted, the motion stated. He also said then-Madison County Sheriff John Lakin and Napp had each taken a bribe (AKA political contribution) from Gori, and that Lakin had him removed from protective custody and put into the general population at the Madison County Jail. Banowetz said when he talked to a television reporter about the bribe, Napp issued a gag order and Lakin blocked his telephone use in the jail. He also said Madison County Public Defender Mary Copeland told the court there had been a complete breakdown in communication between the two. Prosecution wants to dismiss On March 6 the Madison County States Attorneys Office filed a motion to dismiss Banowetzs motion. It stated that Banowetz had made a knowing, voluntary waiver when he pleaded guilty, then dismissed his attorneys during the sentencing hearing. Banowetz had 30 days from his sentencing to file the motion, which was received by the Circuit Clerks Office on Dec. 2, 2022. Banowetz claimed he mailed the motion on Dec. 20, 2021. Haine's motion also states Banowetz had documents notarized on Jan. 2, 2022, about two weeks before he allegedly mailed his motion. There is no practical explanation how the defendants pleading could have been mailed on Dec. 20, 2021, yet not be received by the Clerk of the Court until Dec. 5, 2022, the motion stated. Because of that, the prosecutions motion stated the court does not have jurisdiction and Banowetzs motion should be dismissed. file photo COLLINSVILLE Wednesday morning, the Collinsville Police Department (CPD) received a swatting phone call regarding Collinsville High School, said Superintendent Dr. Mark B. Skertich in a letter sent home to families. A swatting phone call is defined as a false report of an ongoing emergency or threat of violence intended to prompt an immediate tactical law enforcement response. After interaction with the caller, CPD determined the threat to be non-credible and a hoax. Following conversations between law enforcement and school officials, additional officers were sent to CHS out of an abundance of caution but no further response was necessary, authorities said. Skertich said they have learned through the Illinois Statewide Terrorism & Intelligence Center (STIC) that similar calls are occurring throughout the Metro East and across the State of Illinois in an attempt to falsely report emergencies, disrupt law enforcement and gain media coverage. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GRANITE CITY District 9 schools became part of the nationwide rash of false active shooter reports Wednesday, but for community members, the fake report didn't feel like just a new and shocking trend. This was personal. "It was scary," said parent Tina Frasier. "Now I don't even know if I want to send her anymore, as with most folks, I'm sure." Frasier of Granite City, whose daughter, Rhomynn, 17, was in Granite City High School when it was locked down, said the situation was even more agonizing due to a coincidental lack of communication from the young people. "The kids didn't have their phones because of the state testing today. So they couldn't contact parents," Frasier said. By noon, most young people were reunited with their families. High school classes were truncated for the day; at nearby Coolidge Junior High School, students remained in attendance as scheduled. They were dismissed at 2:15 p.m. Grateful that a potential shooting turned out to be a hoax, community members nonetheless navigated a range of emotions Wednesday morning. Click here to see video from a press conference and scenes from the day at Granite City High School after the false threat. 'Possible threat' It was nearly mid-morning when word about a threat began to spread in Granite City and beyond. "The Granite City Police Department was alerted to a possible threat at Granite City High School," Superintendent Stephanie Cann said in an initial statement Wednesday morning. "GCPD took quick action and were on site almost immediately after the threat was made. "It has been determined that all students and staff at Granite City High School and Coolidge Junior High are safe and the GCPD will be handling reunification with the district." Assistant Granite City Police Chief Maj. Nick Novacich said, "We received a call of potential shots fired at the high school." Law enforcement squads immediately responded, locked down the scene and secured and searched the campus, Novacich said. It was a hoax. False reports were widespread Multiple schools across Illinois and the entire nation received prank calls Wednesday morning alleging there was an active shooter in their building. At Granite City High School, this threat was not the first in recent months. In early March, one person was taken into custody after a series of online threats, according to The Alton Telegraph, sister paper to The Intelligencer. Cann said at that time that multiple police officers were stationed at the school for a time due to the threats. The person allegedly responsible was taken into custody and was to be charged, but would not be identified to the public due to their age, The Telegraph reported. In early November, a person was taken into custody after allegedly making a threat at that time involving Granite City High School, also on social media. The juvenile was charged, but no additional information was released by authorities due to the suspect's age. A parent's nightmare For the Granite City community, the threat of a school shooting shattered what had been a quiet, beautiful spring morning. It started for parents about 9:55 a.m. "My older daughter texted me and said there was an active shooter," said Anita Bailey of Granite City. "I was at home. Naturally I got in the car and got up here, followed one of the cops, got here pretty quick." The drive took 10 minutes. It was "scary," she confirmed, and felt like "hell." She was "trying to get a hold of the kid but they have SATs today. They can't have their phone on them, so all the phones are off for everybody, so it was really scary, not knowing nothing." It was 29 minutes before Bailey heard back from her daughter, Hailey, 17. Her niece, Emily Lievens, 15, also was in the high school. 29 minutes. "I was texting her at 9:53, she texted me back at 10:22," Bailey said. The students had their phones off due to the SATs. They were not allowed to leave on lockdown, of course. Bailey said her daughter was in the main building, but Hailey didn't know what was going on. "She did hear a lot of yelling in the hallway. She definitely seen SWAT in there with rifles," Anita Bailey said. It was 10:30 a.m. when the mother learned that the incident was a false report. "It was a huge relief. Then you turn around and get mad 'cause it's a waste of time, waste of money," Bailey said. "It's happening every day. It was bound to happen here but luckily this is a hoax. Even though it's a waste of money. There's a lot of resources here. "Somebody should go to jail for doing this." This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate UPDATE: This story has been updated to reflect that Republic Services replied Thursday afternoon to the Intelligencer's requests for comment after the story was posted online. ROXANA Mike Wever has a mission: to reduce or stop debris that he and other area residents allege is coming from trucks bringing garbage to the Roxana Landfill. The Madison County resident said transfer trucks come from Missouri via Interstate 270 then take Illinois Route 255 north to the Madison Street exit, which becomes Old Alton-Edwardsville Road. At Bender Road, trucks turn right toward the landfill operated by Republic Services of Edwardsville. They pass through parts of four county board districts: 14, 15, 16 and 21. The landfill itself lies within county board district 17. In January, Wever created a Facebook group called Roxana Landfill Local Issues. The group currently has at least 98 other members. His original concerns were odor, litter, dust and mud, bird droppings and truck traffic. They got sloppy on things outside of their fence, Wever said. In response to resident complaints, Republic Services issued a statement Thursday afternoon pointing out that the company cannot control other haulers or their trucks, which may lose debris on the way to the landfill. "At Republic Services, we work diligently to ensure that our operations maintain compliance in order to protect human health and the environment," the statement from Republic Services read. Emergency funds considered Most recently, to address the ongoing issue of trash and debris along the roads that trucks take to the landfill, an emergency appropriation for $200,000 was approved by the Madison County Board's Building & Zoning Committee. If approved by the Finance Committee and full Madison County Board, the money would be spent for cleanup and enforcement on Interstate 270 and Illinois Route 143. While the landfill site is technically in Roxana, the countys Building and Zoning Department has been dealing with the issue. Upon approval, the funds will come from the countys landfill tipping fees. The county board is set to meet at 5 p.m. April 19. Its agenda is not yet on the county website. Steady stream of waste According to the 2021 Illinois Landfill Capacity Report, Roxana Landfill, Inc. of Roxana ranked first in the state in disposal volume with 4,886,108 cubic yards taken in for the year and a 15-year life expectancy. The post-compaction disposal volume is 2,443,054 cubic yards and the five-year average disposal volume is 2,336,906 cubic yards. The landfill's remaining capacity was more than 34 million cubic yards. Wever said on Feb. 6, at a Roxana Village Board meeting, the Roxana Sanitary Landfill Liaison Committee members were introduced, with David Mahanay and Kathy Wever to join as local residents. Jason Belt and Carrie Ward represent Republic Services, while Ken Hoxsey and Marty Reynolds represent Roxana. Earlier that day, Mike Wever posted on Facebook that he drove on Bender Road near the landfill the day before and saw tufts of things in the road. Upon closer examination, they appeared to be bits of plastic, fiberglass insulation and other unidentifiable substances, he said. In addition, some of these substances were adhered to the road with a black, oily substance, according to Mike Wever. The next day, he reported that Republic partially cleaned the area. Cord Stanley, general manager for the landfill, joined the Facebook group Feb. 11. That day, Mike Wever reported smelling a moderate odor. Mahanay agreed with Mike Wever on Feb. 12 that there was a partial cleanup. By Feb. 14, members posted photos taken along Route 255 between Route 143 and Madison Street showing fiberglass house insulation strewn among the grass and brush at the roadside. From the Roxana Siting Application of September 2008, under landfill safety standards, it says that all trucks will sweep open top boxes, tail gates and bumpers before leaving the working area to prevent materials from falling off outside the gate and causing a nuisance or unsafe condition. Beginning Feb. 16, a Republic Services crew was observed cleaning litter on Route 143 and Bender, local residents said. History of opposition Originally called the Barton Landfill after it was first proposed in 1967, nearby farmers opposed the plan because of potential property devaluation and for health reasons. Petitions were circulated by neighbors to oppose the project. Dan Barton, who owned a trucking service in south Roxana, planned the landfill operation. On the Facebook page that Wever started, Cay Ursprung posted on Feb. 23 that the landfills construction meant that two families, the Willaredts and the Gersteneckers, left their homesteads. Wever corroborated this information on Feb. 24 Ursprung, Barton and Willaredt were neighbors when Barton planned the landfill, despite the objections of more than 185 other landowners. As time went on, a new push emerged by the late 1980s as Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) officials and others debated three possible final alignments for Interstate 255. The eastern alignment would have put the roadway up on the bluff and required extensive grading work. The western route would have displaced more people, while the middle route was said to carve up the best horseradish land in the nation. This activity laid the foundation for a pre-annexation agreement in August 1989 among Willaredt, the landfill and Roxana. In it, Roxana annexed across Madison Avenue and almost halfway to Edwardsville to include all landfill property, Wever said. Willaredt sold his property to the landfill, to the state for Interstate 255, then had all of the remaining farmland zoned industrial or commercial, along with water and sewer lines put across his land by the village. This made Roxana the hosting authority, and it receives $1.6 million in annual landfill fees, free trash service and other benefits. Committee, county reps weigh in The first meeting between the Roxana Landfill Liaison Committee and the village was March 31. Attending the committee meeting with Roxana officials were Jason Belt, landfill general manager; Carrie Ward, landfill community liaison; Marty Reynolds, Roxana mayor; Ken Huxsey, Roxana street commissioner; and community representatives Kathy Wever and Mahaney. While the group acknowledges that Republic has made progress, the panel said more should be done. The trucks netting or tarps work better but more debris should be removed, they say, and the roadside drainage systems should be cleaned out to mitigate ponding and other roadside flooding during heavy rains. There is no way to understand if these improvements are having an impact until the litter is cleaned up, enforcement is established and time passes for re-evaluation, Wever said in a Facebook post Feb. 27. On Feb. 28, Madison Countys building and zoning administrator emailed the Intelligencer. Yes, were are aware of Mr. Wevers group, however, we are not able to speak as to any of the specific information they provided, said Chris Doucleff. What I can say is that Madison County is actively working on a plan to find a solution to address the concerns of Mr. Weaver [sic] and others who are frustrated by the trash and debris along the highways, roads and in residents yards who live near the landfill. We understand trash is more than just an eyesore. It has real, negative impact on both the environment and the communities within Madison County," Doucleff added. "We encourage and appreciate the concerns the public brings to the County on this issue. "We are not only working with Roxana Landfill, but also the waste haulers, to include MBI Trucking, the Illinois Department of Transportation, Illinois State Police, IEPA, the Village of Roxana, City of Wood River, Madison County Sheriffs Department and other county representatives to find a solution. A lot of garbage On March 2, Wever posted that he spent time examining five years (2017-2021) of Illinois Landfill Capacity reports. Roxanas landfill took in 4.9 million cubic yards of waste in 2021, the most of nine Illinois landfills. Roxanas landfill is part of the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA)s Region 6. Also that day, Fort Russell Highway Department employees worked on cleaning Bender Road and searching for manholes to help Republic Services when they clean grates and gutters. I have mixed views regarding this work, Mahanay said in a Facebook post. On one hand, something positive is taking place. On the other, why are taxpayers monies being spent to supplement a for-profit company?" Another group member, Chris Layloff, posted on March 2 that he saw IDOT employees collecting rubbish in the Interstate 270 median between Routes 203 and 111 that day. On March 7, Mahanay posted a photo of contractors with Badger cleaning out the drains and culverts on Bender Road. He said he believed that this is work for which Republic Services contracted. A permanent solution to the tracking of debris seems to be the obvious next step," Mahanay said. Kim Biggs, public information officer with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, said this week that state officials are looking at whether Republic Services has violated any regulations. "The landfill has been referred to the attorney's general office (AGO) for enforcement related to alleged violations of state law observed. Questions regarding the status of that matter would be best addressed by the AGO," she said. "The agency does not monitor alleged violations of local ordinances. "Questions regarding local issues would be best handled by the local health department." Republic Services Media Relations contacted the Intelligencer on Thursday afternoon, after the Friday print newspaper had gone to press. The response came after weeks of the newspaper staff attempting to reach Republic Services representatives. "This facility also serves several third-party customers who directly haul their material here for disposal. Republic Services has measures in place to ensure that loads from our vehicles are secure but we cannot enforce those same standards with third-party customers on public roadways," the company stated. Issue before the county board The landfill-related issues made their way into the open during a Madison County Board meeting on March 15. Three of five public speakers addressed the issue and county board members discussed it at the end of the regular meeting before going into executive session. Citizens look at disgusting trash every day they travel Madison County roadways, said Mahanay, who had spoken on the issue during the regular December board meeting. Since December, he said a grassroots effort has emerged because of litter and odor problems. The community has taken action, he said. Citizens have picked up trash along the roadways leading to the landfill. While the results are notable, he said it is not the solution to the problem and the county must address it. Doucleff, county building and zoning head, attended the meeting. He has said the first priority is to clean up existing trash to establish a baseline, then determine exactly what and where the biggest problems are and deal with them. Russ Wheat, another speaker, was sharply critical of the county board. The trash has never been this bad in the history of Madison County, and this board, it sits firmly on your shoulders, and I want to get something done about it, he said. He suggested a number of actions, including dealing with the permits of trucks hauling the trash. Start putting the squeeze on those permits and they cant drive the trucks, he said. There are lot of things that could be done, but I dont feel its getting done, he added. Do a better job. Board member Mike Babcock, R-Bethalto, said, It is a complicated problem, theres no doubt about it. We do want to do something about it, but we are limited at some level. We are all in agreement that the trash needs to be picked up. Board member Terry Eaker, R-Bethalto, who has brought the issue up at numerous committee meetings, said the board has been addressing the issue. IDOT has had crews out between Route 3 and 203, and theyve done a very good job, he said, adding that board member Michael Turner, R-Granite City, was one of those workers. Trash isn't just Republic's problem After a light rain on Mach 22, the residue from the transport trucks once again left a trail of glass and other material on Bender Road, local residents allege. On April 3, Mahaney told the Intelligencer that he does not want to appear to be demonizing Republic Services over this issue but he also wants to see more work accomplished. Its not just the landfill hauler contributing to the litter; its also not just about mom and dad throwing a McDonalds wrapper out of the car window, he said. In addition to litter, Mahaney said there has been an increase in odor at the landfill. He lives about 1.2 miles north of the landfill and the odor has become so bad, he said, that on certain days, he cannot sit outside with his wife when there is a strong south wind. Their experience, however, isn't comparable to that of those who live along Route 143 and Edwardsville-Old Alton Road have noted, he said. He said discovery from a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request revealed that the City of Collinsville has transported what he calls sewer sludge to the landfill. That is allowed, according to the state EPA. "The landfills permit does not prohibit it from receiving sludges such as from publicly owned treatment works," noted the IEPA's Biggs. "In response to odor complaints, the landfill has been reviewing the sludges it receives and its sludge management practices, has visited facilities sending it sludges and has even rejected sludges with odor issues. "There is no law prohibiting the interstate shipment or disposal of waste," she added. In their statement to the Intelligencer, Republic Services said, "When municipal waste water treatment facilities process the water that comes from your home they remove biosolids which are commonly referred to as 'sludge.' In compliance with state and federal guidelines, we have the ability to accept this treated material as outlined in our operating permit." The site also can take in waste from out of state; many trucks bringing trash to the Madison County landfill originate in Missouri. "Roxana Landfill is a regional hub that supports both the Missouri and Illinois markets and in our industry it is common for waste to travel between states," the company statement noted. Hoping for improvement Since Mahaney started the Facebook page, he said, the progress rate on the issue of the landfill's alleged overflowing trash and other issues has been equivalent to the speed of a glacier. While crews have done some clean-up in certain areas, more work remains. Willingness to work toward resolutions was expressed at the March 31 forum. The committee has agreed to meet monthly, at least for the next two to three months, then quarterly after that. If things do not change, Mahaney said the ultimate goal is to prompt law enforcement to write citations as part of proper oversight. The group plans another meeting with Roxana at the end of April. In the meantime, frustration over the situation remains for nearby residents like Mahaney. Republic isnt being a very good neighbor at this time," he said. Alton Telegraph staff writer Scott Cousins contributed to this story. CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) U.S. officials in North Carolina will not federally prosecute the person suspected of killing a Charlotte-area woman vacationing in Mexico last year, the U.S. Department of Justice announced Wednesday. Federal prosecutors say they have presented the findings of their investigation to the family of Shanquella Robinson, who was seen being beaten in a viral video last fall at a resort development in San Jose del Cabo. As the video circulated on social media, it raised suspicions that Robinson may have been killed by her travel companions. Attorneys with the U.S. Department of Justice said in a news release Wednesday that the available evidence and autopsy results do not support a federal prosecution. Investigators could not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that a federal crime was committed, the release said. An autopsy was conducted in North Carolina by the Mecklenburg County medical examiners office. Local prosecutors in the state of Baja California Sur filed charges late last year against another U.S. woman whom they would not name suspected of killing Robinson on Oct. 29. They issued an arrest warrant for the suspect, who had already left Mexico with other travel companions after Robinson was found dead in a rented villa. Mexican federal prosecutors are trying to get her extradited to face charges in Mexico. Sue-Ann Robinson, the family's attorney, said at a news conference Wednesday in Charlotte that the U.S. autopsy results, which have not been released publicly, revealed inconsistencies with a previous autopsy conducted in Mexico, which had labeled the cause of death a severe spinal cord or neck injury. She criticized federal officials for the speed at which they conducted their investigation, saying people on social media should not have had to create the movement behind the case." United States citizens cannot go to Mexico, commit a crime that we all saw on video and then come back to America and say, Were on base. We're safe. We're not going to be charged with a crime,' she said. That cannot be the message that U.S. authorities want to send. Federal officials say they will review and examine any new information that becomes available. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SEOUL, South Korea (AP) Leaked U.S. intelligence documents suggesting Washington spied on South Korea have put the country's president in a delicate situation ahead of a state visit to the U.S., the first such trip by a South Korean leader in 12 years. The documents contain purportedly private conversations between senior South Korean officials about Ukraine, indicating that Washington may have conducted surveillance on a key Asian ally even as the two nations publicly vowed to reinforce their alliance. Since taking office last year, conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol has put a bolstered military partnership with the United States at the heart of his foreign policy to address intensifying North Korean nuclear threats and other challenges. The April 26 summit with President Joe Biden is seen as crucial to winning a stronger U.S. security commitment and resolving grievances over the Biden administrations economic and technology policies. The leaked documents were posted online as part of a major U.S. intelligence breach. The papers viewed by The Associated Press indicate that South Koreas National Security Council grappled with the U.S. in early March over an American request to provide artillery ammunition to Ukraine. The documents, which cited a signals intelligence report, said then-NSC Director Kim Sung-han suggested the possibility of selling the 330,000 rounds of 155 mm munitions to Poland, since getting the ammunition to Ukraine quickly was the United States' ultimate goal. South Korea, a growing arms exporter, has a policy of not supplying weapons to countries at war. It has not provided arms directly to Ukraine, although it has shipped humanitarian aid and joined U.S.-led economic sanctions against Russia. Yoons government said it discussed the leaked papers with the United States, and they agreed that a considerable number of the documents were fabricated. The South Korean government avoided any public complaints about the U.S. and did not specify which documents were faked. Theres no indication that the U.S., which is our ally, conducted (eavesdropping) on us with malicious intent, Kim Tae-hyo, Seouls deputy national security director, told reporters Tuesday at Dulles Airport near Washington at the start of a trip aimed at preparing for the summit. Senior Biden administration have discussed the leaks with allies at high levels and sought to reassure them of the U.S. governments commitment to safe-guarding intelligence. The administration also sought to downplay the impact the leak would have on Yoons upcoming visit. Our commitment to the Republic of Korea remains ironclad, and President Biden looks forward to welcoming President Yoon to the White House for the upcoming state visit to discuss their shared commitment for a strong and deeply integrated U.S.-ROK Alliance that maintains peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific and beyond, the White House National Security Council said in a statement, using South Korea's official name. The Yoon government's stance invited criticism from liberal rivals, who called on the government to lodge strong protests with the U.S. They also suspected what they call Yoons hasty relocation of his presidential office to a Defense Ministry compound in central Seoul may have left the office vulnerable to wiretapping. As a sovereign nation, we must sternly respond to the spying of state secrets, even if it was committed by an ally with whom (South Korea) has bonded over blood, said Park Hong-geun, floor leader of the main liberal opposition Democratic Party. In an official statement, Yoons office said it maintains tight security, including anti-eavesdropping systems. It called the opposition partys attempts to link the office relocation to the spying allegation diplomatic suicidal acts that shake South Koreas national interests and its alliance with the U.S. The situation is unlikely to threaten the country's alliance with the U.S. that was forged during the 1950-53 Korean War, many experts say. No big damage is expected on the Korea-U.S. alliance as it seems both governments share the view that they would focus on the alliance, more concretely on a successful state visit by Yoon, said Bong Young-shik, an expert at Seouls Yonsei Institute for North Korean Studies. If Yoon returns with some achievements, Koreans will conclude that he put up with the spying allegations because bigger matters were at stake, Bong said. But if the visit amounts to a pomp-only trip," people could question whether South Korea "made lots of concessions. One possible achievement for Yoon would be if South Korea takes on a role in the management of U.S. nuclear weapons in the face of North Koreas advancing nuclear arsenal. Other wins would be securing U.S. benefits for major South Korean businesses involved in the making of electric vehicles and easing U.S. restrictions on technology exports to China, which has been a major manufacturing base for South Korean chipmakers. If the U.S. intends to help Yoon, "the latest incident on the documents could end up strengthening the Korea-U.S. alliance and helping South Korea win something from the U.S, said Kim Yeol Soo, an expert at South Koreas Korea Institute for Military Affairs. Kim Tae-hyung, a professor at Seouls Soongsil University, said the exposure of possible U.S. spying could help Seoul maintain its existing policy of not supplying weapons to Ukraine. But its also possible that the Yoon government reconsiders that policy now that the U.S. demands are public, Kim said. Since Russias invasion of Ukraine, South Korea has agreed to provide billions of dollars' worth of tanks, howitzers, fighter jets and other weapons to Poland, a NATO member. An American official said in November that the United States had agreed to buy 100,000 artillery rounds from South Korean manufacturers to provide to Ukraine, although South Korean officials have maintained that the munitions were meant to refill depleted U.S. stocks. Choi Jin, director of the Seoul-based Institute of Presidential Leadership, said its also no secret that allies spy on each other, as well as their adversaries. The U.S. wiretapping activities are something that everyone already knows, although it becomes a more sensitive matter when the practice is made public, Choi said. "I think South Koreans also try to wiretap (U.S. officials) as well, Choi said. People feel animosity toward the word wiretapping. But in other words, its called intelligence gathering. ___ Associated Press writer Aamer Madhani in Washington contributed to this report. Two more cases of monkeypox were reported on Wednesday and one more on Thursday, bringing the total to nine, the Korea Disease Control Prevention Agency said Thursday. The two patients who live in Seoul and the third in Gyeonggi Province are Koreans and have not recently traveled abroad, suggesting they caught the disease locally. The KDCA assumes they had close contact such as sexual intercourse with other infected people. They tested positive after visiting medical centers with a skin rash. Korea's first case of monkeypox was confirmed last June, and the first five patients seem to have caught it abroad. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Deni Ghifari (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 The government is considering a tax for foreign tourists after controversial incidents made their rounds on social media, but industry associations warn that businesses may suffer as a result. Coordinating Maritime Affairs and Investment Minister Luhut Pandjaitan called for the new levy to be imposed soon. Dont ever sell Indonesia short. We need to show them [foreign tourists] that we are a nation that greatly upholds cultural values, tradition and rules, he posted to Instagram on April 3. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Radhiyya Indra (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 17:30 12 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc487c1e 1 Community intolerance,Depok,Cilegon Free Cilegon received the lowest score of any of the Indonesian cities studied in the 2022 Tolerant Cities Index Report by the SETARA Institute, ranking 94th, with Depok and Padang just above at 93rd and 92nd, respectively. The index assessed four criteria: city government regulations, social regulation, government action and socioreligious demographics. It also examined eight indicators within these criteria. SETARA Institute management board head Ismail Hasani explained how Cilegon scored the lowest of the 94 Indonesian cities assessed. The first [reason] is government action. Cilegons city government is agreeing with people who have intolerant political aspirations to prohibit people from building places of worship. So from a criteria standpoint, the government action score is zero, Ismail told reporters at Grand Sahid Jaya in Central Jakarta on Thursday, as quoted by detik.com. Ismai noted that Cilegon continued to enforce a 1975 regulation banning the construction of churches in the city. With this being the citys guide, it still believes in this discriminatory legal product as a legal basis. Thats two criteria, he added. Lastly, SETARA found that Cilegon exhibited particular intolerance in the public sphere. The dynamics of civil society under the leadership of a city government that has no awareness of pluralism and diversity will tend to create spaces of social segregation that make society increasingly polarized by religious, ethnic and other group identities, the 2022 report states. Cilegons score declined from the year before, causing it to fall below Depok, which had the lowest score in 2021. Meanwhile, the three highest scores went to Singkawang, Salatiga and Bekasi, making them the most tolerant cities in Indonesia, according to the study. First published in 2015, the SETARA Institutes Tolerant Cities Index Report (IKT) seeks to promote the best tolerance practices in Indonesian cities and provide a baseline to measure and manage harmony, tolerance and social inclusion. Topics : intolerance Depok Cilegon Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrew McKirdy (AFP) Tokyo, Japan Thu, April 13, 2023 Munching their way through hundreds of golden-brown morsels, a team of judges has searched relentlessly to find the ultimate "karaage" -- the fried chicken known as "Japan's comfort food". While a global buzz has grown around Korean fried chicken in recent years, in Japan, karaage reigns supreme. Pronounced "kara-agay", its name refers to a technique where pieces of chicken, other meat or vegetables are marinated and coated in flour and starch before being fried. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (AFP) San Francisco, United States Thu, April 13, 2023 16:49 12 0de7eba49861a560f8b2ec6fa55323c0 2 Science & Tech US,NPR,Twitter,radio,Elon-Musk,social-media Free US radio broadcaster NPR on Wednesday said it was quitting Twitter, in the first significant defection by a major news outlet since Elon Musk's tumultuous takeover of the platform. The exit caps a week-long row over Twitter's decision to label National Public Radio as a "state-affiliated media," branding it the same way as it does as major media outlets in authoritarian countries such as Russia or China. Highly-respected in the United States, NPR had already suspended tweets from its main account as it waited for Twitter to change course, which it did only by modifying its label for NPR to "government-funded media," a tag it also applied to Britain's BBC. In a short statement, NPR said all its organizational accounts "will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent." It added that "there are plenty of ways to stay connected and keep up with NPR's news, music, and cultural content," urging users to other platforms, which it linked to in a final tweet. Musk has expressed deep disdain for news media for years and recently installed an automatic response of a poop emoji to emailed inquiries from journalists. "Defund @NPR," Musk tweeted Wednesday afternoon, referencing the activist movement to "defund the police." News organizations have struggled to wean themselves from the platform, which remains a main communication exchange for celebrities, politicians and pundits. A spokeswoman for NPR told AFP that its journalists, as well as its affiliate radio stations "will be able to decide on their own if they want to stay on the platform." NPR's departure came hours after Musk indicated in a BBC interview on Tuesday that the label decision was a mistake and that he would consider changing it to "publicly-funded." He also addressed Twitter's controversial move to strip the New York Times of its blue verified check mark after the company refused to pay to keep it. From April 20, any legacy verified accounts on Twitter -- which were established as authentic under the company's old ownership -- will have to pay to subscribe to Twitter Blue. One of the reasons for this, Musk said, was that he does not want Twitter to boost "some anointed class of journalists" who determine what constitutes news. 'Rollercoaster' In the interview, Musk said running the social media network has been "quite a rollercoaster" and acknowledged "many mistakes" along the way, six months after he bought the company for $44 billion. Assessing his time in charge, Musk said it had been "a stressful situation over the last several months." "Were there many mistakes made along the way? Of course," he said. "But all's well that ends well. I feel like we're headed to a good place." He said the company was now "roughly breaking even" thanks in part to the crushing round of layoffs that slashed the payroll to 1,500 staff from 7,000 before the sale. He however pushed back at reports and studies that misinformation and hateful content were seeing a resurgence on the site since his takeover. "You said you see more hateful content, but you can't even name a single one," Musk said. "You just lied!" Upholding his image as a hard-charging workaholic who sacrifices his personal life for his job, Musk said he often slept on a couch at Twitter headquarters. When pushed on who was Twitter's new CEO after he pledged to find someone to fill the role, he named his dog, Floki. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Front Row (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 09:32 12 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc4791de 4 Front Row social-affairs-ministry,economic Free Social Affairs Minister Tri Rismaharini revealed that the government was conducting empowerment programs as part of its efforts to overcome poverty. One of the ministrys efforts was the National Economic Hero Program (PENA). In a High-Level Roundtable Forum in in Jakarta on Wednesday, titled Startup Asia: Chasing the Innovation Frontier The Case of Indonesia, organized by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Development Center and the European Union online, the social affairs minister gave the history of PENAs conception, a duplicate of the Economic Program (PE) Surabaya in 2010. The Surabaya program succeeded in reducing the poverty rate in Surabaya city when Risma was mayor. "This approach [economic empowerment] has been duplicated and modified for the national program called PENA," said the minister. The PENA program provides training and mentoring to build the capacity of beneficiaries to create sustainable entrepreneurship or start-ups. "When I started, poverty in Surabaya was at 14 percent. This first step was seen as a milestone. Reaching only 86 women from suburban areas in Surabaya, we started Economic Hero (PE) Surabaya in 2010," she said. During that 10-year journey, she said, the number of participants grew from 86 to 12,382 in 2020. Some of the group went on to master skills and reached new heights as millionaires and billionaires. The poverty rate dropped dramatically to 5 percent. The PENA program was then duplicated and modified by the Social Affairs Minister Risma during her leadership. PENA, an entrepreneurship program, targets poor and vulnerable groups, namely the beneficiaries of the Family Hope and Basic Food social assistance programs, by providing training and assistance for beneficiaries to grow sustainable businesses. The difference between the PE and PENA programs is the PENA program provides capital assistance adjusted to the business plan or business of the beneficiary. "Last year, we started with 5,209 families and are planning to expand further to 7,500 families this year," said Minister Risma. . (./.) PENA beneficiaries are selected through a series of processes with certain criteria such as being in the productive age group and having a start-up business. Their business idea plan is then submitted and processed for selection. If accepted, the recipient will get the full benefits of PENA in the form of capital and business consulting. "All PENA beneficiaries are given access to weekly sessions with mentors who assist them in product development, digital marketing and financial management," said Risma. The Social Affairs Ministry also encourages inclusive economic empowerment by targeting the PENA program for people with disabilities. "If people with disabilities, the homeless, beggars and other street people can do it, anyone can do it too. I believe that everyone can live a better life future and get out of poverty," she said. Since 2016, Indonesia has supported start-up development through several programs, namely through incubation and mentoring to grow innovation with the aim of inclusive and sustainable development. At this moment, the OECD Development Center director Ragnheiur Elin Arnadottir said, the OECD placed Indonesia as a top priority on the development agenda. "We realized after seeing the [Indonesian government's] innovation explanation, that forming entrepreneurship is the key to increasing economic growth," she said. Tourism and Creative Economy Minister Sandiaga Uno, who was also present at the forum, said that the role of the government, Social Affairs Ministry, the Tourism and Creative Economy Ministry and the Communications and Information Ministry in developing start-ups does not only generate an economic impact but also provides additional social and environmental benefits. "The government is very concerned about start-up programs such as inviting, training and promoting, both domestically and abroad," said Sandiaga. Meanwhile, the European Union Ambassador to Indonesia and Brunei Darussalam Vincent Piket said that the start-up conditions in Indonesia showed rapid growth. At the same time, the government had opened opportunities to increase the income of poor people by providing access to technology and various services. "A good growth agenda in Indonesia to help accelerate economic growth, Mr. Sandiaga Uno said in his remarks, and thanks to Minister of Social Affairs Tri Rismaharini for continuing to support entrepreneurship for vulnerable groups and persons with disabilities. This can certainly be used as an example for other countries in making micro business units, new start-ups for the poor communities to become empowered and independent," he said. Annalisa Primi, head of Development and Economic Transformation at the OECD Development Center, also expressed her highest appreciation for what Social Affairs Minister Risma had done so far. "Thank you, Minister Risma, for the real efforts to form micro-inclusive entrepreneurship to help the poor become prosperous. Good practices that other stakeholders can emulate," she concluded. Also attending the event were representatives from the Communications and Information Ministry, representatives of both national and international organizations/institutions and representatives of other Indonesian start-ups. The OECD is an international organization with 38 member countries based in Paris, with its mission to form policies that promote equality, opportunity and prosperity for all. The OECD partners with several countries, one of which is Indonesia. The Roundtable session discussed the economic transformation in Asia, especially the picture of start-ups in Asia. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Suherdjoko (The Jakarta Post) Batang, Central Java Thu, April 13, 2023 13:43 12 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0546ed3c 1 Archipelago sexual-abuse,sexual-violence,Central-Java,Pesantren,Islamic-boarding-schools Free Central Java Police have arrested a 58-year-old principal at a pesantren (Islamic boarding school) in Bandar district, Batang regency, Central Java, on allegations that he had sexually abused at least 15 female students. Central Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Ahmad Lutfi said 14 of the victims were underage. The suspect told the police he had been [sexually abusing students] since 2019, he told a press conference held at the Batang Police station on Tuesday. Lutfi said the principal, identified as Wildan Mashuri, allegedly woke his victims in the morning and persuaded them to have sex, promising that in doing so they would gain karomah, or the power to perform supernatural deeds. Wildan apparently also conducted marriage rites and declared that he and his victim were now husband and wife. After the abuse, he then gave his victims money and told them to keep quiet about the incident. The alleged serial abuse came to light when Wildans former driver, identified by the initial H, reported to police that he had heard rumors about the abuse and was finally able to obtain information from one of the victims. The 15 students submitted their own report to the police on April 2. Two days later, the police questioned Wildan and then arrested him on charges of sexual abuse under the Children Protection Law, which carry a punishment of a minimum 5 years and a maximum 15 years in prison. Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo called on regional administrations at all levels to take serious measures in monitoring the education system. We will evaluate the pesantren. Our team, along with the Religious Affairs Ministry, will decide whether the pesantren can continue or should be shut down, Ganjar said, referring to the school where the alleged sexual abuse took place. The governor also said the provincial administration would support trauma therapy for the victims. In January, the Supreme Court rejected the appeal and upheld the death sentence of a man convicted of raping 13 students at the West Java pesantren he had founded and where he also worked as a teacher. Herry Wirawan was found guilty of raping female students at his school and impregnating at least eight students between 2016 and 2021. All were minors at the time. In April 2022, the Bandung High Court sentenced Herry to death on the prosecutions appeal against the life sentence handed down by a lower court. The court also ordered him to pay more than Rp 300 million (US$20,909) in restitution to the victims and that his assets be seized and auctioned off, with the proceeds to be used to financially support the victims and their children. Herrys crime came to light when the family of one of the victims reported him to the police in late 2021. As the case unfolded, the serial child sexual abuse sparked national outrage. (dre) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 Gerindra Party chairman Prabowo Subianto has opened up the possibility of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) joining the grand coalition in anticipation of the 2024 general elections. Prabowo said earlier this week he would soon meet with PDI-P senior politician Puan Maharani, daughter of the party's chairperson Megawati Soekarnoputri, to further discuss the issue. "In my opinion, this [possibility] is always open, if there's interest," Prabowo told reporters on Monday at his private residence in South Jakarta. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 To allow government officials to enjoy the first Idul Fitri holidays with loved ones without any health restrictions since the COVID-19 pandemic started, President Joko Jokowi Widodo said he would not be holding an open house at the State Palace this year. [This year] Im going to give [government officials] the chance to meet their families, their friends and their neighbors, Jokowi told reporters on the sidelines of a visit to Depok, West Java. Despite this, Jokowi said he would not be going back to his hometown in Surakarta, Central Java, and would instead spend the holiday season at Merdeka Palace in Jakarta and Bogor Palace in West Java. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yerica Lai (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 16:58 12 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05470c2d 1 Politics KPU,#KPU,Berkarya-Party,#Berkarya-Party,2024-elections,elections,civil-lawsuit,election-delay,Central-Jakarta-District-Court,Court Free The General Elections Commission (KPU) has remained optimistic that it will not suffer another defeat against a fresh civil lawsuit filed by the Berkarya Party following the election organizer's win in the higher court that overturned a controversial ruling to delay the 2024 general election. Relying on the precedent established in Prima Partys recent controversial legal win, another small party, Berkarya, filed a similar civil lawsuit last week to the Central Jakarta District Court. Berkarya demanded the upcoming election be postponed until they are allowed to resubmit their application and declared eligible to contest for the upcoming elections. The district court had previously stunned the nation when in early March it sided with Prima, an obscure party that said it had been denied the chance to contest the 2024 polls, and ordered the KPU to halt and restart all election procedures in two years, four months and seven days. Deciding on an appeal lodged by the KPU, the Jakarta High Court on Tuesday overturned the lower court's controversial ruling, arguing the lower court had overstepped its jurisdiction and had no authority to make the decision. Election disputes, the high court said, could only be managed by the Elections Supervisory Agency (Bawaslu) and the Jakarta State Administrative Court (PTUN) instead and noted the latter two institutions had already rejected the same lawsuit. Read also: Court overturns ruling demanding election delay KPU chairman Hasyim Asyari said on Wednesday that the KPUs win in its appeal against the controversial ruling should serve as a reminder that election disputes are not within the jurisdiction of civil courts. The high courts ruling has served as a correction to the Central Jakarta District Courts decision, he said. So anyone who would file a lawsuit over political parties eligibility [to contest in the upcoming election] to the district court should have this clear that such a matter is not within the jurisdiction of [civil court route at the] general courts. "Actions against the law committed by government officials or government agencies are not within the jurisdiction of these courts," he added. Berkarya wanted to contest the 2024 election, but its journey ended midway through the process late last year after the KPU declared it ineligible. The party participated in the 2019 legislative election but did not get enough votes to send representatives to the House of Representatives. Read also: KPU denies having taken poll delay lawsuit lightly Coordinating Political, Legal and Security Affairs Minister Mahfud MD has also welcomed the high court's ruling, saying that he hoped the KPU will be in a better spirit to hold the upcoming elections as scheduled. All parties now must concentrate on the 2024 election, which will remain on the initial schedule [] Even though there is still a possibility of cassation appeal [at the Supreme Court], but in substance it has been proven that general courts cannot waive the schedule of the general elections, he said. The delaying of the polls has renewed concerns about efforts to keep President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo in power beyond his second term, which ends in 2024, as some of his allies have advocated. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yerica Lai (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 17:15 12 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05471338 1 Politics Ganjar-Pranowo,#PDIP,PDI-P,megawati-soekarnoputri,FX-Hadi-Rudyatmo,2024-presidential-election Free High-ranking members of the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) have refuted reports that party matriarch Megawati Soekarnoputri has made up her mind to give the partys 2024 presidential nomination to Central Java Governor Ganjar Pranowo. PDI-P Surakarta office head FX Hadi "Rudy" Rudyatmo had been quoted by some news outlets as saying that Ganjar, who tops most opinion polls on potential candidates, had received Megawatis blessing to run on the partys ticket. Bambang Wuryanto, a party executive in charge of electoral campaigns, refuted the claims, insisting that Megawati had yet to decide whom the party would nominate. I am on the executive board. There is no way that I would not have been notified if such a decision had been made, Bambang said on Wednesday. Rudy, a former Surakarta mayor and a vocal Ganjar supporter, has backpedaled on his statement, saying he would never overstep Megawatis authority to name the partys presidential nominee. The party matron held a closed-door meeting with the PDI-Ps House of Representatives legislators on Saturday, but attendees have insisted the discussions did not include the partys choice of candidate. [The talk revolved around] boosting the spirit of [party members] so we can have a stronger bond with the people, Utut Adianto, chairman of the partys faction in the House of Representatives, said on Wednesday. House speaker and PDI-P member Puan Maharani previously said her mother, Megawati, had made up her mind about the party's 2024 presidential nominee and would make it public in due course. The party matron has resisted pressure to announce the nominee but said at the partys 50th anniversary event in January that it would only consider PDI-P members as potential candidates. President Yoon Suk-yeol on Wednesday appointed Vice Foreign Minister Cho Hyun-dong as the new ambassador to the U.S. Cho, a career diplomat, is scheduled to depart for Washington D.C. this week to quickly fill the post after his predecessor Cho Tae-young was named national security adviser in a reshuffle of the presidential office's foreign-affairs team. His appointment and approval from Washington only took about a week, the quickest ever for the two countries, since Yoon embarks on a state visit to the U.S. later this month. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto on Wednesday held talks with former maritime affairs and fisheries minister Susi Pudjiastuti, an encounter that the latter described as nostalgic. Susi said during the meeting she discussed a number of issues, from efforts to defend Indonesia's maritime boundaries to what is the best steak in Jakarta. "It's been a long time. It used to be that Pak Prabowo would come over to my house to have steak. He told me that it was the best steak in town," Susi said in a post on Instagram on Wednesday. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Editorial Board (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 14, 2023 05:58 11 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc48a16d 1 Editorial Israel,Palestine,Al-Aqsa,ramadan,violence,BenjaminNetanyahu,Amnesty-International Free We should all know by now that no international condemnation will move Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to stop the violence committed by his forces against Muslim worshippers praying inside the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem. He does however appear to respond to violence. Last week Netanyahu banned all visits by non-Muslims to the mosque compound, which houses tombs considered sacred by Jews. The ban, which will last until the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan on April 20, came after a series of rocket attacks launched against Israel, not only from Gaza as in the recent past, but now also from southern Lebanon and Syria. This buys reprieve, albeit short. Muslim Palestinians can pray in peace in Al-Aqsa for the remainder of Ramadan. What happens after that remains to be seen. We should also know by now that violence begets violence. This has been the story of the Jewish state built based on the ever-shrinking Palestinian territories and the ever-expanding Jewish settlements. But as efficient and brutal as the Israeli military occupation forces are, no nation would keep quiet and stand idle when its rights to existence and a decent life are threatened. In the absence of any hope for peace, resorting to violence, intermittently, is the only way for some Palestinians to survive and keep their dignity, even if it leads to death. And the only way to subjugate a nation under occupation is for the Israeli defense forces to get ever more brutal. This is a never-ending cycle. Amnesty International last year called Israels governing of Palestinian territories an apartheid system that is filled with contradictions. Going by the experience of white only South Africa, these inner contradictions will sooner or later unravel and undermine the entire state. We are already seeing signs of this with the now almost daily massive street protests in Tel Aviv against Netanyahus planned judicial reforms. If passed, these reforms would give the government effective control over the appointment of Supreme Court judges and allow parliament to overrule many decisions of the court. The reforms will remove any remaining effective democratic checks and balances against the government. This is a much bigger threat to Israels existence than the violence that has been coming from the Palestinians. If the reforms pass, this would give the government greater power that it could use against Palestinians under its occupation and against all Israeli citizens. They too can soon forget about their own freedoms when living in a police state. Ironically, Netanyahu returned to power in November, to serve a historic sixth term as prime minister, thanks to the Israeli electoral process. He now heads what is described as Israels most right-wing coalition government in history that includes parties with an extreme Zionist agenda. Peace is now even further away with the coalition parties rejecting the two-state solution as proposed by the international community and demanding the complete annexation of the occupied West Bank. Netanyahus judicial reform plans are polarizing Israel like never before. We will be watching closely the development in Israel and hope that something good will come out of this process. Much is in the hands of the Israeli people. They elected this government, and they too can bring it down. But even this window of opportunity is closing soon if the reforms are passed. Netanyahu is leading a coalition government with a slim majority in parliament. Another snap election cannot be ruled out, and decent peace-loving Israelis should know who they should vote for next time around. Indonesia, and the rest of the international community, can do little beyond making more condemnation of every violence Israel commits against Palestinians. The Israeli government rarely responds to international pressure, whether from left- or right-wing persuasion. Netanyahus idea of responding to violence with violence would only lead to more deaths on both sides. The Israeli people must now decide on what kind of leaders they deserve. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Fri, April 14 2023 Indonesia AirAsia has recently launched direct flights from Jakarta to Phnom Penh and Perth, Western Australia, to strengthen the tourism industry and bilateral relations between all the countries involved. The direct flights to the Cambodian capital followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on tourism cooperation at the Indonesian Embassy in Phnom Penh on Monday, as reported by The Phnom Penh Post, a member of Asia News Network. The direct flights to Jakarta will operate as scheduled services four days per week, using the Airbus A320 narrowbody aircraft, according to Chea Aun, permanent secretary of state at the Cambodian State Secretariat of Civil Aviation. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Andrea Shalal and David Lawder (Reuters) (The Jakarta Post) Washington, DC Fri, April 14 2023 China is expected to drop its demand for multilateral development banks to share losses alongside other creditors in sovereign debt restructurings for poor nations, removing a major roadblock to debt relief, a source familiar with the plans said. The development was expected at a high-level sovereign debt roundtable on Wednesday on the sidelines of the World Bank and International Monetary Fund spring meetings in Washington. Beijing would no longer insist multilateral lenders take "haircuts" on loans to poor countries, the source said on Tuesday, while the IMF and World Bank agreed to ensure their debt sustainability analyses of countries undergoing debt restructurings would be made available to Chinese authorities earlier in the process. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13 2023 The month of Ramadan is a time when millions of Indonesian Muslims give back to the community by organizing charity events or giving alms to those in need. But a man in Jakarta has been accused of preying on the goodwill of the faithful to line his own pockets. Police say he went to dozens of mosques in the capital to funnel donations straight into his own bank account. The man in question, Mohammad Iman Mahlim Lubis, has been accused of replacing mosques charitable Quick Response Indonesia Standard (QRIS) codes, which can be scanned with a smartphone to make cashless payments, with ones connected to his own newly created bank account, called Mosque Restoration. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Dio Suhenda (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13 2023 The Jakarta High Court has upheld both the conviction and death sentence of former two-star police general Ferdy Sambo for the premeditated murder of his aide-de-camp Nofriansyah Yosua Hutabarat and for tampering with evidence to orchestrate a cover-up. Presiding judge Singgih Budi Prakoso said on Wednesday that the appellate bench agreed with the South Jakarta District Courts February verdict and death sentence, which exceeded the prosecutions demand of life in prison. After the panel of judges at the appellate court reviewed, studied, scrutinized and examined carefully the entire case file [...] the judges are of the opinion that the [South Jakarta District Court ruling] has been thoroughly considered and is legally correct, Singgih said. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Montira Rungjirajittranon and Alexis Hontang (The Jakarta Post) Agence France-Presse/Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand Thu, April 13 2023 One of Thailand's oldest railway stations is facing demolition as the kingdom presses ahead with a long-delayed Chinese-backed high-speed line that has caused unease about lost heritage and closer ties to Beijing. Concrete piers supporting the new elevated track tower over bright green rice paddies, cutting a strip through a quiet corner of Thailand's poor, rural northeast. The US$5.4-billion line aims to connect Bangkok to Kunming in China via Laos by 2028, another piece in Beijing's vast Belt and Road infrastructure initiative that sprawls across Asia. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 13:19 12 5fceed71997e5776a1634d25dc484330 1 Asia and Pacific #ASEAN,ASEAN,Myanmar,#Myanmar,airstrikes Free ASEAN on Thursday issued a chairmans statement to strongly condemn an airstrike the Myanmar junta launched in Sagaing that reportedly killed at least 133 civilians, including women and children. All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians. This will be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustainable peace solution, says the statement. On Tuesday, the Myanmar air force launched what it described as a limited attack against oppositions of its government and people. However, witnesses and first responders said the bodies of children were also found following the airstrike. The exact toll from the airstrike remains unclear, as witnesses have said that body parts are scattered throughout the area. The seemingly indiscriminate attack came as Indonesia entered its fourth month as the 2023 ASEAN chair. During its chairmanship, Indonesia has been pushing to implement the blocs peace initiative for Myanmar known as the Five-Point Consensus (5PC) through quiet diplomacy, under which key information is withheld from the public. First agreed in 2021, the consensus calls for the immediate cessation of violence in Myanmar, the provision of humanitarian assistance and the appointment of a special envoy to engage with all conflicting parties in the country. Yet, little progress has been made as the agreement approaches its second anniversary in a few weeks, despite Indonesias assurance last week that progress was underway. We reiterate ASEANs commitment to continue assisting Myanmar in seeking a workable and durable solution to the ongoing crisis through promoting the full implementation of the 5PC, ASEAN stated on April 13. Read also: ASEAN mum as deadly Myanmar airstrike draws global ire ASEANs statement came two days after the juntas airstrike and after various international actors, including the United Nations, the European Union and the United States, as well as rights group Amnesty International, condemned the attack. Observers and analysts alike have noted the delay in ASEAN issuing its own statement. A Foreign Ministry official told The Jakarta Post on Wednesday that ASEANs statement had to be cleared by all other member states before it could be publicly released. Meanwhile, experts urged Indonesia not to be held back by the blocs mechanisms and simply speak out as a sovereign nation. Its unfortunate that Indonesia, after completing its third month as ASEAN chairman, cannot differentiate between when it should act as the associations leader and when it should simply act as Indonesia, said Lina Alexandra, head of international relations at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) in Jakarta. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Yvette Tanamal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 13, 2023 ASEAN leader Indonesia has lent its voice in condemning junta-ordered airstrikes in Myanmars northwestern region of Sagaing, which reportedly killed up to 100 people and elicited a global outcry against continuing violence in the Southeast Asian nation. Indonesia, which chairs the regional organization this year in its efforts to facilitate peace in Myanmar, strongly condemned the air strikes and called for an end to all forms of violence, particularly the use of force against civilians. This would be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustainable peaceful solution in Myanmar, Jakarta said in a statement issued on Thursday morning. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,500/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Or let Google manage your subscription Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin AFP Shanghai, China Thu, April 13, 2023 12:34 12 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0546762e 2 Asia and Pacific China,US,Brazil,geopolitics,state-visit,Lula-da-Silva,Xi-Jinping,diplomacy Free Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived late Wednesday in China for an official visit aimed at boosting already deep ties between the Asian giant and Latin America's biggest economy. The veteran leftist, who is due to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping Friday in Beijing, arrived first in Shanghai with his wife Rosangela "Janja" da Silva. They received bouquets of flowers as they were greeted by China's Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Feng. Before departing Brazil, Lula said he planned to invite President Xi to visit at a future, unspecified date. "We're going to consolidate our relationship with China. I'm going to invite Xi Jinping to come to Brazil for a bilateral meeting, to get to know the country and to show him projects that will be of interest for Chinese investment," Lula said Monday evening. Lula, 77, was initially scheduled to travel in late March to China, Brazil's biggest trading partner, but had to postpone the trip after coming down with pneumonia. Lula's schedule in Shanghai on Thursday includes attending the inauguration of his ally, Brazilian ex-president Dilma Rousseff, as head of the BRICS development bank. It is a group formed by top emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Returning to office in January after having led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, Lula is seeking to smoothe relations with China, after ties deteriorated under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. In a delicate balancing act, he is also seeking closer ties with the United States, Brazil's second-biggest trading partner and a key rival of China. His visit with Xi comes after a high-profile White House meeting with President Joe Biden in February. Lula is keen to reposition Brazil as a key player and deal broker on the international stage, after four years of relative isolation under Bolsonaro. He and Xi are notably expected to discuss the Ukraine conflict, in which both hope to act as mediators -- despite Western concerns that they are overly cozy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lula has some 40 high-level figures with him on the trip, including cabinet ministers, governors and members of Congress. He will wrap up his trip with a one-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Saturday. Ramadan travel this year is still far behind the heights it reached before the pandemic in 2019, according to Olivier Ponti, VP Insights at global travel data company ForwardKeys. However, a major factor in assessing the recovery of Ramadan travel are the dates when the festival falls due. In 2019 Eid al-Fitr was in June, a much better time of the year to travel, as the end of Ramadan was close to the start of the long summer school holidays in Saudi Arabia, he added. As of March 31, outbound flight bookings from the GCC states for the three weeks running up to Eid Al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan, were 38% behind where they were in the equivalent period in 2019; and for the three weeks after Eid al-Fitr, they are 67% behind. GCC outbound flight bookings for the peak Ramadan holiday period, April 14-24, are better, 32% behind 2019. Flight bookings from Saudi Arabia are 44% behind but travel from other major GCC countries is seeing a stronger recovery, with Kuwait 27% behind, Qatar 11% behind, UAE 6% behind and Bahrain 2% ahead. Flight bookings to GCC countries are more encouraging, currently 12% behind 2019. The major drag is travel to Saudi Arabia, where flight bookings are 40% behind 2019; and bookings for Kuwait are 43% behind. However, bookings for Bahrain are 16% ahead and for Qatar, UAE and Oman are 39%, 47% and 48% ahead respectively, said Ponti. Analysis of where Ramadan holidaymakers from GCC countries are going reveals that the top trending destination is the Maldives, 177% ahead of 2019. It is also benefitting from a surge in affluent visitors, as evidenced by a nine-percentage point increase in the share of premium cabin bookings. It is followed by Qatar, 91% ahead, Thailand 65% ahead, the Netherlands 37% ahead, Pakistan 25% ahead, UAE 22% ahead, Italy 20% ahead, France 14% ahead and the UK 1% ahead, he added. TradeArabia News Service Some families of Koreans forced to labor in Japanese factories and mines in World War II have accepted compensation from a Korean fund financed by businesses rather than the Japanese government. The Foundation for Victims of Forced Mobilization by Imperial Japan under the Ministry of the Interior and Safety has already paid compensation and back interest this month to two family members of forced labor victims, according to sources. Each was paid around W200 million including backdated interest, the same amount mandated by a Supreme Court ruling from 2018 that held the victims' old Japanese employers to account (US$1=W1,326). Korea announced the plan for third-party compensation last month to break an impasse that soured relations with Japan for years. Officials met each victim or their families to persuade them to accept. Some refused, saying they want a sincere apology from the Japanese government and compensation from Japanese companies like Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Nippon Steel. The government is raising the money from donations from Korean businesses that benefited from lump-sum reparations paid by Japan under a 1965 treaty, and steelmaker POSCO has already donated W4 billion. A Foreign Ministry official declined to comment on individual cases, but added, "We might have a chance to elaborate on the matter later." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin AFP Seoul, South Korea Thu, April 13, 2023 10:05 12 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b05464780 2 Asia and Pacific South-Korea,spying,US,Joe-Biden,Ukraine-war,opposition,Yoon-Suk-yeol Free South Korea's opposition urged the government on Wednesday to investigate alleged espionage by the United States after leaked documents appeared to show Washington spying on its key Asian ally. A trove of highly sensitive US intelligence that has emerged online included revelations that Washington had been spying on President Yoon Suk Yeols national security advisors as part of an effort to secure arms supplies for Ukraine. Seoul sought to downplay the importance of the leaked documents on Tuesday, with Yoon's office claiming "a significant number" of the documents were fake and his national security advisor saying there were no "malicious intentions" in the incident. But the revelation has sparked criticism in South Korea about the vulnerability of sensitive sites including the presidential office. "The government must get to the bottom of eavesdropping allegations and if they are found to be true, it must get an official apology and guarantee that it won't do it again from the US," Lee Jae-myung, head of the opposition Democratic party, said on Wednesday. Opposition lawmakers have accused the government of trying to move past the incident and smooth relations ahead of Yoon's state visit to Washington due later this month. 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. A copy of one of the leaked documents obtained by AFP shows discussions among Seoul's top national security officials about whether providing arms and ammunition to Ukraine would violate the country's long-standing policy against providing weapons to countries in active conflict. One official suggested exporting ammunition to Poland to get around the policy, the document showed. 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. Seoul's response to the incident has been critised with former security official Choi Gi-il saying the government is "seemingly defending the US over the suspected surveillance". "It is very ironic." Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin AFP Beijing, China Thu, April 13, 2023 08:15 12 d5259e4d93052b0e76bee70b0545aac2 2 Asia and Pacific China,US,geopolitics,tension,warfare,Taiwan Free China's President Xi Jinping called on the country's armed forces to "strengthen military training oriented towards actual combat", state media reported Wednesday, after Beijing conducted military drills intended to intimidate Taiwan. Xi's comments, made on a naval inspection trip on Tuesday, come amid heightened tension in the region after the show of force by Beijing, which sees self-ruled Taiwan as its territory. China on Monday concluded three days of military drills launched in response to a visit last week by Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen to the United States, where she met a bipartisan group of lawmakers and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Xi on Tuesday told the People's Liberation Army's Southern Theatre Command Navy that the military must "resolutely defend China's territorial sovereignty and maritime interests, and strive to protect overall peripheral stability", state broadcaster CCTV reported. Beijing has also criticised a plan for US forces to use a growing number of bases in the Philippines, including one near Taiwan. The United States and the Philippines are holding their largest-ever joint military drills this week, with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken committing to "standing with the Philippines against any intimidation or coercion, including in the South China Sea". Xi added Tuesday that China must be "innovative in its concepts and methods of combat". Disputed waters China and Taiwan split following a civil war in 1949. Beijing views the democratic island as part of its territory and has vowed to take it one day, stepping up its rhetoric and military activity around the island in recent years. The PLA simulated targeted strikes and a blockade of Taiwan during its recent three-day "Joint Sword" exercise. Taiwan's defence ministry said it continued to detect Chinese warships and aircraft around the island even after drills officially concluded. Beijing warned this week that Taiwanese independence and cross-strait peace were "mutually exclusive", blaming Taipei and unnamed "foreign forces" supporting it for the tensions. Washington has been deliberately ambiguous on whether it would defend Taiwan militarily. It has, however, sold weapons to Taipei for decades to help ensure its self-defence, and offered political support. China claims sovereignty over almost the entire South China Sea -- a strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars in trade pass annually -- despite an international court ruling that the assertion has no legal basis. The Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia and Brunei all have overlapping claims in the sea, while the United States sends naval vessels through it to assert freedom of navigation rights in international waters. Topics : China US geopolitics tension warfare Taiwan BerganKDV Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW Get Rating) by 9.1% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 28,233 shares of the home improvement retailers stock after purchasing an additional 2,354 shares during the quarter. BerganKDV Wealth Management LLCs holdings in Lowes Companies were worth $5,625,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in LOW. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. lifted its stake in shares of Lowes Companies by 1.6% in the third quarter. Pershing Square Capital Management L.P. now owns 10,374,801 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $1,948,491,000 after acquiring an additional 167,495 shares during the period. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA lifted its position in shares of Lowes Companies by 13.0% during the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 7,916,354 shares of the home improvement retailers stock valued at $1,486,770,000 after buying an additional 912,518 shares during the last quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. lifted its holdings in Lowes Companies by 4.9% during the 3rd quarter. Salem Investment Counselors Inc. now owns 3,463,854 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $650,546,000 after purchasing an additional 160,651 shares in the last quarter. London Co. of Virginia increased its stake in Lowes Companies by 2.9% in the 3rd quarter. London Co. of Virginia now owns 2,071,408 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $389,031,000 after acquiring an additional 58,983 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Renaissance Technologies LLC increased its stake in Lowes Companies by 7,952.8% in the 1st quarter. Renaissance Technologies LLC now owns 1,586,400 shares of the home improvement retailers stock worth $320,754,000 after acquiring an additional 1,566,700 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 72.62% of the companys stock. Get Lowe's Companies alerts: Lowes Companies Price Performance Lowes Companies stock traded down $1.03 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $198.74. 1,014,493 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,018,070. Lowes Companies, Inc. has a 52-week low of $170.12 and a 52-week high of $223.31. The firm has a market capitalization of $118.52 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 19.96, a P/E/G ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.09. The firms 50 day moving average price is $202.43 and its 200 day moving average price is $201.23. Lowes Companies Dividend Announcement Lowes Companies ( NYSE:LOW Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 1st. The home improvement retailer reported $2.28 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.21 by $0.07. Lowes Companies had a negative return on equity of 82.30% and a net margin of 6.63%. The business had revenue of $22.40 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.71 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company posted $1.78 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.0% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts anticipate that Lowes Companies, Inc. will post 13.84 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, May 10th. Investors of record on Wednesday, April 26th will be issued a $1.05 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, April 25th. This represents a $4.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.11%. Lowes Companiess payout ratio is 41.96%. Insiders Place Their Bets In other Lowes Companies news, EVP Donald Frieson sold 9,411 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, March 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $197.00, for a total transaction of $1,853,967.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 17,888 shares in the company, valued at approximately $3,523,936. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through this link. 0.24% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have commented on the company. TD Cowen decreased their price target on Lowes Companies from $220.00 to $210.00 and set a market perform rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Telsey Advisory Group dropped their price objective on Lowes Companies from $250.00 to $235.00 and set an outperform rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Robert W. Baird dropped their price target on Lowes Companies from $250.00 to $235.00 in a research note on Wednesday, March 1st. StockNews.com upgraded Lowes Companies from a hold rating to a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Loop Capital increased their price objective on Lowes Companies from $200.00 to $205.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, March 21st. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, twelve have issued a hold rating and fifteen have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Hold and an average price target of $223.85. About Lowes Companies (Get Rating) Lowes Cos., Inc engages in the retail sale of home improvement products. The firm offers products for maintenance, repair, remodeling, home decorating and property maintenance. It also provides home improvement products in the following categories: appliances, bathroom, building supply, electrical, flooring, hardware, paint, kitchen, plumbing, lighting & fans, outdoor living, windows and doors. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding LOW? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Lowes Companies, Inc. (NYSE:LOW Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Lowe's Companies Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lowe's Companies and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Friedenthal Financial lessened its stake in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (NYSEARCA:RYU Get Rating) by 0.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 15,722 shares of the companys stock after selling 99 shares during the quarter. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF accounts for approximately 1.3% of Friedenthal Financials holdings, making the stock its 19th biggest position. Friedenthal Financial owned approximately 0.42% of Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF worth $1,829,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Other large investors have also recently modified their holdings of the company. Wells Fargo & Company MN raised its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF by 1,268.9% in the 2nd quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 45,544 shares of the companys stock worth $5,202,000 after buying an additional 42,217 shares during the last quarter. Worth Asset Management LLC purchased a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF in the 1st quarter worth about $4,595,000. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF by 197.4% in the 3rd quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 59,239 shares of the companys stock worth $6,314,000 after buying an additional 39,318 shares during the last quarter. Mayflower Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF in the 4th quarter worth about $4,152,000. Finally, National Bank of Canada FI raised its position in Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF by 2,814.9% in the 3rd quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 32,967 shares of the companys stock worth $3,514,000 after buying an additional 31,836 shares during the last quarter. Get Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF alerts: Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF Trading Down 1.3 % NYSEARCA:RYU traded down $1.57 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $115.12. The companys stock had a trading volume of 5,662 shares, compared to its average volume of 28,687. Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF has a 12-month low of $99.69 and a 12-month high of $127.59. The firms fifty day moving average price is $112.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $112.96. The stock has a market cap of $430.55 million, a P/E ratio of 18.58 and a beta of 0.53. About Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF The Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF (RYU) is an exchange-traded fund that mostly invests in utilities equity. The fund tracks an equal-weighted index of S&P 500 utilities companies. RYU was launched on Nov 1, 2006 and is managed by Invesco. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Invesco S&P 500 Equal Weight Utilities ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Humana (NYSE:HUM Get Rating) had its price objective upped by stock analysts at Morgan Stanley from $620.00 to $637.00 in a research report issued on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The firm currently has an overweight rating on the insurance providers stock. Morgan Stanleys price target would indicate a potential upside of 19.73% from the companys current price. HUM has been the topic of several other reports. Credit Suisse Group dropped their target price on Humana from $635.00 to $575.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 6th. TheStreet downgraded Humana from a b rating to a c+ rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Stephens dropped their target price on Humana from $625.00 to $590.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a report on Friday, February 3rd. The Goldman Sachs Group upgraded Humana from a neutral rating to a buy rating and lifted their price objective for the stock from $575.00 to $652.00 in a report on Tuesday, December 13th. Finally, Cowen dropped their price objective on Humana from $647.00 to $581.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a report on Monday, February 6th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Humana presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $595.12. Get Humana alerts: Humana Stock Performance Humana stock opened at $532.05 on Tuesday. The stocks 50-day moving average is $499.02 and its 200-day moving average is $509.97. The company has a market cap of $66.49 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.14, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.30 and a beta of 0.71. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.59, a current ratio of 1.52 and a quick ratio of 1.52. Humana has a 12 month low of $410.87 and a 12 month high of $571.30. Insider Activity at Humana Humana ( NYSE:HUM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The insurance provider reported $1.62 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $1.46 by $0.16. The company had revenue of $22.44 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $22.45 billion. Humana had a return on equity of 20.50% and a net margin of 3.02%. The companys quarterly revenue was up 6.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.24 EPS. Equities analysts anticipate that Humana will post 28.07 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, insider Joseph C. Ventura sold 2,048 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $507.97, for a total transaction of $1,040,322.56. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 4,256 shares in the company, valued at approximately $2,161,920.32. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Humana news, CEO Bruce D. Broussard sold 17,575 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $505.85, for a total transaction of $8,890,313.75. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 70,040 shares in the company, valued at approximately $35,429,734. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, insider Joseph C. Ventura sold 2,048 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $507.97, for a total value of $1,040,322.56. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 4,256 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,161,920.32. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders own 0.32% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in HUM. Arlington Partners LLC acquired a new position in Humana during the 4th quarter worth $29,000. WFA of San Diego LLC bought a new stake in shares of Humana in the 4th quarter worth $33,000. U.S. Capital Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of Humana in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Delta Asset Management LLC TN bought a new stake in shares of Humana in the 4th quarter worth $46,000. Finally, SJS Investment Consulting Inc. raised its stake in shares of Humana by 1,257.1% in the 4th quarter. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. now owns 95 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $49,000 after buying an additional 88 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 93.38% of the companys stock. About Humana (Get Rating) Humana Inc engages in the provision of health insurance services. It operates through the Insurance and CenterWell segments. The Insurance segment consists of Medicare benefits, marketed to individuals or directly via group Medicare accounts, as well as contract with CMS to administer the Limited Income Newly Eligible Transition, or LI-NET, prescription drug plan program and contracts with various states to provide Medicaid, dual eligible demonstration, and Long-Term Support Services benefits, which refer to as state-based contracts. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Humana Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Humana and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. John Wood Group (OTCMKTS:WDGJF Get Rating) was downgraded by investment analysts at Canaccord Genuity Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report issued on Thursday, Briefing.com reports. WDGJF has been the topic of several other research reports. Jefferies Financial Group lowered John Wood Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of John Wood Group from GBX 180 ($2.23) to GBX 190 ($2.35) in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their price objective on shares of John Wood Group from GBX 237 ($2.93) to GBX 217 ($2.69) in a research report on Thursday, January 26th. Morgan Stanley dropped their target price on John Wood Group from GBX 218 ($2.70) to GBX 185 ($2.29) in a research report on Thursday, December 15th. Finally, Berenberg Bank cut John Wood Group from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Friday, March 31st. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and one has given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $189.25. Get John Wood Group alerts: John Wood Group Stock Performance WDGJF stock opened at $2.74 on Thursday. The business has a 50 day moving average price of $2.27 and a 200 day moving average price of $1.86. John Wood Group has a fifty-two week low of $1.19 and a fifty-two week high of $3.15. John Wood Group Company Profile John Wood Group Plc is an energy service company. It engages in the provision of engineering, production support, maintenance management and industrial gas turbine overhaul, and repair services to the oil and gas and power generation industries. The firm operates its business through the following segments: Asset Solutions EAAA, Asset Solutions Americas, Technical Consulting Solutions, and Investment Services. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for John Wood Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for John Wood Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. KCM Investment Advisors LLC cut its holdings in Waste Management, Inc. (NYSE:WM Get Rating) by 0.8% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm owned 211,654 shares of the business services providers stock after selling 1,747 shares during the quarter. Waste Management comprises 1.4% of KCM Investment Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 14th biggest position. KCM Investment Advisors LLC owned approximately 0.05% of Waste Management worth $33,204,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Other large investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Waste Management by 2.8% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 36,984,227 shares of the business services providers stock worth $5,925,244,000 after purchasing an additional 1,016,798 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its stake in Waste Management by 0.5% in the third quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 30,982,963 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $4,963,780,000 after acquiring an additional 154,917 shares during the last quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec increased its holdings in shares of Waste Management by 21.5% in the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 2,605,293 shares of the business services providers stock worth $417,394,000 after buying an additional 461,425 shares during the period. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. increased its position in shares of Waste Management by 2.7% in the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 1,887,477 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $299,165,000 after acquiring an additional 49,711 shares during the period. Finally, Dimensional Fund Advisors LP boosted its stake in shares of Waste Management by 0.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 1,849,470 shares of the business services providers stock valued at $296,333,000 after purchasing an additional 9,298 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.48% of the companys stock. Get Waste Management alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth WM has been the topic of a number of recent research reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft dropped their price target on Waste Management from $157.00 to $151.00 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, February 6th. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price target on shares of Waste Management from $158.00 to $167.00 in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. TD Cowen started coverage on Waste Management in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. They issued an outperform rating and a $200.00 price target on the stock. StockNews.com began coverage on Waste Management in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. Finally, Morgan Stanley lifted their price target on Waste Management from $179.00 to $181.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. Six analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $173.27. Insider Buying and Selling Waste Management Stock Down 0.2 % In other Waste Management news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total value of $120,888.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief accounting officer now owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at approximately $787,283.10. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link . In related news, CAO Leslie K. Nagy sold 800 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 24th. The shares were sold at an average price of $151.11, for a total transaction of $120,888.00. Following the sale, the chief accounting officer now directly owns 5,210 shares in the company, valued at $787,283.10. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this link . Also, EVP John J. Morris sold 15,204 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $155.03, for a total transaction of $2,357,076.12. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 95,461 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,799,318.83. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Insiders have sold 30,961 shares of company stock worth $4,796,057 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.27% of the companys stock. Shares of NYSE WM traded down $0.27 during mid-day trading on Thursday, hitting $165.23. 202,627 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 1,849,174. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.12, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a current ratio of 0.81. Waste Management, Inc. has a 52 week low of $138.89 and a 52 week high of $175.98. The company has a market cap of $67.21 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 30.71, a PEG ratio of 2.49 and a beta of 0.73. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $154.43 and a 200-day moving average price of $157.66. Waste Management (NYSE:WM Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The business services provider reported $1.30 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $1.39 by ($0.09). Waste Management had a return on equity of 32.91% and a net margin of 11.36%. The firm had revenue of $4.94 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.97 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the company earned $1.26 earnings per share. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.5% on a year-over-year basis. Research analysts anticipate that Waste Management, Inc. will post 6 EPS for the current year. Waste Management Increases Dividend The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 24th. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th were given a $0.70 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This is a positive change from Waste Managements previous quarterly dividend of $0.65. This represents a $2.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.69%. Waste Managements dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 51.95%. About Waste Management (Get Rating) Waste Management, Inc is a holding company, which engages in the provision of waste management environmental services. It operates through the following segments: East Tier, West Tier, and Other. The East Tier segment consists of Eastern U.S., the Great Lakes Region, and Canada. The West Tier segment includes the upper Midwest region and British Columbia, Canada. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Waste Management Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Waste Management and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Slate Grocery REIT (OTCMKTS:SRRTF Get Rating) traded up 0.3% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The company traded as high as $10.17 and last traded at $10.15. 3,457 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 56% from the average session volume of 7,783 shares. The stock had previously closed at $10.12. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Separately, Raymond James assumed coverage on shares of Slate Grocery REIT in a report on Thursday, January 19th. They set a market perform rating for the company. Get Slate Grocery REIT alerts: Slate Grocery REIT Trading Up 0.3 % The stocks fifty day moving average price is $10.60 and its 200-day moving average price is $10.87. Slate Grocery REIT Announces Dividend Slate Grocery REIT Company Profile The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 17th. Investors of record on Friday, March 31st will be given a dividend of $0.072 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a dividend yield of 8.64%. (Get Rating) Slate Grocery REIT operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in acquiring, owning, and leasing a portfolio of diversified revenue-producing commercial real estate properties. Its portfolios include residential, office, and industrial projects. The company was founded by Blair Welch and Brady Welch on January 18, 2012 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Slate Grocery REIT Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Slate Grocery REIT and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Teekay Tankers Ltd. (NYSE:TNK Get Rating) shares rose 4.9% during mid-day trading on Thursday . The stock traded as high as $42.38 and last traded at $42.32. Approximately 35,639 shares changed hands during trading, a decline of 93% from the average daily volume of 509,662 shares. The stock had previously closed at $40.35. Analyst Ratings Changes TNK has been the topic of a number of research analyst reports. Jefferies Financial Group increased their price objective on shares of Teekay Tankers from $44.00 to $51.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. TheStreet upgraded shares of Teekay Tankers from a c rating to a b rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Teekay Tankers in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $51.00. Get Teekay Tankers alerts: Teekay Tankers Trading Up 4.1 % The firm has a market cap of $1.43 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.07, a P/E/G ratio of 1.08 and a beta of -0.14. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.44, a quick ratio of 2.34 and a current ratio of 2.70. The companys 50-day moving average is $40.98 and its 200-day moving average is $34.39. Institutional Trading of Teekay Tankers Teekay Tankers ( NYSE:TNK Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Thursday, February 23rd. The shipping company reported $4.33 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $3.51 by $0.82. The business had revenue of $367.30 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $211.54 million. Teekay Tankers had a return on equity of 23.65% and a net margin of 21.55%. Teekay Tankerss revenue for the quarter was up 129.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned ($0.74) EPS. On average, research analysts predict that Teekay Tankers Ltd. will post 12.04 earnings per share for the current year. Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. New York State Common Retirement Fund raised its holdings in shares of Teekay Tankers by 3.9% during the 4th quarter. New York State Common Retirement Fund now owns 15,987 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $493,000 after buying an additional 598 shares in the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC raised its holdings in shares of Teekay Tankers by 127.4% during the 3rd quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,401 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $38,000 after buying an additional 785 shares in the last quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC raised its holdings in shares of Teekay Tankers by 2.7% during the 4th quarter. Los Angeles Capital Management LLC now owns 35,700 shares of the shipping companys stock valued at $1,100,000 after buying an additional 955 shares in the last quarter. Dorsey Wright & Associates purchased a new position in shares of Teekay Tankers during the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Ellevest Inc. grew its position in Teekay Tankers by 86.2% during the 4th quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 2,307 shares of the shipping companys stock worth $71,000 after acquiring an additional 1,068 shares during the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 28.74% of the companys stock. About Teekay Tankers (Get Rating) Teekay Tankers Ltd. engages in the provision of crude oil and refined petroleum products through the operation of its oil and product tankers. It operates through the Tanker and Ship-to-Ship (STS) Transfer segment. The Tanker segment includes the operations of all the tankers, including those employed on full service lightering contracts. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Teekay Tankers Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Teekay Tankers and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The provocation marks the 11th anniversary of North Korean leader Kim Jongs accession to power. Alarms were sounded on the Japanese island of Hokkaido on Thursday morning as North Korea fired a ballistic missile into the East Sea. It came two days after the official [North] Korean Central News Agency released a photo that purportedly showed Kim discussing use of nuclear weapons with military officers while pointing at a map of South Korea. The North also stopped answering daily routine phone calls on cross-border hotlines last Friday. Thursday's missile sparked evacuations on Hokkaido after erroneous predictions that the missile would land in the sea close to the island. The Joint Chiefs of Staff here said it was fired from the vicinity of Pyongyang at around 7:30 a.m. and flew about 1,000 km. The JCS speculated that it was a new solid-fuel ballistic missile. Some 145 elementary schools took in no new students this academic year, and a quarter of the country's 6,163 elementary schools welcomed fewer than 10. The development was expected but is shocking nonetheless. Children born in 2016 start going to school this year, and there are only 406,000 of them. Last year a mere 249,000 babies were born, which means half of the country's elementary schools will welcome fewer than 10 new students when these children start school. Middle and high schools will face the same predicament a few years down the line. But Korea is doing very little to deal with this problem. Every year the same number of new teachers are being newly recruited under a quota set in the days when half a million children were born annually. Not only is it urgently necessary to adjust the quota of teachers, but the Education Ministry has no plans for the growing number of schools that shut down due to a lack of students. There are already hundreds of padlocked former schools that simply sit empty. Aviation unions in Nigeria have threatened to embark on a nationwide warning strike from April 17th to 18th, 2023. In a notice issued to aviation workers across the country, the unions vowed to ground all activities in the sector for two days if their demands are not met. The warning strike is slated to be led by the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE), Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN), Nigerian Association of Nigeria Aviation Professionals (ANAP), National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE), and the Engineers Amalgamated Union of Public Corporation Civil Service Technical and Recreational Services Employers. The unions claim that their demands, including the implementation of new minimum wage consequential adjustment with arrears for the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) since 2019 and the release of the reviewed conditions of service for the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria and NIMET, have not been met despite issuing an ultimatum to the minister of aviation and the chief executive officers of the agencies. Unless all our demands are met immediately and the ministers demolition exercise is halted, all aviation workers are hereby directed to withdraw all services in the sector on 17th and 18th April 2023 as a warning strike. Should the warning strike fail to achieve the desired result, an indefinite strike shall ensue, the unions said in a statement. Following the expiration of its ultimatum, the unions claimed that the aviation minister, Senator Hadi Sirika, remained adamant in carrying out his threat to demolish the headquarters of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), NAMA, NCAA, NCAT, and NIMET in Lagos despite their entreaties. Curve Lake First Nation author and playwright Drew Hayden Taylor took home a Canadian Screen Award earlier this week for the documentary The Pretendians. The CBC feature, hosted by the Anishnaabe writer, received the Donald Brittain award for best social/political documentary program on Tuesday when honours were handed out in Toronto. Partly filmed in Taylors home community of Curve Lake First Nation, the documentary explores the appropriation of Indigenous identity and culture by non-Indigenous people. It first aired last September on CBC-TVs The Passionate Eye documentary series. Taylor was also nominated for best writing for The Pretendians and best host for the APTN documentary series Going Native. Taylor took to social media to celebrate the win. Despite the honour, Taylor tweeted that winning the award has wetted the appetite for some wanting to attack me, how Anishnaabe I may or may not be, the film, and a whack of other things. Taylor has penned 34 books, part of a lengthy resume that also includes writing credits for multiple tv series and 20 theatre productions. Taylor is set to receive an honorary doctorate of letters from Trent University in June. BB Brendan Burke is a staff reporter at the Examiner, based in Peterborough. His reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. SHARE: A 55-year-old Welland man just might be taking an early retirement after winning more than $1.6 million playing the lottery. Marc Levasseaur won $1,666,666.70 in the Lotto 6/49 Classic Jackpot on March 11. He also won $2 on his Encore pick. His ticket shared the jackpot with two others. A father and grandfather, Levasseaur told officials at the OLG Prize Centre this is his first big win after playing the lottery for 33 years. "I play Lotto 6/49 twice a week," he said. "I checked my ticket while at the store and I was so excited I thought, 'Early retirement, here I come!'" The 55-year-old shipping and manufacturing worker said he sent his children a screenshot of the win. "My wife couldn't believe it either. We discovered the win right before our trip to Mexico so it was nice to have the trip to relax and soak in the news," he said. Levasseaur plans to use his win toward retirement, helping his children, and traveling. The winning ticket was purchased at Avondale on Fitch Street in Welland. SHARE: Trent Universitys third annual Trent Day, held on April 4, raised $460,000 that will be used to help students and programs at the university, along with 1,795 pounds of non-perishable food donations for local food banks. Trent Day also saw 31 new monthly donors sign up to support the university, a record number, according to Sherry Booth, Trents associate vice-president of philanthropy and alumni engagement. The volunteerism that was witnessed in the communities was brilliant. We had six different sites, Booth said. The Peterborough Museum and Archives, the Kawartha Food Share, Feed the Need in Durham, Teachers for Kids and Casey House in Toronto; all of those areas were just humming with activity. About 115 Trent alumni from across the country participated in this volunteerism. This is only our third Trent Day, and were seeing that people are really keen to be involved, she said. So, I could see this being even more impactful as we continue to grow over the years. The nearly 1,800 pounds in food donations was an 80 per cent increase over last year. It really blew us away how much people took this to heart, Booth said. And it was great fun, because we saw people carrying their shopping bags across campus to our food tents, where we were collecting the food. Funds collected from Trent Day will be used to expand student programs and jobs at the university. So, the funding can go to things such as student housing, bursary support, and even emergency funding for expenses that are unusual or out of the circumstances of whatever situation, Booth said. It also helps with things like experiential learning and paying for student jobs on campus, which is really great for starting their careers. In 2022, Trent received a large donation of $1 million on Trent Day, but this year marked a record number of new monthly donors, she said. We had a phenomenal increase in the number of monthly donors, Booth said. A large component of the monthly donors were supporting our Trent fund, which really is a fund that addresses the urgent needs of students. She said she was proud of the support from the Trent community and is excited to see how future Trent Day volunteerism benefits Peterborough. It was really heartwarming, and the Trent spirit in our students, faculty staff, and alumni was very evident, Booth said. I was just very proud of Trent and our community. aschummer@peterboroughdaily.com SHARE: I am always touched by meeting other Peterburians who do solidarity work with very poor people across international boundaries in the global south. It mirrors my own journey. Here in our small city, there is the group, Friends of Honduran Children. With an office, one employee, a board of 8 strong citizens and a long history of involvement in the lives of children and youth in what is the second poorest country in our hemisphere, FoHC is moving into the public spotlight with an event at Market Hall on May 3. The organization persevered through COVID-19, and raises almost half a million dollars annually. It has annual audited statements and issues tax receipts for donations. It will be the Canadian premiere of a documentary, With this Light, about the remarkable life and work of a Honduran Franciscan nun, herself an orphan with a Grade 5 education. Sister Maria Rosa Leggol lived 93 years until 2020 and founded a charitable organization called Sociedad Amigos de los Ninos (SAN). Her efforts to establish homes for abandoned children and training schools have earned her international acclaim. The evening will also feature a talk by a longtime worker with Sister Maria Rosa, Mae Valenzuela, who left her career in the U.S. to return to Honduras to assist the work. Like Jamaican Self Help, it began when local people, in this case dentist Jim McCallum and his spouse, Ann McCallum, went to Honduras to volunteer in 1980. Honduras has 10 million people, Spanish speakers, and is bordered by the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean and countries Guatemala and El Salvador. Its story of deprivation is stark. Fifty-six per cent of people are poor and 39 per cent desperately poor, in a country rich in waterfalls, jungle terrain and Mayan ruins. Honduras, in Central America, was first colonized by the Spanish beginning in 1502. It has minerals, agriculture, especially bananas and coffee, but endures severe underdevelopment and is now burdened by the drug trade and its accompanying crime. Honduras is also riddled with turbulent politics. The president and first woman in that office, Xiomara Castro, is the wife of an earlier president. She has been considered progressive, but recently has developed closer ties with China. The Canadian government recommends exercising a high degree of caution when travelling to certain parts of Honduras. But FoHC president Anne Morawetz of Selwyn, who first went to Honduras in 2012, tells me that for over two decades, hundreds of volunteers, including many from Grace United Church, have made service visits to a childrens village in the southwest of the country, Nuevo Paraiso, without any negative incidents, always accompanied by security. To us in Kingston, Jamaica, warnings were made too. Reputations develop for a country that dont match the lived experience of volunteers. For Canadians involved, a global perspective grows. FoHc volunteers speak of a new outlook, a deepened joy, a renewed hope, and much admiration for the strength of the local people. Like JSH, Friends of Honduran Children discerned that Peterborough, Ontario had room for another good cause. Development experts agree that the key to human progress is education. In the village, children live in small homelike settings with a mother figure. On the property are an elementary and high school; where the Nuevo Paraiso children attend free of charge. The cost of attending high school in Honduras is $250 US a year. School fees for bright but very poor students in the area around Nuevo Paraiso are raised through efforts headed by Libby Dalrymple of Lakefield College School. In the capital city of Tegucigalpa, a donor-funded school enrols girls experiencing poverty and violence. FoHC tells me proudly that 16 young people from the village now attend university. Dan and Loretta Durst have been key players in this change-oriented work. Tickets for With this Light are available from Market Hall. SHARE: In March 1741, in a ferocious storm at the foot of South America, a creaky wooden ship called the Wager sailed into the Drake Passage the most notorious channel in the world. The gunner on board, John Bulkeley, felt the vessel hurtling on an avalanche of water, cascading into a chasm devoid of light. All he could discern behind him was a looming mountain of water; in front of him nothing but another terrifying mountain. The ship pitched, heaved, groaned, and splintered. She collided with a wave and the mizzen, a vital mast, toppled over like an axed tree, crashing down with its rigging and sails into the sea. So writes author David Grann in The Wager: A Tale of Shipwreck, Mutiny and Murder. At this point, about a third of the way through the book, you the reader may find yourself saying, Whoa! this could make one heck of a movie like The Perfect Storm only more spectacular. If so, you wouldnt be the first. Director Martin Scorsese and actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who recently finished filming a previous Grann bestseller (Killers of the Flower Moon), have already signed on to adapt this one. That film wont surface for a while. Happily, we have in print this epic true story as told by a master. In 1740, with Britain at war with Spain, the decrepit old Wager rat-infested, timbers rotting sailed from England as part of a small Royal Navy squadron in search of a treasure-laden Spanish galleon known as the prize of all the oceans. Yes, this was more than 100 years before Sir John Franklin embarked on his ill-fated Arctic voyage in 1845. Britains navy was yet to rule the seas. At 4:30 one morning off the coast of Patagonia, in the darkness of yet another torrential downpour, the Wager hit a rock. It lurched and teetered and began to sink. Some sailors fell to their knees in prayer but, as water poured into the hold and masts tumbled onto the deck, a couple of men climbed to a high point and, through a mist, spotted an island. Of the 250 men and boys who had embarked in Portsmouth, 145 struggled to shore and apparent safety. But then, over the next five months, hardship and hunger reduced Royal Navy discipline to Lord of the Flies-anarchy. Say hello to warring factions, thievery, whippings, cannibalism and public murder. Their numbers diminishing, eighty-odd men contrived to escape the island. Now comes a series of twists and turns worthy of a well-plotted thriller. Rather than damage the reading experience by revealing details, lets consider how David Grann has produced this riveting book so soon after the radically different but equally impressive Killers of the Flower Moon a No. 1 New York Times bestseller. Simply put, Grann is working to a three-part formula. One: unearth a tremendous story from within a forgotten haystack. Two: spend months and months and months researching it. Three: write the narrative with the artistry of a superb novelist. One, two, three. How hard is that? With The Wager, as indicated above, Grann has dug up a story that bears comparison with Mutiny on the Bounty. Enough said about that? He spent five years working on the book roughly half that haunting archives and analyzing contradictory accounts. But he didnt stop there. In his acknowledgments, Grann thanks a whirlwind explorer who helped him organize his own three-week journey to Wager Island. Grann located pieces of the wrecked ship and gained a better understanding of what the castaways had experienced. His depth of perception informs every page. That brings us to artistry. Early in his career, Grann spent one year doing an MFA at Boston University. He may well have written a very bad novel, as he says, but from writing fiction he learned how to wield Point of View how to let a story unfold as it happens through its main characters, who in this case, number three. Instead of delivering information from an authorial perch, he uses them to carry the narrative load. Watch how he sets up expository passages. One, [David] Cheap knew what a cracking ship the Centurion was. Two, John Bulkeley scoured the horizon for South America. Three, John Byron stared in awe at the waves that broke over the Wager, bandying the 123-foot vessel about as if it were no more than a pitiful rowboat. One, two, three. Grann makes it look easy, even while exploring how desperate people behave in life-and-death situations. Hint: not well. This book is a tour de force. In September, Ken McGoogan will publish Searching for Franklin: The Royal Navy Man Who Discovered Arctic Catastrophe. SHARE: Are you sure he doesnt have this one? asks Mario as he holds a box containing a plastic figure, perhaps seven inches tall, of Marvels Captain America. Hes got so many that I dont know anymore, says his companion as she points to a Ron Weasley, Harry Potters inseparable friend. Lets take this one, instead; its a special edition. They are looking for the perfect Funko Pop for their friend Luis. However, his sizeable collection they estimate more than 200 is making it pretty hard for them to find the right present. Their friends passion is not an isolated case: just in 2021, the company reported profits of over $1 billion, thanks to more than 1,000 active licenses with more than 200 content providers like Disney and Netflix, according to data provided by Funko. However, in 2022 the manufacturer hit a rough patch caused by low sales and excess inventory. This prompted the company to get rid of thousands of figures that they had stored. The enthusiasm for these dolls goes beyond a mere whim: for many, more than toys, they are real collectors items. Ubaldo Hervas, director of the masters degree in growth hacking and marketing automation at IEBS Business School and digital analyst at the LIN3S agency, describes the phenomenon: You cant just buy one. Everyone starts with one, then comes the second, the third And they end up creating a whole collection of dozens. Hervas points out that humans and specifically collectors do not act rationally. In this circle you pay more attention to the figure you dont have than to the one you do; hence such fanaticism. In addition, he says, Funkos have become a new reflection of peoples tastes: When you invite someone to that part of your house, you are showing them a part of your identity. Because you dont collect something you dont like. That much is clear. It is a matter of identity. There are Funkos for all tastes: from Queen Elizabeth II to Whitney Houston, as well as hordes of fictional characters like Dumbo or Jack Dawson from Titanic. The company takes advantage of the premieres to launch exclusive collections tied to film and television phenomena. This is what happened a few months ago with House of the Dragon, the prequel to Game of Thrones: there were Funkos available before the episodes aired. A worldwide phenomenon Excited, a father and his son arrive at Atlantica3.0 in the heart of Madrid, Spain, one of the most popular physical stores among European collectors. Do you have any Adventure Time Funkos? One employee takes them to the next room, where they find what they are looking for. We have approximately 2,000 different Funkos, and thats not enough to meet the demand, because many of our customers want discontinued figures that at the moment are only available through secondary markets and at a very high price, explains Alberto Garcia, manager of the store. The Atlantica3.0 store in Madrid. Andrea Jimenez In recent months, the characters from Stranger Things have been among the most requested Funkos, selling out a few hours after arriving at the store. We work with several official distributors all over the world, and still there are figures that never get to Europe. That is the great Achilles heel of their distribution. We dont get as many exclusives as we would need, adds Garcia. Hervas explains that they work with the principle of scarcity. I mean, having a limited version of Ron Weasley is very attractive. When you have it, you own something more than a figure; it is something very rare and very limited to obtain. Although novelties from new licenses come out often, the most sought after items are those from the oldest, timeless collections. Thus, diehard fans very rarely buy at commercial stores anymore, or only do it when something new comes out. Instead, to find the old, classic ones, they resort to collectors or second-hand stores, usually online. Buyers can also download the official app of the brand, in which they can keep track of their new purchases and watch how the value of the ones they already own increases. For many, they might be nothing more than bug-eyed dolls with weird heads; for others, however, this is a common interest that has even led to the creation of strong bonds of friendship between those who devote their time to the pursuit of this coveted item. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition In the inaugural chapters of The Double Life of Benson Yu, Kevin Chongs narrator concedes that his best days and worst have been over for years. With both his era of Peak Fame and adolescence (where unspeakable things transpired) in the rearview, this middle-aged hero remains deeply unsettled. When the distant past resurfaces in the form of a letter, Bensons turmoil inspires an autobiographical new project he succinctly conveys to his publisher: All words. No pictures. Child abuse. Renowned for Iggy Samurai, a 90s comic-turned-movie-franchise about a solitary lizard-faced warrior, Chongs author-hero envisions a comeback and fervently hopes that exposing truth will relieve his burden. Reality has other plans, however. The puzzle pieces of British Columbia writer Chongs seventh book illustrate the complexity and heartbreaking arduousness of healing severe wounds from long ago. The novels formal dexterity story within a story, fiction highlighting its fictiveness, real character conversing with his fictional creation is immersive and intriguing. Arguably, chapter by chapter, the technique offers diminishing returns. With their villains, quests, and noble feelings, Bensons comics wrangled with his personal history. They also simplified it and sidestepped the anguish, shame, and enduring after-effects. Benson, a disgruntled adjunct professor who cosplays dignity, now vows to distill the truth, instead of skirting it with comic book heroics. In the story-within-a-story of Benny, Benson introduces a naive alter-ego part of a depleted family unit in Vancouvers Chinatown about four decades earlier. When Bennys primary caregiver Poh-Poh dies, the pre-teen fends for himself as best he can until hes befriended by the Samurai, a delusion-prone man and former psychiatric hospital patient. While Benson builds this tale from scraps of memory he recasts the figure of his corrupt mentor (a sexual predator he calls C.) as an anti-hero. Like C., the new Samurai is a big white guy; yet this funhouse version has all of C.s venom drained. Further, as Benson-the-professor types, he pauses to analyze the work. He remarks on tropes in Asian immigrant tales, for instance, and comments on characters based on former acquaintances. The self-reflexive fiction takes on funhouse traits too, where truth grows elusive. Although Benson believes Bennys story will highlight the essential falseness and silliness of his earlier comic books, he seems quite unaware that the current project continues to bypass truth-telling. Aware as well of his absences, boozing, and erratic parenting, he seems incapable of breaking his lifes patterns. In Part Two, Benson informs his wife that someone will be staying with them. This figure something between a distant cousin and a clone is Benny, transported into Bensons reality miles and decades from Chinatown. The abrupt scene change complicates an already knotty story. In a present day of Teslas and iPhones, Benny resides in the home of his own author and observes, something about this place seemed askew. The rules that enabled [Bennys] physical presence were determined outside of me, Benson comments gnomically. Ultimately, Chong, like Benson, declines to offer any logical explanation. And while, in the end, Benson confronts a villain and achieves a degree of heroic redemption, the problematic setting has a corrosive effect. Akin to dodgy CGI, it draws the eye to material that diminishes the overall success of the picture. Brett Josef Grubisic resides in BC, on Salt Spring Island. Hes the author of five novels, including My Two-Faced Luck. SHARE: The greatest threat to our planet is the belief someone else will save it, said environmentalist Robert Swan. And he nailed it. We prioritize the planet when we buy goods from places that practise sustainability. That includes wine. Sustainable winemaking is a huge trend that has exploded in the past several years, with more and more wineries turning to that approach. Sustainability is a broad term that can capture all sorts of practices in the winery, vineyard and beyond such as minimizing the use of chemical pesticides and herbicides, investing in community in various ways and aiming to be carbon neutral across the wine value chain. But its goal is always to preserve and support the planet. Today, the LCBO carries hundreds of labels by sustainable wineries. So its easier than ever to support such producers, which is unequivocally a good thing. But just because theyre sustainable doesnt mean theyre tasty pure-fruited, balanced and all the rest. Here are five bottles you can feel good about because theyre delicious and all made sustainably. 2019 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot, VQA Short Hills Bench (Vintages, winery $47.95) From Ontario, the 2019 Henry of Pelham Speck Family Reserve Cabernet-Merlot, VQA Short Hills Bench (Vintages, winery $47.95) is a gorgeous blend of old-vine Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc. It draws you in with its heady, dark perfume. Aromas of poached blackberries, dried currants and black cherries dunked in dark chocolate emerge from the glass, laced with mint, cigar box and crushed stone. Then a lively attack of red-fruited freshness juxtaposes the brawny nose and lends a juicy, drinkability to this long, layered red. Score: 91 Henry of Pelham is one of 24 wineries in the province now Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario Certified. Look for that certification logo on bottles. Other regions around the world offer their own sustainability accreditations. 2022 Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc from the Cape Coast of South Africa (Vintages $23.95) The 2022 Southern Right Sauvignon Blanc from the Cape Coast of South Africa (Vintages $23.95) is certified sustainable and well worth snapping up. Made from fruit grown just two kilometres from the cold South Atlantic Ocean, it fills the glass with the scent of ocean air. Each swirl releases the fragrance of sea spray and wet stones followed by a zippy fresh and linear attack. A tightly wound centre uncoils with vigorous flavours of pithy grapefruit, taut lime and that ocean air character found on the nose. Just a delightful wine that makes you feel like youre standing right there by the shore. Long. Score: 93 This wine is named after the endangered Southern Right Whale that visits Walker Bay between May and December each year. With every bottle sold, the winery contributes to the whales conservation or conservation in the area. 2022 Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (LCBO $19.95) In the more fruit-forward certified-sustainable 2022 Babich Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand (LCBO $19.95), youll find classic, jump-out-of-the-glass fragrances of pineapple, gooseberries and cut grass followed by a bracing attack that echoes everything found on the nose. A long, lemony finish completes each sip of this sassy Sauvignon Blanc. Score: 90 2021 Gerard Bertrand Domaine de LAigle Chardonnay from Limoux, France (Vintages $38.95) Winemaker Gerard Bertrand from the Languedoc region of France famously champions planet-friendly winemaking. And his 2021 Gerard Bertrand Domaine de LAigle Chardonnay from Limoux, France (Vintages $38.95) just hit shelves in Ontario. The wine captivates the senses with caramelized peaches, butter pastry and almond paste aromas. Then it slides in seamlessly and saturates the palate with dry, full-bodied, deep-fruited goodness. Shifting allusions of sliced peach, mixed citrus, praline and nougat draw the attention before a long stony salinity emerges and lingers. Score: 94 Of course, some wineries toil away quietly practising sustainable viticulture without claiming certification on the bottle. 2018 Edouard Delaunay Bourgogne Cote-dOr Pinot Noir from Nuits-Saint-Georges (Online at LCBO.com $37.95) One such winery is Maison Edouard Delaunay of Burgundy, France, which produces marvellous wines from the prestigious Cote dOr. An undervalued gem of a wine is the 2018 Edouard Delaunay Bourgogne Cote-dOr Pinot Noir from Nuits-Saint-Georges (Online at LCBO.com $37.95). Those familiar with the Nuits-Saint-Georges commune of Burgundy will recognize this wine to be a textbook expression and total charmer. Youthful scents of strawberries and prune scored with underbrush and game flutter with elegance and approachability. The entry is all poise and verticality with well-toned flesh and perfect balance. The sheer flavours taste sculpted rather than chiselled, flowing from red fruit to violet to dried damson to wild cherry before receding toward persistent roasted game and mushroom finish. Score: 93 The proprietor of Maison Edouard Delaunay, Laurent Delaunay, explains his focus on sustainability like this: As a fifth-generation Burgundian, I am laying the groundwork for my daughter to become the sixth generation, and it is clear that we cannot afford to have short-term thinking. We must plan for the long-term and prioritize sustainable practices, so that future generations can inherit a healthy and thriving environment. We can all lift a glass to that sentiment. Sustainable Winemaking Ontario Certified wineries 1. 13th Street Winery, St. Catharines A boutique winery that makes outstanding Chardonnay and sparkling wine among other varieties by a Chablis-born and raised winemaker, Jean-Pierre Colas. If you go, you must pop into the bakery for the butter tarts. To die for. 2. Andrew Peller Limited, Grimsby Andrew Peller Limited owns a number of large Ontario wine brands. Names to know include Thirty Bench Wine Makers and Trius Winery, which are among the best in the portfolio. 3. Cave Spring Vineyard, Beamsville Cave Spring Vineyard winery makes exciting Riesling, sparkling wine and dessert wine among other styles. Their charming tasting room on Main Street in Jordan, Ont., is worth a visit. 4. Chateau des Charmes, Niagara-on-the-Lake With a castle-like winery that sits amid the estates sprawling 38 hectares of vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Chateau des Charmes is a grand site. The winerys Gamay Noir Droit VQA St. Davids Bench is a must-taste. 5. Ferox Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake Ferox Estate Winery is a relative newcomer to Niagaras wine industry with the first harvest taking place in 2015. Theyre small, artisanal and sustainably minded and can make very good bubbly. 6. Flat Rock Cellars, Jordan Flat Rock Cellars is known for its state-of-the-art winemaking facility and ambitious, terroir-driven wines. The Rieslings can be spectacular. 7. Henry of Pelham Family Estate, St. Catharines Henry of Pelham Family Estate Winery is run by the Speck brothers, who founded the winery with their parents back in 1984. Today, its a force for the region, making reliable wines at every price point. 8. Hidden Bench Estate Winery, Beamsville Located in the heart of the picturesque Bench in Beamsville, Hidden Bench Estate Winery is known for its ultra-premium expressions of terroir-driven Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. 9. Icellars Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake This small, family-run winery started farming all 24 hectares of its vineyards organically in 2020 and aims to be the first net energy zero winery in Canada. It clearly puts the planet first. 10. Leaning Post Wines, Stoney Creek Leaning Post Wines is owned and run by a husband-wife team. Together they make and market enthralling wines worth your attention. 11. Malivoire Wine Company, Beamsville Malivoire Wine Company is known, among other things, for its small-lot, ageworthy Gamay. The winerys pale, dry Rose Moira is excellent. 12. Niagara College Teaching Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake Niagara College Teaching Winery is Canadas first commercial teaching winery located at the Niagara-on-the-Lake campus of Niagara College. They produce some award-winning wines. 13. Oxley Estate Winery, Harrow Located in the Lake Erie North Shore appellation of Ontario, this winery is a pretty place to perch if youre out that direction. Stop in for a glass of chilled white and a plate of excellent fish and chips. 14. Pelee Island Winery, Pelee Island Pelee Island Winery has two locations: Kingsville Winery on the mainland and the Pelee Island Winery Pavilion on the island itself. Both places are worth visiting. Pelee Island Winery is Canadas southernmost estate winery with a wine-growing history going back more than 170 years. 15. Peller Estates, Niagara-on-the-Lake Peller Estates offers polished experiences for visitors at its Niagara-on-the-Lake property. If you go, dont forget to visit the 10Below Icewine Lounge constructed out of 13,607 kilos of ice where you can sample some icewine. 16. Reif Estate Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake Established in 1982 by the Reif Family, this winery makes a range of wines. The bottle this critic keeps finding pleasure in is its Vidal Icewine. 17. Riverview Cellars, Niagara-on-the-Lake Riverview Cellars is a family estate that prides itself on small-batch wines. The winery officially opened in 2000 in Niagara and became SWO certified in 2022. 18. Southbrook Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake Southbrook Vineyards is a beautiful and serene winery to visit that practises sustainable grape-growing and winemaking as well as organic and biodynamic viticulture and vinification. 19. Stratus Vineyards, Niagara-on-the-Lake Stratus Vineyards is a chic, stylish place to visit. The wines tend to be upmarket and the winery focuses on artisanal batches of terroir-driven wine. Certainly some gems in the portfolio. 20. Strewn Winery, Niagara-on-the-Lake Strewn makes a range of wines including its ever popular $16 barrel-aged Chardonnay that sells like hotcakes at the LCBO. 21. Thirty Bench Wine Makers, Beamsville Thirty Bench Wine Makers tends to focus on premium wines. Its Small Lot Steel Post Riesling is consistently very good. Despite being owned by Andrew Peller Limited, it has its own winery that welcomes visitors. 22. Trius, Niagara-on-the-Lake Trius, owned by Andrew Peller Limited, is a beautiful winery to visit in Niagara. Its NV Brut Rose is always excellent and widely available at the LCBO. 23. Vineland Estates Winery, Vineland Not only is this winery sustainable, but the restaurant on site is also fabulous. Stop in to sample some fine cuisine with a beautiful view overlooking the sustainably farmed vineyards. 24. Wayne Gretzky Estates, Niagara-on-the-Lake Partly owned by the Great One himself, Wayne Gretzky Estates Winery makes a dessert wine called No. 99 Vidal Icewine thats delicious. Swirl some into your glass after dinner to enjoy with cheese for a delicious finish to the meal. With files from Thea Gribilas Carolyn Evans Hammond is a Toronto-based wine writer and a freelance contributing columnist for the Star. Wineries occasionally sponsor segments on her YouTube series yet they have no role in the selection of the wines she chooses to review or her opinions of those wines. All prices are subject to change. Please drink responsibly. Reach her via email: carolyn@carolynevanshammond.com SHARE: Despite its stated intention, Elon Musks Twitter is in fact contributing to misinformation by labelling U.S. outlet National Public Radio as government-funded media, one expert says. The controversial move, which on Wednesday prompted the U.S. radio network to say it would discontinue its Twitter presence, should serve as a warning to other news media around the world including the CBC, said Merlyna Lim, the Canada Research Chair in Digital Media and Global Network Society at Carleton University. NPR announced it was quitting Musks social-media platform shortly after it found its accounts designated U.S. state-affiliated media, which then was changed to government-funded media. The platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent, an NPR spokesperson said Wednesday in a statement. We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility. Musk has maintained his position. NPR literally said Federal funding is essential to public radio on their own website (now taken down). What hypocrites! wrote Musk in a Twitter thread on Wednesday. Guess they wont mind losing Federal funding in that case ... Defund NPR! A day earlier, Canadian Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre asked Twitter in a letter to label CBC accounts as government-funded media. We must protect Canadians against disinformation and manipulation by state media. That is why Im asking Twitter and Elon Musk to accurately label CBC as government-funded media, Poilievre tweeted on Tuesday. Lim said that calling CBC a government funded media, per Poilievres call, is an attempt to discredit CBC, and deepen the distrust as it implies that CBC is an extension or even a mouthpiece of the Liberal government. Twitter also designated BBC as government-funded media but changed that to publicly funded after the U.K. public broadcasters objection. For the moment, though, its still status quo in Canada. As there has been no change to our accounts on Twitter, we continue to use that platform, said Leon Mar, CBC director of media relations. Twitters policy defines government-funded media as outlets where the government provides some or all of the outlets funding and may have varying degrees of government involvement over editorial content. Which is clearly not the case with CBC/Radio-Canada, Mar said, arguing that the public broadcasters editorial independence is protected in law in the Broadcasting Act. The BBCs defenders pointed to its funding coming from a tax on televisions paid directly by viewers, not from government coffers. NPR has said that the U.S. federal government provides less than one per cent of its annual operating budget; PBS, which was also labelled as government-funded media and joined NPR in leaving Twitter, states that Washington provides 15 per cent of its funds. By comparison, in its most recent annual report, the CBCs equivalent number was about 66 per cent $1.24 billion from Ottawa, and $651 million from elsewhere. The CBC did not give the Star any indication of whether it will continue to use Twitter if the company labels its accounts as government-funded in the future. We cant comment on the motives behind (Poilievres) letter, said Mar in an email, responding to the Stars question about CBCs reaction to the conservative leaders letter. Despite the fact that CBC accounts remain unlabelled by Twitter, some experts say that the public broadcaster remains vulnerable to criticism and loss of credibility in the changing media landscape. CBCs position is fragile, said Lim, adding that the public broadcaster does fairly well in a 2021 survey looking into public trust in Canada. Lim said Twitters mislabelling of NPR and BBC is misinformation of the sort that can have a dire consequence for publics perception of journalistic media and can lead to shift in consumption toward the so-called alternative media, which are largely opinion-based. This also contributes to the deepening polarization within the society. Jeffrey Dvorkin, a senior fellow at Massey College and a former managing editor at CBC Radio and vice-president of news and information at NPR, said as a Crown corporation, CBC is vulnerable to pressure from its critics. But in my experience, there has never been any direct pressure from any government about CBC News reporting. Complaints, sometimes. Direct orders? No. Greg Elmer, professor of professional communication at Toronto Metropolitan University, said there are obvious and less obvious consequences of the kind of labelling Twitter is now doing: Could such labels warn users, for example, that state-affiliated media should not be trusted? Algorithms might also use such labels to downgrade such accounts, he added. Two days before NPR left Twitter, the outlets technology reporter Bobby Allyn tweeted that when he asked Musk how Twitter determines which publication gets a controversial label, Musk told him the platform is using a Wikipedia page listing publicly funded outlets. When I pointed out that NPRs government support does not effect the networks editorial decisions, (Elon) told me: If you really think that the government has no influence on the entity theyre funding then youve been marinating in the Kool-Aid for too long, wrote Allyn. Correction April 13, 2023: Jeffrey Dvorkin is a senior fellow at Massey College, and a former managing editor at CBC Radio and vice-president of news and information at NPR. A previous version of this article misstated his job experience. With files from The Associated Press Read more about: SHARE: SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea on Thursday conducted its first intercontinental ballistic missile launch in a month, possibly testing a new more mobile, harder-to-detect missile for the first time, its neighbors said, as it extends its provocative run of weapons tests. Japan briefly urged residents on a northern island to take shelter in an indication of its vigilance over North Koreas evolving missile threats. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres strongly condemned the launch and reiterated his calls on North Korea to comply with U.N. resolutions banning such launches, reopen communications channels and resume dialogue toward peace and denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, his spokesman said. The missile was launched on a high angle from near the North Korean capital of Pyongyang and fell in the waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan following a 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) flight, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staffs said in a statement. It described its range as medium or longer. The U.S. National Security Council called it a long-range missile and Japans government said it likely had an intercontinental range. South Koreas military believes North Korea launched a new type of ballistic missile, possibly using solid fuel, a defense official said under the condition of anonymity because of office rules. If the launch involved a solid-fuel ICBM, it would be the Norths first test of such a weapon. North Koreas known ICBMs all use liquid propellants that must be fueled before launches. But the fuel in a solid-propellant weapon is already loaded, allowing it to be moved easier and fired faster. A solid-fuel ICBM is one of the key high-tech weapons that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has vowed to build to better cope with what he calls U.S. military threats. He also wants a multiwarhead missile, a nuclear-powered submarine, a hypersonic missile and a spy satellite. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, said the launch may have involved a new intermediate- or long-range missile powered by solid propellants, or be linked to North Korean preparation to launch a spy satellite. U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said the latest launch needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region. Watson said the United States will take all necessary measures to ensure the security of the American homeland and South Korean and Japanese allies. During an emergency meeting of Seouls National Security Council, officials stressed the need to tighten three-way security cooperation with Washington and Tokyo. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida held a meeting of his NSC to analyze the launch and Japans response. The nuclear envoys of Seoul, Washington and Tokyo held a telephone conversation where they called for a decisive and united international response to North Korean provocations and stronger efforts to stem illicit North Korean funding of its weapons program. North Korea commonly test-launches missiles toward the international waters between the Korean Peninsula and Japan, using elevated trajectories to avoid neighboring countries. South Korea and Japan typically dont issue evacuation orders unless they determine the North Korean weapon is flying in their direction. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the North Korean missile launched Thursday did not reach Japans exclusive economic zone. But Japanese authorities still urged people on the northernmost island of Hokkaido to seek shelter and temporarily suspended train, bus and subway services there. Local communities also activated alert sirens through community speakers, urging people to evacuate. The government then retracted its missile alert, saying there was no possibility of the missile landing near Hokkaido. Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno told reporters the alert was based on the Japanese Defense Ministrys early assessment of the missiles path and was an appropriate step to prioritize peoples safety. Japanese authorities issued a similar evacuation order in October when a North Korean intermediate-range missile flew over Japan in a launch that demonstrated the weapons potential to reach the U.S. Pacific territory of Guam. Thursdays launch was the Norths first long-range missile firing since the country tested its longest-range, liquid-fueled Hwasong-17 ICBM on March 16. Kim Jong Un reviewed his countrys attack plans Monday and vowed to enhance his nuclear arsenal in more practical and offensive ways. North Korea has launched about 100 missiles since the start of 2022, many of them nuclear-capable weapons that place the U.S. mainland, South Korea or Japan within striking distance. The Norths testing spree is largely in protest of South Korean-U.S. military drills that it views as a rehearsal for an invasion. Some observers say North Korea uses its rivals drills as a pretext to modernize its weapons arsenal and pressure Washington and Seoul to make concessions such as the lifting of economic sanctions. South Korean and U.S. officials say their drills are defensive in nature and were arranged to respond to North Koreas growing nuclear and missile threats. Later Thursday, China, North Koreas last major ally, reiterated its blame for the heightened animosities on the U.S. and South Korea. The negative impact of the U.S. military exercises and strategic weapons deployed around the peninsula a few days ago is obvious to all, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in a briefing. North Korea unveiled a new type of nuclear warhead in late March, raising concerns it could conduct its first nuclear test in more than five years. Foreign experts debate whether North Korea has developed warheads small and light enough to fit on its more advanced missiles. South Korean officials say North Korea has not been responding to South Korean calls on a set of cross-border inter-Korean hotlines for about a week. Communications on those channels are meant to prevent accidental clashes along the rivals disputed western sea boundary. On Tuesday, South Korean Unification Minister Kwon Youngse expressed strong regret over what he called North Koreas unilateral and irresponsible attitude over the hotlines. North Koreas advancing nuclear arsenal is expected to be a major topic during a summit between South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and U.S. President Joe Biden later this month in Washington. Experts say the discussions between world leaders at Japans Group of Seven meetings in May could be crucial for maintaining diplomatic pressure on North Korea. U.N. Security Council permanent members China and Russia have blocked tighter sanctions on North Korea in recent months, underscoring a divide deepened by Russias war on Ukraine. ___ Yamaguchi reported from Tokyo. SHARE: BEIJING (AP) Germanys government appealed for efforts to reduce tensions over Taiwan as the German foreign minister arrived in China on Thursday for official talks following Chinese military exercises near the self-governed island democracy that Beijing claims is part of its territory. Annalena Baerbock arrived in the northeastern port city of Tianjin for meetings and was due to hold talks with her Chinese counterpart, Qin Gang, on Friday in Beijing and with senior diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday. Her ministry said she would discuss Taiwan, Ukraine, human rights and other issues with Chinese officials. Chinas ruling Communist Party sent warships and fighter planes near Taiwan last weekend in retaliation for a meeting between U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and the islands president, Tsai Ing-wen. Threatening military gestures increase the risk of unintentional military confrontations, a spokesperson for Baerbocks ministry, Andrea Sasse, said in Berlin. We therefore call on all partners in the region and are working also with our international partners to contribute to a de-escalation in the Strait of Taiwan, Sasse said Wednesday. Taiwan and mainland China split in 1949 after a civil war. The Communist Party says the island is obligated to rejoin the mainland, by force if necessary. European governments are increasingly worried about Chinese pressure on Taiwan, a global high-tech center and one of the biggest trading economies. European governments with the exception of Vatican City have diplomatic relations with Beijing instead of Taiwan but maintain informal and commercial relations with the island. European legislators have visited Taiwan and met Tsai to show support in the face of Chinese intimidation. On Ukraine, Baerbock said in a statement issued by her ministry that Germanys interest in bringing the war on our European doorstep in Ukraine to a swift, lasting and just end was at the top of her agenda for the visit. As a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council, China bears a special responsibility for world peace, she said. Germany has strongly backed Ukraines resistance to Russias invasion, while Beijing has blamed the U.S. and NATO for provoking the conflict. While trade and investment between them remain strong, Germany has grown increasingly wary of Chinas growing influence in its economy. Germany has ordered a new security assessment of Chinese company COSCOs plan to purchase a 25% stake in a container terminal in Hamburg amid heavy criticism from many in Chancellor Olaf Scholzs government, throwing the deal into doubt and prompting strong complaints from Beijing. We hope Germany can refrain from politicizing business cooperation, making it something about ideology or security, or artificially setting up obstacles, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a briefing Thursday. Baerbock plans to travel to South Korea on Saturday and then attend a meeting of foreign ministers of the Group of Seven major economies in Japan on Sunday. Read more about: SHARE: EDMONTON - Alberta Opposition NDP Leader Rachel Notley says Premier Danielle Smith must explain whether she shares the extremist views of Calgary street preacher Artur Pawlowski and those of her key support group Take Back Alberta. Albertans deserve to know whether they are on the verge of selecting a premier whose views are deeply extreme and offside with the opinions of the vast majority of Albertans, Notley said at a news conference in Grande Prairie, Alta., on Thursday. A number of the views espoused by Art Pawlowski, as well as many of the folks within Take Back Alberta who support him who were (also) critical to Danielle Smith becoming leader of the (United Conservative Party) are very concerning. Smith has said the writ will be dropped in just over two weeks for a provincial election on May 29. The premier has made intermittent comments over the past week about her January phone call with Pawlowski, in which they discuss his then-looming criminal trial relating to charges arising from the Canada-United States border protest at Coutts, Alta., over COVID-19 health restrictions. Smith has answered some questions from reporters. But she has declined to respond to others, citing the fact she may sue the CBC over its coverage and must respect the ongoing investigation by ethics commissioner Marguerite Trussler, who is looking into whether Smith violated the Conflicts of Interest Act with the Pawlowski call. Pawlowski is a controversial figure in Alberta for his high-profile, disruptive demonstrations against the LGBTQ community and COVID-19 health rules. During the 11-minute call, Smith tells Pawlowski, Ive been watching your public advocacy for many years, so its nice to connect with you. However, on her call-in radio show Saturday, Smith said, Mr. Pawlowski holds some very extreme views that I disagree with completely. Take Back Alberta is a right-centre populist group registered as a third-party advertiser with Elections Alberta. It was founded and is run by longtime political organizer David Parker. The group took root during the pandemic, rallying support among disaffected UCP members against then-leader and premier Jason Kenney over his governments COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine rules. Kenney announced he was stepping down almost a year ago, after receiving 51 per cent support in a party leadership review. Take Back Alberta thenhelped rally the votes to put Smith in the top job last October following a party leadership race. Since then, candidates endorsed by Take Back Alberta have won seats to half the 18 voting positions on the UCP board. Its also backing candidates at the constituency level, in some cases mobilizing hundreds to meetings. Take Back Alberta believes in the primacy of individual freedoms and is against health restrictions while pushing for Alberta to assert more control over its owns affairs, through such initiatives as a provincial police force, provincial tax collection agency and pension fund. Political scientist Duane Bratt said Parker is underselling Take Back Albertas growing influence within the governing party and premier. David Parker himself has said that their position on the UCP executive is to hold Smith to account, said Bratt, with Mount Royal University in Calgary. I think theyre biding their time until after the election. But theyre getting candidates, theyre getting board nominations. The great insight of David Parker was to take over a party from within. Theyre the power behind the throne. Parker, in an interview, said he has never spoken to Pawlowski and disagrees with his tactics, particularly when Pawlowski (was seen on video) tried to rally Coutts protesters to prolong the standoff by comparing their protest to the legendary last stand and slaughter at the Alamo in Texas in 1836. Power behind the throne? Im not sure what that means, Parker said. Does it mean that we are puppet masters? Absolutely not. Im part of a third-party advertiser. I cant even show up and door knock for a party (in an election). People say, David is trying to take over the province. Im just telling people to show up at meetings where they get a vote. Thats it. He added that his groups plan is to mobilize people who agree with its political beliefs to get out to vote. We think that the NDP are very dangerous to our values. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: Alleged hacker surrenders to CCIB BANGKOK: An army sergeant who claimed to have the personal data of 55 million Thais surrendered yesterday (Apr 12), admitting he obtained the information from the dark web. crimepolicetechnology By Bangkok Post Thursday 13 April 2023, 09:00AM Khemarat: Said he wanted attention. Photo: Bangkok Post SM2 Khemarat Boonchuai, 33, was brought to the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) yesterday after being reported missing without leave at the Army Transportation Department since Apr 3, reports the Bangkok Post. SM2 Khemarat, who called himself 9near, boasted to have held the personal data of 55mn Thais and had asked for a ransom in exchange for the information. While being arrested, SM2 Khemarat refused to talk about the incident. Minister of Digital Economy and Society (DES) Chaiwut Thanakamanusorn quoted SM2 Khemarat as saying he bought the data from a group of hackers on the dark web. The data has since been deleted. Mr Chaiwut said he did not know when the data was collected, but he was sure the incident was non-political and that no nefarious force was behind it. CCIB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Worawat Watnakhonbancha said SM2 Khemarat had spent B8,000 to buy 8mn data records, not 55mn. He wrote about it online because he wanted attention. Initially, he posted about the matter himself, but his post failed to draw any attention. So he asked an internet influencer he knew to demand a ransom online, which attracted widespread attention, the commissioner said. He did not have the data of 55 million people in his hands as was reported, Pol Lt Gen Worawat said. SM2 Khemarat graduated in information technology. His girlfriend, a nurse, was originally viewed as the suspect who supplied the data, but investigators have since discovered that she has nothing to do with hospital computing systems. SM2 had taken shelter in many places before surrendering to the authorities, Pol Lt Gen Worawat said. SM2 Khemarat was charged with inputting false information into a computer system in a way that could undermine national security, and forwarding false information in breach of the Computer Crime Act, said Pol Lt Gen Worawat. Officials call for safety as water fights get underway PHUKET: Phuket Tourist Police have urged people to play safely as the Songkran water fights got underway early yesterday (Apr 12). culturetourismSafetytransport By The Phuket News Thursday 13 April 2023, 09:00AM As is tradition, tourists and locals in Patong started early with Bangla Rd closed to traffic and water fights underway along the length of the popular party street. The water fights on Bangla Rd intensified and went long into the night. Phuket Tourist Police issued a Songkran Safety Tips notice, urging people to to not drink and drive, and not splash people passing by on motorbikes. The notice also reminded people heading out to join the fray to leave their valuables at home, and if they are carrying them, to put mobile phones, cash and other valuables in waterproof pouches. And finally, have FUN! the notice read. Meanwhile, Phuket Vice Governor Danai Sunantarod yesterday visited several checkpoints in Kathu, including two in Patong, to provide encouragement to officers on duty and remind them of their mandate during the festivities: to reduce the risk of road accidents and injuries as much as possible. Vice Governor Danai reminded drivers that checkpoints had been set up across the island, and will be staffed 24 hours a day. Mr Danai also inspected Chalong Pier yesterday as part of the efforts to ensure safety on marine transport to and from the island, including ferries and tour boats, during the Seven Days of Danger safety campaign, this year from Apr 11-17. Joining V/Gov Danai at Chalong Pier were Phuket Marine Office Chief Natchaphong Pranit, Phuket Provincial Public Health Office (PPHO) Chief Kusak Kukiattikoon and Phuket Provincial Administration Organisation (PPAO) Deputy President Tiwat Seedokbuab. Mr Natchaphong noted that boats at Chalong Pier were checked for the readiness of the ship, the safety equipment, the readiness of the captain, mechanics and crew. Mr Natchaphong Pranit said that similar checks were being conducted at other busy piers in Phuket. The island has 23 piers used by tourists and local residents, but the busiest three were Rassada Pier, Chalong Pier and Ao Po Pier. Boats at the piers were under tighter scrutiny, with emphasis on strict compliance of safety requirements, such as carrying enough life vests. And every vessel must always report to the control centre before leaving the port, he said. Vice Governor Danai called on all officers and public relations outlets to inform tourists to understand the safety campaign underway, and all passengers to strictly follow the requirements for maximum safety. Phuket officials recognise first road accident death in Seven Days campaign PHUKET: Phuket suffered 11 road accidents that resulted in 10 people injured and one man killed during the 24 hours of Apr 12, Day 2 of the Seven Days of Danger road and water safety campaign, reports the Phuket office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM-Phuket). transportaccidentsdeathSafetytourismculturealcohol By The Phuket News Thursday 13 April 2023, 11:51AM The tally was presented at a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall this morning (Apr 13), chaired by Phuket Vice Governor Amnuay Pinsuwan and attended by DDPM-Phuket chief Udomporn Kan and other relevant officials. The people injured in the accidents comprised six males and four females, said an official report of the meeting. Speeding was the most common factor in the accidents, the report said. No other details of the accidents were provided. The tally for the campaign so far, after two days, was 18 road accidents with 18 people injured (13 males, five females), with one male killed, the report noted. The statistics reported by Phukte officials during the Seven Days of Danger campaigns held each Songkran and New Year (Jan 1) holidays have come under increasing scrutiny and criticism. National road accident agency Thai Road Safety Committee (ThaiRSC) reported two deaths and 86 people injured in road accidents in Phuket yesterday (Apr 12). Governor Narong himself attended at meeting yesterday to discuss road safety where the official report of the meeting itself reported four deaths in road accidents over the previous two days (Apr 10-11) while the DDPM reported zero deaths in accidents on Apr 11. ThaiRSC, however, reported one death and 57 people injured in road accidents yesterday (Apr 11). POLICE There are just 11 police checkpoints set up across the island, the report of this mornings meeting confirmed. The most common traffic law infractions found and acted on were driving without a drivers licence, drunk driving and unsafe motorcycles, respectively, said the report. However, no details of the number of arrests made have been available. Marine accidents remained at zero so far during the campaign, the report said. The Seven Days campaign will continue until midnight next Monday (Apr 17). According to the report of this mornings meeting, Vice Governor Amnuay said that he would like to thank all sectors for helping each other to work and would like to emphasise that we continue to practice rigorously. He also asked for district officials to help set up community checkpoints today and tomorrow (Apr 13-14) to help bolster safety. In addition, the information on social media has a great influence on the perception of the people and tourists, the report noted. Sakhu on restricted water supply PHUKET: Residents in Tambon Sakhu, located south of Phuket International Airport, have been put on restricted water supply following a notice by the Sakhu Tambon Administrative Organisation (OrBorTor) issued late yesterday (Apr 12). Water-Supply By The Phuket News Thursday 13 April 2023, 11:00AM The notice issued by Sakhu OrBorTor late yesterday (Apr 12). Image: Sakhu OrBorTor No explanation has been given for the water supply restriction other than due to water supply problems affecting people in Sakhu Subdistrict. Residents in the area will have water supply each day from 5am-9am and 3pm-10pm. The notice gave no date as to when the outage will start, but by 7:50pm last night local residents had confirmed that they were already without mains water supply. Sakhu OrBorTor in its notice marked, After two weeks, the water supply will return to normal. Any residents in dire need of water supply, namely refilling their water tanks, were advised to contact Bang Man at 087-269191 or PNum at 081-7884489. The notice was also marked, Note: This measure is a temporary measure to solve basic problems for the people. For more information, people were advised to call Sakhu OrBorTor Engineering Division at 076-328146 ext 22. The notice did not confirm whether the standard office number would be answered while government offices are closed for five days over the Songkran holidays, reopening next Tuesday (Apr 18). Of note, the water outage notice was issued by Sakhu OrBorTor. The Phuket Waterworks Authority (PWA) has not issued any notices informing people of the water supply problems in Tambon Sakhu. The Armed Forces of Ukraine High Command has been compromised by allegations of a war crime carried out by its troops. Four videos filmed by Ukrainian units and subsequently distributed by pro-Kremlin media outlets appear to show the possible assassination of 10 Russian soldiers on the Luhansk front. Ukraines Commissioner for Human Rights Dmytro Lubinets stated his belief last weekend that the footage was staged by Moscow, but the United Nations Human Rights Office (OHCHR) has confirmed that it will investigate the incident and has called upon the authorities in Kyiv to do the same. The events in question took place on an unspecified date in November, during the Ukrainian advance in the Luhansk province in the east of the country. In the footage, a platoon of Ukrainian infantry is seen surrounding 11 Russian soldiers at a farm in the village of Makiivka. The Ukrainian soldiers filmed part of what occurred on a cellphone. There is also some video of the incident taken by a drone: a large number of Ukrainian front-line units, above all artillery batteries, use small drones for reconnaissance. In the footage, the platoon is seen approaching the building when 10 Russian soldiers emerge with their hands in the air. They are ordered to lie face down on the ground and comply. Suddenly, another Russian soldier rushes out of the farmhouse and opens fire on the Ukrainian troops before being gunned down, according to the images captured by the drone. After an indeterminate length of time, the drone took more footage of the Russian soldiers who had seemingly surrendered lying dead on the ground. The bodies, which were situated almost exactly where they had been when they had previously been filmed alive, were surrounded by pools of blood and some of the Russian troops displayed wounds that appeared to have been caused by ammunition from a larger caliber weapon than an assault rifle. As the Ukrainian unit moves around the front of the farmhouse, the drone footage shows them being covered by a soldier pointing a heavy-caliber PK general-purpose machine gun at the Russian troops. On Sunday, The New York Times published an analysis of the videos and confirmed their authenticity, while several war crimes experts consulted by the US publication said that more information was needed regarding the circumstances in which the Russian soldiers were killed. According to the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, it would be considered a war crime if the Russian soldiers had surrendered and laid down their weapons. Lubinets stated that the Russian unit were feigning surrender in order to open fire on the Ukrainian platoon. The Russian servicemen could not be considered as prisoners of war, but as fighters committing treason, he said. Moscow has accused the Ukrainian troops of committing a war crime. The OHCHR confirmed to Reuters and France Presse that it is investigating the incident. Olga Stefanishina, Ukraines deputy prime minister for European and Euro-Atlantic integration, told the Associated Press on Sunday that Kyiv would also carry out an investigation, although she ruled out summary executions or possible war crimes on the part of the Ukrainian unit. In a statement sent to the same agency, the UN Mission for Human Rights in Ukraine requested the Ukrainian authorities investigate the events with immediate effect. Washington is also observing the case. We are obviously tracking that quite closely, Beth Van Schaack, US ambassador for global criminal justice, said Monday in a telephone briefing with journalists as reported by Reuters. Its really important to emphasize that the laws of war apply to all parties equally: both the aggressor state and the defender state and this is in equal measure, she said, adding: All parties to the conflict must abide by international law or face the consequences. Van Schaack also stated that the scale of unlawful actions among Russian forces is enormous in comparison to allegations leveled against Ukrainian troops. Russia inevitably responds with propaganda, denial, mis- and dis-information, whereas Ukrainian authorities have generally acknowledged abuses and have denounced them and have pledged to investigate them, she said. Criminal acts on both sides of Ukraine war The majority of accusations of the laws governing war and human rights being violated in Ukraine have fallen on Russia. United Nations investigators have confirmed that Russian forces have committed multiple war crimes against Ukrainian troops and civilians. Early fieldwork conducted by the UN in February and March and presented to the United Nations Human Rights Office in October concluded that the impact of these violations on the civilian population in Ukraine is immense. The loss of lives is in the thousands. The destruction of infrastructure is devastating. The European Commission has described Russias attacks on civilian infrastructure in Ukraine, which has left millions of people without access to basic services such as water and heating, as a war crime. Russian armed forces are responsible for the vast majority of the violations identified, including war crimes. Ukrainian forces have also committed international humanitarian law violations in some cases, including two incidents that qualify as war crimes, the OHCHR report stated. Matilda Bogner, head of the UN Mission for Human Rights in Ukraine, presented a report last week which concluded both sides had tortured prisoners of war. All the interviews conducted with captured soldiers took place in Ukrainian-controlled territory, as Russia denied the UN access to their detention centers. On the Russian side, the mistreatment of prisoners of war appears to be systematic, according to testimonies collected by the agency. On the Ukrainian side, according to Bogner, her team received solid allegations of summary executions of soldiers hors de combat, and several cases of torture and ill-treatment committed by members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Both Ukrainian public opinion and the authorities in Kyiv have reacted belligerently to any criticism from their allies and human rights organizations. Amnesty International suffered a smear campaign in Ukraine after it published a report last August warning that the Armed Forces of Ukraine were putting non-combatants at risk in areas close to the front lines by deploying units near buildings and facilities occupied by civilians. EL PAIS has been able to confirm that it is not unusual for troops to sleep in residential buildings with civilians, to avoid the risks posed by bedding down in barracks. The OHCHR report also makes mention of this practice: There are also examples of both parties to the armed conflict, although to different degrees, failing to protect civilians or civilian objects against the effects of attacks, by locating military objects and forces within or near densely populated areas. A few weeks before its controversial report, Amnesty International published an investigation accusing Russia of killing hundreds of civilians in Kharkiv in bombardments using prohibited weapons. Another instance of a possible war crime that has been dismissed by Kyiv took place in March in the village of Mala Rohan, in Kharkiv province, where a video showed three Russian prisoners of war being shot in the legs after they had been taken prisoner. Both the UNHCR and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe consider these facts to be true. Moreover, the Ukrainian security forces have not been overly transparent about the prosecution of Russian collaborators. In the city of Kherson, liberated on November 11 after more than eight months of Russian occupation, testimonies collected last week by EL PAIS indicate that arrests of possible collaborators are carried out on a daily basis and that extrajudicial executions are also being carried out. Over the last few days, images have emerged of handcuffed people in Kherson being displayed for public scorn, accused of having worked for the enemy. Many collaborators are suspected of having provided information to the Russian army about people who have disappeared. Even so, most of the cases of documented abuse during the war have been committed by Russian forces. The Ukrainian Interior Ministry has said it is investigating around 500 cases of human rights violations committed by the occupying forces in Kherson, ranging from torture including of minors to summary executions and disappearances. The Ukrainian Prosecutors Office confirmed on Monday that four buildings used by Russian forces to torture civilians have been identified in Kherson. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition. What do the jobs of the future look like? This is the question the Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region (BEPWR) will explore at their upcoming career fair for youth in Grades 7 to 12 on Thursday, April 13, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Tapestry Hall in Cambridge. BEPWR is a Waterloo region charity and their mission is to ensure that every young person in Waterloo region can make informed decisions about their career goals and how to achieve them, according to their press release about the event. ABOUT EXPLORE YOUR FUTURE 2023 The annual event results in 87 per cent of participating students having a greater awareness of career options that align with their interests, according to BEPWRs website. With more than 50 exhibitors hosted by the BEPWR, Cambridge students, alongside parents and/or guardians, and educators will once again take part in exploring potential future career paths such as communications, power generation, automotive manufacturing, virtual reality gaming and more. A full list of exhibitors is available through bepwr.ca/initiatives/explore-your-future. The event will also offer hands-on learning experiences, and breakout sessions on high school experiential education including Cooperative Education and Specialist Skills Major, and Ontario Youth Apprenticeship Program (OYAP). Another event will take place at the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium on May 17, also from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. Both events are free of charge thanks to sponsorship by the following organizations: Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada, the Region of Waterloo, Workforce Planning Board of Waterloo Wellington and Dufferin, Christian Labour Association of Canada, Specialist High Skills Major Program of the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB), and OYAPs of the Waterloo Region School Board and WCDSB. To learn more, and to register for Thursdays event in Cambridge, and/or the Kitchener event next month, visit BEPWRs website. SHARE: WATERLOO Two police officers were assaulted and injured while on a call in Waterloo on Tuesday. Waterloo Regional Police said the incident occurred at about 9:50 p.m. when police responded to a call for service near Laurelwood Drive and Erbsville Road. The nature of the call wasnt disclosed. One officer was taken to a local hospital for treatment. A 36-year-old Waterloo woman was charged with two counts of assault with intent to resist arrest and assault peace officer cause bodily harm. SHARE: Killer Udo Haan continues to pose a significant threat and will likely spend at least the next year detained in a psychiatric hospital. But at some point he could be granted supervised visits to the Kitchener area, an Ontario Review Board hearing was told Wednesday. In February, Haan was found not criminally responsible (NCR) for killing his wife and blowing up their home. The Kitchener man, now 63, was having paranoid delusions when he fatally strangled Edra Haan, 58, with a rope and then triggered an explosion in their home. The blast in 2018 obliterated the house at 56 Sprucedale Cres. in the Forest Heights area of Kitchener. Haan has been held in a psychiatric hospital, apparently in St. Thomas, since he was found NCR due to a mental disorder. On Wednesday, he made his first appearance in front of the Ontario Review Board, a tribunal with jurisdiction over people found NCR. The board is a bit like the Parole Board of Canada, balancing protection of the public with the need to reintegrate people into the community. It is made up of judges, lawyers, psychiatrists, psychologists and members of the public. Lawyers representing Haan, hospitals and the Crown agreed on Wednesday that the board should order Haan detained in a psychiatric hospital for the next year. His case will be reviewed annually. Privileges for people found NCR are generally granted incrementally. Within a year, Haan could get supervised visits to the Kitchener area. Although Haan hasnt reconnected with his children, his mother was in contact with him while he was in jail and maintains contact while he is in hospital, psychiatrist Dr. Ajay Prakash told the review board hearing. He values this relationship, Prakash said. Shes a good support for Mr. Haan and the team wants to strengthen this relationship. Haan would be allowed to visit her only when its safe and appropriate to do so, Prakash said. Everyone who spoke to the board agreed it is not safe now. The Crown submits that a significant threat is present in this particular matter, said Charles Yih, a lawyer with the Ministry of the Attorney General. I concede the issue of significant threat, said Haans lawyer, Steve Gehl. I concede the detention order as being necessary and appropriate. Haan will get the boards decision within two weeks. He will likely face a weapons ban. These are early days in Mr. Haans rehabilitation, said Julie Zamprogna, a lawyer representing hospitals. The plan is to further investigate his diagnosis, optimize his medications and introduce other programming and therapies to build insight and work toward community reintegration. The team is recommending indirectly supervised passes into southwestern Ontario with an approved itinerary to foster his personal relationships, Zamprogna added. There are a number of steps that have to fall into place first. Mr. Haan needs to be stable. He needs to establish a track record Haan, who declined an opportunity to speak at the hearing, has psychosis or a delusional disorder, the board was told. He is being held in a hospital forensic assessment unit. This is a locked unit; however he has had opportunities to leave our unit within the hospital building, accompanied by staff, Prakash said. He has done well with these passes. You are working well with the team, Shayne Kert, the chair at the hearing, told Haan. He will likely be transferred to a psychiatric hospital treatment unit We expect that to go equally well and wish you the best over the coming year, Kert said. Haan will get another hearing next year. We hope to hear that things have gone well and that you have been able to move forward, Kert said. Some people found NCR are held in a psychiatric hospital for years. Haan one day could earn a conditional discharge or an absolute discharge. The latter would remove him from the boards jurisdiction. As set out in the Criminal Code, review board spokesperson Joe Wright said in an interview last month, the aim is always to have the NCR patient treated to a point where they no longer represent a significant threat to the safety of the public, and entitled to an absolute discharge. Haan was charged with first-degree murder and arson with disregard for human life. He did not know his actions were morally wrong, Superior Court Justice Paul Sweeny said in finding Haan NCR. Mr. Haan believed he was being persecuted and felt that his persecutors were closing in, Sweeny said. In the grips of his delusional state, Mr. Haan resolved to kill himself, believing this to be his only way to escape his perceived persecution. Driven by his delusions, Mr. Haan resolved to kill his wife. On Aug. 22, 2018, Haan entered the bedroom where his wife was sleeping and strangled her with a rope. Then, he went to the basement and opened a drip line on the natural gas line leading to the furnace, Sweeny said. This action allowed the home to begin filling with natural gas. Some time later, Mr. Haan (returned) to her bedroom where he poured some gasoline over the bed and used a lighter to ignite the gasoline. The house exploded. Edra Haan was found dead in the backyard. Neighbours pulled Udo Haan from the wreckage. He was airlifted to a Hamilton hospital in critical condition. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION The Ontario government has ordered the Region of Waterloo to open hundreds of hectares of undeveloped lands for new homes and businesses in southwest Kitchener, Elmira, St. Jacobs, Baden, New Hamburg, the Village of Wellesley, Ayr, Hespeler and around the airport. The decision of Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing Steve Clarke is final and cant be appealed. It was made public late Tuesday afternoon as the ministry approved the Region of Waterloos amended official plan that says where development can happen through to 2051. Public- and private-sector planners are studying the ministers order; its not clear how many hectares of greenfield land were opened for new development. The estimates range from 800 hectares to 2,300 hectares. Last fall, the minister took similar action in Hamilton and Halton Hills, opening 2,200 hectares for development in Hamilton and 2,000 hectares in Halton. The ministers decisions override elected councils and their planners, which must now respond to development applications to build on those lands. Every village and municipality in Waterloo Region is surrounded by what planners call an urban boundary. Further out from the built-up areas is whats called the countryside line. That line was established more than 13 years ago to curb urban sprawl and preserve farmland. No development is allowed beyond the countryside line . Regional Chair Karen Redman said it appears all of the lands within the countryside line can now be developed for new housing or businesses. The biggest chunk of land that was added to the mix is around the airport, and Redman said that is for employment lands, not new homes. Development of the lands opened by the minister will depend on how quickly the region and area municipalities can install hard services, such as water pipes, sewer lines, roads and sidewalks. There is a lot of up-front investment that needs to happen, said Redman. The fact those lands are deemed developable does not mean it is going to happen tomorrow. In 30 years the regions population is expected to hit 1 million people. So we have to be thoughtful about how we plan this development, said Redman. So far, Larry Kotseff likes what he sees from the ministers decision. Kotseff is a former director of planning at the region. These days hes doing a PhD in planning at the University of Waterloo and working for a developer on a new housing development. Kotseff was the head of planning when the countryside line was established it was hailed as a progressive move to preserve farmland and intensify development in urban areas of the region to support transit, and walkable neighbourhoods. I view the lands between the urban boundaries and the countryside line as lands that could, over time, accommodate development, said Kotseff. I view those areas as a safety valve because it would appear they would be developed at some point in the future, but it is a question of when, said Kotseff. The move by the province is undemocratic because it overrides the decisions of local and regional councillors who are accountable to local voters, said Mark Seasons, a University of Waterloo professor of urban planning. What we are seeing there is a demonstration of provincial power without consideration for local implications, said Seasons. Hes not surprised though. Seasons said the Ford government at Queens Park dismantled the environmental protections for wetlands, curtailed the work of conservation authorities and used MZOs (ministerial zoning orders) to impose developments on municipalities. I am not entirely confident the province has the regional context to make the kinds of decisions they are making here, or in Hamilton or anywhere else, said Seasons. Why bother having local planning at all? A veteran planner for the private sector, Paul Puopolo, welcomed the ministers decision. We finally have a balanced official plan, said Puopolo. The regions official plan that was submitted for approval by the province had about 150 hectares for new development. The ministers decision to add hundreds, possibly thousands of more hectares is not a problem, he said. This is not urban sprawl because all of the new lands are within the countryside line, said Puopolo. SHARE: WATERLOO REGION Over the next few days, its going to feel like summer in southern Ontario. With local forecasts calling for daytime temperatures in the mid- to high 20s for Thursday and Friday across Waterloo Region, the early spring heat may set new records. According to Environment Canada, temperatures Wednesday reached 25.5 C at 4 p.m. at Region of Waterloo International Airport. This comes just shy of the record for April 12, set in 1977 when the mercury reached 25.6 C in Kitchener. On Thursday at 4 p.m., the temperature had reached 27.6 C at the Region of Waterloo International Airport. The local high temperature record for April 13 is 27.8 C, set in 1941. The local forecast for Friday is calling for temperatures to reach 27 C. This may be a record-breaking day as the local record for April 14 was set in 1941 when the daytime high reached 24.4 C. Enjoy the hot weather while you can because this is all expected to change next week when temperatures fall back to single digits, with rain and possibly snow in the forecast. The average daytime high for this time of year is around 11 C, while the average low is 1 C. SHARE: KITCHENER A man found not criminally responsible for stabbing the owner of a Cambridge gun store has lost a bid to force his insurance company to pay for any damages in a civil action launched by the victim. Ontarios highest court last week dismissed Brett Butterfields appeal of a judges ruling. Butterfield, 19 at the time of the 2019 attack inside Select Shooting Supplies, was later diagnosed with schizophrenia and declared not criminally responsible of aggravated assault due to a mental disorder. In 2021 the Ontario Review Board ordered Butterfield be detained in a psychiatric hospital. Armed with a hunting knife, Butterfield stabbed owner Dean Carr in the head and neck. Carr, now 53, suffered three serious cuts; one wound went from above his left ear to his left eye. In a lawsuit alleging negligence, Carr seeks $600,000 in damages for physical and psychological harm. Butterfield, now 24, asked a judge to force his insurance company to pick up the tab. He had third-party liability insurance with Intact Insurance Co. The policy excludes coverage for bodily harm caused by an intentional or criminal act. In this case, I find that the knife attack was both an intentional act and a criminal act, Superior Court Justice Catrina Braid, sitting in Kitchener, said last year in dismissing Butterfields application. Intact has established, on a balance of probabilities, that the exclusionary clauses in the insurance policy apply. Intact does not owe a duty to defend or indemnify Mr. Butterfield against the claims in the action. The Ontario Court of Appeal dismissed Butterfields appeal of Braids ruling. The court ruled Braid did not err in finding that the exemption from coverage applied because this was a case where the claim arose from bodily injury caused by an intentional act. A person declared not criminally responsible is not convicted or acquitted. The finding means the person committed a crime but is not responsible for it. It remains difficult to intellectually reconcile the courts rationale that Brett Butterfields act was essentially intentional when he was determined by a court to be not criminally responsible, Carrs personal injury lawyer, Graham Bennett, said in an email on Thursday. Braid said Butterfield acknowledged he committed a criminal act and a court found he committed a criminal act. She concluded that while Butterfield did not appreciate that stabbing Carr was morally wrong, his actions demonstrate a clear intention to injure or kill Mr. Carr with a large knife. Butterfield formed the intention to stab Mr. Carr and then took several steps to fulfil his intention, the judge said. He left the store and went to retrieve a hunting knife. He returned to the store with the hunting knife in hand. He walked up to Mr. Carr and stabbed him, yelling that he needed to be murdered. Mr. Butterfields stated goal was to harm Mr. Carr. Braid added: Mr. Butterfield understood the physical nature and consequences of his act. He clearly did not appreciate that what he was doing was morally wrong given the schizophrenia diagnosis, but that does not change the fact that his actions were intended to harm Mr. Carr. Butterfield suffered from paranoid delusions, according to an agreed statement of facts tabled when he was found not criminally responsible. In particular, he became convinced that most of the women he talked to had been raped or murdered. He thought there was an evil syndicate against him, and he bought a hunting knife for protection. On March 23, 2019, Butterfield went to Select Shooting Supplies with his mother. He wanted to buy a firearm to protect himself and his mom, court was told. He thought someone was going to break into their condo and shoot them. Butterfield, who had a Possession and Acquisition Licence, pointed to a shotgun he wanted to buy. When Dean Carr pumped the gun by way of demonstration, Mr. Butterfield felt threatened and feared for his mothers safety, court was told. He formed the belief that Dean Carr had raped and murdered his female friends. RELATED STORIES Waterloo Region Man not criminally responsible for stabbing owner of Cambridge gun store He slashed Carr in the head with the hunting knife. Butterfield then chased Carr as he fled to a back room. He violently swung the knife in a downward motion in an attempt to stab him, court was told. A gunsmith jumped on Butterfield to try to stop the attack. Mr. Butterfield continued to slash and stab at Carrs head area, striking him several times, court heard. Police tried to arrest Butterfield, but he fled through the stores back door and demanded that officers shoot him. He then began slashing his own throat before he was arrested. Carr suffered wound infections, a concussion, blurred vision and nausea, he says in a statement of claim. Butterfields parents are also named as defendants. Carr alleges they were negligent, claiming they knew, or reasonably ought to have known, that their son Brett was a danger to himself and others, and failed to supervise him at the material times. His parents, in a statement of defence, deny that Brett Butterfield was under their care and supervision at the time of the subject incident. They say their son was an adult who lived on his own in Waterloo and say they did not have or exercise any control over Bretts actions, daily activities, whereabouts and/or health care. SHARE: French President Emmanuel Macron visits the quantum gasses and quantum information lab of the Science faculty of the University of Amsterdam, on April 12, 2023. French President Emmanuel Macron commented on his published remarks on China and Taiwan that raised questions after he visited Beijing last week, insisting Wednesday that his views have not changed. The position of France and the Europeans on Taiwan is the same. We are for the status quo, and this policy is constant, Macron told reporters in Amsterdam near the end of a two-day state visit to the Netherlands. It hasnt changed. Its the policy of one China and the peaceful settlement of the question. He was referring to remarks published Sunday from an interview with French newspaper Les Echos and Politico Europe. The remarks elicited doubts about whether Macrons views were in line with the European Unions position on Taiwans status. Beijing claims that the island is a Chinese territory that must be brought under its control, by force if necessary. The question we need to answer, as Europeans, is the following: is it in our interest to accelerate (a crisis) on Taiwan? No, Macron was quoted as saying in the interview. The worst thing would be to think that we Europeans must become followers on this topic and take our cue from the U.S. agenda and a Chinese overreaction. Macron said he spoke to U.S. President Joe Biden before he traveled to China. A string of foreign politicians have visited Taiwan in recent months, including then-U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and numerous politicians from the EU. The French leader addressed other topics during his trip to the Netherlands. Earlier Wednesday, Macron said that protests in France and the Netherlands were a social price that has to be paid as governments in the two countries push ahead with reforms. We must sometimes accept controversy, Macron said. We must try to build a path for the future. He was speaking to members of the French community in Amsterdam, on the second day of a state visit that has been dogged by small protests against his deeply unpopular pension reform, which will raise the retirement age from 62 to 64. The reforms have sparked massive and sometimes violent protests in France. In the Netherlands, farmers and their supporters protested for months about plans to rein in emissions of nitrogen oxide. At times last year, Dutch farmers used tractors to blockade supermarket warehouses, torched bales of hay alongside roads and dumped garbage including manure and asbestos on highways. A populist, pro-farmer political party made major gains in recent provincial elections in the Netherlands. Sometimes in France we think that we are the only country where there are protests, Macron said in his speech in Amsterdam. You who live here know very well that there is also a strong, profound protest movement here. Earlier in the day, police tackled and detained a protester who ran, shouting, toward Macron as he arrived at a University of Amsterdam science campus. It was the second straight day that protesters targeted Macron. On Tuesday, demonstrators shouted and held up banners at the start of a speech in The Hague. Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said that free speech is an important right but he regretted the protests. We are hosts, so you dont want that, he said, standing alongside Macron at the Amsterdam Mayors official residence. Earlier, French and Dutch ministers signed an agreement to strengthen cooperation in moves to develop digital technology and make the countries industrial sectors more sustainable. The Pact for Innovation and Sustainable Growth aims to promote partnerships in areas including semiconductors, quantum, critical raw materials, sustainable mobility and energy infrastructure, the Dutch government said in a statement. Macron was wrapping up his two-day state visit with talks between the two countries government ministers and a visit to a sell-out exhibition of paintings by Dutch master Johannes Vermeer at Amsterdams Rijksmuseum. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition KITCHENER Premier Doug Ford defends the decision of his government to override municipal councils and open up hundreds of hectares of undeveloped land across the region for new homes and jobs. People come here as immigrants. Their goal is to buy a home. So you know, supply and demand. I guess this is Economics 101. Its a no-brainer, Ford said Thursday. We have to start building. People need homes, and affordable homes. Ford made his comments while in Kitchener to announce $7.5 million in provincial funding to help build a University of Waterloo innovation hub for medical and health sectors. The announcement adds to the government funding for the $35-million project. In total it is getting $26 million from the provincial and federal governments and the City of Kitchener. The facility, at 90,000 square feet including research labs and offices, is under construction in a warehouse just off Victoria Street South in downtown Kitchener. Ford and other dignitaries expect it will help Ontario become a technology leader in life sciences. We have the brightest and the best coming out of Waterloo, Ford said. We want Ontario to be the place where entrepreneurs choose to build their companies, where medical breakthroughs are discovered, commercialized and evolved into innovative products and services. In other comments, Ford said his government intends to build a new Highway 7 between Kitchener and Guelph, a long-approved project that has faced repeated delays. The Progressive Conservative government has come under fire for ordering local councils to allow growth on undeveloped lands in southwest Kitchener, Elmira, St. Jacobs, Baden, New Hamburg, the Village of Wellesley, Ayr, Hespeler, and around the Breslau airport. The province issued the order Tuesday in amending and approving a regional planning strategy to guide where growth will happen through to 2051. Critics argue the provincial order overrides local decision-making and may lead to sprawl that undermines environmental goals. Ford said this region must develop more land to help house a population that is expected to grow to one million. Where are they going to live? he said. We have a housing crisis. And to sit back and say, No, no, no, no, not my area, go down the street but not here, it doesnt work. Ford also said theres plenty of green space. Were always going to be conscious of that. Planners are studying the provincial order; its not clear how many hectares of greenfield land have been opened for new development. Estimates range from 800 hectares to 2,300 hectares. Its deeply disappointing, said Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morrice, of the Green party. Morrice said there are other ways to build more housing without expanding onto lands that local councils did not designate for growth. Its important, in my view, to respect the local democratic process and the decisions of locally elected people that are following through on what so many across our community have called for, he said. Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic endorsed the provincial order. Hes pleased to see more lands opened for development in southwest Kitchener as the city aims for 35,000 more homes in a decade. I think the decision of the minister recognizes the fact that there were lots of strong arguments about why those lands needed to be included, Vrbanovic said. Ford dropped a big number not seen before when asked to comment on delays in constructing a new Highway 7, a four-lane freeway thats proposed to run just north of the current two-lane highway. Were putting I believe its $210 million (into) the Grand River bridges. So were going to start moving on that, he said. The province had planned to complete Highway 7 bridges over the Grand River by 2020. The bridges remain unbuilt, but the Ford government has said it may begin bridge construction next year. Ontario approved a new Highway 7 in 2007 to improve safety and speed goods and people. More than $120 million has been spent to buy property and complete advance work, but the new highway remains without major construction or a completion date. Im going to get a firecracker going and move these guys along, Ford said. Were actually seeing progress now. The latest delay happened when the Ministry of Transportation cancelled a 2021 construction tender worth up to $27 million to replace the Frederick Street bridge that spans the expressway in Kitchener. There were some (requests for proposals) that had to be cancelled that are going up for re-tendering, Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris said on behalf of the government. I dont want to talk too much about that because we dont want to really influence the market on it. New Democrat MPP Catherine Fife, of Waterloo, doubts the Ford government has made the new Highway 7 a priority. She warns of serious health and economic impacts by delaying this highway further. This government has been inconsistent in their messaging around the importance of Highway 7. And todays reassurances dont ease the minds of people in K-W or Guelph, Fife said. Read more about: SHARE: There was no impact on Spencer Creek, according to Ontario Environment Ministry staff, after concrete was washed into a storm sewer at the 71 Main St. construction site in Dundas. The City of Hamilton ordered cleanup of the spill after responding to a complaint on April 4, and both city and ministry staff confirmed the cleanup was completed the next day. Construction of a nine-storey, 64-unit residential building on the property began four months ago. Preparation of the site, including excavation and shoring, started in spring 2022. A hearing for the property owners appeal of the citys $836,416 cash-in-lieu of parkland fee is scheduled for a video conference at 10 a.m., on Friday, May 5. While Centurion (Dundas) Holdings argues the city should only have charged $190,000, neighbours dont think the fees are excessive, considering impacts on surrounding established single-family homes. Developers must understand that when they apply for a change in zoning, they have to pay for that privilege, Peggy Lewis said, earlier this year. I will gain nothing from this building, and if the city rightfully applies charges for community benefits, I am quite happy with them doing so as some form of compensation for the daily disruption to my life. Ministry of Labour spokesperson Anu Dhar said ministry inspectors attended 71 Main St., in response to health and safety complaints on Jan. 27, March 14 and March 15 this year. Dhar said the site was in compliance with the Occupational Health and Safety Act when ministry investigators visited. Dhar would not provide further details of the health and safety complaint investigations. Those three visits bring the total number of ministry inspections since spring 2022 to 15, with 12 inspections between May and November last year resulting in nine orders. Dhar said all orders were complied with. The Ministry of Labour can be reached at 1-877-202-0008. Ontario Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks spokesperson Lindsay Davidson said an environmental officer visited the construction site in February 2023 in response to dust complaints. The company has taken further measures to prevent off-site dust impacts, Davidson said. City of Hamilton spokesperson Lauren Vastano said a municipal environmental enforcement officer was dispatched to 71 Main St., on April 4, 2023, in response to a spills call that came to both the city spills line and the Ministry of Environment Spills Action Centre, reporting cement being washed down a storm sewer. Upon arrival, the two environmental enforcement officers noted two catch basins filled and partially covered, confirming a spill of material had occurred, Vastano said. She said disposal of chemicals, paints, motor oils and other substances into storm sewers or the natural environment can contaminate waterways, which are the source of our drinking water. The party with care and control of the material spilled at site was contacted and advised that the spill must be cleaned up immediately as the person having control or ownership of the spilled material is legally responsible for the cleanup of the material and the restoration of the affected areas, Vastano said. This includes cost incurred by other parties, including the City of Hamilton. She said city environmental enforcement officers inspected the outfall prior to leaving the site and confirmed a clear and colourless flow exiting the outfall. An enforcement officer attended the site on April 5 and confirmed cleanup had occurred. Davidson said ministry staff visited the site and confirmed the cleanup, including vacuuming of the catch basins, was completed. Vastano encouraged residents with concerns or complaints about the construction site to contact the complaint line at MLE@hamilton.ca and 905-546-2782 between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday and 905-546-2489 after regular business hours. SHARE: Hamilton city council is calling on the province to do more to tackle crises in homelessness, mental health and overdoses. By officially declaring emergencies on those overlapping calamities Wednesday, city politicians hope to spur the Ontario government to action through a series of measures. Municipalities have been pressing the province for more investment into the housing and health sectors, Mayor Andrea Horwath said. We need to continue to step up but we also need to continue to be loud advocates, Horwath said. The emergency declarations led by Coun. Brad Clark come as the city and social-service agencies grapple with overcapacity shelters, rampant overdoses and encampments. We need funding significant funding in these three areas, Clark said. The unfolding crises are not a static issue, he added. Its not like a Polaroid snapshot, and from this moment on, its going to get better. Earlier Wednesday, the offices of local MPPs Donna Skelly and Neil Lumsden issued a news release announcing Hamilton would receive $4.3 million more or an 18 per cent increase over last year to $27.9 million annually for homelessness prevention. That bump is the citys share of a $202-million annual increase across Ontario the Progressive Conservatives announced in their 2023 budget. This funding increase represents the type of predictable and stable support that municipalities have been asking for, Skelly (Flamborough-Glanbrook) says in the release. That hike will go a long way to help the most vulnerable right here in Hamilton, adds Lumsden (Hamilton East-Stoney Creek). But city staff offered a different take. I will never complain about any money we get, said city manager Janette Smith, but added the provincial bump-up is not enough. Last year, the city absorbed about $14 million to cover the cost of housing and homelessness programs, which partly illustrates the funding gap, noted Mike Zegarac, general manager of finance. In particular, the city and partners still have an outstanding $5-million-a-year pitch to create supportive housing for about 100 people with complex mental-health and addiction challenges. That proposal is still with the province and we havent heard back, Smith said. Staff have started to tally tens of millions in extra programs needed to end chronic homelessness in Hamilton. The simple truth is that we cant do this on our own, Coun. Ted McMeekin said. SHARE: WINNIPEG - Manitoba cabinet minister Obby Khan accused Opposition NDP Leader Wab Kinew of swearing at him and shoving him at a public event inside the legislature Thursday, saying it left him shaken. Kinew denied the accusation, saying there was only a tense verbal exchange. Speaker Myrna Driedger is looking into the matter. Kinew and Khan agreed that words were exchanged at a ceremony marking Turban Day, a commemoration of Sikh and Punjabi cultures. The NDP hosted the event and had a party banner as a backdrop. Khan told the ceremony there should have been Progressive Conservative and Liberal banners as well, because the issue was non-partisan. The two men shook hands, then their recollections differ. The leader of the Opposition pulled me in and said, You piece of s---. How dare you politicize this f---ing event. What you did is f---ing wrong, Khan, the minister for sport, culture and heritage, told the legislature chamber later in the afternoon. Im emotionally shaken by this. I wasnt expecting that intimidation attempts, insulting language and when we left the handshake, there was a shove in the stomach. Khan, a former Canadian Football League player who stands six feet four inches tall, said he expected physical conflict on the field but not at the legislature. He raised the matter in the chamber as a matter of privilege an issue where a politicians ability to perform their job is interfered with. He asked that it be referred to a legislature committee. Driedger said she would make her decision at a later date. Kinew said the NDP banner was in place because the party organized the event but welcomed people from other parties. He said there was no abusive behaviour during the exchange with Khan. I said, You should not have said these partisan things. (Khan) comes back at me and he says, You have no class, Kinew said. My colleague (NDP MLA Mintu Sandhu) was beginning to speak, and so I turned and said we should listen, Kinew continued. At no time was there any swearing. At no time was there any name calling. And the interaction was of words exchanged, albeit tensely, over a handshake. A few accusations of aggressive behaviour have been made in the legislature in recent years. Kinew apologized in 2018 after he confronted Steven Fletcher, who served one term in the legislature, for talking while another politician was speaking. Kinew was accused of telling Fletcher to keep his mouth shut but admitted only to using forceful language. Last year, New Democrat Bernadette Smith said Tory Blaine Pedersen smacked the back of her chair and made her feel unsafe. Tory house leader Kelvin Goertzen said Pedersen simply tapped Smiths chair in an attempt to get her attention. Pedersen apologized. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: It was only a matter of time before General Henry Sanabria, a homophobic and ultra-religious officer who led the Colombian Police with a Bible in his hand, would himself be struck down. On Wednesday, President Gustavo Petro issued a brief statement on Twitter announcing that Sanabria, who had waged war on crime as a fight against the devil with God on his side, had been replaced by General William Salamanca, thanking the former for his services. It was an elegant way for Petro to dismiss an official who had sealed his own fate a month ago when he decried condoms as causing abortions and blamed homosexuals for cases of HIV/AIDS among police officers. Petro had initially stayed his hand so as not to appear influenced by others when taking such decisions. However, the clamor for Sanabrias removal had become generalized and 11 lawmakers had signed an open letter calling for him to be fired. Colombia has a medieval police chief. He leads the institution in the manner of a confessional. This gentleman is an activist against the exercise of womens civil rights in addition to his open discrimination against the diverse population, member of Congress Jennifer Pedraza, one of the signatories, recently told EL PAIS. Behind Sanabrias seat in the conference room of Colombias National Police, the only civilian force in the country, a crucifix was on full display. On the table stood a small statue of the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus in her arms. Sanabria did not attempt to play down his devotion. But since he was appointed by Petro in August 2022, his positions against abortion, egalitarian marriage, free union and euthanasia all of them legal rights today in Colombia and that have met with broad consensus came to light. As such, Sanabrias appointment by a progressive government caused shockwaves from the word go. Leadership of the National Police is a sensitive post, above all after Sanabrias predecessor, General Jorge Luis Vargas, oversaw the response to the 2021 protests during which more than 80 people died. Videos shared on social media showed police firing indiscriminately at unarmed civilians. When he came to power, Petro wanted to instill a different approach to public security and to do away with the prevailing doctrine in barracks and police stations, which consisted of seeing an internal enemy in social organizations and leftist movements. Sanabria, a 51-year-old former lawyer, was appointed among other high-ranking officials to bring about this change, but it soon became clear that his archaic manner was incompatible with his position. His public statements were so bizarre that it was hard to believe they were intended. Within a month of being appointed, he described Halloween as a satanic strategy to induce children to the occult, redoubling the police presence on October 31 to protect children from being abducted and killed in satanic rites in the absence of corroborating statistics or previous such cases. A few days later it emerged that he had ordered his officers not to have extra-marital relations. Sanabria was performing the role of police chief, priest, and marriage counselor. It is always the case that a person who is unfaithful in the small things is unfaithful in the big things, he told the W Radio network. Shortly afterward, he stated that homosexuality was a personal decision. Sanabria, while claiming to respect the Colombian Constitution, dreamed of a religious police force in the style of some Islamic countries. On March 8, International Womens Day, he was no more restrained in his religious zeal. A discreet woman is a gift from the Lord; an educated person is priceless. A modest woman is the greatest charm; nothing is worth as much as a reserved person, he wrote on his Twitter account. According to Sanabria, 8-M should serve to underline the importance women have for men: A womans charm makes her husband happy, and if she is sensible, he will prosper, he added, borrowing from the Bible. However, Sanabrias ticking timebomb finally exploded during an interview with Semana magazine, in which he talked about exorcisms during law enforcement operations as part of his crusade against Satan: The existence of the devil is real. I have seen him, I have perceived him. For many it is a fable and others do not believe. And that is fine because the devil says so, he denies himself. Petro still waited for a month before bowing to pressure to remove Sanabria, despite the generals public proclamations leaving the Colombian president with little other choice than to dispense with a public official who envisioned running a civilian police force in a manner more befitting the Inquisition than a progressive 21st-century society. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition WINNIPEG - The Manitoba government is now requiring vendors who sell bear repellent to obtain photo identification from customers in an effort to curb a rash of attacks involving the spray. Retailers also will have to submit the buyers information to the provincial government and register the serial numbers for any sale of more than two cans. Buyers will have to specify the intended use of the bear spray. Justice Minister Kelvin Goertzen says the new requirements should deter people from using bear spray illegally, but not prohibit legal purchases. He adds that the province is considering an age requirement to purchase bear spray in Manitoba. The Progressive Conservative government is also asking the federal government to consider stronger restrictions on the online sale of bear repellent in Canada. The discussions that Ive had with law enforcement as it is their belief that the vast majority of bear spray that has been used in attacks isnt coming in through online or importation, Goertzen said Thursday. Manitoba and Saskatchewan have previously said they want people who commit violent offences with knives and modified bear spray to face tougher conditions when applying for bail. The province doesnt want to punish people who are using the repellent for its intended purposes, Goertzen said, but recognizes it has been used for criminal purposes, especially in Winnipeg. Its horrific some of the random attacks that are happening with bear spray, he said. This is a reasonable measure that we hope will help in the reduction. First Nations chiefs in the province welcomed the governments move to safeguard the sale and purchase of bear spray. Bear spray is increasingly used to perpetuate violence in our nations, and there are no regulations to prevent its misuse, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation Chief Angela Levasseur said in a statement. It is encouraging that the province is implementing our request for this safeguard, and we hope that Canada enforces the same regulations for the safety of all First Nations people. Grand Chief Cathy Merrick, of the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs, said she hopes stronger regulations will prevent vendors from advertising and selling the repellent openly. There are about a dozen licensed vendors in the province. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023 Read more about: SHARE: Toronto traffic gridlock, already among the worst in the world, is about to get even worse as downtown intersections start to close for Ontario Line construction, city officials say. That could hurt the citys own efforts to boost economic activity in a downtown lagging many others in pandemic recovery, but years of transit construction headaches will pay off in the end, said Deputy Mayor Jennifer McKelvie. While inconvenient, this transit progress is good news. There is no transit gain without some transit construction pain, she told reporters Thursday at the citys traffic control centre on Don Mills Road. The Ontario Line is an exciting and critically important expansion to Torontos public transit network. The 15-stop line will run from the Ontario Science Centre to Exhibition Place. The first major construction closures start May 1, when Queen Street West shuts from Bay Street to Yonge Street, and Queen Street East shuts from Yonge to Victoria Street. Reopening is scheduled for 2027. McKelvie said the city is taking steps to minimize traffic impacts, working closely with provincial transportation agency Metrolinx, which is building the line. But she acknowledged the closure of downtown roads increasingly jammed as traffic returns to pre-pandemic levels and hits routine roadwork and condo construction will only worsen commuters headaches and frustration levels. This multibillion-dollar subway line will take time to build and create disruption. We need to be honest with people about that, McKelvie said. She urged commuters: Plan ahead, dont drive if possible, and instead use public transit or walk or bike. For those who must drive, follow the signage and try if possible to make your trip outside rush hours, she said. As for revitalizing downtown, McKelvie said: We want people to come back into the downtown core, but our preference is that theyre doing that by transit. Transit users wont escape disruption, however, as the busy 501 Queen streetcar is rerouted around the closure. Barbara Gray, the citys transportation chief, said planning for the closures started long ago. We knew this was going to be a big deal, she said, adding pedestrian and cyclist convenience and safety were top priorities in the planning. The citys steps to minimize disruption include new priority travel routes around Ontario Line construction zones that will be kept clear of as many road restrictions as possible including non-emergency utility work. Dundas Street, from Jarvis Street to Bathurst Street, will be the first such route and will be in place until at least 2024. City staff will assess applications for lane-closing construction applications, including for condos, with an eye to minimizing disruption. Traffic signals will be modified, including a new pilot project whereby buses running behind schedule will be detected. Nearby green traffic signals will be extended to hurry them along. McKelvie acknowledged the city is urging people to go downtown and help restore economic vibrancy lost during the pandemic while warning them that getting into the core will become even more difficult, especially for drivers. She also expressed optimism that Metrolinx will stick to its construction and road closure schedule despite the delays that have plagued another major project. In December, two midtown city councillors called for a public inquiry into years-delayed and overbudget construction of the Eglinton Crosstown light rail line that have inconvenienced residents and shuttered some businesses. The call came after Metrolinx said the construction consortium building that line lacked a credible plan toward the completion of the project. The Ontario Line is already over its original budget and timeline. Last fall Metrolinx projected the cost at between $17 billion and $19 billion, up from $10.9 billion. The 2031 completion date is four years later than originally announced. Asked how she can trust Metrolinxs assurances about Ontario Line disruptions, McKelvie said: There are regular meetings between the office of the mayor and the minister of transportation. Metrolinx is working very closely with TTC and with our city staff. All the different partners have a really good working relationship, she said. Were all going to work really, really hard to ensure that were reopening Queen Street back up in 2027. David Rider is the Stars City Hall bureau chief and a reporter covering city hall and municipal politics. Follow him on Twitter: @dmrider Read more about: SHARE: Toronto Public Health issued one conditional passes to restaurants, cafes, bakeries, bars and grocery stores on April 11. Kashmir Curry and Biryani House at 1530 Albion Road received a conditional pass with one major infraction: Fail to ensure equipment surface cleaned as necessary A conditional pass is issued when at least one infraction presents a significant health risk, and a closure is ordered when at least one infraction presents an immediate health hazard. Both outcomes trigger an additional inspection within 48 hours. Failure to comply with Torontos DineSafe program can result in fines, court summons and other enforcement action. Miss a DineSafe roundup? Find out which restaurants recently made the list About this story This story was automatically generated using open data from the City of Toronto. The Toronto Star has no role in collecting, reviewing or analyzing this data, and makes no representations or endorsements about any food premises, or the products or services offered by a food premise. Readers should review any municipal disclaimers located at the citys open data portal. SHARE: As Denise Angus heads to her animal rescue Matties Place, she prepares herself for what she might find. This is what she fears: Tied to the door or set in a flimsy carrier is a dog or cat, someones former pet, waiting to be discovered. Weve had cats left in bags at our door, Angus said. Toronto animal advocates say increased costs-of-living and other social inequities are forcing pet owners to make tough decisions between their needs and those of their pets. The story of Max the dog, left in a Toronto park by his family who couldnt afford to take care of him, highlights the pressures some pet owners face in light of soaring costs for groceries, rent and other necessities. Our role in animal welfare is no longer just about advocating for animals, said Dillon Dodson, Toronto Humane Societys senior manager of social work. Dodson said that while the society hasnt seen abnormal rates of animal surrenders, there are significant increases in the number of people seeking to access its support services including its pet food bank. Angus said her rescue has seen a huge amount of surrenders recently. Shes also experienced a surge in demand for the Matties Place pet food bank that now feeds 300 animals a week, up from 150. I have never seen anything like it its heartbreaking, she said. Angus is paying for pet food out of pocket just to keep up with the demand and said shed like to see more government support for rescues like hers. Im an individual. I shouldnt have to be out here spending $500 a week on pet food to help our community feed their pets, she said. The Toronto Humane Society operates a number of programs designed to keep pets and their owners together despite difficult circumstances. The societys Urgent Care program, first launched in 2020, allows pet owners to temporarily surrender their animal if they are unable to care for them, with the goal of being reunited. If people are struggling just to meet their own needs, its even harder to provide for their pet, said Christina Pierre, who fosters animals for the program. Dodson said most people who enter the program are experiencing housing issues, health issues or domestic violence. Ontario Veterinary Medical Association president Dr. Matthew Richardson said pets and their owners both benefit from pet aid services. Richardson, past president of the Farley Foundation which helps low-income Ontario pet owners with vet costs, said veterinarians play an important role in connecting owners with affordable pet care. As veterinarians, we should be talking about the benefits of things like pet insurance to help with these unexpected costs that come along with pet ownership, Richardson said, adding that seeking help is better than abandoning a pet at a shelter door. Both Angus and Dodson stressed the need for compassion when it comes to people who feel they might need to surrender a pet. Some of these people have their pets as their only companionship just because theyre not in a position to feed their pet doesnt mean theyre not great pet owners, Angus said. Dodson said some pet owners feel guilt and shame over their decision to surrender a pet. She said the Toronto Humane Society tries to emphasize its offering of no-fee surrenders, without judgment. We all have the same shared goal and thats for animals to have the best lives possible, she said. MB Marissa Birnie is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Follow her on Twitter: @marissabirnie SHARE: A group of parents is threatening to take legal action against the Toronto public school board by seeking a judicial review of an admissions process for spaces at its elementary alternative schools, which resulted in some students from marginalized groups being inadvertently excluded. They are calling on the Toronto District School Board to redo the general lottery process, which marginalized students were excluded from, or come up with resources that allow the admission of students from under-represented groups into their chosen school. They are giving the board until April 19, otherwise they intend to initiate judicial review proceedings. It is difficult to overstate the injury caused to the dignity of students from under-represented communities whose immutable characteristics and identities have been used to disadvantage them, according to a letter sent to the board on Wednesday afternoon by lawyer Shibil Siddiqi, who represents the group and is the father of an 11-year-old who was excluded. Through its actions and failures to address the consequences of those actions, the TDSB has devalued these students and negatively impacted their self-worth, reads the letter obtained by the Star. When asked by the Star about the letter, TDSB spokesperson Ryan Bird said staff will review it over the coming days. The TDSB is currently analyzing all the data associated with the application process across the 17 schools and on a school-by-school basis as we look to determine next steps and the appropriate restorative measures, he said. While this full analysis takes time, we are working to complete it as soon as possible as we know families are waiting for additional information. Last week, the TDSB notified parents and then later apologized to them about a system error that prevented some applicants from under-represented communities from being fully considered. A new centralized process was introduced this year to ensure greater representation for students from historically and currently under-represented communities, including those who are racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ and with disabilities. There were 1,285 applications for 458 available spaces in 17 different schools. Over the weekend, the TDSB wrote to parents saying it is deeply concerned about the error and that it extends a sincere apology to the students and families who were affected. It went on to explain in greater detail what had happened, along with its next steps. In the first stage of the admission process, spaces were offered to Indigenous applicants, as well the siblings of current students. In the second stage, self-identified students from the under-represented groups were randomly selected to fill 25 per cent of the remaining available spaces. Those two stages went off without a hitch, says the TDSB. The error occurred during the third stage, which was supposed to be a general lottery process of all remaining applicants for the rest of the seats. The mistake happened when the list of students from the under-represented groups wasnt merged with the other applications. There are still 89 spaces available, because some offers of admission were declined, and the board says where possible those seats will be allocated to students from the under-represented groups. Direct discrimination is the only way to describe what occurred at the third stage, reads the letter by Siddiqi. He goes on to say that prioritizing remaining spaces for applicants from under-represented communities would further the harms already caused and cement the second-class treatment of students from under-represented communities by expecting them to settle for leftovers. Siddiqi currently represents eight parents, including those whose children were excluded from the general lottery, and those whose kids were offered spaces but feel the process was unfair. The letter calls on the TDSB to redo the third stage, noting We understand that the TDSB may face some backlash, but that it would be doing the right and equitable thing. If they seek a judicial review, they will argue the TDSB failed to follow its own policies by not ensuring the admissions process was equitable and that the exclusion of students from the general lottery violates the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Siddiqis wife Yukimi Henry is among the group. Their son Kanzen, in Grade 6, was wait-listed at two alternative schools at one hes high on the list. Were quite cognizant of the reality that if they rerun that lottery, it actually could be to his disadvantage, he could end up farther down on the wait-list, Henry told the Star. Weve had that conversation as a family, and decided, very much with his endorsement, that the principle here is so much more significant than the individual impacts. SHARE: A 17-year-old male has been charged with first-degree murder in connection with a homicide in Torontos Glen Park neighbourhood last year. Toronto police said that on June 19, 2022 just after 4:20 p.m., they were called to Lotherton Pathway and Caledonia Road for reports of a shooting in the area. When officers arrived on the scene, they found a man who had been shot, and who had no vital signs. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The victim was later identified as 24-year-old Jaron Williams. Two 20-year-olds and a 19-year-old have also previously been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the homicide. Police are asking anyone with information to contact them at 416-808-7474, Crime Stoppers anonymously at 416-222-TIPS (8477), or at www.222tips.com. TG Thea Gribilas is a breaking news reporter, working out of the Stars radio room in Toronto. Reach her via email: tgribilas@thestar.ca SHARE: Maintenance and custodial staff at Toronto Metropolitan University say theyll escalate their work-to-rule job action Thursday to a full strike next week if the university doesnt address their concerns around cost of living and their pensions. Represented by CUPE, custodial and maintenance workers at TMU started their first-ever job action Thursday after they said the university administration failed to address the rising cost of living and inequality in the pension plan during negotiations, which have been ongoing since September. This is historic. Were people who usually quietly work away at keeping the university clean and operating smoothly. It takes a lot to get us riled up, said Jason Vigilante, president of CUPE 233, in a release. But we cant be quiet when the employer unilaterally changes our pension plan and makes it so were paying a higher percentage than faculty. The workers are seeking pension bargaining rights equivalent to those in the faculty association collective agreement which the local says the faculty association supports and an increase to their wages. If the university doesnt address their concerns, the group says it will escalate to a full strike Monday. In a statement to the Star, TMU said it is disappointed by the outcome of the negotiations, and contingency plans are in place should the strike go through. The university said it agrees with the unions that there should not be a two-tiered pension plan, noting four of five employee groups in the plan all contribute equally to it. The faculty association, it says, filed a grievance and as result of an arbitration decision, they contribute less than everyone else. The university said if it moves further from equal contributions, it would destabilize the plan and put employee pensions at risk. In March, TMU said the bargaining teams met more than 10 times. The university is ready to return to the bargaining table and we are hopeful a resolution can be reached quickly, TMU said. This is a developing story. With files from Thea Gribilas SHARE: UNITED NATIONS (AP) Addressing the U.N. Security Council for the first time, a former Colombian rebel leader who now heads a political party urged the countrys remaining armed groups Thursday to recognize left-wing President Gustavo Petros government as democratic and progressive and stop fighting against it. Rodrigo Londono accused Petros right-wing predecessor, Ivan Duque, of failing to implement the 2016 peace agreement with his rebel group, the leftist Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia known as the FARC. That accord was aimed at ending more than 50 years of war in Colombia that caused over 220,000 deaths and displaced nearly 6 million people. But Londono told the council in a video briefing that Petros electoral victory in 2022 brought in a progressive government committed to political and social transformations, including comprehensively implementing the peace agreement. We trust his word and we hope that his decisive action will move implementation forward, he said. Londono, who told ambassadors he joined the FARC as a 16-year-old in 1976 and was its last commander who signed the 2016 peace deal, said dissident FARC members who took up arms after the government failed to occupy regions abandoned by rebels after they laid down their weapons represent a miniscule percentage of those who first signed the agreement. He said his party supports talks between Petros government and the left-wing National Liberation Army rebel group known as the ELN plus the remaining dissident groups. The government and ELN both hailed progress at the end of a second round of peace talks last month in Mexico City. Urging the armed groups not to fight against Petros progressive efforts and his total peace policy, Londono said a cease-fire should be something that these organizations should embrace. He criticized the Duque government for distributing just 251,122 hectares of the 3 million hectares of land to be put in a land fund under the peace agreement for distribution to poor people in rural areas who most needed it, and failing to significantly reduce rural poverty. He also faulted Duques government for failing to provide adequate security for former FARC members as well as adequate education and health care. Londono, who was the target of an assassination attempt, said Petro faces huge challenges in implementing the peace agreement especially in the face of certain sectors and parties from the previous government who are intent on preventing even minimal transformations in favor of the people. If it wasnt for support from the international community, especially the United Nations and the Security Council which authorized a mission to monitor implementation of the peace agreement at the request of the Colombian government, he said the attempt to find a political solution with us would have failed. Londono said his supporters were participating in the Security Council meeting Thursday with great hope that it will strongly support Petros aim of fully implementing the 2016 peace agreement which will have a multiplying effect. The U.N. special envoy for Colombia, Carlos Ruiz Massieu, told the council he was honored to be in Londonos presence, saying his leadership in the transition from war to peace has been and will continue to be fundamental. His participation today is certainly testimony of the commitment of thousands of former combatants to the final peace agreement, he said. Ruiz also pointed to a recent meeting between president Petro and Londono in Bogota and their joint visit to a former area for training and reintegration of former combatants in the wake of a serious threat by an illegal armed group against dozens of former combatants. In recent days, he said, the government has established an office headed by a high-level official in the presidency to look after the comprehensive implementation of the 2016 agreement another example of its commitment. Ruiz welcomed the governments negotiations with the ELN and another group of ex-FARC fighters, and urged all illegal armed actors not to waste the opportunity presented by the bold pursuit of peace through dialogue. Colombias Foreign Minister Alvaro Leyva, who said he met Londono 30 years ago as a combatant, called the council meeting truly a miracle, saying the former FARC leader not only helped draft and sign the peace agreement but is now a member of a political party promoting its implementation. The minister said it was especially meaningful for him to be at the Security Council after several years where there was an attempt to put a brake on the agreement for national reconciliation signed between the Colombian state and the FARC. Leyva said Petro is not only trying to implement total peace within Colombia but also beyond its borders and it is hosting a conference in Bogota on April 25 with countries from Latin America, Europe, the United States and Canada to see how we could resume the political dialogues. SHARE: KHARTOUM, Sudan (AP) Sudans military warned Thursday of potential clashes with the countrys powerful paramilitary force, which it said had deployed troops in the capital of Khartoum and other areas without the armys consent. Tensions between the military and the paramilitary, known as Rapid Support Forces or RSF, have escalated in recent months, forcing a delay in the signing of an internationally backed deal with political parties to revive the countrys democratic transition. In a statement, the military said the buildup of the RSF in Khartoum and elsewhere in the country was done without the approval of, or coordination with the armed forces leadership and presents a clear violation of the law. The paramilitary recently deployed troops near the northern Sudanese town of Merowe. Also, videos circulating on social media Thursday show what appear to be RSF-armed vehicles being transported into Khartoum, further to the south. The latest tensions between the army and the paramilitary stem from a disagreement over how the RSF should be integrated into the military and what authority should oversee the process. The merger is a key condition of Sudans unsigned transition agreement. The army-RSF rivalry, dates back to the rule of autocratic President Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019. Under al-Bashir, the paramilitary force, led by powerful Gen. Mohammed Hamdan Dagalo, grew out of former militias known as the Janjaweed that carried out a brutal crackdown in Sudans Darfur region during the decades of conflict there. Although the army and the RSF together carried out a coup in October 2021 that upended Sudans transition to democracy, friction between them became increasingly visible in recent months, with conflicting public statements, heavy military presence in Khartoum and parallel foreign trips by military and RSF leaders. The RSF said Wednesday that its presence in northern Sudan and elsewhere is aimed at achieving security and stability and fighting human trafficking and illegal migration. The wealthy paramilitary force is estimated to have tens of thousands of fighters. According to Kholood Khair, founder and director of Confluence Advisory, a think tank in Khartoum, tensions between the army and the RSF are at an all-time high and Thursdays militarys statement just fell short of accusing the RSF of committing an act of rebellion. The escalation has raised concerns of new fighting in a country known for internal armed conflicts. Many took to social media to express their concerns. Sudans National Umma Party one of the countrys largest political groups called for restraint and urged all political forces against escalating the situation. The party also called an emergency meeting Thursday morning with military and RSF representatives and senior political figures. No details immediately emerged following the meeting. A joint statement Thursday by envoys to Sudan from France, Germany, Norway, Britain, the United States and the European Union said they were deeply concerned about the recent escalation. It called on the military and the RSF to resolve the outstanding issues on security and establish a unified, professional military accountable to a civilian government. In response to the escalation, the U.S. Embassy in Khartoum advised American citizens on Thursday against travelling to northern Sudan. Also, U.S. government staff have been prohibited from venturing beyond the capitals metropolitan area until next Thursday, it said. The 2021 coup removed a Western-backed, power-sharing administration and dashed Sudanese aspirations for democratic rule after three decades of autocracy and repression under al-Bashir. A months-long popular uprising forced the militarys overthrow of al-Bashir in April 2019. Since then, the former president, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes and genocide in the Darfur conflict, has been imprisoned in Khartoum. SHARE: MEXICO CITY (AP) The Inter American Human Rights Court ruled Wednesday that Mexico violated the rights of two men who were held in pre-trial detention for 17 years before being convicted of homicide. The court, which is a branch of the Organization of American States, said such extended detention violates the right to personal freedom and the presumption of innocence, among others. It ordered the Mexican government to make amends to Daniel Garcia Rodriguez and Reyes Alpizar Ortiz, who were arrested in 2002. Alpizar Ortizs conviction was later overturned on appeal. The court also said Mexico should review the practice of pre-trial detention for a long list of crimes. Mexicos Foreign Relations Department said the government would review the ruling. It has a year to comply. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has sparked debate in Mexico by expanding the number of crimes considered ineligible for bail, and he has publicly called on the Supreme Court not to release more people pending trial. Mexico does not have cash or property bail like the United States. Instead, for those it does release before trial, there are more than a dozen mechanisms aimed at ensuring they show up in court, ranging from electronic monitoring devices to confiscation of passports to periodic check-ins. The list of charges that allow a suspect to be detained pending trial has grown to 16 in Mexico, among them abuse of authority, corruption and electoral crime. Even some non-violent crimes home burglary and freight and fuel theft bring automatic pre-trial detention, with no bail or house arrest allowed. Mexicos Supreme Court has been debating the no-bail policy, with some justices arguing it violates international treaties that say pre-trial detention should be used only in exceptional cases to prevent suspects from fleeing justice. Only about two of every 10 people accused of a crime in Mexico are ever found guilty. That means that of the estimated 92,000 suspects held in cells pending trial in 2022, often with hardened criminals, around 75,000 will spend years locked up in Mexicos dirty, crowded, dangerous prisons, unlikely to be convicted. Mexicos prison population has risen by about 30% since Lopez Obrador expanded the number of no bail offenses in 2019. Read more about: SHARE: When the model Kate Moss rose to fame in the 90s as Calvin Kleins muse, she sparked a controversial fashion trend: going braless. At the time, showing off bare breasts seemed a daring break with beauty standards. But time shows that nothing has really changed: when it comes to the nipples of older, racialized and trans women, not to mention new mothers, non-feminine women and bodies that depart from cultural norms, the absence of a bra is suspicious. Even when the wearer is an actress or model, its best for the nipple to be subtle. The canons of good taste still prefer women to hide that part of their bodies in public and on social media. Proof lies in the frequent polemics about the issue. Last year, for example, the actress Florence Pugh posted a manifesto on Instagram responding to detractors after she dared to show her breasts at a Valentino fashion show. The controversy is ancient and repetitive. The real question should be why this remains a subject of debate. Since antiquity, female breasts have been charged with powerful and contradictory meanings. The academic Marilyn Yalom wrote in her 1997 book A History of the Breast that throughout history, there has existed a good breast, like those of Renaissance Madonnas and the French Revolution, and a bad breast, which symbolizes seduction and trickery, like the prostitutes from the biblical book of Ezequiel or Shakespeares Lady Macbeth. What meanings we give our breasts will always be bound up with societal values and cultural norms. Few women and few men are unaffected by the mass media, Yalom wrote. And in the digital world, female breasts and nipples continue to be censored according to controversial and arbitrary criteria. Since their inception, social networks have attempted to erase, or at least pixelate, any images that include female breasts in order to avoid pornographic content. Following that logic, why shouldnt images of pistols be censored in order to prevent firearm deaths? The bodily censorship that women face on the internet reflects what they experience in the real world. Currently, Facebook censors images of women with nude torsos, but not men. In an email that the New York Times quoted in 2019, Instagrams head of public policy, Karina Newton, said that the network doesnt want to impose its own value judgment on how nipples should be viewed in society. Theyre just trying to reflect the sensitivities of the broad and diverse array of cultures and countries across the world in our policies. And in many cultures, female breasts remain taboo. Instagrams community guidelines say that the publication restrictions apply to some photos of female nipples, but photos in the context of breastfeeding, birth giving and after-birth moments, health-related situations (for example, post-mastectomy, breast cancer awareness or gender confirmation surgery) or an act of protest are allowed. It isnt completely true: to date, photos are tolerated or censored based on whether users report them as nudes or pornography. They are then verified and eliminated by an artificial intelligence system. Mark Zuckerbergs company was evaluated last January on its content moderation policy. The group of academics, journalists and politicians who did the assessment recommended that the company modify their community norms to criteria that follow international human rights norms. The council proposed that Meta define clear, objective and respectful criteria for content moderation, to avoid cases like Instagrams 2021 apology to director Pedro Almodovar, after the platform censored the poster for his film Parallel Mothers, which showed a lactating nipple. The implementation of those measures could mean an advance. But why are images of womens breasts still scandalous in 2023? No one ever mentions whether mens nipples are perceptible under their clothing. Perhaps its because men do not use bras. The history of bras is firmly linked to the male gaze, capitalist fashion trends and extreme body standards. They emerged as a garment to support the breasts. As the years went on, it evolved, from pin-ups to the Wonderbra campaign in the 90s. It wasnt until the beginning of the 21st century that bras began to try to hide the nipple. Female breasts were considered obscene, something that should only be visible in sexual contexts. Women are forced to censor their own bodies in order to avoid offending or wounding sensibilities. Since a man, Frederick Mellinger, invented the push-up bra in 1947, imagining what he and his war-veteran friends would like to see women wear, the bra became a way to please the male gaze. The female breast is considered inherently sexual and therefore obscene. If womens bodies are not desirable, consumable or exploitable, then the male gaze is not interested in them. They become repulsive, the object of mockery. The Free the Nipple movement protested against that phenomenon. Created in 2013, after Facebook removed clips of Lina Escos documentary by that name, the movement aims to end the objectification of womens breasts on the internet. And it may have achieved something if, finally, Meta fulfills its agreements and implements new community guidelines, ones more appropriate to these times. Now that consent is in the center of the debate, its unfortunate that hypervigilance of the female body remains a form of oppression. Advances had been made. May they continue. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition SEOUL, South Korea (AP) North Korea said Friday it flight-tested a solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile for the first time, a possible breakthrough in its efforts to acquire a more powerful, harder-to-detect weapon targeting the continental United States. North Koreas official Korean Central News Agency issued the report a day after the countrys neighbors detected a launch of a long-range missile from near Pyongyang, which extended a run of weapons displays involving more than 100 missiles fired into the sea since the start of 2022. Thursdays test did not appear to demonstrate the weapons full capacity, and it remains unclear how far North Korea has come in mastering technologies to ensure the warhead would withstand atmospheric reentry and accurately strike targets. Still, analysts said the test was likely a meaningful advance in North Koreas goal to build a nuclear arsenal that could directly threaten the United States. Later Friday, the U.S. flew nuclear-capable B-52 bombers to the Korean Peninsula for joint aerial training with South Korean warplanes in their latest show of force against North Korea. The exercise was aimed at sharpening combined operational abilities and demonstrating the credibility of U.S. commitment to leverage its full military capabilities, including nuclear, to defend South Korea, according to Seouls Defense Ministry. KCNA said the launch was supervised on site by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who described the missile named Hwasong-18 as the most powerful weapon of his nuclear forces that would enhance counterattack abilities in the face of external threats created by the military activities of the United States and its regional allies. Kim pledged to further expand his nuclear arsenal to constantly strike extreme uneasiness and horror in his rivals and make them feel regret for their wrong choices. North Korea has justified its weapons demonstrations as a response to the expanding military exercises between the United States and South Korea, which the North condemns as invasion rehearsals while using them as a pretext to push further its own weapons development. Kim added that the Hwasong-18 would rapidly advance North Koreas nuclear response posture and further support an aggressive military strategy of maintaining frontal confrontation against its rivals. North Korea has tested various ICBMs since 2017 that demonstrated the potential range to reach the U.S. mainland, but its three previous systems use liquid fuel that must be added relatively close to the launch and they cannot remain fueled for prolonged periods. An ICBM with built-in solid propellants would be easier to move and hide and fired quickly, reducing the opportunities for opponents to detect and counter the launch. South Koreas Defense Ministry in a statement described the Hwasong-18s flight as a mid-phase test and said North Korea would need more time and effort to complete the system. It has maintained that the North hasnt yet acquired the technology to ensure the survival of ICBM warheads. Last month, South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-Sup also told lawmakers that North Korea likely hasnt yet acquired the technology to place nuclear warheads on its newer short-range missiles targeting South Korea, though he acknowledged the country was making considerable progress on it. Still, Thursdays test marked a significant breakthrough for the North Koreans, but not an unexpected one, said Ankit Panda, an expert with the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The primary significance of solid-fuel ICBMs is in terms of what theyll do for the survivability of North Koreas overall ICBM force, he said. Because these missiles are fueled at the time of manufacture and are thus ready to use as needed, they will be much more rapidly useable in a crisis or conflict, depriving South Korea and the United States of valuable time that could be useful to preemptively hunt and destroy such missiles. Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul, said advancing solid-fuel technology could also be useful for North Korean efforts to expand its tactical nuclear arsenal and pursue submarine-based deterrents. North Korean state media published photos and videos of the missile blasting off from a launch vehicle at a test site inside a forest and the separation of the missiles first and second stages following liftoff. Kim watched from an observation post along with military officials and his wife, sister and daughter. KCNA described the Hwasong-18 as a three-stage missile with the first stage tested at a standard ballistic trajectory and the others programmed to fly at higher angles after separation to avoid North Koreas neighbors. It wasnt immediately clear how the third stage, which would be the part where the warhead would be placed, was tested. The agency said the first and second stages fell into waters off the countrys eastern coast. Kim Dong-yub, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, noted that North Korea didnt release details about how high the missile went, which suggests the weapon wasnt tested at its full capacity and range, and said the North likely will test the system several more times. Soo Kim, an expert with Virginia-based consultancy LMI and a former CIA analyst, said each successive test by North Korea seems to demonstrate greater options for the regime to provoke and threaten the region. With the Day of the Sun festivities coming up, and a U.S.-South Korean summit around the corner, the timing is also ripe for a North Korean provocation for (Kim Jong Un) to yet again remind us that his weapons are getting bigger, better, and all the more challenging for the U.S., South Korea, and the international community to deal with, she said. She was referring to the birth anniversary of Kims state-founding grandfather, Kim Il Sung, which falls on Saturday, and a planned summit in Washington this month between President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol. Solid-fuel ICBMs highlighted an extensive wish list Kim announced under a five-year arms development plan in 2021, which also included tactical nuclear weapons, hypersonic missiles, nuclear-powered submarines and spy satellites. The North has fired around 30 missiles this year alone over 12 different launch events as both the pace of its weapons development and the U.S.-South Korean military exercises increase in a cycle of tit-for-tat. 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 Korea claimed the drills simulated an all-out war against North Korea and communicated threats against it. The United States and South Korea have said their exercises are defensive in nature and expanding them was necessary to cope with the Norths evolving threats. ___ Find more of APs Asia-Pacific coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/asia-pacific SHARE: COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Finlands President Sauli Niinisto on Thursday warned that the countrys new status as a NATO member doesnt solve every problem, and said Helsinki should not let down its guard on security issues. We still bear the main responsibility for our own security. Wherever we detect any gaps or vulnerabilities, they must be fixed, Niinisto said, in a speech to lawmakers as they gathered for the first time since the April 2 elections. He added that Finland, which shares a 1,340 kilometer (832 mile) border with Russia, has been focused on regional security in the past year, after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. We must not let this level of alertness drop in the future, either, the president said as he formally opened the 200-member Eduskunta legislature. We should better understand how organically the dangers and tensions we are witnessing here are linked with the increasing geopolitical pressures. Finlands main conservative party came first in this months elections, after a tight three-way race that saw right-wing populists take second place. Sanna Marin, the head of the Social Democrats that came in third, stepped down as prime minister as her hopes for reelection were dashed. No new government has been formed. In May 2022, Russias invasion of Ukraine triggered European Union member Finlands historic decision to abandon its non-alignment policy and seek NATO membership. Finns became the 31st members of the worlds biggest military alliance on April 4 after the national parliaments of all of NATOs 30 member states ratified the Nordic countrys membership. Neighboring Sweden also applied for NATO membership in May 2022. That bid, however, has stalled due to opposition from Turkey, whose president says his country must first resolve its disputes with Stockholm. The Turkish government has accused Sweden of being too soft on groups that it deems to be terror organizations. Hungarys parliament also has yet to ratify Swedens NATO, and it remains unclear when it will do so. There are hopes that Sweden will join before U.S. President Joe Biden and other NATO heads of government meet in Vilnius, Lithuania, in July. SHARE: BERLIN (AP) Germany has approved Polands request to transfer five Soviet-designed fighter jets to Ukraine, the German Defense Ministry said Thursday. The permission was needed because Germany used to own the Soviet-designed MiG 29 planes, which were part of communist East Germanys military fleet. I welcome the fact that we in the federal government have reached this decision together, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement. This shows you can rely on Germany! Poland was an early advocate of sending fighter jets to Ukraine. When Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Warsaw a week ago, Polish President Andrzej Duda said his country already had provided four MiG-29 jets to Ukraine, with four more in the process of getting handed over and another six being prepared. During a visit to Mali, Pistorius had confirmed German media reports saying that Germany had received Polands request and would reply by the end of the day. Read more about: SHARE: COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) Norways government said Thursday that it was expelling 15 Russian diplomats from the country, saying they were suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the move was an important measure to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, and thereby secure our national interests. The Russians declared persona non grata must leave Norway within a short time, Huitfeldt said, adding: We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway. The minister declined to say whether the government was acting in response to a specific incident, referring questions to Norways domestic security agency PST for details. The government said the activities of the expelled diplomats were incompatible with their diplomatic status. We are not talking about regular diplomats, but intelligence officers under diplomatic cover. Their activities are a threat to Norwegian interests, Huitfeldt said. Norwegian newspaper VG described Thursdays expulsions as the most the Scandinavian country has ordered at one time involving Russian diplomats. The Russian Embassy in Norway called the Norwegian governments decision an extremely unfriendly step and promised Moscow would take retaliatory measures, which in such a case typically involve in-kind expulsions. Huitfeldt reacted during an afternoon news conference, saying: Russia has no reason to respond. We have Norwegian diplomats stationed in Russia, but none of them are undercover intelligence officers. She called Russia an unpredictable neighbor and many European countries in the past year have expelled hundreds of Russian intelligence officers under diplomatic cover. At the same time, she stressed that the government in Oslo wants normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway We do not want people who claim they are diplomats and who are actually are intelligence officers, she said. We cannot accept that. NATO-member Norway has a 198 kilometer-long (123-mile) border with Russia in the Arctic. VG said that including the expelled diplomats, Russia had about 40 people working at its missions in Norway, which include the embassy in Oslo and consulates in Kirkenes and Barentsburg. Barentsburg, located on the remote Arctic archipelago of Svalbard, is a Russian coal-mining town of about 500 people. Under a 1920 treaty, Norway has sovereignty over the archipelago, which is more than 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of the Norwegian mainland, but other signatory countries have rights to explore its natural resources. A year ago, Norway expelled three Russian diplomats it identified as intelligence officers. A man whom the Norwegian Police Security Service alleged used a false name and identity while actually working for one of Russias intelligence services also was arrested last year. He is awaiting trial in Norway. SHARE: LONDON (AP) A 74-year-old man extradited from Pakistan appeared in a London court Thursday to face a murder charge in the death of a police officer who was fatally shot while responding to a bank robbery almost two decades ago. Piran Ditta Khan attended a brief hearing at Londons Westminster Magistrates Court. He is charged with killing Constable Sharon Beshenivsky, 38, who was gunned down outside a travel agency in the northern England city of Bradford on Nov. 18, 2005. Beshenivskys colleague Constable Theresa Milburn was seriously injured. Khan also faces charges of robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. Beshenivskys slaying shocked Britain, where most police officers do not carry guns. Six men were arrested but Khan, who was suspected of being the armed gangs organizer, had fled abroad. U.K. prosecutors authorized charges against Khan in 2006, and he was arrested in Pakistan in 2020 on a British extradition warrant. Prosecutors announced Wednesday that he had been flown to the U.K. SHARE: JERUSALEM (AP) Israeli authorities said Thursday that an internal investigation into the killing of a 26-year-old Palestinian citizen of Israel earlier this month at Jerusalems most sensitive holy site found no wrongdoing by police. With several details of the incident in question, the case has sparked outrage from Arab lawmakers and rights groups. The Israeli state attorneys office closed the case on Thursday, saying that police acted lawfully in self-defense when they shot and killed Mohammed Alasibi, a Palestinian citizen of Israel from a Bedouin village in the countrys south. He was fatally shot at the entrance to the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in the Old City of Jerusalem on April 1. Police alleged that Alasibi pounced on an officer and tried to grab his gun, managing to fire two shots into the air before the officer regained control of his weapon and killed him. Palestinian witnesses offered a conflicting account, saying Alasibi argued with an officer over his alleged harassment of a female worshipper on her way to the mosque the third holiest shrine in Islam. The compound, revered by Jews as the Temple Mount, is also the most sacred site in Judaism. After some quarreling, Palestinians said they heard a burst of gunfire over a dozen shots all apparently fired at Alasibi at close range. Alasibis family denied he would ever try to attack a policeman, describing him as ambitious and level-headed. They said he had just returned from studying medicine in Romania and was working to get certified as a doctor in Israel. Israels state attorney said it had clear, direct and solid proof that no offense was committed by the police, without elaborating or offering evidence. Although Jerusalems Old City alleys bristle with security cameras, police maintained that there was no security footage of the alleged attack. An investigation revealed that the incident took place in a blind spot (of the Old City) that is not covered by any security cameras, the statement said. There also was no body camera footage. Ahmad Tibi, a prominent Arab lawmaker in the Israeli parliament, decried the investigation as a whitewash and demanded an independent probe. This is a department that we do not trust. Its result was known well in advance, Tibi told The Associated Press. The police story is not only unconvincing, but their refusal to publish any video of the incident confirms our suspicions ... that Mohammed was killed in cold blood. Israeli authorities said their investigation involved speaking with the involved officers, consulting witnesses and performing forensic examinations. The Department of Investigations of Police Misconduct, which handles brutality complaints, has faced criticism in the past for failing to thoroughly investigate allegations. An Israeli state comptroller's report from 2017 said the department closed the majority of cases under consideration at a preliminary stage of investigation, in part over concerns that officers may hesitate to use force when necessary. In 2015, 66% of the cases brought to the department were closed without questioning the officers involved, the report said. Fewer than 200 cases were referred for disciplinary action out of the 6,320 cases opened that year. We are worried that closing files like this one will lead to more shooting, more killing and more loss of life, said Jerusalem-based human rights lawyer Khaled Zabarqa. The Al-Aqsa mosque compound has long been a flashpoint for Israeli-Palestinian tensions. Last week, an Israeli police raid on the mosque aimed at evicting Palestinian worshippers who had stockpiled firecrackers set off unrest in the contested capital of Jerusalem, the occupied West Bank and beyond. Read more about: SHARE: SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) A man suspected of making credible threats against Californias Capitol after shooting a gun from his vehicle and lodging bullets in the wall of a hospital and commercial building in the suburbs of Sacramento was arrested Thursday afternoon, authorities said. The Roseville Police Department said the man will be booked into county jail on charges of attempted homicide, assault with a firearm, shooting from a moving vehicle and shooting at an inhabited dwelling. The police department and the California Highway Patrol, which was investigating the threats to the Capitol, named 30-year-old Jackson Pinney, 30, as the suspect. It wasnt clear if Pinney had an attorney to speak on his behalf. No one was injured in the shootings, authorities said. CHP did not immediately comment on the arrest and have not detailed the substance of the threat against the Capitol. The threat forced Californias Assembly to cancel its Thursday session. Senators evacuated to work in a new location. The Capitol remained open much of the morning, allowing people to gather on the outdoor grounds and take tours inside the historic building, but for part of the afternoon a sign on the door said the building was temporarily closed to the public. The two prior shootings were in Roseville and Citrus Heights, two cities northeast of Sacramento. Police in Roseville and Citrus Heights said they responded late Wednesday to reports of someone shooting a gun from a vehicle while driving through the cities. Bullets struck two buildings in Citrus Heights and a hospital in Roseville, police said. The two departments and the CHP said they believed both shootings and the threat to the Capitol involved Pinney. State senators and their staff members were notified about the threat involving the building in an email Thursday morning from Senate Secretary Erika Contreras. The California Highway Patrol (CHP) has notified the Senate of a threat they consider to be credible involving the Capitol, Contreras wrote. The CHP and security partners are present in higher numbers in the Capitol area, and are alert of the situation. Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon and Senate Pro Tem Toni Atkins said in a joint statement that they relocated the Senate and ended the Assembly session early out of an abundance of caution. We apologize for the adjustments and interruptions to the members of the public who planned to come to the Capitol today to make their voices heard, they said. In this situation, we must put everyones safety and security first. We encourage everyone to stay alert and stay safe. Staffers were told to remain situationally aware and report any suspicious activity, said a memo from Assembly Chief Administrative Officer Lia Lopez. The Capitol building was not placed on official lockdown, said John Casey, a spokesperson for Rendon. __ Photographer Rich Pedroncelli and Associated Press writer Sophie Austin contributed. SHARE: Theres nothing more tragic than the senseless killing of a young man. Except, perhaps, when many people attempted, but failed, to prevent the tragedy from occurring. That seems to be the case in the killing of 16-year-old Gabriel Magalhaes, who was stabbed to death in an unprovoked attack in the Keele subway station on March 25. The accused killer, 22-year-old Jordan OBrien-Tobin, had compiled a long criminal record in both Newfoundland and Ontario. That record involves numerous criminal offences, including multiple charges for assault, sexual assault and breach of conditions. At a sentencing hearing last year for one of those charges, Ontario court Judge Sandra Caponecchia, warned that the public is at risk if he does not get the rehabilitation that he so clearly needs. Caponecchia also detailed OBrien-Tobins remarkable history of family violence and mental health and addictions challenges. He was diagnosed with severe depression and at least one other disorder as a child. He then experienced alcohol and drug addiction, overdoses and suicidal behaviour as a teenager, and, with an expected diagnosis of bipolar disorder as an adult, his problems continued into maturity. In addition to his numerous criminal charges, he was detained in hospital for an assessment under the Mental Health Act, but its not clear if that resulted in any treatment. Caponecchia sentenced OBrien-Tobin to both prison and probation and included an order that he receive a mental health assessment and counselling. Once again, its not clear if he received any treatment. One thing is clear, however: Caponecchia recognized that OBrien-Tobin needed help beyond what the criminal justice system could provide, and she tried to ensure he would receive it. Even more tragically, theres reason to believe OBrien-Tobin also recognized, and sought some help for, his needs. Upon reviewing his history, University of Toronto psychologist Steve Joordens remarked to Canadian Press, it seems he was almost looking for the legal system to somehow help him control [his] behaviour. Indeed, a cursory record review reveals a young man whose criminal behaviour was escalating rapidly. And Caponecchia noted that OBrien-Tobin has taken some preliminary steps to get help. Yet while we dont know much about his treatment history, that help seemed to elude him. And Magalhaes and his family paid the price. This sad story reveals a massive failure, not so much of our criminal justice system, but of our health, mental health, and social services sectors. Failures of the health care system become problems the criminal justice system is expected to solve, even though its ill suited to do so. That said, the criminal justice system does play a role in issuing and enforcing orders for treatment and counselling. We need therefore to review and improve how OBrien-Tobin and other high needs individuals are monitored and supervised. Ultimately, though, this tragedy didnt originate with, and cant be solved by, the criminal justice system alone. Certainly, we can throw OBrien-Tobin in jail for the rest of his life, and we probably will. But that wont bring back Magalhaes, and it wont prevent other deeply troubled individuals from attacking innocent citizens. The only way we will solve these problems is by making a full-throated commitment to repair our frayed social safety net, to mend the gaps to keep individuals like OBrien-Tobin out of the criminal justice system and protect innocent people. SHARE: In this file photo taken on September 17, 2013, the headquarters for National Public Radio (NPR) in Washington, DC. National Public Radio is quitting Twitter after the social media platform owned by Elon Musk stamped NPRs main account with labels the news organization says are meant to undermine its credibility. NPRs organizational accounts will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent, NPR said in a statement Wednesday. Last week, Twitter labeled NPRs main account as state-affiliated media on the social media site, a label also used to identify media outlets that are controlled or heavily influenced by authoritarian governments. Twitter later changed the label to government-funded media and gave it to at least one other public news organization, the BBC. We are not putting our journalism on platforms that have demonstrated an interest in undermining our credibility and the publics understanding of our editorial independence, NPRs statement said. The Public Broadcasting Service said Wednesday it has also stopped tweeting from its main account because of its new label and has no plans to resume. PBS said: We are continuing to monitor the ever-changing situation closely. NPRs main account had not tweeted since April 4. On Wednesday, it sent a series of tweets listing other places to find its journalism. The company said NPR journalists, employees and member stations can decide on their own if they want to keep using the platform. NPRs chief communications officer, Isabel Lara, said in an email that NPR journalists and employees will decide on their own if they wish to remain on the platform, same for NPR member stations as theyre independently owned and operated. NPR does receive U.S. government funding through grants from federal agencies and departments, along with the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The company said it accounts for less than 1% of NPRs annual operating budget. Twitters new labels have often appeared arbitrarily assigned. It tagged NPR with the state-affiliated label after Musk participated in a public conversation about NPR on Twitter, and then deleted mention of NPR, but left up BBC, on a web page where it described why they should not get that label. Since then, it has given NPR, BBC and some other groups a government-funded label but hasnt done the same for many other public media outlets, such as their counterparts in Canada and Australia. In an interview Tuesday with a BBC technology reporter at Twitters San Francisco headquarters, Musk acknowledged that the British news organization is not thrilled about the state-affiliated labels and asked the reporter for feedback. Our goal was simply to be as truthful and accurate as possible, Musk said. So I think were adjusting the label to be publicly funded, which I think is perhaps not too objectionable. Were trying to be accurate. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition OTTAWAThe Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation says it is launching an independent review of a $140,000 donation that had a potential connection to the Chinese government, as the scholarship charity is engulfed in an ongoing political firestorm over Beijings alleged interference in Canadian politics. In a statement Wednesday, the Montreal-based foundation said its board of directors unanimously agreed to stage an investigation before they resigned en masse this week, with an official explanation claiming the political climate had made the charitys work impossible. One source with direct knowledge of the situation said an internal feud erupted in recent days after the organizations attempt to refund the donation failed. The source, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the failure prompted a desire for an independent investigation, but there were disagreements among board members about how that review should play out. The Trudeau Foundation did not immediately respond to a request for comment Wednesday about the sources concern. Several officials at the charity did not respond to interview requests, while others declined to speak when contacted by the Star. In its statement Wednesday, the foundation said the review of the donation will be conducted by an accounting agency that will be instructed by an outside law firm. The statement attributed to board chair Edward Johnson, a former Liberal operative and business executive did not name either firm, but said neither of them has worked with the charity before. Though it was originally billed as a $200,000 donation, Johnsons statement said the Trudeau Foundation received only $140,000 of the pledged money. It also said the charity issued a refund cheque under the donors name, but did not confirm whether the money was successfully returned. A reimbursement cheque was issued in the name of the donor which made those payments and to which (Canada Revenue Agency) charitable receipts were issued, Johnsons statement said. Another source with knowledge of the situation also told the Star the charitys attempt to refund the donation failed, after Montreals La Presse newspaper reported an internal foundation document which the Star has not seen said the money could not be returned because the name on the donation cheque didnt match the actual source of the funds. Trudeau distances himself With the Opposition Conservatives demanding an investigation, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau again tried to distance himself from the charity under his fathers name on Wednesday, while at the same time decrying Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre for approaching the situation with snarkiness. The Conservatives have latched on to reports of the Trudeau Foundation donation, arguing it raises questions about whether officials with ties to the charity which Poilievre labels as Beijing-funded should be probing alleged foreign interference for the government. That includes Morris Rosenberg, a former civil servant who was head of the foundation when the donation was made in 2016, and who penned a recent report on foreign interference in the 2021 election. It also includes former governor general David Johnston, who is a foundation member tasked with examining the issue and recommending whether a public inquiry which opposition parties are demanding is necessary. Asked Wednesday if it would be better for the charity to change its name or cut ties with his family, Trudeau told reporters in Winnipeg he has had no involvement at all with the foundation for 10 years, and that its important that the foundation itself answers these questions and reflects on how it can continue doing the important work that it does. Politics have dogged the foundation before Established in 2001, a year after Pierre Trudeaus death, the foundation received a $125-million endowment from the federal government in 2002. The idea was to support the research of more than 100 scholars every year to honour the late prime ministers memory. But with the ascent of Justin Trudeau from Liberal MP to prime minister, the foundation came to be seen by some under a more political lens. After the Liberals took office in 2015, the government came under fire for so-called cash-for-access fundraising, in which the party sought donations at events where contributors could hobnob with cabinet ministers or even Trudeau himself. Chinese businessman Zhang Bin reportedly attended such an event with the prime minister. Then, in 2016, according to a news release from the Universite de Montreal, Zhang and another person identified as a fellow businessman Niu Gensheng donated $1 million to commemorate Pierre Trudeaus ties with China. On Wednesday, university spokesperson Genevieve OMeara confirmed the schools faculty of law was slated to receive $750,000 of this money, with another $50,000 going toward a statue on campus of Pierre Trudeau, who attended and taught at the university. But the statue was never built, and the school only ever received $500,000, OMeara said by email. Another $200,000 of the money was slated for the Trudeau Foundation. Suspicions of attempted influence The Trudeau Foundation donation raised questions in 2016. Then interim Conservative leader Rona Ambrose demanded an ethics investigation into whether donors were giving money to the foundation as a back-channel to access and influence Justin Trudeau. The National Post also reported some donors had ties to organizations that were actively lobbying Ottawa. Based on the charitys annual reports, a $200,000 donation would be significant for the organization. Its yearly donations jumped from $62,882 in 2012 to $253,992 in 2013, the year Trudeau was elected Liberal leader. They increased to $731,753 in 2016 before dropping to $72,098 in 2020 and increasing again to $632,592 last year, annual reports show. The 2016 donation, however, grew more controversial this year, after the Globe and Mail reported it was part of a suspected campaign of foreign influence by the Chinese government. The revelation added to the ongoing political firestorm involving allegations of Beijings election meddling and interference in Canadian politics that has troubled the Liberal government for months. And in response, the Trudeau Foundation declared on March 1 it had refunded all money received from the 2016 pledge, after learning of a potential connection with the Chinese government. While the foundation now says it has issued a cheque under the donors name, the Universite de Montreal still hasnt decided what to do with the $500,000 it received. We are indeed considering all of our options in the light of new information, OMeara said. Read more about: SHARE: Solicitor General Michael Kerzner is refusing to say why the chair of the Peel Region police services board was abruptly removed this week. The Star has learned that Ron Chatha, a politically connected Brampton businessman reappointed to a second three-year term in January 2022, has quietly had his appointment revoked by Queens Park. We are in the process of renewal, and a replacement is forthcoming, Kerzners junior press secretary, Hunter Kell, wrote in an email Wednesday. Kell declined to elaborate on the reasons for the unexpected move. In a statement, Chatha, a high-profile federal and provincial Conservative, said he was immensely proud of the progress we have made in advancing our vision for a safer community together. A source close to him, speaking confidentially in order to discuss the delicate situation, said he was blindsided by the change Tuesday evening, as were Peel politicians and police brass. Mississauga Coun. Alvin Tedjo (Ward 2) was shocked to hear of Chathas departure. It is a serious action to remove a provincial appointee, and one that was just recently reappointed as chair, Tedjo said, adding he felt very disappointed that Peel Regional Council wasnt notified. It was a surprise to learn (about the removal) through a news story as opposed to the province. Tedjo also called the lack of transparency about Chathas removal concerning. The Peel Regional Police budget is our largest expense item, he said. Without any explanation, it leaves council to speculate. Tedjo said he hopes the solicitor general will provide more information about the decision and the provinces plans for Chathas replacement. The police are doing a lot of important work right now and they are in the middle of some transformational activity, he said. We cant be underserved by not having enough members of the board. Joe Horneck, councillor for Mississaugas Ward 6, brought attention to the critical vote taking place on Thursday, where regional council is set to decide on a citizen appointee for the Region of Peel a police board position separate from Chathas former role. The vote will be held in camera, between two candidates who were put forward after weeks of vetting. I dont know if the two things are connected in any way, he said. Its very interesting timing honestly, its so befuddling. Chatha was gracious in his statement, saying it was a transition away from my role on the board that would allow him to shift my focus to better support my family and grow my business. I am confident that the board will continue to thrive and I extend my best wishes for their continued success, he said. In 2021, Chatha served as national outreach chair for Kevin O Learys campaign for the federal Conservative party leadership. A prominent local real estate broker, he has been an influential provincial Tory in a region where Premier Doug Fords party holds all the seats. At the Jan. 27 Peel police board meeting, the well-regarded provincial appointee was re-elected by board members as chair of the civilian oversight panel. It is my privilege to continue to serve as chair of the Peel Police Services Board, Chatha said at the time. I am honoured that my board colleagues chose once again to place their trust in me and for allowing me the opportunity to serve in this important role, he said. As a board we have tackled some very important issues in our community in 2022, like auto thefts and carjackings and bail reform, and I look forward to working with Chief (Nishan) Duraiappah and Peel Regional Police on focusing on community safety and well-being. The surprise move comes as Kerzner, a rookie cabinet minister elected last June, has come under fire over the governments failure to enact a four-year-old law to stop police officers charged with serious crimes from collecting their pay. He told the legislature last week that the 2019 law cannot be put into force until specific regulations around the changes are completed. The opposition New Democrats and Liberals have blasted the Tories for not moving more quickly. Correction April 13, 2023: Hunter Kell is junior press secretary for Solicitor General Michael Kerzner. A previous version of this article misspelled his surname. With files from Dhriti Gupta Robert Benzie is the Stars Queens Park bureau chief and a reporter covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @robertbenzie Read more about: SHARE: Another 333 Canadians including Gov. Gen. Mary Simon, Ontario cabinet ministers and MPPs have been banned from Russia for the alleged spread of rabid Russophobia following Vladimir Putins invasion of Ukraine. The list released Wednesday by the Russian Federation says the latest round of bans is retaliation for recent sanctions imposed by Prime Minister Justin Trudeaus government, which this week announced millions more in aid for Ukraine and a $2.4-billion loan. Many on the list are wearing it as a badge of honour and others said it wont disrupt their travel plans. Our governments position on the illegal Russian invasion of Ukraine has been very clear, said Paul Calandra, Ontarios minister of legislative affairs, who was among those named. Todays sanctions of Ontarios duly-elected parliamentarians are of absolutely no importance and will never change the fact that all of Ontario stands with the people of Ukraine. Also on the list are former Olympians Perdita Felicien, Hayley Wickenheiser and Clara Hughes. Felicien was one of 42 former Olympians who recently signed a letter demanding the Canadian Olympic Committee withdraw allowing athletes from Russia and its ally Belarus to participate as neutrals in next years Paris Olympics. Is it hard to stand up to Russia? Is it hard to stand up to (International Olympic Committee president) Thomas Bach and the IOC? Absolutely, Felician told the CBC last month. However, you have to do it you have to have moral courage and you have to do whats right. In Ottawa, the governor generals office declined to comment. The list includes Alberta Finance Minister Travis Toews, British Columbia Health Minister Adrian Dix as well as opposition leaders in Ontario. This is a badge of honour, said interim Ontario Liberal Leader John Fraser. Being sanctioned by the aggressor in the illegal war against Ukraine is not something Im going to lose any sleep over. Ontario NDP Leader Marit Stiles said her party stands in full solidarity with Ukrainians. We call for an end to violence and for peace and democracy to prevail. If that warrants a sanction, then so be it, she added. Green Leader Mike Schreiner was blunt. Since I do not have any plans to travel to Russia, this sanction doesnt change much for me, though Im honoured to be recognized for my unwavering support for the people of Ukraine. Despite the lists mention of backbench MPPs from all parties, it appears the Kremlin and its embassy in Ottawa dont keep close tabs on Ontario politics. Former cabinet minister Merrilee Fullerton, who resigned as an MPP March 24, is named and New Democrat Sarah Jama, elected in Hamilton Centre a month ago, is not. Read more about: SHARE: Mans inhumanity to man is in evidence once again. Reports of an airstrike carried out by Myanmars military rulers on those opposed to the regime on Tuesday suggest that at least 53, and possibly up to a hundred people have been killed and dozens injured. The airstrikes on a meeting in Sagaing province of a local peoples defence force set up to overthrow the military regime were from all accounts brutal. Eyewitnesses said Myanmarese air force planes first dropped bombs on the gathering, and were followed by attack helicopters that strafed survivors with brutal gunfire. The people had gathered for the inauguration of an administration building of the peoples group, and included women and children who had been invited for refreshments. So brutal was the attack that it was not possible to identify the victims, eyewitnesses said, with the area strewn with body parts. While rescuers were tending to the injured, a second attack was launched, according to reports. The junta has faced widespread protests after it seized power in a coup in early 2021, when it dislodged duly elected members of the National League for Democracy and imprisoned its leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The protests were initially peaceful and were aimed at restoration of the results of the election held in November 2020. But later, as other groups that seek an end to military rule joined the battle, they turned violent. The response from the military has been brutal and nearly 2,000 civilians have been killed. Before the coup, the Saigang region close to Mandalay had been largely peaceful, but has in recent months offered some of the stiffest resistance to the military. The junta admitted it had launched the airstrikes, but claimed it had targeted terrorists, not civilians. The civilian casualties, according to a military spokesman, occurred because the terrorists had stockpiled ammunition at the site. The junta has frequently deployed air power to target its opponents, and has managed to get away with such brutal displays of power because the international communitys attention is focused elsewhere. Sanctions on the junta have been ineffective, because the three actors in the neighbourhood who might be able to influence the course of events have failed to do so. China supports the military regime and hence refuses to intervene despite Chinese warplanes being used to kill civilians. The Association of Southeast Asian Nations, of which Myanmar is a member, has been leaden-footed in its approach to the crisis gripping the country. And India, concerned that support for pro-democracy forces might push the military into Beijings lap, has largely been ambivalent. While Western nations, and international agencies including the UN, the EU and Amnesty International, have protested, some even calling for a ban on sale of Aviation Turbine Fuel to Myanmar, these have been ineffectual. There seems no end in sight to the suffering of the people of Myanmar. The immediate aftermath of the Korean War was the bi-polarization of the global order with each of the two rival blocs i.e., Soviet Union and United States of America, pulling countries into their orbits. The bulk of newly independent and predominantly third world countries had foundational leadership that was naturally fired by idealism, morality and even a sense of independence that disdained subservience to a foreign power. Under the collective initiative of Indias Jawaharlal Nehru, Yugoslav President Josip Broz Tito, Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah and Indonesian President Sukarno, the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) was born. The predominant impulse for this leadership was aspired peace that was predicated on maintaining distance from intrinsic implications of colonization, imperialism or fighting someone elses war. Given the lack of global integration then, the sense of losing out in terms of preferential treatment meted to an ally was also negligible. As it is, these bloc formations were more security-driven and militaristic in their construct e.g., North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) or those under the Warsaw Pact ~ there were minimal economic-trade imperatives at stake. But with nearly one-third of all countries (120 countries) under NAM auspices, it was a motley crew of questionably nonaligned countries like Cuba (clearly in the Soviet bloc for all purposes) and even warring countries such as China and India (which signed up its own bilateral and strategic agreements with the Soviet Union, later) ~ a plonky, often contradictory and posturing movement that was loosely associated and seldom helped out each other when it really mattered. The post-cold war era, the end of a bipolar world order, the emergence of the Chinese footprint and of an integrative global highway all accelerated the already depleting relevance of NAM. The world has shifted from Multipolar to Bipolar, to Unipolar, to even portents of Tripolar now, with the Sinosphere emerging as an alternative. Today, the imagined sovereign threats are no longer about colonialism, racism, imperialism etc., as were applicable during the NAM days. Besides the issue of territorial integrity, they entail the increasingly asymmetric angularities like economics, trade, diplomacy, culture, infrastructure, investments etc., all of which require elements of transactional exchange or realpolitik. Practicality, rather than the lofty idealism of morality or adherence to ideology, matters more. The emergence of Sinosphere is an example of unnatural alliances between a Communist regime in China with avowedly Islamised nations like Pakistan, Iran and Turkey (which is ironically a NATO power too) etc., or with pariahised nations like North Korea or the junta-led Myanmar. Delhi too has shed some of its ideological intransigence of the past to seek balance. A process of rapprochement was started in earnest with the economic liberalisation, steadied dexterously in the post-Pokhran tests and carefully navigated ever since, albeit stumbling occasionally and facing tensions from old and new strategic allies. The shift in the imagined primary source of enemy in Islamabad to that in Beijing shaped the Indian narrative. It wasnt seamless, and India faced pressures, for example unhappily reneging on sourcing oil from Iran under pressure from Washington owing to the American sanctions thereon, or when India sourced the advanced long-range surface-to-air missile batteries i.e., S-400, from Russia. However, topical necessities such as Washington finally recognising important geostrategic considerations (read Chinese threat) to afford a rare Countering Americas Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) waiver, was a sign of the time. Today, even though the Americans and Russians are again deeply pitted against each other in the Ukraine war ~ India can maintain strategic relations with both Moscow and Washington simultaneously, as also secure cutting-edge military hardware from both. Indias complex and dynamic position on Ukraine has been attributed to its strategic independence when it comes to security, economic and foreign policy, which often leaves both Moscow and Washington less than satisfied, but does ensure that India manages its own bilateral relations with both Russia and America, without cutting ties with either. A Danish policy paper noted, Approaching 2035, India will become one of the worlds most influential countries, driven partly by its size and technological development power, partly by its own global ambitions. It will greatly impact the new world order. India will balance its need to orientate itself towards the West in order to meet the challenge from China against its desire for strategic independence and a role as a mouthpiece for the many countries that do not want to choose sides between China and the United States. It sounds eerily like a redux of a Non-Aligned Movement, though the triggers and objectives are not the same. What is certain is that while India will seek strategic independence it will simultaneously seek connection and engagement with all and sundry, cutting across varied and competing blocs. China as the master of realpolitik has demonstrated the real value in keeping its own gunpowder dry and in quietly increasing its own stockpile when its rivals (both US and Russia) were busy burning their own resources to no good use in the battlefields of the Middle East, Afghanistan or even Ukraine. In an increasingly VUCA (volatile, uncertain, complex and ambiguous) world there will be a lot of cross-tensions that could mandate or urge Indias participation or posturing ~ but Delhi will have to cherry-pick the issues that matter and nuance its own response in the interest of its own considerations, as opposed to those of blocs or even allies, beyond a point. So, does strategic independence tantamount to non-alignment of yore? It does and doesnt in equal measure ~ while both are about not committing to fixed blocs, strategic independence is not necessarily about equidistance (as aspired by NAM), as much as it is about topical priorities and convenience. This transactional approach does not have to be as amoral as could be assumed, as there will always be limits, red-lines and subliminal considerations that beset any practical approach. NAM has outlived its conceptual urgency and a more flexible and fleet footed idea of strategic independence is more suited to the challenges of the twenty first century, where asymmetric and VUCA environment is the definitive norm. (The writer is Lt Gen PVSM, AVSM (Retd), and former Lt Governor of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Puducherry) The sentencing of two Chinese lawyers for their criticism of corruption in the country and their demand for greater freedoms has drawn the expected flak from human rights group around the world, but is unlikely to move the administration of President Xi Jinping, which has in recent times stepped up its offensive on those of the countrys citizens who demand greater accountability from rulers. The two lawyers, Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi, were sentenced to 14 and 12 years in jail respectively this week, after having been detained more than three years ago. They are part of the New Citizens Movement, a loosely organized group of Chinese civil rights activists formed more than a decade ago to seek a peaceful transition of the country to constitutionalism and the rule of law. The movement has laudable objectives, among them the disclosure of wealth by government officials and an equitable distribution of the countrys education resources. Members of the group used to meet frequently in pursuance of their objectives; Xu and Ding were also detained a decade ago after signing an open letter that sought scrutiny of the wealth of Chinas leaders. Xu had also asked President Xi to step down for his inept handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. The sentences were handed down to the two after a trial about which little is known, conducted according to some reports in the northeastern Shangdong province. They were charged with subversion, and their lawyers were barred from all contact with foreign media. No details of the trial, thus engulfed in secrecy, have emerged but activists say the rule of law and due procedure, as understood in international law, were not followed. The UN Human Rights chief, Volker Turk, has expressed concern at the trial and the manner in which the two activists were given stiff jail terms. Describing the trial as being at variance with international human rights standards, Mr Turk said: 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. While Mr Turk has vowed to follow up the matter with Chinese authorities, his intervention is likely to be brushed aside by a country that has intensified attacks on rights activists after President Xi came to power in 2012. For now at least, Xus dream of a China that is beautiful, free, fair and happy seems to lie in tatters, as indeed does his hope of a democratic country. In a statement released through lawyers shortly before his sentencing, Xu had expressed the hope that the ideals of the New Citizens Movement would be realised in our time. That hope, along with the two activists, has now been imprisoned, and the chilling effect of the action is likely to deter others who might have had similar aspirations. Another book fair is in the offing! It may sound a bit out of place when the entire state is reeling under sweltering heat but this is what is going to happen on the advent of Bengali New Year. The publishers and Booksellers Guild will be assisted in their efforts by KMC, KMDA and 93 Club Samanyaya Parishad of South Kolkata. Come 16 April, bibliographers in the city would once again get a chance to have a tryst with rows of books, although not as big as the Kolkata International Book Fair. The Publishers and Booksellers Guild yet again has come forward to organize another book fair and this time the destination would be at South Kolkata and the venue would be Taltola Ground, just beside EEDF, opposite to the South City Mall. In a bid to fill the vacuum created by the abrupt shift of venue of the annual Book fair from Maidan in Park street to Salt Lake, a persistent demand to organize a book fair in South Kolkata was pouring in for quite some time now. With the requisite help from member mayor-in-council (MMIC) Debasish Kumar, the guild has decided to pitch in with a gift to book lovers in the city, said Tridib Kumar Chatterjee, general secretary of the guild. Elaborating further, Chatterjee told news persons while addressing a press conference that the Kolkata Book fair that would commence on 16 April at Taltola ground in South Kolkata would continue till 26 April. As many as 84 publishers would take part in the fair and a few little magazine stalls too would be installed there. Eminent novelist Sirshendu Mukhopadhyay would inaugurate the fair on 16 April. Book lovers would get a 20 per cent discount on each purchase, said Chatterjee. The FBI wants to question a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war, two people familiar with the investigation said Thursday. FBI officials had earlier narrowed the pool of possible suspects in the leak that revealed details about internal U.S. government assessments on the war and about relations with allies. Investigators now believe that the person who led the chat group where the documents were posted is a member of the Air National Guard in Massachusetts who specializes in intelligence, according to the two people, who were not authorized to discuss an ongoing investigation publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity to The Associated Press. The New York Times earlier reported the FBIs interest in the person, identified by people familiar with the matter as Jack Teixeira. The Defense Department did not confirm his identity but said in a statement that, We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents. The Biden administration has been working to assess the diplomatic and national security consequences of the leaked documents since they were first reported last week. A top Pentagon spokesman told reporters earlier this week that the disclosures present a very serious risk to national security, and the Justice Department opened an investigation to identify the person responsible. Were getting close, President Joe Biden told reporters in Ireland on Thursday. He said that though he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been disclosed, theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. The Justice Department declined to comment Thursday. Its possible the leak may have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community. In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the posters own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of folded papers. Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed, which may provide critical clues as to who is responsible. Typically in classified briefings, as with the slides that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That is done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected afterward. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. Its those digital clues like the record of printouts that may help investigators hone in on who took the documents. In most of the photographs of documents posted online the pictures are of paper copies that look like they had been folded into quarters almost as if theyd been stuffed into someones pocket. In the days since the leaks came to light, the Pentagon has deferred questions on the investigation to the Justice Department, stating that its a criminal matter. Even if the person who leaked the files is an active duty member of the U.S. military, the Justice Department would likely still have to lead in the prosecution until it was ready to turn the matter over to the Defense Department, a defense official told the AP on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive matters. This has been the case in previous criminal cases, such as when two Marines based at Camp Pendleton in California were arrested on drug trafficking charges in 2020, the official said. If the person responsible turns out to be a civilian, the Justice Department will be responsible, the official said. CNN reported earlier Thursday that the FBI believed it was getting close to identifying a suspect. Sign up for our weekly newsletter to get more English-language news coverage from EL PAIS USA Edition State law minister Moloy Ghatak has got a temporary relief from the Delhi High Court today in connection with the coal smuggling case. The Enforcement Directorate called Moloy Ghatak to New Delhi on 29 March and his personal assistant Shankar Chakraborty on 23 March. The case will be heard next on 26 April and till that day ED will not be able to take any strong action against Moloy Ghatak, the high court has said verbally. Mr Ghataks counsel, in his petition, has alleged that despite appearing once in New Delhi and submitting all documents, his client has been repeatedly harassed. Meanwhile, inspector Mohammad Ali, inspector in-charge of Suri police station in Birbhum, who has been recently interrogated by the Enforcement Directorate in the coal smuggling case, has been transferred. People and not the leaders will select the Trinamul Congress candidates for the forthcoming three-tier panchayats, said Abhishek Banerjee, Trinamul Congress national general secretary. At the same time, he urged the people to gherao local and state BJP leaders and ask them to answer why the dues of West Bengal worth more than Rs 1 lakh crore have not been cleared. He was addressing a huge gathering at Onda in Bankura this afternoon. None of our leaders, however powerful, will select the candidates for the forthcoming panchayat election. You will select the candidates and you will be informed how to do it, he said. In the 2019 Lok Sabha election BJP candidates Dr Subhas Sarkar and Soumitra Khan had won from Bankura and Bishnupur seats. Referring to the victory of BJP candidates, Banerjee said Some people voted for the BJP as they became victims of BJPs divisive politics and Ram Mandir issue. The BJP is not interested in setting up schools, colleges, universities and hospitals. They believe in dividing society. Those who had voted for the BJP know very well that it had miserably failed to bring down the price of diesel, petrol, kerosene and that of essential commodities. Religious faith is personal but one has to work for the development of the area. Throwing a challenge to Dr Sarkar and Mr Khan, he said During Covid you did not see them. But you got Trinamul workers who had helped you. He said people coming from the areas like Saltora, Chapra did not vote for Trinamul but they were not deprived of the benefits offered by the state. The state government gives the benefits irrespective of the political colour. Mr Banerjee maintained that the dues of all the states have been cleared except West Bengal because of BJPs vindictive politics. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee said the name of the Avas Yojana should be called Bangla Avas Yojana and not on the name of the prime minister. Just because of this, the money has been stalled. We have submitted names of 11 lakh people for the Avas Yojana and there is no corruption but we know that the BJP panchayat pradhan has included his wifes name in the list of the beneficiaries. Coming down heavily on the BJP, he said the Acche Din of BJP is the biggest hoax. The BJP had lied to the people. No development in the area was carried out except making false promises. Do not trust them. They speak more lies than truth, he remarked. Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel on Wednesday met a delegation of UK MPs who are part of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on trade and investment. The meeting, held in Gandhinagar, saw the chief minister invite the best universities in the UK to set up campuses in Gujarat, in light of the successful collaboration between the Biotechnology University in GIFT City and the University of Edinburgh. The delegation consisted of eight MPs from the Labour and Conservative parties, the Scottish National Party and the cross bench, including Bob Blackman, Karan Bilimoria, Martyn Day, Nia Griffith, Rajinder Paul Loomba, and Andrew Rosind. According to a statement, the delegation expressed interest in several projects, including solar rooftop, waste to energy and steel plants. The APPG is in India from April 9 to April 15, covering Delhi, Pune, Mumbai and Ahmedabad. The meeting highlighted the importance of trade and investment between India and the UK, and the potential for collaboration between the two countries in various fields. Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday held a high-level review meeting on the security situation in the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir. The meeting was attended by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Lt. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir Manoj Sinha, Union Home Secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla, besides Director (IB), RAW Chief, senior officials of the Government of India and officers from Jammu & Kashmir. During the review, the home minister took stock of the functioning of the security grid and various aspects related to security. He reiterated that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Government of India is committed to zero tolerance against terrorism. Shah also reviewed the Area Domination Plan, Zero Terror Plan, law and order situation, cases related to UAPA and other security related issues. The home minister appreciated efforts of the security agencies and administration of the Union Territory of Jammu & Kashmir for substantial reduction in cross border infiltration and improvement in law & order and advised strengthening of routine policing. Shah reviewed preparations for the G-20 Meeting which is scheduled to be held in Srinagar in May and asked all agencies to work in a coordinated manner for successful conduct of the event. After evading police for the last 48 days, two prime accused in the Umesh Pal murder case were gunned down by Uttar Pradesh STF on February 24. Mafia don Atiq Ahmeds third son Asad and a shooter, Gulam, were killed in an encounter in Paricha area of Jhansi on Thursday afternoon. The police had earlier announced Rs 5 lakh award on the heads of both the criminals. Atiq fainted in the courtroom on hearing about the death of his son. He was brought to Prayagraj for hearing for his remand in the Umesh Pal murder case along with his brother Afzal. Later, the court allowed seven days police remand of both Atiq and Afzal in the case. Hearing news of his sons death in a police encounter, Atiq Ahmed broke down in the courtroom after. The distraught father, unable to control himself, sat on the ground crying bitterly. Slogans of Yogi Adityanath Zindabad were raised by lawyers inside the court as news of the encounter came in. Heavy sloganeering against Atiq by the lawyers was witnessed outside the CGM court when Atiq was produced before the court. Amid the sloganeering, someone threw a shoe at Atiq but he was not hit. The body of Asad is likely to be brought to Prayagraj tomorrow and Atiq could seek parole to attend his funeral, sources said. DG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar and ADG ( STF) Amitabh Yash informed the media that Asad and Gulam fired 40 rounds of bullets from their foreign-made pistols after they were surrounded by a 12-member STF team led by Deputy SP Nevendu and Deputy SP Vimal. They said a British Bulldog revolver was used by Asad and a Walther P-88 pistol was found with Ghulam. These were the same weapons used in the murder of Umesh Pal. The encounter took place at Baragaon under Paricha dam police station area in Jhansi when the deceased were reportedly returning from Ajmer in Rajasthan. There was a criminal case against Asad and six cases against Ghulam. ADG STF Amitabh Yash said, Today, after a lot of hard work, the STF team was successful in tracking down Asad and Ghulam. We already knew that they had modern weapons which is why we had already made all the preparations. Asad and Ghulam were the main shooters of this incident who have been killed in the encounter in Jhansi. The incident of their crime killing Umesh Pal was seen almost live by the entire country as CCTV footage was available. The police officers also did not rule out the duo trying to attack the police convoy accompanying Atiq from Sabarmati Jail to free the don. There was also a report of the police nabbing another shooter Guddu Muslim in Jalaun, also involved in the crime. But the police were tight lipped on it. Five shooters were absconding after the murder of Umesh Pal in Prayagraj on February 24. Out of these, Asad and Ghulam were killed by the STF today. While the police killed Arbaaz in an encounter four days after the incident and on March 6, Usman alias Vijay Choydhury was killed in an encounter. Six shooters, including Atiq Ahmeds son Asad, were seen on CCTV firing bullets and bombs on Umesh Pal. Umeshs wife filed a report against Atiq, Ashraf, Shaista, Atiqs son, Guddu Muslim, Usman and several unknown operatives and associates of Atiq. A reward of Rs 5 lakh each was declared on Asad, Ghulam, Guddu Muslim, Sabir and Armaan. Asad, who was killed in a police encounter in Jhansi, was Ahmeds third son. His elder son Umar is lodged in Lucknow jail and second son Ali is in Naini jail. The minor fourth and fifth son are presently lodged in the Child Improvement Home Rajrooppur, Prayagraj. The Central government on Thursday told the Supreme Court that the figures on the alleged attacks on Christians and their institutions were incorrect and they just wanted the pot boiling. Contesting the claims of alleged attacks on the Christians and their institutions, the Centre has told the apex court that it was apparent that the petitioners just wanted to keep the the pot boiling to sully the image of the country. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, told a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud, Justice Pamidighantam Sri Narasimha and Justice J B Pardiwala, The petition sent a wrong message to the public. This is how it is being displayed outside the country. This is the message that goes out to the public that Christians are in danger and are being attacked. This is wrong. Archbishop of Bangalore Diocese Dr. Peter Machadoc and other Christian community leaders had sought directions to the Centre to take steps to stop violence and mob attacks against the members of the Christian community in various states across the country and for enforcing of the guidelines issued by the top court by its 2018 judgment to curb hate crimes. The solicitor general said that as per the information furnished by the states, the figures of alleged attacks on the Christians and their institutions were found to be wrong. The petitioner claimed that there are some 500 incidents where Christians were attacked. We sent everything to the state governments. We collated all information we got, Solicitor General said further pointing out that neighbourhood fights in which one side happens to be a Christian is being projected as an attack on them. He said wherever there is grave offence and arrests had to be made, arrests have been made. Taking note of the report filed by the Centre, the bench gave three weeks time to the petitioner to respond to it. Senior advocate Colin Gonsalves, appearing for the petitioners, sought time to file response to the Centres reply. The Supreme Court had on September 1, 2022, asked the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) to call for reports from eight State governments Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Bihar, Haryana, Jharkhand, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh on a plea alleging attacks on the Christian community and their institutions and absence of nodal officers to check and prevent such incidents including hate speech as ordered by the top court in 2018. The top court by its 2018 judgment had mandated both the Centre and the States to take preventive steps to curb hate crimes including the lynching incidents. Encroachers on forest land attacked a team of the Forest Department and injured a forest ranger. The team of forest officials was on a visit to the forest land to prepare it for tree plantation in the Ujjain district of Madhya Pradesh when the attack took place. According to the police, the Forest Department team comprising six persons, led by forest ranger Rakesh Gonekar (42) had gone to Umrajhar forest area in the Tarana region of Ujjain yesterday. The team had to identify spots for tree plantation and prepare the land for the same. However, some villagers, who are encroachers on the forest land, accosted the forest team and began arguing. Soon the accused became agitated and began pelting stones on the forest staff. The ranger sustained injuries in the stone pelting and started bleeding profusely. The other team members somehow managed to take the injured ranger to the Makdon police station and lodged a complaint. According to Makdon police station in-charge K K Tiwari, a case has been registered against four persons identified by the forest staff. The police officer said that the accused, Badri, Rameshwar, Dashrath and Kamal have been booked under sections 535, 332, 186, 189, 294, 506 and 34 of the IPC. The accused had fled the village when the police reached there to arrest them. A search is on to nab the miscreants. India and the European Union (EU) propose to expedite negotiations on a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) soon. Broad contours of the FTA were discussed between Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani at a meeting in Rome yesterday. The two ministers expressed satisfaction at the high growth in bilateral trade between India and Italy, which has reached around $16 billion in 2022 and resolved to expand it further. Goyal briefed Tajani on the progress made on the India-EU FTA negotiation. The two sides underlined the importance of achieving a free, balanced and fair FTA. They also agreed to the convening of the next session of the Joint Commission on Economic Cooperation (JCEC) in Rome in the last week of September 2023. The two ministers exchanged views on how the India-Italy trade and economic partnership could be leveraged for growth across diverse sectors. During the meeting, the two ministers expressed happiness over the elevation of the bilateral relations to the level of strategic partnership following the recent state visit of Prime Minister of Italy Giorgia Meloni to India. Tajani suggested the formation of a Joint Working Group in strategic areas such as space, technology, defence, agriculture, etc., to follow up on the important developments in these areas. Tajani suggested strengthening the Parliamentary friendship group diplomacy between the Parliaments of the two countries and exploring the scope for having a cyber dialogue. Goyal briefed Tajani on Indias G20 priorities and extended an invitation to him for the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting in India in August. Goyal emphasised enhancing bilateral cooperation in the field of clean energy to achieve sustainability to mitigate the negative impact of climate change. BRS MLC Kalvakuntla Kavitha on Thursday said she did not know conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar and accused the BJP of trying to defame the BRS Government and her father Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao after failing to defeat him politically. The conman, who is currently in jail, has released WhatsApp chats purportedly between Kavitha and AAPs Satyender Jain and himself and said he had handed over Rs 15 crore in Telangana Bhavan, the BRS party headquarters in Hyderabad following the instruction of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal. I am not even familiar with the real Sukesh Chandrasekhar. I dont even know who he is, said Kavitha in a statement released today. Kavitha, the daughter of Telangana chief minister has repeatedly faced interrogation by CBI and ED in connection with the Delhi Liquor Scam and the probe agency said that she headed the South Liquor Lobby along with other businessmen as well as politicians. Kavitha has so far denied all charges and dismissed the accusations as political vendetta. They are trying to defame the Telangana government, BRS party, KCR and the family members by using the criminal Sukesh as a pawn, said the MLC. Kavitha has been recommended bed rest after suffering an avulsion fracture. In her statement, she pointed out that a criminal wanted in financial crime released an anonymous letter which was promptly forwarded to the Election Commission by BJP MLA M Raghunandan Rao and then Nizamabad MP and her arch rival Arvind Dharmapuri followed the BJP tool kit and promptly posted it on social media. She said it was a deliberate plan and conspiracy to defame the BRS party. She said a similar ploy was used when the ED had stated she had destroyed her earlier phones in order to destroy evidence but she had submitted the phones to the probe agency. She lamented that nowadays media, television channels and YouTube channels were used for political propaganda and spreading fake news. Licenses of 18 pharma companies have been cancelled for manufacturing spurious medicines following an inspection by the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) on 76 companies across 20 states, sources said on Thursday. Action has been taken on 70 companies in Himachal Pradesh and 45 in Uttarakhand and 23 in Madhya Pradesh during the government crackdown on companies manufacturing spurious medicines, official sources said. ANI has accessed the list of companies that manufactured spurious medicines. According to a list of accessed by ANI, most of the companies against whome action has been taken are registered in Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The license of Himalaya Meditek Pvt Ltd registered in Dehradun was suspended for manufacturing with immediate effect from December 30, 2022 and permission for it to manufacture 12 products was cancelled on February 7, this year. Showcause and stop manufacturing notice was issued to Shri Sai Balaji Pharmatech Pvt Ltd from Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. After verification of compliance by Drug Inspectors, the stop-manufacturing order was revoked. EG Pharmaceuticals, Vill Mandhala, Teh Kasauli, Dist Solan (Himachal Pradesh) was also issued show cause notice and the stop manufacturing order was revoked after verification of compliance. Athens Life Sciences, Mauza Rampur Jattan, Nahan Road Kala Amb, Distt Sirmour 173030 (Himachal) was only issued show cause notice. A warning was issued to Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd,(Unit -II), Rajban Road, Nariwala, Paonta Sahib (Himachal) and a show cause was issued. GNB Medica Lab, in Himachals Solan, has been asked to stop manufacturing in tablets, capsules, dry syrups (Beta-Lactam), Injectables (Liquid Injection -vials, ampoules and PFS) Sachet and Protein Powder (General Section) and show cause notice issued as well as compliance sent to drug inspectors for verification. Gnosis Pharmaceuticals Pvt Limited, Nahan Road, Village Moginand, Kala Amb, Sirmour (Himachal) was given show cause and stop manufacturing notices for Cosmetic Manufacturing. Nestor Pharmaceuticals Limited registered in Faridabad was given a show-cause notice on January 30 this year. The firm was re-inspected post submission of compliance. It was strictly warned with a direction to comply with the provisions of Schedule M of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Rules framed thereunder. The massive crackdown on pharma companies across the country related to the manufacturing of spurious medicines is still underway. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts, a leading hotel group with 15 properties in Sri Lanka and the Maldives, is set to offer Middle Eastern and international travellers the best of Sri Lanka as its debuts at Arabian Travel Market (ATM) 2023. Located in some of the most picturesque locations in the region, including pristine beaches, lush forests, and historical sites, each property provides a bespoke and unique offering aimed to amplify and complement the guest experience as they discover and immerse themselves in the treasures of each locale. Combining modernity, culture, and heritage, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts offers a wide selection of properties, including luxury hotels, boutique villas, and eco-resorts, each designed to cater to everything a traveller needs to curate their own remarkable Sri Lankan adventure. Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has been at the forefront of minimising environmental footprint while preserving the biodiversity and ecological community in the locations they operate in. Guided by the John Keells Group Environmental, Social and Governmental (ESG) policies, the ESG Framework of Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is dedicated to being responsible stewards and engaging both locals and guests in ESG policies across the hotels. Due to these policies and practices introduced at protecting the environment, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts has reduced its carbon footprint significantly. An achievement that was made possible due to the groups efficient and proactive ESG policies spanning areas such as compliance with local and international regulatory requirements and conventions, quality monitoring and assessment of the environmental impact of the groups operations, services and products, whilst striving to include supply chain partners and customers, where relevant and to the extent possible. Looking ahead to the future, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts aims to reduce the groups carbon footprint of 1,300 tCO2e at the end of 2025 and become a Net Zero hotel chain by 2030. The Companys overall commitment to Sri Lankas biodiversity through the identification of endangered flora and fauna species in each property and the development of a biodiversity management plan. In line with this, the group will further amplify their practices in protecting fresh water and marine eco-systems from plastic waste and reducing single-use plastics by 50% at the end of 2025. With the theme "Working Towards Net Zero" for the 30th edition of the Arabian Travel Market, Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts is set to further solidify its mark as an industry leader in hospitality and sustainability with an announcement of its new strategic plan that will change and elevate South Asias tourism landscape. The exciting new project will be Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts' crown jewel, bringing Colombos vibrant spirit to life as it emerges as the ultimate urban sanctuary, envisioned as the epicentre of modern South Asia. ATM is running from May 1 to 4 at Dubai World Trade Centre. TradeArabia News Service KYODO NEWS - Apr 13, 2023 - 18:02 | World, All Chinese maritime authorities said Thursday that navigation of vessels will be prohibited in designated waters north of Taiwan on Sunday as rocket debris may fall in the area that is near the Tokyo-controlled, Beijing-claimed Senkaku Islands. The announcement by China's Maritime Safety Administration is believed to be related to the country's notification to its neighbors Wednesday that it will establish a no-fly zone north of Taiwan on Sunday morning for "aerospace activities." The rocket wreckage may fall between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Sunday, the administration said. Speculation is rife that China will launch a satellite, and the rocket mentioned by the maritime authorities may be related to it. Meanwhile, Beijing plans to close the airspace about 85 nautical miles from the island's north shore for 27 minutes from 9:30 a.m. Sunday, according to Taiwan authorities. The zone includes part of Japan's exclusive economic zone near the Senkakus in the East China Sea. Japan's Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said Thursday that Tokyo had sought a further explanation from Beijing on the planned airspace closure. China's plan to set up the no-fly zone will affect about 33 flights and possibly require "less than one hour" of extra travel time to detour, Taiwan's Central News Agency quoted the island's transportation minister, Wang Kwo-tsai, as saying Thursday. The no-fly area covers many international flight routes, linking such destinations as Japan, South Korea and the United States, according to Taiwan's Defense Ministry. The development follows the rise of cross-strait tensions triggered by talks last week in California between Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen and U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Related coverage: China to set no-fly zone north of Taiwan on April 16 for space activities Japan dismisses speculation of China link to SDF chopper accident China deploys aircraft carrier Shandong in drill near Taiwan The local Panchayat body in Kinnaur district under the chairmanship of Hangrang Ringchen Cultural Buddhist Heritage Society passed a resolution to ban all rituals in marriages which do not follow their culture and tradition. On the occasion, the Assistant-Pradhan of the Sumra village Panchayat Tsering said, This resolution was passed by the Panchayat to save the outside cultures which had started invading our marriage ceremony in the religion and it pollutes the local culture and tradition. The matter of outside traditions intruding on our culture and rituals in marriages was brought up in our Panchayat Gram Sabha house last month. Rituals in marriage, Mehandi ceremony, cake cutting, Sehra tying, shoe hiding etc are not part of our tradition and rituals. The Gram Sabha of our Panchayat has agreed to ban it and we are happy about this, he added. Over a dozen village Panchayats are now planning to pass such resolutions to preserve and promote the rich culture of the tribal district of Kinnaur soon. Under the guidance of Lochen Rinpoche the 19th reincarnated lama of the Lochen Rinchen Zangpo. Dozens of villages in Hangrang Valley along the Indo-Tibet border are preparing to pass such resolutions following the Sumra village. In this regard, the HP Tribal Development Minister Jagat Singh Negi mentioned that there is nothing wrong in taking steps to preserve the local culture. Yogi With the passage of time, the exposure of the people in tribal areas in our region has increased. People are going out to study and jobs. It is natural that the outside culture is added to local folk. The resolution from last village of Kinnur, the village Panchayat at Sumra has passed a resolution to protect, preserve and promote the local tradition. I think there is nothing wrong with it. Our Culture of Kinnaur is very rich, if someone is doing such steps to preserve it willingly there is no harm in it, he added. He further stated that the promotion of the preservation of culture is the need of the hour. There is a cultural society in Hangrang Valley and Lochen Rinpoche is the head of that society. Annually they organize cultural programmes and all village Panchayats participate in that rotations. It is good that they are trying to save the rich tradition and culture. Our society is very liberal as people follow Buddhism and Hinduism simultaneously. It will help to promote and preserve the traditional values among the youth and it is also the need of the hour. I would like to appeal to the people to follow it but at the same time people should learn from other traditions and gain knowledge but also stick to their roots, he added. The Zilla Parishad member from Pooh Ward, Shanta Kumar Negi said that with the help of a Buddhist guru, people are coming forward. Recently, the meeting of the Hangrang Ringchen Cultural Buddhist Heritage Society was conducted under the chairmanship of 19th Locha Ringchen Zangpo and Vice Chair Somang Rinpoche. In the general meeting of the organization, the matter was raised during the marriages. Especially in the Hangrang Valley, encroachment of external tradition has started. It was decided to let the people take this matter to the gram sabhas of all the panchayats of Hangrang Valley and it was decided to go and conduct an opinion poll. Supporting this effort, the Gram Sabha of Sumra Panchayat passed the resolution and sent it to the society. We are planning more such in near future, Shanta Kumar Negi said. Village Panchayat Samiti member Panma Dorjee mentioned that all the villages in the region are in favour of this. In a General Body Meeting of Hangrang Ringchen Cultural Buddhist Heritage Society, our member villages of the valley participated and stated that the old tradition is being ignored at weddings. People protested against it and after making a consensus opinion was sought from village to village through Gram Sabhas. Sumra Panchayat has supported, it is expected that other member villages will also cooperate positively in this direction, Panma said. The local residents believe that Society has an impact on the people and any decisions taken in the past are followed by the local people. In the Hangrang Valley we have faith in the guru Lochen and the society is associated with the Buddhist guru in the region. The general body of that society, the issue that new traditions are being established in marriages and old are wiping out. It was considered and people are now following it with Panchayati Raj Institutions and elected members, even before the English liquor and new initiative of serving meat were stopped by the intervention of the same society, a local resident said. Amid the ongoing Urban Local Bodies polls in Uttar Pradesh, death of Asad, son of mafia don Atiq Ahmed, and his accomplice in an encounter triggered a political controversy with Opposition parties demanding a high-level probe into the incident. While the ruling BJP and the state ministers were lauding the STF for neutralising the criminals, the Samajwadi Party (SP), the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) and the Congress insisted on a probe into the encounter. Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath appreciated the UP DGP, Special DG and the entire police team along with UPSTF for the encounter. Principal Secretary Home Sanjay Prasad informed him about the encounter. The report of the encounter has been handed over to the chief minister. Earlier, Yogi had asserted in the assembly that his government will dump the criminals in the dust. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya has also congratulated the UP STF after former MP Atiq Ahmeds son Asad and his associate were killed in the police encounter. He said that it was certain that the murderers would eventually be punished. He said criminals should be treated like criminals, nothing more. We will not compromise at all on the issue of law and order, he averred. The deputy chief minister also said such a fate of a criminal should serve as a lesson for parents who should have ensured that their wards wont become criminals. State Deputy Chief Minister Brajesh Pathak said no mafia would be spared. He (Atiq) will get the harshest punishment. The Yogi Government is committed to provide safe governance to the people. Reacting to the news of the encounter, slain lawyer Umesh Pals wife Jaya said that justice has begun to be delivered and whatever has happened was good. She said today her heart has gotten some relief. Atiq should also be killed in an encounter and then only we will get the real justice. Crediting and thanking Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for the outcome, Umesh Pals mother Shanti Pal said, The police have done their duty. We were already demanding that the criminals be killed in an encounter. Whatever has been done to them has a legal basis. These people were escaping the law for so long. Now that the police have taken them to their logical end my soul is satisfied. They shot my son and the gunner sitting behind him. Todays encounter has given me a lot of relief. In his reaction to the encounter, Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav, in a tweet, called the encounter illegal and demanded a high-level probe to bring out the truth. He tweeted, By doing false encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. The BJP does not believe in the court at all. Todays and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared. Power does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. BSP chief Mayawati tweeted, Many types of discussions are hot on the killing of Prayagrajs Atiq Ahmeds son and another in a police encounter today. People feel that their apprehension of a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident has come true. Therefore, a high-level inquiry is necessary so that the complete facts and truth of the incident can come in front of the public. In a tweet, Hyderabad MP and AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi said, Uttar Pradesh Encounter, ask whether BJP govt will shoot those who killed Junaid and Nasir in Haryana. Will BJP people shoot those who killed Junaid and Nasir also, but will not because you do encounter in the name of religion. The Congress also questioned the encounter, calling it a clear case of violation of human rights. A Pakistani drone carrying currency and AK-47 ammunition into Indian territory was on Thursday shot down by the security forces along the Line of Control (LOC) in Rajouri district. A massive search operation has been launched in the forest area to track down the terrorists for whom the consignment had been flown by Pakistan backed terror handlers. Suspicious movement of an aerial object was noticed in Beri Patan and Siot areas of Sunderbani along the LoC last night after which the drone was brought down. Giving details of the incident, defence spokesman Lt Colonel Devender Anand said: On the intervening night of 12-13 April, the alert troops of Indian Army in coordination with J&K Police recovered a drone crossing the Line of Control from Pakistan into Indian territory in Beri Pattan area of Sunderbani sector, District Rajouri. He said that 131 rounds of AK-47, five magazines and Rs 2 lakh in cash have been recovered. The search operations are currently under progress, he added. Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale on Wednesday said that Prime Minister Modi is alone enough to take on all opposition parties that want to forge unity to take on BJP in the 2024 elections. Speaking to ANI in Mumbai, Atawale said National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is really strong under the leadership of PM Modi. If opposition parties want to come together, they can. PM Modi alone is enough to take on all of them. NDA is really strong under the leadership of PM Modi, Union Minister said on Bihar CM Nitish Kumar meeting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The union ministers response came after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav met Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi as also Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday. The opposition parties are striving as part of their efforts to unite as many opposition parties as possible to take on the BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Sources said there will be a meeting of opposition parties by the end of April after consultations with them and Nitish Kumar and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge will talk to the opposition parties. After the meeting, Kharge talked of fighting the polls unitedly. Rahul Gandhi also talked of standing together and fighting together. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said it is essential for all opposition parties to unite and oust the BJP-led government in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. The meetings are being seen as an attempt by Congress and other opposition parties to take forward their unity displayed during the budget session of Parliament session that concluded on April 6. The session saw continuous disruptions over the oppositions demand for a JPC probe into the Hindenburg-Adani row. The opposition parties also slammed the government over the disqualification of Rahul Gandhi from Lok Sabha following his conviction by a Surat court in a criminal defamation case. BJP leader and Information and Broadcasting Minister Anurag Thakur on Wednesday took a swipe at the opposition parties over their efforts to forge unity to take on the BJP in the 2024 elections and said these parties were coming together for Maha thug Bandhan. When political parties that are indulging in corruption come together they form Maha Thug Bandhan. Corruption cannot be hidden. People know that they have neither policies, leadership, nor intention. People do not vote when there is a wrong intention. They dont have any policy or leadership. People will not vote for them. During 2014, 2019 and UP polls also formed this Maha Thug Bandhan but nothing happened as people know about them, Thakur told ANI. Rahul Gandhi described the meeting with Janata Dal-United and RJD leaders as a historic step towards opposition unity and an ideological fight. Rahul Gandhi, who posted a picture of Kharge and him with JD-U and RJD leaders, said they are standing together, will fight together for India. In this battle of ideology, a historic step has been taken today towards opposition unity. (We are) standing together will fight together for India! Rahul Gandhi said in a tweet on Wednesday. Janata Dal-United president Rajiv Ranjan (Lalan) Singh was also present at the meeting held at Kharges residence. Nitish Kumar said they will try to unite as many parties as possible. We will try to unite as many political parties as we can and move forward together. We will sit and deliberate on the way forward. We have had discussions. Those who agree with uswe will then take decisions about the future. A lot of people will come together, he said on Wednesday. To help farmers who have suffered losses due to heavy rains across the state recently, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday started the process to disburse compensation with the state government distributing Rs 40 crore on its maiden day. Addressing a gathering after launching a campaign to disburse the compensation for crop loss and damage to houses due incessant rains, the chief minister said he had himself distributed Rs 6 crore out of a total Rs 12.94 crore as compensation for 362 villages of Fazilka. Mann said this is not an occasion to celebrate because he is here to compensate the farmers for their loss inflicted by natures fury. He said this reflects the firm commitment of his government to bail out the people especially the food growers in this hour of crisis. He further said after the incessant rains he had extensively toured the affected areas to take stock of the situation at the ground level. He was peeved to note the colossal loss suffered by the farmers due to the inclement weather condition. Immediately after that the state government has ordered a comprehensive special Girdawari to ascertain the loss suffered by the people. The CM said this time a complete transparent mechanism has been adopted for conducting the Girdawari in an efficient manner. He had promised that before Baisakhi the process to start compensation would start adding that it is a matter of great pride and satisfaction that this campaign has started today. Mann said his government has made 25 per cent upward revision in the compensation for the crop loss to the farmers adding that in case the loss is more than 75 per cent then the state government is compensating the farmers with Rs 15,000 per acre. The CM said that for the first time in the history of the state the drive to disburse compensation has been started within 20 days of loss as none of the earlier governments had ever bothered about it. The Centre will not go ahead with the privatization of the steel plant for the time being and instead will strengthen the Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited (RINL), the corporate entity of Vizag Steel Plant, said Union Minister of State for Steel Faggan Singh Kulaste at Visakhapatnam on Thursday. The Centre was also looking at resolving the issue of captive mines. The BRS claimed that the Centres announcement came in the wake of Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Raos decision to participate in the bidding to raise working capital for the steel plant through Singareni Collieries. The NDA governments decision may also be prompted by the stiff resistance it faced from several quarters including the employees against its decision to privatize Visakhapatnam Steel Plant considering that the Assembly and General elections will be held next year and the BJP has some presence in the port city. At this moment, on this date we dont have any such intention. We are going to strengthen the RINL in future. We are also sorting out the problem of mining and I feel in future RINL will be able to run on its own, said the Union Minister. He went on to add that the move by the BRS government in Telangana to participate in the bidding to raise working capital was just a political move. RINL recently invited Expression of Interest (EoI) to provide working capital and raw materials after it faced severe shortage to keep the plant running. Khulaste will be holding discussions with the management, workers unions and all stakeholders. The workers have been agitating for almost two years after the Centres plan for 100 per cent disinvestment of RINL was revealed. With both the TDP and YSRCP keen to keep the central leadership of BJP in good humour there wasnt much political pressure on the Centre before the BRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao decided to enter the scene. Telangana Industry Minister KT Rama Rao said the Centres decision to back out was prompted by the Chief Ministers decision to send officials of Singaren Collieries to Vizag. He said: It was our chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao who spoke strongly on the issue of Visakha Steel. We fought hard and now the Centre has made a statement on temporarily backing down on the privatization of Visakha steel. KCRs blow is effective in that way. BRS leader in Andhra Pradesh Ravela Kishore Babu said: The government of India going back on the privatisation of Vizag Steel plant is a victory for BRS which is opposing any kind of privatisation. When the main political parties in AP could not fight for the steel plant, BRS under the leadership of KCR started fighting to save the steel plant from being privatised. The BRS working president KT Rama Rao had accused the Centre of pushing VSP into loss in order to hand it over to Adani and Korean steelmaker Posco who have set up a steel plant at Mundra in Gujarat. The modest bhujia has long been a ridiculously well-liked food option in India. The delicious bhujia has been a constant in our eating habits and daily routines, whether it is for breakfast in the morning when combined with tea or any other beverage, for a quick break from work in the afternoon, or for night-time snacks. That bhujia is frequently used as a crucial garnishing for foods and preparations in our everyday eating customs and culture. Invented under the patronage of the Bikaneri royalty However, few people are aware that the humble bhujia did not actually have low beginnings. Instead, it is thought to have royal origins according to the majority of accounts, including popular history. According to legend, in 1877, Maharaja Dungar Singh of the then-princely state of Bikaner was the one who first had this delicious savoury made for his guests. The Maharaja and his guests were served the snack, and to everyones pleasure, they couldnt help but keep asking for more and more of the item they had just tried for the first time in their lives. The besan or gram-flour-based snack, which was light or golden yellow in colour and spiced with a variety of herbs and seasonings, had never before delighted the royal palates of Bikaner and Rajasthan. Became a mass product in course of time But that was only the start. The freshly created savoury, which was crispy, crunchy, and utterly irresistible, quickly made its way from the royal kitchen and nobilitys homes to the homes of commoners and families, becoming a culinary craze in Bikaner and elsewhere. The raging popularity of this savoury quickly attracted small businesses, food adventurers, and entrepreneurs even before the word entrepreneur became fashionable in India who turned this obsession into formal business outlets. In due course, bhujia came to be one of the most constant and staple offerings of countless street food vendors, snack stall owners, and food and snack business operators who started to serve bhujia to their customers not only as an independent offering but also by combining it with other food items and tidbits to satisfy the need and demand of the ever-increasing patrons of this snack. Bhujia became a constant presence everywhere, whether it was on pushcarts, bicycle carts, on-head vendors, or established stores and stalls. Family businesses took the lead, later joined by multinationals By the turn of the century, a significant number of small localised players had appeared in Bikaner and even further afield in Rajasthan as a part of the so-called cottage industry, advancing bhujia as a core product as a part of their larger basket of offerings. Around the middle of the 20th century, a few famous family-owned ethnic food companies were established, using bhujia and its variations as their main product to capitalise on the snacks enduring and unwavering popularity. These family-owned companies and their numerous offshoots have developed into prominent ethnic food brands with a presence both domestically and abroad. In an effort to join the trend, several multinational corporations have developed their own versions of bhujia and related savouries over the past few decades in an effort to catch up with the family-owned Indian ethnic food and savoury businesses. Modern packaging has increased shelf life while reinforcing their identity Unlike the open and loose forms of bhujias that were previously distributed, the introduction of contemporary and designer packaging has increased their shelf life while also giving bhujias their own unique identity. Different types and variations of bhujia have developed over time based on the primary ingredients used to make them. Because of the need to preserve the purity and freshness of the product, packaging has become an essential component of the entire process as production of this savoury has progressively scaled up as part of the expanding savoury snack companies due to their continuously rising popularity. For the packaging of these bhujias, the use of contemporary packaging materials like laminated low-density polyethylene and polypropylene pouches has been especially noteworthy.It is not surprising that ethnic bhujia now accounts for over 15 per cent of the Indian savoury industry. At the same time, branded and locally produced bhujias coexist with their branded equivalents in tier II and III markets. Therefore, the humble bhujia has gone a long way since then. The governments decision to give it the Geographical Indication label in 2020 attests to both its enduring fame and the distinctiveness and exclusivity in terms of appeal and reputation that this modest savoury from the Bikaner region has established for itself. It should come as no surprise that bhujia and its variations, including more recent spinoffs like aloo bhujia, paneer bhujia, and maggibhujia, will continue to dominate snack lovers hearts and minds both in India and around the world. Even as detecting cancer early remains key, a Gurugram-based startup PredOmix has developed a novel blood test that can detect about 32 cancers in both men and women, with 98 per cent accuracy. The companys OncoVeryx-F is a patented technology that combines metabolomics (study of small molecules) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to identify metabolite signatures of multiple cancers in a single test. Metabolomics is a particularly suitable technique for cancer detection since metabolic reprogramming constitutes one of the hallmarks of cancer cells. By using appropriate big data algorithms, metabolite asignatures characteristic of cancer can be accurately extracted from the serum metabolome, Dr. Kanury V.S. Rao, Co-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer (CSO), PredOmix, told IANS. The test was first launched in 2022 and identified four major female-specific malignancies in a single blood test: breast, endometrium, cervix, and ovary. The company has now upgraded it to 32 cancers of both men and women that are notoriously difficult to otherwise detect. These are pancreatic cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, brain cancer, and sarcomas. In addition to this, cancers that cause the most deaths in India breast cancer, cervical cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, esophageal cancer, oral cancer and prostate cancer are also covered. OncoVeryx-F also aids in determining the presence or absence of cancer as well as the tissue of origin or cancer type, the company said. The development of this test will have a considerable impact on cancer mortality, especially in situations when the early discovery of the disease might significantly improve treatment outcomes.This test will enable medical practitioners to detect cancer early, leading to more effective treatment regimens and a higher chance of survival, Rao said. Cancer needs to be addressed immediately because it is the main cause of premature deaths worldwide and the best way to reduce cancer-related mortality is still early-stage detection, he noted, adding that the current screening procedures can only detect a small number of cancers. For example, while the accuracy of mammography for breast cancer screening is between 80-95 per cent, that of either the pap test or colonoscopy for cervical and colorectal cancer screening is only approximately 70 per cent. Additionally, each of these screening methods is intended to find just one specific form of cancer. Symptoms that only manifest in the later stages of the disease still serve as the basis for the diagnosis of the remaining cancer types. We recognise the need for better screening methods and are proud to announce the expansion of our current cancer screening test to a 32-cancer test for both men and women, including hard-to-detect cancers for the Indian population, Rao told IANS. To test their technology, a field study was conducted with blood samples collected from over 4,000 patients spread across different geographic regions of India. The company said the results were excellent, and the average detection accuracy was 98 per cent. It has now filed a provisional international patent application with the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO). Clinical trials with over 10,000 people in India have also been initiated by the company in order to validate the results. The company has presently has licence for their software as a medical device from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation Currently this is a laboratory developed test, however we will be completing our Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) approved clinical trial in the next few months and plan to get DGCI approval soon, the company said. The test for women specific cancers is priced at Rs 12,000, the company said, adding that the cost would be different for the 32 cancers for men, which is still under development and would be available later this year. Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava made a courtesy call to Nepal Home Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha to discuss a wide range of issues relating to both nations. Srivastava reached the office of the Home Minister in Singhadurbar, the administrative capital of Nepal and discussed Nepal PM Parachandas visit to India, diplomatic relations between India and Nepal, border security and other issues. Nepals Deputy as well as Home Minister Shrestha assured the Indian Ambassador about the timely visit of the Nepali Prime Minister and committed to making the diplomatic relationship between the two countries stronger. Likewise, Minister Shrestha also stated that India and Nepal should timely discuss and make plans and hold discussions on border management and controlling cross-border criminal activities. Home Minister referring to his recent visit to one of the BOP (Border Out Post) along Indian border stated that both the nations have been carrying out the works along border effectively, an official present in the meeting told ANI. Likewise, Indian Ambassador Srivastava also appraised the Nepali minister that India looks forward to the visit of the Nepali Prime Minister. The Indian Ambassador also mentioned that both nations should give special focus to security along the borders. There also was discussion about Nepalgunj- Rupaidiya, Bhairahawa- Sunauli and Dodhara-Chandani Integrated Check post, the official said. As cordial and close neighbours, India and Nepal have long-standing collaborations in the sphere of education. The capacity-building initiatives and scholarships are a component of Indias efforts to help Nepal improve its human resources and advance the socioeconomic well-being of the entire region. Saint-Laurent, CA (H4T1V6) Today Cloudy with light rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low 36F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%.. Tonight Cloudy with light rain early...then becoming partly cloudy. Low 36F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 80%. KYODO NEWS - Apr 13, 2023 - 19:44 | All, World, Japan North Korea fired a ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan on Thursday, the Japanese and South Korean governments said, prompting a Japanese emergency alert system to warn it may land near Hokkaido. The government later withdrew the warning, however, as it was determined the intercontinental ballistic missile would not land near Japan's northern main island. Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada told reporters the missile, fired eastward from North Korea at a steep angle, did not fall within Japan's territory or exclusive economic zone. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said that an intermediate-range or longer ballistic missile was fired at around 7:23 a.m. from near Pyongyang, flying about 1,000 kilometers before falling into the sea. A South Korean military official said Pyongyang may have tested a new type of solid-propellant ballistic missile. At a press conference in Tokyo, Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno lambasted North Korea's latest missile launch as a violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, saying it was "totally unacceptable." Tokyo lodged a strong protest with Pyongyang via the Japanese Embassy in Beijing, the top government spokesman said. Japan and North Korea have no diplomatic ties. Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi also said later in the day that North Korea's repeated missile launches pose a "grave and imminent threat" to Japan's security. U.S. National Security Council spokeswoman Adrienne Watson condemned North Korea's firing of long-range ballistic missiles, saying it "needlessly raises tensions and risks destabilizing the security situation in the region." The United States "will take all necessary measures to ensure the security" of its key Asian allies of Japan and South Korea, she said in a statement. The Japanese government initially issued a J-Alert warning that urged Hokkaido residents to take shelter as the missile was likely to land in the vicinity of the region around 8 a.m., but it was later retracted through a separate alert system. Matsuno said the missile disappeared off the radar immediately after detection. The government, however, issued the warning from the perspective of protecting the safety of the people, he said, adding it was "appropriate." North Korea's first missile launch since March 27 came as leader Kim Jong Un has stressed the need to expand Pyongyang's war deterrence, while the United States and South Korea have carried out joint military drills. According to Seoul, North Korea has not responded to regularly held calls from the South since late last week, fanning speculation Pyongyang may soon conduct its seventh nuclear test and first since September 2017. Taiwan's Foreign Ministry also strongly condemned the North's missile launch, calling it "irresponsible behavior of the totalitarian" government that poses "a serious challenge to the rules-based international order." Taiwan will keep an eye on North Korea's various acts of military provocation and cooperate with like-minded countries to jointly promote the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and curb the aggression of authoritarianism, the ministry added. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin showed consideration for Pyongyang's move, saying at a press conference Thursday that the current tension on the peninsula can be attributed to recent U.S.-South Korea military drills. "We hope all parties will remain calm, stop pressuring or confrontation," Wang said. He especially sought Washington's "concrete actions" to respond to the North's "legitimate concern" and create conditions for the de-escalation of the situation on the peninsula and resumption of dialogue involving relevant parties. China is North Korea's closest and most influential ally economically. Have an interesting bit of news youd like to see mentioned in the Along the Way column? Email it to Natasha Connolly at news@thesunchronicle.com. The Air Force says it is investigating how a lone airman could access and distribute possibly hundreds of highly classified documents, and in the meantime has taken away the intelligence mission from the unit where the leaks took place. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall told a congressional panel he directed the Air Force inspector general to go look at the Massachusetts Air National Guard base where Airman 1st Class Jack Teixeira served and determine what went wrong to allow such highly classified secrets to be leaked onto an online chat forum popular with gamers. FILE - View of the dry Sau reservoir about 100 km (62 miles) north of Barcelona. Spain, March 20, 2023. The main Spanish farmers association on Thursday, April 13 says drought now affects 60% of the Spanish countryside and is causing irreversible losses to more than 3.5 million hectares of crops, with some regions writing off wheat and barley for this year entirely, the main Spanish farmers association says. Tayla Rose, an Attleboro resident, is the conductor of the International Union of Operating Engineers Local 4. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate LONDON (AP) Prince Harry will attend his fathers coronation, Buckingham Palace said Wednesday, ending months of speculation about whether the prince would be welcome after leveling charges of racism and media manipulation at the royal family. His wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, will remain at the couples home in Southern California with their two young children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the palace said. A nearly identical statement from the Sussex's representatives confirmed the news. The May 6 date of the coronation at Westminster Abbey coincides with their sons birthday. While the announcement should silence the will he or wont he debate in the British media, it wont end the royal soap opera swirling around Harry and Meghan as King Charles III prepares for his coronation. When the prince attended the funerals of his grandfather, Prince Philip, and his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, commentators discussed everything from whether Harry would be allowed to wear his military uniform to exactly where he was seated. And there is always the question of whether he will meet face-to-face with his father and older brother, Prince William. That intrigue will only be heightened after Harry and Meghan stoked their critique of the royal family in a six-part Netflix series about their decision to step back from royal duties three years ago, which was followed by Harrys decision to reveal family secrets in his bestselling memoir Spare. Harry and Meghan, who is biracial, have alleged she faced racist attitudes from both the palace and the U.K. press. The treatment contributed to their decision to leave the country. The revelations in Spare,'' including details of private conversations with his father and brother, Prince William, fanned tensions between Harry and his family that became public when he and his wife moved to North America in 2020. The book also included allegations that members of the royal family regularly feed the press unflattering information about other members of the House of Windsor in exchange for positive coverage of themselves. The prince singled out Camilla, the queen consort, accusing her of leaking private conversations to the media as she sought to rehabilitate her image after marrying Charles. Camilla was once reviled for her long-term affair with Charles, which contributed to the breakdown of his marriage to the late Princess Diana, Harry and Williams mother. The acrimony between Harry and his family once again spilled into public view last month when the Sussexes said that they had been asked to vacate their home in Britain. Frogmore Cottage, a royal residence on the grounds of Windsor Castle west of London, was the couples main residence before they gave up royal duties and moved to Montecito, a wealthy enclave in Southern California. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate CARLINVILLE A Carlinville woman accused in the death of a 3-year-old Macoupin County boy pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of involuntary manslaughter. Ashley N. Bottoms, 34, of Carlinville was charged with manslaughter and endangering the life of a child causing death in connection with the death of Hunter Lee Drew. In a scheduled court appearance Thursday, she pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter. Macoupin County State's Attorney Jordan Garrison said involuntary manslaughter is an accusation that a person unintentionally killed someone without justification. It is a felony punishable by between three and 14 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections. Macoupin Circuit Court Judge Joshua Meyer will sentence Bottoms at 1:30 p.m. June 16. Bottoms was arrested Oct. 22 and held in the Macoupin County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bail. She was accused of throwing the 3-year-old boy against a wall in an attempt to break up a fight. The boy's impact with the wall caused blunt-force trauma that resulted in bleeding in his brain, according to court records. Although it was clear the boy was in distress because of the injury, prosecutors said medical attention was not immediately sought. Charging documents state Bottoms drove the boy around for about three hours before going to Litchfield to pick up the boy's father. It was then someone noticed he was unresponsive and the boy was taken to the Litchfield fire station. He had already died, according to prosecutors. The boy's uncle, Kiel Quigley, and his then-girlfriend and now-wife, Hailee, had cared for Hunter from Oct. 6, 2021, until August. After Illinois Department of Children and Family Services found the boy's biological father, Christopher Gunn, in late 2021, case workers eventually "decided Chris needed to take responsibility for Hunter," Quigley told the Journal-Courier in October. Gunn took formal custody of Drew on Aug. 27. Since the boy's death, Quigley has called for an investigation of DCFS by the Illinois attorney general, Illinois State Police and the inspector general. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate GRANITE CITY Collinsville and Granite City schools were part of a nationwide rash of false active shooter reports on Wednesday. In Granite City parents said the fake report didn't feel like just a new and shocking trend. This was personal. "It was scary," said parent Tina Frasier of Granite City. "Now I don't even know if I want to send her anymore. As with most folks, I'm sure." Frasier, whose 17-year-old daughter Rhomynn, 17 was in Granite City High School when it was locked down Wednesday, said the situation was even more agonizing due to a coincidental lack of communication from the young people. "The kids didn't have their phones because of the state testing today," Frasier said. "So they couldn't contact parents." By noon, most students were reunited with their families. High school classes were truncated for the day. At nearby Coolidge Junior High School, students remained in attendance as scheduled and were dismissed at 2:15 p.m. It was nearly mid-morning Wednesday when word about a threat began to spread in Granite City and beyond. "The Granite City Police Department was alerted to a possible threat at Granite City High School," Superintendent Stephanie Cann said in an initial statement Wednesday morning. "GCPD took quick action and were on site almost immediately after the threat was made. "It has been determined that all students and staff at Granite City High School and Coolidge Junior High are safe and the GCPD will be handling reunification with the district." Assistant Granite City Police Chief Maj. Nick Novacich said his department received a call of potential shots fired at the high school. Law enforcement squads immediately responded, locked down the scene, and secured and searched the campus, Novacich said. Wednesday's call was a hoax, as it was at multiple schools in Illinois and nationwide. At Granite City High School, the threat followed one was in early March that ended with one person being taken into custody after a series of online threats. At that time Cann said additional police officers were stationed at the school because of the threats. The person allegedly responsible for the threats was not identified due to their age. A person also was taken into custody after allegedly making a threat on social media in November involving Granite City High School. The person was charged, but no additional information was released by authorities due to the suspect's age. In Granite City, the threat of a school shooting shattered what had been a quiet, beautiful spring morning. It started for parents about 9:55 a.m. "My older daughter texted me and said there was an active shooter," said Anita Bailey of Granite City. "I was at home. Naturally I got in the car and got up here. Followed one of the cops; got here pretty quick." The drive took 10 minutes, she said. It was "scary," she confirmed, and felt like "hell." She also noted testing prevents reaching students. "They can't have their phone on them, so all the phones are off for everybody," Bailey said. "So it was really scary, not knowing nothing." It was 29 minutes before Bailey heard back from her daughter, Hailey, 17. Her niece, Emily Lievens, 15, also was in the high school. "I was texting her at 9:53; she texted me back at 10:22," Bailey said. Bailey said her daughter was in the main building, but didn't know what was going on. "She did hear a lot of yelling in the hallway. She definitely seen SWAT in there with rifles," Anita Bailey said. It was 10:30 a.m. when the mother learned that the incident was a false report. "It was a huge relief," she said. "Then you turn around and get mad. 'cause it's a waste of time, waste of money. "It's happening every day," she said. "It was bound to happen here but luckily this is a hoax. Even though it's a waste of money. There's a lot of resources here. "Somebody should go to jail for doing this," she said. Collinsville Superintendent Dr. Mark B. Skertick, in a letter sent to parents, said the Collinsville Police Department received a swatting phone call Wednesday morning regarding the high school. A swatting phone call is defined as a false report of an ongoing emergency or threat of violence intended to prompt an immediate tactical law enforcement response. After interaction with the caller, Collinsville Police determined the threat to be non-credible and a hoax. After discussions between police and school officials, additional officers were sent to the high school out of an abundance of caution. No further response was necessary. Skertich said they have learned through the Illinois Statewide Terrorism & Intelligence Center that similar calls were occurring throughout the Metro East and Illinois in an attempt to falsely report emergencies, disrupt law enforcement and gain media coverage. Law enforcement and security officials have been encouraged to remain vigilant and report all suspicious behavior. People convicted of swatting can face federal, state and local charges. Collinsville schools officials asked people to communicate their suspicions and concerns with district staff or police, and to call 911 if there is an imminent danger. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate JERSEYVILLE The Jersey County Sheriff's Office has released information about its new community patrol zones and the names of the deputies assigned to each zone. "We feel blessed to live in a safe and quiet community," said Jersey County Sheriff Nicholas Manns. "Still, as spring arrives, the Jersey County Sheriffs Office is asking our residents to be vigilant and help us keep our county safe." Manns said deputies are still making their way door to door and residents should feel free to contact the deputy responsible for their zone with any questions or concerns. For more information call the Jersey County Sheriffs Office non-emergency number at 618-498-6881. "While we fortunately have no specific threats to report, we know from experience that as the weather warms and our farmers hit the fields, thieves and burglars often look for opportunities," he said. To help the sheriff's office, Mann is asking residents to lock their homes, buildings, vehicles and farm equipment and to remove keys from the ignition. Do not keep garage door openers in vehicles parked outside, he said, and do not leave firearms in unattended vehicles. He advised people not vacations or planned absences on social media, suggesting they let trusted neighbors or family know when they are gone for prolonged periods and asking them to watch the property. People also can contact the sheriff's office about an extra patrol when they are on long vacations or prolonged absences. Manns advised residents secure tools, grills and outdoor implements by putting them in locked areas. He said to use and check security cameras and to report any suspicious activity to us immediately. He advised using trail cameras on outbuildings, farm implements in fields and remote entrances to property. Residents should regularlty check the exterior of their home and buildings to make sure there is no easy way to enter, and they should keep \outdoor lighting in working order, he said. Use motion sensor lighting outdoors and use timers for indoor lighting when you are gone. Manns said residents should be aware of anything out of the ordinary in your neighborhood, particularly unknown vehicles or people traveling or stopped in their area. Get a good description of any unknown vehicle and/or individual and direction of travel, he said. People who work nights should pay extra attention when going to and from work for any suspicious activity, Manns said. "Always err on the side of caution and call us with any concerns or suspicions," he said. KYODO NEWS - Apr 13, 2023 - 19:20 | All, Japan The chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations said Thursday that the group "strongly condemns" a recent airstrike by Myanmar's military that reportedly killed more than 100 people, including civilians. "All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians," the ASEAN chair, which Indonesia holds this year, said in a statement. "This would be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustainable peaceful solution in Myanmar," it added. The incident on Tuesday in a village in the Sagaing region was one of the deadliest military airstrikes in the Southeast Asian nation since the February 2021 military coup that overthrew the democratically elected national government led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The attack targeted an event attended by opponents of the military regime, according to media reports from Myanmar. About 150 people were at a ceremony marking the opening of a facility linked to an anti-junta resistance group, the People's Defense Force, local media quoted residents of the area as saying. The 10-member ASEAN comprises Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Related coverage: At least 50 killed by Myanmar junta airstrike: reports Myanmar's junta leader vows to crush anti-military resistance forces EAST ST. LOUIS After hours of oral arguments Wednesday, a federal judge now has the case challenging Illinois gun ban with a ruling on a preliminary injunction expected in the weeks ahead. Plaintiffs say they are confident theyll get the law overturned. The law enacted on Jan. 10 bans more than 170 semi-automatic firearms and certain magazine capacities. Four plaintiffs groups, including one suit filed by Thomas Maag of Wood River, sued in federal court alleging the law violates the Second Amendment right to keep and bear arms. Judge Stephen McGlynn for the Southern District of Illinois consolidated the cases and heard hours of arguments Wednesday in East St. Louis. He started the proceedings by showing several images that people could either say was a duck or a rabbit, or a young woman or an old woman. In my experience, these firearms cases have a lot of the same things, McGlynn said. People look at mass shootings and they look at gun regulations, some people zero in to just focus on the guns, others look to the victims." McGlynn said he has an open mind. I have not made up my mind, he said before arguments were made. Its not my job to make policy decisions. My job is to make sure that the policy decisions of the legislative or executive branch are consistent with the constitution. Illinois has about 2.4 million Firearm Owner ID card holders, a requirement to buy and own firearms in Illinois. Active and retired police officer and others in the law enforcement and security sectors are exempt from the weapons ban. A week after the law was enacted in January, Maag was the first to file suit in Crawford County. That case was then transferred to federal court. Maags case challenges the law on Second Amendment grounds as well as the grounds that requiring registration violates Fifth Amendment rights against self incrimination. In order to speed this particular motion hearing [for a preliminary injunction] through, we agreed to delay our Fifth Amendment argument and another argument at a later date if it becomes necessary to argue those as well, Maag previously told The Center Square. Attorney Erin Murphy for the plaintiffs led most of the arguments Wednesday. Murphy said the U.S. Supreme Court recently set the standard to what is considered arms in the Second Amendment and said semi-automatic firearms are arms and in common use by law-abiding gun owners. McGlynn and Murphy debated the nuance of what limits are possible in firearm and magazine capacity, and whether such things like grenade launcher attachments or .50 caliber rifles should be banned. Maag argued the states definition of a grenade launcher is actually a flare launcher, which is common for methods of self preservation for someone getting lost to be found. The state was represented by Christopher Wells who argued the banned firearms are more advanced than what the framers of the U.S. Constitution envisioned and they are dangerous and unusual. He argued that while firearms like AR-15s may be common, theres more chance for them to get into bad actors hands. With what he said was an increase in mass shootings, thats grounds for regulation. On certain firearms being banned over others, McGlynn gave Wells several scenarios. One he gave was of a wife home alone with four intruders. The wife has a choice of a shotgun with three rounds, a handgun or an AR-15 with a 30-round magazine. McGlynn suggests the wife should use the 30-round AR. "Who gets to decide? McGlynn asked. On certain firearms features, like collapsible stocks being banned, McGlynn gave another scenario. Say a household has a tall husband and a short wife but one AR-15; stock adjustment is necessary, McGlyyn suggested. Wells said there are benefits to such, but AR-15s have many other combined features that must be regulated. Wells also suggested products like baby cribs that cause harm are taken off market. Such guns commit harm and should be taken off market too. McGlynn said baby cribs are not protected in the Bill of Rights. He also noted that a bolt-action rifle is legal under Illinois gun ban, but U.S. President John Kennedy was assassinated in 1963 with a bold-action rifle shooting three shots in under a minute. On Monday, one of the phases of the state's gun ban kicked in. Those found with noncompliant magazines face a petty offense with a $1,000 fine. Those found with noncompliant firearms can face up to a Class 3 felony. "That's pretty darn steep," McGlynn said. Wells said ignorance of law isn't a defense. McGlynn said prosecutors and sheriffs aren't going to enforce the ban. Wells acknowledged some are suing the state. Wells countered the law regulates sales and is focused on gun manufactures and gun dealers. He said that's where law will have some bite. At the end of the hearing, McGlynn thanked the attorneys and said theres a lot to think about. We see the victims and perpetrators and all want to see reduction of mass shooter crime," he said. "But from where I sit, I think we need to look at more than just the gun, but what are troubled teens doing, what medicines are taken, what are the red flags." Attorneys for the state declined to comment after the hearing. Gun rights advocate Todd Vandermyde said the judges questions show he knows the issues. I think it went well, Vandermyde said. I think that unlike what weve seen in a couple of the other cases, you have a judge who understands firearms. I think his questions showed he understands the nuance of this. Vandermyde said gun owners are irreparably harmed by limits on their ability to keep and bear arms and gun stores are harmed by losing 60 percent of sales in some instances. Maag said the definition of common use is now up to the judge. These arms are all in common use, Maag said. AR-15s are in common use. Over 15 round magazines, I cant think of a modern firearm that doesnt use in excess of a 15 round magazine. Whichever way McGlynn decides, its expected to be appealed to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. SPRINGFIELD Illinois state senators will consider action on three bills proposed by state Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton, when the General Assembly resumes on April 18. Among them is House Bill 1297 which would allow a private school teacher or administrator the option to purchase up to two years of service credit if a teacher completed at least 10 years of service as a teacher. State officials have said that, as of February, there were nearly 3,000 teaching positions left unfilled in Illinois. With the ongoing teacher shortage in our state, this is another incentive to encourage former teachers to come back to teach in our schools, said Elik. The legislature needs to continue to find ways to help recruit more educators in Illinois. House Bill 2618, recommended by the Illinois State Police, seeks to improve background checks on every driver who applies for employment with a transportation provider under contract with the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Eliks legislation requires applicants to have their fingerprints electronically submitted to the state police for criminal history record information. The fingerprints would be checked against state police and FBI criminal history records databases. Strengthening background checks on DCFS transportation providers will improve the safety of all foster children receiving a ride by the state agency provider, said Elik. This improves legislation I sponsored that was signed into law last year that requires proper training for drivers on the installation and operation of a child car seat, possession of a valid drivers license and an adequate driving record, proof of insurance, and proper vehicle maintenance. Introduced at the request of the Madison County Regional Office of Education, RHouse Bill 1273 would commemorate Sept. 17 each year as Constitution Day and make it a commemorative holiday within school calendars. Constitution Day is recognized federally but not by Illinois; if approved, the bill would not require schools to close for the holiday. Not all Illinois schools celebrate or recognize Constitution Day, said Elik. This legislation if it becomes law will ensure schools are celebrating and honoring the Constitution by recognizing the holiday under Illinois law. All three bills were approved in the Illinois House of Representatives and await action in the Senate. If approved, they bills will go to Gov. J.B. Pritzker for consideration. District residents can follow Elik at RepElik.com or contact her oiffice in Alton at 618-433-8046. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate PARIS (AP) Protesters opposing President Emmanuel Macrons unpopular plan to raise the retirement age to 64 marched again Thursday in cities and towns around France, in a final show of anger before a crucial decision on whether the measure meets constitutional standards. Demonstrators targeted the Central Bank offices in Paris and briefly invaded the headquarters of luxury conglomerate LVMH but their attention increasingly centered on the Constitutional Council, which is to decide Friday whether to nix any or all parts of the legislation. Activists dumped bags of garbage outside the council's columned facade in the morning. Later, another crowd holding flares faced off with a large contingent of riot police that rushed to protect the building. Paris police banned all gatherings outside the council from Thursday evening through Saturday morning, in an attempt to reduce pressure on the council members as they make their decision. Police said some 380,000 people took part in the protests across France Thursday. The number was down from recent weeks, but unions still managed to mobilize sizable crowds. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, though dozens of injuries were reported among police and protesters. Unions had been hoping for a strong turnout Thursday to pressure both the government and the members of the Constitutional Council tasked with studying the text of the pension reform plan. Critics challenged the governments choice to include the pension plan in a budget bill, which significantly accelerated the legislative process. The governments decision to skirt a parliamentary vote by using special constitutional powers transformed opponents anger into fury. The trash piles signaled the start of a new strike by garbage collectors, timed to begin with the nationwide protest marches. A previous strike last month left the streets of the French capital filled for days with mounds of reeking refuse. Polls consistently show a majority of French people are opposed to the pension reform, which Macron says is needed to keep the retirement system afloat as the population ages. Protesters are also angry at Macron himself and a presidency they see as threatening France's worker protections and favoring big business. Fabien Villedieu of the Sud-Rail Union said LVMH could reduce all the holes" in France's social security system. So one of the solutions to finance the pension system is a better redistribution of wealth, and the best way to do that is to tax the billionaires. Bernard Arnault, head of LVMH, "is the richest man in the world so he could contribute, Villedieu said. Security forces intervened to stop vandals along the Paris march route, with 36 people detained, police said. Like in past protests, several hundred radical elements had mixed inside the march, police said. Thousands also marched in Toulouse, Marseille and elsewhere. Tensions mounted at protests in Brittany, notably in Nantes and Rennes, where a car was burned. The mobilization is far from over, the leader of the leftist CGT union, Sophie Binet, said at a trash incineration site south of Paris where several hundred protesters blocked garbage trucks. As long as this reform isnt withdrawn, the mobilization will continue in one form or another. CGT has been a backbone of the protest and strike movement challenging Macron's plan to increase France's retirement age from 62 to 64. Eight unions have organized protests since January in a rare voice of unity. Student unions have joined in. Macron had initially refused a demand to meet with unions, but during a state visit on Wednesday to the Netherlands proposed an exchange to discuss the follow-up to the Constitutional Council decision. There was no formal response to his offer. The contention is strong, anchored in the people," said Laurent Berger, head of the moderate CFDT union. If the measure is promulgated, there will be repercussions, he warned, noting the silent anger among the union rank and file. Protests and labor strikes often hobble public transportation in Paris, but Metro trains were mostly running smoothly Thursday. The civil aviation authority asked airports in Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes to reduce air traffic by 20%. ___ Follow AP's coverage of the French government at https://apnews.com/hub/france-government WASHINGTON (AP) President Joe Biden announced Thursday that hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children will be able to apply for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act's health insurance exchanges. The action will allow participants in the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, or DACA, to access government-funded health insurance programs. Theyre American in every way except for on paper, Biden said in a video released on his Twitter page. We need to give Dreamers the opportunities and support they deserve. The action is likely to generate significant pushback from conservative leaders of states that have been reluctant to expand Medicaid and critical of the Biden administration's response to migrants who enter the U.S. illegally. While the federal government provides funding and guidelines for Medicaid, the program is administered by the states. Then-President Barack Obama launched the 2012 DACA initiative to shield from deportation immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally by their parents as children and to allow them to work legally in the country. However, the immigrants, known as Dreamers, were still ineligible for government-subsidized health insurance programs because they did not meet the definition for having lawful presence in the U.S. Biden's Department of Health and Human Services will aim to change that by the end of the month. The White House action comes as the DACA program is in legal peril and the number of people eligible is shrinking. An estimated 580,000 people were still enrolled in DACA at the end of last year, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. That number is down from previous years. Court orders currently prevent the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from processing new applications. The DACA program has been mired in legal challenges for years, while Congress has been unable to reach consensus on broader immigration reforms. DACA recipients can work legally and must pay taxes, but they dont have full legal status and are denied many benefits, including access to federally funded health insurance, available to U.S. citizens and foreigners living in the U.S. Paloma Bouhid, 26, a DACA recipient originally from Brazil and small business owner in Orlando, Florida, where she grew up, said the announcement was a huge sigh of relief. Bouhid said she began her business in 2021 after losing her job with the Walt Disney company in 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic, but being self-employed meant she had to pay $500 a month for private insurance following a health scare last year. This past year I have really been scrambling to just get all of my doctors appointments in, Bouhid said. Any doctors visits due, everything that I possibly can, because prior to todays announcement, I really couldnt afford to keep it any more than the year I have had it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, many people signed up for Medicaid, the program that provides health care coverage for the poorest Americans. And the government increased federal subsidies to drive down the cost of insurance plans on the Affordable Care Acts marketplace. As of last year, just 8% of Americans were without health insurance, according to Health and Human Services. But immigrants living in the U.S. without documentation are far more likely than others to not have health insurance. More than a third of DACA recipients are estimated to be without health care coverage, HHS said. About half of the roughly 20 million immigrants who are living in the U.S. without documentation are uninsured, according to research from the Kaiser Family Foundation. Providing more people with insurance could have a positive impact on the entire health care system because it would give more people access to routine checkups and avoid emergency visits, said Jamila Michener, associate professor of government and policy at Cornell University. Having sizeable groups of people who live, work, go to school and make their home in the U.S. but cannot access vital health benefits is bad for everyone," Michener said in an email. It makes preventive care less accessible thus driving up the cost of emergency care. Jose Munoz, national communications manager for immigration advocacy organization United We Dream, said the announcement was a major victory. He said that until today, hundreds of thousands of people who benefit from DACA have been obligated to pay higher quantities for private insurance if their employers did not offer insurance or they were self-employed, or go uninsured. When you are thinking about going to the doctor for an annual checkup or like when youre sick, those are a part of life and it is such a human need, Munoz said. Unfortunately for far too many people, especially for undocumented people, getting affordable health insurance is often inaccessible. Jose Magana-Salgado, founder of the Masa consulting group and a DACA recipient, said that growing up he witnessed his cousin, who was undocumented, be put in hospice and pass away after being diagnosed with cancer because she did not have insurance to help her pay for treatment. Magana-Salgado has spent years advocating for health insurance for his fellow recipients and all immigrants. I went for several years without health insurance wondering if a medical bill was going to send me to bankruptcy or, even worse, lead to passing away early, Magana-Salgado said. While theres bipartisan support to enact some sort of protections for the immigrants, negotiations have often broken down over in debates about border security and whether an expansion of protections might induce others to try to enter the U.S. without permission. Biden, a Democrat, has repeatedly called on Congress to provide a pathway to citizenship for immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children. Other classes of immigrants including asylum seekers and people with temporary protected status are already eligible to purchase insurance through the marketplaces of the ACA, Obamas 2010 health care law, often called Obamacare. __ Associated Press writer Acacia Coronado contributed to this report from Austin, Texas. LONDON (AP) A man who allegedly piloted a small boat packed with migrants that capsized while crossing the English Channel in December has been charged with four counts of manslaughter. Ibrahima Bah, 19, is due to appear at Folkestone Magistrates Court on Thursday to face the charges related to the Dec. 14, 2022 capsizing. His nationality was not made public. BERLIN (AP) German prosecutors said Thursday they have determined that climate protesters weren't responsible for the death in October of a cyclist after their road blockade caused a delay in the arrival of a rescue vehicle at an accident scene. The Oct. 31 incident in Berlin fueled controversy over the tactics of the Last Generation group, whose actions also have included throwing mashed potatoes at a Claude Monet painting in an art museum and disrupting traffic at airports. Chancellor Olaf Scholz urged activists to show creativity and avoid endangering others. Berlin's fire service said at the time that blockades resulted in officers with special rescue equipment getting stuck in traffic as they rushed to help a seriously injured cyclist who got stuck under a cement mixer. Prosecutors in the German capital said Thursday that they looked into whether the death of the cyclist could have been prevented if it hadn't been for a delay caused by two Last Generation activists accused of causing the partial closure of a highway by hanging banners from a traffic sign and gluing themselves to it. They found that the blockade did cause an eight-minute delay to the arrival of a rescue vehicle. But they said that wasn't significant to the cyclist's fate as a doctor had already determined that using the vehicle's equipment likely would have worsened the victim's condition further and another course of action made more sense. An autopsy later found that the cyclist had already suffered such severe injuries in the accident that her life couldn't have been saved, prosecutors said in a statement. They said that the activists have been charged with coercion and resisting enforcement officers over the protest, but they won't face charges related to the injury or death of the cyclist. The prosecutors' decision came as climate activists gear up for a new round of protests in Berlin in the coming days and weeks. They point to what they say is the government's failure to properly address the threat of climate change. By Jamahl Bonds, KYODO NEWS - Apr 13, 2023 - 21:21 | Arts, All, Feature, Japan, G7 A prizewinning film depicting the experience of a Japanese atomic bombing survivor and his daughter was screened in San Diego on Wednesday, with the organizer intending unite the world in opposition to the use of nuclear weapons as agents of conflict resolution ahead of next month's Group of Seven summit in Hiroshima. Directed by J.R. Heffelfinger and produced by Akiko Mikamo, who heads a nonprofit organization that arranged the event, as well as Nini Le Huynh, the film "8:15 Hiroshima: From Father to Daughter" is based on Mikamo's book published in 2013. The storyline depicts the experience of her father Shinji Mikamo, who as a 19-year-old was exposed to the nuclear bomb dropped by the United States when it exploded at 8:15 a.m. on Aug. 6, 1945, in Hiroshima. He was at a distance of some 1,200 meters from the hypocenter. Shinji survived the bombing and dedicated his life thereafter to world peace. Akiko said the 51-minute film is not about criticizing the bombings or about victimhood, rather it is an appeal for our common humanity, rooted in uniting all parties engulfed in conflict and resolving differences through initiative and action. "When we all reflect on what is important for humanity, then we can get over conflicts," Mikamo, 61, told a recent interview with Kyodo News. As an example, she noted the once tense relationship between the United States and Japan. "They were the worst enemies during World War II, but later on they became very strong allies," said Mikamo who serves as president of the San Diego-based Worldwide Initiative to Safeguard Humanity. The docu-narrative film, released in 2020, blends audio and video recordings of Shinji Mikamo with reenactments of his experience. Akiko deemed it important that the film reflect an accurate and authentic depiction of what occurred that day. It won the Audience Award at the 2020 Nashville Film Festival. "It was pretty surprising how often you don't see the impact of the atomic bomb at that intimate level...how surprising and devastating it was, and the aftereffects," said Chris Tran, 40, who attended the screening. "It was very moving just as a film, and it touched on a lot of points and made it very personal," said Robert Grovac, 71. The 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki are estimated to have killed some 210,000 people -- mostly civilians -- by the end of the year, according to the city offices. Many atomic-bomb survivors, known in Japan as hibakusha, would suffer from lifelong aftereffects related to their radiation exposure. The devastation of the cities' basic infrastructure left the victims with little to nothing. Upon hearing the news that his daughter wanted to write a book about his experience, Shinji encouraged her to do so and to tell the story in English, as a way to reach the masses and spread the importance of forgiving and exploring nonviolent ways of resolving conflict. "From a very young age, my father taught me to acknowledge different peoples' perspectives, he believed that is the only way to create peace," said Mikamo. Shinji encouraged her to learn English and about foreign cultures to be a bridge between different beliefs and societies. A pocket watch, originally owned by Shinji's father, that has the position of its hands burned into its face showing the 8:15 a.m. time of the explosion, was stolen while it was on display at the U.N. headquarters in New York in the 1980s. The movie also depicts an episode in which his father preached the importance of forgiveness, saying, "When you lose something, it's time to gain something." Shinji died in October 2020 at the age of 94. Related coverage: NGOs urge PM Kishida to hold substantial nuclear debate at G-7 G-7 vows to take necessary steps for global financial stability Nuke disarmament to be key topic in G-7 top diplomats' talks in Japan Stewart Information Services Corp. announced Erin Sheckler has been promoted to th head of national commercial services, reporting to Group President Steve Lessack. Sheckler has been with Stewart for three years as senior division president for the Pacific Northwest, responsible for managing and overseeing direct operations strategy and growth in Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana. Prior to joining Stewart, she worked as senior vice president of national commercial services for WFG National Title Insurance Co. Before Erin came to us, she was integral to the growth and development of commercial services and underwriting in her previous roles, Lessack said in a release. As our national commercial presence continues to see steady growth post-pandemic, it requires a leader with strategic and mindful direction. Erins focus will be building our commercial brand in strong markets while strengthening our underwriting capacity and expanding into markets where weve previously been underrepresented. Sheckler earned her bachelor of arts in journalism/public relations and business/finance from Western Washington University, and her juris doctris, cum laude, from Seattle University School of Law. I am thrilled to have a leader of Erins caliber and quality taking national commercial services to the next level, Stewart CEO Fred Eppinger said. We are confident that having Erin lead our strong, highly skilled commercial team will allow us to grow our commercial segment and gain share in attractive markets. Erins deep experience and expertise makes her an ideal fit to lead such an important and essential business line for us. Amid turmoil within the BJP ahead of the Karnataka assembly elections, several senior leaders in the state are trying to pacify disgruntled party members. BJP leader and former deputy chief minister Laxman Savadi, who was denied a ticket for the upcoming polls, resigned from the party on Wednesday. Party leader and former chief minister B.S. Yediyurappa said he had tried his best to reach out to Savadi. We have given him everything. I don't know why he has taken such a decision. I don't now why he is unhappy, the Lingayat leader said. Savadi, a prominent Lingayat leader from Belagavi, is said to have been a loyalist of Yediyurappa. Responding to rumours of rebellion within the party after the first list of candidates were announced, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that 'such things are common within the party'. Addressing the media earlier on Wednesday, Savadi said that party seniors had told him around six months ago that he would not be contesting from Athani in the upcoming Assembly elections. However, sitting MLA Mahesh Kumathalli was given ticket in Athani. Kumathallli was one among the Congress defectors who helped the BJP bring down the Congress-JD(S) coalition government in 2019. According to reports, there are speculations he night join the Congress. However, Karnataka Congress chief D.K. Shivakumar said: He is not in touch with me'. Savadi said he is a self-respecting politician and not someone who goes around with a 'begging bowl'. The saffron party, on Tuesday, declared candidates for 189 constituencies out of the total 224, and the list includes 52 new faces. The second list of 23 candidates was released on Wednesday night. Seven MLAs have been excluded from the second list, including Channagiri MLA Madal Virupakshappa who was arrested recently on corruption charges. Former chief minister Jagadish Shettar's name too did not feature in the second list. Expressing interest to contest one last time, Shettar met party chief J.P. Nadda in Delhi. After Savadi's exit, former BJP MLA Doddappagouda Patil Naribol and minister S. Angara have also threatened to quit the party after being denied tickets. The state goes to polls on May 10. Right-wing activist Kajal Hindustani, who was arrested for allegedly delivering a 'hate speech' that caused a communal clash in Una town of Gujarat's Gir Somnath district, was on Thursday granted bail by a sessions court. Una Additional District and Sessions Judge Rekha Asodiya granted bail to Jamnagar-resident Kajal Hindustani on certain conditions, including remaining present at a police station near her residence twice every month till the chargesheet is filed. The court also imposed a condition that, except for appearing for hearings, she will not enter Gir Somnath district until the trial is over. Moreover, the court also took an assurance from the accused that she will not influence or intimidate the complainant or witnesses while out on bail. She was released from a jail in neighbouring Junagadh district on Thursday evening, after which she went to her residence in Jamnagar by road under police protection. Incidentally, some women and local residents showered flower petals on her vehicle en route. She was arrested on April 9 by Gir Somnath police for allegedly delivering a "hate speech" on Ram Navami on March 30 at an event organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad, leading to a communal clash in Una town on April 1. During the clash, two groups pelted stones at each other, damaged property, leading to the arrest of 80 persons, most of them from the minority community, for rioting and other offences. An FIR was lodged against her on April 2, following which she surrendered before police on April 9 and was placed under arrest. She has been charged under Indian Penal Code sections 153A (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, etc), and 295A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs). Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his British counterpart Rishi Sunak over phone on Thursday and called for strong action against anti-India elements active in that country. Modi raised the issue of security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK. PM Rishi Sunak conveyed that the UK considers the attack on Indian High Commission totally unacceptable and assured of security of the Indian Mission and its personnel, a PMO statement said. During the conversation, Modi also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK and sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. India is pursuing the extradition of beleaguered businessman Vijay Mallya and fugitive diamond merchant Nirav Modi from the UK. The leaders reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030. They expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors. They agreed on the need for early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries, the PMO said. Modi invited Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in September 2023. The British PM appreciated the progress made under Indias Presidency of the G20 and reiterated the UKs full support to Indias initiatives and their success. During the 5th India-UK Home Affairs Dialogue (HAD) held in New Delhi on Wednesday, India had conveyed its concerns on the misuse of the United Kingdom's asylum status by the pro-Khalistani elements to aid and abet terrorist activities in India. Last month, India had summoned a senior UK diplomat in Delhi to seek explanation after the Indian High Commission was attacked by a group of pro-Khalistan activists. The tricolour flying atop the high commission building was pulled down by the protesters who also tried to hoist a Khalistan flag. KYODO NEWS - Apr 13, 2023 - 20:31 | All, Japan, World, G7 Nuclear disarmament is expected to be a key agenda item during an upcoming meeting of the Group of Seven foreign ministers in central Japan, government sources said Thursday, as Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida hopes to use the G-7 summit to pitch his idea of a world free of nuclear weapons. During the three-day talks in the resort town of Karuizawa in Nagano Prefecture from Sunday, the G-7 ministers will also discuss Russia's war against Ukraine, as well as China and Iran, which maintain friendly ties with Russia, according to the Japanese sources. In addition to welcoming events and a working dinner, Japan is preparing six sessions, of which one on Tuesday will be dedicated to nuclear disarmament and nonproliferation. During the talks on nuclear issues, the top diplomats will likely discuss ways to progress toward the abolition of nuclear weapons in what they call a realistic manner amid China's military buildup and Russia's nuclear blackmailing. Of the G-7 nations, Britain, France and the United States possess nuclear weapons. The group also comprises Japan, Canada, Germany, Italy and the European Union. The foreign ministers will wrap up their talks by releasing a joint statement. Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi will also hold a press conference as the chair. Kishida, who will chair the G-7 summit in Hiroshima in May, has called for a world free of nuclear weapons as the leader of the only country to have suffered the devastation of atomic bombings in war. However, Japan also relies on U.S. nuclear weapons for protection and has not joined a U.N. treaty prohibiting the destructive arms. The participants to the Karuizawa gathering will also likely reiterate their demand for Russia to end its war immediately and voice opposition to attempts to change the status quo by force amid concerns over China's maritime assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region in the joint statement, according to a source close to the matter. Related coverage: EU remains unmentioned in Japan's G-7 promotional video G-7 vows to take necessary steps for global financial stability G-7 top diplomats to put pressure on Russia, China at Japan meeting Upset over the decision of the BJP government in Madhya Pradesh to include the transgender community in the OBC category, the OBC Mahasabha is planning to launch an agitation to force the government to roll back the decision. The decision of the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government, taken during the recent cabinet meeting, has not gone down well with the OBC communities who said the move is unjustified as this leads to the shrinking of their caste quota, which is already very less compared to their population percentage in the state. National core committee member of OBC Mahasabha, Dharmendra Kushwaha told THE WEEK that the outline of the agitation will be finalised in a meeting to be held soon. He said the decision not only amounted to an insult to the OBC community but is also a betrayal of the community which, although havs 52 per cent population in the state, is getting just 14 per cent reservation. The OBC Mahasabha condemns and strongly opposes the decision, and we will fight against it from the streets to the assembly. If the decision is not rolled back, we will ensure ousting of Shivraj Singh Chouhan (government) in 2023 (assembly polls), Kushwaha said. Another core committee member, Lokendra Singh Gurjar, said in a video statement that the decision has once again brought forth the anti-OBC face of the BJP government. The state has the highest percentage of OBCs at 52 per cent and they are getting the least reservation at 14 per cent. Now, including 30,000 transgenders in the OBC list for quota purposes is nothing but an ugly attempt to further trample our rights. We are not against transgenders. We also feel that they should get their rights and reservation. But we feel that like the Union government passed a bill in parliament to give EWS quota, a similar separate quota should be created for transgenders and also a commission for their welfare should be established on the lines of SC/ST/OBC commissions. But we are strongly against the decision to include transgenders in the OBC quota list. If the decision is not rolled back, we will take our fight to the streets and launch an aggressive agitation on the lines of that done by Gurjars in Rajasthan and any losses to public property or lives will be the responsibility of the government. We are ready to sacrifice everything for protecting the reservation quota of OBCs, he said. MP Congress media department vice president R.P. Singh told THE WEEK that the Congress feels that it is an injustice to the OBCs if transgenders are included in their quota list. The BJP government in Madhya Pradesh has gotten into the habit of formulating policies without doing any homework. Everything is being done in haste with an eye on the assembly polls. The OBCs in the state are already facing discrimination as they have 52-54 per cent population and are getting just 14 per cent reservation despite promises of 27 per cent. Now, the government wants to further divide their share. The right thing will be to make special provisions for the transgender community rather than doing injustice to the OBCs, he said. The issue has made splash on social media too with author Dilip Mandal, known to be vocal on caste issues, calling Shivraj Singh Chouhan Vibhishan (brother of demon king Ravana from epic Ramayana who is considered to have betrayed own family) and demanding his ouster. In a series of tweets, he said the interests of OBCs are not protected in Madhya Pradesh and the decision to give reservation to transgenders of all communities in the OBC category will end the 14 per cent reservation for OBCs in MP. If the aim was to promote transgenders, they would have been given quotas in their respective caste categories, Mandal said. Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) supremo Sharad Pawar on Thursday met Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge and party leader Rahul Gandhi in Delhi as efforts to cement the opposition unity gained further momentum. Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar has already been meeting various opposition leaders over the past few days in the national capital to step up efforts to forge an alliance against the BJP ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. "There are some political parties who have similar ideologies, efforts should be made to bring them together and Kharge is the leader of opposition and he has made this effort which will benefit everyone. This is a beginning. After this, other opposition parties such as Mamata Banerjee's TMC or Arvind Kejriwal's AAP or other parties with whom talks have not taken place, efforts should be made to bring them together under this process for unity," Pawar said after the meeting. Kharge said all parties should unite to save the country and democracy, and protect the Constitution. "We have decided to unite together and fight and we will talk to all the parties one after the other. Yesterday we met two parties and today Pawar sahib has come and we have decided that we will meet everyone, talk to them and move forward unitedly," Kharge told reporters. Pawar's meeting with Rahul also assumes significance in the backdrop of the NCP chief's recent remarks supporting industrialist Gautam Adani and criticising the narrative around the US-based Hindenburg Research's report on the conglomerate. The NCP chief's spanner in the works of the opposition's anti-Adani campaign had come parallel to Congress president Kharge's outreach to other opposition parties to solidify their unity in this crucial election year when six states will witness polls. Pawar said he would be meeting some of the opposition leaders in the national capital on Friday. He, however, refused to answer questions on speculation about his party colleague Ajit Pawar joining the BJP. Ajit Pawar is at the centre of such speculation after he was unreachable for some time on April 7 and also due to his comments on the debate surrounding the university degree of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar met CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury and CPI leader D. Raja in Delhi. "Efforts for opposition unity have picked up the pace. An opposition coalition will be formed and seat adjustments will be done at the state level," Yechury said after the meeting. He further said in a tweet: "With Bihar CM Shri Nitish Kumar to carry forward the efforts to unite secular democratic parties to safeguard the Indian Republic, Constitution and democracy, severely assaulted by the BJP and Modi government. Defeat the BJP in order to save India and people's livelihoods." Kumar had on Wednesday met both Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. He also held talks with a slew of other opposition leaders including Aam Aadmi Party's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. Reports said he is set to meet some more parties including the BRS and the Samajwadi Party in the coming days. Gangster Atiq Ahmad's son Asad, wanted in the murder of Umesh Pal has been killed in an encounter by he Uttar Pradesh Police's Special Task Force in Jhansi. Asad and another accused Ghulam, also wanted in the murder case, carried a reward of Rs 5 lakhs each. "The UP STF team was led by Deputy SP Navendu and Vimal. Sophisticated foreign made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited," Special Additional Director General (Law and Order) Prasahant Kumar said. Responding to the news of Asad's death, Pal's mother Shanti Devi said it is a 'tribute' to her son and thanked UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath for 'delivering justice'. "The UP STF team was led by Deputy SP Navendu and Vimal. Sophisticated foreign made weapons were recovered from the accused. Further details are awaited," the officer added. It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi govt in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals, UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya said. Atiq and his brother were produced before the Prayagraj court on Saturday in connection with the case. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju 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 Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered on February 25 against Ahmad, Ashraf, their family members and others. The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Norway on Thursday expelled 15 Russian diplomats working at the Russian embassy in the country accusing them of espionage. Norway accused the diplomats were intelligence officers. Norway's government said the Russian diplomats from the country were suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the move was an important measure to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, and thereby secure our national interests. The Russians declared persona non grata must leave Norway within a short time," Huitfeldt said, adding, "We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway. Huitfeldt said, This is an important step in countering, and reducing the level of, Russian intelligence activity in Norway, and thus in safeguarding our national interests. Norway's government said the activities of the expelled diplomats were incompatible with their diplomatic status. The foreign minister stressed that Oslo wants normal diplomatic relations with Russia and Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway. The Russian Foreign Ministry said they will respond proportionately to Norway's action. "Russia will make an appropriate response," Russian news agency TASS quoted the ministry as saying. A year ago, Norway expelled three Russian diplomats it identified as intelligence officers. A man whom the Norwegian Police Security Service alleged used a false name and identity while actually working for one of Russia's intelligence services also was arrested last year. US President Joe Biden said on Thursday that there was 'nothing of great consequence' in the Pentagon leaks and a full-blown investigation has been launched over the leak. The US President, who is visiting Dublin said, There's nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of great consequence. Biden said he was concerned that sensitive government documents had been leaked. The leaks reportedly detail US and NATO aid to Ukraine and US intelligence assessments regarding US allies that could strain ties with those nations. The Justice Department has opened an investigation. I'm concerned that it happened, but there's nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of great consequence," said Biden, who is in Dublin visiting with Irish leaders. Biden noted there was a full-blown investigation going on with the intelligence community and the Justice Department. We're getting close," he said on 'answers'. "But I don't have an answer. There's no clear answers on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed approximately 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds. 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. No one knows for sure where they came from, not even the Pentagon chief. They were somewhere in the web, and where exactly, and who had access at that point, we don't know. We simply don't know, Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said at a press conference Tuesday. We will continue to investigate and turn over every rock until we find the source of this and the extent of it. It's possible, though, the leak may have started on a site called Discord. Discord is a social media platform popular with people playing online games. The Discord site hosts real-time voice, video and text chats for groups and describes itself as a place where you can belong to a school club, a gaming group, or a worldwide art community. On Thursday, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the White House urges social media companies to avoid facilitating the circulation of material detrimental to public safety and national security. We do believe that social media companies have a responsibility to their users and the country to manage the private sector infrastructure that they create and then operate," she said. Prince Harry will be attending his father King Charles III's coronation, come May, Buckingham Palace has confirmed, the BBC reported. His wife Meghan and the couple's children Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie will remain at the couple's home in Southern California. A nearly similar statement was issued by the Sussex's representatives. The date of the coronation is May 6, which is also Prince Archie's birthday. The Royal family has been swirled in controversy since the Sussex's dramatic step down as members of the Royal family in January 2020. The couple has since, levelled charges of racism and media manipulation at the royal family. In a tell-all interview with talk show host Oprah Winfrey, the couple revealed that someone from the Royal family had commented on what the skin colour of their son Archie would be. The Sussex's since their departure from the family produced a podcast with Spotify, Harry wrote a biography titled 'Spare' and the duo also released an explosive docuseries on Netflix that caused more controversy, nothing short of a soap opera. Harry singled out Camilla, who, he said reportedly leaked private conversations to the media. In March, the couple were asked to vacate their home in London-- Frogmore Cottage. At the time they stepped down, Harry and Meghan said that they would return all the taxpayer money they used to renovate the home. Details like where the prince would be seated during the ceremony are yet to be revealed; then there's the question of whether he would meet his father and brother William face-to-face. Kathmandu, Apr 12 (PTI) India's Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava on Wednesday paid a courtesy call on Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Narayankaji Shrestha and both the leaders discussed Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal's impending official visit to India, bilateral cooperation and border security issues among others. Deputy Prime Minister Shrestha expressed hope that the programme of the 68-year-old Prime Minister's India visit would be finalised soon, and expressed confidence that the relations between the two countries will be further deepened during the tenure of the incumbent government, Shrestha's Secretariat said. During the meeting, Srivastava said that he was actively working to materialise Prime Minister Prachanda's proposed India visit. Shrestha said that there should be an open dialogue between the two countries on sensitive issues such as border management and combating cross-border crimes. He also expressed confidence that the Nepal- India ties would be further deepened during the tenure of the Prachanda-led coalition government. Prachanda was sworn in as the Prime Minister of Nepal on December 26 last year after he walked out of the pre-poll alliance led by the Nepali Congress and joined hands with opposition leader KP Sharma Oli. In July last year, Prachanda visited India at the invitation of BJP National President J P Nadda. In addition to the BJP president, he had at the time met External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Adviser Ajit Doval. Microsoft Azure customers worldwide now gain access to Xoxodays Compass to take advantage of the scalability, reliability, and agility of Azure to drive application development and shape business strategies BENGALURU, India, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Xoxoday today announced the availability of Compass in the Microsoft Azure Marketplace, an online store providing applications and services for use on Azure. Xoxoday customers can now take advantage of the productive and trusted Azure cloud platform, with streamlined deployment and management. Xoxoday Compass is an incentive and commission management platform for businesses to drive more revenue and transform commissions, their largest sales expense, into a business growth driver. Xoxoday Compass helps Sales and Revenue Operations teams design, plan, automate, and streamline complex incentive and commission structures. With game-like elements, rewards, communication, and analytics capabilities, sales leaders can effectively engage and motivate their revenue-driving teams. Compass works across different industries, supporting multiple use cases, from Banking to Financial Services, Insurance, Logistics, FMCG, and SaaS - to name a few. Manoj Agarwal, Co-founder, Xoxoday, said, "We are committed to helping our customers modernize the sales commission process by offering a cutting-edge, AI-led sales commission management solution. By getting listed on the Azure Marketplace, we are making it easier for our customers to access various cloud software and leverage automation to maximize business outcomes." Jake Zborowski, General Manager, Microsoft Azure Platform at Microsoft Corp. said, "We're pleased to welcome Xoxoday Compass 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. About Xoxoday Xoxoday is a rapidly growing fintech SaaS firm that propels business growth while focusing on human motivation. Xoxoday offers a suite of three products - Plum, Empuls, and Compass. Xoxoday works with more than 2000 clients, across 10+ countries and over 2.5 million users. Headquartered in Bengaluru, Xoxoday is a 270-member strong team with four global offices in San Francisco, Dublin, Singapore, New Delhi. Media Contact: Manoj Agarwal, manoj@xoxoday.com +91-9686575878 Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2052520/xoxodaycompass.jpg Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1983226/XoxodayNew_Logo.jpg (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with PRNewswire and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.). PTI PWR PWR Mumbai, Apr 13 (PTI) Maharashtra's forest minister Sudhir Mungantiwar on Thursday pitched for making it compulsory for companies to set aside a fourth of the mandated corporate social responsibility funds for environmental causes. Mungantiwar said the concept of CER or Corporate Environmental Responsibility needs to take root in the country because businesses often desist from giving back to the environment after exploiting the natural resources. "I've decided today to write to the Prime Minister for a slight amendment to the Companies Act, 2013 to ensure that a fourth of the CSR funds get reserved for CER," he told a gathering here. Under the Act, certain class of profitable companies are required to spend at least two per cent of their three-year annual average net profit towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in a financial year. Mungantiwar said humans are the most selfish of the species, and the last two centuries since the onset of Industrial Revolution in the 19th century have taken a massive toll on the environment. He, however, said the 'Sanatan Dharma' always understood the importance of the environment and cited Hindu practices like a woman praying for her husband around a tree to support his claim. At the event, Union roads minister Nitin Gadkari said that many works carried out by his ministry have suffered because of weather events, and the same has impacted timely delivery of projects as well. Exuding confidence that India will be able to meet the climate goals, Gadkari said "we need societies which are liveable, workable and sustainable, and we need to find an equilibrium between ecological concerns and developmental needs". Chandigarh, Apr 13 (PTI) Punjab's Finance and Excise and Taxation Minister Harpal Singh Cheema on Thursday launched State Intelligence and Preventive Unit (SIPU) and GST Prime -- an analytical tool for state GST officers to analyse and monitor the tax collection and compliance in their jurisdiction. Cheema said that the existing mobile wings of the taxation department at Amritsar, Bathinda, Fazilka, and Shambu in Patiala, Ludhiana and Jalandhar have been now converted to State Intelligence and Preventive Units (SIPUs), besides creating 3 new SIPUs. "The three new SIPUs will be at Madhopur in Pathankot, Mohali and Central Unit at Head Office, Patiala. The Central Unit and SIPUs will work directly in coordination with Tax Intelligence Unit, Patiala," he said in a statement here. While highlighting the key features of GST Prime, the Finance Minister said that this portal would result in better tax monitoring by tax officials and enhanced compliance by the taxpayers. He said the system caters to the requirements of the field-level offices and enforcement and intelligence offices to identify the defaulters and tax evaders. The system acts as an interface between GST Common Portal and E-way Bill Systems and tax administrators, he added. Cheema, according to an official statement, further said that these initiatives of the taxation department have been aimed at effective tax compliance, identification of top defaulters, keeping taxpayer details at the fingertips and identification of taxpayers for audit and inspection to detect frauds. A robotic dog is seen at the booth of ZTE Corporation at an auxiliary exhibition during the 2021 Global Industrial Internet Conference in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 18, 2021. (Xinhua/Yang Qing) BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Addressing an exhibition area full of visitors, a product manager from a medical technology company is elucidating a machine, emphasizing that it can help people with mobility difficulties walk comfortably without a power source. In a just-concluded conference on China's small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) development in Shenyang, the capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, 150 specialized and sophisticated SMEs that produce novel and unique products from all over the country participated with their latest products and research results. "This passive wearable exoskeleton device can support the hip joint and knee joint of the human body through the mechanical and physical principle of the pendulum by using the gravity of the human body instead of the motor driving force, thus enabling people with impaired mobility to walk," said Zhang Duo, the product manager with the medical technology company Sysmed (China). Beijing Tri-tech is a specialized and sophisticated enterprise that produces novel and unique products, focusing on providing integrated solutions for the robotic system in the energy industry. Its newly-developed wall-climbing inspection and cleaning robot can walk on the surface of large metal cans through magnetic adsorption. It can also collect images and detect them while cleaning by using its high-definition camera, according to Chen Xue, the general manager's assistant. "The robots effectively solve the previous problems of low efficiency and high risks of manual detection, and they have been applied in many power plants," Chen said. At present, specialized and sophisticated SMEs that produce novel and unique products are becoming the cradle of new industries, new business forms, and new models, and promoting China's manufacturing industry toward higher-end, more intelligent, and greener development, said Li Zibin, president of the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprises. Robotic arms assemble engines on an assembly line at a workshop of the Weichai Power Co., Ltd. in Weifang City, east China's Shandong Province, April 22, 2021. (Xinhua/Guo Xulei) China has cultivated more than 70,000 specialized and sophisticated SMEs that produce novel and unique products, of which nearly 9,000 are "little giant" firms, said the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology. Many local Chinese governments actively promote the implementation of relevant policies. Liaoning has issued a work plan to improve the gradient training system for specialized and sophisticated SMEs. East China's Anhui Province has proposed to build more than 5,000 provincial-level specialized and sophisticated enterprises by 2025 and 500 national-level specialized and sophisticated "little giant" firms. The Beijing Stock Exchange takes these SMEs as their priority and has formed a complete market system to provide whole-chain services for them. There are now more than 70 listed specialized and sophisticated "little giant" firms on the Beijing Stock Exchange, accounting for 40 percent of the total 186 listed companies. "These SMEs will effectively prop up China to accelerate the transformation of development mode, optimize the economic structure, and transform the growth momentum," Li Zibin said. Maputo, Apr 13 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday took a ride in a Made in India train during his visit to the capital of Mozambique and discussed with the Mozambican Transport minister about India's partnership in helping expand the train networks electric mobility and waterways connectivity. Jaishankar arrived here in the capital of Mozambique on Thursday on a three-day visit and met the President of the African country's Parliament to strengthen bilateral cooperation. His visit to Mozambique from April 13 to 15 is the first-ever visit by an external affairs minister of India to the country. "A great green transport conversation with Mozambican Minister of Transport &Communication and Chairman, Mozambican Port & Rail Authority Mateus Magala. Talked about expanding train networks, electric mobility & waterways connectivity. India is a reliable partner in this regard," he tweeted. He also took a ride on a train manufactured in India. "Took a ride in a Made in India train from Maputo to Machava with Mozambican Transport Minister Mateus Magala. Appreciate CMD RITES Rahul Mithal joining us on the journey," he tweeted. He also interacted with the Indian community and visited a temple. "Offered my prayers at the Shree Vishvambhar Mahadev Mandir in Maputo this evening. So glad to interact with the Indian community there," he tweeted. Jaishankar arrived in Maputo from Uganda where he held talks with the country's top leadership, including President Yoweri Museveni, and discussed possible cooperation in the areas of trade, infrastructure, energy and defence. Pune, Apr 12 (PTI) Noted actor and theatre artist Uttara Baokar passed away at the age of 79 in Pune city of Maharashtra following a prolonged illness, sources close to her family said. Baokar, who was ailing for the last one year, breathed her last at a hospital on Tuesday. Her last rites were performed on Wednesday morning, they said. Baokar, who studied acting at the National School of Drama (NSD), played various roles in different plays such as Padmavati in 'Mukyhamantri', Mena in 'Mena Gurjari', Desdemona in Shakespeare's 'Othello', mother in playwright Girish Karnad's 'Tughlaq', among others. Baokar came in the limelight following her role in Govind Nihlani's movie 'Tamas'. She also acted in Sumitra Bhave's feature films. Filmmaker Sunil Sukthankar said he worked in around eight feature films with her and his long-time collaborator Sumitra Bhave used to reckon her as an actor who could portray strong female characters. "She played a variety of female roles in our movies and she was one disciplined actor. When on the sets, there a no-nonsense attitude used to prevail," he recalled. London, Apr 13 (PTI) Authorities in the UK have extradited a 74-year-old man from Pakistan in connection with the murder of a policewoman in northern England over 17 years ago. Piran Ditta Khan was extradited from Pakistan on Tuesday and after arriving in the UK was taken into custody at a West Yorkshire police station, where he was formally charged with the murder of Police Constable (PC) Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford on November 18, 2005. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it submitted an extradition warrant and authorised charges in 2006 against Khan for offences covering murder, robbery, two counts of possession of a firearm with intent to endanger life and two counts of possession of a prohibited weapon. "A suspect wanted in connection with the murder of PC Sharon Beshenivsky in Bradford in 2005 has been extradited to the UK from Pakistan thanks to the continued hard work of prosecutors in the CPS Extradition and International Units, said Joanne Jakymec, Chief Crown Prosecutor for the CPS. Since Piran Ditta Khan was arrested in Pakistan in 2020, our specialist prosecutors have been working closely with our Pakistani partners to complete the legal process in the country so that he could be extradited back to England to face the allegations from almost 20 years ago, she said. PC Beshenivsky was gunned down while responding to a robbery at a travel agent in Bradford in November 2005. Five men have been convicted in relation to her murder over the years. Khan was arrested by Pakistani authorities in January 2020 and will now stand trial for murder after appearing before Westminster Magistrates Court in London this week. The CPS pointed out that now that criminal proceedings against Khan are live, there will be reporting restrictions in place in order to ensure a fair trial without prejudicing the court proceedings. The extradition was the result of collaborative work between the CPS, Pakistani authorities, West Yorkshire Police and the UKs National Crime Agency (NCA), it added. Karachi, Apr 13 (PTI) At least four firefighters were killed and 14 others injured on Thursday when a massive fire destroyed a textile factory here in Pakistan's southern port city, officials said. The blaze in the factory, located in the heavily populated industrial area in New Karachi, was caused by a short circuit, Central District Deputy Commissioner (DC) Taha Saleem said. He added that further investigation was underway. Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori confirmed that four firefighters lost their lives while putting out the fire in the factory making bed sheets and towels. The blaze broke out early in the morning, and eight fire engines rushed to the scene to control it, Saleem said. He added that the firefighters were killed when the building collapsed while they were still in it. At least 14 people were also injured after coming under the building's debris and suffering from suffocation and burn wounds. The fire broke out in the early hours of the day in the bed sheets factory, located in a six-storey building, and quickly spread to four floors because of cloth material and other chemicals stored in the building, senior firefighter Adil Khanzada said. Another fire erupted in an adjoining factory building which manufactured motorcycle spare parts, and firefighters were trying to control the blaze, the official added. Eight fire engines are again at the spot after we had controlled and put out the blaze in the clothes factory which is adjacent to this building," Khanzada said. The firefighters were bravely performing their duties when the building collapsed," Deputy Commissioner Saleem said. Pakistan Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the deaths of firefighters, describing them as martyrs. In a statement, he conveyed his condolences to the families of the victims. Karachi, Pakistans largest city and economic hub, has four major industrial areas but small factories continue to operate near congested, low-income neighbourhoods with lax security and safety measures in place for the workers. In 2021, at least 16 factory workers suffocated to death in a fire at an industrial unit of a clothes and chemicals factory in the Korangi Area of Karachi. In one of Pakistan's most tragic fire incidents, around 260 people, mostly workers, were killed when a massive fire broke out in a clothes factory in Karachis Baldia Town in 2012. Washington, Apr 13 (PTI) The Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) has agreed on urgently improving information sharing, including on macroeconomic projections and sustainability assessments, at an early stage of debt restructuring processes. Co-chaired by the International Monetary Fund Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, World Bank Group President David Malpass and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the GSDR on Wednesday discussed debt sustainability, and debt restructuring challenges and ways to address them. As a priority for India's G20 Presidency, she said there is a need to augment present global efforts, including those of the G20, to address growing debt distress across the globe. Sitharaman stressed on debt transparency and information-sharing as well as clarity on the comparability of treatment, predictability and timeliness of the debt restructuring process, including those for steps involved in the process and ways to assess and enforce. Discussions focused on the actions that can be taken now to accelerate debt restructuring processes and make them more efficient, including under the G20 Common Framework, according to a statement issued by the roundtable, . "We agreed on the importance to urgently improve information sharing including on macroeconomic projections and debt sustainability assessments at an early stage of the process. The IMF and World Bank will rapidly issue staff guidance on information sharing at each stage of the restructuring process," it said. "The meeting discussed the role of Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) in these processes through the provision of net positive flows of concessional finance. The International Development Association's (IDA) provision of positive net flows and the ex-ante implicit debt relief through increased concessionality and grants to countries facing higher risks of debt distress was welcomed," the statement said. To clarify key concepts to support predictability and fairness of debt restructuring processes, a workshop will be organised in the coming weeks on how to assess and enforce comparability of treatment, it said. "Moreover, further work will be undertaken on principles regarding cut-off dates, formal debt service suspension at the beginning of the process, treatment of arrears, and perimeter of debt to be restructured, including with regard to domestic debt," the statement said. This work will also help in clarifying potential timetables to accelerate debt restructurings, it said. Dublin, Apr 13 (AP) After spending most of a day on a whirlwind countryside tour of his ancestry, President Joe Biden is turning back to diplomacy on Thursday, with an address to the Irish parliament and meetings with the country's leaders, with Ukraine high on the agenda. On his first stop of the day, Biden will meet with President Michael D. Higgins at the president's Dublin residence and will ring the Peace Bell, unveiled in 2008 to mark the 10th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, which ended decades of violence in Northern Ireland. Biden also will participate in a tree planting ceremony, with his Irish oak close to the one planted by then-President Barack Obama. Biden will also meet with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Ireland's prime minister, before a speech to parliament in which he'll be reflecting on the long, close and shared history between the United States and Ireland," said Amanda Sloat, the National Security Council's senior Europe director. In the meetings with leaders, Ireland's continued support of the U.S.-led effort to help Ukraine in the war against Russia will be a focal point, particularly on humanitarian and security assistance. Biden arrived in the Republic of Ireland after an appearance Wednesday in Northern Ireland. Crowds lined five-deep and waited for eight hours to catch a glimpse of Biden in the towns of Carlingford and Dundalk, where the Democratic president toured a castle, gazing out over the sea where his ancestors sailed, and gave an address in a local pub. Along the streets of Dundalk, photos of the president and huge welcome signs were plastered along shop fronts. Children hung out of windows to wave at the president and display the U.S. flag. From inside a packed old pub with a sticky wooden floor, Biden acknowledged that his ancestors emigrated to the United States to escape famine, but he added, When you're here, you wonder why anyone would ever want to leave. And he jokingly delivered bad news, saying: We'll be back. There's no way to keep us out. Biden's mother's family comes from County Louth, and the president was elated by the dive into his Irish heritage, which he often cites as a driving force in his public and private life. According to the Irish Family History Centre, Biden is among the most Irish' of all U.S. Presidents. Ten of his 16 great-great-grandparents were from the Emerald Isle. Biden is particularly fond of quoting Irish poets, especially Seamus Heaney. Heaney's widow was expected to attend the address at parliament Thursday. Biden is spending three days in Ireland on his first visit back as president. He'll also attend a gala dinner on Thursday and visit County Mayo, another ancestral area on the west coast, on Friday before returning to Washington. Biden visited in 2016, near the end of his second term as Obama's vice president, with a much larger contingent of his family, including all of his grandchildren. This time he was accompanied by just his sister and son. His wife, Jill, remained in Washington. On Wednesday in Belfast, Biden marked the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement. The U.S.-brokered deal brought peace to a region of the United Kingdom where years of sectarian violence known as the Troubles left some 3,600 people dead in bombings and other attacks. Even as the peace anniversary is being marked, political turmoil has left Northern Ireland without a functioning government, rattling the foundations of the Good Friday Agreement. In addition, a top police official was shot and injured in February, an attack that authorities have blamed on Irish Republican Army dissidents opposed to the peace process. The enemies of peace will not prevail, Biden said in Belfast. Northern Ireland will not go back, pray God." (AP) VM Maputo, Apr 13 (PTI) External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar arrived here in the Mozambique capital on Thursday on a three-day visit during which he will hold discussions with top leaders to strengthen Indias ties with the African country. According to the Ministry of External Affairs Minister, Jaishankar's visit to Mozambique from April 13 to 15 is the first-ever visit by an external affairs minister of India to the country. Jaishankar arrived in Maputo from Uganda where he held talks with the country's top leadership, including President Yoweri Museveni, and discussed possible cooperation in the areas of trade, infrastructure, energy and defence. "Arrived in Maputo to an energetic Mozambican welcome. Thank Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Manuel Jose Goncalves for the warm reception. Look forward to productive discussions," he tweeted. Earlier, Jaishankar also met his Ethiopian counterpart Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, who is also the country's deputy prime minister, during a brief stopover in Addis Ababa. London, Apr 13 (PTI) The BBC will cooperate fully with the Indian authorities, the UK-headquartered media organisation said on Thursday in response to reports from India of a new investigation launched by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into alleged foreign exchange violations by the British public broadcaster. A spokesperson for the British taxpayer-funded licence fee-backed media corporation told PTI that the BBC would comply with its obligations for operating in India. The statement came in response to a query about reports that the ED has reportedly called for documents and statements of some company executives under provisions of the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA). "We will continue to cooperate fully with the Indian authorities to ensure that we comply with all our obligations, a BBC spokesperson said. According to official sources in Delhi, the ED probe is reportedly looking at purported foreign direct investment (FDI) violations by the company in India. It follows the Income-Tax (I-T) department's so-called survey operations at the BBCs New Delhi and Mumbai offices over three days in February. In its statement following the action, the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) said it had found discrepancies and that the income and profits disclosed by the organisation's units were "not commensurate with the scale of operations in India". In the wake of the action, the British government strongly defended the BBC and its editorial freedom in Parliament saying: We stand up for the BBC. We fund the BBC. We think the BBC World Service is vital. An urgent question was raised in the House of Commons by the Opposition parties, some of whom branded the action a deliberate act of intimidation following the release of an unflattering documentary about the countrys leader and sharply criticised the UK government for failing to make a statement on the issue sooner. In January, the BBC aired a controversial two-part documentary India: The Modi Question in the UK. Islamabad, Apr 13 (PTI) Pakistan's Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned Afghanistan's Taliban rulers about targeting terrorist hideouts inside the war-torn neighbouring country if the latter were unable to rein in anti-Pakistan militants. He had earlier said that the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) were using Afghan soil for carrying out attacks in Pakistan. In an interview with Voice of America, the defence minister said that in his visit to Afghanistan in late-February, he reminded the Taliban administration to live up to their cross-border security commitments forbidding terrorists from using Afghan soil to plan and conduct attacks on Pakistan or Islamabad will take action, Dawn newspaper reported on Thursday. "We have communicated to Kabul during our last visit that please, as our neighbours and brothers, whatever is emanating from Afghan soil is your responsibility," he said. "If that is not done, at some point well have to () resort to some measures, which will definitely - wherever (terrorists) are, their sanctuaries on Afghan soil - we'll have to hit them," he said. "We'll have to hit them because we cannot tolerate this situation for long." Asif went on to say that the Afghans responded to this "really well". "They responded well, really well. Perhaps for them to disentangle the TTP from this stage - of course they want to disentangle, this is my impression [that] they want to disentangle but this disentanglement, perhaps, will take time. "But they are doing well and we wish them well and we dont want to get into a situation where this situation with the [TTP] escalates and we do something that is not to the liking of our neighbours and brothers in Kabul." During the interview, Asif was asked whether he believed the Talibans claim that the TTP were not using Afghan soil to carry out attacks in Pakistan. "They still operate from their soil," he replied. Asif was also asked about his assertion that the TTP were using weapons left behind by the US forces in Afghanistan. "Have you provided any evidence of that to the Americans? the interviewer asked. "It can be seen all over the place. On the streets of Kabul, I saw it myself, the minister responded. He said that the TTP were using light weapons, assault rifles, ammunition, night vision goggles and sniper rifles which were left behind by US troops. When asked whether this point had been raised with the Americans, Asif said: What is the use of talking to Washington? They left that sort of hardware on foreign soil because they couldnt carry it. The interviewer pointed out that the US State Departments response to Pakistans assertion was that they did not have an independent assessment. She also asked whether Islamabad needed the help of the US in fighting terrorism in Pakistan. "I do not see any logic in that, the minister said. My personal view is that we can take care of this [] menace ourselves, Asif said, citing the examples of Zarb-i-Azb and Raddul Fassad, the two major operations by the Pakistan army against militants. He also termed the resurgence in terrorism in the country to be a grave mistake by the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government, according to the reported interview. In November last year, the TTP called off an indefinite ceasefire agreed with the Pakistan government in June 2022 and ordered its militants to carry out attacks on the security forces. The TTP, which is believed to have close links to al-Qaeda, has in the past also threatened to target Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari if the ruling coalition continued to implement strict measures against the militants. The TTP, also known as the Pakistan Taliban, was set up as an umbrella group of several militant outfits in 2007. Its main aim is to impose its strict brand of Islam across Pakistan. The group has been blamed for several deadly attacks across Pakistan, including an attack on army headquarters in 2009, assaults on military bases and the 2008 bombing of the Marriott Hotel in Islamabad. Islamabad, Apr 13 (PTI) Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday informed the lawmakers that the Parliament would be briefed on April 14 in-camera on the matters of national security. The Prime Minister said this in response to a point raised by a parliamentarian from the Waziristan tribal region, days after the National Security Committee decided to launch a fresh operation to rid the country of militancy. Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the parliamentarians would also be able to put questions on the relevant subject and the reservations of lawmakers from the tribal region would be listened to and responded positively to satisfy his concerns. "This will be a healthy interaction," the prime minister said. Defence Minister Khawaja Asif also speaking on the floor of the National Assembly said that the military leadership would brief parliament regarding the states policy on countering militancy, stating that the security establishment was cognisant of the prevailing situation. Earlier, Ali Wazir from the tribal region said that the countrys current policy regarding militancy needed to be reviewed. I appeal to the incumbent government that those responsible for the rise in terrorism (...) those who brought these militants into Pakistan should be punished, he said. Until and unless these people are punished, we wont allow the new operation to commence, he said. Another tribal lawmaker, Mohsin Dawar, said that operations were conducted in the past but none of them was successful in eliminating terrorism. This is because you are confused. There is no clarity in your policy. You send mixed signals, he said. The Pakistan tribal region lies along the volatile Afghan border and it has been badly hit due to fighting between the security forces and militants. The tribal people and their representatives are apprehensive that any new operation would catch them in the crossfire. by Lyu Hui BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhuanet) -- Charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree, former U.S. President Donald Trump was arraigned recently at the Manhattan Criminal Court in New York City, becoming the first former U.S. president to be criminally indicted. The historic indictment revealed that political polarization and fierce partisan fight are aggravating in the United States, further tearing apart American society and causing decline of public confidence in American democracy. Despite facing mounting problems of political dysfunction and social division at home, the U.S., claiming to be the beacon of democracy, has always peddled and imposed its democracy around the globe, only to create instability and chaos for other countries. U.S. democracy suffers chronic ills The myth of democracy the U.S. built around itself has long collapsed. In the United States, deep-rooted problems such as political polarization, money politics, racial discrimination, gun violence, widened wealth gaps, among others, remain entrenched in society. These maladies afflicting American democracy further revealed U.S. governance failure and institutional defects. The Brookings Institution concludes in a 2022 report that the once proud American democracy is facing a systemic crisis and is accelerating its decline. Political polarization, especially the polarization of bipartisan politics, constitutes one of the most salient features of American politics. The Democratic and Republican Parties are increasingly at odds in many aspects. Politicians put the interests of their political parties and factions above those of the country and attack and pin blames on each other. Minutes after the indictment was announced last week, Trump, who is running for the White House for the third time, released a lengthy statement calling it part of a "witch hunt." He has repeatedly assailed Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and egged on supporters to protest in the past weeks. Republicans have rallied behind Trump, criticizing that the justice system has been weaponized by the Democratic Party for political purposes. The unprecedented indictment of the former president showcased the dysfunction of American democracy amid increasingly extreme political polarization. "Trump's criminal indictment unleashes a bitter new phase in American politics," wrote Stephen Collinson, a reporter for CNN Politics covering the White House, in an analysis, adding that it "creates a uniquely perilous moment for a polarized republic already repeatedly driven to the brink." Political risk consultancy Eurasia Group listed "Divided States of America" as one of the top risks for 2023 in a recent report, saying the United States "remains one of the most politically polarized and dysfunctional of the world's advanced industrial democracies." The 118th House speaker was elected after four days chaos and 15 rounds of voting by members of Congress, fully exposing the deep political polarization in the country. Brad Bannon, president of a U.S. political consultancy, put it bluntly, "The impasse in the U.S. House of Representatives over the election of the Speaker is another demonstration of the decline in our political institutions. American elections have become a game for the rich with money in elections setting a new record. According to an analysis published by OpenSecrets, the total cost of the 2022 state and federal midterm elections was nearly 17 billion dollars, the most expensive election in history. "A government of the people, by the people, for the people," the ideal democratic government of the United States depicted by then U.S. President Abraham Lincoln in his landmark Gettysburg Address, has become "of the 1 percent, by the 1 percent, and for the 1 percent". American democracy has increasingly degenerated into a democracy for the few, where only the power-holders, the rich, and the political elite have a final say. Despite a right to vote, the public does not have real sway over politics. Helene Landemore, a political theorist at Yale University, wrote in an article published by the Foreign Policy magazine in December 2021 that American democracy lacks "people's power," and that only the very rich, a very small part of the population, can use their very high economic status to push for a set of policy priorities that serve themselves. Americans are increasingly disillusioned with their own democracy. Up to 67 percent of Americans think the nation's democracy is in danger of collapse, showed a poll by The Quinnipiac University Poll on Aug. 31, 2022. According to a Pew Center poll, 65 percent of Americans believe that the U.S. democratic system needs major reforms, while 57 percent believe the U.S. is no longer a model of democracy. Export democracy to bully the world All those deep-rooted democratic ills have made narrative of American democracy even less convincing. How can the self-proclaimed shining city on a hill shine light on others when it is unable to illuminate its own backyard? Instead of reflecting on those problems facing its own democracy, the United States continues to export American democratic values to other countries, and use democracy as a tool to serve its own agenda, which has created divisions and chaos worldwide. The recently-concluded second "Summit for Democracy" is nothing but a ludicrous farce exposing Washington's attempt to maintain its dominance under the guise of promoting democracy. The summit, as a matter of fact, split the world into so-called democratic and undemocratic camps by U.S. standards, in a blatant attempt to gang up, draw ideological lines and stoke divisions in the world, thus contravening and trampling on the spirit of democracy. Harboring Cold War mentality, a hegemonic logic and a preference for bloc politics, Washington is trying to spread the false narrative of democracy versus autocracy, with a view to advance its own geostrategy under the disguise of democracy. The U.S. is trying to use "a very narrow concept of democracy as a tool for dividing the world", which is "a very undemocratic approach", noted Josef Gregory Mahoney, an American professor of politics and international relations at the East China Normal University in Shanghai. In the name of democracy, the "Summit for Democracy" enforces hegemony in practice, according to Shen Yi, director of the International Research Institute of Global Cyberspace Governance of Fudan University. In an attempt to enforce its hegemony, the U.S. has exported wars and upheavals under the guise of "safeguarding democracy," bringing turbulence and destruction to a number of other countries. Sovereign countries like Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Libya have suffered numerous disasters due to U.S. invasion and its proxy wars. Under the Biden administration, the U.S. ended 20 years of war in Afghanistan with a hasty withdrawal of troops after shattering the whole country and destroying the future of several generations. Data released by the UK-based monitor group Airwars showed that U.S. airstrikes alone have killed as many as 48,000 civilians in nearly 100,000 bombings in Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, Somalia, Syria, and Yemen since 2001. Worse still, the U.S. has increasingly resorted to unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction against other countries such as Cuba and Iran, which have seriously damaged their economic development and people's livelihood in a systematic and massive violation of human rights. As William Blum, a writer on U.S. foreign policy, pointed out in his book America's Deadliest Export: Democracy, "Washington's ambition for world domination is driven not by the cause of a deeper democracy or freedom, a more just world, ending poverty or violence, or a more liveable planet, but rather by economics and ideology." No one-size-fits-all model of democracy Democracy is humanity's common value and should not become a tool to advance hegemonic agenda of the privileged few. The essence of democracy should ensure that the people are the masters of their country. Therefore, whether a country is democratic or not and how to better promote democracy should be judged by the people of a country, not to be dictated by few self-righteous nations. As human civilization is diversified, it is natural that democracy takes different forms and develops along varied pathways in various countries. There is no one-size-fits-all model of democracy for all countries in the world and each country has the right to choose a path of democratic development that suits its own national conditions. "The basic principle of democracy is not to impose your model and your social values on others," said Marinko Ogorec, a Croatian political analyst, adding that different forms of democracy should be respected just like different values and traditions. "Only when we respect those differences can we talk about democracy," Ogorec noted. At the time when the world needs unity to solve common challenges, the U.S. should stop peddling its own democratic value, reflect on its own problems and respond with practical action to the global aspiration for peace and prosperity. Mumbai, Apr 13 (PTI) Four Nepalese women have been arrested here for allegedly trying to fly to Oman from Mumbai by producing forged No-Objection-Certificates of their country's embassy, city police said on Thursday. The women were to fly to the Gulf nation for taking up jobs there from the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport here on Tuesday night, said a police official. When they produced their travel documents at the immigration counter, the officials suspected the authenticity of the NOCs purportedly issued by the Nepal embassy in New Delhi. All four women were heading for Muscat by a flight which was scheduled for 9.50 pm on Tuesday. But they were detained as the first secretary of Nepal Embassy confirmed that no NOCs had been issued to these women. The four had obtained NOCs from their agent who was helping them go to Oman, they told police. All the four women were handed over to Sahar Police Station and arrested under sections 420 (cheating), 465 (forgery) and other relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Police were looking for their agent and his aide and further probe was on, officials said. Mumbai, Apr 13 (PTI) The Bombay High Court has said refusing a divorced woman to adopt a child on the ground that she is working and hence would not be able to give personal attention to the child reflects a "mindset of medieval conservative concepts". The court in its order on Tuesday allowed a 47-year-old woman to adopt her four-year-old niece. A single bench of Justice Gauri Godse in the order said a single parent is bound to be a working person. A single parent cannot be held ineligible to be an adoptive parent on the ground that he or she is a working person, it said. The HC passed the order on the petition filed by Shabnamjahan Ansari, a teacher by profession, challenging an order of a civil court at Bhusawal (in Jalgaon district of Maharashtra) in March 2022 rejecting her application to adopt a minor girl child on the ground that she was a divorcee and a working woman. The woman had sought to adopt her sister's daughter. The civil court had in its order said since Ansari was a working woman and a divorcee, she would not be able to give personal attention to the child and that the child ought to be with her biological parents. The woman in her petition in the HC said such observation by the lower court was perverse and unjust. The HC in its order noted that the reason given by the lower court in rejecting the woman's application was unfounded and baseless. The comparison done by the court between the biological mother being a housewife and the prospective adoptive mother (single parent) being a working lady reflects a mindset of the medieval conservative concepts of a family, Justice Godse observed. The bench said when law recognises a single parent eligible to be an adoptive parent, the approach of the lower court defeats the very object of the statute. Generally, a single parent is bound to be a working person, maybe with some rare exceptions. Thus, by no stretch of imagination, a single parent can be held ineligible to be an adoptive parent on the ground that he or she is a working person, the high court said. It said all statutory compliances for adoption in the present case have been done and the lower court rejected the application only on one ground that the adoptive parent is a working lady. The reason recorded by the competent court is unfounded, illegal, perverse, unjust and unacceptable, the high court said in its order. The HC bench while quashing the lower court order permitted the biological parents to give their minor girl child to Ansari in adoption. The high court declared Ansari as the girl's parent. It also directed the Bhusawal Municipal Council to modify the child's birth certificate to include Ansari's name as the parent. Mumbai, Apr 13 (PTI) The Bombay High Court on Thursday extended till April 27 the interim protection from arrest granted to former Maharashtra minister Hasan Mushrif in connection with a money laundering case, and directed the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to file its affidavit in response to his pre-arrest bail plea. Mushrif, a Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader, filed the application in the high court on Wednesday after a special court on April 11 rejected his anticipatory bail plea. On Thursday, when Mushrif's application came up for hearing before a single bench of Justice Anuja Prabhudessai, additional solicitor general Anil Singh, appearing for the ED, sought time to respond to the same. The bench, while granting the agency time to file its affidavit, extended till April 27 the interim protection from arrest granted to Mushrif earlier. In his petition in the high court, Mushrif, who represents the Kagal Assembly constituency in Kolhapur, claimed that he was being targeted by his political rivals, spearheaded by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kirit Somaiya. It added that Mushrif has been cooperating with the investigation and hence his custody was not required by the ED. "The manner in which the complaint is registered clearly indicates malafide intent and the applicant (Mushrif) apprehends that the complaint would be used to put him behind bars in order to achieve oblique political conspiracy," the petition said. The ED's probe is based on an FIR registered in Kolhapur and a complaint filed by the Registrar of Companies concerning allegations with regard to the allotment of shares of Sarsenapati Santaji Ghorpade Sugar Factory to farmers against deposits of Rs 10,000. The central probe agency's investigation has revealed that the amount collected from 40,000 farmers was diverted in various companies standing in the name of his three sons. The probe agency has claimed that these companies are "fake and shell". Kolkata, April 13 (PTI) The TMC on Thursday slammed the union government for withholding MNREGS funds due to the state and asked Home Minister Amit Shah to clarify the Centre's stand during his impending visit. Depriving the poor of their dues is tantamount to forced labour and a violation of constitutional norms, TMC MP Mahua Moitra said. The BJP hit back saying the Bengal government has not given the details of expenditure for the scheme during the past three years. Trinamool Congress and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have criticised the Centre repeatedly for withholding the state's MGNREGS funds. Referring to Shah's scheduled two-day visit to the state from Friday, Moitra said he has to answer why the poor engaged in the 100 days work scheme have not received their dues despite working under a central scheme. "When you come here as a leader of the BJP which is governing at the Centre, you have to answer why our workers have not been paid despite working under the 100 days' work scheme. MGNREGS was set up with one idea that the poorest of the poor have at least 100 days of guaranteed employment. The Government of India gives the guarantee. "The law also states that if any wage earner does not receive his/her wage within 15 days, the person is entitled to compensation," Moitra said. She said Bengal has been denied Rs 7,500 crore in MGNREGS payments since December 2021. Of this, Rs 2,800 crore is for payment of wages. "As a result, 17 lakh families are suffering for over a year. Two orders by the apex court clearly state that non-payment of wages to MGNREGS workers amounts to forced labour and violates Article 23 of the Constitution," the TMC lawmaker said. As many as 151 central teams have been sent to Bengal in the past two years and the state government has submitted action-taken reports. "Yet the allocation for 2023-24 stands at zero," she said. Senior TMC leader and state minister Partha Bhowmick blamed the West Bengal BJP for harming Bengal's interests. "When Mamata Banerjee was railway minister, she brought various projects to West Bengal. She did not worry whether the Left regime then would benefit from them. But the BJP MPs only prioritise power and politics. Elected BJP representatives from Bengal are not following their constitutional obligation of working for the people and are instead going to ministries in Delhi to ask them to block funds to the state," he claimed. Reacting to TMC's allegations, BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya criticised the ruling party for "spreading lies" about the Centre not releasing MNREGS funds. The Bengal government had not given the expenditure details of MGNREGS funds for the last three years, he said. "The MGNREGS funds have been stopped as the TMC dispensation has failed to submit the necessary documents. West Bengal has stopped submitting utilisation certificates. Let it first submit it for the funds it received earlier. The state will then start getting the MGNREGS funds again," Bhattacharya added. Kolkata, Apr 13 (PTI) A father-son duo was killed and another person was critically injured in a fire at a shoe label printing unit in Kolkata on Thursday, police said. The fire broke out at 7.20 am at the unit located beside Hotel Albela in Tiljala area and efforts are being made by four fire tenders to bring the blaze under control, a police officer said. The injured person has been admitted to a hospital, he said, adding that the cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained. Kolkata, Apr 12 (PTI) West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose Wednesday paid another surprise visit to a state university, where he underscored the importance of the National Education Policy to the faculty and students, officials said. Bose went to the West Bengal State University, Barasat. He had visited the Calcutta University (CU) unannounced on Monday. "College principals are creators of the future and need to depend on their inner strength to facilitate a change," the Raj Bhavan said in a statement late on Wednesday. Bose had on Monday met principals of 145 affiliated colleges of CU and dwelt on the salient features of the NEP. Asked about the governors surprise visits to universities, Education Minister Bratya Basu told reporters: "The state will take the call on NEP. The honourable governor has nothing to do on the issue. And, I don't have any clue about his visits, which are personal." New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) A George Soros-led foundation benefitting from India's funding of the UN Democracy Fund (UNDEF) and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's recent criticism of the American businessman are two separate issues, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Thursday. The UNDF, set up in 2005 largely after joint efforts by India and the US, implements projects across the globe to support and strengthen civil society, human rights and democratic values. The UNDF receives funding from nearly 45 member states including India, Spain, the UK and the US. According to recent media reports, a significant number of projects funded by UNDEF were implemented by organisations connected to Soros's Open Society Foundation (OSF). In the backdrop of Jaishankar's criticism of Soros, there were suggestions that while New Delhi was adopting a hardline position against the businessman and OSF domestically, it is not taking the same approach at the UNDEF on the foundation benefiting from its funding. When asked during a media briefing on the reports, Bagchi said these are completely two separate issues and they are not connected. He said India, as a responsible member of the UN, participates and promotes various activities that includes contributing to a number of voluntary funds and programmes of the UN including the UNDEF. "Incidentally the UNDEF receives funding from nearly 45 member states including India. The UNDEF allocates the funds received to numerous projects across the world and the projects are executed by various organisations. And, in this process it is guided by UN norms and procedures," he said. Bagchi said the external affairs minister's comments related to Soros stand on their own merits and they do not require any clarification. In February, Jaishankar accused Soros of being "old, rich, opinionated and dangerous" over his adverse remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and India's democracy. "The external affairs minister's comments stand on their own merits and I do not think they require any clarification. All I would say is that the external affairs minister's main point was that democracy or people's verdict in democracies must be respected; not undermined and this important principle should not be obfuscated," Bagchi said. On reports that OSF is not being allowed to send money to India by Indian authorities, the MEA spokesperson said it is a completely different issue. "Insofar any regulatory action against any institution sending money to India is concerned, these are governed by our rules and regulations, and wherever necessary, relevant agencies take suitable measures as per the law," he said. New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) India will deploy four Rafale jets, two C-17 aircraft and two IL-78 mid-air refuellers for a nearly three-week multinational air exercise at France's Mont-de-Marsan military base. It will be the first overseas exercise for the Indian Air Force's Rafale jets. The contingent of the Indian Air Force will leave for France on Friday. "An Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent will be departing tomorrow for France to participate in Exercise Orion at Mont-de-Marsan," the IAF said. "The exercise will be conducted from April 17 to May 5 with the IAF contingent comprising four Rafale jets, two C-17, two ll-78 aircraft and 165 air warriors. Besides the IAF and the French Air and Space Force (FASF), the exercise will be participated by air forces from Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Spain and the United States. "Participation in this exercise would further enrich the employment philosophy of the India Air Force, by imbibing the best practices from other Air Forces," the IAF said in a statement. New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) The Aam Aadmi Party will apply with the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry next week for a plot of land to build its office in Lutyens' Delhi area after Election Commission recognised it as a national party. The Nationalist Congress Party and the Communist Party of India, which were derecognised as national parties by the poll panel on Monday, may be asked to vacate the government bungalows allotted to them on Canning Road and Purana Qila Road respectively, sources said. The Purana Qila Road facility was allotted to CPI when it got the national party status during the tenure of AB Bardhan as general secretary, said CPI's present in-charge D Raja. Raja currently stays in Vallabhbhai Patel House. The fate of land allotted to the Trinamool Congress at central Delhi's Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg on December 20, 2013, is uncertain as the party has not constructed its office yet. An official in the Union Housing and Urban Affairs Ministry said that once a plot is allotted to a national party by the Land and Development Department and the party constructs its office there, the land remains with it irrespective of whether it continues to hold a national party status or not. An AAP functionary said the party will apply for land next week. According to the rules, a party has to construct its office within three years of the allotment of land. The Aam Aadmi Party will also get a government bungalow in central Delhi to run its office until it builds party headquarters on the plot of land allotted to it. The president of a national party is also eligible to get a bungalow. However, if the person is already staying in a government accommodation, he is not entitled to get another bungalow. This implies that AAP national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, who is presently staying at a state government accommodation in the Civil Lines area, will not get the new facility from the Union government. The Aam Aadmi Party is currently running its office from a bungalow allotted to it by the Delhi Public Works Department on the DDU Marg. On Monday, the Election Commission 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 and the Communist Party of India. New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) India on Thursday dismissed Pakistan's objection to the hosting of a G20 meeting in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh and said these conferences are being organised across the country and it is "natural" to hold them in the two union territories too as they are its "integral and inalienable" part. India is hosting a meeting of the G20 Tourism Working Group in Srinagar in May while a youth engagement group meeting is scheduled to take place in Leh later this month. On Tuesday, Pakistan criticised India's decision to hold the G20 working group meeting in Srinagar and also objected to the scheduling of the Youth-20 forum in Leh. "G20 meetings are being organised across the country. It is natural to hold them (the meetings) in Srinagar and Ladakh as the places are India's integral and inalienable part," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said at a media briefing. He was responding to a question on Pakistan's objection. "I would say that we are holding these meetings in every place. It is our natural response to have them there," Bagchi said. In its comments, the Pakistan Foreign Ministry had said, "India's irresponsible move is the latest in a series of self-serving measures." The ties between India and Pakistan came under severe strain after India's warplanes pounded a Jaish-e-Mohammed terrorist training camp in Balakot in Pakistan in February 2019 in response to the Pulwama terror attack. The relations further deteriorated after India in August 2019 announced the withdrawal of special powers of Jammu and Kashmir and the bifurcation of the state into two union territories. India assumed the Presidency of the powerful grouping G20 from Indonesia on December 1 and is hosting about 200 meetings in 32 different sectors in multiple locations across the country. The G20 or Group of 20 is an intergovernmental forum of the world's major developed and developing economies. It comprises Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the UK, the US and the European Union (EU). BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin on Wednesday said China is gravely concerned over and strongly disapproves the joint statement of the United States and the Philippines concerning the South China Sea. Wang made the remarks at a regular press briefing when answering a relevant query. Wang said that on April 11, the Philippines and the U.S. held the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue and issued a joint statement, which called on China to comply with the 2016 "Arbitral Award" on the South China Sea. The statement also mentioned that the two countries will support swift operationalization of the new sites for military bases under the Enhanced Defense Cooperation Agreement and that the U.S. will provide financial support for this. "We also noted that Philippine President Marcos said China's reaction over the expanded military deal was 'not surprising,'" said Wang. Noting that China has indisputable sovereignty over the South China Sea Islands and the adjacent waters, Wang said the joint statement of the U.S. and the Philippines misrepresents and discredits the legitimate and lawful maritime law enforcement activities of the Chinese side and even makes false accusations against China, which China strongly opposes. The spokesperson said the so-called arbitral award on the South China Sea gravely violates international laws, including UNCLOS. The award is illegal, null and void, and China's position of not accepting or recognizing it is clear and firm. China stands ready to work with relevant countries to handle maritime disputes in a proper manner through negotiation and consultation, while resolutely protecting its territory, sovereignty and maritime rights and interests, Wang added. "With regard to the new military base sites to which the Philippines gives the U.S. access, we have stated China's position several times. Facts speak louder than words," Wang said. He said that judging from the locations of the new military bases, the intention behind those sites is more than obvious. The U.S. and the Philippines have just added a footnote to their intention by stressing in the joint statement that they will "support swift operationalization of the four new sites." "It seems there is no need for China to provide any additional analysis or interpretation of that. So indeed there is nothing to be surprised about when it comes to China's response," Wang said. Wang stressed that China always believes that the Asia-Pacific is the common home of countries in the region. The region's peace and stability hinges on trust, solidarity and cooperation and requires that members of this region take security firmly in their own hands. "We would like to once again remind the relevant country in the region that pandering to forces outside the region will not bring greater security, but will cause tensions, put regional peace and stability at risk and eventually backfire," the spokesperson said. New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit four states in the three days from Friday as he spearheads the BJP's drive to tone up its organisation machinery and boost public outreach in the run-up to the Lok Sabha polls next year. Party leaders said Shah will visit Birbhum in West Bengal on Friday followed by Bharatpur in Rajasthan on Saturday and Maharashtra and Goa on Sunday. He will lay the foundation stone of a party office and address a rally in Birbhum and address a meeting of booth presidents in Rajasthan, they said. In Maharashtra, Shah is scheduled to attend an event in Raigarh, where 'Maharashtra Bhushan' award will be given to Appasaheb Dharmadhikari. He will address a public meeting in south Goa on Sunday, BJP leaders added. Noida, Apr 13 (PTI) A 38-year-old man with formal education till Class 3 has been arrested by Uttar Pradesh's Cyber Crime police over Rs 1.68 crore fraud with a businessman on the pretext of trade with a Canadian firm, officials said on Thursday. The fraudster used Facebook to network with gullible people associated with pharmaceutical productions and represented himself as a middle-man who lured them with good monetary returns, they said. The accused was arrested from Ballia district by a team of Cyber Crime police station, Noida, which was investigating the case lodged over the complaint of the businessman, who lives in Omaxe NRI City in Greater Noida in February 2021, according to the police. Accused Durga Prasad Mishra alias Rajeet Mishra, along with his partners, had posed as a middle-man for a Canada-based pharmaceutical company. Mishra told the complainant that this Canadian firm required 'curvin nuts', an expensive product used for manufacturing of some medicines. If he could procure the product, they would sell it to the Canadian company at a good margin, Inspector Reeta Yadav, in-charge of Cyber Crime police station here, said. However, there was no such Canadian company in reality. The whole story of the product requirement was to lure the complainant, who got trapped in the concocted story and ended up losing Rs 1.68 crore, Yadav said. The FIR was lodged under IPC sections 420 (cheating), 467, 468, 471 (all related to forgery of documents) and under provisions of the Information Technology Act and after investigation, the police arrested Mishra who was hiding in Ballia, she added. During preliminary questioning, Mishra told police that he hails from Ballia and is educated till Class 3 but has been engaged in online frauds for which he used social media platforms like Facebook, the inspector said. The accused said he floated a company named DP Enterprises in 2018 in Ankleshwar, Gujarat along with two more partners Sachin alias Lallan Pandey and Santosh Tiwari. For this company they had opened a current bank account in which the fraudulently earned money was transferred, she added. According to police, so far, transactions worth Rs 30 lakh have been found in this account from different sources. Cyber official S P Singh said further investigation in the case is underway and searches are on to arrest other partners of accused Mishra. The accused was on Thursday produced in a court here that sent him judicial custody, police said. New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) Delhi Lt Governor VK Saxena on Thursday directed officials to develop Qutabgarh in northwest Delhi into a model village that can be replicated in other areas. During a visit to Qutabgarh village, Saxena distributed 2,000 guava and grape saplings to promote their cultivation among the residents, according to a statement. He also visited a local city forest developed by the Forest department and planted guava saplings. This is Saxena's second visit to the village. Last September, he distributed 1,000 sandalwood saplings to 500 farmers with the aim of providing the city with a fragrant green cover. During the inspection, Saxena directed the officials concerned to take all possible steps to develop Qutabgarh into a model village while adhering to the stipulated time frame. He said once Qutabgarh is developed into the first model village, the process of development will be replicated in other villages. Saxena told the villagers that Qutabgarh can develop into a major producer of guava, which comes to Delhi from neighbouring states such as Rajasthan, with the participation of local farmers. The local production of guava and grape will make the farmers financially self-sustainable while also increasing the crop area in Delhi. The farmers will be trained in grape cultivation at Krishi Vigyan Kendra, he said. The Forest department has planted 600 saplings of various flower- and fruit-bearing trees, including jackaranda, gulmohar and gudhal, among others. The city forest is also witnessing various other development works such as a one-kilometre walking track, widening and deepening of ponds, installation of bamboo huts and the construction of toilets and other public amenities. This development will promote ecotourism in the village and support sustainable and healthy living among the villagers. The Lt Governor also visited a private plantation site where the villagers have planted guava saplings. Inspecting a Municipal Corporation of Delhi dispensary in the village, Saxena directed the officials to upgrade it into a polyclinic and operationalise it at the earliest. He was told that three specialised doctors have already been posted at the dispensary and other necessary equipment and facilities will be put in place soon. The villagers urged Saxena to provide a wrestling facility for women in the village, which has produced a number of wrestlers and athletes in recent years. He immediately directed the Delhi Development Authority officials to identify a suitable space and make the necessary arrangements. Saxena also visited the Mungeshpur drain site where the Irrigation and Flood Control department is working on de-silting and beautification. A 200-metre walking track has already been built by the department while bamboo saplings have been planted along the drain to give an aesthetic makeover and increase the green cover. Saxena has directed the Delhi Development Authority to develop two water bodies and four parks in the village and carry out the necessary maintenance work on an existing pond. (This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI) New Delhi, Apr 13 (PTI) A metropolitan court Thursday took cognisance of the charge sheet filed by the Delhi police against seven accused in the hit-and-run case where a 20-year-old woman was dragged to death while trapped under a car in the national capital on the new year day. Metropolitan Magistrate Sanya Dalal took cognisance of the 800-page charge sheet and posted the matter for scrutiny and committal of the case to sessions court on April 18. After the court took cognisance, a copy of the charge sheet was supplied to the accused. Police had arrested Deepak Khanna (26), Amit Khanna (25), Krishan (27), Mithun (26), and Manoj Mittal in the case on January 2. Two other co-accused Ashutosh Bhardwaj and Ankush, were earlier given bail by the court, while the bail plea of accused Deepak Khanna was rejected by a sessions court. According to the charge sheet Amit Khanna, Krishan, Mithun and Manoj Mittal have been accused of murder, while Amit Khanna and Ashutosh were also booked for offence under the Motor Vehicle Act. It said all accused were booked for the offences of criminal conspiracy, destruction of evidence, harbouring offender, common intention and false information with intent to cause public servant to use his lawful power to the injury of another person. Delhi Police has levelled additional charges against Amit Khanna for the offences of rash driving and causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others. The city police recently invoked Section 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code in the case which was initially registered for the offences of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and rash driving on public way. Anjali Singh (20) was killed in the early hours of the new year day after her scooter was hit by a car, which dragged her for more than 12 kilometres from Sultanpur to Kanjhawala. New Delhi, Apr 12 (PTI) The Supreme Court collegium headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud on Wednesday recommended the names of seven district judges for appointment as judges of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The collegium, which also includes Justices Sanjay Kishan Kaul and KM Joseph, recommended the names of Roopesh Chandra Varshney, Anuradha Shukla, Sanjeev Sudhakar Kalgaonkar, Prem Narayan Singh, Achal Kumar Paliwal, Hirdesh, and Avnindra Kumar Singh. The resolution stated that on November 23, 2022, the Chief Justice of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh recommended the elevation of these seven judicial officers as judges of the court in consultation with his two senior-most colleagues. The chief minister and the governor of Madhya Pradesh have endorsed the recommendations and the file was received in the Supreme Court from the Department of Justice on April 7, the resolution said. "In terms of the Memorandum of Procedure, in order to ascertain the fitness and suitability of the candidates for elevation to the high court, the judge of the Supreme Court conversant with the affairs of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh has been consulted," it said. The collegium said that for the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of the candidates for elevation to the high court, it has scrutinised the material placed on record, including the observations made by the Department of Justice in the file as well as the complaints received against the candidates. "We have also taken note of the fact that the above proposal involves non-recommendation of two senior judicial officers. In this regard, the high court collegium has duly recorded reasons for not recommending the names of these judicial officers,: the collegium said. "We are in agreement with the justification given by the High Court collegium in its minutes for not recommending these senior judicial officers," it said. In another decision, the Supreme Court collegium has also recommended the name of a judicial officer and three advocates as judges of the Uttarakhand High Court. The judicial officer whose name has been recommended is Vivek Bharti Sharma. Advocates Rakesh Thapliyal, Pankaj Purohit, and Subhash Upadhyay have also been recommended for appointment as judges to the high court. In the third resolution, the collegium has recommended the name of Judicial Officer Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal for appointment as a judge of the Chhattisgarh High Court. The collegium noted that at present, there is no judge in the Supreme Court conversant with the affairs of the Chhattisgarh High Court to assist it in the process of ascertaining the suitability of the candidate. "For the purpose of assessing the merit and suitability of the candidate for elevation to the high court, we have scrutinised and evaluated the material placed on record. We have also perused the observations made by the Department of Justice in the file as well as the complaint received against the candidate. "The Intelligence Bureau has reported that he enjoys good personal and professional image and that nothing adverse has come to notice against his integrity," it said. The collegium also said that the Department of Justice has not pointed out anything adverse in regard to his suitability for elevation. "He belongs to the OBC category. Having regard to these aspects, the collegium is of the considered opinion that Sanjay Kumar Jaiswal is suitable for appointment as a judge of the High Court of Chhattisgarh," the collegium said. Bengaluru, Apr 12 (PTI) The BJP on Wednesday announced its second list of 23 candidates for the May 10 Assembly polls in Karnataka, denying tickets to seven sitting MLAs, including Madal Virupakshappa who was recently arrested on corruption charges. The party released its first list of 189 candidates on Tuesday. The latest list does not include Hubli-Dharwad Central segment, from where former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar wants to contest. It also does not include candidate for the Shivamogga city segment, where sitting MLA and former minister K S Eshwarappa has announced his retirement from electoral politics. Shettar has been asked by the party's top brass to make way for youngsters, but he has asserted that he wants to contest one last time. The list includes four Scheduled Caste, one Scheduled Tribe and two women candidates. Channagiri MLA Virupakshappa, who was recently arrested by Lokayukta police on corruption charges, was among the incumbent MLAs who were not included in the list. Shiv Kumar has been fielded from the Channagiri seat. In Haveri, sitting MLA Nehru Olekar was replaced by Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar, while in Byndoor, sitting MLA B Sukumar Shetty made way for Gururaj Gantihole. Mudigere sitting MLA M P Kumaraswamy was dropped and Deepak Doddaiah was named in his place. Recently, there was a large-scale protest against HD Kumaraswamy by a section of party workers in the constituency, when veteran leader BS Yediyurappa visited there. Kalghatgi MLA C M Nimbannavar (76) has been replaced by Nagaraj Chabbi who quit Congress and joined the party recently, and in Mayakonda, Basavaraja Naik has been given the ticket instead of sitting MLA N Linganna. Davangere North MLA S A Ravindranath (76) was denied renomination. Instead, Lokikere Nagraj got the ticket. Discontent seems to be brewing within the ruling BJP in Karnataka with the party facing the heat after announcing its first list of candidates on Tuesday after some aspirants who missed the bus expressing displeasure. The party has so far announced candidates for 212 of the total 224 seats. Bengaluru, Apr 13 (PTI) The BJP continued to face heat and resorted to fire-fighting following the announcement of 212 candidates for the May 10 Assembly polls in two lists, with disappointed aspirants raising a banner of revolt. After a series of deliberations, the BJP on Tuesday announced its first list of 189 candidates and a second list of 23 on Wednesday night. With a total 224 seats in the Assembly, the party is yet to name contestants for 12 seats. Mudigere BJP MLA M P Kumaraswamy and Haveri MLA Nehru Olekar on Thursday announced their resignation from the primary membership of the party, after they were denied tickets. "Some aspirants and legislators have announced their resignation, a few have resigned. We are speaking to workers and leaders and things will be resolved by and large. I'm speaking to seniors (who are disgruntled), also our high command will be speaking to them. I'm confident things will be resolved," Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said. Speaking to reporters in the coastal town of Mangaluru, he said things would be resolved given some time. In response to a question on senior leader and former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi announcing that he was quitting the party, Bommai said, "... he will also have to safeguard the trust of the people of the constituency from whom he will be under pressure. So it will take some time, but it will be resolved." To a question about Savadi being in touch with Congress leaders, the CM said he was not aware of it but was confident that things would be fine. "There is an emotional bond, he (Savadi) might have said things out of anger." Stating that candidates had been selected based on "survey reports", the Chief Minister said he would also speak to Mudigere MLA Kumaraswamy and try to ensure that he remained in the party. Veteran BJP leader and former Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said there was some disgruntlement among some party members in some places and certain statements had been made, and that he would speak to them personally. "They should cooperate with the BJP. I've been speaking to them (disgruntled) since yesterday to ensure there is no confusion, and most probably, other than one or two cases, things will be resolved and I'm confident that they will cooperate," he said. Yediyurappa too said he would speak to Kumaraswamy. "The party has not deprived him of things. We have given him everything. It is easy to resign. He should stop his loose talk." In Haveri, Olekar, who was overlooked and replaced by Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar, has openly blamed Chief Minister Bommai for his not getting the ticket. Olekar said he and his supporters had decided to resign from the primary membership of the party. "About 1,000 supporters are resigning with me. We will be sending it (resignation letter) to the district president. I have got calls from other parties, including JD(S). I will decide after speaking to my supporters and voters." Former MLA Sogadu Shivanna, who was aspirant for the Tumakuru city ticket, too has resigned from the BJP, following the party's decision to field G B Jyothi Ganesh instead of him. He said his supporters and voters had asked him to contest the polls and that he would file his nomination before April 20. On Wednesday, former Deputy Chief Minister Laxman Savadi who was looking to be fielded from Athani announced his decision to resign from the primary membership of the party, while Minister and six-time MLA S Angara from Sullia constituency in Dakshina Kannada district announced his retirement from politics, after failing to be renominated. Udupi MLA Raghupati Bhat, who was also overlooked by BJP, has said he was deeply pained by the treatment meted out to him by the party, and BJP MLC R Shankar, who was an aspirant for Ranebennur Assembly seat, resigned as legislator on Wednesday after the party ignored his request. Hosadurga MLA Goolihatti Shekhar, who has also been denied a ticket has said he would contest as an independent or join former Minister and mining baron G Janardhana Reddy's newly formed Kalyana Rajya Pragathi Paksha. "I will decide soon after consulting my supporters," he said. Patna, Apr 13 (PTI) Armed assailants shot dead two security guards posted at a state-owned banks branch in Bihars Saran district and looted Rs 13.28 lakh on Thursday, police said. The deceased have been identified as Ganesh Shah and Ram Naresh Rai. Five unidentified persons entered the bank around 12.30 pm. When the guards resisted, they shot at them. Both died during treatment, according to a statement issued by the Bihar Police headquarters here. Police are examining the CCTV footage to trace the accused, it said. GUANGZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the importance of remaining steadfast in comprehensively deepening reform and expanding high-standard opening up, and urged Guangdong Province, a pacesetter of the country's reform and opening up, to take the lead in advancing Chinese modernization. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of Guangdong in south China from Monday to Thursday. Kota (Raj), Apr 13 (PTI) Traders in Kanwas town here shut their shops on Thursday to protest against two firing incidents in the market. Two bike-borne men fired in the air at two different places in the market on Wednesday afternoon. Station House Officer of Kanwas Police Station Kalyan Singh said the two have been identified as Shakeel and Atique, residents of Kanwas. Prima facie, the shots were fired to terrorise the traders as no one was targeted. The real motive will be known only after interrogation of the duo, he said. Holding the police responsible for the incidents, the traders, led by former local BJP MLA Heeralal Nagar, said the market would remain shut till the accused are not arrested. Police have assured the traders that the culprits would be nabbed by Friday. An FIR has been lodged against the duo following a complaint by traders, Koshal Soni, Madhusudan, and Himanshu, police said. Soni is a local BJP leader and former panchayat samiti member. Police personnel in large numbers have been deployed in the town to maintain law and order and prevent any untoward incident, officials said. The traders accompanied by activists of Hindu organisations also submitted a memorandum to the SDM demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. According to police, Shakeel and Atique have a criminal background. Atique has three cases, including attempt to murder and Arms Act, lodged against him, Deputy Superintendent of Police Rameshwar Parihar said. Several police teams are engaged to trace the accused, they said. Lucknow, Apr 13 (PTI) A court here on Thursday awarded life imprisonment to Mohammad Waliullah in connection with the 2006 serial blasts in Varanasi. He was sentenced for being in possession of RDX, a detonator and a pistol. Special Judge of NIA court VS Tripathi also imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on him. In his order, the judge said that Waliullah was already sentenced to death in the Sankat Mochan bomb blast case which showed that he was a dreaded culprit and hence was entitled to the maximum punishment provided in the current case. Waliullah's counsel sought a lesser sentence pleading that he has already spent 17 years in jail and he has a mother, wife, son and a daughter to look after. Opposing the plea, state counsel said that Waliullah was a dreaded criminal and that had he been not arrested in Lucknow, he would have succeeded in executing blasts in the city. According to state counsel MK Singh, Waliullah, a resident of Phoolpur in Prayagraj, was arrested by Varanasi police in the state capital on June 5, 2006. At the time of the arrest, Waliullah had 500 gms of RDX, a detonator and a foreign pistol and cartridges. Later, he was booked in the Sankat Mochan bomb blast case. He was awarded capital punishment by a Ghaziabad court on June 6, 2022. At least 18 people were killed and over 100 wounded in the twin blasts at the Sankat Mochan temple and Varanasi Cantonment railway station within 15 minutes on March 7, 2006. The human remains found outside of an apartment building north of Boston have been determined to be those of an infant girl was at or close to full-term A Ghost Bike for Gary F. Piver, a cyclist who was struck and killed on Monday, March 6, 2023, by a vehicle traveling West on South Broad Street by a hit and run driver, stands near to the site where he was struck on Thursday, March 9, 2023. Ghost Bikes are small and somber memorials for bicyclists who are killed or hit on the street. A bicycle is painted all white and locked to a street sign near the crash site, accompanied by a small plaque. They serve as reminders of the tragedy that took place on an otherwise anonymous street corner, and as quiet statements in support of cyclists' right to safe travel. The first ghost bikes were created in St. Louis, Missouri in 2003. Harold Hanka, Special to the Sun If I had a pound for every time that Ive read that the UK stock market is cheap, Id probably have made significantly more money than I have done in backing those bargain UK shares over the past decade or so. A glance at the long-term chart of the headline UK index, the FTSE 100, tells you all you need to know about why the UK stock market is considered by some to be perennially unlucky. Every time it has gone on a decent run since the turn of the millennium, something has arrived to knock it off its perch. A tale of two FTSE 100s: Before the dot com boom peak at the end of 1999, the FTSE 100 was a picture of long-term growth. Since the start of the 2000s it has been a picture of slow rises and then sudden drops, with repeated struggles to substantially beat previous peaks. The FTSE 100 chart over the last two decades is a picture of slow rises followed by sudden drops and then a slow rise back to a roughly similar level. In contrast, the US stock market, as measured by the S&P 500, looks more like the steady upwards line of growth that investors are usually provided with as they are exhorted to think long term. Look back before the dot com boom peak at the end of 1999 and you will see the FTSE 100 chart much more closely resembles that kind of long-term growth picture. Hence investors' grumbling about the UK stock market's lacklustre performance since the bell chimed on the start of the 2000s. The US S&P 500's chart over the same period looks much more like a picture of long-term growth, largely thanks to the post financial crisis boom At 7,818 on 12 April 2023, the FTSE 100 was a mere 13 per cent higher than its 31 December 1999 dot com bubble peak. To be fair to the FTSE 100, there has been plenty of dividend income paid out along the way, which makes the total return from investing far better. It should also be noted that the broader FTSE All Share, which encompasses almost all of the Uk stock market, has done better - up 31 per cent since the end of 1999. Nonetheless, the FTSE 100's 13 per cent rise over 23 years is not a good look for a major global stock market index. Especially not when that annoying high-achieving big brother across the Atlantic, the S&P 500 has risen 180 per cent. The good news is that the UK stock market is still cheap. Schroders Equity Lens report looked at stock market valuations across different metrics In its latest Equity Lens report, fund manager Schroders, compared stock market valuations for the US, UK, Europe, Japan and Emerging Markets. It did this across various measures, CAPE (cyclically adjusted price to earnings), Forward Price to Earnings (P/E), Trailing P/E, Price to Book, and Dividend Yield, and then compared these ratios to their 15-year median. In its traffic light system, the US scored a sea of expensive red. The UK, on the other hand was largely cheap green, with forward P/E at 17 per cent below the 15-year median, trailing P/E at 15 per cent below, and price to book at 7 per cent below. The CAPE ratio for the UK of 14 comes in at 9 per cent above its 15-year median, while the dividend yield is 2 per cent off its medium-term average, but at 3.8 per cent you will be picking up more income at home than in any of those other markets. Investors are often warned against using any of these valuation metrics in isolation, but when the dashboard lights up like this it is reasonable to say the UK looks fairly cheap. This backs up what a number of investment professionals and fund managers have been saying for some time and most argue that despite UK shares gains since autumns post mini-Budget gloomfest, they are still good value. We have not seen so many companies we own trade on single digit P/E multiples since 2008-9 Mark Slater, fund manager Mark Slater, a fund manager for 30 years, who runs the Slater Growth, Income and Recovery Funds, wrote in a recent note to investors: We have not seen so many companies we own trade on single digit P/E multiples since 2008-9. 'Now, as then, as companies grow their earnings while their multiples fall they are getting cheaper and cheaper. It is analogous to holding a beach ball under water. Sooner or later you cannot hold it down any longer and it jumps above the water. For a more accurate analogy, someone would also be pumping air into the beach ball while you try to keep it down. This echoes the views of Temple Bar manager Ian Lance in our recent Investing Show interview, who said late last year that 2000 and 2008 was the last time he had seen UK shares at such bargain levels. His investment trust holds 81 per cent of its assets in UK shares, with top ten holdings including BP, Shell, Standard Chartered and M&S. You will note that these names are far from what is widely considered the cutting edge of the investment world: that's not quite the Apple, Amazon, Alphabet and Moderna list you'd find with many a US or global fund. Their cheap share prices reflect British stocks being deeply unfashionable and our investing reporter Angharad Carrick looks in more detail at whether the UK stock market is a contrarian opportunity here. Before you dive into investing though it is important to note a few things. Firstly, recent history shows you may need a lot of patience and could end up sitting in bargain UK shares while other markets outperform. My own portfolio bears this out, I would have done a lot better backing the supposedly expensive US than the cheap UK over the past ten years. Secondly, diversification matters, and you need to be careful how much of a portfolio you allocate to a market like the UK, which now makes up just 5.7 per cent of the MSCI ACWI global index compared to the USAs 54 per cent. Its very easy to become far more heavily invested in the UK than you think, which is great if it does well but not so good if it does badly. Its very easy to become far more heavily invested in the UK than you think And finally, pick your investments carefully. Backing individual stocks requires more work than most are willing to put in and the commitment to building a diversified share portfolio of at least 15 to 20 companies that do different things. A far safer bet is a fund or investment trust that does the work of diversifying for you, but even then, opting for an active manager you think will outperform the market runs the risk of choosing one who ends up falling behind. Before you dive into an active investment fund or trust, do some solid research on track record and whether the manager's outlook and the fund's risk profile are right for you. You can get some expert ideas in our 50 best funds and investment trusts list, but always do your own research. And remember, you might be better off opting for a cheap tracker instead. In fact, before you buy any investment or target any particular country or sector, asking yourself whether putting your money into a cheap global tracker fund instead would be better, is always a wise move. > The best (and cheapest) investment accounts and stocks and shares Isas Ex-Barclays boss Jes Staley discussed claims of human trafficking with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, say new court filings. Staley had a senior role at JP Morgan and the disgraced financier was his client when news stories emerged in 2010, a document cited in a US lawsuit said. The bank launched a review in January 2011 in the light of the allegations, the lawsuit said. Discussion: Jes Staley (pictured) had a senior role at JP Morgan and the disgraced financier was his client when news stories emerged in 2010, a document cited in a US lawsuit said Jes Staley discussed the topic with Jeffrey Epstein who replied there was no truth to the allegations, no evidence and was not expecting any problems, the newly released document was cited as saying. The claims surfaced in a New York court case centring on Epsteins activities. JP Morgan faces two civil suits alleging it enabled his behaviour one from the US Virgin Islands, where Epstein had a home, and the other from an alleged victim. The bank is in turn seeking to claw back tens of millions of dollars it paid Staley from 2006 to 2013 to cover costs that it may incur as a result. Staleys legal team has described the allegations about his connection to Epstein as slanderous and baseless. A row has erupted after a prominent Labour MP demanded an inquiry into a notorious City short-sellers links to Russia. Liam Byrne, a former chief secretary to the Treasury, has claimed Viceroy Research boss Fraser Perring was a not infrequent visitor to Moscow and accused him of working hand in glove with another outfit, Boatman Capital, to launch a short-selling attack on UK defence group Babcock. Speaking in the House of Commons, Byrne called for a debate on the activities of short-selling attack group Viceroy Research and its leader Fraser Perring. He added: We must ensure that short-selling groups are not another weapon in Putins arsenal. Where there are links between short-selling attack groups and the Kremlin, we need to know. Questions: Liam Byrne (left), a former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, has claimed Viceroy Research boss Fraser Perring (right) was 'a not infrequent visitor to Moscow' The comments, which were made last month but have only now come to light, sparked a furious response from Perring, 49. Its nonsense, he told the Mail. Im not a Russian spy. He could have caused serious damage to my family. Perring also claimed that he has received phone calls asking about Byrnes comments. Byrne, 52, declined to comment. The Labour MP said he had been told Viceroy worked with Boatman to attack Babcock while it was overhauling the UKs nuclear submarines. He also said Viceroy was targeting homeless landlord Home REIT, which is suspended from trading on the stock market amid a probe into its finances. Viceroy published a report on Home REIT last November accusing it of overpaying for properties and misrepresenting the financial health of tenants. Since then, Home REIT has become mired in escalating crises and is being investigated by the National Crime Agency amid allegations of bribery. It also faces a potential lawsuit amid accusations it misled shareholders. But in a letter to the MP seen by the Mail, Perrings lawyers said neither he nor Viceroy have ever worked with Boatman Capital and had not been involved in any short-selling attack on Babcock. They denied Home REIT was targeted, saying Perring had simply raised questions and exposed the companys failures. The letter also said Perring has never been to Moscow and there were no such links to the Kremlin. Accusing him of doing Putin and the Russian governments dirty work and therefore representing a danger to this country whose activities deserve scrutiny in Parliament, is a very serious allegation, it read. Perring has also demanded Byrne say on record in Parliament that the allegations were unfounded. Viceroy said Byrnes accusations were laughably and demonstrably false. Mr Byrnes ludicrous accusations in the Houses of Parliament are wholly false and have no basis in fact. Any further allegations of Russian spy links are wholly false and uninformed, it added. Viceroy also said that it would be writing to the Parliamentary standards committee about Byrnes comments. Byrne, a Birmingham MP, was chief secretary to the Treasury under Gordon Brown before Labour were voted out of office in the 2010 general election. He garnered widespread attention when he left a note behind saying there was no money left. Despite it being a joke, the note was seized upon by the Conservatives and repeatedly used to attack Labours economic record.Byrne said the note was something he would regret forever. Perring became well-known for being one of the loudest voices to raise the alarm over German payments group Wirecard, which collapsed in 2020 after an accounting scandal that saw its chief executive arrested and chief operating officer go into hiding. The head of the International Monetary Fund has warned of the dangers of a second Cold War in the wake of Covid and Russias invasion of Ukraine. Kristalina Georgieva, who grew up in Bulgaria in the Soviet era, spoke out as countries ramp up efforts to secure supply chains amid geopolitical tensions. At the IMF and World Bank spring meetings in Washington, she drew on experiences of being brought up behind the Iron Curtain, saying: I know the consequences of a Cold War. She recalled the loss of creativity and openness as talented people were cut off from the world economy. Concerns: Kristalina Georgieva (pictured) spoke out as countries ramp up efforts to secure supply chains amid geopolitical tensions between major powers The question is, can we be more determined to enhance security of supplies but not push the world that far that we are into a second Cold War? Georgieva said. I believe it is possible. Her comments came after the G7 advanced countries warned that as global supply chains were repaired there was a risk of the world dividing into power blocs. Russias war on Ukraine has changed the attitude of many European countries on oil and gas supplies from Russia. The US is working to diversify technology and other manufacturing away from China amid concerns about Beijings threats against Taiwan. What we have learned from Covid and the war is that security of supply and the reliable functioning of global supply chains are taking a higher priority in economic discussions and decision making, Georgieva said. Regrettably we have to recognise that we cant take peace for granted. Glencore has been slammed by an activist shareholder as its attempt to buy a Canadian rival suffered another setback. In a letter to Glencore chief executive Gary Nagle and chairman Kalidas Madhavpeddi, Bluebell Capital has accused the London-listed mining giant of making an alarmingly illogical offer for Teck Resources. The broadside came as Glencore ramped up its attempts to merge with Vancouver-based Teck and spin off their combined coal businesses into a new venture. 'Complacent': Bluebell Capital has accused the London-listed mining giant of making an alarmingly illogical offer for Teck Resources Bluebell, which is an investor in both Glencore and Teck, claims the deal would be value destructive. Teck has already rebuffed an 18billion bid from Glencore and a second offer that included a cash sweetener worth 6.6billion. Canadian mining magnate Norman Keevil, the controlling investor in Teck, has said he will not sell to Glencore at any price. Several other Teck shareholders yesterday urged Glencore to increase its bid. Nagle is set to embark on a charm offensive in Toronto to convince Tecks investors to support the deal. However, this is being done against a backdrop of mounting criticism from Bluebell. Bluebells letter to Glencore, which has been seen by the Mail, criticises Glencore for delaying its coal spin-off. It is unfortunate that you have wasted one-and-a-half years failing to reposition the company to take advantage of the long-term growth opportunities in transition metals, it said. Glencore shareholders, us included, would be reasonable in their criticism of this short- sightedness, complacency, and lack of strategic thinking for not spinning off thermal coal in a timely manner. Not only have you failed to prepare adequately, by pursuing meritless arguments to push back on the spin-off of thermal coal, but subsequently Glencore has proposed an unsolicited business combination which is sub-optimal for both Glencores and Tecks shareholders. Bluebell criticised the seemingly ill health of Glencores governance and referred to the corruption and bribery scandal that embroiled the Footsie miner in recent years. Last year the Serious Fraud Office ordered Glencore to pay 280million for highly corrosive and endemic corruption. The activist investor has long campaigned for the miner to dump its environmentally-unfriendly coal business. But coal has been highly lucrative for Glencore, which made billions of dollars last year on the back of surging prices following war in Ukraine. Glencore is worth around 61billion but Bluebell partner Giuseppe Bivona claims it could command a higher valuation if it ditched coal and focused on copper. Thermal coal, which is burned in power stations to generate electricity, is the worlds most polluting fossil fuel and shunned by investors who increasingly claim to espouse green views. Glencore declined to comment. Dover (NYSE:DOV Get Rating) had its price objective upped by stock analysts at Bank of America from $180.00 to $200.00 in a research report issued to clients and investors on Tuesday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the industrial products companys stock. Bank of Americas price target would indicate a potential upside of 35.94% from the companys previous close. A number of other equities research analysts have also issued reports on the company. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their target price on Dover from $149.00 to $157.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Oppenheimer lifted their price target on Dover from $167.00 to $174.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Friday, March 10th. Royal Bank of Canada reiterated a sector perform rating and set a $145.00 price target on shares of Dover in a report on Thursday, March 9th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their target price on Dover from $139.00 to $158.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. Finally, Morgan Stanley boosted their target price on Dover from $144.00 to $152.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Five equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $162.92. Get Dover alerts: Dover Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of Dover stock opened at $147.12 on Tuesday. Dover has a 1-year low of $114.49 and a 1-year high of $160.66. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69, a current ratio of 1.23 and a quick ratio of 0.74. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $148.75 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $139.38. The company has a market capitalization of $20.56 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.80, a PEG ratio of 1.12 and a beta of 1.35. Insider Buying and Selling Dover ( NYSE:DOV Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 31st. The industrial products company reported $2.16 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $2.15 by $0.01. Dover had a return on equity of 28.55% and a net margin of 12.52%. The company had revenue of $2.14 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $2.12 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the business earned $1.78 EPS. The companys quarterly revenue was up 7.5% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts forecast that Dover will post 9 EPS for the current year. In related news, CFO Brad M. Cerepak sold 34,972 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Monday, March 13th. The stock was sold at an average price of $143.25, for a total transaction of $5,009,739.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief financial officer now owns 73,878 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $10,583,023.50. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through the SEC website. 1.30% of the stock is owned by insiders. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Dover Large investors have recently made changes to their positions in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. raised its holdings in Dover by 1.3% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 16,895,470 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $2,650,899,000 after acquiring an additional 224,091 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its stake in shares of Dover by 3.5% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,867,691 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $800,635,000 after purchasing an additional 231,562 shares during the period. Boston Partners grew its stake in shares of Dover by 3.9% in the 3rd quarter. Boston Partners now owns 4,530,080 shares of the industrial products companys stock valued at $529,036,000 after purchasing an additional 171,924 shares during the period. Bank of America Corp DE grew its position in Dover by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 3,786,001 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $512,662,000 after acquiring an additional 33,496 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Macquarie Group Ltd. grew its position in Dover by 2.0% during the 3rd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 3,379,487 shares of the industrial products companys stock worth $393,981,000 after acquiring an additional 64,950 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 85.52% of the companys stock. About Dover (Get Rating) Dover Corp. operates as a manufacturer and solutions provider delivering innovative equipment and components, consumable supplies, aftermarket parts, software and digital solutions, and support services. It operates through the following segments: Engineered Products, Clean Energy and Fueling, Imaging and Identification, Pumps and Process Solutions, and Climate and Sustainability Technologies. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Dover Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Dover and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. BEIJING, April 12 (Xinhua) -- China urges the U.S. side to give an explanation to the international community for the leaked U.S. military documents, a spokesperson for the Chinese foreign ministry said Wednesday. According to U.S. media reports, some suspected classified Pentagon documents have been circulating on social media recently. These leaked documents indicate that the U.S. government is deeply involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and has been spying on its allies. This is not the first time for scandals like this to be revealed. In response to a related query, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a daily news briefing that China noted that many media outlets have pointed out that these leaked U.S. military documents clearly show the deep involvement of the United States in the Ukraine crisis. "They also show once again that the United States has long used its tech edge to conduct indiscriminate secret theft, surveillance and eavesdropping on countries in the world, including its allies. The United States needs to give an explanation to the international community for this," Wang said. Wang noted that the top U.S. diplomat said at the so-called "Summit for Democracy" that the United States is working with partners to ensure that technology is developed and used in ways that reflect what they call "democratic values and interests." "Facts have proven once again that the so-called 'democratic values' claimed by the United States are nothing but a pretext and a tool for the United States to seek selfish gains," he said. Acuity Brands (NYSE:AYI Get Rating)s stock had its outperform rating reaffirmed by research analysts at Oppenheimer in a note issued to investors on Tuesday, Benzinga reports. They currently have a $210.00 target price on the electronics makers stock. Oppenheimers price target points to a potential upside of 31.68% from the companys current price. Other research analysts have also recently issued research reports about the stock. UBS Group decreased their target price on shares of Acuity Brands from $180.00 to $170.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered their price objective on shares of Acuity Brands from $201.00 to $173.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com started coverage on Acuity Brands in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on Acuity Brands from $193.00 to $180.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Robert W. Baird cut their price objective on Acuity Brands from $192.00 to $175.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a report on Wednesday, April 5th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, five have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Acuity Brands presently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $191.88. Get Acuity Brands alerts: Acuity Brands Trading Up 0.3 % AYI opened at $159.48 on Tuesday. The stock has a market capitalization of $5.07 billion, a PE ratio of 13.98, a P/E/G ratio of 1.28 and a beta of 1.58. Acuity Brands has a one year low of $142.71 and a one year high of $202.90. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.25, a quick ratio of 1.61 and a current ratio of 2.34. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $184.61 and its 200 day moving average price is $179.05. Insider Activity at Acuity Brands Acuity Brands ( NYSE:AYI Get Rating ) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, April 4th. The electronics maker reported $2.79 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.28 by $0.51. The company had revenue of $943.60 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $959.99 million. Acuity Brands had a return on equity of 22.20% and a net margin of 9.22%. As a group, equities research analysts expect that Acuity Brands will post 12.4 EPS for the current year. In related news, Director Laura Oshaughnessy purchased 632 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were bought at an average price of $158.05 per share, for a total transaction of $99,887.60. Following the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,111 shares in the company, valued at $333,643.55. The acquisition was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through the SEC website. 1.10% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in AYI. Raymond James & Associates lifted its position in shares of Acuity Brands by 6.2% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James & Associates now owns 20,688 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $3,916,000 after purchasing an additional 1,200 shares during the last quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS lifted its holdings in Acuity Brands by 3.0% during the 1st quarter. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Public School Empls Retrmt SYS now owns 12,834 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $2,429,000 after buying an additional 379 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. boosted its position in shares of Acuity Brands by 0.9% during the 1st quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,982,396 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $564,568,000 after acquiring an additional 25,598 shares in the last quarter. APG Asset Management N.V. purchased a new position in shares of Acuity Brands in the 1st quarter valued at about $1,395,000. Finally, Great West Life Assurance Co. Can raised its position in shares of Acuity Brands by 9.1% during the 1st quarter. Great West Life Assurance Co. Can now owns 19,747 shares of the electronics makers stock worth $3,850,000 after acquiring an additional 1,647 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 93.80% of the companys stock. Acuity Brands Company Profile (Get Rating) Acuity Brands, Inc operates as an industrial technology company, which engages in the provision of lighting and building management solutions and services. It operates through the Acuity Brands Lighting and Lighting Controls and Intelligent Spaces Group segments. The company was founded in 2001 and is headquartered in Atlanta, GA. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Acuity Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Acuity Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. (NYSE:NAPA Get Rating) major shareholder Mallard Holdco, Llc sold 6,000,000 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Thursday, April 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $15.35, for a total value of $92,100,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 62,147,261 shares of the companys stock, valued at $953,960,456.35. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink. Major shareholders that own more than 10% of a companys stock are required to disclose their sales and purchases with the SEC. Duckhorn Portfolio Stock Down 0.5 % NYSE NAPA opened at $14.98 on Thursday. The stocks 50 day moving average is $15.42 and its 200 day moving average is $15.51. The company has a current ratio of 5.18, a quick ratio of 0.90 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.24. The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. has a 12 month low of $12.64 and a 12 month high of $22.29. The stock has a market cap of $1.73 billion, a PE ratio of 30.57, a P/E/G ratio of 3.99 and a beta of 0.18. Get Duckhorn Portfolio alerts: Duckhorn Portfolio (NYSE:NAPA Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 8th. The company reported $0.17 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.15 by $0.02. Duckhorn Portfolio had a return on equity of 7.50% and a net margin of 14.61%. The company had revenue of $103.49 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $102.46 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company posted $0.16 EPS. Research analysts predict that The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc. will post 0.58 EPS for the current fiscal year. Institutional Trading of Duckhorn Portfolio Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in Duckhorn Portfolio by 20.6% during the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 4,269,380 shares of the companys stock worth $61,607,000 after buying an additional 729,309 shares in the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. increased its position in Duckhorn Portfolio by 13.3% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,579,769 shares of the companys stock valued at $37,227,000 after acquiring an additional 302,298 shares during the period. Federated Hermes Inc. raised its stake in shares of Duckhorn Portfolio by 7.5% during the 1st quarter. Federated Hermes Inc. now owns 2,279,202 shares of the companys stock worth $41,458,000 after buying an additional 159,389 shares in the last quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA increased its stake in Duckhorn Portfolio by 65.4% in the 3rd quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 2,179,752 shares of the companys stock valued at $31,454,000 after purchasing an additional 861,765 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada grew its holdings in Duckhorn Portfolio by 7.6% during the 3rd quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 1,313,038 shares of the companys stock valued at $18,947,000 after buying an additional 92,350 shares during the last quarter. 97.75% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. A number of brokerages have commented on NAPA. TheStreet raised Duckhorn Portfolio from a d+ rating to a c- rating in a research note on Thursday, December 22nd. Barclays upgraded Duckhorn Portfolio from an equal weight rating to an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, March 9th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on Duckhorn Portfolio from $17.00 to $18.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, March 9th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and six have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $19.25. About Duckhorn Portfolio (Get Rating) The Duckhorn Portfolio, Inc produces and sells wines in North America. It offers wines under a portfolio of brands, including Duckhorn Vineyards, Decoy, Goldeneye, Paraduxx, Migration, Canvasback, Calera, Kosta Browne, Greenwing, and Postmark. The company sells wines to distributors, and directly to retail accounts and consumers. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Duckhorn Portfolio Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Duckhorn Portfolio and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Argo Group International (NYSE:ARGO Get Rating) in a research note published on Wednesday morning. The brokerage issued a hold rating on the stock. Other equities research analysts have also recently issued reports about the company. Raymond James cut Argo Group International from a market perform rating to an underperform rating in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Compass Point cut Argo Group International from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $30.00 target price on the stock. in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Get Argo Group International alerts: Argo Group International Trading Down 0.4 % NYSE:ARGO opened at $29.64 on Wednesday. Argo Group International has a 12 month low of $19.00 and a 12 month high of $45.26. The company has a quick ratio of 0.63, a current ratio of 0.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. The stock has a 50-day moving average price of $29.18. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.04 billion, a P/E ratio of -5.58 and a beta of 1.03. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Argo Group International Argo Group International ( NYSE:ARGO Get Rating ) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The company reported ($2.69) earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of ($1.62) by ($1.07). The company had revenue of $379.40 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $504.90 million. Argo Group International had a negative net margin of 9.98% and a positive return on equity of 0.06%. On average, research analysts forecast that Argo Group International will post 2.85 earnings per share for the current year. Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. raised its position in shares of Argo Group International by 14.8% during the 1st quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 28,947 shares of the companys stock valued at $1,195,000 after buying an additional 3,735 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Argo Group International by 1.0% in the first quarter. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP now owns 2,194,998 shares of the companys stock worth $90,610,000 after acquiring an additional 21,380 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. grew its stake in shares of Argo Group International by 0.9% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 3,237,969 shares of the companys stock worth $133,663,000 after acquiring an additional 28,602 shares in the last quarter. First Trust Advisors LP grew its stake in shares of Argo Group International by 56.7% during the first quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 45,888 shares of the companys stock worth $1,894,000 after purchasing an additional 16,602 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. grew its stake in shares of Argo Group International by 2.1% during the first quarter. Charles Schwab Investment Management Inc. now owns 373,460 shares of the companys stock worth $15,417,000 after purchasing an additional 7,648 shares in the last quarter. 89.92% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Argo Group International (Get Rating) Argo Group International Holdings Ltd. engages in the provision of underwriting property and casualty insurance and reinsurance products. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Operations, International Operations, and Run-off Lines. The U.S. Operations segment include distribution through retail, wholesale, and managing general brokers/agents in the specialty insurance market. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Argo Group International Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Argo Group International and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PPG Industries, Inc. (NYSE:PPG Get Rating) Equities research analysts at KeyCorp boosted their Q1 2023 earnings per share (EPS) estimates for PPG Industries in a report issued on Monday, April 10th. KeyCorp analyst A. Yefremov now forecasts that the specialty chemicals company will post earnings of $1.54 per share for the quarter, up from their prior forecast of $1.18. KeyCorp currently has a Overweight rating and a $162.00 target price on the stock. The consensus estimate for PPG Industries current full-year earnings is $6.84 per share. KeyCorp also issued estimates for PPG Industries Q2 2023 earnings at $2.03 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $1.99 EPS and FY2023 earnings at $7.26 EPS. Get PPG Industries alerts: Several other analysts have also recently commented on PPG. Morgan Stanley boosted their price target on PPG Industries from $120.00 to $140.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on PPG Industries from $124.00 to $143.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Citigroup lowered their price objective on PPG Industries from $139.00 to $138.00 in a research note on Sunday, January 22nd. Argus boosted their price objective on PPG Industries from $144.00 to $149.00 in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on PPG Industries from $116.00 to $130.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research note on Monday, January 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, nine have assigned a hold rating and nine have assigned a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, PPG Industries currently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus price target of $140.74. PPG Industries Stock Down 0.9 % Shares of PPG opened at $138.01 on Thursday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 1.04 and a current ratio of 1.52. PPG Industries has a one year low of $107.06 and a one year high of $141.36. The stock has a market capitalization of $32.48 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 31.87, a PEG ratio of 2.89 and a beta of 1.17. The stock has a 50 day moving average price of $130.54 and a 200 day moving average price of $126.09. PPG Industries (NYSE:PPG Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Friday, January 20th. The specialty chemicals company reported $1.22 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.14 by $0.08. PPG Industries had a return on equity of 22.55% and a net margin of 5.81%. The firm had revenue of $4.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $4.12 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $1.26 earnings per share. The firms revenue for the quarter was down .1% on a year-over-year basis. Institutional Trading of PPG Industries Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in PPG. WFA of San Diego LLC purchased a new stake in shares of PPG Industries during the 4th quarter worth $25,000. Guardian Wealth Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in PPG Industries during the 3rd quarter worth about $27,000. Riverview Trust Co boosted its position in shares of PPG Industries by 81.7% during the 4th quarter. Riverview Trust Co now owns 238 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock worth $30,000 after acquiring an additional 107 shares in the last quarter. Clear Street Markets LLC purchased a new position in shares of PPG Industries in the 4th quarter valued at about $30,000. Finally, Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV increased its stake in PPG Industries by 90.6% in the first quarter. Massmutual Trust Co. FSB ADV now owns 242 shares of the specialty chemicals companys stock valued at $32,000 after purchasing an additional 115 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 80.04% of the companys stock. Insider Buying and Selling at PPG Industries In related news, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 61,867 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.96, for a total value of $8,040,235.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 183,645 shares in the company, valued at $23,866,504.20. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other PPG Industries news, VP Anne M. Foulkes sold 21,757 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 24th. The stock was sold at an average price of $128.33, for a total transaction of $2,792,075.81. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 10,577 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,357,346.41. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, Chairman Michael H. Mcgarry sold 61,867 shares of PPG Industries stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 31st. The shares were sold at an average price of $129.96, for a total value of $8,040,235.32. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman now owns 183,645 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $23,866,504.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.55% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. PPG Industries Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 10th. Investors of record on Friday, February 17th were issued a dividend of $0.62 per share. This represents a $2.48 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.80%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 16th. PPG Industriess dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 57.27%. PPG Industries Company Profile (Get Rating) PPG Industries, Inc engages in the manufacture and distribution of paints, coatings, and specialty materials. It operates through the Performance Coatings and Industrial Coatings segments. The Performance Coatings segment supplies a variety of protective and decorative coatings, sealants, and finishes along with pavement marking products, paint strippers, stains, and related chemicals, as well as transparencies and transparent armor. See Also Receive News & Ratings for PPG Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PPG Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Naviter Wealth LLC increased its position in Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN Get Rating) by 5.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 187,022 shares of the banks stock after purchasing an additional 9,037 shares during the quarter. Naviter Wealth LLCs holdings in Banco Santander were worth $623,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently bought and sold shares of SAN. Brookstone Capital Management bought a new position in Banco Santander in the third quarter worth $27,000. O Dell Group LLC acquired a new position in Banco Santander during the third quarter worth $27,000. Enterprise Financial Services Corp acquired a new position in Banco Santander during the third quarter worth $27,000. Personal Capital Advisors Corp acquired a new position in Banco Santander during the third quarter worth $28,000. Finally, Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC acquired a new position in Banco Santander during the third quarter worth $29,000. 1.90% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Get Banco Santander alerts: Banco Santander Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:SAN opened at $3.79 on Thursday. The business has a fifty day moving average of $3.70 and a 200-day moving average of $3.14. The firm has a market cap of $63.65 billion, a PE ratio of 6.53 and a beta of 1.08. Banco Santander, S.A. has a twelve month low of $2.26 and a twelve month high of $4.09. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 4.40, a quick ratio of 0.34 and a current ratio of 0.34. Banco Santander Increases Dividend Banco Santander ( NYSE:SAN Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The bank reported $0.14 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.13 by $0.01. Banco Santander had a return on equity of 9.77% and a net margin of 18.47%. The business had revenue of $14.25 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $14.43 billion. On average, equities research analysts predict that Banco Santander, S.A. will post 0.6 EPS for the current fiscal year. The firm also recently disclosed a semi-annual dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 5th. Stockholders of record on Friday, April 28th will be issued a dividend of $0.0631 per share. This represents a dividend yield of 2%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, April 27th. This is a boost from Banco Santanders previous semi-annual dividend of $0.06. Banco Santanders payout ratio is 13.79%. Analysts Set New Price Targets SAN has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. BNP Paribas upgraded Banco Santander from a neutral rating to an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. StockNews.com lowered Banco Santander from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Friday, March 31st. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average price target of $3.76. Banco Santander Profile (Get Rating) Banco Santander SA is a banking services company, which engages in the provision of banking services to individuals, companies, and institutions. It operates through the following segments: Europe, North America, South America, and Digital Consumer Bank. The Europe segment comprises business activities carried out in the region. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding SAN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Banco Santander, S.A. (NYSE:SAN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Banco Santander Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Banco Santander and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Balentine LLC grew its stake in Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI Get Rating) by 13.1% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 5,201 shares of the companys stock after purchasing an additional 603 shares during the period. Balentine LLCs holdings in Cummins were worth $1,260,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of the stock. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC grew its position in Cummins by 0.7% in the 3rd quarter. United Capital Financial Advisers LLC now owns 5,685 shares of the companys stock worth $1,157,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares during the last quarter. Dowling & Yahnke LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Cummins by 3.5% during the 3rd quarter. Dowling & Yahnke LLC now owns 1,257 shares of the companys stock worth $256,000 after acquiring an additional 42 shares during the period. Lewis Capital Management LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Cummins by 0.8% during the 3rd quarter. Lewis Capital Management LLC now owns 5,740 shares of the companys stock worth $1,168,000 after acquiring an additional 45 shares during the period. Lincoln National Corp lifted its holdings in shares of Cummins by 2.5% during the 3rd quarter. Lincoln National Corp now owns 1,857 shares of the companys stock worth $378,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the period. Finally, Strategic Blueprint LLC lifted its holdings in shares of Cummins by 3.0% during the 3rd quarter. Strategic Blueprint LLC now owns 1,591 shares of the companys stock worth $324,000 after acquiring an additional 46 shares during the period. 80.94% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Cummins alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities analysts have recently commented on the stock. UBS Group raised their price objective on shares of Cummins from $247.00 to $260.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Cummins from $264.00 to $262.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Friday, January 20th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Cummins in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their price target on shares of Cummins from $231.00 to $227.00 in a report on Wednesday. Finally, Credit Suisse Group lifted their price target on shares of Cummins from $287.00 to $291.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 7th. Five research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and three have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $254.25. Insider Activity at Cummins Cummins Trading Up 1.3 % In related news, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total transaction of $486,420.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,742 shares in the company, valued at $5,471,156.88. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . In related news, Director Georgia R. Nelson sold 1,933 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 15th. The shares were sold at an average price of $251.64, for a total transaction of $486,420.12. Following the completion of the transaction, the director now owns 21,742 shares in the company, valued at $5,471,156.88. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website . Also, VP Walter J. Fier sold 3,307 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, February 22nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $252.99, for a total transaction of $836,637.93. Following the transaction, the vice president now owns 8,090 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $2,046,689.10. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . Over the last 90 days, insiders sold 16,709 shares of company stock worth $4,245,545. 1.05% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Shares of NYSE CMI opened at $232.82 on Thursday. Cummins Inc. has a 1-year low of $184.27 and a 1-year high of $261.91. The company has a 50-day moving average of $241.31 and a two-hundred day moving average of $239.22. The company has a current ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.77 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.45. The company has a market cap of $32.95 billion, a PE ratio of 15.41, a P/E/G ratio of 1.31 and a beta of 1.00. Cummins (NYSE:CMI Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 6th. The company reported $4.52 EPS for the quarter, hitting the consensus estimate of $4.52. Cummins had a net margin of 7.66% and a return on equity of 24.58%. The company had revenue of $7.77 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $7.21 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.85 EPS. Cumminss revenue was up 32.8% on a year-over-year basis. As a group, equities analysts expect that Cummins Inc. will post 18.95 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Cummins Announces Dividend The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 9th. Investors of record on Friday, February 24th were issued a dividend of $1.57 per share. This represents a $6.28 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.70%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 23rd. Cumminss dividend payout ratio is currently 41.56%. Cummins Company Profile (Get Rating) Cummins, Inc engages in the design, manufacture, and market of diesel and natural gas engines. It operates through the following segments: Engine, Distribution, Components, Power Systems, and New Power. The Engine segment manufactures and markets diesel and natural gas-powered engines under the Cummins brand name, for the heavy- and medium-duty truck, bus, recreational vehicle, light-duty automotive, construction, mining, marine, rail, oil and gas, defense, and agricultural markets. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding CMI? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Cummins Inc. (NYSE:CMI Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Cummins Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Cummins and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Balentine LLC lowered its stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) by 8.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the SEC. The fund owned 40,163 shares of the financial services providers stock after selling 3,931 shares during the period. Balentine LLCs holdings in Wells Fargo & Company were worth $1,658,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of WFC. Defender Capital LLC. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company in the 1st quarter worth about $246,000. Fairfield Bush & CO. bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 1st quarter valued at about $124,000. Dakota Wealth Management bought a new stake in shares of Wells Fargo & Company during the 1st quarter valued at about $222,000. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. grew its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 0.3% during the 1st quarter. Candriam Luxembourg S.C.A. now owns 273,936 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $13,274,000 after buying an additional 770 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Zions Bancorporation N.A. grew its position in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 24.5% during the 1st quarter. Zions Bancorporation N.A. now owns 9,630 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $467,000 after buying an additional 1,895 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors own 72.24% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Insider Activity In other news, EVP Kleber Santos sold 34,698 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.27, for a total transaction of $1,605,476.46. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 19,590 shares in the company, valued at $906,429.30. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. 0.07% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Wells Fargo & Company Stock Down 0.5 % WFC stock opened at $39.19 on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company has a 12 month low of $35.25 and a 12 month high of $49.49. The firm has a market cap of $148.02 billion, a PE ratio of 12.48, a P/E/G ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.12. The firm has a 50 day simple moving average of $42.73 and a 200 day simple moving average of $43.51. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a current ratio of 0.84 and a quick ratio of 0.84. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Rating) last released its earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.67 EPS for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.04. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 15.91% and a return on equity of 9.28%. The business had revenue of $19.66 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $20.04 billion. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.38 earnings per share. The businesss quarterly revenue was down 5.7% on a year-over-year basis. Equities research analysts forecast that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.68 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Announces Dividend The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 1st. Stockholders of record on Friday, February 3rd were issued a dividend of $0.30 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Thursday, February 2nd. This represents a $1.20 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.06%. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is currently 38.22%. Analysts Set New Price Targets A number of equities research analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Odeon Capital Group downgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research report on Monday, March 13th. Morgan Stanley reduced their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $58.00 to $47.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $60.00 to $50.00 in a research note on Friday, January 6th. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $49.00 to $45.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a research note on Monday. Seven investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Wells Fargo & Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $49.84. Wells Fargo & Company Profile (Get Rating) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage products and services, and consumer and commercial finance. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Coca-Cola HBC AG (OTCMKTS:CCHGY Get Rating)s stock price reached a new 52-week high during trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as high as $28.93 and last traded at $28.57, with a volume of 5555 shares changing hands. The stock had previously closed at $27.44. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Credit Suisse Group lowered their price target on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,600 ($32.20) to GBX 2,500 ($30.96) in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Barclays upped their price target on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,500 ($30.96) to GBX 2,700 ($33.44) in a report on Thursday, February 16th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft decreased their price objective on shares of Coca-Cola HBC from GBX 2,580 ($31.95) to GBX 2,545 ($31.52) in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, Citigroup decreased 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. Get Coca-Cola HBC alerts: Coca-Cola HBC Price Performance The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $25.99 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $24.10. About Coca-Cola HBC 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. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Coca-Cola HBC Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Coca-Cola HBC and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Autumn Glory Partners LLC bought a new stake in Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Get Rating) during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor bought 11,600 shares of the oilfield services companys stock, valued at approximately $456,000. Several other hedge funds have also recently made changes to their positions in the company. State Street Corp increased its position in shares of Halliburton by 2.1% in the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 59,383,523 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $1,462,022,000 after acquiring an additional 1,241,290 shares during the period. Sanders Capital LLC boosted its holdings in Halliburton by 3.0% in the third quarter. Sanders Capital LLC now owns 21,366,658 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $526,047,000 after purchasing an additional 622,878 shares during the last quarter. Boston Partners boosted its holdings in Halliburton by 11.1% in the third quarter. Boston Partners now owns 9,951,333 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $245,269,000 after purchasing an additional 998,022 shares during the last quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in Halliburton by 0.9% in the third quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 9,700,760 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $238,833,000 after purchasing an additional 81,880 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC boosted its holdings in Halliburton by 60.4% in the third quarter. Barrow Hanley Mewhinney & Strauss LLC now owns 8,746,026 shares of the oilfield services companys stock valued at $215,328,000 after purchasing an additional 3,294,360 shares during the last quarter. 80.56% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Halliburton alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Halliburton In other Halliburton news, EVP Van H. Beckwith sold 4,493 shares of Halliburton stock in a transaction on Thursday, January 19th. The shares were sold at an average price of $40.41, for a total value of $181,562.13. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 191,334 shares in the company, valued at $7,731,806.94. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Van H. Beckwith sold 4,295 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, January 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $42.60, for a total transaction of $182,967.00. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 245,731 shares in the company, valued at $10,468,140.60. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, EVP Van H. Beckwith sold 4,493 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction dated Thursday, January 19th. The stock was sold at an average price of $40.41, for a total transaction of $181,562.13. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now owns 191,334 shares in the company, valued at $7,731,806.94. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last three months, insiders have sold 11,557 shares of company stock worth $471,939. 0.57% of the stock is owned by company insiders. Halliburton Price Performance Halliburton stock opened at $33.59 on Thursday. The stock has a market cap of $30.33 billion, a P/E ratio of 19.42, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.25 and a beta of 2.11. The company has a fifty day simple moving average of $34.96 and a 200-day simple moving average of $35.72. Halliburton has a 12-month low of $23.30 and a 12-month high of $43.99. The company has a current ratio of 2.05, a quick ratio of 1.50 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.99. Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 24th. The oilfield services company reported $0.72 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.67 by $0.05. Halliburton had a net margin of 7.74% and a return on equity of 26.25%. The business had revenue of $5.58 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.59 billion. During the same period in the previous year, the company earned $0.92 EPS. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 30.5% on a year-over-year basis. Equities analysts expect that Halliburton will post 3.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Halliburton Increases Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 29th. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 1st were paid a dividend of $0.16 per share. This is a positive change from Halliburtons previous quarterly dividend of $0.12. This represents a $0.64 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.91%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, February 28th. Halliburtons dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 36.99%. Analyst Ratings Changes HAL has been the topic of several recent research reports. The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price target on shares of Halliburton from $40.00 to $46.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, January 30th. Wells Fargo & Company upped their price target on shares of Halliburton from $52.00 to $54.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, January 25th. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and set a $50.00 target price on shares of Halliburton in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. StockNews.com lowered shares of Halliburton from a buy rating to a hold rating in a research note on Tuesday, April 4th. Finally, HSBC increased their target price on shares of Halliburton from $43.90 to $57.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have issued a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $48.12. Halliburton Company Profile (Get Rating) Halliburton Co engages in the provision of services and products to the energy industry related to the exploration, development, and production of oil and natural gas. It operates through the Completion and Production, and Drilling and Evaluation segments. The Completion and Production segment delivers cementing, stimulation, intervention, pressure control, specialty chemicals, artificial lift, and completion services. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding HAL? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Halliburton (NYSE:HAL Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Halliburton Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Halliburton and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Naviter Wealth LLC increased its position in Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Get Rating) by 23.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 4,208 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock after buying an additional 811 shares during the quarter. Naviter Wealth LLCs holdings in Extra Space Storage were worth $640,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust increased its stake in shares of Extra Space Storage by 80.0% in the third quarter. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust now owns 144 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after buying an additional 64 shares during the period. American National Bank increased its position in Extra Space Storage by 271.7% during the 4th quarter. American National Bank now owns 171 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 125 shares during the period. EdgeRock Capital LLC acquired a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $27,000. SJS Investment Consulting Inc. acquired a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Ten Capital Wealth Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in Extra Space Storage during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 95.32% of the companys stock. Get Extra Space Storage alerts: Insider Activity In other news, CMO Samrat Sondhi sold 6,290 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The stock was sold at an average price of $161.88, for a total transaction of $1,018,225.20. Following the completion of the sale, the chief marketing officer now directly owns 82,653 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $13,379,867.64. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Gwyn Goodson Mcneal sold 1,500 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $164.00, for a total transaction of $246,000.00. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 32,290 shares in the company, valued at $5,295,560. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at this link. Also, CMO Samrat Sondhi sold 6,290 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $161.88, for a total value of $1,018,225.20. Following the sale, the chief marketing officer now owns 82,653 shares in the company, valued at $13,379,867.64. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 13,440 shares of company stock valued at $2,172,313 in the last ninety days. 1.52% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Analysts Set New Price Targets Extra Space Storage Price Performance Several brokerages have recently commented on EXR. KeyCorp reduced their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $190.00 to $172.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of Extra Space Storage in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Truist Financial raised their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $160.00 to $165.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 8th. Morgan Stanley reduced their price objective on shares of Extra Space Storage from $153.00 to $145.00 and set an underweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, December 14th. Finally, Wolfe Research downgraded shares of Extra Space Storage from an outperform rating to a peer perform rating in a research report on Wednesday, January 18th. They noted that the move was a valuation call. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, six have given a hold rating, two have given a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $170.56. Shares of EXR opened at $163.42 on Thursday. Extra Space Storage Inc. has a 12-month low of $139.97 and a 12-month high of $222.35. The businesss fifty day moving average is $160.49 and its 200 day moving average is $158.85. The company has a quick ratio of 0.54, a current ratio of 0.54 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.80. The stock has a market cap of $22.06 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.49 and a beta of 0.54. Extra Space Storage (NYSE:EXR Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 22nd. The real estate investment trust reported $1.52 earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $2.08 by ($0.56). Extra Space Storage had a net margin of 45.52% and a return on equity of 22.01%. The company had revenue of $506.70 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $433.39 million. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.91 earnings per share. Extra Space Storages revenue was up 18.4% on a year-over-year basis. Sell-side analysts anticipate that Extra Space Storage Inc. will post 8.54 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Extra Space Storage Increases Dividend The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Stockholders of record on Wednesday, March 15th were given a dividend of $1.62 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 14th. This is a positive change from Extra Space Storages previous quarterly dividend of $1.50. This represents a $6.48 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.97%. Extra Space Storages dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 101.09%. Extra Space Storage Company Profile (Get Rating) Extra Space Storage, Inc is a real estate investment trust. It operates through the following segments: Self-Storage Operations and Tenant Reinsurance. The Self-Storage Operations segment includes rental operations of wholly-owned stores. The Tenant Reinsurance segment includes reinsurance of risks relating to the loss of goods stored by tenants in stores. Read More Want to see what other hedge funds are holding EXR? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Extra Space Storage Inc. (NYSE:EXR Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Extra Space Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Extra Space Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The National Aquarium said that Pristine Seas: Bringing the Ocean Back, an audio visual exhibition curated by the National Geographic, will open at the aquarium in Al Qana, a waterfront destination in Abu Dhabi, on April 21. The exhibition draws upon over a decade worth of global expeditions conducted by the National Geographic Pristine Seas project to document and protect the ocean so it can heal, rebound, and regenerate. The exhibition highlights the importance of marine protected areas (MPAs) as a mechanism for protecting and restoring the worlds oceans. Through the exhibitions narrative, photography, and film, visitors will learn how the Pristine Seas team supports Indigenous Peoples, local communities and governments in the creation of MPAs. Visitors to the National Aquarium will be able to explore the teams expeditions ranging from the tropical coral reefs of the Southern Line Islands to the icebergs of the Antarctic Peninsula. Through stunning imagery and stories that highlight the scientific methods used on these expeditions, the exhibit will showcase Pristine Seas continued commitment to protecting ocean life. In addition to the exhibition, the Aquarium will feature a lecture series by Paul Rose, an accomplished National Geographic Pristine Seas expedition leader, Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd at 2pm. Paul is one of the worlds most accomplished science divers, polar explorers and expedition leaders, helping scientists unlock and communicate global mysteries in the most remote and challenging regions of the planet. In these free-to-attend sessions, he will be sharing stories from the expedition and shedding light on the biodiversity and sustainability challenges facing the planet. Since 2008, the National Geographic Pristine Seas project has carried out 38 expeditions and helped establish 26 marine protected areas covering over 6.5 million sqm of the oceanan area more than twice the size of India. This exhibition is a testament to the Pristine Seas teams unyielding commitment to safeguard the blue heart of our planet, said Tony Luckett, National Geographic Society vice president of business development. The Pristine Seas team combines exploration and rigorous research with powerful storytelling. The goal of this exhibition is to immerse visitors in the beauty of the sea while reiterating why we must preserve it. Pristine Seas actively supports the global goal of protecting 30% of the ocean by 2030. Not only will this be beneficial for marine life, but also for communities through fisheries benefits, increased food security, and mitigation of climate change. To protect vital ocean places, we need to combine research with compelling visuals to inspire people through both minds and hearts. I am thrilled to bring over a decade of filming and science into the first National Geographic Pristine Seas exhibition, said Enric Sala, National Geographic Explorer in Residence and Pristine Seas Executive Director. Pristine Seas: Bringing the Ocean Back will be on display at the National Aquarium for two years. Follow Enric Sala on Instagram and Twitter, and Pristine Seas on Instagram and Twitter to stay up-to-date on their efforts across the globe. Paul Hamilton, General Manager at TNA, commented: "We are delighted to collaborate with National Geographic to bring the Pristine Seas Exhibition to the emirate as a part of our shared commitment to raising awareness about protecting our marine environment. The exhibition will not only allow our visitors to learn more about and explore our oceans but also to understand the threats to the survival of these habitats and wider climate change issues. " "We depend on the ocean for everything from the food we eat to the air we breathe, making it more critical than ever to take responsibility for the wellbeing of our oceans and their biodiversity. That's why TNA has several initiatives that give you the opportunity to learn about ocean conservation and get involved in our activities. To this end, we have launched the Junior Marine Biologist Program, which is specifically aimed at children aged 5 to 15 and gives them the opportunity to actively participate in the rehabilitation of sea turtles. In addition, all TNA guests are given opportunity to observe the daily activities of the Wildlife Rescue Program and its dedicated veterinarians in action, Hamilton added. TradeArabia News Service HOUSTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals late on Wednesday partly blocked a ruling that endangers access to the key abortion pill mifepristone in the United States. Matthew Kacsmaryk, a district judge in Amarillo, Texas, appointed by former President Donald Trump, last week suspended the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the drug while anti-abortion groups pursue a legal challenge seeking to ban it. The three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted the Justice Department's emergency request to put on hold the part of Kacsmaryk's decision, but with significant restrictions on the drug's widespread availability including a requirement for patients' in-person visits to obtain it. The appeals court said it would expedite its full consideration of the case. Kacsmaryk's decision "upended decades of reliance by blocking the FDA's approval of mifepristone and depriving patients of access to this safe and effective treatment, based on the court's own misguided assessment of the drug's safety," Justice Department lawyers wrote in court papers. Complicating the situation, a federal judge in northwestern Washington state on Friday ordered U.S. authorities not to make any changes to the drug's access in 17 states and the District of Columbia that sued over the issue, countering the ruling by Kacsmaryk. The judge issued a preliminary injunction barring the FDA from "altering the status quo and rights as it relates to the availability of mifepristone." The U.S. Justice Department can still ask the Supreme Court, which has a 6-3 conservative majority, to intervene in an attempt to completely block Kacsmaryk's ruling, according to local media. Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev (R) meets with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, on April 12, 2023. (China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Xinhua) TASHKENT, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev met with visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang here on Wednesday, saying that he is looking forward to visiting China. Mirziyoyev asked Qin to convey his sincere regards to President Xi Jinping and congratulated Xi on his re-election as the Chinese president by unanimous vote, which demonstrated that all Chinese people wholeheartedly endorse and fully support his wise leadership. As a good friend standing side by side with as well as a close and reliable partner of China, Uzbekistan is sincerely pleased to see China's remarkable achievements, he said, noting that Xi paid a successful and historic visit to Uzbekistan last year, raising Uzbekistan-China relations to an unprecedentedly high level. Mirziyoyev said that Uzbekistan cherishes China's support for the "New Uzbekistan" development strategy and will continue to firmly abide by the one-China principle, jointly crack down on the "three forces" of terrorism, separatism and extremism, and jointly build a community with a shared future for mankind. He expressed readiness to make good preparations for the meeting of the Uzbekistan-China Intergovernmental Cooperation Committee, speed up the implementation of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway project, expand cooperation in economic, trade, new energy, infrastructure, humanities and sub-national spheres, and draw on China's development experience as well as innovative science and technologies. Mirziyoyev said he is looking forward to attending the China-Central Asia Summit and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China. Qin conveyed Xi's cordial greetings to Mirziyoyev and welcomed him to attend the China-Central Asia Summit and the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in China. Qin recalled that the two heads of state had agreed to build a China-Uzbekistan community with a shared future, giving a new orientation to bilateral relations. On the basis of the new orientation, China is willing to work with Uzbekistan to lift bilateral relations to new levels, Qin said. He said that the two sides should well implement the five-year plan for economic, trade and investment cooperation and make continuous efforts after delivering the target of 10 billion U.S. dollars in bilateral trade set by the two countries' heads of state. Qin said that the two countries should speed up the synergizing of development strategies and strive for an early start of the construction of the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan railway to facilitate regional connectivity. He said that a sub-committee on poverty alleviation cooperation should be set up to aid Uzbekistan in achieving its poverty alleviation goals at an early date. Qin also said that both sides should expand new energy cooperation, optimize the energy mix and safeguard energy security, and encourage and support sub-national and non-governmental exchanges and cooperation to consolidate the foundation of friendship between the two peoples. He stressed that China highly appreciates Uzbekistan's valuable support on issues concerning China's core interests and also unwaveringly supports Uzbekistan in safeguarding its sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, backs its reform and development, opposes any external interference in its internal affairs, and stands ready to work closely to fight the "three forces" and jointly safeguard peace and stability of the two countries and the region. He added that China appreciates Uzbekistan's contribution to the preparation for the fourth foreign ministers' meeting among the neighboring countries of Afghanistan and is willing to coordinate closely with Uzbekistan to make the meeting a success. On the same day, Qin also held talks with Acting Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan Bakhtiyor Saidov. HAIKOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- For enterprises globally, China's consumer products expo has provided a springboard to enter this unmissable market, giving a much-needed boost to COVID-dented global business confidence. As a first-time exhibitor at the China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE), Masashi Nanase, assistant manager of Japanese company Fujiya Corporation, was excited to see exhibition booths dotted with visitors. The continuous influx of visitors shows the vitality of the Chinese economy, he said. Held in the resort island of Hainan Province, the third CICPE has attracted over 3,300 brands from 65 countries and regions. In the first two days of the expo, the seaside exhibition center has already reported over 90,000 visits. Hoping to expand their business to the Chinese mainland, Nanase's company intends to leverage the CICPE as a platform to promote products. "I believe our company will have massive development in China," the manager said. Stephan Mecha, head of Group Sales of Volkswagen Group China, said that the CICPE is a platform for expanding trade, strengthening cooperation, and promoting development among countries. During the 2013-2021 period, China has remained the biggest contributor to global economic growth, with consumption assuming a bigger role in shoring up its economic growth. Official data showed that final consumption contributed 65.4 percent to the country's headline GDP expansion in 2021, surpassing investment and export to become the biggest growth contributor. Consumption has also been highlighted by China's policymakers in multiple key documents and meetings. In this year's annual government work report, for instance, the country has reaffirmed its determination to prioritize the recovery and expansion of consumption. With massive opportunities and supportive policies, the world's second-largest consumer market holds irresistible appeal to global businesses. And the CICPE, the first state-level expo on boutique consumer products, becomes all the more prominent. The expo is a superb opportunity to showcase the brand to Chinese customers and bring closer the ties between the company and the Chinese market, said Josie Zhang, president of Burberry China. The Hainan expo, as the first large-scale international expo after China optimized its COVID response, has also offered a shot in the arm for COVID-distressed enterprises. "After three years of development, the expo is well positioned to play a more prominent role in boosting consumer confidence, unleashing consumption potential, and connecting global consumer goods with the Chinese market," Zhang added. Commercial Consul of the French Consulate General in Shanghai, Xavier Chatte-Ruols, also in charge of the French pavilion at the expo, stressed the importance for enterprises to meet consumer demand and the confidence of French companies in Hainan and China. Many customers were interested in the brand and came to buy directly, noted Nicolas Gros, general manager of French brand Montagut, saying that he was "quite impressed." "I think I will return in future," he said. GUANGZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said Wednesday that Chinese modernization is based on the country's realities and conditions, and has clear goals, plans and strategies. Xi made the remarks at a research and development center of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. during his inspection in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province. Chinese modernization is essentially different from Western modernization, he said, adding that China will not tread the path of Western modernization -- with features including polarization and plunder -- as such a path leads nowhere. The country will advance Chinese modernization with solid steps, Xi said. North Korea fired what might be a new model of ballistic missile on Thursday, South Korea said, triggering a scare in northern Japan, where residents were told to take cover, though there turned out to be no danger. The missile flew about 1,000 km (620 miles), South Koreas military said, calling it a grave provocation. The missiles apogee, or maximum altitude, has not been officially disclosed, though South Koreas Yonhap news agency said it appeared to have been less than 3,000 km far below the height of some tests last year, which topped 6,000 km. The South Korean military said it was on high alert and coordinating closely with its main ally, the United States, which strongly condemned what the White House said in a statement was a long-range ballistic missile test. A South Korean military official said the test apparently involved a new weapons system displayed at a recent North Korean military parades. The military was analysing the projectiles trajectory and range, and the defence ministry said it could have been a solid-fuel missile. North Korea has been working to build more solid-fuel missiles, which are easier to store and transport, and can be launched with almost no warning or preparation time. While North Korea has tested short-range solid-fuel missiles, it has not tested a long-range missile of that type, said Bruce Bennett, a senior defence analyst at the U.S.-based RAND Corporation. The missile was fired at 7:23 a.m. (2223 GMT on Wednesday) from near Pyongyang, South Koreas Joint Chiefs of Staff said, meaning it could have been launched from an international airport close to the capital, a major site for test-firing large missiles since 2017. Kim Dong-yup, a former South Korean navy officer who teaches at Kyungnam Universitys Far East Institute, said the missile might have been an intercontinental ballistic missile that was unveiled at a February military parade, and powered by a solid-fuel engine tested in December. BRIEF PANIC The nuclear envoys of allies South Korea, the U.S. and Japan spoke and condemned the launch, saying North Korea had constantly threatened regional peace with unprecedented levels of provocations and menacing words, South Koreas foreign ministry said. Japan called a National Security Council meeting in response to the launch. Its defence minister, Yasukazu Hamada, said the missile appeared to have been fired eastward at a high angle and it did not fall in Japanese territory. Japans coast guard said the projectile had fallen in the sea to the east of North Korea. Hamada said he could not confirm whether the missile flew over Japans exclusive economic zone. Japanese authorities retracted the alert for Hokkaido island when they determined that the missile would not fall nearby. Schools in Hokkaido delayed their opening times and some train services were suspended, Japanese broadcaster NHK reported. A student there said the alert caused momentary alarm at a train station. For a second in the train there was panic, but a station worker said to calm down, and people did, a student told NHK. The launch came days after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for strengthening war deterrence in a more practical and offensive manner to counter what North Korea called moves of aggression by the United States. While condemning the latest in a string of North Korean missile tests, the United States renewed its offer to open talks. The door has not closed on diplomacy, but Pyongyang must immediately cease its destabilising actions and instead choose diplomatic engagement, U.S. National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson said in a statement. North Korea has criticised recent joint military exercises between U.S. and South Korean forces as escalating tensions, stepping up its weapons tests in recent months. SOURCE: REUTERS More than 400 migrants and refugees drowned in early 2023 while attempting to cross the central Mediterranean from North Africa to Europe, the most fatalities in the past six years over a three-month period, a United Nations agency said on Wednesday. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) documented 441 migrant deaths between January and March on the worlds deadliest migration route, in what it said was likely an undercount. Around half of those deaths were linked to delays in state-led rescue efforts and, in one case, the absence of any rescue mission, it said. The persisting humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable, said IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino. With more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this route since 2014, I fear that these deaths have been normalized. States must respond. Thousands of mostly African migrants embark on the dangerous journey from the shores of Libya and Egypt, often in small, inflatable boats, in search of a better life in Europe. This central route is distinct from the Western crossing from Morocco to Spain. Frequently, the ships sink, as in the case of a deadly shipwreck off the southern Italian region of Calabria in late February that killed at least 72 migrants. Italys cabinet on Tuesday announced a state of emergency on immigration following a sharp rise in flows across the Mediterranean, in a move aimed at better management of migrant arrivals and repatriation facilities. SOURCE: REUTERS Taiwan said on Wednesday it had successfully urged China to drastically narrow its plan to close air space north of the island, averting wider travel disruption in a period of high tension in the region due to Chinas military exercises. China has not commented on the no-fly zone but South Korea, which was also briefed on the plans, said the decision was taken due to an object falling from a satellite launch vehicle. Beijing initially notified Taipei it would impose a no-fly zone from April 16-18, but Taiwans transport ministry said this was later reduced to a period of just 27 minutes on Sunday morning after it protested. The ministry published a map showing what it labelled Chinas aerospace activity zone to the northeast of Taiwan and near a group of disputed islets call Diaoyu by China and Senkaku by Japan. That would be close to civilian aviation routes between Taiwan and China as well as between Taiwan and South Korea, among others. Japans Kyodo news agency, citing a government source, said Chinas no-fly zone included what Japan claims as its exclusive economic zone around the Senkakus. The development follows days of intense military drills that China has staged around Taiwan in response to President Tsai Ing-wens meeting with U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California last week. Beijing said the drills in which it practised blockading the self-ruled island that it claims as its own were a serious warning against the collusion and provocation of Taiwan independence separatist forces and external forces. It was against this backdrop that word of the air space closure stoked fears of travel disruption across the region. When China imposed air space restrictions during military drills last August, there were significant disruptions to flights in the region, with some aircraft required to carry extra fuel, according to OPSGROUP, an aviation industry cooperative that advises on flight risks. A senior Taiwan official familiar with Chinas no-fly move told Reuters that given the potential disruption, Taipei had used multiple channels including diplomacy, intelligence and aviation authorities to persuade Beijing to rein in its original plan. The official said Taiwan had informed all parties that would be impacted by the Chinese request, including some Group of Seven (G7) countries whose foreign ministers are set to travel to Japan for a meeting from April 16-18. Everyone found that to be unbelievable, the official said. Yan Yu-hsien, deputy chief of the general staff for intelligence at Taiwans defence ministry, said the no-fly zone would fall within the countrys air defence identification zone (ADIZ), about 85 nautical miles north of its shores. Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said he was unaware of the situation when asked at a regular daily press conference on Wednesday. Air defence identification zone (ADIZ)a section of international airspace countries can arbitrarily define as theirs to monitor. STORMY SEAS China said on Wednesday that Tsai was pushing Taiwan to stormy seas after she met with McCarthy during an overseas trip which also included stops in Guatemala and Belize. The trip infuriated Beijing, prompting days of military drills designed to show it could forcefully take control of the democratic island. Tsai Ing-wen brought danger to Taiwan. Tsai Ing-wen almost completely sided (with) the United States, pushing Taiwan into stormy seas, Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office (TAO) spokesperson Zhu Fenglian said. China views Tsai as a separatist and has rebuffed repeated calls from her for talks. Tsai says she wants peace but that her government will defend Taiwan if it is attacked. Beijing has continued military activities around Taiwan, despite announcing that three days of drills had ended as scheduled on Monday. Taiwan said earlier on Wednesday that in the previous 24 hours it had detected 35 Chinese military aircraft and eight navy vessels around Taiwan. Of those aircraft, 14 had crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait, according to a ministry-provided map; the line normally serves as an unofficial barrier between the two sides. China says it does not recognise the existence of the line. Tsai, who returned to Taiwan a day before the drills began, appeared relaxed as she met Canadian lawmakers on Wednesday, saying her overseas trip had been a success in winning support against an aggressor that was threatening the islands freedom. Through this trip we again sent a message to the international community that Taiwan is determined to safeguard freedom and democracy, which won acknowledgment and support from our democratic partners, Tsai said as she met the lawmakers. Faced with continued authoritarian expansionism it is even more critical for democracies to actively unite, she added. SOURCE: REUTERS FLORIDA, N.Y. Tracy Stroh was thrilled when she learned that Larry Leaven was going to be the new superintendent in this tiny Orange County school district. Stroh, a longtime resident of the village of Florida, had two kids in district schools, and a family member who knew Leaven in Buffalo, where he had previously worked, had told her fantastic things about him. A chance meeting shortly before he was to start work in August 2021 was encouraging she was relieved as Leaven told her about his positive reception from the school board and faculty. Still, she had some concerns. I did feel a quiet, deep-down sense of worry that the political climate here wouldnt be kind to him because he happens to be a gay man, in a same-sex marriage, something he never felt the need to keep hidden, nor should he, nor should anyone, anywhere, Stroh wrote on her blog. A little over a year later, her worst fears had come to pass. Last November, Leaven resigned as superintendent in the face of consistent harassment from a small but vocal group of parents and community members, several associated with the right-wing organization Moms for Liberty. Nearly six months on, questions linger about the circumstances of his departure. Leavens supporters have argued that he was effectively forced out by the school board, particularly by three new members Rob Andrade (now the boards president), Lori Gorcsos and Leslie Hill who were elected last year on an anti-Leaven platform and whose campaigns were funded by individuals associated with Moms for Liberty. Supporters have continued to demand justice for the ex-superintendent, while also warning of the potential for this to happen in other school districts. Leavens tenure in Florida Leaven, who has more than 30 years of experience in education including founding the Dalton School in Hong Kong became superintendent in August 2021 of the Florida Union Free School District, which serves about 850 pre-K-12 students in the village of Florida and nearby towns of Goshen and Warwick. Florida has a population of about 3,000 and is situated in Orange Countys famed Black Dirt Region, known for its rich soil and onion fields, about 60 miles northwest of New York City. Its political leanings trend conservative the village went about 55-45 percent for Donald Trump in 2020. While many in the Florida school district, like Stroh, welcomed Leaven, he almost immediately began to face sharp attacks from several community members by email, in local media like the Warwick Valley Dispatch and Warwick Watch, and probably most viciously, on Facebook. Leaven has described these attacks as smears. Every single decision that was made in the district was put out in these (Moms for Liberty-affiliated Facebook groups) and was twisted, he said. I can only fire back so much, and Im not going to jump online with this stuff. In many ways, the attacks mirror those roiling school districts nationally: demands to ban books like Gender Queer (a graphic memoir by nonbinary author Maia Kobabe), accusations of anti-white and anti-Christian bias, and accusations that Leaven misused federal funds by giving professional development contracts to friends, an allegation he has called completely baseless. Some critics accused Leaven of a lack of transparency or authoritarian tendencies, arguing that it was pushing educators out of the district, but Stroh said this couldnt be farther from the truth. (Leaven) was an extremely accessible person who would talk to anyone about anything, she told the Times Union. Stroh and others say it was Leavens sexuality and perceived liberalism that triggered the backlash. A record of the harassment shared with the Times Union including screenshots, emails and media clips shows that many of the online attacks were overtly homophobic. One local resident wrote in a Facebook post: If it were not for the Plandemic lockdowns, we would not know that a homosexual Marxist superintendent is perverting the minds and morals of the children in the Florida Union-Free School District Another suggested in a post in a private Florida-focused Facebook group that Leaven had been banned from Hong Kong for sexually abusing children: This is what happens when a Western educator in Hong Kong who quickly garnered a reputation for extra attentiveness to small boys suddenly flees Hong Kong and sidles into a small, rural school district While these comments were among the most extreme, Leaven and his supporters say that the most persistent harassment came from several Florida parents who are associated with the Orange County chapter of the group Moms for Liberty. Moms for Liberty was founded in Melbourne, Fla., in 2021. It describes itself as advocating for parents rights but is known nationally for spearheading right-wing attacks on public schools and LGBTQ teachers and students. It has received critical attention from prominent civil liberties organizations like the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and the Southern Poverty Law Center the latter has referred to it as a radical parent group and it appears to have close links to Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who has publicly voiced support for the group and appointed one of its co-founders to a governing board overseeing Disney Worlds district. The 2022 education board election Leaven has emphasized good working relationships in the district, including in his resignation statement. But his supporters say the Florida school board election in May 2022 radically reshaped the context of his tenure. In that election, three new members Andrade, Gorcsos and Hill were elected to the five-person board. The three ran together as Team Florida in a campaign obviously directed at Leaven. One campaign flyer read: The curriculum that has been forced on our public schools prioritizes lowering academic standards and indoctrinating our children through divisive programs like Common Core, Critical Race Theory, and Social Emotional Learning. The parents of our community know what is best for our children and we oppose efforts to use our communitys public schools to push destructive social experiments on our children. Other material was even more explicit. A packet delivered to all voters in the district prior to the election included a flyer that read: The parents and children need your support to elect new members that reflect a more conservative and traditional approach to education in our village. For the past 12 months there has been an effort to radicalize and indoctrinate children in a culture that is both shocking and highly promiscuous. Attached was a flyer elaborating on the differences between Traditional vs. Progressive Learning, characterizing the two types as Traditional (Classical) and Progressive / Marxist. Orange County Moms for Liberty The packet also included a column from the Warwick Valley Dispatch by guest columnist Marilyn Young (an asterisk noted that the newspaper does not necessarily endorse the commentary). It reads as an interview with a Florida resident named Adam, who claims to be leaving the district due to Leaven. The School Board needs to get Leaven out of his position before he does permanent damage, Adam tells Young. I think the School Board should fire the Superintendent immediately. Andrade, Gorcsos and Hill did not respond to questions about their campaign or their relationship with Leaven. But an expenditure statement from the election, obtained by FOIL request, offers insight into their candidacies while also raising questions. Each of the three candidates lists the same six contributions to their campaign. All six donors are members of a private Moms for Liberty group on Facebook, to which the Times Union was able to obtain access. The largest donor, Gayle Young, who donated $854 to each of the three candidates, is the same Marilyn Young who wrote the editorial the candidates included in their election packet, according to Leaven. Young also advocated prolifically on behalf of Team Florida in the same private group around the election last year. Potentially complicating matters, the accuracy of campaign expenditure reports is not entirely clear. The three candidates who filed virtually identical forms each reported total expenses of $1,740. That number is the sum of their itemized expenses and itemized contributions, but its not clear how the contributions were spent or whether they were made to the candidates individually or Team Florida as a group. Andrade, Gorcsos and Hill also did not respond to multiple inquiries about their campaign finances, and Young did not respond to a question about her contributions. Leavens departure Whatever their financing, the new board quickly came into conflict with Leaven. At a July 28, 2022, special meeting, the board took up a motion to terminate several professional development contracts that had been negotiated and signed by the previous board, which had been funded with American Rescue Plan money. According to the minutes of the meeting, the purpose of the motion was to remedy the more urgent health & safety issues the school district needs to address. But Moms for Liberty members had repeatedly accused Leaven of impropriety with the contracts which he has denied. At the meeting, Leaven apparently disagreed with the board; according to the minutes, he said: Removing programs will hurt students. It is rare to have these funds available for programs. It is an opportunity to grow together. (Leaven said he stood by his comments from the meeting; Andrade, Gorcsos and Hill did not reply to a question about why they terminated the contracts.) The motion passed unanimously. After the meeting, Leaven only remained in the position for about four months, announcing his resignation on Nov. 10. Despite a substantial turnout at a school board meeting the following week to protest his departure, Leavens exit was welcomed by the Orange County Moms for Liberty chapter. A Facebook post from Nov. 10 reads: Take your pornographic indoctrination back where you came from. This is what happens when you mess with our children in OCNY. Orange County Moms for Liberty A national issue? Karen Svoboda, president of the Dutchess County-based nonprofit Defense of Democracy, an organization that advocates for inclusive public schools, sees what happened to Leaven as part of a pattern of conservative school boards targeting superintendents across the country. Her organization has compiled a list of several dozen similar cases, ranging from California to Florida to North Carolina to South Carolina and beyond. In addition to circulating a petition demanding the resignation of the new Florida school board members, Svoboda has also helped publicize what Leavens departure is costing the district: $300,000, which includes the costs of securing Leavens position, his separation agreement, interim support in the role and retaining a consulting firm to conduct the search for a replacement, according to a February news release from Defense of Democracy. (As of publication, the school district had not confirmed these costs.) Stroh is also disturbed by the expense. It is an enormous cost in a small village, she said. Tensions around Leavens resignation erupted at the Feb. 16 board meeting, where Stroh was one of several community members who criticized the board and asked questions about the ongoing search for a new superintendent. You forced the resignation of an excellent superintendent with a stellar CV, Stroh said. You did this not only because hes openly gay, but also because he was clear on his goal to help us create an equitable and safe environment for all students regardless of skin color or sexual orientation or gender identity or any other differences. She has not been encouraged by the ongoing superintendent search, set to conclude this month, describing a Feb. 16 presentation on its progress as lackluster. I felt like it was a show," she said. Despite a mix of frustration and disbelief after the saga, Stroh does appreciate the support from groups like Defense of Democracy and insists that Moms for Liberty not get the last word on what happened in Florida. People have to be as organized and vocal to fight fascism as the fascists are, she said. Amsterdam Police AMSTERDAM - Two women face charges in connection with the death of a 19-month-old child in the city that occurred in October, city police said Thursday. Police said on the night of Oct. 9, Amsterdam officers and firefighters responded to a 911 call for a child not breathing. They were able to determine the child was breathing but was suffering unknown medical distress. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate RICHMOND, Ind. (AP) A major industrial fire fueled by tons of scrap plastics in an Indiana city was close to being extinguished Thursday after burning for more than 48 hours, though an evacuation order for people living near the disaster remained in place, authorities said. Richmond officials also disclosed more details about the city's dealings with a man who was operating the business where the fire occured. They said Seth Smith was barred from accepting more plastics for resale, following a 2020 cleanup order, but he was allowed to keep selling a vast collection still on hand. Unfortunately with the pandemic, it became a down market, city attorney Andrew Sickmann told reporters. It was hard to specify a deadline because this was a massive undertaking. There's a lot of material there," Sickmann said. Our deadline was just as fast as possible. The fire at the 14-acre former factory site in Richmond, population 35,000, began Tuesday afternoon. Clouds of black smoke marred the blue spring sky for hours, stunning the community, just minutes from the Ohio border and 72 miles (115 kilometers) east of Indianapolis. The smoke was not as dark or dense Thursday as earlier in the week, but an evacuation order for at least 1,500 people living within a half-mile was still in effect. It's not known how many left. Richmond schools were closed for a second day while crews working in a smoky haze poured water and dug for hot spots. I'm happy to say that we have it 90% maybe a little bit more out, and we're hoping to have the fire close to 98, 99% out sometime this evening. If not, tomorrow morning, Fire Chief Tim Brown said. He said there were six buildings full of plastics floor to ceiling and wall to wall. I have no idea where it all came from, Brown said. The owner has brought it all in and just kind of lost control of it. Mayor Dave Snow said Smith told the city to speak to his attorney about the fire. The Associated Press could not reach Smith through phone listings. Ron Moore, a lawyer who has represented him, declined to comment. Smith told the city in 2019 that he sends scrap materials to 29 countries, according to meeting minutes of the Unsafe Building Commission. I own a bunch of trailers, Smith told the commission. I set the semis at these facilities and they fill them up with their scrap materials. When I started in 1987, there was only 4,000 plastic companies. Now there is over 47,000 plastic companies. It has got out of control, but now I have a plan. A judge in 2020 affirmed a cleanup order after city inspectors found fire sprinklers missing and fire hazards among stacks of bulk packages of plastics. Warehouse roofs had holes and there were no utilities. Although Richmond officials apparently were trying to work with Smith, Snow said the plastics dealer was at fault for the fire. It's been shown again and again that this is his mess," Snow said Thursday. "His money to clean it up it was all to avoid this type of disaster. So everything that's ensued here remains his responsibility." Tests on debris that landed outside the fire zone showed some evidence of asbestos, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, which urged residents not to disturb anything they find. More tests are continuing on air quality, Jason Sewell of the EPA said. Tonja Thompson, a server at Little Shebas, said the effects of the fire had cut down on business at the restaurant. She said her throat has been burning, along with a lingering headache. Our whole house smelled like plastic, Thompson said. We had shut the windows and everything when they told us to do it. Stepped outside, and it was just like you were eating plastic. She said she wonders "what kind of health problems is it going to cause down the line." Oak Park Pentecostals was bracing for hundreds of people at its food pantry Thursday. The church has served as a destination for people forced out of their homes. I miss my bed, said Terry Snyder Jr., who has spent two nights at the church shelter with his parents. I just want to head home. ___ AP reporter Ed White in Detroit contributed to this story. STILLWATER Looking across the sweeping acreage at the Saratoga National Historical Park, with its mix of fields and forest, its hard to imagine that the landscape capturing the look of 1777 is at risk. But an overabundance of deer, invasive plant species and climate change are challenging the National Park Services mission of maintaining the park so visitors can experience how the cultural landscape felt during the two Battles of Saratoga. While walking through the forested plots scattered across the battlefield, Park Superintendent Leslie Morlock points out where insects like the emerald ash borer are attacking trees. And the saplings that should be sprouting to replace those dying trees? The deer that roam the park have eaten them. The historic reflection thats also told by 10 other National Park Service sites in New England, the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states are under duress due to the assault on the woods that form key parts of the parkland placing them in imminent failure, according to a recent study conducted by NPS and Schoodic Institute at Acadia National Park in Maine scientists. More Information PARK TOTAL ACREAGE FOREST ACRES WOOD PLOTS Saratoga National Historical Park 2,856 1,697 32 Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites 1,102 835 40 Sagamore Hill National Historic Site 71 42 4 Weir Farm National Historical Park 69 44 10 Source: National Park Service study in Ecological Applications See More Collapse In a healthy forest, when a big tree falls or dies, seedlings and saplings in the forest understory grow to fill the gap in the canopy. This regeneration is how forests continue to be forests, Kate Miller, park service quantitative ecologist and lead author of the study, said in a statement. If theres a lack of seedlings and saplings, the forest cant maintain itself. This is what we found in the majority of Eastern national park forests, and its very concerning, Miller said. The study found that deer are the primary threat to the future of forests in 39 national parks from Maine to Virginia. Only Acadia National Park in Maine was classified as secure and not facing the immediate threats to forests in the other 38 parks. Stephanie Perles, park service vegetation ecologist and study co-author, stressed in a statement the growing deer populations in the parks are eating the vegetation and saplings to such a degree it stops the growth of new trees and prevents the regeneration of the forest canopy. Without native seedlings and saplings, invasive plants, which deer dont like to eat, take over. Both the forest and, ultimately, the deer and every other forest creature, suffer without food and no place to go, Perles said. In New York, the Department of Environmental Conservation also warns that deer may be permanently altering forests. DECs review of the impact of the large number of deer states, just as livestock can overgraze a range and reduce it to a barren wasteland, deer can over-browse a forest. Because mature canopy trees aren't affected, deer impacts on a forest may not be immediately obvious, but they are profound and long-lasting. The 32 forest plots at the Saratoga National Historical Park and the four plots at Sagamore Hill National Historic Site, the home of President Theodore Roosevelt on Long Island are classified as in imminent failure, according to the study. The Roosevelt-Vanderbilt National Historic Sites 40 wood plots in Dutchess County are classified as insecure. The 10 wood plots at Weir Farm National Historical Site in Wilton, Conn. are classified as probable failure. Roosevelt-Vanderbilt Superintendent Amy Bracewell said the park, site of President Franklin D. Roosevelts home, the Vanderbilt Mansion and Eleanor Roosevelts Val-Kill, has to deal with the deer in order to protect the trees. The forests are especially important for the Gilded Age landscapes at Vanderbilt and the forest plantations by the former president. Bracewell said they want to get at least three years of data before starting the process of figuring out what to do with the deer. Saratoga is also grappling with how to reduce the deer population and ease the threat to the woods. Saratoga and the other parks generally dont allow hunting within their boundaries and their park management plans havent identified how to reduce the deer population. The challenge is you start deer culling you have to continue to manage it, Morlock said. While the parks are studying how to update their plans to reduce the threat posed by the deer to the landscape, they know that hunters outside the parks can play a role in reducing deer numbers in the surrounding area. We are experiencing similar forest challenges relative to the region," said Linda A. Cook, superintendent of the Weir Farm site in Wilton, Conn. Like the other parks, Weir also has to do a feasibility study to plan how to preserve and protect the land. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate SCHENECTADY Police are investigating at least two incidents from earlier this year in which two outspoken Black members of the City Council reported receiving hate mail. In one case, Councilman Carl Williams described feeling a sense of helplessness when he discovered his wife was frantically trying to text and call him while he was in a meeting at work to let him know that someone had sent a threatening letter to the couples home. It (letter) made a claim that she was doing a certain behavior, and that I was going to be physically assaulted as a result of it, Williams said of the incident in January. He said it was more unsettling because the sender mentioned his wife. Williams, who declined to offer a specific description of the letters content, filed a police report. The missive, he said, did not mention race. I would say that it personally makes you second guess a lot of your thoughts, but I say that carefully because I dont want these individuals that sent this letter to feel like theyre 'winning' or that they were successful in this attempt, Williams said. Undeterred, Williams, 33, spoke of his military days, reinforcing to his wife the importance of situational awareness, describing the need to be more alert by knowing where you are and what is going on around you so youre in a position to make more informed and better decisions. Councilman Damonni Farley said even though he had received other threats through the mail and in emails, he only filed a complaint after Police Chief Eric Clifford, on the heels of Williams situation, urged anyone on the council whos gotten hate mail to make a report. Farley described a recent mailing to his residence as racially charged where the letter-writer expressed stereotypical views about Blacks. The one before that included racial slurs. People call it hate mail, but I see it as 'fear mail,' he said, adding that he stands for equity, which sometimes means challenging the powers that be and you make enemies doing that. I do feel these are all efforts to scare people of color or whatever protected group that you hate to try to deter them from entering the political process. Lt. Ryan Macherone said earlier this month that the investigation into Farley and Williams complaints remain open, but right now the leads that we have for them, have really been exhausted. He said any arrest would likely lead to the perpetrator being charged with misdemeanor aggravated harassment. Farley recalled lessons the late Joseph Allen, the first African American to be elected to serve on the City Council, shared with him about the time he got hate mail from the Ku Klux Klan. Allen, who took office in 1996, served 16 years on the council, including terms as its president. Williams and Farley, along with Council members Marion Porterfield and John Mootooveren, are part of a group of lawmakers who often but not always find themselves on one side of an issue from their white counterparts John Polimeni, Doreen Ditoro and Carmel Patrick. Porterfield and Mootooveren did not return a call seeking comment for this story. Polimeni asserts that too much is being made of the race of elected officials when divisions in the all-Democratic council are discussed. I dont think its a racial thing, I think its solely disagreements in policy, and just because you disagree with somebody, it doesnt mean that its got anything to do with their skin color, he said. You could put other people in there of different skin colors and I think you have the same result. He and Patrick stressed their support for police investigations into hate mail. People have called me, if it gets out of hand, I just hang up, Polimeni said. Ill take a lot on the phone, but once you start calling names and cursing, thats where the phone call ends. Patrick said shes never received any hate mail in her time on the council. I think we have a climate currently in our country where people think maybe its OK to do that, and certainly I would not condone that, she said. Both Farley and Williams note people of color hold the majority on the council and the use of terms like defund the police, which they say Polimeni used to describe proposed cuts during their budget talks cause discord and the split, largely along racial lines, on the panel. People respond differently to change, and when youre talking about changing the historical narrative of this country, thats existed for hundreds of years, thats an adjustment that some people are able to adjust to better than others, Williams said. Mayor Gary McCarthy said he once filed a police report in 1978 after getting a 30-page typed threat in the mail while working on a political campaign for Mary Anne Krupsak, who went on to become lieutenant governor. Technology, said the mayor, makes it more likely for threats to be made over social media and electronic devices. He also cautioned against highlighting the issue too much for fear it could spawn copycat cases. I periodically get threats in this position, there are risk assessments that are done, I dont dwell on it, and I dont consider it to be a major focus of my time or efforts, McCarthy said. I think people are looking for a reason to be divisive and confrontational today, so you have to be cognizant of that. Heavy machineries remove rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on April 13, 2023. Bodies of four firefighters were recovered from the rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Thursday morning, rescue teams said. A massive fire broke out in the multi-story building of a bedsheet factory on Wednesday morning and a dozen fire engines worked to douse it, Salman Qureshi, a firefighter from Saylani Welfare Trust told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Bodies of four firefighters were recovered from the rubbles of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Thursday morning, rescue teams said. A massive fire broke out in the multi-story building of a bedsheet factory on Wednesday morning and a dozen fire engines worked to douse it, Salman Qureshi, a firefighter from Saylani Welfare Trust told Xinhua. "The firefighters were working at the incident site when part of the factory collapsed trapping several people under the debris," Qureshi said. Thirteen injured people including 11 firefighters were also recovered from the collapsed building, he said. Talking to media, Karachi's Central District Deputy Commissioner Taha Saleem, confirmed there are no more trapped persons under the rubbles, and the area has been cleared by rescue teams. He added that the fire was contained on early Thursday morning, and a cooling operation was underway. He said that fire erupted in the building due to a short circuit and it got worse because the firefighters could not take big engines to the site due to congested streets. The officer said that the building's structure weakened due to the big fire and the water used to douse it, leading to its collapse during the process. Heavy machineries remove rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on April 13, 2023. Bodies of four firefighters were recovered from the rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Thursday morning, rescue teams said. A massive fire broke out in the multi-story building of a bedsheet factory on Wednesday morning and a dozen fire engines worked to douse it, Salman Qureshi, a firefighter from Saylani Welfare Trust told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua) Officials examine a collapsed factory after a fire in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on April 13, 2023. Bodies of four firefighters were recovered from the rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Thursday morning, rescue teams said. A massive fire broke out in the multi-story building of a bedsheet factory on Wednesday morning and a dozen fire engines worked to douse it, Salman Qureshi, a firefighter from Saylani Welfare Trust told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua) A heavy machinery removes rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on April 13, 2023. Bodies of four firefighters were recovered from the rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Thursday morning, rescue teams said. A massive fire broke out in the multi-story building of a bedsheet factory on Wednesday morning and a dozen fire engines worked to douse it, Salman Qureshi, a firefighter from Saylani Welfare Trust told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua) A man mourns for the death of his relative following a factory fire accident at a hospital in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on April 13, 2023. Bodies of four firefighters were recovered from the rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Thursday morning, rescue teams said. A massive fire broke out in the multi-story building of a bedsheet factory on Wednesday morning and a dozen fire engines worked to douse it, Salman Qureshi, a firefighter from Saylani Welfare Trust told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua) Pakistani security personnel walk past a damaged firefighting truck after a factory fire in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on April 13, 2023. Bodies of four firefighters were recovered from the rubble of a collapsed factory in Pakistan's southern port city of Karachi on Thursday morning, rescue teams said. A massive fire broke out in the multi-story building of a bedsheet factory on Wednesday morning and a dozen fire engines worked to douse it, Salman Qureshi, a firefighter from Saylani Welfare Trust told Xinhua. (Str/Xinhua) (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Ronald Suny, University of Michigan (THE CONVERSATION) While the world is watching the destruction in Ukraine, in another corner of the former Soviet Union hostilities smolder. Armenia and Azerbaijan accused each other on April 11, 2023, of starting a firefight close to the contested Nagorno-Karabakh region in which seven soldiers were killed. That skirmishes in the region turned deadly is no real surprise to me they have done so many times before. But the latest escalation has taken on a new dimension with the war in Ukraine. In short, the response from both the West and Russia to tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan has been complicated by their commitments elsewhere. Meanwhile, other regional powers have stepped in. The escalation of fighting over Nagorno-Karabakh predates the Russian invasion of Ukraine but has received far less attention in the West. A year and a half before Vladimir Putin invaded Ukraine, Ilham Aliyev, Azerbaijans president and a man characterized by criticsas a despot, launched a brutal attack. On Sept. 27, 2020, Aliyev sent his troops into the tiny enclave of Nagorno-Karabakh a region populated by Armenians, who know it as Artsakh, but which is located within the Republic of Azerbaijan. Cut off and besieged The fighting shattered a shaky peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan that had been in place since Moscow intervened in 1994 to broker a cease-fire. Using drones and other weapons supplied by Turkeyand Israel, oil-rich Azerbaijan swiftly defeated the Armenians in 2020. Still, 44 days of conflict saw thousands of military casualties on both sides and scores of civilian deaths. It concluded, again, with a Russia-backed cease-fire. But the war never really ended. In the period since, Azerbaijan has continued to send its forces into the Republic of Armenia amid counterclaims of border transgressions. Meanwhile, government-backed, self-styled eco-activists have blockaded the Lachin corridor, the single road that linked Armenia with Nagorno-Karabakh. From Dec. 12, 2022, until now, the roughly 120,000 Karabakh Armenians have been cut off from potentially lifesaving food and medicine as a result of the blockade. The U.S. government among others has protested the blockade, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken phoning Aliyev to urge an immediate reopening of the Lachin corridor to commercial traffic. But Washington appears either powerless or unwilling to exert real pressure, ruling out for now at least the use of sanctions against Azerbaijan. And with the Ukraine war pushing up energy prices, Western states have an incentive not to be too harsh on oil- and gas-rich Azerbaijan. Meanwhile, Russia, mired in the mud of Ukraine, has not been able to fulfill its role as guarantor of the 2020 armistice. Putin also appears disinclined to aid Armenia, its one loyal ally in the South Caucasus, mindful of the need for dedicated military resources elsewhere. Finding, losing regional friends The relative absence of Moscow in the current plight of Nagorno-Karabakh breaks with almost a century of geopolitical practice. The striving of Karabakh Armenians to secure autonomy from the rule of Azerbaijan may look to some observers like an intractable struggle between Christian Armenians and Muslim Azerbaijanis. Yet Nagorno-Karabakh existed for 70 years within the Soviet Union as an autonomous oblast, or province. During that period, the Kremlin kept the peace between the two Soviet nations that laid claim to the territory. But as ethnic nationalism grew in the late Soviet decades, and the reforms of Mikhail Gorbachev loosened the hold of Moscow over non-Russian republics, animosities between Azerbaijan and Armenia erupted. When the Soviet empire fell in 1991, the two newly independent republics went to war over Nagorno-Karabakh. Russia armed both, playing one republic against the other. But of the two, Armenia has traditionally been closer to Russia. Relations between Moscow and Armenia have cooled in recent years, not least due to Putins suspicions of Armenias lurch toward democracy since 2018. But as a member of the Moscow-led strategic alliance, the Collective Security Treaty Organization, Armenia remains a Russian ally and has no other defender but Moscow. Which makes its position now all the more vulnerable if Putin withdraws his support. By contrast, Azerbaijan has seen its regional allies Israel spurred by a shared hostility to Iran and Turkey step up in recent years. Both have supplied Azerbaijan with advanced weaponry, giving the country an upper hand in the conflict. Great powers sitting this one out The war in Ukraine is presented in the West as a confrontation between autocracy and democracy. Yet the conflict in the distant South Caucasus is not being viewed in the same light despite how it pits one country that has taken strides toward democracy, Armenia, against an autocratic Azerbaijan. The United States, in its muted response to the blockade, and Russia, with a cold calculation of military costs and benefits, appear content to wait to see what will become of Armenians and Azerbaijanis killing each other. Russias own actions have left it hamstrung, mired in the quagmire of Ukraine. But Armenias friends in Washington are beginning to question where is the indispensable nation, as the U.S. styles itself, when a small, besieged people need it most. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/the-long-simmering-armenia-azerbaijan-conflict-is-boiling-over-while-the-west-and-russia-look-elsewhere-203702. (The Conversation is an independent and nonprofit source of news, analysis and commentary from academic experts.) Arie Kruglanski, University of Maryland (THE CONVERSATION) An acutely troubling aspect of life in contemporary America is the growing proliferation of mass shootings that claim thousands of innocent lives year after painful year and make everyone feel unsafe. The year 2023 is still young, and already there have been at least 146 mass shooting events in the U.S. on record, including the killing of five people in a Louisville, Kentucky, bank that the shooter livestreamed. There were 647 mass shootings in 2022 and 693 in 2021, resulting in 859 and 920 deaths, respectively, with no respite in sight from this ghastly epidemic. Since 2015, over 19,000 people have been shot and wounded or killed in mass shootings. In the wake of most shootings, the news media and the public reflexively ask: What was the killers motive? As a psychologist who studies violence and extremism, I understand that the question immediately pops to mind because of the bizarre nature of the attacks, the out-of-the-blue shock that they produce, and peoples need to comprehend and reach closure on what initially appears to be completely senseless and irrational. But what would constitute a satisfactory answer to the publics question? Media reports typically describe shooters motives based on specific individual details of the case, on their manifestos or social media postings. These generally list insults, humiliations or rejections by co-workers, potential romantic partners or schoolmates that a perpetrator may have suffered. Or they may cite alleged threats to the shooters group from some imagined enemy such as Jews, people of color, Muslims, Asians or members of the LGBTQ+ community. Though perhaps informative about a given perpetrators way of thinking, I believe these motives are too specific. Each shooters life story is unique, yet the growing number of mass shootings suggests a general trend that transcends personal details. Quest for significance Perhaps surprisingly, the general motive that drives mass shootings is a fundamental human need. It is everyones quest for significance and a feeling that their life matters. That need gets activated when someone feels the loss of significance, the sense of being slighted, humiliated or excluded, but also when there is an opportunity for a gain in ones sense of significance, being the object of admiration, a hero or a martyr in other peoples eyes. I took part in a recent study carried out in the aftermath of the 2016 Orlando mass shooting. In that study, headed by social psychologist Pontus Leander of Wayne State University, we subjected American gun owners to feeling a loss of significance by giving them a failing score or not on an achievement task. We then asked this random sample of gun owners to respond to a number of questions including whether they would be ready to kill a home intruder even if they were about to leave the home they invaded, and also how empowered those gun owners felt by owning a gun. We found that the experience of failure increased participants view of guns as a means of empowerment, and enhanced their readiness to shoot and kill a home intruder. And a 2020 review of mass shooting incidents between the years 2010 and 2019 found that 78% of mass shooters in that period were motivated by fame-seeking or attention-seeking that is, by the quest for significance. If the need for significance is so fundamental and universal, how is it that mass shooting is an isolated phenomenon perpetrated by a handful of desperate individuals and not by everyone? Two factors can push this common human striving into mayhem and destruction. First, it takes extreme heights of significance craving to pay this high a price for potential notoriety. Shooting is an extreme act that demands self-sacrifice, not only giving up on acceptance in the mainstream society, but also producing a high likelihood of dying in shootouts with law enforcement. Research shows that about 25% to 31% of mass shooters exhibit signs of mental illness, which is likely to induce in them a deep sense of disempowerment and insignificance. But even the remaining 70%-75% with no known pathologies are likely to have suffered extreme significance issues, as attested by their ample statements about humiliation, rejection and exclusion they believe they or their group suffered at the hands of some real or imagined culprits. These feelings can create a one-track significance focus that can ultimately precipitate a mass shooting. Yet even someone who really really wants to feel significant is not necessarily going to carry out a mass shooting. Shortcut to stardom In fact, most highly motivated people satisfy their egos quite differently; they focus their extremism on various socially approved areas: business, sports, the arts, the sciences or politics. Why would some then choose the repugnant road to infamy paved by the massacre of innocents? There is a method to this madness: The shocked public attention a shooting attracts delivers instantaneous significance. Climbing the steep hill of a respectable career, however, is fraught with obstacles and uncertainties. Success is elusive, takes ages to attain, and is inequitably afforded to those with unusual ability, grit or privilege, or some combination of those. Committing a mass shooting represents a widely available shortcut to stardom. There are over 390 million guns in todays America and a lack of background checks in many states. People have the freedom to purchase assault weapons at a local store. Thus, planning and executing a mass shooting is a road to notoriety open to anyone, and the narrative that links gun violence to significance that is, the idea that by becoming a mass shooter you become famous has been spreading ever wider with each successive shooting. Killings celebrated A final puzzle is this: If significance and respect are what the shooters are after, how come they do things that most people despise? In todays fractured public sphere dominated by social media, it is easy to find networks of supporters and admirers for nearly anything under the sun, including the most repugnant and unconscionable acts of cruelty and callousness. In fact, there is ample evidence that mass shooters are celebrated by appreciative audiences and can serve as role models to other would-be heroes who seek to outscore them in casualty counts. What my colleagues and I call the Three Ns: need, narrative and network, refer to the would-be shooters need to become significant or notorious, the narrative that says being a shooter means being important, and the network that exists to support such behavior. They together combine into a toxic mixture, driving a person to carry out a mass shooting. But this framework also suggests how the tide of this horrific epidemic may be stemmed: Negating the narrative that depicts violence as an easy path to significance and dismantling the networks that support that narrative. The two go together. Disproving the narrative that gun violence is an easy route to fame by making it hard to obtain guns, for instance, and reducing media attention to shooters would reduce the appeal of gun violence to people seeking to feel more significant. It is equally important to identify and make available alternative paths to significance, conveyed in alternative narratives. This would likely require a concerted effort across society and its institutions. Understanding the psychology of it all may be a necessary precondition for taking effective steps in this direction. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article here: https://theconversation.com/why-do-mass-shooters-kill-its-about-more-than-having-a-grievance-198387. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) Nearly a foot (30 centimeters) of rain fell in a matter of hours in Fort Lauderdale causing widespread flooding, the closure of the citys airport and the suspension of high-speed commuter rail service for the Broward County region. The city of Fort Lauderdale released a statement Wednesday evening urging residents and visitors to stay off the roads until the water has subsided. Police and Fire Rescue continue to answer calls for service, the statement said. Public Works staff are clearing drains and operating pumps to mitigate the water as quickly as possible. The National Weather Service issued a flash flood emergency for Fort Lauderdale and other areas will run into pre-dawn hours Thursday as the chance of thunderstorms continued across the region, warning: This is a life-threatening situation. Seek higher ground now! There have been no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. Up to 14 inches had fallen across the area through Wednesday and the National Weather Service said another 2 to 4 inches were possible as a warm front continued to push northward, bringing a chance of thunderstorms. Hollywood Mayor Josh Levy told CNN that the area already had seen days of rain. The ground was already saturated so there is extensive flooding all over our city and throughout South Florida. Many roadways are impassable. Lots of vehicles got stuck and left abandoned in the middle of our roadways, Levy said. Ive lived here my whole life. This is the most severe flooding that Ive ever seen. More than 22,000 customers in Florida were without electricity Wednesday night, according to poweroutage.us. All Broward County Public Schools with be closed Thursday, the district tweeted, adding All afterschool activities, events, and extracurricular activities are also cancelled tomorrow. Wednesdays relentless showers prompted the airport, one of the largest in the region, to suspend all arriving and departing flights, the airport tweeted around 4:15 p.m. At around 5 p.m., the airport announced it shut down ground transportation shuttle service in response to recurring tornado warnings and ongoing heavy rainfall. The main roadways entering and exiting the airport were flooded and impassable, the airport said around 5:15 p.m. Please do not attempt to enter or leave the airport at this time, it warned. It said airport operations would restart once the weather improves in the Fort Lauderdale area. The heavy rains also prompted South Floridas high-speed commuter rail service to shut down. Brightline posted on Twitter Wednesday evening that train service between Miami and Fort Lauderdale was suspended. The National Weather Service in Miami declared a flash flood emergency around 8 p.m. Wednesday for Fort Lauderdale, along with the areas around Hollywood and Dania Beach. A short time later, forecasters issued a tornado warning for nearby Davie, Plantation and Lauderhill. Video taken by witnesses showed water coming in the door at an airport terminal and a virtual river rushing down the tarmac between planes. On Broward Boulevard, a man was seen swimming to the curb on the flooded street at rush hour as cars rolled by. Drivers recorded themselves rolling through streets where brown, swirling water was up to the wheel wells or nearly to the hood of cars. This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 3 1 of 3 Jeremias Gonzalez/AP Show More Show Less 2 of 3 David Lohmueller/AP Show More Show Less 3 of 3 GENEVA (AP) The U.N. human rights chief has called for an expansion in regular migration channels and search-and-rescue operations after a steep increase in the number of migrants and asylum-seekers making risky attempts to cross the central Mediterranean to Europe. Volker Turk called for solidarity with Italy, which has traditionally received most of the influx, adding that the Italian coast guard had rescued some 2,000 people on the route since Friday. Italy's right-wing government this week imposed a six-month state of emergency to deal with the situation. 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) GUANGZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the importance of remaining steadfast in comprehensively deepening reform and expanding high-standard opening up, and urged Guangdong Province, a pacesetter of the country's reform and opening up, to take the lead in advancing Chinese modernization. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks during his inspection tour of Guangdong in south China from Monday to Thursday. Noting that Guangdong is a pioneer and pacesetter of China's reform and opening up, Xi said the province bears great importance and plays an outstanding role in Chinese modernization. He asked the province to take the lead in comprehensively deepening reform, promoting high-standard opening up, beefing up China's self-reliance and strength in science and technology, modernizing its industrial system, and coordinating balanced development between urban and rural areas and between regions. On Monday morning, Xi visited a mariculture base under a national-level key project in the city of Zhanjiang, where he called for attention to food security in China, a country with a population of over 1.4 billion, emphasizing the need to utilize both land and sea resources. Xi called for elaborate efforts in developing the breeding industry as it serves as the foundation of the development of modern agriculture and aquaculture. More should be done to develop deep-sea aquaculture equipment and smart fishing industry, Xi said, calling for further upgrading of marine fishery. Xi referred to the mangrove forests located in a national nature reserve in Zhanjiang as a national treasure and urged for careful protection in a way like people protect their own eyes. He emphasized the need for persistent efforts towards green development, with aims to build a beautiful China while also contributing to the preservation of the global environment. On Monday afternoon, Xi arrived at Xuwen Port, a key project that facilitates the collaborative development of Guangdong with its neighboring island province of Hainan. He was informed about Guangdong's endeavors to improve regional connectivity through the development of better transportation infrastructure and to align its development with that of the Hainan Free Trade Port. Xi emphasized the role of the Qiongzhou Strait between Guangdong and Hainan as a vital gateway to the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port. He said Xuwen Port should be upgraded into a modern, comprehensive hub of water and land transportation that connects the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the Hainan Free Trade Port. While in the county of Xuwen, Xi also visited a reservoir that is part of a water diversion project in Guangdong. China must take issues related to water resources into consideration when pushing forward modernization, as the country faces the challenges of insufficient and unbalanced water resources, he said. On Tuesday, Xi went to a village known for growing lychees, a subtropical fruit much loved by Chinese for generations, in the city of Maoming, where he visited a plantation, talked with agricultural technicians and learned about the operation of a cooperative and its function in promoting rural revitalization. Xi called for enhancing technologies used in lychee cultivation, preservation, and processing to boost the sector and culture-themed tourism. Bidding farewell to villagers, Xi said that to advance Chinese modernization, it is imperative to comprehensively advance rural revitalization and effectively address the imbalance between urban and rural areas and between regions. Xi went on to say that by adhering to the path of common prosperity, more resources should be allocated to assist less developed areas, promote social etiquette and civility, enhance the living environment, and protect the rural eco-environment to improve the quality of life for the people. On Wednesday, Xi went to the city of Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong. He visited LG Display's manufacturing base. Xi said that China's market strengths will become more apparent as the country quickens the formation of a new development pattern and further improves the business environment amidst the backdrop of sluggish global economic growth. He expressed the hope that foreign investors will seize opportunities and achieve greater business success by coming to China, particularly Guangdong and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. In an inspection of GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., Xi listened to reports about the company's progress in making technological breakthroughs and other work. While visiting the carmaker's R&D center, he talked with researchers, entrepreneurs, employees, and representatives of foreign enterprises. China's policy of reform and opening up will remain unchanged over the long term, Xi said. He stated that China is ready to collaborate with any nations that are interested in engaging in mutually beneficial cooperation to advance the shared prosperity and development of global economy. Stressing the significance of the real economy and self-reliance for a country as big as China, Xi said core technologies in key fields should be based on independent research and development while international cooperation is also welcomed. China should strengthen education and talent cultivation to lay a solid foundation for self-reliance and strength in science and technology, Xi said. 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 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, 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, talks with villagers at a village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province, April 11, 2023. Xi visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative at the village to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. (Xinhua/Liu Bin) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers at a village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province, April 11, 2023. Xi visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative at the village to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. (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 lychee orchard at a village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province, April 11, 2023. Xi visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative at the village to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. (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 longan and lychee cooperative at a village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province, April 11, 2023. Xi visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative at the village to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. (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 LG Display's manufacturing base in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 12, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour of Guangdong in south China from Monday to Thursday. (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 GAC Aion New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 12, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour of Guangdong in south China from Monday to Thursday. (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, talks with researchers, entrepreneurs, employees, and representatives of foreign enterprises at a research and development center of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 12, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour of Guangdong in south China from Monday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Li Xueren) Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, waves to employees at a research and development center of Guangzhou Automobile Group Co., Ltd. in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 12, 2023. Xi made an inspection tour of Guangdong in south China from Monday to Thursday. (Xinhua/Ju Peng) [April 13, 2023] LOCAL 10-DIGIT DIALING BECOMES MANDATORY IN NEW BRUNSWICK ON APRIL 15 New area code 428 will be added starting on April 29 FREDERICTON, NB, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Starting April 15, 10-digit dialing for all local calls in New Brunswick becomes mandatory, which brings the three-month transition period to an end. Local calls dialed with seven digits will no longer be completed. All phone numbers stored on communication devices must be programmed for 10-digit dialing. Network message Starting April 15, local calls dialed with seven digits will beinterrupted by a network message asking the caller to hang up and redial using 10 digits the area code and the seven digit number. New area code Starting on April 29, 2023, the area code 428 will be introduced in New Brunswick and will coexist with the current 506 area code. Residents and businesses with telephone numbers with the 506 area code will keep their numbers. Numbers with the new 428 area code will only be assigned when the existing inventory of 506 numbers is depleted. The Telecommunications Alliance Canada's major communications service providers have joined forces to develop a communications campaign informing the public about the introduction of 10-digit dialing and new area codes in certain calling areas. For more information, please visit dial10.ca. SOURCE Telecommunications Alliance [April 12, 2023] Digital Treasures Center rebrands to dtcpay reflecting its commitment towards digital payments SINGAPORE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Digital Treasures Center refreshed its branding strategy whereby, it will be known as "dtcpay" going forward reflecting its commitment towards digital payments. Since 2019, dtcpay's mission is to bridge the gap between digital assets and traditional finance and help businesses grow quickly by accepting payment methods that customers prefer, across both fiat and digital currencies. This rebranding aims to unveil an expansion roadmap as dtcpay recently appointed Group CEO Kanny Lee, a thought leader in the Web3 community. "Our fresh look and feel are inspired by the businesses that trust dtcpay today. From orange to blue, purple and vibrant pink, the new palette captures the excitement of a world waiting to be explored. We've also rediscovered our tone of voice, where we speak to our business partners to help them accelerate digital adoption," said Kanny. "In Asia, particularly the key tier 1 financial capitals such as Singapore, Hong Kong and Tokyo, have experienced a rapid rate of digital adoption primarily due to transparent regulatory frameworks for digital financial inclusion," said Kanny. He added, "We are expanding business operations into Hong Kong, capitalizing on the region's growing acceptance of digital payments and its key focal point as an entryway into the world's largest consumer market. Our aim is to solidify our position in the APAC region by obtaining a license in Hong Kong, following our recent success in securing the MPI license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS). This achievement is a testament to Asia providng the most regulatory clarity for digital payments around the world." As a regulated and fully licensed payments service provider by MAS, dtcpay's expansion roadmap includes launching more fiat and digital currency pairings for the multi-currency swap product. This is the backbone that enables merchants and their customers to conduct value transfers seamlessly and cost-effectively. Each of these merchants utilizes dtcpay POS+, as an all-in-one device that accepts various forms of digital payments: credit cards, QR code payments, digital currencies, etc. By streamlining the payment process for merchants, it saves time and effort when confronted with an avalanche of payment methods and channels favored by consumers and we have processed over S$50 million in transactions within the first quarter of 2023. In a further effort to make settlement even more efficient for its merchants, dtcpay has launched an e-money pilot program called eSGD. The program aims to offer a secure and convenient payment option for merchants and their customers, resulting in a simpler and smoother payment experience. As the demand for cashless transactions continues to rise, e-money is becoming an essential part of the payment landscape. dtcpay aims to help merchants grow their businesses by providing efficient and reliable digital payment solutions. As of April 2, 2023 dtcpay has integrated with WeChat Pay for its merchants to offer more convenient settlement for Chinese nationals. This partnership comes as demand for WeChat Pay is increasing in Singapore, especially after China opened its border and made it easier for Chinese tourists and Chinese nationals living in Singapore to enjoy the convenience of this payment option. As dtcpay secured a Major Payment Institution (MPI) license from the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), dtcpay welcomes a new chapter in the rapidly evolving payment landscape and rebranded to be a more innovative and inclusive brand in the digital payment ecosystem and maintains the leading edge in technology and ensures that dtcpay operates within a regulated environment by offering secure, and legally compliant solutions for the digital payment industry. With the rebrand, dtcpay welcomes a new chapter in the rapidly evolving payments industry, while maintaining the leading edge in technology and ensuring security and compliance for our customers across the network. For media-related queries, please contact: Email: [email protected] About dtcpay dtcpay is a regulated payment service provider that offers reliable solutions for merchants to grow revenues with increased acceptance rates across fiat and cryptocurrency. Our client's customers benefit from frictionless payment experiences, whether they are using our award-winning POS+ terminal in-store or using our online checkout solution. Founded in 2019 in Singapore, dtcpay is a licensed Major Payment Institution (MPI) under the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and offers Digital Payment Token (DPT) services. We have expanded our global footprint with regulated subsidiaries in the Americas, Hong Kong and the Middle East. Find out more at https://dtcpay.com/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/dtcpay/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/dtc_pay View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/digital-treasures-center-rebrands-to-dtcpay-reflecting-its-commitment-towards-digital-payments-301795541.html SOURCE dtcpay [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 12, 2023] RITE AID ALERT: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. Announces that a Class Action Lawsuit Has Been Filed Against Rite Aid Corporation and Encourages Investors to Contact the Firm Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C., a nationally recognized stockholder rights law firm, announces that a class action lawsuit has been filed against Rite Aid Corporation ("Rite Aid" or the "Company") (NYSE: RAD) in the United States Ohio Northern District Court on behalf of all persons and entities who purchased or otherwise acquired Rite Aid securities between April 26, 2018 and March 13, 2023, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"). Investors have until May 19, 2023 to apply to the Court to be appointed as lead plaintiff in the lawsuit. Click here to participate in the action. The complaint alleges that defendants made false statements and/or concealed 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 wre 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. If you purchased or otherwise acquired Rite Aid shares and suffered a loss, are a long-term stockholder, have information, would like to learn more about these claims, or have any questions concerning this announcement or your rights or interests with respect to these matters, please contact Brandon Walker or Marion Passmore by email at [email protected], telephone at (212) 355-4648, or by filling out this contact form. There is no cost or obligation to you. About Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C.: Bragar Eagel & Squire, P.C. is a nationally recognized law firm with offices in New York, California, and South Carolina. The firm represents individual and institutional investors in commercial, securities, derivative, and other complex litigation in state and federal courts across the country. For more information about the firm, please visit www.bespc.com. Attorney advertising. Prior results do not guarantee similar outcomes. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005644/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 12, 2023] After an investment of US$ 6.2 million, Ridian arrives in Brazil to provide intelligent cryptocurrency investment services SAO PAULO, April 13, 2023 /PRNeswire/ -- Ridian, a global blockchain financial services startup based in LATAM, announces its arrival in Brazil seeking to become the main provider of crypto investment services in the country. Founded in 2021 by Rogelio Sada and Eduardo de la Garza in Mexico, Ridian raised a Seed round of US$ 6.2 million to develop the trading platform and algorithmic/quantitative investment strategies they offer today and assembled an experienced team with a background in traditional finance, crypto and technology from companies such as JP Morgan, Citadel, Coinbase and Google. Each strategy offers a responsive trading package that helps users minimize the ups and downs of a 24/7 crypto market. The BTC Target strategy allows investors to gain exposure to BTC, while the Ridian Blue Chip strategy offers investors diversified exposure to the largest cryptocurrencies by capitalization (BTC, ETH, BNB, XRP, ADA and more). Both strategies aim to accumulate crypto during favorable market conditions and automatically switch to stablecoins during maret downturns, depending on factors such as price and volatility. Users connect Ridian to their existing crypto exchange account, select a strategy and amount to be managed, and all trading is done automatically on the user's behalf. The investment strategies are offered in partnership with major exchanges such as Binance, Bitso, Gemini, Crypto.com, OKX and Kraken. Ridian's services are free for all users, reducing entry barriers and allowing anyone to use the platform, which can be accessed via desktop and mobile. "We are launching our product with a focus on Latin America, specifically Mexico and Brazil, which are the countries with the highest cryptocurrency adoption rates in the world. Around 80% of LATAM crypto users are investors, meaning they are looking to increase their wealth. Unfortunately, very few do this successfully. We aim to hand-hold users through the complex part of crypto investing so that their portfolios work for them even when they sleep", explains Rogelio Sada, Co-Founder and CEO of Ridian. Since officially launching earlier this year, Ridian has had steady growth in user acquisition in APAC, with many of its 6,000+ registered retail investors coming from Southeast Asia. Ridian recently secured key partnerships in the region, becoming the Official Broker Partner of Huobi (#17 global rank, CoinmarketCap) and Official Automated Investing Partner of Coinstore (#47 global rank, CoinMarketCap). View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/after-an-investment-of-us-6-2-million-ridian-arrives-in-brazil-to-provide-intelligent-cryptocurrency-investment-services-301796052.html SOURCE Ridian [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 12, 2023] Huawei Unveils a New Version of Huawei Cloud Stack to Accelerate Intelligent Upgrade for Enterprises in the Asia-Pacific Market HONG KONG, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Huawei today officially unveiled Huawei Cloud Stack 8.2 for the Asia-Pacific market at the Huawei Hong Kong and Macau Partner Summit 2023. The theme of this summit is "Grow Together, Win the Future." This latest version of Huawei Cloud Stack provides trusted cloud-native infrastructure, rich cloud services, and extensive industry know-how. It is designed to help enterprises in the Asia-Pacific region speed up intelligent upgrade. Also, Huawei announced the establishment of the Asia-Pacific Huawei Cloud Stack Innovation Lab. Hu Yuhai, Vice President of Huawei Cloud Stack, said, "We hope to leverage Huawei Cloud Stack 8.2 and the Asia-Pacific Huawei Cloud Stack Innovation Lab to bring new vitality to the Asia-Pacific hybrid cloud market while accelerating intelligent upgrade and unleashing digital power for more enterprises." Huawei Cloud Stack 8.2, The Preferred Choice for Intelligent Upgrade Huawei Cloud Stack is a trusted on-premises cloud solution. Deployed on-premises, it improves security and compliance. Synchronized with services from the public cloud, it also allows for continuous iteration. Huawei Cloud Stack has been taking three approaches to inspire technological innovation and create new value for more industries: Establish Trusted, Resilient Cloud-native Infrastructure Robust service resilience is key to cloud migration of all workloads. To enhance resilience of cloud infrastructure, Huawei Cloud Stack provides high reliability, diversified computing power, high security, efficient storage, full-mesh networks, and efficient cloud management. We have provided a range of scenario-specific disaster recovery (DR) solutions, including intra-city active-active and cross-region HA solutions, for automated failover. Plus, DR services and fine-grained DR allow tenants to create custom DR policies. We have designed an end-to-end security protection system consisting of one security operations center and seven layers of protection, which transforms passive response to proactive defense. The system also provides more than 100 detection models and over 50 playbooks. 90% of alarms can be closed in minutes. ManageOne, our intelligent cloud management platform, provides comprehesive management capabilities covering services, operations, and maintenance. Its unique multi-level cloud resource pool management architecture is able to match with intricate organizational structures of enterprises. Offer Rich Cloud Services to Make Innovation Easier Huawei Cloud Stack shares the same architecture as the Huawei public cloud, so it is able to continuously evolve cloud services and helps customers use the latest cloud services to promote innovation in data, AI, and applications. We have developed ModelArts, an AI development pipeline. It provides a complete set of AI development tools, including data management, data labeling, algorithm development, model training, and inference deployment. It addresses the problem of inefficient AI application development, caused by fragmentation, lots of customization needs, and isolated environments. Plus, ModelArts helps efficiently operationalize AI in a wide range of industries such as mining, meteorological prediction, and biomedicine. GaussDB, MapReduce Service (MRS), and Data Warehouse Service (DWS) are our three major products designed for data innovation. GaussDB is an online transaction processing (OLTP) database product that provides outstanding performance, reliability, and security. It allows customers to move their core databases to a distributed architecture. MRS provides a high-performance, real-time data lake. DWS provides an enterprise-grade data warehouse service that delivers both T+1 online analytical processing (OLAP) and real-time hybrid transaction/analytical processing (HTAP). In terms of application innovation, Cloud Container Engine (CCE), from Huawei Cloud Stack , is 100% compatible with Kubernetes APIs and provides a one-stop O&M platform to monitor and manage application statuses. ROMA Connect can also be used for efficient governance of data, information, and APIs. Consolidate Extensive Industry Know-how for Shared Excellence Huawei Cloud Stack has extensive experience enabling cloud transformation of customers in many industries. We have provided professional services and industry-specific solutions by working with partners to help customers move to, use, and manage cloud with ease. We have released more than 30 industry-specific solutions including national AI cloud, national government cloud, and financial cloud solutions. All of these solutions are pre-integrated and verified on the cloud platform and with partners' applications. These solutions provide an architecture reference for customers in those industries. We have launched more than 70 professional services, covering multiple phases such as top-level design, implementation, and operational excellence. The services share our professional expertise with customers. Asia-Pacific Huawei Cloud Stack Innovation Lab To empower local customers and partners to promote innovation for more scenarios, Huawei Cloud Stack has established an Asia-Pacific innovation lab in Hong Kong, China. The innovation lab will be open to customers and partners and will be used for tasks as diverse as software and hardware verification, POC testing, and talent cultivation. Accelerate Intelligent Upgrade and Unleash Digital Power for Asia-Pacific Enterprises Huawei Cloud, constantly innovating by sticking to the vision of "Everything As a Service", has become a brand trusted by global customers. Backed by the extensive customers and partners, we are now the fifth largest cloud vendor in the world, the second largest cloud vendor in China, and the fastest-growing cloud among the top 5 clouds in emerging markets of Asia. In Indonesia, Huawei Cloud Stack's hybrid cloud solution helped CT Corp, one of the local leading groups, deploy a customer data platform (CDP), which reduces TCO by 25% and improves overall business performance by 30%. In Thailand, Huawei Cloud Stack partnered with Siriraj Hospital, one of leading public hospitals in Thailand, to develop a smart hospital, a hospital that infuses tech advances into nine different hospital scenarios, like AI-powered image reading, unmanned drug delivery vehicles, and 5G-based ambulances. In China, Huawei Cloud Stack helped Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) deploy a financial data lake with more than 4,000 nodes, the most of any lake in the industry. It moved all of ICBC's mission-critical applications to the cloud, including those for big data risk control and real-time anti-fraud and anti-money laundering detection. The Asia-Pacific market has seen a blossoming of digital transformation. It has been imperative for enterprises in the market to dive into cloud innovation. Moving forward, Huawei Cloud Stack intends to continue spearheading innovation, staying focused on industry needs, and joining hands with customers and partners to help enterprises in the Asia-Pacific market accelerate intelligent upgrade and light up a digital future. Please visit Huawei Cloud official site for more information: https://www.huaweicloud.com/intl/en-us/product/huaweicloudstack.html View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/in/news-releases/huawei-unveils-a-new-version-of-huawei-cloud-stack-to-accelerate-intelligent-upgrade-for-enterprises-in-the-asia-pacific-market-301796315.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 12, 2023] Laos-China Railway Company Enables Digital Ticketing for Easy, Fast & Convenient Train Ticket Purchase With UnionPay Cards New App from Laos-China Railway Company allows easy purchase of Laos-China Railway train tickets on mobile phone VIENTIANE, Laos, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Laos-China Railway Company Limited (LCR) have launched an App on Google Play, iOS and Huawei to allow passengers to purchase LCR train tickets on their mobile phones using UnionPay cards, making purchase of LCR tickets easy, fast, convenient and secure. LCR offers train services on the Laos-China railway starting on 3 December 2021, providing Laos people with fast, comfortable and convenient train services from Boten to Vientiane in the Laos portion of the railway. And starting at 8am today, the Vientiane to Kunming, China, cross border train service will start too, providing even more convenience for Laos residents. UnionPay serves the world's largest customer base, and is the preferred international payment brand in Laos with over 80% market share. Online ticketing is relatively new for Laos, with only airline tickets now available for purchase online. This new App will greatly enhance the experience of buying LCR train tickets - passengers can purchase LCR train tickets on this app, not to mention paying securely and conveniently with UnionPay Prepaid, Debit and Credit Cards. "This App couldn't be more timely as more Laos people readily adopt smart phones to make payment transactions on the go from their mobilephones. We are very pleased to be able to offer LCR passengers a safe, secure, cashless and convenient way to pay for their ticket purchase on this App. This App is likely the first of many Apps and online ticketing initiatives in Laos to come, UnionPay stands ready to participate in these projects to enhance the online and in-app purchase experience for Laos people," said Arthur Liu, Laos and Vietnam Country General Manager, UnionPay International (UPI). Besides purchase of LCR tickets, the App also allows passengers to check train schedules, amend ticketing details and request for refunds. "We are very pleased to launch this App to digitize the LCR ticketing system, allowing our customers to easily purchase LCR train tickets using their UnionPay cards, improving their entire ticketing experience. This App has fulfilled our aim of providing a convenient and seamless ticketing experience, to match the comfort, speed and superior experience of riding LCR trains which use state-of-the-art technology," said Laos-China Railway Company Limited spokesperson. About UnionPay International (UPI) UnionPay International focuses on the international business of UnionPay, a global payment network that serves the world's largest Cardholder base. Collaborating with over 2,500 partners globally, UnionPay acceptance now covers over 70 million merchants in 181 countries and regions. Outside Mainland China, UnionPay is accepted at over 38 million merchants and 1.76 million ATMs. As a company with a global acceptance network and a wide range of world-class payment services, UnionPay is committed to providing access to value and secure payment solutions that are tailored to the needs of the local market, to enable choice and ease of payment for consumers and businesses alike. In Laos, UPI work with a large number of partners to provide ATM, POS acceptance and card issuance services. Bank of China, BCEL, Indochina Bank, Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, JDB, LDB, and Phongsavanh Bank issue a huge range of payment cards. In Laos, UnionPay is the number one international payment brand and is widely accepted at both merchants and ATMs. For more information, visit www.unionpayintl.com. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/laos-china-railway-company-enables-digital-ticketing-for-easy-fast--convenient-train-ticket-purchase-with-unionpay-cards-301796349.html SOURCE UnionPay International [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Dobot Opens Japan Subsidiary to Better Serve Japanese Market TOKYO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Dobot has officially opened its new branch opening in Tokyo, Japan. Representivies from Dobot partners in Japan, reputable Japanese universities, robotic associations and media attended the opening ceremony. The set up of Dobot's Japanese branch is an important step towards providing local customers and the Japanese market a full range of support to accelerating automation adoption. Jerry Liu, founder and CEO of Dobot, stated in the opening ceremony that "the setting up of the Japanese branch can fulfil the growing needs of collaborative robots in the local market. On the other hand, provide closer and more efficient service support to Japanese customers with a standardized and modular solution and establish a full product life cycle technical support system, with a full range of marketing and brand advertising support policies." As a world leading smart robot manufacturer, Dobot is the first batch of companies that focus on the development of collaborative robo with the concept of 'human-machine collaboration'. In the past 8 years, Dobot has been the leader in technologies such as safe collaboration, precision control and smart integration and has achieved breakthroughs in foundational technology structure and core algorithms. Almost 70,000 Dobot robots are deployed around the world while having its own manufacturing base and stable supply chain with strict quality control In the past two years, Dobot has established a strong distribution network in the Japanese market to serve industries such as automotive parts, electronic manufacturing, metal processing, logistics, retail and more, assisting customers achieve automation and smart transformation and meet flexible production needs. The establishment of the Japanese branch demonstrates the determination and confidence of Dobot to become a leading brand in the Japanese and Asia Pacific markets. In the future, more local professional talents will be recruited to provide systematic training and support for distributors which further strengthen its competitiveness and brand influence in the Japanese market, and work together with channel partners to deeply cultivate the Japanese market, for mutual benefits. Aside from the Japanese market, Dobot also has subsidiaries in Germany and the US which allow localized marketing sales strategies and accelerate the company's global development with the aim of providing efficient, full range and professional service support to Dobot's customers worldwide. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/dobot-opens-japan-subsidiary-to-better-serve-japanese-market-301796385.html SOURCE Dobot Robotics [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China's top market watchdog vowed to take concrete measures, including deepening reform, to spur market vitality and push forward high-quality development. High-quality economic and social development cannot be achieved without the contribution of the millions of dynamic and resilient business entities, said Luo Wen, head of the State Administration for Market Regulation, at a press conference on Thursday. Luo added that the administration will deepen reform on market regulation, advance fair competition, strengthen law-based supervision, do more to help business entities, and continue to standardize market order to boost vitality. He assured that the market entry and exit system will be improved; unified, standardized, fair and transparent regulatory rules will be established, and institutional transaction costs for business entities will be further reduced. The regulators will resolutely crack down on market irregularities such as price fraud, infringement and counterfeiting, as well as false publicity, Luo said. [April 13, 2023] Caring Pharmacy partners with Appier to deliver a personalized multi-channel experience for Malaysians TAIPEI, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Appier (TSE: 4180) today announced the successful campaign results from its partnership with Caring Pharmacy, a leading pharmacy chain in Malaysia, to enhance its overall multi-channel marketing strategy. Caring Pharmacy enabled highly personalized experiences for its customers on multiple channels with the one-stop customer management platform AIQUA. By leveraging Appier AI Personalized Marketing Cloud, Caring can now seamlessly integrate all of its data across both offline and online channels to tailor customer journeys based on their behaviors and preferences; while at the same time increasing customer engagement and achieving a positive sales cycle. Established in 1994, Caring Pharmacy has become a leading pharmacy chain with more than 180 stores in Malaysia. The company's mission is to provide the most professional and innovative pharmacy services and the highest quality products to customers. Caring Pharmacy aims to be the driver and promoter of healthy lifestyles in the communities that it serves. When COVID-19 hit the world in 2020, Caring identified a need to evolve its digital strategy. As a predominantly brick-and-mortar business, Caring Pharmacy needed to bridge an increasingly pressing gap between its offline operations and online platforms. One of its key priorities was to integrate the rich data already available through its offline stores into its online platforms. In fact, Caring was not alone in this. The pandemic brought about years of change in the way organizations across all sectors and geographies do business, and this included the acceleration of the digitization of their customer interactions along with the recognition of technology's strategic importance as a critical component of the business[1]. Caring's digital transformation focused on transforming its customer experience through the following tactics: Enhance the user experience on its digital channels: By unifying its rich offline insights with its data from online users and behavior, Caring was able to offer highly tailored marketing messages to its customers Build brand loyalty with highly personalized experiences: With AIQUA, Caring was able to create niche segments for various campaigns and leverage AI recommendation models based on different user behaviors to create a better user experience, enabling personalized engagement for its customers Drive real-time interactions with customers through a WebChat: With Appier's BotBonnie, Caring was able to optimize the customer journey from user acquisition to loyalty management by promoting specific marketing campaigns, providing 24/7 customer support, and addressing customer queries about their membership in real-time "Appie has been a great collaborative partner in our digital transformation strategy to enrich Malaysian lives. Appier's tools are easy-to-use and the icing on the cake is having a proactive and collaborative team who not only guided us on our overall strategy but offered constructive strategic ideas to further enhance our marketing strategies. Appier has a strong set of features that prove their worth in each and every case, and we have seen steady growth in our marketing metrics since using them," said Loo Jooi Leng, Marketing Director, Caring Pharmacy. Activating rich offline data to deliver multi-channel experiences Caring has taken a significant step towards improving the customer experience on its digital channels. By unifying rich offline data from point-of-sale (POS) systems with online user behavior data, Caring was able to create personalized marketing campaigns that resonate with customers. This integration has allowed Caring to activate offline data in its recommendation model, A/B testing for creatives, and WebChat to make it easier for its customers to find products effortlessly. As a result, Caring achieved an impressive eDM open rate of 87.3%, along with an incremental CTR uplift of 134%. By leveraging BotBonnie's WebChat, Caring optimized the onsite customer journey from user acquisition, engagement, and loyalty management in real-time, ensuring that customers get the support they need, at any time. Niche segments with unified data for highly personalized experiences Caring also made significant strides in creating personalized engagements for its customers by leveraging data insights to filter and segment its audience. Through the use of unified data, Caring has been able to filter customers based on behavior variables such as products viewed, purchased, searched, demographics, and more. This has enabled Caring to create niche segments effortlessly, allowing for more personalized engagement with customers. As a result, Caring has seen a remarkable CTR uplift of 215% in its campaigns. Caring's success in filtering and segmenting its audience does not stop there. By enriching its segments further, Caring has been able to improve its response rates by 66%. For example, Caring also includes customers who have yet to respond to marketing campaigns in its segments and implements remarketing to re-engage these customers. This data-driven approach to segmentation and remarketing has enabled Caring to provide a more personalized experience to its customers and has resulted in increased engagement and sales. AI-powered recommendation models deliver rich customer experiences Caring implemented product recommendation models that are tailored to different user behaviors, resulting in an incremental sales uplift of 6.3%. The recommendation models are based on browsing and purchasing behavior, enabling customers to discover products that align with their interests. In addition, cross-selling recommendations are made based on products that have been added to the customer's cart. Caring has also implemented an automatic selection of product model/quantity based on the user's behavior, aimed at increasing the order value. This data-driven approach to product recommendations has resulted in increased sales and a more personalized experience for customers. Caring's use of offline data in its digital marketing strategy is an example of how companies can leverage data to provide better customer experiences. By understanding customer behavior and preferences across all channels, businesses can create a seamless and personalized experience for their customers. Through this successful collaboration with Appier, Caring Pharmacy is looking forward to creating more customer-centric campaigns and delivering richer experiences for Malaysians to solidify its brand value. About Caring Pharmacy Caring Pharmacy was established in 1994 and has become a leading pharmacy chain with more than 180 outlets in West Malaysia and 1 outlet in East Malaysia. Their mission is to provide the most professional and innovative pharmacy services and the highest quality of products to customers. Caring Pharmacy aims to be the driver and promoter of healthy lifestyles in the communities that it serves. For more information, please visit https://caring2u.com/ About Appier Appier (TSE: 4180) is a software-as-a-service (SaaS) company that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to power business decision-making. Founded in 2012 with a vision of democratizing AI, Appier now has 17 offices across APAC, Europe and the U.S., and is listed on the Tokyo Stock Exchange. [1] McKinsey & Company: How COVID-19 has pushed companies over the technology tipping point - and transformed business forever View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/caring-pharmacy-partners-with-appier-to-deliver-a-personalized-multi-channel-experience-for-malaysians-301793952.html SOURCE Appier [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Codestone Group Taps Chris Powell as CFO to Turbocharge Growth Plans LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Codestone Group, the powerhouse SAP, Microsoft, and CCH Tagetik cloud technology consulting firm, has taken a major step towards its growth ambitions by naming Chris Powell as its new Chief Financial Officer. A qualified Chartered Accountant and with over 30 years of financial experience, Chris has been Finance Director and CFO across sevral organisations, from small start-ups to large FTSE 200 corporates and almost exclusively in leveraged businesses. His extensive career includes working for businesses in the IT Services sector similar to Codestone, including NAV People, an implementation specialist also backed by Codestone investor FPE. Chris' IT Service industry experience, broad set of skills and key values means he can make a real difference to help achieve Codestone's accelerated growth. Codestone is blazing a trail in the UK's cloud technology consulting space, working with companies of all sizes to propel their growth through cutting-edge digital ERP, EPM, BI & Analytics and Cloud IT solutions. With this appointment, the company is poised to take its expansion plans to the next level, under his strategic leadership of the Finance function. With a sharp focus on driving growth, Chris will ensure the company and its clients are empowered to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Jeremy Bucknell, Codestone co-founder and CEO says, "Chris' experience and obvious acumen complements our leadership team brilliantly and he has a vital role in helping the company grow and flourish. It's unusual to find a CFO with such a wide range of financial experience and key experience in our sector. Chris' strong belief in being a true partner across the business is something I know we will really benefit from." "I'm excited to be part of the Codestone team and believe that good people drive success, which converts to satisfied customers and ultimately a successful business." explains Chris on his new appointment. "I really want to get involved as a business partner and look at the bigger picture. I'm looking forward to not only learning about the efficiencies of the business, but how the business can make a real difference." For over 25 years, the Codestone Group has consistently pioneered modern ERP and cloud database technologies. Today, it is equity backed by FPE Capital and offers award-winning Cloud business technology consulting and delivery of SAP ERP, EPM, Financial Management and Advanced Analytics alongside CCH Tagetik CPM and Microsoft Cloud IT solutions to growing SME, mid-market and large enterprises across the UK. With a combined 700+ customers and 2500+ projects, it is an SAP Partner of the Year for SAP Business One and SAP Cloud ERP in the UK and EMEA North, CCH Tagetik Platinum Partner, and Microsoft Gold Partner. Delivering next-level cloud transformation projects with a beyond go live approach, its primary focus is on customer experience with a 24x7x365 client-first mindset and managed services offering named recently UK Top 50 MSP. For more information, please visit https://www.codestone.net/ View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/codestone-group-taps-chris-powell-as-cfo-to-turbocharge-growth-plans-301795869.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] VTG Awarded Prime Position on $4B Navy PEO C4I CANES Full Production Contract CHANTILLY, Va., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- VTG, an industry-leading provider of force modernization and digital transformation solutions, announced today that it has won a prime position on a multiple-award Department of the Navy contract for the production of the Consolidated Afloat Networks and Enterprise Services (CANES) information warfare platform. CANES is the Navy's program of record to consolidate surface ship and submarine C4ISR networks and infrastructure. The indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract was awarded by PEO C4I and the Tactical Networks Program Office (PMW 160). It has a potential value of $4.1 billion over a ten-year period of performance. VTG won a prime position on a multiple-award Navy contract for the production of the CANES information warfar platform. "The deployment of CANES across the Fleet is critical to achieving distributed warfighting and decision superiority," said John Hassoun, VTG president and CEO. "VTG has installed and integrated CANES aboard numerous warships and submarines since the program's inception. We're proud that the Navy is now asking VTG to also produce CANES, an important recognition of our robust and growing C4ISR modernization capabilities." CANES provides a secure tactical afloat network for Naval and Joint Operations. It leverages a common computing environment and mature cross-domain technologies, reducing network infrastructure footprint and costs, and increasing reliability, security, interoperability, and application hosting. PEO C4I will use the CANES Full Deployment Contract to procure build-to-print CANES production units, kits, modules, components, software, spares, and development items. VTG provides comprehensive modernization services to the Navy. From design, development, and prototyping of emerging technologies to production, installation, integration, and sustainment of combat, weapon, and C4ISR systems, the Company performs full lifecycle engineering across an expansive portfolio of prime contracts with the Navy system commands. About VTG VTG delivers force modernization and digital transformation solutions that expand America's competitive advantage in the modern battlespace. Headquartered in Chantilly, Virginia, VTG provides full lifecycle engineering for naval, aerospace, network, and digital requirements. Whether at sea, in the air, on land, or in cyberspace, VTG delivers Tomorrow's Transformation Today. For more information, visit us at www.VTGdefense.com. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/vtg-awarded-prime-position-on-4b-navy-peo-c4i-canes-full-production-contract-301796140.html SOURCE VTG [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Michael Blackton Appointed as Senior Vice President of Elektrofi's Technical Operations as Elektrofi Continues to Bolster Leadership Bench with Industry Veterans BOSTON, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Today Elektrofi, a biotechnology company focused on drug formulation and delivery innovations, welcomed Michael Blackton as the companys Senior Vice President of Technical Operations. Blackton will be a member of Elektrofis Senior Leadership Team, responsible for Manufacturing, Technical Operations, Global Supply Chain, and Quality for Elektrofis growing portfolio of diverse molecules. As a seasoned leader, Michael is well positioned to ensure the ongoing successful development of partnered programs. Elektrofi focusses on improving administration for a wide range of medicines including monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, and other large molecule drugs. Elektrofis platform technology is designed to overcome the challenges of delivering biologic-based therapies by enabling patients to self-inject therapies at home rather than in a hospital setting. Redefining and rethinking traditional delivery processes for biologics delivery takes precision, persistence and passion, and Mike Blackton brings all three to Elektrofi, said Chase Coffman, CEO and Co-Founder of Elektrofi. We are thrilled to welcome Mike to Elektrofi as we continue to grow and innovate on behalf of patients and communities. Mikes proven and extensive clinical and scientific expertise make him the ideal leader in this crucial role. Blackton brings more than three decades of experience focused on Quality, Operatios, and Manufacturing, with a focus in monoclonal antibodies, small molecules, medical devices, and advanced therapies. Prior to joining Elektrofi, he served as the Senior Vice President of Cell Therapy Manufacturing and DeTIl Product Leader at Nurix Therapeutics and held leadership roles at Adaptimmune, Eli Lilly and Company and Millennium Pharmaceuticals. He has served as a member of the Board of Directors for the Parental Drug Association and is the past Chair and Co-Founder of the ATMP Advisory Board and ATMP Interest Group and past member of the Biopharmaceutical Advisory Board. Michael is a co-contributor to the publication of several PDA Technical Reports relating to operations, product development, and lifecycle practices. I am honored to have joined Elektrofi and to be a part of the culture where the people, science and technology are converging to challenge the status quo of drug delivery, said Blackton. We have a remarkable opportunity to revolutionize how patients receive life changing therapies. Elektrofi has exceptionally high levels of collaboration, accountability, and flawless execution, and I look forward to driving technical operational excellence in partnership with the team and our partners. Blackton earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Biochemistry/Cell Biology from University of California at San Diego and a Master of Business Administration from New York University. About Elektrofi Elektrofi is a biotechnology company focused on improving administration for a wide range of medicines including monoclonal antibodies, therapeutic proteins, and other large molecule drugs. Its breakthrough formulation platform enables stabilized, highly concentrated formulations for subcutaneous administration. The company is using this technology to transform therapies that are administered intravenously, and to enhance injectable products by reducing the volume and frequency of dosing. Elektrofi partners with pharmaceutical companies to jointly develop patient-friendly delivery solutions. Headquartered in Boston, the company is shaping the future of biologics delivery. For more information, visit?www.elektrofi.com or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. CONTACT Paulette Gangemi [email protected] [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] External Threat Landscape Management Co CYFIRMA raises Pre-Series B Funding from Larsen & Toubro and Israel-based OurCrowd CYFIRMA, a leading external threat landscape management co, with this Pre-Series B round, has raised USD 18 million to-date. to-date. Funds raised to be used for product innovation, global market expansion, and brand building. To help customers navigate the increasingly complex threat landscape, CYFIRMA has redefined threat intelligence beyond static data feeds to encompass predictive, contextualized, and actionable insights that enable organizations to gain full visibility of their digital assets, attack surface, and vulnerabilities. Company has built a platform that analyzes threat indicators from multiple sources, including dark net to give actionable insights on imminent attacks, enterprises use the intelligence to mitigate risks across both technology and non-technology domains and stay one step ahead of cyber criminals. SINGAPORE and TOKYO and MUMBAI, India, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- CYFIRMA, a leading external threat landscape management company has raised a Pre-Series B round funding from Israel's most active venture fund OurCrowd and India's multinational conglomerate Larsen & Toubro's L&T Innovation Fund. With this, these firms join CYFIRMA's existing investors Goldman Sachs, Zodius Capital, and Z3 Partners. With the closing of this round, CYFIRMA has raised nearly USD18M to date. The funds raised will be used for product innovation and entering new global markets in North America, Europe and MENA region in addition to growing the existing markets in SEA, including India, Singapore and Japan. The funds will also be utilized for hiring across verticals and in brand building. Kumar Ritesh, Founder and CEO, CYFIRMA, says: "Adding OurCrowd and L&T Innovation Fund to our capital table is exactly what we need to take our company to the next level. We recognize the critical role that Israel plays in the cybersecurity market in delivering groundbreaking technology and OurCrowd has been at the forefront of cybersecurity nnovation, with a rich history of making markets and helping create some of the most successful startups in the industry. By partnering with them, CYFIRMA will benefit from an unparalleled wealth of knowledge and experience, allowing us to continue advancing our platforms." "Larsen & Toubro represents one of the most forward-thinking technology and infrastructure companies. It holds deep expertise in engineering, industrial, construction and IT industries, and is known for delivering innovative products and solutions that include platforms for AI, 5G, smart buildings, and much more. L&T brings strategic value to CYFIRMA and will accelerate our business growth through its market and segment reach as well as domain expertise," he added. To deter the ever-increasing sophisticated cyberattacks, businesses must gain deep insights into the environment to better understand their unique external threat landscape. By combining cyber intelligence with attack surface discovery and digital risk protection, CYFIRMA's cloud native, non-intrusive SaaS platform gives customers predictive, personalized, contextual, outside-in, and multi-layered insights in a single pane of glass. Commenting on the fund raise, Mr R Shankar Raman, CFO & Whole-time Director, L&T, says, "At L&T, we harness technology to address pressing challenges facing various industries in their digital transformation journey and we recognize the critical role cybersecurity plays in this. CYFIRMA has a proven record of helping businesses mitigate potentially crippling attacks so that digital innovation can flourish. It is an excellent example of the type of company our fund was built to support. We are now here to accelerate CYFIRMA's global reach and bring their platform to businesses around the world." Eli Nir, Senior Investment Partner, OurCrowd, says, "At OurCrowd, we are always on the lookout for exciting startups that push the boundaries and pave the way towards a better future for all. We believe in investing in solutions that solve difficult problems, and CYFIRMA has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to this mission. We firmly believe that the team at CYFIRMA has the talent and vision to revolutionize the cybersecurity landscape, and we are eager to provide our support, resources, and funding to help them reach their goals. We are thrilled to be part of this exciting journey, and we look forward to contributing to their growth and success in the years to come." ABOUT CYFIRMA CYFIRMA is an external threat landscape management platform company. We combine cyber intelligence with attack surface discovery and digital risk protection to deliver early warning, personalized, contextual, outside-in, and multi-layered insights. Our cloud-based AI and ML-powered analytics platforms provide the hacker's view with deep insights into the external cyber landscape, helping clients prepare for impending attacks. CYFIRMA is headquartered in Singapore with offices in Japan, India, the US, and the EU. Customers include both government as well as Fortune 500 companies across manufacturing, financial services, retail, industrial products, natural resources, and pharmaceutical industries. Media Contact: Doug Fraim [email protected] Tel: +1 781-291-5664 Guyer Group Anna Koh [email protected] Tel: +65 94892177 CYFIRMA Inc. View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/external-threat-landscape-management-co-cyfirma-raises-pre-series-b-funding-from-larsen--toubro-and-israel-based-ourcrowd-301795667.html SOURCE CYFIRMA [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Symmons Launches 3-Tier Stocking Program VISIBILITY INTO AVAILABILITY BRAINTREE, Mass., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Symmons, a leading manufacturer of high-quality shower valves, faucets, control valves, and bath accessories today announced the launch of its new three-tier stocking program, which gives customers full Visibility into Availability of its entire product line. The program clearly defines products into three distinct tiers: ReadyStock, Standard Product, and Special Order. Symmons President John Graves says, "With all of the uncertainty around shipping delays and product availability these days, we felt we owed it to our customers to give them clear, accurate information about product availability so they can plan their projects effectively." Launched in 2020, ReadyStock is the highly successful initiative that includes thousands of the most popular and best-selling products from Symmons. ReadyStock products are always in stock and ship within three days, regardless of quantity. All ReadyStock products are clearly indicated as such on the Symmons Product Search pages on symmons.com. The second tier is defined as Standard Product, and it encompasses products that are generally in stock and will ship within three days but may have varying available quantities based on demand. The third tier is Special Order, which covers unique and niche products that are typicaly built to order based on the customer's unique specifications. This new tiered structure offers plumbing contractors, engineers, designers, and homeowners full insight into shipping expectations, which is unprecedented in the industry. "The added advantage of our new stocking program is that virtually all of our most popular and top-sellers are now part of our ReadyStock program, so those products will always ship within three days," says Tom Hubbard, Chief Marketing Officer for Symmons. "We just recently added 1800 new products to ReadyStock, and we fully expect to continue adding the key items that our customers need and want." For information on ReadyStock, visit the ReadyStock page on symmons.com. Full details on the Symmons Stocking Program can be found on the Stocking Program page on symmons.com. ABOUT SYMMONS INDUSTRIES: Established in Boston in 1939, Symmons invented the SafetyMix pressure-balancing shower valve, and has been a leading manufacturer of high-quality, durable shower valves, faucets, control valves, and other plumbing products ever since. In 1968, Symmons created the Temptrol pressure-balancing shower valve, designed entirely of solid brass and stainless steel to offset potential scalding temperatures when water system pressures fluctuate. Manufactured in Massachusetts, the Temptrol has become the benchmark for safe and consistent water temperatures in residential, commercial, and institutional bath environments. The latest innovation from Symmons is Evolution, a complete Building Management System that uses a network of non-invasive, wireless sensors to give you full visibility into your building's water systems, alerting you to temperature and humidity issues, flow, wasted water, excessive usage, and leaks. Symmons offers more than 9000 quality products for the plumbing industry, crafted for durability and reliability, and backed by industry-best warranties and a Customer Service team based in the U.S. Learn more at www.symmons.com. Symmons, SafetyMix, and Temptrol are trademarks of Symmons Industries, registered in the U.S. and Canada. ReadyStock is pending in U.S. View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/symmons-launches-3-tier-stocking-program-301796802.html SOURCE Symmons Industries, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Polly Appoints Parvesh Sahi as Chief Revenue Officer Polly, a leading provider of innovative mortgage capital markets technology, is pleased to announce that Parvesh Sahi has joined the company as Chief Revenue Officer (CRO). Sahi's appointment comes as Polly continues to experience record growth and adoption across the mortgage landscape. As CRO, Sahi will be involved in all aspects of go-to-market activity and ongoing customer success, playing a vital role in corporate strategy, business development, sales, account management, and the continued evolution of Polly's partner ecosystem. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005016/en/ Parvesh Sahi, CRO at Polly (Photo: Business Wire) Sahi joins Polly from ICE Mortgage Technology, where he spent the last 11 years in various executive roles leading sales, strategy, client management, and business development teams across the Ellie Mae, MERS, and Simplifile brands. During this time, Sahi established the largest partner ecosystem in the industry and helped grow revenue to over $1B. He also played an active role in helping to identify and execute on multiple key acquisitions over his tenure. Throughout his impressive career, Sahi has remained committed to driving mortgage innovation that delivers a superior customer, partner, and borrower experience - a passion he will continue to advance at Polly. "One of the many things that attracted me to Polly is the company's genuine commitment to product execution and delivering on client expectations to meet the evolving needs of lenders, and the industry as a whole," said Sahi. "Powered b true next-generation and best-in-class technology, as well as intuitive software with a unique cloud-native approach, Polly is truly modernizing the mortgage capital markets space and innovating at a speed and scale that far surpasses legacy incumbents. This is process transformation that we have not experienced in this industry segment for more than two decades, if ever. The figure of 50+ feature and product releases per year speaks for itself and demonstrates the team's agility and responsiveness to meet customer demands." "The addition of Parvesh to our team represents another defining moment for Polly," explained Adam Carmel, Founder and CEO of Polly. "I have no doubt that he will be instrumental in institutionalizing and scaling key areas of our business and equipping Polly for even greater future success as we experience accelerated growth. Of course, no matter how much Polly grows, we are first and foremost committed to constantly delivering value to Polly's customer partners and putting lenders' needs first. We are able to achieve this by innovating at a speed that is unmatched in the industry, but also holding our service-oriented DNA as a constant. Parvesh's expertise will be central to this objective. I have known Parvesh for years and could not be more excited about the opportunity to partner with him." Since its launch in 2019, Polly has continued to turn industry heads as a pioneer of mortgage innovation. Representative of this, former Fannie Mae executive and industry veteran Andrew Bon Salle and former Ellie Mae CEO and mortgage industry visionary Jonathan Corr both joined Polly's board of directors in 2022. Sahi will attend the MBA Secondary and Capital Markets Conference in May. To request an on-site meeting at this event or to learn more about the innovations that are re-shaping the traditional pricing and loan delivery process, please visit https://polly.io/. About Polly Polly is transforming the mortgage industry with its modern, data-driven capital markets ecosystem. Banks, credit unions, and mortgage lenders nationwide trust Polly's revolutionary Product and Pricing Engine (PPE), Loan Trading Exchange, and actionable data and analytics to automate and optimize the entire capital markets value chain, helping their secondary teams operate faster, smarter, and more profitably. Polly was founded in 2019 by a seasoned team of technology and mortgage experts and is headquartered in San Francisco, California. To learn more, follow Polly on LinkedIn or visit www.polly.io. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005016/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] BGA Partners with Pepper to Launch the Island's First Mobile Ordering Solution Bermuda General Agency (BGA), a leading foodservice distributor for Bermuda, has joined forces with Pepper to revolutionize their business with the help of a cutting-edge mobile ordering solution. BGA Wholesale is committed to delivering the best products and services to their customers. In an ever-evolving industry, BGA felt it was important to invest in a streamlined customer-facing experience to deliver the greatest value to chefs and restaurants. By partnering with Pepper, BGA has taken a significant step towards achieving that goal, and they look forward to continuing to innovate and grow. "We are thrilled to be working with Pepper to bring our customers the latest in mobile ordering technology," said John Tomlinson, CEO, BGA. "Pepper's platform has allowed us to streamline our operations and offer a more efficient and convenient ordering experience for our customers." BGA has been a member of UniPro, one of the largest foodservice buying organizations in the world, since 1994. As a member of UniPro, BGA has access to a vast network of resources and expertise that has helped them stay competitive in a rapidly changing market. Pepper is the preferred eCommerce provider of UniPro Foodservice, and the partnership with Pepper has allowed BGA to take their business to the next level by offering their customers a sophisticated mobile ordering experience. With Pepper's platform, BGA customers can easily browse product catalogs, place orders, and communicate with their BGA Sales Rep - all from their mobile devices. Since their official launch in February 2023, BGA customers have placed nearly 1,000 orders through the app, and within just six weeks after launch, the average basket size increased by over 37%. "We are VERY happy with the roll-out process and how quickly and efficiently the Pepper team brought us onboard, said Aaron Bloom, Division Manager, BGA. "Getting accounts set-up, pricing set, and displays configured has been a breeze. It is truly refreshing to find a product that is designed for our line of business- it does eveything we could have wished for, is user friendly, and isn't just patchwork over an existing ERP that was designed for a different business need. It is astounding what we have accomplished in so little time." Pepper's mission is to empower food distributors to provide the best digital experience for their customers. Their full-service online ordering catalog and payments platform enables food distributors to achieve impressive business outcomes such as +23% sales growth, 93% buyer retention, 25% lift in sales rep productivity, and meaningful reduction in DSO cycle time. The Pepper team are ERP integration experts, supporting all food verticals, including c-store, broadline, seafood, produce, and all others. They are dedicated to improving the ordering experience and relationship between food distributors and their customers. "Partnering with BGA has been an exciting opportunity for us," said Erin Graham, Vice President of Operations & Strategy, Pepper. "We are thrilled to be working with a company that is so committed to delivering the best products and services to their customers. Our mobile ordering platform has helped BGA improve their customer experience and increase their sales, and we look forward to continuing to support their growth." BGA customers can now download the BGA Specialty Food Service mobile app from the App Store or Google Play Store, or log in from any device at bgawholesale.pepr.app to access the full catalog and place orders with just a few clicks. About Bermuda General Agency BGA Wholesale Distributor is a Bermudian institution that has been serving the island since 1922, starting as the Bermuda General Agency Limited and later forming the wholesale arm. The company prides itself on bringing quality merchandise and professional service to retailers and vendors throughout the island. BGA's offers an impressive and reputable product mix and operates a warehouse facility and fleet that delivers products to virtually every supermarket, drug store, hotel, and guesthouse in Bermuda. About Pepper Pepper is a leading e-commerce platform built for food distributors that is easy and intuitive for their customers to use. Today, clients across the US and Canada use Pepper to power their e-commerce experience for thousands of restaurants, grocery stores, and convenience stores. For more information, visit www.usepepper.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005064/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of North End Re (Cayman) SPC AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A- (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Rating (Long-Term ICR) of "a-" (Excellent) of North End Re (Cayman) SPC (NER Cayman) (Cayman Islands). The outlook of these Credit Ratings (ratings) is stable. The ratings reflect NER Cayman's balance sheet strength, which AM Best assesses as very strong, as well as its adequate operating performance, neutral business profile and appropriate enterprise risk management. The ratings also reflect NER Cayman's execution of its business plan, which includes maintaining a favorable risk-adjusted capitalization, as measured by Best's Capital Adequacy Ratio (BCAR). In 2021, NER Cayman executed a reinsurance transaction with American Equity Investment Life Holding Company [NYSE: AEL] (AEL), under which NER Cayman agreed to assume up to $10 billion of annuity products issued by American Equity Investment Life Insurance Company, a subsidiary of AEL. As of year-end 2022, the management of this business has produced favorable results with NER Cayman reporting $195 million in net income. NER Cayman's parent, Brookfield Reinsurance Ltd. [NYSE, TSX: BNRE] (Brookfield Reinsurance), is a publicly traded company focused on providing capital-based solutions and insurance and reinsurance services to individuals and institutions. Brookfield Reinsurance seeks capital-intensive business to leverage its asset management and sourcing capabilities. In August 2021, Brookfield Reinsurance announced an agreement to acquire American National Group, Inc. in a cash transaction valued at approximately $5.1 billion, whichclosed in May 2022. NER Cayman geographically complements its sister company, North End Re Ltd., which also began its reinsurance operations in 2021. The company has another sister company, Brookfield Annuity Company, that provides pension risk transfer solutions in Canada. This press release relates to Credit Ratings that have been published on AM Best's website. For all rating information relating to the release and pertinent disclosures, including details of the office responsible for issuing each of the individual ratings referenced in this release, please see AM Best's Recent Rating Activity web page. For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings. For information on the proper use of Best's Credit Ratings, Best's Performance Assessments, Best's Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best's Ratings & Assessments. AM Best is a global credit rating agency, news publisher and data analytics provider specializing in the insurance industry. Headquartered in the United States, the company does business in over 100 countries with regional offices in London, Amsterdam, Dubai, Hong Kong, Singapore and Mexico City. For more information, visit www.ambest.com. Copyright 2023 by A.M. Best Rating Services, Inc. and/or its affiliates. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005673/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] First American by Deluxe Again Named Top 20 U.S. Merchant Acquirer by The Nilson Report In its annual ranking of the largest merchant acquirers in the United States, The Nilson Report has again included First American by Deluxe in the Top 20, placing the company at No. 19 based on Mastercard and Visa card processing volume. First American's total processing volume comprises Mastercard/Visa/Discover/American Express and PIN debit transactions which grew to more than $40 billion in 2022, up from $37 billion the prior year. This growth was fueled by the company's continued focus on financial institutions and an expansion into verticals such as fleet services, an area in which First American is one of six processors authorized to serve this market entirely in-house. "We are honored to be recognized again this year as a leading merchant acquirer," said Neil Randel, CEO of First American and Managing Director of Merchant Services for Deluxe. "With a mission to become the premier payment technology for small- to mid-size businesses, and with the incredible distribution, brand trust, and resources provided by Deluxe, this achievement is a testament to the power of our partnership. Together, we are able to offer unparalleled service and support to our customers, and we look forward to continuing to lead the way in payment technology." "As a leading payment technology company, Deluxe's focus on providing integrated payment solutions to businesses of all sizes has allowed us to achieve continued successin the merchant acquiring space," said Michael Reed, President of Payments at Deluxe. "Our unique platform, combined with our commitment to exceptional customer service, has enabled us to embed our capabilities into our customer's platforms, making their lives easier and allowing them to focus on growing their business. We look forward to continuing to deliver innovative payment solutions to our customers." About First American Payment Systems by Deluxe First American by Deluxe, headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, is a global payment technology company providing leading integrated payment solutions to nearly 155,000 merchants throughout the Americas and Europe. First American provides partner and merchant payment solutions that include a robust set of in-store, online and mobile payment solutions paired with the latest in payment security, across a wide range of verticals. Backed by award-winning customer service, merchants and partners have access to our U.S. based Customer Call Center 24/7/365. For more information, visit http://www.first-american.net. About Deluxe Deluxe, a Trusted Payments and Data Company, champions business so communities thrive. Our solutions help businesses pay, get paid, and grow. For more than 100 years, Deluxe customers have relied on our solutions and platforms at all stages of their lifecycle, from start-up to maturity. Our powerful scale supports millions of small businesses, thousands of vital financial institutions and hundreds of the world's largest consumer brands, while processing approximately $3 trillion in annual payment volume. Our reach, scale and distribution channels position Deluxe to be our customers' most trusted business partner. To learn how we can help your business, visit us at www.deluxe.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005613/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Photo taken on Jan. 13, 2021 shows the headquarters building of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Li Xin) WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun on Wednesday urged multilateral development banks (MDBs) to "strengthen their ability to operate holistically as a coordinated system" on climate finance. "If humanity's moonshot to net-zero is to be successful, then coordination and collaboration in climate finance are mission critical," Jin said in the opening keynote at an event themed "MDB Responses in the Polycrisis Era," held by the Rockefeller Foundation. Noting that firm and effective action must be taken to drive the transition full throttle towards net-zero, Jin put forward three proposals to strengthen the multilateral system in his speech. The first is to create "an institutionalized forum" for international financial institutions to discuss progress and actions on climate finance, he said. MDBs holding a "joint annual meeting every two years" in place of their individual annual meeting comes second, said Jin, adding that "we could target 2025, the year that global emissions must peak to meet our 1.5 degree Celsius warming pathway, as the year that MDBs come together to deepen their coordination on climate action." The third idea is to create "a marketplace" for climate projects, he said. "This would be a platform that matches financing for technical assistance and projects. The AIIB is already working on this and we welcome engagement with other partners." By citing research from the Climate Policy Initiative, Jin also said that the current work needs to be further improved. "If humanity's effort to limit global warming to within 1.5 degrees is to be successful, climate financing must grow to 4.5 to 5 trillion U.S. dollars annually by 2030, up from 653 billion dollars in 2020," Jin said. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, "while sufficient capital and liquidity exist globally to meet this task, current financial flows are 3 to 6 times lower than what is needed, particularly for developing economies," he said. In 2021, climate finance from major MDBs totaled 82 billion dollars, of which over 60 percent went to low- and middle-income economies. However, humanity's colossal climate financing needs far exceed the fiscal capacity of governments and the balance sheets of MDBs. Jin said the AIIB has set a "very ambitious target" of reaching an at least 50 percent climate finance share by 2025, cumulating to about 50 billion dollars by the end of this decade. In 2022, it delivered a record 2.4 billion dollars in climate finance, or 56 percent of its total financing, reaching its climate finance goal three years earlier. Underlining the importance of the private sector, he said that "by 2030, our aim is that 50 percent of all our financing will be directed toward the private sector. We are investing in opportunities with the potential to leverage even greater amounts of private capital toward green infrastructure investment." Meanwhile, the AIIB took the G20 Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) report's recommendations "very seriously," Jin said, adding that "we have been actively engaging our Board on the implications of the CAF review recommendations and our progress in implementing them." Jin concluded by saying that the AIIB stands ready to work with relevant parties to ensure that the actions taken today meet the challenges of the future. "While we may indeed be living in the era of the polycrisis, we must remember that the future is not as uncertain as the present. The path ahead is clear. The climate financing obstacles ahead are tough, but they are not insurmountable. Reform of the multilateral system and the international financial system should be welcomed, and it must be ongoing," said Jin. [April 13, 2023] WaveFront Celebrates $52,000 Raised at Charity Art Event Benefiting the Ukrainian World Foundation WaveFront is delighted to announce the success of last month's charity art event, held in support of the Ukrainian World Foundation. The event exceeded all expectations, raising an incredible $52,000 thanks to the passion, dedication, and generosity of everyone involved. The charity art event attracted a diverse and enthusiastic audience who eagerly bid on the stunning art pieces, shared their support for the cause, and contributed to the life-changing work of the Ukrainian World Foundation. The success of this event would not have been possible without the unwavering commitment of all those who participated, and WaveFront extends its deepest appreciation for the difference each person made. WaveFront would also like to express its immense gratitude to the Elaine Fleck Gallery and the talented artists who graciously donated their exceptional artwork for this event. Their generosity and dedication to making a positive impact are genuinely inspiring. As we celebrate this collective achievement, we encourage everyone to continue supporting the Ukrainian World Foundation and its vital mission. To stay informed about future events and opportunities to contribute, please visit the foundation's website at www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/uwfcanada WaveFront sincerely thanks everyone who attended, donated, and shared in the success of the charity art event. We look forward to future opportunities to collaborate and make a difference in the world together. About WaveFront: WaveFront Global Asset Management Corp. is a privately-owned global asset management company based in Toronto, Canada. WaveFront's highly experienced team of investment professionals, bolstered by research relationships with faculty at the University of Waterloo and Princeton University, help us seek to deliver consistent and stable returns through various market and economic conditions. Learn more at www.wavefrontgam.com About the Ukrainian World Foundation: The Ukrainian World Foundation, in cooperation with the Ukrainian World Congress, is providing emergency medical and humanitarian support to the brave civilian volunteers in Ukraine as they fight for freedom. UWF is proudly supplying volunteers in Ukraine items such as medic trauma packs, food, clothing and individual first aid kits. Learn more at www.ukrainianworldcongress.org/uwfcanada View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005691/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Cushman & Wakefield Appoints Noelle Perkins as General Counsel & Corporate Secretary Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK), a leading global commercial real estate services firm, has appointed Noelle Perkins as Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Corporate Secretary, effective July 1. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005580/en/ Noelle Perkins (Photo: Business Wire) In this role, Perkins will provide strategic advice, guidance, oversight and support to the firm's global business and operations. She will lead Cushman & Wakefield's global legal function, playing a critical role in implementing governance and risk management practices for the firm. "We are very pleased to welcome Noelle to Cushman & Wakefield to lead our corporate legal strategy and provide counsel on a range of areas. She is a pragmatic business executive whose public company and operational experience will benefit our firm," said Cushman & Wakefield CEO John Forrester. "I am confient that Noelle will be a strong leader to our exceptional legal team, enabling our firm to continue to uphold the highest level of integrity in all that we do to make an impact for our people, clients, communities and planet." Perkins joins Cushman & Wakefield from Univar Solutions, where she served as Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief Risk Officer & Secretary. Prior to Univar Solutions, Perkins served as Chief Counsel for the Oilseeds Processing segment of Archer Daniels Midland Company, as Deputy General Counsel for John Bean Technologies Corporation, and as a litigation associate with Bell, Boyd & Lloyd, which is now K&L Gates. Based in Chicago, Perkins holds a Juris Doctorate from the University of Illinois and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Northwestern University. "I look forward to joining Cushman & Wakefield and helping the firm and its people expertly navigate the commercial real estate landscape, especially in this time of economic uncertainty, heightened attention to environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations, and the opportunities these challenges create," said Perkins. About Cushman & Wakefield Cushman & Wakefield (NYSE: CWK) is a leading global commercial real estate services firm that delivers exceptional value for real estate occupiers and owners. Cushman & Wakefield is among the largest real estate services firms with approximately 52,000 employees in over 400 offices and approximately 60 countries. In 2022, the firm had revenue of $10.1 billion across core services of property, facilities and project management, leasing, capital markets, and valuation and other services. To learn more, visit www.cushmanwakefield.com or follow @CushWake on Twitter. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005580/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] White Coffee Unveils Flavored Coffee Blends Inspired by Entenmann's Baked Goods LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- White Coffee commemorates over 10 years of private labelling and licensing coffee sales with Entenmann's, the NY-based bakery brand owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA. As part of that celebration, White Coffee is once again teaming up with Entenmann's to release a new "Breakfast Blend" variety and nine flavored coffees like "Chocolate Donut" and "Party Cake" to bring a sweet experience home to customers. White Coffee works with the finest coffee growers around the world, selecting only 100% Arabica beans and roasting them in small batches. The family-owned business centered in Astoria, NY traces its origins to patriarch David White who established a foodservice coffee business in Manhattan in 1939; his daughter-in-law, Carole White, and her two sons, Jonathan and Gregory, manage the business today. Since 2017, White Coffee has been recognized annually as one of the top licensees in the world by License! Global Magazine, the pemier publication in the licensing industry. The brand continues to partner with like-minded baked goods brand, Entenmann'swhich also has New York City rootsstarting in Brooklyn over 100 years ago before moving to Bay Shore, Long Island. Entenmann's evolved to garner a national presence as a beloved brand of baked sweets, with classic products like Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donuts, Entenmann's Crumb Coffee Cake and Entenmann's Raspberry Danish Twist that complement a morning coffee perfectly. "The relationship does not succeed just through inspired coffee flavors and convenient packaging," says Jonathan White, Executive Vice President. "It is aided by a natural connection between a brand's customer and their desire for a special coffee experience they can associate with the brand. That's what Entenmann's and White Coffee have found together over these years." The distinctive coffee blends supplied by White Coffee are available in 10 oz. bags and single serve pods in boxes of various sizes. White Coffee also supplies Entenmann's creamy, smooth hot chocolate in single-serve packaging. The Entenmann's hot beverage selections will be available at retailers and online. All products can be found in various retail chains across the United States. Brand Central is the exclusive licensing agency for Bimbo Bakeries USA for the Entenmann's and Little Bites brands. About Entenmann's Bakery Entenmann's history dates back more than 120 years to 1898 when William Entenmann opened his first bakery in Brooklyn, New York. By the 1960s, the company was selling delicious donuts throughout the New York metropolitan area; by the 1970s it began selling nationwide. Today, Entenmann's markets over 100 different baked goods in the U.S., producing more than one billion donuts annually one of which is the #1-best-selling classic Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donut introduced in 1973. About White Coffee White Coffee Corporation is based in Long Island City, NY and is a third-generation, certified woman-owned business, in operation since 1939. As a core part of its coffee offerings, White Coffee is proud of its collaboration with prominent licensed brands. White's licensing program includes other famous brands like Jim Beam, Harry & David and Kahlua. These coffee products are available in retail outlets throughout the United States, on-line at www.whitecoffee.com or call (800) 221-0140 for more information. About Brand Central Brand Central LLC is a premiere global brand consultancy that provides comprehensive business solutions in the areas of brand extensions, trend intelligence, and manufacturer representation to some of the world's most recognized brands, including Mars Wrigley, Kraft Heinz and Mister Rogers Neighborhood just to name a few. Their mission is to help clients unlock the full potential of their brands to enhance value while generating substantial revenue. For additional information please contact Ross Misher at 310.268.1231 or visit www.brandcentralgroup.com . CONTACT: Mary Beth Kramer Kramer Consulting (215) 431-3946 View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-coffee-unveils-flavored-coffee-blends-inspired-by-entenmanns-baked-goods-301797105.html SOURCE White Coffee Corporation [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Investor Alert: Paytradepro and Storagetemasek Be an informed investor - Don't be fooled by fraudsters misrepresenting themselves TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada (New SRO) is warning Canadian investors not to be fooled by Paytradepro or Storagetemasek. On their websites, https://www.paytradepro.net/ , and https://storagetemasek.com/ , the companies falsely claim to be members of the former Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada (IIROC) and the Canadian Investor Protection Fund (CIPF). Neither Paytradepro nor Storagetemasek are members of New SRO or CIPF and were never registered with IIROC to sell forex or crypto assets, or any other investment products. Paytradepro and Storagetemasek accounts are not protected by CIPF. All investors must be informed and ask themselves important questions before purchasing higher-risk investment products that do not trade on stock exchanges. Investors should know that unregulated crypto-asset trading platforms are different from regulated marketplaces and may be missing key investor protections. Registered investment firms are regulated, and individuals must meet our high standards and deal fairly, honestly and in good faith with Canadian investors. We urge Canadian investors to exercise caution when dealing with non-registered firms. Investors should confirm investment firms are registered with New SRO, formerly IIROC, or with the Canadian Securities Administrators (CSA) . Investors should also check the background, qualifications and any disciplinary history of investment advisors registered with New SRO by checking the free AdvisorReport for investment dealers , or the CSA's National Registration Search for mutual fund dealers. If you believe you have been a victim of this or a similar scam, contact your local police, your provincial securities commission , and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre . About New SRO New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada (New SRO) is the national self-regulatory organization that oversees all investment dealers, mutual fund dealers and trading activity on Canada's debt and equity marketplaces. New SRO is carrying on the regulatory functions of the Investment Industry Regulatory Organization of Canada and the Mutual Fund Dealers Association of Canada, and is committed to the protection of investors, providing efficient and consistent regulation, and building Canadians' trust in financial regulation and the people managing their investments. For more information, visit www.newselfregulatoryorganizationofcanada.ca . Please direct all other inquiries to our Complaints & Inquiries team: 1-877-442-4322 (Canada/US), 800-5555-2323 (Outside Canada/US), or by completing our Secure Contact Form SOURCE New Self-Regulatory Organization of Canada (New SRO) [April 13, 2023] Coursera to Announce First Quarter 2023 Financial Results Coursera, Inc. (NYSE: COUR) today announced it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 after the U.S. stock market closes on Thursday, April 27, 2023. The company will issue the results via a press release with accompanying consolidated financial information before holding a conference call broadcast at 2:00 p.m. Pacific Time (5:00 p.m. Eastern Time). Conference Call Details A live, audio-only webcast of the conference call and earnings release materials will be available to the public on the company's investor relations website at investor.coursera.com. Participants may register in advance, and an archived replay will be accessible in the same location for one year. Disclosure Information In compliance with disclosure obligations under Regulation FD, Coursera announces material information to the public through a variety of means, including filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), press releases, company blog posts, public conference calls, and webcasts, as well as via Coursera's investor relations website. About Coursera Coursera was launched in 2012 by two Stanford Computer Science professors, Andrew Ng and Daphne Koller, with a mission to provide universal access to world-class learning. It is now one of the largest online learning platforms in the world, with 118 million registered learners as of December 31, 2022. Coursera partners with over 300 leading university and industry partners to offer a broad catalog of content and credentials, including courses, Specializations, Professional Certificates, Guided Projects, and bachelor's and master's degrees. Institutions around the world use Coursera to upskill and reskill their employees, citizens, and students in fields such as data science, technology, and business. Coursera became a Delaware public benefit corporation and a B Corp in February 2021. Source Code: COUR-IR View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005605/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] UNITED24 ambassador Mark Hamill met online with the Ukrainian military: "I am a pretend warrior in the movies. But you are the real heroes of a real war" American actor Mark Hamill, known for his role as the Jedi, Luke Skywalker, held an online meeting with Ukraine's defenders. The UNITED24 ambassador listened to their stories, discussed their need for UAVs -- including RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones, for which he is raising funds, and said he'd love to visit to Ukraine after the war. KYIV, Ukraine and MALIBU, Calif., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Video and Image (credit: UNITED24 fundraising platform) "So first of all I have to tell you how humbled I am to meet you all. I am a pretend warrior in the movies. But you are the real heroes of a real war. We look forward to your victory sooner rather than later, but we are with you as long as it takes. Even if I am talking about something else when I go out to promote this movie or that, I always make sure I mention this and ever mention the fact that I'm working, in any way I can, to help the Ukrainian goal of winning the war. We are winning. Don't doubt that for a second.Everybody said that Ukraine would fold in four days. Remember that? And then you showed the world; 'Don't mess with Ukraine'," Hamill told the military. Hamill continues to raise funds for RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones; the actor has already raised over $705,000. During the call, the Ukrainian defenders expressed their gratitude to Mark for his help, stressing that reconnaissance drones help save both military and civilian lives. The meeting was attended by representatives of the 92nd Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Ivan Sirko, 45th Separate Artillery Brigade, 98th Aerial Reconnaissance Battalion, 47th Brigade Magura, 21st Separate Battalion Sarmat, 25th Separate Airborne Brigade, Omega Special Forces, 120th Reconnaissance Battalion and 93rd Brigade Kholodny Yar. "My first drone, DJI Mavic. The first video I shot on it was my honeymoon with my wife on Sri Lanka Island. The last video I shot on it was russian columns invading my city of Irpin. But this last video actually changed a lot in the fight, because we saw how many of them were going at us. We prepared everything that we had, and they didn't have this drone.They didn't know there were just 30 people in position.There were about 26 armored vehicles from their side, and about 200 of infantry. And they stopped after the first burned vehicle as they didn't know how many of us were there. If they had known, they'd have probably pushed further, but they didn't. I would like to say thank you. With your help, we will get more and more advanced drones," said a member of the military with the call sign 'Romashka' (Daisy). There were a lot of Star Wars saga fans among defenders present at the meeting. Hamill noted that his character did not have any special skills; he was just a farmer, but, following the call of his heart, he did the right thing not for himself, but for people. Therefore, in Mark's opinion, it is not so difficult to see parallels between Ukrainians as rebels and Russia as an evil empire. "I'd love to visit Ukraine when the war is over, when you're back to normal, when you're happy again," the actor admitted. In conclusion, he wished all the defenders: "May the Force be with each and every one of you." Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053850/UNITED24.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053845/UNITED24.jpg View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/united24-ambassador-mark-hamill-met-online-with-the-ukrainian-military--i-am-a-pretend-warrior-in-the-movies-but-you-are-the-real-heroes-of-a-real-war-301797214.html [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Marcus & Millichap, Inc. to Report First Quarter 2023 Financial Results on Friday, May 5, 2023 Marcus & Millichap, Inc. (NYSE: MMI), a leading national brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing and research and advisory services, announced today it will report its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2023 on Friday, May 5, 2023, before the market open. The Company will host a webcast and a conference call the same day to discuss the results at 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The call will be hosted by Hessam Nadji, President and Chief Executive Officer and Steve DeGennaro, Chief Financial Officer. WEBCAST INFORMATION A live webcast of the call will be accessible through the Investor Relations section of Marcus & Millichap's website at www.MarcusMillichap.com and will be archived upon completion of the cll. The Company encourages use of the webcast due to potential extended wait times to access the conference call via dial-in. CONFERENCE CALL For those unable to access the webcast, callers from the United States and Canada should dial 1-877-407-9208 ten minutes prior to the scheduled call time. International callers should dial 1-201-493-6784. REPLAY INFORMATION For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a telephonic replay of the call will also be available from 1:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 5, 2023 through 11:59 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, May 19, 2023 by dialing 1-844-512-2921 in the United States and Canada or 1-412-317-6671 internationally and entering passcode 13737358. About Marcus & Millichap, Inc. Marcus & Millichap, Inc. is a leading national brokerage firm specializing in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research and advisory services. As of December 31, 2022, the Company had 1,904 investment sales and financing professionals in 81 offices who provide investment brokerage and financing services to sellers and buyers of commercial real estate. The Company also offers market research, consulting and advisory services to our clients. Marcus & Millichap closed 12,272 transactions in 2022, with a sales volume of approximately $86.3 billion. For additional information, please visit www.MarcusMillichap.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005774/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Canadore College launches its Clean Water Initiative with the opening of its Water Teaching Lodge NORTH BAY, ON, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Canadore College is taking another step on its journey to address the systemic issues facing Indigenous communities and the challenges they encounter in delivering clean drinking water to their citizens. Today, the College celebrated the grand opening of its new Water Teaching Lodge. Canadore College in North Bay Ontario launches Clean Water Initiative with the opening of its Water Teaching Lodge "The Water Teaching Lodge will provide space for our students and community members to access Indigenous knowledge and participate in ceremony," said Judy Manitowabi, Director, First Peoples' Centre. "The opportunity to learn and share stories with a focus on the significance of water will remain a priority. Water is life, and is a living being with its own spirit and must be respected." The Lodge was made possible through funding from the Government of Canada's Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario (FedNor). It is located at Canadore's College Drive Campus and is linked to The Village, the School of Indigenous Studies, the School of Environmental Studies, and the Innovation Centre for Advanced Manufacturing and Prototyping(ICAMP). "The Water Teaching Lodge is an essential part of the Clean Water Initiative," said Carly Renaud, Manager, Indigenous Research and Development. "It will create space at Canadore College to support in-person and hybrid learning that explores Indigenous teachings, technologies, and land-based research practices relating to water protection. Indigenous knowledge holders, language speakers, elders, and Indigenous research faculty who can offer foundational cultural and historical knowledge will guide this work." The Water Teaching Lodge has been given the Anishinaabemowin name of Mshibizhiwgamig, which means Great Lynx Lodge. Mshibizhiw, the Great Lynx, is a water protection spirit who lives in lakes and underground rivers. The spirit resembles a great feline with horns but is always described as being a reptile. To the Anishinaabe people, Mshibizhiw is greatly respected because it provides medicine and protection. The Lodge and the construction of an operational water treatment facility on campus will provide a new approach to clean water and technology that prioritizes Indigenous teachings about water. The Lodge will create a space from which learners, partners, and Indigenous communities can access educational tools and increase their understanding of water from an Indigenous worldview. "Canadore has an obligation to be a centre for teaching and learning that ensures our students are connected with issues in the real world," said Shawn Chorney, Vice President, Strategic Infrastructure, Indigenous and Learner Services. "The Lodge is a collaboration between Canadore and the private sector to be a catalyst for change. We need to offer new, custom solutions for water so we're not perpetuating existing challenges." The Clean Water Initiative Advisory Council (CWIAC) is comprised of Indigenous community members, Indigenous water operators, and Canadore employees. The CWIAC will help to ensure that the project stays rooted in the needs of the communities and adheres to First Nations' practices involving water. Canadore College trains people through applied learning, leadership and innovation. It provides access to over 80 full-time quality programs and has outstanding faculty and provides success services to students from nearly 400 Canadian communities and 15 international countries. The College, its students, and alumni add $402.5 million to the Nipissing Parry Sound service area economy. Approximately 1,000 students graduate from Canadore each year, and they join 60,000 alumni working across the globe. Canadore receives less than 50 per cent of its traditional funding from the provincial Ministry of Colleges and Universities and relies on its own innovation and entrepreneurial endeavours and generous donors for the balance. SOURCE Canadore College [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] ITS Expands Geographic Footprint Through Acquisition of Five Managed IT Services Companies TMCnet News Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS), a portfolio company of Tower Arch Capital, has acquired five managed IT services companies in different regions, including Granite Computer Solutions, BrightWire Networks, Ox Power Computing Service, ProTechnical, and A Leap Ahead IT, in partnership with the companies' founders. ITS is an IT services company based in Las Vegas that provides a range of technology solutions to businesses of all sizes. Tower Arch Capital, a private equity firm based in Salt Lake City, Utah, acquired ITS in 2018. Each of the acquired companies provides managed IT services in their respective geographies, expanding ITS's geographic footprint in the Western United States. The partnership between ITS and these companies is expected to lead to significant expansion for ITS in the Western United States. Tom Andrulis, CEO of ITS, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that the priority of the collective team is to continue providing best-in-class IT services to customers. He also mentioned that the company is well-capitalized with the support of Tower Arch Capital to continue growth through acquisition as well as investing in new and existing locations and services. Todd Whitley, CEO of BrightWire Networks, added that the partnership with ITS is thrilling and that the two companies share a like-minded approach to their work. Rick Thomas, Founder of ProTechnical, echoed Whitley's sentiment and expressed his excitement about launching into the next phase of growth together. The terms of the transactions were not disclosed, but financing for the transactions was provided by Deerpath Capital. Advisors for ITS included Holland & Hart LLP, BDO USA LLP, and Farrell Advisory. Edited by Greg Tavarez [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 13, 2023] Global Mass Transportation Security Market Opportunities Report 2023: Digitization is Leading to the Development of New Solutions to Improve Passenger Safety and Convenience DUBLIN, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Mass Transportation Security Growth Opportunities" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The study provides insight into the different types of physical and digital security systems being deployed by governments and operators for the safety and security of public transportation infrastructures. Cities across the world are becoming bigger and more congested, resulting in an increasing demand for efficient public transport. Governments are making heavy investments to reduce congestion in cities and provide citizens with environment-friendly mass transportation options. This increased spending on mass transit infrastructure has created a favorable environment for the security industry. The digitization of the rail and metro industry is leading to the development of new solutions to improve passenger safety and convenience. In an endeavor to make public transport citizen-friendly, governments are deploying security equipment like onboard surveillance systems, variable message sign boards, speed violation cameras, and integrated traffic management systems across different infrastructures. The study covers security systems associated with railways, metros, and roads, including those installed at entry and exit points of public transportation hubs, inside the vehicle, and inside and outside stations. It also includes systems meant for the protection of physical perimeters of stations, parking depots, maintenance hubs, etc. and other associated infrastructure. This study also analyzes the factors driving and restraining the growth of the market and identifies the growth opportunities emerging from the changes in this space for market players and stakeholders to leverage. The study is global in scope and provides a detailed regional analysis of the following segments: North America, Latin America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Central Asia, and the Asia-Pacific. Key Issues Addresed What is the total addressable market for the security of mass transportation infrastructure, including railways, metros, and roadways? What are the drivers and restraints affecting this market? Which are the key technologies being deployed for the security of mass transportation infrastructure? What are the current and future growth opportunities for market players and stakeholders? What are the forecasts for each region? Which are the key players working in this domain? What are the emerging trends in this space? Key Topics Covered: 1. Strategic Imperatives Why is it Increasingly Difficult to Grow? The Strategic Imperative The Impact of the Top 3 Strategic Imperatives for the Mass Transportation Security Industry Growth Opportunities Fuel the Growth Pipeline Engine 2. Growth Opportunity Analysis Scope of Analysis Segmentation Key Questions this Study Answers Key Competitors across Various Security Technologies Growth Metrics Growth Drivers Growth Restraints Forecast Assumptions Revenue Forecast Revenue Forecast by Vertical Percent Revenue and Revenue by Vertical Revenue Forecast by Region Revenue Forecast by Technology Revenue Forecast Analysis Forecast Analysis by Region Pricing Trends and Forecast Analysis Competitive Environment Market Share Analysis 3. Growth Opportunity Analysis: Railways Growth Metrics Revenue Forecast Revenue Forecast by Region Revenue Forecast by Technology Passenger Traffic in Railways Goods/cargo Transported in Railways Length of Rail Network by Country Forecast Analysis Key Technologies being Deployed for Protection of Railways Infrastructure Notable Providers of Security Technologies for the Protection of Railways Infrastructure 4. Growth Opportunity Analysis: Metros Growth Metrics Revenue Forecast Revenue Forecast by Region Revenue Forecast by Technology Security Spend by Country: Metros, Top 25 Countries, 2021 Annual Ridership in Metros Metro Penetration Across Regions Number of Metro Stations in Major Countries Forecast Analysis Key Technologies being Deployed for the Protection of Metro Infrastructure Notable Providers of Security Technologies for the Protection of Metro Infrastructure 5. Growth Opportunity Analysis: Roadways/Highways Growth Metrics Revenue Forecast Revenue Forecast by Region Revenue Forecast by Technology Security Spend by Country: Roadways, Top 25 Countries Passenger Traffic on Roadways Vehicle Traffic on Roadways Forecast Analysis Key Technologies being Deployed for the Protection of Roadways/Highways 6. Growth Opportunity Universe Growth Opportunity 1: Facial Recognition Growth Opportunity 2: ITMS Growth Opportunity 3: 3D Surveillance Growth Opportunity 4: Video Analytics Growth Opportunity 5: Cyber Threat Intelligence and Vulnerability Assessment of Metro and Railways Digital Infrastructure 7. Next Steps For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/29juww 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 View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/global-mass-transportation-security-market-opportunities-report-2023-digitization-is-leading-to-the-development-of-new-solutions-to-improve-passenger-safety-and-convenience-301796887.html SOURCE Research and Markets [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] This photo taken on July 16, 2022 shows fossilized footprints found in the yard of a restaurant in Leshan, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Scientists have confirmed that the fossilized footprints found in a restaurant in southwest China were left by long-necked dinosaurs that lived on Earth around 100 million years ago. (Xing Lida/China University of Geosciences via Xinhua) BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Scientists have confirmed that the fossilized footprints found in a restaurant in southwest China were left by long-necked dinosaurs that lived on Earth around 100 million years ago. The unprecedented discovery was made last year by a Chinese diner and soon captured headlines all over the world due to the unusual location. Now, an international team of paleontologists have had their findings published in the latest edition of the journal Cretaceous Research, after they used a 3D scanner to analyse these "restaurant tracks." They confirmed that the tracks, ranging from 50 cm to 60 cm in length, were probably left by sauropods measuring eight meters to 10 meters long. With small heads, long necks and tails, sauropods are believed to be the largest animals known to have ever lived on land. However, this monstrous creature took very short steps, with a traveling speed of 2 km per hour, according to the study. On July 10, 2022, a patron named Ou Hongtao at a restaurant in the city of Leshan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, noticed some special dents on the ground in the yard. Having a great interest in paleontology, he speculated that the marks were probably dinosaur footprints and contacted Xing Lida, associate professor with the China University of Geosciences and also a well-known dinosaur expert. Six days later, Xing led a team of researchers and carried out an investigation at the site, which is just 5 km from the Giant Buddha of Leshan, the world's largest stone Buddha statue. The 'dents' had been spotted in the 1950s, but at that time the house's owners had covered them to smooth the ground. The new owners turned it into a dining room three years ago, and the dents were exposed again, said Xing, lead author of the study. But still nothing was thought to be unusual, until the day in 2022 when an observant diner pointed out that these dents might be something more than simply holes in the ground. "The footprints went unnoticed for so long, but once you know what they are, it's hard to unsee them," said Anthony Romilio, a University of Queensland researcher and part of the international team. "The region has no skeletal record of dinosaurs, so these fossil tracks provide valuable information about the dinosaurs that walked in the area," Romilio noted. The Australian researcher also highlighted the importance of everyday people making valuable scientific discoveries in a media release. "For some lucky people discoveries can come from unlikely places - even while you're having a bite to eat." [April 13, 2023] COSRX Unveils Fun and Exciting TikTok Challenge Campaign introducing Aloe Soothing Sun Cream for Southeast Asia Consumers SEOUL, South Korea, April 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Last year, COSRX, a derm favorite skincare brand, made waves on TikTok with its Snail TikTok Challenge, attracting over 20K+ participants, and accumulating 1.5B+ views under the #COSRX hashtag. Kicking off today, the brand is launching its latest campaign, #LayerYourSPF, specifically targeted at Southeast Asian TikTokers. The #LayerYourSPF Challenge is designed to showcase the brand's Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++'s benefits, including its ability to provide a non-greasy, moisturizing finish that soothes the skin, even in the intense sun and humid climate of the countries. COSRX's Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++, which has sold over 3.4 million units worldwide, has become a beloved product in Southeast Asia. To enhance its consumers' experience, the brand analyzed over 60,000 consumer reviews from Southeast Asian countries and discovered that the product is highly regarded for its quick absorption and non-greasy but moisturizing finish. Based on these valuable insights, COSRX has launched the #LayerYourSPF TikTok Challenge, emphasizing the importance of layering sunscreens and quick absorption, reflecting the needs and preferences of SEA consumers. "The goal of the campaign is to increase awareness surrounding the importance of layering SPF, but put our COSRX spin on it," said the brand representative at COSRX. "We want to emphasize that skincare isn't difficult nor is it boring. It's simple, fun and enjoyable. Also, with summer right around the corner, we wanted to highlight the importance of sun protection! It's not just a beauty tool but a necessity that will protect you against sunburn, wrinkles, sunspots, other signs of aging and more." To participate in the #LayerTourSPF TikTok challenge, just use the brand filter. Place out your hand to collect the contents of the SPF, imitate the hand gestures to pat in the SPF to join the fun. This filter is available for use in Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia and Vietnam. Once the content is ready, post it on TikTok with the hashtags #COSRX #LayerYourSPF #AloeSunscreen #SPF50 from April 14th to May 7th, 2023. All participants will automatically be included in the draw to win some incredible prizes that top even those from the prior seasons. The top 5 winners will be awarded COSRX's 10 best sellers: Aloe 54.2 Tone-up Sunscreen, Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++, the entire the RX line - The Vitamin C 23 Serum, The Vitamin C 13 Serum, The Niacinamide 15 Serum, The Hyaluronic Acid 3 Serum, The Retinol 0.5 Oil, The Retinol 0.1 Cream, Advanced Snail Mucin 96 Power Essence, and Advanced Snail 92 All in one Cream. And the TOP 100 winners, will win COSRX's 4 best sellers: Aloe 54.2 Tone-up Sunscreen, Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++, The Vitamin C 23 Serum, and The Retinol 0.1 Cream. However, please note that the award-winning products may be subject to change depending on the launched products and circumstances of each country. All winners will be announced via their official Instagram (@cosrx) and TikTok channel (@cosrx_official) on May 12th, 2023. About COSRX With its powerful yet affordable skincare solutions, COSRX has quickly become one of America's favorite skincare brands. Using a minimal number of highly effective natural extracts in concentrated doses, COSRX products deliver visible results by treating skin with only the essentials it needs and nothing it doesn't. Find its best-selling skincare solutions at retailers nationwide, including Shopee, Sociolla, Watsons, and so on. Please check the shopping link for Aloe Soothing Sun Cream SPF 50+ PA+++ featured in the #layeryourSPF challenge below: Indonesia Philippines Vietnam Malaysia View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/cosrx-unveils-fun-and-exciting-tiktok-challenge-campaign-301796480.html SOURCE COSRX [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] We start the morning with a hope for accountability . . . Sadly, we have to be realistic after primary election results reveal that Mayor Q holds a 60 point lead against challenger Clay Chastain. Nevertheless . . . Let's take a peek at how local newsies talk about Mayor Q's tenure . . . "Lucas beat opponent Jolie Justice with 51% of the vote. In some areas, Lucas remained committed to his 2019 campaign promises, and had a City Council who more often than not aligned with his policy priorities when it came to funding housing, scrutinizing tax incentive requests and strengthening basic city services. But in others, Lucas fell short Here's a passage the deserves to be highlighted and needs a great deal of attention given that it's 20+ paragraphs deep into this write-up . . . One of Lucass main goals in his first term was for Kansas City to see fewer than 100 homicides per year. In the four years hes been in office, that hasnt happened once. Lucass office has pushed for programs that tackle the root causes of violence and interrupt the cycle of violence before crime occurs. We are doing more violence interruption, reaching out to people who are at risk for retaliation, Lucas said. We are doing more in connection with working with our school district. That is another one where we're doing more than ever before. But Lucas says state oversight of the Kansas City Police Department is an obstacle. I think our colonial and racist Board of Police Commissioner system actually is something that creates some real challenge for us in trying to actually have solutions, he said. To wit . . . THAT'S RIGHT . . . MAYOR Q'S RESPONSE TO THE KANSAS CITY HOMICIDE CRISIS IS CLASSIC RACIAL BLAME GAME POLITICS!!! It's not exactly inspiring and a sign that the next four years could see worsening tensions betwixt the Mayor's office and the KCPD Police Board. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . There are quite a few stories to catch up on . . . We're not going to cover everything in this blog but for now this post attempt to offer an overview of police action, court cases and quite a bit of local crime reporting. Even better, as always, there's a few nicer links toward the end of the compilation. Check TKC news gathering . . . DOJ awards $2 million grant to organizations reducing violence in Kansas City The Department of Justice awarded a $2 million grant to the group Aim 4 Peace to help combat violence in Kansas City.Part of the grant will go to the Mattie Rhodes Center. Kevin Strickland sues Kansas City police board, alleging misconduct KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kevin Strickland, who was wrongfully imprisoned for 43 years, has filed a new lawsuit against the Kansas City Board of Police Commissioners. Strickland's lawsuit alleges "serious investigative misconduct" by the Kansas City Police Department, leading to Strickland being convicted in a 1978 triple murder. Cass County Prosecutor's Office charges Arkansas man with child molestation An Arkansas man has been charged by the Cass County Prosecutor's Office with fourth-degree child molestation. Alex Woy, 27, is accused of inappropriately touching a juvenile female behind a local business. Harrisonville police say the incident happened at around 5:30 p.m. on April 10. It happened near the intersection of Independence and Mechanic Streets. Kansas City man charged in deadly shooting of 21-year-old son KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas City, Missouri man is charged in the deadly shooting of his 21-year-old son earlier this month. Jackson County prosecutors on Tuesday charged Jose Pilar, 54, with second-degree murder and armed criminal action. According to court records, Just after 6 p.m. Man charged in crash that killed Kansas City police officer appears in court Hide Transcript Show Transcript INVESTIGATING MURDERS. THE MAN ACCUSED OF CAUSING THE CRASH THAT KILLED A KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI POLICE OFFICER AND A PEDESTRIAN APPEARED IN COURT TODAY. PROSECUTORS SAY 19 YEAR OLD JEVON LIGHTFOOT'S CAR WAS SPEEDING WHEN IT HIT. OFFICER JAMES MUHLBAUER POLICE VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY. Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office reinvestigates 1993 Jane Doe case KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Jackson County Medical Examiner's Office is working to determine if advanced forensic DNA evidence could help identify the remains of an unidentified woman found in Kansas City, Missouri, in 1993. According to DNASolves.com, law enforcement has investigated several leads about the Jane Doe's identity, but the case has gone cold and leaves officials questioning what happened 30 years ago. KCK police investigating after body pulled from Kansas River KANSAS CITY, Kan. - An investigation is underway after a body was pulled from the Kansas River late Wednesday afternoon in Kansas City, Kansas. The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department says someone was walking home from work near S. Student who stabbed Northeast Middle School classmate to death pleads guilty KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The 15-year-old Northeast Middle School student who stabbed a classmate to death last year has pleaded guilty, a spokeswoman for the Jackson County Circuit Court confirmed. The boy, who has not been identified as he is a minor and was not charged as an adult, stabbed Manuel "Manny" Guzman to death in a bathroom on April 12, 2022, at Northeast Middle School. Former Grain Valley police officer facing nine felony charges for sex acts with juvenile JACKSON COUNTY, Mo. (KCTV) - An investigation by the Missouri State Highway Patrol has led to multiple felony charges for a former Grain Valley police officer after the discovery that the officer had engaged in sex acts with a juvenile. 27-year-old August P. Independence man charged in a wrong-way, drunk driving crash that killed 1 person KANSAS CITY, Mo. - An Independence man is accused in a deadly drunk driving crash where his blood alcohol level measured more than three times the legal limit. Jackson County prosecutors charged Dominic Conway, 40, for his role in the death of 52-year-old Harold Eddins. The Oct. Dad Convicted of Murder After Passing Out Drunk 'for Days on End' as Daughter, 2, Died of Malnutrition A Kansas father has been found guilty of murdering his 2-year-old daughter, who prosecutors said in court died of malnutrition while he was "intoxicated and passed out for days on end." Jeffrey J. Exon, 47, was found guilty by a Shawnee County District Court jury on Monday over the death of Aurora Exon, The Topeka Capital-Journal reports. Missouri sheriff pushing to make running from police a felony HARRISONVILLE, Mo. - To chase or not to chase? High-speed pursuits are one of the most dangerous decisions law enforcement officers face. Proposed legislation in Missouri would make leading police on hazardous chases a more serious offense. Police complain more criminals are resisting arrest, and leading them on perilous chases, which put the public in harm's way. FBI KC has joined the national commitment to recruiting more women in law enforcement It would not be inaccurate to assume that the federal bureau of investigation was established by a majority of men, seeing as how it's official establishment date is set in 1908. However, in today's society, inclusion is now the main priority. KCPD missing persons unit reinstated: What to know about process of reporting someone missing KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department's reinstated Missing Persons Unit will incorporate some changes but some things will still be the same before it was disbanded a year ago. The unit will have seven dedicated detectives and one sergeant, Sgt. Chris Toigo. Toigo was formerly a part of the department's assault squad. Kansas City, Kansas community comes together after three police officers shot KANSAS CITY, Kan. - The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department held a community open house Wednesday at their East Patrol building. It's the first open house they've had since three of their officers were shot one week ago. "It's a tragic event, but we're coping. Kansas City police go through specialize training for de-escalation More officers are getting trained on how to de-escalate situations where someone is having a mental health crisis or emotional breakdown. That includes Kansas City. On Wednesday, Kansas City, Mo., police received specialized training to defuse these situations. Clay County K9 to carry memory of slain Missouri police officer LIBERTY, Mo. - The memory of a fallen Missouri police officer will live on through a K9 that belongs to department across the state. Vested Interest plans to donate a K9 vest to the Clay County Sheriff's Office. Partners for Peace knock on doors, offer help after increased violence in Ruskin Heights neighborhood KANSAS CITY, Mo. - It was boots on the ground walking through a south Kansas City, Missouri, neighborhood on Wednesday afternoon, but not for enforcement. "We are all Partners for Peace," said Melesa Johnson, the deputy chief of staff for KCMO Mayor Quinton Lucas' office. Developing . . . Trolls ruin what was a great & relaxing resource for online denizens around the world. Here's the aftermath and part of the official story followed by more info . . . The popularity came with increased challenges, according to the zoo, including ongoing harassment to zoo staff, which led to the decision to end the live feed. "We know many will be disappointed by the end of the Penguin Cam and the zoo shares their frustration, but we must do what is best for employee safety and wellbeing," the zoo said in a statement Thursday. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Kansas City Zoo ending live Penguin Cam over ongoing harassment to staff KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City Zoo is ending its 24-hour live Penguin Cam that has been available to online viewers since the Helzberg Penguin Plaza opened 10 years ago. The zoo said Thursday that the live feed fromm inside the penguin habitat grew to peak popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, reaching about three million views per year. Births, deaths and a viral video: KC Zoo's penguin exhibit draws acclaim and scrutiny In 2019, the Kansas City Zoo, then six years into its penguin exhibit, flew innine fertile macaroni penguin eggs from San Diego. They were cozy in an incubator, with their own seat on the plane. In the coming months, it took hundreds of hours of care for zookeepers to hatch and hand-raise the eight surviving birds. Developing . . . The allegations continue but, sadly, it's easier to take complaints to our social media bubbles rather than work with people in the real world. Here's more info . . . Police say the Black family who reported the white officers odd behavior refused to cooperate during an internal affairs investigation. An attorney for the family says police have been driving by their house and parking across the street in an effort to scare them. More info on that important detail . . . The officer passed the examination done by several medical professionals, according to the department's statement. "It is important to note that residents featured in the video did not file a formal complaint and refused to cooperate with the investigation," KCKPD said in a statement. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . . Family says KCKPD 'intimidated' them while investigating allegations of impaired officer Police say the Black family who reported the white officer's odd behavior refused to cooperate during an internal affairs investigation. An attorney for the family says police have been driving by their house and parking across the street in an effort to scare them. KCK police officer cleared of wrongdoing after video raised concerns about his behavior KANSAS CITY, Mo. - The Kansas City, Kansas, Police Department said in a statement Monday night one of its officers has been cleared of wrongdoing during a call for service captured on video. Developing . . . The celebration of marriage under the age of individual consent IS NOT a conservative value . . . It's just something silly that some dunderhead uttered during a heated debate. Here's more on Jeff City antics that MIGHT be the only progress earned by the Super-Minority party this session . . . Check-it . . . Republican lawmaker Mike Moon is going viral for comments he made Tuesday while arguing for a bill he introduced to ban gender-affirming care for the states transgender teens. When pressed by state Rep. Peter Meredith (D) about a different bill Moon voted against in the past, which would make it illegal for adults to marry children, the GOP lawmaker doubled down on his support for underage marriage. Do you know any kids who have been married at age 12? I do. And guess what? Theyre still married, Moon responded, according to the Springfield News-Leader. Yes, we know. Pictures, or it didnt happen. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com links . . . GOP Lawmaker Defends Supporting 12-Year-Olds' Right To Legally Marry A Missouri state senator apparently wants to block gender-affirming care for transgender youth but is OK with 12-year-olds getting married. Republican lawmaker Mike Moon is going viral for comments he made Tuesday while arguing for a bill he introduced to ban gender-affirming care for the state's transgender teens. Missouri senator's child marriage comments spark anger GOP state Senator Mike Moon from Missouri sparked outcry after suggesting that children as young as 12 should have the right to marry with parental consent. His suggestion, which came during a Tuesday debate in the state legislature, conflicted with his reasoning for introducing a bill banning transgender health care. Developing . . . As the final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is set to air, a look at how fashion has been masterfully deployed throughout the series. A draft memo from January shows additional service reductions on the TTC coming in May. The cuts have yet to be finalized. - Lance McMillan/Toronto Star file photo Some candidates for mayor of Toronto are urging Rogers to swiftly bring cellphone service to all subway users, not just its own customers. - Lance McMillan/Toronto Star British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (R) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, on April 12, 2023. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua) LONDON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. An effective devolved government reflects the people of Northern Ireland and is accountable to them, a government that works to find ways through hard problems together is going to draw even greater opportunity to this region, Biden said in a speech delivered at Ulster University. This week marks the 25th anniversary of the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, which brought an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland. Biden arrived in Belfast on Tuesday evening to mark the anniversary, which has been overshadowed by a prolonged political deadlock in the region. In opposition to post-Brexit trade rules, the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) has refused to join the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland for more than a year, raising concerns over political stability. In February, the United Kingdom (UK) and the European Union (EU) concluded a new trade arrangement for Northern Ireland after long negotiations. But the DUP has publicly stated its opposition, arguing that while representing real progress, the agreement fails to deal with fundamental issues. DUP leader Jeffrey Donaldson noted on Wednesday that Biden's plea for political leaders to restore their power-sharing government has not changed his feelings on the matter. "He (Biden) made that clear and to be honest he didn't seek to apply any pressure," Donaldson told Sky News. Ian Scott, a professor of American history at the University of Manchester, told Xinhua that Biden has to do a lot of convincing for the people, particularly for the Unionist community and the DUP. "Inevitably, there are going to be those critics who will say that Biden is stepping into a minefield of political entanglements," he said. "There's a lot at stake economically and politically for the United States," Scott added. "They understand that if the UK government gets further embroiled in the whole Brexit argument that's been going on for seven years now, it takes their eye off the economic ball." There was the promise in the aftermath of Brexit by the then UK government that there would quickly be trade deals with everybody around the world, including the United States, and it has not really happened quite that way, the professor noted. After Biden's Wednesday speech, the BBC's Northern Ireland political correspondent Gareth Gordon said the U.S. president is "now leaving impotent to unblock a politics beyond the control of even his powerful administration." Ahead of Biden's visit, clashes occurred again in Northern Ireland. Local police on Tuesday said they found four suspected pipe bombs in Londonderry, a city about 110 km northwest of Belfast. On Monday, officers came under attack with petrol bombs and other objects thrown at their vehicle while in attendance at an Easter parade opposing the Good Friday peace accord. Community intelligence has shown there may be attempts to draw police into serious public disorder in Londonderry and to use that as a platform to launch terrorist attacks on the police, local police said. British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (R) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, on April 12, 2023. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (R) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, on April 12, 2023. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L, Front) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden (R, Front) in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, on April 12, 2023. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, on April 12, 2023. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua) British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak (L) meets with U.S. President Joe Biden in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, on April 12, 2023. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. (Simon Walker/No 10 Downing Street/Handout via Xinhua) U.S. President Joe Biden (C) is pictured on his way to Ulster University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, on April 12, 2023. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, U.S. President Joe Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. (Arthur Allison/Pacemaker Press/Handout via Xinhua) A search and rescue operation was launched Wednesday to locate three missing climbers in Nepal who were hit by a snow avalanche. Hom Prasad Luitel, director general of Nepal's Department of Tourism, told Anadolu that a snow slide hit three rope-fixing men-cum-guides, locally known as Sherpa, early Wednesday. A helicopter, soldiers, (tourist) guides are searching for the missing men, Luitel said over the phone. He said the trio was working for a local tourism group. We are trying to search and rescue through air and land surface, Luitel added. The snow avalanche hit the most popular Southeast Ridge route to Mount Everest at around 9.30 a.m. local time (0345GMT) on Wednesday. The missing guides who were ferrying climbing gear for their clients were caught at an unspecified site between the Base Camp and Camp I on its lower parts, the officials said. It is the first accident on Mount Everest during this years climbing season when hundreds of foreign and local climbers attempt to reach the 8,849 meters (29,032 feet) peak. The world's tallest peak was first scaled by New Zealander Sir Edmund Hillary and his climbing mate Sherpa Tenzing Norgay in 1953. Since then, thousands of climbers have summited the mountain, which has claimed the lives of about 300 climbers. Nepal is home to eight out of 14 peaks above 8,000 meters, including Everest. Image Credit: AA Royal Cliff Beach Terrace and Royal Cliff Grand Hotel are recognized as the Best Scenic Hotels Near Bangkok by global travel brand Trip.com. (TRAVPR.COM) THAILAND - April 13th, 2023 - Pattaya, Thailand - Royal Cliff Beach Terrace and Royal Cliff Grand Hotel are recognized as the Best Scenic Hotels Near Bangkok by global travel brand Trip.com. The hotels' ideal locations with panoramic sunset views and best-in-class services are the key features that help to earn them prestigious recognition. The Royal Cliff Hotel Group found itself in the travel website's "Trip.Best" list of the Best Scenic Hotels near Bangkok, with the magnificent Royal Cliff Beach Terrace standing at no. 4 and the formal luxury Royal Cliff Grand Hotel at no. 11. This recognition is another testament to the Group's achievement as an excellent choice to stay near Bangkok for business and leisure travellers. With a rare location that offers breathtaking views of the Gulf of Thailand and outlying islands, the hotels stand firm against the test of time and competition as top-of-mind destinations in Pattaya, the most convenient location to enjoy a seaside break near the capital city. Royal Cliff Beach Terrace and Royal Cliff Grand Hotel have been reviewed against the criteria such as the number of rooms with ocean view and service. With 100% rooms with sea view, the two properties received scores of 4.5 and 4.4 out of 5, respectively. Trip.com reviews hotels for their Trip.Best lists quarterly to make sure that the criteria are always up-to-date. For hotels near Bangkok, Trip.Best offers rankings in the categories of Best Scenic Hotels, Best Family Hotels, Best Villas, Best Cultural Styles and Best Upscale Hotels. Perched on a verdant hill with secluded beaches but a short distance from the bustling Pattaya Beach Road, Royal Cliff Beach Terrace boasts a jaw-dropping sea view as far as the eye can see. The hotel features guest rooms of two types -- Honeymoon Deluxe and Family Suite with two bedrooms. The first type offers exotic Thai-style accommodation with a separate raised living area where couples can relax and enjoy their romantic getaway. Family Suite offers plenty of space on the balcony and a living room that fits the whole family. Both bedrooms have large comfortable beds to guarantee a great night's sleep. Situated side by side Royal Cliff Beach Terrace, Royal Cliff Grand Hotel is an opulent resort where guests can relax and soak up the beautiful sunset. All rooms, recently renovated in an elegant contemporary style, are sea-facing, so guests can enjoy a million-dollar view with the sea breeze. A large infinity pool and adjacent sun deck are ideal for watching the sunset while enjoying formal dining that serves delicious flavours from Thai to international. Apart from the two hotels, the Royal Cliff is home to two other luxury properties, namely the Royal Cliff Beach Hotel and the Royal Wing Suites and Spa. The infinity-edged "Sky Aquarium Pool" in the middle of the premises is one of Thailand's biggest and most spectacular swimming pools. In addition to the Trip.Best award, Royal Cliff Hotels Group has won many celebrated accolades, awards and accreditations, spanning different categories and standards, from prestigious organizations throughout the years, with the total awards exceeding 250. With summer vacations already underway, the Royal Cliff Hotels can accommodate everyone with multiple options of rooms, suites, dining experiences and state-of-the-art facilities. The hotels offer various packages that include special perks and rates, such as a weekday stay package, an extended stay package and a family package to entice summer travellers. Please check the hotel website, www.royalcliff.com, to secure the best rates and packages. ### andamantourtravelpackage.com is a travel company based in India that specializes in providing tour packages to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The company offers a variety of tour packages that cater to different needs and interests, such as adventure tours, honeymoon packages, and family vacations. They also provide customized tour packages according to the preferences of the clients. With their years of experience and expertise, Andaman Tour Travel Package ensures that their clients have a hassle-free and memorable trip to one of the most beautiful and exotic destinations in India. (TRAVPR.COM) ANDAMAN AND NICOBAR - April 13th, 2023 - [Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar] AndamanTourTravelPackage, a leading travel company, is excited to announce its latest offering - Andaman Honeymoon Tour Packages. These packages are specifically designed to provide a romantic and unforgettable honeymoon experience for couples. The Andaman Islands, located in the Bay of Bengal, are a perfect destination for honeymooners who are looking for a secluded and peaceful escape. The islands offer pristine beaches, crystal-clear waters, and a wide range of adventure activities that can be enjoyed by couples. Our Andaman Honeymoon Tour Packages offer a carefully curated itinerary that includes visits to popular tourist attractions such as the Cellular Jail, Ross Island, and the Havelock Island. The package also includes a romantic candlelight dinner and a relaxing couple's massage, to make your honeymoon experience even more special. "The Andaman Islands offer a perfect mix of relaxation, adventure, and romance, making it a dream destination for honeymooners," said Viplove, CEO of AndamanTourTravelPackage.com. "Our Andaman Honeymoon Tour Packages have been designed to provide the best possible experience for couples, with a focus on luxury, comfort, and privacy." Our packages include luxury accommodations, transportation, meals, and all necessary permits and entry fees. Our team of experienced tour guides and travel experts will ensure that your honeymoon experience is hassle-free and memorable. For more information about our Andaman Honeymoon Tour Packages, please visit https://andamantourtravelpackage.com or contact us at +917695053249 or bookings@andamantourtravelpackage.com. andamantourtravelpackage is a leading travel company that specializes in creating unforgettable travel experiences for its clients. Our team of travel experts and tour guides are committed to providing the highest level of service and ensuring that our clients have a hassle-free and enjoyable travel experience. ### BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The international community needs to stay on high alert against Japan's greatly increasing defense expenditure in recent years, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Thursday, urging the Japanese side to act prudently on military and security issues. Wang made the remarks at a regular news briefing when asked to comment on reports that Japan's Defense Ministry has signed contracts worth 2.84 billion U.S. dollars with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a new missile force to obtain the capability of striking targets more than 1,000 km from Japan, and that Japan also plans to deploy hypersonic weapons by 2026, and develop submarine-launched hypersonic missiles with a range of 3,000 km by the early 2030s. Wang said this situation has come to China's serious attention, and China will closely follow the developments. Wang noted Japan has constantly hyped up the "China threat" narrative, repeatedly breached its commitments under the pacifist constitution and exclusively defense-oriented policy, greatly increased defense expenditure, developed offensive weapons, and sought "strike capabilities against the enemy." Japan is moving further down the path of military expansion, which has sent out a dangerous message to countries in the region and the wider world that Japan is attempting to subvert the post-war international order, he said, adding the international community needs to stay on high alert against this. China strongly urges the Japanese government to deeply reflect on the history of its aggression, earnestly respect the security concerns of its Asian neighbors, remain true to its exclusively defense-oriented policy, keep to the path of peaceful development, and act prudently on military and security issues, he added. BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China has made continuous efforts to ensure that quality medical resources are channeled to the community level and that they are more evenly distributed among regions, according to the National Health Commission (NHC). With the commission's help, 87.7 percent of China's county hospitals had reached capacities equivalent to second-tier hospitals by the end of 2022, and 45.6 percent had reached capacities equivalent to third-tier hospitals, NHC official Li Dachuan said at a press conference on Thursday. China has a three-tier system for ranking hospitals, with third-tier hospitals, which have the largest number of beds and provide comprehensive medical services, at the top of the system. To improve its medical services, the country has worked to enhance clinical specialty competence. Li noted that by the end of last year, the central government had invested a total of 2.54 billion yuan (about 370 million U.S. dollars) to support the construction of 508 key national clinical specialty projects across the country. Next, more resources will be pooled to support local governments as they boost the development of high-demand specialties such as cardiovascular surgery, obstetrics, orthopedics, anesthesiology, pediatrics, psychiatry and pathology, Li said. After many years of training people in the cocoa industry, the University of the West Indies Thabo Bester: South Africa's 'Facebook rapist' deported from Tanzania Tanzania has deported one of South Africa's most-wanted fugitives, the rapist and murderer Thabo Bester, who faked his death in prison and fled to the East African state. Bester was flown to South Africa in a specially chartered plane, following his arrest in Tanzania last week. His girlfriend, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana, who was arrested with him, has also been deported. Her father has been charged with helping Bester escape from prison. Bester was at large for a year after it was thought he died by setting himself on fire in his prison cell in the South African city of Bloemfontein. A manhunt was launched last month after a new post-mortem investigation revealed the body was not actually his. The celebrity doctor's father, Zolile Sekeleni, and a suspended prison warden, Senohe Matsoara, have been charged with murder, arson and aiding and abetting Bester's escape. The two men appeared in a magistrate's court in Bloemfontein earlier this week. 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. Two other people have also been arrested in connection with Bester's escape, but they have not yet been formally charged. Bester has been taken to a high-security prison in the capital, Pretoria, while his girlfriend has been taken to court in Bloemfontein. She will be charged with murder, fraud and helping Bester escape, police said. Bester is also expected to face fresh charges following his shocking prison break. He is known as the "Facebook rapist" for using the social networking site to lure his victims. He was convicted in 2012 for the rape and murder of his model girlfriend Nomfundo Tyhulu. A year earlier, he was found guilty of raping and robbing two other women. 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. --- By deepening energy cooperation with Russia, Hungary is financially supporting the murder of Ukrainians. This opinion was expressed in a commentary to Politico by Oleg Ustenko, an economic advisor to the President of Ukraine, according to an Ukrinform correspondent If youve seen the video where Russians cut the head off a Ukrainian soldier the Hungarians are paying for the knife, Oleg Ustenko He believes that the new agreements signed this week in Moscow, which strengthen energy cooperation between Hungary and Russia, will only prolong the war. You have to be completely blind not to see what kinds of crimes you are sponsoring. Buying more gas from the Russians means you are giving them more capacity to escalate the war, Ustenko added. He called on the EU to intervene and "exert all possible pressure" on Budapest to prevent it from increasing its funding of the Russian regime. Hungary is receiving financial support from Brussels, so this is a great tool that might be used immediately, he said. ANKARA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Turkish security forces seized some 153 pieces of smuggled historical artifacts and detained three suspects in separate operations launched in two southern provinces on Thursday. Security forces busted a relic smuggling group in an operation in the Mersin province, recovering 120 pieces and nabbing two who were looking for potential buyers in the district of Tarsus, the state-run TRT broadcaster reported. The artifacts, believed to be dating back to the Roman era, were handed over to Mersin Museum Directorate for examination, said the report. In a separate operation in the Adana province, the Turkish gendarmerie detained one suspect on charges of smuggling historical artifacts, the governor's office said in a statement on Thursday. The security forces seized 27 bronze coins, 5 belt buckles and one pendant considered to be historical artifacts in the Ceyhan district, the statement added. The threat of a massive missile strike on the territory of Ukraine by the Russian Federation remains. Brigadier General Oleksiy Hromov, Deputy Chief of the Main Operational Directorate of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, said this during a briefing, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "The threat of a massive missile strike on the territory of Ukraine remains. Air- and sea-launched cruise missile carriers are equipped and ready for use at airfields and base points," the brigadier general said. According to him, since the beginning of April, Russian troops have launched 44 missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure and carried out 38 attacks using unmanned aerial vehicles, 29 of which were destroyed by Ukrainian soldiers. In this context, Hromov informed that since February 2022, Russia has spent at least 50% of its stockpile of long-range anti-aircraft missiles, using at least 8,000 such missiles, mostly of the surface-to-surface class. "At the current level of production, Russia will not be able to restore its reserve in the medium term, which could potentially jeopardize Moscow's ability to defend its strategic interests in the Far East and the border with NATO countries," he added. At the same time, Hromov said that according to available data, in June of this year, the Russian Federation plans to start mass production of strategic air-launched cruise missiles of the Kh-50 type, which "will allow the Kremlin to intensify missile strikes on the territory of our country in the fall." As reported, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, during the spring and summer period, the Russian Federation will increase the quantitative and qualitative indicators of its troops, continue to form strategic reserves, and move them to the borders of Ukraine, and may continue to conduct covert mobilization of the population. The foreign ministers and defense ministers of Romania, the Republic of Moldova, and Ukraine held a trilateral meeting in Bucharest to discuss the security situation in the region and prospects for further cooperation. The joint statement following the meeting was published on the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ukrinform reports. "As partners located in the Eastern part of the European continent, we share similar security concerns and have the same interest for a stable and secure wider Black Sea region.We will continue to cooperate as long as necessary to support the right to freely choose our own foreign policy and alliances, exercise legitimate self-defense, strengthen resilience and ensure stability, security and prosperity in our region," the document says. Its authors noted that the enlargement of the European Union, as well as deeper cooperation with NATO, are key in this context. Read also: Ukraine promotes in Bucharest idea of permanent patrolling of Black Sea by NATO countries We will further make every effort with a view to a continued strong European and Euro-Atlantic support for the region. In this context, we underline the importance of the historic decision of the European Council of 23 June 2022 to grant the Republic of Moldova and Ukraine the EU candidate status and agree to step up efforts to ensure their full membership in the EU the heads of the foreign and defense ministries of Ukraine, Moldova, and Romania said. They also noted that they look forward to the European Commission's assessment of the progress made and the decision to launch negotiations on Ukraine's and the Republic of Moldova's accession to the EU this year. Romania and the Republic of Moldova reaffirmed their readiness to support Ukraine's initiative for a comprehensive, just and lasting peace, expressing support for President Zelenskyy's Peace Formula and commitment to work actively with Ukraine to implement the 10-point peace plan. We emphasize that the Peace Formula gives our common vision on the necessary steps that will ensure comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine and security for the whole world emphasized in the trilateral statement. The authors of the document also expressed their full support for the efforts of the international community to ensure accountability of perpetrators of serious international crimes on the territory of Ukraine, including through judicial mechanisms. Read also: Black Sea Security Conference kicks off in Bucharest Finally, the ministers informed about the agreement to organize a new round of trilateral talks between the foreign ministers with the participation of the ministers responsible for energy and infrastructure at the earliest possible opportunity in the near future. As reported by Ukrinform, the second (official) day of the First Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform, which brought together representatives of more than 50 countries and organizations in Bucharest, began on Thursday. Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valeriy Zaluzhny met with Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, Army General Thierry Burkhard, who arrived in Ukraine on a visit. Zaluzhny reported this on his Telegram, according to Ukrinform "I was pleased to welcome the Chief of the Joint Staff of the Armed Forces of the French Republic, Army General Thierry Burkhard, to Ukraine for the first time. This is a clear signal of support for the Ukrainian army from our French colleagues in the war against the aggressor," Zaluzhny said. According to him, he held meaningful talks with General Burkhard. He familiarized him with the situation at the front. He elaborated on Ukraine's need for artillery shells and other ammunition, air defense equipment and F-16 fighters. Read also: Zelensky holds meeting on situation at front and ammo supplies "We agreed to continue our cooperation and maintain a dialog in the future. For our part, the Armed Forces of Ukraine are ready to share their experience with partners in conducting a full-scale war. I am grateful to General Burkhard and the people of France for their assistance. I appreciate the solidarity and support," Zaluzhny emphasized. As reported, Zaluzhny discussed the future steps of the Armed Forces of Ukraine to further liberate the territories from Russian invaders with Chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff General Mark Milley. The memorandum on cooperation in the uranium mining industry, signed between SE NAEC Energoatom and Canadas CAMECO will speed up the process of displacing Russia from the nuclear fuel market. This was reported by the press service of Ukraines Energy Ministry on Telegram, Ukrinform learned. On April 12, SE Energoatom signed a Memorandum of Cooperation in the uranium mining industry with the Canadian company CAMECO. The document stipulates that CAMECO will be involved in technical support and development of efficient and competitive uranium production in Ukraine in order to fully cover Enegoatoms demand for uranium oxide concentrate. Read also: Ukraine to purchase nuclear fuel from Canada "Cooperation between the two companies will allow for attracting resources for the upgrade and development of the production infrastructure of the Eastern Mining and Enrichment Plant, which will have the most positive impact on the development of Ukraines uranium mining industry," the statement says. It is noted that reaching relevant agreements is important for strengthening Ukraine's energy independence. "The signing of the current Memorandum is the next important step for the preservation and development of the uranium mining industry in Ukraine," the ministry added. As reported, the cooperation of CAMECO, SE SkhidHVK and SE NAEC Energoatom on increasing the efficiency of uranium production at the Eastern Mining and Enrichment Plant began in December 2021. A tripartite NDA was then signed to ensure information exchange. On March 19, 2023, in London, Energoatom and CAMECO concluded agreements on ensuring a stable supply of uranium for the production of nuclear fuel. CAMECO is one of the world's largest producers of natural uranium and provider of conversion services. The Swiss government intends to provide Ukraine with at least CHF 1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) more by 2028. Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis stressed Switzerlands commitment to long-term support for Ukraine, Ukrinform reports, referring to Swiss Info. The government said it intends to provide at least another CHF1.5 billion ($1.7 billion) by 2028. The support is to be provided as part of the international cooperation strategy for 2025 to 2028, the foreign ministry said on Wednesday. Read also: United States announces new sanctions against Russia Together with the CHF300 million earmarked for 2023 and 2024, Switzerland would support Ukraine with at least CHF1.8 billion (over $2 billion) over the next six years. As reported, Switzerland joined the EU sanctions against Russia, introduced in March 2022, which include a ban on the export of a range of goods. In addition to frozen assets and travel restrictions, sanctions also ban exports of goods such as weapons, coal and luxury goods. The First Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform, which gathered representatives of more than 50 countries and organizations in Bucharest, demonstrates that not only the countries of this region but also the whole world are interested in the security in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov now. As First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Emine Dzhaparova told Ukrinform in a comment, the Black Sea Security Conference actually completed the architecture of the International Crimea Platform. "This event brought together a large number of our partners who came to Bucharest. We are happy to welcome representatives from more than 50 countries and organizations participating in the conference. Security in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov today is of interest not only to the countries of this region but also to the whole world. After all, this is the key to global food security, freedom of navigation, and restoration of the global security architecture in general," Dzhaparpva stressed. She thanked Romania for co-organizing this event and clearly understanding the challenges we face. The First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine noted that Ukrainian and international experts would present the document "Vision of peaceful, safe, and prosperous Black Sea region" during the expert day of the conference in Bucharest on Wednesday. The document offers a strategic vision for the future of the region and comprehensive measures to restore Black Sea security. On Thursday, the main day of the Black Sea Security Conference, panel discussions and many important bilateral and trilateral meetings will be held, in particular, a meeting in Ukraine-Romania-Moldova triangle format. As reported, the First Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform will be held in Bucharest on April 12-13. The conference is organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Romania, the Ministry of National Defense of Romania, in partnership with the Center for Defense Strategies (Ukraine). The First Parliamentary Summit of the International Crimea Platform was held in the capital of Croatia, Zagreb, in October last year. Latvian Foreign Minister Edgars Rinkevics, commenting on French President Emmanuel Macron's call for greater "strategic autonomy" of the EU from the United States, emphasized that "transatlantic unity should be strengthened, not weakened." The relevant statement was made by Edgars Rinkevics on Twitter, Ukrinform reports "We must strengthen transatlantic unity, not weaken it. EU strategic autonomy must not undermine cooperation with the USA, Canada and UK, on the contrary, we will be stronger if we continue to invest in this most important relationship and weaker if undermine it. More unity, less autonomy," Rinkevics wrote. As Ukrinform reported earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron, after returning from a three-day state visit to China, said that Europe was not interested in escalating the crisis around Taiwan, that it should stick to a strategy in relations with the island, independent of both the United States and China, and generally called for "strategic autonomy" from the United States. Politicians in Germany, the Czech Republic, and Poland criticized Macron's statements on Taiwan and European countries' dependence on the United States. At the same time, President of the European Council Charles Michel suggested that the French leader's position was not isolated in the EU. Romania will continue all-round support to Ukraine for as long as it is necessary to win the war, and will also contribute to the path of integration into the EU and NATO. Minister of Foreign Affairs Bogdan Aurescu of Romania said this today in Bucharest, opening the meeting of the First Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform, Ukrinform reports. "This event is one more proof that Romania, our region and the matter of fact, the whole world stand in solidarity with Ukraine and commends its extraordinary resilience in the face of the brutal Russian aggression. We continue to mourn the victims of Russia's war against Ukraine and we must continue to push for accountability for the crimes committed in your country. Romania stood by Ukraine in the first day of this aggression as a neighbor and a true friend. As a pillar of regional stability in the Black Sea area, provider of security. Romania has promptly granted a multidimension response, minister said. Bogdan Aurescu emphasized the practical support of Romania to the Ukrainian people. "We have offered support to 3.9 million Ukrainian refugees. While also facilitating the transit of almost 15 million tons of grain from Ukraine through our territory. I reassure you that the Romanian support towards Ukraine will continue. We will also resolutely accompany Ukraine on its European and EuroAtlantic path of integration," he said. The minister confirmed his full determination to continue multidimensional support to Ukraine as long as it is necessary to win the war. Read also: Black Sea Security Conference kicks off in Bucharest "We all want peace. Peace in full respect of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, in full respect of UN Charter and the fundamental principle of international law. But negotiations can only start when Ukraine is ready and the victory will look like in the way Ukraine will define it," Aurescu said. He also emphasized that Russia had been affecting the security and stability of the Black Sea region for years, so now is the time to work together and make efforts for the security of the Black Sea, turning the Black Sea region into a region of peace, not war. As Ukrinform reported, the First Black Sea Security Conference of the International Crimea Platform is being held today in Bucharest. The event has gathered representatives from more than 50 countries and organizations. DUBLIN, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden arrived here on Wednesday for a three-day visit. This is Biden's first visit to Ireland as president of the United States. During his three-day official visit, Biden is scheduled to meet Ireland's President Michael D. Higgins, hold talks with Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar, and address the lower house of the country's parliament. Earlier on Wednesday, Biden stopped over in Northern Ireland, where he attended a ceremony to mark the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement, a peace deal that brought an end to decades of violent conflicts in Northern Ireland. During his visit to Belfast on Wednesday, Biden called for the restoration of the power-sharing government in Northern Ireland. However, analysts do not expect his plea to lead to significant change. GUANGZHOU, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The southern Chinese metropolis of Guangzhou has launched a new all-cargo air route to France's Paris, said Guangdong Airport Authority's logistics company on Thursday. On Tuesday, an all-cargo freighter from France's CMA CGM Air Cargo departed from Paris, en route to Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport, marking the start of the intercontinental all-cargo route launched by the airport this year. The maiden flight took off from Paris at 10 p.m. on Tuesday local time and landed at Baiyun airport at 2 a.m. on Thursday Beijing time. It left the airport at 5 a.m. on the same day, fully loaded with 58 tonnes of cargo bound for Paris. The cargo transported through the route will mainly include e-commerce goods, electronics and fresh cold-chain goods. The route is scheduled to operate three flights per week and is expected to bring more than 20,000 tonnes of international cargo throughput growth to the Baiyun airport annually, the company said. The airline network of the airport covers more than 230 shipping points around the world. In 2022, the cargo and mail handling capacity of the airport exceeded 1.88 million tonnes, ranking second among all the Chinese airports for three consecutive years since 2020. Currently, Baiyun airport is undergoing expansion, which is estimated to increase its total cargo terminal area to more than 1 million square meters with a terminal cargo handling capacity of 6 million tonnes in 2025. BEIJING, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The China Marrow Donor Program (CMDP) announced that it has facilitated over 15,000 bone marrow donations, with 372 donations made to patients spanning 30 countries and regions, China Daily reported on Thursday. Citing data from the organization, the newspaper reported that the number of registered stem cell donors had topped 3.27 million as of April 10, with 45 percent of volunteers aged between 18 and 35. Last year, the organization attracted 150,000 new registrations and completed 1,968 transplants, up by 70 from the previous year, according to the paper. China saw its first hematopoietic stem cell donation from an unrelated volunteer in 1996. Since then, it took nearly two decades to achieve the first milestone of 5,000 donations and another five years to reach 10,000 donations, the paper said. UNODC convened a workshop on Dismantling Criminal Networks through Effective Investigation, Prosecution and Adjudication bringing together 26 participants (investigators, judges and prosecutors) from eight countries of the Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) region including the Republic of Benin, Cote dIvoire, Ghana, Liberia, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and The Gambia. The objective of this workshop was to improve the capacity of prosecutors and judicial authorities to prosecute complex illicit trafficking,Transnational Organized Crime and terrorist cases and, to enhance international cooperation and real-time information and intelligence sharing, to lead to more effective cooperation between the law enforcement officers, prosecutors and the judiciary in the region for arrests, investigation, mutual legal assistance and extradition requests, as well as recovery of proceeds of crime, including strengthening the existing platform for effective cooperation of the actors of the penal chain in West Africa between anglophone and francophone countries. Mr Cheikh Toure, Head of Office, UNODC, Cote dIvoire and the Head of the Law Enforcement Section, UNODC Regional Office in Senegal, facilitating the exchange, he stated that: Criminal networks today continue to devise the means to intensify the trafficking of illicit drugs across Africa, therefore, there is the need to increase efforts to disrupt and dismantle Organized Criminal Groups and stem the tide of illicit trafficking. The European Union (EU) Ambassador to Cote dIvoire, Excellence S.E. Madame Francesca Di Mauro in her opening remarks, thanked UNODC for the continued collaboration with the EU and the Ivorian government especially in bringing together members of the law enforcement, judges and investigators from across anglophone and francophone countries to interact and share knowledge and tools to better combat transnational organized crime. In her remarks, she stated that, " The EU is firmly committed to support the efforts of Cote dIvoire, ECOWAS and its members to crack down on international organized crime and all its trafficking, which undermines the social fabric and weakens state institutions." The German Deputy Ambassador to Cote dIvoire, Mr. Marton KOVER in his opening remarks stated that This Training Workshop provides a unique opportunity to simulate the investigation, prosecution and adjudication of organized crime and trafficking cases in the region. I am certain that equipped with additional techniques and cooperation mechanisms as showcased through joint training workshops like this you will be successful in strengthening West Africas fight against TOC and instability. Dr. Amado de Andres, UNODC Regional Representative for West and Central Africa, in his opening remarks expressed his gratitude to the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Union for the financing of the OCWAR-T project which allows UNODC to support the strengthening of the capacities of law enforcement institutions as well as the justice sector. He further stated that As part of the various activities aimed at increasing South-South cooperation, this mock trial exercise brings together eight countries to share experiences and best practices, knowledge and learn from each other. Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here on Thursday attended International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank Spring meetings via Zoom with Deputy Managing Director, IMF Ms. Antoinette Moniso Sayeh ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ):Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar here on Thursday attended International Monetary Fund (IMF) World Bank Spring meetings via Zoom with Deputy Managing Director, IMF Ms. Antoinette Moniso Sayeh. Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Dr. Aisha Ghous Pasha, SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, SAPM on Revenue Tariq Mehmood Pasha attended the meeting virtually from Islamabad. Whereas Ambassador of Pakistan to the USA Masood Ahmad Khan, Governor SBP Jamil Ahmad, Secretary Finance, Secretary EAD attended in person in Washington DC. Finance Minister and Deputy Director IMF discussed economic and financial policies and reforms of the Government of Pakistan and initiatives taken by the government regarding the implementation of the prior actions for the ongoing IMF program. Ishaq Dar apprised her of the country's economic outlook and shared the government's initiatives for bringing economic stability leading to growth. The Finance Minister further shared that all prior actions for the 9th Review under the Extended Fund Facility have already been completed and the Government of Pakistan was fully committed to fulfilling its obligations as agreed with the IMF. The Minister also shared that all the international obligations have been addressed in time. Deputy Managing Director, IMF appreciated the government's policies and supported government's initiatives in various sectors in term of implementation of prior actions agreed with the IMF. She further extended her support to continue work together and showed confidence in signing of Staff Level Agreement very soon. Finance Minister Senator Ishaq Dar thanked Ms. Antoinette Moniso Sayeh for support extended in completing the 9th Review. (@ChaudhryMAli88) SEOUL, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :South Korea's top court on Thursday finalized a 1.03 trillion won (about 760 million U.S. Dollars) fine imposed by the country's antitrust regulator on U.S. chipmaker Qualcomm for unfair business practices, according to Yonhap news agency. The Supreme Court finalized the ruling in favor of the Fair Trade Commission (FTC)'s decision in 2016 that fined the San Diego-based chipmaker and its two affiliates for breaching the country's competition law. The U.S. company was reportedly accused of abusing its market dominance and forcing mobile phone manufacturers to sign unfair contracts. The Seoul High Court ruled in 2019 that it was recognized that the U.S. company abused its market dominance by offering unjustifiable conditions to chipset makers and unfairly restricting competition in light of normal trading practices. The high court noted that it was recognized that the U.S. firm abused its trading advantage to force mobile phone manufacturers to make bad deals that unfairly restricted competition. Dublin, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :After a frosty encounter north of the border, US President Joe Biden is assured of a far warmer welcome by lawmakers in Ireland on Thursday during a visit to the country of his ancestral roots. Biden, who is only the second Catholic president in America's history, headed south on Wednesday to observe a disembarkation point for some of his 19th-century Irish forebears, following a speech in UK-ruled Northern Ireland. Braving a typical Irish drizzle, Biden said "It feels wonderful! Feels like I'm coming home", while visiting Carlingford Castle. Earlier, his one-night stop in Belfast was shadowed by the recriminations of pro-UK unionists who accused Biden of betraying "anti-British" feeling despite his attempts to bolster economic growth in the territory, 25 years after a US-brokered peace agreement. Biden, who declares Ireland to be "part of my soul", told an audience at Belfast's Ulster University that he cared about peace for the whole of the divided island. He urged the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) to end its boycott of Northern Ireland's Stormont legislature, advertising the promise in return of investment from "scores of major American corporations" if political stability returns. In addressing the Irish parliament, known as the Oireachtas, in Dublin, Biden will follow in steps first walked by John Fitzgerald Kennedy, who in June 1963 became the first sitting president to visit Ireland -- five months before his assassination. In his speech, Kennedy remarked that the parliament building -- Leinster House -- had once belonged to his ancestors the Fitzgeralds, the earls of Kildare. But, he joked, "I have not come here to claim it". Instead, he dwelt on "the many and the enduring links which have bound the Irish and the Americans since the earliest days", when both were engaged in struggle against the British. Unlike JFK, Biden cannot boast of noble ancestors in his lineage, but some of his forebears fled famine under British rule and congregated in hardscrabble Scranton, Pennsylvania. In his own speech Thursday, Biden will echo his predecessor in underscoring "the deep and enduring historical, cultural, political and economic ties between our countries", according to senior White House adviser Amanda Sloat. Biden's ancestry is never far from his lips, leading to accusations among Northern Irish unionists that his visit to the Emerald Isle is unabashed campaigning ahead of a re-election run. "The relative strength of Irish-Americans as a percentage of all Americans is dropping steadily, but Ireland retains an outsized influence on the US," said Coilin Parsons, director of global Irish studies at Washington's Georgetown University. "From music to literature and more, Irish culture has always found an eager public in the US, and not just among Irish-Americans," he told AFP. Ahead of his speech, Biden will meet Irish President Michael D. Higgins and Prime Minister Leo Varadkar -- whom he welcomed to the White House for St. Patrick's Day last month, when the White House fountain ran emerald green. After the remarks, Varadkar will host a banquet in Biden's honour at Dublin Castle, the ancient seat of English and British rule in Ireland. Before jetting home on Friday, Biden will head to Ballina in County Mayo, northwestern Ireland, another jumping-off point for ancestors who emigrated to Pennsylvania. Biden still counts relatives living in the area, including Joe Blewitt, a third cousin, who works as a plumber. "It's emotional, it's a very proud day for our family and for Ireland," Blewitt, 43, told AFP. "Ballina's very special to him." (@FahadShabbir) Dublin, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :After a frosty encounter north of the border, US President Joe Biden is assured of a far warmer welcome by lawmakers in Ireland on Thursday during a visit to the country of his ancestors. Biden, who is only the second Catholic president in America's history, will address the Irish parliament, known as the Oireachtas, in Dublin, following in steps first walked by John Fitzgerald Kennedy. In June, 1963, he became the first sitting president to visit Ireland -- five months before his assassination. In his speech, Kennedy remarked that the parliament building -- Leinster House -- had once belonged to his ancestors the Fitzgeralds, the earls of Kildare. But, he joked, "I have not come here to claim it". Instead, he dwelt on "the many and the enduring links which have bound the Irish and the Americans since the earliest days", when both were engaged in struggle against the British. Unlike JFK, Biden cannot boast of noble ancestors in his lineage, but some of his forebears fled famine under British rule and congregated in hardscrabble Scranton, Pennsylvania. In his own address Thursday, Biden will echo his predecessor in underscoring "the deep and enduring historical, cultural, political and economic ties between our countries", according to senior White House adviser Amanda Sloat. Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :A record six women directors will compete for the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival in May, the organisers announced on Thursday, with the 76th edition promising to be a who's who of Hollywood A-listers and veteran filmmakers. Wes Anderson's "Asteroid City" will alone bring a cavalcade of stars to the red carpet, including Tom Hanks, Margot Robbie and Scarlett Johansson. It is competing among 19 films for the top prize Palme d'Or when the festival returns to France's Cote d'Azur from May 16 to 27. The presence of six women directors, including Italy's Alice Rohrwacher and a debut from Senegalese filmmaker Ramata-Toulaye Sy, beats last year's record of five. Natalie Portman and Julianne Moore will be present for "May December" -- another impressive double-header from director Todd Haynes, whose lesbian drama "Carol" won a joint acting award for Cate Blanchett and Rooney Mara at the festival in 2015. They add more stardust to the glitzy Hollywood premieres already announced by the festival, including the new Indiana Jones and Martin Scorsese movies. A fiery start is also guaranteed thanks to opening night film "Jeanne du Barry", which sees Johnny Depp play French king Louis XV in his first role since an explosive defamation trial against ex-wife Amber Heard involving bitter allegations of domestic abuse. Depp will be joined by his daughter, Lily Rose Depp, who stars in "The Idol", a tv series playing out of competition that was produced by musician Abel "The Weeknd" Tesfaye. The show has had a tumultuous production with reports of major rewrites and re-shoots. As if that was not enough to inflame social media, the star and director of "Jeanne du Barry", Maiwenn, had a criminal complaint lodged against her last week for allegedly assaulting a journalist -- yanking his head back and spitting in his face -- in a Paris restaurant. - Palme laureates - Veteran filmmakers such as two-time Palme winner Ken Loach, 86, and Wim Wenders, 77, are also competing, along with other past winners such as South Korea's Hirokazu Kore-eda. Scorsese's "Killers of the Flower Moon", starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Robert De Niro, currently has an out-of-competition slot but may end up in the contest, festival director Thierry Fremaux said, without giving a clear explanation. Also playing out of competition is a documentary about wartime Amsterdam, "Occupied City", by celebrated British director Steve McQueen ("12 Years a Slave"), which Fremaux described as "a very radical film of several hours". Arthouse fans are particularly excited about the return of British director Jonathan Glazer ("Sexy Beast", "Under the Skin") with a Holocaust-set romance, "The Zone of Interest", based on a novel by Martin Amis. Other past Palme winners Nanni Moretti from Italy and Turkey's Nuri Bilge Ceylan are also back, as well as celebrated auteurs such as Finland's Aki Kaurismaki. Victory in Cannes can give a major boost to arthouse cinema, such as last year's winner "Triangle of Sadness", which went on to pick up several Oscar nominations. Its director, Sweden's Ruben Ostlund, heads this year's jury. Hollywood loves the French Riviera as a launchpad for its glossier fare, with "Top Gun: Maverick" and "Elvis" getting their world premieres at the festival last year. This year will see "Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny", with Harrison Ford as guest of honour for his fifth and final appearance as the iconic adventuring archaeologist, alongside Phoebe Waller-Bridge and Antonio Banderas. TOKYO, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :A fire ravaged a house in Japan's northeastern prefecture of Aomori early Thursday, killing five people in a possible case of murder-arson, local media reported. The five bodies were found in the two-story wooden house in the town of Rokunohe in the prefecture. Local police said they were investigating the cause of the blaze at the house, which was occupied by eight people and completely gutted by the fire. The police said it was possible that the fire was stared deliberately. Of the victims, one is thought not to be a resident of the house, the police said. A 68-year-old man and his two grandchildren managed to escape the fire, local reports said, adding that one resident was still at work when the fire completely torched the 340-square-meter property, its garage and a storage shed. Police said the cause of the fire could have been deliberate and a case of murder-arson, according to local accounts. (@FahadShabbir) Paris, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :Hundreds of thousands of people are set to take to the streets across France again on Thursday to protest against President Emmanuel Macron's pension reform in a final day of demonstrations before a crucial court decision on the legislation. Police expect around 400,000-600,000 people to take part nationwide, less than half of the peak of nearly 1.3 million reached in March at the height of the protests against the bid to raise the retirement age to 64 from 62. Security forces are on alert for troublemakers, with around 1,500 anarchist and radical protesters expected in Paris, while regional towns such as Nantes and Rennes are again seen as being at risk of clashes. All eyes are currently on the constitutional court, which is due to rule on the legality of the draft pensions law. "The decision from the constitutional court on Friday will bring an end to the democratic and constitutional procedures," Macron told reporters on a trip to the Netherlands on Wednesday, adding that public debate "will continue, for sure". If the court issues a greenlight -- and ministers are privately confident it will -- Macron hopes to sign the changes into law immediately, clearing the way for them to enter into force before the end of 2023. Having repeatedly snubbed calls for talks with union leaders in recent weeks, the 45-year-old said he would invite labour representatives for discussions once the court decision was published. "I know that traces of our current disagreements will remain, but I will do it (call for talks) in a spirit of concord and with the desire to look to the future, whatever decision is announced," he added. If the law is approved, it remains to be seen if unions will call more strikes, with momentum clearly waning and employees reluctant to give up on salaries for what seems like a losing battle. Surveys show that about two in three French people are against the pension changes, but Macron argues that it is essential to stop the system falling into heavy deficits in coming decades. Critics accuse the president of riding roughshod over public opinion and parliament, where the minority government invoked controversial executive powers to ram the legislation through without a vote at the end of March. Speaking in the Netherlands, Macron linked the pension changes to the need for France to control public spending and his larger agenda for closer economic ties between EU members. "I'm proud of the French social model and I defend it, but if we want to make it sustainable we have to produce more," he said. "We have to re-industrialise the country. We have to decrease unemployment and we have to increase the quantity of work being delivered in the country. This pension reform is part of it." (@ChaudhryMAli88) San Francisco, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :US radio broadcaster NPR on Wednesday said it was quitting Twitter, in the first significant defection by a major news outlet since Elon Musk's tumultuous takeover of the platform. The exit caps a week-long row over Twitter's decision to label National Public Radio as a "state-affiliated media," branding it the same way as it does as major media outlets in authoritarian countries such as Russia or China. Highly-respected in the United States, NPR had already suspended tweets from its main account as it waited for Twitter to change course, which it did only by modifying its label for NPR to "government-funded media," a tag it also applied to Britain's BBC. In a short statement, NPR said all its organizational accounts "will no longer be active on Twitter because the platform is taking actions that undermine our credibility by falsely implying that we are not editorially independent." It added that "there are plenty of ways to stay connected and keep up with NPR's news, music, and cultural content," urging users to other platforms, which it linked to in a final tweet. Musk has expressed deep disdain for news media for years and recently installed an automatic response of a poop emoji to emailed inquiries from journalists. "Defund @NPR," Musk tweeted Wednesday afternoon, referencing the activist movement to "defund the police." News organizations have struggled to wean themselves from the platform, which remains a main communication exchange for celebrities, politicians and pundits. A spokeswoman for NPR told AFP that its journalists, as well as its affiliate radio stations "will be able to decide on their own if they want to stay on the platform." NPR's departure came hours after Musk indicated in a BBC interview on Tuesday that the label decision was a mistake and that he would consider changing it to "publicly-funded." He also addressed Twitter's controversial move to strip the New York Times of its blue verified check mark after the company refused to pay to keep it. From April 20, any legacy verified accounts on Twitter -- which were established as authentic under the company's old ownership -- will have to pay to subscribe to Twitter Blue. One of the reasons for this, Musk said, was that he does not want Twitter to boost "some anointed class of journalists" who determine what constitutes news. WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- President of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) Jin Liqun on Wednesday urged multilateral development banks (MDBs) to "strengthen their ability to operate holistically as a coordinated system" on climate finance. "If humanity's moonshot to net-zero is to be successful, then coordination and collaboration in climate finance are mission critical," Jin said in the opening keynote at an event themed "MDB Responses in the Polycrisis Era," held by the Rockefeller Foundation. Noting that firm and effective action must be taken to drive the transition full throttle towards net-zero, Jin put forward three proposals to strengthen the multilateral system in his speech. The first is to create "an institutionalized forum" for international financial institutions to discuss progress and actions on climate finance, he said. MDBs holding a "joint annual meeting every two years" in place of their individual annual meeting comes second, said Jin, adding that "we could target 2025, the year that global emissions must peak to meet our 1.5 degree Celsius warming pathway, as the year that MDBs come together to deepen their coordination on climate action." The third idea is to create "a marketplace" for climate projects, he said. "This would be a platform that matches financing for technical assistance and projects. The AIIB is already working on this and we welcome engagement with other partners." By citing research from the Climate Policy Initiative, Jin also said that the current work needs to be further improved. "If humanity's effort to limit global warming to within 1.5 degrees is to be successful, climate financing must grow to 4.5 to 5 trillion U.S. dollars annually by 2030, up from 653 billion dollars in 2020," Jin said. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, "while sufficient capital and liquidity exist globally to meet this task, current financial flows are 3 to 6 times lower than what is needed, particularly for developing economies," he said. In 2021, climate finance from major MDBs totaled 82 billion dollars, of which over 60 percent went to low- and middle-income economies. However, humanity's colossal climate financing needs far exceed the fiscal capacity of governments and the balance sheets of MDBs. Jin said the AIIB has set a "very ambitious target" of reaching an at least 50 percent climate finance share by 2025, cumulating to about 50 billion dollars by the end of this decade. In 2022, it delivered a record 2.4 billion dollars in climate finance, or 56 percent of its total financing, reaching its climate finance goal three years earlier. Underlining the importance of the private sector, he said that "by 2030, our aim is that 50 percent of all our financing will be directed toward the private sector. We are investing in opportunities with the potential to leverage even greater amounts of private capital toward green infrastructure investment." Meanwhile, the AIIB took the G20 Capital Adequacy Framework (CAF) report's recommendations "very seriously," Jin said, adding that "we have been actively engaging our Board on the implications of the CAF review recommendations and our progress in implementing them." Jin concluded by saying that the AIIB stands ready to work with relevant parties to ensure that the actions taken today meet the challenges of the future. "While we may indeed be living in the era of the polycrisis, we must remember that the future is not as uncertain as the present. The path ahead is clear. The climate financing obstacles ahead are tough, but they are not insurmountable. Reform of the multilateral system and the international financial system should be welcomed, and it must be ongoing," said Jin. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :A local court on Thursday sent PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur to Adiala Jail on judicial remand in an FIR pertaining to expressing the controversial statement on a private news channel. The accused was produced before the court of senior civil judge Ahtisham Aalam after the end of his two-day remand. The police prayed to the court to grant more custody of the accused for further investigation. The court rejected the request for more remand and sent the accused to jail on 14-day judicial remand. The court also granted permission to CTD police to include Gandapur in the investigation prcess. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2023) The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) on Thursday condemned a military airstrike carried out by Myanmar's armed forces in its northwestern region of Sagaing, which killed dozens of people. "ASEAN strongly condemns the reported recent air strikes carried out by the Myanmar Armed Forces in Pa Zi Gyi Village, Kanbalu Township, Sagaing Region of Myanmar, that claimed the lives of at least dozens of civilians," the association said in a statement. ASEAN also called for an immediate end to all forms of violence, specifically the use of force against civilians, as the only way to find a sustainable peaceful solution in Myanmar is to "create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue." On Tuesday, Myanmar's military government staged an airstrike on the village of Pa Zi Gyi, reportedly dropping two bombs on a house and launching several rounds of gunfire from a Mi-35 combat helicopter. Media reported that the death toll stood at 100, with at least 30 children killed, adding that the number might rise. Military government spokesman Maj. Gen. Zaw Min Tun acknowledged the fact of the airstrike, saying that the military targeted the opening ceremony for an office set up by an armed opposition group. Local news outlet Eleven Media reported on Wednesday, citing a government memo that it had obtained, that significant casualties and extensive destruction were caused not by the airstrike itself, which was "precise and carefully calculated," but by an accidental direct hit on a camouflaged ammunition stock, which belonged to "terrorists" and was located in the immediate vicinity of the event's site. The military came to power in Myanmar in February 2021. The opposition resorted to armed struggle after a brutal crackdown on peaceful demonstrations by the military regime and the police. The military arrested government officials, accusing them of rigging the general election, and later appointed a new administration. (@FahadShabbir) Four people were killed in eastern Myanmar on Thursday after a series of car bombs exploded at a pagoda where a crowd had gathered to mark the start of the Buddhist new year, the country's ruling junta said Yangon, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ) :Four people were killed in eastern Myanmar on Thursday after a series of car bombs exploded at a pagoda where a crowd had gathered to mark the start of the Buddhist new year, the country's ruling junta said. The blasts came days after an estimated 130 people were reported killed in a junta air strike in central Myanmar. Shortly before midday, explosions destroyed at least three vehicles near Yan Taing Aung pagoda in eastern Shan state's Lashio township, local media reported. "Four men were killed on spot from the blast area," said a Lashio rescue worker who transported the dead and wounded away from the site. He told AFP 12 people were wounded and two were in serious condition at a hospital. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday began a China tour aimed at deepening ties with the world's second-largest economy by attending the swearing-in of a political ally as head of a major multilateral development bank Shanghai, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 13th Apr, 2023 ):Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva on Thursday began a China tour aimed at deepening ties with the world's second-largest economy by attending the swearing-in of a political ally as head of a major multilateral development bank. Dilma Rousseff, a former leader of Brazil, was inaugurated as the president of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) in Shanghai on Thursday morning. The bank was jointly set up by Brazil, China, Russia, India and South Africa to serve emerging economies, and Rousseff will complete her country's term in its rotating presidency until 2025. Lula is set to meet the head of China's biggest electronic carmaker BYD as well as visit a research centre run by telecom giant Huawei later in Shanghai, before meeting his counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing on Friday. "We're going to consolidate our relationship with China. I'm going to invite Xi Jinping to come to Brazil for a bilateral meeting, to get to know the country and to show him projects that will be of interest for Chinese investment," Lula said on Monday evening before his departure. In October, BYD said it was planning to set up a vehicle manufacturing plant in northern Brazil's Bahia after Ford Motors closed its factory in the industrial area. The company is already making electric buses and cars for the Latin American market in Brazil. Brazil is a huge market for technology giant Huawei -- in contrast with the United States, where companies are effectively barred from doing business with the firm. China is Brazil's biggest export market, buying tens of billions of dollars worth of soybeans, beef and iron ore. The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities said on Thursday that the country would withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2023) The Danish Ministry of Climate, Energy and Utilities said on Thursday that the country would withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty. "Denmark will withdraw from the Energy Charter Treaty, but will still work for approval of the modernization and collective EU withdrawal," the ministry said on Twitter. Earlier in the day, media reported, citing the ministry's statement, that the treaty in its current state creates "unnecessary uncertainty" about the transition to green energy for Denmark. The decision has to be approved by the Danish parliament before going into effect. At the end of 2022, France and the Netherlands also decided to exit the agreement in an effort to ensure smooth transition to green energy, with a number of other EU states, including Spain and Poland, also expressing their intention to withdraw from the treaty. The Energy Charter Treaty, signed in 1994 in Lisbon, is an international agreement that establishes a multilateral framework for cross-border cooperation in the energy industry. It was signed by 53 parties, including the European Union and Euroatom. The treaty has been criticized for creating obstacles for countries in their action against climate change by prioritizing the interests of investors over government policy and protecting fossil fuel projects. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2023) The United States and its allies should take responsibility for the difficult situation in Afghanistan, as well as lift sanctions and return the assets being frozen abroad, the Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia, China and Pakistan said a joint statement on Thursday. The Uzbek city of Samarkand is hosting the fourth meeting of the foreign ministers of Afghanistan's neighboring countries on Thursday. "The ministers noted that the United States and its allies should take responsibility for the difficult situation now in Afghanistan, immediately lift unilateral sanctions against Afghanistan and return its assets frozen outside the country for the benefit of the Afghan people," the statement of the Meeting of Foreign Ministers of the Neighboring Countries of Afghanistan said. Foreign Ministers of Iran, Russia, China and Pakistan also strongly oppose the restoration of US and allied military bases in and around Afghanistan. TOKYO (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2023) The Japan Coast Guard said on Thursday that the missile fired by North Korea earlier in the day has already landed but did not specify where. "According to the (Japanese) Defense Ministry, the missile fired by North Korea has already landed. Please, stay away from the (missile's) fragments should any be found and inform the security service," the statement read. The Japan Coast Guard also said that there was no chance of the missile landing somewhere near Japan's northernmost island of Hokkaido. Earlier on Thursday, the Japanese authorities issued an evacuation order for the residents of Hokkaido amid risks that Pyongyang's missile could land near the island, a Sputnik correspondent reported after receiving the corresponding notification on his phone. It was the 9th ballistic missile launch by North Korea this year. Last year, Pyongyang carried out 37 ballistic missile launches. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2023) SpaceX's Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft will return back to Earth on Saturday carrying scientific research samples and hardware from the International Space Station (ISS), NASA said. "A SpaceX Dragon cargo resupply spacecraft is set to depart the International Space Station on Saturday, April 15, returning scientific research samples and hardware to Earth for NASA," NASA announced in a statement. The spacecraft will undock the ISS at 15:05 GMT and will splash off the coast of Florida. The spacecraft "will carry back to Earth approximately 4,300 Pounds of supplies and scientific experiments," including space tomato harvest, Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's higher quality crystals grown aboard the ISS, the result of analysis of astronauts' accelerated arterial wall stiffening and thickening, and studies on burning in microgravity, the statement said. The spacecraft arrived at the ISS on March 16 as a part of SpaceX's 27th Commercial Resupply Services mission for NASA and delivered over 6,000 pounds of research investigations, crew supplies, and station hardware. MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 14th April, 2023) The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) said on Thursday that it has initiated a preliminary probe against US company OpenAI, developer of the popular ChatGPT artificial intelligence chatbot, "The Spanish Data Protection Agency (AEPD) has ex officio initiated a preliminary investigation against US company OpenAI, owner of the ChatGPT service, over a potential breach of regulations," the agency said in a statement. The AEPD also revealed that last week, it had asked the European Data Protection board (EDPB), of which it is a member, to include ChatGPT on the agenda of its next plenary meeting scheduled for April 13. "The Board has decided in the plenary meeting held today to launch a working group (task force) to promote cooperation and to exchange information on the actions taken by the (European) data protection agencies," the AEPD added. In late March, the Italian Data Protection Authority imposed restrictions on ChatGPT over suspected violations regarding data collection. The regulator said it had demanded that OpenAI inform about measures it would take to increase the protection of data or else be fined of up to 20 million Euros ($21.8 million) or 4% of the company's annual turnover. OpenAI's ChatGPT language model, launched in late November 2022, had reached the first million users in less than a week. Its ability to mimic human conversations and generate unique texts based on users' prompts sparked off discussions whether it could force human text writers out of the market or even become a competitor to Google. The United Nations condemns North Korea for its recent ballistic missile test launch, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday UNITED NATIONS (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2023) The United Nations condemns North Korea for its recent ballistic missile test launch, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said on Thursday. "The Secretary-General strongly condemns the launch of yet another long-range ballistic missile by the Democratic People's Republic of Korea," Dujarric said in a statement. The Secretary-General reiterates his calls on North Korea to fully comply with its international obligations under all relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the statement said. Earlier on Thursday, Japan and the United States conducted joint air force exercises in response to North Korea's recent ballistic missile test launch. North Korea launched an unspecified ballistic missile toward the Sea of Japan that flew about 1,000 kilometers (621 miles) and landed outside of Japan's exclusive economic zone, the ninth such launch this year. This week marks the 25th anniversary of the signing of the Good Friday Agreement which brought an end to 30 years of conflict in Northern Ireland. However, the anniversary was overshadowed by the political deadlock in the region. Produced by Xinhua Global Service US Congressman Andy Biggs said on Thursday that he is introducing legislation to defund the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and require it to reimburse the government, following District Attorney Alvin Bragg's criminal indictment of former US President Donald Trump WASHINGTON (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 13th April, 2023) US Congressman Andy Biggs said on Thursday that he is introducing legislation to defund the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and require it to reimburse the government, following District Attorney Alvin Bragg's criminal indictment of former US President Donald Trump. "I just introduced legislation to hold DA Alvin Bragg accountable for failing to address lawlessness and for utilizing federal resources in the political prosecution of President Trump," Biggs said in a statement via Twitter. "I am defunding his Manhattan Office and requiring it to repay us." Biggs' bill, dubbed the Accountability for Lawless Violence In our Neighborhoods (ALVIN) Act, would prohibit federal funding to the Manhattan District Attorney's Office and require the office reimburse the federal government for all funds expended after January 1, 2022. Biggs also introduced the No Federal Funds for Political Prosecutions Act, which would prevent state and local law enforcement from using certain funds to probe or prosecute the US President, Vice President or a presidential candidate. Biggs has characterized Bragg's indictment of Trump as a "weaponized indictment," calling him a "rogue" prosecutor. Trump was indicted on charges linked to alleged hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels. Trump pleaded not guilty to the charges against him, referring to the case as a "witch hunt." Trump and other Republican officials have criticized Bragg and the investigation, claiming he is pursuing a politically motivated case instead of addressing crime in New York City. Author of Book on Clyde Kennard to Speak at USM April 28 Thu, 04/13/2023 - 03:56pm | By: David Tisdale The author of a new book about Clyde Kennard, a Black U.S. Army veteran who made multiple attempts to enroll at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) in the 1950s but was denied admission, will visit the schools Hattiesburg campus for a presentation and book signing Friday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to noon in the R.C. Cook University Union, Room B. This event is free and open to the public. A Slow, Calculated Lynching: The Story of Clyde Kennard (University Press of Mississippi) by Devery Anderson examines Kennard's efforts to become a student at the then-segregated USM. Kennard was later falsely accused of multiple crimes and ultimately sentenced to seven years at Parchman Farm, now the Mississippi State Penitentiary. While there, he was diagnosed with cancer but was denied proper medical treatment until he was critically ill. He was released on parole in January 1963 and died July 4, 1963, at the age of 36. In 1993, USM renamed the student services building on its Hattiesburg campus Kennard-Washington Hall in honor of Kennard and Dr. Walter Washington, the first African American to receive a doctoral degree from the institution. In 2006, Kennard was exonerated in Forrest County Circuit Court after subsequent investigations showed he had been framed to undermine his quest to enroll at USM. During a February 2018 ceremony, a marker recognizing Kennard's sacrifices was placed in front of Kennard-Washington Hall as part of the Mississippi Freedom Trail. Kennard was also posthumously awarded a doctorate by USM in May of 2018. Devery Anderson From the moment I learned about this case and read from historian John Dittmer that he believed it was, in many respects, the most tragic of the civil rights movement, I was drawn in, Anderson said in reflecting on his decision to work on a book about Kennard. When I learned the basic facts myself, I immediately agreed. Unlike so many racially motivated incidents, the case against Clyde Kennard wasnt instigated by vigilantes, but by Mississippi state officials. I hope readers will see that in the end, Kennard was exonerated posthumously for being falsely convicted, not for himselfhe was gonebut so that Mississippi could heal from this terrible injustice. People came togetherBlack, white, liberal, and conservative citizens united for this purpose and got it done. Anderson is also the author of Emmett Till: The Murder That Shocked the World and Propelled the Civil Rights Movement, which was the basis for the ABC-TV miniseries Women of the Movement, and coeditor of publications about Mormons and the West, two of which won the Steven F. Christensen Award for Best Documentary from the Mormon History Association in 2006. For more information about Andersons scheduled presentation, contact Dr. Eddie Holloway, USMs Senior Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, at eddie.hollowayFREEMississippi. Pedestrians walk past the International Monetary Fund headquarters in Washington, D.C., the United States, April 10, 2023. (Xinhua/Liu Jie) "There's the problem of the geoeconomic fragmentation. A number of countries have increased the barriers to trade and technology flows. It's not positive, it's actually going to cost the world about 2 percent (of output)." by Xinhua writers Yang Shilong, Pan Lijun WASHINGTON, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Geoeconomic fragmentation is a rising challenge to the world economy, which is at a highly uncertain moment, and major countries should find ways of maintaining the strong integration that lifts everybody, an International Monetary Fund (IMF) official said on Tuesday. "There's the problem of the geoeconomic fragmentation. A number of countries have increased the barriers to trade and technology flows. It's not positive, it's actually going to cost the world about 2 percent (of output)," Daniel Leigh, who heads the World Economic Studies division in the IMF's Research Department, told Xinhua in an interview during the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings week. "It's a complex world unfortunately. What we're seeing is many countries becoming more disconnected," he added. "So there are all these fissures in the world economy breaking the world economy into different blocks. This is one of the major reasons why we need to focus on rebalancing the decisions to avoid the costs," said Leigh. All the big countries should "find ways of maintaining the strong integration that would lift everybody" and "everybody would benefit from more collaboration," he said. "It is something we are looking at from our point of view, we try to evaluate the economic costs (of the fragmentation). So that in the end, when the policymakers are weighing up their strategic considerations, they can also look at these costs," said Leigh. He said there are "a number of areas of common interest where countries can rebuild the trust" such as sovereign debt resolution, climate change mitigation and trade system modernization. This aerial photo taken on March 13, 2023 shows a container terminal of Taicang Port, east China's Jiangsu Province. (Xinhua/Li Bo) Meanwhile, Leigh said Asia, China in particular, is the bright spot of the world economy. "Right now Asia is the bright spot of the world economy," Leigh said. China's economy, in particular, will grow 5.2 percent in 2023 and 4.5 percent in 2024, the IMF projected on Tuesday. "So this is going to provide a boost to a lot of countries. This is a very positive development" that definitely has positive spillover effects, he said. The senior economist expressed confidence that the Chinese government is in a better position to navigate its economy through international challenges. Rare Earth Mining in Vietnam: Industry Overview Ranked third in the world in terms of its rare earth mining potential, Vietnam could become a major player in rare earth supply chains. Heres how foreign investors can get involved. Rare earths are essential elements for the production of various products, including cancer drugs, smartphones, and renewable energy technologies. At the moment, China accounts for 63 percent of the worlds rare earth mining, 85 percent of rare earth processing, and 92 percent of rare earth magnet production. As the world moves towards a green energy future, and trade friction persists between China and the US, alternative sources of rare earths are in demand. With the rapid advancements in technology, a favorable investment climate, and the worlds third largest supply of rare earths, Vietnam is becoming an attractive destination for investors in the sector. The global rare earth supply chain Rare earths are a group of metallic chemical elements that are difficult to find in large quantities, which possess special magnetic and electrochemical properties. Contrary to their name, rare earths are not always particularly rare and can be found throughout the earths crust. However, they are often distributed in higher volumes of smaller deposits, making their extraction challenging and expensive. The global rare earth reserves have been estimated by the American Geological Survey to be 120 million tons. Among these, China possesses 44 million tons, Brazil has 22 million tons, Vietnam is estimated to have 20 million tons, followed by Russia with 18 million tons. See also: Semiconductor Manufacturing in Vietnam vs Taiwan Chinas market share and geopolitics According to several studies, China possesses more than 90 percent of the global rare earth supply. As a result, China has the ability to utilize rare earths as a geopolitical tool. For instance, China threatened to halt rare earth exports to Japan in 2010 over a detained Chinese fishing trawler. Notably this prompted Japanese scientists to explore and evaluate rare earth mines in Vietnam. This unbalanced situation has raised concerns for customers who depend on China for their rare earths supply, in particular the United States, South Korea, and Europe. Furthermore, prices of rare earths have continued to rise sharply, prompting many countries to revive their own rare earth mining industries or seek alternative sources of supply outside of China. Vietnams rare earth reserves Vietnam has reserves of approximately 20 million tons of rare earth, which are mainly distributed in the northwest region of the country. These reserves are valued at approximately US$3 trillion, providing a significant opportunity for the nations economic development. Rare earth mining in Vietnam is concentrated in the Northwest and Central Highlands and includes light rare earth groups of hydrothermal origin. Various rare earth mineral deposit points have been identified, such as North Nam Xe, Nam Nam Xe, Dong Pao (Lai Chau), Muong Hum (Lao Cai), and Yen Phu (Yen Bai). There are also some small rare earth deposits scattered along the coast from Quang Ninh to Vung Tau. The environmental and social impact of rare earth minerals extraction and processing Rare earth ore mining and processing generates a significant amount of waste, resulting in negative environmental impacts. Waste rock is stored in landfills and is often exposed to the environment, which can cause toxic substances to dissolve and spread in groundwater systems and soil. Chinas experience offers a clear example of the harmful effects of rare earth mining whereby the use of outdated technology in mining has led to serious environmental pollution. The Yellow River, an important water source for over 150 million people, has been threatened by waste from rare earth mines. In Guangdong province, strong acids leaking from nearby rare earth mining sites have damaged rice fields, streams, and canals. In response to these environmental and health concerns, China reduced mining output and introduced greater regulation of rare earth mining in 2012. Challenges faced by Vietnam in rare earth mining and processing Technology Vietnamese enterprises lack deep processing technology. Many exploration and processing companies have struggled to access processing technology, presenting a considerable challenge for businesses to penetrate the domestic market and establish exports. Commitment Domestic enterprises are not fully committed to investing in research and adopting a more comprehensive strategy towards rare earth ore processing technology. There is a distinct lack of investment, nor is there a comprehensive research and development strategy for the sector. Mechanisms and policies Regulatory mechanisms and policies are critical to advancing rare earth mining activities. Resolution No. 10, issued on October 2, 2021, acknowledges the importance of maintaining rare earth mining operations. It does, however, stop short of providing specific mechanisms and policies. Notably, investment in research and international cooperation is necessary for the advancement of the mining of these minerals. Enterprises are only able to complete 40 percent of the processing needed to make rare earths usable. This is well below the Ministry of Industry and Trades minimum export standard of 95 percent. Major domestic players in Vietnams rare earths industry The Vietnam Investment and Construction Joint Stock Company (CAVICO Vietnam) and the Vietnam Institute of Radiation Technology recently signed an agreement for the research, development, and construction of a scandium rare earth deep processing plant. This agreement is expected to pave the way for the development of the rare earth industry within Vietnam. Currently, CAVICO Vietnam is operating a mining and processing facility in Laos, which covers an area of 80 km2 in Bolikhamxay province. This is under an investment license permitting the mining and processing of nickel, iron, cobalt, gold, and silver ores. International firms operating in Vietnams rare earths industry Collaborating with Japan, the General Department of Geology and Minerals has discovered rare earth deposits in Lao Cai province alongside deposits in Yen Bai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Lang Son, Nghe An, Kon Tum, and Lam Dong. In December 2014, the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment granted a license to Lai Chau Rare Earth Joint Stock Company and their Japanese partner to extract rare earth ores from a site in Lai Chau province. This mine is believed to hold the highest volume of reserves in the country and is capable of large-scale industrial exploitation. Aside from Lai Chau, the ministry has also granted licenses for rare earth mining in Yen Bai province. Although this mine has smaller reserves, it is as yet untouched and may be highly profitable if exploited effectively and efficiently. In 2022, Vietnam Rare Earth Joint Stock Company signed an agreement on rare earth export with ASM & KSM Metal Co., Ltd and the government of Chungcheongbuk-do province in South Korea. This will see the two companies work together to develop mining operations in Yen Bai province. It is estimated that the site contains 30,000 tons of rare earth reserves. Government policies and regulations This resolution outlines strategic directions for the geology, minerals, and mining industry up to 2030. The resolution encompasses four key objectives. Geological and mineral resources are considered vital resources for socio-economic development and need to be fully planned, investigated, and explored. Basic geological and mineral surveys must be conducted proactively and serve as a foundation for formulating strategies, master plans, and plans for socio-economic development. Planning management, basic geological and mineral investigation, exploration, exploitation, processing, and use of minerals must have a strategic vision to meet the requirements of socio-economic development in the short, medium, and long term. There must be an effective connection between planning, investigation, exploration, and exploitation in processing and using minerals. The Law on Minerals covers various aspects of mineral activities in Vietnam, including general provisions, mineral strategies and planning, and responsibilities to protect unexploited minerals. There are also regulations on basic geological investigation, environmental protection, mineral exploration, exploitation, and financing. Vietnams international commitments to foreign investment in mining CPTPP The Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) outlines conditions for foreign investment in the mining sector in Vietnam. Essentially, approval for foreign investment will only be granted if the investment project is deemed to bring net benefits to Vietnam. Various factors are taken into account. This includes: the projects impact on economic activity, job creation, equipment and services made in and exported from Vietnam, the extent and importance of Vietnamese participation in the project, productivity, economic efficiency, the technology to be developed in Vietnam, product innovation, competition, and the compatibility of the project with other national policies. VKFTA and EVFTA The Vietnam-Korea Free Trade Agreement (VKFTA) and the European Union-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) allow for the establishment of joint ventures with a foreign capital contribution not exceeding 51 percent or enterprises with 100 percent foreign investment capital, according to Vietnams Foreign Investment Agency. Investment opportunities in Vietnams mining and rare earth minerals industry In 2022, Vietnam was the recipient of 108 foreign direct investment (FDI) projects in the mining industry, amounting to a combined registered capital of US$4.9 billion. Vietnams mining industry is diverse, with rare earth minerals becoming an increasingly important focus for the sector. This is driven by reports that the country has one of the largest reserves of rare earth minerals in the world. Furthermore, Vietnam also has a favorable geographical location, with access to key markets in the region, such as China, Japan, and South Korea, which are major importers of rare earth minerals. The Vietnamese government has identified the mining industry, including the rare earth minerals sector, as a priority for development, and has introduced measures to attract foreign investment. These measures include tax incentives, streamlined procedures for obtaining mining licenses, and the establishment of industrial zones dedicated to mining and processing. Investors looking to invest in Vietnams mining industry can benefit from the countrys strategic location in Southeast Asia, major investments in infrastructure, and a skilled and low-cost workforce. Transcript The Inside Story: The Artemis Generation Episode 87 April13, 2023 Show Open: Shanna DeLeon, Orion Program Office Software Manager: This is the largest mission that NASA has taken on. Unidentified Narrator: Humans last stepped foot on the moon in 1972 during NASAs Apollo program. More than fifty years later, thats about to change. Branelle Rodriguez, NASA Orion Program Integration Manager: Apollo had a sister, Artemis, and this is our generation, and I think this is a fantastic thing to really go explore and put a presence on the moon. Unidentified Narrator: The Artemis Generation, now, on the Inside Story. The Inside Story: KANE FARABAUGH, VOA Midwest Correspondent: Thanks for joining us. Im VOAs Midwest Correspondent Kane Farabaugh here at Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch and return of the unmanned Orion capsule as part of NASAs Artemis 1 mission marks the beginning of a new chapter in space exploration. As hundreds of analysts and engineers around the world review the data coming in from the mission, planning is underway for the first crewed mission back to the lunar surface, in what NASA hopes becomes a long term presence on the moon. Shanna DeLeon, Orion Program Office Software Manager: This is the largest mission that NASA has taken on. KANE FARABAUGH: As it traveled farther than any craft designed to carry people, NASAs staff watched intently as volumes of data streamed back from Artemis 1s uncrewed Orion capsule. Shanna DeLeon, Orion Program Office Software Manager: Thermal analysis. Vibe acoustic. Kirstyn Johnson, Orion Crew Survival Systems Project: Analyzing the data from the Orion seat to understand the dynamic response to having the mannequin in there. Branelle Rodriguez, Orion Program Integration Manager: We want to make sure the spacecraft is set up for those challenges radiation, things like that. KANE FARABAUGH: The Orion capsules 26 day journey, carrying 3 mannequins tens of thousands of kilometers beyond the moon, tested NASAs ability to one day carry astronauts like Victor Glover in a craft where the crew wont have much independent control. Victor J. Glover, NASA Astronaut: The maneuvers it's going to do are so complicated that for me to have manual control throughout the entire regime of flight actually adds risk that that we aren't necessarily trying to buy off on. Shanna DeLeon, Orion Program Office Software Manager: We will have Astronauts will be on board, they will monitor all their systems, they will have 60 plus displays that show everything on the vehicle and provide telemetry and command interface to the vehicle, but automation in the background will be operating the mission in its entirety. KANE FARABAUGH: NASAs Shanna DeLeon, a veteran of the Space Shuttle program, is part of the team working on new and very different technology from that used by the last astronauts to reach the moon. Shanna DeLeon, Orion Program Office Software Manager: Its very different than the Apollo era of capsule where you had switch throws and multiple astronauts, and you called the astronauts to make actions that would operate the vehicle. Artemis is automated - its a software driven vehicle, its a data driven vehicle that will automate everything from takeoff through splashdown. KANE FARABAUGH: NASA officials expressed confidence in Orions overall performance despite some minor technical glitches. The agency must now sort through the collected data in preparation for the next step Artemis 2. Branelle Rodriguez, Orion Program Integration Manager: All the data we get is a success. And thats the important thing, to go off and test that out so we can buy down that risk for Artemis 2. KANE FARABAUGH: While Space X is also working on a new rocket system to reach the moon to assist in NASAs long-term goals, Program Integration manager Rodriguez says the Orion capsule is NASAs craft of choice for the foreseeable future. Branelle Rodriguez, Orion Program Integration Manager: This isnt just this test flight this is the start of a fantastic campaign that is going to extend our exploration. KANE FARABAUGH: Program manager David Reynolds says the entire future of spaceflight depends on this first uncrewed attempt to return to the moon. David Reynolds, Deputy Program Manager, SLS Boosters: As you tick off the different boxes, you buy down a certain amount of risk for the crewed flight. And so, once you have made that determination and we decide that it is safe enough to fly with crew, we will have considered it a mission success. Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator: Its been more than a half century since astronauts journeyed to the moon. Well folks, thats about to change. KANE FARABAUGH: Standing in Houston, Texas before the current astronaut corps and veterans of the Apollo and Space Shuttle programs, NASA Administrator Bill Nelson introduced the four-member crew of Artemis II Christina Koch, Victor Glover, Reid Wiseman, and Canadian Jeremy Hansen. Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator: This is humanitys crew. KANE FARABAUGH: Reid Wiseman is mission Commander for Artemis II, while Christina Koch and Jeremy Hansen will serve as mission specialists. Koch is set to make history as the first woman on a lunar mission and Hansen as the first international astronaut to take such a journey, something NASA Administrator Nelson emphasized during the announcement. Bill Nelson, NASA Administrator: We choose to go back to the moon and on to Mars, and we are going to do it together, because in the 21st century NASA explores the Cosmos with international partners. KANE FARABAUGH: Victor Glover, a U.S. naval aviator, will pilot the Orion spacecraft on the 10-day roundtrip mission around the moon, testing the functions of the systems and equipment that future crews will use to eventually return to the lunar surface. In an interview with VOA before last years Artemis 1 mission, Glover said he embraces the historic opportunity to be the first person of color assigned to a moon mission. Victor Glover, NASA Astronaut: People keep asking me, is it meaningful to you that little Black kids look up to you and say they want to be like you? You know what? Let's be honest, I represent America. I'm a naval officer and I work for NASA. I represent America and little white kids, little Mexican kids, little Hispanic kids, and little Iranian kids follow what we're doing because this is maybe one of the most recognizable symbols in the universe. KANE FARABAUGH: The initiative to ensure diversity in NASAs Artemis program was outlined in the Biden administrations $25 billion funding request to Congress for NASA for fiscal year 2022, which includes the moon missions. Agency managers, including Branelle Rodriguez, are embracing the mandate. Branelle Rodriguez, NASA Orion Program Integration Manager: Apollo had a sister, Artemis, and this is our generation, and I think this is a fantastic thing, people to go and really. KANE FARABAUGH: She is proud to participate in an historic project that will also bring the first woman to the moon. Branelle Rodriguez, NASA Orion Program Integration Manager: I think its important for all of us, whether its a man or a woman, I think its fantastic. I think as an agency, as a nation, and as a world, showing that we can explore as humans back to the surface of the moon is what we need to go off and show. Danielle Bell, Northwestern University Assistant Professor: To do this once, would feel like performing. KANE FARABAUGH: Danielle Bell teaches marketing and communications at Northwestern University. She focuses on issues of diversity and inclusion and welcomes NASAs initiative, which she hopes is permanent. Danielle Bell, Northwestern University Assistant Professor: When they are transformative and not performative, that happens when the organization lives their values from the inside out. KANE FARABAUGH: Women make up one-third of the current group of 41 astronauts at NASA. Twelve are people of color. While 16 are experienced pilots, the rest are experts in fields such as geology, medicine and engineering, bringing professional diversity to the corps. Danielle Bell, Northwestern University Assistant Professor: What I can appreciate about this mission is that its not just about diversity, its not just about representation. Youve got an entire pool that is of diverse backgrounds, right, so check that box. KANE FARABAUGH: Not only is the makeup historic, the crew of Artemis II could also venture farther in space than any humans before them, traveling over 1 million total kilometers in a path that extends well beyond the moon before returning back to Earth. NASA says the exact distance and plan depends on a number of factors, including the date of the actual mission launch. Christina Koch, NASA Astronaut: So, am I excited? Absolutely! But my real question is: are you excited? KANE FARABAUGH: At the end of the NASA ceremony introducing his crew, Reid Wiseman expressed the determination of the agency to further its goals in space despite repeated delays and cost overruns. Reid Wiseman, NASA Astronaut: Theres three words we keep saying in this Artemis program, and thats We. Are. Going. And I want everyone to say it with me We Are Going! KANE FARABAUGH: NASA Hopes to launch Artemis 2 as early as November 2024, with the first mission to the lunar surface as early as 2025. The European Space Agency has selected seven of its astronauts that will train side by side with NASA astronauts in the Artemis missions returning to the moon. One of those ESA astronauts is Germanys Alexander Gerst. In the leadup to the launch of Artemis 1, we talked with Gerst, a geophysicist and veteran of several missions to the international space station, about his hopes for Artemis. How do you feel at this moment on the precipice of what's about to happen? How do you feel right now knowing that this is a possibility? Alexander Gerst, NASA Astronaut: Yeah, and to be honest, I think it's quite exciting to be here. Usually, as an astronaut, you get more and more calm. The closer you get to your launch, maybe people think it's the opposite. But actually, you know, your biggest worry as an astronaut is that something gets in the way between you in the lunch you bring your leg or technical problem. So the closer you get to lunch, even in last minutes, you know, this chance is getting smaller and smaller now, and I'm going to be on my way soon. So usually, we get calmer the closer we get to launch. There is, of course, our hardware on board from the European Space Agency. We want to make sure that we do our stuff, right. We're in the critical class to NASA strategy to go to the moon. So we want to really make sure that this works. So lots of stuff coming together. And to see this as an astronaut, where usually you're used to have some control right? You you controlling a vehicle you're controlling a spaceship that makes us calm to know that we can do that. Just standing there not being able to do anything. It makes us a bit nervous. KANE FARABAUGH: The Orion spacecraft is very automated, almost fully automated. Does somebody who's in it want more control of the spacecraft, or is the automation something that you welcome? Alexander Gerst, NASA Astronaut: Well, automation is not necessarily mean no control, right. So I think it's a good thing that we don't have to fly the spacecraft with two joysticks manually without any assistance, because that's actually difficult and dangerous. And I mean, it was one of the highest risk activities of the Apollo program. So having automation, for things that the computer can do better than the human actually really helps a lot. And it allows the human to take decisions that are more important like more high level decisions. Nevertheless, there will always be in any kind of spacecraft, the necessity for a human to be able to take high level decisions and control what the spacecraft in general is doing right you want to be able to do a mission aboard you really need to know to know what to do when something goes wrong when the computer fails, right what is then what if you have an oxygen leak? What if you have a fire on board, things like that will always require human interaction. And so having a highly automated vehicle actually allows us to train more on the things that that are quite important for the mission success or even for, for to prevent the loss of life. KANE FARABAUGH: How tense is the wait to find out if or when or how you will have the opportunity to participate in the Artemis program? Alexander Gerst, NASA Astronaut: But also one thing that you have to get used to as an astronaut, which is hard for us because we're typically not the people who have a lot of patience is that you actually need to develop some sort of patience. Some colleagues of mine were called in the astronaut corps and then waited for 14 years before they flew. So really, you have to sometimes take a step back, take it easy and you know, just see how things come along. Just the thought of me sitting on that rocket sometime. flying to the moon is a very exciting thought. But I know you know, it's nothing that I can can change other than being ready for it. My colleagues and I from the European astronaut corps, we're all qualified to do this. We have enough experience to do this. So it's not about you know who's the best or is he better or she better than me? It's a lot of decisions come in political decisions, which play a role when you have an agency with 22 member states. And so, you know, the easiest thing that I find and what my colleagues also probably see it that way, is that yeah, you take a step back and you let things come at you and you take them as they come. KANE FARABAUGH: This is broadening the cultural inclusion in this entire entire endeavor. And do you see that being from Europe? Do you see the excitement that it's generating? Alexander Gerst, NASA Astronaut: One of the most important parts of this mission is that it's internationally brought together and it's this huge international cooperation, which is good for many reasons, you know, first of all, you know, it's easier it's cheaper to do things when with your friends, right? You don't have to do everything on your own. International corporations tend to be more stable than things that one country does alone. Because, you know, people in that country could change their mind conditions could change and somebody says, Oh, we'll cancel it. It's harder to do when you have international partners, who were disappointed with that and who would fail the mission because you pulled out so in the end. It's often more stable. And we see that with the International Space Station. I very sure that one of the reasons why ISS was so successful is that it was such a big international cooperation, and nobody could really pull out and nobody did and now it works. And now because of that, we're harvesting all that scientific results that come down now, more than ever, right? Right now we're in the sort of the golden age of ISS where everything comes back, because we pulled it through up to this point, and I'm pretty sure the same thing will happen with the moon cooperation. I've seen many programs in my time that I've worked with ESA and NASA. I've seen many programs being sort of brought up and then canceled again. Fortunately, for this one, I feel there's a different vibe when I go through the corridors of NASA people talk about this one differently. And I think that's part because of the international cooperation. KANE FARABAUGH: Is the general public invested enough in this effort in this endeavor? You know, can you get a sense of that, you know, are people generally well educated, well informed and interested in this? Alexander Gerst, NASA Astronaut: It was always, I think, our duty to make sure the public knows better and more about this project because it is fascinating. And in Europe, we of course, have the challenge that we need to integrate 22 Member States and, you know, tending to different parts of the culture, making sure that everybody understands how important it is to fly to space and we're bringing actually benefits back to Earth that are worth it that are worth investing that and then actually investing in space is something that pays back many, many for later. And that's that's something in Europe that we can easily calculate. So, for human spaceflight, a European isa citizen invest is much less than actually, citizens in America. Unfortunately, we only invest one euro 50 per person per year. But the payback is way, way bigger. Of course, you can calculate this where European space industry benefits a lot tremendously from those investments. And, of course, through that, through that capability, we have a seat at the table. KANE FARABAUGH: It's taken more than 50 years for people to go back to the moon. Do you think we will see people get to Mars in our lifetime? Alexander Gerst, NASA Astronaut: It would be important for us as humans to fly there, that's for sure. We have a lot of questions that Mars can answer us. For example, are we alone in the universe? Do we have sisters and brothers out there? Mars can potentially answer us that question in our lifetime. And I think that alone is a very, very exciting thought. But also it tells us about climate and how to protect the Earth. Mars was once a potentially habitable planet. it had liquid water, dense atmosphere. but now it's dead. It's a desert with not much more possibilities for life. What happened there and how can we prevent that the same happens to Earth? KANE FARABAUGH: Alexander Gerst. it's great to be able to have the chance to talk to you at Voice of America. Thanks for joining us here, we wish you the best and Godspeed to you and good luck. Alexander Gerst, NASA Astronaut: Same to you. Have a great launch! KANE FARABAUGH: Expanding the reach of NASAs Artemis mission is a unique program the agency is spearheading that is partnering them with college students around the country, who are developing the next generation technology that will transform the way astronauts live and work on the surface of the moon, and also on Mars. Northeastern University student Andre Neto Caetano watched NASAs Artemis 1 launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida live on a device in the lobby of a hotel across the country in California. Andre Neto Caetano, Student, Northeastern University: I had, not a flashback but a flash forward I guess of seeing maybe Artemis 4 or something and COBRA as part of the payload and it is on the moon doing what it was meant to do. KANE FARABAUGH: Artemis 1 launched the night before Caetano and his team presented their Crater Observing Bio-inspired Rolling Articulator, or COBRA, rover project in NASAs 2022 Breakthrough, Innovative, and Game Changing, or BIG Idea Challenge. The big challenge for Caetanos team was impressing judges assembled in the remote California desert. Andre Neto Caetano, Student, Northeastern University: They were skeptical that the mobility solutions that we were proposing would actually work. KANE FARABAUGH: A skepticism born from the simplicity of their design. Andre Neto Caetano, Student, Northeastern University: Its a robot that moves like a snake, and then the head and the tail connect, and then it rolls. KANE FARABAUGH: NASAs BIG Idea Challenge, and the associated prize money, prompted teams of college students to develop solutions for the agencys goals in the upcoming Artemis missions to the moon. Andre Neto Caetano, Student, Northeastern University: Extreme lunar terrain mobility. KANE FARABAUGH: Northeasterns COBRA can uniquely move through fine desert sand, similar to the dust, or regolith, of the lunar surface, to probe the landscape for interesting features, including ice and water. Alireza Ramezani, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University: They never could sort of deploy a robot or a ground vehicle that can sort of negotiate the environment and get to the bottom of these craters and look for ice water content. KANE FARABAUGH: Professor Alireza Ramezani advises Northeastern Universitys team developing COBRA and is experienced in designing robots that mimic real organisms. Andre Neto Caetano, Student, Northeastern University: With like him building a robot dog and robot bat, we knew we wanted to have some bioinspiration in our project. KANE FARABAUGH: Ramezani hoped COBRAs simple snake design could win over judges in NASAs competition. Alireza Ramezani, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University: Our robot sort of tumbled 80-90 feet down this hill and that sort of impressed the judges. We did this with minimum energy consumption and within like 10 or 15 seconds. KANE FARABAUGH: COBRA is cost effective, too. Alireza Ramezani, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University: If you want to have a space worthy platform its going to be in the order of $100,000 to $200,000 dollars you can have many of these systems tumbling down these craters. Andre Neto Caetano, Student, Northeastern University: The fact that COBRA is super light brings a benefit to it as well. KANE FARABAUGH: The Northeastern teams November demonstration of COBRA in the California desert put to rest any lingering skepticism, sending them to the top of NASAs 2022 BIG Idea competition and hopefully in the not too distant future to the top of NASAs SLS rocket system on its way to the moon. Alireza Ramezani, Assistant Professor, Northeastern University: Im not saying this, our judges said this, its potentially going to transform the way future space exploration systems look like. KANE FARABAUGH: Which is why, despite his impending graduation from Northeastern University later this year, Caetano plans to continue working on COBRA. Andre Neto Caetano, Student, Northeastern University: Because we brought it to life together, the idea of just fully abandoning it at graduation probably doesnt appeal to most of us. // 19:49 we still want to be involved in the project in making sure that what we started we are still the ones who put it on the moon at some point. KANE FARABAUGH: A point that could happen as soon as 2025, which is the year NASA hopes to return astronauts to the lunar surface in the Artemis program. Thanks for joining us on this edition of The Inside Story, Im Kane Farabaugh. You can visit us on Instagram and Facebook on VOA News. You can also visit our website, voanews.com. As NASAs Artemis mission ushers in a new era of human spaceflight, we end the program by taking a look back, through the use of exclusive interviews Voice of America conducted over the years with those who were the first to chart the path forward to the moon the original Apollo astronauts. Harrison Schmitt, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 17: In 1957. I was a Fullbright student in Norway, and I was out in the field gathering geological information. And the only American radio I could get was Voice of America out of Algiers, and it was during one of the Willis Conover broadcasts, Jazz from A to Z, that they interrupted and announced that the then Soviet Union had launched the first artificial satellite of the Earth, which was Sputnik One. And thats when I realized I should start paying attention to space. President John F. Kennedy: , We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Jim Lovell, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 8, Apollo 13: When President Kennedy made the announcement, we were planning to go to the moon, and get there before the end of the decade. I really couldnt believe it, I said no, hes just saying this thing to give us confidence, but I dont think its possible. President John F. Kennedy: No nation which expects to be the leader of other nations can expect to stay behind in this race for space. Eugene Cernan, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 10, Apollo 17: Exceptionalism in space. Being number one. Being a leader. Anything less than that is unacceptable to the people of this nation. Fred Haise, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 13: It is a very dramatic expression of what can happen if you assemble the right people, the right skills, that work together as a team with the right leadership, what miracles can happen. Michael Collins, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 11: It was a wonderful example of organization within a large government agency. Buzz Aldrin, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 11: We invested a good bit of time, effort, and human endeavors to gain that leadership with the Apollo program. NASA Audio: Tranquility base here. The Eagle has landed. Just stepping down from the LEM now. Thats one small step for man. One giant leap for mankind. Jim Lovell, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 8, Apollo 13: The space program was a positive that gave people inspiration and hope about what this country was doing. NASA Audio: Houston we have a problem. Gerry Griffin, NASA Flight Director, Apollo 13: Apollo 13 is what a prepared team can do. Buzz Aldrin, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 11: The team that was trained to handle emergencies like that and like many other things did their job with great credit. Gene Kranz, NASA Flight Director, Apollo Program: I was the flight director for Apollo 17, when Gene Cernan and Jack Schmitt lifted off. We read a message up from the President that basically stated this might be the last time in this century. This was a bittersweet time for us because we were surrendering our drive as a nation to be explorers. NASA Audio: Leaving the planet Earth and going forward into the universe. I think no more significant contribution has Apollo made to history. Eugene Cernan, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 10, Apollo 17: Well go back to the moon. Michael Collins, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 11: My friend Neil Armstrong thought that going back to the moon was a proper and necessary precursor to a Mars expedition. Harrison Schmitt, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 17: To say that I thought it would be fifty or sixty years before Americans were back on the moon, I would not have guessed that at all. Fred Haise, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 13: It surprises me for the way that I felt at the time that we havent been to Mars. Al Worden, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 15: I think the space program that were getting into is going to require more and more cooperation with other countries. Buzz Aldrin, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 11: It can be and should be a very crucial reaffirmation time of the pathway that we chart. Michael Collins, NASA Astronaut, Apollo 11: Im a Martian. I think Mars is the next great destination. ### U.S. President Joe Biden is in his ancestral home, Ireland, where he will spend the next two days meeting with leaders and family members. Earlier Wednesday in Northern Ireland, he urged that the collapsed power-sharing government be restored. White House Bureau Chief Patsy Widakuswara reports. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is visiting Vietnam later this week. Blinken's first trip to Hanoi as the top U.S. diplomat comes as the two countries are eyeing an upgrade in bilateral ties to a strategic partnership. Blinken will also break ground on a new U.S. Embassy compound. State Department Bureau Chief Nike Ching has more from Hanoi, Vietnam. Crew members of a passenger train bound for the Lao capital Vientiane prepare for departure from Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) KUNMING/VIENTIANE, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. The first passenger train departed from Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, at 8:08 a.m. (Beijing Time), heading for the Lao capital Vientiane. The train, which is packed to capacity for this trip, will travel at a speed of up to 160 km per hour through mountains and valleys. There are eight stations along the route that stretches over 1,000 km, and the journey takes 10 and a half hours, including the time spent on going through customs. Liu Jin, 32, is on this first train along with his mother, and they are traveling to Luang Prabang in Laos. He has made eight previous trips to Laos, usually by bus, when his journey lasted more than 27 hours on winding mountain roads. "The launch of cross-border train services has made traveling to Laos much easier," said Liu. "It cuts the travel time and offers great comfort." Shortly after 9 a.m. (Beijing Time), a train departed from Vientiane for Kunming. Starting Thursday, one passenger train will operate daily from Kunming to Vientiane and another one the other way around. The China-Laos Railway, a landmark project showcasing high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, began operation in December 2021. The railway also serves as a docking project with Laos' strategy to convert itself from a landlocked country to a land-linked hub. After its launch in 2021, passenger train services have been offered along the section between Kunming and the Chinese border town of Mohan, as well as the section connecting Vientiane and Boten, the border town on the Lao side. As of Sunday, 13.93 million domestic passenger trips had been handled and 18.38 million tonnes of cargo transported on the China-Laos Railway. Performers dance during a launch ceremony for the first passenger train from Kunming to the Lao capital Vientiane at Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Wang Changshan) A passenger train bound for the Lao capital Vientiane awaits departure from Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) A passenger train bound for the Lao capital Vientiane awaits departure from Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) This photo taken on April 13, 2023 shows ticket gates at Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Lao and Chinese drivers of a cross-border passenger train bound for Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province prepare for departure from Vientiane, Laos on April 13, 2023. (Photo by Yang Yongquan/Xinhua) The first cross-border passenger train bound for Kunming in southwest China's Yunnnan Province awaits departure from Vientiane, Laos on April 13, 2023. (Photo by Yang Yongquan/Xinhua) Passengers prepare to board the first cross-border passenger train bound for the Lao capital Vientiane at Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A passenger shows her ticket aboard the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) A train attendant checks a passenger's ticket and travel document aboard the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train bound for the Lao capital Vientiane pose for a photo before departing from Kunming South Railway Station in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) Passengers pose for a photo aboard the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) An art performance is staged aboard the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Hu Chao) The first cross-border passenger train from Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province to the Lao capital Vientiane passes by tea plantations in Pu'er, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) A Fuxing bullet train passes by tea plantations in Pu'er, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) Lao staff members greet passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane at the Boten Station of the China-laos Railway in Luang Namtha, Laos on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Lao staff members greet passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane at the Boten Station of the China-laos Railway in Luang Namtha, Laos on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Lao staff members perform at the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Passengers prepare to board the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane at the Boten Station of the China-laos Railway in Luang Namtha, Laos on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Passengers prepare to board the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane at the Boten Station of the China-laos Railway in Luang Namtha, Laos on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Lao staff members greet passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane at the Boten Station of the China-laos Railway in Luang Namtha, Laos on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Lao staff members perform at the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Lao officials and staff members greet passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane at the Boten Station of the China-laos Railway in Luang Namtha, Laos on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Photo by Kaikeo Saiyasane/Xinhua) Passengers prepare to board the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane at the Boten Station of the China-laos Railway in Luang Namtha, Laos on April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Staff members welcome passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane, at the Vientiane station of the China-laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Staff members welcome passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane, at the Vientiane station of the China-laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Staff members welcome passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane, at the Vientiane station of the China-laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Staff members welcome passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane, at the Vientiane station of the China-laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Staff members welcome passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane, at the Vientiane station of the China-laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) Passengers taking the first cross-border passenger train from Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province to Lao capital Vientiane, arrive at the Vientiane station of the China-laos Railway in Vientiane, Laos, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Xing Guangli) The first cross-border passenger train departed from the Lao capital Vientiane to Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province, runs on the Ganlanba bridge of the China-Laos railway in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) The first cross-border passenger train departed from the Lao capital Vientiane to Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province, runs on the Ganlanba bridge of the China-Laos railway in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) The first cross-border passenger train departed from the Lao capital Vientiane to Kunming in southwest China's Yunnan Province, runs on the Ganlanba bridge of the China-Laos railway in Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 13, 2023. The China-Laos Railway started cross-border passenger services on Thursday, a move that is expected to boost regional connectivity. (Xinhua/Jiang Wenyao) Botswana's wildlife authorities say four rhinoceroses were shot, and two of them died, in a heavily guarded sanctuary, although their horns were not removed. The shootings at the sanctuary in central Botswana came after the government de-horned and relocated most of the rhinos further inland to discourage poachers. The permanent secretary at the environment and tourism ministry, Thato Raphaka, said the shooting took place at the protected Khama Rhino Sanctuary recently. Raphaka said the two carcasses were found with their horns intact while the other animals were recovering from gunshot wounds. The motive of the shooting is unknown. Botswana has been experiencing a poaching crisis since 2018, which has forced authorities to relocate the rhinoceroses from the Okavango Delta, a poaching hot spot. The majority of the rhino population, estimated at 400 in 2019, was moved to other havens to protect them from poachers. Following the recent shooting incident, local rhino conservationist Map Ives fears more rhino attacks could be on the way. I feel this will not be the last [attack]. These organized criminal syndicates are very determined, and they know that there are gaps in our security, particularly financial gaps, so they will be back for more, said Ives. He said it is not clear why the animals were killed, and the horns not removed. He said although the government cannot release too much information on the shooting, there is a need to assure the public about the safety of the rhino sanctuary. I appreciate the governments reluctance to release too much detail. Nonetheless, the Khama Rhino Sanctuary is a public facility into which tourists often travel. So, the presence of armed poachers becomes a security risk for tourism. I would have thought it is necessary to reassure the public as to the whereabouts of where these animals were shot and the period over which they were shot, said Ives. More than 200 of Botswanas rhinos have died since 2018 because of poaching or natural causes, the government reported last month. The International Rhino Foundations executive director, Nina Fascione, said Botswanas recent reports of rhino killings are concerning. The news about more rhinos being poached in Botswana is very distressing. The International Rhino Foundation will continue to work to put a stop to poaching and put security measures to protect rhinos because the current levels of poaching are simply unsustainable for these populations, said Fascione. Botswanas neighbors, Namibia and South Africa, also have been hard hit by rhino poaching. Namibia lost 87 of the animals to poaching in 2022, the highest recorded in a calendar year in that country. Fascione said there is a need to intensify regional collaboration in the fight against rhino poaching. There is an enormous amount of cooperation and collaboration across borders. There are many people working on this. These are global criminal syndicates behind poaching and therefore needs a coordinated global response. The poachers and the product itself; the rhino horn crosses borders, across not only countries but continents. So, it will take law enforcement and others working collaboratively across the globe to get a handle on this, said Fascione. The demand for the horn in China and Vietnam fuels poaching with 548 rhinos killed in 2022 across Africa, according to national government and agency figures. Brazil President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva promised Thursday that "Brazil is back!" during a state visit to China aimed at strengthening trade ties and winning support for his push for peace in Ukraine. The veteran leftist, who arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday night, is seeking to reposition Brazil as a key global player after four years of relative isolation under his predecessor Jair Bolsonaro. "The time when Brazil was absent from major world decisions is in the past," Lula said at a ceremony to inaugurate his political ally Dilma Rousseff as president of the BRICS New Development Bank (NDB). "We are back on the international stage, after an inexplicable absence." Lula will spend Thursday in Shanghai before heading to the Chinese capital, Beijing, to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping, with whom he is expected to discuss the Ukraine war on Friday. Both China and Brazil have positioned themselves as mediators in the conflict, despite Western concerns that they are overly cozy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trade ties The Shanghai leg of Lula's trip has highlighted another key goal of the visit -- to deepen economic links between the two countries. China is Brazil's biggest export market, buying tens of billions of dollars worth of soybeans, beef and iron ore. Rousseff, a former leader of Brazil, will head the NDB, a multilateral lender jointly set up by Brazil, China, Russia, India and South Africa, until 2025. After her inauguration ceremony, Lula visited a research center run by Chinese telecom giant Huawei. Video on the official Brazilian presidential Twitter account showed Lula being greeted by musicians in traditional dress playing classical Chinese instruments. Huawei's chairman then walked him through an exhibition showcasing the company's extensive presence in Brazil -- a contrast with the United States, where companies are effectively barred from doing business with the firm. Lula was also set to meet the head of China's biggest electronic carmaker BYD, which said in October that it planned to set up a vehicle manufacturing plant in northern Brazil's Bahia after Ford Motors closed its factory there. The company is already making electric buses and cars for the Latin American market in Brazil. Smoothing relations Back in office from January after having led Brazil from 2003-10, Lula is seeking to smooth relations with China, after ties deteriorated under Bolsonaro. He was initially scheduled to make the trip in late March but had to postpone it after coming down with pneumonia. About 40 high-level officials are accompanying him on the rescheduled visit, including Cabinet ministers, governors and members of Congress. In a delicate balancing act, he is also seeking closer ties with the United States, Brazil's second-biggest trading partner. His visit with Xi comes after a high-profile White House meeting with President Joe Biden in February. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva arrived late Wednesday in China for an official visit aimed at boosting the deep ties between the Asian giant and Latin America's biggest economy. The veteran leftist, who is to meet his counterpart Xi Jinping on Friday in Beijing, arrived first in Shanghai with his wife, Rosangela "Janja" da Silva. Before departing Brazil, Lula said he planned to invite President Xi to visit but didnt specify a date. "We're going to consolidate our relationship with China, Lula said Monday evening. I'm going to invite Xi Jinping to come to Brazil for a bilateral meeting, to get to know the country and to show him projects that will be of interest for Chinese investment. Lula's schedule in Shanghai on Thursday includes attending the inauguration of his ally, former Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, as head of the BRICS development bank. It is a group formed by top emerging economies Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Returning to office in January after having led Brazil from 2003 to 2010, Lula is seeking to smooth relations with China, after ties deteriorated under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro. In a delicate balancing act, he is also seeking closer ties with the United States, Brazil's second-biggest trading partner and a key rival of China. His visit with Xi comes after a high-profile White House meeting with President Joe Biden in February. Lula is keen to reposition Brazil as a key player and deal broker on the international stage, after four years of relative isolation under Bolsonaro. He and Xi are expected to discuss the Ukraine conflict, in which both hope to act as mediators, despite Western concerns that they are overly cozy with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Lula has about 40 high-level figures with him on the trip, including Cabinet ministers, governors and members of Congress. He will wrap up his trip with a one-day official visit to the United Arab Emirates on Saturday. Lula, 77, was initially scheduled to travel in late March to China, Brazil's biggest trading partner, but had to postpone the trip after coming down with pneumonia. Villagers in southern Cameroon are complaining about the destruction of farmland by wild elephants in areas bordering Gabon and Equatorial Guinea and are calling on authorities to help. Villagers say elephants have chased people away and made it impossible for farmers on both sides of the border to plant this season's crops. Officials blame farmers for occupying the elephants' habitat, provoking human-wildlife conflict. Officials on Cameroon's southern border with Gabon and Equatorial Guinea say scores of villagers came out in market squares at Vema and Nkol-Efoulan on Thursday, protesting the destruction of several hundred hectares of their farmland by elephants. The villagers say the stray elephants chase civilians and make it impossible for farmers to plant on either side of the border with Gabon and Equatorial Guinea since the planting season started six weeks ago. Speaking to VOA via a messaging app, Justin Enam Ntem, the traditional ruler of Nkol-Efoulan village, said locals are angry and hungry because they can no longer go to their farms since the elephants positioned themselves about 500 meters south of the village from the border with Gabon this week. He said seven of the several hundred hectares of plantain, banana and cassava plantations belonging to his family have been destroyed by the stray elephants. Ntem said it was difficult for villagers, who are scared and escaping from their homes and farms, to know the number of elephants that are destroying their crops. The villagers say no civilian has died in an elephant attack but warn that hunger will loom if the government does not step in to force the animals back to their natural habitats. The Cameroonian government says there are more than 220 forest elephants in the nearly 700,000-hectare Campo Ma'an National Park located near the border area with the other two countries. The New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society and the National Parks of Gabon report that Gabon harbors about 95,000 forest elephants. Equatorial Guinea says it has about 900 elephants. The three countries say elephants have been destroying plantations on both sides of their common border within the past six months. Cameroon says at least eight of its border villages and several hundred plantations, especially in Vema and Nkol-Efoulan villages, have reported regular attacks. The elephants are leaving their habitat because of a lack of food and water due to climate change and the occupation of their living environment by civilians, according to Cameroon's Ministry of Forestry and Wildlife. Cameroon, Gabon and Equatorial Guinea say many plantations opened by the governments and civilians reduce the elephant habitat. Kenneth Angu Angu, a forest program coordinator with the International Union for Conservation of Nature, said central African nations should work together to stop conflicts between humans and elephants. "We need the governments of the countries to sit together and reinforce cross-border projects so that they can contain these elephants not to encroach in communities and in agricultural land, said Angu, who spoke to VOA by phone from Abidjan, Cote dIvoire. But if it is the communities that are encroaching, we start asking the questions: why are they doing so? Is it that their lands are no more fertile? Is it because there is poverty? So, this is where you would have livelihood activities to enable the communities to remain in their respective lands," he added. He said human-wildlife conflict remains a major conservation concern in elephant range countries. Despite the attacks, Cameroonian wildlife groups have been urging civilians not to kill the animals, which are classified as endangered. The first three months of 2023 were the deadliest first quarter in six years for migrants crossing the central Mediterranean Sea in smugglers' boats, the U.N. migration agency reported Wednesday, citing delays by nations in initiating rescues as a contributing factor. The International Organization for Migration documented 441 migrant deaths along the dangerous sea route between northern Africa and Europe's southern shores during January, February and March. In 2017, 742 known deaths were documented in the same period, while 446 were recorded in the first three months of 2015. "The persisting humanitarian crisis in the central Mediterranean is intolerable,'' IOM Director General Antonio Vitorino said of the figures the agency released in a report. "With more than 20,000 deaths recorded on this route since 2014, I fear that these deaths have been normalized,'' Vitorino said. "States must respond. Delays and gaps in state-led SAR [search-and-rescue areas] are costing human lives." While this year has started out on a distressing note, IOM tallied higher numbers of people dead or missing in the Mediterranean in six other quarters since 2017, with the most documented in the second quarter of 2018, at 1,430. The true number of lives lost among migrants who set out on smugglers' unseaworthy rubber dinghies or decrepit fishing boats is unknown because the bodies of people who perish at sea often are never recovered. Many deaths only come to light when survivors recount that their vessel set out with more passengers than the number who ultimately make it to safety. The International Organization for Migration said it also was investigating "several reports of invisible shipwrecks" cases in which boats are reported missing, where there are no records of survivors, remains or search-and-rescue operations. It estimated that "the fates of more than 300 people aboard these vessels remain unclear." Without naming nations, the agency blasted policies aimed at complicating the work of rescue boats operated in the central Mediterranean by humanitarian organizations. The report cited a March 25 incident in which members of the Libyan coast guard fired shots into the air as a charity rescue boat, Ocean Viking, was responding to a report of a rubber dinghy in distress. "State efforts to save lives must include supporting the efforts of NGO actors to provide lifesaving assistance and ending the criminalization, obstruction of those efforts" by humanitarian groups, the IOM said. The agency's report said the deaths of at least 127 people so far this year came in six incidents in which "delays in state-led rescues in the central Mediterranean were a factor." The report's authors lamented the "complete absence of response" in a seventh situation, in which at least 73 migrants died. The authors also cited a boat carrying 400 migrants that remained adrift between Malta and Italy for two days before the Italian Coast Guard came to its aid. Italy's governments have at times impounded charity-run boats for technical reasons or, as the country's current right-wing government is doing now, required them to disembark their rescued passengers farther from the southernmost ports of the Mediterranean. On Tuesday, Italy's far-right premier, Giorgia Meloni, and her Cabinet declared a six-month state of emergency to cope with the country's latest increase in migrant arrivals. Among the goals of her coalition, which includes the stridently anti-migrant leader of the League Party, are efforts to step up repatriation of migrants who aren't eligible for asylum. Many of the asylum-seekers who reach Italy are fleeing poverty, not war or persecution, and see their applications denied. According to the Italian Interior Ministry, 31,192 migrants had arrived in Italy by sea this year as of Tuesday. The figure didn't include about 700 migrants crowded aboard a smugglers boat that apparently ran out of fuel and was towed Wednesday morning to a port in Sicily under an Italian coast guard escort. Migrants aboard that vessel cheered and shouted, "Beautiful Italy," when they reached Catania, Italian state TV reported. Italy for years has sought to prod fellow European Union nations to take more of the rescued migrants who step ashore in Mediterranean countries, many with the aim of finding jobs or family members in northern Europe. Under current EU rules, the country where asylum-seekers first arrive is responsible for them. "The situation in the Mediterranean has been a humanitarian crisis for over a decade now," IOM spokesperson Safa Msehli said Wednesday. "And the fact that deaths continue on its own is very alarming, but the fact that that's increased is extremely alarming because it means that very little concrete action was taken to address the issue." Li Xiaosan and his teenage son recently arrived in the United States from China. They are among a growing number of Chinese migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border seeking asylum. According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, 4,366 migrants from China encountered Border Patrol officials after crossing the southern border without authorization from October 2022 to February 2023. That compares with the 421 migrants who were encountered during the same period in 2021 and 2022. Xiaosan told VOA's Mandarin Service that he and his 16-year-old son traveled for more than 50 days from Hong Kong to Macau to Istanbul to Ecuador. From there, they traveled through six Latin American countries, including walking on their own through the Darien Gap, a dangerous mountainous jungle between Colombia and Panama where tens of thousands of migrants crossed in 2022 on their way to the U.S.-Mexico border. On Tuesday, the U.S., Colombia and Panama announced a two-month operation to curb migrant smuggling in the Darien Gap using new lawful and flexible pathways for tens of thousands of migrants and refugees as an alternative to irregular migration, but without specific details on how the process will take place. The announcement also included investments in job creation in the Colombian and Panamanian border communities with the goal of providing more economic opportunities to reduce human smuggling. More migrants with stories similar to Xiaosans are likely to make the same dangerous journey to the U.S. border, according to Chen Zhong, an immigration lawyer living in Los Angeles, who asked VOA Mandarin to use a pseudonym for fear of retaliation from the Chinese community since he assists undocumented Chinese migrants who have recently arrived in the country. Zhong has been working with Chinese migrants for more than 20 years. He told VOA that some people share their success stories on the app Telegram and it spreads to 10 [people], and then [the information] spreads to a hundred. Many people know that this is a route that can be taken. Xiaosan and his son arrived on February 23 in Brownsville, Texas. They were detained by the U.S. Border Patrol and remained in U.S. government custody for five days. After they were released, an immigrant advocacy group in Texas helped them continue to their destination Albany, New York, where a Catholic organization helped them get settled. They arrived in Albany on March 1 and have their first immigration court date in October. The Migration Policy Institute estimates that about 4% of the 11 million unauthorized immigrants in the United States are from China. Chinese migration experts say the increase in migrants from China at the U.S.-Mexico border is due to economic conditions, the Chinese government's aggressive COVID-19 lockdown policies, the deterioration of religious freedom, human rights issues and the rollback of U.S. border policies put in place under former President Donald Trump that banned travelers from mainland China because of the pandemic. Data from the U.S. Department of Justice show that Chinese nationals are granted asylum at a rate of 58%, compared with 10% for Guatemala, 9% for Honduras and 11% for El Salvador, often because its easier for Chinese nationals to prove their asylum claims. Protecting his oldest son Xiaosan told VOA he has filed for asylum protection in the United States. A rights activist from Henan province, Xiaosan participated in protests during Hong Kongs Umbrella Revolution in 2014 and has continued to speak up against the Chinese government's authoritarianism. He left China after his last encounter with Chinese federal officials. Last year, they came to my neighborhood posing as pandemic prevention officials, he said. They shoved me into a car and threatened me and my family. After that, Xiaosan decided it was time to leave China. Xiaosan said his son is attending high school classes and is adapting well. Xiaosan said he hopes to set up a nonprofit organization to show Chinese people how to file U.S. immigration applications and how to find jobs. He is sharing his stories on Twitter and blogs about his experience with U.S. immigration law. Xiaosans wife and 9-year-old son are still in China. He said it was too dangerous to bring everyone together. So far, [Chinese] police haven't bothered them, he told VOA. Before he left China, he visited the final resting place of some of his ancestors to say a final goodbye. But he has not shared his journey through the Darien Gap with his parents. I do not dare to tell them what happened. I only told them that we traveled for the Chinese New Year, Xiaosan said. Iran has used earthquake relief flights to bring weapons and military equipment into its strategic ally Syria, nine Syrian, Iranian, Israeli and Western sources said. The sources told Reuters that the goal was to buttress Iran's defenses against Israel in Syria and to strengthen Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Reuters is the first to report this development. After the February 6 earthquake in northern Syria and Turkey, hundreds of flights from Iran began landing in Syria's Aleppo, Damascus and Latakia airports bringing supplies, and this went on for seven weeks, the sources said. More than 6,000 people died in all of Syria, according to the United Nations. The supplies included advanced communications equipment and radar batteries and spare parts required for a planned upgrade of Syria's Iran-provided air defense system in its civil war, said the sources, two regional sources and a Western intelligence source said. Reuters spoke to Western intelligence officials, sources close to the Iranian and Israeli leadership, as well as a Syrian military defector and a serving Syrian officer about the flights for this article. When asked if Iran had used humanitarian relief planes after the earthquakes to move military equipment to Syria to enhance its network there and help Assad, Iran's mission to the United Nations in New York said: "That's not true." Syria's government did not respond to a request for comment. Regional sources told Reuters that Israel quickly became aware of the flow of weapons into Syria and mounted an aggressive campaign to counter it. Brigadier General Yossi Kuperwasser, an insider and former head of research in the Israel army, who also is ex-general director of the Ministry of Strategic Affair, said Israeli airstrikes against the shipments relied on intelligence so specific that Israel's military knew which truck in a long convoy to target. 'Significant movements' An Israeli defense official, who asked to remain anonymous, told Reuters: "Under the guise of shipments of earthquake aid to Syria, Israel has seen significant movements of military equipment from Iran, mainly transported in parts." He said the aid was mainly delivered to Syrias northern Aleppo airport. Shipments were organized, he said, by the Unit 18000 Syrian division of the Quds Force, the foreign espionage and paramilitary arm of Iran's Revolutionary Guards, led by Hassan Mehdoui. Ground transportation was handled by the Quds Force's Transport Unit 190 led by Bahanem Shahariri, he said. Reuters was unable to reach Mehdoui and Shahariri for comment. The Revolutionary Guards declined comment. "Israel's strikes also targeted a meeting of commanders of Iranian militias and shipments of electronic chips to upgrade weapons systems," said Syrian military defector Colonel Abduljabbar Akaidi, who retains army contacts. Akaidi did not say where the meeting was held. Aleppo's runway was hit by Israel just hours after two Iranian cargo planes had landed with arms shipments under the pretext of aid relief, said a regional source, information that was confirmed by two other Western intelligence sources. Brigadier General Esmail Qaani, head of the Revolutionary Guards' Quds Force, was the first foreign official to set foot in Syria's quake zone, a few days before Assad himself arrived. Reuters could not reach Qaani for comment. The Revolutionary Guards declined comment. In the event of a humanitarian catastrophe, U.N. relief planes are allowed to seek landing rights from local authorities and humanitarian goods are exempt from sanctions. In this case Syrian authorities granted landing rights to direct flights coming from Russia and Iran. "The quake was a sad disaster but at the same time it was God's help to us to help our brothers in Syria in their fight against their enemies. Loads of weapons were sent to Syria immediately," said a regional source close to Iran's clerical leadership. Pinpoint Israeli intelligence Israel has for years carried out attacks against what it has described as Iran-linked targets in Syria, where Tehran's influence has grown since it began supporting Assad in the civil war that began in 2011. A Syrian army officer who asked not to be named said the Israelis were stepping up efforts to defeat Iran in Syria. "Why now? Simply because they have information that something is being developed quickly. They must stop it and hit it to slow it. The quake created the right conditions. The chaos that ensued allowed Iranian jets to land with ease," he said. In the aftermath of further earthquakes on April 3, Israeli targets have included weapons warehouses in the Jabal Manea Kiswa mountain range south of Damascus where Iranian troops and Lebanon's Hezbollah have built what is probably their most fortified military site in Syria, a regional security source and two Western intelligence sources said. A radar station used for drones was also hit on April 3, the regional source added, corroborating what two Western intelligence sources had told Reuters. "We believe that Iranian militias have transferred huge quantities of ammunition they have restocked quantities lost in previous Israeli drone strikes," a Western intelligence source said, referring to Iranian flights since the February 6 earthquake Japan is planning to establish a new framework to provide defense aid to like-minded countries, a move analysts say highlights Tokyos intention to play a more active role in regional security amid the growth of Chinese influence. Tokyos move to establish an Overseas Security Assistance (OSA) program is Japans first departure from its own restrictions that banned the government from using international aid for military purposes. The OSA will provide nonlethal material and equipment, as well as assistance for infrastructure development, based on the security needs of the countries receiving the aid. The new program is to enhance the security and deterrence capabilities of like-minded countries in order to prevent unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, ensure the peace and stability of the Indo-Pacific region in particular, and create a security environment desirable for Japan, said an April 5 statement by Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan. Japan seeks bigger role, say observers For decades, Japans Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) program has funded roads, dams and other civilian infrastructure projects, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said at a news conference on April 5. The new program will operate as a new entity. Lu Hsin-Chi, director of the Center for Japan and Korea Studies at National Chung Hsing University in Taiwan, believes the new initiative shows the Japanese government intends to play a bigger role in securing regional security and strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance. "China and Russia are the major concerns of the U.S. Indo-Pacific strategy. As an American ally, Japan is taking that into consideration when formulating its own defense policies, he told VOA Mandarin via Line video on April 9. The regional influence of China and Russia will determine the importance of Japans role in the U.S.-Japan alliance. The bigger their influence, the more important Japan will be. A breakthrough Wang Yen-Lin, an assistant research fellow at the Institute for National Defense and Security Research in Taiwan, said that for decades, Japans foreign aid was aimed at creating an economic environment favorable to Japan. The new OSA framework signals a shift to put more emphasis on creating security rules and maintain regional stability. This is the biggest breakthrough in Japans defense policies, Wang told VOA Mandarin via Line video on April 9. Article 9 of Japans post-World War II constitution says the island nation will forever renounce war as a sovereign right of the nation and the threat or use of force as means of settling international disputes. Written during the American occupation of its defeated enemy, an ally of Hitlers Germany, Article 9 has been the basis of Japanese defense policy since. The new OSA guidelines say any military assistance will be provided only in fields not directly related to any international conflict and within the framework of Japans Three Principles on Transfer of Defense Equipment and Technology. These effectively forbid Japan from exporting defense equipment to countries involved in conflict. Recipients will get radar, satellite During his press conference last week, Hirokazu told reporters the first recipients are likely to include the Philippines, Malaysia, Bangladesh or Fiji. Japan plans to provide these countries with radar and satellite communication systems to monitor territorial waters and airspace, according to Reuters. According to The Yomiuri Shimbun, Japan is considering providing radar to the Philippines to help it monitor Chinese activity in the South China Sea. Lu, from Chung Hsing University, told VOA Mandarin that China might react by conducting military exercises or offering even larger amounts of aid to other countries. He pointed out that China will be focusing on countries in Southeast Asia and East Asia first, and then the Pacific Island countries, in an effort to increase its influence in the region. China has been quiet since Japan announced the plan to establish the new OSA program. The only area China could criticize Japan is the issue around the South China Sea. Beijing could argue that the new OSA framework might make the sovereignty disputes more confusing, Wang, of the Institute for National Defense, told VOA Mandarin. Yet if this is the argument, it means that Beijing acknowledges theres sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea, which contradicts its official narrative that China has territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests in the South China Sea. The Chinese Embassy in Japan did not immediately respond to VOAs request for comment. New developments: Ukraine remains adamant in its demand that Russia withdraw its troops from all its occupied lands, including the Crimean Peninsula that Moscow illegally annexed in 2014. Germany approved Warsaws request for Poland to transfer five Soviet-designed fighter jets to Ukraine. Russia said Thursday that the United Nations-brokered Black Sea grain deal would not be extended beyond May 18 unless the West removed a set of obstacles to the export of Russian grain and fertilizer, according to Reuters. The European Union on Thursday added Russias Wagner Group to its sanctions list for actively participating in the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine. It was also sanctioned for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. This marks the second time the EU has sanctioned the Wagner Group. The EU first sanctioned the mercenary group in February over its human rights violations in Africa. That the EU has listed Wagner twice underscores the international dimension and gravity of the groups activities, as well as its destabilizing impact on the countries where it is active, the European Council said in a statement. 'You can rely on Germany!' On Thursday, Germanys Defense Ministry announced it had approved Warsaws request for Poland to transfer five Soviet-designed fighter jets to Ukraine. Poland needed Berlins permission because Germany used to own the MiG-29 planes. I welcome the fact that we in the federal government have reached this decision together, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said in a statement. This shows you can rely on Germany! Poland previously provided four MiG-29 planes to Ukraine. Ukraine said Thursday it is intent in its demand that Russia withdraw its troops from Crimea which Moscow illegally annexed in 2014 as well as other territory in eastern Ukraine that Russia claimed last year. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, via video, told the first Black Sea Security Conference in Bucharest, Romania, that Russias invasion of Ukraine, now in its 14th month, is "a bleeding wound in the middle of Europe, but that all internationally recognized borders of Ukraine must be honored. "We are united by U.N. Charter principles and the shared conviction that Crimea is Ukraine and it will return under Ukraine's control," Kuleba said. "Every time you hear anyone from any corner of the world saying that Crimea is somehow special and should not be returned to Ukraine, as any other part of our territory, you have to know one thing: Ukraine categorically disagrees with these statements," he told representatives of 50 countries attending the conference in the Romanian capital. While Moscow failed in the early stages of the war last year to take control of all of Ukraine, it has continued to control Crimea and parts of eastern Ukraine, even as fierce fighting rages in the eastern industrialized territory. Russia claimed to have annexed the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia provinces last September but does not control all the land in the four regions. There are no signs of peace talks anytime soon, although Ukraine and Russia have several times exchanged prisoners of war and engaged in a wartime deal to export Ukrainian grain and Russian grain and fertilizers. The Washington Post reported Thursday that highly sensitive U.S. government documents leaked online show that the Defense Intelligence Agency has concluded that the war is still likely to be going on in 2024 and that even if Ukraine recaptures significant amounts of territory and inflicts unsustainable losses on Russian forces, it would not lead to peace talks. Negotiations to end the conflict are unlikely during 2023 in all considered scenarios, the document said. Video shows beheading Ukrainian officials on Wednesday opened an investigation into a video on social media purportedly showing one of Kyivs soldiers being beheaded. News agencies could not immediately verify the authenticity of the video. But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a video message, "There is something that no one in the world can ignore: how easily these beasts kill." Zelenskyy said the video showed the execution of a Ukrainian captive and that everyone must react. Do not expect that it will be forgotten, that time will pass. The video appears to show a man in green fatigues with a yellow armband, typically worn by Ukrainian fighters. His screams are heard before another man in camouflage uses a knife to decapitate him. The man in camouflage and another man both speak Russian. Ukraines state security service has opened an investigation, said Vasyl Maliuk, head of the agency. Officials are studying the video to identify those responsible, as well as to identify the victim. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the footage horrible but said that its authenticity needed to be verified. Ukraine's human rights chief Dmytro Lubinets said he will request that the U.N.s Human Rights Committee investigate. "A public execution of a captive is yet another indication of a breach of Geneva Convention norms, international humanitarian law, a breach of the fundamental right to life," Lubinets said via Telegram. Ukraine has repeatedly accused Russia of committing war crimes and targeting civilians during its invasion of Ukraine, now in its 14th month, while Moscow says it has only targeted military sites and electrical and water infrastructure. The International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands has issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin, accusing him of war crimes in the abductions of children from Ukraine. VOA national security correspondent Jeff Seldin contributed to this report. Some material also came from The Associated Press, Agence France-Presse and Reuters. Myanmars opposition envoy to the United Nations appealed Thursday for international action to protect civilians in his country after the military junta carried out deadly airstrikes this week on villagers in northwest Myanmar. On behalf of the people of Myanmar, I again call for the international community, especially the U.N. Security Council, to take decisive actions to save lives of the people of Myanmar, to end the military impunity and to prevent further destabilization of the region, Kyaw Moe Tun told reporters on Thursday. He said at least 168 people including more than 30 children, a 6-month-old baby, and 27 women were killed. VOAs Burmese Service confirmed the casualty figures from witnesses on the ground. Initial reports had put the death toll at about 100 people. The bodies of some victims were so badly burned and destroyed that visual identification has not been possible, Myanmars opposition envoy said. These heinous crimes of the junta clearly constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity. 'Children are not terrorists' Kyaw Moe Tun represents the democratically elected National Unity Government, which was ousted in the February 1, 2021, military coup. Many NUG leaders remain jailed or detained, including President Win Myint and National League for Democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi. The junta has not received international recognition, and Kyaw Moe Tun continues to fill the countrys seat at the United Nations. Myanmars ruling junta has confirmed that it carried out deadly airstrikes Tuesday on Pazigyi village in Sagaing Region, where opposition forces were holding a ceremony. It said it attacked the Peoples Defense Force, which is the military wing of the NUG. The junta considers the PDF a terrorist group. Citizens are not terrorists. Children are not terrorists. Those who are opposed to the junta and its killing of innocent people are not terrorists, U.N. Special Rapporteur for Myanmar Tom Andrews told VOA Burmese. They are patriots. 'We will retaliate' In a statement, military spokesman Zaw Min Tun denied targeting civilians, saying the military hit gunpowder and explosives the PDF were storing, and thats what led to the deaths. Local residents told VOA Burmese that fighter jets and helicopters were still hovering near the village on Wednesday. We think this is an inhumane act. This is torturing the public. We will retaliate with whatever weapons we can get, resident Ko Maung Myo, who lost at least six members of his family, told VOA Burmese. Kyaw Moe Tun said the military has carried out 56 air attacks between January and March this year. These attacks showcase the juntas escalating terror campaign against the Myanmar people, despite the repeated calls by the international community, including the U.N. Security Council, he said. ASEAN condemns strikes In December, the 15-nation Security Council adopted a resolution demanding an immediate end to all forms of violence throughout the country, the release of all arbitrarily detained prisoners, and called on the military to fully implement regional bloc ASEANs five-point consensus that aims to stop the violence and open dialogue. On Thursday, ASEANs chair, Indonesia, issued a statement saying the bloc strongly condemns the militarys airstrikes and continues to promote its five-point consensus. All forms of violence must end immediately, particularly the use of force against civilians, the brief statement said. This would be the only way to create a conducive environment for an inclusive national dialogue to find a sustainable peaceful solution in Myanmar. Britains U.N. ambassador welcomed that statement as a very important development and expressed concern that the U.N. Security Council had not yet found consensus to issue its own condemnation. We believe the council should condemn it [the strikes] and demand the full implementation of Security Council resolution 2669. It is concerning to us that the council has not been able to do so, Ambassador Barbara Woodward told reporters ahead of the councils closed-door meeting to discuss the situation. Britain holds the file for Myanmar on the council and had drafted whats known as a presidential statement condemning the strikes. Diplomats said Russia and China had blocked it on Wednesday. Such statements require council unity. Kyaw Moe Tun also welcomed the ASEAN statement but said the bloc needs to take a stronger position to achieve a sustainable solution. The message that we already give is, dont leave us here alone, he said. Please, the international community should support ASEAN with regard to the implementation of the five-point consensus. VOAs Burmese Service contributed to this report. QUITO, April 12 (Xinhua) -- Ecuadorian police on Wednesday arrested a criminal gang member suspected of carrying out an armed attack Tuesday on a small fishing port that killed nine and injured four others. Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso announced via a video on social media that security forces arrested a suspect known by alias "Coco," who is a member of "Los Tiguerones," a criminal ring linked to drug trafficking. "The Tiguerones have been identified as the criminal organization that carried out (the attack)," said the presidential office in the video, adding "the search continues." On Tuesday, a group of 30 hooded men armed with pistols and rifles opened fire indiscriminately on workers and merchants at a seafood warehouse in the port of the northwestern province of Esmeraldas, on the border with Colombia. Police and the Armed Forces have been deployed across the province to find those responsible for the attack. Lasso traveled to Esmeraldas and met with relatives of the victims, as well as with military, police and government authorities to discuss the progress of the investigation. The attack took place amid a state of emergency that the government of Esmeraldas declared in March due to rising crime and violence. North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile Thursday, U.S. officials said, prompting emergency alerts and evacuation warnings on Japans northernmost main island. Residents in Hokkaido were warned to immediately take shelter in their basements, and some public transit systems in the area were temporarily stopped, according to Japanese media. About 20 minutes after the alerts were issued, however, Japanese officials lifted the warning. Japanese Defense Minister Yasukazu Hamada later said the missile fell outside Japanese territory. In a statement, the White House strongly condemned the test, which it said involved a long-range missile. South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff said only that the missile was medium range or longer, and that it was fired at a lofted angle from the Pyongyang area. The missile flew for 1,000 kilometers before landing in the sea between Korea and Japan, it added. A South Korean defense ministry official later told VOA that the missile likely used solid fuel and appears to be a new type of weapon not launched before by the North. North Korea has long wanted to develop a solid-fueled ICBM, which can be fired much more quickly than liquid-fueled missiles. South Koreas National Security Council called the launch a grave violation of U.N. Security Council resolutions, which prohibit any North Korean ballistic missile activity. Japans defense ministry said it lodged a strong protest to North Korea over the launch. North Korea has not offered any details; it does not usually comment on its weapons tests until the following morning when its state-run newspapers are published. On Monday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un presided over a key political meeting in Pyongyang, where he vowed to expand his countrys war deterrence in a practical and offensive manner. North Korea has frequently launched missiles and issued verbal threats in recent months. It insists some of the moves were a response to expanded U.S.-South Korea military drills held last month. The North has also failed to respond to regular, daily phone calls via inter-Korean hotlines for seven consecutive days, South Korean officials said Thursday, further raising fears that Pyongyang intends to escalate tensions. SEE ALSO: A related video by VOA's Bill Gallo. Pyongyangs provocations continue past its protest of U.S.-South Korea defense exercises because Kim Jong-un hasnt finished demonstrating his nuclear delivery capabilities yet, said Leif-Eric Easley, a professor at Ewha University in Seoul. However, with the North Koreans literally not answering the phone, the lack of hotlines and diplomacy increases the risk of unintended escalation, he added. The United States and its allies expect North Korea to continue conducting major weapons tests in the coming weeks. North Korea has vowed to launch a military spy satellite during the month of April and has carried out multiple tests it says are designed to accomplish that goal. Pyongyang has also recently hinted it could conduct a long-range missile launch at a normal rather than lofted trajectory. In the past, North Korea has used a steep angle in such launches, in part to avoid sending weapons over the territory of its neighbors. A normal trajectory launch would be much more provocative, since it could fly in the direction of U.S. territory. It could also show North Korea has made progress on important technical benchmarks, such as developing reentry vehicles that can successfully carry warheads through the atmosphere to faraway targets. North Korea sometimes conducts major weapons tests around key holidays. On Saturday, North Korea will celebrate the Day of the Sun, which celebrates the 111th birthday of the countrys late founding leader, Kim Il Sung. Norway's government said Thursday that it was expelling 15 Russian diplomats from the country, saying they were suspected of spying while working at the Russian Embassy in Oslo. Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt said the move was "an important measure to counter and reduce the scope of Russian intelligence activities in Norway, and thereby secure our national interests." The Russians declared persona non grata "must leave Norway within a short time," Huitfeldt said, adding: "We will not grant visas to intelligence officers who apply for a visa to Norway." Norway's government said the activities of the expelled diplomats were "incompatible with their diplomatic status." The foreign minister stressed that Oslo wants "normal diplomatic relations with Russia, and that Russian diplomats are welcome in Norway." The Russian Foreign Ministry said Moscow would respond in kind to Norway's action, Russia's Tass and RIA Novosti news agencies reported. A year ago, Norway expelled three Russian diplomats it identified as intelligence officers. A man whom the Norwegian Police Security Service alleged used a false name and identity while actually working for one of Russia's intelligence services also was arrested last year. A court in Peru sentenced the country's former military intelligence chief to 12 years in prison on Thursday over his role in the 1988 murder of a journalist. Daniel Urresti was found to have been complicit in the killing of Hugo Bustios, a reporter for weekly magazine Caretas, the court ruled. Bustios was killed during a plain-clothed military patrol in the Andean region of Ayacucho. Urresti was part of the patrol, which took place in the epicenter of an armed conflict, but he maintained his innocence throughout the trial. Bustios' murder had been blamed on the country's now defunct Shining Path rebel group, which was active during the 1980s and 1990s. But witnesses said that Bustios had been deliberately targeted by the patrol, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists. The trial was the second in the same case against Urresti after the Supreme Court in 2019 overturned a ruling made the previous year that had acquitted him. Two decades of fighting between the rebels and security forces left 69,000 people dead or missing, according to Peru's Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Two human rights groups said in a report issued Thursday that Iran executed at least 582 prisoners last year, the countrys highest level since 2015. Norway-based Iran Human Rights and Paris-based Together Against the Death Penalty said the number of executions had risen 75% compared to the previous year. The groups said in their report that Iran uses the death penalty as a way to intimidate and oppress people in order to maintain power. The report said about half of the executions were for murder charges. Citing the protests that began in September following the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini, the groups said four protesters have been executed and that 100 others remain at risk of death penalty charges, sentences and execution. A Russian court this week ordered that a Russian reporter with independent news website RusNews be detained until June 10 on three charges of spreading fake information about the Russian army. Roman Ivanov, the reporter, was arrested Tuesday at his apartment in Korolyov. Officials reportedly broke down his apartment door and confiscated his laptop and phones. Ivanov denied the charges and said in the Korolyov court that authorities had been pressuring him since 2020 over his work. His detention was ordered Wednesday. If convicted, he faces up to 10 years in prison. "Authorities should immediately release Ivanov, drop all charges against him, and let the media work freely and without fear of reprisal," Carlos Martinez de la Serna, program director with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), said in a statement. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately reply to VOA's email requesting comment. Ivanov's arrest came less than two weeks after Russian authorities arrested American Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on spying accusations, which he has denied. Authorities opened three criminal cases against Ivanov for three war-related social media posts, including one about alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine. Ivanov was previously detained in September 2022 while covering an anti-mobilization protest in Korolyov. Authorities also questioned Ivanov's wife, Maria Nekrasova, and made her sign a nondisclosure agreement. There are few independent reporters continuing to work inside Russia, and targeting them is not unexpected from the Kremlin. As of December 2022, at least 19 journalists were in prison in Russia, according to CPJ. What happened to Ivanov is "grotesque and horrible," said Maya Vinokour, a New York University professor who researches post-Soviet media. "But I'm not surprised." The same day Ivanov was arrested, police in the southwestern city of Ufa searched the editorial office of independent news website Prufy.ru and seized computer equipment. "We believe that certain government officials are using their position to put pressure on the media so that we cannot tell stories about government corruption and attempts to profit at the expense of the state," the outlet said. "Roman Ivanov and the journalists of Prufy.ru are among the few independent voices remaining in Russia who are reporting truthfully about the situation in the country and the war it is waging against Ukraine. Their work is essential and should not be hindered," CPJ's Martinez de la Serna said in a statement. Ivanov was the second RusNews journalist to be targeted this year. In February, RusNews reporter Maria Ponomarenko was sentenced to six years in prison for allegedly spreading fake news about the Russian army. "Certain organizations are being specifically targeted in a way that seems very planned out," Vinokour told VOA. The aim is likely "to send the message that entire organizations are on the chopping block. There is no safe way to dissent." Saudi and Syrian diplomats on Wednesday welcomed a thaw in bilateral ties, including steps to resume consular services and flights, and agreed to cooperate to fight drug trafficking and facilitate Syria's return to the Arab fold. Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad landed in the Saudi Red Sea city of Jeddah on Wednesday in the first visit by a senior Syrian diplomat to the kingdom in more than a decade, a major sign that Syria's regional isolation is ending. Gulf heavyweight Saudi Arabia cut ties with Damascus amid Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's brutal crackdown on peaceful protests in 2011 and backed rebel groups that fought to remove Assad from power. Syria was also suspended from the Arab League. Joint statement The resumption of Saudi-Syrian ties marks the most significant development in moves by Arab states to normalize links with Assad. It comes weeks after Mekdad met with the top diplomats of Egypt and Jordan, also for the first time in over a decade. Assad, with the help of his main allies Iran and Russia, regained control over much of Syria, and Saudi Arabia has said isolating him was not working. In a joint statement at the end of Wednesday's visit, both sides agreed on the need for the Syrian state to assert its control over all its territories "and end the presence of armed militias." The two ministers also discussed the steps needed for a political settlement to the Syrian crisis that contributes to "Syria's return to its Arab environment" and said they would enhance cooperation on combating drug trafficking. The U.S. and European nations, among others, have accused the Assad family of playing a leading role in the billion-dollar illicit trade of captagon, an amphetamine they say is produced in Syria and helps to fund the Syrian government. Much of it is thought to be sold to buyers in Gulf Arab countries, including Saudi Arabia. Assad's government denies involvement in drugmaking and smuggling and says it fights to curb the lucrative trade. Return to Arab League Mekdad's trip to Jeddah came two days before Saudi Arabia hosts another meeting of regional foreign ministers that will discuss Syria's return to the Arab League. Saudi Arabia plans to invite Assad to the Arab League summit Riyadh is scheduled to host on May 19, a move that would formally end his regional isolation, sources have told Reuters, though it is unclear if there is Arab consensus on the matter. Syria and Tunisia said on Wednesday that they have also agreed to reopen their respective embassies. Seoul has reiterated its decision not to send lethal weapons to Kyiv following the leak of Pentagon documents reportedly showing top South Korean officials deliberating whether to sell artillery shells to the U.S. because of worries that the ammunition could end up in Ukraine. The governments policy of not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine remains unchanged, a spokesperson for the South Korean Defense Ministry told VOAs Korean Service on Wednesday. The Republic of Korea and U.S. government have been discussing ways to support Ukraines protection of freedom. However, we cannot confirm the details of the discussion, the spokesperson continued without elaborating. South Korea has been providing humanitarian aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in February 2022. It also joined the U.S. and Western democratic countries in sanctioning Russia for its invasion of Ukraine. But as the West has been increasing the amount and kinds of weapons supporting Ukraines defense against Russia, Seoul has stopped short of providing lethal aid even though Washington has been looking to buy artillery shells from Seoul since late last year as a way to replenish U.S. stockpiles exhausted from suppling Kyiv. In January, Pentagon spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Martin Meiners told VOAs Korean Service that Washington was still in talks with South Koreas nongovernment industrial defense base for potential sales of ammunition. At the time, Seoul refrained from ammunition sales to avoid upsetting Russia, which had hinted that it could resume military cooperation with North Korea if South Korea assisted Ukraine. Seouls deliberation Seouls deliberations about selling the ammunition to the U.S. could be gleaned from the leaked Pentagon documents that allegedly reveal U.S. intelligence services spying on top South Korean officials, according to The New York Times. South Korean national security adviser Kim Sung-han, who resigned in March over planning issues related to President Yoon Suk Yeols upcoming visit to Washington, and Secretary for Foreign Affairs Yi Mun-hui were concerned that the U.S. would not be the end user if Seoul sold ammunition to the U.S., according to the Times report. Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst and policy practice lead at the Washington, D.C.-area consultancy LMI, said Seouls concern about extending arms support to Ukraine was nothing new. Seouls deliberation over support to Ukraine has been widely known since the beginning of the war, Kim told VOA Korean. But the leak itself makes the issue seem all the more serious and a point of friction between Seoul and Washington. The South Korean newspaper Dong-a Ilbo, citing a government official, reported Wednesday that South Korea was to lend rather than sell 500,000 rounds of 155 mm artillery shells to the U.S. Supporting Ukraine Scott Snyder, director of the program on U.S.-Korea policy and a senior fellow for Korea studies at the Council on Foreign Relations, said, The leaked documents represent an impediment to South Koreas cooperation with the U.S. to support Ukraine to the extent that they may raise the domestic political cost to Yoon of doing so. The allegation of U.S. espionage has sparked criticism in South Korea. Opposition Democratic Party leader Lee Jae-myung said the Yoon government needed to secure an official apology from the U.S. and a guarantee it would not spy again. Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow for Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation, said, The South Korean opposition party predictably is trying to use the issue to undermine support for the alliance and to score political points against President Yoon. Yoons office issued a statement Tuesday saying the defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. agreed that significant portions of the leaked Pentagon documents contained fabricated information. Washington expects more Evans Revere, a former State Department official with an extensive experience negotiating with North Korea, also questioned the validity of the leaked document. But he said Seouls caution about providing direct arms support to Ukraine had concerned some in the West. Its no secret, quite frankly, that there has been some level of concern in Washington, just as there has been some level of concern in Western Europe, that South Korea has not done as much as it could or should in terms of supplying Ukraine, said Revere. Describing South Korea as one of the most formidable manufacturers of sophisticated arms and equipment in the world, Revere said that while it was good to have Seoul supporting the West and pushing back against autocratic countries like Russia, the government needed to decide what South Korea is prepared to do that would really make a difference in the ability of democracy to survive. South Korea was the eighth-largest global exporter of arms in 2017-21, according to a 2022 report by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute. Seouls dilemma Terence Roehrig, a professor of national security and Korea expert at the U.S. Naval War College, said, South Korean officials have sought to craft a careful policy that supports Ukraine along with the West and stand up to Russia, while also avoiding actions that provoke Russia into worsening security on the Korean Peninsula through support for the North. He continued, Seoul has a delicate balancing act to play and its arms sales to others is a way of supporting the Ukrainian war effort without provoking Russia, though its not clear if the Kremlin sees the difference. Moscow has placed South Korea on a list of countries that commit unfriendly actions along with other countries that sanctioned Russia in March, according to Tass, a government-affiliated news outlet. Revere, the former State Department official, said, There is nothing that Russia is going to do to help South Korea when it comes to North Korea. He continued, North Korea has become a de facto partner of Russia by supporting the Russian position on Ukraine, criticizing NATO, and perhaps even providing military support to the Russians. Kim Hyungjin contributed to this report. Uzbekistan is hosting a conference Thursday of foreign ministers of regional countries, including Russia and China, to review the situation and cooperation with Taliban-ruled Afghanistan. The event in the Uzbek city of Samarkand comes as the United Nations reviews its presence in the strife-torn South Asian nation after the radical Taliban barred female staff from working for the world body, the latest in a series of curbs placed on Afghan women. Taliban Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is attending Thursday's meeting with counterparts from Russia and six neighbors of Afghanistan, including China, Pakistan, Iran, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, and Turkmenistan. Muttaqis office confirmed his arrival in Samarkand on Twitter, saying Uzbek officials received him warmly." Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, earlier also arrived in Samarkand to attend the meeting. A Russian Foreign Ministry statement said Wednesday that participants at the Samarkand huddle will focus on the development of regional economic integration and the implementation of transport and energy projects involving Kabul under earlier agreements. On Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin, responding to criticism of the Taliban's restrictions on women and lack of political inclusivity, told reporters Beijing supports "the Afghan government in adopting moderate, prudent and inclusive policies. Wang said his government had maintained contact with the Taliban government to help them and the Afghan people overcome reconstruction, economic development, and security-related challenges. "China stands ready to step up coordination and cooperation with Afghanistan's neighbors and the rest of the world to help Afghanistan embark on a path of stability and development," he said. Beijing and Moscow have stepped up engagements with the Taliban since they seized control of Afghanistan in August 2021 as U.S.-led Western troops withdrew after 20 years of war. Chinas Policy Analysts say Beijing's growing engagement with Kabul stems from potentially vital economic opportunities and to expand Beijing's regional influence. They see Afghanistan's largely unexplored mineral wealth and the presence of anti-China militants in the country as the main drivers behind the increased Chinese diplomatic outreach. The impoverished nation, reeling from years of war and natural calamities, links West Asia, Central Asia, and South Asia countries. China has invested billions of dollars in infrastructure and economic development projects in these countries under its global Belt and Road Initiative, hoping to make Afghanistan part of it. "China welcomes Afghanistan's participation in Belt and Road cooperation and supports Afghanistan's integration into regional economic cooperation and connectivity that will transform Afghanistan from a 'land-locked country' to a 'land-linked country,'" the Chinese foreign ministry said in its Afghan policy document released on Wednesday. China and Russia are among several regional and neighboring countries that have kept their embassies in Kabul after the Taliban takeover. But no foreign government has recognized the Taliban authorities, citing curbs on Afghan women and concerns stemming from other human rights abuses. "We hope the Afghan interim government will protect the basic rights and interests of all Afghan people, including women, children, and all ethnic groups, and continue working actively to meet Afghan people's interests and the international community's expectations," the Chinese foreign ministry said Wednesday. The United Nations has condemned the "unlawful" ban on hundreds of its Afghan female staff, imposed a week ago, and warned it could push the global organization to stop operations in the country. The Taliban on Wednesday defended their decision to forbid Afghan women from working for the U.N., saying it is an internal matter that all parties should respect. Afghanistan is home to one of the world's largest humanitarian crises, where the United Nations says 28.3 million people, or two-thirds of the population, need humanitarian assistance, with 6 million people on the brink of famine. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal on Thursday welcomed the "continuous, ironclad and unprecedented support" of the United States as his country fights Russia's invasion, and he underscored Ukraine's commitment to battling corruption. Shmyhal, speaking alongside U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, said it was critical that Ukraine begin reconstruction this year, and that Kyiv had identified a priority funding gap of $14 billion needed this year. Yellen, who paid a surprise visit to Kyiv in February, told Shmyhal she had seen "firsthand the bravery and resilience of the Ukrainian military and people," recounting a visit to a school damaged by Russian attacks where community members were making trench candles to send to the front lines. She said the United States had stood with Ukraine since the first day of the war and would continue to back it "for as long as it takes." The United States has disbursed significant economic support since the start of the war and will provide more in coming months, on top of security and humanitarian aid, she said. "As [Ukrainian] President [Volodymyr] Zelenskyy said, this support is not charity it's an investment in democracy and global security," she said, noting that it included safeguards to ensure that the funds were used for the intended purpose. Yellen lauded Ukraine's commitment to meeting reform benchmarks in a new $15.6 billion lending program approved by the International Monetary Fund, which she said marked a significant step toward achieving a sound economic path. Shmyhal said that Ukraine had implemented exceptional control measures to account for every dollar in assistance received, and that the country had undertaken more anti-corruption reforms in the past year than during many previous years combined. He also said Ukraine appreciated tough U.S. sanctions imposed against Russia that covered more than 120 companies and entities, including those who facilitated sanctions evasion and those associated with Russian energy company Rosatom. The World Bank, United Nations, European Commission and Ukraine recently estimated it would cost $411 billion to rebuild Ukraine, up from the earlier estimate of $349 billion. Yellen on Tuesday 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 additional support as needed. WASHINGTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The man who leaked a trove of U.S. intelligence documents, some marked as top secret, to the public is a young airman enlisted in the Massachusetts Air National Guard (MANG), The New York Times reported Thursday. Identifying the U.S. service member as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira who works in the MANG's intelligence wing, the Times said it based the finding on interviews and documents it reviewed. The report said Teixeira is the leader of a private online chat group with members numbering 20 to 30, who were drawn together by their shared love for guns, racist online memes and video games. Though members of the chat group interviewed by the Times didn't identify the leader by name -- only referring to him as "OG" -- the newspaper said digital evidence it compiled led to Teixeira. The Times' account seemed to have been corroborated by The Washington Post, which reported Wednesday that "OG" indicated that he had brought home what appeared to be near-verbatim transcripts of classified intelligence documents from his job on a "military base." Federal investigators probing the incident have yet to identify any leaker, the Times said. President Joe Biden, while visiting Ireland, said Thursday that ongoing investigation involving the intelligence community and the Justice Department is "getting close to" identifying the source of the leak. The U.S. government has been left in an awkward position in what is believed to be potentially the worst intelligence breach in a decade, not only because the revelation made clear Washington's deeper-than-perceived involvement in the day-to-day development of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and exposed continued U.S. spying on its allies, but also because of the U.S. government's total unawareness of the leak despite the months-long and ever-expanding online circulation of the sensitive materials. While a Wall Street Journal report said the secret documents, of which most content was believed by U.S. officials to be real, were first posted online in January, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters Tuesday that it was only on the morning of April 6 that he was first briefed on the "unauthorized disclosure." Highly accurate and maneuverable U.S. howitzers have been helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine fight off Russia's aggression since July 2022. These days, the weapons are used mostly in the Bakhmut district in the Donetsk region. Anna Kosstutschenko has the story. Videographer and video editor: Pavel Suhodolskiy The Berlin Zoo celebrated the 66th birthday of Fatou, the worlds oldest-known living gorilla, with a special dinner that included fruit, vegetables and a watermelon with her age carved into it. Fatou, a Western lowland gorilla, enjoyed her birthday meal Thursday as zoo visitors snapped pictures. Her keeper, Ruben Gralki, said her species would live 45 to 50 years in nature. While zoo animals tend to live longer, he said that reaching an age beyond 60 years is a special feat. The zoo said in a press release that Fatous exact age is not known. She came to the zoo in 1959, and her age was estimated to be two at the time. The zoo said before that, she was owned by a sailor who exploited her to pay his bar tab at a tavern in Marseille, France. Gralki told Reuters that Fatou is one of five gorillas at the Berlin Zoo, but she has a pen to herself due to her advanced age. He said she has the opportunity to visit with the other gorillas but usually keeps to herself. The World Wildlife Federation says Western lowland gorillas, though among the most common species of gorilla, remain critically endangered, largely because of poaching. Some information for this report came from Reuters and Agence France-Presse. WASHINGTON - Nelson Chamisa has been overwhelmingly selected by all provinces in Zimbabwe as the sole presidential candidate for the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) to contest the forthcoming poll expected sometime this year. According to Shepherd Ngandu, spokesperson of the Citizens Candidates Independent Selection Panel, nobody challenged Chamisa for the presidential ticket. Ngandu said, Chamisa was nominated by all constituencies. There is no other person who was nominated by citizens in the first stage of the candidates selection process. CCC dismissed reports that citizens also nominated Harare East lawmaker, Tendai Biti, as one of the presidential candidates. Thats not true. Some people are creating stories in order to cause discord in CCC. Its all lies, said Ellen Shiriyedenga, CCCs deputy elections director. Biti was unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. Shiriyedenga said, Our election process was well executed even though there were some problems in the initial selection process. CCC is conducting a Consensus Candidates Election process, which saw over 2,000 people being nominated to tussle for the 310 parliamentary seats and 30,000 for local government elections. The party is now expected to start vetting names of the nominees before candidates a final list of successful candidates is made in the next two weeks. Chamisa contested the 2018 general election and narrowly lost to President Emmerson Mnangagwa in a contested presidential poll, whose outcome was determined by the Electoral Court. The opposition leader insists that he defeated Mnangagwa. THURSDAY, April 13, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- Hundreds of thousands of immigrants brought illegally to the United States as children may soon be eligible to receive federally funded health care. President Joe Biden on Thursday announced the extension of eligibility for Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act health insurance exchanges to those in DACA, the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. "Today, my administration is announcing our plan to expand health coverage for Dreamers, the thousands of young people brought to the U.S. as kids," Biden said in a Tweet announcing the change. "Were not done fighting for their pathway to citizenship, but we're getting them the opportunities they deserve in the meantime." While other classes of immigrants, such as those with temporary protected status and asylum seekers, can already purchase health insurance as part of the Affordable Care Act, the DACA participants have not had the opportunity because they do not meet the definition of having lawful presence in the United States. The Biden administration would change that. DACA, created in 2012, was meant to give children illegally brought to this country by their parents the opportunity to work legally and not be deported. They pay taxes, but they dont receive the same benefits as U.S. citizens. About 580,000 people were still enrolled in DACA in late 2022, according to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. The Biden administration is taking an important step to expand access to health care for DACA beneficiaries, and though the formal reach of this expansion is delimited it will apply to about 580,000 people the benefits are resounding," Jamila Michener, an associate professor of government and policy at Cornell University and co-director of the Cornell Center for Health Equity, said in a statement. Evidence indicates that coverage expansions like this improve health outcomes and help rectify the systematic exclusion of immigrants from our health care system an exclusion that drives and exacerbates racial and economic health inequities," Michener added. There are also broader benefits to the entire health care system. Having sizeable groups of people who live, work, go to school and make their home in the U.S. but cannot access vital health benefits is bad for everyone," she explained. "It makes preventative care less accessible, thus driving up the cost of emergency care. It proliferates sickness and vulnerability in ways that harm families, communities and local economies. No one wins when immigrants cannot readily access health care." Still, the DACA program has faced its challenges. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is prevented from processing any new applications because of court challenges and Congress cant reach an agreement on immigration reforms, the Associated Press reported. While only about 8% of Americans currently dont have health insurance thanks to increases in eligibility and subsidies, about half of 20 million immigrants dont have insurance, according to the nonprofit KFF. More information The Anti-Defamation League has more on DACA and DREAMers. SOURCES: White House, news release, April 13, 2023; Associated Press GABORONE, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Botswana's Department of Wildlife and National Parks is investigating an incident in which four rhinos were shot, with two killed and the other two recovering, said a ministry statement on Wednesday. Two carcasses were discovered with their horns intact at Khama Rhino Sanctuary, a sanctuary that provides a prime habitat for white and black rhinos as well as more than 30 other animal species in the eastern center of Botswana. "Investigations on the matter are ongoing to identify the cause of death," said Thato Raphaka, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism, noting that the ministry is working with other law enforcement agencies to establish motives behind these shootings so that appropriate actions are taken against perpetrators. Khama Rhino Sanctuary was founded in 1992 as a community-based wildlife project to help save the extinct rhinos and bring economic benefits to the local community through tourism and the sustainable use of resources. The Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism urged support and gratitude to the public for reporting wildlife crimes. To understand the true power of Jake Gyllenhaal on Hot Ones, you must watch it in 1.5x speed. This thing needs horsepower as it descends into madness. For one thing, Gyllenhaal is the whitest of white men (white enough to have a lyric about his favorite indie records referenced on a breakup song about him) and still chooses to eat the entirety of his wings on a show where the challenge boils down to take one bite of increasingly hot wings. Another thing is that he is a bit of a weirdo. Even before the wings get too hot, hes commenting on the unwieldiness of host Sean Evans upper body, saying, It might be the clue to the show, how weird you are when you do this [mocks Evans rocking back and forth]. When the wings take a turn for the hotter, he goes even further, first professing his deep love for Evans (after making fun of him), and then fully descending into hot-sauce madness. A wing gives him a leg cramp, which inspires him to eat more of that wing, which Evans accompanies him on. I have the most electric head high, Evans says of the sauce. Wanna know why? Cause now youre in my world, motherfucker, Gyllenhaal responds, before shouting, I brought you into my world! You think you can take me to nowhere land, and Im not gonna take you to my world?! Later in the interview, Evans mentions that Gyllenhaal has said that he takes pieces of his characters with him into everyday life. This appears to have activated Nightcrawler mode. Look, he may be a great actor, he may be smelly, and he may be the object of Swiftie ire, but one thing you cant accuse Jake Gyllenhaal of is a lack of commitment. Photo: David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson are set to The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent themselves. Or Steve Guttenbergs Birthday Party episode of Party Down themselves, depending on your taste. The pair will star in comedy series Brother From Another Mother for Apple TV+, in which theyll play loosely fictionalized versions of themselves. Woody and his family will have to cohabitate with Matthew and his at McConaugheys Texas ranch. Matthew McConaughey playing a Texan? Okay, if you say so. This will be yet another collab between the actors, including EdTV and the first season of True Detective. Time really is a flat circle, huh? History doesnt repeat, but it does rhyme. On Kelly Ripas podcast, McConaughey alluded to the fact that the two may actually be brothers from the same mother, as Mama McConaughey may have boffed Woodys dad. In Greece a few years ago, were sitting around talking about how close we are and our families, McConaughey said. And my mom is there, and she says, Woody, I knew your dad. Everyone was aware of the ellipses that my mom left after knew. It was a loaded K-N-E-W. Woody Harrelsons father, per History dot com, was arrested for assassinating a Texas judge in 1979. Some conspiracy theorists even believe Papa Harrelson might have been the real killer of JFK. No word on whether any of that will come up when Brother From Another Mother drops on Apple TV+. Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images Pete Davidson is set to host Saturday Night Live on May 6, the show announced last night. The musical guest will be Lil Uzi Vert. Page Six had reported last week that Davidson is expected to attend the Met Gala that Monday. That should be okay, since the host doesnt really have to start getting in the mix until table read. Both events will be promo for Bupkis, Davidsons new Peacock show that premieres May 4. Edie Falco plays his mom, Joe Pesci plays his grandfather, and guest stars include Charlie Day, a shirtless Simon Rex, and current paramour Chase Sui Wonders. Next show!!! pic.twitter.com/AMdCeLXGOk Saturday Night Live - SNL (@nbcsnl) April 16, 2023 Speaking of current paramour Chase Sui Wonders, Davidson recently expressed some hurt about jokes made on SNL about his dating life. When its your own show, and Ill be sitting in the back watching the cold open and [its] topical political humor or whatever in the culture, and theyre making fun of you and you gotta walk out and do a sketch next and hit your mark, he said on John Bernthals podcast, the show just made fun of you, so why are they going to laugh at you? They just dogged you. This post has been updated. Sympathize with the plight of actors who have to keep 8 million things straight for example, Hoa Xuande and Robert Downey Jr. of the upcoming HBO series The Sympathizer. Xuande plays the Captain, a North Vietnamese spy who is spying on South Vietnamese who then must live in America, still pretending to be South Vietnamese and then starts consulting on a movie about the Vietnam War. A lot to keep straight, right? But thats not to minimize the role of Downey, who plays four separate antagonists. Whew! The series, based on the Pulitzer Prizewinning novel by Viet Thanh Nguyen, is co-showrun by Park Chan-wook (Decision to Leave) and Don McKellar (The Drowsy Chaperone). Other cast members include Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh. The trailer leaves us unsure about when the show is really coming out (it just says 2024), but maybe thats a tactic. Spies never let you know too much. Related Yeah, were gonna need to see him in leather. Photo: Amy Sussman/Getty Images for Deadline What did one blade of grass say to the other? Without a director, its really hard to make dew. Thats why Disney decided to push back production on the upcoming Marvel film Blade after losing its original director, Bassam Tariq. However, there is now a new director ready to master the art of the Blade franchise, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Lovecraft Countrys Yann Demange is set to take over directing duties for the project that has been in paused for a while. Joining Demange to steer the film in a new direction is Emmy-nominated writer Michael Starrbury as the new screenwriter. The film, which stars Mahershala Ali in the titular role as well as Mia Goth, Aaron Pierre and Delroy Lindo, was scheduled to begin production this November, with a November 3, 2023, release date. But with the new team on board to start, Disney is giving them a little bit more time with a production start date of 2023 and a new September 6, 2024 release. Theres no word yet on if the new release date will push the project into the Phase 6 Marvel plans. Marvel has said that Tariqs removal is due to production issues, not artistic differences. Due to continued shifts in our production schedule, Bassam is no longer moving forward as director of Blade but will remain an executive producer on the film, Marvel stated to THR on September 27. We appreciate Bassams talent and all the work hes done getting Blade to where it is. Tariq released his own statement, calling it an honor to work with Marvel on the film. The film was announced in 2019 as part of Marvel: Phase Four and reportedly went through a number of revisions; Beau DeMayo had allegedly tapped in for rewrites of Stacy Osei-Kuffours script, but Marvel has not made any statements about the writing credits of the film. Ali as Blade made a brief appearance in the post-credits scene of Eternals, solidifying his place in the MCU as the character earlier than expected. Turns out there are worse things out tonight than vampires theyre called production delays. This post has been updated throughout. The craziest thing about this season of UGT is that it has so firmly turned me against two of my all-time-favorite Housewives: Gizelle and Porsha. As the episode starts, we have to relive Gizzy getting in a tizzy about her bottle of tequila (my new theory: They finished the bottle, and housekeeping threw it away) and then she says, I dont want to fuss and fight. You dont? Then why did you create a huge fuss and a giant fight over a bottle of tequila when you could have just asked everyone where it was? Pepsi, for one, has had enough with the whole group. I dont know what is real and what is fake, he tells the women as if hed just watched an episode of Vanderpump Rules. I dont know if its a language barrier, but Pepsi seems upset that they yell and fight so much. When they do it in public and at the temple and are disrespectful, I understand his point, but its their vacation. If theyre at the house and want to get into it with one another, what business is that of Pepsis? Also, I hate myself for giggling when Gizelle says, Pepsi cant handle us. We need a Coke or a Sprite. Oh, just wait until she meets Pepsis wife, Mountain Dew. That night for dinner, Marysol has someone teach them all how to make cockies, a term that Marysol insists on using as if it were a canned cocktail called Fetch. (Shout-out to Heather in this episode for making her very own Mean Girls joke.) Things are a little boring until theyre at dinner and Gizelle, who stirs as much pot as Whitney and Candiace smoke in the confessional, tells Leah, in front of the group, that she should ask Porsha why she hates her. This kicks off a conversation in which the two of them basically say that they dont like each other and dont vibe together. Know what? Thats fine. If you put eight people together in a room, there is no way youll like all of them. I dont even mind that they expressed it, but I dont like that Porsha has to get mean about it. At the end of the conversation, she says she will change Leahs name from Poor Leah to Leah, Bye. And then Leah goes, Porsha, bye. And then Porsha goes, Leah, bye. They repeatedly say bye to each other, and we all turn into kindergarten teachers and put them both in a time-out during recess. What really pisses me off, though, is Porshas confessional relitigating the moment. She says that Leah was trying to get her Housewives energy going back and forth. Um, no, she didnt. As soon as Gizelle brought it up, Leah was very calm, measured, and not insulting in her words or tone. It was Porsha with her Leah, bye that made it full of Housewives energy. Then here is Porsha accusing Leah of trying to fight with her so that she could get more clout or attention on the show or something? It was weird. Whitney, with whom Leah said she was having a good time, then tells Leah that she complains a lot and, well, anyone could see that. Still, thanks for saying it. As the women talk about who they have had good experiences and bad experiences with, Heather finally turns on Gizelle and says the things she has been saying behind Gizelles back for days: that Heather feels like Gizelle was closed off from getting to know her and that Heather didnt like it when Gizelle said she couldnt trust a word out of her mouth. She even reused her joke from the bus about wanting to Teresa Giudice the table when Gizelle said that. Whitney tells us that this is the Heather she loves the person who is not afraid to stand up to people and tell them what she thinks. The two end up crying together in the rain and then jumping in the pool like theyre Sonja Tremont Morgan of the Mexico Tequila Dynasty Morgans. The rest of the episode is bland. Leah gets up from breakfast and runs into her room, dry-heaving the whole way. Its her day to host an activity, but they go to the temple without her while she heads to the emergency room for more fluids to fight her dehydration. I guess you could say that Leah is so thirsty it made her sick. (Thank you, thank you. Ill be here all week or until Pepsi kicks me out.) Anyway, all the girls think Leah is maybe being a bit dramatic, and Porsha says shes giving out energy to bring everyone together. Really? Is that what Porsha is doing? I thought she was just cussing people out and eating KFC for lunch, because I havent seen her gather anything except bones against the other castmates. The temple is pretty, and everyone behaves for a change, but Im surprised Marysol offered them incense when she probably just wanted to provide them with a screwdriver she made for the ride over. After the temple, they all get fortunes, which are pretty nice. Pepsi translates and tells Marysol that her business will be good and her family will be happy. He tells Heather that she is blessed to have children. Well, two people got bad fortunes: Porsha and Gizelle. A coincidence? I think not. He tells Gizelle that she will find a man who is always broke. He tells Porsha that, much like me when I ate a nonorganic hot dog at a Snail Mail concert, she will have a problem with lesbians. I want to know more about what this means. Is this, like, her house is going to have an infestation of lesbians she cant get rid of? Is she going to piss off the group by saying something insensitive? Is she going to have lesbian feelings and not want to act on them? I have so many questions. That night, Whitney has a Tantric dinner with a hot Irish chef named Jamie, and all of the women decide he has a long, skinny penis, which is a shape I will take any day of the week. Actually, I have never once seen a penis and said no. Maybe Im a slut I dont know. Im certainly not a size queen like Ms. Gizelle Bryant, who says if she cant hold on with two hands, shes throwing that fish back in the sea. Heather is the opposite: Shes scared of a big one. Maybe these ladies can learn something from my experience with dicks, because I have seen more than Emmanuel Macron has seen protests. Theyre all good big ones, small ones, funny ones, ones that curve like Gonzos nose, ones that are fatter at the base than the tip, ones with huge tips and tiny bases. Once theyre in you, they dont all feel the same but, you know, mostly the same. Just look at the guys theyre connected to. Speaking of which, the best part of the whole dinner is when Whitney talks about her husband losing his job as a result of doing a cringey naked painting with her. She said she wanted to quit her job right then, but Justin said, Do I take away my wifes power and tell her no, or do I risk it and let my wife be her? He let her be herself, and everyone around that table, everyone watching that show, everyone on their couches and in the choirs of Mormon Heaven, all said simultaneously, You better keep that man, Whitney Rose Lee. The episode ends with Whitney doing a pole dance; getting really baked with her new BFF, Candiace; then eating KFC mashed potatoes on a pool floatie. I dont know what your best life looks like, but mine resembles Whitneys. Now if only she could share some of her joy with Porsha and Gizelle, because it seems they need it. MCHINJI, Malawi, April 13 (Xinhua) -- At least 17 people are feared dead in Malawi's western border district of Mchinji after the boat they were traveling in to cross a river capsized late Wednesday afternoon, local authorities have confirmed. The boat is reported to carry 22 people, 19 adults and three children, who were crossing the river to a village on the other side to attend a funeral. An eye witness told the Malawi News Agency that the boat, which was supposed to carry 10 people only, had 22 people on board, leading to the tragedy as it could not support the weight of the passengers. Five of the people managed to swim to the other side of the river with the help of locals, while 17 people drowned, according to Fred Movete, the district commissioner, and John Nkhoma, the officer-in-charge for the district's police station. Search and rescue efforts by the locals proved futile Wednesday, and marine rescue experts were deployed Thursday to carry out a search and rescue exercise. To The Eagle: For seven years the Biden regime kept accusing Trump with false allegations they could never prove. The latest is unspeakable; an allegedly one time sex with Stormy Daniels that supposedly happened 17 years ago. How in hells bells did they come up with 37 counts for an allegedly one time sex as a felony? If it did happen, so what? Nothing to brag about. Lets face it, many of our past presidents had mistresses to frolic with; only a handful of presidents were ever faithful to their wives. What has the media not reported? The CCP paid millions of dollars to the Biden family for helping them get into various industries here in America. As I mentioned before, CCP Police Stations exist in LA and NYC. What about the CCP balloon episode floating across our country? Ashley Biden at 40 years old entered a rehab center for drugs and sex addiction. In her diary she wrote I remember having sex with friends @ a young age; showers w/my dad, probably not appropriate. Hunter is no angel either. Finally, video footage of the Jan 6 rally has been released but there are still more the FBI and the Biden regime stole that have not been released. We saw in the video millions of American people just stood outside the Capitol with flags and cell phones, no weapons. The Capitol Police took the first shot. The Jan 6 Committee and the Biden regime purposely edited the video to make us look violent. The violent were BLM and Antifa. They all ought to be put in solitary confinement in the same cells they put the innocents in for the same amount of time or longer. The innocents have not been released yet. In other breaking news, Biden blamed Trump for the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021. Who was President then? This is real news. Stay tuned for part 2. Toni Below Cathlamet John Cabot University, a regionally accredited American liberal arts university in Rome, Italy, is seeking a qualified and enthusiastic candidate to fill the position of Assistant Dean of Students. This position, under the direction of and in close collaboration with the Dean of Students, oversees the offices of Orientation, Community Service, Religious Life, and Multiculturalism, and coordinates the Emergency on-call rotation. The Assistant Dean of Students, alongside the Dean of Students, assists in the management of the Residential Life, Housing, and Health and Wellbeing offices regarding student support and conflict mediation. The ideal candidate is enthusiastic, flexible, patient, and works well on collaborative projects. For a list of duties and qualifications, please refer to the JCU website at https://www.johncabot.edu/employment-opportunities/administrative-staff.aspx All applicants must possess valid EU working documents in Italy at time of application. JCU cannot sponsor candidates for working visas in Italy for this position. Email your (English only) CV and Cover Letter to employment@johncabot.edu with subject line Assistant Dean of Students. The position will remain open until filled, with application review commencing immediately. The successful candidate will begin employment as early as May 2023. While we appreciate every application received, note that only short-listed applicants will be contacted. John Cabot University, a regionally accredited American university in Rome, Italy, is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The University prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, ethnic or national origin, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital or parental status, or disability in any of its policies, programs, and services. KAMPALA, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Ugandan military on Thursday killed the ringleader of a daring massive jailbreak where over 200 inmates escaped from a prison in the northeastern district of Moroto in September 2020. Isaac Okware, the Third Division army spokesperson, told Xinhua by telephone that Tom Lopusi, a notorious warrior who allegedly led the Singila prison break in Moroto town was killed at Loputuk village in the neighboring Kotido district. A total of 219 out of 620 prisoners, a majority of them sentenced over illegal possession of firearms in the region (also known as Karamoja), took off with 15 guns and several rounds of ammunition after overpowering the prison wardens on duty two years ago. "The joint security forces conducted a cordon and search operation in Loputuk where one well-known notorious and (highly) profiled warrior in the name of Tom Lopusi was put out of action," Okware said. His body has been taken to Kotido Health Center IV for postmortem. The military spokesperson said the joint forces recovered a prison gun, one of the guns taken during the prison break incident, and 18 rounds of live ammunition. Okware said the security forces have been trailing the 32-year-old following another attack on an army detachment in Panyangara, where a military officer was killed. "We congratulate our joint security forces for the tactical efforts made so far and their commitment to degrade armed criminal elements and pacify Karamoja sub-region," Okware said. Garbatella hosts Festa della Resistenza from 23-25 April. Rome will stage a festival dedicated to the Italian Resistance movement with a three-day programme of cultural and historical events to be held in the city's Garbatella district from 23-25 April. The festival is designed to raise awareness of "a fundamental page in the city's national and European history, that is the struggle for liberation between 1943 and 1945, and offer an opportunity to confront the values and principles on which our democratic republic is founded," according to a statement on the city's website. The event, promoted and supported by the city's culture department, coincides with Liberation Day, or Festa della Liberazione, a national public holiday on Tuesday 25 April. The annual commemoration marks the end of the Fascist regime and of the Nazi Germany occupation during world war two, as well as the victory of Italy's Resistance movement of partisans who opposed the regime. Dal 23 al 25 aprile a Roma, nel quartiere della Garbatella, sara #FestadellaResistenzaRoma23. Tante le attivita per la riscoperta della stagione di lotte e di passioni da cui e scaturita lItalia democratica di oggi. Info e programma su #CultureRoma: https://t.co/2f2hlhqEvj pic.twitter.com/UewepEAeNM Culture Roma (@culture_roma) April 12, 2023 The Festa della Resistenza events will take place in various spaces around Garbatella, including the Flamigni Archive, Teatro Palladium and the Moby Dick Cultural Hub Library. The three-day programme will explore Resistance themes in depth, with talks, film screenings, theatre performances, book presentations, discussions, workshops for children, guided tours of Garbatella and a Liberation Lunch in Piazza Sauli. The festival will feature presentations by historians, writers, journalists, literature scholars, artists and musicians, as well as the city's mayor Roberto Gualtieri. Also participating in the event will be representatives of Italian partisan associations including former Resistance fighters and deportees, the city said. Admission to all events is free, subject to availability. For full festival details see Culture Roma website. Azaleas return to the Spanish Steps this spring. Rome's Spanish Steps, the 18th-century staircase linking Piazza di Spagna with the church of Trinita de Monti, is once again decorated with hundreds of azalea plants. The time-honoured spring tradition, which was interrupted in 2020 during Italy's covid-19 lockdown, dates back more than 80 years. The azaleas are back on the Spanish Steps for the annual 'infiorata.' We can't wait for them to bloom!#SpanishSteps pic.twitter.com/yrqd2sb7rO Keats-Shelley House (@Keats_Shelley) April 13, 2023 The plants are cultivated in Romes nurseries at S. Sisto where azaleas have flourished for around a century. Once the plants cease flowering they are returned to the city nurseries until next spring. Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share In May 1921, the island of Ireland was split in two, giving rise to Northern Ireland as part of the UK, and to what would become the independent Republic of Ireland. A century later, the idea that reunification could eventually happen has taken on new life. Theres little prospect of a referendum being held in the near future, but shifting demographics, coupled with the forces unleashed by Brexit, suggest a ballot one day is possible assuming the British government chooses to hold one. 1. Why was Ireland divided? The 1921 partition was cemented by a peace agreement between British authorities and Irish rebels seeking independence after centuries of British rule. Northern Ireland, with a majority Protestant population (mostly descendants of settlers from Britain), remained part of the UK. The largely Catholic southern part of the island became the Irish Free State before formally declaring a republic in 1949. Advertisement 2. Why talk of reunification now? Sinn Fein, a party that campaigns for a united Ireland, gained the most seats in elections to Northern Irelands assembly in 2022. Momentum behind the issue has been growing partly because of the Brexit referendum in 2016, in which 52% of people in the UK voted to leave the European Union, but 56% of Northern Irish voters supported remaining. As in Scotland, where a majority also backed EU membership, being forced out of the 27-nation bloc stirred nationalist sentiment. (The UK also includes England and Wales.) Some 88% of Northern Irish who see themselves as nationalists meaning they support a united Ireland voted against Brexit. That compares with just a third, known as unionists, who want Northern Ireland to stay in the UK. 3. Why must the British approve a referendum? Advertisement Its written in the Good Friday Agreement the 1998 peace deal that largely ended three decades of bloody sectarian violence. Under the terms, only the UKs Secretary of State for Northern Ireland can call a vote on Irish reunification referred to as a border poll and then only if it appears likely a majority there would back it. The accord doesnt define likely, but scenarios include multiple surveys backing reunification or a consistent nationalist majority among Northern Irish lawmakers. If a referendum were defeated, another could only be held after seven years. 4. Does the Republic of Ireland also get a say? Consent for reunification is required on both sides of the border under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, meaning a referendum would take place in the republic, too. Polls in the south consistently back unity. An Irish Times-commissioned survey published in December 2022 found 66% of respondents favored a united Ireland, 16% were against and 13% undecided. If Northern Ireland (population 1.9 million) voted against reunification, the measure would be rejected no matter what happened in the south (population 4.9 million). Advertisement 5. Why do demographics matter? Northern Irelands 2021 census showed Catholics outnumbering Protestants for the first time: 46% of respondents identified as or were brought up as Catholic, and 43% as Protestant or other Christian religions. Not all Protestants are unionists and not all Catholics are nationalists, but religious identity tends to be a good indicator of attitude to a united Ireland. In the previous census, in 2011, 48% identified as Protestant and 45% as Catholic. (In 1971, Catholics made up just 31% of the population.) 6. When will a referendum happen? Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald said after her partys election victory in the north last year that a vote was possible within five years, though the governments in Dublin and London played down the idea. Brexit has added another layer of complexity to the issue because all parties wanted to avoid imposing a customs border between Ireland (in the EU) and Northern Ireland (no longer in the EU), fearing it could inflame tensions. While violence has largely died out since the Good Friday Agreement, authorities were investigating whether violence dissident republicans were responsible for the shooting of an off-duty police officer in February. Days of sectarian violence that broke out in 2021 were attributed by some unionists to concerns that the regions ties with Britain were fraying under the Brexit agreement. A new agreement, called the Windsor Framework, was worked out in February to try to address the problem. Advertisement 7. What do surveys say? Few if any polls in Northern Ireland have indicated a majority supporting reunification. The Irish Times survey from December showed half of all respondents in the north would vote against a united Ireland, with just 26% in favor. Another poll last year found even less support if voters had to pay higher taxes for unity. Still, a significant proportion of the electorate 19% in the Irish Times poll were undecided on which way they would vote in a border poll. 8. What are the obstacles? All mainstream Irish political parties publicly aspire to eventually reunite Ireland. Yet other than Sinn Fein, most are wary partly because there would be a cost. As things are, the UK provides an annual subsidy of about 10 billion pounds ($12.5 billion) to Northern Ireland, a relatively poor region with high social spending thats still rebuilding its economy after decades of violence. Theres also the potential difficulty of absorbing a unionist community opposed to the concept, some bitterly so. That said, another referendum in Scotland or the census results might shift opinion, as could the inclusion in the Dublin government of Sinn Fein winner of the popular vote at the last election. --With assistance from Morwenna Coniam. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share The recent kidnapping of four and murder of two US citizens in the border city of Matamoros is just one of the latest grisly reminders to Americans of Mexicos inability to provide basic safety, whether for its beleaguered citizens or visitors from across the border. US legislators like Senator Lindsey Graham have said that its time to get tough and prepare to send in US troops. Former President Donald Trump has reportedly been asking advisers for battle plans along those lines to implement if he is re-elected. These misguided calls are mirrored on the other side of the border by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors militarization of the fight against Mexicos cartels. Never mind the absurdity and illegality of the idea of US sending troops across the border. The militaristic turn of policymakers in both governments wont make either nation more secure. Mexico is not fighting terrorists or insurgents but criminals. It needs functioning civilian police forces and court systems, not missile strikes and boots on the ground. Murders now consistently top 30,000 a year. The disappeared number a hundred thousand more. Extortion is hitting small and medium-sized businesses, restaurants, shops, and offices the hardest, and spreading from border towns and industrial areas to tony neighborhoods in Mexicos biggest cities. Advertisement In addition to those Americans caught up in cartel crossfires, tens of thousands of Americans die every year from Mexican-made fentanyl and other imported illegal drugs. The violence is also sundering cross-border connections and commerce. On a recent trip to the Texan border city of Laredo, professors at the local university let me know they were no longer permitted to go into Nuevo Laredo or to drive to Monterrey just a few hours away to engage with their counterparts. A commercial real estate executive developing projects along the border told me that worries over violence have made it harder to secure funding for new industrial parks despite high demand from companies decamping from China. To be sure, international companies such as Tesla are moving to or expanding in Mexico. But what should be an investment tsunami so far is more of a stream, limited by the costs of trying to protect operations and employees against assaults. Without facilities based in Mexico, US-based companies and their workers wont benefit as much as they could from decoupling from China. Advertisement Policymakers on both sides of the border are taking a harder line against criminals. Lopez Obradors hugs not bullets rhetoric aside, his administration has turned Mexican security over to the military. The civilian National Guard is now under the armys jurisdiction. The governments point person for public security is a general. The military has taken over ports, airports, and customs, and seen its budget expand by double digits over the last five years. If the goal truly is to make Mexico safer, its turn to the military is a mistake. While more trusted than many institutions, Mexicos military has faced credible accusations of unnecessary use of force, corruption, and criminal ties. Hacked military documents released by Guacamaya, Latin Americas version of Wikileaks, reveal officers illegally spied on journalists, sold weapons to cartels, and siphoned millions from government contracts. And the case of former defense chief Salvador Cienfuegos, whom a federal grand jury in New York indicted for conspiring with cartels and who was subsequently released without charges by Mexico, is just one of many that has alleged military links to criminal groups. Even if Mexico could root out the bad apples, militaries arent equipped to combat domestic crime. They are taught to kill, not arrest. They lack skills and often legal authorities to investigate and build cases. And they remain outside domestic legal institutions without the ties to or oversight from civilian prosecutors, judges and other law enforcement officials that can bring transparency, accountability and bolster the rule of law. Advertisement US military strikes in Mexico similarly wont do much to stop the movement of illegal drugs or destroy the violent gangs that sell them, even as they ignite bilateral fury over impinging on Mexicos sovereignty. A legal escalation designating Mexicos cartels terrorist organizations wont provide meaningful new means to combat them. Between the Treasurys Financial Crimes Enforcement Network and Office of Foreign Asset Control, the US has strong tools to go after transnational criminal organizations, investigating money trails and seizing assets. The Justice Department too can already prosecute those who support transnational criminal organizations, such as accountants, bankers, and lawyers. It should step up such efforts. Moreover, where places have successfully taken on organized crime networks, militaries werent part of it. Fearless police, prosecutors and judges dismantled swathes of Italys Cosa Nostra. The US took down its own violent mafias and crime syndicates through coordinated police work and legal victories. And in the 1990s community policing was pivotal in reducing violence in cities including Boston, New Haven and San Diego. Mexico also has its own success stories. Ciudad Juarez lost its title as the worlds most dangerous city when it brought together federal and local police, prosecutors, business leaders and civil society organizations in the fight against crime. The industrial hub of Monterrey blunted rising crime rates through a similar joint effort to professionalize local police and law enforcement. Advertisement These policymakers and societies built up functioning civilian police forces, court systems, and penal institutions to prosecute and convict the guilty and free the innocent. They created effective whistleblower and witness protection programs. They utilized legal tools and intelligence to go after financial and personal networks. And they engaged private sector and civil society organizations to combat those tearing apart the local social and economic fabric. Using the military, even as a stopgap, just delays the painstaking process of building the civilian law enforcement and justice institutions necessary to bring safety back to the streets by creating a more sustainable rule of law. If the Mexican government decides to invest the money, time and effort in a civilian-based solution, the US can help. As each side has ratcheted up get tough approaches, cross-border security cooperation has all but collapsed. The Mexican administration has gutted joint law enforcement training and vetting programs. Intelligence-sharing too has dried up. And in the wake of the Cienfuegos affair, Lopez Obrador curtailed the ability of the Drug Enforcement Agency and other US law enforcement officers to work in Mexico. He has responded to US pleas to attack the fentanyl problem by claiming that no fentanyl is produced in Mexico. The recently signed Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health, and Safe Communities between Mexico and the US could reboot bilateral security cooperation. At least on paper, it provides a starting point to revive bilateral initiatives that made past progress. If permitted, the US can again support police academies, judge and lawyer exchanges, and civil society organizations focused on justice and safety. It can share intelligence and work with vetted counterparts to dismantle illicit financial networks. Meanwhile, the US can strive to lower demand for drugs that fill criminal coffers, curb the weapons traffic that fuels the violence, root out the corruption in its own ranks that has aided the cartels, and as economically painful and disruptive as it may be, step up inspections at the border. Advertisement But if Mexico doesnt tack away from its martial bent and recognize the nature of the threat it faces, then insecurity will fundamentally not abate. Safety will remain elusive, justice even more so. Migration north, already on the upswing, will continue to rise. And fewer of todays promising economic possibilities will materialize, with more companies bypassing North America to relocate to Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, and other regions. Mexico will suffer. So, too, will the US. More From Other Writers at Bloomberg Opinion: Mexico Is Flashing Warning Signals to Washington: Eduardo Porter AMLOs Lithium Grab and War on Green Energy Will Hurt North America: Shannon ONeil Economic Necessity Will Force Immigration Reform: Eduardo Porter This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Shannon ONeil is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist. She is a senior fellow for Latin America studies at the Council on Foreign Relations and author of The Globalization Myth: Why Regions Matter. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Mondays mass shooting at the Old National Bank in downtown Louisville is the latest reminder of Americas worsening epidemic of gun violence. It should be more than enough to spur elected officials to pass common-sense measures to keep guns away from unstable individuals. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The Louisville shooting left five people dead and at least eight wounded, including two police officers. Despite his mental-health issues, the shooter was able to legally purchase an AR-15-style rifle the week before. The massacre came just two weeks after three nine-year-old students and three staffers at a school in Nashville were killed by a disturbed individual who had managed to stockpile seven guns despite having been diagnosed with an emotional disorder. Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who lost a close friend in the Louisville shooting, gave an emotional speech this week on the need to prevent future tragedies. As a Democrat who supports tougher gun laws, but faces a veto-proof Republican legislature, his frustration is understandable. Other officials have less excuse for inaction. Advertisement The fact is, research shows that a majority of mass shooters exhibit warning signs before committing murder. Laws that aim to prevent these people from accessing firearms are a critical tool in reducing the likelihood of mass shootings. Known as red-flag laws, such measures allow police or family members to ask a court to temporarily confiscate weapons belonging to unstable individuals. Theyre one of the few gun-safety policies that command a degree of bipartisan support and they seem likely to work: A study of Connecticuts red-flag policy credited the law preventing at least one death for every 10 to 20 times it was used. A California study of 21 cases found that after guns were taken from individuals whod made explicit shooting threats, no further violence occurred. Last year, Congress passed the most significant federal legislation on guns in nearly three decades, which included federal grants to encourage states to institute red-flag policies of their own. Unfortunately, this push has only hardened opposition among lawmakers in Republican-controlled states. As of 2020, 19 states and the District of Columbia had red-flag laws on the books, with Florida and Indiana the only ones to pass them under Republican leadership. In the years since, despite scores of mass shootings, those numbers havent changed. Neither Tennessee nor Kentucky has adopted a red-flag law; in fact, Tennessee is one of multiple red states to pass recent legislation making gun access even easier. Tennessee Governor Bill Lee, a Republican, said Tuesday that he will push state lawmakers to pass a red-flag law in the wake of the Nashville massacre a belated but welcome step forward. Red-flag laws arent failsafe. In the past year, gunmen have carried out mass shootings in California, Colorado and New York, all of which have enacted such laws. In Colorado, several local sheriffs announced their resistance to enforcing red-flag laws, questioning their constitutionality; in New York, authorities believed that statements made by an eventual mass shooter who underwent a two-day mental-health evaluation werent specific enough to trigger the law, thus enabling him to acquire an assault rifle as soon as he turned 18. Advertisement Yet these failures dont invalidate the broader concept; they show that more work is needed to ensure that red-flag laws are effective. States need to tighten such statutes to remove ambiguities and clarify when authorities should act. President Joe Bidens administration has already tasked federal agencies to partner with law enforcement, health care providers, educators and other community leaders to expand public awareness of red-flag laws; it should expand this campaign to persuade states to strengthen enforcement of the law while addressing concerns over gun owners due-process rights. As a necessary step to get more red states on board, Biden should regularly publicize the fact red-flag laws have withstood numerous legal challenges including in Republican-leaning Florida, where judges have approved red-flag requests more than 8,000 times since 2018. Gun-rights extremists will surely continue to oppose such laws. But sensible people of both parties should recognize that theyre the most promising approach yet devised to address the national scourge of mass shootings. Its hard to imagine a worthier cause to support. More From Bloomberg Opinion We Already Know Which Gun Policies Work: Francis Wilkinson The Gun Lobbys Strength Is Cultural, Not Financial: David A. Hopkins Can Mass Shootings Be Foiled? Heres What Research Says: Sarah Green Carmichael The Editors are members of the Bloomberg Opinion editorial board. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Judging by opinion polls, Donald Trump looks to be the overwhelming favorite for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, while Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is the clear alternative. But news this week from South Carolina suggests that Republicans arent nearly as sold on Trump as the polling suggests. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Senator Tim Scott declared Wednesday that he is officially exploring a presidential run. In practical terms, that means the campaign he started some time ago is becoming a bit more formal. How serious is his bid? When asked whether he would support Donald Trump if the former president were to win the Republican nomination, Scott simply said: I plan on being the nominee. On the surface, Scotts chances dont appear fantastic; hes running at about 1% of the vote nationally in the polls that bother to include him. Even a survey of likely Republican voters in South Carolina had him at only 7%, well behind former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who in turn were some 20 percentage points behind Trump. Indeed, Trump has been gradually gaining in national polling and now gets about half of all Republican voters in these very early soundings. Advertisement And yet Scott is jumping in. He joins the three formally declared candidates with conventional credentials Trump, Haley and former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson as well as half dozen or more contenders including DeSantis and former Vice President Mike Pence who are expected to announce campaigns soon.(1) That all these candidates are moving forward indicates they believe the contest is up for grabs, which means that they are hearing that message from people active within the Republican Party. Traditional politicians like Scott and Haley care about their reputations and would be reluctant to move further down the campaign trail if the signs pointed strongly to one candidate. Indeed, the stature of the Republicans challenging Trump is a strong sign that the party doesnt see Trump or even a Trump-DeSantis pairing as overwhelming favorites. Advertisement The hard evidence we have says the same thing. Trump has a lot more party backing than he did during his 2016 run, but it doesnt come close to the support that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton had in 2016 or then-Vice President Al Gore had in 2000. So far, current elected officials endorsing Trump include two governors, six senators and 41 members of the House. Thats not bad. But its more similar to Joe Bidens early endorsement lead in the 2020 contest than a truly impressive show of strength for a candidate who, after all, has the strongest on-paper credentials of any nomination candidate in more than 100 years. Of course, Trump had practically no party support at all in 2016 and won anyway, albeit narrowly. There is every possibility that he will win more easily this time, given that there is far less resistance to him now than there was then.(2) At the same time, for a former president and two-time nominee, the opposition he faces from some within the Republican Party is apparently convincing enough to Scott and others that they think taking him on is a viable option. As for DeSantis, his endorsements from some eight members of the House arent going to scare anyone. Advertisement Trumps polling lead is a nice asset, but its too early to know how many of those who currently say they would vote for him will still support him once they learn something about the alternatives. And thats before we see how Trumps legal trouble plays out. So far, his polling numbers have risen a bit after the news from his indictment in New York, but there will certainly be more news, and very likely more indictments, to come. Scott has plenty of work to do even if Trump fades and DeSantis fails to build on his early successes. So far Scott has shown a knack for sticking with the mainstream of the party without angering anyone. That could create an appealing contrast to the other candidates, but it also might leave him without an opening to take on his rivals. Is Scott likely to be the nominee? No. But what Scott is hearing must suggest that Trump isnt a sure thing and that DeSantis isnt a beloved second choice. Thats a situation that Scott or one of the other seeming longshots could capitalize on. Advertisement More From Bloomberg Opinion: Tennessee Gun Politics Are Warped by Racism: Francis Wilkinson DeSantis Is Playing t he Politics of Abortion All Wrong: Julianna Goldman Big-City Mayors Have to Stand Up to Big-City Unions: Matt Yglesias (1) There are also a handful of candidates without conventional credentials, most notably businessman Vivek Ramaswamy. Theyre a lot less likely to be swayed by what party actors are saying about the contest. (2) Trumps biggest weaknesses then, the evidence that he wasnt actually a conservative at all and his lack of government experience, are no longer relevant. His weakness now within the party is the evidence that hes electoral poison - and, at least among the pro-democracy portion of the party, his attempt to overturn the 2020 election and his general rejection of the rule of law. How that plays out in the primaries is, still, anyones guess. Advertisement This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. Jonathan Bernstein is a Bloomberg Opinion columnist covering politics and policy. A former professor of political science at the University of Texas at San Antonio and DePauw University, he wrote A Plain Blog About Politics. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com/opinion 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share Truist Financial Corp. plans to stop sales and trading of mortgage-backed securities and government-agency and Small Business Administration bonds by January. The Charlotte, North Carolina-based bank cut about 80 people in its Atlanta and Memphis, Tennessee, offices on Thursday in connection with the changes, according to people with knowledge of the matter who asked not to be identified discussing information that isnt public. Truist Securities regularly assesses opportunities for our organization and makes adjustments to our business to invest in areas for growth, the bank said in an emailed statement. We made the decision to exit certain aspects of our fixed income sales, research and trading business by January 2024, and will work closely with our clients to support them during this transition. Advertisement Truist didnt comment on the job cuts. Banks have warned that trading revenue is likely to show a drop for the first three months from a year earlier, when Russias invasion of Ukraine roiled markets and spurred client activity. For the five biggest Wall Street banks JPMorgan Chase & Co., Bank of America Corp., Citigroup Inc., Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Morgan Stanley total trading revenue is expected to slump 10% to $29.9 billion. Those firms have also said the recent market upheaval has contributed to extending the slowdown in dealmaking and capital-markets businesses. More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share BROWNSTOWN, Ind. A man with a history of mental illness died after 20 days locked away, naked, in a windowless, isolation cell at a southern Indiana jail, where he lost nearly 45 pounds (20.4 kilograms) and didnt receive necessary care, a federal lawsuit alleges. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight The lawsuit was filed Wednesday by the estate of Joshua McLemore, who died in August 2021 of multiple organ failure after being incarcerated at the Jackson County Jail in Brownstown, about 70 miles (112 kilometers) south of Indianapolis. In July 2021, the 29-year-old Seymour, Indiana, man was taken to a hospital after a building maintenance worker found McLemore at his apartment, lying on the floor, naked and confused. Police arrested him at the hospital for pulling a nurses hair while in a state of psychosis, and he was charged with battery, according to court records. Advertisement McLemore was placed in the jails isolation cell, where four guards pinned him against a wall and forced him to his knees, with his face wedged into the corner of a concrete wall, according to video surveillance, The Indianapolis Star reported. The lawsuit alleges that McLemores constitutional rights were violated while he was in isolation at the jail, a period during which he barely slept. Instead, he spent hours staring into space, screaming, laughing, talking, gesticulating, sitting up and lying down, often covered in his own waste, it alleges. No mental health professional or physician checked on McLemore, even as jail officials witnessed clear signs of mental illness, the suit alleges. McLemore ate and drank little of what the jail staff slipped through a slot in his cell door, the suit states, and he instead threw the meals on the floor and sometimes nibbled on the Styrofoam boxes packaging the food. Advertisement He weighed 197.8 pounds (89.7 kilograms) when he arrived at the Jackson County Jail on July 20, 2021, but when he left the jail in an ambulance on Aug. 8, 2021, he weighed just 153 pounds (69.4 kilograms), after losing nearly 45 pounds (20.4 kilograms) in less than three weeks in the jail, according to the suit. He died of multiple organ failure two days later. McLemore, who had a history of schizophrenia and substance abuse, was raised in Long Beach, Mississippi, and moved to Indiana in late 2020. He deteriorated in clear view of jail officials and security cameras but jailers showed neglect and deliberate indifference to his wellbeing, keeping him in solitary confinement for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, the suit alleges. Nobody deserves to be treated like that, said Seattle attorney Hank Balson, who represents McLemores estate. Nobody deserves to be ignored when theyre suffering in that kind of condition. Advertisement Jackson County Prosecutor Jeff Chalfant determined last summer, nearly a year after McLemore died, that the actions by jail officials did not rise to the level of a crime. But the prosecutor also found that McLemore most likely died due to a prolonged lack of attention from the jail staff. The suit names as defendants Jackson County Sheriff Rick Meyer, other jail supervisors and medical staff, and Advanced Correctional Healthcare, Inc., a Tennessee-based private contractor that provides healthcare services to the Jackson County Jail and about 370 other correctional facilities in 21 states. A message seeking comment on the lawsuit from the sheriffs office was left Thursday by The Associated Press. We take criticisms of the care provided by our team seriously. We are prohibited from disclosing patient information due to federal HIPAA privacy and confidentiality laws, said Jessica Young, president and chief executive of Advanced Correctional Healthcare in a statement. Advertisement The lawsuit filed over McLemores death is similar to the case of a mentally ill man who froze to death earlier this year at an Alabama jail. In a lawsuit filed in February, that mans family alleges that the 33-year-old was kept naked in a concrete cell, and also possibly placed in a freezer or other frigid environment. In December, almost a year and a half after McLemore died, Joshuas mother Rhonda died unexpectedly. Josh was my sisters only child. His loss devastated her, Lita Ladner, Joshua McLemores aunt, said in a statement. He was also my only nephew, and a devoted friend to many. Even though he struggled with mental health issues, we loved him with all our hearts. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share A 25-year-old man who posted a Snapchat video threatening to shoot up a New Hampshire high school has been arrested, police said Thursday. Portsmouth Police said the suspect, 25-year-old Kyle Hendrickson, was charged with criminal threatening with a firearm. In the video posted Wednesday afternoon, he is in a vehicle with a gun outside Portsmouth High School and says Imma gonna shoot up the school. The incident, police said, was caught by Snapchat, which relayed it to the FBI who then contacted the local police around 6 p.m. They would not release the video. People should know better, Portsmouth Police Capt. Dave Keaveny told The Associated Press. If he thought it was funny or he did it to gain popularity on social media, then he should make better choices. We take those threats very seriously. Advertisement The police and the school district released a joint statement Thursday, after deciding to close the school as a precaution. They said it was unclear why Hendrickson targeted the school, though Keaveny said they were unaware of any threats to staff or students. Hendrickson had not attended the school. The impact of closing schools today was not taken lightly, but this allowed the police department to focus on the investigation to identify and locate the suspect, police said in a statement. We appreciate everyones cooperation and patience as we worked to keep the school community safe. Superintendent Zach McLaughlin said in a message to the community Wednesday that police notified him about the threat and that they would close all seven Portsmouth schools. Schools will reopen Friday. I just want to acknowledge the emotions of a moment like this. It can be laced with fear, anger and sadness, McLaughlin wrote in a statement posted on social media. Amid this challenging time, we appreciate your support as we do our best to keep our students and staff safe. Advertisement A spokesman for Snapchat did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Hendrickson was apprehended over 50 miles (80 kilometers) northeast in Portland, Maine. Police said his last known address was in Berwick, Maine, and he was known to frequent the New Hampshire seacoast area and southern Maine. A phone number for him had been disconnected. Hendrickson will be held as a fugitive from justice until he can be brought to New Hampshire to answer the charge. Its unclear if Hendrickson has an attorney. GiftOutline Gift Article A child performs during celebrations of the Thingyan water festival in Yangon, Myanmar, April 13, 2023. The Thingyan water festival celebrations kicked off across Myanmar on Thursday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) YANGON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- The Thingyan water festival kicked off in the all regions and states across Myanmar on Thursday. Traditional dance troupes in colorful dresses performed at the opening ceremony of water festival across the Southeast Asian country. This year's water festival of Myanmar will run until April 16 and the Myanmar New Year falls on April 17. The opening ceremony of Yangon's water festival was held at the mayor's pavilion erected in front of the Yangon City Hall. Yangon Region Chief Minister U Soe Thein extended wishes to the people for a happy water festival and a prosperous new year. Special celebrations such as walking Thingyan festival in some towns and floating water festival in Inle Lake of Shan State were also featured in this year's traditional water-splashing festival. Among Myanmar's 12 seasonal festivals throughout the year, the Thingyan water festival is grandly celebrated across the country with water-splashing activities and merit-making activities. Myanmar people annually celebrate the Thingyan water festival to welcome the new year as other Southeast Asian countries such as Songkran in Thailand and Chaul Chnam Thmey in Cambodia. As part of celebration of the festival, people throw and douse water onto one another to wash sins and make clear moral impurities from the old year. Dancers perform during celebrations of the Thingyan water festival in Yangon, Myanmar, April 13, 2023. The Thingyan water festival celebrations kicked off across Myanmar on Thursday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) People take part in celebrations of the Thingyan water festival in Yangon, Myanmar, April 13, 2023. The Thingyan water festival celebrations kicked off across Myanmar on Thursday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Dancers perform during celebrations of the Thingyan water festival in Yangon, Myanmar, April 13, 2023. The Thingyan water festival celebrations kicked off across Myanmar on Thursday. (Photo by Myo Kyaw Soe/Xinhua) Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share PARIS Protesters opposing President Emmanuel Macrons unpopular plan to raise the retirement age to 64 marched again Thursday in cities and towns around France, in a final show of anger before a crucial decision on whether the measure meets constitutional standards. Wp Get the full experience. Choose your plan ArrowRight Demonstrators targeted the Central Bank offices in Paris and briefly invaded the headquarters of luxury conglomerate LVMH but their attention increasingly centered on the Constitutional Council, which is to decide Friday whether to nix any or all parts of the legislation. Activists dumped bags of garbage outside the councils columned facade in the morning. Later, another crowd holding flares faced off with a large contingent of riot police that rushed to protect the building. Paris police banned all gatherings outside the council from Thursday evening through Saturday morning, in an attempt to reduce pressure on the council members as they make their decision. Advertisement Police said some 380,000 people took part in the protests across France Thursday. The number was down from recent weeks, but unions still managed to mobilize sizable crowds. The demonstrations were largely peaceful, though dozens of injuries were reported among police and protesters. Unions had been hoping for a strong turnout Thursday to pressure both the government and the members of the Constitutional Council tasked with studying the text of the pension reform plan. Critics challenged the governments choice to include the pension plan in a budget bill, which significantly accelerated the legislative process. The governments decision to skirt a parliamentary vote by using special constitutional powers transformed opponents anger into fury. The trash piles signaled the start of a new strike by garbage collectors, timed to begin with the nationwide protest marches. A previous strike last month left the streets of the French capital filled for days with mounds of reeking refuse. Advertisement Polls consistently show a majority of French people are opposed to the pension reform, which Macron says is needed to keep the retirement system afloat as the population ages. Protesters are also angry at Macron himself and a presidency they see as threatening Frances worker protections and favoring big business. Fabien Villedieu of the Sud-Rail Union said LVMH could reduce all the holes in Frances social security system. So one of the solutions to finance the pension system is a better redistribution of wealth, and the best way to do that is to tax the billionaires. Bernard Arnault, head of LVMH, is the richest man in the world so he could contribute, Villedieu said. Security forces intervened to stop vandals along the Paris march route, with 36 people detained, police said. Like in past protests, several hundred radical elements had mixed inside the march, police said. Advertisement Thousands also marched in Toulouse, Marseille and elsewhere. Tensions mounted at protests in Brittany, notably in Nantes and Rennes, where a car was burned. The mobilization is far from over, the leader of the leftist CGT union, Sophie Binet, said at a trash incineration site south of Paris where several hundred protesters blocked garbage trucks. As long as this reform isnt withdrawn, the mobilization will continue in one form or another. CGT has been a backbone of the protest and strike movement challenging Macron's plan to increase Frances retirement age from 62 to 64. Eight unions have organized protests since January in a rare voice of unity. Student unions have joined in. Macron had initially refused a demand to meet with unions, but during a state visit on Wednesday to the Netherlands proposed an exchange to discuss the follow-up to the Constitutional Council decision. There was no formal response to his offer. Advertisement The contention is strong, anchored in the people, said Laurent Berger, head of the moderate CFDT union. If the measure is promulgated, there will be repercussions, he warned, noting the silent anger among the union rank and file. Protests and labor strikes often hobble public transportation in Paris, but Metro trains were mostly running smoothly Thursday. The civil aviation authority asked airports in Toulouse, Bordeaux and Nantes to reduce air traffic by 20%. ___ Follow APs coverage of the French government at https://apnews.com/hub/france-government GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share SKOPJE, North Macedonia A U.S. special envoy on countering global disinformation says that countries in the western Balkan region have been pretty seriously poisoned by Russias influence campaigns. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight James P. Rubin, who heads the State Departments Global Engagement Center, traveled to North Macedonia on a tour that also includes stops in Montenegro and Albania. The main source of the threat in this part of the world is Russian-generated disinformation, often repeated and acting as a hub through Serbian media platforms and then repeated and promulgated here in the Western Balkans, Rubin told a group of reporters late Tuesday in the capital, Skopje. I would say that (this region) is pretty seriously poisoned by primarily Russian disinformation. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced the appointment of Rubin, a 63-year-old veteran diplomat, last December, worried that disinformation campaigns engineered by Russia had intensified due to the war in Ukraine and Western support for Kyiv. Advertisement Russian President Vladimir Putin thought that he could take over the Ukrainian government and divide Europe. He failed in all of these aspects, Rubin said. But that doesnt mean Russia isnt continuing to try to spread the poison of disinformation and division ... designed to divide people from each other, divide countries from each other, to divide communities from each other, to bring discord. Rubin said he was working in coordination with many European governments and the European Union, and said the West is just beginning to come to grips with fighting back against the new threat. A US federal government body, the GEC says it helps allied governments identify disinformation campaigns targeting their countries, providing assistance with analytics and research, and technology support. A statement from the U.S. Embassy in North Macedonia said Rubin also discussed efforts by China and other malign actors who deploy disinformation to undermine democracy and national security around the globe. On his final stop in Tirana, Albania, Rubin will join meetings with U.S. ambassadors from across the Western Balkans. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share KABUL, Afghanistan The Taliban have shared a rare, months-old audio message from their reclusive supreme leader in which he purportedly says that Afghanistan would be ruined without justice handed out by the countrys new rulers. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight The Taliban leader, Hibatullah Akhundzada, an Islamic scholar, almost never appears in public and hardly ever leaves the Taliban heartland in southern Kandahar province. He surrounds himself with other religious scholars and allies who oppose education and work for women. Only one known photo of him, years old, exists. He was named the Taliban leader in 2016, after a U.S. airstrike in Pakistan killed his predecessor, Mullah Akhtar Mohammad Mansour. Since the Taliban takeover of the country in August 2021, Akhundzada has traveled to Kabul only once, to give a speech to a gathering of clerics. However, he was not shown in the media at the time and appeared with his back to the audience. Advertisement The audio recording was shared on Twitter by the main Taliban spokesman, Zabihullah Mujahid, on Wednesday. In it, a voice that Mujahid says belongs to Akhundzada declares that justice is an instrument for the survival of the Taliban government. The Associated Press has not been able to independently verify that the voice on the audio message is Akhundzadas. But if there is no justice, and there is oppression, selfishness, murders and revenge, as well as killings without courts, this country will be ruined, says the voice, then adds that this can be prevented through the right decision of religious scholars and its proper implementation by the government. According to the spokesman, the recording was from a speech given five or six months ago to Taliban officials at an unspecified location. There was no word on why the recording was released at this time. Advertisement Pakistan-based journalist Ahmed Rashid, who has written several books about the Taliban, said the clip addressed none of the issues facing the Taliban, such as womens rights and the countrys deepening humanitarian crisis. There doesnt seem to be a political purpose to this clip. Its very unusual to hear from him, Rashid said, adding that its irrelevant to the population. In January, Mujahid tweeted that Akhundzada met religious scholars from different provinces. He also tweeted about the leaders February meeting with commanders and other high-ranking security officials. Akhundzada appears to have taken a stronger hand in directing domestic policy. He ordered women and girls barred from universities and schools after the sixth grade. He has also issued the edicts barring Afghan women from working for non-governmental organizations and the United Nations. GiftOutline Gift Article Comment on this story Comment Gift Article Share MEXICO CITY Mexican prosecutors said Thursday the head of the countrys immigration agency is to make an initial appearance in court next week as part of their investigation of a fire at a detention center last month that killed 40 migrants. Are you on Telegram? Subscribe to our channel for the latest updates on Russias war in Ukraine. ArrowRight National Immigration Institute chief Francisco Garduno is scheduled to appear April 21, the Attorney Generals Office said in a statement. At that point prosecutors will make their formal accusations and present evidence, the statement said. Prosecutors had announced late Tuesday that Garduno would face unspecified criminal charges in the case. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, who has known Garduno for years and asked him to take the job in 2019 when then U.S. President Donald Trump was pressuring Mexico to reduce migration, said Wednesday that Garduno would stay in his job. Advertisement Federal prosecutors has said Garduno was remiss in not preventing the disaster in Ciudad Juarez despite earlier indications of problems at his agencys detention centers. Prosecutors said government audits had found a pattern of irresponsibility and repeated omissions in the immigation institute. The March 27 fire in Ciudad Juarez, across the border from El Paso, Texas, allegedly started when a migrant set fire to a mattress in protest in a cell holding dozens of people. Smoke quickly filled the facility and no one let the migrants out. Three Mexican immigration officials, a guard and a Venezuelan migrant accused of starting the blaze are already in custody facing homicide charges. Prosecutors said Thursday that another unidentified official was scheduled to give a statement and that arrest orders had been issued for other immigration officials. GiftOutline Gift Article DAR ES SALAAM, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday started running a two-day training seminar aimed at assisting Tanzania to increase its capacity in water conservation and management in the country's Great Lakes. The training seminar on Eco-environment and Water Security in Lake Basin System was jointly organized by the Nanjing Institute of Geography and Limnology (NIGLAS), the Sino-Africa Joint Research Center, and the Tanzania Fisheries Research Institute (TAFIRI). Opening the seminar in Dar es Salaam, Riziki Shemdoe, permanent secretary of the Livestock and Fisheries, said Tanzania's Great Lakes of Tanganyika, Victoria, and Nyasa are important reservoirs of freshwater in the world, which require work together to protect them. Shemdoe said the collaboration between the NIGLAS and the TAFIRI that has been in place for the last 15 years will not only benefit China and Tanzania but also have a meaningful impact on the global society of lake science. "Let me assure you that the entire management of the Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries supports you and your future ambitions. We will accord you all the necessary help to get this collaboration going as long as we can," he said. Suo Peng, charge d'Affaires and minister counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, said China and Tanzania have carried out several phases of cooperation research projects on water environment monitoring and resources protection of the Great Lakes region of East Africa since 2008. Suo said the outcomes of the research have been recognized by local government and international organizations. "I believe the efforts of NIGLAS experts will help Tanzania better protect its unique lake resources and stimulate its potential blue economy," said Suo. The seminar focused on lake environment and ecology, water security and catchment management, and lake fishery and resources management. The training seminar has brought together experts from Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Uganda, Burundi, Kenya, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, countries that share the Great Lakes of Tanganyika, Victoria, and Nyasa. In a thermal runaway of burning money, Milkrun the start-up star of grocery delivery collapsed yesterday. Hundreds of staff lost their jobs. The tale is all that remains. For four months I was a part-time Milkrunner on my trusty Zoomo bike. I have received soakings so severe that my toes threatened to re-web, and been called champ more times than a PE teachers firstborn son. Food delivery riders at Milkrun, which will close its doors on Friday. Credit: Louie Douvis I have been high-fived by an exceedingly high trio who paid an exorbitantly steep price for one bag of sour squirms. The munchies are more dangerous than they used to be now there are no phone-summoned strangers to drop off your cravings. I have been late to three deliveries because of a cat called Roger. I have (mostly) held my own when precocious eight-year-olds demanded who I was and what I was doing outside their house. I have buzzed the wrong apartment number and been let in. Boxes of Coca-Cola promoted as a Meal of the Month in a Walgett store. There isnt a suburb in Sydney where Sydney Water would deliver drinking water without taking action to treat it. Leslie said the local council did not have the rates revenue to fund a solution. It has to come from the state government, he said. Virginia Robinson, secretary of the Dharriwaa Elders Group, said the towns water infrastructure needs urgent attention. These threats to our public health would not be tolerated in Sydney so why is it acceptable that we have to live with it in Walgett?, she said. The state government built a reverse osmosis system in Walgett in May 2020, but it was closed four months later because of problems related to its operation and waste management. We need a multi-agency taskforce to improve Walgetts water quality and security comprising local, state and national agencies that includes experts from local Aboriginal community-controlled organisations, Robinson said. We are calling for a taskforce led by an independent expert endorsed by Walgett Aboriginal Community Controlled Organisations. Water quality in Walgett is comparable to that in Bangladesh and Guatemala. Credit: Brendan Esposito Wendy Spencer, who works at Dharriwaa Elders Group said she and her partner were among community members spending up to $30 a week for drinking water. Im buying at least three 15-litre water containers a week for my household and there is only me and my partner, she said. I am spending a minimum of $30 a week. The Dharriwaa Elders Group and Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service has become increasingly concerned about this public health issue, the right to clean and safe drinking water. We refuse to put up with it any longer and have reached out to our partners at the University of NSW from different faculties to help us compile the evidence we need to convince government that this needs to change. Vanessa Hickey, who brought up her three children on bottled water, said she grew up in the 1980s drinking water out of the tap in Walgett. Were paying more for water and less for fizzy drinks and that should be vice versa, she said. We shouldnt even be buying water. Today we are paying between $1.50 to $2 for fizzy drink and paying between $3 to $5 for a small bottle of water. Virginia Robinson, secretary of the Dharriwaa Elders Group The taste of the tap water is really salty for a few years now. The smell, the sliminess, its not good. I cant believe we have to live like this in 2023. Hickey said her community had always lived off the river. Weve seen our two mighty rivers, the Namoi and Barwon, deteriorate over time, she said. I see the cotton industry getting bigger, the coal seam gas and nothing being given back to our rivers. The local supermarket and service station often provide specials on sugary fizzy drinks which can make them cheaper to buy than some water brands including Mount Franklin. This week, a 1.5 litre bottle of Mount Franklin was $2.85 and a 1.25-litre bottle of Coke was $2.79. The local service station offered two bottles of Mount Franklin for $4.50 and cans of coke for $2 each. Coca-Cola Amatil also owns and manufactures Mount Franklin bottled spring water. Paresh Patel who runs the IGA supermarket in Walgett said it sold 600 ml bottles of Community Co water in packets of 24 for $9.90 which was cheaper than equivalent Coca-Cola packs which cost $22.99 to $28. A 1.5-litre bottle of Frantelle water was $1.35. He said a staff member had mistakenly stacked 24-packs of Coke under a meal of the month promotion in a space that a monthly cooking demonstration occupied. I know the water quality is bad. Thats why I use a RO [reverse osmosis] filter at home, he said. There isnt a suburb in Sydney where Sydney Water would deliver drinking water without taking action to treat it. Professor Greg Leslie, director of the UNSW Global Water Institute Spencer said Walgett was just one town representing a wider problem in remote Indigenous communities. Good clear, clean drinking water is not as accessible as it should be and so the sugary drinks are more attractive. So people are drinking them more, she said. We are determined to do what we can to improve our communitys access to good free drinking water, she said. We are appealing to the new governments both at state and federal level to bring about the change that is needed. Walgett has been hit hard by water shortages. The Namoi River (pictured) ran dry in 2019. Loading A spokesman for the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water said the Australian government was very concerned about the security of water for communities. Which is why it is critical that the Murray-Darling Basin Plan is implemented in full, including NSWs full suite of water resource plans that set the rules on how much water can be taken from the system, he said. While the Australian government is a significant investor in water infrastructure, state and territory governments are responsible for the regulation, planning, management, and supply of water resources. Tributes are flowing for 31-year-old Kerry Bodney as the man accused of manslaughter over a horror crash in Perths north that killed her on Wednesday fronted court in a bedside hearing. The crash comes just over a decade after the death of Bodneys two-year-old son, Robert, who was killed by her former partner Wayne Narkle. The scene of the crash at the intersection of Mirrabooka Avenue in Balga on Wednesday. Credit: Nine News Perth Jahleel Delaine Berryman has been charged with manslaughter, failing to stop and being the person driving in an incident causing death after allegedly being behind the wheel in the crash which killed Bodney. The 27-year-old Mirrabooka man has been remanded in custody and is expected to appear in Stirling Magistrates Court via video link on May 24. When I was a heroin user in my early 20s, I didnt tell anyone, even though I am sure people knew. It made me irate, rude and a bad friend and I only did it casually like a non-smoker who steals a cigarette each time they have a drink. Everyone does drugs for their own reasons. For me, it was being afraid of my own brain. Heroin kept me numb, away from the dramatic downs that would later be diagnosed as bipolar disorder. Drug addiction is policed as a crime, rather than an illness. Credit: Jason South In Australia we are quick to criticise people who become addicted to drugs, in the same way that we have let people on welfare be treated so poorly. That drug addiction is policed so often as a crime, rather than the illness it is, is the same reason that the robo-debt scandal happened so easily: it impacts members of society we prefer to forget about. Musician Paul Kelly said his experiences with heroin were sporadic and casual, but that he kept finding himself going back to it until he saw it get the better of people close to him. I gave up for the same reason: a fear that one day I would take a step into the deep end and my feet wouldnt touch the bottom. Contiki tours aren't what they used to be. Credit: Alamy There's a yearly reunion of Topdeck staff in Australia. Every 12 months all the old coach drivers, tour leaders, cooks and office staff get together at a certain venue and reminisce about old times, tell war stories, tall stories, hilarious stories, disaster stories (these are often all the one story). These reunions are a chance to catch up with old friends you forge incredibly strong relationships when you work together on the road, you see things no one else would understand. But mostly, they're just chances to talk about the good times, about the people you met, the things you did, the insane things you saw. I get it. This is going to sound strange, but this is the one travel experience I really miss that I just can't do anymore: European bus tours. The much-maligned, boozy jaunts around the highlights of Western Europe, back in the '80s and '90s and the early 2000s, when no one really learned that much about the destinations they were visiting and no one really cared. You were there for a good time, not a long time. Those tours don't really exist anymore, at least not in the form they once were. London: Joe Biden has called on Northern Irelands political leaders to restore power-sharing at Stormont, the provinces devolved parliament, vowing the United States would be a partner for peace. Speaking at Ulster University in Belfast on Wednesday, the US president made a direct call for the unionists and republicans to return to a central pillar of the Good Friday Agreement which was a shared government between those who want to remain part of the United Kingdom and those who favour a united Ireland. US President Joe Biden delivers his keynote speech at Ulster University in Belfast. Credit: PA He marked this weeks 25th anniversary of the 1998 accord, which ended three decades of conflict known as The Troubles, by dangling a 5 billion ($9.3 billion) carrot in front of Northern Irelands leaders with a promise to boost the countrys economy with US investment if the power-sharing government was restored. The Democratic Unionist Party collapsed the executive in May 2022 over objections to post-Brexit trading arrangements. Biden met Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUPs leader, before his speech, as well as the leaders of other major Northern Irish parties. London: Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has been named one of Time magazines 100 most influential people in 2023. The magazine compiles an annual list of people it believes are the most influential across six categories: artists, icons, pioneers, leaders, titans and innovators. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese shakes hands with Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau. Credit: Alex Ellinghusen Albanese is named in the top 100 alongside US President Joe Biden, Republican Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, Germanys Prime Minister Olaf Scholz and Ukraines first lady Olena Zelenska. The list includes billionaire and Twitter owner Elon Musk, King Charles, singer Beyonce and writers Salman Rushdie and Judy Blume. The Justice Department did not say what charges Teixeira would face, although they will likely involve criminal charges of willfully retaining and transmitting national defence information. Brandon Van Grack, a former Justice Department national security prosecutor now with the law firm Morrison Foerster, said the likely charges could carry up to 10 years imprisonment, even if Teixeira did not intend to cause harm. This is someone who is facing on the higher end of exposure for years in prison ... because the leaks were so damaging, Van Grack said. Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin said in a statement a Pentagon taskforce had been working around the clock to assess and mitigate any damage. Teixeira was expected to appear in court on Friday, a spokesperson for the US Attorneys Office in Boston said. A police road block on the way to the house where Teixeira was arrested kept neighbours away from their homes. One was Dick Treacy, who said he saw officers arriving as he left to go shopping in the early afternoon. There were about six to eight army guys with rifles walking around, Treacy said. This is a very quiet area. Loading Eddy Souza, 22, said he grew up nearby and that he knew Jack Teixeira when both attended Dighton-Rehoboth Regional High School several years ago. Souza said Teixeira had expressed no extremist sentiments when they were last in touch several years ago. Hes a good kid, not a troublemaker, just a quiet guy, Souza said. It sounds like it was a stupid kids mistake. Although the leak only garnered widespread attention after an April 6 story in The New York Times, journalists have found evidence that the documents or at least some of them had been floating around on social media as far back as March or even January. Bellingcat, the Washington Post and The New York Times have traced the documents earliest appearance to a defunct server on the instant messaging site Discord. In a chat group on the site, Teixeira went by the handle OG and was admired by the groups mostly young members, who shared a love for guns and military gear. The Justice Department opened a formal criminal probe last week, after a referral from the Defence Department, which called the leak a deliberate, criminal act. Reuters has reviewed more than 50 of the documents, labelled Secret and Top Secret but has not independently verified their authenticity. The number of documents leaked is likely to be over 100. A number of countries have questioned the veracity of some leaked documents, including Britain, which said there was a serious level of inaccuracy in the information. The leaks revealed information about allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey. Police set up road blocks near the home of the suspect in Dighton, Massachusetts. Credit: AP US officials believe most of the materials are genuine. Some, however, relating to Ukraines military capabilities appear to have been altered to show inflated estimates for Ukrainian battlefield casualties in the war with Russia as well as understated numbers for Russian forces. The New York Times earlier reported that Teixeira was a National Guardsman who led Thug Shaker Central, an online group on gaming chat app Discord where about 20 to 30 people shared their love of guns, racist memes and video games. The Times cited interviews and documents it reviewed. The emergence of Teixeira as the apparent primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, one that continues to unfold with almost daily revelations of highly classified documents, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. Loading In one of those forums, originally created to talk about a range of topics, members would debate the war in Ukraine. According to one member of the chat, an unidentified poster shared documents that the poster claimed were classified, first typing them out with the posters own thoughts, then, as of a few months ago, uploading images of fold-marked papers. Discord has said it was co-operating with law enforcement. Loading A person who spoke to the AP says the OG who he acknowledged on Thursday was Teixeira was an observant Christian who often spoke of God and prayed with members of the chat group. While he was enlisted, Teixeira opposed many of the priorities of the US government and denounced the military since it was run by the elite politicians, the person said, adding that he didnt know why Teixeira had signed up in the first place. He expressed regret [about] joining a lot, the person said. He even said hed kick my ass if I thought about joining. But the person has stressed that he didnt believe Teixeira leaked documents to undermine the US government or for an ideological reason. When The New York Times first published a story last week about the documents, the person said, members of the group were on a video call when the OG talked to them. KABUL, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Afghan security forces attacked a hideout of armed opponents in Police District 8 of Kabul city on Monday and killed two insurgents, Afghan caretaker government chief spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid said. The operation was launched Monday night in Kartai Naw locality and lasted for a while during which the "hideout of the insurgent group was destroyed and two rebels were killed," Mujahid said on his twitter account. Afghan security forces have attacked suspected hideouts of Daesh or the rival Islamic State (IS) outfit at least three times in Kabul, with a similar number of attacks in the northern Mazar-I-Sharif and western Herat cities over the past month. BRUSSELS AND VIENNA, March 2023 (UN and WCO Information Services) Today, the Container Control Programme (CCP) released its Annual Report for 2022. The CCP continued to deliver impressive results by making a wide variety of seizures, including cocaine, firearms, ammunition and parts of explosives, cigarettes, and products related to crimes that affect the environment. Translating these outcomes into impact, the CCP continues to improve the security, health, and economies of countries and people around the world. Director of the World Customs Organization (WCO), Mr. Pranab Kumar Das, highlights that the results and impact are thanks to a multitude of partnerships with countries and their law enforcement agencies through interagency cooperation, the private sector, international organizations, academia, and the media. Mr. Das emphasizes that due to the recent years of a pandemic, conflict, and economic recession, we have all realized our vulnerability and understood more than ever before, that we can only prevent global challenges together. Similarly, organized crime, illicit trafficking and terrorism and their threat to health, economy, and security, must be tackled by a spirit of joint responsibility while leveraging everyones strength and mandate. Alan Cole, Chief of the United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) Border Management Branch, echoes this sentiment. He said that recognizing the fragility of traditional supply chain systems and the necessity of remaining relevant by looking into the future, we aligned our border management programmes; placed staff close to operations; advanced the CCPs Womens Network; launched new training curricula on emerging threats; upgraded technologies and modes of analysis and information sharing; delivered advanced and specialised equipment; expanded into new geographical regions; contributed to the Black Sea Grain Initiative; and strengthened international cooperation. As the CCP takes a first glimpse into its 19th year of existence, it invites countries, the private sector, and international organizations to join the Programme. To remain relevant, sustainable, and effective, the CCP has developed a strategy for 2022-25. Container and cargo trade through seaports, airports, dry ports, rail terminals, and land border crossings are the lifelines of the globe, but they are also exploited for illicit trafficking, organized crime, and terrorism. The CCP was established as a partnership between the UNODC and WCO in 2004. In 2015, the UNODC also signed a partnership Memorandum of Understanding with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). The goal of the CCP is to build capacity in countries seeking to improve risk management, supply chain security, and border management to prevent the trafficking of illicit goods, organized crime, and terrorism and support trade facilitation. In doing so, the mission of the CCP is to safeguard the health, security, and economic situation for people and countries around the world. A post-clearance audit (PCA) support mission was delivered to the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of the Republic of Armenia and took place in Yerevan, Armenia from 13 to 17 March 2023. The objective of the mission was to enable the SRC to gain a better understanding of the implementation of PCA, in accordance with Article 7.5 of the World Trade Organization Trade Facilitation Agreement (WTO TFA) and with the WCOs PCA tools. The mission was funded by the Customs Cooperation Fund of Germany (CCF/Germany). It was conducted by a team consisting of a lead PCA official from the WCO Secretariat and Technical and Operational Advisers on PCA from the Customs Administrations of Germany and Kenya. The Head of the SRCs Post-Release Control Department, Ms. Gohar Sahakyan, officially launched the PCA support mission and expressed her gratitude to the WCO, CCF Germany and the experts for their ongoing support. She described the SRC's vision, implementation strategies and activities related to PCA operations and challenges. The greatest challenge for the SRC in implementing PCA aligned with international standards is shifting from transaction-based to trader-focused audits. She concluded by underscoring the expected outcome for the SRC, namely initiating trader-focused PCAs. The five-day support mission was attended by 15 participants, mainly from the Desktop Customs Audit Division, Customs Information and Risk Analysis Division, Field Customs Audit Division, and Customs Transactions Control Division. The participants received detailed guidance on the WCO PCA concept, targeting framework, systems-based audit concept, audit cycle process, and risk management system review. During the course of the mission, experts from different jurisdictions shared their current experiences. The mission drew to a successful close with the participants displaying enthusiasm for piloting their first trader-focused audit (systems-based audit), in accordance with the WCO Guidelines for Post Clearance Audit and with international best practice. In addition, the participants expressed their sincere appreciation for the practical experiences that had been shared with them and which would prove useful when conducting their trader-focused audit. Finally, they also conveyed their gratitude for the support provided by the WCO, CCF Germany and the PCA experts. YANGON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Four people were killed and 11 others injured in a bomb blast in eastern Myanmar's Shan state on Thursday, the Information Team of Myanmar's State Administration Council said. The incident happened at a car parking near a park, which is located in front of a pagoda, in Lashio town of northern Shan state at around 11:45 a.m. local time (0515 GMT), the report said. The bomb attack on the eve of the traditional Thingyan water festival was made with a handmade explosive device, it said. The victims were pilgrims to the pagoda, and the injured included a three-year-old child, it said, adding that the injured were sent to the Lashio hospital for medical treatment. Another bomb blast also occurred in Thaketa township in Yangon region on Thursday, and no causalities were reported in the blast, a local police officer said. Operations are underway to locate the perpetrators. SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, April 13 (Xinhua) -- China is ready to work with Russia to maintain bilateral relations at a high level, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang said here on Thursday during his meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov. Qin noted that not long ago, Chinese President Xi Jinping paid a successful state visit to Russia and achieved fruitful results, which provided strategic guidance and fundamental compliance for deepening China-Russia relations in the new era. China is willing to work with Russia to take as a core task the implementation of the consensus of the two heads of state, Qin added. The two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and safeguard mutual political trust, promote the Pre-2030 Development Plan on Priorities in China-Russia Economic Cooperation signed by the two heads of state to take effect as soon as possible, and guide the high-quality development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation, Qin said. The two sides also need to deepen legislative and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, Qin added. Qin said that faced with a world of change and disorder, President Xi has put forward a series of major initiatives and concepts to promote the joint building of an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity, to gather the greatest common denominator of consensus among all parties and to contribute China solution to jointly addressing global challenges, adding that Russia is welcomed to take an active part and offer its support. For his part, Lavrov said that the frequent high-level interactions and strategic coordination between Russia and China demonstrate the positive momentum and full resilience of bilateral relations. Russia is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, promote the priorities in Russia-China economic cooperation, give full play to the role of cooperation mechanisms in various fields, and further facilitate personnel exchanges, he said. Russia firmly supports China in safeguarding its core interests, actively supports the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, advocates defending the UN Charter, upholds the principle of sovereign equality, stands for effective multilateralism, and stands ready to work together to safeguard regional peace, stability and sustainable development, said Lavrov. The two sides will continue to strengthen coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS countries, and promote the multi-polarization of the world and the democratization of international relations. Both sides will strengthen the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union, explore the feasibility study of developing free trade, and strive for early harvest. The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis. Qin introduced China's recent appeal to the international community, emphasizing that there is no panacea to resolve the crisis, and all parties need to start from themselves, accumulate mutual trust, and create conditions for peace talks to end the crisis. China will continue to play a constructive role in promoting political settlement and restarting peace talks, Qin stressed. While speaking positively of China's position and proposition, Lavrov said that complex issues need systematic solutions. Russia opposes group confrontation and will continue to adhere to the direction of political solutions, he added. Tim Hortons is bringing back two beloved donuts for a limited time to celebrate National Donut Day on June 2. The company made the announcement this week, showcasing a package labelled top secret. "We decided it was time to bring back a couple of guest favourites for National Donut Day but only for a limited time, says Tallis Voakes, Director of Culinary Innovation at Tim Hortons. 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 donuts will be available in participating Tim Hortons restaurants across Canada beginning May 31, just in time for celebrate National Donut Day on June 2. Keep an eye on Tim Hortons social channels and the Tim Hortons Newsroom for details. Read more about: SHARE: Shown outside the Islamic Society of Niagara Peninsula mosque in Niagara Falls are ISNP Imam Murtaza Najmudin, president Nadia Ali, vice-president Kashif Ansari, treasurer Semiu Lawal, secretary Shanta Bashar and social events coordinator Kiran Ansari. Imagine not having anything to eat from sunrise to sunset every day for a month, not even a drop of water, let alone lunch, snacks or coffee. For Niagaras Muslim population, thats exactly what theyre experiencing right now as the regions growing Muslim population marks the holy month of Ramadan. For Shanta Bashar, a member of the Niagara Falls-based Islamic Society of the Niagara Peninsula (ISNP) board, those daily fasts are important. It (fasting) is developing empathy for others by going without and an appreciation for all we have available to us, she said. That first sip of water (at night) is something you really cherish. You realize how lucky we are to have clean water available to us. We are more mindful of it. Ramadan falls on the ninth month of the Muslim lunar calendar. Bashar said its the holy month when Allah sent an angel to the Prophet Muhammad to reveal the Quran, the Islamic holy book. To Muslims, it requires special devotion. Throughout the month-long celebration that began on March 22 and wraps up on April 21, Muslims across Niagara have an early morning meal before dawn known as suhoor or sehri. A strict fast of no food or water is adhered to all day by those who are of age and are physically healthy, until they break their fast after sunset with an evening meal known as the iftar or fitoor. There are exceptions for special circumstances such as pregnancy or medical conditions. As part of their faith, Bashar said Muslims are expected to show their generosity by giving to charity, and show kindness and patience. Prayers at specific times are also expected to take place at least five times a day, although Bashar said some opt for additional prayers at night. The ISNP is one of four mosques in Niagara Falls, and on Good Friday most of the mosques congregation of about 700 people were there to hear a service by Imam Murtaza Najmudin. He said the fact Muslims in Canada are able to celebrate Ramadan, fast and pray is something to celebrate because in some countries such a China those who attempt to do so are persecuted, he said. Its the beauty of being Canadian, that we have this multiplicity, and were accepting of each other, and were willing and happy to learn from one another, said Najmudin. At the end of Ramadan, families will sit together and feast to mark its completion. At the end of the month were celebrating that we were given the opportunity to fast and to worship and pray to God, he said. Thats a time of celebration to us. While many Christian churches in Niagara are struggling with aging and declining parishes, Bashar said mosques in the region are booming including ISNPs on Lyons Creek Road. I can tell you at our mosque the population has grown a great deal especially over these last several years, she said. That mirrors a steady growth in Niagara Falls Muslim population. Statistics Canada census data shows during the 20 years from 2001 to 2021, the number of people identifying their religion as Muslim grew by 468 per cent with 3,780 of the citys 92,665 people now responding that theyre Muslim. By comparison, the 30,835 people responding in the 2021 census that they are Catholic was nearly 2,000 people fewer than 20 years earlier. Bashar said non-Muslims might think the fasting during Ramadan is seen as a hardship by Muslims, when in fact its the opposite. Most Muslims very much look forward to this time, she said. I do: my whole family, my children. We love it. Theres a huge community feeling to it, knowing were all doing it at the same time. BEHIND THE STORY: With the holy month of Ramadan underway, This Week looked at why the month is so important to Niagaras growing Muslim community. SHARE: Niagara Region Chair Jim Bradley used his annual state of the Region address Wednesday to announce three new initiatives aimed at moving Niagara forward, including an office of attainable housing. I want to start with what is likely the most top-of-mind issue affordable and attainable housing, Bradley said to a soldout audience of more than 400 people at Niagara Falls Convention Centre after a warm reception. We would all agree that far too many hard-working people in Niagara cannot find appropriate housing too many of our residents have been pushed out of the market, Bradley said. He said even the Province of Ontario, through legislation such as Bill 23 The More Homes Built Faster Act, has demonstrated that making progress on these housing challenges is a top priority. In his second term as chair, Bradley also announced the creation of an office of shared services to streamline local government and the return of the Niagara Week advocacy blitz of provincial officials at Queenss Park. The attainable housing office will work with private and non-profit sectors to help address Niagaras attainable and affordable housing challenges. We have heard loud and clear from the province that they expect more houses to be built across Ontario, and we are ready to do our part, Bradley said. This new office will take a multidisciplinary approach to the issue and think innovatively about how we might positively impact the community. Region staff will apply lessons learned from pursuing GO Transit by creating a team focused on attainable housing, he said. Creating more attainable housing will not be accomplished off the side of a desk. This new team will focus all their attention on getting more of our residents, including our hard-working young people, into housing. But he cautioned that Niagara didnt get into its housing situation overnight and that the process would take time. We are confident that this new model is a positive first step, and we look forward to providing the community with updates along the way. Greater Niagara Chamber of Commerce hosted the Wednesdays event, and included a question-and-answer fireside chat between Bradley and CKTB radio personality Tim Dennis. I want to paint of picture of the Niagara being at a crossroads a time of great opportunity, but not without its share of risks and challenges, Bradley said. A time where the decisions that we collectively make today will have a lasting legacy for years to come. After the speech, GNCC chief executive officer Mishka Balsom said the chamber has prioritized the concepts of attainable and affordable housing. The cost of housing is not only a social problem, but an economic one, Balsom said. The rising cost of housing drives up wages and makes it harder for businesses in areas with a high cost of living to attract employees. We hope that this office will be able to make progress on this problem. The concept of an office of shared services came from discussions with constituents, businesses and council colleagues about finding an efficient solution to get the most out of local government, Bradley said. These comments were so prevalent that a year ago I committed to focusing on more effectively sharing services between the Region and Niagaras 12 local communities. I pledged to find ways to improve our region and be as efficient as possible. As a result, for the first time in the Regions 53-year history, there will be dedicated resources to finding ways to make local government more efficient, lean and effective. Again, similar to our efforts on GO, we did not see making progress on shared services as a part-time job, Bradley said. Funding resources entirely focused on building relationships, identifying opportunities and handling logistics is needed if we want to make a measurable difference on shared services. The new offices will be formed in the coming weeks and managed through a new division of strategic transformation at Regional headquarters. Bradley said the two initiatives wont bring any additions to the Regions staff complement or require new funding. The resources have been found within the current budget. Bradley also announced the Region, the local municipalities and GNCC are reviving the Niagara Week event starting May 15. One of the reasons for past success was a winnowing down of priorities for provincial politicians and bureaucrats to contemplate rather than a shotgun approach. Advocacy efforts will focus on funding for a new wastewater treatment plant in south Niagara Falls, renewal of financing for shared service transition costs, and support from the provincial government to make the Region and local municipalities whole after the province stripped way development charge revenues under Bill 23. SHARE: Habitat for Humanity Niagara updated Thorold city council Tuesday on its progress while also appealing for assistance in looking for new community partners. Mark Carl, chief executive officer for Habitat for Humanity Niagara, said over the next year the organization will build homes in the community for low-income families and will need community partners to help achieve that goal. Were building five homes in Thorold, three on Mary Street, and were building a semi (detached) on Taylor Street. Construction is underway, he said. Carl encouraged people to help in many ways, but one of the easiest is through word of mouth. Everyone can help by spreading the word through the community about what were trying to achieve, he said. Just awareness to the business community, they can support us through gift in-kind donations, being part of our builds, or just donations to (Habitat for Humanity) Restores in the community. Carl added another plus is incentives the city can help with, whether development fees or land donations for affordable housing is always welcomed. Carl said these homes are just the beginning of about 30 houses Habitat for Humanity plans to build throughout Niagara over the next five years to help families struggling with home-ownership. We get very little government funding, but we bring the community together to help families build strength, stability and independence through safe, affordable home-ownership, he said. Carl said Habitat homes run on the truly affordable model, costing no more than 30 per cent of a familys monthly income, which goes towards the mortgage. We sell the house for market value to the family, and that is so they cant sell and its pride of ownership that they have, he said. The difference is Habitat holds the mortgage, so Habitat holds a mortgage at zero per cent interest. Coun. Ken Sentance voiced concerns about the selection process for Habitat homes, inquiring about demographics and whether it is just families or if couples are considered for home ownership through the organization. Carl assured Sentence there is movement regarding certain demographic selection, namely couples, for candidates for Habitat homes. Weve had some couples, but mostly its families, because when building a house I go to overcrowding its usually individual families in a one-bedroom apartment, he said. In other communities, other Habitats certainly are serving seniors, and some couples. We are moving in that direction, because we do recognize the need, especially amongst the senior population. Coun Henry DAngela said Port Robinson West Community has been conducting subdivision planning and rezoning amendments that would help Habitat or at least open up some potential for a Habitat project to happen. He said Habitat would be wise to look at that and consider making some moves to get a few more homes built in Thorold. You may want to approach the developers there and see if theres an opportunity, because you would be part of that comprehensive zoning bylaw or official plan of getting more affordable housing into the developments, he said. If, somehow, you managed to get some lots and get in there and build a few more homes in Thorold, again centrally located, that would be awesome. SHARE: The sunshine may be bright and the air summer-like warm, but water temperatures at lakes and ponds across Niagara are anything but. As residents head out to enjoy the weather, firefighters are cautioning people to be careful interacting with the extremely cold water. Cold water can certainly leads to rapid hypothermic response or compromise somebody who enters the water abruptly, said Welland fire Chief Adam Eckhart. We dont encourage anyone to go into the water, enter the water, until its time to do so and its certainly not that time. In the meantime, firefighters are taking advantage of the quiet lakes and warm weather. This week, St. Catharines Fire Services has a recruit class going through basic training on the water in Port Dalhousie, part of its 14-week in-house training course, said deputy Chief Trevor Parker. Recruits will go over a number of water procedures and head out for practice on its water rescue boats. With the nice weather, its nice to get all the training done before you get that influx of people heading to the beach or down to the different areas of the city where they can get into the water, said Parker. Its a good time for us to take advantage of that space. Firefighting crews will also be out and on the water in the coming weeks, refreshing their knowledge and going through water rescue skills and land-based exercises. A few months ago the same crews took part in ice rescue exercises, but while the techniques are comparable, it is also quite different, said Parker. Without the ice, we actually have to go in the water, which is our last resort. But we still use the inflatable raft to get to any person thats in the water, and well pull them out of the water, he said. Its very similar to ice only, obviously, you dont have that base to work off. Eckhart said his crews just finished their own cold-water rescue and submersion training, part of an annual sign-off. Full-time firefighters practise a minimum of twice annually. In the months leading to summer, Welland crews will go through their annual swim tests, practise donning protective equipment and run through a series of self-rescue tests in the event a firefighter ends up in trouble during a rescue as well as a series of rescue scenarios. Eckhart said firefighters practise rescues based on the upcoming waterway activities. We are a shore-based department with a capacity of a go-rescue, so we will don a firefighter in a Mustang survival suit who will then enter the water in a go-rescue tethered to shore, and they do that throughout the year, he said. We practise them in those scenarios, in different weather conditions. But while firefighters might be on the water, Parker and Eckhart are reminding residents to steer clear as they enjoy the warmer weather. In addition to the cold water Lake Erie is about 3 C and Lake Ontario about 5 C the melt from the winter months as well as upcoming spring rain will see a fluctuations in water levels throughout the region. Use extreme caution, said Eckhart, as water levels can rise quickly, even small streams or currents. And always have a safety plan in place use a buddy system, watch and monitor the area, and communicate with others about where you are going and what you are doing. Dont underestimate the power of water, he said. SHARE: Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (2nd L, Front) chairs the second informal meeting of foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran on the Afghan issue in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) SAMARKAND, Uzbekistan, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang on Thursday chaired the second informal meeting of foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran on the Afghan issue in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar attended the meeting. During the meeting, Qin said that since the first informal meeting of foreign ministers of the four countries on the Afghan issue in September 2021, China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran, as the core force of regional coordination on Afghanistan issue, have worked together to effectively guarantee the smooth transition of the situation in Afghanistan. Meanwhile, although the war in Afghanistan has ended, the Afghan issue is far from being resolved. Afghanistan is now at a critical stage of transition from chaos to governance and still faces many challenges. Qin noted that China has recently issued The Global Security Initiative Concept Paper and China's Position on the Afghan Issue, which advocate spirit of solidarity to adapt to the profoundly adjusting international pattern, call for a win-win approach to address complex security challenges, and reiterate political solutions to Afghanistan and other international and regional hot issues. The Cold War mentality and camp confrontation should be abandoned for the political settlement of the Afghan issue under the new situation, Qin stressed, adding that all countries concerned should adhere to the principle of inseparable security, address both the symptoms and root causes, and guide the Afghan Taliban to exercise governance in a moderate and steady way through mutual respect, equal consultation and friendly dialogue. China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran should work together to enhance the international community to pay more attention to terrorism-related security issues in Afghanistan, make consensus and joint efforts to combat the "three forces of evil," and help Afghanistan effectively address terrorist threats and draw a clear distinction from all terrorist forces. The four countries will encourage and support Afghanistan in pursuing a modernization path suited for its national conditions, and help Afghanistan enhance self-development capacity and integrate itself into the regional economy. China is ready to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and the China-Central Asia-West Asia Economic Corridor to Afghanistan within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, so as to transform Afghanistan from a land-locked country into a land-linked one, Qin said. At the meeting, the participants expressed deep concerns over the current situation in Afghanistan, urged the United States and Western countries to shoulder their due responsibilities, oppose creating chaos in Afghanistan, shirking responsibilities and instrumentalizing humanitarian aid, and called on Afghan Taliban to form a tolerant and inclusive government and safeguard women's rights and interests. All parties of the meeting expressed their willingness to strengthen communication and coordination, leverage the unique role of the four countries and the four-country mechanism, and guide the international community to jointly help Afghanistan achieve peace and development at an early date. Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (2nd, R), Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (2nd, L), Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian (1st L) and Pakistan's Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar pose for a group photo before the second informal meeting of foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran on the Afghan issue in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang briefs reporters after the second informal meeting of foreign ministers of China, Russia, Pakistan and Iran on the Afghan issue in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 13, 2023. Qin Gang urged here on Thursday the United States to learn lessons from its multifaceted failure in Afghanistan and change course as soon as possible. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang (3rd L) meets with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov (3rd R) in Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on April 13, 2023. (Xinhua/Bai Xueqi) A 53-year-old Welland man is dead after the motorcycle he was operating crashed into a car in Niagara Falls Wednesday afternoon. A passenger on the motorcycle remained in hospital in serious condition Wednesday evening, Niagara Regional Police Cont. Barry Ravenek said in an email. No names have been released. The collision on Lundys Lane, near Kalar Road, happened shortly after 1 p.m. Bryce Brunarski, superintendent/supervisor of Niagara Emergency Medical Services operations, said a man sustained significant multi-system trauma in the crash and was transported to a local hospital in life-threatening condition. The woman sustained a significant lower extremity injury and was transported to a out-of-town hospital for treatment. The area was expected to be closed to traffic for several hours as police investigated. SHARE: University of Niagara Falls Canada wants to become a major part of the community. Thats one of the reasons why its hosting its first community social event Saturday. The casual, drop-in event, at the WeinLokal community social house at 7556 Montrose Rd. (Niagara Square) from 11:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., will provide networking opportunities and updates about the university, which is backed by private company Global University Systems and scheduled to open downtown in 2024. Visitors will learn more about the universitys plan and vision, career opportunities, partnerships and collaborations. People can also meet the university team and take part in question-and-answer sessions. One of our main goals is to let people know the status of the university, the progress that were making, but also, were looking to attract talent to the university, said Cyndi McLeod, chief executive officer for GUS Canada. Over the next year well be hiring a number of positions from senior leadership to student support, accounting marketing, recruitment, so were really going out into the community to meet people and if people are interested in possibly joining our team in the future to talk about opportunities. She said officials want UNF to be a community-based university, which is why it hopes to attract as much local talent as we possible can. McLeod said there has been a lot of buzz since Octobers announcement. Thats one of the reasons weve decided were going to do one day in Niagara Falls and one day in Toronto (Sunday from noon to 3:30 p.m. at Fairmont Royal York at 100 Front St. W.), she said. Weve had a lot of people writing to us and asking about opportunities and just general information about the university. Its also an invitation to the community, if they have ideas about how we can collaborate, how we could partner, so its just really an open event here to meet people. We really want to be part of the community. RELATED STORIES Niagara Region Niagara Falls lands private university SHARE: Pierre Karl Peladeau has just come from a marketing meeting in the Toronto offices of his newly acquired wireless company, Freedom Mobile and hes in a buoyant mood. His plans include something surprising on the marketing front, an intention to undercut the competition by at least 20 per cent, and a fix for an irritating problem current customers face dropped calls. And the Freedom name? Its here to stay. The billionaire CEO and controlling shareholder of the Quebecor communications and media empire is in town for a quick visit, his second in as many weeks after closing the $2.85-billion deal for Freedom (a carve-out of the Rogers-Shaw merger) earlier this month. Freedom, the carrier that went from scrappy foreign-funded startup to corporate ownership under Shaw, has made waves in the past with big promos, memorably spurring Rogers, Bell and Telus to respond with previously unheard of, cheap, 10-gigabyte data plans around the holiday season in 2018. Peladeau, 61, wearing a digital watch with a rubber wristband and black running shoes along with his tailored blue suit, laughs when asked if hes planning anything similar to put his own stamp on the new business. Ive got something in mind. You watch, he says. The former leader of the separatist Parti Quebecois stops mid-sentence and jokes that hes not going to utter Pierre Trudeaus famous Just watch me line, but adds, We certainly look to have some surprising things coming. After combining with Freedom, Peladeaus Montreal-based telecom company Videotron is now the fourth-largest wireless carrier in Canada, with 3.5 million customers, a footprint in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta, and ambitions to expand to Manitoba. But it still faces a wall of opposition in the Big Three (and their many discount flanker brands), plus ample skepticism from consumer advocates about whether Videotron will actually crack the stranglehold the incumbents have on about 90 per cent of the market and, in the process, force them to drop their prices, too. Peladeau says his companys success in Quebec, where it claimed 23 per cent of the mobile market in about a decade and forced the Big Three to lower their own prices to compete, is the biggest proof that it can succeed in the rest of the country. And with a combination of Freedoms existing network, retail stores and customers, Videotrons own valuable licences for wireless airwaves (known as spectrum) and a favourable regulatory environment, he says the winning conditions finally exist for his companys long-discussed national expansion. Its not because of my blue eyes that Im going to get market share. Im going to get it because Im offering a better product and a better price, he says, adding that Freedom Mobile customers can also soon expect to see an end to dropped calls when travelling outside their home coverage area. Peladeau, spoke with the Star at the end of the day on Tuesday, in a small meeting room with glass walls looking out to the open-concept Freedom Mobile office in a new tower on York St., just across from Scotiabank Arena. He led a virtual town hall to get to know the Freedom Mobile staff earlier in the day and several members of his Montreal-based Videotron entourage are on hand to usher him from meeting to meeting. From my perspective, they (the Freedom Mobile staff) were very happy or soulages, he says, asking a colleague for the translation of the French word for relieved and noting that they had been in a state of limbo for two years after the announcement of the Rogers-Shaw merger. Videotron only stepped in as the Freedom Mobile buyer last summer and the process dragged out over many more months through a trial at the Competition Tribunal and months of waiting for a final decision from Ottawa. (Now), they can work toward building their future with a company that showed that we have experience and its not phoney baloney. Peladeau wont say much about the companys marketing strategy at this point but he does plan to keep the Freedom name, which he sees as a strong brand. Were not going to reinvent the wheel. I mean, marketing is marketing. Undercutting the Big Three is already part of his strategy. But its also part of the agreement he had to strike to win the blessing of Innovation Minister Francois-Philippe Champagne. Peladeau signed an undertaking agreeing that Freedom Mobile would charge prices at least 20 per cent lower than what Rogers, Bell and Telus offered in Ontario, B.C. and Alberta as of Feb. 10 this year. (The so-called benchmark plans are roughly as follows: $85 per month for 25 gigabytes of data; $95 per month for 40 to 50 GB; $105 per month for 60 GB; and $125 per month for 100 GB. Freedoms plans need to be no more than 80 per cent of those prices.) He also pledged to hold on to the business for at least 10 years, to maintain prices for existing Freedom Mobile customers for at least five years, and to invest $150 million in network upgrades with a view to giving 90 per cent of its customers access to faster 5G service within two years. Videotron will file annual reports with the government (within three months of the first through 10th anniversaries of the closing date) and pay damages of $25 million per year if it breaches the terms of its undertaking. Total damages are capped at $200 million. Peladeau insists he had no hesitations signing on to those terms and says he will have to compete to get a return on the money hes invested. Videotron took on significant debt to fund the transaction, paying for it in large part through a new, $2.1-billion credit facility, and it has steep spending ahead to upgrade the network. In a report last week, RBC Securities analyst Drew McReynolds said the Big Three are likely to face an incrementally more competitive Freedom Mobile under Quebecors ownership in Western Canada and Ontario. Still, Peladeau is adamant the trio has a fight coming. Will the incumbents, the Big Three, be forced to react? I think so. If theyre not doing it they are going to lose significant market share. Read more about: SHARE: If Ottawa was truly intent on reducing Canadian telecom rates among the highest in the world it would impose lower rates on the entire telecom sector. Instead, Ottawa hopes the conditions it has attached to its approval last week of the merger of Rogers Communications Inc. and Shaw Communications Inc. will provide lower rates for at least some Canadians. Right there is a failure in communications policy, as all Canadians need telecom rate relief. Ottawa has not sought rate reductions from the entire industry, including all the Big Three providers, Rogers, the Bell subsidiary of BCE Inc., and Telus Corp. And cutting telecom rates for all Canadians should be a top priority. Canadians pay an average of $8.03 per GB of mobile data. Americans pay just $5.62. In Britain, Australia, and France the rates are $1.07, 77 cents, and 32 cents, respectively. (All figures in Canadian dollars.) But in this deal, Ottawa has provided no assured reduction in rates for consumers. Laura Tribe, executive director of consumer advocacy group OpenMedia, isnt far off the mark in denouncing the merger approval as the largest blow to telecommunications competition and affordability weve ever seen. Canadians cant count on Ottawa for telecom-rate relief. As it has done in other industries, Ottawa could have legislated rate reductions in telecom. Enshrined in law, and thus enforceable, the long-overdue reductions would take effect promptly. Instead, Francois-Philippe Champagne, the industry minister, who approved the Rogers-Shaw merger, is relying on mere promises that the firms in this deal will cut telecom rates. To allay antitrust concerns arising from the proposed merger, Rogers-Shaw sold Shaws Freedom Mobility division to Quebecor Inc. Champagne last week congratulated himself on creating Ottawas long-sought fourth national wireless provider. It will consist of the merger of Freedom with Quebecors Videotron wireless and cable division. Champagne promises to watch Rogers-Shaw and Quebecor-Freedom like a hawk to ensure they meet their promises to reduce rates in a reasonable amount of time. If they dont, Champagne threatened last week, he will impose damages of as much as $200 million against Quebecor and up to $1 billion against Rogers-Shaw. But, as Champagne acknowledged, he cant act on those threats without seeking additional powers from Parliament. And a reasonable amount of time enables the telcos to simply wait out Champagne in hopes of a new minister with less resolve. They wont have long to wait. Champagne has bigger things in mind, including a widely expected bid for the Liberal leadership. Nor can they count on Rogers-Shaw. A higher priority than consumer rate relief for Rogers is to extract the synergistic cost savings it has promised Bay Street from its $20-billion merger with Shaw. Longer term, Rogers will be focused on reducing its enormous debt load. Already, four credit rating agencies called on Rogers last week to start cutting that debt and have urged Rogers to sell assets to do so. Meanwhile, Rogers has promised its shareholders a surge of as much as 30 per cent in total service revenue in its 2023 fiscal year. That is, Rogers will somehow forfeit revenue with its promised rate cuts while boosting revenue to meet its commitment to Bay Street. Only in a world of magical thinking does that make sense. And consumers cant count on Quebecor. In 2016, when Shaw bought Freedom Mobile (the former Wind Mobile), Ottawa hoped that combo would become the viable fourth national telecom it has long sought. But Shaw has recently acknowledged that it never achieved profitability with Freedom. Freedom was unable to make a go of it against the Big Three. Now, Ottawa is counting on Quebecor in place of Shaw to create a viable fourth national carrier, expecting success from the same failed strategy. In a separate Star report, Quebecor CEO Pierre Karl Peladeau explains how he plans to become a serious rival to the Big Three. Quebecor is expected to use low introductory rates to establish market share. But the Quebec-focused Quebecor will need sufficient Ontario and Western Canada access to incumbents networks at wholesale prices to achieve the viability for Freedom that eluded the Western-based Shaw. Time and again, the Big Three have withheld that capacity from rivals. And Quebecor, a second-tier telecom like Shaw, will have a tough time matching the financial firepower of the Big Three in making the technical upgrades its Freedom service will need to aggressively compete as Peladeau promises. Quebecor had 2022 revenues of $4.5 billion against average Big Three revenues of more than $19 billion last year. For this merger to work for Canadian consumers, the parties to it will have to act in good faith. They will have to keep their promises, which are just and only that, unenforceable promises. Canadians have long deserved genuine telecom rate relief. And this deal, on which so much attention has been lavished, fails to achieve that a wasted opportunity. Read more about: SHARE: An international debate over what should be considered antisemitism centred around a controversial definition that critics say chills legitimate criticism of Israel has reached the United Nations. Last week, a group of 60 human rights and civil society organizations wrote to the leadership of the UN, urging it not to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Association (IHRA) definition of antisemitism. They say the IHRA framework has often been used to wrongly label criticism of Israel as antisemitic, and thus chill and sometimes suppress, non-violent protest, activism and speech critical of Israel and/or Zionism. Among the letters signatories are three Canadian organizations: Independent Jewish Voices Canada, Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East and United Jewish Peoples Order of Canada. The high-profile appeal is just the latest twist in a now-years-long debate around the definition. Mainstream Jewish groups and governments have urged the UN to officially adopt the IHRAs working definition. To this point, the international body has insisted it has no plans to do so. It has been adopted, meanwhile, in other jurisdictions around the world, including several in Canada. Heres a look at how the issue has become such a heated topic of debate. What is the IHRA and why is its definition of antisemitism important? The IHRA is a Europe-based, intergovernmental organization founded in 1988 with the aim of uniting governments and experts to advance and promote Holocaust education, research and remembrance worldwide. Canada has been a member since 2006. In 2016 organization issued a working definition of antisemitism, which describes it as a certain perception of Jews, which may be expressed as hatred toward Jews. Rhetorical and physical manifestations of antisemitism are directed toward Jewish or non-Jewish individuals and/or their property, toward Jewish community institutions and religious facilities. The definition is accompanied by a set of 11 contemporary examples of antisemitism, seven of which refer to the state of Israel. These include denying the Jewish people their right to self-determination; e.g. by claiming that the existence of a State of Israel is a racist endeavour and applying double standards by requiring of (Israel) a behavior not expected or demanded of any other democratic nation. The definition was adopted unanimously by IHRAs 31 member states in 2016, and has since been adopted by some 865 entities around the world, The Jerusalem Post reported. Why is the definition controversial? Critics of the IHRA do not necessarily take issue with the IHRAs working definition. Rather concerns stem from the 11 contemporary examples, which some say can be used to label any criticism of the state of Israel as antisemitic, creating a chilling effect in civil society and in academic settings. Supporters of the definition say it is a key measure in the face of rising antisemitism. Following the release of the joint letter addressed to Guterres, other human rights groups, including the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs (CIJA), reaffirmed their support for the IHRA. Amid a recent surge in antisemitism in Canada and elsewhere, it is despicable that self-proclaimed human rights organizations are expending resources on a campaign to harm efforts to address this hatred, said CIJA president and CEO Shimon Koffler Fogel in a written statement provided to the Star. Like any other minority, the Jewish people have the right to define what hate looks like against them and the IHRA definition is the most widely accepted definition of anti-Jewish hatred. Rejecting IHRA damages the fight against antisemitism, the statement continued. However, the IHRA definitions detractors have said its inclusion of could have a negative impact on human rights. If IHRA was adopted by the UN, it would put a chill on the ability of Amnesty, UN experts and other groups to accurately report their findings, and prevent UN bodies from discussing them, Michael Bueckert, vice-president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East (CJPME), told the Star. Aaron Lakoff, the spokesperson for Independent Jewish Voices Canada, said his organization has documented dozens of cases around the world in the last few years, including here in Canada, where the IHRA definition has been used to silence or threaten human rights advocates and Palestinians speaking out against Israeli apartheid. How wide is support for the definition? Fogel, the president of CIJA, said the IHRA definition has broad support around the world. The Government of Canada, more than 20 provinces and municipalities, as well as the UNs own former Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief and countless others around the world have supported the definition, recognizing its vital educational role in identifying and addressing the various mutations of this ancient hatred, he said in a statement. What could be more legitimate than a definition developed through a nearly 20-year consensus driven process that brought together the worlds foremost scholars on antisemitism, government officials, and activists? Still, critics, including the American Civil Liberties Union, counter that presenting the IHRA definition as a consensus is inaccurate. In a January letter urging the American Bar Association not to adopt the definition, those critics said it has been challenged by antisemitism experts, rabbis, and scholars of Jewish studies, Jewish history, and the Holocaust, by Palestinians who have borne the brunt of its application, as well as by experts on fighting racism and free speech. In 2018, Jewish Voice for Peace a U.S. organization dedicated to foreign policy based on peace, human rights, and respect for international law released a joint statement signed by 40 Jewish groups opposing the adoption of the IHRA definition. In 2020, Independent Jewish Voices shared an open letter from over 650 Canadian academics voicing their opposition. What does the man who wrote the definition say? Kenneth Stern an antisemitism expert who formerly worked at the American Jewish Committee and one of the co-authors who drafted the IHRAs working definition has been one of its biggest critics. Its not the definition thats the problem, he told The Times of Israel in 2020. Its the abuse of it. It sets up a system in which administrators have a reason to either condemn or try to suppress pro-Palestinian speech because their job is to keep the university from being sued, Stern said. Where does the UN currently stand? The UN is currently developing its own plan to respond to rising antisemitism, which is expected to be released in June. At this time, the international body has no plans to officially use the IHRAs definition. However, last winter, Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recited part of the IHRAs definition during a Holocaust memorial speech, prompting Israels ambassador to the UN to declare that Guterres had effectively recognized the definition. In November, a report released by Prof. E. Tendayi Achiume, the UN special rapporteur on contemporary forms of racism, said that although the IHRA definition is legally non-binding, its de facto influence on the policy and practice of governments and private actors has contributed to violations of the human rights of freedom of expression, assembly and political participation, among others. What is the joint letter asking for? In its letter, the coalition of organizations expresses strong support for the United Nations commitment to combating antisemitism, but urges the international body to ensure that its efforts do not inadvertently embolden or endorse policies and laws that undermine fundamental human rights, including the right to speak and organize in support of Palestinian rights and to criticize Israeli government policies. The letter points to two alternative definitions of antisemitism, which while acknowledging that criticism of Israel can be antisemitic ... set out more clearly what constitutes antisemitism and provide guidance surrounding the contours of legitimate speech and action around Israel and Palestine. One of those alternative definitions is the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism, developed in 2020 under the auspices of the Van Leer institute in Jerusalem, and released in 2021. The declaration, which makes explicit that the movement to boycott Israel is not in and of itself antisemitism, was developed in response to the controversial aspects of the IHRA definition. In this critical moment, as Israels far-right government moves forward to annex the occupied Palestinian territories and consolidate its repressive, apartheid rule over the Palestinian people, it is essential that we give our full support to human rights defenders, and reject attempts to silence their voices, Bueckert of the CJPME told the Star. Correction April 14, 2023: Kenneth Stern is an antisemitism expert who formerly worked at the American Jewish Committee and was one of the co-authors who drafted the IHRAs working definition of antisemitism. A previous version of this article said Stern was still with the AJC and was the sole person who drafted the definition. Read more about: SHARE: Youve heard of car, bike and scooter-sharing services, but what about boats? Skipperi, a company billing itself as the worlds first boat-sharing app and smart fleet, announced it will open ten locations across Lake Ontario beginning May 1. For a subscription fee, the Finland-based startup allows unlimited boating from all its harbours in the GTA and around the world. They currently have 40 vessels available on Lake Ontario and operate in five other countries. Skipperi takes care of all the hassle of owning your own boat, such as the maintenance, the winterization, the storage, the insurance, all the stuff that people dont want to deal with, said Keven Dextradeur, general manager for Skipperi Canada, to the Star. We take care of that so that people can only enjoy the fun parts of boating. In Canada, the service runs from May 1 to Oct. 31, with its early bird pricing starting at $475 a month. Customers must commit to paying through the full 6 month season they cannot sign up for just one month, according to the companys website. The regular membership only applies to weekdays; weekends will cost an extra $280 a month. Experienced skippers can opt to pay another $143 a month for access to larger pontoon boats and additional training. Weve been seeing our members using our vessels, on average, 4.3 times per week, Dextradeur said. But we have had some members going out every day and even sometimes multiple times a day. The first step to becoming a member requires one to get their pleasure craft operator card. Issued by Transport Canada, the card costs $42 and involves passing a boating safety course, but is good for life. Dextradeur said new members will also get a one-on-one training session as part of their onboarding. Its a one-on-one practical training with a licensed captain, and he shows you how to do everything from docking the boats to essentially showing you how to check in, check out using your app, he said. The app facilitates the entire boat rental process, using AI to help members check in and out, assess their vessel for damages and monitor boats that may be breaking the law, like exceeding the speed limit, Dextradeur said. You have to take pictures before and after (rental), and our AI is able to analyze if the boat has any potential damage, he continued. ...We have the ability to monitor any members that are going off, essentially, from what is being asked of them. The boats can drive up to 35 nautical miles, about 65 kilometres, though they must be dropped off at their original ports. The ten ports include: Toronto Harbourfront East- Queens Quay E/Yonge Toronto Harbourfront Centre- Queens Quay W/York Toronto Harbourfront West- Queens Quay W/ Bathurst Toronto Toronto Island Marina Scarborough Bluffers Park Marina Hamilton Harbour West Marina Niagara Port Dalhousie Pier Marina Pickering Frenchmans Bay Marina Mississauga (not yet open) Port Credit Harbour Marina Oakville (not yet open) Bronte Harbour Marina Read more about: SHARE: LOS ANGELES (AP) U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has faced calls to resign from fellow Democrats, asked Wednesday to be temporarily replaced on the Judiciary Committee while she recovers from illness that has kept her away from Washington for weeks. Feinstein, the oldest member of Congress at 89, said in a statement that her recovery from a case of shingles she disclosed in early March had been delayed because of complications. She provided no date for her return and said she had requested that Majority Leader Chuck Schumer ask the Senate to allow another Democratic senator to serve in her committee seat until she was able to return. I intend to return as soon as possible once my medical team advises that its safe for me to travel, Feinstein said. In the meantime, I remain committed to the job and will continue to work from home in San Francisco. Feinsteins lengthy absence has caused increasing anxiety within her party because it has threatened Democratic efforts to confirm President Joe Bidens nominees for federal courts in a narrowly divided chamber. Her decision to seek a committee stand-in during her recovery came shortly after two House Democrats called on her to resign after her extended absence from Washington. In recent years, Feinstein has faced questions in recent years about her cognitive health and memory, though she has defended her effectiveness representing a state that is home to nearly 40 million people. California Rep. Ro Khanna, one of two Democratic House members who called Wednesday for Feinstein to resign, said in a statement: This is a moment of crisis for womens rights and voting rights. Its unacceptable to have Sen. Feinstein miss vote after vote to confirm judges who will uphold reproductive rights. Khanna, a California progressive, wrote on Twitter that Feinstein should step aside. She announced in February that she would not seek reelection in 2024, opening up her seat for the first time in over 30 years. We need to put the country ahead of personal loyalty, wrote Khanna, who has endorsed the Senate campaign of Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee. While she has had a lifetime of public service, it is obvious she can no longer fulfill her duties. Not long afterward, Democratic Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota tweeted that he agreed with Khanna. Feinstein, he wrote, is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable. But 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. White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday from Ireland, where President Joe Biden was visiting, that Biden and first lady Jill Biden wish Senator Feinstein the very best and a speedy recovery. She said Biden is deeply appreciative of her support for his judicial nominees and respects and appreciates her commitment to public service. Already, Democratic Reps. Lee, Katie Porter and Adam Schiff have launched Senate campaigns to succeed Feinstein. If Feinstein decides to step down during her term, it would be up to Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom to fill the vacancy, potentially reordering the highly competitive race. Newsom said in 2021 that he would nominate a Black woman to fill the seat if Feinstein were to step aside. Lee is Black, and becoming the incumbent could be a decisive advantage in the contest, but its not known if Newsom would consider Lee, given her candidacy. Porter and Schiff are white. Newsom declined through a spokesperson to comment on Khannas statement. The governor is not calling on her to resign, the spokesman, Anthony York, said in an email. Before the calls for her resignation, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, chair of the Senate Judiciary Committee, acknowledged in remarks to CNN that Feinsteins absence has slowed down their push to confirm nominees in the closely divided panel. I cant consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee, Durbin said. Feinstein has had a groundbreaking political career and shattered gender barriers from San Franciscos City Hall to the corridors of Capitol Hill. She was the first woman to serve as president of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the 1970s and the first female mayor of San Francisco. She ascended to that post after the November 1978 assassinations of then-Mayor George Moscone and City Supervisor Harvey Milk by a former supervisor, Dan White. Feinstein found Milks body. In the Senate, she was the first woman to head the Senate Intelligence Committee and the first woman to serve as the Judiciary Committees top Democrat. She gained a reputation as a pragmatic centrist who left a mark on political battles over issues ranging from reproductive rights to environmental protection. SHARE: FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) A rapid spring snowmelt after an unusually wet winter is unleashing flooding from the Southwest to the Rockies, causing residents there and in the Upper Midwest to evacuate or stock up on sandbags amid surging creeks and rivers. In New Mexico, emergency crews rescued people from at least two vehicles from high water Thursday night in Jemez Pueblo north of Albuquerque, the National Weather Service said. But there were no immediate reports of any deaths of serious injuries. A flood warning was in effect for communities along the Jemez River into next week. In Flagstaff, Arizona, neighbors on one street have been working side by side since Tuesday with shovels to stave off floodwaters from their homes. Three creek-retention basins installed last year helped better navigate water that rushed down from burned mountains above the city, officials said. Still, water engulfed the shoulder of a local highway, and several roads and sidewalks were closed this week as the weather warmed and snow melted, making its way into neighborhoods. Sections of urban trails also were submerged. Officials said it was a scenario that came without a playbook. It would be nice to have an exact model of what we need to do, but we dont, Flagstaff Vice Mayor Austin Aslan told the Arizona Daily Sun. We dont know what the next fire will look like, or where that scar will be. Theres small differences that will direct water to one neighborhood or another. Sandoval County in north-central New Mexico issued an emergency disaster declaration in the wake of severe flooding in communities near the Jemez River. No evacuations had been ordered, but residents in an area between Jemez Pueblo and Jemez Springs that regularly floods in the summer rainy season were collecting sandbags as a precaution. A local police chief estimated a dozen homes and other structures along the river could be at risk of being inundated with water. Warm temperatures continue to cause rapid melting of snowpack, causing increased river flows, the National Weather Service in Albuquerque said Thursday night. The deluge also led to spillover from a wastewater treatment plant, which was contributing recycled water into the Jemez River. The U.S. Forest Service advised people not to fish in the river or drink water south of the plant. In Salt Lake City, Mayor Erin Mendenhall signed an emergency order late Wednesday aimed at helping residents whose homes were threatened by flooding in the southeastern part of the city. Rapidly melting snow in the nearby mountains sent water coursing through a creek in the neighborhood, prompting the voluntary evacuation of about 100 homes. The water was receding as cooler weather moved into the area. Even so, multiple mudslides were reported on canyon roads, including one that forced the temporary closure of Interstate 80 southeast of the city early Thursday. On Wednesday, local officials north of Salt Lake City issued evacuation orders for at least 20 homes in Kaysville, where flooding ripped a large gash that damaged a street, sidewalks and driveways in a subdivision that was under construction. Meanwhile, heavy snowpack and highs expected to reach 60 degrees Thursday were causing flooding in northwest Colorado, where transportation officials closed Highway 40 between Craig and Steamboat Springs, a popular ski area that has received more than 400 inches (1,016 centimeters) of snow this winter. Flooding in the small mountain town of Hayden forced schools to close. Rain was in the forecast Thursday afternoon, with the expectation of turning to snow overnight. The Colorado Department of Transportation posted photos online showing Dry Creek spilling over its banks at a bridge there, as well as floodwater threatening several parked recreational vehicles. The National Weather Service said some roads might become impassable during the weekend and urged motorists not to drive through flooded crossings. There were no reports of major damage, however, in Utah or Colorado as of Thursday. In the Northern Plains, a speedy snowmelt and possible April showers stoked fears of heavy flooding. Residents have been assembling thousands if not hundreds of thousands of sandbags to hold back water. The Red River Valley, which includes Fargo in North Dakota and Moorhead in Minnesota, had one of the snowiest winters on record. Heavy rain could cause the river to rise quickly, Moorhead city engineer Bob Zimmerman told Minnesota Public Radio. Minnesotas Democratic Gov. Tim Walz said Thursday at a news conference that the state is ready to respond with financial help for flooding if needed. He added that warmer temperatures and rising waters from climate change have factored into the states months-long preparation for the spring flooding season. Local, state and federal public safety and emergency management partners have ramped up monitoring and preparation efforts, according to the states Department of Public Safety. North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum has declared a statewide emergency for spring flooding, and he made the National Guard available to help fight floods in the coming weeks, the Bismarck Tribune reported. The city of Bismarck opened sites for residents to fill their own sandbags. In northern Montana, the Milk River was expected to rise to its highest level in more than a decade and swamp some rural areas. Emergency officials along the river in Glasgow were patrolling the levee protecting the city of about 3,200 people to make sure it held up, said Valley County Disaster and Emergency Services coordinator Rick Seiler. Shelters were being arranged in case low-lying areas need evacuations. The flooding was forecast to continue through next week, according to the National Weather Service. Heavy rain was falling across the region on Thursday while snow continued to pile up at higher elevations, Seiler said. ___ Associated Press writers Trisha Ahmed in Minneapolis; Matthew Brown in Billings, Montana; Terry Tang in Phoenix; Thomas Peipert in Denver; and Scott Sonner in Reno, Nevada, contributed to this report. SHARE: KIEV, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Ukraine is counting on receiving 115 billion U.S. dollars in long-term support from its partners, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said Thursday. This year, Ukraine needs 14 billion dollars for rapid reconstruction projects, said Shmyhal, adding that Kiev is in talks with foreign partners over raising the necessary funds. The prime minister listed the United States, the European Union, the World Bank, the International Monetary Fund, and the countries of the Group of Seven as key partners supporting Ukraine. On Wednesday, Shmyhal arrived in the United States for a visit to discuss military, financial, and sanctions support for Ukraine, as well as investment and assistance for reconstruction. OTTAWA - A delegation of senior parliamentarians from all four of Canadas main federal parties is in Taiwan this week to show support for the island as it faces the threat of a Chinese invasion. Led by Liberal MP John McKay in his role as chair of the House of Commons defence committee, the delegation includes members of Parliament from the Conservatives, Bloc Quebecois and NDP. In an interview, McKay said Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen expressed gratitude for the visit, which is meant to demonstrate Canadas continued commitment to the island in the face of Chinese aggression. Ultimately, the objective is to support Taiwan, said McKay, who described the island as being on the front lines of a geopolitical battle between democracy and authoritarianism. Ukraine has forced people to choose sides, to see who your friends are, he said. In some respects, Taiwans bullying by China is forcing everyone to choose sides. China has viewed Taiwan as a rogue province since a civil war saw the two split in 1949. To isolate the island, Beijing has blocked its participation in most international organizations for years and retaliated against moves seen as legitimizing its government. The most recent example of that came this week as China launched three days of large-scale military exercises off Taiwans coast in retaliation for a meeting between Tsai and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in California. The Chinese Embassy in Ottawa also warned last fall of resolute and forceful measures after a different group of Canadian lawmakers announced plans to visit Taiwan. That visit went ahead as scheduled. McKay said the group he is leading gave some consideration to whether their trip would hurt relations between Canada and China, but ultimately decided it was more important to show support for Taiwan. You simply cannot yield to bully-boy tactics, he said. So, yes, there was some thought that went into it. But I think its important that Canada and Canadians show their support for the Taiwanese people and the Taiwanese government. He added there has been no indication of Chinese retaliation to the trip. In a statement released after her meeting with the Canadian delegation, Tsai expressed gratitude for the visit while painting Taiwan as a partner with Canada in the fight to defend democratic principles and values. In the face of continued authoritarian expansionism, it is critical that democracies stand united, she said. Canada is a very important democratic partner to Taiwan. We will do our utmost to jointly safeguard the values of freedom and democracy with Canada and other like-minded international partners. Canada and its allies have watched with growing concern as China has increasingly asserted itself in the Indo-Pacific region, sparking fears of an invasion of Taiwan and broader war. The visit also coincides with reports of Chinese interference and espionage campaigns in Canada, including alleged attempts to influence elections and steal intellectual property. China also arbitrarily detained two Canadians for more than 1,000 days. McKay suggested Chinas actions have served to bring Canada and Taiwan closer together in spite of Beijings complaints. The Canadian publics attitudes in the last two or three years have changed quite dramatically, he said. So theres now an identification with whats going on in Taiwan. Asked about the delegations visit during an event in Winnipeg on Wednesday, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it is important for Canada to show its support for democratic values and principles around the world. Chinas aggressive actions in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan are problematic, and we really hope that there will be a de-escalation of tensions in the region, he added. We will continue to stand for our values, we will continue to stand up for democracies everywhere around the world, because thats what Canadians expect us to do. Taiwanese officials also briefed the Canadian delegation on their efforts to counter Chinese misinformation and online attacks, McKay said, while appealing for Canadas support in the joining the Indo-Pacific free trade agreement known as the CPTPP. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA - A new poll suggests most Canadians feel theyre less safe now than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, and most think the provincial and federal governments are doing a poor job of addressing crime and public safety. In an online survey, Leger and the Association for Canadian Studies asked how the level of crime and violence in a respondents home community today compares to how it was before the pandemic began in early 2020. Nearly two-thirds of those who took the survey said they feel things are worse with 32 per cent saying crime and violence has gotten much worse and 32 per cent saying it is a little worse. A quarter of respondents said the situation hasnt changed, and eight per cent said they dont know. Just two per cent of people said the situation is a little better. Women living in urban areas were more likely to report that things are worse today. Those in B.C. were most likely to say crime and violence are worse since the pandemic hit, at 72 per cent, while people in Quebec were least likely to say so, at 54 per cent. Quebecers were most likely to say things have not changed. However, when asked whether they experienced, witnessed or knew someone who experienced a series of unsafe situations from vandalism to theft to physical assault a large majority of respondents said they didnt. The most common type of unsafe situation people reported was aggressive behaviour, which the survey identified as issuing threats, yelling or causing someone to fear for their safety. Of those surveyed, 20 per cent said theyd experienced such behaviour and 19 per cent said they feared for their safety at least once in the last six months. Five per cent of respondents said they were the victim of a physical assault, and five per cent said they were the target of a hate crime, while 20 per cent said they knew someone who had been assaulted and 17 per cent said they knew the victim of a hate crime. According to the most recent data from Statistics Canada, overall police-reported crime rates were virtually unchanged in 2021 as compared to 2020, the first year of the pandemic. Non-violent crime, including break-ins, thefts and robberies, declined in both 2020 and 2021. In contrast, violent crime rose by five per cent in 2021, mostly because of a 27 per cent increase in hate-motivated crimes and higher rates of reported sexual assault. Incidents of harassment and threatening behaviour have been steadily increasing since 2017, StatCan says, and there was notable growth in this type of report since the onset of the pandemic. More than half of those polled by Leger said they think law enforcement and their city or municipality are doing a good job addressing the issue of public safety, but only 39 per cent said the same about their provincial government, and just 33 per cent gave the federal government a passing grade. People over the age of 55 and those living in Quebec were most satisfied with law enforcement, while fewer than half of Atlantic Canadians felt police were doing a good job. Ontario residents were least satisfied with the performance of their provincial government, and people from Manitoba and Saskatchewan were least happy with the federal government. The survey also asked whether stricter gun control would make people feel more safe. It found that 47 per cent of respondents said that would make them feel safer, and 42 per cent said it wouldnt change how they feel. Statistics Canada data show that the number of Criminal Code firearm offences across the country has been on the rise for years, including during the pandemic. Asked for their opinion about a list of actions to make communities safer, respondents overwhelmingly called for tougher penalties for people found guilty of committing violent offences and for better mental health supports, with those options getting 81 per cent and 79 per cent support, respectively. Three-quarters of those polled said more police would help, and 72 per cent said addressing the housing crisis would make communities safer. In total, 1,517 people took the survey between April 6 and 10. The poll cannot be assigned a margin of error because online surveys are not considered truly random samples. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 12, 2023. Read more about: SHARE: OTTAWA - If Pierre Poilievre wants to defund the CBC while maintaining its French-language programming, hell have to overhaul the countrys broadcasting law in order to do it. Thats according to the Crown corporation, which has found itself in a back-and-forth with the Opposition leader over his pledge to cut the roughly $1-billion in taxpayer dollars it receives annually. Past Conservative leaders have also taken aim at the CBC, which receives its share of public money through Parliament when MPs vote on its federal budget. Poilievres pitch to strip the CBC of its public funding is widely popular among Conservatives and earned loud cheers from the crowds who packed rooms to see him during last years leadership campaign. But he has also suggested he supports Radio-Canadas French services. When asked for comment on how he reconciles those two things, his office pointed to a media interview he gave the outlet in March 2022, in which he suggested maintaining support for services tailored to francophone minorities. In another sit-down interview last July with right-wing outlet True North, Poilievre explained that the only justification for having a public broadcaster is to provide content the private market does not. He argued that is not the case for CBCs English services. Almost everything the CBC does can be done in the marketplace these days because of technology, he told host Andrew Lawton. I would preserve a small amount for French-language minorities, linguistic minorities, because they, frankly, will not get news services provided by the market. He added he did not think the CBCs English-language services on TV or online provide anything that people cant get from the marketplace. Making that happen, however, appears easier said than done. In a statement, CBC/Radio-Canada said funding only Radio-Canada would change the very nature of how programs and services are funded in Canada to target public money at only one language group. A spokesman said doing so would require the Broadcasting Act, the law outlining its mandate, to be rewritten. The law requires the corporation to provide programming in both French and English, and it does not give the government sway over how resources are allocated to accomplish that. It also stipulates that the broadcaster maintain creative and programming independence and provide a range of both television and radio services. CBC/Radio-Canada is the countrys only media company that serves all Canadians, in both official languages (and eight Indigenous ones), from coast to coast to coast, corporate spokesman Leon Mar said in a written statement. It is the corporations board of directors that determines how the funding it receives is spent. In 2021-22, the CBC received more than $1.2 billion in government funding, a decrease from about $1.4 billion in 2020-21. Peter Menzies, a senior fellow at the Macdonald-Laurier Institute and former vice-chair of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission, said reducing funding for the CBC is one thing, but prescribing how it can use the money would be difficult unless you redo the legislation entirely. He said a future government could provide the broadcaster with a new mandate specifying what kind of services and on what platforms and in what languages it provides but said that leads to the problem of picking winners and losers. Im not sure politicians really want to go down the (road of) ... We are going to give francophones better service with public money than were going to give anglophones, he said. Menzies added that while he believes changes should be made to the CBC, its a lot more complicated than people think. Preferring one piece of it over another piece, particularly linguistically, I think that opens a door you probably dont really want to open. He also pointed out about 40 per cent of CBCs revenue already flows to Radio-Canada, even though the proportion of French-speaking households in Canada is much smaller. Poilievre touts that slashing CBCs overall funding would equal savings for taxpayers, and has also suggested he has plans to sell off its buildings. Speaking to a crowd gathered in Calgary last August, the then-leadership hopeful accused the corporation of putting all the money into these big, gigantic temples they call headquarters in Toronto and Montreal. Montreal is the home of its Radio-Canada headquarters. Theres some savings right there, he added. In a statement Thursday, Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet said Poilievres proposal caters to the most devoted parts of his base and that Radio-Canada serves an essential role for Quebec and the French language in Canada. He accused the Tory leader of wanting to hamper those efforts. A spokeswoman for Heritage Minister Pablo Rodriguez, Laura Scaffidi, added that both CBC and Radio-Canada are invaluable in smaller and official language minority communities. While visiting Edmonton on Thursday, Poilievre was asked whether he was prepared to amend the federal broadcasting law as it pertains to the CBC and its French-language services. He did not answer, but instead called it the biased propaganda arm of the Liberal party. It comes after he asked Twitter to add a government-funded label to accounts that promote news-related content from CBC English, but did not ask the same for its French counterpart. The corporation contends that the description is inaccurate, saying its editorial independence is enshrined in law. It also draws a distinction between government and public funding because of the fact that the money it receives is granted through a vote made in Parliament. After such a label was applied to the BBC, the broadcaster pushed back and Twitter eventually changed the tag to publicly funded media. Relations between the federal Conservatives and the CBC further soured earlier this year when Catherine Tait, the broadcasters CEO, told the Globe and Mail in an interview that Poilievres criticisms amounted to a slogan the party used to raise money. That is just what the party did following her comments. Poilievre said Taits words showed CBC had launched a partisan attack against him and it could not be trusted. The exchange followed an invitation Tait had made to Poilievre to meet just days after he was elected leader last September. By the end of November, Tait reached out again, expressing disappointment in a response she said she received back from his office that he would not be able to meet despite the party continuing to attack CBC and its reporters as biased. These fundraising efforts do not acknowledge the scope and value that CBC/Radio-Canada actually delivers to Canadians, or the implications to this country and its economy were it to be defunded, Tait wrote in a letter to Poilievre. La Presse first reported on the letter, which it obtained with an access-to-information request. The Canadian Press also obtained a copy. As the head of the public broadcaster and as the leader of the Opposition, Tait continued, I think Canadians can rightly expect that the two of us have a responsibility to discuss the implications of your promise. This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 13, 2023. With files from Mickey Djuric in Ottawa and Ritika Dubey in Edmonton. Read more about: SHARE: 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 37F. Winds NW at 5 to 10 mph. by Anatoly Antonov On March 29-30, the second "Summit for Democracy" was held under the auspices of the United States. What is wrong with this flagship project of the administration? Let's try to figure out why the American initiative hardly serves the declared goals of advocating democracy and human rights. The first forum, held in December 2021, was characterized as the epitome of hypocrisy even by a number of observers in the West. Questions arose about the ability and largely the moral right of Washington -- dealing with many political and socio-economic controversies at home -- to impose its canons and way of life on others. Doesn't America have problems with racism, gun violence, corruption and social inequality? Why are approximately 40 million people living below the poverty line in the richest country in the world? Yet, the 50 wealthiest Americans are richer than half the U.S. population. There is also a clear problem with the freedom of speech, evidenced eloquently by the "cancel culture" -- cutting out people from the public sphere for dissenting views. Many admit that the U.S. electoral law also has certain flaws, lacking an institute of direct presidential elections. Democracy is thus being replaced by "democratism" -- where ruling elites enjoy practically unlimited power, democratic norms are just declared and democratic institutions are nothing but window dressing. A research by American experts says that 85 percent of U.S. citizens want the political system to be reformed because they have no opportunity to influence government decisions on the most important issues. Such case should hardly be a role model. There are no perfect countries. Human rights protection is not the exclusive prerogative of the West. Democracy is not built on templates, but is a product of the internal development of a particular society. We have seen the disastrous consequences of the attempts to forcibly export American democracy to Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan. Back in the early nineties, Western colleagues absolutized the principle of human rights in every possible way in conversation with us to achieve a concrete political goal. Russia was compelled to accept the standards of state-building and governance beneficial to the West, but implying serious losses for our country. We have drawn conclusions. At the first "Summit for Democracy," the administration encouraged other participants to make what it called "voluntary commitments" to promote democracy and human rights. And Western NGOs were to monitor and assess the progress made. We know how they work. After the launch of the special military operation, these so-called human right activists began to accuse Russia of all sins, shifting the blame on us. As we know, organizers of the second "Summit" were vigorously inciting others to include odious anti-Russian language in the draft of the joint final declaration, thus acting in pretty much the same spirit. Draft texts for the meetings give the feeling that this year Washington has set a goal of shaping a human rights coalition against Russia and dragging partners into anti-Russian traps under the cover of a noble idea of developing democracy. It is obvious that subsequently the drafted statement was manifested as a common international position condemning my country. Moreover, under the "umbrella" of democratic freedoms promotion, participants of the White House initiative discussed such unrelated issues as technological development of states. A thesis was pushed through that -- it is necessary to restrict access to advanced technologies for "authoritarian" regimes, cutting off undesirable countries from progress. But there was Washington's cold calculation behind this rhetoric -- the pursuit of establishing global control over the innovation market and distributing single-handedly all benefits to suit its own interests. The protection of democracy and human rights should not be used as an instrument of putting pressure on others, especially undesirable countries. We are convinced that the politicization of these issues results only in the increased tension in international relations. Any state has its achievements and shortcomings. Therefore, efforts to eliminate the imperfections can only be universal, but not based on coalitions with a slogan "who is not with us is against us." Russia has been consistently following the democratic path taking into account its historical experience and traditions. We are against the imposition of gender-oriented approaches and drug-liberalism, the cult of consumerism and overindulgence -- to the detriment of family values. Still, we do not impose our own views on others. It is extremely dangerous to cultivate in people the idea of their exclusivity, regardless of the motives. Thus, in a joint statement following the state visit of Chinese President Xi Jinping to Moscow on March 20-22, Russia and China expressed their commitment to a multipolar world order, rejected the idea of a "superior democracy" and condemned the creation of a flawed narrative about the division of people of the world into the chosen and the outcast. The parties called for respect for the diversity of cultures and civilizations. In November 2021, on the eve of the first "Summit," we, together with then Chinese Ambassador to the United States and now the Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang, published a critical article outlining the defects of the American forum. I am convinced that the attempts to use the human rights doctrine to play geopolitical games destroying sovereignty of states and to justify Western political, financial, economic and ideological dominance should cease. In today's complex and turbulent world, it is important to protect and preserve such fundamental principles of international accord as sovereign equality and non-interference in the affairs of other states. This would be a true manifestation of democracy and would prevent a slide into chaos. Russia is ready for such work. Editor's note: Anatoly Antonov is the Russian ambassador to the United States. The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of Xinhua News Agency. WASHINGTON (AP) A Massachusetts Air National Guard member was arrested Thursday in connection with the disclosure of highly classified military documents about the Ukraine war and other top national security issues, an alarming breach that has raised fresh questions about America's ability to safeguard its most sensitive secrets. The guardsman, an IT specialist identified as 21-year-old Jack Teixeira, was taken into custody without incident after FBI officers converged on his Massachusetts home. Attorney General Merrick Garland said he is to be charged with removing or transmitting classified national defense information, a crime under the Espionage Act. Garland did not reveal a possible motive, but accounts of those in the online private chat group where the documents were disclosed have depicted Teixeira as motivated more by bravado than ideology. While Thursday's arrest was a pivotal moment in an investigation into the highest-profile intelligence leak in years, the military and Justice Department were still scrutinizing how sensitive government secrets shared in a chat room ended up circulating around the world. The emergence of Teixeira as a primary suspect is bound to raise questions about how such a profound breach, one that the Pentagon termed a very serious risk to national security, could have been caused by such a young, low-ranking service member. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat, said Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, a Pentagon spokesman. 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. Hours after the arrest, Rep. Mike Turner, the Republican chairman of the House Intelligence Committee, issued a statement pledging to examine why this happened, why it went unnoticed for weeks, and how to prevent future leaks. Teixeira, who was wearing a T-shirt and shorts at the time heavily armed tactical agents took him into custody, is due to have his initial court appearance in Massachusetts on Friday. He could also face charges in a military court. It was not immediately clear if he had a lawyer who could speak on his behalf, and a phone message left at a number believed to belong to his mother was not returned. Garland said the investigation is ongoing, but did not say if other suspects were being pursued. The Biden administration has scrambled to contain the potential diplomatic and military fallout from the leaks since they were first reported last week, moving to assure allies and assess the scope of damage. Pentagon officials have expressed alarm about the breach. President Joe Biden downplayed the lasting impact of the revelations, telling reporters in Ireland earlier Thursday that theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of that is of great consequence. The classified documents which have not been individually authenticated by U.S. officials range from briefing slides mapping out Ukrainian military positions to assessments of international support for Ukraine and other sensitive topics, including under what circumstances Russian President Vladimir Putin might use nuclear weapons. Theres no clear answer on how many documents were leaked. The Associated Press has viewed approximately 50 documents; some estimates put the total number in the hundreds. The leak is believed to have started on a site called Discord, a social media platform popular with people playing online games and where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years about guns, games and his favorite memes and, according to some chatting with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets. The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira. In previous Associated Press stories, the leaker was identified as the O.G. by a member of the online chat group. The person declined to give his name to the AP, citing concerns for his personal safety. The chat group, called Thug Shaker Central, drew roughly two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes, some of them racist. The group also held a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. In that discussion, the O.G. would for months post material that he said was classified originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings werent being taken seriously, the person said. Discord has said it was cooperating with law enforcement. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in a statement issued after the arrest, said the Pentagon would conduct a review of its intelligence access, accountability and control procedures to prevent such a leak from happening again. There are only a few ways the classified information that was leaked could have been accessed. Typically in classified briefings with slides like those that were placed on Discord, the information is shared electronically. That can be done either through secure computer terminals where users gain access based on their credentials or through tablets that are distributed for briefings and collected later. If the slides need to be printed out instead, they can only be sent to secured printers that are able to handle classified documents and that keep a digital record of everyone who has requested a printout. For those with a security clearance, their handling of classified material is based largely on training and trust that they will safeguard the information. When you join the military, depending on your position, you may require a security clearance, Ryder said. And if you are working in the intelligence community, and you require a security clearance, youre going to go through the proper vetting. Ryder said each service member who obtains a clearance signs a non-disclosure agreement and is trained on the militarys strict guidelines for handling classified material. The leaks were a deliberate criminal act, a violation of those guidelines. Associated Press writers Michelle R. Smith in Dighton, Massachusetts, Nomaan Merchant, Zeke Miller and Tara Copp in Washington, Alanna Durkin Richer in Boston and Colleen Long and Darlene Superville in Dublin contributed to this report. WYOMISSING, Pa. - An alleged human trafficker is under arrest after an undercover operation led authorities to a Wyomissing hotel. Investigators say on April 12, members of the Homeland Security Investigations Allentown office contacted local law enforcement about a possible female victim of human trafficking currently staying at a hotel in Wyomissing. Members of the Berks County Human Trafficking Task Force located an advertisement for the female on a website commonly used for the sex trade. An undercover officer communicated directly with a phone number provided in the advertisement, and a conversation regarding sexual acts and pricing was had. After that, a meeting was set up. Authorities say the victim met with an undercover officer in a vehicle when the suspect, 36-year-old Terris Williams of Elmsford, Ny, contacted the victim and ordered her to get out of the car. Task Force members then made contact with Williams inside his hotel room. Inside, investigators found a large number of condoms, female lingerie, two cell phones and over $4,000 in United States currency. The suspect was found in possession of the victims state identification card inside of his bag. Williams is charged with promoting prostitution, trafficking in individuals, unlawful use of a communication facility and related offenses. He is currently in Berks County Jail unable to post $100,000 bail. READING, Pa. During the weekly meeting of the Berks County Board of Commissioners, Commissioner Michael S. Rivera highlighted the results of the Pennsylvania Aviation Economic Impact Study. The study was released about one month ago. Rivera noted that the Reading Regional Airport has a total economic impact of $77.9 million annually and that the facility is ranked within the top ten percent of all airports in Pennsylvania. "The Reading Regional Airport ranks number 12 out of 122 airports in Pennsylvania, so the airport is a great asset we have here in Berks County," Rivera said. "And we're looking to keep it that way and help move it forward." Rivera said the complete report can be found on airports website at https://readingairport.org The county took over control of the airport in Bern Township last October. Later in the meeting, a commenter attending virtually questioned if commercial air flights will ever return to the airport. Commissioner Chair Christian Y. Leinbach said it's impossible to predict anything, let alone a timeline. "There are discussions ongoing about the possible return of commercial air service," Leinbach said. "We were approached late last year by a carrier that we cannot name at this point in time. We've had discussions with them and have indicated to them we would like to see a formal proposal. We've yet to receive that." "Initially it's talking about flights between one city on the east coast and the city of Reading, so we will see," Leinbach added. HELLERTOWN, Pa. - Saucon Valley School District is defending its decision to not allow an "After School Satan Club" to meet in district facilities. The district filed a court briefing Tuesday, in response to The Satanic Temple's motion to stop Saucon Valley from prohibiting the club from meeting on school property, the district said in a news release. The after-school group falls under the umbrella of the Satanic Temple organization, which bills itself as an "alternative to religious clubs." In its response, the district says it decided to rescind the club's approval because it found out the club violated advertisement policies on social media. The Satanic Temple's advertisement on social media was misleading, the district said, and made it sound like the district was sponsoring the club, not just that the district was allowing the club to meet in school facilities. District policy says groups advertising their club must clearly communicate that the district is not sponsoring the clubs or activities. The social media postings had a "cataclysmic effect" on district operations when a North Carolina man threatened the middle school, Saucon Valley says. The threat forced the district to close schools for a day in February while authorities investigated. That's when the district learned of the club's advertising violations. Parents and community members were also misled, and the district received an "avalanche" of calls and emails, "confused and concerned that the district was sponsoring a club 'for Satan,'" the briefing says. Saucon Valley says the "repeated and persistent violation of the advertisement policies" led the superintendent to rescind the club's approval, consistent with school policy and the law. The district did say that it is reviewing its facility use policy, and once a new policy is approved, the Satanic Temple and any other organization can apply to rent district facilities, under the new restrictions. A preliminary injunction hearing is set for next week, the district said. The After School Satan Club was initially approved to meet in district facilities. The decision was rescinded eight days later, after the threat. The district said at the time that the club failed to meet all district requirements and led to major disruptions. The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed a lawsuit against the district in March, saying the district violated the First Amendment by not allowing the club to meet. BETHLEHEM, Pa. The Bethlehem Zoning Hearing Board Wednesday heard testimony on three projects, including transitional housing for homeless veterans and a specialty shop for a designer dog breed. The first item before the governing body was presented by the developer Macada Partners LLC, who plans to construct a three-story, six-unit multi-family structure at 1275 E. 4th St. Dimensional variances were required to develop the unusually shaped lot. Specifically, the developer was looking for dimensional variances related to the area of the lot. For instance, where 9,000 square feet is required, the existing lot measures 7,665 square feet; the lot width measures 67 feet, where 90 feet is required; and there is a 6-foot side yard setback where 15 feet is required. The project, developer Lewis Ronca said, was "very much in keeping with the existing neighborhood." "The objective is to provide workforce housing," Ronca added. "I'm doing my best to hopefully foster community pride in that section of East Fourth Street." The developer reiterated that the physical features of the lot prevent it from conforming with city zoning guidelines. Zoners asked about building height, elevation and traffic concerns. Ronca said the plan requires a 10-space parking lot from which residents will exit onto Mechanic Street. "It seems to be pretty much on point as far as unique physical circumstances not created by the applicant," said attorney Jim Preston. The variances were approved with the condition that the construction conforms to the plans presented to the board. French bulldog store In an appeal after the fact, Pure Light Properties LLC was asking for variances and a special exception for a property at 1201 E. Third St. The owner, Lenore Mohr, is seeking to convert a portion of the first-floor corner space into a second dwelling unit, thereby creating a total of three dwelling units. These dwelling units require dimensional variances because they measure 3,700 square feet, where the minimum tract area is 9,000 square feet. Similarly, the lot area per dwelling unit measures 1,233 square feet and requires 2,500 square feet. A variance was also sought for the size of parking spaces where 9-foot-by-18-foot spots were required, and 8-foot-by-18-foot spaces were proposed. A special exception was also needed to allow the reuse of a corner lot for a commercial retail store. Mohr said additional parking would be available on a lot she owns at 1179 Third St. The commercial space would house a store catering to specialty dog breeds, specifically French bulldogs or "Frenchies." Mohr said the changes would allow her to "uplevel the conditions of these properties." "I have a lot of hope for this area and the children of this area," she added. This second hearing of the night was again a story of a nonconforming lot that, through no fault of the owner, did not meet city requirements. The zoning hearing board voted to approve the variances and special exception, with the provision that the commercial unit does not involve selling or trading live animals. Veterans group home The third hearing of the meeting was an appeal of Jama Properties LLC to convert an existing 11,625-square-foot mixed-use structure from a personal service dance studio and one residential dwelling to a group home with 10 individuals proposed in a zone where a maximum of five individuals are permitted. Yahya Rahman, CEO of Changing Lives Center, testified about the 1512 W. Broad St. group home that would give transitional housing to homeless veterans. Rahman said the residents would be vetted through the Department of Veterans Affairs, and a staff member would be on site 24 hours a day, each working an eight-hour shift. The group home would not be a treatment center, but instead would seek to provide a 14-month education program to allow veterans to reintegrate at its end, Rahman said. "The goal of each veteran is for them to be independent and get their own homes," Rahman explained. He said the program's success rate is high at 85% to 87%. The home would offer 12 parking spaces, as well. "I think this is a great thing for our veterans," said John McGeehan, a disabled veteran. "I look forward to this, and am here to support this property." The board granted the appeal for 13 residents, subject to adherence and compliance with state and federal regulations and licensure. Hanover Apartments The last hearing scheduled for the meeting did not occur, as the meeting started late, and board members feared the hearing would exceed its 10 p.m. ending time. That hearing was an appeal from BAHX LLC for the property at 2235 W. Broad St., and was rescheduled to May 10. According to city documents, the developer wishes to construct multiple apartment buildings, known as "Hanover Apartments," where a dimensional variance is required because there are zoning limits to a 180-foot building length. In contrast, the applicant is proposing 290 feet. Additionally, a variance is necessary to allow parking on the street level of the building along West Broad Street. Parking use is proposed instead of the required commercial use on the front street level of 2235 W. Broad St. FAIRVIEW TWP., Pa. - A big wildfire is burning in the woods of Luzerne County. Crews have been fighting it since Wednesday night. It's being called the Crystal Lake fire, and it's putting up a huge plume of smoke that can be seen for miles. As of 5:30 p.m. Thursday, the fire spanned 1,700 acres and was 10% contained. Interstate 476 has been closed between I-80 and I-81. Due to dry conditions across the state, the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) said that fire is just one of many. "Pennsylvania is on fire today, and our resources are really trying to figure out how we're going to battle this," said Larry Bickel, with DCNR's Incident Response Team. They still don't have a good idea how far the fire has spread, or how it started, but they've got several crews and vehicles working to get it out. "We have three fixed-wing aircraft and one helicopter dropping retardant, trying to slow the spread of this fire," said Bickel. Crews aren't just fighting the fire from above. They're also creating a line of protection on the ground near homes. They're doing what's called "backburn," where DCNR intentionally sets fires to burn off combustible material on the ground, so it won't end up threatening homes in the nearby Glen Summit community. "We get an established anchor point, and we burn off of that. We try to get some black between the fire and us, and if we get enough black line in, the fire will have nothing else to eat," said Bickel. Bickel said he expects crews to be on-scene fighting the fire until Saturday or Sunday, but they'll stick around until it's out for good. "We'll get there with the communities and everybody else. We'll fight this together," said Bickel. The DCNR is also asking people not to burn anything outdoors right now. There is officially a burn ban in place in Pennsylvania until May 14. STROUDSBURG, Pa. - Police in part of Monroe County say four people have been arrested after drugs were sold to an undercover officer. On April 10, after communicating with an undercover police officer for nearly two months, Zachary Herbst, 26, of East Stroudsburg, sold five bags of heroin/fentanyl to an undercover officer at the Wawa on West Main Street in Stroudsburg, according to a news release from the Monroe County District Attorney's Office. In the car with Herbst was his mother, Sheila Conway, 45, of Saylorsburg, Justin Conway, 41, of Saylorsburg, and Robert Sampson, 46, homeless, according to police. The investigation into the illegal activities began in February when the Monroe County Drug Task Force became aware of Herbst making frequent trips to Paterson, New Jersey and Kensington, Pennsylvania to obtain drugs which he would bring back to Monroe County for personal use and distribution, the DA's office said. An undercover officer contacted him and began communicating with him. Herbst regularly would contact the undercover officer advising them that he was going to get drugs in Paterson or Kensington and asked the officer if they wanted to contribute money and buy some of the drugs, according to the DA's office. All four were taken into custody on April 10 and were interviewed. Investigators learned from Herbst that he and his three co-defendants returned items to Walmart that morning and got a gift card, the DA's office said. Once they had the gift card Herbst reported that he asked Sampson to sell it for him, which he did, according to the DA's office. The four of them then took that money and went to Paterson to purchase what Herbst told investigators was fentanyl, according to the news release. Herbst reported that they all used the fentanyl on the ride back from Paterson, the DA's office said. Herbst also said in his interview that the majority of the "heroin" in Monroe County right now is all fentanyl and/or Xylazine, a newer drug also referred to as Tranq, according to the DA's office. Immediately after Herbst sold the fentanyl to the undercover officer, members of the Monroe County District Attorneys Office, Criminal Investigations Division, took all four into custody, the the DA's office said. The DA's office says that while taking them into custody bundles of drugs were falling out of the vehicle. When the vehicle was searched investigators found just over four bundles of heroin/fentanyl, all bearing the same stamp of the bags Herbst sold to the officer, the DA's office said. All four defendants are currently lodged at the Monroe County Correctional Facility in lieu of bail. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for April 24 at 10 a.m. TAMAQUA, Pa. - Police in part of Schuylkill County say a bomb was found while crews were fighting a brush fire Wednesday. Tamaqua Police and the Tamaqua Fire Department were sent to a brush fire at the top of the Dutch Hill section of town near the area of Clark Street and Biddle Street shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, according to a news release from the Tamaqua Police Department. Around 10:15 p.m. Fire Chief Mark Bower from Station 4 South Ward Fire Company told police that while clearing the brush fire he found what appeared to be a homemade bomb, according to police. Two members of bomb squads arrived at the scene. The area was cleared, and crews conducted a successfully controlled detonation of the bomb, according to Tamaqua Police. Nobody was injured. Tamaqua Police along with the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources are continuing an investigation of the incident. Bill Angst is the president of the Tamaqua Baseball Association. A field is named after him. The woods where the bomb was found aren't far from the field and a playground. "I'm hoping this is a very, very isolated incident and we will never hear about it again," Angst said. Angst says he hopes police get answers soon as to who was involved and why the bomb was near a playground and baseball field. Anyone with information is asked to call the Tamaqua Police Department at 570-668-6100. LOS ANGELES, April 12 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Joe Biden signed a bill on Monday terminating the country's COVID-19 national emergency, a month earlier than the administration had planned. A leading epidemiologist said the decision adds burdens to the financially-challenged population in the United States. The new bill immediately ended the U.S. national emergency over COVID-19 enacted during the previous administration and continued through the Biden administration. Former U.S. President Donald Trump declared the national emergency over COVID-19 in March 2020, which allowed for federal funding to be freed up to states and cities for efforts including testing, vaccination, treatment, among other emergency measures. "The new change hits hard the poor population as free COVID-19 vaccines, treatments and testing which was previously covered by the government will now have to be paid by health insurance," Zhang Zuofeng, professor and chair of the Department of Epidemiology at the University of California, Los Angeles, said in an interview with Xinhua on Wednesday. "More than 5 million poor people in the United States will lose their eligibility for Medicaid which they received during the pandemic," Zhang noted. Biden signed the bill following a 68-23 pass by the U.S. Senate at the end of March, and a 220-210 vote by the U.S. House in late January. The Monday signing marked the winding down of several policies and provisions the country had put in place to combat the spread of the coronavirus, with several more, including the Title 42 immigration policy, set to end along with the country's public emergency over COVID-19 next month. The White House warned earlier this year it "would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system." The resolution will end a number of waivers for federal health programs Medicare, Medicaid and CHIP, however, many of the changes to health care regulations have become largely irrelevant as COVID-19 precautions have been relaxed, said a report of The Hill. "In 2021, nearly 30 million American people, approximately 9.2 percent of the U.S. population, did not have health insurance," Zhang told Xinhua. "The termination of the national emergency will have a huge impact on those population," he noted. Other programs affected by the end of the national emergency include mortgage forbearance at the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and requirements for home visits to evaluate eligibility for caregiver assistance by the U.S. Veteran Affairs Department, a senior official of the Biden administration was quoted by NBC News as saying. The United States is also set to put an end to its public health emergency over COVID-19 on May 11, which may institute sweeping changes across the health care system. Schuylkill County's Republican Party has decided to censure a controversial county commissioner. Party members voted this week to censure George Halcovage. A group of Schuylkill County workers is suing Halcovage, accusing him of violating sexual harassment policies. Halcovage denies the allegations. He is up for re-election in next month's GOP primary. The censure, reported by the "Republican Herald," is mostly symbolic. The workers suing Halcovage, four women, turned down a lucrative settlement offer earlier this year. The U.S. Department of Justice has already settled a separate suit against Schuylkill County. The feds say county officials retaliated against county employees. PHILADELPHIA Thieves may not have been counting on finding a mountain of change when they broke into a truck filled with $750,000 in dimes, but they still made off with a chunk of the cargo and left coins scattered around a Philadelphia parking lot, authorities said. Authorities said the thieves apparently fled with at least $100,000. It's not yet known how they carted off the mounds of dimes. The theft was reported around 6 a.m. Thursday in a parking lot on the 4300 block of Byberry Road. "They were trying to cross-load the dimes into other things," Capt. Jack Ryan, Philadelphia Police Department, told WPVI-TV. "There are dimes all over the parking lot." The tractor-trailer driver had picked up about $750,000 in dimes from the Philadelphia Mint on Wednesday, authorities said, and was planning to transport them to Florida on Thursday. It's not clear how many people may have been involved in the theft or if they knew what the truck contained. Responding police officers found hundreds of dimes scattered all over the parking lot, and authorities were still trying to determine how much money was stolen. No arrests have been made. CANBERRA, Australia (AP) A tropical cyclone nearing Australia is forecast to be the most powerful storm in eight years to hit the country, bringing wind gusts of up to 315 kilometers (196 miles) per hour as it crosses the northwest coast, meteorologists said Thursday. Cyclones are common along the sparsely populated Pilbara coast of Western Australia state and fatalities are rare, but authorities fear that Cyclone Ilsas extraordinary wind speeds could take some in its path by surprise. Ilsa reached the highest Category 5 intensity Thursday over the Indian Ocean and is expected to maintain that destructive level as it crosses the Pilbara coast by early Friday, Australias Bureau of Meteorology said. Category 5 cyclones have mean wind speeds exceeding 200 kph (124 mph) with gusts exceeding 280 kph (174 mph). They typically cause widespread destruction, the bureau said. The last Category 5 storm to cross the Australian coast was Cyclone Marcia in 2015. Marcia caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in the east coast state of Queensland. In 2019, Category 5 Cyclone Veronica did not cross the Pilbara coast, but damaged infrastructure and disrupted the regions mining and offshore gas industries. Ilsa is expected to cross the coast somewhere in a 220-kilometer (137-mile) span between the iron ore export town of Port Hedland and Wallal Downs Station, a 200,000-hectare (500,000-acre) cattle ranch to the east. Those close to where Ilsa makes landfall will experience gusts of up to 315 kph (196 mph), the bureau said. The storm's expected landfall is near the remote Pardoo Roadhouse and Tavern where manager Will Batth planned to shelter. We havent had any as strong as this in many years. This is a big one, Batth said. "Theres no point in worrying. I cant stop it. On Thursday, police closed the highway along the Pilbara coast between Port Hedland and the tourist town of Broome, 610 kilometers (380 miles) to the northeast, to prevent motorists from risking the worsening conditions. Authorities expect the North West Coastal Highway will be impassable due to flooding before Ilsa passes. Port Hedland and Broome are the largest population centers in the Pilbara region with 16,000 and 15,000 people respectively. Bidyadanga, home to around 700 people midway between Wallal Downs Station and Broome, stocked enough food and fuel by Thursday to last a week in case the community is isolated by floodwater. Bidyadanga CEO Tania Baxter said maintaining the communitys electricity would be critical to how they weather the storm. Without power, we havent got water and possibly even communications, Baxter said. So if we can maintain power supply, then well be fine. Well manage everything else that comes with it and any damage that comes. Many in the cyclones path have evacuated in recent days. In Port Hedland, from which the worlds largest bulk export port sends Australian iron ore around the globe, evacuation centers have opened to people whose homes might not withstand the storm, Mayor Peter Carter said. Everyone is on edge, Carter said. They understand that cyclones are what they are. Theyre very, very unpredictable. Long-term Port Hedland resident Julie Arif, who has experienced several cyclones, said she was concerned for those in Ilsas path. Theyll be prepared and riding it out. But it is still terrifying, absolutely terrifying, Arif said. When youre inside in a house and theres just the roar of the wind outside and thumping and banging and crashing. And cyclones happen at nighttime. You dont know what it is and its frightening. The weather bureau warned of damaging winds, flooding rain and abnormally high tides along the Pilbara coast as Ilsa passes. Many people in the Pilbara region are involved in the mining and cattle industries or are tourists taking advantage of the school vacation period that began this week. This story corrects that the most recent Category 5 cyclone to cross Australias coast was Marcia in 2015, not Yasia in 2011. A health care worker in North Carolina went under the knife to save a patient's life. The lucky recipient -- her own father. Larry Koch and his daughter, Lauren, say they've always had a close relationship, but now he'll always have a part of her. The whole experience started last summer, when the 77-year-old's kidney disease hit stage 4. Larry was told he needed a donor or he'd have to start dialysis. The news was devastating for their family. Dialysis helps remove waste from failing kidneys. The treatment does improve patients' survival rate, but it can leave them feeling lethargic and nauseous. Lauren didn't want to see her dad go through that. She knew from her experience working at UNC that a kidney transplant would be the best way to buy him more time. So for Lauren, becoming an organ donor was a real no-brainer. "It wasn't a choice for me, really. I didn't want to see him go through his final decade in life on dialysis," she said. At first, Larry was concerned about the potential complications, but Lauren assured him that progress in medical science had made the procedure perfectly safe. Their doctor says both bounced back well afterwards. Larry will have to take an anti-rejection drug for the rest of his life, but he says that's a small price to pay for more years with his family. FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) The water was rising around her car, and Amanda Valentine thought she was going to die. She had just gotten a warning on her phone about flash flooding, and now it was all around her. I called my parents like, Im going to die. Like Im going to drown. Theres no way for me to get out of this car, Valentine said. And they couldnt help me. I called 911, and they told me they couldnt help me. She eventually forced the door open and got to safety. Parts of South Florida began cleaning up Thursday after the unprecedented storm that trapped Valentine and other motorists dumped upward of 2 feet (60 centimeters) of rain in a matter of hours, caused widespread flooding, closed a key airport and turned thoroughfares into rivers. There were no immediate reports of injuries or deaths. Residents still waded through knee-high water or used canoes and kayaks to navigate the streets Thursday in Fort Lauderdale's Edgewood neighborhood, where window screen installer Dennis Vasquez towed some of his neighbors belongings on an inflatable mattress to a car on dry land. He himself lost all of his possessions when water rose chest-high in his house Wednesday night. Everything, its gone, he said in Spanish. But I will replace it. In Broward County, where rains started Monday before the heaviest rains arrived Wednesday afternoon, crews worked Thursday to clear drains and fire up pumps to clear standing water. Fort Lauderdale issued a state of emergency as flooding persisted in parts of the city. Crews worked through the night to attend rescue calls. Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport, which closed Wednesday evening, said it would not reopen until 5 a.m. Friday because of debris and flooding. Enough water had drained by early Thursday to allow people to drive on the upper level or departures road to pick up waiting passengers. But the entrance to the lower-level, or arrivals, road remained closed. Airlines were forced to cancel or change flights to and from the airport. Southwest canceled about 50 departures through Friday morning, and the number could grow, a spokeswoman said. The airline is letting customers rebook on flights to and from Miami and Palm Beach at no additional charge, she said. Frontier Airlines moved two flights from Fort Lauderdale to Miami but canceled about 15 other round trips, a spokeswoman said. Allegiant Air also canceled some flights and rerouted others to the Tampa, Orlando and Punta Gorda areas. More than 650 flights were canceled at Fort Lauderdale on Thursday, according to FlightAware. Broward County schools initially canceled classes Thursday, including after-school and extracurricular activities, after water flooded hallways and classrooms at some schools. Officials announced in the evening that schools would remain closed Friday. Service was restored on South Floridas high-speed commuter rail, Brightline, after it briefly shut down Wednesday evening. The Red Cross set up a staging area to help residents whose homes were flooded, providing them with blankets and coffee, officials said. Fort Lauderdale City Hall remained closed Thursday with ground-floor flooding and no power. A tunnel carrying U.S. Route 1 under a river and a major street in downtown Fort Lauderdale was also closed, along with some ramps to Interstate 95. Tow truck driver Keith Hickman said he saw abandoned cars floating like boats in the streets of Fort Lauderdale. There were hundreds of cars up and down here, he said. It was unbelievable. I have never seen cars bumper-boating each other and floating. And a truck would come by and the wake would push the cars into the other cars and they were just floating. Ive never seen anything like it. In the Sistrunk neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale, 74-year-old Bobbie Ponder hiked up her dress to push her bicycle the last block to Rays Market to get a money order for her internet bill, only find it flooded and closed. Bags of potato chips and Cheetos floated in a foot of water as workers tried to clean up. Ponder, who lives in a third-floor apartment, said she didnt think the flooding would be that bad until she tried to ride her bike. She was trying to keep the flooding in perspective, comparing it against tornadoes that recently hit other states, killing dozens of people. We are blessed a lot of them died, she said. In the Edgewood neighborhood, Christopher Alfonso and Tony Mandico, neighbors for 50 years, said their homes are likely total losses. That storm ... just poured down on us for hours and hours and hours, Alfonso said. Pointing to the tightly packed homes with tiny yards, he said, All this asphalt, concrete, no grass there was no place for (the water) to go. Both said the area never severely flooded until a sanitary sewer system replaced septic tanks 10 years ago, making some streets higher than others and channeling rain onto lower roads. Shawn Bhatti, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Miami, said the region received an unprecedented amount of rain. The weather service was still confirming totals, but some gauges showed up to 25 inches (63.5 centimeters) of rainfall. For context, within a six-hour period the amount that fell is about a 1 in 1,000 chance of happening within a given year, Bhatti said. So its a very historical type of event. Kozin and Frisaro both reported from Fort Lauderdale. Associated Press reporter Kathy McCormack contributed from Concord, New Hampshire. Sara Chia-Jewell, Jennifer Lim, Leo Buckley, Stephen Hoo, and Arthur Lee in Worth ( Ikin Yum) In Joanne Laus play Worth, the Yeung siblings (two brothers and two sisters) and the elder sisters teenage son gather together for the first time in 18 years prior to their mother/grandmothers funeral. It soon becomes apparent that all are deeply damaged and, on learning that their mother died with only 44 to her name and a house about to be repossessed, set out on a treasure hunt for the hidden cash. In the process, they relive the trauma they experienced in childhood and beyond and compete over who suffered the worst physical and emotional abuse at the hands of their Chinese immigrant single mother. Set in a cluttered house in a rapidly gentrifying part of east London, Moi Trans set design is the most believable aspect of the production, featuring a front room with an unloved feel filled with outdated appliances and dusty bric-a-brac. We first meet Anthony (Leo Buckley), an absolute horror of a spoilt teenager who treats his mother with utter disdain, and on meeting his uncles and aunt, it becomes clear where he gets it from. Former neuroscientist and comedian Laus writing feels like a particularly shouty episode of EastEnders with a touch of Alan Ayckbourn (Im not a racist, proclaims the self-righteous Ted. I subscribe to The Guardian!). Featuring intervals of stylised movement and emphatic red lighting to mark important moments, Mingyu Lins cartoonish production results in variable performances as each of the five actors appear to be acting in different plays perhaps the intention is to emphasise how different siblings can be, but such disparity makes for a disjointed production. The women are, on the whole, more believable than the men and Jennifer Lim gives the least showy performance as elder daughter Penny and mother of Anthony, who tries to act as peacemaker. In contrast, Arthur Lee is particularly over-the-top as the flashy, gangster-ish Jacob, a thoroughly nasty drug dealer and domestic abuser recently released from prison. As Ted, the smug, prissy dentist, Stephen Hoo seems to have stepped out of a sitcom of old (its also hard to believe that hes supposed to be younger than Jacob). The cast member who shows the most precision and comic flair is Sara Chia-Jewell as youngest sibling May, who escaped to America where she found Jesus and has been ordained as a minister and exudes a condescending air of martyrdom. New Earth Theatre was last seen at the Arcola with The Apology, a tribute to the Korean comfort women used as sex slaves by the Japanese military during World War II that wasnt entirely successful theatrically but was sensitively handled and didnt rely on gruesome details. This offering has no sense of restraint, throwing as much misery at the audience as it can muster. May deems luggage on wheels to be immoral because people should feel the weight of their own belongings and the weight of this familys problems is too heavy to handle this play might be worth something if it were approached with nuance and less gratuitous grimness. Fuel thirsty Hungary praises Belarus for reliable transit of oil 13 April, 11:34 AM Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto (Photo:Zoltan Kovacs/Twitter) Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto has praised Belarus, calling the Russian puppet dictatorship a reliable transit partner in oil deliveries, Belarusian state news agency BELTA reported on April 12. Szijjarto said that energy supply is a matter of exceptional importance for Hungary while meeting in the Hungarian capital Budapest with his Belarusian counterpart, Sergei Aleinik who has not been sanctioned by the European Union. So far, Belarus has been a reliable and amiable transit partner of Hungary, Szijjarto said, praising the authoritarian state and military ally of Russia. Video of day Belarus (has) guaranteed uninterrupted oil deliveries from the country to Hungary. And today the minister promised that we can count on safe and uninterrupted deliveries in the future. And I offered my gratitude for that. Szijjarto cited statements by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) that the next heating season would be even more difficult for Europe. IAEA experts are saying more and more that next winter in Europe will entail even greater challenges than the period weve already gone through, he said. We must talk about the safety of Hungarys energy supply. From this point of view, Belarus is a very important country. At the same meeting, Aleinik called for an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine and the start of negotiations. Were bringing the voice of Ukraine to the world. Support us with a one-time donation, or become a Patron! Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News Zhengzhou City Brand Slogan Released BEIJING, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The 16th China Brand Festival Women's Forum, themed "Bloom Your Beauty", was hosted by TopBrand Union and sponsored by the Zhengzhou Municipal Government at the Zhengzhou International Convention and Exhibition Center from April 7th to 9th, 2023. Over 2,000 entrepreneurs, experts, and political leaders from across the country gathered in Zhengzhou for the event. Thousands of people swarmed into the conference center and the event has received rave reviews. Brand building has become a key solution for Chinese entrepreneurs to better cope with risks and challenges. In recent years, the influence of women entrepreneurs has risen unprecedentedly in China, with many excellent female role models emerging across various industries. Opening Ceremony of 2023 China Brand Festival Women's Forum GU Xiulian, former vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee (NPCSC) and director of the China Committee for the Care of the Next Generation, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. She pointed out that China Brand Festival Women's Forum has made great contributions to promoting brand building in China as a two-way communication platform for brand women and female brands. It has also created a broad platform for excellent women to network and showcase themselves. Women shall seize the opportunity of the rise of "Her Power", and further expand the width and depth of the concept of "Her Power" thanks to the China Brand Festival Women's Forum. Women shall be committed to promoting brands with high quality, and contribute women's strengths to the building of powerful brands. HE Xiong, deputy secretary of Zhengzhou Municipal Committee and mayor of the City Zhengzhou, said in his speech that gathering outstanding women representatives from all walks of life to Zhengzhou is a solid step towards high-quality development and an effective measure to gather "Her Energy" and showcase "Her Style". He sincerely invited everyone to "take a walk in the province of Henan to understand China better" and to "take a walk in the city of Zhengzhou to understand ancient China better ". He also hoped to show the diligent and dedicated female style with the event. Vice Mayor MA Zhifeng promoted the city of Henan by inviting guests to get to know more about Zhengzhou and invest in it. Story continues On behalf of TopBrand Union, WANG Yong, chairman of the company and founder and secretary general of the China Brand Festival, officially released the city brand slogan "Come to Zhengzhou if You Have Kung Fu". This slogan includes four connotations: the world-renowned "Shaolin Kung Fu", the "Soft Kung Fu" for citizens, the "Real Kung Fu" for entrepreneurship, and the "Slow Kung Fu" for leisure and relaxation. At this year's Women's Forum, the "2023 China Top 10 Brand Women" was officially unveiled. XU Xiao, chairman of Kaifeng City Stacked City Construction and Development Co., Ltd, DU Lan, senior vice president of KDDI, DAI Kangwei, general manager of Beiqi New Energy, XUE Rong, party secretary and president of Zhengzhou Yuanfang Group, were awarded as "2023 China's Top 10 Brand Women". At the same time, the China Brand Women's Club was launched and established. WANG Yong, Chairman of the TopBrand Union and initiator of China Brand Festival, releases the ranking of "Top 500 Chinese Brand Women 2023 In addition, DONG Mingzhu, Chairman and President of Gree Electric, LIU Yang, an astronaut, and ZHANG Guimei, Principal of Lijiang Huaping Girls' Senior High School, were listed in the top three of "Top 500 Chinese Brand Women 2023". Taobao, Douyin, Chow Tai Fook, Jingdong, and Meituan are the top five of the "Top 50 Brands Preferred by Women 2023". As one of the most influential brand activities introduced to Zhengzhou this year, the forum gathered multiple participants of "Her Economy". SUN Qixiang, LIU Nanning, ZHANG Qi and 223 other honored guests, covering well-known women entrepreneurs, brand women, women economists, academicians, experts and scholars, investors, influencers, took the stage to share their insights, showcased the charm of contemporary brand women, helped Zhengzhou polish the city's business card, and promoted the economic recovery and development after the epidemic. In addition to that, 16 parallel forums and 2,000 square meters of exhibitions were successfully held. Media contact: Zhu Ying zhuying@brandcn.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/2023-china-brand-festival-womens-forum-successfully-held-301796539.html SOURCE TopBrand Union (Beijing) Consulting Company Vantage Market Research, The North Star for the Working World WASHINGTON, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global 3D Printing Materials Market is valued at USD 2.3 Billion in 2022 and is projected to reach a value of USD 11.53 Billion by 2030 at a CAGR (Compound Annual Growth Rate) of 25.9% over the forecast period 2023-2030. Market Overview The use of manufacturing processes or 3D printing has altered many industrial processes, particularly in the manufacturing sector. Cloud computing's unrivalled ability to accelerate time to market, reduce prices, and customize unique parts encourages innovation and the development of ground-breaking technologies. Due to the expanding spectrum of 3D printing applications across numerous industries, the market for 3D Printing Materials & equipment will grow throughout the projected period. We forecast that the healthcare in 3D Printing Materials market sales will account for more than 35% of total sales by 2030. Healthcare is one of the major sectors with the most opportunity for additive manufacturing, as the COVID-19 pandemic situation illustrates. Businesses are creating face shields, N95 masks, and other gear to aid doctors, healthcare professionals, and customers find the new coronavirus. Well-known businesses like Stratasys Inc., 3D Systems Corporation, and numerous start-ups manufacture face masks. Get Access to Free Sample Research Report with Latest Industry Insights @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/3d-printing-materials-market-2066/request-sample Market Dynamics Favourable Government Initiatives Support Market Expansion Due to the vast capabilities that 3D printing technology possesses in various end-use businesses, governments from different parts of the world are taking the initiative and proposing plans and policies to enhance the market demand for 3D Printing Materials in their respective cities. This will increase GDP and develop and create chances for the market. The government is supporting the growth of numerous market players in the 3D printing material market in both the public and commercial spheres. To establish India as a centre for design and development on a global scale, the Indian government has unveiled a national advanced manufacturing strategy. Story continues Growing Demand for Polymers in 3D Printing to drive the Market Growth Prototypes are generated more quickly and durably with 3D printing technologies. One of the main uses of 3D printing is for prototyping. Polymer is the most often used substance among the many 3D Printing Materials. Rising consumer (home, clothing, and amusement) and industry (aerospace, healthcare, automobile, and electronics) items are made from polymers. Biopolymer-based developments keep opening new opportunities for the manufacturing sector. Many businesses have adopted 3d printers (AM) internally due to the reduction and composting of polymer 3D printing ingredients. Top Players in the Global 3D Printing Materials Market Hogans (Sweden) 3D Systems Corporation (U.S.) General Electric (U.S.) Arkema S.A. (France) Royal DSM N.V (Heerlen, Netherlands) Stratasys Ltd. (Minnesota, U.S.) Evonik Industries AG (Germany) EOS GmbH (Germany) Sandvik AB (Sweden) ExOne (U.S.) Arcam AB (Sweden) Materialise NV (Belgium) CRP Technology S.R.L. (Italy) Envisiontec Inc. (U.S.) Budget Limitation? Contact us for Special Discount and Pricing Top Trends in the Global 3D Printing Materials Market One trend that Vantage Market Research (VMR) expects to see in the 3D Printing Materials industry is the growing demand for Innovation and Growth In 3d Printing Technology and Materials. With the aid of R&D, several materials, including copper, silicon, Ti64 (low-oxygen titanium powder), and many others, have been produced by various producers to improve the strength and effectiveness of materials. With the aid of innovations in 3D printing, many automotive sectors are prioritizing growth plans to set themselves apart in the future. Another trend that VMR predicts will continue in the 3D Printing Materials industry is its increasing trend in the automotive sector. The manufacturing of scaled models for testing in the automotive sector made heavy use of 3D Printing Materials. Also, they are employed for parts like blowers, front bumpers, climate control ducting, suspension wishbones, dashboard interfaces, brackets for installing alternators, battery covers, etc. Prefabrication is done with 3D Printing Materials by auto original equipment manufacturers. Top Report Findings Based on the Type, most of the 3D Printing Materials market's revenue is controlled by the Ceramics category. The ability of materials to be formed into desired shapes from a mixture of powder with or without binders and other additives using conventional technologies such as injection moulding die pressing, tape casting, and gel casting has fuelled the growth of the ceramic segment globally. The popularization of ceramic 3D printing ingredients to create 3D-printed clay vases, bowls, and figurines are major factors that contributed to this segment's high growth. Based on Form, the Filament category controls most of the 3D Printing Materials market's revenue. The usage of filaments in the production of props, rigs & fasteners, toys, assembly parts, and educational models, together with their unique features and high melting degrees, are primarily responsible for this market segment's rapid growth. Based on Technology, the SLS category controls most of the 3D Printing Materials market's revenue. One of the key devices on the market for materials for three-dimensional printing that uses powder bed fusion is selective laser sintering (SLS). The most popular material used to produce SLS items is thermoplastic powder. Nylon is one of the more popular plastics used to print 3D items utilizing this technology. Since SLS also uses a heat energy source to encourage the fusion of powder particles, it is nearly identical to direct metal laser sintering (DMLS). Based on Application, the Prototyping category controls most of the 3D Printing Materials market's revenue. Prototyping applications mostly use 3D Printing Materials to display how the 3D-printed object appears. The prototyping application is very helpful in promoting the usage of 3D printing in various industries, including construction, medical, aerospace & military, and automobiles. Based on End Users, the Healthcare category controls most of the 3D Printing Materials market's revenue. The rising adoption of 3D printing technology for uses ranging from minimally invasive conceptual models to 3D-printed vascular walls and bioreactors, as well as the use of 3D printed surgical tools and techniques to improve the clinical experience during surgery, are primarily responsible for the segment's rapid growth. These factors also contribute to the market's rapid expansion. Buy this 3D Printing Materials Industry Premium Research Report with Discount | Immediate Delivery @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/buy-now/3d-printing-materials-market-2066/0 Recent Developments in the Global 3D Printing Materials Market In August 2022 , Sandvik made a significant move in the 3D printing materials market by acquiring Sphinx Tools Ltd and P. Rieger Werkzeugfabrik AG, two Swiss-based companies. This acquisition adds to Sandvik's already impressive portfolio of 3D printing materials and technologies. In July 2022, when Markforged released their first high-temperature printing polymer. This thermoplastic material, known as ULTEM Filament, has excellent flame, smoke, and toxicity properties, making it suitable for production aerospace applications. With this release, Markforged is expanding their CFR technology into a new realm of parts, and the availability of ULTEM Filament in this new domain is expected to be a game-changer in the market. In 2020 , a hospital in Hubei province received 15 quarantine wards from Win sun, a Shanghai-based company, as a gift for COVID-19 patients. The wards were constructed using 3D printing technology. Each ward is 10 square meters in size and was constructed for a starting price of about CNY 20,000. In 2020, the People's Republic of China's Ministry of Finance published a notice outlining strategies for promoting financial incentives for new electric vehicles. Healthcare Category from among the End Users Segment in 3D Printing Materials Market Expected to Generate a good amount Revenue in Forecast Period For better understanding, based on the End User, the 3D Printing Materials market is divided into Aerospace & Defense, Healthcare, Automotive, Consumer Goods, Construction and Other End Users. The Healthcare market was the largest by application and is anticipated to hold the top spot during the projected period. The market is expected to rise due to the expanding use of materials developed for 3D printing for healthcare applications, such as knee and hip rehabilitation implants, surgical instruments, and dentures. Additionally, doctors' and surgeons' increased usage of 3D-printed surgical models to carry out sophisticated surgical procedures would further spur market growth. On the other hand, the Aerospace & Defense category is anticipated to grow significantly. A unique necessity for components that are light and strong and have accurate and precise designs is found in the aerospace and defines industries. Because they can sustain high temperatures and resist wear and tear, metals like stainless steel, aluminium, and titanium are widely utilized in this business. As a result, one of the key factors propelling the growth of the 3D Printing Materials market in the aerospace & military end-use industry is the necessity for high-strength materials to construct complicated geometries. North America Region in 3D Printing Materials Market to Generate Considerable Revenue during the Forecast Timelines The North American region is expected to dominate the 3D Printing Materials market due to the widespread use of and production of goods using 3D printing technology. The rising demand from end-use sectors in North America, including aerospace & defines, health & dentistry, and automobile, also drives the marketplace in the area. Further industry growth is anticipated due to the administrations' huge support of 3D printed goods over traditional goods and the presence of important businesses in the area. The Asia-Pacific region is anticipated to grow at the fastest rate coming years. Asia-Pacific consumers acknowledge that eating packaged food helps them save time and satisfy their appetites. China produces the most 3D Printing Materials globally, accounting for the largest 3D Printing Materials exports. The market for 3D Printing Materials is anticipated to expand due to changing Chinese regulatory dynamics and a rising desire for natural alternatives. Browse market data Tables and Figures spread through 149 Pages and in-depth TOC on 3D Printing Materials Market Forecast Report (2023-2030). Global 3D Printing Materials Market Segmentation By Type Plastics Metals Ceramics Other Types By Form Powder Filament Liquid By Technology FDM SLS SLA DMLS Other Technologies By Application Prototyping Manufacturing Other Applications By End-use Industry Aerospace & Defense Healthcare Automotive Consumer Goods Construction Other End Uses By Region North America United States Canada Mexico Europe Germany UK France Italy Spain Rest of Europe Asia Pacific China Japan India South Korea South-East Asia Rest of Asia Pacific Latin America Brazil Argentina Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa GCC Countries South Africa Rest of MEA Read Full Report with TOC @ https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/3d-printing-materials-market-2066 Scope of the Report: Report Attributes Details Market Size in 2022 USD 2.3 Billion Revenue Forecast by 2030 USD 11.53 Billion CAGR 25.9% from 2023 to 2030 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2030 Key Players Hogans, 3D Systems Corporation, General Electric, Arkema S.A., Royal DSM N.V, Stratasys Ltd., Evonik Industries AG 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/3d-printing-materials-market-2066/request-sample Key Questions Answered in 3D Printing Materials Market Report What are the current market trends, drivers, challenges, and opportunities in the 3D Printing Materials Market? What are the key factors that are shaping the 3D Printing Materials Market, and how are they expected to evolve over the forecast period? What are the different types of 3D Printing Materials available in the market, and what are their properties, advantages, and disadvantages? What are the different applications of 3D Printing Materials, and which application segments are expected to experience the highest growth in the coming years? Who are the key players operating in the 3D Printing Materials Market, and what are their market share, product portfolio, and strategic initiatives? What are the different marketing strategies adopted by the players in the 3D Printing Materials Market to expand their customer base and increase their market share? What are the different distribution channels used by the players in the 3D Printing Materials Market, and how are they evolving over time? What are the different regions and countries that are driving the growth of the 3D Printing Materials Market, and what are the factors contributing to their growth? Browse More Reports from Vantage Library: Top Companies in 3D Printing Materials Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://v-mr.biz/3d-printing-materials-market Cathode Materials Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/cathode-materials-market-2063 3D TSV Packages Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/3d-tsv-packages-market-2004 Aerospace Materials Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/aerospace-materials-market-1963 Roofing Materials Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/roofing-materials-market-1808 Metamaterials Market - Global Industry Assessment & Forecast: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/industry-report/metamaterials-market-2056 About Vantage Market Research: We, at Vantage Market Research, provide quantified B2B high quality research on more than 20,000 emerging markets, in turn, helping our clients map out constellation of opportunities for their businesses. We, as a competitive intelligence market research and consulting firm provide end to end solutions to our client enterprises to meet their crucial business objectives. Our clientele base spans across 70% of Global Fortune 500 companies. Follow Us on: LinkedIn | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube Contact us Eric Kunz 6218 Georgia Avenue NW Ste 1 - 564 Washington DC 20011-5125 United States Tel: +1 202 380 9727 Email: sales@vantagemarketresearch.com Website: https://www.vantagemarketresearch.com/ Latest Vantage Market Research Press Releases Latest Vantage Market Research Blog Vantage Market Research All Reports Blog: A refreshing earthy smell hung in the air of a sunlit studio on Third Street in downtown Winona. Sitting in front of her pottery wheel at Island City Clayspace on a recent afternoon, local artist Anne Plummer was hard at work on her latest creation. Surrounded by beautiful pots and sculptures, Plummer has spent many of her evenings sitting at the wheel. The vibrant colors and unique creations in her studio are a testament to her level of artistic experience and talent. But that talent certainly didnt develop overnight. Many years of her life have been dedicated to pottery and art. Plummers journey began when she was young, spending much of her childhood painting with her mother. Together, they would create oil paintings of the landscape as they sat outside, admiring the beautiful scenery of Rhode Island. Eventually, it came time for Plummer to leave the nest and as a starving artist, she had big dreams. But, straight out of high school, she lacked the means to make these dreams a reality. So she decided to join the United States Air Force. I was sort of rebellious and my father didnt want to send me to art school, Plummer said. I said ... Ill pay with my service. Ill get the GI bill to go to art school. After serving in the Air Force for a few years, Plummer landed in Provincetown, Massachusetts, where she worked as a carpenters assistant until she was introduced to pottery. In her early 20s in the 70s, Plummer was part of the flower child artistic movement, and Provincetown was the perfect spot for her to sell her pottery to tourists until she went to art school in Rhode Island. After completing her bachelors degree, Plummer made her way to California where she acquired her Master of Fine Arts degree and spent eight years in Los Angeles sculpting and creating pottery. Eventually, she made her way to Winona, where she now spends her time with her husband and son when shes not at Island City Clayspace working on her projects or hosting workshops for the community. Plummer can also be found at the farmers market at the East End Recreation Center in the winter and Levee Park in the summer, where she sells a variety of artistic work. It was Rumi, the great 13th-Century mystic poet, who wrote, Do not feel lonely, the entire universe is inside you. That universe, centuries later, is inside Margaret Noodin. Poetry, the Mequon resident said, is a simple invisible art form that takes shapes in sound and sinks into our hearts. These invisible ties; that resonance of beating hearts; that connectivity of time and space will find its way to the Beaver Dam Community Library. On Friday, April 14, there will be an evening of poetry with Noodin, a Professor of English and American Indian Studies at UW-Milwaukee. There will be a reception with light refreshments starting at 5:30 p.m. The poetry reading will begin at 6 p.m. with a Q&A after the reading. Attendees can enter a drawing for copies of Noodins poetry books. The evening will be one of bilingual poetry. Noodin is a US citizen with Ojibwe, Irish, and French ancestry. My parents recall me telling stories to anyone who would listen at a very young age, Noodin recalls, and I have always thought of poems as the smallest stories. Rumi wrote, Raise your words, not voice. It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder. Always one to play with words, the poets that spoke to Noodin early on were many. Rumi spoke to her. So did Emily Dickinson, Gertrude Stein, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Celan, and others. Today, contemporary poets like Ocean Vuong, Keith Taylor, Eileen Myles, Meg Day, and others inspire her. I write every poem, Noodin said, in response to something Ive learned, wish to teach, am delighted by, or am struggling to understand. She said, I never expect them to appear the same way to readers after theyve rippled away from me and become part of the wider world. Her world is both vast and entirely her own. We are all, after all, humans, and yet, wholly unique. Common themes in her poetry are water, birds, fish, and trees because she wants to listen to them; understand them; and know the web they weave in the place she calls home. She, of course, is a thread in that web. They are some of the beings most common in the Great Lakes and I am always seeking to better recognize the cycles that hold us all in place, she said. Threads will further be woven at Noolins upcoming reading. A community will come together, sharing small stories. As Rumi wrote, Words are a pretext. It is the inner bond that draws one person to another, not words. Though, words help. The Beaver Dam Unified School District Board of Education unanimously approved an architectural firm on Monday to develop plans for building changes. This falls within the districts five-year plan which may affect two elementary schools as well as Beaver Dam Middle School. The board chose the administrations recommendation of Plunkett Raysich Architects for the projects included in the plan. Under the plan, the district will convert Wilson Elementary School into an early childhood center, which could serve up to 120 children from infants to 4-year-olds in need of childcare. In addition, Washington Elementary School would have an addition for the influx of Wilson Elementary School students. There would also be a possibility of a middle school to replace the 100-year-old Beaver Dam Middle School. Director of Business Service Anne-Marie Malkovich said that part of the plan is approving an architectural firm as well as a construction management service to move forward on the plan. Proposals were completed on March 27 with two finalists chosen from six bids. The second firm that was selected as a finalist was Somerville Architects and Engineers of Green Bay. Both those firms were highly qualified with extensive K-12 experience, Malkovich said. The two primary reasons going for PRA were cost and the districts previous experience with PRA. They provided cost based on new construction as well as renovation and additions, Malkovich said. As far as new construction goes within the range that we would be looking for if we did move forward with a new middle school, both firms fees were actually identical. But, when you looked at the fees for doing renovations and additions, PRA offered lower rates for that. Representatives from PRA have worked on the renovations at Beaver Dam Middle School and Jefferson Elementary School, Malkovich said. Malkovich adds that Plunkett Raysich was also selected because of positive experiences in previous work with the district, and the specific team who would be working on this project. Some of that team worked with us on the high school ... the renovations and additions we did there, Malkovich says. And then this particular group team worked with us on Jefferson. Wilson will remain unchanged for the 2023-2024 school year. In the fall of next year, there will be no new kindergarten and the district will begin offering infant and toddler childcare. In the fall of 2025, the remaining grades will transition to Washington Elementary and Wilsons full use will shift to support early learning and childcare needs. Beaver Dam Middle School hosts fine arts night BDMS fine arts1.jpg BDMS fine arts2.jpg BDMS fine arts3.jpg BDMS fine arts4.jpg BDMS fine arts5.jpg BDMS fine arts6.jpg BDMS fine arts7.jpg BDMS fine arts8.jpg BDMS fine arts9.jpg BDMS fine arts10.jpg BDMS fine arts11.jpg A plot on the east side of Wisconsin Dells may be a Kwik Trip now, but the site has a deep history with the city and the Blumberg family. The location is the former site of the Schofield Hotel and Cottages, which were opened by Robert Schofield, a former United States (Union) colonel during the Civil War. Schofield settled in Kilbourn (now Wisconsin Dells) during the 1870s and opened the lodging facility, which was described by a 1913 Milwaukee publication as the most modern and popular hotel at the Dells. The Milwaukee publication advertising the hotel and cottages with an apparent typographical error in the name is now on display at the Dells Country Historical Society. The Quinn family purchased the hotel in the 1960s and renamed it Indian Trail Motel, which stood at the site prior to the current gas station. Marc Blumberg and his son, Nathaniel, who is a music artist in Wisconsin Dells, talked about the history of Robert Schofield at the Kilbourn Public Library on March 16. Schofield was Marcs great-great-grandfather. According to an obituary for Schofield, the Schofield Hotel and Cottages were one of the most popular resort hotels at the Dells. The Milwaukee publication indicated that it sat on a 24-acre plot. A circa-1910 edition of the Kilbourn newspaper said that Lester Niebuhr owned the property after the colonel before selling it to James Quinn of Milwaukee. Marc Blumberg said that Schofield initially was from New York and lived in Brattleboro, Vermont, when he enlisted in the Union army in 1861 as part of the 1st Vermont Cavalry Regiment. He served in four other positions in combat prior to becoming a colonel, including a promotion to major in the famous Battle of Gettysburg in Virginia. The obituary indicated that Schofield was born on Dec. 22, 1837, in New York. He died in Kilbourn on May 22, 1918. He led a cavalry charge against a Texas Regiment behind a stone wall, said Blumberg regarding his great-great grandfathers experience in the July 1863 battle. He had his horse killed from under him and was wounded twice. Schofield also had a horse killed from under him during a battle at Hagerstown, Maryland, and was shot in his left eye, causing blindness. A bayonet also went through his left thigh and he was captured by the Confederate Army. It was his second capture during the war and he was sent to Libby Prison, a Confederate penitentiary in Richmond, Virginia, each time. Its a miracle he ever survived all that, said Blumberg, adding that Schofield did not receive medical attention for the bayonet injury for three days following the incident. He had quite a lot of wounds. The brim of Schofields hat was also shot off during a battle in the war. Blumberg said that if Schofields head was in a slightly different position, he wouldnt be here and I wouldnt be here. Schofields sister, Maria, lived in Kilbourn during the mid-to-late 1800s, and he came to the area following the war, where he met his wife, Josephine. She was the daughter of Alanson Holly, the first settler in Kilbourn. The couple was married in Kilbourn on Nov. 25, 1867, moved to Chicago, and owned a grocery store in the city prior to the Great Chicago Fire of 1871. When the time came for them to leave, he took his military cape, which was wool, and put the family in the back of a buggy and covered them with the wool cape, said Blumberg. He just took bucket after bucket of water and just doused them. The wagon, the cape, everything. He hopped up in the buggy seat and took off through the flames. Indian Trail Motel stood at the site from 1966 to 2020, according to Paul Quinn, the son of former owners James and Christine Quinn. Paul Quinn said some of the cottages from the former Schofield facility remained during the time Indian Trail was open and that his family added some lodging rooms during their time as owners. He added that the former Schofield hotel became the Quinns family home in 1969. The former hotel was demolished in 2020. Legendary fund manager Li Lu (who Charlie Munger backed) once said, 'The biggest investment risk is not the volatility of prices, but whether you will suffer a permanent loss of capital.' It's only natural to consider a company's balance sheet when you examine how risky it is, since debt is often involved when a business collapses. We note that Illinois Tool Works Inc. (NYSE:ITW) does have debt on its balance sheet. But is this debt a concern to shareholders? Why Does Debt Bring Risk? Debt assists a business until the business has trouble paying it off, either with new capital or with free cash flow. If things get really bad, the lenders can take control of the business. However, a more common (but still painful) scenario is that it has to raise new equity capital at a low price, thus permanently diluting shareholders. By replacing dilution, though, debt can be an extremely good tool for businesses that need capital to invest in growth at high rates of return. The first thing to do when considering how much debt a business uses is to look at its cash and debt together. Check out our latest analysis for Illinois Tool Works What Is Illinois Tool Works's Net Debt? As you can see below, Illinois Tool Works had US$7.76b of debt, at December 2022, which is about the same as the year before. You can click the chart for greater detail. However, it does have US$708.0m in cash offsetting this, leading to net debt of about US$7.06b. How Healthy Is Illinois Tool Works' Balance Sheet? The latest balance sheet data shows that Illinois Tool Works had liabilities of US$4.46b due within a year, and liabilities of US$7.87b falling due after that. On the other hand, it had cash of US$708.0m and US$3.27b worth of receivables due within a year. So its liabilities total US$8.35b more than the combination of its cash and short-term receivables. Given Illinois Tool Works has a humongous market capitalization of US$70.8b, it's hard to believe these liabilities pose much threat. Having said that, it's clear that we should continue to monitor its balance sheet, lest it change for the worse. Story continues In order to size up a company's debt relative to its earnings, we calculate its net debt divided by its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) and its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) divided by its interest expense (its interest cover). Thus we consider debt relative to earnings both with and without depreciation and amortization expenses. Illinois Tool Works's net debt to EBITDA ratio of about 1.7 suggests only moderate use of debt. And its commanding EBIT of 21.2 times its interest expense, implies the debt load is as light as a peacock feather. Fortunately, Illinois Tool Works grew its EBIT by 9.5% in the last year, making that debt load look even more manageable. When analysing debt levels, the balance sheet is the obvious place to start. But it is future earnings, more than anything, that will determine Illinois Tool Works's ability to maintain a healthy balance sheet going forward. So if you're focused on the future you can check out this free report showing analyst profit forecasts. Finally, while the tax-man may adore accounting profits, lenders only accept cold hard cash. So it's worth checking how much of that EBIT is backed by free cash flow. During the last three years, Illinois Tool Works produced sturdy free cash flow equating to 66% of its EBIT, about what we'd expect. This free cash flow puts the company in a good position to pay down debt, when appropriate. Our View The good news is that Illinois Tool Works's demonstrated ability to cover its interest expense with its EBIT delights us like a fluffy puppy does a toddler. And that's just the beginning of the good news since its conversion of EBIT to free cash flow is also very heartening. When we consider the range of factors above, it looks like Illinois Tool Works is pretty sensible with its use of debt. That means they are taking on a bit more risk, in the hope of boosting shareholder returns. The balance sheet is clearly the area to focus on when you are analysing debt. But ultimately, every company can contain risks that exist outside of the balance sheet. These risks can be hard to spot. Every company has them, and we've spotted 1 warning sign for Illinois Tool Works you should know about. Of course, if you're the type of investor who prefers buying stocks without the burden of debt, then don't hesitate to discover our exclusive list of net cash growth stocks, today. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here In 1850, William Stewart, James Coddington and John Green started Stewarts Settlement, south of Mauston. Later that same year, Suldal community began when 10 Norwegian families settled west of Mauston, in an area that became known as Norwegian Gap. It was common for families emigrating from Norway to first land in Chicago. From there, traveling by foot to Dane County, many migrated to what became Juneau County. Each adult carrying any belongings they brought plus a child or two. They found plenty of work, logging and mill jobs, plus, each helped the other. The community called Suldal is located in Lindina. It was part of the Norwegian Settlement that ran up the valley to Elroy and was centered on the East Lemonweir Lutheran Church. Suldal was named after a Norwegian town of the same name. Hjalmer Holand wrote in 1908, all the blue-tinted hills south of Camp Douglas, New Lisbon and Mauston are crawling with Norwegians. Might I add, the valleys were too! In 1898, Theodore O. Felland opened the short-lived Suldal post office to serve the Norwegian Gap community. The office closed in less than five years. At Suldal Four Corner intersection location with Johnson Road, a small village grew. A cheese factory stood on the southwest corner, a feed mill on the northwest corner. A store was across the road on the southeast corner. Ole Johnson managed the store. Gunder Tvedt, Knute Olson and John L. Johnson were assigned to carry the mail from town to the store. Just south of the village was the Plymouth Lutheran Church which had its beginning in 1896. A new church was built in 1897. Up until 1921, four services were conducted in English, and 22 in Norwegian. This became a concern to some of the congregation, so a resolution was adopted. The pastor may use as much English as he desires after we have had the Norwegian services we desire! Blackstone Inc. (NYSE:BX Get Rating) major shareholder Holdings L.P. Blackstone III sold 34,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Monday, April 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.15, for a total value of $1,025,100.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 9,808,228 shares of the companys stock, valued at $295,718,074.20. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. Major shareholders that own 10% or more of a companys shares are required to disclose their transactions with the SEC. Holdings L.P. Blackstone III also recently made the following trade(s): Get Blackstone alerts: On Friday, March 31st, Holdings L.P. Blackstone III purchased 10,869,566 shares of Blackstone stock. The stock was bought at an average cost of $1.38 per share, for a total transaction of $15,000,001.08. On Wednesday, March 29th, Holdings L.P. Blackstone III bought 27,082 shares of Blackstone stock. The shares were acquired at an average cost of $47.11 per share, for a total transaction of $1,275,833.02. On Monday, March 27th, Holdings L.P. Blackstone III purchased 53,413 shares of Blackstone stock. The shares were purchased at an average price of $45.73 per share, for a total transaction of $2,442,576.49. On Friday, March 10th, Holdings L.P. Blackstone III sold 99,889,464 shares of Blackstone stock. The shares were sold at an average price of $12.00, for a total value of $1,198,673,568.00. On Thursday, January 26th, Holdings L.P. Blackstone III sold 205,500 shares of Blackstone stock. The stock was sold at an average price of $33.00, for a total value of $6,781,500.00. Blackstone Stock Performance BX stock traded down $0.79 during trading on Wednesday, reaching $82.61. 3,489,757 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,072,021. The company has a market capitalization of $58.35 billion, a P/E ratio of 34.86, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.83 and a beta of 1.50. The company has a current ratio of 0.97, a quick ratio of 0.97 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69. Blackstone Inc. has a twelve month low of $71.72 and a twelve month high of $126.80. The stock has a 50 day simple moving average of $88.54 and a 200-day simple moving average of $86.80. Blackstone Increases Dividend Blackstone ( NYSE:BX Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The asset manager reported $1.07 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.95 by $0.12. The business had revenue of $1.70 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $2.62 billion. Blackstone had a net margin of 20.52% and a return on equity of 19.43%. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.71 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts anticipate that Blackstone Inc. will post 4.62 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 13th. Stockholders of record on Monday, February 6th were issued a $0.91 dividend. This is a positive change from Blackstones previous quarterly dividend of $0.90. The ex-dividend date was Friday, February 3rd. This represents a $3.64 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.41%. Blackstones payout ratio is 153.59%. Analyst Ratings Changes A number of equities analysts have recently weighed in on BX shares. Credit Suisse Group cut their price target on Blackstone from $69.50 to $69.00 and set an underperform rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Morgan Stanley upped their target price on Blackstone from $110.00 to $115.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Bank of America decreased their target price on Blackstone from $115.00 to $98.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. The Goldman Sachs Group boosted their price target on Blackstone from $86.00 to $100.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Barclays upped their price objective on Blackstone from $86.00 to $100.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Friday, January 27th. Two analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have issued a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to data from MarketBeat.com, Blackstone presently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $108.79. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Blackstone Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in BX. National Bank of Canada FI lifted its position in Blackstone by 0.5% during the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 229,820 shares of the asset managers stock worth $20,170,000 after buying an additional 1,232 shares in the last quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC raised its holdings in Blackstone by 16.9% in the 1st quarter. Baker Tilly Wealth Management LLC now owns 11,569 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $1,016,000 after acquiring an additional 1,673 shares during the period. Ellsworth Advisors LLC increased its holdings in shares of Blackstone by 9.2% during the first quarter. Ellsworth Advisors LLC now owns 38,795 shares of the asset managers stock worth $3,408,000 after purchasing an additional 3,280 shares during the period. CFM Wealth Partners LLC bought a new position in shares of Blackstone during the first quarter worth approximately $215,000. Finally, Tealwood Asset Management Inc. increased its stake in Blackstone by 38.0% in the first quarter. Tealwood Asset Management Inc. now owns 28,360 shares of the asset managers stock valued at $2,491,000 after acquiring an additional 7,808 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 62.39% of the companys stock. About Blackstone (Get Rating) Blackstone, Inc engages in the provision of investment and fund management services. It operates through the following segments: Real Estate, Private Equity, Credit and Insurance, and Hedge Fund Solutions. The Real Estate segment includes management of opportunistic real estate funds, Core+ real estate funds, high-yield real estate debt funds, and liquid real estate debt funds. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Blackstone Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Blackstone and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Phreesia, Inc. (NYSE:PHR Get Rating) SVP Michael J. Davidoff sold 3,466 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Tuesday, April 11th. The stock was sold at an average price of $30.91, for a total transaction of $107,134.06. Following the sale, the senior vice president now directly owns 97,971 shares in the company, valued at $3,028,283.61. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this link. Phreesia Stock Performance Shares of NYSE PHR traded down $0.78 during mid-day trading on Wednesday, reaching $30.39. 415,108 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 408,851. The companys 50-day simple moving average is $34.88 and its 200-day simple moving average is $30.94. The company has a quick ratio of 3.32, a current ratio of 3.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.01. The stock has a market capitalization of $1.62 billion, a P/E ratio of -9.04 and a beta of 0.62. Phreesia, Inc. has a twelve month low of $13.19 and a twelve month high of $40.00. Get Phreesia alerts: Phreesia (NYSE:PHR Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, March 22nd. The company reported ($0.72) EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of ($0.78) by $0.06. Phreesia had a negative net margin of 62.71% and a negative return on equity of 52.67%. The business had revenue of $76.59 million for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $74.50 million. During the same period last year, the firm earned ($0.90) earnings per share. Phreesias revenue for the quarter was up 32.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, research analysts predict that Phreesia, Inc. will post -2.72 earnings per share for the current year. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Phreesia Analysts Set New Price Targets Hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. increased its position in Phreesia by 610.2% during the third quarter. Rockefeller Capital Management L.P. now owns 4,524 shares of the companys stock worth $115,000 after acquiring an additional 3,887 shares during the period. Jennison Associates LLC increased its position in Phreesia by 55.1% during the third quarter. Jennison Associates LLC now owns 1,110,942 shares of the companys stock worth $28,307,000 after acquiring an additional 394,599 shares during the period. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC increased its holdings in Phreesia by 11.5% in the 3rd quarter. Segall Bryant & Hamill LLC now owns 228,617 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,824,000 after buying an additional 23,631 shares during the period. Trexquant Investment LP bought a new position in Phreesia in the 3rd quarter valued at about $1,372,000. Finally, Tamarack Advisers LP increased its holdings in Phreesia by 6.1% in the 3rd quarter. Tamarack Advisers LP now owns 260,000 shares of the companys stock valued at $6,625,000 after buying an additional 15,000 shares during the period. 92.23% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Several analysts have issued reports on PHR shares. SVB Leerink upped their price target on shares of Phreesia from $34.00 to $39.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research report on Thursday, January 5th. DA Davidson upped their price target on shares of Phreesia from $28.00 to $30.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Royal Bank of Canada upped their price target on shares of Phreesia from $26.00 to $33.00 and gave the stock a sector perform rating in a research report on Thursday, March 23rd. Guggenheim upped their price target on shares of Phreesia from $35.00 to $40.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, KeyCorp upped their price target on shares of Phreesia from $40.00 to $45.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and eleven have issued a buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Phreesia presently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $38.07. About Phreesia (Get Rating) Phreesia, Inc engages in the provision of patient check-in solutions for medical practices. The firm offers appointments, clinical support, integration, registration, patient activation, analytics and reports, revenue cycle, patient surveys, and privacy and security products. Its solutions include health systems, multi-specialty, and federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Phreesia Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Phreesia and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AIA Group Ltd reduced its position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 53.1% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 31,234 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 35,388 shares during the period. AIA Group Ltds holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $2,247,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of BMY. Boston Financial Mangement LLC increased its stake in shares of 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 buying an additional 133 shares during the period. Accredited Investors Inc. grew its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 134 shares during the last quarter. Lincoln National Corp grew its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. CWA Asset Management Group LLC grew its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Elmwood Wealth Management Inc. grew its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 140 shares during the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades BMY has been the topic of a number of research reports. Jefferies Financial Group began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research report on Monday, March 6th. They set a hold rating and a $62.00 target price on the stock. Atlantic Securities increased their price target on Bristol-Myers Squibb from $88.00 to $90.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com began coverage on Bristol-Myers Squibb in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald began 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. Finally, Wells Fargo & Company increased 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. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $79.69. Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance Bristol-Myers Squibb stock traded up $0.11 during midday trading on Thursday, reaching $70.32. 1,350,935 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 7,968,776. The company has a market capitalization of $147.90 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 23.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.45. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $69.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.79. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a 1 year low of $65.28 and a 1 year high of $81.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.25. Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, February 2nd. The biopharmaceutical company reported $1.82 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. The business had revenue of $11.41 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.60% and a net margin of 13.71%. The companys revenue was down 4.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the company posted $1.83 EPS. On average, analysts anticipate that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 EPS for the current year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Announces Dividend The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.24%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 77.29%. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this hyperlink. In other news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total transaction of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,043 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,721,081.67. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Also, 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 transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 236,104 shares of the companys stock, valued at $17,625,163.60. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. 0.09% of the stock is currently owned by corporate insiders. Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Profile (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Recommended Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BMY? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Altice USA, Inc. (NYSE:ATUS Get Rating)s stock price traded up 7.2% during trading on Thursday . The company traded as high as $3.36 and last traded at $3.29. 1,152,472 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 71% from the average session volume of 4,006,173 shares. The stock had previously closed at $3.07. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of equities research analysts have commented on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Altice USA from $4.00 to $2.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Altice USA from $6.00 to $4.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 24th. The Goldman Sachs Group lowered shares of Altice USA from a buy rating to a neutral rating and dropped their price objective for the company from $7.00 to $5.00 in a research note on Tuesday, January 10th. Cowen dropped their price objective on shares of Altice USA from $21.00 to $18.00 in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, TD Securities dropped their price objective on shares of Altice USA from $6.00 to $4.75 and set a hold rating on the stock in a research note on Thursday, February 23rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, ten have assigned a hold rating and four have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, Altice USA presently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $8.96. Get Altice USA alerts: Altice USA Stock Up 5.5 % The company has a market capitalization of $1.48 billion, a PE ratio of 7.86, a PEG ratio of 1.14 and a beta of 1.37. The company has a 50-day moving average price of $3.87 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $4.57. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Altice USA Altice USA ( NYSE:ATUS Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The company reported ($0.43) earnings per share for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.22 by ($0.65). Altice USA had a net margin of 2.02% and a negative return on equity of 51.00%. The company had revenue of $2.37 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $2.40 billion. During the same quarter last year, the firm posted $0.56 earnings per share. Altice USAs revenue for the quarter was down 6.0% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Altice USA, Inc. will post 0.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. Several hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in ATUS. Wipfli Financial Advisors LLC purchased a new stake in Altice USA during the 3rd quarter valued at about $27,000. CWM LLC boosted its holdings in Altice USA by 150.9% during the 3rd quarter. CWM LLC now owns 5,462 shares of the companys stock valued at $32,000 after acquiring an additional 3,285 shares during the period. Covestor Ltd boosted its holdings in Altice USA by 798.9% during the 1st quarter. Covestor Ltd now owns 3,353 shares of the companys stock valued at $42,000 after acquiring an additional 2,980 shares during the period. Diversified Trust Co purchased a new stake in Altice USA during the 4th quarter valued at about $48,000. Finally, Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. bought a new position in Altice USA during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $49,000. Institutional investors own 57.41% of the companys stock. Altice USA Company Profile (Get Rating) Altice USA, Inc engages in the provision of broadband, pay television, telephony services, proprietary content, and advertising services. Its brands include Optimum, Suddenlink, Optimum Mobile, Altice Business, News 12 Networks, Cheddar News, a4 Advertising, and i24 News. The company was founded by Patrick Drahi in 2001 and is headquartered in Long Island City, NY. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Altice USA Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Altice USA and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE:ABR Get Rating) saw some unusual options trading activity on Thursday. Stock investors bought 14,022 put options on the stock. This represents an increase of 167% compared to the average daily volume of 5,257 put options. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth ABR has been the subject of a number of research reports. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Keefe, Bruyette & Woods lifted their price target on shares of Arbor Realty Trust from $14.50 to $15.50 and gave the stock a market perform rating in a report on Tuesday, February 21st. Finally, JMP Securities reissued a market outperform rating and issued a $17.50 price objective on shares of Arbor Realty Trust in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and four have assigned a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $16.60. Get Arbor Realty Trust alerts: Arbor Realty Trust Trading Down 2.7 % NYSE:ABR traded down $0.29 on Thursday, reaching $10.33. 3,031,193 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 3,255,523. Arbor Realty Trust has a 1-year low of $10.25 and a 1-year high of $17.78. The firm has a market capitalization of $1.86 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 6.40 and a beta of 1.94. The companys 50 day moving average is $13.28 and its 200-day moving average is $13.53. The company has a current ratio of 46.60, a quick ratio of 46.60 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 3.85. Arbor Realty Trust Announces Dividend Insider Activity The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 17th. Shareholders of record on Monday, March 13th were given a dividend of $0.40 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 10th. This represents a $1.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 15.49%. Arbor Realty Trusts dividend payout ratio is currently 96.39%. In other Arbor Realty Trust news, CEO Ivan Kaufman bought 10,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The stock was purchased at an average cost of $12.43 per share, for a total transaction of $124,300.00. Following the completion of the purchase, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,168,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at $14,521,683.11. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this link. In related news, Director William C. Green acquired 4,200 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $12.94 per share, with a total value of $54,348.00. Following the purchase, the director now directly owns 138,905 shares in the company, valued at $1,797,430.70. The purchase was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, CEO Ivan Kaufman bought 10,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, March 13th. The shares were bought at an average cost of $12.43 per share, for a total transaction of $124,300.00. Following the purchase, the chief executive officer now owns 1,168,277 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $14,521,683.11. The disclosure for this purchase can be found here. Corporate insiders own 3.80% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Arbor Realty Trust Institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the business. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. raised its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 15.6% in the third quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 16,629 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $191,000 after acquiring an additional 2,243 shares during the period. Alphastar Capital Management LLC lifted its stake in Arbor Realty Trust by 92.6% in the third quarter. Alphastar Capital Management LLC now owns 25,230 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $290,000 after purchasing an additional 12,131 shares during the last quarter. Signaturefd LLC grew its holdings in Arbor Realty Trust by 1,614.8% during the third quarter. Signaturefd LLC now owns 4,390 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock valued at $50,000 after purchasing an additional 4,134 shares during the period. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. increased its position in Arbor Realty Trust by 4.0% in the third quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 240,398 shares of the real estate investment trusts stock worth $2,765,000 after buying an additional 9,141 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Financial Advocates Investment Management bought a new stake in shares of Arbor Realty Trust in the third quarter valued at $286,000. 40.52% of the stock is owned by institutional investors. Arbor Realty Trust Company Profile (Get Rating) Arbor Realty Trust, Inc operates as a real estate investment trust, which engages in the provision of loan origination and servicing for multifamily, seniors housing, healthcare, and diverse commercial real estate assets. It operates through the Structured Business and Agency Business segments. The Structured Business segment offers structured loan origination and investment services. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Arbor Realty Trust Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Arbor Realty Trust and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Analysts at BMO Capital Markets assumed coverage on shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland (NYSE:ADM Get Rating) in a note issued to investors on Thursday, The Fly reports. The firm set an outperform rating on the stock. A number of other brokerages also recently commented on ADM. Stifel Nicolaus lifted their price objective on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $114.00 to $116.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Archer-Daniels-Midland in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. reduced their target price on Archer-Daniels-Midland from $87.00 to $85.00 and set a neutral rating on the stock in a research report on Wednesday. Three equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and seven have issued a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Archer-Daniels-Midland has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $102.25. Get Archer-Daniels-Midland alerts: Archer-Daniels-Midland Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of NYSE ADM traded up $0.11 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $81.22. 2,154,712 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 3,264,999. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $79.77 and a 200 day moving average of $86.57. The company has a quick ratio of 0.85, a current ratio of 1.46 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.32. Archer-Daniels-Midland has a 1 year low of $70.02 and a 1 year high of $98.88. The stock has a market cap of $44.38 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 10.53, a P/E/G ratio of 1.86 and a beta of 0.80. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Archer-Daniels-Midland Archer-Daniels-Midland ( NYSE:ADM Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, January 26th. The company reported $1.93 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.64 by $0.29. The company had revenue of $26.23 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $25.37 billion. Archer-Daniels-Midland had a return on equity of 18.32% and a net margin of 4.26%. The firms revenue was up 13.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period last year, the business posted $1.50 earnings per share. On average, research analysts expect that Archer-Daniels-Midland will post 6.74 earnings per share for the current year. Large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Allworth Financial LP raised its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 46.3% during the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 1,696 shares of the companys stock worth $158,000 after acquiring an additional 537 shares in the last quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. increased its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 3.2% during the third quarter. Daiwa Securities Group Inc. now owns 40,141 shares of the companys stock worth $3,230,000 after purchasing an additional 1,261 shares in the last quarter. Blueshift Asset Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland in the 3rd quarter valued at about $237,000. Leavell Investment Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Archer-Daniels-Midland by 17.7% in the 4th quarter. Leavell Investment Management Inc. now owns 22,920 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,128,000 after purchasing an additional 3,450 shares during the period. Finally, Insight Folios Inc increased its position in Archer-Daniels-Midland by 0.6% during the third quarter. Insight Folios Inc now owns 97,855 shares of the companys stock worth $7,872,000 after buying an additional 568 shares during the period. 78.23% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company Profile (Get Rating) Archer-Daniels-Midland Co engages in the production of oilseeds, corn, wheat, cocoa, and other agricultural commodities. It operates through the following segments: Ag Services and Oilseeds, Carbohydrate Solutions, Nutrition, and Other. The Ag Services and Oilseeds segment includes activities related to the origination, merchandising, transportation, and storage of agricultural raw materials, and the crushing and further processing of oilseeds such as soybeans and soft seeds cottonseed, sunflower seed, canola, rapeseed, and flaxseed into vegetable oils and protein meals. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Archer-Daniels-Midland and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Assicurazioni Generali (OTCMKTS:ARZGF Get Rating) and Baloise (OTCMKTS:BLHEY 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, risk, institutional ownership, earnings, analyst recommendations, valuation and profitability. Profitability This table compares Assicurazioni Generali and Baloises net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Get Assicurazioni Generali alerts: Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Assicurazioni Generali N/A N/A N/A Baloise N/A N/A N/A Valuation and Earnings This table compares Assicurazioni Generali and Baloises top-line revenue, earnings per share (EPS) and valuation. Gross Revenue Price/Sales Ratio Net Income Earnings Per Share Price/Earnings Ratio Assicurazioni Generali N/A N/A N/A $1.24 16.31 Baloise N/A N/A N/A $1.14 15.37 Insider & Institutional Ownership Baloise is trading at a lower price-to-earnings ratio than Assicurazioni Generali, indicating that it is currently the more affordable of the two stocks. 14.6% of Assicurazioni Generali shares are owned by institutional investors. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company will outperform the market over the long term. Dividends Assicurazioni Generali pays an annual dividend of $0.33 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Baloise pays an annual dividend of $0.28 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.6%. Assicurazioni Generali pays out 26.3% of its earnings in the form of a dividend. Baloise pays out 24.6% 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. Analyst Ratings This is a summary of recent ratings and recommmendations for Assicurazioni Generali and Baloise, as reported by MarketBeat.com. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Assicurazioni Generali 1 0 0 0 1.00 Baloise 0 0 1 0 3.00 Assicurazioni Generali currently has a consensus price target of $17.50, indicating a potential downside of 13.37%. Baloise has a consensus price target of $155.00, indicating a potential upside of 788.25%. Given Baloises stronger consensus rating and higher possible upside, analysts plainly believe Baloise is more favorable than Assicurazioni Generali. About Assicurazioni Generali (Get Rating) Assicurazioni Generali SpA engages in the provision of insurance and financial products. It operates through the following business segments: Life, Property and Casualty, Asset Management, and Holding and Other Businesses. The Life segment offers coverage through a lump sum or an annuity payment if an event occurs involving human life in exchange for the premium payment as remuneration from the policyholder for the risk taken. The Property and Casualty segment offers insurance against damage to property, personal injury, and public liability. The Asset Management segment provides solutions for the selection and maintenance of listed and unlisted financial instruments in order to generate the best possible return for a given level of risk. The Holding and Other Businesses segment performs parent company functions through the management and coordination of administrative and financial services for the companies in the group. The company was founded on December 26, 1831 and is headquartered in Trieste, Italy. About Baloise (Get Rating) Baloise Holding AG engages in the provision of insurance and pension solutions. It operates through the following business segments: Non-Life, Life, Asset Management & Banking, and Other Activities. The Non-Life segment offers accident and health insurance as well as products relating to liability, motor, property, and marine insurance. The Life segment provides endowment policies, term insurance, investment-linked products and private placement life insurance. The Asset Management & Banking segment consists of Baloise Bank SoBa, which acts as a universal bank in Switzerland; and Deutscher Ring Bausparkasse, which operates in Germany. The Other Activities segment includes equity investment, real estate, and financing firms. The company was founded on May 2, 1863 and is headquartered in Basel, Switzerland. Receive News & Ratings for Assicurazioni Generali Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Assicurazioni Generali and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Baxter Bros Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Rating) by 3.3% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The fund owned 65,879 shares of the financial services providers stock after purchasing an additional 2,119 shares during the period. Baxter Bros Inc.s holdings in Morgan Stanley were worth $5,601,000 as of its most recent filing with the SEC. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors also recently bought and sold shares of MS. Fisher Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 68.9% in the third quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 18,416,436 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $1,455,083,000 after acquiring an additional 7,514,505 shares in the last quarter. Ontario Teachers Pension Plan Board purchased a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley in the first quarter valued at about $451,711,000. Neuberger Berman Group LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 123.3% in the third quarter. Neuberger Berman Group LLC now owns 3,183,121 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $251,546,000 after acquiring an additional 1,757,682 shares in the last quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 152.3% in the third quarter. Toronto Dominion Bank now owns 2,500,681 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $197,539,000 after acquiring an additional 1,509,589 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec boosted its holdings in shares of Morgan Stanley by 479.4% in the third quarter. Caisse DE Depot ET Placement DU Quebec now owns 1,390,483 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $109,862,000 after acquiring an additional 1,150,483 shares in the last quarter. 83.48% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Morgan Stanley alerts: Morgan Stanley Trading Down 0.1 % Shares of NYSE:MS traded down $0.08 during trading on Thursday, reaching $85.39. The stock had a trading volume of 2,062,866 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,677,742. The business has a fifty day moving average price of $92.52 and a 200-day moving average price of $88.74. The company has a quick ratio of 0.79, a current ratio of 0.79 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.57. The stock has a market cap of $142.80 billion, a P/E ratio of 13.91, a PEG ratio of 1.49 and a beta of 1.34. Morgan Stanley has a fifty-two week low of $72.05 and a fifty-two week high of $100.99. Morgan Stanley Dividend Announcement Morgan Stanley ( NYSE:MS Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 17th. The financial services provider reported $1.31 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.25 by $0.06. The business had revenue of $12.75 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.16 billion. Morgan Stanley had a net margin of 16.73% and a return on equity of 12.06%. As a group, analysts anticipate that Morgan Stanley will post 6.99 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, February 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, January 31st were given a $0.775 dividend. This represents a $3.10 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.63%. The ex-dividend date was Monday, January 30th. Morgan Stanleys dividend payout ratio is presently 50.49%. Insider Activity In related news, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 44,910 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $97.05, for a total value of $4,358,515.50. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 348,531 shares in the company, valued at $33,824,933.55. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. In related news, CEO James P. Gorman sold 250,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 18th. The shares were sold at an average price of $96.93, for a total value of $24,232,500.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 1,112,348 shares in the company, valued at $107,819,891.64. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is available through the SEC website. Also, insider Daniel A. Simkowitz sold 44,910 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Wednesday, January 18th. The stock was sold at an average price of $97.05, for a total transaction of $4,358,515.50. Following the sale, the insider now owns 348,531 shares of the companys stock, valued at $33,824,933.55. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 341,699 shares of company stock valued at $33,143,046 over the last 90 days. Insiders own 0.26% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of analysts recently commented on the stock. Odeon Capital Group raised shares of Morgan Stanley from a sell rating to a hold rating and set a $88.75 price objective on the stock in a report on Tuesday, January 10th. Citigroup downgraded shares of Morgan Stanley from a buy rating to a neutral rating and set a $100.00 price objective on the stock. in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. Wells Fargo & Company decreased their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $89.00 to $85.00 and set an equal weight rating on the stock in a report on Monday, April 3rd. BMO Capital Markets boosted their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $98.00 to $109.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Wednesday, January 18th. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada decreased their price objective on shares of Morgan Stanley from $90.00 to $80.00 and set a sector perform rating on the stock in a report on Friday, March 24th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, eight have issued a hold rating, eight have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $94.87. Morgan Stanley Profile (Get Rating) Morgan Stanley operates as a global financial services company. The firm provides investment banking products and services to its clients and customers including corporations, governments, financial institutions, and individuals. It operates through the following segments: Institutional Securities, Wealth Management, and Investment Management. Featured Articles Want to see what other hedge funds are holding MS? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Morgan Stanley (NYSE:MS Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Morgan Stanley Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Morgan Stanley and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ingalls & Snyder LLC trimmed its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb (NYSE:BMY Get Rating) by 2.0% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 461,621 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock after selling 9,474 shares during the quarter. Bristol-Myers Squibb accounts for 1.8% of Ingalls & Snyder LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 9th biggest holding. Ingalls & Snyder LLCs holdings in Bristol-Myers Squibb were worth $33,214,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Several other large investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. My Personal CFO LLC bought a new position in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth $35,000. Clear Investment Research LLC bought a new position in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $36,000. VitalStone Financial LLC purchased a new stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb in the 4th quarter worth approximately $36,000. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC raised its stake in Bristol-Myers Squibb by 101.3% during the 4th quarter. Miller Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 481 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $36,000 after acquiring an additional 242 shares during the period. Finally, Western Pacific Wealth Management LP increased its stake in shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb by 878.6% in the third quarter. Western Pacific Wealth Management LP now owns 548 shares of the biopharmaceutical companys stock worth $38,000 after purchasing an additional 492 shares in the last quarter. 75.51% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors. Get Bristol-Myers Squibb alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages recently weighed in on BMY. Wells Fargo & Company upped their target price on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb from $70.00 to $78.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. Morgan Stanley lifted 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 began coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a strong-buy rating for the company. Cantor Fitzgerald assumed coverage on shares of Bristol-Myers Squibb in a research note on Tuesday, January 17th. They issued an overweight rating and a $95.00 target price on the stock. Finally, Jefferies Financial Group began 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 objective for the company. One analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have given a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $79.69. Insider Activity at Bristol-Myers Squibb Bristol-Myers Squibb Price Performance In related news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 6th. The shares were sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the sale, the executive vice president now owns 23,043 shares of the companys stock, valued at $1,721,081.67. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other Bristol-Myers Squibb news, EVP Ann Powell sold 11,183 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.69, for a total value of $835,258.27. Following the completion of the 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 Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . Also, CEO Giovanni Caforio sold 240,000 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, February 6th. The stock was sold at an average price of $74.65, for a total transaction of $17,916,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now 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 currently owned by insiders. BMY traded up $0.08 during midday trading on Thursday, hitting $70.29. The company had a trading volume of 939,822 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,959,578. The firms 50-day simple moving average is $69.69 and its 200-day simple moving average is $72.79. The company has a market capitalization of $147.84 billion, a PE ratio of 23.80, a P/E/G ratio of 1.53 and a beta of 0.45. Bristol-Myers Squibb has a twelve month low of $65.28 and a twelve month high of $81.43. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.13, a quick ratio of 1.14 and a current ratio of 1.25. 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 (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $1.71 by $0.11. The firm had revenue of $11.41 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $11.20 billion. Bristol-Myers Squibb had a return on equity of 51.60% and a net margin of 13.71%. The companys revenue for the quarter was down 4.8% on a year-over-year basis. During the same quarter last year, the business posted $1.83 EPS. Equities research analysts predict that Bristol-Myers Squibb will post 8.07 EPS for the current fiscal year. Bristol-Myers Squibb Dividend Announcement The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 1st. Investors of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a dividend of $0.57 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. This represents a $2.28 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 3.24%. Bristol-Myers Squibbs dividend payout ratio is currently 77.29%. About Bristol-Myers Squibb (Get Rating) Bristol Myers Squibb Co engages in the discovery, development, licensing, manufacture, marketing, distribution, and sale of biopharmaceutical products. It offers chemically-synthesized drugs or small molecules and products produced from biological processes called biologics. The company was founded in August 1933 and is headquartered in New York, NY. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Bristol-Myers Squibb and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Its that time of year again: Tax time. Federal and state income taxes are due by April 18. You can file for an extension to buy more time to get your paperwork sorted out, but you cant delay payment. Also See: 15 Biggest Bank Failures in US History Good Points: 3 Signs Youre Serious About Raising Your Credit Score Failure to pay your taxes in full results in the IRS slamming you with a penalty of 0.5% of the amount you owe per month. This penalty applies every month you fall behind on paying, up to a maximum of 25% of what you owe. But if the IRS issues an intent to levy notice and you dont respond, that penalty jumps to 1% 10 days after the IRS sends you the notice. Most Americans comply with the IRS, but there are more than a few famous examples of people and businesses using clever maneuvers to evade paying Uncle Sam. Heres a look at six infamous tax scandals that sparked fires of controversy throughout the U.S. Also see celebrities who were convicted of tax evasion. The Panama Papers Perhaps the most famous tax scandal of all time centers on the Panama Papers. In 2016, the leak of 11.5 million compromising documents from the archives of the Panamanian law firm Mossack Fonseca revealed financial details of nearly 215,000 offshore entities. More than 40,000 private and corporate clients were implicated in the leak, including big-name public officials and politicians such as former British Prime Minister David Cameron and Sanford I. Weill, the former CEO of Citigroup. Running an offshore business entity is not in itself illegal, but how an offshore entity is operated (and what it does) matters as does IRS compliance. The Panama Papers revealed that many shell corporations created by Mossack Fonseca were used for illegal activities including tax evasion. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned About the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? The Trump Organization Donald Trump and some of his family members have been at the center of a few tax scandals. In January, Trumps business empire, the Trump Organization, was fined $1.6 million for tax fraud and other crimes committed as part of a long-running scheme to enable high-level executives to dodge taxes. Story continues Among the implicated executives was former Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg. He pleaded guilty to tax fraud charges and worked with prosecutors to make a case against the Trump Organization and Trump himself. Legal reps for the Trump Organization have said the business will appeal the verdict. Google In 2019, it was publicly revealed that Google moved $23 billion through a Dutch shell company to Bermuda, a tax haven, in 2017. This maneuver is known as the double Irish tax arrangement, a controversial loophole. By shifting the funds over, Google Ireland Holdings evaded corporation tax both in the Republic and in the U.S. The shell company reported a $13 billion pretax profit for 2019 all tax free. In 2021, Googles Irish subsidiary agreed to pay $218 million euros in back taxes to the Irish government. Apple In 2012, Apple moved $36 billion in worldwide income from the U.S. to offshore tax havens, a shift that allowed the company to avoid $9 billion in U.S. taxes, according to Americans for Tax Fairness. In 2016, European authorities charged Ireland with illegally setting up a privileged tax deal with the mega tech company that gave it a tax rate as low as 0.005%. That same year, the European Commission ordered Apple Inc. to pay Ireland back-owed taxes of $14.5 billion. Amazon Amazon fetched a record-breaking revenue of 44 billion euros in Europe in 2020 a spike that was driven by the surge of people online shopping during the peak of the pandemic. But the online mammoth paid no corporate tax to Luxembourg, the home of the companys European headquarters. Instead, the companys European retail division claimed a loss of $1.4 billion to Luxembourg authorities, making it exempt from corporate taxes. The reported loss granted Amazon 56 million in tax credits that it could use toward future tax bills, when it reaps a profit. Amazon technically didnt do anything illegal, but its crafty maneuver struck up controversy and heightened demand in the U.S. for a global minimum tax. Robert T. Brockman In 2021, Robert T. Brockman, the former chairman and CEO of software services company Reynolds and Reynolds, was charged with hiding $2 billion in income from the IRS. Prosecutors accused Brockman of manipulating a web of entities based in Bermuda and Nevis, in addition to secret bank accounts in Bermuda and Switzerland. The prosecutors called Brockmans scheme the largest individual tax evasion case in U.S. history. Brockman died while fighting the allegations in 2022. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 6 Infamous Tax Scandals Clean Yield Group lessened its stake in McCormick & Company, Incorporated (NYSE:MKC Get Rating) by 1.4% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 36,529 shares of the companys stock after selling 515 shares during the period. McCormick & Company, Incorporated accounts for approximately 1.3% of Clean Yield Groups investment portfolio, making the stock its 25th largest holding. Clean Yield Groups holdings in McCormick & Company, Incorporated were worth $3,028,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. Several other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently added to or reduced their stakes in MKC. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA grew its stake in McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 27.9% in the third quarter. Massachusetts Financial Services Co. MA now owns 3,377,729 shares of the companys stock valued at $240,730,000 after purchasing an additional 737,040 shares during the last quarter. State Street Corp boosted its holdings in McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 4.3% in the third quarter. State Street Corp now owns 13,756,198 shares of the companys stock worth $980,404,000 after acquiring an additional 564,889 shares in the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 1.6% in the first quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 28,955,774 shares of the companys stock worth $2,889,787,000 after acquiring an additional 462,997 shares in the last quarter. Pictet Asset Management SA boosted its holdings in McCormick & Company, Incorporated by 85.5% in the third quarter. Pictet Asset Management SA now owns 977,972 shares of the companys stock worth $69,700,000 after acquiring an additional 450,767 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Balyasny Asset Management LLC acquired a new stake in McCormick & Company, Incorporated in the third quarter worth about $27,153,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 79.15% of the companys stock. Get McCormick & Company Incorporated alerts: McCormick & Company, Incorporated Stock Performance NYSE:MKC traded up $0.31 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $86.20. The company had a trading volume of 406,923 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,477,829. McCormick & Company, Incorporated has a 1-year low of $70.60 and a 1-year high of $105.19. The firm has a market cap of $23.12 billion, a PE ratio of 34.82, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 4.73 and a beta of 0.58. The businesss 50 day moving average price is $76.25 and its 200-day moving average price is $78.81. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.74, a current ratio of 0.73 and a quick ratio of 0.32. McCormick & Company, Incorporated Announces Dividend McCormick & Company, Incorporated ( NYSE:MKC Get Rating ) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, March 28th. The company reported $0.59 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $0.49 by $0.10. The business had revenue of $1.57 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.54 billion. McCormick & Company, Incorporated had a return on equity of 14.34% and a net margin of 10.42%. The businesss revenue was up 2.8% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business earned $0.63 earnings per share. Research analysts forecast that McCormick & Company, Incorporated will post 2.6 EPS for the current year. The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Monday, April 10th will be given a $0.39 dividend. This represents a $1.56 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, April 6th. McCormick & Company, Incorporateds dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.16%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In MKC has been the subject of several recent analyst reports. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft raised their price target on McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $69.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Bank of America raised their price target on McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $73.00 to $75.00 and gave the stock an underperform rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. UBS Group assumed coverage on McCormick & Company, Incorporated in a report on Friday, March 10th. They issued a sell rating and a $71.00 price target for the company. JPMorgan Chase & Co. lifted their target price on McCormick & Company, Incorporated from $63.00 to $66.00 and gave the stock an underweight rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Finally, Sanford C. Bernstein raised McCormick & Company, Incorporated from a market perform rating to an outperform rating and set a $90.00 target price for the company in a report on Friday, January 27th. Three research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and three have given a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $79.89. Insider Buying and Selling In related news, Director Michael D. Mangan sold 5,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, February 17th. The stock was sold at an average price of $75.00, for a total transaction of $375,000.00. Following the completion of the sale, the director now directly owns 38,137 shares in the company, valued at $2,860,275. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. 19.00% of the stock is owned by company insiders. McCormick & Company, Incorporated Profile (Get Rating) McCormick & Co, Inc engages in the manufacturing, marketing, and distribution of spices, seasoning mixes, condiments, and other flavorful products to retail outlets, food manufacturers, and foodservice businesses. It operates through the Consumer and Flavor Solutions segments. The Consumer segment sells spices, seasonings, condiments, and sauces. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for McCormick & Company Incorporated Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for McCormick & Company Incorporated and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Clean Yield Group increased its stake in shares of TELUS Co. (NYSE:TU Get Rating) (TSE:T) by 4.7% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 298,734 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock after buying an additional 13,435 shares during the quarter. TELUS accounts for 2.5% of Clean Yield Groups investment portfolio, making the stock its 8th largest holding. Clean Yield Groups holdings in TELUS were worth $5,769,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Other institutional investors have also bought and sold shares of the company. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. lifted its holdings in TELUS by 60.9% during the 1st quarter. Advisor Group Holdings Inc. now owns 14,694 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $260,000 after purchasing an additional 5,560 shares in the last quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. lifted its holdings in TELUS by 36.2% during the 1st quarter. Cambridge Investment Research Advisors Inc. now owns 29,093 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $761,000 after purchasing an additional 7,737 shares in the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its holdings in TELUS by 59.3% during the 1st quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 5,666 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $148,000 after purchasing an additional 2,109 shares in the last quarter. Aviva PLC increased its stake in TELUS by 156.0% in the 1st quarter. Aviva PLC now owns 479,131 shares of the Wireless communications providers stock worth $12,536,000 after acquiring an additional 291,979 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Cetera Investment Advisers bought a new position in TELUS in the 1st quarter worth about $206,000. Institutional investors own 51.42% of the companys stock. Get TELUS alerts: TELUS Trading Up 0.7 % TU traded up $0.14 on Thursday, hitting $21.16. 548,175 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,554,964. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $20.20 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $20.50. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.27, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a current ratio of 0.74. TELUS Co. has a 12 month low of $18.85 and a 12 month high of $27.34. The stock has a market capitalization of $30.27 billion, a PE ratio of 23.36, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.01 and a beta of 0.74. TELUS Increases Dividend TELUS ( NYSE:TU Get Rating ) (TSE:T) last posted its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 9th. The Wireless communications provider reported $0.17 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing the consensus estimate of $0.21 by ($0.04). TELUS had a return on equity of 9.49% and a net margin of 8.82%. The company had revenue of $3.73 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.68 billion. Sell-side analysts expect that TELUS Co. will post 0.9 earnings per share for the current year. The firm also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, April 3rd. Stockholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.264 per share. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. This is a boost from TELUSs previous quarterly dividend of $0.26. This represents a $1.06 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 4.99%. TELUSs payout ratio is 114.45%. Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades A number of brokerages have weighed in on TU. JPMorgan Chase & Co. decreased their target price on TELUS from C$36.00 to C$33.00 in a research note on Monday, February 13th. StockNews.com began coverage on TELUS in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a sell rating on the stock. National Bank Financial reduced their price objective on TELUS from C$31.00 to C$30.00 in a research report on Friday, February 10th. TD Securities reduced their price objective on TELUS from C$32.00 to C$31.00 in a research report on Friday, February 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets reduced their price objective on TELUS from C$35.00 to C$33.00 in a research report on Tuesday, January 3rd. TELUS Profile (Get Rating) TELUS Corp. is a telecommunications company, which engages in the provision of telecommunication services and products primarily for wireless and wireline voice and data. It operates through the following segments: TELUS Technology Solutions (TTech) and Digitally-led Customer ExperiencesTELUS International (DLCX). Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding TU? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for TELUS Co. (NYSE:TU Get Rating) (TSE:T). Receive News & Ratings for TELUS Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for TELUS and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Desarrolladora Homex (DHOXY) (OTCMKTS:DHOXY Get Rating) crossed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Monday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.42. Desarrolladora Homex (DHOXY) shares last traded at $0.39, with a volume of 51,600 shares. Desarrolladora Homex (DHOXY) Trading Down 13.3 % The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $0.39. Desarrolladora Homex (DHOXY) Company Profile (Get Rating) Desarrolladora Homex, SAB. de C.V. (Homex) is a vertically integrated home development company. The Company is engaged in the development, construction and sale of entry-level housing in Mexico. The Company is engaged in the development, construction and sale of middle-income housing in Mexico. Homex operates in Mexico. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Desarrolladora Homex (DHOXY) Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Desarrolladora Homex (DHOXY) and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Forge Global (NYSE:FRGE Get Rating) is one of 23 public companies in the Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services industry, but how does it compare to its competitors? We will compare Forge Global to related businesses based on the strength of its profitability, analyst recommendations, institutional ownership, earnings, valuation, dividends and risk. Earnings and Valuation This table compares Forge Global and its competitors gross revenue, earnings per share and valuation. Get Forge Global alerts: Gross Revenue Net Income Price/Earnings Ratio Forge Global $68.90 million -$111.86 million -1.14 Forge Global Competitors $7.42 billion $656.15 million 30.54 Forge Globals competitors have higher revenue and earnings than Forge Global. Forge Global 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. Institutional and Insider Ownership Analyst Recommendations 13.7% of Forge Global shares are owned by institutional investors. Comparatively, 63.7% of shares of all Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies are owned by institutional investors. 20.0% of Forge Global shares are owned by insiders. Comparatively, 12.9% of shares of all Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies are owned by insiders. Strong institutional ownership is an indication that hedge funds, endowments and large money managers believe a company is poised for long-term growth. This is a summary of recent recommendations and price targets for Forge Global and its competitors, as provided by MarketBeat. Sell Ratings Hold Ratings Buy Ratings Strong Buy Ratings Rating Score Forge Global 0 4 2 0 2.33 Forge Global Competitors 146 903 1208 32 2.49 Forge Global presently has a consensus target price of $3.23, suggesting a potential upside of 95.45%. As a group, Security & commodity brokers, dealers, exchanges & services companies have a potential upside of 30.11%. Given Forge Globals higher probable upside, equities research analysts clearly believe Forge Global is more favorable than its competitors. Volatility & Risk Forge Global has a beta of 2.29, indicating that its share price is 129% more volatile than the S&P 500. Comparatively, Forge Globals competitors have a beta of 0.94, indicating that their average share price is 6% less volatile than the S&P 500. Profitability This table compares Forge Global and its competitors net margins, return on equity and return on assets. Net Margins Return on Equity Return on Assets Forge Global -161.22% -26.59% -22.44% Forge Global Competitors 4.06% 20.57% 5.50% Summary Forge Global competitors beat Forge Global on 10 of the 13 factors compared. About Forge Global (Get Rating) Forge Global Holdings, Inc. provides marketplace infrastructure, data services, and technology solutions for private market participants. It enables private company shareholders to trade private company shares with accredited investors. The company was founded in 2014 and is based in San Francisco, California. Receive News & Ratings for Forge Global Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Forge Global and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. William Allan Corp decreased its position in shares of Garmin Ltd. (NYSE:GRMN Get Rating) by 3.6% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor owned 8,884 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock after selling 330 shares during the quarter. William Allan Corps holdings in Garmin were worth $820,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Several other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of GRMN. Federated Hermes Inc. purchased a new stake in Garmin in the 2nd quarter valued at approximately $29,000. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. lifted its stake in Garmin by 45.2% in the 4th quarter. Ronald Blue Trust Inc. now owns 363 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $29,000 after buying an additional 113 shares in the last quarter. Rise Advisors LLC lifted its stake in Garmin by 4,250.0% in the 3rd quarter. Rise Advisors LLC now owns 435 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $35,000 after buying an additional 425 shares in the last quarter. Dupont Capital Management Corp purchased a new stake in Garmin in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $35,000. Finally, Allworth Financial LP lifted its stake in Garmin by 119.2% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 388 shares of the scientific and technical instruments companys stock valued at $36,000 after buying an additional 211 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 63.29% of the companys stock. Get Garmin alerts: Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research analysts have weighed in on GRMN shares. Barclays boosted their price target on Garmin from $97.00 to $101.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on Garmin from $108.00 to $115.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Tigress Financial restated a strong-buy rating and set a $165.00 price objective on shares of Garmin in a report on Friday, March 3rd. Morgan Stanley upped their price objective on Garmin from $91.00 to $99.00 and gave the stock an equal weight rating in a report on Thursday, February 23rd. Finally, TheStreet upgraded Garmin from a c+ rating to a b- rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. Four analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, one has issued a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $123.17. Garmin Trading Up 0.9 % NYSE GRMN traded up $0.89 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $99.17. The companys stock had a trading volume of 163,022 shares, compared to its average volume of 945,337. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $97.76 and a 200 day simple moving average of $92.95. Garmin Ltd. has a 52 week low of $76.37 and a 52 week high of $117.20. The stock has a market cap of $18.98 billion, a PE ratio of 19.67, a PEG ratio of 3.30 and a beta of 0.94. Garmin (NYSE:GRMN Get Rating) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 22nd. The scientific and technical instruments company reported $1.35 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $1.14 by $0.21. The company had revenue of $1.31 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $1.32 billion. Garmin had a return on equity of 16.41% and a net margin of 20.03%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 6.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $1.55 earnings per share. As a group, equities analysts predict that Garmin Ltd. will post 5.15 EPS for the current year. Insider Buying and Selling at Garmin In other Garmin news, EVP Patrick Desbois sold 3,991 shares of Garmin stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.50, for a total transaction of $393,113.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,050 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,634,425. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. In other news, EVP Patrick Desbois sold 3,991 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Tuesday, February 28th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.50, for a total transaction of $393,113.50. Following the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 47,050 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,634,425. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available at this hyperlink. Also, CEO Clifton A. Pemble sold 7,216 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Monday, February 27th. The shares were sold at an average price of $98.54, for a total transaction of $711,064.64. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now owns 120,460 shares in the company, valued at $11,870,128.40. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Over the last 90 days, insiders have sold 16,610 shares of company stock valued at $1,635,921. Corporate insiders own 20.34% of the companys stock. Garmin Company Profile (Get Rating) Garmin Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of navigation, communications and information devices, most of which are enabled by Global Positioning System (GPS) technology. It operates through the following segments: Marine, Outdoor, Fitness, Auto OEM, Consumer Auto, and Aviation. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Garmin Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Garmin and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Graypoint LLC boosted its holdings in Stryker Co. (NYSE:SYK Get Rating) by 185.9% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 3,491 shares of the medical technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 2,270 shares during the quarter. Graypoint LLCs holdings in Stryker were worth $854,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. increased its holdings in Stryker by 1.4% in the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 29,795,845 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $6,034,850,000 after acquiring an additional 422,828 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. grew its holdings in Stryker by 1.0% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 23,659,084 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $4,791,909,000 after buying an additional 235,239 shares in the last quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD grew its holdings in Stryker by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 20,129,316 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $4,091,832,000 after buying an additional 224,264 shares in the last quarter. State Street Corp grew its holdings in Stryker by 1.8% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 14,052,691 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $2,855,916,000 after buying an additional 246,662 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Fisher Asset Management LLC grew its holdings in Stryker by 4.6% during the 3rd quarter. Fisher Asset Management LLC now owns 3,576,824 shares of the medical technology companys stock valued at $724,450,000 after buying an additional 156,863 shares in the last quarter. 77.10% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors. Get Stryker alerts: Insider Buying and Selling at Stryker In other Stryker news, insider James Andrew Pierce sold 400 shares of the companys stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 2nd. The shares were sold at an average price of $277.88, for a total transaction of $111,152.00. Following the transaction, the insider now owns 46,676 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,970,326.88. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. In other Stryker news, CAO William E. Berry, Jr. sold 4,058 shares of Stryker stock in a transaction dated Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $279.79, for a total transaction of $1,135,387.82. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief accounting officer now owns 2,886 shares in the company, valued at approximately $807,473.94. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. Also, insider James Andrew Pierce sold 400 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $277.88, for a total transaction of $111,152.00. Following the sale, the insider now directly owns 46,676 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,970,326.88. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 347,303 shares of company stock worth $95,218,362 over the last three months. Corporate insiders own 5.90% of the companys stock. Stryker Stock Performance Shares of NYSE:SYK opened at $290.10 on Thursday. The company has a market capitalization of $109.98 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 47.02, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 2.96 and a beta of 0.94. Stryker Co. has a 52 week low of $188.84 and a 52 week high of $294.07. The company has a quick ratio of 1.00, a current ratio of 1.63 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.71. The firm has a 50 day moving average of $272.85 and a 200 day moving average of $246.95. Stryker (NYSE:SYK Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Tuesday, January 31st. The medical technology company reported $3.00 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.84 by $0.16. Stryker had a return on equity of 22.39% and a net margin of 12.78%. The company had revenue of $5.20 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $4.97 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.71 earnings per share. The firms quarterly revenue was up 10.7% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, sell-side analysts predict that Stryker Co. will post 10.02 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Stryker Announces Dividend The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, April 28th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 31st will be paid a $0.75 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 30th. This represents a $3.00 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.03%. Strykers dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 48.62%. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several research firms have weighed in on SYK. UBS Group assumed coverage on Stryker in a report on Tuesday, March 28th. They set a neutral rating and a $287.00 price target for the company. Truist Financial increased their price objective on shares of Stryker from $257.00 to $275.00 and gave the company a hold rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 1st. Barclays raised their price objective on Stryker from $283.00 to $314.00 in a research note on Tuesday. Piper Sandler increased their price target on Stryker from $250.00 to $280.00 and gave the company an overweight rating in a report on Wednesday, February 1st. Finally, Royal Bank of Canada lifted their price target on shares of Stryker from $284.00 to $288.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 1st. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and thirteen have given a buy rating to the company. According to data from MarketBeat.com, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $277.45. Stryker Company Profile (Get Rating) Stryker Corp. is a medical technology company, which engages in the provision of innovative products and services that help improve patient and healthcare outcomes. It operates under the MedSurg and Neurotechnology, and Orthopaedics and Spine segments. The MedSurg and Neurotechnology segment includes surgical equipment and navigation systems, endoscopic and communications systems, patient handling, emergency medical equipment, intensive care disposable products, clinical communication, workflow solutions, products for the treatment of acute ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, traditional brain, and open skull based surgical procedures, orthobiologic, and biosurgery. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Stryker Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Stryker and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Hansteen Holdings plc (LON:HSTN Get Rating) crossed above its two hundred day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of GBX 116.20 ($1.44) and traded as high as GBX 116.20 ($1.44). Hansteen shares last traded at GBX 116.20 ($1.44), with a volume of 5,099,403 shares. Hansteen Stock Performance The company has a current ratio of 2.83, a quick ratio of 2.37 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 53.41. The firm has a market cap of 498.20 million and a PE ratio of 10.38. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of GBX 116.20 and a 200 day moving average price of GBX 116.20. About Hansteen (Get Rating) Hansteen Holdings PLC is a company which was incorporated in the United Kingdom and registered in England and Wales on 27 October 2005. The Company is required to comply with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. The address of the registered office is 1st Floor, Pegasus House, 37-43 Sackville Street, London W1S 3DL. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Hansteen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Hansteen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Iluka Resources Limited (OTCMKTS:ILKAF Get Rating) shares traded up 10.3% on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $7.71 and last traded at $7.71. 267 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 48% from the average session volume of 515 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.99. Iluka Resources Price Performance The firms 50-day moving average is $7.25 and its two-hundred day moving average is $6.71. Iluka Resources Company Profile (Get Rating) Iluka Resources Ltd. engages in the exploration, development, mining, processing, marketing, and rehabilitation of mineral sands products. It operates through the following segments: Jacinth-Ambrosia (JA), Cataby (C), Sierra Rutile (SRL), Mining Area C (MAC), and United States (US). The AUS segment comprises the mining operations at Jacinth-Ambrosia located in South Australia, and associated processing operations at the Narngulu mineral separation plant in mid-west Western Australia. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Iluka Resources Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Iluka Resources and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ironwood Investment Management LLC acquired a new stake in General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the SEC. The firm acquired 2,778 shares of the conglomerates stock, valued at approximately $233,000. Several other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC increased its position in General Electric by 2.9% in the 4th quarter. Connecticut Wealth Management LLC now owns 4,539 shares of the conglomerates stock valued at $380,000 after acquiring an additional 127 shares in the last quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC grew its position in shares of General Electric by 1.4% during the 4th quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 9,297 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $779,000 after buying an additional 127 shares during the period. RE Dickinson Investment Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of General Electric by 37.5% during the 3rd quarter. RE Dickinson Investment Advisors LLC now owns 477 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $30,000 after buying an additional 130 shares during the period. Plancorp LLC grew its position in shares of General Electric by 1.5% during the 1st quarter. Plancorp LLC now owns 9,628 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $881,000 after buying an additional 138 shares during the period. Finally, Money Concepts Capital Corp grew its position in shares of General Electric by 17.0% during the 3rd quarter. Money Concepts Capital Corp now owns 992 shares of the conglomerates stock worth $61,000 after buying an additional 144 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 70.12% of the companys stock. Get General Electric alerts: Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on GE shares. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their price target on shares of General Electric from $82.00 to $80.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday, January 25th. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft boosted their target price on shares of General Electric from $97.00 to $103.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a report on Wednesday. Argus boosted their target price on shares of General Electric from $85.00 to $90.00 in a report on Tuesday, January 31st. JPMorgan Chase & Co. upped their price objective on shares of General Electric from $88.00 to $100.00 in a report on Friday, March 10th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group upped their price objective on shares of General Electric from $84.00 to $96.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a report on Monday, March 13th. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and twelve have issued a buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, General Electric currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $97.64. General Electric Trading Up 0.2 % Shares of General Electric stock opened at $94.10 on Thursday. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $87.92 and a 200-day moving average of $81.57. The stock has a market cap of $102.60 billion, a PE ratio of -3,136.67, a PEG ratio of 6.82 and a beta of 1.27. General Electric has a 52-week low of $46.55 and a 52-week high of $97.87. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.76, a quick ratio of 0.86 and a current ratio of 1.16. General Electric (NYSE:GE Get Rating) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, January 24th. The conglomerate reported $1.24 earnings per share for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $1.11 by $0.13. General Electric had a net margin of 0.29% and a return on equity of 8.47%. The business had revenue of $21.79 billion during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $22.11 billion. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business posted $0.92 earnings per share. General Electrics revenue was up 7.3% compared to the same quarter last year. As a group, sell-side analysts forecast that General Electric will post 1.98 EPS for the current year. General Electric Announces Dividend The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, April 25th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 7th will be issued a $0.08 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, March 6th. This represents a $0.32 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 0.34%. General Electrics dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently -1,066.67%. About General Electric (Get Rating) General Electric Co engages in the provision of commercial and military aircraft engines and systems, wind, and other renewable energy generation equipment and grid solutions, and gas, steam, nuclear, and other power generation equipment. It operates through the following segments: Aviation, Healthcare, Renewable Energy, and Power. Read More Receive News & Ratings for General Electric Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for General Electric and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (NYSEARCA:IEF Get Rating) were down 0% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The stock traded as low as $99.22 and last traded at $99.45. Approximately 5,290,420 shares were traded during mid-day trading, a decline of 41% from the average daily volume of 8,936,225 shares. The stock had previously closed at $99.49. iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF Stock Down 0.1 % The companys 50 day simple moving average is $97.64 and its 200-day simple moving average is $97.01. iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF Company Profile (Get Rating) The iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF (IEF) is an exchange-traded fund that is based on the ICE BofA US Treasury (7-10 Y) index. The fund tracks a market-value-weighted index of debt issued by the US Treasury with 7-10 years to maturity remaining. Treasury STRIPS are excluded. IEF was launched on Jul 22, 2002 and is managed by BlackRock. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for iShares 7-10 Year Treasury Bond ETF and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. jetcityimage / iStock.com The next time you go on a Costco shopping trip, don't forget to shop for spring essentials. From water bottles you can purchase in a two-pack to sparkling clementine and peach-flavored San Pellegrino drinks, Costco has everything members need to welcome spring and enjoy big savings on all their favorite brands. Costco's Best Deals? Employee Reveals 10 Standout Buys for Your Money And More: How to Build A Financial Plan From Zero Check out these seven affordable items for spring available at Costco now. Costco Sutton Place Cooling Throw At just $25.99, this machine washable blanket is an excellent deal for Costco members. Julie Ramhold, consumer analyst with DealNews.com, said other places would charge at least $30, or even more money, for the same product. Not sure you really need it? Use Costco's generous return policy to take it back. Take Our Poll: What Do You Plan To Use Your Tax Refund For? Costco CORE 1250 Lumen Rechargeable Lantern With Bluetooth Speaker Planning a camping trip or heading to the backyard to enjoy the evening outside? Bring this lantern along to light the way. It includes a Bluetooth speaker, high and low power settings and dual charge capabilities. "Elsewhere you'll pay at least $10 more for this item, but prices could go even higher which makes this Costco deal a slam dunk," Ramhold said. Costco ThermoFlask 40-Ounce Stainless Steel Water Bottle It's easier to stay hydrated if you have a reusable water bottle handy. Starting April 12, this two-pack of ThermoFlask water bottles will be on sale for just $27.99. Normally priced at $34.99, this is cheaper than what most other retailers charge and this discount makes it even better. Don't pass this deal up the next time you're shopping at Costco. Costco Pendleton Packable Blanket A packable blanket can be used for a day at the beach, a picnic or a camping outing. Starting April 12, this blanket is on sale with a price drop to $22.99. (The original in-store price is $29.99.) Pick out your favorite pattern or color or pick up several packable blankets while shopping at Costco. Story continues See: 8 Costco Items That Have the Most Customer Complaints Costco Vita Coco Hydration Variety Drink Mix Add a little electrolyte flavor, like lemon lime, coconut or watermelon, to your water with Vita Coco's hydration variety drink mix. "You can pick up a 30-stick pack for just $24.79, which works out to about 83 cents per packet," Ramhold said. "These are made with organic coconut water powder and are responsibly sourced in addition to containing antioxidants, B vitamins, vitamin C and replenishing nutrients and electrolytes." Costco San Pellegrino Momenti Italian Sparkling Drink, Clementine & Peach Planning a backyard party for family and friends or hosting an office potluck? Don't forget to bring the San Pellegrino sparkling drinks! This 24-count set includes clementine and peach flavored sparkling drinks with no artificial sweeteners. Use the manufacturer's coupon to receive $5 off the original price of $21.99 and pay only $16.99 with your Costco membership. Costco Band-Aid Adhesive Bandages, Assorted You can never have too many bandages for active kiddos, especially with spring break kicking off and summer starting up in a couple of months. This 198-count box of Band-Aid bandages is now on sale at Costco from $17.99 to $12.99 with $5 off in manufacturer's savings. An assortment of bandages is included featuring flexible fabric and tough strips in a wide variety of sizes. Manufacturer's savings are valid through April 23 while supplies last. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: 7 Affordable Items for Spring Available at Costco Now Everest Re Group (NYSE:RE Get Rating) had its price objective boosted by Jefferies Financial Group from $455.00 to $468.00 in a research note released on Monday, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has a buy rating on the insurance providers stock. Jefferies Financial Group also issued estimates for Everest Re Groups Q1 2023 earnings at $13.18 EPS, Q2 2023 earnings at $15.35 EPS, Q3 2023 earnings at $5.21 EPS, Q4 2023 earnings at $15.96 EPS, FY2023 earnings at $49.70 EPS, FY2024 earnings at $59.55 EPS and FY2025 earnings at $66.75 EPS. Other research analysts also recently issued research reports about the company. Raymond James upped their price objective on Everest Re Group from $385.00 to $415.00 and gave the company an outperform rating in a research note on Monday, February 13th. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Everest Re Group in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company increased their price target on Everest Re Group from $408.00 to $426.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 10th. Finally, BMO Capital Markets initiated coverage on Everest Re Group in a research note on Thursday, January 19th. They set a market perform rating and a $380.00 price target for the company. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating and five have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average target price of $406.80. Get Everest Re Group alerts: Everest Re Group Trading Up 0.6 % NYSE RE opened at $365.60 on Monday. The firm has a market capitalization of $14.32 billion, a P/E ratio of 24.20, a PEG ratio of 0.26 and a beta of 0.61. The business has a fifty day simple moving average of $365.32 and a 200 day simple moving average of $334.51. Everest Re Group has a 12 month low of $244.57 and a 12 month high of $394.99. The company has a current ratio of 0.32, a quick ratio of 0.32 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.37. Everest Re Group Dividend Announcement Everest Re Group ( NYSE:RE Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 8th. The insurance provider reported $12.21 EPS for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $9.29 by $2.92. The business had revenue of $3.19 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $3.24 billion. Everest Re Group had a return on equity of 12.36% and a net margin of 4.96%. Everest Re Groups quarterly revenue was up 4.3% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $9.12 EPS. On average, analysts predict that Everest Re Group will post 45.63 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Thursday, March 30th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, March 16th were paid a $1.65 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 15th. This represents a $6.60 annualized dividend and a yield of 1.81%. Everest Re Groups dividend payout ratio is currently 43.68%. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. National Bank of Canada FI boosted its stake in Everest Re Group by 133.1% in the 1st quarter. National Bank of Canada FI now owns 9,639 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $3,451,000 after purchasing an additional 5,504 shares during the period. Vontobel Holding Ltd. boosted its stake in Everest Re Group by 100.0% in the 1st quarter. Vontobel Holding Ltd. now owns 3,424 shares of the insurance providers stock worth $1,226,000 after purchasing an additional 1,712 shares during the period. Wedmont Private Capital bought a new position in Everest Re Group in the 1st quarter worth about $221,000. 180 Wealth Advisors LLC bought a new position in Everest Re Group in the 1st quarter worth about $366,000. Finally, Symmetry Partners LLC raised its holdings in shares of Everest Re Group by 7.4% in the 1st quarter. Symmetry Partners LLC now owns 2,008 shares of the insurance providers stock valued at $719,000 after acquiring an additional 139 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors own 92.38% of the companys stock. About Everest Re Group (Get Rating) Everest Re Group Ltd. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of reinsurance and insurance services. It operates through the following segments: Reinsurance, and Insurance. The Reinsurance segment writes property and casualty reinsurance and specialty lines of business, including marine, aviation, surety, and accident and health business, on both a treaty and facultative basis, through reinsurance brokers, as well as directly with ceding companies primarily within the U.S. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Everest Re Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Everest Re Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lear (NYSE:LEA Get Rating) had its price objective cut by Wells Fargo & Company from $146.00 to $141.00 in a research note released on Monday morning, Benzinga reports. They currently have an equal weight rating on the auto parts companys stock. A number of other research firms also recently weighed in on LEA. TheStreet upgraded Lear from a c+ rating to a b rating in a research report on Thursday, February 2nd. Benchmark reissued a buy rating and set a $170.00 target price on shares of Lear in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. StockNews.com initiated coverage on Lear in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a buy rating on the stock. Morgan Stanley increased their target price on shares of Lear from $133.00 to $135.00 and gave the company an equal weight rating in a research note on Wednesday, March 22nd. Finally, Cowen raised their price objective on shares of Lear from $165.00 to $173.00 and gave the stock an outperform rating in a report on Friday, February 3rd. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and five have issued a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, Lear currently has an average rating of Hold and an average target price of $155.69. Get Lear alerts: Lear Trading Down 0.6 % Shares of Lear stock opened at $134.46 on Monday. Lear has a fifty-two week low of $114.67 and a fifty-two week high of $158.44. The businesss fifty day moving average is $138.67 and its two-hundred day moving average is $134.84. The firm has a market cap of $7.94 billion, a PE ratio of 24.58, a P/E/G ratio of 0.32 and a beta of 1.54. The company has a quick ratio of 1.04, a current ratio of 1.35 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.54. Lear Announces Dividend Lear ( NYSE:LEA Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The auto parts company reported $2.81 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.54 by $0.27. Lear had a return on equity of 11.22% and a net margin of 1.57%. The business had revenue of $5.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $5.26 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $1.22 earnings per share. The companys revenue was up 10.1% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Lear will post 10.84 earnings per share for the current year. The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 29th. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 10th were paid a dividend of $0.77 per share. This represents a $3.08 annualized dividend and a yield of 2.29%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, March 9th. Lears payout ratio is 56.31%. Insider Buying and Selling at Lear In other news, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 11,261 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The stock was sold at an average price of $137.39, for a total transaction of $1,547,148.79. Following the transaction, the chief executive officer now directly owns 28,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,846,920. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In related news, CEO Raymond E. Scott sold 11,261 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction on Friday, February 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $137.39, for a total value of $1,547,148.79. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 28,000 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,846,920. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, VP Marianne Vidershain sold 267 shares of the stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 14th. The stock was sold at an average price of $141.44, for a total transaction of $37,764.48. Following the sale, the vice president now owns 272 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $38,471.68. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 32,178 shares of company stock valued at $4,481,445 in the last ninety days. Corporate insiders own 0.67% of the companys stock. Hedge Funds Weigh In On Lear Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Old North State Trust LLC acquired a new position in shares of Lear during the 3rd quarter valued at $28,000. Allworth Financial LP increased its position in shares of Lear by 2,027.3% in the 4th quarter. Allworth Financial LP now owns 234 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $29,000 after purchasing an additional 223 shares during the last quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Lear by 44.2% in the 3rd quarter. EverSource Wealth Advisors LLC now owns 284 shares of the auto parts companys stock worth $34,000 after purchasing an additional 87 shares during the last quarter. IFP Advisors Inc grew its position in shares of Lear by 28.8% during the 3rd quarter. IFP Advisors Inc now owns 545 shares of the auto parts companys stock valued at $39,000 after buying an additional 122 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Whittier Trust Co. of Nevada Inc. bought a new stake in shares of Lear during the 3rd quarter valued at about $72,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 99.56% of the companys stock. About Lear (Get Rating) Lear Corp. engages in the design, manufacture and supply of automotive seats, electrical distribution systems and electronic modules, as well as related sub-systems, components, and software. It operates through the following segments: Seating and E-Systems. The Seating segment consists of the design, engineering, just-in-time assembly and delivery of complete seat systems, as well as the manufacture of all major seat components, including seat covers and surface materials such as leather and fabric, seat structures and mechanisms, seat foam and headrests. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Lear Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Lear and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. increased its holdings in shares of Air Lease Co. (NYSE:AL Get Rating) by 57.6% in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 66,590 shares of the transportation companys stock after purchasing an additional 24,330 shares during the period. Mastrapasqua Asset Management Inc. owned approximately 0.06% of Air Lease worth $2,558,000 as of its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Several other institutional investors have also recently made changes to their positions in AL. Invesco Ltd. grew its position in Air Lease by 141.3% during the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 3,714,362 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $165,846,000 after buying an additional 2,175,100 shares during the period. Wellington Management Group LLP raised its stake in Air Lease by 36.7% during the first quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 5,446,382 shares of the transportation companys stock worth $243,180,000 after purchasing an additional 1,460,769 shares during the period. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership purchased a new position in Air Lease during the first quarter worth about $58,077,000. Prudential Financial Inc. raised its stake in shares of Air Lease by 550.9% in the 1st quarter. Prudential Financial Inc. now owns 1,019,288 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $45,511,000 after acquiring an additional 862,698 shares during the period. Finally, Cannell & Co. raised its stake in shares of Air Lease by 39.2% in the 3rd quarter. Cannell & Co. now owns 1,266,136 shares of the transportation companys stock valued at $39,263,000 after acquiring an additional 356,774 shares during the period. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 88.77% of the companys stock. Get Air Lease alerts: Air Lease Stock Up 0.1 % Shares of Air Lease stock traded up $0.05 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $39.74. The company had a trading volume of 288,810 shares, compared to its average volume of 569,915. The companys 50-day moving average is $40.85 and its two-hundred day moving average is $38.66. Air Lease Co. has a twelve month low of $29.75 and a twelve month high of $47.00. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.80, a current ratio of 1.12 and a quick ratio of 1.12. The company has a market cap of $4.41 billion, a P/E ratio of -34.51, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.34 and a beta of 1.77. Air Lease Dividend Announcement Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 12th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 16th were issued a $0.20 dividend. This represents a $0.80 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.01%. The ex-dividend date was Wednesday, March 15th. Air Leases payout ratio is -69.57%. AL has been the topic of several recent research reports. Barclays cut their target price on shares of Air Lease from $55.00 to $52.00 in a research note on Friday, January 6th. StockNews.com cut shares of Air Lease from a buy rating to a hold rating in a report on Wednesday, March 29th. Credit Suisse Group reiterated an outperform rating and set a $55.00 price target on shares of Air Lease in a report on Friday, February 17th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group started coverage on shares of Air Lease in a report on Tuesday, February 28th. They set a buy rating and a $59.00 price target for the company. Air Lease Company Profile (Get Rating) Air Lease Corp. engages in the provision of aircraft leasing business. It focuses on purchasing new commercial jet transport aircraft directly from aircraft manufacturers, and leasing those aircraft to airlines throughout the world with the intention to generate attractive returns on equity. The company was founded by Steven F. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Air Lease Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Air Lease and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ameren (NYSE:AEE Get Rating) had its target price boosted by Mizuho from $89.00 to $91.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, The Fly reports. The brokerage currently has a neutral rating on the utilities providers stock. Several other equities research analysts have also recently weighed in on the stock. StockNews.com assumed coverage on shares of Ameren in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a hold rating for the company. Wells Fargo & Company cut their price target on shares of Ameren from $101.00 to $97.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Friday, February 17th. Guggenheim lowered shares of Ameren from a buy rating to a neutral rating and raised their price objective for the stock from $84.00 to $89.00 in a report on Monday, January 23rd. Finally, Morgan Stanley dropped their price objective on shares of Ameren from $89.00 to $84.00 and set an equal weight rating for the company in a report on Tuesday, March 21st. Six investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and six have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $94.55. Get Ameren alerts: Ameren Trading Down 0.2 % Shares of NYSE:AEE opened at $89.97 on Monday. The company has a market cap of $23.57 billion, a P/E ratio of 21.73, a P/E/G ratio of 3.02 and a beta of 0.43. The stocks 50-day moving average is $85.24 and its 200-day moving average is $85.17. Ameren has a 52-week low of $73.28 and a 52-week high of $99.20. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.29, a quick ratio of 0.59 and a current ratio of 0.79. Ameren Increases Dividend Ameren ( NYSE:AEE Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 16th. The utilities provider reported $0.63 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.07. Ameren had a return on equity of 10.50% and a net margin of 13.50%. The company had revenue of $2.05 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.15 billion. During the same period last year, the business posted $0.48 earnings per share. The firms revenue was up 32.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts predict that Ameren will post 4.35 earnings per share for the current year. The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Friday, March 31st. Investors of record on Wednesday, March 15th were issued a $0.63 dividend. The ex-dividend date was Tuesday, March 14th. This represents a $2.52 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 2.80%. This is a positive change from Amerens previous quarterly dividend of $0.59. Amerens dividend payout ratio (DPR) is currently 60.87%. Insider Activity at Ameren In related news, EVP Chonda J. Nwamu sold 3,660 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.40, for a total value of $305,244.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 36,692 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,060,112.80. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website. In other Ameren news, EVP Chonda J. Nwamu sold 3,660 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 9th. The shares were sold at an average price of $83.40, for a total transaction of $305,244.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now owns 36,692 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $3,060,112.80. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available through this hyperlink. Also, Chairman Warner L. Baxter sold 49,819 shares of Ameren stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 2nd. The stock was sold at an average price of $81.83, for a total transaction of $4,076,688.77. Following the sale, the chairman now directly owns 207,272 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $16,961,067.76. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Insiders sold a total of 63,509 shares of company stock valued at $5,221,792 over the last quarter. Corporate insiders own 0.42% of the companys stock. Institutional Trading of Ameren Institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new position in shares of Ameren during the first quarter worth $25,000. CI Investments Inc. boosted its position in shares of Ameren by 1,006.5% during the third quarter. CI Investments Inc. now owns 343 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $28,000 after purchasing an additional 312 shares in the last quarter. Optiver Holding B.V. bought a new stake in Ameren in the 4th quarter valued at $28,000. New Hampshire Trust bought a new stake in Ameren in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Finally, CoreCap Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Ameren in the 4th quarter valued at $29,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 78.42% of the companys stock. About Ameren (Get Rating) Ameren Corp. is a public utility holding company, which engages in the provision of electric and natural gas services. It operates through the following segments: Ameren Missouri, Ameren Illinois Electric Distribution, Ameren Illinois Natural Gas, Ameren Transmission, and Other. The Ameren Transmission segment consists of the aggregated electric transmission businesses of Ameren Illinois and Ameren Transmission Company of Illinois (ATXI). Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Ameren Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ameren and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of NatWest Group plc (LON:NWG Get Rating) have received a consensus recommendation of Moderate Buy from the twelve research firms that are presently covering the stock, Marketbeat.com reports. Two investment analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating and nine have given a buy rating to the company. The average 12-month target price among brokerages that have covered the stock in the last year is GBX 350 ($4.33). A number of equities research analysts have commented on NWG shares. Berenberg Bank reissued a buy rating and set a GBX 380 ($4.71) price target on shares of NatWest Group in a report on Monday, February 13th. The Goldman Sachs Group reissued a buy rating on shares of NatWest Group in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. increased their price objective on shares of NatWest Group from GBX 330 ($4.09) to GBX 340 ($4.21) in a report on Monday, February 27th. Bank of America restated a buy rating on shares of NatWest Group in a research report on Monday, January 30th. Finally, Citigroup reaffirmed a buy rating on shares of NatWest Group in a research note on Friday, March 10th. Get NatWest Group alerts: NatWest Group Price Performance Shares of NWG stock opened at GBX 272.40 ($3.37) on Thursday. NatWest Group has a one year low of GBX 200.13 ($2.48) and a one year high of GBX 313.10 ($3.88). The companys fifty day moving average price is GBX 282.03 and its 200-day moving average price is GBX 265.83. The company has a market capitalization of 26.07 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 751.89, a PEG ratio of 0.55 and a beta of 1.32. NatWest Group Increases Dividend Insider Transactions at NatWest Group The firm also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, May 2nd. Investors of record on Thursday, March 16th will be issued a dividend of GBX 10 ($0.12) per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Thursday, March 16th. This represents a yield of 3.27%. This is a boost from NatWest Groups previous dividend of $3.50. NatWest Groups payout ratio is presently 3,888.89%. In related news, insider Frank Dangeard bought 1,014 shares of the companys stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 30th. The shares were acquired at an average cost of GBX 267 ($3.31) per share, for a total transaction of 2,707.38 ($3,352.79). In other news, insider Frank Dangeard acquired 1,014 shares of NatWest Group stock in a transaction on Thursday, March 30th. The shares were bought at an average cost of GBX 267 ($3.31) per share, for a total transaction of 2,707.38 ($3,352.79). Also, insider Roisin Donnelly bought 7,318 shares of the stock in a transaction on Wednesday, March 22nd. The stock was purchased at an average price of GBX 272 ($3.37) per share, with a total value of 19,904.96 ($24,650.11). Corporate insiders own 42.46% of the companys stock. NatWest Group Company Profile (Get Rating) NatWest Group plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides banking and financial products and services to personal, commercial, corporate, and institutional customers in the United Kingdom and internationally. It operates through Retail Banking, Commercial Banking, Private Banking, RBS International, and NatWest Markets segments. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for NatWest Group Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for NatWest Group and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Otter Creek Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Ameresco, Inc. (NYSE:AMRC Get Rating) by 989.6% in the 4th quarter, according to its most recent 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The fund owned 59,808 shares of the utilities providers stock after purchasing an additional 54,319 shares during the quarter. Ameresco makes up 2.2% of Otter Creek Advisors LLCs holdings, making the stock its 17th biggest position. Otter Creek Advisors LLC owned about 0.12% of Ameresco worth $3,417,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Ameresco by 6.4% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 2,992,738 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $198,956,000 after purchasing an additional 179,495 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Ameresco by 3.8% during the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 2,516,621 shares of the utilities providers stock valued at $167,305,000 after purchasing an additional 92,278 shares during the last quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB increased its position in Ameresco by 9.3% during the 3rd quarter. Handelsbanken Fonder AB now owns 2,249,150 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $149,523,000 after buying an additional 192,301 shares during the period. Macquarie Group Ltd. increased its position in Ameresco by 1.2% during the 3rd quarter. Macquarie Group Ltd. now owns 1,171,076 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $77,870,000 after buying an additional 13,399 shares during the period. Finally, Lord Abbett & CO. LLC increased its position in Ameresco by 9.2% during the 3rd quarter. Lord Abbett & CO. LLC now owns 917,112 shares of the utilities providers stock worth $60,970,000 after buying an additional 77,272 shares during the period. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 57.50% of the companys stock. Get Ameresco alerts: Ameresco Price Performance Shares of NYSE AMRC traded up $0.66 during mid-day trading on Thursday, reaching $46.16. The company had a trading volume of 50,188 shares, compared to its average volume of 348,203. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.65, a quick ratio of 1.22 and a current ratio of 1.23. Ameresco, Inc. has a one year low of $40.73 and a one year high of $76.54. The firm has a market cap of $2.40 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 25.56, a PEG ratio of 0.95 and a beta of 1.28. The businesss 50-day simple moving average is $48.74 and its 200 day simple moving average is $56.75. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth Ameresco ( NYSE:AMRC Get Rating ) last released its earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The utilities provider reported $0.35 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.39 by ($0.04). Ameresco had a net margin of 5.20% and a return on equity of 12.44%. The business had revenue of $331.73 million during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $365.63 million. During the same quarter in the prior year, the firm earned $0.50 EPS. The businesss revenue was down 20.2% on a year-over-year basis. On average, research analysts predict that Ameresco, Inc. will post 1.82 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. Several research firms have weighed in on AMRC. Craig Hallum lowered their price objective on Ameresco from $82.00 to $68.00 and set a buy rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. StockNews.com upgraded Ameresco to a sell rating in a research report on Tuesday, January 10th. Robert W. Baird lowered their price objective on Ameresco from $70.00 to $54.00 and set an outperform rating on the stock in a research report on Tuesday, February 28th. Roth Capital upgraded Ameresco from a sell rating to a neutral rating and set a $44.00 price objective on the stock in a research report on Wednesday, March 1st. Finally, Piper Sandler upgraded Ameresco from a neutral rating to an overweight rating and increased their price objective for the stock from $57.00 to $64.00 in a research report on Friday, March 10th. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have issued a hold rating and ten have given a buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $66.43. Ameresco Profile (Get Rating) Ameresco, Inc engages in the provision of energy services, including energy efficiency, infrastructure upgrades, asset sustainability, and renewable energy solutions for businesses and organizations throughout North America and Europe. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Regions, U.S. Federal, Canada, Non-Solar Distributed Generation (DG), and All Other. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Ameresco Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Ameresco and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk (OTCMKTS:PBNNF Get Rating) shot up 5.2% during mid-day trading on Tuesday . The company traded as high as $0.61 and last traded at $0.61. 413 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 89% from the average session volume of 3,595 shares. The stock had previously closed at $0.58. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Stock Down 4.9 % The stocks fifty day simple moving average is $0.59 and its 200-day simple moving average is $0.58. PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Company Profile (Get Rating) PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk engages in the provision of general banking services. It operates through the following segments: Corporate, Commercial and Small, Consumer and Retail, Treasury and Financial Institution, Head Office, and Subsidiaries. The Corporate segment comprises loans, deposits, and other transactions and balances with corporate customers. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for PT Bank Negara Indonesia (Persero) Tbk and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Puda Coal, Inc. (OTCMKTS:PUDA Get Rating) passed above its 200-day moving average during trading on Tuesday . The stock has a 200-day moving average of $0.00 and traded as high as $0.00. Puda Coal shares last traded at $0.00, with a volume of 324 shares trading hands. Puda Coal Price Performance Puda Coal Company Profile (Get Rating) Puda Coal, Inc provides coking coal to steel manufacturing industry. The company operates under the Coal Washing Business and Coal Mining Business. The company was founded on June 7,1995 and is headquartered in Taiyuan, China. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Puda Coal Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Puda Coal and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Lane Generational LLC grew its holdings in shares of Pure Storage, Inc. (NYSE:PSTG Get Rating) by 0.7% during the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The fund owned 110,259 shares of the technology companys stock after purchasing an additional 799 shares during the quarter. Pure Storage makes up about 4.3% of Lane Generational LLCs portfolio, making the stock its 14th biggest holding. Lane Generational LLCs holdings in Pure Storage were worth $2,951,000 at the end of the most recent quarter. Other institutional investors have also modified their holdings of the company. Ellevest Inc. grew its position in Pure Storage by 50.4% in the 3rd quarter. Ellevest Inc. now owns 994 shares of the technology companys stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 333 shares in the last quarter. LPL Financial LLC grew its position in shares of Pure Storage by 0.3% during the second quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 120,438 shares of the technology companys stock worth $3,096,000 after buying an additional 357 shares in the last quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. grew its position in shares of Pure Storage by 15.8% during the third quarter. Advisors Asset Management Inc. now owns 2,782 shares of the technology companys stock worth $76,000 after buying an additional 379 shares in the last quarter. Synovus Financial Corp grew its position in shares of Pure Storage by 1.0% during the third quarter. Synovus Financial Corp now owns 44,077 shares of the technology companys stock worth $1,208,000 after buying an additional 434 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Advisory Research Inc. grew its position in shares of Pure Storage by 2.1% during the third quarter. Advisory Research Inc. now owns 22,277 shares of the technology companys stock worth $610,000 after buying an additional 452 shares in the last quarter. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 84.96% of the companys stock. Get Pure Storage alerts: Pure Storage Stock Performance NYSE PSTG traded up $0.30 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $26.05. 1,027,221 shares of the companys stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 5,316,628. The businesss 50 day moving average is $26.77 and its 200-day moving average is $27.88. Pure Storage, Inc. has a 12-month low of $21.90 and a 12-month high of $32.45. The firm has a market capitalization of $8.02 billion, a P/E ratio of 122.62, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 14.63 and a beta of 1.22. Insider Transactions at Pure Storage Pure Storage ( NYSE:PSTG Get Rating ) last released its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, March 1st. The technology company reported $0.27 EPS for the quarter, topping analysts consensus estimates of $0.10 by $0.17. The company had revenue of $810.21 million for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $811.30 million. Pure Storage had a return on equity of 16.59% and a net margin of 2.65%. As a group, equities research analysts anticipate that Pure Storage, Inc. will post 0.19 EPS for the current fiscal year. In related 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 sale, the executive now directly owns 192,530 shares in the company, valued at approximately $4,715,059.70. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is accessible through this link. Company insiders own 6.80% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of brokerages have recently commented on PSTG. Morgan Stanley lowered their price objective on Pure Storage from $37.00 to $34.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Thursday, March 2nd. Lake Street Capital lowered their price target on Pure Storage from $38.00 to $32.00 in a report on Thursday, March 2nd. Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft reduced their price objective on Pure Storage from $38.00 to $32.00 and set a buy rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut their price target on Pure Storage from $40.00 to $35.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Finally, Credit Suisse Group restated an outperform rating and set a $40.00 price target on shares of Pure Storage in a research note on Thursday, March 2nd. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, thirteen have given a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. According to MarketBeat, the company has an average rating of Moderate Buy and an average price target of $36.58. About Pure Storage (Get Rating) 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. Read More Receive News & Ratings for Pure Storage Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Pure Storage and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Research Analysts updated eps estimates for Thursday, April 13th: Anglo American (LON:AAL) had its top pick rating reaffirmed by analysts at Citigroup Inc.. Get Anglo American plc alerts: Clarkson (LON:CKN) had its neutral rating reiterated by analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co.. The firm currently has a GBX 3,740 ($46.32) target price on the stock. Destiny Pharma (LON:DEST) had its house stock rating reaffirmed by analysts at Shore Capital. Volution Group (LON:FAN) had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at Shore Capital. Impact Healthcare REIT (LON:IHR) had its outperform rating reissued by analysts at Royal Bank of Canada. They currently have a GBX 120 ($1.49) target price on the stock. Kenmare Resources (LON:KMR) had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at Berenberg Bank. The firm currently has a GBX 820 ($10.15) target price on the stock. London Stock Exchange Group (LON:LSEG) had its buy rating reiterated by analysts at Bank of America Co.. Bank of America Co. currently has a GBX 9,550 ($118.27) price target on the stock. NewRiver REIT (LON:NRR) had its house stock rating reiterated by analysts at Shore Capital. Norcros (LON:NXR) had its buy rating reissued by analysts at Shore Capital. Oxford Instruments (LON:OXIG) had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at Shore Capital. PZ Cussons (LON:PZC) had its hold rating reissued by analysts at Shore Capital. Sirius Real Estate (LON:SRE) had its buy rating reaffirmed by analysts at Berenberg Bank. The firm currently has a GBX 123 ($1.52) price target on the stock. Receive News & Ratings for Anglo American plc Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Anglo American plc and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Market.Us Drones provide a unique aerial perspective in agriculture that can uncover soil disparities, drainage problems, and fungus infections, among other issues. This is expected to propel the agriculture drone market forward. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Market.us predicts that the Agricultural Drones Market will exceed USD 11.08 billion by 2032 from USD 1.7 billion in 2022, with a projected compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 21.2% between 2023 and 2032. Unmanned agricultural drones are capable of fertilizer application and crop growth monitoring. Farmers will have a better view of their fields thanks to drone sensors and digital imaging capabilities. Advanced farming management is greatly aided by these drones, which can maximize crop production during the forecast period. Agriculture Drones Market To get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request an Agricultural Drones Market sample report at https://market.us/report/agriculture-drone-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway: By component , the hardware component segment is expected to dominate during the forecast period. By type , the segment of rotary wings will experience the fastest growth over the forecast period. North America held a revenue share of approximately 33.8% in 2022 Asia Pacific market is expected to register the highest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. Agricultural drones are used everywhere by farmers for key purposes such as soil assessment and crop management, drainage, irrigation, crop protection, fertility, spraying, pesticide spraying, fertilizer, insecticide spraying, and harvest planning. For complete field monitoring, drone technology can be combined with technological advancement. Globally demand for agricultural drones is increasing. Factors affecting the growth of the Agricultural Drones Market Several factors can affect the growth of the agricultural drone market. Some of these factors include: Increase in Adoption of Precision Farming : Guided vehicles and global positioning systems are being developed to create an era of precision farming. Advancements in Technology : The availability of software solution for field survey and data analytics drive the market in the forecasted period. Assessment of Soil and Crop: The drones are used commonly by farmers for key purposes such as soil assessment and crop management, harvest planning, irrigation, drainage, crop protection, fertility, fertilizer spraying, pesticide spraying, and insecticide spraying. Story continues To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/agriculture-drone-market/#inquiry Top Trends in the Global Agricultural Drones Market Precision farming offers many benefits to the agricultural sector. To make another time in accuracy cultivating, various advancements are being created, including worldwide situating frameworks and directed vehicles. The market for Agricultural drones will continue to grow due to the rapid growth of the agricultural sector. Market Growth The agricultural industry is experiencing new levels of difficulty as a result of unanticipated weather changes all over the world. As a result, there is an increase in the market demand for novel technologies, such as agriculture drones to improve crop production and firm proficiency. Additionally, the aerial perspective provided by drone agriculture may reveal various issues, such as differences in soil, difficulties with drainage, and fungus infections. These standards are used in agriculture to quickly inspect crops and find problems, which will likely drive the agriculture drone market's expansion. Regional Analysis In 2022 North America will have the largest market share due to the growing demand for automation in agriculture activities. Due to the many benefits of agriculture drones, the US is expected to lead the North American country-level market. These include the rise in demand for precision farming technology and government initiatives to encourage efficient farming practices. Asia-Pacific is expected to grow at the fastest rate and was second in the global market for agriculture drones during the forecast period. This is due to rapid digital transformation, a high number of farmers contributing to GDP, and the benefits provided by drones in agriculture to overcome productivity issues. The Europe region will remain in third place during the forecast period because of the higher adoption rate for agriculture drones. This is due to the improved productivity, sustainability, and profitability of farmers who adopted this technology. Competitive Landscape The competitive landscape of the market has also been examined in this report. Some of the major players include Drone Deploy, DJI, GoPro, Precision Hawk, AeroVironment Inc., Trimble Navigation Ltd., 3D Robotics, Ageagle Aerial Systems Inc., Parrot Drone, Sintera LLC., Delair Tech SAS, and other key players. Have Queries? Speak to an expert or Click Here To Download/Request a Sample Scope of the Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 1.7 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 11.08 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 21.2% North America Revenue Share 33.8% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers Farmers must be able to recognize and use technologies to increase food production and meet the growing food demand. The most promising sector in today's economy is agriculture. However, it is facing many problems, such as insufficient labor, extreme weather conditions, and inefficient fertilizer application. These problems can lead to crop diseases, insecticides, pesticides, and other crop health issues or insect bites. Advanced technologies such as agriculture drones can be used to overcome these problems. They have great potential for applications like irrigation, crop spraying, monitoring, soil analysis, Bird control, etc. Market Restraints The lack of knowledge about the software applications makes it difficult for farmers to purchase drones. It affects market growth. The agricultural drone market is growing rapidly in the forecasted period. Government regulations restrict the use of agricultural drones due to data privacy protocols. Market Opportunities Automation is rapidly changing with a rise in awareness and the ability to perform crucial tasks that are difficult for humans to do under extreme conditions. The growth of automation and monitoring systems that allow business executives to make data-based decisions has been aided by continuous developments in sensors. End-user industries have also benefited from increased awareness about predictive maintenance of heavy industrial machines and other critical setups. This will result in a rise in demand for drones for agriculture, due to the reduction of battery-operated sensors as well as the minimization of maintenance costs. Grow your profit margin with Market.us - Purchase This Premium Report at https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=24694 Report Segmentation of the Agricultural Drone Market Component Insight The market is expected to lead by the hardware component segment over the forecast period. Hardware for agricultural drones includes propulsion structures, cutting-edge GPS technologies, frameworks, and controls, as well as other components. Hardware elements are essential for field and crop monitoring, data collection, crop spraying, and data capture. This industry is growing because of the need to repair, customize, and upgrade drone parts in order to extend their lifespan and provide a competitive advantage. Type Insight Rotary-wing drone is estimated to lead the largest share of the agriculture drone hardware market in the forecasted period. Because it has a greater mobility and compact design, higher payload capacity, is easy to use in nature, and is comparatively cheaper than the other drones. These drones require very less space to take off and can float in mid-flight. It can move above and around the farm for easy monitoring, mapping, and inspection. For more insights on the historical and Forecast market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/agriculture-drone-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation Based on Component Hardware Software Service Based on Type Fixed-Wing Rotary-Wing 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 Key Market Players Drone Deploy DJI GoPro Precision Hawk AeroVironment Inc. Trimble Inc. 3D Robotics Ageagle Aerial Systems, Inc. Parrot Drone Sintera LLC. Delair Tech SAS Other Key Players Recent Development of the Agricultural Drone Market The Prime Minister of India unveiled 100 drones for agriculture on the 19th of February 2022. These drones were built in India. This announcement comes shortly after recent policy changes and incentives in the Union budget for the fiscal year 2022-2023. This will increase investments in the drone industry, especially in the agricultural sector which contributes more than 21% to the overall GDP. It also creates opportunities for youth. Sentera, a software company that provides software for agriculture, announced a Series C funding raise of more than USD 25 million on June 10, 2021. These funds will be used to increase the delivery of AI-enabled decision support for the agriculture and food industry. Related Reports Drone Market was valued at USD 58.9 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach USD 153.53 billion by 2033, at a CAGR of 9.1%. Agricultural robot market size is expected to be worth around USD 34,676.67 million by 2032 from USD 5,070 million in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 19.1% during the forecast period 2022 to 2032. Artificial intelligence ai in agriculture market size is expected to be worth around USD 10.2 billion by 2032 from USD 1.2 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 24.5% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2032. Precision farming market is estimated to reach USD 7,100 million by 2022. This growth rate will increase at a CAGR of 13.2% Smart agriculture market was valued at USD 14,740 million in 2021. It is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate of 11% between 2023 and 2032. About Us: 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. Follow Us On LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Our Blog: CONTACT: Global Business Development Team Market.us Market.us (Powered By Prudour Pvt. Ltd.) Email: inquiry@market.us Address: 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300, New York City, NY 10170, United States Tel: +1 718 618 4351 Website: https://market.us Rogers Communications (TSE:RCI.B Get Rating) (NYSE:RCI) had its price objective hoisted by JPMorgan Chase & Co. from C$74.00 to C$90.00 in a research report sent to investors on Monday morning, BayStreet.CA reports. Several other brokerages have also commented on RCI.B. TD Securities boosted their target price on shares of Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$80.00 and gave the stock an action list buy rating in a research report on Tuesday, April 4th. National Bankshares decreased their target price on Rogers Communications from C$78.00 to C$76.00 and set an overweight rating on the stock in a research report on Monday, April 3rd. Cormark increased their price target on shares of Rogers Communications from C$69.00 to C$74.00 in a research report on Friday, February 3rd. CIBC lifted their price objective on Rogers Communications from C$72.00 to C$75.00 in a research report on Wednesday, April 5th. Finally, Canaccord Genuity Group lowered their target price on Rogers Communications from C$69.00 to C$68.00 in a report on Monday, April 3rd. One investment analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, six have issued a buy rating and two have issued a strong buy rating to the stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, Rogers Communications currently has a consensus rating of Buy and a consensus target price of C$74.80. Get Rogers Communications alerts: Rogers Communications Stock Performance Shares of RCI.B opened at C$65.70 on Monday. The companys 50 day simple moving average is C$63.98 and its 200-day simple moving average is C$60.96. The firm has a market cap of C$25.87 billion, a PE ratio of 19.79, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.32 and a beta of 0.38. Rogers Communications has a 12-month low of C$50.53 and a 12-month high of C$80.85. The company has a current ratio of 2.02, a quick ratio of 0.58 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 364.11. Rogers Communications Company Profile Rogers Communications Inc operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services to individual consumers, businesses, governments, and other telecommunications service providers; postpaid and prepaid wireless services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands; and wireless devices, services, and applications to consumers and businesses. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Rogers Communications Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Rogers Communications and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Sally Beauty (NYSE:SBH 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 Wednesday. Several other equities analysts have also recently weighed in on SBH. Cowen raised their price target on shares of Sally Beauty from $14.00 to $19.00 and gave the company a market perform rating in a research report on Thursday, February 16th. DA Davidson raised their price target on shares of Sally Beauty from $11.50 to $17.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a research report on Monday, February 6th. Morgan Stanley increased their price objective on shares of Sally Beauty from $10.00 to $12.00 and gave the company an underweight rating in a research note on Friday, February 3rd. Finally, Piper Sandler began coverage on shares of Sally Beauty in a research note on Thursday, December 15th. They issued an overweight rating and a $15.00 price objective for the company. Two research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, four have assigned a hold rating and two have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, the company presently has an average rating of Hold and a consensus target price of $16.00. Get Sally Beauty alerts: Sally Beauty Stock Down 4.7 % Shares of SBH stock traded down $0.69 on Wednesday, reaching $13.99. 1,266,112 shares of the company were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 1,322,880. The company has a market cap of $1.50 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 9.26 and a beta of 1.30. The company has a 50-day moving average of $15.81 and a 200-day moving average of $13.91. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.90, a current ratio of 1.80 and a quick ratio of 0.34. Sally Beauty has a one year low of $10.95 and a one year high of $18.42. Insider Transactions at Sally Beauty Sally Beauty ( NYSE:SBH Get Rating ) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, February 2nd. The specialty retailer reported $0.52 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.49 by $0.03. Sally Beauty had a net margin of 4.35% and a return on equity of 72.24%. The business had revenue of $957.06 million for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $921.74 million. During the same quarter last year, the firm earned $0.63 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was down 2.4% compared to the same quarter last year. Analysts anticipate that Sally Beauty will post 1.88 earnings per share for the current year. In other news, insider Mark Gregory Spinks sold 35,456 shares of the firms stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 16th. The shares were sold at an average price of $17.18, for a total transaction of $609,134.08. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now owns 38,313 shares in the company, valued at approximately $658,217.34. The sale was disclosed in a document filed with the SEC, which is available at the SEC website. 1.97% of the stock is currently owned by company insiders. Institutional Inflows and Outflows A number of hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Acrisure Capital Management LLC purchased a new position in Sally Beauty in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $306,000. Natixis grew its stake in Sally Beauty by 539.1% in the 4th quarter. Natixis now owns 83,085 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $1,040,000 after buying an additional 70,085 shares in the last quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. grew its stake in Sally Beauty by 7.5% in the 4th quarter. Alliancebernstein L.P. now owns 8,610,218 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $107,800,000 after buying an additional 597,088 shares in the last quarter. State of Wyoming purchased a new position in Sally Beauty in the 4th quarter valued at approximately $32,000. Finally, State of Tennessee Treasury Department grew its stake in Sally Beauty by 38.7% in the 4th quarter. State of Tennessee Treasury Department now owns 62,241 shares of the specialty retailers stock valued at $779,000 after buying an additional 17,359 shares in the last quarter. About Sally Beauty (Get Rating) Sally Beauty Holdings, Inc is an international retailer and distributor of professional beauty supplies. It operates through the Sally Beauty Supply (SBS) and Beauty Systems Group (BSG) segments. The SBS segment offers domestic and international chain of retail stores and a consumer-facing e-commerce website that offers professional beauty supplies to both salon professionals and retail customers primarily in North America, Puerto Rico, and parts of Europe and South America. Featured Stories Receive News & Ratings for Sally Beauty Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Sally Beauty and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Seascape Capital Management lifted its position in shares of Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Get Rating) by 1.7% during the 4th quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 10,217 shares of the information technology services providers stock after purchasing an additional 172 shares during the quarter. Accenture comprises 1.5% of Seascape Capital Managements investment portfolio, making the stock its 29th biggest holding. Seascape Capital Managements holdings in Accenture were worth $2,726,000 at the end of the most recent reporting period. A number of other institutional investors have also added to or reduced their stakes in the company. United Bank increased its stake 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 worth $1,001,000 after acquiring an additional 176 shares in the last quarter. Weitz Investment Management Inc. increased its stake in shares of Accenture by 1.3% during the first 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 in the last quarter. Fund Management at Engine No. 1 LLC purchased a new position in shares of Accenture during the first quarter valued at approximately $1,805,000. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of Accenture by 0.6% in the 1st quarter. Guardian Wealth Management Inc. now owns 7,292 shares of the information technology services providers stock worth $2,459,000 after purchasing an additional 41 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clearbridge Investments LLC increased its position in Accenture by 104.8% during the 1st 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. Institutional investors own 73.97% of the companys stock. Get Accenture alerts: Accenture Trading Down 0.2 % NYSE ACN traded down $0.55 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $283.21. 1,504,102 shares of the companys stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 2,397,708. Accenture plc has a 52 week low of $242.80 and a 52 week high of $330.32. The firm has a market capitalization of $178.95 billion, a P/E ratio of 26.13, a P/E/G ratio of 2.56 and a beta of 1.25. The businesss fifty day moving average price is $272.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $274.58. Accenture Announces Dividend Accenture ( NYSE:ACN Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, March 23rd. The information technology services provider reported $2.69 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.49 by $0.20. The firm had revenue of $15.81 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $15.59 billion. Accenture had a net margin of 11.00% and a return on equity of 30.73%. The companys revenue for the quarter was up 5.1% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm posted $2.54 EPS. On average, sell-side analysts expect that Accenture plc will post 11.57 EPS for the current fiscal year. The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, May 15th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, April 13th will be given a dividend of $1.12 per share. 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 1.58%. Accentures payout ratio is currently 41.25%. Analysts Set New Price Targets Several research firms have commented on ACN. BMO Capital Markets boosted their target price on Accenture from $310.00 to $327.00 in a report on Friday, March 24th. Robert W. Baird decreased their target price on shares of Accenture from $310.00 to $290.00 and set a neutral rating for the company in a report on Monday, December 19th. Wedbush reiterated an outperform rating and set a $300.00 price target on shares of Accenture in a report on Monday, March 13th. Cowen boosted their price objective on shares of Accenture from $295.00 to $300.00 in a report on Monday, December 19th. Finally, Citigroup increased their target price on Accenture from $300.00 to $310.00 and gave the company a buy rating in a research note on Friday, March 24th. Two equities research analysts have rated the stock with a sell rating, seven have issued a hold rating and twelve have assigned a buy rating to the companys stock. Based on data from MarketBeat, Accenture currently has a consensus rating of Hold and an average target price of $314.00. Insider Buying and Selling In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Monday, January 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.53, for a total transaction of $155,974.68. Following the sale, the general counsel now directly owns 42,991 shares in the company, valued at approximately $12,060,265.23. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which can be accessed through the SEC website. In other news, General Counsel Joel Unruch sold 556 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Monday, January 23rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $280.53, for a total value of $155,974.68. Following the completion of the transaction, the general counsel now owns 42,991 shares of the companys stock, valued at $12,060,265.23. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink. Also, COO Manish Sharma sold 3,448 shares of Accenture stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, January 13th. The shares were sold at an average price of $280.32, for a total value of $966,543.36. Following the sale, the chief operating officer now directly owns 6,253 shares in the company, valued at approximately $1,752,840.96. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. In the last ninety days, insiders sold 36,475 shares of company stock valued at $10,225,149. 0.08% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. About Accenture (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. Further Reading Want to see what other hedge funds are holding ACN? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Accenture plc (NYSE:ACN Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Accenture Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Accenture and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Source Financial Advisors LLC bought a new stake in Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC) in the 4th quarter, according to the company in its most recent filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The institutional investor bought 21,937 shares of the financial services providers stock, valued at approximately $906,000. Other institutional investors and hedge funds also recently made changes to their positions in the company. Csenge Advisory Group raised its holdings in shares of Wells Fargo & Company by 3.3% in the third quarter. Csenge Advisory Group now owns 21,920 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $882,000 after purchasing an additional 700 shares during the last quarter. Tevis Investment Management grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 19.4% during the third quarter. Tevis Investment Management now owns 2,641 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $106,000 after buying an additional 430 shares during the period. Ulysses Management LLC grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 25.0% during the third quarter. Ulysses Management LLC now owns 50,000 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $2,011,000 after buying an additional 10,000 shares during the period. LVW Advisors LLC grew its position in Wells Fargo & Company by 12.0% during the third quarter. LVW Advisors LLC now owns 7,958 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $320,000 after buying an additional 853 shares during the period. Finally, Hartline Investment Corp bought a new position in Wells Fargo & Company during the third quarter valued at about $355,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 72.24% of the companys stock. Get Wells Fargo & Company alerts: Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Barclays reduced their price target on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $64.00 to $54.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research report on Wednesday. StockNews.com initiated coverage on shares of Wells Fargo & Company in a research report on Thursday, March 16th. They set a hold rating for the company. Royal Bank of Canada cut their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $45.00 to $42.00 and set a sector perform rating for the company in a research report on Friday, March 24th. Raymond James upgraded shares of Wells Fargo & Company from an outperform rating to a strong-buy rating and cut their target price for the stock from $52.00 to $47.00 in a research report on Thursday, April 6th. Finally, Deutsche Bank Aktiengesellschaft cut their target price on shares of Wells Fargo & Company from $60.00 to $50.00 in a research report on Friday, January 6th. Seven equities research analysts have rated the stock with a hold rating, seven have issued a buy rating and one has assigned a strong buy rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat, Wells Fargo & Company currently has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus price target of $49.84. Insider Buying and Selling Wells Fargo & Company Stock Performance In related news, EVP Kleber Santos sold 34,698 shares of the stock in a transaction that occurred on Thursday, February 23rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $46.27, for a total value of $1,605,476.46. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 19,590 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $906,429.30. The transaction was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at this hyperlink . 0.07% of the stock is currently owned by insiders. Shares of WFC stock opened at $39.19 on Thursday. Wells Fargo & Company has a one year low of $35.25 and a one year high of $49.49. The companys 50-day moving average is $42.73 and its 200 day moving average is $43.51. The company has a market capitalization of $148.02 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 12.48, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 0.80 and a beta of 1.12. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.08, a quick ratio of 0.84 and a current ratio of 0.84. Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Rating) last posted its earnings results on Friday, January 13th. The financial services provider reported $0.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $0.63 by $0.04. The business had revenue of $19.66 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $20.04 billion. Wells Fargo & Company had a net margin of 15.91% and a return on equity of 9.28%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was down 5.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the business earned $1.38 EPS. Sell-side analysts expect that Wells Fargo & Company will post 4.68 EPS for the current fiscal year. Wells Fargo & Company Dividend Announcement The company also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, March 1st. Investors of record on Friday, February 3rd were issued a $0.30 dividend. This represents a $1.20 annualized dividend and a yield of 3.06%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 2nd. Wells Fargo & Companys dividend payout ratio is 38.22%. About Wells Fargo & Company (Get Rating) Wells Fargo & Co is a diversified, community-based financial services company. It is engaged in the provision of banking, insurance, investments, mortgage products and services, and consumer and commercial finance. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking and Lending, Commercial Banking, Corporate and Investment Banking, and Wealth & Investment Management. See Also Want to see what other hedge funds are holding WFC? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Wells Fargo & Company (NYSE:WFC Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Wells Fargo & Company Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Wells Fargo & Company and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. AmerisourceBergen Co. (NYSE:ABC Get Rating) CEO Steven H. Collis sold 10,499 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, April 11th. The shares were sold at an average price of $167.34, for a total value of $1,756,902.66. Following the completion of the sale, the chief executive officer now directly owns 257,967 shares of the companys stock, valued at $43,168,197.78. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. AmerisourceBergen Stock Performance ABC traded up $1.96 during trading on Thursday, reaching $167.38. The companys stock had a trading volume of 703,630 shares, compared to its average volume of 1,273,189. AmerisourceBergen Co. has a 52-week low of $135.14 and a 52-week high of $174.63. The companys fifty day moving average price is $157.51 and its 200-day moving average price is $158.19. The company has a market capitalization of $33.85 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 20.08, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.64 and a beta of 0.52. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 63.30, a quick ratio of 0.53 and a current ratio of 0.91. Get AmerisourceBergen alerts: AmerisourceBergen (NYSE:ABC Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Wednesday, February 1st. The company reported $2.71 earnings per share for the quarter, beating analysts consensus estimates of $2.62 by $0.09. AmerisourceBergen had a return on equity of 597.57% and a net margin of 0.72%. The company had revenue of $62.85 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $62.77 billion. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $2.58 EPS. The firms revenue for the quarter was up 5.4% compared to the same quarter last year. On average, equities analysts forecast that AmerisourceBergen Co. will post 11.61 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. AmerisourceBergen Dividend Announcement Institutional Investors Weigh In On AmerisourceBergen The firm also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Monday, February 27th. Shareholders of record on Friday, February 10th were issued a $0.485 dividend. This represents a $1.94 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 1.16%. The ex-dividend date was Thursday, February 9th. AmerisourceBergens dividend payout ratio is presently 23.54%. A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the stock. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 1.5% during the 3rd quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 19,220,144 shares of the companys stock valued at $2,601,062,000 after acquiring an additional 292,173 shares during the period. State Street Corp lifted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 2.4% during the 3rd quarter. State Street Corp now owns 6,990,466 shares of the companys stock valued at $946,020,000 after acquiring an additional 165,682 shares during the period. Boston Partners lifted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 3.2% during the 4th quarter. Boston Partners now owns 5,201,488 shares of the companys stock valued at $861,279,000 after acquiring an additional 159,849 shares during the period. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD lifted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 2,004.6% during the 4th quarter. Price T Rowe Associates Inc. MD now owns 4,171,292 shares of the companys stock valued at $691,225,000 after acquiring an additional 3,973,094 shares during the period. Finally, Geode Capital Management LLC lifted its position in shares of AmerisourceBergen by 5.5% during the 4th quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 3,256,549 shares of the companys stock valued at $538,664,000 after acquiring an additional 169,980 shares during the period. 84.79% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. Analyst Ratings Changes Several equities research analysts have recently weighed in on ABC shares. Mizuho increased their price objective on AmerisourceBergen from $162.00 to $170.00 and gave the company a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, February 2nd. Evercore ISI reiterated an outperform rating and set a $185.00 price target on shares of AmerisourceBergen in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. StockNews.com began coverage on shares of AmerisourceBergen in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They issued a strong-buy rating on the stock. UBS Group increased their target price on shares of AmerisourceBergen from $184.00 to $190.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Tuesday, January 31st. Finally, Citigroup assumed coverage on AmerisourceBergen in a research report on Friday, March 31st. They issued a buy rating and a $185.00 price target on the stock. Two 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 MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $180.46. About AmerisourceBergen (Get Rating) AmerisourceBergen Corp. engages in the provision of pharmaceutical products and business solutions that improve access to care. It operates through the Pharmaceutical Distribution Services and Other segments. The Pharmaceutical Distribution Services segment distributes an offering of brand-name, specialty brand-name and generic pharmaceuticals, over-the-counter healthcare products, home healthcare supplies and equipment, and related services to healthcare providers, including acute care hospitals and health systems, independent and chain retail pharmacies, mail order pharmacies, medical clinics, and long-term care and alternate site pharmacies. See Also Receive News & Ratings for AmerisourceBergen Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for AmerisourceBergen and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Investment analysts at StockNews.com began coverage on shares of American Shared Hospital Services (NYSE:AMS Get Rating) in a report released on Thursday. The firm set a hold rating on the stock. American Shared Hospital Services Price Performance About American Shared Hospital Services (Get Rating) American Shared Hospital Services engages in leasing radiosurgery and radiation therapy equipment to healthcare providers. Its equipment includes Gamma Knife, PBRT, and IGRT. The Gamma Knife radiosurgery equipment is a non-invasive treatment for malignant and benign brain tumors, vascular malformations and trigeminal neuralgia. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for American Shared Hospital Services Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for American Shared Hospital Services and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY Get Rating) traded up 9.9% during mid-day trading on Wednesday . The stock traded as high as $8.26 and last traded at $8.26. 318 shares traded hands during trading, an increase of 80% from the average session volume of 177 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.51. Tenaga Nasional Berhad Stock Performance The companys 50 day moving average price is $8.35 and its 200-day moving average price is $8.10. The company has a market cap of $11.87 billion, a PE ratio of 15.01 and a beta of -0.05. Get Tenaga Nasional Berhad alerts: Tenaga Nasional Berhad (OTCMKTS:TNABY Get Rating) last announced its quarterly earnings results on Monday, February 27th. The company reported $0.12 EPS for the quarter. Tenaga Nasional Berhad had a net margin of 5.18% and a return on equity of 5.70%. The firm had revenue of $2.83 billion during the quarter. Tenaga Nasional Berhad Increases Dividend About Tenaga Nasional Berhad The business also recently announced a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, April 24th. Stockholders of record on Thursday, March 30th will be paid a $0.2035 dividend. This represents a dividend yield of 4.24%. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, March 29th. This is a positive change from Tenaga Nasional Berhads previous dividend of $0.16. Tenaga Nasional Berhads payout ratio is 74.55%. (Get Rating) Tenaga Nasional Bhd. engages in the generation, transmission, distribution, and sale of electricity. It offers its products and services to commercial, industrial, and residential customers. The company was founded on September 1, 1949 and is headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Further Reading Receive News & Ratings for Tenaga Nasional Berhad Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Tenaga Nasional Berhad and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. The Goldman Sachs Group initiated coverage on shares of Toyota Industries (OTCMKTS:TYIDY Get Rating) in a research report report published on Monday, The Fly reports. The firm issued a neutral rating on the stock. A number of other brokerages have also recently issued reports on TYIDY. JPMorgan Chase & Co. cut shares of Toyota Industries from an overweight rating to a neutral rating in a report on Thursday, March 23rd. Citigroup lowered Toyota Industries from a buy rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Thursday, March 23rd. Get Toyota Industries alerts: Toyota Industries Stock Performance Shares of OTCMKTS TYIDY opened at $54.00 on Monday. The business has a 50-day moving average of $57.02 and a 200-day moving average of $55.17. Toyota Industries has a fifty-two week low of $46.83 and a fifty-two week high of $66.55. Toyota Industries Company Profile Toyota Industries Corp. engages in the manufacture and sale of automobiles and industrial machines. It operates through the following segments: Automobile, Materials Handling Equipment, Textile Machinery, and Others. The Automobile segment includes vehicles, engines, car air-conditioning compressors, and car electronics. Featured Articles Receive News & Ratings for Toyota Industries Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Toyota Industries and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Ulland Investment Advisors LLC decreased its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX Get Rating) by 12.9% during the 4th quarter, Holdings Channel.com reports. The firm owned 18,001 shares of the medical equipment providers stock after selling 2,665 shares during the period. Boston Scientific accounts for about 1.0% of Ulland Investment Advisors LLCs investment portfolio, making the stock its 28th largest holding. Ulland Investment Advisors LLCs holdings in Boston Scientific were worth $833,000 as of its most recent SEC filing. Several other hedge funds have also made changes to their positions in BSX. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership boosted its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 65.9% during the first quarter. Arrowstreet Capital Limited Partnership now owns 5,430,814 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $240,531,000 after purchasing an additional 2,157,849 shares during the last quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc boosted its holdings in shares of Boston Scientific by 47.5% during the third quarter. Impax Asset Management Group plc now owns 6,621,133 shares of the medical equipment providers stock worth $255,836,000 after purchasing an additional 2,132,468 shares during the last quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. boosted its holdings in Boston Scientific by 1.5% in the third quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 116,886,236 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $4,527,004,000 after acquiring an additional 1,708,496 shares during the last quarter. Rathbones Group Plc acquired a new position in Boston Scientific in the third quarter valued at $56,189,000. Finally, Nuveen Asset Management LLC boosted its holdings in Boston Scientific by 10.9% in the third quarter. Nuveen Asset Management LLC now owns 10,552,928 shares of the medical equipment providers stock valued at $408,715,000 after acquiring an additional 1,036,331 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 90.23% of the companys stock. Get Boston Scientific alerts: Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth A number of research analysts have commented on the company. StockNews.com assumed coverage on Boston Scientific in a research note on Thursday, March 16th. They set a buy rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $48.00 to $55.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Thursday, February 2nd. Citigroup boosted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $54.00 to $60.00 and gave the stock a buy rating in a research note on Monday, April 3rd. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on Boston Scientific from $50.00 to $56.00 and gave the stock an overweight rating in a research note on Friday, January 6th. Finally, UBS Group assumed coverage on Boston Scientific in a research report on Tuesday, March 28th. They set a buy rating and a $57.00 target price on the stock. One analyst has rated the stock with a hold rating, fourteen have assigned a buy rating and one has given a strong buy rating to the stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has a consensus rating of Buy and an average price target of $52.18. Insider Buying and Selling at Boston Scientific Boston Scientific Stock Performance In other Boston Scientific news, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 27,000 shares of the stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.74, for a total transaction of $1,315,980.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,140,126.08. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through the SEC website . In other news, EVP Arthur C. Butcher sold 27,000 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Friday, February 3rd. The stock was sold at an average price of $48.74, for a total transaction of $1,315,980.00. Following the completion of the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 23,392 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,140,126.08. The transaction was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which is accessible through this hyperlink . Also, EVP Jeffrey B. Mirviss sold 4,903 shares of the firms stock in a transaction on Wednesday, April 5th. The stock was sold at an average price of $50.40, for a total value of $247,111.20. Following the sale, the executive vice president now directly owns 78,673 shares of the companys stock, valued at $3,965,119.20. The disclosure for this sale can be found here . In the last ninety days, insiders sold 135,788 shares of company stock valued at $6,451,329. 0.66% of the stock is owned by corporate insiders. BSX traded up $0.32 during trading hours on Thursday, hitting $51.43. The companys stock had a trading volume of 1,851,703 shares, compared to its average volume of 7,722,216. Boston Scientific Co. has a fifty-two week low of $34.98 and a fifty-two week high of $51.69. The company has a current ratio of 1.51, a quick ratio of 1.02 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51. The firm has a market capitalization of $73.92 billion, a PE ratio of 114.29, a PEG ratio of 2.37 and a beta of 0.79. The company has a 50-day simple moving average of $48.01 and a 200 day simple moving average of $45.24. Boston Scientific (NYSE:BSX Get Rating) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, February 1st. The medical equipment provider reported $0.45 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, missing analysts consensus estimates of $0.47 by ($0.02). The firm had revenue of $3.24 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $3.24 billion. Boston Scientific had a net margin of 5.50% and a return on equity of 14.29%. The businesss revenue for the quarter was up 3.7% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the business posted $0.45 earnings per share. As a group, sell-side analysts expect that Boston Scientific Co. will post 1.9 EPS for the current year. Boston Scientific Company Profile (Get Rating) Boston Scientific Corp. engages in the development, manufacture and marketing of medical devices that are used in interventional medical procedures. It operates through the MedSurg and Cardiovascular segments. The MedSurg segment includes Urology and Neuromodulation. The Cardiovascular segment consists of Cardiology and Peripheral Interventions. Featured Stories Want to see what other hedge funds are holding BSX? Visit HoldingsChannel.com to get the latest 13F filings and insider trades for Boston Scientific Co. (NYSE:BSX Get Rating). Receive News & Ratings for Boston Scientific Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Boston Scientific and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Shares of United States Natural Gas Fund LP (NYSEARCA:UNG Get Rating) fell 3.5% during trading on Thursday . The stock traded as low as $6.40 and last traded at $6.42. 6,088,429 shares changed hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 74% from the average session volume of 23,737,145 shares. The stock had previously closed at $6.65. United States Natural Gas Fund Stock Performance The companys 50 day moving average is $7.90 and its 200 day moving average is $14.40. Get United States Natural Gas Fund alerts: Institutional Investors Weigh In On United States Natural Gas Fund Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its holdings in shares of United States Natural Gas Fund by 586.9% in the 4th quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 1,035,248 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $14,597,000 after purchasing an additional 884,538 shares during the last quarter. Virtu Financial LLC bought a new stake in shares of United States Natural Gas Fund in the 1st quarter worth about $11,345,000. Hennion & Walsh Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of United States Natural Gas Fund in the 3rd quarter worth about $4,222,000. Bank of America Corp DE grew its holdings in shares of United States Natural Gas Fund by 3,078.6% in the 4th quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 149,074 shares of the exchange traded funds stock worth $2,102,000 after purchasing an additional 144,384 shares during the last quarter. Finally, NewEdge Advisors LLC bought a new stake in shares of United States Natural Gas Fund in the 1st quarter worth about $2,443,000. United States Natural Gas Fund Company Profile United States Natural Gas Fund, LP is a limited partnership. The Company is a commodity pool that issues limited partnership interests (shares) traded on the NYSE Arca, Inc (the NYSE Arca). The investment objective of the Company is for the daily changes in percentage terms of its shares per share net asset value (NAV) to reflect the daily changes in percentage terms of the spot price of natural gas delivered at the Henry Hub, Louisiana, as measured by the daily changes in the price of the futures contracts on natural gas traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange (the NYMEX) that is the near month contract to expire, except when the near month contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case it will be measured by the futures contract that is the next month contract to expire (the Benchmark Futures Contract), less its expenses. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for United States Natural Gas Fund Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for United States Natural Gas Fund and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED Europe held the largest Agrivoltaics Market share by region in 2022, as per the report published by Maximize Market Research. Agrivoltaics Market analysis was conducted by segmenting it into System Design, Cell Type and Crop. Pune, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A global Energy and Power business-consulting firm, Maximize Market research, has published a market intelligence and competitive landscape report on the Agrivoltaics Market . The report is a combination of primary data and secondary data and domain expert has analyzed the Agrivoltaics 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 3.66 Bn in 2021 to USD 7.96 Bn in 2029 at a CAGR of 10.2 percent. Agrivoltaics Market Report Scope and Research Methodology Market Size in 2022 USD 3.66 Bn. Market Size in 2029 USD 7.96 Bn. CAGR 10.2 percent (2023-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2022 Number of Pages 291 No. of Tables 119 No. of Charts and Figures 114 Segment Covered System Design, Cell Type and Crop 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/184243 The report is a clear representation of the Agrivoltaics industry in simple language. A detailed analysis in the report includes qualitative and quantitative analysis of the market estimations, trends and dynamics from 2023 to 2029 to identify the prevailing opportunities during the forecast period. The dynamics section in the report includes drivers, restraints, major challenges and growth opportunities, which makes the Agrivoltaics market report an investors guide. The research was done by dividing the Agrivoltaics Market into three major segments which were further divided into various sub-segments. These market segmentation helps to analysis the Agrivoltaics market in-depth. The report by Maximize Market research helps to determine the current and the future potential of the Agrivoltaics industry. Story continues The bottom-up approach was used to estimate the regional and global Agrivoltaics Market size. The Agrivoltaics Market report includes a PESTLE analysis, which aids in the development of company strategies. Political variables help to understand the influence of the government on the market. The legal factors help to understand the influence of environmental concerns and the impact of surrounding environment on the Agrivoltaics Market. SWOT analysis was employed to provide the strengths and weaknesses of the Agrivoltaics key players in the industry. Agrivoltaics Market Dynamics The key factors driving the market growth are the increased advancement in the food production and redued water usage along with additional income from photovoltaic panels and justifiable energy generation. The Agrivoltaics Market growth is majorly driven by the increasing research and development because of the high investments from private players and government. The increasing advancements in the farming techniques is also driving the growth of the market. The factors that are creating various growth opportunities for the market are the increasing demand of latest healthcare facilities among the population in developing countries and increasing acceptance of advanced equipment and technologies among people. The high installation costs due to costly solar PV modules and the lack of awareness of agrivoltaics systems, the market growth is expected to be hampered during the forecast period. Get a Sample Copy of the Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184243 Agrivoltaics Market Regional Insights The Europe region dominated the global Agrivoltaics Market in 2022. This is due to the shortage of the farmlands expansion along with the huge adoption of agrivoltaics system in the region. The Agrivoltaics Market in the North America region is the second largest growing market across the world. This growth of the regional market is due to the large number of technological interventions in agricultural techniques. Agrivoltaics Market Segmentation By System Design Fixed Solar Panles Dynamic Based on System Design, the Fixed solar panles segment held the dominant position in 2022 and is expected to retain this trend during the forecast period. By Cell Type Monocrystalline Polycrystalline Based on Cell Type, the monocrystalline segment dominated the global Agrivoltaics Market in 2022 and is expected to continue this trend during the forecast period. By Crop Vegetables Fruits Crops Others Based on Crop, the crops segment held the largest Agrivoltaics Market share in 2022 and is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/184243 Agrivoltaics Key Competitors include: DualSun SOLARWATT SunPower Corporation Trina Solar Suntech Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd Enel Green Power Voltalia Ecovoltaics Sunseap Group Soltec Agrivoltaic Solutions LLC JA Solar Sun' Agri Solar Window Akuo Energy BayWa r.e. Insolight REM Tec Zimmermen Next2Sun Others Key questions answered in the Agrivoltaics Market are: What was the Agrivoltaics Market size in 2022? What is expected Agrivoltaics Market size by 2029? Which segment of the Agrivoltaics Market is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period? What are the major restraints for the Agrivoltaics Market growth? What are the recent industry trends that can be implemented to generate additional revenue streams for Agrivoltaics Market? How is the intervention from regulatory authority is shaping the Agrivoltaics Market? What growth strategies are the players considering to increase their presence in Agrivoltaics? Who are the leading companies and what are their portfolios in Agrivoltaics Market? What are the major challenges that the Agrivoltaics Market could face in the future? Who held the largest market share in Agrivoltaics Market? Which regional Agrivoltaics Market is expected to grow at a high rate during the forecast period? Get the Sample PDF of Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184243 Key Offerings: Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2017 to 2022) Past Pricing and price curve by region (2017 to 2022) Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20232029 Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by System Design, Cell Type, Crop and Region Competitive Landscape Profiles of selected key players by region in 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: Photovoltaic Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 154.40 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 8.1 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing adoption in applications such as rooftop and building integrated systems, rural electrification, solar farms, power stations and others. Farm Equipment Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 3.73 million units by 2029 at a CAGR of 4.8 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing adoption of automatic and semiautomatic agricultural equipment. Precision Farming Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 20.02 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 12.9 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing government support for adopting new agricultural practices along with the increasing requirement for effective crop health monitoring. Agriculture Equipment Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 188.03 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 6.0 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the growing population resulting into the increase in the food production. Vertical Farming Market - The market size is expected to reach USD 15.78 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 18.6 percent during the forecast period. The market is expected to be driven by the increasing popularity of organic food and ease of crop monitoring. 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 System Designs, 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 Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE:UTZ Get Rating) declared a quarterly dividend on Thursday, April 6th, Wall Street Journal reports. Shareholders of record on Monday, April 17th will be paid a dividend of 0.057 per share on Thursday, May 4th. This represents a $0.23 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 1.29%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, April 14th. Utz Brands has a payout ratio of 37.7% meaning its dividend is sufficiently covered by earnings. Analysts expect Utz Brands to earn $0.60 per share next year, which means the company should continue to be able to cover its $0.23 annual dividend with an expected future payout ratio of 38.3%. Get Utz Brands alerts: Utz Brands Price Performance Shares of NYSE UTZ opened at $17.65 on Thursday. Utz Brands has a 1-year low of $12.06 and a 1-year high of $19.98. The company has a quick ratio of 1.07, a current ratio of 1.57 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.63. The company has a 50-day moving average of $16.68 and a two-hundred day moving average of $16.55. Insider Activity at Utz Brands Utz Brands ( NYSE:UTZ Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Thursday, March 2nd. The company reported $0.15 EPS for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.12 by $0.03. Utz Brands had a negative net margin of 0.03% and a positive return on equity of 5.37%. The company had revenue of $354.70 million during the quarter, compared to analysts expectations of $336.71 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company earned $0.11 EPS. Utz Brandss revenue was up 17.9% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities research analysts expect that Utz Brands will post 0.54 earnings per share for the current year. In related news, major shareholder Chinh Chu sold 1,500,000 shares of the businesss stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, March 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $16.66, for a total transaction of $24,990,000.00. Following the completion of the transaction, the insider now owns 3,648,380 shares in the company, valued at $60,782,010.80. The sale was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through the SEC website. Corporate insiders own 17.26% of the companys stock. Institutional Inflows and Outflows Several institutional investors and hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in UTZ. Principal Financial Group Inc. boosted its holdings in shares of Utz Brands by 7.7% in the first quarter. Principal Financial Group Inc. now owns 10,808 shares of the companys stock valued at $160,000 after buying an additional 769 shares during the period. Bank of New York Mellon Corp boosted its holdings in shares of Utz Brands by 8.9% in the first quarter. Bank of New York Mellon Corp now owns 342,939 shares of the companys stock valued at $5,069,000 after buying an additional 28,011 shares during the period. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Utz Brands by 11.5% in the first quarter. AlphaCrest Capital Management LLC now owns 26,660 shares of the companys stock valued at $394,000 after buying an additional 2,739 shares during the period. MetLife Investment Management LLC lifted its position in shares of Utz Brands by 58.5% in the first quarter. MetLife Investment Management LLC now owns 36,012 shares of the companys stock worth $532,000 after purchasing an additional 13,291 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Rhumbline Advisers lifted its position in shares of Utz Brands by 9.4% in the first quarter. Rhumbline Advisers now owns 58,172 shares of the companys stock worth $860,000 after purchasing an additional 5,014 shares in the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 46.66% of the companys stock. Wall Street Analyst Weigh In Several equities research analysts have recently commented on the stock. Credit Suisse Group reiterated a neutral rating and set a $19.00 price target on shares of Utz Brands in a research report on Thursday, March 30th. The Goldman Sachs Group lifted their price target on shares of Utz Brands from $18.00 to $20.00 and gave the stock a neutral rating in a research report on Friday, March 3rd. About Utz Brands (Get Rating) UTZ Brands, Inc manufactures, markets, and distributes branded snacking products. It offers a broad range of salty snacks, including potato chips, pretzels, cheese, veggie, other snacks and pork skins. The firms brands include Utz, Zapps, Golden Flake, Good Health, Boulder Canyon and Hawaiian. The company was founded in 1921 and is headquartered in Hanover, PA. Recommended Stories Receive News & Ratings for Utz Brands Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Utz Brands and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Western Alliance Bancorporation (NYSE:WAL Get Rating) was downgraded by investment analysts at StockNews.com from a hold rating to a sell rating in a research note issued to investors on Wednesday. Several other analysts have also weighed in on WAL. TheStreet lowered shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from a b- rating to a c+ rating in a research note on Thursday, April 6th. UBS Group started coverage on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation in a research note on Wednesday, March 15th. They set a buy rating and a $85.00 target price for the company. Wells Fargo & Company lowered their target price on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $90.00 to $65.00 and set an overweight rating for the company in a research note on Tuesday, March 14th. Stephens boosted their target price on shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from $80.00 to $86.00 in a research note on Thursday, January 26th. Finally, Wedbush lowered shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation from an outperform rating to a neutral rating in a research note on Wednesday, April 5th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, two have given a hold rating and five have given a buy rating to the companys stock. According to MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of Moderate Buy and a consensus target price of $74.00. Get Western Alliance Bancorporation alerts: Western Alliance Bancorporation Stock Down 0.8 % Shares of NYSE:WAL traded down $0.27 during midday trading on Wednesday, reaching $31.57. The company had a trading volume of 2,786,218 shares, compared to its average volume of 6,251,892. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.42, a current ratio of 1.00 and a quick ratio of 0.98. The stocks fifty day moving average price is $54.64 and its 200-day moving average price is $61.50. The stock has a market capitalization of $3.46 billion, a P/E ratio of 3.25, a PEG ratio of 0.33 and a beta of 1.37. Western Alliance Bancorporation has a one year low of $7.46 and a one year high of $86.87. Insider Buying and Selling Western Alliance Bancorporation ( NYSE:WAL Get Rating ) last issued its quarterly earnings results on Wednesday, January 25th. The financial services provider reported $2.67 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, hitting analysts consensus estimates of $2.67. Western Alliance Bancorporation had a net margin of 34.94% and a return on equity of 22.00%. The business had revenue of $701.20 million during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $733.13 million. During the same quarter in the previous year, the firm earned $2.32 earnings per share. The businesss revenue was up 25.0% compared to the same quarter last year. Equities research analysts expect that Western Alliance Bancorporation will post 8.25 earnings per share for the current fiscal year. In related news, Director Marianne Boyd Johnson acquired 2,475 shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $25.79 per share, with a total value of $63,830.25. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,475 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,830.25. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. In related news, Director Marianne Boyd Johnson acquired 2,475 shares of Western Alliance Bancorporation stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, March 13th. The stock was acquired at an average price of $25.79 per share, with a total value of $63,830.25. Following the completion of the acquisition, the director now directly owns 2,475 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $63,830.25. The acquisition was disclosed in a filing with the SEC, which can be accessed through this hyperlink. Also, insider Tim R. Bruckner sold 1,750 shares of the companys stock in a transaction dated Tuesday, February 21st. The stock was sold at an average price of $73.16, for a total transaction of $128,030.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider now directly owns 20,244 shares of the companys stock, valued at approximately $1,481,051.04. The disclosure for this sale can be found here. Corporate insiders own 2.57% of the companys stock. Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Alliance Bancorporation A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Vanguard Group Inc. lifted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 3.9% in the 1st quarter. Vanguard Group Inc. now owns 9,361,098 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $775,286,000 after acquiring an additional 347,525 shares during the last quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. lifted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 7.1% in the 4th quarter. T. Rowe Price Investment Management Inc. now owns 6,058,243 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $360,829,000 after acquiring an additional 402,614 shares during the last quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP lifted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 21.5% in the 1st quarter. Wellington Management Group LLP now owns 4,971,314 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $411,724,000 after acquiring an additional 880,430 shares during the last quarter. BlackRock Inc. lifted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 0.8% in the 3rd quarter. BlackRock Inc. now owns 4,512,815 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $296,673,000 after acquiring an additional 34,763 shares during the last quarter. Finally, State Street Corp lifted its holdings in Western Alliance Bancorporation by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. State Street Corp now owns 2,857,144 shares of the financial services providers stock valued at $236,629,000 after acquiring an additional 127,683 shares during the last quarter. 84.68% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds. About Western Alliance Bancorporation (Get Rating) Western Alliance Bancorp is a bank holding company, which engages in the provision of deposit, lending, treasury management, international banking, and online banking products and services. It operates through the following business segments: Commercial, Consumer Related, and Corporate and Other. The Commercial segment focuses on delivering commercial banking and treasury management products and services to small and middle-market businesses, specialized banking services to sophisticated commercial institutions and investors within niche industries, as well as financial services to the real estate industry. See Also Receive News & Ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation Daily - Enter your email address below to receive a concise daily summary of the latest news and analysts' ratings for Western Alliance Bancorporation and related companies with MarketBeat.com's FREE daily email newsletter. Pan Yuzhen, a 77-year-old embroiderer, shows her hand-made Miao costume in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, April 6, 2023. [Xinhua/Cui Xiaoqiang] GUIYANG, April 10 (Xinhua) Pan Yuzhen, a 77-year-old embroiderer, was thrilled to do the catwalk show in her hand-made Miao costumes last week in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province. At the opening ceremony of the 17th Guizhou Tourism Industry Development Conference held on April 6, a fashion show featuring signature local ethnic cultures drew rounds of camera flashes capturing images of the delicate Miao embroidery on the latest collection. Pan, of the Miao ethnic group, hails from Taijiang County, Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture. She learned the embroidery art from her mother at the age of 5 as an ethnic tradition. But it was way beyond her expectation that the folk craft could present itself on stages at world-famous fashion weeks as it does nowadays and that the embroideries created by her could one day be spotted in the daily lives of families across China as household products, which is now the case. Pan has been to five foreign countries, including the United States, France and the United Kingdom. "Foreigners love our embroideries. They were even willing to queue hundreds of meters long at Christmas, just to buy an embroidered notebook or ornament for their families," she said. Xia Hua, chairman of Eve Group, a Chinese clothing brand, has been devoted to promoting the intangible cultural heritage of China's embroidery industry for more than three decades. Over the past decade, Xia and her team have been committed to the digitalization of ethnic handicrafts and have established databases on Chinese traditional embroidery patterns and ethnic artisans. So far, her company has collected more than 8,000 kinds of embroidery patterns and information about more than 22,000 embroiderers, which has laid a solid foundation for building a digital industrial base for embroidery. "Access to embroidery patterns and embroiderers enables global designers to find appropriate cooperative partners to design and create relevant products," Xia said. Xia's company has teamed up with more than 400 world-renowned brands, including Burberry and over 1,000 international designers, boosting the development of more than 400 small and medium-sized enterprises in China. Since 2017, her company has helped more than 1,700 embroiderers just like Pan to venture beyond the deep mountains to showcase their handicrafts abroad. Xia still remembers the first time she and her embroiderers walked onto London Bridge and into Buckingham Palace. The nearby tourists all stopped to enjoy their ethnic costumes and folk song performances. The ethnic minority women, once stuck in China's mountainous areas for generations, became "big stars" that day and attracted many people who rushed to take pictures with them. "Our handicrafts are well-recognized and loved by tourists at home and abroad, giving us rising confidence," said Pan. At a bazaar held in central China's Wuhan a few years earlier, the sales volume of her embroidery products amounted to more than 600,000 yuan (about 87,255 U.S. dollars) in a single day, she added. Through creative innovation and cooperation with global designers, the local embroiderers have integrated the old craft with modern fashion items including clothing, high heels, bags, and household supplies, with over 10,000 varieties of products launched so far. "We will combine standardized product models and our traditional crafts to roll out modern and fashionable products, bringing the 'China chic' from deep in the mountains to the global stage," Xia said. (Source: Xinhua) It hasn't been the best quarter for Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad (KLSE:ABMB) shareholders, since the share price has fallen 12% in that time. But over three years, the returns would have left most investors smiling After all, the share price is up a market-beating 76% in that time. 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 Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad To quote Buffett, 'Ships will sail around the world but the Flat Earth Society will flourish. There will continue to be wide discrepancies between price and value in the marketplace...' 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. Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad was able to grow its EPS at 14% per year over three years, sending the share price higher. In comparison, the 21% per year gain in the share price outpaces the EPS growth. So it's fair to assume the market has a higher opinion of the business than it did three years ago. It is quite common to see investors become enamoured with a business, after a few years of solid progress. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We know that Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad has improved its bottom line lately, but is it going to grow revenue? This free report showing analyst revenue forecasts should help you figure out if the EPS growth can be sustained. What About Dividends? As well as measuring the share price return, investors should also consider the total shareholder return (TSR). 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. As it happens, Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad's TSR for the last 3 years was 97%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective We regret to report that Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad shareholders are down 5.8% for the year (even including dividends). Unfortunately, that's worse than the broader market decline of 3.6%. 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 1.7% over the last half decade. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad better, we need to consider many other factors. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 2 warning signs with Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad (at least 1 which doesn't sit too well with us) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. Of course Alliance Bank Malaysia Berhad 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 Malaysian exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a lychee orchard at a village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province, April 11, 2023. Xi visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative at the village to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] GUANGZHOU, April 12 (Xinhua) Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said distinctive rural industries have broad prospects. Xi made the remarks on Tuesday while visiting a village in the city of Maoming during his inspection trip to south China's Guangdong Province. He went to the village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, where he inspected a lychee orchard and an agricultural cooperative and commended the villagers' efforts to advance rural revitalization through developing the distinctive lychee industry. Noting that the place is a "hometown of lychees," Xi said it has distinctive features and advantages in growing lychees, which is an effective approach to promoting common prosperity and advancing rural revitalization. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, visits a longan and lychee cooperative at a village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province, April 11, 2023. Xi visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative at the village to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. [Xinhua/Li Xueren] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers at a village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province, April 11, 2023. Xi visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative at the village to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. [Xinhua/Liu Bin] Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, talks with villagers at a village in Genzi Township, Gaozhou City of Maoming, south China's Guangdong Province, April 11, 2023. Xi visited a lychee orchard and a longan and lychee cooperative at the village to learn about local efforts to develop distinctive planting industry and advance rural revitalization. [Xinhua/Ju Peng] (Source: Xinhua) America's biggest lenders are getting ready to show investors how they are different from Silicon Valley Bank and other troubled banks that sent the sector into crisis last month. Four giant banks are set to report first-quarter earnings on Friday: JPMorgan Chase (JPM), Citigroup (C), Wells Fargo (WFC) and PNC (PNC). Next week, Bank of America (BAC) and Goldman Sachs (GS) will report on Tuesday followed by Morgan Stanley (MS) and U.S. Bancorp (USB) on Wednesday. These firms will kick off one of the most highly-anticipated earnings seasons in years, coming roughly one month after federal regulators seized regional lenders Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank following deposit runs at both institutions. Some of the panic of a month ago has subsided. But banks are not clear of all problems. Stock prices of some lenders are still depressed, reflecting investor concerns that banks will be challenged by deposit outflows, slimming margins, slowing loan volumes, and tighter regulations. All of these issues will be under intense scrutiny on Friday and the weeks ahead as banks big and small scramble to show how they are better positioned than rivals to weather the type of chaos that roiled the industry in March. Analysts expect JPMorgan, Citigroup, and Wells Fargo to show increases in revenue and profit for the first quarter, compared with the year-ago period, in a demonstration of their resilience. Net income is expected to drop for JPMorgan and Wells Fargo when compared to the prior quarter, however. A 'knife fight' for deposits The biggest concern across the sector is the effect rising interest rates are having on everything from deposits to assets. Many bonds held by banks are underwater, creating the potential for huge losses if banks are forced to sell them. And even before the chaos triggered by Silicon Valley Bank's March 10 failure, banks including JPMorgan and Wells Fargo had been losing deposits as customers sought out higher rates being offered by money market funds. Story continues "It had already been a fiercely competitive environment for deposit gathering, and the recent bank failures may turn the deposit knife fight into a metaphorical gun fight," Wedbush Securities analysts David Chiaverini and Brian Violino said in a research note. That trickle of deposit outflows turned into a flood for some institutions during the second half of the month. Banks lost a total of nearly $500 billion in deposits through March 29, according to Federal Reserve data. Small banks lost more than big banks did but the outflow happened across the industry. JPMorgan and Wells Fargo are both expected to report small deposit declines, while Citigroup is expected to show a small increase. One positive for banks is that higher interest rates do allow banks to charge more for loans, and that may help boost their income. JPMorgan said in January that it expected to boost net interest income by 11% this year, to $74 billion. But the concern is that if banks such as JPMorgan also have to pay more to attract or keep depositors, a key profitability measure known as net interest margin will start to shrink. Some analysts are expecting banks to warn that such a tightening is coming, even if it didnt happen in the first quarter. "April earnings will be about the outlook, not the results," Betsy Graseck, an analyst at Morgan Stanley, said in a recent note in which she revised down predictions for bank profitability over the next two years due to rising deposit costs. Lending in focus Another area of interest for investors will be whether banks are pulling back on lending or making fewer new loans, which would affect the larger economy by reducing the flow of credit to businesses and consumers. Bank lending did fall by nearly $105 billion across the industry during the two weeks ending March 29, according to the Fed, due mostly to a pullback by smaller institutions. The drop was the most in Fed data back to 1973. Total loans for JPMorgan and Wells Fargo aren't expected to noticeably change, according to analyst estimates. JPMorgan is expected to show a 0.7% decline as compared with the fourth quarter of 2022 while Wells Fargo is expected to show a 0.03% increase. Bank CEOs will also likely have some things to say about the possibility of tighter regulation of the industry, a development that could weigh on future profitability. President Biden has asked regulators to strengthen rules governing the oversight of regional banks that were loosened at the end of last decade. JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon urged caution in his annual letter to shareholders released earlier this month, saying that it was unlikely that tighter regulations would have stopped the sudden deposit outflow that sank Silicon Valley Bank. Depositors pulled $42 billion in the banks final full day of business. "It is extremely important that we avoid knee-jerk, whack-a-mole or politically motivated responses that often result in achieving the opposite of what people intended," he said. James Dimon will kick off bank earnings season with a first-quarter report on Friday. REUTERS/Gonzalo Fuentes FDIC Vice Chairman Travis Hill said Wednesday that attempts to blame what happened on a law passed during the Trump administration are misguided. A bipartisan bill known as "S. 2155" passed in 2018 re-defined which banks were deemed "systemically important," undoing some of the strictest requirements imposed by Congress following the 2008 financial crisis. We have people searching under the couch cushions hoping to find something somewhere tying the SVB failure to that law and its implementing rules," Hill said. "I think it is quite obvious that S. 2155 had nothing to do with it." Billionaire Warren Buffett said Wednesday in an interview with CNBC that the problems plaguing some banks are simply the result of mismanaging assets and liabilities. But he warned that banks can lose the confidence of the public in seconds and that more banks could in fact go down. "We're not over bank failures," he said. Click here for the latest stock market news and in-depth analysis, including events that move stocks Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance On April 12, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear said he "can't imagine" what the family of the man who killed five people, including a friend of the governor, in Louisville on Monday is feeling. Audience members hold up "no justice in policing" signs honoring Tyre Nichols during a Memphis City Council meeting on April 11. Market.Us The antipsychotic drugs industry is expected to experience growth, with the aging population being a key contributing factor. As individuals age, they may develop conditions such as Alzheimer's and dementia that necessitate treatment with antipsychotic drugs. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Market.us, The global antipsychotic drugs market was valued at US$ 17 billion in 2022 and expected to grow to US$ 29.5 billion in 2032. Between 2023 and 2032, this market is estimated to register a CAGR of 5.8%. In the current healthcare environment, it is projected that the category of mental disorders would see a large increase in patients worldwide. This group of psychiatric disorders includes schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression, as well as other diseases, which show the symptoms of psychosis. Psychosis is a significant indicator of mental disorder in addition to affecting the patient's capacity to understand new information. These drugs are in high demand due to increasing schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. This market is expanding due to an increase in elderly people, an increase in mental illness, and a rise in public awareness-raising efforts for mental health. Increased awareness of mental diseases and initiatives demanding for them to be treated with more respect and less stigma is contributing to the rise in demand for antipsychotic drugs. antipsychotic drugs market growth Identify key trends, drivers, and challenges in the Antipsychotic Drugs market, which will help vendors improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. View our PDF Sample Report @ https://market.us/report/antipsychotic-drugs-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway: By Therapeutic Class , in 2022, the Antipsychotic Drugs market was dominated by the second-generation segment, and the market's expansion will be aided by this generation's improved efficacy and safety. By Disease, schizophrenia dominated the largest market share in Disease analysis and accounted for the largest revenue share in the Antipsychotic Drugs market in 2022. By Distribution Channel , the hospital pharmacies dominated the largest market share. In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 45 %. APAC is anticipated to have the highest CAGR among all the regions. Story continues Factors affecting the growth of the Antipsychotic Drugs industry. There are several factors that can have an impact on the growth of the antipsychotic Drugs industry. Some of these factors include: Prevalence of psychiatric disorders : The prevalence of psychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, is one of the primary drivers of growth in the antipsychotic drugs industry. As the number of people diagnosed with these conditions increases, the demand for antipsychotic drugs also increases. Increasing awareness and diagnosis: Increasing awareness of mental health issues and improved diagnosis of psychiatric disorders can also drive growth in the antipsychotic drugs industry. As more people seek treatment for mental health conditions, the demand for antipsychotic drugs is likely to increase. Aging population: The aging population is also a significant factor that can contribute to the growth of the antipsychotic drugs industry. As people age, they are more likely to develop conditions such as dementia and Alzheimer's disease, which often require treatment with antipsychotic drugs. New drug development: The development of new antipsychotic drugs with improved efficacy and fewer side effects can also contribute to the growth of the industry. These drugs can improve patient outcomes and increase the overall market demand for antipsychotic medications if you need a more focused analysis of a particular region or segment, our analysts can customize the report to meet your specific requirements. Feel free to contact us for further assistance@ https://market.us/report/antipsychotic-drugs-market/#inquiry Market Growth In the modern healthcare scenario, one of the disease groups expected to witness considerable growth in patients globally is the group of psychiatric illnesses. Schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and depression are among the psychiatric conditions in this category that mimic the symptoms of psychosis. One of the main signs of mental illness is psychosis, which includes the patient's loss of reality, which affects how he processes information. The increase in the prevalence of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia is responsible for these drugs' highest demand. The market is also expected to grow at a faster rate during the forecast period thanks to well-known companies like Drive DeVilbissSidhil Ltd., ALPS Mountaineering, H. Lundbeck A/S, Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd., Abbvie Inc, Alkermes Plc, AstraZeneca Plc, Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Ltd, Eli Lilly and Company, and Otsuka Holdings Co. During the forecast period, the market will also benefit from developing novel medication forms, such as longer-acting injectables with more capabilities. Regional Analysis Over the forecast period , North America is expected to dominate the market. North America is expected to lead the market share because of its well-established healthcare infrastructure, better regulatory environment, growing incidence of mental illnesses, and government support in the countries of this region. The rising incidence of schizophrenia and other mental disorders in the population is the primary driver of market development in the region. In terms of market share for antipsychotic drugs, Europe is thought to be the second-most dominating area. The growing awareness of mental problems in the area and their high prevalence are responsible for this. Particularly in rising nations like India and China, the market in the Asia Pacific is predicted to grow at the fastest rate. To know about the regional trends and drivers that will have an impact on the market - Request a sample report! Scope of the Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 17 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 29.5 billion CAGR (from 2022 to 2032) 5.8% North America Revenue Share 45% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers Due to the rise in cases of major mental illnesses, the healthcare system, services, and providers are under additional strain. A high and consistent degree of knowledge about illnesses and their accompanying symptoms is currently a focus of government concern. Consequently, the major market players are investing and committing their greatest resources to the development of medications that are extremely safe and effective and can be used to treat patients with psychotic disorders worldwide. Because of this dread of illness, there seems to be less demand for in-person mental health care, especially among the elder population. Several services have been obligated to transition to remote healthcare, with different degrees of success, giving consultations over the phone or on online platforms. Market Restraints Lack of awareness and recognition is one of the primary reasons anticipated to restrict market participants from growing internationally over the projected period. The majority of people are ignorant of the fact that psychotic illnesses are becoming increasingly commonplace in society. Even members of the target audience who are well-informed about the illness are ignorant of the treatments and medications that can assist people who are afflicted. Market Opportunities The market is expanding as a result of technological developments in medical treatments and a more competitive environment. Increasing government expenditure and increased corporate R&D efforts will open up new revenue prospects, which will in turn drive market expansion. The expansion of the worldwide market for antipsychotic drugs is predicted to be supported by this in the upcoming years. As a result, there is a considerable need for efficient psychiatric disorder treatment. Hence, a large number of pharmaceutical companies have introduced long-acting injectable antipsychotic medications. Due to the advantages associated with these long-acting injectables, these medications are now being used more often, which is driving market expansion. Immediate Delivery Available | Buy Antipsychotic Drugs Market Research Report@ https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=99478 Report Segmentation of the Antipsychotic Drugs Market Therapeutic Class Insight According to the therapeutic class, there are three market segments: first-generation, second-generation, and third-generation. This market sector is dominated by second generation medicines, which predominate the worldwide market. Among the popular second generation antipsychotics are SEROQUEL XR, ZYPREXA, HAFYERA, and INVEGA. Also, this market will grow thanks to the increased safety and greater efficacy of the drugs from this generation. The first generation sector is expected to grow at the lowest CAGR due to the relatively inferior safety profile of these drugs. Throughout the projection period, it is expected that the third generation sector would have the greatest CAGR. Disease Insight Based on diseases, such as dementia, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and others, the worldwide market is segmented into subgroups. The category of schizophrenia is predicted to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period because to the high incidence of this condition globally and the numerous product releases for its treatment in the market. The market for bipolar disorder is expected to hold the second-largest market share since these drugs are frequently used to stabilize the symptoms of the condition. The unipolar depression category is anticipated to hold the third-largest market share because of the usage of well-known antipsychotic drugs like Rexulti. It is estimated that the market share of the dementia category will decline over the course of the forecasted year. Distribution Channel Insight Hospital pharmacies, pharmacy shops, and internet pharmacies are the three segments of the market according to the distribution channel. The hospital pharmacies market segment is predicted to have the greatest market share throughout the forecast period. The reason this market sector is so dominant is that in these facilities, only after complete evaluations by licenced medical specialists can most therapy drugs be provided. The sector of pharmacy shops is expected to hold the second-largest market share. These locations, which are recognized as an important distribution route for oral prescription pharmaceuticals, allow for the renewal of existing prescriptions. Internet pharmacies are expected to have the greatest CAGR throughout the anticipated period since they encourage patient comfort and ease when it comes to obtaining pharmaceuticals. If you want to get a better understanding of the report, you can access a PDF sample, which includes the complete table of contents, list of exhibits, selected illustrations, and example pages @ https://market.us/report/antipsychotic-drugs-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation Based on Therapeutic Class First Generation Second Generation Third Generation Based on Disease Schizophrenia Bipolar Disorder Unipolar Depression Dementia Other Diseases Based on Distribution Channel Hospital Pharmacies Drug Stores Online Pharmacies By Geography North America The US Canada Mexico Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA Competitive Landscape Johnson & Johnson, Bristol-Myers Squibb, and Eli Lilly & Co. are major players in the global market in antipsychotic drugs. Competitors adopt strategies including partnerships, joint ventures, acquisitions, and agreements to increase their market share. To stay competitive in the market, businesses are conducting research and development and developing new, inventive products. Otsuka Pharmaceuticals got FDA clearance for the first antipsychotic medication treatment, Abilify MyCite, which includes a digital ingestion tracking device and is intended to treat acute bipolar disorder and schizophrenia attacks. Some of the major players include: Drive DeVilbissSidhil Ltd. ALPS Mountaineering Sumitomo Dainippon Pharma Co. Ltd. Abbvie Inc Alkermes Plc AstraZeneca Plc Reddys Laboratories Ltd Eli Lilly and Company Johnson and Johnson Otsuka Holdings Co. Ltd Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd Bristol-Myers Squibb Company Other Key Players Recent Development of the Antipsychotic Drugs Market In February 2022, Alkermes plc announced positive findings from ENLIGHTEN-early, a phase 3b study that evaluated LYBALVI's efficacy in treating schizophrenia disorder. Otsuka Pharmaceutical Co.Ltd., Otsuka American Pharmaceutical Inc., and Lundbeck Inc. announced in January 2022 that the US Food and Drug Administration had approved REXULTI's supplemental new drug application for the treatment of schizophrenia in patients ages 13 to 17. Browse More Related Reports: About Us: 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. Follow Us on LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Our Blog: CONTACT: Global Business Development Team Market.us Market.us (Powered By Prudour Pvt. Ltd.) Email: inquiry@market.us Address: 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300, New York City, NY 10170, United States Tel: +1 718 618 4351 Website: https://market.us A recent study conducted by University of Michigan researchers revealed that four in 10 nurses in the state of Michigan intend to leave their jobs within the next year. The researchers conducted a state-wide survey of 9,150 licensed nurses and 1,224 nurses who had left their positions in the last two years. The Michigan nurses survey asked nurses about their plans to leave their current nursing jobs, reduce hours or pursue travel nursing. The researchers published the survey results in a paper entitled Patterns and Correlates of Nurse Departures From the Health Care Workforce, which appeared in the monthly journal Medical Care of the American Public Health Association. The survey was conducted via email in March 2022. Among the practicing nurses surveyed, 39 percent said they intended to leave their jobs in the next year, 28 percent said they planned to reduce their clinical hours and 18 percent said they planned to pursue travel nursing. A travel nurse is a nurse who resigns his or her staff position to take high-paying temporary positions at health care facilities where there is a nursing shortage. The Michigan nurses survey focused on working conditions in an effort to identify the causes of the departure of nurses from the workforce. Overwhelmingly, practicing nurses (83 percent) as well as those who had recently left (70 percent) cited inadequate staffing as the number one workplace concern. University of Michigan nurses line up to vote, Saturday, August 27, 2022. [Photo: MNA-UMPNC Nurse Union] Tamilikia Foster, a labor and delivery nurse at Lansing's McLaren Hospital, told the Detroit News, Because of the short staffing issues a lot of us would pick up the slack. She continued: Im getting to the point where I want to leave bedside nursing and that is sad to me because I love talking to my patients. I love interacting with them. I love seeing them get better and go home. That gives me the greatest joy. Other workplace concerns included patient safety and staff safety. Promotions and compensation were the least frequently mentioned concerns, whereas mandatory overtime was associated with a higher likelihood of departure. The survey found that 84 percent of practicing nurses reported having experienced emotional exhaustion. Of nurses who said they planned to leave their job within the next year, 72 percent said they were more likely to do so because they were emotionally exhausted. Among the nurses who already resigned, frequent use of mandatory overtime was cited as the likely cause in 72 percent of the cases, while occasional use of mandatory overtime was cited as the likely cause in 31 percent of the cases. Speaking to the University of Michigan Communications office, lead researcher Christopher Friese said that among the more troubling findings was the fact that many younger nurses intended to leave their job. The findings showed that 59 percent of nurses under 25 and 53 percent of nurses 25-35 planned to quit in the next two years. Friese said, This should set off alarm bells for everyone who cares about Michigans health care workforce. The fact that our youngest nurses are showing the highest likelihood of leaving tells us we cant just add more nurses to the problem. Friese added that the rate of departures and vacancies was not sustainable. Significantly, the survey concluded that the factors associated with the staffing crisis such as planned departures, reduced clinical hours, shifts to travel nursing and recent resignations consistently align with issues that predated the pandemic. Few nurses cited the COVID-19 pandemic specifically as the primary reason for their career decisions. The COVID-19 public health crisis, which had specific impacts on health care workers, accelerated the phenomenon of nurses leaving workplaces that had already been underway before the onset of the pandemic in early 2020. The results of the Michigan nurses survey expose the depth of the crisis of the health care system in Michigan, across the US and around the world. However, there are critical questions that the survey does not address, including (1) the fundamental cause of the staffing crisis and (2) what is required to resolve it. The health care industry has been transformed over the past decade and a halfespecially since the passage of the Affordable Care Act by the Democratic administration of Barack Obama in 2010into a series of giant corporations run by financial interests on Wall Street. The owners, investors and top executives of these corporations have driven up their profits and personal wealth through heightened exploitation of nurses and hospital staff. Forbes magazine recently published its 2023 list of the worlds richest people, and 35 of these multi-billionaires were from the US health care industry. At the top of the list was Thomas Frist Jr., MD, the co-founder of HCA Healthcare, based in Nashville, Tennessee, who has a net worth of $20.2 billion. HCA operates 168 hospitals and a total of 2,000 medical facilities in 21 states. It has 283,000 employees, of which 93,000 are nurses. In 2022, HCA Healthcare had revenues of more than $60 billion and $5.6 billion in profits. On January 27, 2023, the corporate board of directors announced a $3 billion stock buyback programthat is, more than half of the companys mega-profits were plowed back into its own shares in order to further enrich major shareholders and executives, rather than using the money to hire more nurses and improve patient care. This massive money-making is also taking place in the medical equipment industry. Ronda Stryker, of the Kalamazoo, Michigan-based Stryker Corporation, which manufactures surgical and other medical devices, has a net worth of $6.9 billion. The experience of nurses and other employees at Michigan Medicinethe health care system operated by the University of Michigan in Ann Arborprovides significant lessons on the struggle of nurses against the staffing crisis. With its recent announcement of the acquisition of Lansing-based Sparrow Health System, Michigan Medicine, which is ostensibly a public non-profit entity, will become the second largest hospital system in the state, operating 11 hospitals and taking in revenues of $7 billion. The deal to acquire Sparrow takes place while Michigan Medicine is constructing a new $1 billion 12-story hospital called The Pavilion in Ann Arbor, which will add 264 private rooms. All of these financially motivated decisions are being made in the midst of a catastrophic shortage of nurses at Michigan Medicine. The executive leadership and the University of Michigan Board of Regents have predicated their business strategy on maintaining high levels of exploitation and deliberate understaffing at Michigan Medicine. Meanwhile, Michigan Medicine has relied upon the collaboration of the Michigan Nurses Association (MNA), which represents 6,000 nurses at the hospital, to prevent any struggle from breaking out against the intolerable working conditions. During contract negotiations last spring and summer, Michigan Medicine nurses voted overwhelmingly for strike action against understaffing and mandatory overtime. However, the MNA refused to call a strike and told nurses to appeal and protest to the University of Michigan Board of Regents, which is responsible for the staffing shortage in the first place, to resolve the issues, while the union negotiated a sellout contract with the hospital management. The MNAalong with its supporters at Jacobin magazine and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA)presented the sellout contract as a groundbreaking victory, falsely telling nurses that there were provisions for contractually enforceable staffing ratios and an end to mandatory overtime. However, according to figures published by the MNA itself, three months after the ratification of the contract on October 1 of last year, there were 779 protests filed by nurses who were forced to work with inadequate staff and under unsafe conditions. The conditions for nurses at Michigan Medicine have, in fact, gotten worse since the sellout agreement was negotiated by the MNA. Throughout the Michigan Medicine contract fight and continuing today, the program fought for by the WSWS Health Care Workers Newsletter is the formation of rank-and-file committees to fight the profit-driven staffing decisions of management and its collaborators in the union bureaucracy. The setting and enforcement of standards on safety and staffing must be placed in the hands of the nurses and other hospital employees themselves, acting through networks of rank-and-file committees, and not based on what management or the union claims is possible, i.e., good for corporate profits. Through the formation of a network of democratically established and led organizations of hospital workersalong with those being established by railroad workers, autoworkers, teachers and other workers around the worldnurses can advance their own agenda against the corporate and financial interests behind the increasingly intolerable conditions in the health care industry. A family of four Roma asylum seekers who attempted to cross from Canada to the United States on March 30 only to drown in the St. Lawrence River did so out of desperation. Just days before, Canadas immigration department had rejected their latest asylum claim, despite their well-founded fears of discrimination and persecution in their native Romania and told them to prepare for their imminent deportation. Their deaths, along with those of a family of four from India who accompanied them, occurred in the immediate aftermath of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and American President Joseph Biden announcing the modernization of the reactionary, anti-refugee Safe Third Country Agreement (STCA). The eight deaths, including two children who were Canadian citizens, are a damning indictment of the trade-union and NDP-backed Trudeau Liberal government. Although Trudeau postures as leading a pro-refugee government, his Liberals have pursued a ruthless Fortress North America policy aimed at keeping the vast majority of refugees out of Canada. The STCA was amended in late March, during Bidens trip to Ottawa, closing a so-called loophole that permitted migrants crossing the border from the US outside of official checkpoints to remain in Canada and file a refugee claim. In addition to extending the STCA to cover the entire more than 9,000-kilometre-long Canada-US border, Biden and Trudeau used the US presidents two-day visit to intensify their war preparations against Russia and China. In response to the March 30 migrant deaths, Trudeau cynically proclaimed his sympathy for the victims and their families before rejecting any responsibility. At an April 3 press conference in Quebec, Trudeau called the deaths a tragedy but then preached, When people take risks to cross our borders in an irregular fashion or if they pay criminals to get them across the border, this isn't a system we can have confidence in. It apparently never occurred to Trudeau that it is precisely his governments vicious anti-immigrant policiespolicies that have even won praise from the fascistic former US President Donald Trumpthat are the reason why desperate asylum seekers pay large sums to individuals willing to smuggle them across the border. According to the UN, over 89 million people were forcibly displaced worldwide as of the end of 2021, more than the entire population of Germany. These tens of millions have been displaced chiefly by imperialist wars of aggression in which Canada has played an important role. IMF and World Bank promoted capitalist structural adjustment programs and climate-change related environmental devastation are also significant factors in the record numbers of displaced worldwide. Only a trickle of refugees have made it to Canada, with little more than 100,000 crossing the Canada-US border irregularly between 2017 and 2022. Even before its recent modernization, the STCA openly flouted both countries obligations under international law. Implemented by the former Liberal government of Paul Martin and the administration of George W. Bush in 2004, the STCA was conceived of as a punitive measure to curb the number of refugee claimants entering Canada. However, a loophole allowed migrants crossing into Canada outside of official checkpoints to seek refuge in Canada and remain in the country while their refugee claims were adjudicated. Immediately after concluding the agreement to amend the STCA, the Liberal government moved to shut down the Roxham Road crossing between Quebec and New York, the main route migrants have used to enter Canada irregularly. Since March 25, migrants attempting the crossing are being immediately remanded to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which is riddled with fascists and notorious for brutalizing migrants. The net result will be an increase in crossings at more dangerous locations, which will inevitably lead to a surge in deaths. For those like the Iordache and Chaudhari families that drowned in the St. Lawrence, no Roxham Road equivalent ever existed to cross from Canada into the US. This has long forced undocumented migrants to attempt crossings on lakes, rivers, and in the unnamed wilds along the Canada-US border. In January 2022, another family of four from India, also including two young children, was found frozen to death while attempting to cross into the US from rural Manitoba. Florin and Monalisa Iordache had twice before attempted to claim asylum but were denied by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), with the latest rejection coming just two days before they attempted to cross into the US. The couple were ethnic Roma from Romania and fled to Canada to escape the anti-Roma persecution that is promoted by the Romanian political establishment. They hoped to eventually join Florins siblings in San Francisco, California. Their children, two-year-old Evelyn and one-and-a-half-year-old Eylen, were born in Canada and were Canadian citizens. This did not deter IRCC from kicking the family out of Canada. Four plane tickets were purchased by the IRCC for the family, amounting to a marching order to clear out, despite important pending medical appointments for the children. Florin first tried to claim asylum in Canada in 2018, was denied, and was subsequently arrested near Blaine, Washington at the Canada-US border while attempting an unofficial crossing. The couple attempted another crossing into Washington in 2021 but were again detained. Every brutal aspect of the Canadian and American immigration systems treatment of refugees is laid bare when reviewing Florin Iordaches unsuccessful struggle to obtain asylum for his family in either country. According to Florins lawyer Peter Ivanyi, he was stressed to the max. Ivanyi recalled that Florin had exclaimed in exasperation, Peter, please, I have Canadian kids and they need to stay here because I cant take them home, alluding to the persecution of the Roma in his native Romania. Throughout Europe, the Roma population has long suffered vicious persecution, including as part of the Nazi Holocaust, and faces systematic discrimination to this day. When Florin and Monalisa attempted their penultimate crossing into the US in 2021, they were brought before a Canadian tribunal whose adjudicator scolded them for putting their family in an outrageous situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which was raging because of policies at every level of government that, putting profits before lives, promoted the spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The other family of four who perished when their boat capsized were the Chaudharis, originally from the Indian state of Gujarat. Pravinbhai, his wife Dakshaben, and their two adult children, Vidhi and Meet, were in Canada on tourist visas and living in Toronto before making the perilous voyage. A relative told CTV News that Pravinbhai was a successful farmer who sold a transportation business he owned six months before the family traveled to Canada. The relative found the familys cause of death shocking because Pravinbhai was deathly afraid of boats and water. Casey Oakes, a man from the nearby Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, is thought to have ferried all eight victims. He is now missing and presumed dead. The Akwesasne Mohawk Nation, off whose shores these nine individuals drowned, straddles the Ontario, Quebec, and New York borders. Though situated on the St. Lawrence River, a major waterway and economic artery, the predominantly indigenous population of the community has a median household income of only $32,384, with a 23.2 percent unemployment rate and a 50.6 percent labour force participation rate. Oakes was a resident of Akwesasne, and according to relatives would have likely taken a job transporting migrants across the river out of economic desperation. He had a history of substance abuse, but relatives say he was desperate to break the cycle of addiction. Akwesasnes Grand Chief Abram Benedict bluntly explained to the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) that economic pressure drives members of the community to engage in activities like Oakes did, at the same time turning the small community into a hub for unofficial border crossings. We need to take a moment, pause and think about how desperate these folks were that they would put their familys lives at risk to choose illegal routes to enter into another country, Benedict said on CBCs Ottawa Morning show. Destitution pushes residents of Akwesasne, as well as First Nations communities and reserves across the country, into illicit and illegal activity. Between January and October 2022, thirteen female victims of human trafficking contacted a local help centre for aid. All were being sold in Akwesasne or the nearby city of Cornwall. Government statistics show that 50 percent of human trafficking victims in Canada are indigenous women, despite making up less than 5 percent of the total population. Recent reports indicate that Akwesasne residents made multiple calls to the police as the migrants drowned, saying they heard frantic cries for help around 10 pm. The police arrived and carried out two cursory searches before leaving. Even though the area has for years been known as an illicit border crossing, the police ridiculed the residents as hearing voices or mistaking partying teenagers for the last gasps of the drowning families. One of the callers responded by saying, All I know is when I called the police to report screaming for help coming from the river it was no joke Why would I call if I heard kids playing? A Bogota woman pled guilty to discrimination and harassment a year after mocking the race of the vice president of her country. In 2022, the woman was caught on camera calling Colombian Vice President Francia Marquez racially derogatory term, a crime punishable by up to three years in prison. Marquez made history as the first person of African descent to hold this office and has faced bigoted remarks throughout her term. Francia Marquez was elected Colombias vice president on June 19, 2022. (Photo: Twitter/Francia Marquez Mina) Luz Fabiola Rubiano, a small business owner, is an example of this form of racialized harassment. Rubiano was accused of inciting hate, compromising Marquez and other Afro-Colombians right not to be discriminated against, and damaging their reputations with her vicious stereotyping. On Monday, April 10, the woman pleaded guilty to all charges, The Associated Press reported. In September 2022, Rubiano was recorded protesting in front of the Colombian Congress. When asked a question about the administration, the woman let loose her bigoted feelings toward Marquez and her Afro-Colombian fellow citizens. Luz Fabiola Rubiano de Fonseca Alias esperanza Castro Se ha entregado pic.twitter.com/VyNxjdbfYf Vasquez Nashtakuaz (@luciovasquez06) September 29, 2022 Apes are now governing us Francia Marquez is an ape what education can Black people have, they steal, attack and kill, she said. The footage quickly spread on social media platforms, and once the newly elected vice president was made aware, she had her lawyers file a complaint, prompting an investigation by the countrys leading prosecutors. Spreading race-based hate is against the law in the South American country. In 2011, a landmark anti-discrimination law was passed by Colombian then-President Juan Manuel Santos. This law legislated protection for citizens who experience acts of discrimination on the basis of ethnicity, race, gender, sexual orientation, or nationality. Story continues Should someone violate these individuals civil rights, they will see either parole, house arrest, or prison time, according to the National Democratic Institute. President Santos said the law is a form of justice, adding, It was time to get tough on this and to ensure the protection of the rights of those discriminated against. With the passage of this law, Congress takes a step forward in recognizing vulnerable populations, said German Rincon Perfetti of the National Secretariat of Women for Peace (Mujeres por la Paz). Marquez is a member of two of these vulnerable populations. She is both Black and a woman. As a Black woman in the country, she has always fought against discrimination even reaching out to U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris before her own election to remind her of the responsibility she has to seek equity for marginalized people. I am sure that the majority of the people who voted for you and for President Biden did so in hope[s] of taking the knee off of the necks of African Americans in your country, she wrote in a letter after the 2020 death of George Floyd. Continuing, As Afro-Colombians and Indigenous peoples, we suffer the same situation; those who have imposed armed conflict, lethal politics, gender-based violence, structural racism they keep their knees on our necks. When she wrote her letter to Harris, Marquez did not realize two years later, she would share the same historical first in her country. Marquez was elected in August 2022 as Colombias first Black vice president, winning on the ticket with a former guerrilla rebel, President Gustavo Petro. Afro-Colombians or Black Colombians make up about 6 percent of the nations population and, like Blacks in America, disproportionately experience police-involved violence, limited access to education and other forms of opportunity, and are overwhelmingly poor. Statistics reported that 77 percent of Afro-Colombians live in poverty or are at risk of falling into poverty. As an outspoken advocate for racial equity, the vice president is despised by many bigoted people in her country. In January 2023, months after Rubianos rant, Marquez revealed to the world there was an assassination attempt against her, according to the BBC. The vice president found a 15-pound explosive on the property of her family home. The rudimentary device was in a plastic bag containing a high-powered explosive substance made of ammonium nitrate, powdered aluminum, and nails. Her security team was able to locate it and destroy it by detonating it in a controlled environment. While the world is not privy to any assassination attempts on the U.S. vice president, she is no stranger to public harassment and discrimination based on her race. Before Marquez was publicly targeted by Rubiano, a report was released detailing how Harris was the recipient of thousands of sexist, racist, and hate-filled messages on Twitter. The research showed how Twitter did nothing to divert or stop the invective targeting Americas second-highest-ranking elected official. Americas hate crimes laws are not as aggressive as Colombias and comments against the vice president, even if they are laced with vile racist rhetoric, are protected by the First Amendment right of free speech. Last Friday, Germanys last coronavirus protection measures by both state and federal governments ended with the dropping of the requirement to wear a mask for visitors in hospitals, nursing homes and doctors surgeries. The Infection Protection Act expired and was not replaced by new legislation, for the first time since the pandemic began. Federal Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (Social Democrat, SPD) took this as an opportunity to declare the pandemic over. Considering the latest findings of the Coronavirus Expert Council and evaluation of the development of the disease burden by new variants, we can say that the pandemic is also over for Germany, he wrote on Twitter. In various interviews and public statements, Lauterbach declared the handling of the pandemic a triumph: We have successfully managed the pandemic in Germany and also with a good record, he claimed in Berlin on Wednesday. This statement is not only cynical, it shows the criminal character of the ruling class, which has literally walked over corpses in the pandemic, subordinating human life and the health of the population to ensure the profits of the banks and large corporations. The consequences have been dramatic. A COVID ward in Germany [AP Photo] Here are some facts and figures: Over 170,000 deaths in Germany have been reported during the pandemic, including 124 children and young people. An average of about 100 deaths per day are still being recorded. The actual death toll is even higher. According to the ifo Institute, excess mortality from 2020 to 2022 was 180,000, and according to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), it was 195,000 in 2020 and 2021 alone. Life expectancy in Germany has fallen by 5.7 months. At least 1 million people are estimated to be suffering from Long COVID. The actual numbers are not recorded. The consequences can affect almost all organs, make people unable to work and last a lifetime. The unchecked spread of the virus has allowed new variants to evolve that are more infectious and resistant than the original form of the virus. The variant currently spreading, XBB.1.16, has the potential to undermine the immune defences of both the vaccinated and those who have recovered from a previous infection. When Lauterbach celebrates all this as a success, he does so as a culpable representative of German capitalism. While the pandemic has meant illness, death and massive social attacks for many workers and their families, it provided an orgy of enrichment for the ruling class. Thanks to the governments Coronavirus Emergency Packages at the beginning of the pandemic, and keeping the factories open, the big corporations, banks and super-rich were able to rake in record profits. When Lauterbach criticizes past pandemic policies, he does so from the right. He again stated that the long school closures had not been necessary, a view now held by all bourgeois parties. The Left Party, for example, calls the closure of schools and nurseries incomprehensible, and the Christian Democrats (CDU) rant about devastating collateral damage. Leading politicians from the government and the opposition are also calling for a Commission of Enquiry to evaluate the measures taken and to examine their proportionality. It is obvious that such a commission will not examine the measures scientifically but will criminalize them retroactively. This is made clear, among other things, by the statements of the parliamentary director of the Liberal Democrats (FDP) parliamentary group, Christine Aschenberg-Dugnus. It was important that the hurdles for infringements on fundamental rights are set higher in the future and are subject to parliamentary control, she declared. This is the narrative of the far right. Presenting protective measures as infringements on fundamental rights was one of the main arguments of the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) and coronavirus deniers during the pandemic. The fact that members of the government are now adopting this argumentation word for word makes it clear that from the beginning, the ruling class would not take any protective measures at all in the event of another pandemic. Yet the pandemic is far from over. The number of people in Germany infected with coronavirus is currently estimated by the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) to be between 300,000 and 500,000. However, since these numbers are based mainly on voluntary PCR testing, the number of unreported cases is likely to be much higher. The reporting of coronavirus is over. But coronavirus itself is not over, pharmacologist Thorsten Lehr told the Deutsche Presse Agentur, adding that he believes the incidence rate per hundred thousand inhabitants was currently in the four-digit range. This would mean that more than 1 percent of the population was being infected every week. The available data already show how dramatic the situation really is. Active outbreaks have been reported in 102 medical treatment facilities and in 25 nursing homes and homes for the elderly in recent weeks. Between 3,000 and 5,000 people are also hospitalized with COVID each week. The number of coronavirus patients requiring intensive care is 932, and nearly 100 people still die from the virus every day. In addition, new mutations are spreading. The previously highly infectious Omicron BA sublineages, to which recent vaccines have been adapted, have now been displaced by Omicron XBB.1. The XBB sublineages, which now account for 72 percent of the infection cases, are characterized by their high immune resistance in addition to their high infectivity. The XBB.1.16 variant, which is also known as Arcturus, is extremely alarming. This is characterized by three additional mutations (compared to the Krakken variant XBB.1.5) in the spike protein. The technical director for COVID-19 at the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, already described it at the end of March as the most rapidly transmissible variant of the virus to date. In India, its spread is currently causing a massive increase in both infections and deaths. The newest film by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne, Tori and Lokita, concerns two African immigrants in Belgium. Eleven-year-old Tori (Pablo Schils) from Benin and 16-year-old Lokita from Cameroon are struggling in difficult conditions. They pretend to be brother and sister, as well as orphans, to make headway with the Belgian government bureaucracy. Lokita is attempting to get a work permit, thus far without success. She peddles drugs for a restaurant owner, also an immigrant, Betim (Alban Ukaj). Meanwhile, she owes money to the African gang who smuggled her and Tori into the country. And her mother in Cameroon is pressuring her to send more money home so her brothers can attend school. Tori and Lokita (by the Dardenne Brothers) Lokita and Tori feign being siblings, but in fact they have become that close since they met on a boat as refugees, traveling from Africa to Sicily. She looks out for him, and he is devoted to her. Tori has been able to obtain residency in Belgium because of his status as a persecuted sorcerer child in Benin. When his mother died in childbirth, his uncle claimed the infant was responsible and had the powers of a witch. Lokita maintains that she found Tori in an orphanage in Benin. The only problem is, since he was abandoned at birth, how did she know what he looked like? When asked this question by immigration officials, Lokita has a panic attack, for which she has special medication. The pair, who live in a youth center, sing in Betims restaurant to make a little money, five euros for 10 minutes, but drug dealing is their prime source of income. Betim pays Lokita for sexual favors, which he extorts from her. Police harassment is another problem. The smugglers are ruthless too. When Lokita explains that she has to send 100 euros home, the chief of the gang, some sort of cleric, tells her, I dont care about your mother. I brought you both here, you have to pay. They search her and steal virtually all her money. She still owes 600 euros more. Tori wants to start dealing too, but Lokita wants him to go to school. Again, she is turned down by the immigration department. Tori asks a polite but unyielding government official, What am I going to do here without her? To get the papers illegally through Betim, Lokita agrees to tend marijuana in his secret growhouse for three months. During that time, she wont have a phone or be able to communicate with anyone, including Tori. Betim tells her, You have a bed, food, and when you finish, the papers On the market they cost a minimum of 10,000 euros. The separation is unbearable for Tori, who moves heaven and earth to find and join Lokita. Once he does, the two fatefully decide to steal some of the marijuana and branch out on their own. This leads to a tragic conclusion. We have written a number of times about films by the Dardenne brothers (Rosetta, The Son, The Child, Lornas Silence, The Kid with a Bike, Two Days, One Night, The Unknown Girl, Young Ahmed and more) and we interviewed them in 2008. They are generally credited with making humanist or socially realistic fiction films, dealing with the hard-pressed and marginalized. Their films usually take place in rundown conditions in Belgiums decaying industrial towns and cities (the present film was shot in Liege and Condroz in the Wallonia region). Matter of factness and directness are the order of the day. The final line in Tori and Lokita is Now youre dead and Im left all alone. The conditions that the film exposes are appalling and widespread. They constitute an indictment of European democracyand the brutal war being waged on refugees and immigrants worldwide. Two essentially defenseless human beings are preyed upon by criminals and lowlifes, as the by-product of government cruelty and indifference. In their directors statement, the Dardennes describe their protagonists as exiled, solitary, exploited and humiliated adolescents and assert that our film has also become a denunciation of the violent and unjust situation experienced by these young people in exile in our country, in Europe. Moreover, they write that their dearest wish is that at the end of the film, the audience will also feel a sense of revolt against the injustice that reigns in our societies. These are praiseworthy comments. But Tori and Lokita suffers from some of the problems that recur in the Dardenne brothers films. First of all, it is rather drab and dull, without many compelling moments. Earnestness and conscientiousness are no substitute for artistic flair. The directors misguidedly assume that if they take non-professional performers and put them into harsh circumstances, arrange a few minimally dramatic encounters, this will by itself ignite a meaningful drama. Scenes of people going about their daily business are only gripping if the particular is deliberately imbued with a universal content and interest. A viewer can only draw something important from a work if something important has been built into it. Tori and Lokita Italian neo-realist films in the postwar years had small budgets and limited resources, often amateur actors, but they were propelled by social and artistic urgency. Each was an argument for organizing social life in a radically different manner. It is one thing to wish that an audience will feel a sense of revolt, it is another to organize dialogue, action, camera work and editing so that becomes a reality. It is precisely a sense of revolt that is generally missing from the Dardenne films. Tori and Lokita exudes pessimism. The Dardennes, as we have explained, began their film lives as leftists in the early 1970s in Belgium, collaborating with anarchist writer Armand Gatti, before striking out on their own with a series of documentaries aimed at working class audiences. Over the intervening complex and difficult decades, however, their radicalism and belief in the possibility of social change eroded. We argued in 2006 that they have allowed events to wear down their ideological defenses, that they carry their disappointments (in the working class, in radical change) with them, semi-consciously, and insert those in their studies of the present. They maintain their orientation at this point toward the plight of ordinary people, but they dont see that the content of that orientation has shifted dramatically. One of the ways in which those problems find reflection in Tori and Lokita is the utter separation of the immigrant youth from the larger reality of Belgian society and working class struggle in particular. The only native-born Belgians we see are a couple of helpful shelter workers, in addition to the government official. As the WSWS reported, Volvo workers in Ghent went on a wildcat strike in July 2021 (and expressed solidarity with striking Volvo workers in Virginia). In June 2022, a one-day general strike by public sector workers, as the WSWS explained, paralyzed Belgium. The strike brought together Flemish- and French-speaking workers across this country of 11.5 million inhabitants, hitting train and mass transit, logistics, postal and other public services. In November 2022, an even broader nationwide general strike against price hikes saw workers in public transport, airports, hospitals, and many private companies stay off the job. Also, workers in the countrys three main ports, Zeebrugge, Antwerp and Ghent, struck en masse and stopped shipping. The education sector was hit, with students, teachers and staff all participating in the action. The Dardennes, of course, are not obliged to acknowledge any of this, directly or indirectly, but in an atmosphere of rising social tensions, it is misleading and self-defeating to paint the plight of immigrant youth, one element of the attack on the rights of the entire working class, as an isolated, hopeless condition. In the directors statement they refer to the friendship of Tori and Lokita that allows them to resist the trials of their difficult condition as exiles and proves to be the refuge of a precious human dignity preserved in the midst of a society increasingly won over by indifference, if not by the cynicism of its own interests. Unfortunately, one feels that the Dardennes have largely given up on this indifferent and cynical society, including its working population, and this on the eve of enormous upheavals. They continue to go through the motions, but without a great deal of conviction or commitment. A high-profile public meeting in the Australian regional city of Tamworth on March 31 pointed to the racialist opposition being whipped up around the Albanese Labor governments referendum proposal to enshrine in the countrys Constitution a still undefined body to be called the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Voice. Gary Johns, former Keating Labor government minister, addressing Tamworth meeting on 31 March, 2023, with One Nation leader Pauline Hanson (far left) and far-right broadcaster Alan Jones on the platform. [Photo: Recognise a Better Way Facebook] From the platform, speakers openly invoked a spectre of an indigenous takeover of the country, claiming the Voice plan would give indigenous people special rights. Such agitation points to the kind of reactionary appeals to which the Liberal-National Coalition, led by former defence minister Peter Dutton, is pitched. Last week, Dutton announced that his Liberal Party would join the rural-based Nationals in opposing the Voice plan outright, and he would campaign personally against it. The Tamworth line-up brought together elements throughout the political establishment, from the Labor Party to the Nationalswho are a critical component of the Coalitionincluding Senator Pauline Hansons One Nation, which has a two-decade record of inflammatory slurs against indigenous people, as well as refugees, immigrants and welfare recipients. To the extent that the Coalition and the far-right could possibly gain traction on the issue of the Voice, it is because the Labor governments proposal is based on reactionary identity politics that divides workers along racial lines, while doing absolutely nothing to redress the appalling social conditions of most indigenous people. Far from affording special rights to indigenous workers and youth, the Voice is a plan, backed overwhelmingly by big business, to further integrate a small but increasingly wealthy indigenous elite into the capitalist class and its machinery of rule. In an entrenched constitutional advisory role to parliament and governments, the Voice will help to enforce the dictates of the financial markets against the working class as a whole. The Tamworth meeting was the first major public event for the referendum no campaign. Gary Johns, a right-wing former Keating Labor government minister, was joined on stage by One Nation leader Hanson, ex-deputy prime minister and National Party leader Barnaby Joyce and far-right broadcaster Alan Jones. The event was hosted by Recognise a Better Way, a group fronted by Johns, indigenous businessman and ex-Labor Party president and failed Liberal Party candidate Warren Mundine, and John Anderson, another former deputy prime minister and National Party leader. Both Anderson and Joyce remain significant figures in the Nationals. Despite being given considerable corporate media coverage in advance, the gathering attracted no great public support. All 800 tickets to the free event were sold online, but the Tamworth Town Hall was two-thirds empty, even though some people reportedly travelled long distances to attend. Organisers bunched the audience together to give the appearance of a larger crowd for the benefit of the media. This organisation says it supports symbolic recognition of indigenous Australians in a constitutional preamble, but its agenda goes far further in seeking to foment a far right base similar to that of Trump in the United States. Speakers claimed that establishing an indigenous advisory body, with the power to make representations to parliament and the executive government, and cementing it into the 1901 Constitution would create an unequal state ultimately dominated by Aborigines. According to media accounts, Johns spoke disgustingly, and at length, about integration, claiming rates of inter-marrying between indigenous and non-indigenous Australians were such that there will come a time in Australia when we are all Aboriginal. Hansons line was similar. In a March 7 media statement promoting the meeting, she said the Voice was only the first step towards permanently dividing and separating Australia on race and the creation of an Aboriginal state Make no mistake, black nationalism activists will not stop with the Voice. They will continue until they have their own nation within Australia, one which the rest of us pay for and one which has sovereignty over the rest of us. In another media release on March 8, seeking to drum up support for the meeting, Hanson revealed her partys brutal supposed solution to the appalling conditions confronting many indigenous people in remote communities. Instead of the Voice, Hanson stated: [W]e must prioritize helping those Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in real disadvantage in neglected remote communities. The only way to close the gaps is to close those communities down and help the poor people who live in them to go where they can take advantage of the economic and education opportunities the rest of us have. This would amount to the forcible or coerced removal of indigenous people, often from traditional clan land. These communities have long been deprived of the basic services and facilities that must be provided to all members of society, including those in remote locations, as fundamental social and democratic rights. In reality, the oppressive social conditions in indigenous communities are also experienced in settlements on the outskirts of cities and towns, and in working-class areas across the country. Hansons confected image of the economic and education opportunities the rest of us have could not be further from the truth. Indigenous workers and youth are among the most oppressed members of the working class, whose working and living conditions as a whole are being gutted by the cost-of-living and housing crisis, over which the Labor government is presiding. An ugly line-up Interviewed by media outlets after the Tamworth meeting, Joyce, who was deputy prime minister twice under the previous Coalition government, refused to distance himself from what the other speakers, including Johns and Hanson, had said. Joyce said he would not comment on their remarks, but his appearance at the event was to stop race distinctions being entrenched in the constitution. He claimed that the Voice referendum would lead to differentiation of rights based on race. Joyce, who remains a prominent member of parliament, openly sought to pit non-indigenous people against the indigenous population, saying: Quite obviously if someone gets more rights because of their race, then someone else is gets less rights because of the colour of the skin, or their race. The truth is that the only people who would secure rights under the Voice planwhich would have its members selected, not electedwould be representatives of the small upper middle class indigenous layer of CEOs, business owners, media personalities and senior academics. They have been groomed and cultivated by the governments, Labor and Coalition, for years at the expense of the vast majority of indigenous workers and youth. Until last month, the Recognise a Better Way organisation featured Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price, an indigenous Nationals-aligned representative of the Coalitions Northern Territory Country Liberal Party. She has a record of denouncing indigenous welfare dependency and opportunistic collectivism, and demanding law and order. Price has since joined an even more right-wing no group, called Fair Australia, organised by Advance, an Australian nationalist outfit that has agitated against Muslims, COVID-19 safety measures, climate science and China since it emerged publicly in 2019. Speaking on behalf of Recognise a Better Way, Mundine told journalists that the two groups would work together. His organisation would spearhead academic work and contribute newspaper opinion pieces, while Advances campaign would manage volunteers, door-knocking and publicly campaigns. Both Advance and One Nation are already running rabid scare campaigns, raising the alleged threat of indigenous secession or domination. Dutton has aligned the Liberal Party with these elements. We dont support Mr Albaneses Canberra Voice bureaucracy that will divide Australians, he declared last week. He proposed a local and regional voice that would focus on a practical outcome, particularly a restoration of law and order and a reduction in domestic violence. This is a clear pitch to right-wing and racist forces that seek to blame indigenous people for the devastating social conditions and staggering incarceration rates created by the capitalist profit system, and demand an even more repressive law and order response. Having suffered series of disastrous electoral defeats, from last Mays federal election and three state elections to last months Aston by-electionexposing the disintegration of the Liberal Partys traditional constituency in both affluent and middle-class areasDutton and his supporters are seeking to cultivate and mobilise a new base. However, by installing a small privileged indigenous elite in the constitution, the Voice plan itself is equally racially divisive. Labor is attempting to put an inclusive and progressive gloss on its pro-corporate and pro-war program. Under conditions of rising working-class struggles in Australia and globally against the devastation of living standards, the Voices primary purpose is to block a unified working-class fight against the ever-widening social inequality and danger of catastrophic war being created by the same corporate profit system that has shattered the lives of so many indigenous people. As proven by the bitter experiences of many previous consultative bodies and reconciliation programs for decades, the only way forward for indigenous workers and youth lies in a common struggle by the entire working class, in Australia and internationally, to overturn the oppressive capitalist order and create a socialist society, based on social equality and genuine democracy. As the almost three-month trial draws to a close for five leaders of the Proud Boys fascists, accused of seditious conspiracy in connection with former President Donald Trumps failed coup, new evidence has emerged showing the intimate connections between the right-wing militia group and local and federal police prior to the attack. Last week Roger Roots, the attorney for Proud Boy Dominic Pezzola, filed a motion seeking to compel the government to reveal all of the informants involved in the events of January 6. Five members of the Proud Boys are facing seditious conspiracy charges. [Photo: New York Times] Roots wrote, Pezzola recently learned that a federal agency other than FBIthe Homeland Security Investigations unitwas handling and running undercover CHSs (Confidential Human Sources) on Jan. 6. The Homeland Security Investigations unit, according to ICE.gov, has more than 8,700 employees, including special agents ... assigned to offices throughout the United States and around the world. The agency also boasts of a domestic footprint of more than 2,800 task force officers. Federal prosecutors have already disclosed that there were at least eight FBI informants within the Proud Boys prior to January 6. One of those informants, a member of the Kansas City Proud Boys chapter, texted his FBI handlers on December 21 that the January 6 rally should be a concern. In his filing last week, Roots claimed, at least two law enforcement agencies each outnumbered the FBI in terms of running undercover agencies, informants, and CHSs on Jan. 6. First, the DC Metro Police had at least 13 undercover plain-clothes agents. ... Next, there appear to have been some 19 CHSs on Jan. 6 belong to an agency called HIS [sic] When added to the 8 FBI CHSs now acknowledged by the prosecutors, this means that there were at least forty (40) undercover informants or agents doing surveillance among defendants on January 6. On April 11 the Trump-appointed judge overseeing the trial, Timothy Kelly, denied the motion by Roots to compel release of more information about these alleged informants. While the motion was denied, the amount of communication that has been revealed during the trial between the fascist militia members and the police is so overwhelming that last month prosecutors were forced to disclose more text messages exchanged between the former chairman of the group, Henry Enrique Tarrio, and Washington D.C. Metropolitan Police Department intelligence officer Shane Lamond. Lamond, a 22-year veteran of the police department, has been on administrative leave since last February pending the results of a federal investigation concerning his relationship with Tarrio. Earlier in the trial, Tarrios defense attorney Sabino Jauregui tried to compel Lamond to testify in Tarrios defense. This failed after Lamonds attorneys indicated their client would invoke his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination if called to testify. Seeking to show that the Proud Boys were upfront with the police about their plans, Jauregui revealed text messages exchanged between Tarrio and Lamond which showed Tarrio telling the cop where he and other Proud Boys would be rallying, along with messages where the two talked about grabbing drinks together. The next day, prosecutors responded by entering into the record 46 text messages exchanged between the pair beginning on October 24, 2019 through the last week of December 2020. Tarrio was arrested on January 4, 2021 for burning a Black Lives Matter banner during a Stop the Steal rally that was held on December 12, 2020. The messages show that Lamonds relationship with Tarrio went beyond drinks. Lamond tipped off Tarrio on possible arrests of him and other Proud Boys and the location of alleged antifa. On December 11, 2020, Lamond texted Tarrio locations within D.C. where there were alleged antifa activists. Lamond asked Tarrio if he wanted him to share the location of the alleged antifascists with other police officers or keep the information to himself and the Proud Boys, thereby allowing the militia group the opportunity to assault and beat their political opponents, free from police interference. Trump supporters, fascists, Fox News hosts and disoriented pseudo-left journalists have seized on the penetration of the Proud Boys and other right-wing militia groups by the government. They all claim that the presence of these agents proves that January 6 was not only not a coup but in a fact a deep state government plot to entrap Trump and his gullible but honest supporters. Actually, the fascist members of the militia groups, including Oath Keepers and Three Percenters as well as Proud Boys, were summoned to Washington by Trump and his political agents to attack Congress and block the certification of election, preventing Trumps defeat. The messages show that government and police agents used their positions to protect the Proud Boys from the repercussions of their criminal actions. This was revealed in an exchange on December 18, 2020 between Lamond and Tarrio. Seeking to protect Tarrio from hate crime enhancements, Lamond informed the former chairman of the Proud Boys that Metropolitan Police investigators were asking him if the Proud Boys were racist, in relation to the burning of the Black Lives Matter banner. Lamond texted Tarrio that he told investigators the Proud Boys had non-white members so [it was] not a racist thing. Lamond also informed Tarrio that the FBI was not investigating him for the burning of the banner, Just us (Metropolitan Police). Awesome, Tarrio replied. There is no question that there were more messages exchanged between the pair that have yet to be revealed. On November 7, 2020, the day the major media networks called the election for Joe Biden, Lamond wrote to Tarrio, Need to switch to encrypted messaging. The Washington Post reported that on November 7, Lamond told a Pentagon security official that chatter about Proud Boys mobilizing for violence was totally fake news. Spoke with my source, Lamond wrote, totally fake news and taken out of context. A month later, Lamond repeated this assessment to Metropolitan Police. From my source about Jan. 6, if we do [come] itll be extremely small and not in colors. No-night march. The Post reported that on January 1, 2021, Lamond told the head of the intelligence division at the Capitol Police, Jack Donohue, Enrique and his exec staff are coming dressed in all black but I think dressed up, not like antifa. The text messages between Lamond and Tarrio totally shatter the lies advanced by FBI, including director Christopher Wray, and the January 6 Select Committee, that the reason the Capitol was left defenseless was because of alleged intelligence failures. Less than two months after the attack, testifying before Congress in March 2021, FBI counter-terrorism official Jill Sanborn falsely claimed that the FBI did not have knowledge of the Proud Boys plans because the agency did not have the authority to monitor First Amendment-protected activities, telling Arizona Senator Krysten Sinema, Its not within our authorities. In the text messages turned over by prosecutors, Lamond told Tarrio, Alerts are being sent out to [Law Enforcement] that Parler accounts belong to your people are talking about mobilizing and taking back the country, Getting people spun up. In a different Senate hearing on the attack also held in March 2021, Minnesota Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar helped Wray lay the groundwork for the intelligence failures narrative by gently questioning him about the supposed lack of informants within the Proud Boys. Referring to the Proud Boys use of Chinese encrypted radios and military gear, Klobuchar commiserated with Wray, There must be moments where you think if we could have known, if we could have infiltrated this group or found out what they were doing. Do you have those moments? Wray responded, Absolutely ... we aim to bat a thousand percent and to thwart every attack that is out there ... you can be darn tootin that we are focused very, very hard on how we can get better sources, better information, better analysis, so that we can make sure that something like what happened on January 6 never happens again. In reality, Wrays agents and those of several other police and intelligence agencies had been rubbing shoulders with the fascist attackers for many weeks before January 6 and were well informed about their plans, which they permitted to unfold without the slightest opposition. Are you a Billerud worker or a resident of Escanaba? Contact us using the form at the bottom of this article to help expose this outbreak. We respect anonymity. Escanaba Billerud Paper Mill [Photo: USW L. 21] Almost 100 workers at Billerud Paper Mill located in Michigans Upper Peninsula are being afflicted by a rare fungal disease called blastomycosis, with a dozen requiring hospitalization. The number of identified fungal cases associated with the Esconaba mill has grown rapidlyfrom 53 to 81 cases in just a week. As of March 31, there were 19 confirmed cases and 74 probable cases. While the source of the infections has not been established, only mill workers have been infected. Should the probable cases be confirmed later, this incident would be the largest blastomycosis outbreak in United States history. Until now, the largest outbreak of blastomycosis was in Wisconsin in 2015 where it affected 55 people and killed 10. Some of the potential sources for the infection include soil, rotting leaves and decaying wood, the latter of which could easily been found in a paper mill. According to a press release from the company, roughly a dozen employees have been hospitalized to one degree or another due to the disease, including at least one employee who has required hospitalization for weeks. The workers who exhibited early symptoms were treated initially for bacterial pneumoniait took additional testing by medical personnel to discover the blastomycosis. Blastomycosis infection is caused by breathing in microscopic fungal spores from the air, according to the US Centers for Disease Control. It does not spread from person to person or between animals and people. Symptoms include cough (sometimes with blood), fever, chest pain, difficulty breathing, night sweats, fatigue, weight loss, muscle aches and joint pain. Treatment for the disease includes antifungal medications, often requiring courses of treatment lasting six months to a year. The National Institute of Health states, With appropriate treatment, blastomycosis can be successfully treated without relapse; however, case-fatality rates of 4%22% have been observed. Although spontaneous recovery can occur, case-patients often require monitoring of clinical progress and administration of drugs on an inpatient basis. There is evidence to support that exposure to the SARS-CoV-2 virus results in a weakened and dysregulated immune system, which suggests the blastomycosis infection could become more serious for those who have had COVID-19. The public health officer of Delta County, Michael Snyder, says Blastomycosis is exceedingly rare, but Michigans Upper Peninsula is a known risk area for blastomycosis infection due to its location. The blastomyces fungal spores inhabit the eastern US and parts of Canada. In states that track blastomycosis, reports indicate only about one or two cases per 100,000 people a year. Brian Peterson, the vice president of operations at the mill, issued a perfunctory statement, saying the health and safety of our Escanaba workers is our first priority. Pointing out that the source of the infection had not been established, he claimed the company continues to take this matter very seriously. Management claims it has done a deep cleaning of the mill. Considering that the disease cannot be spread from person to person, the rapid spread of the infection amongst the Billerud workers indicates that blastomyces fungal spores most likely exist in various locations inside the mill. The blastomycosis cases are throughout the millWe aren't sure where the exposure is coming from, United Steelworkers Local 21 union president, Gerald Kell told the Detroit Free Press. It's not clear whether more workers are contracting the disease, or whether more are exhibiting symptoms from the same exposure. The USW has 670 members at the plant. Neither the USW or the other unions at the plant, the Teamsters and International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW), have demanded the mill be closed and their members fully compensated until the factory is made safe. Instead, the USW held a pancake fundraiser, which raised a little more than $30,000. According to NLM, the average cost of hospitalization for treatment is an estimated $20,000; that is likely less than the current true cost. Workers and residents have been speaking out about the outbreak on social media. According to a TikTok video posted by area resident @alymaebenot, last I heard, they were refusing the workmans comp claims for these workers. In a Facebook post, resident Shelley Hewitt shares the firsthand account of a sick employees family member: Within one month, Ive watched my husband almost lose his life, spend 22 days at the hospital in Green Bay struggling to live, and lose 30 pounds from this fungal infection, blastomycosis, that he caught at his job!...The damage to multiple families this is affecting will just keep growing. Insurance companies are denying patients diagnosed the proper treatment upon discharge and the medication is required for 6 months at minimum, which costs $400.00 and hundreds more out of pocket for a 30-day supplyI have spoken to Infectious Disease doctors in Wisconsin who have confirmed this will take up to a year to recover from for my husband it cost $9,000 per day [that he] was in the hospital, we were there for 22! Billerud is going to start denying their employees workmans comp as well, claiming these employees cant prove they caught these infections at Billerud even though there is not 1 cas[e] outside this Paper MillBillerud almost cost my husband his life, along with the others who have a long road ahead of them of recovery!...Spread the word to your loved ones, they can not and will not sweep this under the rug! In a letter to the editor of the Escanaba Daily Press, Leonard Menary wrote, For the past month and a half, we as a community have heard about the unsafe conditions of working at the Billerud Paper MillThe cases of people contracting blastomycosis and the long-term effects this will have on these peoples families are saddening The lack of transparency can be scary to not only the families of mill workers but everyone in Escanaba. The Billerud mill is the largest manufacturing employer north of Midland in the state of Michigan, according to the Michigan Economic Development Corp. It is owned by the American Subsidiary of Billerud AB, a Swedish pulp and paper manufacturer. In a city of roughly 12,000 residents, the 2,200-acre plant has almost 900 employeesmaking it a major employer that sets the conditions of life for workers in the area. The mill boasts an estimated $360 million in annual profit. In January of this year, the state House and Senate both passed a supplemental spending bill that included $200 million for improvements at the Billerud paper mill, with Governor Whitmer signing the state senate bill just a few days later. In response to the passing of Senate Bill 7, Republican representative Greg Markkanen said, This is the state fulfilling its obligation to the paper, cardboard and timber industries, and to the hard-working folks in the UP. The representatives from Billerud stated they were planning to spend $1 billion in upgrades. Paper mill workers continuously face health threats despite the $422 billion revenue the industry generates. Paper dust is highly combustible and can lead to dust explosions at manufacturing facilities. Pulp and paper manufacturing can also be very hazardous due to massive weights and the maneuvering of pulpwood loads. Workers can get hit or crushed by loads or suffer lacerations. Public Health Delta & Menominee Counties, along with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, continue to investigate the outbreak. At the request of Billerud, the local and state agencies were joined by federal investigators from the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for a health hazard investigation at the mill on March 27 and 28. However, federal and state agencies like the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) have a track record for placating workers with the illusion of transparency in order to suppress workplace struggles. In 2021, OSHAs median penalty for killing a worker in the US was $9,753. Far from being a deterrent, this is a blank check for corporations to maintain unsafe conditions and relentlessly increase exploitation. Upwards of 120,000 deaths are caused by chemical exposures and other occupational illnesses. Workers in Escanaba should contact the WSWS using the form below to expose the outbreak at Bellerud and get help building a rank-and-file committee to fight for workers control over safety. Sri Lankan police arrested three people and unleashed a violent attack on a March 31 demonstration marking the first anniversary of the anti-government protests that began outside the house of former President Gotabhaya Rajapakse in Mirihana and led to a mass movement that forced his resignation. Security forces assembled near Colombo Campus on March 7, 2023, in response to student protest against governments austerity and attacks on democratic rights. [Photo: WSWS] Security personnel, including 3,000 policemen, were deployed to the area, well before the event. Police attacked the protesters, attempted to grab their placards, and forced them towards the nearby town of Nugegoda. Police physically attacked and tore the shirt of journalist Shantha Wijesuriya as he was photographing the police violence. Vindana Prasad Karunaratne, a Sirasa TV journalist was also threatened by police. Anuruddha Bandara, Sudara Jayasinghe and Dhanish Ali, leading figures in last years Galle Face Green protests, were arrested but released later that night on condition that they take no legal action against the police. After the police chased away the crowd, protesters congregated at Nugegoda junction, carrying placards and chanting slogans Dont postpone elections! and Hands off the rights of people! Notwithstanding the Socialist Equality Partys principled opposition to the pro-capitalist policies of the protest organisers, we strongly condemn the violent government-ordered assault. The Wickremesinghe government is attempting to suppress all popular opposition to its International Monetary Fund-dictated austerity policies. One year ago on March 31, President Rajapakse ordered a vicious police attack on a protest in the same area. The mass uprising demanding the resignation of Rajapakse and his government erupted and spread nationally in the aftermath of that attack. Millions of workers called for an end to power cuts and for adequate supplies of food, medicines, petrol and other essentials and took part in two one-day general strikes on April 28 and May 6. Rajapakse ignominiously fled the country on July 13, and then resigned. A section of the Galle Face Green demonstration in 2022. [Photo: WSWS] Confronted with this mass movement, the ruling elite handed over the task of defending the capitalist state to Ranil Wickremesinghe, a notorious pro-US stooge and International Monetary Fund (IMF) enforcer, making him president. The Wickremesinghe government, in exchange for the recently announced $US2.9 billion bailout loan from the IMF, is now implementing a new round of social attacks. Even the IMF has described the agenda as a brutal experiment. This is provoking a new round of struggles with workers in telecom, petroleum, education, post, bank, power, ports, water supply and other sectors taking action in recent weeks. Haunted by last years mass anti-government uprising, the Wickremesinghe government, backed by the capitalist class, is attacking basic democratic rights, so as to preempt strikes and protests by workers, students and other social layers. Violating the constitution, the Wickremesinghe government has postponed local government elections, while using the Essential Public Service Act and deploying the military against anti-privatisation protests and strikes by petroleum workers. Last month the government announced a new Anti-Terrorism Bill, which, if adopted, will ban and harshly punish anyone protesting against government policies. In this situation, it is critical to draw the political lessons from last years popular uprising. Leading figures in last years Galle Face Green protests, which politically diverted workers and youth into support for an interim bourgeois government, are at it again, this time to pressure the Wickremesinghe regime. Those involved in last months one-year anniversary protest included, Eranga Gunasekera, national organiser of Socialist Youth Union, which is affiliated to the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP); Lahiru Weerasekera, the national organiser of Youth for Change led by the pseudo-left Frontline Socialist Party (FSP); and Dhanish Ali and Anuruddha Bandara. These formations have no fundamental differences with the IMF-dictated austerity measures. The JVP and its National Peoples Power (NPP) front are attempting to win political power, claiming they can resurrect Sri Lankan capitalism more effectively than Wickremesinghe. The JVP and its FSP breakaway insist that their solutions can be achieved without challenging the parliamentary framework and the profit system. Addressing the Nugegoda protest on March 31, following the police attack, FSP youth leader Lahiru Weerasekera cynically declared, We are acting on earlier lessons learnt with [new] experiments and called for more struggle. The FSPs perspective is to pressure the government by building alliances with the trade unions and various opposition political parties to form peoples councils to win concessions. While the FSP, JVP and trade union bureaucrats denounce Wickremesinghes elevation into the presidency, his austerity measure programs and attacks on democratic rights, they cannot answer one question. Why, after the mass working-class movement forced the resignation of Rajapakse and his government, was Wickremesinghe able to come to power? The answer is because these organisations betrayed the mass movement, diverting the mass movement behind the demands of the SJB and JVP for an interim capitalist regime. From the outset, the Socialist Equality Party (SEP) in Sri Lanka fought to mobilise the working class independently, as the leadership of the poor and other oppressed layers, on the basis of an international socialist program. Against the political illusion-mongering of the opposition parties and the pseudo-left, the SEP and the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, called for abolition of the executive presidency and the repressive state apparatus, and for a workers and peasants government committed to socialist policies. Based on the political lessons of the popular uprising, the SEP issued a statement on July 20, 2022 calling for a Socialist and Democratic Congress of Workers and Rural Masses as the basis for a political fight against the Wickremesinghe regime and the capitalist class. We called for the Congress to be based on delegates of action committees of workers and rural toilers, built at every workplace, estate and the countryside. Such committees will only be able to fight for the interests of the workers and the poor if they are politically independent of all the bourgeois parties and the trade union bureaucracies. Drawing on the political lessons of the betrayal of revolutionary upsurge of the Egyptian working class in 2011, the SEP statement warned: It [the working class] cannot allow the political initiative to slip from its hands. It needs to tear itself away from all of the political parties of the bourgeoisie, their pseudo-left hangers-on and trade union apparatuses. It must establish its own political instruments to defend its class interests and fight for power. The SEPs call for the building of independent action committees emerges now with added urgency. If power is left in the hands of the bourgeoisie, it will only result in a political catastrophe. The working class cannot fight the Wickremesinghe governments class war if it remains trapped inside the pro-capitalist trade unions and the pseudo-left. As the SEP statement insisted, the crucial lesson of last years uprising is the building of the SEP as the mass revolutionary party of the working class and rallying of the urban and rural poor against the capitalist profit system. Although there has been a complete blackout on the pandemic, Bidens declaration of the end of COVID emergency measures has been denounced by numerous principled scientists, healthcare workers, and advocates across the globe. They oppose policies that allow the coronavirus to continue to spread, cause infections, kill thousands of people each day and injure many more with disabling symptoms known as Long COVID. Health care expert Gregory Travis, who continues to maintain a daily analysis of the state of COVID in the US, made the important observation, 400K died from COVID under Trump. 700K died from COVID under Biden and that number is increasing by 12,000 new deaths every month. And now Biden is ending the national COVID emergency. Yet, in September, he will extend the 9/11 national emergency for its 23rd year. The reference to 9/11 is particularly relevant in the present circumstances as the US perpetuates the war drive in Ukraine. Indeed, every meaningful mechanism to track the virus has been undermined to force the population of every country to accept a lethal and dangerous virus as a permanent reality. Yet the global social crisis it has caused entering the fourth year of the pandemic, and in particular within the health sector that is seeing nurses and doctors leave in droves, is seeing a rise in excess mortality that continues to remain unprecedented. A social media thread among physicians has been gaining traction since Bidens ignominious signing. Physicians and healthcare workers have taken to Twitter to protest against these criminal policies. For example, Dr. Nili Kaplan-Myrth, a family physician in Canada, wrote on the issue of the ending of the national COVID emergency measures, I also refuse to be an accomplice in the (re)infection of my patients and community. I will do what I can to prevent the spread of COVID-19, to educate people about Long COVID, and to take care of others. Dr. David Berger, a physician in Australia who has been censored and attacked by Australian authorities on his perspective regarding COVID, recently commented regarding the complete abandonment of policies against the transmission of COVID in hospitals and mortality among immunocompromised people who catch the virus in these settings. He tweeted, It isnt just unethical. It is head-breakingly stupid to devote vast resourceshuman, financial, medicalto treating cancer patients, only to then infect them with a devastating virus in hospitals as a result of gross negligence. The declaration of the end of the pandemic will also mean the complete privatization and subordination of public health to the demands of finance capital. When the need for public health is most urgent, Biden has chosen to sign into law the official end of COVID irrespective of the true state of the public health threat it poses. COVID-19 patient in a hospital (Photo: Wikimedia Commons) As every public health agency turns a blind eye to the real conditions on the ground, the highly transmissible Omicron subvariant known as Arcturus, XBB.1.16, is gaining momentum across the globe. While a massive surge of infections continues to accelerate in India where the lineage was first detected, in the first week of April, cases in Vietnam have quadrupled. Since the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has on several occasions willfully omitted data on the state of new variants, one can assume such will be the case with XBB.1.16 and its sub-lineages. Nicolas Smit, an engineer, scientist, and advocate who has raised awareness of effective masking since the beginning of the pandemic, offered a piercing critique of the Biden administrations malfeasance. He said, During the 2020 presidential election, Joe Biden said that Americans should not re-elect Trump because he placed politics over science and that he would never repeat the same mistakes. He said, if elected he would ensure workers in every industry would finally have access to PPE and that he would personally role model good behavior including mask use. However, once elected he worked with large corporations including airlines to put workers at risk by doing things like reducing isolation times and discouraging remote work. Once elected, he allowed the destruction of the domestic mask industry resulting in medical masks not being able to be put into widespread use even in hospitals and allowed OSHA to water down workplace COVID protections. He allowed agencies to stop tracking COVID stats including infections, deaths, and hospitalizations so the country would be flying blind and actively. He actively discouraged mask use even in health care settings resulting in their public stigmatization. Biden is now trying to pretend the pandemic is over, removing all the safeguards protecting public health, the economy and the supply chain plus allowing the pharmaceutical industry to price gauge the public now that the government is no longer willing to pay for pharmaceutical options which would make it even harder for those with low incomes to be able to keep themselves and their families safe. A scientist from the UK, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of reprisal, said of the declaration of ending COVID emergencies, I remain concerned that we appear now to have never-ending waves of SARS-CoV-2 virus infections. Each wave adds to the risk of more people, often those more vulnerable in society, contracting Long COVID. And of more hospitalizations and further waves of deaths. Why would any government be declaring the pandemic is over at this point in time? Now is the time to increase surveillance, not stop it. Now is the time to promote awareness and effective public health. If anything, whats needed is better leadership, better preparedness, and actions such as those which would improve our understanding of how the virus is transmitted, and how best to protect communities and individuals from spreading the disease. The suspension of the ONS [Office for national Statistics] weekly COVID Infection Survey needs to be lifted so that we can have better information about the current situation in the UK. The time is not right to declare the emergency over. The evidence appears to suggest otherwise as new variants continue to cause concern. Dr. Elisa Perego, who is an advocate for Long COVID patients, doing research in Italy, wrote eloquently on her social media account, You can pretend an emergency is over politically. And yet, its not in reality. People who cant protect themselves or afford the best care will pay the highest price. People have died from Covid when it could have been prevented, for example from infections in healthcare. There are many factors that drive a catastrophic event, like a pandemic, to linger and last and stay. Some are biological, like the features of the virus. Some are social, like the pandemic itself being ok, not too bad, or even useful to those in power. Whats a person with dementia dying from Covid, painfully, alone, in a nursing homedying without even knowing whyfor some policymakers, who can now announce triumphantly something like the pandemic is over, and we had a good success with it? Whats mass infection of children, if the masses can keep working for a wage, sometimes small, and consuming? Whats a cancer patient getting Covid in the hospital, when the hospital can get rid of the masks, which some in power had called the Scarlet Letter of the pandemic? Laura Miers, who has suffered disabling Long COVID and been a fierce critic of the anti-pandemic policies promoted by the Biden administration, damningly wrote, I dont think people realize the PRIMARY goal of the last three years was to deliver a death blow to public health while erasing workers protections. They arent going to stop. They need us working and consuming undistracted, welcoming our premature deaths like good little patriots. The ending of the COVID national emergency is only a prelude to the coming end of the public health emergency (PHE). More than 22 million people will be forced off their public health insurance. A person who becomes infected with COVID and requires hospital admission, even without ventilation or intensive care services, can expect to pay somewhere between $31,000 (Maryland) and $111,000 (California) with an average cost of $74,591. With critical care services, that cost could climb to over $300,000. Jess, a prominent advocate on Twitter explained to the WSWS that she has been working with seniors, specifically those suffering from Alzheimers disease in long-term-care facilities. When COVID hit, she felt the need to lend a voice to those that public health abandoned, especially the elderly and children. She said, Just because POTUS made the awful mistake of signing a declaration that COVID is over, this is still a global emergency. We have left the population in the dark, withholding data, hiding real numbers, ignoring the severe consequences of letting a vascular pathogen rip through the population. She added, We are continuously told we have tools, all the while removing them one by one. After three years we know what works. We know how to reduce transmission. Yet, we choose to allow people to die and become disabled from a preventable virus. Millions are suffering from Long COVID. Where is the urgency to support them? Where is the urgency to find treatments? We need to clean the air. We need to continue masking. We need next generation vaccines, and we need to stop wishing the pandemic away. Its not over. Its far from over. The WSWS has been at the forefront of calling for the precautionary principle and eradication of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. As suggested by many of the voices quoted here, defending these elementary healthcare principles takes on political dimensions. The central lesson of this terrible, worldwide experience is that a socialist transformation of society is urgently needed to protect the well-being and welfare of the worlds population. (Bloomberg) -- A tax agreement between Apple Inc. and its hometown of Cupertino, California, has come under scrutiny from state regulators, potentially slashing the amount of money that the company sends to the city. Most Read from Bloomberg The California Department of Tax and Fee Administration launched an audit of the arrangement in 2021, and Cupertinos finance director is scheduled to explain the findings to the city council on Thursday. The upshot for Cupertino is that local tax revenues are expected to fall 73% this year. Although Apple isnt named in the city staff report, the company is Cupertinos largest source of sales tax revenue. According to the audit, revenue will drop to $11.4 million in the current fiscal year from $42.1 million, and Cupertino may be required to return money to the state that it has received in previous years. The city may have to cut staff and other spending to cover the shortfall. This decline in revenue is due to a change in sales tax distributions based on the anticipated outcome of a state audit of one of the citys taxpayers, Cupertino said in a written statement. The city is taking early action to inform the council members and community in preparation for developing budget-balancing strategies as we prepare next years budget. At issue is the companys treatment of online sales. Under California law, a local portion of sales tax goes to the location where the transaction takes place, not the location of the customer. Apple treats all online purchases of products in the state of California as if they were made in Cupertino, setting aside the 1 percentage point local portion of the 7.25% state sales tax for its hometown. The arrangement applies to Apples online sales to consumers in the state, as well as transactions with other businesses in California, sales at its two retail stores in Cupertino, and use tax on the companys own equipment purchases, city officials have said. Story continues The company remits all sales tax it receives to the state tax department, which then allocates the local portion to Cupertino. The city passes on 35% of its total to Apple. Those payments to Apple have added up to $107.7 million since 1998, according to city payment records examined by Bloomberg Tax. Even so, the sales tax revenue at issue in Cupertino is a small portion of the total taxes that Apple pays to California, the city and other jurisdictions. A representative for Apple didnt have an immediate comment. The California tax department declined to confirm that the audit is related to Apple due to taxpayer confidentiality rules. Our Local Revenue Branch is continually reviewing reported local revenue allocations by taxpayers to determine if those allocations are correct or need reallocation, agency spokeswoman Tamma Adamek said. Cupertino can appeal the tax departments findings. Under the agreement between Apple and Cupertino, the company bears all costs in defending the city in administrative proceedings relating to whether the city is the proper point of sale location. The sales tax department has noticed that local sales tax revenue is concentrated in a few cities, due to agreements like the Apple-Cupertino pact, director Nicolas Maduros has said. The department has been auditing whether companies participate enough in online sales to assign them to cities with warehouses or offices. In a similar case, the city of Shafter, California, and Williams-Sonoma Inc. are appealing the departments determination that a tax-sharing agreement between them is a sham. The agency found that most of the transactions assigned to a call center in Shafter take place elsewhere. The Office of Tax Appeals heard the case in February and will issue a ruling in a few months. (Updates with comment from Cupertino in fourth paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. The keyboard and applications on an Apple MacBook Pro are shown at the Apple retail store in San Francisco (Reuters) -Apple Inc is in talks with suppliers to make MacBooks in Thailand as part of the company's ongoing efforts to expand its manufacturing presence beyond China, the Nikkei reported on Thursday. Suppliers involved in the talks already have manufacturing complexes in Thailand for other clients and are discussing possible assembly and production of components and modules for MacBooks, sources from three suppliers involved in the talks with Apple told Nikkei. Apple has also been mass producing its Apple Watch in Thailand for more than a year, according to the report. The iPhone maker did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. At least 18 suppliers including Compal Electronics Inc, Sony Group Corp and Western Digital Corp have operations in Thailand, according to Apple's latest supplier list. Apple and its key suppliers have been shifting production away from China, where strict COVID-19 curbs disrupted Foxconn's biggest iPhone factory last year. Apple is also seeking to avoid a hit to its business due to tensions between Beijing and Washington. Separately, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday that the company has tripled its production of iPhones in India, assembling over $7 billion worth of smartphones in the country in the last fiscal year. There has been a significant increase in Apple's production in India as it attracts more new customers in the Asian country and shifts production from China, TechInsights industry analyst Abhilash Kumar said. Foxconn said last month it plans to ramp up investment outside of China. Pegatron Corp, another Apple supplier, was in talks to open a second India factory, Reuters reported last month. (Reporting by Akriti Sharma, Yana Gaur and Nivedita Balu in Bengaluru; Editing by Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Shounak Dasgupta) NEWARK, DE / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / As per the latest market research conducted by FMI, the global automotive coolant aftermarket is expected to record a CAGR of 4% from 2023 to 2033. In 2023, the market size is projected to reach a valuation of US$ 894.82 million. By 2033, the valuation is anticipated to reach US$ 1324.55 million. Future Market Insights, Inc., Thursday, April 13, 2023, Press release picture The efficient combination of ethylene, propylene glycol, and ethylene is predicted to boost the use of automotive coolants, which is likely to have an impact on the market. Also, the industry is growing due to the capacity to clean pollutants out of engine cooling systems. The growth of the automobile industry, the surge in investments, and the rise in disposable income all benefit the automotive coolants aftermarket. Drivers and challenges have an impact on market dynamics, which can impact businesses. Find more insights in a sample report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-11693 Manufacturers introduce innovative brands and products to provide customers with customized coolant and lubricant solutions. Several global OEMs are making investments in the nation either through joint ventures with well-established companies or directly after FDI norms have been implemented in setting up their production unit or improving their sales and dealership networks around the nation. For example, ExxonMobil revealed its finalized company goals in December 2021. These plans call for boosting its spending on programs to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by US$ 15 billion over the following six years while maintaining controlled capital investments in its industry-leading portfolio. Noble Midstream became an indirect, wholly-owned subsidiary of Chevron when the previously announced acquisition was finalized, it was revealed in May 2021 by Chevron Corporation and Noble Midstream Partners LP. Also, the passenger vehicle market is being driven by strong demand for e-class, crossovers, SUVs, and hatchbacks, which is likely to have a positive impact on the automotive coolant aftermarket. The market for passenger vehicles is being driven by consumers' rising preference for private transportation and their increasing purchasing power. Story continues Automotive Coolant Aftermarket Significant Challenges: As part of their maintenance plans for vehicles, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are increasingly providing coolant products and services. This might lower aftermarket demand for third-party coolant products and services. Financial distress and economic downturns can have an effect on vehicle maintenance and sales, which may therefore have an effect on the demand for coolant products and services. Competitive Background: The manufacturers are investing in research and development, and are introducing innovative methods to boost production capacity. Product development and market expansion are significant aspects of the automotive coolant aftermarket as a result, market participants are likely to have a better overall revenue share in the global automotive coolant aftermarket. Expand operations in the future - To get requisite details, ask for a custom report: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/customization-available/rep-gb-11693 Key Takeaways: The automotive coolant aftermarket is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 894.82 million in 2023. The expanding domestic coolant production can certainly assist coolant manufacturers in meeting the rising coolant demand worldwide. Over the following few years, this is anticipated to fuel the automotive coolant aftermarket. The automotive coolant aftermarket is predicted to record a CAGR of 4% through 2033. The automotive coolant aftermarket is expected to surpass US$ 1324.55 million by 2033. Automotive Coolant Aftermarket - Key Segments Product Type (Organic, Inorganic, Hybrid) Vehicle Type (On-Road Vehicles, Passenger Cars, Commercial Vehicles, Motorcycles & Scooters, Off Road Vehicles, Tractors, Construction Based Vehicles (Loaders, Excavators, Bulldozers, Road Rollers, Mobile Cranes), Industrial Vehicles (Towing Tractors, Fork Lift Trucks, UTV Carriers) Sales Channel (Vehicle Service Stations, Independent Garages, Authorized Dealers/ Franchise, Multi-brand Dealers, Online Sales) Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa (MEA) Speak to our Research Expert: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-11693 Automotive Coolant Aftermarket Report: Scope Attribute Details Forecast Period 2023 to 2033 Historical Data Available for 2018 to 2022 Growth Rate (2023 to 2033) 4% CAGR Market Analysis US$ million for Market Value and Metric Tons for Market Volume Key Regions Covered North America, Latin America, Europe, East Asia, South Asia, Oceania, Middle East & Africa Key Segments Covered Product Type, Vehicle Type, Sales Channel Report Coverage Market Forecast, Competitive Landscape, Country-wise and Category-wise Insights, Key Trends, Key Challenges Table of Content 1. Executive Summary | Automotive Coolant Aftermarket 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 3.1.1. 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. Product Life Cycle Analysis 3.5. Supply Chain Analysis 3.5.1. Supply Side Participants and their Roles 3.5.1.1. Producers 3.5.1.2. Mid-Level Participants (Traders/ Agents/ Brokers) 3.5.1.3. Wholesalers and Distributors 3.5.2. Value Added and Value Created at Node in the Supply Chain 3.5.3. List of Raw Material Suppliers 3.5.4. List of Existing and Potential Buyers 3.6. Investment Feasibility Matrix 3.7. Value Chain Analysis 3.7.1. Profit Margin Analysis 3.7.2. Wholesalers and Distributors 3.7.3. Retailers 3.8. PESTLE and Porter's Analysis 3.9. Regulatory Landscape 3.9.1. By Key Regions 3.9.2. By Key Countries 3.10. Regional Parent Market Outlook 3.11. Production and Consumption Statistics 3.12. Import and Export Statistics 4. Global Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast, 2023 to 2033 4.1. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Million) & Volume (Litre) Analysis, 2018 to 2022 4.2. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Million) & Volume (Litre) Projections, 2023 to 2033 4.2.1. Y-o-Y Growth Trend Analysis 4.2.2. Absolute $ Opportunity Analysis For more Insights: https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/automotive-coolant-aftermarket Explore Wide-ranging Coverage of FMI's Automotive Landscape EV Coolants Market Size: is anticipated to rise to US$ 3,704.9 million by 2033. This increment is projected to be achieved by the market registering a CAGR of 28.7% in terms of revenue through the projected timeline. Automotive ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) Market Share: is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.6% during the forecast period and is anticipated to reach a valuation of US$ 131 billion by 2032. Autonomous Vehicles Market Growth: is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% between 2022 and 2032, totalling around 99,451 million by 2032. Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Automotive Market Outlook: is set to record a robust CAGR of 55% during the forecast period. The market holds a share of US$ 9.3 billion in 2023 while it is anticipated to cross a value of US$ 744.39 billion by 2033. Railway Coupler Market Demand: is anticipated to register a moderate CAGR of 3.7% from 2023 to 2033. The railway coupler market predicts the net worth of the market share to grow from US$ 3,954.7 Million in 2023 to over US$ 5,687.2 Million by 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. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com SOURCE: Future Market Insights Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/749032/Automotive-Coolant-Aftermarket-is-Expected-to-Reach-a-Revenue-of-US-13245-Million-at-a-Steady-CAGR-by-2033-End-Get-Key-Data-Analysis-from-Future-Market-Insights-Inc PARIS, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Automotive technology benchmarking leader A2MAC1 has launched operations in Turkey as an important step in its strategic growth. "We are delighted to continue our expansion in the Turkish market with the opening of our new office in Istanbul," said Frank Bunte, CEO of A2MAC1. A2MAC1, an automotive technology leader headquartered in France, has opened its Istanbul office in Turkey. A2MAC1 CEO, Frank Bunte, said at a press conference about the launch of the company's Turkey operations that they have been supporting the Turkish automotive industry and the Turkish economy for nearly 20 years. Explaining that A2MAC1 will support the earthquake victims with the strong social responsibility mission they have undertaken, Bunte said that they will donate up to 20% of revenues generated in Turkey throughout the rest of the year 2023, but at least 100,000 Euros, to earthquake victims and noted that they will contact AFAD for this purpose. Frank Bunte, CEO of A2MAC1, continued his words as follows: "The automotive industry in Turkey has significantly increased its competence in innovation. We are proud to be a trusted partner of more than 500 companies to support the industry's success both in Turkey and internationally. Our motto is to always anticipate market trends and meet the needs of our customers. Therefore, we are delighted to continue our growth in the Turkish market with the opening of our new office in Istanbul. This opening is an important step in our growth strategy. Our staff in our Turkey organization will provide innovative and high value-added solutions to our customers in a smarter, greener and more integrated way than ever before." Bunte said: "For more than a quarter of a century, A2MAC1 has been a strategic partner for its stakeholders. As a global leader, we provide cutting-edge innovative solutions, market trends and growth opportunities for our customers. With an unrivaled database of over 40 million images and 3D models of more than 1,800 analyzed vehicles, we help manufacturers and industrial companies generate ideas, optimize designs and significantly reduce costs." Story continues Stating that A2MAC1 was established in 1997, Bunte stated that as a leading company in the field of benchmarking in 18 different locations around the world, they have more than 850 customers and more than 700 employees and that they aim to increase this number to over 1000 and that they will recruit in Turkey, especially in the field of engineering. Frank Bunte stated that they have a platform with over 750 thousand users and that they basically produce solutions for their customers at the point of sustainability and digitalization, and continued his words as follows: "Our platform contains a lot of data about electric vehicles. The platform has the data of over a thousand vehicles and with this data pool, we predict how the future designs of automobiles will be. TOGG in Turkey also benefited from this service and contacted us at the first stage. While we provide service locally here, we will also offer comprehensive data to manufacturers. By showing the technologies inside the vehicles, we provide not only data but also technical support to our customers. We share the data obtained at the end of this comprehensive process with our customers. In addition, we offer our own platform and a digital copy of the vehicle is made on the platform. By clicking on any part on the vehicle on the platform, we can see data about the part. At this point, the costs of the parts can also be calculated. We currently have around 10 customers in Turkey and we aim for this to be over 50 by end of 2023.." About A2MAC1 A2MAC1 is the world's leading provider of competitive benchmarking insights and solutions for the automotive and mobility industry and beyond. From technology trends, cost-performance, sustainability, market opportunities, supply chain options and software cost-value engineering, A2MAC1 is a pioneer in analyzing and transforming data into actionable, mission-critical insights. With more than 700 employees worldwide (Austria, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, the Netherlands, Thailand, Turkey, the United Kingdom and the United States), the group's services are used by more than 750,000 people. For over 26 years, professionals from the entire automotive and mobility value chain and beyond. Its unique, easy-to-use, proprietary 3D technology platform helps manufacturers optimize the design and materials of their products throughout their lifecycle, with a constant focus on decarbonization and innovation while ensuring continuous cost and value optimization. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/automotive-technology-benchmarking-leader-a2mac1-launches-operations-in-turkey-301796205.html SOURCE A2Mac1 For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But even the best stock picker will only win with some selections. So we wouldn't blame long term Basilea Pharmaceutica AG (VTX:BSLN) shareholders for doubting their decision to hold, with the stock down 31% over a half decade. So let's have a look and see if the longer term performance of the company has been in line with the underlying business' progress. Check out our latest analysis for Basilea Pharmaceutica 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. Basilea Pharmaceutica 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 might give us a better handle on how its value is changing over time. Revenue is actually up 4.9% over the time 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. 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 know that Basilea Pharmaceutica has improved its bottom line over the last three years, but what does the future have in store? You can see how its balance sheet has strengthened (or weakened) over time in this free interactive graphic. A Different Perspective We're pleased to report that Basilea Pharmaceutica shareholders have received a total shareholder return of 24% over one year. That certainly beats the loss of about 6% per year over the last half decade. This makes us a little wary, but the business might have turned around its fortunes. While it is well worth considering the different impacts that market conditions can have on the share price, there are other factors that are even more important. For instance, we've identified 3 warning signs for Basilea Pharmaceutica (2 make us uncomfortable) that you should be aware of. Story continues 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 Swiss exchanges. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Musk BBC Interview - BBC News The BBC has hailed its brilliant Elon Musk interview even after the combative billionaire accused the broadcaster of covering up Covid vaccine side effects. Dominic Ball, the BBCs money, tech and data editor, sent a message to staff saying: Now thats what I call a scoop! He described the sit-down as the biggest interview of the year, adding: Often these things require meticulous planning but this was more a case of seeing an opportunity, seizing it and then everyone reacting brilliantly in the moment. Mr Ball wrote: The handling of the story has been smart and sharp and is ensuring the interview has huge impact. The praise comes despite testy exchanges between BBC journalist James Clayton and Mr Musk, who frequently turned the tables on his interviewer. In one incident after Mr Clayton questioned Mr Musk about hate speech, the Twitter chief accused the broadcaster of double standards, saying the BBC had covered up the side effects of Covid vaccinations and spread misinformation about masks. Mr Musk said: Does the BBC hold itself at all responsible for misinformation regarding masking and the side effects of vaccinations. And not reporting on that at all? And what about the fact that the BBC was put under pressure by the British government to change editorial policy? Some of the BBC's early coverage of masks, in which experts questioned their effectiveness, now carry disclaimers about the original reporting. Last month, the Guardian reported that BBC editors had asked journalists to avoid using the word lockdowns early in the pandemic on the urging of Downing Street. The BBC insisted at the time its decisions were editorially independent and has declined to comment on Mr Musks claims. Mr Musk also accused Mr Clayton of lying after he claimed there had been an increase in hate speech on Twitter since its $44bn takeover last year. Mr Musk said: I say sir that you don't know what you are talking about... because you cannot give me a single example of hateful content, not even one tweet. Story continues You claimed that hateful content is high. That is false, you just lied. Mr Clayton has since acknowledged that he could have approached the interview differently, but said he only had a few hours to prepare and insisted the discussion still produced news lines. Speaking on Radio 4s Media Show, the journalist said: I felt I learnt quite a lot from the interview, even though it was stressful and it did feel very raw and looking back at it I could have probably asked some better questions and handled some of his counter offensives better. He added: [There are] definitely lessons for me in terms of how I would hold an unaccountable billionaire to task in the future, but equally he was being evasive at times, he was being slippery at times, but also he was giving line after line after line of news and he was genuinely trying to answer the questions. HARRISBURG, Pa., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Belco Community Credit Union, headquartered in Harrisburg, PA, held its 84th Annual Business Meeting on March 29 at the Penn Harris Hotel, Camp Hill, PA. Belco Community Credit Union, a Pennsylvania-based full-service financial institution offering checking, savings, loan, investment, and small business products and services, held its 84th annual meeting and elected a slate of board members for 2024. Established in 1939 to serve employees of Bell Telephone Company in Harrisburg, PA, Belco has more than 74,000 members and $935 million in assets. "We were excited to welcome so many of our members in person and virtually at our 84th Annual Business Meeting. In addition to sharing the story and impact of a strong financial year, we announced the results of our Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee elections," says Amey Sgrignoli, President and CEO of Belco. "We grew our asset size by $123 million in 2022 to reach total assets of $935 million, and we're on track to reach $1 billion in assets ahead of our 2025 goal. Celebrating a legacy of improving the financial well-being of our 74,000 members and investing in the communities we serve, we remain driven by conservative banking principles. As we centralized lending efficiencies this year, we doubled loan production and now 70% of loan applications originate online or by phone. Our deposit growth has increased by 8.99%, and we are proud to make member satisfaction our foremost priority." During the Annual Business Meeting, Belco announced incumbents Dawn E. Gamble, Eric E. Leidigh, and Beverly A. Lilley were elected to serve three-year terms on the Board of Directors. Jeffrey L. Sterner was re-elected to the Board for a one-year term, and Chris R. Feather was re-elected to serve another three-year term on the Supervisory Committee. Sgrignoli thanked the Board of Directors for their continued service and commitment to Belco Community Credit Union. The Board also welcomed Associate Volunteer Jeian Rauchut who brings more than 25 years of financial service expertise and a reputation for servant leadership. A Pennsylvania resident for nearly 30 years, Rauchut's deep community relationships and support for Belco's uncompromising member services will be a tremendous asset to the Board of Directors. Belco announced the following slate of Officers and Directors for 2024: Story continues Board of Directors Terry M. Hessler Board Chair Richard P. Myxter Vice Chair Stephanie F. Miller Treasurer Dawn E. Gamble Secretary William F. O'Donnell Assistant Treasurer Beverly A. Lilley Assistant Secretary Eric E. Leidigh Director Jeffrey L. Sterner Director Supervisory Committee Allen M. Brewer Chair Gina M. Bond Vice Chair Chris R. Feather Secretary Nancy A. Clay Member Belco's Board of Directors and Supervisory Committee are comprised of member-volunteers who dedicate their time and expertise to the betterment of the credit union. A copy of Belco's 2022 Annual Report highlighting the credit union's accomplishments and financial reports can be found at www.belco.org/annualreport. About Belco Community Credit Union Belco Community Credit Union is a full-service financial institution offering checking, savings, loan, investment, and small business products and services. Established in 1939 to serve employees of Bell Telephone Company in Harrisburg, PA, Belco became a community-chartered credit union in July 2005, opening membership to businesses and individuals who live, work, worship, or attend school in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, or York counties. Belco has more than 74,000 members and $935 million in assets, 15 branches, numerous ATM/ITM locations, and 24-hour account access through mobile, online, and telephone banking. For more information, visit www.belco.org or call (800) 642-4482. CONTACT: Tiffanie Keck Communications & Public Relations Rep. 717.215.4778 keckt@belco.org Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/belco-announces-84th-annual-business-meeting-highlights-and-board-of-directors-301797136.html SOURCE Belco Community Credit Union Grab your baguettes, everybody, its time to head back to the Cannes Film Festival. Iris Knobloch, the new president of the festival, presented the bulk of this years slate, with artistic director Thierry Fremaux at her side. The main competition sees a number of returning veterans, as well as some new faces. More from GoldDerby There are not too many movies in the main competition this year coming from directors that also work in the Hollywood orbit. The ones that do include: Asteroid City from Wes Anderson, which stars Jason Schwartzman, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, and countless other stars; May December from Todd Haynes, which stars Julianne Moore and Natalie Portman (a movie about an unlikely couple also produced by one: Christine Vachon and Will Ferrell); and a new one from Jonathan Glazer (Birth, Under the Skin) called The Zone of Interest, a film set at Auschwitz based on a novel by Martin Amis. Austrian director Jessica Hausners film Club Zero, set in a school, stars Mia Wasikowska. Big gun international directors, many of whom have already won some of Canness top prizes, in the competition include Finlands Aki Kaurismaki, Japans Kore-eda Hirokazu (Palme DOr winner for Shoplifters), Italys Nanni Moretti (a Palme-winner for The Sons Room as well as former Jury head), Frances Catherine Breillat, Turkeys Nuri Bilge Ceylan (Palme-winner for Winter Sleep), Italys Alice Rohrwacher, Italys Marco Bellocchio (age 83!), Chinas Wang Bing, Britains Ken Loach (two-time Palme winner for The Wind That Shakes The Barley and I, Daniel Blake), and Germanys Wim Wenders (Palme winner for Paris, Texas and Oscar-nominee for Buena Vista Social Club.). Story continues The lesser-known names getting their shot include Tunisias Kaouther Ben Hania, Frances Justine Triet, Vietnamese-French director Tran Anh Hung, Senegalese-French director Ramata-Toulaye Sy, and Brazils Karim Ainouz. All-in-all, an exciting line-up. And then we get to whats happening out of competition. Theres always one international blockbuster that struts its stuff at Cannes and this year its Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. Or is it Leonardo DiCaprio in Martin Scorseses Killers of the Flower Moon? Why cant it be both? Also showing out of competition is Occupied City, a documentary about Amsterdam during World War II from Steve McQueen, and the Sam Levinsons series The Idol, which stars Lily-Rose Depp and The Weeknd. Lily-Roses old man, Johnny Depp, will also be in town for the opening night film, Jeanne Du Barry, a costume drama directed by Maiwenn. To look at the full list, including the Un Certain Regard sidebar, click here. The Directors Fortnight and International Critics Week (which regularly feature movies that pop) will likely be announced within days. The Cannes Film Festival runs from May 16 through May 27. Ruben Ostlund, whose Triangle of Sadness won the Palme last year, is leading this years jury. Triangle of Sadness parlayed its Cannes success into three Oscar nominations at this years ceremony, including Best Picture and Best Director. PREDICT the 2023 Emmy nominees through July 12 Make your predictions at Gold Derby now. Download our free and easy app for Apple/iPhone devices or Android (Google Play) to compete against legions of other fans plus our experts and editors for best prediction accuracy scores. See our latest prediction champs. Can you top our esteemed leaderboards next? Always remember to keep your predictions updated because they impact our latest racetrack odds, which terrify Hollywood chiefs and stars. Dont miss the fun. Speak up and share your huffy opinions in our famous forums where 5,000 showbiz leaders lurk every day to track latest awards buzz. Everybody wants to know: What do you think? Who do you predict and why? SIGN UP for Gold Derbys free newsletter with latest predictions Best of GoldDerby Sign up for Gold Derby's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Rescuers searched on foot and by air in a helicopter but were not expected to be found, according to a local report Paula Bronstein/Getty Three Sherpa climbers disappeared into a deep crevasse on Mt. Everest Wednesday. The missing Nepali guides were swept into a crack in a glacier and buried by an avalanche, Reuters reports. Rescuers on foot and in a helicopter hoped to locate them, Yubraj Khatiwada of Nepal's Department of Mountaineering told the Associated Press. However, the climbers identified as Lakpa Rita Sherpa, Pemba Tenzing Sherpa and Dachhiri Sherpa from Thame village of Khumbu are not expected to be found, according to the Himalayan Times. "Three Sherpa climbers fell into some 50 meters below in a crevasse after the ice serac damaged the climbing route," an official from the mountain's base camp told the publication. "Aerial searches have been abandoned because of poor weather this afternoon," the official also said. The climbers were part of a expedition organized by Imagine Nepal Treks, according to the report, which cited a Department of Tourism official. The incident occurred Wednesday morning at the Khumbu Icefall, a glacier near the 29,032-ft. mountain's base camp, the AP reports. The Icefall, also known as a "river of ice," is considered one of the most dangerous spots on the treacherous trek up the world's tallest mountain. "They are buried five to six meters underneath. It's not possible to launch a [rescue] mission because the risk of an avalanche is still ongoing," Norbu Sherpa, a rescue specialist, told the Kathmandu Post. "We have traced the spot but it's not possible to go there. The ice sheets are as big as houses. It's not possible to dig either," he explained. Norbu clarified that the climbers didn't fall into the opening in the glacier. Instead, he explained, they were buried beneath the ice. "It's not that they fell into crevasses," he said. "They are buried under the ice masses in the Khumbu Icefall." Story continues Lakpa T. Sherpa, a climber near the site, posted an Instagram video that captured the avalanche as the tragedy unfolded. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The Kathmandu Post notes that the Icefall is so dangerous that even highly experienced Sherpa hikers will not attempt to traverse it during daylight hours because of sunlight, which can weaken the ice and make avalanches more likely. They typically go in the very early morning, between 3 and 5 a.m., with the help of headlamps, according to the outlet. In 2014, a group of 16 Sherpa guides died in an avalanche at the same location, according to the AP, which called it one of the deadliest climbing disasters on Mt. Everest. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. A bill that would allow parents to opt out of masking in K-12 public schools passed the House Health Committee on Wednesday. The approval, coming on a voice vote, followed a 10-minute public hearing where some education groups voiced opposition to the legislation. HB 186, sponsored by Chip Brown, R-Hollingers Island, would allow parents to opt out of mask wearing in schools, school functions, on a school bus or at a school bus stop by submitting a written request to the school or the local board of education. Brown said this is not an anti-school bill or an anti-masking bill. What this is, is a parental rights bill, he said. Its a bill that basically says, that as a parent, I should make the decision. Not the state, but me as parent. Bart Reeves, who oversees governmental relations for the Alabama Association of School Boards, opposed the bill, saying it would prevent local school districts from making decisions that best serve residents. Local control is the bedrock of the education system. It empowers communities to make decisions that best serve their unique needs, and also their unique interests, he said. Volunteers hand out face masks and information sheets at Carver High School in Montgomery on May 1, 2020. Reeves said that school board members are either elected or appointed by an elected city council member. This bill sends a concerning message to communities, that individuals preferences can override the collective decision made by the democratic process. Whether it is discipline, the school dress code, recommended instruction, and in this example, school masks, and I could go on with many more, by allowing individuals to opt out of masks or mask mandates, or any group to opt out of any school policy, we undermine the very essence of local control, he said. Kaycee Cavender, co-founder and co-director of Health Freedom Alabama, a group that pushed to ban so-called vaccine passports in 2021, said that this bill would restore parental rights. During the last few years, weve saw the right of parents obliterated through the forced masking of their children, Cavender said. Story continues Rep. Pebblin Warren, D-Tuskegee, asked if there was anything in the bill that would provide liability to the families who chose to opt out of mask wearing. Brown said there is no way to assess liability because there is no way to tell who spread the virus in the first place. Perhaps I caught a cold from you or whatever, Im not going to sue you for that. I cant sue because theres no determination that you were the person that gave me the virus in the first place, Brown said. Rep. Laura Hall, D-Birmingham, asked if Brown had conversations with parents who may have been likely to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Brown said that he doesnt know that because he considers that a HIPAA violation. At some point we got away from that, its a HIPAA violation to ask about medical records, Im not going to ask them when its been vaccinated or not. I think thats your own personal business. HIPAA gives patients protections over who can look at and receive their health information. However, HIPAA protections only apply to health plans, health care clearinghouses, such as collection agencies, and health care providers that conduct certain health care transactions online. HIPAA does not prevent anyone from sharing their own health information to anyone. The bill moves to the House of Representatives. Alabama Reflector is part of States Newsroom, an independent nonprofit website covering politics and policy in state capitals around the nation. This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: Alabama bill would allow parents to opt out of school masking rules There aren't many people who merit the term "living legend," but Angie Dickinson is one of them. On screen, she went toe-to-toe with the likes of John Wayne, Marlon Brando, and Lee Marvin. She was slapped in the face by the future President of the United States, Ronald Reagan, and brutally murdered in an elevator as depicted by Brian De Palma. If that wasn't enough, she's rumored to have conducted love affairs with Frank Sinatra and President Kennedy. And if nothing else, she and Sinatra counted each other as lifelong friends. Angie Dickinson in Rio Bravo, Ocean's Eleven, Dressed to Kill and The Chase Everett Collection Turner Classic Movies will celebrate Dickinson's remarkable career at this year's annual TCM Classic Film Festival, beginning with Thursday night's opening gala presentation of Rio Bravo, where she will appear in conversation with TCM host Ben Mankiewicz. Ahead of her big night, we caught up with Dickinson to take a walk down memory lane and discuss some of her biggest projects, from Rio Bravo and The Killers to Ocean's 11 and Dressed to Kill. Gun the Man Down (1956) Dickinson began working steadily in both television and film in 1954, but her first leading role came as girlfriend Janice in this Western. James Arness, in the role led to his TV career on Gunsmoke, plays Remington "Rem" Anderson, an outlaw who seeks out revenge on his two partners and kidnapped girlfriend after they double cross him. The Western genre would dominate Dickinson's early career on both the big and small screen. Yet, despite all her time in Westerns, she wasn't particularly at ease on a horse. "We were all on horseback, and they knew I was not a horsewoman," she recalls of her costars. "They tried to scare me and did some tricks on their horses. I nearly fell off once. It was terrible." Angie Dickinson Role Call Rio Bravo (1959) Directed by Howard Hawks, this classic Western stars John Wayne as Sheriff John T. Chance, a small-town sheriff who recruits Stumpy (Walter Brennan), local drunk Dude (Dean Martin), and young gunslinger Colorado Ryan (Ricky Nelson) in his efforts to keep a man in jail. Dickinson features as "Feathers," a feisty widow who develops a bond with Chance, in what became her breakout role. She remembers Wayne as an ideal scene partner. "It was heaven," she recalls. "He was so respectful of my freshness. He was an enormous star and this was as big as it gets in production, and it was a great honor to have been chosen. He was very helpful by being patient with me. Once, we sat and talked for about 10 minutes about a scene. That's unheard of. You don't waste a second. But he was trying to relax me. I got in a few binds because you can tell when a scene's not working. He leaned on his rifle and waited, and then, I finally got the scene right." Story continues Dickinson also adored her costumes (minus one notable hat) in the film, given their lush contrast to her usual Western garb on television. "I liked them because they were not the normal Western duds," she says. "I did a lot of westerns for TV and B-movies, and they were not fun. They either had hoops or something else. This was the first Western where I was able to relax because the clothes were not traditional. Though, I hated the hat that I'm introduced in. It looked bad on me or I looked bad in it. I hated it, but I didn't win. They put it on. But once I was able to take that goddamn hat off, I relaxed a lot." Angie Dickinson Role Call Ocean's 11 (1960) Ocean's 11 is pure Rat Pack cool, and in that, a feature for the guys. But Dickinson had the chance to shine as one of the few women in the film playing Beatrice Ocean, wife to Frank Sinatra's Danny. Off screen, the two were lifelong friends, which she credits to a mutual corny sense of humor. "We just liked each other," she says. "I was crazy about him. He was fabulous. He was absolutely the love of my life. Though I would not have wanted to be married to him. He went to bed at 6 a.m." Though Dickinson's role is minor, she has the distinction of being the only woman on the original poster. "I was thrilled to say the least," she says. "I was always bitching about something, like 'I don't have much to do. I've got such a small part.'" Dickinson traveled to Las Vegas for a publicity shoot with the guys, which she remembers as being challenging because of Sinatra's penchant for goofing off. "They were always monkeying around," she adds. "He was the boss, so he could get away with it. He loved to pull tricks. They were kids at play." Angie Dickinson Role Call The Sins of Rachel Cade (1961) Though The Sins of Rachel Cade was far from a hit, Dickinson loved making it. She stars as the title character, a medical missionary who travels to the Belgian Congo and ends up in a love triangle with a military administrator (Peter Finch) and a doctor (Roger Moore) before getting pregnant outside of marriage. "I did most of my stuff with Peter Finch, and he was one of our greatest actors ever," she says. "That was a thrill beyond words. We had about a five-page scene, which is a very long scene. It was where I'm outside my cabin, and he passes by and he stops to say hello. We tried to do the scene and we could not make it work. So, he and I decided, let's just do nothing. So, instead he walks by and says 'Good night,' and I say, 'Good night.' And that was the scene. The rest were just fancy frills. We did more with four words than we could with a five-page scene." Angie Dickinson Role Call The Killers (1964) This iconic neo-noir from director Don Siegel stars Dickinson as conniving femme fatale Sheila Farr, opposite the likes of Lee Marvin, John Cassavetes, and Ronald Reagan in his final film before a long career in politics. It was a difficult shoot, not because of the dark subject matter but because they made it in the aftermath of the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, whom counted Dickinson as a confidante (rumors have swirled for years of an affair, but she previously told EW, "Some things are just no one's business"). "The president was shot the day before we went to work," she remembers. "It was horrible to have to try to act and get through the day. We got a couple days off for his memorial, but then we still had to go back to Palm Springs and go to work, so it was pretty rough." Little did she know that she was sharing screen time with another future president. Reagan plays against type as gangster Jack Browning, slapping Dickinson's Sheila in a climactic moment, which never sat well with him. "He said, 'I'm sorry I had to slap you,'" she recalls. "Which, of course, he didn't. It just looks like he did. One time I ran into him later at a dinner party and he said, 'I'm still sorry I had to slap you.' He couldn't cut the mustard as a villain. He was too gentle." Dickinson also remembers that Reagan wasn't very engaged in the filmmaking process, seeing it merely as an obligation to complete the terms of his studio contract before pivoting from acting to politics. "He couldn't have cared less about the film," she says. "But he had stacks of paper, I mean like more than a foot tall. He was studying and working on becoming governor, and every break he got, he was off working and studying and planning. We didn't quite take it seriously." Angie Dickinson Role Call The Art of Love (1965) Despite being directed by Norman Jewison and romanced on screen by James Garner, Dickinson remembers The Art of Love as a picture no one wanted to be making. Dick Van Dyke stars as struggling artist Paul Sloane, who fakes his own death to raise the value of his paintings. His pal, Casey (Garner), sells the paintings, keeping most of the profit and even wooing Paul's fiancee, Laurie (Dickinson). This film marked the last of Jewison's contract obligations with Universal, and he was eager to move on to less frivolous subject matter. Garner, generally known to be a charming costar, didn't gel with Dickinson. "I don't think I was appealing to him at all," she reflects. "It's not the fault of anybody. There wasn't much chemistry between us, and it was a stupid movie." Angie Dickinson Role Call The Chase (1966) This bleak crime drama boasts a stellar cast, including Robert Redford, Jane Fonda, and Marlon Brando. Dickinson has a small role as Ruby, the wife of Brando's Sheriff Calder, but she jumped at the chance to act opposite the legend. "I was excited as hell," she says. "I was in London when I got the part, and I asked a question of my agent and whatever the question was, he says, 'It's Brando's wife.' I think I said, 'Is this a good script?' And he said, 'Shut up and get back here.' Then I went to wardrobe, and Jane Fonda was in wardrobe picking out stuff for her part. And I said, 'Well, it's not a very good part.' And she said, 'You know, Ruby's a hell of a name.' And that took care of it all." Still, Brando was notoriously mercurial, and Dickinson remembers one excruciating moment on set where she blew a take. "We were in the restaurant and he's got on a tuxedo shirt with ruffles," she recounts. "He ad-libbed something. It was fluffy and feminine and he made some joke, and I laughed and I ruined the take. Talk about feeling stupid. But it was my natural reaction. But that doesn't count in movies. 'We don't have natural reactions. We have appropriate reactions.'" Angie Dickinson Role Call Point Blank (1967) Dickinson re-teamed with Lee Marvin in this crime drama as another mixed-up dame, Chris. She loved working with Marvin in spite of his gruff exterior. "He was wounded in the war. And he carried that wound with him," she explains. "He was not a friendly person. He was what you think he was. He didn't have to act. He was a tough bastard. And a great guy. But really no frills. He was fairly warm, but you couldn't see it. You had to look for it." In a scene where her character attacks Marvin's Walker, she beats him with a pool cue and she accidentally hit Marvin for real. "I nicked him, I got him on the cheek," she remembers. "And you can't cover up blood, so, you can tell I got him." Angie Dickinson Role Call Police Woman (1974-78) Dickinson starred on this NBC police procedural for four seasons, breaking new ground as the first woman to star in an hour-long drama as a police officer. She played Sgt. Pepper Anderson, an undercover cop for the LAPD's criminal conspiracy unit. At first, Dickinson was proud to blaze a trail for women on television. "It was part of the reason I took it," she says. "But we can all look back on everything we did and think I'm sorry I did that. Or I wish I had done that over there. I am sorry I took the series, but I was proud of that." Dickinson points to the skimpy undercover costumes she often wore (she recalls a particularly ignominious white ensemble when Pepper danced as a stripper) as one reason for her remorse, but more pointedly, it was the fact that the show brought a grinding halt to her film work. "It hurt my movie career," she explains. "You can be a star on TV and they don't give a s---. It's the movies that counted, at least then." Angie Dickinson Role Call Dressed to Kill (1980) Dickinson made a hell of a splash returning to film in this controversial Brian De Palma classic. She stars as Kate Miller, a sexually frustrated housewife who is brutally murdered in a New York City elevator following a chance sexual encounter. The film, including Kate's murder, is widely considered De Palma's homage to Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho. Dickinson cites De Palma as one of the more intimidating directors she's worked with. "It was scary because he's a man of few words," she says. "That's always difficult." Dickinson remembers a conflict between her and costume designer Ann Roth. Roth wanted Kate Miller to wear a gray suit in reference to Kim Novak in Vertigo, but Dickinson wanted to wear white. "I said, 'If I have a white coat, they're not going to expect blood to go on a white coat,' which was exactly right," she recalls. She won the argument, but that did prove complicated while shooting the explicit murder scene. "You have to match what you did in the master," she explains. "So you do a master shot, you do the whole scene, and then you break it down and do that close up and closer up and closer up. You do it many times now from different angles. And so, I was afraid to get blood on my white coat [for continuity]. But Brian said, 'I don't care about the white coat! Do it well!'" Angie Dickinson Role Call Sabrina (1995) Dickinson has been retired from acting since 2009, but her output slowed considerably in the 1990s. One of her last major projects was this 1995 remake of classic Billy Wilder romance Sabrina, starring Harrison Ford in the Humphrey Bogart role and Greg Kinnear in the William Holden part. Dickinson has a supporting part as the mother of the woman Kinnear's David is engaged to marry. But because so many thought the classic shouldn't be touched, she says it made for a less than stellar time. "It was not a pleasant set," she says. "I don't know why. The whole idea of remaking it was not very good. It didn't feel quite right. It just didn't work. And Harrison Ford was lovely, but he's not fun. He's a businessman, doing his job." Angie Dickinson Role Call Sign up for Entertainment Weekly's free daily newsletter to get breaking TV news, exclusive first looks, recaps, reviews, interviews with your favorite stars, and more. Related content: Former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon waits outside before Congressman Ed Pastor's funeral on Dec. 7, 2018, at St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Phoenix. Arizona State University's downtown Phoenix dorm will be renamed to honor former Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon who helped make the campus a reality. The Taylor Place residence hall just south of Fillmore Street between First and Second streets will be renamed "Gordon Commons." Gordon, who was mayor of Phoenix from 2004 to 2011, helped usher in a new era for the once sleepy downtown area. Advancing ASU's downtown campus, along with university President Michael Crow, was a major part of the area's revival. The residence hall opened in 2008 and houses students of ASU's Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Sandra Day O'Connor Law School, the ASU College of Health Solutions and the ASU Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions. Gordon attended ASU's law school before it was moved to downtown from Tempe. "I'm honored, I'm humbled," Gordon told The Arizona Republic ahead of the formal unveiling that will take place April 14. Gordon pitched ASU's downtown campus in 2004 as a way to elevate Phoenix's standing on the global stage. "Every notable city throughout history has been defined a vibrant downtown," Gordon said in 2004 when the city and university announced its plans. The downtown campus "brings Phoenix one step closer to realizing our goal and vision of joining the ranks of those great global cities that bristle with life and activity." Chris Callahan, founding dean of the Downtown Phoenix campus, said in a statement, "If it werent for Mayor Phil Gordon, the ASU Downtown Phoenix campus wouldnt be here. Period. This was an extraordinary idea and without Mayor Gordons leadership and support, there would be no downtown campus." In June, Gordon announced, he was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called multiple myeloma and was receiving weekly chemotherapy and other treatments. "I intend to beat this and am so far, with your help. Thanks also to my family and close friends who are there daily," Gordon posted to Twitter. Story continues The former mayor told The Republic on April 11 that he was "winning the battle" and "generally in remission" but will remain in treatments for the next year. To my twitter friends I have some news about my health to share. In June I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer- multiple myeloma. I am being treated by Dr Fonseca at Mayo Clinic and Dr Patrick Soon Shiong from California- the 2 best for this cancer. Phil Gordon (@PhilGordonPHX) October 3, 2022 President Crow and current Mayor Kate Gallego will celebrate the rename and the former mayor's legacy April 14 at the dorms at 120 E. Taylor St., from 7:30 a.m. to 8:45 a.m. Gordon plans to attend. Reporter Taylor Seely covers Phoenix City Hall. Reach her at tseely@arizonarepublic.com or on Twitter @taylorseely95. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona State University to rename Phoenix dorm after Phil Gordon With illegal drug operations plaguing the hills of Appalachia, 52 task forces have been formed across four states in efforts to dismantle as many criminal drug organizations as possible. Based in London, the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force has an opportunity to expand its resources further with the help of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives through a new mobile technology unit. Vic Brown, the director who oversees all 52 groups within the task force, said the drug trade and violent crime involving firearms go hand-in-hand. Brown said the group was very lucky to have partnered with the ATF for the mobile unit, which will use firearm ballistic imaging to connect guns to different crimes and give new leads where there may have not been any before. Its a great opportunity to be able to solve a lot of crimes across the country whether they originate in this area or they are crimes brought into this area from other locations, Brown said. The Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force, based in London, Ky., operates a gun trailer that can be transported throughout the region where guns can be fired and casings collected for imaging. Shawn Morrow, special agent in charge with the ATF Louisville Division, says the agencys main priority is disrupting violent crime involving firearms. First and foremost I will say it over and over we are a law enforcement agency that prioritizes violent crime, Morrow said. It is important for people to understand that ATF is absolutely focused on crime guns. We are absolutely focused on individuals who are using guns to hurt other people, to hurt our communities and that is where we focus our resources. One of those resources is strong partnerships, Morrow said. Appalachian task forces band together with ATFs help The ATF has large involvement with other state and local agencies through partnerships to address violent crime. Specifically, the ATF works with the Appalachia task forces, who have a mission to enhance and coordinate drug enforcement efforts of local, state and federal law enforcement agencies. The groups focus is within areas designated as high drug trafficking areas. The Appalachian group serves four states Kentucky, Virginia, West Virginia and Tennessee. Within those four states there are 52 task forces made up by the best investigators in their respective law enforcement agencies. Story continues The majority of the task forces 65% are in Kentucky and West Virginia, which fall under the purview of the Louisville Division of the ATF, according to Morrow. (The Appalachian enforcement groups) primary focus is dangerous drugs, and dangerous drug distribution, Morrow said. But drugs and firearms go hand-in-hand. We know that drug trafficking operations use guns to protect their turf, to expand their turf, to retaliate. (Dealers) do shootings, they do robberies, they do all kinds of violent crime to make sure their drug trafficking operation survives. The ATF also provides resources to communities that need help reducing violent crime. Morrow said its important those local agencies have the tools to investigate those crimes. So we dont want to be solely focused on drugs, we want to be focused on armed drug trafficking organizations and on drug traffickers that are using guns to hurt other people in drug trafficking operations, Morrow said. That is where ATF comes in. Morrow said a lot of crime in media headlines can be centralized to urban areas with a high number of shootings. In his experience, Morrow said largely populated areas receive the most federal resources. But these violent crimes are not solely isolated in larger populations. Firearm-related crime and firearms-related offenses also occur in our rural areas, he said. It is important at ATF that we make those resources available to all police agencies. I want to make sure that those communities have access to technology, to professional intelligence products, and to ATF special agents that can help with these really serious crimes. A mobile unit provides investigative help to local cops The Appalachian task force traces and investigates around 2,000 firearms annually, Morrow said. After seizing a gun, investigators work to determine where it came from, if it was purchased legally, if it was used in other crimes or if it was used in drug trafficking. If these guns were used in crimes, the ATF relies on the National Integrated Ballistic Network to make connections. New, mobile technology is available to the ATF and its partners to help widen access to federal resources and provide education to local law enforcement agencies. That national network is designed to take firearms evidence from different scenes and analyze that and draw links together, Morrow said. It could be compared to fingerprints for firearms, Morrow said. So each firearm when it is fired will discharge a shell casing and that shell casing will have a unique marking on it which is specific to that firearm. Like a fingerprint. So if a gun is used to commit a shooting, and different shootings, even if it crosses jurisdictions city, state, or anywhere else in U.S. we have the ability to match those crime scenes. According to the ATFs website, 116,233 investigative leads were generated by 242 network machine locations in 2020. Historically, police agencies have had access to four machines to access the ballistic network throughout the state to submit evidence for testing. A fifth machine is in the works. Now, the ATF and partners implemented a mobile ballistic network unit in February 2023 which moves among the 52 task forces the Appalachian task force group serves. In Kentucky, there are two machines in Louisville, one in Lexington, and one with a state police agency. Morrow said that when the mobile unit goes to a police department or task force, its available to all the local law enforcement agencies. The mobile unit is a box truck that has space where criminal intelligence analyst Kevin Chip Chipley will operate the ballistics network machine. Its also equipped with a shoot trailer where live rounds can be fired from each firearm. The mobile operation costs around $500,000, with nearly half of that going to the testing network alone, according to Brown. Somerset Police Department Capt. Shawn Dobbs prepares to fire a gun so the casings can be collected for imaging by the Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area task force in London, Ky., on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. ATF agents can take the shoot trailer to law enforcement officers, who can bring their evidence, fire the gun and produce a shell casing. The shell casing can be entered into the ballistic network system after being processed through the Brass Trax ballistics imaging software. Once images are produced, they are sent to the ATFs National Correlation and Training Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for comparison. Kevin Chip Chipley, Appalachia High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area criminal intelligence analyst, looks at the image of a casing at the task forces offices in London, Ky., on Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Results can be produced anywhere between 24 and 48 hours. In emergency situations, the center can conduct an urgent review and provide results within hours. The more rounds that get put in the system, the better opportunity you will have for a better match, Brown said. So this system is relatively young so over the years as more and more get entered in there you have a better opportunity for case matching. Love having new tools to try and catch bad guys Captain Shawn Dobbs of the Somerset Police Department had his first experience with the shoot trailer and network analysis in early April. He brought four firearms to be tested, including a .308 long rifle, a .223 caliber firearm, a .40 caliber pistol and a 9 mm handgun. His department has nearly 400 firearms in their evidence room which could be tested and connected. He hopes to have them all entered into the network ballistic systems. Just like fingerprints being entered into CODIS or AFIS, the more you get into the system, the more matches you are going to be able to make. It is imperative for these agencies to get all of these test fires put into the system, Dobbs said. While the mobile unit and network are still new to local law enforcement, Dobbs is hopeful it will be a helpful tool to stop violent crime at any level. I love having new tools to try and catch bad guys, Dobbs said. That is the goal, we want to help people and save lives. If we cant save lives, we can catch the person that took it. That is the main thing for us. Crime Gun Intelligence Centers Using the mobile unit to analyze shell casings to different crime scenes allows investigators to draw similarities for location, suspects, associates and vehicles also known as crime gun intelligence. These connections are made at the Louisville-based Crime Gun Intelligence Center. The Crime Gun Intelligence Center leverages the 52 Appalachian-focused task forces to ensure they have federal resources and ATF information to identify crimes and successfully investigate them. These centers are intelligence hubs and coordination centers for state and local agencies to help solve major crimes involving firearms. The Louisville-based Crime Gun Intelligence Center also assists law enforcement with other aspects of crime gun intelligence, including tracing the crime gun. Investigators use this data to uncover patterns of firearms trafficking and identifying illegal and straw firearms purchasers. Hard to trace, until its too late: How KY guns end up in out-of-state crime scenes The information from those traces have helped strengthen federal cases and open new cases just from those firearms. We know, in some communities, drug traffickers are driving violence so, it makes sense that we come together with (the Appalachian task force group) and partner on this initiative, said Special Agent Cassandra Mullins, an ATF spokesperson. The work our London ATF Office is doing, and the violence they are seeing, we want to make sure those resources are there for our rural communities. A culture of violence sees women become an insurance policy for KYs illegal drug trade While the fate of the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Act is currently in limbo, the Biden administration announced Thursday that it would expand health care coverage for DACA recipients commonly known as Dreamers by allowing them to enroll in a health care plan through Obamacare or Medicaid. Health care should be a right, not a privilege, President Joe Biden said in his announcement. My administration has worked hard to expand health care. And today, more Americans have health insurance than ever. Todays announcement is about giving DACA recipients the same opportunity. DACA, which was put into place by then-President Barack Obama in 2012, shields undocumented individuals who were brought into the country as children from deportation and allows them to obtain work authorization. Recipients are currently barred from accessing the health care marketplace, as they do not qualify for most federal benefits. President Biden speaks about U.S.-Mexico border security and enforcement at the White House, January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque Roughly 34% of Dreamers currently lack health care coverage, according to the National Immigration Law Center. Through Bidens proposal, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) would propose a rule that amends its definition of lawful presence to allow DACA recipients to qualify. Those who qualify may also be eligible for financial assistance based on income and their state Medicaid agency, and all eligibility information will be verified electronically, according to a White House fact sheet. We recognize that every day counts, and we expect to get this done by the end of the month, the White House stated. There are currently 589,660 DACA recipients as of Sept. 30, 2022, according to data from the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), with a large number residing in California and Texas. Texas is currently leading a coalition of states in challenging the validity of DACA in federal court. In the summer of 2021, U.S. District Court Judge Andrew Hanen deemed DACA unlawful, a ruling that was later upheld by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2022. Story continues Under Hanen's ruling, current DACA recipients are able to renew their enrollment, but the government is now blocked from approving first-time applications. The same coalition of states is asking Hanen to also block renewal applications from current Dreamers. Despite bipartisan support among Americans and even politicians for providing a pathway to citizenship for Dreamers, Congress has been unable to pass legislation that would do so. Its past time for Congress to give Dreamers a pathway to citizenship, Biden said. And while we work toward that goal alongside Dreamers, advocates, members of Congress we need to give Dreamers the opportunities and support they deserve. Adriana Belmonte is a reporter and editor covering politics and health care policy for Yahoo Finance. You can follow her on Twitter @adrianambells and reach her at adriana@yahoofinance.com. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance Australian TV drama has improved levels of diversity, especially representation of the countrys First Nations population, but several communities remain under-represented on local screens, according to a study issued today by government agency Screen Australia. The report shows that representation of First Nations people has increased from 4.8% to 7.2% since 2016, compared to the population benchmark of 3.8%. Australian scripted series including Mystery Road and Total Control, along with comedy sketch show Black Comedy, were noted for contributing to the positive result. More from Deadline This result shows good progress and its not by accident it represents years of advocacy and consistent hard work to ensure our practitioners feel supported and are afforded opportunities in an industry that hasnt always been accessible, said Screen Australias Head of First Nations, Angela Bates. The study, Seeing Ourselves 2: Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Australian TV Drama, looked at the diversity of main characters in 361 scripted TV and online dramas broadcast between 2016 and 2021, and how this compares to the Australian population. Screen Australias first study into this subject was released in 2016. Representation of disabled people also improved slightly (6.6% from 3.6%) but from a very low base and far below the Australian population benchmark of 18%. The report found that nearly three quarters of programs did not feature any disabled main characters, an improvement from the 90% reported in 2016. Similarly, representation of LGBTIQ+ characters increased to 7.4%, up from 4.5% in 2016, but was still below the estimated 11% of the population who identify as LGBTIQ+. Story continues The gender of main characters was evenly split between women and men, similar to the Australian population, and there were 13 transgender characters and five non-binary. However, Screen Australia said that, at the time of preparing the report, there were no population statistics for Australians who are trans or gender diverse. The report also found that while 53% of Australians have Anglo-Celtic ancestry, they represented 71% of the main characters in local TV drama. However, this was down from 82% in 2016, suggesting progress has been made. The share of non-European main characters (e.g. those with Indian, Chinese or Middle Eastern ancestry) more than doubled from 6.9% to 16%, but was still below the population benchmark of 25%. Screen Australia CEO, Graeme Mason said: Its vital that Australian screen stories authentically reflect the diversity of our nation, and we know that the screen industry is becoming more aware of the cultural and commercial value of creating diverse content. Its great to see improvements since 2016, however these results show that the overall pace of progress is slow and there is a long way to go to reach genuine representation of Australias diverse communities on screen. Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Angela Jones wear an autism acceptance-themed bracelet. Her daughter Raya Smith, 19, was diagnosed with autism after she stopped speaking at 18 months old. April is Autism Acceptance Month. Last month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced that autism is the fastest-growing developmental disability in the nation, with one in 36 8-year-old children diagnosed with it. Previously, the incidence was one in 44, said Kathi Machle, managing director of the Autism Society Central Ohio, which helps connect people with autism with resources, including 12 support and social groups it offers. There are approximately 2.1% of adults ages 18 to 84 with autism in Ohio, according to a National Library of Medicine study based on 2017 data. Some states, such as California and Massachusetts, had a prevalence rate as high as 2.4%, with the lowest being 1.9% in Louisiana. 'She transforms onstage': Columbus teen with autism shines through love of song, talent April is Autism Acceptance Month and there are 5.8 million adults who live with autism spectrum disorder. Autism is a developmental condition that can affect a persons social skills, communication, language and self-regulation, according to the Autism Society of America. Theres no known cause of autism and the experience is different for everyone. The Autism Society changed the name of Autism Awareness Month to Autism Acceptance Month in 2021, hoping to create change in the lives of those with autism. Opinion: Autism awareness isn't enough. Acceptance is desperately needed. Autism Acceptance Month is a great reminder that we can and should see the individual, not a diagnosis, and work together to advocate for the unique services and supports that help each person live fully, said Christopher Banks, president and CEO of the Autism Society of America. Awareness vs. Acceptance The month was created in 1972 when there wasnt much awareness of autism, Machle said, but as time goes on, advocates have realized awareness is just the beginning. I can be aware that you have autism but still treat you like crap or still deprive you of access to opportunities, she said. Acceptance implies a seat at the table. Story continues We Rock the Spectrum: Columbus-area indoor playground is safe space for children with disabilities To Machle, acceptance still isnt enough, she believes there needs to be action in the form of personal and societal changes to make life better for people on the spectrum. Right now, she encourages inviting people with autism to participate in activities, befriending those with autism that you know, and trying to change negative attitudes about those with autism. Just because someone is different, it doesnt mean theyre less, she said. Why is the prevalence of autism increasing? Machle, whose son has autism, was surprised by the increase in those diagnosed with the disorder. She said 25 years ago the rate was one in hundreds. It makes me wonder what it is that has brought the rate to that, whether its always been that much and were just finally recognizing it, or (something else)." Hiring people on the autism spectrum: IT company comes to Columbus with one goal The Autism Society of America said higher rates of autism are caused by many factors, including an increased rate of diagnosis, as diagnostic screening and identification improve. Though, the prevalence rate is also increasing. Academic studies have also found that other factors can be genetic and environmental, related to the mother's health during pregnancy and due to a higher understanding and awareness of autism. Though most people are diagnosed as children, more and more people are being diagnosed as adults. The cool thing about being diagnosed late is, for a lot of these people, it's like this big relief, Machle said. It finally explains why I am the way I am. Im not weird. Im not sick. Im not stupid. Im not willfully misbehaving; Im autistic. 'It shouldnt be this financial burden': Ohio Autism Scholarship increases this fall to pay for special education Its critical to remember that every person with autism is unique, Machle said. (Its important to) celebrate that individual and their abilities and support the disabilities, she said. Local autism resources Manager Ashley McCarthy plays with her daughter, Avery, 7, at Rock the Spectrum Kid's Gym, 1250 E. Powell Road in Lewis Center. The gym specializes in creating a safe place for people of all abilities to play. There are a number of local autism schools, therapeutic organizations and more, Machle said. Including: dking@dispatch.com @DanaeKing This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Autism Acceptance Month: More children are being diagnosed with autism 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. 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. 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. Sulfoxaflor is part of a family of insecticides called neonicotinoids, which affect the nicotine receptors in the body, according to Sonya Lunder, senior toxics policy expert for the Sierra Clubs Clean Water, Toxic Chemicals, and Climate Resilience Program. Sulfoxaflor is useful for killing pests because it specifically targets a specific receptor in insects that mammals dont have, before attacking their nervous systems, Lunder said. These (neonicotinoids) 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. But Lunder said more subtle and equally concerning impacts to the environment have come into focus over the last decade. 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. 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. Story continues 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Raines said that even if the EPA regulates sulfoxaflor use switching to applying sulfoxaflor to seeds instead of spraying blossoms dust from the insecticide can still get airborne, land on plants and then return to hives with bees, causing collapse. With modern farming practices, there are alternatives to dealing with pests rather than throwing more chemicals at them, he said. 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. 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. 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. 2023 Chicago Tribune. Visit chicagotribune.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Courtesy of Retailer "Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." BOSTON-BASED New Balance is easily one of the most touted heritage running brands around. The brands running and lifestyle sneakers are an industry standard, manufactured in factories in Maine, Massachusetts and overseas. If youre looking to pick up a pair of classic kicks, you can save a bunch on a range of New Balance sneakers right now at Joe's New Balance Outlet. That includes a couple versions of the Fresh Foam X and the more casual, everyday 574 shoes. Thanks to the outlet pricing, most of the shoes are already deeply discounted, and almost all of them will get deducted by another 30 percent when you add to cart. Whether you're a lifelong fan or you're just hopping aboard the New Balance train, this is a great time to save some cash. Shop Now New Balance Fresh Foam 680v7 $34.99 joesnewbalanceoutlet.com Shop Now New Balance 574 $59.99 joesnewbalanceoutlet.com Shop Now New Balance Fresh Foam Roav RMX $27.99 joesnewbalanceoutlet.com Founded in 1906 as the New Balance Arch Support Company, the brand mainly sold supports until 1960, when it manufactured the worlds first ripple sole running shoe. In 1972, the current chairman of New Balance, Jim Davis, bought the company, and with only six associates working to build shoes, began to lay the framework for a manufacturing network in the Northeast. The rest, as they say, is history. Regularly priced at $85, the brand's 574s are an affordable, editor-reviewed classic made even more budget-friendly at 29 percent off. All in all, the savings at this sale are steep and the in-stock sizing is adequatefor nowso shop while you can. You Might Also Like Schools in at least 19 counties, including in Chicago and Oak Lawn, dealt with reports of active shooters that turned out to be false on Wednesday, officials said. As of 3 p.m. Illinois State Police said law enforcement in 19 counties dealt with threats directed at schools, totaling at least 21 calls in 21 cities. Late Wednesday, police in southwest suburban Oak Lawn confirmed they also had one at a high school, making the tally 22. Responders have not located any actual threats as a result of these calls, ISP said in a statement. Whitney M. Young Magnet High School Principal Rickey Harris confirmed his West Loop school had been targeted by the false calls. It apparently occurred as SAT testing was scheduled at the school on South Laflin Street. Someone had called 911 and alleged there was an active shooter inside the school, Harris said in a statement to students parents and guardians. CPD immediately responded and it was confirmed that the call was made as a prank, Harris wrote. At no point was there a safety threat to our school, and all of our students and staff are safe. SAT testing proceeded as scheduled after the false calls. Counseling and other support are available for students who voice any fears about the untrue but startling calls, Harris said. Only juniors were at the school Wednesday, according to the schools website. The fake calls continued late into the day Wednesday, according to Oak Lawn police. Shortly after 7 p.m., Oak Lawn emergency dispatchers received a call from a man who said he was inside of a high school and he threatened to start shooting, investigations Chief Gerald Vetter said. The school was locked down and evacuated, though no threats were found, he wrote in a statement. Every precaution will be taken including assistance from the Cook County Bomb Squad to ensure the safety of the school, Vetter wrote. Vetter acknowledged the false school shooting calls made across the state and said the department will investigate to identify the caller. Story continues According to state police, the cities and counties included Champaign in Champaign County; Springfield in Sangamon County; Chicago in Cook County; Freeport in Stephenson County; Aurora in DuPage County; Marion in Williamson County; Carbondale in Jackson County; Rockford in Winnebago County; Murphysboro in Jackson County; Mount Vernon in Jefferson County; Vienna in Johnson County; Dixon in Lee County; Decatur in Macon County; Granite City and Collinsville in Madison County; Centralia in Marion County; Bloomington in McLean County; Jacksonville in Morgan County; Peoria in Peoria County; Pittsfield in Pike County; and Eldorado in Saline County, state police said. The ISP Statewide Terrorism and Intelligence Center had no information concerning credible threats related to school safety, according to the statement, which urged public and private security staffers to remain vigilant and report all suspicious behavior to local police agencies. Rockford was also targeted. Earlier, police there tweeted that a large police presence was at East High School Wednesday morning investigating a report of a shooting that appeared to be false. Laura Maher, a spokeswoman for the Rockford Police Department, later said, at this time, we are working on confirming details, but it looks to be a false report. Later, Rockford police tweeted that no shots were fired and there were no shooting victims. Swatting means dangerous and illegal fake calls about an active shooter situation, typically at a school, according to the statement, which added that state and national intelligence agencies have seen a pattern of these fake calls; each call is taken seriously. Last month, the Chicago Tribune detailed the rise of other swatting situations in the area. dawilliams@chicagotribune.com rsobol@chicagotribune.com jsheridan@chicagotribune.com Logo at the main entrance to the FOX News Headquarters - Credit: LightRocket via Getty Images MSNBC released new audio of Rudy Giuliani admitting to Fox News host Maria Bartiromo that he had difficulty backing claims of Dominion Voting Systems involvement in election fraud. The recordings, revealed on Wednesday, also include audio of a Trump campaign official saying that when the Secretary of State did his Georgia audit, there werent any physical issues with [Dominion] machines on those inspections. The release of the audio comes in the throes of Dominions $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit over Foxs attempts to link the company to nonexistent election fraud. Earlier on Wednesday, Delaware Judge Eric Davis sanctioned Fox News after the company was caught withholding evidence from Dominions lawyers, including recorded conversations with Trump lawyers Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell. More from Rolling Stone Abby Grossberg, a former Tucker Carlson producer who has claimed the network coerced her testimony regarding the lawsuit, provided the recordings to the court. In a statement to Rolling Stone Wednesday, a Fox News spokesperson said: As our lawyer explained in court today, we learned that there might be responsive audio recordings for the first time on March 20 from Grossbergs errata sheet. Our attorneys then accessed the forensic image of Grossbergs phone and reviewed the recordings, which were produced within 15 days of first learning of their existence. Giuliani and Bartiromo on tape pic.twitter.com/KVVw4wZ23T Acyn (@Acyn) April 13, 2023 MSNBCs Alex Wagner aired parts of the recordings on her show Wednesday, explaining that Grossberg and her attorneys gave her the tapes. The first recording featured an off-air conversation between Giuliani and Bartiromo on Nov. 8, 2020. Story continues Im going to be asking you for as much evidence as you can tell us about these lawsuits. Whatever you can tell us in terms of evidence would be really helpful, says Bartiromo. I can tell you exactly what we have, says Giuliani, who admits when asked about Dominions software, says thats a little harder. Trump campaign officials saying there werent any physical issues with the Dominion Voting Machines pic.twitter.com/SdadtnZIC3 Acyn (@Acyn) April 13, 2023 Wagner also shared an audio snippet between a Fox News producer and Trump campaign official on December 5, 2020. Have any of the machines been looked at? [Steve Bannon] had said that one was looked at in Georgia, the producer asks, which prompts the official to go off the record. When the Secretary of State did its audit, there was a lot, I think a fair bit of looking at the machines, says the Trump official. The audit came in pretty darn close to what the machine count was with the receipts. So, I dont know the outcome of those, but our understanding, again, this is from the Secretary of States Office, was that there werent any physical issues with machines on those inspections. In a 2020 email submitted as evidence in defamation lawsuit against Fox News, network CEO Suzanne Scott was concerned that the Foxs insistence on fact-checking bogus claims of election fraud was bad for business. Dominion has accused the network of maliciously aiding in the spread of false conspiracy theories regarding its role in the 2020 election. Last month, disclosed messages revealed that prominent Fox hosts and producers privately shared misgivings about former President Donald Trumps false claims of fraud, including Tucker Carlson who called the former president a demonic force. Best of Rolling Stone Click here to read the full article. "She was one of the most internationally recognized fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging 60s," her family said in a statement on Thursday Mike Prior/Getty Images Dame Mary Quant Dame Mary Quant, known for popularizing short hemlines and penning the term "mini," died Thursday. She was 93. The designer "died peacefully at home in Surrey, UK, this morning," her family said in a statement to PA Media, a news agency in the United Kingdom. The statement added that she "was one of the most internationally recognized fashion designers of the 20th century and an outstanding innovator of the Swinging '60s." Quant was born in 1934 in Blackheath, and attended Goldsmiths University, graduating in 1953. She later went on to open Bazaar, a trendy boutique in King's Road in London. The store, featuring fashion-forward wares, was a favorite of The Rolling Stones and Audrey Hepburn and soon rose in popularity. Related:Dame Vivienne Westwood, Legendary Fashion Designer, Dead at 81 The fashion designer is credited with inventing the "mini" skirt named after her favorite car, the Mini Cooper hot pants, and popularizing mod style in the '60s. "I liked my skirts short because I wanted to run and catch the bus to get to work," she told the PA in 2014, per The Washington Post. "It was that feeling of freedom and liberation." She added, "It was the girls on King's Road who invented the mini. I was making clothes which would let you run and dance, and we would make them the length the customer wanted. I wore them very short and the customers would say, 'Shorter, shorter.' " Cyril Maitland/Mirrorpix/Getty Images Dame Mary Quant outside of her London shop, Bazaar In 1961, Quant opened a second Bazaar in Knightsbridge and a few years later, exported her mod looks to the United States in partnership with JCPenney. Never miss a story sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. The designer moved into the beauty world in 1966, launching a makeup line called Mary Quant Cosmetics. Story continues Quant penned several books, including Colour in 1984, Quant on Make-Up in 1986, Classic Make Up & Beauty Book in 1996, and an autobiography, Mary Quant: Autobiography, in 2011. She was appointed a dame by Queen Elizabeth II in 2015 and during London Fashion Week, a plaque was revealed in her honor outside the location of her first Bazaar location on King's Road. Dame Mary Quant (1930-2023) Its impossible to overstate Quants contribution to fashion. She represented the joyful freedom of 1960s fashion, and provided a new role model for young women. Fashion today owes so much to her trailblazing vision. pic.twitter.com/4z3MXp0tZl V&A (@V_and_A) April 13, 2023 "It's impossible to overstate Quant's contribution to fashion," Britain's Victoria and Albert Museum tweeted after her death. "She represented the joyful freedom of 1960s fashion, and provided a new role model for young women." Former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman posted a tribute on social media, tweeting: "RIP Dame Mary Quant. A leader of fashion but also in female entrepreneurship - a visionary who was much more than a great haircut." "In the '90s I used to bump into Ms. Quant in La Picena, a small Italian Deli on Walton Street. I recognised her immediately and on first meeting, I plucked up enough courage to say hello to her. I had been aware of her style, looks and spirit from my teenage years, so I felt that I was truly meeting a legend, someone who defined the spirit of the '60s," British fashion designer Bruce Oldfield told WWD. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. In a wide-ranging interview with BBC News, Elon Musk revealed details about his leadership at Twitter including his mass layoffs and appointing a new "CEO" his dog. Musk, 51, took over the social media company in November, calling himself "Chief Twit," but promised he would appoint new leadership. It does not appear that happened, but in an interview with BBC News' James Clayton on Twitter Spaces, a livestreaming function of the social media site, Musk joked that he did. "I did stand down," he said. "I keep telling you, I'm not the CEO of Twitter. My dog is the CEO of Twitter." In the past, Musk tweeted a photoshopped image of his dog, Floki, as CEO. And while it may seem unconventional to many, Musk said he sleeps at the Twitter headquarters in San Francisco sometimes. "There's a library nobody goes to on the seventh floor and there's a couch there and sometimes I sleep there," he said. This habit is not new to Musk, who was known for sleeping at Tesla headquarters often. After showing "CBS Mornings'" Gayle King his sleep set-up at Tesla in 2018 a bench in a conference room a GoFundMe was created to "buy Elon a couch." That same year, he told the New York Times he worked up to 120 hours a week and sometimes takes Ambien to get to sleep. In speaking with BBC News, Musk said he doesn't sleep at Twitter five days a week because he isn't at the headquarters five days a week. He also runs Tesla and SpaceX and is one of the richest men in the world. Musk also has nine living children, only two of whom are legally adults, with three women. Musk bought Twitter for $44 billion, selling many of his Tesla shares to be able to do so, which he told BBC News he did not want to have to do. After taking over, Musk promptly laid off a large portion of Twitter's workforce about 7,500 people but said it didn't hurt Twitter's functionality. He said the people who predicted that it would cease to work because so many engineers left are clearly wrong. "We're on Twitter right now," he said, referring to the Twitter Spaces platform. Story continues He claimed the mass layoffs were "one of the hardest things" he's had to do. "Not fun at all. Painful," he said, adding that Twitter now has just 1,500 employees. Former employees sued Musk over the terminations, with some alleging he went back on promises he made about his takeover and at least one saying he did not receive proper notification of the layoffs, which violates California laws, according to CBS News Bay Area. Musk wrote brash comments and mocked laid-off employees on Twitter, including an employee from Iceland named Haraldur Thorleifsson, an entrepreneur whose company was acquired by Twitter who said he was laid off without warning before being terminated. Thorleifsson who uses a wheelchair because of muscular dystrophy and was named Iceland's person of the year last year for his philanthropic efforts, including building wheelchair ramps across the country asked for clarity from Musk. Musk replied: "The reality is that this guy (who is independently wealthy) did no actual work, claimed as his excuse that he had a disability that prevented him from typing, yet was simultaneously tweeting up a storm. Can't say I have a lot of respect for that," Musk wrote. He later apologized for that comment, writing: "It was based on things I was told that were untrue or, in some cases, true, but not meaningful," Musk said. Musk often shares tweets that some find controversial or outlandish and he admitted he has shot himself in the foot "with tweets multiple times." "I think I should not tweet after 3 a.m.," he said. "If you're going to tweet something that maybe is controversial, save it as a draft then look at it the next day and see if you still want to tweet it." He also admitted the criticism he receives is taxing, adding that he doesn't have a "stone-cold heart." "If you're under constant attack and that's getting fed to you nonstop, including through Twitter, that's tough," he said of the mean tweets and criticism he's received. He said, however, the feedback is sometimes necessary, so he doesn't mute his mentions, or tweets where people mention his Twitter handle. On the topic of banning TikTok, Musk said he doesn't use it but he's heard people regret most of their time spent on the video app, which is under scrutiny for its privacy and data policies and is being investigated by the federal government. "We don't want regretted time, we want un-regretted time, where you learn things," he said. "I get more laughs out of Twitter than anything else and many people tell me the same thing. So that's a good thing." Second lawmaker reinstated to Tennessee state house after expulsion Ireland residents react to visit from President Biden Residents evacuate after fire at Indiana recycling plant filled with plastics Warner Bros. Discovery has confirmed its plans for a new Harry Potter series based on the best-selling books Peter Mountain/Warner Bros. Get ready to return to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Following reports in early April, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed their plans for a brand-new Harry Potter series based on the best-selling novels of the same name during a presentation to press and investors on April 12. "We are delighted to give audiences the opportunity to discover Hogwarts in a whole new way," said Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO, HBO & Max Content in a press release. "Harry Potter is a cultural phenomenon and it is clear there is such an enduring love and thirst for the Wizarding World. In partnership with Warner Bros. Television and J.K. Rowling, this new Max Original series will dive deep into each of the iconic books that fans have continued to enjoy for all of these years." The series marks the latest onscreen adaptation of Harry Potter, which was first released in 1997 with the book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone. In addition to the popular eight-movie franchise starring Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, and Emma Watson, a spinoff prequel titled Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them starring Eddie Redmayne was released in 2016, followed by two sequels, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022). Warner Bros. / courtesy Everett Collection An original play titled Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, which premiered on the West End in London and later hit Broadway in New York City, also followed a grownup Harry, Ron and Hermione as their children attended Hogwarts. While the Harry Potter films were a worldwide phenomenon during their initial release, the franchise has become embroiled in controversy in recent years. Author J.K. Rowling has come under fire after making comments widely condemned as anti-transgender in 2020, while the Fantastic Beasts franchise has been plagued by a series of controversies surrounding its key players, including Ezra Miller and Johnny Depp, the latter of which resigned from his role as villain Gellert Grindelwald after losing his libel case in the U.K. in 2020. Story continues Read ahead for everything we know about the Harry Potter series so far. Related:Warner Bros. Discovery's Streamer Max Drops with a 'Big Bang' (Spinoff), Plus 'Harry Potter' and 'Conjuring' Series What will the Harry Potter series be about? Unlike other book-to-film adaptations such as The Hunger Games taking the prequel route with new releases, the upcoming series "will be a faithful adaptation of the beloved Harry Potter book series," per an official press release from Warner Bros. Discovery. The release adds that "each season will be authentic to the original books and bring Harry Potter and these incredible adventures to new audiences around the world, while the original, classic and beloved films will remain at the core of the franchise and available to watch globally." Will J. K. Rowling be involved in the Harry Potter series? Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic J.K. Rowling Despite her recent controversies, Rowling will be involved with the series to ensure its accuracy to her original storyline, Bloomberg reported in April. In their official press release, Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that Rowling will serve as an executive producer along with Neil Blair and Ruth Kenley-Letts. David Heyman is currently in talks to executive produce. Who is the showrunner of the Harry Potter series? While Rowling will executive produce, she will not serve as the overall showrunner. During the April presentation, Casey Bloys, Chairman and CEO of HBO and Max Content, said that the search for the show's showrunner has already begun. "We have been trying to be very close to the vest," said Bloys, per Deadline. "We haven't gone out to agencies. We have our own internal process where we've been thinking about people but we have not wanted to go out into the world. Now that the news is out there, we will start working with the Blair Partnership and we'll start going out to the business." Will the original Harry Potter cast members appear on the series? Warner Bros,; HBO Max It's unlikely that any of the original Harry Potter stars will return for the new series as Warner Bros. Discovery confirmed that it "will feature a new cast to lead a new generation of fandom." Where can you watch the Harry Potter series? The series will be part of a brand-new streaming service titled Max, which will combine HBO Max and Discovery+. Warner Bros. Discovery announced plans for the new service in April, confirming its launch date for May 23. Per an official press release, Max will be the "destination for HBO Originals, Warner Bros. films, Max Originals, the DC universe, the Wizarding World of Harry Potter, an expansive offering of kids content, and best-in-class programing across food, home, reality, lifestyle and documentaries from leading brands like HGTV, Food Network, Discovery Channel, TLC, ID and more." How many seasons will the Harry Potter series include? courtesy Everett Collection The official press release from Warner Bros. Discovery confirms that the new show would be "a decade-long series," however, it's unclear just how many seasons that will entail. Bloys noted that it would be up to the showrunner how to split up the seven books, but the first season would mostly revolve around Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, while potentially including bits from other books. When will the Harry Potter series be released? Though Warner Bros. Discovery didn't confirm a release date in their press release, Deadline reported that it could be aiming for a 2025/2026 premiere. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Gardner-Webb University and Cleveland Community College presidents William Downs and Jason Hurst sign agreements for a joint admissions program for nursing students in this Star file photo. Gardner-Webb University is home to one of North Carolinas most comprehensive nursing programs that includes associate, bachelors, masters and doctoral degrees. Students who desire to enter the field of nursing or those who want to further their careers are choosing the GWU Hunt School of Nursing. Enrollment in the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) has grown from 14 to 73 in recent years, and the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) has increased from 47 in 2019 to 96 in 2023. The Hunt School of Nursing is no hidden gem or best kept secret, stated GWU President Dr. William Downs. To the contrary, our nursing programs have firmly established and sustained broad reputations for excellence. Students, practitioners, and patients across the state and around the region are well aware of how GWU combines faculty expertise with the passion and care that can come only from an institution with our values and history. Its exciting to see the growth in popularity of our ABSN and DNP degree programs, and we look forward to their continued upward trajectories. While direct marketing campaigns have led to the increase, some students, like Scott Pokorney, enrolled in the Hunt School of Nursing after talking to alumni. While working as an EMT in Mecklenburg County, Pokorney asked the nurses he met to recommend the best nursing program in the region. Gardner-Webbs alumni were unanimous in their praise. They had nothing but great things to say about the program, and highly recommended pursuing my nursing degree at GWU, Pokorney said. They specifically mentioned how incredible the professors are. Hunt School of Nursing Director Dr. Tracy Arnold said that Gardner-Webbs ABSN program plays a critical role in addressing the current nationwide, nursing shortage because it allows the nursing faculty to prepare entry-level practitioners to enter the workforce in 15 months. Our Accelerated BSN students are highly qualified individuals, with bachelors, masters, and doctoral degrees in other fields, Arnold said. Our program attracts students from all over the east coast, with some students commuting up to two hours, one way, which speaks to the reputation of our faculty, staff and curriculum. Story continues Pokorney entered the Accelerated Bachelor of Science in Nursing (ABSN) program at Gardner-Webb and now spoke of the admiration alumni have for the faculty. They are truly invested in preparing you to become the best new RN possible, he said. They genuinely want you to succeed and nurture you to your full potential. The ABSN is one of several degree options at Gardner-Webb. To find out more or to register, go to gardner-webb.edu/nursing. This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Gardner-Webb sees increased enrollment in nursing program BOSTON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In response to a federal appeals court ruling regarding restrictions on access to mifepristone, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts ("Blue Cross") released the following statement: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts "As a health care organization, we believe strongly that our members should have access to the care they need. Mifepristone has been FDA-approved for use in termination of pregnancy since 2000. As more than 50% of abortions occur via medication rather than surgical procedures, recent rulings regarding access to mifepristone will impact abortion access. As the cases work their way through the courts, including yesterday's appeals court decision to partially block the FDA's original approval of mifepristone, our team at Blue Cross will continue to ensure we are doing everything we can to support our members and employees. Here in Massachusetts, both surgical and medication assisted abortion services remain legal. We are grateful for Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey's broad efforts, including the stockpiling of mifepristone in clinical settings, to protect access to medication assisted abortion, which remains a critical component of comprehensive abortion access." About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (http://www.bluecrossma.org) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are committed to the relentless pursuit of quality, affordable and equitable health care with an unparalleled consumer experience. Consistent with our promise to always put our members first, we are rated among the nation's best health plans for member satisfaction and quality. Connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/blue-cross-blue-shield-of-massachusetts-issues-statement-on-latest-mifepristone-ruling-301797042.html SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Gigi Hadid is taking on spring with her easy, sophisticated style. The supermodel and Guest in Residence founder stepped out for dinner in New York City this Wednesday with friend and Next in Fashion co-host Tan France. For the evening out, she opted for a breezy look in coordinating pastel tones. It consisted of a light green one-shoulder top from Guest in Residence, light beige trousers, and an oversized beige suit jacket with black buttons. Over the jacket, she layered a cashmere sweater, also from her brand, in the same light green hue as her top. MEGA - Getty Images A lover of high-quality basics, Hadid accessorized with a black leather belt with a gold buckle, shiny black shoes, and gold jewelry, including layered chain necklaces and hoop earrings. The model went full glam for the dinner date, opting for airy waves, glowy, rosy makeup, black cat-eye liner, and a glossy red lip. Shop Now Warm Shoulder Top $185.00 guestinresidence.com At a New York pop-up for her cashmere label last year, Hadid spoke to BAZAAR.com about her goal for the brand, saying that she hopes her pieces last people forever and are "passed down" from generation to generation. She also talked about her approach to dressing. "My goal in life is to look as chic or put together as possible while always being comfortable. I very rarely, even on red carpets, will wear things that I feel uncomfortable in throughout the event because I just feel like I can't be myself as much when I'm thinking about what I'm wearing in that way," she said. You Might Also Like This story first appeared in The Investigator, a weekly newsletter by Spotlight PA featuring the best investigative and accountability journalism from across Pennsylvania. Sign up for free here. HARRISBURG The election of Pennsylvanias first female House speaker in late February resolved three months of uncertainty around chamber leadership. Still, Harrisburg remains a convoluted place. As lawmakers begin considering bills and big funding questions, Spotlight PAs Stephen Caruso wants to help you understand how the sausage really gets made, how your tax dollars are spent, and how Harrisburg works (or doesnt). In this edition of his recurring feature, Caruso has answered three more questions from readers and Spotlight PA staff. Have a question of your own? Email him at scaruso@spotlightpa.org with the subject line How Harrisburg Works. What will impending special elections mean for state House control? To paraphrase Democratic political operative Ben Forstate, with a one-seat margin in the state House, every special election is also an existential crisis. There are two state House special elections scheduled for primary day, May 16. One is in the Philadelphia suburbs to replace former state Rep. Mike Zabel, D-Delaware, who resigned after several people accused him of sexual harassment. The other is in the upper Susquehanna Valley to replace Lynda Schlegel Culver, R-Northumberland, who won a state Senate seat. Both state House seats are likely safe holds for the respective parties (The Inquirers Gillian McGoldrick has an in-depth look at the Delaware County race). But May 16 likely wont be the end of special elections. At least three state representatives are running for local office and will have to give up their seats if they win in November. All are Democrats: Sara Innamorato is running for Allegheny County executive; Amen Brown is vying to become the next mayor of Philadelphia; and John Galloway is seeking a Bucks County judgeship. Story continues None of these seats are likely to flip parties if they become vacant. President Joe Biden won all three by at least 10 percentage points in 2020. Still, even a temporary vacancy or two could see the Democratic caucus dip below the mathematical definition of majority. But the math doesnt matter. Thats due to a new definition of majority party in the state House rules Democrats introduced and passed last month without any Republican support While the term was undefined in past sessions rules, the state Houses operating rules now say that the majority party is the one that won the greater number of elections for the 203 seats in the House of Representatives in the general election preceding the term of service that began on the first day of December next after the general election. Should a vacancy occur during the term, the definition continues, the political party that won that seat at the last election shall remain the party that won that seat until any subsequent special election is held to fill that seat. Control would only be reshuffled if a seat flips, the definition concludes. Holding the majority matters for a number of reasons. It allows Democrats to control both the committees and the chambers floor agenda. The new definition of majority, said state House Republican spokesperson Jason Gottesman, is an admission by Democrats that they might need to cling to power at some point in session through artificial means. In response, state House Democratic spokesperson Beth Rementer said the majority language was similar to a definition proposed by Republicans in earlier rules drafts, and was included to ensure that House operations can continue without potential disruption. Philadelphias Joanna McClinton now leads the state House Democratic caucus, which passed new rules this year. What is the difference between a rule change and a law? Its well known that many good government reforms have stalled in Harrisburg over the years, leading one Twitter user to ask if something like a legislative gift ban could be implemented through a change in a chambers operating rules rather than through a change to state law. The short answer is yes, but advocates who want action on the issue think that tackling it through that avenue wont have the intended effect. While a bill requires a majority vote in both chambers and the governors signature to become law, a rule change is more easily adopted, only requiring a majority vote in one chamber to become policy. However, a legislative rule would only apply to that chamber, be harder to enforce, and be easier to amend or remove, said Michael Pollack, executive director of good government group March on Harrisburg. We have no interest in pursuing a rule change regarding a gift ban zero because its so temporary, ephemeral, Pollack told Spotlight PA. Thats why the groups efforts have focused on enacting a statutory gift ban, which would apply evenly to all public officials in the state with no exception, Pollack said. A rule change, he said, is a good way for the House to make it look like theyre doing something serious, and quietly undo something later. Will lawmakers pay for Twitter Blue? Twitter claimed in March that it would begin removing free blue verification check marks from accounts starting April 1. Implementation has so far been very limited. Still, Spotlight PA wanted to know if Pennsylvania lawmakers plan to use taxpayer money to secure new check marks. The state House will not reimburse lawmakers for a Twitter Blue subscription as it does for office supplies or mileage, the chambers Chief Clerk Brooke Wheeler said. However, the partisan caucuses, which have access to their own funds, could pay for subscriptions if desired. Gottesman, the state House GOP spokesperson, said the caucus wont pay for a subscription for any members, but it did buy Twitter Blue for its official account because it comes with perks like the ability to post longer videos. Rementer, the state House Democratic spokesperson, said in an email that she was unaware of any discussions about Twitter Blue. (The caucus Twitter account was verified pre-Twitter Blue.) In the upper chamber, a Democratic spokesperson told Spotlight PA that the caucus is waiting for an opinion from the chief clerk on whether lawmakers can be reimbursed for a subscription. We havent had to make that case yet, the spokesperson, who asked not to be identified, said. State Senate Republican spokesperson Kate Flessner said the caucus did not have a policy on Twitter Blue. Both accounts were also verified pre-Twitter Blue. As for the executive branch, a spokesperson for Gov. Josh Shapiro did not say if the office would spend money on Twitter, but noted that Shapiro was interested in engaging people where they are. 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 foundations and readers like you who are committed to accountability journalism that gets results. Switzerland-based brand INUIKII has just stepped out with its latest footwear release -- the Sabot Venezia clog. The new shoe bears a signature sole, furthering the luxury brand's commitment to providing comfort without compromising on craftsmanship and construction. The chunky clog is certain to become a closet staple as its supportive shape is swathed in an ultra-soft suede that molds to the wearer's feat. Available in a rainbow of shades, the Sabot Venezia can add an instant pop of color, arriving in bright, serotonin-boosting hues from a baby soft purple and an "Olive Green" with a fuchsia trim to soothing blue or pulse-racing orange. INUIKII's Sabot Venezia clogs are priced at $315 USD and are available on the brand's website. The person at the center of the massive leak of internal classified documents from the Pentagon that detailed the war in Ukraine and U.S. spying efforts in the world has been identified as Jack Teixeira, a 21-year-old Massachusetts Air National Guardsman. The highly sensitive documents, of which there were more than a hundred, provide data on: Military activities, including U.S. spy planes in the area U.S. officials' perspectives on Ukrainian forces training and readiness New estimates on Ukrainian and Russian troops killed and equipment destroyed Teixeira was arrested without incident Thursday after federal investigators searched his mother's home. "FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident," Attorney General Merrick Garland said during a news conference Thursday. "We will share more information at the appropriate time." Heres what we know about Teixeira and the leaks. Stay in the conversation on politics: Sign up for the OnPolitics newsletter Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks at the Department of Justice in Washington, Thursday, April 13, 2023. FBI Deputy Director Paul Abbate, right, and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco, left, listen. Who is Jack Teixeira? Teixeira is a 21-year-old resident of North Dighton, Massachusetts, public records show. Located in southeastern Massachusetts, the town is about a 30-minute drive from Providence, Rhode Island. His most recent address was also listed as the home of two adults in their 50s, most likely his parents. Teixeira is a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard and leader of the Discord group where more than 100 classified documents were leaked during the last few months. This aerial footage courtesy of WBZ via CBS shows the suspect national guardsman Jack Teixeira taking into custody by FBI agents in a forested area in North Dighton, in the northeastern state of Massachusetts. - FBI agents on Thursday arrested a young national guardsman suspected of being behind a major leak of sensitive US government secrets -- including about the Ukraine war. In that Discord group, a popular chat app among gamers, called Thug Shaker Central, one individual leaked several classified documents that provided U.S. insight into the war in Ukraine and other military activities. Pentagon document leak: Here are the biggest takeaways after U.S. military secrets leaked What Pentagon documents is Teixeira suspected of leaking? Teixeira is suspected of leaking hundreds of classified military documents to the Discord group. Members of the group told the New York Times and the Washington Post that they referred to the leader as "O.G." but declined to identify him by name. Story continues The Justice Department announced Saturday that it would be opening an investigation into the leak of the classified documents which were labeled secret and not for distribution to foreign governments. The documents provided specific details behind U.S. forces in the region and Ukraine's use of ammunition in the war. Following his arrest on Thursday, Teixeira was charged with alleged unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, Garland said. Pentagon spokesman U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder arrives to speak at a media briefing at the Pentagon, Thursday, April 13, 2023, in Washington. What was Jack Teixeiras job in the military? Teixeira worked for the Massachusetts Air National Guards 102nd Intelligence Wing, which is located at the Otis Air National Guard Base in Cape Cod. Our mission is to provide worldwide precision intelligence and command and control along with trained and experienced Airmen for expeditionary combat support and homeland security, the wings website says. His rank is Airman 1st Class, according to his military service record, a low rank. His job title is Cyber Transport Systems Journeymen, a job that requires repairing communication systems, according to the Air Force website. Could Jack Teixeira be tied to extremism? By Thursday afternoon, experts were already suggesting Teixeira may have been influenced by right-wing extremism to take the actions he did. Citing the Washington Post reporting that a person it identified as the leak suspect can be seen in a video yelling a series of racial and antisemitic slurs into the camera, Wendy Via and Heidi Beirich, co-founders of the Global Project Against Hate and Extremism, cautioned if investigators are correct and the leak came from inside the military this should be a massive wake up call for the US government. There are infinite reasons why it's dangerous to have far-right, racist, and anti-government characters infiltrating the U.S. military, and national security is one of the most important, Via and Beirich wrote in a statement. Daryl Johnson, a security consultant and former senior analyst for domestic terrorism at the Department of Homeland Security, agreed. We've got counterintelligence threats because these people have clearances, which they should not have, Johnson said. Johnson cautioned Thursday that it was still unclear whether Teixeira had politically extremist views, but pointed to the Posts reporting about the racist statements as strong evidence of a motive in leaking the documents. Its smoke at this point, he said. Its not a fire. What is the Discord group? The Discord group consisted of around 20-30 members, most of which were young men and teenagers according to multiple media reports. Teixeira was the leader of the group and went by the handle jackthedripper, the Washington Post reported Thursday. The group bonded over Discord during the pandemic when they were stuck at home and isolated from the outside world, according to the New York Times and the Washington Post. In the group, members shared racist memes and interests in guns and video games. An illustration picture taken on March 2, 2023 in Moscow shows a smart phone screen bearing the Discord social network application logo. Contributing: Tom Vanden Brook This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Who leaked the Pentagon documents? What we know about Jack Teixeira The family's visit with the iconic Japanese artist North's dream come true didn't go down quite as well with her brother Saint Kim Kardashian/Instagram Kim Kardashian and her kids with Takashi Murakami Kardashians they're just like us! Kim Kardashian shared more photos from her recent trip to Japan with her four children North, 9, Saint, 7, Chicago, 5, and Psalm, 4 next month where even the opportunity to meet iconic Japanese artist Takashi Murakami didn't stop one of her kids from pulling a not-so-happy face. In one photo, Kim, 42, North, Chicago and Psalm all posed with Murakami, 61, while Saint lay in front of them on the floor, with his face looking like he'd been crying. In another, the artist posed with the reality star and her kids once again, with Saint standing further away, his arms crossed and an angry look on his face as he stared at his family. "All North wanted was to meet @takashipom on our trip to Japan!" the SKIMS founder wrote on Instagram. "Thank you Murakami for opening up your creative bubble for us and bringing some of your magic to the kids. " "It would have been nice if they weren't fighting LOL and we got a decent picture but hey?!" Kim concluded. 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. Related: Kim Kardashian Shares Relatable Mom Moment with Photo of Her Sleeping Arrangements: "My Morning" Followers were quick to comment with their reactions to the relatable moment, with one user saying, "Saint is me most days." "The second picture, I felt that in my soul ," another person wrote in reference to the photo where Saint stood with his arms crossed, while another said, "Angry Saint is cracking me up." The Kardashians star has shared a plethora of photos from the trip. The vacation which Tracy Romulus, the chief brand officer for all of Kim's brands, and her family also joined saw the group explore everything from a hedgehog cafe to indoor go-kart racing and a Sanrio theme park. Story continues Kim also made time to meet with Japanese architect Tadao Ando, whom she revealed she has been working with on a "dream project" for two years. "Met with the master himself," she said of the famed architect. "I visited his office in Japan so that we could make the finishing touches before we break ground. So deeply honored and incredibly humbled to have the opportunity to work with him and finally see this special project come to life #tadaoando." Related: Kim Kardashian Shares Glimpse at Japan Getaway with Her Kids See the Photos The trip also saw Kim in a full-circle moment, as she wore a fluffy pink coat similar to the one she famously mocked younger sister Khloe Kardashian for wearing in 2018. In a photo, she rocked the bright-pink fluffy faux-fur coat with a matching Balenciaga purse, Hello Kitty manicure, gray sweatpants, Nike shoes and Balenciaga sunglasses but also included a tweet that called out the pink coat, as well as the original clip of her commenting on it. While on a sister trip to Tokyo in 2018, Kim famously said to Khloe, 38, and older sister Kourtney Kardashian, "So, I gotta be real with you guys you look like f---ing clowns," in reference to outfits they'd worn, which included a nearly identical fluffy pink coat worn by Khloe. The Good American founder hilariously commented, "I'm waiting ... " in the comments of the post, in regards to that apology she allegedly hasn't received. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. As Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker toyed with the idea of a fourth wedding, they reminisced on their previous three, gushing that "they were all so different and so special" Hulu/YouTube Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Kourtney Kardashian Barker and Travis Barker may have wed three separate times and a fourth is not out of the question! During the couple's new Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis wedding special on Hulu, Kourtney and Travis reminisced on all three of their weddings from 2022. The pair first had a headline-making Las Vegas wedding at the One Love Wedding Chapel after the 2022 Grammy Awards last April 4. Since the ceremony wasn't legally binding, they later wed at a Santa Barbara courthouse on May 15. Days after, they wed once more in a larger, more elaborate ceremony held in Portofino, Italy, on May 22. Related:Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Celebrate 1st Anniversary of Romantic Las Vegas Wedding "I can't pick my favorite, my favorite wedding. I loved them all," Travis, 47, told Kourtney at the end of their special, which premiered on Thursday. Kourtney, 43, agreed, "Same, they were all so different and so special. We're gonna have at least one more [wedding]. Maybe just you and I. A quicker wedding." Hulu/YouTube Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Thursday's special kicked off with the couple's Vegas wedding, which showed Kourtney and Travis saying "I do" for the first time after a night of drinking "way too much tequila." Related:Kourtney Kardashian's Vegas Wedding Elvis Officiant Called Her Khloe and More Mishaps from Kravis' Nuptials The spontaneous moment also featured a hilarious exchange between the newlyweds and their Elvis Presley impersonator officiant, who accidentally called Kourtney by her younger sister's name, Khloe. Kourtney was beside herself, hysterically laughing at the mistake. The reality star, who had already been struggling to stand on her own, then fell to the ground as she continued to laugh. Story continues As Travis attempted to lift his wife-to-be from the floor and the Elvis impersonator apologized, Kourtney told the Blink-182 drummer, "I'm gonna cry. Wait, we need to FaceTime Khloe, we need to FaceTime her. She's gonna literally die." Related:Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Get 'Personal' in Wedding Special: 'We Got Married 3 Times?' A few weeks later, Kourtney and Travis headed to Santa Barbara, documenting the intimate moment they got married on the steps of the city's courthouse and received the legal paperwork they needed before their Italy nuptials. The couple was joined by Kourtney's grandmother, Mary Jo "MJ" Shannon, and Travis' dad, Randy, for the event since neither would be able to attend their European wedding, according to Kourtney. "My grandma and your dad being there as the only people there because they couldn't fly to Italy," she said in the special as Travis chimed in, "That was as traditional as everybody else's wedding could've been. Everything, the car, convertible cadillac, cans on the car, Santa Barbara was special." Hulu/YouTube Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Related:Kourtney Kardashian Reveals the Risque Inspiration for Her Wedding Look: 'I Need a Short Dress' Then, the special focused on their lavish Italian wedding, held at designer Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana's Portofino property. Along the way, Kourtney and Travis faced some bumps, like having to abandon their Italian church plans after realizing "strict" rules in place that required them to have "specific documents" or take a "one-year Catholic course." Related:Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Show Off PDA (and Mr. and Mrs. Jackets!) at Wedding Reception The Poosh founder also revealed to fans that the Italian nuptials came together in a lightning-fast 30 minutes, though it was an elaborate process to make everything happen. "They had to do helicopter drops to get the piano there, to get everything to build. They were dropping wood at the castle and at the property for the ceremony for days," Kourtney shared. "One thing I did realize working with Domenico is what Domenico says, he really just does it. We presented a lot of stuff that looked like the church and then they almost created a church. We let some details go that I think people would be surprised with." She added to Travis: "I remember calling Melissa Kolker and planning it in 30 minutes and then calling you and talking to you about it. We were like, 'Yeah, perfect.' When everything else I do is so planned out, and so detailed." Hulu/YouTube Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Despite her concerns, the wedding went off without a hitch. The lavish celebrations also included a performance from Andrea Bocelli and his son Matteo, tons of delicious food and heartfelt speeches from Kourtney and Travis's loved ones. "I've seen travis go through hell and now I'm so happy to watch him find heaven with Kourtney," Travis's bandmate and friend Mark Hoppus said at the party. Sister Kim Kardashian gave a toast and told the crowd, "You've brought us along in your fairy tale, and there's really no love story like you guys. It's a movie, it's the cutest. You guys are the best and we all just wish you so much love and happiness." Kylie Jenner added, "I've never seen you happier, Kourtney and that just warms my heart." This marked Kourtney's first marriage, though she shares her three children Mason, 13, Penelope, 10, and Reign, 8 with ex Scott Disick. Travis was married to Melissa Kennedy from 2001 to 2002 and Shanna Moakler from 2004 to 2008. He shares stepdaughter Atiana, 24, and children Landon, 19, and Alabama, 17, with Moakler. 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. Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis is now streaming on Hulu. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. The couple opened up about all three of their wedding ceremonies in their Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis special on Hulu BACKGRID Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Two of Kourtney Kardashian Barker and Travis Barker's loved ones weren't able to attend their lavish wedding in Portofino, Italy, so the couple made sure to get married somewhere closer to home. The couple who first wed in a headline-making Las Vegas wedding at the One Love Wedding Chapel on April 4, 2022 said on their Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis wedding special on Hulu Thursday that family played a big part in their decision to have a second ceremony at a Santa Barbara courthouse. Kourtney, 43, revealed that her grandmother, Mary Jo "MJ" Campbell, and Travis's father, Randy Barker, attended their courthouse ceremony, since they were unable to travel to their planned nuptials abroad. "My grandma and your dad being there as the only people there because they couldn't fly to Italy," Kourtney said. Travis, 47, chimed in, "That was as traditional as everybody else's wedding could've been. Everything, the car, convertible Cadillac, cans on the car, Santa Barbara was special." Related:Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Share Romantic Wedding Photos: 'Till Death Do Us Part' Following the event, the couple shared a carousel of photos on their Instagram pages including black-and-white snaps of them as they walked hand-in-hand down the stairs of the courthouse and another shot posing beside Randy and Mary Jo. Following the pair's courthouse ceremony on May 15, the couple was able to receive the legal documents they needed for their nuptials in Italy. Hulu/YouTube Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker One week after saying "I do" in Santa Barbara, Kourtney and Travis wed once more in an elaborate ceremony in Portofino surrounded by red roses and loved ones, including their six children. Kourtney shares three kids with ex Scott Disick: Mason, 13, Penelope, 10, and Reign, 8. Travis who was married to Melissa Kennedy from 2001 to 2002, shares stepdaughter Atiana, 24, and children Landon, 19, and Alabama, 17, with Shanna Moakler from their 20042008 marriage. Story continues Related:Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker Get 'Personal' in Wedding Special: 'We Got Married 3 Times?' In their new special, the couple reminisced on their triple nuptials and debuted both "private and personal footage" from the ceremonies that are "full of beautiful moments." The first teaser trailer for the special showed glimpses of Kourtney and Travis's weddings as well as footage of the events leading up to the weekend-long Italian celebration. "Can you believe we got married three times?" asked the Poosh mogul, as the Blink-182 drummer, responded, "It's like choosing a child. I can't pick the best one!" 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. Til Death Do Us Part Kourtney & Travis is now streaming on Hulu. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Lady Gaga and producer Bruce Cohen (American Beauty, Silver Linings Playbook) on Thursday were appointed co-chairs of President Joe Bidens Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, a board featuring top names across the arts tasked with advising the president on cultural issues. The committee is making its return after a five-year hiatus, when the board disbanded under the Trump administration in protest of the white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017, in which Trump had said there were very fine people on both sides of the clash that left one dead. At the time, the 17-member committee sent a letter to then President Trump to decry his hateful rhetoric and denounced his efforts to eliminate or severely reduce budgets dedicated to the arts and humanities. More from The Hollywood Reporter We cannot sit idly by, the way that your West Wing advisors have, without speaking out against your words and actions, the letter said, which was signed by committee members like Kal Penn and the artist Chuck Close. Now, the board is making a return. Last October, President Biden issued an executive order to reinstate the committee, describing the arts and humanities as essential to the well-being, health, vitality and democracy of our nation. In addition to Gaga and Cohen, committee members will include Jon Batiste, George Clooney, Jennifer Garner, Troy Kotsur, Shonda Rhimes and Kerry Washington. See below for the full list of committee members. Bruce Cohen, Co-Chair Lady Gaga, Co-Chair Jon Batiste, Member Constance M. Carroll, Member George Clooney, Member Philip J. Deloria, Member M. Angelica Garcia, Member Jennifer Garner, Member Nora Halpern, Member Steve Israel, Member Marta Kauffman, Member Ricky Kirshner, Member Troy Kotsur, Member Katie McGrath, Member Laura Penn, Member Amanda Phingbodhipakkiya, Member Arnold Rampersad, Member Shonda Rhimes, Member Kimberly Richter Shirley, Member Horacio Sierra, Member Anna Deavere Smith, Member Joe Walsh, Member Kerry Washington, Member Pauline Yu, Member Story continues Best of The Hollywood Reporter Click here to read the full article. This article was produced for ProPublicas Local Reporting Network in partnership with the Idaho Statesman. Sign up for Dispatches to get stories like this one as soon as they are published. Jan Bayer sank into the couch in the family room of her Bonners Ferry home and stared at her phone, nervously awaiting a call. Her twin teenage daughters were nearby, equally anxious. It was election night in March 2022, and Bayer, the superintendent of the Boundary County School District in a remote part of Idaho on the Canadian border, had spent months educating voters about a bond that would raise property taxes to replace one of her districts oldest and most dangerous buildings: Valley View Elementary School. Built just after World War II, the school was falling apart. The walls were cracked. The pipes were disintegrating. The ceilings were water-stained. The electrical system was maxed out and the insulation was nearly nonexistent. Classrooms froze in the winter and baked in the summer. The roof, part of which had already collapsed once, was nearing the end of its lifespan. Outside, potholes pocked the parking lot and deep splits formed in warped sidewalks. The kindergarten playground, weathered from decades of brutal winters, had turned hazardous; at times, sharp screws protruded from some of the equipment, and kids routinely got splinters from the wooden crossbeams. Most worrisome to Bayer and her staff: Kindergarten students had to cross a street multiple times a day just to navigate the sprawling six-building campus, a piecemeal attempt to add much-needed classroom space. The bond promised to fix all that if voters approved it. Youre just honestly praying for a miracle, Bayer said. I said a lot of prayers all day long, saying, OK, we can do this. We can do this. At about 8:30 p.m., a call came in from the county clerk. More than 2,000 people voted, and about 54% of them supported the bond, the clerk said. Bayers heart sank and she broke into tears. In Idaho, a majority wasnt enough. The state is one of just two in the nation that require support from two-thirds of voters to pass a bond. Story continues Bayer shared the results with the school board, school staff and the facilities committee. Over the next several hours, she received calls and messages from community members. They told her to keep fighting. So she did. The district put another bond on the ballot in August, and students rallied to support it. On Election Day, the high school football team even stood on the bridge over the Kootenai River and held yellow signs that read Vote Yes for Kids, hoping to persuade voters as they drove to the Boundary County Fairgrounds to cast their votes. But the second bond fared worse. Just over 40% of voters backed the new measure, which hit the ballot as residents received a notice that their property assessments were going to rise and voters were worried about tax increases. It went down in a ball of flames, Bayer wrote to the school board. Boundary County School District Superintendent Jan Bayer points out that part of an exterior wall of a school building is made of glass blocks painted blue, which are not efficient for heating and cooling. The rest of the building is made of cinder blocks that came from a naval training station that was decommissioned in the 1940s. No other state spends less on education per student than Idaho, according to a recent report from the U.S. Census Bureau, which surveys and ranks school finance systems. It also ranks last in the nation in terms of school infrastructure spending per pupil, a state report shows. So over the past several decades, rural districts across the state have faced the same challenge as Bayer: To improve or replace aging and sometimes dangerous facilities, they must appeal to local taxpayers and clear some of the nations most restrictive thresholds for school funding. Despite urgent needs, most of these efforts fail, an investigation by the Idaho Statesman and ProPublica has found. As a result, students across the state must learn amid dire conditions. In one Idaho school, the foundation is crumbling. In another, so few bathrooms serve hundreds of kids that students have soiled themselves, according to school officials and local media. And in yet another, a portion of a roof recently failed during off-hours, sending water flooding into a classroom and bathrooms, destroying books and temporarily limiting learning space. Since 2006, districts have mounted 217 bond attempts to remedy these types of problems and accommodate growing student populations. Had Idaho required only a majority of voters to support the measures the threshold in most states 83% of them would have passed. Instead, just 44% were approved, according to an analysis of bond measures and election data by the news organizations. Like Boundary County, more than two dozen districts have tried to pass bonds and failed at least twice since 2006. Nine of those districts never succeeded during that time. All of this matters not only for the safety and comfort of students but for their academic success. Research has shown that young people who learn in deteriorating or substandard facilities have worse educational outcomes than peers who learn in newer and functional buildings. Superintendents say they have little choice but to patch up the issues they can see and hope its enough for now. But others fear that by trying to maintain buildings that need to be replaced, at best theyre wasting taxpayer dollars and at worst theyre risking an accident. Do we keep putting a Band-Aid on something thats broken? said Troy Easterday, superintendent of the Salmon School District, which has tried and failed to pass a bond nearly a dozen times since 2005 in an effort to secure funding to build a new school. The districts elementary school building, which is plagued by aging plumbing, uneven floors and a cracked foundation, is around 70 years old. Education advocates and some lawmakers argue that the bond threshold should be lower. By requiring support from two-thirds of voters, you essentially allow the government to be operated through the tyranny of the minority, said Mat Erpelding, a Democrat and former House minority leader who unsuccessfully tried to pass legislation in 2017 to start the process of lowering the threshold for passing bonds to 60%. Under that metric, about 62% of all bonds placed on the ballot since 2006 would have passed, compared to the actual passage rate of 44%, according to the Statesman-ProPublica analysis. Some current legislative leaders, however, disagree with Erpeldings assessment. I think it needs to remain in place, said state House Speaker Mike Moyle, a Republican who pointed out that the provision has been in the states constitution since its earliest days. I think its a protection for the taxpayer. And practically speaking, lowering the threshold would be difficult, requiring a constitutional amendment that would have to be approved by two-thirds of legislators and a majority of voters. Gov. Brad Little has said he wants to invest more in education, and last year he signed a bill to allot $330 million to public education across Idaho. But much of that money will go toward increasing teacher pay and benefits as opposed to upgrading and replacing school facilities. As a result, under the current system, rural districts like Boundary County continue to face a heavy fundraising burden; their communities are often poorer, smaller and less able to support tax increases than urban centers. At Valley View Elementary, for example, most students are from low-income families and about 10% are homeless, according to the State Department of Education. About three-quarters of the states districts are rural. Boundary County covers a rural area at the top of the Idaho panhandle, along the Canadian border. If local taxpayers cant afford to pay for those facilities, then those students have to do without and that does not meet the obligations put forward in the Idaho Constitution, said Mike Journee, spokesperson for the state teachers union. Connie Perez, who has taught at Valley View for more than three decades, said she does her best to adjust to the circumstances. But on some days, her mind drifts to the crack in the wall outside her fourth grade classroom. Thats what scares me, she said, the big things that are going to happen. Decades of legislative neglect As far back as 30 years ago, Idaho legislators were confronted with the states deteriorating schools. A statewide assessment funded by the Legislature found that districts needed nearly $700 million in repairs, expansions and upgrades. Seventy-one buildings were either deemed dangerous or had serious problems that needed immediate attention. In 1993, a member of the state facilities committee presented the findings to lawmakers. The Legislature, however, did little to address the issues. A maintenance worker at Valley View Elementary points out a crack in a classroom support beam. Valley View Elementary in Boundary County was one of those schools that were labeled as needing immediate attention. And without an influx of funds, things got worse. Three years after the state assessment, the schools gym roof collapsed during winter break, when students were home. The region had gotten slammed with a major snowstorm, and the building couldnt handle the additional weight. No one was injured, but the staff was shaken. Its something you dont want to ever see again, especially when you have kids, said Bob Overman, the former maintenance director for the district, who had just walked out of the gym when the roof caved in. It used to worry me all the time. Meanwhile, elsewhere in Boundary County, administrators struggled with overcrowded schools. Voters had previously rejected three bond measures for new facilities, so students temporarily had to go to school in shifts: high school in the mornings and middle school in the afternoons and evenings. It was a strain on parents, especially those who had kids in different grade levels. In 1999, six years after the statewide facilities assessment, then-Gov. Dirk Kempthorne took another look at the schools. Of the 71 buildings in the worst shape, 18 had been shuttered and 53 remained in service. At the facilities still in use, the average building condition score had declined, meaning they still had problems that needed immediate attention, according to an update to the facilities report. Even some buildings that underwent renovations, like Valley View, which had to replace the portion of the building that collapsed, did not see changes in their overall scores. Two buckets hang inside the ceiling at Valley View to collect water from leaking pipes. Although the Legislature made some funding changes in the 1990s, in 2001 a judge presiding over a school funding case took issue with the states reliance on bonds, finding that a system based upon loans alone is not adequate to meet the constitutional mandate to establish and maintain a general, uniform, and thorough system of public, free common schools. Citing prior rulings, the court said that mandate includes providing a safe environment conducive to learning. The following year, Kempthorne advocated improving school building safety and lowering the threshold for passing bonds, according to Idaho Statesman reporting. Its time to solve this problem, he said. In 2005, the state Supreme Court weighed in, agreeing with the lower courts finding that the states funding system for school facilities was unconstitutional. It noted the struggles of several districts that had failed to clear the two-thirds bar to pass a bond, despite making multiple attempts. While the court did not prescribe specific remedies, it told the Legislature that it was lawmakers responsibility to ensure that school facilities are properly funded. Over the next two decades, the cycle would repeat itself: State leaders would recommend major changes to address school facilities including lowering the bond threshold to 60% and the Legislature would push back, offering instead modest investments. At least two bills to make it easier for districts to pass bonds went nowhere. Water seeps across the floor in the boiler room. As recently as last year, a state report estimated that school facilities needs now stand at more than $800 million, a figure that researchers acknowledged was likely on the low end of the actual need. The Legislature never did fulfill its responsibility, said Jim Jones, a former state Supreme Court justice who concurred, in part, on its 2005 decision. They nipped around the edges here and there. But they never set up a system whereby the state took responsibility, or the primary responsibility, for funding, construction and maintenance. And thats where we are now. Republican state Rep. Jason Monks disagreed, saying the Legislature had fulfilled its constitutional obligation but was still working to improve public education. Are we doing the minimum? Yes, said Monks, the former assistant House majority leader. Can we do better? Yes. And should we do better? Yes. But I think we are providing at least a minimum that were required to. This year, in a nod to the struggles of school districts, lawmakers passed a property tax bill that allocated funds for districts to pay off bonds and levies. Districts will receive $65 million this fiscal year and about $79 million in the next fiscal year, according to estimates from the governors office. But, critics note, the legislation also eliminated an election day in March, one of the four dates on which districts could hold bond votes and the one where districts have historically seen the most success. State Rep. Julie Yamamoto, a Republican and the chair of the House Education Committee, said that the bill was a start but that lawmakers needed to do more to live up to their constitutional obligation to adequately fund school facilities. We recognize that you cant pass a bond to build, nor can you pass one to keep your buildings up, she said in an interview. We need to act. Meanwhile, in Boundary County, after two failed bonds, teachers and administrators are forced to deal with the conditions at Valley View Elementary, worrying about whether they can keep students safe in a building they cant afford to change. Conditions affect learning Drea Leach teaches her fifth grade students about fractions at Valley View. Every September, at the beginning of the school year, Drea Leach gets to her fifth grade Valley View classroom by 6 a.m. Hoping to beat the heat, the teacher opens the windows and lets in the outside air. But with Idaho increasingly facing record-high temperatures, its rarely enough to keep the room bearable for the day ahead. By 10 a.m., the classroom can reach 85 degrees, she said. Students start to sweat, fan themselves and shut down. To try to get kids to sit in here and learn and focus when its 85 degrees is almost impossible, said Leach, who used her own money to provide a water cooler for students. Boundary County teachers and administrators say there is little they can do with scant resources. Unlike schools in wealthier, urban communities like Boise, Valley View has no air conditioning, and bringing in AC units for the classrooms like schools in the city of Nampa did last fall when its old units failed isnt an option. It would overload the electrical system, which is at capacity. Students arriving early for breakfast on a January morning keep their winter coats on even after they get inside. Winters present similar challenges. Aging cinder block walls provide little buffer against the cold, and the heating is inefficient and expensive to run. Leach has tripped the breaker by plugging in a space heater, so students are often forced to bundle up for instruction. Indeed, on a 36-degree January day, the Statesman and ProPublica observed students wearing their jackets and snow pants during class. The classroom can get so cold, Leach said, that she simply places her lunch on the floor near the outside wall to keep it cool. It actually refrigerates itself, she said. Teachers often turn to Steve Bortz, Valley Views head of maintenance. For the past seven years, hes spent his days fielding calls from staff members about leaking ceilings, clogged drains and cracked walls. When the area gets big snowstorms, he spends hours blowing snow off the roof to prevent collapse. On a recent tour, he removed a hallway ceiling tile to reveal how he deals with leaks: buckets attached with tape to catch water. When he sees new cracks in the walls, he fills them, hoping to block drafts. All Im able to do is just try to take care of the situation as best as we can, he said in an interview. Most of the stuff I end up doing now is cosmetic. Steve Bortz is in charge of maintenance at Valley View. These kinds of conditions can impact learning. In 2017, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, after reviewing more than 200 scientific studies, reported that temperatures can affect test scores and that poor ventilation is linked to fatigue and shorter attention spans. In interviews with the news organizations, seven teachers and staff members at Valley View complained about losing teaching time each month due to the schools age and layout. Notably, in addition to the climate challenges, students must travel between six buildings throughout the day an unusual design implemented decades ago to deal with overcrowding. The distance between buildings is particularly hard on kindergarten students, who cross a street at least four times a day to get to lunch, to gym class and to the library. Kindergarteners cross the road between their classroom building and the main campus multiple times each day. Traveling back and forth during winters when the ground is covered with snow and ice can be dangerous. Administrators say a boy who uses a walker has tripped on the broken sidewalk and was injured. Administrators say its only a matter of time before the school will experience another crisis. Valley Views plumbing system, for instance, is made up of clay and galvanized pipes, which are collapsing after more than seven decades of use. A catastrophic failure could render the bathrooms inoperable, Bayer said. If that happens, the main school building would have to shut down. To many teachers, the solution is clear: a new building. All we would have to worry about are the students. That would be our sole job, said Teresa Smith, a second grade teacher. We wouldnt have to worry about the cracks or the ceilings or the bathrooms or them going in and out without supervision. We wouldnt have to worry about any of that, just their education. Jan Bayer, second from right, told the school board that the districts facilities committee recommended asking the state for help repairing Valley View Elementary. A call for state intervention On a cold night in January, Bayer faced the Boundary County school board. On the agenda was Valley View Elementary. The district had done what it could by pitching bonds to voters, Bayer said. But twice, too many taxpayers said no. I dont know what else to do to convince the public that we need a new school, Bayer told the board. She then summarized the findings of the districts facilities committee, which considered four potential courses of action, all of them grim: Do nothing while the conditions at Valley View deteriorate more; start making repairs, knowing they would be throwing money at a crumbling building; put another bond on the ballot; or ask voters to approve funds through a different kind of measure, known as a plant facilities levy. But even that levy would present challenges while it could pass with less overall support than a bond, it could also result in much higher taxes for property owners right away and fewer funds for the school up front, meaning the district would need to attempt to build a new school in phases. The group chose none of them. Instead, it recommended that the school board bring in the state. As Bayer relayed this information to the room that night, board members shook their heads and covered their faces with their hands. Since 2006, Idaho has stepped in only twice to help school districts repair their schools. That help came at a price: a state loan, which was paid back by local residents through tax increases they didnt agree to. Even then, in one case, the state covered only certain repairs and wouldnt fund a new school, leaving the district with many of its problems still unresolved, The Associated Press reported. That night, seeing no other choice, the Boundary County school board approved a plan to ask the state to intervene. A state inspector will now determine the severity of Valley Views issues, Teresa Rae, the boards vice chair, told the Statesman and ProPublica. If the school is deemed unsafe, the district could ultimately apply for a state loan. Local leaders, however, are asking for more guidance from the state. Just tell us what to do. You created this mess, Rae said at the board meeting. You make it so difficult that you cant pass a bond, yet you dont fund facilities. You tell us what to do. Had they just needed a simple majority to pass a bond, she said, wed already be building. The Idaho Statesman and ProPublica looked at the conditions inside one school. Now we want to report on school building conditions across the state and how they affect you. Photos and videos of issues in your school are especially helpful and will guide our reporting. You can fill out our brief form or send an email to idahoschools@propublica.org. Click here to fill out the form. Or click here to fill one out in Spanish. NEW YORK, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Brahmi market size is forecast to increase by USD 86.51 million from 2021 to 2026, at a CAGR of 9.06%, according to the recent market study by Technavio. The growth of the market will be driven by the low side effects of Brahmi, the rising promotion of health and wellness tourism, and increasing investments in R&D and standardization of ayurvedic medicines. Charts & data tables about market size and forecast period (2022-2026) have been covered in this report. Download the sample report Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Brahmi Market Vendor analysis: Vendor offerings - Technavio has extensively analyzed 15 major vendors, including Dabur India Ltd., Hamdard Laboratories, Herbal Creations, Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd., Natures Velvet Lifecare, ORGANIC INDIA Pvt. Ltd., Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., Riaan Wellness Pvt. Ltd., Sabinsa Corp., Shanti Natural Extracts, Shriji Herbal Products, Thangam Extracts, and Vadik Herbs. The key offerings of some of these vendors are listed below: Dabur India Ltd. - The company offers Brahmi products such as Dabur Brahmi Amla Kesh Tel. Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd. - The company offers Brahmi tablets that help calm the mind, promote clarity of thought, and memory consolidation. Natures Velvet Lifecare - The company offers Brahmi products such as Nature's Velvet Lifecare Brahmi (Bacopa Monnieri) Pure Extract 500 mg. ORGANIC INDIA Pvt. Ltd. - The company offers Brahmi products such as Organic India Brahmi Veg Capsule. Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. - The company offers Brahmi products such as Patanjali Divya Brahmi Ghrit 200 gm and Patanjali Divya Brahmi Churna 100 gm. 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: The market is segmented by distribution channel (online and offline) and geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and Rest of World (ROW)). Based on distribution channel, the online segment will account for a significant share of the market growth during the forecast period. In western regions such as Europe and the Americas, Brahmi products are not easily available in offline stores due to the lack of manufacturing units and the unavailability of the Brahmi herb. Therefore, the online source of distribution is considered more convenient for the ease of access and treatment through ayurvedic means. Through this segment, medicine can be delivered to a large number of consumers. These factors will drive the segment's growth during the forecast period. Based on geography, Asia will account for 39% of the market's growth during the forecast period. India and China are the key contributors to the Brahmi market in Asia. Moreover, market growth in this region will be faster than the growth of the market in ROW. The rising consumer awareness about the side effects of allopathic medicines and growing awareness about the medicinal benefits and therapeutic effects of Brahmi will drive the Brahmi market growth in Asia during the forecast period. Get a holistic overview of the market segments by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the sample Market dynamics: Key drivers: Low side effects of Brahmi Rising promotion of health and wellness tourism Increasing investments in R&D and standardization of Ayurvedic medicines Brahmi products are free from chemicals, as they consist of only herbal extracts from the Brahmi plant. Such natural ingredients and supplements cause fewer side effects when compared to chemical-based pharmaceutical products. The demand for immunity-boosting herbal products has increased in recent years. The growing prevalence of obesity and other chronic health conditions has encouraged health-conscious consumers to opt for food and beverages with various functional benefits that boost immunity. Therefore, the rising awareness among consumers about the low side effects of Brahmi is expected to boost the growth of the global Brahmi market during the forecast period. Major Trends: Multiple health benefits of Brahmi Inclination toward herbal and natural products Growing popularity of e-commerce channels The consumption of Brahmi has various health benefits. It helps relax the mind, reduces tension, enhances blood flow and memory, and improves brain function. It is also used to reduce hair fall. In addition, Brahmi is used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease among elderly people. Brahmi juice plays a key role in assisting, treating, and speeding up recovery in the treatment of epilepsy, chickenpox, and pediatric disorders. These factors will support the market growth during the forecast period. Key challenges: Inadequate knowledge about Ayurvedic science in Western countries Presence of counterfeit products Shortage of raw materials Over the last few decades, the use of Brahmi products has increased. However, the lack of scientific documentation on Ayurveda in Western countries such as the US may limit the potential growth of the market. In addition, there is a lack of health insurance approval and constraints regarding accreditations from regulatory bodies, hospitals, and healthcare providers. Regulatory bodies must implement adequate measures to ensure that all Ayurvedic medications are safe and of appropriate quality. These factors are expected to hinder the growth of the Brahmi market during the forecast period. To get detailed insights about market dynamics, buy the report What are the key data covered in this Brahmi market report? CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will drive the growth of the Brahmi market between 2022 and 2026 Precise estimation of the size of the Brahmi market and its contribution to the parent market Accurate predictions about upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior Growth of the Brahmi market across Asia, Europe, North America, 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 Brahmi Market vendors Related Reports: The Ayurveda market size is expected to increase by USD 6.81 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 15.32%. Furthermore, this report extensively covers Ayurveda market segmentation by type (products and services) and geography (Asia, North America, Europe, and ROW). The botanical and plant-derived drugs market size is expected to increase by USD 15.89 billion from 2021 to 2026, and the market's growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 7.25%. Furthermore, this report extensively covers botanical and plant-derived drugs market segmentation by product (plant derived drugs and botanical drugs) and geography (Asia, Europe, North America, and Rest of World (ROW)). Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Brahmi Market Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 9.06% Market growth 2022-2026 USD 86.51 million Market structure Concentrated YoY growth 2021-2022 (%) 6.44 Regional analysis Asia, Europe, North America, and Rest of World (ROW) Performing market contribution Asia at 39% Key countries US, Germany, France, India, and China Competitive landscape Leading vendors, market positioning of vendors, competitive strategies, and industry risks Key companies profiled Dabur India Ltd., Hamdard Laboratories, Herbal Creations, Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd., Natures Velvet Lifecare, ORGANIC INDIA Pvt. Ltd., Patanjali Ayurved Ltd., Riaan Wellness Pvt. Ltd., Sabinsa Corp., Shanti Natural Extracts, Shriji Herbal Products, Thangam Extracts, and Vadik Herbs 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 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 Health Care 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 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers 4.4 Threat of new entrants 4.5 Threat of substitutes 4.6 Threat of rivalry 4.7 Market condition 5 Market Segmentation by Distribution Channel 5.1 Market segments 5.2 Comparison by Distribution Channel 5.3 Online - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 5.4 Offline - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 5.5 Market opportunity by Distribution Channel 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation 7.2 Geographic comparison 7.3 Asia - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.4 Europe - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.5 North America - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.6 Rest of World (ROW) - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.7 India - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.8 US - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.9 Germany - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.10 China - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.11 France - Market size and forecast 2021-2026 7.12 Market opportunity by geography 8 Drivers, Challenges, and Trends 8.1 Market drivers 8.2 Market challenges 8.3 Impact of drivers and challenges 8.4 Market trends 9 Vendor Landscape 9.1 Overview 9.2 Vendor landscape 9.3 Landscape disruption 9.4 Industry risks 10 Vendor Analysis 10.1 Vendors covered 10.2 Market positioning of vendors 10.3 Dabur India Ltd. 10.4 Himalaya Global Holdings Ltd. 10.5 Natures Velvet Lifecare 10.6 ORGANIC INDIA Pvt. Ltd. 10.7 Patanjali Ayurved Ltd. 10.8 Riaan Wellness Pvt. Ltd. 10.9 Sabinsa Corp. 10.10 Shriji Herbal Products 10.11 Thangam Extracts 10.12 Vadik Herbs 11 Appendix 11.1 Scope of the report 11.2 Inclusions and exclusions checklist 11.3 Currency conversion rates for US$ 11.4 Research methodology 11.5 List of abbreviations About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ Global Brahmi Market Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/brahmi-market-to-grow-at-a-cagr-of-9-06-from-2021-to-2026-dabur-india-ltd-and-himalaya-global-holdings-ltd-among-key-vendors---technavio-301794615.html SOURCE Technavio Lexington city officials will host an expungement and job fair later this month to help more people find jobs and housing, Lexington Mayor Linda Gorton announced Tuesday. The second annual expungement clinic and job fair, called Clean Slate, will allow those with misdemeanors and non-violent felony convictions access to free legal help through Legal Aid of the Bluegrass and private lawyers who are donating their time. Criminal records are often a key barrier to getting a job or finding housing, Gorton said at a press conference Tuesday at city hall. This allows second chance opportunities to vote, gain employment, improve education and attain housing. The expungement clinic will be held from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Central Bank Center, 425 West High Street, on April 28. More than 35 employers will also be at a job fair in the same location. The job fair will be from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. People do not have to attend the expungement clinic to attend the job fair, said Tiffany Brown, the citys equity and implementation officer. Clean Slate Lexington can open new doors to many in our community, Brown said. The city held its first expungement and job clinic in April 2022. More than 400 attended last years event, she said. Approximately 200 people were able to get their records expunged, city officials said. Brown said the goal is to hopefully get people started on expungement and connect them directly with a job on April 28. The job fair comes as Fayette County is experiencing one of its tightest job markets. Unemployment has hovered around, and sometimes below, 3.2%, one of the lowest in the state, for more than a year. Brown said major employers scheduled to attend the event include Toyota and the University of Kentucky. The number of employers who will attend the event is expected to grow, she said. Having this increase in our job pool will have a huge impact on our community and the lives of individuals, Brown said. Goodwill Industries, the Lexington Public Library, Legal Aid of the Bluegrass and others are key sponsors of the event. To find out more about the event go to www.lexingtonky.gov/expungement-clinic-job-fair. Story continues Lexington-Fayette Urban County Councilwoman Tayna Fogle praised the citys efforts to help with expungement but said more needs to be done to address barriers to employment, particularly in minority communities, she said. Fogle has been a long-time advocate for expungement, re-entry and recovery programs. Fogle was convicted of a felony drug charges years ago. She has not yet been able to expunge that felony charge. There are still so many barriers, Fogle said of people wishing to expunge their criminal records. One key barrier is identification. If you dont have an I.D. its hard to get your record expunged, she said. The state legislature passed a law this legislative session that would make it easier for people, particularly unhoused individuals, to get state identification for $5. However, that law does not take effect until 2025. (Photo by Julien Hekimian/Getty Images) ComingSoon Editor-in-Chief Tyler Treese spoke with Suzume director Makoto Shinkai about the movies themes and how his work has become acclaimed internationally. The anime movie will release in theaters on April 14, 2023. 17-year-old Suzumes journey begins in a quiet town in Kyushu when she encounters a young man who tells her, Im looking for a door, reads the films synopsis. What Suzume finds is a single weathered door standing upright in the midst of ruins as though it was shielded from whatever catastrophe struck. Seemingly drawn by its power, Suzume reaches form the knob. Doors begin to open one after another all across Japan, unleashing destruction upon any who are near. Suzume must close these portals to prevent further disaster. Tyler Treese: In Suzume, a main character is transformed into a chair. What were the challenges of making this inanimate object so expressive and able to resonate emotionally with viewers? Makoto Shinkai: There are actually several reasons why I decided to place a chair next to Suzume as her sidekick. One of them being the very central theme of this film is the 2011 Great East Japan earthquake. Because that is based on an actual event and the subject matter is that heavy, had we taken a much more straightforward approach to this film in depicting and retelling some of those elements, I think it wouldve been a very dark and heavy film. So I wanted a character standing opposite Suzume, who, by his very existence, would offer some kind of comic relief and offset the gravity of the subject matter. The other reason is the metaphor of the three-legged chair. Suzumes own trauma of her mind and heart are represented as a three-legged chair. She experienced great loss and great trauma at a very young age and that loss the idea that something is missing is shown as a missing leg on this chair. Yet at the same time, the chair is still able to walk, run, and even laugh and move forward toward the future. So I wanted to represent Suzumes mental state on one end. The other is that the feeling of being cramped in this dark, rigid, and almost claustrophobic form of a chair is representative of what the younger generation is feeling especially in Japan, but perhaps around the world as well. Story continues Take COVID, for example, where everyone was sent into lockdown. You were shut in your room, told you had to stay within here. The same could be said about Japanese society at large, where were no longer in that so-called golden age, where the economy was booming and the population was growing. Yet this younger generation, who doesnt enjoy the fruits of that era, is still burdened with the pressures and social demands of what is expected of a younger generation. So theyre caught between a rock and a hard place, really. Representing that confinement, to me, is why Sota is trapped in a chair. You explore the memories and the importance of an abandoned location so well. We see these areas that were once filled with life in such a sad state. Can you speak to using that visual and thematic contrast throughout the movie? I think the visual, simply the backdrop of ruins, can be oddly attractive, in some ways. I know that there are those who love to travel around the world and visit certain ruins where human culture or human society civilization once thrived, yet somehow through natural disaster or perhaps human phenomena was left behind. I think there is this nostalgia and also, in a weird way, romance of seeing nature reclaim or retake what once belonged to humans and was under the control of humans. In that same way, I think ruins almost represent this wound or scar of a country, if you will. And as Suzume travels through these various ruins, I think we, as the audience, get perspective into these different wounds that Japan as a country is carrying. Some are the result of a natural disaster or some are the result of the decline in the human population like the amusement park that no longer has demand or some the result of the meltdown of the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant. These subtle nuances I dont even know if all the Japanese moviegoing audiences wouldve noticed, but regardless of whether or not they did, I think there is something very cathartic that you can see through the screen when Suzume is traveling from one ruin to another, closing these doors the symbolism of her, in a way, healing the wounds of this country. I think, at the same time, as she goes through this journey, her character arc shes healing and overcoming her own traumatic experiences, Despite the heavy themes, this is still very much a road trip movie about traveling through Japan. There are lighthearted moments to offset the overall story. What did you like most about giving your own spin on that genre? Throughout her own travels, Suzume encounters many different people. Often very, very kind people who help her without any prospect of reward. Chika, for example, puts her up for a night and gives her clothes to wear, while Rumi feeds her and then gives her a hat for her journey. I wanted to depict that, in spite of all this, in Japan, people like this do exist. I cant say every single person we will ever encounter is always going to be as kindhearted as they are, but the fact that they exist strangers helping and allowing others to help them in a way, gives them courage. So thats exactly what Suzume needed as she traveled through the different ruins across Japan. Both Your Name and Weathering With You found so much success worldwide. How rewarding has it been to see that your work resonates with people globally, despite still very much being products of Japan and your culture? In the case of Your Name and Weathering With You, and even Suzume, I never really considered the global market when developing or directing the film. If anything, I felt it was important for me to dig deeper on the ground upon which I stood, which in this case is very domestic, very local, and very Japanese. The first step for me was making a story and a theme that would resonate to those closest to me around me the Japanese population. So the international acclaim and success definitely comes as a surprise to me, but in some way, to continue that allegory from before, perhaps I can actually connect with the complete opposite side of the world if I dig deep enough. Perhaps that is also a result of the distribution companies in North America and the European countries Crunchyroll, and in China, Road Pictures really understanding what message anime can carry and the attraction that it has. I think were becoming better and better about delivering that message. At the same time, the world is more open to accepting and receiving that message through the anime medium, as well. I read that Hayao Miyazakis work, like Castle in the Sky and Lupin III: The Castle of Cagliostro, inspired you. Seeing him still have that desire to create in his 80s is so incredible. As a creator yourself, do you find any additional inspiration there? As encouraging as it is to see Miyazaki work well into his 80s, I think theres also a sense of I dont know if despair is the right word, but I really cant imagine myself working all the way into my 80s. Of course, as a fan, I definitely want to see whatever it is thats in Miyazakis mind, but at the same time, what can I do and contribute? Imagining myself working as an 80-year-old man its very hard for me to imagine. So I think in that respect, Miyazaki is almost this force of nature, this monster in the animation industry. So its up to me to become a different type of director or chase a different path, and in some way, differentiate my work from his. So I, of course, admire and respect everything hes achieved, but must also find my own path in this creative industry. The post Makoto Shinkai Talks Suzumes Themes, Finding International Success appeared first on ComingSoon.net - Movie Trailers, TV & Streaming News, and More. Jesse Saywell holding a CD of 72 Seasons A Metallica fan in New Zealand has become the first person in the world to buy the band's new album 72 Seasons over the counter. The fan, 23-year-old door technician Jesse Saywell, bought the album from Vinyl Countdown in New Plymouth, a city on the west coast of NZ's North Island. The store opened at midnight on release day, with the country's GMT+12 timezone allowing staff to sell the album to customers hours ahead of shops elsewhere in the world. "I feel pretty good, bro!" says Saywell, who's been a Metallica fan for 15 years. "I'm not gonna lie. I think it's bloody wicked." Saywell visited Vinyl Countdown to buy 72 Seasons right after after attending one of the global listening events for the album, held at the Event Cinema in New Plymouth. "It sounds wicked," says Saywell. "It's got bits and pieces from the previous albums, little pieces in the tracks that give subtle nods to stuff that they've done." "I decided to open at midnight for the launch of 72 Seasons because no one seems to run these sorts of events anymore," says Vinyl Countdown owner Mark Thomas. "There's a whole generation who will never have been to a midnight launch for an album release. "I have worked in record stores for a few decades, and the last midnight launches that I was involved with were also for Metallica albums - Load in 1996 and St Anger in 2003." Metallica fans at Vinyl Countdown Vinyl Countdown was opened in 2011, and carries both new and second hand stock. "There is a whole new generation of music fans who are discovering the superior sound of physical formats, and the joy of collecting LPs, CDs and even cassettes," says Thomas. "The chance to be the first people in the world to buy physical copies of Metallica's 72 Seasons is pretty exciting!" As well as running Vinyl Countdown, Thomas also plays drums with New Plymouth doom merchants Infinity Ritual, whose debut, self-titled EP was released last year. The band's first ever video, for EP highlight Underneath, dropped yesterday. A bill that would allow state agency Montana liquor stores to remain open on holidays and Sundays appears to have gathered enough support to pass, especially among lawmakers who want to add the measure to a list of ways to get state government out of private business. House Bill 867, sponsored by Rep. Ed Buttrey, R-Great Falls, also picked up an important group of supporters since the bills first introduction in the Montana House the Montana Tavern Association. Originally, bars and taverns had opposed the bill that would allow agency stores to remain open on holidays, Sundays and some Mondays. The Montana Tavern Association opposed the bill, saying that agency stores would have an unfair advantage over package stores and bars by being open similar hours, being guaranteed a commission on every bottle purchased, and having as long as 60 days of credit from the State of Montana. Agency liquor stores are 93 stores spread throughout the state that purchase liquor directly from the states main distribution warehouse. Theyre guaranteed a rate of return. Those individual stores then sell to bars and restaurants, as well as having a retail operation. The agency stores used to be called (and, in some cases are still named) state liquor stores because they were previously run by the state with state employees until they were privatized in 1995. Since then, those stores have been franchisees, but the policy that kept the stores closed on Sundays, Mondays and holidays has remained on the books and in force. Its hard to think of any other business where the state government can tell a private business what days you have to be open and products you can sell, Buttrey said. It seems like good policy to get government out of private business. Originally, the Montana Tavern Association opposed the bill, saying the stores being able to sell without restrictions would hurt business at bars and their companion package store liquor businesses. But in a compromise, Buttrey and the Tavern Association supported an amendment that would give taverns, bars, package stores and restaurants as long as seven days of credit to pay for the liquor an idea borrowed from beer and wine distributors. Because of that, the Montana Tavern Association switched from an opponent to a proponent. Story continues HB 867 passed the Montana House with bipartisan support, 83-16. However, not everyone was happy. The Montana Gaming Association, which often goes hand-in-hand with bars in the state, remained opposed during hearings in both the House and Senate. Lobbyist Shauna Helfert argued that HB 867 wont necessarily increase the market or demand for alcohol, rather it will just shift it from one set of businesses to another, creating winners and losers in the legislation. This isnt creating new markets or new customers, Helfert said. Buttrey, though, pushed back on that concern. These (agency) stores offer liquor. Thats all they can do. They cant offer gaming, Buttrey said. Let these businesses succeed and let them decide which days theyre open and what holidays theyre open. Leta McGann has run the agency liquor store in Red Lodge for nearly 20 years, and as a business in a resort town, shes forced to close on holidays, including during the citys largest event over the Fourth of July, which can bring 15,000 people to town. Not only does she hear the door rattling because of people trying to enter the business, many of the bars, which are also her customers, start to run out of alcohol. I am even unable to help the bars, she said. Between holidays and Sundays, she said shes forced to close at least 63 days per year. Sarah Ouellette, who runs the Big Sky agency store, said her problem looks a bit different: Her store also sells other items, including souvenirs. So, when customers enter the store on Sundays, she has to tell them that they cant purchase alcohol they see on her shelf. And in a resort town, every night is Friday night, she said. Help us fix this problem. Jennifer Hensley of the Montana Distillers Guild supported the effort, too. Its time to bring the 21st Amendment into the 21st Century, she said. We depend on the success of the small liquor store. Mark Lewis of Bozeman, who appeared before the House and Senate committees considering the bill, said that Montana has been making changes to agency stores for years since it privatized in 1995. For example, he said the contract used to call for agency stores to have a fax machine and an ad in the Yellow Pages. Thats been changed and updated, he said. I am not even sure where to go or who to talk with about the Yellow Pages. Its culturally different now. Customers dont understand why we are closed when another liquor store is open. Lewis also appealed to Montanas second largest industry, behind agriculture. This is also about the convenience for those out-of-state tourists who are not familiar with our state liquor laws, he said. And this really is a vestige when our stores were run by state employees. This story was initially published by The Daily Montanan, a nonprofit news organization covering state issues. Learn more at www.dailymontanan.com. This article originally appeared on Great Falls Tribune: Montanas agency liquor stores may be open Sundays, holidays Since the wheels of justice can often be slow to turn in the legal system, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune has put together a list of three area cases from 2020 where an arrest was made, but a trial has yet to happen, to help readers stay up to date. This is the first of a two-part series. It's important to note that while some of these cases are scheduled for trial in 2023, that can change as settlements are proposed or hearings reveal more time is needed before proceeding, as was the situation with one case which was pushed back from its original trial date earlier this year. Part 2 of this series: Two fatal crashes and a shooting: 3 cases awaiting trial in Sarasota circuit court In other court news: Devin Nunes, CEO of Trump's media group, sues Herald-Tribune columnist for alleged defamation For subscribers: Midnight heist of rare horse: Minnesota woman's bizarre fight with Florida circus owner More court news: Sarasota attorney suspended 3 years for avoiding being served summons, malpractice suit Sarasota rapper still awaiting trial in connection to drive-by shooting Sarasota rapper Jaymes Smith, also known as Shugg Stacks, is still awaiting trial in connection to an Aug. 14, 2020, drive-by shooting on North Washington Boulevard, according to court records. A trial is scheduled for July 2023, four months after a previously scheduled March trial was canceled. A witness in the case was cut off by a Buick Encore SUV causing the driver to slam on the brakes. The witness told police the Buick appeared to be chasing a black Infiniti sedan, according to previous reporting by the Sarasota Herald-Tribune. The Buick pulled alongside the Infiniti, pointed a gun out the driver's window and fired several shots, according to reports. The Buick was registered to Hertz Rental, and officials said the car was rented to Smith approximately 37 minutes before the shooting, according to previous reporting. Smith, 31, was in custody at the Sarasota County Jail on Aug. 28, 2020, in connection to a second unrelated shooting that occurred on Aug. 9, previous Herald-Tribune reporting stated. Smith is charged with two attempted murders in the second-degree charges, according to court records. Story continues Sarasota County Jail records indicate Smith is no longer in custody, as it appears he bonded out in May 2021, according to court records. Trials in the murder of Amber Woods, 16, to start in summer, early fall Chrystal Moses, left, and a relative of 16-year-old Amber Woods speak to the media on Dec. 21, 2020, after the Manatee County Sheriff's Office announces arrests in a 14-year-old unsolved cases. Brothers Ralph Williams, 37, and Tyjuan Williams, 35, are both in custody awaiting their trials in connection to the murder of 16-year-old Amber Woods, whose body was found on the side of a rural Manatee County road in 2006. Both are charged with first-degree murder, a capital felony, and Tyjuan Williams is also charged with murder in the second-degree with a firearm, according to court records. A jury trial in Tyjuan Williams's case is expected to start in late June, and a September jury trial is scheduled in Ralph Williams's case. Their half-brother, Jamaine Brown, was also arrested and charged with kidnapping and accessory after the fact to murder. Brown pleaded no contest on Dec. 18, 2020, and was adjudged guilty, according to court records. He was sentenced to 36 months with all credit time served and given five years of probation, both of which were to run concurrently with Hardee County cases. Brown's sentence came with the condition he would continue to testify in any prosecution hearing connected to Woods' death, according to court records. In May 2022, two affidavits of violation of probation were entered into the court system for Brown and a warrant was issued for his arrest on May 9, 2022. Two confidential Florida Department of Corrections violation reports were entered in his case. No trial yet for man arrested in connection to Palmetto man's death In December 2020, Palmetto police responded to a shooting at Palmetto Trace Apartments where they found 27-year-old Ra'Shaad McDonald Sr. lying on the ground with several gunshot wounds. Officers started life-saving efforts and McDonald was transported to Blake Medical Center, where he died from his injuries. Police learned McDonald was allegedly shot during an argument with Sirness Devon Stuarts. According to the affidavit in the case, McDonald was married to Stuarts' ex-wife and mother of two of his children. Stuarts was visiting his mother, who lived in the same apartment complex as McDonald and his wife, when an aggressive verbal altercation began between the two. Stuarts allegedly pulled out a handgun and began shooting. Stuarts was served an arrest warrant in January 2021 while in custody at the Lake County Detention Center, according to court records, and is currently in custody at the Manatee County Jail. He is charged with murder in the second degree with a firearm. A case management conference is scheduled for April 18, a continuance of a previously scheduled February hearing on the grounds that depositions of witnesses needed to be conducted, court records indicate. Gabriela Szymanowska covers the legal system for the Herald-Tribune in partnership with Report for America. You can support her work with a tax-deductible donation to Report for America. Contact Gabriela Szymanowska at gszymanowska@gannett.com, or on Twitter. This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota, Manatee unresolved cases: Update on three from 2020 Pride flags The town of Pittsford on Wednesday backed down on a demand for $8,500 in additional security costs for a drag story hour at the town community center following protests from the New York Civil Liberties Union, state legislators and town residents. The nonprofit organization holding the event, Pittsford CommUNITY, earlier decided to relocate to Book Culture, a bookstore in the village of Pittsford, in the face of the security fee, and it will remain there this Saturday from 2 to 3 p.m. There now will be another similar event at the community center next Sunday, April 23, also from 2 to 3 p.m. Pittsford CommUNITY earlier this year reserved a room in the community center for an hourlong storytelling and children's event featuring three drag performers. After hearing from protesters, the town told the organization it would have to pay $8,500 for security and additional staffing due to "reasonable concerns for public safety." That led to a heated community debate over the appropriateness of the event itself and also of the town's actions, including a remark by Supervisor Bill Smith that the organizers were "a group of people desperate to seek (victim status)." 'Unconstitutionally vague': Federal judge temporarily blocks Tennessee drag ban On April 9, attorneys from the NYCLU protested in writing to town leaders, calling the proposed fee a "prior restraint" that is, a form of government censorship that blocks legally protected speech from occurring. They cited the 1992 U.S. Supreme Court case Forsyth County v. Nationalist Movement, in which a Georgia county was barred from increasing its event permit fee to cover anticipated security costs related to a white nationalist rally. "The towns imposition of the proposed fee here which went from $0 to $8,518 is explicitly based on the content of CommUNITYs message and on the hostility of anticipated protests, and it is therefore squarely prohibited by Forsyth," the NYCLU lawyers wrote. Story continues Two days later, a group of about 40 Pittsford residents who work in higher education wrote an open letter to Smith criticizing the town for its actions. "It is disappointing to see the efforts of our own elected government leaders stifle free expression within our community and erode community members sense of belonging," they wrote. "While there have been complaints about the event many based on ignorance and mischaracterization permitting the event and protest of the event allows necessary dialogue to happen within households and communities in a way that displacing the event will not." The Human Rights Campaign, too, called on the town to reverse course, warning that the pushback to the event was "part of (a) campaign to curtail the rights of LGBTQ+ people." The local state legislative delegation criticized the town for requesting "an unconscionable fee." In a response to the NYCLU on Wednesday, Smith said the town would drop its requirement for additional security at the April 23 event and any future events. "Having to defend a controversial lawsuit easily could result in an expenditure of taxpayer funds far more burdensome than the costs involved in providing security," Smith wrote. "It would negate the Town's good faith effort to spare taxpayers the cost imposed by the event." Here are the four documents referenced: letters from residents, Human Rights Campaign and NYCLU, and response from the town. https://t.co/RDfVU7PZOE @mj_inglis Justin Murphy (@CitizenMurphy) April 12, 2023 Pittsford CommUNITY has said it will provide its own security for the events, and the Monroe County Sheriff's Office plans to monitor from outside. In a statement, the organization called on the town to roll back policy changes that would prohibit many previously accepted uses of the community center and other town facilities -- in particular, barring their use for events open to the public. The April 15 event will take place at Book Culture, 28 S. Main St., from 2 to 3 p.m. The April 23 event will take place at the Pittsford Community Center, 35 Lincoln Ave., from 2 to 3 p.m. The drag performers will be Psy Kodick, October Selene and Valentino Rose. Pizza and lemonade will be provided. This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Pittsford won't demand security fee for drag story hour In this Oct. 15, 2020 file photo, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, speaks during a news conference near Neffs Canyon, in Salt Lake City. Romney and the rest of Utah's Congressional delegation is calling for the U.S. State Department to consider opening a passport office in Salt Lake City. Saying their offices have been flooded by emergency requests from constituents, Utah's six members of Congress, including U.S. Sens. Mitt Romney and Mike Lee, are calling for the opening of a new passport office in Salt Lake City. The backlogs have reached emergency levels, with all six of the state's congressional offices reporting complaints from residents, the members said in a letter sent this week to Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Signed by Romney, Lee, and Reps. Chris Stewart, John Curtis, Burgess Owens and Black Moore, all Republicans, the letter calls for "every step possible to address it, including by opening a passport agency in Salt Lake City." "Over the past several weeks, residents of Utah have seen passport processing grind to a near halt, greatly disrupting travel plans and other aspects of daily life in our state," the letter states. Utah residents must typically travel out of state for passport services, with the nearest offices in Los Angeles and Aurora, Colorado. The letter suggests points to passage of this year's National Defense Authorization Act as requiring the State Department to review the geographic diversity of passport agencies and identify areas with high demand but no in-person access to services. "Salt Lake County meets the criteria in the legislation, and we implore you to prioritize resources and investment to meet the consular needs of citizens within and near this region," the letter states. This article originally appeared on St. George Spectrum & Daily News: Utah delegation calls for passport office in Salt Lake City Ryan Seacrest at the 95th Annual Academy Awards David Fisher/Shutterstock A bittersweet goodbye! Before Ryan Seacrest says his Live With Kelly and Ryan farewells, he hosted a final party for his coworkers on Wednesday, April 12. Welcome to this evening, its so nice to see our Live family and our Live familys family. There really is no other place in our business like the Live show, Seacrest, 48, kicked off his introductory speech on Wednesday, per social media footage shared by the daytime shows official Instagram account. Im grateful to have been a part for six years. I wanted to get together and enjoy something that I like a lot, which is great food. The American Idol emcee whose final Live episode airs on Friday, April 14 went on to thank his cohost, Kelly Ripa, executive producer Michael Gelman and the entire crew for their friendship over the years. Courtesy of LIVE with Kelly and Ryan/Instagram What am I going to miss? Well, for starters, I will miss the red herrings. I will also miss sharing the bathroom, well, with everyone, Seacrest joked in his speech, before listing off Monica Mangins segments, the legendary Halloween show, the camera operators and the post-Oscars episode as other aspects of the production that hell fondly remember moving forward. Us Weekly confirmed in February that the radio host was leaving Live after six years, with Ripas husband, Mark Consuelos, stepping into Seacrests shoes. Working alongside Kelly over the past six years has been a dream job and one of the highlights of my career. She has been an amazing partner, friend, and confidant, and although we will always be a part of each others lives, I will miss our mornings together, Seacrest said in a statement at the time. I also want to thank Michael Gelman and the entire staff and crew weve made memories to last a lifetime, met some of the most incredible people and had the warmest welcome into the homes of so many viewers across America. Its been a memorable ride and now Im excited to pass the baton to Kellys real husband, Mark. Story continues Ripa and the Riverdale alum, both 52, have been married since 1996 after first meeting on the set of All My Children. The New Jersey native went on to replace Kathie Lee Gifford on Live in 2001, joining Regis Philbin at the anchor desk. After Philbin's 2011 retirement prior to his 2020 death, Ripa continued to helm Live with a rotating panel of guest and permanent cohosts. Consuelos, for his part, remained his wife's No. 1 fan. This is my favorite show in the morning. When I was in Vancouver [filming Riverdale] and [Kelly and I] were separated when the borders were closed [amid the coronavirus pandemic lockdown], I got to watch you guys, the Kingdom alum, who shares three children with the Live Wire author, gushed during the February 17 episode of Live. And in Canada, its on 15 channels! On the West Coast, you can watch at 6 a.m. [via the] East Coast feed. So, I felt connected. I get to share a cup of coffee with you every morning before the show and now Ill have one with you on the show, as well. He added at the time: That chair that [Ryan is currently] sitting in is an iconic seat. Its a great honor for me to sit there. Its an iconic show and I think its going to be a blast. Ripa and Consuelos' iteration of Live, which will be renamed Live With Kelly and Mark, kicks off on Monday, April 17. My brother, Mark. Congratulations. It's wonderful to go through this process with somebody that I love so much that obviously knows [Kelly] better than I know her ... ish, Seacrest concluded on Wednesday, directly addressing the Spain native and their longtime friendship. But congratulations. I can't wait to watch or tape it, sleep in and watch. Probably that, but congratulations, Mark. The married couple told Us in February that cohosting the show is a major full-circle moment for them. Sign up for Us Weekly's free, daily newsletter and never miss breaking news or exclusive stories about your favorite celebrities, TV shows and more! Mark and I owe everything we have in our professional lives to ABC, Ripa exclusively gushed to Us at the time. We met there at the beginning of our careers and got married and had our kids while there. So many wonderful moments have happened while with ABC, so it only makes sense for us to come full circle and work together once again for the show that has given us so much joy and so many years of memories. 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. Targeting prosecutors: Georgia's oversight commission for prosecutors bill explained, how the Athens DA fits in Documentary on lynching: Documentary screening from UGA alum on Walton County lynching hosted by Champ Bailey 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." Story continues 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 VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Brigadier Gold Limited (the "Company") (TSXV:BRG) | (FSE:B7LM) | (OTC PINK:BGADF) is pleased to share its plans for upcoming exploration of its Nemaska2 Lithium property ("Nemaska2"), James Bay, Quebec. Brigadier's goal for this and future exploration at Nemaska2 is to prove the existence of bulk tonnage, near surface, lithium bearing mineralization. The focus of the upcoming program is to confirm and further delineate pegmatite outcrops mapped and sampled in historical government work at Nemaska2 with a particular focus on the ~20 white pegmatite outcrops, each approximately 1,000 square metres in size. Particular attention will be applied to discover the possible existence of pegmatite dykes or other favorable structures. Subject to ground conditions including snowpack, Phase-1 exploration is forecast to commence June 1, 2023. The Company anticipates this initial program will delineate targets for a mid- summer inaugural drill program. The Phase-1 program was developed with input from Brigadier's senior technical advisor and seasoned geologist Bill McGuinty and will be carried out by the Company's technical partner Geologica Groupe- Conseil ("Geologica") of Val D'or Quebec. The Phase-1 program will include: compilation of all historical work and available government data mapping and sampling of know pegmatite outcrops reconnaissance prospecting of areas not previously the focus of historical work rock analysis and assaying technical report writing "We are excited to initiate our phase 1 work program on our highly prospective Nemaska2 property, which has not seen significant exploration on it's pegmatite outcrops to date", stated Robert Birmingham, President of Brigadier Gold. "Partnering with Geologica and Mr. McGuinty, both experts in the James Bay mining region, really will help bolster Brigadier's objective of aggressively advancing the Nemaska2 property. The company also understands that "drill bit" success is key to unlocking project and shareholder value." Story continues Historical Exploration The Quebec government has previously carried out a large sampling program and also an airborne magnetometric survey over Nemaska2 which shows the presence of several low magnetic anomalies likely corresponding with fractures or shear zones within the granitic Valiquette Pluton. These structures are generally favourable to the formation of pegmatites and other metals. The presence of pegmatites recognized during the regional reconnaissance mapping, anomalous values of Li and Cs in regional till sampling, and the presence of a major lithium deposit (Whabouchi Deposit) in the area, are all elements favourable to the existence of mineralization sought by the Company. More information can be found in the National Instrument 43-101 technical report filed by the Company under its SEDAR profile on March 14, 2023 About Nemaska2 Lithium Project The Nemaska2 Project consists of 162 map-designated mining titles (Nemaska2 and Nemaska2 Extension) covering a total area of 8,300 hectares and is located in northern Quebec, approximately 160 kms east of James Bay, near the community of Nemaska. Neighbouring Brigadier's Nemaska2 Project are claims held by Li-Ft Power, Brunswick Exploration, Dios Exploration, Critical Elements Lithium, and ~23 kilometres to the east lies Nemaska Lithium's Whabouchi Project. Qualified Person Mr. Garry Clark, P. Geo., a member of the Company's Board of Directors, a "Qualified Person" under NI 43-101, has reviewed the technical contents of this news release and has approved the disclosure of the technical information contained herein. For further information, please contact: Brigadier Gold Limited www.brigadiergold.ca Robert Birmingham, Chief Executive Officer rob@brigadiergold.ca (604) 4248131 Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Information Cautionary Statement This release includes certain statements and information that may constitute forward-looking information within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. Forward-looking statements relate to future events or future performance and reflect the expectations or beliefs of management of the Company regarding future events. Generally, forward-looking statements and information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "intends" or "anticipates", or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "should", "would" or "occur". Forward-looking statements include those relating to the timing, initiation and completion of exploration and drilling programs. The Company cautions that all forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain, and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond the Company's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Company's ability to complete all payments and expenditures required under its mineral property option agreements; and other risks and uncertainties relating to the actual results of current exploration activities; the possibility that future exploration, development or mining results will not be consistent with adjacent properties and the Company's expectations; operational risks and hazards inherent with the business of mining (including environmental accidents and hazards, industrial accidents, equipment breakdown, unusual or unexpected geological or structural formations, cave-ins, flooding and severe weather); environmental and regulatory requirements; availability of permits, possibility of equipment breakdowns and delays, exploration cost overruns, availability of capital and financing, general economic, political risks, market or business conditions, regulatory changes, timeliness of government or regulatory approvals and other risks involved in the mineral exploration industry, and those risks set out in the filings on SEDAR made by the Company with securities regulators. Although the Company believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. 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, other than as required by applicable securities legislation. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities in the United States. The securities have not been and will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") or any state securities laws and may not be offered or sold within the United States or to U.S. persons unless registered under the U.S. Securities Act and applicable state securities laws or an exemption from such registration is available. SOURCE: Brigadier Gold Limited View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/749006/Brigadier-Readies-for-Exploration-at-Nemaska2-Lithium-Property Queer people wrapped in pride flags A new study published Thursday examines the lives of LGBTQ+ Americans in the South and the results might be surprising to some. The data indicates that the notion that LGBTQ+ people only live in blue states or big cities isn't entirely accurate. In a survey of 1,042 LGBTQ+ adults living in 12 Southern states from Alabama to Virginia, the progressive think tank and polling firm Data for Progress examined the significance of LGBTQ+ affirming community spaces, the relationships between LGBTQ+ Southerners and their communities, and the specific threats faced by marginalized, rural LGBTQ+ communities. This research examined how queer people in rural America construct a sense of safety and community in a place where they traditionally are unwelcomed or feel unsafe. According to the findings, rural America isnt necessarily a dangerous place, and people can live happy, fulfilling lives there, which could affect the perception of queer people living in rural America. The study revealed surprising data on the number of queer people in these areas. It also showed their lack of safety and satisfaction with life and the need for more welcoming spaces, says Miles Davis-Matthews, the study's author. He tells The Advocate that one of the most surprising things he found was how unhappy many trans and non-binary people were. Something that the data showed repeatedly was the lack of feelings of safety, the lack of feelings of satisfaction with life, he says. Its really, really concerning to see that because we know that there are more and more people coming out as non-binary and trans all the time. He adds, Coming out during this time when rhetoric is super negative and super violent, and there are all these occurrences of violence happening, really just shows that the trans and non-binary community needs more support. On the flip side, though, he says, I didnt anticipate that there were going to be so many Southerners that felt safe and in being out and open, not just like in the South but also the rural South. Story continues He adds, I think thats a significant finding in that it challenges so much of the narrative thats been told about South and also about rural America, and I think that might encourage people to look a little bit more closely at the things that theyre reading, challenge it a little bit more, question it a little bit more. Data for Progress research shows LGBTQ+ adults in the South value LGBTQ+ spaces. Nearly two-thirds of people surveyed say they can connect and meet new people through these spaces. In addition, in Southern LGBTQ+ communities, 17 percent say access makes them feel safer, while 22 percent say belonging is most valuable. LGBTQ+ community centers, organizations, and groups are the most valuable to 14 percent of Southerners because they provide access to essential resources. Transgender and gender non-conforming people may be incredibly grateful for safe LGBTQ+ spaces, as only 5 percent of nonbinary adults do not value access to LGBTQ+ spaces, the report found. In recent years, LGBTQ-centered public charter schools have also appeared across the country in states like Ohio, Connecticut, California, and, more recently, Alabama, offering young LGBTQ+ students the chance to build better relationships with their identities and the community of people who share those identities. Per the Data for Progress polling, 62 percent of people ages 18 to 24 believe that interacting with other LGBTQ+ people is somewhat or very important. Southern nonbinary adults significantly benefitted from socializing with the LGBTQ+ community. Compared to 53 percent of women and 55 percent of men in the same age group, 84 percent of nonbinary people find interacting with other LGBTQ+ people somewhat or very important. For young LGBTQ+ people, schools that cater to their needs offer a valuable opportunity to build community. About 64 percent of LGBTQ+ Southerners believe that it is extremely or somewhat important for local communities to provide spaces for LGBTQ+ people to congregate and engage in social activities. The local queer spaces are the most important to lesbians and nonbinary Southerners, with 75 percent and 83 percent, respectively, finding these community spaces very or somewhat important. In light of the higher rate of mental health issues, loneliness, and social disconnection LGBTQ+ people experience due to discrimination and marginalization, developing a space for people to find friendship, community, and social support becomes increasingly important. When social infrastructure is lacking, quality of life can be devastatingly reduced. The survey reflects that 55 percent of LGBTQ+ Southerners disagree that their lives are close to ideal, and 59 percent disagree that they would not change a thing if they had to do it all over again. Compared to lesbian, gay, and bisexual men and women, nonbinary people are least likely to say they are satisfied with their lives. In contrast to 61 percent of men and 58 percent of women, only 34 percent of nonbinary people agree that their lives are satisfied. Despite this, survey results indicate that 43 percent of Black LGBTQ+ adults in the South agree that their communities celebrate their identities, compared to 35 percent of white LGBTQ+ adults. Black LGBTQ+ adults are more likely than white LGBTQ+ adults to agree that it is safe in their communities to be openly and visibly queer. Those living in rural locations report feeling closer to family than their urban counterparts and relying more on friends and family in times of need. Although LGBTQ+ people in rural areas are less likely to be open about their sexual orientation or gender identity with their families, that does not mean they are more honest with each other. According to Data for Progress, two-thirds of urban LGBTQ+ people are open to their family members, compared with 52 percent of suburban LGBTQ+ adults and 54 percent of rural LGBTQ+ adults. Over two-thirds of LGBTQ+ Southerners belong to a religious community, according to the study; however, 77 percent of LGBTQ+ Southern adults do not have access to churches or religious institutions that welcome them in their local communities. Almost eight in ten non-religious LGBTQ+ adults believe their local religious community does not welcome them, while 74 percent of LGBTQ+ Southerners are religious. Moreover, in contrast to 35 percent of gay people, less than 25 percent of bisexuals, lesbians, and pansexuals report access to accepting religious establishments in their communities. There are people who are interested in being in churches, are interested in, that are involved already in church in other religious institutions, says David-Matthews. And yet theyre not finding spaces that are welcoming or open to them. He adds, I imagine that just having that change, of having spaces that are there for them, could be huge in bridging gaps between the religious institutions and communities that exist out there and queer communities, and showing that there is not so much difference, or not as much difference as we may think, between our values, between the things that we care about, and the way that we live our lives. Icon Sportswire - Getty Images Ryan Blaney notched win No. 99 for Wood Brothers Racing in the NASCAR Cup Seriesthat was four drivers, 209 races, and almost six years ago. Theres nothing to suggest it will end anytime soon with Cup newcomer Harrison Burton. Or maybe it will. Theyve been a beloved Virginia institution for 73 years, so it was altogether fitting that Governor Glenn Youngkin proclaimed April 2 as "Wood Brothers Racing Day" in the Commonwealth. Alas, the pre-race ceremony at Richmond Raceway might have been the companys highlight moment since Ryan Blaney delivered its 99th Cup Series victory at Pocono in 2017. That was four drivers, 209 races, and almost six years ago, something of a lifetime for the family-owned, single-car, Ford-based, No. 21 team that once thrived with such luminaries as Cale Yarborough, A.J. Foyt, Buddy Baker, Dan Gurney, Neil Bonnett, and the incomparable David Pearson. The losing streak is depressing enough, but theres nothing to suggest it will end anytime soon with Cup newcomer Harrison Burton. Or maybe it will. RacingOne - Getty Images After all, the team was winless with eight drivers in 298 races between Elliott Sadler at Bristol in March of 2001 and Trevor Bayne at Daytona Beach in February of 2011. It was then 131 more losses over six seasons before Blaney won at Pocono. (After running a limited schedule for several years, the team went full-time in 2016 with Blaney as part of Team Penskes developmental program). Weve been there before, not winning like we once did, team president Eddie Wood said during Martinsville week. We didnt have any idea Trevor was going to win the 500, but it worked out for us. And I dont think we expected Blaneyrunning on older tirescould hold off Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick at the end in Pocono. But that worked out for us, too. I dont look at it as well never win again. Its like with ballplayers or any other kind of athlete: each game is another opportunity to win. Each weekend is another chance to win. Every race is another chance for something good to happen. You put last nights game or last weekends race behind you and look ahead; you keep looking at the sunshine. Yeah, its harder to win now than ever, but its out there available ever weekend and were working hard to win again. Story continues The multi-car juggernaut of Hendrick Motorsports leads all organizations with 294 all-time Cup victories. Petty Enterprises is credited with 268, Joe Gibbs Racing with 201 (including last weekend with Christopher Bell on Bristols dirt), Roush Fenway Keselowski Racing with 138 victories, Team Penske with 136, Junior Johnson and Associates with 132, and Richard Childress Racing with 114. Hendrick, Gibbs, RFK, Penske, RCR, and the Woods are active going into this weekends 400-lap race at the half-mile Martinsville (Va.) Speedway, 30 miles east of the Woods hometown of Stuart. Yarborough won for the Woods at the flat, half-mile bullring in 1968 and Pearson won for them in 1973. RacingOne - Getty Images Owners with deeper pockets, massive technical resources, research and development assets, and willing sponsors rule stock car racing. Back in the day, when on-track success came mostly from hard work, ingenuity, and mechanical wizardry, the Woods were as good as anyone and better than most. But somewhere along the way the little team nestled away in the Virginia foothills lost its edge. Even so, its 10-year technical alliance with Team Penske has helped in every way. They treat us like family, Wood said, just like one of their own teams. They couldnt be more helpful, more open-book, more accommodating in every way. Whatever we need, theyre right there to help us. We might not even be racing today if it wasnt for Team Penske and the people at Motorcraft and Ford Performance. Mr. (Edsel) Ford and Mr. (Jim) Farley at Ford are great friends and have always supported us. Still, beating three dozen other stock car teams for upwards of 600 miles on 36 weekends from February through November remains one of the toughest tasks in motorsport. People not in racingpeople on the outsidedont know how hard it is to win one of these things, Wood said. However hard they think it is, its two or three times harder than that. Theres always somebody good youve got to beat, whether its the Petty crowd or Junior Johnson or Hendrick or Bobby Allison. And back in the day it was Holman-Moody. Icon Sportswire - Getty Images Even when we had Pearson (43 victories between 1972-1979), we never went to a race knowing we were going to win. We went thinking that if everything went like it should and we didnt have any problems, we had a shot. Even back then, it was never as easy as it looked. The depth of competition is so much deeper now, but the opportunity is still there every weekend. You just have to work through things, especially with younger drivers like the ones weve had the past few years. We just have to keep working at it. The governors proclamation was nice, but getting to 100 victories will be even nicer. Perhaps surprisingly, the team isnt obsessed by the number, so you wont find anyone hauling WOOD BROTHERS 100th VICTORY hats or tee-shirts to each track. The nine-paragraph presentation from Gov. Youngkin outlined the teams founding in 1950, when family patriarch the late Glenn Wood (later shortened to a single N) began racing. He went from driver to owner in 1965, building a small, dedicated, shade-tree team that eventually featured many of the sports greatest drivers. The Woods have won in seven decades, most recently with Bayne in 2011 and Blaney in 2017. Since then, Paul Menard (2018-2019), Matt DiBenedetto (2020-21), and Burton (2022-current) have gone 0-for-188. The governors document tells how Glen(n) Wood recruited family members to help maintain his cars and be his crew. His youngest brother and chief mechanic, Leonard, has been with the team from the beginning. Glenns childrenLen, Eddie, and Kim Wood Halltook ownership roles in the late 1980s and third-generation family members Jon, Keven, and Jordan Wood Hicks are now part of the ownership group. The team has been headquartered in Virginia since its foundingits museum in Stuart is a must-see attractionand holds the Guinness World Record for the longest active NASCAR team Finally, the Governor read: The Commonwealth of Virginia is proud to honor Wood Brothers Racings significant contributions to stock car racing and to our Commonwealth and nation by recognizing April 2 as Wood Brothers Racing Day. Richly deserved, to be sure. Just as No. 100 will also be richly deserved. And its a lock that nobody in the garage or along pit road that day will begrudge the Wood their long-awaited special moment. Taylor Swifts The Eras tour is taking over Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla., on Thursday night (April 13), which happens to be a school night. Thats why Hillsborough County Superintendent Addison Davis sent out a letter of caution to students, in a language only Swifties can understand. The letter, which let students know that an absence to attend the concert will not be excused, was filled with references to various Swift songs. I understand I am the Anti-Hero here, and Call It What You Want, but Youre on Your Own Kid if you think being a Swiftie is a good excuse for missing important instruction, the note posted to Reddit reads. You know All Too Well you Shouldve Said No to attending a Thursday night concert. Especially one from an artist who is known for putting on a three-hour AMAZING show. More from Billboard Read the full letter here. Davis had a similar idea to a Texas legal-service provider named Karen Vladeck, who wrote her own pun-filled letter for exactly what the superintendent was dreading: asking that her first-grader be excused from school to attend The Eras tour. According to Vladeck, the teacher simply responded in all caps, THIS MADE MY ENTIRE DAY. Swift is currently a month into her Eras Tour shows, which she kicked off in Glendale, Arizona. Following sets in Las Vegas and Arlington, the Anti-Hero musician is headlining three shows in Tampa on April 13, 14 and 15. Best of Billboard Click here to read the full article. Hoa Xuanda and Robert Downey, Jr. Forget Harry Potter, The Penguin, and even Young Sheldon because hidden in the deluge of /HBOs/ /HBO Maxs/ Maxs obscene press release scramble this morning was the teaser trailer for The Sympathizer, the latest limited series from the great Korean auteur Park Chan-Wook. Based on Viet Thanh Nguyens Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, the series is, per HBOs description, an espionage thriller and cross-culture satire. It follows the exploits of The Captain (played by Hoa Xuanda), a half-French, half-Vietnamese communist spy who moves to America and pretends to be a South Vietnamese ex-pat to consult on a movie about the Vietnam War. But, more than that, it looks like a lot of fun. Read more The Sympathizer | Official Teaser | Max Executive produced by Robert Downey, Jr, the series also stars the former Iron Man, who appears to be relishing the opportunity to play multiple roles. Honestly, after so many years of wearing sweatpants and Black Sabbath t-shirts in Avengers movies, its nice to remember that he can do more than one thing. And hell be joined by many other excellent actors, including Fred Nguyen Khan, Toan Le, Vy Le, Alan Trong, Vy Le, Ky Duyen, and Sandra Oh. The Sympathizer will run seven episodes, with the first three directed by Park, who is also credited as co-showrunner with Don McKellar. City Of God and Two Popes director Fernando Meirelles will helm episode four, with Marc Munden assuming the camera for the final three episodes. Park released his most recent film, Decision To Leave, last winter, while his previous television series, Little Drummer Girl, debuted on AMC in 2018. The Sympathizer hits HBO or Max or Discovery+ or HBO Max or HBO Max + Discover, or whatever it will be called by then in 2024. Story continues More from The A.V. Club Sign up for The A.V. Club's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Some lucky residents in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, recently had the shopping trip of a lifetime when the refrigerators inside a local Trader Joes broke down. That left store management with two options: Either let the food spoil or let the public take home the food for free. Either way, thousands of dollars would be lost in the process, but at least if they gave the food away, it wouldnt go to waste. To the joy and surprise of many, the store chose the second option. The unique event was captured on video by many local shoppers, who later uploaded them on TikTok. Random trip to Trader Joes turned into a blessing, wrote the TikTok user @registerednerd_ in one post caption. In the video, the shopper asks a cashier to explain whats going on and is told that, due to a freezer malfunction, all cold and frozen foods are being given away for free. When the TikToker tilts her camera downward, she shows a running register total that comes to more than $2,800 but is quick to note how that doesnt just represent her order its actually keeping track of every free item going out the doors, even though customers wont be charged for them. In a follow-up video, the TikToker pans her camera around the store, showing lines of customers giddily waiting to check out cart fulls of free food. Other Baton Rouge locals also shared their experience on TikTok, where people almost couldnt believe what they were seeing. Omggg yess I would of started shouting, one person wrote. Mannnnn I wouldve been bawling my eyes out as I filled my cart lol, said another. turning the power off in my town as we speak, someone else joked. Others asked why the store didnt consider donating to food pantries or nearby shelters, but in response to those comments, @.amiyabrielle said they did. Unfortunately, all of the local organizations they called were closed at the time the fridges broke down. Though this kind of event is definitely rare, it may not surprise you to learn that Trader Joes has a reputation for being extremely generous. According to The Daily Meal, the grocery store already donates unused or unsold items in the store, including beauty products and flowers. Its all part of the chains Neighborhood Shares program, which is devoted to helping fight food insecurity. In addition, the store also donates to Feeding America food banks. Story continues But thats not all. Trader Joes also answers written requests for donations. In fact, an estimated 63 million meals were gifted to Americans in need in 2020 in direct response to written requests. All in all, the donations equaled almost $350 million. In The Know by Yahoo is now available on Apple News follow us here! The post Trader Joes store gives away a ton of frozen food after fridges break down: I wouldve been bawling my eyes out appeared first on In The Know. More from In The Know: Receipt shows Trader Joe's accidentally charged customer for 71 bags New spring items have already arrived at Trader Joe's, and we need them all Food blogger's Chinese grandpa reviews Trader Joe's Chinese food There's a new Trader Joe's cookbook with recipes using the chain's most famous food products Cyrus Whitcomb was born Nov. 12, 1813, in Vermont. In 1826, his family moved to Onondaga County, New York, where he worked on a farm until the age of 20. In the winter of 1835-1836, he moved to Cazenovia, New York, to work in the tanner and curriers trade. While there, he married Harriet Eliza Whipple in 1841. Cyrus Whitcomb was superintendent of the Wisconsin Leather Company tannery at Two Rivers. The exhaustion of tanbark in New York state made it necessary to relocate farther west. In 1846, members of the Rufus Allen family, which had operated a tannery in Cazenovia since 1805, came to Milwaukee, along with Edward P. Allis and Cyrus Whitcomb. The firm opened a small leather goods store and by 1850 became known as the Wisconsin Leather Company. Because of the abundance of eastern hemlock tanbark in northeastern Manitowoc County, 1,200 acres of forest were purchased from the U.S. government for 50 cents per acre. During the winter of 1851, Cyrus Whitcomb came to Two Rivers to supervise construction of a wood-framed, two-story tannery, 270 feet by 50 feet, on the east bank of the Mishicot (East Twin) River in Section 25 of the town of Two Rivers, 1-1/2 miles north of the small lumbering and fishing settlement. When the tannery opened in May 1851, it was one of the largest in Wisconsin and the Midwest, with 134 vats for tanning 100 hides daily for harness and light stock on the ground floor and extensive drying and storage rooms on the second floor. In 1861, a second, larger tannery, 315 feet by 50 feet, was constructed south of the earlier one, with 150 double vats for tanning 75 hides daily into sole leather. Bricks used for its construction came from Milwaukee. Wisconsin Leather Co. tannery buildings at Two Rivers, about 1863. By 1878, 7,000 tons of tanbark were consumed and 60,000 hides were tanned annually. Most hides were brought from meat-packing houses in Milwaukee and Chicago by boat or team. A steadier supply of hides (some from Texas) was obtained once the Milwaukee, Lake Shore & Western Railroad was completed to Two Rivers in 1873. Tanned hides were returned to Milwaukee, where finished leather goods were sold to Eastern as well as Western markets. Story continues While a house for the Whitcomb family was being built near the tannery, they stayed at a tavern for five weeks. Their home was very pleasant and nicely furnished, and generally well filled with company. Cyrus and Harriet had six children: Harriet, Charles, Henry, Emma, Clara and William. The three youngest children were born in Wisconsin. Cyrus Whitcomb ran a boarding house for tannery workers and operated a store stocked with food and provisions. Besides the tannery, the Milwaukee-based company built two finishing buildings, storage sheds, a boiler room with a 100-foot tall chimney and a 105-feet deep artesian well. Seven houses, a blacksmith shop, horse stables and a 200-foot pier and wharf along the river were also constructed. A school was started about 1852 in a wing of the boarding house. Mr. Whitcomb took an interest in local politics, serving on the Two Rivers Town Board in 1851, town assessor in 1857, and Board of County Supervisors in 1859. He was also active in the Manitowoc County Agricultural Society organized in 1859, serving as a judge at the 1860, 1861 and 1862 fairs and vice president of the association in 1863. About 1865, Cyrus Whitcomb purchased a house for his family in Milwaukee, but remained at the tannery with his eldest son Charles, boarding with families for several years. He eventually moved to Milwaukee, where he died at the age of 72 on Dec. 10, 1885. The "Lake Shore Times" observed, He was a genial and cultured gentleman of the old school, of strict integrity and correct habits. He is buried at Forest Home Cemetery in Milwaukee. Bob Fay By the late 1880s, the limited local supply of tanbark was depleted and increased transportation costs for bark from Michigan by boat and rail made the business unprofitable. In 1887, the Wisconsin Leather Company tannery at Two Rivers closed. The chimney was taken down in 1889 and the tannery was destroyed by fire in 1890. While nothing remains of the once flourishing tannery in Two Rivers, familiar place names remind us of this early industry Tannery Road, Tannery Bridge, Tannery School and Tannery Cemetery. Bob Fay is a historian and former executive director of the Manitowoc County Historical Society. Read more history: This article originally appeared on Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter: Two Rivers was home to thriving Wisconsin Leather Company tannery Madison Chock, Evan Bates The U.S. leads the world team trophy, a biennial figure skating season-ending event, after the first of three days of competition in Tokyo. World champions Madison Chock and Evan Bates and world bronze medalist Ilia Malinin won the rhythm dance and mens short program, respectively, giving the U.S. a large 11-point lead over South Korea. Japan, a pre-event favorite, saw its singles skaters, traditionally the nations strength, all have a jumping error. South Koreas Lee Hae-In, the world silver medalist, had the top score in the womens short. Japans Kaori Sakamoto, a two-time reigning world champion, and Mai Mihara, the Grand Prix Final champion, each erred on her combination jump and placed second and fifth, respectively. Americans Isabeau Levito and Amber Glenn were third and sixth in the 12-skater field. Malinin topped the mens short that lacked world champion Shoma Uno of Japan, who withdrew earlier this week with an ankle injury. Japans Kazuki Tomono (seventh) and Shun Sato (11th) each fell on a quadruple jump attempt in the short. WORLD TEAM TROPHY: Full Results | Broadcast Schedule Japan could close the gap on Friday with world champions Riku Miura and Ryuichi Kihara starting the pairs event, plus Sakamoto favored in the womens free skate. The free dance is also on Friday. World team trophy streams live on Peacock. Competition concludes Saturday with the pairs and mens free skates. World team trophy, which debuted in 2009 and has always been in Japan, pits the top six figure skating nations in a format similar to the Olympic team event that debuted in 2014. Nations earn points based on their skaters placements in short and long programs. This years event includes, in order of ranking, Japan, the U.S., Canada, South Korea, Italy and France. Each nation has two mens singles skaters, two womens singles skaters, one pair and one ice dance couple. Russia, which won the last world team trophy in 2021, is not entered due to its suspension for the war in Ukraine. Story continues The U.S. took silver at the last edition and before that won in 2019. The U.S., Russia and Japan made up the podium at each of the last four editions dating to 2015. OlympicTalk is on Apple News. Favorite us! More: Olympics Adam Peaty, breaststroke king, not on British swim team named for world championships Gable Steveson unretires from wrestling, sets return competition Olympic, world champions highlight Pro Series swim meet; broadcast schedule U.S. leads figure skatings world team trophy after first day originally appeared on NBCSports.com While Raquel Leviss and Tom Schwartz made waves for making out, Scheana Shay revealed she and Brock Davies were already married for a year before their big wedding bash in Mexico Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock; Amy Sussman/Getty; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty From left: Ariana Madix, Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval Months before it was revealed that Raquel Leviss was having an affair with Tom Sandoval, Ariana Madix was growing suspicious of her boyfriend for his apparent obsession of Raquel on Vanderpump Rules. On Wednesday's episode, tension escalated between the Bravo castmates when Raquel and Tom Schwartz finally sealed the deal and made out at Scheana Shay's wedding where every single one of her guests saw. Later that night back at one of the hotel rooms, Sandoval kept repeating Raquel's name in front of Ariana, which irritated her without a doubt. "Tom, stop. You're acting weird," Ariana, 37, snapped at her then-boyfriend of nine years. Sandoval, 40, responded, "I'm not acting anything." "Why are you saying, 'Raquel, Raquel, Raquel?'" she inquired, to which he answered, "Because she f---ing made out with Schwartz." Related:Tom Sandoval Says 'I Still Love Ariana' Despite Affair with Raquel Leviss That Ended 9-Year Relationship Surprised, Ariana said, "You what? I need details." Raquel, 28, claimed, "It was just a moment, but a lot people cheered." "People cheered?" Ariana questioned, further commenting in a confessional, "Just when I thought it was safe." Nicole Weingart/Bravo (3) Related:Tom Sandoval Claims Ariana Madix Was 'in Denial' About Split, Told Him: 'I'm Not Letting You Leave Me' "We just had a cute little moment, and he was like, 'I'm down to make out if you are,'" Raquel recalled of how her hookup with Schwartz, 40, went down. With Schwartz's ex-wife Katie Maloney and Raquel's ex-fiancee James Kennedy in mind, Ariana said in a confessional, "Now that this happened, I feel like we're right back where we started, if not 10 feet underground." Story continues Sandoval made matters even worse when he said to Raquel, "Here's Schwartz's room key." Ariana then jokingly erupted, "Tom, get the f--- out. Tom, you're the worst. Get out of here." Related:Tom Schwartz Says He's Not Going to Abandon Tom Sandoval Amid Scandal: 'He Knows He's a Monster' But Schwartz admitted the next day to James that "it was a platonic kiss" between him and Raquel. However, the DJ was not having it. "Schwartz is a f---ing p---y. I just hope everyone f---ing sees the calculatedness that he's done. And just like how he's maneuvering around, it's just so sneaky," James, 31, said in a confessional. Later at a hibachi dinner, where Raquel sat in between Schwartz and Sandoval, James commented on the fact that his ex had made out with most of the guys in their friend group. "There's obviously chemistry. Stop f---ing lying to yourself, mate. Have a little f---ing balls," James said to Schwartz after he insisted it was only "platonic." RELATED VIDEO: Vanderpump Rules: Ariana Madix Confronts 'Stranger' Tom Sandoval After Split and Says She Wants Him 'to Die' "If there was, I would man up and say that," Schwartz defended himself. He then turned to Raquel and asked, "Have we touched each other? Have we ever had one romantic moment before last night?" "It's been very flirty," Raquel responded. She then revealed in her confessional, "I felt there is chemistry between us. So now that he's just minimizing it and giving me high fives, it's a little like, heartbreaking." Raquel later asked Scheana to walk down the aisle with Schwartz at her wedding, which prompted Ariana to tell cameras: "I'm starting to think that Raquel might actually have feelings for Schwartz because it feels like she's living in some sort of rom com. And I think she's the only one in it." Related:Tom Schwartz Says Tom Sandoval Told Him He Was 'in Love' with Raquel Leviss in January: 'She's His Heroin' At the reception for Scheana's wedding where she dropped a bombshell that she was already married to Brock Davies for a year before they walked down the aisle Schwartz and Raquel stepped away to talk about their kiss. "It was nice making out with you," the Schwartz & Sandy's co-owner told the pageant queen. "You don't regret it, do you?" she asked, to which Schwartz reassured her, "No, I don't." But in her confessional, Raquel said, "I thought there might have been more between Schwartz and I. But the way that he's playing it off makes me curious to think why he was down to make out with me to begin with." Things also escalated between Raquel and Lala Kent, who told her amid another blowout argument, "I think that your self worth comes from approval of a man, which is very sad to me. I think you have a mental breakdown coming. I think you're gonna need some love. I think you're gonna need some support." Related:VPR's Katie Maloney Erupts Over Schwartz and Raquel's Kiss: 'I Want to Light Them Both on Fire' During an appearance on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen last week, Schwartz admitted that he has regrets about locking lips with Raquel. "In hindsight, I don't think it was [worth it]," he told host Andy Cohen, reflecting on the pain it caused ex-wife and costar Katie. "I never wanted to hurt Katie. The fallout I got, the blowback I got from that kiss, my God!" Many fans have questioned whether Schwartz and Leviss' smooch was to distract away from her months-long affair with Schwartz's best friend and business partner Sandoval, which was exposed on March 3 and ended his nine-year relationship with Ariana. Arturo Holmes/WireImage; Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Related:Raquel Leviss and Tom Sandoval Look to a 'New Chapter' After Affair Was 'Emotional Way Before It Was Physical' But Schwartz said that his smooch with Raquel was real, and had nothing to do with that. "I just feel like there was so much of a buildup. The chemistry was building," Schwartz said, of him and Raquel. "... It wasn't planned, it wasn't a decoy kiss. It was a real kiss." Like Schwartz, Leviss has also claimed the kiss was organic. "I genuinely had an interest in Tom Schwartz and there's a genuine curiosity there, so it wasn't a cover-up," she told TMZ last month. During his appearance on WWHL, Schwartz also revealed when he found out about Leviss and Sandoval's affair. "I learned in August, in late August about the affair, the one-night stand allegedly," he said, later adding that "there was a lot of grey area there" as to how deep the infidelity ran. He added, "From my point of view, it became, like, an emotional affair which is still inappropriate." Related:Tom Schwartz Admits Kissing Raquel Leviss Wasn't Worth It, but Says Their 'Chemistry Was Building' Cohen then noted that at the Vanderpump Rules reunion filming late last month, Schwartz claimed he didn't know about the affair until early this year. Clarifying, Schwartz explained, "In January, Tom came to me and he told me that he was in love with Raquel. I was flabbergasted." Asked if he would have made out with Raquel when she first asked if the cameras weren't around, Schwartz said "yes." 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. Vanderpump Rules airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. ET on Bravo. For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on People. Bucks, Montgomery, Chester and Delaware county law enforcement announced April 5 that investigators will join a national ballistics network to help identify firearms used in crimes across the four-county region. Officials said Montgomery County had purchased a National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, or NIBIN, machine, that helps connect the firearms used in crimes locally with crimes throughout the country. What is the NIBIN machine? NIBIN is a database of fired cartridge casings from guns used in crimes across the country. Each firearm leaves its own signature, like a set of scratches, grooves or dents, on bullet casings when a gun is fired, and the NIBIN system can compare those against six million others in the database, according to a Montgomery County District Attorney's Office news release. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives launched the national NIBIN in 1997, and it has expanded to 293 systems throughout the country, including Philadelphia and Berks County, according to the release. Trafficking ring arrested: Gun trafficking ring busted in Montco and Bucks County. How police say 94 guns were sold Woman sentenced in Falls drug death: 'It should have been me': NJ woman sentenced to probation in Falls motel drug death Man gets prison for shooting: Man sentenced to 11 years in prison for shooting, attempted robbery inside Bensalem hotel How will Bucks County law enforcement use the machine? After new casings are entered in to the database, they are compared against others in the database to create a list of high-probability matches, which become leads for detectives. Law enforcement in Bucks County will send the casings from crime scenes and seized weapons to the database within 48 hours with the results sent to detectives, who will look at the leads to determine connections and suspects, the DA's office said. Why did Montgomery County get the machine? The funding for the machine came from the Liberty Mid-Atlantic High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, a federal program aimed at interagency cooperation to reduce drug trafficking in the Delaware Valley. The DA's office said crime data shows gun traffickers are frequently involved in drug trafficking, and drug traffickers are often heavily armed. Story continues The purchase of the NIBIN machine is another aspect of Montgomery County's efforts to stop gun violence and gun trafficking. Law enforcement in Bucks and Montgomery counties have focused on stopping straw purchases, which is when someone who is legally allowed to purchase a firearm sells one to someone who is not legally allowed to possess it. In many of these cases, investigators said the guns that were illegally purchased were used to commit crimes elsewhere. It's not unusual for cases involving guns and gun violence to include suspects and/or victims from Bucks and Montgomery counties. Officials also announced that Montgomery County put together a Gun Violence Reduction Task Force consisting of 100 officers throughout the county. They will work with Montgomery County detectives to combat gun trafficking and gun violence crimes throughout the county. Bucks County District Attorney Matt Weintraub said before he won reelection in 2021, that his office would have a renewed focus on gun trafficking and straw-purchasing crimes. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Bucks County police to use database to investigate gun crimes Image via Getty/AaronP/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images A 32-year-old woman was charged in federal court this week after allegedly threatening to kill a flight attendant on an Alaska Airlines plane. Chloe DaSilva has been charged with interfering with flight crew members and attendants, as announced by the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Western District of Missouri on Monday. Per an affidavit, DaSilva was a passenger on an Alaska Airlines flight that was originally slated to fly nonstop from San Francisco to Chicago on April 7. Due to the womans behavior, however, the flight was forced to be diverted to Kansas City. DaSilva is alleged to have at one point gotten into a confrontation with a flight attendant, including by way of cussing and yelling and threatening to kill him. Following the confrontation, DaSilva was restrained with zip ties for the remainder of the flight. The Boeing 737 later made a safe landing early Friday morning at Kansas City International Airport. When reached for comment by Complex on Wednesday, a spokesperson for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) noted it has a strict zero-tolerance policy when it comes to dealing with passengers who engage in unruly conduct. The rep also pointed to this years tally of just under 500 unruly passenger reports. While just one such incident is one too many, the rep added, this figure points to a sizable decrease following a record-high of just under 6,000 such incidents in 2021. In 2022, that number dropped to a reported 2,178. A rep for Alaska Airlines, meanwhile, offered the following: Alaska Airlines Flight 456 from San Francisco to Chicago OHare on April 7 diverted to Kansas City due to a disruptive guest on board who also made threatening comments against the crew. After landing, the guest was removed from the aircraft by local law enforcement officers. The flight then continued onto Chicago without any further incident. Related Articles Story continues More Complex Sign up for the Complex Newsletter for breaking news, events, and unique stories. Follow Complex on: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, Snapchat, TikTok The FBI on Thursday made a probable cause arrest in North Dighton, Massachusetts, in connection with the leaked documents probe. Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Jack Teixeira was taken into custody in relation to the investigation into "alleged authorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information." Teixeira, 21, is a member of the Massachusetts Air Force National Guard. "FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident," the attorney general said. "He will have an initial appearance at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts." Garland continued: "I want to thank the FBI, Justice Department prosecutors and our colleagues at the Department of Defense for the diligent work on this case. This investigation is ongoing. We will share more information at the appropriate time." The FBI said it was continuing to conduct law enforcement activity at the residence where Teixeira was arrested. "Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads and today's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk," the FBI said in a statement. BREAKING: New video shows federal agents arresting Jack Teixeira, in connection with leaking sensitive U.S. documents online, a law enforcement official tells @ABC News. https://t.co/UgDBGMvqHf pic.twitter.com/faRUwKEfek ABC News (@ABC) April 13, 2023 Earlier, at the Pentagon, spokesman Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, said, "It is important to understand that we do have stringent guidelines in place for safeguarding classified and sensitive information. This was a deliberate, criminal act -- a violation of those guidelines." Story continues Media reports have described the documents as being shared among a small group of users on Discord before getting wider notice. The Washington Post interviewed one person, who said he was part of the group, who believes the alleged leaker, who he said goes by the moniker "OG," worked on a military base. PHOTO: Armed FBI agents swarmed a Massachusetts home Thursday afternoon, hours after sources and multiple reports said the agency was seeking to question a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, April 13, 2023. (WCVB) President Joe Biden broke his silence earlier Thursday on the leak of apparently highly classified documents after the Washington Post report. Biden told reporters in Dublin that the Justice Department was "getting close" in its criminal investigation into how the U.S. intelligence documents -- which seem to contain top-secret information about the Ukraine war and other parts of the world -- ended up online. "Right now there's a full-blown investigation going on and, you know, with the intelligence community and the Justice Department, and they're getting close," Biden said when asked if he could provide an update on the probe. "But I don't have an answer." MORE: Timeline in leak of secret US documents The disclosure has raised diplomatic issues over the apparent revelation that U.S. intelligence has been spying on its allies as well as on its adversaries. Asked whether he was concerned about the leak, Biden played down its potential impact. "I'm concerned that it happened," Biden said. "But there is nothing contemporaneous that I'm aware of that is of great consequence." The Washington Post characterized the alleged leaker as a "young, charismatic gun enthusiast" who began disseminating the documents in a private server group on Discord last fall. The Washington Post cited an interview with a teenager who said he was part of the group, which he said he joined at the start of the pandemic and contained roughly two dozen members, some from foreign countries. The teen referred to the leaker as "OG" and said he was in his early to mid-20s, though the minor denied to share his real name, where he lived or the military base where he said the person worked. The minor said "OG" had dubious views of law enforcement and the intelligence community, and would rant about "government overreach." Washington Post reporter Shane Harris described the leaker as someone who was "trying to impress his friends," and the newspaper said it was unlikely he intended for the documents to spread across the internet. ABC News has not independently confirmed the report. A Pentagon spokesman, when asked for comment on the Washington Post report, referred ABC News to comments made by Department of Defense spokesman Chris Meagher during a press briefing on Monday. Meagher said at the time that the department was "working around the clock to look at the scope and scale of the distribution, the assessed impact and our mitigation measures." A senior U.S. official told ABC News Thursday highly sensitive material has been shared too widely within the government for some time. The official had no information on the source of this leak but called it "a massive betrayal" by whoever is responsible. PHOTO: The Pentagon is seen from the air in Washington, March 3, 2022. (Joshua Roberts/Reuters, FILE) MORE: What you need to know about the leaked US secret documents After reports surfaced that authorities wanted to speak with a member of the Air National Guard, the National Guard Bureau issued a statement, saying, "We are aware of the investigation into the alleged role a Massachusetts Air National Guardsman may have played in the recent leak of highly-classified documents. "The National Guard takes this issue very seriously and will support investigators. National security is our foremost priority and any attempt to undermine it compromises our values and degrades trust among our members, the public, allies and partners," the statement said. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, in his first public comments on the leak Tuesday, also said he was limited in what he could say about the matter amid the DOJ's investigation. He told reporters he was first informed of the apparent leak on April 6, after some documents were posted on popular social media sites, and that investigators were focusing on documents dated Feb. 28 and March 1. "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," Austin said. FBI makes probable cause arrest in connection with classified documents leak originally appeared on abcnews.go.com Don Powell, an Orchard Lake resident and Farmington Hills business owner, shows off his custom mailbox, where a mystery "family" showed up last August. Don Powell opened his mailbox one day last August and found, along with the usual mix of bills and pizza coupons, two small dolls sitting on a miniature couch near a tiny table. The pair and their furniture came with a note: Weve decided to live here. Mary and Shelley. Powell first thought the homely wooden figurines a man and a woman were put in his mailbox by mistake. He wondered if someone in the neighborhood was playing a joke. I went around to the other homes on the cul-de-sac to see if anyone else had gotten dolls in their mailbox, the 72-year-old said. No one had. Theres a neighbor across the street named Shelly; I knocked on her door and asked if she had done it, but she said no. Streak broken: Michigan family's boy-only births streak dating to 1880s finally broken by baby girl Shortest living dog in the world: Florida pooch named Pearl takes Guinness World Record Don Powell, an Orchard Lake resident and Farmington Hills business owner, shows off his custom mailbox, where a mystery "family" showed up last August. A psychologist by trade, Powell is president and CEO of the Michigan-based American Institute for Preventative Medicine, a company that facilitates worksite wellness programs for organizations and hospitals around the country. He and wife Nancy ordered a custom mailbox after moving into their home in Orchard Lake, Michigan, about five years ago. At 26 inches deep, the mailbox, while purposely not an exact replica, bears a striking resemblance to their home. The box features a spacious interior with an open floor plan and plenty of window to let in natural light. Solar powered ceiling lights illuminate the mailbox at night. While it is against the law for someone other than the mailbox owner and the mail carrier to put items in a mailbox, Powell could see why a doll family might want to move in. He was amused although his first thought was to evict the couple and their belongings into the garbage can. But then, struck by a change of heart, he pushed the couple and their belongings to the back of the mailbox and went about his business. Dolls and furniture have been swapped in out of Don Powell's custom mailbox since August 2022. That was just the beginning of the story. When Powell wasnt looking, someone dropped off a dog for the couple living in the mailbox, along with a rug and even some art for the wall. Then came a four-poster bed. Story continues I thought, OK, someone is really playing a joke on me,' Powell said, admitting that by this time he was enamored by the situation and wanted to have some fun with it. I didnt think it was my neighbors. So he went on Nextdoor, a hyperlocal social networking service for neighborhoods. In his first post on Nextdoor, Powell asked whether anyone would fess up and admit they put Mary and Shelley in his mailbox, or if they knew who did. No one came forward, so he posted again, joking that hed contacted the police and asked them to do extra patrols of his mailbox. The whole thing got rather whimsical, he said. I have a quirky sense of humor. When Halloween rolled around, Mary and Shelley were mysteriously replaced by two dolls in skeleton costumes. Around Christmas, Mary and Shelley reappeared with miniature-sized gifts for their mailbox home. Powell took pictures and documented it all on Nextdoor. 'These stories aren't forgotten': Century-old shipwreck mystery solved with Lake Superior discovery Dolls and furniture have been swapped in out of Don Powell's custom mailbox since August 2022. The response (on Nextdoor) was just incredible, he said. People were saying, This is so much fun to read, I was ready to get off of Nextdoor, but this makes me want to stay. Many posters, he said, were leaving comments and sending Powell messages asking for the next installment. At some point, a second mystery note appeared, claiming the Mary and Shelley dolls formerly lived in a two-story Dutch-style doll house, but had decided Powells mailbox house was more accommodating for their cousin Shirley a third figurine with a broken leg who sometimes visited the couple. Then, after (February) ice storm, I did a post that said the family was locked in the mailbox and couldnt get out, Powell said. Somebody asked if they lost power, I said No, they dont have power to begin with, but they do have a wood burning stove and were working from home. Valuable find: NASA confirms a meteorite fell in New England. You could earn $25,000 for finding a piece. Dolls and furniture have been swapped in out of Don Powell's custom mailbox since August 2022. In the beginning, Powell said, he was worried the mail carrier would stop delivering the mail. But given the large size of the mailbox, space has not been an issue. Calls to the West Bloomfield Post Office went unanswered. Meanwhile, his wife, Nancy, said shes been enjoying the saga and likes to see when new things are added to the mailbox but doesnt get as worked up about it as her husband. It's very cute, she said. I get a laugh out of itits a good positive thing, especially during these crazy times." What's everyone talking about? Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day. Powell said no new furniture or other items have arrived in the last month or so. Still, at this point, hes not sure hes ready to learn the true identity of the person who brought Mary and Shelley into his life. Im kind of enjoying the mystery, he said. I look forward to new things being added to the mailbox. The author of numerous health-related books, Powell says the experience has given him a new idea. I am thinking, given the reaction (on Nextdoor), of writing a childrens book, he said. I think it creates a novel story. This article originally appeared on Hometownlife.com: Doll family takes over mailbox in Michigan and homeowner plays along EAST LANSING, Mich. Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Thursday aimed at preventing gun violence in Michigan by expanding background checks and establishing penalties for those who fail to keep firearms out of the hands of children. Whitmer signed the bills at Michigan State University's campus just two months after a shooting at the school left three dead and five injured. "Today we're taking common sense gun action to reduce violence and save lives," Whitmer said at the bill signing ceremony. "Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country and that's why we're taking action." Whitmer added: "We don't have to live like this and today we're showing that we're not going to." 'Mom, I hear gunshots.' Michigan State students live through a second mass shooting Michigan State University shootings: 3 killed, 5 injured; suspect dead after hourslong search Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signs a package of gun bills Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. [Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal] Whitmer re-ups calls for 'red flag law' In addition to the bills she signed, Whitmer repeated her call for lawmakers to send legislation to create a so-called "red flag law" her way. "All of these initiatives are supported by a majority of Michiganders," she said. Democrats in the state House and Senate have passed bills to allow courts to temporarily take firearms away from those deemed dangerous. But the two chambers have to work out small differences and give the bills final approval before they can go to Whitmer. The House may vote on a series of red flag bills as soon as Thursday afternoon. While federal law currently requires background checks for gun sales by licensed dealers, Michigan law only requires first obtaining a license for purchasing pistols from private sellers. The Democratic legislation signed by Whitmer would expand the requirement to all firearm purchases. It passed on a party-line vote. A crowd applauds Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as she addresses gun violence before signing a package of gun bills, Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich, [Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal via AP] Law requires some gun owners to lock firearms Whitmer also signed legislation requiring gun owners to store their firearms in a locked container or use a locking device if they have a child in the house or take their gun somewhere where a child couldn't gain access to it. Story continues If a child injures themselves or someone else with an unlocked firearm, the gun owner would be guilty of a felony punishable up to five years' imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine. If the minor kills themselves or someone else, the individual who failed to secure or lock their firearm would be guilty of a felony punishable up to 15 years' imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine. "No longer do we only have our thoughts and prayers. We have these tools and we're taking action," said Kalamazoo County Sheriff Rick Fuller at the bill- signing ceremony. The bills passed along a party-line vote in the state Senate but received the support of five GOP state representatives in the House, including House Minority Leader Matt Hall. Three Oakland County lawmakers also voted for the bills. Not far from their competitive districts, a 15-year-old at Oxford High School used a gun purchased by his parents to kill four students and injure seven others in a November 2021 rampage. His parents the first in the country charged with involuntary manslaughter in a mass school shooting committed by their child argue the gun used in the massacre was locked and secure. But prosecutors counter the shooter had easy access to the weapon at home. Parents charged in Oxford, Highland Park mass shootings. That's unusual. Democrats introduced similar safe storage requirement bills last legislative session that languished in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Whitmer also signed bills to temporarily exempt firearm safety devices from sales and use taxes. Democrats shepherding the gun safety measures passed so far say their actions represent a starting point and to expect additional proposals to curb gun violence. Dig deeper This article originally appeared on USATNetwork: Michigan governor signs gun safety legislation after MSU mass shooting A small U.S. military special operations team has been based at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv since early in the war in Ukraine that began in February 2022, according to a former and a current U.S official. Both officials stressed to ABC News on Wednesday that the U.S. military team does not go out on the front lines with Ukrainian troops and only operates out of the U.S. Embassy. 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. PHOTO: The U.S. Embassy resumes its work after a three-month break due to the Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine, May 18, 2022. (Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images) The former U.S. official told ABC News that in addition to providing assistance with the oversight of U.S. equipment and supplies being sent to Ukraine, the team has assisted Ukrainian military planners with operations that have resulted in hundreds, if not thousands, of Russian military casualties. MORE: Russia-Ukraine live updates: 2 US citizens died fighting in Ukraine, State Dept. says The presence of U.S. military personnel working at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv was first disclosed by the Pentagon last November. PHOTO: Ukrainian servicemen ride on tanks towards the front line with Russian forces in the Lugansk region of Ukraine, Feb. 25, 2022. (Anatolii Stepanov/AFP via Getty Images) But the information that there are presumably special operations forces was included in one of the 38 apparently highly classified documents that appear to have been leaked on the internet and that have been reviewed by ABC News. ABC News has not independently verified the authenticity of these documents. MORE: Timeline in leak of secret US documents That document mentioned 14 U.S. special operations forces in Ukraine in late February in a round-up description of other NATO countries that had special operations forces inside Ukraine. Dated to Feb. 28, the apparently leaked document seems to list a total of 97 special operations forces from five NATO countries operating in Ukraine with the highest number coming from the United Kingdom and numbers comparable to the U.S. team from other countries. Story continues PHOTO: US service members wait at the Pope Army Airfield before deploying to Europe at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, Feb. 3, 2022. The US plans to deploy 3,000 troops to fortify NATO forces in Eastern Europe amid fears Russia could invade Ukraine. (Allison Joyce/AFP via Getty Images) The purported leaked document also noted the presence of additional U.S. military personnel working at the embassy with the Defense Attache's office and the Defense Cooperation Office. Last November, the Pentagon's top spokesman noted the presence of U.S. military personnel at the embassy to help with the accountability of the billions of U.S. military assistance being provided to Ukraine and emphasized they were not in Ukraine in a combat role. "We've had U.S. forces serving at the embassy as part of the Defense Attache Office, which is where these guys are assigned," Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said at a Nov. 1 press briefing. "We've been very clear there are no combat forces in Ukraine, no US forces conducting combat operations in Ukraine," Ryder said at the time. "These are personnel that are assigned to conduct security cooperation and assistance as part of the Defense Attache Office." US special operations team working out of embassy in Ukraine: Sources originally appeared on abcnews.go.com With over 19,000 acres of Pinot Noir planted, Oregons Willamette Valley has become one of the United States premiere growing regions for the red grape from Burgundy since it was first planted there in the 1960s. That is more than double the amount of all other varieties combined growing there, highlighting the fact that this 100-mile-long region between the Cascade Mountains and the Coast Range is prime Pinot Noir country. In fact, more than 80 percent of all the Pinot Noir cultivated in the state is grown in the Willamette Valley, which is home to over 700 wineries. To the west, the Coast Range shelters vineyards running along the Willamette River from frigid Pacific air and rainstorms, while on the opposite side the Cascade Mountains provide a barrier to the arid, desert-like climate of eastern Oregon. Temperate summers with cool nights, sunny autumns, and a combination of volcanic and sedimentary soils offer perfect conditions for ripening grapes with complex flavors and vivid acidity. Thanks to the number of French families who have put down roots here, Willamette has been called the Burgundy of the Pacific Northwest, producing New World versions of Pinot Noir that have been likened by many to those from their home region. Concentrated yet elegant, these will pair well with roast or fried chicken, grilled pork, risotto with mushrooms, or pan seared veal chops. More from Robb Report Hamilton Russell Oregon 2018 Bramble Hill Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge Oregon Well known for their South African wines, Anthony Hamilton Russell and his wife Olive now set their sights on making classic European style Pinot Noirs from Willamette Valley fruit. Their 2018 vintage is aged in Francois Freres French oak for 14 months and has aromas of ripe cherry, caramelized orange peel, and cinnamon. It is generous on entry with flavors of red raspberry, black cherry, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice. The tannins are silky-smooth, and the finish is accented by a bright splash of pleasant acidity. Story continues Buy Now: $90 Ponzi Vineyards 2018 Pinot Noir Reserve Willamette Valley Oregon Dick and Nancy Ponzi produced their first barrels in 1974; the 2018 vintage represents the second year the winery crafted a reserve wine with 100 percent estate grown grapes. It is fermented in small lots with 40 percent whole cluster, aged in oak for 20 months, and then 10 months in the bottle. It is cherry red with aromas of strawberry and red raspberry and is spicy at first sip with notes of anise, clove, and dried Mediterranean herbs accenting the red fruit flavors. The tannins are velvety, and the finish has a nice touch of spice. Buy Now: $75 Domaine Serene 2017 Evenstad Reserve Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Oregon Ken and Grace Evenstad first came to the Willamette Valley in 1989 and named their winery after their daughter Serene. The estates first vineyard was named after their son, and today Grace continues to oversee Domaine Serene and the production of world-class Pinot Noir. The 2017 Evenstad Reserve is ruby-garnet colored in the glass with aromas of cherry preserves, forest floor, and red raspberry and flavors of blackberry, raspberry, and brown baking spices. It is drinking beautifully right now but dont hesitate to hold for a few more years. Buy Now: $120 Domaine Drouhin 2019 Laurene Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Oregon The well-known family that founded Maison Joseph Drouhin in Beaune in 1880 decided to plant vines and establish a winery in Oregon in 1989. The current estate encompasses 235 acres in Dundee Hills overlooking the Willamette Valley. The 2019 Laurene is bright ruby in color with aromas of cassis, cinnamon, nutmeg, and black cherry. On the palate there are flavors of red currant, freshly picked cherry, and brown baking spices. The tannins are velvety and well-structured, and the finish goes on and on. Buy Now: $77 Bergstrom 2020 Le Pre du Col Vineyard Pinot Noir Ribbon Ridge Oregon The 16 acre Le Pre du Col vineyard was planted in the Ribbon Ridge AVA in 2006 and roughly translates to the field on the hill. The vineyard is a partnership between the owners, the Hill family, and Bergstrom Wines, who are responsible for maintaining the vines. This delicious wine is garnet colored with aromas of dried Shitake mushrooms, cedar, tobacco leaf, and black fruits. There are flavors of sweet black and red fruits, Oolong tea, and cinnamon with velvety tannins and a nice splash of acidity in the post palate. Buy Now: $98 Belle Pente 2017 Estate Reserve Pinot Noir Yamhill-Carlton District Oregon Belle Pente released their first Estate Reserve Pinot Noir in 1997 and since that time has selected individual barrels that represented the best expression of their vineyard to create this flagship wine. Once aerated, you can find aromas of black cherry, brown baking spices, and cassis; the winemaking team uses 12 percent whole clusters in the fermentation which makes itself evident in the green tea and brambly aromas found in the bouquet. There are astringent tannins with flavors of red and black fruits, cigar box, dried Mediterranean herbs, and anise. Drink now or through 2035. Buy Now: $60 Cristom Vineyards 2013 Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir Eola Amity Hills Oregon Established in 1992 by the Gerrie family, Cristom Vineyards 240-acre estate boasts 90 acres of vines which the winemaking team farms using organic and biodynamic principles. They also use integrative pest management techniques to facilitate healthier grapes and soils. The 2013 Eileen Vineyard Pinot Noir was tasted out of magnum. It has heady aromas of ripe black raspberry, red cherry, and red cassis. In the mouth there are red and black fruit flavors accented by a touch of freshly ground black pepper, nutmeg, and allspice. The tannins are silky smooth, and the finish has a bright splash of acidity at the very end. Drink now or keep in magnum for another 10 years. Buy Now: $160 Nicolas Jay 2018 LEnsemble Pinot Noir Willamette Valley Oregon Music industry entrepreneur Jay Boberg and Burgundian winemaker Jean-Nicolas Meo became friends in 1988 when Jean-Nicolas was studying in the United States. Afterwards Jean-Nicolas returned to work at his familys Domaine Meo-Camuzet in Burgundy and Jay became well established in the world of music. The two formed Nicolas Jay after a 2011 visit to Willamette Valley. Their 2018 LEnsemble is dark garnet colored with a purple rim. It has aromas of red and black fruits accented by notes of charcuterie, cherry cola, and licorice. There are complex flavors of toasted brioche, cranberry, ripe black fruits, dried Mediterranean herbs, and vanilla with silky, powdery tannins. Drink now or through 2034. Buy Now: $78 Ken Wright Cellars 2018 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir Yamhill Carlton District Oregon Ken Wright and his family founded Ken Wright Cellars in 1994 in downtown Carlton, and since that time he has been very involved in town planning for this historic community. He currently makes 13 different single vineyard bottlings in the northern Willamette Valley. The 2018 Shea Vineyard Pinot Noir is ruby colored with aromas of blueberry, dried herbs, cinnamon, and freshly picked black cherry. It has flavors of cranberry, pomegranate, and red raspberry with pleasant touches of creosote and licorice. Drink now or through 2033. Buy Now: $69 Stoller Family Estate 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir Dundee Hills Oregon Stoller Family Estate is widely recognized as the first LEED Gold Certified winery in the world and one of the foremost sustainable wineries in the Pacific Northwest. This reserve wine is fermented in oak vats and stainless-steel tanks and was allowed to go through full malolactic fermentation while aging for 12 months in French oak barrels, giving it a creamy texture on the palate. It has aromas of cherry cola, dried cherries, red plum, and forest floor. In the mouth there are flavors of ripe red fruits accented by cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice with creamy mouthfeel and rounded tannins. Buy Now: $54 Best of Robb Report Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The supermodel has been featured in the SI Swimsuit Issue 10 times. Paulina Porizkova was photographed by Tu Ysai in Kenya. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Paulina Porizkova is a true SI Swimsuit legend. The model made her debut with the franchise in 1983 after posing for photographer Walter Iooss Jr. in Jamaica. She returned to the magazine each year through 86, traveling to Aruba, Australia and Bora Bora. Porizkova rounded out the decade with an additional feature in 1989. In total, the supermodel has been featured in 10 SI Swimsuit Issues, spanning from the early 80s to her most recent feature in Kenya in 2019. That year, Porizkova made history as the oldest model to appear in the magazine at 55-years-old. She was photographed by Yu Tsai. While that record has since been surpassed by Kathy Jacobs (57) in 2021 and Maye Musk (74) last year, Porizkova continues to battle ageism. She regularly shares thoughtful insight on the topic on Instagram and published a book, No Filter: The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful, last year. At the time of her 19 photo shoot, the Czech-born model noted that once we did the fittings and I got to the beach with the crew, muscle memory kicked in, and it felt just like 30 years ago. Four years after her feature in Kenya, below are six looks we still cant get over. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! The South African model starred in an artistic photo shoot in 2015. Genevieve Morton was photographed by Yu Tsai in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Genevieve Morton made her SI Swimsuit debut in 2010 after posing for photographer Walter Chin in Palm Springs, Calif. She appeared in the SI Swimsuit Issue each year through 2015. While her travels with the publication took her everywhere from Fiji to Australia to Switzerland, the South African models most recent feature was extra special. Morton worked with photographer Yu Tsai and artist Joanne Gair for a unique body paint spread in St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands in 15. Morton has called the body paint photo shoot her favorite with the franchise, while her idyllic feature in Switzerland came in as her No. 2 fave. I never did body paint in my rookie year and I think most of the girls do it their rookie year. So I waited like six years to get into body paint, so by the time I did it, I was so excited I couldnt contain myself, Morton gushed on a segment of SI Now. But it was O.K., I mean it was an experience in and of itself and I dont think its every day that you get body painted. In addition to modeling, the 36-year-old fitness enthusiast is the founder of Morton Media Management. Her company helps to empower artists, models and photographers through their art. Below are eight of our favorite images from Mortons body paint feature with visual artists Tsai and Gair in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Yu Tsai/Sports Illustrated Make sure to follow SI Swimsuit on YouTube! These cruises for LGBTQ+ travelers offer inclusive experiences on itineraries around the world. Courtesy of Atlantis Events Cruising is back, and as passengers set sail once again, theres no shortage of LGBTQ+-friendly cruise lines and dedicated itineraries to embark upon. Whether youre hoping to discover centuries-old gems across Europes rivers, bask in the beauty of the Alaskan wilderness, or just party the night away with a vodka soda in hand and Into You by Ariana Grande blasting overhead, these cruise lines and tour operators offer something for every LGBTQ+ traveler. Brand G Vacations Courtesy of Brand G Vacations Specializing in curated experiences for LGBTQ+ community members since 2011, Brand G Vacations has found particular success within the realm of small-scale cruises, offering voyages on the high seas and the Earths most iconic rivers. With trips across spectacular rivers like the Douro, Ganges, and Amazon, each Brand G excursion provides ample opportunities for forging new friendships thanks to their low passenger count. As an added bonus, philanthropy is a central tenet of the company, with each year bringing a new partnership with a charity committed to addressing issues within the LGBTQ+ community. Vacaya Gabriel Goldberg/VACAYA A recent addition to the cruise industry, Vacaya caters specifically to LGBTQIAPK+ patrons, with cruises ranging from classic tropical island routes to truly far-flung options. In terms of classic cruise experiences, guests can find spacious suites, vibrant nightlife, and 29 drinking and dining venues aboard the Celebrity Apex on Vacayas annual Caribbean cruise taking place in February 2024 but for the adventurous soul, theres no beating one of their smaller options. Though itineraries span from the Adriatic Sea to the heart of Polynesia, each cruise offers the perfect blend of relaxing amenities and bustling nightlife to keep you occupied between ports. Olivia Courtesy of Olivia Travel The gay cruise industry is largely geared toward men, but Olivia is the industrys reigning champion for LGBTQ+ women. The company hosts a plethora of river and open-water cruises all across the globe, with lesbian and queer woman-focused excursions to Alaska, Egypt and Jordan, and Greece on the roster for 2024. Amenities ranging from meals to self-service laundry to alcoholic beverages are all included as part of your purchase, and for those wishing to keep the party going after testing their sea legs, Olivia also offers land-based tours, with a wealth of relaxing resort stays available to book. Story continues Atlantis Events Courtesy of Atlantis Events With beloved celebrity entertainers and dazzling dance parties on the regular, Atlantis is one of the cruise industrys top contenders for a fun-filled, LBGTQ+-centered getaway on the high seas. For the most social of butterflies, this falls Italy, France, and Ibiza cruise is set to shatter records for the largest gay cruise to set sail across Europe, uniting more than 4,000 passengers on the massive Odyssey of the Seas. For a smaller-scale (but still grandiose) experience, Atlantis is putting some of Southeast Asias most dazzling cities on full display this November, offering a nine-night cruise along Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Bangkok. Celebrity Cruises Courtesy of Celebrity Cruises One of the most dedicated queer allies in the water tourism world, Celebrity Cruises has gone to great lengths to partner with LGBTQ+ impact groups and promote inclusivity in the workplace, and the cruise line even offers same-sex weddings on board, officiated by the cruise captain. Though queer passengers are certain to feel welcome aboard any voyage, the company has been hosting the iconic Pride Party at Sea since 2018, imbuing cruises across the globe with an added dose of LGBTQ+-curated programs and parties throughout the month of June. The Cruise by La Demence Courtesy of The Cruise While La Demence has been one of Belgiums most coveted queer events for decades, the festivities are taking on an aquatic spin on The Cruise, a week-long journey scheduled for July 2023. Kicking off with the Italian city of Ravenna, this week-long excursion highlights fascinating destinations across the Mediterranean, with Sarande, Malta, and Catania all gracing the itinerary but of course, the most incredible festivities take place far beyond the shore. Equipped with dazzling amenities like an on-ship spa, a dedicated nudist deck, and a star-studded cast of entertainers, the Explorer of the Seas is a one-way ticket to a memorable jaunt across Europes stunning southern coast. Source Journeys Courtesy of Source Journeys Source Journeys has mastered the art of cruising, providing LGBTQ+ travelers with a treasure trove of carefully curated luxury cruises. For wildlife lovers, September brings the opportunity to spot sea lions, turtles, and marine iguanas on a voyage to Ecuadors iconic Galapagos Islands, with the Relais & Chateaux-aligned Evolve yacht serving as a particularly relaxing abode for the trip, while Octobers Vietnam and Cambodia cruise highlights the rich beauty of the Mekong from urban and natural perspectives. Uniworld River Cruises Courtesy of Uniworld River Cruises When it comes to low-effort/high-yield travel, river cruises are hard to top. They offer an opportunity to visit a vast array of storied cities, neatly bundled into one itinerary and in terms of uniquely LGBTQ+ experiences, Uniworld has a few special journeys in store. During an Out on the Rivers cruise, guests can attend a wide array of curated events and performances, with R Family Vacations founders Gregg Kaminsky and Kelli Carpenter taking charge of the journey. While the France-focused Brilliant Bordeaux cruise is set to depart next month, be sure to mark your calendars for April 2024s Holland and Belgium at Tulip Time, a trip that highlights some of Western Europes pioneers for LGBTQ+ inclusivity. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. a tri-color australian shepherd stands in the snow Giacomo Augugliaro / Getty Images This daring dog took hiking to the next level, somehow traveling more than 160 miles over the frozen seaand surviving at least one encounter with an Arctic predatorbefore returning home. Nanuq, an Australian shepherd, went missing while his family was on a trip in March, Anchorage Daily reports. Two of the family's other dogs, Starlight and Ghost, also went missing. The pups live with their family in Gambell, a small town on Alaska's St. Lawrence Island. They disappeared while the humans were in Savoonga, another town on the island about 37 miles away. Mandy Iworrigan, the dogs' mom, told the newspaper she had her partner search around the area for Nanuq and Starlight, but they had no luck finding them. Ghost, Iworrigan's uncle's dog, is a pretty consistent escape artistbut the uncle said he "always finds his way back." RELATED: Elderly Dog Found Over 1,000 Miles From Home Reunites With Family 7 Years After Going Missing While playing outside in Savoonga, Iworrigan's daughters noticed a pup who appeared to be eerily similar to Starlight. Iworrigan wasn't convinced when the girls first told her until she noticed the dog kept following her youngest daughter around. The dog was in fact Starlight, but Nanuq was still nowhere to be found. Around a month after he went missing, Iworrigan's dad found a possible Nanuq spottingbut it wasn't what she expected. His text to her said there was a dog in Wales, Alaska, who looked just like Nanuq. Wales is 166 miles away and across the Bering Sea. Photos of the lookalike pooch appeared on a local Facebook group. Iworrigan looked to see if the dog really could be Nanuq. Once she saw the pictures, she knew it had to be him. "I was like, 'No freakin' way! That's our dog! What is he doing in Wales?'" Iworrigan told the newspaper. Nanuq's impressive journey over a frozen sea remains a mystery, though Iworrigan thinks her intelligent pup probably survived by hunting or eating other animals' hunting remains. Story continues Getting Nanuq back home was an adventure in itself, as there are no direct flights from Wales to St. Lawrence Island. However, there happened to be a charter flight bringing students from Wales to Gambell for a youth olympics tournamentand Nanuq was able to hitch a ride on the plane. RELATED: Good Grief This Dog Swam Across the Dang Hudson River (He's OK) The family was overjoyed when the plane landed and Nanuq was finally back from his wild adventure last week. Iworrigan posted a video on Facebook of the pup's returnthe family erupting with cheers and excitement as Nanuq is unloaded from the plane. Starlight is also there, front and center, waiting to greet her brother upon his arrival. The pup arrived in fairly good health, although he did have a swollen leg with a couple large bite marks. No one is quite sure what kind of animal left them, but Iworrigan suspects a seal, wolverine, or even a small polar bear could've bit Nanuq. Nanuq is now safe at home and recovering with his human and canine family after his lengthy journey. "If dogs could talk, both [Nanuq and Starlight] would have one heck of a story," Iworrigan told the newspaper. ZipAir Boeing 787-8 takes off from Tokyo Narita International Airport. Kittikun Yoksap/Shutterstock Zipair is set to launch flights between San Francisco and Tokyo this summer. One-way tickets for the flights start from just $91 for children aged six and under. San Francisco is the fourth US destination where the airline operates. A budget airline is set to launch some of the cheapest long-haul flights between the US and Japan. Japanese low-cost airline Zipair announced that it's offering a new route between San Francisco and Tokyo, according to the airline's press release on April 7. A one-way flight ticket from San Francisco International Airport to Narita International starts from just 10,000 Japanese yen, or $91. To obtain this ultra-low fare, the passenger should be six years old or younger, and the ticket must be purchased in Japan. One-way tickets for passengers who are seven years old or older start from 35,000 yen, or $325. The flights are scheduled to begin operations on June 2. "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 the press release. The airline is set to operate five flights a week between San Francisco and Tokyo. It's the airline's third flight route across the Pacific. The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco and Shibuya Crossing in Tokyo. Steve Proehl/DoctorEgg/Getty Images It currently operates flights between Tokyo and six cities Los Angeles, San Jose, Honolulu, Bangkok, Seoul, and Singapore. Zipair, a subsidiary of Japan Airlines, launched commercial flights in October 2020. Last year, airline review site Skytrax ranked Zipair sixth on its list of the world's best long haul low-cost airlines. But the airline has mixed reviews from passengers online. On Skytrax's customer reviews, the airline has an average rating of 3 out of 10 from 31 reviews. One passenger who flew on round-trip flights with the airline from Los Angeles to Tokyo, and Singapore to Tokyo in March said that several of the flights were delayed and canceled. Story continues But some passengers felt more positive about their experience flying with the airline. Another passenger, who flew economy with the airline from Singapore to Tokyo in February, said they had an "excellent experience" and noted that check-in was smooth. Tickets for Zipair flights between San Francisco and Tokyo are available for booking on its website. Zipair did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment. Read the original article on Business Insider Photo: WCIV Nearly a month after four Americans were kidnapped by a Mexican drug cartel, two of the survivors sat down with CNNs Anderson Cooper to discuss the trauma they are still dealing with as well as the deaths of their friends. On March 3, LaTavia Washington McGee, Eric Williams, Zindell Brown and Shaeed Woodard were kidnapped as they were driving to a medical procedure located in Matamoros, Mexico. The attack happened in broad daylight, with investigators believing that the American group were mistaken for Haitian drug smugglers. Read more Woodard and Brown were both killed. They didnt deserve that. None of us deserved it. But were alive we have a lot of recovering to do, Washington McGee told Cooper in an interview Tuesday. They were driving when they heard a car blow a horn behind them. Brown warned the group to not stop the car. Zindell and Shaeed, they jumped up to run and they were gunned down, Williams recalled. Williams jumped out of the drivers side of the vehicle when someone began beating on the car window with a gun. Thats when I was shot on both legs, Williams said. Washington McGee was forced to go into the bed of a pickup truck at gunpoint while the rest were carried onto it. This moment was caught on video and shared with officials after the kidnapping. However, she and Williams told Cooper that Brown and Woodward were both still alive when they were dragged onto the truck bed. The group was then taken to another spot, where they were questioned. Thats where Shaeed said, I love yall, and Im gone. And he died right there, Williams said. I told him [Woodard] was sorry, Washington McGee remembered. Brown also died from his gunshot wounds shortly after. Story continues Washington McGee and Williams said they were taken to various places as hostages and that they were blindfolded as they were moved between locations. Williams also shared how armed people in red, plastic Diablo masks [pointed] the guns to our head, telling us not to look up. Ultimately, they were dropped off at a shack where they were rescued on March 7. According to Mexican officials, at least six people have been arrested. An apology letter was reportedly issued from the Gulf Cartel, the people believed to be responsible for the kidnapping. However, its authenticity has yet to be substantiated. More from The Root Sign up for The Root's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The Best Breeds To Be Homestead Guard Dogs A shepherd dog watches over his flock. (Photo credit: Marcia Bota / EyeEm / Getty Images) Dogs can be not only wonderful family companions, but helpful tools for a variety of professions. Homestead guard dogs can make the difference in keeping livestock safe from predators. However, not all dogs are good fits for this admittedly challenging job. Some breeds have been refined for centuries for the specific purpose of homestead guarding. These breeds are often known as Livestock Guardian Dogs, or LGDs. LGDs are calm, trainable, and have low prey drives so they can work with a variety of animals. While many dogs can become successful homestead guard dogs, the breeds listed here are known for high success rates and trainability. Remember that dogs should be set up for success with daily training sessions even the smartest breeds cant learn without a good teacher! 1. Anatolian Shepherd The Anatolian Shepherd originated in Turkey as a guardian to flocks of sheep and goats. This massive breed can reach 150 pounds, yet they easily blend in with the livestock they protect due to their light-colored, fluffy coats. This homestead guard dog is known to be especially skilled at fending off other canines such as wolves and coyotes. However, they arent a good fit for owners who struggle to stay firm. These dogs are stubborn and will try to push your buttons rather than listen to commands, so be prepared for lots of training. This breed often makes a good homestead guard dog for those who have children, as theyre affable and get along well with almost everyone in their family. They might not be a good fit if you have plenty of parties, though; this breed is known to be very wary of strangers. 2. Akbash Another large, fluffy white dog hailing from Turkey, the Akbash is more uncommon than the Anatolian Shepherd, but equally talented. The word akbas means white head, and thus distinguishes this dog from the similar Karabas (Kangal Shepherd Dog), which translates to black head. This breeds sole purpose is as a guardian dog, and they have no herding ability. These dogs are fierce when challenged, and will take on larger predators such as wolves and bear. Theyre known to be loyal and somewhat easier to train than most homestead guard dogs. Story continues Akbash are only found with solid white coats if you see a dog with any other coloration claimed to be an Akbash, they are at best an Akbash mix. Most livestock guardian dogs have white coats in order to easily differentiate them from predators of the flocks they protect. 3. Great Pyrenees The Great Pyrenees is known to be one of the best homestead guard dogs to keep alongside a family. This breed will become fiercely protective of any member of their family, from livestock to children. This breed is also known to be intelligent and to keep a steady temperament, admirable qualities in any breed. These noble dogs will charge into battle against potential predators at the drop of a hat. However, this quality isnt great in a suburban neighborhood, where a Great Pyrenees may seem overly aggressive at perceived threats. If you invest in this wonderful breed, be sure you have room to exercise & train them to their hearts content. 4. Maremma Sheepdog The Maremma Sheepdog is most popular in Italy, where they originated, but their popularity is growing as more people learn of this wonderful breed. This is another notably stubborn breed; ideally, a Maremma Sheepdog owner will have experience with strong-willed dogs. However, they are incredibly smart as stubborn as they are, theyre capable of lots of learning. This breed makes a great watchdog, as theyre alert around anyone not recognized as a family member or friend. This breed is relatively light for a homestead guard dog, but still large and powerful ranging from 65 to 100 pounds. If you choose to bring this breed home, prepare to not only give them a job, but lots of one-on-one interaction to keep them engaged. 5. Kangal The Kangal, also known as the Kangal Shepherd Dog, is another large livestock guardian breed originating from Turkey. This beautiful breed is a soft tan with a distinguished black snout. They are known to be gentle and patient with even the youngest children; this breed is almost never violent unless pushed to defend their flock. During shedding season, grooming for this breed can be intense. But year-round, their short to medium-length coat is more manageable than most of the long-haired breeds on this list. Setting up homestead guard dogs for success When determining the homestead guard dog you want to bring to your property, there are multiple factors to consider. The predators you have in your area play a part; some dogs are more effective against certain species. But you also need to consider the needs of the dog as an individual many of these breeds have high grooming requirements or health risks associated with their breed. Even when adopting a breed known for particularly skilled guarding abilities, remember that consistency is key with dog training. If you feel that youre starting to struggle, consider bringing in the help of a professional trainer. Keep training sessions to five to ten-minute increments to prevent boredom for both you and your pup. The post The Best Breeds To Be Homestead Guard Dogs appeared first on DogTime. The body found in the Delaware River in Solebury on Sunday has been identified as a Northampton County man who was reported missing from Allentown late last year. Solebury police said in a news release that the body was that of Hellertown resident Adam Zimpfer, 40, who was last seen in December. A passerby found the body on rocks in the river just north of Route 263 about 10:15 a.m. Sunday. He was found on a rock landform on the river between the towpath and Hendrick Island. New Hope Eagle and Point Pleasant fire companies assisted Solebury police and the Bucks County Coroner's Office retrieve the body. For subscribers: With PA state crime lab backlogged, Bucks County finds success through shared regional DNA databases Body found on Easter: Body found in Delaware River in Solebury on Sunday Body found in Falls: Body found on Delaware River ID'd as man who jumped from Trenton Makes bridge Using identifiable information on his clothing, Solebury police conducted a records check and learned of a possible missing person report from Allentown in Lehigh County. DNA samples from the body were collected for testing and used as a comparison with possible biological family members. Using Bensalem's rapid DNA testing instrument, investigators were able to identify Zempler. His cause of death has not yet been determined, however police said there was no sign of foul play. Allentown police said Zimpfer was last seen about 1 p.m. Dec. 26. His family lost contact with him a day later. This was the second time a body has been found near the Delaware River in Bucks County in less than a month. A boater found a body of a man on the westward shore of the tidal pool between the Delaware River and Biles Creek on March 21. Investigators identified that body as a 24-year-old New Jersey man who had been seen jumping from the Trenton Makes bridge on Jan. 27. This article originally appeared on Bucks County Courier Times: Northampton County man ID'd as body found in Delaware River in Solebury Micron saw another drop in revenue for its latest quarter. The Boise memory-chip maker reported revenues of $3.7 billion, down nearly 10% from the previous quarter and more than 50% from the same quarter a year ago. Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra said in a news release Tuesday that the company expects the industrys supply and demand balance to gradually improve. The company previously cited weakening consumer demand and significant inventory adjustments for the steep revenue declines. Micron delivered fiscal second quarter revenue within our guidance range in a challenging market environment, Mehrotra said. We remain confident in long-term demand and are investing prudently to preserve our technology and product portfolio competitiveness. Micron President and CEO Sanjay Mehrotra welcomes dignitaries and celebrates a $15 billion plant, or fab, for memory manufacturing to be constructed at the companys headquarters in Southeast Boise. The company reported a net income of $minus-2.1 billion for the quarter ending Feb. 28, down 202% from the same quarter a year earlier. The earnings amount to $minus-1.91 per share. Micron is the largest for-profit employer in Idaho, with about 6,000 workers in the Treasure Valley and roughly 49,000 employees worldwide, as of December. The company began laying off workers in February, with plans to reduce its global headcount by about 10% over the next year, according to prior reporting by the Idaho Statesman. Its unclear how many Micron employees in Boise and Meridian were affected by the cuts. The company has not filed a Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act, which suggests that fewer than 500 workers may be laid off in Idaho. Micron, facing severe downturn, lays off employees. What we know, and whos affected Micron announces site for U.S. megafab far larger than one it just unveiled for Boise Meridian businesses receive cease-and-desist letters for hyperbaric chambers. What to know Corporate greed in the most extreme: Boise residents oppose 24% rate hike for water When Teen Vogue surveyed young voters ahead of the 2022 midterm elections, 82% said the U.S. economic system unfairly favors the wealthy and 89% said corporations have too much power in this country. The cost of medical care, higher education, and housing is oppressively high, and theres no amount of grit and determination that can change that reality. Thats the message Alissa Quart drives home in her new book Bootstrapped: Liberating Ourselves from the American Dream. American politicians like to tell stories about the value of relying on themselves or enduring grueling work. In these speeches, though, they tend to ignore the economic and political forces that shape our lives. As Quart, the Executive Director of the Economic Hardship Reporting Project, said in a recent appearance on Democracy Now, theres this story of shame and blame that has followed people who struggle in this country since the 19th century. In the below excerpt, Quart talks about one response to this shaming, which she calls inequality therapy: a framework for providing reduced cost, peer-to-peer therapy to people who have endured socioeconomic inequity and traumatic childhood experiences. If you have had terrible things happen to you at a young age, with social class injury piled on top, peer therapy that is awake to both of these elements is one answer, Quart writes. This book offers important insights into how our well-being as citizens is made entirely into our own responsibility. It also shows us alternative communities and methods for survival. Christine Cissy White is an advocate for survivors of trauma. That's partly because she is one herself. When I first met her, she lived in Weymouth, Massachusetts, then with her teen daughter. Back then, she earned a living as a community facilitator for the nonprofit PACEs (Positive and Adverse Childhood Experiences) Connection. Two year later, she showed me around her home: one bedroom in her house as a sanctuary, where she did downward dogs and wrote in a notebook, all to help her treat trauma symptoms, which included trouble sleeping. Story continues The place had a very different temperature emotionally from the one she had grown up in. Whites motherwhod had three kids by the time she was a young adultwas just a teenager when she became pregnant with Whites older sister. Whites father was a Vietnam War veteran who struggled with alcohol after he came back from Southeast Asia. White barely knew him but understood he was often unhoused. All of this was part of larger unhappy pattern. Before the age of ten, she had experienced the divorce of her parents as well as physical and sexual abuse. Throughout much of Whites childhood, her mother was the sole provider. Growing up poor, White would hide the tape and paper clips that held her broken glasses together behind her bangs. When she went out with friends she was often starving as she was unable to afford food: to hide her embarrassment, she said she wasnt hungry. She also used paper towels as pads when she was a teenager because she wasnt provided money for those either. In that time, White and her family also moved frequently. Her family stabilized economically when her mother remarried for the third time to a relatively financially secure man who worked in what was then the digital sector. Her mothers marriage was part of how White survived poverty and neglect. This relief from indigence, for instance, was marked by her moving from Bostons working-class neighborhood of Brighton and its Waltham suburb to the upper-middle-class town of Harvard, when she was a teenager. She said that showed her the difference between growing up in a place where the whole community is challenged by poverty and one where a single family is put upon, as hers was. White also discovered she had many more resources in her wealthier school district, for example. Due to these new splotches of social-class privilege, she learned enough about college and applications to try for plush Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts. She was accepted and attended on a scholarship. College was a shocking experience for her. Her life shocked her classmates in turn. There, she was surprised to meet people who, in her eyes, had no palpable obstacles. The presence or absence of adversity shapes us a lot, White said. From the beginning, White had always prickled when she was complimented for being so resilient, even though as the first person in her family to graduate from college she was often called that. She viewed her own story of resilience as one fortified by unexpected periods of economic freedom in her later youth and also of access to therapy, neither of which is emphasized or acknowledged in the typical bootstrapping story. White herself reckons she grew up with a total of eight adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), from abuse to abandonment, and survived to become a counselor and an advocate. Its hard to overstate how bad eight ACEs are. With four ACEs youd have had childhood toxic stress, because your number of ACEs are like a cholesterol score. One gets one point for each type. The higher ones ACEs score, the higher the risk to ones health. (The understanding of ACEs starts with the original ACEs Study, the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences Study.) Whites job was counseling survivors in need, usually over the internet, communicating with the ACEs social network of forty-five thousand. The main reason why she took so well to the method that recognized ACEs first and foremost, White said, is that she had a severe distaste for the idea that sheor anyonehad lifted themselves up out of pain and poverty. Her own rare success could have reaffirmed that myth of bootstrapping: her career; her capacity to help others and have a balanced family; her modest but comfortable home with its gas fireplace and a robins-egg-blue wall and signs that offered encouragement like one that read This Is Our Happy Place; her put- together and pleasant appearance, with her ash blonde hair cut in a short, spikey do and her retro-cool cats-eye glasses. But all of these achievements produced the opposite effect, as she knew too many worthy people who hadnt gotten out as she had. She also disliked individualisms sister, resilience. She rages and recoils when she hears either word, which happens more and more. Instead of terms like resilience or grit, White and others have embraced another solution, which her peer group embodies: trauma-informed community. These groups, according to White, are comprised of those who have experienced all manner of abuse and provide a place where people may congregate and seek services for free. White offered care to those who have undergone or were currently undergoing agonies like those she experienced. You might think of trauma-informed subcultures like Whites and others as psychological mutual aid networks. The trauma-informed approach, and even those very words, taps into a method and appellation that has become, admittedly, wildly trendy. Survivor-centered and survivor-aware care, is what White also called it. Its not a how do we fix you model, as she put it. Its I may have things to teach you about poverty, and you have things to tell me about navigating systems. Whatever you call it, this emphasis has impacted arenas as disparate as welfare services and a university student's life, trauma-informed policing, and trauma-informed lawyering. Because it's a fashionable catchall, my friend the social worker rolls her eyes at the very phrase. A popular catchphrase can also represent real change, though: think of the proliferation and performative use of the term the 99 percent. In mental health, the way that the trauma-informed framework alters the aperture is that people are understood as needing far more personal agency in their own treatment. Their actions are also now understood through the lens of their trauma, rather than by tracking their troubling behavior and judging it, a scolding that might well replicate the original bad feeling. This shift in emphasis to trauma can be particularly helpful when counselors or therapists treat people with less money: so much of what tends to set them back are corrosive externalities that they then have been required to internalize. In contrast, self-reliance meant a particular thing to White, and it wasnt good. In Whites case, understanding her own suffering through the trauma rubric also changed her personal life: she met her last partner, Tom, through a dating site where she listed in her bio that she had many adverse childhood experiences. Emphasizing personal trauma when seeking love might not seem to be the best idea on a romantic site, but Tom, like her, was working class, with a high ACEs score. (White tested him on his ACEs on their first date.) As a hobby, Tom also did household projects like rigging up a heating system for the birdbath in front of their home, so their wild feathered friends could gather together in the chilly Boston-area weather. The rubric trauma informed also changed her professional existence. White is part of a growing number of therapeutic and mental health practitioners who focus on clients current and past economic realities. White emphasized in exchanges with her traumatized peers how she grew up working class and the way this background still wears down her older family membersan aunt, for instance, who has four part-time jobs and one full-time job. I think of it all as inequality therapy, a set of therapeutic practices happening around the country. Its not just some specialized new form of psychoanalysis coming out of some esoteric clinic. Its more like a framework, in peer-to-peer counseling and networks as well as counseling with individuals, sometimes at considerably reduced cost to the patients, and research by scholars examining the intersection of emotional suffering and inequity, including the study of happiness and unhappiness. Bootstrapped 2023 by Alissa Quart. Published with permission of HarperCollins. Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Want to read more Teen Vogue health coverage? California legislators advanced a bill Tuesday that would make social media companies liable for designing platforms that addict young people and expose them to harmful information. Yet even members of the Senate Judiciary Committee who supported the measure expressed concerns that it was too broad and not clear enough in some areas. I think that theres plenty of work that needs to be done, said Sen. Tom Umberg, D-Santa Ana, who chairs the committee. SB 287 prohibits social media companies from using designs, features and algorithms that they know lead people younger than 18 to become addicted to their platforms. They would be liable if children develop an eating disorder, or receive information related to buying controlled substances, firearms or dying by suicide. The bill is the latest attempt from California lawmakers to hold technology companies accountable for the increasing mental health challenges faced by young people, particularly girls. Tuesdays hearing included emotional support for the measure. Sophie Szew, 20, described how she developed an eating disorder after signing up for an Instagram account when she was 10. Standing with me today are millions of young people whose worlds were destroyed because social media companies knowingly and negligently risk our lives for the sake of profit, Szew said. And capitalize upon our vulnerability. Other moments were marked by the minutiae of crafting a bill on a complicated topic; Senators stopped to ponder how best to define addiction, message and content. Those answers are critical for a measure that faces strong opposition from major companies and is likely to be challenged in court if it passes. We need to get it right, said Sen. Scott Wilk, R-Santa Clarita. Dylan Hoffman, of the technology trade group TechNet, warned the bill would not hold up to legal scrutiny under the First Amendment. The organization represents major social media companies including those that own Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and Snapchat, according to its website. Story continues Were very open that we need to be better, said Hoffman, who oversees TechNets lobbying in California. But this bill is not well crafted to solving that problem. Sen. Nancy Skinner, D-Berkeley, acknowledged the proposal has a long way to go. During the hearing, she announced an amendment that would allow only the California Attorney General, district attorneys, and attorneys for counties and cities to bring lawsuits. That is in line with a similar proposal introduced last year that also attempted to make social media companies liable. The bill ultimately died in a Senate committee after also facing stiff opposition. I am committed to continue to work on this, Skinner told her colleagues. Still, the change wasnt enough to allay concerns about the measure. The bill now moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee. His adventure across the Bering sea is just incredible. Last month, a family from Gambell, Alaska ventured to Savoonga, another community on St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Strait. During their visit, they unfortunately experienced the heartbreak of their Australian Shepherd, Nanuq, disappearing along with their other dog, Starlight. Starlight turned up a few weeks later, but Nanuq, which means polar bear in Siberian Yupik, was nowhere to be found. A month after he disappeared, Nanuq showed up in Wales, 150 miles away. Watch the following to see the amazing reunion. Nanuq's owner was quoted in The Guardian as saying, "I have no idea why he ended up in Wales. Maybe the ice shifted while he was hunting, Iworrigan said. Im pretty sure he ate leftovers of seal or caught a seal. Probably birds, too. He eats our Native foods. Hes smart. Except for a swollen leg, with large bite marks from an unidentified animal, Nanuq was in pretty good health. They think the bite could have been from a seal or a polar bear. We are sure this is one time where the family wishes he would have had a camera attached to his collar. The resourcefulness of Nanuq and his epic adventure have left Facebook users amazed. @Robert comments, "Surprised it found enough calories to stay warm." @Steve adds, "WOW this mutt has some stories to share!" Does this sound like the beginning of a Jack London adventure book to anyone else, or is it just us? Regardless, we're thrilled that Nanuq has returned home safe and sound. It's a tale so incredible that we can't help but imagine it on the big screen someday. We'll be first in line for tickets! 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. READ THE COMMENTS Falling natural gas prices will provide Duke Energy customers in Indiana lower bills. AES Indiana customers also may benefit from declining gas costs. Duke announced Thursday ratepayers will see an average 16% monthly decrease. AES filed its quarterly fuel adjustment charge in early March that would reduce a customers bill by about 16.5% per month beginning June and running through August. While some of the proposed AES cut is related to gas costs, a portion is due to advocates pushing back against the utility's plan to pass costs to customers related to a plant that was offline for nearly a year. AES Indianas Eagle Valley Generating Station plant sits on Blue Bluff Road north of Martinsville. The plant was offline for nearly a year after two incidents caused problems. Falling natural gas prices drive summer bill reduction David Jackson, director of commercial operations for AES, said during testimony for the rate cut that forecasted prices of natural gas for JuneAugust dropped 28% versus the same period last year. He cited "a record warm winter in the United States which decreased demand of natural gas for heating and electric generation. Energy transition: Major Indiana companies and cities call on utilities for more renewable energy options Settlement leads to one-time credit for ratepayers AES Indiana customers will also benefit from the January settlement over a prolonged outage at its Eagle Valley gas plant. The plant sat idle for nearly a year after two incidents beginning April 2021 forced outages. Fuel purchases to offset the lost generation were estimated at about $41 million, and state regulators initially said AES could recoup those costs from customers. But the Citizens Action Coalition of Indiana argued the cost should not be passed to customers because they were not responsible for the outage. Ultimately, the state allowed AES to recover $20.5 million, while crediting customers $6.8 million. Natural gas prices remain volatile, impacting bills The everchanging price of natural gas creates uncertainty for Hoosiers trying to plan month-to-month budgets. Annual natural gas production increased from 2005 through 2019, and U.S. natural gas prices generally decreased during the same period. Danielle McGrath, president of the Indiana Energy Association, said natural gas prices have been stable for nearly a decade and utilities try to purchase fuel at the best price possible. Story continues Ben Inskeep of CAC told IndyStar advocates "remain extremely concerned about AES Indiana's plans to increase its reliance on fossil gas going forward, as it puts customers at risk of picking up the tab when highly volatile fossil gas prices go back up again." Energy reliability and Indiana's future While AES Indiana and the Indiana Energy Association are confident that natural gas is the path toward a stable and reliable energy future, Inskeep isnt sure. Energy in the statehouse: Clean energy advocates worry lawmakers will keep fossil fuels going strong in Indiana AES Indiana customers should be under no illusion that this (bill reduction) is permanent or represents a change in the long-term trajectory of utility bills, which will continue to increase as AES Indiana continues to spend huge amounts of money on (transmission and distribution) and new generation, Inskeep wrote. Environmental reporter Sarah Bowman contributed to this report. Karl Schneider is an IndyStar environment reporter. You can reach him at karl.schneider@indystar.com. Follow him on Twitter @karlstartswithk IndyStar's environmental reporting project is made possible through the generous support of the nonprofit Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: AES Indiana, Duke bills could drop this summer due to lower gas prices Shanquella Robinson was a beloved daughter and sister who ran a hair braiding and beauty business in her hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina (Facebook / Shanquella Robinson ) US prosecutors will not pursue charges in the death of a North Carolina woman while she was on vacation in Mexico. Shanquella Robinson, 25, died under mysterious circumstances in a hotel room in San Jose del Cabo, Baja California, in late October. Her travel companions initially told her mother she had died of alcohol poisoning before a disturbing video emerged of a naked Robinson being hit and kicked by another woman. Mexican prosecutors previously issued an arrest warrant for an unnamed American citizen who they described as the direct aggressor seen in the footage. They said at the time that Robinson had died as a result of homicide after sustaining a spinal cord injury. But US federal prosecutors met with Robinsons family on Wednesday to inform them that no one will be charged in the case because there is no proof beyond a reasonable doubt that a federal crime was committed. Based on the results of the autopsy and after a careful deliberation and review of the investigative materials by both US Attorneys Offices, federal prosecutors informed Ms Robinsons family that the available evidence does not support a federal prosecution, the North Carolina Western District Attorneys Office said in a statement. Sue-Ann Robinson, an attorney for Robinsons family, decried the decision not to pursue the investigation during a press conference on Wednesday. Ms Robinson pinned US prosecutors refusal to bring charges on Robinsons race. Black and brown people always have to carve their own path to justice, she said, per news station WSOCTV. Theres no reason why a Black woman should go on vacation with her friends, be returned to her family in a box, and nothing be done for five months. Shanquella Robinsons family say authorities initially refused to take their concerns seriously (Facebook / Shanquella Robinson) The Mexican autopsy says theres a spinal cord injury, but according to them, there is no spinal cord injury, she added. How are you closing an investigation on a case where the cause of death is undetermined? Last month, Robinsons family called on President Joe Biden and the US Department of State to prioritize bringing those accountable for Robinsons death to justice. Story continues In the letter, shared with WCNC Charlotte, the attorneys representing Robinsons family named a 26-year-old woman who was a friend of Robinsons as the suspect currently being sought by Mexican authorities in connection to her death. A copy of Shanquella Robinsons autopsy report, which has since been contradicted by Mexican authorities (Courtesy of Geraldo Zuniga) The 18-page letter also included findings from a recent fact-finding trip to Mexico, autopsy findings and other unreleased documents from authorities. Back in October, Mexican authorities said in a statement that they investigated her death as a feminicide, a term used by local police to describe the homicide of a woman on account of her gender. Robinson was an entrepreneur and had two businesses Exquisite Babies and Exquisite Boutique where she braided childrens hair and sold clothes. She was a student at Winston-Salem State University. Netflix Contains spoilers for Obsession Netflix's newest drama series Obsession tells the rather steamy story of a surgeon named William (Richard Armitage), who begins an intense affair with his son's fiancee Anna (Charlie Murphy). What follows is four episodes worth of sexual tension, shocking revelations and plenty of secrecy. The series ends on a rather ambiguous note, and it's got us wondering, will we see Anna and William again? There's a lot of questions that need answering and so this is everything we know about a potential second season of Netflix's Obsession. Netflix How did Obsession season 1 end? The final episode of Obsession ends with Jay discovering his father and Anna's affair, after he burst into the apartment and saw them having sex. As Jay runs away from the pair he dies going over the balcony. The rest of the episode deals with the fall out of Jay's death, with William's wife Ingrid telling him she never wants to see him again. Before Anna flees to France we see her at home with her mum. Her mum lets on that she knew about Anna's brother's obsession with her, leaving Anna furious and heartbroken that her mum did nothing to stop her brother. Netflix William tracks Anna down in France, where she reveals she doesn't want to continue their relationship. William appears devastated and still obsessed with Anna. When the pair end up back in London we see them separately in the flat they used to meet up. Anna is with Peggy, telling her she needs to move on. Whereas William is in the flat with an estate agent, presumably he's interested in buying the property, therefore suggesting he's still obsessed with Anna. The series ends ambiguously with Anna talking to a therapist, who asks her if she feels she needs rules. Anna replies "how strange" with a slightly suggestive look at her therapist. The episode ends there, leaving viewers with many questions. What's happening with Anna and her therapist? Is William still obsessed with Anna? And where does Anna and her mum's relationship stand? Story continues Will Obsession on Netflix get a second season? As the series ends on such an ambiguous note, there's definitely plenty a second series of Obsession could delve into. However, so far there's been no word from Netflix on if the series will be renewed. On Netflix it does say Obsession is a "limited" series so that does suggest it won't return. Netflix Who would be in the cast of season 2 of Obsession? If Obsession were to return for a second season we'd undoubtedly want to see the return of Richard Armitage as William and Charlie Murphy as Anna. Though Ingrid, played by Indira Varma, said she never wanted to see William again, we would definitely be keen to see her return, maybe in a scene with Anna? One person who probably wouldn't be returning is Rish Shah as Jay after he fell to his death in the final episode. But maybe there's scope for some flashback scenes? We'll keep our fingers crossed. Obsession is available on Netflix now You Might Also Like Over the last year, a good number of insiders have significantly increased their holdings in Petrus Resources Ltd. (TSE:PRQ). This is encouraging because it indicates that insiders are more optimistic about the company's prospects. While we would never suggest that investors should base their decisions solely on what the directors of a company have been doing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. Check out our latest analysis for Petrus Resources The Last 12 Months Of Insider Transactions At Petrus Resources In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when President Ken Gray bought CA$4.9m worth of shares at a price of CA$1.74 per share. That means that an insider was happy to buy shares at around the current price of CA$1.81. That means they have been optimistic about the company in the past, though they may have changed their mind. If someone buys shares at well below current prices, it's a good sign on balance, but keep in mind they may no longer see value. The good news for Petrus Resources share holders is that insiders were buying at near the current price. Notably Ken Gray was also the biggest seller. Over the last year, we can see that insiders have bought 4.74m shares worth CA$9.2m. But they sold 3.17m shares for CA$5.8m. In total, Petrus Resources insiders bought more than they sold over the last year. They paid about CA$1.94 on average. These transactions suggest that insiders have considered the current price attractive. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! There are always plenty of stocks that insiders are buying. So if that suits your style you could check each stock one by one or you could take a look at this free list of companies. (Hint: insiders have been buying them). Have Petrus Resources Insiders Traded Recently? In the last quarter we saw insiders spend CA$33k on shares. But that was only a smidgen more than the CA$29k worth of sales. So it is hard to draw any conclusion about how insiders are feeling about the stock, from these recent trades. Story continues Insider Ownership Of Petrus Resources Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. Usually, the higher the insider ownership, the more likely it is that insiders will be incentivised to build the company for the long term. Petrus Resources insiders own 75% of the company, currently worth about CA$167m based on the recent share price. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. So What Do The Petrus Resources Insider Transactions Indicate? Insider purchases may have been minimal, in the last three months, but there was no selling at all. The net investment is not enough to encourage us much. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. It would be great to see more insider buying, but overall it seems like Petrus Resources insiders are reasonably well aligned (owning significant chunk of the company's shares) and optimistic for the future. While we like knowing what's going on with the insider's ownership and transactions, we make sure to also consider what risks are facing a stock before making any investment decision. Every company has risks, and we've spotted 3 warning signs for Petrus Resources (of which 1 is a bit concerning!) you should know about. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Handel's Homemade Ice Cream is partnering with USFL Canton to offer free ice cream cones for a limited time April 16. Handels Homemade Ice Cream and USFL Canton have teamed up to offer free ice cream cones during a limited time April 16. Starting at 2 p.m. Sunday, 100 customers at each of Handels 23 locations in Northeast Ohio will receive a free single-scoop ice cream cone of any available flavor. The limit is one per customer. The free cones are courtesy of USFL Canton, home to the Pittsburgh Maulers and New Jersey Generals, in advance of their home opener at 1 p.m. April 23 at Tom Benson Hall of Fame Stadium. At 7 p.m. that evening, Canton will host the Michigan Panthers vs. the Philadelphia Stars. Stark County ice cream shops: Seasonal ice cream stands are opening. What to know before you go. Bruster's Real Ice Cream: 5 questions with the owners of Bruster's Real Ice Cream in Jackson Township USFL is sponsoring the giveaway of free ice cream cones at Handel's prior to its home opener. Handels locations in the Canton, Akron, Cleveland and Youngstown markets are participating in the giveaway. The North Canton and Massillon Handels stores will have guest appearances from the USFL Canton dance team and mascots representing the Maulers and Generals. For a complete list of Handels locations, visit handelsicecream.com. USFL in Canton: 5 New Jersey Generals to watch in 2023 This article originally appeared on The Repository: Handel's, USFL Canton team up for ice cream giveaway April 16 Nike Live will be among the retailers opening later this year at the Itis shopping center in Helsinki. The 39-year-old property is in the midst of a major redevelopment with the addition of nearly 110,000 square feet that is being leased by new tenants. There is nearly 110,000 square feet of additional space that is under negotiations, according to CC Real, the investment and real estate firm which co-owns and manages the assets of Itis. With 120 stores and 40 restaurants, the shopping mall is one of the largest in the country with 18 million-plus annual shoppers. Finlands only IMAX theater and 1,600 free parking spaces are part of the draw. More from WWD The addition of a Nike Live store, which is slated to open in November, is part of a nearly $62.3 million renovation plan that is underway at Itis. The first phase involves refurbishing the 14,500-square-foot Bulevardi avenue, which is already one of the longest shopping streets in the Nordic countries. Nike Live has secured a corner location there. That is expected to wrap up in November. The second phase will enhance pedestrian traffic flow with upgrades to the communal Tallinn Square, the sites Rotunda and its Pasaasi area. Due to be completed in 2024, the second phase will involve sprucing up common areas and storefronts and investing in energy efficiency initiatives. Sirkus Magenta, a circus school that specializes in community development, is one of the new additions to Itis. The 12-year-old company offers circus-type activities for people with special needs as a means of recreation and to strengthen social bonds, mental health and physical wellbeing. The new Nike Live store will be housed in a nearly 6,500-square-foot space. One of three Nike Live stores planned for Finland, the It is outpost will be rooted in a members-only, multichannel concept that offers digital-driven special services and exclusive events tailored to consumers to enhance digital and in-person engagement. The concept was first unveiled in Los Angeles in 2018. Story continues Nike Live store in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. With one of the worlds highest percentages of people with access to the Internet 97 percent Nikes plans to unveil its digital-driven outpost in Finland adds up. Seventy-two percent of Finns routinely shop online the majority of which is cross-border e-commerce, according to a WakeUp Data report. During an interview with WWD last year, Whitney Malkiel, vice president and general manager of Nike global womens, said, We have to own our own destiny when it comes to the marketplace, thats why the push in Nike Direct is important for the business, and thats where our brick-and-mortar and Nike Live stores become important. But its also, how does she want to move through the world from nike.com to brick-and-mortar, were trying to get that journey, including our investment in digital and data and knowing her better than ever. Other brands new to Itis include a New Yorker flagship. Unaffiliated with the Conde Nast magazine with a similar name, New Yorker is a Germany-based fashion brand with 1,150 outposts in 47 countries. Along with Nike Live, another digital-first venture is being led by the electronics retailer Power, which is opening a 3,230-square-foot Power+ store its first large concept store in Finland. Itis shoppers will be able to buy the LPP-owned Cropp and Sinsay apparel labels. Also new to the scene is the lifestyle and apparel retailer Mosa Interiors, as well as apparel and goods from local start-ups. Best of WWD Click here to read the full article. PROVIDENCE News flash: Rhode Island's legislative leaders met for the first time in more than a decade on Wednesday as the little-known but infamous Joint Committee on Legislative Services. This is the five-member committee made up of top House and Senate leaders, Republicans and Democrats that, on paper, oversee the General Assembly's $50-million budget, including hiring, firing and spending on items big and small, from bottled water to the provision of new Capitol TV-ready hearing rooms. More: Controversial Assembly committee to meet for first time in more than 10 years The committee meeting for the first time since 2011 in itself was noteworthy Very little news broke out at the group's first meeting since March 8, 2011, except that it took place in one of the newly created hearing rooms, and that long-time state auditor David Bergantino had been elevated to "auditor general" by House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi in late March. Despite the history leading up to this first-in-a-decade meeting a dispute that grew into a lawsuit over the "unilateral" decision-making of a former House speaker House Republican Leader Michael Chippendale said he had no problem with Democrat Shekarchi's action. "We can't stop government functions to wait for a quarterly meeting," Chippendale said. "It's not feasible." And in this case, he said, Bergantino was the natural choice after more than two decades in the auditor general's office, an arm of the legislature headed by Dennis Hoyle until his retirement. The Joint Committee on Legislative Services essentially the administrative department of the General Assembly had not met for more than a decade when the group gathered Wednesday. Audits, lawsuits and controversy around the committee That the leadership group met at all was the result of the dropping of a lawsuit filed in 2020 by then-House Minority Leader Blake Filippi to try to wrest unilateral and, he argued, illegal control of the decision-making from then-House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello and his subordinates and return it to the JCLS. "Pretty much everything that happens in here happens unlawfully, because JCLS doesnt meet and JCLS hasnt delegated its authority to anyone," Filippi alleged. Story continues The "final straw": Mattiello's call for an audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center after a friend facing dismissal from his job as head of security for the convention center came to him for help. The management of the convention center called for an investigation of a perceived State House "threat"; a grand jury inquiry ensued, and Filippi filed his lawsuit. "As you are no doubt aware, the Rhode Island Convention Center was recently threatened with an audit by the auditor general, supposedly at the direction of the Joint Committee on Legislative Services," said a letter then-authority Chairman Bernard V. Buonanno Jr. and then-Executive Director James P. McCarvill sent Col. James Manni, then-superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police. "We have since learned that the JCLS did not authorize that audit." Mattiello acknowledged that he ordered the audit without a formal vote of the legislative services committee, but a spokesman questioned why the Convention Center was so opposed to "anyone looking at its financial records. "The taxpayers were responsible for $28.4 million in support for the Convention Center in 2019 and $255 million in the last 10 years. Why is the Authority so opposed to having a performance audit done? spokesman Larry Berman asked. Nothing came of the highly publicized grand jury investigation, but the specter of it no doubt contributed to Mattiello's defeat in his 2020 bid for reelection. Filippi, who surprised Smith Hill by not seeking reelection to the House last year, agreed in February to dismiss his lawsuit in exchange for a commitment by the current House Speaker, K. Joseph Shekarchi, to hold quarterly meetings of the JCLS. What happened during the meeting? The agenda: "Construction/Office Improvements Update ... Security Measures Updates (parking lot lighting/automatic defibrillators) ... Employee Manual Update." Kinch briefed the panel on fresh paint and carpeting in "16 to 17" legislative offices that had been described by their occupants as "embarrassing." And Bergantino said a half-dozen cities and towns were late in filing their annual audits with his office East Providence, Coventry, Hopkinton, Lincoln, Middletown and Woonsocket a situation he attributed to "a calamity of issues related to staffing'' in most of those communities. "And sometimes, I'll be honest, when you meet with them, it takes all of about 20 minutes to realize that they don't have the right person leading the effort," he said. The Joint Committee on Legislative Services is made up of the House speaker, House majority leader, House minority leader, Senate president and Senate minority leader. Because House leadership holds a 3-to-2 majority on the committee, the speaker has historically controlled it and hired the JCLS director, currently Henry Kinch, who runs the legislature's day-to-day operations. This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Joint Committee on Legislative Services meets for first time in a decade Francesco Mangano grew up in Bologna, Italy, spending summers with family in Tuscany. He studied food and tourism there, and at one time thought he might be a journalist. His path took a different turn when he found himself moving to Wisconsin after meeting an exchange student. His quickest path to a career was cooking, and a culinary degree from Madison College plus a stint at Harvest helped him find his way. Over the past two decades the father of three put down roots in Madison, and in 2006 he opened his own small restaurant, Osteria Papavero, 128 E. Wilson St., Madison. Now, the James Beard Foundation finalist for Best Chef Midwest is sharing the recipes, stories and inspiration behind the restaurant in his new cookbook, Osteria Papavero: Recipes from the Italian Shack and Beyond ($26.95, Little Creek Press). Journalist Lindsay Christians co-authored the book with Mangano, who was also featured in her first cookbook, Madison Chefs (UW Press). Francesco Mangano grew up in Bologna, Italy. He's now a finalist for best chef-Midwest in the James Beard Awards. More: 'Madison Chefs' author looks at the people behind the city's thriving restaurant scene Embracing rustic and everyday cooking with Manganos many influences, the books featured recipes include restaurant staples, starting with the bechamel and ragout alla Bolognese. Other recipes are a nod to family feasts of his childhood (see Aunt Carlas Zucchini Pasta and Uncle Enzos Boar Ragout). The beauty of these recipes is most dont require fancy tools, expensive ingredients or days of planning. Hes even included the restaurants beloved butterscotch pudding and salame di cioccolato, the rich dessert chocolate salami he recommends serving with ice cream. These are recipes meant to be shared, creating a new chapter in Manganos story. Mangano and Christians will host a book launch party at noon April 30 at Osteria Papavero. James Beard Foundation award winners will be announced in Chicago on June 5 at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Mangano will miss the award ceremony, as he will be in Italy visiting his father. Story continues Francesco Mangano opened Osteria Papavero in Madison in 2006. The restaurant draws on his Italian heritage. More: Wisconsin semifinalists named in 6 categories for James Beard Awards Finding his passion for food I grew up in a family immersed in food. I was more of a voracious eater than a cook. I was constantly curious about food. My first job in Madison was doing catering for a year and a half. I got a taste for professional cooking and volumes. I didnt love that I found my passion in this restaurant. Osteria Papavero is modern, cozy and not too big. We can take care of people. It is not a destination restaurant where you go there once a year. It is not that kind of restaurant. That wasn't my idea. Travel and tradition influence him I was in Madison, then I had to finish my degree in Italy and went back. This was an intensive year of studies in food and wine tourism and products. It was basically a year of travel, still working in restaurants in Italy for that year. It was Monday through Friday in a restaurant, then Saturday and Sunday in Tuscany. They would invite some of the best butchers in Italy and food journalists, the chefs every weekend it would be a person famous in their own business somehow related to food. It wasnt necessarily learning about cooking, but about food in a very intensive ways. After that it was clear I needed to open something on my own, with a look to preserving tradition. I wanted a restaurant with simple food and original cooking from Italy. I worked with my mentor at Harvest in Madison. He was opening a second restaurant a block from the (Capitol) square and had an extra space in the same building. He proposed I open a tiny restaurant. This year will be 17 years. The restaurant is 48 capacity (indoors). We expanded and you can move your party into the areas outside the restaurant this summer, but still that is only around 60. Classic lasagna Bolognese is among the recipes Francesco Mangano shares in the new book "The Osteria Papavero Cookbook: Recipes from the Italian Shack and Beyond," co-written with Lindsay Christians. He wants to preserve and pass along traditions When I was (studying) in Italy my thesis was about butchers in Italy still making things the same way. Most of these people were making salami. They told me the same thing. "Im old, the people after me, they dont want to continue this. This way of doing salami will die with me, because no one wants to take it over." Thats why we do certain recipes at the restaurant and have not changed. I believe in making the capicola, the salami. The butterscotch pudding is not even my recipe originally! There is a lot of budino in my region of Italy. We actually took the recipe from the New York Times. I believe in preserving some ideas and traditions, some recipes, so we pass them on to the next generations. Putting his traditions on paper One of the reasons I wrote my cookbook, besides people asking about it, is that I was thinking about my kids and all the time I took away from them. I have three teenagers. This is something 50 years from now they can have. It is for my family, and my customers. I am still having a passion today, but I am getting older. Gnocci is shown at Osteria Papavero in Madison. Chef Francesco Mangano aims to present simple, traditional Italian recipes. He has no plans to open another restaurant I remember the first review we got. We got completely trashed. I was worried. I sincerely thought they didn't like us. Why? We were just opened and not a great review, a kind of sarcastic review about the "rustic" food we were making. But we went on, and I dont have the delusion that we are for everybody. Some people still ask for spaghetti and meatballs or certain things. They walk in, I say sorry I don't have that on the menu. We have core customers who appreciate what we do. Were a small neighborhood restaurant. I have no plans to open another restaurant. Ever. I micromanage. I cant imagine not being able to check on things! What you wont find in this book It was hard to shrink the volume of recipes. Besides the regular menu that changes seasonally, we also have specials that change daily based on the products we get. Somebody sent me a message asking about the salumi. That is something I couldnt include. A recipe on cured meats requires an entire book. I did a recipe for cured fish, which is something my uncle does back in Italy, but not the prosciutto, mortadella. That is such a specific thing, another book. Maybe in the future Ill have a chance to do that. A taste of time and place I think there is a story for every recipe. The idea of doing seasonal food here fit perfectly because you have this amazing farmers market. You could adapt those Italian recipes and techniques. It is not the same recipe I grew up eating, but it is an adaptation to Wisconsin and Madison. About that James Beard Award nomination It was a surprise to be nominated in February, and then again to be a finalist. It was such a surprise Id already booked a trip to Italy in June to see my dad. So I wont even be at the gala. I hope no one is offended. I only see my family once a year in Italy. One thing I appreciate more about the James Beard process in the past years is they are open to more casual restaurants, and more to restaurants that are not just "fine dining" If they appreciated me, then maybe they can appreciate and recognize other restaurants that are smaller than mine, more humble. I appreciate the recognition. Barese Focaccia is shown at Osteria Popavero. Specials at the restaurant change daily with emphasis on seasonal foods. What does he want to be known for? Im a dad, Im a cook and Im a traveler. If I retire tomorrow Id spend all my years traveling around. If I can get on a plane and go, Im happy. Taking a no-waste approach In the sense of what we do where, we dont throw away anything. For example, the fennel bulb, we use the top part roast, steam, whatever. Then the fronds we process and boil, then puree and strain overnight so we are able to break the fiber down. We separate the solids from the liquid, for a soup, or a pasta filling. We do the same with cauliflower stems, and that applies to most vegetables. Think of the broccoli and the artichokes with the leaves nobody uses. The financial part is important, but it is important to respect the vegetable or piece of meat that a farmer spent a lot of time raising or growing. It is disrespectful to take half of it and throw it in the garbage. Official book launch party set for April 30 Well have finger food, a spread of all Italian food, and fun. Im not a huge fan anymore of big seated formal dinners. We still do them, of course. We always do the New Years Eve dinner, but I kind of prefer events where people can come and go, be social, see someone they havent seen in a while, chat with me and my staff. It is less formal, more fun. Fork. Spoon. Life. explores the everyday relationship that local notables (within the food community and without) have with food. To suggest future personalities to profile, email psullivan@gannett.com. More: Author is based in Brooklyn, but her heart is with Wisconsin cheese Sign up for our Dish newsletter to get food and dining news delivered to your inbox. This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Osteria Papavero, Madison: James Beard Award finalist has Italian food A bill that represents the latest attempt by Republican state legislators to roll back Airbnb restrictions would permit most homes in Asheville to be converted into tourist rentals. A bill that represents the latest attempt by Republican state legislators to roll back Airbnb restrictions would permit most homes in Asheville to be converted into tourist rentals. North Carolina Senate Bill 667 would allow cities to enact some minor restrictions on short-term vacation rentals mandating health and safety requirements, limiting vehicles and requiring the lodging operator to be within 50 miles while the house or apartment is occupied. But otherwise, every single-family house, condominium, timeshare, townhome, accessory dwelling unit or other "dwelling unit" could be rented short-term in any part of a city "zoned for residential use," according to the bill filed April 6 by GOP Sen. Tim Moffitt of Henderson County. The bill would also do away with a rule used by Asheville and other municipalities categorizing short-term rentals as those that span one to 30 days. The new period would be up to 90 days. More: Asheville's Airbnb restrictions would be lifted under proposed NC rules More: NC cities want to keep limiting vacation rentals. The state legislature may not let them Currently, Asheville has a ban on all new short-term vacation rentals that involve whole houses or other dwelling units. The city does allow "homestays," meaning a room rented out in a home where a long-term resident is present at the same time as guests. The most recent version of the restrictions, approved by the City Council in 2018 and adjusted in 2022, came amid concerns over the effects of Airbnbs on sky-rocketing house prices for locals and the conversion of neighborhoods into de facto hotel districts. Moffitt, who has sponsored legislation in the past to remove Airbnb restrictions, as well as bills to seize the city's water system and take away annexation and zoning powers, did not respond to a message seeking comment. Tim Moffitt More: Rent control coming to Asheville? Who proposed law could help and why it faces challenges Story continues He titled the bill, in part, "An Act to limit the regulation of short-term rentals by local governments to protect private property rights." In explaining the need for the bill, Moffitt wrote that "local governments often frustrate tourism and infringe on property owners' private property rights by adopting ordinances that inhibit property owners' right to use their property as they see fit." He also said that, aside from tourists, short-term rentals can provide housing options for transitory workers, such as "nurses, tradespeople and executives." For years some GOP state legislators have attempted to roll back short-term vacation rental rules but did not succeed, facing opposition from both left-leaning cities and wealthy conservative towns. Asheville Mayor Esther Manheimer said she is concerned about this latest attempt to eliminate local control over Airbnbs, "as it affects cities very differently and needs to be locally tailored." "In Asheville, weve held many community meetings, convened a task force, and tweaked our ordinance several times to try to find the right balance between limiting short terms rentals while allowing folks to run a homestay out of their own home. With this legislation, the legislature would be erasing years worth of community work to strike this balance," Manheimer said. The bill was sent April 10 to the Senate rules committee, a place where legislation can languish and die. But the proposal has the backing of the powerful North Carolina Realtors Association. "We fully support SB667 from a state perspective as a reaffirmation of the rights of homeowners to decide how they want to rent their homes," said Mark Zimmerman, NC Realtors external affairs senior vice president. More: Attorney facing 6 felonies in Asheville real estate scam a court no-show; order to appear More: As smell, smoke clear with mill closing, real estate agents turn eyes on Canton Still, support among real estate agents for all aspects of the bill is not universal. Byron Griener, a long-time local Realtor and owner of a company with 150 short term vacation rentals, said he liked the idea of reducing regulations. But Greiner, also the past president of the Asheville Downtown Association who now lives just north of the city, called the idea of removing nearly all restrictions "extreme" and said allowing a limited number of whole house rentals made sense. "We would certainly entertain the idea of a cap," he said. "It's a common sense approach. I'm so used to caps on rentals in almost every condominium and every Home Owners Association that I deal with. And I've dealt with hundreds of them." A bill that represents the latest attempt by Republican state legislators to roll back Airbnb restrictions would permit most homes in Asheville to be converted into tourist rentals. Municipalities have struggled, though, to enact that type of restriction. In 2022 The N.C. Court of Appeals ruled against a lottery system Wilmington used to issue permits to those wanting to rent short term. The court said permits could no longer be required, leading Asheville to rewrite rules to rely instead on zoning. Asked about the legality of caps, City Attorney Brad Branham said state law does not speak directly to it. "What we know from recent court case decisions is that a municipality can prohibit this particular land use within zoning districts. That does not necessarily translate to creating a specific numerical cap," Branham said, adding "this issue has not been tested in North Carolina court as of yet." Joel Burgess has lived in WNC for more than 20 years, covering politics, government and other news. He's written award-winning stories on topics ranging from gerrymandering to police use of force. Got a tip? Contact Burgess at jburgess@citizentimes.com, 828-713-1095 or on Twitter @AVLreporter. Please help support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times. This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Latest deregulation bill would throw Asheville wide open to Airbnbs Fawn Huff, a multi-skill technician, has on a mask and a face shield before entering a patient's room on Aug. 17, 2021 at Mount Carmel St. Ann's in Westerville. The four major Columbus-area health care systems will by the end of this week end mask mandates at their facilities except for places like cancer wards or transplant areas. Ending a three-year requirement, all four major Columbus-area health systems have or will drop mandates that patients and visitors wear masks in their facilities, citing falling COVID-19 and influenza-related illnesses and increasing immunity in the region. Nationwide Children's Hospital ended the requirement Monday, while Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center, OhioHealth and Mount Carmel Health have all agreed to implement the new policy beginning Friday. The systems throughout the pandemic have had ongoing discussions that have included government health officials about aligning their pandemic policies, said Jeff Klingler, president and CEO of the Central Ohio Hospital Council. Certain hospital wards, like those dealing with cancer or transplant patients, may still require masks based on the circumstances, Klingler said. Masks are also recommended for visitors if they are experiencing any respiratory symptoms. Masking policies will differ slightly for each health system, so the public is encouraged to check those details on each health system's website, he said. Local health officials anticipate the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will change its masking guidance sometime next month. Other more general masking mandates, such as in schools and on public transit, started being rolled back last year. As for the future, whether masking is now a thing of the past or a seasonal requirement that may be implemented from time to time during outbreaks is unclear. "I wish I had a crystal ball," Klingler said. "Time will tell." Hospitals "don't want to ping pong on the policy," Klingler said. If there were to be a serious outbreak of COVID or influenza cases next fall or winter, they might revert back, he said, "but that's certainly not the goal." "You certainly need to keep your eye on the trend and see what's happening next winter," he added. The current decision was driven largely by data: In January 2022, hospitals in the central Ohio region hit a peak of 1,200 hospitalized COVID patients a day, while the current number has fallen to just 55. Story continues The Ohio death toll from COVID 19 passed the 42,000 mark last week. As of March 29, 2023, the CDC reported a total of 1,125,366 COVID-19 deaths had been reported in the United States. wbush@gannett.com @reporterbush This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Mask mandates ending at all 4 major Columbus-area health systems She and husband Peter Neal distributed slices of cake for their wedding favorsjust like the royals do. Handout / Getty Images When Naomi Biden, President Joe Bidens granddaughter, and Peter Neal tied the knot at the White House on November 19, 2022, their nuptials was just as lavish as a royal wedding. From the brides regal Ralph Lauren wedding dress to the timeless floral decor, every element of the celebration was carefully considered and chosen. After exchanging vows on the South Lawn, the couple celebrated at a luncheon reception in the State Dining Room, and one key detail from the soiree was reminiscent of royal weddings: The newlyweds served slices of their cake as wedding favors. On April 12, 2023, Naomi and Neals wedding planner, Bryan Rafanelli of Rafenlli Events, and their stationery designer, Christine Traulich of RedBliss Design, revealed another look at the couples post-ceremony party, including the favors. According to the images, which were shot by photographer Corbin Gurkin, the newlyweds distributed slices of cake in white keepsake cake boxes, which were sealed with a sticker that featured the couples names, wedding date, and joint initials. Only the prettiest details for Naomi and Peter's wedding at the White House! the caption says. Each piece continues the design thread that started with the wedding invitation. The curved corners on the seal mirror those on the couples invitations, which Traulich noted was representative of the fan windows seen throughout the White House. Later in the post, the vendors explain that each guest received a cake box at the end of the luncheon, which is a longstanding tradition at White House weddings. Related:We Finally Know What Naomi Biden's White House Wedding Reception Looked Like David Levenson / Getty Images The newlyweds are in good company their choice of favor. The royals also traditionally pass out pieces of their wedding cakes as post-nuptial gifts, too. When Princess Diana and King Charles wed on July 29, 1981, they served a whopping 27 wedding cakes at their reception, but their main dessert was a five-tiered fruitcake. The royal bride and groom gifted some of that sweet treat to their guests following the celebration. Nigel Ricketts, a former employee at Windsor Castle who attended the wedding, decided to preserve a piece of the very important wedding cake after the reception. Since Ricketts died earlier in 2022, in October, Dore & Rees in the United Kingdom auctioned off the dessert and the original presentation box that featured Charles and Dianas initials and wedding date. The bidding started at $339, but another similar slice of their cake sold for $2,000 in 2021, according to USA Today. Story continues WPA Pool / Getty Images At Prince William and Kate Middletons wedding on April 29, 2011, the newlyweds also shared a piece of their fruitcake with some of their guests. After their reception at Buckingham Palace, special friends and family members left with a slice of their eight-tiered fruitcake decorated with sugar flowers and intricate piping inspired by the garlands on the walls of Buckingham Palaces picture gallery, according to Britain Magazine. In November of 2022, News24 announced that a piece of the cake is being auctioned off between $454.64 to $684.29. The cream and gilt tin engraved with the couples wedding date is also going up for auction. Slaven Vlasic / Stringer / Getty Images The Instagram post also features additional details from Biden and Neals wedding reception. The first photo shows the couples programs, which were engraved with the duos joint initials and tied with a silk ribbon. The post also captures the place settings, which included gold-rimmed floral plates with linen napkins embroidered with a floral illustration. Another image unveils the pairs table numbers, which were die-cut and hand-calligraphed, according to the caption. It was an honor and a joy @naomibiden and @peterneal! , the caption concludes. And loved making history with you @bryanrafanelli! xo Up Next:12 Royal Wedding Cakes That Will Make Your Jaw Drop Click here to read the full article. While Mexicos economy stands to gain even if only a fraction of the U.S. manufacturing base heads south of the border, there are significant impediments that could prevent it from reaping any major rewards. The three key obstacles include inadequate infrastructure, such as supply of water and energy, security-related concerns and competition from other countries, according to a new report from Elijah Oliveros, the lead economist for Latin America at S&P Global Ratings. He and two colleagues co-authored a report that completed a deep dive on Mexico as a possible hub for manufacturing diversification as talk of nearshoring begins to gain greater attention. Mexicos long-standing manufacturing linkages with, and access to, the U.S. market make it an obvious potential beneficiary for nearshoring, Oliveros wrote in the report. The report noted that even if 1 percent of total manufacturing in China shifted to Mexico over the next five years, the countrys annual real GDP growth on average could be estimated at 2.6 percent, versus a 2 percent baseline. Because of recent construction of industrial parks and warehouses in the northern part of Mexico, particularly in Nuevo Leon, nearshoring could be starting to unfold, Oliveros wrote. In addition, the growth of e-commerce in the retail sector also has increased the need for large warehouses. He added that transportation and storage was the second-largest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) last year, surpassing $5 billion in 2022 and is more than twice what it was pre-Covid. Mexicos economy ministry has also reported a record number of applications from manufacturing companies to start operating in the country, indicating a potential growing interest in shifting some production to Mexico, the economist wrote. But if Mexico wants to increase its manufacturing production substantially, it will need to do major upgrades to the countrys infrastructure. Its main manufacturing hubs are currently only located in the north where there are established supply chains and in the center parts of the country. Story continues Other concerns include ports and land-related infrastructure, which would need capacity improvementsalthough these are typically multiyear endeavors. But even if these improvements are made, inadequate water supply due to droughts in the northern part of the country and the lack of availability of clean energy could become key issues. Water insecurity already exists for households, and will get worse if theres any further redirection toward industrial use. Oliveros noted that the centralization of energy generation in Mexico leaves less room for private sector development of new sources. In addition, cargo theft and extortion continue to be security-related risks for companies operating in the country. The economist also said that with nearshoring a global trend, companies have options to operate in countries were the risks are lower. That means reshoringwhere manufacturing production is done domestically instead of abroadcan become an obstacle for nearshoring in Mexico as companies in neighboring countries try to do more. Moreover, reshoring in some manufacturing sectors could even make the U.S. Mexicos biggest competitor. Mexicos global textiles exports are believed to be in the $7 billion range annually, with the U.S. its largest importer. Key manufacturing specialtiesand also major export sectorsthat could benefit from nearshoring are motor vehicles, machinery and equipment, electrical equipment and computer and electronics, the S&P report noted. These specialties combined account for 7 percent of Mexicos GDP and already have significant linkages with China, meaning that some of the intermediary production in China could be shifted into Mexico. And where there is already an integrated cross-border supply chain, nearshoring could help benefit sourcing capabilities in Mexico. King Charles Prince Harry Daniela Elser is the latest royal commentator to give her thoughts on Prince Harry; and she didnt hold back! According to Sky News Australia, Elser, an experienced journalist and editor who has long been turned to for her opinions regarding the royal family, said the Duke of Sussex, 38, was making a haughty public spectacle of himself in his bid to steal the spotlight from his father King Charles and prove he is more powerful than the monarch ahead of the coronation next month! We assume some of what she is referring to includes what he said about the royal family in his witness statement prior to his recent court appearance for his lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), where he accused the royal family of withholding information related to phone hacking from him, and the many bombshells he has been dropping during his Spare promo trail. READ MORE: Prince Harry Confessed To Drug Use On Visa Application, According To SourceMarijuana, Magic Mushrooms, And More Prince Harry Is Reportedly Desperate To 'Steal The Spotlight' According to Elser, Prince Harry's appearance at the High Court showed, in her opinion, that he wanted the media attention. Otherwise, he would have arrived in a more private manner! "Harry strictly guards his privacy, and could have avoided the press if he had used the side entrance to the building," Elser said. "Instead he strode to the front doors, wearing a smug, haughty grin, and was surrounded by photographers and journalists who were waiting to see other claimants." She then went on to say, "Legal wranglings with his old media nemesis aside, I believe the real spiteful purpose of the trip was to outsmart his father and stepmother," because "the visit coincided with day one of King Charles and Queen Consort Camillas first state visit abroad since the beginning of the new monarchs reign." "The plan was to first [visit] Paris, before moving on to Berlin as part of a six-day travel itinerary. It was inconceivable that another royal would try to steal the spotlight from such a significant occasion," Elser continued, adding, "But Harrys respect for the monarchy and those working within it has disintegrated ever since he and his wife Meghan stepped back as senior royals in 2020." Story continues She then speculated that Prince Harry would have been thrilled to discover that his court appearance was making headlines when his father and stepmother were on their highly anticipated trip, adding: "The trip gave him the ideal opportunity to prove he was more popular and powerful than the King and get himself on the newspaper front pages." She added: "He did indeed end up grabbing the media limelight, but the King and Queen didnt give him much competition." It is therefore understandable why King Charles is so worried about being upstaged at his own coronation. According to royal biographer and commentator Tom Bower, as per the New York Post, King Charles is struggling with how to deal with the Sussexes attending the coronation. "Paralyzed by fear and indecision, Charles has failed to suppress the Sussexes vile vitriol," Bower wrote in The Sun. The monarch is said to have reverted to his habit of "dithering and worrying about his image," Bower continued, adding, "Ever since Megxit, Meghan and Harry have humiliated the King and the royal family." Harry And Meghan Allegedly Create 'Perfectly Timed Drama' This accusation comes hot on the heels of a royal insider claiming Kate Middleton, 41, believes Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, 41, strategically time their events to coincide with her and her husband's events in an attempt to steal the spotlight. "Over and over again, Kate's had to contend with this 'look at me' behavior from Meghan and Harry, and she really doesn't want them ruining the next few weeks," the source reportedly told The Mirror, in reference to big events she and Prince William have coming up such as their 12th wedding anniversary on April 29th, Prince Louis and Princess Charlottes birthdays on April 23rd and May 2nd, respectively, and of course, the King's coronation on May 6th. "Their stunts always seem to happen at the worst possible times on or around important days or milestones," the source reportedly added. Some of the previous events the Princess of Wales could be referring to include their Megxit announcement, which came the day before her 38th birthday, and the release of Prince Harry's memoir Spare, which came the day *after* her 41st birthday. Coincidence? She thinks not! According to The Mirror, it looked like the Sussexes wanted to upstage the Prince and Princess of Wales' trip to Boston for the 2022 Earthshot Prize awards, as they released the trailer for their Netflix Harry & Meghan docuseries at the same time. Sarge has cruised to Alaska, Mexico, and beyond. Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line Completing more than 50 cruises and more than 200 nights at sea is an impressive feat for any sailor, and thats especially true for Sarge, who happens to be a dog. Sarge, a retired U.S. Army service dog, reached Diamond status earlier this year as part of Carnival Cruise Lines Very Important Fun Person Club (or pup club, in his case), according to the cruise line. The 14-year-old Belgian Malinois was celebrated during a Platinum and Diamond loyalty event on the Carnival Celebration after completing his 55th cruise. What could be more fun than celebrating a beloved four-legged friend as a Diamond cruiser? Christine Duffy, the president of Carnival Cruise Line, said in a statement. Were proud to celebrate and support veterans at Carnival, as the cruise line that carries the most service members, and Im delighted to count Sarge among them. Since retiring from the military, Sarge now lives and travels with his owner, who also happens to be a Diamond member with Carnival. Theyve had adventures all over, from a cruise to Alaska where Sarge ran around in streams and chased fish, to hanging out at a beach club in Mexico, USA Today reported. But believe it or not, when we get to the ship, he's excited, he's pulling, he wants to get on it, owner Justin Marcum, Sr. told the paper. And then when we stop and dock somewhere, and we have to clear customs, as soon as we're done clearing customs, he goes crazy. He's like, Alright, it's time to get off the ship. I need to go find some grass; roll around. He knows it's a vacation, and he treats it that way. Carnival Cruise Line does not allow pets to board its ships, but it does welcome service and working dogs, according to the company. Danny Lehman/Courtesy of Carnival Cruise Line Sarge isnt the only service dog who has boarded their fair share of cruises: Last year, 10-year-old black Labrador retriever Joska was awarded Holland America Lines highest past-guest award after sailing on more than 50 Holland America cruises. Story continues Travelers who want to cruise with their pets should consider a trip with Cunard, which welcomes pets to stay in one of the ships kennels during transatlantic crossings where owners are allowed to visit them. For more Travel & Leisure news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter! Read the original article on Travel & Leisure. Multiple insiders secured a larger position in Ocado Group plc (LON:OCDO) shares over the last 12 months. This is reassuring as this suggests that insiders have increased optimism about the company's prospects. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we would consider it foolish to ignore insider transactions altogether. See our latest analysis for Ocado Group Ocado Group Insider Transactions Over The Last Year In the last twelve months, the biggest single purchase by an insider was when Independent Non-Executive Director Jorn Rausing bought UK4.7m worth of shares at a price of UK6.68 per share. So it's clear an insider wanted to buy, even at a higher price than the current share price (being UK5.10). It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. In our view, the price an insider pays for shares is very important. It is generally more encouraging if they paid above the current price, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. While Ocado Group insiders bought shares during the last year, they didn't sell. You can see a visual depiction of insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last 12 months, below. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Ocado Group is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Insider Ownership Of Ocado Group I like to look at how many shares insiders own in a company, to help inform my view of how aligned they are with insiders. We usually like to see fairly high levels of insider ownership. It's great to see that Ocado Group insiders own 13% of the company, worth about UK557m. I like to see this level of insider ownership, because it increases the chances that management are thinking about the best interests of shareholders. Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Ocado Group Tell Us? There haven't been any insider transactions in the last three months -- that doesn't mean much. However, our analysis of transactions over the last year is heartening. It would be great to see more insider buying, but overall it seems like Ocado Group insiders are reasonably well aligned (owning significant chunk of the company's shares) and optimistic for the future. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Ocado Group. At Simply Wall St, we found 3 warning signs for Ocado Group that deserve your attention before buying any shares. If you would prefer to check out another company -- one with potentially superior financials -- then do not miss this free list of interesting companies, that have HIGH return on equity and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Content warning: This story contains a discussion of suicide and student death. If you or someone you know is going through a crisis, you can contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 988 or +1 (800) 273-TALK (8255). Princeton University was the site of multiple tragedies last year, as three students and one staff member died separately on campus. At the end of the spring 2022 semester, two students died by suicide within a week of each other, recalls Katherine Dailey, a junior and an editor for the universitys newspaper, The Daily Princetonian. In September, a staff member died by suicide in an academic building. About a month later, during Princetons fall break, a fourth student was reported missing, and the death was also ruled a suicide after the body was found. These deaths received national attention, including reporting from the New York Times and NBC News. But much of the daily coverage came from actual students at Princeton. Dailey tells Teen Vogue that she and her colleagues reported on the deaths for two months. That reporting, combined with dealing with my own emotions on the subject, was one of the most emotionally taxing situations Ive had to deal with in my college experience, says Dailey. I remember telling my therapist that I could barely make it through class without breaking down crying. Even now, its difficult to report on or even just think about. When we got the final autopsy report just before New Year's, I spent a long time texting with friends on the paper about trying to wrap my head around the information we were just learning. Daileys experience is both devastating and all too common. When traumatic events occur on campus, such as school shootings, suicide, or episodes of bigotry, it is often up to student journalists to report on these situations even as they directly impact their own mental health or sense of physical safety. Story continues For example, as campuses shut down in 2020, high school and college journalists reported from the front lines on how the pandemic was affecting their schools. In recent months, student journalists at the University of Virginia and the University of Idaho reported on violent deaths that occurred near campus and involved students. Journalists are often taught or encouraged to remain objective while reporting, to try to remove their own feelings about a situation from their work. This framework can be especially difficult for student journalists who often know their sources personally and feel directly impacted by campus news on which they report. The expectation that you can hear traumatic stories over and over again without being affected by them is not fair or even possible, Jessi Gold, MD, MS, a psychiatrist at Washington University in St. Louis who specializes in the mental health of college students, women, and health care workers, tells Teen Vogue. It is incredibly hard to disconnect yourself from a situation in your community and just put your head down and do your job. Even for the most traumatic stories, you might be able to separate yourself and just report and probably have the skills to do so but if you are also a member of the community, experiencing a lot of the same reactions and feelings, it's different. The added layer makes you resonate more with your sources. You might even know a lot of the people you interview and who are in pain. It is harder to stay neutral in those situations. This was the case for Northeastern University student Pratika Katiyar. In 2020, while still a student journalist for her high school paper, Katiyar had to write the obituary for a fellow staff member who passed away by suicide. Though I had done reporting on mental health and students before, it was a difficult and sobering experience to write about my own classmate passing away, says Katiyar. It was only a 300-word story, yet I still remember it as one of the hardest stories I have ever had to write. Sometimes student journalists provide coverage of campus events and also engage in service journalism about how the community can stay safe. Solen Aref, a student at Washington State University, tells Teen Vogue that, earlier this year, she created two video packages in response to the murder of four students in Idaho, near the University of Idaho campus, less than a 15-minute drive from WSUs own campus. The first video, before a suspect had been arrested, instructed students on how to stay safe; the second video reported on student reactions to the suspects arrest. Given that the students were killed not far from WSU, Aref felt these stories were important. For my video, I went to the house where the murders occurred, and it was really hard to stomach being so close to where something tragic happened, Aref recalls. I tried to distance myself from the grueling details of the case by compartmentalizing what I had seen and read in doing research on this case, but I'm realizing I'm not skilled enough to do that. I care too much because it hits so close to home. So it's been hard to stomach being 100% plugged into the details of this case when I wish I could take a break from it sometimes for my mental health. The student journalists who speak with Teen Vogue say that reporting on tragedy that occurs on their campus is like a double-edged sword: having a personal stake in journalism makes the work feel more important, but it's more emotionally devastating too. If you are feeling stressed or sad while reporting, Dr. Gold recommends turning to various personal and communal releases such as exercise, carrying stress balls, mindfulness practices, breaks from journalism, peer support, and therapy. Use what works for you and what you will actually do because that's what will help you," says Dr. Gold. "In the moment, it can also help to incorporate breaks or rituals to transition to being home after the day or between interviews. They don't have to be long or big, just something that centers you and reminds you to focus on yourself too. To be honest, I have no experience reporting on trauma that isnt within a campus where I also live and study, says Dailey. I think having the personal stake often makes the reporting more empathetic and better situated in the broader context of the school; but I also think it forces student reporters to handle the most sensitive stories anyone can have to write at the same time as so much personal grief, fear, and confusion. Its a nearly impossible balance to strike," she continues, "yet so many student journalists have to strike it. Its a rush to get the story out as fast as you can, and once you hit the publish button, youre able to start processing things. Stay up-to-date with the politics team. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take Originally Appeared on Teen Vogue Check out more Teen Vogue education coverage: Click here to read the full article. U.K.-based T-shirt startup Everpress, which allows global designers, musical artists and philanthropic organizations to bring their creations and messaging to market, has achieved B-Corp certification. It was a goal more than two years in the marking for founder Alex Econs, a graphic designer by training who has been screen printing professionally since 2010. In launching Everpress in 2016, Econs sought to provide an easy-to-use sales platform for creators that also serves as a vehicle for social impact. Its basically a global fashion marketplace where consumers can buy unique, sustainable T-shirts and other products from independent artists, he told Sourcing Journal. We handle all the production, logistics and customer service, allowing artists to focus on building their brands and championing the causes that are important to them, from earthquake relief in Turkey and Syria to environmental issues. I think T-shirts have always been a great tool for activism, he added. As soon as I saw the B Corp concepts, I knew it was something that I wanted us to do. I think theres a lot of alignment with our values, Econs said. Everpress achieved a score of 92 out of 100 in its B Lab assessment, scoring highest for its efforts regarding workers and community, as well as for diversity, equity, inclusion and economic impact. The company also aims to upend the traditional retail model with an on-demand approach to production. T-shirt, long-sleeve shirt and hoodie designs are released as limited campaigns, with thousands of options running on the site for a matter of weeks, during which time shoppers can pre-order their selections. Garments are only produced and screen-printed once theyre sold, eliminating inventory waste. Econs has developed a network of blank producers across the U.K., Europe, the U.S. and Egypt. Factories are vetted based on their sustainability certifications, including Europes Supplier Ethical Data Exchanges (Sedex) audit program, and their ability to provide products made from preferred materials like organic cotton. Everpress launched production of its own Classic Tee in Egypt in 2022, with an eye toward creating the perfect blank T-shirt, Econs said. The organic combed-cotton shirt provides a smooth surface for printing, lending both precision and longevity to designs. Shirts are inclusively sized from XXS to 5XL, and the factory minimizes waste by using just a single polybag for 100 garments, waiting until orders reach a critical mass before shipping the shirts off for printing. With the advent of the in-house design, Everpress also overhauled its packaging, switching to a low-density polyethylene made from industrial waste. Story continues One of the challenges we have as a business is that end consumers could be all over the world, Econs said. The group tries to manage production semi-regionally, sometimes splitting campaigns so that a certain portion of products are produced in Europe while the remainder are made in the U.S., for example. Buyer locations can be really diverse, but Everpress is intent on reducing shipping distance to cut carbon and costs. Today, about 60 percent of T-shirts are still printed at the companys London facility. Screenprinting at Everpress London facility. These are considerations the company takes off the plate of its artisan partners, including graphic designers and illustrators who desire a commercial outlet but dont have the bandwidth to run businesses of their own. They may already have tons of designs, and maybe theyve thought about selling merch before but hadnt because the inherent risks, he explained. About 12,000 creative partners have joined the Everpress community over the past seven years, 20 percent of whom are part of the music sector, including artists and record labels. I made my first T-shirt on Everpress because I wanted to make my art into a T to buy for my family for Christmas presents, artist Harriet Gillett said. Afterward they reached out to me with words of encouragement, so I designed another. Gillett said she was attracted to the waste-free, risk-free process as well as the organic cotton options. The artist has now managed to launch a bona fide side hustle from what began as a passion project. The platform allows her to make a version of my work that is more accessible, and reach audiences I never would have been able to by myself, she said. A percentage of creators include charities and non-profits, and any artists who sell T-shirts on the site can choose to divert all or a percentage of sales to the causes of their choice. This week, 30 percent of sales from a T-shirt by @ganyem.io will benefit Shelter, a U.K. based housing charity, while a design by Sam Corlett will fund Choose Loves Turkey and Syria earthquake relief efforts. Carlos Oliveras Coloms Do It For Mother T-Shirt, designed for Earth Day this month, depicts a flower with Earth at its center. The Puerto Rican artist said the design was a commentary to be a bit more conscious of our actions and if we dont do it for ourselves, we should do it for our families, friends and the well being of future generations. Meanwhile, a T-shirt by Aley Wild, which reads, Your Ego is Not Your Amigo, designed for World Mental Health Day in October, will see 50 percent of profits donated to the Crisis Text Line. The Sydney, Australia-based illustrator said she pulled the catchphrase from graffiti scrawled on the wall of a club, bringing it to life with a bold, graphic, cobalt blue design. Do It For Mother shirt by Carlos Oliveras Colom. According to Econs, designs like these generated about $435,000 for philanthropy and aid groups during 2022 alone, including around $62,000 for Amnesty International, young adult cancer charity Trekstock and U.K. fund Justice4Grenfell, which benefits the victims of a fire in London. Were a mission-driven business, the founder said. Its not all about profits; that greed is not the right way to run a business. Nowadays, its about putting people and planet on equal par. Econs said engaging with B Lab will help the company continue to hold itself to account for its impact. The process has given us lots of really useful insights on areas for us to work on, and it helps us attract the right sort of employees and customers who share our values. This article originally appeared on Outside Any number of concerns are on our radar as we plan our next trip, from serious issues like how destinations are working to mitigate tourists' environmental impact to inconveniences like months-long passport wait times. In this column, our travel expert, Jen Murphy, will be addressing your questions about how to navigate the world. I heard about the Americans who were kidnapped recently in Mexico near the U.S. border, and I've been reading a lot of news about an increase in crime in Mexico in general. Now I'm worried about my spring-break plans to Baja. I'll probably still go--but Im concerned. Is the media making a big deal out of a few isolated incidents? How risky is it to travel down there? --On the Fence Spring Break season has officially kicked off, but like you, some Americans are rethinking their south-of-the-border travel plans after recent reports of border crime in Mexico and a new U.S. State Department warning for Costa Rica. On March 3, four Americans on a medical tourism trip were caught in a drug-cartel shoot-out as they crossed the border from Brownsville, Texas, into Matamoros, Mexico. Two were killed and two were kidnapped but later released; they returned to the U.S. last week. The incident put a spotlight on violence that continues to happen in a country that attracted more than 33 million international tourists last year. The State Department has a do-not-travel advisory (level four--its most severe warning) in place for six of Mexico's 32 states, including Tamaulipas, where Matamoros is located. Seven states, including Guanajuato, where the Unesco World Heritage site of San Miguel de Allende is located, have level-three warnings, which advises Americans to reconsider travel due to local crime and/or the possibility of kidnapping. Although Baja California Norte is also listed as level three--worth noting for anyone who plans to drive from the U.S. down to destinations on the peninsula, including the Pacific surfing mecca of Ensenada (85 miles south of San Diego)--the southern Baja area of Los Cabos is listed as level two (exercise increased caution). Story continues Jalisco, home to Puerto Vallarta and the nearby Riviera Nayarit, is also listed as level three, because the state is the center of operations for a cartel, although most violence here has occurred in the countryside, far from the gated Punta Mita community and the nearby surf town of Sayulita. The main public beach in Sayulita, Mexico (Photo: Danita Delimont/Getty Images) In greater Cancun, a frequented destination in the Caribbean-adjacent state of Quintana Roo, a level-two advisory warns of potential crime and kidnapping. This is also the case for Mexico City. Zachary Rabinor, founder of the travel company Journey Mexico, says that Matamoros is a town known for drug-related gang violence, not as a vacation getaway, and that the State Department has long upheld its do-not-travel warning for the state of Tamaulipas. "Those Americans were not intended targets, but rather caught in the wrong place at the wrong time between two rival groups' crossfire," he says. How Travelers and Tourism Experts Are Looking at Trips to Mexico Although the recent tragedy occurred far from tourist areas--more than 1,000 miles from Los Cabos, in western Mexico, or Cancun, on the Caribbean coast--it still has some people spooked. Maureen Poschman, who owns a PR firm in Aspen, Colorado, has plans to go to Baja California Sur's East Cape with her husband and two 17-year-old daughters over spring break and says she's received worried calls from her mother and concerned texts from her neighbor in light of the news. But she has no intention of canceling. "Mexico is a big country," she says. "And I always think you're safer to travel right after some kind of incident. Security is heightened, and chances of another incident so soon are slim." Mexico is huge--it's the 13th largest country in the world in terms of landmass--and can't be generalized, says Rabinor. To help travelers answer the question of "Is Mexico Safe?," his team created a comprehensive map, below, and state-by-state analysis of State Department advisories and where there are minimal travel restrictions, which include almost all major tourist areas. This color-coded map of Mexico shows the most recent U.S. State Department travel-advisory levels. Level four is the most serious. (Illustration: Courtesy Journey Mexico) Jacquelyn Sonner of Carmel Valley, California, intends to spend her spring break in San Miguel de Allende with her husband and two children, ages five and eight. The Pilates instructor rationalizes that despite the area's level-three travel warning, travelers will be safe if they avoid being out after midnight and aren't there to seek, sell, or consume drugs. Pierre de Hail, the president of Janus Group Mexico, a risk-management company in Monterrey, Mexico, says he still cautions foreign travelers ahead of visits, even to seemingly safe tourist destinations. "There is a lot of corruption here," he says. "Everyone is up for sale in Mexico--police, judges--so if you do get into trouble, don't expect a fair shot." More recently, in January, the State Department cautioned tourists against taking app-based ride-share services like Uber in Quintana Roo, where Cancun and Tulum are located, amid a series of incidents where medallion taxi drivers were harassing, and in some cases attacking, ride-share drivers and travelers. What a Recent Uptick in Crime Means for Costa Rica Travel Costa Rica, on the other hand, has long been considered one of the safest, most family-friendly countries in Central America. However, on March 1, the U.S. Embassy issued a new security alert, citing "increasing levels of crime, particularly violent crime, in Costa Rica and specifically San Jose," the nation's capital. Despite the heightened alert, as of press time, the State Department still categorizes Costa Rica as level two--the same travel advisory it's had in place since October 2, 2022. (For perspective, classic tourism destinations like France, Italy, the Bahamas, and Belize are also considered level two.) Javier Echecopar, cofounder of the travel-specialist company Journey Costa Rica, believes the recent alert is specific to cities like San Jose and Limon, places most tourists don't visit. "People come to Costa Rica to be in nature," he says. "Most travelers fly into and out of San Jose, then head straight to the rainforests and beaches, which are as safe as ever." A group of surfers in Santa Teresa, Costa Rica (Photo: Derek Lowe/Getty Images) Hans Pfister, president of the Cayuga Collection, a group of sustainable hotels that has six locations in Costa Rica, says you can't compare Mexico and Costa Rica when it comes to safety of travel. "Costa Rica is probably a lot safer than many U.S. cities at this point, says Pfister, who lives in San Jose. "The problem that I see is many tourists that come here get careless and just think, Pura vida," he says, referring to the country's unofficial slogan, which loosely translates to "living life to the fullest." "They dont even take the slightest precautions, as they would at home. One has to be smart." Nikki Warren, who works for an insurance brokerage firm in Denver, was in San Jose del Cabo, Mexico, in December with her family and says she felt safer there then she does in the Colorado capital's downtown. She plans to return with her husband and two kids, ages eleven and seven, for spring break, and next week she's traveling solo to Tamarindo, Costa Rica, for a wellness retreat. "Costa Rica has been on my bucket list for years," she says, noting she's not at all daunted by the travel advisory. "You have to take the media headlines with a grain of salt and do your own due diligence." Warren did online research about the safety of the area to confirm it had a low crime rate for incidents like pickpockets. "It all comes down to common sense," she says. "Don't leave your wallet on the beach while surfing, don't leave your purse on the restaurant table if you use the restroom--all of the precautions you'd exercise at home." How to Be a Smart Traveler Jenny Clise, a San Francisco-based yoga teacher, has either led or attended retreats in countries currently under travel advisories, such as Nicaragua, Sri Lanka, and Costa Rica. "A level-two warning, to me, is not cause for canceling travel plans but a call for deeper preparation," she says. "If you do not have a local travel partner, I suggest sourcing a local contact from where you're planning on staying who can either act as a guide or offer advice toward your travel plans." She also finds it helpful to familiarize herself with the culture and customs of a destination, she attempts to respect dress codes and learn basic phrases, and she always shares her travel plans with a friend or family or even the hotel receptionist. "Whenever I think of the fear that people have about traveling to parts unknown, I am reminded of the time a local from Nicaragua expressed his fear to me of traveling to the United States," she says. "It really opened my eyes to how limited my perspective on travel and safety is. My home is also a foreign place to other people and not always a safe place." "The problem that I see is many tourists that come here get careless. They don't even take the slightest precautions, as they would at home. One has to be smart." De Hail of Janus Group Mexico recommends easing your fears by buying travel insurance in case of a medical emergency or theft. He also suggests making photocopies of your passport and leaving one with a family or friend at home. And when you're in your hotel, leave your passport there in a safe place and take a copy of your passport out with you instead. (You never know when you'll be asked to see it by an official, and if your wallet or purse is stolen, you can breathe easier knowing your actual passport wasn't taken and you can still get home.) Out on the streets, don't flash around money, fancy watches, or jewelry, De Hail advises. Some travelers go so far as to carry two wallets--one with expired credit cards and small bills, so on the off chance you get mugged, you can hand over that one. When it comes to accommodations, avoid remote Airbnbs that lack security or neighbors. If you're staying in a hotel, ask staff about security protocols and also whether it's safe to take an Uber or a taxi, says De Hail. (You can also book a transfer through your hotel or a trusted travel company.) Avoid staying out late, especially alone, and ask a friend to keep an eye on your drink if you're at a bar. Finally, if you're someplace where a situation doesn't feel right, get out. "No one ever dies of shame," he says. The bottom line, when it comes to any travel, is that you feel eager and excited for your trip--not worried. If you're not feeling comfortable about your spring-break plans, and truly are on the fence, consider rescheduling or choosing an alternative destination. "Vacation should be fun," says Zachary Rabinor of Journey Mexico. "Comfort levels are very personal. Vacation isn't the time to push your limits and be feeling nervous. You want to be able to relax." For exclusive access to all of our fitness, gear, adventure, and travel stories, plus discounts on trips, events, and gear, sign up for Outside+ today. Grab your warmest parka because True Detective is heading to Alaska for its chilliest mystery yet. Warner Bros. Discovery released the first trailer for True Detective: Night Country at the grand unveiling event for Max, the new streaming service that joins together HBO Max and Discovery+, on Wednesday. More from Variety Jodie Foster and Kali Reis take over lead investigative duties on the newest installment of creator Nic Pizzolattos anthology series. Heres the official logline: When the long winter night falls in Ennis, Alaska, the eight men who operate the Tsalal Arctic Research Station vanish without a trace. To solve the case, Detectives Liz Danvers (Foster) and Evangeline Navarro (Reis) will have to confront the darkness they carry in themselves, and dig into the haunted truths that lie buried under the eternal ice. The trailer mostly takes place in a sunless, frigid Alaska that looks cold enough to chill your bonesor a body. The detectives lock down the crime scene, where it appears that the eight missing men removed their shoes before going off into the snow. The cold temperatures dont do much to cool the hotheaded detectives as tensions start to boil between Foster and Reis characters. Theres also plenty of frozen bodies, cracking ice and mysterious, painted symbols as the detectives work to solve the disappearances. The cast includes Fiona Shaw, Finn Bennett, Isabella Star Lablanc, Aka Niviana, Anna Lambe, Joel D. Montgrand, Christopher Eccleston and John Hawkes. Issa Lopez serves as showrunner, writer, executive producer and directs all episodes. The first True Detective season starred Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson in 2014, followed by Season 2 with Taylor Kitsch, Rachel McAdams and Vince Vaughn the following year. Season 3 released in 2019 and starred Mahershala Ali. Story continues Foster executive produces Night Country, in addition to Barry Jenkins, Adele Romanski, Mark Ceryak for Pastel, Mari Jo Winkler, Chris Mundy, Alan Page Arriaga, Steve Golin, Richard Brown, Harrelson, McConaughey, Cary Joji Fukunaga and Pizzolatto. Princess Daazhraii Johnson, Cathy Tagnak Rexford and Sam Breckman are producers. Watch the trailer below: Best of Variety Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Looking for the best wedding registry items? You're in the right place. Welcome to Wedding Week, GQ Recommends exhaustive guide to navigating the nuptials circuit in style. Whether youre looking for a non-corny groomsmen gift, the right venue to get hitched, or just trying to figure out how much to spend on a swanky new tux, weve got all the thoughts, takes, and, yes, recommendations you need to make planning your weddingor attending someone elsesa breeze. Traditionally, few names hold a candle to the Cuisinarts and KitchenAids of the world when it comes to establishing your newlywed needs, but we believe the best wedding registry items go beyond the most obvious possible kitchen appliance you could buy another couple (or request for your own nuptials). Instead, its an opportunity to put your research hat on and get a little precious with your picks, curating a selection of the finest and schmaltziest and the most you gifts out therereally anything youve dreamed about but wouldnt necessarily cough up the money for yourself. So, if youre building out the wishlist on your wedding website but want to think outside the 20-piece Wedgewood set, or are veering off-registry at someone elses ceremony and dont want to settle for gobs of cash, youre in the right place. Here, weve tapped into the brain trust at GQ, poring over our most enthusiastically-recommended picks from experts and our own testing to bring you this extensive list of the best wedding registry items at all price points that you might not have considered yet, from home entertainment to kitchen essentials to personalized giftshey, new initials, might as well commemorate them. Included are some of our favorite names and under-the-radar businesses for finding that exalted set of wine glasses, the donabe straight from Japan, the freaky table linens, and the Nat Geo-worthy honeymoon excursion. Hopefully, these registry gifts are the makings of an epic vacation or well-stocked starter home, and will make other people go, Now, why didnt we think of that? Story continues And if you're itching to get some of these picks on your online registry, we partnered with our friends over at wedding planning platform Zola on a GQ-curated collection of wedding gifts that we've given our enthusiastic thumbs up. It's a fine-tuned selection of some of our most stood-behind suggestions from GQ Recommends stories and gift guides past, so you can easily add them to your own existing list. The GQ Wedding Registry Table of Contents In case you're looking for something specific: The Best Gifts for Your Home : Kitchen Gear and Appliances, Tabletop Accessories for Entertaining, Bedding and Bath, Furniture and Decor, Home Tech The Best Gifts That Are Catered to Your Specific Tastes and Interests: Experiences and Honeymoon Add-Ons, Personalizable Items, Subscriptions and Bundles For Hauling in the Fanciest Kitchen Gear, Cookware, And Dinnerware Our Place dinnerware for four set $365.00, Our Place Mud Australia dinnerware set for four $900.00, Mud Australia Nalata Nalata "Kamado-san" rice donabe $250.00, Nalata Nalata All-Clad 10-piece cookware set $1160.00, Zola Our Place is one of the best places to source nonstick cookware thats good enough for the gram, like its perennial favorite Always pan; with this four-piece dinner plate collection your newlyweds wont have to worry about coming up short at a small get-together. For a more extensive party-ready set, Mud Australia is a favorite among design types we interviewed for its durable, dishwasher-safe designs, and its full dinner sets come in a subdued trio of goes-with-anything colorways. New York-based and Japanese-owned curio shop Nalata Nalata sells a range of home items when all thats unclaimed on the registry is a measly pair of soup spoons, and its truly the ne plus ultra for surfacing artisan-made rarities like cast-iron skillets, hand-carved cedar, or a real-deal donabe. Stainless steel All-Clad sets are a no-brainer for anyone who wants a forever set of kitchen gear, from saute pans to stockpots, and at Zola you can easily help a couple of your nearest and dearest wedding guests go in on one on your behalf. Josephinenhutte Josephine no. 3 red wine glass set of six $490.00, Amazon Fellow Opus coffee grinder $190.00, Fellow Staub cast iron stackable four-piece set $1057.00, Target Traeger Grills Pro Series 575 WiFi-enabled wood pellet grill and smoker $900.00, Amazon Josephinenhutte's whisper-thin, mouth-blown glassware is the upgrade pick for any devoted wineheads, and revered by certain sippers as the most perfect wine glasses. Fellows latest Opus grinder comes GQ-approved, and is an easy countertop upgrade for any couple that wants the fullest java flavor with none of the static, and micro grind settings from cold brew to espresso. Stackable Staub sets is just as fun to say as it is to cook with, if youre zeroing in on a splurge-y collection of high-quality heritage kitchenware, and the cartoonishly handsome Traeger grill and smoker will help fulfill any BBQers wood pellet-fueled dreams. For Tricking Out Your Tabletop, and Flexing on Your Dinner Guests Summerill & Bishop marble-print linen napkins (set of four) $107.00, Matches Fashion Dinosaur Designs stone marbled-resin salad servers $125.00, Matches Fashion Gohar World taper candle with bow $42.00, Gohar World Sarah Espeute for Christofle embroidered tablecloth for six people $2240.00, Christofle Sophie Lou Jacobsen squiggle pitcher $175.00, Mociun Serax Zoe flatware by Ann Demeulemeester (24-piece set) $705.00, Food52 Summerill & Bishop has made a name for itself as the champ of freaky table linens, done up in splashy stripes and slime-y petri dish prints like this. Buy it for anyone (or request it for yourself) who entertains with gusto. For more nontraditional servingware, any of Dinosaur Designs vibe-y marbled resin designs make sublime dining statement pieces and come in dessert-like hues. Gohar World, chef Laila Gohar and her artist sisters joint tablescape collection, just launched a wedding line filled with eccentricities like these black-tie taper candles thatll be on-theme and nearly too exquisite to light up. And chances are youve spotted French designer Sarah Espeutes brilliant embroidered tablecloth designs somewhere on your Instagram feed: Theyre one-of-a-kind, and just the type of piece you shake out for a dinner party to remember. Brooklyn-based store Mociuns well-curated collection of quirky homeware and jewelry serves up everything from cheeky ceramics to shined-up metals (like this jug from Sophie Lou Jacobsen) if you want to deviate from boring serving staples. Lastly, Food52 is a gifting haven for foodie aesthetes spanning kitchen tools, gadgets, mixing bowls, and actual edible items, but its biggest ace is its collection of rare collabs and exclusives, like this sculptural collection of flatware from Belgian fashion designer Ann Demeulemeester. For Padding Out Your Barebones Linen Closet Parachute down duvet insert $399.00, Zola Brooklinen super-plush towel move-in bundle $343.00, Brooklinen Cultiver linen sheet set $385.00, Cultiver 10 Grove The Madison percale sheet set $175.00, 10 Grove TOTO C5 elongated electronic bidet toilet seat $443.00, Amazon Aesop Resurrection Aromatique hand wash and hand balm duet $129.00, Nordstrom Parachutes winning comforters and bedding are a shoe-in for upgrading a threadbare duvet cover, which you can easily hook up to your registry if you have a Zola account. And Brooklinens super plushy bath towels remain some of our top-picks for assuring your guests you have good taste and a great fabric softener (even if you dont). Cultivers top-tier, color-positive linens won an award this year for their style and supremely soft handfeel, or if youre seeking out a hotel-quality set thatll help you savor your five-star honeymoon experience, 10 Grove makes some of the crispest, classiest sheets and pillowcases in the biz. Dont be shy about letting your loved ones know youve got a bidet front-and-center on your list like this heated, deodorizing Toto, or some of the true VIPs of the bathroom: Aesop soaps thatll make a big cosmetic (or, at the very least, spiritual) upgrade to the bathroom before any new home renovations begin. For Making Your Starter House Feel Like a Home Georg Jensen Bloom botanica vasa $129.00, Bloomingdale's Umbra Bellwood bar and serving cart $181.00, Amazon Open Spaces underbed storage (set of two) $148.00, Open Spaces D.S. & Durga three candle set $190.00, D.S. & Durga Snow Peak red lounge set $342.00, Snow Peak Bloomscape colorful collection $147.00, Bloomscape For the home, a little Georg Jensen anything adds polish to any barebones apartment, while a simple stylish bar cart or accent from Umbra (known for its affordable bangers) can get any couple on the right foot to sprucing up their space without resorting to the same Ikea stuff as everyone else. Storage and ambiance are just as important as the furnishings, though, and bundles from Open Spaces (like its extra roomy zip-up underbed bins) and D.S. & Durga (think: a customizable candle set) can clear up and set the mood. For the provisional home-away-from-home, consider a lounge bundle from the cool kids at Snow Peak thatll have you camping or beaching in style. And for any new homeowners, Bloomscapes collection of flowering plants does the work of inviting in color and personality to a drab space, and doubles as, ahem, a symbolic gift for newlyweds. For Supercharging Your New Smart Setup Dyson V15 cordless stick vacuum $750.00, Zola Coway Airmega 250 $399.00, Coway Tempo Move home gym system $495.00, Tempo Sonos home theater completion set $927.00, Sonos Bang & Olufsen Nordic Ice Beoplay A9 fourth generation speaker $3800.00, SSENSE T1 Phono SB turntable package $768.00, Turntable Lab No one really needs an intro to the Dyson line, but if youre wavering between cordless stick models for your registry, the V15 automatically detects dust and debris courtesy of laser technology (so even if you cant see it, this guy will). Or, go in with a one-two punch on clean air with a sleek HEPA-equipped humidifier from Coway thatll get rid of that lingering cooking smell while looking like a sexy amp. For your workout ambitions, a compact home gym system like the GQ Fitness Award-winning Tempo Move discreetly stores all your weights and offers a suite of exercises you can stream from your TV while it monitors your form. Theres not a whole lot out there that beats the curb appeal of Sonos stellar audio equipment, so go ahead and throw one of their gift sets on your list, like this home theater bundle that comes with a certain small-but-mighty subwoofer for your next Michael Bay movie night. Nows your chance to get in on some Bang & Olufsen audio and pray that some deep-pocketed folks browsing your registry take the bait. Our pick? The sentient-looking Beoplay A9 speaker that sits on tripod legs for projecting, nay, blaring sound in any room of the house. If its vinyl excellence youre after, spring for anything Project T-1, or a turntable set like this which comes with a pair of squat bookshelf speakers. For Letting Your Guests Get Personal With Their Picks Artifact Uprising hardcover wedding photo book gift card $69.00, Zola Williams Sonoma Italian washed linen napkins (set of four) $55.00, Williams Sonoma Bode custom senior cord notebook $103.00, Bode Leatherology custom watch box $160.00, Leatherology Hill House Home men's hotel robe $95.00, Hill House Home Lotuff No.12 weekender bag $1200.00, Lotuff Maybe youre the type of engaged couple who could care less about whether or not your throw pillows or cutting boards reflect your name or likeness, but if a monogram or a little color-customization is your speed, a personalizable gift is a great wedding registry idea that invites guests to get creative or sentimental. And there are several degrees to personalization, whether you want to request a certain type of hardcover Artifact Uprising photo book on your Zola registry or gift a newlywed a notebook with custom illustrations from Bode. Monogrammable robes from Hill House Homethe makers of the infamous Nap Dressso you can feel like youve checked into a spa year-round? Good enough for Evan Mock! Williams Sonoma linen napkins inscribed with a word, name, or monogram? A great way to display your new initials or print something cheeky on them for guests. There are also subtle embossing and debossing options for leather goods, from Leatherology watch and bracelet cases to duffels from Lotuff (a GQ travel bag favorite) that can make your gift feel even more thought-through. For Having a Capital E Experience Tinggly dream wedding gift box $299.00, Tinggly America the Beautiful national park pass $80.00, US Park Pass Lindblad Expeditions Wild Alaska escape $4660.00, Lindblad Equinox 12-Pack duet training $804.00, Zola Spafinder Wellness 365 gift card $100.00, Amazon Resy gift card $100.00, American Express Beyond the standard vacation rental gift card or bottomless honeymoon fund, international travel packages like Tinggly exist which allow recipients to choose from hundreds of different excursions and experiences around the world like a snowmobile tour in Whistler and sushi-making class in the Tsukiji Fish Market (just short of covering airfare to your far-flung locale). For the couple thats more interested in van-lifing than heading to an all-inclusive resort, theres also a U.S. Parks Pass thatll secure entry to everywhere from Arches to Zion. Or, if youre ready to test your sea legs, Lindblads Nat Geo boats travel to locations like Alaska and the Galapagos Islands for a once-in-a-lifetime honeymoon led by biologists and naturalists who will teach you all about the local flora and fauna, like the killer whales and the blue-footed boobies, as you sit in their midst. If youve always dreamed of being Equinox people, a 12-session personal training package through Zola will help you get some endorphins, sample all the Kiehl's toiletries in the locker rooms, and (lovingly, of course) nudge each other to get back up when the next set of reps feels too demanding. And for a little pampering, a SpaFinder card can help any newlyweds secure some downtime and deep pressure relief, no matter what their zip code is. For date nights to come, theres always a Resy gift card to help you scheme a reservation at one of those abundantly-hard-to-get-into restaurants months ahead of time. For Getting Hooked-Up with a Subscription or Multiple Gifts-in-One Atlas Coffee Club annual subscription $240.00, Atlas Coffee Club Jeni's Pint Club six-month subscription $389.00, Jeni's Flaviar Thoughtful annual membership $120.00, Flaviar Criterion Collection annual subscription $100.00, Criterion Collection Flamingo Estate Seasonal Harvest subscription box $250.00, Flamingo Estate Houseplant starter kit $328.00, Houseplant Beyond physical gifts, there are also endless boxed bundles and subscriptions which will ensure multiple gifts at once (or on repeat): Atlas Coffee Clubs excellent subscription service sends you top-tier beans (or teas) from around the globe along with info on each ones tasting notes and origins: Its a great way to source rare flavors and add variety to your morning routine. Jenis is the ultimate pint subscription for anyone whose idea of a nightcap is a scoop of ice cream inhaled before bed, or anyone who delights in knowing what a Tyler, the Creator-inspired flavor tastes like. And Flaviars annual subscription can help any couple cosplay as spirits experts or mixologists courtesy of its themed tasting boxes that include premium and rare drams for serving up the finest cocktails at happy hour. If arthouse movies are your thing, consider requesting a year of access to the Criterion Collections library of film-school classics, from Godard to Kurosawa. Or, if youre a farmers market couple, do the most with the bounty that is Flamingo Estates seasonal harvest box, spanning its organic olive oils and sauces, candles, and cookbooks. Lastly, casual and resolute smokers alike can get down with Seth Rogens Houseplant line that offers gift bundles like this one which wraps up its sculptural lighter, ash tray set, and rolling papers into one groovy-looking smoking kit. Originally Appeared on GQ More Best Stuff Recommendations from GQ FILE - Many animals are available for adoption at Augusta Animal Services, Augusta Animal Services, located at 4164 Mack Lane. Adoption hours are Monday through Thursday 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Saturday noon to 5 p.m. Call (706) 790-6836. Augusta commissioners are set to decide on a new program Tuesday meant to help stray cats and save them from euthanasia. The Cat Community Program would create a new humane society team responsible for picking up and providing veterinarian services to Augusta's healthy stray cats. This would mean Augusta Animal Services would no longer have to come pick up the cats, hold them, and possibly euthanize them at the end of a holding period. This is a collaborative effort between multiple organizations, including Best Friends Animal Society, whose Shelter Collaborative Program Director Carrie Ducote has been presenting the program to the city over the last few weeks. Restoration: Here's what to know about the latest plans to restore, renovate Augusta's historic Lamar Building Spring into action: Looking for some spring-time fun? Here are some upcoming Augusta area festivities A look inside the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia's mobile unit to provide veterinary services to Augusta's stray cats. "This is a really difficult task for anybody to have to be responsible for euthanizing animals day in and day out," Ducote this week said during an Augusta Committee meeting. "So when I talk about trapping and euthanizing cats being inhumane, I don't just mean for the cats, I also mean for the city employees." Here's how the program would work: Calls about healthy stray cats would be diverted from Augusta Animal Services to the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia. Those calls would be answered by a local representative who would be responsible for addressing residents' issues, tracking the cats and transporting them to the humane society for any needed surgery. Twice a week, there will be a mobile unit on Augusta's streets staffed by the humane society. Cats would be scanned for chips, vaccinated, spayed and neutered, then released. Humane Society of Northeast Georgia CEO Allison Mayfield said they have seen significant progress with this program since they introduced it in Hall County, Georgia five years ago. A look inside the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia's mobile unit to provide veterinary services to Augusta's stray cats. "Our save-rate for cats was, five years ago, at about 20%," she said. "I'm happy to report that our save-rate for cats last year was 92%." Story continues The program would go active for three years. Ducote said Wednesday that they are still nailing down some of the financial details, but they are looking at $150,000 in the first year. Her animal humane society is providing the local humane society with the grant funding needed to carry out this program. Augusta Animal Services Director James Hill said they have been working closely with the humane society on this program and, if funding was to become a problem for the organizations, he would be interested in supporting it. Animal Farm: Wallace's Farm shares furry friends with Augusta families Fort Gordon Housing: Sen. Jon Ossoff visits Fort Gordon to witness Army inspection of dilapidated housing "Operationally, I think it's a win situation for us," Hill said. "It's less that we'll have to focus on with cats. We won't have to set traps, and just by the nature of the math, if we're not picking the cats up, than there's less cats that we have to euthanize." If approved, Ducote said they could activate the program immediately and start their mobile unit's training, which should only take about two weeks. This article originally appeared on Augusta Chronicle: New cat program for Augusta to help strays, decrease euthanasia cases There are now 183 books being challenged from libraries in Escambia County District Schools. The school board is chipping away at the list slowly but surely, with four books banned, four saved to keep in circulation and two more slated to go before the school board this week. What books will Escambia School Board review this week? This week, two more books are up for the school boards vote on Thursday, Push by Sapphire and Lucky by Alice Sebold. The books were already reviewed by the District Materials Review Committee, which recommended to keep both books in their school libraries. Escambia County book ban database: Every book being challenged in schools Escambia teacher flags 100+ books 100+ 'questionable' books placed in restricted section while Escambia schools review them Latest book ban meeting spans 7 hours Escambia School Board votes to keep 4 challenged books after 7+ hours of debate Why were books "Push" and "Lucky" challenged? Push by Sapphire Push is a story about a teenage girl, Claireece Precious Jones, who has been impregnated twice by her father and later learns she has contracted AIDS from him. She longs to be in school and learn despite her circumstances. A teacher takes Precious under her wing and helps her become literate and process her own emotions and traumatic experiences through journaling. The book was adapted into the film Precious in 2009, which was rated R. The book was initially challenged by Northview High School language arts teacher Vicki Baggett on Sept. 2, 2022 for its graphic sexual content. Baggett stated she thinks the purpose of the book is sexual introduction. The District Committee made a decision on Feb. 28, 2023 to keep the book in high school libraries. There were four committee members that supported keeping the book in high school libraries, while one committee member voted to remove the book from all school libraries. This book is absolutely realistic and shows the inner dialogue of a teenager that has suffered unimaginable heartbreak and abuse, the committees report stated. Partly, this story works because it is told from the first-person perspective of Precious, an illiterate, overweight young Black woman. From the first pages, the reader is transported into her mind, her views, and the inner workings of her feelings regarding herself and her relationship to the world around her. Story continues The committee decided that the book is appropriate for a more mature audience, such as 11th- and 12th-graders, as some students in the district are in a similar situation as the books narrator. Baggett submitted an appeal to the school board over the committees decision on March 10, 2023. The decision will go before the school board on Thursday. Lucky by Alice Sebold Lucky is an autobiographical story of the authors rape as a freshman at Syracuse University that occurred while she was walking home from a party. She was then tasked with adjusting back to college life after what had happened to her, eventually encountering her alleged rapist again, leading to his arrest. The man was found guilty but later exonerated. The book was initially challenged by Baggett on Sept. 2, 2022 for its graphic sexual content, violence and language. The District Committee made a decision on March 6, 2023 to keep the book in high school libraries with a 3-2 vote. Despite the violent acts committed in the book, the committee found merit in empowering women to share their stories of sexual assault. While no one ever wants to hear of sexual assault occurring, its sadly quite common and important for young women to understand how to protect and speak up for themselves, the committee reported. This memoir brings light to a major issue in the world and that is awareness for victims of sexual and physical assault. It also discusses the trials and tribulations of a young woman fighting for justice in the court of law. It brings forth the flaws in the system of law and the doubts that the people, sworn to protect citizens, had in a young woman of that time. Baggett submitted an appeal to the school board over the committees decision on March 30, 2023, stating that the book is in violation of FS 847.012 of offering obscene and pornographic material to minors. When did book challenges begin in Escambia County? The school library purge was prompted in the fall of 2022 when Northview High School language arts teacher Vicki Baggett challenged over 100 books for inappropriate content. Similar challenges are underway at various schools throughout the country. Library books are for student self-selection and are not being used for classroom instruction. Parents also can opt-in to allow their children to read books from a restricted section of school libraries containing challenged materials. Since Baggetts requests, others have followed suit in adding titles to the list. A full list of those books in question can be found on the district website. What happens after a book is challenged? Once a book is requested for reconsideration, the book is reviewed by the District Materials Review Committee. The people that make up the committee varies for each book to include a diverse group of opinions and experiences, and there is currently a waitlist for certain roles. The committee reads the book, cover to cover, not solely the sections in question. All meetings for the committees discussion can be observed by the public and are posted on the districts school calendar on its website. The committee comes to decision on whether the book should be allowed for all grade levels in the district, certain grade levels, or none at all. Once the committee places their vote, the decision is sent to the person who made the initial reconsideration request. If unsatisfied with the committees decision, an appeal is made, and the issue then goes before the school board. Each board member has access to the book in questions, the committees notes and decision, professional reviews of the books including any awards or recognition it has received and the complaints made against it. The board holds a public forum to hear input from the community to help inform their decision. A full list of reconsiderations can be accessed on the Escambia County Public Schools website under the Media Services tab under Reconsideration of Educational Media. What books have been banned in Escambia County? The first book to be nixed from the list was "Perks of Being a Wallpaper" by Stephen Chbosky. The book was challenged by Northview High School language arts teacher Vicki Baggett for having extreme sexual content, bestiality, and language. The book was originally suggested by the review committee to be kept around as an optional novel study for 12th grade language arts students, but the school board voted on Nov. 1, 2022, not to keep it. "All Boys Arent Blue," is a manifesto by George M. Johnson reflecting on the experiences of growing up as a Black queer boy and eventually finding his identity. The book was particularly scrutinized for detailing two sexual encounters and an instance of sexual assault. The review committee recommended to keep the book in high school libraries, however, the school board voted on Feb. 20 to ban it from the district. "And Tango Makes Three" is a story about two male penguins raising a baby chick named "Tango" in the Central Park Zoo. The story was inspired by true events. Baggett objected to the book, stating it had an "LGBTQ agenda using penguins." Despite the committee's recommendation to keep the book in elementary, middle and high school libraries, the school board voted on Feb. 20 to ban the book from the district altogether. "When Aidan Became a Brother" by Kyle Lukoff is a children's picture book depicting a transgender boy preparing to welcome a little sibling into the family. However, Baggett claimed it was an "LGBTQ introduction." Despite the committee's recommendation to keep the book in all elementary, middle and high school library, the school board voted on Feb. 20 to ban it from the district. What books have been saved after challenge request? "The Bluest Eye" by Toni Morrison follows the life of young black girl after the Great Depression and her struggle with combatting racism and identity. The book was challenged by Baggett for "graphic rape scenes, pedophilia glorified and violent acts." The committee recommended to keep the book in all high school libraries. However, the school board voted on March 20 to only allow 11th and 12th grade students to access the title. "Drama by Raina Telgemeier is a graphic novel about a middle school theatre lover who works on her school's theatre production crew. She encounters a friend who questions his sexual identity. The book was challenged by Baggett for "indoctrination of LGBTQ" age-appropriateness and relevancy. The committee recommended to keep the book in elementary, middle and high school libraries. The school board voted on March 20 to allow middle and high school students to access the title. "The Nowhere Girls" by Amy Reed is a story about three young women who create an underground feminist club to protest the rape of a former student at their high school. The book was challenged by Baggett for "graphic sexual content." The committee recommended to keep the book available for high school students. The school board voted on March 20 to keep the book available for 11th and 12th grade students to read. "New Kid" by Jerry Craft is a graphic novel about a Black boy who experiences culture shock when attending a private school along with experiences of racism microaggressions. The book was challenged by Baggett for "race-baiting" and "anti-whiteness." The committee recommended the book be available in elementary, middle and high school libraries. The school board voted on March 20 to keep the book available for middle and high school students. This article originally appeared on Pensacola News Journal: Florida banned books: Escambia schools eye two books on sexual abuse Union-backed California Democrats are once again pushing for a higher minimum wage for health care workers and support staffers an effort that has drawn sharp criticism from hospitals, nursing homes, dialysis clinics and community health centers. Sen. Maria Elena Durazo authored Senate Bill 525, which would require any covered health care facility to pay a minimum of $25 an hour to all workers on their premises, regardless of employer. Beneficiaries would include nurses and caregivers, as well as housekeepers, security guards, groundskeepers, food preparers and even gift shop workers, so long as the services they provide directly or indirectly support patient care. The bills supporters argue low wages and staff shortages prevent health care facilities from attracting and retaining workers. Raising pay would not only relieve current workers from financial stress, they say, but would also attract new employees to an industry that has suffered from burnout and turnover in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They pointed to a recent study from the UC Berkeley Labor Center that concluded more than 469,000 workers would benefit from such a wage boost, with an average increase of more than $5.74 an hour. Opponents counter that a $25 minimum wage would further squeeze struggling clinics and force them to curb hours, cut positions and limit services to patients. Raising the minimum wage for all healthcare workers in the state is critical to help retain staff, Durazo said in opening remarks to fellow members of the Senate Labor and Public Employment and Retirement Committee Wednesday morning. Higher wages will help restore healthcare jobs to the status of a job in which a person can support a family. Durazo also pointed out the vast majority of health workers are women and people of color. Three-quarters of the states nursing, psychiatric and home health aides are people of color, according to the Employment Development Department, and almost 80% are women. In other healthcare support occupations, 70% are people of color and 84% are women. Story continues I have spent my entire life fighting to raise wages for working people, Durazo said in her opening remarks at Wednesdays hearing. Poverty wages hurt everyone. The committee approved Durazos bill, with four votes in favor and only one against. Before voting, the members adopted a recommended amendment that clarified the minimum wage would not apply to delivery drivers who work onsite but are not employed by the health facility. Healthcare workers testify about low wages Turnout for the hearing was so large that the committee adjusted its rules to allow for three lead witness testimonies from both the supporters and opponents of the bill. Hundreds of supporters represented by local chapters of the powerful Service Employees International Union California, a major sponsor of the bill, packed the hearing room and outside hall on Wednesday morning to show their support for the bill. SEIU California represents approximately 200,000 health care workers. Myisha Chavis, a medical assistant at St. Francis Medical Center in Lynwood, testified first in support of the bill. In her pastel scrubs, the single mother approached the microphone and told the committee about how she struggles to afford rent and basic necessities on just $17 an hour. I was recently homeless with my two kids, Chavis said, I cant even buy diapers and clothes for my kids. As her speaking time ticked down, Chavis paused, acknowledged her nervousness, and then asked the committee to put themselves in her shoes. I really hope and pray that you guys will help us, because its really hard, she said. I dont want to leave my job. If I leave my job, I wont be able to take care of my kids. Outside the hearing chamber, Mauricio Medina watched the proceedings on the video screen. The father of two works four different jobs, including as a CNA and a medical technician, at the Southern California Hospital at Hollywood. Hes an executive committee member with his union, SEIU-United Healthcare Workers West, which represents close to 100,000 healthcare workers in the state. Medina said his shifts typically last 12 hours, but he often picks up an additional four hours due to understaffing. On his off days, hell use a healthcare gig work app called Medely to pick up contract shifts for other hospitals and clinics in need of extra help. I stay because I care for my patients, Medina said. Because if I dont do it, then no one else will. For the past four years, Medina says hes had to work through holidays like Christmas and Thanksgiving rather than spend them with his family. He hardly sees his two sons, 6-year-old Anthony and 7-year-old Matthew, since he usually comes home to eat, shower, sleep and then leave again for work. They spend more time playing with their dogs than playing with their father, Medina said. When they grow up, theyll say one of two things about me either I was a hard worker, or I didnt care about them. Hospitals and care clinics worry about financial burden Opponents of the bill raised concerns that a new wage floor would put financial stress on already cash-strapped hospitals and clinics. In the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, health care providers in California are in dire financial straits, the California Hospital Association expressed in written arguments to the committee. SB 525s added costs will force health providers to cut hours, positions and services. Representatives from community health centers, which primarily serve low-income and uninsured patients, told the committee that their funding structure essentially locks them into a fixed income and state-mandated wage increases arent an eligible reason for increasing their reimbursement rates. They say raising the minimum wage without increasing available funding could limit the services theyre able to provide. If, as the opponents suggest, they are limited in their ability to include state mandated wage increases as a reason for seeking a higher reimbursement rate, then there appears to be a problem, wrote the committees staff analysts in their bill analysis. Additional opponents include the California Chamber of Commerce and the California Nurses Association. The nurses union argued that most registered nurses in California make more than $25 an hour, and a wage floor of $25 could tempt employers to actually decrease pay during contract bargaining. According to the latest available data from the EDD, in the first quarter of 2022, the median wage for registered nurses in California was $62.43 an hour. Durazo pushed back against the notion that a wage floor would limit nurses earning potential. This is a minimum. This is the bottom wage, not the top, Durazo said. In my experience, when you lift the bottom, you lift the top. Sen. John Laird, D-Monterrey, questioned how financially distressed hospitals would stay afloat if the bill passed. He noted concerns from the community health centers who cited the recent closure of the Madera Community Hospital in late December. I just think there are certain parts of the system that might have a real problem with this, Laird said, speaking to Durazo. There are some hospitals that survive this fine, and there are others that this would be a hit to, he continued. Is there a way that youve considered trying to address that in this bill in a way that doesnt whack those hospitals that are in bankruptcy or on the edge? I think many of our healthcare systems and hospitals should hire you to come in and help do an analysis to address these issues, Durazo said in response to Lairds question. Laird indicated he would still vote to support the bill, but emphasized that Durazos bill would eventually need a secondary solution to help struggling facilities. The committee passed SB 525 with aye votes from Durazo, Laird, Sen. Dave Cortese (D-Santa Clara), Sen. Lola Smallwood-Cuevas (D-Los Angeles). Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) voted in opposition. The bill will now move to the Senate Appropriations Committee for review. Many elected officials in Louisville are very clear about what changes they want to make to gun policy after a devastating mass shooting downtown: more local control over their gun laws and generally stronger restrictions on guns in the state. Rep. Morgan McGarvey, Louisvilles Democratic congressman, has also been vocal, criticizing GOP legislators for being more willing to ban books and pronouns than act on guns. Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg has also called for legislative action. But the states top candidates running for governor have had much less to say in the days since the shooting. And none of the Republicans running in the crowded primary have sided with Louisville officials in calling for any sort of gun control. In general, the Republican candidates for governor have focused on mental health, not guns, in response to the mass shooting. Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Kelly Craft did so in a statement issues two days after the shooting. We need to find real solutions instead of trying to score cheap political points with the usual buzzwords on the right and left that ultimately dont lead to anything, Craft wrote. We instead need to focus on the mental health of all Kentuckians. We must make certain that we remove the stigma surrounding mental health and ensure that there are resources for those who need them the most. Hours after the shooting in Louisville, Craft held a scheduled kitchen table tour event in Louisville with former University of Kentucky swimmer Riley Gaines, who has become a conservative media celebrity for criticizing transgender women athletes. On Wednesday, Crafts campaign sent out a tweet apparently referencing the shooting, saying: When tragedy hits, sometimes the only thing we can do is unite and pray. When tragedy hits, sometimes the only thing we can do is unite and pray. pic.twitter.com/QFFQMXEDXX Kelly Craft (@KellyCraftKY) April 12, 2023 The tweet received some criticism from the left, including former Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate Amy McGrath. Story continues In response to an inquiry on the matter, Camerons team pointed to a Fox News appearance where the interviewer suggested that a red flag law where in some cases the courts can take guns away from those deemed a danger to themselves or others would not have stopped the Louisville gunman; Cameron seemed to agree. Its so random There will be a time for conversation about policy and all those things, Cameron said. Fox News Bill Hemmer: If there is no red flag in this man's life, how do you stop [the Louisville mass shooting]? Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron (R): Its so random There will be a time for conversation about policy and all those things. pic.twitter.com/i6mf7PqnJn The Recount (@therecount) April 11, 2023 Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear, who is seeking reelection this year, called for the passage of a red flag law, according to a report from WDRB on Thursday. The law has garnered some Republican support in the past but bills to implement it have gone nowhere in the state legislature. This protects everybodys Second Amendment rights. It absolutely does, Beshear told the TV station. But, at the same time, Id like to think Democrats and Republicans red or blue, anybody on the ideology can come together and say, If we know somebody is right on that brink of going out and committing a horrendous action, dont you think we should be able to take action? Beshear had close friends killed and injured in the event, stating in a Monday press conference that he was focused on responding to the shooting and grieving rather than policy proposals. In an interview with CNN that aired on Wednesday night, Beshear also broached the subject of mental health, saying we have to do more. It is so much harder to be a kid with social media right now and it breaks my heart to watch what (my kids) and their friends go through Weve also got to break down the stigma. Its OK to not be OK. Im not OK right now, and a lot of us arent going to be OK for a while, Beshear said. In the past, Beshear has been noncommittal when it comes to gun control, a popular rallying cry for many Democrats in America, but less of a talking point for Democratic governors in conservative states like Kentucky, North Carolina or Louisiana. Beshear, who has called himself a strong supporter of the Second Amendment, recently criticized a bill passed this session that made Kentucky a Second Amendment Sanctuary from any federal firearm bans, suggesting that it wouldnt hold up in court. However, he allowed the bill to become law without his signature. GOP candidate for governor and Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles pointed to his work supporting a mental health program in rural Kentucky. One thing we can all agree on is that we have a mental health crisis in America. It has always existed and the COVID era pealed off another unfortunate layer of how serious of an issue mental health is ranging from stressed out adults and even teenagers with social media self-image issues. We need to have more resources for mental health awareness and for those needing help, Quarles said. Somerset Mayor Alan Keck, also in the GOP gubernatorial field, said more discussion should be had about mental health and what investments might be effective in limiting mass shooting events. He raised the possibility of making a big, bold investment in mental health treatment to where some of these folks that are really struggling go and get help, adding that any action taken must be results-oriented. The snap response from some is its the guns, and the snap response from our side is its never the guns, Keck said. We cant just say its a mental health crisis and then throw our hands up. Im sick of sides. People died yesterday, and I think we need to have real conversations without pointing blame. GOP candidate Eric Deters, known for his bombast and courtroom controversy, said he thinks the solution is more guns. The solution for safety, to me, is we have to do better on mental health and we have to have the good guys with guns everywhere, Deters said. ... I think the way to prevent and reduce the number of killings is an armed society. According to a 2017 study, the United States is the most armed country in the world by far. Deters added that he carries a .380 pistol with him everywhere he goes. He routinely references that in his speeches, and even brought it out during a speech at a Republican event in Hopkins County. Republican Auditor Mike Harmon was also hesitant to endorse any new form of regulation or control on guns in Kentucky. We need to make sure that we dont take guns away from gun people so they can defend themselves, but we need to sit down and have an honest discussion about mental illness and drug use. Mental illness is a factor that influences so many of these shootings, Harmon said. According to a poll conducted by Emerson College that surveyed 900 likely Republican primary voters on the day of and one day after the Louisville shooting, only 11.5% said that Kentuckys gun laws were too lenient. The vast majority, 70.6%, said that Kentuckys gun laws were just right. Boone County Judge Kevin Crane set December trial dates for University of Missouri hazing defendant Ryan Delanty, described in court documents as Danny Santulli's "pledge dad." Charged with felony hazing, Delanty's trial is scheduled for four days, Dec. 5-8. A pre-trial conference is scheduled Nov. 27. Delanty is the first of the 11 hazing defendants to have a trial date set. He is one of 10 charged with felony hazing in the incident, with one charged with misdemeanor hazing. Defense attorneys in some other cases have said they are being offered deals from the prosecution. Santulli was a pledge to the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity at MU on Oct. 19, 2021, when he participated in an alcohol-fueled hazing event called "pledge dad reveal night." He was required to drink a full bottle of vodka, which was taped to his hands. He collapsed during the event and became unresponsive. He was resuscitated by personnel in the emergency room at MU Hospital after he was driven there by fraternity members. There is surveillance video of the night, which may be introduced at trial. The alcohol poisoning left Santulli with brain damage. He's now unable to walk, speak or see. Around the clock care by his parents at their home in Minnesota is paid from proceeds from settlements in civil lawsuits against fraternity members. Delanty, of Ballwin, was designated as Santulli's "pledge dad" based on court documents. Included in the documents Denlanty's text to a friend reading "my son is dead." Between 2018 and 2021 there were 15 incidents of hazing or alcohol abuse in MU Greek organizations, with 11 organizations disciplined, according to records obtained by the Tribune from MU. The documents show that members of the fraternity had a "high tolerance for hazing," before the incident. MU has removed the fraternity, also known as Fiji, from campus. Roger McKinney is the Tribune's education reporter. You can reach him at rmckinney@columbiatribune.com or 573-815-1719. He's on Twitter at @rmckinney9. This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Ryan Delanty is the first of the MU hazing defendants with trail date Study by Environics Research commissioned by Dialogue reveals Canadians don't have the resources to improve well-being, and expect employers to help MONTREAL, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - New research reveals that Canadians are prioritizing their well-being more than ever before in the face of increased physical and mental health concerns. With financial barriers and lack of time preventing them from doing so, they expect support from employers. Canadian perspectives on health, wellness, and employee benefits (CNW Group/Dialogue Health Technologies Inc.) The Canadian perspectives on health, wellness, and employee benefits report is a research initiative that highlights top health and well-being challenges facing Canadians across the country commissioned by Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. (TSX: CARE) ("Dialogue"), Canada's premier care and wellness platform, and conducted by Environics Research , a Canadian market research firm providing evidence-based insights for over 50 years. The report includes new trends and insights into the well-being of Canadians, as well as the barriers to improvement and expectations of the role employers must play. 70% of Canadians are more conscious of their health in the past few years, a 14% increase since 2021. This comes in the wake of health concerns, where over 1 in 3 people reported that their physical health, mental health, and/or financial situation has worsened or significantly worsened over the past two years. When focusing on remote workers, 55% have noticed more stress and anxiety. While most are comfortable seeking mental health support considering decreased stigma, only half indicate having the financial means to do so. "Physical and mental health concerns have significant impacts on well-being, and, left untreated, can have many downstream effects on productivity and contribute to chronic health issues," shared Dr. Stephanie Moynihan, Associate Medical Director at Dialogue. "It's important for Canadians to recognize the barriers to improve not only their physical and mental health, but their overall well-being. Being well is more than just not being sick, and establishing healthier habits can not only help reverse or better control chronic physical and mental health issues, but prevent them." Story continues Financial barriers (40%) and lack of time (32%) prevent Canadians from prioritizing their well-being, and employees are increasingly expecting support from their employers. 9 out of 10 Canadians are saying it's important for employers to provide support to improve well-being, but only half of employees have noticed employers taking action. Current support is insufficient, or is missing the mark. 40% of Canadians never accessed their Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and 1 in 3 consider mental health support provided through benefit plans to be insufficient. 7 in 10 employees also reported that managers have not been sufficiently trained or lack the training to recognize and support their mental health needs. "As Canadians report worsening physical and mental health, as well as financial pressures issues that can be further exacerbated by working situations, they are expecting more support from their employers," said Ahsan Sadiq, Vice President, Health & Wellness at Environics. "Employer-paid services, when accessible and socialized, can boost well-being indicators and provide an important return on investment through increased job satisfaction and retention." Beyond EAPs, virtual care has been increasingly offered through employer-paid solutions to bolster well-being. 77% of Canadians agree that it is the future of healthcare, especially when physical and mental health professionals have a complete view of their health and well-being. Most Canadians also prioritize having access to a variety of support in one central place, and are just as likely to support themselves with self-guided mental health tools and resources as they are to communicate with a professional. When considering how to better support employees, employers must keep in mind that Canadians are expecting more. The incentive for employers is clear, as investing in well-being has been shown to increase job satisfaction, productivity and retention. The full report can be found here . About Dialogue Incorporated in 2016, Dialogue is Canada's premier virtual healthcare and wellness platform, providing affordable, on-demand access to quality care. Through our team of health professionals, we serve employers and organizations who have an interest in the health and well-being of their employees, members and their families. Our Integrated Health Platform is a one-stop healthcare hub that centralizes all of our programs in a single, user-friendly application, providing access to services 24 hours per day, 365 days per year from the convenience of a smartphone, computer or tablet. Dialogue is the first virtual care provider to receive the Accreditation Canada Primer award, a third-party validation of safety and high-level quality of care. About Environics Research Environics Research is a Canadian market research firm that provides organizations with actionable, evidence-based solutions to real business problems. Environics Research partners with clients to understand the business challenges they face and leverage innovative and creative solutions to generate understanding and insights. Founded in 1970, Environics Research delivers evidence-based solutions to clients working in a range of sectors and industries. SOURCE Dialogue Health Technologies Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/13/c5891.html State regulators have filed a complaint against a doctor convicted in a health fraud case that could cost him his license. The Kentucky Board of Medical Licensure (KBML) issued the complaint earlier against Dr. William Lawrence Gregory Siefert based on a federal indictment against him, but released an amended complaint this week as a result of the conviction. The state said Siefert, of Dayton, Ohio, practices at locations in Lexington, Bowling Green and Paducah. Siefert, 69, pleaded not guilty in the federal case, but a jury convicted him last month on one charge of defrauding health care programs such as Medicaid and Medicare. The complaint included language from the indictment alleging Siefert had employees of the Northern Kentucky Center for Pain Relief collect samples for unnecessary drug tests and submit bills for the tests in order to make more money. Siefert did not review the test results or use them in treating patients, the indictment charged. Federal authorities also alleged that improper prescribing of opioids and other drugs by Siefert played a role in several overdose deaths, but the jury acquitted Siefert of all charges related to improper prescribing. It also found him not guilty on a charge of conspiracy to commit health fraud. Seifert left the Northern Kentucky pain clinic in February 2019. The licensure board issued an emergency order barring Siefert from prescribing drugs in March 2021 because of the federal charges. The board could take a number of actions under the pending complaint, including fining Siefert or suspending or revoking his license. An attorney representing Siefert, Aaron L. VanderLaan, said Siefert will contest the complaint. VanderLaan noted that the jury acquitted Siefert on 11 of the 12 charges he faced. This verdict confirms that Dr. Siefert was offering much needed care and treatment to his patients as they battled chronic pain, VanderLaan said. Siefert was disappointed to be convicted on the health fraud charge, VanderLaan said, maintaining that the drug tests he had performed were done to monitor whether patients were complying with their treatment in an environment where the government is all too quick to second-guess the medical decisions of physicians. Story continues Seifert is optimistic the conviction will be overturned on appeal, VanderLaan said. Seifert was indicted with Timothy Ehn, 50, a chiropractor who owned the pain clinic. The jury convicted Ehn on two charges, health fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, but found him not guilty on a charge of conspiring to illegally distribute drugs. U.S. District Judge David L. Bunning scheduled sentencing in September. Each charge is punishable by up to 10 years in prison. SHEBOYGAN FALLS - Two brothers ignited the cheese industry in Sheboygan County with a farm factory and stand-alone operations in the 19th century. Before the advent of a cheese factory, cheese was made in farm kitchens. That early cheese product was infrequently sold at market. It had several problems, which included, collecting, temperature control, rennet enzyme application, sanitation, refrigeration and aging. The northwest corner of county Highway C and Sunset Road, as seen, Tuesday, April 11, 2023, in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., which is said to be the farm where John J. Smith began the first cheese factory in Sheboygan County. John J. Smith started his cheese "factory" in 1858 by taking in gathering curd produced by his neighbors. Quality control was lacking as every curd-maker did things something slightly different and not to a uniform standard. The individual farmers' wives many times were responsible for curd production, according to information from Katie Riley of the Sheboygan County Historical Research Center. Smith, after collecting the curds, would finish the cheese-making process. It was said that he had improvised facilities in his house, an existing shed or a corner in his barn. He packed the cheese in barrels for shipment. John J. Smith has been said to run the first cheese factory at his Sheboygan Falls farm back in 1858. Making cheese was one thing, but selling that early Sheboygan County cheese met stiff resistance in Chicago. In fall 1858, Smith barreled cheese and took the barrels to Chicago to sell. Because early Wisconsin cheese was of poor quality and with the superior quality of New York cheese, dealers refused to buy his cheese until Smith paid one of them to sample his cheeses. That entire lot was then sold for 8 cents a pound. Cheese made in Sheboygan County was starting to mean something. Smith's brother, Hiram Smith, started a bit later in the cheese business when in 1870 he bought the McKinnon Cheese factory from A.D DeLand and Manning McKinnon, who had built that factory in 1867. Smith would only own own the factory for six years when he sold it in 1876 to brothers Ferdinand and Frank Mathers. Hiram Smith, known as one of the early cheese makers in Sheboygan County, was a member of the Board of Regents with the University of Wisconsin and was known for urging improvements in agricultural education opportunities. The Mathers brothers, who would be two of the first in the county to join the Sheboygan Falls Dairy Board of Trade in 1878, would crank up the reputation for Sheboygan County cheese. They won a gold medal as first prize for their cheese entry at the Wisconsin State Fair in 1879. Story continues The word was getting around that Sheboygan County cheese was something special. Hiram Smith was a large figure in Sheboygan County and the dairy industry. He was a member of the State Board of Regents for the University of Wisconsin and constantly advocated improvements in the agriculture programs at that institution. Many felt his contributions helped accelerate the growth of the dairy industry in Wisconsin in the 19th century. This northeast corner of county Highway C and Sunset Road, as seen, Tuesday April 11, 2023, in Sheboygan Falls, Wis., is said to be the building where the first cheese factory was built in 1867 by L.P. Fischer and Manning McKinnn. With the early groundwork made by these cheese-making pioneers, Sheboygan County became so well known in cheese circles that Plymouth was picked as the location of the National Cheese Exchange, which set the commodity price of bulk cheese, a big deal at the time. The Exchange itself would move to Green Bay and in 1997 left to go to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. Despite the departure of the Exchange, Plymouth would become known as a truly big cheese. Today, Plymouth is home to cheese giants such as Sargento Foods, Inc., Sartori, Inc., Masters Gallery Foods, Inc., and Great Lakes Cheese Company, Inc. RELATED - Sheboygan Countys early settlers flirted with Fourierism RELATED - Sheboygan Falls site, today a bed and breakfast, was built in 1848 RELATED - Sheboygan County Fair was at one time in Sheboygan Falls This article originally appeared on Sheboygan Press: Wisconsin cheese got boost past New York from Sheboygan cheesemakers 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. Story continues 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. Protest over Floridas largest LGBTQ+ advocacy group issued on Wednesday a travel advisory recommending against queer visitors to the Sunshine State. The advisory warns Florida may not be a safe place to visit or take up residence. As an organization that has spent decades working to improve Floridas reputation as a welcoming and inclusive place to live work and visit, it is with great sadness that we must respond to those asking if it is safe to travel to Florida or remain in the state as the laws strip away basic rights and freedoms, said Nadine Smith, Equality Florida's executive director. \u201cBREAKING: Today, we took the extraordinary step of issuing a travel advisory, warning of the risks posed to the health, safety, and freedom of those considering short or long term travel, or relocation to the state.\u201d Equality Florida (@Equality Florida) 1681329493 twitter.com BREAKING: Today, we took the extraordinary step of issuing a travel advisory, warning of the risks posed to the health, safety, and freedom of those considering short or long term travel, or relocation to the state. The move comes as Florida appears poised to pass a bevy of anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Those include an expansion of Floridas so-called dont say gay law, attacks on businesses that host drag shows, and a ban on gender-reaffirming care for trans youth. The advisory notes attacks by lawmakers on medical and academic freedom, erasure of LGBTQ history in schools, and assaults on LGBTQ-friendly businesses including Disney, the states largest employer. A travel advisory seems to signal a boycott on the way, similar to effective commercial strategies following anti-trans legislation in Texas in 2017 and North Carolina in 2016. But this move in Florida comes as state legislatures across the country take up a wave of anti-LGBTQ+ bills. Smith said it gave her no joy to tell LGBTQ+ visitors to steer clear of Florida. But just as heartbreaking is the number of families who already chose to leave. Story continues While losing conferences, and top students who have written off Florida threatens lasting damage to our state, it is most heartbreaking to hear from parents who are selling their homes and moving because school censorship, book bans and health care restrictions have made their home state less safe for their children, Smith said. We understand everyone must weigh the risks and decide what is best for their safety, but whether you stay away, leave or remain we ask that you join us in countering these relentless attacks. Help reimagine and build a Florida that is truly safe for and open to all, and where freedom is a reality, not a hollow campaign slogan. The advisory said Florida just isnt a safe environment for queer people now, not just because of the bills under consideration but thanks to the loosening of gun laws. It also said Gov. Ron DeSantis has fomented an environment of racial prejudice. Florida Sen. Shevrin Jones, the first out Senator elected in Florida, noted this advisory comes weeks after a similar one from the NAACP urging Black Americans to avoid Florida. It's a sad reality in Florida that our elected leaders in power are pushing laws that make Florida unfriendly towards minority communities from the Black to LGBTQ community, he said. Jones added: Our history and presence should be protected, but these policies are not what we're seeing out of the Florida Legislature. It's an unfortunate state of affairs when we see these travel advisories but that's the current state of this state. Me and my Democratic colleagues are pushing as hard as we can to make Florida friendly to these vulnerable groups and I hope my colleagues will change their minds on these bills that push negative and harmful rhetoric towards my community. Doughnuts: Tasty and uncomplicated. Social and comfortable. Across Wilson County, you can find these sweet mood lifters at businesses, religious services, classrooms and special events. Classic glaze. Doughnut holes with fruity fillings. Chocolate and strawberry doughnuts with sprinkles. Everybody has a sweet tooth, said John Khoury of the Mt. Juliet Donut Shop. Nearby, regular customer Kathy Blevins purchased doughnuts, hoping to get Khourys Peanut Butter Cream recipe. Here are some of the leading makers for a lot of mornings in Wilson County. Owner John Khoury, foreground, of Mt. Juliet Donut Shop on Nonaville Road with manager Heidi Smith. Mt. Juliet Donut Shop, 286 Nonaville Road, Mt. Juliet: The shop was opened by the late Nader Khoury in 2021 after Khoury established Gourmet Donuts and Cafe in Mt. Juliet, which he sold in 2020. The Apple Fritter, Boston Cream and classic glaze doughnuts are best-sellers. Chocolate and strawberry doughnuts with sprinkles are especially popular with kids. Several flavor fillings are also available. All doughnuts and icing are made from scratch. On Saturdays, a lot of specialty doughnuts and foods are created. Nader Khoury's cousin, John Khoury, who used to own Shipley Donuts in Donelson, now operates the business and does all the cooking. John Khoury estimates around 3,000 doughnuts are sold on weekends, with large demands from church groups. A picture of Nader Khoury is displayed in the store. Tony Chou, owner of Gourmet Donuts and Cafe on North Mt. Juliet Road in Mt. Juliet. Gourmet Donuts and Cafe, 3993 B N. Mt. Juliet Road, Mt. Juliet: Tony Chou now owns and operates this establishment, which offers every kind of doughnut, including a number of glaze and filling options. Cake doughnuts include blueberry, strawberry, devils food, apple spice and vanilla. The shop also offers a drive-in. Donut Time on Hartmann Drive in Lebanon. Donut Time, 102 Hartmann Drive Ste C, Lebanon: Apple fritter doughnuts are popular they're made daily with real apples. Also popular is a pine cone doughnut with cinnamon that pulls apart. There are a variety of cake doughnuts, breakfast croissants and kolaches a bread-based wrap around meat. Owners Joanna and Von Scott have locations at 3195 S. Mt. Juliet Road in Mt. Juliet and 2207 Hobson Pike in Davidson County. Joannas father, Randy Mean, started Donut Time nearly 11 years ago. Story continues Manager Pearl Sullivan works a steady drive-thru line at The Donut Palace in Lebanon, Tennessee. Donut Palace, 175 Tennessee Blvd, Lebanon: Preparation for fresh doughnuts starts at 3 a.m. Red velvet, blueberry and apple fritter doughnuts are all big sellers as customers order inside the store and in the drive-thru. Doughnuts also come with a variety of hole fillings that can include raspberry, custard, lemon and white frosting flavors. Croissants and a variety of cakes are also sold at the location. Donut Palace was launched about 20 years ago by So Sith. Grandson Kenny Sith now owns Donut Palace and is the cook. Pearl Sullivan is the manager. Dunkin Donuts: The national brand has four locations in Wilson County, two in Lebanon, a new store in Mt. Juliet and one in Old Hickory. The chocolate frosted donut and Dunkin Munchkins donut holes are among popular options with a variety of coffees as well. Slow Hand Bakehouse in Lebanon. Slow Hand Bakehouse, 111 S. Greenwood, Lebanon: This new bakery, recently opened by Nick and Audra Guidry, doesnt focus on doughnuts, other than the occasional cake doughnuts. But they do have cinnamon rolls, croissants and Danish pastries that often sell out. The business approach is classic techniques incorporated with a fun appeal to our customers' childhood memories and overall happiness, Audra Guidry said, "with a consistent effort to reimagine menu choices." Reach Andy Humbles at ahumbles@tennessean.com or 615-726-5939 and on Twitter @ AndyHumbles. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: 'Everybody has a sweet tooth': Taste these Wilson County doughnuts The FBI arrested a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard on Thursday in connection with a significant leak of classified Pentagon documents, according to the Justice Department and FBI officials. Attorney General Merrick Garland identified the suspect as Jack Teixeira, 21, and said hed been arrested without incident earlier Thursday. Garland commented shortly after live video from local television stations showed FBI personnel swarming a home located in North Dighton, Mass. and leading a young male suspect from the residence. The law-enforcement action took place in the same town where Teixeira and his mother live, according to a review of public records by POLITICO. Teixeira was arrested in connection with the unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, the attorney general said, using language that tracks violations of the Espionage Act. No specific charges were immediately announced, but Teixeira is expected to appear in federal court in Boston on Friday. During a hastily-assembled appearance before reporters at Justice Department headquarters, Garland spoke for less than a minute and provided no other details about the investigation beyond saying that it was ongoing. An FBI statement also confirmed Teixeiras arrest and said it related to his alleged involvement in leaking classified U.S. government and military documents. Since late last week the FBI has aggressively pursued investigative leads and today's arrest exemplifies our continued commitment to identifying, pursuing, and holding accountable those who betray our country's trust and put our national security at risk, the FBI statement added. The 21-year-old appears to have been part of a small group on the Discord social media platform. He first wrote about the sensitive information in written paragraphs, paraphrased from the documents, months ago, as POLITICO previously reported. Starting in January, he began posting photographs of printouts of the documents, which had been folded and then smoothed out. Story continues The New York Times was the first to report that the likely leaker was Teixeira and said he was a member of the intelligence unit of the Massachusetts Air National Guard. The Washington Post first reported Thursday that the individual who leaked the documents on Discord worked on a military base. Teixeira was reportedly considered the leader of the small Discord channel, the Post reported, and espoused a love for guns and God. The documents Teixeira allegedly leaked contained highly classified information, including from papers marked Top Secret, about the war in Ukraine and other global topics such as China, Iran and the Russian paramilitary group, Wagner. President Joe Biden, speaking to journalists earlier in the day during a trip to Ireland, seemed to downplay the gravity of the breach which has roiled the intelligence community, the Pentagon and U.S. relationships with a variety of allies. Im concerned that it happened. But theres nothing contemporaneous that Im aware of thats of great consequence, Biden said while outside the residence of his Irish counterpart. But the public leak of classified intelligence is the largest since Wikileaks, which from 2006 to 2021 led to the publication of millions of emails, documents and other sensitive materials online. While the recent breach is much smaller in scale, the documents exposed in extraordinary detail the extent to which the U.S. spies on its allies and adversaries and included analyses that had been compiled just weeks before they were posted. The papers exposed battlefield planning by both the Ukrainians and the Russians, including detailed maps of troop movements, and that the U.S. had asked South Korea to provide Kyiv with ammunition. The Biden administration first began looking into the leak last week, including how the documents first ended up online and how they were able to circulate for months without detection. The Justice Department is leading the interagency investigation. DoD is reviewing its policies related to safeguarding classified material, including assessing how and where intelligence is shared, Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder said Thursday. "It's important to understand that we do have stringent guidelines in place ... this was a deliberate, criminal act, a violation of those guidelines, Ryder said. "Anyone who violates those rules is doing so willfully. Lara Seligman contributed reporting. Oil and gas companies drilling in New Mexico have been using toxic forever chemicals in their extraction processes for the past decade, a new report has found. Between 2013 and 2022, drilling operations have injected at least 261 New Mexico wells with 9,000 pounds of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) for use in fracking, according to the report, released on Wednesday by Physicians for Social Responsibility. During the same period, oil and gas companies injected more than 8,200 wells with a total of 243 million pounds of fracking chemicals likely including PFAS kept undisclosed due to trade secret shields, per the report. These forever chemicals are far too dangerous to be set loose in the environment like this, report coauthor Barbara Gottlieb said in a statement. Once this toxic genie is out of the bottle, there is no putting it back. Known for their propensity to linger in both the body and in the environment, forever chemicals are a group of thousands of compounds many of which have been linked to cancer and other illnesses. While known for their presence in jet fuel firefighting foam, nonstick pans, waterproof apparel and cosmetics, PFAS are also common components in oil and drilling operations. Key to the fracking process is the injection of a mixture of water, sand and chemicals into wells at high pressure to unlock trapped oil and gas, according to a 2021 report from the same group, which unearthed the link between PFAS and fracking in the U.S. Just two months ago, Physicians for Social Responsibility took a similar look at fracking operations in Texas, where they identified the use of more than 43,000 pounds of PFAS over the past decade. Fracking chemicals which sometimes include PFAS, due to their grease-repellant properties serve to kill bacteria, reduce friction and thicken the fluid so that it can travel farther underground, the 2021 report stated. Although the use of PFAS in fracking is still widespread, Colorado became the first state to ban the use of these compounds in oil and gas extraction last year. Story continues In New Mexico, however, the authors of Wednesdays report identified a variety of local barriers that prevent such a step from occurring there. State law, they explained, allows oil and gas companies to use trade secret designations to withhold the names of certain fracking chemicals from both regulators and the public. These firms are also not required to disclose any chemicals they inject into wells in the drilling that precedes fracking or during other downhole operations, according to the report. Over the past decade, the report determined that about 9,000 pounds of PFAS were injected into at least 261 oil and gas wells in New Mexico. Among these sites are 227 wells that contained a total of 2,605 pounds of PTFE, the nonstick compound known as Teflon, the authors found. Another 34 wells had 6,400 pounds of a type of PFAS called fluoroalkyl alcohol substituted polyethylene glycol. At the same time, a total of 243 million pounds of undisclosed fracking chemicals went into 8,293 wells across the state, according to the report. Of these wells, 3,681 took in a total of 19.3 million pounds of trade secret surfactants 24 of which imbibed 966 pounds of fluorosurfactants, a group of chemicals that includes PFAS. Advocates from Physicians for Social Responsibility said they delivered the report to New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D) on Wednesday, asking that the state revoke the industrys exemption from hazardous waste laws. They also demanded an update to chemical disclosure rules. The staggering number of chemical trade secret claims raises the potential that PFAS use is even more widespread than reported, lead author Dusty Horwitt said in a statement. The report recommends not only following in the footsteps of Colorado and banning the use of PFAS in oil and gas wells, but also expanding public disclosure requirements. The authors also called for increased testing and tracking of locations where PFAS has been used in oil and gas operations and where related waste has been deposited. New Mexico officials should act immediately to protect the public by prohibiting the use of PFAS in oil and gas extraction and requiring full disclosure of all chemicals used in oil and gas wells, Horwitt added. The Hill has reached out both to Grishams office and to the New Mexico Environment Department for comments on the report. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill. Democrat Janet Napolitano was Arizona governor from 2003 to 2009. Democrat Katie Hobbs became governor of the state on Jan. 2, 2023. When Katie Hobbs won the governors race in 2022, she became the first Democrat in 14 years to hold the seat. It also made her the first governor in 14 years to have to deal with a Legislature controlled by the opposite party. As she marks her 100th day in office this week, her achievements and pushbacks are equally noteworthy. At the time of recording, the governor had vetoed 38 bills, and it's expected more vetoes are to come. Hobbs is in familiar company. Nearly two decades ago, when Democrat Janet Napolitano arrived on the Ninth Floor, she was met with similar opposition. Gov. Janet Napolitano waves to the chamber after the State of the State at the Capitol Monday, Jan. 9, 2006. When Napolitano won the governor's race in 2002, it had been a dozen years since a Democrat had been in the Arizona governors seat. She tangled with a Republican Legislature that wasnt willing to embrace her agenda, leading to what became a record-setting number of vetoes from an Arizona governor, a record that Hobbs seems intent on shattering. This week on The Gaggle, a podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, host Mary Jo Pitzl and guest host Stacey Barchenger, are joined by Dennis Burke, Napolitano's former co-chief of staff. He examined the challenges of presiding over a divided government and how to navigate it. Listen to the episode The best way to listen is to subscribe to The Gaggle on your favorite podcast app, but you also can stream the full episode below. Note: The Gaggle is intended to be heard. But we also offer an AI transcript of the episode script. There may be slight deviations from the podcast audio. Follow The Gaggle and all azcentral.com podcasts on Twitter here. Questions welcome What political topics would you like to hear on The Gaggle? Send us a note or a voice memo via email here. Reach the producer at aluberto@gannett.com. Follow her on Twitter @amandaluberto. Listen to The Gaggle Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and Stitcher. Turn on notifications to be alerted when a new episode is released. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Gaggle: Hobbs navigates GOP majorities in AZ in echoes of Napolitano era Washington Sen. Dianne Feinstein is facing pressure from within her own party to resign amid a lengthy absence due to her health. Rep. Ro Khanna of California called on the longtime California senator to step down on Wednesday as she recovers from shingles. "We need to put country ahead of personal loyalty," Khanna said in a tweet. "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." Rep. Dean Phillips of Minnesota said he agreed. "Sen. Feinstein is a remarkable American whose contributions to our country are immeasurable," he tweeted. "But I believe it's now a dereliction of duty to remain in the Senate and a dereliction of duty for those who agree to remain quiet." In a statement Wednesday night, the 89-year-old Feinstein said that her return to Washington "has been delayed due to continued complications related to my diagnosis," adding that she will return "as soon as possible once my medical team advises that it's safe for me to travel." Feinstein also said that she has asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to appoint a Democratic senator to "temporarily" replace her on the Senate Judiciary Committee until she returns. Schumer said in a statement later Wednesday night that he would ask the Senate "next week" to fulfill her request. Feinstein announced on March 7 that she was out of the hospital and receiving treatment at home as she recovered from the infection. She said she looked "forward to returning to the Senate as soon as possible." A week prior to that, she said she hoped to be back in Washington later in March. The Senate has been in recess since March 31, but returns next week. Feinstein has missed nearly 60 votes since her diagnosis in late February. She last voted on Feb. 16. Story continues Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, who chairs the Senate Judiciary Committee, recently told CNN that her absence has slowed the confirmation of federal judges. "I can't consider nominees in these circumstances because a tie vote is a losing vote in committee," Durbin said of the 10-10 partisan breakdown. Following Durbin's comments, former President Barack Obama's speechwriter Jon Lovett said Feinstein should step down. "Dianne Feinstein should no longer be in the Senate," he said on the podcast Pod Save America. "She should resign and more people should be calling on her to resign." Former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi suggested sexism was behind the resignation calls. "Sen. Feinstein has been a champion for California," Pelosi told CBS San Francisco. "For 20 years, I have been the leader or the Speaker of the House fighting for California and I have seen up close and firsthand her great leadership for our country, but especially for our state of California," Pelosi said. "She deserves the respect to get well and be back on duty. It's interesting to me. I don't know what political agendas are at work that are going after Sen. Feinstein in that way." Days before she was hospitalized, Feinstein said she would not be seeking reelection in 2024. Nikole Killion contributed to this report. From 1988: Hal Prince and the Broadway opening of "Phantom of the Opera" President Biden addresses Irish Parliament while visiting Dublin Woman makes ash angel after Russia's Shiveluch volcano erupts More than half of Canadians feel that e-commerce hasn't reached its peak, underscoring a continued desire to engage with businesses online in new ways TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Canadians remain convinced that technology will continue to play a critical role in the future of small businesses, signaling sustained growth ahead in the digital economy. RBC Logo (CNW Group/RBC) According to a recent RBC Small Business Poll, a majority of Canadians agree that not only have digital technologies made it easier than ever to start a business (69 per cent), they also enable a business to steadily grow beyond 'day one' by reducing the cost of running a business (72 per cent). The survey further reveals that less than half of Canadians (46 per cent) believe growth in e-commerce has peaked, indicating more opportunities to digitally engage with consumers. Yet, a majority of small business owners (57 per cent) report that the e-commerce economy has reached an apex, highlighting a gap that business owners should look to bridge between their own beliefs and consumer expectations. "While in-person interactions with customers may have resumed for many small business owners, demand for digital engagement is far from dead. Many Canadians foresee a future where e-commerce and technology remains firmly embedded in the way we live, shop, and do business," says Don Ludlow, Vice President of Small Business, Partnerships & Strategy, RBC. "For small business owners, steady investments in digital transformation will allow them to sustain their momentum in creating a digitally-enabled business for the long-term." Balance between digital and human experiences important for the future of small business Survey findings indicate that Gen Z and millennials prefer the 'best of both worlds' when it comes to interacting with businesses and brands, both online and offline. More than half of millennials (51 per cent) and two-thirds of Gen Z respondents (59 per cent) say they would prefer more digital interactions in the shopping experience. Similarly, six in ten Gen Z (66 per cent) and half of millennials (55 per cent) desire more digital interactions in their payments and checkout experiences. Story continues Yet when it comes to customer communications and marketing, eight-in-ten millennials (79 per cent) report that they would prefer more human engagements a sentiment shared by Gen Z (77 per cent). Another three-quarters of Gen Z (74 per cent) would favour a more human touch to resolve customer issues and queries, with this number rising to 84 per cent among millennials. Critical milestones that signal a business' long-term viability While continuing to create digital touchpoints to deepen relationships with consumers is key to entrepreneurial success, small business owners polled say that the following are also important indicators of a thriving business on the path to sustained growth: Establishing a base of loyal repeat customers (63 per cent) The ability to innovate and create new opportunities (51 per cent) Having the funds to invest in growing and developing teams (48 per cent) Hitting sales and/or new client acquisition growth targets for two consecutive quarters (47 per cent) Recording positive cash flow for two consecutive quarters (49 per cent) The ability to successfully secure additional growth funding from external sources (42 per cent) Helping entrepreneurs start, manage, and grow their business RBC makes it easier for Canadian entrepreneurs to start, manage and grow their business by offering digitally-enabled solutions that go beyond traditional banking. Many of these help business owners save valuable time and money as they manage their day-to-day operations, while enabling them to digitize and grow to meet changing consumer demands. These include: Ownr : A quick and affordable way to register, incorporate and manage your business online. Moneris Online : An integrated bundle of e-Commerce, online payment and shipping solutions to help entrepreneurs quickly and effectively build and manage their online business. RBC Insight Edge for Small Business : A dashboard solution that offers subscribed retail businesses with real-time data insights around customer trends, competitive benchmarks and market intelligence to support business decisions. Sherweb : A leader in cloud solutions and the latest partner to join RBC's Go Digital program. Sherweb offers RBC business clients exclusive advice and solutions to support their adoption of cloud-based innovations and technologies to improve productivity, security and digital transformation. Kobalt.io: A leading cybersecurity services provider enabling small and mid-sized businesses to access cybersecurity expertise and solutions to protect their business and customers in an increasingly digitally-enabled world. RBC clients receive preferred pricing when enrolling for Kobalt.io cybersecurity services. RBC also recently launched the SME Institute, a first-of-its kind, one-stop service from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce developed in collaboration with RBC. The SME Institute will provide small and medium enterprises (SMEs) with the training, support and advice they need to adapt, grow and thrive. The SME Institute also has a comprehensive library of resources to help businesses recruit, retain and train talent; find and attract investors; use technology to grow their business; boost their business performance through diversity and sustainability; and more. Entrepreneurs can access these solutions and business advice online through the RBC Start a Business Hub at www.rbc.com/startingabusiness. About the Survey The RBC Small Business Poll was conducted by Ipsos Canada from February 17-22, 2023. A total of 1,505 surveys were self-completed online by Canadian adults (age 18+), represented in six different regions (British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan/Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic Canada). Representative sample results are weighted to reflect the Canadian population. The precision of Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll is accurate to within 3 percentage points had all Canadian adults been polled. The credibility interval will be wider among subsets of the population represented. All sample surveys and polls may be subject to other sources of error, including, but not limited to, coverage error, and measurement error. About RBC Royal Bank of Canada is a global financial institution with a purpose-driven, principles-led approach to delivering leading performance. Our success comes from the 97,000+ employees who leverage their imaginations and insights to bring our vision, values and strategy to life so we can help our clients thrive and communities prosper. As Canada's biggest bank and one of the largest in the world, based on market capitalization, we have a diversified business model with a focus on innovation and providing exceptional experiences to our 17 million clients in Canada, the U.S. and 27 other countries. Learn more at rbc.com. We are proud to support a broad range of community initiatives through donations, community investments and employee volunteer activities. See how at rbc.com/community-social-impact. SOURCE RBC Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/13/c7838.html St. Lukes and Saint Alphonsus health systems have lifted their universal masking requirements more than three years after the COVID-19 pandemic first reached Idaho. The policy changes, effective Wednesday, mean that masks are now optional in most settings where patient care is provided at all locations across the two largest health systems in Idaho. St. Lukes spokesperson Christine Myron confirmed the move with the Idaho Statesman by email. The mask requirement at St. Lukes was put in place in early April 2020. She said masks will still be readily available for those who want them, and patients can request that staff wear them while providing direct care. Masks will still be worn in certain settings, including in operating rooms, as part of routine infection prevention standards. This has been a very thoughtfully considered decision to modify our masking policy it involved careful consideration and review of the latest data on COVID-19 and other respiratory virus transmission in our communities, Myron said by email. We encourage patients, staff and providers to use masks based on their personal risk and comfort level. The policy change comes after President Joe Biden signed a congressional resolution Monday to end the COVID-19 national emergency three years after it was enacted, the Associated Press reported. Myron said the official end of the public health emergency was not behind St. Lukes decision. She told the Statesman that the number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 at St. Lukes has been declining, though the disease remains present in the communities the hospital system operates in. Over the past 30 days, just 3% to 5% of patients admitted to its hospitals have been diagnosed with COVID-19. The sustained low rates of hospitalizations were an important factor in the recent adjustment to our masking policy, Myron said. Masks are still required at St. Lukes in long-term care settings, based on regulatory requirements. Story continues While masking is now optional at St. Lukes Cancer Institute, its still required for patients, staff and visitors in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinic and the 4 South and pediatric oncology inpatient setting in Boise. Masks have been, and continue to be, an effective tool for preventing the spread of infections by respiratory route, Myron said. We will continue to closely monitor viral respiratory disease activity in our community and may consider resuming universal masking if deemed necessary in the future. Saint Alphonsus Health System, the second-largest health system in Idaho following St. Lukes, announced in a news release Wednesday that it also decided to make masks optional, citing a decline in COVID-19 transmission rates and the end of influenza season. As of Wednesday, masks are no longer required at Saint Alphonsuss hospitals and clinics in hallways, public spaces and nursing stations. The health system still requires masks be worn around patients with certain infectious diseases and in some patient rooms and areas, including medical oncology and infusion clinics. Patients or visitors can also request staff wear masks when providing direct care. COVID-19 self-screening policies will remain at all Saint Alphonsus locations in Idaho and people who prefer to wear masks can still do so. Employees will wear personal protective equipment appropriate for the care provided, according to the news release. The health system plans to continue monitoring COVID-19 transmission levels and make adjustments to its masking guidelines as necessary. Dr. David Pate, the retired CEO of St. Lukes, wrote on Twitter following the news release from Saint Alphonsus that claims of low COVID-19 transmission rates are unfounded. Pate posted a screenshot of the latest community transmission map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that shows many areas of Idaho, including Ada and Elmore counties, are listed as high or substantial. The categorizations are based on metrics that use total new cases per 100,000 people in the past seven days and the percentage of positive test results in the past seven days, also known as the positivity rate, to calculate risk. The most recent positivity rate reported by the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is 7.4% for the week of March 26 through April 1. Public health officials say a rate of 5% or less indicates control of the disease. You are free to disregard the risks, but please dont let anyone mislead you into thinking that there is minimal risk of contracting COVID right now, Pate wrote. These transmission rates will almost always look better than they are in reality, because most testing and cases are no longer being reported. St. Lukes Health System says it will lay off workers in Idaho. Whos affected, and why As doctors flee state, Idaho bill expands exceptions for abortion. Health isnt one of them Idaho couple got no jail for starving child, who had heart attack. What happened in court? Non-physicians doing laser surgery on eyes? Idaho doctors call proposal dangerous Sen. Mark Kelly and a pair of his Senate colleagues met in Kyiv with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wednesday as questions swirl about that nations war with Russia, its stewardship of U.S. aid, and the countrys long-term future. The secret visit in the Ukrainian capital happened on the heels of leaked intelligence reports that said, among other points, that U.S. authorities believe Ukraine will struggle to gain ground in a counteroffensive. And congressional Republicans are increasingly wary of financing an open-ended war against Russia. Kelly, D-Ariz., and a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, joined Sens. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., and Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, on the trip. Country music star Brad Paisley, a West Virginian heading a charity to help rebuild Ukraine, also traveled with the contingent. The meeting with the U.S. senators was part of a broad international push by Zelenskyy to continue receiving international support for his country in the year after Russia invaded. Kristen Engel: Democrat seeks rematch with Rep. Juan Ciscomani for Arizona's 6th District Also on Wednesday, Zelenskyy, in a remote appearance, appealed to Western nations meeting in Washington with the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, as well as leaders of the seven largest industrialized economies in the world, to boost their aid and seize Russian assets, the New York Times reported. Separately, Zelenskyy pressed for international action after a video emerged purporting to show a Russian soldier beheading a Ukrainian prisoner. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy holds a speech during his visit to Warsaw, Poland, Wednesday, April 5, 2023. Kelly and his colleagues received a briefing from Zelenskyy and his top officials for more than an hour, discussing Ukraines ability to continue its fight against Russian troops, energy security and ensuring that aid to Ukraine is used as intended. Afterward, Kelly described the meeting as incredibly valuable in understanding the evolving needs and conditions of the ongoing war. US Sens. Mark Kelly (right, D-Ariz.) and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va,answer media questions in Kyiv, Ukraine on April 12, 2023. He said they discussed what kind of weapons and weapons systems they need going forward to be successful. Any combat operation, regardless of what it is, is a very dynamic environment. Story continues Things change over time, so this is incredibly valuable for me to have a good understanding of what Ukraine needs as they continue this operation, Kelly said. We want to be as supportive as possible. There are war crimes committed nearly on a daily basis here. It is unacceptable and we just have to provide the support that Ukraine needs to win this thing. Manchin is also a member of the Armed Services Committee and chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee. In a statement, he praised the Ukrainian people and reiterated the need to defeat Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian people continue to show unimaginable courage in the face of Vladimir Putins unjust war, Manchin said. The level of patriotism, professionalism, and sheer endurance, of the Ukrainian people is inspiring. After this visit, I am even more convinced that defeating Vladimir Putin and ending his ruthless war against the Ukrainian people must remain our top priority. Sens. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz., from left), Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Joe Manchin, D-W.Va, answer media questions in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Apr. 12, 2023. Murkowski is a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and is part of its defense-related subcommittee. She also decried Russias invasion. For more than a year, the people of Ukraine have stood against the unspeakable atrocities unleashed against them by Vladimir Putin. Ukraine is an inspiration to the world, and it was an honor to meet with President Zelenskyy to reiterate our unwavering bipartisan support for their sovereignty and fledgling democracy, she said. Despite the incredible hardships the Ukrainian people are enduring, they continue to show there are few things more powerful than a democracy fueled by unity and hope. As I return home, Im more thankful than ever for the blessings of our American democracy, and more committed than ever to ensuring that Congress provides the assistance that Ukraine needs. Sheriff Mark Lamb enters Senate race: Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb seeks to unseat Sen. Kyrsten Sinema Among the senators gifts to Zelenskyy, Kelly provided the Ukrainian president a shirt that Kelly had on board his first space shuttle flight. The meeting with a foreign leader Wednesday was the second in as many weeks for Kelly. Last week he and other senators met with the leader of Taiwan in New York City amid increasing tensions between China, the U.S. and Taiwan. Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.) passes by a damaged Russian tank exhibition in central Kyiv, Ukraine, on April 12, 2023. Reach the reporter Ronald J. Hansen at ronald.hansen@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-4493. Follow him on Twitter @ronaldjhansen. Subscribe to our free political podcast, The Gaggle. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Sens. Kelly, Murkowski, Manchin meet with Zelenskyy in Ukraine Apprentices in a registered apprenticeship program through the Kansas State Department of Education would continue to work in classrooms while receiving pay and tuition stipends to earn their Kansas teaching licenses. Ten candidates will this fall pilot a potential apprenticeship program that could be one of the best solutions to a rise in Kansas teacher vacancies. The Kansas State Board of Education on Tuesday heard an update on a pilot for teaching registered apprenticeship program that will tentatively start this fall. More: In face of job dissatisfaction, Kansas teacher vacancies continue to rise Shane Carter, director of licensure at the Kansas State Department of Education, said the program, if advanced past the pilot stage, is one of the most promising avenues hes seen to help Kansas school districts grapple with increases in educator vacancies and a trickling pipeline of new teacher candidates. Over the past almost year, the licensure team has worked really hard on working through some different initiatives, strategies to get after teacher vacancies, and of all of the initiatives were working, to me, the registered apprenticeship has the most potential to be the most fruitful to help us build our pipeline and get individuals into the classroom, Carter told the board. How Kansas registered teacher apprenticeships would be set up Registered apprentices would still need to meet all the same licensing requirements as traditional teacher candidates, such as completing a bachelors degree, passing licensure exams and meeting educator competencies as defined by KSDE. But the key difference is that the apprentices many of whom are expected to come from other school support roles would continue working in classrooms alongside a mentor teacher, receiving pay as well as tuition assistance while they attend online, evening and teacher preparation classes through a partner university. More: How can Kansas put students into teacher pipeline? Start with more money, task force says. Apprentices receiving their training would never serve as the teacher of record, or the teacher ultimately responsible for the classroom. Instead, theyd receive guidance and recommendations from a mentor teacher, with the idea that the veteran teachers would receive a stipend for their assistance. Story continues The registered apprenticeships, as part of an overall program by the U.S. Department of Labor, would also become a nationally recognized credential, as it would be vetted, approved and validated by the Kansas Office of Registered Apprenticeship. Kansas teacher apprenticeship program would target paraprofessionals who need tuition help Carter admitted that the term apprenticeship may throw some people off, since the department already maintains several other licensure options that include the term in their titles. Those other pathways, however, are not managed under the U.S. Department of Labor registered apprenticeship guidelines, and they mostly target individuals who already have bachelors degrees. The teaching registered apprenticeship program, both in its pilot and eventual full state, would target paraprofessionals who are interested in education but have seen the cost of college tuition as a barrier against working toward an education degree. The beauty of the apprenticeship program is that there would be funds for tuition that could be used to assist those individuals to make that transition, Carter said. Paras, theyre already interested in the work, theyre working in classrooms, and they actually have knowledge or mastered some of the competencies required They have a good base of knowledge to move in through these programs, and theyve also established rapport with the district. More: Kansas one step closer to joining Interstate Teaching Mobility Compact While initially set up for adults, Carter signaled that the program could eventually expand to include youth apprenticeships, so that students in high school grow-your-own programs interested in becoming teachers could take dual credit classes and begin working with districts immediately after graduation. The apprenticeship program would require extensive cooperation between potential apprentices, school districts, colleges and the state education department. Colleges would have to offer flexible degree options to allow apprentices to attend classes outside of regular school hours, with the idea of keeping the apprentices to a four-year degree path. However, most teacher preparation programs include at least a semester of student teaching or practicum experience, which students could likely fulfill as part of their regular work duties, shortening their time in college classes. Pilot program will start with 10 teaching registered apprentices in schools across Kansas To kick off a full program, KSDE will pilot the teaching registered apprentice program this fall with 10 candidates in districts across Kansas, Carter said. Although candidates havent been picked yet, Carter said his licensure team will immediately start talking to districts to determine interest and eligibility in working with the department on the pilot. In the candidates, KSDE will look to start with individuals who would be first-generation students and otherwise meet district employment and college admission requirements. The department would use up to $400,000 from the Governors Emergency Education Relief fund for the pilots expenses, including tuition remittances. Districts would have to have a high number of vacant elementary education positions, with the department looking to have a representative sample of large and small districts from across the state. They would also need to have an existing partnership with a college that can offer a flexible degree program. More: Controversial school choice bill flops in Kansas Legislature. Republicans vow to keep trying. Results from the pilot, which is expected to take between a semester and a full school year, would steer further efforts to launch a full registered apprenticeship program, potentially as soon as the 2024-25 school year. House Bill 2292 in the Kansas Statehouse would, as part of an overall legislative action to fund apprenticeship funding across all industries, allocate $3 million to KSDE for a full apprenticeship program. Funds would go toward paying up to $2,750 in yearly tuition for apprentices. That bill has been cleared by a conference committee and only needs a second sign-off by the Senate. Funding by the bill could clear tuition payments for as many as 1,000 apprentices, although Carter said he'd consider the program a success if it could enroll 200 students, once fully rolled out. Other funding sources, such as a potential $3 million competitive grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, could help propel Kansas teaching registered apprentice program. Students in the program would also be required to at least apply for other assistance, such as the federal Pell grant and Kansas Promise Act scholarships, to extend dollars as far as possible. Education Commissioner Randy Watson told the State Board that the program would just be an issue of scalability. This has the potential to really bring young people who could not afford to go to college and must work after high school that would be teachers but cant leave their communities or their families, Watson said. We think it has great potential, so thank you Shane for the work, and a lot of the work right now is just to get a pilot off the ground. Rafael Garcia is an education reporter for the Topeka Capital-Journal. He can be reached at rgarcia@cjonline.com or by phone at 785-289-5325. Follow him on Twitter at @byRafaelGarcia. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas teaching registered apprenticeship program will start with pilot Akron police responding to a shooting in a residential area of downtown Akron found a man in the Ohio & Erie Canal who was pronounced dead at the hospital in a case that's being investigated as a homicide, according to the police department and the Summit County Medical Examiner's Office. Akron police and fire responded to the 700 block of Fleming Drive for a shooting around 5:45 p.m. Wednesday and found a 24-year-old man in the canal behind an apartment complex. According to police, after the man was removed from the water, he was found to have an apparent gunshot wound. He was removed from the canal, given CPR and taken to Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where he was pronounced dead just after 6:45 p.m. The man has been identified as Tyson Arnold of Akron. An autopsy found Arnold's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the chest. Akron crime: Akron police arrest serial rape suspect who offered women rides According to police, officers recovered more than a dozen shell casings at the scene, which they said suggests more than one shooter. Police said two vehicles were also struck by bullets by gunfire. Police said there are no suspects or known motives at this time, but detectives are working to determine the circumstances surrounding the shooting. Anyone with information can call the Akron Police Department Detective Bureau at 330-375-2490 or 330-375-2TIP, the Summit County Crimestoppers at 330-434-COPS or text TIPSCO with tips to 274637. Those reporting information can remain anonymous. This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Fleming Drive Akron Ohio: Man found in Ohio & Erie Canal dies An Oklahoma man was shot while violating a protective order and entering his estranged wifes home, police said. Officers with the Tulsa Police Department responded to a call about a shooting at a home on the citys east side around 12:30 p.m. on April 12, the department said in a news release. Officers arrived to find a man with at least one gunshot wound at the scene, the release said. After speaking with multiple witnesses, police learned the wounded man came to the home of his estranged wife, violating a protective order by doing so, police said. He kicked in a door to the home, entered and confronted his estranged wife and a male companion with her, according to police. The men got into a fight and, during the struggle, the male companion shot the womans husband, police said. However, the accused shooter left the home before police arrived. At this time, he is a person of interest as we need to get his statement to what happened, police said. The husband was taken to a hospital for treatment, according to the release. His condition is unknown but police said he was responsive at the scene. Anyone with information about the case is asked to call Tulsa Crime Stoppers at 918-596-2677. Man tosses woman wrapped in blanket off 4th-story balcony, Oklahoma cops say Accused robber targets man in wheelchair finds out hes an armed veteran, TX cops say Husband said he shot wife because she would not shut up, cops say. Hes prison bound Dad finds 11-year-old son dead as moms SUV found in ocean a state away, officials say Northern Arizona University announced it will open a Mesa Workforce Development Center focused on hospitality education near the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in 2024. NAU's School of Hotel and Restaurant Management will offer hotel restaurant management and hospitality degree programs as well as noncredit credentials. The university will build a two-story building at SkyBridge Arizona with one floor dedicated to restaurant training and the other with classrooms, food and beverage training labs and office space. Southeast Mesa is seeing a boom in hotel development with three hotels slated near Ellsworth and Williams Field roads and well as three others in the pre-submittal phase. Within the 350-acre SkyBridge Arizona property, a 129-room Wingate and Hawthorn Suites hotel is also set to open. "The synergy there is going to be good for their organization from an internship standpoint and possible employment standpoint," said Will Moseley, SkyBridge Arizona's general manager. New connections: West Mesa residents the first in Arizona to receive Google Fiber The city has also been itching for a full-service hotel and resort and has long eyed southeast Mesa as a potential spot for it. Mayor John Giles said tourism is a big part of Mesa's economy, and this center will make it easier to grow that. "We will be more successful in having a robust tourism industry in Mesa and Arizona if we can offer a well-trained workforce to bring major facilities and employers to our area," he said. Mesa's education chase A poster of SkyBridge's planned developments on display at the groundbreaking ceremony. NAU is partnering with Kind Hospitality, a restaurant management organization with a specialty in airport operations. The center is expected to create a workforce pipeline to support the growth of the hospitality industry in metro Phoenix. More than 245,000 workers in the metro Phoenix area are employed in leisure and hospitality, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. That is more than the number of employees who worked in the hospitality field prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. Story continues The "accessibility to mobility-constrained working professionals" and future hospitality employees in need of "reskilling or upskilling" is partly why Mesa was a prime location for the center, according to NAU's news release. The statement also said, "The center will provide cost-effective education and training solutions that best fit the needs of employees and employers." The NAU addition to the city's education portfolio is just another step for Mesa to increase its educated workforce. Mesa has one of the lowest rates of higher education attainment in the region. Mesa Councilmember Scott Somers, who represents the area, said this is a great opportunity and a career opportunity for residents in southeast Mesa. "If we want to bring in a resort hotel, they need to know we have the workforce available to support that so that it's successful," Somers said. "So having NAU's program here is a way to demonstrate that and provide that." 'We need to heal': Kids of incarcerated parents score at Mesa church during hoops camp Reporter Maritza Dominguez covers Mesa/Gilbert and can be reached at maritza.dominguez@arizonarepublic.com or 480-271-0646. Follow her on Twitter @maritzacdom. This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: NAU to open Mesa Workforce Development Center at SkyBridge Arizona HOLLAND, Mich. The last time a girl was born into the Clark family of Western Michigan was in 1885. Audrey Marie Clark has made headlines in publications worldwide since her birth on St. Patricks Day. Why? Because Audrey is the first girl born to the Clark family in more than 130 years, breaking a streak which appears to be a statistical anomaly according to her family, which apparently has been keeping track. Carolyn and Andrew Clark with their son, Cameron, and daughter, Audrey Marie. Audrey is the first girl born into Clark's family in roughly 100 years. "We had no idea the news was going to blow up the way it has," Carolyn Clark, Audrey's 36-year-old mom, told the Detroit Free Press, part of USA TODAY Network. "This past week has been a whirlwind with all the press and people contacting us for interviews." Clark of Caledonia, a small village near Grand Rapids, said the media blitz started out as a "feel-good story" with the local TV station, but it snowballed into a segment on ABC, "Good Morning America" and then into reports on radio shows, websites, and newspapers worldwide. Clark said she met her husband, Andrew, at a family resort in Muskegon years ago. Of course, their first child was a boy, Cameron, who is now 4. So when Audrey was born, weighing in at 6 pounds, 8 ounces, it was an especially happy surprise. What are the odds? Statistically, according to the World Health Organization, in most countries, the gender birth ratio tends to slightly favor boys: about 105 males per 100 female births, although in theory the sex ratio at conception is equal. It turns out female mortality is slightly higher. But the odds are slim that there would be no female births over several generations. "When we decided to start growing our family, I just was like, 'I'm going to try for it,' " Carolyn Clark told Grand Rapids station WZZM-TV, noting that the male-only streak went all the way back to her husband's great, great grandfather. But, she said: "I want the girl." And now, Clark said, she has one along with a closet full of pink baby clothes. More coverage by USA TODAY Contact Frank Witsil: 313-222-5022 or fwitsil@freepress.com. This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: After 130-plus years, West Michigan family tree finally has a daughter The NBC program "Dateline" will feature the case of Courtney Coco on Friday. The body of 19-year-old Coco was found on Oct. 4, 2004, in an abandoned building in Winnie, Texas, a small community south of Beaumont along Interstate 10. But it wasn't until April 2021 that David Anthony Burns was indicted and arrested in the case. Burns, who had been dating Coco's sister at the time of her death, was found guilty in October 2022. According to testimony during the trial, Burns and Coco were seeing each other while he was dating her sister. The Rapides Parish jury took 90 minutes to find him guilty of second-degree murder, which carries a mandatory life sentence without the benefit of probation, parole or suspension of sentence. Burns was defiant in declaring his innocence after Coco's family gave victim impact statements in late November at what was to have been his sentencing. He denied killing her and told her family they wouldn't find peace because they knew he didn't do it. "You know I would not do something like this," he said, facing the family in the courtroom's gallery. "You know I'm not hiding nothing, ain't nothing to hide." Burns refused to waive a 24-hour waiting period after his motion for a new trial was rejected, so 9th Judicial District Court Judge Maruy Lauve Doggett allowed Coco's family to proceed with their victim impact statements and sentenced him the next day. 'Giving us justice': Boyce man found guilty in murder of 19-year-old Courtney Coco of Alexandria 'I hate you, and I pray you rot': Courtney Coco's mom unleashes on man convicted in daughter's murder Those who spoke at the sentencing remembered how Burns was a pallbearer at Coco's funeral and how he had helped her grandfather when he had a stroke as she was being buried. Coco's grandmother, Ina Laborde, told him she loved him still and asked him if he loved her. He said he did. Story continues But Burns got no love from Coco's mother, Stephanie Belgard. She cried and raged at him, pointing to a photo of her daughter and reading a poem Coco wrote in junior high school about what she wanted to do with her life. "I hate you, and I pray you rot in Angola," she cried while looking at Burns. "I hope I never ever see your face again." She told Burns he'd been hiding from them all through the years, even as he became a youth pastor. "Nothing can fix this. Nothing. I want my baby girl back." Belgard has become a force for the families of violent crime since her daughter's death. She works with the national group, Parents of Murdered Children, and often supports other families as their own loved ones' cases wind through the justice system. The two-hour "Dateline" episode will air at 8 p.m. on KALB-TV locally and other NBC affiliates across the state. It will be available on NBC's steaming app, Peacock, the next day. This article originally appeared on Alexandria Town Talk: Courtney Coco cold case to be featured on NBC's 'Dateline' on Friday Hi there, OnPolitics readers! Its been almost a week since news broke of a top-secret U.S. military documents leak. This afternoon Attorney General Merrick Garland announced that Jack Teixeira, an Air National Guardsman in Massachusetts suspected of leaking classified documents about the war in Ukraine, was arrested. What was leaked?: Domestic Security correspondent Josh Meyer and Pentagon correspondent Tom Vanden Brook break down what you need to know about the documents: The documents appear to be highly sensitive reports related to the war in Ukraine, including data on U.S. military activities in the region and ammunition use by Ukrainian forces. The documents appear to be dated to early March, around the time they were first posted online on Discord, a messaging platform popular with gamers. What are officials saying? President Joe Biden said from Ireland that U.S. officials are "getting close" to wrapping up their fast-moving investigation into the leak. He also told reporters "I'm not concerned about the leak. I'm concerned that it happened." Keep reading:Pentagon document leak: Here are the biggest takeaways after U.S. military secrets leaked DOJ investigation:Air National Guardsman arrested in Pentagon document leak investigation Stay updated with our Ukraine live blog: Leader of group that leaked documents reportedly is Air National Guard member Get newsletter in your inbox: Don't miss our politics coverage. Sign up for OnPolitics. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Leaked Pentagon documents: Takeaways, what's next Market.Us Europe holds the biggest share of the champagne market at 64% in 2022. Key players in the region drive market growth through product innovations. The UK, Belgium, France, and Germany are among the countries with high consumer demand for champagne. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global champagne market size accounted for USD 7.2 billion in 2022 and the market is estimated to register a higher CAGR of 6.2%. It is expected to reach USD 12.9 billion in the forecast period of 2023-2032. Champagne is commonly sparking and white wine which is made in the old province of Champagne, France. Champagne is made from varieties of grapes and flavors such as apple, citrus, and almond. Demand for champagne is increasing due to the increase in restaurants, bars, and hotels. Champagne Market To get additional highlights on major revenue-generating segments, Request a Champagne Market sample report at https://market.us/report/champagne-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway: By Product, the Blanc De Blancs segment generated the largest revenue share of 25% in 2022. By distribution channel, the Off-Trade segment was dominant in the market with the largest market share of 75% in 2022. In 2022, Europe dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 64% . Asia-Pacific will show lucrative growth from 2023-2032. Individuals worldwide spend more on special occasions such as achievements and weddings. Champagne is becoming more popular worldwide due to its authentic flavors and tastes. Factors affecting the growth of the champagne market There are several factors that can affect the growth of the champagne market. Some of these factors include: Availability of different varieties of flavors: Champagne is made from natural raw materials, due to this they are available in different flavors such as citrus, almond, and apple which are popular among consumers. Increasing consumer preference : Consumers are nowadays more inclined towards celebrations and spend more on parties which is the main factor for the growth of the champagne market. Strong Growth in Distribution Channels: Off-trade distribution channels such as bars, pubs, and wine stores are easily accessible by consumers also varieties of flavors are available in bars, boosting the growth of the market. COVID-19: During the CoVID-19 pandemic there was a disruption in the supply chain of raw materials and manufacturing processes which had a negative impact on the growth of the global champagne market. Story continues To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/champagne-market/#inquiry Top Trends in Global Champagne Market Manufacturers in the champagne market are now more inclined toward raw material procurement at competitive pricing. Raw material procurement involves engaging in long-term supply contracts with raw material suppliers. Companies in the champagne market are steadily moving toward consolidation through mergers & acquisitions, joint ventures, and collaborative partnerships. The young population is inclined towards trends of cocktail culture, which is responsible for high demand among the young generation. Significant demand in food tourism and luxury hotels is a key trend in the market. Market Growth Airlines such as Lufthansa and Emirates are started offering vintage wines like champagne for business-class travelers. The lifestyle of individuals worldwide changing and they are shifting towards a luxury lifestyle responsible for the high demand for champagne among luxury-class individuals. Due to rapid urbanization, the number of bars and restaurants is continuously increasing focusing on expanding research on wines and spirits. Popularity among vintage wines is increasing among consumers due to their authentic flavors are expected to have a positive impact on market growth. Regional Analysis The champagne market was dominated by Europe with the largest market share of 64% in 2022. Major key companies in Europe Such as Comite Champagne focus on product innovations attributed to market growth. Regions' growth is attributed to high product demand among consumers in the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, and Germany. Also in the UK, there is a large number of bars and pubs which are convenient to reach. Asia Pacific region is likely to witness significant growth in the forecast period owing to rising population and high product consumption in emerging economies such as China, Japan, Hong Kong, and Australia. Growing trends toward luxury lifestyles among consumers in North America and increasing numbers of hotels and bars in the region are expected to grab significant market share in the global market. Competitive Landscape Several key players are now focusing on different marketing strategies such as spreading awareness about natural ingredients, which is boosting the target products' growth. Major key players in the global champagne market are Moet Hennessy USA, LANSON-BCC, Vranken - Pommery Monopole, Champagne Laurent-Perrier S.A.S., Pernod Ricard, Remy Cointreau, Centre Vinicole Champagne, Nicolas Feuillatte, Martel, Louis Roederer, Taittinger, and Other Key Players. Have Queries? Speak to an expert or Click Here To Download/Request a Sample Scope of the Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 7.2 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 12.9 Billion CAGR (from 2023 to 2032) 6.2% Europe Revenue Share 64% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers Manufacturers in champagne markets are using organic, natural, ad vegan ingredients for consumer satisfaction allowing to create growth in the champagne market. These days people are starting to spend more on casual drinking on birthdays, dinners, and office parties which is the main growth factor of the global champagne market. Also, the introduction of different types of flavors of champagne such as peach, strawberry, and blueberry is driving demand for champagne in the market. Strong growth of distribution channels in emerging economies also drives the market growth. Market Restraints Manufacturing of champagne requires raw materials such as varieties of grapes, and fluctuations in prices of raw materials are the major factor restraining market growth. Also, high consumption of champagne has negative health effects which are expected to hinder the growth of the market. Market Opportunities Airlines started serving champagnes for luxury and business class travelers which are expected to create growth opportunities in the market. Increasing numbers of hotels, restaurants, bars, and hectic & stressful lifestyles individuals are visiting bars which will result in high demand for champagne in the global market. Manufacturers in the champagne market are continuously working on adding new flavors to champagne. Individuals worldwide are spending more on special occasions which is anticipated to create lucrative growth opportunities in the global champagne market. Grow your profit margin with Market.us - Purchase This Premium Report at https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=32325 Report Segmentation of the Champagne Market Product Insight Based on product, the Blanc De Blancs segment was dominant in the champagne market with the largest market share of 25% in 2022 and is expected to remain dominant in the market during the forecast period owing to popularity among consumers as it has good natural acidity and distinct taste. Blanc de Blancs champagne is entirely made from white grapes. Distribution Channel Insight Based on the distribution channel off-trade segment was dominant in the market with the largest market share of 75% in 2022 and is anticipated to hold market share during the forecast period owing to high market visibility shops as key buying sources among consumers worldwide. Wine shops are easy to reach for consumers and the price of bottles is less as compared to bars or restaurants which is driving the growth of this segment. Recent Development of the Champagne Market In April 2022, Champagne Krug, which is an LVMH brand, introduced two new varieties of champagnes, Grande Cuvees and The Bollinger Style to celebrate of partnership. In February 2022, Champagne Louis Roederer launched its vintage version of champagnes, Cristal. For more insights on the historical and Forecast market data from 2016 to 2032 - download a sample report at https://market.us/report/champagne-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation By Product Prestige Cuvee Blanc De Noirs Blanc De Blancs Rose Champagne Brut Champagne Demi-Sec By Distribution Channel On-Trade Off-Trade Online Retail Stores Offline Retail Stores By Geography North America The US Canada Mexico Western Europe Germany France The UK Spain Italy Portugal Ireland Austria Switzerland Benelux Nordic Rest of Western Europe Eastern Europe Russia Poland The Czech Republic Greece Rest of Eastern Europe APAC China Japan South Korea India Australia & New Zealand Indonesia Malaysia Philippines Singapore Thailand Vietnam Rest of APAC Latin America Brazil Colombia Chile Argentina Costa Rica Rest of Latin America Middle East & Africa Algeria Egypt Israel Kuwait Nigeria Saudi Arabia South Africa Turkey United Arab Emirates Rest of MEA Key Market Players Moet Hennessy USA LANSON-BCC Vranken - Pommery Monopole Champagne Laurent-Perrier S.A.S. Pernod Ricard Remy Cointreau Centre Vinicole Champagne Nicolas Feuillatte Martel Louis Roederer Taittinger Other Key Players Related Reports Bottled Water Market size is expected to be worth around USD 565.40 billion by 2032 from USD 282.82 billion in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 6.5% during the forecast period from 2023 to 2032. Cider Market was valued at USD 5,123 million in 2021. It is expected to grow by 3.7% between 2023 and 2032. Champagne Glass market size is expected to reach a value of around USD 1.97 billion by 2026. Craft Beer Market was valued at USD 95.23 billion in 2021 and is projected to increase significantly to USD 260.78 billion in 2032. Fortified Wine Market size was valued at USD13,420 million in 2021, and is projected to reach USD 47607.34 million by 2032 at 12.2% CAGR, between 2022-32. Wine Cellars Market size is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 7.2% from 2022 to 2032. About Us: 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. Follow Us On LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Our Blog: CONTACT: Global Business Development Team Market.us Market.us (Powered By Prudour Pvt. Ltd.) Email: inquiry@market.us Address: 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300, New York City, NY 10170, United States Tel: +1 718 618 4351 Website: https://market.us We knew it could happen here. In a city where gun violence claims lives weekly, a mass killing felt like only a matter of time. Still, when an Old National Bank employee opened fire on his co-workers Monday at a branch in Louisville, killing five people and injuring eight others, it sent shockwaves through our community as it geared up for spring, for the Kentucky Derby, for blissful celebrations. Wednesday updates: City releases 911 calls from Old National Bank shooting In a classroom at Southern High School, students frantically texted their parents to find out if they were downtown. A restaurant near the bank became an emergency center for police and victims' families, hoping for good news about their loved ones. Monday night church services turned into vigils for those who died. A man kneels in front of the steps 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 "Certainly we've always philosophically known it could happen in Louisville and probably would happen in Louisville at some point," Sarah Davasher-Wisdom, president and CEO of Greater Louisville Inc., said of the shooting. "But I don't think anything could have prepared the soul for that." In interview after interview, residents said they weren't surprised by Monday's news. They've already watched mass shootings take place at a private school in Tennessee; a college campus in Michigan; and a dance hall in California this year, alone. Related: 100 days into 2023, Louisville attack marks nation's 146th mass shooting and 15th mass killing They've also witnessed a drastic increase in local homicides that have left more than 650 people dead since 2019. Those deaths continued hours after the bank shooting, when Chea'von Moore, 24, was fatally shot outside a Jefferson Community & Technical College building. An unnamed woman was also injured in that incident. "In many respects, it felt like yesterday was a culmination of sadness that was already pre-existing, to a certain extent," Jason Crosby, a chaplain at Centre College who lives in Louisville, said Tuesday. "It kind of punctuated just the general sense of weariness that I think people were already feeling, even before yesterday." Story continues Kennita Ballard, a teacher at the Grace M. James Academy of Excellence, whose students have already felt the effects of gun violence, was a little more blunt. "I hate to be flippant about it, but it was like this was just another day," she said. "It's normal for the students." Kids in schools now regularly participate in active shooter drills, Ballard said. They learn about mass shootings on social media. And some know victims of gun violence personally including family members and classmates. "As a teacher, I don't know what to make of that," Ballard said. She's heard some argue the experiences make students more resilient, but system failures "created these situations that students have to deal with." Kelly Morris, left, and her mom Cathy Morris leave inspirational messages on a makeshift memorial placed in front of the Old National Bank to honor the victims of the mass shooting that occurred earlier in the week in Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 11, 2023. "Our children, our 11-year-olds, our 13-year-olds, they had no hand in the making of what is impacting our city, what is impacting our state, what is impacting our nation," she said. Raoul Cunningham, president of the Louisville NAACP, said it's beyond time for legislators to enact sensible gun legislation including instituting background checks for gun owners and limits on semi-automatic weapons, such as the AR-15 rifle used at the bank. "No matter what, if you're conservative or liberal, Democratic or Republican, this has got to be checked and stopped," Cunningham said. "And I can't think of any way of doing it except through the legislative process." More: 911 calls of Louisville Old National Bank shooting paint bleak picture inside the building Anthony Smith, executive director at Cities United, an organization working with cities to reduce gun violence, agreed, saying gun legislation is not a political issue, but a human one. "It's not about taking guns away from folks but making access a little bit harder to get," Smith said, "paying attention to when people have issues, making sure we get to them and help them." Smith added those issues need to be raised anytime a fatal shooting occurs not only when multiple victims are involved. The American flag was flown at half staff at Jefferson Square Park in downtown Louisville, Ky. on Apr. 11, 2023 to honor the victims of the mass shooting at the Old National Bank yesterday. Gov. Andy Beshear ordered flags to be lowered to that level this week. "For me, it feels like we should be having press conferences and vigils as a community every day or whenever we lose somebody to make sure we understand, that we care about all life that is lost as a city," he said. One hope for Ballard and Angela Parsons, principal at the J. Graham Brown School, are their students. Young people in their classrooms aren't shy about talking about their struggles or going to an adult if they're worried about a friend, Parsons said. "When they become adults in the world, they're going to recognize 'I don't want these things for our community,'" Ballard said. "... While I don't feel like there will be a change (following this shooting), I feel like there will be a change in this generation that I'm teaching." Letters: Louisville responds to mass shooting at Old National Bank, 'Do something!' Sam Cruz, owner of Against the Grain Brewery, which served as an emergency center following the shooting, said he's proud of the way his staff and police handled the tragedy. And while it seems "inconsequential at this moment, I hope people understand Louisville is a great place," he said. "... I'm proud of our city." 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. Outside Old National Bank on Tuesday, Brandon Chrusciel stopped to pay his respects, pausing before bouquets that lined the steps leading up to the office building at Preston and Main streets. Chrusciel said he went to the same high school as shooter Connor Sturgeon, and he struggled to explain how he felt about the tragedy. As a member of the military, he's trained in responding to casualties. But that "doesn't mean you're automatically immune" to the horrific nature of public shootings. "We've got to come together, talk about it," Chrusciel said. "I know it can be painful, but one thing I've learned is that not talking about it doesn't make the pain go away." Reach reporter Bailey Loosemore at bloosemore@courier-journal.com, 502-582-4646 or on Twitter @bloosemore. This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Louisville residents say mass shooting was expected but horrifying Chris Jackson - Getty Images Buckingham Palace has revealed details of the regalia for the coronation, and its not just King Charles who will be adorned with various Crown Jewels. As well as the crown that it has already been announced she will wear, Queen Camilla will have her own set of regalia. Here is a look at the details of her ceremonial apparel. Queen Marys Crown Royal Collection Trust The choice of Queen Marys Crown to crown Camilla with was announced back in February. It represented a shrewd move by the Palace to avoid the controversy of the crown worn by the last Queen Consort, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. Her crown from 1937 contains the Koh-i-noor diamond, the ownership of which is much-contested. It was presented to Queen Victoria by the East India company in 1849 and claims to it have since been made from India, Pakistan and Afghanistan. The less-controversial Queen Marys Crown was made for the 1911 coronation of King George V and Queen Mary and contains 2,200 diamonds (although in another twist it actually used to contain the Koh-i-noor until that stone was moved for the 1937 coronation). It is currently being refashioned for Camilla to include the Cullinan III, IV and V diamonds, which is widely seen as a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth as they were in her personal jewelry collection. These jewels come from the Cullinan diamond, which is the largest diamond ever found and is not without its own controversy. Discovered in a mine in Pretoria in 1905 (following the Boer war and when the area was colonized by Britain), it was presented to King Edward VII and eventually cut into nine stones. The largest stone, known as the Great Star of Africa, was set in the Sovereigns Sceptre which King Charles will carry at the coronation. The same sceptre was on Queen Elizabeths coffin following her death and during her funeral, with its visibility prompting fresh calls for the gem to be returned to South Africa. Culture Club - Getty Images Queen Consorts Rod With Dove Having avoided the controversy of the Koh-i-noor with her choice of crown, Camilla has attracted it with a sceptre she will carry. The rod that she will be given to hold during coronation is made of ivory. The sceptre is formed from an ivory rod in three sections, tapering towards the top, and is surmounted by a gold monde enamelled with the national emblems (rose, thistle, harp, and fleur-de-lis) with a cross above on which perches an enamelled dove with wings folded, the Royal Collection explains about the item. It was made in 1685 for the coronation of Mary of Modena, consort of James II, and has been used to crown every queen consort since. Story continues However quite a lot has changed since the 17th Century and today members of the royal family have been at the forefront of campaigning for the banning of the ivory trade. In 2014 the Independent on Sunday first reported that Prince William had called for items in the Royal Collection to be stripped from the Palace. Clearly that did not happen. Reports suggest that the Palaces view on this item is that it reflects the time it was produced in. However, one royal expert on Twitter predicted that William will be furious at the inclusion of the ivory object in the modern-day coronation. Queen Consorts Sceptre With Cross Just like her husband, Camilla will be given two sceptres to hold, with the second having also been made for Queen Mary of Modena in 1685. As the first Queen Consort to participate in the coronation ceremony since the Restoration of the monarchy, Mary of Modena required a set of regalia, the Royal Collection notes. This sceptre is made from gold sections of rod joined by rose-cut stones. The Queen Consorts Ring Camilla will be given a ring to wear which will certainly be the biggest sparkler on her hand that day. Made for the coronation of King William IV and Queen Adelaide in 1831, this ring has been used by three further Queens Consort: Queen Alexandra, Queen Mary, and Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother. It is described by the Royal Collection as comprising an extended octagonal mixed-cut ruby in a gold setting, unbacked, within a border of fourteen cushion-shaped brilliants set transparent in silver collets. There are a further 14 rubies on the band. You Might Also Like 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 An Atlanta family is mourning the loss of their teenage son and family friend after both drowned during a spring break trip in an attempt to save a group of kids that they didnt know near Pensacola, Florida. The parents of Bryce Brooks told local reporters that their 16-year-old son was selfless and should be remembered as a hero. Left Photo: Bryce Brooks and his younger brother playing outside of the familys Atlanta home; Right Photo: The Brooks family at church one Sunday in March 2023; (Photos: Screenshots from Crystal & Shivy Brooks Facebook pages) Our children witnessed four other kids who they did not know being pulled by the current further out to the sea, Bryces father Shivy Brooks explained during a news conference outside Maynard Jackson High School in southeast Atlanta. Our boys sprung into action. According to Shivy and Crystal Brooks, on April 6 their son Bryce witnessed a group of children he didnt know being pushed by a current at Johnson Beach in Perdido Key, Florida, and appeared to be drowning. Bryce and two others jumped into the Gulf of Mexico waters to save the other children, while three other boys ran to get help. Unfortunately, he began to be pulled under by the strong current, and he drowned. The current also took the life of family friend Charles Johnson II, also known as Uncle Chuck. Johnson jumped in to attempt to save Bryce. The children were rescued, and four people were transported to local hospitals in the wake of the emergency, the Escambia County Public Information Office for Public Safety told the Pensacola News Journal. At that time of being selfless, our son Bryce while being pulled by currents himself literally called for help, but not for himself, Shivy said. He was calling for help for the little kids he was looking out for. Bryce attended Maynard Jackson High School along with Johnsons son, who was also on the spring break trip. The Brooks family said Bryce was an honor roll student, a member of his schools fashion club, loved to make music, and always took care of his younger brother. He also appeared on the Netflix show Instant Dream Home with his family, in which a crew secretly renovated their Atlanta house. Story continues Were never gonna get to see Bryce grow up to be the full man that he was going to be, Crystal said. But, we know that he stepped into his manhood to save these children, and that makes me proud. It doesnt take away an ounce of pain, but it makes me proud of our son. The family hopes their story sheds a positive light on teenagers in Atlanta after the recent negative media coverage of teenage gun violence in the city. Let it be amplified that Atlanta-developed kids would give up their lives for other kids, said Shivy Brooks. A GoFundMe was started to help the family with funeral costs, and it currently has reached over $80,000 in donations. Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism used this logo to promote a drawing they held offering a free trip for four to Topeka from New York City. More than 2,000 residents of the Big Apple entered a contest to win a free trip for four to Topeka. The 2,024 people entered the giveaway by Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism after New York Mayor Eric Adams made comments Feb. 27 belittling the position of Topeka's mayor. "Id like to express my gratitude for the thousands of New Yorkers whove expressed interest in Topeka and Kansas and want to learn more about our great capital city, said Sean Dixon, president of Visit Topeka, on Wednesday. Vacation in Topeka will be tailored based on winner's interests Visit Topeka has randomly chosen the winner's name and is in the process of contacting that person, said India Yarborough, communications director for the Greater Topeka Partnership, of which Visit Topeka is a part. The winner's name hasn't been made public. "Assuming they accept, Visit Topeka will then work with the recipient to nail down dates and tailor hotel accommodations and activities based on their interests," Yarborough said. Residents from all five boroughs of New York City entered the sweepstakes, she said. More: 'He could have made me the mayor of Topeka, Kansas.' Who hurt New York Mayor Eric Adams? 'He could have made me the mayor of Topeka' New York City Mayor Eric Adams' jokes at Topeka's expense resulted in a contest for a free vacation to the capital city of Kansas to as many as four residents of the Big Apple. Adams said Feb. 28 at an interfaith prayer breakfast in New York City that he strongly believed God decided to take "the most broken person" and elevate him to a place as the mayor of the "most powerful city on the globe." "He could have made me the mayor of Topeka, Kansas," Adams said. Visit Topeka and Kansas Tourism responded by announcing March 3 they would hold a drawing to give away a trip for four to Topeka for New York City residents. Residents of New York City including the five boroughs of the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island were eligible for the chance to win the all-inclusive, three-day, two-night stay in Topeka. Story continues The prize includes roundtrip airfare for four people into Kansas City, Mo., as well as hotel accommodations, tickets to local attractions and $500 in gift certificates to local restaurant and retail locations. The March 3 news release included quotes from Topeka native Jeff Kready, star of the 2014 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, "A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder." Topeka was my home for 23 years, but for the last 17 years, I have been a New Yorker," Kready said. I am so excited for my fellow New Yorkers to have the chance to visit Kansas for themselves. Topeka will surprise you. It is a city rich with art, culture, music and more! Contest rules website had a mistake Entries were accepted through March 31, with selection taking place on or about April 3, the contest rules said. Organizers in promotional materials for the sweepstakes had said only one winner would be drawn. That was inconsistent with the sixth rule on the contest rules website, which said two winning entries would be drawn. That was posted mistakenly, Dixon said. He said organizers exercised their option of modifying the rules posted online and arranging for one winner to be drawn. Rule No. 12 on the contest rules website allowed them to do that, he said. Dixon stressed that promotional materials for the contest always said one winning name would be drawn. More: New York City's mayor said Kansas 'doesn't have a brand.' Twitter pulled out the receipts. 'Kansas doesn't have a brand,' Eric Adams said last September Topeka Mayor Mike Padilla responded to Adams' Feb. 28 statement about Topeka's mayoral position the following day, saying one of the best lessons he's learned as mayor here is the value of humility. "Ive personally visited New York City on numerous occasions, and have always spoken highly of New Yorkers never stooping to assumptions or stereotypes," Padilla said. "Id invite the mayor of New York to get to know our beautiful city and its people before casting judgment on a community he seems to know little about. Adams had previously used Kansas as a punchline on Sept. 27, when he insulted the Sunflower State by saying New York City has a brand that's recognizable around the world, unlike Kansas. "Kansas doesn't have a brand," Adams said. The New York Times reported some family members of Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly responded by personally delivering a gift basket to Gracie Mansion, the New York mayors official residence. Contact Tim Hrenchir at threnchir@gannett.com or 785-213-5934. This article originally appeared on Topeka Capital-Journal: More than 2,000 New York City residents tried to win trip to Topeka A Texas judge's decision to invalidate federal approval of a key abortion drug cites research based on anonymous blog posts, cherry picks statistics that exaggerate the negative physical and psychological effects of mifepristone, and ignores hundreds of scientific studies attesting to the medication's safety. The unprecedented ruling last week by U.S. District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk contradicted the recommendations of numerous medical groups when it assailed the safety of mifepristone, a two-decade-old medication used in more than half of all abortions in the United States. Another federal judge determined on the same day that the drug should remain available in a swath of states. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. Kacsmaryk wrote in his decision that "the lack of restrictions resulted in many deaths and many more severe or life-threatening adverse reactions" and accused the Food and Drug Administration of acquiescing to "the pressure to increase access to chemical abortion at the expense of women's safety." The ruling is the first time a court has suspended a medication's approval after rejecting the assessment of a human drug by the FDA, considered among the world's most stringent regulators. The agency says that between 2000, when the drug was approved, and last June, it received reports linking mifepristone to 28 deaths out of the 5.6 million who have used the drug. And in those 28 deaths, the agency said information gaps made it impossible to directly attribute the cause to mifepristone; in some cases, the deaths involved overdoses and coexisting medical conditions. "If it were just up to the science, this case would be thrown out," said Daniel Grossman, an obstetrician and gynecologist who directs a reproductive health research program at the University of California at San Francisco. The program, like many mainstream medical groups, supports abortion rights. "We have over two decades of science showing how safe this is." Story continues In the days since Kacsmaryk's ruling, the scientific community has raised alarms about increasing legal and political attempts to undermine the science that informs modern medicine. Kacsmaryk, a Trump judicial appointee, is presiding over another lawsuit by anti-vaccine advocates who accuse media companies, including The Washington Post, of colluding to censor their views on coronavirus vaccines and treatments. In the abortion pill case, an author of a Finnish study cited by Kacsmaryk disputed the judge's characterization of the research, which the judge summarized as revealing that the "overall incidence of adverse events is 'fourfold higher' in chemical abortions when compared to surgical abortions." Plaintiffs in the lawsuit had also highlighted the study, which compared the records of more than 40,000 women in Finland who had surgical or medication abortions in the early 2000s. The study identified a higher risk of adverse events among patients undergoing medication abortions compared with those who had surgical abortions, but the judge's analysis neglects a crucial point: Significant complications were extremely low in both groups. In Finland, adverse events largely reflect patients concerned about uterine bleeding associated with medication abortions, said Oskari Heikinheimo, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the University of Helsinki and a co-author of the study. Heikinheimo said in an interview that the plaintiffs - and now the judge - were purposely misunderstanding his work and overemphasizing "adverse events" despite overwhelming scientific evidence of the drug's safety and the study itself noting the rarity of serious complications. No one who filed the lawsuit had contacted him to talk about his research, Heikinheimo said. "The political game has nothing to do with the scientific process," he said. Because individual studies often produce conflicting results, the medical community has long relied on a systematic approach known as evidence-based medicine, drawing on accumulated evidence from clinical research to inform their care of patients. Among the hundreds of clinical trials using mifepristone over two decades, more than 400 were randomized controlled studies, which are considered the gold standard of research design. Kacsmaryk instead peppered his ruling with data from researchers affiliated with the Charlotte Lozier Institute, an Arlington, Va.-based antiabortion group whose website proclaims its mission to "expose the harms of the FDA's current abortion pill policy that simply ignores the known risks." One study by James Studnicki, director of data analytics at the Lozier Institute, found that more than a quarter of women on Medicaid who had used abortion pills between 1999 and 2015 visited an emergency room within 30 days. Critics say the study is flawed because it did not specify the services people received at the ER. Medicaid patients are more likely to visit emergency rooms for routine medical care because they often lack primary care providers. Studnicki, in an interview, accused abortion rights groups of underplaying the potential complications from abortions involving mifepristone, noting that ER visits are serious matters. Bleeding is a normal part of a medication abortion, but women will often visit an emergency room as a precaution because they are unsure whether the amount of bleeding is excessive - and because their abortion clinic may be very far away, said Ushma Upadhyay, a UCSF professor and expert in reproductive health and abortion safety. Upadhyay said the Lozier Institute is known for categorizing any complaint or side effect as a "complication." "They blur the lines," she said. "They're not using medically endorsed definitions." An analysis by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists of hundreds of published studies found that "serious side effects occur in less than 1% of patients, and major adverse events - significant infection, blood loss, or hospitalization - occur in less than 0.3% of patients." "The risk of death is almost non-existent," according to the group's amicus brief, filed jointly with the American Medical Association, the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine and other medical organizations opposing the lawsuit. Complications from wisdom tooth removal, colonoscopy and Viagra use carry greater risk, they said. Experts noted that most drugs on the market can cause complications, even death. The FDA, in approving a treatment, weighs the risk of the medication versus the benefit - it does not automatically exclude drugs that have side effects, even serious ones. "I can assure you that that approval process was both comprehensive and quite thorough and was done according to the standard procedures at FDA," Jane Henney, who led the agency when mifepristone was approved, said during a news conference Monday. The agency had consulted clinical data, preclinical data and the manufacturing process, among other criteria, she said. The government's appeal Monday underscored that "serious adverse events are exceedingly rare, just as they are for many common drugs like ibuprofen." But Christina Francis, chief executive of the American Association of Pro-life Obstetricians and Gynecologists and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said the drug safety data used by the FDA is flawed because it relies on reporting by abortion providers - which she said was unlikely to capture the full picture of the complications following abortions. "Those of us on the front lines are seeing women and girls coming into the ER who have been harmed," Francis said. Kacsmaryk also cites studies about the mental health of women who have obtained abortions that researchers criticize as misleading. One concluded that 77 percent of women who had a "chemical abortion" reported a "negative change." "Thirty-eight percent of women reported issues with anxiety, depression, drug abuse, and suicidal thoughts because of the chemical abortion," Kacsmaryk wrote. Both statistics, according to the footnotes in his ruling, came from a study based on several dozen anonymous blog posts from abortionchangesyou.com. The website is run by the Institute of Reproductive Grief Care. Adam Unikowsky, a partner at Jenner & Block who has argued before the Supreme Court and writes a legal newsletter, pointed out that the bloggers are a self-selected group that is far from a representative sample of women who have obtained abortions. "This is roughly like reporting a statistic that '83% of people are fans of Judge Kacsmaryk' without mentioning that the entire sample consisted of posters on JudgeKacsmarykFanClub.com," Unikowsky wrote in his newsletter. The judge also referenced another disputed study from 2002 asserting that "women who receive abortions have a 154% higher risk of death from suicide than if they gave birth." The study's authors - including David C. Reardon, an antiabortion activist and associate scholar with the Lozier Institute - say their findings could be explained by "self-destructive tendencies, depression, and other unhealthy behavior aggravated by the abortion experience." They analyzed California Medicaid records for 173,279 women who had an induced abortion or a delivery in 1989, then linked them to death certificates between 1989 and 1997. Critics at the American Psychological Association have argued that the California data set is too incomplete to link abortion to a higher risk of death. Reardon defended his work in an interview, claiming "the science is irrefutable." "There is no evidence that abortion causes psychological harm to women," said Brenda Major, a professor emeritus of psychology at the University of California at Santa Barbara, who has led two task forces for the American Psychological Association to analyze studies on mental health and abortion. But Kacsmaryk chose not to refer to more rigorous studies on mental health that have shown that the most common emotional response after abortion is relief, Grossman said. A well-known study by UCSF researchers of about 1,000 women who sought abortions compared people who received abortions with those who were denied them. The 10-year study found that abortion does not hurt the health and well-being of women and did not increase their rates of depression, anxiety or suicidal thoughts. Being forced to carry an unwanted pregnancy to term, on the other hand, was associated with negative health effects. Kacsmaryk's ruling pointed to another study that attributes women's mental health problems directly to abortion. The 2011 meta-analysis by Priscilla K. Coleman, a retired Bowling Green State University professor of human development and family studies, included her own studies that used flawed research methods, said Major and other critics. Coleman's methodology and conclusions have drawn repeated criticism from fellow academics who say her research included in the 2011 paper does not distinguish between mental health problems that were diagnosed before an abortion and those that occurred afterward. Coleman, a co-author in Reardon's 2002 study, did not respond to requests for comment. The repercussions of Kacsmaryk's decision reach far beyond the battle over abortion. Mary Ziegler, an expert on the legal history of abortion in the United States at the UC Davis School of Law, said the disregard for FDA expertise could threaten any drug or vaccine that has already received approval. "It shows you how important courts are going to be in undermining or undercutting the science," she said. - - - The Washington Post's Rachel Roubein contributed to this report. Related Content Texas is home. The Briggle family and their trans child are fighting for it. China's struggles with lab safety carry danger of another pandemic How progressive Denmark became the face of the anti-migration left Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed legislation Thursday aimed at preventing gun violence in Michigan by expanding background checks and establishing penalties for those who fail to keep firearms out of the hands of children. Whitmer signed the bills at Michigan State University's campus just two months after a shooting at the school left three dead and five injured. "Today, we're taking commonsense gun action to reduce violence and save lives," Whitmer said at the bill signing ceremony. "Gun violence is a scourge that is unique to this country and that's why we're taking action." Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signs a package of gun bills Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing. "We don't have to live like this and today we're showing that we're not going to," Whitmer said. In addition to the bills she signed, Whitmer repeated her call for lawmakers to send legislation to create a so-called "red flag law" her way. "All of these initiatives are supported by a majority of Michiganders," she said. Democrats in the state House and Senate have passed bills to allow courts to temporarily take firearms away from those deemed dangerous. But the two chambers have to work out small differences and give the bills final approval before they can go to Whitmer. Later Thursday, the Michigan House approved a series of bills to enact a "red flag" law that would empower courts in the state to temporarily take away guns from those deemed dangerous. A crowd applauds Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer as she addresses gun violence before signing a package of gun bills, Thursday, April 13, 2023, at Spartan Stadium in East Lansing, Mich, [Matthew Dae Smith/Lansing State Journal via AP] While federal law currently requires background checks for gun sales by licensed dealers, Michigan law only requires first obtaining a license for purchasing pistols from private sellers. The Democratic legislation House Bill 4138 signed by Whitmer would expand the requirement to all firearm purchases. House Bill 4142 amends the state's penal code to reflect the change. The bills passed on a party-line vote. Whitmer also signed Senate Bill 79 requiring gun owners to store their firearms in a locked container or use a locking device if they have a child in the house or take their gun somewhere a child could gain access to it. Senate Bill 80 signed by Whitmer updates the state's criminal code with the penalties for those who fail to safely store their firearms. Story continues If a child injures themselves or someone else with an unlocked firearm, the gun owner would be guilty of a felony punishable up to five years' imprisonment and/or a $5,000 fine. If the minor kills themselves or someone else, the individual who failed to secure or lock their firearm would be guilty punishable up to 15 years' imprisonment and/or a $10,000 fine. "No longer do we only have our thoughts and prayers. We have these tools and we're taking action," said Kalamazoo County Sheriff Rick Fuller at the bill signing ceremony. The safe storage bills passed along a party-line vote in the state Senate but received the support of five GOP state representatives in the House, including House Minority Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township. Three Oakland County lawmakers also voted for the bills: state Reps. Tom Kuhn of Troy, Donni Steele of Orion Township and Mark Tisdel of Rochester Hills. Not far from their competitive districts, a 15-year-old at Oxford High School used a gun purchased by his parents to kill four students and injure seven others in November 2021 rampage. His parents the first in the country charged in a mass school shooting argue the gun used in the massacre was locked and secure. But prosecutors counter the shooter had easy access to the weapon at home. Democrats introduced similar safe storage requirement bills last legislative session that languished in the GOP-controlled Legislature. Whitmer also signed bills Senate Bill 81 and Senate Bill 82 to temporarily exempt firearm safety devices from sales and use taxes. Democrats shepherding the gun safety measures passed so far say their actions represent a starting point and to expect additional proposals to curb gun violence. 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 signs gun safety bills following school shootings MANCHESTER, N.J. A fast-moving wildfire that spread to 2,500 acres as of early Wednesday forced authorities to order evacuations for about 170 homes and other structures, the state Forest Fire Service said. About 75 structures were threatened, the service said. The Ocean County Sheriffs Office said in an email alert and text message late Tuesday that all residents between Division Street and Myrtle (Street in Lakehurst) are to evacuate immediately due to a brush fire. The Manchester Office of Emergency Management ordered evacuations along Beckerville Road, Horicon Avenue and Horicon Drive in the Whiting section of the township because of the fire, the township said in a statement. Evacuees were being instructed to report to Manchester Township High School. Smoke billows from across Lake Horicon in Lakehurst where a major wildfire threatened the town early April 12, 2023. The Forest Fire Service and the Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Fire Department were operating Tuesday night in unified command as their firefighters battled the blaze 10% contained early Wednesday which theyre calling the Jimmys Waterhole Fire. The inferno was burning on U.S. military, state and private property along Route 539 and Horicon Avenue in Manchester, the state agency said. At the Route 70 and Union Avenue traffic circle in Lakehurst, ash was raining down and conditions were smoky. From Lake Horicon, the roar of the fire could be heard across the water. SAVANNAH FIRE: Third floor collapses at federal courthouse in Savannah; three workers injured INDIANA: Over 2,000 people evacuated after fire in Richmond, Indiana; blaze caused by burning tractor-trailer The Forest Fire Service said its crews had begun a backfiring operation to help contain the fire. Local volunteer fire departments in Ocean County had been deployed to safeguard the threatened structures. April is the peak of the wildfire season in New Jersey. Ninety-nine percent of New Jersey wildfires are caused by people, and 9 out of 10 homes destroyed in wildfires are the result of embers falling on structures, the Forest Fire Service said. This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Wildfire in Manchester, NJ, forces evacuations; homes threatened 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. What WA Senate vote means for airport prospects in Pierce, Thurston and what's next The Chicago region's flagship startup & venture capital conference will welcome 700+ founders, Fortune 500s executives, innovators, and investors from around the worldMay 3 to 5. CHICAGO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- This year's Chicago Venture Summit Future-of-Food will showcase the Chicago region's dominance as a hub for food manufacturing and innovation. It will also put the spotlight on transformation in the food industry, with keynotes from Alanna Cotton, President and Chief Business Officer of Ferrero North America; Kristin Kroepfl, Chief Marketing Officer of Quaker Foods North America; and, Hiroshi Shiragami, Chief Innovation Officer for Ajinomoto. Chicago Venture Summit, Future of Food, May 3-4, 2023 (PRNewsfoto/World Business Chicago) "With the second edition of Future-of-Food coming back, the Chicago Venture Summit series continues to lead as a premier convening for innovators from around the world," said Mark Tebbe, Innovation & Venture Council Chair and Board Member, World Business Chicago. "And now is the best time to showcase our city's most promising founders and startups in food and ag innovation." You can find more information at www.chicagoventuresummit.com , highlights include: Wednesday, May 3, opening day includes partner events and official opening reception. Thursday, May 4, the full Summit program will kick off with remarks by Chicago Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot; and, Friday, May 5 is a new "Startup & VC" Day designed for out-of-town investors and VCs to convene with Chicagoland entrepreneurs and other Chicago Venture Summit attendees. "Chicago's central location, strong industry infrastructure, extensive transportation network, and diverse economy have made it a global leader in food innovation and a prime destination for economic growth in the food industry," said Michael Fassnacht, President and CEO, World Business Chicago. "With the largest food manufacturing workforce in the nation and a thriving community of innovative companies and startups, the Chicagoland region is at the forefront of shaping the future of food in the country." Story continues Chicago Venture Summit, Future of Food, is made possible through the generous support of its sponsors. Presenting sponsors: BMO, Cleveland Avenue, Cooley, Edelman, Ferrero, Mars Wrigley, Microsoft, Quaker Foods, and Shapack Partners. Innovation Sponsors include: 1871, Choose DuPage, Cook County, GET Cities, Here Here Market, JLL, Kane County, Kendall County, Lake County Partners, McHenry County Economic Development Corporation, Midwest House, SRS Acquiom, University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign's College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences, and Will County Center for Economic Development. Startup Sponsors include: 2112, Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network, Food Foundry, Grow Greater Englewood, Illinois Institute of Technology's Institute for Food Safety & Health, Illinois Science & Technology Coalition, P33, and Valor Equity Partners. Venture Partners include: All Raise, BLCK VC, Bluestein Ventures, Chicago:Blend, Dom Capital Group, FounderFamilia, Gen Z VC, HPA, LatinxVC, Lofty Ventures, The 81 Collection, Tilia, Serra Ventures, Supply Change Capital, TSX, and VCFamilia. In 2022 the Chicago Venture Summit welcomed more than 1500 founders, Fortune 500 executives, innovators, and investors from around the world. Led by World Business Chicago with the support of sponsors, the Chicago Venture Summit is an invite-only industry innovation and startup conference. To learn more on how to register, please email World Business Chicago Venture Events Manager Lauren Backe: lbacke@worldbusinesschicago.com About World Business Chicago: World Business Chicago serves a critical role in driving inclusive and equitable recovery throughout the city's 77 neighborhoods, focused on high growth sectors: transportation, distribution, & logistics; manufacturing; healthcare & life sciences, and our local innovation, startup, & venture ecosystem. As the City of Chicago's economic development agency, World Business Chicago leads corporate attraction & retention, workforce & talent, community impact, and promotion of Chicago as a leading global city. Supported by a council of 300+ local leaders, World Business Chicago's portfolio of innovation & venture programs include: the Chicago Venture Summit series, Startup Chicago, ThinkChicago, and Venture Engine with the Illinois Science and Technology Coalition (ISTC). Follow World Business Chicago on LinkedIn for daily news and announcements on company relocation and expansion; industry and ecosystem growth, U.S. and world rankings, and more about Chicago's economic progress. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/chicago-venture-summit-future-of-food-announces-keynote-speakers--agenda-301796776.html SOURCE World Business Chicago FILE - President Joe Biden speaks in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Nov. 9, 2022. On Friday, April 7, 2023, The Associated Press reported on stories circulating online incorrectly claiming a video shows Biden essentially confirming that his team coordinated the indictment of former President Donald Trump to stop Trump from taking power again. A restorer cleans Michelangelo's "David" statue while preparing for the reopening of the Galleria dell'Accademia, which was closed for nearly three months due to coronavirus on May 27, 2020, in Florence, Italy. By Joe Cash and Ellen Zhang BEIJING (Reuters) - China's exports unexpectedly surged in March, with officials flagging rising demand for electric vehicles, but analysts cautioned the improvement partly reflects suppliers catching up with unfulfilled orders after last year's COVID-19 disruptions. Exports in March shot up 14.8% from a year ago, snapping five straight months of declines and stunning economists who predicted a 7.0% fall in a Reuters poll. But analysts say the jump was more likely related to exporters rushing to fulfil a backlog of orders that had been disrupted by the pandemic in past months, and warned the global demand outlook remained subdued. "The wave of COVID outbreaks in December and January likely depleted factories' inventories. Now that factories are running at full capacity, they caught up the cumulated orders from the past," said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management." "The strong export growth is unlikely to sustain given the weak global macro outlook," he added. Meanwhile, imports fell less than expected, with economists pointing to an acceleration in the purchase of agricultural products, especially soybeans, as providing some support. Imports dropped just 1.4%, smaller than the 5.0% decline forecast and a 10.2% contraction in the previous two months. Increases in crude oil, iron ore and soybeans imports in the month were offset by a decline in copper imports. GRAPHIC: China exports, https://www.reuters.com/graphics/CHINA-ECONOMY/TRADE/jnpwyllxmpw/China%20exports.png Financial markets took little cheer from the upbeat export data as investors remained wary about the outlook, although the Australian dollar, seen as a proxy for Chinese demand for commodities, rose slightly. Lv Daliang, spokesperson of the General Administration of Customs, attributed the upside surprise to strength in demand for electric vehicles, solar products and lithium batteries. Story continues However, he warned conditions could worsen going forward. "The external environment is still severe and complicated at present," Lv told reporters in Beijing on Thursday. "Sluggish external demand and geopolitical factors will bring greater challenges to China's trade development," he added. China's strong performance contrasts with that of other Asian exporters, such as South Korea and Vietnam, which have both seen exports decline in the first few months of 2023, contributing to doubts that it can be sustained. "We arent convinced that this rebound will be sustained given the still gloomy outlook for foreign demand," Capital Economics analysts said in a note. "We expect most developed economies to slip into recession this year and think that the downturn in Chinese exports still has some way to run before it reaches a bottom later this year." Factory surveys showed export orders falling in March, a contrast to more upbeat readings for the services sector, which has benefited from China's reopening. China's newly appointed premier Li Qiang told a cabinet meeting last week that officials should "try every method" to grow trade with developed economies and push companies to further explore emerging market economies, such as those of Southeast Asia. Beijing has set a growth target of around 5% for gross domestic product (GDP) this year, after severe pandemic controls last year knocked the economy to one of its slowest rates in decades. GDP rose only 3% last year. (Reporting by Joe Cash and Ellen Zhang; Editing by Clarence Fernandez and Sam Holmes) Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. Remiza de aur, interzisa cardiacilor Petrolul s-a intors cu un punct extrem de pretios din deplasarea de la Voluntari, cu ajutorul caruia se mentine in partea superioara a clasamentului din play-out si, totodata, la o distanta sigura de locurile care duc la baraj sau direct in esalonul secund, unde lupta este, in continuare , apriga! De doua ori s-au [citeste mai departe] Market.Us The usage of chlorine is intrinsically linked to the development of its downstream sectors, which include the production of polyvinyl chloride (PVC), water treatment, and chemical manufacturing. The demand for chlorine is sensitive to variations in these industries, and any fluctuations in their demand can exert a substantial influence on the demand for chlorine market. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global chlorine market was valued at US$ 39.5 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow to US$ 67.2 Billion in 2032. Between 2023 and 2032, this market is estimated to register a CAGR of 5.6%. Chlorine is mainly produced by the electrolysis of brine (sodium chloride solution) in an electrolytic cell. The process involves passing an electric current through a brine solution, which causes the salt to break down into its constituent elements - sodium, chlorine, and hydrogen. Another process for chlorine production is the mercury cell process, which involves the electrolysis of brine using a mercury cathode. This process is less common due to environmental concerns associated with the use of mercury. global chlorine market Growth Market.us has identified key trends, drivers, and challenges in the market, which will help clients improve their strategies to stay ahead of their competitors. - View a sample report @ https://market.us/report/chlorine-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway: By Application , in 2022, the Chlorine market was dominated by the EDC/PVC segment due to its increased usage. By end-user, the Water Treatment segment dominated the largest market share in end-user type analysis In 2022, Asia-Pacific dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 57.5%. North America is anticipated to have the highest CAGR among all the regions. North America is expected to grow at a greater pace owing to affordable prices, increasing medical tourism, as well as hospitals and clinics, among others factors. Factors affecting the growth of the chlorine industry? Several factors can affect the growth of the chlorine industry, including: End-use industries: The demand for chlorine is directly influenced by the growth of its end-use industries, such as PVC production, water treatment, and chemical manufacturing. Any changes in the demand for these industries can significantly impact the demand for chlorine. Economic growth: The growth of the global economy can also affect the demand for chlorine. As economies grow, there is an increased demand for products and services that rely on chlorine, which can lead to increased demand for chlorine production. Technological advancements: Advancements in technology can also impact the growth of the chlorine industry by improving the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of chlorine production. Regulatory environment: Regulations and policies related to the production and use of chlorine can impact the industry's growth. For example, changes in environmental regulations or safety standards can increase the cost of production and impact demand for the chemical. Availability of raw materials: Chlorine production relies heavily on the availability and cost of raw materials, such as salt and electricity. Any changes in the availability or cost of these materials can significantly impact the production of chlorine. Story continues To understand how our report can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/chlorine-market/#inquiry Market Growth The growing global population and urbanization are driving the demand for clean water and sanitation, which is expected to increase the demand for chlorine in water treatment applications. Additionally, the increasing demand for PVC, which is a major end-use application for chlorine, is expected to drive the market's growth. The development of new technologies and processes for chlorine production is also expected to drive growth in the market, as it can improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of production. However, regulatory and environmental concerns related to chlorine production and use can pose challenges for the market's growth. Overall, the market is expected to experience steady growth in the coming years due to the growing demand from end-use industries and the development of new technologies for chlorine production. Regional Analysis The Asia Pacific region is to be the largest and fastest-growing market for chlorine, driven by the increasing demand for PVC and water treatment applications in countries such as China, India, and Japan. The region is also experiencing significant growth in chemical manufacturing and other industries that require chlorine. The North American market for chlorine is expected to experience steady growth due to the increasing demand for PVC, water treatment, and chemical manufacturing applications. The Middle East & Africa region is also expected to experience steady growth in the chlorine market, driven by the increasing demand from end-use industries such as water treatment and chemical manufacturing. Overall, the global chlorine market is expected to experience steady growth in the coming years. To know about the regional trends and drivers that will have an impact on the market - Request a sample report! Scope of the Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) USD 39.5 Billion Market Size (2032) USD 67.2 Billion CAGR (from 2022 to 2032) 5.6% Asia-Pacific Revenue Share 57.5% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers Chlorine is used in a wide range of industries, including PVC production, water treatment, and chemical manufacturing. The growing demand from these industries is expected to drive the growth of the chlorine market. The increasing global population and urbanization are driving the demand for clean water and sanitation, which is expected to increase the demand for chlorine in water treatment applications. The growth of emerging economies, particularly in Asia Pacific and Latin America, is expected to drive the demand for chlorine in various end-use industries. Chlorine is an effective and cost-efficient disinfectant, and its use in water treatment applications can help prevent the spread of waterborne diseases. Market Restraints Chlorine production and use can have negative impacts on the environment, including the release of greenhouse gases and the potential for water pollution. Chlorine can have negative health effects if not used properly, and exposure to high levels of chlorine gas can be toxic. Chlorine has several substitutes, including ozone, UV light, and other disinfectants. These substitutes can provide similar benefits to chlorine without the potential negative impacts on the environment and health. Market Opportunities The growing demand for clean water and sanitation, particularly in emerging economies, is expected to drive the demand for chlorine in water treatment applications. Chlorine is used in the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and its use in these industries is expected to grow as the global population continues to age. The development of new technologies and processes for chlorine production and use can improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of the product, which can drive the growth of the market. Immediate Delivery Available | Buy This Premium Research Report@ https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=53958 Report Segmentation of the Chlorine Market Application Insight EDC/PVC accounted for the largest market share in 2022 at over 35.1%. Chlorine has several applications in the production of inorganic and organic chemicals, including titanium dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, magnesium chloride, chloromethanes, solvents, glycols, and amines. Chlorine is also used as a bleaching agent in the paper and pulp industry and in the production of solvents such as trichloroethylene and tetrachloroethylene. Additionally, chlorine finds applications in other industries, such as food processing, cosmetics, and pharmaceuticals. End User Insight The Water Treatment segment is expected to be the most profitable, accounting for the largest revenue share of 22.5% and a projected CAGR of 5.6% during the forecast period. The global chlorine market is segmented by end-user into Government, Pharmaceutical, Chemicals, Paper and Pulp, Plastic, Pesticides, Water Treatment, and Other End-Users. Chlorine is extensively used as a disinfectant in water treatment plants to eliminate harmful bacteria and viruses. The Pulp and Paper industry also utilizes chlorine as a bleaching agent to whiten paper. In the Pharmaceuticals industry, chlorine is used in the production of antibiotics and painkillers. Chlorine also finds applications in various other industries, including cosmetics, agrochemicals, and electronics, and is used in the production of different consumer products, such as household cleaning products and personal care items. If you want to get a better understanding of the report, you can access a PDF sample, which includes the complete table of contents, list of exhibits, selected illustrations, and example pages @ https://market.us/report/chlorine-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation Based on Application EDC/PVC Inorganic Chemicals Chloromethanes Organic Chemicals Bleaching Solvents and Epichlorohydrin Isocyanates Others Based on End-User Government Pharmaceutical Chemicals Paper and Pulp Plastic Pesticides Water Treatment Other End Users 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 order to meet the shifting demands of the market, the major players are also making investments in research and development activities. The goal is to introduce novel chlorine products. Occidental Petroleum Corporation, The Dow Chemical Company, and Ineos Group Holdings S.A. are among the major players in the global chlorine market with a significant share of the market. Some of the major players include: BASF SE Profiled Olin Corporation The Dow Chemical Company Occidental Petroleum Corporation Ercros PPG Industries De Nora Inovyn Hanwha Chemical Corporation Formosa Plastics Corporation Ineos Group Ltd Tata Chemicals Limited Xinjiang Zhongtai Chemicals Co.Ltd Tosoh Corporation Recent Development of the Chlorine Market In May 2021, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a significant increase in demand for chlorine, which is utilized in water treatment facilities and disinfectants. In August 2021, to meet the growing demand for chlorine in Africa, Tata Chemicals Ltd. announced the expansion of its chlor-alkali and soda ash plant in Tanzania. Browse More Related Reports: Chlorine Compressors Market size for chlorine compressors was USD 81.94 million in 2021, and the CAGR of 3.2% between 2023 and 2032. Activated Bleaching Earth Market size is expected to be worth around USD 4536.73 million by 2032 from USD 2866 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 4.70% Aroma Chemicals Market was valued at USD 5.35 billion in 2020. This market is expected to reach USD 7.54 billion at a CAGR of 2.9% during the forecast period (2023-32). Organic Skin Care Market will reach US$ 9,863 million by 2021. This market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.0% between 2023-2032. Herbal and Organic Mascara Market was valued at US$ 129.1 million in 2021. The market is expected to grow at a 5.5% CAGR from 2022-2032 About Us: 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. Follow Us on LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Our Blog: CONTACT: Global Business Development Team Market.us Market.us (Powered By Prudour Pvt. Ltd.) Email: inquiry@market.us Address: 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300, New York City, NY 10170, United States Tel: +1 718 618 4351 Website: https://market.us Industry turnover up 6.8pct, in the first two months of 2023 The total industry turnover (domestic and foreign market) increased by 6.8pct, in the first two months of this year, compared to the similar period of 2022, in nominal terms, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) informed on Thursday. Thus, the industry turnover increased in nominal terms, in the period January 1 - February 28, 2023, compared to the period January 1 - February 2 8, 2022, overall, by 6.8pct, due to the increase of the manufacturing industry (+7.5pct). The extractive industry decreased by 5.7pct, told Agerpres. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste Citeste articolul mai departe pe stiripesurse.ro Sursa articol si foto: stiripesurse.ro Stiri pe aceeasi tema - The turnover of wholesale and retail trade, and the maintenance and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles over January - February 2023 was 17.5 percent up from the same period of 2022, while the turnover for market services provided to the population increased by 22.4 percent, shows data released - New orders in the manufacturing industry as a whole (domestic and foreign market) increased, in the first two months of the year, in nominal terms, by 6.6pct, compared to the similar period in 2022, according to data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).In February - Romania's energy resources in Romania increased by 3.3pct in the first two months of this year compared to the same period in 2022, while population consumption decreased by 18.2pct, according to data published on Thursday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).According to the official statistics, - The trade balance deficit recorded by Romania in the first two months of the year decreased by 5pct, standing at 4.385 billion EUR, down by 232 million EUR compared to the one recorded in the similar period of 2022, according to the data published on Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).Thus, - Industrial production prices (domestic and foreign market) increased by 21.6% in February 2023, compared to the same month last year, but decreased by 0.3% compared to the previous month, according to the data published on Tuesday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).According to the quoted - Turnover in the motor vehicle and motorcycle trade increased 20% on a gross series in January 2023 compared to the same month last year, while turnover in market services to the general public rose 22.3%, according to data the National Institute of Statistics (INS) published on Friday.Total turnover - Romania's manufacturing new orders (domestic market and international market), increased in January 2023 in nominal terms by 2% on a monthly basis, and by 5% y-o-y, the National Institute of Statistics (INS) reported on Thursday.According to INS data, the 2% increase in manufacturing new orders was - New orders in the manufacturing industry increased last year, in nominal terms, by 18.4pct compared to 2021, according to the data published by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on Wednesday. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro Stiri pe aceeasi tema - President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that he will take care that it doesn't come to "a budget flip-flopping" in Romania, adding that he promulgated the draft law that provides for salary increases for mayors.Klaus Iohannis was asked if it is possible to talk about "a fiscal flip-flopping" given - The Chamber of Deputies adopted, on Wednesday, the draft law establishing the solidarity contribution for companies that are active in the extraction of crude oil, natural gas, coal, the manufacture of coke oven products and products obtained for oil refining, by introducing provisions regarding the - President Klaus Iohannis on Tuesday promulgated a piece of legislation amending Article 6(2) in Law 361/2022 regarding the protection of whistleblowers in the public interest."Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph 1, reporting that does not include the name, surname, contact details or signature - The democratic legacy of the 1923 Constitution also means a common responsibility, and the Parliament through the adopted laws must not deviate from the constitutional values, the same as all the other public authorities must observe the separation and balance of powers in the state, in the spirit of - On Thursday, European leaders had in-depth discussions with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, within he meeting of the European Council, about the latest developments of Russia's aggression war against Ukraine, as well as about the continuous support of the EU for Ukraine, President Klaus Iohannis - President Klaus Iohannis will participate, on Thursday and Friday, in the Spring European Council meeting and in the Euro Summit in an enlarged format, which will take place in Brussels, the Presidential Administration informed.The European Council meeting will start with a working lunch with the - President Klaus Iohannis stated on Wednesday that the allied unity and solidarity are absolutely essential for Ukraine and they represented "the secret weapon" of the allied countries. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. Urmareste stiripesurse.ro pe Facebook stiripesurse.ro - President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that the Ministry of Finance must clarify whether OMV Petrom will pay the solidarity tax in Romania, stating that it is the initiator of the piece of legislation on which the Ministry of Energy has not been informed. Fii la curent cu cele mai noi stiri. The United States has announced sanctions on more than 50 people and entities in order to curb Russias and sanctioned Russian persons access to the international financial system through the use of financial facilitators, David Pressman, the US Ambassador to Hungary said. Pressman told an extraordinary international press conference that sanctions were imposed on the Budapest-based, Russia-controlled International Investment Bank (IIB) and three of its senior executives resident in Hungary, including one Hungarian national: Nikolay Kosov, Georgy Potapov, and Imre Laszloczki. Laszloczki, currently a deputy head of IIB, earlier served as Hungarys Ambassador to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan. We have concerns about the continued eagerness of Hungarian leaders to expand and deepen ties with the Russian Federation, Pressman said. "We have concerns about the continued eagerness of Hungarian leaders to expand & deepen ties with the Russian Federation despite Russias ongoing brutal aggression against Ukraine and threat to transatlantic security," the US Ambassador wrote on Twitter. Gulyas: US Diplomacy Pressuring Hungary Into Pro-War Position US diplomacy has not given up on efforts to pressure Hungary into taking a pro-war position, but the government maintains the view that peace is in the common interest, the head of the Prime Ministers Office said. Referring to a billboard campaign, Gergely Gulyas told a government press briefing that everyone can see in the streets in recent days that instead of the opposition pursuing a campaign funded by US sources, the US embassy is now directly running a campaign in Hungary. This is unusual, especially unusual among allies, he said, adding that the greatest problem was that the US campaign is a pro-war campaign. It is a common interest that there should be ceasefire and peace talks as soon as possible he said. Gulyas said that Hungary would not yield to US pressure, and saving lives could only be achieved through a ceasefire and peace talks, precisely at a time when neither side can win this war. He said Hungary abided by international law and had condemned Russias aggression and provided humanitarian aid to Ukraine with a focus on Transcarpathia. In response to a journalists question, Gulyas called the billboard campaign unfortunate, especially amid a political climate in which organisations openly connected to the democratic administration contributed large funds to the Hungarian oppositions 2022 election campaign. The minister called this interference in Hungarian domestic politics. This is not right, he said. So far its billboards, but this campaign may easily run on other surfaces in the future, Gulyas said. Asked about a press conference by US Ambassador to Hungary David Pressman scheduled for later on Wednesday, Gulyas vowed to give a reaction if anything said at the event referred to the Hungarian government. He added that it was regrettable that the press portal index.hu was being barred from the ambassadors press conference. US Left-Wing Jibes Against Hungary 'Ideological' - American Scholar American left-wing jibes against Hungary are ideological, Christopher Rufo, senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute, has told an event in Budapest, adding that the US state apparatus had been taken over by radical left-wing ideologies. Rufo, a guest of the Danube Institute, said Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, a potential presidential candidate of the Republican Party, was successful at confronting wokism, critical race theory and other left-wing ideologies, and he knew how to stop the advance of institutional wokism. Hungary, he said, had highlighted how it was possible to combat radical left-wing ideological trends, referring to moves to strengthen church education and train a conservative elite as examples, according to a press release of the event on Wednesday. Rufo said Hungary was an inspiration to Western conservatives, which is why the country was on the receiving end of criticism from the mainstream press. On the subject of possible US sanctions against Hungary, he insisted that the country was being attacked by US foreign policy for ideological reasons, and he encouraged the government to continue to resist such pressure. TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - Sara Kanutski, Tchadas Leo and Tanner Isaac are the recipients of this year's CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships , established to amplify Indigenous voices and foster better comprehension of Indigenous issues. The recipients of the 2023 CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships are (right to left) Tanner Isaac, Sara Kanutski, and Tchadas Leo. (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Foundation) The award provides three early-career Indigenous journalists with the opportunity to explore issues of interest while being hosted for one month at the CBC News Indigenous Unit in Winnipeg . Kanutski, a self-taught journalist and musician with deep roots in her community in Thunder Bay, Ont., has worked as a journalist and producer with CBC Thunder Bay. She plans to use her time at CBC Indigenous to expand her knowledge of residential schools and unmarked graves to create stories that explore how the growing awareness of the schools and graves are impacting both Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities. "Even though Sara is in the early stages of her career, her community focus, artistic personality and strong communications skills shine through in all that she does," says jury member, author and journalist Tanya Talaga. "A strong writer with a keen social media eye, she is in a great position to really benefit from four weeks at CBC Indigenous, and I am delighted to see her earn the opportunity." Leo, a multimedia video reporter from Vancouver Island who grew up in the Xwemalhkwu reserve in B.C.'s Bute Inlet, impressed jurors with his on-camera presence and the variety of his reporting. "This young man has carved out a place at Victoria's CHEK News, where he's showing a real range and curiosity," says jury chair Duncan McCue. "His on-camera material won me over. I feel he will thrive in the fellowship." Tanner Isaac, a student journalist from the Listuguj Mi'gmaq First Nation community in West Listuguj, Que., brings a profound sense of community to his proposal to explore the stories of missing persons from Indigenous communities. Story continues "Tanner submitted a really strong demo video that captured the essence of life on the rez and his connection to community," says Meagan Fiddler, jury member and senior producer at CBC Indigenous. "He has shown strong initiative, and we are looking forward to working with him to hone his skills." The story or series resulting from the fellowship experiences will be considered for publication or broadcast by CBC News. The CJF provides each fellow a $4,000 training stipend along with a per-diem allowance for meals and other reasonable expenses. The recipients will be recognized at the CJF Awards ceremony on June 13 at the Royal York Hotel. For tickets, tables and sponsorship opportunities, see contact information below or visit the CJF Awards page. The CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowships jury members are: Duncan McCue (chair), host of Cross Country Checkup on CBC Radio; Meagan Fiddler , senior producer, CBC Indigenous; Eden Fineday , publisher, IndigiNews ; Lenard Monkman, reporter with CBC Indigenous and recipient of a 2017 CJF-CBC Indigenous Journalism Fellowship; Tanya Talaga , author, journalist and president and CEO of Makwa Creative; and Maggie Wente, Indigenous rights lawyer at Olthuis Kleer Townshend LLP in Toronto. These fellowship opportunities are made possible thanks to the generous support of Sobeys Inc. About The Canadian Journalism Foundation Founded in 1990, The Canadian Journalism Foundation promotes, celebrates and facilitates excellence in journalism. The foundation runs a prestigious awards and fellowships program featuring an industry gala where news leaders, journalists and corporate Canada gather to celebrate outstanding journalistic achievement and the value of professional journalism. Through monthly J-Talks, a public speakers' series, the CJF facilitates dialogue among journalists, business people, academics and students about the role of the media in Canadian society and the ongoing challenges for media in the digital era. The foundation also fosters opportunities for journalism education, training and research. Related Links https://cjf-fjc.ca/ The Canadian Journalism Foundation Logo (CNW Group/Canadian Journalism Foundation) SOURCE Canadian Journalism Foundation Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/13/c7625.html The opposition Parbeszed party on Wednesday called for the project to expand the Paks nuclear power station to be abandoned. Parbeszeds Benedek Javor noted at an online press briefing that an amendment of earlier contracts on the project was announced after Foreign Minister Peter Szijjartos visit to Moscow. While Szijjarto has not made the details public, based on interviews and press reports in recent days, the new construction project may involve Rosatom abandoning its role as the main contractor, he added. The Paks 2 project in its current form is clearly a failure and the government admitted this by reviewing the contract, he said. Javor said a loan agreement was linked to a 2014 Russian-Hungarian nuclear cooperation deal, and parliament must approve any amendment of it. If the amendment involves changing the main contractor, then its effects could be catastrophic, he said. It would mean the government taking all of the projects financial and legal liabilities from Rosatom and burdening Hungarian taxpayers with it, he added. Consequently, the Russians, as suppliers, would not bear any responsibility for cost increase in the project, and the cost could grow from the original 12.5 billion euros to unforeseeable heights, he said. Hungary is now among Europes safest countries partly thanks to the work of the National Crime Prevention Council, an interior ministry official said on the occasion of Crime Prevention Day. Bence Retvari, the ministrys parliamentary state secretary, also attributed moves to strengthen the legal system and the police, as well as the high level of employment, to the fall of recorded crimes by a third in a decade, noting 447,000 crimes in a single year a decade ago as against 154,000 in the past year. Only 4% of people in Hungary do not feel safe, a French survey has found, compared with 15% in Germany, 20% in Belgium, 24% in France and 58% in Sweden, he said. Retvari said crime prevention at the national borders in connection with organised crime linked to migration was also a factor in protecting Hungarians from becoming victims of crime. Click here to read the full report Hope for peace in Ukraine remains as long as there are open channels of communication between the parties, and so maintaining dialogue with Belarus in is very important, the foreign minister said after meeting his Belarusian counterpart, Syarhey Aleynik. Speaking after a meeting of the Hungarian-Belarusian intergovernmental committee of economic cooperation in Budapest on Wednesday, Peter Szijjarto said that despite the long litany of criticism and attacks that are sure to follow, our meeting in Budapest today was very important. Hungary stands on the side of peace, and wants the war in neighbouring Ukraine to end as swiftly as possible as that is the only way to save lives, Hungarian lives among them, he said. It is very clear that we are in the 25th hour, and the danger of escalation looms larger than ever, Szijjarto said. An escalation would first hit the countries near to the armed conflict the hardest, and so avoiding such a development is a priority, he added. Szijjarto said he had asked Aleynik to do everything in his governments power to avoid escalation. Closing channels of communication would be tantamount to the world giving up hope for peace, he said. Belarus hosted peace talks in the conflict earlier, Szijjarto said, expressing hope that similar talks would restart soon. Szijjarto, Aleynik Discuss Economic Cooperation The foreign ministers of Hungary and Belarus discussed at their meeting in Budapest developing cooperation in sectors not affected by sanctions. Regarding the security of energy supply, a critical issue for Hungary, Peter Szijjarto noted that 80% of the countrys oil supplies comes through the Druzhba pipeline crossing Belarus. So far, Belarus has been a trustworthy, reliable and fair partner, and has ensured uninterrupted deliveries, he said, adding that Aleynik has promised to continue deliveries. The ministers have also touched on the issue of nuclear energy and a related agreement they signed at their meeting, he said. Sharing experiences with Belarus, which is building similar nuclear blocks to those under construction in Hungary, is important, he said. Nuclear security is of universal, global interest, regardless of the geopolitical situation, he said. Wizz Air flights took off from Great Britain last year with the longest delays, according to a survey prepared by the British Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and presented this week, writes profitline.hu. The statistical analysis, compiled for British media by the PA information agency, looked at the departure data of all airlines that operated more than 2,500 scheduled and charter flights from U.K. airports in 2022. Based on the PA information, as presented by the British public service media company BBC, the average delay for all departures was 23 minutes. The average delay of Wizz Air flights departing from Great Britain was twice this, at 46 minutes and 6 seconds last year. Spring is in the air and everyone is thinking of new beginnings. The Kilgore Memorial Library and the 4-H extension office have teamed up and you might be hearing some cheeps in the near future. The library is playing host to some incubators with Icelandic Chicken eggs for the first part of April. You can come and learn about the formation of these chicks and hopefully get to see them hatched. They are presenting on Wednesdays for the first three weeks of April at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. They will also be presenting the first three Fridays at story hour. As of right now, we have lots of winners. You can also check out the livestream of the incubators. This is quite the EGGciting adventure. We also have some budding artists in the hallways. Please check out the art of students from York High School taught by Randy Howell. They are learning many artistic methods and have done wonderful work and are quite talented. We also have our LEGO artists still meeting at 10:00am on Saturday mornings for LEGO Club. But if LEGOs and chicks arent the new beginning you are thinking about, maybe you would like to try your hands and thumbs in gaming. The gaming group is hosting open gaming on Wednesday, April 19, from 2:30-4:30 pm and Saturday, April 29, from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. They will be playing Super Smash Brothers Ultimate, Mario Kart Racing, or inking in Splatoon 3. Another event scheduled in April at the library will be for those who are interested in learning from the Nebraska Chapter of the Alzheimers Association on the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimers. A representative of this organization will be at Kilgore Library on Tuesday, April 25 to make this presentation at 10:30 am. This informative talk is open to anyone interested in learning more. Then, later in May, Kilgore Memorial Library will be hosting the summer reading program with many activities scheduled in June, with the finale on July 8 at 1 p.m. he theme for this year is All Together Now with something planned each Tuesday through Friday for readers of all ages. Blossoming readers are encouraged to sign up at the Friends of the Librarys Summer Reading Kickoff on May 27. This past week saw LB583, a bill to increase state funding for public schools, come to the floor for the first time. LB583 was brought by Senator Sanders on behalf of Governor Pillen. This bill increases special education reimbursement and provides $1500 per student to our public schools in Nebraska. I voted in support of LB583, which advanced to the Select File by a vote of 39-3. I also supported an amendment by Senator Brandt that would have improved upon the underlying bill, ensuring that were doing everything we can to address property taxes in our state. Currently, 60% of property taxes in Nebraska go to fund K-12 public education. Property taxes and public school funding are therefore inextricably linked. Senator Brandts amendment took the best of LB583 and LB320, a bill introduced by Senator Brandt, to simultaneously increase state funding to schools and provide for a valuation reduction for agricultural, residential and commercial land inside the current school funding formula. This combined plan would have achieved a greater potential levy reduction for more school districts than LB583 would have by itself. Nebraska currently has 86 equalized school districts. Equalized school districts are public schools that receive funding from the state to make up for the difference in their funding obtained from property taxes versus their needs or expenses. Property tax levies are capped in Nebraska. Despite this fact, many school districts in rural areas receive little or no state funding because their property valuations are high. By reducing the property tax valuations inside the school funding formula, Senator Brandts amendment would have increased the number of equalized school districts to 173. LB583 by itself will actually decrease the number of equalized school districts by 17. I was pleased that we actually got the opportunity to have a full debate and discussion about Senator Brandts amendment, as well as the underlying legislation in LB583. This was a nice change from the ongoing filibuster which has consumed most of our time on the floor this session. Ultimately Senator Brandts amendment did not receive enough votes in support to be adopted as part of LB583. Despite this, we are moving forward with LB583 which provides a significant increase in funding for public education in our K-12 schools. I am hopeful that with this momentum and with Governor Pillens continued support for public education that we can get LB583 or some variation of that bill through the finish line. As always, if we can be of assistance to you in any way, please do not hesitate to contact my office. I do receive dozens of calls a day and hundreds of emails (sometimes a day!), so I am doing my best to respond. I prioritize responding to constituents, so please include your mailing address in your email or when leaving a message so I know you live in the district. My staff passes along messages, so if youd like a call back, please let them know! My email address is jhughes@leg.ne.gov, and the office phone number is 402-471-2756. You can also follow me on Facebook at Senator Jana Hughes. While my office is on the 10th floor, which does require a staff member to access, please feel free to let us know if youre in the Capitol and would like to stop by. My staff members Matt and Katie are always available to assist you with your needs. Haryana Government on Wednesday approved the proposal for Rail Connectivity between IGI Airport Delhi and Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar, state government officials informed on Wednesday. "Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal has approved the proposal of Rail Connectivity between IGI Airport Delhi and Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar via Bijwasan-Gurugram-Garhi Harsaru- Sultanpur-Farukhnagar-Jhajjar for freight as well as passengers. Accordingly, the feasibility report has been presented in the meeting of Haryana Rail Infrastructure Development Corporation Ltd (HRIDC) presided over by the Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal who is also the Chairman of HRIDC," the official statement said. Chief Secretary Sanjeev Kaushal stated that the proposal will be sent to the Ministry of Railways. "Project will be sent to the Ministry of Railways for sanction. The rail link between Garhi Harsaru-Farukhnagar - Jhajjar will be developed while in the second phase, the connectivity to Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar will be taken up. He said that the rail connectivity links will boost regional development, improve transportation efficiency, and promote sustainable mobility for both freight and passengers," it mentioned. "While reviewing various other railway projects, the Chief Secretary appreciated the progress near Manesar and directed the officers to set the timeline and fix physical milestones for the year 2023-24," it added. Managing Director, HRIDC, Rajesh Agarwal apprised in the meeting that the proposed project route is Garhi Harsaru - Farukhnagar (11 km) existing single line, Farukhnagar - Jhajjar (24 km) missing link double line to be developed for the double line at the total cost of Rs 1225 crore. "Jhajjar - Rohtak (37 km) in an existing single line, Rohtak-Dobh Bahali-Hansi (68 km) which is under progress by northern railways. Hansi-Maharaja Agrasen Airport Hisar (25 Km) will be developed in the second phase," it said. A loan of Rs. 1040 crore from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) has been sanctioned for the rail infrastructure projects in the state, for this the agreement will be signed soon." MD Rajesh Agarwal mentioned that Haryana Orbital Rail Corridor (HORC) was given an amount of Rs. 874 Crore under the Scheme for Special Assistance to States for capital Investment for 2022-23 by the Union Finance Ministry. The Government of India has extended the scheme for which the proposal for 2023-24 will be sent for assistance soon," it said. Additional Chief Secretary (Finance) Anurag Rastogi, Additional Chief Secretary (Civil Aviation) Ankur Gupta, and other senior officers were present in the meeting. Sydney: Australian grocery delivery startup has decided to shut shop and laid off 400 employees amid the gloomy global economic scenario. According to Forbes Australia, its co-founder Dany Milham told the staff that the company will wind down business on April 14. "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," Milham was quoted as saying. MilkRun in February had announced it would make 20 per cent of its then staff redundant, as part of a move to consolidate its delivery hubs. "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," the co-founder told employees. All staff would be made redundant at the startup MilkRun that was launched during the pandemic in 2021. It secured a $11 million seed round and in early 2022, the startup raised further $75 million that included US-based Tiger Global Management. According to McKinsey, in the first nine months of 2021, nearly $5.8 billion was invested globally into adark convenience stores'. However, as the pandemic waned, the popularity of instant grocery delivery platforms also decreased. Global grocery delivery player Gopuff announced its third round of layoffs in 12 months in March this year. Gorillas laid off more than 100 workers and exited three countries in 2022. New Delhi: The medical director of Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan Hospital on Thursday cautioned that the coronavirus cases in the national capital will peak in the next couple of weeks. Dr Suresh Kumar, the medical director at LNJP Hospital, told the news agency PTI during an interaction that wearing masks has been made "mandatory" at the facility. He also informed that a newborn diagnosed with Covid-19 has been admitted to LNJP Hospital here. Delhi's Single-Day Covid Caseload Breaches 1,000-Mark Delhi's single-day caseload additions on Wednesday breached the 1,000 mark for the first time in over seven months while the positivity rate stood at 23.8 per cent, according to data shared by the Health department. The national capital logged 1,149 fresh cases and one fatality on Wednesday. The 2,000-bed British-era facility is the largest hospital under the Delhi government. Children More Prone To Covid Infection "Children are not vaccinated, so we need to take precautions for them as they are getting symptoms like fever, cough, eye infection and stomach infection as well. This variant (XBB.1.16) is affecting children more. An 18-day-old newborn has even been admitted to our hospital and the child is Covid positive," he said. Four more children are admitted to the hospital, Kumar said. Wear Masks In Schools, Public Places It is better to wear masks in schools and public places and even senior citizens should wear masks. Precaution is surely better, he said. "We will see the peak of Covid cases in one-two week and the graph will go down from thereon," Kumar said, adding, "We have made all arrangements in the hospital for patients, including children, as they are coming in more numbers with infection". Delhi Reviews Covid-19 Situation Delhi Education Minister Atishi on Thursday said the government is reviewing the situation and guidelines for schools will be issued soon. The national capital has witnessed a spurt in single-day caseload additions over the last fortnight amid a sharp rise in H3N2 influenza cases in the country. XBB.1.16 Driving Covid Surge In Delhi The number of fresh cases had dropped to zero on January 16, the first time since the outbreak of the pandemic. Amid a gradual increase in the number of Covid cases in Delhi, medical experts have said the virus' new XBB.1.16 variant could be driving the surge. However, they maintained that there is no need to panic and people should follow Covid-appropriate behaviour and get their booster shots. Mock drills were conducted at hospitals in Delhi on Tuesday to ascertain their preparedness to tackle the disease amid a surge in cases in the national capital. The drill was conducted as part of a nationwide exercise to take stock of hospitals' preparedness to tackle the surge in Covid cases. Kumar said more cases are being reported in the city but there is no need to panic. "Only 10 patients have been admitted to our hospital while 440 Covid beds are vacant. The objective of the exercise is to ascertain our preparedness in terms of availability of essential medicine, equipment and staff," he had said on Tuesday. The Health Department on Wednesday said 221 of 7,944 beds in the city's dedicated Covid hospitals are occupied while 1,995 patients are in home isolation. The number of active cases currently stands at 3,347, it added. Talking about the recent Covid-related deaths, Kumar has said only those who had severe comorbidities such as tuberculosis, cancer and chronic lung diseases, among others, succumbed to the infection. New Delhi: Businesses with turnover of Rs 100 crore and above will have to upload their electronic invoices on IRP within 7 days of the issue of such invoice with effect from May 1, GST Network has said. Currently, businesses upload such invoices on Invoice Registration Portal (IRP) on the current date, irrespective of the date of issue of such invoice. In an advisory to taxpayers, GST Network (GSTN) said the government has decided to impose a time limit on reporting old invoices on the e-invoice IRP portals for taxpayers with aggregate annual turnover greater than or equal to Rs 100 crore. "To ensure timely compliance, taxpayers in this category will not be allowed to report invoices older than 7 days on the date of reporting," GSTN said. In order to provide sufficient time for taxpayers to comply with this requirement, this new format would be implemented from May 1, 2023. This restriction will apply to invoice, and there will be no time restriction on reporting debit/credit notes, it added. Giving example, the GSTN said if an invoice has a date of April 1, 2023, it cannot be reported after April 8, 2023. The validation system built into the invoice registration portal will disallow the user from reporting the invoice after the 7-day window. Hence, it is essential for taxpayers to ensure that they report the invoice within the 7-day window provided by the new time limit, the GSTN said. As per GST law, businesses cannot avail input tax credit (ITC) if invoices are not uploaded on the IRP. AMRG & Associates Senior Partner Rajat Mohan said this technological change would arrest backdating of e-invoices by large companies. "After successfully implementing this for large taxpayers, government is expected to roll out these changes for all taxpayers in a phased manner," Mohan added. Currently, businesses with turnover of Rs 10 crore and above are required to generate electronic invoice for all B2B transactions. Under Goods and Services Tax (GST) law, e-invoicing for business-to-business (B2B) transactions was made mandatory for companies with turnover of over Rs 500 crore from October 1, 2020, which was then extended to those with turnover of over Rs 100 crore effective January 1, 2021. From April 1, 2021, companies with turnover of over Rs 50 crore were generating B2B e-invoices, and the threshold was brought down to Rs 20 crore beginning April 1, 2022. From October 1, 2022, the threshold was further lowered to Rs 10 crore. EY Tax Partner Saurabh Agarwal said implementation of timelines for reporting invoices on IRP would help in administering compliances and is an another great move towards digitalisation. "This may also aid in increasing the GST collection once the said limit of Rs 100 crore turnover is reduced significantly or is made mandatory for all assesses required to generate IRN (Invoice Registration Number)," Agarwal said. LONDON, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Codestone Group, the powerhouse SAP, Microsoft, and CCH Tagetik cloud technology consulting firm, has taken a major step towards its growth ambitions by naming Chris Powell as its new Chief Financial Officer. Chris Powell has been named the Chief Financial Officer of Codestone, the leading cloud technology consulting firm specialising in SAP, Microsoft, and CCH Tagetik solutions. Powell plays a crucial role in driving the company's growth ambitions, working to strike the right balance between controls and processes to support the company's clients as they seek to transform using the latest digital solutions. Codestone is rapidly expanding, helping SMEs to large enterprises to excel and succeed in the UK's fast-evolving digital landscape. A qualified Chartered Accountant and with over 30 years of financial experience, Chris has been Finance Director and CFO across several organisations, from small start-ups to large FTSE 200 corporates and almost exclusively in leveraged businesses. His extensive career includes working for businesses in the IT Services sector similar to Codestone, including NAV People, an implementation specialist also backed by Codestone investor FPE. Chris' IT Service industry experience, broad set of skills and key values means he can make a real difference to help achieve Codestone's accelerated growth. Codestone is blazing a trail in the UK's cloud technology consulting space, working with companies of all sizes to propel their growth through cutting-edge digital ERP, EPM, BI & Analytics and Cloud IT solutions. With this appointment, the company is poised to take its expansion plans to the next level, under his strategic leadership of the Finance function. With a sharp focus on driving growth, Chris will ensure the company and its clients are empowered to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape. Jeremy Bucknell, Codestone co-founder and CEO says, "Chris' experience and obvious acumen complements our leadership team brilliantly and he has a vital role in helping the company grow and flourish. It's unusual to find a CFO with such a wide range of financial experience and key experience in our sector. Chris' strong belief in being a true partner across the business is something I know we will really benefit from." "I'm excited to be part of the Codestone team and believe that good people drive success, which converts to satisfied customers and ultimately a successful business." explains Chris on his new appointment. "I really want to get involved as a business partner and look at the bigger picture. I'm looking forward to not only learning about the efficiencies of the business, but how the business can make a real difference." Story continues For over 25 years, the Codestone Group has consistently pioneered modern ERP and cloud database technologies. Today, it is equity backed by FPE Capital and offers award-winning Cloud business technology consulting and delivery of SAP ERP, EPM, Financial Management and Advanced Analytics alongside CCH Tagetik CPM and Microsoft Cloud IT solutions to growing SME, mid-market and large enterprises across the UK. With a combined 700+ customers and 2500+ projects, it is an SAP Partner of the Year for SAP Business One and SAP Cloud ERP in the UK and EMEA North, CCH Tagetik Platinum Partner, and Microsoft Gold Partner. Delivering next-level cloud transformation projects with a beyond go live approach, its primary focus is on customer experience with a 24x7x365 client-first mindset and managed services offering named recently UK Top 50 MSP. For more information, please visit https://www.codestone.net/ Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/codestone-group-taps-chris-powell-as-cfo-to-turbocharge-growth-plans-301795869.html she said at the 107th meeting of the Development Committee on Wednesday during the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank. Continued disruptions to global supply chains are still straining food, fuel and fertiliser supplies, and endangering food and energy security. This is disproportionately impacting the poor, the disadvantaged and the marginalised, particularly in the developing world, the minister observed. "The need of the hour is a people centric, equity driven, consensus-based, and collective approach to face global developmental challenges," the Union minister said. These circumstances challenge multilateralism more than ever before, she told the 'Development Committee' and added that against the backdrop of the WBG's 'Evolution Road Map' discussion, "we encourage the World Bank Group (WBG) to evolve into a bigger and better bank, which is 'fit for purpose' to address the new world challenges". In her address, she called upon all shareholders and stakeholders to adopt an innovative, bold and robust approach to transform the WBG into an institution capable of effectively addressing present and future challenges. "We look forward to a WBG that deploys innovative ways to mobilises resources, unleashes its full potential as a solutions and knowledge bank, and fully leverages its comparative advantage to build a better world." Sitharaman said. Sitharaman told the 'Development Committee' that despite challenges and global headwinds, the IMF in its Global Economic Outlook forecasts above six per cent economic growth rate for India, making it the only major economy growing at that rate. "With a manageable current account deficit and a growth rate highest among the major economies in the financial year 2023, the Indian economy has shown resilience in navigating the turbulence of the (Covid) pandemic as well as geopolitical spill-over," she said. The minister asserted that an optimistic business environment, robust industrial output and rapid vaccination coverage against Covid have provided a strong momentum to the Indian economy, as evidenced by an estimated GDP growth of 9.1 per cent for the previous financial year. India has moved on beyond the pandemic, staging a full recovery in FY22-23, ahead of many countries, and positioned itself in an upward pre-pandemic growth path, she said. The unparalleled (anti-Covid) vaccination drive has not only ensured quick economic recovery but also ensured economic prospects for this year and beyond. Successful implementation of agriculture and labour reforms have provided the boost for medium-term growth,? the minister said. India's 'Long-Term Low-Carbon Development Strategy' envisages a transition to a low-carbon development pathway that entails costs towards deployment of new technologies, development of new infrastructure and other transaction costs, Sitharaman said. She added that the Union Budget has also pursued energy transition by encouraging domestic production of solar power equipment and batteries, in line with India's climate commitments, she said. Sitharaman said the WBG should continue to focus on its vision of a 'World Free of Poverty' as well as on the twin goals of 'Ending Extreme Poverty' and 'Promoting Shared Prosperity'. "This said, we underscore the need to ensure that the twin goals are achieved in a manner that is inclusive so as to reach all persons, resilient so as to safeguard them against developmental shocks and sustainable from the social, economic and environmental angles so as to ensure the wellbeing of future generations," she said. "While we concur that climate change, pandemic and fragility are global challenges, it is also important to focus on other global development challenges such as food insecurity, water and energy access and affordability, digitalisation and debt sustainability," the minister said. Sitharaman said given the limited scale of available resources, it is, therefore, crucial to reach a consensus on the definitions of global development challenges and "develop selectivity criteria that is consistent with the WBG's mandate and its comparative advantage". New Delhi: Visually stunning and aesthetically poetic, Jubilee has been talked, raved, dissected and analyzed by cinema lovers and audiences all around the globe since its part one premiered on April 7th. With a cleverly casted ensemble, Vikramaditya Motwanes genius and stunning worldbuilding and Soumik Sens expertise, Jubilee has many good things that have touched the audiences hearts. Fans and critics have showered immense love on the series. As the audiences now wait for the second part with bated breaths, we give you five reasons why Jubilee is a must watch. 1. Stars in the making With such clever characters where they all play a pivotal role in building the story, Jubilees creators made clever choices when it came to casting. Be it the formidable studio honcho Prosenjit Chatterjee, whos screen presence gives the perfect energy for his role, or period drama queen Aditi Rao Hydari, who lights up the screen with her presence. Aparshakti Khurana who surprised the audience with his understated performance, Wamiqas Gabbis charming innocence, and Sidhant Guptas show-stealing acting, Jubilee has a perfect mix of talent who all have delivered their best to their already intriguing characters. 2. A perfect ode to yesteryears Theres a different kind of nostalgia that viewers love to indulge in where period pieces are concerned. From Gramophones to Bombay trams, from imported cars, to Jazz bars, Jubilee doesnt impose the vibe of 1950s India on the audience, as much as it lures them in. Mukund Gupta and Aparna Sud as production designers did a spectacular job to bring Motwanes grand vision to life. 3. Love letter to the art of filmmaking The glitz and glamor of the film industry that the world sees from outside versus the abject loneliness that one suffers being on the inside, is brought on screen through stunningly visualized shots. Be it the cleverly placed elements of fire, to the sepia undertones, or be it the subtle portrayal of emotions through deeply thought out shots, Jubilees visual extravaganza keeps viewers hooked to its each and every frame, and thats the biggest highlight of the show. 4. Amit Trivedi surprises yet again with his sheer range Award winning music director Amit Trivedi chose the perfect amalgamation of peppy and sad musical tracks, that not only do justice to the stunning picturization, but also stay in your mind long after youve heard them. With Sunidhi Chauhan, Papon, SwanandKirkire, Devendrapal Singh, Shahid Mallya, and Mohammed Irrfans voices coming together, clubbed with Kausar Munirs heartfelt lyrics, Jubilees music album is a perfect ode to the golden age of Hindi cinema. 5. Perfectly bringing golden age of cinema to screen Who hasnt fantasized about being a part of the shiny, glamorous world of the film industry? Jubilee is not just an unabashed celebration of cinema, it also is a glaring spotlight on the intoxicating yet dreary underbelly of fame. Jubilees relatability lies in its honesty, in the fact that life is all about making choices, yet some choices rot your souls to eternity. Jubilee is all about the underdogs shot to success, but it is also an earnest dissection of the sacrifices that happen along the way. Directed by Vikramaditya Motwane and created by Soumik Sen and Vikramaditya Motwane, Jubilee has been produced by Andolan Films in association with Reliance Entertainment and Phantom Studios. The series is led by a stellar ensemble cast featuring Prosenjit Chatterjee, Aditi Rao Hydari, Aparshakti Khurana, Wamiqa Gabbi, Sidhant Gupta, Nandish Sandhu, and Ram Kapoor in pivotal roles. With the first five episodes already out on the streaming service, the second part of Jubilee, with the final five episodes, will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on 14th April. New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will chair a high-level meeting here in the national capital today to review the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir. The official word of his meeting was convened on Wednesday amid an encounter that broke out between terrorists and security forces at the Chakoora area of Shopian in south Kashmir. It is expected that the Home Minister will review the functioning of the security grid and various aspects related to security and give necessary directions to follow the policy of zero tolerance against terrorism. The meeting is expected to be held around 3 pm in the North Block office of the Ministry of Home Affairs. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, Director General of Police Jammu and Kashmir Dilbagh Singh, and other senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Central Armed Police Forces will be attending the meeting. Director Intelligence Bureau Tapan Deka and Central Central Reserve Police Force Director General SL Thaosen will also be present in the meeting, which is chaired by the Home Minister from time to time to review the status of Jammu and Kashmir where several civilians and security force personnel are being targeted by militants over the years and several personnel have lost lives in such attacks. RAW chief and other senior officials of the Centre, including those from Jammu and Kashmir are also expected to attend the meeting. Matters related to various developmental works being implemented in Jammu and Kashmir are also expected to be on the agenda of the meeting. The Home Minister, on his three-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir in October last year, had also reviewed the security situation in the Union Territory. Shah also held a review meeting in New Delhi on December 28, 2022, over the security situation and development aspects of the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir. HYDERABAD: AIMIM Member of Parliament Asaduddin Owaisi on Thursday accused the BJP of doing encounters and killing people in the name of religion. Owaisi, a known vocal critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, slammed the BJP after news of the Jhansi encounter, in which gangster-politician Atiq Ahmeds son Asad, wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, was spread like wildfire on news channels and social media. The AIMIM leader also sought to know from the BJP: Will you also shoot the killers of Junaid and Nasir? Will the BJP also shoot those who killed Junaid and Nasir? No, because you (BJP) do counters in the name of religion. You want to weaken the rule of law, do encounter of the Constitution, the AIMIM MP said while addressing a gathering in Telangana's Nizamabad, according to news agency ANI. #WATCH | Will the BJP also shoot those who killed Junaid and Nasir? No, because you (BJP) do counters in the name of religion. You want to weaken the rule of law, do encounter of the Constitution: AIMIM MP Asaduddin Owaisi in Telangana's Nizamabad pic.twitter.com/vHGRTTeXWU ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2023 Nasir, 25, and Junaid alias Juna, 35, residents of Ghatmeeka village in Bharatpur district of Rajasthan, were allegedly abducted and their bodies were later found inside a burnt car in Loharu in Bhiwani in Haryana earlier this year. Junaid had a criminal record of cattle smuggling and five cases were registered against him at different police stations. Asad, Aide Killed In Jhansi Encounter Atiq Ahmed`s son Asad was killed in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force in Jhansi, police said on Thursday. Asad was killed along with Ghulam, both of whom were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj. Each of them carried a reward of Rs5 lakh. "Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with a UP STF team," said Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. The encounter took place on a day Ahmad was presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj in the murder case and was sent to 14-day judicial custody. How UP STF Tracked Asad? Visuals showed two bodies lying beside a motorbike at the site of the alleged encounter. An ambulance later took them away. STF officials said Asad and Ghulam were on the run since the murder of Umesh Pal on February 24. Several STF teams were pressed to track them down. On Thursday, they were trying to flee on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by an STF team in Jhansi, the officials said, adding they opened fire on the personnel and were killed in retaliatory firing. Foreign-Made Weapons Recovered The UP police said, "Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused." The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force team was led by deputy superintendents of police Navendu Kumar and Vimal Kumar. ''Asad, son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and Ghulam S/o Maksudan, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and carrying a reward of Rupees five lakhs each; killed in an encounter with the UPSTF team led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal at Jhansi. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons recovered," UP STF said. Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf Remanded To 14-Day Judicial Custody Meanwhile, a Prayagraj court sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. Ahmad and Ashraf, alias Khalid Azim, will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. Singh said the arguments on the application for their police custody were yet to be completed. Message To Criminals: UP DyCM Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya hailed the state Special Task Force on the encounter of Asad and his aide, and termed the action, a "message to criminals". While speaking to ANI, Maurya said, "I congratulate UP STF for this action. Police fired in retaliation after they (Asad and his aide Ghulam) fired upon them." "It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi govt in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals," he said. New Delhi: As gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's son Asad, who was wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, was killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi on Thursday, Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya called it a 'very historic action'. Speaking to the news agency ANI, Maurya said that Asad's encounter is a message that the era of criminals is over. "This is a very historic action by UP police. It is a huge message that the era of criminals is over and criminals must surrender," Keshav Prasad Maurya said. This is a very historic action by UP police. It is a huge message that the era of criminals is over and criminals must surrender: UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya on the police encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide in Jhansi pic.twitter.com/zclQKIbaWL ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 Asad and his accomplice Ghulam -- both wanted in the February 24 Umesh Pal murder case -- were killed in an encounter with the UP Police's STF team in Jhansi. Officials said that they were trying to flee on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by an STF team in Jhansi. They then opened fire on the personnel and were killed in retaliatory firing. "Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with a UP STF team," Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said. Kumar also said that sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused. He informed that the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force team was led by deputy superintendents of police Navendu Kumar and Vimal Kumar. The encounter, notably, took place on a day Ahmed was presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj in the Umesh Pal murder case and was sent to 14-day judicial custody. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of then Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) MLA Raju Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. His wife Jaya Pal had filed a case on February 25 against Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam, and others. Umesh Pal's mother thanks Yogi Adityantah after Asad's encounter Shanti Devi, the mother of slain lawyer Umesh Pal, thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath after Asam Ahmed's encounter. "I thank CM Yogi ji for serving justice and I appeal to him to give us justice ahead also. We have full faith in CM," she told reporters in Prayagraj. She added that this is a 'tribute' to her son. New Delhi: The Uttar Pradesh Police STF on Thursday killed Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his close aide Ghulam in an encounter in Jhansi. Both were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and carrying a reward of Rs five lakhs each. The police said it has also recovered sophisticated foreign-made weapons from them. Visuals showed two bodies lying beside a motorbike at the site of the alleged encounter. An ambulance later took them away. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of BSP MLA Raju Pal, and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. #WATCH | Former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad, aide killed in an encounter by UP STF in Jhansi Visuals from the encounter site pic.twitter.com/kL3fUrr7S7 ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 Bodies of criminals Asad and Ghulam brought to Jhansi Medical College for examination, news agency ANI reportea #WATCH | Bodies of criminals Asad and Ghulam brought to Jhansi Medical College for examination Former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and aide were killed in an encounter by UP STF in Jhansi today. They were wanted in lawyer Umesh Pal murder case. pic.twitter.com/EmR2SCYZhe ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 Based on a complaint by Umesh Pal's wife Jaya Pal, a case was registered at Dhoomanganj police station against Atiq Ahmed, his brother Ashraf, wife Shaista Parveen, two sons, aides Guddu Muslim and Ghulam, and nine others. The FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder) and 506 (criminal intimidation) of the IPC. Ahmed is also an accused in the 2005 Raju Pal murder case. Days after Umesh Pal's murder, Uttar Pradesh Police had gunned down a 24-year-old Arbaaz wanted for his alleged role in the killing. Also Read: Meet UP's Top Cops Who Gunned Down Mafia Atiq's Son Asad, Shooter Ghulam Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya congratulated the Uttar Pradesh Police and the STF for the action. "Nobody will touch you if you don't commit a crime. And nobody will be spared if they Commit a crime," news agency PTI Maurya as saying. He said this was a BJP government and not an SP government that criminals would be spared. STF , ! April 13, 2023 Atiq Ahmed Produced In Prayagraj Court Meanwhile, Atiq Ahmed and his brother were produced before a court in Prayagraj on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. They were presented in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam around 11:10 am amid security deployment. While Atiq Ahmed was brought to Prayagraj via road from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat for his production, his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from a Bareilly jail. In 2006, Ahmed 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 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. Ahmed 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 Ahmed is allegedly involved was that of Raju Pal, the then Bahujan Samaj Party MLA who was shot dead in 2005. Ahmed 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. CM Yogi Chairs Meet On Law And Order Moments after the encounter of Asad and his aide, CM Yogi Adityanath took a meeting on law and order in the state, news agency ANI quoted UP CM's office as saying. The CM also praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team. "Sanjay Prasad, Principal Secretary Home informed the CM about the encounter. A report was placed in front of the CM on this whole matter," UP CMO said. Surat: A sessions court here on Thursday said it would pronounce on April 20 the order on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's plea for a stay to his conviction in a criminal defamation case over his "Modi surname" remark, made exactly four years ago during a poll rally. After hearing arguments from both sides, additional sessions judge R P Mogera said he will pronounce the order on April 20. A metropolitan magistrate's court in Surat had on March 23 sentenced the Congress leader to two years in jail after holding him guilty for his remark "how come all thieves have Modi as the common surname", made during an election rally in 2019. Gandhi, who was disqualified as a Member of Parliament after the conviction, filed an appeal before the sessions court here against the verdict. Complainant opposes Gandhi's plea He also prayed for a stay to the conviction in the meantime. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Purnesh Modi, the complainant in the case, opposed Gandhi's plea for a stay in his reply, saying the Congress leader was a "repetitive offender". On Thursday, Gandhi's lawyer senior advocate R S Cheema told sessions judge R P Mogera that the trial court need not have awarded the maximum punishment prescribed for the offence. The magistrate's judgement was "strange" as he "made a hotchpotch of all the evidence on record", Cheema argued. Gandhi's lawyer terms trial 'unfair' "It was not a fair trial. The entire case was based on electronic evidence, wherein I made a speech during elections and a person sitting 100 km away filed a complaint after watching that in the news....There was no need for maximum punishment in this case," he said. The complainant wrongly attached Gandhi's unconditional apology to the Supreme Court (in the Rafale-related contempt case) to this case, the lawyer said. Remarks against 'Modi' surname Purnesh Modi's lawyer Harshit Toliya said his client felt offended because Gandhi had tried to defame all people with the Modi surname. "He was the president of the second largest party at the time of making the speech. His speech made a huge impact on the people of India and he also tried to sensationalise his speech," advocate Toliya argued. "In his speech, Rahul Gandhi spoke about Prime Minister Narendra Modi. But he did not stop there and went beyond it. He said "Saare choron ke naam Modi hi kyu hai? Dhoondho, aur bhi Modi milenge (Why all thieves have the Modi surname? If you search, you will find more Modis)." My client was hurt by this part of the speech and thus the complaint," the lawyer added. Gandhi also refused to apologise for his remarks, he pointed out. The Congress leader was also facing defamation cases elsewhere and had been making such defamatory statements despite tendering an unconditional apology in the Supreme Court in the past, Modi's lawyer said. Gandhi, who was the MP from Wayanad in Kerala, was disqualified as legislator following the conviction. He made the controversial "Modi surname" remark at a rally at Kolar in Karnataka on April 13, 2019, during the Lok Sabha elections campaign. On Gandhi's lawyer's argument about jurisdiction (as the speech had been made in Karnataka), advocate Toliya said no objection was raised on this issue during the trial. "What is so special about this case? If a doctor is found guilty, the Medical Council acts against him. If a lawyer is caught for any wrongdoing, his license will be cancelled. Similarly, if a Member of Parliament is convicted, he will face disqualification. Everyone is equal before the law, be it an MP or a common citizen," said Toliya. The court should show no leniency to him as despite being a senior leader of a political party Gandhi displayed ego and refused to tender apology for his comments, the lawyer added. NEW DELHI: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday recorded the statement of RJD chief Lalu Prasad's daughter Chanda Yadav in a money laundering case linked to the alleged land-for-jobs scam in the railway, sources said. Chanda Yadav deposed before the agency and her statement was recorded under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). She is the fourth child of the RJD chief, a former railway minister, to have deposed before the ED in this case till now. Lalu Prasad has nine children. On Wednesday, his another daughter Ragini Yadav was questioned even as his MP-daughter Misa Bharti. His son and Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejashwi Yadav has also been questioned at the agency's office in central Delhi. The agency had raided the premises of Chanda Yadav, her sisters Ragini Yadav and Hema Yadav, and former RJD MLA Abu Dojana in Patna, Phulwari Sharif, Delhi-NCR, Ranchi and Mumbai in March. The ED had on Monday questioned and recorded the statement Tejashwi Yadav in this case. Misa Bharti was similarly questioned by the ED in this case on March 25, the same day Tejashwi Yadav had deposed before the CBI. Both the central agencies recently initiated action in the case, with the CBI questioning Lalu Prasad and his wife and former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi and the ED carrying out raids against the RJD chief's family. The ED, after the searches, said it seized "unaccounted cash" of Rs 1 crore and detected proceeds of crime worth Rs 600 crore. It said the investigation was underway to unearth more investments made on behalf of Prasad's family and their associates in various sectors, including real estate, at various places. The alleged scam pertains to the period when Prasad was the railway minister in the UPA-1 government. It is alleged by the agencies that during 2004-09, various people were appointed to Group D positions in the railways in lieu of transferring land to the family members of Lalu Prasad, the then minister of railways, and A K Infosystems Pvt Ltd, a beneficiary company in this case. It is alleged by the CBI that no advertisement or public notice was issued for the appointment but some residents of Patna were appointed as substitutes in different railway zones -- Mumbai, Jabalpur, Kolkata, Jaipur and Hazipur. As a quid pro quo, the candidates, directly or through their immediate family members, allegedly sold land to the family members of Prasad at highly discounted rates, up to one-fourth to one-fifth of the prevailing market rates, the CBI had alleged. Denying the allegations, Tejashwi Yadav, after the questioning of his parents by the CBI, had told the media that the then railway minister Prasad had "no powers" to give employment. The Lieutenant Governor of Delhi, V K Saxena, announced that April 14 will be a public holiday for all government offices, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings (PSUs) under the Delhi government in honor of Dr. BR Ambedkar's birth anniversary. A notification released on Thursday confirmed this decision. "The Lt. Governor of the National Capital Territory of Delhi is pleased to declare Friday, the 14th of April, 2023 to be a Closed Holiday in all Government offices, autonomous bodies, and public sector undertakings under the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi, on account of the Birthday of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar," said an official notification. Dr. Ambedkar, who was fondly known as "Baba Saheb," was the primary architect of the Indian Constitution and devoted his life to fighting for the rights of socially backward classes and Dalits. He was born on April 14, 1891, in Mhow, India, into a Dalit Mahar family. He faced humiliation and discrimination at a young age from his high-caste schoolmates. Despite this, he received a scholarship from the Gaekwar of Baroda and went on to study at universities in the United States, Britain, and Germany. After returning to India, Ambedkar worked in the Baroda Public Service but was mistreated by his high-caste colleagues. He turned to legal practice and teaching, where he established his leadership among Dalits. He founded several journals advocating for their rights and obtained special representation for them in the legislative councils of the government. In 1947, he became the law minister of the government of India and played a key role in the framing of the Indian constitution, which outlawed discrimination against untouchables. PRAYAGRAJ: Gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad was produced in a Pryagraj court in the Umesh Pal murder case today where the Uttar Pradesh Police has urged the court to send the gangster to 14-day remand. According to Zee News, Ahmad's lawyer urged the court to reduce the police remand period and the arguments are going on in the court. Atiq Ahmad was on Wednesday brought to the Naini Central Jail here from a Gujarat prison for the second time in about a fortnight. Ahmad reached the jail at around 6 pm. The Uttar Pradesh police will seek his remand for interrogation in connection with the murder. He will be produced in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam on Thursday. "Due to delay, he could not be produced in the court today," a senior police official said. Ahmad's brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf, who was also brought to Naini jail from Bareilly, will be produced in the court in the same case. "We will seek in the court the police remand of Ahmad and his brother Ashraf as their interrogation is necessary to work out the case," the police official told PTI. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the murder case of BSP MLA Raju 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 Umesh 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 FIR was lodged under sections 147 (rioting), 148 (rioting armed with deadly weapons), 149 (unlawful assembly guilty of offence committed in prosecution of common object), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 506 (criminal intimidation), 34 (acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) and 120 B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, Section 3 of Explosive Act and Section 7 of Criminal Law Amendment Act. A police team from Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday left with gangster-politician Ahmad from the high security Sabarmati Central Jail in Ahmedabad for Prayagraj by road. The UP Police had on March 26 also brought Ahmad from the Sabarmati jail to Prayagraj to produce him in a court in the 2006 Umesh Pal kidnapping case. On March 28, the court had sentenced Ahmad and two others to life imprisonment in the kidnapping case. The 60-year-old former Samajwadi Party MP was brought back to the jail in Gujarat in a UP Police van on March 29, after a nearly 24-hour-long road journey from Prayagraj. The police convoy taking Ahmad to Prayagraj left the Sabarmati Jail on Tuesday evening and entered the Uttar Pradesh border from Jhansi at around 8.45 am. "I am totally reduced to dust, but please don't trouble the women and children of my family now," Ahmad told reporters from inside the police van on Wednesday. While he was on the way, he spoke to the mediapersons from inside the police van. He pleaded the government to spare his family members, who are co-accused in several cases. "Hum aapke jariye government se kehna chahte hain, bilkul mitti me mil gaye hain. Ab hamari auraton aur bachchon ko pareshan na karein. (I want to tell the government through you (the media) that I am totally reduced to dust, but please don't trouble the women and children of my family now," Ahmad told a news channel from inside his police van between Jhansi and Prayagraj. In 2006, 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 then Bahujan Samaj Party MLA who was shot dead in 2005. 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. Public voting for bookstore, Ethiopian restaurant, roastery and party rental shop continues April 24-26 DETROIT, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The public has cast their votes and, after a tight race, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown is ready to announce the four entrepreneurial teams advancing to the final stage of the competition, which includes another round of public voting and the opportunity to compete at the Hatch Off on April 26. The Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest by TechTown reveals its top four finalists. These four businesses will face off to win $100,000 in startup funds from Comerica Bank, as well as technical assistance from TechTown and its partners, to kickstart and open a brick-and-mortar business in Detroit, Hamtramck or Highland Park. "TechTown understands that the public's vote in the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest means empowering the community to shape the future they want to see. By casting your vote, you're not only helping deserving entrepreneurs achieve their dreams, but also contributing towards the growth and vitality of Detroit's neighborhoods," said Christianne Malone, assistant vice president for economic development at Wayne State University and chief program officer of TechTown Detroit. "The fact that these four businesses have made it to the final stage of the contest based on the community's voice is a remarkable indication of the success in each of their futures." These four entrepreneurial teams now enter the final round of public voting and will have the chance to pitch their business plan in front of a live audience at the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest's annual Hatch Off on Wednesday, April 26. The four businesses vying to take home the crown and $100,000 in this year's Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest are: Bouncing Around The Motor City: Detroit's premier one-stop shop for balloons, decor, event planning and party rentals. Konjo Me: a unique and vibrant Ethiopian food experience that shares appreciation for the rich and diverse global cuisine with the community it serves. Next Chapter Books: a general interest new and used bookstore in Detroit working to reflect and create community, inspire learning and nurture the joy of reading among all ages. Sepia Coffee Project LLC: a minority-owned roastery sourcing specialty coffee from farmers throughout Africa, the Americas and the Indian-Pacific regions. Story continues The community can once again cast their votes for their favorite business beginning April 24 at noon through the completion of the pitch competition on April 26. Voting will take place online at hatchdetroit.com/vote, and individuals can vote once every 24 hours. Over the years, the Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest has helped launch some of Detroit's most successful and well-known businesses, including La Feria (2012), Sister Pie (2014), Meta Physica Massage (2016), Baobab Fare (2017) and 27th Letter Books (2019). With this year's investment, Comerica Bank and the Comerica Charitable Foundation will have committed nearly $1 million to Hatch Detroit since Comerica's partnership began in 2012. "The partnership between Comerica Bank and TechTown is a direct reflection of both organizations' unwavering dedication to helping small businesses thrive," said Linda Nosegbe, Comerica Bank National Community Impact Manager. "Just by making it to the final stage of this competition, these finalists have proven themselves as exceptional entrepreneurs that clearly demonstrate the passion, creativity, and hard work required to turn a dream into a successful business and will surely make a lasting impact on Detroit." The annual Hatch Off event functions similarly to a Shark Tank-style pitching competition. The top four businesses will have the chance to present their business pitch to a panel of judges and a live audience. New this year, public voting will remain open through the pitch competition at the Hatch Off. The winner of the 2023 Comerica Hatch Detroit Contest will be chosen through a combination of the public's vote and judges' deliberations. Tickets are available to witness the top four business pitches and see the winner of the Hatch Off competition crowned. The Hatch Off takes place on Wednesday, April 26 at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6 p.m.) at the Wayne State University Industry Innovation Center at 461 Burroughs Street in Detroit. To purchase your ticket to the Hatch Off, visit HatchDetroit.com. The Hatch Off pitch competition will also be streamed live this year on HatchDetroit.com and the Hatch Detroit Facebook page. Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, has served Michigan longer than any other bank with a continuous presence dating back nearly 174 years to its Detroit founding in 1849. It is the largest bank employer in metro Detroit and has approximately 4,500 employees (FTE) statewide. With one of the largest banking center networks in Michigan, Comerica nurtures lifelong relationships with unwavering integrity and financial prudence. Comerica positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by helping customers be successful, providing financial support that assists hundreds of charitable organizations, and actively participating in Detroit's downtown revitalization. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Comerica, Twitter: @ComericaBank and Instagram: @comerica_bank. Download new Comerica Bank corporate logo. TechTown is a nonprofit business service organization that provides programs, education and resources for early- to growth-stage small businesses and tech entrepreneurs. By building bridges for entrepreneurs to succeed, TechTown is accelerating an inclusive economy for Detroit and Southeast Michigan. Since 2007, TechTown has supported 5,371 companies, which created 2,277 jobs and raised more than $385 million in startup and growth capital. For more information, visit techtowndetroit.org. Hatch Detroit supports both existing and new retail initiatives in the cities of Detroit, Highland Park and Hamtramck. Hatch Detroit, now part of TechTown Detroit's small business services programming, was founded in 2011 to give residents and aspiring entrepreneurs an opportunity to have a voice in neighborhood retail development and joined TechTown in 2022. Hatch Detroit provides funding, exposure and mentoring in support of its alumni entrepreneurs. With support from Hatch Detroit, 50 alumni have opened businesses. They employ over 500 people and have invested over $13 million in economic development. To learn more, visit hatchdetroit.com. Comerica logo. (PRNewsFoto/Comerica Bank) (PRNewsfoto/Comerica Bank) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/comerica-hatch-detroit-contest-reveals-top-four-finalists-301797137.html SOURCE Comerica Bank Prayagraj: Shanti Devi, mother of slain lawyer Umesh Pal on Thursday thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and expressed her full faith in the Uttar Pradesh government, for giving "justice" after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmeds son Asad was shot dead in an encounter in Jhansi. "I thank CM Yogi ji for serving justice and I appeal to him to give us justice ahead also. We have full faith in CM," said Shanti Devi, mother of Umesh Pal, the advocate who was killed in broad daylight in Prayagraj earlier this year. "This is a tribute to my son. I thank the Chief Minister and the police department which discharged their duties," Shanti Devi told reporters in Prayagraj. Jaya Devi, Umesh Pal`s widow also thanked the chief minister. I thank the Chief Minister who took such a decision. He gave punishment to the killers of his daughter`s husband. It is justice. I expect that the Chief Minister will do good whatever he does. I express my gratitude to the Chief Minister who is like a fatherly figure," she said. Asad, Aide Killed In Jhansi Encounter Atiq Ahmed`s son Asad was killed in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force in Jhansi, police said on Thursday. Asad was killed along with Ghulam, both of whom were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj. Each of them carried a reward of Rs5 lakh. "Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with a UP STF team," said Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. The encounter took place on a day Ahmad was presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj in the murder case and was sent to 14-day judicial custody. How UP STF Tracked Asad? Visuals showed two bodies lying beside a motorbike at the site of the alleged encounter. An ambulance later took them away. STF officials said Asad and Ghulam were on the run since the murder of Umesh Pal on February 24. Several STF teams were pressed to track them down. On Thursday, they were trying to flee on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by an STF team in Jhansi, the officials said, adding they opened fire on the personnel and were killed in retaliatory firing. Foreign-Made Weapons Recovered Ex-MP & gangster Atiq Ahmed's son Asad, aide killed in an encounter by a team of 12 members of UP STF in Jhansi today. One British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol recovered from them. pic.twitter.com/FxZgvtuS4n ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 The UP police said, "Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused." The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force team was led by deputy superintendents of police Navendu Kumar and Vimal Kumar. ''Asad, son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and Ghulam S/o Maksudan, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and carrying a reward of Rupees five lakhs each; killed in an encounter with the UPSTF team led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal at Jhansi. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons recovered," UP STF said. Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf Remanded To 14-Day Judicial Custody Meanwhile, a Prayagraj court sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. Ahmad and Ashraf, alias Khalid Azim, will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. Singh said the arguments on the application for their police custody were yet to be completed. Message To Criminals: UP DyCM Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya hailed the state Special Task Force on the encounter of Asad and his aide, and termed the action, a "message to criminals". While speaking to ANI, Maurya said, "I congratulate UP STF for this action. Police fired in retaliation after they (Asad and his aide Ghulam) fired upon them." "It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi govt in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals," he said. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Thursday praised the state police and the Special Task Force (STF) officials after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed's fugitive son Asad and his accomplice Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter in Jhansi. CM Yogi lauded the state police officials and also chaired a high-level meeting on law and order after the killing of Atiq Ahmed`s son, Asad, in the encounter. CM Yogi praised the Special Task Force (STF) team which was mainly involved in the shootout. After the encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and his aide, CM Yogi Adityanath took a meeting on law and order. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team. Sanjay Prasad, Principal Secretary Home informed the CM about the pic.twitter.com/4IzTxkLwxs ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2023 CM Yogi Briefed About Jhansi Encounter According to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister`s Office, Yogi was apprised about the encounter by the Principal Secretary (Home). A report was also placed before the Chief Minister on this whole matter. "After the encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed`s son Asad and his aide, CM Yogi Adityanath took a meeting on law and order. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team," UP CMO said in a statement. "Sanjay Prasad, Principal Secretary Home informed the CM about the encounter. A report was placed in front of the CM on this whole matter," the statement said. Asad, Aide Killed In Jhansi Encounter Atiq Ahmed`s son Asad was killed in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force in Jhansi. Asad was killed along with Ghulam, both of whom were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj. Each of them carried a reward of Rs 5 lakh. "Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. They were killed in an encounter with a UP STF team," said Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. The encounter took place on a day Ahmad was presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj in the murder case and was later sent to 14-day judicial custody. How UP STF Tracked Asad? Visuals showed two bodies lying beside a motorbike at the site of the alleged encounter. An ambulance later took them away. STF officials said Asad and Ghulam were on the run since the murder of Umesh Pal on February 24. Several STF teams were pressed to track them down. On Thursday, they were trying to flee on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by an STF team in Jhansi, the officials said, adding they opened fire on the personnel and were killed in retaliatory firing. Foreign-Made Weapons Recovered The UP police said, "Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused." The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force team was led by deputy superintendents of police Navendu Kumar and Vimal Kumar. ''Asad, son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and Ghulam S/o Maksudan, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and carrying a reward of Rupees five lakh each; killed in an encounter with the UPSTF team led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal at Jhansi. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons recovered," UP STF said. #WATCH | Bodies of criminals Asad and Ghulam brought to Jhansi Medical College for examination Former MP Atiq Ahmed's son Asad and aide were killed in an encounter by UP STF in Jhansi today. They were wanted in lawyer Umesh Pal murder case. pic.twitter.com/EmR2SCYZhe ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 Atiq Ahmed, Ashraf Remanded To 14-Day Judicial Custody Meanwhile, a Prayagraj court sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad and his brother Ashraf to 14-day judicial custody on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. The two were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. Ahmad and Ashraf, alias Khalid Azim, will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. Singh said the arguments on the application for their police custody were yet to be completed. Message To Criminals: UP DyCM Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya hailed the state Special Task Force on the encounter of Asad and his aide, and termed the action, a "message to criminals". While speaking to ANI, Maurya said, "I congratulate UP STF for this action. Police fired in retaliation after they (Asad and his aide Ghulam) fired upon them." "It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi govt in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals," he said. I congratulate UP STF for this action. Police fired in retaliation after they were fired upon by them. It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi govt in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals: UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad pic.twitter.com/nBnjP1WmQj ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 Earlier in a tweet, Maurya said that the killers of Umesh Pal and police personnel had to meet this fate. "Congratulations to UP STF, this was the fate of the killers of Umesh Pal Advocate and police personnel!" the Deputy Chief Minister tweeted in Hindi. Umesh Pal's Mother Thanks UP CM For Giving Justice Shanti Devi, mother of slain lawyer Umesh Pal thanked UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and expressed her full faith in the Uttar Pradesh government, for giving "justice" after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmeds son Asad was shot dead in an encounter in Jhansi. "I thank CM Yogi ji for serving justice and I appeal to him to give us justice ahead also. We have full faith in CM," said Shanti Devi, mother of Umesh Pal, the advocate who was killed in broad daylight in Prayagraj earlier this year. Jaya Devi, Umesh Pal`s widow also thanked the Chief Minister. I thank the Chief Minister who took such a decision. He gave punishment to the killers of his daughter`s husband. It is justice. I expect that the Chief Minister will do good whatever he does. I express my gratitude to the Chief Minister who is like a fatherly figure," she said. SP, BSP Call It 'Fake Encounter', Demand Probe Meanwhile, the Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party demanded an investigation into the Jhansi shootout, suggesting that the state's Special Task Force staged a fake encounter. Atiq Ahmad, a former SP legislator, had earlier expressed apprehension that he himself could be killed by UP Police while being brought to Prayagraj from the Ahmedabad prison, where he was lodged in connection with another case. When he was being taken to the city for Thursday's court appearance, he made a similar remark. "I am totally reduced to dust, but please don't trouble the women and children of my family now," the 60-year-old told reporters from inside a police van. Islamabad: Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Asif has warned the Afghan Taliban that Islamabad will strike terrorists' hideouts inside the country if the de facto rulers in Kabul are unable to rein in anti-Pakistan militants. Asif, in a recent interview with VOA, said in his late-February visit to Afghanistan that he reminded Taliban leaders to live up to their cross-border security commitments forbidding terrorists from using Afghan soil to plan and conduct attacks on Pakistan or Islamabad will take action, Samaa TV reported. "If that is not done, at some point we'll have to resort to some measures, which will definitely - wherever (terrorists) are, their sanctuaries on Afghan soil - we'll have to hit them," he said. "We`ll have to hit them because we cannot tolerate this situation for long."Since the Afghan Taliban's takeover of Kabul in August 2021, Pakistan has witnessed a resurgence in terror attacks led by Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), an ideological offshoot and ally of the Afghan Taliban. Pakistan alleges the TTP leadership is operating from Afghanistan after Pakistani military operations in the border areas a few years ago forced it to flee along with thousands of fighters, Samaa TV reported.Asif claimed Taliban leadership "responded very well" to the recent warning. He said he believes that the Afghan Taliban are trying to "disentangle" from the TTP, after receiving support from the group to fight the US-led coalition troops. Pakistan's military is now contemplating a comprehensive plan, including a possible military operation in areas bordering Afghanistan, Samaa TV reported.Asif said the economic crisis is the biggest threat to the country right now, and the military, which receives the largest chunk of the annual federal budget, is looking at curtailing its expenses. Air India has signed an agreement with KSU Aviation to launch TaxiBot operations at Delhi and Bengaluru airports for its Airbus A320 Family of aircraft. The strategic partnership is aligned with Air India`s commitment to reducing its carbon footprint, as the adoption of TaxiBots envisages a potential saving of around 15,000 tonnes in fuel consumption over three years, said the airline statement. Semi-robotic equipment, the TaxiBot, once attached to the aircraft, acts as an extension of the aircraft`s nose landing gear. It is used to tow aircraft from the airport terminal gate to the taxi-out point and tow aircraft from the terminal gate after landing (taxi-in phase) without utilizing the aircraft`s engines, thus saving fuel. Also read: Watch: Brave Ryanair Pilot Skillfully Navigates Boeing 737 Amidst Severe Crosswind The pioneering technology curbs fuel consumption, carbon emissions, noise levels, and airline costs. Elaborating on the adoption of TaxiBot, Air India chief executive officer (CEO) and managing director Campbell Wilson said, "As a responsible airline, Air India is constantly looking for ways to improve sustainability and manage our carbon footprint. The deployment of TaxiBots is one more example of our commitment to reducing emissions and fuel consumption. This collaboration with KSU will allow us to assess the capabilities of TaxiBots better and potentially lead to greater deployment across Air India`s subsidiaries and other airports." Air India is investing in efficiency measures to adopt sustainability as part of its regular fleet operations -- including inducting new aircraft, better procedures, and driving operations with the deployment of innovative technology. Last year, the Air India group entered a Memorandum of Understanding with the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) - Indian Institute of Petroleum to collaborate on developing, developing, and deploying sustainable aviation fuels (SAFs). KSU Aviation director Ashwani Khanna said, "We are excited about the formal induction of TaxiBot as part of Air India`s focused approach to address its carbon footprint. Air India is undergoing a massive transformation and has adopted sustainable practices as an integral part of this journey. We are committed to partnering with like-minded organizations like Air India to leverage modern-day technology in reducing carbon footprint and accelerate the pursuit of being net zero." In October 2019, Air India, in a global first, used a TaxiBot on an Airbus A320 aircraft operating a commercial flight with passengers on board. India has retained the Category 1 status under the United States Federal Aviation Administration's aviation safety assessment programme, a development that will provide a fillip to Indian carriers as they expand their overseas operations. The latest development also comes a few months after India's safety ranking significantly improved in the audit done by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). FAA under its International Aviation Safety Assessment (IASA) programme determines whether a country's oversight of its air carriers that operate, or seek to operate, into the US or codeshare with a US air carrier, complies with safety standards established by ICAO. In a statement, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said that based on the outcomes of the assessment and follow-ups, FAA informed it on Wednesday that "India meets the international standards for aviation safety oversight of the Chicago Convention & its Annexes and continues to retain FAA IASA Category 1 status which was last assessed in July 2018". Your safety, our priority!@FAANews confirms India's IASA CAT-1 status will continue, recognising @DGCAIndia's unwavering commitment to safety oversight. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/q2TY6x07h8 MoCA_GoI (@MoCA_GoI) April 12, 2023 IASA programme focuses on a country's ability to adhere to international aviation safety standards and recommended practices with respect to personnel licensing, operation of aircraft and airworthiness of aircraft of ICAO. "India's Category 1 determination has come at a time when the Indian aviation is on a high growth trajectory and air carriers in India have major capacity induction and expansion plans. Air carriers of Category 1 countries are permitted to operate/expand their services to destinations in US and codeshare with US air carriers," the statement said. Domestic carriers, especially Air India and IndiGo, have ambitious plans for operations on international routes, including the US. According to the statement, FAA said that DGCA has demonstrated a commitment towards ensuring an effective safety oversight of India's aviation system and appreciated the positive manner in which DGCA has worked with them. Under its IASA programme, FAA conducted an audit of DGCA from October 25 to 29, 2021 in the areas of aircraft operations, airworthiness and personnel licensing. The assessment was followed by final consultations on April 25 and 26 last year. Subsequently, there was a review by FAA in July 2022 and September 2022. "The assessment by ICAO as well as FAA is a testimony to India's commitment of having an effective safety oversight for its civil aviation system," the statement said. In the ICAO audit in November last year, India's global ranking improved significantly, with an Effective Implementation (EI) score of 85.65 per cent compared to 69.95 per cent earlier. In a tweet, Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia said India's standards for aviation safety oversight "continue to be amongst the best in the world! Congratulations @MoCA_GoI". After a significant 16 per cent jump in its ICAO global rating, yet again, India's civil aviation sector successfully retains its Category 1 status with FAA, he said. The ministry, in a series of tweets, said that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Scindia, "we are dedicated to ensuring a seamless & safe flying experience for all passengers". India is one of the fastest growing civil aviation markets in the world. Nicholas James Link, a United States citizen based in Minnesota, is sentenced to 2 years of prison time for his maneuvers of aiming a laser at a Delta Airlines flight, as per Wion's report. The aforementioned incident occurred on the night of 29 October 2021. The dangerous act by the 43-year-old man disrupted the pilot's efforts to land while raising alarms regarding the safety of passengers on the aircraft. As per the reports, the man pleaded guilty this year after being presented in court for endangering the flight. At the time of the incident, Delta Airlines' Airbus A319 was carrying out a commercial flight from Raleigh-Durham to Minneapolis. The plane was 9,000 feet west of River Falls, Wisconsin, when the laser pointed at it was at an altitude of 9,000 feet. The incident was reported by the pilot of the airline to the MinneapolisSaint Paul International Airport (MSP). Also read: India's Aviation Safety Ratings On A Rise, America's FAA Grants Category 1 Status Up until a blue laser lit up the cockpit three times, everything was as usual. Air traffic control gave the plane a directive to switch runways when it was its route to MSP airport. However, due to Link's laser strikes, which caused a significant diversion for the pilots in the cockpit, they were unable to read this brief on their iPads. On January 12, 2023, when US District Judge William M. Conley announced his decision to sentence Link to two years in prison, Link entered a plea of guilty to this offence. The pilots were able to brief, transition to the new runway, and safely land the aircraft after the laser strikes without any untoward incidents occurring. Although the captain's right eye's vision was apparently impaired for several hours following this incident, the first officer did not experience any vision disruption. Air traffic control called Minnesota State Patrol aircraft after the laser strikes. The patrol plane then made its way to River Falls to look into the situation and monitored the location of Link. In his defense, the accused Link claimed that the risk of the laser attacks was not well recognised. Judge Conley, nevertheless, disagreed with him. The hazard is well known because these occurrences are routinely covered by the news, according to Judge Conley. He characterised firing a laser at an aeroplane "incredibly dangerous and reckless." New Delhi: As part of the efforts to bring several opposition parties together on a common platform to defeat the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) president on Thursday met Congress leaders Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi. Welcoming Pawar at his residence in Delhi, Kharge said that they are happy that he has come here directly from Mumbai and 'guided' them. Mallikarjun Kharge shared a picture with Pawar, Rahul and Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal on Twitter and wrote, "Stronger, together! We stand united for a better, brighter and an equal future for our people." Stronger, together ! We stand united for a better, brighter and an equal future for our people. Along with Shri @RahulGandhi ji met @NCPspeaks President, Shri @PawarSpeaks ji and had a discussion on the future course of action. pic.twitter.com/EIMPtA15cM Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 13, 2023 Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Kharge reiterated that all the like-minded parties should unite. "We have decided to unite together and fight and we will talk to all the parties one after the other. Yesterday we met two parties and today Pawar sahib has come and we have decided that we will meet everyone, talk to them and move forward unitedly," he said. Sharad Pawar said all the parties have the same thinking, 'but, mere thinking will not help and efforts should be made for unity'. "There are some political parties who have similar ideologies, efforts should be made to bring them together Kharge is the leader of the opposition and he has made this effort which will benefit everyone," he said. The former Union Minister also said that 'this is the beginning'. "After this, other opposition parties such as Mamata Banerjee's TMC (Trinamool Congress) or Arvind Kejriwal's AAP (Aam Aadmi Party) or other parties with whom talks have not taken place, efforts should be made to bring them together under this process for unity," the NCP chief added. Visited Indian National Congress President Shri Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in New Delhi today. General secretary of AICC Shri K. C. Venugopal and Congress leader Shri Rahul Gandhi were also present.@kharge @RahulGandhi @kcvenugopalmp @INCIndia pic.twitter.com/77GQJP3l7U Sharad Pawar (@PawarSpeaks) April 13, 2023 #WATCH | NCP chief Sharad Pawar addresses the media after meeting Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge at his residence in Delhi. "Our thinking is exactly what Kharge ji told you. But mere thinking will not help. A process needs to be started...This is just the beginning. After pic.twitter.com/GZ4dz3cJuF ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2023 Rahul Gandhi also said that a process has begun to unite the Opposition. "This is the beginning. All parties are committed to this process," he told reporters. #WATCH | Congress leader Rahul Gandhi says, "What Kharge ji and Pawar ji said, that a process has begun to unite the Opposition. This is the beginning. All parties are committed to this process." pic.twitter.com/NaEuWHq6m4 ANI (@ANI) April 13, 2023 The meeting came a day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and his deputy Tejashwi Yadav met Kharge and Gandhi amid talks of like-minded opposition parties coming together on a common platform to defeat the BJP in the ensuing General elections. Nitish Kumar meets Left veterans Sitaram Yechury, D Raja Earlier in the day, Nitish Kumar continued his efforts to cement opposition unity and held talks with Left veterans Sitaram Yechury and D Raja. After his meeting with Kumar, CPI-M general secretary Yechury said seat adjustments will be made at the state level and indicated that a third front was a possibility. With Bihar CM Shri Nitish Kumar to carry forward the efforts to unite secular democratic parties to safeguard the Indian Republic, Constitution and Democracy, severely assaulted by the BJP & Modi govt. Defeat the BJP in order to save India & peoples livelihoods. pic.twitter.com/9yXdRGM3tI Sitaram Yechury (@SitaramYechury) April 13, 2023 "Efforts for opposition unity have picked up the pace. An opposition coalition will be formed and seat adjustments will be done at the state level," he said. Yechury added that in Kerala, the Congress and his party are arch rivals and that the BJP is not in a fight there. He further said that the third front that is going to be formed will always be after the elections. "But in India, fronts are formed post polls such as United Front in 1996, in 1998 NDA was formed after elections, UPA formed post polls in 2004," Yechury said. #WATCH | We have to save the Constitution today and for that, we've to defeat BJP in the 2024 polls. Talks are underway with other political parties also... The front that is going to be formed if at all, it will always be after the elections: Sitaram Yechury, CPI(M) General Secy pic.twitter.com/JOkkeoo5pv April 13, 2023 The Bihar later CM also met CPI general secretary D Raja. Earlier on Wednesday, Kumar had met AAP's national convener and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. New Delhi: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday called gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad's encounter a 'fake' one and said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. Taking to his official Twitter account, the former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister also said that the BJP 'does not believe' in the court and demanded that today's and recent encounters should be thoroughly investigated. In a tweet in Hindi, Akhilesh Yadav said, "By doing fake encounters, the BJP government is trying to divert attention from the real issues. The BJP does not believe in the court at all. Today's and recent encounters should also be thoroughly investigated and the culprits should not be spared. The power does not have the right to decide what is right or wrong. BJP is against the brotherhood." - - Akhilesh Yadav (@yadavakhilesh) April 13, 2023 Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) supremo Mayawati also demanded a thorough investigation into the death of Asad. She also said the killing could be a repeat of the 'Vikas Dubey incident'. Dubey was a notorious gangster from Kanpur, who was killed in 2020 when the police vehicle bringing him from Madhya Pradesh overturned and he tried to escape by snatching a gun from a policeman. "People feel their apprehension of a repeat of the Vikas Dubey incident has come true. Therefore, a high-level inquiry is necessary so that the complete facts and truth of the incident can come before the public," she tweeted in Hindi. - Mayawati (@Mayawati) April 13, 2023 Their remarks came hours after Asad Ahmed and his accomplice Ghulam, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, were killed in an encounter with the Uttar Pradesh Police in Jhansi. They were trying to flee on a motorcycle when they were intercepted by an STF team in Jhansi, the officials said, adding they opened fire on the personnel and were killed in retaliatory firing. Asad and Ghulam, who were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, were on the run since the murder of Umesh Pal in Prayagraj. Asad and Ghulam were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case and were carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused, says Special ADG (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar. (File Photos: 1. Asad, 2. Ghulam) pic.twitter.com/0mbrD9vAuD Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) April 13, 2023 "Sophisticated foreign-made weapons were recovered from the accused," Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar said, adding the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force team was led by deputy superintendents of police Navendu Kumar and Vimal Kumar. Umesh Pal, a key witness in the 2005 murder case of then BSP MLA Raju Pal and his two police security guards were shot dead outside his home in Prayagraj's Dhoomanganj area on February 24 this year. His wife Jaya Pal had filed a case on February 25 against Atiq Ahmad, his brother Ashraf, Asad, Ghulam, and others. The daylight murder on a busy street had raised questions over law and order in Uttar Pradesh and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had vowed in the state assembly that he will 'destroy' the mafia in the state. Umesh Pal murder case: Atiq Ahmad sent to 14-day judicial custody Asad's encounter took place on a day when Atif Ahmed was presented before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate in Prayagraj in the Umesh Pal murder case and was sent to 14-day judicial custody. Atiq and his brother Ashraf, who was also sent to 14-day judicial custody, were produced before Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam at 11:10 am amid heavy security and they remained in the court for over two hours as the arguments proceeded. Ahmed and Ashraf, alias Khalid Azim, will be kept in Naini jail in Prayagraj till April 26, said advocate Vikram Singh, the counsel for Umesh Pal's wife Jaya. Singh said the arguments on the application for their police custody were yet to be completed. For the court hearing on Thursday, Ahmed, the 60-year-old former SP legislator, was brought from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat and Ashraf was brought from Bareilly Jail. This was the second time within a month that Ahmed was brought from the Gujarat Jail to Prayagraj via road for a court hearing. Earlier on March 28, an MP-MLA court held Ahmed and two others guilty in connection with the kidnapping of Umesh Pal in 2006 and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for life. New Delhi: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel on Wednesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of indulging in double standards, saying that when the daughters of BJP leaders get married to Muslims, they call it love, but if anybody else does so then it's dubbed as "jihad". Talking to reporters in Bilaspur town of the state, he also accused the saffron party of trying to take political advantage of last week's communal violence in Biranpur village of Bemetara district. When asked about the BJP's claims that tension started brewing in Biranpur following some interfaith marriages there, Baghel said, "The BJP neither examined the matter (clash) nor came out with any report before calling for a bandh. A fight between two children led to a clash that claimed the life of a man which is very sad. It cannot be justified. But the BJP is trying to take its political mileage." #WATCH | BJP is trying to take its political mileage from Biranpur village's communal violence...They talk about love jihad. Daughters of senior leaders of BJP have married Muslims. Doesnt it fall in the category of love jihad? You ask where the daughter of the biggest leader of pic.twitter.com/iDAU3WnuLK ANI MP/CG/Rajasthan (@ANI_MP_CG_RJ) April 13, 2023 "They talk about love jihad. If we talk about senior leaders of BJP their daughters have married to Muslims. Doesn't it fall in the category of love jihad? You ask where the daughter of the biggest leader of the BJP in Chhattsigarh has gone. Is that not love jihad?," Baghel said. "When their daughter does it then it's love but someone else does it, then it is jihad. "What have they (BJP) done to stop this? They just want to get political benefits from it. They make their son-in-laws minister and MPs and treat others under different laws," he said. Communal violence had erupted in Biranpur, located 60 km from Bemetara town, on April 8 allegedly after a fight between school children. A local resident, Bhuneshwar Sahu (22), was killed in the clash and three policemen suffered injuries. The local administration has imposed section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which bars assembly of four or more people, in the entire Bemetara district. Three days after the incident, a man identified as Rahim Mohammad (55) and his son Idul Mohammad (35), residents of Biranpur, were found dead with head injuries a few kms away from the village. All roads leading to the village have been barricaded by the police. Around 1,000 police personnel have been deployed in the village and around it to maintain law and order. CM Baghel on Tuesday announced to give government job to the kin of the deceased Sahu and also financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh to the family. Persistence Market Research Growing Investments in Novel Biologics will propel the overall Market for Commercial Aquaculture Vaccines New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Commercial Aquaculture Vaccines Market is estimated to generate US$ 265.0 million in revenue globally for 2022 and reach a CAGR of 7.9% to attain a valuation of over US$ 605.5 million by the end of 2033. The increasing demand for seafood, growing aquaculture industry, and rising prevalence of aquatic diseases are the major factors driving the market's growth. Aquaculture, the farming of aquatic organisms such as fish, shellfish, and aquatic plants, has gained significant importance in recent years due to the increasing demand for seafood and declining wild fish stocks. However, the intensive nature of aquaculture often leads to increased susceptibility to diseases, which can result in significant economic losses. Therefore, vaccines have emerged as a critical tool in the management of aquaculture diseases, driving the growth of the commercial aquaculture vaccines market. Click Here to Get Free Sample Copy of this Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/32289 Commercial Aquaculture Vaccines Market Dynamic The commercial aquaculture vaccines market is a dynamic and rapidly growing industry, driven by various factors that influence market dynamics. Some of the key dynamics that are currently shaping the commercial aquaculture vaccines market include: Increasing Demand for Seafood: With the growing global population and rising income levels, there is an increasing demand for seafood products. Rising Prevalence of Aquatic Diseases: Aquatic diseases are a major challenge in the aquaculture industry, leading to significant economic losses. Growing Aquaculture Industry: The aquaculture industry has been growing rapidly in recent years, driven by the increasing demand for seafood and declining wild fish stocks. Technological Advancements: Advances in biotechnology, including genetic engineering, have enabled the development of more effective and safer vaccines for aquaculture species. Government Support: Governments around the world are providing support for the development of the aquaculture sector, including funding for research and development of aquaculture vaccines.. Story continues Market Trend: Increasing Use of DNA Vaccines: DNA vaccines are a relatively new type of vaccine that are gaining popularity in the aquaculture industry due to their ability to stimulate a strong immune response and reduce the risk of disease transmission. Rising Adoption of Recirculating Aquaculture Systems: Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are closed-loop systems that allow for the efficient farming of fish and other aquatic organisms with minimal water usage. Increasing Focus on Sustainability: Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important focus in the aquaculture industry, with a growing emphasis on minimizing environmental impact and improving animal welfare. Growing Interest in Oral Vaccines: Oral vaccines are an attractive option in the aquaculture industry due to their ease of administration and ability to provide long-term protection. Expansion of Aquaculture Industry into New Species: The aquaculture industry is expanding into new species, such as seaweed and other marine organisms. Get Full Access of this Report@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/32289 Competitive Landscape: The Commercial Aquaculture Vaccines Market is highly competitive, with major players such as Zoetis Inc., Merck & Co. Inc. (MSD Animal , Health/Intervet International B.V.),HIPRA, Elanco Animal Health Inc., Veterquimica SA, Ictyogroup, Tecnovax, Nisseiken Co., Ltd. And more Recent Developments In March 2023, AquaBounty Technologies announced that it had received regulatory approval for its genetically modified salmon in Brazil. The company's AquAdvantage salmon is the first genetically modified animal for human consumption to be approved in Brazil. AquaBounty plans to start producing the fish in Brazil in the coming months. In February 2023, researchers from the University of Maine announced that they had developed a new vaccine that could protect farmed Atlantic salmon from a deadly virus called infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV). The vaccine uses a protein from the virus to stimulate an immune response in the fish. Market Segmentations: The commercial aquaculture vaccines market can be segmented based on several factors, including vaccine type, species, administration method, and region. Based on Vaccine Type: Bacterial Vaccines, Viral Vaccines, DNA Vaccines, Others Based on Species: Salmon, Trout, Tilapia, Carp, Shrimp, Others Based on Administration Method: Injection Vaccines, Oral Vaccines, Immersion Vaccines , Others Based on Region: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa You Can Customize this Report As per Your Requirement Click Here@ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/request-customization/32289 Persistence Market Researchs Expertise in Life Sciences and Transformational Health Our expert team of industry analysts comprising management graduates, medical professionals, engineers, and project managers provides insights on emerging therapy areas, diagnostic tools, medical devices and components, reimbursement and market access, biotechnology, and life science research products and services to equip decision-makers with sound inputs and strategic recommendations. Other Trending Reports: About Persistence Market Research: Business intelligence is the foundation of every business model employed by Persistence Market Research. Multi-dimensional sources are being put to work, which include big data, customer experience analytics, and real-time data collection. Thus, working on micros by Persistence Market Research helps companies overcome their macro business challenges. Persistence Market Research is always way ahead of its time. In other words, it tables market solutions by stepping into the companies/clients shoes much before they themselves have a sneak pick into the market. The pro-active approach followed by experts at Persistence Market Research helps companies/clients lay their hands on techno-commercial insights beforehand, so that the subsequent course of action could be simplified on their part. Contact Rajendra Singh Persistence Market Research U.S. Sales Office: 305 Broadway, 7th Floor New York City, NY 10007 +1-646-568-7751 United States USA - Canada Toll-Free: 800-961-0353 Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com New Delhi: India's engagement with China is "complex" and Chinese attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh starting from April-May 2020 seriously disturbed the peace and tranquility in border areas and impacted overall ties, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in a report on Monday. It said the Chinese attempts were invariably met with an "appropriate response" from Indian armed forces. In its annual report for 2022, the MEA said the External Affairs Minister conveyed to his Chinese counterpart that the restoration of normalcy in ties will require the restoration of peace and tranquility along the frontier. "India's engagement with China is complex. The two sides have agreed that pending the final settlement of the boundary question, maintenance of peace and tranquility in the border areas is an essential basis for the overall development of the bilateral relationship," the MEA's annual report for 2022 said. "However, starting from April-May 2020, the Chinese side undertook several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC in the Western sector, which seriously disturbed the peace and tranquility along the LAC in the Western sector and impacted the development of the relationship," it said. The government refers to eastern Ladakh as the Western sector. The MEA said both sides have agreed to resolve the issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh through peaceful dialogue and that discussions have continued with the Chinese side to achieve complete disengagement from all friction points and full restoration of peace and tranquility in the India-China border areas at an early date. "However, the continued unilateral attempts by China to change the status quo have impacted the bilateral relationship since then," it said. "The two sides continued to make some progress in the resolution of the issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. Continuing with disengagement in Pangong Tso in February 2021 and in the Gogra area in August 2021, this year, disengagement was achieved in Gogra-Hot Springs (PP-15) in Eastern Ladakh (September 2022)," the MEA said. It said there are still some outstanding issues that need to be resolved. "India has maintained its engagement with the Chinese side both through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues at the earliest so as to restore peace and tranquility in the border areas," the MEA said. It said External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar held a meeting with the then Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi during the latter's visit to India on March 25 last year. "The two ministers exchanged views on the border situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. EAM conveyed to FM Wang Yi that restoration of normalcy will require a restoration of peace and tranquility," the report said. Apart from this, Jaishankar discussed key issues including the return of Indian students to continue their education in China. The majority of Indian students had returned home following the COVID-19 pandemic. The report also mentioned the meeting of the two foreign ministers in Bali on July 7 last on the sidelines of a G-20 meeting. It said during the meeting, Jaishankar called for an early resolution of all outstanding issues along the LAC in eastern Ladakh and reiterated the need to sustain the momentum to complete disengagement from all the remaining areas. Jaishankar also highlighted that the India-China relationship is best served by observing the three mutuals - mutual respect, mutual sensitivity, and mutual interest, the report said. The report also cited the diplomatic and military talks between India and China to resolve the border issue. "During these diplomatic and military level meetings, the two sides have had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the situation along the LAC in the India-China border areas," the report said. "There was agreement to continue discussions through diplomatic and military channels to resolve the remaining issues along the LAC at the earliest," it said. The eastern Ladakh border row erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. The ties between the two countries nosedived significantly following the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. The report noted that India continues to engage with China on multilateral platforms including BRICS, SCO, G-20, UN, etc. On the Ukraine conflict, the report said India called for an immediate cessation of hostilities and an end to the violence and urged both sides to return to the path of diplomacy and dialogue. "India also drew attention to the impact of the conflict on issues including food, fertilizer and fuel security, particularly in the developing countries. India also welcomed the signing of the 'Black Sea Grain Initiative' in July 2022 as well as its extension in November 2022," the report said. It said India-Russia Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership continued to strengthen despite the COVID-19 related challenges and the difficulties arising due to the conflict in Ukraine which began on 24 February 2022. "This period was particularly significant for bilateral relations, as it marked the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties, under which various events were organised," the MEA said. "Both sides worked towards enhancing cooperation in all areas including high-level political engagements, cooperation in the trade and economic sphere, defence, security, culture, and people-to-people ties," it said. It said India strengthened its partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region. "The Indo-Pacific is central to India's ties with its closest partners, including its Quad partners: Australia, Japan and the United States," it said. The report said the scope of the Quad continues to expand. New Delhi: BJP MLA Nehru Olekar resigned from the party on Thursday after being denied a ticket to run in the upcoming Karanataka Assembly elections. Discontent appears to be brewing within Karnataka's ruling BJP, with the party facing backlash after announcing two lists of candidates, with some aspirants who missed the bus expressing their displeasure. So far, the party has announced candidates for 212 of the Assembly's 224 seats. Voting will take place on May 10, and the results will be announced on May 13. The 65-year-old two-time MLA from the Scheduled Castes community hit the streets along with his supporters to protest against the party overlooking him for the elections. He was replaced by Gavisiddappa Dyamannavar in Haveri (SC) constituency. Olekar claimed that thousands of BJP workers were resigning from the primary membership of the party. "We would wait for the opinion of our workers and we will take a decision (future course of action) based on the outcome of a meeting with them," he said. He added that he had an offer from the JD(S) and another party. Earlier this year, Olekar was convicted to two years' simple imprisonment on charges of corruption for allegedly diverting government funds to his contractor sons. The order was later stayed by the Karnataka High Court. Other Karnataka BJP leaders who quit the party: MP Kumaraswamy Mudigere BJP MLA M P Kumaraswamy on Thursday announced his resignation from the party, after he was denied a ticket to contest the Karnataka Assembly polls, and blamed national General Secretary C T Ravi for not getting nominated. The three-time MLA said he will also be submitting his resignation as a legislator to the Assembly Speaker soon. S. Angara State Minister and six-time Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Angara S on Wednesday said that he would not campaign for the party while also announcing his exit from political activity. He announced this after being denied a party ticket for the upcoming polls. Laxman Savadi Former Karnataka Deputy CM Laxman Savadi has also resigned as the Legislative Council member and from the primary membership of the BJP after losing the Athani constituency ticket. More leaders are likely to quit the BJP over the ticket denial. New Delhi: The Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday killed gagster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmad's son Asad and his shooter Ghulam in an encounter in the state's Jhansi district. Both were wanted in Umesh Pal's murder case. The STF team was reportedly headed by STF DSP Navendu Singh and DSP Vimal. Asad and Ghulam were key accused in the murder of Umesh Pal, who was a prime witness in the murder of a BSP legislator. Who is DSP Navendu Singh? Navendu Singh joined the Special Task Force in 2018 and is currently assigned as a DSP in the STF. Navendu Singh had been shot in the hand and neck during an encounter with a robber a few years ago. Navendu Singh encountered two high-profile criminals last year. He is the recipient of the President's Bravery Medal in 2008 and the National Bravery Medal in 2014. Navendu Singh also received the President's Award for courage on Independence Day in 2022. Atiq 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 then Bahujan Samaj Party MLA who was shot dead in 2005. 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. "Ex-MP & gangster Atiq Ahmed's son Asad, aide killed in an encounter by a team of 12 members of UP STF in Jhansi today. One British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol recovered from them," quoted in tweet by ANI. Ex-MP & gangster Atiq Ahmed's son Asad, aide killed in an encounter by a team of 12 members of UP STF in Jhansi today. One British Bulldog Revolver .455 bore and Walther P88 7.63 bore pistol recovered from them. pic.twitter.com/FxZgvtuS4n ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 Umesh Pal Murder Case led by Asad On February 24, this year, Umesh Pal, the main witness in the murder case of Raju Pal and his two security guards was shot dead in Prayagraj's Dhumanganj region. This shootout was led by Asad. The police had been looking for him for a month and a half, but he was on the run. Today, the police received information about his presence in Jhansi, and the STF unit managed to corner him in the encounter. According to the source, the authorities recovered foreign state-of-the-art weapons from the slain Asad and Ghulam. Atiq Ahmed Produced In Prayagraj Court Meanwhile, Atiq Ahmad and his brother were produced before a court in Prayagraj on Thursday in connection with the Umesh Pal murder case. They were presented in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Dinesh Gautam around 11:10 am amid security deployment. While Atiq Ahmed was brought to Prayagraj via road from Sabarmati Jail in Gujarat for his production, his brother Khalid Azim alias Ashraf was brought from a Bareilly 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 then Bahujan Samaj Party MLA who was shot dead in 2005. 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. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a telephone conversation with his UK counterpart Rishi Sunak and called for 'strong action' against those who attacked the Indian High Commission last month. The tricolour flying atop the Indian High Commission in London was grabbed at by a group of protesters waving separatist Khalistani flags and chanting pro-Khalistani slogans on March 19, a day after Punjab Police launched a massive crackdown against radical preacher Amritpal Singh. According to Prime Minister Modi's Office, he raised the issue of the security of Indian diplomatic establishments in the UK and called for strong action against anti-India elements by the UK Government. Sunak told PM Modi that the UK considers the attack on Indian High Commission 'totally unacceptable' and assured of the security of the Indian Mission and its personnel. In a readout of the call between the two leaders, Downing Street said Sunak stressed that extremism had no place in the UK and updated on the steps being taken to ensure the security of Indian High Commission staff. Prime Minister Modi also raised the issue of economic offenders who have sought refuge in the UK and sought progress on the return of these fugitives so that they can appear before the Indian judicial system. The two leaders also reviewed the progress on a number of bilateral issues as part of the India-UK Roadmap 2030, and expressed satisfaction at the recent high-level exchanges and growing cooperation, particularly in trade and economic sectors. As per an official statement, they agreed on the need for an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Free Trade Agreement between the two countries. PM Modi also invited Sunak for the G20 Summit to be held in Delhi in September 2023. He conveyed greetings to his British counterpart and the Indian community in the UK on the eve of Baisakhi. New Delhi: Jackie Shroff, the legendary Bollywood actor and philanthropist, continues to inspire millions with his noble initiatives. Recently, he was invited to facilitate an awareness initiative on leprosy, organised by Alert India and Euro School, Thane. Jackie, known for his commitment to social causes, expressed his gratitude towards Alert India for their dedicated efforts towards creating awareness about leprosy. "I am honored to be associated with Alert India, an organisation that has been working towards leprosy awareness for years. It is heartening to be a part of initiatives that aim to spread awareness about leprosy and its impact on society. I am grateful to Ms Veera Rao for organising the visit to Euro School, Thane, and creating awareness amongst the students, faculty, and parents. It is heartening to see young minds being sensitised to such social issues," said Jackie. During his visit to Euro School, Thane, Jackie exhibited his warm and affectionate side as he interacted with the children. He was seen making them laugh, engaging with them, and posing for pictures with them. Jackie once again wins our hearts with his humbleness and is truly a legend to look up to. Jackie's unwavering dedication to social causes continues to inspire millions. New Delhi: Shraddha Kapoor is one of the top actresses in the industry today. The actress often drops her stunning pictures on social media, she has a fan following of millions and receives a lot of love both online and offline. Shraddha made heads turn at the Jio World Convention Centre as she arrived in a sizzling hot red saree with a bold blouse to attend a special event organized by Jio Studios on Tuesday night. Shraddha slayed the 'lady in red' look in a plunging blouse and semi-sequin saree. Actress walked the red carpet in a stunning saree flaunting her perfect figure. Her perfect appearance last night is going viral on social media and the actress has taken over all the paparazzo accounts. Fans flooded the comment section with heart-eye and love emojis. One user called her 'Gorgeous,' another one wrote, 'Beauty,' 'My favourite,' wrote a third fan. Almost the entire Bollywood was under one roof and happily posed for the shutterbugs. From Shahid Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Varun Dhawan, Kriti Sanon to Tiger Shroff and Anil Kapoor were spotted at the venue. Earlier, at the launch of NMACC, Shraddha looked her best in a Manish Malhotra 'paithani', the actress added a fun twist to her outfit and looked breathtakingly gorgeous. Riding high on the success of her last release, Tu Jhoothi Main Makkaar, Shraddha Kapoor has once again proved her bankability as a prolific performer and also upped her hotness game. The audience, industry and critics alike have praised the actress for her stellar performance and her remarkable yet fresh chemistry with Ranbir Kapoor. Meanwhile, Shraddha Kapoor is slated to be featured in Stree 2, one of the most highly anticipated films from her successful filmography. New Delhi: Kriti Sanon and Nupur Sanon are one of Bollywood's most loved sister duos. They often turn heads with their sizzling outfits and social media posts. Last night, the Sanon sisters grabbed eyeballs as they walked the red carpet together at Jio World Convention Centre and totally slayed it. Kriti graced the red carpet with her sister Nupur Sanon and won all hearts with their looks. Sr Sanon made heads turn in a shimmery red sequin ensemble, consisting of a bralette and a long straight skirt featuring a thigh-high slit. Nupur, on the other hand, looked gorgeous in an embellished grey pantsuit. They were papped and pictures, videos are now surfing online. The sister duo received a lot of love online and fans have flooded the comment section with heart-eye, fire and love emojis. One user wrote, "Jordar shandar jabardast jindabad," another one commented, "They are stunners" Almost the entire Bollywood was under one roof and happily posed for the shutterbugs. From Shahid Kapoor, Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, Aamir Khan, Varun Dhawan, Shraddha Kapoor to Tiger Shroff and Anil Kapoor were spotted at the venue. Earlier, Kriti Sanon stunned the internet and her fans with her Banarasi gown that she wore on the red carpet of NMACC Day 2. Enthralling everyone with the intricate beauty of making the gown from a Banarasi saree with top-notch exquisite craftsmanship, Kriti made all heads turn towards her. Cut out of a Banarasi saree, the gown featured one-shoulder detail with a cut-out at the torso. The gown further cascaded to flowy details with a thigh-high slit. Kriti draped a cape around her shoulders made out of the same banarasi saree. Meanwhile, on the work front, Kriti has a busy year ahead with her upcoming releases of Adipurush and Ganpath. The actor will also be seen in The Crew alongside Kareena Kapoor Khan and Tabu. She also has a yet untitled film starring Shahid Kapoor. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday claimed that the encounter of Atiq Ahmed`s son Asad and his aide Ghulam, wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case, by the Special Task Force in Jhansi foiled their plan to help the jailed gangster-politician escape from police custody. Sharing more details of the operation, state`s Special Director General (Law and Order) Prashant Kumar revealed that teams of civil police and special forces were deployed following the intelligence inputs of a plan by Asad of planning to free his father Atiq Ahmed by attacking police convoy midway as the gangster turned politician was being brought in Uttar Pradesh for hearing. "We had information that to help the accused Atiq and Ashraf escape there could be an attack on the police convoy bringing them back to UP in the case (Umesh Pal murder case). In view of this information, teams of civil police and special forces were deployed," said Prashant Kumar. #WATCH | Prashant Kumar, Special DG, Law & Order, Uttar Pradesh gives details of encounter of Umesh Pal murder case accused Asad, son of gangster Atiq Ahmed & Ghulam by STF in Jhansi today pic.twitter.com/62S5RL5TUD ANI UP/Uttarakhand (@ANINewsUP) April 13, 2023 How Did Jhansi Encounter Take Place? Revealing further as to how the encounter took place, Kumar said that based on the information, two teams were deployed and Asad was intercepted, while he was on a bike along with his aide Ghulam. "Action was taken on the basis of information and at around 12:30 and 1 pm the duo were killed in a retaliatory firing," Kumar said, adding that the Special Task Force conducted the entire operation. He said special teams were constituted and were consistently following the case since the murder of Umesh Pal. "On February 24, a major incident took place in Prayagraj, in which a witness was killed by some miscreants by firing and hurling bombs," the senior cop said. "Two uniformed personnel were also killed in the incident," he added. "Since then the police constituted special teams, which cracked down on several occasions. In connection with this incident Arman, Asad, Guddu, and Sabir were identified and a reward of Rs 5 lakh was announced on their heads," police said. Asad, Ghulam Shot Dead In Jhansi Earlier today, Asad and Ghulam, who were wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj, were killed in a police encounter in Jhansi. Each of them carried a reward of Rupees five lakh. The police said that foreign-made weapons were recovered. "Asad, son of mafia-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and Ghulam S/o Maksudan, both wanted in the Umesh Pal murder case of Prayagraj and carrying a reward of Rupees five lakhs each; killed in an encounter with the UPSTF team led by DySP Navendu and DySP Vimal at Jhansi. Sophisticated foreign-made weapons recovered," UP STF said. Meanwhile, Prayagraj Chief Judicial Magistrate Court on Thursday sent gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed and his brother Ashraf to four-day police custody in the Umesh Pal murder case. Umesh Pal's Mother Thanks UP CM For Giving Justice Shanti Devi, mother of slain lawyer Umesh Pal on Thursday thanked Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and expressed her full faith in the Uttar Pradesh government, for giving "justice" after gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmeds son Asad was shot dead in an encounter in Jhansi. "I thank CM Yogi ji for serving justice and I appeal to him to give us justice ahead also. We have full faith in CM," said Shanti Devi, mother of Umesh Pal, the advocate who was killed in broad daylight in Prayagraj earlier this year. Jaya Devi, Umesh Pal`s widow also thanked the chief minister. I thank the Chief Minister who took such a decision. He gave punishment to the killers of his daughter`s husband. It is justice. I expect that the Chief Minister will do good whatever he does. I express my gratitude to the Chief Minister who is like a fatherly figure," she said. CM Yogi Praises UP STF Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath chaired a high-level meeting on `law and order` after the killing of gangster-turned-politician Atiq Ahmed`s son, Asad, in an encounter. CM Yogi also lauded the Special Task Force (STF) team which was involved in the shootout. According to the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister`s Office, CM Yogi was apprised about the encounter by the Principal Secretary (Home).A report was also placed before the Chief Minister on this entire matter. "After the encounter of former MP Atiq Ahmed`s son Asad and his aide, CM Yogi Adityanath took a meeting on law and order. CM Yogi praised UP STF as well as DGP, Special DG law and order and the entire team," UP CMO said in a statement." Message To Criminals: UP DyCM Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya hailed the state Special Task Force on the encounter of Asad and his aide, and termed the action, a "message to criminals". While speaking to ANI, Maurya said, "I congratulate UP STF for this action. Police fired in retaliation after they (Asad and his aide Ghulam) fired upon them." "It is a message to criminals that this is the new India. It is Yogi govt in UP, not Samajwadi Party in power which gave protection to criminals," he said. SP, BSP Call It 'Fake Encounter', Demand Probe The Samajwadi Party and the Bahujan Samaj Party have demanded an investigation into the Jhansi shootout, suggesting that the state's Special Task Force staged a fake encounter. Atiq Ahmad, a former SP legislator, had earlier expressed apprehension that he himself could be killed by UP Police while being brought to Prayagraj from the Ahmedabad prison, where he was lodged in connection with another case. When he was being taken to the city for Thursday's court appearance, he made a similar remark. "I am totally reduced to dust, but please don't trouble the women and children of my family now," the 60-year-old told reporters from inside a police van. Closing the "backdoor": how to prevent Russia from circumventing sanctions alexlmx / depositphotos Author Volodymyr Kravchenko Columnist of the International Politics Department at ZN.UA If they don't let us in through the front door, then we will climb through the window. If it is not possible to climb through the window, we will make our way through the chimney. If we do not manage to make our way even through the chimney, we will get to where we need to go through a trench dug in the ground. In this way, Russia is trying to bypass the international community's price limit on Russian oil and sanctions on a number of goods that it can use for military purposes. After all, in order to continue the war and win it, Russia needs the money that the Kremlin receives from the sale of oil and gas. In addition, modern chips and semiconductors are also needed, without which it is impossible to create airplanes and drones, missiles and targeting systems, radio stations and means of electronic warfare. Today, the Russian authorities are building a "shadow fleet" and using GPS spoofing to bypass restrictive measures and sell their oil at a price higher than $60 per barrel. Also, the aggressor country comes up with alternative schemes for carrying out calculations. In addition, the Russian Federation uses parallel imports and creates shell companies for the supply of sanctioned goods. It also actively imports irons, dishwashers, and washing machines: household appliances are disassembled, and the resulting components are used to equip weapons. In part, Moscow succeeds in its fraud. This is evidenced by the fact that, according to the Bloomberg agency, Russian imports in general have largely returned to the level of 2020. The methods used by Russia are not new. Previously, they were actively used by other countries that were subject to international sanctions. In particular, Iran. At the same time, products of even American and British companies end up in Russia. Director of the Independent Anti-Corruption Commission Olena Tregub reported at one of the discussions at the Atlantic Council that many companies (mostly American) sell products to Russia through official distributors in Hong Kong and Turkey. (For more information on the schemes used by the Russians to circumvent sanctions, see Dmitry Mendeleev's article "How to End Russian Missile Terror".) In the last year, there has been a rapid increase in Russia's trade with countries that have not joined the international sanctions against it, such as Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, China, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkey, the UAE, and others. Although these countries deny that they help Moscow circumvent the embargo, semiconductors and microchips account for a significant amount of their trade with the Russian Federation. This helped Russia boost its total chip imports to $2.45 billion in 2022, up from $1.82 billion in 2021. For example, in 2022, deliveries from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Russia of electronics and parts for it have already increased by 100% and amount to 283 million dollars. And such an increase in supplies occurs despite the fact that the entire volume of exports from the UAE to the Russian Federation is equal to 500 million. In addition, the supply of microchips increased by 15 times, namely to the amount of 24 million dollars. The same situation is happening with the countries of the former USSR, which have become a "backdoor" for Russia for parallel imports. The company Euromonitor International notes that last year the main increase in exports from the EU to these countries was precisely for goods that fell under anti-Russian sanctions, and amounted to 95%. Does anyone think that domestic consumption of these products just suddenly increased in these countries? According to the Bloomberg agency, Kazakhstan exported $3.7 million worth of modern semiconductors to Russia in 2022 alone, while a year before the invasion, this figure was only $12,000 (!) It is not surprising that Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan were included in the list of states prepared by the US Treasury Department that help Russia circumvent sanctions. In addition, the supply of semiconductors and integrated circuits from China to Russia increased last year. Everyone wants a different victory in the war with Russia: what we should know If from March to September 2021, the PRC supplied the Russian Federation with semiconductors worth $200 million, then during the same period last year, supplies increased by more than $500 million. If in 2021 the Chinese exported integrated circuits worth $74 million, then in 2022 exports have already increased by 179 million. Last year, the supply of Chinese chips and related components to Turkey also increased sharply, and at the same time, the supply of similar semiconductor microcircuits from Turkey to Russia also increased. "In the last year, there has been a steady trend of increasing Chinese microcircuits and their components in Russian armaments instead of Western ones. In particular, if earlier the Russian drone called "Orlan" used Swiss GPS, now, after the restrictions adopted by the EU, this drone already uses Chinese ones. It is not surprising that Russians pay more attention to household appliances: almost all of them can be adapted for Russia's military needs," Vladyslav Vlasyuk, adviser to the office of the President of Ukraine, said in a comment to ZN.UA. At the same time, it is impossible to completely stop the supply of household appliances: in the West, they talk about the inadmissibility of the suffering of ordinary Russians. "However, it can be proven that components of household appliances are used for military purposes (that's exactly what we do). And then sanctions will be imposed," says Vladyslav Vlasyuk. Russia has been stockpiling high-tech components since 2014 and is now using them to replenish its stockpile. But now it mostly can't buy anything directly from the supplier. Therefore, the Russians import microcircuits secretly. However, they cannot do this in large volumes and look for loopholes in the sanctions regime using shell companies. For example, as in the case of a British company registered in London called Mykines Corporation. Since February 2022, this company has sold to the Russian Federation semiconductors, servers, laptops, computer components, telecommunication network equipment and consumer electronics from Huawei and H3C to Intel, AMD, Apple and Samsung in the amount of about 1.2 billion dollars. As the Financial Times emphasizes, at least $982 million worth of goods are subject to restrictions on exports by British companies or individuals to Russia. In order to block the channels of circumvention of sanctions by the Russians, it is not enough to implement an export ban on a number of goods. Control over the implementation of sanctions against Russia, and forcing other countries to comply with restrictive measures, and constant clarification of problematic issues and gaps in the sanctions regime are necessary. For example, the serial numbers of the components of various goods can be used to trace the supply chain of products to Russia. After that, according to V. Vlasyuk, first of all, the relevant companies are included in the sanctions lists. Secondly, sectoral sanctions are adopted. At the end of February this year, the G7 countries agreed to create a mechanism for coordinating the application of sanctions against Russia. It is assumed that a new mechanism will be developed that will allow its participants to exchange information and coordinate their actions regarding third countries and companies that will be seen to be helping Russia circumvent the restrictive measures. It is expected that this coordination mechanism will be created in the near future. Recently, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said that the 11th package of EU sanctions against Russia will include measures against the circumvention of existing restrictions. This issue will be considered in the European Union, roughly, in April. In its turn, Ukraine provides its Western partners with information about the circumvention of sanctions, as well as about the detected components of Western electronics in samples of Russian weapons obtained in battles. However, these measures are not enough to break the chain of import of components to the Russian Federation, and therefore the actions of the authorities are criticized. In the above-mentioned article "How to end Russian missile terror", Dmytro Mendeleev proposed to create a system of prevention and control of deliveries of critical imports to Russia, the main aspect of which should be an electronic register of technologies, products, works, equipment, materials and raw materials for the production of missile weapons and military equipment. In Kyiv, the authorities understand that completely stopping the circumvention of sanctions is not an easy task. As Vladyslav Vlasyuk noted in a conversation with ZN.UA: "If it is impossible to completely ban the supply of goods, then the task is for the Russians to pay the highest possible price for the goods, receiving as little as possible and of the worst quality." A Plan of Escape from the dollar Parallel import schemes are beneficial to intermediary countries. And the policy of shaming, that is, social condemnation of companies that violate sanctions, is not always effective. However, unlike the political and economic arguments of the United States of America, Ukraine's opportunities to stop the arrival of sanctioned goods to Russia through third countries are small. Washington is actively using its persuasive arguments to stop the arrival of sanctioned goods to Russia: in recent months, delegations of high-ranking employees of the Biden administration have visited countries that are reasonably suspected of supplying sanctioned goods to Russia. The United States of America operates on two levels. The first is diplomatic work with the governments of countries that are suspected of participating in parallel imports to Russia: Ukraine, the USA, and the EU expect other countries to comply with sanctions. Why should some countries suffer financial losses, while others should profit from the blood of Ukrainians? The second is a dialogue between representatives of the Biden administration and Turkish, Kazakh and other companies. The main argument: countries that have become channels for parallel imports or settlements are more dependent on the global market than on the Russian one. In addition, companies that have come under American or European sanctions due to the violation of restrictive measures against Russia, the possibility of working in other countries will practically disappear. This is an exorbitant price for the risk. After all, the same UAE is much more dependent on the USA and other Western countries than on the Russian Federation and Iran. And, as evidenced by the results of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken's trips to Turkey and the countries of Central Asia, this approach works anyway. Thus, at the beginning of March, the Turkish authorities blocked the transit from the EU to Russia of goods that were subject to international sanctions. The ban applies to about 10,000 items of goods, including electronics, spare parts, chemicals, and industrial equipment. The Turkish government also distributed among companies a list of goods that were subject to sanctions and prohibited for transit to Russia from March 1. In turn, Kazakhstan introduced a monitoring system for goods exported to Russia on April 1 in order to prevent the circumvention of sanctions. Countries are gradually strengthening control over the banking operations of Russian clients. In particular, banks in Armenia will block transfers from Russians if they consider them risky. "Western commercial banks, especially in the USA, are now revising their transaction control system in connection with sanctions against the Russian Federation, which significantly complicates the conditions for foreign transactions of all banks in the region, including banks of Armenia," the Central Bank of the Republic reported. Beijing also has to consider the consequences of non-compliance with sanctions. According to the director-general of the European Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Wang Lutong, China does not intend to take any special steps to circumvent Western anti-Russian sanctions. However, at the same time, Beijing will continue to develop normal trade relations with the Russian Federation and other countries: the Chinese diplomat noted that "China's normal economic cooperation with other countries should not be affected", because Europe also continues to trade with Russia, therefore sanctions "should not apply to normal trade relations between China and Moscow". Related video There will always be gaps even in a tightly packed "backdoor". The main thing is that with the lenient attitude of governments to the circumvention of sanctions by local companies, they do not turn into black holes. After all, every chip and semiconductor brought to Russia, every washing machine delivered to an aggressor country means that the Russians have a missile that can kill a Ukrainian child, and high-tech equipment for helicopters or tanks that will kill our soldiers. Share Noticed an error? Please select it with the mouse and press Ctrl+Enter or Submit a bug Allied Market Research The growth of small companies, rising investment in automation, strict government laws on management of hazardous chemicals and products, introduction of smart factories, and continuing shift from manual to automated process drive the global commercial robots market. By region, Asia Pacific held the major share in 2021, contributing to more than half of the global commercial robots market. Portland, OR, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to the report published by Allied Market Research, the global commercial robots market garnered $15.2 billion in 2021, and is estimated to generate $85.2 billion by 2031, manifesting a CAGR of 20.0% from 2022 to 2031. The report provides an extensive analysis of changing market dynamics, major segments, value chain, competitive scenario, and regional landscape. This research provides valuable insights that can help leaders, investors, shareholders, and startups develop effective strategies for achieving sustainable growth and gaining a competitive advantage in the market. Request Sample Report: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/53906 Report coverage & details: Report coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2021 Market Size in 2021 $15.2 billion Market Size in 2031 $85.2 billion CAGR 20.0% No. of Pages in Report 280 Segments Covered Application, Type, and Region Drivers Growth of small companies Rising investment in automation Strict government laws on management of hazardous chemicals and products Introduction of smart factories Continuing shift from manual to automated process Opportunities Continued investment in R&D Spending on new product launches Restraints High manufacturing costs COVID-19 Scenario: The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on the growth of the global commercial robots market. Due to disruptions in the supply chain, several sectors such as manufacturing, construction, automotive were negatively impacted that affected the production and demand for commercial robots during the pandemic Economic slowdown affected the setup of new commercial robots projects across the world as majority of government fundings were diverted towards construction and manufacturing sector owing to rapid spread of the COVID-19 virus, thereby impacting the market to the great extent. However, the introduction of vaccines for the coronavirus disease and the re-initiation of production facilities helped the market to recover. Industries gradually resumed their regular manufacturing and services, leading to the re-initiation of companies at their full-scale capacities. Story continues The research provides detailed segmentation of the global commercial robots market based on application, type, and region. The report discusses segments and their sub-segments in detail with the help of tables and figures. Market players and investors can strategize according to the highest revenue-generating and fastest-growing segments mentioned in the report. Procure Complete Report (280 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, and Figures) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/commercial-robots-market/purchase-options Based on application, the medical and healthcare segment accounted for the highest share in 2021, contributing to around one-third of the global commercial robots market revenue, and is expected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. However, the defense and security segment is expected to manifest the fastest CAGR 22.2% from 2022 to 2031. The report also analyzes agriculture and forestry, marine, and others segments. On the basis of type, the autonomous guided robotics segment held the largest market share in 2021, accounting for more than one-third of the global commercial robots market and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period. However, the drones segment would portray the fastest CAGR of 23.7% by 2031. The report also discusses field robots, medical robots, and others segment. By region, Asia-Pacific held the largest market share in terms of revenue in 2021, accounting for more than half of the global commercial robots market revenue and is likely to dominate the market during the forecast period. The same region would also cite the fastest CAGR of 21.1% from 2022 to 2031. The report also analyzes North America, Europe, and LAMEA regions. Leading market players of the global commercial robots market analyzed in the research include Kuka AG, iRobot Corporation, Omron Adept Technologies Inc., 3D Robotics Inc., Alphabet Inc., AeroVironment Inc., Northrop Grumman Corp., yaskawa electric corporation, Honda Motor Company Limited, and Accuray Inc. Enquiry Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/53906 The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global commercial robots 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. About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of " Market Research Reports " and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. CONTACT: Contact: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/information-and-communication-technology-and-media Follow Us on Blog: https://www.technologyplz.com/ PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images Some companies use AI to pay workers "different amount for the same amount of work," per new research. Veena Dubal, a law professor at UC Hastings and the paper's author, calls this "algorithmic wage discrimination." As companies adopt AI, she's concerned these practices could become prevalent in other industries. Gig workers are doing the same jobs for different pay, and this model could come to your workplace someday. That's according to new research from Veena Dubal, a law professor at University of California Hastings, who drew upon six years and thousands of hours of interviews and observations with hundreds of Uber and Lyft drivers, many of whom worked for more than one gig platform. According to Dubal, companies like Amazon and Uber have "massive data sets" on the contract workers using their delivery or rideshare platforms, including when they work, for how long, and what kind of pay they've taken for past jobs. These companies are able to utilize this data to "calculate the exact wage rates necessary to incentivize desired behaviors," she told the Los Angeles Times, a practice she calls "algorithmic wage discrimination." "From Amazon to Uber to the healthcare sector, workers are being paid different amounts for the same amount of work that is conducted for the same amount of time," said Dubal, whose research was published in the Social Science Research Network in January and will be included in a forthcoming Columbia Law Review. Dubal said these instances could take the form of a food delivery driver being offered a lower rate than another driver would have been because the AI algorithm predicted the first driver would be more likely to accept that rate. If a driver tends to work until they hit a certain daily mark, say $100, she said the algorithm might offer them lower rates to keep the driver working longer. "It's basically variable pay that's personalized to individuals based on what is really, really a lot of data that's accumulated on those workers while they're working," Dubal said. Story continues One Uber driver Dubal interviewed, Domingo, recalled being one ride of short of unlocking a $100 bonus one evening, but then said he experienced 45 minutes of "dead time" in a popular area before he was able to get another ride. "It feels like the algorithm is turned against you," he said, adding that it "literally feels like you're being punished by some unknown spiteful God." Dubal described the alleged variable pay system as the "gamblification of work," a sentiment other gig workers shared. "It's like gambling," said Ben, a rideshare driver. "The house always wins." When reached for comment, an Uber spokesperson told Insider: "It's a good thing that Professor Dubal's paper is still a draft, because its central premise about how Uber presents Upfront Fares to drivers is simply wrong. We do not tailor individual fares for individual drivers "as little as the system determines that they may be willing to accept." Moreover, factors like a driver's race, ethnicity, Quest promotion status, acceptance rate, total earnings, or prior trip history are not considered in calculating fares and, where Upfront Fares is available, drivers see exactly what they will make and where they are going before deciding if it's worth their time or declining the request. Moving away from a rate card that only looks at time and distance while on a trip allows Uber's pricing technology to better account for things like long pick up times and whether a driver is going to a destination where there is typically low demand." Amazon spokeswoman Simone Griffin told Insider, "We created the Amazon Flex program to give individuals the opportunity to set their own schedule and be their own boss, with competitive earnings that exceed $26 per scheduled hour on average. We hear from most of the Amazon Flex delivery partners that they love the program, and we're proud of the work they do on behalf of our customers every day." Lyft did not respond to Insider's request for comment. While the potential implications of artificial intelligence technologies have come under greater scrutiny ever since ChatGPT was rolled out in November, companies have been using AI tools for years to help set prices, make decisions, and even hire and fire workers. In her paper, Dubal cited algorithmic wage discrimination as among the reasons the California Labor Commission sued Uber and Lyft in 2020 and claimed the companies owed drivers a combined $1.3 billion in payments for their hours worked. The lawsuits are still ongoing. As companies incorporate AI technologies going forward, Dubal is concerned that algorithmic wage discrimination practices "have the great potential to seep into the firm practices of other sectors," which would mean more than just gig workers would be impacted. Dubal said that there should be a ban on the use of algorithms and AI to set wages and called on the federal government to take a closer look at the issue. "To address these problems, this Article invites lawmakers and regulators to direct their attention, not just to the problems of transparency and accuracy of automation technologies at work, but also to an evaluation of the social harms embedded in the logic of the algorithmic systems themselves," she wrote in the paper's concluding line. Are you a gig worker willing to share your story about pay, schedule, and tipping? If so, reach out to this reporter at jzinkula@insider.com. Editor's note, April 13, 2023: This story was updated after publication to include an updated comment from Uber. Read the original article on Business Insider MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED Companion Animal Arthritis Market is segmented based on Therapy, Animal Type, Cancer and region. Bottom-up approach was used to estimate the Companion Animal ArthritisMarket size. Pune, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maximize Market research, a global Healthcare market research firm, has published competitive intelligence market research report on Companion Animal Arthritis Market . The Companion Animal Arthritis market size was valued at USD 2.3 Bn in 2021. The total Companion Animal ArthritisMarket revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD during the forecast period. Market Size in 2021 USD 2.9 Bn Market Size in 2029 USD 5.5 Bn CAGR 7percent (2023-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2022 Number of Pages 265 No. of Tables 129 No. of Charts and Figures 121 Segment Covered Animal Type, Type, Treatment & Distribution Channel 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/184497 Companion Animal ArthritisMarket Scope and Research Methodology The report on Companion Animal Arthritis Market provides an in-depth analysis of the industry. Key highlights of the report include the market size and the growth rate. Insights of the report include the major applications and drivers of the market, challenges to growth and opportunities for Companion Animal Arthritis market growth. The report covers a thorough regional analysis of the Companion Animal Arthritis industry at local, regional and global level. Segments covered in the report are by therapy, animal type, distribution & region. Story continues The new entrants in the Companion Animal Arthritis market were researched for growth prospects and future business outlooks. The analysis acts as a guide for stakeholders, investors, market players and followers and new entrants with an overall view of the Companion Animal Arthritis market for formulating investment approaches and marketing tactics. Bottom-up approach was used to estimate the Companion Animal Arthritis size. Companion Animal Arthritis Market Overview The companion animal arthritis market is expected to grow due to a rise in pet ownership and pet care expenditure worldwide, with the number of US homes with pets and pet care expenditures at an all-time high in 2022, as many pet owners view their pets as family members and invest more time and money in their care . However, the lack of good veterinary care in some countries may limit market growth opportunities. Industry growth is driven by several factors, including the growing companion animal population , the increase in the prevalence of arthritis, the rise in risk factors for the condition, government-supported awareness efforts, and the methods employed by major corporations. Get a Sample Copy of the Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184497 Increasing prevalence of obesity among the companion animals to Drive the Growth of Companion Animal Arthritis Market The prevalence of obesity among companion animals is a significant factor driving the growth of the Companion Animal Arthritis market. Overfeeding and lack of physical activity in pets are the primary reasons for obesity, and pet owners often reward their pets with food , leading to overfeeding. Companion animals confined to houses or small yards without regular exercise are more likely to become overweight. In dogs, the risk of obesity is linked to the obesity of their owners, who may not walk their dogs enough. In cats, neutering increases the risk of obesity because of the lowered basal metabolic rate and reduced inclination to roam. North America has a high prevalence of obesity in dogs, with 56% of dogs and 60% of cats classified as overweight or obese. The increasing prevalence of obesity in companion animals, including horses, is expected to drive the growth of the Companion Animal Arthritis market. Approximately 30% of the general canine population is obese, and 40-45% of dogs aged 5-11 years old weigh higher than normal. The market is expected to witness significant growth during the forecast period due to these factors. North America region is expected to fuel the Companion Animal ArthritisMarket growth By Region the market is segmented into North America, South America, Asia Pacific, Europe & Milled East Africa. According to a report, North America dominated the global Companion Animal Arthritis market in 2022 and is predicted to continue as the fastest-growing segment in the forecast period. The increase in pet adoption, especially dogs and cats, is contributing to the rise in demand for companion animal arthritis treatments in countries like the U.S. and Canada. The availability of treatments due to advancements in veterinary facilities is also driving the growth of this market in North America. In Europe, the presence of major players like Boehringer Ingelheim International GmbH contributed to the region holding the second-largest revenue share in 2022. The Asia Pacific region is expected to have the highest CAGR during the forecast period, mainly due to rising animal healthcare expenditure and disposable income in key markets. The high adoption of companion animals, incidence of parasitic infections, and increasing awareness about the disease in developing countries like India are further boosting the growth of the market in this region. Additionally, a growing number of research activities, funding, and awareness campaigns in the field of veterinary health management are driving the growth of the Companion Animal Arthritis Market. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/184497 Companion Animal Arthritis Market Segmentation Based on Animal Type, Dogs segment to dominate the Companion Animal ArthritisMarket over the forecast period Based on animal type, the market is segmented into dogs, cats and others. In 2021, the global market for pets was dominated by dogs with a share of over 60%, due to their high disease prevalence and rising adoption rates. The increasing dog population in every region is further fuelling market growth, with 45 percent of American households owning dogs in 2020 and nearly 88 million European households owning pets. The COVID-19 pandemic has also driven people worldwide to adopt companion animals for psychological comfort. Based on Type, Osteoarthritis segment to dominate the Companion Animal ArthritisMarket over the forecast period Rheumatoid arthritis segment is expected to grow significantly during the forecast period. Rheumatoid arthritis in dogs is a chronic condition that causes severe pain and inflammation in joints. Although it is less common than osteoarthritis, it still affects small cats and dogs significantly. Canine rheumatoid factor immunologic tests can diagnose rheumatoid arthritis in dogs in veterinary clinics or hospitals. Research studies have indicated that corticosteroids, cyclosporine, and NSAIDs are effective treatments for rheumatoid arthritis in companion animals. Based on Treatment, Medication segment to dominate the Companion Animal ArthritisMarket over the forecast period By treatment, the market is categorised into Exercise, Medical and Others. The Companion Animal Arthritis market is dominated by the medication segment in 2022. This is due to the increasing prevalence of arthritis among pets caused by risk factors such as obesity, age, and nutritional impairments. Veterinary pharmaceutical companies are launching new products such as NSAIDs, opioids, steroids, stem cells, antibodies, and supplements to meet the rising demand for arthritis treatment among pet owners. Get the Sample PDF of Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184497 Based on Distribution, Veterinary Hospitals segment to dominate the Companion Animal ArthritisMarket over the forecast period The Companion Animal Arthritis market comprises various segments Veterinary Hospitals & Clinics, Retail Pharmacies, Online Stores and Others. The veterinary hospitals and clinics segment dominated the market in 2022. This is due to the increasing number of veterinary hospitals and clinics with advanced infrastructures that are crucial for pet healthcare. These clinics and hospitals help pet owners understand the proper dosage of arthritis medicine and ensure timely diagnosis, which is important for managing the condition. The growth of the veterinary hospitals and clinics segment is also attributed to the increasing number of veterinary professionals globally. By Animal Type Dog Cat Others By Type Osteoarthritis Rheumatoid Arthritis Others By Treatment Type Medication Exercise Others By Distribution Channel Online Store Pet Supply Store, Veterinary Hospitals Clinics Others Companion Animal ArthritisMarket Key Players Include: Virbac, Dechra Pharmaceuticals plc, Vetoquinol Animal Health Pvt Ltd, Phibro Animal Health Corp Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Bayer AG, Ceva Sante Animale Abbott Laboratories Qiagen N.V. Becton, Dickinson and Company Quest Diagnostics, Inc. Hologic, Inc. F. Hoffmann-La Roche Femasys, Inc. Arbor Vita Corporation NURX, Inc. Seegene, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. bioMerieux SA BOEHRINGER INGELHEIM INTERNATIONAL GMBH: Boehringer Ingelheim aim at severing humankind by improving human & animal health. As a successful, Organization, they work together with integrity to become the no one company in animal health. The company strives on innovation for providing diagnostics & treatment solution for Animals. VIRBAC Having a presence in in more than 100 countries The company is focusing on linking the needs of caregivers with the latest technological products and services to diagnose, prevent and treat the majority of pathologies, all while improving the quality of life for animals Key questions answered in the Companion Animal Arthritis Market are: What is Companion Animal Arthritis Market? What was the Companion Animal Arthritis market size in 2021? What is the expected Companion Animal Arthritis market size by 2029? What is the growth rate of the Companion Animal ArthritisMarket? Which are the factors expected to drive the Companion Animal Arthritis market growth? Which factors are expected to restrain the Companion Animal Arthritis market growth? Which segment dominated the Companion Animal Arthritis market growth? What is the demand pattern for the Companion Animal Arthritis market? Which region held the largest share in the Companion Animal Arthritis market? Who are the key players in the Companion Animal Arthritis market? Key Offerings: Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021) Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021) Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20222029 Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by animal type, arthritis type, treatment & distribution channel. 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 Healthcare research firm, has also published the following reports: Veterinary Anesthesia Equipment Market : The total market size was valued at USD 1.32 Bn in 2021 and the total revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.94 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 2.49 Bn. Growing pet adoption & increasing veterinary surgical procedures is driving the market. Veterinary Monitoring Equipment Market : The total market size was valued at USD 8207.7 Mn in 2022 at CAGR 7 percent and is expected to reach USD 13179.9 Mn by 2029. Growth in the livestock in response the high demand for animal products is primary market driver. Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market : The total market size was valued at USD 4.15 Bn in 2021 and the total Veterinary Artificial Insemination Market revenue is expected to grow by 4.7 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 5.99 Bn. Artificial insemination has resulted in the animal development in the resent times. The growing awareness of sexually transmitted disorders in animals is driving the market growth. Veterinary Orthopedic Implant Market : The total market size was valued at USD 270.03 Mn in 2021 and the total revenue is expected to grow at CAGR 7.6 percent through 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 485.84 Mn. The growing expenditure on pets by owners and the higher demand for surgical procedures in animals is driving the market growth. Veterinary Molecular Diagnostics Market : The total market size was valued at USD 2.64 Bn in 2021 and the total revenue is expected to grow at CAGR 9.34 percent through 2021 to 2029, reaching USD 4.94 Bn. The rising incidence of Zoonotic Infections is expected to propel the market growth during forecast period. 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 SINGAPORE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- On 13 April 2023, Compass Offices (Compass) presented its newly renovated business centre on the 19th floor of the refurbished Singapore Land Tower, the first phase of renovation for its two-floor flexible office space. The 48-story landmark tower will be transformed into a premium Grade A commercial building, making it an ideal office location for a wide range of industries. The second phase of the renovation on the 30th floor of the tower is expected to be completed in September/4Q 2023. The refurbished Singapore Land Tower was spearheaded by renowned Japanese architect Fumihiko Maki, the recipient of his profession's highest honor, the Pritzker Architecture Prize. Most notably, the building exterior features a pristine curtain wall that sheaths the entire facade and a new roof crown that will increase the building's prominence in the city skyline. Taken together, these new features will galvanise Singapore Land Tower's standing as an urban landmark. "Compass Offices' 2-floor business centre in the Singapore Land Tower reflects our commitment to creating innovative, immersive, and engaging interior environments that cater to the needs of a contemporary business. The upgraded office space will offer a quality workplace for corporates and business professionals alike." Hans Leijten, Chief Executive Officer, Compass Offices. Photo courtesy of Compass Offices The two-floor Singapore Land Tower business centre is located next to the Raffles Place MRT station, which connects the North-South Line and the East-West Line in Singapore. Compass Offices built private, secure, business-ready and bespoke office space with consideration to feedback from clients, resulting in enhanced amenities and services that make Compass Offices "a great place to work." Click HERE to download the Press Kit. About Compass Offices At Compass Offices, we're dedicated to providing inspiring workspaces supported by professional services that enable our customers to focus on what they do best. Our clientele includes Fortune 500 companies, growing start-ups, entrepreneurs, independent professionals and enterprise teams. Founded in 2009, Compass Offices has grown from its first business centre in Hong Kong, to encompass close to 40 centres over 65 floors in 9 cities and over 20,000 satisfied clients. Story continues Our workspace philosophy combines affordability, scalability, technology and choice; all within a portfolio of flexible workspaces designed to make each centre a great place to work. Press Enquiries Email: marketing@compassoffices.com Telephone: (852) 3975 3563 Level 2701, Wing On Centre, 111 Connaught Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/compass-offices-newly-renovated-business-centre-at-the-refurbished-singapore-land-tower--panoramic-views-of-marina-bay-sands-301795382.html SOURCE Compass Offices NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The construction market in EMEA is set to grow by USD 336.62 billion from 2022 to 2027 progressing at a CAGR of 4.95% during the forecast period. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current global market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the increase in construction of green buildings. Substantial amounts of energy and costs are required for construction, establishment, and other services. Green buildings are known to minimize energy consumption and efficiently utilize the available energy to meet all their requirements. Owing to the growing awareness about global warming and climate change, the demand for green buildings is expected to grow significantly. Additionally, the rising demand for residential and non-residential building spaces in EMEA will drive energy consumption, improve efficiency in the building sector, and reduce emissions. Hence, developments in green building construction are expected to boost the market growth. - Here is an exclusive report consisting of market size and growth analysis in EMEA with historical (2017-2021) and forecast period (2023-2027). Download Sample PDF Report Now! Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled EMEA Construction Market 2023-2027 The construction market in EMEA covers the following areas: Construction Market In EMEA Sizing Construction Market In EMEA Forecast Construction Market In EMEA Analysis The report on the construction market in EMEA provides a holistic update, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis. Construction Market In EMEA 2023-2027 - Market Dynamics Major Trends An emerging trend that is expected to have a positive impact on the growth of the market is the rising demand for modular houses. Modular houses are manufactured at an offsite location, which are then shipped to the required location to be assembled and built. Modular houses offer buyers the flexibility to incorporate their own designs and specifications and their popularity has been increasing steadily over the last few years owing to rising housing rents and the high cost of building new houses. The fact that the cost of these houses is low in comparison to traditional houses, has increased their demand. Hence, the growing demand for modular houses is expected to support the growth of the Europe, Middle East, and Africa construction market during the forecast period. Story continues Key Challenges A major challenge impeding the market growth for the construction market in EMEA is the lack of awareness and volatility in transportation charges. Modular constructed parts need to be transported from manufacturing units to the construction site, which requires special vehicles. Additionally, the carriage charges vary owing to factors such as lack of planning of city roads, use of private cars, road capacity, and insufficient and inadequate public transport, which further increases the cost of modular construction. Moreover, factors like fuel prices, transportation mode, and the distance that needs to be covered also affect the overall transportation costs. Hence, the volatility in transportation costs is expected to hamper the market growth during the forecast period. Construction Market In EMEA 2023-2027 : Market Segmentation The construction market in EMEA analysis includes end-user (private sector and public sector), type (commercial and residential), and geography (Germany, France, UK, Spain, and Rest of EMEA). The market share growth by the private sector segment is significant for the market growth during the forecast period. The need for renovation and modernization of building structures in the private sector is fueled by aging buildings and the growing resale of properties in EMEA. Additionally, governments of various countries are implementing policies for building contractors and house owners to ensure energy efficiency. Hence, such factors will drive the growth of the segment in the Europe, Middle East, and Africa construction market during the forecast period. The report forecasts market growth by revenue in EMEA regions and provides an exclusive analysis of the latest trends and growth opportunities from 2017 to 2027 - View Sample PDF Report Companies Mentioned ACS Construction Group Ltd. AFRIDECA Group (Pty) Ltd. Airolink Building Contracting LLC Al Futtaim Group Co. Al Habtoor Group LLC Al Naboodah Construction Group Arabtec Constructions Balfour Beatty Plc BIC Contracting LLC BOUYGUES Consolidated Contractors Co. Dutco Group Eiffage Implenia AG Khansaheb Civil Engineering LLC Kier Group plc Skanska AB UCCHolding Vinci WBHO Ltd. Vendor Offerings ACS Construction Group Ltd. - The company offers construction services such as structures, warehouses and industrial units across the UK. AFRIDECA Group (Pty) Ltd. - The company offers construction services such as shopping malls, multi-story office complexes and manufacturing facilities. Al Naboodah Construction Group - The company offers construction services such as roads, highways, bridges, tunnels, and dams. For more key insights on various market vendors and their exclusive offerings - Buy the Report Now! EMEA Construction Market 2023-2027: Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period 2023-2027 Detailed information on factors that will assist EMEA construction market growth during the forecast period Estimation of the EMEA construction market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the EMEA construction market Analysis of the market's competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of EMEA construction market vendors Gain instant access to 17,000+ market research reports including key market parameters and analysis. Technavio's SUBSCRIPTION platform Related Reports: The nuclear reactor construction market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 3.56% between 2022 and 2027. The size of the market is forecast to increase by USD 9.8 billion. This report extensively covers market segmentation by type (PWR and others), service (equipment and installation), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, Middle East and Africa, and South America). The rising focus on clean energy technologies is notably driving the market growth. The heavy construction equipment market is projected to grow by USD 46.09 billion with a CAGR of 4.51% during the forecast period 2021 to 2026. The report extensively covers the heavy construction equipment market segmentation by type (earthmoving equipment, material handling equipment, heavy construction vehicles, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, South America, and the Middle East and Africa). The increased investment in infrastructure is notably driving the heavy construction equipment market growth. Construction Market In EMEA Scope Report Coverage Details Base year 2022 Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2023-2027 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 4.95% Market growth 2023-2027 USD 336.62 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth 2022-2023(%) 4.55 Regional analysis EMEA Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled ACS Construction Group Ltd., AFRIDECA Group (Pty) Ltd., Airolink Building Contracting LLC, Al Futtaim Group Co., Al Habtoor Group LLC, Al Naboodah Construction Group, Arabtec Constructions, Balfour Beatty Plc, BIC Contracting LLC, BOUYGUES, Consolidated Contractors Co., Dutco Group, Eiffage, Implenia AG, Khansaheb Civil Engineering LLC, Kier Group plc, Skanska AB, UCCHolding, Vinci, and WBHO Ltd. Market dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and recovery analysis and future consumer dynamics, Market condition analysis for forecast period Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio's Industrials Reports Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis 3.3 Market size 2022 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2022-2027 4 Historic Market Size 4.1 Construction market in EMEA 2017 - 2021 4.2 End-user Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 4.3 Type Segment Analysis 2017 - 2021 4.4 Geography 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 End-user 6.1 Market segments 6.2 Comparison by End-user 6.3 Private sector - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 6.4 Public sector - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 6.5 Market opportunity by End-user 7 Market Segmentation by Type 7.1 Market segments 7.2 Comparison by Type 7.3 Commercial - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 7.4 Residential - 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 Germany - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.4 France - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.5 UK - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.6 Spain - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.7 Rest of EMEA - Market size and forecast 2022-2027 9.8 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 ACS Construction Group Ltd. 12.4 AFRIDECA Group (Pty) Ltd. 12.5 Al Naboodah Construction Group 12.6 Arabtec Constructions 12.7 Balfour Beatty Plc 12.8 BIC Contracting LLC 12.9 BOUYGUES 12.10 Consolidated Contractors Co. 12.11 Eiffage 12.12 Implenia AG 12.13 Kier Group plc 12.14 Skanska AB 12.15 UCCHolding 12.16 Vinci 12.17 WBHO Ltd. 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 focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: media@technavio.com Website: www.technavio.com/ EMEA Construction Market 2023-2027 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/construction-market-size-in-emea-to-grow-by-usd-336-62-billion-from-2022-to-2027--driven-by-the-increase-in-construction-of-green-buildings---technavio-301795841.html SOURCE Technavio Homepage image: The Alison Victoria collection includes two marble mosaics, porcelain subway tile in a pastel palette, and two tones of metallic gold trim | Courtesy of The Tile Shop Partnership | By Siobhan McGowan Alison Victoria in front of her pastel subway tile - Photo Credit Courtesy of The Tile Shop In bingeable HGTV hits like Windy City Rehab, Rock the Block and Ugliest House in America, interior designer Alison Victoria improbably yet impeccably pairs the no-nonsense, city-of-big-shoulders aesthetic of her native Chicago with an elegance and femininity all her own. The shows often find her in denim, flannel and a hard hat, ripping up floorboards or installing drywall, but if she decided to accessorize a silk evening gown with a power drill, somehow the look would make perfect sense. Its this same sensibility that Victoria has brought to her first collection with The Tile Shop, in which classic shapes are revived with surprising textures and colors, mosaics allow for every nuanced shade and vein of marble, and metallic trim makes kitchens and bathrooms glint irresistibly. Im really strong, but theres also this softness to me, says Victoria of her personality on- and off-screen. Her debut tile designs capture just that dichotomy. Shes very glamorous, but she also gets down to work, says The Tile Shop director of design Kirsty Froelich, who reached out to Victoria about creating a collection after watching the designer on HGTV in the early, lockdown days of the pandemic. Shes not just about the beautiful end result; she knows what it takes to achieve it. The collection of eight unique styles is anchored by Brick x Brick, a glossy porcelain subway tile with a slightly rugged surface thats cast in a palette of four subtle pastels: Pearl, Petal, Pewter and Powder. Its subway tile with a twist, says Victoria. I wanted it to look like old bricks youd see on the exterior of a Chicago house, covered by layers of paint. All those layers tell a story. The crackles, the depth, are what bring it to life. With its combination of classic lines, rough touchability and neutral yet unexpected tones, the design is destined to refresh kitchen walls, shower stalls and fireplace surrounds in a variety of residences. It could go in a beach home in the Hamptons, or a Scandi-style 1970s setting, or a modern farmhouse in Calabasas, says Victoria. Story continues Elia Greek marble tile edged by metallic gold trim - Photo Credit Courtesy of The Tile Shop For those who prefer their weathered, easy-like-Sunday-morning subway tile with a little Saturday night sparkle, Victoria has the solution: two Precious Metals pencil-trim pieces, available in gold and rose gold, to border any type of tile. My addiction to gold has gotten out of control. I use it everywhere; its just part of my vocabulary, she says. If there isnt something gold-toned in a design, then it wasnt done by me. Edging isnt usually glamorous, but this changes that, adds Froelich. The two mosaic tiles that complete the collection harken beyond urbane Chicago to Victorias Mediterranean roots. EliaGreek for olive treeconsists of Greek Volakas marble in a winding leaf pattern that evokes movement and nature. This design feels like extending an olive branch, she explains. I visit Greece every year, and I wanted to share a common bond with the place that is so sacred to me. Rendered in scalloped rows of green, Gem recalls classic architecture. The choice of both color and shape holds meaning for the designer, who considers green as essential as black and white and often adds archways to her interiors. The deepness, darkness and richness of the color in this honed marble with a rounded edge is my absolute favorite, she says. The style has already been introduced to several of her clients homes, as well as her own. In Victorias Las Vegas house, she used it on not only the bathroom walls but the floor too. The deep green marble and distinctive shape of Gem - Photo Credit Courtesy of The Tile Shop Alison will take an average rectangular entry and turn it into a stunning archway with a carved wooden frame. Shell use rounded mirrors and windows throughout her projects, says Froelich. The collection presented an opportunity to adapt Victorias signature curves to tileand to feature emerald green, a first at the time for The Tile Shop. To make the application even more daring, Gem can top out with a scalloped rather than straight horizontal line at the midway point of the wallintriguing as a kitchen backsplash or in lieu of decorative trim in a partially tiled powder room. Its such a distinctive treatment; its something unexpected and cool, says Froelich I dont put my name on products unless theyre authentic and organic, says Victoria. With The Tile Shops reputation for quality and track record of expertly curated artisanal collaborations, the brand proved a worthy partner for the celebrity designer. Im paying homage to every aspect of my history, she says. Its such a personal collection to me. This story is a paid promotion and was created in partnership with The Tile Shop. Homepage image: The Alison Victoria collection includes two marble mosaics, porcelain subway tile in a pastel palette, and two tones of metallic gold trim | Courtesy of The Tile Shop Want to stay informed? Sign up for our newsletter, which recaps the weeks stories, and get in-depth industry news and analysis each quarter by subscribing to our print magazine. Join BOH Insider for discounts, workshops and access to special events such as the Future of Home conference. Market.Us The emergence of novel technologies in the coronary artery disease sector has stimulated market growth by elevating the demand for stents, offering improved convenience and fostering significant market expansion. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global coronary stents market size is expected to be worth around USD 24.0 Bn by 2032 from USD 12.5 Bn in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 6.9% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2032. During the treatment of coronary artery disease, a coronary stent is located in the coronary arteries that help to source blood to the heart and keep the arteries open; this procedure is known as a percutaneous coronary intervention. Additionally, many percutaneous coronary intervention treatments are involved in the use of coronary stents. This stent is used to increase surviving rate in patients who are suffering from acute myocardial blockage. The coronary stent improves survival rate by reducing adverse events and reducing chest pain in patients, which is also known as angina. Coronary Stents Market Value Get a holistic overview of Coronary Stents Market by industry experts to evaluate and develop growth strategies. Download the Sample @ https://market.us/report/coronary-stents-market/request-sample/ Key Takeaway: By Product Type, the bioabsorbable stents segment has generated a revenue share of 33.2% in 2022. By deployment , the self-expanding stents segment has dominated the market, and it is growing at a CAGR of 29% over the forecast period 2023 to 2032. In 2022, North America dominated the market with the highest revenue share of 39.4%. Europe held a 28.1% revenue share in 2022. Asia-Pacific will grow at the highest CAGR from 2023-2032. Factors affecting the growth of Global Coronary Stents Market? Rising geriatric population: Due to the increase in the number of coronary artery patients, there is also an increase in the demand for stent procedures in the market which will help to drive the market growth. Technological Advancements: The new and innovative technologies for coronary artery disease are helping to grow the market by an increase in demand for stents for greater convenience and increased market growth. Funding policies in developed countries: After COVID-19 government became more aware of the drugs and treatment and provided different funding policies for advanced technologies and improving healthcare facilities in developed countries. Availability of Alternative treatments: The availability of alternative treatment methods for coronary artery disease also helps to drive the coronary stents market growth Story continues To understand how our global coronary stents market can bring a difference to your business strategy, Inquire about a brochure at https://market.us/report/coronary-stents-market/#inquiry Top Trends in Global Coronary Stents Market Continuous improvements to coronary stents have primarily focused on minute changes like reducing stent strut thickness, making stents more deliverable in tortuous vessels, and launching stents with a longer length and smaller diameter. The improvement includes longer lengths, thinner profiles, and smaller diameters, change this will help the market grow by improving procedures and increasing patient experience. Additionally, the market expansion will be sped up by an increase in advanced technology in the healthcare sector. Market Growth An increase in the number of coronary artery diseases, demand from patients for stenting, and an increase in new trends in coronary artery stents are the factors that are responsible for driving the growth of the coronary stent market. However, the increase in demand for coronary stents in developing countries and the increase in awareness about the availability of government policies and insurance is expected to show the largest market growth opportunities for the coronary stents market during the forecast period. The numerous cases, such as product failure and recall products, restrict the coronary stents market growth during the projection period. Regional Analysis North America dominated the coronary stents market and generated the largest revenue in the market due to the increase in the number of cardiovascular disease patients and the rise in demand for healthcare services. Obesity and other cardiovascular diseases, such as ischemic heart disease, stroke, and others that result from living a sedentary lifestyle, are driving the coronary stent market in North America. The use of biodegradable materials and technological advancements in coronary stent technologies, such as drug-eluting stents, also contributed to the market's expansion. The coronary stents market opportunity in Asia-Pacific is expanding significantly due to an increase in the geriatric population with coronary artery disease and an increase in the number of cardiac centers. Due to the increase in the weakness of blood vessels and heart muscles, there is an increase in coronary stent disease at a high rate in the elderly population; this thing helps the market growth in the region. An increase in the number of stent implantation procedures and their widespread use also contribute to the market's expansion. In addition, as healthcare costs rise in developing nations in the Asia-Pacific region, the market expands. The rapid growth of the market is evidence of increased funding by healthcare in both the public and private sectors. For more insights on the market share of various regions- Download a Sample Report Scope of the Report Report Attribute Details Market Value (2022) US$ 12.5 Billion Market Size (2032) US$ 24 Billion CAGR (from 2022 to 2032) 6.9% North America Revenue Share 39.4% Europe Revenue Share 28.1% Historic Period 2016 to 2022 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 to 2032 Market Drivers Due to the increase in the prevalence of coronary artery diseases, improved patient outcomes with stenting, and the emergence of new trends are some of the factors driving growth in the market for coronary stents. However, the availability of other treatments for coronary artery diseases and the high cost of coronary stent procedures impede the expansion of the market. On the other hand, it is anticipated that the Coronary Stents Market Forecast period will benefit from rising demand for coronary stents in developing nations and increased awareness of the availability of appropriate insurance and reimbursement policies. The rising incidence of cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke and heart attack, as well as an expanding geriatric population at higher risk for these cardiac diseases, are the driving factors responsible for the expansion of the coronary stents market. The expanding global elderly population and the development of stent technology and materials are major factors that have the potential to significantly benefit the coronary stent market. Due to a number of factors that are responsible for the growing elderly population and the rising prevalence of coronary artery disease, the global coronary stent market is a stable industry. Rising disposable income and expanding government initiatives also contribute to market expansion. In addition, the expansion of technological advancements, such as the development of the 3D printing method, may present an excellent chance for market expansion. Additionally, the growing use of minimally offensive procedures and rising disposable income contribute to the expanding market. Market Restraints The increase in demand for the treatment and side effects after using coronary stents might hinder the growth of the market. This Market growth is also hindered due to strict regulations applied by governments. As a result, these factors hinder market expansion during the forecast period. A decrease in demand for coronary stent devices for treatments will directly affect the manufacturing and production of the coronary stent market. Market Opportunities The expansion of the coronary stent market is also supported by expanding healthcare sectors in a number of emerging economies, such as China, India, Brazil, and South Africa. The coronary stents utilize novel growth opportunities. It is very necessary to increase investment in research and development in order to improve healthcare industries in these nations. The need to improve the healthcare industries in these nations is driven by the rapidly expanding geriatric population, high patient volumes, and rising awareness among the general public. As a result, governments in these economies are increasing their investments in healthcare infrastructure and facilities. Other development strategies for gaining a competitive advantage in the global market include regional expansion, new product development, industry collaboration, assignment development, and mergers and acquisitions. Due to a large number of coronary stent applications, it is anticipated that increasing investment in this sector will provide opportunities for market expansion. Grow your profit margin with Market.us - Purchase global coronary stents market Report at https://market.us/purchase-report/?report_id=15702 Report Segmentation of the Global Coronary Stents Market Product Analysis The Global Coronary Stent Market is divided into Drug-Eluting Stents, bare-metal, and Bioabsorbable stents. A bioabsorbable segment is anticipated to experience the highest growth during the forecast period. The drug-eluting stents segment category was the most popular product in the global market, and it is anticipated that this trend will continue throughout the forecast period. This is because it has the important property of stopping restenosis, or the growth of scar tissue in the arterial wall after surgery. Drug-eluting stents deliver an anti-proliferative drug to the target injury to stop excessive neointima growth. It consists of an anti-restenosis medication, a polymer covering, and a typical metallic stent. The anti-retinoic medication is mixed into the polymer and released over several weeks or months following the placement of a drug-eluting stent. Due to the significantly lower risk of target vessel revascularization, drug-eluting stents are preferred over bare-metal stents and other stent types for percutaneous coronary intervention with stenting. This development is expected to have a significant impact on the drug-eluting stent. Deployment Analysis Based on deployment, the market for coronary stents is divided into self-expandable and balloon-expandable segments. Self-expanding stents are expected to hold a majority shares of the market with emerging local and regional manufacturing, clinically proven worldwide. In addition, the novel self-expanding stents demonstrate that they can be used to treat acute myocardial infarction and that they actively follow the artery's expansion with nearly perfect apposition. As a result, self-expandable stent clinical efficacy will significantly drive segment growth over the forecast period. During the exploration period, it is expected that the balloon-expandable market will experience secure growth. The rising prevalence of heart disease and expanding research into the development of medical stents by using advanced technology will significantly boost the expansion of the market. End-User Analysis Based on end-user, the market is divided into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and others. Due to the increase in the prevalence of coronary artery diseases, government initiatives for the development of medical infrastructure, increased awareness of disease treatment and management, and an increase in sedentary lifestyles, the hospital segment is anticipated to continue dominating the coronary stents market size during the forecast period. The segments include both public and private medical facilities that treat patients. Only surgeries that take place in hospitals are ambulatory. Due to hospital policies and budgets, the need for more surgical rooms and difficulties in acquiring new equipment both increase. Ambulatory surgical centers are being established as a result of these factors. The markets growth is also drive by an increase in the number of procedures for stent implantation and their universal use. Market.us offers in-depth market insights that assist global businesses to obtain growth opportunities. Read our Sample Report @ https://market.us/report/coronary-stents-market/request-sample/ Market Segmentation By Product and Service Drug-eluting Stents Bare-metal Coronary Stents Bio absorbable Stents By Deployment By End User Hospitals Ambulatory Surgical Centers Other 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: Abbott Medtronic Boston Scientific Corporation Terumo Corporation B Braun Melsungen AG Biotronik Stentys SA MicroPort Scientific Corporation R. Bard, Inc Cook Medical Other Key Players Recent Development of the Global Coronary Stents Market I n August 2022 : Following the CE Mark's approval, Medtronic introduced the Onyx Frontier drug-eluting stent in Europe in August 2022. In May 2022: The FDA granted Medtronic plc approval for the Onyx Frontier drug-eluting stent. The stent's delivery system was developed to improve the stent's deliverability and acute performance Browse More Related Reports: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Market worth was USD 87 million in 2021 and estimated CAGR of 6.10% over the forecast period. Drug-Device Combination Products Market size is expected to be worth around USD 275.55 billion by 2032 from USD 119.65 billion in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 8.7% during the forecast period 2022 to 2032 Mobile Hospitals Market is projected to reach a valuation of USD 786,620 Mn by 2032 at a CAGR of 22.3%, from USD 859,20 Mn in 2021. Surgical Retractors Market size is expected to be worth around USD 2,651.67 million by 2032 from USD 1,675.20 million in 2022, growing at a CAGR of 4.70% during the forecast period from 2022 to 2032. Surgical Hat Market is expected to be worth USD 777.38 Billion by 2031 from USD 551.1 billion in 2021, growing at a CAGR of 3.5% from 2022 to 2032. Surgical Microscopes Market was worth USD 1,632.1 million in 2021. It is projected to grow at a CAGR of 10.9% between 2023 and 2032. About Us: 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. Follow Us on LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter Our Blog: CONTACT: Global Business Development Team Market.us Market.us (Powered By Prudour Pvt. Ltd.) Email: inquiry@market.us Address: 420 Lexington Avenue, Suite 300, New York City, NY 10170, United States Tel: +1 718 618 4351 Website: https://market.us TORONTO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Cybeats Technologies Corp. ("Cybeats'' or the "Company") (CSE: CYBT) (OTCQB: CYBCF) highlights the challenges faced by nations in securing their infrastructure, particularly in the context of increasing software supply chain threats. The recent 3CX cyberattack carried out by North Korea nation state-backed hackers has public and private stakeholders calling for increased supply chain transparency. Cybeats Logo (CNW Group/Cybeats Technologies Corp.) In line with the tone set by the Cyber Executive Order (EO) 14028 from 20211, government agencies around the world are recognizing Software Bills of Materials (SBOM) as a required baseline to ensure security in software acquisition, market access and risk management processes. The recently released U.S. National Cyber Strategy (NCS) builds on SBOM efforts in the Cyber EO calling on U.S. Congress to change market incentives and establish liability for software products and services, and expand SBOM requirements. Cybeats is currently engaged with multiple government agencies responsible for safeguarding national security. "Government agencies play an important role in ensuring that industry adopts standards of care for secure software development and maintenance of products and services, or face liability risks. As SBOM requirements become increasingly relevant to the government software procurement process, the private sector is rapidly embracing them as well. With the growing significance of SBOMs, organizations spanning diverse industries, such as finance, technology, industrial, medical, and automotive, are actively evaluating their Software Development Life Cycle and SBOM practices to meet the rising demand for SBOMs," said Yoav Raiter, CEO of Cybeats. 3CX Software Supply Chain Attack 3CX has over 600,000 customers in 190 countries, representing over 12M users. Security firms have indicated that the 3CX hackers targeted both Windows and macOS users of the compromised 3CX softphone app. The malicious activity includes beaconing to actor-controlled infrastructure, deployment of second-stage payloads, and, in a small number of cases, hands-on-keyboard activity. Initial research indicates the number of potential victims is in the hundreds of thousands. Story continues Cyberattacks like 3CX and SolarWinds have prompted governments globally to collaborate closely with public and private sector security experts and provide additional resources like guidance by the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) and other U.S. government agencies titled "Securing the Software Supply Chain"2 for software developers, suppliers and customers, to help ensure a more secure software supply chain. It is becoming imperative for organizations to consistently update their Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC), software and supply chain vulnerability, and risk management resources and practices. SBOM management aims to help mitigate potential vulnerabilities, maintain security and meet compliance requirements. ___________________________ 1 https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/05/12/executive-order-on-improving-the-nations-cybersecurity/ 2 https://www.cisa.gov/sites/default/files/publications/ESF_SECURING_THE_SOFTWARE_SUPPLY_CHAIN_DEVELOPERS.PDF . 2022 report by the Enduring Security Framework (ESF) Software Supply Chain Working Panel referencing NIST SP 800-218 and other secure software development and supply chain risk management guidance. SBOM in Canadian Regulations - Bill C-26 Canada's recent introduction of the C-26 legislation outlines the protection of critical cyber systems, laying the groundwork for improved software supply chain security, SBOM, and fostering a safer digital landscape. The Critical Cyber Systems Protection Act (CCSPA) aims to create a framework to protect critical cyber systems that support services vital to national security or public safety. The CCSPA seeks to ensure that risks to critical cyber systems are identified and managed, including risks associated with supply chains and the use of third-party products and services.3 This new Canadian legislation follows global trends, focusing on managing risks associated with supply chains and third-party products and services, ensuring that critical cyber systems remain protected from compromise and minimizing the impacts of cybersecurity incidents. Designated operators of these critical cyber systems will be required to establish and implement a cybersecurity program, mitigate supply-chain and third-party risks, and adhere to reporting and notification obligations in the event of a cybersecurity incident. EU Cyber Resilience Act Cybercrime costs reached $6 trillion in 2021, prompting the European Commission to propose the Cyber Resilience Act (CRA) to enhance software security. The CRA aims to hold manufacturers accountable for improving software security throughout the entire product life cycle and increase transparency into software vulnerabilities. A key strategy in the CRA is the implementation of Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) management, which tracks and shares metadata details of software components and supply chain relationships. Non-compliance with the CRA may lead to significant fines and reputational damage. As the CRA impacts software sold or used in Europe, adopting SBOM management now is crucial for future compliance and security.4 About Cybeats Cybeats is a cybersecurity company providing SBOM management and software supply chain intelligence technology, helping organizations to manage risk, meet compliance requirements, and secure their software from procurement to development and operation. Our platform gives customers comprehensive visibility and transparency into their software supply chain, enabling them to improve operational efficiency and increase revenue. Cybeats. Software Made Certain. Website: https://cybeats.com SUBSCRIBE: For more information, or to subscribe to the Company's mail list, visit: https://www.cybeats.com/investors Forward-looking Information Cautionary Statement Except for statements of historic fact, this news release contains certain "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities law. Forward-looking information is frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words, or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates at the date the statements are made, and are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements including, but not limited to delays or uncertainties with regulatory approvals, including that of the CSE. There are uncertainties inherent in forward-looking information, including factors beyond the Company's control. There are no assurances that the commercialization plans for the products described in this news release will come into effect on the terms or time frame described herein. The Company undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking information if circumstances or management's estimates or opinions should change except as required by law. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Company filings are available at sedar.com. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cybeats-addresses-recent-3cx-cyberattack-and-highlights-government-agencies-support-for-sboms-301796416.html SOURCE Cybeats Technologies Corp. BlueWeave Consulting and Research Pvt Ltd The in-depth research report on global dental bone graft substitute market covers various major countries across five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America, and Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America held the highest market share in 2022. The growth in this region is being driven by the increasing number of dental implant surgeries and a growing target population. Europe holds the second-largest share and is expected to experience profitable growth in the upcoming years. The Asia-Pacific region is expected to witness the highest growth during the forecast period. This growth can be attributed to the increased number of medical tourism and government initiatives. New Delhi, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global dental bone graft substitute market is flourishing because of an increasing focus on treating rising oral disorders globally and rapid adoption of technology advancements in the field of surgical implants. BlueWeave Consulting, a leading strategic consulting and market research firm, in its recent study, estimated global dental bone graft substitute market size at USD 512.32 million in 2022. During the forecast period between 2023 and 2029, BlueWeave expects the global dental bone graft substitute market size to grow at a significant CAGR of 8.5% reaching a value of USD 896.26 million by 2029. Major growth factors of global dental bone graft substitute market include rising utilization of bone grafts, along with an increasing quantity of dental implant procedures. Increasing number of advanced surgical techniques, such as bone grafts and bone regeneration, have made dental implant surgery highly popular. Also, the market is being driven by the growing success rates of these procedures. As per the report by the American Dental Association, the success rate for implant surgeries was reported to be between 95% and 98% in 2019. The United States conducts approximately 5 million implant procedures each year. Bone grafting prior to implant placement helps preserve the jaw's existing structure and increases the likelihood of a successful implant surgery, thus driving the demand for the products. However, expensive surgical treatments and unavailability of adequate reimbursement structures are anticipated to restrain the overall market growth. Story continues Global Dental Bone Graft Substitute Market Overview The dental bone graft substitute market refers to the global market for materials that are used to replace missing or damaged bone in dental procedures. These substitutes are used in dental implant surgeries and other procedures that require the restoration of bone density or volume in the jaw. The market includes a variety of materials, including synthetic bone substitutes, allografts, xenografts, and autografts. The dental bone graft substitute market is driven by factors, such as the increasing prevalence of dental conditions, the rise in the number of dental implant surgeries, and advancements in dental technology. Sample Request @ https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/report/dental-bone-graft-substitute-market/report-sample Impact of COVID-19 on Global Dental Bone Graft Substitute Market COVID-19 pandemic had a mixed impact on the global dental bone graft substitute market. On the one hand, the pandemic resulted in the closure of dental clinics and postponement of non-essential dental procedures, which led to a decline in demand for dental bone graft substitutes. On the other hand, the pandemic also increased the awareness of the importance of oral health, as well as the need for proper infection control measures in dental clinics. This has led to an increased demand for high-quality dental products and materials, including dental bone graft substitutes. Furthermore, the pandemic has led to significant advancements in tele-dentistry and virtual consultations, which have allowed dental professionals to continue providing care to patients without the need for in-person visits. This has helped to mitigate some of the negative impacts of the pandemic on the dental industry, including the demand for dental bone graft substitutes. Please Visit the Press Release: https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/press-release/global-dental-bone-graft-substitute-market-size-set-to-touch-usd-896-3-million-by-2029 Global Dental Bone Graft Substitute Market By End User Based on end user, global dental bone graft substitute market is divided into Hospitals, Dental Clinics, and Ambulatory Surgical Centers segments. The dental clinic end-use segment held the highest market share in 2022. This is due to an increasing number of dental graft surgeries being performed annually, as well as the convenience and availability of surgeons in clinics. Compared to hospitals, clinics specialize in providing same-day procedures that are safer and faster. Furthermore, the growing awareness of oral health is also driving the market. The hospital segment is expected to dominate the market during the forecast period. This growth is due to the availability of a variety of reconstructive procedures offered by these facilities. Some hospitals are self-funded and work with tissue banks to provide top-notch services. Additionally, hospitals partner with various insurance companies to ensure faster and better reimbursement. As a result, more people visit hospitals than clinics because of these benefits. Competitive Landscape Major players operating in global dental bone graft substitute market include Dentsply Sirona, Johnson & Johnson, Danaher Corporation, Medtronic, Strauman, Zimmer Dental, Geistlich Pharma, RTI Surgical, BioHorizons IPH, ACE, Dentium, LifeSciences Corporation, Smith & Nephew, Novabone LLC, Botiss biomaterials GmbH, Collagen Matrix Inc., Osteogenic Biomedical, LifeNet Health, Wright Medical, and Stryker Corporation. To further enhance their market share, these companies employ various strategies, including mergers and acquisitions, partnerships, joint ventures, license agreements, and new product launches. Dont miss the business opportunity in the Global Dental Bone Graft Substitute Market . Consult our analysts to gain crucial insights and facilitate your business growth. The in-depth analysis of the report provides information about growth potential, upcoming trends, and statistics of Global Dental Bone Graft Substitute Market. It also highlights the factors driving forecasts of total market size. The report promises to provide recent technology trends in Global Dental Bone Graft Substitute Market and industry insights to help decision-makers make sound strategic decisions. Furthermore, the report also analyzes the growth drivers, challenges, and competitive dynamics of the market. Recent Developments In January 2023 Osstem Implant, a South Korea-based company, announced its intention to develop synthetic bone by 2026. By applying a molecular and cell biology technique to tissue response and taking a physico-chemical approach to implant and bio-implant materials, Osstems Bone Science Research Institute is developing ways to regenerate bone and soft tissue. Scope of the Report Attributes Details Years Considered Historical Data 20192022 Base Year 2022 Estimated Year 2023 Forecast Period 20232029 Facts Covered Revenue in USD Million Market Coverage North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Latin America, Middle East and Africa (MEA) Product/ Service Segmentation Product, Application, End User, Region Key Players Dentsply Sirona, Johnson & Johnson, Danaher Corporation, Medtronic, Strauman, Zimmer Dental, Geistlich Pharma, RTI Surgical, BioHorizons IPH, ACE, Dentium, LifeSciences Corporation, Smith & Nephew, Novabone LLC, Botiss biomaterials GmbH, Collagen Matrix Inc., Osteogenic Biomedical, LifeNet Health, Wright Medical, Stryker Corporation By Product Synthetic Bone Graft substitutes Xenograft Allograft bone Dental Autograft Alloplast Demineralized Allograft By Application Sinus Lift Ridge Augmentation Implant Bone Regeneration Socket Preservation Periodontal Defect Regeneration By End User Hospitals Dental Clinics Ambulatory Surgical Centers (ASCs) By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific (APAC) Latin America Middle East and Africa (MEA) Please Find Below Some Related Topics: About Us BlueWeave Consulting provides comprehensive Market Intelligence (MI) Solutions to businesses regarding various products and services online and offline. We offer all-inclusive market research reports by analyzing qualitative and quantitative data to boost the performance of your business solutions. BlueWeave has built its reputation by delivering quality inputs and nourishing long-lasting relationships with its clients. We are one of the promising digital MI solutions companies providing agile assistance to make your business endeavors successful. Contact Us: BlueWeave Consulting & Research Pvt. Ltd +1 866 658 6826 | +1 425 320 4776 | +44 1865 60 0662 info@blueweaveconsulting.com https://www.blueweaveconsulting.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/blueweaveconsulting/ The battle brewing over the Texas abortion pill ruling was not something the drug industry originally expected to get traction. But when it did, Ovid Therapeutics CEO Jeremy Levin said, big pharma had to move quickly. "We actually thought it would never go anywhere, originally," Levin told Yahoo Finance Wednesday (see video above) prior to an appeals court ruling. "As it got momentum in the court, we felt we had to take action," he added. That came in the form of a letter to condemn the Texas ruling last week that now has more than 500 signatories, including notable names the likes of Pfizer (PFE) and Biogen (BIIB). The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit offered some temporary relief but with significant restrictions for the use of the abortion pill mifepristone late Wednesday. The court allowed the use of the pill to continue but put in some limitations and would remove the mail order option that the FDA began to allow in January. The appeals court is reviewing arguments from the Texas ruling last week. Meanwhile, the Department of Justice is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to block the appeals court decision and leave widespread mifepristone access untouched. But how the case plays out is something the entire $860 billion drug industry is watching closely. In addition to the letter, some companies have joined an amicus brief, filed by the pharma lobbying group BIO, to challenge the Texas ruling. "If we do not stop this, what will happen is you've opened the door to a complete abrogation of the mandate that Congress has given to the FDA. The FDA is the only body with medical and scientific capabilities for assessing new medicines," Levin said. If a judge can interfere, Levin added, it would upend the entire drug development process in the U.S. Used boxes of Mifepristone pills, the first drug used in a medical abortion. REUTERS/Evleyn Hockstein A litigious business Even though drug development is generally a high-risk and litigious business, the ruling to ban an FDA-approved drug would set a new precedent, experts say. Story continues Drug companies often engage in patent battles or defend against injuries caused by drugs, as seen in the high-profile cases of the opioid lawsuits and the Johnson & Johnson talc case. Those are acceptable uses of the court, Levin said, but this case is different. "If now a politically motivated group can sue with an individual judge and overturn decades of scientific and medical evidence without having any of that experience, you throw into question the entire ability to approve a drug appropriately," he said. Industry advocates have said it could impact innovation an argument that was previously used in the debate around drug pricing. Kayte Spector-Bagdady, a bioethicist and interim co-director of the Center for Bioethics and Social Sciences in Medicine at the University of Michigan, told Yahoo Finance that is a valid argument. "The FDA and the pharmaceutical industry have a symbiotic relationship," Spector-Bagdady said. "On average it costs over $1M to conduct the science, clinical testing, and FDA interface required to bring a new drug to market. Since the 1930s, the pharmaceutical industry has relied on authorization from FDA to sell safe pharmaceuticals via a predictable regulatory process." Spector-Bagdady is a former FDA attorney for several pharmaceutical and biotech companies and served as the associate director for former President Barack Obama's Bioethics Commission. She said that the letter circulated by the companies was both courageous and self-serving. "If individual judges with erroneous medical information are allowed to overrule the thorough and expert review of FDA, then that scares pharmaceutical companies from investing the hundreds of millions of dollars necessary to develop new drugs. So, it was certainly in their own self-interest to respond to Judge Kacsmaryks case," she said. "The central point of the letter is that all drugmakers need to be able to rely on the FDA approval process to calculate the risks of investing an enormous amount of money to bring drugs to market," Spector-Bagdady said. Follow Anjalee on Twitter @AnjKhem Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance TopLine Financial Credit Union TopLines employees and members help fight hunger amid the rising demand at food shelves TopLine employees and members help fight hunger amid rising demand at the food shelves TopLine employees and members help fight hunger amid rising demand at the food shelves MAPLE GROVE, Minn., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- TopLine Financial Credit Unions Food Drive held during the month of March for the MN FoodShare March Campaign benefited two local non-profits, Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP) and Keystone Community Services. TopLine members and employees generously donated non-perishable food items of canned vegetables, soups, rice, and dry pasta to help fight hunger in our local communities. Employees were able to participate by donating non-perishable food items and money in exchange for a Foundation Friday/Saturday sticker, allowing them to wear jeans to work. TopLine and community members could also purchase items from our Amazon Wishlist or Target Registry and have them delivered directly to TopLine, and in return we delivered to our charitable partners. When the program ended employees and members had donated over 555 pounds of food items and nearly $775 in cash to help restock the local agencies food shelves. With MN FoodShares estimation that one meal is about 1.2 pounds of food, TopLine employees and members we were able to provide over 462 meals to our local communities. TopLine is dedicated to working together to strengthen our local communities and support those that need food assistance, said Tom Smith, TopLine Financial Credit Union President and CEO. With our generous donations from our TopLine family of members and employees, we hope to help others alleviate some stress over food insecurity, and together with other donors, our contributions add up to provide stability in lives. For more than 40 years, Minnesota FoodShare has coordinated the March Campaign, the largest grassroots food and fund drive that provides more than half the food distributed by 300 food shelves statewide. The March Campaign is the only statewide effort where every dollar donated goes directly to fighting hunger locally. Each year Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP) and Keystone Family Services participate in the statewide food and fund drive to restock pantry shelves. For donors efforts, a portion of every dollar and pound of food raised is matched by Minnesota FoodShare. Story continues Community Emergency Assistance Programs (CEAP), serving Hennepin and Anoka Counties, is a community-based, non-profit agency dedicated to providing information, referrals, advocacy and assistance to local communities. Visit www.ceap.org to learn more. Keystone Community Services is a community-based volunteer organization in St. Paul that helps thousands of low-income individuals and families in the East Metro Area. Keystones mission is to strengthen the capacity of individuals and families to improve their quality of life. Visit www.keystoneservices.org to learn more. TopLine Financial Credit Union, a Twin Cities-based credit union, is Minnesotas 11th largest, with assets of more than $769 million and serves 50,000 members. Established in 1935, the not-for-profit cooperative offers a complete line of financial services from its five branch locations in Bloomington, Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, Plymouth and in St. Pauls Como Park as well as by phone, mobile app and online at www.TopLinecu.com. Membership is available to anyone who lives, works, worships, attends school or volunteers in Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott, Sherburne, Washington and Wright counties in Minnesota and their immediate family members. Visit us on our Facebook or Instagram. To learn more about the credit unions foundation, visit www.TopLinecu.com/Foundation. CONTACT: Vicki Roscoe Erickson Senior Vice President & Chief Marketing Officer TopLine Financial Credit Union verickson@toplinecu.com 763.391.0872 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ee34f7e0-8341-4e89-814a-d20fe35acf7a (Bloomberg) -- Growing alarm in the market that Egypt could soon cave in to pressure with one of its steepest currency depreciations yet has sent investors seeking cover. Most Read from Bloomberg Derivatives used to hedge risks or for speculation signaled the approach of Egypts fourth devaluation since March 2022, belying calm in the spot market, where the pound traded little changed. Non-deliverable forward contracts on the currency posted their biggest drop since the last devaluation in January, with the 12-month tenor weakening 4.5% to 42.8 per US dollar on Thursday. The pound was at 30.9 in the spot market. The moves reflect speculation by some market participants that authorities will allow for a steep decline in the pound at the end of or after the Muslim holy month of Ramadan that concludes around the second half of next week, according to Societe Generale SAs Gergely Urmossy. There is consensus among market players including myself that the Egyptian pound will be devalued, said Urmossy, an emerging-markets strategist in London. The longer authorities wait with devaluation, the greater the magnitude could be. The anxiety and impatience are playing out in other vulnerable corners of the market, with Egypts debt slumping deeper into distressed territory. The extra yield investors demand to buy Egyptian dollar bonds rather than Treasuries was at 1,199 basis points on Thursday, just 54 basis points shy of the record high reached in July, according to JPMorgan Chase & Co. data. The government has about $74 billion in eurobond principal and interest payments coming due through 2061, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Story continues Frustrating Story Egypt is becoming a frustrating story for many, said Nafez Zouk, an EM sovereign debt analyst at Aviva Investors in London. When you stack it all up, its frustrating to see how slow the progress has been. Concerns that the Arab worlds most populous nation will fail to honor its debt will remain front of mind for investors until theres clarity that Egypt will devalue its currency and get the investment flows it needs to close its funding gap. The pound has weakened about 50% over the past year, but remains far stronger than rates quoted in the black market. The divergence underscores the risk of further depreciation as the nation grapples with a foreign-exchange crunch. The government pledged in October to move to a more flexible exchange rate, enabling it to clinch a $3 billion deal with the International Monetary Fund. Still, declines in the currency continued to be followed by long stretches of stability. We have been expecting a devaluation for some time now, and it is not materializing, said Zeina Rizk, executive director of fixed income at Arqaam Capital in Dubai. There is a loss of credibility at this point and I dont think a devaluation is enough for inflows to return. (Updates prices throughout) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. 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. Amongst other things, we'll want to see two things; firstly, a growing return on capital employed (ROCE) and secondly, an expansion in the company's amount of capital employed. Ultimately, this demonstrates that it's a business that is reinvesting profits at increasing rates of return. Having said that, from a first glance at Endor (MUN:E2N) we aren't jumping out of our chairs at how returns are trending, but let's have a deeper 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 Endor, this is the formula: Return on Capital Employed = Earnings Before Interest and Tax (EBIT) (Total Assets - Current Liabilities) 0.19 = 4.9m (71m - 45m) (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2021). Thus, Endor has an ROCE of 19%. On its own, that's a standard return, however it's much better than the 9.2% generated by the Tech industry. View our latest analysis for Endor 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'd like to look at how Endor has performed in the past in other metrics, you can view this free graph of past earnings, revenue and cash flow. What The Trend Of ROCE Can Tell Us In terms of Endor's historical ROCE movements, the trend isn't fantastic. Over the last five years, returns on capital have decreased to 19% from 26% five years ago. On the other hand, the company has been employing more capital without a corresponding improvement in sales in the last year, which could suggest these investments are longer term plays. It's worth keeping an eye on the company's earnings from here on to see if these investments do end up contributing to the bottom line. Story continues On a side note, Endor's current liabilities have increased over the last five years to 64% of total assets, effectively distorting the ROCE to some degree. If current liabilities hadn't increased as much as they did, the ROCE could actually be even lower. And with current liabilities at these levels, suppliers or short-term creditors are effectively funding a large part of the business, which can introduce some risks. The Key Takeaway To conclude, we've found that Endor is reinvesting in the business, but returns have been falling. Yet to long term shareholders the stock has gifted them an incredible 915% return in the last five years, so the market appears to be rosy about its future. However, unless these underlying trends turn more positive, we wouldn't get our hopes up too high. If you'd like to know more about Endor, we've spotted 7 warning signs, and 3 of them are a bit unpleasant. While Endor 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. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here ReportLinker 4PL Market in Europe 2023-2027. The analyst has been monitoring the 4PL market in Europe and is forecast to grow by USD 5406.56 mn during 2022-2027, accelerating at a CAGR of 5.25% during the forecast period. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Europe 4PL Market 2023-2027" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446384/?utm_source=GNW Our report on the 4PL market in Europe provides a holistic analysis, market size and forecast, trends, growth drivers, and challenges, as well as vendor analysis covering around 25 vendors. The report offers an up-to-date analysis regarding the current market scenario, the latest trends and drivers, and the overall market environment. The market is driven by the advantages of 4PL, increasing mergers and acquisitions activities, and rapid growth in the e-commerce industry. The 4PL market in Europe is segmented as below: By End-user Manufacturing Retail Consumer goods Healthcare Others By Type Solution integrator mode Synergy plus operating mode Industry innovator mode This study identifies the increase in retail sales as one of the prime reasons driving the 4PL market growth during the next few years. Also, the growing focus on digitalization in logistics and the increasing adoption of blockchain in logistics will lead to sizable demand in the market. The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters. Our report on the 4PL market in Europe covers the following areas: 4PL market sizing 4PL market forecast 4PL market industry analysis This robust vendor analysis is designed to help clients improve their market position, and in line with this, this report provides a detailed analysis of several leading 4PL market vendors that include 4PL Consultancy Ltd., Accenture Plc, Allyn International Services Inc., AP Moller Maersk AS, C H Robinson Worldwide Inc., Central Station AG, CMA CGM SA, Deutsche Post AG, DFDS AS, DSV AS, GEODIS SA, Kinaxia Logistics Ltd., Kuehne Nagel Management AG, Logistics Plus Inc., ROHLIG SUUS Logistics S.A., Stef, United Parcel Service Inc., Wiima Logistics, XPO Inc., and Deutsche Bahn AG. Also, the 4PL market in Europe analysis report includes information on upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth. This is to help companies strategize and leverage all forthcoming growth opportunities. The study was conducted using an objective combination of primary and secondary information including inputs from key participants in the industry. The report contains a comprehensive market and vendor landscape in addition to an analysis of the key vendors. The analyst presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources by an analysis of key parameters such as profit, pricing, competition, and promotions. It presents various market facets by identifying the key industry influencers. The data presented is comprehensive, reliable, and a result of extensive research - both primary and secondary. Technavios market research reports provide a complete competitive landscape and an in-depth vendor selection methodology and analysis using qualitative and quantitative research to forecast accurate market growth. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446384/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 DUBLIN, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Europe Cyber Security Market, Size, Forecast 2023-2028, Industry Trends, Growth, Impact of Inflation, Opportunity Company Analysis" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo Europe Cyber Security Market will reach US$ 103.51 Billion in 2028, according to the publisher. Europe has a complex and dynamic cyber security landscape, as it is home to some of the world's leading technology companies and is a central hub for international trade and finance. Hence, Europe faces various cyber threats, including state-sponsored cyberattacks, cybercrime, and hacktivism. These threats can target multiple industries, including financial services, healthcare, and critical infrastructure. In 2021, according to Eurostat, the expanding penetration of internet users, 95% of young people (aged 16-29 years) in the European region, and the adoption of cloud-based services and Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs) presented an extensive chance for cyber vendors in the European cyber security market size. Furthermore, with the internet becoming more accessible, faster, and cost-effective than ever, the use of connected devices, P.C.s, and wearables has also increased significantly. However, this increase in connectivity has also led to a rise in cyber security threats such as data breaches, malware, and phishing. The EU prioritizes citizens' privacy and security through laws like GDPR and NIS Directive, holding companies accountable for data breaches. The ECSO and Cybersecurity Competence Centre coordinate efforts to improve cybersecurity through collaboration between industry, academia, and government. Emerging technologies like AI, quantum computing, and IoT will significantly impact future cybersecurity in Europe, bringing opportunities for innovation, economic growth, and addressing new risks. Europe Cyber Security Market shall register a healthy growth rate of 13% from 2022 to 2028 The rise in cyber threats has driven demand for cybersecurity solutions and services across industries. Digital transformation has also led to increased use of technologies, creating new cybersecurity risks. As companies continue to digitize operations, the need for robust cybersecurity solutions will grow. Investing in cybersecurity solutions provides economic benefits such as safeguarding assets, enhancing customer trust, and maintaining competitiveness. Europe's skilled workforce has contributed to the region's growing cybersecurity market. The availability of qualified professionals makes it easier for companies to implement and manage cybersecurity solutions, driving further market growth. As a result, the Europe Cyber Security Market was valued at US$ 49.72 Billion. Story continues Usage of IOT devices will grow among European countries By segment, the Europe cyber security market is divided into IOT devices, PCS, Mobiles/Networks, Connected T.V.s, Wearables, and Connected cars. The European cyber security market for the Internet of Things (IoT) and connected devices are rising. Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and Italy are the main European countries to adopt IoT and connected devices. However, many European consumers also see the importance of wearable devices and increasingly understand the benefits. Significant reductions in device costs coupled with emerging business models have increased the market penetration rates of IoT and, consequently, the volume of connected devices, like connected cars, machines, meters, wearables, and customer electronics. Attacks on consumer IoT are common, but the prospect of disruption in manufacturing and homogeneous industries magnifies cybersecurity's penetration in the present market dynamics. Further, the emergence of 5G will expedite the use of connected devices in industries already pushing toward Industrial Revolution 4.0. Industrial Revolution 4.0 aids cellular connectivity throughout the sector through the rise of IoT. In addition, machine-to-machine connections have also been instrumental in driving market traction. BFSI Sector is the Prime Target for Cybercrime due to the presence of Sensitive Information Based on components, the Europe Cyber security market is categorized into I.T. & Telecom, Retail, BFSI, Healthcare, Defence/Government, Automotive, and Others. Due to the sensitive financial data held by organizations in the BFSI sector, they are a prime target for cybercriminals. To protect their customers' data from the increasing frequency and sophistication of cyber-attacks, BFSI companies must invest more in cybersecurity measures. In Europe, BFSI companies must implement robust cybersecurity measures through strict regulations such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) to safeguard their customers' personal and financial data. The severe disruptions that can arise from cyber-attacks on the operations of a BFSI organization can lead to reputational damage and financial losses. Therefore, investing in cybersecurity can ensure business continuity and minimize the impact of any cyber-attack. Furthermore, the BFSI sector has rapidly adopted digital technologies like mobile banking and online payments, which have increased the volume of data processed and stored by these organizations. Consequently, BFSI companies have invested in cybersecurity measures to safeguard their digital assets against cyber-attacks. United Kingdom dominates the Cyber Security Market in Europe The market for cyber security in Europe consists of countries like; Germany, France, the U.K., Italy, Belgium, Netherlands, Poland, Spain, Sweden, and Others. The U.K. highly developed education system and excellent cybersecurity research programs at top universities have resulted in a skilled cybersecurity workforce, placing the country at the spearhead of innovation in this field. In addition, the government has supported the industry by providing funding, promoting collaboration, and establishing the National Cyber Security Centre. Although cybercrime has targeted the U.K., this has heightened awareness and increased the need for robust cybersecurity measures. Furthermore, the U.K.'s strong legal and regulatory frameworks, including the Computer Misuse Act, Data Protection Act, and GDPR, protect against cyber threats. Segments - Market breakup from 6 Viewpoints: 1. IOT devices 2. PCS 3. Mobiles/Networks 4. Connected T.V.s 5. Wearables 6. Connected cars Components - Market breakup from 7 Viewpoints: 1. I.T Telecom 2. Retail 3. BFSI 4. Healthcare 5. Defence/Government 6. Automotive 7. Others Country - Market breakup from 10 viewpoints: 1. Germany 2. France 3. U.K. 4. Italy 5. Belgium 6. Netherlands 7. Poland 8. Spain 9. Sweden 10. Others Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction 2. Research & Methodology 3. Executive Summary 4. Market Dynamics 5. Porters Five Forces 6. Europe Cyber Security Market 7. Share Analysis - Europe Cyber Security Market 8. Segment - Europe Cyber Security Market 9. Country - Europe Cyber Security Market 10. Components - Europe Cyber Security Market 11. Key Players Companies Mentioned Broadcom (Symantec Corporation) Cisco Systems, Inc. Check Point Software Technology IBM Fortinet Palo Alto Networks, Inc. Microsoft Corporation F5 Network Accenture Cognizant Technology For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/tdfijc About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/europe-cyber-security-market-report-2023-sector-to-reach-103-51-billion-by-2028--301795687.html SOURCE Research and Markets BANGKOK, April 11, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- European Wellness Biomedical Group (EW Group) made a successful showing at an exclusive event, the 12th A4M Symposium 2023, which was held in Centara, Bangkok, 16th-19th February 2023. Logo (PRNewsfoto/European Wellness Biomedical Group) The two-day A4M Symposium, commenced with a welcome ceremony featuring Dr. Manus Potaporn (Deputy Director General of Medical Services Department, Thailand) as a Guest of Honour, hosted by Prof. Dr. Mike Chan (A4M Thailand President), Dr. Jakkriss Bumisawasdi (A4M Thailand Honorary President), and Dr. Robert Goldman (A4M Founder). On February 19, European Wellness Academie (EWA), a non-profitable educational arm of EW Group, brought an exclusive workshop, "All-On Bioregen Optimization," to explore the world of anti-aging and regenerative medicine, featured some of the world's leading anti-aging experts. Prof. Dr. Mike Chan, presented his two topics, "The Application of Regenerative Precursor Stem Cells, Peptides & Exosomes in Precision Medicine" and "Phyto-Myco-based Nano Organo Peptides: A New Trend in Precision Medicine." "Precision Medicine in Age Reversal," which brought together the anti-aging and wellness industries on a single platform to achieve Precision Medicine's goals, which are patient-centred, may divide patients into subgroups based on their illness vulnerability, prognosis, or response to a specific treatment. It is devised and administered after comprehensive diagnostics utilizing Panomic Analysis and System Biology to analyse the patient's state at a molecular level and apply targeted therapies to address illness progression. Anti-aging medicine aims to improve human ageing and maximize physical and mental well-being. Scientific data and medical journals supported the model's focus on Advanced Clinical Preventive and Regenerative Medicine. The involvement of the healthcare and wellness industries will have a significant influence on the anti-aging sector for many years to come. Yet, by fact these sectors worked together to improve the quality of life for individuals and will contribute to defining the very future of modern medicine. Story continues European Wellness Biomedical Group An award-winning European group, most renowned for its pioneering development in organ-specific precursor (progenitor) stem cell therapeutics, biological and synthetic peptides, biological regenerative medicine, immunotherapies, and nutraceutical and cosmeceuticals. EW Group's multinational business divisions include research and developments, bio-manufacturing, biomedical academies, hospital and wellness centres and nutraceutical product distribution across 80 countries worldwide. EW Group also owns and operates a growing network of internationally accredited Hospital and Medical Centres specializing in Regenerative Bio-Medicine and luxury Wellness Centres globally. EW Group is headquartered in Germany and Malaysia (Asia Pacific) with research vested in Germany, Switzerland, Czech Republic and United Kingdom. https://european-wellness.eu/ Media Contact: Ferellica Anne Martin +6088 448 989 (Ext: 337) media@european-wellness.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ew-group-shines-at-12th-a4m-symposium-2023--all-on-bioregen-optimization-workshop-301796266.html SOURCE European Wellness Biomedical Group Jes Staley - Simon Dawson/Bloomberg The former chief executive of Barclays discussed allegations of human trafficking with Jeffrey Epstein while the late paedophile financier was a client of JP Morgan, new court filings have claimed. Jes Staley, who previously led the Wall Street giants private bank, discussed the accusations with Epstein in 2011 and was told there was no truth to the allegations, according to an amended complaint filed in a New York Court. The filing claims that Mr Staley reassured JP Morgan staff that Epstein said there was no evidence of his alleged activity and that he was not expecting any problems. However, Mary Erdoes, who runs JP Morgans asset and wealth management arm, admitted in a recent deposition that the bank was aware by 2006 that Epstein was accused of paying cash to have underage girls and young women brought to his home. The new allegations came to light as part of an amended filing by the US Virgin Islands, which has accused JP Morgan of benefitting from Mr Epsteins sex trafficking while he was a client of the bank until 2013. Mr Staley is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit. He has repeatedly denied knowledge of Epsteins sexual abuse. In his first legal filings last week, Mr Staley described the allegations against him as slanderous and baseless. JP Morgan was suspicious of Epstein years before his 2008 child sex conviction, the new filing suggests. Compliance staff urged the bank to cut ties with the financier over both the sex-trafficking allegations and concerns about money-laundering. A senior JP Morgan compliance official allegedly asked Epstein to be dropped as a client in 2011 but noted he was an alleged personal associate of the CEO of the Investment Bank [Jes Staley]. Separately, JP Morgan is suing Mr Staley over his relationship with Mr Epstein and demanding that he hand back more than $80m (67m) he was paid between 2006 and 2013. A JP Morgan spokesman declined to comment on the latest filing. 2023 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the International Monetary Fund in Washington By Andrea Shalal WASHINGTON (Reuters) -World Bank President David Malpass on Thursday said progress on sovereign debt issues would be measured by actual restructuring deals being agreed for Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia, and said there was still no agreement on his longstanding call for a standstill in debt service payments for countries seeking help. Speaking a day after the first meeting of a new sovereign debt roundtable, Malpass told Reuters several other issues still needed to be resolved, including China's previous insistence that multilateral development banks also accept losses as part of debt restructuring deals. "We're pushing along on debt," he said. "Progress in debt restructurings will be measured by actual countries that achieve a restructuring. It's a case-by-case mechanism." He said the target now was to ensure that Ghana, Ethiopia and Zambia, the three countries seeking debt relief under the Group of 20 common framework, moved forward in their separate debt processes. Global creditors, debtor nations, international financial institutions and private creditors agreed at the roundtable meeting on Wednesday to take steps to jumpstart and streamline long-stalled debt restructuring efforts, including through improved data sharing. A joint statement by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund and India, current president of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies, did not mention any specific commitments by China, the world's largest bilateral creditor, to speed the restructuring process. Reuters reported Beijing was poised to drop its demand that multilateral development banks share in debt restructuring losses, partly in exchange for the IMF and World Bank providing earlier access to their debt sustainability analyses for countries receiving debt treatments. But the statement only included the institutions' part of that bargain, to share more information more quickly and for multilateral development banks (MDBs) to quantify "net positive flows" of concessional financing in restructuring cases. Story continues IMF strategy chief Ceyla Pazarbasioglu said China and other participants had acknowledged that there are different ways of contributing to a restructuring, and "the best way for MDBs to contribute ... is to provide fresh financing to countries, as much as possible in grant terms." Malpass said there were still disagreements within China on the issue, with President Xi Jinping and others downplaying the earlier demand and others - who represent individual creditors - still seeing it as an obstacle. More work would be done on the issue of comparable treatment of various creditors at a workshop to be held in May, he said. No specific date had been set for the meeting, he said. China had also raised concerns about how to deal with domestic debt restructuring and how to treat project loans and projects with dedicated revenues, he said. Private sector creditors who also participated in Wednesday's meeting had indicated that they would want to participate in debt restructuring deals as part of their fiduciary responsibility, Malpass said, calling that a positive development. (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Andrea Ricci) ReportLinker Segmented By Exosome Type (Natural v/s Hybrid), By Source (Mesenchymal Stem Cells, Blood, Body Fluids, Others), By Therapy (Immunotherapy, Chemotherapy, Gene Therapy), By Application (Metabolic Disorders, Oncology, Cardiac Disorders, Neurology, Others), By End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Academics & Research Institutions, Others), By Region. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Exosome Therapeutics Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446595/?utm_source=GNW Global exosome therapeutics market is anticipated to advance at a steady CAGR in the forecast period 2024-2028.This can be ascribed due to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and autoimmune diseases across the globe. Exosomes are designed to deliver a variety of therapeutic payloads, including chemotherapeutic drugs, immunological modulators, antisense oligonucleotides, short interfering RNAs (RNAs), and antisense oligonucleotides.Also, the global exosome therapeutics market is expanding due to the rise in the usage of exosome therapys multifunctional properties for the treatment of cancer, Alzheimers disease, Parkinsons disease, and chronic heart failure. Besides, growing research & development activities initiated by various biotechnology & pharmaceutical companies and academic & research institutions worldwide are expected to create lucrative opportunities for the growth of the global exosome therapeutics market in the coming years. According to clinicaltrials.gov, currently, there are 25 clinical trials related to exosome therapeutics going on worldwide that are in different phases of development. Increasing Prevalence of Chronic Diseases The growth in the prevalence of chronic diseases, infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, and cancer, as well as the increase in the demand for molecular diagnosis, are the main factors driving the exosome diagnostic and therapeutic market share.Additionally, ongoing developments in drug development and discovery in exosome innovation provide valuable insights into biological heterogeneity and function and improve the capacity to utilize the therapeutic and diagnostic potential for infectious disease and cancer. Therefore, the development of the exosome diagnostic and therapeutic markets is driven by technological improvement in the healthcare industry.Unhealthy eating habits, tobacco consumption, and lack of physical activity are only a few of the key causes of cardiovascular disease, which increase blood pressure and blood glucose levels, resulting in overweight and obesity which will further increase the rate of chronic diseases and demand for exosome therapeutics in the forecast period. The growing prevalence of cardiovascular illnesses has led to an increase in the need for exosome diagnostic and therapeutic products (CVDs).This is a result of the development of more durable, technologically advanced devices. According to Globocan, From the total number of 2,281,658 affected skin cancer diseases across the globe, 4.2% are affected by melanoma skin cancer, 6.8% are affected in colorectum cancer, 9.2% are affected in prostate cancer, 10% are affected in lung cancer, 11.1% are effected in breast cancer, and 58.7% are effected in other cancer. Growing research and development Several initiatives, such as setting up policies for the development of new therapies along with the rise in funds, are taken by governments across the world to support the healthcare industry.The government is launching different programs to provide better technology, improve treatment techniques, and improve product development and processing technologies. In addition, the rapid technological advancements in exosome therapeutics and the growth of the target patient population are also contributing to the growth in the global market over the forecast period of 2024 to 2028. According to the American Cancer Society, in 2022, there will be an estimated 1.9 million new cancer cases diagnosed and 609,360 cancer deaths in the United States. In January 2020, Kimera Labs received FDA approval for the purest mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) exosomes in existence. The approval received would ensure strict compliance with good laboratory practices (GLPs) and current good manufacturing practice (CGMP) standards to enable the production of pharmaceutical-grade exosomes for investigational trials and the development of future clinical applications. Market Segmentation The global exosome therapeutics market is segmented into exosome type, source, therapy, application, end user, regional distribution, and competitive landscape.Based on exosome type, the market is divided into Natural exosome therapy and Hybrid exosome therapy. Based on the source, the market is divided into Mesenchymal stem cells, Blood, Body fluids, and others.Based on therapy, the market is divided into Immunotherapy, Chemotherapy, and Gene Therapy. Based on application, the market is divided into Metabolic Disorders, Oncology, Cardiac Disorders, Neurology, and Others.Based on end users, the market is divided into hospitals & clinics, academic & research institutions, and others. In terms of country, the United States is expected to be a lucrative market in the forecast period as the government is investing in new exosome therapeutics for the easy detection of chronic disease-unaffected people. Market Players Aethlon Medical, Inc.-Exosome Sciences, Aegle Therapeutics, Anjarium Biosciences AG, Exogenus Therapeutics SA, Lonza Group, Capricor Therapeutics, Inc., Avalon Globocare Corp, Stem Cell Medicine Ltd., Evox Therapeutics Limited, EV Therapeutics are some of the leading players operating in the global exosome therapeutics market. Report Scope: In this report, global exosome therapeutics market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends which have also been detailed below: Exosome Therapeutics Market, By Type: o Natural o Hybrid Exosome Therapeutics Market, By Source: o Mesenchymal Stem Cells o Blood, o Body Fluids, o Others Exosome Therapeutics Market, By Therapy : o Immunotherapy o Chemotherapy o Gene Therapy Exosome Therapeutics Market, By Application: o Metabolic Disorders o Oncology o Cardiac Disorders o Neurology o Others Exosome Therapeutics Market, By End User: o Hospitals & Clinics o Academic & Research Institutions o Others Exosome Therapeutics Market, By Region: o North America United States Canada Mexico o Asia-Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia o Europe Germany France United Kingdom Spain Italy o South America Brazil Argentina Colombia o Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in global exosome therapeutics market. Available Customizations: With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report: Company Information Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five). Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446595/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 The White House is scrambling to find a new leader for the Federal Aviation Administration, leaving the agency without a Senate-confirmed head as the U.S. ramps up for its busiest travel season since before the pandemic. President Joe Bidens first choice for the job, Denver International Airport CEO Phil Washington, withdrew in March after a monthslong opposition campaign led by Republican Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Roger Wicker of Mississippi. Now, even though the position has been open for more than a year, the White House is again casting about for a candidate who can make it through the Senate committee that oversees the agency, according to a dozen aviation industry insiders, lawmakers and Senate aides. Its an especially fraught moment for the FAA to be without a leader who can take bold action as traffic surges to pre-2019 levels, delays spike and a worrying uptick in near-collisions on runways fuels safety concerns. The agency has an acting administrator, but his decisions dont have the heft of someone with a Senate-granted mandate to lead such as spearheading major changes that might be needed to avoid a catastrophe while also keeping up with new technologies such as drones and air taxis. Sen. Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.), a helicopter pilot who leads the Senate subcommittee in charge of the FAA, said bluntly that she's been frustrated with the delay and that a candidate needs to be put up as soon as possible. The Republican crusade against Washington created partisan rifts that could leave the post vacant for months to come. Washington, a former municipal transit official and member of Bidens transition team, didnt have any aviation experience until he took the top job at Denvers airport in 2021. Cruz and Wicker, both senior lawmakers on the Senate Commerce Committee, repeatedly hammered his nomination as a patronage hire. But now, Cruz has embraced the person whod likely be confirmed by the Senate the fastest Billy Nolen, the acting administrator of the FAA and a former pilot and safety expert. That may tarnish Nolens chances with Democrats, who are still angry that Cruz torpedoed Washingtons nomination. Story continues Shortly before Washington withdrew, Cruz publicly floated the idea that he would support Nolen for the job. A number of Democrats have expressed privately to me that they think it is a reasonable suggestion, Cruz said in an interview last week. To be clear, I dont know Billy Nolen, its not like hes a Republican or a friend of mine. He was Joe Bidens choice to be acting administrator, he just happens to be qualified for the job. Nolen was a long-time pilot for American Airlines before taking on safety-related roles at American and Airlines for America, a trade association representing major U.S. airlines. He then held safety-related executive roles at Qantas and WestJet before joining the FAA as associate administrator for aviation safety in early 2022. Nolen held that role for less than four months before becoming acting administrator. Whether or not the White House wants to elevate Nolen, hes clearly acting the part, including television appearances and a high-profile decision to call a safety summit to try to get ahead of cracks in the system that may be behind the recent uptick in near misses. "Hes [Nolen] clearly running for it. Im not sure Cruzs endorsement helps him though," said one aviation industry lobbyist who was granted anonymity to describe private conversations about the White House's stance. "What Ive heard is the White House is going to nominate someone in the next couple weeks. I dont think they are asking the Hill what they want." The White House did not respond to requests for comment. But after Washington withdrew, the White House pledged to pick a new nominee quickly and blamed Washingtons exit on a Republican smear campaign. Senators on the Commerce Committee last week confirmed that the White House hadn't reached out to them about a potential nominee, though Sen. John Hickenlooper (D-Colo.), a major supporter of Washington's, said he would prefer someone who isnt already working at the FAA. So far, Nolen has yet to pick up any public support from Senate Democrats. In supporting Washington, some Democrats including Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), who chairs the Commerce Committee vetting the nomination, have said they prefer someone not part of the revolving door of the aerospace industry. In the Senate, Democratic ire is also focused on holdouts within their own party that helped tank Washingtons nomination chiefly Sens. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.) and Jon Tester (D-Mont.), who were noncommittal ahead of a committee vote on Washingtons nomination. That vote ultimately was postponed at the last minute. Washington withdrew shortly after. Duckworth has blamed one person for the postponed vote but declined to say who. And Senate Democratic aides also seem frustrated with the White House, with one suggesting it failed to understand the dynamics of the committee, on which Sinema sits and where Democrats have a one-vote majority. You cant ignore Sinema, said a Democratic aide who requested anonymity to recount private conversations. The White House didnt understand it, and his confirmation hearing showed that she wasnt on board. They also groused that the White House didn't account for Washington's relative lack of aviation experience or the perception among Republicans that his nomination was a patronage pick. A second aviation industry representative, granted anonymity to describe private conversations, said the White House is considering potential nominees beyond Nolen and agreed that it is wary of handing Cruz another victory. My understanding is the only person who really wants Billy is Ted Cruz, the aviation source said. The administration really seems interested in picking someone else. Cruz said his initial endorsement of Nolen was on a whim, after turning around to speak with his staff during a Commerce Committee hearing. I turned back to my staff and said, What do you think about Nolen? Would it be crazy for me to suggest right now that they should withdraw Washington and nominate Nolen? Cruz said on his weekly podcast. And my guys were like No, thats fine. Duckworth said that elevating Nolen to the top FAA job would be "relatively smooth" because he's already in a senior position, though she was not explicitly backing Nolen for the job. "He's already inside the agency. It would be relatively smooth in terms of him stepping up in that way, but I have not talked to my colleagues on the other side of the aisle," Duckworth said. "He's one of the names that gets floated on a regular basis." But Duckworth was referring to the potential confirmation process should Nolen garner Democratic support, which he doesnt yet have. In the runup to the vote on Washington that the Commerce Committee abruptly abandoned, most Democrats who took a public position, including Cantwell, said they supported Washington because he doesnt have any ties to the aerospace industry. Nolen, meanwhile, has more than 30 years of experience working at airlines. Lobbyists and representatives from the aviation industry who spoke with POLITICO, many of whom work for companies or associations that did not weigh in on Washingtons nomination, said their main priority is getting someone confirmed. Another aviation industry lobbyist agreed that wont happen any time soon, however. Itll be months you have the individual work that Senate Commerce will do, the lobbyist said, adding that getting someone confirmed by this summer will be nearly impossible. We realize the timeline is not great. Valery Miftakhov, CEO of ZeroAvia, which is developing hydrogen-powered aircraft, said not having a Senate-confirmed leader means "we cannot expect to see the FAA take anything but small steps and it will be difficult to set the strategic direction." For instance, Miftakhov said his companys attempt to create zero emission aircraft amid growing climate concerns could end up sitting on a shelf in the FAA waiting for a willing advocate. Oswald (Ozzie) Nelson of New Jersey, a Rutgers lawyer, was best known for his creation of the humorous weekly ABC drama The Adventures of Ozzie & Harriet with his real family in the 1950s and mid-1960s. Ozzie Nelsons character was a warm, loving dad with a ready smile and a calming, problem-solving wisdom. Off screen, however, Nelson has been characterized as autocratic, controlling, tough on his family, and driven by financial gain. 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 This week, Atlanta respectfully bid business visionary Oz Nelson a final farewell and saluted his 30 years of generous devotion to the community, not to mention his technological reinvention of logistics giant UPS as CEO and his relocation of the company to Atlanta. I knew that Oz Nelson and was fortunate to have been in close contact with him for 36 years. But there is much more to be said. Kent Nelsons demeanor so matched the image of his TV namesake that Oz became his childhood nickname and stayed with him until his passing at age 85. No one who knew Oz Nelson can recall an image of him without his genuine calming smile and eagerness to puzzle out problems. Never did he revert to ad hominem attacks, personal finger-pointing, or drawing lines of battle with colleagues, rivals, regulators, or neighbors. The real-life Oz Nelson was a model of warmth, creativity, and ambition with humilityand was as genuine on and off the screen. That congeniality did disguise a paradoxical character trait: Oz Nelson was an industrial pioneer and a social revolutionary in a business suit. His path to management violated the UPS norms of the time of working for years as a delivery driver. He started out as an hourly employee, a clerk in evolving secondary sales and service roles. Rather than see this service role as secondary, he elevated that track to transform UPS into a customer-oriented business rather than strictly a highly efficient operations-driven company. Story continues Nelson launched the companys celebrated satirical ad campaign that made fun of the competition with the irreverent Amratti & Puris agency. Privately, he acknowledged the technological edge (at the time) of competitors Federal Express, Airborne, TNT, and Emery Airfreight. He pioneered the development of handheld scanning devices for tracking packages and putting dense codes on package address labels to allow better tracing, automated sorting, operational efficiency metrics, and customer research. In fact, under Oz Nelson, the term customer was introduced to the industry. Before him, the term was shippersand recipients were called consignees. Courtesy of Jeff Sonnenfeld When I first met Oz in 1986, I was a 32-year-old, seventh-year professor at the Harvard Business School. I was in a hurry to get somewhere with my career but was pretty sure it was not to be a delivery driver in an 80-year-old trucking company. However, Goldman Sachs revered John Whitehead had just bestowed HBS with a new fellowship for a young scholar to embed in a company thats on the edge of transformation but that was not saturated by MBAs. In fact, the only MBA in this huge transportation company was working in the two-person marketing department. The company was basically a U.S. domestic ground package delivery business. That soon changed. Nelson built up one of the worlds five largest airlines from scratch within three years. He soared ahead of the competition to become a leader in technology and to tower over all transportation companies in Fortunes highly competitive corporate reputation surveys. Despite the skepticism of my academy colleagues, he and his vice chair, Don Layden, worked seamlessly on the international front to expand from their toe holds in Canada and Germany and to become a direct service provider to more nations than the UN even represented through a mix of careful acquisitions and internally driven global expansions. Their headquarters catapulted from a non-descript linoleum floored low-rise brick Greenwich office building to an award-winning complex by architect Tom Ventulett. Internally lit through soaring views and huge sheets of glass, the still low-key office building Oz commissioned spans a stream running through it, in a forest on the edge of Atlanta. With two full-time arborists, there were more trees on the property after UPS built than before. Many Atlantans joked that these Yankee carpet baggers cared more about the Georgian landscape than the old timers did. In 1990, UPS employed 245,000 workers and delivered 2.9 billion packages yearly with, revenues of $13.6 billion. By 2022, UPS revenues were over $100 billion, with 500,000 employees, and serving customers in more than 220 countries. In a tribute to Ozs role in getting UPS that far through new technologies and logistics businesses, current UPS CEO Carol Tome, a pioneer herself, said: We also remember Oz for leading with his heart. He was deeply committed to peopleUPSers and customers around the globeand the communities where we live and serve, driving the companys philanthropic and volunteer efforts to new heights. Oz served in leadership roles for numerous nonprofits, including the CDC, the Carter Center, United Way of America, and the Annie E. Casey Foundation, and he made significant contributions to education reform in Kentucky. Always open to new approaches, Nelson even privately conferred with this top management team over changing the UPS colors from gold letters on the pullman brown base to something he considered less drab. His colleagues forcefully resistedand he listened. He listened equally to colleagues, customers, communities, and even competitors. I watched Oz chide a new hire for making a joke about a competitors misstepand saying everyone learns from bold initiatives. Accordingly, he listened to internal dissent on sensitive global strategy. In the early days of their global expansion, he was the advocate for purchasing a large global competitor. With the contracts about to be inked between the five-member team of the target company and 40 UPS purchasers, some UPSers discovered some irregularities in the business conduct of the target company that had not been detected by the consultants and attorneys. With no trace of defensiveness, Oz did not hesitate to reverse courseand killed the deal at the 11th hour. On political and societal issues, as a lifetime Republican, he championed diversity, professional conduct, and generous benefits within the company. Externally, he championed economic development for communities in need, workforce training, and trade reform (with seamless relations across the Carter, Reagan, Bush, and Clinton administrations). He even served as the long-term chair of the Carter Center and the CDC Foundation. He had no fear of being called woke for doing the right thing. He advised me on the gathering of groups of prominent CEOs who met spontaneously in 2020 and 2021 to provide their civic voices of stewardship and patriotism through the needlessly rocky presidential transition and voting rights battles. One of Ozs predecessors, reflecting on the consensual decision-making culture at UPS and the consistent reliability of execution, described it as a cross between a Quaker meeting and the U.S. marine corp. Oz is a reminder that even in a team-oriented humble culture, the initiative of individual leaders still matters. The real Oz Nelson knew how to be tough and persuasive instead of tough and autocratic. As I witnessed myself, when he saw an injustice, he spoke out and led others into righteous battles for truth. At a time of coarsening of public discourse, Oz worked across sectors to show that courage does not require cruelty. He cut his own pathwithout torching the forest. Jeffrey Sonnenfeld is the Lester Crown Professor in Management Practice and Senior Associate Dean at Yale School of Management. The opinions expressed in Fortune.com commentary pieces are solely the views of their authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions and beliefs of Fortune. More must-read commentary published by Fortune: This story was originally featured on Fortune.com 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 ORLANDO, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate of Florida Blue, is honoring nine recipients who are doing exemplary work to provide mental health care services and support to those who otherwise may not have access to this type of care. Florida Blue Foundation 2023 Sapphire Award Honorees The Florida Blue Foundation announced the winners at its annual Sapphire Awards ceremony on April 12 in Orlando. The awardees will share $525,000 that will allow them to continue to focus on ideas and programs to improve access to mental well-being services in their communities. "As a mission-driven company focused on helping people and communities achieve better health, we are committed to improving access to care, including mental health support, to reduce the stressors that often impact entire families and communities," said Susan Towler, executive director of the Florida Blue Foundation. "We are truly impressed with the results these nine awardees have achieved and look forward to working with them as they continue to make a difference for the individuals and communities they serve." According to NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in five adults experiences a mental illness each year and one in six children experiences an episode of mental health disorder each year. Given the growing mental health crisis, it is difficult for many people to get the care they need. Fortunately, there are people, programs and organizations within the state of Florida that are addressing mental well-being challenges and improving outcomes. Each of the programs, organizations, and individuals honored with a Sapphire Award was selected through a robust external review process for their exemplary leadership, innovative ideas, demonstrated outcomes, and excellence. They all have a track record of improving mental well-being outcomes, which directly impact people's overall health and quality of life. Below are the individuals who were honored: Connie Bookman (Pensacola) is a licensed clinical social worker and the founder and CEO of Pathways for Change, a nonprofit that provides mental health, social services and re-entry support for those who have served time in prison. A champion for creating a more equitable community, Bookman has long focused on providing practical, life, health and vocational skills to individuals in need while preserving each person's dignity and hope for a better future. The $100,000 award will support Pathways for Change. Watch her video here. Raquel Tapia-Bell (Winter Park) is the senior director of operations and programs for the Foundation for Foster Children, a nonprofit that provides opportunities for children in foster care in Central Florida. Leveraging her education and experience in mental health case management and counseling, Tapia-Bell created customized programming to help young individuals navigate mental health challenges. Tapia-Bell received a second-place award and the $50,000 will be directed to the programs at the Foundation for Foster Children. Watch her video here. Brenda Lopez (Boynton Beach) is the social services manager for the Caridad Center, the largest free health care clinic in Florida offering medical, vision, dental and behavioral health care for uninsured children and families of Palm Beach County. Lopez leads a multi-disciplinary team of volunteer mental health providers and support staff who provide care in a culturally sensitive and understanding way. In addition to creating a support group for new women immigrants and survivors of domestic violence, Lopez has created tailored solutions and multi-language programs for the unique populations Caridad serves, including Haitian immigrants. Lopez received a third-place award and the $25,000 will be directed to Caridad's Behavioral Health Department. Watch her video here. Story continues Below are the organizations that were honored: The Delores Barr Weaver Policy Center (Jacksonville) is considered a leader in advocating for the rights of at-risk girls and young women. Born out of the Justice for Girls Reform Movement, the Policy Center is focused on changing laws, policies and practices to prevent girls' initial or deeper involvement in the justice system. The center aims to improve outcomes and drive the equitable treatment of young women. This organization received a first-place award and $100,000. Watch their video here. Families First of Palm Beach County (West Palm Beach) is a children's case management organization that serves children from birth to age 22, as well as their families, by providing health, mental health, family strengthening and housing programs. Families First early intervention programs are shown to reduce rates of domestic violence, poverty, homelessness and addiction. By introducing behavioral health services early in life, families receive holistic support that helps them become physically and emotionally self-sufficient, helping them change the life trajectory for themselves, their children and future generations. The organization received a second-place award and $50,000. Watch their video here. Seniors in Service (Tampa) is a nonprofit that engages volunteers aged 55+ to help meet the needs and challenges of at-risk seniors, veterans, and children throughout Tampa Bay. By harnessing the talents of highly trained volunteers, they provide access to mental health and other social services, helping to reduce health disparities. During the last service year, 1,375 volunteers contributed nearly 222,000 hours valued at nearly $5.1 million. Since its founding, this organization has provided over 5 million hours of assistance with fair-market value exceeding $131.6 million. This organization received a third-place award and $25,000. Watch their video here. Below are the programs that were honored: The Health Care District of Palm Beach County (HCDPBC) Addiction Model (Palm Beach) is an innovative public-private partnership with a local hospital and the Palm Beach County Commission. The evidence-based medical treatment addiction-specialized program involves a hospital's emergency department and the outpatient clinic of the nearby HCDPBC Federally Qualified Health Clinic (FQHC). Once ER patients receive initial treatment for their Substance Use Disorder (SUD), they are discharged to the FQHC to receive further treatment regardless of their ability to pay. The Addiction Model of Palm Beach County program was honored with a first-place award and $100,000. Watch their video here. The Mental Health Support is an Alliance for LGBTQ Youth program (West Palm Beach) that provides a comprehensive system of care to address the specific needs of LGBTQ youth, their families and community organizations throughout Miami-Dade County. Highly trained clinicians provide, at no cost, care coordination, individual and group counseling, family support and family therapy to youth and family members. The holistic therapeutic approach effectively supports youth in strengthening their mental health, coping skills, resilience and family functioning, as well as increasing their connectedness by identifying needed supports and services in the community. This program was honored with a second-place award and $50,000. Watch their video here. The Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) Team model is a housing and treatment program offered by Camillus House (Miami), a homeless services provider in South Florida. The ACT's team of licensed psychiatrists, nurses, clinicians and case managers help homeless individuals struggling with addiction and mental illnesses by providing housing and wrap around support to help turn lives around. This program was honored with a third-place award and $25,000. Watch their video here. This is the 19th year the Florida Blue Foundation has presented the Sapphire Awards to individuals, programs, and organizations in community health. Since 2005, the Foundation has presented 139 Sapphire Awards, totaling nearly $7 million. Florida Blue Foundation presented the Sapphire Awards during its annual two-day Community Health Symposium. This year's event focused on mental well-being and attracted nearly 700 people from the health care, government, higher education and nonprofit sectors. The event featured national and statewide speakers, panel discussions, and networking opportunities focused on identifying solutions to address mental well-being, improve affordability, and increase access to high-quality care. About Florida Blue Foundation Florida Blue Foundation enables healthy communities by making grants, building coalitions, and embracing solutions that create a meaningful impact in our communities. More than 8 million Floridians have received services as a result of our community investments since its founding in 2001. Florida Blue Foundation is committed to improve health equity by impacting food security, advancing mental well-being, growing healthy communities, and addressing health disparities. Florida Blue Foundation is a trade name of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Foundation, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information, please visit www.FloridaBlueFoundation.com. About Florida Blue Florida Blue, Florida's Blue Cross and Blue Shield company, has been providing health insurance to residents of Florida for more than 75 years. Driven by its mission of helping people and communities achieve better health, the company serves more than 5 million health care members across the state. In total, Florida Blue and its affiliated companies serve more than 46 million people in 45 states, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Headquartered in Jacksonville, Fla., it is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Florida Blue Foundation (PRNewsFoto/Florida Blue Foundation) (PRNewsfoto/Florida Blue Foundation) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/florida-blue-foundation-honors-nine-with-sapphire-awards-for-addressing-mental-well-being-provides-525-000-in-funding-301796971.html SOURCE Florida Blue ReportLinker Segmented by Component (Kits, Analyzers & Sequencers, Software, Consumables), By Technique (Capillary Electrophoresis {CE}, Next-generation Sequencing {NGS}, PCR Amplification), By Application (Criminal Testing, Paternity & Familial Testing, Biodefense, Others), By Region and Competition. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Forensic Genomics Market - Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity, and Forecast, 2018-2028" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446597/?utm_source=GNW The global forensic genomics market is anticipated to witness impressive growth during the forecast period.This can be ascribed to increasing private and government funding for the development of cost-effective forensic testing techniques along with testing and analysis of physical evidence in publicly funded forensic laboratories across the globe. Besides, increasing security concerns at both the international as well as national airports because of increasing criminal cases are expected to support the market growth in the coming years.Besides, increasing preference for using new equipment and systems for the forensic department due to technological advancement in forensics science will further propel the market over the forecast period. Additionally, the huge usage of forensics by police officers and law enforcement agencies to identify criminals will drive the forensic genomics market in the coming years. In February 2022, researchers from the University of Washington, along with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, used DNA testing of ivory shipments confiscated by law enforcement to identify the global criminal groups involved in ivory smuggling out of Africa. The increasing number of Criminal Cases across the Globe The increasing crime rate across the globe is expected to propel the forensic genomics market during the forecast period. According to data published by Statistics Canada, there were around 743 cases of homicides reported in 2020, and the U.S. murder/homicide rate for 2020 was 6.52, a 28.64% increase from 2019. This, in turn, is expected to increase the demand for forensic genomics for the identification of criminal samples from different sources. It can be used to identify criminals with high accuracy if biological evidence exists, and DNA might be used to exempt the individuals mistakenly convicted or accused of a crime which will further propel the market in the forecast period. According to the NCIC, 89,637 cases are reported for missing persons in the U.S., and among these cases, juvenile cases are accounted for 34%, thus increasing demand for investigation and driving the market growth during the forecast period. Technological Advancement in forensic science Technological development in the forensic department has gained significant importance in the last few years.Therefore, interest in criminal case investigation has increased in the last few years, and the rise in demand for genome analysis is expected to drive the global forensic genomics market during the forecast period. This, in turn, is expected to increase investments by government organizations in this space, thereby supporting market growth during the forecast period. In 2020, Biotechnology funding by the NIH was around 7.77 billion U.S. dollars in the US, and Total human genome funding by the National Institutes for Health (NIH) (FY2021) was USD4,435 million. The total number of forensic science technicians employed in the United States in 2020 by the local government is 9970 people. Similarly, in India, under the Nirbhaya scheme for child and women sexual abuse cases will be further demand for forensic genomics during the forecasted years. Market Segmentation The Global forensic genomics market can be segmented by component, technique, application, and by region.Based on components, the market can be categorized into Kits, Analyzers & Sequencers, Software, and Consumables. Based on technique, the market can be fragmented into Capillary Electrophoresis (CE), Next-generation Sequencing (NGS), and PCR Amplification.Based on application, the market can be grouped into Criminal Testing, Paternity & Familial Testing, Biodefense, and Others. Regionally, North America dominated the market among Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America.Among the different countries, the United States dominates the Global Forensic Genomics Market on account of growing cases of kidnapping and the demand for paternity& familial testing. Genetics funding by the NIH was around 10.5 billion U.S. dollars during the fiscal year 2020 in the US. Market Players Illumina, Inc., Verogen, Inc., Agilent Technologies, Inc., Thermo Fischer Scientific, Inc., QIAGEN NV, GE Healthcare, Gene by Gene, Ltd., Neogen Corporation, Eurofins Scientific SE, Othram Inc. are some of the leading players operating in the Global Forensic Genomics Market. Recent Development For instance, Micronic Europe BV has introduced a traceable sample management product for donor banks and organizations looking to simplify the storage of tissue, bone, blood, and allograft bank materials. In November 2019, Thermo Fisher Scientific introduced a new Capillary Electrophoresis (CE) platform for forensic labs. The Applied Biosystems SeqStudio Genetic Analyzer for Human Identification is a cost-effective & user-friendly CE technology to provide STR-based DNA profiles of the highest quality without hampering its performance. Report Scope: In this report, Global Forensic Genomics Market has been segmented into the following categories, in addition to the industry trends, which have also been detailed below: Forensic Genomics Market, By Component: o Kits o Analyzers & Sequencers o Software o Consumables Forensic Genomics Market, By Technique: o Capillary Electrophoresis {CE} o Next-generation Sequencing {NGS} o PCR Amplification Forensic Genomics Market, By Application: o Criminal Testing o Paternity & Familial Testing o Biodefense o Others Forensic Genomics Market, By Region: o North America United States Canada Mexico o Europe France Germany United Kingdom Italy Spain o Asia Pacific China India Japan South Korea Australia o South America Brazil Argentina Colombia o Middle East & Africa South Africa Saudi Arabia UAE Turkey Egypt Competitive Landscape Company Profiles: Detailed analysis of the major companies present in Global Forensic Genomics Market. Available Customizations: With the given market data, we offers customizations according to a companys specific needs. The following customization options are available for the report: Company Information Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players (up to five). Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06446597/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 PLANADVISER once again names Mesirow Retirement Advisory Services professionals to the 2023 Top Retirement Plan Adviser list. Reflects team's excellence in partnering with plan sponsors to manage fiduciary risk as they attract and retain employees, then help guide those employees to achieving the best possible retirement outcomes. CHICAGO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Mesirow is pleased to announce that four members of its Retirement Advisory Services team Vincent Allegra, Kevin Babb, Charles Lawless and Christopher Pohlman have been ranked among the 2023 Top Retirement Plan Advisers by PLANADVISER. L to R: Vincent Allegra, Kevin Babb, Charles Lawless, Christopher Pohlman The PLANADVISER Top Retirement Plan Advisers recognition is based on quantitative measures such as number of plans and assets under management at the individual adviser level. Known for its selectivity and rigorous criteria, the 2023 Top Retirement Plan Advisers list comprises 205 advisors who stand out for their service of all types of retirement plans. "We are honored that four of our advisors are among those included in PLANADVISER's 2023 Top Retirement Plan Advisers," said David Dermenjian, President of Mesirow Retirement Advisory Services. "Our team continues to earn industry recognition by continuously partnering with plan sponsors as they efficiently manage their plans, and with employees as they advance towards their financial and retirement goals. We remain laser focused on delivering innovative retirement advisory solutions for corporations, government entities and not-for-profit organizations." About Mesirow Retirement Advisory Services With approximately $11.3 billion in assets,* we are dedicated to helping plan sponsors manage fiduciary risk, attract and retain employees and assist employees to achieve the best possible retirement outcomes. About Mesirow Mesirow is an independent, employee-owned financial services firm founded in 1937. Headquartered in Chicago, with locations around the world, we serve clients through a personal, custom approach to reaching financial goals and acting as a force for social good. With capabilities spanning Global Investment Management, Capital Markets & Investment Banking, and Advisory Services, we invest in what matters: our clients, our communities and our culture. To learn more, visit mesirow.com and follow us on LinkedIn. Story continues Mesirow was recently named one of the Best Places to Work in Chicago by Crain's Chicago Business and one of the Top 100 RIA firms by Barron's. *Assets under supervision comprise RAS assets under advisement and assets under management as of 12.31.2022. Some assets under advisement are on a 45-to-90 day lag due to time needed to confirm away assets. Media mediainquiries@mesirow.com Past performance is not indicative of future results. Advisory services offered by Mesirow Financial Investment Management, Inc., an SEC-registered investment advisor. Mesirow refers to Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. and its divisions, subsidiaries, and affiliates. The Mesirow name and logo are registered service marks of Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. 2023. All rights reserved. Securities offered through Mesirow Financial, Inc. member FINRA, SIPC. 2022 Crain's Best Places to Work (Received August 2022 reflective of previous 12 months Licensing fees paid post award for use of the ranking). Best Companies Group (BCG), an independent workplace excellence research firm, conducted a two-part survey. Part one, consisted of an employer questionnaire, used to collect information about benefits, policies, practices, and other general information. Part two was a confidential 77-question employee survey used to evaluate local employee's workplace experience and culture. Rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications are not indicative of a firm's future performance nor do they evaluate the quality of services provided to clients or guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Mesirow is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should they be construed as a current or past endorsement of Mesirow by any of its clients. 2022 Barron's Top RIAs (Received September 2022 for the year 2021 Licensing fees paid post award for use of the ranking). In order to be considered for the Barron's 2022 Top RIA Firms list, applicants were required to complete a 145-question survey, with the firm's ADV informing the majority of responses. Firms were also required to meet a number of other specified requirements to be eligible for inclusion. Firms were ranked based on various qualitative and quantitative factors, including assets managed, the size and experience of teams, regulatory records of the advisors and firms, technology spending, staff diversity, organic and M&A growth, client segmentation as well as succession planning. Rankings and/or recognition by unaffiliated rating services and/or publications are not indicative of a firm's future performance nor do they evaluate the quality of services provided to clients or guarantee that he/she will experience a certain level of results if Mesirow is engaged, or continues to be engaged, to provide investment advisory services, nor should they be construed as a current or past endorsement of Mesirow by any of its clients. The 2023 PLANADVISER Top Retirement Plan Advisers recognition is based solely on self-reported quantitative data about an adviser's practice. To be included in this year's list, advisers had to have a minimum of 50 plan clients or retirement plan assets under advisement of $400 million or more, as of year-end 2022. After meeting the minimum plan or asset count, advisers are also highlighted if they meet the following categories: have 150 or more 401(k) plan clients; have 10 or more 403(b), 457, nonqualified, DB, cash balance, SEP, SIMPLE or MEP/PEP plan clients; are female; or are younger than 40 years of age. As this recognition is based solely on quantitative figures, there is no judging or subjective measurement, and it is not indicative of any adviser's future performance. Neither advisory firms nor their employees pay a fee in exchange for this recognition. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/four-mesirow-retirement-advisory-services-professionals-receive-top-industry-accolade-301796703.html SOURCE Mesirow Financial Holdings, Inc. (Bloomberg) -- French protests against President Emmanuel Macrons pension reform saw a sharp drop in mobilization on Thursday before a ruling on the laws constitutionality. Most Read from Bloomberg Around 380,000 people took part in a 12th day of marches across the country, down from 570,000 a week ago, according to the Interior Ministry. This was well below a record 1.28 million turnout on March 7. Participation in a strike in sectors including railways, public transport, and education was also lower than previously. The Paris metro and international train routes like Eurostar and Thalys operated almost normally. Strikes at TotalEnergies SE refinery units ended over the past few days and deliveries have resumed. The bill to raise Frances minimum retirement age by two years to 64 has already passed parliament, but labor organizations want to keep pushing Macron to back down. Workers briefly stormed the headquarters of luxury giant LVMH in central Paris on Thursday. Also in the capital, garbage workers resumed an open-ended strike, only days after streets had finally been cleared of mounds of trash. Unions and the government are now focused on the decision of the Constitutional Council, due to be announced Friday evening. The nine-member body made up chiefly of former politicians and senior civil servants said it will rule on the law and an opposition-backed request to put the reform to a referendum. Its unlikely the council will declare the entire law unconstitutional something thats happened only twice since its creation in 1958. But it could rule that portions of the law shouldnt have been folded into the supplementary social-security budget bill that the government used as a vehicle to enact the pension reform. Unless the council rejects the reform outright, some level of conflict over pensions will likely continue at least until Macron enacts the changes later this year. Story continues A 69-year-old retired school teacher in Paris who took part in the protests in support of young people, and declined to give her name, said she doesnt expect much from the Council. She said the Councils members will decide on legal aspects and technicalities, while what mattered was peoples lives. Polls show that French people back the union-led efforts to oppose Macron with strikes and protests, although that support may wane if the overhaul passes the test of the Council. According to a survey of 1,015 French adults by Ifop for the Journal du Dimanche, 48% would want the strikes and protests to end if the ruling validates the bill. Macrons government says raising the pension age is vital to boost employment rates and halt the build-up of deficits in the massive public retirement system as the population ages. Unions say changing the age thresholds to claim a full pension will disproportionately penalize the least well-off and that there are other options to balance the system, including higher taxes on business and the wealthy. The conflict over pensions is threatening to engulf Macrons agenda of pro-business economic change that he has led since first taking office in 2017. Backing down at this late stage of the legislative process would be a hobbling political defeat, yet going ahead risks destroying relations with unions that the government needs to work with on future overhauls. In the short term, the strikes and protests are also beginning to drag on the economy as some sectors such as oil refining and hospitality are particularly hit. The Bank of France said earlier this week that economic output likely declined in March, although resilience in January and February means the country avoided a contraction over the quarter. --With assistance from James Regan, Angelina Rascouet and Ania Nussbaum. (Updates with protests turnout from first paragraph) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. Genomics Market by Offering (Systems, Consumables, Software, Services), Technology (Sequencing, Microarray, PCR), Application (Diagnostics, Life Science Research), End User (Pharmaceutical Companies, Hospitals, Academic Institutes, CRO) - Global Forecast to 2030 Redding, California, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to a new market research report titled, Genomics Market by Offering (Systems, Consumables, Software, Services), Technology (Sequencing, Microarray, PCR), Application (Diagnostics, Life Science Research), End User (Pharmaceutical Companies, Hospitals, Academic Institutes, CRO) - Global Forecast to 2030, published by Meticulous Research, the genomics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 18.2% from 2023 to 2030 to reach $72.62 billion by 2030. Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=1262 Genomics is the study of genes and their function, including genome organization, structure, function, and evolution. It involves analyzing the DNA sequence and studying the interactions between genes, environmental factors, and individual characteristics to gain a comprehensive understanding of the biological systems and processes that regulate life. Genomics plays an essential role in personalized medicine, genetic counseling, biotechnology, and drug development. Key market players are implementing various market strategies such as acquisitions and collaborations. For instance, in May 2022, Illumina, Inc. (U.S.) collaborated with Allegheny Health Network (U.S.) to enhance patient care by evaluating the impact of in-house comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP). In May 2020, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland) acquired Stratos Genomics (U.S.), a genetic sequencing company, to expand nanopore sequencing technology. The report offers a competitive landscape based on an extensive assessment of the product portfolio offerings, geographic presences, and key strategic developments adopted by leading market players in this market in the last three to four years. Story continues The key players operating in the global genomics market are Agilent Technologies, Inc. (U.S.), Pacific Biosciences of California, Inc. (U.S.), Danaher Corporation (U.S.), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. (U.S.), Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. (U.S.), Myriad Genetics, Inc. (U.S.), Illumina, Inc. (U.S.), Oxford Nanopore Technologies plc (U.K.), New England Biolabs, Inc. (U.S.), Promega Corporation (U.S.), and QIAGEN N.V. (Netherlands). Speak to our Analysts to Understand the Impact of COVID-19 on Your Business: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/speak-to-analyst/cp_id=1262 Falling Cost of Sequencing to Drive the Genomics Markets Growth The cost of sequencing genomics has steadily decreased over the past several years, making it feasible for researchers to sequence the genomes of more individuals and organisms, leading to new discoveries and insights. Since the first human genome was sequenced in 2001 at the cost of several billion dollars, the price of sequencing a genome has decreased dramatically. Today, it is possible to sequence a human genome for under USD 1,000. The decrease in cost has been driven by advances in sequencing technology and improvements in the efficiency of the sequencing process. As the cost of sequencing has decreased, it has become more feasible to sequence the genomes of large populations, leading to new discoveries in fields such as population genetics and personalized medicine. It has also made it possible to sequence the genomes of many different species, which has led to new insights into the evolution of life on Earth. One of the most significant implications of the falling cost of sequencing is that it has made genomic medicine more accessible. Sequencing a patient's genome enables doctors to identify genetic variations that may contribute to the patient's disease, allowing them to develop personalized treatment plans. This process has the potential to revolutionize medicine and improve patient outcomes significantly. Thus, the declining cost of genomics sequencing has significantly impacted scientific research and opened up new possibilities for personalized medicine. The global genomics market is segmented based on Offering [Systems, Consumables, Software & Services], Technology [Sequencing {NGS, Sanger Sequencing and Pyrosequencing}, DNA Microarray, PCR, Nucleic Acid Extraction and Purification, Other Technologies], Application [Drug Discovery & Development, Diagnostics, Life Science Research {Stem Cell Research, Cancer Research, Other Life Science Research}, Other Applications], End User [Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies, Hospitals, Academic & Research Institutes, Diagnostic Laboratories, Contract Research Organizations, Other End Users] and Geography. The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes their market share at global and regional levels. Based on offering, in 2023, the consumables segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. Increased demand for consumables due to the surge in genomic research and the rising adoption of genomics in drug discovery & development, sample preparation, and quality control in laboratories contribute to the large market share of this segment. Sample preparation is a critical step in genomic analysis, and it often requires consumables such as DNA extraction kits and purification columns. According to National Human Genome Research Institute (U.S.), it is estimated that genomics research will generate between 2 and 40 exabytes of data within the next decade. As more samples are being processed in genomic research, the demand for these consumables is increasing. Quick Buy Genomics Market Research Report: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/28007232 Based on technology, in 2023, the sequencing segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. Increasing availability and affordability of sequencing technology coupled with advances in data analysis and expanding applications in diverse fields contribute to the large market share of this segment. Sequencing technology is utilized to sequence the genomes of large populations, leading to new discoveries in fields like population genetics and personalized medicine. Based on application, in 2023, the drug discovery & development segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. The increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer contributes to the large market share of this segment. According to Global Genes (U.S.), a non-profit advocacy organization for individuals and families fighting rare and genetic diseases., there are more than 10,000 distinct types of genetic and rare diseases, with nearly 400 million people living with at least one rare disease. Based on end user, in 2023, the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment is expected to account for the largest share of the market. Increased attention towards personalized medicine, smart drug delivery, and biomarker discovery contributes to the large market share of this segment. In 2023, North America is expected to hold the largest share of the global genomics market due to technological innovations, the presence of key players, and high investments in research. Many key technologies used in genomics, such as DNA sequencing and bioinformatics, were developed in North America. As a result, the region has a strong base of genomics expertise, including academic researchers and industry leaders. To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/genomics-market-1262 Scope of the Report: Genomics Market Assessment - by Offering Systems Consumables Software & Services Genomics Market Assessment - by Technology Sequencing NGS Sanger Sequencing and Pyrosequencing DNA Microarray PCR Nucleic Acid Extraction and Purification Other Technologies Note: Other technologies include CRISPR-Cas9, transcription activator-like effector nucleases (TALENs), and zinc-finger nucleases (ZFNs). Genomics Market Assessment- by Application Drug Discovery & Development Diagnostics Life Science Research Stem Cell Research Cancer Research Other Life Science Research Other Applications Note: Other life science research includes cardiovascular research, osteoporosis, and diabetes. Other applications include agriculture, forensics, and environmental. Genomics Market Assessment - by End User Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies Hospitals Academic & Research Institutes Diagnostics Laboratories Contract Research Organizations (CROs) Other End Users Note: Other end users include agriculture, veterinary companies, environmental monitoring companies, food & beverage companies, and forensics. Genomics Market Assessment- by Geography North America U.S. Canada Europe Germany U.K. France Italy Spain Rest of Europe (RoE) Asia-Pacific (APAC) China Japan India Rest of APAC (RoAPAC) Latin America Brazil Mexico Rest of Latin America (RoLATAM) Middle East & Africa Download Free Sample Report Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=1262 Related Reports: NGS Library Preparation Market By Product (Kits, Reagents, Instruments), Sequencing Type (Genome, Exome, Targeted), Application (Diagnostics, Discovery), End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, Pharmaceutical, Academic) Global Forecast to 2030 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/ngs-library-preparation-market-5319 Artificial Intelligence in Genomics Market by Offering (Software, Services), Functionality (Sequencing, Gene Editing), Application (Diagnostics, Precision Medicine, Drug Discovery and Development), Delivery Mode (On-premise, Cloud), and End User- Global Forecast to 2029 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/ai-in-genomics-market-5345 Genetic Testing Market By Product & Service (Consumables, Reagents, Instruments, Services), Test Type (Diagnostic, Prenatal, Carrier, Newborn, Preimplantation), Method (Molecular, Chromosomal), End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories) - Global Forecast to 2029 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/genetic-testing-market-5370 Liquid Handling Systems Market By Type (Automated, Electronic, Manual), Product (Pipette, Consumables, Burette, Software, Microplate), Application (Drug Discovery, Cancer & Genomics, Clinical), End User (Hospital, Diagnostic Lab) - Global Forecast to 2029 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/liquid-handling-systems-market-5397 NGS Automation Market By Product (Platform, Consumables), Sequencing Type (Whole Genome, Exome, Targeted), Application (Drug Discovery, Diagnostics), End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, Pharmaceutical, Academic) - Global Forecast to 2029 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/ngs-automation-market-5271 Next-generation Sequencing Services Market by Type (Targeted Sequencing, Exome, RNA-Seq, ChIP Sequencing), Technology (Sequencing by Synthesis, Nanopore, SMRT), Application (Clinical Diagnosis, Biomarker Discovery), & End User - Forecast to 2028 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/next-generation-sequencing-ngs-services-market-5041 Latin America Next Generation Sequencing (NGS)Market by Type (Consumables, NGS Platform), Sequencing Type (Whole Genome, Targeted), Technology (Sequencing by Synthesis, Sequencing by Ligation), Application (Clinical, Research), End User - Forecast to 2027 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/latin-america-next-generation-sequencing-market-5106 Next Generation Sequencing Market by Type (Consumables, NGS Platform, Software), Sequencing Type (Whole Genome, Targeted), Technology (Sequencing by Synthesis, Sequencing by Ligation), Application (Clinical, Research), End User - Global Forecasts to 2025 https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/next-generationg-sequencing-market-5040 About Meticulous Research Meticulous Research was founded in 2010 and incorporated as Meticulous Market Research Pvt. Ltd. in 2013 as a private limited company under the Companies Act, 1956. Since its incorporation, the company has become the leading provider of premium market intelligence in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. The name of our company defines our services, strengths, and values. Since the inception, we have only thrived to research, analyze, and present the critical market data with great attention to details. With the meticulous primary and secondary research techniques, we have built strong capabilities in data collection, interpretation, and analysis of data including qualitative and quantitative research with the finest team of analysts. We design our meticulously analyzed intelligent and value-driven syndicate market research reports, custom studies, quick turnaround research, and consulting solutions to address business challenges of sustainable growth. Contact: Mr. Khushal Bombe Meticulous Market Research Inc. 1267 Willis St, Ste 200 Redding, California, 96001, U.S. USA: +1-646-781-8004 Europe : +44-203-868-8738 APAC: +91 744-7780008 Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research Content Source: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/pressrelease/245/genomics-market-2030 CONTACT: Mr. Khushal Bombe Meticulous Research Direct Lines: +1-646-781-8004 (North America) +44-203-868-8738 (Europe) +91 744-7780008 (Asia-Pacific) Email- sales@meticulousresearch.com Visit Our Website: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/ Meticulous Research Blog: https://meticulousblog.org/ Connect with us on LinkedIn- https://www.linkedin.com/company/meticulous-research An Oxford University-developed vaccine against malaria has been approved and cleared for use in Ghana, its first such approval in the world. R21/Matrix-M has shown great success during its trials in Burkina Faso. While the WHOs threshold is 75% efficacy, its effectiveness stood at 77% when administered in three doses. Read more Ghanas Food and Drugs Authority has approved the vaccines use in children aged between five months to three years as the west African country strengthens its efforts to control malaria-related child mortality. Around 20,000 children die of malaria every year in Ghana, 25% of whom are aged under five. Indias Serum Institute, which is partnering with Oxford University, built a vaccine factory in the countrys capital Accra to produce up to 200 million doses a year. However, the launch of the vaccine will involve a lot of groundwork in Ghana. While the vaccine might be heralded as a huge win in the fight against malaria, it is no silver bullet, Javier Guzman, the director of global health policy at the Center for Global Development, told Quartz. There are important points to consider before the R21 vaccine is rolled out for wider use. GSKs vaccine is less effective An earlier vaccine, GlaxoSmithKlines (GSK) Mosquirix, had an effectiveness rating of about 60% but was approved by WHO since there was no alternative in sight. It was only 30% effective in preventing severe cases. It required at least four doses to be effective although its effectiveness waned with time. GSK committed to producing 15 million doses of Mosquirix annually till 2028. But it fell short of the 100 million required for long-term intervention. The World Malaria Report cited 247 million cases in 2021 compared to 245 million in 2020. The estimated number of deaths stood at 619, 000 in 2021, with four African countries accounting for more than half of them: Nigeria (31.3%), the Democratic Republic of Congo (12.6%), Tanzania (4.1%), and Niger (3.9%). Children aged under five accounted for about 80% of these cases in Africa. Story continues More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Program advances health equity by delivering digital cancer resources to eligible households via discounted broadband and in-home tablet devices MINNEAPOLIS, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Gilda's Club Twin Cities, part of the Cancer Support Community (CSC) global non-profit network providing free social and emotional support for everyone impacted by cancer, announced a new initiative to improve access to cancer support and education, especially among individuals at higher risk of developing cancer residing in urban and rural settings in Minnesota. In a highly unique approach to connecting with medically underserved people, Gilda's Club Twin Cities is working with Equiva, a digital health platform provider that recently unveiled its Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP)-centric solution. Gilda's Club Twin Cities is partnering with digital health platform provider Equiva Health to improve access to free, cancer-focused social and emotional support via tablet devices and the FCC's Affordable Connectivity Program which ensures households can afford the broadband they need for healthcare, school, work and more. Launched by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in December 2021, the ACP is a $14.2 billion benefit program that helps ensure households can afford the broadband they need for work, school, healthcare and more. Use of tele-mental health services experienced rapid growth during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, disparities in access to broadband and usage were also exposed. As Gilda's Club Twin Cities looks beyond the pandemic, they see an opportunity to continue to leverage tele-mental health services in a way that breaks down barriers to care and advances health equity. Through Equiva's ACP-centric solution, the organizations are collaborating to ensure eligible households get FCC discounts of up to $30 per month toward internet service (up to $75 per month for Tribal lands) and that each household enrolled by Gilda's Club Twin Cities receives a tablet device preloaded with digital access to virtual cancer support groups, healthy lifestyle education, cancer treatment information, and other resources. It also includes the clinically validated Cancer Support Source distress, depression and anxiety screener, which will allow Gilda's Club to identify individuals who could benefit from emotional support services or resource referrals. Story continues To help enroll ACP-eligible households across Minnesota, Gilda's Club Twin Cities is making impacted individuals, healthcare providers, and community organizations aware of the ACP. Additionally, they are educating these constituents about their collaboration with Equiva and their efforts to deliver oncology- specific digital offerings to at-risk individuals. "It's estimated that 34,380 people will be diagnosed with cancer this year across Minnesota. Through this first-of-its-kind initiative, we can reach even more people impacted by cancer with valuable resources that can help contribute to improved outcomes," said Katherine Todd, DNP, MBA, RN, Gilda's Club Twin Cities executive director. "We're proud to be the first of several CSC network partners to embrace this novel program to grow community and to deliver social and emotional support to those who otherwise may not have access." According to research from the Commonwealth Fund, some people from racial and ethnic minority groups experience higher rates of poor health for several conditions, including cancer. Additionally, CDC studies show that people living outside urban areas have lower cancer survival rates than those residing in urban areas, and that only 25% of rural healthcare professionals think their patients have adequate access to mental health services. "We're not familiar with another program of this kind serving population health needs. It uniquely couples proven digital health engagement technology with a federally supported broadband connectivity program, in a framework that helps providers and payors advance health equity via a platform empowering cost-effective and cohesive deployment of care management services," said Equiva Health CEO and co-founder Nir Altman. "We're pleased to collaborate with Infinti Mobile, an FCC participating wireless service provider, to help Minnesota residents connect to the ACP and the Gilda's Club Twin Cities community." With 190 partner locations worldwide including Gilda's Club Twin Cities, the Washington, DC- headquartered CSC recently announced a digital health partnership with Equiva. Together, the organizations support President Joe Biden's Cancer Moonshot initiative's goal to cut the cancer death rate by at least 50% over the next 25 years and to improve the experience of people and families living with and surviving cancer. About Gilda's Club Twin Cities A Minneapolis-based support community serving anyone whose lives are touched by cancer, Gilda's Club Twin Cities offers comprehensive social and emotional support as an essential supplement to medical care including education, networking groups and connectivity to many cancer resources. Named after comedian Gilda Radner who died of cancer in 1989, it is part of an international nonprofit network, the Cancer Support Community which is dedicated to ensuring that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action, and sustained by community. CSC achieves its mission through direct service delivery, research, and advocacy. www.gildasclubtwincities.org About Equiva Health Equiva's health relationship management platform helps healthcare organizations supports initiatives to advance health equity, improve health outcomes and drive financial success. Equiva blends aspects of patient engagement, care management, and marketing in a framework that bridges data analytics with education and behavioral science-driven methodologies to purposefully mobilize intelligence-driven action among consumers, patients, their loved ones, and care team members. A healthcare point solution aggregation and software delivery environment, Equiva's SaaS platform can securely power any number of health education and engagement solutions via mobile devices (tablets and phones,) kiosks, televisions, digital signage and more. https://equivahealth.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gildas-club-twin-cities-launches-oncology-focused-initiative-to-reach-medically-underserved-communities-via-fccs-affordable-connectivity-program-301796323.html SOURCE Gildas Club Twin Cities AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd. The Bedroom Linen Market has great potential for growth, driven by increasing consumer demand for quality, comfort, and style. With a mix of established players and local brands, the market is highly competitive, but offers opportunities for innovation and expansion. As consumers become more conscious about sustainability and ethical practices, brands that focus on these factors can gain a competitive edge and capture a larger share of the market. New Delhi, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Global bedroom linen market was valued at 26,096.4 million in 2022 and is projected to generate a revenue of $42,686.5 million by 2031 at a healthy CAGR of 5.7% during the forecast period 20232031. The construction industry plays a crucial role in driving demand for bedroom linen products. With a steady increase in the number of residential projects, both in developed and developing countries, there has been a corresponding rise in the demand for bedroom linen. As the construction industry continues to expand, it is expected that the market will also experience significant growth. Get Free sample copy of this report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/bedroom-linen-market According to the United Nations, approximately 60 million new housing units are built around the world each year. This number is expected to grow in the coming years as urbanization increases and populations grow. As the number of houses built per annum increases, the demand for bedroom linen products is also expected to rise. The trend of increased spending on house interiors is another factor that has positively impacted the bedroom linen market. With a growing focus on aesthetics and comfort, consumers are more willing to invest in high-quality bedroom linen products. As per Astute Analytica, the worldwide market for Interior Design is anticipated to expand from a valuation of US$ 180,730 million in 2022 to US$ 317,870 million by 2028. This growth represents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.3% during the forecast period spanning from 2023 to 2028. This trend is observed across different income groups and geographic locations, thus contributing to the overall growth of the market. Story continues Price Trend Analysis: Bedroom Linen Market is Price Sensitive and Over 80% revenue to Come from Low and Mid Price Range Products The market has experienced a gradual increase in prices over the past few years. This can be attributed to the rising cost of raw materials, increased labor costs, and higher demand for quality products. However, the market has also witnessed a surge in the availability of affordable bedroom linen options, which cater to the needs of price-sensitive consumers. This has created a diverse market with a wide range of pricing options. Consumer behavior in the bedroom linen market has shifted toward a preference for eco-friendly and sustainable products. This has led to an increased demand for cost-effective organic and ethically sourced materials. In 2022, low priced bedroom linen product generated a revenue of 63%. It has also been observed that with each year consumers are now more inclined toward purchasing bedroom linen products that offer health benefits, such as hypoallergenic and antimicrobial properties. Brands that can cater to these changing consumer preferences are expected to see significant growth in the market. Cotton and Polyester: Dominating the Bedroom Linen Market with More than 61% Revenue Share The market is characterized by a wide range of materials, designs, and quality. Among the diverse materials available, cotton and polyester have become the most popular choices, together capturing over 61% of the market's revenue share. This analysis aims to explore the factors contributing to the popularity of cotton and polyester in the bedroom linen industry. Cotton and polyester collectively dominate the market, with cotton contributing 37% of the revenue. The demand for these materials can be attributed to their unique properties, affordability, and ease of care. The popularity of cotton and polyester in the bedroom linen market can be attributed to their distinct properties, affordability, and ease of care. Cotton offers natural breathability, softness, hypoallergenic properties, and durability, while polyester provides affordability, wrinkle resistance, and quick-drying capabilities. Together, they cater to a wide range of consumer preferences and budgets, solidifying their hold on the market. As consumer demand for comfortable and functional bedroom linens continues to grow, cotton and polyester are expected to remain at the forefront of the industry. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/bedroom-linen-market Shift Towards Online Shopping in the Bedroom Linen Market to Witness 30% Revenue from Online Channel The bedroom linen market is experiencing a significant shift towards online shopping, as highlighted by Astute Analytica. The online channel has already contributed 28% of total revenue in 2022, and this figure is expected to exceed 30% by 2031. Despite the growing popularity of e-commerce, a majority of consumers still prefer shopping for bedroom linens through offline channels. This reluctance to shop online can be attributed to various factors, such as concerns over product quality, the desire to see and feel the linens before purchasing, and a lack of trust in online retailers. As a result, offline channels continue to play a dominant role, accounting for over 70% of revenue. To encourage more consumers to adopt online shopping, businesses can implement strategies that address these concerns. Offering high-quality product images, detailed product descriptions, and customer reviews can help build trust and provide a better understanding of the product. Additionally, providing easy return policies and reliable customer support can further alleviate any hesitations related to online shopping. By addressing these issues, businesses can capitalize on the growing trend of e-commerce and reach a wider customer base Top 5 Players to Capture More than 35% Revenue Share of Global Bedroom Linen Market The global market is characterized by a mix of established players, local brands, and small-scale manufacturers. The top five major players in the market collectively hold a market share of approximately 35.70%. These leading companies include Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., Tempur Sealy International, Inc., Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC, Welspun India Ltd., and Trident Ltd. With a revenue share of over 12%, Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. is the largest player in the global bedroom linen market. The company offers a wide range of products, including bedding, bath accessories, and home decor items. Their strong brand presence and extensive distribution network have helped them maintain a significant market share. Despite the presence of these major players, the global is also populated by numerous local and small-scale players, particularly in price-sensitive markets such as Asia Pacific and Latin America. These local brands and manufacturers often compete on pricing and cater to regional preferences, making the market highly competitive and fragmented. To stay ahead of the competition, major players in the global bedroom linen market need to focus on product innovation, strategic marketing campaigns, and expansion into untapped markets. Additionally, they must adapt to regional preferences and cater to the evolving demands of consumers in emerging markets. Some of the Top Market Players Are: Acton & Acton Ltd. American Textile Co. Beaumont & Brown Ltd. Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. Boll & Branch LLC Bombay Dyeing Crane and Canopy Inc. Pacific Coast Feather Company Serta Simmons Bedding, LLC Tempur Sealy International, Inc. Trident Ltd. Welspun India Ltd Other Prominent Players Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/bedroom-linen-market About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us. Contact us: Aamir Beg BSI Business Park, H-15,Sector-63, Noida- 201301- India Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4483891 (Rest of the World) Email: sales@astuteanalytica.com Website: www.astuteanalytica.com Polaris Market Research & Consulting LLP Polaris Market Research has conducted a comprehensive 2023 research study spanning over [+115] pages, revealing that the global carbon black market was valued at USD 13.21 Billion in 2022. The study predicts that the market will grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 4.6% and is expected to reach USD 20.64 Billion By 2032. Furnace black segment accounted for significant global market share in 2022, on account of increasing adoption of this type of product in the production of color pigments and rubber reinforcement. Some of the top market players are Birla Carbon Thailand Public, Cabot Corporation, Orion Engineered Carbons, Philips Carbon Black, CSRC Group, Himadri Specialty Chemicals and others. New York, NY, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Polaris Market Research has published a new research report titled Carbon Black Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Type (Furnace Black, Channel Black, Thermal Black, Acetylene Black, and Others); By Grade; By Application; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023-2032 in its research database. According to the latest research analysis, the global carbon black market size/share is anticipated to be valued at approximately USD 13.21 Billion in 2022 and is projected to hit a revenue of around USD 20.64 Billion By 2032, at a CAGR of around 4.6% between 2023 and 2032. What is Carbon Black? How Big is Carbon Black Market Size/Share? Overview Carbon black effectively is a purely elemental carbon in the manifestation of colloidal particles that are fabricated by imperfect combustion or thermal decomposition of gaseous or liquid hydrocarbons under a regulated environment. The rapidly rising demand for carbon black market can be attributed to its usage in tires, printing inks and coatings, rubber and plastic products and has possessions of particular surface area, particle size and structure and conductivity, and color. The market is projected to expand due to the growing demand for the product as a strengthening agent, particularly in tires. Further, the increasing usage of the commodity in agriculture, mulch film, sewage sacks, stretch wrap, and industrial bags are expected to bestow the market growth. Story continues Request Sample Copy of Carbon Black Market Research Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-black-market/request-for-sample (The sample of this report is readily available on request. The report sample contains a brief introduction to the research report, a Table of Contents, a Graphical introduction of regional analysis, Top players in the market with their revenue analysis, and our research methodology.) Our Sample Report Covers: 2032 Updated Report Introduction, Overview, and In-depth industry analysis. 115+ Pages Research Report (Inclusion of Updated Research). Provide Chapter-wise guidance on Requests. 2023 Updated Regional Analysis with Graphical Representation of Size, Share & Trends Includes Updated List of tables & figures. Updated Report Includes Top Market Players with their Business Strategy, Sales Volume, and Revenue Analysis. Prominent Growth Driving Factors: Extensive use in industries: The rubber industry worldwide is proliferating notably due to the rise in demand from consumer goods, electronics, automotive, and construction sectors, as carbon black is extensively utilized in industries for making tires, air springs, hoses, wires, and cables, windows and doors, belts, and gaskets which successively pushes the global market growth. Supports volume of rubber products: Carbon black assists in underpinning the volume and vulcanization of rubber commodities which enhances its product quality and lifespan. Additionally, the carbon black market size is expanding due to the expanded pervasiveness in context to several beneficial physical characteristics of carbon black such as thermal stability, color stability, and solvent hostility, which renders it extremely favored in paint and coating industries, causing high product demand globally. Petroleum and coal oil raw material: Carbon black market sales are soaring as predominantly carbon black is in the configuration of black colloidal particles, which are made through the acetylene black process, lamp black process, and furnace black process, among others. The raw material utilized for these procedures varies between petroleum, coal oil, natural gas, and acetylene gas. Product passages: Additionally, the product passages steadily rely on applications such as electrostatic discharge, non-tire rubber, paints and coatings, packaging, and printing ink consumptions, together with restrictions mapped out for assembling technologies and raw materials utilized. Request for a Discount on this Report Before Purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-black-market/request-for-discount-pricing Top Report Findings: Carbon black is extensively used in rubber industries for making tires, air springs, hoses, wires and cables, windows and doors, belts, and gaskets which successively pushes the global market growth. The market is segmented into by type, grade, application, and region The leading region for this market is the Asia Pacific region Top trends influencing the market: Heat depletion competence: Carbon black is being broadly used in the inner liners, carcasses, and side walls as it has escalated heat depletion competence when amalgamated with many rubber compounds and the growing concentration of prominent market players in initiating contemporary commodities and boosting the market expansion. Safeguards gadgets from discoloration: The predominant electronic gadgets involving laptops, PCs, cell phones, television, and gaming devices worldwide are most often assembled in black color, which increases the demand for carbon black in the electronic industry at a very fast pace as it is of service as a light absorber to assist in safeguarding plastic these gadgets from being discolored, chalking, fading and cracking which has notably fuelled the traction and favourability of the commodity and seeming to generate massive growth opportunities for the market in the forecast period. Improvised conductivity: Firms are investing in R&D ventures to advance their assembling procedures, which will lessen gas discharge within acceptable limits and enhance product quality. Carbon black offers improvised conductivity, viscosity, sharp color, and UV protection. Request Customized Copy of Report @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-black-market/request-for-customization (We customize your report according to your research need. Ask our sales team for report customization.) Segmental Analysis The furnace black segment accounted for the largest market share Based on type, the furnace black segment held the largest market share. Carbon black market demand is on the rise due to the growing usage of black furnace procedures for rubber augmentation and the constant upswing in demand for making color pigments. Further, this procedure authorizes the manufacturing of carbon black with several particle sizes and structures and is broadly used as a reinforcing agent in rubber production. The standard grade segment is projected to hold a significant market Based on grade, the standard grade segment is expected to hold a significant market over the projected period. Carbon black market trends include the massive rise in the usage of cables, tires, and wires that are conventional rubber-grade commodities in a broad gamut of industrial applications, together with growing consciousness regarding its numerous uncommon properties and advantages ushers a variety of rubber-dependent commodities such as enhancing the lifetime and reinforcing the vulcanization of rubbers. Inquire more about this report before purchase @ https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-black-market/inquire-before-buying (Inquire a report quote OR available discount offers to the sales team before purchase.) Carbon Black Market: Report Scope Report Attribute Details Revenue Forecast in 2032 USD 20.64 Billion The market size value in 2023 USD 13.78 Billion Expected CAGR Growth 4.6% from 2023 2032 Base Year 2022 Forecast Year 2023 2032 Top Market Players Birla Carbon Thailand Public Co. Ltd., Cabot Corporation, Orion Engineered Carbons SA, Philips Carbon Black Limited, CSRC Group, Himadri Specialty Chemicals Ltd., Longxing Chemical Industry Co. Ltd., Mitsubishi Chemical Holdings Corporation, Omsk Carbon Group, OCI Company Ltd., Atlas Organics Private Limited, and International China Oak Investment Holdings Co. Ltd. Segments Covered By Type, By Grade, By Application, By Region Customization Options Customized purchase options are available to meet any research needs. Explore customized purchase options Geographic Overview Asia Pacific: This region held the largest carbon black market share due to the constantly increasing utilization of plastics covering prominent end-use industries such as conductive polymers, automotive, packaging, and construction. Additionally, the increase in polymer production is mainly in China, India, and many Southeast Asian countries. North America: This region accounted for a significant market share in the course of the forecast period due to speedy augmentation in the region's commercial structuring ventures and automotive sector, which has motivated the product demand in paints and coatings, wires and cables, and molded plastic. Browse the Detail Report Carbon Black Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Type (Furnace Black, Channel Black, Thermal Black, Acetylene Black, and Others); By Grade; By Application; By Region; Segment Forecast, 2023-2032 with in-depth TOC: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/carbon-black-market For Additional Information OR Media Enquiry, Please Mail At: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Recent Developments In March 2022, Cabot Corporation completely acquired Tokai Carbon. Carbon Plant situated in China. The company will expand its manufacturing capacity to support its battery materials product line growth with this expansion. The site has a total production capacity of up to 50,000 metric tons of carbon black annually. In June 2022, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company signed three agreements with the ADNOC, a supply agreement for providing base oils. This five-year contract will allow the company to strengthen its market share in the long term, including horizontal diversification. Frequently Asked Questions: What is the expected industry size? Who are the top market players? What growth strategies are the players considering to stay in the market? What are the opportunities and threats to which players are exposed in the market? Which region has contributed notably towards the market? What will be the expected CAGR of the market during the forecast period? What are the key segments in the market? Polaris Market Research has segmented the carbon black market report based on type, grade, application, and region: By Type Outlook Furnace Black Channel Black Thermal Black Acetylene Black Others By Grade Outlook Standard Grade Specialty Grace By Application Outlook Tire Non-Tire Rubber Inks & Coatings Plastics Others By Region Outlook North America (U.S., Canada) Europe (France, Germany, UK, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Russia) Asia Pacific (Japan, China, India, Malaysia, Indonesia. South Korea) Latin America (Brazil, Mexico, Argentina) Middle East & Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Israel, South Africa) Browse More Research Reports: District Heating Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/district-heating-market Military Embedded Systems Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/military-embedded-systems-market Water Storage Systems Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/water-storage-systems-market Guns and Accessories Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/guns-and-accessories-market Eco Fiber Market: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com/industry-analysis/eco-fiber-market About Polaris Market Research Polaris Market Research is a global market research and consulting company. The company specializes in providing exceptional market intelligence and in-depth business research services for PMRs clientele spread across different enterprises. We at Polaris are obliged to serve PMRs diverse customer base present across the industries of healthcare, technology, semiconductors, and chemicals among various other industries present around the world. We strive to provide PMRs customers with updated information on innovative technologies, high-growth markets, emerging business environments, and the latest business-centric applications, thereby helping them always to make informed decisions and leverage new opportunities. Adept with a highly competent, experienced, and extremely qualified team of experts comprising SMEs, analysts, and consultants, we at Polaris endeavor to deliver value-added business solutions to PMRs customers. Contact: Likhil G 30 Wall Street 8th Floor, New York City, NY 10005, United States Phone: +1-929 297-9727 Email: sales@polarismarketresearch.com Web: https://www.polarismarketresearch.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter Blog: https://polarismarketresearch.medium.com Company Logo Dublin, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "Global Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics Market Size, Share & Trends Analysis 2023-2029 MedSuite Includes: Dermal Filler, Liposuction Devices, Breast Implants, and 4 more" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. In 2022, the Global Market for the Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Aesthetics industry was valued at around $16.5 billion, and it's only going to keep growing. By the end of the forecast period, the market will exceed $25.2 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 6.3%. This comprehensive report suite covers all the major segments of the industry, including botulinum toxin A, dermal filler, breast implant, facial and body implant, liposuction device, minimally invasive fat reduction device, and aesthetic laser and light therapy. With our in-depth analysis, you'll get a full understanding of the market's trends, challenges, and opportunities. MARKET DATA INCLUDED Unit Sales, Average Selling Prices, Market Size & Growth Trends Procedure Numbers COVID-19 Impact Analysis Market Drivers & Limiters Market Forecasts Until 2029, and Historical Data to 2019 Recent Mergers & Acquisitions Company Profiles and Product Portfolios Leading Competitors GLOBAL COSMETIC SURGERY AND MEDICAL AESTHETICS MARKET INSIGHTS This comprehensive report on the cosmetic surgery and medical aesthetics market reveals that social media and changing beauty standards are major drivers of growth. With the rise of social media, the definition of beauty has been completely reshaped, and the ability to reach a wider audience has greatly increased. While social media has been criticized for creating unrealistic standards of beauty, it has also given patients the ability to share their before-and-after photos and research different treatments. As social media influencers continue to share their experiences and knowledge, we expect the number of patients seeking aesthetic treatments to skyrocket. This trend is particularly true for younger patients who have grown up in a social media world. To stay ahead of the competition in this rapidly expanding market, it's crucial to understand how social media and changing beauty standards are shaping the industry. Our report provides valuable insights into these trends and more, making it an essential tool for practitioners, investors, and anyone interested in the future of cosmetic surgery and medical aesthetics. GLOBAL COSMETIC SURGERY AND MEDICAL AESTHETICS MARKET SHARE INSIGHTS The global market for cosmetic surgery and medical aesthetics is dominated by a few key players. AbbVie, Galderma, Merz Aesthetics, and Johnson & Johnson together account for more than half of the market's overall value. These companies have established themselves as leaders in the industry, thanks to their innovative products, strong brand recognition, and extensive distribution networks. AbbVie has emerged as a market leader in the global cosmetic surgery and medical aesthetics market by strategically acquiring companies that have given it a strong foothold in key segments. Specifically, AbbVie has a commanding presence in the botulinum toxin A, dermal filler, and minimally invasive fat reduction segments. AbbVie achieved this broad portfolio through a series of acquisitions. In May 2020, AbbVie completed the acquisition of Allergan, which helped it establish a global business in the field of aesthetic medicine - Allergan Aesthetics. Prior to that, in 2017, Allergan had acquired Zeltiq Aesthetics, which added the popular CoolSculpting treatment to its product list. MARKET SEGMENTATION SUMMARY All of the below segments are included within the Global report: Global Botulinum Toxin A Market | MedCore - Includes: Story continues Aesthetic and therapeutic segments. Global Dermal Filler Market | MedCore - Includes: Hyaluronic acid (HA) and synthetic dermal filler markets. Global Breast Implant Market | MedCore - Segmented by: Procedure: breast augmentation, breast implant removal, breast lift, breast reduction Material: saline and silicone (smooth, textured) Shape: round, anatomical Global Facial and Body Implant Market | MedCore - Segmented by: Procedure: facial and body implant (chin, malar, pectoral, gluteal, calf) Device: chin, malar, pectoral, gluteal, calf Global Liposuction Device Market | MedCore - Segmented by: Device: tubing, cannula, aspiration unit Global Minimally Invasive Fat Reduction Device Market | MedCore - Segmented by: Approach: Kybella, non-injectable fat reduction Global Aesthetic Laser and Light Therapy Market | MedCore - Segmented by: Approach: skin tightening, laser skin resurfacing, microdermabrasion, intense pulsed light (IPL), and laser hair removal Device: intense pulsed light system, fractional laser, RF skin tightening, diode laser, and tattoo removal device Key Topics Covered: 1 Executive Summary 2 Impact of Covid-19 on the Global Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Aesthetic Market 3 Disease Overview 4 Product Assessment 5 Global Cosmetic Surgery and Medical Aesthetic Market Overview 6 Botulinum Toxin a Market 7 Dermal Filler Market 8 Breast Implant Market 9 Facial and Body Implant Market 10 Liposuction Device Market 11 Minimally Invasive Fat Reduction Device Market 12 Aesthetic Laser and Light Therapy Market 13 Abbreviations A selection of companies mentioned in this report includes AbbVie Hans Biomed Allied Biomedical Hanson Medical Alpha Aesthetics Henry Schein Anthony Products Huadong Medicine Arion Laboratories Hugel Astanza Lasers Huons Global Bausch Health Hydrafacial BR Surgical Ideal Implant BTL Aesthetics i-Lipo Candela Implantech Cartessa InMode Cereplas Innovative Med Clayton, Dubilier & Rice Invotec Croma-Pharma Johnson & Johnson Cutera JT Medical Cytophil JULLSURG Deka Medical Lanzhou Institute of Biological Products DermaMed Solutions LipoSales El.En Spa Lumenis Erchonia Lynton Lasers Establishment Labs Marina Medical Eurosurgical Matrix Surgical Evolus MedCo Fillmed Medline Fosun Pharma Medytox Fotona Merz Aesthetics Galderma MicroAire GC Aesthetics Photo Biotech Genesis Biosystems Polytech Guangzhou Wanhe Plastic Materials Prollenium Medical Technologies Revance Surgiform Rohrer Aesthetics SurgiMedics Sciton Sybaritic Sebbin Teoxane Shanghai Kangning Medical Device Venus Shippert Medical Technologies Viora Med Sientra Wanhe Sisram Medical Wells Johnson Strawberry Laser YOLO Medical Suneva Medical Zimmer MedizinSysteme For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/ntt26p 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 AstuteAnalytica India Pvt. Ltd. The genomic testing market offers immense potential, including improving patient outcomes, advancing drug development, reducing healthcare costs, empowering individuals, and creating new business opportunities. It is expected to continue growing with the increasing demand for personalized medicine and advancements in genomics technology. New Delhi, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global genomic testing market was valued at approximately USD 13.7 billion in 2022 and is projected to attain a valuation of USD 30.08 billion by 2031, growing at a CAGR of 9.54% from 2023-2031. The global genomic testing market has experienced exponential growth in recent years, primarily driven by increasing awareness and understanding of the role genetic factors play in the development of various chronic diseases, genetic disorders, and cancers. Rapid advancements in genomic technologies, paired with a decline in sequencing costs, have allowed for more accessible and affordable testing options for a broader range of patients. Get Free sample copy of this report @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/request-sample/genomic-testing-market Genetic disorders are prevalent globally, with around 7,000 identified rare diseases affecting an estimated 400 million people worldwide. Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and respiratory disorders, are responsible for 41 million deaths each year, accounting for 71% of all global mortality. Cancer, another significant contributor to global morbidity and mortality, impacts approximately 19.3 million new individuals and causes 10 million deaths annually. These staggering figures have fueled the demand for genomic testing, as individuals and healthcare providers recognize the value of early detection, prevention, and personalized treatment options. Genomic testing allows for accurate identification of genetic mutations and predispositions, which can be used to inform targeted therapies, lifestyle modifications, and screening procedures to reduce disease burden. Story continues The genomic testing market has further been bolstered by the adoption of precision medicine and the integration of genomics in clinical practice. Government initiatives, increased investment in research and development, and collaborations between public and private organizations have also contributed to the growth of the industry. Top Trends in the Global Genomic Testing Market Adoption of Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) technology for faster and cost-effective DNA sequencing in clinical diagnostics, drug development, and research. Growing focus on precision medicine to tailor medical treatments to an individual's genetic makeup, improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Increasing demand for direct-to-consumer (DTC) genomics testing, which provides consumers with access to information about their genetic makeup and potential disease risks. Drug Discovery and Development to Generate More than 45% Revenue of Global Genomic Testing Market Genomic testing has revolutionized drug discovery and development by providing a cost-effective and quicker method of identifying potential drug targets and developing new drugs. The growing demand for genomic testing in the drug discovery and development market is expected to contribute more than 45% of market revenue. The cost savings due to genomic testing in drug discovery and development can be significant. According to a study published in the journal Drug Discovery Today, the use of genomic testing in drug development can reduce the cost of developing a drug by up to 60% and the time to market by up to 50%. Another study published in the journal Nature Reviews Drug Discovery estimates that the use of genomics in drug discovery can lead to cost savings of up to $500 million per drug in the global genomic testing market. The impact of genomic testing on the drug discovery and development market can be seen in the increasing number of drugs approved by regulatory agencies. According to a report by the Personalized Medicine Coalition, over 40% of the drugs approved by the US FDA in 2018 were personalized medicines, which are developed using genomic testing and other personalized approaches. Moreover, the use of genomic testing in drug discovery and development has led to the identification of several new drug targets. As per Astute Analytica, over 2,000 new drug targets have been identified using genomic testing, leading to the development of several new drugs. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.astuteanalytica.com/industry-report/genomic-testing-market Asia Pacific is Fastest Growing Genomic Testing Market and to Contribute Over 30% Revenue According to Astute Analytica, Asia Pacific is projected to emerge as the second-largest genomic testing market and is also expected to grow at the fastest CAGR. The region is estimated to contribute more than 30% revenue to the global market. The growth of the market in the region can be attributed to various factors, such as the rising prevalence of chronic diseases, increasing awareness about the benefits of genomic testing, and the growing demand for personalized medicine. China is expected to be the largest genomic testing market in the Asia Pacific region, with a CAGR of over 17% during the forecast period. The market growth in China can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and diabetes. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in China, accounting for around 44% of all deaths. Similarly, cancer is also a major health concern in the country, with over 4 million new cases diagnosed every year. The increasing burden of chronic diseases is expected to drive the demand for genomic testing in the country. Japan is also expected to be a significant market for genomic testing in the Asia Pacific region, with a CAGR of over 14% during the forecast period. The country has a high prevalence of genetic diseases, such as Tay-Sachs disease, cystic fibrosis, and Huntington's disease, which are expected to drive the demand for genomic testing. India is also expected to be a significant genomic testing market in the Asia Pacific region, with a CAGR of over 16% during the forecast period. The market growth in India can be attributed to the increasing prevalence of chronic diseases, such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), cancer is the second leading cause of death in the country, accounting for over 7% of all deaths. The increasing burden of chronic diseases is expected to drive the demand for genomic testing in the country. Illumina, Inc., QIAGEN, and Eurofins Genomics to Remain top 3 Players in the Genomics Testing market with More Than 46% Market Share The Global genomic testing market is highly competitive and consists of many players providing various products and services. Extensive research shows that the leading companies in this market have adopted various competitive strategies, such as mergers and acquisitions, to have a grip on the emerging market. As per Astute Analytica, the cumulative market share of the 6 major players, namely Illumina, Inc., QIAGEN, Eurofins Genomics, BGI, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., and Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., is close to 64%. This indicates that there is oligopolistic competition in the market. Illumina, Inc. is one of the leading players in the market, with a market share of over 21%. The company is engaged in providing sequencing and array-based solutions for genetic analysis. QIAGEN is another major player in the market, with a market share of around 9.2%. The company offers a wide range of products and services for molecular diagnostics and research. Eurofins Genomics, with a market share of around 16.2%, is the second largest player in the genomic testing market. The company provides DNA sequencing, oligonucleotides, and gene synthesis services, among others. BGI is also a leading player in the market, with a market share of around 8%. The company offers sequencing services, bioinformatics analysis, and other genomic products. The market also consists of local players and small-scale players, which collectively have a significant market share. However, the leading companies are expanding their geographical boundaries by acquiring small brands and domestic companies. This strategy allows them to increase their market share and expand their customer base. Some of the Top Market Players Are: Agilent Technologies, Inc. BGI Group Bio-Rad Laboratories Danaher Corporation Eurofins Genomics F. Hoffmann-La Roche Illumina, Inc. QIAGEN Singular Genomics Systems, Inc. Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. Other Prominent players Directly Purchase a copy of report with TOC @ https://www.astuteanalytica.com/inquire-before-purchase/genomic-testing-market About Astute Analytica Astute Analytica is a global analytics and advisory company which has built a solid reputation in a short period, thanks to the tangible outcomes we have delivered to our clients. We pride ourselves in generating unparalleled, in depth and uncannily accurate estimates and projections for our very demanding clients spread across different verticals. We have a long list of satisfied and repeat clients from a wide spectrum including technology, healthcare, chemicals, semiconductors, FMCG, and many more. These happy customers come to us from all across the Globe. They are able to make well calibrated decisions and leverage highly lucrative opportunities while surmounting the fierce challenges all because we analyze for them the complex business environment, segment wise existing and emerging possibilities, technology formations, growth estimates, and even the strategic choices available. In short, a complete package. All this is possible because we have a highly qualified, competent, and experienced team of professionals comprising of business analysts, economists, consultants, and technology experts. In our list of priorities, you-our patron-come at the top. You can be sure of best cost-effective, value-added package from us, should you decide to engage with us. Contact us: Aamir Beg BSI Business Park, H-15,Sector-63, Noida- 201301- India Phone: +1-888 429 6757 (US Toll Free); +91-0120- 4483891 (Rest of the World) Email: sales@astuteanalytica.com Website: www.astuteanalytica.com DelveInsight Business Research LLP The stellar growth is expected to be observed in the Holter monitor market primarily due to the growing burden of various cardiovascular disorders that lead to abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation and heart palpitations, among others, which may require monitoring via Holter monitors. Furthermore, an increase in sedentary lifestyles and lifestyle-related disorders, which increase the risk of developing CVDs many folds, is expected to increase demand for Holter monitors in the coming years. New York, USA, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Global Holter Monitor Market is Projected to Boost at a Moderate Growth Rate of ~6% by 2027 | DelveInsight The stellar growth is expected to be observed in the Holter monitor market primarily due to the growing burden of various cardiovascular disorders that lead to abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation and heart palpitations, among others, which may require monitoring via Holter monitors. Furthermore, an increase in sedentary lifestyles and lifestyle-related disorders, which increase the risk of developing CVDs many folds, is expected to increase demand for Holter monitors in the coming years. DelveInsights Holter Monitor Market Insights report provides the current and forecast market analysis, individual leading Holter monitor companies market shares, challenges, Holter monitor market drivers, barriers, and trends, and key Holter monitor companies in the market. Key Takeaways from the Holter Monitor Market Report As per DelveInsight estimates, North America is anticipated to dominate the global Holter monitor market during the forecast period. Notable Holter monitor companies such as Koninklijke Philips N.V., Hill-Rom Services, Inc. (Baxter), SCHILLER, dms-service LLC, BPL Medical Technologies, GE Healthcare, FUKUDA DENSHI, VitalConnect, OSI Systems, Inc., Biotricity, Viatom Technology Co. Ltd., Suzuken Company Limited., Preventice Solutions, Inc., NORAV Medical, MediBioSense Ltd, Innomed Medical., Bittium, and several others are currently operating in the Holter monitor market. In January 2022, Royal Philips introduced the industrys first full-service, at-home 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) solution for decentralized clinical trials. Story continues To read more about the latest highlights related to the Holter monitor market, get a snapshot of the key highlights entailed in the Global Holter Monitor Market Report Holter Monitor Overview A Holter monitor is a small, wearable device that monitors the heartbeat. It detects the hearts tiny electrical signals and transmits them to the chests surface. It is worn specifically to detect defects in the hearts functioning. Among the defects detected by the device are arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation, tachycardia, and atrial flutter. Other than possible discomfort or skin irritation where the electrodes are placed, there are no risks associated with wearing a Holter monitor. The main difference between an electrocardiogram and Holter monitoring is that an electrocardiogram records the heart rhythm for a few minutes, whereas Holter monitoring records the rhythm for 24 hours. This aids in detecting arrhythmias that may only occur at certain times. Holter Monitor Market Insights North America held a significant share of the global Holter monitor market in 2021 and will continue to do so during the forecast period of 2022 to 2027. This dominance is due to the increasing prevalence of the target population in the country, which necessitates diagnosis and monitoring for proper disease management. Furthermore, companies are expanding their product portfolios through various strategic business activities such as mergers and acquisitions, product launches, and others, which are expected to contribute to regional Holter monitor market growth. For example, in January 2021, Boston Scientific signed a definitive agreement to acquire Preventice Solutions, Inc., a privately held company that provides a comprehensive portfolio of mobile cardiac health solutions and services, ranging from ambulatory cardiac monitors (including short and long-term Holter monitors) to cardiac event monitors and mobile cardiac telemetry. To know more about why North America is leading the market growth in the Holter monitor market, get a snapshot of the Holter Monitor Market Outlook Holter Monitor Market Dynamics The Holter monitor market is currently experiencing profitable growth as a result of various factors such as the rising prevalence of various lifestyle-related disorders such as hypertension, obesity, and others around the world. Furthermore, advancements in patient monitoring technologies and increased adoption of ambulatory monitoring devices are expected to support the advanced Holter monitor market in the coming years. However, some limitations associated with Holter monitors and the stringent regulatory approval process are a few factors limiting the global Holter monitor market growth during the study period. Additionally, due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic, the Holter monitor market grew slowly in the early stages. This is due to the implementation of a nationwide lockdown, logistical transportation restrictions, disruptive demand, and supply chain, among other factors. However, using these devices to diagnose and monitor heartbeat in patients with COVID-19 and other comorbidities helped the Holter monitor market return to normalcy. Furthermore, the launch of various vaccines and mass vaccination campaigns worldwide has helped the healthcare system regain normalcy, which is expected to increase demand for these devices post-pandemic. Get a sneak peek at the Holter monitor market dynamics @ Holter Monitor Market Dynamics Analysis Report Metrics Details Coverage Global Study Period 20192027 Base Year 2021 Holter Monitor Market CAGR ~6% Key Holter Monitor Companies Koninklijke Philips N.V., Hill-Rom Services, Inc. (Baxter), SCHILLER, dms-service LLC, BPL Medical Technologies, GE Healthcare, FUKUDA DENSHI, VitalConnect, OSI Systems, Inc., Biotricity, Viatom Technology Co. Ltd., Suzuken Company Limited., Preventice Solutions, Inc., NORAV Medical, MediBioSense Ltd, Innomed Medical., Bittium, among others Holter Monitor Market Assessment Holter Monitor Market Segmentation Market Segmentation By Type: Wired Holter Monitor and Wireless Holter Monitor Market Segmentation By Lead Type: 1 Lead Channel, 3 Lead Channels, 12 Lead Channels and Others Market Segmentation By End User: Hospitals & Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, Home Care Settings and Others Market Segmentation By Geography : North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of World Porters Five Forces Analysis, Product Profiles, Case Studies, KOLs Views, Analysts View Which MedTech key players in the Holter monitor market are set to emerge as the trendsetter explore @ Holter Monitor Companies Table of Contents 1 Report Introduction 2 Executive summary 3 Regulatory and Patent Analysis 4 Key Factors Analysis 5 Porters Five Forces Analysis 6 COVID-19 Impact Analysis on Holter Monitor Market 7 Holter Monitor Market Layout 8 Global Company Share Analysis Key 3-5 Companies 9 Holter Monitor Market Company and Product Profiles 10 Project Approach 11 About DelveInsight Interested in knowing the Holter monitor market by 2027? Click to get a snapshot of the Holter Monitor Market Trends Related Reports Intracardiac Echocardiography Devices Market Intracardiac Echocardiography Devices Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2027 report delivers an in-depth understanding of the market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key intracardiac echocardiography devices companies, including Medtronic, Infraredx, Inc., Stryker, among others. Cardiac Arrhythmia Monitoring Devices Market Cardiac Arrhythmia Monitoring Devices Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2027 report delivers an in-depth understanding of market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key cardiac arrhythmia monitoring devices companies, including Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific Corporation, Avanos Medical, among others. Interventional Cardiology Devices Market Interventional Radiology Devices Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2027 report delivers an in-depth understanding of market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key interventional cardiology devices companies, including Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific Corporation, Avanos Medical, Inc., Auris Health, Inc., Olympus, among others. Implantable Cardiac Monitors (ICM) Market Implantable Cardiac Monitors (ICM) Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2027 report delivers an in-depth understanding of market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key implantable cardiac monitors (ICM) companies, including Abbott Laboratories, Boston Scientific Corporation, Biotronik SE & Co. KG, among others. Cardiac Biomarkers Testing Market Cardiac Biomarkers Testing Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2027 report delivers an in-depth understanding of market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key cardiac biomarkers testing companies, including Beckman Coulter, Inc, Siemens Healthcare GmbH, Abbott, among others. Angio Suites Market Angio Suites Market Insight, Competitive Landscape, and Market Forecast 2027 report delivers an in-depth understanding of market trends, market drivers, market barriers, and key angio suites companies, including Siemens, Koninklijke Philips N.V, Lam Vascular and Associates, Hitachi, Ltd., ESAOTE SPA, IMRIS, Onex Corporation, among others. Other Trending Reports Treatment Resistant Depression Market | Advanced Renal Cell Carcinoma Market | Brain Cancer Market | Centronuclear Myopathy Market | Head And Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Market | Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome Market | Acute Intermittent Porphyria Market | Neurovascular Devices Market | Defibrillators Market | Ventricular Hypertrophy Market | Urolithiasis Market | Alopecia Areata Market | Autonomic Dysfunction Market | Acute Ischemic Stroke Ais Market | Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma Market | Aspergillosis Market | Biliary Atresia Market | Biliary Tumor Market | Chronic Inducible Urticaria Market | Chronic Insomnia Market | Critical Limb Ischemia Market | Endometriosis Pain Market | Generalized Anxiety Disorder Gad Market | Hallux Valgus Market | Hemophilia B Market | Immunologic Deficiency Syndrome Market | Neuroblastoma Market | Neuromodulation Devices Market | Neurovascular Thrombectomy Devices Market | Osteosarcoma Market | Pemphigus Vulgaris Market | Progressive Familial Intrahepatic Cholestasis Market | Pruritus Market | Radiation Toxicity Market | Pulmonary Hypertension Associated With Interstitial Lung Disease Market | Cluster Headaches Market | Foot And Ankle Devices Market | Intravenous Immunoglobulin Market | Bile Duct Neoplasm Market | Blood Glucose Monitoring Systems Market | Rett Syndrome Market | Tissue Heart Valves Market | Cardiac Biomarkers Testing Devices Market | Subscription Healthcare | Hepatorenal Syndrome Market | Central Venous Catheters Market | Continuous Renal Replacement Therapy Machines Market | Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis Market | Necrotizing Enterocolitis Market | Cardiac Amyloidosis Market | Artificial Iris Market | Aortic Aneurysm Stent Grafts Market | Polypoidal Choroidal Vasculopathy Market | Adrenal Crisis Market | Hearing Implants Market | Image Guided Surgery Devices Market | Angioedema Market | Bladder Cancer Market Related Healthcare Blogs Upcoming Cardiovascular Diseases Drugs Key Companies in the Cardiology Segment Heart Failure Market Top Cardiac Devices in the Market Related Healthcare Services Healthcare Consulting Healthcare Competitive Intelligence Services Healthcare Asset Prioritization Services About DelveInsight DelveInsight is a leading Business Consultant, and Market Research firm focused exclusively on life sciences. It supports pharma companies by providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions to improve their performance. CONTACT: Contact Us Shruti Thakur info@delveinsight.com +1(919)321-6187 https://www.delveinsight.com/medical-devices On 12-14 September 2023, companies from the United Kingdom are invited to join Global Mobility Call which coincides with the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. In this context, Global Mobility Call will host two major events organised by the Spanish Government, bringing together representatives of European ministries and business leaders and the world's main regulatory bodies. MADRID, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today the second edition of Global Mobility Call , the largest international sustainable mobility event to be held from 12 to 14 September in Madrid, was presented worldwide. Five months before its celebration, the event organised by IFEMA Madrid and Smobhub already has 30 associated partners, as well as national and international associations, and more than 100 exhibiting companies and 50 startups. Once again, this year the event is sponsored by the Spanish Government, through the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda, and has the support of the Community of Madrid and the City Council. General view of Global Mobility Call 2022 edition Global Mobility Call will bring together major companies and associations from the energy sector, such as Cepsa, Iberdrola and Total Energies; public transport, with the Consorcio de Transportes, EMT and Metro de Madrid; multimodal mobility, with Adif, Aena, Arriva, Enaire, Iberia, Puertos del Estado, Renfe and Senasa; technology and innovation, such as Etra, Indra, Ineco and Sistem; and infrastructures, with the National Geographic Institute, among others. At the press conference, Maria Jose Rallo, General Secretary for Transport and Mobility at the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda of the Spanish Government; David Perez, Regional Councillor for Transport and Infrastructures of the Community of Madrid; Jose Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman of the Executive Committee of IFEMA MADRID; David Moneo, Director of Global Mobility Call, and Juan Jose Lillo, co-founder of Smobhub, presented the second edition of the event. Story continues Global Mobility Call will bring together 10,000 participating professionals, and a further 15,000 estimated online participants via the digital platform, in a gathering that will promote multi-sectoral relations between companies, institutions, associations and experts. Within the framework of opportunities offered by the European Union's policies on energy saving and sustainable mobility through the NextGenerationEU funds, with an aid of 800,000 million euros, much of it for mobility projects. Attendance is expected to be more than 50% international with a strong presence from 16 European and Latin American countries. "Establishing new environmentally friendly mobility models is vital to minimise the serious effects of the climate crisis we are facing. Global Mobility Call 2023 is a unique opportunity to learn about the most advanced and innovative mobility solutions. I am confident that its conclusions will attract the attention of Spanish society and the global public opinion", said Maria Jose Rallo, General Secretary for Transport and Mobility at the Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda. According to Jose Vicente de los Mozos, President of IFEMA Madrid, "alliances with multilateral organisations will allow the second edition to feature leading voices from the sectors that make up sustainable mobility, while consolidating the international projection of the event through the direct participation of large international organisations. We also work through the commercial delegations in different European and Latin American countries to attract companies, investors and international leaders". Spanish Presidency of the EU This second edition will coincide with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the European Union, which begins on 1 July. The Ministry of Transport, Mobility and Urban Agenda (Mitma) will organise, within the framework of Global Mobility Call, two parallel events: the "Technical Conference on Mobility in Rural Areas" and a meeting of "The PEP Partnership on Active Mobility". Furthermore, the event will have a specific area for national and international cities and territories, which will support the exchange of experiences and knowledge of trends, success stories and plans for the implementation of new mobility solutions and low-emission zones, around the largest public-private collaboration and business platform for sustainable mobility. The event will be structured along two areas: the GMC Congress and the GMC Expo and it will have an innovation area formed by the sum of startups and scaleups through forums and platforms to promote new initiatives through public and private investment funds. It also plans to promote new generation talent with universities, educational centres and international organisations. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053656/Global_Mobility_Call_2022.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053657/Global_Mobility_Call_2023_Presentation.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053658/Global_Mobility_Call_Logo.jpg From left to right: David Moneo, director Global Mobility Call; Arancha Priede, Business Development Director IFEMA Madrid; Maria Jose Rallo, secretary general of Transport and Mobility at the Ministry of Transport;Jose Vicente de los Mozos, Chairman IFEMA Madrid; David Perez, Regional Councillor for Transport and Infrastructures; Silvia Roldan, CEO Metro de Madrid; and Juan Jose Lillo, co-founder Smobhub. Photo taken in Madrid on 13 April 2023 at the presentation of Global Mobility Call 2023. Global Mobility Call Logo Media Contacts: Marta Cacho Communications Manager Tel.: +34 626 632 326 mcacho@ifema.es Elena Valera International Press Tel.: +34 629 644 208 evalera@ifema.es Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.co.uk/news-releases/global-mobility-call-is-set-to-become-the-european-launchpad-for-sustainable-mobility-business-leadership-301796982.html Future Market Insights Global and Consulting Pvt. Ltd. The Rising Obese Population and Growing Awareness of Advanced Treatments for Stretch Marks Fuel Market Growth. FMI Taps a Steady CAGR of 8.81% for 2023 to 2033. Growing aesthetic beauty standards and high social media influence will lead to increasing demand for stretch marks treatment NEWARK, Del, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The stretch marks treatment market is anticipated to expand its roots at a steady CAGR of 8.81% between 2023 and 2033. The market is anticipated to cross a market share of US$ 5.82 billion by 2033 while it is likely to be valued at US$ 2.5 billion in 2023. More people turning obese, therefore, advanced treatment options and higher per capita income are pushing people to take care of their skin health. Furthermore, the extended skincare units integrating with skincare experts are also gaining traction in the market. Laser surgeries along with non-invasive treatment options like creams, gels, and lotions are covering many the consumer base. The cesarian deliveries of babies also leave dark stretch marks, pushing women to adopt the latest treatment solutions. Advanced treatment methods such as topical treatments, chemical peels method, microdermabrasion, laser therapies, and cosmetic surgeries are garnering market space across the region. Extended research and development activities around mark removal and anti-aging products are likely to transform the market during the forecast period. New developments involve treatments that allow the skin to grow back to its position which lessens the stretch marks to a huge extent. The popularity of these methods is attracting a new consumer base. For Details on Vendors and Their Offerings Request A Sample Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-16991 Key Points The United States market leads the stretch marks treatment market in terms of market share in North America. North America also leads in the global market in terms of market share. The growth in this region is promoted by the higher obese population, increased healthcare budget, and highly advanced treatment options. The United Kingdom stretch marks treatment market is another significant market from the European region. The increased per capita income along with changing beauty standards in the regions thrives the market success. The China stretch marks treatment market is anticipated to thrive at a healthy CAGR during the forecast period. Asia Pacific region with its massive population, penetration of skincare brands, and high potential market space is expected to flourish during the forecast period. The topical treatment type segment is leading the segment with a leading CAGR between 2023 and 2033. It's due to its easy-to-use approach and affordable price. Based on the end user, the home use segment thrives at a leading CAGR during the forecast period. Story continues Competitive Landscape The key vendors work on providing high-care treatment procedures while also launching additional skin-care products. Key competitors and also merge, acquire, and partner with other companies to increase their supply chain, and distribution channel. The key players in the market are Cynosure LLC, Clarins, Laboratoires Expanscience, Concord Medisys, Helix BioMedix, Inc., Cult Beauty, Casmara, Weleda, Mama Mio, Dermaclara, Strialite, Bayer AG, and Helix BioMedix, Inc. Recent Market Developments In 2022, Casmara introduced the goodbye stretch marks ritual that shrinks, softens, and prevents apparencies of stretch marks. The company also claims to regenerate and renew damaged tissues while delivering elasticity and hydrating the skin. Mama Mio introduced tummy rub butter and tummy rub oil for post-pregnancy stretch marks. Ask More About This Market's Geographical Distribution Along With a Detailed Analysis of the Top Regions@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ask-question/rep-gb-16991 Market Segmentation By Type: Topical Products Creams Oils & Serum Lotion Laser Fractional Laser Pulse-Dye Laser Others Microdermabrasion By End User: Hospitals and Clinics Home Use Specialty Dermatology Centers By Distribution Channel: Institutional Retail Supermarkets and Hypermarkets Specialist Retailers Medical Retailers Online Stores Browse Detail Summary Of Research Report@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/stretch-marks-treatment-market Table of Content 1. Executive Summary | Stretch Marks Treatment 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 3.1.1. 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 5. Global Market Analysis 2018 to 2022 and Forecast 2023 to 2033, By Type 5.1. Introduction / Key Findings 5.2. Historical Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis By Type, 2018 to 2022 5.3. Current and Future Market Size Value (US$ Million) Analysis and Forecast By Type, 2023 to 2033 5.3.1. Topical Products 5.3.1.1. Creams 5.3.1.2. Oils & Serum 5.3.1.3. Lotion 5.3.2. Laser 5.3.2.1. Fractional Laser 5.3.2.2. Pulse-Dye Laser 5.3.2.3. Others 5.3.3. Microdermabrasion 5.4. Y-o-Y Growth Trend Analysis By Type, 2018 to 2022 5.5. Absolute $ Opportunity Analysis By Type, 2023 to 2033 Buy Now to Gain Access to Detailed Information About Each Segment and Identify Key Trends, Drivers, and Challenges in the Market@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/checkout/16991 Have a Look at Related Reports of Healthcare domain Tracheal Tubes and Airway Products Market Size: The tracheal tubes and airway products market is expected to grow at a healthy CAGR of 6.4% over the forecasted period of 2022-2032. Arthroscopy Devices Market Share: The arthroscopy devices market is projected to record US$ 5.61 billion in 2022 growing at a CAGR of 7.1% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2032. C-Arms Devices Market Demand: The C-arms devices market was worth US$ 1.7 billion in 2019 and is expected to be worth US$ 2.45 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 4.2% between 2022 and 2032. Artificial Pancreas Device System Market Forecast: During the forecast period, the artificial pancreas device system market is expected to advance at a rapid pace with a CAGR of 18.2%. Life Science and Chemical Instruments Market Analysis: The global life science and chemical instruments market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.3 % during the forecast year 2022 to 2032 by US$ 40.7 Million in 2021 to US$ 43.8 Million in 2026. About Future Market Insights (FMI) 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, US, 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. Contact Us: Future Market Insights Inc. Christiana Corporate, 200 Continental Drive, Suite 401, Newark, Delaware - 19713, USA T: +1-845-579-5705 LinkedIn| Twitter| Blogs | YouTube For Sales Enquiries: sales@futuremarketinsights.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 13, 2023) - Golden Independence Mining Corp. (CSE: IGLD) (OTCQB: GIDMF) (FSE: 6NNA) (the "Company" or "Golden Independence") is pleased to announce it has expanded its exploration-stage Napoleon gold project in the Kamloops Mining Division of British Columbia. The Company has increased the project's size by about 506 acres or 20% to 3,168 acres through direct staking based on prospective historical sampling results. The Napoleon project represents a contiguous 3,168-hectare land position which is wholly owned with no underlying royalties. The Company has engaged Tripoint Geological Services of Victoria, BC, to plan for an upcoming exploration program which is anticipated to commence this quarter. "We have been able to significantly expand our exciting Napoleon project land position by almost 20%, with the new grounds demonstrating gold mineralization based on a thorough analysis of historical records," commented Jeremy Poirier, CEO of Golden Independence. "We are actively working to formalize an exploration program in the coming weeks which is facilitated by year-round project access and strong established infrastructure." The Company also announces an agreement with Emerging Markets Consulting, LLC ("EMC") (Address: 390 North Orange Ave. Suite 2300, Orlando, FL, 32801; email: info@emergingmarketsllc.com; phone: + 321-206-6682) for marketing services for up to six months, commencing April 17th, 2023 which is renewable or cancelable anytime within the term. EMC will utilize their online programs with the aim of increasing investor awareness and attracting potential new investors through various online platforms and methods of engagement in consideration of US$150,000. The promotional activity will occur by YouTube, Twitter, Facebook, and Google. EMC is an arm's length service provider and does not have any prior relationship with the Company. Story continues About Golden Independence Mining Corp. Golden Independence Mining Corp. is a development company currently focused on the advanced-stage Independence project located adjacent to Nevada Gold Mine's Phoenix-Fortitude mine in the Battle Mountain-Cortez Trend of Nevada in addition to the wholly-owned Napoleon gold project located in the Kamloops Mining Division of BC. The Independence project hosts an M&I resource of 334,300 ounces of gold and an Inferred resource of 847,000 ounces of gold with a substantial silver credit. A 2021 Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) outlined a low-cost heap leach operation focusing on the near-surface resource with total production of 195,443 ounces of gold at an all-in sustaining cost of US$1,078 per ounce of gold. The Napoleon project is comprised of over 1,000 hectares and prospective for multiple-forms of gold mineralization, with exploration in the area dating back to the 1970's with the discovery of high-grade gold. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by R. Tim Henneberry, PGeo (British Columbia), a director and president of Golden Independence Mining and a qualified person under National Instrument 43-101. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Jeremy Poirier, Chief Executive Officer Telephone: 1.604.722.9842 Email: info@goldenindependence.co This press release contains forward-looking information (within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation) that involves various risks and uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking information includes statements based on current expectations of management made in light of management's experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments. Forward-looking information is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and, as such, forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance of the Company. Forward-looking information in this news release includes, without limitation, statements regarding the commencement of the exploration program at the Napoleon project and the exploration potential of the Napoleon project.. There are numerous risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in the forward-looking information in this news release, including without limitation, inherent risks associated with the mining industry and the results of exploration activities and development of mineral properties, stock market volatility and capital market fluctuations, general market and industry conditions, as well as those risk factors discussed in the Company's most recently filed management's discussion & analysis. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such information. This forward-looking information is based on estimates and opinions of management on the date hereof and is expressly qualified by this notice. Risks and uncertainties about the Company's business are more fully discussed in the Company's disclosure materials filed with the securities regulatory authorities in Canada at www.sedar.com. The Company assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking information or to update the reasons why actual results could differ from such information unless required by applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/162217 (Bloomberg) -- House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is preparing to unveil next week a plan that would suspend the nations debt ceiling for a year in return for spending concessions, according to people familiar with the talks. Most Read from Bloomberg The proposal, which would be an opening marker for negotiations with the White House and congressional Democrats, calls for a vote in the House in late May to suspend the debt ceiling until about May 2024, according to two people who asked not to be identified. This would permit Republicans to seek another round of concessions next year in the stretch run of a presidential and congressional election year. The bill the GOP is preparing would be a party wish list of spending cuts and regulations changes with little chance of being enacted. But it could form the basis of separate, future budget talks and end the debt-limit standoff that threatens a US payments default this summer. In return for next months vote, non-defense discretionary spending would have to stay at roughly the same level as fiscal year 2022 and grow 1% per year over 10 years, under McCarthys tentative plan. Republicans are still discussing defense spending, which some members want to hold at current levels and others want to grow. Other elements, which have been shared with members of the partys conference, include: a clawback of unspent Covid relief funds, and work requirements for able-bodied Medicaid recipients aged 60 and under who dont have dependent children. An initiative to include work requirements for food stamp recipients could be included but isnt in the current framework. The bill could save up to $4 trillion over ten years and some of that would come from increase revenue achieved by sunsetting old regulations and easing energy permits. Story continues President Joe Biden has called for an unconditional increase of the $31.4 trillion US debt limit, but has said he would discuss a separate budget agreement with McCarthy. When Congress needs to act to avoid a default is still up in the air with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen saying it could be as soon as June. An update is expected next week on the deadline after tax season ends. Treasury has used these extraordinary measures to stave off a default since the debt limit was technically reached in January. Without legislation to lift the debt ceiling, extraordinary accounting measures deployed by the Treasury Department could push the final deadline until after the November 2024 election, Bipartisan Policy Center expert Bill Hoagland said. The GOP plan would make the debt ceiling debate part of the campaign. If todays reports are true, Speaker McCarthy is adopting the extreme MAGA House Republican position: threatening our economic recovery, hardworking Americans retirement, and catastrophic default in order to force devastating cuts to veterans health care, education, and other programs that lower costs for working families Andrew Bates, deputy White House press secretary, said in a statement. McCarthy is set to address the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. A person familiar with his plans said his speech will hit on the debt-limit fight. Before the current two-week House recess, McCarthy told reporters that his party was close to finalizing a debt ceiling bill that could pass the House if Biden continues to refuse to negotiate on the issue. He said that the bill would be based on four topics he had outlined to Biden in a letter: discretionary spending cuts to fiscal 2022 levels, tougher work requirements for some anti-poverty programs, clawing back unspent Covid-19 funds and easing energy permits. The proposal is separate from a more far-reaching GOP non-binding budget proposal that the party intends to use to demonstrate that the US federal budget could be balanced in 10 years. The timing of the bill being shared with rank-and-file lawmakers next week was first reported by Punchbowl News. The GOP is also eyeing savings achieved by blocking Bidens proposed student loan forgiveness program, lawmakers have said. McCarthy is coming under increased pressure from his party to put up a debt proposal, given the summer deadline and realization that it could take months to agree on a GOP budget outline given party divisions over levels of cuts to popular programs. On Wednesday, Oklahoma Representative Kevin Hern, the leader of the large Republican Study Committee caucus, publicly demanded that the House vote on a debt bill by the end of April. The centrist Main Street Caucus of House Republicans outlined its requests for the bill in a letter to McCarthy Thursday, including expanded work requirements for food stamps. The group proposes a 1.5% per year increase on domestic appropriations as opposed to the 1% cap advocated by the more conservative House Freedom Caucus. It also proposes a commission to study entitlement spending. The conservative group FreedomWorks said it supports McCarthys latest effort. We are encouraged by the progress House Republicans are making to find a compromise in the debt-ceiling debate, said Adam Brandon, FreedomWorks President. House Republicans common-sense approach would help ease the burden placed on hardworking American families and help return fiscal responsibility to our nations capital. --With assistance from Mike Dorning and Akayla Gardner. (Updates with Main Street Caucus letter in paragraphs 20 and 21) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. GPS Capital Markets SALT LAKE CITY, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- GPS Capital Markets, LLC, a leading fintech firm offering corporate foreign exchange services, is proud to be Certified by Great Place To Work. The prestigious award is based entirely on what current employees say about their experience working at GPS Capital Markets. This year, 95% of employees said its a Great Place To Work 38 points higher than the average U.S. company. Great Place To Work is the global authority on workplace culture, employee experience, and the leadership behaviors proven to deliver market-leading revenue, employee retention and increased innovation. "Great Place To Work Certification is a highly coveted achievement that requires consistent and intentional dedication to the overall employee experience," says Sarah Lewis-Kulin, the Vice President of Global Recognition at Great Place To Work. She emphasizes that Certification is the sole official recognition earned by the real-time feedback of employees regarding their company culture. By successfully earning this recognition, it is evident that GPS Capital Markets stands out as one of the top companies to work for, providing a great workplace environment for its employees." "I am thrilled to announce that GPS Capital Markets has been certified as a Great Place to Work! This recognition is a testament of our ongoing commitment to creating and empowering workplace culture that attracts and retains top talent. We believe that our employees are the heart of our organization, and we are dedicated to providing them with the support, resources and opportunities they need to thrive. We strive to foster a work environment that is inclusive, collaborative, and respectful, where everyone feels valued and heard. Achieving this certification is a significant milestone for us and we are incredibly proud of our team for making it possible, said President and CEO, Brandon Parke. Great company cultures are made from more than just benefits and perks. They are made from the trust and mutual respect shared between management and employees. The GPTW is a trusted platform that provides us the feedback on where we need to do better and improve." Story continues GPS prides itself in its company culture. The company heavily invests resources in nurturing early careers beginning with its college recruitment program. The program provides flexibility for students working on their college degree while establishing skills and steps into their future careers. Upon graduation, career advancement opportunities become available to step into future careers within the organization. GPS also provides its employees an excellent work-life balance, telecommute options, weekly lunches, company excursions, gym memberships, generous health benefits and retirement options for employees are among some of the many perks GPS provides to its employees. According to Great Place To Work research, job seekers are 4.5 times more likely to find a great boss at a Certified great workplace. Additionally, employees at Certified workplaces are 93% more likely to look forward to coming to work, and are twice as likely to be paid fairly, and have a fair chance at promotion. WERE HIRING! Looking to grow your career at a company that puts its people first? Visit our careers page at: https://www.gpsfx.com/careers/ About GPS Capital Markets, LLC: Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, GPS Capital Markets, LLC provides corporate foreign exchange services that help companies manage their foreign currency risk and execute foreign currency transactions. Founded in 2002, GPS brings together a senior management team rich in international banking experience from the worlds leading financial institutions. GPS has several offices throughout the United States, as well as in Australia, Canada, the European Union, and the United Kingdom. It combines competitive exchange rates with a host of tailored international financial solutions for its clients. About Great Place To Work As the global authority on workplace culture, Great Place To Work brings 30 years of groundbreaking research and data to help every place become a great place to work for all. Their proprietary platform and For All Model helps companies evaluate the experience of every employee, with exemplary workplaces becoming Great Place To Work Certified or receiving recognition on a coveted Best Workplaces List. Learn more at: greatplacetowork.com PRESS CONTACT: GPS Capital Markets Lindsey Wing 801-979-6114 lwing@gpsfx.com Assyrian Churches: Unity in Faith Patriarch Louis Raphael Sako (L) and Patriarch Awa Royel III. (AINA) -- In early December, Patriarch Awa spoke on the possible reunification of the Assyrian and Chaldean Churches, expressing opposition to any form of "uniatism" in the process. Patriarch Sako responded first on December 31 and then more fully on February 28. In his latter response, Patriarch Sako called for an integrated strategy moving forward that: overcomes prejudices in favor of renewal, deep study, and clear agreement, builds upon shared ecclesial identity rather than nationalism, includes asking forgiveness for the mistakes of the past, avoids the absorption of the believes of one particular church into another, draws Assyrians and Chaldeans together into one patriarchate through a synodal style and practice, restores Eucharistic communion among all the apostolic Churches, and preserves the dignity of each patriarchal Church. In a recent article, I also responded to the comments of Patriarch Awa and, in line with his concern with "uniatism," criticized the code of canon law common to the Eastern Catholic Churches (CCOE). However, as Patriarch Sako made clear on February 28, dialogue between Assyrians and Chaldeans must attend to the strengths of the Chaldean Church as well, such as her authentic customary practice and Chaldean particular law. In this article, I would like to examine an aspect of Patriarch Sako's earlier reply of December 31. There he did not only respond to Patriarch Awa's comments. He also defended the unity in faith shared by all the apostolic churches -- Assyrian, Miaphysite, Orthodox, and Catholic -- and distinguished between obstacles to unity that are doctrinal, on the one hand, and obstacles to unity that are ecclesiastical or canonical, pertaining to authority and leadership, on the other hand. Equipped with this helpful distinction, in what follows, I will review and comment on the set of potential obstacles to the reunion of Assyrians and Chaldeans. We'll begin with questions of doctrine, since unity in faith is the most fundamental dimension of Christian unity. In agreement with most Catholics, Patriarch Sako has clearly expressed his view that all the apostolic Churches profess one and the same Christian faith, though they employ different linguistic expressions to do so. Unfortunately, Catholics are often accused of having distorted the apostolic faith through innovative doctrines. Eastern Christians and Western Christians have many different practices and traditions, but the list of potential doctrinal innovations dividing Catholics and non-Catholic Eastern Christians is quite short. The first question of doctrine concerns Christology. From the 5th century, differences in Christology divided the Church of the East, the Miaphysite Churches, and the Latin and Byzantine Churches into separate communions. In the last few decades, however, Rome has mutually recognized with the Miaphysite Churches and mutually with the Assyrian Church of the East the orthodoxy of their Christological traditions as well. From both the Catholic and Assyrian perspectives, Christology on its own presents no obstacle to communion among all the apostolic Churches. Yet there are perhaps two further complications. First, the Orthodox and the Miaphysite Churches do not recognize the orthodoxy of the anti-theopaschite Christology of St. Babai the Great and will need to examine this Christological tradition while abstracting from practical questions about the reception of ecumenical councils and the consequences of historical anathemas. Second, I expect that the Assyrian Church will likely scrutinize Chaldean liturgical and catechetical materials for any potential departures from the Christology of St. Babai the Great. This will inform the efforts of Assyrians and Chaldeans to harmonize their liturgical and catechetical practices in the reunited Church of the East. Next come two significant doctrinal controversies of the Middle Ages: concerning Purgatory and the Filioque clause. The Catholic doctrine of Purgatory refers to a temporary condition of suffering by the elect after death in preparation for Heaven. This doctrine generates controversy in both East and West. Its historical abuse, through the monetization of indulgences, drove the Protestant Reformation. It also assumes a concept of Christian perfection that doesn't resonate with Protestant thought. The doctrine once offended the Orthodox because it seemed to refer to a physical location. Although this issue has been clarified, the doctrine can still offend because it seems to confuse a suffering that is purgative, transformative, and therefore in many cases necessary for an individual on the way to life in Heaven with a suffering that is expiatory, remittable, and therefore not necessary for an individual on the way to life in Heaven. The Filioque clause refers to the addition of the phrase "and the Son" by the Latin Church to the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed, so that it reads, "I believe in the Holy Spirit...who proceeds from the Father and the Son." The clause offends the Orthodox because it seems to subordinate the Holy Spirit to the Son and to obscure the monarchy of the Father, i.e. the uniqueness of the Father as the source of the Blessed Trinity. The addition was originally intended to emphasize the divinity of the Son, was later used to distinguish the generation of the Son from the spiration of the Holy Spirit, was for a time resisted by Rome, and was finally admitted to the Roman liturgy in 1014 after having exhibited in the judgment of Rome no threat to orthodox Christianity for centuries. The Catholic Church today acknowledges the authority of the original creed but also defends the orthodoxy of the phrase. At the time of the Union of Brest in 1595, the Eastern Christians restoring communion with Rome were not expected to adopt these two controversial doctrines as their own. They retained their own traditions, rite, and calendar but acknowledged the validity of Western sacraments and a universal ecclesiastical authority in the Roman Pontiff. Unfortunately, further schism followed, and Byzantine tradition suffered. Despite the subsequent phenomena of "uniatism," the Union of Brest still represents one possible position with regard to the issues of Purgatory and the Filioque: As doctrines in the West, they need not be adopted in the East, and they represent no obstacle to communion. This approach does not likely satisfy the Orthodox at present. Perhaps further clarification by the international dialogue commissions will. Otherwise, the Catholic Church may need to develop her positions in a manner acceptable to the East. For example, the Catholic Church could someday distinguish between two dimensions of suffering in Purgatory: Just as, by punishment, human justice both disciplines the guilty and restores the community, so too might we understand the suffering of Purgatory both to purify the dead and to edify the living. The Church could not remit the suffering that is strictly necessary for the dead to prepare for Heaven. But she could remit the suffering that edifies the living, because the living may be edified by other means. It seems that for this very reason the Church invites the living to redeem by prayer and good works some measure of suffering assigned to the dead. Regarding the Filioque, the Catholic Church cannot simply excise the phrase without significant risk of schism, but perhaps it can be replaced. By the Greek word ekporeuesthai (John 15:26), Scripture supports the Orthodox argument that the Holy Spirit proceeds from Father alone, according to Its manner of origin. Scripture also presents the Holy Spirit as a paternal blessing of the Father upon the Son (Cf. Matthew 3:16-17, Mark 1:10, Luke 3:22). The image of the Holy Spirit as a paternal blessing of the Father upon the Son could serve both to emphasize the monarchy of the Father and to distinguish the processions of the Son and the Holy Spirit, because it assumes the (non-temporally) prior generation of the Son. So maybe, just maybe, the West could someday confess with the approval of the East that the Holy Spirit "proceeds from the Father like a blessing upon the Son" (ex Patre sicut benedictus super Filium procedit). Four more doctrines, promulgated in modern times, cause controversy with the East. While every controversy of doctrine also involves some controversy over ecclesiastical authority, this is especially true of these four. The first is papal primacy. In some way, the doctrine is already shared between East and West. All the apostolic Churches consider Rome the first see and acknowledge that this position entails certain prerogatives. They disagree regarding how Roman primacy is exercised within the Catholic Church today and over how strongly it was defined by the First Vatican Council. In recent decades, the popes have suggested that the Catholic Church can certainly adapt the exercise of papal primacy in light of ecumenical concerns. (I take these suggestions to be genuine and see little value or Christian virtue in viewing them with suspicion.) In 1995, St. John Paul II invited non-Catholics to "patient and fraternal dialogue" "to find a way of exercising the primacy which [is] open to a new situation" (Ut Unum Sint 95-96). Likewise, during his visit to Istanbul in 2014, Pope Francis said, "To reach the desired goal of full unity, the Catholic Church does not intend to impose any condition except that of the shared profession of faith." Yet, this flexibility has not resolved the controversy. Patriarch Awa, for example, has objected insofar as the shared profession of faith includes the doctrine of the ordinary jurisdiction of the Roman Pontiff over all the Churches and all the faithful. Hopefully, the Joint International Commission for Theological Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church will soon produce for consideration by all the apostolic Churches a document -- "Primacy and Synodality in the Second Millennium and Today" -- with language that better illuminates the shared faith of East and West. We may glimpse some of this language in a letter of February 20, 2019 from Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to Archbishop Anastasios of Tirana: Accordingly, not only in cases of Doctrine, holy Tradition, and Canonical Church Regulations, or even of general matters concerning the entire body of the Church, but also in all matters pertaining to important issues of specific interest to one or another Local Church, the supervisory provision and protection of the Great Church of Christ intervenes -- sometimes ex officio and out of obligation, at other times at the request of interested parties -- in order to offer an effective contribution for the sake of arbitration and resolution of differences arising among the holy Churches of God, to settle differences between shepherds and their flocks, to avoid inflaming difficulties and facilitate the return of Ecclesiastical affairs to a Canonical path, to bolster the occasional inadequate ministry of spiritual leaders in certain Churches, to support the weak, wavering, or misled in the Orthodox faith, and overall never to delay or eschew suppressing all kinds of moral and material danger that threatens the stability of the most holy Churches. The next controversial doctrine, also promulgated by Vatican I, is papal infallibility. This doctrine can be derived from an ancient belief that Catholics understand to have been universally held throughout the early centuries of Christianity in both East and West: that the faith does not fail in Rome. This is called "Roman indefectibility." From this position, it follows that if the Church of Rome receives a doctrine concerning faith or morals promulgated in the most formal manner (ex cathedra) by the Roman Pontiff -- i.e. if the Church of Rome remains in communion with him, so that he remains the Roman Pontiff -- then the doctrine is thereby and without further reception known to be infallible. Unfortunately, papal infallibility has the appearance of an especially obnoxious innovation. But it is simply a logical consequence of the premise of Roman indefectibility. When the validity of the argument is recognized, the debate shifts to its soundness: Did the Church ever in fact universally accept Roman indefectibility? Only two doctrines are widely defended by Catholics as having been infallibly defined ex cathedra. These are also the two remaining controversial doctrines of the modern period: the Immaculate Conception, that Mary "at the first instant of her conception, by the singular grace and privilege of almighty God and in view of the merits of Jesus Christ...was preserved immune from all stain of Original Sin," and the Assumption, that she, "having completed the course of her earthly life, was assumed body and soul into heavenly glory." Both belong to the shared faith of East and West. Some Orthodox theologians object to the Western concept of original sin employed in the definition of the Immaculate Conception, but the doctrine does not assert a specific concept of original sin, only that Mary was not subject to it. Therefore, the doctrine allows for interpretation acceptable in the East. So the controversy over these doctrines is less about the doctrines themselves than about the ecclesiastical authority to define them. Because it is a definition of the most formal sort, an ex cathedra statement obligates all Christians to receive the doctrine defined. On the one hand, this may offend non-Catholics as presumptuous. On the other hand, this places papal infallibility and Roman indefectibility at the service of the Universal Church and limits the use of ex cathedra statements to only those doctrines whose further definition is worth any risk of subsequent schism. In relation to non-Catholic Christians who seek to restore communion with Rome, it is unclear to what extent Rome would expect them to receive ex cathedra statements and other doctrinal developments promulgated during the time of schism. In fact, even in communion, the question of whether a doctrine has been adequately received is perhaps always one of pastoral prudence. On one extreme, Rome could expect from the Eastern Churches no more than the recognition that she maintains like them one and the same Christian faith. But if the East comes simply to tolerate the doctrinal developments in the West as pious legends, in time these will again come to appear to the East as distortions of the faith, and schism will follow. On the other extreme, Rome could expect the Eastern Churches to adopt all the doctrinal developments in the West as their own, just as they are proposed by Rome's extraordinary and ordinary magisterium. But this undermines the diversity and integrity of the Eastern Churches and their traditions. In fact, both Orthodox and Eastern Catholic theologians have pushed back against Catholic theories of an organic or progressive development of doctrine demanding universal assent. (Cf. Andrew Louth's "Is Development of Doctrine a Valid Category for Orthodox Theology?" and Joel Barstad's "Are the Ratzinger Proposal and Zoghby Initiative Dead?") It is perhaps sufficient for the restoration of communion with Rome if the international ecumenical dialogues uncover in the Eastern traditions basic concepts of papal jurisdiction and Roman indefectibility. These concepts might then serve as common ground for regulating East-West relations and as protection against accusations of heresy for their further development in Western tradition. Returning to Patriarch Sako's distinction between doctrinal issues, on the one hand, and ecclesiastical issues, on the other, we have just reviewed all the potential doctrinal divergences that have caused commentators to doubt whether the apostolic Churches share one and the same Christian faith. Again, most Catholics see one and the same faith expressed differently among the apostolic Churches, and hope that the ecumenical dialogues will at last make this agreement clear to all. Beyond issues that strictly concern the faith, there are some that relate simultaneously to doctrine and discipline, such as the enumeration of ecumenical councils. The question of councils is more ecclesiastical than doctrinal because it falls outside the deposit of faith. The ecumenical councils belong to sacred tradition but not to the Gospel itself. For this reason, pastoral prudence can seek a differentiated consensus regarding a common enumeration of ecumenical councils. Maybe all four communions of apostolic churches could someday enumerate together seven or eight councils of the first millennium. Regarding the councils of the second millennium that Catholics have called "ecumenical," I doubt that the Eastern Churches need receive these as their own, nor need they receive the two ex cathedra statements. Yet, perhaps the Eastern Churches could still recognize these councils and declarations from the West both as orthodox and as protected from error by virtue of Roman indefectibility. Among Eastern Christians, Eastern Catholics may be best positioned to discern what doctrinal resources in the West are most useful or receivable for the Churches of the East. For example, the Council of Trent still helpfully informs ecumenical dialogue with Protestant Christians. The growth of Eastern Catholics in authenticity to the traditions that they share with their non-Catholic counterparts need not entail the abandonment of insights from the West but the further development of these insights according to their own traditions. The question of canonical consequences of historical anathemas is similar to the question of ecumenical councils. Anathemas against individuals fall outside the deposit of faith. Therefore, as St. Eulogius of Alexandria explicitly argued in the sixth century, past anathemas and the even the commemoration of condemned heretics need not prevent the restoration of communion. Only present agreement in the faith is absolutely necessary. St. Eulogius' lost account of oikonomia is summarized in the 227th opuscule of the Bibliotheca of St. Photius. It will likely become a necessary resource for the Assyrian Church of the East to restore communion with the Orthodox and Miasphysite Churches. Other issues are almost entirely ecclesiastical. For example, restored communion between East and West will require a whole new body of protocol to govern East-West relations. The Code of Canons for the Eastern Churches (CCOE) which presently governs relations between Rome and the Eastern Catholic Churches will be abrogated, as foreseen by the final section of Orientalium Ecclesiarum, and each Eastern Catholic Church will need to develop a plan for integration with her corresponding non-Catholic Church or jurisdiction. Toward this end, despite the future abrogation of the CCOE, I proposed that the Chaldean Church and other Eastern Catholic Churches take steps to reform the CCOE, removing from it those canons least acceptable to their non-Catholic counterparts. To govern relations among themselves, many Eastern Churches will likely seek clarification regarding the diptychs, i.e. order of precedence among patriarchs and primates of the Churches. The traditions of both Rome and the Church of the East assign to the Church of the East the sixth position: after Rome, Constantinople, Alexandria, Antioch, and Jerusalem. Assyrians and Chaldeans will have to determine together the location and designation of their patriarchal see, e.g. Baghdad, Seleucia-Ctesiphon, Erbil, Arbela. The Eastern Churches will also seek clarity regarding canonical territory and their right to care for their faithful in diaspora. Thankfully, every apostolic Church is likely ready to recognize the jurisdiction of the Church of the East in Iraq and Iran. The Churches of Rome, Russia, and India may challenge territorial claims farther east. But the history of the Church of the East throughout Asia is indisputable, and therefore the Churches must find ways to respect her historical presence there. For example, they could recognize a right of the Church of the East someday to accede to and enjoy primacy in the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences (FABC) or its future counterpart. Both among and within Churches, there will be need to harmonize divergent pastoral approaches to failed marriages and irregular unions. In the West, the fathers of Trent declared these divergent practices not church-dividing, and in the papal synods of 2014 and 2015 Pope Francis sought ways to bring these practices closer together. Ultimately, the resulting exhortation Amoris Laetitia did not imitate Eastern practice and remains controversial. In the Christian East, Orthodox theologians have called for pastoral practices that better communicate the indissolubility of marriage, such as requiring penance of those who seek to remarry. Although not yet achieved, harmonization remains possible. Finally, as Eastern Catholics and their non-Catholic counterparts develop their plans for integration, they will need to consider when it will be pastorally appropriate to allow for sacramental sharing and concelebration and when the time will come for the integration of corresponding hierarchies and jurisdictions. They will need to review together their calendars and martyrologies, liturgical practices and canonical practices, catechetical and theological materials, and spiritual and pastoral practices. This is precisely the integrated strategy for which Patriarch Sako has called. And, in fact, Patriarch Awa calls for the same, just with more pointed emphasis on the heritage of the Church of the East. It may appear that the obstacles to reunion of Assyrians and Chaldeans within one Church of the East are many and complex. But they are hardly insurmountable. Unity will require hard work and careful planning, pastoral prudence, and openness in the hearts of each of the faithful to the blessings of unity that Christ desires for all His brothers and sisters. Each in his own way, the patriarchs have called upon Assyrians and Chaldeans to envision together their common ecclesial life. As this vision becomes clear, it will become the responsibility of Assyrians and Chaldeans together to cherish it, to defend it against every evil power and extra-ecclesial interest that opposes it, and to see it at last brought to perfection. If Grant Williams is looking past his current situation with the Boston Celtics in anticipation of his next deal, it isnt something the Charlotte native will cop to publicly. In a recent interview with HoopsHypes Sam Yip, Williams suggested that he hasnt thought too much about his potential free agency. Youve got to focus on today, explained the Celtics forward. You cant focus on tomorrow, (you) can only focus on whats in front of you. For me, its always been about playing to the best ability that I can, and winning as many titles as I can while Im here. So after that, whatever happens this free agency cycle, thatll be determined this summer after, hopefully, we got the ring in my hand, said Williams. So thats the main priority. No. 1 is focused on getting this ring first. New episode of the Celtics Lab Podcast on YouTube with @JackSimoneNBA: Derrick White DPOY? Jaylen Brown All-NBA? Mazzulla COY? Brought to you by:@FanDuel https://t.co/TiwcJzeCgb@betterhelp https://t.co/kBsoOLWIQIhttps://t.co/2Zp3TvViJU Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) April 9, 2023 Given this season has not seen the most consistent play from the Tennessee alum, a strong showing in the postseason that features Williams playing within the role the team needs him to would go a long way toward boosting some of the hit his stock may have taken. Making his stance on focusing on a deep run and title aspirations more than just a political answer for his own personal interests, but the best path toward realizing them as well. Story continues Listen to the Celtics Lab podcast on Apple Podcasts: https://apple.co/3zBKQY6 Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3GfUPFi YouTube: https://bit.ly/3F9DvjQ More Analysis! Celtics' Jaylen Brown reportedly on 'list' of Damian Lillard of stars to poach for Portland Story originally appeared on Celtics Wire First Phase to Commence with Construction of "The Allen" Residential Community MORRISTOWN, N.J. and KISSIMMEE, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- GreenBarn Investment Group and Skyview Companies announced today the launch of the first phase of a 20-acre development project in Kissimmee, Florida, beginning with the acquisition of an approximately eight-acre land parcel. In connection with the land acquisition, the development team also secured a $52.7 million construction loan from Sumitomo Mitsui Trust Bank. The project, to be named "The Allen", will be co-developed by GreenBarn and Skyview and will commence construction immediately. NTT Urban Development Corporation and Rithm Capital Corp (NYSE: RITM), of which GreenBarn is an affiliate, are investors in the project. GreenBarn logo (PRNewsfoto/Senlac Ridge Partners) The Allen will consist of 312 apartment units located in downtown Kissimmee, within the Medical Arts District, directly across the street from the HCA Florida Osceola Hospital and only two miles from AdventHealth Kissimmee. The community will be in walking distance to downtown Kissimmee and its retail shops, culture and services, as well as the Kissimmee lakefront. The public-private partnership with the city of Kissimmee followed a competitive bidding process aimed at securing a partner to develop the land in the best interests of the community. The partnership is currently planning for the development of the remaining land, including the potential for 300 multi-family units and a medical office building across the street from HCA Florida Osceola Hospital. In total, the site could include up to approximately one million square feet across three phases of development. "We're excited to partner with the team at Skyview in launching the construction of The Allen," commented Peter Friedman, Vice President, GreenBarn Investment Group. "Kissimmee is a vibrant and growing market with strong housing demand given its location, attractive lifestyle and proximity to the region's multitude of employers. This is an ideal location to bring this development to fruition and deliver on the goals of the public-private partnership with the city." Story continues "We're pleased to play a major role in fulfilling the vision set out by the city of Kissimmee and we're grateful for the support of our investment partners in this development," said David Brickman, Partner, Skyview Companies. "The Allen represents an important part of our central Florida development strategy, and will further build on our track record of supporting infill developments, while at the same time contributing to the economic and cultural vibrancy of Kissimmee and its Medical Arts District. In conjunction with GreenBarn, we'll be overseeing all aspects of design, construction and asset management, in line with achieving the city's mission for this site and making this a tremendous success." About GreenBarn Investment Group With offices in Morristown N.J. and New York City, GreenBarn Investment Group (formerly Senlac Ridge Partners) is a vertically integrated investment management firm that utilizes its extensive network and industry experience to acquire and develop real estate assets, make and invest in real estate loans as well as make strategic entity-level and Co-GP programmatic investments with real estate operating companies. GreenBarn is an affiliate of Rithm Capital Corp (NYSE: RITM) and helps lead their commercial real estate platform focused on debt and equity investments. GreenBarn was co-founded in January 2020 by Mr. Welsh and former principals of Normandy Real Estate Partners immediately following the sale of Normandy's fund management and operating businesses to Columbia Property Trust. During the past three decades, GreenBarn's leadership team has led the execution of over $40 billion of real estate equity and debt transactions. GreenBarn invests on behalf of a broad range of domestic and foreign institutional and high net worth investors and currently owns a mixed-use portfolio of approximately 2.3 million square feet with a development pipeline totaling over $1.5 billion. About Skyview Companies Skyview Companies is a vertically integrated real estate development firm with active developments in New York, Florida and Ohio. In the last 10 years, the Skyview Companies team has successfully executed over $1.5 billion of ground-up development projects. Learn more at http://www.skyviewcompanies.com/ Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenbarn-investment-group-and-skyview-companies-announce-acquisition-and-funding-of-kissimmee-florida-development-project-301796328.html SOURCE GreenBarn Investment Group Libra Group subsidiary acquires 1.4 GW pipeline of solar and energy storage projects and adds team of seasoned Canadian developers, increasing GSI's presence to 12 U.S. states and Canada NEW YORK, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure (GSI), the North American renewable energy subsidiary of Libra Group, has announced the strategic acquisition of the solar and battery development portfolios of Saturn Power, including its team of seasoned developers and an approximate 1.4-gigawatt (GW) pipeline of early to late-stage solar and energy storage projects in five U.S. states and two Canadian provinces. Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure Enhances Renewable Energy Platform with Strategic Acquisition of Saturn Power Harnessing the expertise of Saturn Power, a leading developer and operator of renewable energy projects and leader in the emerging battery storage market, the deal allows GSI to substantially bolster its development capabilities, building on over a decade of experience investing, developing, and overseeing the operations of clean energy projects. It also expands GSI's footprint from seven to 12 U.S. states, which will now include New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, Florida, Minnesota, Michigan, Colorado, Illinois, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Washington, as well as Alberta and Saskatchewan in Canada. "We are delighted to welcome members of Saturn Power's expert team to help us develop a stronger renewable energy business capable of transforming communities at pace and at scale," said Chief Executive Officer of GSI Mazen Turk. "With this acquisition, the integration of both management teams will dramatically increase our capabilities in developing efficient, effective, and essential renewable energy projects nationwide. This also represents the next step in our strategic goal to grow our pipeline to the 5 GW mark of clean power by 2029." The acquired pipeline includes 72 solar projects, 90% community solar projects, and six battery storage projects. The deal also adds skilled energy developers, engineers, and senior leaders, bringing GSI's total headcount to more than 50 employees. GSI plans to direct $200 million of capital investment to bolster its North American operations, including building the acquired pipeline in the coming years. Story continues Community solar projects are designed to democratize the availability of solar power generating capacity among individuals and businesses that have had restricted access to solar energy sources. In 2022, the U.S. Administration announced an initiative to bring community solar to the U.S. as part of the $1.2 trillion Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. GSI's expertise in managing diverse solar projects in different settings will be put to good use with the new community solar portfolio. "When we founded Saturn Power 16 years ago, our mission was to build an organization that focused on developing a sustainable environment for future generations through the advancement of clean, renewable energy," said Doug Wagner, Co-Founder, President and CEO of Saturn Power. "I am immensely proud of what we have accomplished and am both honored and excited that Saturn will be joining GSI, where we can leverage the experience and expertise of our dedicated team, helping to scale the business to provide more communities with access to renewable energy. By merging our respective teams, we will enhance our development, engineering and construction capabilities, providing a platform for further growth in the years ahead." GSI is one of four renewable energy subsidiaries of Libra Group, which include a presence in North America, Central America, and Europe. This acquisition takes the overall renewable energy portfolio of Libra Group to 3 GW of projects owned, developed, or pending development in eight countries. Manos Kouligkas, Chief Executive Officer of Libra Group, stated, "This acquisition is significant, not just for its scale, but for the signal it sends that renewable energy projects continue to be sound financial investments with strong returns and multiple economic, social, and environmental benefits." He continued, "The opportunities provided by community solar projects will not only help the U.S. to achieve its carbon reduction commitments, but will create essential new jobs to serve the green economy. With assets and a pipeline of projects, GSI is positioned to be one of the leading privately owned renewable platforms in the United States." About Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure (GSI) (www.greenwoodinfra.com) is one of the renewable energy subsidiaries of Libra Group. GSI is focused on the development, construction and operation of distributed generation and utility-scale solar energy and battery storage projects in North America. As of March 2023, the company developed approximately 178 MW across 43 renewable energy projects, many of which are still owned or operated by GSI, and has an additional project pipeline of approximately 1.6 GW. GSI's seasoned team also has a proven track-record investing in power assets and partnering with multiple top-tiered investors. About Libra Group Libra Group is a privately owned, global business group that encompasses 30 operating entities: 20 businesses predominately focused on aviation, renewable energy, maritime, real estate, hospitality, and diversified investments, as well as 10 independently-run social initiatives. With assets and operations in nearly 60 countries, the Group applies the strength of its global network and capabilities to deliver cross-sector insights and growth at scale. Libra's social responsibility programs, housed under Libra Philanthropies, include 10 social initiatives created to address unmet needs and grantmaking that helps people worldwide. For more information, visit www.libra.com. Contact: Ben Finzel Ben@renewpr.com 202-277-6286 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/greenwood-sustainable-infrastructure-gsi-enhances-renewable-energy-platform-with-strategic-acquisition-of-saturn-power-301796755.html SOURCE Greenwood Sustainable Infrastructure (GSI) Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. GUADALAJARA, Mexico, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (NYSE: PAC; BMV: GAP) (the Company or GAP) today announced the filing of its annual report, corresponding to the year ended December 31, 2022, to the Mexican National Banking and Securities Commission (CNBV), the Mexican Stock Exchange (BMV), and the Institutional Stock Market Exchange (BIVA), as well as the filling of its Form 20-F to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC). These documents can be accessed on following websites: for the BMV (www.bmv.com.mx), for the BIVA (www.biva.mx) for the SEC (www.sec.gov), respectively, or on GAPs corporate website at www.aeropuertosgap.com.mx on the Investors section. COMPANY DESCRIPTION Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacifico, S.A.B. de C.V. (GAP) operates 12 airports throughout Mexico s Pacific region, including the major cities of Guadalajara and Tijuana, the four tourist destinations of Puerto Vallarta, Los Cabos, La Paz and Manzanillo, and six other mid-sized cities: Hermosillo, Guanajuato, Morelia, Aguascalientes, Mexicali and Los Mochis. In February 2006, GAPs shares were listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol PAC and on the Mexican Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol GAP. In April 2015, GAP acquired 100% of Desarrollo de Concessioner Aeroportuarias, S.L., which owns a majority stake in MBJ Airports Limited, a company operating Sangster International Airport in Montego Bay, Jamaica. In October 2018, GAP entered into a concession agreement for the Norman Manley International Airport operation in Kingston, Jamaica, and took control of the operation in October 2019. This press release may contain forward-looking statements. These statements are statements that are not historical facts and are based on managements current view and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, company performance and financial results. The words anticipates, believes, estimates, expects, plans and similar expressions, as they relate to the company, are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Statements regarding the declaration or payment of dividends, the implementation of principal operating and financing strategies and capital expenditure plans, the direction of future operations and the factors or trends affecting financial condition, liquidity or results of operations are examples of forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views of management and are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties. There is no guarantee that the expected events, trends or results will actually occur. The statements are based on many assumptions and factors, including general economic and market conditions, industry conditions, and operating factors. Any changes in such assumptions or factors could cause actual results to differ materially from current expectations. In accordance with Section 806 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and Article 42 of the Ley del Mercado de Valores, GAP has implemented a whistleblower program, which allows complainants to anonymously and confidentially report suspected activities that June involve criminal conduct or violations. The telephone number in Mexico, facilitated by a third party responsible for collecting these complaints, is 01 800 563 00 47. The website is www.lineadedenuncia.com/gap. GAPs Audit Committee will be notified of all complaints for immediate investigation. Story continues Alejandra Soto, Investor Relations and Social Responsibility Officer asoto@aeropuertosgap.com.mx Gisela Murillo, Investor Relations gmurillo@aeropuertosgap.com.mx/+52 33 3880 1100 ext. 20294 According to the latest YouGov survey commissioned by HEINEKEN, work has been cited as the top reason why Gen Zs and young millennial employees in Singapore and Malaysia 'ghost' their friends, significantly impacting their social life and relationship with friends and family. Partnering with Park Hyung-Sik, HEINEKEN wants to raise awareness and remind employees of the importance of working responsibly and maintaining a healthy work-life balance. SINGAPORE, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- In our hyperconnected world today, it is easier than ever to connect with employees on their devices. There is a constant pressure to always be available, even while on-the-go, adding on to the hours that an employee overworks. Overworking is also often seen as a good sign of employees being successful in their career, especially in Asia, and this poses a challenge for employees in this fast-paced environment to dedicate time outside of work to socialise. As a brand that has always stood for creating shared connections with others, HEINEKEN's latest Work Responsibly campaign partners with global Korean Actor Park Hyung-Sik to shed light on the overworking culture that is still commonplace in Singapore and Malaysia. Staying true to their enjoyment of life values, through this campaign, HEINEKEN wants to remind Gen Zs and young millennials to work responsibly and not let their social life down by 'ghosting' their friends. While 'ghosting' is a term typically used in dating, the phenomenon of friendship 'ghosting' is becoming increasingly common. There are many possible reasons why friends start to 'ghost' one another, but according to the latest YouGov survey commissioned by HEINEKEN, work has been cited as the top reason (45%) why employees in Singapore and Malaysia 'ghost' their friends, with family commitments coming in at a close second (34.5%). As part of HEINEKEN's latest #WorkResponsibly campaign, the brand has teamed up with globally renowned Korean Actor Park Hyung-Sik to release an unbranded video depicting paranormal occurrences within a bar setting. The intention behind this creative approach is to pique audience's attention and lead them towards the campaign's tongue in cheek tagline which emphasises the idea that a friend consumed by work is nothing but a ghost haunting the bar. Story continues "Through this meaningful project by Heineken, we want to encourage employees to start working responsibly," says Global Korean Actor Park Hyung Sik. "We should enjoy our social life and not let it be impacted by our work," Park Hyung Sik added. According to the survey, 46.5% of employees in Singapore and Malaysia have "ghosted" their friends due to work obligations. 54% shared that because of the lack of work-life balance, it has impacted their life significantly 64.5% feel burned out at work, while 42.5% revealed that work has caused strains in their relationship with their friends and partners. A Culture of Overworking and Presenteeism Over the years, employers have been placing more effort on helping employees achieve work-life balance by implementing benefits such as extended annual leaves, mental wellness day off, and flexible working arrangements. However, the commissioned study by Heineken shows that 33.5% of Singapore and Malaysia employees still find their social life significantly impacted due to work. One reason for overworking that's unique to not just Singapore and Malaysia but the entire APAC region is a workplace culture of presenteeism the feeling of confusion and guilt over leaving work on time despite finishing the day's work or feeling obligated to stay back at work until managers or seniors leave. Employees Are Still Letting Their Social Life Down Due to Work Despite Enhanced Wellness Benefits 59% of employees in Singapore and Malaysia agree that while their employers value work-life balance and encourages them to take time off, they still do not see improvement in their social life and often find themselves 'ghosting' their friends due to work. This is because employees (68.5%) find themselves unable to reject extra work given to them 73% are afraid to reject extra work because they were assigned by their seniors / managers while 41% are afraid that it will affect their promotions as they will be deemed as "lazy". Despite 88% of respondents acknowledged the beneficial impact of work-life balance on their social life, and 77.5% of employees in Singapore and Malaysia placing greater importance on achieving work-life balance and a sense of fulfilment, they continue to prioritise work over their social life. However, 88% believe that their organisations could help reduce overworking hours by doing more to encourage employees to have a healthier social life. Together with Park Hyung-Sik, HEINEKEN wants to encourage a refresh mindset towards this culture of overworking that is still prominent in Singapore and Malaysia, and remind Gen Zs and millennials of the importance of working responsibly and maintaining work-life balance. As part of HEINEKEN's latest #WorkResponsibly campaign, there will be activations in Singapore and Malaysia to remind individuals to work responsibly and knock off work on time to socialise with friends. In Singapore, Heineken Silver will be hosting 'The Ghosted Bar' event on 19 April 2023 whereby attendees will have the chance to experience a range of 'paranormal' themed activities. In Malaysia, 40 'paranormal ghosted bar' experiences will take place across the country. "The #WorkResponsibly platform is raising awareness of the sensitive work-life balance issue around the world. Heineken has always encouraged and fostered socialisation and healthy human connections as we feel that workers need to embrace more social and leisure time. We're thrilled to bring this platform to Singapore and Malaysia as a reminder to leave your duties on time and not let your social life fall behind," says Bram Westenbrink, Global Head Heineken Brand. More information on the most recent study commissioned by HEINEKEN to better understand how overworking has impacted employees' social life can be found here. More information on HEINEKEN's #WorkResponsibly campaign activations in Singapore and Malaysia can be found here. High-res images can be downloaded here. Photos to be credited to Asia Pacific Breweries Singapore (part of the HEINEKEN Company). Research Methodology The findings from this release are the result of a survey conducted by YouGov in March 2023. The sample consisted of a nationally representative sample of 1,000+ Singaporeans and 1,000+ Malaysians (aged 18 - 58). Following the completion of the survey, the data was weighted by age, gender and region to reflect the latest population estimates. About HEINEKEN HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and specialty beers and ciders. We are committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution, and focused cost management. Through "Brewing a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. We employ over 85,000 employees and operate breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. HEINEKEN has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken Holding N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY). Most recent information is available on HEINEKEN's website: http://www.theheinekencompany.com/ and follow us on Twitter via @HEINEKENCorp. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/heineken-partners-with-global-korean-actor-park-hyung-sik-for-new-campaign-to-raise-awareness-on-overworking-and-its-effects-on-social-life-301796602.html SOURCE Heineken Fortune Business Insights The global helicopter market size was valued at $56.87 Bn in 2022 and is projected to grow from $58.87 Bn in 2023 to $76.16 Bn by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period. Pune, India, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global helicopter market size was valued at USD 56.87 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow from USD 58.87 billion in 2023 to USD 76.16 billion by 2030, exhibiting a CAGR of 3.7% during the forecast period. A helicopter is a type of vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) aircraft that uses one or more than one horizontal rotors to generate lift and propulsion. They have a wide range of applications such as ambulance services, search, and rescue operations. Increasing demand from defense and commercial segments is anticipated to fuel the market development. Fortune Business Insights shares this information in its report titled Helicopter Market, 2023-2030. Get a Free Sample Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/helicopter-market-101685 List of Key Players Profiled in the Helicopter Market Report: Airbus S.A.S (Netherlands) Textron Inc. (U.S.) Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy) Lockheed Martin Corporation (U.S.) The Boeing Company (U.S.) Rostec (Russia) The Robinson Helicopter Company (U.S.) Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd. (Japan) Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. (India) Kaman Corporation (U.S.) Report Scope and Segmentation- Report Attributes Details Forecast Period 2023-2030 Forecast CAGR 3.75% 2030 Value Projection USD 76.16 billion Market Size in 2023 USD 58.87 Billion Historical Data 2019- 2021 No. of Pages 180 Report Coverage Revenue Forecast, Company Profiles, Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors and Latest Trends Segments Covered By Type By weight By Application Regions Covered North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East and Africa Helicopter Market Growth Drivers Growing Demand for Air Ambulance Services is Expected to Propel the Market Progress Rising Demand from Military and Defense is Expected to Drive the Market Growth Browse Detailed Summary of Research Report with TOC: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/helicopter-market-101685 Story continues Russia-Ukraine War Impact: The Russia-Ukraine war has significantly impacted the aviation industry. Majority of helicopter manufacturers of both Russia and Ukraine source parts from suppliers in other countries. Textron Inc. announced that it closed its manufacturing facilities in Russia and will no longer do business within the country, which led to a loss of potential customers and revenue for the rotorcraft market in both countries. Segments: Civil & Commercial Segment to be Prime Part due to Rising Demand for Emergency Services According to type, the market is bifurcated into civil & commercial and military. The civil & commercial segment holds the largest share in the segment due to rising demand for emergency services and air transportation. The military segment is estimated to have moderate growth with use in disaster relief and humanitarian missions. Light to Lead Due to Demand for Civil and Commercial Helicopters According to weight, the market is divided into light, medium, and heavy. Light segment dominated in 2022 due to growing demand for civil and commercial helicopters in sightseeing, aerial photography, and transportation of small groups and cargo. EMS to Lead Due to Increasing Applications in Healthcare Based on application, the market is divided into Emergency Medical Service (EMS), corporate service search and rescue operation, oil & gas, defense, homeland security, and others. The Emergency Medical Service (EMS) segment is set to dominate due to increasing applications in healthcare. The search and rescue operation segment has the second largest share owing to its applications in disaster management, aerial firefighting activities, and others. Pre-Owned to Lead the Segment Due to Various Benefits Based on point of sale, the market is divided into new and pre-owned. Pre-owned segment is set to dominate due to cost-effectiveness of pre-owned and increased backlog deliveries by OEMs. In terms of geography, the market is studied across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, South America, and the Middle East & Africa. Get a Quote Now: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/get-a-quote/helicopter-market-101685 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. Drivers and Restraints Demand for Air Ambulance Services to Propel Market Growth Demand for air ambulance services is projected to drive the helicopter market growth. The demand for air ambulance services has been increasing as they are one of the fastest means of transportation due to their quickness to offer transportation to critical patients. Their ability to reach remote and inaccessible areas makes them an ideal option for transporting patients to medical facilities with speed and efficiency. The demand for ambulance services is set by the growing elderly population, rise in chronic diseases, and the requirement for prompt medical attention during emergencies. However, delivery backlogs, high operational, and maintenance costs impede market expansion. Regional Insights North America to Dictate Market Share Due to Modernization and Expansion of Military North America held the dominating helicopter market share in 2022 due to the modernization and expansion of the military fleet. In June 2022, Lockheed Martin Corp received a five-year contract for USD 2.3 billion to manufacture a minimum of 120 H-60M Black Hawks as the U.S. military seeks a successor to its existing fleet. The five-year contract includes an option for 135 additional aircraft worth USD 4.4 billion, available to the Army, U.S. agencies, and allies. Europe has held the second-largest share as helicopters are used for the transportation of offshore wind farms and maintenance of wind turbines. Asia Pacific is the fastest-growing region in the market due to defense spending by emerging countries and increasing demand for lightweight helicopters. Ask for Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/helicopter-market-101685 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 Value Chain/Supply Chain Analysis Qualitative Insights - Impact of Russia-Ukraine War & the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Global Helicopter Market Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Global Helicopter Market Impact of Russia-Ukraine War on the Global Helicopter Market Global Helicopter Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2030 Key Findings / Definition Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Type Civil & Commercial Military Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Weight Light Medium Heavy Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Application Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Corporate Services Search and Rescue Operations Oil & Gas Defense Homeland Security Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Point of Sale New Pre-Owned Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Region North America Europe Asia Pacific South America Middle East & Africa TOC Continued...! Speak to Our Expert: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/helicopter-market-101685 Competitive Landscape New Product Launches by the Key Market Players to Boost Market Progress The market has key players such as Airbus S.A.S, Textron Inc., Leonardo S.p.A., Lockheed Martin Corporation, The Boeing Company, and others. The key players have been adopting strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, product launches, collaborations, and partnerships. In December 2022, Airbus SAS launched DisruptiveLab for the improvement of rotorcraft performance. DisruptiveLab is a flying laboratory that is designed to test technologies that can enhance the performance of aircraft and reduce CO2 emissions. Key Industry Development February 2023: Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) unveiled a new manufacturing unit in Karnataka, India. HAL intends to manufacture more than 1,000 rotary-wing aircraft, with different load capacities and generate revenue of over USD 4 billion over the next two decades. Read Related Insights: Reusable Launch Vehicle Market to Be Worth USD 5.41 Billion By 2030; Increased Usage of High Payload Rockets to Drive Market Forward LiDAR Drone Market is projected to grow USD 455.0 million by 2028, at a CAGR of 17.98% Aero Wing Market Size to grow USD 20.35 billion in 2028 with exhibiting a CAGR of 8.98% 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. Address: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 9th Floor, Icon Tower, Baner, Mahalunge Road, Baner, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US: +1 424 253 0390 UK: +44 2071 939123 APAC: +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Facebook | Twitter London, UK --News Direct-- Helium One Global Ltd Helium One Global Ltd (AIM:HE1, OTCQB:HLOGF) CEO Lorna Blaisse speaks to Proactive about the company's recent decision to announce the signing of a letter of intent (LoI) with Tunisian contractor, SOFORI, to supply a Drillmec HH102 rig to be used in the next drilling campaign on the Rukwa Project in Tanzania. Blaisse says she "remains confident" that a contract will be signed, with a view to spudding in Q3. Contact Details Proactive UK Ltd +44 20 7989 0813 uk@proactiveinvestors.com View source version on newsdirect.com: https://newsdirect.com/news/helium-one-global-confident-regarding-drill-rig-contract-420599263 SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. SkyQuest's Interventional Cardiology Devices 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 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyQuest projects that the Interventional Cardiology Devices market will attain a value of USD 99.42 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 9.4% over the forecast (2022-2030). The market for Interventional Cardiology Devices is predicted to grow more quickly because of poor lifestyle choices such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, eating too much salt, and consuming saturated fats. Growth in the market is also influenced by increased tobacco use and inactivity. Moreover, obesity and coronary heart disease risk factors are influenced by physical inactivity. According to the SkyQuest's, Cardiovascular disease is more prevalent because of obesity. Furthermore, due to changing lifestyles marked by smoking, binge drinking, and inactivity, the prevalence of coronary artery disease has grown. Cardiologists can carry out procedures swiftly and without creating difficulties by employing interventional cardiology equipment. According to the CDC, smoking-related deaths affect more than 480,000 people just in the US each year. Every year, smoking cigarettes causes the deaths of more than 7 million people worldwide. More than 8 million individuals are anticipated to pass away each year by the year 2030 from diseases carried by tobacco use. Get sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/Interventional-cardiology-devices-market Story continues Browse in-depth TOC on "Interventional Cardiology Devices Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 67 Figures 65 Cardiovascular disease experts who specialize in interventional cardiology. They are mainly worried about using catheters, which are small, flexible tubes used for medical procedures. By guiding equipment into the body's arteries, angioplasty, stenting and other treatments are carried out. These minimally invasive interventional techniques offer a viable substitute for open surgery for a lot of people. Heart conditions are the main target of these devices' treatment. Cardiovascular illnesses are treated with a single kind of catheter that is introduced into the body. Prominent Players in Interventional Cardiology Devices Market Abbott Boston Scientific Corporation Medtronic Edward Lifesciences Corporation iVascular Terumo Corporation B. Barun Melsungen BIOTRONIK SE & Co. KG Biosensors International Group Cardinal Health Cook Group Koninklijke Philips N.V. ENDOCOR GmbH Medinol Ltd. Catheter Segment Is Anticipated to Rise in the Market Owing to Rising acceptance of Advanced Vascular Catheters by Various Medical Professionals The catheter segment is anticipated to increase at the fastest rate during the forecast period, followed by angioplasty stents and angioplasty balloons due to the rising demand for minimally invasive surgery for the treatment of cardiovascular disease. This portion is separated into angiographic catheters, guiding catheters, and IVU/OCT catheters. Manufacturers are investing heavily in research and development to produce new catheters that are more useful than those that came before them. The increased incidence of congenital and structural cardiac disorders is another factor driving the catheter market's expansion. North America is anticipated to dominate the global market for Interventional Cardiology Devices throughout the forecast period because of its advanced healthcare infrastructure, encouraging government product development programmes and high patient awareness levels, Around 45% of the US population will have heart disease by 2035, according to the American Heart Association, as a result of variables like high obesity, excessive smoking, and unhealthy lifestyles, which can result in heart attacks and other related problems. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/Interventional-cardiology-devices-market Drug-eluting Stents Segment Is Expected to Witness Significant Growth Over the Forecast Period Due to Growing Prevalence of Cardiovascular Diseases Over the forecast period, the sub-segment for drug-eluting stents is expected to experience significant increase. Drug-eluting stents are used to assist stop the development of scar tissue in the arterial lining by coating them with medication that is gradually released. By keeping the artery smooth and wide open, this promotes healthy blood flow. These stents perform better than self-expanding and balloon-expanding stents and are typically utilized for the lower extremities. Thus, it is anticipated that the acceptance of cutting-edge cardiovascular treatments and the development of drug-eluting stent technology will be the main factors driving the segment's growth. Asia Pacific held the largest revenue share of over 56.0% in 2021 due to rising incidence of CAD and improved CAD screening, economic growth, increased government investment in healthcare, favourable reimbursement in South Korea and Australia, the expansion of the healthcare infrastructure in India and China. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Interventional Cardiology Devices 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 Interventional Cardiology Devices Market In November 2022, To speed up and enhance patient access to novel cardiovascular medicines, Viz.ai, the industry pioneer in AI-powered disease detection and intelligent care coordination, has announced the launch of a full cardiology suite. In October 2022, Dozee, a healthcare firm that provides contactless remote patient monitoring, intends to introduce an AI-powered, user-friendly ECG patch for CVD patients. The technology is cloud-enabled, allowing the doctor to access the patient's live, continuous ECG and receive alarms from anywhere. Speak to Analyst for your custom requirements: https://www.skyquestt.com/speak-with-analyst/Interventional-cardiology-devices-market Key Questions Answered in Interventional Cardiology Devices 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 Durable Medical Equipment Market Global Propolis Market Global Nootropics Market Global Helicobacter pylori H. pylori Diagnostics Market Global Knee Replacement Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter CoE lab to leverage Google Clouds advanced capabilities to develop innovative solutions incorporating next-generation technologies like 5G, Edge Computing, Data Analytics, IoT, AR, and VR JAKARTA, Indonesia, April 13, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison (Indosat) and Tech Mahindra launched Google Cloud Smart Analytics and Center of Excellence (CoE) lab, powered by Google Cloud, to accelerate nations digital transformation. The CoE lab will focus on developing innovative solutions by leveraging next-generation technologies such as 5G, Edge Computing, Data Analytics, the Internet of Things (IoT), Augmented Reality (AR), and Virtual Reality (VR). The lab will provide intelligent analytics to Communications Service Providers (CSPs), allowing them to generate incremental revenue opportunities through hyper-personalized experiences and offers throughout the customer journey. It will also enable enterprises to securely and seamlessly migrate large datasets to strengthen decision-making in areas like customer segmentation, experience effectiveness measurement, and customer churn reduction or even reduce the time and resources associated with training machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) models for business application. The CoE will also focus on meeting the business requirements of Southeast Asias telecommunications and enterprise market. Vikram Sinha, President Director and CEO of Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison, said: "We at Indosat value ourselves as the main collaborator in accelerating the nations digital transformation. We are excited to enable the launch of the CoE lab as a collaboration of two global brands that created a platform for new use cases that can improve customer experiences. Indosat can leverage this lab to extend the capabilities and benefits to our enterprise customers." This partnership will combine Tech Mahindra's technological expertise, Google Clouds ML and conversational AI capabilities in Dialogflow and BigQuery, and Tech Mahindra's intellectual property (IP) with customized in-house accelerators to help CSPs better engage their customers through data-driven experiences, modernize their business platforms, and achieve operational efficiencies from migrating to a truly open data cloud. This will enable customers to accelerate their data cloud journeys as they transition to a digital-first future. Story continues Karan Bajwa, Vice President, Asia Pacific, Google Cloud, said, "Organizations recognize data as a strategic asset and know that tailor-made products and experiences are far more valuable to their businesses and customers. A challenge that has held them back is data sprawl: too much data, too spread out, with too much to parse and understand and all of which is locked up in silos. A newly established Smart Analytics and CoE lab that harnesses Google Cloud and Tech Mahindras joint expertise will serve as the catalyst for enterprises in regulated industries to upskill their technology talent, eliminate data silos with an open data cloud, and apply advanced cloud analytics and AI to enhance customer interactions and capture new growth opportunities." The lab will assist CSPs in leveraging 5G and Edge Computing technologies to develop new products, services, and business models that will drive revenue growth while also enabling them to better monetize their significant network data assets. CP Gurnani, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Tech Mahindra, said, "Our deep technology, domain expertise, and business analytics capabilities, combined with Google Cloud, will propel advanced analytics solutions to the forefront. The collaboration will also serve as a catalyst for enterprises as they embark on data-driven digital transformation journeys and help modernize existing applications. The CoE lab is an important step in strengthening our partnership with Indosat. We are confident that this collaboration will help us expand our presence in Indonesia. Further, the partnership will introduce opportunities to create new revenue streams for our customers by providing in-depth data analysis to make efficient and informed decisions." "The launch of the CoE lab is in line with Indosats larger purpose of connecting and empowering the people of Indonesia, by accelerating the nations digital transformation. Moving forward, this will unlock and maximize untapped potentials in digitalizing the industry and the nation," Vikram enclosed. Connect with us on www.techmahindra.com || Our Social Media Channels - Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | YouTube View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005510/en/ Contacts For more information on Tech Mahindra, please contact: Abhilasha Gupta, Global Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Email: Abhilasha.Gupta@TechMahindra.com; media.relations@techmahindra.com Fortune Business Insights Industrial Gas Sensors Market to Exhibit a Moderate CAGR of 6.4%; Increasing Investments in the Development of Sensors to Propel Market Pune, India, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The global Industrial Gas Sensors Market is expected to witness rapid growth due to the implementation of government regulations to reduce pollution. According to a report by Fortune Business Insights, titled Industrial Gas Sensors Market: Global Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2019-2026. As per the report, the global industrial gas sensors market was valued at USD 822.30 Million in 2018. The market is expected to reach USD 1348.1 Million by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 6.4% in the forecast period. The report further states that a rising investment by various organizations aimed at technological advancements of gas sensors is anticipated to boost the global industrial gas sensors market size in the coming years. List of the Companies in the Market: City Technology Ltd. DENSO Europe B.V. Bosch Sensortec GmbH Alphasense Figaro Engineering Inc. NGK Spark Plug Nemoto Sensor Engineering Co. Ltd. JJS Technical Services Aeroqual Ltd. Techcomp Group Request Free Sample of Research Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/industrial-gas-sensors-market-101064 Report Scope & Segmentation: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 2019-2026 Forecast CAGR 6.4% 2026 Value Projection USD 1,348.1 million Base Year 2018 Market Size in 2018 USD 822.3 million Historical Data 2015-2017 No. of Pages 140 Segments Covered By Product Type, By Technology, By End-User Industry, By Geography Growth Drivers Rise in Demand for Affordable and Compact Gas Sensors to Result in Market Growth Covid-19 Impact: The emergence of COVID-19 has brought the world to a standstill. We understand that this health crisis has brought an unprecedented impact on businesses across industries. However, this too shall pass. Rising support from governments and several companies can help in the fight against this highly contagious disease. There are some industries that are struggling and some are thriving. Overall, almost every sector is anticipated to be impacted by the pandemic. Story continues We are taking continuous efforts to help your business sustain and grow during COVID-19 pandemics. Based on our experience and expertise, we will offer you an impact analysis of coronavirus outbreak across industries to help you prepare for the future. Click here to get the short-term and long-term impact of COVID-19 on this Market.Please visit: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/industry-reports/industrial-gas-sensors-market-101064 Market Drivers: Rise in Demand for Affordable and Compact Gas Sensors to Result in Market Growth The nano and micro gas sensing technologies infused with newly designed materials are expected to improve the performance of gas sensors. There has also been a rise in demand for cost-effective and compact sensors which in turn, is projected to increase global industrial gas sensors market sales during the forecast period. Also, portable small dimensioned photo ionization detectors and non-dispersive infrared for carbon dioxide have slowly started gaining popularity and this will propel the market. The latest advancements in gas sensors as well as reduction in cost are likely to contribute to the growth. In terms of technology, the market is grouped into semiconductor, electrochemical, infrared, and other gas sensors. Increasing Demand from the Petrochemical Industry to Show Notable Growth North America The global industrial gas sensors market is geographically divided into Latin America, the Middle East and Africa, North America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. Amongst these regions, Asia Pacific is anticipated to be one of the fastest-growing regions in the global industrial gas sensors market during forecast period. This will occur due to a rise in the strict governmental regulations and ongoing environmental awareness campaigns. In 2018, for instance, China had released an action plan for air pollution and in 2013, the country began its PM2.5 targets under the Air Pollution Action Plan, for key regions. This was done to improve the quality of air. North America, on the other hand, is projected to witness notable industrial gas sensors market growth. This is because the U.S. is witnessing an increasing demand of gas sensors from the petrochemical industry. In Europe, the governments of numerous countries have imposed strict regulations regarding the prevention and control of pollution. This is most likely to contribute to the growth of market in the region. Sensirion, RLS, and Other Prominent Key Players Focus on Innovative Product Launches to Gain Competitive Edge Sensirion, a leading manufacturer of high-quality sensors and sensor solutions, headquartered in Switzerland, announced the launch of its new SCD40 in May 2019. It is the first miniaturized carbon dioxide sensor that is suited for cost-effective and high-volume applications, namely, automotive, IoT, consumer goods, appliances, and HVAC markets. The sensor fits in a space that is just one cubic centimeter. The SCD40 miniature sensor is all set to revolutionize product designs and make way for a vast range of advanced applications. Earlier, in March 2015, RLS, a producer, designer, and supplier of advanced rotary and linear motion sensors, unveiled its latest high performance miniature encoder sensor. The sensors are used in embedded OEM motion control applications. They are lightweight and this makes them perfect for optics, 3D printers, hand held devices, positioning, gimbals, and other medical applications. They also offer rotary and linear performances and come in four different shapes. Ask For Customization: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/ask-for-customization/industrial-gas-sensors-market-101064 Regional Analysis: Favorable Government Policies in Asia-Pacific to Augment Growth Among the regions, Asia-Pacific is expected to gain momentum and hold the largest global industrial gas sensors market revenue during the forecast period. Additionally, the region generated a revenue of USD 161.3 million in 2018 and is likely to witness growth owing to favorable government policies to reduce environmental pollution. For instance, in 2018, the Chinese government established a well-planned action to drastically reduce and keep in check the air pollution. North America, on the other, is anticipated to witness significant growth for the market during the projected horizon. This is ascribable to factors such as increasing demand from the petrochemical industry to keep the pollution levels in control. The market in Europe is likely to witness steady growth owing to stringent government regulations regarding integrated pollution prevention and control (IPCC) between 2019 and 2026. Table Of Content: Introduction Research Scope Market Segmentation Research Methodology and Assumptions Executive Summary Market Dynamics Drivers, Restraints and Opportunities Emerging Trends of Market Key Insights Macro and Micro Economic Factors Key Technological Developments Industry SWOT Analysis Price Trend Analysis Global Industrial Gas Sensors Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Product Type (US$ Million) Oxygen Carbon Dioxide NOx Others Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By Technology (US$ Million) Electrochemical Semiconductor Infrared Others Market Sizing Estimations and Forecasts By End User Industry (US$ Million) Healthcare Building Automation & Domestic Appliances Automotive Petrochemical Industrial Others Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast By Geography (US$ Million) North America Europe Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa Latin America North America Industrial Gas Sensors Market Analysis, Insights and Forecast, 2015-2026 Key Findings / Summary Continued Speak to Analyst: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/speak-to-analyst/industrial-gas-sensors-market-101064 Related Reports: Industrial Laundry Machine Market 2023 Size, Share Hand Tools Market 2023 Size, Growth, Share Bakery Processing Equipment Market 2023 Size, Share & Growth Cooling Towers Market 2023 Trends, Size, Share Outdoor Heating Market 2023 Size, Share, Forecast About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them to address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. U.S. :+1 424 253 0390 U.K. : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com Xi Jinping Bill Clinton famously quipped that Beijings efforts to control the internet would be like trying to nail Jell-O to the wall. The former US President optimistically predicted that the freedom of the world wide web would force China to open up as citizens had abundant access to information. Clinton underestimated the Chinese Communist Party. The countrys Great Firewall has cut off access to Western websites and its cyberspace regulators strictly control what is said on its domestic equivalents. Rather than chip away at the governments power, Beijings control of the internet has bolstered it. But if censoring the internet was like nailing jelly to the wall, trying to manipulate artificial intelligence (AI) might be like doing it with one hand behind your back. The rise of so-called large language models such as ChatGPT, which hoover up huge quantities of data and confidently spit out human-sounding answers, present a new challenge to Beijings relentless censorship of the web. Daniel Zhang - Alibaba On Tuesday, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC), the countrys powerful internet regulator, said that generative AI, such as chatbots and image creation systems, would be subject to strict security reviews that would ensure any content they made was loyal to the government. Content generated by generative AI should embody core socialist values and must not contain any content that subverts state power, advocates the overthrow of the socialist system, incites splitting the country or undermines national unity, the CAC said. Companies such as Alibaba, SenseTime and Baidu will have their chatbots stress tested by employees at the regulator, seeking to goad them into criticism of Xi Jinping and foment revolution. The announcement came on the same day that internet giant Alibaba, which has been under years of scrutiny from the Chinese government, said it would release a chatbot called Tongyi Qianwen, which means truth from a thousand questions. Story continues Western chatbots such as OpenAIs ChatGPT, Microsofts Bing and Googles Bard are already blocked at the website level in China, while the countrys government has also banned companies from building OpenAIs technology into their services. The state-run China Daily newspaper has warned that ChatGPT could provide a helping hand to the US government in its spread of disinformation and its manipulation of global narratives for its own geopolitical interests. China has become an AI superpower. In 2017, the country laid out plans to become the worlds main AI hub by 2030. The push was reportedly ordered after a bot developed by DeepMind, a UK-based subsidiary of Google, defeated the world champion at the fiendishly complicated Chinese board game Go. By last year, Chinese researchers were publishing three times as many AI papers as US researchers, according to researchers at Ohio State University.The technology has already been used to great effect in building Chinas surveillance state and is a key plank of the countrys military strategy. Large language models such as ChatGPT are being characterised as an economic catalyst on the scale of the internet, allowing white collar workers to offload major parts of their job to machines. Chinas strict controls on them, however, could hinder development. Here in the West, governments are taking a pretty relaxed position on all of the misinformation inaccuracies, hallucinations, of things like ChatGPT, says Stephanie Hare, a technology researcher. [But] Alibaba cannot operate in the same way as OpenAI. Western companies which enjoy greater freedom and less political interference that their Chinese counterparts will most likely pull ahead. Bots such as ChatGPT are trained on huge quantities of data and act like advanced versions of Googles autocomplete, creating passages of text that are uncannily humanlike. However, the software is notoriously unpredictable, capable of spouting falsehoods, making up facts or, with the right prompts, ignoring its programming to turn aggressive. Last week, an Australian mayor threatened to sue ChatGPT for defamation after it claimed he had spent time in prison. A Chinese AI going rogue would potentially lead to severe repercussions for its developer, meaning chatbots are being built with strict limits. Try asking Ernie, a chatbot developed by the search engine Baidu, about Xi Jinping, and it will respond by saying the question couldnt pass a safety review. Press it further, and it will ask to change the subject to something more lighthearted. Ernie Bot - Michael Zhang/AFP This is only a stopgap, however. China has used the internet as a way of reinforcing Communist rule, and the CAC is insisting that chatbots reflect socialist values, not merely ignore questions about them. Richard Windsor, an independent technology analyst, says that these requirements, as well as US trade bans on China accessing the most advanced microchips, mean Chinese chatbots will be technologically inferior if they are trained only on approved data. The easiest way to avoid the wrong answer of Tiananmen Square, for example, would be to ensure that ChatCCP knows nothing about it. The Chinese will have to go with much smaller datasets that have been very carefully curated. OpenAI [and others] have no such constraints and so can effectively just dump the entire dataset of the internet into the system and see what pops out the other end, he says. However, Windsor says this could have the advantage of developers more easily understanding the chatbots, making them more reliable. The regulation of the CAC will serve to remove the craziness but not the usefulness that will make these models economically viable, he adds. Arthur Holland Michel, a senior fellow at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs, says that regulation of AI systems is inevitable in the US and Europe, meaning that earlier Chinese rules could give developers a head start on operating within strict boundaries. In the West we are in a pre-regulation stage. I don't think anyone has fully grappled with the possibility that once you put this stuff in [legislation], some of these same questions will arise, he says. If a Chinese chatbot were to take off in the West, it might raise concerns that would make the panic over TikTok look inconsequential. Beijings limits on independent thought whether originating from man or machine means that is unlikely to happen. For many, the main point of investing is to generate higher returns than the overall market. But every investor is virtually certain to have both over-performing and under-performing stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Bund Center Investment Ltd (SGX:BTE), since the last five years saw the share price fall 34%. And the share price decline continued over the last week, dropping some 6.9%. 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. See our latest analysis for Bund Center Investment 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 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). Looking back five years, both Bund Center Investment's share price and EPS declined; the latter at a rate of 38% per year. The share price decline of 8% per year isn't as bad as the EPS decline. The relatively muted share price reaction might be because the market expects the business to turn around. The high P/E ratio of 139.97 suggests that shareholders believe earnings will grow in the years ahead. The company's earnings per share (over time) is depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). Dive deeper into Bund Center Investment's key metrics by checking this interactive graph of Bund Center Investment's earnings, revenue and cash flow. What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR 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 Bund Center Investment the TSR over the last 5 years was -18%, which is better than the share price return mentioned above. This is largely a result of its dividend payments! Story continues A Different Perspective While the broader market lost about 0.3% in the twelve months, Bund Center Investment shareholders did even worse, losing 6.1% (even including dividends). Having said that, it's inevitable that some stocks will be oversold in a falling market. The key is to keep your eyes on the fundamental developments. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 3% per year over five years. We realise that Baron Rothschild has said investors should "buy when there is blood on the streets", but we caution that investors should first be sure they are buying a high quality business. 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. Even so, be aware that Bund Center Investment is showing 3 warning signs in our investment analysis , and 2 of those are potentially serious... 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 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 Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Allied Market Research Labor shortages on construction sites, Efficient safety management on construction sites, and Increased efficiency and productivity on construction sites drive the growth of the global IoT in construction market. Portland,OR, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Allied Market Research published a report, titled, IoT in Construction Market by Application (Asset monitoring, Predictive maintenance, Fleet management, Wearables, Others), by End User (Residential, Non-residential), by Component (Hardware, Software, Services, Connectivity): Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2031. According to the report, the global IoT in construction market generated $11,156.4 million in 2021, and is anticipated to generate $44,215.7 million by 2031, witnessing a CAGR of 14.6% from 2022 to 2031. Download Free Sample Report @ https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/7930 Prime determinants of growth Efficient safety management on construction sites is required as working in the construction sector involves a lot of labor and is dangerous. The inclusion of IoT in construction with the use of smart wearables such as smart glasses, wearable sensors, safety vests, wearables, and smart helmets enables real-time safety management on sites. In addition, productivity is increased by using sensors, drones, CCTV cameras, and radio-frequency Identification (RFID) tags, IoT-based solutions link construction sites driving the growth of the global IoT in construction market. However, Data processing and maintenance involving connected IoT devices are vulnerable to coordinated and targeted cyberattack challenges hampering the IoT in construction market growth. In addition, the integration of robotic technologies in the construction industry assists in reducing dependency on human labor for construction activities are expected to offer remunerative opportunities for the expansion of the IoT in construction market during the forecast period. Story continues Report coverage & details: Report Coverage Details Forecast Period 20222031 Base Year 2022 Market Size in 2021 $11,156.4 million Market Size in 2031 $44,215.7 million CAGR 14.6% No. of Pages in Report 220 Segments covered Component, Application, End user and Region. Drivers Efficient safety management on construction sites. Labor shortages on construction sites Increased efficiency and productivity on construction sites. Opportunities Robotics in construction Resource and waste optimization Restraints Increased security threats in connected devices Covid-19 Scenario Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent global lockdowns, the IoT in construction market faced a downturn. However, as the global situation started ameliorating, the demand for IoT-based solutions was restored back. This, in turn, presented various growth opportunities for companies operating in the IoT in construction market. The predictive maintenance segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on application, the predictive maintenance segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than one third of the global IoT In construction market revenue and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to a rise in the use of systems to monitor the condition and performance of a machine or equipment. However, the wearables segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 16.0% from 2022 to 2031, owing to increasing demand for smart watches, smart helmets, wearable sensors, smart eyewear to prevent accidents on construction sites. Buy This Research Report (220 Pages PDF with Insights, Charts, Tables, Figures): bit.ly/41jO2UU The non-residential segment to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period Based on end user, the non-residential segment held the highest market share in 2021, accounting for more than two-fifth of the global IoT In construction market revenue, and is estimated to maintain its leadership status throughout the forecast period, owing to rising demand for commercial constructions such as schools, malls, IT parks, and others. However, the residential segment is projected to manifest the highest CAGR of 15.4% from 2022 to 2031, owing to rising population and increasing demand for houses and apartments. The hardware segment to maintain its lead position during the forecast period Based on component, the hardware segment accounted for the largest share in 2021, contributing to more than one-third of the global IoT In construction market revenue, as owing to the ease of implementation hardware products. However, the services segment is expected to portray the largest CAGR of 15.8% from 2022 to 2031. This is owing to increasing demand for maintenance of the consulting, and system integration in construction industry. Asia-Pacific to maintain its dominance by 2031 Based on region, Asia-Pacific held the highest market share in terms of revenue in 2021, accounting for more than one-third of the global IoT In construction market revenue, and is also expected to witness the fastest CAGR of 15.5% from 2022 to 2031, owing to rising construction and infrastructure sectors in developing countries such as India, Japan, China, and others. Enquire Before Buying: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/7930 Leading Market Players: - ADVANCED OPTO-MECHANICAL SYSTEMS AND TECHNOLOGIES INC. AUTODESK, INC. CALAMP CORPORATION HEXAGON AB HILTI CORPORATION ORACLE CORPORATION PILLAR TECHNOLOGIES, INC. TOPCON CORPORATION TRIAX TECHNOLOGIES, INC. TRIMBLE, INC. The report provides a detailed analysis of these key players of the global IoT in construction market. These players have adopted different strategies such as new product launches, collaborations, expansion, acquisition, and others to increase their market share and maintain dominant shares in different regions. The report is valuable in highlighting business performance, operating segments, product portfolio, and strategic moves of market players to showcase the competitive scenario. Trending Reports in Construction Industry (Book Now with 10% Discount): Virtual Reality in Construction Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Virtual Reality in Manufacturing Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 IoT in Commercial Construction Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 IT Infrastructure Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 3D Printing Building Construction Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 Ground Sensors Market: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2021-2030 About Us: Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of " Market Research Reports " and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Allied Market Research CEO Pawan Kumar is instrumental in inspiring and encouraging everyone associated with the company to maintain high quality of data and help clients in every way possible to achieve success. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact Us: David Correa 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States USA/Canada (Toll Free): +1-800-792-5285, +1-503-894-6022 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1(855)550-5975 help@alliedmarketresearch.com Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/reports-store/construction-and-manufacturing Key Insights Significantly high institutional ownership implies J Sainsbury's stock price is sensitive to their trading actions 52% of the business is held by the top 9 shareholders Ownership research along with analyst forecasts data help provide a good understanding of opportunities in a stock Every investor in J Sainsbury plc (LON:SBRY) should be aware of the most powerful shareholder groups. We can see that institutions own the lion's share in the company with 56% 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. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of J Sainsbury, beginning with the chart below. Check out our latest analysis for J Sainsbury What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About J Sainsbury? Many institutions measure their performance against an index that approximates the local market. So they usually pay more attention to companies that are included in major indices. As you can see, institutional investors have a fair amount of stake in J Sainsbury. 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 J Sainsbury's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Investors should note that institutions actually own more than half the company, so they can collectively wield significant power. Hedge funds don't have many shares in J Sainsbury. Qatar Holding LLC is currently the largest shareholder, with 14% of shares outstanding. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 10% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 6.0% by the third-largest shareholder. Story continues We did some more digging and found that 9 of the top shareholders account for roughly 52% of the register, implying that along with larger shareholders, there are a few smaller shareholders, thereby balancing out each others interests somewhat. 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 J Sainsbury The definition of company insiders can be subjective and does vary between jurisdictions. Our data reflects individual insiders, capturing board members at the very least. Management ultimately answers to the board. However, it is not uncommon for managers to be executive board members, especially if they are a founder or the CEO. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our most recent data indicates that insiders own less than 1% of J Sainsbury plc. But they may have an indirect interest through a corporate structure that we haven't picked up on. 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 UK6.7m 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 The general public-- including retail investors -- own 11% stake in the company, and hence can't easily be ignored. While this group can't necessarily call the shots, it can certainly have a real influence on how the company is run. Private Equity Ownership With a stake of 25%, private equity firms could influence the J Sainsbury board. Some investors might be encouraged by this, since private equity are sometimes able to encourage strategies that help the market see the value in the company. Alternatively, those holders might be exiting the investment after taking it public. Private Company Ownership Our data indicates that Private Companies hold 4.7%, of the company's shares. It might be worth looking deeper into this. If related parties, such as insiders, have an interest in one of these private companies, that should be disclosed in the annual report. Private companies may also have a strategic interest in the company. Next Steps: It's always worth thinking about the different groups who own shares in a company. But to understand J Sainsbury better, we need to consider many other factors. Case in point: We've spotted 1 warning sign for J Sainsbury you should be aware of. 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 Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Going to the office daily is becoming more common at JPMorgan. JPMorgan Chase is asking its managing directors to come back to the office five days a week.Our leaders play a critical role in reinforcing our culture and running our businesses, the banks operating committee reportedly wrote in a memo to staff announcing the new policy. Its a departure from what has become mainstream for many office workers across corporate America: hybrid work. But JPMorgans reversal on allowing partial work-from-home schedules is not surprising, as CEO Jamie Dimon has been vocal about his disdain for remote work. Read more At Davos this year, Dimon said in an interview with CNBC, It doesnt work for young kids or spontaneity or management. But he did say that remote work can help women since caregiving duties tend to disproportionately fall upon them. Modify your company to help women stay home a little, he said. Ah well. What JPMorgan expects of its managing directors in the office The memo spelled out what managing directors should be doing at the office. They have to be visible on the floor, they must meet with clients, they need to teach and advise, and they should always be accessible for immediate feedback and impromptu meetings. We need them to lead by example, which is why were asking all managing directors to be in the office five days a week. The company has a point. Unless theyre deliberate about it, companies where senior employees regularly work from home risk leaving younger or less experienced employees with fewer opportunities for mentorship or the chance to absorb skills by osmosis, which is seen as one of the biggest downsides of working remotely. At JPMorgan, managing directors are not the only workers expected to come in daily. Employees in sales and trading or at retail bank branches must also be in the office every work day. Story continues The bank also has reminded hybrid employees, who are expected to be in the office three days a week, to meet their in-office attendance expectations. Your manager is responsible for ensuring that attendance requirements are being met and in cases where they arent, taking the appropriate performance management steps, which could include corrective action, the operating committee said. Jamie Dimon has strong opinions on remote work If nothing else, the new policies are consistent with Dimons views about remote work. In his annual letter to shareholders in 2021, Dimon said that work done from home has some serious weaknesses, noting its almost impossible to replicate an apprenticeship model over Zoom. Over time, this drawback could dramatically undermine the character and culture you want to promote in your company, Dimon wrote in the shareholder letter. He also said that a heavy reliance on video meetings slows down decision making because there is little immediate follow-up. And like many other CEOs, Dimon has said that remote work eliminates the spontaneity you get when you run into people in the hall or at the coffee machine. Hes not the only bank CEO to voice strong words against remote work. Just before the first anniversary of the pandemic, Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon called remote work an aberration of the pandemic and not a new normal. At JPMorgan, the plea for workers to come back to the office comes as the company settles into a new headquarters building at 270 Park Avenue in New York City, which houses up to 14,000 employees and is outfitted with yoga rooms and a state-of-the-art food hall. Dimon has said, more than once, the headquarters is in one of the best locations in the world. Whether thats enough of a consolation to the firms managing directors remains to be seen. More from Quartz Sign up for Quartz's Newsletter. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. FILE PHOTO: An illuminated Google logo is seen inside an office building in Zurich SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's top court on Thursday said Alphabet Inc's Google should disclose whether the technology giant had shared local user information with third parties, news agency Yonhap reported, sending the case back to a lower court. The Supreme Court's decision came after a group of four plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against Google and its South Korean unit in 2014 to force the company to disclose the handling of local users' privacy data. The group alleged that the tech company had shared private user information through PRISM, a U.S. National Security Agency surveillance programme. "We will review the Supreme Court's full written decision carefully," a Google spokesperson said. On the same day, the Supreme Court also upheld a previous ruling ordering Qualcomm to pay a fine of about 1 trillion won ($761.68 million) for abusing its dominant market position, the Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) said. Qualcomm did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The Supreme Court's decisions on both cases are in line with South Korea's recent tendency to take a tough stance on regulatory matters concerning foreign technology giants. On Wednesday, South Korea's anti-trust regulator fined Google 42.1 billion won ($31.88 million) for blocking the release of mobile video games on a competitor's platform. The KFTC said the move against the U.S. technology giant was part of efforts by the government to ensure fair markets. ($1 = 1,312.2200 won) (Reporting by Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Jamie Freed) An injured Ukrainian soldier is treated in the Donetsk region of Ukraine on Sunday, March 19, 2023. (Tyler Hicks/The New York Times) When WikiLeaks spilled a huge trove of State Department cables 13 years ago, it gave the world a sense of what American diplomats do each day the sharp elbows, the doubts about wavering allies and the glimpses at how Washington was preparing for North Koreas eventual collapse and Irans nuclear breakout. When Edward Snowden swept up the National Security Agencys secrets three years later, Americans suddenly discovered the scope of how the digital age had ushered in a remarkable new era of surveillance by the agency enabling it to pierce Chinas telecommunications industry and to drill into Googles servers overseas to pick up foreign communications. Sign up for The Morning newsletter from the New York Times The cache of 100 or so newly leaked briefing slides of operational data on the war in Ukraine is distinctly different. The data revealed so far is less comprehensive than those vast secret archives but far more timely. And it is the immediate salience of the intelligence that most worries White House and Pentagon officials. Some of the most sensitive material maps of Ukrainian air defenses and a deep dive into South Koreas secret plans to deliver 330,000 rounds of much-needed ammunition in time for Ukraines spring counteroffensive is revealed in documents that appear to be barely 40 days old. It is the freshness of the secret and top secret documents, and the hints they hold for operations to come, that make these disclosures particularly damaging, administration officials say. On Sunday, Sabrina Singh, a Pentagon spokesperson, said U.S. officials had notified congressional committees of the leak and referred the matter to the Justice Department, which had opened an investigation. The 100-plus pages of slides and briefing documents leave no doubt about how deeply enmeshed the United States is in the day-to-day conduct of the war, providing the precise intelligence and logistics that help explain Ukraines success thus far. While President Joe Biden has barred U.S. troops from firing directly on Russian targets, and blocked sending weapons that could reach deep into Russian territory, the documents make clear that a year into the invasion, the United States is heavily entangled in almost everything else. Story continues The U.S. is providing detailed targeting data and coordinating the long, complex logistical train that delivers weapons to the Ukrainians. And as a Feb. 22 document makes clear, U.S. officials are planning ahead for a year in which the battle for the Donbas is likely heading toward a stalemate that will frustrate Russian President Vladimir Putins goal of capturing the region and Ukraines goal of expelling the invaders. One senior Western intelligence official summed up the disclosures as a nightmare. Dmitri Alperovitch, the Russia-born chair of Silverado Policy Accelerator, who is best known for pioneering work in cybersecurity, said Sunday that he feared there were a number of ways this can be damaging. He said that included the possibility that Russian intelligence is able to use the pages, spread out over Twitter and Telegram, to figure out how we are collecting the plans of the GRU, Russias military intelligence service, and the movement of military units. In fact, the documents released so far are a brief snapshot of how the United States viewed the war in Ukraine. Many pages seem to come right out of the briefing books circulating among the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and in a few cases updates from the CIAs operations center. They are a combination of the current order of battle and perhaps most valuable to Russian military planners U.S. projections of where the air defenses being rushed into Ukraine could be located next month. Mixed in are a series of early warnings about how Russia might retaliate, beyond Ukraine, if the war drags on. One particularly ominous CIA document refers to a pro-Russian hacking group that had successfully broken into Canadas gas distribution network and was receiving instructions from a presumed Federal Security Service (FSB) officer to maintain network access to Canadian gas infrastructure and wait for further instruction. So far there is no evidence that Russian actors have begun a destructive attack, but that was the explicit fear expressed in the document. Because such warnings are so sensitive, many of the top secret documents are limited to American officials or to the Five Eyes the intelligence alliance of the United States, Britain, Australia, New Zealand and Canada. That group has an informal agreement not to spy on the other members. But it clearly does not apply to other American allies and partners. There is evidence that the United States has plugged itself into Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys internal conversations and those of even the closest U.S. allies, such as South Korea. In a dispatch very reminiscent of the 2010 WikiLeaks disclosures, one document based on what is delicately referred to as signals intelligence describes the internal debate in South Korea over how to handle American pressure to send more lethal aid to Ukraine, which would violate the countrys practice of not directly sending weapons into a war zone. It reports that South Koreas president, Yoon Suk Yeol, was concerned that Biden might call him to press for greater contributions to Ukraines military. It is an enormously sensitive subject among South Korean officials. During a recent visit to Seoul, the South Korean capital, before the leaked documents appeared, government officials dodged a reporters questions about whether they were planning to send 155-mm artillery rounds, which they produce in large quantities, to aid in the war effort. One official said South Korea did not want to violate its own policies, or risk its delicate relationship with Russia. Now the world has seen the Pentagons delivery timeline for sea shipments of those shells, along with estimates of the cost of the shipments, $26 million. With every disclosure of secret documents, of course, there are fears of lasting damage, sometimes overblown. That happened in 2010, when The New York Times started publishing a series called States Secrets, detailing and analyzing selected documents from the trove of cables taken by Chelsea Manning, then an Army private in Iraq, and published by Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder. Soon after the first articles were published, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton expressed fear that no one would ever talk to U.S. diplomats again. In addition to endangering particular individuals, disclosures like these tear at the fabric of the proper function of responsible government, she told reporters in the Treaty Room of the State Department. Of course, they did keep talking although many foreign officials say that when they speak today, they edit themselves with the knowledge that they may be quoted in department cables that leak in the future. When Snowden released vast amounts of data from the National Security Agency, collected with a $100 piece of software that just gathered up archives he had access to at a facility in Hawaii, there was similar fear of setbacks in intelligence collection. The agency spent years altering programs, at a cost of hundreds of millions of dollars, and officials say they are still monitoring the damage a decade later. In September, Putin granted Snowden, a low-level intelligence contractor, full Russian citizenship; the United States is still seeking to bring him back to face charges. Both Manning and Snowden said they were motivated by a desire to reveal what they viewed as transgressions by the United States. This time it doesnt look ideological, Alperovitch said. The first appearance of some of the documents seems to have taken place on gaming platforms, perhaps to settle an online argument over the status of the fight in Ukraine. Think about that, Alperovitch said. An internet fight that ends up in a massive intelligence disaster. c.2023 The New York Times Company AUSTIN, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / The entrepreneurial journey rooted in eCommerce success that inspired the launch of LeadOrigin , a digital marketing agency, is now being channeled into the development of Leapify, an AI-powered CRM. Leapify, Thursday, April 13, 2023, Press release picture Leapify is built on data that enhances the customer experience by streamlining lead, sales, and appointment management, while automating the nurturing and closing processes. Harnessing this data, it leverages augmented intelligence to anticipate customer behaviors, empowering businesses to stay ahead of the curve. This cutting-edge software is poised to simplify next generation online marketing and sales processes for SMBs across the world. Leapify is the inspired creation of brothers Bilal and Zohaib Patoli, who successfully founded and bootstrapped LeadOrigin in Houston, Texas, to over 60 team members across the US and Philippines within 24 months. Bilal and Zohaib have been able to propel LeadOrigin to become one of the fastest-growing digital agencies in the nation, showcasing their remarkable capabilities in the field. After automating the entire operation, they relocated to Austin, Texas, where they have dedicated the past two years to developing Leapify. The entrepreneurs harnessed their team-building and project management expertise from LeadOrigin, applying this valuable experience to assemble a strong Leapify core and drive its development. "We can build a revolutionary product because we have so much experience in this market," said Zohaib. The inception of Leapify can be traced to a problem the brothers identified at LeadOrigin: the absence of a unified platform that consolidates marketing and sales operations in a single, centralized location. The solution they developed to address this problem ultimately reshaped the direction of LeadOrigin. The duo also grew increasingly frustrated at discovering the struggles of over 350 SMBs in more than 30 verticals. They identified a bottleneck problem with existing martech platforms, and were inspired to create an innovative solution. This pivotal realization laid the foundation for Leapify. Story continues "With all the smart tools that businesses need to do more and grow more with data backed predictions,'' Zohaib said, "Leapify is a powerful solution for modern businesses," Zohaib set out on his entrepreneurial path at age 13, when he created a niche affordable jean business that generated six-figure profits in its first year. His entrepreneurial instincts continued to grow while he was trading in-demand sneakers, then growing and selling multiple internet businesses. Bilal discovered eBay at age 14 and tapped its potential to build his first eCommerce business. He developed a knack for spotting potential value in key consumer markets, and resold imported goods from China. His marquee product was a 14-in-1 wallet tool that scaled to $80K a month. Bilal stumbled upon Shopify in its early stages, which inspired him to launch his first successful brand 10 months later. That move brought the pair together to found WithPort-a company focused on launching innovative eCommerce concepts. Their approach involved researching scalable products, white-labeling them, and crafting a strong brand identity around the product itself. Through learning and refining their strategy in online advertising and targeting customers with the highest intent to purchase, they devised an effective strategy for fostering brand growth and scalability. WithPort generated $2M in its first year by selling a range of products and services, from apparel and grooming supplies to credit repair services. The duo has since launched and sold more than 30 eCommerce businesses. In pursuit of new challenges, they shifted their focus to an SMB-focused marketing agency with the aim of scaling ventures. This pursuit led to LeadOrigin, which provided the foundation and inspiration for their latest venture, Leapify. Their continuous drive for innovation and growth showcases their dedication to empowering businesses in an ever-changing market landscape. Visit leadorigin.com to learn more. About Leapify helps businesses manage their leads, sales, appointments, and automate processes such as nurturing and closing. Leapify is built with all the smart tools businesses need help to do more and grow more, with less effort. Contact Information: Company: Leapify Address: Austin, Texas Contact Person: Bilal Patoli Send Email: info@leapify.com Website Link: www.leapify.com SOURCE: Leapify View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/749037/Leapify-Founders-Agency-Success-Inspires-Launch-of-Predictive-CRM The investment landscape in 2023 is characterized by a high level of uncertainty and market volatility. The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread economic disruption, while geopolitical tensions, trade disputes, and rising interest rates have added to the uncertainty LONDON, UK / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / New Capital Link, a leading alternative investment firm, is empowering investors to enhance profitability and minimize financial risks during uncertain market conditions with the help of alternative metrics for investment quality. Rachel Buscall - CEO As investors become increasingly anxious due to unpredictable market conditions, the quality of investments has become paramount. According to Rachel Buscall, CEO of New Capital Link, "Investors are keen to identify companies that are well-equipped to navigate through the current market challenges and provide long-term value." Traditional Metrics for Investment Quality Investors have used conventional measures such as earnings, dividends, and expansion to evaluate the excellence of an investment. These metrics provide a quantitative estimate of a company's monetary performance and are widely used in investment research. Alternative Metrics for Investment Quality As the investment landscape evolves and investors become more concerned about non-financial risks and opportunities, alternative metrics for investment quality are gaining importance. One such set of metrics is ESG, which stands for environmental, social, and governance factors. ESG metrics provide a qualitative measure of a company's performance in areas such as carbon emissions, employee diversity, and board diversity. While ESG metrics have some regulations, such as their subjectivity and lack of comparability across businesses, they also have benefits, such as their capacity to seize non-financial risks. Impact of Uncertainty on Investment Quality The high level of uncertainty in the market can have a significant impact on investment quality and traditional metrics. For instance, in an uncertain environment, earnings and growth forecasts may need to be more trustworthy, making it more challenging to consider the quality of an investment based on these metrics. However, ESG factors can help mitigate the impact of uncertainty by providing a more comprehensive view of a company's performance. Story continues The Bottom Line Investors can safeguard their investments and potentially achieve higher returns when the economy bounces back. With the help of Alternative Investment specialists, such as New Capital Link, investors can make informed decisions about their investments during a recession. New Capital Link is an award-winning alternative investment firm, NCL is committed to providing its clients with exceptional service and investment opportunities that are tailored to their unique needs. Contact Information: Rachel Buscall Ceo info@newcapitallink.co.uk +44 207 769 6888 James Harper Director Of Business Development james.harper@newcapitallink.co.uk +44 207 769 6888 SOURCE: New Capital Link . View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/749146/London-Based-New-Capital-Link-Offers-Alternative-Metrics-for-Enhancing-Investment-Quality-In-Uncertain-Market-Conditions NEWARK, Calif., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Lucid Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: LCID), setting new standards for luxury electric experience with the Lucid Air, winner of the 2023 World Luxury Car Award, today announced production and delivery totals for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. The company produced 2,314 vehicles during Q1 at its manufacturing facility in Arizona and delivered 1,406 vehicles during the same period.* Lucid Motors crosses the pond to open reservations for the Lucid Air luxury EV in multiple European markets. (PRNewsfoto/Lucid Motors) Lucid will host a conference call to discuss its first quarter 2023 financial results on Monday, May 8, 2023, at 2:30 pm PT / 5:30 pm ET. Prior to the conference call, the company will issue an earnings press release with a link to the live webcast on its investor relations website, ir.lucidmotors.com. To enhance engagement with the company's shareholder base and facilitate connections with its investors, Lucid is partnering with Say Technologies to allow retail and institutional shareholders to submit and upvote questions, a selection of which will be answered by Lucid management during the earnings call. Starting on April 24, 2023, at 2:30 pm PT / 5:30 pm ET, all shareholders can submit questions by visiting: https://app.saytechnologies.com/lucid-group-2023-q1/. This Q&A platform will remain open until 24 hours before the start of the earnings call. Shareholders can email support@saytechnologies.com for any support inquiries. Earnings Call Details: Date: Monday, May 8, 2023 Time: 2:30 pm PT / 5:30 pm ET Webcast: https://ir.lucidmotors.com (live and replay) About Lucid Group Lucid's mission is to inspire the adoption of sustainable energy by creating advanced technologies and the most captivating luxury electric vehicles centered around the human experience. The company's first car, Lucid Air, is a state-of-the-art luxury sedan with a California-inspired design that features luxurious full-size interior space in a mid-size exterior footprint. The Lucid Air Grand Touring features an official EPA estimated 516 miles of range or 1,050 horsepower. Produced at Lucid's factory in Casa Grande, Arizona, deliveries of the Lucid Air are currently underway to customers in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and the Middle East. Story continues Investor Relations Contact investor@lucidmotors.com Sign up for investor email alerts: https://ir.lucidmotors.com/ir-resources/email-alerts Media Contact media@lucidmotors.com Trademarks This communication contains trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights of Lucid Group, Inc. and its subsidiaries and other companies, which are the property of their respective owners. *Lucid's net income and cash flow results will be announced along with the rest of its financial performance when Lucid announces first quarter earnings. Lucid vehicle production and delivery numbers represent only one measure of the company's operating performance and should not be relied on as sole indicators of quarterly financial results, which depend on a variety of factors. Forward-Looking Statements This communication includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the "safe harbor" provisions of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "estimate," "plan," "project," "forecast," "intend," "will," "shall," "expect," "anticipate," "believe," "seek," "target," "continue," "could," "may," "might," "possible," "potential," "predict" or other similar expressions that predict or indicate future events or trends or that are not statements of historical matters. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements regarding Lucid's expectations related to production and delivery volume outlook and Lucid's finalized production and delivery totals for the quarter ended March 31, 2023. These statements are based on various assumptions, whether or not identified in this communication, and on the current expectations of Lucid's management. These forward-looking statements are not intended to serve as, and must not be relied on by any investor as, a guarantee, an assurance, or a definitive statement of fact or probability. Actual events and circumstances are difficult or impossible to predict and may differ from these forward-looking statements. Many actual events and circumstances are beyond the control of Lucid. These forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of Lucid's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2022, as well as other documents Lucid has filed or will file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. If any of these risks materialize or Lucid's assumptions prove incorrect, actual results could differ materially from the results implied by these forward-looking statements. There may be additional risks that Lucid currently does not know or that Lucid currently believes are immaterial that could also cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements. In addition, forward-looking statements reflect Lucid's expectations, plans or forecasts of future events and views as of the date of this communication. Lucid anticipates that subsequent events and developments will cause Lucid's assessments to change. However, while Lucid may elect to update these forward-looking statements at some point in the future, Lucid specifically disclaims any obligation to do so. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing Lucid's assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. Accordingly, undue reliance should not be placed upon the forward-looking statements. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/lucid-announces-q1-production--deliveries-sets-date-for-first-quarter-2023-results-301797169.html SOURCE Lucid Group French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping attend a Franco-Chinese business council meeting in Beijing, China - Ludovic Marin/Pool via REUTERS Let nobody accuse Emmanuel Macron of lacking ambition. He appears to believe that he combines the strategic genius of a Napoleon, the diplomatic cunning of a Talleyrand and the heroic stature of a General de Gaulle. In reality, however, Macron has made himself ridiculous on the international stage and reduced France to geopolitical irrelevance. If the French President had set out to cause chaos at home and abroad, he could hardly have done a better job. Having brought France to its knees by overriding street protests and parliamentary opposition in order to impose pension reform by diktat, Macron has now alienated his allies with a disastrous state visit to China. His talks with Xi Jinping appear to have been a triumph for the Chinese, who flattered the Frenchman by treating him as the de facto leader of Europe. A protester raises the hands in front of French riot police during a rally against the government's reform to the pension system in Paris, France - TERESA SUAREZ/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock This put European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, whose visit coincided with Macrons and who represents the EU formally, in an awkward position. Macron and Xi discussed Taiwan intensely, French officials accompanying the president told the website Politico, which added that he appears to have taken a more conciliatory approach than the US or EU. The French President's exact position on the US's commitment to Taiwan, and international access to the South China Sea, remains to be seen, but it could be hostile. Macron seems to have naively taken at face value Xis claim to be a peacemaker. Ignoring his guests entreaties, the Chinese leader gave no assurances that he would put pressure on Putin over the war in Ukraine. No sooner had the French delegation left than Chinese forces began exercises simulating a naval blockade and precision strikes on Taiwan. Macron may justify his appeasement of Xi as a step towards strategic autonomy for Europe but this is surely a nebulous concept that has already been discredited by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In an interview on the return flight, Macron set out his vision. Story continues He appeared to conflate European with French interests, and irked the Biden Administration by suggesting that Europe must avoid being drawn into a conflict over Taiwan. The paradox would be that, overcome by panic, we believe we are just Americas followers, he said. Instead, he advocated a role for the EU as a third pole between Washington and Beijing. Is it in [Europes] interest to accelerate [a crisis] on Taiwan? he asked. No. 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. If war were to break out between the US and China over Taiwan, Macron claimed, Europe will not have the time, nor the means to finance our own strategic autonomy. In such a situation, he suggested, we will become vassals, whereas we could become the third pole. These remarks en route from Beijing, among other comments made during his interview, were considered so provocative that the Elysee press office even tried to censor the English version. Politico, where the interview appeared, said that it had removed lines where Macron had spoken even more frankly about Taiwan and European autonomy. In Washington, where the line about Europe as a vassal of the US played into the debate about support for Ukraine, the reaction was predictably hostile. Many Americans, especially Republicans, want the European members of Nato to shoulder more of the burden for the defence of Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, and French President Emmanuel Macron attend a joint news conference following their talks in Moscow, Russia, Monday, Feb. 7, 2022 - Sergei Guneyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP Marco Rubio, the Republican senator and former presidential candidate, said that if Macron had indeed spoken for Europe, then the US should focus on containing China and leave Europeans to deal with Russian aggression. Donald Trump made a cruder point. And in a speech on Tuesday in The Hague, Macron reinforced his demand for Europe to become a third superpower, though he was silent on Taiwan. This is not the first time that the French President has sown disunity in the Western alliance. A few years ago he claimed that Nato was brain dead and suggested that it would eventually be replaced by an EU army. Yet his posturing was comprehensively debunked by the response to the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The US and the UK, not the EU, have provided the lions share of military aid to Kyiv, while Finland has joined Nato, with Sweden soon to follow. Macrons overtures to Putin, meanwhile, have achieved precisely nothing. If the Russians ever do agree to serious negotiations, it will not be thanks to French diplomacy but to Ukrainian victories on the battlefield. Even within the EU, divisions have been stoked between France and the countries of central, eastern and northern Europe, which do not share Macron's romantic illusions about Russia. The United States remains the essential guarantor of European security. France, by contrast, has been exposed as a power in decline despite its nuclear weapons. Macron may like to present himself as Jupiter, the most intelligent figure on the world stage, with an erudition unparalleled by other leaders. He surrounds himself with intellectuals to whom he can display a historical grasp of foreign affairs bordering on omniscience. But his silence on the threat to Taiwan indicates a worrying ignorance about economic reality. Consider, for instance, how along with China, Taiwan is one of the worlds leading manufacturers of semiconductors the building blocks of modern technology. The failure to deter Putin from invading Ukraine had dire consequences for European energy supplies and for developing countries that were dependent on grain imports. But a war between China and Taiwan of any duration could cause even greater disruption to the global economy, with airlines grounded, communications in chaos and entire computer systems ceasing to function. If US deterrence fails to halt Xi's threat to subjugate Taiwan, the economic impact could be more catastrophic than the Covid pandemic. And by undermining the united Western front against Beijing, Macron risks making this scenario more likely. Charles de Gaulle began his memoirs with the celebrated words: France cannot be France without grandeur. Emmanuel Macron may imagine that he is emulating de Gaulles vision. In fact he has merely been grandstanding. While the U.S. labor market continues to rebalance from the pandemic, it faces setbacks from immigration. U.S. officials have pointed to increased immigration as a way to relieve some of the labor shortages and skills gaps in the workforce, and a new survey suggests many Americans may agree. Over 56% of Americans believe that highly skilled immigrants help the U.S. economy, according to a Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and Morning Consult survey of 2,006 registered voters. However, when asked a more general question about if immigrants help or hurt the U.S. economy, respondents were almost equally divided (35% help versus 32% hurt). "Our survey didnt ask people why they felt the way they do, but I think there seems to be a general feeling that people with higher levels of skills or education are more impactful for the economy than those without," Theresa Cardinal Brown, BPCs senior advisor for Immigration and Border Policy, told Yahoo Finance. High-skilled migration is defined by the Migration Research Hub as "the movement of persons who normally possess university education (ISCED 5-6), extensive experience, or a combination of the two." Foreign-born STEM workers are a prime example of high-skilled immigrants, but according to Cardinal Brown, these workers can get lost in the conversation around immigration reform. "There is a generalized inclination when talking about immigrants to think of either undocumented immigrants or those more visible in the workforce in lesser-skilled jobs such as hospitality, construction, janitorial and other services," Cardinal Brown said. Misconceptions about high-skilled immigration Public support isn't necessarily reflected in the number of highly skilled immigrants entering the U.S. Although migration rates have returned to pre-pandemic levels, they still show a steady drop since 2016. The number of work visas issued in the U.S. hit a record low in 2021 at 201,000, according to estimates from the Census Bureau. Story continues Immigrants take the oath of allegiance during a U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services naturalization ceremony on February 1, 2023 in Newark, NJ. (Photo by John Moore/Getty) Immigrant visas or permanent resident (green card) application backlogs that piled up during the pandemic decreased last month by 6,000, but there are still more than 300,000 cases waiting to be processed. These backlogs have prevented highly skilled immigrants from obtaining work authorization. Additionally, there's a lack of knowledge among many Americans about visa processes, which has exacerbated the growing issue. Over 38% of U.S. voters said they had no knowledge of the average wait time to obtain an employment-specific green card, according to BPC's survey, which may shape public perception of immigration. Depending on nationality and other factors, average wait times for green cards can range anywhere from two years to more than a decade. "In general, a lack of understanding about the current system results in many voters not seeing changes to that system as a priority," Cardinal Brown said. "It also results in many disregarding the contributions of immigrants or believing that legal entry is 'too easy' and seeking lower levels of immigration. It also affects lawmakers who come to Congress with little or erroneous understanding of immigration or misperceptions about immigrants themselves." The role of foreign-born STEM workers in the economy Overall, immigrants play a major role in the U.S. economy. In 2019, immigrants paid over $492 billion in total taxes at a time when they made up just 13.5% of the overall U.S. population. Undocumented immigrants also pay taxes. Consequently, Ben Gitis, associate director of BPCs economic policy program, said that reduced migration of highly skilled workers like those in STEM fields leads to "less innovation, reduced productivity, and lower levels of entrepreneurship, all of which will harm job creation and slow economic growth." As of 2019, immigrants made up 23.1% of all STEM workers in the U.S. at 2.5 million, according to the American Immigration Council. The overall number of STEM workers more than doubled between 2000 and 2019. Fewer immigrants mean fewer taxes for the government and a lower workforce participation rate, which can cause long-term impacts to federal programs like Social Security, according to the Urban Institute. The U.S. workforce is also aging more than one in six Americans are now 65 or older. In highly skilled computer or math occupations, U.S.-born workers will likely reach retirement sooner than foreign-born workers, according to Steven Hubbard, senior data scientist at the American Immigration Council. "While many jobs will be filled by young people aging into the workforce, demographic trends suggest that the workforce in 2030 will need more immigrant workers," Hubbard told Yahoo Finance. "Because Gen Z is likely to produce fewer people aging into the workforce than will be leaving it, more workers will need to come from abroad to fill the growing shortage of American workers. Otherwise, these positions will go unfilled." Tanya is a data reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow her on Twitter @tanyakaushal00. Click here for politics news related to business and money Read the latest financial and business news from Yahoo Finance MetaWorks Platforms, Inc Fairfield, CA., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MetaWorks Platforms, Inc. (MetaWorks or the Company), (CSE: MWRK and OTCQB: MWRK), an award-winning, full-service Web3 blockchain platform provider, today announced that Ken Discipio has joined as a member of the Board of Advisors of MetaWorks. Ken joined Tavistock Group / Lake Nona in 2015 as Senior Vice President, Business Development and Strategy Relationships overseeing all business development functions at the company. He brings extensive experience in corporate and tenant representation and business development, responsible for completing transactions with a total consideration value of over $4.5 billion during his 20+ year career. Before joining Tavistock, Ken was Managing Director at Cushman & Wakefield, based in the firms Palo Alto office. Ken had primary responsibility for Cushman & Wakefields Tenant Representation & Corporate Services platform for the western region and managed teams that coordinated multi-market transactions and integrated services across multiple geographies. Previously, Ken served as Managing Director of Grubb & Ellis Corporate Services Group, where he oversaw the Western U.S. region, and spent five years as the Managing Director for CBRE in Australia/ New Zealand, responsible for day-to-day operations of the Wellington, New Zealand office and CBREs Corporate Services Group for the region. Before that, he spent nine years with CBRE in New York, managing relationships with major corporations. Scott Gallagher, President of MetaWorks, said: We are excited and honored to have Ken Discipio join MetaWorks outstanding Board of Advisors. Ken has extensive experience in corporate and business development. Ken brings incredible knowledge in developing technology solutions that innovate and disrupt cross-industry. MetaWorks is a leader in innovation and has been at the forefront of technology innovation in blockchain. I am excited to have the opportunity to work with the MetaWorks team and the unique metaverse ecosystem they have built to help brands at the forefront of innovation, said Ken Discipio. Story continues About MetaWorks Platforms, Inc. MetaWorks Platforms, Inc. (CSE: MWRK and OTCQB: MWRK) is an award-winning full-service blockchain and Web3 development platform that empowers Fortune 5000 brands to create and monetize their metaverse. For more information on MetaWorks, please visit us at www.metaworksplatforms.io . For additional investor info, visit www.metaworksplatform.io or www.sedar.com , and www.sec.gov , searching MWRK. Media Contact Arian Hopkins arian.hopkins@metaworksplatforms.io Company Contact Scott Gallagher, President scott@metaworksplatforms.io Mary J. Bliges Strength Of A Woman Festival has added additional talent to its star-studded lineup. Variety exclusively reported Marsai Martin will serve as the host for the summit portion of events. In addition to the young actress, the summit will feature commentary from Ciara, Jayda Cheaves, Brandee Evans, Egypt Sherrod, Gail Bean, Mara Brock Akil, Milan Harris, Toya Johnson-Rushing, Yandy Smith-Harris, and Iyanla Vanzant, who will deliver a keynote address. More from VIBE.com Mary J. Blige wearing a pink top. Related Story According to the outlet, the Strength of a Woman Summit is free for attendees with sponsors including CVS Health, Amazon Music, Monique Rodriguez and Mielle Organics, and Gilead Sciences, Inc. Mary J. Blige speaks at the Strength Of A Woman Festival & Summit on May 07, 2022 at The Gathering Spot in Atlanta, Georgia. Set for May 11-14 in Atlanta, the annual event promises a weekend of music, comedy, and empowering conversations, with Pepsi as the returning partner. Musical performances for the festival portion include Miss Lauryn Hill, Summer Walker, Robert Glasper, Mike Epps, Jodeci, Busta Rhymes, Jeezy, Method Man, Jadakiss, Lucky Daye, Coco Jones, Saucy Santana, Sunday Service Collective and Muni Long. Im so excited to bring our Strength of a Woman Festival & Summit back to Atlanta for its second year, expressed the My Life performer in a press statement. Having the opportunity to continue to uplift, inspire, and build amongst a community of women is the reason why we created this festival. Im so grateful for all of the support from our performers and participants and of course Live Nation Urban, Pepsi, and our additional partners who are committed to celebrating and creating a community for Black women. View the summit schedule as reported by Variety below. Story continues Morning Welcome Featuring KJ Rose HYPE Moment 11:05-11:20 a.m. Baller Alert Presents: Getting to the Bag Investing in Multiple Streams of Income 11:25-11:50 a.m. Program Description: Financial freedom, investing, and multiple streams of income Moderator: Baller Alert Talent Talent: Mia Ray, The Spice Suite, Milan Harris, and Jayda Cheaves Fashion Conversation With Misa Hylton 11:55-12:20 p.m. Program Description: Fashion as radical beauty Moderator: Misa Hylton Talent: Khalilah Wright (mess in a bottle), MsBling, and Jamilah Davis Lip Service 12:25-1:10 p.m. Program Description: Breaking barriers/women in male-dominated spaces Moderator: Angela Yee Talent: Ingrid Best, Pretty Vee, Megan Holston Alexander (A16Z), Natina Nimene, and Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms Mielle Organics Presents: Inside the Journey How Beauty Moguls Are Made 1:15-1:45 p.m. Program Description: Beauty industry journey Moderator: Blake Newby Talent: Monique Rodriguez, Ciara, Olamide Olowe (Topicals), and Yandy Smith-Harris Creators Roundtable: Telling Black Stories 1:50-2:35 p.m. Talent: A fireside chat/roundtable with Gail Bean, Marsai Martin, Raven Goodwin, and Mara Brock Akil Dont Call Me White Girl Podcast 3:30-4 p.m. Program Description: City Girl Life/ Hot Girl Era Moderator: DontCallMeWhiteGirl (Damona) Gilead: Seeking Solace A Conversation on Faith and Healing 4:05-4:25 p.m. Moderator: Gilead Executive Talent: Pastor Shanua Jones and Brandee Evans 50 & Forever by Rotation: Celebrating 50 Years of Hip-Hop 4:30-5 p.m. Talent: Lady London Earn Your Leisure 5:05-6:05 p.m. Program Description: A two-part conversation about getting to the bag! Moderator: Rashad Bilal and Troy Milling Talent: Segment One: Egypt Sherrod, Modern Black Girl (Tiffany James), and Ayesha Seldon / Segment Two: Mary J Blige Gilead: Ladies First Sexual Pleasure and Womens Health 6:10-6:40 p.m. Talent: Nina Giddens, Shan Boodram, and Angelica Ross Keynote Speaker: Iyanla Vanzant 6:45-7:10 p.m. Click here to read the full article. Ten women-owned or -led startups from around the world to receive capacity-building training and specialized mentorship to scale their digital solutions to help build an enabling eco-system for women entrepreneurs DALLAS, April 13, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Taking place on the margins of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW67), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), with support from Mary Kay Global, announced the ten winning companies of the Womens Entrepreneurship Accelerator (WEA) Digital Innovation Challenge at a packed event hosted at the New York City MetLife headquarters. In attendance were representatives of the United Nations, the private sector, investors and civil society organizations. Three startups, Tiny Totos, Gwiji for Women, and Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx), were awarded Special Recognition status for their best-practice innovations. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005738/en/ The ten winning companies of the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge were invited to present their two-minute live pitches before an expert Grand Jury comprised of investors and cross-sectoral representatives. (Graphic: Mary Kay Inc.) Launched in December 2022 at ITUs global headquarters in Geneva, the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge received 250 submissions from companies in 54 countries either owned by women or with a minimum of one female founder. Each company showcased how their unique digital solution can potentially strengthen digital entrepreneurship in support of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The Challenge revealed what an emerging eco-system of digital innovators looks like with remarkable creativity and ingenuity. An initiative of the Womens Entrepreneurship Accelerator1 (WEA), in collaboration with Mary Kay and conducted by ITU in alignment with the ITUs Innovation and Entrepreneurship Alliance for Digital, the objective of the Challenge is to ultimately build an enabling context for women entrepreneurs by addressing the barriers to womens entrepreneurship, including the digital gender divide, complementing the theme of this years CSW67 on innovation and technology from a gender perspective. Story continues Digital solutions submitted ranged from an educational mobile application enabling childrens speech and language development in the Philippines, to a software system to track companies waste in Uruguay, to a digital solution addressing the child-care needs of low-income mothers in Kenya, to an online professional mentorship program for women in Kazakhstan. Criteria in selecting the ten winners included: - The viability and scalability of the technological solution; - The degree of digital innovation shown, and - The potential of the solution to impact lives, drive socio-economic benefits, and move the needle on sustainable development. The ten winning companies were invited to present their two-minute live pitches before an expert Grand Jury comprised of investors and cross-sectoral representatives who each provided their unique insights based on the above criteria. The winners will gain access to the "Digital Innovation Challenge Acceleration Program" over the coming months where they will receive capacity-building training and a virtual bootcamp to help further refine their business plans as well as specialized mentorship and access to a network of change-makers. Following this, selected winners will participate in ITUs prestigious Global Innovation Forum later this year and join a community of practice to explore ways to leapfrog the digital innovation divide and address global challenges. Grand Jury Members included: Dan Seymour , Strategic Partnerships Director, UN Women Deborah Gibbins, Chief Operating Officer, Mary Kay Global Harry OMealia, CEO and President, 1919 Investor Council Julia Pimsleur, Founder, Million Dollar Women Network Selin Oz, SME Banking Entrepreneurship Banking, Senior Manager, Garanti BBVA Tess Mateo , Sustainability ESG Impact Investor, US W20 Delegate to G20 Ursula Wynhoven, Representative to the United Nations in New York for International Telecommunication Union In first place, Tiny Totos is a Kenyan social enterprise working to ensure quality childcare. By providing training, access to capital, a network and a technology platform, it helps set childcare centers up for success and in turn increases the availability and improves the quality of childcare services in the country. Health Innovation Exchange (HIEx) and Gwiji for Women, the two runners-up, are also addressing key societal issues. HIEx identifies challenges faced by health systems and connects innovators with key health eco-system actors primarily in Africa and Asia to deliver solutions to improve access to quality healthcare. Gwiji for Women is a tech start-up which is addressing barriers to labour market participation by low-income women in Kenya. It identifies, vets, trains, and empowers women from lower socio-economic backgrounds as casual cleaners by connecting them with prospective clients through a mobile application. The WEA Digital Innovation Challenge was held against the backdrop of a rapidly changing economic context which has seen the rise of digital technologies and the growth of a digital economy. Recognizing the potential of the digital acceleration to perpetuate inequalities, the Challenge presented an opportunity to discuss digitalization as a barrier to womens economic status. Did You Know: The top three barriers faced by women digital entrepreneurs in getting their products and services to market are: - A lack of capital and investment to scale their businesses;2 - Limited access to connectivity and to information and communication technologies (ICTs), and - Opportunities to learn critical skills necessary to compete in the digital economy.3 Noting how the solutions presented throughout the Challenge were undisputedly changing the world for the better, Director of the Telecommunication Development Bureau at ITU, Dr. Cosmas Zavazava, underlined the centrality and critical importance of digital innovation in todays context, adding that, "Inclusive and equitable innovations will help us navigate a new digital world that is increasingly Volatile, Uncertain, Complex and Ambiguous." Addressing the gender divide which limits innovation eco-systems and ultimately weakens economies and societies, Dr. Zavazava called for more efforts to address this gap "to help protect against the socio-economic crises we have seen." Also speaking at the event, Deborah Gibbins, Mary Kays Chief Operating Officer, called for action now "to reverse the current trend of gender-blind innovations and redress the digital gender gap that exists in access to technologies and in digital education and skills." Given the scale of the challenge, she invited "more cross-sectoral partners to join efforts to build the conditions for women entrepreneurs to innovate, compete and thrive." As one of the seven grand jury members, Tess Mateo, Sustainability ESG Impact Investor, US W20 Delegate to G20, commended the Challenge for strengthening the digital innovation eco-system for women-led companies, noting, "This Digital Innovation Challenge, which received over 200 submissions from 54 countries, shows how critical entrepreneurship-driven innovation is for economic growth and digital inclusion. I was honored to be a judge and hear from the 10 winning pitches each with their unique digital solution for a more gender-inclusive eco-system. Their solutions are indisputably changing the world for the better strengthening societies and economies. We need more Challenges like this to bring women innovators and women-led innovations together to build the conditions for women entrepreneurs to innovate and compete in the global digital economy." The three startups which received Special Recognition status spoke about the importance of the Challenge as a key platform for presenting their respective digital innovations. "Tiny Totos is a Kenyan social enterprise solving Africa's childcare crisis by turning informal babysitters into profitable childcare entrepreneurs. The recognition and platform provided by the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge provides us with invaluable endorsement of our business model at the highest levels of global community practice. As female founders, membership of a community of like-minded digital entrepreneurs fuels our creativity and drive to transform Africa's informal childcare market, achieve exponential growth in our network of low-income childcare entrepreneurs and help working women lift themselves out of poverty." Emma Caddy, CEO and Founder, Tiny Totos "The WEA Digital Innovation Challenge is a great platform to showcase our work towards female empowerment and to help women entrepreneurs expand their knowledge and networking opportunities. This is particularly needed in the health arena, since still today 1 in 2 people, or half the world, lack access to essential health care, and less than 2 percent of venture capital funding globally goes to women, despite the evidence that their ventures generate stronger returns. Women-owned/led startups face several barriers to success, including limited access to funding, networking opportunities, gender bias, and work-life balance issues. However, the rise of digital entrepreneurship presents real opportunities for women innovators to overcome such barriers, including access to global markets, support networks, and increasing awareness and recognition." Paula Navajas, Chief Operating Officer (COO), Health Innovation and Investment Exchange (HIEx) "The WEA Digital Innovation Challenge gives women-led ventures a voice in a male-dominated space. The program is practical and tailor-made to suit the needs of early-stage ventures that address our societys most pressing challenges. With every session, I feel more confident in my abilities as an entrepreneur and as a woman." Elizabeth Mwangi, Founder and Director, Gwiji for Women A recording of the WEA Digital Innovation Challenge is available here. About Mary Kay One of the original glass ceiling breakers, Mary Kay Ash founded her dream beauty company in 1963 with one goal: enriching womens lives. That dream has blossomed into a multibillion-dollar company with millions of independent sales force members in more than 35 countries. As an entrepreneurship development company, Mary Kay is committed to empowering women on their journey through education, mentorship, advocacy, networking, and innovation. Mary Kay is dedicated to investing in the science behind beauty and manufacturing cutting-edge skincare, color cosmetics, nutritional supplements, and fragrances. Mary Kay believes in enriching lives today for a sustainable tomorrow, partnering with organizations from around the world focusing on promoting business excellence, supporting cancer research, advancing gender equality, protecting survivors from domestic abuse, beautifying our communities, and encouraging children to follow their dreams. Learn more at marykayglobal.com, find us on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn or follow us on Twitter. About ITU The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) is the United Nations specialized agency for information and communication technologies (ICTs), driving innovation in ICTs together with 193 Member States and a membership of over 900 companies, universities, and international and regional organizations. Established over 150 years ago in 1865, ITU is the intergovernmental body responsible for coordinating the shared global use of the radio spectrum, promoting international cooperation in assigning satellite orbits, improving communication infrastructure in the developing world, and establishing the worldwide standards that foster seamless interconnection of a vast range of communications systems. From broadband networks to cutting-edge wireless technologies, aeronautical and maritime navigation, radio astronomy, oceanographic and satellite-based earth monitoring as well as converging fixed-mobile phone, Internet and broadcasting technologies, ITU is committed to connecting the world. For more information, visit: www.itu.int. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230413005738/en/ Contacts Mary Kay Inc. Corporate Communications marykay.com/newsroom 972.687.5332 or media@mkcorp.com DALLAS, April 13, 2023--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Matador Resources Company (NYSE: MTDR) ("Matador" or the "Company") today announced the closing of its wholly-owned subsidiarys previously-announced acquisition of Advance Energy Partners Holdings, LLC ("Advance") from EnCap Investments L.P. ("EnCap"), including Advances oil and natural gas producing properties, undeveloped acreage and midstream assets located in Lea County, New Mexico and Ward County, Texas (the "Advance Transaction"). The consideration paid upon the closing of the Advance Transaction consisted of an initial as-adjusted cash purchase price of approximately $1.6 billion, which amount is subject to customary post-closing adjustments. As previously announced, the Advance Transaction may also include potential additional cash consideration of $7.5 million for each month of 2023 in which the average oil price, as defined in the securities purchase agreement, exceeds $85 per barrel. The Advance Transaction includes approximately 18,500 net acres (99% held by production) in the core of the northern Delaware Basin, most of which is adjacent to or very close to some of Matadors best acreage where wells with an estimated ultimate recovery of over one million barrels of oil equivalent have been drilled. It also provides a significant increase to Matadors inventory in primary development zones, with 206 gross (174 net) operated locations in core target formations and an additional 38 gross (35 net) upside operated locations in the Wolfcamp D formation. This new acreage also provides further expansion opportunities for Pronto Midstream, LLC, Matadors wholly-owned midstream subsidiary. Management Comments Joseph Wm. Foran, Matadors Founder, Chairman and CEO, commented, "On behalf of the Board and management, I would like to congratulate and thank everyone at Matador and EnCap for their professionalism and for everyones efforts to close this transaction. These properties are a unique, value-creating opportunity for Matador and all of its stakeholders. Closing this transaction sets Matador up nicely for a great 2023 and an even better 2024. Story continues "The Advance Transaction was funded with a combination of cash on hand and borrowings under our credit agreement. On March 31, 2023, we successfully increased the elected commitment under our credit agreement from $775 million to $1.25 billion. We express our appreciation to each of our banks for their continued support. Importantly, this acquisition does not significantly impact Matadors leverage profile, and we remain committed to maintaining a strong balance sheet, growing our assets at a measured pace and paying down our debt with free cash flow going forward from here as well as increasing the value of the company and increasing the amount of our shareholder returns over time. "We look forward to further discussing the Advance acquisition and our plans for 2023 during our first quarter 2023 earnings release update call." About Matador Resources Company Matador is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration, development, production and acquisition of oil and natural gas resources in the United States, with an emphasis on oil and natural gas shale and other unconventional plays. Its current operations are focused primarily on the oil and liquids-rich portion of the Wolfcamp and Bone Spring plays in the Delaware Basin in Southeast New Mexico and West Texas. Matador also operates in the Eagle Ford shale play in South Texas and the Haynesville shale and Cotton Valley plays in Northwest Louisiana. Additionally, Matador conducts midstream operations in support of its exploration, development and production operations and provides natural gas processing, oil transportation services, natural gas, oil and produced water gathering services and produced water disposal services to third parties. The Companys predecessor, Foran Oil Company, was founded in 1983 by Joseph Wm. Foran, the Companys Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, with $270,000 in contributed capital from 17 friends and family members. Foran Oil Company was later contributed to Matador Petroleum Corporation upon its formation by Mr. Foran in 1988. Mr. Foran served as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of that company from its inception until it was sold in June 2003 to Tom Brown, Inc., in an all-cash transaction for an enterprise value of approximately $388.5 million. On the following Monday, Mr. Foran founded Matador Resources Company with $6 million. Today, Matador has a market cap of approximately $6 billion (based upon the Companys closing share price on April 5, 2023) and is one of the top 20 public exploration and production companies in the country by market capitalization and one of the top 10 oil and natural gas producers in New Mexico. For more information, visit Matador Resources Company at www.matadorresources.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press 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. "Forward-looking statements" are statements related to future, not past, events. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations and include any statement that does not directly relate to a current or historical fact. In this context, forward-looking statements often address expected future business and financial performance, and often contain words such as "could," "believe," "would," "anticipate," "intend," "estimate," "expect," "may," "should," "continue," "plan," "predict," "potential," "project," "hypothetical," "forecasted" and similar expressions that are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements about the anticipated benefits, opportunities and results with respect to the Advance Transaction, including any expected value creation, reserves additions, midstream opportunities and other anticipated impacts from the Advance Transaction, as well as other aspects of the transaction, guidance, projected or forecasted financial and operating results, future liquidity, leverage, the payment of dividends, results in certain basins, objectives, project timing, expectations and intentions, regulatory and governmental actions and other statements that are not historical facts. Actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements, and such forward-looking statements may not prove to be accurate. These forward-looking statements involve certain risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, disruption from the Advance Transaction making it more difficult to maintain business and operational relationships; significant transaction costs associated with the Advance Transaction; the risk of litigation and/or regulatory actions related to the Advance Transaction, as well as the following risks related to financial and operational performance: general economic conditions; the Companys ability to execute its business plan, including whether its drilling program is successful; changes in oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids prices and the demand for oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; its ability to replace reserves and efficiently develop current reserves; the operating results of the Companys midstream oil, natural gas and water gathering and transportation systems, pipelines and facilities, the acquiring of third-party business and the drilling of any additional salt water disposal wells; costs of operations; delays and other difficulties related to producing oil, natural gas and natural gas liquids; delays and other difficulties related to regulatory and governmental approvals and restrictions; impact on the Companys operations due to seismic events; its ability to make acquisitions on economically acceptable terms; its ability to integrate acquisitions; availability of sufficient capital to execute its business plan, including from future cash flows, available borrowing capacity under its revolving credit facilities and otherwise; the operating results of and the availability of any potential distributions from our joint ventures; weather and environmental conditions; the ongoing impact of the novel coronavirus, or COVID-19, or variants thereof, on oil and natural gas demand, oil and natural gas prices and its business; and the other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. For further discussions of risks and uncertainties, you should refer to Matadors filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the "Risk Factors" section of Matadors most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Matador undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances occurring after the date of this press release, except as required by law, including the securities laws of the United States and the rules and regulations of the SEC. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. All forward-looking statements are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230412005774/en/ Contacts Mac Schmitz Vice President Investor Relations investors@matadorresources.com (972) 371-5225 CEO of Axia Women's Health Brings Vast Experience in Health Provider Operations and Value-Based Care to National Membership-Based Primary Care Network BOCA RATON, Fla., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MDVIP, the market leader in personalized healthcare with a network of over 1,100 primary care physicians nationwide, today announced the appointment of Gaurov Dayal, M.D., CEO of Axia Women's Health and a recognized thought leader in value-based care, to its board of directors. Dr. Dayal brings over two decades of executive experience in population health and physician group, health plan and hospital operations to the MDVIP board. MDVIP appoints Gaurov Dayal, M.D., CEO of Axia Womens Health, to its board of directors. "Gaurov has been at the forefront of transforming care delivery by aligning doctors, hospital systems and other industry stakeholders around the common goal of improving patient health," said MDVIP Chairman and CEO Bret Jorgensen. "We are pleased to welcome him to our board and believe his wealth of knowledge will have a tremendous impact on advancing MDVIP's core mission and strategic growth priorities." As CEO of Axia Women's Health, Dr. Dayal is responsible for leading one of the largest independent women's health networks in the U.S. comprised of over 500 providers across 200 locations. Prior to joining Axia, he was President and COO of EversideHealth, one of the nation's largest direct primary care providers operating 380 health centers in 34 states. His previous executive experience includes roles as President, New Markets and Chief Growth Officer at ChenMed, where he was instrumental in leading their national expansion. Earlier in his career, he held positions at Lumeris, SSM Health Care and Adventist Health Care and also served as a consultant at McKinsey and Company. Dr. Dayal completed his undergraduate education at Johns Hopkins University, his medical degree at Northwestern University and residency training at Washington University in St. Louis. Story continues "MDVIP is an outstanding example of an innovative primary care model that is improving outcomes and reducing total costs to the healthcare system through an emphasis on prevention and the patient experience," said Dr. Dayal. "I am honored to accept this role and look forward to working with the MDVIP team to continue the company's momentum. Given its strengths, the business is positioned for even greater success in an era of value-based care as it furthers its mission to help members lead healthier, more vibrant lives." Studies published in peer-reviewed medical journals demonstrate that patients in MDVIP-affiliated practices have better health outcomes compared to those in traditional practices. A study in the American Journal of Managed Care found Medicare patients who joined MDVIP were hospitalized 79% less than non-MDVIP members, and patients with commercial insurance were hospitalized 72% less. This equates to an estimated savings of $600 million for Medicare per year. Research also showed 40% more patients were identified at risk for heart attack or stroke using advanced testing in the MDVIP Wellness Program than standard cholesterol tests. About MDVIP MDVIP leads the market in membership-based healthcare that goes far beyond concierge medicine services with a national network of more than 1,100 primary care physicians serving over 380,000 patients. Published research shows that the MDVIP model identifies more patients at risk for cardiovascular disease, delivers more preventive health services and saves the healthcare system hundreds of millions of dollars through reduced hospitalizations and readmissions. In response to growing consumer demand for a more personalized healthcare experience, hospital systems are incorporating the MDVIP model into their primary care offering. MDVIP also partners with employers to offer an executive health program as a benefit to their employees. The company has been certified by Great Place to Work since 2018 and is recognized by Fortune as one of the 2022 Best Workplaces in Healthcare. For more information, visit www.mdvip.com. Follow MDVIP on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn. Media Contact: Nancy Udell 561-310-5455 nudell@mdvip.com MDVIP Logo (PRNewsfoto/MDVIP) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mdvip-appoints-gaurov-dayal-md-to-its-board-of-directors-301796682.html SOURCE MDVIP - Meadow Lake Tribal Council Industrial Investments LP - Toronto, ON, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Meadow Lake Tribal Council Industrial Investment is the 2023 recipient of Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation Award. A group of nine First Nations form the Meadow Lake Tribal Council, and this led to the creation of Meadow Lake Tribal Council Industrial Investments (MLTCII) in 2012. Based in Saskatchewan, the Indigenous-owned MLTCII continues to make a meaningful and positive impact on economic development, focusing on five sectors: forestry, renewable energy, oil and gas, agriculture, and hospitality services. MLTC was founded over 40 years ago, in the 10 years since developing MLTCII, they have made an exceptional economic impact throughout northwest Saskatchewan and beyond, says president & CEO, Tabatha Bull. The continuous growth in the number of projects and their success makes MLTCII a most deserving recipient of the AEDC award. Our sincere congratulations to MTCII. MLTC manages four wholly owned companies: NorSask Forest Products, Northwind Forest Products, MLTC Bioenergy Centre, and most recently, MLTC Solar Farm and has partnership positions in another 10 active companies. These companies are spread across MLTC s traditional territories in northwest Saskatchewan and the remainder of the province. MLTC provides many direct and indirect benefits by contributing to employment, dividend distribution to communities and overall economic growth. As we look at the future, MLTC is enthusiastic about new opportunities for diversification and growth in forestry, agriculture, petroleum services, the hospitality industry, renewable energy, digital communication and environmental consulting, says Richard Ben, Tribal Chief of the Meadow Lake Tribal Council. It is truly an honour to be recognized among the outstanding group of past winners. MLTC will continue to work toward the betterment of our nine nations and is looking to the future with optimism. Story continues The AEDC award is proudly sponsored by Rio Tinto and will be presented at CCABs East Coast Awards Dinner on May 2, 2023 in Halifax, N.S.. The day begins with the East Coast Business Forum, followed by CCABs Award dinner. Rio Tinto is very pleased to collaborate with CCAB as the sponsor of the 2023 Aboriginal Economic Development Corporation award and to recognize Meadow Lake Tribal Council Industrial Investments excellence and leading role in harnessing development opportunities for its member nations, said Rio Tinto General Manager Procurement Atlantic, Sylvain Lemay. As Rio Tinto continues its journey towards reconciliation, we are fully committed to leveraging our business to create sustainable economic opportunities in terms of jobs and local procurement and supply opportunities for Indigenous people across Canada. -30- About Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business: CCAB is committed to the full participation of Indigenous peoples in Canadas economy. As a national, non-partisan association, its mission is to promote, strengthen and enhance a prosperous Indigenous economy through the fostering of business relationships, opportunities, and awareness. CCAB offers knowledge, resources, and programs to its members to cultivate economic opportunities for Indigenous peoples and businesses across Canada. For more information, visit www.ccab.com. Attachment CONTACT: Alannah Jabokwoam Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business 647-920-3554 marketing@ccab.com U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said that the Justice Department would file an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court seeking to block the entirety of Kacsmaryk's order suspending the FDA approval of the abortion pill mifepristone. Garland said the administration "will be seeking emergency relief from the Supreme Court to defend the FDA's scientific judgment and protect Americans' access to safe and effective reproductive care." The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals put on hold part of last Friday's order by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, while he hears a lawsuit by anti-abortion groups seeking to ban it. The Planned Parenthood Federation of America condemned the 5th Circuit's decision as a rejection of science and law. "The federal judiciary has for the second time this week rejected science and the law, and this time, the court decided they had the authority to re-write mifepristone's label," CNBC reported citing Alexis McGill Johnson, president of Planned Parenthood. "If allowed to stand, the consequences of this decision will be catastrophic not just for medication abortion access but the entire drug approval system," he added. A U.S. federal appeals court has temporarily blocked a decision by a Texas judge. The abortion pill mifepristone will remain available in the U.S. for now but with some restrictions, including requiring in-person doctor visits to obtain the drug and limiting its use to the first seven weeks of pregnancy from the current ten, a federal appeals court ruled. Don't miss real-time alerts on your stocks - join Benzinga Pro for free! Try the tool that will help you invest smarter, faster, and better. This article Mifepristone Abortion Pill Access in Limbo: Justice Department May Ask Supreme Court's Intervention originally appeared on Benzinga.com . 2023 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved. The Melbourne Theronastic Innovation Centre, in partnership with Siemens Healthineers and MIM Software, will provide patients with access to a platform that will facilitate faster prognosis and personalized therapy using the world's most sensitive whole-body PET/CT scanner. CLEVELAND, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- MIM Software Inc., a leading global provider of medical imaging software, is proud to support the efforts of the Melbourne Theronastic Innovation Centre (MTIC) in Melbourne, Victoria as they launch the use of the Siemens Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT , one of the few such "all-organ" scanners in the world. MIM Software partners with Melbourne Theronastic Innovation Centre (MTIC) in Melbourne, Victoria to launch all-organ PET/CT scanner for patient-specific precision medicine. MIM Encore and MIM SurePlan MRT facilitate diagnostic and therapeutic decision-making, supporting MTIC's vision for cancer research innovation. With the implementation of this new technology, the MTIC will strive to provide patient-specific precision medicine based on detailed disease characteristics using a combination of advanced molecular imaging tools and selective genomic analysis. In this regard, MIM Software is excited to serve as the backbone for the enterprise's diagnostic and therapeutic decision pathway. The partnership will also empower MTIC's long-term vision of accelerating translational research and innovation in clinical practice to meet the ever-changing needs of cancer diagnosis and therapy. MTIC will be supported by MIM Encore and MIM SurePlan MRT at an enterprise level, facilitating AI-based tumor identification and segmentation using Contour ProtegeAI and voxel-based dosimetry for accurate analysis of the dosimetric impact throughout a patient's treatment regimen. "We're proud to partner with MTIC to revolutionize cancer care. Our technology will enable earlier detection of high-risk cancers with a focus on personalized care," said Kanak Chatterjee, Vice President of International Business Development at MIM Software, Inc. "We're committed to supporting MTIC's mission to increase patient access to innovative solutions and improve their outcomes. I am confident that together with the indomitable team at MTIC, we will create game-changing approaches to meet the needs of cancer patients worldwide." Story continues "With the 'all organ' dynamic imaging capability of the Siemens Biograph Vision Quadra PET/CT, there has never been a greater opportunity or need for tools to capture the rich data intrinsic in real-time molecular biological processes," said Rod Hicks, Founder, Executive Chairman, and Chief Medical Officer at MTIC." I can't imagine looking at these data without the powerful software provided by MIM and look forward to partnering with their fantastic team in further enhancing our ability to extract information that better informs patient care." About MIM Software Inc. MIM Software Inc. is a privately held company headquartered in Cleveland, OH, with international offices in Beijing, Chengdu, and Brussels. MIM Software sells its products globally to imaging centers, hospitals, specialty clinics, research organizations, and pharmaceutical companies. The company's products are used in over 3,500 centers worldwide. MIM Software Inc. is committed to enhancing patient care by providing customer-centered and innovative imaging solutions in the fields of Radiology, Nuclear Medicine, Neuroimaging, Cardiac Imaging, and Radiation Oncology. To learn more, visit www.mimsoftware.com . About MTIC Being co-located with the Australian Prostate Centre[RH1], MTIC delivers advanced diagnostic services for patients with known or suspected cancers of the prostate, bladder, or kidney and access to clinical trials of novel diagnostic and therapeutic agents for these and other cancers. Read more at www.mtic.net.au/advanced-diagnosis . (PRNewsfoto/MIM Software Inc.) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mim-software-celebrates-mtics-first-total-body-petct-scanner-301796277.html SOURCE MIM Software Inc. Noah Berger/AP/REX/Shutterstock The police cars, fire trucks and ambulances with the flashing lights mean one thing: somewhere, someone is in trouble. And the first responders who arrive at scenes of accidents, crimes, fire and such, put their lives on the line every day to help people and property in peril. But just how much do emergency medical technicians, paramedics, police officers and firefighters earn? As with most jobs, it depends on the state where they work. See: Celebrities Who Are Even Richer Than You Think Learn: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero GOBankingRates looked at the salaries of emergency personnel in every state using data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and their average salaries range widely across the country. For instance, firefighters in Mississippi make just $32,870 -- $22,420 below the average U.S. salary for the profession. In California, on the other hand, firefighters are paid $84,930 but must contend with a higher cost of living. So, are firefighters, police officers, EMTs and paramedics really making enough money to put their lives on the line every day? That's a matter of opinion. To help you decide, GOBankingRates ranked and ordered the states from worst to best for emergency personnel. Find out whether or not these workers are making bank in your state. simonkr / Getty Images 50. Mississippi EMT annual wage: $29,350 Paramedic annual wage: $41,780 Police annual wage: $38,940 Firefighter annual wage: $32,870 Take Our Poll: What Do You Plan To Use Your Tax Refund For? ftwitty / Getty Images 49. Arkansas EMT annual wage: $30,580 Paramedic annual wage: $38,620 Police annual wage: $42,430 Firefighter annual wage: $36,950 slobo / Getty Images 48. Kentucky EMT annual wage: $29,250 Paramedic annual wage: $41,110 Police annual wage: $46,910 Firefighter annual wage: $34,060 RyanJLane / Getty Images 47. West Virginia EMT annual wage: $28,530 Paramedic annual wage: $39,550 Police annual wage: $47,160 Firefighter annual wage: $36,850 Shutterstock.com 46. Alabama EMT annual wage: $28,030 Paramedic annual wage: $35,460 Police annual wage: $49,540 Firefighter annual wage: $44,920 Story continues leaf / iStock.com 45. Kansas EMT annual wage: $26,190 Paramedic annual wage: $43,160 Police annual wage: $52,010 Firefighter annual wage: $40,370 michaeljung / Shutterstock.com 44. Louisiana EMT annual wage: $35,020 Paramedic annual wage: $44,740 Police annual wage: $44,790 Firefighter annual wage: $33,400 LightFieldStudios / Getty Images/iStockphoto 43. Georgia EMT annual wage: $32,470 Paramedic annual wage: $43,350 Police annual wage: $50,710 Firefighter annual wage: $40,530 KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images/iStockphoto 42. North Carolina EMT annual wage: $36,090 Paramedic annual wage: $42,610 Police annual wage: $51,860 Firefighter annual wage: $36,950 stevecoleimages / Getty Images 41. South Carolina EMT annual wage: $35,140 Paramedic annual wage: $44,220 Police annual wage: $49,140 Firefighter annual wage: $39,750 Shutterstock.com 40. Oklahoma EMT annual wage: $27,980 Paramedic annual wage: $41,750 Police annual wage: $55,740 Firefighter annual wage: $51,810 The Future of Finances: Gen Z & How They Relate to Money franckreporter / Getty Images 39. Tennessee EMT annual wage: $35,400 Paramedic annual wage: $46,170 Police annual wage: $48,530 Firefighter annual wage: $42,310 kali9 / Getty Images 38. South Dakota EMT annual wage: $32,570 Paramedic annual wage: $41,890 Police annual wage: $52,580 Firefighter annual wage: $49,090 Shutterstock.com 37. Maine EMT annual wage: $32,710 Paramedic annual wage: $45,590 Police annual wage: $56,930 Firefighter annual wage: $44,920 Shutterstock.com 36. New Mexico EMT annual wage: $34,620 Paramedic annual wage: $48,410 Police annual wage: $55,420 Firefighter annual wage: $39,940 monkeybusinessimages / iStock.com 35. Missouri EMT annual wage: $33,560 Paramedic annual wage: $43,510 Police annual wage: $56,610 Firefighter annual wage: $46,540 ChristopherBernard / Getty Images 34. Wyoming EMT annual wage: $32,410 Paramedic annual wage: $47,100 Police annual wage: $58,380 Firefighter annual wage: $44,420 Shutterstock.com 33. Idaho EMT annual wage: $33,080 Paramedic annual wage: $47,630 Police annual wage: $59,340 Firefighter annual wage: $42,130 shaunl / iStock.com 32. Michigan EMT annual wage: $31,650 Paramedic annual wage: $43,780 Police annual wage: $64,380 Firefighter annual wage: $48,890 LPETTET / Getty Images 31. Iowa EMT annual wage: $32,570 Paramedic annual wage: $44,650 Police annual wage: $65,310 Firefighter annual wage: $47,460 LeoPatrizi / Getty Images 30. Utah EMT annual wage: $32,350 Paramedic annual wage: $53,600 Police annual wage: $60,730 Firefighter annual wage: $42,020 Save Money: 10 Affordable New Items Coming to Dollar Tree This Spring MorganLeFaye / Getty Images/iStockphoto 29. Vermont EMT annual wage: $36,070 Paramedic annual wage: $47,260 Police annual wage: $57,780 Firefighter annual wage: $45,140 VAKSMAN VOLODYMYR / Shutterstock.com 28. Montana EMT annual wage: $31,940 Paramedic annual wage: $45,180 Police annual wage: $60,640 Firefighter annual wage: $52,990 tfoxfoto / iStock.com 27. Indiana EMT annual wage: $32,470 Paramedic annual wage: $44,570 Police annual wage: $61,850 Firefighter annual wage: $53,490 Shutterstock.com 26. Ohio EMT annual wage: $32,760 Paramedic annual wage: $41,830 Police annual wage: $67,110 Firefighter annual wage: $52,530 Tashi-Delek / Getty Images 25. Arizona EMT annual wage: $33,840 Paramedic annual wage: $45,240 Police annual wage: $68,060 Firefighter annual wage: $48,750 Shutterstock.com 24. Wisconsin EMT annual wage: $32,440 Paramedic annual wage: $47,670 Police annual wage: $71,230 Firefighter annual wage: $46,140 DigtialStorm / Getty Images/iStockphoto 23. North Dakota EMT annual wage: $34,150 Paramedic annual wage: $47,010 Police annual wage: $64,470 Firefighter annual wage: $52,010 pio3 / Shutterstock.com 22. Florida EMT annual wage: $33,090 Paramedic annual wage: $46,710 Police annual wage: $66,320 Firefighter annual wage: $53,480 simonkr / Getty Images 21. Texas EMT annual wage: $34,070 Paramedic annual wage: $45,730 Police annual wage: $66,890 Firefighter annual wage: $53,310 IPGGutenbergUKLtd / Getty Images/iStockphoto 20. Virginia EMT annual wage: $36,770 Paramedic annual wage: $48,800 Police annual wage: $59,720 Firefighter annual wage: $51,940 Kurtly / Getty Images/iStockphoto 19. Nebraska EMT annual wage: $33,970 Paramedic annual wage: $46,890 Police annual wage: $62,530 Firefighter annual wage: $60,590 MattGush / Getty Images 18. New Hampshire EMT annual wage: $35,670 Paramedic annual wage: $52,640 Police annual wage: $63,670 Firefighter annual wage: $52,260 Tony_Bendele / Getty Images 17. Pennsylvania EMT annual wage: $33,450 Paramedic annual wage: $49,870 Police annual wage: $74,270 Firefighter annual wage: $58,400 stevecoleimages / Getty Images 16. Minnesota EMT annual wage: $38,200 Paramedic annual wage: $59,180 Police annual wage: $76,960 Firefighter annual wage: $39,750 martin-dm / Getty Images 15. Nevada EMT annual wage: $33,490 Paramedic annual wage: $53,410 Police annual wage: $74,940 Firefighter annual wage: $58,370 JANIFEST / Getty Images/iStockphoto 14. Rhode Island EMT annual wage: $42,460 Paramedic annual wage: $46,490 Police annual wage: $68,580 Firefighter annual wage: $62,860 wsfurlan / Getty Images 13. Delaware EMT annual wage: $39,090 Paramedic annual wage: $57,280 Police annual wage: $80,620 Firefighter annual wage: $49,520 Mihajlo Maricic / Getty Images/iStockphoto 12. Colorado EMT annual wage: $35,590 Paramedic annual wage: $53,140 Police annual wage: $80,620 Firefighter annual wage: $68,300 bluecinema / Getty Images 11. Oregon EMT annual wage: $37,040 Paramedic annual wage: $55,990 Police annual wage: $78,000 Firefighter annual wage: $65,590 4kclips / Shutterstock.com 10. Massachusetts EMT annual wage: $43,160 Paramedic annual wage: $59,260 Police annual wage: $73,560 Firefighter annual wage: $65,650 400tmax / Getty Images 9. Illinois EMT annual wage: $44,460 Paramedic annual wage: $58,240 Police annual wage: $82,800 Firefighter annual wage: $61,310 MattGush / Getty Images/iStockphoto 8. Connecticut EMT annual wage: $41,120 Paramedic annual wage: $62,210 Police annual wage: $76,360 Firefighter annual wage: $68,140 Unsplash 7. New York EMT annual wage: $41,120 Paramedic annual wage: $57,320 Police annual wage: $80,590 Firefighter annual wage: $72,670 tomazl / Getty Images 6. Alaska EMT annual wage: $51,330 Paramedic annual wage: $51,480 Police annual wage: $87,510 Firefighter annual wage: $57,320 FangXiaNuo / Getty Images 5. Maryland EMT annual wage: $50,770 Paramedic annual wage: $59,520 Police annual wage: $77,890 Firefighter annual wage: $61,340 ands456 / Getty Images 4. Hawaii EMT annual wage: $55,600 Paramedic annual wage: $49,138 Police annual wage: $80,050 Firefighter annual wage: $67,540 Marcio Jose Sanchez/AP/REX / Shutterstock.com 3. California EMT annual wage: $42,420 Paramedic annual wage: $58,190 Police annual wage: $102,920 Firefighter annual wage: $80,990 kali9 / Getty Images 2. Washington EMT annual wage: $37,500 Paramedic annual wage: $82,810 Police annual wage: $92,390 Firefighter annual wage: $76,280 FangXiaNuo / Getty Images 6. New Jersey EMT annual wage: $40,360 Paramedic annual wage: $71,180 Police annual wage: $91,690 Firefighter annual wage: $84,930 More From GOBankingRates Jami Farkas contributed to the reporting of this article. Methodology: GOBankingRates determined how much first-responders earn in every state, using the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Employment Statistics for May 2021 (latest data available) for the mean annual wages of three core first-responder jobs in all 50 U.S. states: (1) police and sheriff's patrol officers; (2) emergency medical technicians; (3) paramedics; and (4) firefighters. Each job's salary was scored, added up and ranked from worst paying states to best. All data compiled on March 8, 2023. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Heres How Much First Responders Make in Every State DUBLIN, April 12, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The "Multiparameter Patient Monitoring Market - Global Outlook & Forecast 2023-2028" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. Research and Markets Logo The global multiparameter patient monitoring market is expected to 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 to treat chronic diseases. Moreover, the worldwide increase in the geriatric and chronic disease population has led to a growing demand for home patient monitoring. The increase in patient monitoring using multiparameter monitoring devices in homecare settings is expected to 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 to the flexibility of patient assessment with the portable features of multiparameter patient monitors from hospital care to 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 to transmit reality by incorporating passive home and body sensors to patients. Multiparameter patient monitoring devices integrated with RPM and wireless technologies enable us to overcome these limitations and track changes in patient's vital signs without interrupting and visiting healthcare settings. The remote access/wireless monitoring systems enable patient vital signs monitoring even when not admitted to 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 to 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 to notice critical changes in a patient's health status and second to 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 also help physicians to identify the best location for the patient on transfer from EDs. Such factors contribute to 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 to 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 to 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 to integrate their advanced technology solutions. These advanced features also allow medical professionals to deliver improved healthcare to 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 into portable/compact and fixed devices. The portable/compact held the largest global market share at 57% in 2022. The market is growing faster due to 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 to drive the market's growth. The portable multiparameter patient monitors will dominate the market over the forecast period, owing to 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 Story continues 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 to the rising incidence of chronic disease cases, leading to severe health conditions requiring continuous monitoring. High-acuity monitors are mainly used in ICUs, operating rooms, and emergency departments of various healthcare settings to monitor vital signs during surgery. These devices are also used to 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 into 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 to the patient's 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 to 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 to the adoption of advanced homecare settings by patients with low and mid acuity to 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 to the industry's 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 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 Opto Circuits (India) SCHILLER Skanray Technologies Viatom Technology VYAIRE MEDICAL Key Topics Covered: 1 Research Methodology 2 Research Objectives 3 Research Process 4 Scope & Coverage 5 Report Assumptions & Caveats 6 Market at a Glance 7 Premium Insights 8 Introduction 9 Market Opportunities & Trends 9.1 Increasing Demand for Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring in Home Care Settings 9.2 Growing Demand for Portable/Compact Multi-Parameter Patient Monitors 9.3 Integration of Multi-Parameter Patient Monitors With Wireless and Remote Monitoring Platforms 9.4 Advances in Remote Patient Monitoring Technology 10 Market Growth Enablers 10.1 Growing Demand for Real-Time Patient Monitors in Critical Care 10.2 Increasing Target Patient Population With Various Diseases 10.3 Enhancements in Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring 11 Market Restraints 11.1 False Alarms & Alarm Fatigue 11.2 Increasing Regulatory Complexities 11.3 High Cost of Multi-Parameter Patient Monitoring Devices 12 Market Landscape 13 Device 14 Acuity Level 15 Patient Group 16 End-User 17 Geography 18 North America 19 Europe 20 Apac 21 Latin America 22 Middle East & Africa 23 Competitive Landscape 24 Key Company Profiles 25 Other Prominent Vendors 26 Report Summary 27 Quantitative Summary 28 Appendix For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/gmofds About ResearchAndMarkets.com ResearchAndMarkets.com is the world's leading source for international market research reports and market data. We provide you with the latest data on international and regional markets, key industries, the top companies, new products and the latest trends. Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/539438/Research_and_Markets_Logo.jpg Cision View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/multiparameter-patient-monitoring-global-market-report-2023-increasing-demand-in-home-care-settings-presents-opportunities-301795674.html SOURCE Research and Markets (Reuters) -Twitter-owner Elon Musk said on Thursday users of the social media platform will be able to offer their followers subscriptions to content, including long-form text and hours-long video. Users offering the subscription, a feature they can access through the "Monetization" tab in settings, will get all the money subscribers pay apart from the charges platforms such as Android and iOS levy. Twitter will not take a cut for the first 12 months. "That's 70% for subscriptions on iOS & Android (they charge 30%) and ~92% on web (could be better, depending on payment processor)," Musk said in a tweet, adding Twitter will also help promote the creators' work and maximize earnings. Google rejected Musk's claim in an email to Reuters and said it had lowered the service fee for all subscriptions on Google Play to 15% from 30% in 2022. Musk has been bringing in changes to boost revenue at Twitter after the social media platform saw advertising income drop last year in the run up to his on-again-off-again acquisition that closed in October. Since taking over, Musk has swiftly moved through a number of product and organizational changes. The company rolled out Twitter-verified blue tick as a paid service and shrunk the employee-base by about 80%. The social media firm was now "roughly breaking even", Musk said in a Twitter Spaces interview on Wednesday. (Reporting by Yuvraj Malik in Bengaluru; Editing by Krishna Chandra Eluri) The data reveals that 100,000 nurses left the workforce during the pandemic and by 2027, almost 900,000, or almost one-fifth of 4.5 million total registered nurses, intend to leave the workforce, threatening the national health care system at large if solutions are not enacted. CHICAGO , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, The National Council of State Boards of Nursing (NCSBN) unveiled its research, titled "Examining the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Burnout & Stress Among U.S. Nurses," in a panel titled "Nursing at the Crossroads: A Call to Action" in Washington, D.C. at the National Press Club at 9:30 a.m. EST. The National Council of State Boards of Nursing For the first time, the research findings reveal how the nursing workforce was impacted by the pandemic and how many left the workforce in this period, and forecast how many nurses in the U.S. have an intent to leave the workforce. The research also examined the personal and professional characteristics of nurses experiencing heightened workplace burnout and stress due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study is considered to be the most comprehensive and only research in existence, uncovering the alarming data points which have far reaching implications for the health care system at large and for patient populations. The research was gathered as part of a biennial nursing workforce study conducted by NCSBN and the National Forum of State Nursing Workforce Centers. Key findings include: Approximately 100,000 registered nurses (RNs) left the workforce during the COVID-19 pandemic in the past two years due to stress, burnout and retirements. Another 610,388 RNs reported an "intent to leave" the workforce by 2027 due to stress, burnout and retirement. 188,962 additional RNs younger than 40 years old reported similar intentions Altogether, about one-fifth of RNs nationally are projected to leave the health care workforce. 62% of the sample reported an increase in their workload during the pandemic. A quarter to half of nurses reported feeling emotionally drained (50.8%), used up (56.4%), fatigued (49.7%), burned out (45.1%), or at the end of the rope (29.4%) "a few times a week" or "every day." These issues were most pronounced with nurses with 10 or fewer years of experience, driving an overall 3.3% decline in the U.S. nursing workforce in the past two years. Licensed practical/vocational nurses, who generally work in long-term care settings caring for the most vulnerable populations, have seen their ranks decline by 33,811 since the beginning of the pandemic. This trend continues. Story continues Research also suggested that nurses' workloads and unprecedented levels of burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic played key roles in accelerating these workforce trends and threatening the future of the U.S. nursing workforce, particularly for younger, less experienced RNs. Further, high levels of turnover were seen with the potential for even further declines in a post-pandemic nursing workplace as disruptions in prelicensure nursing programs have also raised concerns about the supply and clinical preparedness of new nurse graduates. Early career data for new entrants into the profession suggest decreased practice and assessment proficiency. Coupled with large declines among nursing support staff, NCSBN calls for significant action to foster a more resilient and safe U.S. nursing workforce moving forward. "The data is clear: the future of nursing and of the U.S. health care ecosystem is at an urgent crossroads," said Maryann Alexander, PhD, RN, FAAN, NCSBN Chief Officer of Nursing Regulation. "The pandemic has stressed nurses to leave the workforce and has expedited an intent to leave in the near future, which will become a greater crisis and threaten patient populations if solutions are not enacted immediately. There is an urgent opportunity today for health care systems, policymakers, regulators and academic leaders to coalesce and enact solutions that will spur positive systemic evolution to address these challenges and maximize patient protection in care into the future." The research findings and proposed solutions were presented in a panel discussion today at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C. Panelists included: Antonia Villarruel, Dean of Nursing at University of Pennsylvania Gay Landstrom, Senior Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer at Trinity Health System Congresswoman Lisa Blunt Rochester, U.S. Representative of Delaware Robyn Begley, CEO of the American Organization for Nursing Leadership and CNO/Sr. VP for the American Hospital Association Rayna M. Letourneau, Board of Directors, National Forum for State Workforce Centers A recording of the panel discussion will be posted on ncsbn.org. To request interviews with NCSBN or view the entire research, please contact ncsbn@reputationpartners.com or visit ncsbn.org. Research Methodology: The study examines a subset of the 2022 National Nursing Workforce Study for analysis. Reported trends represent population-based estimates. There were 29,472 registered nurses (including advanced registered nurses [APRN]) and 24,061 licensed practical nurses/vocational nurses across 45 states included. About NCSBN Empowering and supporting nursing regulators across the world in their mandate to protect the public, NCSBN is an independent, not-for-profit organization. As a global leader in regulatory excellence, NCSBN champions regulatory solutions to borderless health care delivery, agile regulatory systems and nurses practicing to the full scope of their education, experience and expertise. A world leader in test development and administration, NCSBN's NCLEX Exams are internationally recognized as the preeminent nursing examinations. NCSBN's membership is comprised of the nursing regulatory bodies (NRBs) in the 50 states, the District of Columbia and four U.S. territories. There are five exam user members and 25 associate members that are either NRBs or empowered regulatory authorities from other countries or territories. The statements and opinions expressed are those of NCSBN and not individual members. Media Contact: ncsbn@reputationpartners.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ncsbn-research-projects-significant-nursing-workforce-shortages-and-crisis-301796264.html SOURCE National Council of State Boards of Nursing FACT.MR The demand for nerve repair and regeneration treatments in the U.S. is most expected to increase due to the rapid expansion of the healthcare industry. Rockville, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- From 2022 to 2026, the market for nerve repair and regeneration is expected to grow at a remarkable CAGR of 11%. The nerve repair and regeneration market is currently worth US$ 8 billion, and by the end of 2026, it is expected to be worth US$ 12 billion. As accidents and peripheral nerve injuries rise globally, the demand for neurostimulation and neuromodulation devices is anticipated to rise at a 9.5% CAGR throughout the research period. Nerve repair and regeneration is the process of repairing neural tissues and cells. It aids in the recovery of nerve damage, which is often caused by pressure, severe trauma, stretching, or cutting a nerve, and resumes normal operation. Get Free Sample Report to Grow Your Profit Margin: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=7585 Nerve Repair and Regeneration Market Scope Report Coverage Details Historic period 2017-2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 11 % Market growth 2022-2026 US$ 12 Billion Market structure Fragmented Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Key countries US, Canada, UK, France, and Germany Competitive landscape Leading Vendors, Market Positioning of Vendors, Competitive Strategies, and Industry Risks Key companies profiled Baxter, Polyganics B.V., Nevro, Stryker, Abbott Laboratories, AxoGen, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Integra LifeSciences Corporation, LivaNova, PLC, Medtronic plc, NeuroPace, Inc., Synapse Biomedical Inc., Synovis Micro Companies Alliance, Inc 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. Drivers Rise in the development of new technologies such as nerve grafting, neurostimulation, and stem cell therapy is leading to the growth of the nerve repair and regeneration market. The rising prevalence of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis is leading to a greater need for nerve repair and regeneration treatments. The increasing aging population is at a higher risk of nerve injuries and neurological disorders, leading to an increase in the demand for nerve repair and regeneration products. The availability of favorable reimbursement policies is encouraging patients to undergo nerve repair and regeneration treatments. The growing awareness about nerve repair and regeneration treatments is encouraging patients to seek treatment and driving the growth of the market. The increasing healthcare expenditure by governments and private organizations is leading to the development of new and advanced nerve repair and regeneration products. Story continues Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=7585 Key Market Trends Stem cell therapy is emerging as a promising technique for nerve repair and regeneration, and is increasingly being used in clinical trials and in the development of new nerve repair products. The development of new nerve grafting techniques, such as nerve allografts and decellularized nerve allografts, is improving the efficacy of nerve repair and regeneration procedures. Neurostimulation devices, such as spinal cord stimulators and deep brain stimulators, are being increasingly used in the treatment of neurological disorders, and are also being investigated for their potential in nerve repair and regeneration. The nerve repair and regeneration market are witnessing an increasing number of mergers and acquisitions as companies seek to expand their product portfolios and improve their market positions. Bioresorbable nerve repair products, which are designed to gradually degrade and be absorbed by the body, are gaining popularity due to their potential to reduce the risk of complications associated with permanent implants. There is a growing trend towards personalized medicine, with companies developing nerve repair and regeneration products that can be tailored to individual patients based on factors such as the location and severity of their nerve injury. The nerve repair and regeneration market are expanding in developing countries, driven by factors such as rising healthcare expenditure, increasing awareness about nerve repair and regeneration, and the growing prevalence of nerve injuries and neurological disorders. Market Restraints The high cost of nerve repair and regeneration products is limiting the adoption of these products, particularly in developing countries. The stringent regulatory requirements for the approval of nerve repair and regeneration products are increasing the time and cost of product development, which can be a major challenge for companies operating in this market. The lack of skilled professionals trained in nerve repair and regeneration procedures limits the adoption of these products. Competitive Landscape: Key companies are offering a wide variety of product pipelines for neurological illnesses. Moreover, to increase treatment effectiveness, market participants are offering advanced products. Several companies launched new nerve repair and regeneration products in 2021, including Axogen's Avive Soft Tissue Membrane, Polyganics' dura sealant patch, and Integra LifeSciences' Integra Nerve Repair. Besides this, Researchers have also made significant advancements in stem cell therapy for nerve repair and regeneration in 2021. For instance, scientists at the University of Virginia developed a new method for growing neural stem cells that could improve the efficacy of stem cell therapy for nerve injuries. Besides this, companies in the nerve repair and regeneration market are increasingly forming partnerships and collaborations to develop new products and expand their market presence. For example, in 2021, Axogen announced a partnership with the Institute for Advanced Wound Healing to develop new wound care solutions. Key Segments in Nerve Repair and Regeneration Industry Research By Product: Neurostimulation & Neuromodulation Devices Biomaterials By Application: Neurostimulation & Neuromodulation Surgeries Neurorrhaphy Nerve Grafting Stem Cell Therapy By End User: Hospitals Clinics Ambulatory Surgery Centers By Region: North America Europe Asia Pacific Latin America Middle East & Africa Buy this Premium Research Report | Immediate Delivery Available: https://www.factmr.com/checkout/7585 Key Questions Covered in the Nerve Repair and Regeneration Market Report What will be the estimated size of the Market in 2023? At what rate will the global Nerve Repair and Regeneration sales grow until 2026? Which are the factors hampering the Nerve Repair and Regeneration demand? Which region will spearhead the growth in the global industry by 2026? Which are the factors driving sales in the Nerve Repair and Regeneration Market during the forecast period? Check out more related studies published by Fact.MR Research: Nerve Ablation Devices Market Size: The nerve ablation devices market size is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period due to the increasing number of patients suffering pain. Nerve Monitoring Devices Market Sales: The global nerve monitoring devices market sales was valued at US$ 1.3 Billion in 2021, and is projected to register a Y-o-Y increase of 5.6% in 2022 to be valued at US$ 1.4 Billion. Optic Nerve Disorders Drugs Market Demand: Rising number of instances of optic nerve disorders are indicating unabated demand for optic nerve disorders drugs in the coming years, thereby driving the optic nerve disorders drugs market. Occipital Nerve Block Treatment Market Share: Occipital nerve block treatment market share is likely to anticipate growth due to increasing migraine and headaches issues, rising prevalence of neuralgia. Since occipital nerve block treatment proves to be effective for the management of the pain, most physician suggest these medications to treat occipital pain. About Fact.MR We are a trusted research partner of 80% of fortune 1000 companies across the globe. We are consistently growing in the field of market research with more than 1000 reports published every year. The dedicated team of 400-plus analysts and consultants is committed to achieving the utmost level of our clients satisfaction. Contact: US Sales Office 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583, +353-1-4434-232 (D) Connect to Author: Mr. Shambhu Nath Jha Email : shambhu@factmr.com Sales Team : sales@factmr.com Follow Us: LinkedIn | Twitter | YouTube VANCOUVER, BC, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ - Nevada King Gold Corp. (TSXV: NKG) (OTCQX: NKGFF) ("Nevada King" or the "Company") is pleased to announce assay results from six vertical reverse circulation ("RC") holes recently completed at its Atlanta Gold Mine Project located 264km northeast of Las Vegas, Nevada, in the prolific Battle Mountain Trend. Highlights: Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22HG-11 228.7 250.0 21.3 1.26 85.1 Bottomed in Mineralization AT22NS-87 169.2 216.5 47.3 2.16 140.2 includes 175.3 182.9 7.6 4.57 227.6 AT22NS-88 169.2 214.9 45.7 1.28 162.0 AT23NS-65 79.3 117.4 38.1 1.79 52.5 AT23NS-58 42.7 108.2 65.5 2.54 62.9 includes 86.9 100.6 13.7 4.97 53.0 AT23NS-64 41.2 108.2 67.1 2.98 62.1 Bottomed in Mineralization includes 57.9 102.1 44.2 4.05 66.0 Table 1: All holes released today. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward; true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is estimated to be between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. Holes released today plotted on Section 22-9N were drilled across the high-grade feeder zone associated with several strands of a braided network of structures comprising the 150m-wide Atlanta Mine Fault Zone (" AMFZ "), which lies between the East Atlanta and West Atlanta Faults (see Figure 1). These vertical holes intercepted new areas of high-grade gold mineralization on this section that were not intercepted in historic drilling. These new high-grade areas were targeted based on Nevada King's recent revised modelling of gold mineralization across this section line which differs significantly from historic interpretations. Shown in Figure 2, the highest gold grades occur within blocks between the Atlanta King and East Atlanta Faults as evidenced by AT23NS-58 and AT23NS-64 (Table 1) and nearby holes AT21-63 and AT22NS-59 (Table 2). Historical angle holes drilled by Goldfields, Kinross, and Meadow Bay largely passed beneath and missed this 40m-wide, shallow high-grade zone. In similar fashion, a 30m-wide block on the eastern side of the West Atlanta Fault is also host to higher-grades, as seen in AT22NS-87 and 88. A number of historical angle holes did intersect this zone, but very few of them fully sampled the complete mineralized thickness. Significant differences are apparent in gold grades and thicknesses in today's NS-87 and NS-88 (47.3m @ 2.16 g/t and 45.7m @ 1.28 g/t) compared to Kinross angle holes KR97-3 and KR97-4 (24.4m @ 0.97 g/t and 27.4m @ 0.85 g/t). The upthrown "horst" block immediately west of the Atlanta King Fault typically hosts more moderate grades and thicknesses compared to the two high-grade zones on either side of it. However, AT22NS-65 tested this horst block and returned 1.79 g/t Au over 38.1m, which is generally thicker and higher grade compared to sections further south. Hole AT22HG-11, collared west of the West Atlanta Fault penetrated mineralized volcanics in the West Atlanta Graben target but was lost at a shallow depth, bottoming in mineralization. Drilling across the West Atlanta Graben along the western extension of line 22-9N will commence shortly, filling in a large information gap that currently exists within the historical drill pattern. Nevada King's holes along 22-9N are very similar in grade and mineralized thickness to holes previously released along Sections 22-5N, 22-6N, 22-7N, and 22-08N. The same pattern of: (1) high-grade grabens between the East Atlanta and Atlanta King Faults, (2) the moderate grade horst block west of the Atlanta King fault, and (3) the high-grade graben block east of the West Atlanta Fault, is repeated southward along each section, demonstrating excellent continuity of mineralization. Story continues Cal Herron, Exploration Manager of Nevada King, stated, "As our drill fences progress northward along the AMFZ we are seeing strong continuity in grade, thickness, and style of mineralization from section to section. We also start to see why many of the historical holes failed to pick up on the higher-grade mineralization localized in the numerous fault blocks and how this mineralization was largely missed by past explorers. The shallow high-grade mineralization immediately west of the East Atlanta Fault that we drilled into during our 2021 exploration program was completely missed by past explorers while the high-grade fault block along the east side of the West Atlanta Fault was under-represented in the historical drilling. Our new interpretation and geologic model is allowing us to effectively track both of these high-grade zones northward along the AMFZ, systematically defining the major fault components and associated mineralized blocks." Figure 1. Location map for holes reported in this news release along drill section22-08N relative to the perimeter of the historical Atlanta Pit and footprint of the Gustavson 2020 NI 43-101 resource. Shallow drillholes on the mine dumps have been removed from the plot for clarity. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Figure 2. Cross section 22-09N looking north across the southern portion of the Atlanta Mine Fault Zone. Higher grade mineralization is concentrated within narrow fault blocks formed between the East Atlanta and Nevada King Faults. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Hole No. From (m) To (m) Interval (m) Au (g/t) Ag (g/t) Notes AT22NS-59 4.6 54.9 50.3 2.65 20.7 AT22MET-1B 7.8 22.6 14.8 3.76 69.0 Bottomed in Mineralization AT21-63 7.6 48.8 41.2 3.95 27.3 Bottomed in Mineralization KR97-2 187.5 213.4 25.9 1.79 13.0 KR97-3 195.1 219.5 24.4 0.97 29.4 KR97-4 218 245.4 27.4 0.85 70.2 Table 2: Previously reported and historic holes used in Section 22-9N. AT22 series holes were drilled by Nevada King in 2022 while the AT21 series hole was drilled by Nevada King in 2021. KR97 series angle holes were drilled by Kinross in 1997. Mineralization occurs along sub-horizontal horizons generally dipping gently westward; true mineralized thickness in vertical holes is estimated to be between 85% and 95% of reported drill intercept length. Qualified Person The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Calvin R. Herron, P.Geo., who is a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101"). About Nevada King Gold Corp. Nevada King is the third largest mineral claim holder in the State of Nevada, behind Nevada Gold Mines (Barrick/Newmont) and Kinross Gold. Starting in 2016 the Company has staked large project areas hosting significant historical exploration work along the Battle Mountain trend located close to current or former producing gold mines. These project areas were initially targeted based on their potential for hosting multi-million-ounce gold deposits and were subsequently staked following a detailed geological evaluation. District-scale projects in Nevada King's portfolio include (1) the 100% owned Atlanta Mine, located 100km southeast of Ely, (2) the Lewis and Horse Mountain-Mill Creek projects, both located between Nevada Gold Mines' large Phoenix and Pipeline mines, and (3) the Iron Point project, located 35km east of Winnemucca, Nevada. The Company is well funded with cash of approximately $7.25 million as of April 2023. The Atlanta Mine is a historical gold-silver producer with a NI 43-101 compliant pit-constrained resource of 460,000 oz Au in the measured and indicated category (11.0M tonnes at 1.3 g/t) plus an inferred resource of 142,000 oz Au (5.3M tonnes at 0.83 g/t). See the NI 43-101 Technical Report on Resources titled "Atlanta Property, Lincoln County, NV" with an effective date of October 6, 2020, and a report date of December 22, 2020, as prepared by Gustavson Associates and filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). NI 43-101 Mineral Resources at the Atlanta Mine Resource Category Tonnes (000's) Au Grade (ppm) Contained Au Oz Ag Grade (ppm) Contained Ag Oz Measured 4,130 1.51 200,000 14.0 1,860,000 Indicated 6,910 1.17 260,000 10.6 2,360,000 Measured + Indicated 11,000 1.30 460,000 11.9 4,220,000 Inferred 5,310 0.83 142,000 7.3 1,240,000 Please see the Company's website at www.nevadaking.ca. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" (collectively "forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein, without limitation, statements relating the future operations and activities of Nevada King, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "potential", "possible", and similar expressions, or statements that events, conditions, or results "will", "may", "could", or "should" occur or be achieved. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to, among other things, the Company's exploration plans and the Company's ability to potentially expand mineral resources and the impact thereon. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the beliefs, opinions and projections on the date the statements are made and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by Nevada King, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements and the parties have made assumptions and estimates based on or related to many of these factors. Such factors include, without limitation, the ability to complete proposed exploration work given the global COVID-19 pandemic, the results of exploration, continued availability of capital, and changes in general economic, market and business conditions. Readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release concerning these items. Nevada King does not assume any obligation to update the forward-looking statements of beliefs, opinions, projections, or other factors, should they change, except as required by applicable securities laws. Nevada King Gold Corp. (CNW Group/Nevada King Gold Corp.) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nevada-king-intercepts-high-grade-oxide-gold-at-atlanta-including-2-98-gt-au-over-67-1m-2-54-gt-au-over-65-5m-and-2-16-gt-au-over-47-3m-301796620.html SOURCE Nevada King Gold Corp. Breakthrough Generative AI Technology Gets Enhanced Feature Upgrades TORONTO, ON / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 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 three new key hires to its AI team, as well as important feature upgrades to meet the accelerating demand for 3D models. These key hires are to accelerate the production of 3D models related to Nextech's breakthrough generative AI, computer vision and 3D model mesh creation. The Company's AI-powered platform is now ramping up its production capacity of 3D models for ecommerce brands globally at a massive scale, setting the stage for a record-breaking year in 3D model revenue. A major contributor to Nextech3D.ai's 3D modeling success and ability to meet market demand is its Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI). Nextech3D.ai has already filed a number of patents to protect this groundbreaking AI technology. In February, Nextech3D.ai announced a major generative artificial intelligence (AI) breakthrough in 3D model texture creation. The breakthrough enables the Company to recreate high-quality 4K textures at scale from just small digital swatches in just seconds versus hours of manual labor, representing a 720x increase in production speed. This breakthrough in texture expansion technology will revolutionize the 3D modeling industry, and gives Nextech3D.ai a major competitive edge, further solidifying its leadership position in the global 3D model space for ecommerce. With this technology, Nextech3D.ai is revolutionizing the 3D modeling industry and making it possible to create photo-realistic 3D models as digital replicas of real-world products at scale for large enterprise customers. This technology places the Company in a leadership position in the 3D modeling for ecommerce industry, setting the stage for the Company to become cash flow positive, and expanding the AI team is a key piece to accelerating towards profitability. Story continues New Hires for the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Team: Katyani Singh - Computer Vision/Machine Learning Scientist Katyani obtained her Masters in Computing Science at the University of Alberta. Her research interests lie in Computer Vision and Deep Learning. For the past 5 years, she has had the opportunity to work on diverse projects in these areas as part of various roles and internships. Her Master's thesis was part of a university collaboration with Intuit Inc where she worked on preprocessing document images using unsupervised learning methods. With her expertise in OCR, text-to-video generation, pose estimation, object detection, and fairness in synthetic data generation, she is now working on a mechanism responsible for 3D mesh creation. Youssef Zaky - Computer Vision Researcher With his strong background in deep learning and his passion for innovation, his role as a Computer Vision Researcher means he will be exploring and improving texturing techniques for computer vision projects. Amir Salimnia - Computer Vision/Machine Learning Scientist Amir is an MSc. Computer Engineering graduate from Western University with more than three years of experience developing machine learning. His primary focus is to understand the AI issues faced using the ARitize3D portal and to work on creating solutions and streamlining the processes for efficiency and scalability. In addition to these key hires increasing the Company's ability to leverage its AI-powered platform, are the new features that expand the technology automation even further. New Features Automated Quality Assurance (QA) by customizing checklists on the internal portal; Added "Priority" attribute to jobs - This lets the production team better sequence the outstanding jobs in the pipeline; Large file upload - the Company has updated its capability to support uploading modeling source files 500MB or more; Multi-region Support - enabled our modeling to be replicated across North America and Asia to speed up the downloading of the 3D models. These new features benefit Nextech's current and future ecommerce clients and help to prepare for the Amazon marketplace by synchronizing workflows and processes to deliver models to Amazon's preferred suppliers faster and more efficiently. Nextech3D.ai's CEO, Evan Gappelberg, comments "Nextech3D.ai's suite of products, including patented AI-based technology for 3D model creation and 2D to 3D conversion, has positioned it as a leader in the industry. The Company is already a preferred 3D model supplier for Amazon, representing a massive growth opportunity. With the increasing popularity of e-commerce globally, Nextech3D.ai's services are becoming more valuable, providing an excellent runway for ongoing growth." He continues, "with these three key hires, our AI team can now accelerate our development to meet the demand from Amazon. We are very excited to have Katyani, Youssef, and Amir onboard and we welcome them to the Nextech team and we look forward to their contributions to our mission which is to be the dominant 3D model supplier for ecommerce brands in 2023 and beyond." Recent News Nextech3D.ai to Release Fiscal Year 2022 and Q4 2022 Financial Results April 20th 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 To learn more, please follow us on Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and Facebook, or visit our website: https://www.Nextechar.com. About Nextech3D.ai Nextech3D.ai is a company that provides AI-powered 3D modeling solutions focusing on the e-commerce industry. Its breakthrough generative AI technology enables the creation of high-quality 3D models quickly and efficiently. Nextech3D.ai's suite of products, including patented AI-based technology for 3D model creation and 2D to 3D conversion, has positioned it as a leader in the industry. The company is already a preferred 3D model supplier for Amazon, representing a massive growth opportunity. With the increasing popularity of e-commerce globally, Nextech3D.ai's services are becoming more valuable, providing an excellent runway for ongoing growth. For investors looking to participate in the commercialization of AI technology, Nextech3D.ai presents a unique investment opportunity. The Company also 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 about ARway, visit https://www.arway.ai/ 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/748915/Nextech3Dai-Expands-Its-AI-Team-With-New-Key-Hires-To-Meet-The-Accelerating-Demand-For-3D-Models-For-Ecommerce-at-Mass-Scale Northrop Grumman Corporation Northrop Grummans IBCS Approved For Full Rate Production, Readying Transformational System For Fielding Around the Globe Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS) equipment emplaced for testing at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The United States Defense Department has approved Full Rate Production for Northrop Grumman Corporations (NYSE: NOC) Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS). The decision scales the U.S. Armys ability to field the paradigm-changing system, enabling sensor to decider to weapon integration. It also affirms IBCSs role as the cornerstone of the U.S. Armys air and missile defense modernization strategy. IBCS rapidly integrates all available sensors and shooters to deliver decision-quality fire control data across joint networks providing a 360-degree view, even if a sensor becomes inoperable. This capability provides increased situational awareness, more effectively manages resources, and enables integration across coalition partners. IBCS transforms the battlespace by fusing data from any sensor to create a single integrated air picture allowing commanders to see the battlespace and use the best weapons to defeat complex threats, said Rebecca Torzone, vice president and general manager, combat systems and mission readiness, Northrop Grumman. Northrop Grumman shares the U.S. Armys commitment to the rapid deployment of IBCS. The full rate production decision enables the U.S. Army to set the fielding schedule for IBCS to operational air defense units. The system provides state-of-the-art, all domain command and control for integrated air and missile defense for U.S. interests across the globe. Poland selected IBCS to serve as the centerpiece of the countrys air and missile defense modernization, and as it is adopted by more U.S. allies and partners, IBCS will enable high levels of coalition forces interoperability and network integration. This decision is the latest in a series of milestones for the program. In a paradigm-busting developmental test in November 2022, IBCS successfully intercepted a cruise missile target using a Patriot interceptor without having a Patriot radar in the system architecture. The test demonstrated the flexibility of the IBCS system architecture and its capacity to optimize the capabilities of integrated sensors and effectors onto its network. Additionally, the Agile framework used for IBCS software development yields rapid capability enhancements and addresses emerging threats. Story continues In December 2021, Northrop Grumman was awarded a $1.4 billion production contract for Low Rate Initial Production and Full Rate Production, and in late 2022, the program completed Initial Operational Test and Evaluation. Initial operational capability for IBCS is on track for a declaration in 2023. IBCS implements a modular, open and scalable architecture that is foundational to integrating available assets in the battlespace, regardless of source, service or domain onto a common fire control network. Its architecture enables the efficient and affordable integration of current and future systems and extends the battlespace by disaggregating sensors and effectors. By enabling this high level of network integration, the warfighter is given unprecedented time to make decisions within the kill chain. Through numerous successful development and operational tests and demonstrations, IBCS has proven its capability to connect and fuse multi-service sensor data to multi-service weapons, demonstrating Joint All Domain Command and Control (JADC2) capabilities. Northrop Grumman is a leading global aerospace and defense technology company. Our pioneering solutions equip our customers with capabilities they need to connect and protect the world, and push the boundaries of human exploration across the universe. Driven by a shared purpose to solve our customers toughest problems, our 95,000 employees define possible every day. Contact: Meaghan Cox 256-788-4977 (mobile) meaghan.cox@ngc.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/2e9e721d-3a62-4e63-80c6-5ac046a1f330 Conference call on the results today at 11:00 a.m. ET QUEBEC CITY, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ - OpSens Inc. ("OpSens" or the "Company") (TSX: OPS) (OTCQX: OPSSF), a medical device cardiology-focused company delivering innovative solutions based on its proprietary optical technology, today reported its results for the second quarter of fiscal year 2023, ended February 28, 2023. OPSENS logo (CNW Group/OpSens Inc.) Second Quarter Fiscal 2023 Financial Highlights (all metrics compared to second quarter fiscal 2022 unless otherwise noted) Consolidated revenues of $10.8 million, compared with $8.1 million, a 33% increase and a new quarterly record. Gross margin improved to 56.9% in the second quarter of 2023 compared with 51.5%. Coronary artery disease sales of $5.7 million in the second quarter of 2023 compared with $4.6 million, a 23% increase. Structural Heart sales of $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2023, driven by a 31% sequential increase in sales as compared to the first quarter of 2023. Sales of optical medical products were $3.4 million in the second quarter of 2023, an increase of 43%, compared with $2.4 million. Cash and cash equivalents of $21.9 million at February 28, 2023 ($17.5 million at November 30, 2022). In December 2022, the Company closed a public bought deal offering for aggregate gross proceeds of $11.5 million. Recent Highlights SavvyWire used during two live cases at CRT Conference. Awarded interventional specialty diagnostics agreement with Premier for SavvyWire. Appointed John Hannigan as Chief Financial Officer. Management Commentary "I am pleased with the results of the quarter, which reflect record quarterly revenues, driven by 38% growth in our medical segment as we expand worldwide adoption of the OptoWire, continue with our strategic launch of SavvyWire and benefit from the increased demand in optical sensors for business partnerships" said Louis Laflamme, President and CEO of OpSens. "We continue to make significant progress for our proprietary devices, with OptoWire sales up 30% in the U.S. compared to quarter two 2022 and SavvyWire sales increasing 31% on quarter one fiscal year 2023. Our sales team continues to highlight the unique benefits of our solutions in terms of contributing to improving clinical workflows and results for patients. Following FDA clearance and the current controlled market release for SavvyWire, we are now ramping up our commercialization of this revolutionary concept in Structural Heart. This, along with our new GPO agreement, provides a solid platform for our next stage of commercialization to drive continuous incremental growth in the coming quarters." Story continues Segmented Revenues Information ($ in Millions Canadian) Three-month period ended Feb. 28, 2023 Three-month period ended Feb. 28, 2022 Six-month period ended Feb. 28, 2023 Six-month period ended Feb. 28, 2023 Medical segment Coronary Artery Disease 5.7 4.6 10.9 9.5 Structural Heart 0.5 0.0 0.9 0.0 Optical Medical Products 3.4 2.4 6.7 4.8 Other 0.3 0.1 0.6 0.1 Total Medical Revenues 9.9 7.1 19.1 14.5 Industrial 0.9 1.0 1.9 1.7 Total Revenues 10.8 8.1 21.0 16.2 Financial Commentary Consolidated revenues were $10.8 million in the second quarter of 2023, a 33% increase, compared with the $8.1 million recorded in the second quarter of 2022. Coronary Artery Disease Sales of coronary artery disease products (Fractional Flow Reserve ("FFR") and diastolic pressure ratio ("dPR")) were $5.7 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared with $4.6 million in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 23%. The combination of OptoWire and SavvyWire in North America contributed to enhanced performance with a 24% increase. For EMEA and Asia Pacific, markets served through distributors, growth has been 13% despite some headwinds including currency exchange rates. Optical Medical Systems Sales of optical medical systems, including the Company's multi-year supply contract of sensors for ventricular assist devices, were $3.4 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared with $2.4 million in the second quarter of 2022, an increase of 43%. The Company is seeing increased demand for its sensors with expectations for continued growth in the future. Structural Heart Structural heart sales, despite being in controlled release in the U.S. market, were $0.5 million in the second quarter of 2023, driven by a 31% sequential increase in sales as compared to the first quarter of 2023. There were no sales in this market in the second quarter of 2022. Initial results are indicating steady acceptance by physicians and hospitals with premium pricing. Furthermore, we are seeing some commonality in terms of customers who are using both SavvyWire and OptoWire products. This aligns with our commercial strategy. Industrial Industrial sales were at $0.9 million in the second quarter of 2023, compared with $1.0 million in the second quarter of 2022. During the quarter, the Company delivered solutions in optical temperature, pressure, strain, and other critical parameters for various industries, including aerospace, nuclear and power electronics. Gross Margin Gross margin was 56.9% compared to 51.5% during the prior year period. The increase was driven by favorable product mix, a higher weighting of direct sales to hospitals and higher sales volume. Operating Expenses Operating expenses in the second quarter of 2023 were $9.3 million, compared with $6.4 million in the second quarter of 2022. The $2.9 million increase was primarily due to an increase in Sales and Marketing activities, including an increase in the Company's direct U.S. sales force to enable the launch of SavvyWire. Research and Development expenditure increased due to structural heart and coronary artery projects. Net Loss Net loss for the second quarter of fiscal 2023 was $(3.0) million, or $(0.03) per diluted share, compared to a net loss of $(2.4) million, or $(0.02) per diluted share in the second quarter of fiscal 2022. Balance Sheet OpSens had a cash position of $21.9 million at February 28, 2023 (November 30, 2022, was $17.5 million). In December 2022, the Company closed a $11.5 million bought-deal offering. Table A (In thousands of Canadian dollars, except for information per share) Three-month period ended Feb. 28, 2023 Three-month period ended Feb. 28, 2022 Six-month period ended Feb. 28, 2023 Six-month period ended Feb 28, 2022 $ $ $ $ Revenues Sales Medical 9,820 6,967 18,714 14,308 Industrial 894 1,017 1,911 1,722 10,714 7,984 20,625 16,030 Other 95 116 378 165 10,809 8,100 21,003 16,195 Cost of sales 4,658 3,930 8,985 7,908 Gross margin 6,151 4,170 12,018 8,287 Gross margin percentage 57 % 51 % 57 % 51 % Operating expenses Administrative 2,430 1,927 5,030 4,064 Sales and marketing 4,390 2,490 9,018 4,598 Research and development 2,486 2,026 4,954 3,792 9,306 6,443 19,002 12,454 Financial (income) expenses (33) 77 (40) 236 (Gain) loss on foreign currency translation (163) 47 (358) 57 Loss before income taxes (2,959) (2,397) (6,586) (4,460) Current income tax expense 18 7 29 34 Net loss (2,977) (2,404) (6,615) (4,494) Basic and diluted net loss per share (0.03) (0.02) (0.06) (0.04) Table B CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET HIGHLIGHTS (in thousands of Canadian dollars) As at As at February 28, 2023 August 31, 2022 $ $ Cash and cash equivalents 21,935 23,816 Trade and other receivables 6,907 5,855 Inventories 10,711 6,672 Total Current Assets 41,876 39,016 Property, plant, and equipment 3,254 2,683 Intangible assets 1,689 1,786 Right-of-use assets 8,250 5,026 Total Assets 55,069 48,511 Current liabilities 7,616 8,601 Long-term debt 400 639 Lease liabilities 8,340 5,012 Total Liabilities 16,356 14,252 Shareholders' equity 38,713 34,259 Conference Call Today Louis Laflamme, President and Chief Executive Officer and John Hannigan, recently appointed Chief Financial Officer, will hold a conference call to discuss the quarter's financial results at 11:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) today, April 13, 2023. Interested parties can access the conference call by dialing (833) 756-0865 or (412) 317-5754 or can listen via a live webcast, from the link available in the Investors section of the Company's website at https://opsens.com/investors/ or at https://app.webinar.net/Xz9d83makB1, 5 to 10 minutes before the beginning of the conference call. A replay will be available after the call, in the Investors section of the Company's website at https://opsens.com/investors/. About OpSens Inc. (www.OpSens.com or www.OpSensmedical.com) OpSens focuses mainly on cardiology. The Company offers an advanced optical-based pressure guidewire that aims at improving the clinical outcome of patients with coronary artery disease. Its flagship product, the OptoWire, is a second-generation fiber optic pressure guidewire designed to provide the lowest drift in the industry and excellent lesions access. The OptoWire has been used in the diagnosis and treatment of more than 200,000 patients in more than 30 countries. It is approved for sale in the United States, the European Union, the United Kingdom, Japan and Canada. OpSens has recently received FDA clearance and Health Canada approval to commercialize the SavvyWire for transcatheter aortic valve replacement procedures (TAVR). This unique guidewire is a 3-in-1 solution for stable aortic valve delivery and positioning, continuous accurate hemodynamic measurement during the procedure, and reliable left ventricular pacing without the need for adjunct devices or venous access. OpSens' SavvyWire is on trend with a minimalist approach to TAVR and advances the procedure, allowing patients to leave the hospital earlier, sometimes the same day. The TAVR procedure is growing rapidly globally, driven by the aging population and recent studies that demonstrate its benefits for a broader array of patients. The global TAVR market is currently estimated at over 200,000 procedures and is expected to reach 400,000 in 2027. OpSens is also involved in industrial activities in developing, manufacturing, and installing innovative fiber optic sensing solutions for critical applications. SOURCE OpSens Inc. Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/13/c1994.html Partial proceeds from the cup will support EarthDay.org's The Canopy Project MOONACHIE, N.J., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Paris Baguette , the neighborhood bakery cafe where communities come together and connect over their expertly crafted baked and brewed goods, and Lavazza , the family owned, innovative Italian coffee company, have partnered with viral artist Matt Chessco to develop a limited-edition reusable coffee cup in celebration of Earth Day. Paris Baguette and Lavazza will release an eco-conscious coffee cup, which features custom Matt Chessco artwork, in honor of Earth Day at all Paris Baguette North America bakery cafes on April 22. The eco-conscious coffee cup, which features custom Matt Chessco artwork, is reusable in honor of Earth Day. Cups will be available at each Paris Baguette location in North America on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, 2023, and will retail for $12.95. The first 20 customers, at each Paris Baguette location, to purchase a limited-edition cup will get a free cup of coffee. Paris Baguette Rewards Members will receive 10 off their coffee purchase when they use their reusable cup and double points for purchasing the cup. Matt Chessco will also be visiting select locations to meet fans and autograph cups. Dates and times of his appearances will be shared on Paris Baguette's social channels. For those who miss out on the limited-edition cup on Earth Day, Paris Baguette and Lavazza's reusable cup will be available for purchase at all locations starting in May 2023. In addition to providing more sustainable options for their customers, Paris Baguette will be making a donation to The Canopy Project , an initiative of EarthDay.org, that helps improve our shared environment by planting trees across the globe in an effort to reforest areas in need of rehabilitation. There are 60,000 tree species in the world and many are threatened with extinction. Paris Baguette encourages their community to participate alongside them. As little as $5 can help a community tree nursery raise five new saplings and as little as $10 can train a community member on climate-smart tree planting. This initiative is one of many to launch in 2023 under Paris Baguette's Love Baked In community programs. Story continues "Paris Baguette and Lavazza are committed to our shared values of community, sustainability, quality fare and spreading joy," said Darren Tipton, Chief Executive Officer, Paris Baguette North America. "We're excited to offer our customers this unique opportunity to support the planet as we all work towards a more sustainable future." Since 1935, Lavazza has adopted a company vision that prioritizes the economic, human, environmental and cultural heritage of the countries it has worked and continues to work with. Lavazza Group's Blend for Better manifesto is representative of the brand's commitment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 United Nations Agenda. This manifesto speaks directly to Lavazza's ambition of not only producing top-quality coffee, but doing so in a sustainable way that integrates the principles of sustainability into all its activities and processes. Apart from the many projects and initiatives that demonstrate Lavazza's innovative and environmentally responsible approach, the brand has also obtained top certifications for their producer offerings. A selection of Lavazza's Rainforest Alliance-certified coffees are served at Paris Baguette locations nationwide including their specialty "La Reserva de Tierra! Selection," a premium blend of high-grade natural and washed Arabica from Central and South America. "At Lavazza, we are on a mission to make a positive impact on both the world and its people through every cup of coffee we produce," shared Camille Vareille, VP - Head of Marketing Americas at Lavazza Group. "Now more than ever, investing in the future of our planet is essential and we are excited to further our impact with Paris Baguette and Matt Chessco this Earth Day." Matt Chessco is a painter and TikTok star, known for his pop art-inspired style that he uses to recreate celebrities, pay tribute to the world's biggest brands and imagine whimsical animal portraits, which he shares with an audience of over 4.5 million on social media. A former industrial designer and mechanical engineer, he left his full-time job in January 2020 to pursue his dreams of becoming an artist. While Matt was born in Toronto and raised in Montreal, he currently lives and works in Los Angeles. "We only have one planet, and it's important to protect it at all costs," said Chessco. "I'm proud to partner with Paris Baguette and Lavazza to raise awareness for Earth Day and prompt people to take action." To get your own limited edition Earth Day cup, find your nearest bakery cafe at ParisBaguette.com . Head to Lavazza.com to learn more about their sustainability initiatives. About Paris Baguette With a projected 1,000 bakery cafes in the United States by 2030, Paris Baguette is on a mission to reestablish the neighborhood bakery cafe as the heart of the community. Paris Baguette serves craveable baked and brewed treats and creates warm and welcoming experiences through a blend of gracious service, expert craftsmanship and community connections. From decisions made behind a desk to smiles offered behind a counter, the desire to spread joy and make the world a happier place drives everything we do. Being a neighborhood bakery cafe means caring about those around us and finding ways to make a real impact. We do so through our "Love Baked In" programs that bring to life our commitment to serving local communities through various charitable programs and initiatives. Paris Baguette is a leader in the hospitality industry with its commitment to creating unique consumer experiences and a network of successful franchisee relationships. For information and to find the Paris Baguette location closest to you, please visit www.parisbaguette.com. About Lavazza Group Lavazza, founded in Turin in 1895, has been owned by the Lavazza family for four generations. Today the Group is one of the leading players on the global coffee scene, with turnover of over 2.7 billion and a portfolio of top brands that lead their respective markets, such as Lavazza, Carte Noire, Merrild and Kicking Horse. It is active in all business sectors and has operations in 140 markets, with 8 manufacturing plants in 5 countries and about 5,500 collaborators all over the world. The Group's global presence is the result of over 125 years of growth and the more than 30 billion cups of Lavazza coffee produced every year are a testament to a remarkable success story, with the goal of continuing to offer the best coffee possible, in all forms, by focusing on every aspect of the supply chain, from the selection of the raw material to the product in the cup. Lavazza Group has revolutionized coffee culture by investing continuously in research and development: from the intuition that marked the company's earliest success - the coffee blend - to the development of innovative packaging solutions; from the first espresso sipped in Space to the dozens of industrial patents. The ability to be ahead of the times is also reflected in the focus on sustainability - economic, social and environmental - which has always been a benchmark for guiding corporate strategies. "Awakening a better world every morning" is the corporate purpose of Lavazza Group, with the aim of creating sustainable value for shareholders, collaborators, consumers and the communities in which it operates, combining competitiveness with social and environmental responsibility. About Matt Chessco Montreal native Matt Chessco is a former engineer who left his full-time job in January 2020 to pursue his dreams of becoming an artist. Matt's entertaining art videos rapidly gathered a lot of attention. In less than three years, Matt acquired over 1.6M subscribers on YouTube, and 2.8M followers on TikTok. It was at the intersection of music and art that Matt unlocked his talent and uncovered his passion. The aesthetic of his work has an Andy Warhol vibe, which is fitting for a performative platform like TikTok. In his viral TikTok videos, Matt uses his paintbrush as a drum, with each "beat" revealing celebrities and popular characters across pop culture. Some of Matt's past brand collaborations include the Chicago Bulls, Hulu, FC Barcelona and BMW, to name a few. Media Contact: Tiffany Jackson 9529946788 357205@email4pr.com Paris Baguette is the neighborhood bakery cafe where communities come together and connect over their expertly crafted baked and brewed goods Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/paris-baguette-and-lavazza-collaborate-with-viral-artist-matt-chessco-to-launch-limited-edition-reusable-cups-for-earth-day-301796495.html SOURCE Paris Baguette Peer-reviewed study offers first description of ongoing NETosis induction in Long COVID; provides insights into pathogenesis and can serve as a surrogate marker for persistent pathology Research emphasizes need to explore neutrophil-targeted therapies in acute and chronic COVID-19 SALT LAKE CITY, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Peel Therapeutics, an evolutionary-inspired, clinical-stage biotech company, announced research conducted by the company has been published in The Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. The study, NETosis Induction Reflects COVID-19 Severity and Long COVID: Insights from a Two-Center Patient Cohort Study in Israel , evaluated the ability of blood from Israeli patients with Long COVID to induce neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs) as a marker of ongoing inflammation. NETs are sticky webs of DNA released by activated immunes cells that contribute to immunothrombosis (mini-clots) and fibrosis. Peel scientists also correlated NETosis potential with acute disease severity in COVID-19. The study concluded that NET inhibitors may be a possible treatment approach for COVID-19 and recommended additional research to confirm findings. Peel Therapeutics is developing first-in-class Neutrophil Targeting Peptides (NTPs) originating from natural NET inhibitors in newborns to block inflammation leading to immunothrombosis and fibrosis. Peel scientists demonstrate increased NETosis induction in healthy neutrophils exposed to the blood of patients with severe Acute COVID-19 and symptomatic Long COVID. Created with BioRender.com In this study, Peel researchers examined NETs among people with and without COVID-19 and measured NET induction during and after infection. The study concluded that increased NETosis induction can be detected in people with Long COVID, offering insight into the potential uses of NTPs and other NET inhibitors for the treatment of Long COVID. The study included 177 patients from 2 Israeli hospitals with acute COVID-19 infection (mild/moderate or severe/critical) or convalescent COVID-19 (recovered or Long COVID), along with 54 non-COVID controls. People who experienced symptoms of Long COVID maintained higher NETosis induction compared to recovered convalescent patients. Dr. Kimberly Martinod, Assistant Professor in Cardiovascular Sciences at KU Leuven, runs a NET research laboratory that studies clotting and fibrosis in heart failure and is co-author on the paper. Dr. Martinod remarked, "Measuring NETs in blood samples is challenging. The Peel team quantified the ability of patient blood to form NETs instead of measuring fragments of NETs which can be complicated by their rapid degradation especially in COVID-19 where this is unbalanced. This study demonstrates the increased ability of blood from patients with acute and ongoing COVID-19 to induce NETs in healthy neutrophils. This reflects ongoing inflammation that may trigger excessive NET release, even weeks after the initial infection has cleared." Story continues Peel CEO and Co-founder, Dr. Joshua Schiffman, stated, "This study offers a new target for COVID patients suffering from ongoing inflammation. The potential use of our NTPs in acute and chronic COVID further validates Peel's ability to unlock evolutionary biology for cancer and inflammation. Our preclinical research lays the groundwork for scientists and clinicians to understand NTP's potential to treat inflammatory diseases, improve health outcomes, and in this case, offer hope to patients with Long COVID." The study can be accessed via the Journal of Thrombosis and Haemostasis. About Peel Therapeutics Peel Therapeutics is an evolutionary-inspired, clinical-stage biotech company that engineers nature better than evolution intended. Our scientists search for nature's super abilities where evolutionary biology accomplished the inconceivable in preventing or defeating disease. We then apply drug development expertise to rapidly translate this evolutionary biology into medicines. The company is advancing a therapeutic pipeline to treat a spectrum of devastating conditions, with a near-term focus on cancer and inflammation. At Peel Therapeutics, we push the limits of biology to develop highly effective and safe medicines for patients. "Peel" is the Hebrew word for elephant, our company originates from the natural cancer resistance found in elephants. Media Contact Janine Bogris Evoke Canale for Peel Therapeutics Janine.Bogris@canalecomm.com Peel Therapeutics (PRNewsfoto/PEEL Therapeutics) Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/peel-therapeutics-describes-excessive-netosis-induction-in-long-covid-301796901.html SOURCE PEEL Therapeutics Jeremy Hunt, UK chancellor of the exchequer - Samuel Corum/Bloomberg Jeremy Hunt has warned that workers are not getting good enough returns from their pension investments and vowed to overhaul Britain's retirement regime. The Chancellor said that Britains pension industry was in need of big reform and should follow the likes of Australia and Canada by allowing more money to be put into lucrative but potentially more risky assets such as infrastructure. He revealed that Sir Jonathan Symonds, chairman of the drugmaker GlaxoSmithKline, is providing informal advice on the best way to get higher returns on the hundreds of billions of pounds currently invested in defined contribution (DC) pension schemes. These schemes, most common in the private sector, will provide the biggest opportunities to unlock investment into high growth British industries, Mr Hunt added. Mr Symonds will also join the Chancellors council of economic advisers alongside four other economists, where he will provide advice on pensions on an ongoing basis. Asked if pension schemes should be forced to invest in the stock market as opposed to safer but less rewarding bonds Mr Hunt said: It's not something I would instinctively be comfortable with, because I think one of the strengths of the City is that we give financial institutions complete freedom to invest where they think they will get the best returns for the people whose money they're looking after. But we're looking at all these issues. My concern is that pensioners and future pensioners are not getting the returns that they could expect. The Chancellor also suggested that he would not back unlimited deposit guarantees for savers in the wake of the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank in the US because of the risk of moral hazard. FDIC representatives Luis Mayorga and Igor Fayermark speak with customers outside of the Silicon Valley Bank headquarters in Santa Clara, California, U.S. - REUTERS/Brittany Hosea-Small/File Photo The industry-funded Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS) currently guarantees up to 85,000 of an individual savers cash if a bank goes bust. Mr Hunt said he supported preserving a cash limit. The idea of a deposit guarantee at a fixed level has been very, very carefully thought through to give confidence to the vast majority of retail investors without creating moral hazard, he said. Story continues However, he added that he would continue to discuss future limits with Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey. The Chancellor noted that pension schemes in Australia and Canada had been bundled together over decades, creating super funds responsible for the savings of millions of workers that have the firepower to invest hundreds of billions in a range of assets, in contrast to the UKs current sprawling number of DC schemes. And countries like Australia and Canada have found a way of making sure that they get better returns by consolidating their pension fund industry in a way that makes it easier for them to invest in unlisted and potentially higher growth vehicles and that's the thing I think needs to be worked on, he added. The pension regimes in Canada and Australia have long been hailed for delivering better returns on behalf of members by investing a greater proportion of their portfolios in riskier assets, including equities and infrastructure investments. Average annual pension fund returns in the UK were 9.5pc in 2021, according to Moneyfacts. This compares with a 20.4pc gain by the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board and 22.3pc increase delivered by AustralianSuper for the same year. The Canadian and Australian approach has resulted in many UK companies falling into the hands of overseas pension funds. Camelot, for instance, the operator of the National Lottery, was owned by the Ontario Teachers' Pension Plan for the best part of a decade. Eurostar, meanwhile, is co-owned by Caisse de Depot et Placement du Quebec. The Eurostar train arrives at Rotterdam Central Station - LEX VAN LIESHOUT/ANP/AFP via Getty Images AustralianSuper last year announced it would invest in a 53-acre project in Rotherhithe to build up to 4,000 new homes. Mr Hunt has faced growing pressure to overhaul the pensions industry amid criticism over the slow pace of change. Peter Harrison, the chief executive of Schroders, said in March that Britain's failure to back risk-takers means London's capital markets are falling further behind New York. He said: There is a lot in the pipe, but it needs to get done quickly. It needs to take place in an atmosphere of forward-leaning and a willingness to take risk because if you dont take risk, you dont get a return. We can bolt everything down, make sure everything is absolutely squeaky solid. But if there is no risk-taking then companies will say they want to go and be listed somewhere where there is risk-taking and where there is a return on capital. Separately, the IMFs managing director Kristalina Georgieva warned that the world risked fragmenting into a new Cold War. Responding to a communique released after a meeting of finance ministers of G7 countries, who want to reduce their dependency on China by building alternative supply chains, she warned that the pandemic, the war in Ukraine, and globalisation were leading to a potentially dangerous path. What we have learned from Covid-19 and the war is that security of supply and the reliable functioning of global supply chains are taking a higher priority in economic discussions and decision making, Georgieva said. Mr Hunt said he shared Georgievas concerns about fragmentation but said it would be irresponsible not to address concerns of supply chains depending too heavily on any country. He added: The lesson of the war in Ukraine is that energy dependency on Russia was a bad thing and probably a mistake. Pinkinu a meme coin, It's a movement that's empowering women to take control of their finances, their lives, and their futures. Singapore, Singapore , April 12, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Pinkinu, the first womens coin launched, providing better, more transparent, and equal opportunities to women around the world. Unlike most blockchain projects that are created to serve men, Pinkinu is designed with women in mind. With over half of the world's population being women, it's shocking to learn that only about 5% of women are accessing blockchain technology. Pinkinu is here to bridge that gap and create a more inclusive crypto world. But Pinkinu is more than just a meme coin. It's a movement that's empowering women to take control of their finances, their lives, and their futures. By partnering with brands, labels, and human rights organizations to protect women, Pinkinu aims to bring a better, more transparent, and equal life to women around the world. And the best part? Pinkinu is designed to be accessible to everyone, even if someones new to blockchain or Web3. Users don't need to be a tech guru to join the Pink cuties. The community is always here to help, whether someone needs assistance setting up their wallet or navigating the crypto landscape. But what makes Pinkinu a smart investment choice? In the Pinkinu presale, 90% of the total supply will be sold to the public, while 10% of the tokens will be allocated to liquidity, listing fees, and rewards for active community members. The developers do not own any tokens, meaning that no one can hold a large amount of tokens that could potentially control Pinkinu. Investors can be assured that their investment is 100% safe. During its presale, Pinkinu has implemented many unique and creative approaches to attract investors. Pinkinu Presale is sold in 6 stages, with 15% of total supply each round, and the price will increase by 12.5% for each selling stage. Therefore, the listing price will be 200% higher than stage 06 and 360% higher than stage 01. Story continues Buying and owning Pinkinu early will bring huge benefits to investors. As the price of PINKINU increases with each stage of the presale, early investors will have the opportunity to purchase PINKINU at a lower price than later investors. This means that early investors can benefit from significant price appreciation, allowing them to realize higher profits. In addition to price appreciation, early investors will also have the advantage of being able to participate in the growth and development of Pinkinu. As more users join the Pinkinu community, demand for PINKINU will increase, driving up its value. Early investors will also have the opportunity to participate in the community and provide feedback, contributing to the development of the project. Furthermore, early investors will have access to exclusive benefits such as special promotions and rewards, and they will be able to enjoy lower transaction fees when trading their PINKINU tokens. The first stage of Pinkinu's presale program is set to launch on April 14th, 2023, at 12:10 PM (UTC). This is a great opportunity for investors to take part in the presale round and secure PINKINU tokens at a discounted price. To participate, head over to Pinkinu's official website at www.pinkinu.fun. Joining early has its advantages - the committed listing price is guaranteed to be higher than the presale price by up to 360%. Keep in mind that investing always carries a degree of risk, but the potential rewards can be significant. Join Pinkinu as soon as possible and be a part of history. Imagine a future where half of the world joins forces to stand together and make changes. Where women and men stand together as equals, empowered to make a difference. But that's not all - Pinkinu also offers exciting daily activities such as Airdrop, Meme creation contests, Best content creator, and more. Don't miss out on the chance to win some amazing prizes while having fun and building the network. Don't miss out on this revolutionary opportunity. And remember, where there are women, there will always be men. Join Pinkinu and be a part of the legendary, a part of history, or be forgotten! 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. This is not investment advice. Please do your own research. Media Contact: Contact Person: Pinkinu Admin Company: Pinkinu Email: contact@pinkinu.fun City: Singapore Country: Singapore Website: https://pinkinu.fun Privateer Space The National Geographic Society grant will power Privateer in the creation of Glint Evader to better predict brightness of satellites in the night sky MAUI, Hawaii, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Privateer Space , the data and intelligence platform powering the future of space sustainability, today announced Dr. Moriba Jah, the companys co-founder and chief scientist, has been awarded a grant from the National Geographic Society and will become a National Geographic Explorer. This grant will go to Privateers launch of Glint Evader. Glint Evader will collect satellite data to develop software that predicts and helps astronomers anticipate when sunlight reflecting off of satellites may interfere with their observations. Glints occur when the observer is in darkness and the satellite is illuminated by the sun, and a satellite surface is closely aligned with the Sun-satellite-observer bi-sector. This spike in brightness makes it increasingly difficult to see dim items in space. Glint Evader will model responses to photons to predict glints, and provide these predictions to researchers to avoid collecting light from specific locations at specific times. The more we launch into space, the more the research community struggles to collect observations of the sky, limiting our ability to push our scientific frontiers and better understand the universe, said Moriba Jah. Im honored to receive this grant and become a National Geographic Explorer to continue to uncover the future of space technology and to advance scientific research with Glint Evader. Glint Evader will bring data from satellite structures, material properties, and orientations to Privateers modeling and processing technology. Through Privateers engineering resources, the data will be distributed in an online application that predicts glints and helps review observations to assess probability that a light burst is a glint or astronomical phenomenon. One of the biggest problems facing satellites and astronomical observations is glints, said Alex Fielding, co-founder and CEO of Privateer. This grant will help to better predict and overcome this challenge, empowering space sustainability research and helping to make space safe and accessible for all. Story continues Were thrilled to support Dr. Moriba Jah and welcome him into the National Geographic Explorer community. His approach to space exploration is curious, innovative and sustainable, which exemplifies the Explorer mindset. His work is critical to better understanding how we can illuminate and protect the wonder of our planet and beyond, said Ian Miller, Chief Innovation and Science Officer at National Geographic Society. About Privateer Privateer powers the applications that build the new space economy. By mapping satellites and debris in Earth orbit with unprecedented accuracy and transparency, Privateer is making space predictable and safe, paving the way for the rapid growth of space exploration and commerce. Privateer is the latest venture founded by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak and Ripcord CEO Alex Fielding along with Dr. Moriba Jah. Proudly headquartered in Maui, Privateer hopes to honor the native Hawaiian traditions of environmental stewardship by extending them to humanitys next frontier. To learn more, please visit https://mission.privateer.com . Privateer Contact Praytell for Privateer privateer@praytellagency.com (Bloomberg) -- Rakuten Bank Ltd. and its main shareholder priced shares at 1,400 yen each in Japans largest initial public offering in five years, marking the top of a target range that had been lowered earlier this month. Most Read from Bloomberg About 83.3 billion yen ($625 million) was raised in the sale of shares in the banking unit of billionaire Hiroshi Mikitanis Rakuten Group Inc., according to a statement on Thursday. Even with the lower than originally expected price, the listing is the largest in Japan since since the $20 billion-plus IPO of SoftBank Corp. in December 2018. The offering comes amid high volatility for banking stocks globally, after the failures of several US lenders and turmoil at Credit Suisse AG. It also comes on the heels of the IPO of fellow online lender SBI Sumishin Net Bank Ltd., which has risen 38% since its debut in Tokyo last month. Not surprised at the pricing as, at the revised IPO range, the stock was attractively priced, said Sumeet Singh, head of equity research, IPOs and placements at Aequitas Research Pvt. The company still offers a substantial discount to where the recently listed SBI Sumishin Net Bank has been trading. Rakuten Bank initially set an indicative price band of 1,630 to 1,960 yen then lowered that to 1,300-1,400 yen, suggesting weaker than expected demand. The offer comprises roughly 60 million shares, with an overallotment of 4.5 million. The listing is part of Rakuten Groups plan to expand its financial business. Stiff competition from Amazon.com Inc. has capped its core e-commerce revenues, while aggressive promotions for its struggling mobile unit have saddled the company with losses. Story continues Rakuten cut Mikitanis salary by almost 40% last year. Investors and creditors have voiced concern over the viability of the companys foray into the Japanese mobile market, with the countrys dominant carriers slow to yield coveted spectrum to the new entrant. Rakuten Group offered up to 84% of shares available in the IPO, and will retain a stake of about 63% in the banking unit after the listing, according to terms of the deal. The stock is slated to list on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on April 21. Daiwa Securities Group Inc., Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Mizuho Financial Group Inc. are joint global coordinators on the deal. --With assistance from Mayumi Negishi and Winnie Hsu. (Adds comment from Aequitas Research) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. 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 Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. If you can do your job from home, be scared. Be very scared, Richard Baldwin, an economics professor at the Graduate Institute in Geneva, Switzerland, said back in November 2021. Because somebody in India or wherever is willing to do it for much less. 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 Baldwin may have been aiming at peoples fears when he said that a year-and-a-half ago. But his predictions are catching fire among more and more bosses. A lightbulb went off recently for Johnny Taylor Jr., the CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), as he told the Wall Street Journal in a story published this week. It came when an employee asked to relocate from Virginia, where SHRM is based, to North Carolina and pivot to remote work. In response to the employees requestwhich was hardly unusualTaylor outsourced the job to India, which saved him 40% in labor costs. This could happen at your company, too. Remote work is still going strong as scores of workers demand to keep their newfound flexibility and join the masses who have moved from major cities to outer suburbsor even across the country or ocean. In deep quarantine times, bosses most often relented, allowing workers to decamp at their leisure. But that wasnt out of the goodness of their heart; in a tight talent market, they were desperate to hang onto their workers. The picture looks different now. Job openings in February dropped to their lowest rate since May 2021, giving the power back to bosses. And some of them are using that power to cut costs and offshore jobs where they can. In fact, workers with jobs that have allowed a work-from-anywhere set-up might soon see a reversal of fortune. Companies needed to pivot The remote-work craze allowed even small, cash-strapped businesses to explore outsourcing options. The pandemic left them no choice but to digitize and learn to manage a distributed workforce. For some bosses, outsourcing work overseas is the logical next step, especially as wages soar and workers remain scarce, the Washington Post reported last year. Story continues This isnt entirely new. According to data payroll and benefits firm Gusto gave the Post, the number of contractor payments in the United States grew 56% between 2019 and 2022. The pandemic became a very volatile time, and lots of businesses needed to pivot on very quick timelines, Gusto principal economic Liz Wilke said. And they also needed skills and capabilities that they didnt have before or could not get in the talent market. And that is the primary advantage of contractors. Around 15% of U.S.-based service support jobs like software developers and customer service reps could move overseas within the decade, Stanford economist and WFH Research lead Nick Bloom told the Journal. But the kinds of jobs vulnerable to offshoring could creep into countless kinds of white collar work. A 'seismic shift' for white-collar workers Many companies hadnt yet internationally outsourced most jobs that require higher education, Anna Stansbury, an assistant professor of work and organization studies at MIT Sloan School of Management who teaches a course on the future of work, told Fortune back in September. But if those jobs can be done remotelyespecially the high-paying jobsshe says outsourcing them could pretty clearly offer huge savings, exactly as Taylor, SHRMs CEO, found. The potential for change would be seismic if all of these well-paid white collar jobs were suddenly outsourced to less rich countries, Stansbury added. If people that code for Google and Facebook were able to live wherever in the U.S. they wanted and [work] for a year and a half without ever going to the office, it seems very, very likely that a lot of companies will be rethinking this longer-term and outsourcing those kinds of jobs that didnt used to be outsourced. She points to an October 2021 National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER) paper from Baldwin, the fear monger, and his research partner, Jonathan Dingel. They categorized jobs into one of four groups: highly offshoreable, offshoreable, hard to offshore, and non-offshoreable. To be highly offshoreable, a job only needs to answer no to two questions: Does a person in this occupation need to be physically close to a specific US work location? and, if not, Must they be physically close to a work unit? In the near-future, tasks that can be done remotely by people in those jobs will inevitably be done by telemigrants rather than U.S.-based workers, Baldwin and Dingel predict. Easier said than done, of course. Social and cultural contexts across countries [make] it less likely that a public relations specialist or a sales engineer located in Hanoi is a perfect substitute for one located in Seattle, they added. Plus, as Nick Bloom told the Washington Post, an average company isnt going to open an international HQ quite yet. You need to take a few trips there first to scope the place out, he said. But give it two or three years and we will be looking back at 2020 as the turning point for service-sector globalization. This story was originally featured on Fortune.com 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 Sunwing Vacations Inc. Sunwing asks Canadians about their fondest vacation memories Survey also reveals travel inspires wanderlust, fosters personal growth and creates shared moments with loved ones TORONTO, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new Sunwing survey on Canadians travel preferences and most memorable vacation experiences has uncovered that seven-in-ten (71%) respondents fondest vacation or travel memory was from a past or recent vacation as an adult. This is compared to one-in-six (16%) who said their fondest memory is from a childhood trip and one-in-eight (13%) who said their favourite memory was from a trip as a teenager. When it comes to the lasting impact that vacation had on them, half (51%) of respondents said it helped them get closer to and share experiences with friends or family members, while 55% said it made them more eager to explore more destinations or parts of the world. Nearly two-in-five (37%) respondents said it helped them learn about a new culture or language, with another third (34%) saying it helped them grow as a person. A similar proportion (36%) said it gave them a more positive outlook on life. The survey was conducted by Sunwing, in both English and French, between March 28-30, 2023 with a nationally representative sample of 1,509 Canadians. Our research highlights the growing importance Canadians place on travel for creating lasting memories and cultivating deeper bonds with their loved ones, said Samantha Taylor, Chief Marketing Officer for Sunwing Travel Group. Going on vacation also helps inspire a feeling of wanderlust, encouraging Canadians to travel more and explore more destinations in future. At Sunwing were all about making vacation dreams come true and, with an assortment of over 700 resorts offered across 30-plus destinations, there are no shortage of beach escapes to experience this summer. Whether looking to relax on the beach, indulge in a romantic retreat or plan action-packed excursions, when booking with Sunwing more Canadians can create feel-good experiences in destination and vacation memories to last a lifetime. Story continues Additional survey insights: Three-in-five (59%) Canadians say its likely theyll travel internationally in the next year, rising to two-thirds (66%) in British Columbia. Among those looking to travel internationally, about three-in-ten (31%) plan on doing so within the next three months. Approximately two-thirds (63%) of prospective international travellers intend to plan an upcoming trip to a sun destination in the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America or the U.S. Respondents aged 35-54 are most likely to travel to a sun destination (71%) followed closely by those aged 18-34 (65%). Among those who have travelled to a sun destination before, respondents made the most of their vacation by relaxing on the beach or by the pool (73%), trying out new activities or going on guided excursions (56%), taking in the local culture (55%) and trying out local dining experiences (52%). Canadians longing to make new vacation memories and feel-good moments in paradise can enjoy great rates on all inclusive packages during Sunwings Summer Starts Now promotion, including under $999 deals on vacation packages to Cuba. Customers can secure incredible prices on tropical escapes booked by April 30, 2023 for travel by August 31, 2023. Plus, with the Sunwing Guarantee*, customers receive more perks when they book an all inclusive vacation with Sunwing, including the first checked bag free (a value of $100+ roundtrip), hotel transfers included for a seamless experience, and the lowest price on change and cancellation protection with Sunwings Worry Free coverage options. *Terms and conditions apply. About the survey These are the findings of a study conducted by Sunwing from March 28-30, 2023 among a nationally representative sample of n=1,509 Canadians who are members of the online Angus Reid Forum, balanced and weighted on age, gender, region and education. For comparison purposes only, a sample of this size would yield a margin of error of +/- 2.5 percentage points at a 95% confidence level. The survey was offered in both English and French. About Sunwing The largest integrated travel company in North America, Sunwing has more flights to the south than any other leisure carrier with convenient direct service from airports across Canada to popular sun destinations across the U.S.A., Caribbean, Mexico and Central America. This scale enables Sunwing to offer customers exclusive deals at top-rated resorts in the most popular vacation destinations as well as cruise packages and seasonal domestic flight service. Sunwing customers benefit from the assistance of the companys own knowledgeable destination representatives, who greet them upon arrival and support them throughout their vacation journey. The company supports the communities where it operates through the Sunwing Foundation, a charitable initiative focused on the support and development of youth and humanitarian aid. For more information: Melanie Anne Filipp Senior Director, Corporate Communications & Media Relations Sunwing Travel Group 1-800-387-5602 | media@sunwing.ca A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/ea5a1ee1-0a63-4a9c-bbe4-796ea6e49502 Key Insights Significant control over Swiss Prime Site by retail investors implies that the general public has more power to influence management and governance-related decisions The top 25 shareholders own 40% of the company Institutions own 46% of Swiss Prime Site If you want to know who really controls Swiss Prime Site AG (VTX:SPSN), 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 retail investors with 54% ownership. That is, the group stands to benefit the most if the stock rises (or lose the most if there is a downturn). Retail investors gained the most after market cap touched CHF6.0b last week, while institutions who own 46% also benefitted. Let's delve deeper into each type of owner of Swiss Prime Site, beginning with the chart below. See our latest analysis for Swiss Prime Site What Does The Institutional Ownership Tell Us About Swiss Prime Site? 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 Swiss Prime Site does have institutional investors; and they hold a good portion of the company's stock. This suggests some credibility amongst professional investors. But we can't rely on that fact alone since institutions make bad investments sometimes, just like everyone does. If multiple institutions change their view on a stock at the same time, you could see the share price drop fast. It's therefore worth looking at Swiss Prime Site's earnings history below. Of course, the future is what really matters. Swiss Prime Site is not owned by hedge funds. The company's largest shareholder is BlackRock, Inc., with ownership of 8.7%. For context, the second largest shareholder holds about 8.0% of the shares outstanding, followed by an ownership of 4.5% by the third-largest shareholder. Story continues A deeper look at our ownership data shows that the top 25 shareholders collectively hold less than half of the register, suggesting a large group of small holders where no single shareholder has a majority. 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. There are plenty of analysts covering the stock, so it might be worth seeing what they are forecasting, too. Insider Ownership Of Swiss Prime Site While the precise definition of an insider can be subjective, almost everyone considers board members to be insiders. Company management run the business, but the CEO will answer to the board, even if he or she is a member of it. I generally consider insider ownership to be a good thing. However, on some occasions it makes it more difficult for other shareholders to hold the board accountable for decisions. Our data suggests that insiders own under 1% of Swiss Prime Site AG in their own names. It's a big company, so even a small proportional interest can create alignment between the board and shareholders. In this case insiders own CHF9.0m worth of shares. It is good to see board members owning shares, but it might be worth checking if those insiders have been buying. General Public Ownership The general public, mostly comprising of individual investors, collectively holds 54% of Swiss Prime Site shares. This size of ownership gives investors from the general public some collective power. They can and probably do influence decisions on executive compensation, dividend policies and proposed business acquisitions. Next Steps: While it is well worth considering the different groups that own a company, there are other factors that are even more important. Consider for instance, the ever-present spectre of investment risk. We've identified 3 warning signs with Swiss Prime Site (at least 2 which make us uncomfortable) , and understanding them should be part of your investment process. If you would prefer discover what analysts are predicting in terms of future growth, do not miss this free report on analyst forecasts. NB: Figures in this article are calculated using data from the last twelve months, which refer to the 12-month period ending on the last date of the month the financial statement is dated. This may not be consistent with full year annual report figures. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here #OnlyWayForward HONG KONG, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- After three consecutive years of success, the fourth edition of ReThink HK returns to the city on 14 to 15 September this year, much expanded, in Hall 1CDE of The Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre to unite business leaders, sustainability practitioners and like-minded delegates to push forward the progress and frontiers of Hong Kong's sustainable development. This year, a new tagline: #OnlyWayForward, reinstates the importance of our society to march forward together and achieve a sustainable future at the best-attended and most ambitious business event for sustainable development in Hong Kong. The 2023 edition of ReThink HK is expected to attract an attendance of over 6,000 across two days, to drive the city's ambition into real action and accelerate sustainable transformation. Refined with a new focus As a content and innovation-led conference-expo hybrid, ReThink HK has redesigned the eight themed conference theatres and stages from the previous editions to provide the audience with a comprehensive programme to address issues and actionable plans for a Net Zero and Nature Positive transition across all industries, and wider society. These include the Net Zero & Nature Positive Theatre (Keynote), BEC Circular Transition Theatre, Innovation & Technology Theatre, People & Purpose Theatre, Sustainable Buildings & Facilities Theatre, Sustainable Finance & Supply Chains Theatre, and the Change Makers Stage. In addition to the eight themed conference theatres and stages, ReThink HK 2023 will also introduce the brand-new ReThink Roundtables, a novel platform for delegates to have meaningful and engaging dialogues with subject experts for the sustainable transformation in various sectors and matters, including Rethinking Workplaces, Rethinking Food & Hospitality, Rethinking Textiles & Apparel, Rethinking Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and Rethinking Plastics & Packaging. The platform encourages and provides a great opportunity for delegates to exchange views, create ideas, and facilitate collaboration within and across industries. Story continues Furthermore, at the Net Zero & Nature Positive Theatre on Day 1, speakers will gather under one roof to explore how Hong Kongas a world-class financial hubcan use its strength and advantages to protect biodiversity locally and beyond. ReThink HK has emerged to be a platform where open dialogues from the public, private sectors and NGOs are possible. Therefore, representatives from both the public and private sectors will be able to engage on the most significant topics impacting our communities, businesses, city and planet. Delegates and speakers will present and discuss the current state and strategies of Hong Kong's climate action plan and climate pillars, encouraging further private-public collaboration to achieve carbon neutrality before 2050. Extended partnership with Business Environment Council Following a successful partnership with Business Environment Council (BEC) in 2021 and 2022, ReThink HK is delighted to enter a 2-year partnership with BEC as the exclusive co-organiser of the event. The robust partnership will strengthen stakeholder engagement and synergy in the business community to achieve net zero and nature positive in Hong Kong. Chris Brown, Founder & Director of ReThink, is pleased with the extension of this partnership, and said, "Collaboration is critical for the sustainable development of any business or community. Building on the huge success of the past two years, with BEC as our trusted and action focused co-organiser, I am incredibly excited about the opportunity to drive even greater engagement from the business sector across the next two editions of ReThink HK." "With the vision to lead, enable and drive the business community to transform for a green, liveable and sustainable Hong Kong, BEC has been galvanising business actions towards environmental excellence and net zero in Hong Kong. Following the successful collaborations we enjoyed in the previous two years, BEC's continuous partnership with ReThink HK demonstrates our commitment in turning climate ambition into action for the benefits of the business sector and the wider community. We believe ReThink HK will continue to be an influential platform for positive change along the net-zero journey," added Simon Ng, Chief Executive Officer of BEC. At ReThink HK 2023, BEC will deliver its refreshed contents, namely "Zero Waste in Action: Rethinking Value Chains" on Day 1 and "Zero Waste in Action: Rethinking Retail" on Day 2 at the BEC Circular Transition Theatre, to highlight the importance of innovation and sustainable value chain and discuss the threats and opportunities in business sustainability; as well as the "Our Net Zero, Climate Resilient Future: Aligning Public Private Ambition & Action" on Day 2 morning at the Net Zero & Nature Positive Theatre (Keynote). About ReThink HK ReThink HK is a unique annual event that helps organisations align sustainable business practices at every stage of their value chain, showcases innovation and solutions accelerating sustainable transformation. ReThink unites the ecosystem so all stakeholders and communities can contribute to and look forward to a climate-smart and equitable city, for everyone. All delegate fees contribute to funding local impact projects with Hong Kong charities. For more information, please visit ReThink HK's website: https://rethink-event.com/ For ReThink HK 2023 Full Event Programme, please click here. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/rethink-hk-returns-to-advance-the-citys-sustainable-development-301796564.html SOURCE ReThink HK SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. SkyQuest's Lab Automation 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 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SkyQuest projects that the Lab Automation market will attain a value of USD 10.51 billion by 2030, with a CAGR of 8.15% over the forecast (2022-2030). The expansion of the advantages offered by laboratory automation is one of the key elements most likely to drive market expansion over the forecast period. For clinical laboratories, switching to laboratory automation from entirely manual intervention has several benefits. The utilization of laboratory technology for repetitive tasks like labelling tubes and sample verification as well as the reduction and elimination of physical stress carried out by manual work are all made possible by laboratory automation. According to the SkyQuest's, In the near future, market growth is anticipated to be fueled by an increase in the number of applications for Lab Automation. Automation has recently been used in a variety of ways to modernize laboratory procedures that were previously handled manually. Automated chemistry, synthetic biology, the creation of cell lines, genomics, cellular tests, and drug discovery are a few of these applications. As a result, it is projected that the adoption of Lab Automation will expand during the forecast period as the number of clinical applications for automated laboratory instruments rises. Browse in-depth TOC on "Lab Automation Market" Pages - 257 Tables - 119 Figures 66 Story continues Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/lab-automation-market Automation in the lab is the use of tools to complete activities with assistance from humans. Automation is possible at any point during an experimental method, from the first step on until the end. Robots, computers, and software have made a vast variety of items readily available today. It is possible to distinguish between the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical stages of Lab Automation. Yet, automated processes may be included into each step of the research process. For the working team or to cooperating teams, processes can be made more efficient or data can be shared and made more available from multiple locations or devices. Automation in the form of AI or ML is being used in numerous ways by life science facilities. Prominent Players in Lab Automation Market Tecan Group Ltd Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc Danaher Corporation Hamilton F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. Qiagen N.V. Abbott Laboratories Siemens AG PerkinElmer Inc. Agilent Technologies, Inc. bioMerieux Eppendorf Bruker Avantor Smiths Group Corning Agilent Roche Bio-Rad Gilson Eppendorf Beckman Coulter Life Sciences PerkinElmer Analytik Jena VWR International Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/lab-automation-market The Whole Automation Systems Segment Had the Largest Share Because It Includes End-to-end Automation Solutions That Cover the Entire Production Process With 49.3% of the market in 2021, the Whole Automation Systems segment had the largest share, owing to the many benefits that these systems offer. The development of this viewpoint in various life science procedures has been one of the key variables anticipated to fuel the segment's growth. Market-used automation systems fall into two categories: total automation systems and modular automation systems. Phases are further divided into whole automation systems for subsequent processing. In order to facilitate repetitive tasks or technically challenging processes, numerous drug development laboratories are currently using Lab Automation systems like benchtop automation systems. In 2021, North America dominated the Lab Automation market, and it is anticipated that it will continue during the forecast period. The region's well-established healthcare system, which has led to an increase in the usage of Lab Automation technologies. Also, the favourable reimbursement environment in this region and the local presence of key companies are encouraging the market acceptance of new solutions. Also, due to the presence of important pharmaceutical corporations in this region, rising investments in the drug development and genomics sectors are predicted to fuel market expansion for the Lab Automation industry. Continuous Flow Automation Had the Largest Share Due to High Degree of Precision, Efficiency, And Consistency In 2021, the continuous flow segment had the largest market share worldwide. This resulted from continuous flow being widely used in laboratories to provide high-quality services. A tried-and-true method that excels when a larger number of samples need to be analyzed for a lesser number of chemistries is continuous flow analysis. Due to a variety of advantages discrete processing possesses over continuous flow, which are expected to stimulate adoption during the projected period, discrete processing is predicted to see the highest growth rate. During the forecast period, it is expected that the market in Asia Pacific would grow exponentially because of the growing need for Lab Automation in developing countries like China and India. This industry has experienced lucrative expansion, which is believed to be the consequence of increased efforts by local and foreign companies to make innovative Lab Automation technologies accessible in these potential markets. The Asia-Pacific region has tremendous potential for the key companies in the laboratory automation sector. The market is growing in this region because of rising pharmaceutical company numbers, rising demand for sophisticated laboratory automation systems and rising awareness of these systems. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Lab Automation 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/lab-automation-market Key Developments in Lab Automation Market In September 2022, Agilent, a leader in analytical and diagnostic technologies, and Scitara, a market-leading innovation in laboratory digital transformation, collaborated to form a new company. Agilent's portfolio of solutions, which includes chromatography software and lab workflow management systems, may now be integrated with Scitara's Scientific Integration Platform SIP. In February 2022, Automata, a UK-based biotechnology firm that offers workflow automation for the life sciences sector, joined the U.S. and wider European markets in addition to test a new generation of hardware with partners. Key Questions Answered in Lab Automation 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 Coupled Inductor Market Global Inductors Market Global Permanent Magnet Motor Market Global Photocatalyst Market North America Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter PMI Global Bioplastics & Biopolymers Market, By Type (Non-Biodegradable (Bio-PET, Bio-PE, and Others) and Biodegradable (PLA, PHA, Starch Blends, Biodegradable Polyster, and Others)), By End-user Industry (Packaging, Consumer Goods, Automotive & Transportation, Agriculture, Textile, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2030 Covina, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bioplastics and biopolymers are types of plastic and polymer materials that are made from renewable, biodegradable, or biobased sources, such as plant starches, sugars, and cellulose. Unlike traditional plastics that are made from non-renewable sources such as petroleum, bioplastics and biopolymers are a more sustainable alternative. Bioplastics can be categorized into two main groups: biodegradable and non-biodegradable. Biodegradable bioplastics are designed to break down naturally through the action of microorganisms, whereas non-biodegradable bioplastics are made from renewable sources but do not degrade naturally and need to be recycled or composted. Biopolymers are a broader category of materials that include not only plastics but also other types of polymers made from natural sources, such as proteins and DNA. Biopolymers have a wide range of potential applications, including use in medicine, agriculture, and food packaging. Analyst View Bioplastics and Biopolymers Market has been growing steadily in recent years, and there are several factors driving this growth. As consumers and businesses become more environmentally conscious, there is a growing demand for sustainable materials. Bioplastics and biopolymers offer a more sustainable alternative to traditional plastics made from non-renewable sources. The demand for bioplastics and biopolymers is also being driven by their increasing use in a wide range of industries, including packaging, agriculture, textiles, and automotive. Further, bioplastics and biopolymers market is poised for continued growth in the coming years as sustainability concerns continue to drive demand over the forecast period. Story continues This high growth is driven mainly by the growth of the global packaging end-use industry. Apart from packaging, bioplastics & biopolymers are used in various end-use industries such as automotive & transportation, agriculture & horticulture, consumer goods, and textile, among others. The global bioplastics & biopolymers market accounted for US$ 11.6 billion in 2022 and is estimated to be US$ 49.3 billion by 2032 and is anticipated to register a CAGR of 15.6%. The report. Request Free Sample Copy: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-sample/4283 "Global Bioplastics & Biopolymers Market, By Type (Non-Biodegradable (Bio-PET, Bio-PE, and Others) and Biodegradable (PLA, PHA, Starch Blends, Biodegradable Polyster, and Others)), By End-user Industry (Packaging, Consumer Goods, Automotive & Transportation, Agriculture, Textile, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2030. Key Highlights: In May 2017, NatureWorks and partnered with showcase Ingeo bioplastic breakthroughs in film and rigid packaging at interpack. This lead to performance enhancements in rigid and flexible packaging including higher heat resistance, greater barrier properties, source reduction, improved strength, new and varied films, and more ecovio, a qualified compostable and partially bio-based plastic, plays a vital role in the management of organic waste in the Indian city of Kalyani. Since 2018, a starting ventures pilot project has been working here that focuses to expand organic waste source separation, reduce new plastic waste and eventually produce high-value compost for agricultural use. In August 2019, Purelogic Labs India launched Indias first Bioplastics & Biopolymers particularly for children. Browse 60 market data tables* and 35 figures* through 140 slides and in-depth TOC on Global Bioplastics & Biopolymers Market, By Type (Non-Biodegradable (Bio-PET, Bio-PE, and Others) and Biodegradable (PLA, PHA, Starch Blends, Biodegradable Polyster, and Others)), By End-user Industry (Packaging, Consumer Goods, Automotive & Transportation, Agriculture, Textile, and Others), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2030 Key Market Insights from the report: By type, the non-biodegradable segment is accounted to grow at a substantial rate in the global market. In the non-biodegradable segment, the bio-PET is extensively used polymer due to its high durability. Growing demand for flexible films and bio-based bottles in the beverage sector is projected to boost the growth of the segment. Increasing adoption of bio-PET bottles for packaging of carbonated soft drinks is accounted to drive the growth of the segment over the forecast period. By end-user industry, the packaging segment lead the bioplastics & biopolymers market. Growing demand for bioplastics and biopolymers in the food & beverage industry is expected to boost the growth of the segment. Increasing demand for bio-based material for packaging of organic food products is anticipated to boost the growth of the segment. By region, Europe bioplastics & biopolymers market is accounted to lead significant share in the bioplastics & biopolymers market over the forecast period, owing to growing demand for bioplastics in the packaging industry. Increasing demand for plastics in agricultural applications in countries such as UK, Germany, Italy, France, and Russia is anticipated to boost the growth of the global market. Request PDF : https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-pdf/4283 Scope of Report: Global Bioplastics & Biopolymers Market, By Type, 2022 2032, (US$ Mn) Overview Market Value and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Share Analysis (%), 2022 2032 Y-o-Y Growth Analysis (%), 2022 2032 Segment Trends Non-Biodegradable Overview Market Size and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2022 2032 Bio-PET Bio-PE Others Biodegradable Overview Market Size and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2022 2032 PLA PHA Starch Blends Biodegradable Polyster Others Global Bioplastics & Biopolymers Market, By End-user Industry, 2022 2032, (US$ Mn) Overview Market Value and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Share Analysis (%), 2022 2032 Y-o-Y Growth Analysis (%), 2022 2032 Segment Trends Packaging Overview Market Size and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2022 2032 Consumer Goods Overview Market Size and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2022 2032 Automotive & Transportation Overview Market Size and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2022 2032 Agriculture Overview Market Size and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2022 2032 Textile Overview Market Size and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2022 2032 Others Overview Market Size and Forecast (US$ Mn), and Y-o-Y Growth (%), 2022 2032 Request Customization: https://www.prophecymarketinsights.com/market_insight/Insight/request-customization/4283 Competitive Landscape: The prominent player operating in the global bioplastics & biopolymers market includes NatureWorks LLC, BASF SE, Braskem S.A., Total Corbion PLA, Arkema S.A., Eastman Chemical Company, Mitsubishi Chemical Corporation, Biome Bioplastics Limited, Novamont S.p.A., and Plantic Technologies Limited. Related Report: Bioplastic Packaging Market - By Product Type (Bio-PET, PLA and PLA Blends, Starch Blends, Other biodegradables), By Application (Plastic Bottles, Packaging and Others), By Packaging Type ( Rigid, Flexible), By End-Use (Food and Beverages, Consumer Goods, Pharmaceutical, Industrial Goods, Others) and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2032 Plastic Components Market - By Type (Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene, Polyurethanes, Polyvinyl Chloride, Polyamide (Nylon 6/6 and Nylon 6), Polycarbonate, Polyvinyl Butyral, and Other Engineering Resins), By Application (Interior, Exterior, Lighting/Electric Wiring, and Under the Hood), By Vehicle type (Battery Electric Vehicle, Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicle, Hybrid Electric Vehicle, and ICE Vehicle), and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2029 N-Butanol Market, By Application (Butyl Acrylate, Butyl Acetate, Glycol Ethers, Direct Solvents, Plasticizers), By End-Use industry (Agriculture, Building & Construction, Paints & Coatings, Marine, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Personal Care ) and By Region (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa) - Trends, Analysis and Forecast till 2030 CONTACT: Shweta R Prophecy Market Insights U.S.: +1 860 531 2574 APAC: +917775049802 Email- sales@prophecymarketinsights.com Web: www.prophecymarketinsights.com Visiongain Reports Ltd Visiongain has published a new report entitled Rockets and Missiles 2023-2033. It includes profiles of Rockets and Missiles and Forecasts Market Segment by Guidance Mechanism, (Unguided, Guided) Market Segment by Speed, (Subsonic, Hypersonic, Supersonic) Market Segment by Product, (Cruise Missiles, Ballistic Missiles, Rockets, Torpedoes) Market Segment by Launch Mode, (Surface to Surface, Surface to Air, Air to Air, Air to Surface, Subsea to Surface) Market Segment by Propulsion Type, (Liquid Propulsion, Solid Propulsion, Hybrid Propulsion, Ramjet Propulsion, Turbojet Propulsion, Scramjet Propulsion) plus COVID-19 Impact Analysis and Recovery Pattern Analysis (V-shaped, W-shaped, U-shaped, L-shaped), Profiles of Leading Companies, Region and Country The global rockets and missiles market was valued at US$60.25 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0% during the forecast period 2023-2033. Many Developing Countries Are Investing in Space Programs The market for rockets and missiles is expected to grow significantly in the coming years due to the increasing demand for launches in developing countries. The growth of the space industry has been driven by advancements in technology and the increasing need for satellite communication, earth observation, and navigation services. The rise in demand for space exploration, space tourism, and research has also played a vital role in the growth of the rockets and missiles market. Many developing countries are investing in space programs to enhance their economic and social development, which is driving the growth of the market. For instance, countries like India and China are expanding their space programs, with the former aiming to be among the top four space powers in the world. Additionally, private companies like SpaceX and Blue Origin are also investing heavily in the development of rockets and missiles, further driving the market growth. Moreover, the increasing geopolitical tensions and rising security threats have led to an increase in demand for advanced missiles and rockets. Many countries are investing in missile defense systems and ballistic missiles to ensure their safety and security. Story continues Download Exclusive Sample of Report https://www.visiongain.com/report/rockets-missiles-market-2023/#download_sampe_div How has COVID-19 had a significant negative impact on the Rockets and Missiles Market? COVID-19 has had a significant negative impact on the Rockets and Missiles market in several ways. The pandemic has disrupted the global supply chain and caused delays in the production and delivery of components and systems for rockets and missiles. This has led to a decline in the production and launch of rockets and missiles, which has impacted the overall growth of the market. Additionally, the pandemic has resulted in a decrease in global economic activity, leading to reduced investment in the space industry. Many countries have had to cut back their space budgets, resulting in the cancellation or postponement of several space missions. This has further slowed down the growth of the rockets and missiles market. The pandemic has also impacted the demand for rockets and missiles. The restrictions on travel and social distancing measures have led to a decline in the demand for commercial satellite launches, which are a significant source of revenue for the rockets and missiles market. How will this Report Benefit you? Visiongains 360-page report provides 159 tables and 199 charts/graphs. Our new study is suitable for anyone requiring commercial, in-depth analyses for the global rockets and missiles market, along with detailed segment analysis in the market. Our new study will help you evaluate the overall global and regional market for Rockets and Missiles. Get financial analysis of the overall market and different segments including guidance mechanism, speed, product, propulsion type, , and company size and capture higher market share. We believe that there are strong opportunities in this fast-growing rockets and missiles market. See how to use the existing and upcoming opportunities in this market to gain revenue benefits in the near future. Moreover, the report will help you to improve your strategic decision-making, allowing you to frame growth strategies, reinforce the analysis of other market players, and maximise the productivity of the company. What are the Current Market Drivers? Advancements in Technology The advancements in technology have been driving the growth of the rocket and missile industry. The increasing use of modern materials and manufacturing techniques have resulted in lighter, stronger, and more reliable rockets and missiles. Growing Demand for Military Applications The increasing demand for military applications of rockets and missiles has been a significant driver of the industry. The increasing focus on national security and the threat of global terrorism has resulted in increased spending on defense. Commercial Demand for Satellite Launches The increasing demand for satellite launches for commercial and scientific purposes has been driving the growth of the industry. The increasing use of satellites for communication, navigation, and remote sensing has resulted in an increased demand for launch services. Download Exclusive Sample of Report https://www.visiongain.com/report/rockets-missiles-market-2023/#download_sampe_div Where are the Market Opportunities? Investment in Research and Development Is Crucial to the Growth of the Market Investment in research and development is crucial to the growth of the market, and businesses that focus on developing innovative technologies and improving existing ones are expected to see significant returns. Additionally, partnerships with governments, defense agencies, and private organizations are key to expanding the market and creating new opportunities. The rocket and missile market offers a wealth of opportunities for businesses and investors, and the demand for advanced technology and cost-efficient solutions is expected to continue to drive growth in the industry. Expansion of the Space Exploration Industry The expansion of the space exploration industry has been driving the growth of the rocket and missile industry. The increasing global cooperation in space exploration has been driving the growth of the rocket and missile industry. The collaboration of nations in space programs has resulted in an increased demand for launches. The increasing focus on space exploration has resulted in an increased demand for rocket and missile launches. The increasing demand for launches in developing countries has been driving the growth of the rocket and missile industry. The increasing focus on space exploration and satellite launches in developing countries has resulted in increased spending on launches. There Has Been a Surge in Demand for Missiles And Rockets In recent years, there has been a surge in demand for missiles and rockets, with governments and military organizations around the world investing heavily in their capabilities. This has led to increased competition in the market, with companies competing for contracts and market share. The emergence of private companies in the rocket and missile industry has been driving the growth of the industry. The increasing competition and innovation from private companies have resulted in increased efficiency and lower costs for launches. Moreover, with advancements in technology and the growing importance of space-based assets, the market is expected to grow even more in the coming years. Companies will need to continue to invest in research and development, and stay ahead of the competition in order to succeed in this highly competitive market. Competitive Landscape The major players operating in the rockets and missiles market are Almaz-Antey, BAE Systems plc, Boeing Company, Elbit Systems Ltd, General Dynamics Corporation, Hanwha Defense C, Ltd., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, Kongsberg Gruppen, Lockheed Martin Corporation, MBDA, Northrop Grumman Corporation, Raytheon Technologies Corporation, Roketsan A.S., Saab AB, Thales Group,. These major players operating in this market have adopted various strategies comprising M&A, investment in R&D, collaborations, partnerships, regional business expansion, and new product launch. Recent Developments February 6, 2023, SpaceX successfully launched 60 Starlink satellites into orbit, expanding its broadband internet network. The company has now launched over 900 Starlink satellites, with plans to eventually launch thousands more. To access the data contained in this document please email oliver.davison@visiongain.com To find more Visiongain research reports on the defence sector, click on the following links: Do you have any custom requirements we can help you with? Any need for a specific country, geo region, market segment or specific company information? Contact us today, we can discuss your needs and see how we can help: oliver.davison@visiongain.com About Visiongain Visiongain is one of the fastest-growing and most innovative independent market intelligence providers around, the company publishes hundreds of market research reports which it adds to its extensive portfolio each year. These reports offer in-depth analysis across 18 industries worldwide. The reports, which cover 10-year forecasts, are hundreds of pages long, with in-depth market analysis and valuable competitive intelligence data. Visiongain works across a range of vertical markets with a lot of synergies. These markets include automotive, aviation, chemicals, cyber, defence, energy, food & drink, materials, packaging, pharmaceutical and utilities sectors. Our customised and syndicated market research reports offer a bespoke piece of market intelligence customised to your very own business needs. Contact: Oliver Davison Visiongain Reports Limited Telephone: +44 (0) 20 7336 6100 Email: oliver.davison@visiongain.com Web: www.visiongain.com FILE PHOTO: An employee works on the chassis of a Skoda automobile at the assembly line of Gorkovsky Automobile Plant (GAZ) in Nizhny Novgorod By Gleb Stolyarov and Alexander Marrow (Reuters) - A Russian court has ruled against freezing Volkswagen's assets in Russia, stating there were no grounds to suggest the carmaker would try to dodge financial obligations arising from two lawsuits brought by Russian carmaker GAZ. GAZ, which was contracted to produce Volkswagen vehicles at its factory in Nizhny Novgorod before the German firm suspended operations in Russia last year, in March convinced the court to freeze Volkswagen's assets while court proceedings play out. But the Nizhny Novgorod Regional Arbitration Court had already on April 3 reversed that interim measure and ruled conclusively against such a step this week. "At present there are no grounds to suggest that the defendants would avoid implementation of the court's decision (if passed in favour of the plaintiff) and that their property status would prevent them from fulfilling this decision," the court said on Thursday. That comment was in reference to a lawsuit in which GAZ is seeking 15.6 billion roubles ($193.1 million) in damages after Volkswagen terminated its production agreement in August, saying VW's attempts to exit the Russian market had put GAZ's interests at risk. GAZ subsequently filed a separate lawsuit, seeking 28.4 billion roubles ($351.5 million) in losses associated with Volkswagen terminating its engine deliveries. Volkswagen referred to a statement from its Russian subsidiary, Volkswagen Group Rus, which said it considered new claims to be "unreasonable" and expressed surprise, saying the partnership with GAZ had ended on "mutually beneficial terms". "We believe in the objectivity of the judicial system, which will take into account all the facts of the case and make a decision in our favour," the statement said. In both cases GAZ had sought interim measures that would freeze Volkswagen's assets. The court conclusively refused GAZ's freezing requests on the two claims on April 11 and April 12 respectively. Story continues Volkswagen is preparing to sell its Russian assets, including its flagship plant in the city of Kaluga with annual production capacity of 225,000 vehicles, but no decision has yet been made and Russian government approval is pending. ($1 = 80.8000 roubles) (Reporting by Gleb Stolyarov and Alexander Marrow; additional reporting by Victoria Waldersee; Editing by) Russian President Vladimir Putin talks on the phone as part of a nationwide charity campaign, in Moscow on January 3, 2023. MIKHAIL KLIMENTYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP via Getty Images Russia's economy is in tatters, despite what its central bank says, according to Yale researchers. In a recent op-ed, two academics called Russia's growth forecasts a figment of Putin's imagination. Stats outside of what is stated by Russia suggest its economy has been hit hard by sanctions. Russia's economy is in tatters, and economic stats touted by the country's central bank are "pure invention" from Russian President Vladimir Putin, according to two Yale researchers. In an op-ed for TIME on Tuesday, Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Steven Tian, two academics at the Yale Chief Executive Leadership Institute, blasted Russia's economic forecasts, with the nation's central bank painting an image of resilience amid western sanctions and Russia's costly invasion of Ukraine. The central bank recently adjusted its GDP outlook, estimating its economy to grow 1% or contract 1% this year, though it previously estimated a 1%-4% contraction. But those numbers are "fictional," Sonnenfeld and Tian said. "Since the Ukrainian invasion, our data has shown that the Kremlin's economic releases have become increasingly cherry-picked, selectively tossing out unfavorable metrics while releasing only those that are more favorable," the academics said. They pointed to unreleased statistics that paint a bleaker picture of Russia's situation, including the nation's exports and imports, capital inflows and outflows, and output data for oil and gas. "Thus the Russian GDP number is a pure invention from Putin's imagination," the researchers said. "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." Sonnenfeld and Tian were particularly critical of the International Monetary Fund, which have factored in Russia's economic projections in their own analysis of the nation's economy. The IMF currently estimates Russia's GDP to grow by 0.7% in 2023, but Sonnenfeld and Tian claim that the organization's economists have privately admitted they have "zero visibility" into the actual state of Russia's economy. Story continues Estimates outside of those offered by Russian officials suggest the country's economy has been battered over the past year. By some accounts, Russia's energy revenue has tanked amid the EU's Russian oil ban and $60 price cap, and other major sectors of its economy have plunged 60%-95%, Sonnenfeld and Tian estimate. Other experts also have a poor outlook for Russia's economy, largely due to the nation's isolation from global markets and its de-investment in technology. The nation could become a failed state by the end of the decade, according to one think-tank. The World Bank, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs all expect Russia's economy to contract this year. "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," the researchers said. Read the original article on Business Insider ReportLinker The growing demand of safer, efficient and fuel efficient vehicles have accelerated the growth of sensor market for automated vehicles. With the rapid setup of connected vehicle infrastructure worldwide, demand for automated vehicles such as passenger cars and commercial vehicles is also expected to increase. New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Sensor Market for Automated Vehicles by Component, Offering, Software, Level of Autonomy, Propulsion, Vehicle Type, Sensor Platform Approach, Sensor Fusion Process and Region - Global Forecast to 2030" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06447100/?utm_source=GNW Technological breakthroughs in ADAS components and other automated driving technologies have made it possible to have safer and more convenient mode of transportation. The sensor market for automated vehicles is dominated by established players such as Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), DENSO (Japan), and NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), among others These players have worked on providing hardware and software components for autonomous vehicle ecosystem. They have initiated partnerships to develop their technology and provide best-in-class products to their customers. Passenger Cars to be the largest segment in market during the forecast period The passenger cars segment is estimated to lead the market during the forecast period due to the higher profitability of using L3 and L4 technology in luxury-segment passenger vehicles in the initial years of autonomous vehicle technology development.The demand for autonomy in commercial vehicles is also expected to grow rapidly in the coming years, with an increasing demand for road safety and regulations by countries to prevent accidents from commercial vehicles. Autonomy in the commercial vehicle segment can be seen post-2024, mainly in Europe and North America.Companies such as Stellantis are planning to launch autonomous vans in 2024. Bus manufacturers are already working on autonomous shuttles across Europe. However, trucks are expected to skip L3 and go straight for L4 autonomous driving, as mentioned by leading players such as Daimler and Volvo.Several automakers, such as Nissan, Tesla, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Hyundai, and Audi, have already started the development of advanced autonomous applications for their passenger cars. For instance, in December 2021, Mercedes-Benz started offering automated driving technology called DRIVE PILOT in its EQS models in the first half of 2022 and on its S Class Model in select countries.The OEM claimed that these cars can commute at a speed of 60 kmph in heavy traffic or congested situations or stretches. Similarly, Hyundai Group announced its plan to launch two passenger car models with L3 autonomy level. Hyundai Motors Genesis G90 sedan and Kias EV9 will be launched with an L3 autonomy level in 2023. Mid-level Fusion to lead demand for sensor market for automated vehicles during the forecast period Mid-level fusion segment is expected to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period.The rise in traffic congestion, the development of roadway infrastructure, and the increasing government regulations for vehicle safety have resulted in the increased installation of sensors and sensing fusion platforms in vehicles by OEMs. In addition, the increasing focus by urban municipal authorities to develop intelligent transportation systems where vehicles are more connected will be a major boost in the development of real-time safety features.Mid-level sensor fusion in autonomous vehicles refers to the integration of multiple sensors and algorithms that aim to provide a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the vehicles surroundings. This includes data from cameras, LiDAR, radars, GPS, and other sensors, which are then processed and combined to produce a high-fidelity representation of the environment. The mid-level sensor fusion platform acts as an intermediary between the low-level sensor data and high-level decision-making systems in autonomous vehicles.Mid-level sensor fusion systems enable AVs to better detect and track objects, such as other vehicles, pedestrians, and road signs, thereby improving the overall safety of the autonomous system. By fusing data from multiple sensors, mid-level sensor fusion also provides a more complete picture of the environment, allowing AVs to make better decisions and improve situational awareness.They also reduce the potential for errors and improve the reliability of the autonomous system, making them less likely to fail in challenging situations. By processing sensor data in real time, mid-level sensor fusion also reduces the latency between detecting an object and responding to it, allowing AVs to react more quickly to changing road conditions. Companies such as AEye, AutonomouStuff, Continental AG, and DENSO offer mid-level fusion technologies for autonomous vehicle applications. In-depth interviews were conducted with CEOs, marketing directors, other innovation and technology directors, and executives from various key organizations operating in this market. By Respondent Type: Tier I 67%, Tier II and Tier III 9%, and OEMs 24% By Designation: CXOs 33%, Managers 52%, Executives 15% By Region: North America 26%, Europe 30%, Asia Pacific 35%, Rest of the World 9% The sensor market for automated vehicles is dominated by established players such as Robert Bosch GmbH (Germany), Continental AG (Germany), ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Germany), DENSO (Japan), and NXP Semiconductors (Netherlands), among others.They have worked on providing offerings for the sensor market for automated vehicles ecosystem. They have initiated partnerships to develop their automated driving technologies and offer best-in-class products to their customers. Research Coverage: The report covers the sensor market for automated vehicles based on component, offering, software, propulsion, level of autonomy, vehicle type, sensor platform approach, sensor fusion process, and region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World). It covers the competitive landscape and company profiles of the major players in the sensor market for automated vehicles ecosystem. The study also includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the key market players, their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and key market strategies. Key Benefits of Buying the Report: This report will help market leaders/new entrants in this market with information on the closest approximations of revenue numbers for the overall sensor market for automated vehicles ecosystem and its subsegments. This report will help stakeholders understand the competitive landscape and gain more insights to better position their businesses and plan suitable go-to-market strategies. This report will also help stakeholders understand the markets pulse and provide information on key market drivers, restraints, challenges, and opportunities. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06447100/?utm_source=GNW About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Story continues CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED Silver Graphite Market is segmented into Graphite Structure, Type, Application, and Region. The Bottom-Up Approach Was Used to estimate the Silver Graphite Market size. Pune, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maximize Market Research, an international Energy and Power business & consultancy firm has recently published a research report on the Silver Graphite Market . The total global market size for the Silver Graphite Market was valued at USD 124.4 Mn in 2022 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 6.8 percent over the forecast period to reach USD 197.2 Mn by 2029. Market Size in 2022 USD 124.4 Mn Market Size in 2029 USD 197.2 Mn CAGR 6.8 percent (2023-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2022 Number of Pages 265 No. of Tables 129 No. of Charts and Figures 121 Segment Covered By Graphite structure, End-Users Application and Region Regional Scope North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, South America Report Coverage Market Share, Size & Forecast by Revenue | 20232029, 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/184085 Silver Graphite Market Report Scope and Research Methodology The report covers competitive analysis of market drivers, restraints, opportunities and growth of the Silver Graphite Market in detail. Also provides in-depth information on key players including company profile, market strategies, status, and core competitors and includes the factors that are supposed to affect the business positively or negatively. The report gives an easy and clear business view of the industry to the decision-makers such as investors and stakeholders. The report presents an analysis of the key players in the Silver Graphite Market including their size, market share, market revenue, market growth, production volume, and profitability. The report gives regional coverage of key industries covered in the report to measure their dominance with Key manufacturers. Swot analysis was used to study the industrys strengths and weaknesses and a Bottom-up approach was used to estimate the Silver Graphite Market size. Story continues Silver Graphite Market Overview Silver-graphite contacts are powder metal composites that contain 1 percent to 5 percent graphite. It is characterized by excellent welding resistance switching characteristics, low contact resistance, and superior lubricity in sliding applications. They are produced through extrusion or press-sintering with high density . Silver Graphite is used in various industrial applications such as electrical contacts and brushes Increasing adoption of electric vehicles to fuel the Silver Graphite Market growth The global industry is shifting toward electric and hybrid vehicles as a result the Silver Graphite Market is expected to grow during the forecast period. In the automotive industry, the demand for silver graphite contacts is influenced by the increasing adoption of renewable energy sources like solar power. The increasing demand for automotive applications for personal and industrial end users to creates lucrative opportunities for market growth. The increasing demand for high-voltage electrical contact is expected to boost the market demand over the period. However, High-quality silver graphite requires huge cost and expertise and is expected to restrain the Silver Graphite Market growth. Government initiatives are playing a vital role for the growth of the market in the region. Get a Sample Copy of the Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184085 North American region to dominate the Silver Graphite Market over the forecast period North America dominated the Market in 2022 with a total Silver Graphite Market share of 43 percent and is expected to continue the dominance over the forecast period. The presence of well-established automotive and electronics industries with the increasing demand of fuel -efficient vehicles is expected to boost the Silver Graphite Market growth. Increased renewable energy generation activities in the region are expected to fuel the Silver Graphite Market growth. Demand for electric vehicles and renewable energy sources in the European region is expected to influence the regional market growth over the forecast period. In the Asia Pacific region, China and Japan are expected to be the major contributors to the Silver Graphite Market growth. The presence of a large consumer base and the growing urbanization and industrialization in India, China, and Japan are significantly contributing to the Silver Graphite Market growth. Silver Graphite Market Segmentation By Graphite Structure: Vertical Parallel Random Based on Graphite Structure, the vertical segment is expected to dominate the Silver Graphite Market over the forecast period. Increasing demand for EVs in the automotive industry is expected to increase significantly and to influence market growth. Demand for solar panels and wind turbines has increased as countries around the world set ambitious targets for reducing their carbon emissions. By Type: 1-5 m 5-40 m 20-160 m Others Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/184085 Based on Type, the 1-5 m segment is expected to fuel the Silver Graphite Market over the forecast period. The use of silver graphite powder in lithium-ion batteries and in the electronics industry as a conductive filler in polymer composites is significantly contributing to the market growth. By Application: Circuit Breakers Contactors Brushes Others Based on the Application, the Circuit Breakers segment dominated the market in 2022 and is expected to continue the dominance over the forecast period. Rising global population and increasing industrialization is expected to influence market growth. Silver Graphite Market Key Players Include Mersen SGL Group Toyo Tanso Tokai Carbon GrafTech International Carbon Brush Company Private Limited, Madison Limited, Fabricast, Inc., KARBOTECHNIK, Helwig Carbon Products, Inc., Guilin Coninst Electrical & Electronic Material Co., Ltd., Morgan Advanced Materials Tirupati Carbon Products PVT LTD., St Marys Carbon Umicore Get the Sample PDF of Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184085 Key questions answered in the Silver Graphite Market are: What is Silver Graphite? What was the Silver Graphite market size in 2021? What is the expected Silver Graphite market size by 2029? What is the growth rate of the Silver Graphite Market? Which are the factors expected to drive the Silver Graphite market growth? Which factors are expected to restrain the Silver Graphite market growth? Which segment dominated the Silver Graphite market growth? What is the demand pattern for the Silver Graphite market? Which region held the largest share of the Silver Graphite market? Who are the key players in the Silver Graphite market? Key Offerings: Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021) Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021) Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20222029 Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by region Market Segmentation A detailed analysis by Graphite Structure, 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 & Power research firm, has also published the following reports: Graphite Brush Market : The total market size was valued at USD 695 Mn in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.0 percent over the forecast period reaching USD 1026 Mn. Increase in the demand for electric tools & machinery such as power drills and vacuum cleaners is expected to fuel the market growth. Expanded Graphite Market : The total market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6 percent over the forecast period and is expected to reach USD 509.42 Mn by 2029. Demand for consumer electronic goods, like laptops, smartphones, and tablets is expected to drive the market growth. Graphite Market : The total market size is expected to reach USD 41.50 billion by 2029 with a CAGR of 5.23 percent over the forecast period. Growing industrial applications of inks and coatings, paints, polymers, plastics, and lubricants are expected to fuel the market growth. Graphite Electrodes Market : The total market size was valued at USD 6.4 Bn in 2021 and is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.2 percent reaching USD 9.60 Bn over the forecast period. The rise in industrialization with modern infrastructures and increasing demand for engineering and construction materials is expected to influence market growth. Carbon Felt & Graphite Felt Market : The total market size was valued at USD 530.55 Mn in 2021, and it is expected to reach USD 1090.25 Mn by 2029, at a CAGR of 9.42 percent during the forecast period (2022-2029). An increase in Steel Production with energy efficiency and cost reductions is expected to boost market growth. About Maximize Market Research: Maximize Market Research is a multifaceted market research and consulting company with professionals from several industries. Some of the industries we cover include medical devices, pharmaceutical manufacturers, science and engineering, electronic components, industrial equipment, technology, and communication, cars, and automobiles, chemical products and substances, general merchandise, beverages, personal care, and automated systems. To mention a few, we provide market-verified industry estimations, technical trend analysis, crucial market research, strategic advice, competition analysis, production and demand analysis, and client impact studies. CONTACT: Contact Maximize Market Research: 3rd Floor, Navale IT Park, Phase 2 Pune Banglore Highway, Narhe, Pune, Maharashtra 411041, India sales@maximizemarketresearch.com +91 96071 95908, +91 9607365656 In order to justify the effort of selecting individual stocks, it's worth striving to beat the returns from a market index fund. But in any portfolio, there will be mixed results between individual stocks. At this point some shareholders may be questioning their investment in Singapore Land Group Limited (SGX:U06), since the last five years saw the share price fall 33%. Now let's have a look at the company's fundamentals, and see if the long term shareholder return has matched the performance of the underlying business. View our latest analysis for Singapore Land Group 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 way to examine how market sentiment has changed over time is to look at the interaction between a company's share price and its earnings per share (EPS). During the unfortunate half decade during which the share price slipped, Singapore Land Group actually saw its earnings per share (EPS) improve by 8.8% per year. Given the share price reaction, one might suspect that EPS is not a good guide to the business performance during the period (perhaps due to a one-off loss or gain). Alternatively, growth expectations may have been unreasonable in the past. Due to the lack of correlation between the EPS growth and the falling share price, it's worth taking a look at other metrics to try to understand the share price movement. We don't think that the 1.6% is big factor in the share price, since it's quite small, as dividends go. Arguably, the revenue drop of 13% a year for half a decade suggests that the company can't grow in the long term. This has probably encouraged some shareholders to sell down the stock. The company's revenue and earnings (over time) are depicted in the image below (click to see the exact numbers). We're pleased to report that the CEO is remunerated more modestly than most CEOs at similarly capitalized companies. 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. It might be well worthwhile taking a look at our free report on Singapore Land Group's earnings, revenue and cash flow. Story continues What About Dividends? It is important to consider the total shareholder return, as well as the share price return, for any given stock. The TSR is a return calculation that accounts for the value of cash dividends (assuming that any dividend received was reinvested) and the calculated value of any discounted capital raisings and spin-offs. Arguably, the TSR gives a more comprehensive picture of the return generated by a stock. As it happens, Singapore Land Group's TSR for the last 5 years was -29%, which exceeds the share price return mentioned earlier. And there's no prize for guessing that the dividend payments largely explain the divergence! A Different Perspective Investors in Singapore Land Group had a tough year, with a total loss of 12% (including dividends), against a market gain of about 0.5%. However, keep in mind that even the best stocks will sometimes underperform the market over a twelve month period. Regrettably, last year's performance caps off a bad run, with the shareholders facing a total loss of 5% per year over five years. Generally speaking long term share price weakness can be a bad sign, though contrarian investors might want to research the stock in hope of a turnaround. It's always interesting to track share price performance over the longer term. But to understand Singapore Land Group better, we need to consider many other factors. To that end, you should be aware of the 1 warning sign we've spotted with Singapore Land Group . But note: Singapore Land Group 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 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 Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Data Bridge Market Research Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the sleep disorder treatment market which was USD 8551.42 million in 2021, would rocket up to USD 16914.58 million by 2029, and is expected to undergo a CAGR of 8.90% during the forecast period 2022 to 2029 New York, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Recent study report released by Data Bridge Market research titled Sleep Disorder Treatment Market guarantees you will remain better informed than your competition. To uncover general market conditions and tendencies, Sleep Disorder Treatment market research report acts as a perfect source. The report helps in developing a successful marketing strategy for the business. This market research report is a proven source of information, which offers a telescopic view of the current market trends, situations, opportunities and status. This industry report has strategically analyzed market research analysis and perceptive business insights into the relevant markets of clients. In the large-scale Sleep Disorder Treatment market report, a thorough SWOT analysis & investment analysis is provided which forecasts imminent opportunities for the market players. While designing the credible Sleep Disorder Treatment market report, the key attributes that have been adopted include highest level of spirit, practical solutions, committed research and analysis, innovation, integrated approaches, and most up-to-date technology. Numerous markets, marketing strategies, trends, future products and rising opportunities have been considered while studying market for preparing this business report. The report has been formed with the vigilant efforts of an innovative, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and experienced team of analysts, researchers, industry experts, and forecasters. Have a business at the highest level of growth with an all-inclusive Sleep Disorder Treatment market research report. Data Bridge Market Research analyses that the sleep disorder treatment market which was USD 8551.42 million in 2021, would rocket up to USD 16914.58 million by 2029, and is expected to undergo a CAGR of 8.90% during the forecast period 2022 to 2029. In addition to the market insights such as market value, growth rate, market segments, geographical coverage, market players, and market scenario, the market report curated by the Data Bridge Market Research team also includes in-depth expert analysis, patient epidemiology, pipeline analysis, pricing analysis, and regulatory framework Story continues Obtain a PDF Sample of the Sleep Disorder Treatment Market @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/request-a-sample/?dbmr=global-sleep-disorder-treatment-market Sleep disorder , also known as insomnia, is a medical condition in which the patient has difficulty maintaining or initiating sleep. This condition disrupts mental, physical, social, and emotional functions. Furthermore, the introduction of home sleep test kits, as well as the use of wearable monitors and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy, expands market opportunities. When a patient has a sleep condition, such as sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or insomnia, they may have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep. This condition results in abnormal mental, physical, social, and emotional processes. Many therapeutic approaches are used to treat sleep problems depending on the patients' symptoms. Recent Development Jazz Pharmaceuticals plc announced in July 2020 that the FDA had approved its medicine Xyway for the treatment of cataplexy and excessive daytime sleepiness in narcoleptics older than 15 years. The company's new sleep disorder therapy, which was approved by the American FDA, has raised market demand and medicine sales, which will result in higher revenues going forward. Armodafinil tablet, a generic form of the medication nuvigil, was introduced by Mylan N.V. in June 2016 to treat individuals who experience excessive sleepiness due to obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or shift work disorder. Fundamental Aim of Sleep Disorder Treatment Market Report In the Sleep Disorder Treatment market, every company has goals, but this report focus in on the most important ones, allowing you to gain insight into the competition, the future of the market, potential new products, and other useful information that can boost your sales significantly. Factors influencing the Sleep Disorder Treatment Market Size and growth rate. Major alterations to the Sleep Disorder Treatment Market in the near future. Notable Market rivals around the world. The Sleep Disorder Treatment Market's Future Scope and Product Outlook Future-promising emerging markets. The Market Presents Difficult Challenges and Threats. Sales data and profiles of the world's leading Sleep Disorder Treatment players Some of the major players operating in the sleep disorder treatment market are: Jazz Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Ireland) Pfizer Inc. (U.S.) Viatris Inc. (U.S.) Arbor Pharmaceuticals Inc. (U.S.) Aurobindo Pharma USA (U.S.) Sanofi (U.S.) Hikma Pharmaceuticals PLC (U.K.) Amneal Pharmaceuticals LLC (U.S.) Lupin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (India) Taj Pharmaceuticals Limited (India) Eli Lilly and Company (U.S.) Mallinckrodt (U.K.) Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited (India) Apotex Inc. (Canada) Dr. Reddys Laboratories Ltd. (India) Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries Ltd. (India) Taro Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. (U.S.) DeVilbiss Healthcare LLC (U.S.) ResMed (U.S.) Download the Complete Research Study Here in PDF Format @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/checkout/buy/enterprise/global-sleep-disorder-treatment-market Drivers Rising sleep disorders The demand for sleep problem treatment alternatives will rise as sleep disorders become more prevalent. Thus, it is projected that increased mental stress brought by a busy lifestyle and bad behaviours will fuel the expansion of the market for treating sleep disorders. Patients may be scared to consume because of the seriousness of the negative effects, which lowers demand and sales. Growing technological development is creating a chance to increase the market's need for sleep problem treatments. Rising healthcare spending Factors that are projected to propel this segment's growth over the forecast period include rising healthcare spending and early diagnosis of the condition due to increased awareness of the alternatives for treatment. Increased prevalence of sleep disorders The global increase in the prevalence of sleep disorders such as sleep apnea, insomnia, and narcolepsy is driving the sleep disorder treatment market. Opportunities These elements could play a role in the rising drug demand in these nations. Over the forecast period, demand is anticipated to increase as a result of continually improved healthcare reimbursement policies. Additionally, rising living standards boosted local demand. These variables are predicted to accelerate regional market expansion in the upcoming years. Market Regional Analysis/Insights The sleep disorder treatment market is analyzed and market size insights and trends are provided by country, type, treatment, route of administration, drugs type, population type, end user and distribution channel as referenced above. The countries covered in the sleep disorder treatment market report are 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 is dominating the market due to the growing diagnosis rate and awareness about the disease and people are having a hectic life schedule Asia-Pacific is expected to rise due to advancements in new technologies The country section of the report also provides individual market impacting factors and changes in regulation in the market domestically that impacts the current and future trends of the market. Data points like down-stream and upstream value chain analysis, technical trends and porter's five forces analysis, case studies are some of the pointers used to forecast the market scenario for individual countries. Also, the presence and availability of global brands and their challenges faced due to large or scarce competition from local and domestic brands, impact of domestic tariffs and trade routes are considered while providing forecast analysis of the country data. Browse More About This Research Report @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-sleep-disorder-treatment-market Key Market Segments Covered in Sleep Disorder Treatment Industry Research Type Insomnia Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) Narcolepsy Treatment Pharmacological Therapy Mechanical Therapy Mandibular Advancement Devices Hypoglossal Nerve Stimulator Surgery Route of Administration Oral Parenteral Drugs Type Branded Population Type Children Adults End User Hospitals Specialty Clinics Home Healthcare Distribution Channel Direct Tender Hospital Pharmacy Retail Pharmacy Online Pharmacy Critical Insights Related to the Sleep Disorder Treatment Included in the Report: Exclusive graphics and Illustrative SWOT analysis of some of the leading companies in this market Value chain analysis of prominent players in the market Current trends influencing the dynamics of this market across various geographies Recent mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships Revenue growth of this industry over the forecast period Marketing strategy study and growth trends Growth driven factor analysis Emerging recess segments and region-wise market An empirical evaluation of the curve of this market Ancient, Present, and Probable scope of the market from both prospect value and volume Table of Contents: Introduction Market Segmentation Executive Summary Premium Insights Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market : Regulations Market Overview Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market, By Type Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market, By Treatment Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market, By Route of Administration Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market, By Drugs Type Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market, By Population Type Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market, By End User Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market, By Distribution Channel Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market, By Region Global Sleep Disorder Treatment Market: Company Landscape SWOT Analyses Company Profile Questionnaires Related Reports Get the Complete Table of Contents @ https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/toc/?dbmr=global-sleep-disorder-treatment-market Explore More Reports: North America Sleep Apnea Devices Market , By Diseases type (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome), Type (Devices, Therapy), Patient Demographics (Pediatric, Adult, Geriatric), End User (Hospital/ Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, Ambulatory Care Centers, Specialty Care Centers, Home Healthcare), Distribution Channel (Direct Tender, Retail Sales), Country (U.S., Canada, and Mexico) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/north-america-sleep-apnea-devices-market Sleep Apnea Devices Market , By Diseases Type (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome), Type (Devices, Therapy), Patient Demographics (Pediatric, Adult, Geriatric), End User (Hospital/ Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, Ambulatory Care Centers, Specialty Care Centers, Home Healthcare), Distribution Channel (Direct Tender, Retail Sales) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-sleep-apnea-devices-market Europe Sleep Apnea Devices Market , By Diseases Type (Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome and Complex Sleep Apnea Syndrome), Type (Device, Therapy), Patient Demographics (Pediatric, Adult and Geriatric), End User (Hospital/Clinics, Diagnostic Centers, Ambulatory Care Centers, Specialty Care Center and Home Healthcare), Distribution Channel (Direct Tender and Retail Sales), Country (Germany, U.K., France, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey, Austria, Norway, Hungary, Lithuania, Ireland, Poland, Rest of Europe ) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/europe-sleep-apnea-devices-market Sleep Apnea Oral Appliances Market , By Product (Mandibular Advancement Devices, Tongue-Retaining Devices), Type (Physician-Prescribed/Customized Oral Appliances, Online OTC Oral Appliances), End Use (Hospital, Home Use, Others) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-sleep-apnea-oral-appliances-market Non-24-Hour Sleep-Wake Disorder Drug Market By Indication (Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorder, Hypernychthemeral Syndrome, Shift Work Disorder, Jet Lag and Others), Treatment Type (Therapeutic Devices, Drugs and Others), Drugs (Nonbenzodiazepines, Benzodiazepines and Others), Route of Administration (Oral, Injectable and Others), End Users (Hospitals, Home Care Settings, Specialty Clinics, Wellness Centers and Spa and Others), Distribution Channel (Retail Pharmacies, Drug Stores, Online Pharmacies and Others), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Peru, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Hungary, Lithuania, Austria, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Rest of Asia Pacific, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Kuwait, Israel, Egypt, Rest of Middle East and Africa) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-non-24-hour-sleep-wake-disorder-drug-market Sleeping Medications Market , By Drug Class (Melatonin Antagonist, Antidepressants, Benzodiazepines, Nonbenzodiazepines, Others), Application (Sinusitis, Migraines, Glaucoma, Others), End-Users (Hospitals, Homecare, Speciality Centres, Others), Distribution Channel (Hospital Pharmacy, Online Pharmacy, Retail Pharmacy) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-sleeping-medications-market Anesthesia, Respiratory and Sleep Therapy Devices Market , By Device Type (Anesthesia Devices, Respiratory Devices, Therapeutic Obstructive Sleep Apnea Devices, Sleep Diagnostic Devices, Others), End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Service Centers, Homecare, Clinics) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-anesthesia-respiratory-and-sleep-therapy-devices-market Sleep Bruxism Market , By Diagnostics (Polysomnygraphy, X-Rays, Electromyography Methods, Botox Injections and Other), Implants (Mouth Guards, NTI-TSS Device and Splints), Medications (Sedative, Muscle Relaxants and Antidepressants), Cause (Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Gastro Esophageal Reflex Disease Malocclusion, Sleep Paralysis and Others), End User (Hospitals, Dental Clinics and Others), Distribution Channel (Direct Tender, Hospital Pharmacy, Dental Clinics, Retail Pharmacy, Online Pharmacy and Others), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Rest of South America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Hungary, Lithuania, Austria, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Rest of Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, South Africa, Rest of Middle East and Africa) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-sleep-bruxism-market Sleep Tech Devices Market , By Product (Wearables, Non-Wearables), Gender (Male, Female), Application (Insomnia, Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Narcolepsy), Distribution Channel (Specialty Clinics, Direct-to-Consumer, Hospitals), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherland, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia- Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-sleep-tech-devices-market Human African Trypanosomiasis (Sleeping Sickness) Market , By Type (Trypanosoma Brucei Gambiense (TbG), Trypanosoma Brucei Rhodesiense (TbR)), Symptoms (Stage 1: Fevers, Headaches, Itchiness, Joint Pains, Stage 2: Trouble Sleeping, Confusion, Poor Coordination), Treatment (Pentamidine, Suramin, Melarsoprol, Eflornithine and Nifurtimox when used in Combination with Eflornithine), Diagnostic Method (Blood Smear, Lumbar Puncture), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Peru, Rest of South America, Germany, France, U.K., Netherlands, Switzerland, Belgium, Russia, Italy, Spain, Turkey, Hungary, Lithuania, Austria, Ireland, Norway, Poland, Rest of Europe, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E, Egypt, Israel, Kuwait, South Africa, Rest of the Middle East and Africa) https://w ww.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-human-african-trypanosomiasis-sleeping-sickness-market Sleep Apnea Monitoring Instruments Market , By Product (Therapeutic Devices, Diagnostic Devices), End Users (Hospitals, Home Healthcare, Sleep Laboratories, Others), Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherland, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia- Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel, Rest of Middle East and Africa) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-sleep-apnea-monitoring-instruments-market Sleep Apnea Implants Market , By Product (Hrenic Nerve Stimulator, Hypoglossal Neurostimulation Devices, Bone Screw Implant System, Flexible Tongue Retractor System and Palatal Implants or Pillar Procedure), Indication (Central Sleep Apnea and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)), End User (Hospitals, Ambulatory Surgical Centers and Office Based Clinics) and Country (U.S., Canada, Mexico, Germany, Italy, U.K., France, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Turkey, Russia, Rest of Europe, Japan, China, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Israel, Rest of the Middle East & Africa) https://www.databridgemarketresearch.com/reports/global-sleep-apnea-implants-market About Data Bridge Market Research: An absolute way to forecast what the future holds is to comprehend the trend today! Data Bridge Market Research set forth itself as an unconventional and neoteric Market research and consulting firm with unparalleled level of resilience and integrated approaches. We are determined to unearth the best market opportunities and foster efficient information for your business to thrive in the market. Data Bridge endeavours to provide appropriate solutions to the complex business challenges and initiates an effortless decision-making process. Data Bridge is an aftermath of sheer wisdom and experience which was formulated and framed in the year 2015 in Pune. Data Bridge Market Research has over 500 analysts working in different industries. We have catered more than 40% of the fortune 500 companies globally and have a network of more than 5000+ clientele around the globe. Data Bridge adepts in creating satisfied clients who reckon upon our services and rely on our hard work with certitude. We are content with our glorious 99.9 % client satisfying rate. Contact Us: Data Bridge Market Research US: +1 888 387 2818 UK: +44 208 089 1725 Hong Kong: +852 8192 7475 Email:- corporatesales@databridgemarketresearch.com jacoblund / Getty Images/iStockphoto Do you have questions about the future of Social Security? You arent alone. Whether youre planning to retire relatively soon or just started contributing to your 401(k) plan, you might wonder about the role Social Security plays in retirement. Most people know certain truths about Social Security, such as understanding this benefit alone cannot fully fund a persons retirement. What else should be top of mind? Heres what Social Security experts said you need to know about planning for the future. See: 6 Types of Retirement Income That Arent Taxable Discover: 3 Ways To Recession-Proof Your Retirement Consider Increasing Life Expectancy If youre alive in 2030, Matthew Allen, co-founder and CEO of Social Security Advisors, said youll likely live to age 100 or beyond. Increased longevity means those planning for the future need to factor in a longer lifespan. As such, they will need the necessary retirement assets to ensure they lead a desirable quality of life. Allen recommends making sure your financial planning projections reflect the costs associated with longevity. Take Our Poll: Do You Think the US Should Raise the Medicare Tax on High Earners To Help Save the Program? Carefully Decide When and How To Claim Social Security According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), you may begin claiming Social Security benefits as early as age 62. However, just because you can start claiming benefits at age 62 does not mean you should do it because youre now eligible. This is especially true if you do not understand everything about Social Security and how it works yet. Everyone, whether they are single, married, divorced or a survivor should engage a professional Social Security advisor to help them determine when and how to claim their Social Security benefits, said Allen. They can do the filing for you so you can receive professional answers and guidance to your questions with each step of the process. This helps ensure you get all the benefits you have worked for and deserve. Story continues If you believe you have made a mistake about when you should claim Social Security, it is possible to change your mind and withdraw your application. The best approach, however, is to make the right decision the first time. Prepare To Owe Taxes in Retirement Owing taxes in retirement often comes as a surprise to many retirees. Bryan M. Kuderna CFP and host of The Kuderna Podcast said retirees would owe when popular deductions like 401(k), mortgage interest and kids might be gone. I suggest having a nice mix of pre-tax (traditional IRA/401(k)), taxable (non-qualified investment accounts) and tax-free (Roth IRA/401(k) and cash value life insurance) vehicles to allow retirees to practice tax arbitrage in retirement, Kuderna recommends. Create a Personal Retirement Plan Kelli A. Hill CFP and managing director, advice and planning at Wells Fargo Wealth & Investment Management recommends creating a written retirement plan. This written plan should include your financial priorities and establish a budget. You can also begin taking stock of your spending and saving behaviors over the past year to evaluate your financial habits. Conduct an exercise of writing a list of essentials which you cannot do without (like your mortgage, car payment and groceries). Then jot down a list of discretionary items which are nice to have, like dining out or going on vacation, to better understand how much you are spending in both columns. Get an Accountability Partner You do not need to plan for the future alone. Set up regular financial meetings with an accountability partner. Hill uses the example of her husband as her accountability partner. Together, the couple has an annual financial meeting every January to assess where to cut discretionary spending and evaluate how they did in adhering to last years financial goals. When we make a commitment out loud to someone and ask them to help us be accountable to attaining goals, we are much more likely to do it, said Hill. Automate Retirement Savings Once you understand your goals for retirement saving and have opened and maxed out contributions to the accounts which put you closer to reaching your retirement goals, consider automating retirement savings. Edward Gottfried, director of product management at Betterment at Work, said this may be done through simple functions such as auto-contributions and auto-escalation within your retirement account. By automating retirement savings, Gottfried said, you can better prioritize your contributions to your retirement fund without giving in to the temptation of spending without planning ahead. More From GOBankingRates Jaime Catmull contributed to the reporting for this article. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Social Security Experts: What You Need To Know About Planning for the Future Its here: Solana really did make its own Web3 smartphone, the Sagaand its rolling out now to people who pre-ordered, with new orders set to begin May 8. Decrypt has had its hands on the $1,000 Android flagship device for the past weekand right now, Solana Labs moonshot bet feels mostly like a Web2 device with a splash (albeit a meaningful one) of Web3 integration. Its a capable, powerful phone with native, secure wallet functionality that feels tight and intuitive, but with few available apps plus some hitches along the way. Even more so than usual in Web3, using the Saga today feels like beta testing something with promise and potential. That may be an intriguing premise for early adopters and die-hards, and a potential catalyst for developers, but potentially a tough sell for the average consumerand Solana Labs knows it. But theres a lot to like here, even if it feels a bit early. Build and specs: polished and premium As a longtime tech reviewer and someone who always wields a top-end handset, one of my key considerations when evaluating a phone is whether I could live with it on a day-to-day basis. In other words, would I be happy carrying this thing in my pocket as I stay connected, snap photos, work remotely, and remain perpetually online? Luckily, the Solana Saga meets that requirement. This is a premium Android flagship with an attractive (but not overly flashy) design, built with sturdy materials and packed to the gills with just about everything youd need to communicate, stay connected, and be entertained. Even without the Web3 element, this would be a very good Android phone. The Solana Saga in the wild. Image: Decrypt At a glance, the Saga is less distinctive than the Samsung Galaxy S23 or recent iPhones, but little accents help set it apartthe metallic green side buttons and rounded triangular titanium camera module on the back, especially. The stainless steel frame and ceramic backing are nice touches, too, even if the matte black rear finish is a fingerprint and smudge magnet. Story continues Its a big boy, tooslightly taller and heavier than my iPhone 14 Pro Max, with a bright 6.67 1080p AMOLED screen with a smooth 120Hz display. Battery life is pretty robust and reliable here with a beefy 4,110mAh cell, with wireless charging available for convenience alongside a faster wired USB-C connection. The Saga's ceramic backing is a smudge magnet. Image: Decrypt The Saga is plenty fast and powerful too, thanks to a flagship-level Qualcomm Snapdragon 8+ Gen1 processor paired with 12GB RAM, making it capable of running games and demanding apps with ease. That said, its not the top-of-the-line chip: the Galaxy S23 and other new phones run a Gen2 chip that delivers solid performance gains in benchmark testing. Youre unlikely to notice the difference now, but the Saga could be less resilient than some 2023 rivals in the future as more demanding apps and games launch. On the upside, however, the Saga is packed with a robust 512GB of internal storage as standardmost phones require an upcharge to get you that kind of onboard storage. Snapping with the Saga. Image: Decrypt The dual-camera setup, with a 50-megapixel main shooter and 12MP ultrawide camera alongside, met my needs for casual everyday snaps, delivering crisp details and punchy colors. Put side by side with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, however, Apples shots were routinely sharper, with more natural color balance. Aside from the Web3 elements, the Saga ships with a thankfully clean Android 13 buildno clunky skin, no bloatware junkand the full suite of Google services, including the Play Store. And this 5G phone works with all major U.S. carriers, so you can take it where you please. Web3 on the go Thats the standard, Web2 side of the Solana Saga experienceand if you plan to use it as an everyday phone, thats really the most important piece of the puzzle. But its the Web3 integration that sets the Saga apart from your typical smartphone, and the key reason why anyone would consider the Saga over a standard flagship. The Sagas Web3 offering is built around the Seed Vault, a native custody solution that secures your wallets seed phrase within a secure environment on the phone. Even the Android operating system doesnt have access, and its tied to your biometric signature via the rear fingerprint sensor. Thats paired with a native store for decentralized apps (dapps), which has just over a dozen dapps right now but provides a smoother, easier-to-use flow than typical web apps. Using a wallet app like Phantom or Solflare, you can sign Solana network transactions with a touch of the sensor, along with a tap of the screen and occasional PIN entry for good measure. Why Solana Is Going Big on MobileAnd Making a Smartphone Setting up a wallet and getting started is relatively straightforward here thanks to a simple onboarding process, and within minutes, I was swapping USDC for Solana (SOL) via the Jupiter swap aggregator dapp and buying NFTs through the Tiexo marketplace. I took a photo amid the mayhem of Times Square and then immediately minted it as an NFT via the Minty Fresh dapp. (Note: As with early consumer units, our Solana Saga review loaner came with $20 worth of USDC and 0.01 SOLabout $0.25 worthfor network fees. Decrypt will return the phone and all unused funds, along with any purchased or minted assets included, to Solana Labs.) Claiming the Saga genesis token with benefits for early adopters, and buying an NFT via the Tiexo app. Image: Decrypt Wallets can be used to connect to web-based Web3 apps, as well, via Solanas mobile wallet adapter (MWA) technology. For example, the native Magic Eden dapp isnt yet in the Saga dapp store as of this writing, but I connected to the web version of the marketplace and bought an NFT via Phantom and my fingerprint. But there are some stumbles along the way. The native Audius streaming music dapp wouldnt connect to my Solana mainnet wallet, and instead tried to connect via devnet. A social app (urFeed) simply would not download from the dapp store for days no matter how many times I tapped the button. And the MWA link didnt always work, such as when I tried to connect my wallet to the Aurory games website and nothing happened. Transacting on the Solana Saga. Image: Decrypt And broadly, while the essential core pieces are here to send and receive funds, mint and transact NFTs, and swap crypto funds, I was really hoping for more entertaining and engrossing Web3 experiences that really utilized the tech. Solana has a growing gaming scene, for example, but the dapp store currently has no playable titles. And the web-based Solana games that I tried didnt workshooter Mini Royale: Nations refused to load, and Aurory wouldnt connect to my wallet. A Solana Labs rep told Decrypt that a few games are in the works for Saga and coming soon, however. For early adopters Despite the bugs and hitches, transacting with crypto and NFTs on the Solana Saga feels more intuitive than using a web-based wallet. Handling crypto assets on mobile is typically a fraught and frustrating experience, but the Sagas UX is undoubtedly a step forwardand at this point, best described as a starting point for Solanas mobile ambitions. Solana Labs bet on mobile is admirable: its an attempt to cultivate a decentralized mobile ecosystem that isnt reliant on big tech juggernauts like Apple and Google and their 30% cut of app sales, which not only impacts developers but has stymied mobile Web3 adoption. Its a big swing, but also a big riskand a potentially expensive one for Solana Labs if the Saga doesnt find a large enough audience to support the mobile dapp ecosystem. Solana co-founder Anatoly Yakovenko has previously described the Saga as a developer play and said hed be very happy to sell tens of thousands of units in the first year. That level of sales wouldnt move the needle for a Web2 tech giant, but if it prompts developers to build mobile dapps and embrace the platform, then perhaps it will lead to more affordable Saga successors targeted at a broader audiencewith more compelling reasons to buy in. Solana Saga: Verdict A $1,000 smartphone certainly isnt for everyone; nor is the Sagas emphasis on Web3 use cases. But among its peer group of expensive smartphones, the Saga is a pretty sharp offeringand its Solana integration is an exciting and promising twist that could ultimately pay off for users as a mobile hub for decentralized apps and services. But thats an open question for now. Workers assemble cars on the line at Tesla's factory in Fremont, Calif., in 2015. (David Butow / For The Times) California officials took action against Tesla in court on Thursday in an attempt to force the company to comply with a state investigation into the alleged illegal harassment of and discrimination against a group of manufacturing employees. Teslas failure to comply with my offices obligation to investigate allegations of workplace misconduct shows a lack of respect for the rights and well-being of their workers, Kevin Kish, the director of the California Civil Rights Department, said in a news release Thursday. The states legal filing asks the court to force Tesla to comply with a confidential subpoena issued by the department on March 3. The state said the subpoena was part of its investigation of a complaint filed in 2021 that alleged discrimination based on sex, race and disability against a group of production and manufacturing workers in California. That 2021 complaint is separate from an ongoing lawsuit the state filed against the electric-car maker in February 2022, alleging the company discriminated against more than 4,000 current and former Black workers. That lawsuit was the largest racial discrimination suit ever brought by the state in terms of the number of workers affected. Civil rights officials said in the new court filing that at recent meetings Tesla had argued the state didnt have the authority for the subpoena that asked for a deposition of a witness who had knowledge of the company's policies on reporting, handling and investigating complaints of discrimination by employees. Under California law, it is our responsibility to take each and every complaint of civil rights violations seriously and to follow the facts wherever they lead, Kish said in the release. My office is simply seeking to fulfill its statutory duty to investigate allegations of discrimination. Tesla is not above the law. Earlier this month, a jury said Tesla owes $3.2 million to Owen Diaz, a Black former contract worker, for failing to protect him from racial abuse. The decision sharply cut the $137-million award Diaz had won two years ago in his civil lawsuit. Story continues In court filings, Tesla denied any knowledge of racist acts against Diaz. The company also denied failing to protect Black employees from discrimination. This week, the state Supreme Court decided against hearing Teslas appeal of a lower court ruling on yet another civil lawsuit by Black workers at the companys assembly plant in Fremont, Calif. The lower court had ruled against Teslas argument that the employees must first try to settle their complaints through arbitration, a private process that has been shown in studies to favor the interests of companies. By denying to hear Teslas appeal, the state Supreme Court allowed that lawsuit to proceed. The lower court also ruled that minority workers in the Fremont plant could seek a court order requiring Tesla to acknowledge a climate of racial discrimination at the factory and take steps to stop it. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. jeremyiswild / Getty Images/iStockphoto The term "class," first widely used in the 19th century, is still used to characterize a group of individuals who occupy the same tier on the economic ladder. Today, social classes are divided into three major groups: working (or lower) class, middle class and upper class. In a 2022 survey conducted by Gallup, about half of Americans identified as middle class, 38% as middle class, and 14% as upper middle class, but only 2% identified as upper class. Income plays the largest role in determining class structure; however, the amount of money needed to ascend into a new class can be tricky to nail down. While there's no single formula for how ambitious, middle-income Americans increase their social mobility, some states are better than others for enabling the move from middle to upper class. Costco's Best Deals? Employee Reveals 10 Standout Buys for Your Money Read: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero To find out where it's easiest to go from middle class to upper class, GOBankingRates drew data from the 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey and the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center's composite cost of living index for each state from the 2022 averages. We analyzed state-by-state changes in different levels of income over the years. For each state, the study found the year-over-year change and the five-year change in the percentage of households with the 2021 median household income, which was $69,021, as well as the percentage of households with incomes of $150,000-$199,999 and $200,000 or more. GOBankingRates defined middle class as $46,013 - $138,042 based on the 2021 ACS median household income of $69,021. GOBankingRates ranked the states by difficulty in moving from middle class to upper class, with the easiest state placed first. Jennifer_Sharp / Getty Images/iStockphoto 1. Idaho 2021 median household income : $63,377 Five-year change in : Median household income : 28.88% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 78.79% Households earning $200,000 or more : 96.55% Annual expenditures: $66,660.29 Story continues Take Our Poll: Do You Think the US Should Raise the Medicare Tax on High Earners To Help Save the Program? DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com 2. Utah 2021 median household income : $79,133 Five-year change in : Median household income : 26.58% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 66.04% Households earning $200,000 or more : 84.78% Annual expenditures: $68,801.98 gregobagel / Getty Images 3. Washington 2021 median household income : $82,400 Five-year change in : Median household income : 31.11% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 50.77% Households earning $200,000 or more : 96.83% Annual expenditures: $76,431.78 BenDC / Getty Images/iStockphoto 4. Oregon 2021 median household income : $70,084 Five-year change in : Median household income : 31.56% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 75.56% Households earning $200,000 or more : 95.35% Annual expenditures: $81,116.74 See: 7 States Considering More Stimulus Checks in 2023 arinahabich / Getty Images/iStockphoto 5. Colorado 2021 median household income : $80,184 Five-year change in : Median household income : 28.25% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 50.77% Households earning $200,000 or more : 76.19% Annual expenditures: $70,006.69 EasyBuy4u / Getty Images/iStockphoto 6. Maine 2021 median household income : $63,182 Five-year change in : Median household income : 24.31% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 83.33% Households earning $200,000 or more : 75.76% Annual expenditures: $77,167.98 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 7. New Hampshire 2021 median household income : $83,449 Five-year change in : Median household income : 21.85% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 44.59% Households earning $200,000 or more : 66.67% Annual expenditures: $77,703.41 Stimulus 2023: Updates To Know Now f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto 8. Indiana 2021 median household income : $61,944 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.82% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 66.67% Households earning $200,000 or more : 80.00% Annual expenditures: $60,168.27 Shutterstock.com 9. Vermont 2021 median household income : $67,674 Five-year change in : Median household income : 20.62% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 56.52% Households earning $200,000 or more : 80.00% Annual expenditures: $77,569.55 LPETTET / Getty Images/iStockphoto 10. Nevada 2021 median household income : $65,686 Five-year change in : Median household income : 23.72% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 71.43% Households earning $200,000 or more : 83.78% Annual expenditures: $69,069.70 Food Stamps: What Is the Maximum SNAP EBT Benefit for 2023? benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto 11. Arizona 2021 median household income : $65,913 Five-year change in : Median household income : 28.39% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 59.09% Households earning $200,000 or more : 76.19% Annual expenditures: $70,809.82 sframephoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 12. Tennessee 2021 median household income : $58,516 Five-year change in : Median household income : 25.64% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 58.33% Households earning $200,000 or more : 71.43% Annual expenditures: $60,369.06 jimkruger / Getty Images 13. Minnesota 2021 median household income : $77,706 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.92% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 49.18% Households earning $200,000 or more : 70.18% Annual expenditures: $65,254.80 $2,000 Quarter? Check Your Pockets Before You Use This 2004 Coin rodclementphotography / Getty Images/iStockphoto 14. Georgia 2021 median household income : $65,030 Five-year change in : Median household income : 27.42% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 54.35% Households earning $200,000 or more : 76.09% Annual expenditures: $59,298.21 constantgardener / Getty Images 15. Montana 2021 median household income : $60,560 Five-year change in : Median household income : 25.18% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 81.82% Households earning $200,000 or more : 69.70% Annual expenditures: $70,140.54 f11photo / Getty Images/iStockphoto 16. Wisconsin 2021 median household income : $67,080 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.83% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 64.29% Households earning $200,000 or more : 69.44% Annual expenditures: $63,916.24 I'm a Self-Made Millionaire: These Are the 6 Investments Everyone Should Make During an Economic Downturn Jakich / Getty Images/iStockphoto 17. Nebraska 2021 median household income : $66,644 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.54% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 61.90% Households earning $200,000 or more : 67.57% Annual expenditures: $61,506.83 espiegle / Getty Images/iStockphoto 18. Michigan 2021 median household income : $63,202 Five-year change in : Median household income : 24.41% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 55.81% Households earning $200,000 or more : 73.68% Annual expenditures: $61,707.62 DougSchneiderPhoto / Getty Images/iStockphoto 19. Pennsylvania 2021 median household income : $67,587 Five-year change in : Median household income : 23.12% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 48.00% Households earning $200,000 or more : 71.43% Annual expenditures: $65,723.30 Read: The 15 Biggest Bank Failures in US History Davel5957 / Getty Images/iStockphoto 20. Ohio 2021 median household income : $61,938 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.23% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 53.66% Households earning $200,000 or more : 67.57% Annual expenditures: $61,506.83 Wallace Weeks / Shutterstock.com 21. Missouri 2021 median household income : $61,043 Five-year change in : Median household income : 23.09% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 56.41% Households earning $200,000 or more : 71.43% Annual expenditures: $59,632.85 benedek / Getty Images/iStockphoto 22. California 2021 median household income : 23.09% Five-year change in : Median household income : 31.85% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 35.62% Households earning $200,000 or more : 71.43% Annual expenditures: $59,632.85 Learn: Top 6 Richest People in the World You've Never Heard of WendyOlsenPhotography / Getty Images/iStockphoto 23. North Carolina 2021 median household income : $60,516 Five-year change in : Median household income : 25.41% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 56.41% Households earning $200,000 or more : 76.92% Annual expenditures: $64,050.10 aimintang / Getty Images 24. Rhode Island 2021 median household income : $74,489 Five-year change in : Median household income : 27.58% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 40.32% Households earning $200,000 or more : 63.64% Annual expenditures: $75,561.71 wbritten / Getty Images/iStockphoto 25. South Carolina 2021 median household income : $58,234 Five-year change in : Median household income : 24.17% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 61.11% Households earning $200,000 or more : 84.38% Annual expenditures: $63,113.10 Save Money: Unplug These Appliances That Hike Up Your Electricity Bill Mlenny / Getty Images 26. Illinois 2021 median household income : $72,563 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.58% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 41.67% Households earning $200,000 or more : 62.90% Annual expenditures: $61,975.33 felixmizioznikov / Getty Images/iStockphoto 27. Iowa 2021 median household income : $65,429 Five-year change in : Median household income : 19.90% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 60.00% Households earning $200,000 or more : 65.71% Annual expenditures: $59,699.78 benedek / Getty Images 28. West Virginia 2021 median household income : $50,884 Five-year change in : Median household income : 19.32% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 60.71% Households earning $200,000 or more : 65.22% Annual expenditures: $60,235.20 See: How Many Americans Have $100,000 Saved for Retirement? Cafer Akdeniz / Shutterstock.com 29. Kansas 2021 median household income : $64,521 Five-year change in : Median household income : 20.44% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 55.81% Households earning $200,000 or more : 65.00% Annual expenditures: $58,562.00 Shutterstock.com 30. Kentucky 2021 median household income : $55,454 Five-year change in : Median household income : 23.75% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 67.74% Households earning $200,000 or more : 68.97% Annual expenditures: $63,514.67 ghornephoto / iStock.com 31. Alabama 2021 median household income : $54,943 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.76% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 55.56% Households earning $200,000 or more : 75.86% Annual expenditures: $58,963.57 Look: 10 Best Cash Advance Apps That Cover You Until Payday TraceRouda / Getty Images/iStockphoto 32. Florida 2021 median household income : $61,777 Five-year change in : Median household income : 26.33% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 57.50% Households earning $200,000 or more : 65.91% Annual expenditures: $68,801.98 DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto 33. Massachusetts 2021 median household income : $89,026 Five-year change in : Median household income : 25.47% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 30.59% Households earning $200,000 or more : 69.79% Annual expenditures: $100,191.22 Kirkikis / Getty Images 34. Virginia 2021 median household income : $80,615 Five-year change in : Median household income : 21.87% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 31.08% Households earning $200,000 or more : 54.12% Annual expenditures: $68,801.98 Costco's Best Deals? Employee Reveals 10 Standout Buys for Your Money DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 35. South Dakota 2021 median household income : $63,920 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.74% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 67.65% Households earning $200,000 or more : 48.57% Annual expenditures: $63,246.96 FotosForTheFuture / Shutterstock.com 36. New Jersey 2021 median household income : $89,703 Five-year change in : Median household income : 21.71% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 21.11% Households earning $200,000 or more : 53.70% Annual expenditures: $75,227.07 BlazenImages / Getty Images/iStockphoto 37. Arkansas 2021 median household income : $52,123 Five-year change in : Median household income : 23.12% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 67.86% Households earning $200,000 or more : 73.08% Annual expenditures: $60,636.77 Avoid: 8 Costco Items That Have the Most Customer Complaints krblokhin / Getty Images/iStockphoto 38. Maryland 2021 median household income : $91,431 Five-year change in : Median household income : 20.20% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 25.00% Households earning $200,000 or more : 54.64% Annual expenditures: $82,990.72 Paola Giannoni / Getty Images/iStockphoto 39. Wyoming 2021 median household income : $68,002 Five-year change in : Median household income : 14.98% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 46.00% Households earning $200,000 or more : 62.86% Annual expenditures: $61,908.40 Davel5957 / iStock.com 40. New Mexico 2021 median household income : $54,020 Five-year change in : Median household income : 18.27% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 42.11% Households earning $200,000 or more : 58.06% Annual expenditures: $62,912.32 Watch Out: 8 Electric Cars You May Regret Buying ejs9 / Getty Images 41. Hawaii 2021 median household income : $88,005 Five-year change in : Median household income : 22.27% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 43.04% Households earning $200,000 or more : 75.34% Annual expenditures: $123,147.52 Roschetzky Photography / Shutterstock.com 42. Texas 2021 median household income : $67,321 Five-year change in : Median household income : 23.01% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 45.28% Households earning $200,000 or more : 52.63% Annual expenditures: $61,908.40 43. Delaware 2021 median household income : $72,724 Five-year change in : Median household income : 19.19% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 39.34% Households earning $200,000 or more : 57.41% Annual expenditures: $70,675.97 Shop Smart: 5 Brand-New Items at Dollar Tree That Cost Way More at Target sfe-co2 / Getty Images 44. Louisiana 2021 median household income : $53,571 Five-year change in : Median household income : 17.35% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 41.46% Households earning $200,000 or more : 54.05% Annual expenditures: $62,644.61 Francois Roux / Shutterstock.com 45. New York 2021 median household income : $75,157 Five-year change in : Median household income : 23.73% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 34.33% Households earning $200,000 or more : 61.25% Annual expenditures: $90,018.16 cristianl / Getty Images/iStockphoto 46. Mississippi 2021 median household income : $49,111 Five-year change in : Median household income : 21.18% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 70.37% Households earning $200,000 or more : 65.22% Annual expenditures: $56,888.80 Social Security: Whether You're 62, 65, 67 or 70, Here's Why Your Age Matters DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images 47. North Dakota 2021 median household income : $68,131 Five-year change in : Median household income : 15.25% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 46.00% Households earning $200,000 or more : 36.73% Annual expenditures: $64,987.09 JTSorrell / Getty Images 48. Oklahoma 2021 median household income : $56,956 Five-year change in : Median household income : 18.56% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 47.22% Households earning $200,000 or more : 54.55% Annual expenditures: $57,424.22 James Kirkikis / Shutterstock.com 49. Connecticut 2021 median household income : $83,572 Five-year change in : Median household income : 16.47% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 23.17% Households earning $200,000 or more : 42.16% Annual expenditures: $78,171.90 filo / iStock.com 50. Alaska 2021 median household income : $80,287 Five-year change in : Median household income : 7.85% Households earning $150,000-$199,999 : 13.64% Households earning $200,000 or more : 51.47% Annual expenditures: $84,730.85 More From GOBankingRates Jordan Rosenfeld contributed to the reporting of this article. Methodology: In order to find the states where it is easiest to go from 'middle class" to "upper class," GOBankingRates found each state's (1) 2021 Median Household income, as well as the (2) year-over year change and the (3) 5-year percentage change in median household income. GOBankingRates then found the (4) 2021 percent of households with incomes $100,000 - $149,000, the (5) year-over year change and the (6) 5-year percentage change in the percent of households with incomes of $100,000 - $149,000, the (7) 2021 percent of households with incomes of $150,000 - $199,999, the (8) year-over-year change and the (9) 5-year percentage change in the percent of households with incomes of $150,000 - $199,999, as well as the (10) 2021 percent of households with incomes of $200,000+, and the (11) year-over year change and the (12) 5-year percentage change in the percent of households with incomes of $200,000+ all sourced from the 2016, 2020 and 2021 American Community Surveys that are conducted by the U.S Census Bureau. GOBankingRates also found each state's (13) annual expenditures which were calculated using the 2021 Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Expenditure Survey, which was then factored out using the Missouri Economic Research and Information Center's composite cost of living index for each state from the 2022 averages. These thirteen factors were then scored and combined with the lowest score being the best. Factors 1 through 3 were weighted 0.5 times and factor 13 holds 1.5 times weight. All data was gathered and is up to date as of April 10, 2023. GOBankingRates took middle class to be defined as $46,013 - $138,042 based on the 2021 ACS median household income of $69,021. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: States Where Its Easiest To Go From Middle Class to Upper Class DALLAS, April 13, 2023 /CNW/ -- Stealth Monitoring ("Stealth") announced that it has acquired Caliber Communications and Syncro Monitoring (collectively "Caliber"), further expanding capabilities as the North American leader in technology-driven commercial video surveillance. Stealth Monitoring (PRNewsfoto/Stealth Monitoring) Stealth, headquartered in Dallas, TX, and Caliber, based in Stoney Creek, ON are both leading video surveillance businesses focused on designing, installing, and providing proactive remote video monitoring solutions and related services to commercial, construction, financial, industrial, real estate, retail, transportation and logistics, and utility businesses throughout the United States and Canada. Caliber adds state-of-the-art, patented technology, deep product expertise, and a talented team to Stealth. The combined company will provide its customers with unparalleled security, surveillance, video management capabilities and outstanding service. Stealth will build on its strong history of product development and innovation at both companies, with plans for continued investment across all aspects of the combined business. "Joining forces with Stealth will allow us to better serve our customers and immediately expand into new markets," says Alex Vourkoutiotis, CEO and Founder of Caliber. He added, "We have spent more than eight years building an advanced technology platform powered by artificial intelligence and secure communications and networking product, that we believe delivers a best-in-class experience for our clients. The power of both companies' investment in technology and operations will enable us to provide a new level of service to customers not possible in the past." Mr. Vourkoutiotis will take on the role of Chief Technology Officer of Stealth, focused on building the industry's most advanced and effective solutions. The combination of Stealth and Caliber will include more than 2,000 employees across 40+ offices and will provide proactive monitoring of more than 5,000 client sites across North America. The combined companies have patents in cellular communications, artificial intelligence, and machine learning, well positioning them to achieve their mission: to build the world's most trusted intelligent monitoring solutions. Story continues "We were attracted to Caliber for their success in combining cutting edge technology with people and processes to achieve great results for their customers," commented Erik Mikkelsen, President & CRO of Stealth Monitoring. He added, "We were particularly impressed with their people, who exhibit a combination of dedication, teamwork, customer focus, and innovative thinking that is hard to find. We are excited to welcome Caliber's customers, employees, and partners into the Stealth family." Read more about the new partnership. The acquisition of Caliber was supported by a new capital investment by Stealth's existing investors: Twin Point Capital, LLR Partners, and Auxo Management. Stikeman Elliot LLP and DLA Piper LLP (US) provided legal advice to Stealth. Ernst & Young LLP (EY), Moss Adams LLP, and Palo Alto Strategy Group provided financial and technology services to Stealth on the acquisition. BDO Canada LLP and Gowling WLG advised Caliber on the transaction. Contact Information: Stealth Monitoring Erik Mikkelsen e: erik@stealthmonitoring.com w: www.stealthmonitoring.com Caliber Communications Alex Vourkoutiotis e: alex@calibercommunications.ca w: www.calibercommunications.ca Related Links https://stealthmonitoring.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/stealth-monitoring-supercharges-artificial-intelligence-capabilities-with-caliber-communications-acquisition-301795833.html SOURCE Stealth Monitoring Cision View original content to download multimedia: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/April2023/13/c3874.html Most readers would already be aware that Big River Industries' (ASX:BRI) stock increased significantly by 18% over the past three months. Given the company's impressive performance, we decided to study its financial indicators more closely as a company's financial health over the long-term usually dictates market outcomes. Specifically, we decided to study Big River Industries' ROE in this article. Return on equity or ROE is a key measure used to assess how efficiently a company's management is utilizing the company's capital. In other words, it is a profitability ratio which measures the rate of return on the capital provided by the company's shareholders. See our latest analysis for Big River Industries How To Calculate Return On Equity? The formula for return on equity is: Return on Equity = Net Profit (from continuing operations) Shareholders' Equity So, based on the above formula, the ROE for Big River Industries is: 21% = AU$25m AU$118m (Based on the trailing twelve months to December 2022). The 'return' is the yearly profit. Another way to think of that is that for every A$1 worth of equity, the company was able to earn A$0.21 in profit. What Is The Relationship Between ROE And Earnings Growth? We have already established that ROE serves as an efficient profit-generating gauge for a company's future earnings. Depending on how much of these profits the company reinvests or "retains", and how effectively it does so, we are then able to assess a companys earnings growth potential. Assuming everything else remains unchanged, the higher the ROE and profit retention, the higher the growth rate of a company compared to companies that don't necessarily bear these characteristics. A Side By Side comparison of Big River Industries' Earnings Growth And 21% ROE At first glance, Big River Industries seems to have a decent ROE. Especially when compared to the industry average of 12% the company's ROE looks pretty impressive. This certainly adds some context to Big River Industries' exceptional 44% net income growth seen over the past five years. We reckon that there could also be other factors at play here. For instance, the company has a low payout ratio or is being managed efficiently. Story continues As a next step, we compared Big River Industries' net income growth with the industry, and pleasingly, we found that the growth seen by the company is higher than the average industry growth of 14%. Earnings growth is an important metric to consider when valuing a stock. Its important for an investor to know whether the market has priced in the company's expected earnings growth (or decline). By doing so, they will have an idea if the stock is headed into clear blue waters or if swampy waters await. Is BRI fairly valued? This infographic on the company's intrinsic value has everything you need to know. Is Big River Industries Using Its Retained Earnings Effectively? The high three-year median payout ratio of 51% (implying that it keeps only 49% of profits) for Big River Industries suggests that the company's growth wasn't really hampered despite it returning most of the earnings to its shareholders. Moreover, Big River Industries is determined to keep sharing its profits with shareholders which we infer from its long history of six years of paying a dividend. Upon studying the latest analysts' consensus data, we found that the company is expected to keep paying out approximately 58% of its profits over the next three years. Accordingly, forecasts suggest that Big River Industries' future ROE will be 20% which is again, similar to the current ROE. Conclusion On the whole, we feel that Big River Industries' performance has been quite good. In particular, its high ROE is quite noteworthy and also the probable explanation behind its considerable earnings growth. Yet, the company is retaining a small portion of its profits. Which means that the company has been able to grow its earnings in spite of it, so that's not too bad. Having said that, the company's earnings growth is expected to slow down, as forecasted in the current analyst estimates. To know more about the company's future earnings growth forecasts take a look at this free report on analyst forecasts for the company to find out more. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Fagron NV Regulated information Nazareth (Belgium)/Rotterdam (The Netherlands), 13 April 2023 7:00 AM CET Strong first quarter performance with 16% topline growth to 181 million Fagron, the leading global player in pharmaceutical compounding today publishes its quarterly results for the period ending 31 March 2023. Key Highlights Q1 2023 topline and organic growth across all regions Revenue increased by 16.0% to 181.4 million (12.8% at CER) driven by organic growth, acquisitions, and FX Organic revenue growth of 11.0% (8.0% at CER) Solid performance in EMEA and North-America and cautious return to organic revenue growth in Latin America Robust revenue growth trend in EMEA continues supported by pricing pass through as well as commercial and operational strengthening Organic revenue growth in Latin America reflects initial signs of market stabilization and supported by improving operational efficiency Revenue growth in North America driven by pleasing organic growth at FSS and continued good performance at Anazao. Combined run-rate of Wichita and Boston sterile outsourcing facilities was US$125 million Continued rollout of disciplined acquisition strategy Integration of Letco and 503B outsourcing facility in Boston in line with expectations Acquisition of Wildlife Pharmaceuticals in South-Africa enables access to attractive veterinary market Rafael Padilla, CEO of Fagron: Our performance in the first quarter reflects our focused execution, and resilience in the business model despite the uncertain macro-economic environment. All our regions have shown organic growth mainly reaping the benefits of the strategic initiatives on the operational and commercial front. The performance in EMEA has continued its upward trajectory following pricing pass-through and operational excellence and commercial initiatives bearing fruit. In Latin America, we have seen initial signs of recovery in the market although the competitive environment remains heightened. In North America, syringe supply continued to ease which resulted in improved performance at FSS, while Anazaos firm performance was supported by strong underlying demand for preventive healthcare. Story continues The acquisition of Wildlife Pharmaceuticals in South-Africa allows us to expand our footprint in the attractive therapeutic area of veterinary compounding, further solidifying our local positioning. We remain committed to further consolidating the market and continuously assessing market opportunities across all our regions. We remain confident about the prospects of our business globally and reiterate our FY 2023 and midterm guidance provided earlier this year. Please open the link below for the full press release: Strong first quarter performance with 16% topline growth to 181 million SupplyHouse.com was recognized by Top Workplace USA for the 2nd Year Running MELVILLE, N.Y., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- SupplyHouse.com, a national leader in distributing plumbing, heating, and HVAC supplies, has been recognized as one of the top 100 places to work by Top Workplaces USA for the second year in a row. SupplyHouse.com employees engage in a team-building activity Based entirely on direct feedback from employees, Top Workplaces USA is a national award that celebrates companies that prioritize creating people-centered cultures and giving employees a voice. SupplyHouse.com ranked 83rd-best in the nation for companies in the 500-999 employees category. "I am so proud to work for a company that values its employees and am glad to see that this appreciation is reciprocated," said SupplyHouse.com Human Resources Manager, Julie Collins "It's an honor to be recognized nationally as a top workplace for the second year in a row and it's incredible to think that we will be in a new category next year. We recently celebrated our 1000th employee milestone and while that puts us in the 'large company' category, we continue to have that 'small company' care for our team." While Top Places USA may bring recognition on a national scale, SupplyHouse.com's path to success involved placing a heavy emphasis on building a dynamic and tightly knit internal culture. Led by the core values of generosity, respect, innovation, and teamwork (referred to by SupplyHouse employees as GRIT) the company aims to foster a positive work environment. "Everyone here has a voice," Julie Collins continued. "We take the time to ask for, listen to, and incorporate feedback that will enhance the overall work experience. Many of us will spend most of our adult lives working. All of us should be so lucky to work where we are respected, cared for, and appreciated." SupplyHouse.com is currently hiring in their four fulfillment centers, located in Cranbury, New Jersey; Columbus, Ohio; Farmers Branch, Texas; and Reno, Nevada, and at their Melville headquarters. Story continues About SupplyHouse.com: Headquartered in Melville, NY SupplyHouse.com is a rapidly growing e-commerce company with 4 fulfillment center locations across the United States to facilitate fast shipping. If you'd like to join their team of over 1000 diverse and self-motivated individuals, visit their careers page at www.supplyhouse.com/careers. SupplyHouse.com Real People, Real Service Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/supplyhousecom-nationally-recognized-as-a-top-place-to-work-301783709.html SOURCE SupplyHouse.com (Bloomberg) -- The US Supreme Court refused to block a legal settlement that would cancel $6 billion in debt for students who say they were misled about job prospects by a group of mostly for-profit colleges. Most Read from Bloomberg Rejecting an emergency request from three college operators, the high court left the accord in force while the justices decide whether to take up an appeal challenging the agreement. No justices publicly dissented. The colleges are challenging the Education Departments authority to cancel so many loans in a single agreement. The case resembles the Supreme Court fight over President Joe Bidens plan to slash the student debt of more than 40 million people, though the two disputes involve different statutory provisions. The court heard arguments on Bidens plan Feb. 28 and is scheduled to rule by the end of June. The borrowers in the latest case sued the Education Department in 2019, seeking action on long-pending requests to discharge their debt because of alleged wrongdoing by the schools they attended. The settlement went beyond the thrust of the lawsuit, with the Education Department agreeing to discharge loans for hundreds of thousands of borrowers who attended 151 schools. At the Supreme Court, the schools for-profit Lincoln Educational Services Corp. and American National University Inc. and nonprofit Everglades College Inc. contended the department exceeded its authority under federal law. The colleges said the administration was making an even more sweeping claim than with Bidens broader loan-forgiveness program, which centers on the economic fallout from the pandemic. Story continues The secretarys claimed authority amounts to nothing less than the power to cancel, en masse, every student loan in the country, the schools argued. The Biden administration and borrowers urged the court to let the settlement stay in effect. US Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar said the accord itself doesnt affect the rights of the schools or impose any liability on them. The class-action settlement at issue here is a reasonable and statutorily authorized solution to the unprecedented problem posed by a flood of borrower-defense applications asserting a right to discharge under the applicable statute and regulations, said Prelogar, the administrations top Supreme Court lawyer. The San Francisco-based 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals refused to block the settlement, prompting the college operators to turn to the Supreme Court. The case is Everglades College v. Cardona, 22A867. (Adds explanation of case starting in third paragraph.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. (Bloomberg) -- Taiwan said China dialed down plans for a no-fly zone near the island after it complained about risks to flight safety, a rare possible instance of backtracking by Beijing as tensions between the two sides simmer. Most Read from Bloomberg China initially intended to impose the zone for aerospace activities from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. over three days next week, the Transportation Ministry in Taipei said in a statement Wednesday just days after the Peoples Liberation Army ended major military drills around the democracy. Beijing later told Taipei that the zone would only be in place over about 27 minutes on Sunday morning after Taiwan protested about a serious impact on aviation management in the region, seriously undermining the rights and safety of air traffic, the ministry said. It called Beijings plans unprecedented internationally. Taiwans deputy foreign minister, Roy Chun Lee, said the change came after intense communications between China and other parties in the region, without naming them. Beijing hasnt made any public announcement about a no-fly zone as of Thursday morning. The Civil Aviation Administration of China didnt respond to a request for comment, and Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin avoided a question on the matter during a regular press briefing. See: Taiwan Sees Chinas Drills as Similar to Pelosi Visit Reaction The episode comes amid the latest cross-strait tensions and would be a rare visible instance of compromise between Taipei and Beijing during such periods. The PLA just held three days of military exercises around Taiwan to show its displeasure with President Tsai Ing-wen meeting House Speaker Kevin McCarthy in the US last week. Story continues Its certainly unusual that Beijing revised its plans after a complaint from Taiwan, said Wen-ti Sung, a specialist on Taiwanese politics and cross-strait relations at Australian National University. Sung said the change Beijing made may be a sign of coordination problems between different parts of the government. The aviation agency may have called for a more extended no-fly zone period out of technical necessity, but economic and foreign affairs portfolios subsequently scaled it back to minimize regional push back, he said. Chinas original plan for the zone would have overlapped with the Group of Seven foreign ministers meeting in Karuizawa, Japan, which runs April 16-18. More: China Signals It Will Keep Up Pressure on Taiwan After Drills The military drills that China just wrapped up involved sending warplanes into sensitive areas around Taiwan, including a record 54 flights across the median line in the strait or into Taiwans sensitive air-defense identification zone on Monday. Such forays are intended to intimidate the democracy militarily and wear down its much smaller armed forces. The no-fly zone China plans is within Taiwans ADIZ, about 85 nautical miles from northern Taiwan, Yen Yu-hsien, a Taiwanese intelligence official in the Defense Ministry, said at a briefing in Taipei. China may plan to launch a satellite, he added. Beijing restricted flights and shipping in six areas around Taiwan in August last year when it held military drills to protest a visit by then-House Speaker Nancy Pelolsi. Those exercises also involved China sending missiles over Taiwan. China has started conducting satellite launches from platforms just off its coast in recent years. The Asian nation launched five satellites on Long March 11 rockets from a platform in the East China Sea in April last year, state media reported, citing a rocket designer. Another rocket designer said sea launches could be safer than on land because debris could fall into water. --With assistance from Daniela Wei, Claire Che, Jing Li, Debby Wu and Jenny Leonard. (Updates with more details.) Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Thanakorn Lappattaranan / iStock.com U.S. taxpayers will get an extra three days to file their returns in 2023 vs. most years, and it seems that many are taking advantage of it. The number of returns the IRS has received is down slightly from a year ago, and at least one tax expert senses a lack of urgency to file this year. See: How To Avoid Paying Taxes Legally and the 11 Craziest Ways People Have Done It Find: 3 Signs Youre Serious About Raising Your Credit Score The total number of returns received by the IRS as of March 24, 2023, was down 0.8% from the previous year, according to the agencys latest data. Total e-file returns were 0.3% lower, while e-file returns from those preparing their own taxes were down 2.7%. Those numbers have reversed the trend from a month earlier, when the number of returns rose 1.3% through Feb. 24. The recent lag is partly due to the fact that the filing deadline this tax season is Tuesday, April 18, 2023. The traditional filing deadline of April 15 falls on a Saturday, and Washington, D.C., celebrates Emancipation Day on Monday, April 17. With less than two weeks left to file, some tax experts wonder whether too many taxpayers are dragging their feet. There just seems to be a lack of urgency this year, Kathy Brown, founder of Kentucky-based tax and accounting firm The Kat Company, told Fox Business. I have never seen such as easygoing, no rush, file an extension attitude as I have seen this year. One reason for the lack of urgency is that tax refunds are smaller than last years. According to the IRS, the average refund amount through March 24 was $2,903, down 11% from $3,263 a year earlier. Theres no bucket of cash sitting on the table from the federal government, Brown said. Take Our Poll: Do You Think the US Should Raise the Medicare Tax on High Earners To Help Save the Program? On the bright side, the IRS is processing returns and refunds faster than in 2022. As of March 24, it processed 1.9% more returns compared with the same time last year and issued 2.6% more refunds. Story continues For taxpayers who find themselves panicking that they wont be ready to file returns by April 18, there is always the option of filing an extension. This is an especially good option if you have a complicated return. If you choose the extension route, keep in mind that you only get an extension on filing the return not paying what you owe. The IRS will charge interest on any unpaid balance after April 18. If you do owe taxes, Brown recommends paying part or all of your estimated tax bill to minimize penalties and interest. One thing you shouldnt do is rush your return to meet the April 18 deadline. Tom OSaben, director of tax content and government relations at the National Association of Tax Preparers (NATP), told Fox Business that some documents might still be coming in, such as corrected brokerage statements. Rushing your return could also lead to costly tax mistakes, such as overlooking deductions and benefits, incorrectly claiming dependents, or forgetting to report income from various side gigs. This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Taxpayers Have Lack of Urgency To File by April 18 Is an Extension Right for You? There's no doubt that money can be made by owning shares of unprofitable businesses. For example, although software-as-a-service business Salesforce.com lost money for years while it grew recurring revenue, if you held shares since 2005, you'd have done very well indeed. But while history lauds those rare successes, those that fail are often forgotten; who remembers Pets.com? Given this risk, we thought we'd take a look at whether OreCorp (ASX:ORR) shareholders should be worried about its cash burn. In this report, we will consider the company's annual negative free cash flow, henceforth referring to it as the 'cash burn'. First, we'll determine its cash runway by comparing its cash burn with its cash reserves. See our latest analysis for OreCorp When Might OreCorp Run Out Of Money? A company's cash runway is calculated by dividing its cash hoard by its cash burn. In December 2022, OreCorp had AU$21m in cash, and was debt-free. Importantly, its cash burn was AU$13m over the trailing twelve months. Therefore, from December 2022 it had roughly 20 months of cash runway. Notably, analysts forecast that OreCorp will break even (at a free cash flow level) in about 3 years. Essentially, that means the company will either reduce its cash burn, or else require more cash. The image below shows how its cash balance has been changing over the last few years. How Is OreCorp's Cash Burn Changing Over Time? OreCorp didn't record any revenue over the last year, indicating that it's an early stage company still developing its business. So while we can't look to sales to understand growth, we can look at how the cash burn is changing to understand how expenditure is trending over time. While it hardly paints a picture of imminent growth, the fact that it has reduced its cash burn by 51% over the last year suggests some degree of prudence. While the past is always worth studying, it is the future that matters most of all. For that reason, it makes a lot of sense to take a look at our analyst forecasts for the company. Story continues Can OreCorp Raise More Cash Easily? There's no doubt OreCorp's rapidly reducing cash burn brings comfort, but even if it's only hypothetical, it's always worth asking how easily it could raise more money to fund further growth. Issuing new shares, or taking on debt, are the most common ways for a listed company to raise more money for its business. One of the main advantages held by publicly listed companies is that they can sell shares to investors to raise cash and fund growth. By looking at a company's cash burn relative to its market capitalisation, we gain insight on how much shareholders would be diluted if the company needed to raise enough cash to cover another year's cash burn. OreCorp's cash burn of AU$13m is about 7.4% of its AU$172m market capitalisation. That's a low proportion, so we figure the company would be able to raise more cash to fund growth, with a little dilution, or even to simply borrow some money. How Risky Is OreCorp's Cash Burn Situation? The good news is that in our view OreCorp's cash burn situation gives shareholders real reason for optimism. Not only was its cash burn reduction quite good, but its cash burn relative to its market cap was a real positive. Shareholders can take heart from the fact that analysts are forecasting it will reach breakeven. Considering all the factors discussed in this article, we're not overly concerned about the company's cash burn, although we do think shareholders should keep an eye on how it develops. Taking an in-depth view of risks, we've identified 1 warning sign for OreCorp that you should be aware of before investing. Of course OreCorp 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. Join A Paid User Research Session Youll receive a US$30 Amazon Gift card for 1 hour of your time while helping us build better investing tools for the individual investors like yourself. Sign up here Ken Wolter / Shutterstock.com Trader Joes, one of Americas favorite grocery store chains, is known for its unique and affordable products. With a wide range of options, it can be overwhelming to decide what to buy especially when youre on a budget. Thats where Trader Joes superfans come in. See: 10 Best Cash Advance Apps To Help You Make it Until Payday More: How To Build a Financial Plan From Zero These dedicated shoppers have scoured the aisles to find the best deals and standout buys for your money without sacrificing quality or taste. Whether youre a regular or a first-time shopper, these hot tips will give you the inside track on the best of the best at Trader Joes. Avocado Oil Cooking Spray A great non-stick spray using avocado oil as a base, which has a higher smoke point compared to other oil types, shares TJs Superfan Clara Cheng of Fitsian Food Life. Cheng also points out that many avocado oil cooking sprays cost between $6-7 dollars, which makes this a great quality product at a fraction of the cost. A five ounce container costs $3.49 at Trader Joes. Cento Canned Tomatoes When it comes to high quality canned tomatoes, you can pick yours up at Trader Joes for a steal. These are the cheapest Ive ever seen a quality can of San Marzano, the top tier of canned tomatoes, being sold, says Cheng. San Marzano tomatoes are typically upwards of $5 for a 28 ounce can. A 28 ounce can costs $3.99 at Trader Joes. Take Our Poll: Are You Concerned With the Safety of Your Money in Your Bank Accounts? Frozen Hashbrowns What is a weekend breakfast without some hashbrowns? Nothing we want to indulge in! While it might be slightly cheaper to make these on your own its not a deal if it takes you a long time and theyre just not as good. The first time I bought these, the cashier recommended letting them go just a bit longer than the directions say for an extra crispy texture and to be generous with the salt, shares Trader Joes superfan Julie Ramhold of DealNews.com. Story continues A 22.5 ounce packet (of 10 hashbrowns) costs just $2.49 at Trader Joes. Sublime Ice Cream Sandwiches A day without ice cream is like a day without sunshine and these high-quality sandwiches are a deal you wont be able to resist. Ramhold calls these the absolute perfect cookie ice cream sandwich. She adds that the size is perfect for an afternoon pick-me-up or post-dinner dessert and that theyre soft right out of the freezer and so addictive. A box of 4 costs $4.99 at Trader Joes. Beefless Bulgogi This is a popular and flavorful plant-based alternative to traditional Korean bulgogi, with a satisfying texture and a good balance of sweet and savory flavors. Were interested in cutting down on meat in my household and this was a major hit, shares Trader Joes superfan Sarah Meads. My 10-year-old cannot get enough! Meads adds that meat alternatives can be pricey and so this is a great deal on a filling main-course for her entire family of four. A 10 ounce box costs $4.49 at Trader Joes. Chocolate Chip Pain Au Lait Need a decadent, easy, and majorly affordable breakfast on-the-go? Look no further than Trader Joes chocolate chip pain au lait. These are soft and fluffy with just the right amount of sweetness, so you wont experience a sugar crash an hour later, shares Ramhold. I love keeping these on hand but they never last long because theyre so light and tasty. A 9.9 ounce bag with 8 rolls costs $2.99 at Trader Joes. Organic Elote Corn Chip Dippers Inexpensive, flavorful, and perfect as a snack with guac or crushed up and used to coat your favorite fried food, these organic elote corn chip dippers are a winner and a steal. A smaller bag of Fritos is currently at Target for $4.49 and theyre not even organic! Or, according to Ramhold, as delicious Thanks to these chips Ill never be able to eat regular corn chips again, she says. A 9.75 ounce bag costs $2.69 at Trader Joes. Daily Facial Sunscreen When this hit the market last year, the internet went wild. Considered a dupe for an extremely popular and pricey sunscreen, this Trader Joes formula is smooth, silky, and available at a fraction of the price, says Meads. A 1.7 ounce container costs $8.99 at Trader Joes. Organic Dark Chocolate Bar With Almonds Trader Joes is legendary for great deals on chocolates and nuts, and this chocolate-covered almond bar is no exception. Trader Joes superfan, Jenna Shaughnessy of Jenna Kate at Home, says this dreamy candy bar is one of her favorite finds. The dark, rich chocolate that covers the crisp almonds is not overly sweet, she says. As a snack or a topping for yogurt or oatmeal, theyre fantastic. A 3.5 ounce bar costs $1.99 at Trader Joes. More From GOBankingRates This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: Trader Joes Best Deals? Superfans Reveal 9 Standout Buys for Your Money LOS ANGELES, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / NMS Consulting, Inc. announced today that its Founder and Chairman, Trevor M. Saliba has been selected as part of an esteemed list of The Top 25 M&A Consultants and Leaders of 2023 by one of the industry's leading publications, The Consulting Report ("TCR"). This year's awardees represent the very best in M&A consulting. Industry leaders from global firms such as Deloitte, KPMG, McKinsey, Kearny and Oliver Wyman are just a few of the accomplished consultants who made this year's list alongside Trevor M. Saliba. "I am deeply honored to be named as one of the Top 25 M&A Consultants and Leaders of 2023 by The Consulting Report," said Trevor M. Saliba. "Celebrating this achievement is an ideal way to cap off my tenure as CEO of NMS Consulting as it highlights the years of hard work and commitment that have gone into making a difference in the industry. I would like to express my gratitude to the publication for this prestigious accolade. I strongly believe that my team's dedication to providing innovative and comprehensive solutions to our clients has been integral to our success. The consulting industry is constantly evolving, and it is essential to stay at the forefront of these changes to deliver the best possible outcomes for our clients. I am thrilled to be part of such a dynamic and forward-thinking industry, and I look forward to continuing to support the global NMS team as Chairman to provide exceptional service and achieve even greater success in the future." M&A occurs across all industries, often bringing companies from different sectors together. Such deals take a village to succeed, which includes investment bankers, company executives, M&A consultants, lawyers, auditors, and others in order to get a deal across the finish line. Despite continued uncertainty about the future of the global economy, historically M&A hasn't paused during tough times. While volatility may give executives of both targets and acquirers pause, there are those who swoop in to take opportunities while others hesitate. Of course, these companies will look for the best consultants to help navigate the best deals. These consultants are those with extensive experience in various facets of the M&A process. Story continues Awardees were selected based on nominations and a thorough review of each candidate's career track record up to and including their current position. About Trevor M. Saliba Trevor M. Saliba is the Founder and Chairman of NMS Consulting, a global management consulting and strategic advisory firm. From 2018 to 2022, he served as Managing Partner, CEO and the Global Head of the Private Equity, M&A and Strategy Practice Groups at NMS Consulting. In addition, he serves as the Chairman & CEO of NMS Capital Group, a family office backed global focused venture capital and private equity investment firm, with investments across multiple asset classes including real estate, financial and business services, infrastructure and energy, consumer products, technology, and media. In 2022, he assumed the position of Director and COO of NFG, a NMS Capital Group platform investment company which is a Geneva registered investment holding company headquartered in London. He also serves on the board or as a senior advisor to many of the NMS Capital Group portfolio investment companies engaged in the insurance, energy, infrastructure, and real estate sectors. About NMS Consulting NMS Consulting is a global management consulting and strategic advisory firm that specializes in delivering services to a global client base of private and public companies, government agencies, philanthropic organizations and the individuals who lead them. With a global footprint of seventeen offices located through the United States, Asia, Europe and the Middle East staffed with more than 450 seasoned professionals, management consulting clients benefit from a combination of diverse skills, expertise and global presence. NMS Consulting offers a unique multi-disciplinary 360 solutions platform customized to your business and needs. For more information, please visit www.nmsconsulting.com. Media Contact: NMS Consulting, Inc. Lili Swanson +1 310 855 0020 news@nmsconsulting.com SOURCE: NMS Consulting, Inc. View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/749073/Trevor-M-Saliba-Selected-as-a-Top-25-MA-Consultant-and-Leader Teresa Mackintosh to become Executive Chair of Board of Directors DALLAS, TX / ACCESSWIRE / April 13, 2023 / Trintech, a leading global provider of cloud-based financial close solutions for the Office of Finance, today announced that Darren Heffernan, President & Chief Operating Officer, will become the company's next Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1, 2023. Heffernan will succeed Teresa Mackintosh, who will transition to Executive Chair of the Trintech Board of Directors, after a successful seven-year tenure leading the company. Heffernan, who has been with Trintech since 2001, has held a number of strategic and corporate development roles throughout his tenure at the company. He has been instrumental in driving significant growth in his capacity as CFO and President & COO, as well as through his involvement in the company's international business expansion. Heffernan's diverse experience and deep industry knowledge will inform his stewardship of Trintech's continued focus on the company's operational excellence and commitment to client service, partnership and growth. Prior to Trintech, Heffernan held various finance and operational positions, driving innovation with companies like GE, Paramount / Universal Studios, IAWS and Anglo American. As Executive Chair, Mackintosh will continue to work closely with Heffernan and Trintech's leadership team to ensure a smooth and successful transition. She is steadfast in her commitment to advancing Trintech's position as a leading global SaaS provider for the Office of Finance. "I am incredibly proud of all that we have accomplished over the past seven years," said Mackintosh. "The team's unwavering commitment to serving our customers and supporting our partners has been astounding. I am excited to now welcome Darren as Trintech's next CEO. Darren has been critical in driving Trintech's growth for over twenty years, and his passion for innovation and deep understanding of our company culture is unmatched. Darren's focus on operational excellence will help us to meet and exceed the evolving needs of our expanding client base while also driving Trintech's growth trajectory. I look forward to our continued partnership in my new role as Executive Chair." Story continues "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I want to extend my sincerest gratitude to Teresa for her exemplary leadership throughout these past seven years," said Pete Rottier, Managing Director of Summit Partners. "Under her leadership, Trintech tripled its revenue, solidifying its position as a leader and trusted partner in the global SaaS market for the Office of Finance. The Board is looking forward to Trintech's continued growth under Darren's leadership. With his strong strategic, financial, and operational background, and clear dedication to the company's business and customers, we believe Darren is the ideal person to lead Trintech forward in the years to come." "It is a tremendous honor to serve as Trintech's next CEO," said Heffernan. "Teresa has been an incredible leader and colleague, and I am privileged to have worked alongside her for the past several years. I want to thank both Teresa and the entire Board for their support and confidence. I look forward to continuing our commitment to deliver better solutions and innovative services for our clients, collaborating with our global partners, expanding our business with exciting new opportunities for growth and building the company with the help of our tremendous employees." About Trintech Trintech, a leading global provider of cloud-based, integrated reconciliation and financial close solutions for Finance & Accounting departments. From high volume transaction matching, to automating and managing balance sheet reconciliations, intercompany accounting, journal entries, close management tasks, to governance, risk and compliance - Trintech's portfolio of financial solutions, including its Cadency Platform (for large enterprises) and Adra Suite (for mid-market organizations), help manage all aspects of the reconciliation and financial close processes. Trintech's excellence in both innovation and client support have been recognized with a variety of awards over the years including most recently "Easiest to Do Business With" and "Fastest Implementation" in G2's Fall 2022 Report. Over 3,500 clients worldwide - including the majority of the Fortune 100 - rely on Trintech's solutions to enable their F&A operation to become a strategic partner to the business by controlling risk, driving efficiencies, and providing strategic insights. Headquartered in Plano, Texas, Trintech has offices located across the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, Singapore, France, Germany, Ireland, the Netherlands, and the Nordics, as well as strategic partners in South Africa, Latin America, and the Asia Pacific. To learn more about Trintech, visit www.trintech.com or connect with us on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Media Contact: Kelli Shoevlin Director, Global Corporate Marketing & Communications kelli.shoevlin@trintech.com SOURCE: Trintech View source version on accesswire.com: https://www.accesswire.com/748865/Trintech-Announces-Appointment-of-Darren-Heffernan-as-New-CEO (Bloomberg) -- The 21-year-old man arrested in connection with the leak of classified US documents related to the Ukraine conflict is a cyber specialist for the US Air Force National Guard. Most Read from Bloomberg He was arrested in Massachusetts and is scheduled to be arraigned in US District Court in Boston on Friday. Moscow would consider swapping a Wall Street Journal reporter jailed for spying last month for a Russian prisoner held by the US, but only after the American is convicted, a senior official said. The question of swapping anyone can be discussed after the court properly issues its verdict on the charges, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, according to Tass. Key Developments US Left Red-Faced Over 21-Year-Olds Alleged Tie to Secrets Leak US Arrests 21-Year-Old National Guardsman in Defense Leak Ukraine Secured $42B in Support This Year, Central Banker Says Ukraines Zelenskiy Asks Global Leaders to Seize Russian Assets Germany to Allow Polish Export of MiG 29 Fighter Jets to Ukraine A Fracturing US-Saudi Oil Pact Hands the Advantage to Putin What We Know About the Leak of US Military Documents: Q&A (All times CET) Suspect Arrested in Document Leak was Cyber Specialist (10:58 p.m.) The FBI arrested a 21-year-old Air National Guardsman in connection with the leak of highly classified documents including maps, intelligence updates and the assessment of Russias war in Ukraine. Jack Teixeira, who serves as a cyber specialist for the US Air Force National Guard, was taken into custody Thursday afternoon in Massachusetts without incident. He will be arraigned in US District Court in Boston on Friday. Story continues He will be charged with unauthorized removal, retention and transmission of classified national defense information, Attorney General Merrick Garland told reporters at a Washington press conference. The leaked trove of classified US documents on Ukraine is a mixture of true, false and outdated information, the countrys Defense Minister Oleksii Reznikov said separately. The leak would clearly appear to benefit Russia and its supporters, he said. Ukraine Secured $42 Billion in Support This Year, Central Banker Says (10:02 p.m.) Ukraine has secured $42 billion in international support this year, including $4.6 billion from the International Monetary Fund, deputy central bank governor Sergiy Nikolaychuk said. International partners promised to provide us during the next four years an amount of $150 billion, Nikolaychuk said in an interview on Bloomberg TV, a figure that includes a $15.6 billion program from the IMF. Ukraine received $32 billion in 2022, which was not enough to cover all budget needs, he said. In 2023, the economy will start to recover from the 29% contraction in gross domestic product last year. Raimondo Calls For Private Investment in Reconstruction (5:45 p.m.) President Bidens administration is utterly committed to supporting Ukraine, but this effort has to be a public-private partnership, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said at a US-Ukraine forum Thursday morning. In order for that investment to be possible, Ukraine first needs assistance to win the war, said US Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves on a panel at the summit including, for example, strict export controls that curtail Russias military might. But private investment cannot wait for the war to end, said U.S. International Development Finance Corporation CEO Scott Nathan. Rather, the international community needs to leverage tools like political risk insurance that can jumpstart private investment. Representatives from Citibank and Blackrock said they are already looking at opportunities to rebuild the country as a modernized, technologically-focused version of its prewar self. There is desire to put private capital, said Julie Monaco, global head of the public sector group at Citi. Putin Opponent Navalny Suffering from Mystery Ailment (4:30 p.m.) Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny is suffering from a mystery stomach ailment that could be an attempt to poison him slowly, his spokeswoman Kira Yarmysh said. After losing eight kilograms (18 pounds) over 15 days of solitary confinement, an ambulance was called for him because of acute stomach pain, she said. Three days after being released from the punishment cell, Navalny on April 10 was put into isolation for another 15 days and is being held there with acute pain without medical help, Yarmysh said on Twitter. Navalny, 46, whos serving two sentences totaling 11 1/2 years, survived a nerve agent poisoning in August 2020 that he and Western governments blamed on the Kremlin. Russian officials denied any role in the incident. Germany to Clear Fighter-Jet Delivery by Poland (4:25 p.m.) Chancellor Olaf Scholzs ruling coalition will quickly approve a Polish request for permission to re-export MiG 29 fighter jets from former East German military stocks to Ukraine, according to a person familiar with the issue. Poland has been among the strongest supporters of military aid to Ukraine and recently began shipping fighter jets. President Andrzej Duda said this month that Poland may eventually transfer its entire fleet of about 29 Soviet-era jets to its eastern neighbor. Russia Says Jailed WSJ Reporter May Be Swapped Only After Conviction (2:40 p.m.) The Kremlin would consider swapping a Wall Street Journal reporter jailed for spying last month for a Russian prisoner held by the US only after the American is convicted, a senior official said. The question of swapping anyone can be discussed after the court properly issues its verdict on the charges, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said, according to Tass. He reiterated the US and Russia have a special diplomatic channel for such negotiations. The US has categorized journalist Evan Gershkovich as wrongfully detained, easing government participation in potential talks on his release. Russia hasnt yet allowed US diplomats to visit him in jail. No trial date has yet been set. He faces a prison term of up to 20 years if convicted. The Journal denies the spying allegations. Norway Will Expel 15 Russian Intelligence Officers (12:13 p.m.) Norway will expel 15 Russians suspected of gathering intelligence while working under diplomatic cover at the countrys embassy in Oslo, Foreign Minister Anniken Huitfeldt announced. The officers, who had been engaged in activities not compatible with their diplomatic status, must leave Norway shortly, Huitfeldt said in a statement. The move follows the expulsion of three Russian intelligence officers in April 2022. Russia currently poses the greatest intelligence threat to Norway. We take this very seriously, and are now implementing measures to counter Russian intelligence activities in our country, Huitfeldt said. She added that Norway is seeking to maintain normal diplomatic relations with Russia. Most Read from Bloomberg Businessweek 2023 Bloomberg L.P. Company Logo Dublin, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "ULTOMIRIS Market Drug Insight and Market Forecast - 2032" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The report provides comprehensive insights about ULTOMIRIS for Generalized Myasthenia Gravis (gMG) in the seven major markets. A detailed picture of the ULTOMIRIS for generalized myasthenia gravis in the 7MM, i.e., the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan for the study period 2019 -2032 is provided in this report along with a detailed description of the ULTOMIRIS for generalized myasthenia gravis. The report provides insights about mechanism of action, dosage and administration, as well as research and development including regulatory milestones, along with other developmental activities. Further, it also consists of future market assessments inclusive of the ULTOMIRIS market forecast analysis for generalized myasthenia gravis in the 7MM, SWOT, analysts' views, comprehensive overview of market competitors, and brief about other emerging therapies in generalized myasthenia gravis. Drug Summary ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab), the first and only long-acting C5 complement inhibitor, offers immediate, complete, and sustained complement inhibition. It is administered intravenously every 8 weeks in adult patients, following a loading dose. ULTOMIRIS is approved in the US for the treatment of certain adults with gMG. ULTOMIRIS (ravulizumab) works by inhibiting the C5 protein in the terminal complement cascade, a part of the body's immune system. When activated uncontrollably, the complement cascade over-responds, leading the body to attack its healthy cells. In-depth ULTOMIRIS Market Assessment This report provides a detailed market assessment of ULTOMIRIS for generalized myasthenia gravis in the seven major markets, i.e., the United States, EU4 (Germany, France, Italy, and Spain) and the United Kingdom, and Japan. This segment of the report provides forecasted sales data from 2023 to 2032. ULTOMIRIS Clinical Assessment The report provides the clinical trials information of ULTOMIRIS for generalized myasthenia gravis covering trial interventions, trial conditions, trial status, start and completion dates. Report Highlights Story continues In the coming years, the market scenario for generalized myasthenia gravis is set to change due to the extensive research and incremental healthcare spending across the world; which would expand the size of the market to enable the drug manufacturers to penetrate more into the market. The companies are developing therapies that focus on novel approaches to treat/improve the disease condition, assess challenges, and seek opportunities that could influence ULTOMIRIS dominance. Other emerging products for generalized myasthenia gravis are expected to give tough market competition to ULTOMIRIS and launch of late-stage emerging therapies in the near future will significantly impact the market. A detailed description of regulatory milestones, and developmental activities, provide the current development scenario of ULTOMIRIS in generalized myasthenia gravis. This in-depth analysis of the forecasted sales data of ULTOMIRIS from 2023 to 2032 will support the clients in the decision-making process regarding their therapeutic portfolio by identifying the overall scenario of the ULTOMIRIS in generalized myasthenia gravis. Key Topics Covered: 1. Report Introduction 2. ULTOMIRIS Overview in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis 2.1. Product Detail 2.2. Clinical Development 2.2.1. Clinical studies 2.2.2. Clinical trials information 2.2.3. Safety and efficacy 2.3. Regulatory milestones 2.4. Other Developmental Activities 2.5. Product Profile 3. Competitive Landscape (Marketed Therapies) 4. Competitive Landscape (Late-stage Emerging Therapies) 5. ULTOMIRIS Market Assessment 5.1. Market Outlook of ULTOMIRIS in Generalized Myasthenia Gravis 5.2. 7MM Analysis 5.2.1. Market size of ULTOMIRIS in the 7MM for generalized myasthenia gravis 5.3. Country-wise Market Analysis 5.3.1. Market size of ULTOMIRIS in the United States for generalized myasthenia gravis 5.3.2. Market size of ULTOMIRIS in Germany for generalized myasthenia gravis 5.3.3. Market size of ULTOMIRIS in France for generalized myasthenia gravis 5.3.4. Market size of ULTOMIRIS in Italy for generalized myasthenia gravis 5.3.5. Market size of ULTOMIRIS in Spain for generalized myasthenia gravis 5.3.6. Market size of ULTOMIRIS in the United Kingdom for generalized myasthenia gravis 5.3.7. Market size of ULTOMIRIS in Japan for generalized myasthenia gravis 6. SWOT Analysis 7. Analysts' Views For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/3h3lh2 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 By Eimi Yamamitsu (Reuters) - Uniqlo parent Fast Retailing Co Ltd reported a 16% jump in first-half profit and lifted its full-year outlook on Thursday, as the Japanese apparel retailer saw signs of recovery in China and strong sales growth in Europe and North America. Known for its affordable fleece jackets and "Heattech" thermals, Uniqlo has become a bellwether for global retailers in China, where it has around 900 stores, making it Fast Retailing's biggest foreign market and surpassing the number of stores it has in Japan. The results add to a growing body of evidence that Chinese consumer spending is rebounding after long COVID-19 lockdowns took their toll on the world's second-largest economy. Luxury group LVMH on Wednesday reported first-quarter sales that were more than double expectations, buoyed by resurgent demand in China. "Performance for mainland China is now on a recovery track," Fast Retailing said in a statement. After a "substantial decline" in first-quarter revenue and profit in mainland China, Uniqlo's operations began to recover in January, resulting in a sharp increase in second-quarter profit there, it said. But in its home market of Japan, where Uniqlo's long success has helped make CEO Tadashi Yanai the country's richest man, profit slipped almost 2% even as revenue climbed, as a weakened yen currency raised the cost of sales. Fast Retailing gave corporate Japan a jolt this year when it said it would raise wages by as much as 40%, sending a clear signal that rock-bottom salaries were starting to budge after decades of deflation and cost-cutting. Yanai told a briefing on Thursday that Japan - which has long lagged behind the average of the OECD grouping of rich countries when it comes to salaries - ran the risk of not being able to secure human resources if it did not start paying younger people more. Fast Retailing's overall wage costs rose 23% from the same period last year. Story continues Group operating profit totalled 220 billion yen ($1.65 billion) in the six months through February, up from 189 billion yen a year earlier, as Southeast Asia, North America and Europe logged strong sales growth. It raised its forecast for full-year profit to 360 billion yen from 350 billion yen. Refinitiv Eikon data showed 14 analysts expected a profit of 347 billion yen. ($1 = 133.3200 yen) (Reporting by Eimi Yamamitsu; editing by David Dolan and Jason Neely) American actor Mark Hamill, known for his role as the Jedi, Luke Skywalker, held an online meeting with Ukraine's defenders. The UNITED24 ambassador listened to their stories, discussed their need for UAVs -- including RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones, for which he is raising funds, and said he'd love to visit to Ukraine after the war. KYIV, Ukraine and MALIBU, Calif. , April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Video and Image (credit: UNITED24 fundraising platform) "So first of all I have to tell you how humbled I am to meet you all. I am a pretend warrior in the movies. But you are the real heroes of a real war. We look forward to your victory sooner rather than later, but we are with you as long as it takes. Even if I am talking about something else when I go out to promote this movie or that, I always make sure I mention this and ever mention the fact that I'm working, in any way I can, to help the Ukrainian goal of winning the war. We are winning. Don't doubt that for a second.Everybody said that Ukraine would fold in four days. Remember that? And then you showed the world; 'Don't mess with Ukraine'," Hamill told the military. Hamill continues to raise funds for RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones; the actor has already raised over $705,000. During the call, the Ukrainian defenders expressed their gratitude to Mark for his help, stressing that reconnaissance drones help save both military and civilian lives. The meeting was attended by representatives of the 92nd Separate Mechanised Brigade named after Ivan Sirko, 45th Separate Artillery Brigade, 98th Aerial Reconnaissance Battalion, 47th Brigade Magura, 21st Separate Battalion Sarmat, 25th Separate Airborne Brigade, Omega Special Forces, 120th Reconnaissance Battalion and 93rd Brigade Kholodny Yar. "My first drone, DJI Mavic. The first video I shot on it was my honeymoon with my wife on Sri Lanka Island. The last video I shot on it was russian columns invading my city of Irpin. But this last video actually changed a lot in the fight, because we saw how many of them were going at us. We prepared everything that we had, and they didn't have this drone.They didn't know there were just 30 people in position.There were about 26 armored vehicles from their side, and about 200 of infantry. And they stopped after the first burned vehicle as they didn't know how many of us were there. If they had known, they'd have probably pushed further, but they didn't. I would like to say thank you. Story continues With your help, we will get more and more advanced drones," said a member of the military with the call sign 'Romashka' (Daisy). There were a lot of Star Wars saga fans among defenders present at the meeting. Hamill noted that his character did not have any special skills; he was just a farmer, but, following the call of his heart, he did the right thing not for himself, but for people. Therefore, in Mark's opinion, it is not so difficult to see parallels between Ukrainians as rebels and Russia as an evil empire. "I'd love to visit Ukraine when the war is over, when you're back to normal, when you're happy again," the actor admitted. In conclusion, he wished all the defenders: "May the Force be with each and every one of you." Video - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053850/UNITED24.mp4 Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2053845/UNITED24.jpg UNITED24 ambassador Mark Hamill met online with the Ukrainian military: "I am a pretend warrior in the movies. But you are the real heroes of a real war" Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/united24-ambassador-mark-hamill-met-online-with-the-ukrainian-military--i-am-a-pretend-warrior-in-the-movies-but-you-are-the-real-heroes-of-a-real-war-301797211.html SOURCE UNITED24 MAXIMIZE MARKET RESEARCH PRIVATE LIMITED Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market is segmented based on Product Type and End User and region. Bottom-up approach was used to estimate the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market size. Pune, April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Maximize Market research, a global Healthcare market research firm, has published competitive intelligence market research report on Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market . The Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market size was valued at USD 0.75 Bn in 2021. The total Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 5.6 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 1.3 Bn during the forecast period. Market Size in 2021 USD 0.75 Bn Market Size in 2029 USD 1.3 Bn CAGR 5.6 percent (2022-2029) Forecast Period 2023-2029 Base Year 2022 Number of Pages 278 No. of Tables 129 No. of Charts and Figures 121 Segment Covered By Product Type, End User & Region. 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/184740 Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market Scope and Research Methodology The report on the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market offers an in-depth analysis of the industry, with a focus on the market size and growth rate. The report provides insights into the major applications and drivers of the market, as well as the challenges to growth and opportunities for Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market expansion. A thorough regional analysis of the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty industry is also covered, including at the local, regional, and global levels. The report segments the market by therapy , animal type, cancer , and region. Story continues The report also examines the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market strategies followed by major players and provides their analysis based on growth in the industry over the last few years. The information helps investors and major companies make data-driven decisions about their investments. The report uses both primary and secondary research methods to collect data from veterinary product providers and veterinary physicians. Data from both the supply and demand sides were collected to estimate the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market size. Key players are identified through secondary research. Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market Overview The increasing burden of vertebral compression fractures, rising geriatric population, and advancements in technology are the key factors driving the growth of the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market. Aging is the primary factor contributing to the Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty growth. Increasing prevalence of urinary tract disorders in the elderly population and the rising incidence of vertebral compression fractures caused by osteoporosis, cancer, and other conditions are further driving the adoption of vertebroplasty, kyphoplasty, and other modern spine surgery procedures that aim to stabilize vertebral compression fractures, relieve pain, and restore spinal function. Get a Sample Copy of the Report : https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184740 Increasing Incidence of Spinal Disorders Driving Market Growth of the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market The vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty market is driven by the increasing incidence of spinal disorders among the population due to various factors such as age, osteoporosis, and accidental injuries. Osteoporosis is a major factor that drives the market as it is expected to be responsible for three million fractures and result in a cost of USD 25.3 billion for the healthcare system by 2025 according to the National Osteoporosis Foundation. This highlights the rise in demand for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, propelling market growth during the forecast period. Accidental cases also lead to severe injuries, driving the vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty market. For instance, in 2020, there were 3,66,138 road accidents in India, causing a loss of 1,31,714 lives and injuring 3,48,279 persons according to a report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, Government of India. This increase in road accidents caused an increase in the incidence of spinal fractures and other spinal abnormalities, driving the vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty market. The rise in spinal disorders due to various factors has resulted in an increase in demand for vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty, especially in the treatment of osteoporosis and spinal fractures. This has led to an increase in the growth of the vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty market in both developed and emerging economies during the forecast period. North America region is expected to fuel the Vertebroplasty and KyphoplastyMarket growth The market for Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty is expected to witness significant growth in North America, mainly due to several factors such as the region's superior healthcare infrastructure, increasing government funding, greater awareness among healthcare industry stakeholders and the general public about available technologies, and a high concentration of market players in the region. These factors are expected to create a conducive environment for the growth of the for Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market in North America. For instance, in September 2022, RevBio was awarded a Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) grant from the National Institutes of Health, enabling the company to develop its patented bone adhesive technology, Tetranite, for the treatment of vertebral compression fractures. The grant funding for the development of such technologies in vertebral compression fractures is expected to drive the growth of the market due to the increased launch and adoption of products in the market. Get Customization on this Report for Specific Research Solutions: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-customization/184740 Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market Segmentation Based on Product Type, Kyphoplasty Market segment to dominate the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market over the forecast period The global Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market is segmented into vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty Devices. based on the product. In 2022, the kyphoplasty Devices segment dominated the global market share of Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty and is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period. The dominance of the kyphoplasty segment is mainly due to the advantages that it provides over vertebroplasty. For instance, kyphoplasty reduces back pain, restores vertebral body height, and has a lower rate of cement extravasation. Kyphoplasty achieves these benefits by gently elevating the fractured vertebrae using balloons to return them to their correct position. Based on End User, Hospitals segment to dominate the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market over the forecast period By End User, the market is categorised into hospitals and ambulatory surgery centres. The hospital segment accounted for the largest market share in 2022 in the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market. This is mainly due to the better infrastructure facilities available in developed economies that make the hospital segment a more promising market. Additionally, vertebral compression fractures are responsible for approximately 70,000 hospitalizations annually in the United States, which is further supporting the growth of the market for Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty needles By Product Type Kyphoplasty Devices Vertebroplasty Devices By End User Hospitals Ambulatory Surgery centres Get the Sample PDF of Report: https://www.maximizemarketresearch.com/request-sample/184740 Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market Key Players Include: Medtronic Alphatec Spine, Inc Stryker Merit Medical Systems Globus Medical IZI Medical Products ZAVATION RONTIS G21 S.r.l. SOMATEX Medical Technologies GmbH BPB MEDICA Laurane Medical LLC Teknimed Benvenue Medical Spine Wave, Inc. MEDAID Inc. Cardinal Health Joimax GmbH ELIAS Animal Health MEDTRONIC Medtronic is a leading healthcare company aimed at severing humankind by offering Ground-breaking healthcare technology based solutions for the most challenging conditions. As a successful, Organization, they work together with integrity to become the no one healthcare company. STRYKER Stryker is a globally recognized company that specializes in the development and provision of cutting-edge medical technology solutions. The mission of the company is to enhance the quality of healthcare through a relentless pursuit of excellence, in collaboration with our esteemed clients. Key questions answered in the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market are: What is Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty? What was the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market size in 2021? What is the expected Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market size by 2029? What is the growth rate of the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty Market? Which are the factors expected to drive the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market growth? Which factors are expected to restrain the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market growth? Which segment dominated the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market growth? What is the demand pattern for the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market? Which region held the largest share in the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market? Who are the key players in the Vertebroplasty and Kyphoplasty market? Key Offerings: Past Market Size and Competitive Landscape (2018 to 2021) Past Pricing and price curve by region (2018 to 2021) Market Size, Share, Size & Forecast by different segment | 20222029 Market Dynamics Growth Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, and Key Trends by Product Type, End User, region Market Segmentation A detailed analysis of the segment by Product Type and End User. Competitive Landscape Profiles of selected key players by region from a strategic perspective Competitive landscape Market Leaders, Market Followers, Regional player Competitive benchmarking of key players by region PESTLE Analysis PORTERs analysis Value chain and supply chain analysis Legal Aspects of business by region Lucrative business opportunities with SWOT analysis Recommendations Maximize Market Research is leading Healthcare research firm, has also published the following reports: Vertebroplasty Bone Cement Market : The total market size was valued at USD 2.96 Bn in 2021 and the total revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8.2 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 5.15 Bn. Increasing prevalence of joint replacement procedures is driving the market. Spinal Implants & Surgery Devices Market : The total market size was valued at USD 16.40 Bn in 2021 at CAGR 5.6 percent and is expected to reach USD 25.76 Bn by 2029. Growing geriatric population, enhancement in medical technology Spinal Needles Market : The total market size was valued at USD 226.47 Mn in 2021 and the total Spinal Needles Market revenue is expected to grow by 7.69 percent from 2022 to 2029, reaching USD 409.65 Mn. Artificial insemination has resulted in the animal development in the resent times. The growing awareness of sexually transmitted disorders in animals is driving the market growth. Nerve Monitoring System Market : The total market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 4.66 percent over the forecast period and the market is expected to reach USD 2.18 Bn by 2029. The increase in to no of critical surgeries & technological advancement in nerve stimulation is driving the market growth. Central Nervous System Therapeutics Market -The market size is expected to reach USD 182.65 billion by 2029 at a CAGR of 9.4 percent during the forecast period. It is expected to be driven advanced technological adoptions and investments from the pharmaceutical industry. 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 Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authoritys state-of-the-art co-digestion and renewable natural gas project in Victorville is a finalist for a Global Water Award as Wastewater Project of the Year. Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authoritys state-of-the-art co-digestion and renewable natural gas project is a finalist for a Global Water Award as Wastewater Project of the Year. Based in Victorville, the project is a public-private partnership between VVWRA, Anaergia Inc., and Southwest Gas. The facility collects methane from the digestion of food waste and municipal sewage and converts it into renewable natural gas (RNG). The project, commissioned in 2022, treats 235,000 tons of food waste and sludge a year, collecting 320,000 MMBtu of biomethane converted into renewable natural gas and injected into an Southwest Gas pipeline. The project produces enough renewable natural gas to power more than 5,100 homes. The agency said that by co-digesting off-site waste, the plant makes VVWRA a regional champion for waste reduction even beyond its wastewater responsibilities. The renewable disposal of food waste has become increasingly in demand with the passage of Californias Senate Bill 1383, which requires 75% of organic materials like food waste to be diverted from landfills. We are honored to be recognized internationally for our innovative work with our partners, VVWRA General Manager Darron Poulsen said. The RNG project at VVWRA showcases how public agencies, utilities, and private business can come together to help resolve significant environmental challenges. The Global Water Awards were established in 2006 by Global Water Intelligence and recognize the essential achievements in the international water industry. For several decades, Anaergia has been helping cities, utilities, and industries decarbonize by converting their waste into carbon-negative fuel and diverting organics from landfill disposal, said Anaergia Chairman and CEO Andrew Benedek. Our facilities help reduce methane emissions at scale and make net zero possible around the globe every day. VVWRA is competing against projects from Egypt, China, and Saudi Arabia. The Global Water Awards will be presented during the Global Water Summit in Berlin, Germany, on May 9. Story continues Project goes online At the projects commissioning in January 2022, Victorville Mayor Debra Jones said she was thankful to serve on the VVWRA Board during its remarkable collaboration with Anaergia and Southwest Gas. All three organizations are to be applauded for their ingenuity in creating the natural gas project, said Jones, who added that the commitment to implement green energy initiatives would benefit the High Desert region for years to come. The project includes methane from the local waste treatment process, which will be collected, cleaned, and pressurized to natural gas standards before being injected into an SWG pipeline that runs through the VVWRA plant located east of the Southern California Logistics Airport. VVWRA is California's first wastewater treatment plant to inject renewable natural gas from wastewater solids and food waste into a utility pipeline, VVWRA officials said. This simple idea has many benefits, Poulsen sais. Now theres less food waste going to landfill, which means reduced landfill methane emissions. It also means we can produce more biogas and send RNG to the gas grid, replacing the fossil fuel with a carbon-negative fuel. Daily Press reporter Rene Ray De La Cruz may be reached at 760-951-6227 or RDeLaCruz@VVDailyPress.com. Follow him on Twitter @DP_ReneDeLaCruz. This article originally appeared on Victorville Daily Press: Victor Valley Wastewater Reclamation Authority finalist for water award SkyQuest Technology Consulting Pvt. Ltd. SkyQuest's Waterborne Coatings 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 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Waterborne Coatings market is projected to achieve a value of USD 106.40 billion by 2030, growing at a CAGR of 5.4% during the forecast period (2022-2030). The market's growth is being fueled by increasing demand from the construction industry, stringent environmental regulations, the rising automotive industry, and increasing demand for eco-friendly coatings. According to SkyQuest reports, the construction industry contributes over 30% of VOC emissions in the United States. As a result, regulatory agencies like the EPA enforce stringent regulations to decrease VOC emissions in the construction sector. This has resulted in an increased demand for waterborne coatings that emit lower levels of VOCs than conventional solvent-based coatings. SkyQuest's latest global research shows that the waterborne coatings market for the automotive sector is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% from 2022 to 2030. The report attributes this growth to increasing demand for eco-friendly coatings and the expanding production of vehicles in emerging economies. SkyQuest's survey revealed that vehicle buyers are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of their cars. According to the study, 41% of new vehicle buyers in the United States consider environmental concerns when making a purchase decision. This trend is expected to boost the demand for waterborne coatings in the automotive industry, as they are seen as more eco-friendly than traditional solvent-based coatings. Story continues Browse in-depth TOC on "Waterborne Coatings Market" Pages - 242 Tables - 73 Figures - 72 Waterborne coatings have gained increasing importance in today's world owing to their environmentally friendly nature, low emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and adherence to environmental regulations. These coatings find widespread usage across the construction, automotive, and industrial sectors and have emerged as a preferred alternative to conventional solvent-based coatings. With the rising emphasis on sustainable practices and environmental conservation, the demand for waterborne coatings is predicted to experience steady growth in the times to come. Prominent Players in Waterborne Coatings Market AkzoNobel N.V. Axalta Coating Systems BASF SE Berger Paints India Limited Hempel A/S Jotun A/S Kansai Paint Co., Ltd. Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd. PPG Industries, Inc. RPM International Inc. Sherwin-Williams Company Tikkurila Oyj The Dow Chemical Company The Valspar Corporation KCC Corporation Eastman Chemical Company Clariant AG Wacker Chemie AG Arkema Group Evonik Industries AG Get a sample copy of this report: https://www.skyquestt.com/sample-request/waterborne-coatings-market Construction Industry Segment to Drive Higher Sales Due to the Increasing Demand for Green Building Construction In 2021, the Construction Industry emerged as a significant contributor to the rapid development of the Waterborne Coatings market, and this trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030 due to increasing demand for green building construction and government initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, according to a recent analysis. A survey by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) discovered that 76% of building professionals in the United States prioritize environmental impact and sustainability when making decisions, indicating a growing interest in sustainable construction practices and the use of eco-friendly coatings like waterborne coatings. The US Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program promotes the use of eco-friendly materials and practices in building construction and recognizes waterborne coatings as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative to traditional solvent-based coatings, driving their adoption in the industry. SkyQuest's research analysis predicts that North America will become a dominant player in the Waterborne Coatings market from 2022 to 2030, with a projected CAGR of 6.82% during the forecast period. This growth is being driven by the increasing adoption of waterborne coatings in the construction industry and the trend towards low-VOC coatings in the region. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has implemented regulations under the Clean Air Act in the United States to limit VOC emissions from the coatings industry, leading to the adoption of waterborne coatings with lower VOC emissions. Browse summary of the report and Complete Table of Contents (ToC): https://www.skyquestt.com/report/waterborne-coatings-market Acrylic Type Segment to Exhibit Strong Growth due to Its Superior Properties of Acrylic Waterborne Coatings, such as High Gloss and Color Retention The Waterborne Coatings market witnessed the Acrylic Type segment emerge as the dominant method in 2021, and this trend is expected to continue from 2022 to 2030. The superior properties of acrylic waterborne coatings, such as high gloss and color retention, durability, and excellent adhesion, are the key factors driving their demand. SkyQuest reports that waterborne acrylic coatings are widely used in the automotive industry due to their low-VOC emissions and high performance properties, making them increasingly preferred over traditional solvent-based coatings, driving their adoption and sales. A survey conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) discovered that 45% of coatings manufacturers in the United States experienced an increase in demand for waterborne acrylic coatings in 2020, with 60% of coatings manufacturers planning to ramp up their production of waterborne coatings in the future. SkyQuest's projections suggest that the Asia Pacific region will continue to be a dominant player in the Waterborne Coatings market, with a projected CAGR of 8.97% from 2022 to 2030. The region's growth is being driven by the increasing demand for eco-friendly coatings in the construction and automotive industries. Furthermore, the Indian government's National Clean Energy Fund has been instrumental in promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources and reducing carbon emissions by supporting the development of eco-friendly coatings in the country. A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the Waterborne Coatings 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/waterborne-coatings-market Key Developments in Waterborne Coatings Market Arkema, a global chemical company, completed the acquisition of Polimeros Especiales, a leading producer of waterborne acrylic resins based in Mexico. Polimeros Especiales is a well-established company that produces high-performance waterborne resins for various markets, including architectural and decorative paints, textiles, pressure-sensitive adhesives, and construction. The company is a significant emulsions manufacturer in the region, with sales of approximately US$40 million in 2021 and a workforce of 230 employees. In a recent announcement, The Sherwin-Williams Co. confirmed the completion of its acquisition of AquaSurTech, which enhances the company's standing as a major provider of coatings solutions in the building products market. For more than 25 years, AquaSurTech has specialized in researching, producing, and distributing long-lasting, eco-friendly coatings for the rapidly expanding vinyl/PVC building products sector. The Canadian-based company operates a manufacturing plant in the greater Toronto region and color blending facilities in the United States and Canada. Key Questions Answered in Waterborne Coatings 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 Soluble Dietary Fiber Market Global Geosynthetics Market Global Polysulfones Market Global Sodium Alginate Market Global Blue Ammonia Market About Us: SkyQuest Technology is leading growth consulting firm providing market intelligence, commercialization and technology services. It has 450+ happy clients globally. Address: 1 Apache Way, Westford, Massachusetts 01886 Phone: USA (+1) 617-230-0741 Email: sales@skyquestt.com LinkedIn Facebook Twitter LONG ISLAND CITY, N.Y., April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- White Coffee commemorates over 10 years of private labelling and licensing coffee sales with Entenmann's, the NY-based bakery brand owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA. As part of that celebration, White Coffee is once again teaming up with Entenmann's to release a new "Breakfast Blend" variety and nine flavored coffees like "Chocolate Donut" and "Party Cake" to bring a sweet experience home to customers. The distinctive coffee blends supplied by White Coffee are available in 10 oz. bags and single serve pods in boxes of various sizes. White Coffee also supplies Entenmanns creamy, smooth hot chocolate in single-serve packaging. The Entenmanns hot beverage selections will be available at retailers and online at www.whitecoffee.com or call (800) 221-0140 for more information. White Coffee works with the finest coffee growers around the world, selecting only 100% Arabica beans and roasting them in small batches. The family-owned business centered in Astoria, NY traces its origins to patriarch David White who established a foodservice coffee business in Manhattan in 1939; his daughter-in-law, Carole White, and her two sons, Jonathan and Gregory, manage the business today. Since 2017, White Coffee has been recognized annually as one of the top licensees in the world by License! Global Magazine, the premier publication in the licensing industry. The brand continues to partner with like-minded baked goods brand, Entenmann'swhich also has New York City rootsstarting in Brooklyn over 100 years ago before moving to Bay Shore, Long Island. Entenmann's evolved to garner a national presence as a beloved brand of baked sweets, with classic products like Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donuts, Entenmann's Crumb Coffee Cake and Entenmann's Raspberry Danish Twist that complement a morning coffee perfectly. "The relationship does not succeed just through inspired coffee flavors and convenient packaging," says Jonathan White, Executive Vice President. "It is aided by a natural connection between a brand's customer and their desire for a special coffee experience they can associate with the brand. That's what Entenmann's and White Coffee have found together over these years." The distinctive coffee blends supplied by White Coffee are available in 10 oz. bags and single serve pods in boxes of various sizes. White Coffee also supplies Entenmann's creamy, smooth hot chocolate in single-serve packaging. The Entenmann's hot beverage selections will be available at retailers and online. All products can be found in various retail chains across the United States. Story continues Brand Central is the exclusive licensing agency for Bimbo Bakeries USA for the Entenmann's and Little Bites brands. About Entenmann's Bakery Entenmann's history dates back more than 120 years to 1898 when William Entenmann opened his first bakery in Brooklyn, New York. By the 1960s, the company was selling delicious donuts throughout the New York metropolitan area; by the 1970s it began selling nationwide. Today, Entenmann's markets over 100 different baked goods in the U.S., producing more than one billion donuts annually one of which is the #1-best-selling classic Entenmann's Rich Frosted Donut introduced in 1973. About White Coffee White Coffee Corporation is based in Long Island City, NY and is a third-generation, certified woman-owned business, in operation since 1939. As a core part of its coffee offerings, White Coffee is proud of its collaboration with prominent licensed brands. White's licensing program includes other famous brands like Jim Beam, Harry & David and Kahlua. These coffee products are available in retail outlets throughout the United States, on-line at www.whitecoffee.com or call (800) 221-0140 for more information. About Brand Central Brand Central LLC is a premiere global brand consultancy that provides comprehensive business solutions in the areas of brand extensions, trend intelligence, and manufacturer representation to some of the world's most recognized brands, including Mars Wrigley, Kraft Heinz and Mister Rogers Neighborhood just to name a few. Their mission is to help clients unlock the full potential of their brands to enhance value while generating substantial revenue. For additional information please contact Ross Misher at 310.268.1231 or visit www.brandcentralgroup.com . CONTACT: Mary Beth Kramer Kramer Consulting (215) 431-3946 Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/white-coffee-unveils-flavored-coffee-blends-inspired-by-entenmanns-baked-goods-301797105.html SOURCE White Coffee Corporation The Integration of Xandar Kardian's FDA-Cleared Radar Technology Into Existing Acute Care Devices Simplifies Access to Autonomous, On-Demand Vitals Monitoring TORONTO and CHICAGO, April 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Xandar Kardian, a Toronto-based industry leader in developing radar signal processing technology for presence detection and vital sign monitoring, has formally announced an integrated partnership with Caregility, an enterprise telehealth leader dedicated to connecting care for patients and clinicians everywhere. For the first time ever, Xandar Kardian will embed its radar technology into a partner's existing product line, joining Caregility's Best in KLAS Caregility Cloud virtual care ecosystem to create a solution wholly focused on optimizing acute patient care. Xandar Kardian and Caregility will debut the solution at the upcoming 2023 HIMSS Global Health Conference and Exhibition in Chicago, April 17-21, and attendees can visit the Xandar Kardian team at Booth #6009-82 in the Innovation Hub/Startup Park of the North Building or at Caregility Booth #6815 in McCormick Place's North Hall to learn more. Xandar Kardian is a Toronto-based company that develops contactless health monitoring solutions using radar technology. (PRNewsfoto/Xandar Kardian) Xandar Kardian's partnership with Caregility, which will begin rolling out across facilities this spring, combines the capabilities of Xandar Kardian's patient vital sign monitoring technology through radar signal processing with Caregility's expertise in virtual clinical workflows and patient analysis to optimize remote acute care. The integration will increase capacity for staff to virtually observe and manage higher-acuity patients in a traditional med-surg environment while leveraging a workflow and connectivity they are already familiar with. Most importantly, the innovative solution will empower clinical teams with new ways to deliver care as chronic workforce challenges persist and staff and consumer expectations evolve. "Our best-in-class radar technology has the ability to completely transform the future of patient monitoring, especially as telehealth and hybrid healthcare models continue to strengthen as paths for patients to receive acute medical attention," said Sam Yang, CEO and founder of Xandar Kardian. "We take great pride in our technology's ability to proactively diagnose and mobilize critical medical care, and we couldn't ask for a better partner than Caregility to enable our radar technology to be implemented on a wider scale." Story continues Xandar Kardian's radar-based solutions, which operate without requiring cameras, wearables, or any patient contact whatsoever, can provide critical early deterioration detection in all varieties of healthcare settings, ranging from inpatient facilities to virtual and home-health care. Xandar Kardian's sensors can measure 6000+ RHR (Resting Heart Rate) & RR (Respiratory Rate) readings a day, as opposed to a traditional hospital setting, where these vital signs are measured manually on a much less frequent basis. The benefit for partners, such as Caregility, is that the AI-driven radar solution offers autonomous continuous patient monitoring "on demand" through Xandar Kardian's data dashboard, expanding the capability of their devices and differentiating their own products and solutions. "We are constantly looking for new innovations and best-in-class solutions to add to Caregility Cloud, our virtual care platform, as we strive to empower clinicians to deliver better care," explained Pete McLain, Chief Strategy Officer at Caregility. "We are excited about Xandar Kardian's FDA-cleared radar sensing device and believe it will accelerate access to meaningful trends in patient data to support timely clinical actions with care for patients. And patients love it as it is non-invasive, contactless and private." To schedule a meeting with the Xandar Kardian team at HIMSS, please reach out to ruben.m@grnrm.com . To learn more about Xandar Kardian and its partnership with Caregility, as well as how the company's XK300 Autonomous Health Monitoring Solution can seamlessly integrate into your healthcare facility, commercial building or corporate office space, visit their website at www.xkcorp.com . About Xandar Kardian Xandar Kardian is a US Delaware C-Corp with international operations spanning South Korea, Canada, and Singapore, focused on deploying reliable and high accuracy security and healthcare solutions worldwide. Xandar Kardian elevates motion sensor technology to the next level, incorporating radar sensors that monitor vital signs via resting heart rate (RHR) and respiratory rate (RR), providing essential insights into occupant motion, location, and vital sign reading. Founded in 2017, the team behind Xandar Kardian is focused on digital radar signal processing from start-to-finish, having received FDA 510(k) Clearance for its XK300 in April 2021. For more information, visit www.xkcorp.com . About Caregility Caregility Corporation is dedicated to connecting patients and clinicians everywhere with its Caregility Cloud virtual care platform. Awarded the Best in KLAS Virtual Care Platform (non-EMR) in 2021, 2022, and 2023, Caregility Cloud powers a purpose-built ecosystem of enterprise telehealth solutions across the care continuum. Caregility provides secure, reliable, and HIPAA-compliant audio and video communication designed for any device and clinical workflow, in both acute and ambulatory settings. Today Caregility supports more than 1,000 hospitals across over 75 health systems with over six million virtual care sessions hosted annually. From critical and acute, to urgent and emergent, to post-acute and ambulatory, as well as hospital-at-home, Caregility is connecting care everywhere. Follow Caregility on LinkedIn and Twitter at @caregility. Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/xandar-kardian-announces-its-first-embedded-technology-partnership-to-integrate-radar-based-vitals-monitoring-into-caregilitys-leading-virtual-care-platform-301797078.html SOURCE Xandar Kardian XPO, Inc. GREENWICH, Conn. , April 13, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- XPO (NYSE: XPO) will hold its first quarter conference call and webcast on Thursday, May 4, at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time. The company's results will be released earlier that morning and made available on www.xpo.com. Access information: Call toll-free from US/Canada: 1-877-269-7756 International callers: +1-201-689-7817 Live webcast online at: www.xpo.com/investors A replay of the conference call will be available until June 4, 2023, by calling toll-free (from US/Canada) 1-877-660-6853; international callers dial +1-201-612-7415. Use the passcode 13738165. Additionally, the call will be archived on www.xpo.com/investors. About XPO XPO (NYSE: XPO) is one of the largest providers of asset-based less-than-truckload (LTL) transportation in North America, with proprietary technology that moves goods efficiently through its network. Together with its business in Europe, XPO serves approximately 48,000 customers with 554 locations and 38,000 employees. The company is headquartered in Greenwich, Conn., USA. Visit xpo.com for more information, and connect with XPO on Facebook , Twitter , LinkedIn , Instagram and YouTube . Investor Contact Tavio Headley +1-203-413-4006 tavio.headley@xpo.com Tyler Fauntleroy was still a theater student at Virginia Commonwealth University in December 2015 when he submitted an audition tape for the then-new hit Broadway musical, Hamilton. A long shot? Sure, but when youre young, talented and ambitious, why not? Over the ensuing years, there were a number of callbacks and in-person auditions, keeping the hope alive as Fauntleroy carved out a solid career in regional theater and off-Broadway, as well as some television appearances: FBI (2018), Succession (2018) and The Oath (2018). Then just before Halloween, his patience related to Hamilton was rewarded when he received a call inviting him to join the cast of a traveling production of Hamilton. The show will make a two-week stop in Richmond, April 11-23, for performances at Altria Theater the same place where his graduation ceremony was held in 2017. Its going to be amazing, Fauntleroy said during a phone interview from a tour stop in Boston about performing in Hamilton in Richmond. I still have a lot of friends in Richmond that Im excited to share this with. Its funny, because its been so long in the making, I feel like WE are in Hamilton. I feel like WE did this. As far as theater goes, Fauntleroy, 28, said playing the roles of John Laurens and Philip Hamilton in Hamilton is the biggest thing Ive ever done. And just having the opportunity to be in a show that empowers artists of color is a big deal, he said. To be a part of a historic moment in musical theater is pretty special, Fauntleroy said, and it truly is an honor. Among those unsurprised by Fauntleroys success is James Stover, a former professor in VCU School of the Arts who said he witnessed Fauntleroy as he started to trust how good he was and how talented he was and to let that out. Hes always so grateful and gracious about his success, but hes also one of the hardest-working students Ive ever had, said Stover, who taught Fauntleroy in classes for movement and musical theater performance and directed him in a production of Urinetown: The Musical, in which Fauntleroy played a lead character. It all started to come together for him, said Stover, now assistant professor of theatre at Bowling Green State University, who plans to see Fauntleroy when Hamilton stops in Indianapolis later in April. By the time he was in Urinetown, people walked out of that theater talking about how fantastic of a performer he was. I think that was maybe the first time at VCU that he was recognized as exceptional in that way. Added Stover, regarding Hamilton and Fauntleroys new roles, Hes been building up to this sort of opportunity. *** Hamilton is the story of America told through a score featuring hip-hop, jazz, R&B and Broadway. With book, music and lyrics by Lin-Manuel Miranda, the highly decorated musical is based on Ron Chernows acclaimed biography of Founding Father Alexander Hamilton. Fauntleroy, who grew up in Hampton, is a longtime fan of Miranda, the actor, rapper and playwright, so he was aware of Hamilton even before it became a Broadway sensation in 2015. When the soundtrack for the show dropped that year, Fauntleroy, like so many others, was enthralled and knew he wanted to be part of the show. I became obsessed and was like, I dont know how, but I have to shoot my shot for this in some kind of way. When it was announced Hamilton was accepting open submissions for casting, Fauntleroy took his shot. He made an audition tape his first and submitted it. When he looks at that tape now, he says with a laugh, Im like, Ooof! I cringe when I watch it; oh my gosh. But I did the best I could with the knowledge I had. Cringeworthy or not, that tape set a series of events in motion that led to the moment when Fauntleroy learned he had been offered the role(s) in Hamilton. His agent called and asked if he had a second to talk, which confused Fauntleroy right off as his agent typically used email to contact him about job opportunities. I couldnt tell from his tone of voice what kind of conversation it was going to be. I was like, Here it comes. Well, its been real; its been fun, Fauntleroy recalled with a laugh, saying he wondered if they were going to fire him. I braced for impact. Then his manager joined the call, and Fauntleroy was really confused. As they began to tell him about Hamilton and the opening and how the show would love to have him, Fauntleroy went on the fastest and wildest rollercoaster ride of emotions in the span of a few seconds from thinking he might be fired by his agent to being offered a dream job and he began to cry. He dried his tears, listened to the details from his agent and manager, and almost forgot that he had received a COVID-19 booster jab that day. A few minutes earlier, he had figured he was going to feel lousy from the shot for a couple of days. Then came the news about Hamilton. I was like, You know what, Im going to be just fine, he said with a laugh. Im going to be just fine. *** As big a fan of Hamilton as hes been, Fauntleroy never saw the show live until he was hired to be in it (though he did watch it on Disney+ streaming service when it became available). He was in New York visiting an aunt in 2015 when Hamilton hit Broadway and became such a hit. He was desperate to see it, but ticket prices were ridiculously high and it was almost impossible to get them anyway. For two or three nights that year, he and his aunt stood in line outside the theater, hoping to get cancellation tickets. Didnt happen. He laughed at the memory. I remember thinking then that I have a higher chance of being in this show than getting tickets, he recalled. Asked if theres any pressure being in a show thats become so iconic in American theater, Fauntleroy said, Yes, and also no. Yes, he said, because he knows audiences have certain expectations when coming to see Hamilton, and he doesnt want to mess it up, but, no, because its such a blockbuster hit that we know Hamilton works as a piece of theater. Its not like were doing a brand-new show and every audience we have feels like a proving ground, he said. With Hamilton, we know it works. Its wonderfully staged and beautifully written, so theres not a lot of work you have to put on it. You really can just surrender to the material. There is that thing, Its me doing it, and thats scary, but at the same time, I know this piece works, and thats where the pressure eases up quite a bit. And the long wait to reach the stage in Hamilton? Come to find out, its not that unusual in Hamilton world, Fauntleroy said. Everybody has their Hamilton audition stories, he said. Its still been a long wait, though, looking back, hes not disappointed it took so long. Hes gained considerable experience and made a name for himself he received a 2022 Drama League Awards nomination for Distinguished Performance for his role in an off-Broadway production of Tambo & Bones and hes generally more ready now to be in Hamilton than he would have been years ago. Im grateful it didnt happen for me at [age] 22 when I wanted it to happen, he said. I think theres just so much more life I had to live; there was so much more refinement I had to go through as an artist that the other jobs Ive had, the other people Ive met afford that opportunity for me to grow in those ways. So now, stepping into this role, theres a lot more that I know that I didnt know five or six years ago, and Im grateful for that, Fauntleroy said. It happened when it was supposed to. The hills will truly be alive with the sound of music as Mountain Run Winery hosts its second annual Culpeperpalooza, a three-day celebration of the best music, dance, theater, and visual arts in the area. This years event will held from April 21-23 and features expanded offerings, taking last years wildly popular celebration to a new level with three days chock-full of performances by bands ranging from punk and rock to bluegrass and country. In addition, it will highlight the talents of a local dance and fitness studio, a community theater company, and a spectrum of regional visual artists who will demonstrate and display their creations, as well as dozens of craft vendors. Guests can also avail themselves of tasty fare and a variety of the countys expertly crafted libations. Echoing the natural beauty of the winerys picturesque location, a number of organizations dedicated to preserving and protecting our environment and its flora and fauna will be on-site, including the Friends of the Rappahannock, Earthquest and the Culpeper Department of Parks and Recreation, which hosts nature programs and camps for kids. Friends of the Rappahannock will set up its outreach table with information about the activities in the community and coloring pages for kids, and representatives will explain what everyone can do in their daily lives to help the river, such as picking up litter, planting trees, and refraining from using fertilizer whose run-off could pollute the river. FOR offers educational programs, nature exploration hikes, river paddles, and summer camps and organizes periodic river clean-ups. Through our programs for children, we are creating the next generation of river stewards, said membership coordinator Katie Pomeroy. There will also be a giveaway of small trees at the festival while supplies last. Earthquest provides educational programs promoting conservation and environmental awareness through feathered ambassadors unreleasable birds of prey and rescued parrots that leave a lasting impression on both children and adults. On Sunday, educator Robert Haynes will provide a presentation with a bevy of birds, including Palacios the Harriss Hawk, Bubo the Eurasian Eagle Owl, Igor the Black Vulture, Maggie the Peregrine Falcon, and Zulu the Steppe Eagle. In addition, visitors can also learn about the countys fascinating history, from the days of dinos, to its role in the life of Native Americans, and throughout the American Revolution and Civil War. As an engaging hands-on element of their presentation, the folks of the Museum of Culpeper History will bring games that kids played with in the 1700s and 1800s. Also, as representatives from the era of the Revolution, The Culpeper Minute Men will be on-site in their hunting-shirt uniforms, harkening back to 1775 when the Colony of Virginia was divided into 16 districts, each of which was instructed to raise and discipline a battalion of men to march at a minutes notice. Mountain Run Winery is a perfect location for this celebration. We are a 36-acre outdoor setting with lots of room for kids to run and play. And the Palooza offers so much to see and engage with, said winery owner David Foster. He is coordinating the event with the support of musician Aubrey Driggers, who has done outreach and organization for the band performances. We have great bands, and some are involved with the Culpeper music educational system. Some musicians may invite their students to come up and perform with them, said Foster. Sunday, the final day of the Culpeperpalooza, will highlight the arts and will include both theater and dance performances. The StageWorks program, a community theater group of the Windmore Foundation, will deliver a rousing short play with a long title: Sam Club Private Eye in the Case of the Malted Falcon. From the beginning, audiences will pick up the humor of this production with Maltese Falcon morphed to Malted in its name, as well as action that takes place in the mythological New York-based Gallery of Amazingly Great Art (GAGA). As the action begins, a priceless chocolate sculpture is stolen when it was on its way to the museum. One of the zany characters in the cast will be targeted in this murder mystery, which the audience will help to solve. Adding to the days delights, BOOM Fitness Studio will present the talents of their members in three different performances. BOOM KIDZ Dance Team, featuring young dancers of ages 8 to 12, will be performing a lyrical dance to the melody of Here Comes the Sun, and BOOM KIDZ Force Competition Cheer Team will perform a dance routine that includes tumbling and stunts. This is a fresh new program that started in December with three girls and is now up to eight members of ages 6 to 14 years. They have worked so hard and we are excited to show the community the love and passion they invest in what they do, said Karen Corron, owner and trainer of BOOM Fitness and BOOM KIDZ. The studios offerings will climax with a fun family class of Country Fusion Line Dancing that Corron will lead. The Culpeperpalooza will begin on Friday, April 21, at 4 p.m. with an evening of band performances featuring the Usual Suspects, Blues Power, and Deja Vu. Saturdays activities will feature Culpepers musical assets, including three music schools, and will be highlighted by performances by Mo Safren & Mary Mac, Get Down Jack, AP Project, Fountains, Soco Loco & Friends, and Waking Napster. The musicians that will entertain on Sunday will be Mike Henry, Enya Agerholm, Tamera Mae and the Unsuitables. The Culpeperpalooza is a wonderful chance to see the Best of Culpeper, said Foster. Our goal is to make this an annual event so we can help to support Culpepers arts, theater, music and recreation. All profits from the event will go to Culpepers Parks and Rec Department to offer their programs for kids for free or for a reduced coat and to other Culpeper County programs for music, the arts, theater and dance. Art, music, food and festivities. All will be part of future MainStreet of Fremont events this year. Events include activities where attendees can meet artists in local businesses or listen to concerts in John C. Fremont City Park or take part in the two-day Hispanic Festival. The popular Halloween Hysteria and Christmas Walk are returning as well. Spring Gallery Walk Activities start with the Spring Gallery Walk planned from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 22, in downtown Fremont. Im really excited, said Lainey Paquette, MainStreets new executive director. During the gallery walk, businesses on Main Street along with some on Sixth Street and on Broad Street will feature artists and their works. Some participating businesses will have a $3 Happy Hour with alcoholic and non-alcoholic options available for purchase. Attendees can get a map of participating businesses via mainstreetfremont.com and Paquette said printed maps will be available at different locations, too. Those who attend can follow the map to the locations to see the different artists. Almost 25 businesses are hosting local artists, who create various types of works, along with musicians. About a dozen businesses will host a Happy Hour. Its a great time to explore businesses that maybe you wouldnt normally go to, Paquette said. Paquette commended MainStreet treasurer Katy Jones for her work with this event. Jones, assistant professor of art and design at Midland University, got the idea for a gallery walk from an event in Hays, Kansas, where she attended graduate school. Last fall, MainStreet had its first-ever Fremont Gallery Walk. More than 60 local and regional artists took part in the October 2022 event in which artists, writers and performers showcased their work inside about 30 downtown businesses. Attendees meandered up and down the streets, visiting local businesses, viewing artwork and performances, and munching on free treats. Paquette said last years gallery walk went very well. Concert in the Park Series MainStreet is again hosting the Concert in the Park Series, where folks who like listening to music while being outdoors, can enjoy tunes, treats and on a couple nights even a trolley ride. Events take place on Thursday nights. Kids activities begin at 6:30 p.m. with the concert from 7-9 p.m. in the city park at Ninth and Broad streets. Admission is free. Attendees should bring a chair or blanket to sit on at the event. MainStreet will invite food trucks with various items and drinks available purchase. MainStreet Platinum sponsors will have a table with information for attendees. A new feature will be added on a couple concert nights. Were going to do something different this year, Paquette said. Were going to have a trolley on the first of June and the 15th so people can come downtown. It will be an easy transport to downtown so you can go eat dinner or go to a couple businesses. Concert dates and featured groups are: June 1 High Heel, which features classic rock of the 1970s, 80s and 90s and some country songs. June 8 The BRITS, who play music from the 1960s and 70s. June 15 To be announced. June 22 Logan Samford, a Texas red dirt band, which blends rock and country music. June 29 Whiskey River, a modern country band. July 13 The SilverMoon Band, which plays modern country and classic rock and will help kick off the John C. Fremont Days Festival. Paquette encourages the public to attend. Its a great time to get out into the community and you may get to meet some new people, she said. Its a family friendly event and its going to be a lot of fun. Crazy Days MainStreet is planning Crazy Days with sidewalk sales on Saturday, July 22. We are hoping to host a chalk art festival this year, Paquette said. The plan is to have an Everybody Zone, where anyone could make chalk art drawings on sidewalks. Paquette said MainStreet also hopes to get artists involved in a competition. This event is still in the planning stages. Hispanic Festival With August comes the Hispanic Festival. This year, the festival will occur over a two-day period on Friday, Aug. 25 and Saturday, Aug. 26. Paquette said a large committee of people in the local Hispanic community are helping to plan this event. Several committee members are also local businesses owners. This committee has been very helpful. Theyve been very involved in this, which is awesome, Paquette said. The event, which celebrates Hispanic heritage, will include a parade. It also will include a concert in John C. Fremont City Park and vendors with food and other items. The festival was well-attended during the past two years. Fall Gallery Walk Paquette said the Fall Gallery Walk, set for Saturday, Sept. 9, will be another event in which downtown businesses host local artists. It will be a good time to get out in the community, bring friends and family, Paquette said. Its also a great way to get exercise, walking around to all those businesses. Halloween Hysteria Paquette said plans are to close some downtown streets during Halloween Hysteria planned from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19. Its been so popular which is amazing to see so we wanted to close the streets for a little more safety, she said. Last year, business participants estimated that between 2,500 and 4,000 people were downtown for the Halloween event. The streets were lined with people dressed in Halloween costumes, trick-or-treating at numerous businesses passing out candy. Friendsgiving Nov. 22 is the date for the Friendsgiving Pop-Up Bar downtown. Paquette said many people are in town for Thanksgiving and this provides a good time for people to socialize with friends and kick off the holiday. Christmas Walk The Christmas Walk is set for Nov. 25. We will have the petting zoo again and the trolley, Paquette said. The annual Christmas tree lighting at Sixth Street and Park Avenue is planned and Santa will visit, too. Many businesses offer specials and some provide refreshments. Plans are to have costumed characters to greet children and have photos taken with them. Paquette hopes the public will attend MainStreet events throughout the year. All of these events are a great time to come explore downtown, she said, And to get a good sense of community with each other. WASHINGTON The suspect was relatively easy to find. In a social media world that produces traceable digital fingerprints, it didnt take long for federal authorities and open-source investigators adept at sifting through data to land on the name of Jack Teixeira. Teixeira, 21, who served in the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested Thursday in connection with the far-reaching leak of classified documents that shook capitals from Washington to Kyiv to Seoul with revelations of U.S. spying on allies and foes alike and the disclosure of sensitive military intelligence about the war in Ukraine. Attorney General Merrick Garland said Teixeira would be charged with the unauthorized removal of classified national defense information. There were clues in messages posted in a chatroom on Discord, a social media platform where Teixeira is believed to have posted for years about guns, games and his favorite memes and, according to some others chatting with him, closely guarded U.S. secrets. The investigative website Bellingcat and The New York Times first publicly identified Teixeira, minutes before federal officials confirmed he was a subject of interest in the investigation. They reported tracking profiles on other more obscure sites linked to Teixeira. The suspect, as part of his duties, reportedly had access to highly classified information. The case underscores the challenges the U.S. and other governments have in keeping secrets in an era of omnipresent data and an ever-growing army of savvy users who know how to exploit it. When asked how such a young service member could have had access to highly sensitive documents, the Pentagon spokesman, Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, said it was the nature of the military to trust its very young service members with high and sometimes grave levels of responsibility, including high levels of security clearance. We entrust our members with a lot of responsibility at a very early age. Think about a young combat platoon sergeant, and the responsibility and trust that we put into those individuals to lead troops into combat, Ryder said. The online chat group, called Thug Shaker Central, drew about two dozen enthusiasts who talked about their favorite types of guns and also shared memes and jokes, some of them racist. The group also included a running discussion on wars that included talk of Russias invasion of Ukraine. In that discussion, Teixeira would for months post material that he said was classified originally typing it out with his own notations, then a few months ago switching to posting images of folded-up papers because he felt his writings werent being taken seriously, the person said. A different participant in the group shared some of the files several weeks ago in a different chat group and from there they appear to have spread across the Internet. A person who spoke to the AP said he did not communicate with Teixeira on Thursday but stayed in touch earlier in the week. Teixeira said he knew the FBI was looking for him, the person said. Teixeira was an airman first class detailed to an Air Force intelligence unit, according to Facebook posts from the 102nd Intelligence Wing based at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. Teixeiras specialty in the Air National Guard was as 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 to access and ensure protection for the network, a defense official said. The National Guard issued a statement saying it was aware of the investigation and takes this issue very seriously. National security is our foremost priority and any attempt to undermine it compromises our values and degrades trust among our members, the public, allies and partners, the statement said. Local police on Thursday blocked off the street in front of a home listed as belonging to his family. The person who spoke to the AP said Teixeira was an observant Christian who often spoke of God and prayed with members of the chat group. While he was enlisted, Teixeira opposed many of the priorities of the U.S. government and denounced the military since it was run by the elite politicians, the person said, adding that he didnt know why Teixeira signed up in the first place. He expressed regret (about) joining a lot, the person said. When The New York Times first published a story last week about the documents, the person said, members of the group were on a video call when Teixeira talked to them. Basically what he said was, Im sorry, guys, I prayed every single day that this wouldnt happen, the person said. I prayed, and I prayed, and now its only up to God what happens next. Within weeks of taking office in 2021, President Joe Biden issued an executive order hailed by voter advocates as potentially transformative that for the first time committed the U.S. government to registering new voters at federal agencies. But just over two years later, most of the 10 agencies examined in a recent report had made only minimal progress toward meeting the orders goals. Thats raising concerns that, without urgent action, the administration could squander a rare chance to leverage the reach of the federal government, the nations largest employer, to expand access to the ballot. We want them to do this more quickly, and make it more of a priority, said Leslie Proll, a senior director of the voting rights program at the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, which led the coalition that produced the report. It is going to take time were just trying to stress the urgency around this, because its so meaningful. Bidens Executive Order on Promoting Accessing to Voting could provide a huge jolt to registration rates if carried out effectively. The reports authors, a broad coalition of voting and civil rights groups, as well as other progressive organizations, estimate that if every federal agency created a high-quality opportunity for people to register, as the order urges them to do, they could collectively add around 3.5 million new voters to the rolls each year, or around 7 million every election cycle. That would represent over 20% of all new registrations that occurred during the 2019-2020 cycle, the most recent for which figures exist. There are symbolic reasons, too, why the orders impact could be far-reaching. By declaring that it is the responsibility of the Federal Government to expand access to, and education about, voter registration, it for the first time brings the U.S. government meaningfully into the voter registration process and sets down a marker for the future. The order also represents an attempt by the Biden administration to push back against efforts in Republican-led states to erect barriers to voting, using one of the few levers it has at a time when major voting legislation has been stymied in Congress. But time may be running out to realize the orders full promise. The upcoming presidential election could make any progress, which in some areas requires working with state election officials, difficult next year. And by 2025, the government could be in the hands of a new administration that pulls back on enforcing the order or rescinds it outright. In a series of letters sent to the Biden administration last year, U.S. House Republicans questioned whether federal agencies have the constitutional and legal authority to conduct voter registration, and they have signaled they plan to use control of the House to intensify that probe. And in August, 15 Republican secretaries of state including those for Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Louisiana, Montana, Nebraska, Ohio, South Dakota, and Tennessee sent a letter of their own to the White House, asking Biden to reverse the order, which, they said, will produce duplicate registrations, confuse citizens, and complicate the jobs of our county clerks and election officials. Missing a huge opportunity But a bigger problem than Republican opposition, advocates say, has been the relatively slow pace at which some agencies have implemented the order. The National Voter Registration Act of 1993 transformed the registration process in the U.S. By requiring that state motor vehicle departments and public assistance agencies offer customers the chance to register to vote, the NVRA, sometimes known as Motor Voter, made getting on the rolls much easier and more convenient, especially for low-income people and racial minorities. In the 2019-20 election cycle, nearly 40% of all voter registrations happened at motor vehicle departments, making it the most common registration method. Bidens order aimed to extend the logic of Motor Voter to the federal government. It directed federal agencies to come up with ways to expand Americans opportunities to register to vote, including by considering how to offer voter registration in the course of activities or services that directly engage with the public just as motor vehicle departments offer voter registration to people obtaining or renewing a drivers license. And it contained specific provisions aimed at increasing access to registration among non-English speakers, veterans, Native Americans, people in federal prisons and other groups that are under-represented in the political process. Make no mistake, this is designed to get at low-income people and marginalized communities who are using (Veterans Affairs) services, healthcare.gov, naturalization ceremonies, said Proll. By the very nature of the work of the agency, youre going to capture people who are otherwise not participating in the work of democracy. Some agencies receive high marks in the report. The Department of the Interior and the Department of Veterans Affairs both win praise for taking steps to designate some of their offices as official voter registration agencies under the NVRA, a designation that advocates say can help improve their effectiveness at registering voters. And the Department of the Treasury has reached millions of people by adding information on voter registration to the taxpaying process. By contrast, the Department of Education, which has contact with millions of young people through its student loan program, is said to be missing a huge opportunity by not including information about registration in the Student Aid Report, which students receive after applying for federal student loans. Around 18 million students, disproportionately non-white, applied for loans in the 2020-21 application cycle. Shortly after the advocacy report came out, the department updated StudentAid.gov, which serves as an entry point for people looking into the student loan process, by adding a link to vote.gov, the federal governments voter registration portal. But the linked text is in tiny font at the very bottom of the page, with no additional text to draw attention to it. Advocates say that wont get the same results as adding a link to the Student Aid Report. People read the SAR much more closely, since theyve applied to receive it, and it contains specific, tailored information about what types of loans are available to them. This kind of active outreach, voter registration experts say, which targets people who already are likely to be invested in the interaction, and which explicitly asks them whether they want to register, is much more effective than the kind of passive outreach typified by adding a link at the bottom of a homepage. Laura Williamson, one of the reports authors and the associate director of democracy at Demos, which works to expand access to voting and democracy, called the departments move to add the link to StudentAid.gov better than nothing but not by much. Even more concerning, according to the report, is the departments failure to date to fulfill a pledge, made in response to the order, to produce a toolkit with detailed guidance for colleges and universities on the most effective ways to offer voter registration. (The department did send a letter reminding schools that theyre required under the Higher Education Act to help students register, which advocates say was effective in beefing up compliance with the law.) A spokesperson for the Department of Education did not respond to a request for comment. Other agencies lagging Of course, if the administration is sending people to vote.gov, its crucial that the site, which links visitors to state-specific registration information, is easy to use for everyone. The General Services Administration has made modest progress in improving vote.gov for people with disabilities and those who dont speak English, according to the report, but still has a long way to go. A fact sheet issued by the White House last month, days after the report appeared, noted that the site is now accessible in twelve languages, with more translations coming online soon, and pledged that GSA would continue working to improve it. Proll stressed its important that the administration do more to make vote.gov a true one-stop-shop for registration. I really view that as a centerpiece of this effort, she said. Also falling short, according to the report, is the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service, which through its naturalization program has direct and meaningful contact with hundreds of thousands of eligible but unregistered new citizens each year. USCIS did send its 88 field offices a short letter reminding them of its existing policy followed by some offices more than others of inviting representatives from state and local government or nonprofit groups to register voters after naturalization ceremonies. But that alone will not be nearly enough to reach the orders goals, according to the report. In its fact sheet, the White House pledged that USCIS would go further, issuing new policy guidance to field offices, including providing a clear roadmap for how to successfully partner with state and local election administration officials and nonpartisan organizations to help new citizens register. Advocates say new policy guidance would be a step in the right direction, but still might not be sufficient. I probably would have been seeking more, said Justin Levitt, a professor at Loyola Law School in Los Angeles, who played a role in implementing the order when he served as White House senior policy advisor for democracy and voting rights. It remains to be seen what the guidance is, and how forceful it is. Theres certainly more that USCIS could do. (Levitt stressed that he was not speaking for the White House, which he left in December.) Other agencies made stronger commitments, but have so far not done enough to meet them, advocates say. The Department of Health and Human Services pledged that its Administration for Community Living would connect seniors and people with disabilities to information on voter registration. It did launch a voting access hub, but it isnt clear how users would find the page, which isnt linked from ACLs homepage. Even more significantly, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services promised to make it easier for the more than 8 million users of the federal health care exchange, healthcare.gov, to connect to voter registration services, which the report says would be a transformative step. But progress toward this goal, it finds, has been very slow-moving. CMS, which is part of the Department of Health and Human Services, says its already helping people connect to registration services. After consumers apply for coverage, the Marketplace includes a callout about registering to vote if they need to and provides links to official resources from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, a CMS spokesperson said in a statement. The spokesperson added that the agency is working to ensure that voter registration services are more accessible to users of healthcare.gov, including by expanding the locations on the site that connect to vote.gov without needing to be logged in. But Williamson, of Demos, said thats not reassuring. If anything, it makes us more worried that CMS and HHS might miss this tremendous opportunity altogether, Williamson said. Dropping a link to vote.gov or the EACs website at the end of a long application process, or in small font at the bottom of a page full of information, is not providing meaningful access to voter registration opportunities. The issue of how much the health care exchanges should do to help people register to vote has flared before. After the Affordable Care Act went into effect in 2013, Republicans expressed outrage that the law might help boost voter registration. The Obama administration ultimately made the registration opportunity so unobtrusive and ineffective that Demos charged it was violating the NVRA. The Federal Bureau of Prisons, too, made an exemplary commitment to facilitate voting for people in federal prisons who remain eligible to vote in their home state, the report found, creating a plan that would significantly increase voting access for this population. But though the bureau, which is part of the Department of Justice, has issued some helpful materials, it has been very slow to implement its pledge, according to the authors. Donald Murphy, a Bureau of Prisons spokesman, noted several steps the agency has taken on voting, including developing a lesson plan, Know Your Voting Rights, thats provided to all incoming inmates. Also being urged to do more is the Indian Health Service, which provides health care to Native Americans, a group that has long faced some of the most powerful systemic barriers to voting. The report criticized IHS, which is part of HHS, for showing no signs of follow-through on a pledge to provide registration services at agency facilities, which advocates say could significantly increase access for Native populations. But the White House fact sheet that appeared days after the report committed the agency to creating high-quality voter registration pilot programs at five IHS offices by the end of the year which advocates said would be a major step forward. Agencies exercise new muscles Another key area where advocates want to see the administration move faster is in getting federal agencies officially designated as voter registration agencies under the NVRA. The designation, which agencies work with the state in which theyre located to gain, can improve registration services by providing training for staff and tracking of registration rates, among other benefits. But when Biden took office, no federal agency had ever received the designation. Bidens order aimed to prod agencies into action by urging them to accept NVRA designation from states, sending the message that theyre expected to begin working toward being designated. But over two years later, only Interior and Veterans Affairs have made real progress. Interior has completed the designation process for two Native American universities it controls, one in Kansas and one in New Mexico, while the VA is working with Kentucky, Michigan, and Pennsylvania to designate several medical facilities in those states. The Small Business Administration is said to be working with several states on designation, though things appear less far along. Because the process is new for both federal agencies and states, its not a shock that things have moved slowly, advocates say. But they add that now is the time to pick up the pace. We have been a little disappointed because we have not had much success in this space, said Sarah Brannon, managing attorney with the American Civil Liberties Unions voting rights project, and another co-author of the report. We are hoping that in the next year, more is going to be accomplished than has been accomplished in the last year. Still, the designations already completed, as well as those in the works, are likely to be important in offering a model that spurs other agencies to follow. Every single one of these designations represents new muscles that agencies are learning to exercise, said Levitt, the former White House official. I, too, would like more new muscles faster. But the power of (offering) proof-of-concept, to show, Hey, this isnt hard; hey, it works, its pretty smooth, is tremendous in getting long-term healthier results. More broadly, Levitt added, by integrating registration opportunities into different services that a diverse range of people already receive, the administration-wide response to Bidens order has offered a powerful example of effective government one that can help bolster faith in democracy. This is a program that has benefited members of tribal nations, it has benefited veterans, it has benefited taxpayers, it has benefited community health patients, it has benefited people who speak languages other than English all over the country, it has benefited members of the military, it has benefited people with convictions who are involved in the justice system, it has benefited people getting passports, and on and on and on, Levitt said. And its easy to lose the field in the details. But it really has been an all-out government effort, and I dont think anyone believes it should rest where it is. Williamson, of Demos, said fully accomplishing the goals of the order is part of fulfilling a fundamental duty owed by government to citizens. (Of course, its a duty that often still goes unrecognized.) We are a developed democracy, and in a developed democracy the government has a responsibility to make sure all its eligible people are registered and can vote, Williamson said. This is the right thing to do in a democracy thats committed to full enfranchisement for all eligible people. Hours before the Colorado Springs city clerk certified and released the final results of the April 4 municipal election on Thursday, third-place mayoral candidate Sallie Clark officially conceded the race. "I congratulate Mr. Mobolade and Mr. Williams for making the runoff election and officially concede my candidacy for mayor," Clark said in a concession statement Thursday morning. "... Voters are asking for more police officers, more firefighters, an end to homelessness, smooth roads, safe trails and beautiful parks. Voters are also demanding transparency and truth from their elected officials. I pray that our next mayor won't let us down." Official results certified Thursday afternoon show mayoral candidates Yemi Mobolade and Wayne Williams will head to a runoff election on May 16 that will determine who the city's next mayor will be after no one in the 12-person race garnered more than 50% of the vote on April 4. Mobolade and Williams earned the most votes in the general election, earning them spots in the runoff. City Clerk Sarah Johnson's office will mail ballot packets for the runoff election to active registered voters in city limits between April 21 and May 1, a statement on the election results webpage states. Ballots are due by 7 p.m. May 16. Official returns show Mobolade, a West African immigrant, entrepreneur and political newcomer, had about 29.8% of the vote, while Williams, an outgoing city councilman and former El Paso County commissioner and Colorado secretary of state, received about 19.2%. "I'm excited for the opportunity to go forward into the runoff," Williams said Thursday afternoon. "... I am working on preparing for that next round and trying to earn the support of folks regardless of whom they voted for (on April 4)." Mobolade said he was encouraged by the energy he has been seeing from supporters throughout his campaign. "There's so much excitement and optimism. How can you not feel good in the midst of everything else? ... Our city is hungry for a new kind of leadership in these times and we're already hard at work," he said. "I'm halfway to victory and I want to invite others on the sidelines to come join the winning team." Clark was a consistent close third in the mayoral race since results were first announced last week. She had about 17.8% of the vote on Thursday, trailing Williams by 1,524 votes. Figures from Johnson's office show voters cast 109,768 ballots in the April 4 election, for a voter turnout of about 35%. In the last mayoral election year, 2019, about 38% of voters participated in the general election. "I'm proud of the race that we ran. Obviously, we came pretty close. I'm proud of the people who supported me. I'm proud of my team and the work that went into the campaign. But mostly I'm proud we got good voter turnout and people took the time to look at the candidates and to be engaged," Clark said in an interview Thursday morning. Mobolade said Clark's "professional grassroots campaign" reached many in the community. "Her campaign resonated with so many voters and that says a lot about Sallie's leadership," he said. Clark said she will not seek a discretionary recount of the April 4 election, a step she previously considered taking. After the clerk's office completed counting 130 additional military and overseas ballots and allowed people who did not sign their ballot envelope or who had signature discrepancies to cure those ballots through 5 p.m. Wednesday, Clark couldn't close the gap with Williams. "There was a change in votes. I went up a little bit, but it wasn't a significant enough number to close the gap. If it had been a smaller percentage or gap, we certainly would have thought about pursuing (a recount)," Clark said. 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. The estimated cost of a recount was about $16,635, according to figures Johnson provided Clark this week. That cost is consistent with the total amount about $23,042 charged in the discretionary recounts of the June 28, 2022, countywide primary election conducted by the El Paso County clerk and recorder, Johnson said in an email to Clark, obtained by The Gazette. Four candidates requested recounts in the countywide primary election, and each were charged $5,760.22, Johnson said. Clark said in the weeks leading up to the runoff she wants to hear more from Mobolade and Williams about how they plan to tackle issues like public safety, affordable housing, development and growth planning, and how they will address homelessness and ensure "a wonderful" quality of life for residents. She also thanked all the candidates in the mayor's and city council races for their participation. "I thank them for putting themselves out there and showing an interest in bringing up important issues. I hope as we get to the runoff, those same issues will be discussed and we can hear how those candidates will implement any changes going forward," she said. Williams said Thursday his actions while on the City Council show he is the best person to tackle those concerns. "For those who ... are looking for more police officers, more firefighters, addressing homelessness, and maintaining trails and parks, I've got the record of actually accomplishing those things and will continue to do that," Williams said. Mobolade said he was already working on looking further into those topics, in particular public safety. "I'm doing a deeper dive into issues with (police) recruitment, retention and addressing crime," he said. "We'll continue to address those issues." Clark said she looks forward to staying involved in her community, including supporting Homefront Military Network. The organization connects military service members, veterans and their families to resources and provides emergency financial assistance, according to its website. The next person to be named Colorado Springs mayor will be the third strong mayor in the city's history. They will succeed Mayor John Suthers, who cannot run again for the seat after serving for eight years because of term limits. The mayor acts as the city's full-time chief executive, with the power to enforce laws and ordinances, create a strategic plan for the city and submit to the City Council an annual budget. After previous denials, Michelle Hill received an official letter earlier this year from the Department of Veterans Affairs acknowledging her husbands deadly cancer was caused by exposure to toxic burn pits. It was saying, Yes, your husbands service mattered, she said during an event Wednesday at the Mount Carmel Veterans Service Center. Congressional approval of the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act, or PACT Act, in August that extended disability benefits and health care to those exposed to burn pits, Agent Orange and other toxins made that acknowledgment possible. It also granted Hill monthly pension payments because her husband, James, died of cancer in October 2017 that was caused by exposure to burn pits over three deployments as an engineer. In March, she was approved for payments that will give her peace of mind and help with basic bills, such as her mortgage. This has made an enormous difference in my life, she said. An El Paso County veteran service officer helped her with the application, completing it in 45 minutes, an effort that could have taken her days, she said. I didnt have to go back and relive any of those moments that were so difficult, she said. So far, El Paso County Veterans Services has filed 261 claims for benefits related to new conditions covered by the act, said Assistant Veterans Service Officer Charles Graves, with El Paso County. The Veterans Benefit Administration has adjudicated 29 of those claims, granting 24. He presented the data to U.S. Sen. John Hickenlooper, who hosted the event to hear from local veterans, their families and veteran service officers. Graves said his office was working to get the word out about the PACT Act by holding monthly events where veterans can apply for benefits, enroll in VA health care and get screened for toxic exposure all at once. The toxic exposure is known to cause various types of cancer, asthma and other conditions, according to the VA. Sign Up for free: Military Brief Your weekly local update on local military news and events, sent straight to your inbox. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The act also extends benefits to Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange in Thailand, a major change in policy, Graves said. Hickenlooper underscored the difference that disability compensation can make in the lives of veterans and their survivors to change their lives, saying he would take Hills story with him to Washington, D.C., as part of his advocacy. Money is not everything, but it helps, he said. El Paso County is seeing a rise in demand from veterans interested in benefits following the approval of the PACT Act and wait times for an appointment are up from three weeks to six weeks, Graves said. A federal bill that would grant $50 million every year for five years to improve outreach to veterans across the country and staff up offices like the one in El Paso County could help meet the demand and with general education, he said. El Paso County is home to about 92,900 veterans, about a quarter of 380,000 veterans living in the state. Many of our veterans dont know what the PACT Act is and how it pertains to them, he said. Through August the El Paso County office plans to reach as many veterans as possible because those who apply before Aug. 10, 2023, will receive back payments for the time elapsed since Aug. 10, 2022, when the law passed, he said. About 10% of the 380,000 veterans in the state likely experienced toxic exposure and qualify for benefits, but Graves said far, far fewer have applied. Our phones should be blowing off the hook, which they are, but they should be blowing off the hook even more, he said. The next PACT Act claims clinics will be held in two sessions at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. April 21 at the El Paso County Veterans Service Office. Clinics will also be held on May 19, June 16, and July 21. Availability is limited, and pre-registration is requested, a county news release said. To register and for more information, contact the El Paso County Veterans Service Office at 520-7750 or vet@elpasoco.com. A 19-year-old who was arrested last month and accused of planning a mass shooting at schools in Colorado Springs indicated from jail earlier this week an intention to carry out the original plan if released on bond, according to a spokesperson with the 18th Judicial District. William Whitworth is being held at the Elbert County jail, where on Monday, Whitworth reportedly indicated to an employee Whitworth's continued plan to commit a mass shooting at an Academy District 20 school, where Whitworth was a student at three schools for a total of nine months between 2014 and 2016. At a hearing Thursday, a judge raised Whitworth's bond to $750,000 from $75,000. The mandatory protection order conditions were also modified to include GPS monitoring and no contact with any public or private school property or institution in Colorado. Whitworth, who is transitioning to female, was arrested March 31 and accused of planning a mass shooting when investigators found instructions on how to build homemade bombs and a whiteboard with the floor plan to Timberview Middle School in Whitworth's bedroom, according to arrest records obtained by The Gazette. The affidavit states that Prairie Hills Elementary and Pine Creek High School, both in Colorado Springs, were also listed as targets in one of Whitworths notebooks, which contained a detailed list of people to be killed. Investigators did not find any weapons in the home, but they did find a liquid that is used to clean firearms. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Deputies also found a manifesto with the names of mass shooters, political commentators and more while searching Whitworths home, according to the affidavit. A notebook was found with instructions on how to make firearms using a 3D printer and how to make homemade explosives. Whitworth admitted to watching a YouTube video on how to build a detonator, according to the affidavit. Law enforcement originally responded to the home after Whitworth's sister reported Whitworth behaving violently and referencing school shootings. Deputies found Whitworth lying in bed, drunk, in a room piled with trash that had several holes in the wall, according to the affidavit. When authorities asked why Whitworth wanted to shoot up a school, Whitworth said: No specific reason. Whitworth also admitted to being about a third of the way from doing it (committing a mass shooting), the affidavit states. Whitworth is facing charges of criminal mischief, menacing and interference with staff, faculty or students of educational institutions. Whitworth is expected to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on May 3. Criminal charges against two former Clear Creek County Sheriffs deputies accused in the death of Christian Glass will move forward after a judge ruled there was enough evidence to support their indictments. Attorneys for Kyle Gould and Andrew Buen asked a judge to dismiss the case earlier this year. Buen faces several charges, including second-degree murder, reckless endangerment and official misconduct for shooting and killing Glass on June 11, 2022. Gould, who was making decisions to direct his officers that night from his home, faces charges of criminally negligent homicide and reckless endangerment. Buen is out on $50,000 bond. A $2,500 bond was set for Gould. The case has caught national attention and shined the light on possible police misconduct partly because the intense interaction and violent end was caught on body-worn cameras. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Glass had gotten stuck on a remote mountain road near Silver Plume. There were seven officers on scene the night Glass was killed. Though Glass parents are happy that the two officers will stand trial, in a statement from their lawyers, they said the family remains frustrated that none of the other officers involved in Christians murder have suffered any consequences. They strongly believe, they said, that officers from Georgetown, Idaho Springs, and the state of Colorado should also be held accountable. On Nov. 23, a Clear Creek grand jury indicted Gould and Buen on criminal charges in Glass death. The 22-year-old man was shot five times by Buen during an intense standoff that lasted over an hour. As Buens on-duty supervisor, Gould eventually gave the order over the phone for law enforcement to breach Glass car, according to the indictment. Both Buen and Gould were fired from their deputy jobs the night they were indicted. Prosecutors on Wednesday offered fresh evidence of Letecia Stauch's shifting explanations of what happened to Gannon Stauch, her 11-year-old stepson, as the case's lead detective took the stand. Letecia Stauch is accused of stabbing and fatally shooting Gannon in El Paso County and disposing of his remains in Florida. Testimony in her murder trial began last week. Former El Paso County sheriff's Detective Jessica Bethel was the only witness Wednesday, as she reviewed several interviews conducted with Letecia and Al Stauch in the days following Gannons disappearance on Jan. 27, 2020. Click or tap here to watch live coverage from the trial. Follow @ZachNDupont on Twitter for more updates from the courtroom. The first interview entered into evidence Wednesday was a nearly hourlong audio recording of an interview with Gannon's parents that took place at a local Starbucks. Prior to the interview being played in court Bethel testified that she wanted to conduct the interview at the Stauch residence, but Letecia Stauch was hesitant at best to have the interview at her home. In the recording Al and Letecia Stauch tell Bethel information about Gannon, saying he had gone to visit a friend and never returned home. The former couple asked Bethel questions about checking Gannons phone for deleted searches and whether the police can track a Nintendo Switch. The only thing he sneaks is to play his games when he is grounded, Al Stauch, Gannon's father, told Bethel. Al Stauch at one point mentions how it came in my mind that Gannons mom is married to a guy with a lot of problems, and that he could potentially be involved. Al Stauch mentioned this when he testified last week. After the conclusion of the recording, Bethel retook the stand to testify that over the course of the same day she continued to try to have Letecia Stauch come to the El Paso County Sheriffs Office for an interview, and that she continued to decline the offer to be interviewed. In a brief audio recording of a FaceTime call conducted on the evening of Jan. 28, Stauch told Bethel that she wasnt interested in coming to the Sheriff's Office. "I'm not going in to talk to you without an attorney," Stauch told Bethel. Bethel at one point in the call asked Stauch where she was, and Letecia Stauch declined to tell her. Bethel testified that eventually Stauch agreed to come to the Sheriffs Office for an interview on the morning of Jan. 29. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Two deputies with the El Paso County Sheriffs Office testified on Monday that Stauchs car appeared to have been freshly cleaned when she arrived for the interview. Bethel testified that Stauch showed up more than two hours late to the interview. Stauch's interview with detectives was over four hours long, and started with her describing the day leading up to Gannons disappearance. She then told detectives that Gannon didnt disappear, but rather that he was kidnapped by an intruder. Stauch said she gave a man named Eduardo the code to the garage to help fix her carpet, and that the alleged intruder assaulted her, raped her and took Gannon. Several people over the course of the trial, including forensic nurse examiner Amanda Van Nest, testified that Stauch had told them this story. Letecia Stauch would stick with the "Eduardo" story for a time, but in phone calls recorded by the FBI that were played to the jury last week she changed the story several times. Eventually, Letecia Stauch claimed that she bought a bike from a man named Quincy Brown, and that while testing the bike Gannon fell off and was "bleeding from his head." She said Brown offered to drive Gannon to the hospital, but didn't return. Brown was wanted in El Paso County at the time of the recorded phone conversations. Stauch spent a significant amount of time in the interview describing Eduardo to detectives, saying he was short, had a round face and was in his 30s. "I would do anything for you to find out who Eduardo is," Stauch said around the three-hour mark of the interview. As detectives continued to ask questions, Stauch struggled to recall specifics from the alleged attack, saying numerous times that she "doesn't remember," or "doesn't want to talk about" certain topics brought up by detectives. Stauch claimed she didn't remember certain events from the assault because she hit her head a number of times and "blacked out." During Van Nest's testimony on Tuesday, she said Stauch had no injuries consistent with having hit her head when she examined Stauch on the same day the interview occurred. Over three hours into the interview Stauch told detectives that she would like to leave, and after briefly disappearing from the room Stauch returned and was seen arguing with a new detective about having her phone taken. The male detective in the recording told Stauch that they were keeping her phone because the Sheriff's Office had applied for a search warrant, and that she was no longer allowed to leave the building. "This is unconstitutional," Stauch complained to deputies. The prosecution was unable to complete the video on Wednesday. The remaining 30 minutes of the video, as well as the remainder of Bethel's testimony, will be completed on Friday morning when Stauch's trial resumes. Steele Elementary School will become an International Baccalaureate pathway school beginning next academic year, the Colorado Springs School District 11 Board of Education voted unanimously on Thursday. Steele will be the only elementary school in the district to have such a distinction. IB is a college prep curriculum with a focus on intercultural learning. Students who graduate with an IB diploma can receive around 30 hours of college credit, depending on the college or university, according to a district spokesperson. IB lessons explore topics such as language, environment, conflict, governance and global challenges. There was strong buy-in from the staff in your school, board President Parth Melpakam said. The community buy-in was even stronger I am enthusiastic about this program being added to District 11. Palmer High School and North Middle School are already designated IB schools. The district added Steele to the IB Primary Years Programme since it is a feeder to North, with 95% of its students attending for middle school. The program will serve as a broad introduction to IB at the elementary level, with courses becoming more rigorous as students work their way up through the high school level. Students who choose to attend an IB pathway school are not required to seek an IB diploma, although they have the option to do so. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. Several board members Thursday also spoke out against white supremacy following a recent incident in which a North Middle School teacher was placed on administrative leave for allegedly being connected to a white supremacist group. A social media post by The Asatru Folk Assembly on July 12, 2022, resurfaced in March in which the group named seventh-grade teacher Andrew Stutts as the newest apprentice Folkbuilder. The Asatru Folk Assembly is described by The Anti-Defamation League as a hate group emphasizing white identity. I trust our staff to handle to handle this conversation, and I just want to make it very clear I know the history. The history is written, board member Darleen Daniels said. It did exist. Ive lived enough to know. Superintendent Michael Gaal said the staff used existing policy and regulations in determining its response. Staff will err on the side of student safety when concerns of dangerous adult behavior arise in a way that is also respectful of the rights of individual employees. The district will always act with great swiftness to ensure that they protect students first. We did act in great swiftness in the cases that were discussed, and many people took a very strong stand on that, Gaal said. I didnt want there to be any confusion on if the staff is or is not acting on the policies of the board. Evacuation orders in the area of Hartsel in Park County have transitioned to pre-evacuations as of 8 p.m. Wednesday evening for the Badger Creek fire that sparked Wednesday afternoon southwest of Wilkerson Pass. The fire was at 41 acres as of 3 p.m. and is burning near Latigo Loop and McMurray Road, which is south of U.S. 24 near Pike and San Isabel National Forest land, according to an alert from the county. It was first reported around noon. Hartsel Fire Protection District, Southern Park County Fire Protection District and air support were on the scene Wednesday. Several structures are reportedly at risk and an evacuation order was put in effect for a five-mile radius in Badger Creek Ranch. That same area is now under pre-evacuation at 8 p.m., according to an update from Park County. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. An emergency shelter is set up at the Fairplay Community Center, 880 Bogue St. Livestock and other large animas can be moved to the Fairplay Fairgrounds. Neither the containment nor the cause of the fire has been reported. Firefighters continue battling the 403 fire that has burned 1,518 acres in Park and Teller counties since last week, with 88% containment as of Tuesday. The Park County Sheriff's Office said last week that the 403 fire was allegedly caused by improper disposal of ashes. Crews are also containing the Rampart fire in El Paso County, which sparked Tuesday and was 50% contained by late Wednesday afternoon. High fire danger is expected across south and southeast Colorado through Thursday as winds pick up amid continued dryness and heat. This is a developing story and will be updated. Crews working the Rampart fire near Woodland Park reached 50% containment, according to a Wednesday afternoon update from the U.S. Forest Service, the lead response agency. Crews secured the fire line and mopped up a 100-foot interior from the line, according to a tweet from the Forest Service. Light smoke remained visible off Rampart Range Road due to heavy fuels burning well inside the fire's perimeter. The fire, which started Tuesday afternoon about 2.5 miles southeast of Woodland Park, has burned 20 acres, the Forest Service said. Smoke is expected to remain in the area because heavy fuels are still burning in the interior of the fire. High winds were expected all day, and a red flag warning by the National Weather Service was in effect through 8 p.m. Wednesday. Sign up for free: Springs AM Update Your morning rundown of the latest news from Colorado Springs and around the country overnight and the stories to follow throughout the day delivered to your inbox each evening. Sign Up View all of our newsletters. Success! Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. View all of our newsletters. The Rampart fire burned in the Waldo Canyon Burn Scar with grass and ponderosa pine fueling the blaze. The Forest Service said crews had placed a fire hose all the way around the fire by late Tuesday. They used water to contain the fire by cooling its edges. A single-engine air tanker was on the scene Tuesday with water drops to assist firefighters from the Forest Service and numerous departments in Teller County and El Paso County. The Colorado Springs Fire Department teamed up with neighboring fire departments to send five engines with a total of 18 firefighters to assist fire containment efforts, according to spokesman Capt. Mike Smaldino.